Athens Feminist Reunion 2011
Aug 2, 2011 by Sally Sheppard
The Athens Feminist Reunion- July 2011- Athens, GA
I was delighted to receive a surprise call from Linda Chafin. Linda told me that the women who were involved in the feminist rights movement in Athens Georgia from the early to mid 1970s were getting together for a reunion in the end of July this year. Linda stated that some of these women were the founders of the Rape Crisis Line, which was the beginning of The Cottage in 1974. Linda asked if I could speak about where The Cottage is now and what we do for our community. I was absolutely honored to be asked to speak.
I arrived to the gathering along with our Board of Directors President, Attawa Childres. We were greeted by over 30 women and 3 men at the Palm Room at the Georgian Hotel. I observed as these women spoke to each other about the many wonderful things they had done for all women within our community. Many of these things I had no idea of.
I spoke with a woman named Mary who had been among the first to start the Rape Crisis Line. She told me her story about Rape Crisis Line. Mary stated that back then she was involved in NOW and WOMEN, two feminist groups. She stated that they would meet and ask for guest speakers to talk about women’s issues. She stated that one night a police officer from Athens Clarke County Police Department came to speak to her group. They got on the topic of rape and he told the group that if they really wanted to do something to help the community they should warn those living in the Sunset area of town about a rapist. He stated that there had been several rapes in this part of town and they couldn’t prove it, but it could be a serial rapist. Mary and the group of women there took this suggestion to heart and created flyers for that community urging folks to lock their doors and windows. The flyers had a phone number for folks to call if they had any information about a rapist or needed someone to call about this topic. That began the Rape Crisis Line. Mary stated that they began receiving calls, not only about the Sunset Rapist but also from any victim of rape or even child molestation. She stated that the Rape Crisis Line collaborated with Northeast Georgia Mental Health to have a counselor to refer clients to when in need. Mary stated this was all before the revolution of call forwarding and she slept many nights on the floor of the room that held the Rape Crisis Line, in case of a phone call.
Mary and the other women that I spoke to during the Athens Feminist Reunion were such an inspiration to me. Not only as the Director of The Cottage, had which come from Rape Crisis Line, but as a woman. It is because of women like these that we have made such tremendous strides in the fight against rape and the services for survivors.
Tagged: athens feminist reunion, rape crisis line, the cottage