JN 1991 JAN 3 2 i P A t e eei cuts oisPLAYthe u c benefit s.«the poor PO HO* 5614/ AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND BROADSH Contraceptive controversy 184 R U 486 E ZAADS EIIT AAIE O EGTE YEARS EIGHTEEN FOR MAGAZINE FEMINIST ZEALAND’S HEW s k, s f e h il should girls Why re lfa e w ’s n e m , rk o w ’s n e m o W oe’ imfsia t okrvesa re o m d an reviews Book rts A festival film Women’s edSt ng t l t nga oGoy Box Glory eo R a g an h o K ith w ll ta g in d n ta S read clie—frwl peh nd AI S Rachel ID A d rugby an ’s n e e g a m u o g n w a L - ld speech — fie farewell McAlpine e th laying P the face of face the Grinding january/february 1991 $4.50 1991 january/february

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35 Gripes of Roth 37 Arts Women’s Film Festival 0 Fame and Fortune 0 Art and Organised Labour 0 Ann Beaglehole 0 Our Own Image 0 Will the Real NZ Male Stand up? 0 Exploding Frangipani 0 Farewell Speech 0 Permanent Partners 0 A Lesbian Love Advisor 0 Listing classified m a r c h / m a e h e 48 Feminism and Anarchy 49 what’s new The Beauty Myth

Policy is made by the Broadsheet collective : Helen Courtney, Megan Fidler, Cathy Hall, Lisa Howard-Smith, Juliet Jacques, Claire-Louise McCurdy, Pat Rosier, Lisa Sabbage, Shirley Tamihana, Athina Tsoulis, Lewis Williams. Main areas of responsibility are: ADVERTISING: Lisa Howard-Smith EDITORIAL: Megan Fidler, Pat Rosier FINANCES: Cathy Hall PRODUCTION: Helen Courtney SUBSCRIPTIONS: Edith Gorringe. THANKS T O : The Print Centre, Uma

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J A N U A RY/F E B R U A RY 1991 BROADSHEET 1 HERSPECTIVE

ê ê\ Fomen begin early in life with this sense regardless of how they may look. The sooner society is LL' 'that we aren’t quite right. During alerted to these discrepancies, the easier is will be for our childhood the identification of woman as young women especially, to grow into confident and self other and less, lays the groundwork of all assured people. Education aimed at these goals is essential forms of inequality. But appearance is the for all children, yet unfortunately the only courses which first, constant commentary. As a woman are offered in the standard school curriculum are comes to accept her physical “difference” as evidence of inadequate and judgemental. Only some “alternative” personal failure, she also learns to share society’s belief schools seem to be addressing this very real problem. that hostility is her due. This experience of inadequacy It is obvious though, that many cultures have no stigma means that no woman is allowed to say or to believe “I am associated with women who are fat. In fact it is often beautiful”. desirable for a woman of child bearing age to increase in Wendy Chapkis, Beauty Secrets: Women and the Politics weight - this is the case in the Cook Islands for example, of Appearance, Women’s Press, London, 1988. where I spent some time recently. This intelligent and To judge another person on their appearance is among healthy attitude results in an absence of eating disorders, the most ignorant of habits commonly indulged by our such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, among the native society. It is quite wrong that someone can judge another population. There is also no struggle against the body’s person based on their skin colour, body shape, size, or natural tendency for weight to increase during pregnancy dress. and aging. This has a particularly devastating effect on women, My own experience of this culture has taught me that who are almost always judged by others (at least initially) the larger, older and more experienced woman is often the by their external appearance. Many women I know have better dancer, weaver, singer or choreographer, than the had their self esteem destroyed by strangers (and people younger and/or thinner woman. Positive body images they know), who feel the need to pass comment with abound in the Cook Islands, and not to be judged on my nothing but their own preconceptions and conditioning to appearance turned out to be a blissful new experience for base their comments on. me. My personal strength and self esteem flourished Body size is a particularly disturbing criteria by which because of this. to make a judgement. This arbitrary aspect of a woman’s In my own short lifetime I have been judged often. My body is regularly used to make invalid comments about own anger at this offensive behaviour was often their talent, creativity, and other general characteristics, swallowed to avoid confrontation. I have now reached a often including assumptions about their ability to love. stage where I have stopped this dangerous suppression of There are many misconceptions that are commonly feelings, which I can now openly own and express. Energy assumed to be true for all those who are fat: they eat which had previously gone into trying to alter my natural excessively, are lazy and slovenly, and are somehow body shape - through diet, exercise and constantly substandard in comparison to others. To become worrying about food - is now directed into doing things I “normal”, they need to lose their “excess” weight and enjoy. This active living is to be encouraged in all women, “tidy themselves up a bit”, thereby making themselves especially younger women, who must certainly undergo a more preferable to potential mates, and society in general. hellish experience, in growing up in a world where the , Most of the women who are perceived as being common perception is archaic and resistant to change. different from the standards set down by society, will of Never deny yourself the pleasure of doing something you course have bodies that work perfectly, bodies which can wish to do, merely because of the fear of judgement. Kia do anything and everything that is desired of them, kaha! Be strong! Jeni Little

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2 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 ette rs

Health manuals are always more from my team mates and numerous useful for women if they are meetings, a decision has finally been “humanised” by including what women made at one management level to actually think. I would be very grateful discontinue using names, alias, date of for any contributions women might wish birth, address, work and home phone to make. numbers and introduce a code system CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS Sandra Coney, instead. I hope this will become I am in the process of writing a health Auckland. boardwide. book for mid-life women and would like Regarding other issues such as to include some experiences and PRIVACY PROTECTED whether the new data collection thoughts of women around the themes of Re: Your article Computer Capture of procedures have gone before an ethics aging and health care. I would be very Mental Health Service Consumers committee, we have contacted a medical grateful if any of you felt like writing a As a woman working in a community union solicitor who is currently inves­ few paragraphs or more on the matters I mental health centre in Auckland, I felt tigating this. Hence I am very pleased to will outline below. All quotes from these really encouraged by reading this article say that some steps have been taken to comments I receive will be published about the proposed central computer rectify the situation. anonymously, so it will not be possible system, as I think the public and A Worker with the AAHB to identify anyone. consumers have a right to know about (name and address supplied) The book is a decision-making information systems. As one of manual for women, examining the Auckland Area Health Board’s NCWNZ SUPPORT DIRECT medical interventions, screening employees I have been warned against ENTRY techniques and treatments offered to making this kind of information public. In the October issue of Broadsheet, Joan well women in their 40’s and 50’s as part Hence I felt very relieved to see my Donely, in reporting on the first National of preventive health care. It will go into concerns in print. Conference of Midwives, says that the scientific evidence, the pros and the I used the Broadsheet article National Council of Women (NCW) cons so women can make well-informed successfully in my workplace to yet policy is opposed to Direct Entry decisions. again state my concerns about Training of Midwives as is legislated for The areas I hope to cover are: consumers’ confidentiality. With support in the Nurses Amendment Act. 1) Normal aging - how women feel about getting older, social attitudes to aging in women, expectations of menopause, women’s actual experience of the menopause, messages women have got from the media. What do women understand about their risk of osteoporosis? 2) Experiences with the medical profession in this age group - how frequently are mammography and hormone replacement therapy etc being promoted by GP’s and for what reasons. I’d like to know what women are being told about these interventions. 3) Actual experiences of mammo­ graphy, hormone replacement therapy, cervical screening etc - both good and bad. It would help if your contribution included something about yourself, for example, what age, whether post­ menopausal, occupation, single, married etc. And you don’t need to write on all the subjects above, just one will do.

J A N U A RY/F E B R U A R Y 1991 BROADSHEET 3 Letters

CERTIFICATE IN Let me set the record straight. At our WOMEN’S STUDIES 1991 recent Conference (4-7 October), a remit supporting the present system of THE PEOPLE’S Feb - July & July - Nov midwife training was debated at CENTRE - considerable length, but was defeated. Day & Evening Courses Auckland (10-12 am or 7-9 pm) The National Council of Women of New FEBRUARY Zealand therefore is not opposed to Invites you to join us. Women & Health (Day) Direct Entry Training for Midwives. We look forward to seeing pilot W e o ffe r: Women & Society (Evg) programmes established that will Women & Work adequately prepare midwives for an ♦ Free full-time medical Women & Art effective role as professionals who can JULY give women a choice in where and how s e rv ic e s Women & Society (Day) they will give birth to their babies. ♦ Free haircuts Women, Language Alison Roxburgh ♦ Free membership to & Image (Evg) National President, NCWNZ. the green dollar Women & Ideas e x c h a n g e Further Information PENPALS WANTED Ph. (09) 737 831/737 832 I am looking for women to correspond ♦ Help with benefit or 737 999 extn 7432 with who have similar interests. I am 43 h a s s le s but relate to women of most ages. I ♦ Advice & courses on CONTINUING EDUCATION enjoy writing and conversation. I like to UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND toss around ideas of social structure and b u s in e s s PRIVATE BAG, AUCKLAND philosophy. I am a healer, a lesbian and ... and more. a mother. I work part time as a therapist in the country. I enjoy reading and learning more about alternative We welcome lifestyles, Indian Women Folklore, unemployed people, FRONTING UP Ancient times and rituals; social, tribal beneficiaries, and and women’s issues; growth and workers to EDITORIAL DEADLINES change; health and healing. I sculpt, For the March issue 20 January, for paint and write but need to learn and jo in o u r PEOPLE’S April, 25 February. We want your ideas expand more in these areas. CENTRE p le d g e and suggestions - please make thefti I lead a very simple lifestyle without system - $5.00 constructive. many male-system link-ups (like TV) and will shortly build an alternative OFFICE STAFFING energy (solar) house. (Scary) I would Phone up or come in The best time to find someone in the like to correspond with women who Ph. (09) 399 482/399 682 office is between 9.30 and 3.30. We comprehend (or want to learn more) have an answerphone so you can leave about the feminine system or woman 1st Floor 14-18 Custom St East a message at any time. ways and who like to have a chat via Auckland City pen now and again. (PO Box 3813 Auckland 1) THANKS Write to Ana Best, Please keep us in mind when you want Katikara RD4, New Plymouth. to share some of your hard-earned money. Thanks to all the women who already make regular donations and add a bit to their subscription renewals or just send us something out of the blue. It all adds up.

VOLUNTEERS If you have some regular spare time during the day and would like to help Kathy or Lisa with tasks around the office, please call them on 608 535. Friends of Broadsheet need more members to help plan and hold fundraising events for 1991. This is a fun, lively group to be part of. Call Juliet on 444 4529.

4 BROADSHEET J A N U A RY/F E B R U A RY 1991 THE UNEMPLOYED - “WORLD AT THEIR FEET”. With words like ‘freedom’ and ‘choice’ the Government introduces benefit cuts and changes to industrial policy which reduce living standards for the poor even further. Athina Tsoulis writes. I listened to the National programme this morning with growing dismay. Prior to the election when people around me properly and have access to health care? The answer, of course, to low wages said, “I’m not voting for Labour, not Five dollars at the chemist may seem a is not to make the unemployment benefit after they have betrayed everything reasonable amount to someone in the so low that people are forced to accept Labour has stood for... Anyway $70,000+ category, but not for those poor wages. This, in effect, is what this National couldn’t do much worse”. At trying to live on a few hundred dollars a government is doing. Despite its faults, the time I knew they were wrong! week. the union movement has over the years Listening to Richardson is enough to While listening to the grim tale tried to raise the living standards of make one break out in hives. It is a unfold on the National Programme, I workers. It is quite clear that the shame that those at the lowest end of the almost choked (as did the interviewer), majority of employers couldn’t care less economic heap should have to bear the when Richardson dismissed concern that about the quality of their workers’ lives. cost of Roger Douglas’s economic those under twenty five had to live on Yet the Nats are clearly on the side of experiments and a disillusioned Labour just over $100 per week. She said these the employers. protest. young people are so lucky - they have Destroying the unions will ensure the A few weeks into the new regime and the world at their feet. Then we had to continuance of a cheap labour pool some of my worst fears have been listen to the tired old dole bludger which will scrabble over the few poorly realised. None of it should be a surprise. argument - “I know an employer who paid jobs that exist. This is obviously the Richardson and Shipley made it quite can’t get workers blah blah blah”. Who Government’s intention in a free market. clear how they felt towards bene­ is she trying to kid? Shipley does admit With protectionism gone, New Zealand ficiaries, especially people on the DPB. that it will take a few months for all workers will have to compete with the Richardson has a man about the these promised jobs to eventuate but in workers of Taiwan, Korea and Hong house and a nice big salary to keep her. the meantime all you people can quietly Kong who are among the most exploited Heaven help women on the DPB - they starve while you’re waiting. It sounds people in the world. Is this the kind of really have sinned as far as Richardson like a ‘let them eat cake’ attitude. New Zealand we want, where the most is concerned. She shows a Thatcherite Richardson went on ad nauseum vulnerable people not only have to do contempt and Scrooge mentality towards about people who earned less working the most mindless jobs and are paid a those in need. Why, as one National MP fulltime than single people on the dole. pittance for doing them, so that suggested, don’t Richardson and Shipley She even placed her farm workers in this companies can make bigger profits to concentrate on collecting more of the 1.2 category. Now what I would have liked employ more workers to exploit? billion dollars that fathers who abandon the interviewer to ask dear Ruth is why Capitalism breeds greed and self- their families are supposed to pay? Why her farm workers are so poorly paid? interest, and big business has no punish the women and children for the Just because employers will pay as little compunction in holding the country to fathers’ sins? as possible to their workers doesn’t ransom. If they are forced to return some What long term health problems is seem a good reason for the Government profits to the community they simply this Government creating by making it to incorporate this exploitative mentality refuse to invest in New Zealand. They difficult for these families to eat into the Social Welfare System. go to poorer areas such as the Pacific

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 5 Broadcast

and South-East Asia to find workers to cannot find any. When she asked at what or where the job is, one should be exploit. Richardson knows this and that Social Welfare how she was going to grateful. In Britain similar policies is why the unions are being destroyed survive until March, they told her to adopted by Thatcher hit the young and workers are losing the little seek help from her friends. So her unemployed who refused to go on youth protection they may have had. option is to go and beg for charity. The training schemes. They were paid the The obscenity of this was revealed racism of the current package should not unemployment benefit to work in when I bumped into a Samoan woman, a escape our attention as those at the fulltime placements, but received little solo parent of two children, who has bottom end, those who have the lowest training. If they refused these place­ been working for a university residential wages and protection are Maori and ments, they lost the dole. Many young hall as a kitchen hand for the last fifteen Pacific Islanders who also have the people found it less degrading to camp years. She gets paid approx $16,000 pa poorest health and education record. out in the streets begging for their living fulltime and every Christmas she is laid Then we get posturing from politicians rather than to accept these conditions. off for about 10 weeks with 3 weeks pay who claim to be concerned about this A few years ago a Tory MP in Britain in her hand. She has been told that she poor record, but in reality they are doing lived for a month on the dole to prove cannot apply for the dole until six weeks their utmost to maintain the status quo. that it could be done. Now there is a have elapsed. After paying her bills she Another little novelty Richardson has challenge for you Ruth and Jenny. Just has been left with $100 to see her dreamt up is that the unemployed lose try it for two months, with your children through to the beginning of March. their benefit for six months if they of course, and show us that it’s a piece Every day she goes to look for work but refuse a job offer twice. It doesn’t matter of cake. □

Broadsheet asked Jenny Shipley, the Minster of providing a benefit, a Domestic Purposes Benefit, and Social Welfare and Minster of Women’s Affairs this it’s our intention to keep funding that benefit question: unconditionally until the youngest child is seven and from that time we hope that the caregiver or the children How do you reconcile your role as Minister of Women’s will start to seek either part-time or full-time work. In the Affairs whilst at the same time slashing DPB and meantime we believe it is proper that a benefit is paid cutting Family Benefit? that is sufficient to meet the needs of the caregiver and This issue is not a women’s issue in isolation. The his or her children. intention of this package is to create employment Family Benefit is currently paid to all families where opportunities. Currently there is a problem between the children are present in their 18th year or under. When we amounts people can receive on benefits and the amounts looked carefully at what circumstances these families that they can receive in work. By altering the levels of were in, we found that only about 30% of those families benefits we believe that many beneficiaries, including lived in households that earned less than $26,000 and those who currently receive a Domestic Purposes Benefit, indeed that 49% of those families lived in households that will eventually look to the workforce for either part of earned more than $39,000 each year. With the pressure their income instead of receiving a benefit. That is the that’s now on the current Government concerning Government’s intention. expenditure, we felt that what money we had available The Domestic purposes Benefit, in the view of the had to go to low income families and we decided to take current Government, is a short-term benefit that people $160 million out of the area where we felt it could be are entitled to if their income earner leaves the family. afforded, while ensuring that the balance of family benefit The Crpwn acts on behalf of the non-custodial by payments would go to those families that needed it.

The day after the announcement of the National Party women’s issues. Unemployed people, beneficiaries and economic cuts, Broadsheet contacted Sue Bradford, supporters will have to be mobilised in the New Year. We Coordinator of the Unemployed Workers Rights Union. will be calling on public servants to support us also”. She said: Groups or individuals who wish to offer support please “This is the biggest attack ever on the welfare state. They contact The People’s Centre, Ph 399 482/399 682 or write (the National Party) are trying to destroy it. One third of to PO Box 3813 Auckland 1 welfare spending has been cut in one hit. They either have no idea of what they are doing, or else they are evil. What Shirleen Casey, Union Secretary for the has been created is a return to the nineteenth century Combined Beneficiaries Union: workhouse situation. The repercussions of these cuts will “I am shell-shocked, dumbfounded. The DPB has been be immense - crime , prostitution, abortion, suicide and slowly eroded under the Labour Government but this is the addiction will increase. These cuts are pure right wing last straw. On the DPB it is a “hand-to-mouth” existence, policies which will force desperate people to work for any with no way possible to save anything. I have no idea where wage at all. The women and children will suffer most. cuts in those DPB budgets will be”. Economics, benefit cuts and unemployment are all

6 BROADSHEET JANUARV/FE8RUAHY 1991 moral themes emerging about AIDS. activity of the viral monster ... the AIDS - AVOIDING BAD Building on the work of feminists and discourse is closest to Gothic horror, and LANGUAGE people with disabilities, the New when it is on the passive (non-com­ By Jenny Rankin Zealand AIDS Foundation released plaining) suffering of the “victims”, it Changing the words about women has AIDS language guidelines in December moves over to sentimentalism”. been one of the victories of feminism in 1990. They attempt to provide alter­ (And you thought horror movies had Aotearoa. We have created new terms natives to the words and phrases which nothing to do with real life). for experiences which didn’t have blame, isolate and ignore people living American writer Judith Wilson Ross, names, like sexual harassment. And we with HIV. in an article about ethics and AIDS have refused old meanings which belittle HIV is a small, random bug, with no language, lists several images which are women, like “girls” for 40-year-old meaning or purpose. But it arrived in a used to give meaning to bugs like HIV. women, and rape “victims”. We are world with already fixed power War is one, whether inside the body’s reclaiming others like dyke and witch, structures, and ways of giving meaning immune system, or from a government although they are still used as abuse in to epidemics, which happen to qffect and medical system using all its some social groups. gay men first in some countries. “weapons” to fight AIDS. Crime and These kinds of redefinition are Judith Williams, writing in Metro, detection is another image, where doctor essential to any social change move­ Australia’s magazine about the media, detectives hunt for clues to the nature of ment. Medical language, which supports sees the language and frameworks of the shifty virus. and describes a set of extremely unequal hprror and melodrama used repeatedly Death images make the bug into an power relationships, has been very about AIDS. “Where the stress is on the active killer, out “looking for prey”, resistant to change. It has persistently stereotyped women as passive, hysterical This is a summary of AIDS: Avoiding Bad Language. For complete copies and dependent, when they interact with write to NZAF, PO Box 6663, Wellesley St, Auckland 1 ph (09) 303 3124 doctors or hospitals. People with disabilities, who have usually been defined initially in medical USE AVOID terms, have argued for language which HIV the AIDS virus recognises their humanity before their The HIV (antibody) test the AIDS test disability. They are people with epilepsy, AIDS full blown AIDS rather than epileptics, women with killer disease AIDS cerebral palsy, not spastics. People/man/woman living The mix of three highly charged AIDS carrier taboos - sex, death and drug use - in the with HIV AIDS epidemic has released a flood of People with AIDS Spreading AIDS moralist, blaming and distancing terms Jane, who has HIV Innocent victims for people with HIV, the virus which People with the virus AIDS victims causes AIDS. This reaction, in turn, has HIV positive people AIDS suffers prodded a fertile wealth of feminist and AIDS patients other progressive writing on the Injecting drug users language and politics of the epidemic. Heterosexuals/people who don’t Addicts/junkies/druggies Feminists familiar with the harassment share needles General public and locking up of women during the earlier campaign against sexually transmitted diseases have noticed similar

J A N U A RY/F E B R U A RY 1991 BROADSHEET 7 Broadcast

“claiming” victims. Sin is another innocent general public - unless we careful about their sexual and drug metaphor - because conservative groups inject drugs, are gay men, or lesbians, or behaviour, lest they pass on this bug believe gay sexual activity is sinful, sex workers. which has so changed their lives, to AIDS in seen as a just punishment. This The language about sin assumes HIV anyone else. But we don’t catch HIV, we sets up a hierarchy of “innocent” and in gay men and drug users is self allow someone to give it to us by not “guilty” victims. inflicted, but all of us have the right to a insisting on safe sex. There are no at risk Some of these images are so common loving sexual life, and few of us have groups, just risky ways for anyone to we take them for granted and use them never used drugs to get away from our have sex or use drugs. without thinking. But they result in the troubles. As for HIV = AIDS = death, We are all responsible for keeping people who have this random virus in what about the people still living and ourselves safe, we are all innocent and their blood being the “enemy” in the well with HIV, 15 years after it was first we are all in the epidemic together. We war, the “criminal” in the crime, the identified in their blood? It is not known have to change the language we use “monster” the rest of us should be afraid yet whether HIV always leads to AIDS, about AIDS so it reinforces this, rather of. These images create “AIDS carriers” and to call HIV a fatal disease denies than maintaining divisions between out of people who simply have an hope to all that find they have it. people with HIV and the rest of infection. We, on the other hand, are the People with HIV are extremely humanity. □

