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I 853 2 o 7447 0 7 Join the Celebration! March is National Women's History Month.

Discover A New World: Women's History

"Women's History11- a topic that may be unfamiliar, is a whole "new world" of discovery awaiting you - a long neglected part of our heritage as women and as Americans.

Discover a New World - populated by inspiring, courageous, dedicated, compassionate women from all walks of life who have shaped their families, communities and the intellectual and artistic climate of their time, but have been ignored by historians because of their sex.

a New World - of organizations and events that had a major impact on the social and political institutions of this nation, but have been forgotten because the major players were female.

a New World -of possibility for yourself and your children, opened by the community of active and dynamic women who have come before us.

The National Women's History Project promotes the rediscovery of women's history in the classroom and community through the development and sale of posters, videos, biographies, overviews, classroom materials and lots of fun items like coloring books, card games, coffee mugs, lapel pins, etc.

For a copy of the NWHP's 48-page catalog of multicultural women's history posters, books, videos and other items for all ages, send $1.00 to: National Women's History Project, Catalog Request 7738 Bell Road, Windsor, CA 95492 or call 707-838-6000. CONTENTS Winter 1992

FEATURES 8 Northern Ireland: Oppression, Struggle, and Outright Murder An Interview with Bernadette Devlin McAliskey By Betsy Swart 12 Reel Feminism vs. Real Feminism A look at feminist film in the '90s By Leora Tanenbaum 18 Women Whistleblowers: What They Say, the Price They Pay And the price for women is higher By Elayne Clift 22 Under Attack But Fighting Back: The Birth of the Poor Women's Movement By Nina Schuyler

30 Got to Get This Off My Chest An artist explores the beauty of her one- breasted self By Matuschka BREAST CANCER & 34 THE BODY POSITIVE Paying the Price in the Politics of Breast Cancer What the government doesn't tell you can kill you By Neal Barnard, M.D. 29-37 38 Blood On Our Hands In East Timor, the U.S. abets mass murder By John W. Bartlett 42 1992: The Year of Which Women? By Laura Flanders 45 An Update On: The Strange Case of Mark Curtis How On the Issues set the record straight By Fred Pelka

DEPARTMENTS Front Lines—2 Talking Feminist/bell hooks—i Win Some'Lose Some—5 Choice Books—47 In My View/Phyllis Chesler—59 Feedback—60

Cover: 'Vote for Yourself by Matuschka FRONT LINES

Bernadette Devlin VOL. XXV WINTER 1992 McAliskey PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Merle Hoffman EXECUTIVE EDITOR A Woman for All Seasons Beverly Lowy EXECUTIVE EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Linda Gutstein The great Irish playwright Sean O'Casey filled his ASSOCIATE EDITOR plays with women who were strong, outspoken Laurie Ouellette and indomitable. Faced daily with the bitter ASSISTANT EDITOR struggle to survive in a strife-torn land, his women Karen Aisenberg EDITOR AT LARGE were Ireland's backbone: Steadfast, braver and Phyllis Chesler more resourceful than the men. How he would CONTRIBUTING EDITORS have loved Bernadette Devlin McAliskey. Eleanor J. Bader If Margaret Thatcher was the "Iron Maiden," Jill Benderly Devlin McAliskey can be called the "Woman of Charlotte Bunch Vinie Burrows Steel." Well-tempered, durable and forever Naomi Feigelson Chase uncorrodible, Devlin McAliskey generates a heat Elayne Clift that can either burn or become a source of energy. Irene Davall This heroic woman can be said to embody the true spirit of Irish unity, a bell hooks Roberta Kalechofsky woman who works ceaselessly toward securing an entirely independent Ireland, Flo Kennedy and one who will not rest so long as her nation remains divided. And this knowing Fred Pelka full well she's a target for Loyalist hatred. Helen M. Stummer In 1981, that hatred nearly killed her. As British troops were watching her house, ART DIRECTORS Loyalist gunmen entered — by the front door! — while she and her family were Michael Dowdy Julia Gran sitting around the breakfast table. As her terrified children looked on, the gunmen ADVERTISING AND SALES DIRECTOR fired a round of shots, severely wounding Devlin McAliskey and her husband, then Carolyn Handel calmly left. That she and her husband survived the attack is nothing short of a miracle. She was left with a permanent limp and suffers pain to this day. ON THE ISSUES: A feminist, humanist Many people would have given up at this point. Instead, she came back more magazine of critical thinking, dedicated to determined and with an even more powerful voice. Interestingly, she chose not to fostering collective responsibility for positive discuss this barbarous incident in her interview with us, although she spoke a great social change. deal of the brutality and violence rife in Northern Ireland. UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS An ardent feminist and advocate of reproductive choice, Devlin McAliskey's All material will be read by the editors. For return, activism and outspokenness have not gained her popularity points among many of enclose self-addressed, stamped envelope with proper postage. Articles should not be more than 2000 words. her own people. Antichoice literature has been circulated calling her a "babykiller," All editing decisions are at the discretion of the which she shrugs off as she denies it. Her work against discrimination and editors. Feminist cartoons are also acceptable under the same provisions. oppression is as often for the rights of women as it is against the wrongs inflicted on ON THE ISSUES does not accept fiction or poetry. her country. Indeed, she speaks out for the rights of all people, in all countries, including the United States. Advertising accepted at the discretion of the publisher. This Bernadette has her own song: The song of freedom, all over her land. And Acceptance does not necessarily imply endorsement. everyone's land. PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The opinions expressed by contributors and by those we interview are not necessarily those of the editors. ON THE ISSUES is a forum where women may have their voices heard without censure or censorship.

ON THE ISSUES is published as an informational and educational service of CHOICES Women's Medical Center, Inc. 97-77 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY 11374-3317 ISSN0895-6014 Beverly Lowy Subscription Information Executive Editor 1 year $14.75; 2 years $25.75; 3 years $34.75. Institutional rate: Add $10 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, PO Box 3000, Dept. OTI, Denville, NJ 07834

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 MERLE HOFFMAN ON THE ISSUES will not PRO-CHOICE appear in the Winter edition of our publication. At press time, Merle Hoffman is in Moscow where she CHOICE. was invited to head an interdisciplinary medical team from CHOICES for a ground-breaking meeting with MOST businesses think repro- Russian physicians and feminists on the latest innovations in women's reproductive health care. ductive choice is none of their One goal of the meetings will be to find ways to business. We don't agree. apprise Russian women and girls of birth control We're Working Assets Long methods in a society where contraceptives Distance. Every time you call, we are not produced and not socially accepted. On average, every woman born in Russia has four or five proudly send money to groups abortions during her childbearing years, while like Planned Parenthood, NARAL 40,000 girls under 17 years of age have abortions and the Ms. Foundation...at no every year. It is estimated that there are 1 8 million cost to you. abortions per year; 7 million state-sponsored abortions, usually administered without anesthesia; By contrast, AT&T8 and another 8-9 million "illegal" abortions done by canceled its funding of Planned physicians in women's homes, where a few rubles can Parenthood under pressure from buy some type of anesthetic. anti-choice groups. the exchange is being hosted by the Moscow Gynecological Teaching Hospital #53, and the Of course, we also complete Russian Feminist publishing houses of Culture and your calls to almost anywhere in Traditions and Charm magazines. An in-depth column the world, at base rates lower than of Merle Hoffman's experiences in Russia will appear 8 in our Spring 1993 issue. AT&T, MCf and Sprint . So why give your money to the wrong choice, when you can easily use a phone company that's pro-choice?

WORKING ASSETS Long Distance 1-800-CITIffiN

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 TALKING FEMINIST bell hooks

and critique in favor of a narrow notion of racial solidarity. As Clarence Thomas Thinking Past uses the power invested in him as a member of the Supreme Court to curtail Censorship human rights, and to stand in the way of racial justice and the struggle against sexism, those who felt it was more Having the courage to important to support the "brother" because white folks were out to get him criticize our allies — if they are at all progressive — must see the error of their ways. We will n the early years of the Radical groups are often so small that it never know what the outcome of those contemporary feminist move- is easy to use covert tactics to punish hearings might have been had powerful ment, solidarity between women members expressing conflicting views. Black leaders all over the United States was often equated with the Usually, repression is enforced by collectively called for mass support to formation of "safe" spaces where powerful members of the group resist this appointment. igroups of presumably like-minded threatening punishment, the most Even though the Thomas hearings women could come together, sharing common being some form of forced the American public to confront ideas and experiences without fear of ostracization or excommunication. This issues of race and gender, many Blacks silencing or serious challenge. Groups may take the form of no longer including (especially men) closed ranks to sometimes disintegrated when the a dissenting individual's thoughts or uncritically support Thomas, just as speaking of diverse opinions led to many feminists closed ranks to support contestation, confrontation, and Anita Hill. The essay I wrote on the sometimes out-and-out conflict. It was Feminist hearings published in Z magazine, common for individual dissenting voices which suggested that we needed to look to be silenced by the collective demand solidarity must critically at both individuals and their for harmony. Non-conforming voices include a space for political allegiances, led many of my were at times punished by exclusion feminist comrades (especially Black and ostracization. rigorous critique, women) to tell me that the piece should Before it became politically acceptable not have been written. A longtime Black to discuss issues of race and racism for dissent feminist comrade accused me of having within feminist circles, I was one of temporarily lost my mind, as she felt my those "undesirable" dissenting voices. critique of Hill was a betrayal of feminist Always a devout advocate of feminist writings in relevant discussions, and solidarity. Again and again I insist that politics, I was from the start also a especially publications. It may mean feminist solidarity rooted in a harsh critic. One powerful lesson that I excluding them from important commitment to progressive politics must learned from hanging in there and not meetings. And, in some cases, it may include a space for rigorous critique, for allowing myself to be pressured by mean a consistent effort behind the scenes dissent, or we are doomed to reproduce punishment to give up on feminist to verbally cast doubt on their credibility. in progressive communities the very struggle was that any progressive Marginalized groups often fear that forms of domination we seek to oppose. political movement grows and matures dissent, especially if it takes the form of The negative responses I received only to the degree that in theory and public critique, will play into the hands about the essay on the Thomas hearings practice it passionately welcomes and of dominating forces and undermine (now published in my most recent book encourages diversity of opinion, new support for progressive causes. Black Looks), called to mind other ideas and critical exchange. Throughout the history of Black struggle incidents where friends and comrades This remains true for the feminist against racism there has been major have attempted to censor my viewpoint. movement, and it is no less true for the disagreement over whether or not we A couple of years back, I wrote a critical Black liberation struggle. In the should rigorously critique one another, piece on the work of a major Black heyday of the civil rights and Black especially in racially integrated woman writer. Talking about this piece power movements, folks were often contexts. Efforts to censor criticism while it was still in process with "excommunicated" if they did not surface whenever marginalized groups prominent Black women scholars/ simply support the party line. (This was are overly concerned with presenting a comrades, I was taken back when I was even more true in white male- "positive" image to the dominant group. told that it was not a good idea for me to dominated "left" political circles). Most recently, the outcome of the write it, that the writer would be Censorship of dissenting voices in Thomas hearings shows how misguided progressive circles often goes unnoticed. Black folks can be if we suppress dissent continued on pg 58

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 A Compiled Adaptation of News Items WIN SOME • LOSE SOME with Editorial Commentary by Beverly Lowy

BACK TO SLAVERY Many women who are kid- SherylWuDunn.N.y. Times: napped for trafficking are As Chinese society focuses beaten, raped or gang raped more on profit than on equal- by traffickers—most on their ity, and as communist mo- first night in captivity. They rality loses its influence, may be as young as 13. women are in some cases los- In China, "huan qin" is the ing the ground they gained exchange of wives: Families in the Maoist years. trade unmarried daughters More now than under Mao to provide wives for their sons, Zedong, they are being dis- either because they cannot criminated against jobs, in afford the bride price or be- housing, in land allocation. cause their sons are unable to Physical attractiveness has find brides by reason of men- become a crucial factor in tal or physical disabilities. hiring women. Women are Bride trades and arranged increasingly used as orna- marriages also account for a ments in the office, or as lures great number of young sui- to bring in business. cides in China. In Jia County The proportion of women in in Henan Province, based on the most powerful positions data collected in 1989, it was has declined. And traditional estimated in one village that practices that the commu- women account for 95 per- nists had essentially elimi- cent of the attempted sui- nated, like the selling of cides treated in the village women as wives, have reap- hospital and 70 percent are peared on a significant scale. younger than 30. Many of the women are single and And from Jessica Neuwirth, imminently facingmarriage. director of Equality Now: In Laohe Village, a 19-year- In rural China, the bride old girl drank pesticide to avoid being exchanged for a price paid to the bride's fam- bride for her 30-year-old un- ily makes it two to three times married brother. more expensive to marry a wife than to buy one from a trafficker. In the first 10 The fall of communism seems months of 1990,11,689 cases to have led to an even greater of trafficking were reported. fall in women's rights.

A BLACK & WHITE when the victim in the St. OF WOMAN & Mike Newell believes that ISSUE John's [University students'] MOVIES the dearth of women-ori- DeniseMourges,iV. Y. Times: trial took the stand. It was Terry Pristin, the L.A. ented themes has helped Marilyn Church, a former amazing. Times: Like the far more to boost "Enchanted fashion illustrator, began "She was Black, and the commercial "A League of April." courtroom drawing in 1973. defendants were white," Their Own," one of the "I don't think that it During the trial of the at- Church said. "She was an- past summer's biggest has anything to do with tackers of the Central Park other rape victim, but she hits, and "Fried Green sexual politics but it al- jogger, court artists were for- was treated so differently. Tomatoes," last winter's most certainly has to do bidden to draw the victim. None of us thought that draw- sleeper,"Enchanted April" with an incredible over- Church said: "We weren't told ing her was the right thing to is concerned with the looking of 50 percent of when she was going to take do, so we didn't. In this case way women relate to one the audience," Newell the stand until the last the press, which has been another, with men assum- said. minute. And on the days very much maligned, brought ing a secondary place in she did, we weren't even al- fairness to the system." the films' preoccupations. The same 50 percent lowed to take our art sup- Despite these recent that's overlooked every plies into the courtroom. Justice, it seems is blind — successes, such films are time the goodies are But we weren't told anything but not color blind. rare. The British director handed out.

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 ATTACK OF THE ates. Grecco says that out "We have been getting com- chemicals are leaching out of KILLER LANDFILL of the approximately 3,000 plaints from dermatologists, the landfill or poisoning the Elaine Rivera, N. Y. Newsday: babies born on Staten Is- oncologists — doctors from Staten Island air. "We've Dr. Louis Grecco, chairman land each year, the num- every specialty," Grecco says, never seen any evidence that of the public health commit- ber with deformities has "who are saying that they're what comes out of the land- tee for the Richmond County jumped from 30 to about seeing more patients than fill would cause illness," says Medical Society, Staten Is- 50 since 1986. ever before with diseases re- city Sanitation Commis- land NY, says doctors have Doctors on Staten Island lated to the environment." sioner Emily Lloyd. reported an increase over the have also seen an increase in Fresh Kills landfill on Staten past six years in the number the number of respiratory Island is the world's largest We wonder what those offi- of babies born with deformi- ailments such as asthma and garbage dump. cials would say if the land- ties, including missing fin- allergies over the last five City and state officials say fills were moved to their gers and limbs or cleft pal- years, Grecco says. there is no evidence that toxic backyards.

A NATION OF and educational content. out of reach financially. "I UN-CARED-FOR That leaves 14.7 million chil- call it a 'trilemma,'" said CHILDREN dren in unlicensed settings. Arlyce Currie of Bananas, Michael Ryan, Parade Maga- Some will get first-rate care an Oakland, CA resource zine: Every day in America, with highly motivated care- center for parents. millions of parents struggle takers. But others will go to In France, a mother would to find ways and means to substandard settings where have received free prenatal provide care for their chil- they may run the risk of fire healthcare, been granted dren while they go to work or or accident and, in some maternity leave and her chil- school. Today, two-thirds of cases, abuse. Still others have dren would have been eli- mothers work outside the no regular childcare. Their gible for government-spon- home. One-quarter of the parents must depend on a sored preschools. In more kids in this country live with shifting network of friends than 100 countries, parents only one parent. An esti- and relatives, and sometimes, would be entitled to parental mated 23 million children in desperation, even leave leave from their jobs to en- require childcare. their children unsupervised. sure their children were prop- Of those kids, 8.3 million go Childcare experts report erly cared for. THE UNDRESS CODE to licensed daycare settings that obtaining good day care FOR WOMEN that are inspected and re- is a nationwide problem. It is In the U.S., "family values" News Dispatch: The Sands Ca- quired to meet minimum frequently either in short sup- are a precious commodity — sino in Atlantic City, NJ is ac- standards for health, safety ply, not up to standards or only the rich can afford them. cused in a lawsuit of discrimi- nating against women by for- cing cocktail waitresses to wear sexy clothes while letting male waiters dress comfortably. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Philadelphia, which filed on behalf of Anna Grimes, says it's the first case of its kind brought against a casino. Grimes, who still works at the Sands, says she was forced to be scantily dressed and wear five-inchheal s that hurt her feet. Men may wear tuxedos and sneakers or other low shoes.

Those who enforced the regu- lation should be condemned to a month of carrying trays in tight short skirts, low-cut bodices and five-inch heels. Nothing less is sufficient pun- ishment.

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 A CLARENCE over a year. The charges as his most recent victim. Senate voted to reject the THOMAS RIPPLE were filed, prosecutors said, Some of the four women testimony of Anita F. Hill, EFFECT after the man's fifth victim said they did not come for- the law professor who said N.Y. Times News Brief: The told the authorities he had ward earlier because that Clarence Thomas, former supervisor of the raped her. Saunders said they would then a Supreme Court medical records unit at the The former supervisor, lose their jobs if they re- nominee, had sexually ha- Veterans Affairs Medical Gregory A. Saunders, 28 ported the attacks, inves- rassed her. Center in the Bronx, NY, was years old, was charged with tigators said. One woman indicted by a Federal grand rape and sodomy in the said that she had intended One more disgrace the white jury on charges that he sexu- attack on the woman, de- to report the attack but males of our government have ally abused five coworkers scribed in the indictment changed her mind after the to answer for.

THE NIGER WITCHHUNT News Dispatch: In Zinder, Niger, hundreds of people attacked bars and bordellos usedby women accused ofcaus - ing a drought, the official Niger Press Agency said. Police imposed a curfew after the mob injured three people. The mob was urged on by A MEATLESS MISSION suade people from patroniz- marabouts—charlatans who IN MOSCOW ing the gleaming fast-food claim to be Muslim holy men News Dispatch: palace. Most of the soybean — who said the women's "in- Animal rights advocates sandwiches, however, were decent" dress and conduct served up a course of U.S.- snapped up not by potential were responsible for lower- style political activism out- customers but by the Gyp- than-normal rainfall this side the Moscow McDonald's. sies, beggars and streetwise year. About a dozen demonstra- teenagers who usually sur- tors, including one dressed round the Golden Arches. It's amazing how quickly men as a cow, handed out 100 will accept that women are vegetarian burgers during Well, at least they were eat- responsible for every ill that the lunchtime protest to dis- ing healthily and humanely. befalls them.

ANOTHER GULF est level of criminal proceed- THE DAY IT RAINED prison inmates from the WAR ATROCITY ing in the military. CONDOMS AIDS virus. An AP Dispatch: The Army Ortiz, 28 years old, was News Dispatch: In Septem- Associate Warden Greg has decided to court-martial among a group of women who ber, a small plane hired by Grams said the condoms were an Army sergeant accused of testified last summer before an AIDS activist group gathered up from the prison sexually assaulting a woman a United States Senate com- dropped scores of condoms yard in Waupun on Sunday in his unit during the Per- mittee about sexual attacks on a maximum-security and Monday and seized as sian Gulf war. against them. Ortiz said at prison in eastern Wisconsin. contraband because they are The defendant, Sgt. 1st that hearing that she had A statement issued by the banned in state prisons. Class David J. Martinez of immediately reported the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Alburquerque, NM who is on attack but that officers had Power (ACT UP), said it A strange ban indeed, con- active duty in Fort Bliss, TX, ignored her complaint. dropped the condoms to pro- sidering that AIDS is ram- was charged with one count The Army at first concluded mote safe sex and protect pant in our prison system. of forcible sodomy, one count thatthesexualcontactbetween of indecent assault and four herandSergeantMartinezwas counts of making false state- consensual. But it reopened the ments concerning the accu- case earlier this year at the urg- sations by the woman, Spe- ing of Congressman Bill cialist Jacqueline Ortiz of Richardsonfiximherhomestate. Sapello, NM, a reservist with whom he was assigned last We think the officers should year in Saudi Arabia. also be court-martialed for Martinez will face a gen- their assault on Ortiz' verac- eral court-martial, the high- ity and dignity.

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 WE V! ACCEPT NORTHERN IRELAND II OPPRESSION, STRUGGLE, AND OUTRIGHT MURDER.

