During the 1967 Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer crossed the finish line as the first woman to compete as an officially registered runner, defying the era’s misogynistic insistence that women were physically incapable of endurance running. However, it wasn’t just the 26.2-mile course she had to overcome.
In the sprawling world of online wellness, a new kind of influential voice has emerged—one that promises transformation, healing, emotional rebirth, and more. These promises are sold easily with nothing more than a subscription link and a charismatic smile, often found without trying while scrolling social media.
Abuse often starts long before anyone recognizes it, rooted in the cultural norms and expectations that quietly shape how people are treated and how they learn to respond. Nowhere is this more visible than in the gender roles many people absorb from childhood, dictating who should be gentle, who should be tough, who should endure, and who should never show weakness. These expectations don’t just influence behavior; they shape entire patterns of silence.
Imagine you are in the middle of a high-stakes Zoom call when your phone buzzes. It’s your partner, whom you’ve asked to take care of your child for just one night.
“Where is the baby bottle?” the text reads.
You reply with a quick message reminding him you are in a meeting.
For many people behind bars, the story didn’t begin with a crime; it began with a wound. Cycles of abuse, neglect, and survivalism shape countless lives long before a prison sentence ever does. When children grow up without guidance, without safety, without anyone modeling compassion, it’s not surprising that some eventually stumble into the only patterns they’ve ever known.