School of Medicine at Auckland at the “I commenced this research project time, has been censured and fined with genuine enthusiasm about the BONHAM CENSURED, $1000. The Medical Council decided it potential opportunity to observe the was not appropriate to strike him off the mechanics of the reform process in the CARTWRIGHT FOLLOW­ medical register as recommended by the New Zealand health system. My UP INADEQUATE preliminary proceedings committee. optimism was evidently founded in Pat Rosier reports. The finding, of “disgraceful conduct” naivete because in fact what I learned Over two years after the publication of was reached on evidence of serious was a great deal about the politics of what has come to be known as the dereliction of duty in his administrative resistance to both structural and Cartwright Report, the official report of role as head of the post-graduate school. organisational change. Many of the the Inquiry into the Treatment of (A position from which he has already changes which have occurred could be Carcinoma in Situ at National Women’s taken early retirement.) The request for described as cosmetic with no real Hospital, Professor Dennis Bonham, the inquiry came from the medical transfer of power to the health care who was head of the Post-graduate profession and the finding was that of consumer. This is not to underestimate the profession’s own body - a point the value of change that has taken place i------which I hope Jan Corbett, writer of but instead places it in the context of the recent articles in Metro, has noted. original expectations of the judge and (Surely not even she believes that the the public for genuine reform.” women’s health lobby has undue Kathy Munro is more optimistic, still, influence with the Medical Council.) than I am. The attitude of the present It’s little enough, but it is a much- National Government towards spending needed vindication of the Cartwright on social services does not bode well. Report, which has been undermined by The chances of having a Health fairly constant, unsubstantiated attacks Commissioner appointed (as Judge from some members of the medical Cartwright recommended) may have ARE YOU profession and the likes of Metro. looked slim before the elections, now it CONSIDERING During February - May 1990 Kathy seems like a distant dream. Munro, then research officer with the Kathy Munro’s report, based on BUILDING A HOUSE? Office of Women’s Affairs in Darwin, interviews around the country with Australia, spent an Anzac Fellowship in government and Area Health Board Then consider an New Zealand studying the imple­ officials and members of women’s mentation of the recommendations of health groups, is available from the experienced all women the Cartwright Report. In her - un­ Secretary ANZAC Fellowship building team. ashamedly feminist - report, The Im­ Scheme, Department of Internal Plan drawing available and plementation of the Recommendations of Affairs, P O Box 805, Wellington. □ the Cartwright Inquiry and Related for any jobs - Women’s Health Issues she gives yet more weight to the complaints of women Contact Anne Taylor and activist groups like the Auckland Women’s Health Council about the Phone (09) 817 7108 process and (lack of) speed of changes. The conclusionof the report begins: 8 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUAflY 1991 Broadcast

Federation of Women’s Health Councils Early in December last year, the project. Now time and money has Women’s Health Councils and groups run out. The National Core Group in gathered in Auckland to discuss the Wellington believe the work of formation of a national Federation of raising Pakeha awareness of the Women’s Health Councils. Ruth Treaty issues can continue through Henderson reports: regional groups. The gathering was attended by 30 The main networking functions, women from around the country, some including production and distribution coming from as far as Invercargill and of the National Newsletter will the West Coast. The Auckland Women’s originate from Hawkes Bay, under the Health Council was formed in 1988 and name of Network Waitangi. Through since then councils have sprung up WHAT’S HAPPENED the new network, it is hoped links in other areas including Hauraki, will be developed with other groups Hamilton, Napier, Tauranga and TO PROJECT working on treaty issues. Wellington. WAITANGI? The contact person for Network It was agreed to form the Federation The Wellington National Office Waitangi is Karen Kenrick, Network of Women’s Health Councils with the of Project Waitangi was closed Waitangi, PO Box 384, Napier. The aim of providing a national voice on on 1 November 1990. Megan phone number is (070) 835 8746. women’s health issues and of supporting Fidler tells us why. AU Project Waitangi resources will local initiatives. The federation Project Waitangi was set up in 1985 be available from Development philosophy supports a public health to run for five years. At that time Education Trust PO Box 1905 (206 system which is accountable to women’s there was a commitment by some Barbados Street) Christchurch 1, needs, a woman’s right to have Government Departments to fund Phone (03) 662 803. autonomy over her own body and women’s right to have access to abortion services. The Federation recognises the Treaty of Waitangi and is committed to working with women from all cultures. International Council of Women’s that has already gone into its Issues discussed during the weekend Health Issues, was women as health development. included funding for the National providers within a context of culture, Highlights of the conference included Cervical Screening Programme, RU society and health policy. Over 400 keynote speakers Renate Klein and 486, funding for polytechnics affecting women from around the world attended. Phillida Bunkle, both of whom spoke nursing and midwifery courses and the While' the majority were either from with clarity and perception about current Doctor contracts. New Zealand or North America, women health issues for women. A core group was set up with travelled from Australia, Denmark, Fiji, Good use was made of spare time. representatives from the North and Thailand, Papua New Guinea and Iran. One lunch break was used for a meeting South Islands. The national coordinators The papers and workshops offered, of women working in women’s health for an interim six month period are covered concerns ranging from violence centres. The main topic of discussion Cheryl Hamilton and Judi Strid. Anyone against women to menopause, midwifery was funding. It was interesting to note interested in the Federation or in and Maori community health. As with the difference in response from area forming a Women’s Health Council in any large conference there was too much health boards around the country to their own area can contact Cheryl (09) to do, too many women to catch up with, requests from women’s groups. In the 418 0659 or Judi (0880) 5507, or you and too much choice over sessions. first session on Thursday, disquiet was can write to the Auckland Women’s Many agonising decisions had to be expressed by lesbian women at the lack Health Council, 10 Carlton Gore Rd, made over which sessions to attend. of visibility of lesbian issues. The Grafton, Auckland. □ Much interest was shown in the conference organisers sincerely con­ session on cervical screening taken by sidered the criticism and it was agreed Sandra Coney and Ruth Bonita. The day that a special call be made for papers on THE FOURTH this workshop was scheduled, the lesbian health issues for the next INTERNATIONAL National Government announced that congress. The International Council of Women’s CONGRESS IN the $4.5 million allocated to Area Health Boards in October, for the National Health Issues was formed five years ago WOMEN’S HEALTH Cervical Screening Programme was put and aims to provide a focus for the ISSUES on hold. A remit was later passed at the study of women’s health, and acts as a November 14-17 1990, Massey plenary session of the Congress forum to discuss women’s health at University, Palmerston North expressing deep concern that the money an international level. For further Ruth Henderson of Fertility Action, had been frozen. The remit stated information about the council, or to Auckland attended the conference and women’s wholehearted support for the obtain conference papers contact Marion reports back: The theme of the National Cervical Screening Programme Pybus, School of Nursing, Massey conference, which was organised by The and acknowledged the massive effort University, Palmerston North. □

J A N U A RY IF E B R U A RY 1991 BROADSHEET 9 Broadcast

by class issues where the lesbian felt “EVERYTHING ISN’T trapped in a place she hated because she FOR EVERYBODY:” needed the money. Where the lesbian Some experiences of being lesbian enjoyed her work she still felt her in the workplace. Chris Atmore lesbian identity could not be integrated wrote a sociology paper of this with her work life. One woman used a title based on interviews with platonic relationship with with a male lesbians. Pat Rosier looks at worker as a cover-up. some of what was said. The ideal work situation and directions The full paper explains the methodology for change very carefully, but here I will focus on “The way in which each woman sees her what lesbians said about their workplace work environment, her coping strategies, experiences. her hopes for future work situations and Factors involved in deciding whether to how she thinks conditions might be come out at work. improved for lesbians in the workplace The lesbians interviewed weighed up the are all linked to her lesbian identity and costs and benefits of remaining in the her political beliefs.” The women’s closet at work against coming out and comfortableness in their lesbian for some, the cost seemed too high: “I’d indentities was linked for them with have to be a full-time lesbian.” In some cases there was no choice political beliefs which “enabled them to “The job was more important than about coming out, people make view their lesbianism within a being out.” assumptions “on the basis of infor­ framework which did not label them as “I would have got heaps for the rest mation that is not willingly supplied by the problem, but society as a whole.” of the season.” the lesbian.” Most thought that legislation to make For others coming out was the more Perceived reactions to lesbian identity. discrimination illegal and affirmative positive thing to do: “I thought I might “It seems that in these atmospheres action policies would have a “symbolic as well be out and happy about myself where officially lesbian identity is but limited effect.” Jane thought that ... because I’ve never fitted in anyway.” stigmatised and women cannot choose much discrimination was subtle - like Correcting the assumption that they the manner in which they come out, the her not getting a job she was well were heterosexual mattered to some, and consequences of identity revelation are qualified for - so “there’s nothing you “The type of workplace and the degree severe.” In some cases, the reaction can actually put your finger on.” For of control each woman felt she had over resulted in loss of a job. Initial tolerance Ann, anti-discrimination might benefit her work situation was seen to be often proved to have limits. Even where some professionals but she did not have important.” Worries included prejudice the situation is one of liberal tolerance, the “middle class qualifications to be a from both clients and employer there is usually silence and stereotyping. ‘token gay person’. She compared such hierarchies and being judged on false “Several women described getting reforms to equal pay legislation which stereotypes. One woman, who was out support from members of ethnic had not given women economic equality in her actual workplace but had a lot of minorities who they felt had similar with men - ‘they can make your life dealings with the business world “feels experiences of prejudice and miserable without sacking you’.” that she has to present ‘a reasonable discrimination.” Personality conflicts, or Changing people’s attitudes through front’ and so does not generally bring it differences based on race or class could public education was seen as important. up explicitly.” mean support was not always available For Tracy being out was part of this For several of the women their views from other lesbians at work and, “In a educative process. For others, change had changed. The time of the Homo­ few cases closeted lesbians in positions was unlikely, and survival the key. sexual Law Reform Bill had affected of power were felt not only to be Kathryn said, “...we’ve just got to do them. unsupportive but a source of some of what we can to survive and look after “While some of the women chose to the strongest discrimination.” ourselves and make sure that we don’t come out deliberately and used a variety Regardless of how accepting co­ shit on other women in the process.” for of strategies for doing so, ranging from workers were, some lesbians still felt Ann it means, “... coming to terms with sitting a likely supportive person down they were treated as lesser than some kind of existence that means you and telling them directly, to jokes which heterosexual workers. Class and gender don’t compromise too much, are revealed their identity and to wearing a issues also affected the lesbians. punished too much, and don’t get left pink triangle badge. Coming out at work Overall perceptions of the work with too much of a bitter taste in your was not perceived as an either/or environment and coping strategies. mouth at the end of the day ... working situation, nor as a discrete event which “While feelings about the actual work ...to change the awful things about the would set future patterns, but as a ranged from boredom to a high level of world in which we live ... and getting on continuous process. ... each work job satisfaction, all work situations with your life.” environment and even in some cases necessitated some selection of The complete 57 page paper is each new individual the lesbian comes appropriate techniques to minimise any available from: The Department of across, presents a fresh choice, and each negative aspects.” Support from outside Sociology and Social Work, Victoria experience adds to the cumulative effect was always important. The most University of Wellington, P O Box 600, on perceptions of likely reactions.” negative situation was one also affected Wellington, for $10. □ 10 BROADSHEET J A N U A RY/F E B R U A RY 1991 Broadcast

ground of 16,000 prostitutes. Aside from women the Philippines exports because PHILIPPINE PEACE economic and sexual exploitation, there of the economic crisis, “We have so PEOPLE have been incidents of violence and many domestic workers in Europe, The 6th Nuclear Free death reported. The whole economy is entertainers in Japan, mail order brides and Independent Conference was built around the base. Infrastructure in New Zealand and Australia, and held in New Zealand from projects, commercial expansion, and city medical and domestic workers in the 31 October - 8 November 1990. plans, all have the base, not the Middle East ... also when the men leave The conference was held at Tahuna Philippino community, as the primary to work, the women are left behind, Marae and Reretewhioi Marae, Waiuku, consideration. alone with the burden of daily care of and Taiao Marae, Pawarenga. Whilst Gabriela, the Philippino feminist children and home”. The bulk of migrant they were here for the conference, coalition, with a membership of over workers are women. Most have Megan Fidler had the opportunity to 40,000, promotes the development of a secondary, and one third have tertiary speak to Rita Baua from The Asia- strong and dynamic women’s education. Of mail order brides, Rita Pacific Peoples’ Forum on Peace and movement. They have a campaign says, “the women are forced to marry Development, and Corazon Valdez- against the nuclear bases, concentrating very old men, some are beaten. The Fabroz from The Nuclear Free on the social effects on the women and economic conditions are bad enough for Philippines Coalition, about the children. Aside from this campaign, them to do this. The women want to help concerns of women in the Philippines. according to Rita, “Gabriela are getting their families and the only way they can There are two major military bases in into alternative systems and projects that solve the economic problem is to get the Philippines - Clark Air Base and will help our women to see they can married to a better off Australian or New Subic Naval Base which covers an area support themselves economically”. Zealander”. This year, in Melbourne of 36,000 acres, the largest naval base In the Philippines, it is estimated that alone, four Philippino women died from west of Hawaii. According to the only 15% of the population survive domestic violence. Washington Centre for Defence above the poverty line, 85% of the urban Rita and Cora’s message is that to Information, there are nine other US population live in slums, and 70% of the improve the position of women in the bases and facilities in the Philippines. population suffer from malnutrition. Philippines, the US Nuclear bases which Around each of these bases has grown a Aquino’s government which was promote violence in a myriad of ways, huge “hospitality industry” which initially seen by some as a panacea, has need to be removed. If you are interested exploits the plight of desperately poor made no essential changes in improving in finding out more or supporting the Philippino women. Olongapo, a town of the conditions of women, workers, Philippine people contact: nearly 200,000 people, the site of the peasants and migrant workers. Keith at Philippines Solidarity, 74 Pitt Subic Bay Naval Base, is the working Rita talked about the number of St, Auckland, Phone 732 004. □

completely destroyed and others with was killed in late August on his way to CO-MADRES - THEY signs of having been brutally tortured. deliver medicine to his newly-born DANCE ALONE Unarmed civilians have been executed daughter. Detainees have been tortured in Megan Fidler by the army. A young pregnant woman police or military custody and outside The ongoing civil war in El Salvador has was shot dead in July as she was official detention centres. In July, a cost 75,000 lives since 1975. The walking home, and a church workers woman was raped several times by soldiers, in front of her daughters. detention-disappearance of civilians as a O f e lia Lo p e z method of repression became the policy Thousands of human rights violations of the El Salvador government during committed over the past decade have the reign of Colonel Armando Milano never been investigated or those (1972-77). In 1977, when General Carlos responsible brought to justice. Witnesses Humberto Romero came to power,the and victims are often warned they will be detention-disappearance tool of repres­ killed or “disappeared” if they report sion became even more widely used. human rights abuses. There have been 87,000 “disap- The Committee of the Mothers of the pearances”in the last 15 years. Disappeared and Political Prisoners of El In 1989, the ARENA party which is Salvador was formed in 1977 by a group linked with the “death squads” came to of nine women fighting for the defence power. An Amnesty International News of human rights. These women, like release (24 October 1990) reported that many others in the world, have lost their “death squads reportedly killed at least children, husbands, mothers and sisters, 45 people from January to August this at the hands of the regime they live year (1990) - more than double the under. Today the mothers of the figure for the same period last year”. disappeared CO-MADRES have more Bodies of victims have been found than 500 women members. Apart form mutilated, some with their faces practical support and assistance to

J A N U A RY/F E B R U A RY 1991 BROADSHEET 11 Broadcast

political prisoners, (including national Red Cross to set up a finding out where they are), dialogue with the director to and their families, a large part agree to take me to hospital. of the work of the CO- Finally they made a deal, an MADRES, is to expose the agreement, and they took me. I repressive situation in El spent three months in hospital. Salvador to national and I was under security, by the international human rights hospital guards and very often organisations and to the I was interrogated by the women’s liberation movement national police people. They around the world. came to the hospital and they In November 1990, Ofelia would ask “where is the Lopez, the CO-MADRES guerrilla woman?” The prison representative for Australia guards would say “there she is” and Aotearoa, visited Auck­ and they would point to me. land. Ofelia, who is 29 years My mother came to visit me. old, has already lost her father She made a very big effort to and brothers to the war. She come to visit and she was worked as a health worker in crying when she saw me in El Salvador, before being imprisoned for prison and in prison one of my the bed and I couldn’t walk. For one year over two years, as a political prisoner. daughters was bom. Many of the women I couldn’t walk. A year (after leaving This is part of her story: who came into the prison were pregnant. prison) I couldn’t walk properly. I “I was working as a health worker in We demanded a psychologist and a decided to come to Australia. Now I am the rural areas, working with the women gynaecologist to look after the pregnant looking for ways to go back to El and children, helping them escape from women who had been tortured, and for Salvador, perhaps not to stay but to see persecution from the armed forces. That those women who had nervous how the situation is...”. was the crime I committed ... they put breakdowns. The response from the In El Salvador, women make up 60% me in jail when I was looking for director of the prison and the security of the population. Most of them are material resources, clothes, food, guards was repression - they opened fire illiterate, trying to educate and support medicines. I needed these things because against us because we were demanding themselves, and bring up their children. it’s not easy to bring a new child into our rights - they are not privileges - 73% of their children are malnourished, this world without anything, not even a they are rights. I got shot at around 9 in 25% die before they are five years old. piece of material to roll him up. the morning and I didn’t receive any Four hundred children are dying each They (the death squad) used torture first aid until 4 (pm). The other political week from malnutrition. The women and on me, psychological and physical. The prisoners kept fighting to get me to children of El Salvador need support - immediate physical torture was to hospital. I think I went to sleep or I moral and financial. blindfold me and tie my hands to my fainted - I don’t know what happened. back. After two weeks they sent me to The other women called the Inter­

J UST S A Y 'N(S

The New Zealand contact for the CO- MADRES is ADEC - Auckland Development Education Centre. ADEC was set up to help New Zealanders 6 i * f understand the causes and effects of ^<>vj he. world poverty and affluence, to see the links between peace, development and the environment. ADEC believes that to 0 » l( tackle the problems facing the world, the promotion of “global literacy” is necessary. To find out more about the situation in El Salvador, the ADEC address is PO Box 68558 Newton (74 Pitt Street), Auckland, Phone (09) 302 A W tin 3194, and Fax (09) 775 541. □ 12 BROADSHEET J A N U A RY/F E B R U A RY 1991 Tessa Duder, writer of Alex and Alex in Winter, discusses writing for girls and young women. Why Girls Should Read: the image of girls in fiction

ne of the most interesting know the dangerous power of language carries a peculiar poignancy. Today’s questions I was ever asked on a and stories to influence young minds. girls are growing up in a literary Writers-in-Schools visit was “Why Why girls should read is so self- scene where the energy, originality, are so many children’s books evident to me , and I suspect to most commitment and success, across the written by women?” In my six or Broadsheet readers, that I don’t want to whole spectrum of publishing, is coming seven years of visiting schools it do more than remind you of Spender’s largely from women writers and was the first and only occasion thismaxims that historically men have been publishers presenting for the first time a Ofeature of the genre of books for young very interested in suppressing women’s female perspective of significant weight. people has been raised. I said I had some writing and that books by, for and about This alone makes me optimistic that, theories, but perhaps the class would like women have been the great success of the women now having won some real power to give their ideas first. A small boy at mid-20th century feminist movement. and autonomy in the world of ideas and the back with studious glasses put up his I see reading as a crucial underpinning thought, the so-called feminist movement hand with an air of great certainty. of the drive towards freedom and equality has gone deep into the heart of society “Women write books,” he said firmly, of opportunity for women. At the recent where it matters most and this time is “because they have lots more time.” world congress of the International here for keeps. By the time the teachers (all female) Reading Association I attended in But the image of girls in contemporary had stopped laughing I never did answer Stockholm, the American writer fiction? The more I think about this, the the question. What would I have said? Katherine Paterson said she felt literacy more it bothers me. I don’t want fiction It’s women who have the children, love was now a prerequisite to freedom and to be giving girls images. I want them to them and cope with them day in and day peace: “If you do not learn to use be getting substance, ideas, excitement, out, soothe and excite them with stories, language, it will be used against you.” provocation, and even that concept first and later come to care what they read, Coming from a woman, that statement enunciated in the seventies - role models. enough for those of literary bent to add In the fifties I grew up with no role their contribution to the literature. “In the fifties I models except the selfless “home-maker” Perhaps women get their stories I was expected to become, or the selfish published because they write better, or grew up with no role “career girl” it was hoped I would not. juggle their time better to allow for models other than the selfless But images? We are in a world where writing? Perhaps they have husbands the image carries more weight than the who, believing that writing for children “homemaker” I was expected to substance. The appearance of news is important, support them in the early become, or the selfish “career readers excites more public excitement than the news they read. Television ads years of full-time work for laughable girl” it was hoped I financial reward? Or perhaps more and drama are both cutting faster and women write for children because they would not”. faster from image to image, scene to

