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DAWN Hung* ti-NAFT INSTDF News marriage 4 Writers' Meeting is Apr 5 for the May issue at 7 pm at Kinesis. All women by Lissa Geller welcome even if you don't have Poster campaign against Circling Dawn strikes nerve 5 experience. by Jackie Brown New refugee guidelines count women in 5 Kinesis is published ten times a year b the Vancouver Status of Women. I by Smita Patil objectives are to be a non-sectarian feminist voice for women and to work actively for social change, specifically combatting sexism, racism,classism, homophobia, ableism, and imperialism. Features Views expressed in Kinesis are tr Mexico still says no to NAFTA 8 e writer and do not necessarily Detail of On To Ottawa Caravan route 3 VSW policy. All unsigned materia by Patricia Hume and Ellen Woodsworth responsibility of the Kinesis Edi Dialing pro-choice in Ireland 9 by Erin Mullan

IWD Speaking out at the International Women's Day rally 10 speeches by Jane Gottfriedsen, Raminder Dosangh, Miche Hill, Anju Gogia, Fatima Jaffer, Shelagh Day, Carmela Allevato

Commentary Feminism and the politics of engagement.. by Mary Eaton

Centrespread Immigrant and refugee Iranian women take action 12 by Fahahimeh, Sheida and Fatima Jaffer

Arts Review of Sunnybroofc Trip through the mindfield 15 by Nancy Pollak Film review: Speak It! fights the power 16 by Nikola Maria De Marin Film review: Looking at lesbian images 16 by Alice Swift Book review: A Lotus of Another Color 17 by Archana Ghandi and Sur Mehat Book review: Wicked Verses 18 by Pam Fleming Review: The satire of April Narr 19 by Kathleen Oliver

does not accept | Editorial guidelines i Regulars DEADLINES As Kinesis Goes to Press 2 Ml submissions must be received in the nonth precede n •>- Note: Jul/ Inside Kinesis 2 Aug and ' • issue Movement Matters 6 Features and reviews: 10th by Faith Jones and Laiwan News: 15th What's News 7 Letters and Bulletin Board: 18th Display advertising by Lynne Wanyeki (camera ready): 1 Paging Women 18 (design required) 1 by Luce Kannen Letters 20 Kinesis is produced c Doppler PC using Wordperfect 5.1, Bulletin Board 21 PageMaker 4.0 and an NEC laser compiled by Lynne Wanyeki printer. Camera work by The Peak. Printing by Web Press Graphics LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER WOMEN Kinesis is indexed in the Canadian TO TEACH PAGEMAKER 4.0 AND/OR Women's Periodicals Index, the Alternative Press Index and is a WORDPERFECT 5.1 FOR WINDOWS member of the Canadian Magazine PublishersAssociationtion. PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE FOR ANNE AT 255*5499 Janey in Sunnybrook 56426__ by almost two-thirds, we thought this was going to make the feds look real bad in the papers the following morn. But hey, surprise! It took us hours to find it in The Globe until...yes, there it is...a five-line blurb, barely an inch of text, buried deep inside the paper! We thought we'd better mention the Alberta Status of Women is also closing the doors—"at least until we receive our long-overdue cheque from SecState"—on both its Edmonton and Calgary offices. Heck, that probably received 0.2 mm of text in the Globe already and we missed it. Thank Bell for the telephone! Anyway, now that the staff's laid off, one of them's offered to write a story about what's happening to women (and lesbians) in Alberta—"it's incredible. Womenareunderattackfromalrnosteverysectorof this society.. .It's hard to explain. I'll write." We're holding her to it. Actually, this month is a juicy one for this column (by the way, hope you like it/hate it? nobody writes to say they care any more...) 'cos there's lots of things going on. Or, at least, coming up. The infamous Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women is supposed to It's Spring time and we'd love to shake off the rainy day blues with some juicy gossip come up with its report this month. The infamous-er Royal Commission on New Reproduc­ to start off with. We thought 'bout being really daring and telling the one about Martina tive Technologies should be out by June—we didn't say it will...it should. Navratilova and kd lang, but someone beat us to it—and it's not true anyway. Everyone's Probably the biggest thing coming our way in terms of long-overdue, much-welcome talking about Gord and Judy but we switched off on that story ages ago and we're happy direct action is the Anti-N AFT A caravan to Ottawa [see page 3]. We figure it's about time we to be able to keep you in the dark too. How about Kim Campbell's constructed "affair" (?) all got together and swept the country up in a wave of socially progressive conscience., .think with the entire country? Nah, that won't wash in Vancouver. Nobody cares! Actually, about it.. thousands of people descend upon Ottawa to protest the Tory government's trade speaking of Kimmie, seems like the horrendous amendments to the Human Rights Act agreement with themultinationals...it's the most powerful display of left-wing organization aren't going to go through after all 'cos Kim would have had to debate it in the House of and action... and The Globe gives it 2 inches on page 9...!! Cormorans (sorry) and she jus' can't take the flak right now...what with upcoming Anyway, Women to Women Global Strategies dropped us a note to say women conventions and elections and all.. interested in joining the caravan, attending their next meeting or buying their new, improved Actually, thinking about Spring time doesn't exactly make our hearts bounce with pure, anti-NAFTA T-shirts should call 430-0458. unadulterated joy (there's a cliche—we promise, no more!) Yeah, we'll admit we're faking More on NAFTA. Or is it AFTA. That's the Southeast Asian equivalent to NAFTA, kind our upbeatness... of—a large, homogenous market intended as a base for investment and a local market for ...the BC budget's on its way in and it's not going to be good news for most of us. At products. Anyway, sounds like there's talk afoot (another cliche?) of combining NAFTA and a public meeting with finance minister Glen Clark last month, we got a taste of what it's going AFTA (to make NAAFFTTAA??) to create a massive, trans-Pacific, free-trade zone. Hmm. to be like. Bureaucrats point at chart after chart in their painstaking, efforts to explain why You'll notice we indulged and went with a two-page spread on International Women's cuts are the way to go this year., .decade? Lifetime? You see, chart number one shows us why Day in this issue...that's 'cos we had some great photographs and transcripts of some the deficit is squeezing provincial coffers...chart number two shows why federal cuts to powerful speeches we wanted to share...and 'cos we jus' knew you wouldn't read about it provinces are squeezing provincial coffers...chart number three... in the Globe and Mail. We've got a history of Press Gang Printers coming up in the next What we learnt from the forum was that we're all going to be poorer and the NDP loves issue., oh yeah, don't forget to support their latest fundraising bash on April.../see ad, page using charts, diagrams, and numbers. We were at an anti-N AFT A forum later in the month 7]. Minutes to go before we hit the presses and the phone's silent, no one's rushing in the door [see page 3] and the MC was Joan SmaUwood, minister of social services—she only spoke with that last-minute notice...and we're going to go before they do... for a few minutes but she used a million charts to help her through it all...Well, we're smart and not easily fooled. It didn't take us long to figure out that the province can't afford increases to social services 'cos they're spending all the money on charts and projectors and things like that... Oh, before we forget, we received a press release as Kinesis goes to press announcing that Smallwood's demanding "a national review of...federal/provincial cost-sharing safety nets to help ensure the provinces...get a fair deal from Ottawa." What we think she's wondering is how provinces are going to continue paying for ever-rising welfare costs...they estimate over 10 percent of Brit. Columbians are on welfare...the press release has an awful lot of "because of changes to federal social policies..." and "recession and economic restructuring combined with federal policies..." and "due to federal off-loading of financial obligations..." Sounds like they're preparing us for the worst... Anyway, we're watching to see what happens in the next budget...to welfare rates, pay equity, funding for women's groups and disabled people and ...and lots more. Read our story next month. Looks Hke that's going to be the only (official) budget we're going to have to deal with Well, the weather outside hasn't been did some pretty wonderful things too—no, this year...the feds aren't planning to have one 'till after the elections...speaking of which, the best this production—it's been pouring Shannon, not just taking minutes. But seri­ the NDP have promised 50 percent of their candidates will be women, the Liberals promise rain all through our production of this issue. ously, she's been writing regularly for a us 25 percent, and the Tories are practically giving us Kim Campbell! Wow. Talk about Which does actually fit the "weather" in­ while now, and we're glad tha t she's willing making it hard for us...?!! side—we're feeling pretty teary about say­ to volunteer even more time to devote to the Back to the feds, though. They finally made SecState Women's Programs permanent— ing goodbye to two terrific Kinesis gals. bizness end of things. Welcome on [Ed] which means it won't have to be reviewed and renewed every five years any more...(gosh, After "four International Women's Day Board, Shannon. they do care) but they slashed funding by 10 percent—about one million dollars. There's no issues at Kinesis," Birgit Schinke is leaving We have a few new writers this month: questionabout it. ..they don't give a (we can say it but we won't) about women in this country. her position as advertising and distribution Sur Mehat, our invaluable typesetter, makes The mainstream dailies make that clear too. When the disabled women's network coordinator. She's been doing a great job her debut, as does Mary Eaton, Sheida, (DAWN) decided to close down their national offices because SecState slashed its funding sellingadsanddistributing Kinesis and we're Fahahimeh, and Alice Swift. sorry to see her leave. But with two kids, Wielding blue pencil and exacto-knives grad school, and two—or is it three?—part- for the first time: Linda Barnard. time jobs, we knew she'd need a break from On another Kinesis topic, we've got our deadline fever at the paper sometime. Hope annual Kinesis Benefit coming up in June, you get used to the new pace o' life, Birgit, and we'd like YOU to volunteer. Meet fun ^THANKS and thanks for working to help keep us women! Enjoy incredible music & comedy! afloat all these years. We'll miss you. Sell lots of raffle tickets! (You knew that was Also leaving is Ed Board member Ria coming up, didn't you?) Call Anne at 255- Bleumer. Ria joined the Editorial Board at 5499, if you'd like to give us a hand organiz­ Our thanks to Vancouver Status of Women members who support us year 'round with Kinesis last year, when she organized the ing this one-in-a-year E-vent. memberships and donations. Our appreciation to the following supporters who became Incredible Kinesis Writer's School. She's been We're still looking for volunteers who members, renewed their memberships or donated to VSW in February. here ever since, and kept us all on our toes are familiar with WordPerfect 5.1 and Page­ Rita Chudnovsky • Barbara Curran • Frances Friesen • Jo Hinchliffe • Rita Kohli • with her latest idea for improving things Maker 4.0, which we use to produce Kinesis. Barbara Lebrasseur • Kathryn McCannnell • CA. McQuarrie • Monique Midgley • around the place. Dream—to set up a We'd love it if you could volunteer time to Kerrin Moore • A. Ali-Sa Nemesis • Neil Power • Kim Sorenson • Sheilah Thompson permanent Kinesis writer's school, but got help train other volunteers on these pro­ We would also like to express our appreciation to the following donors who have caught up in jus' trying to pay her rent. grams. Call Anne at 255-5499. responded so generously to our recent fundraising appeals: But not everyone's leaving! There's an­ And finally, we're always looking for Alexis Applin • Lois Eileen Arber • Barbara Bell • Margaret Birrell • Helga Bolleter • BC other new face around here, too. Shannon e. newwritersand production volunteers. Call Federation of Labour • Carole Cameron • Lorraine Cameron • Canwest Pacific Television Ash sat in on our last few Ed Board meeting, (604) 255-5499 if you've got a story idea, or if • P. Carlton • Jo Coffey • CS Resors Consulting Ltd. • Barbara Curran • Diana Davidson "volunteered" to take the minutes, and de­ you're willing to endure the waxy hands • Shelagh Day • Marie Delia Mattia • Barbara Der • Dexter, Wallace & Associates • Jean cided that the Ed Board really did do some and warm hearts of our production week­ Elder • Gene Errington • Susan Griffin • Noma Horner • Dorothy Horton • Patricia pretty wonderful things. We thought she ends (cookies provided). Hughes • Evelyn Johnson • Bernice Kirk • Bernadette Lalor-Morton • Louise Leclair • Heather Leighton • Jacqueline Levitin • Susan Lewis • Lidstone Young Anderson • Joy MacPhail • Rosemary Mallory • Darlene Marzari • Deborah Matheson • Margaret Mitchell • Susan Mitchell • Myrtle Mowatt • Leslie Muir • Melinda Munro • Karen come to the next Nordlinger • Audrey Paterson • Janet Patterson • Sue Penfold • Yannick Raymond • Susan Sanderson • Martha Sandor • Nancy Sheehan • Helen Shore • Glinda Sutherland • Edith Thomas • Hilda Thomas • Vicki Trerise • University of BC • VanCity Credit writers' meeting Union • Joanne Walton April 5 @ 7 pm SUNRISE, SUNSET #301-1720 Grant Street TO SEE BOTH JOIN THE PRODUCTION TEAM AT KINESIS call 255-5499 for info CALL 255 •5499 all women welcome NEWS

