Spousal violence is reported in the social media

More and more women are using the social media in sharing their horrid experiences against violence. By posting on their Facebook or tweeting and re-tweeting posters and comments that indicates violence or abused, many women in the world are starting to come-out in the open and thanks to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the like.

Four years ago, the Brazilian model-actress Daiana Menezes created a buzz when she posted graphics on her social media account that say “No to rape” and “Real men don’t use violence” as well as photos of her arm with bruises. Days after that, her marriage to outgoing congressman Benjo Benaldo of Cagayan de Oro became public. They were married in December 2012 in Las Vegas according to reports of which the netizens (citizens in the internet) immediately concluded that Menezes is being abused by her husband. To stop the speculation of abuse, Daiana and her husband appeared on The Buzz (Sunday program aired over ABS-CBN) and apologized to the public for causing to misinterpret her social media posts on domestic and sexual abuse.

Of course, the public did not buy her apologies. She has posted very revealing remarks that give away for spousal violence. She posted on her Instagram account these words: “Lord, please I can’t take it anymore, I’m all by myself here, prayers are much appreciated. But, sa totoo lang, thank you po, Lord, I’m still alive.”

Last summer, I happened to read the article of journalist Sally Armstrong about how women in countries like the Congo, Senegal, India and Pakistan are beginning to use the social media to publicly question their oppression. These women join together through the social media to speak out and share their experiences of abuse.

For over 25 years, Ms. Armstrong has reported on women’s issues and rights around the world. Her stories have typically covered horrific centuries-old abuses like rape, female genital mutilation, and barred access to education. Over the last few years, however, she has seen encouraging evidence of change and thanks to social media sites. Even in areas where women are hopelessly oppressed, the women themselves are standing together to say, “No more to violence against women”. And the abuse or violence these women have experienced is posted on the net.

In Senegal, for example, the women of one village courageously asked a question they’d never dared ask before: “Why do we practice female genital cutting?” The chiefs and imams responded that it was in their culture, their religion, to which the women replied, “Show us where it is written.” When no texts could be found, the women declared, “Never again, not my daughter.” This happening was circulated on the social media that prompted other 7000 villages to adopt this “No to female genital cutting”.

In the past, social media was only used for entertainment, relationship, travels, and the like; today social media is a very strong medium to expose violence against women.