In spite of the growing climate of violence, women in Paraiba are fighting back. Maryknollers Efu Nyaki, Connie Pospisil and Kathleen Bond along with Brazilian counterparts accompany the women s groups in both rural and urban areas. The weekly, two-hour courses dive into health, sexuality, and citizenship issues, stressing the value of the women s experiences. Reflections on human rights and violence against women are integral parts of the work. Great care is devoted to inviting women to explore the various forms of violence in their lives.
Physical beatings are merely one example.
He always assures me that he is going to follow me to the group and make an ugly scene. The irony is that he is the one who has been unfaithful for the last 20 years. One day he even said that he was going to buy a gun and blow my head off. Many of the women that participate in the groups have experienced negative reactions from their husbands. Some leave because the risk is too high but many stay.