Forty Years of Canadian Feminist Activism on Violence Against Women
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Claims-Making in Context: Forty Years of Canadian Feminist Activism on Violence Against Women Jennifer Fraser Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies In partial fulfilment of the requirements For the PhD in Criminology Department of Criminology Faculty of Social Sciences University of Ottawa © Jennifer Fraser, Ottawa, Canada, 2014 Abstract Feminist activism has a rich history in Canada, but mobilization on the issue of violence against women specifically gained considerable momentum during what is often referred to as the “second wave” of the feminist movement. Since this time, the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec have seen a proliferation of both grassroots and public policy responses to intimate partner violence and sexual violence. This study is an effort to construct a feminist history of the activism that occurred between 1970 and 2010, as well as to make sense of feminist claims-making strategies using a social constructionist approach to social problems and to make sense of feminist activism as a social movement using social movement impact theory. In constructing a feminist history, documents from the Canadian Women’s Movement Archives were consulted and interviews with current and former feminist activists were conducted. The historical component of this study focuses on how feminist activists first recognized and responded to the problem of violence against women. This analysis suggests that throughout the last forty years, feminist activists have engaged in a multi-pronged project of providing feminist services for victims of intimate partner and sexual violence, advocating for social and legal change as the “official” response to violence against women, and conducting their own research on the extent and nature of violence against women. Various strategies were used in this process, including forming partnerships and coalitions, but activists also faced challenges from within and outside the movement, including internal debates, struggles to fit in, and backlash from counter movements. The final chapter discusses how the history of feminist activism on ii violence against woman cannot easily fit into strict constructionist approach to understanding social problems and, as a social movement, is difficult to evaluate given the myriad goals, mechanisms for reaching those goals, and interpretations of success associated with the movement. Future research directions are also suggested, including looking at evidence of claims-making from other sources; bridging the gap, theoretically and pragmatically, between the “mainstream” feminist movement and other streams of women’s activism; and, more conceptual work on feminist movements and the separation between intimate partner and sexual violence. iii Acknowledgements This dissertation would not have been possible without the sound wisdom and unwavering support of my supervisor, Professor Holly Johnson. Holly’s vast knowledge and the well-deserved respect she receives in the field of violence against women research are a goal to which I can only aspire. I would also like to thank my PhD committee, comprised of Professor Ross Hastings and Professor Brettel Dawson; Ross, for your efficient and focused approach and Brettel, for your thoughtful feedback reflective of your expertise in feminist legal studies. As well, merci to Professor Dominique Robert for her guidance during her tenure on my committee. To the inspiring women who participated in interviews for this study, I thank you and offer my praise for the important work you have done and continue to do for Canadian women who have experienced violence. I draw strength from your words and am hopeful for our future. To the lovely archivists at the Canadian Women’s Movement Archives at the University of Ottawa – Linda Arsenault, Lucie Desjardins, and Véronique Paris – your dedication to the memory of Canadian feminism is much appreciated. Finally, words fail me in adequately acknowledging the enthusiastic support – financial, emotional, and physical – that my family has provided me over the years of my graduate and doctoral studies. Edna and Herbert Katasonov, you both are quite simply two of the most important human beings in my life and I do not exaggerate when I say that my academic pursuits would not have happened without you. Thank you to my parents, Greg iv and Sue Fraser, for the rides, the meals and the wine, the conversations – literally, for everything. I would like to dedicate this piece of work to my nephews, Liam and Logan Fraser- Evans, sons of my favourite sister, Ashley Fraser and her husband, Allan Evans. With such progressive, thoughtful, and caring parents, I am confident our world will have two more good men who empathize with and respect women. v Abbreviations AGM – Annual General Meeting CACSW – Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women CALACS – Centres d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions a caractère sexuel CASAC – Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres CEW – Committee for the Equality of Women CRIAW – Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women CRI-VIFF – Centre de recherché interdisciplinaire sur la violence familiale et la violence faite aux femmes CRVAWC – Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women CTS – Conflict Tactics Scale CWMA – Canadian Women’s Movement Archives CWSA – Canadian Women’s Studies Association DAWN – DisAbled Women’s Network DVAP – Domestic Violence Action Plan FFQ – Fédération des femmes du Québec GSS – General Social Survey INAC – Indian and Northern Affairs Canada IPV – Intimate partner violence LAC – Library and Archives Canada LEAF – Legal Education and Action Fund MAS – Ministère des affaires socials MCSS – Ministry of Community and Social Services METRAC – Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children MP – Member of Parliament MSSS – Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux NAC – National Action Committee on the Status of Women NAWL – National Association of Women and the Law vi NDP – New Democratic Party OAITH – Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses OCRCC – Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres OCTEVAW – Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women PAR – Partner Assault Response RCC – Rape crisis centre RCSW – Royal Commission on the Status of Women SAC – Sexual assault centre SMO – Social movement organization SV – Sexual violence SVAP – Sexual Violence Action Plan SWC – Status of Women Canada VAW – Violence against women WISE – Women in Safe Environments vii Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... iv Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Understanding social problems, social movements, and feminism ....................... 8 Social problems theory ................................................................................................................ 8 Social movements theory .......................................................................................................... 12 Social movement impact theory ................................................................................................ 21 Feminist social movements in Canada .................................................................................. 26 Conclusion................................................................................................................................. 37 Chapter 3: Feminist activism on violence against women in Canada .................................... 39 Recognizing and defining a problem ........................................................................................ 39 Responding to victims/survivors ............................................................................................... 45 Measuring the extent of the problem ........................................................................................ 49 Getting on the political agenda ................................................................................................. 52 Framing the issue of wife battering as a crime ...................................................................... 52 The criminal justice response to domestic violence in Ontario ............................................. 58 Rape law reform .................................................................................................................... 63 Regroupements and the Government of Quebec ................................................................... 78 Conclusion................................................................................................................................. 83 Chapter 4: Methodology ............................................................................................................ 85 Feminist History-Making .......................................................................................................... 85 Research Method ....................................................................................................................... 88 Data Collection &