Courage of Women:
Walking Beyond Domestic Violence

“I began to experience abdominal pain and realized that if I were diagnosed with a terminal illness, I would not choose to die in this relationship. So why would I choose to live in it?" — Writer and poet, Kim Disbury

Eve Katrina Gordon
34 minutes • 2002
Includes Circle of Support workbook

Courage of Women: Walking Beyond Domestic Violence is an empowering documentary that follows five urban women on the path to healing, a sojourn that takes them into prime grizzly habitat in the Selkirk mountains of southeastern British Columbia. These women come together not to share their stories of abuse, but to reflect on the inner strength they were able to find in order to leave their violent relationships. Trekking into grizzly bear country allows the women to reconnect with their instincts and face fears of the unknown, a powerful metaphor for their journey out of crisis.

During one-on-one interviews, the women talk about what finally triggered them to get out of their vulnerable situations, what tools and resources they relied upon to survive the most difficult moments, how their decisions have helped their children, and what steps they would suggest to other struggling women. They reveal diverse backgrounds—business owner, student, caterer, writer and even Alberta MLA—underlining that abuse can happen in any home.

Circle of Support, a 36-page workbook, accompanies Courage of Women and provides step-by-step assistance to women as they formulate a clear and safe plan of action to leave behind abuse. It includes information on Critical Incident Stress (CIS), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), safety considerations, insightful books, as well as a compendium of public resources for women and children in both Canada and the U.S.

Subject(s): Healing, Relationships, Violence against women, Women