I was on my way to a venue in Makati City yesterday morning when I twisted my ankle just outside the Makati Med premises. I was lost and having trouble finding my way to my destination when this happened.
Against my better judgment, I braved the discomfort and went on walking, determined to not miss the 9 a.m. money management discussion. I was almost there, my gut was telling me. Just that I didn’t know which way to turn.
The case of the swollen ankle
Fifteen minutes later, I was still lost and walking around in circles. I decided to finally cut to the chase and hail a cab. I’ve wasted too much time already as it was. Besides, I wasn’t doing my ankle a favor. At noon, the discussion I came there for was over. It was well worth the hassle, mind you.
Then again, at this same time, I was on my way back to Makati Med with a good friend of mine. I hobbled my way to the emergency room, the discomfort in my ankle now a throbbing pain..
Waiting, looking, wondering
After the precursory this and that, seated on a wheelchair, I was asked to wait for an X-ray technician in a corner of the Primary Care section of the ER.
Image courtesy of kenfotos / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
With nothing else to do, no book or magazine handy, my incoming text messages very few and far between, you probably can guess what I did next – look around and observe.
One man on a hospital bed was sporting a bloody left eye, caused by an accident, I surmised. A little girl, probably four years old, came in with her mother and a round gash on her otherwise flawless forehead.
The mother told me the girl bumped her head on a wall. Another man arrived with a transparent eye protector on a covered left eye.
The case of the swollen eye
What affected me tremendously was this not-so-young woman who came in pushed by an elderly on a wheelchair. Her left eye was swollen black and blue. First thing that came to mind was, “This black eye is no accident. Somebody beat the crap out of her.”
As I was situated right outside the room where she was taken and nobody dared close the door while she was being examined, I was watching when she showed her lower legs to the doctor. These, too, were swollen black and blue.
The doctor asked if she wanted to file legal action against whoever hurt her, and you know what she said?
Beating, swelling, wondering
“No. It was my fault anyway.”
I had to look away. So this is what I so often hear about – the unfortunate battered woman syndrome.
How the beating got to be her fault was beyond me. She didn’t look like a predator, just slightly younger than my own mother’s 65 years, so self-defense by whoever hurt her was probably out of the question. Was she some kind of a crook? I don’t know. Your guess is as good as mine.
But a crook would most likely not admit to the attending physician the beating was entirely her fault.
Conclusion
Women are not perfect. We all know that. A good number of them may even come with an oversized mouth. But beating the daylights out of her when somebody perceives her to be at fault?
I just don’t get it at all.
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We should protect and inform others about rights of children and women.
I hate seeing people that hurts women.. Urggghhhh this is so inhumane for me
We share the same sentiment, Herbert. And it’s so sad that battered women, despite the help other people and organizations are willing to give would rather put the blame on themselves than put an end to all the beating.
You’re absolutely right, Zen! Something we can all do with our blogs, I guess. 😀
I had that syndrome. Good thing I came out of it. Eto kasi yan. Hindi lang kami physically battered. These men, they tell you over and over again na you’re no good … paulit ulit hanggang minsan, naniniwala ka na lang rin.
Kay, thank you for sharing your experience. It makes more people aware of the syndrome. And good thing you’ve come out of it. It will surely inspire a lot of women to do the same.
I agree women are not perfect, and i love my wife because I’m the half of her perfection 🙂
My recent post Bakit nga ba Cinderella?
Way to go, Kiko! Thanks for dropping by!
Sorry to hear about your throbbing pain from your troubled ankle. Cruelty among women or married women is common among Filipinos. There are factors like jealousy, temperament, heated argument among others are behind the maltreatment of these women. Naturally upon seeing them in swollen eyes, battered face, bloody nose, we right away pity them and even condemn her husband. But let’s consider the root causes of such agony the woman to suffer.
From RandomThoughts!
Gil, thanks for visiting. My ankle is a lot better now.
I appreciate and respect your view on this matter, really. But personally, I don’t think battery, maltreatment or physical abuse is the answer to ANY conflict. A woman has her flaws, that’s a given. But even then, I still don’t think it’s right to inflict pain – not just in women, but any human being, for that matter – when something is amiss. Communication is a great way to start.
I hope your ankle is ok now. I love wearing heels before and accident do happen. That had happened to me in the past.
The woman in your story should read this http://travel-on-a-shoe-string.blogspot.com/2011/12/republic-act-no-9262-act-defining.html
In the Philippines may ngipin na ang batas na yan!
Hey, Travel, thanks. My ankle is better now. And thank you for the link. That sure is going to help a lot of women. 😀
sprained ankle is really painful .i had the same accident back in Qatar,hubby rushed me to the hospital and put a cement on it and stayed there for 1 month.At this modern wordld there are still lots og=f battered women in the society, they should be blamed sometimes for allowing this to happen.
You’re right, Tess. And it’s so sad that these women have the help they can get, if only they learn to let go of their fear and reach out to those that are willing to help.
Speaking from experience as I’m in that situation now…..its not that easy.
I can only imagine how difficult being in this situation is. I honest-to-goodness hope you’re now on the road to recovery.