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 13 Reading

scene. Our children’s attention span is “I see reading long written about boys, but now we said to be shrinking rapidly. So teachers have Barry Faville, Jack Lasenby and employ visuals, everyone takes pictures, as a crucial underpinning William Tayor with female protagonists. letter-writing is on the decline. About-to- of the drive towards freedom Overall, I was agreeably surprised at be fathers turn up in hospitals armed with the diversity and independence of the video cameras to capture the child’s birth. and equality of opportunity girls portrayed, the lack of stereotypic A real, do-it-yourself live birth starring for women”. girlishness and so-called traditional your own wife. The plastic image of the girlish preoccupations. Cowley’s Biddy event becomes more important than the in Biddy Alone defies her father and takes wonder and moment of the event itself. her cat to live at Little Barrier’s bird Even writers are expected these days sanctuary. Barry Faville’s Robbie in to create an image for themselves. At Stanley’s Aquarium gets a lawn-mowing the International Writers’ Week in job and doggedly tracks down the Wellington last year, English writer Ian mystery of the sinister fish tanks in the McEwan spoke of the need to invent Taupo garden. Rachael in Maurice Gee’s himself as a writer, one who goes on the Under the Mountain, Henrietta in Judy road and gives meaningful answers for Corbalis’ Oscar and the Icepick, Lesley in-depth interviews. At the congress in However successful a writer is at in Janice Marriott’s Letters to Lesley and Sweden by far the best-attended author projecting an image, however many Diana in Caroline Macdonald’s The Lake session was one given by an American strategies she develops to cope with 160 at the End of the World, all operate as husband and wife picture-book team. primary school children squashed into a lively, risk-taking and independent equals Don and Audrey Wood. It was literally a library, or the ultimate test, high school to the boys in the stories. Anne in Alan song and dance act. They put the text to assemblies, in the end it’s what’s written Bunn’s recent Water in the Blood is an music and projected the pictures on a on the page that counts. It’s the expert canoeist and surfie, Ilsabeth in huge screen. They used flashcards and substance of the story, the resonance of Sheryl Jordon’s just published Rocco is funny hats, and alternated voices just like the language, the energy of the expert archer, Lav Gibson in William Richard Long and Judy Bailey. It was characters and the passion of the Taylor’s Worst Soccer Team trilogy plays slick, clever, funny and commercial, and storyteller on paper that add up to in a mixed soccer team and is the told me little about the way they worked something lasting and worthwhile. formidable feminist, just short of and nothing about their careers, their So, avoiding images, looking for caricature. Margaret Mahy’s Troy in The attitudes towards children or picture substance, I began to look specifically at Haunting and Harry in The Tricksters are books for the very young. It was the female characters of recent New vulnerable, powerful and uncom­ ultimately, in International Literacy Year, Zealand novels for children and young promising characters working out their unworthy of an audience of international adults. There were certainly more female private demons. educators. Am I out of step? The mostly protagonists around in the 1980s than in Interestingly, those characters who American audience lapped it up. earlier decades. Women writers have worked least well for me were the victims of incest and violence: (Jack Lasenby’s Ruth in The Lake, William Taylor’s Jessie in The Kidnap of Jessie m U k . . . Parker and Rosie in Possum Perkins), even though both writers were clearly at THE ANXIETY AND PHOBIA WORKBOOK pains to show girls reacting strongly to by Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D ~ $ 29.95 untenable situations. At the risk of being A comprehensive, step by step guide for overcoming panic attacks, phobias, and accused, in this hard and aggressive age other anxiety disorders. A practical workbook designed as a self-help manual for we live in, of being head-in-the-sand, those struggling with anxiety as well as a complete treatment program to be used by I’ve grown tired of girls being portrayed therapists. as victims. God knows there were enough in the adult “problem” novel WHEN ANGER HURTS which took hold in the 1970s and 1980s, Quieting the Storm Within and they continue as victims in many by Matthew McKay, Peter Rogers & Judith McKay ~ $29.95 Hollywood films of the 1980s. As a child Overwhelming medical evidence shows that anger - whether expressed or held in - I loved the risk-taking achieving girls of makes you sick. If anger is damaging your relationships this book will help you. the many horse stories I read, of Noel Streatfield’s ballet stories, Anne of Green THE NEW THREE MINUTE MEDITATOR Gables and unrepentant Alice, even Jo in by David Harp with Nina Feldman, Ph.D. ~ $24.95 Little Women despite her creator’s loss of No time to Meditate? Even a few minutes of meditation can literally “unwind your nerve at the end. I wish I had as a child mind”. Let this unique book teach you practice the art of mental self-control known the indomitable Pippi Long- anywhere, anytime and feel the benefits. stocking, who since her creation in 1945 has influenced two generations of girls, Distributed in New Zealand by TANDEM PRESS or the female dinghy sailors of Swallows and Amazons. 1 4 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 Reading

A writer I did know far too well was other words, formula books, imported in Enid Blyton. I’ve only recently under­ bulk, superbly marketed and distributed, stood my deep adult dislike for all her and perpetrating in varying degrees work, with its shallow characters, its fantasies of romance, adventure, horror, exclamation marks, which according to a violence and sexist stereotypes. writer in Punch are “a sign of failure ... At this point, I sigh rather deeply and the literary equivalent of a man holding reassure myself that at least our young up a card reading LAUGHTER to a people are reading. Baring actual studio audience”. Then there are her pornography or an unhealthy interest in forgettable formula plots, her tiny horror or violence, they need diversity, vocabulary, her lack of research and the light romances as well as Margaret therefore any credibility. I especially Mahy, the school and adventure stories detest the Famous Five. Perhaps is was as well as Lewis Carroll. As a parent of that television send-up a few years ago. daughters, I’ve seen it as my job to fill Of all her stereotypes, her portrayal of the house with good books to balance girls and their mothers was the most those they pass around at school; to narrow and dangerous, insidiously create an environment where, in books perpetrating 1950s sexist stereotypes. as in everything else, the leam to discuss There is the tomboy George and there is and assess quality, to reject stereotypes the simpering Anne and there, in the and false images, to know marketing succinct words of one of my daughters, trickeries when they see them, to ...“no normal female”. Of all Blyton’s appreciate the marvels of an imagination Tessa Duder Photo: Gil Hanly characters, the ones most remembered - like Margaret Mahy or Katherine the only ones remembered? - are George, Paterson presented so accessibly in the I have, as I struggle with the third the tomboy set in concrete through eight pages of a $6.95 paperback. book of Alex’s story, asked myself why. books, Noddy and Big Ears. It’s hard to As a writer, I also sigh rather deeply is there a thirst for books about girls who say which is the more ghastly. when I go into a major book chain and take risks, who stumble and fail and dare But however much we are told that find dump bins of Dahl, miles of Mills again and finally achieve in the way of there is a growing audience in schools and Boon, shelves of Sweet Valley those symbolic characters we have and libraries for New Zealand books, and Highs, battlelines of Blytons and not a always called heroes. She is not a victim, however many wonderful books with New Zealand book in sight. Well, she is not a heroine. She is forthright, strong female characters are being perhaps one Mahy, a TV-connected single-minded, vulnerable, has a keen published overseas by superb writers Maurice Gee, a Lynley Dodd or two, sense of the ridiculous, does not accept such as Jill Paton Walsh, Katherine certainly not a separate section of our advise, is hard on herself and others, and Paterson, Anne Fine, Jan Mark, Robyn own country’s offerings. even selfish in the way that male heroes Klein and Gillian Rubenstein, it is wise As a writer, I can only make my own have long been permitted to be. Her to remind oneself frequently that Enid small contribution to counter-balance the perceived selfishness has been noted, and Blyton is more likely what our pre­ tide of formula books. Others of like with some clucking of the teeth in all pubertal and pubescent girls are still mind will make theirs. Together we will American reviews and none of the New spending much of their time reading. make some sort of impact. But as a Zealand one. Alex in Winter was rejected Along with Roald Dahl, Judy Blume and Writer-in-Schools, I know that the major by my American publisher mainly Paula Danziger, the Nancy Drews and the thrust promoting fiction valuable to because they feared readers would loose Trixie Beldons, Sweet Valley Highs, young women is not being made by the sympathy with her. Some adult reviewers Babysitter Clubs, Mills and Boon, and book supermarkets, but in the schools, here have voiced the same concern. graduating to Virginia Andrews, Shirley and I know that my character Alex is Teenagers themselves tell me that it is Conran, Jacki Collins, Wilbur Smith, part of it. precisely her egocentric searching for Stephen King and Desmond Bagley. In In the three years since Alex solutions to her problems that make the was published, I’ve visited schools book real for them. I suspect that to “It is said in Tauranga, Napier, Hastings, adults she behaves rather too like a Christchurch, Balclutha, Nelson, real “warts ‘n all teen”, and rather too we are what we eat, but Gisbourne, Rotorua, as well as many like a boy. we are also, ultimately, what around the Auckland area. I’ve listened If she has come to be seen as a hero with some amazement to teachers and figure in the eyes of our teenagers, I have we read”. students telling me that it has become to admit some amazement at my success something of a cult book. The reprints of in creating such a character, the real the hardback and continuing paperback personality behind the image of the sales, as well as the letters I receive from champion, the sporting hero. It seems students, bear that out. It is a set text certain that she comes across as a far in many high schools, including more interesting teenager than I myself traditionalist boys schools. It has gone ever was - despite the similarity for into four languages as well as America, swimming and things musical - or claim England and Australia. to be now as an adult.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 15 Reading

I am frequently accused that she is, of symbols of a soldier of God and country, of how culture works on history to course, autobiographical. I’ve been driven by the highest possible motives of recreate its protagonists in familiar called Alex more than once by some her faith, her voices, her love of her forms”. Joan the Maid, bom in 1412, with teachers and librarians, who appear to country and her heretical insistence that the Renaissance already under way in have been rather overwhelmed at individual conscience is more powerful Italy, never called herself “of Arc”. “Her meeting me, her creator, in person. As than the orthodoxies of church and court. exploits”, says Warner, “were so I’ve said, I’m flattened but I know it’s not In the 20th century we accept the extraordinary that in order to grasp and true. She’s a combination, a mix of about principle of freedom of conscience, but interpret them, writers relied on earlier five or six people from my childhood, Joan died for it. “What other judgement more familiar formulae”. my daughters, my friends and my can I judge by but me own?”, she cries, I would understand if you thought I friend’s daughters, and myself. The story the climatic and most important line in might be drawing, as they saw, a very is invented, or as I later found out the play. long bow to even mention Joan of Arc from my old swimming coach, includes Quite recently, some time after Alex and Alex in the same breath. However, some half forgotten incidents from was published, I came across Marina when Margaret Mahy talks of “the the swimming community in which I Warner’s superb 1981 biography of Joan awareness that by speaking, by grew up. of Arc. Her chapter on Joan as Amazon describing, relating one event to another I One last thought I put forward with set me wondering again about what could join myself into that network, some diffidence and draw no con­ Margaret Mahy describes as writers invent stories and invent myself at the clusions. I imagine we all have our own “joining the network”. Having decided same time”, she provides me with a private lists of female heroes, role that Alex was to be notable tall and glimmer of understanding of the profound models, mentors, whatever you call strong, I chose Archer for her family and powerful cultural influences that them, people from history and of today name because I liked the connection with were mysteriously at work when I wrote whose lives inspire and intrigue us, but the arrow that is the swimmer’s taut body Alex, and that are at work every time a one who would I think appear on most sprung forth into the air from the starting writer sits in front of a keyboard to begin lists would be Joan of Arc. I remember block, or so I thought. The symbol of the a story. If, as Warner says, “culture works being entranced by Shaw’s play about arc, of the bow, has been connected with unconsciously on history to recreate its her at school, and already enough of a strong-minded fleet-footed women since protagonists in familiar forms”, then I student of her character and life to be antiquity: Artemis and Diana, Atlanta think the reverse might be equally true: dismissive of the glamourised portrayals and Hippolyta of the Amazons, and later that history also works on culture to of both Ingrid Bergman and Jean Seberg the female warrior knights of the create new protagonists in forms that in the 1950s Hollywood films I saw as Renaissance fantasy which gripped the seem contemporary and fresh but really a teenager. European imagination for several belong to that whole imaginative and Joan, of course, stands as uniquely centuries. Joan’s usually accepted title, endlessly recycling world of histories, herself, blessed with a genius for says Warner, is an invention of history, biographies and fictions we call stories. creating her own persona using the “a fascinating, even disturbing example Perhaps this goes some way to explaining why the larger-than-life figure of Alex seems to have struck a chord with young people growing up in an age of uncertainty and pessimism about the future. Although she will end up taking three books to sort out her priorities as ALEX in WINTER she passes from childhood to maturity, she was from the beginning very secure in her sense of nationality, her sense of TESSA DUDER being female, confident of her talent and her ability to achieve whatever she sets out to achieve. These things, at least, she The latest work from Tessa Duder, and shares with Joan. Women, and especially winner of the 1990 Aim Children’s Book young women, are still crying, “what Award, Alex in Winter is the stirring tale other judgement can I judge by but my of the personal trial and triumphs of own?”, and one day soon the planet, if it Alex Archer as she strives to represent is not already too late, will hear their her country at the Olympics. voices. Stories, role models and language "... Alex will be an enduring heroine in provide the fundamental tools to develop local children's literature.” CELIA DUNLOP - NEW ZEALAND judgement. It is said we are what we eat, LISTENER but we are also, ultimately, what we read, Available from booksellers $19.95 and especially what we have read as children. I can think of no more fitting reason to offer as to why girls need to read and why they need as nourishment OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS both the image and substance of themselves as heroes. □ 16 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 with Te Kohanga Reo

he philosophy of the Kohanga revolves around the desire of Maori people to “stand tall” and overcome adversity by Tproducing an era of bilingual and bicultural children who are capable of interacting in the Maori and Pakeha worlds. Within this frame­ work the primary kaupapa is the promotion of the Maori language and Maori whanau values in a secure and caring environment where children are lovingly embraced by Maori speaking persons. For the child, the ability to In last m onth’s Broadsheet speak Maori is seen as stimulating a pride of Sandy Keepa talked about her race, a growth of personality, character, morals experiences with Kohanga Reo. In and identity, as well as a positive self image. this edited version of her paper It has been argued that Te Kohanga Reo has a “Maori Pedagogy: Te Kohanga Reo distinct Maori pedagogy (learning and teaching and the Transition to School - An philosophy and style) where practical skills of Overview: Implications for the child are developed at the social and Educators”, Tania Ka’ai, lecturer cognitive level, and that this will facilitate entry in education at Auckland College of Maori children into school on an equal basis of Education, explores some with their Pakeha peers. At present, provisions for Te Kohanga Reo implications of children moving graduates going to school vary. Children will from Kohanga Reo to school. move into several types of classroom environments depending on the school philosophy. They may go into bilingual classrooms or units or new entrant classrooms with varying degrees of emphasis on Taha Maori from nothing at all to that where the teacher recognises the Taha Maori resource kit available from the then Department of Education. The disparity in educational achievement between Maori and Pakeha is an ever present and continuing challenge to Maori educational initiatives. Before Te Kohanga Reo this led, in the 1970s, to the emergence of bilingual schools. There too the focus was to retain te reo in an environment which adopted an appropriate methodology in which Maori children would feel comfortable and hence achieve. They provide one set of “transition” classrooms. Up until December 1989 the range of “ordinary” state school classrooms provided the only other choice within the fully supported state Maori people have the expertise and passion school system. to write about themselves, to find answers Now we have Kura Kaupapa Maori and the question can be which work for us. asked, “Arc there distinct management and pedagogical patterns associated with kaupapa Maori learning?” When applied to the

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 17 Standing tall

specific operation of Te Kohanga Reo Also, given the kaupapa of Te of thinking about interpersonal relations this becomes two quite specific Kohanga Reo that management and which is different from that expressed in questions: instruction occur from the basis of such and reinforced by the English language. a) Are there identifiable Maori tikanga as whanaungatanga, it could be Whakahihi is a similar concept, that pedagogical patterns in Te Kohanga reo? expected that the grouping of the class cannot be matched with one English b) How do different new entrant would be a fundamental organising word but covers a range of meanings that classroom settings match these patterns? principle, as would taking responsibility are divided among several concepts - Joan Metge has argued that the for other members of the group, boastful, proud, exuberant. English language and western edu­ including one another’s learning. This While whakama and whakahihi have cational theory make a clear-cut dis­ would lead to significant peer teaching a variety of immediate causes, under­ tinction between learning and teaching and demonstration. lying and linking them all is concern and between teacher/learner/pupil There are also implications in Metge’s about mana, a concept of pre-European /student, for example, by using different writings relating to concepts of Maori origin which has been affected by words. By contrast, the Maori language whakahihi (needs to ensure positive self­ a hundred and fifty years of involvement uses one word, “ako”, to mean both “to esteem and progress), which introduce with Christianity and today means learn” and “to teach”. It is converted into the role of non-verbal communication. different things in different contexts and a noun meaning learner (akonga) by Metge, in Talking Past Each Other, has to Maori of different backgrounds. For adding a noun ending and into one argued that a lot of miscommunication one’s mana to remain intact concepts meaning teacher (kaiako) by a prefix occurs between different cultures such as whakama, whakahihi and indicating actor. because the parties interpret each other’s whakaiti must be clearly understood. In Metge’s argument is that a Maori words and actions in terms of their own doing so, the principles of aroha o te approach stresses the unified co­ understandings, assuming that these are tangata mo te tangata (Constant caring operation of learner and teacher in ways shared when in fact they are not. Metge and loving from one to another.) must in which classroom (eg.,Te Kohanga says all groups of people talk with their prevail. Reo) discourse takes place. For example, bodies as well as their tongues, but that These concepts are concerned with who has the right to initiate a Maori emphasise body language more problems and feelings common to all conversation would be different from and verbalisation less than Pakeha. people, but they offer a distinctive typical western educational situations. (It Pakeha who define communication cultural way of looking at, thinking is usual in western early childhood primarily in terms of verbal expression about and dealing with them. This is an educational settings for the teacher to typically find Maori unresponsive and integral part of the Kohanga Reo operation - depending on whanau principles for their implementation of a pedagogy that is specifically Maori. This A Maori highlights the vigour Maori people have in striving for Mana Motuhake (self approach stresses the determination). unified co-operation What does this mean for the transition from Kohanga Reo to school? of learner and Learning is facilitated if the child’s teacher. home and other settings are matched, with interconnections between those settings in which the child actually participates such as the home, daycare Tania Ka’ai. Photo: Gil Hanly centre, preschool, Te Kohanga Reo and school. To do this is to enhance the developmental effectiveness of each. control exchanges and initiate the bulk of “hard to talk to” while they are failing to It is also argued that language them.) pick up much of the communication competencies developed before school A second area of difference involves directed their way because they are (including the pragmatic aspects of who teaches and when teaching takes listening only with their ears instead of language, like how and when and for place. If the teaching and learning roles also with their eyes. what purposes language is used) and are fluid, control of teaching sequences There are significant non-verbal forms of socialisation can be well or themselves might sometimes be shown behaviours which reflect important poorly matched with standard classroom by the children. In curriculum terms this Maori tikanga (customs and concepts). processes. A study of families in the is a clearly stated element of Ataarangi Whakama is a word standing for a Unites States claims that teachers ask (Learning and teaching Maori language concept which Maori use in the process their students questions which have process) as expressed in the Ataarangi of organising and talking about their answers pre-specified in the mind of the kaupapa, where children are expected experience of being human. It cannot be teacher. Students then respond and and trained to take a leading role in matched with any one English word, but teachers provide feedback, usually in the instructional sequences. Logically this covers a range of meanings that are form of an evaluation. Such classroom also means peer teaching is a frequent divided among several concepts -shy, procedures are well matched with the activity. embarrassed, ashamed. It suggests a way experiences that some students bring to 18 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 Standing tall school and poorly matched for others. in even when another child was even when children have not been to Te The degree to which classrooms match speaking. (This, the “over-lapping turn Kohanga Reo. the skills students have acquired, and the structure”, is described as common in In studying Te Kohanga Reo, distinct degree to which families are involved in ordinary Hawaiian Polynesian conver­ patterns of Maori education have become schooling will influence language sations.) In the classroom this occurred evident and indeed te Kohanga Reo has development. What then is the result for as long as the content was relevant to the contributed to defining exactly what children if the settings are mismatched in teacher-chosen subject. these might be. In addition it can be the specific case of Te Kohanga Reo This new lesson form was analysed argued that mainstream classrooms are children? by KEEP research staff as a bicultural not well equipped to build on or respond School lessons are typically very combination of indigenous conversation to the distinct processes of Maori restrictive in the opportunities for style and teacher-guided content. These education. speaking that children are offered. particular modifications were helpful to New Zealand academics in the past Teachers give directions and children Polynesian children from one particular have articulated Maori failure to the answer them, frequently with only a cultural background. extent that Maori people feature poorly word or a phrase. These roles tend not to Sociolinguists have been concerned across almost every discipline there is. be reversible: children seldom give with what happens when people use There is little or no information and directions to teachers and questions addressed to teachers are rare, except for asking permission. These characteristics appear to be nearly universal in standard lessons conducted in western style schools. The only classroom context in which children can reverse roles is with The philosophy their peers. of the Kohanga revolves But with Te Kohanga Reo the tuakana/teina relationship suggests the around the desire of shifting of roles between teacher and Maori people to learner and the total acceptance of the responsibility attached to the newly “stand tall”. acquired role. Following on from this is the significance of accepting respon­ sibility for each other in the whanau. The culturally patterned ways of speaking research on the relationship between concept of “awhi” and “awhina” - to that do not match the cultural cultural variables inherent in the Maori nurture and assist one another in order expectations of those with whom they home matching the routines and that the whole whanau progress - is the are interacting. A case has been cited of expectations of the school. core of whanaungatanga. Alaskan native children in which the I argue that in order to maintain and Non-verbal communication is a students did much better academically enhance the developmental potentials significant feature of Te Kohanga Reo than their typical native village school established in Te Kohanga Reo, more and Maori children’s experience. The counterparts. Everything in the school than just some Maori language or some only way non-verbal communication is was culturally mainstream except for the taha Maori is needed. The presence of a learnt is through the total communication pattern of social relations the teachers strong Maori educational endeavour that involvement of another adult, whether it used. The teachers used means of is successful in Maori terms raises issues is parent or teacher, with the child. It exercising social control that were more of power. involves a mutual interaction, with the indirect than those usually employed by The significance of the status of te reo child receiving corrective feedback. non-native teachers. They used ways of and Te Kohanga Reo is to be seen in the The problem for a society such as not putting children on the spot (similar history of te reo in colonial times, which New Zealand is that children from to the avoidance of whakama) that have has led to the blaming of everyone minority groups taught by Pakeha been identified among various native except the system under which Maori teachers could well not learn the American groups in studies of child children were being educated. appropriate non-verbal cues since they rearing and home-school experience. In While Te Kohanga Reo exist to teach and the teacher may be using different short, the content of instruction was preschoolers the Maori language, the communicative codes, which often leads standard, but the process was non­ unforeseen side effects extend to the to mis-understanding. standard in subtle ways that meant it was many young parents who are not only Experimental research on this notion congruent with the patterns of social learning their own language with their of mis-match has been done in the relationships found in home and children but also becoming politically Kamehameha Early Education Pro­ community life in the village. active as they grapple with constraints gramme (KEEP) in Hawaii. In this This and other evidence indicates that imposed by Pakeha bureaucracy for an programme a change in interactional when settings are well matched learning equitable distribution of those resources patterns in classroom instruction took improves. Teachers do not communicate required to attain their goals. place. It involved changing turn-taking and develop exchanges with Maori As children leave Te Kohanga Reo, rules to allow children to speak out children as well as with other children: parents shop around for schools, seeking without being called on - and to chime the potential for mismatch is present out those that offer bilingual continuity.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY i 99 1 BROADSHEET 19 Standing tall

