"Maid" provides authentic portrayal of domestic emotional abuse

Netflix dropped a new show, “Maid,” based on Stephanie Land’s memoir, “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother's Will to Survive.” The show dropped on October 1, the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

This story gives viewers a real look into the horrors of emotionally and financially abusive relationships, and what it looks like to escape an abusive relationship with nothing to your name.

This show has become an instant hit with viewers, currently holding the number two spot for most watched on Netflix in the United States. There is a reason this show has become so popular so quickly. Starring mother-daughter duo, Margaret Qualley and Andie McDowell, the show opens as Alex, played by Qualley, drives away from her abusive boyfriend’s house with their baby in tow after an explosive incident that made her fear for her life.

We watch as Alex comes to terms with the fact that even though her boyfriend, Sean, played by Nick Robinson, doesn’t hit her she is still being abused. This show doesn’t sugarcoat anything when it comes to what victims of emotional abusive deal with. It gives a real look into domestic violence shelters, dealing with the legal system, and mental illness as Alex tries to take care of her mother, Paula.

Alex is a character that will stop at nothing to create a better life for her daughter. Whether they are living in a car, in a shelter, or crashing at an old acquaintance’s house, Alex works as a maid non-stop to be able to escape the abuse she’s endured as she dreams of being a writer.

While I don’t want to give anything away about the plot to spoil you, I will say, as someone who has survived an emotionally and financially abusive relationship, this show is a must watch. Emotional and financial abuse can be harder for outsiders to understand due to the lack of physical marks on victims, but it is a very real issue that this show brings awareness and understanding to.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or the Cumbee Center at 803-649-0480.