The loss of Sania Khan highlights the ever present and life threatening patriarchy and misogyny brown girls are faced with for just simply attempting to live life on their own terms. I’ve spent the last week learning about Sania Khan and cannot stop thinking about her story. I did not get the opportunity to connect with her, but I wish I could tell her that, for some of us, it can get better and that the decision to divorce would unlock a second chance to live the life of her dreams. From what I saw on her platform, she was just getting started. By opening up about my experiences with divorce, domestic violence, and disownment, I have connected with others and learned that people who stand up and advocate for their safety and health end up being blamed and discredited in the process. It’s draining, discouraging, and disappointing on so many levels to be victim shamed, especially by your own family. Sania’s impact and message resonated so deeply with so many because, unfortunately, her story is so common within the South Asian community. I believe that honoring her life and legacy means we have to continue to speak out on the stigma faced by abuse survivors. This starts with believing survivors and creating safe spaces for them to access support and thrive. There is so much work to be done within our community to shift the narrative about normalizing divorce and to stop protecting the perpetrators of abuse. This starts within our own homes and conversations with our families and friends. These slides have some resource info for domestic abuse survivors, specially in the South Asian community. Please continue to share and add resources in the comments so we can continue to provide support and outreach for those who need it. If you’d like to reach out to continue for conversation or collaborate on amplifying this cause, please contact me via DM or email me at [email protected]