For my whole life I have lived the questions that this book seeks to answer, in some form or another. I think that almost every woman who lives and breaths South Africa, perhaps not consciously, carries a real fear with her. That fear is looms larger for some than for others but it is there none the less.
It is the fear that calls out... what if???
What if one day I am the one who is raped?
I think the seed of this fear is essentially born from a lack of physical strength to protect oneself in such a situation but more than that , in the South African context, this fear is a reality for many girls and women as they travel in unsafe situations , to and from work.
Attitudes towards women also feed this fear and these are explored and shared in this book. Of course not all men act or feel like the men in this book, but I wonder if the very real objectification of women in our society on many different levels, could be mirrored here.
I have shared something of my childhood trauma in previous posts and because of this I have had the privilege of sharing with many, many, countless women who have had similar , sad and destroying stories to share. Stories where something precious was robbed from them and has left a wound.... a scar.
The face of sexual harassment, abuse and rape wrapped up in deep fear and shame is one of the themes this book sheds some light on. The other is the the face of a gangster.
It is an excellent book. Well written and deeply personal and sad, simply because I am a South African and this story touches a part of our country and its women and girls.
It answers some of the questions we might be asking and the why? of the stories we hear on the news.
It is an excellent book.
In a way it speaks up for the many who can not and do not speak up for fear.
I recommend it to anyone who would like to catch a gimps of life from another perspective.
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I dedicate this post to all those who have walked the path of brokenness because of another sin towards you in the area of sex
To the woman who has never shared with another living her sadness and shame.
Jesus knows and can hold your pain. His love is real, solid, true and healing.
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