DOCTOR WHO KILLED HIS WIFE IS BACK IN THE SUROERY

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( w o m e n s Women's books, non-sexist children's books, posters, badges, jewellery . . . 10% discount BROADSHEET for students and beneficiaries. 26 Jervois Rd, Ponsonby, Auckland. FORM ON PAGE 48 Phone 768-978 A telecommunications student adjusts an automatic telephone exchange. Photo from Tribune. CONTENTS

FEATURES GOODS & SERVICES TAX 13 BULIMIA 26 LESBIANS OUTSIDE THE LAWS 30 A DISAGREEABLE FEMINIST — DALE SPENDER 32 THE GREAT HUMAN RIGHTS SHOE SALE 38 POETRY ______To Whichever Man It May Be 25 ARTS _ ...... __ ...... REVIEWS Earthauake Town/Ground Work/Lesbians: As We See Ourselves/From Menstruation to Broadcasting/Wanjiku/Waxing Moon 44 REGULARS LETTERS and FRONTING UP 2 HIT LIST 3 BEHIND THE NEWS Small Maternity Units/Gay Rally/PPTA/245-T 6 ON THE SHELF 36 WHAT’S NEW 41 DIRECTORY 42 CLASSIFIED ______48

COVER Photo by Gil Hanly BROADSHEET COLLECTIVE Sandra Coney, Lyn Crossley, Sandi Hall, Heather McLeish, Claire- Louise McCurdy, Athina Reay, Trish Taylor, Jenny Rankine, Judith Ammon. THESE WOMEN WORKED ON THIS ISSUE Leonie Child, Jess Hawk Oakenstar, Catherine Lee, Diana Nicholson, Errolyn, Kim Grant, Alisha Popevis, Gay Stanton, Pat Rosier, Sharon Alston. BROADSHEET is published by Broadsheet Magazine Ltd, PO Box 5799 Wellesley Street, Auck­ land' Registered Office: 1st Floor Gane Building, 43 Anzac Avenue, Auckland 1; and printed by Wanganui Newspapers Ltd, 20 Drews Avenue, Wanganui. Published. 1 June 1985. BROADSHEET annual subscription $NZ24, overseas surface $31, overseas airmail Europe $43.50, America and Asia $39, Australia and South Pacific $33. Permission must be sought before articles m ay be reprinted. Broadsheet is on file at the Women’s Collection, Special Department, Northwestern University Library, Evanston, Illinois 60201, USA. ISSN 0110-8603 Registered at the GPO as a magazine. Broadsheet, June 1985 1 ZIONISM pregnancy, although I have Dear Sisters, never prescribed it. I would ap­ In an effort to assist Rebecca preciate it greatly if you could Judd (Broadsheet, April) de­ send me a reference list for the fine 1) Zionism 2) Palestinian article as I am interested in propaganda, I write, hoping to persuing the issue further. clear any previously held mis­ LETTERS... Dr Ben Gray conceptions. Beirut 1982, Waitara courtesy of the Israeli Defence Ed note: The reference list sheet, April 1985) “Since Hitler Dear Broadsheet, Forces, is the best example to used by Christine Bird in writ­ and the holocaust it is no take. Rebecca Judd’s letter (April ing the article on Debendox in longer acceptable to attack Zionism is the “ideology” 85) contained many myths. It the May issue is available by Jews covertly”. So true. Any is not and never has been PLO which states that by incinerat­ sending a stamped, self-ad­ criticism of Jews and/or Israel ing women and children with policy to “drive the Jews into dressed envelope to Broad­ can be construed to be anti- phosphorous bombs; destroy­ the sea”. At one time the PLO sheet, P.O. Box 5799, Auck­ ing hospitals; withholding semitic, thus effectively nullify- talked of a democractic state land. ir* ie criticism, however fac- where the Jews already in food and water from a be- RACIST RUGBY seiged city and murdering iuo. .. may be. I think of the Palestine/lsrael would live as 25,000 Semitic people - the human rights of the Palesti­ equals with the Moslems and Dear Broadsheet, Arabs in Lebanon - peace will nian people and more re­ Christians. The PLO now ad­ I urge a girlcott for all those or­ com e to Galilee. cently, Lebanese, in this re­ vocates a two state solution; a ganisations that withdraw their Palestinian propaganda gard. Palestinian state alongside support or patronage from the comprises the films, photos I felt J. Taylor (Broadsheet, pre-1967 Israel. NZRFCI and rugby clubs. and personal accounts given January 1985) was justified in In 1985 Member of Parlia­ We should be supporting by American, French, British comparing the oppression of ment Rabbi Meir Kahane is the organisations that oppose and other foreign journalists NZ Jewish feminists with openly calling for the mass apartheid and buying their who were brave enough to Palestinian Arabs in Israel, not explusion of the entire Palesti­ products or using their ser­ stay in Beirut during the sum­ because she was seeking to nian population from Israel. It vices - watch for press state­ mer of 1982 in order to wit­ “arouse hostility against Jews” appears the desire to “drive ments. ness Zionism in its purest form quote R. Judd, but because the Arabs out” is not uncom­ Judy Pickard and substance. she was exposing some of the mon among the Jewish public Hamilton injustices that exist in Israel, in Israel. The Dahaf opinion Two things need to be said FROM THE FAR SOUTH to complete Rebecca’s letter. and which have also been wor­ poll institute did a survey in The first is that the atrocities of rying Amnesty International July 1984 which showed that Dear Collective, the Israeli Defence Forces and the International Court of 15% (fifteen) of those ques­ I see from the End of Decade have done away with the need Jurists lately. Jewish feminists tioned said that “the Palesti­ Grants List that Broadsheet for Palestinian “propaganda”; and NZ feminists should be nians must be expelled” and have a $1,000 Project Grant and the second is that after kil­ joining those within Israel who 43.5 percent said that “the for a commemorative issue. ling 25,000 Semites, I don’t are seeking a more just society Palestinians should be allowed Congratulations! The Herstory think the Israelis can call free from the oppression of to stay in Israel but without any Exhibition got one too, I trust, others anti-Semitic, if they still one race by another and alert­ rights including the right to you will have noticed. We here know the meaning of having a ing readers to the plight of the vote”. It would appear from in Dunedin feel it is essential conscience. Palestinians who have been this survey (reported in the Is­ that the Exhibition be And lastly I wish to con­ subjected to mass explusion raeli Davar newspaper 3/8/84) evaluated, mentioned and gratulate Broadsheet on al­ from their land and subjuga­ that 60 percent of the urban photographed as it is a par­ lowing a platform for all opin­ tion of those who remained. Jewish population believe that ticularly effective and early un­ ions. After all we are sisters, are By the way I am happy to the best solution to the “Pales­ covering of NZ Herstory. It in­ we not, Rebecca? sustain my subscription to tinian problem” is either explu­ volved a lot of extremely inten­ sive and time consuming work Leila Khalil Broadsheet, without sugges­ sion or apartheid. The irony of in 1975 (research, make-up, Auckland tions on whose letters you the Zionist claim that “they are choose to print. being threatened with explu­ photo-enlarging and mount­ Dear Broadsheet, Janfrie Wakim sion by the PLO” will not be ing etc. etc.). As you know Rebecca Judd writes (Broad- Auckland lost on those who recall that many of the Dunedin Collec­ G&CSAWC Gil Hanlu the Israelis have already expel­ tive for Woman members who led the vast majority of the in­ worked on the exhibition have digenous Palestinians. now moved into their own Donna Jansen sphere-of-interest-prominence. Auckland Jocelyn Harris, still a tireless anti-sexism in universities DEBENDOX fighter and super role model Dear Broadsheet, as lecturer at English Depart­ Thanks for the excellent article ment, University of Otago. on Debendox. I have been in­ Pauline Neale whose creative terested in the abuses of the hand is behind many non­ drug companies for some sexist childrens books - and time. Despite this interest I non-racist! She is now in Wel­ must admit that prior to seeing lington. Adrienne Martyn, as a your article I erred on the side feminist and artist whose spe­ of believing the propaganda of cial field is still photography is the establishment that Deben­ often all over New Zealand. dox was suitable and safe as a Fern Mercie whose drive kept drug for treating nausea of the project going and whose be attacking my right to have seek their permission to repro­ the feminist-dominated teminist enthusiasm made it written the screenplay for duce it upon my letterhead Listener magazine. into an outstanding womens Heart of the Stag, the recent and as a one-off bumper- resource. 1 could go on — New Zealand feature film on sticker. Ed Note: In the interests of ac­ Cathy Fitzgerald, Andrea the taboo subject of incest. But woe and alas; once curacy though not the edifica­ Levesque Olsen who alone Alas, the two ladies con­ more the ladies concerned are tion of our readers, the would require a page on her cerned are not to be com ­ somewhat awry in their accu­ “pneumatic drill” image ap­ fantastic achievements, but it mended for the accuracy of racy. A careful reading of the pears on page 63 of Men's would take too long. their research. Had they taken piece concerned — actually a Journal in the short story “Hot chapter from an unpublished Dunedin actually has a tre­ the trouble to telephone me Peak of Summer” by Neil Il­ novel written in 1969— will re­ mendous herstory — first exp­ (I’m in the book) or even to lingworth: “Put up or shut up, veal that, notwithstanding their loration of sexism in school check with your own because he’s going up and assertion to the contrary, there readers, first public enquiry magazine, they would have down today like a bloody is absolutely no reference any­ into attitudes to abortion, first discovered that the very first pneumatic drill and he doesn’t where in it to the male’s cock feminist bookshop, first and thing I did upon receiving the know where he’s at”. being like a war veteran or a second Herstory Diary-which commission for this We can find no direct refer­ pneumatic drill. Indeed, had was a direct result of the screenplay was (are they ready ence in the article directly cal­ they been in touch with me, I Herstory Exhibition, also a for this?) to visit Broadsheet ling the “hero’s” penis a “war magazine, where 1 obtained would have been delighted to flourishing lesbian commun­ veteran”, however, we can find have told them that I am an ity in 1973! This Dunedin con­ permission to research in your a number of military similes: implacable foe of the whole tribution does tend to get over­ excellent files on incest, spent “a twenty one gun salute”... RSA-veteran power push in looked as “below the Karan- a considerable amount of “fire both barrels” and “hard as money on books about incest this country and would never gahape Road,” (as a staunch a rock and reporting for duty.” recommended to myself by use such a simile, on principle. Auckland woman once de­ Mr Illingworth did confirm Broadsheet, and finally spent Finally, may 1 suggest to the scribed it) and thus not too re­ that in 1970 he was editor of several hours talking with the ladies concerned that the two issues of a short-lived levant. If this turns me into a His, magazine’s resident expert on piece of writing they object to forerunner of Men's Journal. chauvinist, all the better! That the subect, Miriam Saphiro. strenuously was actually pro- He rang later to make sure we kind of woman-oriented I must add that the informa­ feminist and somewhat ahead recorded that he was “nominal chauvinism, 1 will always ver­ tion so obtained was central to of its time for 1969 in that the editor” only, responsible for bally support. my construction of the lady concerned was on top in the feature pages. The pub­ So as a loyal Dunedin Col­ characters and situations por­ the dominant position for both lisher, he said, was responsible lective for Woman member trayed in the film in a sincere of the acts of sexual commun­ for the “tits and bums”. since late 1972 (the collective attempt to throw a hard and ion therein described. We would also like to make started in 1971) 1 would be accurate light upon an apal- 1 trust that in the interests of plain that using our research grateful if Broadsheet would ling problem which is, alas, all fairness and accuracy you will files, or buying books from our review the exhibition. to prevalent in New Zealand. see fit to publish this letter. bookshop, or talking with Yoka Neuman And 1 am happy to say that re­ Yours sincerely, feminists does not constitute a Dunedin viewers throughout the world Neil Illingworth feminist seal of approval. STAG PARTY and in New Zealand, including And last, Sandra Coney your own Sandra Coney, have Copies to: does not want to go out to Dear Broadsheet, been kind enough to praise Metro Magazine lunch with you. Your correspondents the film for its power and hon­ The New Zealand Herald Josephine Mazire-McLean esty of intention. The New Zealand Press Copies to: and Jill Snoswell are to be Fortunately, 1 cannot claim Council Women Against Pornography, commended for the vigour to have written from first-hand The New Zealand Writer’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and commitment of their at­ experience. Guild (Northern Branch) Self Defence Teachers Net­ tack upon myself in your May I congratulate your two The Sunday News work, Women’s Appointment File, March 1985 issue. lady correspondents upon the And sundry influential jour­ Although their English is a sobriquet “Soft Porn Prince” nalists in the supposedly male RSA, little confused, they appear to which they awarded me; and dominated Media, including Six Angry Women

same, 5799, Wellesley Street, bring a selection of books to timetre, quarter page $70, half FRONTING UP Auckland, NZ. your school by request. We page $140, third page $97 also offer 10% discount to stu­ and a full page $260. Inside WHERE WE ARE DEADLINES dents and beneficiaries. covers $360 and outside back Our bookshop is now situated Deadline for September is Please phone Trish 766-204 covers $720. We offer gener­ at 485-7 Karangahape Road, 10 July. or Athina 796-397. ous discounts for contract ads Auckland. We will be open of 5 months or more. Contact from 10am — 5.30pm. Late STUFFING BOOKSTALLS Trish. night Thursday till 9pm and Stuffing of the next issue will We welcome the opportunity APOLOGY Leonie will open the shop be on Saturday 25th May at to show what we stock in the To Aorewa McLeod who wrote from 10am — 1pm Saturday. 43 Anzac Ave. We would ap­ bookshop and of course it also about The Lure of Romantic The phone number for the preciate more help with stuf­ helps us. If you are having a Novels in our May issue. bookshop is 398-895. Broad­ fing from anyone who can seminar, workshop or meet­ Through a series of over­ sheet magazine will continue spare some time. ing please get in touch with us. sights, her name was left off to operate temporarily from We have an excellent range of BOOKSHOP the article. the first floor of the Gane books in stock. Building, 43 Anzac Ave, Auck­ We are still offering 10% dis­ AIDS Support Network land. Phone 794-751. Our PO count to schools. We will open ADVERTISING RATES Auckland office Ph. 33124 Box number remains the after hours by appointment or Classified $3.80 per col. cen­ Broadsheet June 1985 3 COMMENT

WOMEN AND FEAR: PR O FE SSIO N A LS AND THE A BUSE O F W OM EN

ling of another in cir­ tried to kill one of them got cumstances which would con­ lengthy sentences. Ho allo­ stitute murder apart from the wance was made for the terri­ presence of mitigating cir­ ble treatment their father had cumstances such as provoca­ given them and their mother tion. Minnitt’s conviction on was also “blamed” for not manslaughter rather than leaving him. murder caused much con­ The original sentences troversy at the time. given these men de­ A man who shot his wife at monstrates the attitudes of the point blank range is now to be legal system to violence reinstated into a position of against women; it doesn’t trust in our society, a position matter. The decision by the HZ which will involve him in deal­ Medical Council and the HZ ing with the medical and em o­ Law Society is further exam­ tional problems of women. ple of the misogyny of the sys­ Women in our society have a tem. Clearly the registration right to be protected from system is designed to protect men such as David Minnitt. the professions and not the Some women in the com ­ clients. Doctors who fiddle the munity are going to be forced benefit system and lawyers to deal with these men. Some who take trust money can ex­ Leigh Minnitt; of their clients may have been pect much harsher treatment. killed by her doctor husband on May 15th, 1980. raped, raped within marriage, Maori, Polynesian, working sexually abused, assaulted or class men don’t get second NZ women are learning that and his daughter after burst­ attacked. Women cannot ex­ chances in our system. The professional organisations ing through the glass door of pect help from men whose at­ victims don’t get a second with the power to register their home. Grierson con­ titudes have been so clearly chance, but professional men (allow to work through a prac­ ducted his own defence and expressed in violence against do. Women who want to pro­ tising certificate) their mem ­ insisted that it was a case of women. test can write to the Medical bers are not going to protect mistaken identity, although he These men are getting a Council, Box 156 Wellington, women from violent and abu­ admitted he had been there “second chance”. None of The HZ Law Society, Box sive men. Both the medical earlier. The consultant them received severe sen­ 5041, Wellington.□ and the legal professions have psychiatrist called by the de­ tences for their crimes. Minnitt by Sarah Calvert and recently allowed men with fence, Dr Roger Culpan, said got four years for manslaugh­ convictions for extreme and Grierson was suffering from ter and actually served two Fiona Bolwell violent behaviour to continue “intermittent explosive disor­ years seven months. Sherry Ed Note: The trial of David to work. der, coupled with partial am­ served six months and Grier­ Minnitt for the killing of his wife The NZ Herald 3.5.85 re­ nesia.” People with Grierson’s son got a large fine and was covered in the Broad­ ports that David Minnitt, who disorder were prone to out­ periodic detention. Contrast sheet of November 1980. In killed his wife in 1980, is to be burst in response to “quite tri­ this with the “second chance” her article Anne Else discus­ “given another chance” and vial provocation”. This was of their victims: dead, em o­ sed how the legal concept of allowed to practice as a doctor held to be the truth of the mat­ tionally damaged for life, serv­ “provocation” works in men’s again. The same edition re­ ter. ing their own life sentence. favour and why Minnitt re­ ports that Dr Eugene Sherry, In 1984 Grierson was Women who commit ceived only a four year sen­ convicted of the gang rape of a brought before the HZ Law crimes of violence, whatever tence for his crime. In the nurse, is also to have his appli­ Society and was fined but not the provocation, are not likely March 1984 issue of Broad­ cation for a practising certifi­ disbarred from practice. to get such lenient treatment, sheet, Stephanie Knight dis­ cate considered. Minnitt was actually they do not get a “second cussed the Grierson case in Bruce Grierson was con­ charged with murdering his chance”. Women who injure her article: Murder — The Cllti- victed in 1983 of assault, wife. He was convicted of the or kill their children do not get mate Discrimination. Both threatening to kill and lesser charge of manslaugh­ them back. The Maw sisters in these issues of Broadsheet burglary. He had attacked his ter. Manslaughter in this in­ the GK who killed their violent are still available from PO Box 84-year-old mother-in-law stance was the intentional kil­ and abusive father after he 5799 Auckland. 4 Broadsheet, June 1985 NEW ZEALAND

m m zm t m m m m m HIT LIST CALENDAR DIVE MAGAZINE’S DISGRACEFUL CALENDAR In our November Hit List, we f| | A . targetted Dive magazine's 1985 underwater calendar which fea­ tured this sadistic and mis­ ogynist image on its cover. In Dive’s November issue let­ ters were published from a Hamilton and an Auckland woman protesting at the advert for the calendar which they de­ scribed as “offensive”, “boorish” and “sexist”. Dive editor, Rob Lahood’s re­ sponse, published on the magazine’s letters page, explained that “Most or our readers will realise that our calendar advertisement is in­ tended to be humourous....” % J5r though he was sorry to have ■ " ■' , •%$&&,, : upset any readers. Curiously, or provocatively, in calendar, the first that the cover attempt to attract the attention allow complaints for ads which this issue Lahood ran the ad op­ misrepresented what was inside of ferries and passing boats. would incite racial hatred of a posite the women’s letters. the calendar which was straight She kept her bouyancy com­ group, the human Rights Com­ When I spoke to him recently, underwater shots; the second, pensator fully inflated for sup­ mission Act has no parallel he explained he ran the ad in that all the pages of the calendar port, tried to keep her hands and clause. The commission that position “to explain what it should have been like the cover. feet in the water for warmth, and suggests women address com­ was all about.” Fifty percent of skuba divers eventually kicked her way back plaints about insulting advertis­ The ad appeared again in are women and they’re serious to Lyall Bay. ing to the advertiser, the man­ Dive's January and March is­ about their sport. In early April Such female resourcefulness ufacturer of the product and the sues because, Lahood said, the diver Rosemary Keating made makes Dive magazine’s vic­ editor of the publication. In this magazine had a “commercial front page news when she sur­ timised, anguished diver even case, these three are all the commitment” to pursue sales of vived 18 hours adrift in Cook more insulting. same person — Rob Lahood — the calendar as it represented “a Strait after she was separated Unfortunately the Human and he’s doing nothing. huge financial outlay”. In the from her fellow diver. Level­ Rights Commission can do no­ So, this one s for you Ron. We March issue there were yet more headed Rosemary used the div­ thing about sexist advertising of hope you split your sides. protesting letters from Hamil­ ing distress signal, holding her this type. While the Race Rela­ ton, and one with 28 signatures knife up to catch the sun, in an tions Act’s Section 9a does Sandra Coney from Wellington. Lahood’s response to all these objections illustrates the perniciousness of the male lib­ eral standpoint. The women, he says, have “got a point”, he “re­ spects their view” so is quite € o v e 5 happy to publish their letters (though he hasn’t published all letters received on this subject), but he will not stop publishing the ad, or selling the calendar, or give any commitment that he wouldn’t do a similar thing in the future, because he doesn’t agree with the women’s opin­ ions. He still contends that the ad is “funny” and that what makes it “funny” is that “no one expects people to be treated like that.” He says this style of “humour” follows an English model where “humour is based on someone else’s misfortune”. He says that there were two responses to the Broadsheet, June 1985 5 maternity provisions of the Strategic Plan. It was up to the REPRIEVE FOR SMALL elected members of the Board to accept or reject the plan, and because we had been attending MATERNITY UNITS Board meetings since Sep­ tember '84, we had a fairly clear When Broadsheet published in its October issue the idea of when their decision contents of a “leaked” report showing small maternity would be made. Back in '84, a copy of Save units are safe, groups fighting to save the units from The Midwives submission had extinction were given important ammunition. JUDY been sent; to Margaret Wilson. She made the suggestion that LARKIN outlines a success story. we approach the Labour Auckland's small maternity hos­ women’s caucus for assistance. and less costly alternatives. pitals were doing an excellent pitals are staying open. How did Part of the government’s Over 90 substantial submis­ job. Moreover the “safety” argu­ it happen? The Auckland Hospi­ women’s affairs policy is to “en­ sions were received by the ment against small hospitals tal Board's chairperson, Dr sure that the provision of board, many of them prepared used by the Strategic Plan had Frank Rutter, has said that he maternity care is in the best in­ by parenting and women's or­ been scotched. has “recently become aware of terests of the woman and her ganisations. These same Interest in Rosenblatt’s re­ the social and community costs baby”. The Labour women’s groups held public meetings in search, plus opposition to the of closing them”. The Save The caucus was extremely suppor­ their areas; at Papakura and Strategic Plan, led the major tive, and put our point of view to Midwives Association has Helensville there were hundreds women’s and parenting groups worked in close co-operation the Minister of Health, who of supporters. in the city to form a coalition. We with other groups in Auckland makes the final decision on In July the Rosenblatt report called it MA — Maternity Action. over the last six months to in­ whether or not a hospital is was leaked to Broadsheet. This In early March our coalition was closed. Judy Keall, MP for Glen- form both the board and the piece of research showed that formalised; organisations had field, agreed to act as our liaison public of the strength of support birth was as safe, if not safer, in joined, the common thread person with the Labour for the city’s small hospitals. cottage hospitals than in the being the wish to retain the women’s caucus. We will in fu­ When the Auckland Hospital large high-tech units that the small maternity hospitals. We ture be keeping each other in­ Board released its Strategic board proposed should be used Plan in mid 84, Save The Mid­ began to approach, both in per­ formed on maternity care is- - by ALL women in Auckland. son and by letter, the elected wives prepared a submission sues. ~ Here at last we had well-re- members of the Auckland Hos­ that criticised the plan point-by­ searched evidence that New While the Strategic Plan ca­ point and outlined safe, realistic pital Board, some of whom tered largely for the needs of Zealand's small maternity hos­ themselves disagreed with the specialists — four maternity Corxt

