An Analysis Of The Movie “Women Talking”: The Effects Of Rape And Abuse

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By amandah@abuserefuge.org ARO BLOG April 24, 2023

An Analysis Of The Movie “Women Talking”: The Effects Of Rape And Abuse

by- Hannah Jagiri

The movie “Women Talking” is centered around a group of women who have been constantly raped and abused by men in their community . The movie opens with a group of women that find out that the bruises on their thighs and semen they’ve been waking up to haven’t been caused by Satan, demons, or wild female imagination like they have been led to believe but by the men of their colony. They face the dilemma of staying, doing nothing, or leaving. Rape and Domestic Abuse can cause deep-seated psychological and physical trauma.

Throughout the movie, we can see the effects of rape and abuse on the women as some of the women begin showing the classic signs of PTSD.

The Effects Of Rape And Domestic Violence

There is no singular response to abuse. People respond differently, and just because not all Victims of abuse and Domestic Violence respond the same way doesn’t make light of the situation. Below are examples of the effects of rape and Domestic Abuse.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

In the movie, all the women show signs of severe PTSD. Still, notable mention is Mejal, who experiences extreme panic attacks from the constant rape she has endured .

One of the symptoms of PTSD is unexplained outbursts. Salome and Mariche cannot contain their rage because of the pent-up feelings inside them. They constantly throw a fit whenever they want to express themselves, almost as if they have no control over their emotions.

Flashbacks

Victims of Sexual and Domestic Abuse often get flashbacks of their trauma, which hinders them from functioning at an optimal level. The movie employs a unique literary technique to not just show the flashbacks of the women’s traumas but alsohow how reliving the trauma impacts them.

The Feeling Of Being Powerless

Some of the women in the colony felt powerless and even chose to stay and do nothing. This is how abusers gain total control over their Victims. They make them feel like there is no way out of the situation and that trying to make any move against their abusers will be futile.

Aside from the psychological effects, physical trauma is displayed on the women’s bodies in various ways. We witness bruised thighs, lost teeth from Domestic Abuse, and black eyes from a drunk, abusive husband.

There are also instances of recurring panic attacks and other unexpected consequences of the men’s actions. Ona is pregnant and forced to become a mother, while Salome endures a day and a half of travel to get her four-year-old daughter antibiotics.

In the same way that the physical impact differs from woman to woman, so do each of these women’s responses. Seething with rage, Salome tries to kill one of the men, while Ona is left with so many profound questions. Mariche, whose husband is an abuser, has accepted what she feels is her reality.

Women Talking touches on various societal issues while shedding light on how people respond differently to abuse and where is one abuse, there are almost always several.

There are so many abuses to be aware of and Abuse Refuge Org (ARO) supports Victims of Abuse and seeks to educate.

We at ARO are here to support you in your personal healing journey to complete well-being. We bring awareness and education to 21 different types of abuse, including Sexual Abuse, Spousal Abuse, Physical Abuse, Psychological Abuse, Narcissistic Abuse, Financial Abuse, Self Abuse, Elderly Abuse, Isolation Abuse, Child Abuse, Bullying, Cyberbullying, Workplace Abuse, Religious Abuse, Medical Abuse, Food Abuse, Political Abuse, Authority Abuse, Educational Abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation, and Sex Trafficking and help others heal and find peace. Please support our efforts by going to GoARO.org to learn how you can impact the Abuse Care Community and provide life-saving financial assistance with a donation.