The Oka/oosa ,Feminist Papers OKALOOSA COUNTY, FL FEBRUARY 1987 VOL. V, ISSUE 1

tlO\NATIONAL tlO\NATIONAL DAGANIZAT'ON C!=IGANIZATtON ,.QAWOMEN "FAILURE IS IMPOSSIBLE" I£ORWOMEN

·That was the simple answer given by Susan B. Anthony, the great suffragisl leader, when asked aboul the chances of winning the right to vote for women. You see, she knew the "hidden secret" behind the success of all great movements. Dedication. Perseverance. And the commitment of those people in our society who are willing to work tirelessly for equality and dignity. Because of your commitment to causes that matter and make a difference you can help correct a huge mistake. You can help win the fight for passage of the new ERA and see that women's equality is finally GUARANTEED by our Constitution. 1987 OFF AND RUNNING The following is a list of the OCNOW Officers for 1987 elected Jan. 19, 1987 by General Membership. Vice President: Karen Judd Secretary: Ellen Cadwell Treasurer: Christa Sawdon Reproductive Rights: Bev Kapsa Conciousness Raising: Judy Byrne Riley Legislative: Vickie Oman Newsletter/Historian: Chris Harmon Telephone Tree Chair: Vonnie Cobb

CALENDAR Feb. 15th (Sunday) Birthday of Susan B. Anthony-- - Feb. 16th (Monday) OCNOW General Meeting, 24G Carmel Drive, Ft. Walton Beach March 8th thru 14th Womens History Week March

Feb. 15th (Sunday) Birthday of-Susan B. Anthony Feb. 16th (Monday) OCNOW General Meeting, 24G Carmel Dr, FWB March 8th (Sunday) International Women's Day March 8th thru 14th Women's History Week March 16th (Monday) OCNOW General Meeting, 24G Carmel Dr, FWB EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article ~as written by Riane Eisler, Author of "The Equal Rights Handbook, What ERA Means to Your Life, Your Rights and the Future." Reprinted from the HUMANIST Vol. 47 No.1.

