Women's Video Project at the YWCA

The Women's Video Project at the YWCA at the YWCA USA Metropolitan Chicago chapter was initially created to complete video projects related to the Loop YWCA Lay Advocacy program, provide support to other YWCA groups and individuals to use, and teach video equipment usage and guiding video projects.

Works

Created in 1972, the Women's Video Project at the YWCA was launched to increase female [videographers]. One of the first advisors to the group was Judy Hoffman (filmmaker), who made equipment recommendations, and by 1974, the first grant assistance was received. At that time, seven women led by videographer Eleanor Boyer went to work settling the equipment up, creating tapes, and providing support to other YWCA members. Countless tapes were made documenting workshops and lectures; workshops were given to provide hands-on experience in making small-format video, including planning, shooting, and editing; and YWCA members created their own tapes.

Boyer herself created more than a dozen tapes with the program, including "Street Interviews on Rape (1974)" documenting attitudes and beliefs about rape held by men and women, "Getting Strong: Self Defense for Women (1976)" discussing the dimensions and politics of self-defense for women, "Breast Cancer Tapes (1977)" opening up the subject of breast cancer from the point of view of women who had undergone treatment, and "Bonne Bell: 10,000 Meter Race for Women (1978)" documenting Chicago's first 6.2-mile race for women which was organized and hosted by the YWCA.

As technology shifted, the Women’s Video Project at the YWCA started to seek out newer equipment that was lighter, was easier to use, and recorded in color. The members of the Video Project wrote letters of support for the newly founded and artist-run Chicago Editing Center, which later became known as the Chicago's Center for New Television, and moved much of their work there.

The Women's Video Project at the YWCA dissolved in 1981.

Members

Eleanor Boyer
Stella Rangle
Cheryl Sanders
Rhonda Stein
Terra Levin