March is Women’s History Month – a time to celebrate women for the massive strides and accomplishments they have made over the centuries in shaping our world and challenging societal barriers that prevent them from thriving and achieving their full potential.
Particularly, it’s a time to acknowledge their tireless efforts in fighting against domestic violence, confronting demeaning stereotypes, and promoting healthier, more equitable relationships. Through their unfaltering activism and advocacy, women have pushed for legal changes that prioritize the well-being of domestic violence victims, provided support to survivors, and raised awareness of the work that still needs to be done to solve this pervasive problem.
As Purpose On Purpose continues to carry on this mission, we’re encouraged to look back and honor the phenomenal women who have been instrumental in promoting awareness and efforts to combat domestic violence in society.
Today, in particular, we want to honor one of the most celebrated pioneers of change, Tracey Thurman, whose story of survival inspired a nationwide conversation about intimate partner violence and spurred significant legal reforms across the United States.
When Tracey met her husband, Charles “Buck” Thurman, in 1979, she had just lost her mom. She was scared and vulnerable, and being with Buck made her feel safer and stronger. She thought he was the perfect man, her safe haven… until he wasn’t.
As time went by, Charles became abusive, and things only got worse when she tried to divorce him. Even when she moved out and obtained a restraining order, he continued to attack and harass her, threatening to kill her and their toddler son. Tracey kept reporting his estranged husband to the police, constantly begging them to arrest him, but nothing was done.
In 1983, in broad daylight, Charles attacked Tracey outside of her own house, slashing her cheek with a knife and stabbing her 13 times! All this while, the police officer Tracey had summoned sat in his car across the street, reluctant to become involved.
Well, he did finally go to the scene but all he did was get Buck to surrender the knife; he didn’t arrest him. In fact, the officer just stood by as Charles, in his heavy work boots, stomped on Tracey’s head over and over until she broke her neck!
When the paramedics arrived and started loading near-dead Tracey into the ambulance, enraged Buck made a run at her a third time, and only then was he arrested. Tracey was hospitalized for close to eight months, with her injuries leaving her partially paralyzed, but her husband was only jailed for eight years.
Two years later, Tracey sued the police department for failing to afford her protection despite multiple reports of abuse. And not only did she win the lawsuit; her case became a landmark in the fight against intimate partner violence and brought attention to the numerous failures in the legal system that gave her abuser the power to continue making her life unbearable. After the ruling, a mandatory arrest policy was implemented, requiring the police to arrest abusers who violate restraining orders.
The lawsuit also changed the way law enforcement agencies addressed domestic violence cases. Before Tracey’s case, domestic violence was treated as a private matter between spouses, and many jurisdictions often didn’t want to involve themselves in such situations. The lawsuit helped bring a cultural shift; now, intimate partner violence is considered a serious crime that warrants criminal prosecution.
The 1989 movie, A Cry for Help, which was based on Tracey’s story further revealed the realities of domestic violence, which encouraged many victims to come forward and seek help. Tracey’s legacy continues to inspire women’s rights advocacy groups and organizations to work towards fighting domestic violence, bringing perpetrators to justice, and providing support to victims and survivors.
Tracey Thurman’s story sends shivers down the spine of anyone who hears it, as it unveils the true trepidation and brutality of domestic violence. However, it’s a constant reminder that one person’s bravery can make a lasting impact on the community. It underscores the need for society to take intimate partner violence seriously and hold abusers accountable for their actions, as it’s the only way we all can hope to prevent horrendous assaults like the one Tracey endured.
This Women’s History Month, Purpose On Purpose draws inspiration from Tracey Thurman and other remarkable women who have shown incredible strength and resilience in the face of domestic violence and fought to create a more equitable world for all. We aim to honor the beautiful work they started by continuing to support women affected by domestic violence. Our goal is to turn their suffering into Purpose by offering them hope and healing and empowering them to work towards a future where they feel safe and valued. But we can’t do this alone. Join us in our mission to empower women survivors of domestic violence and make a lasting difference in their lives.
