Volume VI, Number 2, 1979 Editorial Feminism: Wallflower in Party Politics
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Branching Out Canadian magazine for women Volume VI Number 2, 1979 $1.25 Election Primer Postcards cwld UNA Branching Out postcards by Maureen Paxton. Package of 10, in colour, $3.00. see inside back cover for order form. Branching Out Editor Columns Sharon Batt Aritha van Herk Editorial Assistant 2 editorial Sharon K. Smith 2 letters Contributing Editors Helen Melnyk, Diana S. 4 printed matter Palling, Sharon K. Smith Editorial Departments 26 law Art: Barbara Hartmann, Cathy Hobart Battered Women: Books: Aritha van Herk The Gagged Victims Marie Gordon Fiction: Heather Pringle, Anne O'Grady Wifebeating Analyzed Doris Wilson Helen Rosta, Marion Thorn Legal Notes Louise Dulude Film: Judith Minis Law: Linda Duncan, Louise Dulude 36 film Photography: Diana S. Palling The Central Character Margaret Cooper Printed Mailer: Sharon K. Smith Design 40 books Diana S. Palling A Balance Between Darkness and Noon Dorothy Livesay Other Staff this Issue Wendy Bilner, Mufly Malhewson Untold Story Should Have Stayed Untold Cathy Hobart Board of Directors The Joy of Running Patricia E. Laverock Thora Cartlidge, Nora Corbell, the Dumbell Patricia E. Laverock Ellen Gillan, World of Jannie Edwards, Mary Father? van Varseveld Helen Melnyk, Sharon Ball Worship Thy Gail Victorian Age "New Woman" Helen Melnyk Light Nosh Cora Taylor Numbers and Lives Beverley Ross A Clear and Cohesive Chronicle Mary Ann Prychoda * Copyright 1979 by the New Women's Magazine Society, Features: Election Primer Edmonton. Alberta. All rights reserved. Unless used in a review, the reproduction of this work in any form, by any 8 Broken Promises Carole Swan means, including photocopying, recording, information storage and retrieval systems, et cetera, is forbidden without 11 Human Rights: Indian Women the express permission of the publisher. Need Not Appeal Kathleen Jamieson Branching Out is published every two to three months by the New Women's Magazine Society, a Canadian Charitable 19 A Beginner's Guide to Polticial Organization. Editorial office located at 8631-109 Street. Involvement Jo Evans Edmonton. Alberta. Phone (403) 433-4021. 31 The Evolution of the Women's This issue published with financial assistance from Alberta Culture. Canada Council and the Alberta Law Foundation. Movement Lynn McDonald Send all correspondence to Box 4098, Edmonton. Alberta. T6E 4S8. Submissions should be typed, double-spaced and accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. We Fiction and Poetry review unsolicited manuscripts from Canadian women only. Subscription rales in Canada, $6.00 for six issues. $11.00 for 13 poetry twelve issues for individuals; $ 10.00 for six issues. $20.00 for twelve issues for institutions. Add $1.00 per six issues for The Wife Edna Alford U.S. rates. $2.00 per six issues for overseas rates. Advertising rates available on request. 14 fiction Back issues of Branching Out are available on microfilm from Visitation Street Jane Saible Micromedia Ltd.. Box 34, Station S. Toronto M5M 4L6. The magazine is oo file with the International Women's History Archive housed at the Special Collection Library. 23 poetry Northwestern University. Evanston. IL 60201. Branching deja vu: memoirs for my mother Linda Pyke Out is a member of the Canadian Periodical Publishers' reunion Linda Pyke Association. The magazine is indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Typesetting by Superior Typesetting Ltd. cover illustration: Sheila Luck Printed by Alpine Press. Edmonton. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3517, Volume VI, Number 2. 1979. ISSN 0382 - 5264 Volume VI, Number 2, 1979 editorial Feminism: Wallflower in Party Politics It was an omen of May 22nd. Marc the vote; they won the vote. The first but we must ask ourselves realistically if Lalonde, The Minister Responsible for woman to enter the RCMP was not it could function and accomplish any the Status of Women, managed to "accepted" by their good grace; she thing within the present government squeak his new Plan of Action for the qualified! structure. We are, it seems, continually Status of Women in under the election It is at this point that one must trapped. wire. There is only one problem. The question the role of feminism in relation Perhaps it is necessary to re- document, entitled Towards Equality to the established political structure. examine our political involvement. for Women, is full of plans and When "the federal government's com Branching Out is often criticized for not proposals, but contains no true indica mitment to women" consists of a being political enough. If being political tion of action. The situation of women in booklet of nebulous promises as elec means that we support one of the Canada has been analyzed and studied tions plugs for the Liberal Party, our established and male-dominated parties, since