On To Ottawa Caravan: Walking all over NAFTA

by Ellen Woodsworth Groups involved in the planning of the caravan include: NAC, Woman to Woman From BC to Newfoundland, from north­ Global Strategies, the Action Canada ern Quebec to southern Ontario, women, Network, Greenpeace, the Canadian Labour children and men will march into Ottawa for Congress, farmers, fishermen and wo­ a mass demonstration on Parliament Hill on men, seniors, Canadian Child Care Advo­ May 15th. cacy, and hundreds of other organizations The On To Ottawa Caravan was an­ across Canada. nounced at a recent forum on the North To help get the word out to women American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) across the country, NAC has hired a full time in Vancouver last month to a crowd of about organizer, Teresa Walsh. She will also coor­ 2,000—the largest crowd at an anti-NAFTA dinate the involvement of women's groups rally so far in BC. for the caravan as it passes through towns It will be a mass cross-country action and cities. "against free trade and against the corporate Rebick will be joining the caravan in agenda to send a message to the politicians Winnipeg. Farmers are joining with their that whoever is elected in Ottawa, our agenda tractors, fishers with their boats, truckers is to put the people of this country first, not with their trucks. Everyone is doing banners the corporations," says Judy Rebick of the to send on to Ottawa. National Action Committee on the Status of Woman to Woman Global Strategies Women. will have t-shirts and literature available this The caravan will start from Courtenay, month. NAC will provide "No to NAFTA" BC on April 16, and ma ke its wa y to Vancou­ women's buttons, fact sheets, and flyers on ver by April 18 [see mapfor details]. There will women and NAFTA for the May 15th rally be a rally in Vancouver at noon and many in Ottawa. will then accompany the caravan to Hope. Women who want to join, need speak­ Everyone is welcome. There are plans to have a strong wom­ ments in this country: the labour movement, ers or information, or can contribute money, Furious that we are losing hundreds of en's voice travelling in relays across this the women's movement, the nationalist or plan a welcoming rally where they live in thousands of paid jobs and exhausted from land, so that our needs and our politics are movement, the anti-poverty movement, the BC can call (604) 736-7678. If you need infor­ picking up the cuts to social services in our heard—and our politics are a clear part of anti-racist movement, disabled rights move- mation on action in other provinces, call homes, the message is simple: Women are the rising tide of Canadians turning against ment, seniors, the environmental (604)522-7911. saying, no more! No to more cuts. No to the corporate agenda. movement...and we're going to hit every Ellen Woodsworth'is a member of Women NAFTA. And no to governments that act as As Rebick said in her speech at the rally: town and city in the country and organizeand to Women Global Strategies. agents for the transnational corporations. "We need to unite all of the social move­ mobilize and bring our message to Ottawa."

DisAbled Women's Network: Cuts threaten dusk for DAWN by Susan Briscoe conducting research about parenting, em­ Meister says that, while the government DAWN will make do with whatever money ployment, self image, and reproductive tech­ is happy to get good press from supporting it gets," she says. The national office of DAWN (Disabled nologies. a disabled women's organization, they are But Israel says they cannot run DAWN Women's Network) Canada was forced to The national office of DAWN Canada not willing to adequately fund the group. like that anymore. "I hope they don't think close its doors on March 31 due to federal has been DAWN's liaison with the federal "The Tories have gotten lots of mileage we're bluffing, because we're not," Israel government funding cuts. government and has also worked on an out of us. They're always holding us up as an adds. "We simply cannot continue with an "We became a strong voice for disabled international level. DAWN has been trying example of how wonderful they are. They impossible situation. It would take time and women across Canada and we have to shut money that we simply don't have. It would down because...now they have not even be a half-assed job, and we're not willing to given us enough funds to do projects," says do that." Pat Israel, who made the grim announce­ "Disabled women are She explains that even the cost of a ment at a press conference in Ottawa on meeting is beyond their means. Their last March 17. the canaries of the phone bill for a conference call board meet­ "We refuse to die a slow death as they ing was $1,400. "Getting the board together cut back more and more each year. We'd women's movement and in one room would have cost much, much rather die quickly right now," says Israel. more," she says. "We have no choice but to send the money the closure of our While this funding cut does not directly [from Women's Programs, Secretary of State] affect local chapters of DAWN, which are, back." national office shows for the most part, provincially funded, it will DAWN Canada applied to SecState for seriously affect their work, as they rely on $325,000. The organization was told it would what a profound effect the national office as the centre of their cross­ receive $132,000. When the cheque arrived, country network. it was for $120,000, to finance two projects. cutbacks are having on I DAWN Canada is still hoping that, with No explanation was given for the additional support from women's groups and indi- cut. women's groups." | vidualsand enough media attention, SecState "Disabled women are the canaries of will reverse its position. the women's movement and the closure of -Pat Israel, DAWN I DAWN is asking women to phone, fax, our national office shows what a profound or write in protest to Ottawa. Letters can be effect cutbacks are having on women's sent to: Monique Landry, Minister of Secre­ groups," says Israel. (Canaries were taken tary of State, House of Commons, Ottawa, into the mines to gauge the breathability of for years to get core funding to run its na­ know how much money it takes to run an Ontario, KlA 0M5. Her phone number is the air. If they died, the miners would evacu­ tional office full time. But like other groups organization like this. They know what (819) 997-7788 and her fax number is (819) ate the shafts before the air ran out.) which represent "doubly disadvantaged" they're doing," she says. 994-5987. DAWN Canada was set up in 1985 to women, such as those for immigrant women Meister says that for a long time DAWN address the particular issues that women and women of colour, they have been de­ was based in her bedroom because there with disabilities face, issues that were not on nied these essential funds year after year by were no funds for an office. the agenda of disabilities rights groups or of the Tory government. "Hundredsand thousands of voluntary Susan Briscoe is a volunteer writer for women's groups. The organization has been Joan Meister of DAWN BC is a past hours have gone into DAWN already...The Kinesis, who is leaving Vancouver for responsible for increasing awareness of vio­ chair of DAWN Canada. She calls the gov­ government doesn't appreciate what a deal Montreal to have a baby and "forget" about lence against women with disabilities and ernment cutback "stupid and senseless." they're getting. They're just assuming SecState for a while.

APRIL 1993 NEWS

Lesbian rights: Loss, win or draw

by Shannon e. Ash intent of Parliament at the time the case However, Nielson says she is disap­ bians are more likely to be caring for chil­ began. pointed with the Mossop decision because it dren than gay men. It's a loss, but it's the closest lesbians Parliament had amended the Human was made primarily on technical grounds, Under grounds of sex discrimination, have come to winning. "It" is a recent deci­ Rights Act in 1983 to include family status, not on the merits of the case. one issue is freedom of choice in relation­ sion by the Supreme Court of Cana da on the but sexual orientation was not listed as a "It skirted the main issue, which is ships. Brodsky argues this is central to the Mossop case, which impacts on lesbian and prohibited ground for discrimination. There­ whether or not lesbians and gays can have goal of equality for all women, and includes gay rights, and it has left many in lesbian and fore, Lamer writes, Parliament did not in­ families," she says. freedom from compulsory heterosexuality. feminist circles with mixed feelings. tend to include lesbians and gays under the But her lawyer, Brodsky, sees some Nielsen will go ahead with all four Whatever the verdict, now that a deci­ definition of family status and, therefore, positive signs in the Supreme Court deci­ grounds in her case, although she fears the sion has been made on the case of Brian Mossop's claim was not valid at the time it sion. She notes that none of the judges found CHRC may choose not to look at family Mossop—a gay man who claimed discrimi­ was filed. the behaviour of the government appropri­ status in the wake of the Mossop decision, nation on the basis of family status—at least While the Supreme Court judgement is ate, and they ruled against Mossop by a slim while marital status may be threatened by one of a number of similar cases can pro­ based on old law and not current judge­ majority on a highly technical ground. Only Campbell's proposed human rights act ceed. ments and events, the court decision gives a the minority judges ruled on the substantive amendments. Vancouver resident Carol Nielson be­ nod to developments on the lesbian and gay issues, and they ruled in favour of lesbians One major difference she sees between gan her human rights case three years ago rights front that have occurred in the time and gays. Mossop's case and her own is that children when her employer refused to allow dental since they heard Mossop's case. Brodsky notes that Nielson's case is sig­ are involved. The fact that she and her part­ insurance coverage—part of Nielson's em­ These include an Ontario Court of Ap­ nificantly different from Mossop's case in ner are two women with a dependent child ployment benefits—for her female partner peal ruling on Haig last year. The ruling that it is more comprehensive—claiming four may cause their case to be looked at differ­ and the biological daughter of her partner. drew on the equality section in the Charter of grounds of discrimination and addressing ently than that of two men with no Efforts to resolve the situation were Rights and Freedoms to say that courts are the dynamic between sex and sexual orien­ dependents. Although this may have a good unsuccessful, so she filed a complaint under required to "read in" sexual orientation as tation. It also raises a different set of facts, effect—children are often seen as reinforc­ the Canadian Human Rights Act. She claimed protected grounds under human rights acts. such as the parent-child relationship. ing a family—"it would be bad if those discrimination on four grounds: sex, marital Also, in December last year, former jus­ "The case provides the opportunity to lesbian and gay couples without children status, family status, and sexual orientation. tice minister Kim Campbell introduced advance evidence and arguments regarding are deemed not family. But any victory we The Women's Legal Education and Action amendments to the Human Rights Act which, the unique circumstances of women who can get is worth pursuing," she says. Fund (LEAF) is supporting Nielson's case. while including sexual orientation as pro­ are lesbians," says Brodsky. The issues be­ Shannon e. Ash is a lesbian with no The Canadian Human Rights Commis­ tected grounds, limited the definition of ing raised are not necessarily the same as employment benefits—and not much (paid) sion (CHRC) has the power to recommend marital status to heterosexual couples. The those for gay men, she adds. employment either. She thanks Agnes the appointment of a tribunal in Nielson's amendments drew criticism from gay and Lesbians, more than gay men, have par­ Huang for her help with the material for case. However, the CHRC refused to deter­ lesbian rights activists and have since been ticular equality concerns arising from their this story. mine whether to appoint a tribunal or not, shelved, at least for the time being. lower economic status and the fact that les­ pending the outcome of the Mossop litiga­ The Supreme Court decision notes that tion. the situation might have been different had Nielson's lawyer, Gwen Brodsky, and Mossop's lawyers launched a Charter chal­ LEAF argue that the Mossop situation is lenge of the law's consti tutionality. They say "substantively different" from Nielson's,and they had to rely on parliamentary intent Moge vs Moge after divorce: Nielson's case would not necessarily be de­ because a Charter challenge was not made. cided in the same way. However, a federal However, the dissenting judgement, court judge upheld the CHRC's decision, delivered byJusticeClaireL'Heureux-Dube, and Nielson's case has been held in abey­ supports a more liberal interpretation of A better break ance for two years. human rights legislation: "Concepts of equal­ On February 25, the Supreme Court of ity and liberty which appear in human rights Canada finally ruled on Mossop's case. documents are not bounded by the precise Mossop, an employee of the federal govern­ understanding of those who drafted them." by Lissa Geller from the courts' traditional emphasis on ment, was denied bereavement leave to at­ Furthermore, "the traditional concep­ awarding support on a "sink or swim" basis tend the funeral of his male partner's father tion of family is not the only conception., .the A recent court decision recognizing the and sets a legal precedent for courts to take in 1985. He filed a complaint with the CHRC, law has evolved and continues to evolve to sexist division of labour for women within into consideration women's economic in­ and a tribunal ruled in Mossop's favour. recognize an increasingly broad range of marriage may give divorced women who equality following divorce. The Attorney-General—minister of jus­ relationships... Given the range of human are dependent on spousal support payments Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dube writes tice Kim Campbell—appealed the ruling to preferences and possibilities, it is not unrea­ a better break, says a women's legal group. in the majority decision that "judges must be the federal court of appeal and won. The sonable to conclude that families may take Helena Orton of the Women's Legal more aware of the social reality of divorce— CHRC appealed this decision to the Su­ many forms." Education and Action Fund (LEAF) says the that women almost always emerge as the preme Court. Following the decision on Mossop, Supreme Court decision on Moge versus poorer partner." The Supreme Court ruled against Brodsky sent a letter to the CHRC to request Moge recognizes "that it is primarily women Orton concludes that the decision Mossop's appeal by a slim 4-3 majority. The Nielson's case now be allowed to proceed. who are economically disadvantaged dur­ "should be helpful in making the legal sys­ majority decision, delivered by Chief Justice As we go to press with this story, the com­ ing marriage and its breakdown, because tem and spousal support awards more ac­ Lamer, is based on technical reasoning— mission still hasn't responded. generally it is women who take primary cessible and responsive to women." specifically, on what was judged to be the responsibility for childcare and other house­ In its intervention, LEAF argued that hold work at the expense of their employ­ the continued gender-based division of la­ ment opportunities." LEAF intervened in bour means that women often leave a mar­ the case because of "its critical importance riage with less opportunities for outside for women." employment and more responsibilities for EASTSidE DATAGRAPLHCS Following 18 years of marriage, during home and children. This translates into which Mrs. Moge worked part-time as a economic hardship for women and their fSsP^ 1460 COMMERCIAL DmvE cleaner in the evenings and looked after her children. S^^"" TEL: 255^9559 FAX: 255^075 three children in the daytime, the couple The Supreme Court decision accepts OfficE Supplies ART Supplies divorced. Mr. Moge was ordered by a Mani­ that argument. "There is no doubt that di­ toba court to pay $150 a month in spousal vorce and its economic effects are playing a support as well as child support for the role in the feminization of poverty..." writes couple's three children. After the separation L'Heureux-Dube. She cites a 1988 study that in 1973, Mrs. Moge took a full-time job as a shows two-thirds of divorced women have Decorate your cleaner. She is 55, speaks little English, has a incomes below the poverty line compared grade 7 education, and has suffered disa­ with only ten percent of divorced men. T-shirts bling injuries. In addition to recognizing the poverty The case was brought to the Supreme faced by many women when leaving the Fabric markers, Court when Mr. Moge's attempts to end his marriage, the Court also stressed the need spousal support obligations on the grounds for support well after the divorce. Fabric paint and white cotton T-shirts that his ex-wife had ample time to gain According to Orton, the Court said " long children's and adult sizes financial self-sufficiency were turned down term support or its equivalent is often neces­ by a Manitoba court. sary due to the broad scope and long term CAU OR FAX ANC) WE'U SENCI you OUR Momhly flyER of qREAr The Supreme Court upheld the Mani­ nature of women's economic disadvan­ UNJON Shop officE supply spEckls. FREE NExr-dAy dslivERy. toba ruling and said Mr. Moge must con­ tages." tinue to pay his wife spousal benefits. The Lissa Geller is a lesbian mother and a majority decision is a significant move away volunteer writer for Kinesis. NEWS

