Week Without Violence / The Clothesline Project
What is Week Without Violence?
YWCA USA's Week Without Violence is a global campaign that takes place annually during the third week of October to raise awareness and end gender-based violence against women and girls. This year, YWCA Jamestown will host the Clothesline Project in conjunction with Project Crossroads' Silent Witness Project.
This year's Week Without Violence theme is Financial Trauma. Therefore, individuals who have experienced financial trauma or domestic violence of any kind are invited to share their stories by drawing, writing messages, or composing poetry on a t-shirt to be displayed in the Clothesline Project Exhibit.
What is the Clothesline Project?
The Clothesline Project serves as a visual representation of the violence faced by women. During this public exhibition, a clothesline displays shirts, each adorned to reflect a specific woman's experience, created either by the survivor herself or by someone who cares for her.
The project has four main objectives:
1. To honor both the survivors and victims of the violence against women.
2. To assist in the healing journey for those who have lost a loved one or who are survivors of such violence.
3. To educate, document, and increase societal awareness regarding the prevalence of violence against women.
4. To establish a nationwide network that offers support, encouragement, and resources for other communities initiating their own Clothesline Projects.
What is Financial Trauma and how does it relate to domestic violence?
Financial abuse can often be a strategy employed by individuals seeking to exert power and control within a relationship. This issue may present itself in various forms, some of which may be quite apparent while others can be more subtle. Typically, it involves withholding information, restricting the victim's access to financial resources, or creating barriers to accessing family funds.