On Monday 29 April chief Southern Cross Airways pilot Liz Needham (left) and under its umbrella. The airline pilot Sarah Caldwell made av­ owns five aircraft and employs iation histoiy by being the first four pilots, but the April 29 all-woman crew on a flight was the first time the scheduled passenger flight in two women had been ros­ New Zealand. tered together. Liz and Sarah The Southern Cross flight went to school together, was on a commuter run from began flying lessons at the Mangere airport to Whan- same time and got their solo garei. The plane, a six-seater licenses within a week of each Cessna Golden Eagle. other. The flight, they said, “ is Southern Cross is owned the highlight of both our by Liz Needham and partner careers”. They hope young Peter Roe. They purchased women will be inspired to take the Ardmore Flying School up commercial aviation as a seven years ago and began career.o

6 Broadsheet, June 1985 DIOXIN DANGERS SPOTLIGHTED RENATE K R O ESA is in New Zealand to publicize the dangers of 245T. DOREEN SU D D ENS talked to her about her work.

mans. Pharmaceutical drugs “From 1975 to 1979 they grams of dioxin have an im­ are always tested on animals had one incinerator running. pact New Zealand is an ag­ and if a drug is teratogenic or This incinerator had a very ricultural country, there is not carcinogenic you would never small capacity so there is no much industry here. And you get a licence for it. But 245T is way that all of the waste of the say you have dear water, you being sold over the counter in former years could have been say you have clear air and yet a lot of countries. incineratored. there is a lot of cancer in die “Dioxin also attacks the im­ “This incinerator was defi­ areas which are right next to mune system and makes the nitely spreading dioxins over the coast. There is no pollution body vulnerable to any other New Plymouth. l.W.D. today coming from overseas - so source of poisoning. And states that it was about one or where is this cancer coming dioxin once released into the two grams per year. Well, from? But New Zealand is the environment either through that’s the lower limit and the country with the highest use of the production,, the disposal way the monitoring was done 245T per hectare. of waste, or by spraying is very of the exhaust fumes should “Just looking in general at persistent and goes into the also be looked into. It is veiy the use of chemicals in New ' food chain. It accumulates hard to monitor the dioxin Zealand I’m really horrified from link to link until finally it is content from an exhaust be­ about how much they are used. That would not be found Since November 1984 Renate found again in breast milk. cause when an incinerator is in Europe or Canada. I think Kroesa has been campaign­ Then with the feeding of run over 24 hours there are New Zealand should look into ing against the chemical man­ babies, who are very vulnera­ drops in the temperature. And the use of chemicals. This ufacturing company Ivon Wat- ble because they are growing the incinerator was only run­ country has a very good stand kins-Dow. The New Plymouth organisms, there are all sorts ning at about 1000 degrees so on the nuclear issue - but it is company is the last producer of effects again. as soon as the temperature very easy to take a stand on world-wide of the herbicide “But the Health Depart­ dropped the dioxin would not that if you don’t have any nuc­ 245T. This herbicide is exten­ ment, for example, does not have been destoryed. lear power stations. But New sively sprayed over New Zea­ follow this up and it’s a mys­ “I have talked to women in Zealand is totally blind with the land farm-lands in an effort to tery if your baby dies from a New Plymouth who during other eye — the chemical eye. eradicate gorse. 245T has for cot death or just has a lot of those years experienced mis­ Chemicals are even sprayed in many years been suspected of diseases. carriages and babies with mal­ National Parks and you being responsible for many The Health Department is formations. wouldn’t find that elsewhere forms of cancer, miscarriages, also saying that the contami­ “Since 1979 l.W.D. have either. and of birth deformities such nation of 245T with dioxin is had a new phenoxy herbicide “I really wonder why people as club feet and spina bifida. so low that there is no harm - plant built at which they said here don’t wake up and ask Renate is an industrial still there are clusters of birth they would not produce any­ themselves why there is so chemist from Germany work­ defects after spraying has more waste. But it is now com ­ much cancer and birth defor- ing with Greenpeace, the inter­ gone on”. ing out that there is waste maties in this country. “Al­ national environmental group. Renate would like to see the which has to be disposed of. though if l.W.D. had to stop She came to New Zealand to last producer of 245T, Ivon So there is going to be a new their production of 245T here, investigate the production of Watkins-Dow, replace their burn-off’. very soon a 245T plant would 245T here and to spread infor­ production of it with a safe al­ Renate believes that over a pop up in the Third World, and mation about the dangers of ternative. Boehringer, the Ger­ year five grams of dioxin are nothing is solved. the herbicide. man manufacturer of 245T, spread over New Zealand via “There has to be a world­ As Renate explains, "The closed down its production of 245T, and that the population wide ban on the use of 245T”. problem with 245T is not so the herbicide in 1983. This has a very high cancer rate. “It □ much the compound itself but company was the first 245T seems that* even these five producer to be attacked by its by-product dioxin, which is loon Watkins Dow s New Plymouth plant, always going to be in the her­ Greenpeace. The group once bicide in small amounts. climbed the company’s chim­ Dioxin in very, very minute neys to draw attention to the amounts can be a health dangers of 245T. hazard. It is the most toxic Since Renate has been here man-made chemical we have. l.W.D. has refused to meet her. It is a proven carcinogenic She wanted to talk to them to compound, which means it clarify aspects of their disposal can cause cancer, and it is also of 245T waste. “1 have no idea a proven teratogenic com­ of how the waste until 1975 pound and this means it was disposed of; they started causes birth defects. producing 245T around 1962. “But some people, espe­ And until 1975 when the first cially in the chemical industry, incinerator started running are trying to say it has yet to be there was no official waste dis­ proven that dioxin causes posal. One dumpsite was human birth defects. It defi­ created which was later dug nitely causes birth defects in up and another dumpsite, animals and I wonder where which is leaking today, offi­ they get the right from to say cially does not contain any you can’t transfer these birth dioxin. So where is all the defects in animals over to hu­ waste? Broadsheet, June 1985 7 teresting array of seminar TEACHERS TALK choices - assertiveness, co­ education or single sex Over Easter the Post Primary Teachers’ Association held a schools for girls, women conference on Women and Education at Hamilton. Around teachers in rural schools, Maori women and girls, sex 280 women, teacher and non-teachers, discussed everything from abuse, pornography, drama, support for beginning unions to corporal punishment. JANE RITCHIE, a non-PPTA member teachers, the personal is pro­ ^ C°- aU.th0r ° f the book Spare the Rod t00k a workshop on the fessional is political, success- latter subject; she gives a retrospective view of the event. oriented learning, career de­ velopment, non sexist teach­ ing and sexual harassment. I did not have to make a As an outsider at the confer­ women teachers. I am very workshop sessions. Work­ ence, one of only a handful of choice, since I was offering a glad to learn this now and will shop choices offered were seminar on corporal punish­ non-PPTA members, my ex­ have to revise my fourth Girls in Schools, Women and periences will have been very ment. Few women came to former's view of her as a rather Management, Unions, and different from those of secon­ my session. Corporal punish­ dour, distant and fuddy duddy Feminist Theory. A total of five ment is not a burning issue for dary teacher members of the school mistress. and three quarter hours was women teachers since most organisation. But in some The 6th form drama group allocated to the workshop of ways, of course, I was very oppose it. But it was interest­ at Epsom Girls’ College then choice, and though this ing to learn of the widely vary­ much an insider at the confer­ echoed and reinforced all the amount of time was provided ing practices and attitudes in ence, since it was held at my points in Helen Watson’s talk so that topics could be co­ schools in different parts of the own university, a complex with their play, “Not Only for vered in depth, I myself would country. It appeared that Rus­ clearly not designed with non- School But for Life”. This was have preferred less time in my sell Marshall’s initiatives to hierarchical feminist gather­ written by Shona Hearn, Fr­ own workshop area and more ings in mind. phase out corporal punish­ ances Salt and Helen Watson, opportunity to find out what ment have not received much The conference opened and it was performed with en­ was being said in other areas. publicity in Invercargill! with an abbreviated powhiri. thusiasm and commitment. Saturday night’s entertain­ Maiki Marks then chaired a The Maori women teachers in­ Saturday began with a ple­ ment was pleasant and low panel of Maori Women volved in the conference were nary address by Sonja Davies. key - a string group, Margaret teachers, tatou tatou, who responsible for this and re­ Her theme, that of the impos­ Blay performing her songs spoke personally and mov­ quired male speakers, so sible burden carried by and poetry, and songs and ingly of their efforts to educate PPTA President Tony Steele women who work both out­ poems from Hinewirangi and themselves in the Pakeha sys­ was imported from Wellington side and inside the home, Carol Kohu. The strong Maori tem and then of their efforts to for that purpose. This high­ would have been equally ap­ women's influence, in spiritual change that same Pakeha sys­ lights a source of conflict bet­ propriate at any women’s con­ force if not in numbers, led to tem to make a place for Maori ween Maoritanga and ference, but her talk, with her an impromptu thanks and a perspectives. Though few in feminism, one not easily resol­ sharing of her own experi­ song for some rather sur­ number, their presence at the ved, since many feminists are ences as a frequently lone prised cooks, who recipro­ conference certainly had an unwilling to have their ideol­ woman in male-dominated cated the greeting. Their impact and there can be no ogy of equality overruled by environments, was one to speech was delivered by the doubt of the sympathy of the what they see as a male domi­ which the conference particip­ only male staff member, the conference participants for nated aspect of Maori kawa. ants could personally relate. boss. what they represented. But Feminists are also uncomfort­ The second session on Sunday morning con­ sympathy of course, is not able with the Maori emphasis Saturday was the first of three fronted women with an in­ enough. on Christianity and thus the necessity for prayers to open sessions, grace before meals, a hymn at the closing session and so on. I personally find Maori religious input much more acceptable when it is conducted in the Maori lan­ guage, as it mostly was at this conference. But ultimately, this issue means that if feminists are genuine in their desire for more input from Maori women, they will have to be prepared to compromise their feminist beliefs in respect of Maori ritual. But there was no com ­ promise of feminist beliefs in Helen Watson’s entertaining and well researched paper on the history of women’s educa­ tion in New Zealand. As a fourth former at Wellington Girls’ College in 1950, 1 was certainly unaware that my headmistress, Esme North, had been active in campaign­ ing for better conditions for Lesley Harwood 8 Broadsheet, June 1985 Two hours, not nearly Left: Diane McCathy, Sonja enough, was allowed for work­ Davies and Helen Watson. shop reports and remits on Bottom: Maori teachers Monday morning. The session present their concerns to the was briskly and efficiently conference. chaired, but it was a little dis­ appointing that a great many determination to work remits had to be sent on to the alongside her male executive Sex Equality Committee of colleagues to bring long over­ PPTA without having been en­ due change. Labour’s pre­ dorsed by the full conference. dicted budget financing of And some who attended these reforms in the June bud­ grumbled that too little time get is the result of a decade of was allowed for adequate dis­ lobbying effort. To many PPTA cussion of those remits which members, there’s now little to were put before the plenary do. session. But the women attending As for the remits, I had a dis­ the PPTA women’s confer­ tinct feeling of deja vu. There’s ence know better. Inspired first a thesis in there for someone, by Helen Watson’s eloquent to go back, through the Gnited and well researched address W omen’s Conventions, to the on the historical development 1975 Education and the of women and education in Equality of the Sexes Confer­ New Zealand, and secondly by ence sponsored by the De­ Sonja Davies’ bleak picture of partment of Education in In­ the present status of women ternational Wom en’s Year, to workers in the paid workforce look at the remits that have and in the unions, women been passed over the years went into the four theme work­ and assess their outcomes. shops with a resolve to look at Though the detail may have problems they experienced as changed over the years, the teachers. concerns are still the same - Many became angry. The concerns about women’s lack DIANE McCa r t h y is a Christchurch PPTA position of part-time teachers of seniority in co-educational field officer. She reports on the conference was discussed. Often married, schools, about sexist curricula these teachers have no job and teaching resources, about from her viewpoint. security, cannot count service women as role models, about towards promotion if they are subject choices and careers. Three hundred women, from the target of grassroots cam­ not registered, encounter dif­ Charmaine . Pountney’s first year teachers through to paigns, masterminded by ficulties over sick leave and summary and farewell was experienced women princi­ PPTA activists among whom day relief, and are often not eloquent and moving. Tribute pals and education depart­ Auckland Executive member taken seriously as people with was then paid to Shirley Smith ment inspectors, forsook a Shona Hearn has played a career potential by senior ad­ and the Hamilton organising well needed break in a lengthy major role. Staffing has been a ministration. While their posi­ committee for their hard work 15 week first term to gather to­ predominant concern too. tion is so marginal, they are and efficient organisation. gether and gain strength from The contribution made by also encouraged to feel grate­ Hamilton turned on perfect on another. The energy in­ Otago Executive member ful that they are employed at Easter weather and the news spired and released by ■ the Ruth Chapman to develop a all. media, with little hard news to conference so impressed the staffing policy which reflects a The position of Maori occupy them, and a blessedly teacher union’s elected execu­ school’s individual needs, women was emphasised by low road toll which offered lit­ tive that they decided to affirm rather than the present cruder the dilemma presented at the tle distraction, obliged with the major recommendation of method of staffing according powhiri. Men spoke in wel­ massive newspaper coverage. the conference resolving at to roll numbers, indicates her come and reply at the confer- 1 noticed that the reporters their April meeting to establish were all women and was a women’s officer. pleased that the local news­ As in the burnt chop syn­ paper had not acted in the drome, women often have to same provocative and insensi­ wait until other changes are tive manner as it did for the beginning to take place before Women’s Forum, when it sent taking steps to meet their own a male reporter. needs. The PPTA union All in all, 1 enjoyed my Easter women are no different. Dur­ weekend, even though 1 spent ing the past ten years that the it in my own working environ­ Sex Equality Advisory Com­ ment. 1 now know a lot more mittee of PPTA has been in about the inner workings of existence, the PPTA itself has the PPTA, and a good deal been engaged in major strug­ more about the lives, struggles gles on behalf of teachers in and concerns of women sec­ general and the young people ondary teachers. 1 thank the in the secondary education conference organisers and system as a whole. Thwarted PPTA for opening the confer­ by an inappropriate assess­ ence to non-PPTA members. ment system, the “lottery ap­ □ proach” of external exams, Left: Women listen to Helen School Certificate, and then Watson's opening address. University Entrance have been Broadsheet, June 1985 9 Heinz and Green Bay’s Karen strengthened in regions where Sewell. They took time to dis­ PPTA activism among women cuss career path plans with is already high such as Otago, women hesitantly taking the Southland, Wellington and first steps, or resolving boldly Auckland. Women are attend­ to begin to apply for senior ing PPTA regional meetings in positions, having successfully more representative numbers. managed to run subject areas. A year ago, there were often But apart from the struc­ only a few present. tured conference of speeches, New ways of thinking about workshops, and remit plenary conditions of service are sessions, the rhetoric and the emerging. Sexual harassment lobbying, there was another of women teachers is being dimension to the conference. openly discussed, and the Women renewed need to provide justice for friendships, shared experi­ women in sexist schools is Sunday dinner with Susan Battye on the guitar ences, listened to each other, being recognised. Backing and affirmed their commit­ policy with the necessary au­ ence opening. In workshops, were deluged with paper - re­ ment to their personal styles thority of changes in regula­ experiences related by Maori search describing how female and vision of what education tions is seen as essential. In­ teachers served to underline students receive less attention could be. The strength gained stead of justifying improve­ how stretched their energy is than male students, how to from such focussing and inti­ ments in working conditions to meet the constant demands use sexist literature in a liberat­ macy is reflected in what has in terms of what it will provide exerted by their colleagues in ing way, how to construct a happened since the women’s • for students, women are seek­ schools, parents, students, curriculum vitae and prepare conference. ing parity with their male col­ principals, and the commun­ for interviews. Still others were The isolation of feminist ity. leagues. shocked by the content of teachers at branch level is These issues will surface An absent voice was that of more intimate workshops. Un­ being broken down, and again at the PPTA annual con­ the consumer, young women initiated teachers were distres­ women who attended the con­ ference in August when dele­ themselves. Apart from sed by coming face to face ference are sharing their ex­ gates discuss the role of the younger teachers, there was with lesbianism. Their pre­ periences through PPTA no youth forum to enable stu­ women’s officer. She will have judices remained unresolved. women’s meetings in their re­ dents to describe their con­ a lot of work to do, but will be Role models of successful gion. Regional networks are greatly assisted by the energy cerns about their education. principals were presented by forming in Nelson, West Coast and commitment of PPTA Conference participants women such as Hagley’s Roz and Canterbury, and are being women. □

New Zealander Helen Star sent this photo taken on a Nuclear Disarmament Peace Rally she took part in soon after she arrived in Melbourne in late March. She joined 120,000 protesters who marched, listened to speeches and enjoyed a con­ cert afterwards. “A theatre group marched in a large group with figures dressed and masked as impersona­ tions of Reagan, Thatcher, Lange and other world lead­ ers. Bordering this spectacu­ lar was a line of young people, their clothing and bodies burned with weeping sores and burns. Their cries and moans gave a sense of reality and as I looked at other faces realised it not only touched me but hundreds of others.” Helen reports she also took part in a “Womins Walk Against War” held on Anzac Day. Helen has kindly deposited at Broadsheet a list of feminist and lesbian women’s centres, shops, women’s pubs and clubs in Melbourne so anyone visiting from New Zealand can meet like- minded women.o

10 Broadsheet, June 1985 hospitals instead of nine means keep the small maternity hospi­ obstetric specialists can con­ tals open. The Auckland Hospi­ solidate their power base and tal Board made a decision that LESBIANS slowly squeeze out the remain­ is supported by thousands of ing 36% of births done by gen­ families in Auckland; it is to be eral practitioners — Maternity hoped that other hospital Action represents the needs of boards will follow suit. FIGHT FOR women and babies. To this end Maternity Action will remain we worked with the media, and active, continuing to function as we were pleased to receive the a network of women whose support of midwives and GPs major concern is to promote the OUR RIGHTS who themselves practise family right of women to make deci­ centred care, and were pre­ sions on how, where, and with Jenny Rankine looks at the action les­ pared to say why. whom they will give birth.□ bian and gay men are taking in support Twenty-five representatives Maternity Action can be con­ of the coalition attended the tacted at 24 Ashton Rd, Mt of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. board’s meeting on April 29 Eden, Auckland. when the decision was made to

Lesbians around Aotearoa are fighting for their human gether can be tossed out on suspicion of being les­ rights by putting their weight behind the Homosexual bian. Any women who show affection for each other in Law Reform bill. In Wellington lesbians and gay men public can be abused and discriminated against in have been meeting weekly since the bill was intro­ the same way as lesbians are. duced. They have organised pickets (including one of If the right wing manage to amend the bill or prevent a Dr Delaney who advocated medical treatment for it from passing, this will increase their attack on other gayness), press statements, written letters to newspaper hard-won choices for women. Abortion, sex education editors, and spoken a b o u t their submissions to the par­ in schools, non-sexist books and resources, married liamentary Statutes Revision Committee. womens’ right to work, and non-nuclear families are all One hundred people attended a ceremony they or­ being attacked by right wing groups at the moment. ganised in early May commemorating the lesbians Feminist and women’s groups can lobby their MPs, and gays killed in the Nazi death camps. Gay men expecially those who haven’t clearly made up their and lesbians staffed a stall at a trade fair for a week. minds, issue a press statement in favour of the bill from Lesbian and gay access radio (783 khz) broadcast their group, write to newspapers with the truth about les­ planned actions in support of the bill each weekend. bianism, attend rallies and marches in favour of the bill, Lesbian lobbyists are visiting church and women’s and donate money to lesbian and gay men’s groups groups to get their support for the bill. Leaflets have organising for the bill. been printed explaining the issues behind the bill for More than 400 submissions were made to the Statutes lesbians and for the general public. A march was held Revision Committee, and many of the writers wantto be on May 24 for supporters of the bill. Supporters in the heard in person. The hearings are held in the old parlia­ Wellington area can contact the Gay Task Force, in the ment buildings and are open to the public. The bill is basement, 6 Boulcott St, ph 720-116, or the Women’s now unlikely to be debated in parliament until Sep­ Place bookshop, 289 Cuba St, ph 851-802. tember. This will give right wing forces more time to or­ In Auckland, lesbian coalition and Gay Task force ganise against the bill. School students, workers, meetings are being held regularly, and a week of les­ church goers and shoppers in supermarkets regularly bian visibility activities was held in May. This culmi­ report harassment and pressure to sign the petition nated with a rally at the Town Hall on May 24, with les­ against the bill. Anyone who has been forced to sign bian and gay performers and speakers. Stalls are the petition by peer pressure or threat of being forced being staffed in Queen St during lunch hour and late out of the closet can write to the Petitions Committee, night shopping, and leaflets and badges are being Parliament Buildings, Wellington, and ask that their sig­ produced. Supporters in the Auckland region can con­ nature be withdrawn. tact the Snapdragon bookshop, 26 Jervois Rd, Herne One Auckland lesbian took a full page of the petition Bay, ph 768-978, or the Broadsheet bookshop, 485 from the caller at her door, flushed her toilet and told Karangahape Rd, ph 398-895. him it was in the sewer where it belonged. She then In Nelson a new group called ACCEPT has formed to went round to her neighbours who had signed and promote human rights for lesbians and gay men. They talked to them about how that made her feel as les­ are countering an orchestrated campaign by the Con­ bian. Some knew very little English and hadn’t known cerned Christians group. They will be bringing speak­ clearly what they were signing. ers on the legal, theological and social issues about Opponents of the bill continue to talk about making homosexuality to Nelson. Supporters can contact AC­ lesbianism illegal. If the gay men’s age of consent is CEPT at PO Box 1975, Nelson. amended to 18 with the passing of the bill, a similar age It is imperative that feminist and women’s groups of consent for lesbians may be introduced when the work for the passing of this bill. The right to a choice in Crimes Act is revised. Fear and hatred of lesbians and our sexuality has been one of the major feminist de­ gay men is more obvious now than it has been for a mands in Aotearoa since the early 1970’s. While all the long time, making it both harder and more important pressures on women are to be heterosexual, and les­ for us to show our pride in being lesbian and for bianism is shown as either sick or sinful, there is no possi­ heterosexuals to support our rights. People in smaller bility of freely choosing our sexuality. centres wanting to support the bill can contact their Arguments against human rights or equal treatment local lesbian or gay men’s group. Fran Wilde, Parlia­ for lesbians are often used against defacto heterosex­ ment Buildings, Wellington, has a list of these groups ual couples as well. Heterosexual women flatting to- and will reply to letters sent without a stamp. □ Broadsheet, June 1985 11 QUEEN ST HAS SEEN A LOT OF FEET LATELY. Anti-tour marchers, May 3; bottom, trade unionists on May Day march.

