Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives

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"Activists and reformers in the United States have long recognized the harm of domestic violence and sought to improve the lives of women who were battered. During the late 20th century, nurses took up the call. With passion and persistence, they worked to reform a medical profession that largely dismissed or completely failed to acknowledge violence against women as a serious health issue. Beginning in the late 1970s, nurses were in the vanguard as they pushed the larger medical community to identify victims, adequately respond to their needs, and work towards the prevention of domestic violence. This is their story."

"Los activistas y reformistas en los Estados Unidos han reconocido por mucho tiempo el daño que causa la violencia doméstica y han buscado mejorar la vida de las mujeres maltratadas. Esta es su historia."

A traveling exhibit from the National Library of Medicine.  On view at NOVA Libraries July 10 - August 10, 2024.

The six-banner traveling exhibition explores images, manuscripts and records that tell the stories of the nurses who witnessed the effects of domestic violence and campaigned for change.

Confronting Violence, Improving Women’s Lives Exhibition Themes

1. Confronting Violence, Improving Women’s Lives tells the story of nurses who changed the medical profession by dramatically improving healthcare services to victims of domestic violence in the late 20th century.

2. A long trajectory of reformers sought to end family violence and improve women’s lives, including mid-19th century temperance and women’s right advocates, and 1970s feminist activists.

3. Beginning in the late 1970s, nurses identified the urgent medical issues facing women who were battered. They were in the vanguard as they worked to reform the larger medical community to identify victims, adequately respond to their needs, and work towards the prevention of domestic violence.

4. Nurses advocated, educated, and organized nationally for professional reform. Nurses and their allies created and implemented some of the first hospital protocols for treating battered women. Hospitals across the country eventually adopted these guidelines, which continue to serve as models of effective medical intervention.

5. While these reforms were significant and helped to save and improve countless lives, the work of ending violence in American homes continues to this day. We can all confront violence and work to improve women’s lives. 

The National Library of Medicine produced this exhibition. Confronting Violence, Improving Women’s Lives began traveling around the United States in October 2015. For more information, contact nlmtravelingexhibits@nlm.nih.gov or visit: www.nlm.nih.gov/confrontingviolence. 

This exhibit guide was adapted from the original guide developed by Rachael Clark, Librarian, Wayne State University, and adapted by Stacy Arth, Abby Bricker, & Diane Kearney, Northern Virginia Community College.