A review by enidkathambi
The Power of Women: Learning from Resilience to Heal Our World by Denis Mukwege

5.0

This is one of the most horrific and depressing yet hopeful books I have read. I am not sure if this makes sense.

First, I must admit I was unaware of Dr. Denis Mukwege, a world-renowned gynecologist, Nobel laureate, and human rights activist. When I picked the book as a collection of my ‘moving away from the city gift and TBR pile,’ it was because the title intrigued me. Then the subject matter and the reviews had a hold on me. I am glad I picked it.

Second, I have utmost respect and adoration for the author. Not just for choosing this career path but standing to his guns despite the lack of government support, ridicule, and numerous threats, including assassination attempts.

Born in Congo, Dr. Mukwege gives an account of his childhood and how it might have helped shape the person he became. But this book's most prominent and important theme is sexual abuse, especially in war-torn areas, and its use during wars as a weapon against communities and countries, not just in Congo but other regions. Perhaps the silver lining in these horrible and sad stories is the work of Panzi Hospital, which Dr. Mukwege founded. It is more than just a hospital, but a haven that works to give sexual abuse survivors hope to overcome their trauma and live again.

There is so much to learn and unlearn as individuals and society from this book. The author takes the time to explain how our beliefs, culture, and policies, or the lack thereof, have influenced the growth of sexual abuse. Save for the emotional burden of reading about the heinous acts of violence of his patients; this is a book worth picking up!