nehing CANADIAN MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN JUNE/JULY 1974 $1.00 Out

MS. MOTHER GOOSE

MIRIAM MANDEL - AWARD WINNING POET

POLITICS - NELLIE McCLUNG AND AFTER

WOMEN IN MUSIC

QUOTE CANADIAN!

Contents

Every Issue Staff

letters Coordinating editor editorial whose name? Meg Shatilla 3 Susan McMaster both sides now the mating game Judy Sinclair 4 Fiction here and there Roberta Kalechofsky Susan McMaster perspectives the affair Ellie Tesher 35 Helen Rosta book ends - Diary of the Seduced Roberta Kalechofsky 39 Meg Shatilla people in this issue Non-fiction Sharon Batt Mary Alyce Heaton Features Naomi Loeb Susan McMaster Political women in the west Marilyn Assheton-Smith 7 Meg Shatilla Ms. Mother Goose Nancy Mi/far 10 Art and photography Ifl Bater quotes Canadian Alice Baumann-Rondez the federal election Mary Alyce Heaton 18 lona MacAllister June Sheppard woman in the media Dona Harvey 22 Crete Schnepper Where are the recommendations of yesteryear? Georgina Wyman 25 Promotion and advertising Women in music should we be surprised? Beverley Ross 37 Sharon Batt Cheryl Boon Women in the Arts Eleanor Norrie Production Karen Bardy My prairies Miriam Mandel 12 Alice Baumann-Rondez Three photographs Eunice Willar 13 Maureen Carrington lona MacAllister Fireplace Eva Van Loon 16 Beverly Mack Juliet of the geriatric ward Elizabeth Brady 21 Janice Riddel Grey Mrs. Old Valerie Stuart up from the mattress Pascale Taquine 30 Business From: Chou Dynasty Book of Odes submitted by Evelyn Blakeman 32 Mary Alyce Heaton Possessions Susan Musgrave 33 Promise I made to friend Sparkle Hayter 36 For Marcus (in memory of times) Branching Out is published every two months by the New Women's Magazine Society, Edmonton, Alberta. Please send all correspondence to Box 4098, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 4T1. Submissions should be typed, double-spaced and accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Advertising rates are available on request.

Volume 1, Number 2, June/July 1974.

June/July 1974 1 Congratulations on a super March/ I am pleased to inform you that a April issue. Canadian women have pre­ Citizenship Development grant of cious few publishing outlets and it's $2,500.00 has been awarded to your encouraging to see more springing up. organization. You will be receiving a cheque in the near future. Pat Davies, Fiction and Poetry Editor, It is encouraging to learn of the letters Miss Chatelaine objectives of your organization. I am certain that the proposed activities will contribute to the quality of com­ Glad to hear about Branching munity life. Out. Down here in rural N.S., where May I offer you and the members We welcome letters to Branching I'm branching out as a tow-truck of your organization my congratu­ Out on any topic. We lations and best wishes for success. reserve the right driver, male chauvinism is of the part­ to edit letters, and will assume we may icularly virulent, macho-frontiersman J. Hugh Faulkner Secretary of State publish part or all of any letter strain; your magazine, I hope, will be received unless the sender states otherwise. like vitamin therapy for my soul. Until today, when I heard a Shelia Connell Chester, Nova Scotia snippet of an interview on CBC radio's This Country in the Morning I was delighted to find it a good look­ broadcast, I was unaware such a pub­ I applaud the concept of a Can­ ing, interesting, serious, and varied lication was available. As an ex-home­ adian (!) feminist publication. The lay­ magazine....! believe very deeply that steader's daughter, ex-farm housewife out and content of the two issues I what women publish should be very and currently underemployed journal­ have read is first class. I wish you con­ good because we are still vulnerable to ist, I'm very interested in exploring tinued success in your presentation of comments which suggest that we can't Branching Out and assessing present a forum for feminist opinion, report­ write or argue or report as well as men. feminine trends as reflected in its ing and talent. So, keep your standards high. pages. Marion Alblas Allan Vancouver, B.C. Jean Mallinson West Vancouver, B.C. Jean M. Holt Slave Lake, Alberta

I was surprised to find myself en­ I've had disappointing experiences joying the short story and the poetry with some women's publications, since in this issue - I've always been they operate on a shoestring and have heavily non-fiction oriented. (Who am a very uncertain lifespan. I hope your I kidding, I usually don't even under­ publication enjoys a long and healthy stand poetry. I keep repeating to life. myself "green symbolizes rebirth, Janet Carney Halifax, Nova Scotia water means spiritual cleansing.") In short, the "Women in the Arts" sect­ ion was especially pleasing for me. Very few people understand what Candy Fedoruk Edmonton, Alberta courage, talent, labor and love are needed to launch any magazine today Your enterprise, courage and - let alone one of the obvious quality ambitions are admirable and your you are producing. magazine, Branching Out is a work of The response of your readership art. I congratulate you. However, the indicates already that you can attract a application of a little soap and water loyal and perceptive following, and my in the right places would do no harm. hope is that the business world will Education should carry some refine­ now have the good sense to lend a de­ ment and dirty language is offensive, served and helping hand by way of the as are the tales of a slut no matter how advertising so necessary for any pub­ artistic the framework. Surely educa­ lication's survival. tion gives us better words to express The varied range of subject matter ourselves than those too often seen on gives Branching Out national appeal. public washroom walls. Pollution is in­ In addition, there is depth, decency Picked up your magazine in sidious and pops up in unexpected and honesty to the contributions that Jasper. Very good! Keep aiming for places. Also, are we so superior we can today's readers will surely welcome. quality....An honest interview [with a refer to the members of any one Can­ I salute you and truly wish you man] would be interesting. There are adian industry as "stupid"? well. All concerned deserve the highest lots of manly guys who don't belong In this struggle for equality let us praise for their efforts. to "Men in Groups". They're the rare civilized birds and we don't hear pause from time to time and take a John Patrick Gillese, Director enough from them. good look at ourselves. We should like Literary Arts Branch, Department what we see. of Culture, Youth and Recreation Doreen M. Wilson Burlington, Ont­ Mary Langley North Battleford, Sask. Government of Alberta ario Branching Out EDITORIAL whose name?

"Only a very complicated girl,"said our bewildered by it. Many do not know how to ad­ lawyer, "would keep her own name when she mar­ dress me, not understanding that it is exactly the ried." That is probably the most interesting same as it always was. I often wonder about our reaction to the fact that, when I married, I retained postman, thinking how confused he must be when my maiden name. Other reactions range from he finds mail to Ms. or Miss or Mrs. Shatilla, Mrs. scepticism to tolerant amusement to a "how could Shatilla-MacDonald, Mrs. MacDonald, and so on. you do that to your poor husband" attitude. He has not quit delivering, though, so he must be I could and I did. I don't know where or when managing. the desire to keep my own name began, but the As for my "poor husband", he was in favour more I thought about it, the more determined I of my retaining my name. He felt that if it were was to retain it when I married. At the time the important for me to do so, then I should. He does reasons for keeping my name were hazy, but they not feel insecure or any less a husband because.of hinged on a dislike of the idea of being just "Myles this, contrary to what some people think. He has MacDonald's wife", which I later realized was a even taken in his stride being called Mr. Shatilla the fear of losing my identity. People argue that there couple of times it has happened. is nothing in a name and this may be so, but as I Many women who marry today are retaining have not found one good reason to take another their names. Some others who married and who name, I am keeping mine. Besides, I like my name. took their husbands' names are going back to their And, the time has come to start breaking a few names. There are many, too, who would like to go customs. back to their names but are uncertain of how to do When I decided to keep my name (I hate the it and so may put it off or forget about it entirely. expression"maiden name") I was not even certain The two main things to remember are that that I could. I did not know if there were laws in there is no law in Canada requiring you to take Canada stating that women had to take their hus­ your husband's name, and you never lose your own bands' names. As it turned out, there are no laws name. However, going back to your name may vary to this effect, but this does not mean that every­ from province to province. It would be wise to thing works out well. Many organizations like check in your own province before going blindly Canada Student Loan and Alberta Health Care ahead. I am most familiar with Alberta as this is would not recognize me in any but my husband's where I live. In some provinces the Bureau of Vital name. I informed Canada Student Loan that I Statistics Change of Name Act covers all you need. would rather get money for my studies elsewhere, In others, you must go through the courts. The and I am still trying to convince Alberta Health cost may vary from thirty-five dollars (as in Care that what I am doing is perfectly legal. I can Alberta) to two hundred dollars, depending on law­ see their reasoning in not wanting too many re­ yer's fees. Technically you can go back to your cords and cross-indexes, but as there were two name without requiring any documents. In fact, names before, I am sure it can be done again. Some you can take any name you want to and have as places have changed. Passports can now be had in many as you like, but this is frowned upon as con­ your own name. At our bank a couple of thought­ fusing and not a good idea since the names might ful eyebrows were raised, but we got our joint be used for "fraudulent purposes". Documentation accounts arranged with no problem. That of change of name is perhaps a good idea for your particular bank still does not recognize Ms., but own records and -convenience. A divorced woman when they do I shall have the Miss by my name can also go back to her name, but a woman who is changed to Ms.. Others who have retained their separated must have the consent of her husband. names have mentioned problems with getting As for children, the Vital Statistics Act of Alberta family fares on airplanes, or joint car insurance. requires, by law, that children take the name of the Keeping my name has been relatively easy. father. Most people accept the situation though others are I'm very glad I kept my name. I would not want to do it any other way.

by MEG SHATILLA.

June/July 1974 both sides now we no longer have to be the mothers of civilization it's a grown child

THE MATING GAME by Judy Sinclair

I like being me. I mean, I can male, and spending a lot of precious mind the wisdom that comes with leave my shoes under my bed anytime. energy flirting, that could be used for them...appearance is all! Our values ate So why is there, in me, and in most of self-fulfillment. Dancing - what is it - placed on surface qualities. Is it us, this deep in the soul belief that our an advertising of sexual readiness - fine because we are afraid to enter into this ultimate fulfillment is to end as one - but how many of us can bounce out "age of exile" alone, that we feel the half of a pair. This is definitely true of of bed the next morning, shake hands, need to pair off. Could it also be that women more so than men, but it is and say "thanks for everything, see we can't stand ourselves - that we are also common to the latter. I am one of you sometime, maybe" and mean it. so timid of our own innerselves that those who believe that the liberation Perhaps our youth-oriented we need someone else around to of women is ultimately the liberation culture has something to do with it - concentrate on. Our lives are so busy, of men, if only they would open their it's a known fact that in our society, crowded and cold all day, that (predominantly) pig-headed closed character lines are called "wrinkles" perhaps we've lost the power to go minds to the truths. and are considered repulsive - we never below our veneers and get in touch Anyway, here I sit at the age of twenty-two, a divorcee of three years. My motto seems to have been, "chin first, brains second", an attitude I've noticed as prevalent to the "fairer sex", which I'm working hard to change. I have just broken an engagement to my lover of three years. He is just as wary as I of marriage, and I don't think either of us can remember how in hell we became "betrothed" in the first place, but we've been playing at who gets "top dog" position for too long, until even living together became unbearable...so I moved out. And I am again led to the question. ..why must we couple? My lover even has the audacity to assume that I must be miserable, due to our break-up, and imperiously sweeps aside my assurances that I'm quite content in my little apartment with my fulfilling job, and assures me he can see the hurt in my eyes. Amazing. And he, in turn, is making himself mis­ erable trying to find a way we can "live together and also live with our­ selves". Why can't people love and live apart? Why are we conditioned to think that love means marriage. Why do we feel "weird" if we don't particu­ larly wish to have children? Why, why, "Both Sides Now" is intended to serve as a forum in which women why? And above all, why do so few can discuss their opinions on different topics. Submissions are ask questions? invited. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your Think of the supposedly ardent copy and send to "Both Sides Now" Branching Out, Box 4098, womens' libber who still obviously Edmonton, Alberta T6E 4T1. searches for a mate, spending time and money on an appearance to attract a

Branching Out with ourselves when we go home at I enjoy coming home to a nice Daddy, unless you refuse to realize night. quiet apartment at night, with no one your own capabilities. Playing the Be honest with yourself...how do to make demands on me but myself, weak female who needs to be attached you judge the men you meet - do you no one to criticize my housework or to a male turns out to be far from place a man of secure financial status cooking but me...if I don't feel like fulfilling, I know. You end up as and stable outer shell above a poor moving, I don't. If I feel like going out someone's ego-feeder, devoid of any poet given to emotional ups and there's no reason in the world why I valuable individuality. downs of a vengence, in your esteem. have to have someone to escort me -1 I am personally against marriage, Why should you care how successful can go alone and enjoy myself - but if some people feel fulfilled by it, he is or how stable he is...you don't perhaps even meet some interesting that's their business. All I am saying is have to live with him - you can choose people (not just men). that we need to eliminate the idea that what facets of his personality you can The end of the Mating Game we're missing something if we're not handle and ignore the rest - unless, (as would also eliminate this horrible married. The fact is, a lot of times is probably true of most of us) back in "cattiness"'among women. You don't we're missing much more if we are! your mind you're probably find men subscribing to that. We are Changing the institution of considering him as a mate. sisters, as they are brothers, and we're marriage won't solve anything. I This "war" between men and missing out on a lot of companionship consider any two people living women could be abolished it they and exchange by being rivals. Why is it together a marriage. Why must we didn't feel the urge to try and mesh always second choice to spend an attach ourselves to someone else. Is their personalities. How much evening with a girl friend rather than a there no room for strong personal creativity and brilliance is lost under man. Ridiculous! We're prejudicing identities in this society. Let's add the pressures of marriage and marital ourselves that way. In this age of freedom of spirit to the list. "responsibility" on both sides. rapidly growing sexual equality in As a good friend of mine would Of course, there are people who employment (lots of work to be done, say"it's just a difference in plumbing" seem made to live together, and each but we're getting there) there's no and there's entirely too much "to do" benefits from it - if that happens to reason a child needs two parents to about it. So why can't we all be you, fine, but we shouldn't consider rear it. If you can afford it - and you friends and do our own thing. Let's that it should happen to us, or make it want it - have a child. This B S about a concentrate on making something of a goal. Many of us may never find it. child needing two parents, a male and ourselves - we no longer have to be the And even those who do, may find an a female image, is unfounded! Mothers of civilization - it's a grown idyllic relationship under much strain You can play ball with Tommy or child. Let's stop being Mothers and as two people grow and change. teach him to pitch a tent as well as Wives and start being Women! # * *