Photos: GilHanly

12 Bfoodsheet. June 1985 ‘ * ' ' I , I I / « . • 'Ill

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' Finance Minister Roger Douglas is determined departments, state corporations and small that New Zealand will have a tax on spending, businesses pay and collect GST. Workers will pay the tax on everything from the Goods and Services Tax, from April 1 1986. The Labour government has so far a loaf of bread and a bus ride to rates or house successfully manipulated New Zealanders into alterations or a second hand car. The only exempt areas are domestic rents, land sales, seeing the GST as inevitable. Most submissions on the GST to an advisory panel exports, and overseas travel. Everyone who tells the truth accepts that set up by the government, have not taken issue with the imposition of the GST but have argued the burden of this tax will fall most heavily on low and middle income earners, whose wages about the nuts and bolts. Failure to oppose GST in total is seen as tacit support for it by are still strictly controlled by the government. Meanwhile, we learnt that salaries for top the government. executives have leapt between 20 and 30 As we worked with the women who have made comments on GST for this feature, we ^ percent since the end of the wage freeze were told over and over again that there wasn t bringing average families to over $ 100,000. enough information about the tax to really see Doreen Suddens and Sandra Coney how it would affect them. Despite that, in only compiled this feature. Mary Slater of the ten months time, Douglas proposes to make Wellington Social group, starts by outlining charities, trusts, cooperatives, sports and the proposed GST. other clubs, local authorities, government____

WHAT IS IT? in tax. If you earn $40,000, your basic tax is $ 15,596— ap­ The Goods and Services Tax is a method of collecting re­ proximately 39% of your income in paid in tax. venue for the government. It is called an indirect tax, be­ Because our tradition in New Zealand is egalitarian, we cause it is a tax you can pay as you spend money, rather have collected most of our tax in this way. This kind of tax than a tax you pay as you earn. That is, every item that you is seen as fair, since it redistributes income most effec­ buy, and every service that you pay for, will include in the tively from the wealthy to those with low incomes. price you pay an amount of money that will go directly to A proportional tax system is one where regardless of government as tax. how much the income is you pay the same percentage in The level of the tax has not been set yet; but if it was set tax. at 10%, your basket of groceries at the supermarket which In New Zealand a company with a taxable profit of now costs $75.00 will cost, including GST, $82.50 $ 10,000 will pay tax of $4000 — 40%. ($75.00 + $7.50 GST). A company with a taxable profit of $ 100,000 will pay tax of $40,000 — still 40%. (NOTE; this is the theoretical tax. WHAT KIND OF TAX IS IT? Tax exemptions, such as export incentives, alter the actual There are three kinds of tax systems — progressive, proportional, and regressive. Our income tax system is tax paid.) A regressive tax system is one where the higher your in­ progressive, our company tax system is proportional and come, the lower the proportion of your income you pay in the GST is regressive. A progressive tax system is one where the richer you tax. For example, take a person whose income is $200 per are, the higher proportion of your money you pay in tax. week. She spends $ 150 on groceries, clothing, etc. A 10% For example, if you earn $10,000, your basic income GST will mean that she pays $15 in GST. That is, her tax tax is $2533 — approximately 25% of your income is paid Broadsheet, June 1985 13 • to help reduce tax evasion and • to fund improved social welfare benefits All very sound reasons, but is GST the best way to do it? Lowering Income Tax Lowering income tax is an attractive slogan. It is superfi­ cially attractive to those who see tax as wasted m oney__ that the government takes money from us for which we get no return. To challenge this idea, we must be able to argue coherently for the retention of government pro­ vided services, provided from taxation, which improved GMS (GMS = General Medical Services) benefits which subsidise visits to the GP, and really free education ser­ vices (including universal pre-school services) cannot be funded by reducing income taxes, unless money can be obtained from enhancing revenue from another tax base. The Goods & Services Tax is not tapping another tax base. Quite simply, it is a tax working people pay when we shop, rather than when we earn. The tax base is the same. If we want improved services the tax base would been to be extended further into company profits, capital gains, etc. In other words, tax based on corporate rather than in­ dividual income and assets. Our income tax rates are also said to stifle initiative__ that people sit on their hands or go to Australia; rather than work harder, or longer hours to earn more money be­ cause the tax rates are too heavy. There is no evidence for either of these — when pres­ rate is 7.5% of her income. sed, GST supporters say the evidence is “anecdotal”. In Take another person, whose income is $400 per week. other words everyone knows someone who...” In fact, tax She spends $250 on groceries, clothing, etc. A 10% GST rates in Australia are higher. But wages are higher too and will mean that she pays $25 in GST. some industries have 40 hours pay for 38 hours work. That is, her tax rate is 6.25% of her income. Reducing Tax Evasion That is, even though the second woman spends more, Our income tax rates are too high, the argument goes, and pays more dollars into the GST kitty, she is contribut­ and encourage evasion. People find ways round paying ing a lower proportion of her income towards Govern­ ment revenue. tax on that portion of their income that attracts high tax rates. But it is exactly that portion of their income which Furthermore, our first woman only has $50 of her in­ they do not spend on GST. Let’s take an example. Queen come free of GST; the second has $150 of her income free of GST. Street lawyer G.R. Eedy has an income of $100,000 from his practice. He avoids paying income tax on $50,000 of DOES GST HAVE TO BE REGRESSIVE? his income by investing it in a loss-producing Kiwifruit ex­ NO. The reason the proposed tax is regressive is because port farm atTe Puke. it is a tax on everything you buy (except housing) from Since GST as it’s proposed is not payable binoculars to bread, from jewellery to jeans. And the lower (a) On investments and your income is, the more likely it is that you’ll spend all (b) On exports your money and spend it on essentials. that $50,000 he avoids paying tax on is still safe. An indirect tax which is selective in its application and Farmer P.L. Ough goes even further. He writes off most only paid on discretionary/luxury items rather than essen­ of his domestic purchases against his tax obligations as tials, would more effectively “target” the well-off in their farm expenses. He’s moving out of avoidance (legal) into spending. evasion (illegal). In fact, we already have such a tax, known as sales tax, Certainly his activities should be curtailed. But why in­ which last year brought in about $1.3 billion. troduce a whole new tax system simply to catch P.L. Ough It is proposed to abolish most of this tax when GST is in­ and his mates. Why not police evasion more toughly— in troduced. 1982 the McCaw Task Force on tax reform reported that This system has been working since 1933. It certainly every $ 1 spent on tax evasion brought in $8 in unpaid tax. needs overhaul, but if modernised could remain an effec­ 800% return is a good investment (certainly a lot better tive and fair method of gathering revenue. than the Department of Social Welfare Field Enquiry Units, who can only glean $1 per every $1 spent). WHY IS GST BEING INTRODUCED? And the GST does not touch income that’s currently The government’s stated reasons for introducing the tax legally free of tax. Just before Labour’s 1984 Budget Doug are: Myers of Lion Breweries received $2.3 million in tax free • to lower income tax capital gainst dividends from Lion Breweries legally. 14 Broadsheet. June 1985 timated to net $800-1 £000 million. If that kind of money, in various packages such as reduced income tax, accom­ modation benefit, family care, etc is spread around just prior to the wage round (in the September Budget, for example) it is more likely to have the weakening and divi­ sive effect on union wage claims that Family Care was aiming for. WHY NOT SUBSIDISE WAGES? Firstly, and most importantly, working people should have the right to a good standard of living from wages based on the work they do, the wealth they help to create. And the right to begotiate with their employers (albeit with a government intervention based on the overall needs of the whole population, as distinct from the cur­ rently working population) on a regular basis, to ensure that working people retain their fair share of the wealth that is produced. Government maintenance of Social Welfare Benefits, in terms of their purchasing power, is notoriously fickle. Family Benefit, for example, was last increased in 1978. A population of wage workers dependent on wage subsidies Dental Nurses march on Parliament, 1974. Photo from Socialist Action is a population who are relatively powerless. Finally, and most revealing, there is no evidence that Improved Social Welfare Benefits employers who are able to improve their profitability will Nothing wrong with this, you d think. But what kind of So­ necessarily create jobs, and improve wages. They might cial Welfare benefits? Spending more money on Cln- — but they might use the money to introduce “labour-sav­ employment/Sickness/Domestic Purposes Benefit/Ac- ing” technology, to buy other companies, or to pay out di­ commodation Benefit feels fair to me. vidends to shareholders. But the government has already cut National Superan­ Indeed, in 1984 the New Zealand Herald published a nuation and Accommodation Benefit (to beneficiaries) survey of 50 industrial companies reporting for the year since it’s been in office. ended 31/3/85. This survey showed that for every dollar These cuts have been used to fund wage subsidies in extra profit earned in that financial year, 89 cents was dis­ the form of Family Care, and accommodation benefit for tributed to shareholders, and only 11 cents was retained in low income working people. the companies. This 11 cents would only just cover capital This seems to me the clue to the real, unspoken agenda depreciation costs. This level of retained profits could not for the revenue generated by GST. create new jobs. And two New Zealand giants Fletcher Challenge and GST — THE KEY TO LOWER WAGES? Watties, have both reported increased profits, and an­ The government’s economic policies are based on giving nounced plans to reduce their New Zealand workforce. companies, whether marketing at home or for export, a freer rein in the marketplace. Enabling them to set prices WHAT YOG CAN DO according to the market place (without price controls and Organised opposition to the GST can have an effect. Al­ consumer subsidies for example, on essentials such as ready the government no longer says that GST will be bread and milk), in the belief that such freedom will pro­ used to reduce the deficit, which is in contrast with the duce healthier and more profitable enterprise. And that government’s original plans at Budget 1984. There is their profits will “trickle down” to working people in the some suggestion that they will also drop their plan to re­ form of more jobs and improved wages. duce income tax for those with high incomes. But in the export field, our goods are going to be com­ Opposition in Australia to a similar indirect tax scheme peting on the world market against gods produced in low looks like creating an about face by the Hawke govern­ wage economies, and/or economies where the sheer size ment. of the domestic market allows economy of scale in factory While I am prepared to believe that the government’s production lines etc. plans to introduce GST are well meant, I hope I have To assist exporters, the government needs to help them shown that there is no evidence that the outcome will be control controllable costs — most obviously wages. the one they want. Informed opposition from the Labour Hence the Family Care package introduced in the last government’s constituency can have an effect.a Budget, explicitly targetted to “moderate” i.e. lower wage demands in the ensuing wage round. Mary Slater is a member of the Wellington Social Wage Now Family Care didn’t work very well. The take up rate group. This is an ad hoc group of Wellington unionists was lower than expected (about 190,000 wage earners from both the public and private sectors, learning about claimed it instead of the predicted 225,000). And union and publicising the social wage, which is that part of members and their leadership found it relatively easy to our standard of living provided by public services” and brush aside when advancing their claims. “the method of funding those s e r v i c e s . ______It’s established cost was about $2V4 million. GST is es­ Broadsheet, June 1985 15 to carry out its social policy. The Maire Dwyer is a member reasoning is that if we can’t tax the rich more we can tax everything of the Wellington Social equally. And since the rich spend Wage group. more money than the poor they will Feminists do not always identify taxa­ effectively be paying more tax. tion as a key issue for women. Yet the “But this may mean that certain of the ways in which a government chooses poor will end up worse off,” you say. to levy tax can either reinforce or les­ That s easy, we ll make money av­ sen the disadvantaged position of ailable for them through the social women in the economy and the de­ welfare system. They only have to gree of their dependency on men. show that they are suffering The existing system of personal in­ hardship,” comes the reply. come tax reinforces women’s disad­ It’s this return to the bad old days of vantaged position. As an example, not Christian charity that marks the end all low income earners qualify for low of the Welfare State. The Labour Gov­ income rebates - only single people ernment is instituting a beneficiaries and the “principal income earner” of system that will act to sop up any ob­ a married or de facto couple. The vious cases of hardship, and with it partner in a couple who earns least, the discordant edge to the labour/ almost always the woman - misses capital relationship. The amazing part out. The proposed Goods and Ser­ is that these benefits are available to vices Tax will also aggravate the dis­ those who are working. They are in ef­ advantage of at least some, but prob­ fect a subsidy to the employer so that ably many, women if it is introduced. the pressure for wage demands will The GST is a flat rate tax which will > be softened. In essence it is to reduce be levied on all goods and services : the comparative cost of labour inter­ consumed in New Zealand. Every bit nationally. New Zealand is to become of money that you spend here will be a cheap labour country. And Labour hit by GST. Prices will rise signific­ continues as the party of capitalism. antly. Allowing for the reduction in the Joce Brown is a Marxist But the cost of these benefits has to Wholesale Sales Tax that will accom­ feminist; she writes on be met out of the government in­ pany the introduction of GST, it is es­ come which is where the GST comes timated that a 10% GST will lead to a “The Roger Douglas in. Roger Douglas and the Treasury Credits”. 6.5% increase in prices. have managed to sell the idea to the As a tax on consumption, the GST The Labour Party has lost any con­ rest of cabinet that this will be a more is regressive, that is a heavier burden cept of the meaning of the welfare palatable way of making the rich pay. on the poor than the rich. People on state, with Roger Douglas effecting But the opposition that is occurring low incomes spend a greater propor­ the transition to the right. Certain appears across all sectors. The busi­ tion of their income than do those on philosophical beliefs that were part of ness community obviously is angry high incomes and therefore a flat rate the history of the Labour Party’s that it will apply right across the board tax on consumption will collect a growth and development have very and there aren’t any easy ways of get­ larger proportion of their income. quietly disappeared. There once was a ting around it. Those who are con­ Women, as we know, are mostly low belief that means tests were demean­ cerned for consumers see GST in­ paid or unpaid. The people who will ing to human dignity. Accordingly be­ creasing the cost of goods. be least affected will be those who nefits were made available to all But it is not very useful arguing save or invest a substantial part of people, as of right - education, health about the detail of the GST scheme. their income - that is, the wealthy - care, family allowance, pensions. But There is a more fundamental set of dare 1 say it, mostly men. not all people were equally able to questions that have to be asked con­ The GST will be offset by lower in­ pay, so those on higher incomes paid stantly of the Labour Party. Why do come tax - bigger pay packets for more tax. they accept the necessity of a market those lucky enough to have them! Unfortunately those with financial run economy? What do they see as The people who are likely to suffer privilege have other benefits as well; the role of New Zealand in the world the most from the introduction of the knowledge of how to avoid pay­ economy? What happened to the be­ GST are people without incomes or ing, the ability to make their voices lief in full employment? It is just not wealth. Beneficiaries and students will heard, and also the political votes to good enough to say that those days probably be compensated - but what change a government. The Labour have passed. If this system cannot de­ about women doing unpaid work at Party before the last election prom­ liver then we had better set about home? Will their husbands necessar­ ised to overhaul the tax system and to forming a movement that wants a ily hand over the extra bit in their lower the marginal rate of tax for better system. And to hell with the paypacket to cover the increased those on higher incomes. This re­ Labour Party. What we really want is a prices? Women in this situation will quired a different method of gather­ radical restructuring of this country in be more dependent on men. ing the funds needed for government its entirety from the top down. □ The government argues that it will * • Broadsheet, June 1985 compensate low income groups for The GST will also affect Marae the effects of GST through the tax and communities. They rely on koha and welfare systems. We need to be wary donations, but most would have a tur­ of promises to assist “groups” rather nover over $2500 per year. They al­ than individuals - there may not be ready struggle now to keep up. GST much in it for women with husbands. will make it even more difficult, espe­ Over recent years there has been a cially the smaller rural marae. Urban notable tendency for income assis­ marae can make money through tance to be targeted to low income things like flea markets, but rural families. The incomes of both marae are more restricted in how they partners are added together to deter­ can sustain themselves. □ mine their eligibility for family care or Ripeka Evans was interviewed by the family tax rebate. Although family Sandra Coney. care is usually paid to the woman (the Marie Hull Brown is Ad­ child carer), the family rebate goes to the principal income earner - usually ministrative Director of the man. Both these benefits can be Auckland YWCA. Yvonne reduced or lost altogether if either Hughes is a community partner’s income increases. If com­ advisor. pensation for the higher prices that Marie Hull Brown has had first-hand result from GST is given as a reduc­ experience of a tax on spending. She tion in tax to the principal income worked for a small UK publisher when earner (like an extension of the cur­ VAT was brought in and there were rent family rebate or personal income many headaches. It’s the paperwork earner rebate for those without chil­ Ripeka Evans is an for small businesses and community dren) few women with husbands will organisations that make this system get any extra money at all! Women executive officer for the such a difficult one. Many won’t have with husbands on low incomes, with Maori Economic been paying tax at all previously. In children and little or no income them­ Development the firm Marie worked for, three days selves could get some compensation Commission. a month were spent on the necessary for GST if the government decides to Low and middle income earners will documentation. increase family care. Women with bear the cost of GST and the bulk of Yvonne Hughes believes that GST husbands on high incomes, without low paid workers are Maori families. will have a very detrimental effect on dependent children, or who are the The effect of GST on Maori families small groups. The GST White Paper second earner in the family, are un­ will be quite devastating especially by says that charitable trusts will be likely to get any relief. mid-1986 when it will compound the treated the same as businesses. The tax will also create an extra bur­ effects of changes in the benefit sys­ Trusts, Yvonne says, cover everything den for self employed women and tem. It will especially hit Maori families from large concerns like the South­ women who work in voluntary agen­ who have no capacity to produce ern Cross medical Care Society and a cies. Overseas experience with simi­ extra income. The tax isn’t aimed at big landowner like the Anglican St lar taxes has shown that this form of luxury items but at staples like food Johns Trust to tiny community-based tax places a particularly large work­ and clothing. These things are abso­ trusts providing creches and com­ load on small businesses. While few lutely basic for any family. munity houses. Small groups like women run businesses, those that do The effect of the urban shift means these already have great trouble find­ are heavily concentrated in the small there’s a decrease in Maori families ing someone with the skills to be trea­ business sector. growing or looking for their own food. surer. And if they find someone who Women form the bulk of workers in When you look at clothing - Maori can deal with simple book keeping, voluntary or non-profit groups. Very families are overall larger than like how much stationary and loo often they work as volunteers or for Fakeha families, so the cost of clo­ paper’s been bought, they often have minimal pay. Only the smallest thing and school uniforms will be trouble with demands made on them groups (with an annual turnover of great. Any rent increases will particu­ by agencies like the Accident Com­ less than $2500) will be exempt from larly affect Maori families as 50% of pensation Commission. GST, says GST. All the others will have an extra Maori families are in rental accom­ Yvonne, will “psyche them out.” work load, having to keep precise re­ modation. Groups will need to find more cords of their income and spending It’s being argued that GST will pro­ money. Most fund-raise now to break as well as filing a return with the De­ duce more revenue and that that will even. “Do they have to bake more partment of Inland Revenue every two be redistributed to lower income cakes? Will they have to apply to the months. There isn’t even any indica­ families. 1 don’t believe it will. The re­ Lottery Board for funds? It’s ridicul­ tion that services, such as a film even­ venue will largely go to service over­ ous to put organisations who now ing or a fair that have a fund raising seas debt and to encourage local ex­ need no outside help, but survive on purpose will be exempt from the tax! port enterprises and for foreign com­ donations, fund-raising and be­ □ panies to invest here. quests, into a situation where they Broadsheet, June 1985 17 have to apply to the government for in the English language, although an funds.” exemption from that can be applied The government could decide to for the Commissioner. Polynesian make more funds available for com ­ shop keepers will crumble under this. munity work, but what will be required They’ll need to get their work trans­ of such groups to make a successful lated or try and apply for an exemp­ application? “Will they have to come tion.” up with financial statements and re­ If a business is late putting in a ferences? Will they have to prove claim, there’s a 10 percent surcharge. they’re effective in what they’re “Imagine the case of a small owner doing?” Applications for funding run business. If the woman is sick for from government and non-govern­ a few days, she’ll get her return in late ment agencies already take up an because there’s no one else to do it, enormous amount of time for small and incure the penalty.” groups; GST will create even more of Yvonne explains that small a drain. businesses will have cash flow prob­ The government has talked about lems too. They will pay GST when an exemption for businesses with a buying, but will not immediately re­ turnover of less than $2500 per year coup it on their sales as invoices will ($50 a week!). They could increase be paid by the 20th of the following this exemption and extend it to charit­ month (or later by bad debtors). able groups. Marie Hull Brown points She is especially concerned about out though, that getting exemption people, often women, who do “alter­ from putting in returns, won’t make a native work”. Such people often do group exempt at the point of buying. not have great business manage­ .hrissey Dujjan. 4 lycf/oUfa fa The Y is worried about the effect on its ment and marketing skills; they oper­ self defence and teacher training ate at a subsistence level. “Unlike a Council for the Single schemes, the Nearly New and Oppor­ plumber who charges out at $20 an Mother and Her Child. tunity shops. The Y also works with hour, a woman knitting for Masco’s Quilla Dale and Chrissie Duggen of Apprenticeship Training Schemes gets 50 cents a skein. Any extra the Council For the Single Mother where women look after apprentices charges will push these women and her Child agreed that the GST will who are in the city for training at the under.” hit single mothers. But they said that technical institutes. These women Big businesses will not have has­ ignorance of benefits and special al­ make very little now, with increased sles with the tax. “they just fire the in­ lowances available to single mothers costs for food they’ll have to charge formation into their giant comput­ is already a major hurdle among the apprentices more. Marie can see ers”. lower income groups. Many single that women who are the only paid The rationale behind the GST is mothers do not know they are eligible worker for an organisation will be that it will net all spenders, even illeble for an incentive allowance for tertiary even more poorly compensated for income will be caught by a tax. A boss and retraining schemes, travel con­ their work that they are now. It is not can say he’s bought a fridge for his cessions, medical fees, accommoda­ unusual for a group to employ a business, when in fact it was for hie tion benefits, to name just a few. woman for say $5,000-10,000 for 20 home.” Yvonne is doubtful about low Basic commodities such as food, hours work a week. In reality she paid workers receiving the benefits of electricity, and clothing - all essential works much longer hours than this; redistrubted revenue. “There’s no items - already are a problem. Even a after GST her administrative work­ guarantee of that. Maybe in the begin­ few extra dollars per week can’t be load will increase, but the group will ning there will be help, but sending a found. The two women agreed that as have less funds because it is taxed on percentage of the revenue to people many as 80% of solo parents rely on spending. The Y finds that a adminis­ at the bottom.” second hand goods and appliances trator needs about the same as her In the CJK, says Marie, administra­ which will also be included in the new salary for expenses. So a group pay­ tive costs and education of employers tax “reform”. Chrissie Duggen felt ing $ 10,000 for a worker will need to in how the tax worked, ate up approxi­ that people in higher income groups find another $1000 after GST for in­ mately 90 percent of the tax for the will not be penalised as heavily by an creases on the level of spending. first two years. “They’ll have to pay all extra few dollars each week on essen­ Small businesses will be hit in simi­ that before they start giving the the tial commodities. lar ways. The amount of accounting poorly paid”. □ “It will widen the gap, the rich will they’ll have to do will escalate. There’ll Sandra Coney talked to Marie and get richer, because they can find be double the number of invoices; Yvonne. cheap access to goods,” she says. new invoices will be needed with re­ “Many of the phone calls we get, re­ gistered numbers; every step in the late to budget problems. There is fear taxing process will have to be about extra dollars which people can’t documented. “The White Paper says meet,” said Quilla Dale, “....and I’m that all the records produced must be not so sure that the money will be put 18 Broadsheet. June 1985 back into helping low income in allowance to compensate for the groups”. GST, however both the CSMC and The CSMC received a letter from the spokesperson for the office of the Roger Douglas, proposing to arrange Minister of Social Welfare agreed that a meeting to solve any misgivings it is up to the parents or at worst, the about the GST. The council was keen courts to renegotiate maintenance al­ to arrange a meeting, however after lowances. The two CSMC spokeswo­ returning correspondence, they men felt that the problem went heard nothing more. beyond the impact of the GST. ‘‘You can air your views, tell him ‘‘The Government is tacking re­ what you want, but it makes no differ­ forms onto legislation that doesn’t ence”, said Quilla. work anyway”, says Chrissie. She Chrissie Duggen explains that she considered the present wages to be has had little help from the Depart­ three years behind the economic situ­ ment of Social Welfare concerning ation. the new tax laws. In a letter from the “Each wage round is negotiating office of the Minister of Social Welfare for a projected budget. We should it said that the effect of the GST on be­ base wages on the present economic neficiaries will be specifically discus­ situation”. Ideally she would like to sed by the Budget ‘85 Task Force, but see the minimum wage raised and to date recommendations have not the allowable income for be­ yet been made to government. neficiaries to be at least $100 per Single mothers receiving mainte­ week. □ freezing worker on the chain nance from the father of their child Interview done by Lesley Campbell. Photo from Socialist Action. 3H are not likely to be given an increase

