Sin by Silence Blog

Before Rihanna, there were the women of CWAA

Apr 7th, 2009 In: Director's Notes By: admin Comments 0

It’s been a few months now since the news about Rihanna and Chris Brown’s relationship broke in the news.  The rumors, the headlines, the picture, the not guilty plea…it’s hard not to wonder what is really going on behind the scenes of this situation.  Unfortunately, we’ll probably never know the truth.  Yet, what we have been able to do is shatter the stigma that abusive realtionships can only happen with certain people.

I have been working with the issues of domestic violence for quite some time now, yet I even find myself wondering….how could she have possibly forgiven him and taken him back?  But, then I have to remind myself that Rihanna is the same as any other victim of domestic violence.  Her celebrity status does not automatically make her into Wonder Woman.  And just like the women of Sin by Silence she is in a tough situation where she wants to give Chris Brown the benefit of the doubt.  She wants to believe his apologies.  She wants to believe his promises.  She wants to believe that her love for him will change him.

Yet, the lessons Rihanna has to learn can only happen on her own terms and not on the terms of celebrity gossip pressuring and ridiculing her at the possibility of taking him back.  The emotions of fear, denial, and the desire to “make it work” can cloud anyone’s judgment.  But, hopefully the cautionary stories found in Sin by Silence can help all women, including Rihanna, realize that they actually can leave, stand on their own two feet, and live the normal and healthy life that they deserve.