The Clothesline Project
General Information
The purpose of The Clothesline Project is to break the silence about violence against women by airing our dirty laundry. It is both a tribute to survivors and victims (women who have been killed) and a means of educating the public about our society's war on women. It can also aid in the healing process of survivors and those who have lost loved ones to this war by celebrating the strength of women.
The Clothesline Project was begun by the Cape Cod Women's Agenda in Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1990. The idea for the project came from the realization that during the Vietnam War 51,000 women were killed by their husbands or boyfriends during the same time that 58,000 American soldiers were killed in Vietnam. The soldiers have a wall memorializing their deaths, while the victims of the war against women in our own country had nothing.
There are currently approximately 35,000 shirts displayed by local chapters of The Clothesline Project nationwide. On April 8-9, 1995 the first national Clothesline Display, consisting of about 6000 shirts was held in Washington DC, reaching a major goal of The Clothesline Project's National Network.
The shirts are intended to adhere to the following color code, although not all shirts do as survivors may have difficulty finding shirts:
White shirts symbolize women who have died from violence committed against them simply because they are women.
Yellow or beige shirts symbolize women who have survived battering and abuse from their partners.
Red, Pink or orange shirts symbolize women who have survived rape or sexual assault.
Blue or green shirts symbolize women who have survived incest or child sexual abuse.
Purple or lavender shirts symbolize women who have been attacked because they are lesbians or were thought to be lesbians.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT A SHIRT TO THE ULSTER COUNTY CLOTHESLINE PROJECT LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR ANN AT THE FAMILY SHELTER AT THE FAMILY OF WOODSTOCK HOTLINE: 338-2370. THIS HOTLINE IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION, COUNSELING, AND HELP IN FINDING SAFE SHELTER.
works cited: Family of Woodstock Shelter
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