A groundbreaking 2023 study in neuroscience, conducted by Myra Fernandez and Brady Roberts at the University of Waterloo, confirmed what ancient people have always known intuitively: our brains remember symbols more easily than words. But symbols are more than memory devices—they are vessels of emotion and experience. They “speak” the mysterious language of the soul, reaching places words cannot touch. They awaken dormant parts of our psyches, activating archetypal forces within.

Since the dawn of human civilization, symbols have served as powerful keys to the unseen. They transcend language and time, encoding knowledge and cosmic energies. For the ancients—from Sumer to Egypt, from India to Greece—symbols were not decorative flourishes. They were energetic tools for intention, healing, and transformation. Each symbol was a portal, not only to inner and collective wisdom but to the fulfillment of desires. As such, for centuries, they influenced not just the soul, but the body as well.

It silences their voices, shrinks their choices, polices their bodies, and limits their potential. But what we rarely say out loud — what we need to name, too — is that patriarchy wounds everyone. Including men, children, and grown-ups as well.

Patriarchy is not just a "women's issue." It's a human issue. And it's time we look at the cost it imposes on all of us.

The Female Cost: Obvious and Pervasive

Trauma bond is a powerful emotional attachment that forms between an abuser and their victim. It’s not rooted in love or genuine connection—it’s forged in a cycle of abuse, confusion, and intermittent kindness. And the cruel irony is: while you were drowning in emotional pain, they barely felt a ripple.

Here’s what makes trauma bonds so challenging to break—and why the experience is so different for the victim and the abuser.

1. You Felt Powerless—They felt exhilarated with complete Control over your actions

Victims of trauma bonds often feel emotionally imprisoned. They live through extreme emotional highs and lows: moments of affection followed by punishment, withdrawal, or cruelty. This cycle creates dependency.

At first glance, the idea that abuse can destroy every aspect of a woman’s life—her friendships, career, health, and sense of self—might sound exaggerated or even unbelievable. Some may dismiss it as bad luck, fate, or even something as far-fetched as a curse or black magic.

But if you’ve never found yourself in the grip of domestic abuse, it's nearly impossible to understand the depth of its impact—unless you've been professionally trained in recognizing dynamics like coercive control or intimate terrorism.

When a beloved mother, sister, daughter, or friend is caught in the web of a coercively controlling relationship, the natural instinct of family and friends is to do something—anything—to save her. Yet too often, these efforts, though well-meaning, fall painfully short. Why?

Not because of a lack of love.

But because of a lack of understanding.

It's human nature to seek approval from others, especially those we trust and respect. When these individuals are empathetic and supportive, it typically fosters healthy validation. However, placing your sense of self-worth in the hands of a narcissistic or exploitative individual is profoundly risky and nearly always backfires.

Narcissists excel at keeping their partners in emotional limbo—offering just enough positive reinforcement to sustain hope, yet undermining it with subtle criticisms and manipulative behavior.

Toxic relationships can take many forms, affecting personal, family, and workplace dynamics. For survivors of domestic abuse or gender-based violence, recognizing manipulation tactics can be difficult—especially before they fully understand that what they’re experiencing is abuse.

The Manipulator’s Playbook: Wearing You Down