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Today, I start the A-Z Challenge – April 2013. One 30-day month, minus Sundays. 26 Alphabets. A word for each form of abuse that our society is dealing with today!. April 2014 is will be dealing with almost all the social issues. In addition a special thanks to Arlee Bird for bringing this to us. I’m so looking forward to this month of April.
A is for ABUSE! And since April is the child sexual abuse awareness month, I will be blogging not only about child sexual abuse but various forms of abuse. Abuse the word that has been used so much that it seems it has lost its meaning! Abuse can take any form – mental, physical, and verbal among others wherein the abuser uses different means to not only dominate the victim but also humiliate them so that the victim starts having self-doubts. This apart there are other forms of abuse wherein the person is harming oneself and those type of abuse includes drug abuse, alcohol abuse and substance abuse.
In the present society, because of Internet and the influx of various social media sites, abusers have become bold and are using numerous means to abuse their victims. But wait a second, what is the exact meaning of Abuse? How does it affect us as a society and is there any way we stop it? These questions have been disturbing me ever since I have understood this word, its implications and how our society is struggling to put an end to numerous types of abuse that are prevalent in our society.
Definition of Abuse
According to the Oxford Dictionary “Abuse is defined as Use of something to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.” It also means to “treat anyone with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly and to speak to (someone) in an insulting and offensive way.”
Recognising an abuser
Our society has been created in such a way that all of us complement each other pretty well – be it man, woman, child or senior citizens. Each of us have a role in the society and when that role is challenged by one person there is a misbalance and thus an abuser is born. Once an abuser always an abuser! It’s true in most cases but we need to understand that an abuser just like bully thrives on the silence of his victims. So if there is an abuser in your home raise your voice against him. Easier said than done feel most of us, especially the ones who are dealing with abusers day in and day out.
The main aim of the abuser is to shatter the confidence of its victim to the level where only negative thoughts creep in and thus he enjoys the life of a king. To give an example if you have seen the movie Thank You wherein Irrfan Khan admonishes his wife for bringing a cup of tea sans the saucer you feel that he is being difficult. Yes he is being difficult but in a way he is being abusive. Abusive? You may ask how? Well if you remember the definition it says abuse means to speak to someone in an insulting and offensive way and wasn’t the way Irrfan spoke in a sarcastic manner insulting to his wife.
Its repercussions on the society
Well, like I said a healthy society is the one where everyone is treated with equal respect, and there is peace and harmony. However, some of us become greedy and want all the power and control and thus we start abusing everything and everyone who comes in our way. Its affects are visible in the society in the form of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and female foeticide among many other forms of abuse.
Remember an abuse is an abuse and no matter what the form it has extremely bad ramifications on the society – while a verbal abuse can shatter a person’s confidence in opening their mouths in public, mental and physical abuse assault their minds and bodies to the levels that the victim starts having self doubts. So next time you see anyone abusing a person, or an animal please of raise your voice and let them know that you are aware of their behaviour.
Remember
Abuser thrives on the silence of the abused! So raise your voices and speak out!
Swatz Says 
Good for you for using the A-Z as a platform for such an important topic. Not pleasant, but well-chosen.
Thank you for your appreciation! Yes I know it’s not a pleasant topic but then what is happening in the society is also not Pleasant. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your footprints as well.
Swati – very nice choice of theme. and so important in today’s day and age. Looking forward
Thank you Nischala! Have been meaning to write on this theme for so long I guess was waiting for something like A to Z challenge to wake and shake me up!
It pays to remember that last part of your post. Don’t let the abuser thrive on your silence.
A pertinent topic and a good start, Swati.
Thank you Shail! It always feels good to be appreciated especially for the topic that is close to my heart.
I still remember what the character played by Shefali Shah in Monsoon Wedding goes through when the person (her uncle) who abused her when she was young, abuses her niece. How people don’t accept it at first, and the rejection and fear she has to go through
It is the fear of rejection and snubbing that a child chooses to remain silent thus giving immense power to the abuser,
It’s sad and outrageous that most of the time, the abuser is known very well by the victim. Great topic, Swati!
Yes Roshni, it is not only sad but also scary — imagine the person who is suppose to take care of you becomes your abuser. Your entire life is scarred!
That’s a great cause to write about, Swati…and yeas, I agree the abuser thrives on silence and we must not remain silent anymore and speak out. Thanks!
Yes Kajal it is important to speak out but it is easier said than done because it takes tremendous effort for an abused to raise a voice against the abuser. But we are trying and slowly reaching there.
True that one shud not be silent and raise voice ! Sensitive but a needed theme for all of us Swati
good choice
ATB for the challenge
Thank you Afshan for taking time out to read my posts I still have to do lot of reading.
Hey Swati…Having been a victim abuse I can say that it is very important to raise your voice but at the same time it is the most difficult thing to do here in India especially…I agree this is a much needed topic…and people need to be made aware that Victim are survivors of an ordeal and Victim blaming and shaming must stop 🙂
It’s very hard to identify abuse and usually the abused is the last person who knows. Some years ago in NZ the Ministry of Social Development had a campaign against abuse nicknamed “It’s not ok”
What a fabulous theme Swati! And a beautiful post to match. It makes me mad, the silence from those who are abused. It hurts me in a very personal way. Thank you for raising this issue.
Thank You Dagny! This has been on my mind since very long. Didn’t have the patience to chalk out the posts then and this challenge happen — a knock from the almighty Himself — wake up and write it I am giving you the opportunity. So here I am. Thank you for your appreciation
Great start for a strong theme.Good going
thank you Uniqusatya! I hope I can maintain the standards. Thank you for your appreciation
You have chosen an interesting theme for the challenge. Your posts will be interesting and educating. All the best!
Thank You Rinzu. Over the days all the posts will be around topics related to abuse.
Very brave of you to talk on this topic. Hope to read more posts like this.
Neelam @ http://mechameli.blogspot.in/2014/04/a-list-of-summer-indian-spices.html
Thank you for your appreciation
great effort it spreading the awareness regarding this, need of the hour!
thank you Karan and welcome to my blog
This was one of the topic I had on mind to write for the A-Z Challenge but since i was taking up this challenge for the first time and was pretty much confused so I gave up on this topic and decided on a theme. And i must say awesome write Swati. Very well written.
thank you Preethi. Over the days I will writing on numerous issues related to abuse only.
You are using this challenge to create awareness…this is so good…And yes it’s important u understand and recognize abuse and call out for help…unfortunately in India the awareness is not there…
Nabanita, it’s not that there is no awareness about certain abuses, however, we as a society sometimes don’t encourage openness.
Swati- great post. Sadly, I think abuse is such a common suffering these days. Victims need to know they aren’t alone and there are others willing to speak out for them. Thanks for speaking about it. I’m looking forward to the rest of your A-Z posts!
Thank you Abby! I felt this was the need of the hour and it is not a national problem of one country but has become a global problem hence the topic.
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A very pertinent theme you chose for the challenge Swati. And yes, we need to speak out, break the silence, to stop abuse.
Thank you Rekha! And welcome to my blog! I am so honoured to have dewdrops on my blog! Thank you for your appreciation Rekha. To be honest I didn’t choose the theme the theme chose me. Like I said earlier this has been on my mind since very long and but I was lazy in chalking out them but when AZ happened it was like a call from almighty and so these posts happened.