Readers think it is better for a woman to leave an abusive marriage

isaac dachen

October 21, 2016 10:51 AM

51% of Pulse Nigeria Poll voters are of the view that a woman who is married to a wife beater should better leave for the sake of her children.

Domestic Violence, Wife Beating, Morning Teaser

Her husband, Abba, has turned her into a punching bag and for the 15 years she has been married, she has been living in hell.

Should she leave her husband so as to stay alive for her children's sake?

Read her story here:

"My name is Habiba, a 32-year-old married woman with four children. I have been married to Abba for 15 years now but I can say I have never enjoyed my marriage one bit.

My father gave me out to Abba who was in his late 30s and married to two other women when I was just 17 and fresh from secondary school.

Being from the northern part of the country, my parents placed so much emphasis on me and my sisters getting married quite early.

In fact, it was a battle for them to allow me to finish my secondary school and it took a stiff fight and the insistence of my two older brothers before my parents succumbed.

But in all my years of marriage, I have not been at peace either from my husband o0r his other wives.

Abba has turned me into his punching bag and beats me at every opportunity, even in the presence of my children.

Apart from beating me, Abba abuses me emotionally and sexually. Anytime he wants to have sex with me, Abba will beat me up and force himself on me. If I complain, he will beat me the more and threaten to send me out of his house.

He does all of these because he knows I have nowhere to go. The few times I have gone to my parent's house after one of such beatings, my father would practically drive me back to Abba's house, telling me I must stay in my marriage no matter what.

He has even vowed to place a curse on me if I run away from my husband. I know my father takes sides with my husband because of the money and other things Abba gives him.

But I am fed up and tired. I want to stay alive for my children but I fear if I don't walk away, my children could soon become motherless.

Habiba."

The teaser for the day was:

Would you stay in an abusive marriage because of your children and parents?

How Nigeria voted:

Yes, it is better to stay for the children's sake - 14%

No, it is better to walk away and live for the children - 51%

No woman should stay in an abusive marriage for any reason - 24%

If the woman dies, no one will take care of the children - 11%

What would be your vote here?

isaac dachen