To a Safer Place:

I have just watched the video and I am disgusted by what Shirley’s father did. I felt very

upset and discomfort when I was watching this video. I cannot believe that one father

can abuse his own daughter so brutally. I think, in the world parents are the safest

persons for the children. After watching the film, this is my main question is- how come

a father could abuse his own daughter? So, where are the girls safe? How come a

mentally normal person could abuse his own daughters day by day? I think Shirley’s

father was mentally sick. This is one types of disorder. Whatever may be about her

father, how come Shirley’s mother did not take any attempt for her daughters? When

her daughter went to tell her everything that was happing, she told her daughter, “Go

back to your father”- this was frustrating to me. I cannot imagine a mother can say that

in that situation.

I agree that in 1960s, social and family power belonged to men, and women had no

power to protest. But when own children were facing the troubles, she should protect

them by any means. Another striking feature was that social machineries like police,

neighbours, or other members of the family did not helped them. It caused be to be in

tears when Shirley told, “School bus was my safest place. I thought that if it would not

be stop, it was good for me. But it stopped.”Shirley did not like to give birth to a baby

girl. Because when she was a girl, she was not safe at her own home. I was also

disappointed with the role of the court, because it could exhibit due diligence to

investigate the case when they got complain.

After watching the video I realized that as a member of the society all of us have some

nested responsibilities to protect any bad occurrence. As a future ECE if a child begins

to tell me about any abusive incident, the first thing I’ll do is I listen to the child with due

diligence. By listening, I will let the child know that what he or she is saying is important.

I will then connect the issue to the proper authority for support. Because we know that

children are not responsible for their own safety, rather adults are responsible for the

safety of the children. I have read online another touching story like this one where a girl

was abused by her step-father (Divine Caroline).

Bibliography:

1. To a Safer place: Video showed by Erin Wallace

2. Divine Caroline. http://www.divinecaroline.com/22188/47994-story-sexual-

abuse