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June/July 1974 here and there

The April issue of the Edmonton In Victoria the Women's Centre at 523 The First Summer Writer's Workshop, Options for Women Newsletter is now Truch Street printed its first newslet­ University of Toronto, August 12 - 23, available. Contributions are always ter in March. The plan is to expand the 1974. Prominent Canadian writers, welcome. They calculate it costs about letter each month, and the present playwrites, and journalists will con­ $1.00 per year to cover the cost of a staff are looking for people and money duct workshops and discuss students' newsletter subscription. Groups are en­ to make this possible. The centre is a manuscripts. P.K. Page and Bill Bissett couraged to submit articles about their home for some, a meeting place for are two who will be on the staff. All activities and upcoming meetings. others. If you want to drop in for cof­ applications must be in by June 19, Write to Options for Women News­ fee and a chat, office hours are 10 to 6 1974. For information contact Gerald letter, 10006-107 Street, Edmonton, weekdays and 12 to 4 Saturdays Lampert, Writer's Workshop, 106 Ave­ Alberta. (phone 385-3843). nue Road, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2H3

The Canadian Newsletter of Research on Women is now in its third year of existence. It appears three times a year (February, May, October, with a special August issue in 1974). Its aims are to establish and/or improve com­ munication among people who are doing research on women; to list on­ going research on Canadian women in particular; to list selected relevant research on the international scene; and to provide for exchange of ideas about courses on sex-roles or women. A comprehensive, well-written and researched publication, it is worth the $5.00 subscription rate ($12.00 for institutions). Write to Canadian News­ letter of Research on Women, c/o Margrit Eichler, Department of Sociol­ Five Saskatoon women have compiled Surfacing is the newsletter of the ogy, University of Waterloo, Ontario. an historical calendar on Canadian Women's Centre at 523 Trutch Street, Back copies are available for $2.00 women (Herstory) and are collecting Victoria, B.C. The current issue in­ each ($4.00 for institutions). information for a second calendar on cludes such articles as "A sick society prairie women. They want to know of makes for sick people", "Help your The Whole Apple, a non-profit magaz­ the achievements of women in all areas patient feel feminine again", and "A ine to be published in Calgary, is seek­ and professions, more about the ordi­ Bridegroom's Guide: How to Hold a ing material fiction, poetry, personal nary woman, and more about the var­ Wife". essays, photos, line drawings. They are ious ethnic groups on the prairies such especially interested in life-styles that as Indian, Ukranian and French. Infor­ Founded in the spring of 1972, The are characteristic (or non-character­ mation in the form of photographs, Women's Press publishes material by istic) of the West, and in how women songs, or poetry on and by women a women. It is a non-profit organization and men envision their roles. They hundred years ago or today is also that welcomes material by Canadian intend to publish their first issue in needed. Information that is not used women, including issues that face September and would like to receive in the calendar will be kept and filed women in all areas, histories of women material for it by July fifth. Please for future reference. Write to the in Canada, and educational or fictional enclose a stamped, self-addressed Saskatoon Women's Calendar Collect­ children's books free of sex and status envelope with your submission and ive, 416 5th Avenue North, stereotyping. send it to Judith Sloman, Department Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. cont. on p. 29 of English, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 (ph.: Have you read a recent book which you think should be mentioned 244-2927 or 245-2816). The Whole on this page? Has your women's group started a new project or set Apple is an attempt to contribute to the network of people in this region up a Women's Centre? Would you like to announce an upcoming who have something to say, and event in your community? We welcome your contributions (and occasionally want someone to say it corrections) to "Here and There", Branching Out, Box 4098, to. Edmonton, Alberta T6E 4T1. Branching Out Political women

the west by Marilyn Assheton-Smith

EMILY MURPHY Where did we come from - where are we going? HELEN HUNLEY

photographs courtesy of the Edmonton Journal

As women struggle today to manhood suffrage in Canada were though often a voting act would improve their situation in Canada, it sparse, and, if successful, short-lived, simply read that those eligible to is easy to forget that many have as was the Nova Scotia legislation from vote could also stand for election, gone before, and that the changes 1855 until 1864. As has often been there was no necessary connection they fought for seemed even less the case in Canadian history, this no­ between the two. The Act of Union likely than the changes which tion was seen as inherently American, of 1840, which united Upper and women seek today. Particularly corrupting, associated with the Amer­ Lower Canada, incorporated stiff dramatic was the winning of the. ican Revolution, the American Civil property requirements for sitting franchise by Canadian women, a War and other obvious problems of the members of the house which did long, hard-fought battle in which to deny suffrage to selected groups has not apply to the electorate and western women played a leading been maintained to the present day. which were specifically aimed at role. Perhaps there are some lessons Chinese, Japanese and Doukobors re­ crippling French Canadian partici­ to be learned by reviewing that ceived the franchise in British Colum­ pation in the legislature. The reverse history, placing it in a general pers­ bia only after World War II; the voting anomaly occurred with Doukhobors pective by noting first that men also status of the Canadian Indian was not in British Columbia who could not gained the vote only slowly, and clarified federally until 1960, and the vote for thirty years in provincial, then comparing the slower changes criminal or insane are still generally de­ and therefore federal, election but in Quebec to those in the West. nied the right to vote. who could have stood for election It is difficult to realize today In spite of the continued reject­ to the parliament in Ottawa. that the concept of the "right to ion of manhood suffrage, many Before considering the specific vote" was a revolutionary idea pro­ Canadian provinces had almost univ­ case of women and voting, one mulgated in the eighteenth century. ersal manhood suffrage in the colon­ more point should be made about Throughout the eighteenth and nine­ ial period. Either it was very easy to nineteenth century elections in teenth centuries debate on voting in acquire land, or the taxes and rent­ Canada. They were certainly not the Canada centred on the arguments als were so low that most adult staid affairs which they are today. that only people who had a stake in males were able to vote. In fact, it Nomination was followed immediate­ the country, or those who were not could be argued that the extension ly by voting, and the voting might dependent on others, should be al­ of voting privileges (sic!) has always go on for days. A person voted pub­ lowed to vote. Thus property been a piecemeal effort in Canada, licly, stating in front of all his holding, and later payment of taxes tied either to political machinations choice for a position. Liquor flowed and military service, were used as or to broadening the definition of freely, bribery was not unknown, criteria for determining eligibility. who had a stake in the country. and fist fights and violence in var­ The dependency of paupers and However, it should not be as­ ious forms were common. By con­ married women, for example, made sumed that the right to vote neces­ federation many of these abuses them unsuited for the task. sarily implied the right to sit in were beginning to be reduced with Efforts to introduce universal legislative bodies, or vice versa. Al­ the introduction of the ballot, separ- June/July 1974 ation of nomination and election was a lull, then tie enfranchisement icipation of women. Particularly, one day, and simultaneous one-day pol­ of women in six western states be­ may question what precisely it was ling at various points throughout tween 1911 and 1912, and finally that made Western Canada such a each constituency. It was, however, the culmination o" the process in an fertile ground for the political in­ this image of the polls which men amendment to tie United States' volvement of women, so much so maintained when they insisted they constitution in 1920. that a series of firsts marks the his­ were no place for women. That this can be seen as simply toric record of this region. It is against the above back­ part of a larger vorld event is seen The first woman appointed a ground of the franchise generally by the dates of women's enfranch­ judge of a magistrate's court in the that the gradual enfranchisement of isement in other western countries: British Empire was Emily Murphy; Canadian women should be viewed. New Zealand h 1893; Australia she was appointed in Edmonton in It should also be viewed as simply 1902; Finland 19)7; Norway 1913; 1916. She was joined that same year part of a larger world process where­ Denmark 1915; Russia 1917; Eng­ by Mrs. Jamieson in Calgary. The by social, political and economic land, Sweden, Ge many and Canada first women elected as ML As were forces gradually came together in 1918. Conspicuously absent from two Albertans, Louise McKinney and such a way that the extension of this group is Frarce, which delayed Roberta McAdams in 1917. The first the vote to women became not only until 1945. woman in the British Empire to ach­ possible but apparently almost inevi­ Yet, accepting the fact that the ieve cabinet rank was Mary Ellen table. idea of the enfranchisement of wo­ Smith, in British Columbia in 1921, In the United States female en­ men was a subjtct of world-wide and the second woman was Irene franchisement began with little ef­ discussion, and tnus an idea that Parlby in Alberta just one month fort in the territory of Wyoming in was available equally to all men and later. And of course the famous Al­ 1869, and when this territory be­ women in Canaca, one may still berta five forced a reinterpretation came a state in 1890 it retained the legitimately wondtr why it was ac­ of the BNA Act in 1927 so that women's franchise. "The movement" cepted at differem times in different women were after all to be politic­ had by then begun, and Idaho and provinces, and wth very different ally classified as persons and there­ Utah followed in the 1890's. There results in terms o the ensuing part- fore were eligible to be called to the Senate of Canada. Their story is one of dramatic participation by women in changing their status at this time. LIKE PACKAGES....TRY The western leadership of women has IF YOU been partially maintained, as the first woman cabinet minister with portfolio was Tillie Rolston in British Columbia, who was appointed in 1952. The first woman Speaker in Commonwealth his­ Radio Noon tory was Nancy Hodges, who served in the same province from 1950 until 1952. Alberta's recent appointment of Helen Hunley as Solicitor General is in the same tradition and has occasioned little comment. By 1950 Alberta, although send­ ing only one woman to Ottawa, had As part of CBC's information radio package, elected nine to the Legislative CBX 740 offers you on weekdays: Assembly. In the same period the Maritimes and Quebec had elected none, the other two prairie pro­ RADIO NOON I 12 noon -1 p.m. vinces had returned two each, and Market quotations and happenings on the local, British Columbia approached the Al­ regional and national agricultural scene. berta record. What were the differences in RADIO NOON II 1p.m.-2p.m. these regions? Why could one find such marked contrast in active pol­ interest, News and views of consumer itical participation of women within community topics and other items of public a few provinces in one nation? importance. Whether causal or merely symbolic, the different patterns in acquiring the women's vote among the regions commands attention. 74O cbx First, the Maritimes, the last to adopt women's franchise with the exception of Quebec, seemed to pass the legislation almost as an after- 8 Branching Out thought to catch up with the times. but in addition they were concerned "colonialism" or "Catholicism". The There was little active involvement with farm, health and economic woman's suffrage movement in Que­ of suffragette or other women's problems, as well as the legal prob­ bec was clearly aligned with the Eng­ groups, although they had been lems of women. They rejected the lish interests of Montreal. It was, after active in these provinces earlier. In­ violence of their British counter­ all, an issue with the English-language terestingly, one specific piece of parts, and were not concerned with milieu of North America, not the 'progressive legislation' of the day such avant garde issues such as free French-language milieu, and it is un­ probably contributed to this partic­ love. They were totally respectable derstandable that the Anglos should ular process in the Maritimes. All women, and the epithets hurled at advance it as a just cause. Supported the Maritime provinces had adopted women's activists provided ample by the Anglican church and much of prohibition by 1910, with Prince grist for Nellie McClung's humour the rest of English Canada, these wo­ Edward Island adopting it first in mill. The early embracing of their men worked hard to obtain this re­ 1900. Thus one of the primary cause by the prairie farm movement form. Yet their insensitivity to their thrusts of the woman's suffrage own French reality is shown, for ex­ movement throughout the rest of was a great help and implied unequi­ ample, by their wholehearted support Anglophone Canada, that women vocal support from many men in of Borden's conscription policy. Sure­ should vote to morally upgrade the the community. The fact that this ly nothing more clearly demonstrates country and especially to obtain farm labour movement later formed their alienation from their own pro­ prohibition, was removed from polit­ the government of Alberta for a vincial society. ical debate. The primary effect of number of years contributed to the Unlike the prairie women who this legislation appears not to have relatively large numbers of women spoke, both literally and figuratively, been a marked slowing of the en­ who remained politically active in the language of other prairie women franchisement process (women were that province. and prairie men, and therefore the lan­ enfranchised between 1918 and No sharper contrast could be guage of their legislators, the Quebec 1922 in the Maritimes) but the re­ provided to this provincial develop­ women were outsiders who shared duction of the participation of wo­ ment than the sad, oft-repeated tale neither the symbols nor the emotions men in the debate. It is that non- of Quebec. The last province to of the wider French-language com­ participation which continued after grant women the vote, it had been munity. It seems highly unlikely that enfranchisement. the only province to grant it freely prairie women would ever have re­ In the west, and especially in in the early 1800's. Some writers ceived the vote if it had been inter­ the prairie provinces, women's suff­ have associated this with the col­ preted as a policy of the French- rage was an issue that was well- onial reality of Quebec society, but speaking people and the Catholic fought by women. All three prairie in so doing they ignore the fact that church in their midst. provinces granted it within a few France was also very slow with this One other point should be men­ months of each other in 1916, the particular reform, where it did not tioned: in most cases (excluding Al­ first provinces in the dominion to come until 1945. These and similar berta but including Quebec) the vote do so. What stands out in the litera­ facts have led others to refer to the first became a platform plank of a ture of this period , besides the re­ problems of Roman Catholicism and party out of office. When that party markable humour of Nellie McClung Latin attitudes. It cannot be denied was elected, it honoured its commit­ and the superb leadership of the wo­ that the Canadian Catholic hier­ ment. Indeed, Quebec could well men, was the degree to which wo­ archy's rejection of woman's suff­ have continued without a woman's men were an integral part of every­ rage, which contrasted sharply with franchise until the death of Du- day western Canadian society. All the Protestant churches' backing of plessis except for the short period were married women with families, it, contributed to the slow accept­ of Liberal government between the and all had concerns that extended ance of woman's suffrage in Quebec. two Duplessis regimes. In spite of well beyond votes for women; the Nevertheless, a slightly different this obviously partisan aspect of ob­ almost ubiquitous involvement of interpretation of the facts may be taining the vote, women consistently suffragettes in the Women's Christian more useful to today's activists than define their roles and concerns in Temperence Union was present here; simple application of labels like cont on p. 29 jason goldsmiths ltd. 10066 - 105 ST, EDMONTON

