title: Reframing the narrative of the battered women's movement.
abstract: Many claim that the battered women's movement has been co-opted and depoliticized. We argue that this narrative of decline should be reframed as one of continual growth that has incorporated evolving feminist frameworks. We show how the movement's first generation of activists has learned from its mistakes and continues to challenge systems that fail survivors of abuse. In addition, a second generation of activists, many of whom are minority women, has created new organizations and new ways to practice intersectionality. We conclude that each strand within the movement brings complementary strengths that can prepare it to meet future challenges.
authors.affiliation: Sociology and Anthropology, Women's Studies, St. Louis University, 3750 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. arnoldgw@slu.edu
authors.forename: Gretchen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Jami
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ake
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D033262:Narration; D009938:Organizations; D012922:Social Change; D063508:Social Discrimination; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D014930:Women
keywords: battered women’s movement; co-optation; feminist movements; intimate partner violence