“Behind every strong woman is a story that gave her no other choice" …Nakeia Homer
This quotation made me think. I mean really. Usually I read quotations and think, “That’s cute.” or “Clever!” or “Very profound.” THIS one, though, got me to thinking about the many strong women I’ve known and their stories.
If you know me, you know I’m not a feminist. Or really much of any other “…ist”. So don’t misunderstand me, but men don’t understand. Actually, most women don’t either. I can tell by the comments:
“You always have a choice.”
“I would have…(insert any action)…”
“You are too smart to put up with that.”
“You should have called the police.”
“You could have taken the children and
left.”
The answer to any of these questions is not simple. It is a very, very complicated journey from “We were high school sweethearts,” to “He wouldn’t allow me contact with friends or family.” It is a long and complex journey from “We were young and so in love,” to “He only hits me when he is drunk.” She can’t explain years and years of “no choice” in a few words.
It took a degree in Psychology PLUS really, really LISTENING to a few stories from strong women for me to kinda understand the concept of “no other choice”. Typically, unless you have been in a “no other choice” situation, you do NOT understand the concept. But here it is:
ONLY STRONG WOMEN SURVIVE THE “NO OTHER CHOICE” SITUATION. The weak ones usually don’t come out very well on the other side, if they come out at all.
Bottom line: If there was a choice, she was not in a “no other choice” situation, which is what people who have never been in a no other choice situation will likely never understand.
