Women's Services, Inc. Philosophy Statement
We recognize the ways in which oppression and violence against women have been used as means of control in our society. We see oppression as a continuum, which ranges from unwanted comments about appearance to the extreme of physical assault resulting in death.
We believe in a woman's right to control her own body and to make decisions about whether, when, and how she will reproduce.
We recognize that race, class and gender, interacting in particular historical contexts, create differing degrees of oppression and/or privilege. We are committed to obtaining participation within the organization from persons of varying backgrounds and experience. We work to eliminate racism, classism, and sexism by examining our own biases and by challenging others to do the same.
We understand the ways in which society perpetuates gender and so limits, in men and women, the expression of individuality and relationship. We attempt to educate individuals and the public in order to allow the expansion of human potential.
We understand the ways in which heterosexism and homophobia permeate the current social structure, oppressing and limiting intimacy within same-sex relationships. We support efforts to obtain and secure the rights of individuals to determine to whom they might relate, intimately and sexually, regardless of gender.
We believe that our culture promotes standards that are hierarchical and objectified. As feminists, we seek to reduce hierarchy whenever possible. Our efforts shall include encouraging group work and group decision making through consensus, recognizing the subjectivity of our views, and using that subjective stance to further our relationship with those outside the organization, with co-workers and with clients.
In services to domestic or sexual violence victims, we regard our clients as victims of a situational distress, not patients needing treatment. By providing an egalitarian relationship and a supportive atmosphere in which the client is free to make the choices which will serve her/him best, we work to empower the client at all times.