Women as silent, broken dolls

13.05.2011                      09.Ijar, 5771                      Tag 24 des Omer

Unterdrückung:

Women as silent, broken dolls

A director sheds light on sexual abuse of women in Arab society.

One of the interviewees in the film "Doma" sits in her house next to a window overlooking the sea. Only parts of her are reflected in the window pane. In quiet, almost whispered tones, the woman offers a heartbreaking tale of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her uncle since she was five. When she tried to resist, he threatened to go after her sisters. Her grandmother witnessed what was going on under her nose one night, but chillingly chose to do nothing and say nothing.
"I couldn't scream because if anyone heard or found out about what he was doing, it would be a big mess," says the woman, explaining why she remained silent over the year. "Many times he would tell me that nobody could know, because if that happened, my parents would get divorced, my brothers would be sent to different places and the two families would fight, and my brothers and sisters wouldn't get married. I would bring shame on my family; I would cause damage and ruin my brothers' and sisters' future. Here …you are responsible for the entire clan."…