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Published Letters: 102
Editor's Choice: 13
It's really that simple in the end. Unless you are in fear of physical violence (which is a very real threat to keep in mind), there isn't a whole lot from stopping the LW from packing her bag, packing up her daughter and walking out the door. Parent's won't help? Then find a friend who will. Lost your job? Then find another. If it's that bad and she has to leave, then she needs to find a way to make it work. I've known women who've walked out of marriages with literally nothing but the clothes on their backs. Scary? Yes, but as one friend who did it told me, once she got over her fear of what might happen if she left and focused on what would happen if she stayed, it was a lot easier to take that first step.
If what the LW is saying, this marriage is a union in name only and I find it hard to believe that she would not easily get a divorce granted. Most states allow no-fault divorce and she can certainly claim a sizable portion of the marital property when it' over. In the meantime, she needs to get a little backbone, pull up her big girl panties and start working to build a life for herself and her daughter away from the asshole. Unless there's a knife at your throat, there's absolutely nothing to physically prevent you from walking out the door.
