Herstory – Power Point

HERstory Women’s resistance to violence

Hundreds of years ago  

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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.

Colonization 

White Europeans bring sexual violence against Native women.

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African women enslaved were often raped by white men. Black men accused of raping white women lynched.

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Memphis Riot of May 1866.

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. 

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 

Second Wave     

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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

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. 

Progress       

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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.

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. 

So what? 

What implications does this have for YOU as advocates?