AN INTERVIEW WTTH BERNADETTE DEVLIN MCALISKEY BY BETSY SWART

ernadette Devlin weeks short of my exams, and I had A YOUNG GIRL McAliskey is a pioneer never missed a paper. But they wouldn't WALKS PAST A in the campaign for let me sit my exams. So I left the Uni- LOYALIST MURAL, civil rights in the versity without a qualification. I actu- PAINTED ON A WALL North of Ireland. See- ally thought, "Well, suit yourselves" IN BELFAST. ing herself as a "com- because I thought I'd just nip out and munity activist," since 1969 she has we'd get our civil rights and I'd be back consistently worked against discrimi- next year. But now it's some 20-odd nation and oppression in the North of years later and, of course, we never ment in the Constitution when it was Ireland and at the age of 21 was elected quite got to the point where I could go first proposed and we lost. We lost very MP for Mid-Ulster. Her term lasted from back and do my exams. In terms of heavily. Like America, the southern 1969-1974. She now lives in a rural American society, by and large people state of Ireland has a written Constitu- Nationalist community in County make intellectual choices to take up tion. Very often, like Americans, the Tyrone. particular issues. But the very possibil- Irish people are not aware of the respon- Devlin McAliskey was interviewed last ity of making the choice in the first sibility that puts on themselves. People spring by Betsy Swart, contributing edi- place is based on the assumption that like to roll around the country in agony tor to On the Issues. Swart is a doctoral you have the socio-economic freedom to and blame the government for every- candidate at the University of Mary- make that choice — which most of the thing. But the Constitution, for all its land and has spent considerable time in Nationalist community in Northern weaknesses, clearly defines the people the North of Ireland. Ireland don't have. So to ask me that, of Ireland as the sovereign will of the well, it's like asking a Black person why state. Every adult over the age of 18 Betsy Swart: What kinds of choices they got involved in the Black civil must — in a referendum — make deci- brought you to the work you do? rights movement. Because it's my life sions on the Constitution. So it's at this Bernadette Devlin McAliskey: Like — the only life I've got. point I fall out with some of my feminist many other young people, I became friends south of the border. Because it involved in the civil rights movement in Can you give us some background was not the government's fault that the the '60s when I was a student at Queens on the abortion controversy in referendum was passed. It was the University in Belfast. The civil rights Southern Ireland regarding the 14- people of Ireland—who voted to put the movement in Northern Ireland was ac- year-old girl who was raped and prolife amendment into the Constitu- tually inspired by the Black civil rights refused permission to go to England tion. These were intelligent, sane hu- movement [in the United States]. As a for an abortion? man beings who were prepared to go out result of my activities, the University Those of us who live and work in Ire- and make an adult decision on the basis called me before a disciplinary commit- land weren't at all surprised about what of ignorance, prejudice, self-interest or tee. I was a psychology student, just five happened. We fought the prolife amend- church-interest. Nobody tortured them

8 PHOTO- BETSY SWART ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 AUNITED

LSTER ST1L

into it. They went out of their own free moral majority have a marked disinter- have realized that's what they voted for. will and consent and voted for preju- est in born children. Once you're born, The Supreme Court, on the one hand, dice. And voted for ignorance. And voted your rights are out the window — no shouldhave said, "That's what you voted for hypocrisy. Because it did not affect rights for the living! And so finally we for; is that what you want? Or will we them there and then. I worked in Dublin have this unfortunate child who's 14 have another referendum?" Alterna- before the election, and 48 hours before years of age and is a victim of rape and tively, the court should have said, "There polling day, Society for the Protection of is going to England for an abortion. are two issues here: One is the constitu- Unborn Children (SPUC) put a leaflet SPUC took out a high court injunction tionality of the prolife amendment and under the door of every home in the to prevent her leaving the country. Her the other is the freedom of movement. constituency and leafleted every super- parents were ordinary people. They /me? And this young girl has freedom of move- market and mass [in Catholic churches] actually left the country; but they were ment. If she moves out of this country, in the constituency. The leaflet said so intimidated by the court order that she can do what she likes." They did "Bernadette McAliskey Kills Babies." they didn't know they didn't have to neither. They came up with this idiotic And this started an argument among come back! So they came home. And idea that the Constitutional amend- the people working on the campaign then they found themselves in the posi- ment that balanced the life of the child about whether we should back off. People tion of not being able to leave again. The and the life of the mother could conceiv- said, "Now that they've raised it, matter was ultimately resolved in typi- ably be read that the mother might Bernadette, go you out and say that cally Irish judicial fashion. The Supreme commit suicide. Therefore, on the basis you're against killing babies." And, I Court not only disgraced themselves that there was a risk to her life, she said, "I don'ikill babies. And I am against judicially, they disgraced themselves would be entitled to have the abortion killing babies. But I'm not going out intellectually, and they took the back in Ireland! So now, in order to get an there to accommodate SPUC." But the door out. They had two choices. The abortion in Ireland, which you can get amendment got passed. Afterward, all people of Ireland voted for the imprison- in spite of the Constitution and the law, the things that those of us who had ment of 14-year-old pregnant girls and you just have to stand at the top of the campaigned against the amendment the forcing of them to give birth. That's stairs and shout, "I'm going to jump!" believed would happen did happen. The what they voted for. And they ought to And if you can convince somebody that

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 you might indeed jump, then you can the door, they are required to give the have an abortion! It's hypocrisy in ac- "THE PEOPLE same information. If the soldiers want tion and it's saying to you and me and to come into the house and search, they every other woman, "It's not that you OF IRELAND VOTED don't require a reason, stated or un- have rights. But if you can grovel, if you stated. They don't require a warrant. can despair, if you can get as far down Our daily lives are led against a back- into the gutter as I can put you, I, out of FOR THE ground of total military authority over the mercy of my superiority, might al- our every movement. There is also a low you certain luxuries in this life — IMPRISONMENT second level of scrutiny — the mecha- like the right to control your own body. nized authority which becomes more If you get far enough down and beg for OF 14-YEAR-OLD visible as you go into the small rural it in a manner that is sufficiently non- towns and villages: The surveillance threatening, then I might allow you PREGNANT GIRLS cameras, the military roadblocks pre- your basic human rights as aprivilege." venting and limiting and controlling access to town centers and so on. Our What is life like in the North of AND THE FORCING daily lives are also led with the knowl- Ireland now? edge that it is very difficult to stay on the right side of this authority—that is, We live all of our lives under constant OF THEM TO if you want to exercise any degree of military authority. When people come independent thought or organization. to Northern Ireland, the first thing they GIVE BIRTH" This military threat extends over the become aware of is how visibly milita- whole of our lives. There is quite clearly ristic the society is — more than they lation, of course, knows to look first for a shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ire- ever conceived of. It is, of course, pos- the light and second for the military. land that does not simply originate at sible within the tourist areas and out- But a person coming into the country for the military ground level. It is a policy side of the Nationalist community, to go the first time very often learns that the at the highest level of the British gov- to parts of Northern Ireland where the hard way — as they jump for their lives ernment to use Loyalist death squads war is totally invisible. You can go to out of the way of military vehicles. in conjunction with British intelligence parts of Beirut, too, where you don't see The other thing that visitors become to wipe out political opponents. A num- the war. But if you're in the Nationalist suddenly aware of is the degree of au- ber of people are just murdered outright community, what is most striking is thority these soldiers who are walking — and that's represented as "sectarian" probably that armed soldiers—heavily about the streets have. They may stop killing and they're referred to as Catho- armed soldiers — mingle with the pe- any civilian and require that they open lics or whatever. Others are killed destrian population, taking people in their purse, open their coat, empty their through what might be called entrap- their rifle sights. Similarly, heavy ar- pockets, give their name, address, iden- ment —which basically means that the mored vehicles mingle with the routine tification, inform the authorities where British army sets up known Republican traffic, but unlike the civilian traffic, they're going, where they're coming activists by creating a situation through these army vehicles are not required to from. People don't have privacy even in which they can kill these persons and obey the traffic laws. The native popu- their own homes. If the soldier comes to

A BRIEF HISTORY OF IRELAND The English conquest of Ireland was initiated in Sinn Fein, which means "we ourselves," is the 1170. The history of Northern Ireland began in the Irish nationalistic movement that triumphed in the 17th century when the British crown, after sup- establishment of the Irish Free State. The party pressing an Irish rebellion, populated much of gained control of the government in 1932 and Ulster with Scottish and English settlers, giving the advocated separation from Great Britain. A few area a Protestant character in contrast to the rest intransigents merged with the Irish Republican of Ireland. The question of political separation did Army (IRA) whose political arm is still known as not arise until 1886 when proposals of Home Rule the Sinn Fein. for Ireland aroused fears in Protestant Ulster of In the late 1960s, protest by the Catholic minority domination by the Catholic majority in the south. against economic and political discrimination led By World War I, civil war was imminent. The to widespread violence by the "provisional IRA" Government of Ireland Act in 1920 attempted to wing on one side and the Ulster Defense Associa- solve the problem by enacting Home Rule sepa- tion, a Protestant terrorist group, on the other. The rately for the two parts of Ireland. Protestant British government sent in troops in 1969, and Ulster became the province of Northern Ireland, assumed direct rule of the province in 1973. but the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland), Protestant and Catholic activists rejected several established in the remainder of Ireland in 1922, efforts at power-sharing, and conflict marked by refused to recognize the finality of the partition. bloodshed continues.

10 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 then claim, "We thought they were go- no information, and on the other side ing to fire. We thought they had guns, "SO NOW, IN totally biased information. For example, and so on." By and large, the only way there is not a single newspaper or tele- you catch the British army out in vision network in America that has a schemes like these is when you have a ORDER TO GET AN correspondent in Ireland, so all their situation like that of young Kevin information comes either from the Brit- McGovern. Kevin was shot because his ABORTION IN ish media or directly on the wires. And, hair was red. When the British soldiers of course, the source of the wire stories saw him coming and they mistook him IRELAND YOU JUST is the British Army Headquarters in for a young, red-haired man whom they Lisburn in Northern Ireland. It should suspected of being active in the Repub- HAVE TO STAND AT come with a warning label: "This infor- lican movement, they just shot him. mation is censored." For people who And they put out a statement saying he want the truth about what's happen- was acting suspiciously, they believed THE TOP OF THE ing, the most important thing is for him to be armed, they thought he was them to begin to inform themselves going to open fire. Now, if it had been STAIRS AND SHOUT, through alternative sources. the other young man, their statements would have had some credibility. But as TM GOING TO What can women here do to reach it turned out, they had just shot this out to women in the North of Ire- young agricultural student who was JUMP!'" land? not involved in anything political or In terms of immediate situations, I doing anything suspicious. They just person who died! You never hear, for think something women in particular shot him as he was walking down the example, "A Jewish woman crossing might do is to address themselves to street in the dark. the road was knocked down by a car;" or the plight of women political prisoners. Many children have been shot in "Yesterday a Protestant fell off a build- The women prisoners in Maghaberry Northern Ireland, too, with plastic bul- ing." But in Northern Ireland, almost Prison are regularly subjected to the lets. Geographically, the West Bank, everybody who dies is identified by reli- strip-search procedure for no valid se- South Africa, and Northern Ireland are gion and that clearly keeps the false curity reason. On an individual basis, the three places where they shoot plas- idea in front of people's minds that women could write to these young tic bullets. Of course, the name "plastic Northern Ireland is equivalent with women. Or they could take up the issue bullet" gives the general public the im- religious intolerance and religious war- of strip search with public representa- pression that these weapons are fairly fare. When people are always identified tives — write directly to the prison harmless. But they actually are very by their religion, it's logical to conclude governor and to the British authorities. solid plastic missiles which travel at that they must have been killed because And also take up the issue of strip high speeds. Their purpose — their of their religion. And so it misrepre- search with local amnesty groups in the military purpose — is actually to break sents the situation. U.S. — with civil liberties groups. people's legs. But if they hit a child in Much more importantly, people in [On March 2, 1992, nearly every the head, they crush the child's skull. America are not aware that there is woman political prisoner in Maghaberry And a number of children have been legal censorship in Britain and in South- was brutally held down and strip killed that way. ern Ireland relating to the North of searched by prison guards. A number of Ireland. For example, Sinn Fein, as an the strip searches also included beat- But news we get here makes it sound organization, represents half of the ings and sexual assaults. like this military presence is neces- Nationalist community in the North. Since 1982, Irish women prisoners sary to preserve law and order. People choose democratically to elect have been subjected to strip searches, First of all, people in mainstream them; they vote Sinn Fein; they choose sometimes on a daily basis. Some America whose source of information to elect them as their political represen- women have been subjected to over is their daily newspaper and the evening tatives. But members of Sinn Fein are 400 strip searches. The brutality of news on television, by and large have no not allowed to be interviewed on the the March incident incited 42 U.S. awareness of the existence of Northern electronic media, and criminal respon- Congresspeople to send a letter of pro- Ireland. Because most of the time there sibility for being interviewed rests with test to the British Embassy.] is no news coverage at all. And then the journalist who interviewed them. from time to time there is suddenly Therefore, there is a great deal of pres- How do you respond to people who some dramatic news coverage that flares sure on journalists to err on the side of say that women in Northern Ire- onto the screen when the level of vio- caution. And rather than interview land should initiate a nonviolent lence reaches a peak. It might be when people like myself who may, in the course reponse to the war? 10 people have been killed at once, or of an interview, express an opinion that People need first and foremost to have a when by rapid succession half a dozen concurs with one that might be ex- clear idea of what they're doing. The people have been killed over 48 hours. pressed by an illegal organization, or by American peace movement against the Then the networks will showcase that a political organization like Sinn Fein, war, for example, was a peace move- information with no context other journalists choose to play it safe. So ment in the land of the oppressing na- than this bizarre habit they have of people like myself don't get interviewed identifying the religious worship of the either. And so you have on the one side continued on pg 54

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 11 A look at feminist film in the '90s By Leora Tanenbaum

wo types of heroines predominate Hollywood film in the 1990s: On one side is the evil, murderous female of movies from "Basic Instinct" and "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" to "Final Analysis" and "Single White Female." On the other is the justice-seeking war- rior woman made fa- mous by the film "Thelma and Louise." Though the dangerous femme fatale is an historic film figure, the hard-bodied fighting woman is a new turn in the representation of women in film, and she is a figure for femi- nists to appraise.

12 PHOTO: COURTESY CAROLCO INT'L. N Y 11 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 She appeared most vividly in the audiences, notwithstanding Arnold much-discussed 1990 film "Silence of Schwartzenegger's nurturing tenden- the Lambs." As she accepted an Oscar cies in "T2"), their gender-bending is for Best Actress for her portrayal of still in its formative stages. For now at Clarice Starling, Jodie Foster said: least, it is only skin-deep. "Thanks to the Academy for embracing For instance, in "Silence," Starling is such an incredibly strong and beautiful clearly seen as inferior to her colleagues feminist hero that I'm so proud of." because she is a woman. It's impossible Foster portrayed a smart and accom- to forget that she's a woman among plished woman who not only succeeds men. Her superior excludes her from a in catching a serial killer before any of discussion with the sheriff because her male FBI colleagues, but matches "this type of sex crime has certain as- wits with a brilliant and dangerous pects I'd just as soon discuss in pri- cannibalistic male psychiatrist. In fact, vate." A prisoner throws a gob of semen the National Organization for Women into her face and snarls, "I can smell publicly supported director Jonathan your cunt." In her dealings with Dr. Demme, and screenwriter Anna Hannibal Lecter, she is without a Hamilton Phelan ("Mask" and "Gorillas doubt positioned as a subordinate — as in the Mist") told the Los Angeles Times, a woman, patient, daughter and stu- "I saw this movie as very pro-female, dent. At the close of the movie, it is one in which the horror of violence unclear whether Starling will even be against women is brilliantly balanced able to solve future cases without by the presence of well-drawn female Lecter's guidance. ! characters." The same backlash underpinnings are Next came the less-hyped "Termi- evident in "T2." Sarah Connor's ulti- nator 2," which featured the single- mate value is that of mother to John minded freedom-fighter Sarah Connor, leader of the post-holocaust Connor. Played by Linda Hamilton, Resistance Against the Terminators. who whittled her padded body of the Her "femininity" erupts at a crucial first Terminator film to boyish, moment — when she has the opportu- taut, asexual contours, Connor is a nity to murder Dyson, the man who muscled machine engaged in a spearheads the technology leading to battle against evil Terminators who the nuclear holocaust. Connor is about intend to wipe out the human race. to pump bullets into his body when.. .she She snarls and fights and kills like cries. She can't bring herself to do it. an animal, actively changing the She is comforted only by her son's em- course of history to prevent a hor- brace. Though Connor does not live by rible future. the stereotypical regulations of femi- What's distinctive about these new ninity, she can still be seen to embody Hollywood heroines is that, contrary to mythic femininity. Not only is she a the dominant cultural logic of gender mother, she is a Mother; it is her son categorization, they appear at times to who will save humanity. be androgynous. It's frustrating to en- Or, consider "A League of Their Own," counter a person who defies easy gen- which gives a cursory nod toward sub- der labeling — and it's no surprise that verting immutable gender categories. film and television sometimes employ Director Penny Marshall's chronicle of the gender-confused figure as a tool for the mid-1940s' All American Girls Pro- The hard-bodied narrative suspense. But gender confu- fessional Baseball League demonstrates sion can be a catalyst for feminist change: that women can pitch a fastball and These fighting women are heroic pow- earn runs-batted-in as well as any to- fighting woman is erhouses whose strength comes from bacco-spitting man. But the movie is their refusal to adhere to the myth of rife with sexist jokes at the expense of a a new turn in the femininity. Their androgyny illustrates player considered ugly and masculine. that gender roles are cultural con- And the team star absconds to domestic representation of structions — thereby proving that bliss after one season, when her hus- women are not naturally better band returns from the war. women in film nurturers and men are not inherently What, exactly, is a "feminist" film? superior reasoners. Definitions are as wide-ranging as the While these new heroines inaugurate theories of feminists themselves. This a post-gender trend in filmic represen- is because, contrary to popular opinion, tation of women (the post-gender man feminism is not a monolith. Many people is still too threatening a figure for male believe that a feminist film is one that

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 PHOTO MICHAEL GINSBERG/ORION PICTURES CORP 15 w

Gender confusion can be a catalyst for feminist change need only present women in a "positive" sexist version of white complacency. tioned, more than once, that if she can light. Since women are so often posi- Heralds of post-feminism say that the survive this finalordeal , she'll be able to tioned in subordinate roles — as wife, battle for equality is largely won. But live a happy and reproductive life ("You mother, or girlfriend — it's refreshing like feminism, feminist film must strive should get married and have kids;" "You to watch them lead the action. Some for more. It must promote gender confu- can still have a life, children.") The feminists argue that positive represen- sion. It must break away from the old- jailmaster says, "That's a good girl" as tations can change the way women are time dualisms of feminine and mascu- he escorts her to quarantine. perceived and perceive themselves. line, positive and negative, CEO and As the "Alien" trilogy progresses, But we shouldn't congratulate films full-time homemaker. the androgynous heroine slips back simply because women capture the lead- Post-feminism/post-gender conflict into the trenches of essentialist du- ing roles. For one thing, who is to say erupts in the Ellen Ripley character alisms. By the third movie, Ripley definitively what is a "positive" repre- (Sigourney Weaver) ofth e trilogy "Alien" reinforces traditional gender roles, sentation? "Thelma and Louise" has (1979), "Aliens" (1986), and "Alien 3" despite her initial gender-bending been hailed as a "positive" film for (1992). This chronicle, which spans over actions. While feminist criticism may women. But the runaways do not a decade, reflects a complacency to- have progressed beyond basic bina- channel their anger into a fight for wards women's rights and the emer- ries, film heroines are being stalled, reform. They kill themselves, leaving a gence of a backlash mentality. In "Alien," even regressed, by the post-feminist system of sexism behind them. Are Ripley is a space fighter who remains in discourse that says we can have it these really proper role models for femi- control in the face of painful decision- all. In fact, the reactionary argu- nist activists? making and whips her crew into shape ment of the "Alien" trilogy is that a The positive imagery question is diz- when they confront horrifying monsters. heroine must have it all — Ripley zyingly complicated, and it has been Not only does Ripley eschew stereotypi- cannot be a warrior without also debated not only among feminists, but cal "feminine" roles, but her gender is being a lover, and most importantly, among African-Americans as well. In inconsequential to her character. As a mother. order to simultaneously raise morale with "Silence of the Lambs" and "T2," Date rape and harassment trials, among African-American audiences, "Alien" lacks sexual activity since Ripley feminist literature on the bestseller and to disprove racist ideology for the is nearly asexual. In a final scene, she is list, well-publicized abortion battles, benefit of white audiences, many anti- practically naked, wearing bikini un- and the unprecedented number of racist filmmakers simply reverse racist derwear and a skimpy undershirt. But women who've recently run for office — cultural formulas. But as feminist critic her physiology seems incidental; the these recent consciousness-raising Michele Wallace points out: "Because camera barely notices, and certainly events can push the half-formed an- racism provides an already complete doesn't linger upon, her nudity. drogynous heroine over the edge. and satisfying comprehension of Black But Ripley's androgyny is sucked The '90s' proto-feminist movies are identity (which is why it persists), one out of her in each subsequent sequel. off to a propitious start: They all that is presumably continuous with and In the second installment, "Aliens," contain an anti-establishment essential to the rest of the viewer's Ripley's physical strength and stead- premise. "Thelma and Louise" ex- ideological framework, a temporary rever- fast determination to wipe out the poses the weaknesses of our legal sal of terms — like a media version of alien creatures can only be expressed system. "Silence of the Lambs" bru- Sadie Hawkins Day — not only doesn't through her strong maternal feel- tally lays bare the failures of our challenge racism but may in fact ings for a young orphaned girl, Newt. law enforcement system (after all, to corroborate it." Does "The Cosby Show" Ripley soothes the scared and dirty capture a serial killer, the FBI expose racism — or just foster white com- Newt, offers her hot chocolate, and colludes with a cannibalistic mur- placency? Is "A League of Their Own" an tucks her into bed. It's clear that derer.) "Terminator 2" carries an effective subversion of patriarchy — or when Ripley fights the biggest alien obvious anti-nuclear message. And merely a seventh-inning stretch? one-on-one, displaying superhuman the "Alien'' movies pit space crew Stereotype reversal may feel good, strength, it's more for the sake of members against "the company" — a but it can never plumb the ideology of Newt's life than for her own. Ripley government/ military apparatus that prejudice. This is because it is predi- is not Wonderwoman — she's does not care about them and that cated on the dualistic notion that there Supermom. deems their lives "expendable." is a natural, "essential" core of Black- In "Alien 3," Ripley shaves her head Clearly, these movies reflect a seri- ness or femininity. Liberal feminists, and swaggers in khaki fatigues, though ous, widely held dissatisfaction with who are concerned with obtaining her former glory days as an androgy- the way men treat women and institu- equal rights with men, have been the nous soldier are gone. Now her gender tions treat people in general. However, first to praise the appearance of strong is a constant marker, a persistent flag seemingly rebellious films cannot con- female characters who seamlessly that delineates her from the men sur- tinue to rely upon deeply embedded, blend into traditionally male domains. rounding her. Ripley as Woman cannot tacitly accepted versions of how men But this praise can easily slide into be ignored, because she is on a planet and women should act. Otherwise, the "post-feminism," the belief that women inhabited byformer sex criminals. There subversion of gender will end as audi- can be anything they want — muscled is an attempted gang rape, from which ences leave the theaters. • cops, bald space-fighters, briefcase-tot- Ripley is rescued. For the first time, she ing execs, or just old-fashioned, apron- has a love interest, and her status as a Leora Tanenbaum is a freelance critic wearing moms. Post-feminism is the single woman is highlighted. It is men- who lives in New York City.

