“Today it hit me when he hit me, blood shaking in my brain. Maybe there wasn’t a savior coming. Maybe it was up to me to save me.” Recruited into the Quiverfull movement as a young wife, Tia Levings discovered that being a good Christian meant adhering to a strict set of secret rules. In this patriarchal system, women were expected to be silent and submissive, embodying the ideal of the "keeper of the home." Tia recognized her family's lifestyle was seen as strange by outsiders, yet she felt compelled to protect their secrets from authorities and the outside world. Living in isolation, she endured years of abuse while following the doctrine of being “in the world, not of it.” As Tia came to understand that she alone could safeguard her children from becoming part of this oppressive cycle, she began to question their way of life. However, in a patriarchal society, a woman with her own opinions is at risk. Ultimately, Tia faced a critical decision: to remain and confront severe repercussions or to escape with her children. This poignant memoir, told with honesty and courage, chronicles her journey to save herself and her family, shedding light on the impact of extreme beliefs within a marriage.
Tia Levings Knihy