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June/July 1974 9 MS. MOTHfR COOSf

by Nancy Millar In desparation, I started reread­ for this liberated lady. She wandered ing Mother Goose rhymes to my the world at will, and her plain looking illustrations by Crete Schnepper daughters, and I discovered that son Jack (who appears only peripheral­ Mother Goose is just about the most ly in her poems) was expected to quo There's more and more concern liberated lady around. She's got vadis. Quite a switch. expressed these days about sexual rhythm and imagination and hu­ For those of you who re­ stereotypes in children's literature. mour, qualities that have held her in member your English lit courses, let You know the sort of thing Dick good stead for years, but she's also me say here that I realize Mother gets to run and play while Jane gets got an independence of mind and Goose did not personally write all to watch him. Or mother is inevitab­ action that's very refreshing and of the poems credited to her. In ly portrayed in the house, reacting up-to-date. fact historians can't even agree on rather than acting, while father sets Just consider the lady herself. who Mother Goose really was. But the world on fire. Have you ever heard of Father it doen't really matter. The baby It's discouraging to say the Goose? Never. Did Mother Goose re­ who learns Pat-a-cake doesn't care least, and a mother of daughters quire Father Goose to help her fly who originated the poem. The four wonders whether to skip story hour through the air? Not by a long shot. year old who gets a Mother Goose entirely or play the substitute game Mother Goose when she wanted to book for her birthday doesn't really all the time - turning Billy the Bus wander just climbed on a very fine want to know that some of the Driver into Betty the Bus Driver, gander all by herself and took rhymes originated as bawdy ballads, and so on. However, straight across off. others as prayers and proverbs, role substitution doesn't always Notice...she was free to wander. others as a neat way to criticize a work either. No dreary dishes or household duties harsh government without actually 10 Branching Out saying anything critical. None of wives is spelled out quite clearly as anything straight. And the man who that matters. What matters is that well. The fellow has sixpence, re­ was led around by his nose: somehow these are Mother Goose member, tuppence to spend and Peter White will ne'er go right; rhymes, and Mother Goose turns out tuppence to lend and tuppence to you know the reason why? to be quite a gal. send home to his wife, poor wife. Would He follows his nose wherever he goes In fact she's a Ms. if ever there In this poem, Mother Goose And that stands all awry. was one, and I don't know why the suggests a more equitable arrange­ movement hasn't lionessed her long ment: You can see that there's no ago. stereotyping in either the male or Most of the poems that come Sukey, you shall be my wife female roles in Mother Goose. She under her jurisdiction are as straight­ And I will teach you why; was obviously a proponent of forward as their namesake, with very I have got a little pig 'people's liberation'. few traces of feminine shilly shally. And you have got a sty There are some nursery rhymes For instance, when the young man I have got a dun cow that the liberated lady might want and the milk maid get talking, this And you can make good cheese; to skip - Little Miss Muffet, for is what happens: Sukey, will you marry me? example, who reinforces the image Say yes if you please. of women as passive and easily "Where are you going, frightened creatures. The point is My pretty maid?" But while Sukey seems to be there are some girls like Miss Muf­ "I'm going a-milking, Sir," willing to share responsibilities with­ fet, so perhaps the best solution is She said. in a marriage, Curly locks decides to include Miss Muffet along with some of Mother Goose's more in­ "What is your fortune, she will: dependent heroines like the Queen My pretty maid?" Sit on a cushion of Hearts. "My face is my fortune, Sir," sew a fine seam, And Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater, is She said. And feed upon strawberries also a bit hard for feminists to Sugar and cream. "Then I can't marry you, stomach, what with Peter's pro­ My pretty maid." pensity for keeping his wife lo.cked That's the beauty of Mother "Nobody asked you, Sir," up in a pumpkin. In this case, per­ Goose. Her girls are so unpredict­ She said. haps a revision is in order: able; some are independent and Now there's a young woman some are not, some work and some Peter, Peter, Pumpkin eater who knows her own mind, and isn't sit around all day, some are good Had a wife and couldn't keep her. going to write to Ann Landers for and some are bad. There's "lazy Put her in a pumpkin shell advice on how to catch and keep a Mary" and Mary, Mary, quite con­ And there he kept her very well. man. In fact, it sounds as if this trary." And there's the little girl, Until one morning he woke to find particular young lady could very who when she was good was very She'd left the pumpkin far behind. nicely get along without a man to very good, but when she was bad, shape and define her. She knows was horrid. That's a far cry from The very worst example of sex­ what she is she's a milkmaid and the dreary Jane in the Dick and ual stereotyping has to be the poem a pretty girl - and if that isn't Jane type series, in which Jane is about "sugar and spice and all that's for Mr. Wonderful, then too always predictably nice stupid but enough nice". That's what little girls are bad for Mr. Wonderful. nice. supposed to be made of. On the Mother Goose could never be Some of Mother Goose's girls be ad­ other hand, boys are supposed to be accused as holding marriage up as are a little stupid, it must mitted. Little Bo-Peep, for instance, made of snips and snails and puppy the ideal state. For instance: that isn't loses her sheep and can't tell where dog tails, a combination better tarry Little maiden, to find them. But at least she's out all that palatable either.So it might next year to marry. Time enough doing something, not just standing be wise to skip that poem entirely. Hearts may change by passively while her brother or Otherwise, Ms. Goose is a game an And so may fancy, her father do the real work. Besides, old girl. Her equality is never she Wait a little longer, Nancy. Little Boy Blue forgot to blow his issue. In fact, it's a wonder that into the hasn't been banned by the Mother Goose rhymes don't al­ horn and let the sheep get in the corn. They powers-that-be. Imagine allowing this ways suggest a happy-ever-after end­ meadow, the cows stupidity, at least. sort of propaganda in a collection of ing to marriage either, which makes were equal in Goose doesn't exactly poetry: them more realistic reading than Mother her boys as wonderful heroes fairy tales. Look what happened to picture Take the case of Little Jack the Jack Sprats, after all. Jack Sprat either. / had a little husband pie off in could eat no fat, his wife could eat Horner who hogs a whole No bigger than my thumb. himself, mainly, it no lean, and although they licked a corner by I put him in a pint pot himself what a the platter clean, there are overtones seems, to prove to A nd there I bade him drum. there's Simple of disagreement in the Sprat house­ great guy he is. Then who met the pieman and ex­ Long may you reign Ms. Goose. hold. Simon nothing. And You're a wonderful switch from Dick In the singing rhyme called pected to get a pie for who couldn't get and Jane. * » * "I've Got Sixpence", the fate of the crooked man 11 June/July 1974 miriorn mondel

Miriam Mandel recently received the Governor General's Award for her first book of poetry Lions at her face published by White Pelican in 1973. "My Prairies" is from this collection.

MY PRAIRIES

I left the edge of our small city I found a bird's nest when I was very small. with eggs in it There was a stream and heard a bird which seemed big calling frantic. but I didn't get very wet. I didn't touch the eggs I climbed a small hill but looked and looked to the open prairies at these which was my prairies really which are always a deserted golf course. said My eyes widened to be barren in delight when at the sight really close to the of prairies I had never seen. ground they're overgrown On my knees with flowers, pretty weeds I found bird nests yellow buffalo beans gopher holes purple crocuses small hillocks the white grace smaller streams of Queen Anne's lace and something else white Yes that smelled very sweet. those prairies haunt me There were cactuses heat my heart sown so tight to the ground at the thought I couldn't loosen of all that living their red, yellow and orange so silent blooms. few ever see it. I gathered my flowers My prairies should rushed home to mother to present her be seen with my gift. only on your knees. Her face went grey with fear when I told her where I'd been. But I went again and again to see the blooming prairies.

12 Branching Out Eunice Willar

Eunice Willar is a photographer who lives in Saint John, New Brunswick. The three photographs on pages 13, 15, and 17 are scenes from her area.

June/July 1974 13 Age Happiness Privacy is a privilege not granted to the aged or the young. I may never marry. Therefore, beginning right now, I am Sometimes very young children can look at the old, and a going to take full responsibility for my own happiness, for look passes between them, conspiratorial, sly and knowing. the rest of my life. It's because neither are human to the middling ones, those in their prime. Louise Beatty, journalist, from the article on new woman, Margaret Laurence author, from her book The Stone Chatelaine, October 1971 Angel quotes

Ambition Canadian I have no dreams of having a house in the suburbs and two cars in the garage. I'll live as cheaply as I can and drive a car Indians that gets 33 miles to the gallon. The children love it when they come around, they (Indians) Dr. Sylvia Von Hanna, Woman's Clinic, Toronto, from a CP are a gentle and generous people. story in Nanaimo Free Press Anonymous white woman settler 1790 Arrogance There is no worse arrogance than knowing what is best for If I go downtown (Vancouver) with an Indian friend I others. know men... are going to try and pick us up. It isn't because Sheila Kieran, author, from the article in the Vancouver we are two girls-it's because we are two Indians...It makes Sun,1970 me sick, I want to cry and scream at them.

Colleen Gonu, adult student from a reserve, a quote by Ms Canada Gonu in the Vancouver Sun

There is something in a Canadian a desire to be a victim. I wouldn't marry a white man. Margaret Atwood, author, from her book Survival Kahn Tineta Horn, activist

Canada is romantic... Canada, the land, means so much to me. If I ever thought I couldn't come back here, I would Windigo is a dark spirit of the forest who devours human collapse. flesh. There was no such thing as a Windigo until the white man came to this land. Margot Kidder, actress, from the article in Chatelaine, October 1971 Cam Hubert, poet-playwright, from the award-winning poem-play Windigo ...stones made this country. This country makes us stones... Phyllis Webb, poet, from her poem "Beachcomber" Life Education Don't expect life to be fair. Getting marks is getting marked. Dr. Marion Hillard, from the book A Woman Doctor Looks Winona Baker, from an article (unpublished) at Love and Life

Loneliness

Family I've thought sometimes it would be better to take them down below out of the loneliness. But if loneliness is being Families...there is so much slumbering violence, so many in one's own skin and flesh, there's only more lonely unspoken murders beneath everyday routines! people down there than here. Marie-Claire Blais, author, from the book Manuscripts of Sheila Watson, author, from her book The Double Hook Pauline Archange

14 collected by Winona Baker Branching Out ."f- .

photo by Eunice Willar

June/July 1974 15 Love Nationalism

The question of what people see in each other still defies I'm not a great nationalist. You go through nationalism to analysis...almost the only true mystery still left to us, and throw it away. when we have come to the end of it there will be no more need for literature-or for love, for that matter. Jackie Burroughs, actress, from an interview by P. Gzowski on This Country in the Morning, CBC radio, March 12, 1974 Mavis Gallant, author, from a 1971 article she wrote for the New Yorker called Annals of Justice Pornography

After a love affair has ended and the tears have been shed Look, what I say is not obscene, poverty and childbeating are obscenities. and the.hurt has receded, then comes that beautiful feeling of emotional freedom. Nancy Morrison, B. C. Judge, from Star Weekly's interview, June 2, 1973 June Minas, from a quote in one of Richard Needham's columns in the Vancouver Sun Theatre

Everyplace except on the stage Nothing offends society more than the woman who loves, I bugger up everything I do. respects, and lauds a man whom the world perceives as a Kate Reid, actress, interview failure. Lisa Hobbs, author, from her book Love and Liberation Women's Lib There are very few men-haters in woman's lib. Barbara Black, interviewer, from an interview on Take Mother Thirty

She loved her mother dearly and hated her a little. People Writing should not be so powerful. People should not always suc­ ceed. The only duty of a writer is to produce a masterpiece. Ethel Wilson, author, from her book Swamp Angel Alice Munro, author, from Lives of Girls and Women

FIRE PLACE

The northern storm had damped you out and sent you running for the plains; I heard your heart had cracked with cold.

Your absence eased by custom; funereal rites on snowshoes were performed where you last burned and each step sank away below the crust that cut the falling wrists.

And then as if one tree had turned your wilderness within his wood, I stumbled near your hidden door; you found me frozen to the root and warmed me at your hearth once more, a sorry weathermaker.

BY EVA VAN LOON 16 Branching Out photo by Eunice Willar

June/July 1974 17 the federal election

WHO Wl LL TRANSLATE PARTY POLICY INTO NATIONAL ACTION FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN?

These words are taken from the Policy Statement of Women presented to the Alberta New Democratic Party Convention in 1971. That convention Some of the issues in the upcoming federal election are un­ adopted a number of resolutions deal­ employment, energy and inflation. But all parties have promised ing with equal opportunity legislation, that, if elected, their government would deal effectively with these goals and guidelines legislation, chan­ problems. ges in matrimonial property laws, Branching Ckrt suggests there are other issues which women in the unionization of women, the dev­ particular might be concerned about. Some of these issues are abor­ elopment of free, twenty-four hour tion law reform, provision of and funding for day care centres, and community controlled cnna care fac­ discrimination against women in both government and industry. ilities as well as industrial facilities, the These and other problems peculiar to women have been with us at removal of abortion from the Criminal Code and the distribution of safe birth least as long as unemployment and inflation have, yet government control methods for both men and wo­ has been slow to act. Since industry often takes its lead from govern­ men, the reform of the educational ment in these matters, industry has been slow to act. The federal system as it relates to the socialization government must provide legislation and examples before the situa­ of women, and aid for women making tion for women will improve. the transition from the home to the With a view to discovering what is being planned in the areas of outside work force. women's rights, we asked the major political parties to submit policy These resolutions were com­ statements on the matter. Their replies follow. In the short time prehensive and dealt with almost all available to us, we were unable to contact anyone within the Social the demands that have been made by Credit Party who could provide such a statement. the women's movement in Canada. Of necessity these statements are short. We suggest that female The women in the New Democratic Party soon learned that our work was voters talk to their candidates and find out their views on the prob­ not ended at that 1971 convention lems of women and that these views should be considered before you and they have formed a provincial wo­ decide how to vote. Perhaps pension plan reform is not as urgently men's caucus to ensure that our MLAs, needed as is a solution to inflation, but that does not mean it is not our candidates and all persons speak­ an issue. Be an informed elector. ing on behalf of the New Democratic Party put forward at every oppor­ Mary Alyce Heaton tunity the policy on women passed at that 1971 convention. At the 1974 convention a resolution was passed formalizing this demand of the wo­ men's caucus. The women's caucus is presently ndp organizing regional caucuses which will elect representatives to a national con­ ference of New Democratic Party wo­ 77?e liberation of women must be a vi­ order that they may join with male men. We hope to organize ourselves to tal part of the struggle for socialism in Directors in exploiting the working take over more and more leadership Canada. The struggle for liberation is people of this country. The struggle roles within the party. We hope to en­ not a struggle to gain for women the for the liberation of women is a strug­ sure that any New Democratic govern­ equal right to be exploited in the man­ gle for the benefit of the majority of ment will, on election, act immed­ ner that the majority of men in a capi­ women, not the privileged few.... The iately to implement policies on the lib­ talist society are exploited. The de­ demand for an end to the sexual ex­ eration of women. mands are not simply for equal wages ploitation of women, for an end to the We invite all women who feel and equal job opportunities, but for treatment of women as items of pro­ there is a need for political action to the end to a system which requires perty through advertising and beauty enforce the demands of the women's passive, obedient and low paid workers contests and for a change in accom­ movement to join with us through the in order to function. The demands are panying social attitudes is a rejection NDP Women's Caucus and ensure the not the kind which are aimed at win­ of a society which perpetuates such implementation of the above policies. ning more positions for women on exploitation in the name of profit by Jean Me Bean seeking. Boards of Directors or Corporations in Vice President, Alberta NDP

