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HERstory

HERstory. Women’s resistance to violence. Hundreds of years ago. The origins of the word rape are found in ancient Greece: to steal. England: (beginning 1154), women were allowed to bring suit against their rapist as long as they were not married to him and were virgins.

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HERstory

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  1. HERstory Women’s resistance to violence

  2. Hundreds of years ago • The origins of the word rape are found in ancient Greece: to steal. • England: (beginning 1154), women were allowed to bring suit against their rapist as long as they were not married to him and were virgins. • It was also during the reign of Henry II that defenses against rape were developed. • England: (beginning 1307), rape laws acknowledged that a non-virgin woman could be forcibly raped, but only by a non-spouse.

  3. Colonization • White Europeans bring sexual violence against Native women. • African women enslaved were often raped by white men. Black men accused of raping white women lynched. • Memphis Riot of May 1866.

  4. First Wave • In 1848 the first Women’s Rights Convention was organized. • Sojourner Truth’s legendary declaration “Ain’t I a Woman?” in 1851. • Temperance movement • Ida B. Wells takes leadership roles in organizing anti-lynching campaigns.

  5. Second Wave • 1970’s • Civil Rights, Gay Rights and Anti-War Movements • Women began a formalized response to SA and DV • Re-frame sexual and domestic violence as a societal problem rather than personal • Early rape crisis centers • Self-defense classes • “Take back the night” marches

  6. Second Wave • 1980’s • Rape became a topic for academic research • Limited federal and state funding became available to programs. • Pervasiveness of child sexual abuse and acquaintance rape began to be exposed. • Legislative change: criminalization of marital rape in most states • First civil suit was won by a battered woman, • Sexual harassment was declared illegal

  7. Professionalization and Legitimization • 1990’s • Backlash began in the 1980’s • National and statewide organizations • Violence against women declared as a human rights violation by the UN • Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 • Court supported programs to treat sex offenders and batterers increased.

  8. Progress • 2000’s • Rape survivors sexual history cannot be used to discredit them in court. • Acquaintance rape has gained greater visibility. • Rape crisis centers are still standing. • Laws continue to change in favor of survivors. • Men’s assumption of power over women has been challenged. • Survivors have greater resources. • Sexual assault rates have declined in recent years.

  9. Pushed to the margins • Mainstream feminism did not work for all women, particularly for women of color. • Middle-class white women driving this political activism. • Women are still blamed for the violence they suffer. • Our media continues to showcase violence and sexism.

  10. So what? • What implications does this have for YOU as advocates?

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