Circling Dawn: substantiating information or to contact the One Black woman says she was con­ appropriate authorities." fronted at a Black History Month event by Circling Dawn says no-one has talked three women from Circling Dawn. She says to them personally about any of the charges, she then confronted the women after the including the rapes. Spokesperson Mojave event. A couple of weeks later, she said, a says that, while they believe women who woman of colour who had supported her say they have been sexually abused, in this during the Black History month confronta­ Posters case no woman has approached the collec­ tions received a threatening message on her tive with their stories. answering machine. But women working with survivors of And, she says, two other friends, also rape say that asking women to come for­ women of colour, were confronted by men ward and name their rapists does not ac­ from the Circling Dawn community a few knowledge women's fear of retaliation, or days after the Lesbian Visibility March, dur­ strike nerve their right to decide how they will deal with ing which a group of women of colour an abuser. "No one should expect any shouted, "Circling Dawn is racist scum." woman to confront her rapist under any Hopi, a spokesperson for Circling Dawn, circumstances," says Sarah Leavitt of Wo­ acknowledges tha t she and two other women by Jackie Brown Other accusations include: that Circling men Against Violence Against Women from Circling Dawn individually ap­ Dawn has conned women out of thousands (WAVAW.) proached a woman they had been told was Last month, posters warning women to of dollars; pressures staff to work long hours involved in the postering at a Black History beware of Circling Dawn and calling for a and for food, not money; is anti-choice; dis­ month event, to talk about the postering. boycott of the organic food store and restau­ courages the use of birth control; and advo­ Things got heated, she says, and they rant appeared on Commercial Drive in Van­ cates polygamy. dropped it. Another conversation took place couver. Describing the store as "dangerous" Circling Dawn responded to the charges ...women working with after the event during which, Hopi says, the to women, the posters accuse Circling Dawn with its own poster entitled, "From the Black woman and her friends accused Hopi of widespread economic and sexual exploi­ Women of Circling Dawn," denying the al­ survivors of rape say and the other Circling Dawn women of har­ tation and abuse. legations. The poster claims that the accusa­ assment. The posters say several women have tions of rape are unsubstantiated. "To the that asking women to Two women involved in the postering been raped by members of the Circling Dawn best of our knowledge, no woman has ever campaign—Wilma and Emily [not their real collective and others associated with the been raped by any collective members." come forward and name names]—also say they have been harassed. store, and that women have been forced to It asks the people involved in the their rapists does not They say they have been followed and their take part in circle discussions of the sexual postering campaign "to come forward with home has been watched since their involve­ assaults with their abusers present. the names of the rapists and any specific acknowledge women's ment in the postering campaign. "We're outraged at the attempts to si­ fear of retaliation... lence us. We speak about the violence that happened to us, and harassment is the re­ sponse," says Emily. They say they initially Immigration and Refugee Board: joined the campaign because they had been verbally and physically abused by two men from Circling Dawn. Kinesis spoke to some women who say Emily and Wilma have filed a. formal Rules count they have experienced various forms of abuse complaint regarding the harassment with at Circling Dawn, but they have requested police. that no details of their stories be revealed in Hopi insists no one in the collective has any context at this time. The women say they "followed or harassed anyone." been through a great deal of emotional pain Meanwhile, the women involved in the and stress, and fear repercussions if they are boycott say they are concerned that women women in identified. are being set up against each other. The Otherwomen,notdirectlyinvolvedwith women of Circling Dawn have been respon­ by Smita Patil Bain says NAC, refugee and other wom­ Circling Dawn, but associated with the boy­ sible for defending the store. en's groups are pushing the government to cott action/agreed to speak on condition of "By speaking as the only organized Women may beeligible to stay inCanada go further and change the Immigration law. anonymity or on a first-name basis. voice, the women of Circling Dawn are bear­ if they are fleeing countries where the gov­ "There is no need to sit down and debate The poster action came out of a series of ing the brunt of criticism and this can too ernment "is unwilling or unable" to protect with them whether gender persecution should meetings that began in February. A large easily be deflected into a pitting of women them from sexual or domestic violence, ac­ be grounds for refugee claims, but consulta­ number of women showed up for the first against women," say Emily and Wilma. "Ei­ cording to new Immigration and Refugee tions should be liad on how it should be legis­ meeting. Some were former Circling Dawn ther way, one group of women must be Board (IRB) guidelines ongender-based per­ lated," she says. "We just have to push them members, others were friends of women lying." secution. to make it law." who had been involved, and others had Bonnie Agnew of Rape Relief says she is The guidelines came after intense pres­ Minister of immigration, Bernard heard stories and were concerned about Cir­ concerned that men at Circling Dawn are sure from women's organisations, which Valcourt, has said that extension of the Im­ cling Dawn's treatment of women in par­ abdicating their responsibility. "I'd like to have supported severa 1 cases of women refu­ migration law to include gender-based per­ ticular. hear the men make some honest statements," gees fighting deportation. secution is unlikely. His reasons include: The women decided on an anonymous says Agnew. "If there is this much anger, Eighty percent of the world's refugees Canada should not be imposing its values on poster campaign to alert other women to then I know from experience there is some­ are women, yet two-thirds of refugee claim­ other countries; Canada cannot afford to what had happened to some women associ­ thing to it, and it seems like the men are ants accepted into Canada are men. The IRB take the flood of women claimants that would ated with the Circling Dawn community. getting out of the public heat. And it's the guidelines broaden the interpretationof refu­ follow; and, it is up to the United Nations, The women say they felt this might be the women and the kids who are in economic gee to include gender-based persecution. not Canada, to broaden the definition of best vehicle, since women were not ready to jeopardy." Neither Canadian Immigration law nor refugee. publicly confront Circling Dawn. Meanwhile, the women at Circling the United Nations Convention on Refu­ In the meantime, NAC is demanding a Public responsewasimmediateand sup­ Dawn say there is a need for an open meet­ gees, on which the law is based, include moratorium on deportations of women sur­ portive. The women say more women who ing between all concerned with a profes­ gender as a grounds of persecution. vivors of violence or sexist persecution until had survived abusive involvements with sional facilitator. "We've sought this with Under the guidelines, a refugee claim­ the law is changed. Circling Dawn came forward with similar them several times and they've blocked it ant is required to convince the IRB officer "It's not fair to deport these women to stories. every time," says Hopi. that a policy or law in her home country is possible death and certain violence when Stephanie—one of the women who put The women acknowledge that they've inherently persecutory towards women, that we've changed the IRB guidelines," said up the "Beware of Circling Dawn" posters— been asked to step forward, but say they she fears how the law is administered, and NAC's Judy Rebick. She says the IRB should says she and other women have decided to believe it's their prerogative to decide how that punishment for non-compliance is per­ review the women's cases based on the new break anonymity and come forward to stop to deal with their concerns about Circling secution. guidelines. the targeting of individual women. Dawn. "If we don't feel safe, we don't," says There is also no requirement that the However, while Valcourt has granted She told Kinesis the accusations are based Wilma. guidelines be followed by IRB officers, and temporary stays of deportation orders in on "first-hand accounts of abuse. The infor­ In the meantime, WAVAW has sent a interpretation, for example, of "domestic several cases, he says a moratorium is out of mation [for the accusations] was given ei­ press release to local media saying, violence" will be left to their discretion. (IRB the question. ther by a woman or women to whom it "WAVAW believes all women who say they officers are federal patronage appointments To demand that gender-based persecu­ happened, both in person and in writing." have been sexuallyassaulted...We know that rather than career officers hired for their tion be legislated, write, call or fax: Bernard According to Stephanie, women who a woman who is sexually assaulted is usu­ skills and, while they are accountable to a Valcourt, House of Commons, Ottawa, Kl A attended the meetings talked of the pres­ ally faced with disbelief from the police, federal court, their decisions can only be 0A6; (phone) 819-994-2482; (fax) 819-994- sure, coercion and sexual assault of women doctors or family and friends." appealed on the narrowest legal grounds). 0448. involved with Circling Dawn. Store owner WAVAW says its policy is to "disclose "The guidelines are just that—guide­ For more information about the nation­ Tom Evans was described as a "powerful no information that would identify women lines," says Beverly Bain of the National wide campaign by women's and refugee leader" who used rhetoric to manipulate who call our line. "We refuse to say whether Action Committee on the Status of Women groups, call Flora Fernandez at 514-270-8291. and dominate members of the group. or not women have called our line about (NAC). "Itis important thatgender persecu­ Since the postering action, some women assaults at Circling Dawn." tion be part of the legal definition [of a say they, as well as friends and supporters Jackie Brown is a freelance writer living in refugee]. It should not be left up to the Smita Patil is a volunteer writer for not involved in the action, have been har­ Vancouver. discretion of IRB officers," she says. Kinesis. assed and intimidated.

