A Cry for Help Is Often a Whisper: We must learn to listen

A statement from Francine Farkas Sears - President of Francine Collections

Women and girls — from childhood through all of life’s stages — deserve clear, accessible information to recognize danger, establish boundaries, protect themselves, and know where to turn when something does not feel right.

Awareness is not about teaching women to live in fear.

It is about giving women knowledge, confidence, choices, and a community that will stand beside them.

Women In Business (WIB) is a long-time women-owned business, and as someone who has spent years advocating for women’s rights, equality, and fair treatment in the workplace and in life, I see how much work remains to be done.

Women should not have to train for survival — but realistically, we must be prepared for survival.

Preparation is different from fear. Feeling uncomfortable is an important warning sign. We must teach our daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, colleagues, and ourselves to recognize warning signs and trust our female intuition.

Some warning signs include:

• Feeling uncomfortable
• Feeling cornered or pressured
• Feeling unable to leave
• Feeling ignored when you say “no”
• Feeling threatened, intimidated, or manipulated
• Feeling someone is violating your boundaries

Your voice matters… SHE deserves to be SAFE.

A cry for help is not always a scream — listen. Sometimes it is a whisper — listen. Sometimes it is fear disguised as embarrassment — listen. Sometimes it is withdrawal, silence, or a quiet statement: “Something does not feel right.” Listen.

We must listen.

We must create environments where women can speak freely without being blamed, shamed, dismissed, or questioned about what they were wearing, where they were, how much they drank, or why they did not leave sooner.

Women, daughters, and girls. Men, sons, fathers, brothers, friends. All of us share responsibility and the solution — by modeling respect, challenging harmful behavior, supporting survivors, and speaking up when something is wrong.

Preventing abuse and violence does not belong to women alone.

Women have made tremendous progress, but our work is ongoing.

Most importantly, when someone reaches out, we need to be ready to respond.

We cannot prevent every danger, but we can make sure no woman has to face it alone.

Listen for the whisper.

Believe the woman who finds the courage to speak.

She needs to know:

She is not alone.

She is not to blame.

She deserves to be safe.

Her voice matters.

-Francine

Women’s Safety & Support Resources

Female Safety App

24/7 human monitored protection in your pocket. Live location sharing, instant SOS, and evidence recording — all backed by real people who care.

https://www.femalesafetyapp.com/

Crisis Life Line 

Free and confidential 24/7 support to people experiencing a mental, emotional, or physical crisis. 

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline

RAINN’s hotline is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Call: 800-656-HOPE (4673)

Text: HOPE to 64673 Online support: RAINN — National Sexual Assault Hotline and Support

 https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline 

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Confidential support related to domestic violence, including safety planning, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and help for women with children.

Call: 800-799-SAFE (7233)

Text: START to 88788 

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence  

Advocates can help callers understand their options, plan for safety, and connect with local shelters and services. A woman does not have to be ready to leave in order to call.

https://ncadv.org/get-help

https://www.thehotline.org/