The Close line Project (click for brochure) was founded by artist Rachel Carey-Harper in 1990. Inspired by the Aids quilt and using her artistic background and skills, Carey-Harperin organized the clothesline project as part of a Take Back The Night event in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Her vision was to utilize t-shirts to allow women who are survivors and/or the family and friends of victims to express their emotions and feelings by decorating a color-coded t-shirt. For example, "white represents women who died because of violence; yellow or beige represents battered or assaulted women; red, pink, and orange are for survivors of rape and sexual assault; blue and green t-shirts represent survivors of incest and sexual abuse; purple or lavender represents women attacked because of their sexual orientation; Black is for women attacked for political reasons". The t-shirt is then hung on a clothes line for all to view (Clothesline Project, 2011). The clothesline project has become an emotional outlet and a healing tool for the thousands of women who have been affected by the violence themselves or endured by a women in their life as demonstrated in this youtube video produced students at The College at Brockport (2011) . The clothesline project allows the silence to be broken and the opportunity to show predators that survivors are supported and are fighting back against violence. In addition, the clothesline project raises awareness and educates society about the facts and warning sign of violence against women. Violence comes in many shapes and sizes, is not prejudice against age, culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, and self identity, and it also occurs globally. Raising awareness about the types and signs of violence against women causes change, and change will create less instances of violence (Clothesline Project, 2011).
The success of the clothesline project is apparent by spin offs of the original clothesline project. Other projects such as the Youth Clothesline Project specifically for teens is a yearly event at UMASS Amherst with thousands of attendees and participants each year. The focus is to educate today's youth of the warning signs of abuse towards women and how to get help and prevent abuse in teen dating. The philosophy is that if teens are taught early about violence against women, that not only will the instances of abuse decline, but that the man's image of what a man is will change as well (UMASS Amherst News and Project, 2011). Such is the goal at UCLA's clothesline project. UCLA is trying to change the image of what a man is in a mission to end domestic, sexual, and emotional violence (UCLA Women for Change, 2010). UCLA's mission is similar to that of New Hope - a domestic violence organization that strives to end domestic and sexual violence in the community by creating strong, healthy families without abuse through individual, group, and family awareness and dedication (New hope, 2011).
One root cause of violence against women is patriarchy and hierarchy. History has shown that patriarchy creates societal norms and cultural acceptance of certain traditions that are cruel and inhumane such as genital mutilation. Another root cause is ignorance. If one does not know that there are alternative ways to handle stressful situations in relationships or how to have a healthy and happy relationship then one may handle it the best way known - through violence and aggressiveness. Many may believe that drinking and drugs cause domestic violence, rapes, and emotional abuse; however, not all people who drink abuse and not all abusers drink or do drugs. Although some abuse may occur at the hands of someone who has been drinking or on drugs, no direct correlation has been proven (Mass.gov. 2011). Therefore, the clothesline project is also a tool to create awareness of the different types of violence against women and educate both men and women on what today's perception of a man is and what love looks likes in a healthy relationships. Homan (2008) reflects upon the way social workers utilize theory, especially Systems Theory, to promote change on the macro level. Homan's philosophy is that the issues that arise in macro level social work have several layers to them. In most cases, the presenting problem is not the actual cause of the issue, but actually the effect of a larger injustice taking place. This perspective coincides with the Clothesline Project that I chose to research. The Clothesline Project works to educate and create awareness and change. Although some individuals may consider it a residual program, I chose to view The Clothesline Project as a developmental program. The Clothesline Project is developmental because it educates the community of the signs of abuse and makes it clear to the survivors and victims' family that it is okay to fight back. It also shows support and understanding to the survivors and the victims' family; and additionally illustrates that they are not alone through their healing process. The Clothesline project further creates change by educating men that being a man doesn't mean assaulting a women and that patriarchy is history. The Clothesline Project is creating awareness and is helping "foster problem solving and developmental well-being on a large scale (p. 77)".
Understanding, compassion, loyalty, determination, caring, and team work describes community development, per Brown (2006). Brown's perspective is that organizing an even or awareness program is important. However, building relationships is crucial to the success of the organization because power comes in numbers. Therefore, a passionate and diversely talented group of individuals that are fighting against an injustice will have more power than an individual fighting for the same cause. Furthermore, with compassion brings drive for change and with that compassion and drive voices are heard! This, in turn, is exactly why I chose the Clothesline Project for my social work 432 community and organization class intervention project.
Clothesline Project. (2011). Retrieved January 20, 2012, from Clothesline project:
http://www.clotheslineproject.org/About_Shirts.htm
Clothesline Project Brochure. (2011). Retrieved January 20, 2012, from Clothesline project:
http://www.clotheslineproject.org/ClotheslineProjectBrochure.pdf
Homan, M. S. (2008). Relating community change to professional practice: Making it happen in the real world. In M. S. Homan, Promotin commuity change (pp. 74-95). Belmont: Brooks Cole.
Homan, M. S. (2008). Relating community change to professional practice: Making it happen in the real world. In M. S. Homan, Promotin commuity change (pp. 74-95). Belmont: Brooks Cole.
Mass.gov. (2011, October). Retrieved January 20, 2012, from Governor's council to address sexual assault and domestic violence: http://www.mass.gov/governor/administration/ltgov/lgcommittee/sexualassault/
New Hope. (2011). Retrieved January 20, 2012, from New Hope: http://www.new-hope.org/
Safety Plan Brochure. (2011). Retrieved January 24, 2012, from Adminstration for Children and Families: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/acf_services.html#violence
Safety Plan Brochure. (2011). Retrieved January 24, 2012, from Adminstration for Children and Families: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/acf_services.html#violence
Shultz, D. March 21,2011. Retrieved from: The clothesline project at the college of Brockport. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxHaMBIQ4l4
UCLA women for change. (2010). Retrieved January 20, 2012, from UCLA the clothesline project: http://www.women4change.ucla.edu/clothesline.htmUMASS Amherst news and project. (2011). Retrieved January 20, 2012, from everywomen's center speicalized teen services: http://www.umass.edu/ewc/programs/tcis/newshttp://womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/am-i-being-abused/index.cfm
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