APRIL 1993 MOVEMENT MATTERS ing should take place to ensure v health, violence, national machinery, refu­ Lesbian mothers listings information health. The VWHC stress it is necessary for gees, and technology. a broad spectrum of women, not just the A non-governmental organization network Movement Matters is designed to be privileged, to have input into the process. (NGO) forum will be organized parallel to a network of news, updates and infor­ The Provincial Women's Health Lobby, the Fourth World Conference. The commis­ MOMAZONS is a newly formed na­ mation of special interest to the wom­ which supported the VWHC initiative, is a sion will attempt to foster close cooperation tional US organization for lesbian mothers en's movement. group of women dedicated to developing a between the United Nations system, gov­ and for lesbians who want children in their Submissions to Movement Matters platform from which all women can speak ernments and NGOs during the preparatory lives. should be no more than 500 words, about health care issues. The Health Lobby process leading up to the conferences. "We've been organizing here in Central typed, double spaced and may be believes public consultation must be educa­ The commission says it recognizes the Ohio for more than five years, and over 100 edited for length. Deadline is the 18th tional about the impact public policy on importance of the extensive contribution of local women and their children have been of the month preceding publication. women's health has on each woman's life. non-governmental organizations to the suc­ participating in Momazon meetings," says by Faith Jones and Laiwan Women can then make educated choices cess of previous world conferences on founder Kelly McCormide. about what a public policy on women's women. The commission also will attempt "Momazons is all about lesbians creat­ Conference on health should be. to promote the participation of Third World ing families, mothering and raising chil­ PWHL is urging women to send letters NGOs. dren." stalking in support of a public consultation process, It is Momazons' vision that lesbians in­ by April 1, to: Elizabeth Cull, Minister of terested in raising children should not feel The Victoria Status of Women Action Health, Rm. 310, Parliament Buildings, Vic­ Handbook on isolated, suffer homophobic reactions in si­ Group and the University of Victoria's Fac­ toria, BC, V8V 1X4; and to: Penny Priddy, lence, or search in vain for lesbian-family ulty of Law are co-sponsoring a conference Minister for Women's Equality, Rm. 342, sexual assault supportive professionals in their quest to on stalking, threatening and intimidation. Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V1X4. create or nurture their families. The conference, called "A Step Behind— A new, comprehensive handbook on Momazons' produces a bimonthly Who Is There?", will be structured to reflect sexual assault has just been published by the newsletter to facilitate dialogue about lesbi­ a three level analysis of issues of men stalk­ Economic theory Montreal Health Press. ans experiences and opinions about consid­ ing women as follows: the nature of the The book, Sexual Assault, is divided into ering children, creating family, blending problem and its extent, current responses by and feminism two sections. The first is a guide to prevent­ families, child rearing, and other issues of the system, solutions and strategies. ing, fighting and dealing with sexual as­ significance to lesbian mothers and their The conference will be held in the Begbie Mainstream economic theories have saults. The second is an analysis of the social families. Building at the University of Victoria, May tended to exclude women. A group of context of sexual assault. They also have an extensive directory of 14 and 15. For more information, call SWAG women economists in The Netherlands are Sexual Assault provides definitions of supportive resources and a member direc­ at (604) 381-1012. planning a conference to "contribute to the different kinds of sexual assault, and infor­ tory that organizes a "mom to mom" referral development of a more gender balanced mation designed to help those who have program to connect lesbian matters dealing economic theory." been sexually assaulted decide whether to with similar issues. Alternative healing "Out of the Margin: Feminist Perspec­ report the assault to the police. It also ex­ A one-year membership costs $15-20 tives on Economic Theory" will be held in plains both the progressive and regressive US sliding scale. Add US $8 in Canada to for survivors Amsterdam, June 2 to 5,1993 and will be the aspects of Canada's new sexual assault law, cover mailing costs. This includes a sub­ first conference of its kind in Europe. It will passed in June 1992. scription to the newsletter, which encour­ VISAC, The Vancouver Incest and include public debates and a large 'Ideas Sexual Assault is available from Mon­ ages interactive dialogue among lesbian Sexual Abuse Centre has started a commit­ Exchange Market,' as well as the closed sci­ treal Health Press, Inc., CP 1000, Station mothers. Individuals contributing US $100 tee to address the issues of: creating an alter­ entific session where participation would be Place du Pare, Montreal, P.Q., H2W 2N1. or more become "founding mothers" and native to a psychiatric ward for treatment of limited. Early registration is advised. For Cost is $4 for a single copy; bulk discounts lifetime members. Write to: Momazons, P.O. adult survivors who need a safe place to heal more information, contact: Out of the Mar­ are available. It is available in French or Box 02069, Columbia, Ohio 43202. Telephone from the trauma of sexual abuse; and to gin Stichring, P.O. Box 16625, NL-1001 RC, English. (614) 267-0193. implement a concept of residential treat­ Amsterdam, the Netherlands or fax (31)(0) ment centres as an alternative to hospitaliza­ 20.6384608. tion and the high cost of hospital care. This will provide services that are desperately needed by survivors and are presently not available in this province, and will save Fourth women's money. world conference The first committee meeting was held in © Vancouver's sixth annual March. If you're interested in becoming in­ The United Nations Commission on the volved with this committee call Lyn Martens Status of Women will hold the fourth in its A Festival of Working People & the Arts atVTSAC874-2938.Address:1193Kingsway, series of world conferences in Beijing, China, Vancouver. September 4 to 15, 1995. Previous confer­ ences were held in 1975,1980 and 1985. The 1985 NGO conference in Nairobi, Kenya, \JliMAYW«RKS drew 13,000 women from around the world. A healthy voice The mandate of "The Fourth World Con­ X^TX from April 29 thru May 8, / for all women ference on Women: Action for Equality, Dev­ vaS" ^\ various d/t & eastside venues! elopment and Peace" is to define a platform The provincial government ha s rejected of action for the commission. The commis­ a proposal by the Vancouver Women's Health sion says this platform will be concise and V \ Collective (VWHC) whichdemanded a voice action-oriented, and will concentrate on a for all women in the restructuring of health few issues identified as representing funda­ MayWorks Film & Video Festival Pacific Cinematheque, May 4-8, care inBC. mental obstacles to the advancement of the Five nights of new independent media about workers & their The VWHC's brief proposed govern­ majority of women in the world. It would communities, from motherhood to wage labour, by Paper Tiger TV, ment fund a representative group of women include elements related to awareness- Inuit Broadcasting Corp, Pratibha Parmar, Sara Diamond, & more. raising, decision-making, literacy, poverty, to canvass opinions on how the restructur­ Karen Knights, Programmer. Censored In B.C. - Art Exhibit, opening 7:30 pm Apr. 29, IWA Hall, Commercial & 13th: local art previously censored for For women who are stretching boundaries And think broadest maybe describes them best sexual & political reasons. Artists incl: Kiss & Tell, Melva Forsberg, And wonder if women's clothes in size 0 Kati Campbell. Curated by Jeannie Kamins. Isn't really some very bad jest Censored Performance Cabarets - Apr. 30, 7:30 pm & May 1, Fotwomen out there who are larger 8 pm IWA Hall. Veda Hille & Her Band, music, poetry, & ....by And realize this is their fate Deirdre Walker, Evelyn Lau, Heidi Archibald, Dana Claxton, I carry clothes that are bigger I know, isn't that great! Ingrid Percy. Fiction, Fantasy and Fragmentation - May 6, 8 pm Video In, 1102 Homer. Lecture & screening by Alberta video artist Leila Sujir. Quality consignment Dish Pigs & Wage Slaves - May Day youth afternoon at the clothing IWA Hall, bands & videos. Co-sponsor ARTEST. Visions of Clayoquot - slide show, speakers & discussion May 3 Size 14... plus 7:30 pm, IWA Hall. Valerie Langer, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Amplesize Park IWA rep. & PPWC Environmental Officer. 5766 Fraser Street Yellowknife Miners Solidarity Cabaret - May 7, 7:30 pm Vancouver, BC WISE Hall, Adanac & Victoria. Speaker June Roberts - CLASS. V5W2Z5 Groupe Du Jour, Van. Industrial Writers Union & more. Sarah-Jane (604)322-0107 *Call 874-2906 for Festival info. Volunteers appreciated! WHAT'S NEWS by Lynne Wanyeki The deal was negotiated by the Hospital between families, the child care community Also effective April 1 is an increased Employees Union, the BC Nurses Union and and the Ministry of Women's Equality. wage for live-in domestic workers. The new the Health Sciences Association. It must still The initiative also includes funding for: ratewillbe$48/day. This rate will be higher be ratified by the union members and the existing licensed infant and toddler day care for domestic workers in families of more province hospitals. centres; spaces for school-aged children and than 4 people. NDP and unions children from low-income families; more agree on health family day care spaces; setting up new child care centres throughout BC; and the estab­ Almost five thousand hospital employ­ Child care lishment of an Aboriginal Child Care Work­ Maiya house ees will lose their jobs under a deal negoti­ council formed ing Committee to meet the specific needs of workers on strike ated between BC's three health care unions Aboriginal families. and the provincial government last month. Early in February, Penny Priddy, BC Newly unionized workers at Maiya The deal guarantees job security, a Women's Equality Minister announced the House in Nanaimo voted 90 percent in fa­ shorter work week, and a greater role in appointment of a 17-member Provincial vour of taking strike action in mid-March. hospital decision-making. Child Care Council. The Council is intended Review of Maiya House is one of only two residential Under the deal, hospital employees, to give communities input into childcare in adoption laws treatment programs in BC run exclusively most of whom are women, will be trans­ BC. for chemically-dependent women. ferred to community health care facilities. The formation of the Council is part of A review of the 36-year old adoption The union is seeking a decrease in work The promise of transferral stemmed from the NDP initiative on childcare announced law in BC is being reviewed to reflect chang­ hours and an increase in wages to bring their union fears of job losses under the provincial by Priddy at the conference on childcare ing social values around adoption, says BC's wages to the same level as union staff at both government's planned re-structuring of the held in Vancouver in April last year. The Minister of Social Services. the Columbia House in Nanaimo and the BC health care system. NDP initiative is a 5-year plan, which does The government's review of the Adop­ ADAPT drug and alcohol program in Victo­ The provincial government, acting on not address the immediate, critical lack of tion Act will include consultation with com­ ria. recommendations in the 1991 Royal Com­ child care spaces in BC. munities and organizations that have indi­ The 13 women who work at Maiya mission on Health Care, aims to make health "Despite the best efforts of municipali­ cated a wish to see the legislation change. House joined the Health Sciences Associa­ care more community-oriented. There-struc­ ties and the provincial government, the cri- Changes to the Adoption Act were rec­ tion in June last year. At that time, working turing plans include the establishment of sishas grown because of federal cuts in some ommended by the Community Panel Report conditions included 51 -hour weeks, with no 100 regional councils to set health care pri­ basic programs that aided families," says into Family and Child Services, which was overtime and salaries of $1750/month. orities, as well as increased funding to com­ Penny Coates. Coates is the civic child care received by the provincial government in Since that time, they have been trying to munity health care facilities. The increased coordinator for the City of Vancouver. December 1992. negotiate an agreement with their employer, funding will allow for the hiring of hospital "Vancouver has just 4500 day care spaces Some of the ideas up for discussion Maiya House Society. employees whose jobs are being cut in the and needs a minimum of 11000 more just to during the review are the regulation of pri­ The Society, which receives funding process of re-structuring. cope with basic needs of residents," Coates vate adoptions, and allowing a continuing through the BC Ministry of Hea lth's Alcohol The deal "means that our people can stated early this month. bond between the adopted child and the and Drug Programs, has offered wage in­ move with the switch from acute care to "The situation provincially is no better, birth family. So far, no mention has been creases which would leave the Maiya House community care," says Carmela Allevato of with statistics showing 280,000 children need­ made of adoptions by lesbian or gay fami­ workers from 9 percent to 44 percent behind the Hospital Employees Union. ing child care and only about 28,000 spaces lies. workers doing substantially the same kind "The traditional way to close hospital existing," said Peter Ashmore of the West The review is expected to be completed of work. Its last offer was rejected five days beds has been wholesale layoffs and service Coast Childcare Resource Centre. by November of this year. For more infor­ before the strike began. cuts. The agreement really provides us with TheCouncil'smandatewill include giv­ mation, call 1-800-663-1251. an opportunity in BC to ensure that the ing advice to the provincial government on switch to community health care is progres­ the development and evaluation of child Pro-choicers call sive rather than regressive and oppressive." care programs, as well as establishing links Ten bucks more for more security for welfare recipients Abortionclinics throughout the US have Effective February 1, social assistance tightened their securityand women's groups rates have been increased minimally in BC. are urging Congress to approve legislation The increase, made by the provincial making the blocking of abortion clinics a NDP government, gives single employable federal crime. At the same time, many groups people as well as single "unemployable" are pushing fora n FBI investigation of "anti- people $10/month more. Single parents choice violence." with one child also get $17/month more. These moves come after investigators The increase amounts to less than 2 found no evidence of conspiracy in the shoot­ percent of the old social assistance rates. ing death of a doctor outside his abortion This means that people receiving social as­ clinic in Florida. FEATURI NG... sistance will remain below the poverty line. "This is clearly not an isolated act by one However, the increase has been slated crazy individual," says Joy Thompson of the for the support portion of the social assist­ BC Coalition for Abortion Clinics. "The SAWAGI TAIKO, CUB AND SHE ance cheques, rather than the shelter por­ anti-choice movement has not been able to tion. This means that everyone receiving win legislation and is now resorting to ter­ social assistance will be eligible to receive rorism." the money, regardless of whether or not The US shooting "is religious intoler­ Friday, April 23,1993 their rent necessitates it. ance to the nth degree," stated Dr. Mary Effective April 1, the minimum wage Conley, a Victoria physician who is a mem­ will also be increased to $6/hour. But, says ber of Physicians for Choice. "For years, a spokesperson at End Legislated Poverty, we've been saying that pro-life is not pro- Maritime Labour Centre the minimum wage has to go up to at least life, it is anti-choice. This particular case $9.05/hour in order for it to have the same certainly brings it out." 1880 Triumph Street value it had in 1975. Pro-choice activists in BC feel that the violent tactics of the US anti-abortionists are spreading into Canada. There has been an (3 blocks north on Victoria at Hastings) increase in harassment against BC doctors call us who perform abortion. The harassment ranges from picketing to threats, at doctors' homes as well as their workplaces. 8 pm (doors open at 7 pm) cheap ads! The BC Coalition for Abortion Clinics currently has a survey underway to deter­ $15 $20 $25 mine the extent of harassment experienced 255*5499 by doctors who perform abortions in BC. Tickets at Ticketmaster or call 253-7905 1988 W 4th & Maple Wheelchair Accessible Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1M5 Childcare subsidy available (call 253-1224) 1716 Charles St Vancouver BC VSL2TS 3& (604)253-3142 733-3511 Licensed with complimentary dessert table smoke fice cappuccino bar (Jf light vegetarian meals <§• art&crafts <£ gifts&music £ pooltablc Open Tuesday •* Sunday Womyn's Open Stage Qh ^ BEN Saturday, April 24th ^ f |&f£feANG PRINTERS Book your Special Event with Us

