Manipulation

There is a mistake we can make when thinking about divide-and-conquer strategies. We imagine somebody has to promise the recruited group something enormous. Equality. More rights. Freedom. A seat at …

Remember when the Supreme Court of the United States announced its decision on the Title IX girls’ sports issue—and organizations and political leaders would not even utter the word “girl”…that …

There is something strange about repeatedly telling women and girls that they need to be kinder. Because when we look at what women and girls are already doing, we do …

I did not arrive at female boundaries because I assumed every male was dangerous. I arrived there because I knew what society does to women and girls when the dangerous …

There is a difference between allowing another human being freedom and requiring somebody else to participate in that person’s understanding of themselves. We blur those two things far too easily. …

Institutions know how to write beautiful promises. “We take all reports seriously.” “Your safety is our priority.” “We are committed to a safe environment.” There are webpages. Brochures. Policies. Awareness …

Sometimes abuse announces itself with a threat. Sometimes it starts with a word. A degrading name can be tossed out so casually that everybody is expected to move along. But …

Some people try to control women by frightening us. Others discover they can control a room by humiliating us. Humiliation can look like “joking,” teasing, embarrassing you in public, exposing …

updated from January 2026 I’ve served the women who responded to violence and were facing harsher punishment than any man would have for the same crime. No one was willing …

Abuse does not always begin with a bruise. Sometimes it begins with humiliation. Sometimes it reaches for your name. In this episode of the We Survive Abuse Podcast, Tonya GJ …