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310 The Los Angeles Woman's Building women's culture into the public sphere, the more women can group together to locate and create this culture, the more likely we are to have a positive effect on society at large. Notes The Woman's Building and this chapter about its physical life could not exist without "the gentle art of mutual aid." In particular, I am grateful to Dolores Hayden for having suggested that a record of the Woman's Building be included in this volume, and for providing me with criticism and comfort while I put some of the work that has been such a major part of my life into words. 1. For more information on nineteenth-century activities, see Dolores Hayden, "Redesigning the Domestic Workplace," Chrysalis 1 (1977): 19-29. 2. For a discussion of feminist form language as expressed in built and graphic work, see S. L. de Bretteville, "A Reevaluation of the Design Arts from the Perspective of the Woman Designer," Arts in Society (spring/summer 1974): 115-124. 3. For a discussion of the growth and accomplishments of the Los Angeles women artists' movement see Faith Widing, By Our Own Hands (Los Angeles: Double X, 1977). 4. Caroline Hunt, "Women's Public Work for the Home: An Ethical Substitute for Cooperative Housekeeping," The Journal of Home Economics 1, no. 3 (1909): 574-576. 5. There were additional problems that threatened the use of this building that were encountered while getting building permits. Fees, requirements, and new laws are applied when a building's designated use is changed. Building, fire, and electrical inspectors have certified that the building is up to code for a manufacturing company, the registered designated use that we have continued. Since it is impossible to change it to "public" without getting a variance, future ownership seems to be ruled out. 16 Emergency Shelter: The Development of an Innovative Women's Environment Anne Cools This chapter recounts the outcome of a specific attempt to translate the working idea of a female environment into an area of vital social service need for women. Women in Transition is an innovative social service aimed at alleviating a most neglected area of social need. Women in Transition was specifically set up to house women and their children who have been forced to suddenly depart their homes and who must confront martial breakdown and single-support parenthood against the backdrop of immediate homelessness. In this context, Women in Transition is grounded in an understanding of the fact that married women frequently possess no personal income and are thus totally dependent on their husbands for their financial support. In addition, all societal practices, customs, and laws presuppose such financial dependence poses problems enough while domestic relations remain harmonious. When they deteriorate and the martial situation sours, the matter of financial dependence becomes an insurmountable problem. When marriage breakdown is accompanied by domestic violence and physical brutality on the part of the husband, the condition becomes pathological. Wife battery, threats, and the kidnapping of children are all too common incivilities accompanying marital breakdown. For the women involved this is a terrifying experience - no place to turn to, no money, no alternatives, much agony, and frightened children to support. This is the primary area of need to which our services are directed. We are also concerned with the temporary house 311
