Time to Speak Up

In a very interesting study, researchers found that while most men benefit from marriage in terms of health, many women are often silenced, experience irritable bowel syndrome, and are depressed.

This is not new news, as many folks say that marriage is often pushed in this country because it is good for both the man, and the capitalist machine: when men come home from work they get a good meal, they get clean clothes, they can be comforted...and this means that they are less likely to quit their job, that they will get up every morning and fiscally contribute. This is not to say that working is a bad thing, but what is wrong is this reliance on women to get their man's ass out of the house...this perpetuation continues to place women in the position of maid or assistant; not an equal.

Women, on the other hand, have to come home from work, put on their rubber gloves, and begin their second job. I do wish that these truths could only be seen on 1950s TV programming, but the reality is that women are still forced to be submissive (however, obviously, forces such as feminism have allowed more equal roles to take place).

And this leads up to the most important finding: women who are in these types of relationships must adhere to her husband's rules because of the verbal, emotional and physical abuse, or possibly death. As a result, many will stay silent during explosive arguments, or when their men come home stressed out...better to rub his feet than speak her mind:

Over a 10-year period, the most striking finding was that women who self-silenced were four times more likely to die than women who expressed themselves freely during marital arguments.

Women: if this is you, or a friend, you must believe in the strength of help. It is out there. Don't be afraid to speak up.