Karen Kilgariff

Yeah. Right.

Yeah. Right.

women were so at this time which would have been like what late 50s early 60s women's independence like was almost impossible it was so restricted right yeah you couldn't get a bank account under your own name couldn't get it with not without your dad or your husband and then you have a dad like, let's go ahead and name him, Walter.

women were so at this time which would have been like what late 50s early 60s women's independence like was almost impossible it was so restricted right yeah you couldn't get a bank account under your own name couldn't get it with not without your dad or your husband and then you have a dad like, let's go ahead and name him, Walter.

So Walter's the guy that if you don't have somebody better than Walter in your life, then you're just screwed. Totally. So Francine says, quote, I thought he was so sophisticated. He had his own car and most people I knew didn't. So within weeks of their wedding, Mickey's behavior toward Francine changes. She will later remember, quote, I bought some new clothes. He ripped them off me.

So Walter's the guy that if you don't have somebody better than Walter in your life, then you're just screwed. Totally. So Francine says, quote, I thought he was so sophisticated. He had his own car and most people I knew didn't. So within weeks of their wedding, Mickey's behavior toward Francine changes. She will later remember, quote, I bought some new clothes. He ripped them off me.

I don't know whether I look too pretty or what, but he didn't want me to look that way. I was shocked because I'd never been treated like that before. What do you do when you're 16 years old and you had to beg your parents to let you get married? Of course, he said, I'm sorry. Forgive me. It'll never happen again. And I believed him. But it did happen again.

I don't know whether I look too pretty or what, but he didn't want me to look that way. I was shocked because I'd never been treated like that before. What do you do when you're 16 years old and you had to beg your parents to let you get married? Of course, he said, I'm sorry. Forgive me. It'll never happen again. And I believed him. But it did happen again.

And by that time, I was pregnant and felt like I had to make the best of it. Baby angel. Tough. So by the time Francine's 22, she has four children with Mickey. Wow. Two daughters and two sons. But Mickey can't hold down a job. The money he does earn goes to his growing drinking habit, not his family's. So now Francine is stuck in the same cycle her own mother was stuck in.

And by that time, I was pregnant and felt like I had to make the best of it. Baby angel. Tough. So by the time Francine's 22, she has four children with Mickey. Wow. Two daughters and two sons. But Mickey can't hold down a job. The money he does earn goes to his growing drinking habit, not his family's. So now Francine is stuck in the same cycle her own mother was stuck in.

Her full-time job is caring for her children, but Mickey's drinking and gambling make it nearly impossible for her to buy groceries or pay rent. And at one point, she's left to feed her kids popcorn that she mixes with jelly and water just for the calories. Aww. So meanwhile, Francine lives with a looming threat of violence at the hands of her husband.

Her full-time job is caring for her children, but Mickey's drinking and gambling make it nearly impossible for her to buy groceries or pay rent. And at one point, she's left to feed her kids popcorn that she mixes with jelly and water just for the calories. Aww. So meanwhile, Francine lives with a looming threat of violence at the hands of her husband.

Not constantly, because sometimes Mickey can be loving when he wants to be. But Francine learns to walk on eggshells around him. Her son James later reflects on the tense atmosphere in their home by saying, quote, So when Mickey's mad, he usually takes it out on Francine. Sometimes this happens in front of the children, and sometimes it's so bad the cops are called.

Not constantly, because sometimes Mickey can be loving when he wants to be. But Francine learns to walk on eggshells around him. Her son James later reflects on the tense atmosphere in their home by saying, quote, So when Mickey's mad, he usually takes it out on Francine. Sometimes this happens in front of the children, and sometimes it's so bad the cops are called.

But Mickey never faces any real consequences because at the time, police officers would only make an arrest if they themselves witnessed the assault firsthand. Otherwise, they just file a report. Now, these days, that's changed. In most jurisdictions, officers can make arrests citing probable cause based on injuries or witnesses' statements.

But Mickey never faces any real consequences because at the time, police officers would only make an arrest if they themselves witnessed the assault firsthand. Otherwise, they just file a report. Now, these days, that's changed. In most jurisdictions, officers can make arrests citing probable cause based on injuries or witnesses' statements.

So, of course, once the police are called to stop this horrible domestic abuse, and then it stops, then they leave. Mickey just goes back to beating Francine again. And so, of course, the natural question that we have heard in the past is why doesn't she leave?

So, of course, once the police are called to stop this horrible domestic abuse, and then it stops, then they leave. Mickey just goes back to beating Francine again. And so, of course, the natural question that we have heard in the past is why doesn't she leave?

But I think a lot of people, especially since like the 80s, just people who are interested in knowing the real answer to questions like that, know that it is an incredibly complex situation to be in when abuser and abused. There's no question Francine wants a different life for herself.

But I think a lot of people, especially since like the 80s, just people who are interested in knowing the real answer to questions like that, know that it is an incredibly complex situation to be in when abuser and abused. There's no question Francine wants a different life for herself.