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 PHOTO. COURTESY CAROLCO HOME VIDEO 17 WOMEN WHISTLEBLOWERS— What They Say, The Price They Pay By Elayne Clift

\ hen Suzanne 1987 they capitulated, agreeing to share Hadleysaid"no"to credit and royalties. In May of this year, her boss last year, however, the French Government vi- "it seemed like the sited the White House to demand roy- most natural thing alty reparation. At the same time, de- in the world to spite a press release by NIH that Gallo say." Karen Pitts had been cleared of any wrongdoing, as and Jackie Brever many as six separate inquiries are in thought so too progress. In June, C. McClain Haddow, when they said who was a chief of staff at HSS and a key "yes" to the FBI. advisor to Heckler, said the Govern- Little did these women suspect that they ment was misled by Gallo's claim to would be shunned, harassed and treated have been the sole discoverer of the like pariahs, allforthecrimeoftruth telling cause of AIDS, and that now the United on the job. What happened to them could States has a "moral duty" to turn over happen to any one of us in the workplace. the credit and royalties to the French. In fact, it already has for dozens of other Additionally, two independent bodies women around the country. — a panel of scientific experts from the Suzanne Hadley, a Ph.D. research National Academy of Sciences and the psychologist, was Deputy Director of House Subcommittee on Oversight and the Office of Scientific Integrity (OSI) at Investigations — have attacked Gallo the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and what they said was the when she told her boss, NIH Director Government's limp imvestigation. Dr. Bernadine Healy, that she could not Following Hadley's refusal to alter her in good conscience follow orders to re- report in order to make it more favor- write her report concerning the scien- able to Gallo and the NIH, harassment tific integrity of AIDS research carried set in. First, NIH's legal advisor or- out by Dr. Robert Gallo. Hadley, who dered her to turn over her telephone was chief investigator in the Gallo case, records from another high-visibility had reason to believe, like others, that whistleblowing case for which Hadley the eminent researcher had taken had also been chief investigator, charg- credit for isolating the HIV virus when ing her with a "lack of obj ectivity." Then, in fact such recognition should have Hadley was barred from attending an gone to French scientists. important meeting regarding both that In May 1983, a French team reported case and Gallo's, in spite of an invitation discovery of the virus they called LAV. from the Assistant Secretary of Health. In the interest of sharing scientific in- Soon after, Hadley was ordered to return formation, they subsequently sent a all documents and records in her posses- strain of the virus to Gallo at NIH. In sion and was barred from any further 1984, Gallo announced that he had also involvement in either of the cases. On July discovered the cause of AIDS, calling 1, 1991, Suzanne Hadley resigned from the virus HTLV-III. Although sources any further involvement with those cases. say it had been agreed at a meeting in Later that summer, Hadley began coop- Paris that the French should be cred- erating with the Congressional Subcom- ited with discovery of the AIDS virus, mittee on Oversight and Investigations, soon after the Paris meeting Gallo was chaired by Rep. John Dingell, who was given the distinction publicly by then- irate over what was happening at NIH. In Secretary of Health and Human Ser- September, she was reassigned into an- vices (HHS) Margaret Heckler. Aside other position at NTH, and given work from the ethicalissues, there were enor- which was largely clerical. mous financial rewards at stake. AIDS As her work intensified with the Sub- test royalties are worth millions of dol- committee, the Government Account- lars to the U.S. government, and an ing Office (GA), and the Office of the estimated $100,000 a year to Gallo, who Inspector General (OIG), so did the pres- applied for a patent on a blood test for sure. In early 1992, Hadley was sub- AIDS on the same day that he claimed jected to allegations questioning her to have discovered the virus. The French, integrity and her willingness to obey who had also filed a patent application, orders. A public statement was issued contested Gallo's application, but in suggesting that her cooperation with

19 the Subcommittee was improper. Then, counts of criminal violation of the Clean case went before the state courts in on March 11, 1992, an FBI agent en- Water Act. The fine of $18.5 million is October 1991, it was referred to federal tered Hadley's office indicating that he "peanuts" says Pitts, who points out court where Rocky Flats lawyers at- wished to interview her concerning that the net profits in 1991 were $600.5 tempted to have it dismissed. The case charges that she had improperly re- million. "The fine is a little more than charged conspiracy, wrongful discharge, ceived confidential documents. Infer- three percent of their profits .They could and harassment. This August, Judge ences were made about leaks, and afford to plead guilty to appease the Daniel B. Sparr of United States Dis- Hadley was told that if the NIH com- community." (As with the Exxon Valdez trict Court in Denver dismissed the plaint was substantiated, there would case, it is possible that further fines lawsuit, saying the complaint by Pitts be an indictment against her. (The U.S. could be imposed.) According to Pitts, and Brever was not detailed enough to Attorney General's office has since ruled although the plant was shut down in continue with the case. The women's that there are no grounds for prosecution.) 1989, Rocky Flats has since hired 2,000 lawyer said an appeal was planned. The next day, while she was out on sick Is whistleblowing on the increase leave, NIH officials padlocked Hadley's among women, or do they simply expe- office preventing her entry and, subse- rience it differently from men? quently, the premises were searched. Since "They see Washington, DC attorney Lynne then, Suzanne Hadley has remained out on Bernabei specializes in defending medical leave. She has fileda n official com- us, they see whistleblowers. She thinks women plaint with the Office of Special Counsel. whistleblowers are a growing breed, Amazingly, Hadley is not suing NIH. cancer" partly a function of their increasing "I simply want the raise I'm due, a numbers in the workforce. "I think, too, public statement saying that all the people so that a workforce of 8,000 is cur- part of the reason we're seeing more allegations about me are hooey, and I rently on payroll in what is described as a women is because traditionally they've want the truth to be told." Hadley is "pre-transition" period. Most of these, she been on the margins of the establish- visibly shaken by what has been hap- says, are managers and secretaries, not ment. So when they start raising ethi- pening to her, but she is stoic and deter- hourly workers like herself and Jackie. cal questions about cost, or policy, or mined. "I'll wash dishes if I have to," she In April 1991, Pitts and Brever were legalities, or safety, they get fired or says. "I've done it before, and I can do it asked to resign and neither has been harassed more quickly than men be- again." Then, with emotion in her eyes, able to find work since. "We're consid- cause they're already outside of the she concedes, "I have never felt so pro- ered high risk," says Karen. "They see power structure. foundly alone." us, they see cancer. But we had to go "It is also a different experience for Karen Pitts and Jackie Brever have public when the FBI came in. We had no women. Often they don't have the fi- each other — but almost no one else — choice. Then our families and homes nancial resources that men do, so once to share the pain with, so they can were threatened. They were shooting they get fired, finding a new job is more relate to the loneliness of out windows, starting fires. It was just stressful. And sometimes they don't whistleblowing. Not only have they been like Karen Silkwood — the union treat- have the kind of support from their verbally and sexually harassed, their ment, the reaction of government agen- families that men might have from their homes have been vandalized and their cies, the workplace response. We actu- wives and others." lives threatened because of their in- ally made wills because we thought we But perhaps the most punishing as- volvement with safety issues at the were going to die." pect of women's whistleblowing is being Rocky Flats plutonium plant in Colo- For Jackie, the consequences of telling labeled crazy or having to endure the rado. Subjected to name-calling, haz- the truth about conditions at Rocky psychic stress of being alone or misun- ardous work conditions, increased Flats have gone from fear to sadness derstood. Almost without exception, sexual harassment (including having and then anger. "My friends and family women who hold out for truthtelling in men expose themselves), and being por- have abandoned me. Only Karen and the workplace enter into psychiatric trayed as "300-pound neanderthal my mother support me. My 10-year-old counseling because of the ensuing de- women" by management and co-work- daughter is a basket case. I had to move pression. Carolyn Nelson is a case in ers alike, the two women were assumed because all my old neighbors were Rocky point. Nelson, who worked for the Postal to be the source of leaks to the FBI Flats employees and they actually threw Service for 24 years, was removed from because they agreed to cooperate with rocks and bricks at us. I'm left with a her position when she discovered con- the agency's investigation of the plant very bitter taste for our government. tractor fraud. "It's 24 years down the on charges of illegal incineration and You fight for your rights and tell the drain," she says now. "I lost my house violations of the Clean Air Act. Both truth, and now I see that the only way to and my car, my mother had a heart women firmly deny the allegation. get anywhere is to lie. That's not the attack, and my daughter and I are both The Rocky Flats Plutonium Plant, way I want to be." in counseling. But the hardest thing is which is owned by the Department of The two women also found their en- that people you have worked with for so Energy but operated by a company called counters with the legal system to be long suddenly don't know you. They're EG&G Rocky Flats Incorporated, re- frustrating. "We filed a lawsuit as a last afraid of being contaminated. Some- cently pleaded guilty to 10 criminal resort," says Brever, "only to hear over thing is urgently wrong with the system charges, including five felony counts of and over again 'we can't help you.' It's when that is allowed to happen." violating the Resource Conservation pathetic." Eventually they did find a The contamination issue is a real one. Recovery Act, and five misdemeanor lawyer who supports them. When their Women whistleblowers are virtually

20 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 always perceived as troublemakers with the way, you may lose your family, your sufficient paper to back you up. Docu- an attitude. In 1983, Linda Bruce, a friends, your job, your sense of commu- ment! The worst thing is being discred- former auditor for Washington State's nity . At the very least, you will be viewed ited for something you did right. And Public Power Supply System (WPPSS), as a disgruntled employee, discredited decide right up front whether you are blew the whistle on crooked procure- as someone who can't hold down a job. going to be totally anonymous, or to- ment practices. For that, she was put on The harassment is so severe that many tally public. If you commit, you have to "monitored performance" notice and, people end up with severe psychiatric go all the way. Get a good attorney and two weeks later, fired on grounds that problems, the most common being Post- involve the politicos." Anna Carroll cau- she was a troublemaker and wouldn't Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). At tions people not to believe too much in "let go of issues." (A subsequent inves- that point, they say you are unbalanced. the system. For Carolyn Nelson, the tigation by the federal government used "If there's any way to blow the whistle key is to seek out someone else who has her work to prove vertical price fixing in without endangering yourself at work, been through a similar experience. 12 states.) Bruce, who eventually relocated or putting your family at risk, that "Think about the ramifications," she and found employment with the route should be pursued. That could says. "Understand the consequences. Treasurer's office in Spokane, was rejected mean waiting until after you've left a You really could lose everything." by nearly 300 other potential employers position to act. In some cases it means That's an awfully big price to pay for after her experience with the WPPSS. leaking information without disclosing truthtelling on the job. But then, as Anna Carroll advocated for a smoke- yourself as a source. We try to advise Jackie Brever says, "Maybe some day it free environment at the Tennessee Val- people that while it may seem like pub- will change. In the meantime, at least I ley Authority (TVA), her employer of 28 lic whistleblowing is the moral thing to won't be a disgrace to my gender." • years. A persecution campaign and sub- do, you may have just as great an effect sequent dismissal followed. "You try to without going public." Elayne Clift, a writer in Potomac, MD, do the right thing," she says, "and then Linda Bruce counsels others to "know is a frequent contributor to On the Is- management says you have an attitude what you're getting into. Talk to some- sues. Her book of collected essays, Tell- problem." Carroll has not worked in one knowledgeable. There's a lot you ing It Like It Is: Reflections of a Not So three years. She sees the issue as a can do without actually exposing your- Radical Feminist, was published last power struggle between women and self." To that, Karen Pitts adds, "Have year by KIT, Inc. men. "Women are the caretakers. They take the risks, and then they're treated viciously." There appears to be another impor- FINDING SOMEONE ELSE WHO'S BEEN tant facet of the female perspective. THROUGH IT Sandra Adams, an Arizona police dis- Don Soeken knows about whistleblow- In government, you will be pummeled patcher, recently awarded $250,000 ers. Back in 1978, Soeken was instru- to death until they get rid of you." in a whistleblowing case, makes the mental in halting the practice of gov- Soeken also warns whistleblowers moral point clear. "It was nice to be vindi- ernment-forced psychiatric fitness-for- about the legal system. "It's a cruel cated," she says, "but either way, you don't duty exams as a way to get rid of hoax. Unless you have the best attor- really have a choice as to what you do." This unwanted whistleblowers. (After 1984 ney, plenty of documentation, and lots sentiment was echoed by every woman hearings, the practice was outlawed.) of money, you're going to lose." interviewed for this article. "My behav- Once the New York Times picked up In his "Ten Steps for Effective Whistle- ior is correct," says Karen Pitts, "and I'd the story, Soeken was deluged with blowing," Soeken, who is a social do it again in a heartbeat." calls from others seeking advice and worker with a Ph.D. in human devel- That's impressive when you consider moral support. In response, he founded opment, counsels people to talk to the price these women have paid in the Integrity International, a foundation family and friends, determine what name of moral integrity. So for those providing support to whistleblowers the alternatives are, seek the counsel considering whistleblowing, here is in corporate and government institu- of trusted peers, discuss the situation some advice from those who have tions. The foundation works with with a good attorney, document all been through it. grassroots and national public interest relevant facts, leak the information if First, says Lynne Bernebei, you have groups. Congressional committees, the possible, and "be on your best behavior!" to look at the particular situation and media, and activists to change illegal Integrity International also main- assess your chances for survival if you and repressive policies and "to create tains an Assistance Fund. The Fund blow the whistle. "In 99 percent of cases a more free and just society." provides for counseling and other sup- you're going to be destroyed, or your "Support groups are crucial to keep port, and for technical assistance. It family's going to be destroyed. That's going," Soeken says. "You have to maintains a national network of law- the reality of the American workplace." keep in mind who's doing the right yers and is in the process of setting up Bernabei says that while whistleblowers thing. But you can't take on the role of support groups around the country. For serve society as "agents of accountabi- Inspector General," he continues. "You more information, contact Don Soeken lity," it is very difficult to protect them. need to get information to them. A at 6215 Greenbelt Rd., Suite 102, Col- She worries that as more of these expe- whistleblower's role is to point to the lege Park, MD 20740. Phone: 301- riences are shared, there will be fewer truth, not to be confrontational. In a 953-7358. people willing to take the risks. "It takes corporation, you will always be fired. -EX. years and years out of your life. Along

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 21 UNDER ATTAC K BUT FIGHTING

THE BIRTH OF THE POOR WOMEN'S MOVEMENT By Nina Schuyler Sonja Blutgarten scoops another glob of oatmeal into her four-year-old son's dinner bowl. Her other son, age six, wolfs his down by stirring in three packets of sugar. Their food stamps are spent; for the next six days, oatmeal will be their breakfast, lunch and dinner — in globs, in syrups, in baked-hard bis- cuits. After dinner, she dresses them quickly in second-hand clothes, both wearing Keds with holes in their soles. They rush down to San Francisco's Tenderloin for the low-income women's meeting where she and 15 other poor women are planning their next protest.

PHOTO: CATHERINE SMITH/IMPACT VISUALS Without resources, a poor woman and her daughter find temporary refuge in a battered women's shelter. A homeless mother and child in a hotel room. The hotel is often used to house homeless welfare recipients such as they.

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 24 PHOTO. EDWARD PETERS/IMPACT VISUAIS Out of breath, Angel Hatfield and her five-year-old daughter hurry into the meeting late because the utilities com- pany cut off her electricity. Any unex- pected change — an extra $10 spent for gas — means juggling a $500 monthly Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) check that's already stretched to support her daughter who suffers from emotional problems. One woman announces that she must leave the meeting early to reserve a bed at the St. Anthony's homeless shelter down the street. Gathered around a bare desk in a makeshift office, Sonja gives everyone a handwritten agenda. Something

WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY GROWING AT A FASTER RATE THAN EVER BEFORE IN AMERICA, THE HARDEST HIT ARE SINGLE MOTHERS

crashes on a table. Two police cars, with sirens blaring, rush by. The women, a mix of Black, Caucasian and Latina, barely notice anything as they vote to attend a rally opposing the state's bud- get cuts in education, welfare and pub- lic housing. Already the women have protested at five companies, each of which contrib- uted up to $50,000 to California's Gov- ernor Pete Wilson's November initia- tive that cuts welfare benefits by 25 percent. A month earlier they had joined other poor women's groups and sent hundreds of letters to the manufac- turer of Norplant, the new birth control device which is surgically inserted and removed. Wilson passed legislation to have Medi-Cal pay for Norplant inser- tion into welfare mothers. The women argue that subsidizing one decision — not to have children — over their right to make reproductive choices is eco- nomically coercive. Their meeting breaks up at 6:00 p.m., before darkness settles into San Francisco's highest crime neighborhood

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 25 and the hookers take over the street the negative stigma associated with Fighting Back," the theme for the gath- corners. Though these women live in being poor. And most have felt alone ering. Scraping together money for this drug-infested neighborhood in because the contemporary women's transportation through bake sales, car run-down apartments and housingpro- movement neglected this segment of washes, church donations and grants, jects, they rarely venture out at night. the female population as it focused on poor women of all races saved for months Sonja gathers up her boys and scur- issues irrelevant to their lives — en- to purchase a bus or plane ticket. Some ries to catch the bus. Ever since her trance into professional schools and came from as far away as the Domini- husband left her two years ago, she has male-dominated careers — instead of can Republic and Florida. One young lived in San Francisco on welfare. But adequate food, shelter, healthcare and Latina woman from East Los Angeles after spending a year and a half in childcare. collected money by selling tortillas to transitional housing, something clicked. For poor women, the contemporary neighbors. After raising $78, she and "I started to see that there was no af- women's movement has been about as- her three children climbed aboard a fordable permanent housing," said similation into the male-dominated Greyhound and traveled eight hours to Sonja. "I was stuck and the system was structure, a structure that doesn't Oakland. For many, it was their first working against me." She describes this accomodate non-professional working opportunity to travel, leave their com- realization as an epiphany—a moment mothers. The more privileged women munities, and discover that, across when she saw that her situation — no worked by choice, not out of need. As a America, there are many women living home, no money, no food for her two result, the measurement of success for exactly like them. kids — was not all her own fault. With Most of these women have ingrained two small children and little education, into their thinking that they are to Sonja found scant support from state blame for being poor. They are quick to social services. She got a job at Taco view themselves as bad women, fail- Bell for $3.85 an hour with no health GROWING NUMBERS ures or dependent. But when they break benefits. After paying for childcare, out of their isolation by organizing with rent and utilities, she had less money OF WOMEN ARE similarly situated women, they begin to than if she'd stayed on welfare. see their "personal problems" as insti- With the number of people living in TAKING CONTROL OVER tutional ones. And as leaders making poverty growing at a faster rate than THEIR LIVES IN AN decisions about their own lives in a ever before in America, the hardest hit movement, they become more powerful are women, who, like Sonja, are single EMERGING NEW actors. As leaders, their anger and frus- mothers. Women now represent 62 per- tration are funneled into protests, let- cent of those living with poverty level WOMEN'S MOVEMENT ter writing, running candidates for of- incomes and still earn, on average, 60 fice, (like Dottie Stevens, a welfare re- cents for every dollar earned by a man. cipient and mother of four who ran for Over the last decade, the number of governor of Michigan in 1991), and put- children living in single parent families ting together a convention. has increased from nine to 13 million. the women's movement has been how An angry voice echoes through the Fifty-four percent of all children in fami- many women are now executives of cor- hallways of the school where the women lies headed by women live in poverty. porations, CEOs or lawyers. have gathered. There's a rawness to it, This trend is likely to continue as both Although the poor women leading this something that grabs your full atten- presidential candidates have shifted new movement promote these goals as tion because it's so serious, so desper- further right, ignoring governmental well, they argue that huge numbers of ate. A large Black woman wearing an programs designed to help the poor. women are not even getting to the door. army coat stands under the banner, But like Sonja and Angel, growing They believe that if those living at the crying, shouting, telling the audience numbers of women are trying to move bottom of the economic scale are about her life — eating 67-cent loaves out of poverty by taking control over brought up, all of society will move of bread in order to pay the rent, falling their lives in an emerging new women's forward. to the floor when the bullets start fly- movement, a Poor Women's Survival A hot sun pours over 400 poor women ing, worrying that her young daughter Movement. Across the country, in groups gathered in Oakland, California in May, will be raped or sexually abused. The like the Welfare Warriors in Milwau- 1992 at the first-ever Poor Women's women in the audience, mostly in their kee, Coalition for Better Human Needs Convention. The mothers have brought 20s and 30s, listen, nod in agreement, in Boston, The Coalition for Welfare their children with them — over a hun- and shout encouragement to her. Be- Rights in New York, Women's Economic dred eat peanut butter sandwiches in a hind her, a long line of poor women Agenda Project (WEAP) in California daycare area. Tables of literature sur- wait to speak. Again and again, women — low-income women are breaking round the plaza — Welfare Mother's shout, "I'm not going to take it anymore. out of their isolation and learning strat- Voice, a newspaper written and pro- I've been silent too long. I am not a egies to survive and to challenge gov- duced by the Welfare Warriors in Mil- second-class citizen. We are raising our ernmental policies aimed at regulating waukee, Survival News from Boston kids in war zones." their lives. and Economic Justice Speakout from There was a national welfare rights For most of their lives, these women WEAP. A white banner in bold, black movement in the 1960s, but this is dif- are isolated from the rest of society letters hangs across the front of the ferent. In the'60s'movement, men domi- because of their lack of resources and outdoor stage: "Under Attack—But nated its leadership and it was exclu-