Any further increases which un­ as single superannuitants, whose cur­ doubtedly will flow on from a GST rent basic benefit is $105.00 weekly would spell disaster for people with are going without vital food require­ families. An example would be the ments. And that with winter coming price of bread, butter and milk. At pre­ on they will not be able to afford heat­ sent it can cost $1 to buy a loaf of ing to keep them warm. What will bread. A 10 percent GST (which is the happen to them if GST comes in is figure being suggested) would mean too serious to contemplate. that loaf would cost $1.10, and such We know of families, particularly an increase when applied to other Pacific Island families, who can no food requirements would become a longer afford to buy fish which is an real hardship. essential part of their diet. With At our annual general meeting it schnapper at $ 11.50 a kilo, this is not was pointed out that beneficiaries and hard to understand. other low income citizens are the When the Minister of Industries and ones who spend all their income on Commerce was asked by the CBG basic living requirements and any no­ secretary on a recent television prog­ tional benefit to be obtained by them ramme if the government would from a GST would require a massive reinstate price and rent controls in the distribution from that source in their light of the flood of crippling in­ direction. creases he would not commit the Isobel Thomson is an We cannot see this happening, government to do this. there are too many contradictory So it is the opinion of CBG that un­ executive committee statements and figures coming from less the government does at least two member of the Auckland the various ministers. things, if and when GST is to become Combined Beneficiaries CBG thinks that if GST does be­ law, the economic and social con­ Union. come law in 1986, prior to its intro­ sequences to beneficiaries and other Since the lifting of the prices and rent duction there will be an epidemic of low income people will mean addi­ freeze, the requests for advice and price increases from manufacturers, tional hardship. help from beneficiaries and other low retailers and service industries to de­ 1. Immediate restoration of some income people have substantially in­ fray any extra costs that they might form of price and rent control. creased in the Auckland Combined incur in the gathering of the tax on be­ 2. Food and clothing to be exempt Beneficiaries Union office. These re­ half of the government. from GST to all those below a certain quests are proving conclusively that So again the consuming public will income. □ the cost of living is becoming beyond be the victim. CBG is already con­ the reach of many people. cerned that elderly beneficiaries such Broadsheet, June 1985 19 workers a wage rise of only 7% after Barbara Goodman is on three years of frozen wages. the board of Odyssey This tax is not being imposed on a work-force which is holding its head House drug rehabilitation above water. Many low paid workers programme. are already feeling the waves closing Odyssey House runs a long term resi­ over their heads. GST is a regressive dential treatment and rehabilitation tax which, because it taxes basics, will programme for drug addicts. In com­ drive many low paid workers onto a mon with other non-profit making benefit with the dependent insecurity charitable trusts it will be effected by and lack of dignity which accompany the Goods and Services Tax. it. Currently we have 50-60 people in In addition, their taxes will be used the programme. Our principal source to pay their own benefits. In other of income comes from the extended words to make up the shortfall bet­ Social Welfare benefit of $150.32 ween the amount the employer pays weekly which each person assigns to and the amount needed for a worker the trust. This does not meet the full to live. costs so we endeavour to meet the Traditionally employers have paid rest by applying to Social Welfare, enough to ensure their workers’ survi­ Lottery Board, philanthropic trusts val and reproduction. This used to be and similar for one-off donations. We in the employer’s interest. Now things are currently running at a monthly de­ are changing. The unplanned use of ficit of approximately $5,000. technology has reduced the need for We also fund-raise and have Odys­ workers. Employers, many of them sey Enterprises. This consists of announcing huge profits, are being small teams of residents who, under permitted by governments to pay the supervision of a senior person, many people less than it takes to live clear up gardens, do factory mainte­ with dignity and reproduce. nance and similar work. They earn Jan Farr is editor of the The GST does nothing to halt this approximately $12,000 annually. Socialist Unity Party process. It is vague. How much in­ Like everyone else we will be pay­ come tax will be removed and how newspaper, NZ Tribune. ing GST on food and supplies. These much GST added is open to change. average $20,000 per month. Even if Last August brought fixed income It will be a kind of press for squeezing the GST was 10% - and some say it earners a change from a government blood from fixed income earners. The could be up to 15% it will add another which was openly hostile towards quantity will be specified by $24,000 annually to our expenses. them to one which is not. employers. It is said that benefits will go up ac­ Labour's progressive anti-nuclear Our aim, socialism, will only hap­ cordingly to meet the extra tax. policy, its opposition to South Africa’s pen when enough people are con­ Whether this will actually happen re­ merchants of death, its willingness to vinced of its superiority as a social mains to be seen; will the benefits au­ consult and its sympathy for the un­ and economic system. In the mean­ tomatically start on 1 April 1986; will qualified preference clause, have time we want to see socialist policies they be automatically adjusted been welcomed by us in the Socialist introduced. whenever there is a change in GST? It Unity Party. Taxes must pay for a social wage has also been said that Government Its economic direction has not. which gives free medical care, child grants will be increased to include the This doesn’t mean we want to get care and education, cheaper housing GST that we will pay on these grants. rid of the Labour government. It and power and a richer and afforda­ Donations are not taxable. means that through open debate we ble cultural life. Any work done by Odyssey Enter­ want the people to force the govern­ We want companies to pay more prise will have to show the tax on the ment to change its economic direc­ tax and fixed income earners to pay invoice and every two months we tion. less. We want an end to the rebate would be expected to account for this We see GST as part of the free- system which allows some large to the Inland Revenue Department. market policies of the present monopoly companies to pay low Credits and debits of tax can be ba­ caucus. taxes or none at all. lanced against each other. These policies are at least 200 We want a minimum, untaxed, liv­ As I understand the White Paper, years old. They have never worked for ing wage to be fixed. We want tax supplies such as stationery used by those on fixed incomes. The “trickle loopholes for businesses closed off, a Odyssey House could have the tax re­ down" theory is an ancient con trick. capital gains and wealth tax imposed funded - that used by Odyssey Enter­ GST is part of an economic pac­ and all tax laws policed. prises would not be. Odyssey Enter­ kage which has freed up interest We don’t want GST! prises charges would therefore have rates, removed rent controls and al­ We re interested in a life of dignity to go up to cover the costs on tools lowed prices to soar, while allowing for all people - not just for a few. □ and equipment, petrol etc. as well as 2 0 Broadsheet, June 1985 acting as tax collector. Up until now Any money saved by workers ble money on necessities, and have any bookwork required has been through a promised cut in personal less financial “freeboard” to cope done by residents. It is likely that after income tax will be lost again, and with price increases. According to GST we will have to employ someone maybe even more so, because of one government publication: “The to do this. If the suggestion to exempt higher prices. Unemployed workers lowest spending 10% of two-adult turnover below a certain figure (cur­ are in for an uncertain time. At pre­ equivalent household is committing rent suggestions range from $2,500 sent there is no tax on the unemploy­ nearly 29% of its total weekly spend­ to $45,000) then Odyssey Enter­ ment benefit paid to married people ing to food.” prises could well be included in this. with children - so how will they be It will be extremely important to en­ The ideal situation would be for all compensated for the rise in prices be­ sure that lower income people are registered charities to be zero rates. In cause of GST? And the present direct compensated by other means for the the White Paper only exports carry tax on the single benefit, and the be­ rise in food prices. The only mention this rating. Strong representation will nefit for married people without chil­ of how GST will affect superannuit­ be made to the government by vari­ dren, if cut or dropped altogether, ants comes in the booklet GST: the ous charities and the Federation of would not compensate for steeply ris­ key to lower income tax: “The normal Voluntary Welfare Organisations to ing prices. adjustments to national superannua­ extend this category to include non­ The supposed answer to this ano­ tion early in 1986 will include a spe­ profit making organisations. □ maly is to be found in the booklet cial element to take account of price GST put out by the office of the GST increases which will come about Launch Co-ordinator. Page 19 states when GST is introduced. Changes to under the heading Beneficiaries; “Be­ income tax will also alter benefit nefits will be increased early in 1986 levels, through the way the rate of by an appropriate amount to protect superannuation is calculated.” your standard of living” . Does that Having studied the two papers is­ mean the government will protect un­ sued on GST, 1 find the information employed workers present state of rather vague and hope that more pre­ poverty? The government should be cise details will be available before spelling our right now to beneficiaries April 1st, 1986. At the moment it is what the GST percentage will be and not easy to say whether superannuit­ the amount benefits will increase. ants will benefit and by how much. Another effect of GST could be 1 personally believe that no tax sys­ more unemployment. As prices rise, tem under capitalism (however well people will buy less, sales will drop off intentioned) will improve the lot of the and production will go down, then out working class, be they unemployed, the window go the workers. beneficiaries, superannuitants etc. So But business companies would do long as goods are made for profit and well out of GST if the information put not use, there must be iniquities and it out by the Social Wage Group is cor­ is always the workers who suffer. □ rect. In January 1985 this group of Wellington unionists, put out a docu­ ment about GST which said, “there are plans to exempt equipment purchased for business purposes and export products”. This exemption, along with the fact that no capital gains or wealth tax is going to be in­ troduced, means that the biggest tax take will be yet again from the workers of New Zealand. Doreen Suddens is Vice- It seems that businesses may not President of the Auckland be taxed for their equipment but Unemployed Workers workers will be taxed for their food. Union. Is this a fair and equitable system? The unemployed have been blinded Margaret Jones is a by science. The science of economic theories. superannuitant and Roger Douglas, the Minister of Fi­ housekeeper nance, recently sprung a whole new Looking at tables produced by the economic package on the un­ government strongly confirms the employed and employed workers of opinion that lower income people New Zealand. Included in this pac­ (many of these superannuitants) ar kage is the Goods and Services Tax. forced to spend more of their availa­ l ~ —.. ■ J Broadsheet, June 1985 21 probably not be calculated on a book- tailer’s GST. The price of books will by-book basis, but on turnover for a definitely go up as books have not Athina Reay is office particular period (ie two months). For previously been subject to tax. administrator at example, if Broadsheet pays $1500 The effect on bookshop sales is ob­ Broadsheet magazine for books over the set time period we vious. Book buying has already be­ and bookshop. She looks will be charged approx. $150 GST by come a luxury, and our sales have de­ the wholesaler which brings the cost clined because larger book outlets at how GST might affect of the books to $1650. Our mark up (like Whitcoulls) now stock many Broadsheet will have to be calculated on the women’s books - they have finally The Goods and Services Tax (GST) $1500. We then sell these books for caught on that women’s books do to be introduced by the Lange Gov­ $2200 which includes $200 GST sell. Broadsheet will feel the effect of ernment as from 1 April 1986 will paid by the consumer. Broadsheet falling book sales. The bookshop have wide ranging implications for can deduct the $150 we have paid to subsidises the magazine and is used Broadsheet (bookshop and the wholesaler, from the $200 we to offset increasing magazine costs, magazine) as well as for all the have collected, and forward the ba­ but its ability to do so in future will be women who support us. The whole lance of $50 to the taxation depart­ diminished. subject of GST is shrouded in mys­ ment. What it amounts to is that The other way it will affect us is by tery, not just because the government Broadsheet will not be paying the the greater amount of extra work it will wants to keep us ignorant until it is too GST; the customer will have to bear create. Broadsheet will become a tax late; the government themselves are the cost of the wholesaler’s and re­ collector for the government and this still in the throes of drawing up GST legislstion and there are certain areas (plus finer points) that have yet to be sorted out. The government White Paper on GST simply outlines discus­ sion proposals. However, out of this White Paper we can discover some of the ways GST will affect Broadsheet, our magazine buyers and bookshop customers. The way GST will affect books is complicated. From my understand­ ing of it, the wholesaler will charge us (the retailer) GST, and we, in turn, will charge the customer GST. However, Broadsheet will be able to deduct all the GST it pays to the wholesaler (where it relates to operating costs) from the total GST we collect from our customers, and forward the ba­ lance to the Government. This will 22 Broadsheet, June 1985 will entail a great deal of extra labour how the government could possibly and time. Our records will have to be tax donations. So at this stage we can spotless, and GST inspectors will call only speculate. If they do tax dona­ annually to check the books. All this tions, it will mean less money will go Roger Douglas replies to will add to the ever increasing work­ into Broadsheet coffers. an Auckland School load of the Broadsheet collective. Big What are the wider ranging impli­ firms can afford to hire more staff to cations of GST on books? Well, it has Thank you for your recent letter about absorb the extra work, but Broad­ been suggested that publishers will the Goods and Services Tax. sheet struggles with little money and narrow the range of NZ books they There is no case for exempting an overworked (albeit dedicated) col­ will publish and stick to books that books, periodicals, magazines and lective. have mass appeal. It will mean they newspapers from a general tax such The story is much the same with re­ will take fewer risks with specialty type as GST. These are commodities gard to the magazine. Again we will be books such as poetry, feminist books which must sell on their own merits, charged GST by the typesetter, the and books by black writers. Add to and not by being given special advan­ printer etc. The cost of this GST will this smaller print runs and the GST tages. Moreover the claim that to tax be passed on to the magazine buyer - will inevitably put the price of books publications is a “tax on knowledge” plus the GST we will be required to up by at least 15% or 25%. Another is pure nonsense. It is a misuse of a add on at the retail end. The price of side-effect will be that small busines­ nineteenth century slogan directed the magazine will go up and once ses like bookshops will be put under against a stamp tax specifically in­ again it will be you, the consumer, considerable pressure. Declining tended to suppress certain popular who will be paying. Broadsheet will sales and a greater workload will newspapers. Knowledge is only one see a fall in subscriptions as more made these small businesses less via­ of the many things the publishing in­ people will find that they can no ble and many will go under. The gov­ dustry sells. To give a subsidy on all of longer afford the magazine - espe­ ernment’s proposal of exempting the output of the publishing industry cially when the price of essentials be­ businesses with an annual turnover of by a GST exemption would be an in­ gins to rise. $2,500 is unrealistic and underlines discriminate and wasteful way of as­ The whole area of donations, which the government’s determination to let sisting the few articles of merit it pro­ Broadsheet relies on, is still unresol­ few slip by without paying GST. As duces. ved. Submissions for this part closed these small businesses are driven out, The Government intends to redistri­ in May and a decision will be made larger concerns will corner the book bute the revenue gained from GST to this month. However, judging by the market, coffee table books will be­ cut income tax. This means that fact that the government wants this come the order of the day, and spe­ many people's purchasing power will tax to be as wide-ranging as possible cialty bookstores will become fewer be increased and some will use it to it is feared that only a few charitable and far between. The future for buy books. institutions will be exempt from pay­ Broadsheet looks bleak, but not as Yours sincerely ing GST on donations. This is the bleak as for the Lange government R O Douglas view of an Inland Revenue spokesper­ who seem hell-bent on electoral son. On the other hand, the Small suicide. □ Businesses Association could not see

3ROADSUFFT COM/CS

23 Broadsheet, June 1985 Bidge Smith is Women’s dents eat a very basic diet, they can Rights Officer at Auck­ economise no further on food. land University The bursary structure is under re­ view but it is unlikely that alterations Like other low income workers, stu­ can be made which will adequately dents spend on a greater part of their compensate students for the in­ incomes on essential goods and ser­ creased costs they will face. vices than high income earners. Many Students simply have to buy books students subsist on a very tight bud­ and stationery. It is not unusual for a get; they work through the summer single book to cost $50 now. As new vacation or have part time jobs to sur­ prices go up, so will second hand vive. Usually money earned over book prices. Although students can summer goes towards paying off use library books, the library’s buying debts from the previous year. Next power will be reduced under GST and year, after paying off debts, paying en­ queues for desk copies are already rollment and tuition fees, students will long. face a sudden rise in costs in April. In­ General running costs of the uni­ creases are bound to be unpredicta­ versities will increase which probably ble, there will be hidden costs that means an increase in fees. cannot be budgetted for. Unless the government channels Although rents will not come into money back into the education sys­ GST, various maintenance costs will tem, GST may become another force be passed onto tenants by landlords. limiting access to education, particu­ Food costs will increase, and as stu­ larly for low income families. □

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MAIL TO NIX, 80 JOHN ST, PONSONBY, AUCKLAND M U Broadsheet, June 1985 25 Marieke Hilhorst writes about being bulimic. compulsive gorger and purger who defaulted from taking If you have ever gorged yourself on food and felt so any control in my life; who in fact gave food the control disgusted that you found yourself face to face with a rather than face any of the issues that had made me that way. toilet bowl for between one and twenty times a day you will be aware of the incredible loneliness, guilt, self- degredation and anxiety it entails. You will also have There are millions of young girls and suffered from bulimia, literally “ox-hunger”, the term women who starve themselves in order used to describe the binge-purge syndrome which is affecting increasing numbers of women (and a few men) to look like these envied models for in post industrial Western societies. In the past few years an unprecedented number of whom slimness is a well-paid young women have been recognised as suffering from professional pose. Ordinary young bulimia, partly due to the public interest aroused by Karen Carpenter, Jane Fonda and Cherry Boone-O’Neill. This women do not get paid for being slim. is also borne out by the upsurge of self-help groups, Hilde Bruch articles and research done on the topic. I was a victim of the thinness mania, being a junk food To trace back through my family to the roots of my and toilet bowl junkie for eight of my 23 years. A bulimia was relatively easy. Put simplistically, my upbringing was strict, undemocratic, strongly religious Bulimics regularly binge-eat — quickly eat a large and authoritarian. 1 had an excellent role model in my amount of food, usually in less than two hours, as father who used alcohol as a crutch to avoid feelings of well as doing at least three of the following: failure. My mother hated the unpleasant nastiness that * Binge on high calorie foods occurs when people are allowed to express their * eat inconspicuously during a binge emotions. And then I had myself. Someone overly self- * end binges with self-induced vomiting, sleep, conscious and unconfident. Someone not encouraged or stomach pain to think for myself, stand up for my rights, be my own * repeatedly try to lose weight by vomiting, using person. This recipe will not always produce a bulimic (or diuretics, or going on very strict diets anorexic) but in my case it did. From talking with other * have frequent weight fluctuations greater than sufferers 1 learned that the one common factor running 10 lbs, due to alternating binges and fasts through all our varied upbringings was that we never Bulimics know their eating pattern is abnormal separated from our parents and became autonomous and fear they won’t be able to stop if they want adults. to. They also feel depressed and self-hating Families of bulimics are apparently closeknit and after binges. nurturing. However, closer analysis shows that feelings (particularly negative ones) are suppressed, that parents 26 Broadsheet, June 1985 generally have too high a standard of achievement for their children, and exert excessive control over them. There is little or no encouragement of self-expression or autonomy so that the child’s own inner resources, ideas, decisions, and consequently their self-worth is undeveloped. Overall the families are highly resistant to change, or expressions of individuality which present a threat of change.

