Poverty is evident in Nicaragua. But there is another issue I infrequently discuss or write about because I truly do not understand it. I don´t understand the typical male role in the ¨campo¨families. Certainly some men are caring and loving and perhaps begin to exemplify characteristics I admire in the men I know. However, while chopping wood, hanging clothes and cooking corn today with the women, I heard a few stories I will briefly share with you:
One woman I met today is 16 and pregnant with her first child. Her husband (and yes, she said they did have a formal union ceremony), is 26 and was her teacher in school last year. This year he is a government authority in their community.
Another woman at the Casa is also 16. The father of her baby left her when she was three months pregnant. Her mother is old and doesn´t move well and she has no brothers or sisters to help her when she returns home.
The third story I will share with you is of a woman pregnant with her seventh child. The first three she had when she was 13, 14 and 15 years old. This man frequently abused her. He was finally chased away by her mother. Eventually she found a new husband whom she has remained with for the past 18 years. He is good to her. She said she didn´t know better at 13 and thankfully she survived to be able to help other girls in similar situations.
Stories of abuse, neglect and mistreatment are all too familiar for innumerable women in Nicaragua, The Casa Materna and the world.
I am so very, very lucky.
(My brother works with an organization striving to help women in Chicago: CAASE (caase.org)).
1 comments:
Thank you so much for sharing!
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