We continue to treat women like property

Another day, another act of senseless violence from another insecure man who believes he owns a woman who wants to leave him.

Is there a time when this will eventually change?

Out of that incident on Wednesday morning on Waltham Park Road, a 12-year-old girl is now an orphan. Her father shot her mother and then turned the gun on himself. From all the reports I have read on this, the woman had been abused for years by the man, who entertained other women even while expecting loyalty from the woman who bore his child.

I realise that men have been socialised to believe certain things, and behave a certain way when it comes to the women they are with. I also know that as men, we have the power to break away from those 'norms' and think with our brains.

Many men are chock-full of pride and cannot fathom the idea that women should be allowed to leave them, regardless of how badly they are being treated. The irony about this is that many of these same men would not want any man to treat their sisters or mothers in a similar manner.

Why, then, do we continue to treat women like this, like property?

This 12-year-old child, who has lost both parents, must now find a way to navigate a world that she will discover is a lot more hostile than she could ever imagine. All her goals and dreams were dashed in a matter of seconds.

She is going to require counselling and support, and I can guarantee that she will not get all the help required for as long as she needs it. So, basically, three lives were destroyed in that one incident on Wednesday morning, all because of one man's insecurities and pride.

Men, we have to change. We have to teach our sons to change. I say this because I can bet money, good money, too, that after the incident yesterday there were many who put the blame squarely at the feet of the woman.

By later yesterday, there were many asking why she didn't leave? Based on what happened on Wednesday, the answer is extremely clear why she didn't.

And that brings me back to my original point. We have to change. Any woman living in fear of her boyfriend or husband is not in a relationship. What she is, is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and neither is acceptable.