For many women, compulsive eating and being fat have become one way to avoid being marketed or seen as the ideal woman. thing was happening — someone was trying to make me face the issues 1 was trying to bury under mountains Susie Orbach of food. It took three years of hard work and many times 1 regressed to the numbness of the binge. But always she As a result of this bulimics feel out of control of our was there. Prodding, provoking, encouraging and being behaviour, needs and impulses, feel we don’t own our rejected. I wish that all women suffering from bulimia own bodies. When confronted with demands for more had someone like her. than conforming obedience as we enter adolescence, Through her support I began attending the our compliance turns into feeling bad about ourselves. Christchurch Anorexic and Bulimic Self Help Group We turn these feelings of lack of control and self-worth which is run by and for sufferers. Through meeting others back in on ourselves and turn to weight control as the I discovered the good and bad parts of myself I had only area we have autonomy in. The bingeing is a release submerged all those years and slowly I began to regain a from anger, frustration, disappointment, loneliness and healthy control over my life. I increased my feminist boredom. Over time the food is used to regulate these awareness, rejecting the social stereotype of women and feelings and tensions until it occupies a central role in now strongly believe that unless a woman does become the individual’s life. As such it is a substance abuse much feminist in her outlook she will never be able to fully like alcoholism and drug addiction. shake off society’^unrealistic demands on women. If she The conflicts causing bulimia come from the bulimic’s does not, shemnay be able to get her problem under individual history and personality, but they are also related control but she will never be completely rid of it. My to being in a female body in the world. involvement with the group taught me just how Writing this I began to remember some of the pain widespread the problem is. Nearly every woman I have and agony of what it was like to be bulimic. 1 remember talked to then and now has hang-ups over food and feeling dirty and freakish. The secrecy of the binges and weight. Anorexia and bulimia are just extremes along the the guilt of the purging. The stench of vomit that continuum. somehow would never wash off. The loneliness of the I also have parents who had the courage to face their self-imposed isolation for fear that if people got too close own self-doubts and inadequacies, who recognised their they would find out what a revolting person you really role in the development of my bulimia, who were not were and reject you. Or worse than that, they might try to afraid to face it and opened themselves up to grow as 1 stop you — remove your drug, your crutch, your lifeline. grew. I love them for it. My bulimia started when I was 14, when the uncertainty of puberty finally hit me and the indoctrination of the Women are brought up to regard their slim, attractive, hairless, odourless woman portrayed in the medias and by society sunk in. It was great. 1 could bodies as objects to be sacrificed for stuff my ever ravenous mouth and not get fat. Better beauty. still, I could even lose weight and achieve that idyllic svelte female form we are all conditioned to strive for. Alderbaran But when 1 started bunking school to stay home and eat 1 knew I was hooked. I was a junk food junkie. I began to Many bulimic women have parents who won’t accept isolate myself from my family in case they found out. But their part in the development of the disorder. They resist mostly 1 began to feel out of control. the changes the women want to make in their lives and The one avenue I saw for taking control over my life try to keep them as the same person they have always began to take control over me. known — even if this means keeping them bulimic. So began the next eight years of ups and downs and 1 am now on the other side. There is much of the pain downs. I binged my way through university, through an and misery that I find hard to remember, like a sub­ unwanted pregnancy, through a very young marriage conscious mechanism has shut them out. But 1 retain and almost through a divorce. But I was one of the lucky the new self-awareness and insights, the confidence and ones. A woman came into my life who cared enough to new-found abilities I never dreamed I would have. I am see through my lies and double-talk and who had the no longer just a bulimic, 1 am a worker, a wife, a mother, courage to confront them. I hated her for it. The dreaded articulate, creative, intelligent — I am mein Broadsheet. June 1985 27 and trying to achieve unphysiological weights. Research indicates that within the last ten to 20 years, there has been a shift in our society towards a thinner ideal shape for women. A North American study that looked at average weights of Playboy centrefolds and Miss America Pageant winners over 20 years, found that the pageant winners were almost Jasbindar Singh has been themselves as anything but tat. invariably thinner than the average involved in a bulimia support However, while anorexics are contestant. This trend is even more obsessed with getting thinner, group. She outlines the significant when we realise that the bulimics are obsessed with not average woman under 30 has research and useful self help putting on weight. Women with become heavier in the past 20 years. techniques. bulimia do not look emaciated and The same study found that the Although the actual behaviour of have ordinary body weights. number of diet articles in six popular binge eating/vomiting goes back to Bulimic women may binge and American women’s magazines had early Roman days, it is only in the vomit once or several times a day. also increased significantly over the last few years that bulimia has been Both bingeing and vomiting are last 20 years. The media has sold identified as a distinct eating disorder. done in private, and even close family and perpetuated the image of Women with bulimia regularly go on members and partners may not desirable women as slim and eating binges, and then get rid of the know of the woman’s silent suffering. glamorous. food by vomiting, dieting or using So she can feel shame, guilt, a sense In Western society, fat women are laxatives. They feel unable to control of disgust and helplessness. She is called unattractive, unsuccessful, the disordered eating pattern and usually depressed and anxious. and undesirable. On the other hand, usually feel depressed and self-hatred Bulimics tend to binge on the kind similar sized men can be seen as after a binge. of high carbohydrate foods usually forceful, respectful, commanding Bulimia is a fairly common restricted in diets. Binges can cost attention and authoritative. These problem and it is becoming even up to $100 a week. are very effective ways of taking more prevalent. Most studies about A major factor in the increased personal power further away from bulimia have been done overseas incidence of anorexia and bulimia is women. Conflicts and struggles in using college students. Between five the vast pressure on women to be adopting our bodies (our frontier) and 19 percent of fema^Vcollege slim, as well as the ideal body shape. culminate in eating disorders and students report all the main This ideal means women are fighting the accompanying emotional symptoms of bulimia. 1,2 In one normal fat deposits in their bodies trauma. English study, 620 women using self-induced vomiting to control their weight were identified with the help of a women’s magazine.3 Of these, three percent were anorexic and 83 percent had bulimia. All of these women had profoundly disturbed attitudes towards food and eating. Unfortunately, studies on the general population are rare. Bulimia is almost exclusively a disorder afflicting women and has its onset during the teens and early 20s. It is rare in non-Western cultures. In some Asian and Pacific Island societies, for instance, fat is associated with affluence, while in the West, slimness is the elitist value. Most bulimics come from well- educated, white middle-class families where there are high expectations for them to achieve academically and socially. The common feature shared by both anorexics and bulimics include a strong desire to be thin jind the inability to see 28 Broadsheet, June 1985 Self-induced vomiting and overuse reduce the power food has in one’s rewards for progress you make. of purgatives can lead to metabolic life, as well as reducing the guilt and You need to refute and replace disturbances (especially self-hatred if you do binge. negative and perfectionist thoughts hypokalemia) which can result in If possible, explain to people you’re — “1 have to be my ideal weight potentially fatal irregular heartbeats. living with that you are going to take before I’m acceptable or loved” with Kidney damage is also likely. Other responsibility for your eating and you “I’m worthy to be loved as I am”. complications include epileptic don’t want to be pressurised in any Women can practise this looking in seizures, dehydration, erosion of way. the mirror and saying positive things teeth enamel and chronic hoarseness about themselves. of the voice. Binge eating can cause Some women believe that if eating acute stomach swelling. is the only part of a woman’s life Self help support groups for where she feels in control, it is bulimics provide an environment SELF HELP important to enable her to feel in where women can talk freely about RESOURCES control in other areas of her life before their pain and difficulties, as well as tackling the disordered eating. When sharing ideas they’ve found helpful. bingeing follows a stressful situation, Support groups meetings are often GROCJPS bulimic women have found other the first time the secret is shared. It Bulimia self help support groups ways of coping with that stress — gives a great sense of relief for some are run in Christchurch at The taking time to rest and relax, learning women to discover they’re not alone Health Alternative for Women to be more assertive with people in their suffering, and that someone (THAW), cnr Peterborough and who make demands, set time limits else can understand. Having a Montreal Sts, ph 796-970. They on what they will do for other people, woman in the group who has have been run in Auckland at the being honest with themselves and overcome bulimia provides a positive Women’s Centre, 63 Ponsonby other people about negative feelings, role model. As well as providing Rd, ph Jasbindar 452-560 (w). setting realistic goals. Some self help informal networks of support, self There is also an Anorexic pa­ groups have found it a valuable help groups can become powerful rents’ support group in Auckland. exercise to write down positive things lobby groups to combat the Contact Mrs Ann Lumb, ph 678- about themselves. They can dip into 493. advertising which primes women this list when they’re feeling low towards such eating disorders. before or after a binge. But women Bulimic women can start to help BOOKS in any self help programme who themselves by keeping a record of The Anorexic Experience by Mari­ expect a quick magic cure for bulimia everything they eat for two weeks, lyn Lawrence, The Women’s will be disappointed. There are no including the time, place and Press Handbook Series 1984. easy solutions; recovery is slow and situation as well as each binge. Bulimia: The Binge-Purge Com­ painful.a Record how long bingeing and pulsion by Janice Cauwels, Gar­ vomiting last, as well as how you feel den City, Doubleday, 1983. afterwards and what you did. Fat Is A Feminist Issue II by Susie 1. K. Halmi, J. Falk and E. Schwartz "Binge After two weeks of recording, look Orbach, Berkley Books, NY, eating and vomitting: A survey of college at the chart and see if there are any 1982. population", in Psychological Medicine, The Slender Balance: Causes and 1981, no.l 1 patterns. For example, do most of 2. R. Pyle, J. Mitchell and E. Eckert, P. Cures for Bulimia, Anorexia and the binges occur after the evening Halverson, P. Neuman and G. Goff “The meal at home (maybe the only the Weight-Loss/Weight Gain incidence of bulimia in freshman college regular meal eaten that day); does Seasaw by Susan Squire, Put­ students", in International Journal of bingeing often follow a particular nam, 1983. Eating Disorders, 1983, no.2 The Art of Starvation by Sheila 3. C. Fairburn and P. Cooper “Self-induced emotional state, like feeling lonely or vomitting and bulimia nervosa: An unloved, or is it a way of coping with McLeod, Virago, 1981 undetected problem", in British Medical stressful situations? The Golden Cage: The Enigma of Journal, Vol 284, 1153 — 1155 When you see a pattern, work out Anorexia Nervosa by Hilde Bruch, 4. D. Garner and P. Garfinkel “Cultural Shepton Mallet, Open Books expectations of thinness in women”, in alternatives to food at these Psychological Reports, 1980, no.47 vulnerable times. This may include 1978 ringing up a friend, going for a jog, Jasbindar Singh is researching the or just getting out of the house. extent of bulimia and how it affects Women have to find alternatives that women’s lives. Any women who work for them; something useful for It’s important to reward yourself want to answer a questionnaire one may be unhelpful for another. for any progress you make; “1 only about bulimia, write to her c/- Having three regular meals is felt like bingeing twice this week” Pentlands Community Mental important as this means you’re not instead of “I can’t stop”. Negative Health Centre, 19 Buchanan St, physically deprived, which can result thinking and expectations can lead Devonport, Auckland 9. All replies in bingeing. Trying not to see food to negative behaviour. For some will be confidential, and the results as an enemy, or rigidly divided into women just dealing with one day at a of the research will be sent to all the “good food” or “bad food” can time is helpful. Think up your own women who want to receive it.

Broadsheet, June 1985 29 LESBIAN OUTme LAWS

Chris Forbes outlines lesbian invisibility under the law, As lesbian, you are invisible to the legislature in New Zealand. This reflects the lack of recognition of les­ bians as a part of New Zealand society. The system simply does not deal with lesbianism except in areas where it has no choice. For example, there are a grow­ ing number of lesbians who have come out during their custody disputes. Our invisibility is no surprise. One has only to look at the slow pace of law reform relating to heterosexual de-facto relationships. Heterosexuals who live together in socially acceptable relationships still receive a raw deal in many aspects of the law compared to their married counterparts. The most blat­ ant example is the non-applicability of the Matrimo­ nial Property Act. There are other important areas in which unmarried heterosexual couples are not specifi­ cally catered for. They are, however, better off than les­ bian partners/couples.

Death of a Partner Real difficulties can arise in situations where one part­ ner dies and does not leave a will, or alternatively dies leaving a will which makes no provision for her partner. The Administration Act 1969 provides specifically for Under the Family Protection Act 1955, the courts have cases where a person dies without ledving a will. Under jurisdiction to hear claims from a surviving husband or this act a surviving husband or wife takes all or shares wife, children, grandchildren, and parents. Generally, awards are made when the dead person had failed in with the surviving children, depending on the value of their moral duty to support family members. A partner in the estate. This act does not apply to a surviving les­ a lesbian relationship (or for that matter a live-in bian partner, ora surviving live-in heterosexual partner. heterosexual partner) has no legal standing to make a Separation and Division of Property Sharon Alston The New Zealand Family Court system has been hailed as one of the most modern in the world. How­ ever, even in this area lesbians in general are outsiders with little recognition. Married couples have very real resources available to them through the court’s free counselling services in breakdown situations. These services are not available to live-in partners either les­ bian or heterosexual unless there are children involved in the dispute. Lesbian partners can, of course, pay for counselling somewhere else. But it is more difficult for a lesbian couple to seek assistance with reconciliation or even conciliation in breakdown situations. The Domestic Protection Act 1982 provides protection from domestic violence. No such protection is availa­ ble for lesbian partners. We could get assistance, if we needed it, under the criminal law of assault and tres­ pass. This is nowhere near as effective. Women in lesbian relationships need to ensure that their respective property rights are clearly defined. If we disagree the presumptions of equal sharing under the Matrimonial Property Act apply only to married couples. It is common today for lesbians to jointly own real estate and chattels. To avoid any possibility of dis­ putes some agreement should be entered into in every The Law Reform Act 1949 enables claims to be made case. It is also common for one partner to own property against a deceased person’s estate if someone can and the other to contribute towards maintenance or im­ establish a sufficient promise made by the deceased provements. Again, it is most important to have some in her lifetime to provide for her in her will in return for her form of agreement in case one partner needs to pro­ services. The surviving partner in a lesbian relationship vide proof of ownership or contribution if the other part­ may find some possibility of relief under this act. A com­ ner leaves or dies. Failure to do so may mean one part­ mon claim is of the traditional “house-keeper” variety. ner will lose money. 30 Broadsheet, June 1985 Difficulties sometimes arise when there is no agree­ ment as to the distribution of jointly owned property. It may be necessary to make an application for partition or sale and division of the proceeds under the Property Law Act 1952. Trusts, which have been used for a long time by heterosexual live-in couples, could be useful to lesbian partners. Whether one party is holding all or part of property on trust for another depends on things like the claimant’s contribution and the intention of the trust.

Custody Custody is a big problem for women coming out of a heterosexual relationship with children and starting a lesbian relationship. Many women in this situation are desperately afraid that they will lose their children be­ cause of their preferred sexuality, The primary concern of the courts about custody is the welfare of the child. Some lesbians have recently won custody of their chil­ dren and others have lost custody. Generally a wife’s sexuality is only one factor among many, all of which are weighed up by the judge in accordance with what she or he believes is in the best interests of the child. Un­ fortunately, a wife will often leave the matrimonial home and the children on separation. She then has to set up a new home (probably without any money) for herself and perhaps her lover that is also suitable for her children. She is therefore disadvantaged from the start. Several myths surround homosexuality and appear SharonAlston to have influenced judges’ responses, eg homosexual­ ity is an illness; homosexuals are emotionally less sta­ nefits are not available on the death of a partner. In­ ble; and homosexuality is catching. come related compensation for accident victims is av­ However, court decisions suggest an approach ailable to lesbians, but always in their capacity of a where the only relevance of a mother’s lesbianism is its single person. The Accident Compensation Act 1982 affect on the children. It is not a disqualifying factor by lists potential beneficiaries, including spouses and itself but only as it is shown to “affect the parenting people who, in the opinion of the corporation, have en­ capabilities” or “pose risk” to the children. tered into a relationship in the nature of marriage. This may apply to heterosexual women, but it is very un­ likely that the corporation would recognise a claim in a lesbian situation.

Immigration The Minister of Immigration can permit entry and resi­ dency to the wife or husband of an applicant. Permits for de-facto spouses of New Zealand citizens have been granted, but it is unusual. A lesbian couple would not get a permit because of their relationship alone.

Human Rights Commission It is unlawful to discriminate against any person be­ cause of sex, marital status, orwtigtMi or ethical belief under the Human Rights Commission Act 1977. The re­ ference to marital status might protect heterosexual couples in de facto relationships, the act does not cover lesbian relationships. In 1979, the National Gay Rights Coalition asked the HRC to recommend adding sexual orientation to the other grounds in the HRC Act on which discrimination is illegal. In its 1980 report the Commission decided sexual orientation didn’t have a status comparable with race, colour, sex and other terms in the act. The Commission recommended that Benefits the Crimes Act be reframed so no distinction was made The Social Welfare Department ignores the existence between women and men. This vague recommenda­ of lesbian relationships. With Domestic Purposes Be­ tion left open the possibility of lesbianism being made neficiaries, if there are two women in the house it would illegal, and both lesbians and gay men protested vig­ be a rare event for them to come looking under the bed orously against that decision. for another woman’s shoes. However, there are disad­ There will obviously be no change in the Commis­ vantages in having no status. For example, sickness sion’s attitude to lesbians and gays until an act like the benefits will be paid on the single rate. Widow’s be­ Homosexual Law Reform Bill is passed. □

Broadsheet, June 1985 31 — A DISAGREEABLE FEMINIST — ------and proud of it ------

Jill: When did you first become it’s also about responsibility. I know 1 interested in feminism? am daily more aware that I have had Dale: Difficult to put a date on it. many, many more of the world’s Much more a period. A period of resources than is my share, as a disillusionment, particularly as a white person and I just am ashamed supposedly happy housewife, sometimes of the extent to which I becoming more interested in my use the world’s resources. 1 can’t do job, facing the fact that the sort of life a great deal, personally and plan for the Australian middle-class individually, about changing that. woman was not one that 1 was partial The only thing I can do is try and use to. There was a gradual move toward those resources in the most questioning what 1 was doing. Of responsible way that I can. My test is course there were the daily always, am 1 utilising to the best of arguments about washing the shirts, my ability all sorts of good things but there was also a much more that have come my way. Now those fundamental argument about good things are not a lot of money. “What’s it all for?” and “Is this it?” They are a nice place in which to and “Do I just live out every day of write and 1 am never cold and I get a the rest of my life like this?” lot of financial support from very I can remember the first few good friends and family. women’s meetings 1 went to and 1 1 can make choices in my life, and just had this marvellous time. I can DALE SPENDER is the most that’s not the norm in this world for women. The norm is that your life is remember the famous night of prolific writer. She edits the In­ discussing the orgasm and people interrupted by violence, by just dying with laughter comparing ternational Feminist Quarterly malnutrition, by dodging bullets — notes. And then coming home to the and has authored or edited at that’s the norm of experience for front door and knowing that I had to least seven books of major women. I don’t really have to worry a put on a straight face before I went significance to feminists. Al­ great deal about some of the things inside. Because it was one thing to that preoccupy so many of the go out to women’s meetings; it was though she has written about women in the Third World. I think quite another thing to come home subjects as diverse as educa­ then I have a responsibility to use the happy and having enjoyed them. tion and women’s history, her time that’s not spent searching for 1 faced the fact that I was really greatest preoccupation has food, or trying to help children being quite deceptive and that the survive, in some sort of constructive sort of me who was married and been with how men maintain way. So it’s just a little bit, but it leaves washing the shirts and going off to power. my conscience reasonably at ease. work each day, but never ever This has led Spender to That’s basically the sort of evading any of my domestic probe the “hidden agenda” of philosophy and it’s the old, old responsibilities, was a person 1 didn’t feminist philosophy, which distresses sexism; the way reality is particularly like, didn’t want to be, me enormously because it sounds didn’t have much respect for. shaped by male control of lan­ so close to Christianity it embarrasses 1 don’t think initially I came out as guage, space, knowledge and me! Basically it is about trying to live angry feminist. 1 came out much history. Women have learned in a “do unto others” philosophy and more as an exploratory feminist. For it’s very simple and not very popular to toe the line. “Male ap­ me one of the biggest delights and is it? biggest joys, which is not at all proval,” she says in this inter­ I loved your use of the term politically correct, is that I am a view with JILL ABIGAIL done “disagreeable women" in Women feminist out of curiosity... I want to in London late last year, “is the of Ideas. You must certainly be a very disagreeable woman in men s know what the world could be like. most insidious and dangerous When you grow up, as I did, with terms. How have you actually got very, very narrow limits to reality, to strategy men have used yourself into a position whereby suddenly understand that it’s not against women... it colonises you can make a living by editing a real, that you can change it, that you your mind.” feminist journal and writing feminist books without at all can make your own decisions and All Spender’s writing goes your own choices, 1 think there is an softening your very strong radical enormous curiosity about that. about unravelling the lies and stand? How have you actually So a lot of my feminism is just giving back to women their wangled that position? sheer curiosity about what you can history and their lives. Sometimes with an enormous loss do, what are the limits. And 1 think of honor and a great deal of deceit. 32 Broadsheet, June 1985 Because I’m not all that disagreeable avoided burn-out? Or have you structured very definitely that Lynne while I am trying to get the contract, I avoided burn-out? and I still feel that each is the most assure you. I come home and feel Oh, not burnt out. But that’s partly important thing the other has. Lynne quite shabby about the way 1 can Jane Fonda! My sister gave me Jane is just so central to my life — which occasionally wear my skirts and my Fonda’s video for Christmas and 1 seems silly when she is 12,000 miles high heels and smile sweetly in all started off and I could only do about away. But you know, I write to Lynne the right places, which is I think what ten minutes a day and now I do about just about every day. It’s not an so many women have to do. I’m not 45 minutes every morning. And I am obligation, it’s not a chore. It’s disagreeable to the editor and to the so fit, 1 want to take up weight lifting! because we actually do keep each publisher. I reserve it for my writing, No, 1 don’t get depressed very often. other in touch — just like havinq a in lots of ways. I feel very good about — it’s another chat. But that’s what I was actually day, and it’s an opportunity to do You ve been living with a man for referring to — that in your books something. some years now, haven’t you? Do you don't tone down your stance I think that’s partly a reaction, too, you feel any conflict about that? at all. I assume that the people in to some of the earlier days in my life, I think you feel conflict about whoever the publishing world do read what as a young woman, when they you live with, in lots of ways. I probably you are writing. Why do they let seemed to drag, when life seemed to felt as much conflict when I lived you come back with another book go so slowly. with my mum. First of all I think I the following year? It also comes from a mother who have to state, absolutely categorically, They sell. I think it’s very simple. And says “Today’s it! This is it!” And I do that people have one very set I also think that there is a complex very much live today what 1 can today. stereotyped picture of what a relationship there because if they And I usually go to bed at night feeling relationship means when a male and sold too well, 1 wouldn’t be allowed very tired and quite good. a female live under the one roof. I back, because it would be seen to be You mention in one of your books don’t think my life corresponds very swamping their image and their that there were stories in your much to the way many, many people particular market. But I sell well family about women who had do live their lives in those enough to be a good proposition stood together in seemingly circumstances. commercially, and not so well that I — unlikely alliances mothers-in- Basically I live a very independent would challenge them. law who had supported daughter- life where I do very much my own in-law and so on. Is female There is a feeling that I get from thing and where I don’t like any notion your work of great gusto and solidarity, then, an idea that you of being seen as a couple, where 1 exhilaration. I love the kinds of actually grew up with? have got friends who have known tricks that you play by coining me for nine years and accuse me of phrases like “men’s studies ” to “When women are con­ having made up this man I live with, describe the education system, and signed to the periphery - because they’ve never met him. I am in Women of Ideas you choose not quite happy to keep it like that. I to name the men you are quoting it’s such a slight imper­ don’t experience the conflict that is from. That was wonderful. I do find ceptible move to fall off supposed to come from merely when I am reading your work that living with a man. He’s a very pleasant, I move up and down between the edge into obscurity.” supportive, understanding person. laughing aloud with joy about I think there often are lots of things, and then being absolutely No, no, and that was always quoted problems about living with men. I’m incensed and outraged by the as something that was unusual. But not denying that reality. But 1 don’t evidence you put forward of what's my grandmother, my father’s mother, think you can assume just the happened to women. You mention supported my mother in a very opposite either, that simply by virtue yourself in your work, in fact, that unusual alliance. Mother, who had of being a man he presents a you often have felt outraged and come from a very secluded problem. I mean in some ways he incensed. How do you actually background and who knew very little blooming well does, but in other cope with your anger? about the world, was taken under my ways I think that’s such an I think a lot of it gets channelled into grandmother’s wing and literally oversimplification. I mean, he’s a the writing. And there are some days helped with things like contraception human being, he’s got deficiencies when, sitting there writing, 1 feel before she got married. I am talking and so have I. And in fact he is very myself shaking, 1 am so angry about about fifty years ago. That was tolerant of my inability to concern the way a particular woman has astonishing. myself with domestic chores. I been treated. I think anger needs to The solidarity I grew up with was a couldn’t live with my sister like 1 live be turned into something that can mother who wanted two daughters. I with him, because I’d feel very unkind be more constructive. I feel quite a often feel sorry for my brother, for a about letting her do all the cleaning. release of tension once I write about few minutes at a time! All she wanted I’d feel obliged to do half. But I don’t something, once I actually get it was two daughters. From the day my feel obliged to do half with him, so down and know that it’s got some sister was born — my sister is it’s much simpler. sort of substance there in front of younger than I am — we were both I think the conflict usually comes me, instead of just being something told “You are the two luckiest people when women feel that they are that makes me feel immensely there are. You’ve got each other.” putting energy into a man when emotional. Mum never had a sister. It was always they would actually like to be So is that the way you have actually something that she wanted. And she giving all their energy to other Broadsheet, June 1985 33 women. Are you actually saying of women who’ve just been so relationship. I’ve got better things to that you don’t put any energy into “disagreeable” in the fashion, to turn do than reflect a man at twice his your particular relationship then? some of the social codes which men normal size. Unless I want something Is that why there's no conflict. have devised and which suit men, to — and I think that has to be said. I think that’s partly an answer, but it’s turn them upside down. There are some women who need a also partly a denial. Because yes, I People just go on using them great deal more than I do. It’s no think every women who lives with a because that’s the way you were good saying you won’t do it, if you’re man is putting energy into it and trained. And I think they’re very good financially dependent and unless he doing those management type consciousness-raising activities, to feels good he is not going to give things. 1 know if he comes home turn those social codes upside down. you the housekeeping... distressed or upset, 1 could cheer In Women of Ideas you point out him up in a way that 1 don’t think that the liberal idea that ciuilization he’d begin to know how to put me at “I can remember the fam­ progresses in an upward direction ease if I was emotionally disturbed. is in fact nonsense, that women, But by the same token, I’d also say ous night of discussing along with other oppressed groups, that if 1 didn’t talk to him for two the orgasm and people have often lost ground, and have to weeks he’d assume 1 was busy. He keep refighting for rights they once wouldn’t have any notion that he was just dying with laughter had. It’s daunting, isn’t it, to think that we can't actually afford to being ignored or that he warrants my comparing notes. And attention or that my role in life is to relax for a moment on any of the stay here and reflect him at twice his then coming home to the so-called rights we think we have now. normal size when he comes in the front door and knowing front door. 1 think that’s very true. You even see My work is very, very important to that 1 had to put on a it with things like abortion reform. me and I work long hours and 1 work straight face before 1 went You know, you get an abortion law at home. And I would shoot anybody passed in this country and, unlike who dared to interrupt or intrude on inside.” any other laws, you can’t assume that — including him. He wouldn’t that now it’s on the statute books, even think of doing that. that battle’s won. Because what will Who are the women whose ideas The number of men who continue to happen will be that within two years have most inspired you? interrupt, who continue to dominate someone will propose new legislation Matilda Joslyn Gage, Charlotte the conversation, who continue to to amend it and to take away what Perkins Gilman, Elizabeth Cady say “Now what you really mean in...” it’s granted. And you have to mount Stanton, many of those women who I just think that’s outrageous and 1 the campaign over again. were the suffragettes early in this am very quick to say so, and I think What we have is a cyclical model century, Christabel Pankhurst, whose that (a) it earns you a reputation for and wherever we can observe the birthday is the same date as mine, being rude, but (b) I think it also way the world works, we can see that Rebecca West — cheeky women, makes people think about what it is is has seasons, that it has death and impudent women, women who’ve they’ve been doing in a way they life, and death and life, that things said no to behaving themselves and haven’t thought about before. And come and that they go, and 1 think being polite and being deferential. I that includes me. 1 know I can still one of the ways that we have to start think there are basically two types of make some of those errors. I’m still looking at the women’s movement is feminists. There have been those one of the first ones to rush in and most definitely in terms of that who’ve been good, who’ve tried to rescue a man who’s making a fool of ecological model...And so if today persuade men, to educate men. himself, when everything tells me looks a bit wintry and we look as They might have been very you should leave him there and let though we’re losing ground, we honourable women but they weren’t him make a bigger fool of himself. know with absolute certainty that it is very successful in achieving their This whole thing about the loss of followed by spring. goals. face of men— the reason I am talking When I interviewed my old ladies And there’ve been other women about this is that Sally Klein and 1 are for There’s Always Been a Women’s — basically my notion of writing a book called Reflecting Men Movement that’s what impressed disagreeable women — who haven’t at Twice Their Normal Size and it me greatly, their philosophical notion looked to men for approval. There is comes from Virginia W oolfs about “Well, it comes and it goes. no way in the world I need male statement that for centuries women And this is the second time round. approval. In fact 1 think I’d feel rather have been serving as looking glasses We have lived long enough to see it uncomfortable these days if 1 had it. I for men. And we’ve suddenly just come again”. They were amazed at grew up thinking that if men didn t become aware of how every aspect the similarities and not just the approve of you, you didn’t exist. That of our daily lives is reflecting men at similarities of different women with the only way to validate your existence twice their normal size and how men ideas, but the similarities in the way was to be seen as approved of by get quite angry and feel deprived of the movement’s evolved. They just men. 1 think it’s the most insidious their rights if you don’t do it. kept saying “It was just like this in and dangerous strategy that men Now one of the reasons I can live 1920. It was just like this in 1920”. have used against women. 1 think it with the man that I do is because I What doesn’t seem to change or go colonises your mind. And the thing clearly don’t do it, never have done in cycles though but seems to be a that I take most joy in is the number it, and that’s the basis of the steady constant, is men s