Where no bilingual programme is offered majority to address the issues implicit in legitimise all forms of Maori knowledge. many parents hold back their children in the Treaty and to honour that kaupapa, The processes of Maori culture must be Kohanga for a further year. It should be which includes partnership between the given appropriate status by conventional noted that as we enter into the era of tangata whenua and manuhiri, power academic and educational structures, in declining rolls due to the falling birth sharing, and a redistribution of resources accordance with the Treaty of Waitangi rate, primary schools will be forced to to enhance self-determination for te iwi and educational reform. As educators is it become bilingual to attract Kohanga Maori. not desirable for us to want to see Maori children and maintain their grading and At a more personal level, an acute children achieve and be successful in staffing levels. The seizing of power by awareness of this cycle has enhanced my education? Maori parents in this area will spread to understanding as a Black woman of the Then, the major task ahead is to no the rest of education and we can already enormous effects and implications of longer argue that there are alleged Maori see this with the advancement of Kura colonisation, as experienced through a patterns of learning and teaching, but to Kaupapa Maori. Te Kohanga Reo serves monocultural education system, on allow Maori people access to resources as an expression of current Maori several generations of my family: to further develop a distinctly Maori aspirations for self-determination. colonisation of their lands and of their educational pedagogy. It is already The major implication for schools minds. I understand why it has taken evident in Te Kohanga Reo and is now rests with the disparity, so eloquently four generations for a native speaker of being transferred to Kura Kaupapa highlighted by the Waitangi Tribunal, Maori to emerge in my family. I have Maori. Maori people must be afforded, between the official line and actual endured a great deal of pain on coming without interference or domination, the practice. In New Zealand we proclaim a to this understanding and yet all this has time, resources and courtesy to attempt society based on equality of opportunity, increased my determination to present these outcomes, as have earlier “the right of all people to advance another perspective and given me the educational theorists. socially, economically and politically, strength to work with the Pakeha according to their specific talents and majority in trying to address these issues. abilities, without impediment to this The cultural basis for Te Kohanga reo The reality for Maori people is that for advancement”. The reality is very and Kura Kaupapa Maori which are 150 years we have been written about by different. Schools will have to change. illustrated in this paper have implications the perceived educational experts who A more recent development to for teacher training. Conventional have yet to provide viable solutions to Kohanga is Kaupapa Maori schooling, preservice or inservice teacher training reduce Maori failure in education. Maori which uses the same pedagogy as Te would not produce the necessary are still being marginalised. Maori people Kohanga reo and is spear-heading the learning to equip teachers to construct have the expertise and passion to write Maori educational scene. appropriate environments for Maori about themselves, to find answers which In June 1987 the position of the children coming from Te Kohanga Reo. work for us. One of these answers is Te Treaty of Waitangi changed: its original Teachers obviously have to be fluent Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Maori. status as a legally binding document is speakers, but also expert on the We are taking responsibility for our own becoming recognised. The implications appropriate pedagogical forms. learning, which in the long term stands to are enormous. It forces the Pakeha We as educators must validate and benefit the entire nation. □

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20 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 Therese (left) and Pinky. Photo: Dominion and New Zealand Times.

GLORY BOX: NZ and Austral: Women’s clothes etc. stored X inky Agnew and Therese O’Connell are Glory Box. They work out of an in preparation for marriage. GLORY-HOLE: si. untidy office uncannily resembling a glory-hole room or cupboard. GLORY: n. renown, honourable fame; from which they attract and dispense adoring praise; resplendent majesty, glory etc; halo of a humourous glory. This unique comic service has taken off in Wellington. Their saint etc. Pocket Oxford Dictionary. fame and bookings have spread beyond their huge circle of friends and acquaintances to complete strangers, bringing them about two gigs a week. The blatant talents of the two feminists and former trade union activists extend to skits, compering, half-hour shows and Rent-a-fan. Their rates vary Glory Box depending on the show and the relative wealth of the client, though Rent-a-fan by Alison McCulloch has a set rate of $80. “.. .Which is actually very moderate,” Therese says. “We write a song. A different song every time. It’s not just a formula song we fit names into. And there’s two of us and

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 21 more Glory

also we make so much noise, it’s the celebration of the first stage of celebrate Shakespeare day every year amazing.” Pinky describes it as a “kinda redevelopment of the harbour - the last with this orgy. Every class would put on sick service”. “It is basically a fan bit of it was rained out. A real challenge, an act of a Shakespeare play and it was service for anyone who wants it. If it’s too, has been doing organisations that we then I first discovered (pause) that I someone’s birthday or whatever we’ll have no links with.” wasn’t pretty. I was always Friar Tuck or come screaming into the restaurant.” Therese: “We research. There’s a lot the nurse, even though I was the best Glory Box began in June 1990. Pinky, of work to it and we’re still working in actor in the class. The pretty girls were 35, was on the unemployment benefit this six months that we’ve got on what is Juliet and the tall handsome girls were and Therese, 39, the sickness benefit. viable for us. You actually put an awful Romeo. I got a chip on my shoulder ... “We’d sort of talked about the idea of lot of work into something that, in the well, actually I might have got it before doing a show and putting it one the road. end, might only take 15 or 30 minutes to that - 1 wasn’t allowed to play in Susan It was like a fantasy thing really - ‘girls perform and then you might not use the Kendall’s house.” like us don’t really do things like that, of stuff again.” In mid-December, with the Therese: “We’ve actually ... had course we’re not really professionals’, all JOS scheme ending at the end of January similar backgrounds in that we’ve both those self-doubt sorts of things,” Pinky Glory Box was all set to continue. come from working class families. Her says. “We’ve got enough work to keep us from the south and me from the north, With some encouragement, the pair going all the time and plenty of from the port of New Plymouth. I went to went to talk about their ideas with an prospects,” said Therese. a Catholic school, coming from a employment officer and ended up on the How did two nice girls like these end Catholic family...” Job Opportunities Scheme for six up hawking their comic selves for money Pinky: “I came from a Presbyterian months. At $200 a week each, they were in front of crowds of people, and is family. I’m sick of people thinking I’m earning more than they had in months. Pinky her real name (“Even my mother Catholic because I hang around with Their first gig was a half-hour show calls me Pinky now.”)? you.” for the Distribution Union’s conference. Part of the answer to the first part of Therese: “With a name like Pinky “We wrote stuff about them and that was the question lies in the Complete Works Agnew you certainly aren’t Catholic, one of the things that’s really important, Of William Shakespeare. don’t worry about it.” because we’ve had a bit of experience, a Pinky: “I was born in Port Chalmers, After she left school Pinky “kind of lot of knowledge, about meetings, the the port of Otago. I first started fooling mucked around in various things” like union movement, bureaucracy, we’ve got around at school and writing songs. Even kitchen and clerical work. She got enough background to be able to write though I had no musical ability whatso­ married, had a dog, got divorced and things that are relevant. And because ever (Therese: “No, that’s not true.”) I’ve became active in the clerical workers’ we’ve got an eye to the political and an got a good knack for writing funny songs union. She glided up the ranks, becoming eye to the ridiculous,” Pinky says. “They about things that are going on. president of the Otago clerical workers loved it. It was fantastic, it was a “I went to Otago Girls High School union. But Dunedin had started to look wonderful way to start. Since then it’s which was a drama-mad school. It was small. “I packed up my traps and came been word of mouth. We do a variety of mostly Shakespeare. They were crazy up to Wellington (1981).” things. We do compering. We compered about Shakespeare and we used to Through the women’s sub-committee of the then Federation of Labour’s trades council, Pinky made new friends, M YRA N IC O L including one Therese O’Connell. She MOWERS ♦CHAINSAWS did clerical work, which she says she loves, and got a job as an organiser and WEEDEATERS later education officer with the Bank PETROL AND ELECTRIC Officers Union. She was also involved in the trades council’s women’s choir and a SALES A N D SERVICE show they put on at the old Caltex Lounge, now Paisley Park nightclub. Therese’s high school also suffered 442 RICHMOND RD from something of a Shakespeare GREY LYNN, AUCKLAND obsession. “Maybe it was the era?” And PHONE 760 053 Therese didn’t score the pretty parts, either. “I always got to do the male lead YOU'LL LOVE THE SERVICE! and I always thought it was because I had EXTENDED HOURS FOR DAYLIGHT SAVING such a loud voice. Coming from a large Mondays & Thursdays 7.00 am - 8.30 pm family (of six children) you learn to ‘ FREE PICK UP & DELIVERY throw your voice miles without having * BLADE SHARPENING WHILE YOU WAIT to shout.” Myra hasn't let the grass grow under her feet, eight years on and It was at school her feminist still going strong. Auckland's only woman owned consciousness was bom. She and other and operated mower service - students from Sacred Heart Girls College SFlynlo had to attend the “brother” college for Y:mr next mmwr A cut above the rest! some classes and, of course, the

22 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARV 1991 obligatory school dances. “Going to a Catholic boys school was a shock because all these creatures thought they were actually superior to us because they were boys. It was so stunning to me. I could not believe it. I think that’s when I really decided I was going to be an active women’s libber.” Therese left New Plymouth as soon as she left school and moved to Wellington, allegedly to attend university. “Lots of people think I have a degree, but I don’t. I don’t even have one little unit or bit of paper or anything like that. It was at Victoria that I helped set up the Women’s Liberation Front(1970). It was the most amazing year of my life. I was also VIEWS working because there was no financial On the current state of feminism backing from my parents, they couldn’t Pinky: When you’re in the trade union movement you really think that trade afford it. I worked as a cleaner in the unionists are the vanguard of the feminist movement “ and it’s good seeing cafeteria and I started working in a shop younger women being so staunch. as well. Very soon any pretence of doing On women friends academic things disappeared completely and I was involved politically and Pinky: You just die without them. working and that was my whole life and On writing comedy it was great.” Therese: It’s just putting words that I talk - and I’m a talker from way back - She later became a clerical worker for on paper. the city council and got involved in the On comics Local Body Officers union. It terrified Therese: We both actually like to same ones. Victoria Woods is wonderful her. There were few women involved and and we both like Billy Connolly enormously. I’ve always liked anal humour she didn’t have a union background. She myself. We think each other is really funny and that’s really useful. heard of a job as a clerical workers union On fat organiser, applied for it, and got the job Pinky: We had a skit called obese-i-cise which we did with another big in 1975. woman. We thought it was excruciatingly funny and we’ve done it twice and Though she wasn’t a trained singer, Therese had always sung. The trades both times we’ve had some negative feedback from thin women who felt council women’s choir, for which she is oppressed by what we did. Fat people, particularly fat women, are an well known, developed out of a choir set oppressed group. They are oppressed by society and they are the butt of a lot up for a public meeting on the abortion of prejudice issue. She also sang with the New On trying to please everybody Zealand-based Irish rebel band Ourselves Pinky: You’d be bloody Lindsay Yeo and buzz-o-bumble. Alone. Therese: You’d be totally sanitised, that would be the most terrible thing. Therese says she eventually left the Any other topic you want to traverse? union movement as an official for several Pinky: We haven’t covered the economy. reasons “I had worked for 14 years as a union official and I really don’t think people should be union officials for that length of time. I personally think people It was too much, I needed a break so I Distribution Union as a clerical worker really get out of touch with what happens decided to jump off the edge, try and get and got Occupational Overuse Syndrome for rank and file people, no matter how fit and well and I left the union (or Repetitive Strain Injury). Another hard they try. Because of the sort of jobs movement as an official” break was forced on her, one she spent at and life they lead, they only meet up with Therese says Glory Box is active in Motueka. She came back and last year other union officials mostly and it’s bad. its own union, the Performance and did the Wellington Polytechnic It’s a real career thing, even more so now Entertainment Workers Union. “We have journalism course. Print journalism was that people have to have degrees to get become that most dangerous of unionists not an option because of her OOS and jobs in unions, it makes me spit, it’s - the informed and highly suspicious she couldn’t break into radio in sickening - what sort of rank and file plain and purl members (the new Wellington so she ended up on the base is that? feminist version of “rank and file’).” unemployment benefit. “It was a wonderful period (working Meanwhile, Pinky left the Bank Two women with time and talent on for the clerical union) but also extremely Officers Union, took a holiday with her their hands simply had to end up stressful and I found after 14 years my dog and VW, came back “all renewed together. End up together they did - as health was just getting worse and worse. and invigorated” went to work for the Glorybox. □

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 23 Linda Hill explores the implications of the way we understand “work”.

ne thing that feminism has achieved have always worked for low pay, and enforced by violence they said. Radical over the last 20 years is to widen the done the domestic work, and taken care feminists have demanded a re-evaluation meaning of the word “work”. In the of the kids and the sick relatives... of women’s nurturing qualities and skills, 1950s work was frequently seen as a There have been various feminist and are building feminist alternatives to trade off between wages and leisure. analyses of how women’s paid and the nuclear family. Recently socialist “What wages?” said Mum of the 1960sunpaid work fit together and into feminists have started exploring how Oas she struggled to the supermarket with patriarchy or capitalism. For liberal patriarchy at work keeps even working three toddlers and no car, then rushed feminists it’s a matter of individual women financially disadvantaged and back to Aunt Daisy’s cookbook and the choice: women should not be confined to subordinate at home, how male workers unironed sheets. “What leisure?” said one role but have equal opportunity for collude with bosses to keep women out Super-Mum of the 1980s as with split work outside the home, and equal of the good jobs and corner the new second timing she juggled her unequally partnerships within it. technology for themselves. paid job with ferrying the kids to their In the domestic labour debate of the We are all right of course. It’s opportunities for social development, late 1970s marxist feminists tried to fit different angles and different pieces of rushing back to The Enchanted Broccoli feminism into a traditional marxist the same puzzle - how patriarchy and Forest, to sorting out the socks and framework by pointing out the benefits capitalism, the bosses and the boys, work Tomorrow’s Schools. “Just because the to capitalism of unpaid domestic labour together to subordinate, oppress and men don’t do it”, said the feminists, in “reproducing” the worker for HIS next exploit women. The centre of it is “doesn’t mean it isn’t work - house day’s work and reproducing the next women’s work, widely defined as all the WORK, childcare WORK, emotional generation of workers. Radical feminists socially beneficial things women do support WORK, community WORK, believed that men benefit directly from every day, including housework, career, job, or part-time-pay-the- women’s domestic, childrearing and childcare, parentcare, emotional support, mortgage WORK.” By now that one is sexual services. Male control of women’s mediating, and paid and voluntary work. clear - to us women at least. And sexuality in the heterosexual family is It’s the men who benefit from the throughout there are the women who the key mechanism of patriarchy, never ending housework. Every service

24 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 she provides that is more than half the concentrated in eight “women’s work” not necessarily the direct recipients but housework load is directly working for occupations which are generally low rather those who would otherwise have him. Capitalism benefits too since the paid and dead end. Our jobs aren’t to bear the load to make society tick unpaid work of women keeps those well hobbies or for “extras”. The old idea of a over. fed and freshly dressed workers coming “family wage” for men, with women For women the difficulty is juggling at a minimal cost. But as Australian being paid “pin money” has been eroded the demands of paid and unpaid work - Suzanne Franzway points out, why by inflation and recession. The social demands of time or just plain demands. would capitalism care “who does the wage of welfare state benefits is being When they conflict, as they often do, we washing and cooking, with the eroded too. The one income family is are seen as less adequate, less devoted laundromat and Colonel Saunders on the hardly visible these days. Childcare costs workers or wives and mothers, and comer. And why is there not a full day get calculated against the female parent’s therefore start to depreciate ourselves childcare centre on the next corner?” low wage so that the job becomes instead of recognising our hard work and Capitalism, run by men, doesn’t cut “uneconomic” and she stays home with highly developed management skills. across the interests of the patriarchal the toddlers. In hard times we can afford Voluntary work is perhaps where the system. frigates and Commonwealth games but close connection between women’s Again with childcare, women doing not cheap childcare and pay equity. unpaid work and the welfare state is more than 50% of the work is working Society For Research on Women most clearly revealed. Many voluntary for him, since he is a parent too. Just research shows that because women are able to bear babies as the major bread­ “Voluntary work is perhaps where the and breastfeed is no logical reason why winner, real or ego- they alone should be responsible for supported, the Kiwi close connection between women’s child-rearing. Change is beginning male still has con­ among young men, they are beginning to trol over the family unpaid work and the welfare state is pick up on childcare, especially the fun budget. bits, perhaps because we women now So now capital­ most clearly revealed” have alternatives to financial dependency ism gets 60 plus within marriage. Marriage isn’t an hours work for a institution for the support and protection nuclear household income,ie, to make organisations run by women are the of women and children, as any refuge can ends meet most families need a full-time collective, social form of the services tell us. Marriage is an institution invented wage plus at least another part-time women would otherwise perform as so men could get access to their kids. wage. Men get wives who are still individuals in the family - care of old No sooner are the kids grown than it’s expected to earn their own keep and still people, helping the sick or the disabled, the old people needing looking after. His, do the housework. And there’s no real organising children’s activities and just as likely as hers, but she usually does competition at work from all those sports, charitable work perhaps from a it. And the keeping in contact and the exhausted working mums, usually safely religious or political perspective. Sunday lunches and letter writing and segregated in “women’s” occupations Some forms of work once done as birthday remembering... Ann Ferguson anyway. Capitalism uses pre-existing part of “women’s role”, or as voluntary calls this “sex/affective work”. The “sex” patriarchy and transforms it into a new work were taken over by the welfare part is clear enough. In these post- sexual family form that keeps both capitalism state set up in New Zealand at the end of revolution times, this hopefully is a and patriarchy going. Capitalism is just the 1930s. The Welfare State is a major reciprocity not a service. The “affective” as happy to use racism as patriarchy, or employer of women. As nurses, teachers, part is ego support. This appears to be the more profitable still, both together. social workers and in the host of last area of heterosexual partnerships to Maori and Pacific Islanders are getting ancillary services that support the health, become reciprocal, even amongst the the worst paid jobs and have the highest education and welfare systems. most progressive couples. Smoothing out unemployment among New Zealand Franzway suggests that different family egos and relationships is women’s women, as their menfolk do among New institutions of the state embody work. Zealand men. patriarchy or capitalism in different Another of the unpaid jobs women do Voluntary work is unpaid work degrees. This concept allows for some for the family is mediating between it women do which benefits society as a interesting characterisations of New and the outside world. Women see the whole, not just the immediate family. It Zealand state institutions. The armed teacher, take the kids to the doctor, make is the publicly visible part of socially forces, police and prison service are them do their homework, go to the productive activity that women used to obviously macho. Treasury, giving Housing Corp or the DSW, are there do more of before we all had to be direction to the State Owned Enterprises, when the phone or stove needs fixing. Super-mums. epitomises capitalism and perhaps also Much of this mediating is for the welfare The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is new middle class masculine values - state. The state makes sure we are only carrying out a time use survey to efficiency, rationality, drive. Railways working part-time and able to do these estimate women’s unpaid domestic and and the Ministry of Works have more things by dumping the kids back on us voluntary work for government policy working class masculine images. All by 3pm- and support purposes. The International are heavy employers of men. Despite Despite unemployment, over 50% of Labour Organisation estimates women Equal Employment Opportunities, the all New Zealand women over 15 are do 90% of the unpaid work of the world. restructured State Owned Enterprises in paid work. Women are heavily The beneficiaries of all this free work are have not provided more equal