APRIL 1993 FEATURE

NAFTA: Mexican women say no by Patricia Hume improving the quality of life for people, and as told to Ellen Woodsworth Hume: I belong to a network for human translated by Gabriella Moro even less to take care of the environment. rights. Every day in my state, people disap­ The only thing they're really interested in is Kinesis got the chance to talk to Patricia pear, women get raped, or they poison your These are excerpts of presentations made obtaining maximum profits with maximum Humeforafew minutes after her presentation at water so no one knows you're being poi­ before a crowd of about 900 at a public forum in productivity, and giving back in exchange the NAFTA forum. soned. But it's especially bad for indigenous Vancouver on the North American Free Trade the minimum—minimum salaries—and no­ Ellen Woodsworth: Why are women in people, they are charged for being on drugs, Agreement (NAFTA) last month. The forum thing, in terms of the environment. Mexico City fighting against the free trade for dealing...and they have nothing to do was co-sponsored by the Action Canada Net­ In my country, 20 years ago, the agreement? with drugs. work, the National Action Committee on the transnationals installed themselves in the Patricia Hume: Because NAFTA is And because most of them don't speak Status ofWomen (NAC)andthe Vancouver and industrial parts of the state of Morales, where against women's rights and women's daily the language—in Mexico, we have more Dis trict Labour Cou ncil and Trade Un ion group. I live. They are mostly pharmaceuticals, like life. When the price of food goes up, you than 100 dialects—they can't defend them- Everybody who has concerns about DuPont. The working conditions for the peo­ have to find other ways of finding food, and NAFTA knows that it has a lot of implica­ ple include minimum safety standards or it's always the women's work. I mean, you tions and not only in the area of trade. It's security, and people working there are ex­ don't have to work for an hour like before. impact will be felt in our daily lives. One of posed to toxic substances like hormones. You have to work four hours in order to have mmemmim the most serious problems is that this trade There are chronic illnesses because of food for your family. agreement has no limits, neither social ones, the workplace. For example, there are prob­ Andit'sthesamewithhealth—you don't ...NAFTA is against nor to do with the environment. In the social lems in women's reproductive systems, spon­ have health services. You have to do it your­ area, it is anti-democratic. taneous abortions, sterility in some of the self. Women have all the burden of health women's rights and and food and other responsibilities of the whole family. So women are the poorest of women's daily life. the poor. Woodsworth: Women in Canada and in -Patricia Hume the US are afraid of fighting against the free trade agreement because they think it will mm************** mean they are fighting against Mexican women. Hume: That's why we're here. Because selves. And because the communication sys­ women in Canada really don't know the tem is so bad, nobody knows when you just conditions of Mexican women. The condi­ disappear, or are shot. Other people take tions here are a lotbetterand Mexican women their land and nobody knows. There's just For us, it has been really really difficult men, and more and more children are being are in much worse conditions. We want you silence. to even know what kinds of terms have been born all the time with genetic problems— to fight the free trade agreement with us. Woodsworth: In Canada, Aboriginal peo­ negotiated in this agreement. The govern­ there have been recent cases of children Woodsworth: What's been happening to ples are fighting with the provincial govern­ ment has not taken the time to inform the being born without a brain. human rights, say, for gay people, for immi­ ments to have recognition that they never population. So what we had to do really was It's a very serious problem that neither grants, for Mexican people, for indigenous signed the lands over to the i mperialist pow­ kind of work as "spies" in order to figure out the government nor the transnationals will people? ers. Now, with the free trade agreement, how this treaty is going to affect us. face up to. What they say to the workers is, they will lose many of freedoms that have Unfortunately, what we found has told "it's your personal problem and this has got been fought for. The commission under the us we have really run into some tough times. nothing to do with the workplace." NAFTA agreement will physically remove There are other treaties that are affected by The state of the environment has also and say they are irresponsible because they these things. Has something like that hap­ NAFTA, for example, really important envi­ deteriorated. The water is so polluted with continue to try and plant seeds in these pen to the communal land in Mexico? ronmental treaties like the ones we negoti­ heavy metals, that for a year and a half now, conditions. Hume: Yes. One of the things was that ated and signed at the Earth Summit in Rio the peasants are prohibited from planting So the peasants are forced to sell their the campasinos could have their own land, a de Janiero. We signed them because human­ seeds, especially rice that they used to grow, land. The government changed the law that communal land. And nobody could have ity is in danger. There are a number of which was of the best quality. This was rice forbid the sale of communal land so the it—people would come and give you a lot of international conventions and agreements for export in addition to the cultivation and peasants now sell their land. money, but it was not allowed to sell the that address for example, climate change. gardens and corn for local use. The campasinos [farmers] go to work in land. Now, the government has changed the All of this is in order to achieve the Right now, the peasants are without factories where there are really bad condi­ law so that campasinos can sell the land. It is objective—that this planet continues to be work, without food, because what they used tions, in terms of nutrition, health and so on. not that they want to sell, but they have been habitable for future generations. But for this, to grow helped them sustain a better quality All of this has happened before the imple­ forced to sell—like I said, if the land is we need sustainable development and of life. mentation of the North AmericanFreeTrade polluted, we cannot use the land. So now NAFTA is totally against this kind of devel­ At least they could eat the corn and Agreement. These transnationals have campasinos go to the cities to work for very opment. This is because NAFTA's philoso­ beans they grew in their own property and shown us they're not going to be nice with low wages, and they have to pa y for the land, phy is to take whatever transnationals want their own land and at least survive the low us. so they'd rather sell it. with no limits, whether it's in the workforce salaries they were getting. So what do you think is going to happen And all these big realtors come and buy or in natural resources. But now, they are not allowed to plant with the signing of the agreement? We're the land for peanuts. They give them noth­ Because what the transnationals are in­ seeds. And the government, instead of blam­ definitely opposed to this agreement. We ing. So the campasinos are left without a terested in is not the well-being of people nor ing the transnationals, blames the peasants don't-want them to sign parallel or sidebar land. The realtors make tourist resorts, and agreements either. hordes of people come. And after the What we want is a democratic process campasinos have been forced to sell for noth­ in order to have trade agreements that are ing, they are put to work in the hotels, made equitable, that seek an acceptable quality of to live in houses with no water and no life for people that comes before the profit electricity. They're not allowed to fish any motive, and that speaks out for sustainable more. development. Woodsworth: What's happening in terms To achieve this, we are trying to estab­ of women mobilizing against the NAFTA? lish a network of citizens, because we know Hume: In the cities, where women are that this agreement is not good for us, not for more aware, we're building women's the Mexicans and not for the Americans and groups. Outside the cities, it's more difficult. not for the Canadians. The campasinos don't talk about NAFTA as What we have to do is unite, and form a much as they talk about human rights. And social force that takes back the power of the the women think it's natural for them to be people, that takes back the power of local where they are—that god made them be governments and that comes before this trade there, that you have to be born into a place agreement—an agreement that is against where you are more wealthy, like white All natural ingredients things like equality and freedom. We have to people. work together even beyond the agreement. What also makes it difficult is the ecolo­ Canadians should do something to oppose gist perspective in the cities is against the Hot Cross Buns this thing just as we, in Mexico, are trying to indigenous perspective. Ecologists say "save do. the land! Save the land!" But they don't available through Easter Patricia Hume is a Mexican biologist and realize that a lot of indigenous people live on environmentalist who has spent the last few that land. We're now working together to 1697 Venables at Commercial 254-5635 find, to invent, to make up ways of thinking Mon-Fri 8am-5:30pm Sat 9am-5:30pm years working with the Indigenous people of Mexico. FEATURE

Abortion in Ireland: Dialing for pro-choice

by Erin Mullan stickers put in pub toilets and other public places are the main ways women get the In a small, unheated room somewhere helpline phone number. June Kelly, a WIN in central Dublin, a woman unlocks a cup­ member, says the helpline exists to help board and pulls out a telephone. It's 7 pm break down the isolation Irish women feel and time for the Women's Information Net­ when faced with an unwanted pregnancy. work to go into operation. For the next two "We're here because of the women in, hours, the phone won't stop ringing, as say, Galway, bunging 50 pence pieces into women from all over Ireland call to get the phone box, maybe with two or three kids abortion information. banging on the door, terrified the neigh­ The location of the helpline is a well- bours will come by and say 'Mary, why are kept secret, known only to the members of you using the phone box when you've got a the Women's Information Network. Giving phone at home?'" says Kelly. by SPUC, so far there is no court injunction worldwide, and regularly takes to the streets women information about abortion and the "Often women want to talk a bit, be­ against the helpline. She says, on several to distribute abortion information like the telephone numbers of abortion clinics in cause this is often the first time they've talked occasions, phone volunteers have had a bad WIN phone number. Britain, was until very recently illegal in with anyone about their situation," she says. scare when Irish policehaveactually phoned "The reason I think this particular cam­ Ireland. Any information about abortion is "We reassure women that there's nothing the line, but they were in fact calling to get paign is important is that it's action-based. hard to come by in the 26 counties making illegal or backstreet about the abortion clin­ information about shelters where they could The best way—the only way—is to talk to up the Irish republic. (Abortion information ics in Britain. We also tell them about cheap take battered women. people on the ground," says Tierney. "I is easier to come by in the north of Ireland, travel etc. We try and give them as much Most of the women who volunteer on don't think you win campaigns through the although, like in the south, abortion itself is information as possible so as to save women the helpline have a counselling or social media or by talking to politicians because, at illegal.) long-distance charges when they phone the work background. There are about twenty the end of the day, the only thing that con­ Following the passage of an anti-abor­ clinic to book an appointment." volunteers who range in age from mid-20s to vinces politicians is votes or mass action—a tion constitutional referendum in 1983, Irish Kelly says the helpline workcanbe hard mid-40s. Kelly says they reflect a cross-sec­ threat to their jobs." anti-choice groups, like the Society for the for the volunteers because of the lack of face- tion of Irish society, but they are all women's One of the campaign's main action's is Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC), have rights campaigners. "The majority of the to get the WIN number out to as many used the courts to shut down any counsel­ women were active in the 1983 referendum womenas possible. Justdisplaying679-4700, ling service that provides non-directive preg­ campaign and have been plodding along the helpline number, is a political act in nancy counselling, which included abortion Ireland. Louise Tierney wears a button with information as an option. (Non-directive the number on it. Pro-choice campaigners counselling is counselling that does not tell carry banners and signs and distribute leaf­ the client what to do, but helps her to make lets, posters and stickers with the number on the choice that she wants.) them. Often they have to contend with the Abortion information went under­ "We're here because of always disruptive, and sometimes violent ground. A group of feminists set up the tactics of the neo-fascist bullyboys of the Women's Information Network (WIN) in the women... bunging 50 anti-choice movement who call themselves the aftermath of the court injunctions Youth Defense. The nasty young men of against the counselling services. The injunc­ pence pieces into the Youth Defense frequently harass pro- tions didn't stop Irish women from travel­ choicers, sometimes picketing their homes. ling to Britain to have abortions, but they did phone box... terrified the They are seen on Irish streets waving grisly make it very difficult to get information full-colour posters of third trimester fetuses before they went. neighbor will come and shouting abuse at anyone who chal­ Imagine yourself faced with an un­ by..."-June Kelly, WIN lenges them. planned pregnancy, forced to travel by boat Media coverage of pro-choice events or plane to another country, often for the always carefully omits knowing the WIN first time, and making that journey with no phone number, although there is no specific information about what services are avail­ injunction or legal ban against its display. As able when you arrive. Most of the thousands since that time, trying to improve the posi­ is often the case, the Irish media self-censors of Irish women who go to Britain for abor­ tion of women in this country." itself to a far greater extent than is legally tions each year travel with no information, Irish student organizations have also necessary. Media conservatism is one indi­ and they often have to hide the reason for been campaigning for women's rights, with cator of how much change is still needed in their trip from family and friends. serious consequences. Student unions have Ireland. In Canada, there is also a great deal of to-face contact with callers who are often been publishing abortion information, in­ The November abortion referendum silence surrounding the issue of abortion. very upset. "It can be quite traumatic be­ cluding the WIN helpline number in student result was a major victory for the Irish pro- Most women regard the decision to have an cause we're talking through the telephone handbooks choice movement, but the fight for repro­ abortion as something private and personal, line and, if she's in severe stress, you can't In 1989, the Society for the Protection of ductive rights in Ireland is far from over. The partly because it is a very personal matter, hold her hand and say Tm not a machine, the Unborn Child got a court injunction to injunctions remain against the student and and partly because in Canada there isa small I'm a friend and I'm not going to judge stop the student unions from distributing counselling organizations, and the govern­ but very vocal anti-abortion lobby. In Ire­ you'." theabortioninformation,an injunction which ment shows no sign of enacting legislation land, the anti-choice forces are far from small, While the majority of helpline callers the students continue to defy. SPUC has which reflects the referendum results. and they dominate the most powerful insti­ have already decided to have an abortion, been granted court costs to the tune of over June Kelly says that the pro-choice tutions. some women want help with decision-mak­ $40,000 each for 14 individual student lead­ movement will continue to press for change. The silence on abortion in Ireland was ing. If the caller wants further counselling, ers who were named in the court action. "The shared wish of the WIN volunteers is broken by some women's groups, students the volunteer can refer her to thelrishFamily Louise Tierney of Trinity Student Union in for abortion to be legalized in Ireland and organizations and a few brave individuals. Planning Association (IFPA). As of October Dublin says, if SPUC goes after the student made available throughout the country. Until the pro-choice referendum victories at 1992, the IFPA has a contract with the British unions for the money, it would bankrupt Women should not have to be suicidal to be the end of last year [see Kinesis, Feb. 93] these Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), which and thereby destroy the student movement provided with such a service. Officially, the people made up the underground move­ is a non-profit abortion service with clinics in Ireland. WIN is calling on the politicians to legislate ment that tried to keep abortion information throughout Britain. The IFPA now provides Tierney and other student union mem­ immediately for the provision of abortion available in Ireland, in spite of the threat of non-directive counselling and, when re­ bers have been active in building a broad services in Ireland." heavy fines being imposed by the courts. quested, referral to a BPAS clinic. Despite pro-choice campaign in Ireland, as well as If courage and determination on the Last year, when I was travelling in rural the passing of a constitutional referendum providing abortion information. The Dublin part of pro-choicers in Ireland was all that Ireland, the first place I saw the WIN phone last November, which guarantees the right Abortion In formation Campaign is demand­ was needed to win reproductive freedom number was on the wall of a toilet stall in a to information, the referral service is still ing access to abortion, contraception and sex for women, the fight would already be won. pub in Donegal. This is not unusual. WIN technically illegal, according to the IFPA. education throughout Ireland. The campaign Erin Mullan recently returned from Ireland statistics show that, in addition to informa­ June Kelly says that while WIN faces a organized the massive pro-choice demon­ with this report. tion from friends and student handbooks, constant threatof being targeted in the courts strations last year that garnered headlines

APRIL 1993 TWD International Women's Day: Speaking out!

