Dear Editor,
Women have always been sickeningly brutalized in Guyana from time immemorial. This was always a largely hidden problem and a heavily taboo topic shamelessly tucked away in some dark forgotten corner of our reality. It was known but not discussed. Then came the media in the past few years to the fore highlighting this problem, exposing it for what it really is. Suddenly, the sound of silence was broken and people started talking. Women found their voices and the government acting upon the groundswell of public voices revamped its effort to protect women and fight domestic violence.
The media must be commended for highlighting the plight of these women and it must continue to do so, for it has clearly shown that highlighting a problem at least leads to acknowledgement of a problem, a far cry from the past veil of denial or indifference. It was rare to find a lead story or a proliferation of lead stories in the daily newspapers about domestic violence splashed on front pages. In a country where other crime is sensationalized, it is fitting that this form of crime is afforded its proper exposure. This would hopefully foster a keener awareness of the plight of abused women, encourage the public to be vigilant in fighting domestic abuse, educate the youth of society about domestic abuse and lead to the rise of organizations committed to protecting vulnerable women and educating the public about domestic violence.
In addition to the women who suffer at the hands of men and vice versa, there is a serious problem of children who are traumatised by and sometimes learn from this behaviour. This is a wonderful opportunity for the government and civic society to educate our children about the terrible tragedy of domestic violence to effectively shape a new generational mindset regarding it. It is also a wonderful opportunity for the media in Guyana to lead the charge in changing perceptions about domestic violence. I say to the media − continue to shame, denigrate and vilify those who senselessly brutalize women and continue to bring this problem stark naked and trembling into the public conscience.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Maxwell
