I was truly saddened to learn of Rashida Irvin’s death in the Aug. 21 Local (“Business owner fatally shot, police search for husband”), presumably at the hands of her husband. It sounded like she was cornered and then gunned down, helpless. She was an advertising customer of mine at the Local and I admired her savvy, entrepreneurial spirit. How horrific for her!

We should all be shocked and willing to take action to help after hearing of this and several other stories in the Local in the past few years of other women killed by men they thought they knew, as well as assaults on women (for an example, this entry in the Sept. 4 Local crime report says, “Aug. 20. Aggravated assault. A woman stated her child’s father punched her in the stomach, pulled her hair, choked her, and threatened her and her son on the 7700 block of Stenton Avenue.”)

We should all be wondering how this violence against women still happens? I believe it has much to do with misogynistic attitudes that are deeply embedded in our society. Shouldn’t we be talking about what can we do about it?

These women, upstanding, local business owners, were executed by a man in their lives who brutally turned their underlying hatred of women on these intelligent, productive women who knew them intimately. The Local and our community need to honor these women who tried to live full lives and give back to their communities.

Violence and hatred against women has to end. And awareness needs to start in our lives through media outlet articles, community programs, schools, and proper governance.

The Local should not report these as sensational news stories, but pick up on the thread of chronic and dangerous social behavior in our midst, and teach us how to prevent it with expert advice and guidance.

Public awareness of misogynistic behavior and how to treat it has to prevail through acknowledgment of our faults, losses and commitment to change. These women deserve a statue placed in their honor in each of their neighborhoods. Their healthy and productive lives were stolen from them by violent and abusive criminals, menaces to a civil society.

Wendy Feldman, owner of Spa Elysium in Chestnut Hill, age 59, murdered by former husband, December 2022.

Elizabeth Bradley-Shea, owner of Lucky Dogz Doggie Day Care of Wyndmoor, age 57, murdered by estranged husband, April 2024.

Rashida Irvin, age 48, owner of Mr. Relaxation in Germantown, allegedly murdered by husband, August 2025.

No women should have to live in fear of retaliation or domination by men who wish to control them. Women and girls need relatives and outlets that understand and teach them how to look for warning signs to help protect themselves. Men and boys need unwavering guidance to learn respect for women’s autonomy and handling their own negative feelings.

Any woman who finds herself needing help, who is experiencing fear of physical violence or mental torture from a present or past partner, can make a confidential call to Women in Transition, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping women escape domestic violence. Their hotline is 215-564-5301, or visit helpwomen.org.

Leslie Cerf

Center City

Editor’s note: Laurel House is another important area organization for women hoping to leave dangerous situations. Their 24-hour hotline is 1‑800‑642‑3150, or you can text “HOPE” to 85511. Leslie is correct, the Local should discuss violence against women in our community in a larger way, and we plan to do just that during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.