International Women's Day (March 8) was very important struggles that lie ahead of us. celebrated in Vancouver on Saturday, March 6, It is also a very special day for me today with a march and rally organized by the 15-year- because it happens to be the twentieth anni­ old IWD Committee. About 600 women took to versary of the India Mahila Association. the streets, marchingdown to the Vancouver Art Today marks 20 years of volunteer commit­ Gallery for the rally, where women spoke on the ment and dedication on the part of many of theme: Women and the Economy. The following my sisters to organizing against sexism and are edited transcripts of some of those speeches. racism, and fighting the social, political and economic barriers that face the women of Jane Gottfriedsen South Asian origin living in Canada. The Native Women's Association of Poverty...is becominga global phenom­ Canada (NWAC) enon. We're going through some tough The NWAC has won its case [for Native times and, for the immigrant women living women's right to equal funding from the in Canada, it is no different—we struggle in government and a seat at future constitu­ our new homeland to make both ends meet tional amendment talks on Native self-gov­ and deal with the specific issues that con­ ernment], but the battle is still in front of us. front us in our daily lives. We still have to apply what we have won, The government of today continues to and we're doing everything that we can in pay lip. service to issues confronting immi­ our mandate to reach these goals. grant women and women of colour. Even as It was through your support and your the Tories claim their commitment to im­ efforts that we were able to [win our case]. prove the plight of the doubly and triply We did not have resources and funding disadvantaged, their actions have proven available to us. People supported us in this the contrary. We have seen various attempts manner and we were able to carry this forth to bring about legislation that are discrimi­ to the end. natory and pose an impediment to the But we've also informed the federal progress of the immigrant women and the government that if they do not follow with women of colour, for example, the new our victory, we are prepared to sue them. immigration act. Anju Gogia, Burcu Ozdemir, and Nadine Chambers of the Not Just In our Provincial Territorial Member This act restricts immigration into Organizations (PMTOs) across the country, Canada under both the family sponsorship Another Page Collective and the refugee categories. This piece of legislation will severely restrict the rights of arrival here. The allowance for childcare for or empowerment to women who are iso­ immigrants to freedom of association, to women attending LINC (Language Instruc­ lated due to discriminatory laws, lack of family reunification, and take away the right tion for Newcomers) classes has also been facility with the English language, or the to appeal of the refugee claimants. Immi­ cut. That is making it very difficult for pressures of double or triple work loads. grant women of colour will be affected women in lower-paying jobs and with child­ Governments at all levels need to take a very directly—their opportunities for emi­ care needs to access LINC classes. serious look at the services available to the grating to Canada will be reduced due to the Again, we haven't yet been able to ef­ more marginalized sections of immigrant restrictions in the family sponsorship cat­ fectively deal with the layoffs that resulted women, and should be enabling women's egory, and through changes to legislation from the Free Trade Agreement and we are groups to identify issues and long term plan­ related to domestic workers, as examples. already faced with the proposed NAFTA ning. So, while on the one hand this govern­ (North American Free Trade Agreement). If Rather than cutting funds that go to the ment talks about wanting immigrants to this agreement goes through, as well as the most-needed sections of the community, the become integrated into Canadian society as changes being proposed to UI benefits, we government has to act on its promises and equal members of society, we continually are going to see these have a direct impact on provide core funding to these groups so they can continue to define the issues from a feminist, grassroots perspective. And only then can we start working towards achiev­ ing equality in the true sense of the word. And to my sisters in the broader femi­ nist movement, I say we need to be more inclusive, and not exclusive, when we define women's needs and lobby on issues of con­ cern to the women of Canada. The needs of the women working on the farms, or of the thousands of women with university de­ Miche Hill of VSW grees who continue to be underemployed and work for peanuts as restaurant workers we're all endeavouring to better the lives of and janitorial workers, should be of concern our people in the community. What we're to all of us and be included in our agenda. striving for is community-driven mandates. Let us pledge to work together to make What we're finding is that we have to look at this country a better place for all of us. everything in a holistic manner—for our Thank you. people to be successful in economic devel­ opment or in education or training, they Miche Hill need to be healthy, physically and mentally. Vancouver Status of Women (VSW) We are striving to do all this, keeping in Hello, and Happy International Wom­ mind the direction given to us from our en's Day to all of you! I say happy Interna­ people at home. There are many times, when tional Women's Day because that's what it's you are in a position of leadership, that you supposed to be—a day when we are sup­ look back and there's no one there. So when posed to be able to celebrate our achieve­ our elders or people reach out and encour­ ments, to remember the women who have age us and tell us we're on the right track, tell gone before us, the struggles they have us not to give up but to keep going, it makes fought. our work easier. see policies being put into place that dis­ lower income and more marginalized sec­ It's time to join in solidarity with our I thank you all. criminate against women of colour and im­ tions of our society. sisters all over the world and to recognize migrant women. LINC, the new language I see a great need for us to unite to and celebrate the struggles that we are fight­ Raminder Dosangh training policy announced by the federal develop a strategy to fight back. I also see an ing and winning today as well. India Mahila Association (IMA) government last June, discriminates against urgent need for issues, such as those being There is a lot to celebrate, but there is A very happy IWD to all of you that are immigrant women who have acquired Ca­ discussed here and talked about today, to be also still a lot to be angry about—very angry. here and to all of my sisters who are not able nadian citizenship. Many women are pay­ discussed at the grassroots level amongst Thewaragainstwomenisstillgoingon. to be with us here today. ing the price for choosing to participate in the various ethnic communities. Most of the The crimes against women are many—we Today is a day to celebrate our achieve­ the economy, rather than being dependent services that exist are basically band-aid are still being raped; we are still being brutal­ ments and make a commitment toward the on the state during the first few years of their services, providing little or no information ized and beaten; we are still being mur-

10 APRIL 1993 IWP

And most of all we must support each other in our struggles for justice—we must stop NAFTA, we must stop the erosion of our social services such as UIC and Medi­ care, we must stop the cutbacks to women's programs and say we will not tolerate racist and sexist immigration laws. We must let them know once and for all, that we will stand together, that we are not afraid and that we will not be silenced!

The following are excerpts of some longer speeches made at the same rally.

| Anju Gogia -f South Asian Women's Action | Network (SAWAN) "- Existing services and agencies do not •£ satisfy the needs of South Asian women in ]l Canada, and specifically in the lower main- °" land. What we need as South Asian women is a space to call our own—a centre run by South Asian womenforSouth Asian women. IWD marchers along Georgia Street Anju Gogia of SAWAN with We are tired of hearing the empty rheto­ Raminder Dosangh of IMA ric of Multiculturalism from the Tory gov­ dered; we are still being pushed into low Ask the woman who's been raped, the ernment. The current Tory agenda is one of racist, misogynist, or homophobic backlash paying, low-status jobs; we are still the last woman who has been abused by her part­ dividing and ruling us. The groups and or­ can break. hired and first fired; we are still being sexu­ ner, the woman who can't get any decent, ganizations that work for different women International Women's Day has always ally abused by our fathers and uncles and affordable childcare, the woman who is dis­ of colour are being forced to fight each other been a hopeful time. Let's use it well in our brothers; we are still forced to live in pov­ criminated against or sexually harassed at for the smaller and smaller pieces of the work together in the coming year. erty; we still do not have a right to proper work. Ask the immigrant women who are same pie. Funding is being cut and we are housing, to be able to feed our children; we Shelagh Day are still doubly discriminated against if we National Action Committee on the arewomen of colouror First Nations women, Status of Women lesbians and women with disabilities. Lesbians face a hostile and dishonest Sometimes I think it isn't getting better, government prepared to spend whatever it's getting worse. Why? I think its getting public dollars are necessary to beat off our worse when I see the changes in the immi­ claims for justice and recognition. They've gration act—one of the most inhuman pieces opposed in court every human rights and of legislation introduced by the Tory gov­ Charter claim made by lesbians and gay men ernment yet. Instead of being acknowledged over the last eight years using our dollars to and respected for their contributions to Ca­ do it. Let us also not forget that this year we nadian society, immigrantwomenhaveagain lost the Court Challenges program, and this become targets of a racist, sexist society and means that the equality rights that women government. fought so hard for now belong to the rich And it's the same for First Nations and not to all of us. women. We are still fighting for basic rights Let us not forget that this has all been in this country, the right to self determina­ brought to us by Canada's own madonna, tion, our right to our own lands, our own our lady of the fair shoulders. This is the languages, our own ways, to our right to live woman who is now touted as Canada's next without the fear of being murdered on the prime minister, perhaps because she has streets of this city, or any city of this country. been so enthusiastic about pursuing the male The Tories and their corporate agenda agenda. aren't stopping with the immigration law. Let us not forget however, that all Their right-wing agenda is very clear—just women are fighting extraordinary battles look at the cutbacks to women's programs. now, to bring all of our injustices against us They've been pretty sneaky about that one— out of the closet whether we're lesbians, cutting a little here, a little there, until the women of colour, aboriginal women, next thing yo u know, there's no more money, whether we have a disability, whether we there's no more women's programs. And live below the poverty line, whether we're what does that mean to us? It means the victims of violence, we refuse silence and we Tories are trying to silence us. It means they Celebrating IWD refuse invisibility...and we are absolutely are trying their very best to make sure there committed to the struggle for justice for is no one to speak for us on a national, being threatened with deportation. Ask the being forced to fight each other to get core women. regional or local level. woman who is being forced to live in pov­ funding. erty because there are no decent jobs out We demand a real financial commit­ Carmela Allevato there and no way to get any training or ment from this government for their so- Hospital Employees Union education. Ask the woman who's caught in called "celebration of diversity." It is time What we have to do today is to look at the quagmire of the legal system. that the Tory government lived up to its what is happening to the social fabric, the And ask yourself what women are los­ promises. We need more than words to work social safety net in Canada, in British Co­ ing when they try to call for help and no one towards providing services for South Asian lumbia, we have to look at what's happen­ answers the phone because they had to close women in this province. ing to the women in this country and this the women's centre down—because the To­ province, and commit ourselves to working ries say, "sorry, no more money." Fatima Jaffer together to fight those that would put us Well what are we going to do about it? IWD Committee down, those that would hold us back. I think we have to say "enough is enough." This year's IWD march and rally nearly My union, the Hospital Employees Un­ We need to get angry, and we have to stay didn't happen, but at the last minute, a bunch ion, represents 38,000 people. Eighty-five angry—angry enough to act. of women came together and did the work. percent of those people are women and our The reality is that they ha ve us so pinned Women of colour and First Nations women members are the lowest-paid women in the against the wall, there is no way to go but were crucial in this process and, as you can unionized work force in health care. What is forward.We need to use whatever tool or see from today's rally, we are here in good happening in that industry, as changes to methods we have to make this government faith to make this movement stronger. We health care delivery are instituted, is that the stop what they are doing. expect nothing but the same from our white work of providing care is being taken out of Do anything you feel is necessary to get sisters. unionized workplaces and put back onto what is your right—write your Member of Tough times can do two things: they can families, onto individuals within those com­ Parliament and Member of Legislative As­ bring out the worst in us—and we can munities. sembly, use civil disobedience, do whatever easily reproduce the classism, racism and And it will be women who will be ex­ your conscience tells you to do. Just make homophobia that's pressing in on us on all pected to pick up that load—underpaid, sure you get your message across, loud and sides—or we can commit ourselves to our overworked, unrecognized. That is not ac­ Ulryke Weissgerber with daughter clear—hold these governments accountable, best—move beyond guilt and fear and recre­ ceptable. This is what our movement in Aella and friend Margaret and make this government stop doing what ate a movement of women with the political British Columbia at this time will be com­ Grassunder it is doing to us. will and consciousness that no right-wing, mitted to fighting.