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 25 work & welfare

opportunities for women. Their capitalist does shed a different light on what is capitalism these days their “home aspects have been made more efficient, going on in New Zealand society with comforts” become all the more “feminine” serving aspects dispensed major changes in the role of the state. important, with extra pressure on with, ready for fully fledged capitalism These are New Times we are told. Supermum in her paid and unpaid work. through privatisation. The Keynesian welfare state must give There are two small but insufficient The major employers of women are, way to consumer choice. But what we strategies already being tried to break the not surprisingly, institutions of the are getting is budget cuts, not choice. We ever diminishing circle of women’s paid welfare state embodying other values - will have to do something. How can we and unpaid work. One is the Pay Equity caring for health and sickness, educating, manage the welfare state, especially the legislation which promises to improve cleaning up the messes made by budget, as well as just working for it and the financial position of a large number capitalism and patriarchy. Typically relying on it? Imagine the possibilities of badly paid women, if only slightly. “women’s work”. These areas of socially for really reorganising the health service Unfortunately the present act seems productive but non-profit making activity along feminist women’s health centre designed to be ineffective. At the end of by the state are being cut and pushed lines if we had adequate resources. a long process of claims and carefully back on the “community”, ie, women’s This is important because we deserve established comparable worth assess­ unpaid work. Instead of having jobs our services and we deserve our jobs. ments, we will still be expected to doing things we know are socially useful, But in protecting the welfare state we negotiate it all with the bosses who if badly paid, we will be back isolated in have worked for, there is a danger in it employ us. Justice and equality on the the home trying to cope with problems becoming a tussle simply between drip feed. best dealt with at a social collective level, women and the state. Men and capitalist The second, already mentioned, is the or struggling to keep small voluntary beneficiaries have always slid out the Ministry of Women’s Affairs time use groups together so we don’t have to go it door while we and the welfare state got study of unpaid work, estimating its alone. on with the work. A major reason for the value to society. Even if this is done at I don’t want to overstate this change in the state role is that private unequal “women’s work” rates, it is caricatured distinction between “mas­ enterprise is now interested in expanding likely to show that the cooking, washing culine” and “feminine” organs of the into some of the profitable bits of the up and laundry we do is worth more to state. Not least because feminists are welfare state, and resents money being the country than all those sheep, cows keen to deconstruct notions of spent on the “inefficient” other bits, and kiwifruit put together. Then let them masculinity and femininity into a free which usually means us. For all those tell us it’s not “real” work and try to get range of available virtues. But it certainly men that aren’t benefiting from out of their share! □

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2 6 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 the new French Letter

Megan Fidler discusses how the testing, development and distribution of RU 486, the new “contragestive” pill, illustrates the conflicts and links between science and religion, multinationals and development. Women’s well being could easily get lost in the uproar.

is not available in the drug were under way in about a available in France, 50,000 terminations New Zealand. This dozen countries. Sweden, Britain and the have been performed with the com­ new hormone pill Netherlands were expected to approve bination of RU 486 and prostoglandin. was developed in the drug for marketing in early 1989. Between a quarter and a third of women France where it But in October, just a month later, who decide to interrupt early pregnancies has been in full Roussel suspended distribution for chose this chemical approach over commercial use since 1988. RU 486, an reasons that are still unclear. standard surgical procedures. antiprogesterone steroid, blocks the Roussel’s executives say the company A study of 2,115 women, has con­ receptor cells in the uterus from had received threats that if they continue firmed the 96% success rate. In 4-5% of receiving the hormone progesterone to manufacture the drug they would be women in the study, bleeding was heavy. which is needed to mature the uterine bombed. Profits may have been more In some cases surgical intervention was lining in order to support a fertilised egg. important than personal intimidation in needed to stop the bleeding, and in a few In the absence of progesterone, the body Roussel’s decision. Anti-abortionists and instances a transfusion was required. The is tricked into doing what it would Catholic hospitals served notice that they average bleeding time was nine days. normally do at the end of a menstrual would stop buying any product by the The time to expulsion, the duration of the cycle in which no egg had been fertilised giant pharmaceutical company Hoescht, bleeding and the intensity of the pain - it sheds the lining of the uterus. Within (which owas 56% of Roussel), or any of (caused primarily by the contractile 48 hours of the first dose of RU 486, its international subsidiaries if it effects of the prostoglandin), varied uterine bleeding begins expelling the continued to market RU 486. depending on the dose of prostoglandin. fertilised egg with it. Within 24 hours, 1000 physicians had A high dose was associated with faster Under the trade name mifepristone, petitioned Roussel against taking RU expulsion but also with more prolonged RU 486 is administered as a tablet 486 off the market. The developer of the bleeding and more intense pain. followed by a small dose of drug, Emile Baulieu called the decision, Outside the study, physicians have prostoglandin 36 -48 hours later, which “morally scandalous”, and WHO reported that two of the women who increases the frequency and strength of “regretted the move”. Two days after the received RU 486 have had severe uterine contractions needed to expel the withdrawal of the drug, the French disturbances in heart function after embryo. The success rate of this government, which owns 36% of receiving the prostoglandin. Both women combination treatment is 96%. Roussel, ordered the continued survived, but their difficulties suggest In September 1988, RU 486 was distribution in France, “in the interests of that prostoglandin should be ad­ officially approved for use in France and the public health”, and because the drug ministered cautiously in a woman who China. At the same time,World Health was “the moral property of the women”. has heart disease or is at a high risk for Organisation (WHO) sponsored trials of Since 1988 when RU 486 became it, as in the case of heavy smokers.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 199 1 BROADSHEET 27 French letter

“The feminist conviction is that From a small qualitative study of 10 women who undertook trials of RU women have the right to decide 486 in May and June 1985 (without prostoglandin), conducted at the their own fertility”. Matenite’ des Lilas, Chartel Birman, midwife, states, “RU 486 is a new method of abortion whose originality offers many advantages, but also suggests some anxieties”. She believes RU 486 can humanise abortion by making it less aggressive and more of a private decision, allowing a move toward greater individual autonomy and freedom. Ms Birman suggests RU 486 could lead to abuses,even to the point where a woman is given an abortion without her knowledge. It’s no surprise that RU 486 has caused a great deal of controversy. From The procedure for a woman requiring of method failure, and then swallow the start, groups opposed to abortion RU 486 is elaborate and time consuming, three 200 milligram mifepristone (RU under any circumstances were calling involving a total of four medical visits. 486) pills. RU 486 the “death pill”. Because some As soon as possible after missing her Two days later the woman returns to define RU 486 as a contraceptive and period, the woman must request an the clinic to receive an injection of some as an abortion pill, the abortion abortion through her doctor. It is crucial prostoglandin. She stays at the clinic for debate is destined to become further if a woman decides to use RU 486 to three or four hours until pains and confused. Although widely thought of as terminate her pregnancy, that she contractions have ceased. 10-15 days an abortion pill, it’s discoverer Baulieu requests the abortion within two weeks later she returns for a compulsory check­ questions that terminology. He calls it a of her missed period. Under French law up, with either a further ultrasound contragestive, derived from contra- there is a “cooling off’ period of five examination or blood test to ensure that gestation, just as contraceptive, is days between requesting an abortion and the abortion has been completed. derived form contra-ception. RU 486 is having it. This, together with the fact that Despite the pain and inconvenience, not technically a contraceptive because it mifepristone can only be taken up to 49 many women find RU 486 less traumatic does not act to prevent the union of days after the first day of the woman’s and preferable to surgical abortion. sperm and egg, but, rather acts to prevent last period, means she has to move Comments from women who have used the implantation of the egg in the womb quickly. RU 486 include: “It’s a long process once it has been fertilised. If the egg is The woman then makes an which required time and supportive already implanted, it will be expelled. In appointment at a hospital or clinic, clinic staff, and which is exhausting (my other words, it induces abortion. Because taking the results of her blood test and bleeding continued for about a month) - RU 486 works early in the gestational her doctor’s letter. She will undergo an more exhausting than vacuum aspiration process, it is less likely to seem to most ultrasound exam to check the gestation (which I have also had)... still I think it’s of its users like abortion. This prospect of the foetus, and to ensure the the least traumatic method in the long has the “pro-life” forces on edge. Public pregnancy is not ectopic, be questioned term”. Other women say, “certainly less acceptance of RU 486 as a legitimate for possible contra-indications (eg, frightening than vacuum abortion, buf birth control is likely to blur the edges of asthma, cardiovascular problems), have very, very painful”, and “I think its a the debate over when life begins. the procedure explained, sign a form fantastic method. It considerably reduces The NZ Family Planning Association agreeing to a surgical abortion in case anxiety and trauma”. supports RU 486. Dr Christine Roke,

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2 8 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 French letter

medical spokesperson says, “Family Planning believes that the medical “It ’s no surprise that RU 486 abortion made possible by RU 486 is has caused a great deal of safer and preferable to the current practice of surgical abortions we have in controversy” NZ ... it is a breakthrough because it avoids the risk of surgery, and it allows early abortion”. RU 486 has been used in France for just over two years. A great deal of the information we now have about the detrimental effects of the contraceptive pill have only been discovered after 20 years of women using it. Women health activists in New Zealand seem to be treating RU 486 with a healthy cynicism. Di Cleary of WONAAC is “reasonably impressed” and thinks RU 486 “looks like it is worth pursuing”. Dr Margaret Sparrow, a medical doctor and director of prescription, licensed or not. RU 486 Problems of limited access to ALRANZ says, “RU 486 is not yet would not make its appearance in a information and support are also relevant perfect and should still be monitored. We vacuum in third world countries, to first world countries. Picture a young have a lot to leam, we are in a new era of “Wherever abortion is clandestine, woman desperate to terminate her fertility control". Judy Strid of Auckland women are swallowing herbs and pregnancy, taking RU 486 at four months Women’s Health Council believes, “RU potions, chemicals and solvents, and pregnant. The results could be dis­ 486 is worth looking at but needs to be injecting high-dose oestrogen and astrous. Illegally obtained pills used treated with caution”. It is necessary to progesterone drugs in order to cause an improperly and bearing Roussel’s balance the advantages and dis­ abortion: these oral methods often cause trademark could become a corporate advantages of specific methods of birth incomplete abortions and haemorrhage nightmare if they cause injury or death. control. We need to be rigorous in which require treatment. In addition they The feminist conviction is that evaluating and presenting information. are often not effective as abortifacients women have the right to decide their Within feminist debate, women of with the result that women do not own fertility. This will not happen until colour have raised criticisms about succeed in terminating their pregnancies. women are the major developers, contraception. The problem lies not only The extent of damage to the health of distributors and controllers of con­ in the physical dangers of specific children bom is unknown”. traception and abortion. The demand for methods, but in the social power that There are potential problems specific abortion is just one aspect of the wider decides how technology is to be used. to RU 486. The method consists of two contention of the women’s liberation This is not only the power of men over different drugs; one in a pill form and movement that the personal is political. women, reflected in the institutional the other by injection or vaginal sup­ Abortion as a political issue challenges hierarchy of the health service, but also pository. Women may well get one or the the scope of existing theories about the involves power of race and class which other of the drugs and overdose or demands of right, individuals and work to determine who should repro­ underdose with either. Even with access society, and social need. In Kathleen duce. The pill was tested in Puerto Rico to both drugs in the correct quantity, McDonnell’s words: “Our ‘politics’ and Mexico in the 1950’s and 1960’s, women may not use them within the 49 cannot afford to be divorced from our and Depo Provera was tried out by the day limit or in the right order, or may authentic feelings no matter how vague American drug company Upjohn in not wait 48 hours before using the or contradictory they may seem. Our real Thailand. Although Roussel’s head of prostoglandin. Much higher rates of task is to search out and find ways to clinical research, Dr Andre Ullman, says incomplete abortion and haemorrhage reconcile the two”. □ that there is no possibility of using RU will occur than with controlled use. 486 as it is used in France in developing countries, in the past fertility knowledge has been gained at the expense of third world women. In Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights newsletter 31, Oct - Dec 1989, the scenario of black marketing distribution of RU 486, particularly in countries where abortion is still illegal, is discussed. Black market distribution of drugs is a reality in most developing countries. Pharmacies sell drugs over the counter, with or without

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 Playing The Field

his year the Auckland Rugby Why on earth do women century “lady cyclists” were criticised for Union agreed to affiliate the city’s want to play rugby? Lisa wearing bloomers and their behaviour T rugby association. It was a major Sabbage caught up with was dismissed as immoral and in­ breakthrough for women involved in the appropriate for women. Caroline Sione and Jo game, but there is much hard work still Today, many people have the same to be done. Matthews. reaction against the idea of women Women have never been completely playing rugby. It seems inappropriate - welcome in the world of sport. The “ I ’m going to be an All Black, ” Claire rugby is a man’s game after all. Of media begrudgingly give us the told her brothers. course this same premise is used in minimum of coverage, professional “Girls don’t play rugby, ” her brothers arguments against women.in non- sportswomen still receive less prize sniggered. “They’re not strong enough”. traditional occupations: being a politician money than their male counterparts, and “I ’m going to be an All Black, ” Claire /judge/mechanic/engineer/architect/ a general attitude that women are “Not as whispered to her friend at ballet class. builder is a man’s job, women are neither good as men” in any given sport remains “Don’t be silly, ” her friend whispered clever nor strong enough. pervasive. back. “Only stupid boys play rugby”. Caroline Sione and Jo Matthews play Historically, women and sport have rugby for Roskill Districts. Their team been viewed as mutually exclusive. Sport -Claire’s Dream, by Lynne and Sally came fourth in last seasons eight team has been, and sometimes still is, McAra (Random House). women’s competition. Caroline started described as unsafe for the “delicate” plrying two years ago after seeing a female body or deemed unladylike and Above: Caroline (Roskill Districts) goes for touring English team. Jo was roped into immodest. Physically active women the Te Atatu goal line. the game when she had to fill in for a threaten the way society perceives player and was bitten by the rugby bug. women. For instance, at the turn of the Photos: Evelyn Kirifi However she and Caroline had both

30 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 played rugby league and touch rugby before deciding to play rugby. Jo says she wouldn’t have dreamed of playing without the skills she learnt from the other games. Generally, the response the two women get when people learn they play rugby is fairly close to the reactionary criticism of “lady cyclists”. Caroline gives an example: “I overheard a conversation between one of our players and a man who said ‘It’s not a women’s game, why don’t you play netball?’ My answer to that is that rugby is a technical game, tactical, skilful and challenging. Men go out and display their skills, I like to display mine. A lot of men play netball, it’s the same thing.” Jo adds that rugby is a sport - why should it be strictly for men only? In New Zealand, the game of rugby has become more than a game. To many it is the last bastion of the kiwi male, where men are men, beer is beer, and Fairfield (Hamilton) and T e Atatu at the been surprised by the pace and action of politics has something to do with South LINEOUT. the women’s game. Africa. For women to play the game, to Just as we are not taught as girls how Women’s rugby is not a new know its rules, to become skilled in its to physically defend ourselves, or phenomenon. Jo remembers one of her strategies, represents a real threat to this encouraged to be assertive and in­ aunts playing the game in the 1950s. bastion. Some men identify the game so dependent, certain games are off limits What is new is the organised way in strongly with masculinity that they because they foster these skills. We are which women are competing. assume women rugby players want to relegated to the sidelines. There are women’s rugby asso­ compete with them, want to be like men. Some women’s teams in Auckland ciations throughout the country, from “We’re not trying to play with men, have had difficulty finding an existing Hawkes Bay to Canterbury, from yet that’s one of the biggest fears some rugby club willing to take them under Taranaki to Wellington. Overseas teams of these men have,” says Caroline, “One their wing, to supply gear and help with have toured New Zealand and we even guy said ‘it’s a butchy thing isn’t it?’ coaching. Many women have had to have our own national squad chosen at That’s when you have to laugh”. manage without the support of a club, an annual tournament of regional You have to laugh because it is such a fundraising to buy their own uniforms representative teams. This year typical homophobic reaction to all and equipment. Christchurch hosted the Women’s sportswomen, not just women rugby The style of rugby played by women Rugby World Championship. Fifteen players. Active, determined women with is very different from the men’s game. countries from countries as far away as muscles, competitive and sweaty women Because women cannot kick the do not fit into the traditional stereotype distances men can, there is more running Aroha M ita (P onsonby) tackles Robyn we are supposed to squeeze ourselves and ball-handling. Many spectators have Reihana (M anukau). into. There is still a tendency to view those of us who play team sports, who don’t mind getting bmised and dirty, as unnatural - and by implication as lesbians. Of course there are lesbians who play rugby, as many as are involved in any other sport or sphere of our society. What is really at issue is power. “It is a very skilful game once you get into it ... It’s a thinking game. Men have played the game since they were boys, women find it a challenge to play something they have no idea how to play. They’re on their own, dependent on themselves and each other. Rugby teaches women how to look after themselves, they become more assertive in certain ways.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 31 Footie

Russia, China, Japan, Yugoslavia, the senior players from the club. However, Ideally, the association would like a United States and Canada competed for Caroline is concerned that not just paid position to promote and co-ordinate the world title. If you were lucky, you anyone should be able to coach a the women’s competition. may have seen the five minutes broadcast women’s team. Women are no less Regular media coverage would be on television. deserving of proper correct teaching, nice. But Jo and Caroline are realistic - The Auckland association is nearly than are men. “any coverage is good.” seven years old. The competition is run Affiliation has also meant some “I’ve rung the Herald office,” says by a committee consisting of the organisational improvement, a consti­ Caroline. “But they’re not really managers of each of the eight teams. This tution and guidelines on how the interested unless John Kirwan’s girl­ year, after three years of lobbying, the competition should run. The problems friend or Grant Fox’s wife is playing.” Auckland Rugby Union finally agreed to haven’t ended with affiliation however. This is in spite of having Auckland affiliate the women’s association. Caroline is disappointed with the representatives and a New Zealand “They had to sit up and take notice response of the ARU so far. “I feel that representative on the team. because of the world tournament. The we are on show. We have to prove we Here, women’s rugby is up against the Wellington and Taranaki competitions are functioning well, that we can play media’s attitude to women’s sport as a have been affiliated to their union for the properly and PR well. Their main whole. Next to no coverage and if it can past four years. Auckland has the biggest concern seems to be the rep team. To me be glossy and fluffy, all the better. That women’s competition and the best rep they should be focusing their attention way everyone knows it’s not serious. team, yet it wasn’t affiliated. It wasn’t on the actual competition and the way it Caroline and Jo are optimistic about until the New Zealand Rugby Union is organised. The women’s game needs the future of the women’s game. Jo turned around and asked the ARU why it the union to focus on the skills of the believes it will go from strength to had a women’s competition which wasn’t players rather than emphasising the rep strength. And it seems that many young affiliated, that it did something. team because they think it displays women agree with her. Thousands of Otherwise,” says Caroline, “we could rugby union”. schoolgirls now play New Image or have been lobbying for another five or Although the standard of refereeing Walla Rugby, a modified version of ten years.” picked up this year', Jo and Caroline rugby which emphasises running, Caroline believes the ARU resisted believe there is still a shortage of quality handling and support play. Moreover, recognising the women’s competition referees for their games. with the growing popularity of touch because the administration thinks rugby “A lot of injuries came from bad rugby in summer, many women are is a man’s game that women cannot play. refereeing. The game flows more and is choosing to play rugby in winter. “They think we’re trying to compete cleaner with good referees. But because “I think it has a lot to do with training with them. We just want their help to we’re women, there is a bit of a she’ll be and socialising with other women after play the game to the highest standard.” right attitude,” says Jo. the game. For some women it’s the only Women players wanted to affiliate “The ARU would like to see more chance to get out without the kids.” with the ARU for two reasons. The new women refereeing but that raises the Sport and recreation are seldom Accident Compensation legislation question of whether the union will let considered political issues, yet they have means that any women injured playing them referee top grade games,” adds a strong relationship with health and rugby will receive no compensation Caroline. equity. Sport, whether rugby, netball or unless the team comes under the The ARU have affiliated the women’s waterpolo, fosters fitness and well-being. umbrella of the ARU. Second, Jo and rugby competition, but perhaps it has yet It combats a lack of involvement in the Caroline are adamant that the women’s to take it seriously. There is no question community and gives us access to the game could not develop without the that the union’s priority is, and will outdoors, more difficult in an urban unions help. Access to coaching clinics, continue to be, the men’s teams. The environment. Sport brings with it social qualified coaches and referees, goes hand union has paid directors, managers, a and personal benefits - social interaction, in hand with the union. Some men have draws officer and publicity officer. The excitement, a sense of control over one’s already been supportive. Roskill Districts women’s association runs entirely on a life, body and strength. have benefited by the assistance of two voluntary basis. No one is paid. While a As women we have as much right to representative from the association sport and its benefits as any other group. attends ARU meetings at Eden Park, the We also have the right to exercise choice union has yet to send someone to one of over what sport we play. Ninety years their meetings. ago, cycling was considered inappro­ “The teams are doing fine,” says priate for women. This year, Madonna Caroline. “But we are striving to have a Harris won a gold medal for cycling at competition which is better organised. the Commonwealth Games. Financially the Auckland women’s Claire dreamed of playing rugby. Her association cannot stand on its own, we brother told her she wasn’t strong have to start charging union affiliation enough, her friend told her it was a game fees. The committee has to become only boys can play. It didn’t stop her stronger, we have to become more from dreaming. At the end of the story, boisterous in the ARU. At the moment Claire’s parents presented her with a pair the women’s presence is still quiet with of rugby boots. She is strong enough and much nodding of heads.” there is no game for boys only. □

