Using literature to highlight social issues affecting women and children

Fiction as a Mirror to Reality

Stories hold power. They illuminate truths, challenge injustice, and give voice to the silenced. For me, writing is more than storytelling- it is advocacy, a way to bring awareness to the realities of violence against women and children.

My work deeply influenced my novel, Sun on Your Back, in violence against women and children. It is a story of survival, injustice, and the hard fight for justice in a world that often fails victims.

One of the most poignant passages in the book highlights a stark reality:

“Almost two-thirds of the murder cases that go through the courts in Zimbabwe are domestic violence cases. The average sentence for men who kill their partners here and, in fact, around the world is two to six years. In the UK, according to government statistics, 46 percent of murdered women are killed by a partner or ex-partner. The lives of women and children are cheap and expendable.”

This conversation between Diara and Rudo in Sun on Your Back reflects real-life legal and societal challenges -the systemic inequalities that allow perpetrators of violence to walk free while victims remain unheard or blamed.

The Injustice in the Justice System

 Why do women who kill in self-defence receive harsher sentences than men who murder their partners?

This is not just fiction-it is a fact. Studies across the world show:

 Women who kill abusive partners in self-defence often receive longer sentences than men who commit premeditated murders.

 Children who survive abusive households frequently face the trauma alone, with little institutional support.

Courts dismiss domestic violence cases too readily, placing an unfair burden of proof on victims.

Diara’s journey in Sun on Your Back is more than personal; it mirrors countless real-life cases of women fighting a system designed to fail them.

The Power of Storytelling in Advocacy

When legal and political systems fail, stories can make people listen.

Through Sun on Your Back, I aim to:

• Expose the realities of domestic violence and gender-based injustice.
• Challenge the biases in legal systems that favour abusers over victims.
• Let the unheard survivors—women and children—speak out against the injustice they face.

This is not just a literary theme-it is an actual battle being fought daily in courtrooms, shelters, and homes across the world.

Why This Story Matters?

Deep knowledge and experience informed the writing of Sun on Your Back. My work in this field has shown me the heartbreak of survivors and the failures of the system. It is impossible to look away, so I chose to write about it instead.

Through fiction, we can:

• Educate readers on real-world issues.
• Encourage empathy and action.
• Keep tough conversations alive.

Because every story told, every voice raised, and every reader who learns about these injustices becomes part of the fight for change.

Join the Conversation

Have you read books that exposed you to social issues you hadn’t considered before? What stories have left an impact on you?

Sun on Your Back is available now on Amazon.

 Get Your Copy Here at-https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B094G99RML