She¡¯s a domestic violence survivor a regular hospital patient
|
He swears that it was an accident, she claims it was blatant
|
Those who think that they know him will of course have their doubts
|
And the ones who believe her will quickly point out
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That it¡¯s happened so many times and he hasn¡¯t changed yet
|
If she doesn¡¯t just leave him she deserves what she gets
|
She¡¯ll get no support from those who don¡¯t understand
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Why she would stay with such an abusive man
|
Why doesn¡¯t she leave?
|
Why does she stay in an abusive situation, where he¡¯s made her his prisoner
|
And the acts of violence get worse every day?
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Many women lose their support systems
|
Once the batterer has isolated her and no one will listen
|
To her plea for help, her cries of despair
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And when the incident is over he always swears
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That he knows there¡¯s a problem and he¡¯s going to get help
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Not for her but for himself
|
Shifting the focus to his pain and away from hers
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Convincing her that it¡¯s not just his problem but both of theirs
|
So he needs her support and for her to remain
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Because he really is trying and he¡¯s going to change
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So she remains in an abusive situation
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And lives with fear and intimidation
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And the familiar words of regret and repeated apologies
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The psychological battering and sexual abuse
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And the promise of reprisal if she ever leaves
|
Each day there¡¯s a new bruise that she manages to hide
|
Sometimes it¡¯s denial and sometimes it¡¯s pride
|
She really doesn¡¯t want to live life this way
|
But there are countless reasons why she might stay
|
Maybe it¡¯s low self-esteem
|
No self-respect
|
Maybe it¡¯s her children that she¡¯s trying to protect
|
Maybe it¡¯s financial security, having a home
|
Having to make it out on her own
|
Maybe she sees it as normal from her childhood abuse
|
Maybe she¡¯s tired of fighting so what¡¯s the use
|
Maybe the police who were called doubted her statement
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Or maybe she loves him and is trying to be patient
|
He¡¯ll never run out of excuses for his continued assault
|
He¡¯ll rationalize his abuse and how it¡¯s really her fault
|
If she¡¯d only obey him and be a better wife
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If he didn¡¯t have all of these pressures in his job or his life
|
It¡¯s not because stress has taken its toll
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But because he¡¯s seeking obedience, dominance and power
|
And he knows that his abuse gets him control
|
And if it gets him what he wants then he¡¯ll do it again
|
The single greatest cause of injury to women is by abusive men
|
Thousands of women are murdered by their partners every year
|
Is it so hard to understand why she stays and lives in fear?
|
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Why Does She Stay?
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| Behind Enemy Lines |
