To men who punch their wives

I reckon some are already wondering why I could be wasting newspaper space discussing such a ‘negligible’ matter; a non- issue that even some married women consider a normal occurrence in a marriage.

The reasons that prompt some men to resolve family disputes using blows, slaps or punches are diverse. Apart from the deeply held beliefs about masculinity, which sometimes form a basis for some men to just exercise physical and emotional control over their spouses, there are the petty differences about choice of television channels, dressing or financial expenditure that also stir such beatings.

What I find surprising though is that while these reasons make sense when a man beats his wife, the same man will find these same grounds appalling or irrational when another man applies them to beat his sister or daughter.

Many are the men who find satisfaction in inflicting pain on another man’s daughter or sister cannot stand their own blood undergoing similar treatment at the hands of another man even when the ‘justifications’ for their actions bear similarities.

How I wish such men would take time to think of how they would want their sister or daughter treated by their husband in times of disagreements.

Imagine the sister you respect and love dearly being hit by their husband every time they have a misunderstanding?

Picture the sweet daughter you have struggled to bring up, educate and all, being punched like a bag whenever their husband feels like beating them up.

Isn’t it puzzling then that while the majority of abusive men cannot stand a fellow man maltreating their daughter or sister the same way they mistreat their wives, they take pride in administering that dreaded treatment to another man’s daughter or sister?

So, next time you turn your wife into a punching bag, think of your existing or future son-in-law squeezing life out of your precious daughter just because dinner was prepared late.

The next time you raise your hand to slap another man’s daughter, visualise your own daughter being dehumanised by some man who made you a promise to take good care of her when you handed her over in marriage.

Next time you decide to kick the hell out of that woman you call your wife; I hope a picture of your helpless daughter lying on the floor, bleeding and going through all that suffering will emerge in your mind.

I hope you will imagine the daughter you struggled to bring up so well, walking home with a bruised face or a broken arm simply because her husband—the man you fully entrusted the responsibility of looking after the child you dearly love—decided to treat her like an animal.

I wonder if the arguments you make when beating your wife will make sense with your injured daughter sitting or lying before you.