Why this time of year is one of the most dangerous for women.

More women will die before the clock strikes 12 and we say goodbye to 2022. 

I can say that without an ounce of doubt, even with only 11 days left of the year.

More women will die. They just will. Because every year the same patterns emerge. 

Watch: Can you spot the red flags of domestic violence?

As Dr Patricia Cullen from the School of Population Health, UNSW Medicine & Health explains, "We know there are spikes in domestic and family violence over the Christmas and New Year period, which relates to increased family stresses during this time." 

With safe spaces like schools and work closed for the holidays, women are stuck at home - with their abusers. Add in alcohol, money stress and complicated family dynamics and you've got a recipe for disaster. 

There are already going to be too many empty chairs around the table this year.

Mackenzie Anderson's mum can't wait for it all to be over. This is her first Christmas without her 22-year-old daughter, who was allegedly murdered by her ex-partner in March. 

"I am dreading the day," Tabitha wrote for Mamamia.

"This will be the first time in 22 years I won't be filling her stocking. That I won't be buying her gifts. That I won't have both my kids to spoil."

Mackenzie is one of 49 women who have been killed by violence in 2022. 

Devastatingly, four women have been allegedly murdered in the last week alone, according to Destroy the Joint's grim tally.

And yet, as media commentator Jamila Rizvi pointed out aptly on social media, we've seen more coverage about 'toxic spinach' than we have about the spike in women murdered. 

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Over the weekend, Sydney teacher Dannielle Finlay-Jones was killed at a home in Cranebrook, NSW. 

A 33-year-old man was arrested after an almost 12-hour standoff with police. 

At Mamamia we've written more stories about women being murdered than we dare to count. And before you say 'what about men?' - what about them? They are disproportionately killing men and women, and are the primary offenders of domestic violence. 

Every week we pay tribute to another mother, friend, sister, daughter. 

The majority of the time we see a man has either been apprehended or is wanted for killing her.

This is about men's violence against women. It's about our governments and leaders not treating it like the urgent epidemic that it is. 

Where has been their outrage this week as more and more women have died? 

We've already surpassed the number of women killed in 2021. We lost 43 by December 31 last year. 

We're about to surpass 50 in 2022.

Fifty women.

It's all very well and good to have a '10-year plan' as our government does. They've promised to end violence against women and children "within one generation." 

But that doesn't help the women this year. Or next year. Or the year after that.

It's likely we'll lose more women before Christmas. 

And if we go by the pattern we've seen year in year out, we'll unfortunately lose more women before New Year's Eve.

This two-week break ahead brings with it a known increase in police call-outs for domestic abuse. In 2018-19, for example, there was a 26 per cent spike in WA alone.

According to Victoria police figures from the same year, there were 49 per cent more reports of family domestic violence on Christmas Day compared to the daily average for the year.

And that only covers those who were courageous enough to report an incident.

Check in on the women in your lives this Christmas. Make sure they're safe. As we wait for real, tangible change within societal and governmental structures, the best we can do at an individual level is lend our support to those in our circles. 

It might be the most joyous time of year for some. 

But for others, it's by far the most dangerous.

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Feature image: Getty.