Making the Invisible, Visible: The First Step to Freedom

Domestic Abuse is an issue facing the modern world.  Millions of women today are enslaved and abused by employers. The mistreatment of domestic workers is all too familiar in our day and age. Too many women are exposed to the malice of employers and are stripped of their simple rights as human beings. 

This issue needs to be exposed and known to everyone everywhere, especially here in Asia, and particularly in Malaysia where human trafficking for the request for domestic workers is high. The abuse of domestic workers could be happening in our community and I feel it is important people and the domestic workers themselves realize the rights that they have and deserver rights. Also the public needs to understand that when a domestic worker is in need of help from abuse it is the right thing to do to report the violence and possibly even save someone's life.

Throughout the research we have done, some of the facts and personal stories are surprising and disturbing. For example there have been many cases of abused workers that remain silent and in need of help. As well as the shock that the government does not recognize domestic work as work, relieving them from any legal documents or minimum wage for their work. But the scariest thing is the conditions some women are living with in silence and in need of help. Many domestic workers are repeatedly abused and harassed by employers and sometimes not even paid for their work. They have to endure this pain in silence and often with no escape as they feel they have no aid from the outside world.

Every new piece of information I learn about this topic makes me more concerned for the future of these women and in which direction the world seems to be heading in terms of slavery. I hope that steps can be taken to free the abused and end this issue of exploitation that seems so primitive.


Photograph from http://udquickly.udayton.edu/scribblings/2012/02/modern-day-slavery/