I found a story on MSNBC yesterday that was horrifying. It’s about women in Pakistan who have been purposely burned, usually by abusive husbands or jilted lovers, although one was burned by her father when she was a child merely because she had been born a girl. The women are typically burned using acid. To get the full impact of the story, you need to view the slideshow.
I can’t tell you how incredibly angry this makes me, both at the perpetrators of this crime and at the culture that allows this to happen.
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August 18, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Caroline
I share your anger.
August 19, 2008 at 3:03 am
kate48nc
I read the same story and while I wasn’t surprised, I was very concerned for the women and very proud of those that are carrying on, living a life for themselves after having to be tortured by the men that look down on women. Not in a million years will we ever change their beliefs about the role of women, I do hope they tortured the ones that tortured the women…fair play and I pray more women will get out of any situations that belittle them. Ladies, you are equal to man in God’s eyes..Bravo for going out in the world and facing everyone and sharing your stories…
August 19, 2008 at 10:03 am
Joy
This makes my stomach hurt.
August 20, 2008 at 6:11 am
Manoj Sterex
Several cases have happened in India as well. Its such cowardly and brutal for a person to pull such an act on another. While many cases almost go unnoticed due to the fear of social repulsion, the ones which get reported too don’t get necessary legal help or compensation. It is very unfortunate.
August 20, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Erin G
I sort of want to cry now. one time I burned my foot with acid (I was a lifeguard) and it was miserable. so I at least CAN imagine these poor women’s pain. but to imagine it is one thing; to live through it is another.
have you read a thousand splendid sons? there is a passage in there where a wife is forced to eat rocks, and my stomach feels now like it did after I read that chapter.
August 20, 2008 at 10:05 pm
No Longer Smothering the Goddesses « The Woo Woo Teacup Journal
[...] puberty, supreme court, temples, women burned by acid | A couple of days ago, I posted about women in Pakistan being burned on purpose and expressed my horror over the practice and the cultural complicity that seems to condone the [...]
August 20, 2008 at 10:11 pm
woowooteacup
Manoj – It’s such a sad situation, especially if no one gets punished for causing such horrible damage to a person. If there is no punishment, people think they can continue the behavior. It’s frustrating beyond belief to see these women suffer so.
My goodness, Erin, even the thought of an accidental contact with acid makes me shudder. Did you recover okay? I haven’t read “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” but I think I’d feel the same way you do while reading about someone being forced to eat rocks.
August 21, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Erin G
yes, I was fine – it was just on my foot. I was about 17 I think. I was supposed to be wearing closed-toed shoes (duh) but lo lifeguards actually do that. I think my company was more concerned that I would sue them than about my health! nice, huh?