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 Rachel McAlpine talked to Pat Rosier about writing F a re w e ll S p e e c h , a novel based on the lives of her suffragist great-grandmother, Ada Wells, and suffragist Kate Sheppard. Ada and Kate were both important figures in the fight

for votes for women in New Zealand, a n l y H

achieved on 19 September il

1893. G : h o t o P lpine

VOTES FOR WOMEN A c M a c h e l R

achel’s family was full of into you like that?’ Also, the pretext for The character of Ada was illuminated |stories about Ada Wells. “The sacking her from St Alban’s School was for Rachel McAlpine by its contrast with whole family vibrated with this excessive flogging of boys. It is in that of Kate Sheppard. Rachel is careful former matriarch and as a writer context, it wasn’t unusual for the time, to explain that the one aspect of the book K.I really wanted to understand but she was a pretty tough cookie. she invented was the relationship herR more. Most people didn’t have any “So I wanted to find something I between Ada and Kate. “Of all the stuff sympathy with her at all. My big sister could love in her and know what made that is in the book, ninety-nine percent is for instance, when I came along with my her that way. Partly she was bom very as true as I could get it from gossip and latest bit of news about Ada Wells, said, special - strong, determined and clever. I publications I read until they came out of ‘I’ve heard all I ever want to know about did find out more about her and did my ears. All the facts and semi-facts I’ve Ada Wells. I don’t want to know any grow to care about her a lot. I feel much, got I’ve used. I tried to get it right. more.’ much warmer about her having realised “But one thing I knew nothing about “There was a very dark side to her all the things she was too proud ever to was how Ada related to Kate. They character, a sort of sadistic side that was talk about. She would never have said T worked together. There are speeches - very real. My mother hated Ada, her need reforms because my husband takes Ada was the first to give one on the grandmother, because on Saturdays she all my money and he beats me up.’ She economic independence of married had to sit inside and learn Latin and she was far too proud to admit any of that, women and the next year at the National she would be hit on the head very hard but she could do it for other women, so I Council of Women conference Kate with the book if she didn’t concentrate. It understand her motives, and I celebrate Sheppard gave a speech that overlapped really mattered to Ada that the girls got them.” a lot. They obviously talked together and an education. The other side was with the nutted things out together and shared massage. Some people said that Ada had ideas often. For instance Kate would be healing hands - and that was in her president of an organisation and Ada obituary. I’m sure that was true, I’m sure would be secretary. Another clue was the she was a healer, but she was also very famous photograph of Ada sitting at impatient with people. If they didn’t Kate’s feet. Ada was a lot younger and agree with her, that was it, they were out, I wanted to find under-privileged, whereas Kate was she’d cut them off. She was very privileged and older, so Ada would arrogant. I’ve heard that if she was something to love in her admire her and want to be like her and massaging - this is another family story - and know what made eventually compete with her.” and the person massaged happened to her that way. There is a section in the book where agree with conscription for example, she Ada recognises she has strong feelings would do things like dig her thumbs in about Kate, sexual feelings even. That is very hard in very sore places, saying, more than Ada, the character, can cope ‘How would you like a bayonet going with, and she never declares these JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 33 Votes

Ada is very flimsy. I just tried to get into (unlike Kate) - limited her impact.” the minds of both of them and figure out It took a lot of digging to uncover After how they would have related to each what motivated Ada to political action, other. That’s why I wrote it as a novel.” “because her own needs were so hidden the achievement By the end of their lives Kate and Ada though pride and gentility and all that.” of votes for women Ada were not in contact. Kate did not go to But Kate Sheppard actually told remained politically Ada’s funeral, and wasn’t on the list of everybody. Somebody asked her in an active. people who should come and visit her to interview soon after the vote was say goodbye. Ada was extremely ill with achieved for women what started her off. cancer and decided to die by euthanasia. “She started late, she did a lot of After the achieved of votes for swanning around having soirees with women, for which Ada “worked and gentlemen before she got stuck into feelings to Kate. By 1900 they went worked and worked” she remained this.” In fact, it was something like different ways. Ada was an un­ politically active. Organisations she was pique. A small group that Kate was part compromising pacifist, and during the involved with included the Christchurch of had sent a petition to parliament Boer War, when patriotism was rife, her Women’s Institute, “which remained opposing the sale of liquor to children stand was not popular. She upset people. very radical”, and The National Council and the employment of barmaids. And it /Kate, on the other hand, “was tactful, a of Women. “She worked for peace very was turned down in a very dismissive politician, and peace wasn’t her primary actively and aggressively - she was tone. “That riled her so much it really got concern.” Kate had by this time outraged called aggressive by people - she her going.” Christchurch society by going to live worked for better conditions in One of Ada’s daughters, Bim, is also with the Lowell-Smiths, a family whose orphanages, she was the first woman part of Farewell Speech. “Bim was my patriarch, William, was her lover. (After city councillor in Christchurch - great-aunt and a real story in herself. She the death of William’s wife they probably one of the first in New Zealand was filled with anger, Bim, but many married.) This meant that she was not in - 1917 she got in. She was only in one people really liked her because she had a a position to lead “causes” any longer. term and got in on proportional great sense of fun. It made a terrible Such was the power of public “disgrace” representation. She was a minority voice mess of her life, having an illegitimate at that time. and when she was on the council one child. I wanted her in the book partly “In a way the information I have thing she wanted was a clean milk because she said things that Ada would about the relationship between Kate and supply. She didn’t manage to get that never say about her [Ada’s] private through but for years she worked trying life. Also because she represented so to get milk in bottles rather than have many women, not in her personality the milkman drive the horse, deal with necessarily, but in all the chaos of the money, dish out the milk, it was her life. totally unhygienic. “That family landed up within all the “She didn’t have a lot of success but social strata of Christchurch. The classes she certainly had an impact on the sort of tumbled everywhere. Bankruptcy orphanages. She was very fearless, she was quite common. For Ada, her mother tackled head on the very board she was was a lady, her father was in trade but on, the Charitable Aid Board; and it had successful until that got wiped out with an impact, but in the end the oiphanages tuberculosis and bankruptcy. Then her ITINERARIES Naomi Lange $14.95 got bigger, not smaller. She had this mother took in washing, so that’s almost Shows the reader a world the male dream of cottage homes. rock bottom on the social scale, but still politicians don’t write about. “Ada was usually right! And most of with these expectations and ideas about GOING FOR GOLD her ideas hold up even now. There was a being ladies. My grandmother, Chris, Priorities for Schooling in the Nineties lot of real common sense, like you ended up the genteel, intellectual poor Allan Levett and Colin Lankshear shouldn’t drive a horse and dish out and her sister Cos was very rich, she Book $29.95, Handbook $9.95 milk without washing your hands in married the man who owned or managed A must for parents concerned about the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills, they had a future of education in New Zealand. between. And she’s right about war, it’s a stupid bloody way to behave. But I massive house on the Cashmere Hills in NURSING PARTNERSHIP: think one thing that’s utterly different in Christchurch. Very rich and very mean. A Model for Nursing Practice HAUORA TAKIRUA: her from me or almost anybody now, is Then there was Bim who was a kitchen- He Tauira mō ngā Kaupapa Hauora that it’s very rarely now that you can get hand among other things.” Judith Christensen $43.95 hold of an issue and know that you are Rachel is looking forward to the two Read and share the ideas with others and absolutely and totally right, you don’t biographies of Kate Sheppard that are in help to build a new view of nursing need to spend even a second thinking preparation now. “Patriarchal history practice. NZ Nursing Journal Inspirational in its vision. Timaru Herald about the other person’s point of view. writing did a very good job on the That was her strength, that she had that suffragettes. There’s a whole industry of very clear vision, but it was also a writing about Katherine Mansfield yet DAPHNE BRASELL ASSOCIATES PRESS difficulty too, because she antagonised this is the first book ever about Kate PO Box 12 214, Thomdon, Wellington Sheppard.” There is no sign there will Tel: (04) 710-601 Fax: (04) 710-489 people right left and centre. Her lack of charm - heterosexual charm in fact ever be a book about Ada Wells. □

34 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 the gripes of ROTH

he TV soap gets in our square eyes as we view some important machinery and can hear some rhythmic beeps while introductory flashbacks. An ambulance sirens through we glimpse the small screen showing the heart beats tying the streets while the same few metres of scenery are themselves into interesting swirls and knots. We are reminded thriftily recycled past it at high speed, and the Southern of the identity problems of our test cricketers who have to have Cross twinkles away in pursuit at low altitude. We hear their names embroidered on their little ‘jamies - for, as the the siren’s dying fall as the vehicle stops. Then occurs the camera swoops closer we find the medical team has followed Tstandard hustle and bustle of any TV hospital drama as the suit. We see titles like: Teenage Mutant; Michaelangelo; patient is rushed on a trolley through the corridors to the Leonardo; Goldie; Dr Who; Little Green man; Bonhamie; Lipo operating theatre with various uniformed attendants, holding a Sucks; Plastic Fantastic; Nippon Clipon; Broken Holmes; drip over the anonymous body. One dr (Victor) marches $$Visa$$; Token Sheila/Ethnic/Lesbian Mother etc (this last briskly alongside the trolley working his calculator as he character leans on a heavy stick, and her- large label covers a watches the dollar notes coming out of the drip into an backpack holding a tiny baby with beautiful multicoloured attached container. hair.) Pandora and a couple of her crone cronies circle in the Victor (barks): This is an emergency. We’ve got a very air above the patient and cackle. famous and rich personage here. Our best medical team is Pandora (pointing derisively): Not much chance of going to pin and tuck and pleat and cut him into a new image. fruitfulness there, sisters! We all knew it was padding The screen darkens and we see a group of witches at the pretending to do a put-up job. end of their celebration of the autumn equinox. They are A commercial break with bright music and colourful Easter admiring a new baby with beautiful multi-coloured hair as her Eggs and bunnies and an authoritative (i.e. male) voice urging mother settles her into a baby seat on the back of her kiddies and mothers to take one another to see the bunnies and broomstick. buy the eggs. We swoop back to Pandora’s lot, going round at Witch Pandora: We have celebrated and given thanks for speed above the operating table. our harvest. We have expressed special appreciation to our Pandora: Hey! You fullas down there! You know what’s fruitful sister who has given us a new daughter. Go well and another name for a bunny rabbit? It’s a CONEY! safely sisters. The heart machine beeps an SOS and makes agitated They all salute the baby in various ways, put on their crash patterns. The health experts put their arms round one another helmets and sail off on their broomsticks - some of them and their heads down to form a protective scrum while Sheila’s riding pillion - and a couple making giant strides on pogo magic stick unfolds ingeniously into a chair on which she sits sticks. And at last we know today’s economy sized episode is to feed the baby. The witches swerve and dive, pointing their near as we see the sand in an hour glass hurtling up and down broomsticks at the medical team, singing in unison: Nar nar like crazy while the muzak swells and the title appears on the nanar nar. screen: THE CRINGING DEFECTIVE. Pandora: See, sisters? In medical circles they call it the The camera takes us to a hospital operating theatre. From a Coney-Bunkle Denial Syndrome or Metro Gnome distance we see a large crowd dressed in TV operating gear: Megalomania. They all bunkle off to hide like scared little tunics, trousers, shower caps. The front row of the circle is fluffy coneys and swear it never happened! bent over an invisible body while those further back try to peer A commercial break for Magic Moments in Banks and we at what’s going on. We are privileged with a quick peek at see All Blacks and big deals and wheels like the Roberts JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 35 CARTOON: MIRIAM HARRIS Gripes male) voice says: On Anzac Day we remember Gallipoli when Gallipoli remember we Day Anzac On says: voice male) (i.e. portentous a and troops 1Kiwi World War into fade They New Zealand became a nation. became NewZealand etc.looting, pillaging etc. theLodger) and (Douglas the Rogers and Don)and (Brierly,Trotter Rons the Jones), and (Muldoon justice, equity. justice, circle. the round baby the passing lovingly ritual, solstice winter their deserves to live in a different kind of nation, with peace, peace, with nation, of kind different a in live to in deserves nation the on brightly shimes it so sun the of rebirth the Fraud and other messages of peace and equity. A quick quick A equity. and peace of messages other and Fraud of broomsticks surrounded by banners saying The Treaty is a is Treaty The saying banners by surrounded broomsticks of follows - the hikoi, anti-Gulf was rally, women beating beating women rally, was anti-Gulf anotherThere’sequity’s at repeal. pay sentiments and pans pots protesting hikoi, these the - illustrating follows activities filmed of sequence commercial break showing a lot of junk which we are urged tourgedare we which of lot junk a showing break commercial buy to remember Father on Father’s Day. We move to the the to move We Day. cynically.andcackling the doctors above Father’s circling crones on Father remember to buy rituals. Let’s go sisters - it’s our spring solstice celebration.solstice it’sspring our feminist sisters - Let’sgo our rituals. up keep to need we why That’s right! all fathers 1991 to make up for the dark hypocrisy of 1990.daughter Our of hypocrisy dark the for up 1991make to doctors, where there is a flurry of interest over the patient with patient the over interest of flurry a is there where doctors, the heartbeats jumping and a lot of lot of beeping/ aand the heartbeats jumping 6 BROADSHEET 36 adr: eclbaetepsigo h ogs ih and night longest the of passing the celebrate We Pandora: of end the at witches the us show to darkens screen The The baby is now in a little hammock swinging from atripod from swinging a hammock little in is now baby The Pandora: Hey! You fullas down there! We remember you remember We there! down fullas You Hey! Pandora: hy l ofi omto. h aea hfs ak o the to back shifts camera The formation. in off fly They do you think I’m doing? I’m not a nurse. I’m just a token token a just I’m nurse. a not I’m doing? I’m think you do Sponge! Nurse! Swab! Suture! Sheila, what are you DOING?what Sheila,Suture!Swab! Sponge!Nurse! disabled kitchen-hand. Sometimes I’m an unpaid interpreter interpreter unpaid an I’m Sometimes kitchen-hand. disabled nurses with the pay and conditions you’re giving them. giving you’re and withthe conditions pay nurses when you lotstuck.when are you reveal - Da DAAA - the limp figure of SantaClaus. of the limpfigure DAAA - Da reveal - come. has time his but best our did We late. too It’s expire): Another case of trying to extend himself beyond his credit credit his beyond himself limit. extend to trying of case Another party. And sisters, have I got gifts for giftsparty.gotIyou.for And sisters,have solstice summer a to off we’re and Xmas We’rebanning you. oee sotr i ifrn bih oor. h rns help crones The colours. bright different in scooters powered for news got We’ve there! down fullas YouHey! sellabration. basket on the back on a bed of summer flowers. Pandora stuffsPandora flowers. summer of beda on backthe onbasket circle, then the scooters musak off into the wild blue yonder,blue wild the into off musak scooters crones’the then the circle, into themselves ingratiate to try they as cringing a muttering basket shopping her into down face Claus Santa shoppingthe into baby the put lovingly and hers to on Sheila spell. They do a few wheelies round the doctors who are are who doctors the round wheelies few a do They spell. h aywvn n agigadtrwn lwr. □ throwingand flowers. andthewavinglaughing baby Victor (crisply): It’s getting weaker.Suture!Quickly.Swab!It’sVictor(crisply):getting Pandora: Hey! You Fullas down there! You won’t keep keep won’t You there! down Fullas You Hey! Pandora: toWhatsleep): the baby singing and isrocking (who Sheila h coe dv-ob h ptet eeg wt i to him with emerge patient, the dive-bomb crones The beeps the and out flatten beats heart the (watching Victor Pandora: Pathetic! trying to rejuvenate that worn-out old old worn-out that rejuvenate to trying Pathetic! Pandora: She makes some magic passes and there is a fleet of batteryof afleet is there and passes magic some Shemakes AUR/ERAY 1991 JANUARY/FEBRUARY WOMYN’S FILM FESTIVAL Outreach Cultural Centre 4 - 8 December 1990 Reviewed by Diana Harris The second annual Women’s Film Festival, produced by Chrissy Duggan (Black Rose Productions), was held at Outreach 4 - 8 December. Women film makers of Aotearoa were featured on the first night after an introduction from Athina Tsoulis. Most of the films shown here, especially in the first half, were the work of emerging film makers and were often experimental - consequently, the effects of low budgets Four Frames (Pradhan and Marbrook) taposition of image and text that is and inexperience were visible, though looks at four Aotearoa women film so disconcerting at first and then so counterbalanced by freshness and energy. makers: Shereen Maloney, Nikola Caro, exhilarating and liberating. A Bitter Song (Athina Tsoulis) and Bronwyn Sprague and Julie Benjamin. Film makers from the USA were Four Frames (Tara Pradhan and Anna This documentary interspersed ‘talking- represented by Jane Wagner Hearts and Marbrook), strong films I would have head’ interviews with footage of each Quarks, Linda Hassani Breakfast, The considered programming to open the woman at work on a film project. Follower, Arlene Bowman Navajo festival, were the highlights of the Australian film makers: Talking Pictures and the volcanically evening. These two were accompanied in Tracey Moffat’s Night Cries was visually explosive Lydia Lunch The Gun is the second half by Lisa Reihana’s Wog stunning, which served to heighten the Loaded. Features, an animated comment on awareness of frustration and isolation felt A special tribute was paid to Sally Smith cultural consumerism and the con-icons by the daughter as she cared for her on the evening devoted to lesbian film it produces. elderly, incapacitated mother. makers. Sally’s contribution to the arts A Bitter Song is a story built around an Maria the Immaculate or Baby Duck by was immense considering her youth - episode in the life of Thalia, a young Doerthe Jansen, is particularly unsettling she was a painter, a filmmaker, a Greek girl growing up in 1950s in its depiction of a woman who treats a photographer and a spokesperson for Auckland. Traditional family roles are roasting fowl as her infant. This is lesbian feminism. The video that has evident: mother is devoted to her a perverse fantasy that fails to find its been made by her friends as a record of children; father, though affectionate at focus. their friendships and working relation­ times and hardworking, is distanced from Point of Departure (Kathryn Millard) ships is a unique memorial that will only them and feels little compunction to take tells the fascinating a story of Jean become more precious as time passes. an active part in their lives. This man Devanny , a New Zealand writer who, The impact that Sally had on many does not maltreat his family, but his very despite personal tragedy, worked people, her warmth and her vision came conception of them as unimportant tirelessly for the Communist Party in through strongly. She likened the process contributes to their own low esteem and Australia, an organisation dominated by of becoming and creating to making lack of confidence. men who finally could not accommodate cakes - add an ingredient here, work on a I look forward to Tsoulis’ planned her articulate insistence on women’s skill there. Luckily, she finished several sequel to Thalia’s story, and hope that rights. cakes along her journey - Life in the she doesn’t encounter more of the Landslides (Susan Lambert and Sarah Kitchen is one. This is a fantasy that problems that beset the printing of this Gibson) is an intriguing, challenging film transports a woman from the drabness of film. The integrity that film makers of that puts the audience to work. Dis­ domesticity to the vibrant celebration Tsoulis’ calibre put into their work orientating to begin with, it slowly of lesbian love: painted bodies roll on the should surely be matched by those captivates the viewer with its mes­ floor in a joyful embrace - rich images of responsible for its final production. merising visual style. It is the jux­ a multi-faceted woman.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 37 Film

RTS SCHOOL TERM 1 1991 February 11th - May 10th DANCE & DRAMA CLASSES FOR EVERYONE Preschoolers to the over 60's Courses in Tap, Jazz, Polynesian & Afro Carribean Dance, Contemporary Ballet, Ballroom Dancing. Preschool Play, Voice, United Theatresports, Improvisation, Creative Drama. Women's Drama, Acting for Film, Singing, plus 3 Performance Classes. Despina (left) and T halia in A Bitter S ong Photo: Nikki Wood. PLUS Don't miss the Screen Acting Workshop with How can I ignore the girl next door, or (a symbol of black-white polarity and it’s John Watson, April 27 & 28 how to become a lesbian in 35 mins corresponding hierarchical values), but Phone (09) 771 228 fo r further (UK/Hammersmith and Fulham Young finally is able to accept it as part of details and brochure Lesbian’s Group), follows the developing herself, translating mole into beauty spot. 145 Newton Road (the Orange relationships of a group of young women Deborah Howlett’s A Little Life was the Ballroom) NEWTON, AUCKLAND and a former friend who becomes highlight. Ricci Vicenti was killed by the attracted to their lifestyle. police in Australia in 1982 as he tried to Five short films by Barbara Hammer escape from a remand centre. As we are GREAT READS were scheduled - however the three that told of Ricci’s background and the events screened were sufficient to sample her leading up to his death, we are also made style. aware of the horrific legacy of Lesbionage (US Lesbian Productions) is colonialism for the Aborigine. a send-up of the private detective agency The festival was somehow at odds with genre, except the buddies who work its promotion (though it did not appear to together sleep together. Though this had be promoted widely) and the aims of the some very funny moments and political programming rather ill-defined. Many points to make, it was marred by people did not expect to see largely unrealistic plot-forwarding devices,even experimental student films on an given the genre, and a narrative that just occasion billed as “Women film makers couldn’t get the pace right. of Aotearoa”. Some films seemed out of Procuring product for the Third World place in a women’s festival (Moa VICTORIA IN MAORILAND film makers night unfortunately seemed Fashion Show), or in a category they Margaret Blay beset with problems. Sally's Beauty Spot were only vaguely associated with. ‘A satisfying read and great fun.’ Gaelyn (Helen Lee) showed a young Asian It’s great to give film makers a forum, Gordon woman’s obsession with a black mole. but audiences appreciate knowing what ‘The most delightful novel of 1990 ... She scrubs at it in a futile attempt to to expect. □ state-of-the-art-entertainment.’ Elizabeth wash herself clean of the disfiguring spot Smither TO BE SO OLD The Story of My Mother’s Old Age Gwen Skinner Frame from ‘A classic of its kind.’ Dale Williams No No Nooky ‘Remarkably honest and sensitive story.’ TV Wairapapa Times Age Available from booksellers now.