34 Broadsheet, June 1985 intransigence, men s loathing of has said, that heterosexuality is women, m en’s fear of women. That compulsory, is because of this doesn't seem to change at all. Men enormous fear men have that they’ll haven’t received any of the be irrelevant if it weren’t compulsory. messages, they haven't thought, That women would very quickly find they haven’t analysed, they haven't that they liked being with women, looked at things, they haven’t that they had much more in common examined their inner selves. Isn’t with women, that women are better that dispiriting? company, they’re more Yes, but is it because they’re men or understanding, they don’t interrupt. is it because they have got power? They are very pleasant people. And Because you could say exactly the that men actually fear the ultimate same thing about whites, which irrelevance. would include you and me in it. And I think the only possibility of change is it that you and I haven’t honestly is millions and millions of women examined our own consciences and the world over, each working on it in found ourselves culpable and tried their own way and in their own to do something about it? But things. because whites as a group have not It won’t be achieved by one sort of divested themselves of power, public grand movement of a woman nothing changes. Men’s power base becoming Prime Minister. And in is just phenomenal. It makes me so fact, Mrs Thatcher has the same Dale Spender’s books are availa­ angry that you get two women in mentality of power as most men who ble from the Broadsheet book­ politics, or three women in banking, are in power. Mrs Thatcher interrupts, shop: and we’re told it’s all right now. And Mrs Thatcher determines what will Learning to Lose: Sexism and if you had three men in politics and be talked about, Mrs Thatcher Education, edited with Elizabeth told them it was all all right, there’d knows, she knows everything which Sarah — $11.50 be an uproar. As a feminist I would is very much the characteristic of Feminist Theorists Dale Spender say that what I fight is the mentality people in power, who know what is editor— $25.75 of power. Sadly, most of the people I best for you. Man Made Language — due June know who have that mentality are I think it’s power that is the issue There’s Always Been a Women’s men. But I think if you take the power rather than the sexes. But 1 think it all M ovem ent— $9.85 away you very quickly find a different gets mixed up because it’s basically Invisible Women: The Schooling mentality. one sex that’s got the power. But 1 Scandal, $15.50 Men can, without power, examine, don’t know that men are born that rethink, reanalyse, change. But part way, and 1 don’t think I’ve got any Women of Ideas — $ 16.95 of their loathing of women is very basic objections to men as human Men’s Studies Modified — price definitely because women represent beings or to their souls. What 1 object unknown the threat to that power. to, strenuously, strongly and Dale Spender’s latest book is cal­ consistently, is the way they learn to led Time and Tide Wait For No “Mrs Thatcher would use the power that’s available, the M an and contains her selection of way they resort to violence, the way British feminist writing from the never have been the Prime they resort to threats, they way in 20s and 30s — $19.95 Minister if she’d shown which they will exploit this world to Add 60cents per book when mail maintain that position of power. ing the slightest interest in That’s my source of very deep anger. advancing her sex. The That they will continue to use the most awful means to maintain their rules for being there are present position. And of course, that she doesn’t.... ” ironically, the more gains women make, the more independent women So how do we divest them of it, become, the more women control then? We’ve been singularly their own fertility — and you should unsuccessful so far, haven’t we? never underestimate what an enormous gain birth control has I’ve no idea. Not one idea. I don’t been — the more women make know how you do it. It seems to me those gains, the more men will put so huge and so entrenched I really energy into retaining their don t know how you begin to unravel supremacy. The nastier they will get. all those threads which support male There is a lot of evidence that men power. Because it’s at the material can be a lot nastier now than they level, at an emotional level, at a were even a hundred years ago.n financial level, a sexual level. I mean, the whole cult of heterosexuality is Janey Bedggood transcribed the set up to give men prominence. And tape; Gay Stanton retyped the edited one of the reasons, as Adrienne Rich interview a wide range of topics includ­ Many women in the 1930s ing the struggle for police, jud­ protested and demanded bet­ ON THE SHELF icial, and social service re­ ter lives. This book tells their forms, the role of academic stories and links these with sociologists and profession­ women’s action for change BOOKS FOR YOUNGER als, racism, state and national now. Designed to spark off READERS coalitions, the particular roles discussion, it features quizzes, of lesbians and men, and the suggestions for activities, THE W O M A N IN THE M OON, current right wing attack and graphics and cartoons. Ideal AND OTHER TALES OF government cutbacks. Pluto as a workbook for health, edu­ FORGOTTEN HEROINES Press $18.95 pbk. cation and women's studies James Riordan. Illus­ courses, and for all those in­ trated by Angela Barrett. WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE terested in why women get ill Here is a collection of stories AGAINST WOMEN and how we can improve our from around the world which Edited by Dusty Rhodes health. Pandora Press. $16.95 tell of courageous, indepen­ and Sandra McNeill. pbk. dent and clever women, who This collection of papers, are too busy having their own taken from three feminist con­ exciting adventures to wait ferences, are part of the ideas around for a handsome prince and debates going on in the on a white horse. Hutchinson Women’s Liberation Move­ $20.95 hbk. ment in the early 1980s. They cover a far wider range of to­ TATTERHOOD AND OTHER JENNY’S BABY BROTHER pics than most books on the TALES Peter Smith and Bob subject; and include discus­ Ethel Johnston Phelps Graham sion of pornography, prostitu­ Jenny doesn’t like her baby (ed). Illustrated by tion, medicine, psychiatry, brother very much, but as he Pam ela Baldwin Ford. rape, incest fashion, language, grows older and gets into mis­ The stories in this book were the law, heterosexism, fantasy chosen for a special charac­ chief, Jenny decides he might and masochicm, child abuse, teristic that singles them out be quite good fun to play with and strategies and tactics. On- from other folk and fairy tales; after all. Fontana $4.95 pbk. lywomen Press $17.95 pbk. they portray active and courageous girls and women THE WITCH IN THE CHERRY in the leading roles. The TREE Feminist Press.$20'pbk. Margaret Mahy. Illus­ WOMEN trated by Jenny Williams UNDERSTANDING CYSTITIS: A delightful tale about a witch against A COMPLETE SELF-HELP who fancies the cakes David GUIDE and his mother are baking, but vio len ce Angela Kilmartin who can’t outwit them despite against Two of the first books written all her tricks. Dent & Sons for cystitis sufferers have been $11.95 hbk. brought together in one vol­ WOMEN ume. Written by a cystitis suf­ NON-FICTION ferer, now an acknowledged THE DAUGHTERS OF KARL authority on self-help for this MARX. FAMILY very common urinary prob­ CORRESPONDENCE 1866- lem, this book gives sound 1898 practical advice and may be Commentary and notes more help than the average by Olga Meier Q.P. Arrow Books $9.95 pbk. Translated and adapted BIRTH STORIES. The by Faith Evans Experience Remembered MAKING SPACE. WOMEN Introduction by Sheila Edited by Janet Isaacs AND THE MANMADE Rowbotham Ashford ENVIRONMENT A HANDFULL OF THIEVES The Daughters of Karl Marx What is it really like to have a Matrix Nina Bawden contains over a hundred let­ baby? How do women’s em o­ Making Space shows how An exciting, often funny, thril­ ters, many of them previously tional and medical needs in­ sexist assumptions about ler for 10 year olds and over, unpublished, between Jenny, tersect? Thirty-four responses, family life and the role of by the author of Carrie’s War Laura and Eleanor Marx. spanning seventy years, docu­ women have been built into and The Peppermint Pig. Puf­ Though very different in temp­ ment the complexity of the the design of our homes and fin Books. $4.50 pbk. erament, the three sisters answers. Childbirth is remem­ cities and still influence mod­ shared an independent spirit, bered at home and in the hos­ ern housing. Seven women, THE PATCHWORK CAT a ready wit and fierce loyalty to pital, in isolation and amongst who are architects, designers Nicola Bayley and Wil­ their political heritage. Pen­ friends; with joy, frustration, and builders, criticise the envi­ liam Mayne guin $16.95 pbk. and anger. The Crossing Press ronment made by male ‘pro­ Tabby cat’s search for her $25.95 pbk. fessionals’ and show how favourite patchwork quilt takes WOMEN AND MALE women designers and con­ NO TIME FOR WOMEN her far from home and into VIOLENCE sumers can work together. some frightening places. Will Susan Schechter Exploring Women’s Pluto Press $22 pbk. she ever get back to her family This book takes an in-depth Health in the 1930s and D O IN G FEMlNjST RESEARCH again? Puffin Books $3.95 look at battering and the social Today pbk. movement against it, covering Charmian Kenner Edited by Helen Roberts 36 Broadsheet, June 1985 This collection of papers, pro­ the tough slums of Port Mel­ cerns a woman of an outcast ceeding on the basis that bourne during the Depres­ tribe who has been brought up problems raised in personal sion. A gutsy account of Au­ by a white missionary’s wife in accounts of research are stralian life in the 1930s and her own image and taught the themselves of sociological im­ 40s by an author whose work meaning of pride. Her novels portance, and that such ac­ has long been unrecognised. have a way of soaring up from counts can give the student a Penguin $10.95 pbk. rock bottom to the stars, and lively insight into research are very shaking. Heinemann often denied by conventional POETRY $9.95 methodology textbooks, STEVIE SM ITH: A SELECTION examines some of the theoret­ Edited by Hermione Lee ical, practical, ethical, and This selection, designed espe­ methodological issues raised cially for students but also for by the recognition that social the general reader, draws on processes are affected by sex­ the whole of Stevie Smith’s ual as well as class divisions. output in poetry, prose and Routledge and Kegan Paul. drawings from Novel on Yel­ $18.20 pbk. low Paper (1936) to Scorpion TALKING WITH YOUR (1972). Complemented by TEENAGER. A BOOK FOR biographical and textual PARENTS with the clarity and power of notes. Faber and Faber Ruth Bell and Leni Zeiger the Aboriginal voice, illuminat­ $10.95 pbk. Wildflower ing from their perspective the MARU Written by two of the same au­ experience of two centuries of thors as Our Bodies Ourse­ white domination. The novel Bessie Head lves, Ourselves and Our Chil­ of the award-winning Austra­ Set in Botswana, Bessie dren, and Changing Bodies, lian television series. Penquin Head’s second novel con­ Changing Lives, this book fol­ $9.95 lows the same format, and covers the areas of adoles­ LESBIAN cence, issues, communica­ THE COMING OUT STORIES tion, pubertry, emotional Edited by Julia Penelope health, sexuality, abuse of Stanley and Susan J. drugs and alcohol, and eating Wolfe disorders. Random House The intimate glimpses of Les­ $24.95 pbk. bian lives in this book give the reader a sense of fear and ORDCRFORM pain, the bewilderment and TM A I M i WITH Please send these books: denial that comes out of being VOLRTi I N \( .I R different in a conformist soci­ \ Book Hi Parents ety. But over-all there is an awareness of the rightness of each women’s feelings, the triumph of her self-accep­ tance, and the strength her knowledge of self brings to her. Persephone Press $18.50

THE W O M A N OF THE WOLF AND OTHER STORIES My name is .. Renēe Vivien My address is: Part of the glittering set of American expatriate lesbians THE ENNEAD who gathered about Natalie I enclose (including 50c packing and postage per book) $ Jan M ark Barney, Vivien’s life and work Erato is a bleak planet, with a are the stuff legends are made corrupt and authoritarian gov­ of. In this collection of short SUBSCRIPTION ernment. All behaviour is stories and prose poems, Viv­ I would also like a $24 subscription for myself □ . for my friend □ , to rigidly controlled. One day ien manages to touch on all Isaac rescues a girl from the themes and ideas that ob­ sustain Broadsheet ($35) □ . other rates on the Contents page: . . . another dying planet who sessed her throughout her brings with her long-suppres­ short life. Gay Presses $12.25 sed ideas from Earth. This bril­ pbk. liant book, part science fiction, part political satire, adds up to DOWN BY THE DOCKSIDE My name is: . a fascinating read. Puffin. Criena Rohan My address is: $4.95 pbk. Eilishe Cahaleen Deirdre Flynn, otherwise known as WOMEN OF THE SUN Lisha, is Australian by birth, Send to Broadsheet. PO Box 5799 Wellesley Street, Auckland, or. Hyllus Maris and Sonia but Liverpool Irish in every call at 43 Anzac Avenue between 9 - 5 Weekdays, 10- I Saturdays. Borg other respect. Raised by her Phone 794-751 for other orders or enquiries. This quartet of stories speaks grandmother, she grows up in Broadsheet, June 1985 37 .VST'.*,

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Te Aroha McDowell wrote in the April issue about the progress'of the Maori women’s secretariat of the w om en’s ministry. Maori women submissions calling for the •>. >' :*:v- ., • secretariat were stimulated by [.* meetings in 1984 betw een Te Wz" ’ ^'*'/ . • jj * '* \ } y l Aroha,a 8iSi<#aMira CSzaszyv m o y u nriHand DinpknRipeka ^ i m • •* # % • r . , /%• • Evans and the Human Rights ' ^ Commission. Here she describes . r:/ - vV. M ’r the experience.

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38 Broadsheet, June 1985 The last bastion for every culture's account of Maori women. kenist role for influencing policy self-interest is its judiciary and Otherwise we are cast adrift from making. Although they are theoreti­ legislature. We had to look at the our natural environ Papatuanuku, cally apolitical, national Maori Human Rights Commission (HRC) and we assume the ephemeral groups cannot possibly be apoliti­ and the Race Relations Office, substance and colour of smoky air. cal in a two-party state. Like Pacific although we knew that Maori To assert our rights as a distinct Islanders who have been left far be­ challenges to these organisations people means creating a vigorous hind, still in love with the church, could be time wasting and vehicle or forum in which to claim, Maori groups have been held back ineffectual. Our short experience dispute, negotiate and express that by their love for particular political with them was like happening on a best; something outside the parties. Both ultimately promise us shoe sale with only two pairs of playing fields of pakeha courts. nothing. We are socialised into ac­ shoes for sale. One brand is “human Marae-atea provided that cultural cepting and padding their politi­ rights” and the other “race forum for us to kick up the dust of cal system, but when we appear relations”. They only come in one dispute, bargaining and social not to service their needs, we get left size which is not ours. fulfillment. But marae have been behind like the baby outside the A lack of positive initiatives from tokenised in the colonisers’ minds, shop. the Race Relations Office on the and discredited as a proper formal This country forgets that we are status and oppression of Maori venue for the serious business of bicultural creatures and our view of women does not advance its government or judgement. Not life is coloured by that. Religion, cause or ours, and its appraisal of marriage, sovereignty, nation, cul­ the climate of indigenous opinion In debate about women’s ture, family, love and hospitality all and assertiveness already on have more than one cultural mean­ record is out of step. I doubted that speaking rights, the bad ing in our lives, not adequately ex­ Race Relations would take any examples given are in­ pressed or fulfilled by pakeha lifes­ initiatives unless we were madly tyle, pakeha feminism or pakeha keen on rugby or South Africa, or variably Maori ones. political ideology. Each of these were, like the conciliator, “into the subjects has its own history, includ­ business of conciliation”. surprisingly, protests and struggles ing dam age by white Christian mor­ Mira Szaszy said in a 1983 speech for power happen on golf courses, ality. Each needs a discussion on the status of Maori women that bridges and streets, the only the Human Rights Commission Act domain left us in pakeha law in was inadequate in that it only which to clamour and squeak our Our integrity is embroiled defined human rights in its widest integrity. sense. Although quite powerful, that There have been growing in that of our men— we do premise ignores already existing rumblings in established Maori not have their choice of power imbalances. Not specifying women’s organisations about our burdens. the actual existence and rights of lack of national and internatioinal the indigenous minority women, the status. For several years, respected first occupants of this country, Maori women have had to paper of its own, reinterpreted by effectively made at least fifty accompany pakeha women’s Maori women from our essential delegations to international forums, analysis in the order of oppression. The UN Convention on always in the minority, only to be Unravelling that from a deeply in­ reminded of their secondary culcated colonised frame of mind Women is of no use unless associate status to “parent bodies”! is a complex task in itself. it can be used as a tool by Sometimes they are even directed I did not fully understand Maori to condense their speeches into a women’s legal, political and those at the bottom. pakeha women’s speech in their philosophical non-existance in this hotel room, as happened in Japan country until Mira Szaszy, Ripeka percent of the Maori population recently. An acquaintance talked Evans and I sat in on the HRC review non-existent. When we assert our about once being ostracised at an committee’s discussion of the com­ experience, monoculture says that international conference for daring mission’s paper on the United Na­ human rights is about the rights of to say that Maori women may have tions Convention for the Elimination all women, irrespective of race, an opposite view to that given by of Discrimination against Women. creed or colour, and that to claim pakeha women. We share a similar This convention, born out of the the greater rights of one group over plight to indigenous women of struggles of women at the bottom, another is to show the same Japan, Hawaii, Australia, French has become a tool of privilege. discrimination being complained Polynesia, Canada and America. Monoculture is a parasite, and a of. Several Maori women give true parasite never loses its host. But before we started looking at, accounts of being asked to gather Monoculture resists the struggle for the convention, the greater rights of' data and findings for pakeha liberation, and co-opts when the the white majority in Aotearoa have women urgently scratching struggle begins to fail. been claimed overours. We wantto together some original indigenous The convention has been edited be liberated before we are material for their special overseas by monocultural hands. In possessed. But white women want conference. Aotearoa, in the hands of the to standardise and make us Pakeha central policy making pakeha, its original principles may conform with all women. If they do places national Maori organisa­ still have the same form, words and that, our very essence, our tions like Maori Women’s Welfare sense, but their liberation meaning difference, turns grey and League and the New Zealand will not reach Maori women who insignificant. We need a historical Maori Council squarely in a to- are closest to the women at the bot-

