The 1970's: the Rise of the Modern Shelter Movement

THE 1970'S:

THE RISE OF THE MODERN SHELTER MOVEMENT

Until the 1970's, there were virtually no social services for victims of domestic violence. Women in violent relationships were at the mercy of police, mental health professionals, churches, friends, and family if they needed support or intervention.

In 1974, Scream Quietly or the Neighbors Will Hear by Erin Pizzey became the first book on domestic violence to be published from the victim's perspective. Pizzey founded the Chiswick Center, the first shelter for battered women in England. Chiswick Center was a neighborhood center offering advice to women. Pizzey soon realized that the majority of women who came in for advice were suffering abuse in the home. Pizzey then established Chiswick Center primarily as a refuge for homeless women fleeing abusive relationships. These "refuges" soon spread throughout England and women's groups began setting up shelters and safe houses in America modeled on Chiswick Center. Thus the "shelter movement" is born.

In the early 1970's, women's advocated in St. Paul, Minnesota establish the first formal American shelter devoted exclusively to battered women based on a feminist collective model. While the center started as a legal aid collective, in February of 1973 it moved to a one-bedroom apartment so that minimal shelter to battered women can be provided when necessary. In April of 1974, the group purchased the first home named Women's House which opens its doors in October the same year to women fleeing abusive husbands. Also in 1973, Rainbow Retreat opened in Phoeniz, Arizona for families who were abused or displaced by alcoholic husbands.

Nancy Kirk-Gormley, a survivor of a violent ten-year marriage established the National Organization for Women's (NOW) first task force on battered women in 1973. The Pennsylvania Task Force on Household Violence acts as an advocacy service for battered women by accompanying them to court and assisting them in pressing charges against husbands.

In April of 1974 the Women's Center South opens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and makes national headlines when it's eight-bed refuge for battered wives is immediately filled to capacity. Following the story, the first newspaper article devoted to the "crime" of wife abuse appears in the New York Times detailing the stories of several clients of attorney Marjorie Fields: battered women who were unable to get the police to respond to their calls for assisstance. Fields recommends that women police officers be included in special units to respond to domestic abuse complaints. The story is syndicated nationally.

In 1976, two more shelters open in California bringing the total number of shelters in the Unites States to 20. Across the country feminist attorneys begin making efforts to change police practices in the area of domestic violence calls. Attorneys in Oakland, California and New York City bring class action suits against police departments in their cities to change policies. As women attorney's become involved in defending battered women who have murdered their abusers, public awareness of the violence many women suffer silenty for years is created.

March 1976 witnessed the First International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women in Brussels, Belgium. For the first time, survivors of domestic violence testify publicly about the many crimes committed against them that are openly sanctioned by society at large. The Tribunal ends with an urgent call to action by all countries to combat the crime of female batterering, and demands that "governments recognize the existence of this problem, and accept the need for refuges, financial aid, and effective legal protection for these women." The resolution is sent to the governments of all participating countries.

In October of 1976, the Wisconsin Conference on Battered Women turned into a historic event when women from around the country united to start a national newsletter, The National Communication Network for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (NCN). The publication inspires advocates and helps reduce isolation of women across the country. It also linked battered women in effort to make public policy changes in regard to domestic violence a national, as opposed to a local event.

The story of Francine Hughes, who after suffering extreme violence and cruelty at the hands of her husband for 13 years sets fire to the gasoline-soaked bedroom where he sleeps on March 9, 1977 becomes a caus celebre for the domestic violence movement. In November when Francine was found not guilty of murder by reason of temporary insanity the highly publicized case was turned into the movie The Burning Bed starring Farrah Fawcett.

   During the same week that Francine Hughes was tried, the International Woman Year's National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas produced a resolution asking the President to declare the elimination of violence in the home a national goal; provide training programs to local/state governments, law enforcement agencies, and social welfare agencies; and enact legislation to provide funds for battered women's programs. In addition, a Caucus on Battered Women met and decided to develop a national coalition.

The biggest stride for police policy came in 1976 when Oregon became the first state to enanct legislation mandating arrest in domestic violence cases with the passage of the Family Abuse Prevention Act, which served as a model for the nation. For the first time, a women could get a restraining order whether or not the abuser was prosecuted.

   Battered Women: Issues of Public Policy, a 700 page document containing the written and oral testimony of hundreds of activists was authored during the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Consultation on Battered Women on January 30-31, 1978 resulting in the organization of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

   Later in 1978, Floida became the first state to add a $5 surcharge on marriage licenses to support battered women's shelters. Minnesota passed the most inovative addition to the fight against domestic abuse by becoming the first state to allow probable cause, or warrantless, arrests in cases of domestic battery whether or not a protection order had been entered against the abuser.

   Government response to the war on violence against women was formally recognized in 1979 when then President Jimmy Carter established the Office of Domestic Violence to serve a national clearinghouse on information, grants, research and prevention materials.

   The first congressional hearings on domestic violence in late 1979 lead to a number of professional conferences being established across the U.S., and to 44 states enacting laws concerning improved response to domestic violence.

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