Just Work
© Remla Parthasarathy, 2025, Published on the NY Crime Victims Legal Help/Empire Justice Center blog with the author’s permission. Dedicated to colleagues in the field with the hope that they have the tools and support to help them cope with the vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue they may be experiencing. Content Warning: Domestic […]
A Domestic Violence Expert’s Journey Through Feminist Self-Defense
I came into the movement to resist violence against women through a women’s martial arts school and self-defense program at my college in the late 1970s. It opened up a world of physical self-confidence and fitness that I’d never really been part of before. As a child I’d been physically and verbally bullied and my […]
When the Holiday Season is Not so Joyous
The holiday season is often a joyful and festive time of the year. However, for some, it can be a difficult and challenging time. The loss of a loved one, the increased pressure to spend money on gifts and travel, and strained relationships all can be a source of stress and anxiety that can lead […]
Safety & Criminal Justice Through a Racial Justice Lens
In our deeply divided country, sometimes we see things in black and white. One of those areas tends to be the area of criminal justice, often focusing on the question of whether one is “pro-police” or “anti-police.” But to create safer communities, healthier children, and more civic-minded adults, we must think about whether some traditional […]
VAWA Housing Protections: Empowering Survivors to Create Their Safe Spaces
In 1989, I saw a television movie about Tracey Thurman, a domestic violence victim whose husband stabbed her 20 times and kicked her in the head while the police stood by and watched him do it. That same year, I read an article about 4-year-old Joshua Deshaney, who suffered irreparable brain damage due to beatings […]