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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

Women need security before they can begin to conquer the other demons in their lives. Until a woman feels both safe and financially secure, she often has a hard time working to move up the success ladder. Many women do not earn even a living wage, many women feel unsafe due to domestic violence, and these issues can compound one another. If a woman can’t make enough money to support herself and her family, she may not have the strength to get out of an abusive situation.