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Madonna... Who Cares ? THE PROGRESSIVE WOMAN'S Q 1 ON THE Vol. XXVI SPRING 1993 $3.95 RUSSIAN OMEN: MADONNA... EX AFTER WHO CARES ? THE FALL BEYOND "CHOICE"- CONTROYERSIES IN WOMEN'S HEALTH ELAYNE RAPPING ON WOODY ALLEN; MIA FARROW " pt. Women rs History is Worth Saving Help Preserve Paulsdale In 1923, Alice Paul authored the Equal We know the importance of public Rights Amendment and crusaded for its pas- memoriakThey serve as symbols of our sage for the rest of her life. She also wrote the «>lle«ive past and inspirations for our equalrightsstatementsintheUnitedNations futurc- ^ there are few national monu- Charter Because of Alice Paul's work, the ments wluch KCO&™ the contributions of 1964CivilRightsActoutlawedsexdiscrimi- Amencan women. Although women sparked " B . the historic preservation movement in this nation m the workplace. m Qn[y A% of al, Natbnal Historic Today, the Alice Paul Centennial Foun- i^fa^ honor the accomplishments of dation, a volunteer, not-for-profit organiza- women> tion, is struggling to preserve Paulsdale, her Women pionecred major reforms in edu- birthplace and home. cation, health care, labor and many other Paulsdale, recently named a National His- areas of our society. Paulsdale will become a Alice Stokes Paul toric Landmark, is acirca 1840 farmhouse on national leadership center where new (1885 - 1977) 6.5 acres in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, near generations of women and girls will come Philadelphia. This is the place where Alice together to create solutions to the problems voices throughout the land, re- peating oaths of office for the Cabinet, the To honor the vision and courage of Alice Paul, the Foundation plans to create at seizing this opportunity to preserve Paulsdale Senate, the House and for state and local as a place to help create a positive future for offices. Women said it was time for change; Paulsdale a national conference and leader- ship development center for women and girls. women and girls everywhere. Join with us to it was time for women to lead; it was time begin creating our future today. for women to make a difference. Paulsdale is an historic site that will go As women take a stand, it is important to beyond honoring the achievements of one For more information about the remember the women who struggled for significant American woman. It will continue national campaign to save Paulsdale or to generations to help us reach this point. her legacy through the work it make a tax-deductible contribution, please There are so many of greater and lesser fame undertakes.Paulsdale will serve as a catalyst write or call... for creative collaboration among both indi- who have paved the way. By recognizing the Alice Paul Centennial Foundation, Inc. viduals and groups for strenghtening the con- accomplishments of these women, we are P.O. Box 472 tributions which women can make toward able to strengthen our resolve to face the Moorestown, NJ 08057 America's social and economic future. challenges ahead. 609-231-1885 Alice Stokes Paul is a striking example of one woman who has made a difference in the lives of women and who continues to inspire us today. Alice Paul was the architect of some of the most outstanding political achievements made by women in the 20th Century. Alice Paul dedicated her life to the struggle for women's rights i n the United States and around the world. She was a foremost leader in the final battle to win the vote for women. It was Paul who created the National Woman's Party to finally achieve suffrage through a constitutional amendment. Save Paulsdale to Continue Alice Paul's Legacy Spring 1993 FEATURES 10 ON THE ISSUES Stand-Up Feminism is growing! The Subversive Power of Laughter With this issue by Norine Dworkin we welcome thousands of new subscribers. Please 18 write us with your Against Ambiguity comments, pro and con. An Homage to Knowledgeable Love by Alfred E. Fireman —The Editors 21 Always In Your Face Flo Kennedy: An Activist Forever by Beverly Lowy 24 Sex After the Fall Starting a Birth Control Revolution in Russia by Merle Hoffman 30 Let's Get "Serious" The Attack on Madonna Scholarship by Laurie Ouellette SPECIAL SECTION CURRENT CONTROVERSIES IN WOMEN'S HEALTH 34 Taking Issue with Fetal Tissue Are Women Being Conned? by Janice G. Raymond 38 Making Babies Miracle or Marketing Hype? by Elayne Clift 42 The Pros and Cons of Menstrual Extraction Why It's a Good Idea by Rebecca Chalker WOMEN'S HEALTH Why It's Not by Louise Tyrer 34-42 COLUMNISTS Elayne Rapping;—3 on the Allen/Farrow and Rachel Kingsley Cases bell hooks—5 Desperately Seeking Madonna, the Feminist DEPARTMENTS Front Lines—2 Win Some'Lose Some—7 Choice Books—48 In Memoriam—57 Feedback—58 Cover Collage by Joan Hall Front Lines VOL. XXVI SPRING n1993 PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Merle Hoffman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Upsides / Downsides of Beverly Lowy EXECUTIVE EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Linda Gutstein ASSOCIATE EDITOR Making Choices Laurie Ouellette ASSISTANT EDITOR Karen Aisenberg When it comes to our reproductive lives, we EDITOR AT LARGE feminists are understandably skeptical of the choices Phyllis Chesler CONTRIBUTING EDITORS we're offered. Those of us who were given birth Eleanor J. Bader control pills in the early '60s are probably even Jill Benderly more aware than younger women of the dangers Charlotte Bunch Vmie Burrows and health consequences of chemical intervention. Naomi Feigelson Chase Oh no, we were assured, the Pill isn't causing Elayne Clift Irene Davall erosions of the cervix (or headaches, or nausea or bell hooks high blood pressure). Later we discovered the Pill Roberta Kalechofsky could cause all that and more, including strokes and Flo Kennedy Fred Pelka embolisms. Now the Food and Drug Administration Elayne Rapping finally has approved Depo-Provera as a Helen M. Stummer contraceptive, saying that the risk of cancer is '"minimal." Excuse us if we view this ART DIRECTORS Michael Dowdy with a jaundiced eye. We're told it will give us autonomy and control over our Julia Gran reproduction, but how much control when for three months we can't forgo the drug ADVERTISING AND SALES DIRECTOR no matter how many side effects it has? At least with the contraceptive implant Carolyn Handel CIRCULATION/BUSINESS CONSULTANT Norplant inserted in our arms we can have it removed — but this? Warren Braren The fact is that just about every reproductive technology will have feminists on both MUSIC/ARTS ADVISOR sides of the fence, with a few of us trying to straddle it. Is in-vitro fertilization with Camille M. Barbone its low success rate really a boon to women? Or are too many of us victims of marketing hype, and pie-in-the-sky promises made by those who stand to benefit ON THE ISSUES The Progressive Woman's financially from our bodies? Is fetal tissue research a real medical advance, or is it Quarterly: A feminist, humanist magazine of critical thinking, dedicated to fostering collective responsibility another way of using woman-as-incubator? Will we always have to be on the alert for positive social change. not to be abused, to be able to make truly informed choices? Of course we will. ON THE ISSUES The Progressive Woman's One very controversial method of reproductive control is menstrual extraction. Quarterly (ISSN 0895-6014) is published quarterly as an informational and educational service of CHOICES That, at least, is in the hands of women, and we can be involved with our own Women's Medical Center, Inc., 97-77 Queens procedure. But, is it safe? Proponents say it's the safest way to have an abortion and Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11374-3317. can, if we wish, be used to give us the power to regulate our menstrual flow. The Unsolicited Manuscripts: All material will be read by the editors. For return, enclose self-addressed, majority of the medical establishment appears to disagree and considers the procedure stamped envelope with proper postage. Articles should potentially dangerous. The feminist Boston Women's Health Book Collective thinks not be more than 2,000 words. All editing decisions are at the discretion of the editors. Feminist cartoons are menstrual extraction seems to have a very low rate of complications, risks and side also acceptable under the same provisions. ON THE effects but that "more research needs to be done before we know whether extraction ISSUES The Progressive Woman's Quarterly does not of the uterine lining on a monthly basis is safe." accept fiction or poetry. Advertising accepted at the discretion of the publisher. Our section on reproductive health explores both sides of the menstrual extraction Acceptance does not necessarily imply endorsement. debate in articles by Rebecca Chalker (for) and Louise Tyrer (against). Read them PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The opinions expressed by and decide for yourselves. contributors and by those we interview are not necessarily those of the editors. ON THE ISSUES The After all, unless we are able to examine, explore and question, we can't make Progressive Woman's Quarterly is a forum where informed choices, and that can be extremely hazardous to our health. women may have their voices heard without censure or censorship. Subscription Information; 1 year $14.75; 2 years $25.75; 3 years $34.75. Institutional rate: Add S10 first year; $5 each additional year. Add $7 per year for Canadian orders; $7 per year foreign (surface mail) or $20 per year foreign (airmail). Send to ON THE ISSUES The Progressive Woman's Quarterly, PO Box pL 3000, Dept. OTI, Denville, NJ 07834. Application to Mail at Second-Class Postage Rates is Pending at Flushing, New York and additional mailing office.
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