APRIL 1993 11 The following are excerpts of a joint presentation made by an immigrant woman and Mahshid, a crisis worker from Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW), refugee woman from Iran last November at Making the Links: An ti-Racism and Feminism, who had been supporting Zarnoush's case and translating for her throughout, told Kinesis the 16th annual conference of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of "we are afraid Zahra cannot take much more. She has developed a terrible cough. It's getting 5- worse every day and she could even die, if she doesn't stop." Women. The women have chosen not to use their real names for security reasons. From Iran to n But Zarnoush didn't stop. On March 6, at a rally to celebrate International Women's Day in Vancouver, she and Gopoghlou asked the women's movement to advocate on their behalf. Two days later, on International Women's Day, a number of grassroots women's organisa­ . by Fahahimeh tions flooded Valcourt's fax machine with letters demanding a response to the plight of the refugees. We're here to speak our experiences as refugees. We don't feel comfortable That same day, NAC and the Canadian Council of Refugees released the case summaries doing this, because we are three women from Iran—many different people come KING ACTION of 14 refugee women at simultaneous news conferences in Montreal and Toronto. All the here as refugees but they come from many different backgrounds. We cannot even women face deportation. All 14 women face death or torture upon their return to their claim to represent all Iranian women refugees, because a Kurdish Iranian refugee respective countries—by the state, their husbands, or both. NAC has since been asked to experiences her life and her social, political and ethnic struggle differently from, say, increase the number of cases they are monitoring to 23, including Zarnoush's case. a Persian Iranian woman. So, when we are talking about refugee women, imagine So far, they have received word that Valcourt has intervened in four of the cases. "But how different the experiences of women from Guatemala or from Sri Lanka are. j. by Sheida by Fatima Jaffer these are just temporary stays, and there is nothing that says the women will not be We are also not academics. We are here simply to share our experiences and deported," says Beverly Bain of NAC. make more visible how refugees feel about being typed as refugees, and how they Thank you for accepting me as an "honorary" refugee [for the purposes of this While immigrant, women's and human rights groups are demanding gender persecu­ NAC and advocates for women refugees are also calling for a moratorium on deportations r view this phenomenon of being "refugees" from within the category of refugee, and panel]. I don't feel I have any right to talkabout the refugee woman's experience. We tion be included in the legal definition of a refugee in this country, two Iranian women, whose of women facing gender-based violence and lobbying the government for legislation that not from the outside. sometimes tend to think of immigrant and refugee women as being interchangeable, refugee claims were rejected by the ministry of immigration, took action last month to protest will make gender-based violence grounds for a refugee claim, [see page 5.] There are about 17 million refugees in the world. The majority of them are but the experiences are not the same. their imminent deportations to Iran. Despite the national and inter­ women and children. My understanding is that this figure doesn't include those I also have to acknowledge that I come here as a privileged woman from a middle- Zahra Zarnoush and Kobra Gho- national outcry and hundreds of people who have been displaced inside their own countries, and who are not class background. When I came here, I was not "declassed," like a lot of refugees who poghlou made the sidewalk outside im­ testimonials regarding human protected but are persecuted by their own governments. come here who may be from middle or upper-class backgrounds, have a little bit of migration offices in downtown Vancou­ rights violations inlran which have According to the United Nations, a refugee is an individual who, owing to "his" money, and yet become "declassed " when they arrive here. This is not what happened ver their home, and went on a hunger flooded the minister's office, founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, member­ to me—I had my class privilege allowed me, to enable me to go to university quite strike for 22 days, awaiting a response Valcourt remained silent. ship in a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of "his" easily and to study and all the kinds of things that come with class privilege. So I speak from the minister of immigration, "He could return a phone call," nationality and is unable, or owing to such fears, unwilling to avail "himself" of the from that position. I have also worked with immigrant women's organisations, with Bernard Valcourt. the lawyer for one of the men on protection of that country. mainstream white women's organisations, and also with government organizations. Ghopoghlou says going on the hun­ the strike told participantsata rally What is "persecution"? In countries known as "refugee-producing countries," But what I have to say today was written in collaboration with everybody else on ger strike was her last resort. "We have outside Immigration Canada. sometimes the police or the security will knock at your door, come in, look through the panel, as well as being based on my experience. heard nothing from the Canadian gov­ The only response the refu­ your house, search through everything, read your journals or your diary, violate Basically, we have categorized the barriers to Iranian refugee women organising ernment. [My family has] been [in gees and their supporters received your private life and take everything—take you, your sister, your mother, your for change. One is the problems we face within our own community. While we are part Canada] for three years. My daughter from ministry officials was that the brother, your father, whomever they want and have targeted. Sometimes they take of our communities, we consider ourselves part of the global community of women [is] now...five years old and speaks more Iranian hunger-strikers do not face all the family. Sometimes they take only the children, because they want to use them, who suffer from patriarchal systems that are dominant everywhere. When we come English than she does Farsi," says imminent deportation because "av­ to torture them, to make the adults talk and to give information. here to Canada, we also face the patriarchal legal system that a lot of refugee women Gopoghlou. "The government knows enues of appeal" were still open, When we talk about persecution, we should first understand what we are have to go through. better than us what will happen if we go and thus, the strike was unneces­ talking about, and the fear of that persecution. And sometimes, we don't flee our As part of our survival strategy, we know we need to organise. But we are faced back." sary. One even went so far as to say countries to protect ourselves but to protect others—if you know they are after you with many problems. There is the limitation of our time, finances, skills and day-to­ Zarnoush's story is a little different. he was not too concerned because, and there are other people involved, it may put their lives in danger. day struggle to survive the economic and emotional hardship. More than three years ago, she left Iran for muslims, this was the month of By the way, you may have noticed, the definition doesn't refer to refugee as Another barrier is, once we struggle to organise, we are barely supported by men with her six-month-old child, without Ramadlian—fasting from sunrise to "she" or "her," but as "he," "him" or "his." It shows how the consequences women in our community. We are often accused of being Westernised—which means allying "permission" from her husband,because sunset. pay for political, racial and religious activities are undermined globally. So even with imperialists and betrayal of our unified class struggle for democracy—and all he was abusive. She says her husband The refugees say the Canadian when women manage to escape persecution and come to other countries and talk kinds of other things...being sexually promiscuous, whatever, because we are coming went to the Canadian embassy in Iran to government knows that simply about their political activities, nobody believes them. They do not believe these together as women, and we want to organise something forourselves . And we are complain. leaving Iran illegally and asking women can be political activists or social activists. I remember whenl first came here further accused of denying our culture and of challenging patriarchal values of family Zarnoush elaborates, "When I went for refugee status in another coun­ being told: "don't say anything about your political background. Say that you didn't systems. for my hearing here in Vancouver, the try is considered grounds for ar­ like wearing Chador [the black veil]." It was true but it wasn't my main issue. "Or Yet another regards government policies. Often ethnic community groups which judge said, 'you have kidnapped the rest, torture and possibly execu­ say you couldn't have beer or you couldn't have a boyfriend. These are more subscribe to patriarchal non-political values are funded by the government and this child. He belongs to your husband and Zahra Zarnoush, Kobra Ghopoghlou and her daughter (r-l) outside the down­ tion, for being a traitor to the state acceptable." perpetuates the silencing of women who want to make some changes within our you have to go back. But don't worry, town immigration offices of Iran. At the same time as our political and social activities are undermined, our community. nothing will happen to you'." It wasn't until Day 22 of the oppression due to domestic violence, or physical, psychological and cultural intol­ With regards to our relationship with other women's groups, often white "Can they guarantee that? Even if my husband does not kill me, I will not have a life if protest that the government responded. The lawyer for one of the hunger strikers received erance is not recognised as legitimate ground for seeking protection and safety. Yet, women's groups inCanada are unawareof howlranian women are oppressed in Iran. I return because they will say I 'stole' my child away from his father. That's what they're a letter from the ministry "promising" that the refugee claims will be reviewed, but only if when we talk about these things, they are real. In fact, they are largely unaware of refugee and immigrant women's issues in general. already saying." the hunger strikers end their strike. If we believe everything we do is a political statement, then what about the Also, even immigrant or refugee women's groups who want to help us are The two women were not alone in their protest. Zarnoush's four-year-old son and Upon the advice of the lawyer, thirteen of the hunger strikers officially broke their strike woman walking on the streets of Tehran who gets picked up by the police because involved with issues of funding and understaffing, or find it difficult to share skills Ghopoghlou's five-year-old daughter, both of whom who were staying with friends, visited with soup and salad at a nearby restaurant—the fourteenth, Ghopoghlou, was at home, too her hair is uncovered? Is that not a political activity? If you are persecuted just with the Iranian community, for example, which is more new and recent than any daily. Sharing the mattress on the sidewalk were five Iranian men, whose claims had also ill to attend. because your hair is uncovered, that is a political activity, a social activity. other community. A lot of other immigrant communities are well organised and can been rejected. "We have not seen the letter [from the ministry]," says Saeed Parto of the International When women are arrested, they go to jail and pay a penalty to get out, like being react to situations much faster than we can. Many from Vancouver's Iranian community and human rights groups in Vancouver Federation of Iranian Refugees and Immigrants Council, "but we know they have promised flogged. These are serious issues yetnobody cares about them. Instead, they say: "we Another barrier is that many Iranian women have the experience and skills of came out to support the action. The strike was also aimed at bringing attention to the cases to review each of the cases individually, both in BC and in Ottawa. We are also waiting for hear this is the rule in your country, so you have to obey it." political and community activity in Iran, but these skills are not recognised when they of about 90 refugee claimants in BC who are facing deportation to Iran because they have a time frame for those reviews." Another thing is, Canada cannot discourage refugees from seeking refuge come here, and are often ignored by women's groups in Canada. been refused refugee status. The government also said they will review Canada's position on human rights in Iran without referring to international politics. The refugee crisis is rooted in the unjust We have a bunch of suggestions here, and we think that, in order to fight for social Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) statistics show the IRB in Vancouver is consid­ and the criteria for returning people to Iran, and will hold consultations with the Iranian distribution of power globally. Refugee are not produced merely by their local change for refugee women, you need to recognise and understand the problems that ered to have one of the highest rejection rates of refugee claimants in Canada. About a third community on this matter. governments. This is a big lie. newly arrived refugee women have, such as shortage of time, lack of resources, and of all rejected Iranian refugee claims in Canada were in BC. Parto is not as optimistic as others about the ministry's response. "These are just Refugee women have been forced out of our homes and this is something we can ideological differences with a lot of women's groups here, as well as their concern for Ten days later after the protest began, the hunger strikers totalled 14—ten refugees, and 'promises.' There has been nothing definite. And deportation is still open. The larger issue never forget. When we come here—women from Africa, Asia, Europe, Central democracy and freedom back home. four landed immigrants who had joined the strike to protest "the assault on all our human hasn't disappeared at all." America—we all are hurt in the same way and by the same people. It creates a bond And all that takes time, and you are going through turmoil, you're going through rights." Representatives from local women's groups and from the National Action Commit­ Parto says, "The thing is, the refugees ended the hunger strike in good faith that the between us. It unifies us. We have the same feelings. When a woman from El a lot of thinking, and a lot of adjusting. The first step has to be a learning process for, tee on the Status of Women (NAC) also attended the almost-daily rallies that took place. government will look at their cases. But we will continue the struggle every day. It's not just Salvador talks about her persecution, I can understand what she says. When she talks I think, both sides. You have to become aware of the stereotypical, unrealistic However, by then, both Zarnoush and Gopoghlou were sick with the flu. A volunteer about ten refugees getting accepted. There are many more. My understanding is the about her fears, I understand what she says. It would be really good if it could also portrayal of women of other countries in your media. In order to understand this doctor, who examined the strikers daily, warned they we're in danger of contracting Canadian government has softened its stance on human rights violations in Iran in the last unify our efforts to do something for other women who are in camps. process of misinformation, we need to put this process of misinformation in a global pneumonia if they didn't stop. A number of times, strikers were rushed to hospital for two years." It's interesting to note that, despite the public myth, only a small number of war context of international politics, of imperialism and capitalism. emergency treatment for various degrees of stomach problems, internal bleeding and Parto says he believes Canada's change of policy regarding sending back refugees to refugees come to Western countries. And these are the very countries that are For example, there are a lot of things now being said about Iran, and about how problems with hearing. Iran is integrally connected to new economic opportunities with Iran. He is referring to responsible for our homelessness. The majority of refugees remain in countries much reform is taking place. You see the Amnesty International report and it says that Mulroney's investment of two billion dollars in trade credits to Iran, following a campaign neighbouring their own under the most inhumane conditions—facing starvation, the killing has been slowed down over the last year. That's because of Iran's by Iran to improve its human rights image last year. illness, violence, rape, sexual harassment, prostitution and any other hardship you relationship with other countries, economically, which has expanded—they have to zt~h A However, Parto notes that, in 1991, 113,000 women were arrested for minor dress can possibly imagine. buy their concerns in some ways. So you put it into a political context. Unless you do order to put pressure on the immigration authorities to free an Iranian refugee woman violations, and 770 persons were executed for political differences with the government, and I We acknowledge their existence but we cannot hear them. In fact the pain is so that, you won't know why that they don't want to have Iranian refugees in Canada from custody. She was to be deported because her husband's claim had been rejected. the situation hasn't substantially changed. great, most of us don't want to hear them, because we can't bear the pain, we can't now more than ever. They think the situation's getting better now, right? We had no financial resources, limited time and no skills to deal with the media. We "Women are the very immediate victims of the Iranian system and Canada has to bear thinking that, at this moment when we are sitting here safe and sound talking And, as far as discrimination against refugee women in Canadian society, you had some language barriers and we had day-to-day responsibilities, like going to recognise that." says community activist Yassaman Bayani. about refugees, there are refugees living in Sri Lanka, there are refugees living in need to support the progressive struggle of women abroad and here in Canada in work, eating, stuff like that. "And it's not like the government doesn't know what will happen to these people," says other countries, people from Ethiopia and Somalia, people from Yugoslavia, and different communities. There are a lot of progressive women's groups in different So we reached out for support. We contacted labour women, immigrant and Bayani. "They know, but they don't give a shit and the only thing that's going to change that these women are concerned about their children's lives, about their own lives— communities, and it's important to find the most progressive ones that you can work other women's organisations. It is sad that the only effective support came from things is pressure from the grassroots." that they are in danger of losing their lives at this very moment. with, not the ones that feed into the stereotypical idea of what Iranian women do or number of immigrant women's organisations and community activists. Referring to the decision to end the hunger strike, Bayani says she believes "there's a bit Yet, when this small number of refugees make it to Western, developed, wealthy are or what their culture is all about. On International Women's Day, we brought a petition in support of stopping the of an impasse there because of the strategy being used. This thing is not over at all. The strike countries in the name of humanitarianism and compassion, they will face further If you say, for example, as [minister for immigration] Valcourt says, that flogging deportation of the Iranian woman in custody, and we provided an information sheet is over because the government doesn't want us to disgrace them anymore, not because we discrimination, violence, isolation and loneliness. of women in the country is a cultural issue, these are the rules and laws of that country on the situation of Iranian women in Iran. To our dismay and anger, many refused to got any guarantee that the deportations will stop. Not only are our life experiences and struggles for freedom not recognised in the and they have to be obeyed by women, then you are feeding into a stereotypical racist sign the petition. This was even as we were providing them with information about "We know the only language the Tories understand is pressure and we need to continue West, but neither are our work experiences, professional skills and education. This attitude about women in Iran. Violence against oneself is not accepted anywhere on the law of retribution in Iran. 0 to apply that." is double hardship. You finally come here, and you have all these abilities but you this planet by any woman. This shows us we have long way to go until Western women fully understand the Bayani says it was "the presence of women's groups—NAC, Vancouver Rape Relief and can't practice what you know, and you can't contribute it to this society. Also, if women want to advocate for refugee women, they have to take guidance plight of many women abroad, or even here as immigrant women. Women's Shelter, WAVAW and Vancouver Status of Women—that made a huge difference. Refugees also get blamed for any social shortcomings in this society—if the from them—you cannot just do it on your own because you have the resources and Almost everybody I know in our community is a community worker! And they It's true they were late getting in on the action, but now we know we should have called the unemployment rate goes up, refugees get blamed; if there is an increase in taxes, you have the organisations. You can't just help them. It's important to recognize that don't get paid for it. They spend a lot of time helping other women to settle, and women's groups from the start. They don't play 'nice' with the Tory government, which is refugees get blamed; if there's a cut in social services, refugees get blamed. Because refugee women know their issues better than anybody else. dealing with other people's problems. We do not have time to come and talk to what we're being asked to do, and they don't look at things case by case, which is what the ii "they" are the ones who abuse the system and make government to do these things. Here maybe I will refer to an incident that made us really angry last year, to mainstream white women's organisations about what our problems are. You have to ... government is asking us to do. j: But refugees are not victims—they are survivors. They have a lot to contribute. illustrate to you the kind of problems that we usually face in terms of organising. go ahead and educate yourselves about it. This is primarily on your shoulders, as y ' "The pressure must not stop. We need the direct action to continue and I hope we will Shortly before International Women's Day in 1992, we were heavily involved in white feminist activists and fighters for social justice, to enhance public awareness of continue to work with the women's movement to achieve that." organizing our efforts to gain support from other so-called progressive groups, in specific women, to see some common ground on which we can all fight together. Fatima jaffer is a first-generation Canadian from Kenya. *cb^ t^^ u 12 " ° APRIL 1993 KINESIS COMMENTARY

