The first three times I ever asked for help while living in an abusive relationship, I turned to my father. He was the male figure I believed was supposed to protect me from any harm in my life. But for more than a decade, every time I found the courage to ask for help, the message was the same: the blame was placed on me.
I grew up with pain, guilt, and the responsibility of caring for my siblings. When I was 10, I was sexually abused by my uncle and my grandfather, over and over again. I grew up carrying that burden alone, convincing myself it was normal. My parents’ beatings were part of everyday life. I had no one to trust.
Engaging in conversations with friends and family about these issues has been fulfilling. It’s rewarding to be part of a larger community dedicated to holistic advocacy for survivors. Together, we are working towards a better future, and every voice matters.
Int. 1216 would require the NYC Office to End Gender-Based Violence to create and distribute informational posters—available in multiple languages—to educate the general public on recognizing the signs of GBV and how those facing it may access support services.
As time went by, everything was changing, everyone had their own priorities, and I felt lost and confused. I remember that my mother always told me, “Don’t let a man raise his voice or hit you.” At that time she had already received VIP services and I saw her more free than ever. In her outreaches as a Promotora, always taking us along, I saw how she saw herself in other women who asked what VIP was. My mom, very confident, would talk about the services they were offering at the time, but she would also explain that abuse is not just physical, that there are other abuses as well; emotional, financial, digital, mental, verbal, and sexual. Without Mom knowing it, I was going through abuse but I was too embarrassed to tell her.
The Violation of Reproductive Rights as Gender-Based Violence does not only include physical violence or harm, but it is a continuum of actions leading to a violation of an individual’s bodily integrity and human rights. Of these, the rollback or constraint of reproductive justice is arguably one of the most far-reaching forms of systematic oppression that targets women, especially ethnic minorities. Working for a domestic violence organization led by Latina women and in a Latinx community, I know that race and gender are involved in such oppression and domination.