18 Branching Out conservative

The following are excerpts from the pamphlet "Prepared for the Challenge - Our Party will also ensure that there - Many of the present adult training - Women in Canada" published by is available to the public free of programs ignore the needs of rural Progressive Conservative Party charge, birth control and family women. The farm of the seventies has Headquarters. planning information. Financial become a large and complex assistance for the training of family operation, resulting in new - It is time for action not words. counsellors will be provided. responsibilities for women. The P.C. Widespread discrimination against Party will provide assistance to help women still exists in Canadian society, A Progressive Conservative rural women meet these new despite a growing public understanding government will amend the Divorce challenges. Such assistance will include of the waste of human resources and Act reducing to one year the present making available training programmes the unfairness involved in such three-year separation period as a in farm management and special negative attitudes. The ground for divorce. The existing five courses in accounting, taxation and recommendations of the Royal year separation period required before economics. Commission on the Status of Women a deserted spouse may file for divorce 1970 provide the basis for useful will be reduced to three years. - The practice of treating women policy in the area of women's rights differently from men in the granting yet well over half its proposals have of credit and other commercial areas not been acted upon by the - A government formed by our Party must end. The Bank Act and the Government. will amend the Order-in-Council Central Mortgage and Housing establishing the Federal Advisory Corporation provide the means for the - It is Progressive Conservative policy Council on the Status of Women to government to ensure equality of that changes must be made which will ensure the Council will report directly treatment in these areas of federal guarantee in law the right of Canadian to Parliament. The Council's aim jurisdiction. women to equal rights with men and, should be to identify discrimination as a corollary, equal responsibilities. against women, to advise the government about the best way to - The constructive object of federal A Progressive Conservative eliminate discrimination, and to demonstrate to the public how policy to ensure equality for the government will work speedily to women of Canada, in fact as well as in implement in the public service a harmful present discriminatory practices are. law, should be based upon human policy that treats women and men sensitivity to a long neglected area of equally. The system of "rug-ranking", government policy. "Yes, We Can", is that is, tying a woman secretary's - The Adult Occupational Training Act will be amended so that persons with not a defiant boast, rather it is realistic advancement or promotion to that of self-awareness on the part of women her "boss" must full-time household responsibilities be ended forthwith. of their skills and abilities and of their Private industry and other jurisdictions will be eligible to take advantage of the Act. desire to enter fully into a shared will be encouraged to follow the heritage - Canada. federal example.

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June/July 1974 19 liberal party The following are excerpts from the pamphlet The Woman in WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT Canada published by the Liberal Party of Canada. Sources within the party say this pamphlet represents official party policy on the status Designated a Cabinet Minister re­ sponsible for matters relating to the of women. status of women in Canada. EDUCATION AND TRAINING Appointed in February 1971 a / pledge the full support of the Status of Women Coordinator within Liberal Government to the removal of Appointed a consultant at head­ the Privy Council Office responsible discrimination and the provision of quarters and in each manpower region­ for monitoring all governmental activ­ opportunity to women in all fields of al office with specific responsibilities ities to insure agreement with policies Canadian life. for employment services to women. to remove discrimination and provide Provide career information service equal opportunity for women ad­ through Canada Manpower Centres. Pierre E. Trudeau Prime Minister vises the Minister responsible on gov­ Provide women who have worked ernment initiatives to improve the for one year at any time the oppor­ position of women in Canada. tunity to receive training and training Established, in April 1972, an allowances through Adult Occu­ FAMILY AND WOMEN Interdepartmental Committee with re­ pational Training Program. presentatives from federal departments Provide courses for Visiting Married women now allowed to and agencies directly affected by the Homemakers Program, under the Man­ recommendations of the Royal Comm­ carry passports in their maiden name if power Training Program. ission Report on the Status of Women used after marriage. Set up part-time training courses in Canada. Upon divorce, maintenance may to enable women to enter or re-enter Created an office of Equal Oppor­ be ordered for children over the age of the labour force. tunities for women in the Public Ser­ sixteen attending school or university. Support from the Secretary of vice Commission. Established in 1970 a federal fam­ StaU to v/omen's groups to promote Designated numerous senior posi­ ily planning program: grants totalled the participation of Canadian women tions to provide special advice about $1,350,000 in 1972-73. in activities that affect the quality of implications of departmental policies Granted $500,000 to sports pro­ their lives. and programs on the status of women. grams for women in 1972-73. Allocated $200,000 to women's Increased family allowances from voluntary associations in 1973-74. $7.21 per child to an average of $20 $75,000 from Minister responsible CANADIAN FORCES per month per child effective January for Status of Women for national wo­ 1974. men's organizations to promote status Employ women on the same basis of women in Canada. as men except combat arms, sea-going APPOINTMENTS duties and isolated areas. MATERNITY LEAVE AND BENE­ Provide maternity leave and bene­ Trudeau government appointed FITS fits. 249 women to federal agencies, boards Open all subsidized University Ed­ and commissions between August Canada Labour Code - provides ucation Plans to women candidates. 1968 and January 1974. maternity leave for up to 17 weeks for Appointed first woman as Speaker all employees under federal juris­ THRONE SPEECH'74 of the Senate the Honourable Muriel diction. Fergusson Prohibits dismissal of an employee Legislation will be introduced to Appointed first woman as because of pregnancy or request for create a Federal Commission on Lieutenant-Governor in a province: maternity leave. Human Rights and Interests to protect Pauline McGibbon (Ontario). Public Service employees can ob­ women and other groups from discrim­ Appointed first woman at the tain maternity leave without pay for a ination. deputy-minister rank - Sylvia Ostry - period commencing 11 weeks before All inequities based on sex will be Chief Statistician. and ending no later than 6 months removed from rules relating to govern­ Appointed first woman as Comm­ after confinement. ment employees. issioner of the Public Service Comm­ Public Service Health Insurance Crown corporations will be asked ission - Irene Johnson. provides supplementary health insur­ to place more women in responsible Appointed first woman as director ance coverage at the regular cost to positions. of the National Museums Board of employees on maternity leave. The government will end discrim­ Canada - Dr. Jean S. Boggs. The Unemployment Insurance ination against women contributors Appointed 6 women as federal Act provides employed women up to under the Canada and Quebec Pension judges of Superior Court level. 15 weeks of maternity benefits in Plans. Appointed 5 women to the eluding 8 weeks before, one week Senate. during and 6 weeks after confinement.

20 Branching Out GREY MRS. OLD*

aged eyes they were but clear blue and unspectacled without looking even they could see JULIET OF THE GERIATRIC WARD at the age of 92 I am sightless and insensate. saw a zigzag of pain My only pleasure is my gramophone wriggling across the door Especially the part where it sticks pain that wriggling On my Lili Marlene record twisted her legs Endlessly repeating the bit snapped to and fro about... her body like a marionette

Until my upstairs neighbour as a damp sheet is folded Who is deaf pounds on her floor over a wire her body My ceiling complaining was wrapped round the pain About the noise we a cruel invisible hand Neither one of us can see. spasmodically tugged the wire Last winter I strangled the canary Whose patch of lemon she flung,out a foot Made nonsense of the season; outflung a hand Only a few feathers remain Perfectly at home, now it's spring then it stopped

...I'm she sat still for a moment growing a rather large lump On the side of my face the next moment was free Having decided that my memories Cramped, undusted, cobwebbed Needed more storage space. *This poem is a free translation from a piece of prose by Virginia Woolf.