the Royal Commission on the status as women reveals itself to be we are not. But as we hope to show in Status of Women Report appeared in clearly at the mercy of a male-dominated this issue, feminism is in itself a political 1970, but little has actually been party system. Not a comfortable thought stance and it is becoming increasingly accomplished. and one reason perhaps why there is now important that we recognize this fact. This "plan of action" first of all a movement afoot in Toronto to establish We must understand that denying our proposes mainly more study and a "Women's Political Party". Obvious feminism is an apolitical act and one that analysis. Secondly, it lists the achieve ly, supporting one of the existing parties can only divide our strength as a political ments of Canadian women over the last is not satisfactory. Politics in Canada are body. two centuries. Indeed, if one swallows defined mainly in terms of the economic The politics of feminism are "grass the propaganda that comes with the system; the role of women is totally roots" politics. By lobbying, by working package, women's achievements are peripheral to any party's philosophy. for good day care, in rape crisis centres gifts from men, and women's rights are Everyone wants to get the feminist vote, and with battered wives, we can gain a still subject to that all-powerful giver and but political parties have always used solidarity that will become much more taker man. All achievements are, of feminism to support parties, never than a behind-the-scenes movement. course, by special dispensation of the parties to support feminism. Further With perseverance and hard work we Liberal Party. Well, I for one resent the more, the business and labour com can eventually overturn the traditions fact that government funds allocated for munities have an elaborate structure that that govern politics and gain the power the special needs of women are spent in excludes women altogether; they are as to legislate ourselves. Please think twice producing a booklet full of such blatant unyielding as the government itself. when you hear election promises that are Liberal propaganda and male-oriented What is the solution? A women's directed at women. No one is going to doubletalk. Women were not "given" political party sounds like a great idea, rescue us but ourselves. Aritha van Herk letters grabs me, but many of them are too excellence in political and economic Eastern Alienation wordy for me. articles, in poetry and fiction, in I have been glad to keep in touch artwork, photography and layout. My For the first time since you started with affairs in the west yet, sad to say, publishing I am test of a magazine is how much of it I reluctantly not renewing much of it seems far away from my actually read and I always read my subscription. The magazine is concerns in urban Ontario. Branching Out from cover to cover. I excellent in every way and the price is Frieda Snee Ancaster, Ontario subscribe to a number of feminist fair, however, there is a change in me. I journals, in this country and in England am tired of the anger, tired of your many Magazine Passes 'Read' Test and America, and in my view Branching writers who try to whip up anger. There Out is one of the very best. I are pages and pages of information in I have been a staunch supporter of Branching Out since its beginnings and congratulate you all, and wish you all Branching Out I never read. I look at the possible success in the future. pictures, the poetry, the stories and the I've seen it grow and expand in scope. reviews. Once in a while a long article You've attained a high quality of Margaret Laurence, Lakefield, Ontario Branching Out Anniversary Issue Impresses rowdy parties. Personally, I found rugby intentional, or causes injury to another an excellent opportunity to meet many player intentionally, the guilty player is Just a note to say how fine I think new people, travel to various cities and disqualified from the game. I have not your anniversary issue is. I was participate in other recreational activities. been in or seen a game where a woman particularly impressed with the article As in any other sport played by men has been disqualified for "dirty play". by Dorothy Smith, with Jane Rule's and women, there are various difficulties contribution, and with the Glassy Sea which include spectator control, refere- review. Throughout, the writing was of eing, scheduling of games, team organiza high standard and the illustration and tion, coaching, availability of practice and layout impressive. game fields, discipline on and off the field, Sherrill Cheda, Toronto and basic personality conflicts among all those involved. Women's rugby in Edmonton has developed and matured at Artwork "Revolting" a steady rate with the help of many dedicated individuals. A team will grow We will not renew our subscription properly through constructive criticism of to Branching Out.