i I M I T • O

38 BROADSHEET FEBRUARY 1991 Arts

FAME AND FORTUNE: FIVE milestones. Robyn is saying that woman WOMEN ARTISTS is framed by her biology. She depicts the Outreach Cultural Centre, Auckland internal woman, her reproduction age on 12-23 November 1990 the outside frame, and the external Reviewed by Megan Fidler woman, her appearance, within the frame. “Fame and Fortune” is an exhibition by Margaret Riley’s collection of Brides five women artists from the Christchurch of the Year 1900 - 1950 begins with a Artists’ Collective. Using a variety of handwritten epitaph, describing briefly media the exhibition includes 3 the lives of the brides and their husbands. dimensional installations, etchings on The brides were “well-known for the porcelain, paintings, drawings and prints. lightness of their pudding” or “crippled The exhibition is visually dominated by arthritis”, whereas the men had by the strength and redness of “Soft Scell successful careers, gaining “fame and - Women Within” and “Soft Sell/Cell”, fortune”. These etched and coloured both by Robyn Kilty, and “Love For porcelain pieces resemble formal Sale”by Tiffany Thomley. wedding photographs. The “odd one out” “Soft S/Cell” is a large acrylic on both visually and symbolically is the canvas, menstrual red in the centre teapot shaped piece onto which is an radiating out to a more diluted pinky- etching of a matronly looking woman in white at the perimeter. Five women with a tweed skirt and buttoned up shirt. distended stomachs, inside of each is a There is a picture of a young man in silver tearshaped drop in the place of the military dress - the lost war beau. The womb, are depicted. The vastness of the inscription in the teapot says, “With blood/womb reduces the women to grateful thanks from the combined becoming part of the larger picture, football and cricket clubs 1955” - the whilst at the same time, each woman has plight of the maiden aunt? Margaret a womb within. The word scell fascinates writes, “Three times a bridesmaid - never me. The womb as a cell - a woman’s Robyn Kilty. Photo: G il Hanly a bride” was the pervading message. internal prison; the womb as a place for Real women became “Bride of the Year” the growth of a cell eventually forming artist is a modem dilemma, especially for or at least “Bride”, and their worth to the an embryo; and, more obscure, the womb the male artist who is used to the woman community was self evident. The as a schelling - a 16th century silver coin. in the role of model, nurturer, or muse. unmarried woman was obliged to work The tear shape of the silver womb “Love for Sale” says it all - red shoes, much harder for an inevitably lower symbolises the tears and pain from artists as housewives, mothers, hard status.” cramps, childbirth and children. work, tyranny of fashion, family ties, Linda Jame’s series of “Women “Soft Sell/Cell” is installation piece drudgery, incest, rape, sexuality, Artists” is an acknowledgement and made of a white grid suspended from the seduction, foot binding, witchcraft, honouring of women artists who have roof, with floor length strips of red and sisters, voluntary work, the same but gone before. Together with her finished pink tissue paper and plastic, hanging different, down trodden, down at heel, works are her thoughts, sketches and from the grid. On the floor, lies pieces of slovenly, slipshod, unpaid labour, working drawings. Seeing the work that wool. I was bemused by this piece. Its backache, varicose veins, dressing to has gone into the finished piece is both symmetry and lightness was aesthetically please, dressing to kill, commitment, interesting and enlightening. Such an pleasing but I was at a loss as to its revolution, freedom”. By painting these exposition shows strength and message. Later I discovered that women’s shoes, many of them symbols confidence. Linda tells the stories of originally each of the strips of paper and of subjection and conformity, red, the these women, in their struggle with love plastic had been rolled up and tied to the colour of revolution, the message is and life, and proving themselves to be as grid. On the opening night a woman subversive and dangerous to patriarchy good as male artists. untied each of the rolls, and they and the and capitalism. Helen Sutherland’s large acrylic wool dropped to the floor. The tied up Robyn Kilty’s piece “Seven Ages of paintings have smacks of primitivism. rolls resembled tampons. The darker red Women” has been the subject of They deal with human emotions and of the paper in the centre of the piece controversy. When it was exhibited in search for truth. She says “The work is could be to signify the darkness of blood Timaru, residents were outraged and about the human condition spirit. I have at the beginning of the menstrual flow, accused it of being pornographic. I attempted to go beyond external reducing in redness as the bleeding suspect Auckland art patrons are not so appearances to express an inner reality”. diminishes. The few strands of clear squeamish. “The Seven Ages of Women” Helen’s paintings are strong and bold, plastic are the end of the bleed. is derived from Shakespeare’s lines in with an expert use of colour. The other piece notable for it’s “As You Like It”: “And one man in his I don’t know about fortune, but I’d be redness, “Love For Sale” by Tiffany time plays many parts, His acts being surprised if at least a couple of these Thornley is a collection of 99 pairs of seven ages ... ” Robyn has swapped women didn’t gain some fame from this second hand shoes, in her artist’s genders. The seven ages she depicts exhibition. Thank you Outreach for yet statement, Tiffany says, “The woman are those of the female biological another high quality art show. □

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 39 mediums make up the different cloths of the patchwork, including moments in history (World War II, the depression, and the 1912/13 Waihi and Waterfront strikes), and visual identity, (banners, ■jRSlPKV murals, working conditions, domestic and unpaid work, and the collective work of Maori). The effect of this combination is a varied but strong visual tradition which has been forged out of the processes of solidarity and struggle. This exhibition shows a progression from the elite’s preoccupation with landscapes of the adoptive land, towards a recording of, and involvement in people’s lives. It acknowledges the value of art outside of the elite. The images of labour go well beyond the safety of painting; posters, banners, cartoons, murals, video and photography, all reflect the images of labour. A wide “ART AND this country. It is a celebration which view of labour is expressed, including ORGANISED LABOUR” glowers in the shadows of a National unpaid work, unemployment, and the Wellington City Art Gallery party victory, in which working people collective labour of Maori. 20 Oct 1990-21 Jan 1991 and organisations face an uncertain Maori labour is shown through a Reviewed by Kim Morton future. series of photos; Ngapine Tamihana Te Walking into the display, there is a Ao portrays food preparation on the “Art and Organised Labour” at the patchwork of images from the past 150 marae. The exhibition does not though Wellington City Art Gallery, soon to tour years of the history of labour. The focus explore the links between poverty and the country, is a celebration of the visual is the centre floor with banners draped as unemployment and the restricted record of work in Aotearoa. The curators if in a march, and bold words painted on economic base of Maori. have combined historical moments with the floor heralding the right to work an The strongest images of women in images of labour to produce a strong and eight hour day. Around the edges, “Art and Labour” are of recent times. colourful picture of labour struggles in different sections of identity in various There is some photographic record of women’s work in wartime. The contemporary issues including pay equity, parental leave, equal employment opportunity and unpaid labour, are explored through posters, paintings and OIN TODAY cartoons. Write to your nearest society The workplace smoko room with floor for further information to ceiling pornography is also there; a sombre reminder of some women’s AUCKLAND FILM SOCIETY experience at work. Prostitution, a reality PO Box 5618 Auckland of labour for many women, remains

HAMILTON FILM SOCIETY invisible. PO Box 1216 Hamilton This exhibition is a bold attempt to take art out of the hands of the few, and NAPIER FILM SOCIETY recognise it in the richness of “ordinary” PO Box 356 Napier life. In that “Art and Labour” triumphs. The exhibition is full (too much for one WELLINGTON FILM SOCIETY PO Box 1584 Wellington viewing) and well worth a return visit. The active processes of the exhibition; CANTERBURY FILM SOCIETY audio tapes, video and film screenings, PO Box 526 Christchurch talks and tours, embody what this exhibition is about - accessibility. DUNEDIN FILM SOCIETY “Art and Labour” closes in Wellington PO Box 5454 Dunedin on January 21st 1991. The first stop on its national tour will be Auckland, opening at the City Art Gallery, on May Day - 1st May 1991. □

40 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 Interveiw

was in their Jewishness in the book who spoke at my launch said and the personal effects of that for her that was a problem. If you recent history. Even if a look obviously different it forces other particular family had not people to acknowledge that you are faced first hand experience different. These people looked like of the Holocaust, the everyone else so they were expected to effects of this nightmare behave like everyone else and yet they were felt by every family. couldn’t and wouldn’t and they felt Beaglehole’s book is a different inside. comprehensive study of You categorise second generation this refugee childhood and immigrants as those born in New is based on many Zealand and those who were children interviews and also on when they first arrived. Second a wide reading of the generation immigrants seem to have literature that exists different problems to the first around the world on the generation. subject. The information is The problems of the first generation carefully and skillfully immigrants were more immediate ones interwoven so that by the of learning a new language and earning a end of the book one gets living and, in the beginning when they a real sense of the diver­ first arrived, they had to settle down and sity and magnitude of make a new life. They probably never the experience of these expected to belong or become part children. of a new country - that’s more a I was delighted to have preoccupation of the second generation the opportunity to discuss who know the language and,so on. The aspects of her book with question of identity and where they Ann Beaglehole when she belong is more a second generation was in Auckland. preoccupation though some people of the Many people are unaware first generation I spoke to hoped to of the class differences become part of the new country. between immigrants. Provided they were quite young then They see people as being they had a good chance of doing that. It culturally homogenous. was never a real possibility for the older Yet many came from immigrant. highly urbanised centres You make a big point about the many to small town New Zealand. In terms of differences as well as the similarities FACING THE PAST: your study, most of the Eastern Jewish amongst the experiences of the second LOOKING AT REFUGEE refugees came from well-off generation. CHILDHOOD IN NEW backgrounds with a high level of Whether they came as young children or ZEALAND 1940S-1960S education. as teenagers, or were New Zealand bom Ann Beaglehole Although there is variety within that, made a big difference. Some of the Allen & Unwin $29.95 most were from middle-class, pro­ children themselves had suffered Review and Interview by Athina Tsoulis fessional and business backgrounds. For persecution in Europe before they came the first generation it was like coming and this would have determined some of As the title suggests, Ann Beaglehole’s from urban to rural. They came from their experience in New Zealand - the book looks at the experiences of large cities like Prague, Budapest and kind of people they became. immigrant refugee children in New Vienna. When they came here, The family backgrounds were very Zealand. Beaglehole’s earlier book, A Wellington struck them as a small town. different in terms of the degree of Small Price to Pay, looked at the New Zealand at that time would not persecution suffered. If the family had experiences of European refugees in the have been heavily into Culture. got away shortly after Hitler came to 30’s. In Facing the Past she turns her No, definitely not! The immigrants were power, losing one’s job may have been attention to the second generation. used to the many ensembles, symphony the worst that happened. Others who These children came from families orchestras, theatres which were lacking came after the war would have suffered fleeing Nazism and the effects of war- in New Zealand. the full effects. They may have been in torn Europe. In many ways they were Was there prejudice towards the Jewish ghettoes or camps during the war which similar to most European immigrants immigrants from the local population? made a big difference to the children. during this period who were forced to There was a great deal of ignorance in The families were different in their leave their homelands through either New Zealand about Jewishness, apart Jewishness too. One family was not political, religious or economic from the old stereotype of being dark Jewish at all, some had converted from persecution. Where the families that and swarthy. The refugees all looked Judaism so they had a Jewish Beaglehole is concerned with differed different. One of the people interviewed background, some had not converted but

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 41 Interveiw their children weren’t brought up in the Jewish religion at all and others were. So this made a difference. Family dynamics was another factor. Some fam­ ilies, no matter how hard things were, remained positive. Other families seemed to be under stress and didn’t cope well and this made a difference to what happened to the children. I suppose what the second generation had in common was that they were operating between two cultures, which led to some feeling caught between the two. Often people expect the first generation to have problems but ignore the problems of the second generation, who on the surface appear to fit in to the dominant culture. To some extent I shared that assumption when I began. I was aware that there would be big differences between wanted the children to fit in and earlier book on first generation Jewish first and second generation immigrants assimilate, yet they wanted their refugees, A Small Price to Pay, is that in terms of their experiences but I children to not lose their culture or to when the women did stay at home they somehow assumed that the experiences forget the past. had big adjustments to make due to their of the second generation would have What is important is the choice that the sheltered middle class upbringing. They been easier because they spoke the second generation faced on a daily had to leam to cook and clean which is language and so on. I was surprised by level. What effect do you think this something their maids would have done. the extent of the difficulties that some had? This wasn’t true for all of them. people had. To some extent it had a good effect, What did they do for childcare? For these refugees the Holocaust making you a more flexible, more I have a terrible story of a couple who devastated the families in terms of thinking person who knew there was arrived with an eighteen month old child. numbers. The more family members here more than one way of doing things. They both needed to get paid work and the happier the childhood and vice versa. Some spoke of this more positive aspect. they didn’t know what to do so they New Zealand friends all had cousins and Others spoke of being confused by this. boarded the child out with a New uncles and the refugee children didn’t. They would have liked to have had one Zealand family. It was very traumatic for That was quite important. And if you right way and they still feel ill at ease as everyone and it didn’t work out. I didn’t weren’t getting on with your parents or adults as to what is the correct way. follow this up to find out what they there was a lot of pressure or tension What was the particular effect of eventually did for childcare. then to be able to go and talk to another migration for the women who lost their Childcare was a problem for immigrant family member helped. But often the support networks and yet had to go and women in Australia during the same families were small and intense. All the work in a climate where women were period. However, due to a large problems of the nuclear family were not expected to work outside the home? immigrant community the women could accentuated. To make a living the women often went make their own informal arrangements And the nuclear family situation would out and did all sorts of things like like working different shifts and taking have been quite alien to these people. cleaning homes. Those women who turns to look after each others’ Back in Europe the immigrants would were professionals themselves stayed children. The smaller number of have had large families. But having lost home whilst the husband requalified. immigrants in New Zealand would have so many family members made the None of the women doctors went to precluded this. families very close, too close for some Otago to requalify. It was always the Some women worked until they had people. The parents’ expectations were husbands who did. His career came first. children and then they stopped. One of also ambivalent and contradictory. They The other thing which I looked at in my the families managed to bring their

42 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 German nanny with them and that was a wonderful continuity for the children. It was very much dependent on how much B o o k s money they had as to whether the woman had to work. So there were all sorts from the extreme of having to board your child out to having your nanny with you. It is the diversity which is very much evident. You are also looking at people who came from different countries who OUR OWN IMAGE Barclay reflects upon the dilemmas of would have seen themselves as being Barry Barclay documentary scriptwriting where Pakeha different to one another which must Longman Paul, $12.95 values dictate “precision and answers” have made it hard to establish a sense Reviewed by Athina Tsoulis rather than the desire to reflect the “age- of community. old process of discussion and decision­ Yes, you had Czechs, Hungarians, Polish It is rare for Broadsheet to review books making” present in Maori society, which and so forth. Some would have identified by men. Our Own Image by Barry means giving people the opportunity to with the Jewish community but those Barclay, however, fills a gap - or rather a say what they think. Barclay talks about who weren’t religious didn’t. The Jewish chasm - in the area of filmmaking from the importance of all-Maori crews as community was not interested in those an indigenous perspective. Barclay is well as the problems of current practices who were not observant and didn’t want writing as a Maori filmmaker in a in archiving film. to go along to a synagogue. Even those Pakeha society. He gives heavy emphasis to the who went to the synagogue tended to be Barclay is well qualified to write on importance of communicating to your more liberal Jews rather than orthodox. this topic, being an indigenous film­ people first - what he calls ‘talking in’ - There was support from the Jewish maker of long standing with the Tangata and says that in the process you will be community but there were also Whenua documentary series (1972-4) representing a more authentic and difficulties. and the film, Ngati, to his credit. Over moving image of your people to the rest In small numbers it’s always a problem the course of his filmmaking career of society. The latter however is always because even if you have 20 Barclay has obviously reflected upon the secondary - keeping control of the image Hungarians there is no guarantee they implications of indigenous film-making for your community is paramount. will get on together. and how his bicultural identity alters his A minor quibble is his statement that That’s right. Its the whole society that approach to the film-making process. the concept of individualism came out of lumps them together as foreigners - they Although bicultural has come to mean Ancient Greece. This may be true. As should at least like each other! It threw Maori and Pakeha, what Barclay talks Greece has one of the oldest written people together who wouldn’t have had about is relevant to all bicultural film­ cultures, I’m sure that you can find most anything to do with each other back makers and their audiences. concepts in some form or another, home. Sometimes it worked out but sometimes it didn’t. Class and educational differences meant that people did not necessarily want to know WOMEN’S T he M cD ougall A rt A nnex each other. PRESENTS You make a point of not talking about BOOKSHOP AN EXHIBIT ION Ol liter NT WORK the psychological trauma of these 228 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden 15V refugees. Was this reticence on your At the Valley Road Lights part? Phone (09) 607 162 I don’t know if its my squeamishness or Thursday 7 March 6-7pm D i F f r e n c h my being oversensitive to other people in An hour with PAULINE O’REGAN, T uustbank C anterbury thinking that they may not want to talk the nun who participates in community about it. Also, it’s a question of how & C hristchurch arts centre action, author of A Changing Order. much to identify the person. It’s a small A r t is t in R e s id e n c e Pauline will read from her new book community and everybody will know Aunts and Windmills. 1990 whom I’m talking about if I’m very Refreshments from 5.30pm • specific. It also struck me as a separate subject. Future Thursday Evening Events 3 0 J a n u a r y - 2 2 F eb r u a r y It just seemed easier for one reason or - Lesbians, Love & Laughter: shared M c D o u g a l l A rt A n n e x another. I knew of particular instances readings and people would ask to have the tape - An hour with Lauris Edmond A rts C entre • C hristc hurch recorder turned off. Often it was For dates & details phone the Women’s someone talking about someone else and O p en I 0 a m - 4 .3 0 p m 7 D a y s Bookshop and watch each issue of how could I verify this apart from going A d m i s s i o n F ree up to the person concerned? It was too Broadsheet.. difficult. □

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 43 Book reveiws somewhere. However in modern day Greece where most of the population live or have just emerged from a traditional peasant society, the concept of individualism is just as alien as it is to Maori society. Barclay’s book is quite appealing due to its conversational tone: unlike many conversations which we are subjected to, this gives us much to dwell upon. This may be due to the fact that he discusses ideas that he has been grappling with on the practical level, which makes them refreshing. □

WILL THE REAL MR NEW ZEALAND PLEASE STAND UP? Gwendoline Smith Penguin $19.95 socialised into their roles, much to each devastating” is quite a sad realisation. It Reveiwed by Athina Tsoulis other’s detriment. The fact that men have gives others power over you and most to succeed in a competitive world means men are not prepared to allow this Gwendoline Smith uses a feminist they are taught early to repress their situation to arise - not even many of our analysis to profile the thoughts and feelings - emotions are for girls - to ‘New Men’. It is not surprising then that feelings of 16 NZ men. Therefore you always maintain control and hide any what emerges from the interviews is will be forgiven if much of what Smith weakness. This makes friendships male friendships with each other based says sounds all too familiar. between men problematic as competition on a shared activity rather than sitting The men interviewed come from a prevents men from relating to other men around talking about your feelings. wide range of backgrounds - from Joe as true friends, and relationships with There are not many books around by who has learnt to deal with his anger and women as equals, impossible. contemporary feminists examining men can claim “My missus hasn’t had a The feminist observation restated by and these are long overdue. Far from hiding for nearly two years” to Bob the Smith that “talking about feelings can be being in a Post-Feminist era, feminism businessman who does not have a close the hardest thing you can ever ask a man needs to keep a continual eye on men. male friend and in a crisis claims that to do” is a theme most women will relate Smith has written a book that popularises “there is no way I would want to share it to. Men may be willing to take turns at feminist thinking in this area and it will, with anyone.” washing the dishes or cooking but “To no doubt, find a wide audience. Certainly Smith uses the argument from the share and feel vulnerable, to expose a good gift for any male that you would early days of the women’s movement themselves emotionally, especially in a like to give a not so subtle hint to! □ that men just as much as women are room full of other men, can be

PERMANENT PARTNERS: is unspeakable. Exploring what we are, relationships. And we are learning, and BUILDING GAY AND what we do, how we think, thinking adapting and changing our beliefs and LESBIAN RELATIONSHIPS creatively and spontaneously about our ideas and, increasingly I think, seeking TH A T LAST concerns. Naming our concerns. new ways to behave with each other. Betty Berzon and E P Dutton WhoooeeeH It’s exciting. Betty Berzon, author of Permanent A LESBIAN LOVE ADVISOR Relationships are a major concern for Partners is, among other things, a Celeste West lesbians. We have no models for the psychotherapist who has worked with Cleis Press sorts of relationships we want except our many lesbians and gays on relationship Reviewed by Pat Rosier own and we put a lot of work into them. issues. She has been partners with the Lover relationships, certainly, but also same woman for over 15 years. She No, it’s not all woman to woman friendships, including those with past writes, “We have to get down to the romances and staunch women private lovers. There are lots of lesbian jokes work of constructing a new gay and investigators who just might fall in love about ex-lovers, because we try harder lesbian partnership style,” and states the with the women they are working for - than any other group to keep connections general goals of the book as “... to lesbian writing, that is. Writing by going, in whatever changed form can be enable you to gain perspective on a lesbians. Writing from the position of achieved. relationship you may have grown too being a lesbian. Writing by for and about And so, lesbians talk to each other, close to, to identify the particular lesbians. Speaking about what, for many. think, do research and write about their relationship stressors that may be