h br

21 June/July 1974 «/? June Sheppard, woman in the media

by Dona Harvey "I think that once you start look­ week. Through interviews and re­ ing at yourself as an independent per­ flective pieces, she discusses such di­ photo by Alice Baumann-Rondez son, you start a process which is irre­ verse issues as feminism, the right to versible. This kind of thinking opens abortion, world poverty, emerging na­ up a whole new life which can be very tions and urban quality of life. And Columnist-commentator June exciting. But it can also be very dan­ through each of these subjects, she Sheppard is a woman of independence gerous unless people in your life can weaves a thread of humanity. Human and determination. Few people could accept this change, and are in the pro­ relationships, she says, is the factor imagine her playing the dumb female cess of growing, too. Unless that common to all her columns. role, or could see her letting domes­ occurs, the chasms open up." Now an independent career wo­ ticity get in the way of self-fulfilment What does she mean by this pro­ man who is separated from her hus­ and her own career. cess of achieving independence? band, she reflects back on the trans­ A columnist for The Edmonton "I don't necessarily mean going ition in her life. Journal she is a strong feminist and an out to get a job. That could be part of "I couldn't have done it if I outspoken critic of the self-centred, it, but more important it involves find­ hadn't developed my own separate life materialistic forces in society. But over ing your identity as a person in your - my own work and my own set of the years, she has also played as many own right, rather than living through friends - over the years. Well... maybe of life's male-female games as the rest others... and that's a very revolution­ I could have done it, but it would have of us. ary thing for women! been far harder." "Despite what I suspect a number "It's not done without the chance One of the main influences in her of people think about me," she ad­ of a good deal of hurt," she reflects, life was her job at radio station CKUA, mits, "I have denied talents, played "but I don't thing anything really where she started working in 1961 and the 'dumb little me' games and pre­ worthwhile ever is." remained until five years ago. tended to be totally devoted to June's transition took many years. "I started with one program, con­ domesticity in order to seem 'fem­ She firmly believes that a woman's ducting interviews. It was almost a inine.' " duties as mother come first, particluar- hobby. But gradually the work and the During high school in the 1930's, ly where young children are con­ people around me broadened my life she learned that intelligent girls may cerned. Her three children are now 28, perspective. At the same time, the job become academic successes, but so­ 26 and 20. She felt she had to wait gradually became more demanding, cially they're flops. So she followed until they were old enough before she and started occupying a greater por­ the example of every 'smart' female of attempted even a part-time job. Her tion of my time. It really was a very that era: she kept quiet in class, stop­ training for a job was limited - a high big influence." ped studying and let her grade average school diploma and a year at business CKUA was no ordinary radio drop to a nice respectable 'C. The college. Women didn't aspire to much station. Owned by Alberta Govern­ ploy worked, the dates increased and in those days. ment Telephones, it was given broad June became a non-intellectual, She started as an office worker, freedom within its context of being an non-aggressive young woman with but her dream since childhood was to "educational" station. Interview and vague feelings of inner discontent. write. Gradually, she dared to let the discussion programs on everything Once married, June continued to dream emerge and began to work slow­ from current affairs to the theories of bury her 'unfeminine' desires for ly, carefully towards it. She wrote ad­ Hegel were a key part of the regular writing and independence in favor of vertising copy for an Edmonton radio programming. An enthusiastic, involv­ the role of supportive wife, cook, mo­ station first. Then she helped write a ed, intellectual atmosphere pervaded ther and general cleaner-upper. But she few radio programs. Soon she was the station and "had a strong effect on found she could play the game only so organizing and announcing various almost everyone working there at that long. After a few years, the real June programs. She expanded her talents as time," June recalls. Sheppard struggled to get out. What an interviewer and commentator, first She sympathizes with divorced or makes her an example of hope for for radio and then for television. Five separated women who have spent most other troubled women is that eventual­ years ago, she joined The Edmonton of their life in the home, moving in a ly - after much heartache and dif­ Journal - the largest paper between couples-only society. ficulty -- she stopped being afraid to Vancouver and Toronto as a col­ "It must be terrifying for them to look at her inner self, and the real umnist for the family section. strike out on their own. I know how June Sheppard gradually did emerge. Her column runs four times a difficult it was for me, and I was bless- June/July 1974 23 ed with the loving support of many of orderly confusion." down her reading and stick a label on friends." There are days when she rises at 5 it.) Besides books, her coffee table is She knows a number of women a.m. to finish reading a book to review often cluttered with reports and mag­ who, after years of marriage, attempt on CBC radio at 7:10 a.m., before she azines. New Yorker, Saturday to move toward some form of in­ starts writing a column at 7:30 or 8 Review/World and Ms. are among her dependence - but who get frightened a.m., an interview at 10, noon lun­ favorites. and soon return to the kind of life cheon followed by a University of Al­ June also likes a quiet evening of from which they were trying to berta Senate meeting (she's a member just talking. Her conversation is dotted escape. of the senate and heads its current task with names familiar to most Can­ "I was unable to go back," June force on the status of women on cam­ adians: Parley Mowat, Doris Anders- says. Once she started the slow process pus), a bowl of soup and a few crack­ on, Pierre Berton, Simma Holt, Mar­ of growth and independence, there ers for dinner, and then a few hours of garet Laurence. At first, before I knew was a stubbornness, a streak of hon­ babysitting with her two rambunctious her well, I suspected her of name drop­ esty and determination within her that grandchildren... all of which is inter­ ping. But that impression soon dis­ wouldn't allow her to return to the spersed with endless telephone calls appeared as I began to realize these kind of woman she once had been. and stacks of mail and, several times a well-known people are a part of her "I think that once you move to­ week, a squeezed-in hair appointment normal life experience. They're friends ward independence, it's a process that as well. and acquaintances whom she has come has to continue. And I think that's She's a morning person who to know after many years of working true for everyone. Some women who would far rather tackle a major project in the media and the publishing bus­ try to break free and then go back -- at 6 a.m. than at 6 at night... and iness (June was a representative for and then say they're happy and fulfill­ NEVER at 10 or 11 p.m. McClelland and Stewart in Edmonton ed - I think they may be just pretend­ "How do you alwavs look so good for several years). ing to themselves." Commitment to at this hour of the day?"radio-TV per­ Titles and famous names in them­ one's family may be a convenient es­ sonality Colin McLean teases whenever selves don't impress her. She relates to cape, rather than a genuine excuse for she does an early interview on other people as individual human be­ a woman to bury her own desires and CBC-AM. ings, not on the basis of their fame, ambitions. "You're seeing me at my peak," position, background or accomplish­ June has reflected on the she jokes. "I go steadily downhill from ments, but more in terms of their per­ part-time work she did for many years here." sonality, their warmth, their awareness while her young family was growing Her position as a columnist is, by of the world and the people around up. its very nature, high profile. It also them. She has a perceptiveness that "I kept my hand in work over leads to many demands on her time. probes inside a person, attempting to those years, but I never really made a She gets dozens of requests to speak to strip away the layers, to get below the commitment to it. I guess I felt my this school class or that organization superficial. commitment was to my family... Actu­ or society. Lack of time - and her con­ With her perceptiveness go a tre­ ally, what I probably did was run away scious effort to keep a tight rein on mendous gentleness and warmth. She's from a commitment. In retrospect, I her galloping pace of life - force her to an open person who lives and loves think a person should be able to have a say no to most of the requests. with a constant giving. For that rea­ commitment to both (work and fam­ Despite her busy life, June is very son, her highs are very high, but her ily). It's difficult, but not impossible." much a quiet, introspective person. lows can be moments of heartache and Life is an on-going process of in­ "I see myself as much more intro­ agony. trospection and analysis for June vert than extrovert... something which Sometimes she gets burned. Sheppard. In most ways, she is happier I think many people don't suspect." Nevertheless, she refuses to erect walls than she has ever been in her life. She loves being with people - around her, to avoid being vulnerable. "Sometimes I find myself stand­ sometimes, as with many of us, feels a She has an inner drive that compels ing at the window, looking out over strong need to be with people - but her to be fully involved with people the river valley, just filled with the joy she also enjoys being alone. In the and with her life. of being alive. Life has never been quiet moments at home in her In working and personal relation­ more exciting, happier, richer, love- eighth-floor downtown apartment, she ships, men are an important part of filled, challenging or filled with prom­ curls up in the corner of her soft her existence. She views feminism in ise." tweed chesterfield, sips a cup of Earl part as a movement toward more But she still has some personal Grey or Constant Comment tea, and open, honest, loving relationships with dragons to slay. listens to music. men. She has good friends of both "I often stretch myself too far," She's an incessant reader. Her sexes. But she also feels the need for a she admits. "I have a tendency to run three bookcases are filled to over­ "close relationship with one person" in twenty different directions at the flowing... mostly with Canadian to really complete her life. Close, but same time. I'm still trying to teach books, and with far more non-fiction not smothering. "There has to be a lot myself to keep enough time for me." than fiction. Her reading interests of room to move," she declares. "I'm She's improving. Through con­ cover many subjects, but tend to dwell very frightened of possessiveness." stant effort, she has been able to slow more on social, economic and political Her liberal views on love, mar­ down her pace of life considerably. issues than on any other major areas. riage, abortion and human rights place Nevertheless, much of the time she (At the same time, she loves poetry, her outside the mainstream of society. lives in what one friend calls "a state humor, history; you simply can't tie cont. on p. 29 24 Branching Out Where are the recommendations of yesteryear? In the 1950 Canadian Historical Review, the late Frank Underhill cited a then-recent pamphlet on the rights of women by Miss Anne Francis, which showed the many existing limit­ ations on women's equality. Noting that it was twenty years since women in Canada had obtained the vote, Pro­ fessor Underhill concluded that "evid­ ently there was something unreal in the political equality which was achieved". Another twenty years was to pass before his comments were to go forth and multiply into the volum­ inous evidence presented on Sept­ ember 28, 1970, to the federal govern­ ment by the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, chaired by none other than the same Anne Francis, now better known as Florence Bird. The message was essentially the same as Underbill's; the medium was an im­ pressive five hundred page report studying legal, financial, social, and cultural discrimination faced by wo­ men in Canada because of their sex. Coming on the crest of a wave of inter­ est in "women's liberation" in North America, the report discussed the posi­ tion of women in the Canadian econ­ omy, in education, in the family, and in public life. Attention was paid to the attitude towards women expressed by tax regulations, criminal law, and government pension plans. The ab­ sence of comprehensive government action in areas vital to women such as child care and part-time work was out­ lined, as were discriminatory practices in the federal public service, the largest employer of women. Attempts were also made to come to terms with the special problems faced by women living in rural areas, by Indian and Eskimo women, by immigrant women, and by those in low income groups. But the report was not meant to be just an interesting analysis for use in sociology courses; action-oriented, DR. KATIE COOKE - photograph by Vivian Frankel June/July 1974 25 its terms of reference had asked the These criteria are frequently in The Council meets regularly and commissioners to recommend steps the minds of Martha Hynna and Katie has issued several policy statements that might be taken by the federal Cooke, the two women whose posi­ and papers outlining desirable changes government to ensure equality for tions have been created by the federal in federal legislation including altera­ Canadian women. The commissioners government as a response to the Royal tions to the Canada Pension Plan and answered with 167 recommendations, Commission. Martha Hynna is a lawyer the Citizenship Act. It soon plans to I22 of them falling within the federal who serves as an advisor to the cabinet establish a working group to study the jurisdiction. The others pertain mainly minister responsible for the status of problems of one-parent families. to the provinces and territories, with women (at present, John Munroe, Weightiest of its publications to date is private industry and the universities Minister of Labour) helping to develop a 40-page document entitled What's also receiving some suggestions. and shape overall government policy Been Done that acts as a kind of re­ Over three years after the tabling using the royal commission port card on federal action on the of the report, can it be said to have recommendations as a guideline. Recommendations of the 1970 Royal had an Impact? Such a question is diff­ Classifying herself as an "internal Commission. The reader finds that icult to answer, for, as the comm­ public servant", she is also a member about 33.4 per cent of the recomm­ issioners themselves pointed out, social of the social policy secretariat in the endations which fall within federal customs and attitudes continue to privy council office, and thus also ad­ jurisdiction have been implemented; militate against equality for women as vises Cabinet on policy pertaining to another 30.3 per cent have been much as the discriminatory legislation the status of women. partially implemented and the final which their recommendations pin­ More in the public eye is Katie 35.3 per cent have not been carried pointed. Even if the latter were Cook, a Ph.D. in sociology, who is out at all. quickly eliminated, the former would chairman of the National Advisory Dr. Cooke says that the changes take much longer to change. With this Council on the Status of Women. The so far, while "excellent", have tended in mind they identified three main thirty-member committee of which to be the ones which are "easier to areas of a plan of action: imple­ she is head is a direct outgrowth of the do". Alterations have been made in mentation, enforcement, and public Royal Commission's plan for action. It various government regulations to education "to create a favourable clim­ was created in May, 1973 to advise the eliminate discrimination against wo­ ate for equality of opportunity". The government as well as keep the public men. For example, National Housing ultimate success of the royal comm­ informed, particularly through Loan Regulations have been amended ission's mission was thus linked to the women's organizations, on issues so that either a husband or a wife extent to which their recommend­ affecting women. Federally funded could be a home owner or purchaser; ations were adopted, the degree to and reporting to the Minister of the Fair Employment Practices section which these changes were able to be Labour, the Council was given the of the Canadian Labour code now enforced, and the existence of some special power of making public all makes provision for maternity leave means of bringing the rights of women their recommendations at the same for workers in establishments such as into the public eye on a continuing time as they present them to the banks and crown corporations; basis. government. through the Secretary of State in­ creased funds have been made avail­ able to women's voluntary associations which perform a public service. Within the government, departmental and interdepartmental committees have been established and steps taken by the relatively new Office of Equal Opportunity to ensure the elimination of sex typing of occupations in the civil service. Various programmes have been launched to bring more women into high-level positions. But, says Dr. Cooke, "while some strides have been made, it's not the millenium." Still to be handled in a meaningful way are such conditions as the ad­ mission of women to the work force on a part-time basis. While many struc­ tural changes have been made to en­ able women to advance to good posi­ tions in the public service, in fact wo­ men still tend to be concentrated in certain occupational groupings. Rates of pay for groups such as nurses, MARTHA HYNNA - photograph by Vivian Frankel librarians or social workers are still considerably lower than those for

26 Branching Out groups which tend to be male dom­ Act and the Public Service Employ­ concerted fashion, both as individuals inated. Many underlying attitudes still ment Act. Thus for example it pro­ and as groups: "Things get done if preclude full consideration of volun­ vides that maternity benefits under the they are demanded by the public, and teer experience in assessing a woman's Unemployment Insurance Act would by a large public. It doesn't help to qualifications for a government be available for a flexible fifteen-week have a small group somewhere de­ appointment. Little has been done to period, thereby enabling women for manding something ... [if] there is a ameliorate the conditions of female the first time to draw most of their large public writing in ... that's how employees in Crown corporations and benefits after the birth of the child if you make sure that things happen.The agencies. they so wished. However, with the politicians make the decisions based Also anxiously awaited are major election being called, the bill died; wo­ on what they think the public wants." legislative changes such as amendments men should make sure it gets reintro- During the federal election campaign to the Citizenship Act and the Canada duced at the next session of parlia­ she urges women to "go after the exis­ Pension Plan. The latter is considered ment. ting parties" and make their views particularly significant since it would Martha Hynna shares Dr. Cooke's known to the [that] when you want be a first step in recognizing the home- hopes for improvement. She stresses to change a situation you have to maker's economic contribution to that as a government priority, the appeal to the men to change it." Katie society. Proposed changes would en­ status of women has not been low: "I Cooke also stresses that "the only able 50 per cent of the Canada Pension think you'd have to say that inflation power an advisory council has is public Plan contributions of one spouse to be and oil affect women as well as men; support." She urges women as indiv­ credited to the pension build-up of the they're pretty serious problems right iduals and as groups to identify their other. Distressed by the Murdoch case now, but after you get over that kind priorities and then question condidates in Alberta, the advisory council is also of thing, the position of women is cer­ about theirattitudesto these aims. calling for protection for women who tainly considered one of the next rank­ But both women point out that work with their husbands on farms ing type of things. ... The government the federal level should not be the and in small family businesses and thus is really seriously working in the field only target. Dr. Cooke hopes that all would not be covered by changes in and a lot of things where they say provinces will soon follow the example the pension plan. 'we're studying' they really are study­ of Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan on things."She High on Katie Cooke's and the ad­ ing and they're moving and appoint status of women councils, on major visory council's priority list is the crea­ attributes apparent inaction analagous to the national advisory to the slow grinding tion of a human rights commission. legislative changes body. It should be remembered that "Every­ Such an institution would give Cana­ wheels of a big bureaucracy: provincial and, to a lesser degree, mun­ big organ­ dian women an authoritative and pow­ thing takes so long inside a icipal governments are also involved in are only so many erful body to which to turn when they ization ... there many issues of vital importance to wo­ How feel they are being discriminated people who can draft legislation. men, such as labour codes and pro­ against. Such a commission would do you decide which ... gets drafted vision of child care. Amendments to have far-reaching inspection and en­ first?" the Canada Pension Plan, for example, forcement powers as well as grievance However, she does empahsize that must have the approval of the procedures to protect the individual. It any changes which have come are the provinces. Martha Hynna points to the is hoped that the establishment of result of public pressures. Referring to lack of adequete child care services in such a commission would be accom­ the Lavalle and Murdoch cases, she many parts of the country as a failure panied by specific amendments to the says that considerable government act­ on the part of many women to express Canada Labour Act, the Citizenship ion has taken place in the last six to their needs. She says that some pro­ Act and the Immigration Act. Such nine months because those judicial de­ vincial governments and "a lot of legislation is urgently required now cisions sparked nation-wide protests people in the provinces still see day since the Lavalle case [see-Branching from a broad cross section of women. care as something to allow women to Out Preview Issue] has brought into Acknowledging the need for a human get out of what they should be doing, enforce­ question the power of the Bill of rights commission with broad to go off and work ... Women in the she adds that Rights to protect women and min­ ment and inspection powers, provinces must persuade women are to be there, they have to do." At orities against discrimination, thereby that if such powers this is something will have to demand them in a government does making weaker what anti- women present, the federal discriminatory legislation does exist. But Katie Cooke is cautiously op­ timistic that things are getting better all the time. While protest marches by feminists may be on the decline, be­ hind the scenes steady, plodding pro­ cartmett books gress is being made. Pointing to an omnibus bill tabled by John Munro 10457- JASPER AVENUE on May 3, 1974, she says "this is really a nice step ... [which] deserves com­ mendation." The bill would correct anomalies in various pieces of existing PHONE 429-1160 legislation including the Unemploy­ ment Insurance Act, the Immigration June/July 1974 27 share the costs of child care programs with the provinces through the Canada Assistance Plan, but Ms. Hynna feels that more federal monies could be made available "if the mood's right". Pointing to present federal support of post- secondary education, she elaborates: "There's GALLERY no reason they should be supporting post- HOURS: secondary education rather than day care.... When there's a fairly widespread program that Monday to Saturday has to be funded properly, then governments 9:00 to 5:30 move." Reiterating the necessity of concerted Thursday action by women's groups vis a vis the prov­ 9:00 to 9:00 incial as well as the federal level, Katie Cooke says that one "doesn't expect that [the ad­ visory council] is going to jump up and down on provincial governments". Later, she adds Ctf somewhat reflectively, "I wouldn't say we're FRAME/CRAFT [women] our own worst enemies, but I have to a agree with Pogo saying 'We have seen the enemy and the enemy is us.' " The Royal Commission on the Status of Women showed Canadian women the directions in which to move to attain equality with men. If they really c want equal status they will just have to try J- harder to ensure that governments add to what­ OILS ever gains have already been made.

ACRYLICS

WATERCOLOURS c OS Tell someone about PRINTS c the good times. Dial-a-smile SCULPTURES .2 LONG POTTERY DISTANCE Ctf U frame/craft art gallery 7711-85th STREET HELLO MOOSE? 465-67 "Wait till you hear this!" Branching Out HERE & THERE cont. from p. 6 Subscribe to

Emergency Librarian! is a new period­ ical intended for (no kidding) librar­ Branching Out ians, but it will be of interest to those Canadian magazine for women concerned with sexism in print gener­ ally. The focus is on liberating the printed word, and on making those who deal with the printed word aware please send six issues for $5.00 of the implicit discrimination against women which may be present. It also please send twelve issues for $9.50 publishes bibliographies which may be of use to various women's study groups. Published every two months, I would like to support Branching Out subscriptions cost $2.00 and are avail­ with a donation of $...... able from Barbara Clubb, 697 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg, payment enclosed - please bill me Manitoba R3M OA7.