26 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 sively focused on welfare. "Now in the WEAP protest with pots and pans woman finds a job, she should be al- 1990s, you can no longer separate prob- against proposed budget cuts, lowed to stabilize there before cutting lems associated with being a woman Sacramento, CA, June, 1992. off her grant money and health ben- and those involving living in poverty," efits. But first, they must stop the said Mimi Abromowitz, a professor at to end violence against women. They states' cuts in welfare benefits. Hunter College School of Social Work, vote to set up meetings with schools to The following week, a group of women who sits in the rows of metal chairs incorporate self-defense in physical edu- from the convention are protesting at listening. "The problems that are being cation classes. Every woman pledges to the San Francisco Hilton where Gover- faced have a lot to do with being a talk with 10 women by June 30th about nor Wilson holds a fundraiser for his woman." Not just African-American the connection between poverty and initiative to cut welfare benefits. The women but all women, says Abromowitz, abuse. governor refuses to talk to the 200 gesturing toward the convention par- The next day, the women finalize strat- women shouting outside the hotel, so 11 ticipants who are from all races. By egies for survival—supporting national women move into the lobby where they defining welfare as a woman's issue, healthcare, obtaining job skills, surviv- are immediately arrested, cited and later new connections form to combat pov- ing under budget cuts, fighting steril- assigned a trial date in September. On erty and violence against women, sex ization abuse, electing poor women to the national news that night, anchor- discrimination at work, and how society office and planning their August '92 man Peter Jennings talks about the defines work. convention in Detroit. On Sunday, the "Hilton 11," and shows a news clip. In At the conference itself, those connec- last day of the convention, Ethel Long the background, the viewer hears, "I'm tions start to emerge. One after another Scott addresses the entire crowd to ex- getting arrested for wanting to feed my speaks of domestic violence. "After be- plain where the movement goes from kids." ing beaten real bad, I left, taking my here. Above her head, Scott waves the Wearing her two-piece suit, Martha children with me," said one woman from seven pages of strategies that these Davis, an attorney with the National Wisconsin. "We started out in a shelter women have drafted to solve poor OrganizationforWomen(NOW-LEDF) because I had no money and couldn't get women's issues. "We are moving now," Legal Defense and Education Fund pulls a job because I never graduated from she shouts and the women cheer, hug- out her legal papers. She is planning a high school." As these women's lives ging each other. On those seven pink legal suit in conjunction with the reveal, half of all women in homeless pages, everyone agreed that the welfare NAACP and Puerto Rican Legal De- shelters are there because they are es- system needs major reforms. Benefits fense Fund against Wisconsin's, New caping violence. Later, the women vote and the minimum wage must be raised Jersey's and Maryland's plan to reduce to support Senator Joseph Biden's bill above the poverty line. And once a a welfare mother's benefits when she

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 PHOTO ED OASA 27 gives birth to another child. branches provide technical assistance "The central myth behind the cuts is and support to poor women's organiza- that poor women receiving welfare are tions in their area. In April, NOW paid only having kids to receive larger wel- POOR WOMEN'S for plane fares to Washington, D.C. so fare checks," explains Davis. According that poor women were represented in to Davis' theory, this is a discriminatory MOVEMENT the reproductive rights march. And the stereotype which violates federal law. organization donated money to the Poor Her statistics show that the average Women's Convention. family receiving welfare has only two AFDC STATISTICS: The greatest obstacle to this new children, and that 90 percent of welfare movement is resources, says Mimi mothers have three children or less. Abromowitz. "It's difficult to communi- Nor is there any connection between NUMBER OF FAMILIES cate with each other and keep the move- benefit levels and number of children. RECEIVING AID IN 1991: ment moving without phones, fax ma- chines, cars, money for plane fare." Another myth is that welfare recipients 4.7 MILLION. NUMBER OF are lazy. A study conducted by the Insti- But with support from traditional tute for Women's Policy Research shows INDIVIDUALS: 13.4 MIL- women's organizations they can fight that at least 40 percent of women on LION. NUMBER OF CHIL- just a little harder and longer. welfare already combine work with During the next day, Angel's house is welfare. And, almost unanimously, wel- DREN: 9 MILLION filled with kids who are dropped off by fare mothers want to work, but when • other mothers who work part-time or there are jobs, they often don't pay a just need a break. "I never ask for money living wage. Worse, they lose Medicaid AVERAGE MONTHLY BEN- from them," said Angel. "It's just some- benefits — for someone with small chil- EFITS: $387 PER FAMILY; thing we do for each other." Most of the dren, this can be more valuable than time, the children play indoors because AFDC or food stamps. $135 PER PERSON the apartment building where Angel Martha was hired by NOW-LDEF a • lives is surrounded by abandoned build- year ago when NOW slowly started ings with windows shattered and dark. to become interested in poor women's AVERAGE SIZE OF A prostitute stands on the corner across issues. One of the largest and best- AN AFDC FAMILY the street, often in broad daylight. Some- known feminist organizations, NOW times she whistles at the kids that go by. traditionally has given priority to IN 1989:2.9 As the children run around the apart- achieving sexual equality, rather • ment, Angel pulls out her GED test than acting on economic or racial book and tries to study. She's planning issues. But as more middle-income TOTAL STATE AND FED- to take the test soon so that she can go women slip into the ranks of the ERAL SPENDING ON AFDC to college. She wants to do something in lower income, NOW is reorganizing FOR 1991: $20.4 BILLION the healthcare field. If she gets into a its priorities. Although more women certain program, the school will provide now work, the majority still work in • childcare while Angel is in class. service and clerical jobs where pay is RACIAL BREAKDOWN OF Around 4:30, Angel takes three of the lowest. As a result, the basic motiva- kids downstairs to meet their mothers. tion that inspired the modern AFDC RECIPIENTS IN One of the mothers walks up, looking women's movement 20-plus years ago 1989: 40.1 PERCENT sharp in a dress, hose and pumps. She — to assimilate into the male-domi- just got a job as a secretary after finish- nated structure — is changing. Is- AFRICAN-AMERICAN; 38.4 ing typing school at the local commu- sues that poor women have always PERCENT WHITE; 15.9 nity college. She takes her child and faced are now being confronted by PERCENT HISPANIC; 1.3 walks out of the neighborhood to a safer more women. part of town. "We are in the midst of a huge social PERCENT NATIVE AMERI- That night, from the kitchen table, revolution in this country," said Scott. CAN; 2.7 PERCENT ASIAN Angel makes phone calls, reminding "People who thought they were in the • the women about tomorrow's demon- middle income are finding how close stration. She listens to their problems, they live to the edge." Adds Scott, very ADJUSTING FOR INFLA- comforting some and complaining to few families now are not affected by others. Then, with one last hour of the drugs, joblessness, alcohol abuse or bat- TION, THE AVERAGE WEL- day before climbing into bed next to tering of women. FARE BENEFIT IN THE Sarah, Angel flips on her small 1950s' In response to these changes, NOW GE radio and begins, again, to study for has chosen to work with poor women's UNITED STATES DECLINED the GED. • organizations by increasing communi- BY 42 PERCENT BETWEEN cation, supporting their work and pro- Nina Schuyleris ajournalist who writes viding resources. At NOW's annual 1970 AND 1991 about legal and social issues. Her new convention in June, members passed a book, The Unemployment Survival resolution mandating that all its local Handbook, is due next Spring.

28 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 BREAST THJE BODY POSITIVE 1991 ... 1 i 998 ... 1 in 5 COVER STORY-THE BODY POSITIVE GOT TO GET THIS OFF MY CHEST SHARING IN THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR TREATMENT AND RECOVERY MAY BE THE DECISION THAT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

*WE DON'T KNOW By Matuschka

In the 1970s, when I was in my early 20s, I spent a good amount of time in front of a camera as a fashion model. I was one of the few models of that era who had large enough breasts to show cleavage for swimsuit and lingerie campaigns without taping or retouching. During the 1980s, I began to take an interest in photographing my body, particularly my torso. With the help of a tripod and mirror, I became both the photographer and the subject of my photographic compositions. These pictures, incorporating my "Ruin" series in which I went to abandoned buildings and shot nude photos of myself on location, were published in many photography magazines.

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 PHOTOS AND ARTWORK MATUSCHKA 31 "I spent several days documenting my body before, during and after the operation by camera and on film."

On an operating table in New York in the Spring of 1991,1 a mastectomy followed by six months of chemotherapy. was told that I had breast cancer. When I realized my figure This wasn't a decision prescribed by doctors — it was a would be changed permanently as a result of the personal choice influenced by the memory of my mother mastectomy, it was only natural for me to adapt my work dying of breast cancer at the age of 41. Unlike most to fit this condition. I spent several days documenting my patients who become nauseated, weak, sick, bloated, body before, during and after the operation by camera and on and suffer from various other side-effects from chemo- | film. Much of this footage will be used in the feature docu- therapy, none of this happened with me. I attributed my mentary "Part Time God" to be released this Fall. In October, strength and tolerance to my new diet. Fox Five aired a special program on breast cancer in which | my posters addressing this health issue were featured. PHYSICIAN OR MAGICIAN? Before my operation, my doctor asked me if I wanted a plastic AN ARTIST FACES BREAST CANCER surgeon on site, to install an inflator after my breast was removed. j When a woman learns that she has breast cancer, she "An inflator?" I asked. quickly discovers that the options, treatments, opin- "Matuschka, an inflator is a small device which is used to ions, causes and theories are so broad, wide and conflict- stretch the skin after a mastectomy. This helps the body and ing that making decisions is a confusing and difficult the plastic surgeon get a better result when an implant is process — particularly since many of these decisions are inserted months, or years, later." irreversible. "I'm not having a reconstruction." The first change I made was my diet. I switched to "You can always change your mind. You have a perfect body macrobiotics and embraced the strict healing diet pre- to slip in a breast form." scribed for cancer patients. Learning macrobiotics — a For a moment I thought this was crazy. The implant lifestyle and diet primarily consisting of grains, veg- scandal had just hit the media. We had learned that many of etables, seaweed, beans and soups — distracted me the materials used for these implants were originally in- from cancer while improving my health, appearance tended for upholstery, battle ships, and automobile parts. and state of mind. I felt this was the one thing I could do Annoyed that my surgeon was pushing plastic surgery, I to increase my chances of survival without assistance commented sarcastically, "If I'm going to bother putting from the medical world. According to macrobiotic theory, anything on my chest to replace a missing breast, why not food would be my medicine, and since my tumor had install something useful there, like a camera or a walkman?" already been removed by the biopsy, I didn't need one, or two, breasts taken off. BREAST IN A BOX My tumor was less than a centimeter, which is consid- In today's society, many women are often influenced by the ered an early stage of cancer and is usually treated with fashionable trends created and promoted by the media. With a lumpectomy followed by radiation. Instead, I opted for cosmetics, clothing, and plastic surgery (to name a few)

32 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 facing my life did not prepare me for the reaction my mastectomy would bring among men. After my surgery, I began attracting a lot of men who had no idea that I was missing a breast. I was surprised at how many men I was meeting after my operation, and "IF I'M GOING I attributed this new desirability to my diet, which took 25 pounds off my figure, gave me a natural face- lift, and helped me regain the posture and attitude of my youth. TO BOTHER When I told these men I had had my breast removed, I rarely heard from them again. Even men who had known PUTTING me for several years surprised me with their reactions to my condition. Although some of them asked me how I was doing, the most common question they asked was: ANYTHING "Are you going to have a reconstruction?" As sculptor Nancy Fried, who also addresses breast cancer in her work, has remarked, I wonder if this society will ever ON MY CHEST, break the tradition of the idealized female figure and create a new norm that looks at every woman's beauty with pride and acceptance no matter what shape her WHYNOT body is in? Will we ever get over the assumption that only flawless bodies are deserving of public display, INSTAU A approval and sexual expression? RAINBOW AFTER THE STORM CAMERA?" Last spring I celebrated my one-year anniversary, which marks two important changes in my life: Cancer and macrobiotics. Each day I am creating my own life and health. Macrobiotics was an opportunity that helped me become successful in learning to welcome my current women are taught that a more meaningful and successful life circumstances and accept them with love, kindness and can be procured. A more meaningful life means attracting, compassion. This challenge was exciting because it forged and then seducing, the right man. its way into opportunities that uncovered personal be- According to these guidelines, a big bust — or at minimum, liefs. In this way, my own practice is directly put into two breasts — are a requirement for "real" beauty. In the my destiny. breast-envious 1980s, when the majority of fashion models When I think about my life and what I've been through, it were having their breasts augmented, many women began to occurs to me that some might say I've been courageous believe that they could only be "desirable" with large breasts. because I was so open and obvious about my situation. Even How does this affect women who are facing a diagnosis of though my new body added a different dimension to the breast cancer? dating game, I am happy to report that more than a year Uncomfortable with the physical and emotional conse- after my mastectomy, I am with a man — a macrobiotic man quences of being "lopsided" after a mastectomy, many women — who loves me very much. have subjected themselves to lengthy, painful, and frighten- I hope my attitude with breast cancer can serve as an ing operative procedures to build a new breast. Others, inspiration to the many women who face this disease. feeling the need to return to a normal appearance, wear a For those who wish to lower their chances of a recur- prosthesis. It is a woman's right to chose to hide her situation, rence, perhaps considering a new diet will be a priority. but this behavior doesn't help to change the attitudes about small- Sharing in the responsibility for your treatment and breasted, one-breasted, or no-breasted women in this culture. recovery may be the decision that can save your life. The Hiding breast cancer allows people to forget, or never see, choice is yours. what happened to these women. All my life I have refused to Unfortunately, many women continue to be auditioned and hide behind anything. It was unthinkable for me to conceal inspected each day as they try to make decisions about their my disease behind a reconstructed breast or a plastic, por- appearance and health, while competing with the illusions table prosthesis which spends the night in a box. Why should that the media has created for them. Contending with fanta- I be embarrassed that I had a mastectomy? sies that have been designed by the fashion industry, at a time when many women face one of the biggest hardships of MINUS ONE all—making a decision to remove or replace a breast—is not As I tried to come to terms with my life after my cancer an easy call. I look forward to the day Vogue magazine would treatment, my sense of recovery evolved. I embraced consider devoting an entire issue to the dozens of beautiful macrobiotics as a life-long journey—not a death deterrent— one-breasted women who live all over the world. That just and healing, humor, harmony and happiness began to take over. could be a life saver. • My illness did not feel like an injustice had been done. I realized quickly that the only real courage is the courage to Matuschka/is an artist,/photographer and activist living in face yourself, the whole package. But the ease in which I was New York City.

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 33 COVER STORY-THE BODY POSITIVE PAYING THE PRICE IN THE POLITICS OF BREAST CANCER

By Neal D. Barnard, M.D. In 1991, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medi- cine commissioned a survey asking how many women were not yet aware of the connection between diet and breast cancer. The results were dismal: Eighty percent of women had no idea there was any link. Although the federal government funds research on how diet causes breast cancer, it makes little effort to distribute this information to women. Brochures describing how foods affect cancer risk gathering dust at the National Cancer Institute. What is worse is an active campaign that squeezes the prevention message out of air time and press space. For the past several years, October has been designated Na- tional Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The President

34 PHOTO COURTESY MATUSCHKA ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 he things thai will destroy us an politii l without prim ipli pleasure \>. ithoul i on n ii to • wealth without work; knowledge without character: 1 • without morality; science without hunuimtv.

AN EPIDEMIC

ARTWORK MATUSCHKA signs an annual proclamation, and television programs and magazines pick up the story. But every year since its WHAT INCREASES RISK: inception, the press packs mailed to newspapers and • DIETARY FAT: ANIMAL radio and television stations have included lots of infor- mation on finding cancer by mammography and self- FAT, ESPECIALLY, INCREASES examination, and no information at all on the dietary ESTROGEN LEVELS IN THE steps that might reduce the risk of cancer. No mention that high-fat diets increase the body's estrogen levels, BLOOD, WHICH IN TURN leading to an overstimulation of breast cells. Not a word that the vitamin C in vegetables, the fiber in grains, and STIMULATE BREAST CELLS* the phytoestrogens in legumes have a protective effect, • ALCOHOL: EVEN or that wealthy populations who eat meat daily have eight times the breast cancer risk of poorer populations MODEST CONSUMPTION which rarely eat meat products. What the press does not know is that National Breast INCREASES RISK. Cancer Awareness Month is sponsored by a pharmaceu- • RADIATION, INCLUDING tical company: Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). This firm makes tamoxifen, the anti-estrogen drug used in X RAYS: OF ALL THE PARTS the treatment of breast cancer. ICI funds the October OF THE BODY, THE program and holds approval rights over the materials that are used. And every year since it began, ICI has BREASTS ARE THE MOST pushed the message that "early detection is your best protection." Television news segments spread the mes- SENSITIVE TO X RAYS. sage about finding cancer, and lifesaving prevention • TOXIC EXPOSURES: information is effectively squeezed out. Television and radio stations feel that they are spreading the latest LIMITED EVIDENCE LINKS word about breast cancer, not realizing that what they are disseminating is what a single drug company has CHEMICAL EXPOSURES TO decided people should hear. BREAST CANCER. This is not to say that tamoxifen is a bad drug. For women who have cancer, it has a very important role. • ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES But with cancer rates going up year after year, and AND HORMONE REPLACE- treatments delivering little of what they promise, just finding cancer is not enough. We have no choice but to MENT: THE HIGHER-DOSE spread the prevention message far and wide. It is not only American women who pay a price in the HORMONES OF THE PAST politics of cancer. A tragedy is unfolding in Japan, CLEARLY INCREASED CANCER which, for years, has had the lowest rates of breast cancer in the world. The U.S. State Department has RISK. THE DEGREE OF RISK pushed Japan to accept American agricultural products, particularly tobacco and beef. And the influx of Ameri- POSED BY CURRENT can fast-food chains and Western dietary habits has PRODUCTS IS PROBABLY been met by willing victims. Japanese consumption of rice and green and yellow vegetables has dropped dra- LESS, BUT MAY STILL BE matically, while meat, poultry and egg consumption has SIGNIFICANT. increased eight-fold. Dairy consumption is 15 times higher than in 1950. Fat intake in Japan climbed from • OVERWEIGHT: nine percent of calories in 1955 to 25 percent in 1987. As the higher-fat diet has increased estrogen levels in INCREASES RISK OF POST- Japanese women, the age of puberty has dropped to MENOPAUSAL CANCER. match that of the United States and Western Europe, ; which underwent the drop in the age of puberty decades • GENETICS: IN ABOVE FIVE earlier. Meanwhile, breast cancer rates in Japan are climbing steadily. PERCENT OF BREAST CANCER Research on breast cancer is lost in politics. Cancer CASES, GENETICS PLAY A advocates have long recognized the need for a large- scale test of dietary methods for preventing breast can- DECISIVE ROLE. cer in American women. But although the cost of treat- 'AS WE GO TO PRESS, A JUST-PUBLISHED STUDY ing breast cancer exceeds $50,000 per person, the diet FINDS NO LINK BETWEEN DIETARY FAT AND trial was deemed too expensive and has been stalled for BREAST CANCER. years. That may change. A new effort, the Women's Health Initiative, aims to test a modestly low-fat diet for