Broadsheet, June 1985 39 tom who originated them. The pro­ the white man and his Christianity. ceptions as indigenous women cess of empowering can only hap­ Do something about that, and we have again been subsumed in the pen from the bottom and the con­ may be able to do something tussle over the convention between vention is of no use unless it can be about the other cultural inequities radical white feminists and fun­ used as a tool by those at the bot­ that took their lead from that white damentalist Christian white women. tom. Christianity.) Among the latter, Maori women Debating with the pakeha It does not help having ap­ have figured more deliberately as women on the HRC review commit­ pointed commissioners who are front line lobbyists. I was interested tee, who were obviously familiar white women from traditional rural to see one Maori woman marching with the lingo and worked-over occupational backgrounds. How on parliament wearing a taniko en­ phrases of international conven­ can they convey Maori women’s in­ semble and wondered what that tions, reflected Maori women’s gen­ itiatives, which will question what meant and who put her up to it. eral lack of informed involvement they themselves did? It does not Does fundamentlist Christianity in international conventions. There help having them preside over our align culturally with even a scrap of are a handful of individual Maori activities and initiatives. We must Maori? Someone is trying to imply women who are involved but that is have Maori women commissioners that. because of their separate occupa­ appointed. The Human Rights and Race Re­ tions, not because we enjoy man­ lations Commissions are not at the date status in our own right as indi­ cutting edge of political decision genous women of this country. This making, but they do have a lot of af­ is an imperative for Maori women firmative power over public at­ for legislation. titudes, education, men’s minds I was not bothered about being and the respectability machine. In inadequately briefed for that educating public attitudes, they lengthy exercise. It was an in-crowd help to advance research and with the Maori women in a minority. theory, legitimate what the ostra­ It probably helped that my mind cised say, rewrite monocultural his­ was free of the introversion so obvi­ tory, and help in job creation. But ous in the discussion paper. The their professed impartiality slows central issues in my view were down this work and does not help to clearly our non-existence for a start, confront our collective reality. no originating history of each arti­ Why Maori women are regarded cle, monocultural definitions of so­ Te Aroha McDowell as a fearsome force is probably be­ cial institutions and conventions, The discussion paper did not cause we do not fall within predict­ monocultural interpretations of the point out, as I think it should, that its able prescribed boundaries. Our contentious issues and values inhe­ interpretation is still monocultural.. own boundaries move with us and rent in them, and monocultural When this is so, I do not think such are often indefinable. Instituting commentary all round. There was papers can be thoroughly discus­ somethings will not get rid of our as­ some unease about our presence. sed by Maori women until they sertions. Monoculture’s co-opting There was a debate in the review have been reinterpreted point by mechanisms have serious committee about a passage in the point, sentence by sentence, and shortcomings. They depend on discussion paper on women’s social institution. We have inherited satisfying individual self interest, not speaking rights. The bad examples the dilemma already raised at UN on achieving autonomy of the op­ given are invariably Maori ones. For level and reflected by their pressed. example, Maori women not being paralysed forums. They have not With an assumption of impartial­ permitted to speak on a marae in dealt with or have left unclear the ity, the language of the two com­ certain tribes. That angered me as I status and rights of indigenous missions could not hope to be radi­ could see the parasite at work minorities. The UN is the biggest cal or empowering, or even aware again. The question of whether or monocultural parasite of them all. at times. It is noticeable that social not the convention could be en­ So we are paralyzed because it is, policy research is increasingly forced to equalise Maori cultural and because no one will allow us using politicising and critical ter­ practice takes attention away from to define ourselves. minology, and not soon enough which colour of man prescribes this The discussion with the HRC com­ too. Terms like “the domestication of hierarchy as it is. A better example mittee left us disoriented, angry and Maori culture”, “the death of white to use would have been pakeha belittled. We felt we had to chal­ sociology ’ and “the ‘germ theory’ parliament. At least Maori women lenge the commission about what of disease-minded monoculture” can attend our parliaments when that exercise said to us and what are necessary to illuminate and de- they are in session. How Maori we felt about its role. colonise the language of colonisa­ women resolve speaking rights is a The three of us met Kate Birch, tion. Monocultural language has complex issue, which is not eased senior executive officer, and out­ always stated only its reality and its by pakeha women playing mis­ lined our feelings about being no­ agenda. chief with our concerns, destroying thing in this land of our birth. The Maori women must invest in the ' us in the guise of attacking our men. commission has laundered the best social structures for our aims. Our integrity is embroiled in that of convention’s language for New The connotations and traditions of our men — we do not have the Zealand’s monoculture. When and “Human rights” in Aotearoa are so choice of burdens. how would we ever become? Here monocultural that we should con­ (Another example of a removal of she was from England interpreting sider changing the HRC’s name speaking rights is the giving away our future for us. and function to an Indigenous of a bride by her father. It came with Our status, priority rights and per­ Rights Commission.□ 40 Broadsheet, June 1985 WHAT'S Massage — An introduction to seminars will be held at the Centre, 41a Willis St, Wel­ various methods of massage YWCA coffee lounge in Pow- lington. To pool information, NEW? which can be used to alleviate derham Street. For more in­ exchange ideas, get support the aches and tension experi­ formation phone Diana for actions and campaigns of WORKSHOPS enced in everyday life. Please Dickson 84957. all kinds, and generally to keep MEETINGS bring one small and one large WOMENS NATIONAL in touch with what is happen­ COURSES towel. ABORTION ACTION ing for women in Wellington. Woodworking — Part 1: A CAMPAIGN (WONAAC) Contact: Diana Crossan, 758- AUCKLAND W ORKERS’ three day workshop in basic PO Box 2669, Wellington. 402, home, or Alison Sutton EDUCATIONAL carpentry. Assumes no prior Meets fortnightly on Wednes­ 728-798 work. ASSOCIATION knowledge of tools, woods or days at 8pm. Phone Di Wgtn Women’s Studies Associa­ techniques. Venue: Technical 861 -857 or Helen 848-541 for tion, Wellington branch, next Making Changes — Self Block, Secondary Teachers dates and venue. Copies of meeting Monday 10 June, Esteem and Assertion for College, 52 Epsom Ave, their latest poster advertising 7.30pm, Rm 210, Von Zedlitz Lesbians — eight week even­ Epsom. (NO T main entr­ condoms as protection Bldg, University. Contacts: ing course. Starts Tuesday ance.) June 22 and 29, Julu 6. against AIDS, cervical cancer, Patricia Maunier, 720-367 June 4 — 7.30pm — 9.30pm. Herbs — A full day for women chlamydia, gonorrhoea, work) or Anne Else (759-958, Report on Cuba and wanting to know more about syphilis and pregnancy are av­ home). Nicaragua — a one-off even­ herbs and their many uses. ailable for $1 plus postage Women Against Pornog­ ing seminar and discussion Covers identification, culinary from their box number. raphy, Box 475, Wellington, facilitated by three people who uses, healing remedies and NEW ZEALAND phone 893-038, meet every have recently been to Cuba gifts. June 29. FEDERATION OF 2nd Wednesday, Newtown and Nicaragua. Thursday For more information ring UNIVERSITY WOMEN (INC) Community Health Centre. June 6 at 7.30pm. YWCA Phone 778-763 — The North Shore Branch March Against Pornography, Maori Language (Inter­ meets every 3rd Tuesday at Wellington, 7 June Assemble mediate) — An eight week UNIVERSITY OF AUCK­ 7.30pm, and fortnightly on Civic Square, 7pm to express daytime course — starts W ed­ LAND CONTINUING EDU­ Thursday mornings. For de­ concern at the increasing inci­ nesday June 12, 9.30am — CATION COURSES tails phone 496-685 Auck­ dence of violence against 11.30am. Justice and Society Courses land. women and children caused Public and Effective Speaking Justice and the Young Offen­ YWCA Box 9563 Wellington. by pornography and to deman a five week course — starts der — A nine week course Two weeks of “very introduc­ that the government take ac­ Monday June 10. commencing Wednesday tory” computer courses in tion. Women and Health an eight June 5 June: 4th — 5th Women in Women Against Rugby. Reg­ week daytime course held at Welfare Law — Saturday Voluntary Agencies and Mixed ular house meetings for action Highbury House, Birkenhead. seminar July 27 Group: 6th — 7thj Working to stop the tour. Contacts: Alli­ Phone 485-279 for more in­ Uses in stress in Personal and Women and Women at Home; son Webber 849-307, Dinah formation. Starts Wednesday Work situations — Friday 12th — 14th Mothers with Priestley, 727-275. PO Box June 12 10am — 12 noon. June 7 and Saturday June 8 Small Children (free creche). 28097, Wellington. The above courses unless Using the System: An insid­ All these $20 per person for 6 Women’s Studies Associa­ otherwise noted are held at ers guide to Parliamentary hours. 10th — 11th Un­ tion Annual Conference, WEA, 21 Princes St. Auckland. Process, with Marilyn Waring. employed Women (enquire “Feminism, Racism and and Phone 732-030. Saturday June 8 for subsidy); plus 10th— 13th Heterosexism in Aotearoa”, Administration and Manage­ “Serious Computers for August 23 — 25, Hamilton AUCKLAND YWCA ment in Voluntary Groups — Women” $80. 10th — 11th Girls’ High School, $35 for Car Mechanics Theory and Friday June 28 and Saturday Retired People $20. Also com ­ waged women; $25 for un­ Practical — June 8 — 9 June 29 puter classes for children. En­ waged. Includes meals and Photography A practical work­ quiries: Clare Jensen, YWCA morning and afternoon teas. shop for women who would SEXUAL ABUSE OF Programme Officer, 850-505 Write for enrolment form to like to learn more about the WOMEN AND CHILDREN Note: All sorts of other classes WSA Conference, PO Box 13- workings of a camera and how COMMUNITY SEMINARS — for women begin in June. 027 Hamilton by July 30. to improve their photographic Wednesdays June 5. Two ses­ Society for Research on Australian Pacific Women’s skills. June 8. sions from 10am — 12 noon Women, PO Box 13078 Peace Conference, WILPF, Computers -— How to make and 7.30 — 9.30pm (repeat) Johnsonville, Wellington. 28-30 June, YWCA Confer­ the best use of computers and Why are Women and children Phone 650-878. AGM Friday ence Centre, 5-11 Wentworth related technology, exploring the victims of sexual abuse? 14 June, 192 Tinakori Road Ave, Dalinghurst, Sydney a keyboard and package de­ Wednesday June 12,10am — 7.30pm. Allison Webber will NSW 2000, Australia. For info monstrations. June 15. 12 noon and 7.30 — 9.30pm. speak on Women Against write to Gillian Fisher, Rm 301, Home Handywomen An op­ Incest. What is it and why does Rugby at 8.15pm. (see 3rd floor. 156 Castlereagh St, portunity to learn some basic it happen? Women Against Rugby Sydney, NSW 2000, Tel: (02) maintenance skills, including Wednesday June 19,10am — notice). 267-1105. changing fuses, tap washers 12 noon and 7.30pm — Wellington Women’s Health and door locks, preparation 9.30pm. Children and Sexual Group in process of being set for and painting, hanging Safety. How to talk to your chil­ up: 1st floor, Newport Cham­ Coming shelves and doors. June 15. dren about sexual abuse. bers, 50 Courtenay Place, Wel­ The Minehan Report,the first Lawn Mower Repairs 2 stroke) Wednesday June 26,10am — lington, access: good. all-woman Radio New Zealand — A practical workshop held 12 noon and 7.30 — 9.30pm. For further information con­ show. Mike Minehan hosts this at Myra’s Richmond Mower Sexual Abuse and the Law. tact Gill Stannard, 851-909 show which focuses on and Garden Centre, for How to report rape and incest. work, 845-074 home. women's issues. Hear it on women wanting to do minor Wednesday July 3, 10am — Women’s Support for Action 3ZB Christchurch on Fridays repairs and maintenance of 12 noon and 7.30 — 9.30pm. Group. Meets last Thursday of after the 10.00am and 8.00pm their motor mowers. Starts The prevention of sexual each month, 7.30pm, at news. 1 pm at 479 Richmond Rd. abuse in the community. All Pacific Island Resource Conit. on p. 48 Broadsheet 41 AUCKLAND (11am — 8.30pm Mon — Fri) Women’s Refuge PO Box 8044, Southland Women’s Support ACWAR (Action Council for Women’s Health Collective 63 Ph 771-728 Group PO Box 676 CPO, Ph 82- W om en’s Abortion Rights) PO Ponsonby Rd, Ph 764-506 Women’s Resource Centre Rm 710 Box 1236 CPO Women’s Political Party PO Box 10 Regent Chambers, Octagon, 2 S O S PO Box 676, CPO, Ph 86- ALRANZ PO Box 33-135 6608, Wellesley St, Ak 1 — 5pm Weds, (books, space, cof­ 648 Takapuna Women’s Studies Asson (NZ) fee). Broadsheet Magazine 43 Anzac PO Box 5067, Ak 1 LOWER HUTT Ave Ph 794-751 Working Women’s Council PO GISBORNE Women’s Refuge PO Box 31-073, Broadsheet Bookshop 485 Box 68-480, Newton Lesbian Support Group PO Box Ph 727-072 (24 hrs) or 689-325 Karangahape Rd, Ph 398-895 Working Women’s Resource 1398 (Office at Community House) Mailing address for both: PO Box Centre TUC, 156 Great North Rd, Rape Crisis Centre PO Box 1398, 5799. Wellesley St A k l Grey Lynn, Ph 762-156 Ph 83-857 MARLBOROUGH/ CSMC (Council for the Single Women’s Centre PO Box 1398, BLENHEIM Mother and her Child) PO Box 47- BAY OF ISLANDS Ph 76-247 NO W and S O S PO Box 607, 090, Ponsonby Ph 760-476 WEL c/- Ellen Altschuler, Waimate Women’s Refuge PO Box 1398, Blenheim Dyke News POBox 1236, Auck­ Nth Rd, RD 3 Kerikeri Ph 81-788 Women’s Emergency Refuge PO land Box 699, Blenheim, Ph 84-099 Family Planning Association Na­ CHRISTCHURCH HAMILTON tional Office: PO Box 68-200 ALRANZ PO Box 13-129, Ar­ Maori Women’s Centre PO Box MASTERTON CPO; Education Unit: 214 Karan­ magh St 1560, Hamilton WEL PO Box 201 GPO, Penny gahape Rd, Ph 796-182 Battered Women’s Support Rape Crisis PO Box 1560, GPO, Bunny, Ph 88-835 Federation of University women, Group PO Box 2720, CPO Ph 80055 (6pm — 6am) North Shore Branch, c/- Beverley Canterbury Regional Women’s S O S 155 Galloway St, Ph 65-474 NAPIER/HASTINGS Turner, 23 Sydney St, Takapuna Decade Committee PO Box 237, Waikato Women in Education Re­ Hastings Women’s Emergency Ph 496-685 CPO becca Judd, PO Box 13027 GPO Centre, PO Box 328 Feminists for the Environment c/- Coalition Against Violence on WEL PO Box 9581 Hamilton Hawkes Bay Gay Socy PO Box Women Penny Owen, PO Box Kathleen Ryan Ph 868-399 North 138 Napier Feminist Lawyers (nationwide)c/- 884, Ph 794-491 Women’s Centre PO Box 7025, Napier Women’s Emergency Linda Kaye, Ph 688-139 Incest Survivors Gp c/- 11 Car­ Subway Shops, Claudelands Centre PO Box 676, Ph 436-515 Feminist Teachers PO Box 47- rington St, St Albans Bridge S O S 28 Bristol st, Napier, Ph 438- 095 Ponsonby Kate Sheppard Women’s Book­ Women’s Studies Resource 484, 600 Gordon St, Hastings, Ph Fertility Action c/- 21 Albany Rd, shop 202A High St Centre University of Waikato 68-642 Herne Bay Lesbian Line PO Box 21-069, Ph Working Women’s Council c/- WEL 10 Bay View Rd, Napier Halfway House PO Box 78-016, 794-796 Thurs 7.30 — 10.30pm Barbara Ware, PO Box 80 GPO, Grey Lynn, Ph 767-635 Lesbian Support Group meets at (national office, PO BNox 14-042 NELSON/MOT UEKA/ HELP Counselling for Victims of THAW, Peterborough Arts Centre, Enderley) Sexual Assault, PO Box 68-165, Tues 7.3pm GOLDEN BAY Newton Ph 399-185 NO W PO box 2720, Ph 881-030 ALRANZ PO Box 476, Nelson HOKIANGA Lesbian Support Group meets Indian Women’s Support Group Patients Rights Group PO Box WEL PO Box 55, Opononi Ph Jesvier Singh 546-633 884, Ch’ch Tuesdays, 7.30pm Women’s Centre ISIS (International Feminist Net­ Rape Crisis Collective PO Box 25- HUNTLY work) 663B Te Atatu Rd, Ph 834- Nelson Women’s Emergency 167, Ph 794-793 Women’s Group c/- Judy Wilson, S O S PO Box 884, Ph 796-970 Centre PO Box 832, Ph (Lifeline) 6629 Rover Road Jigsaw PO Box 28-037 Remuera Self Defence Teachers Sarah 87-566 Nelson Women’s Centre and Ph 543-460 Taylor, PO Box 13-538; Lynda INVERCARGILL Morgan, 11 Carrington St, St Al­ Rape Crisis 320 Hardy St, Ph 82- Lesbian Support Group 7pm Gayline Ph 66-243 Mondays, Ph 888-325 bans; or contact YWCA 407 Onekaka Feminist Front Lesbian Social Group PO Box 44- THAW (The Health Alternative for c/- Liz Thomas, Washboum Rd, RD 2, 167, Pt Chevalier W omen inc. SO S) Cnr Peter­ Maternity Action Group, c/- 24 borough and Montreal Sts, Ph Takaka Rape Crisis Ashton Rd, Mt Eden 796-970, PO Box 884, CPO Moteuka Ph 89-045; Golden Bay Ph 58-099; Murchi­ Mediawomen PO Box 6860, CPO University Women’s Group Stu­ 794-179 dent Union Building, Private Bag son Ph 390 New Women’s Press PO Box WEL C/- Paddy Austin, 867 Main WEL PO Box 145, Motueka c/- 5294, Wellesley St, Ak 1 Ph 768- Nth Rd, Belfast Kate Light Ph 89-482 WIN (Newsletter of the women’s 978 Women’s Decade Festival PO movement in Nelson) c/- Com­ Papakura Women’s Support B ox21-l 10, Ph 63-063 Centre 12 Dominion Rd, Papak­ Women’s Refuge Centre PO Box munity Education, 324 Hardy St ura Ph 299-9466 7299, Ph 69-187 Rape Crisis Centre 63 Ponsonby Women’s Union PO Box 2258, NEW PLYMOUTH Rd, Ph 764-404 CPO WEL c/- Vicki Dungan, 112 Self Defence Teachers d - YWCA W ONAAC 154 Columbo St, Ph Pioneer Rd, Ph 510-869 (night) Snapdragon Women’s Bookshop 33-254 Women’s Centre 66 Brougham 256 Jervois Rd, Herne Bay Ph St, Ph 84-957 768-978 DUNEDIN Taranaki Women’s Refuge and South Auckland Family Refuge ALRANZ PO Box 1289 GPO Rape Crisis contact Women’s PO Box 22-036 Otahuhu, Ph 276- Community Childcare Centre 86 Centre Elm Row, Ph 770-950 8868 OAMARU Supportline (for abused women) Family Day Care Centre 76 Rus­ Women’s Group Philma Ann PO Box 6450, Wellesley St Ph sell St, Ph 777-926 Philips, FI 3/10 Mersey St 396-167 Collective for Women PO Box Te Hauora Mo Te Rangatahi 70 446, GPO Anzac Ave, Ak 1 Ph 399-126 Lesbian Drop-in 7.30 every first PALMERSTON NORTH/ WEL c/- national co-ordinator, Mon of month, WRC, Rm 10 Re­ MANAWATU Dorothy Wilson, 44 Castleford St, gent Chambers, Octagon ALRANZ PO Box 639, CPO Auck7,Ph 817-4571 Lesbian Line Ph 778-765 (Mon Rape Crisis Centre 165B Broad­ West Auckland Women’s Centre 7.30— 10pm) way Ave, PO Box 637, Ph 76-805 111 McLeod Rd, Henderson, Ph LMDG (Lesbian Mother’s Defence Women’s Health Collective Old 836-2470 — support group for lesbian Firestation, Cuba St, Ph 70-314 West Auckland Women’s Refuge women). PO Box 11-009 Mussel­ Mail to 11 Glasgow St PO Box 45-063, Ph 836-4419 burgh Women’s Refuge PO Box 573, Ph (10am — 4pm), 836-9099 (after Rape Crisis Centre Rm 6 Regent 72-057 hours) Chambers, Octagon, PO Box Womyn’s Resource Centre PO Womanline (Telephone listening, 5424 GPO, Ph 741-592 Box 4253, 165B Broadway Ave, information and referral service) S O S Knowhow PO Box 446, Ph Ph 774-26 Open Mon — Fri, 63 Ponsonby Rd Ph 765-173 775-502 or 36-284 (after hrs.) 10am — 3pm 42 Broadsheet, June 1985 ROTORtlA/TACJPO PO Box 53-055 Ph 376-135 CPO Women’s Support Group 38 Rus­ S O S 8 Taupo View Rd, Taupo Rape Crisis Centre PO Box 11 - Women for Peace PO Box 9314 sell St WEL c/- Susan Chrisp, 90 Inver- 389 CPO, Ph 898-288 Wtn, Contact Celia Lampe, Ph garry Rd, Taupo Societv for Research on Women 758- 063 after hours WHAKATANE Women’s Refuge PO Box 1652, in NZ (SROW) PO Box 13-078 Women’s Refuge Group PO Box S O S Ph 24-757 Rotorua, Ph 476-210 Johnsonville 16-079 Courtenay Place, Ph 736- Women’s Collective PO Box S O S PO Box 28-099 280 Ohope, or PO Box 453 Opotiki Ph TAURANGA Spiral PO Box 9600 Women’s Support for Action 85-355 NZ Women’s Health Network The Women’s Place (feminist Group d - Diana Crossan Ph 758- Newsletter c/- Sarah Calvert, PO bookshop) 289 Cuba St, PO Box 402 and Alison Sutton 728-798 WHANGAREI Box 2312 19-086, Ph 851-802 office hours. Meets last Thurs of NOW and WEL PO Box 4294, Rape Crisis PO Box 368 Values Women’s Network Ph each month Kamo Tautoko Wahine c/- Orewa Ohia, 797-611 Women’s Studies Assn Wtn Rape Crisis Group 43 Bank St, 109c Maungatapu Rd WEL PO Box 11-285, CPO; PO Branch PO Box 5043, Wtn Con­ POBox 913 Ph 71-812 (office) or Women’s Centre PO Box 368, 42 Box 1491 Paraparaumu Beach tact Penny Fenwick Ph 727-666 71-537 (crisis) Grey St (Govt Life Bldg) Ph 83- Wellington Women’s Health office hourse or Anne Else Ph 530 Group 1st fl. Newport Chambers, 759- 958 after hours ADDITIONS AND ALTERA­ Women’s Refuge PO Box 753, Ph 50 Courtenay PI d - Gill Stannard Women’s Action Committee NZ TIONS 84-012 Ph 851-909 (w) 845-074 (h) Students Assn, PO Box 9047, This directory is published irregu­ Women Against Pornography 28 Courtenay PI, Ph 856-669 larly. It is important to keep it up­ TE AWAMUTU/THAMES Hanson St, Newtown PO Box 475, WOMNAAC PO Box 2669, CPO dated, and we cannot check ad­ Te Awamutu Feminists c/- Carol Wtn Ph 893-038 Meets every sec­ YWCA recreation Officer, Ph 850- dresses and details, so please ad­ Lamb, 111 Hazelmere Cres, Ph ond Wed 7.30pm 505 vise us of any changes. Thankyou 4485; c/- June Bright, 20 Women against the Sexual to those women and groups who Thorncombe Rd, Ph 5901 Abuse of Children PO Box 3260, WESTPORT sent in corrections. Thames Women’s Refuge Centre PO Box 93, Ph 89-830 (24 hrs)

