Lost among much of the discussion of Ray Rice and the termination of his contract with the Baltimore Ravens today was the fact that the woman shown being knocked unconscious in the elevator was Rice’s fiancée at the time, and the two soon married. Why would Janay Rice stay with such an abusive man? Many women told their own stories on Twitter Monday under the hashtags #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft.
The #WhyIStayed hashtag is another heartbreaking and crucial example of social media's power to tell collective stories. Read it.
— Hiatusing Daniel José Older on Hiatus! (@djolder) September 8, 2014
https://twitter.com/lintacious/status/509166393259212800
https://twitter.com/gabifresh/status/509135774059483137
https://twitter.com/blowticious/status/509133665860079617
https://twitter.com/blowticious/status/509132786792665088
https://twitter.com/chelsea_elisa/status/509130072729862144
#whyistayed I didn't think I was a victim because I fought back
— Medium (@skinnney) September 8, 2014
https://twitter.com/NurseGerri/status/509169266554585089
#WhyIStayed I didn't want my children being raised without a father
— RhachelleNicol.com (@RhachelleNicol) September 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/KristieHelms/status/509169107955372032
You aren't working hard enough on your marriage unless you forgive him his family said. You aren't being a good wife. #WhyIStayed
— Gyggy (@gumshoe77) September 9, 2014
Emotional abusers have an ability to convince a woman that she is the crazy one #WhyIStayed my girls deserved a better example #whyileft
— Lisa Pimental-Lewis (@LisaPimental) September 9, 2014
Nowhere to go. To ashamed to admit what was happening to me. Didn't know how to leave. Was told it was my fault. #WhyIStayed
— mmmhhmm'Baku (@DuchessCadbury) September 9, 2014
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By the time I realized what was going on I was in too deep, too paralyzed to move. It felt like suicide was my only way out. #WhyIStayed
— Paige Occeñola (@ohnopaige) September 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/Jess_Wobig/status/509168593523970049
#WhyIStayed He threatened to keep the kids. I was beat down enough to believe him.
— Tracey (@full_mooncrazy) September 9, 2014
I was ignorant about #domesticviolence. I thought it was a matter of being smart/strong/loving enough to "help him" overcome #whyistayed
— Shauna Burbary (@ShaunaBurbary) September 9, 2014
When he stole my money and cut me off from everyone, I had no one to call, nowhere to go, and no way to get there. #WhyIStayed
— Amy Thomson (@AMarie9619) September 9, 2014
I thought leaving meant giving up, that I was to weak to hold us together. Losing myself was a small price to pay for love. #WhyIStayed
— Paige Occeñola (@ohnopaige) September 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/GOPMommy/status/509167686002409472
https://twitter.com/RepublicanSass/status/509167363464650752
https://twitter.com/lisaevictoria/status/509167005568483328
https://twitter.com/lintacious/status/509166893195091968
I stayed because he had all the money.
I stayed because I thought he would change.#WhyIStayed— Kimberly Brusk (@peaceforus4ever) September 9, 2014
Because his physical violence wasn't consistent, I didn't think it counted #WhyIStayed
— a (@galaxieswithin) September 9, 2014
It wasn't until he hit my best friend that I saw what a monster he really was. #WhyIStayed #whyileft
— jaxsaid ? (@jaxsaid) September 9, 2014
I had become small enough to believe I couldn't make it on my own. #WhyIStayed #WhyILeft I believed my real life was waiting. I was right.
— Deb Caletti (@debcaletti) September 9, 2014
#whyistayed I wasn't up to the probable custody battle. #WhyILeft My daughter was finally old enough. Marriage should never be mandatory.
— Kim Cowan (@kim0512) September 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/AbigailJaneTX/status/509170530646499328
He was kind, romantic, charming, funny, loving, passionate. He broke me down bit by bit: financially, emotionally, socially. #WhyIStayed
— Pamela Auble (@PamAuble) September 9, 2014
I thought emotional abuse was a natural part of every relationship #WhyIStayed
— a (@galaxieswithin) September 9, 2014
I was pregnant & scared to raise my child alone. I was embarrassed to ask my friends and family for help #WhyIStayed
— Georgia Fort (@ByGeorgiaFort) September 9, 2014
#WhyIStayed : when I tried to leave, I got punched in the face and I ran. He caught me. My head got stomped on and he put a gun to my head.
— bassfairie ✨ (@bassfairie360) September 9, 2014
#WhyIStayed #1 – Because she made me feel like I was imagining it, that I was going crazy. Because she isolated me from my friends & family.
— J.I.M.B.R.O.W.S.K.I. (@PeaceAndCheese) September 9, 2014
The #whyileft and #whyistayed hashtags are worth your time if you’re still wondering about the gravity of Ray Rice today.
— Joe Colella (@JoeCColella) September 9, 2014
There are so many courageous people sharing their #whyistayed and #whyileft stories. Domestic violence is a hidden issue, bring it to light!
— Carey Mercier (@carey_mercier) September 9, 2014
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/509167779719950336
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