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 WHAT REDUCES RISK: NATIONAL • FIBER: ESTROGEN IS SECRETED INTO THE DIGES- BREAST CANCER TIVE TRACT WHERE FIBER CARRIES IT AWAY. AWARENESS • VITAMIN C: VEGETABLES MONTH IS AND FRUITS SUPPLY VITAMIN C, WHICH BOOSTS IMMUNE SPONSORED BY A DEFENSES AND HELPS PROTECT THE BODY'S CELLS FROM PHARMACEUTICAL DAMAGE. COMPANY • SELENIUM: THIS MINERAL, FOUND IN GRAINS, IS

its effect on cancer incidence. The greatest risk of the ESSENTIAL FOR ENZYMES THAT trial is that the prescribed diet may be too weak to show PROTECT THE CELLS FROM results. Meanwhile, another prevention experiment, putting DAMAGING CHEMICALS. healthy women on tamoxifen, has rushed forward, much • PHYTOESTROGENS: to the manufacturer's delight and despite potential risks. A bill that would have provided $300 million for NATURAL WEAK ESTROGENS IN breast cancer research was proposed earlier this year. It was part of a broad funding bill which, among many SOY PRODUCTS SEEM TO other provisions, included fetal tissue research. That REDUCE ESTROGEN'S STIMULA- made it unacceptable to the antiabortion groups back- ing the President. On June 23, the entire package was TION OF BREAST CELLS. vetoed by President Bush. Lest we think that cancer research would mean cures • DECREASED INTERVAL in the short run, the experience of AIDS funding is BETWEEN PUBERTY AND FIRST sobering. Researchers have managed to divert AIDS money into projects that are often of no more than PREGNANCY: WOMEN WITH academic interest, studying the leaves and twigs while LATER PUBERTY AND EARLIER the forest is forgotten and real progress remains sty- mied. All this will have to change. Because the leading PREGNANCY HAVE A killer of young women is no secret anymore. There is a new push for better treatments, and most importantly, SMALLER RISK. prevention. And a new generation of doctors is fast • SHORTER STATURE: WOMEN learning that their patients expect American medicine to embrace not just surgery, chemotherapy and radiation UNDER 5'3'" HAVE HALF THE for cancer, but to make vigorous efforts to stop cancer before it starts. ' BREAST CANCER RISK OF WOMEN OVER 5'6". THE Neal Barnard is President of the Physicians Committee for Reponsible Medicine, editor-in-chief of the Guide to REASON PROBABLY HAS TO DO Healthy Eating, an educational publication of PCRM, WITH THE GROWTH and author of three books on health and nutrition, the latest of which will be published by Harmony Press in HORMONE STIMULATION early 1993. WHICH AFFECTS BOTH HEIGHT Free information on breast cancer prevention is AND BREAST DEVELOPMENT available from the Physicians Committee for Reponsible Medicine, Box 6322, Washington, DC DURING PUBERTY. 20015. 37 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 BLOOD HANDS Since 1976, U.S.-funded brutality in tiny East Timor has killed more than 200,000 people. ByJohnW.Bartlett "The Indonesians set fire to the a calculated mass murder...carried out dwellings of East Timorese... When with American arms." [they] protested, the Indonesians Timor's plight returned briefly to the turned their guns on them...the troops world's attention in November 1991, at shot..2000 of the Timorese, some on the Santa Cruz cemetery when Nairn their knees, others with their hands and fellow journalist Amy Goodman of raised. Ttie victims...included women Pacifica Radio survived — barely — the and children." massacre of at least 200 unarmed —John G. Taylor Timorese mourners by the Indonesian Indonesia's Forgotten War: The Hidden military. "They just walked up in for- History of East Timor mation, lowered their American- made M-16s, and began firing into the crowd. It has been called "the forgotten war." There was no provocation," reported Indonesia's 16-year occupation of East Goodman. Timor has received little coverage, and Such a massacre is the continuation of that in tiny articles buried deep inside a murderous policy dependent upon $58 the newspaper, yet this slaughter is million in American military aid each worse in per capita terms than has been year, and nearly half a billion dollars in the case in Pol Pot's Cambodia. Nearly commercial arms sales. The massacre one-third of the population of East at the cemetery is another event in a On the slaying of Timor, a tiny island nation east of Java long, terrible history. children a soldier said: and 400 miles north of Australia, has The known history of Timor — writ- "When you clean your died under a brutal Indonesian oppres- ten from a European perspective — Held, don't you kill sion which journalist Allan Nairn of begins with a Portuguese colony at all the snakes, small The New Yorker calls "nothing less than Malacca in 1571. The boundary cur- and large alike?"

PHOTOS ARE FROM THE DOCUMENTARY VIDEO "COLD BLOOD THE MASSACRE OF EAST TIMOR," 38 PRODUCED BY MAX STAHL, «. YORKSHIRE TV, UK ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 39 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 rently dividing East (Portuguese) and support in the East-West border area West (Indonesian) Timor was estab- and within the Indonesian military. lished through a series of battles be- In September 1974, the ASDT became tween the Portuguese and Dutch in the the "Frente Revolucionara do Timor early 18th century. Leste Independente" (Fretilin). Realiz- The matriarchal and matrilineal soci- ing the need for a firmagricultura l base, ety which defined Timor's political and Fretilin established a system of farming economic system shortly before coloni- and distribution cooperatives. An edu- zation — a hierarchy of kingdoms, cational system was also established in princedoms and clans — was under- an attempt to reduce Timor's 93 percent mined by the expansion of Portuguese illiteracy rate, with some "fairly dra- matic successes." Fretilin's success with these programs Indonesian soldiers — and later health programs which even included the manufacture of medi- took hold of the cines — came from its ability to turn general themes into concrete policies legs of small which were both reliable and popular because they were based on experience. children and threw Fretilin quickly became the most popu- them around in the lar political party, and was joined in coalition by the UDT in early 1975 to air a number of move towards "total independence, re- jection of integration, repudiation of co- times and smashed lonialism, and recognition of decolonization." their heads against Meanwhile, Indonesia had its eye on absorption of East Timor for "security a rock reasons" and for control of the oil discov- ered in the Timor Sea 10 years earlier. influence in the same century. The web With access to the international press of Portuguese commerce reinforced the and the support of foreign govern- already-existing system of trade in ments, which little Timor could not Timor, although the Timorese contin- muster, Indonesia appealed to the ued to have a "strong desire to be freed West's Cold War fears of communist from the hateful yoke of the Portu- expansion, predicting an "imminent guese." Marxist takeover" in East Timor. Destruction wrought under Japanese Throughout the autumn, Indonesian occupation during World War II ceded irregulars struck at towns near the East- to a reduction in Dutch colonial power West border, burning and looting, only in Indonesia and Indonesian support to be beaten back by the well-organized for Timorese independence — with an Fretilin forces. After disseminating eye to future assimilation. The Timorese (false) reports of Fretilin incursions into were more interested in the re-estab- Indonesian territory, Suharto chose to lishment of ancient links between East invade East Timor on December 7,1975. and West Timor. While Timor's attempts The invasion came just one day after a Indonesia's occupation is in one sense a at self-determination were being visit to Jakarta by President Gerald tribute to Fretilin and the determina- squashed by the Portuguese, Suharto of Ford and Secretary of State Henry tion of the Timorese people. Fretilin, Indonesia, who is still president, came Kissinger. The next day, asked for a prepared for a full-scale invasion, was into power by coup d'etat in 1966. reaction to the Indonesian attack, Ford supported by a national network based Portuguese colonial power was weak- replied: "We'll talk about that later." in Timor's many small towns and vil- ened by the 1974 overthrow of the This same approach has been followed lages. Their agricultural and education i Caetano regime by a leftist coup. Faced by the United States government ever programs continued in areas which they suddenly with the need to concretize since. Despite the Foreign Assistance controlled, and an inter-regional medi- previously vague notions of self-deter- Act of 1958 — which prevents the use of cal network was set up to provide care mination, the Timorese organized into U.S. military assistance and material and medicine. Their national commu- two pro-independence parties, the for "external aggression"—and repeated nication infrastructure and knowledge Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) and rhetoric about human rights, the United of the difficult terrain afforded them Timorese Social Democratic Associa- States has ignored its extensive knowl- several early victories; Indonesian tion (ASDT); a third party, the Apodeti edge of the Timor situation for the sake troops, demoralized by their failures, ("the Association for the Integration of of its own "security concerns." were rotated quickly through their Timor into Indonesia") found most of its The story of the first several years of Timor duty.

40 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 Ultimately, however, such resistance Timorese are killed by the hun- Timorese are killed by the hundreds: could not stand up to the vastly superior dreds. Indonesia's policy of mass Lined up on the beach and shot, dropped Indonesian forces. Defeat effectively murders is nearly genocide. from helicopters into the ocean, or came in 1980, although Fretilin re-built rounded up and killed publicly by knife- itself in the early 1980s and inflicted on for foreign observers (military guide- wielding nanggalas. To read survivors' additional damage on the occupying lines suggest that local officals "Indicate accounts*, one must wonder how any- forces. Fretilin still controls a few iso- some building that might serve as a one could survive such unimaginable lated areas of East Timor, and is cur- prison...Select some sensible people, atrocities, and what human being or rently under the leadership of Xanana particularly among the armed forces, to society could commit them: Gusmao, who has led the Fretilins for play the role of prisoners of war who... are "The Indonesian troops advanced in several years. being well-treated") and the "Act of In- groups, organized into long lines, bum- Indonesia's policy in East Timor is tegration" signed by Timorese "del- ing crops and villages behind nothing short of genocide. Their rule egates" in 1976, more than 200,000 them...simultaneous with naval and has seen a litany of mass murders car- Timorese have died in what the Austra- aerial bombardment. They captured the ried out by the military, 90 percent of lian Consul in 1976 to East Timor called majority of the population, but many whose armaments are American. De- "the most serious...contravention of hu- spite the grand humanitarian show put man rights facing the world at this time." continued on pg 55

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 * Accounts are quoted from Indonesia's Forgotten War 41 ow that the media tied to marital or electoral apron-strings. have attracted mainstream cameras, havedubbed L992 In fact, most are not new to politics, and but they are able to wield comparable (like 1988 and many have never been elected to any power. Unfortunately, their records 1990), the "Year of office in their lives. offer little hope for feminists seeking the Woman," it Behind the scenes in both the Demo- good things from women in politics. would he easy to cratic and Republican party, women In fact, cheerleaders for the 'Tear of assume .ill women have been policy planners, lawyers, lob- the Woman" may very well wish many in politics are mar- byists, and campaign strategists for far of these behind-the-scenes women ried to either a podium or a presidential longer than it has taken the media to would remain obscure. candidate. Barbara Bush and Marilyn dub the "year of the woman." At a time Consider Deborah Steelman, presi- Quayle vs. Hillary Clinton and Tipper when popular debate is pitting what dent Bush's top advisor on healthcare Gore dominated the Republican Na- Dathering Manegold of the New York issues. The same day the Republican tional Convention (George Bush was Times called "the retro-mom and retro- I National Convention dedicated itself to even introduced as the "man who mar- granny combo" against a couple of I "The American Spirit and the Nation," ried Barbara Bush") and a chorus line of "softened up professional! s)," the back- ' Louis Sullivan, Secretary of the U.S. female candidates topped the Demo- room women rarely make the head- Department of Health and Human Ser- cratic bill earlier in New York. But not lines. These women have fainter public vices, referred to the U.S. healthcare all women in the 1992 campaign are profiles than the female "leaders" who system as the "gold standard of the

42 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 1992: THE YEAR •OF WHICH WOMEN?

By Laura Flanders

world." Healthcare reform — even the Steelman has had an influence in the disbanded, Steelman's council issued limited change proposed by Arkansas formulation of Republican domestic reports totalling 3,000 pages, including Governor Bill Clinton — would put that policy for more than a decade. A Wash- recommendations for reforming the gem at risk, he said. Prior to his evening ington D.C. lawyer who served Ronald healthcare system and insurance policy. address, Sullivan took part in an "issues Reagan in the Office of Management Steelman's influence as a woman in forum" on health dominated by two and Budget, Steelman took part in the politics is greater than her low-media women: Marilyn Quayle and Deborah 1988 campaign as a domestic policy profile would suggest. According to a Steelman, the panel's moderator. While advisor to George Bush. Since 1988, she report by the Center for Public Integ- Marilyn's place in the political limelight has been a key administration advisor rity, Steelman, in her position as Chair- is assured by her status as the vice- on health concerns, and today she is the woman of the Council on Social Secu- president's wife, Steelman, like many president's principal campaign advisor rity, "has had access to and reportedly women in "shadow government", has on health-related issues. In July, 1989, personally briefed the highest officials not basked in media spotlight. Indeed, Steelman was appointed by Louis in the Bush Administration, including when Mrs. Quayle talked later of women Sullivan to compose and chair a special Sullivan, Office of Management and of her generation having "carved out a Advisory Council on Social Security, Budget Richard Darman, and White new public life," she might well have established to provide "expert" advice House Chief of Staff, Samuel Skinner." been talking about the moderator at her and data to policy makers. Between late At the same time, however, Steelman side the previous afternoon. 1989 and late 1991, when the group was a registered lobbyist representing

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 43 health insurance companies—the sure- poration, a DC firm that she repre- Influence, Wexler got a generous share fire losers if Capitol Hill approved a sented on Capitol Hill. DRG defaulted of the bi-partisan money made on the switch from private insurance-based on their loans at a rate of 44 percent, $6.6 billion takeover of the entertain- healthcare. With a client list that in- costing the taxpayers more than $530 ment conglomerate MCA by Matsushita cluded Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of million. "I had better access than some," Electrical Industrial Company in the Missouri and drug companies such as Hills told congressional investigators, fall of 1990. Called in to lessen anti- Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer Pharma- referring to her personal meetings with Japanese reaction, Wexler netted ceuticals and the Pharmaceutical Manu- HUD Secretary Samuel Pierce on behlf healthy sums, says Choate, along with facturers Association, Steelman's sup- of her clients, but she argued strenu- Richard Strauss, a Democratic consult- port of the present "gold standard" ously that she had "never had a hint of ant and Howard Baker, former GOP healthcare system is hardly surprising. fraud or wrongdoing from HUD." Senate Majority Leader (both MCA Women and men who were outraged by Republicans aren't the only ones with boardmembers). With advisors like the Bush Administration's faltering ac- well-placed women holding question- Stern and Wexler it is hardly suprising tion against silicone-implant manufac- able records in their ranks. Bill that the Clinton trade program looks so turers this spring might have been in- Clinton's campaign staff has relied on strikingly similar to Bush's. terested to know that as of November Anne Wexler and Paula Stern since The records of these high-ranking 1991, while serving as the long before the candidate received the women inside both the Clinton- and the Administration's top health advisor, Democratic Party's nomination. Stern, Bush-team camps expand and compli- Steelman had taken on yet another cate the profile of women in politics in client and was working simultaneously 1992 — the Year of the Woman. Not all as a paid lobbyist for the American women in politics are campaigners like Society for Plastic and Reconstructive Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois, popu- Surgery, for whom she lobbied on regu- * larly represented as a "servant of the latory issues relating to breast implants. people" ('This victory is not mine," she Carla Hills is yet another behind-the- their records told her supporters, after her victory in scenes female who made her name long the primaries, "It's yours"); or self-dep- before the so-called Year of the Woman. offer little hope for recating den mothers ("I'm not here to As the Bush Administration's Special feminists seeking give a speech," said Barbara Bush be- Trade Representative, Hills is respon- fore she spoke to the Astrodome audi- sible for coordinating and implement- good things from ence this August). Nor are they all sly ing U.S. international trade policy and vixen schemers: George Bush's deputy resolving conflict between the compet- women in politics campaign manager Mary Matalin was ing interests of U.S. corporations and dragged across media coals for her their contemporaries abroad. Her office "sleazy" attack on the Democrats; Torie has long been considered a well-oiled Clarke, his press secretary, was pillo- "revolving door" to foreign lobbying by • ried in The Village Voice for her former office-holders, but Hills holds "cattiness" condemning Clinton. the dubious distinction of being the first who advises Clinton on economic Nor are all females fodder, as The to take on the USTR's job after having policy, worked with the International New York Times would have it with been registered with the justice depart- Trade Commission from 1978 to 1987, their headline "Women Get Into the ment as an agent of a foreign corpora- the last four years as the Commission's Political Football — as the Ball." Some tion. chairwoman. According to Charles women have been running with the Hills registered in 1985 as a lobbyist Lewis, author of America's Frontline political ball for many years. Amidst for the Korean conglomerate Daewoo Trade Officials, Stern testified before all the enthusiasm over the fact that regarding a steel trade deal. She has the ITC as an expert on behalf of the more women are running for national also represented Canadian lumber com- Japanese Display Industry: "Stern was office in 1992 than ever before, women panies, Matsushita, Panasonic and also hired to do economic analysis by a like Wexler, Hills, Steelman and many Reuters. Hills has vigorously denied group of U.S. steel users who were op- others outside of the media spotlight that her prior business interests influ- posed to quotas on steel imports. Her have been pursuing careers and poli- enced her policy positions since she analysis supported the case for unlim- tics for themselves and their well-pay- signed on as USTR, but the North ited steel imports." ing clients for more than a decade. The American Free Trade Agreement Anne Wexler, head of a public affairs fact that their influence has coincided (NAFTA), for which she has been the consulting unit of the public relations with an almost unadulterated decline administration's spokesperson, seems firm Hill and Knowlton, is just one in the standard of women's lives—both sure to open new trade possibilities for Clinton campaign advisor with signifi- nationally and globally — reveals the among others, Canadian lumber and cant Bush-team ties. A public relations real "women's issue," the one the paper firms. assistant to former president Jimmy media doesn't hype. Women's years For the record, Hills was one of 20 Carter, Wexler spent most of the 1980s can come and go — it is which women, high-paid consultants hired by develop- supporting Republican policy on free doing what, that counts. • ers to obtain HUD grants from 1983 to trade with Mexico and netting high fees 1988. Hills reported]yreceived$138,445, for her high-ranking influence. Accord- Laura Flanders is host of "Undercur- from among others, DRG Funding Cor- ing to Pat Choate, author of Agents of rents" on WBAI Radio in New York City.

