Domestic violence was seldom a topic of public discourse before 1970.
Only 50 years have passed since grassroots rallies, known then as the Battered Women’s Movement, began to raise awareness and call for change. Two decades would pass before the Violence Against Women Act established domestic violence as a federal crime in 1994.
The Women’s Liberation Movement set the stage for the Battered Women’s Movement, or Domestic Violence Movement, which began in the early 1970s.
We Will Not Be Beaten
In the early 1970s, there was little to no help for people who wanted to leave their partners due to intimate partner abuse. Domestic violence was often not taken seriously by law enforcement and the legal system.
Led by feminist activists and survivors of intimate partner abuse, the Battered Women’s Movement used the slogan, “we will not be beaten.”
They sought to raise public awareness, provide support and resources for survivors, and advocate for policy changes. The term domestic violence became more widely accepted and was seen as a more accurate and inclusive way of describing abuse in relationships.
Early 1970s
There were very few organizations for survivors – the first shelter was Women’s Advocates in Minnesota (est. 1972). They started as a divorce rights information line and as laws changed, raised funds to establish a permanent shelter in 1974.
1976
Del Martin published ‘Battered Wives,’ an analysis of domestic violence, its seriousness, and how the legal system had failed women.
In 1978, the grassroots movement evolved into something more formal.
1978
The United States Commission on Civil Rights held the Consultation on Battered Women: Issues of Public Policy. Del Martin chaired the meeting and two big events happened:
- The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is formed.
- The Commission on Civil Rights publishes Under the Rule of Thumb: Battered Women and the Administration of Justice.
Late 1970s
Domestic violence shelters begin opening across the United States. Kentucky’s first shelter opened in 1977 and by 1980, there were six. The Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence, recently renamed ZeroV, was founded in 1981 by staff at these shelters.
1981
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence declares a national day of unity on behalf of survivors on October 17th. This eventually becomes Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1987.
1984
President Ronald Reagan signed The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) into law and established the Crime Victims Fund in 1984. Millions of federal criminal fines and penalties are deposited into the fund each year, and these dollars are granted to public and nonprofit providers for supportive services for victims of crimes.
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act supports victims of domestic violence and their children and is the only federal funding source dedicated to domestic violence shelters and programs.
1981
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence declares a national day of unity on behalf of survivors on October 17th. This eventually becomes Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1987.
1984
President Ronald Reagan signed The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) into law and established the Crime Victims Fund in 1984. Millions of federal criminal fines and penalties are deposited into the fund each year, and these dollars are granted to public and nonprofit providers for supportive services for victims of crimes.
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act supports victims of domestic violence and their children and is the only federal funding source dedicated to domestic violence shelters and programs.
1985
Tracey Thurman wins a lawsuit that strengthens protections for domestic violence survivors.
She endured years of physical and emotional abuse from her husband and repeatedly sought help from law enforcement.
Tracey won the lawsuit against the Torrington Police Department, and it resulted in the Family Violence Prevention and Response Act, or Thurman Law. It required police to make an arrest in domestic violence cases.
1994
Congress passes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was designed to prevent gender-based violence, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. VAWA provides funding for services of victims such as hotlines, shelters, legal services, and law enforcement training.
OJ Simpson Trial gets people talking about domestic violence. It was a shift in awareness and public willingness to discuss the issue.
More Recent Years
VAWA has been reauthorized a number of times. The most recent Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act was signed in 2022 and all current VAWA grant programs are authorized until 2027.
In 2009, Vice President Biden, who wrote VAWA, announced Lynn Rosenthal as the new White House Advisor on Violence Against Women.
The “me too” movement, founded by Tarana Burke, was created to highlight the violence experienced by marginalized women. Along the way, it brought international attention to the universal prevalence of sexual violence.
Although there is increased awareness of domestic violence, better laws and policies, and lots of support services, intimate partner abuse still affects one in three women and one in four men in Kentucky.
What Can You Do
We all must do our part to speak out against intimate partner abuse, be active bystanders, and correct inappropriate language when we hear someone victim-blaming. Remember that your voice is powerful.
