Conclusion

By Houston Law Review, Kathleen Waits

Conclusion: Why We Must Keep Telling Stories

We must keep telling stories because a battered woman might hear a story similar to her own life and seek help. She might hear, for the first time, she does not deserve the abuse. She might hear she has a chance for a better life for her children and herself. A victim who has received good treatment from the legal system told me, "I want to give women hope." [232] Hope is the reason these stories must be told.

We must keep telling stories because a victim who was not ready to listen yesterday may be ready today, or tomorrow. A battered woman might read about a woman being killed and for the first time say to herself, " That could be me. I need to get out now." Of course, other battered women have been killed, but she was not yet ready to make the connection. [233] Such stories would not have worked for Mary, even after the laundry room beating. But they were important to her a year later when she came to self–identify as an abused woman and left Russ.

Additionally, other people––students, lawyers, judges, doctors, psychologists––might resist a battered woman's story at one time but be receptive the next. Why is this? There are many reasons, but people often open their minds after domestic violence touches them personally. [234] For many people, once they hear a story from someone they know and care about, they become more willing to listen to other women's stories. [235] I have seen this happen over and over again. We can never be sure when it will all "click" for a given person. After all, it ultimately "clicked" even for Mary's custody judge. [236]

We can only keep trying. Mary, and many other courageous women like her, will not be silenced. They will keep telling their stories till everyone hears.

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