44 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 An Update On: THE STRANGE CASE OF MARK CURTIS

By Fred Pelka

n Spring 1991, On the Issues pub- ern Christian Leadership Conference, the Defense Committee" says Bertin lished an article on the case of Pete Seeger, William Kunstler, and doz- "are both racist and sexist. They per- Mark Stanton Curtis, who was con- ens of union locals. The success of the petuate the worse falsehoods about victed in September 1988 of physi- Mark Curtis Defense Committee raises rape: That persons of certain class or cally and sexually assaulting a 15- many disturbing questions. As I asked political stature could not possibly com- i year-old African-American girl on last spring: "What does it mean when mit rape, and that the rights of the the enclosed front porch of her home in so many 'politically correct' people are rapist dwarf those of the victim—espe- Des Moines, Iowa. Curtis, 29, and a willing to take, at face value, the word cially if the victim is a person of color." member of the Socialist Workers Party of a white man convicted of rape over The result, according to Bertin, has (SWP), was arrested by two police offic- that of his Black victim?" been an immediate and widespread ers responding to a 911 call placed by In reaction to that article, a counter- questioning of the Curtis campaign. the victim's 11-year-old brother, who campaign, coordinated by the Boston Among the earliest Curtis endorsers to witnessed a part of the assault. Pushing branch of the NAACP, has sent open let- withdraw their support were writers their way onto the porch, the two police- ters and information packets tohundreds Howard Zinn and Daniel B. Schirmer, men saw Curtis, his pants down around of Curtis supporters, asking that they Robert Meeropool (the son of Ethel and his legs, attempting to flee into the withdrawtheir endorsements. The pack- Julius Rosenberg), professor and politi- back of the house, while his victim told ets are now circulating across the coun- cal activist Gil Green, historian and them, "He just raped me." Since then, try and in Canada and the Philippines. author Herbert Aptheker, author Mar- the SWP has built an international "In some cases," writes Mary Bertin, garet Randall, Massachusetts ACLU campaign to free Mark Curtis, claiming chairperson of the Civil Rights Commit- president John Roberts, and union ac- he was "framed-up" because of his work tee of the Boston branch of the NAACP, tivists Brian Lang and Meizhu Lui. as a political activist. "the Defense Committee has simply told New letters denouncing the Curtis cam- That Curtis, a college-educated white potential endorsers that Mark Curtis paign continue to arrive at the Boston man, was convicted by an all-white jury was a victim of police brutality — with- NAACP office. is an indication of the overwhelming out mentioning that he was convicted Says Walter Brooks, president of the evidence against him. And yet, by mis- for the assault and rape of a child. In Ossining New York chapter of the representing the facts, exaggerating other cases, the Defense Committee has NAACP, "I think I made a good move Curtis' career as an activist, and focus- said that Mark was framed. In neither [by disendorsing]. The evidence pre- ing on the police beating he received instance has the Defense Committee sented by sister Bertin is incredible, several hours after his arrest, the SWP told its endorsers the truth." The and there's no doubt in my mind that has managed to gather endorsements NAACP packet includes the OTI ar- this Curtis campaign is phoney." and financial support from thousands ticle, a letter from the Des Moines In response, the Socialist Workers of political activists and celebrities NAACP stating that, contrary to what Party has attacked Bertin and the around the world. Among those listed some endorsers may have been told, NAACP, this author, the stop-rape as supporters of the Mark Curtis De- that organization at no time has sup- movement, and anyone else question- fense Committee are Ed Asner, Coretta ported efforts to free Mark Curtis, and ing the Curtis campaign. For example, Scott King, officers and chapters of several flyers by the Boston-based group the SWP has identified Larry W. Carter, NOW, several officials of the African Men to End Sexual Assault (of which president of Des Moines NAACP, National Congress (ANC), the South- this writer is a member). "The efforts of Marti Anderson, director of Polk County

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 45 Iowa Victim Witness Services at the larly women of color, who have histori- With human time of the trial, and Ila Plasencia, former cally received no justice in this kind of vice-president of the midwest section of case...There are more cases of lives in the the League of United Latin American injustice...that merit national and in- Citizens, as joining "an array of police ternational mobilization — the Mark balance, why are and city officials who have waged a Curtis case is not one of them." political campaign to try to make the —Meizhu Lui experimenters frame-up stick from the day Curtis was arrested." "It was clearly my responsibility to in- . still monkeying Greg McNaghten, a United Transpor- vestigate the facts of the Curtis crime tation Union official in Seattle who has before endorsing the campaign. Had around? distributed a report critical of the Curtis Curtis been African-American and the campaign, has been denounced as being victim white, I doubt that I and many part of a "right-wing shift in politics." other endorsers would have so readily The only "evidence" cited in these at- accepted the Defense Committee's ac- tacks is that all these people oppose the cusation of frame-up without looking effort to free Mark Curtis. into the facts first. The Defense Com- The SWP has devoted special atten- mittee has effectively played into rac- tion to the stop-rape movement. The ism that not only infects our society, but July 17, 1992 issue of their weekly The also infects those of us who say we are Militant even makes the claim that the committed to combating it." movement "does not exist." This echoes —Brian Lang similar attacks made in the past, for example, that Des Moines anti-rape ac- "As a Latino man, and as an activist tivists "work most closely with the cops" who has worked on police brutality is- j and seek rape convictions against men sues, I have a moral imperative to ques- whether or not they are guilty. The tion the actions, and the political posi- Over half of all new medicines Militant, in response to McNaghten's tion, of your committee on this case... are more dangerous than report, goes so far as to ridicule the idea The fact that allegations of rape were animal tests predicted, so that 11 year olds such as the survivor's denied or down-played by your [SWP] much so that they have to be younger brother should be believed in a committee make me strongly question relabeled or pulled off the sex abuse case. "Is an 11 year old such the group's integrity." market. Of twenty-five drugs an inherently reliable witness, as —Juan Vargas that seemed to reduce stroke McNaghten would have us believe? damage in animal experi- Hardly, as some recent cases involving "I feel that a young African-American ments, not a single one proved charges of child abuse have demon- woman — really a child, aged 15 — has strated." The survivor of Curtis' attack, been rendered voiceless and invisible in effective in human beings. as always, is held up to be mistaken, this case. It now seems there is compel- While experimenters are stupid, or lying — all in an attempt to ling evidence that she was raped by monkeying around in animal convince potential supporters and do- Curtis. I feel that I, as a sister in struggle, laboratories, they are ignoring nors that Mark Curtis isn't guilty. have been lied to....In your condescen- what is most important— Curtis is due for parole this November, sion and withholding, you have hurt and the SWP is again pulling out all everyone connected with the Curtis case. prevention. Nearly two-thirds stops, requesting that its supporters You have also weakened our movement this nation's deaths result write letters urging his release, and because we will certainly be more hesi- from diet-related diseases. using the event for further fundraising. tant in our future support." For example, breast cancer— In or out of prison, Curtis will remain a —Margaret Randall the leading killer among young controversial figure, and a symbol of women—is strongly linked to how far we need to go to root out racism "It appears that the 15-year-old Black diet. and sexism in our communities. girl is not only a victim of rape but of over-identification with the very real For more information about These excerpts are taken from the issues of political frame-ups and police prevention and alternatives to letters of former Curtis endorsers brutality. I believe the issue is not 'left' animal research, write: announcing the withdrawal of and 'right' but right and wrong." their support: —William E. Alberts, Ph.D. •

PHYSICIANS COMMITTEE "We support Mr. Curtis as a victim of For more information about the Mark FOR police brutality. However, that issue Curtis case, readers can contact Ms. RESPONSIBLE MEDICINE and the issue of his conviction of rape Mary Bertin, chairperson, Civil Rights P.O. Box 6322 are totally separate. On the rape issue, Committee, Boston branch NAACP, 451 we're more concerned with defending Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA 02118 WASHINGTON, DC 20015 the victims of sexual assault, particu- or call 617-267-1058.

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 CHOICE BOOKS Among Freud's problems that biogra- of psychoanalysis and is a true tribute phers must grapple with is her relation- to Anna Freud. I take the word "dream" ship with her father which became her in the title to refer to the wish embedded WORSHIPPING A glory and her sacrifice. She devoted her in a dream. Surely the dream of psycho- GRAVEN IMAGE entire life to the person of her father, to analysis is to know the fullness of the his work and legacy and to the cause of human condition, to dispel the myths ANNA FREUD: The Dream of Psyche- psychoanalysis. She seems never to have and slanders which oppress us and to analysis by Robert Coles (Addison-Wesley, regretted this and, moreover, she come to an understanding of our shared Reading, MA; $19.95 hardcover] counted herself successful and lucky. humanity through an appreciation that While she was more than willing to pay we all have sexual, aggressive, crazy, Robert Coles has written a short book the price, including waiting until her unconscious aspects. about Anna Freud. The publishers pro- mother's death when Anna was 43 years Anna Freud wasn't running for saint- mote it as a biography though it is really old to have her own home, and never hav- hood, but maybe Robert Coles is. Is that a personal memoir. In either case, it ing a family of her own, it is no disser- perhaps the latent content of his dream? conceals its subject and reveals its au- vice to her if we know and appreciate Why else would a psychoanalyst think thor. The text is an extended self-can- the cost to her of her father complex. it a compliment to render someone with- celling refrain: It calls upon us to be- Coles is not unmindful of this but he is out the full complement of her human lieve in its subject's virtue through a unwilling to consider the problem. For attributes? relentless barrage of praise. Meanwhile, example, he brings up the matter of her —Leslye Russell Coles has omitted Anna Freud's actual analysis with her father. He correctly and often valiant struggles to overcome places it in the context of the time and Leslye Russell, M.F.C.C., is a psycho- her share of demons and human weak- notes that we now treat the transfer- therapist in Berkeley, California. nesses. ence differently than we did in the '20s. The result is the opposite of the author's Nevertheless, it is possible to examine "AN UNSPEAKABLE intention. We are neither educated, nor the problems this analysis posed for her SADNESS " convinced of the subject's goodness. In- without indulging in the cheap Freud- stead we become curious about the bashing others have found so conve- NATIVE AMERICAN TESTIMONY: author's hidden motives. Coles has nient. And so Coles writes, "Anna A Chronicle of Indian-White Rela- launched a character enhancement cam- Freud's life might have been different tions from Prophecy to the Present, paign on behalf of Anna Freud. A fre- had she worked with an analyst other 1 492-1 992 edited by Peter Nabokov (Vi- quent tactic he uses is to take a com- than her father. Her particular chal- king, New York; $25 hardcover) monplace remark and exaggerate its lenge was how to use successfully the STOLEN CONTINENTS: The Americas brilliance. Her every word is viewed unique psychoanalytic experience she Through Indian Eyes Since 1 492 by through the lens of his idealization. For did receive as the particular analysand Ronald Wright (Houghton Mifflin, Boston; example, he describes a talk she gave: "I she happened to be." In other words, if $22.95 hardcover] was...struck by the directness of the she didn't complain, far be it from Coles speaker [Freud]. Her willingness to to do so. The quincentennial of Christopher share her knowledge...in an accessible If we undertake to understand the Columbus's arrival in the Americas has manner. Each sentence seemed a per- dark side as well as the light side of intensified the debate around who has fectly formed jewel, sparkling and de- Anna Freud, we then can fully appreci- what to celebrate. These two books, the lightful to contemplate." Following her ate her exemplary life. Her contribu- first by an anthropologist, and the sec- talk, Coles asked her a question about tions to psychoanalysis, child psychia- ond by an author and travel writer, are one of his own patients. Her jewel of an try, psychoanalytic training and educa- invaluable aids and additions to the answer was, "Who can ever foretell what tion were often theoretically elegant discussion. a child will be like in the time ahead?" and eminently practical. We need only Given the partial overlap of subject The challenge for the reviewer is not remember her work on ego defenses, matter, there's surprisingly little dupli- to minimize or diminish Anna Freud's especially the mental process she called cation; the books complement each other life and contribution, but Coles can't "identification with the aggressor," or nicely. While Nabokov provides a com- find it in his heart to consider any of her her developmental psychology of nor- plete overview of the assorted schemes, negative aspects. Fortunately, she has mal childhood among the many theo- deals, outright assaults, and well- two other biographers: Richard Dyer retical contributions that secure her intentioned blunders that separated who wrote Her Father's Daughter, The place in psychoanalytic theory. At the Native Americans from most of their Work of Anna Freud, and Elisabeth same time her work in Vienna and later country and much of their culture — Young-Bruehl who authored Anna in London toestablish nurseries, clinics together with an appalling loss of life — Freud. While Dyer's book sidesteps the and educational facilities for poor, Wright demonstrates in some depth the problematical questions in Freud's life working class, bombed out and be- impact of each new turn of the screw on by attending only to her professional reaved children attests to a passion for a handful of nations: Aztec, Maya, Inca, contributions, in Young-Bruehl's stun- doing good in the world. Cherokee and Iroquois. ning work we learn of Anna Freud's Robert Coles is America's most emi- Set within the comprehensive outline struggles to overcome her inner "nice nent and and humane child psychoana- of a long stretch of history, the firsthand stories" which hid sexual fantasies and lyst. His work with children from all accounts in Nati ve American Testimony ultimately an authentic subjectivity. cultures is a monument to his own dream bring home the truth of human events,

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 47 GODDESSES ished Indian children for speaking their Goddess of Willendorf however, sweeping or cataclysmic: They Earth Brown Artstone happen to people. There are some fa- own languages — and offered instead 6'H. $23 + J3S&H mous quotations here, including the to train some English boys "in what Our museum quality stone sardonic suggestion put forward by the really was the best manner and make recreations of Paleolithic, Sioux Red Dog to treaty commissioners men of them." Two hundred years Meso-American and Asian bent on removing Indians from their ' later, when the commissioner of In- Goddesses are meant to be homelands — "I think you had better dian affairs wondered aloud: "What handled and used in rituals put the Indians on wheels; then you can can we do to Americanize the Indian," and meditations. Each statue run them about whenever you wish" — an Indian elder shot back that Indians is individually cast and hand and the heartbreaking surrender were more worried about "how we can polished. speech of the Nez Perce Chief Joseph. Americanize you. We have been work- FREE CATALOG The words of ordinary people, some of ing at that for a long time." GRAND ADVENTURE them anonymous, are equally likely to Stolen Continents is both more dra- RD 6 Box 6198A. Stroudsburg, PA 18360 stay with the reader. These accounts matic as narrative and more polemical range from the matter-of-fact to the than Native American Testimony. humorous, and from the indignant to Ronald Wright takes special pains, for home made the sorrowful: An anonymous Omaha, example, to deflate the fantasy of a speaking of his native Nebraska, says, "white God" myth that paved the way SOAP "The living creatures are gone. I see the for European conquest. By Wright's like our mothers made land desolate and I suffer an unspeak- account, only Montezuma, the "inse- Friendly to you and the environment. Lasts able sadness. Sometimes I wake in the cure and mystical" ruler of the twice as long as commercial soap. night, and I feel as though I should Aztecs,imagined that Hernan Cortes Three choices, personal size suffocate from the pressure of this awful #1 mild white soap with no additives might actually be Quetzalcoatl—the #2 lightly scented feeling of loneliness." plumed serpent god — and even he was #3 surprise! a medley of scents and bath oils Along the way, the collection makes it quickly disillusioned. Other Indians laundry soap also available; gentle on fabrics, who came in contact with the Span- leaves clothes softer. clear that Native Americans knew all $2 per 4 oz. bar; 1-10 bars add $2 shpg. costs. along that they were being shamelessly iards were as deeply impressed by the Marie's Soaps defrauded on a regular basis, and also invaders' freakish hairiness, barbaric Box 335 that redress was not available to them. manners, and poor, if not nonexistent, Tremont, IL 61568 (309) 925-7541 "We are not children," the Otoe, Medi- personal hygiene as they were by the cine Horse, declared, futilely, to the newcomers' horses and weapons. Inca Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1873. investigators described them as "lazy The notion that Native Americans had robbers" and "bearded thieves." no idea what selling or leasing land The role of disease in the conquest of rights meant, while comforting, is a the Americas is a recurring theme. Eu- romantic fiction: Rights in hunting, ropean and African diseases — small- fishing, farming, and foraging territory pox, measles, influenza, bubonic plague, were held out not only by groups, but yellow fever, cholera, malaria — also by individuals and families, and wrought on the long-isolated peoples of were as jealously guarded from genera- the Americas a grim mirror image of tion to generation as any European decimation: By 1600, only one-tenth of seigneur's. Modern-day poverty among the Native population had survived. Indians is not due to some mysterious Along the hard-hit Eastern seaboard, inability to adapt to change; it is an empty fields and cabins seemed to await Sterling Silver Earrings inevitable result of policies designed to arriving settlers like a sign of the grace transfer Native American wealth—not with S.S. wires $25 ppd. of God. Settlers, Wright maintains, sel- only land, but everything on it and in it dom tamed a wilderness. Instead, they — from Native to white Americans, moved into areas already cultivated Designed and distributed by women with little or no compensation. and managed by Indian farmers and with all proceeds funding a Here, too, is evidence of the indomita- hunters; Indians who fled to genuinely rural Vermont women's resource bility of the human spirit. From a low of wild forests, deserts, swamps, and center providing important services 237,000 at the turn of the century, the jungles were usually safe. (Sometimes, for Vermont women: Indian population in the United States as among the Seminoles, whose name education, support, advocacy. has risen to nearly 2 million, counting means "runaway," they were joined by Eskimos and Aleuts: Neither system- escaped slaves of African descent. Nei- atic efforts to destroy the people nor ther of these two books, incidentally, Woman Centered Designs equally determined attempts to obliter- includes much discussion of Indian- Department BI, 137 Barre Street Montpelier, VT 05602 ate their cultures have succeeded. In African relations, despite documented 802-229-6202 the mid-1700s, Iroquois parents rejected evidence of African exploration in a proposal that their sons be raised in America as early as 800 B.C., the Afri- SUPPORT VERMONT WOMEN white ways — a foreshadowing of the can-Seminole connection, the presence WITH YOUR HOLIDAY PURCHASES 19th-century boarding schools that pun- of Black Cavalrymen in the Plains In-

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 dian Wars, and widespread intermar- "A DISTURBING ABORTION AND riage. (African slavery as practiced by THIRD CASTE" Native Americans — by most accounts DIALOGUE less onerous than the Euro-American AMBIGUOUS LIVES: Free Women of PRO-CHOICE, PRO-LIFE, AND version—ispassedover rather lightly.) Color In Rural Georgia, 1 789-1 879 AMERICAN LAW RUTH COLKER Among the Cherokees and Iroquois, by Adele Logan Alexa nder (U n iversity of Arkan- Europeans found social and political sas Press, Fayetteville, AK; $23 hardcover) This feminist-theological structures that they would both adopt discussion of reproductive health issues encourages both sides in and wage war on. The Iroquois confed- In Ambiguous Lives, Free Women of this emotional debate to consider eracy served as a model for the federal Color in Rural Georgia 1789-1879, Adele structure of the United States, and in- what is really meant by "pro-life." Logan Alexander challenges us to take cloth $29.95 paper $12.95 spired Marx and Engels with its egali- a new look at the history of the rural tarian distribution of political power South as she examines a particular time and of resources — which, ironically, and place through the eyes of a group of MOTHERS OF INCEST has come back to haunt the victims of women whose lives unfolded in the SURVIVORS modern-day "counter-insurgency" war- cracks somewhere between slavery fare against the Mayas of Guatemala ANOTHER SIDE OF THE STORY and freedom. Janis Tyler Johnson and the Incas of Peru, who both have This carefully researched and schol- separate traditions of cooperative work- The stories of six mothers who arly work documents the lives of a small relate, in their own words, their ing arrangements. In Guatemala in group of African-American women of experiences as mothers of incest particular, since a CIA-sponsored coup mixed racial heritage over a 90-year victims. Their accounts challenge overthrew the last elected government period that begins in late-18th-century the collusive, mother-blaming in 1954, fear of the "alien" ideology of rural Georgia. Ambiguous Lives is also theory of incest families, communism has served as a pretext for a multi-layered and unapologetic act cloth $20.00 paper $9.95 a race war marked by the commission of love. Using her own family as the of atrocities that make the Spanish centerpiece of a larger and more intri- LIVING LABORATORIES Inquisitors, who were nearly as busy in cate embroidery of the lives of "free" the New World as they were in the women of color in middle Georgia and WOMEN AND REPRODUCTIVE Old, look like practical jokers. Accord- other parts of the south, the author TECHNOLOGIES ing to Dehatkadons, an Iroquois sa- unearths the rich and all-but-forgotten Robyn Rowland chem who lives in upstate New York, history of women whose lives were en- "... convincing and terrifying." —Fay Weldon "both superpowers took our ideas, but tangled in a complex web of race, color, neither got them right." Available December caste and class. In white antebellum cloth $35.00 paper $14.95 Both the Cherokees and the Iroquois society, free people of color were, for the are matrilineal — traditionally, they dominant slave-holding class, "a disturb- reckon descent in the female line—and ing third caste in a structure designed WOMEN VIEWING women have always taken part in to accommodate two" — the enslaved VIOLENCE Cherokee councils; the principal chief and those who held them in bondage. Philip Schlesinger, R. Emerson today is Wilma Mankiller. Iroquois sa- Among my family treasures is a beau- Dobash, Russell P. Dobash, and chems, who are male, are elected—and tiful old photo portrait of my paternal C. Kay Weaver can be deposed — by the clan mothers, great-grandparents, still in their 20s, Women's responses to violence in and women are considered to be the taken somewhere in the northwest cor- the media, from soap operas to owners of the land. When the British ner of Georgia after Reconstruction— true-crime shows, from television first encountered the Cherokees, an but before the turn of the century — in dramas to feature officer complained that lack of central- Cherokee country, not far from the films. Distributed ized power made them difficult to nego- town of Rome. My great-grandmother for the British tiate with: "The very lowest of them Matilda, with her Victorian name and Film Institute thinks himself as great and high as any high-collared dress, was an Indian cloth $49.95 of the rest...Every one is his own mas- woman and her husband, Matt, was a paper $18.95 ter." In reality, he was describing an "colored" man. That picture is the only ideal toward which the country that evidence of their existence left, and it dispossessed its first inhabitants has has always saddened me that I did not been inching, by awkward and indeci- know more about them. Indiana sive fits and starts, ever since. Whether University After reading this history, I somehow Press it can arrive at that ideal before it strips feel that the twists and turns of my own itself of natural resources, arable land, family's Georgia history is connected, AT BOOKSTORES, potable water, and breathable air is however tangentially, with the people OR CALL another question. who are the subject of Adele Logan 1-800-842-6796 —Vajra Kilgour Alexander's remarkable book. This African-American women's his- Vajra Kilgour is a writer who lives in tory is reclaimed through tracing that New York City. branch of the author's family that is

