By women for women – Aurora Statement

The history of the male violence against women movement is sometimes forgotten or glossed over by contemporary professionals and public bodies. The movement was born out of the activism of feminist women from the 1960s and 1970s and is often referred to as the second wave. It was through this explosion of tenacious, unapologetic activism that women created the movement to end male violence against women and to force the issue into public consciousness. The women of the second wave made it impossible for the state to ignore male violence and it is these women we have to thank for the services that we are able to run at Aurora today. In receiving the precious baton passed to us by our second wave sisters we are fully committed to upholding their legacy and will continue to provide single sex spaces and female only staff.

When we founded Aurora ten years ago we were explicit in naming ourselves a feminist led charity (despite many warning us not to) we were not afraid to raise our voices and state our position then, and will continue to do so now. We are dedicated to ending male violence against women and will endeavour to liberate women from the structures that subordinate our sex class (including the silencing of our voices), whilst ensuring that we work hard to highlight the further oppressions and inequalities for women occurring through the intersections of race and class.

We appreciate that others may disagree with our stance on prioritising women and the retention of female only spaces and we support their right to do so, respectful disagreement is the bedrock of a democratic society. But we state unequivocally in raising our voices for the many women we serve, we will not be bullied into silence on this issue.

If you would like to read more information on this topic, including detailed analysis on the history of the male violence against women movement, you can view the work our CEO Dr. Shonagh Dillon, who has recently published her doctoral research on this issue.

If you would like to support our female only group work and you are able to donate you can do so here:

In sisterhood

#TeamAurora

*For information on our one to one advocacy services for all victims please see here.