Trigger warning: domestic violence

This post is in honour of Mandeep Kaur, and many other women from all cultures experiencing severe domestic abuse, both in the past and present. Our thoughts are always with you.

In an ideal world, this would be true. However, it’s important to understand and acknowledge the way that our society is constructed, with principles designed to question and reduce the validity of women’s experiences and rights, means that this does apply to all of us.

As South Asian women, many of us will have inherited generations of trauma, cultural expectations, pressures and toxic behaviours. Unlearning these principles and not allowing them to define the way we live our lives is hard. It takes years of hard work, therapy, education, open and honest conversations with ourselves, our friends, parents and siblings.

It certainly isn’t easy, but being receptive and willing to engage in uncomfortable discussions, challenging sexist and misogynistic customs and behaviour in friend groups and families, are just some ways to support the women in your lives who are fighting for their lives and their rights. Remember, women’s rights are human rights. ~ Manj