Mayaa SH is a distinguished Indian author, poet, activist, and feminist philosopher renowned for her extensive work in combating domestic violence and advocating for women’s rights and gender equality. Her approach is deeply rooted in her personal experiences as a survivor and her comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics of abuse . She is recognized for her multifaceted contributions to literature, social activism, and women’s empowerment initiatives, earning her various monikers such as “Firebrand Feminist” and “Lady Robin Hood” .
Mayaa SH’s advocacy against domestic violence is driven by a commitment to systemic change, emphasizing that it is a societal issue rather than merely a personal one . Her work focuses on raising awareness about the cycle of abuse, challenging victim-blaming attitudes, empowering women through education, and advocating for legal reforms . She believes in the transformative power of education and awareness to dismantle rape culture and foster a society where women are treated with dignity and respect .
Literary Contributions and Advocacy :
Mayaa SH has authored numerous works, including over two hundred and fifty plus co-authored anthologies and inked over fourteen solo books, showcasing her prolific output in literature .Her book, Stamped: For Domestic Violence Survivors, is a collection of motivational quotes and real-life testimonies designed to instill hope and self-confidence in survivors who have lost their self-esteem due to abuse. The book aims to empower individuals trapped in cycles of trauma, exploitation, and abuse, particularly those lacking economic independence or social acceptance to break free . It implicitly encourages readers to understand the cycle of abuse tension building, incident of abuse, reconciliation, and calm to facilitate their healing and recovery.
Beyond her literary contributions, Mayaa SH actively engages in public discourse on gender-based violence, utilizing social media hashtags like #OrangeTheWorld and #GenerationEquality to raise awareness. She advocates for challenging inappropriate behavior, understanding relevant data, and urging government investment in data collection on gender-based violence . She also suggests that employers play a crucial role in creating supportive workplace cultures that encourage survivors to seek mental health support .
Understanding the Cycle of Abuse :
A central theme in Mayaa SH’s work is the cycle of abuse, which typically involves four phases: tension building, an incident of abuse, reconciliation (often called the “honeymoon phase”), and a calm period . She highlights how this cycle can be difficult for victims to recognize and escape, and how it can perpetuate across generations, with children from abusive homes being at a significantly higher risk of repeating the cycle themselves . Research indicates that children from abusive homes are three to four times more likely to become victims or perpetrators of abuse.
The phases of the cycle are described as:
- Tension building: Characterized by increasing tension, arguments, and minor abusive incidents, where the victim may try to appease the abuser .
- Incident: The acute phase where the abuser releases built-up tension through physical, verbal, emotional, or psychological abuse .
- Reconciliation: The abuser may apologize, make excuses, or blame the victim, often involving promises of change .
- Calm: A temporary period where the abuse seems to have stopped, but the cycle will eventually begin again .Over time, the cycle can shorten, with periods of reconciliation and calm diminishing, leading to more frequent and severe incidents.
Empathy vs. Sympathy :
Mayaa SH emphasizes that survivors of domestic violence must be approached with empathy rather than sympathy . Empathy fosters understanding, builds trust, and empowers survivors, which are crucial for their healing and ability to escape abusive situations . Sympathy, while well-intentioned, can create distance and potentially lead to judgment, which is counterproductive . Empathy involves actively understanding the survivor’s psychological state and acknowledging their pain without judgment, validating their experiences and helping them overcome self-blame .
Feminism and Domestic Abuse :
Feminism, according to Mayaa SH, addresses domestic abuse by identifying its root causes in patriarchal systems and gender inequality . The movement views domestic abuse as a pervasive societal issue stemming from power imbalances between genders, advocating for systemic change and providing crucial support for survivors . She asserts that feminism is not a war against men but against the ideology of patriarchy . Feminist approaches encompass prevention, intervention, and policy advocacy, recognizing that violence is a learned, gendered, and institutionally supported behavior.
Mental Health and Gender-Based Violence :
Mayaa SH highlights the profound impact of gender-based violence (GBV) on women’s mental health, noting that survivors are at a significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety, and PTSD . GBV can lead to a range of psychological distress and psychiatric disorders, often overlooked in favor of physical injuries . She points out that women in India show a higher rate of completed suicides compared to men, often linked to GBV . Mayaa SH is also a recognized expert in suicide prevention and mental health awareness, actively working to destigmatize mental health challenges and using conversation as a tool to help women manage stress and fear .
Broader Advocacy and Impact :
Mayaa SH’s advocacy extends beyond domestic violence to champion the cause of acid attack survivors, particularly in India . Her approach combines advocacy, legal reform, and direct support, focusing on empowering these survivors to regain confidence and reintegrate into society through medical assistance, psychological counseling, and vocational training. She also addresses the root causes of acid attacks, often linked to gender-based violence and societal pressures, to prevent future incidents and promote a culture of respect and equality .