PLUS is a quarterly magazine put out Name . . by a collective of women of Ottawa- Hull. It covers articles of interest to Address, women, ranging from Day Care to Women in Work to Children's Stories. City .. . For subscriptions or contributions write to Ottawa Women's Centre, 212 Lyon, Ottawa, Ontario. please start my subscription with Preview Issue

We would like to report a correction please start my subscription with Volume 1, No. 1 to our listing for the women's centre Quebecoises in the preview issue of please start my subscription with Volume 1, No. 2 Branching Out. The address should read Quebecoises Deboutte!, 4319 St Denis, Montreal. Quebecoises De­ boutte/ is also the title of a feminist All subscriptions can be back ordered. magazine published from the same ad­ dress. Please make all cheques or money orders payable to POL/TICS cont from p. 9 Branching Out. Box 4098 Edmonton, Alberta T6E 4H1 politics as above partisan interests. The self awareness and independ­ Consequently they tend to partici­ SHEPPARD cont. from p. 24 pate to this day in a limited way in ence gained after many years of party politics; this continues to have struggle are not things to be neglected implications for their involvement As a result, she lives with a special or pushed aside. June Sheppard con­ throughout the political system. kind of isolation. stantly strives to maintain these Any reader who is interested in "I've been very aware of the lone­ qualities, and to expand them. At the the subject of women in politics in liness of holding minority views while, same time, she's looking outward at Canada will find two superb histor­ through circumstance, having to mix the world -- believing it CAN be a ical sources recently reprinted by largely with the majority," she re­ better place, determined to do what­ The University of Toronto Press. flects. "I also think I surprise people ever she can to help improve it. deter­ These are Nellie McClung's In Times because my views on most things are mined to do whatever she can to help Like These written in 1915, and much more unconventional than they improve it. Catherine Cleverdon's 1950 work expect - judging by my rather She has come a long way herself, The Woman Suffrage Movement In conservative dress and usually fairly and knows other troubled people who Canada. Unfortunately there is no well-coiffed hair." have made the journey too. She and fully updated account of women in Despite pressure from more con­ others like her offer a message of en­ Canadian politics since 1950, but servative readers, she carries on as she couragement and hope: people can the report of the Royal Commission feels she must: true to her own ideas - change; the world can change. on the Status of Women provides and ideals -- in her column and in her It's not easy ... but with honesty some information. * * * own personal life. and courage, it can be done. * * * June/July 1974 29 UP fit in the mattress by Pascale Taquine

My name is Pascale. I have three (indeed what is it), nowhere but my litany of disappointments I have kids and a husband. When I had one head to live in (the bell jar splitting), I caused you. The prizes I didn't win, kid and no husband, I thought it was thought to hack off my hair. My long the people I didn't charm, the story­ possible to have one's life and the kid hair. How surprised Pierre would be. book happiness I don't have. Stop too. But the little duties and concerns How shocked. I would make an excuse plaguing me." came creeping up on me. Being nice, for the kids. "Time for a change" or I screamed louder and louder, all making things friendly, helping out, "Thought I'd look better that way" the time knowing that it was beside until I became reponsible to more but really I delighted in how ugly I'd the point, that her golden-haired girl people for more time than was look. I would chop at it, crooked, was floundering, unprepared for a healthy. It seemed I couldn't do any­ mannish, close to the skull. No longer marathon so delicate, so total, that en­ thing to free myself without hurting would it be "how pretty Pascale is" durance depended not on will or force, somebody. Every move required pond­ but "why'd she do it". I could make but on balance. erous deliberation and organization. myself ugly. It was something. I look­ There are no winners in this place. Five lives to juggle. In the end it didn't ed in the mirror, the scissiors in one Only survivors. Only those who have seem worth it. I'd twist and turn, tied hand, the brush j n the other and did psyched out a totally new, totally un­ to the spot, looking for a way out. nothing. The hair was a subterfuge, prepared - for reality. There is no When there was no way, I'd lie on the cover-up for the red eyes, the tired public recognition for a family life bed. Not even the juice for self-pitying face, the desert of joy. And I was still lived with grace. No trumpets for gurg­ tears. part enough to want to pass. ling babies, curious children, constant Once, sitting late at night on the Last night I had a dream in which consideration. At best there is a sense couch, cornered in the big room, soul I confronted my mother. of completeness. Moments of bursting all cramped, nothing to do about it "Stop it." I screamed. "Stop the fullness. 30 Branching Out It is a new landscape. A long jour­ anything, more time needed for me doesn't feel natural at all. Suzanne is ney from the platform where I orated and Pierre. lying straight as a board and I'm not to the mattress where, day after day I "I am," I say to the calendar, snuggling in like I usually do. I'm lay. "more into deepening and developing stoned, lying in the sun, feeling the I started doing something to stave this life which now consumes all my mellow high of mushrooms, of the off the paralysis. There was a big cal­ energies than in starting a new one. sucking baby, but there's a tension in endar on the back of the bedroom There is ample room here for the art the air. Very uptight vibes. And I start door and everytime Pierre and I of loving." to figure. What's coming off. fought, or whenever there was a family I put it this way to the calendar, How come Suzanne and I who are impasse, I would haul myself off the but far be it from me to be too uptight such good friends are lying here like mattress and write on the calendar. to handle it. And that is how it is stiffs. Does he want to fuck her, does Just a few words from me to it. A coached. "Can you handle it, Pascale." she want to fuck him, am I in the way, shorthand diary. An attempt to chart Yeah, I can handle it. I don't want it. am I the old witch with the stick and Pierre's mentrual cycle. It broke the But, yeah, I can handle it. Better that the baby. Sure feels strange lying here spell and gave form to my perceptions. than recriminations from my inventive like this. And how come this is Made me start thinking as I was lying ever-so-adventurous hubby. happening. Is a prick all it takes for there, something to tell the calendar. "I can handle it, Pascale." When two women to get so uptight with Made me realize that I, magnum cum, pushed..."oh, of course, not if it takes each other. was a full-blown zombie with the away from the family." Well what do Me, lightening quick, running housewife blues. It can't happen here. you think it's going to do you stupid through paranoid stereotype numbers To me. And while the zombie is shit. in my head and Pierre, spaced, peace­ controlling, popping valium, making So a few days ago we took mush­ ful, lying there god-like in the middle, do, big Pierre Daddy Bear with his rooms with Suzanne. Psilicybin. One with a hand on each of us. Thank you, male headstart and the bleachers spoonful. Just enough to get nicely god. cheering, is pushing away, piling up high for about four hours. I'm minding My head is aching. Sure was beau­ points, just doing fine. There he is - the kid and they're playing frisbee. tiful here, I remember nostalgically. accessible but inaccessible. Concerned, "Wanna play, Pascale?" but I'm al­ "I'm going home." but from the distance of his own life. ready into minding the kid and the Big bad spell broken. Pierre says, He still has his. stone is coming on pretty heavy and I "One minute, I'm coming." Suzanne It is so very insidious that even as really don't see how they're getting it and I put away the mattress and we I am choking I can't believe I can't together to throw that thing around. talk about a communal supper. It all breathe. Anyway, it isn't something I want to feels better. Meanwhile, after many role re­ do. I am having enough trouble fig­ That night I talk to Pierre. His versals and trying this and that, I uring out how far my nipple is from reality is that he was passing a warm accept to be fully in charge of the me so I can stick it in the howling vibe from me and him to Suzanne. In kids. The only other choice is resent­ baby's mouth. I'm taking care of the the brotherly light of mushrooms, he ment and continual fights. When we baby and not hating it, noticing even didn't want her to be left out. He's tried to share responsibility, Pierre that the wood bench I'm lying on is calm and understanding. He sensed we yelled at the kids and me. He was harr- accommodatingly soft, moulding itself were "having trouble" but we should assed, picked on little things, respond­ to my body. .There it is. Crept right have reassured each other, we should ed monosyllabically. Hopefully, with up. But I am aware that in a different have trusted him. He is confident in the pressure off, there will be a fri­ world I too would like to be playing his action, used to making arbitrary endly atmosphere in the house. But, as frisbee. Why not. I'm young, used to moves. usual, it is not clear cut again. Now do a lot of sports. Yeah. Next day I talk to Suzanne. Her that Pierre has only himself to worry Frisbee is over and we're ready to reality is that she didn't know what about, his mind is expanding and bang­ crash out. Pierre gets a mattress and was happening. This guy who had ing into me. I am his emotional punch­ we lay it in the sun. Somehow we find kissed her twice, on special occasions, in six years of knowing her, was touch­ ing bag. The latest is that Pierre ini­ ourselves positioned with me and ing her. What did he want? He touched tiated a discussion where it appeared Suzanne on either side of Pierre. The her and she lay there, so paralyzed that it is artificial, if you feel snuggly baby is crying and Pierre bounces her a that she sometimes didn't even toward someone, not to snuggle them. bit, Suzanne does too, Pierre makes swallow. She didn't want to offend You should even ball them if it feels faces with the fat folds of the baby's right. face, Suzanne plays with the dogs, she him. She hoped it would go away. We Whammo. leans the baby on a dog, the dog talk and I tell her Pierre's reality but I But what can you do? Far be it moves, baby cries and I get her back to am more comfortable with hers. from me to be the uptight bitchy wife. nurse her to sleep. We're all lying Touching leads to balling, balling leads No social taboos for us, just free, nat­ there, spaced out in the sun, and'1 to responsibilities and allegiances, we ural, spontaneous love and kisses. notice that Pierre has his hand on me are friends, friends are hard to come Now I put it to the calendar that and on Suzanne too. Far out, I say, by, why not value what we have. this is the last thing on my mind. remembering the discussion, I guess Suzanne is only concerned about her­ Nursing the baby, taking care of the he's feeling snuggly. Sure is beautiful self and our friendship. If I can handle kids, lots to do, lots of warm body here. it is the only question. Do we want to? contact, lots of love and kisses. Beau­ But there is a funny thing. We lie And if the configuaration were diff­ tiful, squiggly, cuddly naked kids. If there some more and it's awkward. It erent, would Pierre? What for? Is the

June/July 1974 31 impulse organic or fatuous, titillated we could not reach across one male adult human being. My turn to do by the myth of the orgasm and ads for body to each other. I wonder at it be­ some striding along and uninterrupted romance. Sex isn't Further for me or cause it is finished and done. work. Here it comes, Pierre. For you it Suzanne, only for Pierre. It was hard to get out of the won't come creeping but land in one That night I tell Pierre of house. It is so comfortable there when slightly angry but graceful swoop. Suzanne's reaction and I realize with it is functioning. So compelling. I left I send you this letter from amazement that he, knowing the ten­ when I was too tired to stand. Tired of Suzanne's house where I have my own sion was there, knowing the insecurity being understanding, keeping it to­ room. I,too, need space and time. I it caused, knowing it was two against gether, being there. Too much life suggest we schedule alternate days on one, wants to do it again. Oh, maybe swirling about me. It was leave or be house or two days each alternately. I not with Suzanne, "she's too im­ damned. To a whine. To a whimper. I am prepared for you to be unhappy. mature", but it is still, potentially, didn't leave for an ideal, for a dream To glower and complain. But I must further.The sexual-revolution rhetoric or a plan, but because of a primeval explore the resources within myself. is at his disposal. We should all love need for air. I took the baby and went You will not overcome by bad one another. Physically. His dynamic to Suzanne's house. temper but, tempered, you may per­ is the natural one. I'm an uptight It is hard to ask myself, "What do haps develop some of your so-called bitch. In fact, when you get right you, Pascale, want to do?" It is hard feminine qualities. You may learn to down to it, he wants me to sing him to take steps. In the rush of the day, wait, to be flexible, to empathize with into someone else's cunt. 1 should have one forgets the lesson of the night. others. To make peace. And when presented a stronger case to Suzanne The night when, from the well-being these ways have become part of you , for the lovey-dovey snuggly bit. I of a full day, Pierre falls asleep in my you may find a centre like that which should pimp for him. "Go ahead, mid-sentence and I am left with the the Hindus attribute to the merger of Pierre, I WANT YOU TO." He wants painful engorgement of talk and a life man and woman in the god Shiva. his cake and he wants to eat me too. unshared. I lie awake, having touched Then, balancing equidistant from earth He wants no downs, no guilt feelings. nothing that day, not even myself. I on the teetertotter, you and I can talk Wants me to give up my feelings and have been disembodied. In abeyance. again. endorse his for The Greater Good, For Waiting for a smile. You've got a good thing going, Country, For The Christian God, For Pierre. Unfettered Sex. I guess you'll have to evaluate Of such stuff do men make wars. So. To the typewriter this time. how much it means to you. And I wonder that Suzanne and I Action on paper. I'm fed up minding lay there. I wonder that we could be the house. It was nice while the baby love, so stymied by our desire to please that was nursing but no full-time job for an * « * Pascale

FROM: CHOU DYNASTY BOOK OF ODES

When a son is born Let him sleep in a bed. Clothe him with fine dress and give him jades with which to play. How lordly is his cry! May he grow up to wear crimson And be the lord of clan and tribe.

When a daughter is born Let her sleep on the ground. Wrap her in common cloth, and give her broken tiles for playthings. May she have no faults, nor virtues of her own; May she well attend to food and wine. And bring no discredit to her parents.

(Chou Dynasty: c. 1122 or 1050 to 256 B.C. Submitted by Evelyn Blakeman.)

