For years, Tsehai Wodajo kept silent about the hitting and
forced sex she endured at the hands of her husband.
Now she is publicly sharing her story of survival in the
hopes of changing cultural attitudes about violence in the home and rallying
women to support one another.
"It's like my 'coming out,'" Wodajo said of her
decision to talk about her own life.
A social worker, she is speaking at an upcoming photography
exhibit and cultural presentation at Augsburg College about the resilience and
beauty of the Oromo women of Ethiopia.
Wodajo, a member of the Oromo community, moved to the United
States about 20 years ago from Ethiopia.
The Oromos are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and also
live in Kenya and some parts of Somalia.
In Minnesota, they make up the second-largest ethnic group
from East Africa, Wodajo says.
"I went to the shelter a couple times. I was involved
with the police," she said. "At some point, the rumor got out ... and
I was ostracized."
Other presenters will talk about the role Oromo women have
had historically on shaping the culture.
The photos in the exhibit were taken by Peri Klemm, an
associate professor of art history at California State University, Northridge,
who documented the lives of Oromo women living in Ethiopia.
Samples of the images that will be on display show girls and
women adorned in colorful, cultural dress.
No comments:
Post a Comment