people favored the ERA. However, in the regressiIfF The ERA Renewal Drive political climate that followed, it became fashionable to pronounce the American women's movement dead. nJuly I, 1986, in anticipation ofthe Fourth ofJuly At the 198j End of the United Nations Decade OStatue of Liberty celebrationa, Allie Hiuon, co­ for Women Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, the future chairperson of the National Women'a Conference C0m­ ofthe international women's movement was the under, mittee, Eleanor Smeal, president of the National Organi, lying motif. There, the issue was not. whether or not zation for Women, , editor of M •. maga' the American women', movement was dead, as it was ane, Sallie Bingham, president of the Kentucky Poun­ clearly alive and, in fact, extremely well represented. dation for Women, and I held a press conference in Rather, the focua was .on the setting of priorities. Washington, D.C. When we announced publication of Among American feminists, an important issue was the new ERA FtKtS and Action Guide as the flCSt step whether the time was right for an ERA renewal drive. in an ERA renewal drive, it was the flCSt time' in Later that year, at the National Women's Confer' ieveral year. that the proposed Equal Rights Amend, ence Committee. conference held in Kansas City, Mis­ ment to the U.S. Constitution made national newa. souri, this question was articulated at one of the con, Is the time ripe for an ERA renewal drive? And ference's best,attended workshops. As a member of why do we need one? The answer liei in one simple the NWCC Task Force and fact: the eroaion by the.current administration of legal a speaker at the workshop, it was clear to me that for protection provided by antidiscrimination legislation. many of the women in attendence the ERA was still For example, nnz VU and nnz IX could nor have the top priority. been implemented had the ERA been in the Constitu, Clearly, we need the ERA. We cannot continue tion. In the now famous cue of GrOl1( Cit, CoIlqc v. to fight so many defensive battles on so many differ, Btll, the prohibition of educational discrimination ent fronts. But there is powerful and massively funded against women contained in n11J! IX was interpreted opposition to passage of the ERA. . so narrowly as to render the law meaningle ... Thil, of A major factor in a successful ERA renewal drive course, was a tremendou. blow to women. Beyond is a better,informed and responsible press. The mass that, the key warda in the nnz IX language againat media ,have aU too often spread totally unfounded aile, sea diacrim.ination are identiCal to the language in fifty, gations against the ERA, providing legislators with two other federal civil rightl law, protecting aU Amer, the excuse they sought to vote their prejudices or to ican. against not only sea discrimination but aIaq dis­ curry favor with wealthy anti,ERA contributor•. In, cri:nination based upon race, national origin, religion, deed, in their treatment of the ERA, our mass media physical handicap, and age. So, precisely because it have often turned the "fairness doctrine" requirement firSt succeas(ully opposed the ERA, the Reagan that both aides of an issue be presented into an administration in 1984 was able to gut fifty,two other "absurdity doctrine." Obsessed with sensationalism cri~ical civil rightl lawi. The reason the administration and controversy, they have irresponsibly failed to waS able to do this was that there was one, vulnerable . probe what the moas cursory investigation show. are point in the entire fabric of civil ri&btl law,: the . manifestly absurd charges: that' the ERA will deatroy . absence of the Equal Rightl Amendment, which the family, spread communiam, draft mothers into com' would have made it imposaible for the Supreme Court bat duty, and even-as the story now being circulated to render nnz IX a dead letter. has it-spread AIDS. In 1977, when the proposed Equal Riahtl Amend, Correcting thia situation will require pressure nOt ment was only three states .hort of ratification, our only from all' the major women's organizations but also political .ystem was at a crossroads. The failure of the from many individual American women and men. We ERA to gain ratification marked a radical turning point must demand that the media now do wh~t they should in our constitutional hi.torY: it was the lirat tune an have done the first time around: at least a minimal job amendment that would exp.wd constitutional protec­ of investigative reporting. At the very least, the media tion in the tradition of the fourteenth, Pifteenth, and should, in every article or· television program 'on the t~ineteenth Amendments was effectively blocked. It . subject, give the full wording of the amendment; also marked a failure of the democratic proce ... For, a. which simply states that "Equality of rights' under the poll after poll showed, the majoritr of the American raw shall not be denied or abridged by the or by any state on account of sex." Tools such as 'The ERA Facts and Action Guide Shockingly, in a study of over two thousand chp­ can help the media fulfill its responsibility of objective pings related to the ERA conducted by the Women's and full coverage of important social issues. This par· Studies Program and Pohcy Center of George ticular work contains compelhng facts, fascinating Washington University, Catherine East and Dorothy history, and real-life human interest vignettes. It also Jurney reported that In only 31 percent of the stones offers action· tested strategies needed to elect pro· ERA was the ERA quoted or paraphrased accurately. candidates and to pass the ERA. It is a good tool to Another study conducted by the Women's Institute pave the way for a much-needed ERA renewal drive. (or Freedom of the Press found that, in 1977-a very But, as with all tools, Its effectiveness hinges on its busy year for the ERA-the New Yor~ 'Times dlo not use . Energetic distribution, as well as dissemination of quote the text of the amendment In a single one of its its contents, and, most important, vigorous application fifty-nine news stones on the ERA. Besides failure to through political action will help guarantee its effective­ define the issues adequately and failure to investigate ness. clearly libelous allegations, the press has also tended to triviali~e this Important issue, treating it far less seriously than other matters of civil rights which did not directly involve women.

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~ UNITARIAN \J7 UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP CSometlting OJ Fon Waltoft &ocll Origi1l.a1 An affirmo.tive Faith beyond Dogma; a belief in humo.n dignity. the need for more community and the Your Full Service Florist constant search for truth. Fresh & Silk Flowers & Plants

Share a Sunday with us (10 a.m.) at Wright Shopping Center 204·G Carmel Dr. 913·B N. Beat Parkway Ft. Watton Beach. FL 32548 Esther Davis 904·244 ·5314 .. 862·0770 Nana White Ul-1115 See EPA,2U: fhJSACtt.A NEWS JOOft-JAL NOW.out to cultivate activists Dy Darbara Jallcsh · News Journal FORT WALTON BEACH - "There are a lot of women in this county who · would love to be activists if Lhey knew whnt it meant." · Thos~.ar~the words of Karen Judd, 36, soon to be the lJew vice president of Lhe OkalooSll County chapler oC the National Organization for Women. Being an activist, Judd explained, means becoming involved in local, !ltatc and national i'>5ues, understanding those · issues, and realizing how they affect you as an' individual. And, as the name implies, taking action on those issues, she said. : . . ' .

,,' That action, Judd exp:uined, can be M simple as writing a letter or a postcard to a legislator, expressing an opinion on a' particular topic or issue. : . NOW; Judd lIBid, hopes to cultivate potenlial activists in tho area during Lhe nexl vear. . . "What we're doing on a local level ill consciousness raising. We want to help. women become more awnre and Mlute, ' she said. The 4·year·old chnpler plans to

accomplish that tn.~kthrough special ' programs at its monthly meetings. Throughout the year, Judd Mid, the group hopes to help women learn how to molivate themselves to take action and to help them learn "how we can present our opinions on feminist issues without apolo­ gizing fo~them."