32 Branching Out possessions

suson musgrove

Seanach I am not sure of anything indistinct as pleasure. I've seen Seanach your skull I see the and will always pity remember it. the faith that makes you Perhaps you've animal held mine in your my animal long white hands waking to my nights' hunger stroking my fatal hunger Seanach of hosts wanting Seanach without desire go down black gatherer sink to human will toad of the forget wound I say Seanach for a moment my prayers about you are lost what strength is. you are unable Perhaps it will help you lie down and be to sleep as sleep little I alone inhabit forgive me the dark an old woman Seanach sagging against when I am lies old Seanach be compassionate. you dream of a ' Remember me lost familiar as a Seanach woman, element I needing darkness an idea without children warm to that moves around you to learn by brush the blood like weather from my womb with no remember without ceremony discipline what choice means open the and how few of us ever morning mail but awkwardly needed to be without certainty triumphant happy

June/July 1974 33 an instantly electric rapport, were now static with pauses, and little bursts of attempted intimacy. And then the Big Scene. Good, lusty, experienced sex then over, perspective with very little in the way of a caress­ ing warmth, that blanket of caring that THE AFFAIR by Ellie Tesher a couple wrap over themselves after love-making. To hell with James Bradey! He's pulling out the Big Guns of Reason, No, it wasn't there. And I had to the creep for whom I played Mata and Maturity, exhorting me to face hurry home to the kids and supper, Hari, my blood pounding in my head facts and meet my responsibilities and he had to get back to work. as I walked purposefully through the square on. He didn't try to reach me again, hotel lobby, looking neither to left nor Help! so I was left to justify my actions to right, knees knocking as the elevator I thought I recognized it in the myself, and pretend there was no ego rose, taking me to the altar of adult­ eyes of James Bradey. They smiled at to soothe. I covered that whole area ery. me, knowingly, all the time his mouth by cursing James Bradey, and the ease It was time, you see. I'd done was making trite and trivial conver­ with which he indulged his needs: here everything else, from the Nursing sation with me. We met at the piano a squash game and there a flirtation. Mothers' Association to Group Ther­ lesson, the most tedious of the He entered and exited from episodes apy. It was all the same thing. Dig motherly duties to which I was addict­ in his life with a prudent and finite deep, reach the Earth Mother, reach ed, as I sat, or stood, week in, week sense of Self above all else. I even the earth. Bare the breast, bare the out, in the narrow overheated upper cursed his wife as I recognized his son, soul. Let it all hang out. My breasts hallway of a music conservatory meticulously dressed, return to his were diminished, my soul over-expos­ annex. piano lesson, dropped off, no doubt, ed, and my spirits fatigued. His wife was out of town, so he by his competent mother. I was trying to keep it all to­ drove his son to his piano lesson. He I did not want an affair a ro­ gether: three super-charged kids, a carried a Time Magazine and I had mance maybe, but I hadn't the energy home reflecting most of the dictates of brought my mail. We didn't read, but to tune myself to another man's life­ middle-class consumerism, a retinue of watched each other carefully while we style. over-interested family and friends, and spoke of acceptable topics, and short­ Back to my Partner. There had one husband with several personalities, ly, drifted out for coffee at the rest­ been a romance once, and there was all of them looking to me as Wife. The aurant next door. still a well of affection between us. It strongest tie was still umbilical one He switched from pollution to needed to be drawn from more often, child whose rate of growth could not "getting together again" without even and I had felt no spirit to do so. The be matched to my need for temporal a pause for breath. It seemed the most romance I sought was within myself, freedom. He was as yet in nursery logical step to take and I said "I guess and I was stifling it with an over- so." school and needed, according to subur­ zealous approach to duty. I had made ban standards and my own confused Then came a phone call, and the a demanding profession out of a ser­ set of values, the energy release of Plan: the where and how of the big vice position, and had no idea how to organized activities. In other words, I Meeting. Even as I became excited serve me. was either afternoon playmate or about seeing him again, there was a You know, James Bradey, maybe chauffeur. vague familiarity to the whole thing. I can learn from you combine some Nothing in this lifestyle was He planned for His convenience, of that self-preservation with my own unique with me everyone I knew worried for His risk, and hung up warmth and sensitivity to others. May­ was more or less involved in the same abruptly. be the Nursing Mothers' Association hectic race to live life to the fullest, still has a place in my life give the but so many of them seemed to like it! I went. I was very nervous. He breast when it's needed, but take care They smiled complacently over their wasn't so relaxed either. The sentences of it, as well. After all, it's my breast! needlepoint, swapped recipes between that had bounced back and forth with Or it was. * » * tennis sets, and beamed at each other with accomplishment at endless dinner "Perspectives" is a new column for Branching Out. We invite readers parties in their glossily decorated to submit accounts of their experiences as women and as people in homes. today's world. Topics are flexible; statements about both the joys I always felt I was watching from the outside. Somehow, it just wasn't and the problems of living are welcomed. We see this column as one my bag. way women can help each other solve the problems common to us More about my Partner he all, and as a medium for sharing their pleasures and triumphs. understood me, and loved me. That is, one of him did. The other still ex­ Manuscripts should be 1200 to 1500 words long, typed, double- pected me to be doing exactly the spaced, and accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. same things as ever, only happily, now Please address submissions to "Perspectives", Branching Out, Box that I was understood and loved. 4098, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 4T1. Sometimes, yet a third figure emerged, 34 Branching Out women in music:

back to it was the realization that I SHOULD WE BE SURPRISED? was free to become as capable and as creative musically as my guitar-playing by Beverley Ross boyfriends. Not such an earth-shattering revel­ ation perhaps, but in my high school years, a girl's musical career was lim­ Easter Sunday, 1974. In Stanley ited: she was socially safe playing vio­ Park, Vancouver, the annual Easter Be lin, cello or flute in the school orches­ -In is underway. I sit with a group of tra, or singing in a folk group, but she friends in a sunny open space in the was most appreciated as an admirer of midst of a kaleidoscope crowd of the local Saturday afternoon rock freaks and straights, bikers and booz­ band. ers, dogs and dopers and babies, all of The boys, meanwhile, were busy us noisily anticipating an afternoon of learning the "pop" instruments that music and people-watching. Our atten­ could be played later for money: tion is called suddenly to the make­ brass, reeds, bass and drums. They shift stage, where the first group is were teaching themselves guitar, form­ about to appear. They launch into a ing rock bands and playing at school bluegrass tune which captures the sun­ dances. shine mood of the crowd. One of the Open your mind for a minute to trio is a woman, who doubles on fiddle the images which you immediately as­ and mandolin. Great, I think, at least sociate with the phrase "a woman in we'll have a token representative up music". Those which present them­ there today. They finish their set selves to me are neither flattering nor and disappear. In the next group, the new: the sleazy jazz singer, threatening bass player, is a woman; not only that, and suffering alternately; the prima but she is a completely competent bass donna, a busty temperamental player. Five years ago if she had operatic star; the pale and earnest appeared at all, she might have been classical student who studies violin or heckled off the stage. Today, the piano until her Man appears and no crowd just digs the music. one ever takes her quite seriously; and A country band follows. The lead finally, everyone's school music singer is a woman. Not so unusual, but teacher whose class is completely out she moves without inhibitions and her of control, whose voice is a shrewish voice is strong. soprano. (She is invariably a spinster.) Then a "name" group, a blues Juxtapose these images with those of band from Toronto comes on stage. the men in music: the ever-present They have recently released an album ghosts of Bach and Beethoven; the and their appearance here is part of a control and power of a symphony con­ cross-country tour. Their piano player ductor; the insolent virility of a lead is a woman. I am jubilant. I want to guitarist: the comparison speaks for case in other fields, a young man's in­ stand up and demand of the crowd itself. Can you close your eyes and terest in music was to be taken ser­ whether or not they have noticed that envision a woman leading that orches­ iously. Technically and theoretically there is a woman in each of the four tra through Beethoven's fifth sym­ he would be prepared for a career as a bands here today, and have they ever phony? Can you listen to your concert artist or a composer; after all, seen anything like it before. I am jubi­ favourite rock album and imagine that he must be ready to cope with the pos­ lant, but I am surprised. a woman is playing those aggressive sibility that he was a genius. Training Why should I be so surprised? lead breaks? Can you imagine playing of that calibre would have been wasted I was formally introduced to them yourself? on a woman there was no such thing music at the age of six as a pupil of a In the face of this how does a as a female genius. down-the-block piano teacher, whose woman become a musician? Today, women are most readily principle interest was polishing up her A century ago, young middle-class accepted into the field of classical pupils in preparation for the annual women were encouraged to become music. Here there is space for them to Toronto Conservatory exams. I sur­ accomplished parlour musicians but become teachers or orchestral musi­ vived eight of these ordeals, at which their audiences included only friends cians, and the best may emerge as point I walked away from the key­ and relatives. Performing in public was technically excellent soloists with a board and stayed away for several considered a scandalous display in chance at success not unequal to that years. What eventually brought me most circumstances. Yet, as was the of their male counterparts. June/July 1974 35 However, at the creative heights ably means that within a group she One way of overcoming these res­ of the classical world where the com­ must submit to a definition of her role trictions is to join a group with other posers and conductors reside, women which has little to do with her musical women. In "Joy of Cooking" two are a scarce commodity. But why? ability. As the "intruder" in the undis- women formed the nucleus of the Until recently the tools needed for putably masculine world of rock, she group. "Fanny" is a commercially suc­ these jobs were difficult for a woman must be labelled sexually, if not by her cessful all-woman band. Apparently to acquire: years of intensive theoret­ colleagues, then most certainly by the the major problem to be dealt with ical training and the ability to create, audience. They want to know which here is that of not being taken seri­ interpret and direct with confidence. member of the group she belongs to; ously. The "How many words can you Similar to the skills we expect to find who does she sleep with, who is she type? " question of the club circuit in the executive suite, and out of reach married to, whose sister is she; and if seems to be "The music's fine, honey, to women for the same reasons. Con­ none of the above apply, is she avail­ but do you play topless? " sider the poise and control required of able? Few women have become success­ the syjnphony conductor and you Her functional role within the ful jazz musicians. As vocalists they come face to face once more with the group has also been rigidly defined. A have been influential: Bessie Smith "power problem" of a woman leading woman is most readily accepted in was one of the first to unite the ele­ men. rock as a vocalist where her visual im­ ments of blues and jazz; horn players As for the aspiring composer, who pact is greatest and where she has and guitarists still return to recordings does she emulate? The great masters? minimal control over the meat of the by Billie Holiday to learn from her Female composers have led a virtually music, since she is restricted to a melo­ melodic ingenuity. But unless she is invisible existence. Clara Wieck dic rather than a chordal vocabulary. able to use her voice freely as an in­ Schumann was a famous nineteenth Few women ever "make it" in rock on strument, the vocalist will find herself century pianist who, aside from being the basis of their skill as lead guitarists, limited in a field that is predominantly the wife of Robert Schumann, and the bass players or drummers. The myth reserved for instrumentalists. mother of six children, was responsible that one acquires the ability to play Why can't female instrumentalists for the successful debut of many of his aggressive, driving music by virtue of make it? Well, in the first place they works. She was herself the composer one's gender is a myth that has yet to seldom equip themselves with the right of a considerable number of works for be dissolved. Fortunately women like instruments. About the time when a piano and small chamber groups. Al­ guitarist April Lawton and the reigning prospective jazz musician ought to though her work was not "ambitious" Queen of Rock, Grace Slick, are work­ begin learning the rudiments of the in its scope, her "Trio in G Minor" ing on it. sax, the bass, or the drum-kit, a well- stands favourably beside other exam­ -conditioned adolescent girl is concern­ ples in the same genre, although it is ing herself with her appearance and infrequently performed. One wonders her social ESKIMO standing. There's nothing how much of her creativity was stifled CARVINGS ladylike about good chops, or spittle, by social stigma and the responsibil­ INDIAN callouses or drummer's muscles. ities of wife- and motherhood. AND OTHER A working knowledge of jazz in­ In the twentieth century female rts CRAFTS cludes not only technical preparedness composers have been most successful but also the ability to perform in an when they have championed the ensemble situation. This latter skill is avante-garde. In the thirties, Germaine usually acquired in a jam session where Taillferre allied herself with five other a group of musicians play together, French composers and formed the informally, in order to learn from each Group of Six, to promote the accept­ other. But to join these sessions an ance of their medium. Peggy Glanville aspiring musician must have "musical -Hicks, who has composed six operas friends". To meet these people she and several other works, often includes must drop into their after-hours world elements from ancient traditions and where booze and dope and sex are folk music in her compositions. Jean realities to be faced along with the Coulthard and Violet Archer are two music exactly the kind of environ­ Canadian composers who have com­ ment that parents would not want bined university careers with their their adolescent daughters to frequent. creative endeavours. Hopefully these And once she makes it past the stage women are encouraged by the sense of door, a woman has to convince the freedom that comes from exploring a other male musicians of her serious­ less rigidly defined area and by the ness. They assume by her presence knowledge that they are contributing that her intent is of a completely dif­ to its development. But often this very ferent nature. freedom ensures that the public will be Some of the women who have less than ready to accept their music. succeeded: Mary Lou Williams is a res­ The situation facing a woman in pected pianist; Nina Simone is known the world of rock music is no better. mostly as a singer, but she plays piano This type of music relies on ensemble 10064-104 St., EDMONTON, Ph. 424-2935 and writes some of her material; Alice playing, and for a woman this prob­ Coltrane is a harpist-pianist who

36 Branching Out creates music of a mystical nature; woman who chooses to seek Grace Slick: (with The Jefferson Barbara Donald, a trumpeter, resides fulfillment outside of traditional roles. Airplane) Volunteers RCA LSP4238; on the freakier fringes of jazz, where Perhaps what happened at Manhole Grunt she finds the greatest acceptance and the "Be-In" was merely freedom. an unusual coincidence. Perhaps it is a sign that Joy of Cooking: Joy of Cooking It is as singer-songwriters that women in music are at last receiving Capitol ST 661; Castles Capital ST women are coming into their own as the support and encouragement they 11050 musicians. Carole King's Tapestry is deserve, and that they themselves are one of the largest-selling albums ever, reaching out for opportunities in all Fanny: Charity Ball Reprise RS6456; having sold over four million copies to fields of music. I hope that my Mother's Pride Reprise date, joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Dory surprise at seeing these women on Previn, Rita Coolidge, Buffy St.-Marie, stage will soon prove itself unjustified. Alice Coltrane: Ptah the El Daoud Helen Reddy, Roberta Flack - the list Impulse AS9196; Journey in Satchida- of names is familiar and long. nanda Impulse AS9203 The singer-songwriter is a child of DISCOGRAPHY OF MUSIC BY the introspective mood of the WOMEN Nina Simone: Sings the Blues RCA seventies. For women this general LSP3789 mood has coincided with a heightened Clara Wieck Schumann: Chamber sense of ourselves and our own Music by... Oryx 1819 Barbara Donald: (with Sonny potential. Women are tired of having Simmons) Manhattan Egos Arhoolie their images defined in lyrics written Peggy Glanville-Hicks: Nausicca: An 8003 by men, and men are finally beginning Opera in Three Acts Composer to realize the validity of our vision of Recordings Inc. CRI 175 Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark things. Asylum 7ES 1001 A career in music requires Jean Coulthard: Contemporary Music knowledge, confidence, the desire to for Cello Columbia XLP 5873 Yoko Ono: Fee/in' the Space Apple succeed and a mobility that until SW3412 recently was available to few women. April Lawton: (with Ramatam) In Women in music must also contend April Came the Dawning of the Red Toni Brown: Good For You Too MCA with the problems that face every Suns Atlantic SD 7261 MCA386

PROMISE I MADE TO FRIEND houterw You asked me to photograph you in sepia and then burn the edges of your snap So somebody might find it, think it old and romance its nonexistent memory. FOR MARCUS (IN MEMORY OF TIMES) 'But I do not take photos, I am a wordsmith.' Next summer when you are just Then write a ballad about Camelot and an ornament on another woman's body, Carnivals and dedicate it to me! take note of the memories Or tell of my beauty with lovely I placed in brownstone metaphors and similes' your head. the music, But there is nothing I can do. connection of "fingertips, I am only one person, an expansion of faces eons from now, in the sun a group of bespectacled college students and the gossip of old, small birds will study your discussing our incident. fossiled impression. Postponing September. Pick the lime from between your toes, Remember these things and pretty teeth. and I, in turn will forget the cruel promise It's what you've always wanted. of continuation.

