"The “success” of the battered women’s movement has proven to be a double-edged sword. In order to gain public support, domestic violence advocates portrayed abused women as innocent victims who suffered at the hands of particularly deviant men. While this narrative perhaps sought to combat the idea that abuse was a woman’s own fault, it drew upon dominant ideas of “innocence” and “victimhood” and required that women represent themselves in particular ways in order to be recognized as deserving of assistance. This requirement to pass as a “good victim” reinforced dominant gender norms and also marginalized women of color, immigrant women, working-class women, homeless women, lesbians, gay men, transgender people, and anyone who did not or could not fit these norms."
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Priya Kandaswamy, “Innocent Victims and Brave New Laws” from Nobody Passes
This entire essay is so incredibly good. Really, the whole anthology is fantastic so far. Expect more quotes.
(via youarenotyou)
interesting quote. thoughts?
(via safercampus)