01{alo_osa~(}~C]laDter..tar!rets _DOtentia.1_::lc.tixist~~,- NOW wa,q one of Beveral organi7A' any, progre!'ll h8.11been mode, and Rother than compnre the overall ·OI{ALOOSAlfrom 1U tions she joined in her attempt to suggest additional reconunenda· jobs thelTlllelves, she explained, • Overall, Bhe said, the chapter become more involved in the local tions, Blimling said. characteristics conunon to both - .will be addressing ways to help community. It is one of the few More recently, OC·NOW has educational requirements, ex peri. mcn and women practice their fern· groups ahe remains active in. , been turning its attention to the is· ence, advancement, 8Olary, promo· Jnism. . The local chapter maintains a sue of pay equity. Judd will be dis- tion requirements - can be as· : The . local NOW chapter was relatively low profile, but never· cu.'!Sing the topic when the chapter sessed and equitable pay scales de· formed as the Fort Walton Beach thel8&'1 is a very active group, ac· meets in regular session at 6:30 veloped. hrnnch of NOW in 1974, said Jane cording to the three women. p.m. ~ondayat t~e Unitarian Uni· The .local NOW will be working Blimling, 46, swte vice preaidcnt In ~hepast, they have helped Es- vel1l8h~tFellowship on C~·with the state chapter throughout for NOW, and a long-time member center bf the loclli orgnnization_ cambia County. NO~ .members mel Dn.v~. '. the year, encouraging the state to escl?rt wO.men IOto chOlcs when TraditIOnally, women have been readjust its pay scale and eliminate The first chapter consisted of be­ anti-abortIOn protesters were pres· P8:1d less money th!l'l men, Judd a 17 percent discrepancy in the anI. tween 30 and 35 members, but dis· ent. T~eloca! chapter also work~801~ •• In part., that 18 becau~.the· aries of male and female govern. banded for a variety of reasons EU­ to deVIse a duectory of lawyers 10 posItions they hold have tradltlon- ment employees Judd said ter ahout two years. the Panhandle who addtl'1l8 worn· ally demanded fewer dolllllll, she . .. ' - In 1982, when severallocnl worn· en's issues (alimony, child sup- said. 'I1le Issue Is just one of many, en uegan working together to push port). But, all too frequently, women in however, that the group will con· for pn.'lSIlge of the Equal Rights Back in 1974, the chapter con· the aame jobs as men receive less tinue to address as it encourages Amendment, they learned that ducled a aerieS of interviews with money because employers assume women to become more aware of about 20 at-large NOW members rape victims and represent.atives that women do not need as much the issues that effect them and to lived in the county, Blimling said. from law enforcement agencies and cash as their male counterparts, become involved in influencing At that point, they decided to re­ other groups responsible for work· she Mid. 'government action, Judd anid. form the local chnpter. ing with the women. "The pay scale continues to have More information on the organi. So, "the OC-NOW chapter was Blimling . said the in.terview8 the underlying assumption that ZIltion can be obt.ained by calling ~rni.n early 1983. The group now were part of a study designed to women don't need the money," 837-1873. :. h~out 40 members, most of a.-.scss the attitudes toward and Judd said. whom are women. . treatment of rape victirtlll in the Frequently, when people addrl'1l8 : Buth B1imling and Judd said county. Ba.'led on the findingJI of the issue of comparable pay for G. T. 'they naturally gravitated to the or· the study, the group made Beveral comparable worth, they 80y jobs Dyno Compo ganization because of their past ex· recommendations for improve· cannot be compared because they W-~~,;;jIo,-~MIUf)"". .M1 Us, $169.00 periences with NOW chapters and ment. . involve different work tasks. Judd . Sale other political activities in other At this time, a ' special NOW re!lponds: "You can mensure apples 20 areas of the country. committee is once again studying and oranges. They are round. They $135 Rhea Hendrixson, current presi. the &arne ,!ubject to learn what, if are fruit."· dent of the local chapter, said MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION I wish to join NOW and commit myself to take a::tion to I.lring women into full participation NATIONAL QAOANIZA!1QN in the mainstream of American society now, exercising full rights and responsibilities in ~()tIIIWO"".N partnership with men.

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