June/July 1974 41 book ends

The Diary of the Seduced by Christine Hope

review by Roberta Kalechofsky who lives at no particular time and in The revolutionary is the symbol no particular place." Though the novel of will. She offers Regina the fortitude is cast as a parable of woman's quest of self-determination. But Regina must Christine Hope has written a book for identity, it is also a parable of the pay the price of sexual mutilation for which .deals with the women's ancient quest of all human beings for this. The siren, the mother and the movement from an arresting point of the union of spirit with matter. The revolutionary present three aspects of view. Her insight into the issue of novel suggests that "liberation" is a sexuality: one the apparent, moment­ female identity is not political, but spiritual achievement of completeness arily compelling sexuality, the mother spiritual. No doubt, her profession as a and unity the convergence of pas­ as the vessel of life, the lesbianism of teacher of philosophy has equipped sion and mind, intuition and reflec­ the revolutionary as ultimately the her with a special angle of perception. tion, the particular and the universal - way to death. Regina says to her, The title of her book The Diary of all the human qualities which have "...you live as a parasite. You need the Seduced* derives from a chapter in been separated as female and male. others to kill in order to live." Ms. Kierkegaard's Either-Or, called "The The book is divided into two pertinent Hope knows that the advocacy of les­ Diary of the Seducer". The plot and parts: The .Encounter With Woman bianism is not a tenable philosophical the theme of the novel revolve around and The Encounter With Man. position. Kierkegaard's love for Regina Olsen In the beginning Regina meets In the chapter on the mother, the and his need to break with her when with an"angel-witch", one of the most breast and flowing milk symbolize he realized that Regina, young, lively, imaginative figures in the book, who nourishment and survival, renewal of earthy, might never be capable of shar­ propels herself down the road by do­ life through children. Hence, the ing his religious life. The novel, told ing cartwheels, so that first her angel amputation of the breast is amputa­ from Regina's point of view, is a study side comes up, and then her witch side tion from future life. The revolution­ of the struggle of women to under­ comes up. It is she who starts Regina ary calls forth from Regina deep af­ stand themselves. It has some easily on the journey in which she encounters fection and recognition of her thirst labelled weaknesses, but its insights are seven female types: the virgin, the for freedom. But Regina turns her rendered with dignity and, for the mother, the thinker, the revolutionary, back on her. Rejecting Susan Sontag's most part, are free from liberationist the artist, the saint, and the siren. "militant lesbianism", she says, "...the rhetoric. Each type stands for a human quality, world is male and female, and I have In The Diary of The Seduced a different approach to life and a limit­ within me a driving desire for com­ Regina Olsen becomes Regina Terra, ation of it. The virgin is developed pleteness, a passion for everything, for symbol of earth, matter, of the woman through wind imagery, for she is "all wholeness, and to spend my life with seeking spirituality. Kierkegaard is surface." Her primary sensation is tact­ only the female is to cut myself in Soren Coeli, symbol of the poet, the ile. "The world is outside the body, two." visionary, of spirit and heaven, div­ and I live by letting the world blow The woman as saint was Ms. orced from earth, nature and matter. over it." In contrast to the mother Hope's greatest challenge as it would To be sure, Ms. Hope has deliberately whose symbol is the womb, there is no be any writer's, male or female. Saints surrendered her male and female to inner space in the virgin. If she wholly are notoriously hard on writing talent. conventions, partially to emphasize on the outside, the mother is wholly Wisely, Ms. Hope does not attribute a the barrenness of a world divided into on the inside. She is absorbed in inner flaw to the saint who, by virtue of spirit and matter, into "God the movement to the exclusion of the out­ being a saint, must be flawless. The Father" and "mother earth"; partially side world. Her habitat is the ocean. flaw is in the "system." Regina Terra because the allegory transcends her Removed from light and air, she is sub­ is initiated into spirituality in a cathe­ stated purpose to take the reader on sumed. dral. But the cathedral had as a crack "a journey into the soul of a woman Regina's mission is to choose in the ceiling and Regina is drawn to which type of woman she wishes to examine it. Curiosity - the death of *The Diary of the Seduced was pub­ be. She discovers that each of the many a cat leads her astray. She lished by the Writer's Cooperative and seven women is limited. She seeks wants to see what is outside. Religious- is not available in bookstores. Anyone completeness. The siren controls men ity immediately becomes as confining interested in purchasing a copy may through the mystery of her sexuality, as a coffin. Through the crack she inquire how to do so, by writing to but Regina craves openness. She wants spies an amphitheatre below. Later, in Christine Hope, Department of Philo­ to be unfolded, not covered. More­ The Encounter With Man, this crack is sophy/Sir George Williams University/ over, the siren's consolation and exalt­ developed into a symbol of the divi­ Montreal, Quebec; or to Writer's Coop­ ation are only of the moment: life sion in human nature. "The fissure was erative, 2501 Park Row East, Montreal based on carnal mysticism is insuffi­ 262, Quebec. cient.

38 Branching Out the blindness to the human. All per­ sons were matter and form, all persons had intuition and reflection, all persons should love the particular and the universal." The amphitheatre is where the CANADIAN ART drama of choice takes place. Regina is confronted by the seven women and paintings graphics sculpture told she must choose which she will be. Only later, after marriage, does she one man exhibition realize that she has been all of them, that her struggle has been a journey Ted Harrison through all phases of womanhood. Ms. Hope's weakness is her hand­ July 15-July 27 ling of language, which is too often banal, inconsequential or melo­ dramatic. It is fearfully dangerous to The Art Mart Ltd. wrench a well-known line from DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY Shakespeare and treat it as a common sentence. After Regina's marriage to 10154-103 ST. 429-4410 Soren she goes through a sexual crisis Edmonton, Alberta in which all love-making, begun with desire, ends for her in disappointment. In this crisis, praying for help, she real­ izes that "God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all male", that Mary was a virgin, and that Magdalen, in shame, turned aside from her experiences. Regina cannot find comfort in her religion for her sexual agony. She has a breakdown and undergoes analysis. Leaving the analyst one afternoon, she says, "I will see sis, Regina realizes that through her communion between man and you tomorrow, then." This appropria­ the divorced natures of her mother woman imposes a communal choice, tely ordinary sentence is followed and father are fused. Thus, she has that sex divides as well as unites. with, "Tomorrow and tomorrow and always had the gift of both matter and Symbolically speaking, they leave this tomorrow came, and he listened." spirit. Nor can it be otherwise for any world with their child to seek a better Surely there must be other ways to human being born of human beings. world. express weariness. Regina's compulsion for spiritual In the next chapter, Regina is con­ Elsewhere, Ms. Hope renders the unity - hardly a modern compulsion fronted by the angel-witch who tells language stilted and old-fashioned, as - is so strong that she is able to resist her that her struggle has been for noth­ in the words of the saint: "I cannot adultery when her husband turns cold ing, that she was seduced by love, by say to you what you would like to towards her during her pregnancy. Her the vision of union. Regina struggles hear, although I would love to, for in carnal longings are real, but so is this with the angel-witch and defeats her, truth it might be too late." And the woman's passion for spiritual life. "O but the vision of union is gone. Hus­ passages of sexual description which fire of truth, help me..." she cries out, band and child have incomprehensibly every writer today feels obliged to try realizing that to commit adultery is to vanished. Nor is Regina identifiable his hand at, whether he or she has the substitute "time temporary" for "time with the issues of her struggle or with talent for it or not. Ms. Hope does not eternal", fragamented love for unify­ anything earthly or human. She is at do worse, but not better than most. ing love, a succession of diverse rela­ the end "...a halo of light in the dark­ Here she avoids melodrama and lyri­ tionships for a continuous relationship ness, wondering." Ms. Hope had cism. Her language is almost severely which has the power of self-renewal. argued passionately and well for the biologically correct. The approach is After so much rich thematic use of mind as a way of loving and naturalistic and one suspects that development it is surprising that the possessing the world which it surely naturalism here that is, end of the novel is ambiguous. In the is. She brought to bear upon the issues the reduction of the writer to observer next to the last chapter, "The of the women's rights struggle a rich and recorder is a way of avoiding Couple," Soren and Regina prepare to medieval apprehension of the dichoto- creation on a difficult subject. How­ leave this world of robots - of mech­ mous nature of human life and of its ever, her weak use of language does anical matter. They have been through endless search for unity. The conclud­ not impede her ability to convey in­ arguments, partings, distress and ing image of bemused solitariness is sight or to find appropriate symbols reconciliation. They learn that "...no dismaying as an end to this novel. for her theme. While undergoing analy- choice is an isolated choice," that * * *

June/July 1974 39 people in this issue

MARIL YN ASSHETON-SMITH MIRIAM MANDEL EVA VAN LOON Marilyn Assheton-Smith has been Miriam Mandel is an Edmonton Eva Van Loon is an Edmontonian a nursing instructor at Medicine Hat, a poet. Her first book, Lions at her living in Calgary. She says she lives in a Health Education Advisor in the Face, received the Governor General's "cosy little shack with two dogs." Yukon and N.W.T. and a Community Award for poetry in 1974. Development Worker. She is currently studying for her Ph.D in Sociology PASCALE TAQUINE with an interest in social change and Canadian society. Her interest in NANCY MlLLAR Pascale Taquine lives near Montreal womervand politics is life-long. Nancy Millar is a freelance writer and writes for the French-Canadian re­ and broadcaster in Calgary, Alberta. view Mainmise and for the CBC. Sev­ Presently she hosts and produces a eral more of her stories will be pub­ W.L. BAKER twice-weekly television talk show. She lished soon. Winona Baker says she has spent says she writes for "whoever will buy most of her time as a housewife: she me". Her background includes teach­ has worked as a teacher and in cann­ ing and newspaper work. GEORGINA WYMAN eries and stores. She collects her Georgina Wyman lives in Ottawa, quotes from books and radio and tele­ where she is actively involved in community projects vision programs. The sentences and SUSAN MUSGRA VE like setting up a day care centre and writing phrases she doesn't want to forget are Susan Musgrave is a published for the community newspaper Glebe Report. written on file cards, she says she has Canadian poet. She is presently living two shoeboxes full, and some of them on the Queen Charlotte Islands in have been compiled into a book-length British Columbia. Branching Out needs distribution manuscript. Ms. Baker lives in Nan- centres throughout Canada. If you are aimo, B.C. able to arrange an outlet in your area BEVERLEY ROSS through your local bookseller, library, Beverley Ross is an Edmonton- women's group, et cetera, please write ELIZABETH BRADY based pianist and writer and singer of and let us know, and we will handle it Elizabeth Brady is a frequent re­ songs. She is presently studying music from here. viewer of Canadian fiction and her and hopes to make her career in music. poetry has appeared in several British Branching Out depends totally on the magazines. She is currently working on mail for receiving manuscripts, distributing copies, promotion - a collection of poems and a book- JUDY SINCLAIR length study of an early Canadian everything. The recent disruption in Judy Sinclair is a newcomer to postal service caused us some problems writer. Branching Out. She comes from which delayed the publication of this Moncton, New Brunswick. She calls issue of Branching Out. We sincerely herself "something of an eccentric." regret this inconvenience. DONA HARVEY Dona Harvey, 29, is staff develop­ ment officer for The Edmonton Jour­ EL LIE TESHER Please note that our new mailing nal. She has worked as a reporter, El lie Tesher plans to return to uni­ address is Branching Out, P.O. Box copy editor and section editor on versity in Spetember to continue her 4098, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 4T1. newspapers in Canada and the United post-graduate work in sociology. She States for 13 years. has worked as a case worker and has worked in small group dynamics in We apologize for the omission of SPARKLE HAYTER family life seminars. She expresses her credit for cover photographs of both Sparkle Hayter, 16, is a student at appreciation of people through hum­ the preview issue of Branching Out Jasper Place Composite High School in our and analysis in the written and and Volume One, Number One. They Edmonton. She hopes to make writing spoken word. Ms. Tesher is married were the work of Alice Baumann-Ron- her career. Aside from poetry, she is and has two children. dez, who is also responsible for the interested in football, hockey, animals, cover of this issue. music, literature and flying kites. She is presently working on a collection of poetry. Copyright 1974 by The New Women's Magazine Society, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. All rights reserved. Unless used in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in any form, by any means, including photocopying, recording, information storage and retrieval systems, et cetera, is forbidden without the express written permission of the publisher. This publication is on file at the International Women's History Archive, 2325 Oak St. Berkeley, Ca. 94708; [is available on microfilm from Bell & Howell, Wooster, Ohio, to October 71]; and is available on microfilm from IWHA, Berkeley, from Oct. 71 - June 74. The New Women's Magazine Society, Box 4098, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 4T1, Canada.

Volume 1, Number 2, June/July 1974. Branching Out

We're keeping an eye on Willie...

Willie, as you may have already guessed, is in Grade 5, and Miss Wilson is his teacher. Before you know it, Willie, or someone like him, may be making Canadians proud of their country as a writer of short stories, human-interest features, best-selling novels. That's why we go to Willie's school. Alberta's Literary Arts Branch exists to help all those interested in writing. If you want our informative ALBERTA AUTHORS BULLETIN, just ask us to put your name on our list. Would Alex Mair's "Writing For Radio" help you make that first magical sale? Have you a book you should be entering in our competitions (now embracing non-fiction as well as new novels)? If you're an Albertan interestedJn writing, we're interested in you. Just ask Willie. ydlbcria John Patrick Gillese, Director CULTURE, YOUTH Annelie Speidelsbach, Assistant AND RECREATION LITERARY ARTS BRANCH GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA