18/12/2024
Understanding the Roots of Gender-Based Violence
Good day, ladies and gentlemen,
It is both a privilege and a somber responsibility to stand before you today as we tackle a matter that continues to devastate families, destroy lives, and hold society captive in a cycle of pain and suffering. I speak of the tragic and incomprehensible phenomenon of men killing women—an issue that demands our immediate and united action.
While we condemn such acts unequivocally, it is crucial to delve into the roots of this violence, not as a way of excusing it, but as a means of preventing it. If we are to create a society where women feel safe and men can express themselves without fear, we must understand the underlying factors that lead some men to commit such heinous acts.
The Burden of Silence and Suppressed Pain
Many men are raised in a culture that demands stoicism and strength at all costs. From a young age, boys are taught that expressing vulnerability is a sign of weakness. "Real men don’t cry" is a refrain many of us have heard, and it has created generations of men who bottle up their emotions.
In relationships, this often translates to a man who feels unable to communicate his feelings of frustration, inadequacy, or pain. Instead of seeking help or expressing vulnerability, he suppresses his emotions, letting them fester. Over time, these suppressed emotions can explode in unhealthy and destructive ways.
This emotional repression is compounded by the fact that many men have no safe spaces to share their struggles. Society often dismisses male pain, assuming that men should simply "man up" and deal with it. This lack of support leaves many men feeling isolated, resentful, and misunderstood.
The Cycle of Abuse and Trauma
Another factor is the cycle of abuse. Many perpetrators of violence grew up in homes where abuse was normalized. A boy who witnesses his father mistreat his mother may internalize the belief that dominance equals strength and that v
