FROM SILENCE TO SISTERHOOD

to all mothers here: I am your daughter. I need you to pay attention to this, and its common

I was sent to spend the holiday at my sister’s place.At night, her husband would come and try to kiss me. In our culture, we say it’s normal —( _chiramu_. )Then, one day, he tried to touch my breasts and private area, but I refused. When I went back home, I didn’t tell anyone. I haven’t told anyone until now. But today, I thought sharing this could help mothers here. As I said earlier, I don’t want any other child to go through the bad things I went through. So, my mom asked me, “Next holiday, your sister said you should come.” I said no. My sister asked me, “Little sis, next holiday we will be together.” I said no,

My worst fear was that if I told my mom, she would say, “You kids these days don’t listen. You’re always wearing body-hugging clothes. You seduced him. You wear revealing clothes. Men are weak.” The blame would be on me. If I told my sister, she would say, “You came here to destroy my marriage. You were having an affair with my husband,” or “You are now telling lies about my husband.”

Now, in our communities, if a girl is raped, people blame her, saying men are weak. But we all have feelings. Communities are failing to protect the girl child, and in most cases, women are the ones saying men are easily distracted.

Mothers, let’s create a relationship with our girls. Ask her how her day was. Let her feel free to talk with you about anything.