Netflix’s second season of Worst Ex Ever is difficult to watch—not because the violence is shocking, but because it is familiar.
The first episode, which chronicles the case of Wade Wilson, the so-called “Deadpool Killer,” exposes something advocates and survivors have always known: many perpetrators do not begin with murder. They begin with coercion, strangulation, sexual assault, stalking, and intimate partner violence. And too often, they are allowed to continue escalating because systems fail to respond.
Leaving an abusive partner is already an incredibly difficult decision many survivors make, and when children are involved, it becomes exponentially more complicated. According to a report carried out by the U.S. Department of Justice, “[thirty to sixty percent] of perpetrators of domestic violence also abuse children in the household.”
La Casa de las Madres (Home of the Mothers) has come a long way from the small grassroots organization it was when it was founded in 1976. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we reflect on who we are, the challenges we have faced, and how—through it all—we have remained committed to our mission: supporting survivors and their families with comprehensive services and shelter, working toward a future free from violence.
In recognition of Women's History Month, we want to honor the legacy of the Battered Women's Movement. Historically, Domestic Violence has been categorized as a form of gender-based violence due to the disproportionate number of survivors who identify as Women. That said, it would be remiss not to acknowledge that anyone can be a survivor of relationship violence, regardless of gender, age, background, etc.
As we enter the month of February, we want to recognize it as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Teen Dating Violence (TDV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) between teens is often overlooked. However, as we honor survivors and recognize their resilience, we’d also like to highlight the prevalence of this issue.
Self-care, often misconstrued as a luxury, takes on a profound significance for survivors of domestic violence. It becomes a transformative act of survival, resistance, and healing. In the face of chronic stress, trauma, and isolation, survivors often find little space for their own needs. However, self-care in this context becomes revolutionary, a means to reclaim control over one’s body, boundaries, time, and voice, instilling a sense of empowerment and hope.
Immigrant survivors, like anyone, may experience a variety of forms of intimate partner violence: such as physical, emotional, sexual, financial, spiritual, threats, and coercion. However, they also face unique and compounding risks. Language barriers, lack of culturally responsive services, and unfamiliarity with U.S. legal systems make it harder to seek help. Survivors may worry they won’t be believed because they don’t speak English fluently. They may fear that leaving an abusive partner will mean losing their children, their housing, or their chance at staying in the country. Many do not know their rights, and even in moments of extreme danger, feel they must choose between silence and exposure
Mental health challenges go far beyond routine stress, and this is particularly true for survivors of domestic violence (DV). Did you know that 20% of DV survivors develop mental health conditions as a result of their trauma? In this context, Mental Health Awareness Month offers an opportunity to understand how DV impacts mental health.
When we talk about helping domestic violence survivors, it’s easy to think first about shelters, police reports, or court systems. And while those are important, they’re only part of the bigger picture. At La Casa de las Madres, we operate under the Empowerment Model, which shifts the focus: it’s all about giving survivors the power to reclaim their lives—in their own way and on their own terms.