44 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 Book reveiws inhibiting your growth in your The body of the book consists of sage advice in enjoying the Divine partnership, and to develop new options chapters on issues and concerns, with Lesbian Relationship in graceful gusto. for dealing with those stressors.” suggestions and case stories. Living with How to manage Faux Pas with finesse, It’s a worthwhile, useful book. I differences, myths and fantasies about Jealousy with Mercy and the Apples of particularly welcome the way the author what relationships are, sexual identity Discord without war. Lesbian Rituals, uses examples from her own life, both conflict, learning to identify underlying Meta*Physicals, Sorcery & Ceremonies with her partner and her family of origin problems, improving communication, of Life elucidated.” (foo), as well as from clients. She is one power and control, jealousy, dealing Most of the advice is splendid. The of us, not the expert passing on wisdom constructively with conflict, differences packaging, in a cutesy sort of style “with she no longer needs herself. of level of desire, resolving the the commentaries of Lady Clitoressa & I also applaud her consistent locating monogamy issue, money, contracts, foos, Her Circle”, drove one friend to of the “problems” in society at large. The children, vows, change ... it’s a pretty distraction (“Cloying,” she said) and “tradition of failure” of homosexual comprehensive coverage. another into fits of giggles. I got used to relationships, she says, arises not from The basic ideal of a long-term, live-in it but could have done without it. any lack in the people concerned, but couple relationship - which, as the writer This book ranges over a wider from the settings in which they have had correctly points out is what most of us territory than Permanent Partners - one to try to exist. The two-paragraph say we want - is not questioned. In fact, section is called “The Lesbian description of the history of lesbian there is a strong underlying assumption Relationship Spectrum” - and claims no relationships is inadequate as history but throughout the book that this is the professional expertise, just a lesbian makes the point. “Beset by conflict from “best” option if we can learn to do it voice. The advice favours treating each within, surrounded by a conspiracy of without diminishing or limiting other with respect, and assumes it’s okay silence as to their very existence in the ourselves or our partners. I’m not about to be a lesbian. My favourite cartoon - society, gay and lesbian partnerships to argue with that, but I can think of a they are scattered throughout the book - most often did not endure for long.” We friend or two who might. is in the chapter “Fair Fighting” and has do not have legal and social supports and The great strength of Permanent one lesbian saying to another, “Honey, our elders are invisible, so we “just break Partners is its constant affirmation of the when are you going to learn: take out the up” when the going gets rough. Betty absolute right of lesbians and gays to get garbage when it’s full! Use the yellow Burzon suggests that breaking up has respect from society at large - including sponge for the floor and the pink one for been our chief way of dealing with families. the dishes! Dry yourself in the tub, not in conflict. We have special issues, A Lesbian Love Advisor is a different the bathroom! Don’t answer the phone beginning with language and two main sort of thing altogether. This statement when my mother calls!!!” categories of label: those meant to on the title page gives a fair indication of In very different ways, each of these conceal (“friend”, “roommate”) and what to expect: “A Lesbian Love books contributes to the growing range those meant to reveal (“lover”). None of Advisor on the sweet & savoury arts of of lesbian writing about relationships. those available in English, she suggests, Lesbian Courtship, sensualizing them It is not only lesbians who are richer serve us well. with impeccable Bedside Manners, with for it. □

FAREWELL SPEECH was published but I to read it.) right to her chosen death. Clearly the Rachel McAlpine Rachel McAlpine succeeds in her aim author came to love and respect Ada, but Penguin $24.95 to create a picture of each of the women. she gives her to us whole, strengths and Pat Rosier and Megan Fidler The differences in their personalities and failings all acknowledged. We are style are clearly drawn. It is Ada we invited to admire, but not to idealise, and In the school history that most of us come to know best, which seems as it I appreciate this - I have an aversion to experienced, women getting the vote in should be - we know little of the lives of “history” that “protects” its subjects and New Zealand in 1893 was squeezed poor, fighting women from our past. readers from the realness of the women somewhere between refrigerated shipping Farewell Speech works as a novel. I involved. and the Boer War. And what little there was caught up in the developments, Bim, one of Ada’s daughters, is the was was phrased in terms of the nation changes, passions and failings of the other character whose voice is heard in giving women the vote. Patriarchy and characters. I liked some, disliked others. the novel. I found her harder to see than patriotism giving each other a pat on the It’s a tantalising glimpse of Kate the other two, although I recognised the back. The frozen sheep carcasses on their Sheppard in many ways, but there are particular sort of pride that did not allow way to England and the young men to two biographies of her being worked on her to need anything from anyone and South Africa to to fight a colonial war at present, so there will be more. remembered women of that generation were given far more importance than This is really Ada’s book. She was from my family. women fighting for and gaining the right Rachel McAlpine’s great-grandmother I am left with a sense of wanting to take part in the parliamentary process. and the writer has used her family more - more histories, novels, stories It took this novel, Farewell Speech to knowledge to flesh out the information that show us the women from our New give me a picture of what the fight she researched from historical sources. Zealand past. Not the ideals or stereo­ was really like. (Women’s Suffrage in We see Ada as admirable, staunch, types but the actual women who are our New Zealand by Patricia Grimshaw difficult, passionate about her beliefs, foremothers in spirit and belief. □

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 45 Book reveiws THE EXPLODING FRANGIPANI l i s t i n g Lesbian writing from Australia and New Zealand By Pat Rosier Eds Cathie Dunsford Cottage Gardening in New Zealand and Susan Hawthorne by Christine Dann, with photographs by New Women’s Press $19.95 Tony Wyber, must be one of the last New Reviewed by Pat Rosier Zealand titles to be published by Allen & Unwin (Bridget Williams Books has Cathie is the New Zealander, Susan bought the New Zealand list from Allen the Australian. Together they have & Unwin and will be continuing to assembled a collection of writings by publish new titles). lesbians in their respective countries. The text is very much based in New There has been very little overtly lesbian Zealand and includes chapters on (written by lesbians and with the word designing and making a cottage garden “lesbian” on the cover) work published of your own. The historical photos are in book form in New Zealand. Miriam fascinating but it is disappointing that Saphira (Papers Inc), Spiral, Circle, there are so few of contemporary New various lesbian newsletters and journals Zealand cottage gardens and so many over the years - until now these have from England. Sissinghurst is a beautiful been the vehicles for publishing lesbian garden but this book needed local photos writing. of today’s gardens. However, The Exploding Frangipani The New Improved Dykes to Watch is not quite a first for New Women’s Out For (Firebrand Press) is Alison Press. There have already been Frances Bechdel’s third collection of cartoon C herry’s Dancing With Strings and and wondering why the editors had strips featuring Mo and friends. She Ngahuia Te Awekotuku’s Tahuri, both included them. And then there are the doesn’t so much shoot at our lesbian from NWP, Renee’s Willy Nilly gems - more of those below. sacred cows as nudge and reflect them (Penguin) and a few stories in various The poetry is strong. I love the with a warmth and humour that produce collections of women’s writing. Any stroppiness, the sex, the tenderness, the an occasional belly-laugh and stimulate other content in New Zealand novels has anger, the reflection, the fun. Particular many a grin and giggle. The regular been pretty much about lesbians, rather favourites are the two by Sue Fitchett, characters have become familiar enough than lesbian writing. The Exploding the three by Sandy Jeffs and the one by for me to feel a fondness for some - the Frangipani is clearly identified on the Terry Whitebeach. Linda Weste’s “Don’t indecisive, anguishing Mo is a special cover as “lesbian writing” and that is a let them teach you” straddles poetry favourite - and irritation at a couple. cause for celebration. /prose form and restates boldly truths that There are Dykes to Watch Out For cards, The bulk of the content is short stories need stating often, like, “who will calendars and posters, and the strips - or short fiction - well, short pieces, represent us except us”. Cathie appear in many feminist publications. anyway. My indecision over language Dunsford’s poem “Survivors” speaks of Certainly worth watching out for. reflects the range of modes and styles. paintings created from the stockings sent In Susie Sexpert’s Lesbian Sex World Some have a more or less classical short by women from East Berlin (before the by Susie Bright (Cleis) lesbian feminism story form, others are more reflections, wall fell), of a woman who lives in a is equated, right from the introduction, stream of consciousness, autobio­ wine barrel ... fascinating glimpses, but I with sexual repression. The book is a graphical .... Then there are the poems. wanted more from the poem. Its collection of essays, originally published And Thalia’s drawings? hieroglyphics? language somehow does not carry the in the American lesbian erotica magazine Attractive but meaningless to me until a imagery as powerfully as I want it to. On Our Backs, that are explicit, detailed friend pointed out they were based on Of course I have my favourites among and pro-pleasure. Some bits I found shorthand symbols. Then I liked them. the stories. Like Nancy Stone’s entertaining, others distasteful. The editors say in their introduction “Moments”. She writes about sex, and Naiad Press sure do keep putting out that a vital part of our “journeying and intimacy and fears, and it’s funny/sad those lesbian novels. I’m not sure why A crossing new boundaries” is “exploring and funny/familiar and wonderful. As is Room Full of Women by Elisabeth language and inventing new language.” Louise Simone’s “The Exploding Nonas irritated me as much as it did. One A number of the pieces are certainly Frangipani.” This one has humour, too - lesbian is a designer, another a film exploratory/experimental. Thalia’s for oh, blessed be! and lovely, spare writing. editor. Natalie has a turing-forty crisis. example, Linda Weste’s “Don’t let then Susan Hawthorne’s “The Colour of Blair fears intimacy. Ted-next-door is teach you”, and Gillian Hanscombe’s Shadows” is a many-layered evocation dying of AIDS. (A friend dying of AIDS “From ‘Some of Sybil’”. Gillian of the fragile hold we all have on what is becoming de rigeur in lesbian novels.) Hanscombe’s is one of the few I just we might call “reality”, and Ngahuia Te Blair’s mother rejects her because of her didn’t “get” - something I experience Awekotuku’s “He Tika” is an affirmation lesbianism. Somehow I never got to care with most collections, which may well be and a delight. about any of it. Something to do with the my lack. And there are three or four Read The Exploding Frangipani and the luppy (as in “yuppy”) air of the pieces that left me feeling “So what?” discover your own favourites. □ whole thing, maybe.

46 BROADSHEET JANUARY/FEBRUARV 1991 Book reveiws

Murder is Relative by Karen Saum is idea what it was either), alternative based on internecine family wars of the travelling to alternative schools. There sort beloved of whodunnit writers - are loads of self help suggestions that everyone has a motive for the killing. encourage greater self sufficiency and Lesbian private investigator Brigid less reliance on “experts” and Donovan is in recovery from alcohol “professionals”. This is a great reference abuse and seeks AA meetings wherever book, not a good “read”. she goes. Some of the themes got a little Whilst on the subject of green, laboured in this one. Penguin have reprinted Go Easy on the Naiad publishes more than novels. Earth, first published last year by The The Lesbian Survival Manual is a Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society. collection of cartoons by Rhonda This book is printed on recycled paper Dicksion. Presented as hints for survival, and is visually exciting, with lots of they poke fun at lesbian pretensions and Did you know why, in the 1950s and quirky, funny-but-serious cartoons. I the world in general. They didn’t do a lot 60s, the top nurse opposed the liked this book, I think it’s accessible to a for me in either style or content, but we introduction of bidets in maternity wards much wider range of people than The can’t have too much that’s even trying to to enable mobile mothers to attend to Green Guide - it is informative and be funny. One friend laughed out loud their own hygiene requirements? She empowering. several times. said bidets were used in France by I really enjoyed Double Lives by Women of Power is edited by Gael prostitutes. This gem is from Mary Heather Murray. It is about the women in Knepfer and published by Hutchinson Dobbie’s meticulous history of Parents’ the stories of Katherine Mansfield and Australia. I thoroughly disliked this Centre New Zealand of which both she manages to straddle easily the personal book, from the less than adequate and publisher Christine Cole Catley are and the academic, both in Mansfield’s consideration of “The Notion of Power” honoured founding members. The title, work and the analysis of it. I recommend in the editor’s introduction of that title, to The trouble With Women is culled from this book for people who are interested in the over-inclusive interview write-ups. one of the many irritable and Mansfield’s work as scholars and for It’s sheer self indulgence to publish contemptuous comments made by both those who read her “just for fun”. statements like, “With plenty of tapes doctors and nurses about women eagerly Women in New Zealand published and an open mind, I spent my time on seizing on Parents’ Centre ideas of jointly by the Ministry of Women’s the plane thinking of what I might exercising control over birthing and Affairs and The Department of Statistics ask...” Any collection of interviews with breast-feeding. Although the organ­ is primarily a statistical analysis of the high-achieving women (in this case all isation’s beginnings largely sprang from situation of women in New Zealand Australians) is of some interest for what Grantly Dick Read’s theories of natural society. An effort has been made to offer the women do and don’t say about childbirth and John Bowlby’s findings a bicultural analysis of women which I themselves. But this one doesn’t do the on the dangers of separating mothers imagine is difficult, when dealing with subjects justice. from babies (“Maternal deprivation”) its collection and collating of statistics - a educational activities aimed at both very Pakeha thing to do. A substantial parents and health professionals amount of the information is presented Revewed by Margot Roth continue to diversify. This is an visually through the use of photographs May Davis is a multi-talented, indomi­ important contribution to our under­ and diagrams which I find is a easier way table character who provides a fascinat­ standing of the health industry’s to absorb statistical information. Apart ing account of her life in May. Musician/ resistance over the years to changing from the usual topics of health, work, potter/ pacifist/ writer/ paper-maker, this their rules and of some of the admirable education, housing etc, there are chapters distinguished 76-year-old widow has her women who have collectively battled to on women in public affairs, women’s kitset coffin stored in the garage of her enlighten them. A reservation here income and wealth, and empowerment Nelson home ready for “...the last and is that there is no mention at all perspectives. I like this book because it greatest adventure yet.” She adventured of the criticisms of Bowlby’s research offers a wholistic look at women’s place with her dearly loved, talented, difficult, which have shown its guilt-inducing in our society - another excellent idealistic husband of 50 years to application to mothers to be an reference book. establish potteries in Africa, Patagonia, expression of immediate post-war The Illustrated History of The Treaty Paraguay, Cornwall, Nelson (luckily for ideology rather than scientifically valid. of Waitangi by Claudia Orange, doesn’t us) and Peru (when they were both in require the same academic prowess as their sixties). She has been the supreme her earlier book on the same subject. juggler of professional and domestic Reveiwed by Megan Fidler There is a certain amount of cumbersome lives - potter, peace-maker for her four The NZ Green Guide, written by Peter but necessary history, which is written as children and their father, adapting Davis & Judith Hodge is a informative lightly as facts can be. The last two uncomplainingly to often inadequate and comprehensive look at what chapters - “Since 1975” and “New conditions, trying to maintain her own individuals can do to ensure healthy Developments” I found particularly interests which her husband opposed. living for themselves and the planet. It interesting. It is clear there is no panacea Read this moving auto-biography: it is a covers a vast range of subjects, from to the difficulties New Zealand will have rewarding record of creative, gallant sanitary protection to coppicing (that’s in fully honouring the treaty and tino living and loving. cycle cropping - don’t worry, I had no rangatiratanga. □ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 BROADSHEET 47 B r o a d s h e e t c l a s s i f i e d CO MARYKIND Mainly Toys — Y CONSULTANTS Educational and Creative Toys § S 2 |M WHO CAN EXPECT WORK - . 5 i For those special toys that last including - 4 * . I TO BE A PLEASURE? a wide range of wooden and o s 5 3 handcrafted items. Also a comprehensive range of art and on ^ ^ o o Y o u c a n craft supplies. Play area provided for children. 03 g > 2 AND • Discover your skills 3> ~ — x 2E Abycgan C- r-j- < CE • Discover the real value of 0 - — m CD f— jX CO your life experience Womynbuilder - s i r - O c n $ 2 £ • Discover the work you enjoy r o c o PO CO • O') Quality work o GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE Construction/Design Consu'tation 3 c c Phone Lesley M Harwood (04) 873-454 539 Me Eden Road (just down from the village) •—3 Your first consultation is free PH (09) 861 083 Ph 606-31«

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WOMEN’S PERSONAL even in playing a part? Cast classified DEVELOPMENT needed - Indian (19 years); WEEKEND - in February. Anglo-Turk (25); Maori (28); For information phone Glenda Chilean (33); Chinese/Samoan (09) 602 021 or Lewis (09) (40). Please contact Uma LESBIAN LINE - Wed. 7.30 537 2111. A.S.A.P. Phone (09) 861 895 pm - 10.00 pm, phone (09) Original & exciting 303 3584. Phone counselling COUNSELLING - LESBIAN ROLE women's music and support service run by relationship & health issues, TRAINING GROUP - Write for a catalogue to: Lesbian women for women. In grief, transition & change. In starting February. Ten weeks, Emmatruck Music association with Auckland psychosynthesis training, for information phone Glenda P.O. Box 53 Gay/Lesbian Welfare Group. reasonable rates. Phone Kanya (09) 602 021 or Lewis (09) Oneroa Waiheke Is. Stewart (09) 780 467. 537 2111. Ph (09)72-7836 WOMANLINE - a confiden­ tial non-judgemental listening CATERING - We are a group HATHA YOGA - classes for i------—i and information phone line. of women who specialise in beginners, women, antenatal, Run by women for women, fresh, healthy food for all your mums & babies, children. phone (09) 765 173, Mon - parties and other social Inner-city & environs. Thurs 9.00 am- 12.00 pm & events. We also have lots of Individual yoga therapy for 6.00 pm - 9.00 pm. experience in catering for stress & tension & other weekend gatherings. No health problems. Kanya BROADSHEET LESBIAN SUPPORT/ occasion is too big or too Stewart phone (09) 780 467. COMING OUT GROUPS, small - we can do anything! phone (09) 528 5119, PO Box And we’re not expensive. BUILDING CONSULTANT YOUR FEMINIST 3833 Auckland. Phone Sally (09) 478 3548. - Buying a house (structural inspections), planning & MAGAZINE THERAPEUTIC BLACK extensions, thinking of MASSAGE & Holistic FEMINIST/FEMINIST of changes. For expert advice & Pulsing - phone Linda colour play - Auckland guidance. Deanne Taylor - 12 (09) 896 109 March-July 1991. Want to be years professional builder - involved in the production or phone (09) 780 467. i______i

48 BROADSHEET J A N U A RY/F E B R U A RY 1991 w h a t ’s n e w ★ CHRISTCHURCH * AUCKLAN Kaie Sheppard HARD TO FIND SECOND HAND BOOKS AUCKLAND \Jomcns Bookshop Continuing Education - University of 145 Manchester St, 171-173 The Mall, Onehunga Auckland. Special Summer Intensive - Christchurch Ph: 644 340 Women and Society 14 - 25 Jan 1991 MON - THURS 9AM-5.30PM Summer Art School - Elam, Jan 3-13 FRIDAY 9AM-9PM Largest SECOND HAND Bookshop in Certificate in Women’s Studies, SATURDAY 10AM-1PM Auckland. Always buying and selling of Feminist and all quality books. Certificate in Adult Education, and • MAIL ORDERS WELCOME • If you can’t come to the shop Buyer can collect Certificate in Training and Development Phone us (03) 790 784 are offered for 1991. For more info ph 737 999 ext 7423 or 737831/2 ★ PALMERSTON NTH ★ AUCKLAN Tarot and the Archetypal Journey - an introduction to tarot through myth and ritual. Autumn equinox ritual Friday night theWOMEN’S 22 March 7.30 - 9.30pm, Sat 23/Sun 24 BOOKSHOP 9.30 - 5pm. Cost $120. Ph Mary Hancock (09) 812 8698. Largest range of Lesbian books in NZ Advanced counselling course for HOURS Tues-Thurs: 10am - 6pm lesbians. Interested lesbians must have had - SELLING - Fri: 10am - 7pm Sat: 10am - 2pm basic face to face counselling training. ■ BOOKS ■ MUSIC ■ ARTS — mail orders welcome - Starts Feb 1991. Ph Orewa (09) 867 442. a JEWELLERY ■ H AND PAINTED CLOTHES MAIL ORDERS WELCOME 228 Dominion Road, Auckland. MASTERTON Square Edge, P.O. Box 509 Palmerston North Ph 607 162 (at Valley Rd intersection) Stay in touch with Lesbian Links. A NZ directory of support groups, contacts for gay women and things to do. $5.00 subs to ★ HAMILTON Lesbian Links PO Box 362 Masterton. WELLINGTON Dowse Art Museum Dec 1 - Jan 27 - UNITY BENNETTS Lauren Lethal - Genuine Synthetics; BOOKS UNIVERSITY Andrea Daly - Womyn and the Church. the most interesting bookshops! BOOK CENTRE Jan 19 - Mar 24 - Kim Brice and Barbara (WAIKATO) Blewman - Contemporary jewellery. INTERNATIONAL ♦ SAGE: A Scholarly Journal on Black 119-125 WILLIS ST, WELLINGTON PH (071) 66813 Women wants essays, personal narratives, PHONE LOUISE OR MARION 856 110 and interviews for a special issue on relationships. Deadline is Sept 1 1991. Send work to the editors, PO Box 42741, A AUCKLAND WELLINGTON CHRISTCHURCH ★ HAMILTON Atlanta, GA 30311-0741. Dykes-Loving-Dykes: Dyke Separatist Politics for Lesbians Only by Bev Jo, PffTHFlNDER ‘Booths for Linda Strega, and Rusta. $NZ 29.50+$3.40 BOOK Inner (Development O DIMENSIONS P+P - Order from H Oxley PO Box 4106 and 'Wellbeing Palmerston North. SHOP V J Women's Bookshop Ltd 266 Victoria Street, Hamilton 4th Biennial Exhibition of Women Send for our NEW FREE CATALOGUE Mon-Thurs 9.15 am - 4.45 pm Cartoonists - Subject - Female Friendship. Friday 9.15 am - 5.30 pm Send good quality photocopies to Luciana Old Customhouse, Customs St, AUCK Ph (09) 790 147 Cubacade, Cuba Mall, WELLINGTON Ph (04) 844 563 Saturday 9.15 am - 1.00 pm Tufani, Via Ticchioni 38/1, 44100 Ferrara, 79b Cashel Street, CHRISTCHURCH Ph (03) 792 391 PO Box 19041 PH. (071) 80656 Italy. Deadline 28 Feb 1991. MAIL ORDERS WELCOME Anthology on women exploring the mind/body relationship seeks writings bookshop directory based on personal experiences. Deadline July 1991. NO manuscripts. S.A.S.E for guidelines, A Stevens, 50 Pleasant St, 9E BE W ISE - Brookline, MA 02146. Your Events Entries for 1991 Lesbian Fiction Contest ADVERTISE! IN Your Magazine before Feb 28 1991. Guidelines from Your Services Phone Lisa Spinsters Book Company PO Box 410687 Your Products on (09) 608 535 San Francisco CA 94141. Broadsheet Resource Kits Collections of articles from recent issues of the magazine are grouped under topic headings. More detail on the con­ tents of each kit is available on request from the office.

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