Her work aligns with global frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, emphasizing the importance of women’s education, health, identity, economic independence, and social freedom .Mayaa SH’s dedication has garnered numerous national and international accolades, solidifying her status as a transformative figure in contemporary Indian literature and social reform .
Violence against women is preventable. The health sector has an important role to play to provide comprehensive health care to women subjected to violence, and as an entry point for referring women to other support services they may need.Many women have reiterated and expressed before me, that a ‘Woman’ is not an object of delight. ‘Woman’ is not a perfect notion of a ‘Good Wife’ in a man’s head. ‘Woman’ is not to be a female Einstein brain always, ‘Woman’ is not a liking for Louboutin shoes meant to be idealised as the most expensive because of their craftsmanship, luxury materials, and brand name. Besides, an emphasis or any of the other sexist ideas now somehow touted as progressive is not fair to be called ‘gender neutral’ . Moreover, the ‘diversity inclusive causes’ that calls female people ‘menstruators’ and ‘people with vulvas’ strikes many women as dehumanising and demeaning. Those who’ve had degrading slurs spat at many by violent people, it’s not neutral, it’s hostile and alienating.
My interest in women-related issues is pre-dated by a matter of a girl almost a year and a half ago, during which I followed the debate around the concept of gender neutrality closely. I’ve interacted with trans people, and read sundry books, blogs and articles by trans people, gender specialists, psychologists, safeguarding experts, social workers and doctors, and followed the discourse online and in traditional media. On one level, my interest in this issue has been professional, because I feel I can understand the emotions that many people bear in their mind latently of non being able to communicate freely. This is due to being judged harshly and eliminated and humiliated by many in the society. All this is truly presented and set in the present day, and my contemporary female detective is of an age to be interested in, and affected by, when we lose a human life, but on another, it’s intensely personal, as I have seen the negative impact on many as social and economic impacts have increased the exposure of women to abusive partners and known risk factors while limiting their access to services. Situations of humanitarian crises and displacement may exacerbate existing violence, such as by intimate partners, as well as non-partner sexual violence, and may also lead to new forms of violence against women.
All one can ask and wish is for similar empathy, similar understanding, to be extended to the many millions of women whose sole crime is wanting their concerns to be heard without receiving threats and abuse. People may not be judged harshly on any stress they are trying to cope with both mentally and physically. Life is long and there is so much to celebrate about. Community norms that privilege or ascribe higher status to men and lower status to women; low levels of women’s access to paid employment; and low level of gender equality (discriminatory laws, etc.) can all contribute to fatal outcomes like homicide or suicide.
We should live a life that is useful to others. A person should give up his or her selfishness and live for others. One should have kindness, compassion and benevolence, not pride. If we live for others then even our death can become a good depart and if we can touch lives, there is nothing bigger than that.
About the Author
Mayaa SH is a known name in contemporary literature. She is an internationally acclaimed and awardee ,multi-national and state awards winner, a thirteen-time world records holder, an artist, a podcaster, and a chart-topping international fastest anthology co-authoress. Mayaa SH is an Indian authoress, writer, thinker, essayist, and women’s empowerment culturist. Her contemporary prose work has highlighted and broken so many stereotypes about women and their power of self-belief.Mayaa SH is a known name in contemporary literature. Mayaa SH is an Indian authoress, writer, thinker, internationally acclaimed authoress, developmental feminist,essayist, and women’s empowerment culturist. Her contemporary prose work has highlighted and broken so many stereotypes about women and their power of self-belief.Mayaa SH holds the distinction of being the most celebrated and most anthologized of Indian Contemporary women authoresses. A versatile genius an authoress, an essayist,a powerful feminist writer, a columnist and a podcaster she has been a favourite with her readers and critics alike. She is known for her bold expression of social behaviour which otherwise is labelled as taboo.Mayaa SH is a legendary woman poetess who epitomizes the modernization of the Indian feminine poetic psyche. She talks about women who have passed through a period of frustration, depression, gloom, depression, pain, suffering, rootlessness, agony and torture. Her writings are a very strong expression of feminine sensibility. It is to be looked as celebration of beauty and courage of being a woman. She is every woman expressing all that comes with the territory of being a woman the strong wants as a woman, the beauty of an assertive mind, the dependence on man for the happiness, the concern with physical decay, the identity crisis, the unwilling acceptance of allotted roles and lamentations against the insensitive male dominated society.Mayaa SH is a multifaceted individual, serving as an authoress, podcaster, educator, mentor for women, motivational speaker, and a proponent of gender equality. She is also a suicide prevention expert and an advisor on family law. Her work challenges stereotypes surrounding women and emphasizes the importance of self-belief and motivation.Mayaa SH’s contributions to society extend to mental health and suicide prevention, as well as her efforts to combat human trafficking and support acid attack survivors. Her dedication to uplifting women and addressing critical societal issues has made her a transformative figure in the realm of women’s empowerment.
