Domestic Abuse in “The Husband Stitch” by Carmen Maria Machado Samaa Hosny 12th Grade

Living in a patriarchal society has given men a great sense of entitlement. Men often think that since they are seen as the strong and able sex, then they should be permitted to do whatever they like. It is almost like a constant need for validation on their part. Men have been told time and time again that they are all powerful so they frequently assert their dominance through violence, and more often than not, that violence is directed at women. Since women are seen as the weaker sex, they have automatically been downgraded to being men’s servants throughout history. Unfortunately, men who take out their violence on the women in their lives are more common than those who do not.

Domestic abuse and marital rape are two very common parts of a relationship and have been for many ages. As aforementioned, women are perceived as the weaker sex, so they simply accept their role of not only partners to the men, but also their maids and their stress-relievers. Partners in an abusive relationship rarely notice that they are, in fact, being abused. They simply see it as an act of love. Women usually believe that men abusing them means that they care, so they actually appreciate the abuse and consider themselves lucky that they are even...