Breaking the Cycle: Empowering Women Against Violence and Inequality Violence and discrimination against women often grow from the social hierarchy and family structures around them. From childhood, many girls learn that their primary role involves marriage and household responsibilities. Consequently, families may value sons more than daughters, particularly when it comes to education, property, and financial opportunities.

The Hidden Cost of Dependence

In many lower-income families, parents struggle to provide education for their daughters. Instead, they may consider marriage the safest or most practical future. However, early marriage can limit a girl's choices and expose her to further vulnerability.

Financial independence also plays a crucial role. A woman who lacks her own income may find it extremely difficult to leave an abusive marriage. Therefore, economic dependence can trap women in dangerous situations even when they recognize the injustice they face. Breaking the Cycle: Empowering Women Against Violence and Inequality

Important Features of Women's Vulnerability

• Limited access to education

• Early and forced marriage

• Financial dependence

• Domestic violence

• Gender-based discrimination

• Unequal property rights

• Harmful social traditions

• Lack of safe shelters

• Limited employment opportunities

• Lack of awareness about legal rights

Unsa's Story: A Cycle of Abuse

Unsa's experience illustrates how poverty, ignorance, and harmful social norms can combine to destroy a young woman's choices. She lost her mother at an early age, and financial hardship eventually forced her father to stop her education.

Later, her family arranged her marriage while she was still very young. Unfortunately, violence soon entered her married life. Her husband and mother-in-law physically abused her, forcing her to return to her father's home. Breaking the Cycle: Empowering Women Against Violence and Inequality

Furthermore, while Unsa was pregnant, an uncle demanded that her future daughter marry his son. When Unsa rejected the idea, both her husband and uncle assaulted her. Thus, violence followed her even when she tried to protect herself and her child.

Empowerment Must Begin Early

Violence against women should never become a question of fate. Instead, society must recognize it as a consequence of inequality, harmful traditions, and unequal power.

Moreover, Islamic teachings emphasize compassion, dignity, and mutual responsibility within marriage. A wife should not serve as a household servant; rather, she should share life's responsibilities as an equal partner.

Education and Economic Independence

Therefore, women's empowerment must begin before marriage. Families should provide girls with education, vocational training, and practical skills. For instance, tailoring, embroidery, digital skills, teaching, and other suitable professions can help women build independent livelihoods.

Ultimately, an educated and financially independent woman gains greater control over her decisions. More importantly, society must ensure that no woman feels forced to accept violence simply because she lacks somewhere else to go.