#justiceformandeepkaur just last week i was having conversations with friends about some of the women in our lives currently dealing with domestic abuse– and we were trying to figure out how to help. in interviews i get asked how i find the “strength” to write about taboo topics like sexual assault, violence, domestic abuse and i always say- these topics aren’t taboo for us. my friends and i- like so many of you- grew up watching mothers getting beat by fathers. got beat ourselves. we grew up facing violence from our brothers. we housed aunts who fled their homes due to abusive uncles. we were aware and witnesses to domestic violence from such a young ago. this violence that’s inflicted on women’s bodies is a primary reason i began to write and perform. my DMs are full of women from all over the world sharing that they were once in an extremely violent marriage where they weren’t sure they’d survive. and then there are the messages from women confessing that they’re enduring domestic violence right now and they’re not sure how to leave. their families don’t support them or don’t believe them- the reasons are endless. this week we learned about the horrible circumstances that mandeep kaur endured, which led to the end of her short life. it tears me up again and again and again. i hope for love and safety for her daughters. i hope for justice for mandeep. mandeep’s case isn’t unique. domestic abuse rates are not getting better– they’re getting worse. her reality is the reality of millions of women. but our society asks “why didn’t she leave” before we even begin to hold him accountable. by nitpicking the victim’s actions and choices- we protect the perpetrator. for many reasons it is difficult to leave a violent marriage or relationship. you stay because he threatens he’ll take the kids from you. you stay cause he threatens to kill you and them. you stay cause your own family says you’ll dishonour them if the marriage ends. fuck the marriage or relationship. fuck it all. nothing– no man no marriage is worth a woman’s life. and although leaving feels impossible because you’re so worn down by his violence- it is possible. it is possible. it is possible.