Ray and Janay Rice: Why Does She Stay?

     In case you haven't heard Ray Rice has been let go from the Baltimore Raven and has been suspended from the NFL for knocking his wife out in an elevator in a hotel. There have been two tapes that have surfaced. The first one was was released to the public back in February. The first video shows Rice carrying his unconscious then fiance out of the elevator. Oops did I say carry? I meant dragging her out like he was a caveman. Rice was confronted by someone who was working at the hotel who reported to the authorities what happened.
     A second video of the attack has surfaced recently. This time we actually see him actually knocking Janay out. They have an argument and she approaches him. Rice then punches her and she goes down, hitting her head on the rail. Rice then proceeds to drag her out like the first video. A man shouldn't hit a woman in ANY circumstance. It shows lack of character and lack of manhood. As shocking as what Rice has done to her, Janay, now his wife, has decided to stay by his side. Why is that? Why do women who suffer abuse, never leave until it is too late and the abuse gets intense?
     Abuse comes in different forms. It can be physical or mental. It can also be verbal. Whether it is any of those things, it brings down a person's self esteem. It gets them to a point that they do feel like they are worthless and they deserve this punishment.Along with the punishment, the man secludes the woman, keeping her from friends and family and threatens her to kill or harm them even more if they try to seek help. Leaving an abusive relationship doesn't happen in a blink of an eye. It is a process. Most importantly it is a plan. If you are in a abusive relationship, there are steps you can do to ensure the safety of your life.
     Bottom line if someone has to control or abuse you, it isn't love. Love doesn't knock you out unconscious in an elevator. It doesn't give you a black eye and it doesn't make you feel like you are worthless. There might be a chance Rice may have learned from his mistakes but, the is a greater chance that he hasn't. Most abusers don't. As Oprah said to Rihanna in regards to her relationship with Chris Brown, "If a man hits you once, he will hit you again."

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)