The founder of the gulabis is the fearless Sampat Pal Devi, 40, who was married off at the age of 12 to an ice-cream vendor and had the first of her five children at 15. The gulabis, whose members say they are a “gang for justice,” started in 2006 as a sisterhood of sorts that looked out for victims of domestic abuse, a problem the United Nations estimates affects two in three married Indian women. Named after their hot-pink sari uniforms, the gang paid visits to abusive husbands and demanded they stop the beatings. When obstinate men refused to listen, the gulabis would return with large bamboo sticks called laathis and “persuade” them to change their ways. “When I go around with a stick, it’s to make men fear me. I don’t always use it, but it helps change the mind of men who think they are more powerful than me” says Pal. She has assumed the rank of commander in chief and has appointed district commanders across seven districts in Bundelkhand to help coordinate the gang’s efforts.

Pal’s group now has more than 20,000 members, and the number is growing.

Admirable to see such a strong external display of solidarity between oppressed women. It is really hard to speak up in situations of abuse, and knowing that there is a sisterhood of women out for you is a real source of strength. It takes real courage to do something like this. It is REALLY hard to find a community like this in America. They would probably get instantly arrested. (Meanwhile, U.S. domestic abusers are very very very hard to fully convict or jail under the bounds of the law. Even then, it’s unclear how many actually learn to stop).

Note: I’m always hesitant to endorse violent tactics, but it is an extremely tough situation-dependent question. I definitely do not think these women should just sit and take it, and it appears that they are using their sticks symbolically and only when necessary.

I think this is a very powerful step for these women and their communities. I think the next step to full sanity will be a re-education on respecting bodies. (I bet every country could use this).

THANK YOU SAMPAT PAL DEVI. I need your strength.