the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

Introduction: History of <strong>the</strong> BatteredWomen’s MovementBy Debby TuckerThe battered women’s movement internationally is an outgrowth of prior movements that counteredalcoholism, sexism, child abuse, racism, classism and homophobia. Today, our advocacy for respect andfreedom from fear for all is directly tied to <strong>the</strong> histories and continued development of <strong>the</strong>semovements. We learned from those who came before us. We continue as a movement and asindividuals to create a world where violence is no longer used by individuals, groups, or nations.First Sanctuary in <strong>Texas</strong>The first venture we know of to open a sanctuary in <strong>Texas</strong> was in Belton in 1875. The shelter wasestablished by Martha McWhirter as a refuge for battered women or those whose husbands spent cropmoney on Saturday-night binges. Women lived a communal life in <strong>the</strong> shelter which continued into <strong>the</strong>1890’s; and toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> residents became so prosperous <strong>the</strong>y donated money to Belton for civic causes.The Belton shelter still stands riddled with bullet holes from a time an irate husband assembled avigilante group and tried to shoot shelter residents out of <strong>the</strong>ir refuge. It didn’t work. The women shotback.The contemporary battered women’s movement in <strong>the</strong> United States was built on <strong>the</strong> efforts of those inEurope who had begun to recognize systematic use of violence against women and children andorganized to respond. The first modern shelter for battered women was founded in Chiswisk, England in1970 by Erin Pizzey. Her book Scream Quietly or <strong>the</strong> Neighbours will Hear published in 1974 gave rise to arenewed recognition of <strong>the</strong> needs of victims of domestic violence and <strong>the</strong>ir children. Del Martinpublished Battered Wives in 1976 as <strong>the</strong> culmination of her leadership of a Task Force on BatteredWomen of <strong>the</strong> National Organization for Women. Those of us beginning to organize what became <strong>the</strong>Austin Center for Battered Women invited her to speak in Austin in 1977. By <strong>the</strong> time Erin Pizzey came to<strong>the</strong> United States on a book tour to four cities in1979, one was Houston, groups were developingshelters all across <strong>the</strong> U.S.Formation of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Council</strong> on Family ViolenceThe <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Council</strong> on Family Violence (TCFV) wasfortunate to begin its work very early as <strong>the</strong>movement to end violence against women moved into <strong>the</strong> United States. I hosted <strong>the</strong> first meeting forTCFV in April of 1978 as <strong>the</strong> Executive Director of <strong>the</strong> Austin Center for Battered Women, which latermerged with <strong>the</strong> Austin Rape Crisis Center and is now SafePlace.Representatives from nine <strong>Texas</strong> communities: Austin (Debby Tucker), Corpus Christi (Ca<strong>the</strong>rineChambers), Dallas (Jane White), Denton, El Paso, Fort Worth (Lynn Bendslev), Houston (Toby Myers), SanAntonio (Ru<strong>the</strong> Lewin Winegarten) and Waco (Myrtle Taylor) resolved to form an organization that wouldTHE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE3 | P a g e