We at Women Against Abuse are saddened by the surge in violent, misogynistic, and racist rhetoric flooding social media since the most recent presidential election. Many people with hidden prejudices have become emboldened by the return of a president who frequently disparages women and immigrants, and faces numerous accusations of sexual misconduct and assault.
Statements like “Your body, My choice” that garner millions of views perpetuate a dangerous culture that condones violence against women. If left unchecked, this rhetoric could undo decades of progress in the movement to end domestic violence.
While intimate partner violence affects everyone, statistics show it disproportionately impacts women and the transgender and immigrant communities. Last year, nearly 96 percent of the almost 10,000 callers to the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline identified as women. More than half of transgender individuals experience violence from intimate partners. And abuse rates among immigrant women are almost three times the national average.
The toxic masculinity that’s skyrocketed since the election fosters a societal culture where admitting abuse is seen as shameful, especially for survivors who face additional stigmas. How many men feel comfortable stepping into the spotlight as victims? How many transgender people are willing to risk further marginalization, especially when their rights are already under threat?

Recent threats of mass deportations mean that people experiencing domestic violence who are undocumented are afraid to reach out for help. Instead, they must choose between risking deportation or staying in a life-threatening situation with an abusive partner. When leaders use dehumanizing words to describe our immigrant, migrant and temporary resident community members, it incites racist, xenophobic treatment of an already marginalized people. It also has implications for public safety by dissuading immigrant victims of crime from testifying in court or alerting law enforcement.
This violent rhetoric fuels the nation’s entrenched patriarchy and racism and perpetuates a cycle of harm. Tangible harm. The sort that makes perpetrators of abuse feel entitled to threaten their partners, devastate families, and wreak havoc on entire neighborhoods.
It takes all of us
Despite these challenges, the movement to end domestic violence — one that began half a century ago — remains strong. The founders of this movement were volunteers, social workers and emergency room nurses who, after treating countless victims, recognized the need for safe interventions. Fifty years later, this grassroots initiative has expanded into a nationwide network of nearly 2,000 programs, serving nearly 80,000 individuals annually.
Here in Philadelphia, Women Against Abuse served 12,000 people last year through a wide range of services. We operate some of the city’s only interventions for those experiencing relationship abuse, including the only emergency shelters for survivors of any gender identity and their children who must flee their homes for safety. Our 30+ member legal team are experts in their field and get results for clients seeking legal protection from abuse.
We are working alongside city systems, law enforcement and victim and immigration service providers to address intimate partner violence early and effectively. We are educating young people on how to recognize warning signs of abuse and pursue healthy relationships. We are saving lives and making Philadelphia safer for everyone.
But we cannot do this alone.
So I ask you — every person reading this — to stand with us. Together, let’s raise our voices and harness our collective power for good. It doesn’t matter who you voted for. It’s up to all of us to push back when confronted with harmful misogynistic comments. So next time, say something. Make it clear that you won’t tolerate such rhetoric. By doing so, you’ll create a safe space for others who may be too afraid to speak up.
Do it for the women in your life — your wife, your girlfriend, your daughter, your niece, your granddaughter.
Do it for the men in your life who may be embarrassed to admit they’re being abused.
Do it for your LGBTQ+ family members.
Do it for your undocumented neighbors.
Do it for the young people in your life who are navigating their first relationships.
Do it for the future of our country.
Joanna Otero-Cruz is the Executive Director and President of Women Against Abuse, Philadelphia’s leading domestic violence service provider and one of the largest in the nation. Women Against Abuse served more than 12,000 people last year through emergency shelter, legal aid, transitional housing, hotline counseling, and community education and advocacy. Learn more at womenagainstabuse.org.
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