Women's shelter
Encyclopedia
A women's shelter is a place of temporary refuge and support for women escaping violent
or abusive situations, such as rape
, and domestic violence
.
Having the ability to leave a situation of violence is valuable for those who are under attack because such situations frequently involve an imbalance of power that limits the victim's financial options. The most dangerous time for a domestic violence sufferer is on the point of exit. If their partner catches them on their exit then they are at the most risk of being seriously injured or killed.
Initially a response to violence against women
, a women's shelter sometimes also serves as a place for women to organize for equality, which is an important distinction from standard government-funded service-based approaches to domestic violence. Many states and cities have domestic violence coalitions supporting women's shelters. In America, the National Network to End Domestic Violence
provides a national voice supporting shelters for victims of domestic violence as well as other resources.
, some Buddhist temples in Japan were known as kakekomi dera (駆け込み寺, runaway temple) where abused women could take shelter before filing for divorce.
In the West, there had been crisis accommodation available for women for sometime. In 1964, Haven House, the first "modern" women's shelter in the world, opened in California
. Later others opened in places such as Sydney
with similar ideals in mind. The first homeless shelter
specifically for women, Rosie's Place
in Boston, Massachusetts, was opened in 1974 by Kip Tiernan
. The first women's aid refuge/shelter was opened in Cardiff (Wales) just after the Erin Pizzey refuge, in 1972/3 (Cardiff & Vale Women's Aid) seeking verification.
The campaigning for shelters was highly influential in bringing the phenomenon of domestic violence to the notice of the public, politicians and professionals. It is widely acknowledged that psychiatry, psychology and social welfare remained largely unaware of the extent and importance fo domestic violence up until the 1970s.
Women's shelters are not without controversy. Charles E. Corry writes in the Equal Justice Foundation site: "Shelters for battered women are an essential part of any campaign to control family violence. However, present shelters must be restructured to eliminate dogmatic approaches, and embrace the complex reality of human nature and family life."
claim that men are unfairly treated in the provision of refuge places, stating that in England and Wales there is provision of 7,500 refuge places for women but only 60 for men. However, others dispute that there is a need for refuges for men as men, even when victims of physical violence, are seldom as fearful or trapped by lack of resources and dependent children.
In the United States the constitutionality of a state-funded shelter's refusal to admit male victims of domestic violence has been challenged in California. (Blumhorst v. Haven Hills, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC291977).
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
or abusive situations, such as rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, and domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
.
Having the ability to leave a situation of violence is valuable for those who are under attack because such situations frequently involve an imbalance of power that limits the victim's financial options. The most dangerous time for a domestic violence sufferer is on the point of exit. If their partner catches them on their exit then they are at the most risk of being seriously injured or killed.
Initially a response to violence against women
Violence against women
Violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women...
, a women's shelter sometimes also serves as a place for women to organize for equality, which is an important distinction from standard government-funded service-based approaches to domestic violence. Many states and cities have domestic violence coalitions supporting women's shelters. In America, the National Network to End Domestic Violence
National Network to End Domestic Violence
The National Network to End Domestic Violence is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the District of Columbia since 1995. It is a network of state domestic violence coalitions, representing over 2,000 member organizations nationwide...
provides a national voice supporting shelters for victims of domestic violence as well as other resources.
History
Shelter for abused women is not a new concept. For example, in feudal JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, some Buddhist temples in Japan were known as kakekomi dera (駆け込み寺, runaway temple) where abused women could take shelter before filing for divorce.
In the West, there had been crisis accommodation available for women for sometime. In 1964, Haven House, the first "modern" women's shelter in the world, opened in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Later others opened in places such as Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
with similar ideals in mind. The first homeless shelter
Homeless shelter
Homeless shelters are temporary residences for homeless people which seek to protect vulnerable populations from the often devastating effects of homelessness while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community...
specifically for women, Rosie's Place
Rosie's Place
Rosie’s Place is a sanctuary for poor and homeless women located in Boston, Massachusetts.- History :It was founded in 1974, by Kip Tiernan and was the first shelter specifically for poor and homeless women in the United States...
in Boston, Massachusetts, was opened in 1974 by Kip Tiernan
Kip Tiernan
Kip Tiernan, also known as Mary Jane Tiernan, was a social activist. She was born in Connecticut and raised by her grandmother, and came to Boston in her early 20s...
. The first women's aid refuge/shelter was opened in Cardiff (Wales) just after the Erin Pizzey refuge, in 1972/3 (Cardiff & Vale Women's Aid) seeking verification.
The campaigning for shelters was highly influential in bringing the phenomenon of domestic violence to the notice of the public, politicians and professionals. It is widely acknowledged that psychiatry, psychology and social welfare remained largely unaware of the extent and importance fo domestic violence up until the 1970s.
Women's shelters are not without controversy. Charles E. Corry writes in the Equal Justice Foundation site: "Shelters for battered women are an essential part of any campaign to control family violence. However, present shelters must be restructured to eliminate dogmatic approaches, and embrace the complex reality of human nature and family life."
Male victims
In the United Kingdom, a few places have been opened to house male victims of domestic violence, or to house families barred from other shelters, such as women with older male children. The United Kingdom men's rights group ParityParity (charity)
Parity is a United Kingdom-based equal rights organisation, campaigning to promote and protect the equality of men and women under the law. Its main focus has been in the area of state pensions and associated benefits, and most of its notable successes have occurred in this field...
claim that men are unfairly treated in the provision of refuge places, stating that in England and Wales there is provision of 7,500 refuge places for women but only 60 for men. However, others dispute that there is a need for refuges for men as men, even when victims of physical violence, are seldom as fearful or trapped by lack of resources and dependent children.
In the United States the constitutionality of a state-funded shelter's refusal to admit male victims of domestic violence has been challenged in California. (Blumhorst v. Haven Hills, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC291977).
See also
- Refuge, United Kingdom anti-domestic violence charity