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 descended from a free woman of color many more women, free persons of color named Susan Hunt who was born in and other nonwhite Americans." 1810. Susan Hunt and her descendents Through this ambitious piece of schol- were classified as "free" by virtue of the arship, the voices of Susan Hunt, her CARDS, T-SHIRTS, legal status of their mothers. Around daughters and granddaughters call out SWEATSHIRTS, the turn of the 20th century one of to us from the farms and fields of rural BUMPERSTICKERS, middle Georgia. Their whispers now PINS AND MORE Hunt's granddaughters, Adella Hunt Logan, became a friend and associate of reverberate in our consciousness, teach- WILD WEAR W. E. B. DuBois. She was an activist for ing us more about ourselves. 2022 TARAVAL ST., SUITE 8509 women's rights and a noted educator —Evelyn Crawford SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116 who taught at Tuskegee Institute in (800) 428-6947 Alabama and championed the rights of Arts consultant and independent film in San Francisco (415) 647-21 25 disenfranchised African-American writer/producer Evelyn Crawford women in the rural South. lives and works in the San Francisco The women whose lives are chronicled Bay Area. in Ambiguous Lives were often bom from the unions of "free" Native Ameri- THE AMERICAN can or mulatto women and Black or OBSESSION mulatto men (some slave and some free). Others were fathered by white RACE: Hew Black & Whites Think & men who often took their families of Feel Abeut the American Obsessien color into their households. They all by Studs Terkel (The New Press, NY; $24.95 Send $1 for our color catalog of had some Anglo-Saxon heritage, often hardcover) woman-identified jewelry in looked more white than Black and al- silver, amethyst, moonstone, & gold. ways existed in precarious and Studs Terkel calls race "the American LIZZIE BROWN marginalized family and kinship rela- obsession." Like other obsessions, this P.O. Box389-U Brimfield, Ma 01010 tionships with the people around one serves a variety of destructive func- (413) 245-9484 them. They lived in small rural farm- tions: It distracts us, taking attention lands of middle Georgia where their from other matters, and distorts our bloodlines could not protect them from ability to see, hear, think and act in a the prevailing oppression of a slave so- rational manner. ciety. Although the Hunt women seemed Terkel's latest book, Race, gets to the to have escaped these restrictions, the heart of this obsession. In a series of 84 laws governing free people of color man- interviews, this master oral historian dated that they be attached to white gets a wide cross section of people — A Perilous legal guardians in antebellum Georgia. Black, white, Asian and Hispanic, im- They could be arrested and sold into migrant and U.S. born, male and fe- slavery at any time if they were found male, young and old — not only to not to be employed by whites, and their speak about the politics of race, but to Advantage ability to inherit property from their delve, in sometimes painfully blunt white kinsmen was often challenged in terms, into the personal effects of skin The Best of the courts. color on daily life. Natalie Clifford Barney Free women of color led relatively The book is amazingly free of jargon privileged lives compared to Black or and dogma. Never once does Terkel Edited and translated by mulatto slave women who were often mount a soapbox for a tirade against Anna Livia forced into sexual relations and child- prejudice. Instead, he plants the seeds bearing by the same white men who of wonder, asking where we would With an introduction by Karla Jay lived with their more advantaged "free" be, as individuals and as a nation, if Finally the writing of one of the century's neighbors. I could not help wondering we shed this pathology and dealt in- most notorious lesbians is available in about the nature of relations between stead with hunger, poverty, illness and English. Though best known for hosting these two castes of women, living as illiteracy. they did in such contradictory circum- Terkel never explicitly states why he the avant garde of Paris for 30 years, she stances and close physical proximity to chose race as the subject of his sixth was also a writer who challenged the one another. This question is largely oral history. Yet, he is clearly trying to male-dominated literary establishment. unanswered in this book, leaving much blow the lid off conversations that have work to be done by other chroniclers of until now been largely private. Rian NEW VICTORIA Publishers African-American women's lives. In the Malan, a member of a powerful white closing paragraphs ofAmbiguous Lives, South African family who has lived in P.O. Box 27, Norwich, VT 05055 Alexander throws out a challenge and the U.S., sums it up. "You can never $19.95 cloth $10.95 paper invites other historians to pick up the hope to cure a condition unless you thread of these and similar stories to add $1.50 postage make the correct diagnosis. "reclaim and reconstruct the lives of "You can't make the correct diagnosis

50 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 if you pretend it doesn't exist. I think A conversation with Atwater, in which there has been an unhealthy trend in Ellis discovered that her children were America for a long time not to discuss having the same school problems as his, race. It was governed by a taboo in was the turning point. "I begin to see, which people had to be very careful here we are, two people from the far what they'd say or how it might appear. ends of the fence, having identical prob- I think airing prejudice could be lems, except her bein Black and me healthy. A lot of Black people may have bein white. From that moment on, I their feelings hurt, but at least we'll tell ya, that gal and I worked together know what we're dealing with." good. I began to love the gal, really." Racism has, of course, often led to far "I don't know anything that could more than hurt feelings. In one inter- change us from being friends," Atwater view Mamie Mobley, tells the shocking concurs. "The other thing is — C.P. details of the murder of her only son, would never shake my hand. Now we Emmett Till, in 1955, when he was 14. don't shake hands. We hug and em- Mobley's anguish is palpable, yet her brace." lack of bitterness is humbling. "What Still, Studs Terkel knows that we have [the two killers] had done was not for little cause for celebration, that an ex- me to punish and it was not for me to go plosion could be imminent. Neverthe- around hugging hate to myself, be- less, Race is an extremely optimistic cause hate would destroy me. It and hopeful book. By shining a much- wouldn't hurt them. I have not looked needed floodlight on an American pa- at a white person and saw an enemy. I thology, Terkel helps us re-focus and re- look at people and I see people." think our priorities. While the bulk of the people of color —Eleanor J. Bader Terkel interviewed share Mobley's sen- timents, more than a few express rage A COMING-OUT BOOK at the indignities they have suffered. "The fathers have eaten sour grapes so LESBIAN/WOMAN by Del Martin & Phyllis long that the children's teeth are set on Lyon, Twentieth Anniversary edition (Volcano edge," says minister Will D. Campbell. Press, Volcano, CA; $25 hardcover) Yet, there has undeniably been progress. Will D. Campbell cites "John I have a perfectly clear recollection of Lewis, who had been beaten many times the first time I saw this book. It was in and left for dead [during civil rights 1973, and the hardcover edition pub- battles], who is now a congressman. lished a year before had just been issued Andrew Young has been U.N. ambas- in paper. It had a purple cover. I saw it sador and mayor of Atlanta. Many of in a bookstore in downtown San Jose, t's Health and Humane Research, our largest cities have Black mayors.'' California where I was living at the I our 24-page banner publication, and Perhaps the most amazing transfor- time. I was married, a deeply closeted the new In Focus scientific essay series, mation — one of several cited in the homosexual, the only word I knew then book and proof that it is possible for to describe my "condition." Somehow, written by Dr. Robert Sharpe, author of whites to make strides in overcoming though I understood that Lesbian was The Cruel Deception. Together, these racism—is that of C. P. Ellis, a 53-year- what I was, and that this book was publications highlight the latest old former Exalted Cyclops of the about me. Even so, on this first sighting scientific evidence against animal Durham, North Carolina Ku Klux Man. I was too afraid of discovery to buy it. When a town meeting was called to Over the next several days I traveled experiments, and make a powerful discuss how best to use a government to bookstores more distant from my case for a new approach to medical grant to solve race problems in the home. Eventually, I found it again. With ience and health care. Durham schools, Ellis attended as Klan pounding heart, cash-in-hand, I sand- spokesman. After airing his anti-Black wiched Lesbian I Woman between The To get your copy of views, he was appointed — by a Black Nation and another "respectable" title, Health and Humane Research, man — to co-chair a key committee. "I made my purchase and fled. I read the agreed to accept it cause at this point I book in spurts and starts, skipping and and copies of Better than Cure and was tired of fightin. How could I work skimming, still too frightened to absorb Human Tissue, the first two essays with Ann Atwater [a Black woman, its contents in any meaningful way. It in our In Focus series^send $5.00 to: appointed as co-chair with Ellis]? It was some years later, nurtured by the was impossible. But it was in our hands. Women's Liberation Movement and by We had to make it a success. This gave a younger generation of lesbians who The American Anti-Vivisection me another sense of belongin, a sense attended my classes, that I began to find 801 Old York Road, #204 of pride. Here was a chance for a low- a way home to myself. What a joy it was, Jenkintown. PA 19046-1685 income white man to be somethin." then, to rediscover Lesbian I Woman in TEL (215) 887-0816 FAX (215) 887-2088 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 this beautiful, 20th anniversary edi- der, a magazine of news and opinion people may think, with the self confi- tion. It is a terrific book. geared to lesbians that helped break the dence and conviction that you are a The authors founded the first-ever isolation of their readers. The stories of worthy human being in your own right." lesbian organization in the United these women, and of Martin and Lyon's For any woman like myself who had States, Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) in own lives, provide the source material internalized homophobia, and taken on the 1950s. As a result, they encoun- for the book. The bedrock of their belief the paranoia, self-loathing, and psycho- tered scores of women from all regions was this: "Nothing can be as soul re- sis of repression, this is a revolutionary of the country in search of help and warding as being true to yourself, ac- idea. It is the heart of the book. advice. They listened to their stories, cepting yourself for what you are — a Martin and Lyon document the intervened when they could, and for Lesbian — and leading your life, no struggles of countless lesbians in detail. more than 20 years published The Lad- matter what the obstacles or what other Successive chapters debunk the stereo- types and myths, psychiatric dogmas and sexual gospel about lesbians. A magnificently sensitive chapter envi- sions "Growing Up Gay," describing all the confusions of adolescence in a homophobic world. A chapter on "Les- Flynn's School * & Dorothv. the repression of all women, analyzing for brochure. * ^y Proprietors the absurd, polarized strictures of gen- der. They also see precisely the signifi- 77 East 4th St. New York City, (212) 254-2870 cance of lesbian freedom as a bellwether of women's control over their own sexu- ality and bodies. They argue for the legal recognition of lesbian and gay unions, for equal protection of the laws, THE KEEPER and for access to the tax, property, medi- cal and other benefits enjoyed by het- erosexual couples. THE EASE AND FREEDOM OF Most excellent is the balance Martin and Lyon strike between detailing the A TAMPON AND REUSABLE! suffering endured by lesbians with of- ten funny stories of achievement, suc- THE KEEPER You'll love the freedom cess and acceptance. For example, one mother, puzzled about lesbian sexual- is a soft rubber and savings. At $35 ity after her daughter came out to her, menstrual cup, it saves you money decided to find out about it for herself. worn internally, in less than a year. She went to bed with one, she told her astonished daughter some weeks later, that lasts for and reported that "It was a very pleas- years. ant experience." Another mother, as- suming her daughter to be "single" and not wanting to trouble her married sib- lings, summoned her home to help in her convalescence. She lived hundreds of miles from her daughter. Realizing RD.A. _O.K. that the woman who telephoned Carrie every night and finally came to visit was D Post Childbirth I her lover, the mother said: "Forgive me, Yes! LH NO Children or C-Section | my dears. I didn't understand. You don't I Mail payment to: I belong here, Carrie. Go home — to Name: | ($35 + $2 shipping) Sandy." A university professor who had supported DOB for years, but remained I THE KEEPER Address: in the closet, described what it was like Box20023T City/State/Zip: 1 to march up | Sixth Avenue in the first Cinti., OH 45220 Gay Pride March a year after Stone- Made for Women, by Women. j wall, 20,000 strong: "I can't really de-

52 PHOTO MICHAEL A SMITH ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 scribe it — the feeling that experience couple is suddenly thrust into the lime- woman-run company has been plagued generated in me that day. Now I feel light and instant fame. But, progres- by very nasty and mysterious "acci- free — to be myself. sively, Clare becomes conscious that dents" happening to its celebrity clien- For this anniversary edition Martin something is very wrong: That her tele and the company's president sus- and Lyon wrote a 125-page "update," husband's story is a tissue of lies and, pects sabotage by her former male part- digesting the enormous gains of lesbi- that to protect his new-found celebrity, ner. Liz believes the answer is closer to ans in the years since the book was first he'll stop at nothing — including mur- home: That there's a traitor in their published. Although this section has der. DANGEROUS THOUGHTS midst, and begins an investigation of something of a catalog effect, it does (Doubleday, NY; $16.50 hardcover) her own. When the situation escalates provide a valuable capsule of legal, leg- is the latest of Celia Fremlin's superb into murder, Liz gradually becomes islative, medical and political develop- novels of suspense, which, unfortu- aware that she herself is in danger. ments. There is a particularly moving nately, too rarely appear in this coun- Brennan plays fair with the reader, but, description of the National Women's try. Fremlin is peerless in exploring the chances are, you won't guess this Conference in Houston in 1977 when terror lurking beneath the surface of one! Be prepared: Unless you have an thousands of delegates from all 50 states the lives of ordinary women. With abundance of willpower, once you start voted approvingly for a resolution call- Dangerous Thoughts, she's done it again. Full Commission, you won't be able to ing for legislation to ban discrimination put it down. based on "sexual preference." In the Liz Wareham, who made her snappy wake of the lesbian-baiting that charac- debut in last year'sHeadhunt, is back in You don't have to have animal compan- terized the early years of the more es- Carol Brennan's new thriller, FULL ions to love Rita Mae Brown's WISH tablished women's organizations, pas- COMMISSION (Carroll & Graf, NY; YOU WERE HERE (Bantam, NY; sage of this resolution was a momen- $18.95 hardcover). This time, the 40- $4.99 paperback), but it helps. In other tous event for Martin and Lyon. Their something divorced mother of two finds hands, having animals communicate book ends with an abbreviated descrip- herself treading extremely dangerous with each other might seem precious, tion of the 1991 Lesbian Conference in ground while doing damage control for but Brown pulls it off. The human pro- Atlanta attended by almost 3,000 her P.R. client, one of New York's top tagonist, Mary Minor Haristeen (Harry), women. For the two who had begun a residential real estate brokerages. The is 33, postmistress of the small town of struggle for lesbian rights almost 40 years before, the fact of such a confer- ence overshadowed all its problems of 100 Acres • Pool Innkeeper: Grace Newman politics and organization. Hot Tub • Trails Lesbian I Woman is on the one hand a book about self-acceptance and love for women that is helpful to anyone strug- gling to come into her own. It is likewise an extraordinary historical record of lesbian life in the United States since the 1940s. The most striking feature of this book is its deep and abiding com- passion. These are two women who have P.O. Box 118 loved each other for some 38 years, and Bethlehem, NH 03574 have used their bond as a foundation (603) 869-3978 from which to radiate understanding, acceptance, and love to countless women A LESBIAN PARADISE of lesbian persuasion. —Bettina Aptheker T-Shirts Bettina Aptheker is Chair and Associ- Women's Work Choke ate Professor of Women's Studies at Rosie the University of California, Santa Women Cruz. Her most recent book is Tapes- constitute half the world's CHOICE tries of Life (1989). population, perform nearly two-thirds CHOICE of its work hours, CHOICE Ms-TERIES receive one-tenth of the the world's income and own less than one-hundredth Clare Wakefield is a middle-aged En- of the world's property. glish housewife, trapped in an abusive marriage to an unsuccessful and ill- Purple ink on 100% while hvy. wt. Multicolor on 100% while hvy. wl. 4 Color on 100% while hvy. wt tempered journalist. When her hus- Shirts cost sl 1.95 each plus s2.00 shipping (for whole order.) Sizes S/M/L/XL * *> custom T-Shirt & Button Production band, one of three newsman captured Satisfaction in the Mideast, returns alone with an Guaranteed NORTHERN SUN MERCHANDISING ^ heroic story of torture and escape, the 2910 E LAKE STREET, BOX IS, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55406-2065 »1 (800) 258-8579 Cotolog 53 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 Crozet, VA, and in the process of get- Unfortunately, that can't be said for mands peace in the oppressed country ting a divorce. She has a tiger cat, Mrs. another animal-related book, GONE TO by demanding that the oppressed ac- Murphy, and a Welsh corgy, Tee Tucker. THE DOGS (Doubleday, NY; $16.50 cept peacefully their oppression. And She also has a penchant for reading hardcover). It's hard to discern for that distinction has to be clearly under- other people's postcards. When Crozet's what audience Susan Conant was aim- stood. I am very much in favor of de- residents start turning up murdered, ing: The mystery is weak, the plotting mands for peace — but the place to Harry recalls that each had first re- plods, the motive is improbable and organize the demand for peace is not in ceived a card with a different historical even the dogs are charmless. However, Ireland, it is in Britain. And the de- tombstone on the front and the written Conant is good on details of dog train- mand should be addressed not to the message "Wish you were here.'' Afraid ing and breeding, as well as what Irish people but to the British govern- that Harry knows too much and may be constitutes show dogs. Unless one of ment. So if American women do want to a danger to the killer, Mrs. Murphy and those categories is of special interest to become involved in building a peace Tucker, with the help of their animal you, you can skip this one. movement, then London is where they friends, begin to scent out clues. Unfor- — Beverly Lowy should be marching, demanding that tunately, they're unable to communi- the British government cease to op- cate what they know to the slower hu- NORTHERN IRELAND from pg 11 press the people of Ireland. mans. The next time your cat or dog tries to tell you something, you'll think tion, calling for peace by making the What do American tax dollars pay twice before you simply hand them a demand on the oppressor that they cease for in the North of Ireland? treat to shut them up. You may even to oppress. A peace movement in Ire- Taxpayers' money, through the Inter- find yourself looking over your shoul- land and such that exists within what I national Fund for Ireland (see box), is a der. Wish You Were Here manages to call the pseudo-peace movement — the scandal on two levels. Money coming combine respect for animal intelligence new consensus movement, the Peace into Ireland is exclusively used for with suspense and fun. It's delightful. Women — is a movement which de- counter-revolutionary purposes — to further isolate the Republican commu- nity and to add strength to those people Sarah Lawrence in the Nationalist community who are J J Hid J prepared to collaborate with the state. College M.A. in A great deal of it is funneled through the HISTORY social outlets of the Catholic Church. THE M.A. PROGRAM IN WOMEN'S HISTORY AT SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE is committed to rethinking the The Catholic hierarchy have basically role of women in society and t<> the exploration oi new theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of become the arbiters of the worthy poor. history. And I have a second personal objection The curriculum stresses the new scholarship on women, with particular emphasis on i act-, (.lass, and cultural diver- sity as issues of primary significance in social and cultural analysis. to it, too. I have a fundamental objection THE EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE entourages students to integrate theory with to American taxpayers' money being practice, and thought with action. This is accomplished through small seminars, tutorials, t;i oup projects, indepen- dent course work, and regularly scheduled advising, all ot which are well suited to the goals of a feminist program. sent out of America to a group of people Special attention is paid to the needs of working women. who are socially and economically bet- For information concerning course offerings, applications, financial aid, government loans, work study programs, ter off than the people in America them- and the Gerda Lerner Scholarship, write to: selves. I see comfortable, middle-class, Amy Swerdlow, Director, Women's History Program Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxvllle, New York 10708 (914) 395-2405 Catholic shopkeepers, for example, get- Sarah Lawreme College docs not discriminate on the basis of r.ue, color, sex. un, handii ap, or national orign ting $5,000 of American taxpayers' money to refurbish their shops. I see hotel owners in the North of Ireland TIMES DEMAND THAT getting $10,000 to put Jacuzzis in the WOMEN WOMEN'S VOICES BE HEARD! bathrooms of their hotels. These things go on while American citizens are lying Political and progressive, reaching more than 65,000 readers, our six out on the streets with no homes! Ameri- issues a year cover the women's beat: can tax dollars are actually going out of politics, health, grassroots activism the country to people who've never had racism, homophobia, sexism... and more. We critique pop culture- an overdraft in the bank while Ameri- movies, theater, books, art and can mothers are standing in line wait- music—all from a "blissfully biased" feminist perspective. ing to buy deteriorated food to feed their children. I think that if I were an Ameri- Don't miss a single issue! can taxpayer, I would register my very fundamental objection. Certainly

YES. I want to try a sample copy. Enclosed is $2.00. women should be vitally concerned YES. I want to subscribe Enclosed is $12.00 for a one-year subscription, $20.00 for a two-year subscription about this injustice. At a time when there is widescale women's poverty, a Name_ Return to: Subscription Department NDW high percentage of homelessness PO Box 3000 Address. Denville, NJ 07834-3000 among women, and many women just City/State/Zip_ struggling to keep their families fed, I NEW DIRECTIONS FOR WOMEN « 108 WEST PALISADE AVENUE, ENGLEWOOD. NEW JERSEY 07631-3001 think women have a right to know why

54 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 American money is going into the organize dramatically against it. pockets of healthy, white males in an- other country! It's time to ask where What do you forsee for the future? V Elizabeth Stone House millions of their tax money is going! I do think the British authorities will Our Residential programs lor Women and Their Children Include: make one last try at wiping out the "A Menial Heallh Alter native-a self-help, peer support program What do you think the ramifica- Nationalist community. In the Republi- "A Transitional Housing Program-a bridge to Independent living tions of the April 9th British gen- can rural area where I live, for example, Resources Avails bio Include; 'The Road I Took To You: Stories of Women and Crazmess. eral election will be for Northern we've had about 18 months of a dual Video available for rent or purchase. 13 fAyjhs and Realities, Pamphlet available on request, Ireland? policy of harassment and open murder ' Women and Craziness. Oral histories available (or ' The Elizabeth Slone House Handbook: Sheltering Peoele In I think the British might try to use the of political opponents by the British. Emotional Distress. AvaifaDle lor 529.85 pks =ostage. loss of Gerry Adams' seat to allege This includes murder of active political For Information and referral please call (6 1 7) 522-3-' 7. there's been a drop in political support representatives who are in Sinn Fein, The Eluaocth SI one House P.O> SOK 59 Jamaica P'ain fi4A 02130 for Sinn Fein. [Gerry Adams, former and of young men who are suspected of MP from West Belfast and leader of being involved in the military struggle. Sinn Fein, lost his seat in the British I think that this killing will continue. "** General Election on April 9,1992.] And And, if they can, the British will intro- duce internment in an attempt to to- they might use Adams' loss as indica- For a change in your life, we invite you to tion that they could begin even further tally terrorize and demoralize us. But try: THE WISHING WELL Features cur- the reality is that we have produced a rent members' self-descriptions (listed by repression against the Republican com- code), letters, photos, resources, reviews, munity. It would be very unwise for new generation of young people in the and more. Introductory copy $5.00 ppd. (discreet first class). A beautiful, tender, them to consider it. But there has been North of Ireland. And you have never loving alternative to "The Well of Loneli- speculation that they might try to re- seen a generation of young people so ness." Confidential, sensitive, supportive, dignified. Very personal. Reliable reputa- introduce internment. Internment has determined and so courageous. If Brit- tion, established 1974. Free, prompt infor- been a common feature of the Northern ish repression continues, it will create mation. Women are writing and meeting each other EVERYWHERE through: Ireland state. We've had internment in these young people such a great wave without trial before and the authority of anger — that we will very likely see

ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 55 tied up...more than 60 people. They "[After] heavy Indonesian casu- plots of land these displaced persons made them lie on the ground and then alties...the Indonesian officers were may receive is insufficient to feed their drove a bulldozer over them, and then angry.. .They punished the female popu- families, and the soil is quickly de- used it to place a few centimetres of lation by forcing them to do heavy work pleted. Malnutrition is at an all-time earth on top of the totally crushed in the rice fields, completely naked, in high; in some places, up to 80 percent corpses." the role of buffaloes." of the children are said to suffer from "Indonesian soldiers took hold of the Beatings and "disappearances" are it. The Indonesian military, mean- legs of small children and threw them common; there are said to be hundreds while, mandates the raising of cash around in the air a number of times and of jails and torture chambers scattered crops like coffee for export. smashed their heads against a throughout the country. Imprisonment Humanitarian aid packages from out- rock...And then this soldier...said a sen- is described as "arbitrary," "indetermi- side the country are usually intercepted tence which was considered to be part nate," and often without trial. by the Indonesian occupiers. What they of the wisdom of Java. He said: 'When "They held me on the ground, face choose not to take for themselves is sold you clean your field, don't you kill all down, and trampled so hard on my head at high prices in the market. Medicines, the snakes, the small and large alike?'" that my two front teeth fell out...I re- in particular, demand a very high price; In their zeal to destroy the Timorese fused to tell them anything, so on the healthcare is in decline and infant mor- people, Indonesian troops utterly hu- third night they used electric shocks tality has skyrocketed. miliate and dehumanize their victims. and threats.' Indonesia has also instituted a strict There is neither honor nor dignity — The Indonesians have established a population control program, denying nor even military discipline — in their system of "resettlement camps" in women the right to control their own actions. Timor. Timorese are rounded up, par- bodies. Many Timorese women have "Three women who refused to dress in ticularly in areas where Fretilin is sus- been sterilized without their knowledge, shorts and play volleyball with the sol- pected of being active, and moved into usually during other operations like diers were accused of being agents of refugee camps where they are completely Caesarian sections. Women who are Fretilin. They were taken away...[and] at the mercy of the Indonesians. The forced to be involved in this "Family subjected to electrical torture and Timorese are not allowed to venture Planning Programme" receive injections lighted cigarettes were used to burn from the camps to tend their fields, so of contraceptive drugs. In the words of their faces and sexual organs." little or no food is produced. What small one Indonesian feminist writer: "[T]he status of women has been so degraded that they are treated like cattle who can be told when to produce children and Wake up with Emma! 'castrated' when they are no longer re- Featuring an historical polii i quired to do so." photo of Emma Goldman, this In the meantime, Indonesia has es- 12 oz. "mug shot" mug is a gift tablished an aggressive program of with a punch immigration. Indonesian families are b) mail i in< ludes shipping) moved into areas "abandoned" by the i hi cks lo I linn.i Goldman I'.ipcrs " Timorese and given land to farm. By Emma Goldman Papers this means, despite the drop in the I ni\ i rsii\ nl < .ililnmi.i 2172 Ellsworth si I i alalogue East Timor's population to one million by the end of the century. "All the worst things that have hap- pened would have been impossible with- out American support," says Benedict Anderson, Director of the Modern Indo- nesia Project at Cornell University. Even during the period "when the U.S. was 'deeply shocked and weapons deliveries Individually-designed, independent study, supported by region- were suspended,'" he adds, "weapons al faculty. Earn your MA in 12-18 months with brief regional deliveries continued month by month." residencies. Accredited, financial aid available According to Anderson, a young em- Studies include writing, psychology/counseling, women's ployee of the State Department tried to studies, education, environmental studies, health education, alert then- Secretary of State Kissinger history, and others. BA external degree is also available to the violation of the Foreign Assis- tance Act, but Kissinger allegedly Vermont College of shredded the memorandum. "No paper trail," he reputedly said. Norwich University How could the United States, bastion 1-800-336-6794 Box 694, Montpelier, VT 05602 802-828-8500 of democracy, have given a nod to

56 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 Indonesia's action in 1975? How can it though "they will likely be much weaker The bill has been assigned to three continue that support — including the and will have to make deals" with the different subcommittees, and may be a $2.3 million International Military Edu- moderates and the middle class. long time in coming to the house floor, cation Training(IMET) program, which Perhaps this is all history now. A bill says a member of Hall's staff. As a fairly the State Department claims "help[s] to was introduced in the U.S. House of unknown issue, and politically unim- promote democratic values and respect Representatives in May which could portant in this election year, the pro- for human rights" among Indonesian effect a reversal of current U.S. policy. Timor legislation may get lost in the military personnel—well into the 1990s, H.R. 5176 would suspend bilateral aid shuffle of bureaucracy and power poli- even proposing an increase in military to Indonesia, deny certain trader pref- tics. Even if it passes, there is no indica- aid for fiscal year 1993? tion that President Bush or his succes- Principles aside, explains Anderson, sor will have any more compassion for the United States had three reasons to Many Timorese the Timorese than did Gerald Ford. support the oppressive Suharto regime. Meanwhile, the Timorese continue to First, Suharto's supporters killed al- women have been ask: "When will we have our freedom?" most half a million communists in the When indeed. • mid-1960s; this all but destroyed the sterilized without Indonesian communist party, the third John W. Bartlett, a junior at Brown largest in the world at that time. "All their knowledge University, has an abiding interest in this without the Americans having to oppressed nationalities. As co-founder sacrifice a single soldier." erences given to Indonesia by the of the Brown IRISD Baltic Student As- The second reason that the United United States, and obligate the Ameri- sociation (BALTIKA)in the spring of States found for ignoring Indonesian can representatives in the World Bank 1991, he brought national college atten- atrocities was that nation's member- and International Monetary Fund (IMF) tion to the plight of the then-Soviet- ship in the Organization of Petroleum to oppose loans and grants to Indonesia. occupied Baltic states and was invited ExportingCountries(OPEC). "From the Introduced by Representative Tony Hall to meet with a member of President American point of view at that time, (D-OH) and four co-sponsors, H.R. 5176 Bush's staff to discuss the Soviet crack- Indonesia was a moderate [in OPEC]. is the strongest such legislation to be down which claimed 20 Lithuanian They opposed certain extraordinary considered since the invasion. lives in January of 1991. price increases suggested by Iran and Iraq" in the mid-1970s. The third and most crucial reason for America's continued kow-towing to the oppressive Suharto regime is that of "The Miracle on 57th Street" "security interests." During the Cold Tucked away on the 4th floor of an office building on 57th Street in New War, Indonesia allowed American York City is an elegant boutique & bookshop devoted exclusively to women's sexual health, self-growth and happiness! . nuclear submarines to pass through its We offer books on sexuality, relationships, Tantra, Goddess history, territorial waters without surfacing. women-created erotica, and an exciting collection of romantic and sensual This violation of international law made accessories to enhance self-love and shared-love. American subs invisible to Soviet satel- Created by women for women and their partners, Eve's Garden is a lites. The deepest, most easily-nego- comfortable space where women can shop in a new-age environment that tiable channel for traverse is within nurtures the intimate connection. And that's the miracle! Timorese waters. Send $2 for our mail-order catalog* or visit in person and receive one free "All this is history now," adds Ander- Monday thru Saturday 12 Noon to 6:30.119 West 57th St., Suite 420, NY, NY son. "The reason to support the [Suharto] 1OO19 (212) 757-8651. Either way, start creating your own miracle today! regime.. .have been fading away. No one *Endorsed by le-Tiing sex cducalois and therapists throughout the country. really remembers or cares how many communists he killed. OPEC is no THE WISE WOMAN longer the organization it was in the 2441 Cordova Street 1970s; and the Soviet Union is simply Oakland, CA 94602 no longer." (415)536-3174 Further, Suharto is 72 years old now, and the economic success of his 26-year THE WISE WOMAN, a national quarterly journal, focuses on feminist reign has created a small Indonesian issues. Goddess lore, feminist spirituality, and Feminist Witchcraft. middle class which is fed up with the Includes: women's history/herstory, news, analysis, critical reviews, regime's brutality. In the wake of last art, poetry, cartoons by Bu'lbul, exclusive interviews, and original spring's uprising in Thailand — partly research about witch-hunts, women's heritage, and women today. the result of a disgruntled middle-class Subscription: $15 a year/$27 for 2 years, $38 for 3 years (U.S. funds). A — there may be more opportunity than Sample copy or back issue: $4 (U.S. funds only). I \ ever for an overthrow of his regime. Published quarterly since 1980 by Ann Forf reedom. ^v / When he goes, however,"he will be A FREE 1-year subscription to each Women's Studies teacher thaw ( toppled by the army," says Anderson. sends in a copy of this ad. /^^A And that could mean anything, al- THE WISE WOMAN, 2441 Cordova St.. Oakland, CA 94602. 57 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 admire and appreciate much of the labeled "an obstructionist" by her. CENSORSHIP from pg 4 writer's work, I was simply told that it As a polemical writer, I am accus- was seen as a betrayal. Suddenly, I lost tomed to folks disagreeing with my disappointed and "hurt." When the piece contact with folks that were once close opinion and welcome debate and dis- was published, I received word that the to me. I began to hear through gossip cussion. It is the attempt to censor that writer was not only hurt but that she no that I could not be counted on to keep I find dangerous. And even though longer considered me an ally. The fact confidence. More recently, at a major these are my true life stories, I hear that the piece was not "trashing" did not conference focusing on the work of an- similar stories all the time — enough of matter. When I insisted that criticizing other Black woman writer, where I gave them to note that this is a dangerous one work did not mean that I did not a lecture she did not agree with, I was trend. When repression via censorship becomes the norm in progressive po- litical circles we not only undermine our collective struggles to end domina- 16816 STH AVE. Si. • MILL CREEK, WA 98012 tion, we act in complicity with that brand of contemporary chic fascism Write or call for FREE that evokes romantic images of unity information packet. and solidarity, a return to traditional

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58 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 IN MY VIEW job, no mate. She should have planned tion. (Her father was the head of the PHYLLIS CHESLER better or compromised harder." Or we Atomic Energy Commission's Pluto- say: "But isn't she really a little (or a lot) nium By-Products Division at Wash- crazy?" ington State's Hanford Reservation.) In only 25 years, a visionary feminism In 1982, Elizabeth Fisher, founder of She says: "First, I had a hysterectomy. has managed to seriously challenge, if Aphra magazine and author of Women's Now, I have no thyroid left. I take tons not transform, world consciousness. Creation: Sexual Evolution and the of thyroid medication, some of which Nevertheless, I am saddened and so- Shaping of Society and, in 1987, my has made me sick and unable to work." bered by the realization that no more dear friend Ellen Frankfurt, author of The rent party was a determined, even than a handful of feminists has been Vaginal Politics, killed themselves. Not inspired, grassroots effort that yielded liberated from the grinding poverty, just because they were depressed, on more good will than cash; however, such illness, overwork, and endless worry drugs, or without hope that things would events are too labor-intensive, too hard that continue to afflict the lives of most get better (although some of this was to repeat on a monthly basis for every women and men in America. so), but also because they were tired of pioneer feminist who's in an illness- I have seen the best minds of my fighting so hard for so long for a place in related economic crisis. feminist generation go "mad" with the sun, tired of never having enough Ti-Grace at least has an apartment. battle fatigue, give up, disappear, kill emotional support or sufficient money. Other feminist pioneers are — or are themselves, die — often alone, and in They despaired of both man's and about to become — homeless. terrible isolation — as if we were al- For example, a legendary antipornog- ready invisible: To each other, and to raphy activist has been forced to ware- ourselves, our role as pioneers and All we have house her files and move in with a immigrants, diminished, forgotten. friend. The co-author of a lesbian-femi- Immigrants always form infrastruc- is each other: nist classic, a well-known feminist co- ture or self-help groups and tithe them- Our sisters, medienne, an abortion rights activist selves accordingly. We are the immi- and countless other pioneers, all sway grants who, in the late 1960s and early ourselves unsteadily on the brink of joblessness 70s, left the Old Patriarchal Country and homelessness. The co-author of a to clear a path in history for the genera- much-loved book on feminist spiritual- tions to come. It's too late for us to turn woman's inhumanity to woman. ity became homeless last year; she left back, and we've still got "miles to go So many of us have died, mainly of New York for a warmer climate to be before we sleep" in our own feminist breast cancer. To name only a few: June homeless in. Shulamith Firestone, au- country. Arnold, Parke Bowman, Jane Cham- thor of The Dialectics of Sex and a wel- There are few feminist networks in bers, Barbara Deming, Mary-Helen fare-recipient, had to battle hard to hang place with a mandate to assist femi- Mautner, Barbara Meyerhoff, Lil Moed, onto her rent-controlled apartment in nists (or female adults) when they lose Pat Parker, Barbara Rosenblum, Isacca between "visits" to Bellevue in the late their jobs, become ill, stay ill, face Siegel, Sunny Wainwright. And, so many 1980s. The fact that none of these death, and are without patriarchal of us are struggling with longlasting women has written second books im- family resources, supportive mates or disabilities, such as Lyme disease and poverishes us all. other safety nets. Chronic Fatigue Disfunction Syndrome I am not blaming any of us for not Surrounded by epidemics, I ask: (CFIDS), myself included. having done more; we did the best we Where are our feminist credit unions We have no quilt, and no memorial. could, and we did a lot. But in all our and emergency funds (remember those Some of us have been blessed by femi- imaginings, we failed to imagine that failed attempts in the mid-'70s)? Our nist caretaking. I think of how magnifi- we ourselves would grow weary or fall feminist soup kitchens, Meals on cently Sandra Butler cared for — and ill and have no real, specific "family" to Wheels, land trusts and old-age homes orchestrated community support for — take us in and tide us over until we (remember those fiascos)? Our breast her cancer-stricken lover/partner Bar- could get back on our feet. cancer fundraising campaigns, our bara Rosenblum (an account is in their Some of us acted as if we didn't think hospices, our burial societies? (Femi- book Cancer in Two Voices); I think of we'd need families again. Perhaps our nists are just starting to get serious how tenderly, how enduringly, Jesse collective experience of transcendence about breast cancer, and about women Lemisch has cared for his CFIDS-racked blinded us to our ordinary needs. with AIDS.) wife, my beloved comrade, Naomi But most of us were longing for These support systems do not yet ex- Weisstein; I think of how many lesbian- "communitas." We talked about sister- ist. One survivor of breast cancer told feminists cared for and sent "white hood and community, tribes and alter- me that in the mid-'80s, her newly- light" to Barbara Deming and Jane nate families — but only in the abstract, formed cancer support group disbanded Chambers. as we rushed from one dazzling spec- when its first member diedl But these are splendid exceptions, tacle to another. Some feminists blame those whose lucky, individual solutions, even trends The republic ought to provide employ- immune systems cannot absorb any — not yet sturdy. ment, health insurance and medical more environmental toxins — or toxic I recently attended a rent party for Ti- care for all its citizens, but it doesn't; amounts of hostility. Some of us still Grace Atkinson, author of Amazon Od- and we have fallen on hard times, along say: "It's her own fault she has no yssey. Ti-Grace's health was seriously with everyone else. All we have is each health insurance, no nursing care, no impaired by exposure to low-dose radia- other: Our sisters, ourselves. • 59 ON THE ISSUES WINTER 1992 ticulous surgical excision of the dis- WUORNOS IS VICTIM TOO FEEDBACK ease will, in fact, give long-lasting relief I have written a letter to Senator George Please direct all comments to: Editors, ON THE ISSUES, 97-77 Queens of pain to a significant majority of pa- Mitchell, Senator William Cohen and Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY 11374. tients. Representative Thomas Andrews re- Nancy Petersen, RN garding Phyllis Chesler's article on INFAMOUS EXPLOITATION National Association of Women's Aileen (Lee) Wuornos in the Summer As one who lives two miles from Salem, Health Professionals 1992 edition of On the Issues. I am I was particularly interested in Fred Bend, OR writing to urge readers to consider writ- Pelka's article, "Bitch Witches & Hys- ing their congresspeople and represen- terical Girls" (Summer 1992). The ar- IS SOME VIOLENCE GOOD? tatives, asking for help in obtaining a ticle gives an excellent view of how the I've about had it with all of the negative fair trial with appropriate legal repre- entire sordid history of the witch trials naysaying concerning "Thelma and sentation for Wuornos. I am also writ- has become an enormous tourist at- Louise." ing to urge readers to consider writing traction and commercial enterprise. The How can one label oneself "feminist" to these same people about their expe- profile of a witch on a broomstick is not and demand that all movies with riences of growing up as a female in the only the logo of the Salem Police De- women's rights themes be totally realis- United States. I have used a pseud- partment but of the Salem chamber of tic and upright in moral tone while not onym for my protection; however, my commerce, and the entire town is even acknowledging the vast discrepan- story is true and not at all unlike Aileen marked with historical markers with cies that exist in terms of realism, mo- Wuornos' story. this logo. rality and fairness in the vast majority I am a survivor of incest and the It is true that ghastly events in the of traditional Hollywood fare? Why aren't product of a violent, alcoholic, incestu- past often become tourist attractions: these "feminist" critics going after male ous family. I have suffered neglect and Wax museums are filled with figures of violence? It is absolutist to blanketly physical, spiritual, emotional and psy- ghoulish murderers. But it is quite a condemn violence; whatever happened chological abuse within my family and different thing when a city chooses to to looking at the context in which some- throughout my life. At the age of 16,1 commemorate an injustice with "an thing occurs before passing judgment? was officially thrown out of the apart- historical trail marker'' of such an ut- We do not live in a peaceable kingdom ment where I lived with my mother. terly trivializing caricature of the and no amount of romanticizing nature, Previously, I had simply been locked women and men who were victims of reality and woman's so-called ways will out of the house when I was not wanted the injustice. change that. Only a long, protracted around. I almost wound up on the Roberta Kalechofsky struggle will — one that encompasses streets. I almost wound up like Aileen Marblehead, MA all typesof resistance, notjust that which Wuornos. By the grace of God, I was is peaceful and/or respectable.Please, taken in by a schoolmate's family. EXCISE DISEASE — NOT UTERI can we stop pushing the double stan- I could be on death row just like As the Director of the Endometriosis dard under the guise of feminist analy- Wuornos, save a simple twist of fate. I Treatment Program at St. Charles sis? The pedestal will only hinder women. have not killed anyone, but if I had Medical Center, I read Lois Greene Robin E. Skeie fought for my life, someone might have Stone'sarticle"Excised"(Summerl992) Minneapolis, MN died; and if it wasn't me, then I would with great interest. stand trial for murder like she did. The patronizing attitudes and psy- ON THE WRONG PLANET? Then, if the jury was not allowed to chological dismissal that she experi- Thank you for sending me a sample copy hear pleas of self-defense, they might enced over 34 years is, unfortunately, of On the Issues to examine; however, I believe the prosecution's assertions that all too common. Kate Weinstein, in her believe you have confused me with some- an angry woman who hated men be- book Living with Endometriosis re- one else. Although the articles by Phyllis cause she was abused as a child killed ported that about 75 percent of the Chesler and Laura Sydell (Summer only to feel power. They would not hear people she encountered had been dis- 1992) were interesting, on the whole On that she had been fighting for her life. missed as neurotic. That matches our the Issues seems to be aimed less at pro- Wuornos has admitted to committing experience as well. Given a 75 percent gressive women than the trailing edge. murder and for that she should be held psychological dismissal rate, that re- Let me bring you up to date. Ex-VISTA accountable. However, she deserves a ally means that 300 out of every 400 workers are practicing down at the pis- fair trial with the assistance of an at- patients we see should have no sub- tol range; those who were sold on "witch- torney and witnesses that can perhaps stantial pathology. However, the num- craft" are now more interested in selling help save what is left of her life. The ber of normal pathology reports that you the products and services of the truth deserves to be heard. we have at the end of any given year business they founded; and the save- Devi Shanti (pseudonym) might amount to two or three. the-whale groupies ran for public office Falmouth, ME The majority of women with and will get back to you on the subject of endometriosis do very well with a simple doggies, pussies and redwoods as soon CORRECTION excision of their disease. This runs con- as they get the town sewage system back The photograph on page 31 of the trary to the beliefs that hysterectomy is in working order. Fall 1992 issue was misidentified. It the best treatment once a woman has Do call if you're ever visiting my planet. was from a Feminists Fighting Por- passed childbearing age. Many re- Celia Redmore nography street table display. searchers have now shown that me- Decatur, GA

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