UPPER HUTT Family Refuge Centre PO Box 40- OS 1, Ph 257-997

TIMARU Aorangi Women’s Health Centre PO Box 783 THE 1985 BNZ Lesbianline Ph 84-409, Thurs 7 — 10pm WRITERS AWARDS WAIRARAPA Women in Agriculture and Affir­ ★ BNZ Katherine Mansfield mative Action d - Danna Glen- dinning, Box 45, Martinborough Award

WANGANUI 1st $1,000 2nd $500 Women’s Network 76a Koromiko ★ BNZ Novice Writers’ Rd W ONAAC 56 Parsons St, Ph 42- Award 291,44-939 $500 WELLINGTON ★ BNZ Young Writers’ Access Radio 783 khz, Woman Zone. Sundays 10am Lesbian Award programme, Sundays 11am $300 Contact the collective via Access office at Radio NZ, Ph 721-777 ACWA (Advisory Committee on Women’s Affairs) State Services Commission, Private Bag, 3rd FI, National Provident Fund Bldg, 1 The Terrace, Ph 722-834 ALRANZ PO Box 19-052, Ph 758- 450 Circle Magazine PO Box 427 Federation of University Women PO Box 2006, CPO Fertility Action PO Box 5043 Wtn Hine Tu Kaha iris Roberts, FI 2,12 Dorset Way, Mairangi Lesbian Line Ph 898-082, Tues — Thurs 7 — 10, PO Box 427 Lesbian Club contact Lesbian Line Kidsarus 2 PO Box 9600 Ministry of Women’s Affairs see ACWA Entries and all correspondence should he addressed to: Non-Sexist Resource Group Bank ot New Zealand Writers' Awards. (feminist teachers working in the (7- New Zealand Women Writers' Society Inc.. Wtn region)PO Box 300, Wtn Ph PO Box 11352. Manners Street. Wellington. Raygun Macdonald 846-421 after hours NZ Working Women’s Council PO Box 27-215 H Porirua Women’s Health Group Bank of New Zealand 215 Bedford St, Cannons Creek,

Broadsheet, June 1985 43 strokes and art attacks

EARTHQUAKE TOWN,____ woman picked up by the police for being drunk and dis­ Dunlop, Beverley, orderly, is not a tour protestor. Hodder and Stoughton Ellen Hama has been propel­ 1984 $13.95 led to protest because of her vague desire to make the Dunlop has based the events world a safer place for women of her story on the 1931 and children. White dyke Napier Earthquake, the worst Cindy says she is trying to de­ earthquake in New Zealand’s stroy her own culture, or the history. male part of it at least, as rep­ She transfers the earthquake resented by her rugby-playing to an imaginary North Island brothers. Emma, a committed town, Clifton, on the 13th Feb­ activist, is an obvious target for ruary, 1984. The narrator of police. The mysterious Fraser the story is 13 year old Megan, tells them she was merely in who has 2 parents, rather un­ the wrong place at the wrong usual in teenage stories these time. days, and a brother called Once Ellen and Emma’s Don. Her family has offered a close childhood friendship is temporary home to Lilian and explained by flashback, it is Cecil, children of a widow gradually revealed how their (friend of Megan’s mother) relationship has been torn who are not much liked by apart by their different view­ Don and Megan. Megan’s best points on the tour. Emma sees friend is Kit Foster, who wears a parallel between the oppres­ glasses and is bright at school. sion of the South African The book narrates the day blacks and the Maori situation; of the earthquake from the act of protest becomes a 7.30am when the children are matter of Black Pride to her. getting ready for school, Whilst Ellen recoils horrified through the earthquake itself from the violence at Hamilton, at 9.00am, the collapse of the to Emma the victory (of stop­ school, the rush of people to ping the game) is more impor­ the beach, the tidal wave, the tant than the pain suffered. children’s escape, fires in the The tour issue is like an ear­ town, the discovery of a secret thquake, creating cracks in the in an old house and final reun­ status quo that cannot be ion with the children’s parents healed. at 7.30pm in the evening. Groundwork raises many is­ The description of these sues vitally relevant in this dramatic events is vivid, the country, most persuasively dialogue satisfactory and the perhaps the idea of the impor­ narrative exciting. Naturally in tance of tupuna, which pro­ a book of this type there isn’t comment on and give GROUND WORK vides soul and security time for character develop­ by Renee perspective to the action. The amongst the chaos of ment. It is a straight-forward, New Independent play is concerned with re­ ‘civilised’ life. The songs and unpretentious tale which Theatre: lationships between w om en- war chants provided by the un­ reads well. The cover is col­ director, Hester Joyce mother and daughter, close seen (and frequently sinister) ourful and eye-catching. design, John Verryt friends, protestors, and cell chorus have strong, if differ­ This is Dunlop's third book Working Title Theatre mates. Out of the noise and ing, connotations for everyone for the early teenage market Players:______frustration of the act of protest both in the play and watching and like the second, The and the condition of imprison­ it; this is New Zealand history, Poetry Girl, has a girl as the Patupatu Ripley, ment erupt intimate life stories Joanna Paul, about to be re-enacted off the central character. Megan is a and painful memories. Other stage at this very moment. resourceful, practical girl who Dawn Underwood, women intrude; Ellen’s Judith Gibson, Working Title Theatre come copes well with danger and mother, her mother’s nanny up with strong, convincing disaster. Stephanie Johnson and Trudi’s dead daughter are performances, and if the It is good to see the increas­ recalled and dismissed, polemic is laid on a little too ing number of New Zealand The bellowed commands and stretching the scope of the cell thick at the end of the play, the written books for children and ringing anthems of the 1981 confines. message is thought-provok­ teenagers. This book would Springbok tour resound Five women sit in two diffe­ ing and well communicated.□ appeal to readers of 10 to 14, through Groundwork, the rent cells, on the Saturday of boys and girls. □ sinister chant of Move return­ the last match in the 1981 Paula Morris Helen Watson ing, like a Greek chorus, to tour. Only one, Trudi, an older

44 Broadsheet, June 1985 The video begins with a FROM MENSTRUATION TO group of lesbians talking about the problems of BROADCASTING heterosexism - the presump­ Margaret Sheffield is a BBC tion that heterosexuality is the broadcaster and the author of cultural norm - they also speak a series of sex education about when they first recog- books. DIANE PERCY talked nised/chose their own les­ to her when she recently vis­ bianism: “It feels like coming ited New Zealand. home, not coming out....” Margaret Sheffield was re­ The second section deals cently back in New Zealand specifically with lesbian after many years living and mothers and the problems working in London to arrange they face with custody battles, for the launching of the third in and hassles with judges and her series of books on sex ex-husbands trying to interfere education. Her work in Lon­ in their personal lives. The don has been mainly with the children of lesbian mothers BBC, in the field of education. talk about their feelings about Menstruation is the title of lesbianism, what they think of this latest book. Aimed at pre­ c their mum's lover, and how menstrual girls, it will aim to their school friends react to it present the subject clearly and C all! accurately, while deliberately The video also show lesbian avoiding the diagrammatic- Top: Dawn Underwood and Joanna Paul in Groundwork. women learning self-defence, biological approach of so which as one woman said is much sex-education litera­ “just another part of gaining ture. Judging by her previous control in my life.” books, Where Do Babies A black lesbian woman talks Come From and Before You about the triple oppression Were Born, both also pro­ she faces, but as the video pro­ duced in collaboration with il­ ducers themselves have lustrator Sheila Bewley, Mar­ acknowledged, the video is garet Sheffield’s introduction primarily focused on white to menstruation should be at­ middle class women. tractive, human, non­ What this video wants to threatening, positive and good show is all the positive things it to look at. Margaret feels means to be a lesbian, despite strongly that, for far too long, all the hassles, prejudices and the subject has been treated shit people heap on us. as secret, dirty and embarras­ So what does lesbianism sing — she was shocked to mean to us? In Jess Hawk see in a public lavatory in Au­ Oakenstar’s final words, “It’s ckland the disposal can for amazing”. sanitary towels trademarked The video is available for RENTOKILL! as if the whole Above: Hest er Joyce,Renee, respectively director & author of viewing by groups/organisa- thing was something filthy. Groundwork tions. It costs $50 to buy or She wants, through her work, $15 (negotiable) to hire. Write to make it plain to absolutely ing work — with interviews, LESBIANS: AS WE SEE to Debbie Moran, 61 Sel- everybody especially young Circe, a lesbian softball team bourne St, Grey Lynn, Auck­ girls, that menstruation is ab­ OURSELVES in action, together with music land 2. solutely universal. She would A VHS colour video from Freudian Slips, Maxine K. Thompson like every young girl to under- made in Auckland by the Feldman and the Topp Twins. Circe lesbian feminist soccer team. lesbian community The video is particularly aimed at straight women, “1 thought that Lesbians were showing that what lesbianism these people that lived in means is giving women pri­ Europe” — one lesbian recal­ macy in your life - emotionally, ling her former thoughts on sexually, personally, socially lesbians. and politically. Being a dyke is Prior to 1984, no film or not just a bedroom issue. video was available in New Women talk about com ­ Zealand made by or about mon reactions when they’re lesbian women. Early last up front about their lesbianism year some of the Auckland - “Saying you’re a lesbian is lesbian community began like you’ve just farted in pub­ work on this video. Fifty mi­ lic!’’ Usually there’s a long un­ nutes long, Lesbians: As We comfortable silence, and then See Ourselves is a wide-rang­ the subject’s politely changed.

Broadsheet, June 1985 45 stand, before it happens to women from all over the her, that it happened to her Pacific. While these courses mother, her grandmother, dealt mainly with techniques, back through history, and it she felt the main issue of the happens here and now to course was politicising every woman, everywhere. women, encouraging them to Margaret Sheffield feels very make programmes about strongly that sex education women in real-life situations, should be an integral part of and to analyse the politics be­ the educational process, a hind their work; to use their ac­ natural and normal part of cess to the media as a tool to growing up. Children have the consciousness-raising. right to know. The reticence of It seems a long way from the New Zealand educational menstruation to broadcasting, establishment in tackling the but they are both part of Mar­ subject disappoints and ap­ garet Sheffield’s life. As a palls her. Sex is universal, and woman and a broadcaster, an its universal nature ought to be observer and an activist, she the basis of understanding. has been in the front row of the Parents often fail in their duty women’s movement. I asked if through shyness or lack of in­ she feels optimistic about the terest, and it is up to the edu­ growing awareness of women. cational establishment to fill Everybody s ideas have been the gaps. In England the youth changed on the matter of culture has been far better in­ women not getting a fair formed from various sources deal. I think it must be one of, — the education industry has if not the major social revolu­ kept up with what has been tion of the century. It's all- happening elsewhere in soci­ pervasive and it's nice to be ety. New Zealand needs to de­ in the middle of it. velop a more enlightened at­

titude. Where do Babies Come In her many years with the From? by Margaret Sheffield BBC, Margaret Sheffield has is published by Jonathon Cape and is available from seen a considerable change of Broadsheet for $6.95. Before attitude. Her particular interest You Were Born retails at in sex education has been part $6.50. of a wider feminist philosophy which has found expression through various aspects of her WAXING MOON LESBIAN The archives catalogue is range of contents followed by work, both in broadcasts to ARCHIVES CATALOGUE. the first indexed record of writ­ a well laid out section on the schools, and in her work with NUMBER ONE. AUTUMN ten articles, published and un­ Waxing Moon classification the Open University. As a EQUINOX MARCH 1985 published, newsletters, photo­ system. There is also a page graphs, music scores, posters on a glossary of library terms member of the Faculty of COMPILED BY Education she is not limited and personal letters — any in­ which is helpful to any of us “educational” topics. The ZOE CATHERINE ALICE formation and material relat­ who have trouble unravelling work of the department em ­ WINDELER, ASSISTED BY ing to lesbians and lesbian the mysteries of library lan­ braces a good deal of social HELENA AND SUE. lifestyles that has been col­ guage. science. Much of the work is PRINTED BY THE LESBIAN lected and stored in the arc­ The main body of the hive itself. catalogue involves bibliog­ related to the analysis of edu­ OWNED AND ENERGISED cation in terms of inequality of Zoe Catherine Alice de­ raphy details of the material opportunity in employment, PRINT CENTRE, veloped the idea for an archive collected and stored in the and elsewhere in society. Gen­ AUCKLAND, 1985 $8 while working on a PEP archives. Subject headings or der, feminism, unemploy­ scheme in the Womens categories are set out in al­ ment, ethnic minorities are This catalogue represents the Studies Resource Archives at phabetical order and are clear some of the topics she has first of its kind for the lesbian Waikato University. In the in­ with wonderful bold type. covered. womin of Aotearoa. With it and troduction to the catalogue The range of classifications She sees the roles of radio behind it is the energy and de­ she says, “I was struck by the is extensive. The section on art and television as powerful and dication of a womon who has excitement I felt when I disco­ includes eight subsections, in­ profound and feels very worked hard to bring an idea vered the occasional newslet­ cluding drawings, printers strongly that women and to a realization. An idea that ter written by lesbian womin batik, and photography. The minority groups must find will help to establish our les­ who had lived in Hamilton herstory section looks exciting ways into the establishment, bian herstory and give validity nearly a decade ago. I thought with matriarchy, witchcraft, the and learn to use the media ef­ to our lives and lifestyles. It is of the lesbians l have known in herstorical progress of gay fectively as social tools. Re­ an exciting and emotional Hamilton who have passed pride and lesbianism, to les­ cently, as guest of the Asia thought to know that at last we through as invisible womin. I bianism and feminism of the Pacific Broadcasting Develop­ are going to be on record and realised our herstory was only 1980s. Thirty subjects are ment, she ran training courses accessible to the generations coming to us in fragments...' listed, including black les­ on broadcast production for of lesbian womin after us. The catalogue lists a wide bians, bars and clubs, car- 46 Broadsheet, June 1985 toons and humour, lesbian valuable resource. The most mothers, older lesbians, obvious place for it is in the lib­ young lesbians, sport, slo­ raries, public and schools, gans. Almost anything that womin’s centres and womins lesbians do has been clas­ educational centres. However, sified. I am sure that as more 1 think its potential is much and more material is collected greater than that as a personal by the archives, the range will resource for lesbian womin. continue to grow because There are three things that there is nothing that lesbians may limit a wider distribution. don’t, won’t and can’t do. There is no indication on the Quite a lot of the published cover of what the book is. material is from overseas jour­ While the cover design is very nals and magazines. However, interesting it does not attract it was helpful to have the attention. I’m wondering if a Aotearoa material marked bold title might have helped. with an asterisk for easier iden­ Also the cost is very high at $8 tification. I felt hesitant to be which means that few of us critical of technicalities in the could afford to have it in our catalogue because I recognize own bookshelves. I would like that undertakings such as this to see the catalogue and the Wanjiku Gil Hanly require a lot of hard work and archives more persistently ad­ Her face can convey sorrow, urban Africa and America; the wominenergy with a few re­ vertised so that a wider interest pain, anger and innocence in old, crippled woman of the sources at hand. Yet the proof can be stimulated for the idea. quick succession; in an instant second segment, with her reading disturbed me because I am sure that many more con­ the naivety of a young girl ar­ patchwork dressing gown and some spelling mistakes left tributions would be made riving in America is trans­ cracked, rasping voice, is me wondering what some once the lesbian community is formed to the bitterness of an evocative of all the fear and words actually were. This aware of it and how it can be old woman disillusioned after isolation of life in the ghetto. In means that I have missed out used.D years of servitude. An impres­ the final piece, a poem written on some information. I also Anthea sively strong performance by an Iranian woman, Wanjiku would have liked more infor­ from Wanjiku is combined declares herself to be, in effect, mation on the overseas BLACK WOMAN with skilfully stark lighting for Everywoman: she is a mother, sources that were cited. For presented by Wanjiku maximum dramatic effect. sister, and, above all else, a example the Journal of Music, ranging from tradi­ New Independent woman. Her violence is a re­ Homosexuality is the source tional African through Billie sponse to her oppression; she of a few published articles and Theatre, until M ay 18 Holiday to Rasta, is used to is “a woman whose work has yet there is no reference to it both join and comment on created hands suitable for tak­ under the list of publications “Black Woman” is a perfor­ each segment, culminating in ing arms”. Wanjiku is an unfal­ given at the back of the mance rather than a play; ex­ the dance that shows the tering, dynamic artist and catalogue. cerpts from six different works character Ntombi symboli­ “Black Woman” is a superb Initially, I did find it difficult are assembled together and cally breaking out of her Sow­ amalgamation of provoking to follow and understand the presented as analogous parts eto prison. stories, by Edgar White, Ama way the material has been pre­ of a larger story. Wanjiku Wanjiku uses effective ata Aidoo, Steve Carter and R. sented. I wonder how in­ employs different voices and mimes and quick costume Mshengu, that demand to be terested some womin might mannerisms for each perso- changes to define her different heard.o be in the catalogue if its uses n . and is instantly convicing. environments, which include Paula Morris and purposes are not recog­ Wanjiku adds her voice to protest against the proposed All Black tour to South Africa. nizable. It is not made clear Gil Hanly super imposed the images. how the archives might be used as a resource to us now. It is stated that some personal material given to the archives would be kept closed. But I wondered if it is possible to get copies of some of the material which isn’t personal. Zoe Catherine Alice has given an open invitation to any lesbians to visit the archives which is situated in her own home. She also encourages lesbians to contribute anything about their lives and lifestyles. This includes the idea that we could specify in our last will and tes­ tament that our lesbian herstory be donated to the arc­ hives. The catalogue represents a Access Radio, Wellington, Women by Women, a photo­ 783 Khz. Listen on Sundays to graphic exhibition which coin­ BUILDING CLASS Woman Zone, the feminist cides with the women’s festival LESBIAN SOCIAL GROUP programme, 10am, followed '85 being held in Christchurch Tuesday night classes for Coffee evenings and outings. women and men, beginning by the Lesbian programme at over Queen's birthday Write to LSG, Box 19139, June 18 at Auckland School of 11am. New members wel­ weekend, which marks the Avondale., Auckland. comed to the collective — end of the international de­ Architecture, to explore mini­ ^contact us via the Access of­ cade for women. Exhibition mal, low cost and other building fice at Radio New Zealand, closes June 3. The art gallery options. Small donation per phone 721-777. We'd also is at 66 Gloucester St, Christ­ class. Ph Tony 558-091 or Jane SECTION CLEARING A welcome contributions from church. 793-880. GARDEN MAINTENANCE outside Wellington — appa­ The Red Overalls, Concept including tree topping rently we can be heard from Marketing have reissued this Wanganui to Blenheim! non-sexist children's book by NORTH SHORE LESBIANS Contact Steph or Carol Titirangi-817-6885 or Amnesty International — is Jane Buxton and originally interested in a coffee evening, pleased to announce that the published by Kidsarus. $6.95 817-6529 to leave a write to J.D.H., P.O. Box 33411, human rights reading room is from bookstores. message. Westmere-760-530 Takapuna, Auckland. now available for your use. Lo­ Society tor Research on cated at Room 505, Canter­ Women in NZ incorp — new bury Arcade, Queen St, Auck­ release "Having a Baby” the land. Open 10am — 4.30pm. experiences of some Wel­ THE WOMEN’S PLACE Tues — Fri. Phone 34520 lington women. Study (Feminist Bookshop) (Auck) for further information. launched in May. For details 289 Cuba Street, PO Box 19086 Canterbury Society of Arts — phone 650-878 (Wellington). Wellington. Ph 851-802 Hours: 1030am — 530pm (late night Fridays), 10.30am — 130pm Saturday SELLING FAST, DONNA AWATERE'S RECORDS, BOOKS, MAORI SOVEREIGNTY POSTERS, CARDS, MAGAZINES, BADGES SECURE YOUR COPY NOW THROUGH BROADSHEET, T-SHIRTS, STAINED GLASS, JEWELLERY Box 5799, Wellesley Street, Auckland. Name ...... Address ......

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for copies. Weekdays 10am — 530pm Friday 9pm — Ph 790-784 L Feminist, lesbian-feminist — r .SUBSCRIBE NOW TO BROADSHEET theory, novels, health, poetry BOOKS, MAGAZINES, Send me and/or my friend one year of Broadsheet POSTERS, RECORDS, CARDS, JEWELLERY New Zealand’s feminist magazine publishes 10 issues each year. Each issue costs $2.50. a subscription $24 (or $35 for a sustaining subscription). Overseas surface costs $31; overseas airmail to Europe $43.50; to America and Asia $39, and to Australia and South Pacific $33. SAPPHO

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48 Broadsheet, June 1985 THE HOME OF . . . Becky Bush Clare Bear Dana Hilz Jess Hawk Oakenstar Peter T. (our singing barman) Red Beryl & Friends

TAVERN 401 R ichm ond R d ,G re y Lynn, ph .763~191 KINGSTON & FEDERAL-AUCKLAND 732-376 O P E N : Thursday — Sunday 9am — 5pm Second-Hand Children Heather Marshall

Raising a family during the Depression was hard work, and relieved only occasionally by bright or happy moments. For a widow with five children there were many sacrifices to be made, both material and emotional.

Although presented as a novel, SECOND­ HAND CHILDREN will evoke memories for many people, with its portrayal of discrimination and social ignorance, practised by both adults and children.

Available Now $18.95

Distributed by Hutchinson Group (NZ) Ltd. P.O. Box 40-086, Glenfield, Auckland 10. 485-7 KARANGAHAPE Road Phone 398-895, Auckland