government announced it was prepared to that problems about multiple inequalities "Healing" feminism: amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to need to be addressed. include sexual orientation and some lesbi­ One problem was the addition of yet ans were articulating what I consider to be another general abstract term. We've seen feminist concerns about what the govern­ how race protection in human rights instru­ ment was up to and how it was being re­ ments works to protect not only people of ceived within 'the community,' again femi­ colour but white people too. That's a prob­ nists had nothing to say. lem. Politics of So in this context, resorting to the meta­ We also recognize, drawing on the ex­ phor of healing seems a response that's actu­ perience of women of colour, that unless ally consistent with old strategies of denial. something is done, these guarantees will Healing looks a lot like doing nothing to me continue to be interpreted in a watertight and not engaging in real problems, having a way—that is, when women of colour try to period of convalescence and, again, not deal­ articulate a legal claim that proceeds from a engagement ing with the substance of what is now our position of being women of colour, they biggest problem. often ended up getting no protection be­ by Mary Eaton politically dead—self-absorbed, inward- I actually can't think of another meta­ cause the courts and the adjudicators say, turned, no longer a political challenge. phor, which is kind of a shame, but there are "this is not what race discrimination looks This speech was delivered at the opening Viewed from inside the movement, metaphors which I think are very useful, like, or what sex discrimination looks like, so plenary of the National Association of Women when one tries to imagine what we are re­ thatgalvanize political movements—likethe you get nothing." andtheLaw'slOthbiennialconference,Healmg covering from, it is hard to avoid suspicion personal is political; though, while I think the Past, Forming the Future. The plenary was that 'we' refers to white, middle-class privi­ tha t has been useful, there are problems with titled "Healing the Feminist Movement." leged feminists, whose theorizing and prac­ that metaphor too. When I was asked to be on this panel, I tice for so long have been exclusionary and I do have some ideas about what needs started thinking about the theme of this con­ self-referential. And the criticisms that are to be done, so what I thought I would do is We have to share power. ference—healing the feminist movement. I articulated by women of colour, lesbians, set out some principles instead that we can tried to fathom what was meant to be con­ working class women are legitimate, and use to get us closer to what I call, the politics Once you do that, you veyed by this word "healing." My initial labelling white feminism's racist and classist of engagement. reaction was kind of hostile, but after some and heterosexist assumptions is just. So to I think we should recognize that femi­ actually expose yourself reflection, my feelings about the use of the bring internal division around the notion nism is a politics—it's not a club for people term are more mixed. that the movement has been wounded is to with certain anatomical morphology. It's more to risk... As a lesbian—and that's the way I first me profoundly troubling, in two respects. not a haven or a home, so it's not necessarily responded to the term healing—the lan­ First, I think it misapprehends the po­ a safe place to be. What makes it a politics is guage really gave me the willies. I had this litical intentions of criticisms from the mar­ that it makes a stand on women's inequal­ image of tweedy psychiatrists, nice trim gins, particularly from those whose politics ity—relations of dominance and subordina­ beards, pipes and couches and all, talking is centred on ending other forms of inequal­ tion that are institutionalized in this society There are many more problems. Why abouthealing. And inmydream, they would ity. I don't think their intent has been to along gender lines. It doesn't mean that have feminists not responded to the attacks say, "why don't you tell us all about why wound the feminist movement. Rather, it's other forms of systemic oppression are irrel­ that have been made against the lesbian you like girls so much? Why don't you tell us been to improve it, to breathe new life into it, evant or secondary. It doesn't mean that all feminists who articulated what I've tried to what exactly it is you do with those girls? women are oppressed all the time every show are clearly feminist concerns? It seems And we would really like the details, if you place. And it doesn't mean that all women to me, people are more uncomfortable with don't mind." are oppressed in precisely the same way, being seen as having backtracked on what And I would resist this question. And every time, and in every place. they thought was the progressive stance to they would say, "we have ways to help Healing looks a lot like This makes it all very hard and compli­ take, that is, to back the addition of sexual you." I would say, "well, I feel quite fine, cated. I don't think any of the people, in my orientation to the Human Rights Act. I think thank you. I don't think I need any help." doing nothing to me and reading, who have made these internal cri­ it also has something to with a studied reluc­ This conversation would go on and on, tiques have actually come to some kind of tance to take a stand on what are ostensibly but the end would be that I would be healed not engaging in real definitive conclusion to what all the implica­ other people's issues. A politics of engage­ whether I wanted to be healed or not. That's tions are for the questions of intersectionality ment requires that heterosexual feminists part of the reason why I went "eek!" when I problems... [the relationship between race, class, gen­ admit these are feminist concerns, and offer heard the word "healing." der, and other sites of oppression]. We the lesbian feminists who articulate them On the other hand, 1 had an image of ss haven't figured it out. some support. when I was a little kid. My mom worked as If you choose to engage in a politics that I'm going to add, the worst thing that a bartender at a country club and, when I to make it relevant to and respectful to more acknowledges these things, you're going to will happen if heterosexual feminists decide was sick, I'd be at home by myself watching women. But intentions aside, I think the make mistakes because we don't have all the to do this is that some lesbians and gays are TV. When my mother would get home, I'd metaphor of healing provides no useful blue­ answers—it's a risky business. The critical going to call you homophobic—that is the be upset. I'd whine and moan and complain print of how we must reform. question is not whether you're going to make worst that will happen. about how come everyone on TV had moth­ In the old days, these criticisms were mistakes, but what you're going to do about The other example I have is Butler. But­ ers who would stay at home and, when they met by responses like this: "that can't be so it. ler is a feminist argument about the real were sick, bring them chicken soup and that because some of my best friends are gay, or I don't think saying it is risky or that harms of pornography to women, in the kind of thing, while all I got was to watch the black, or whatever," a kind of response that we're bound to screw up occasionally means context of a culture of normalized sexual Brady Bunch and eat Kraft dinner. implied that there was no problem at all. you can be cavalier about making mistakes. violence against women. Nowhere in the It's a nice word in that sense to me, Another thing I heard often was, "when It does mean we can take steps to minimize argument was a stand taken on whether because it appeals to my middle-class aspi­ you point out my privilege, it makes me feel the kinds of mistakes that we make—we lesbian and gay erotica is different from rations. My sense is that neither image is bad." It's not quite the same thing as simple have to get down to doing our homework, heterosexual pornography. I think that's a what conference organizers are trying to denial, but it deflects attention from the understanding thatotherissuesarenot sepa­ very contentious issue—people are divided convey by the use of the word healing, that problem at hand and suggests that the prob­ rate from feminist issues and it's our respon­ on it. We should continue to talk about it. what they really have in mind is the broader lem resides with the critic and not the privi­ sibility to go out and learn about them. And But what has been said in the press by political context of the feminist movement. leged. Another thing that we did, I think, is we have to change the way our organiza­ the anti-Butler contingent, composed largely When I consider the language on that level, a lot of finger pointing, trying to find out tions are structured and our decisions are of lesbian and gay liberationists, is that les­ I still end up having mixed feelings, for a who were the worst offenders, for instance, made. We have to share power. Once you do bian and gay erotica is different just because couple of reasons. among white women, as if we were some­ that, you actually expose yourself more to it's different, and feminists are anti-gay be­ In dominant culture, healing has be­ how better, and never got to the substance of risk because you are in contact with people cause they support a judicial decision which come a popular and even commercialized critiques of the racist ideas and practices who are going to challenge you more that actually protects some women. This is wrong- concept. You can see that in the growth in within feminism. way. handed. It doesn't take into account what circulation of self-help books, the absolute More commonly now, I think, the re­ Finally when you do make a mistake, was actually done in Butler. explosion of 12-step programs, the preva­ sponse to criticisms is simple silence. We say you have choices about how you are going to Again, the failure to respond to attacks lence of therapy, and so on. While I recog­ nothing and do nothing. It's as if, when we respond, how to learn from that mistake and on feminism has much more to do with the nize healing is an authentic and liberating were told that we shouldn't speak for people do it better next time. fact that these criticisms have come from the concept for some political movements—es­ who have historically been denied the op­ I realize this all sounds very platitudi­ lesbian and gay community, and people are pecially within aboriginal circles—my diffi­ portunity to speak, we took that to its fur­ nous and nice, so I thought I would try to so afraid of standing up for a feminist vic­ culty, in thinking about the feminist move­ thest extreme and decided to say nothing at apply these principles to the two examples tory for fear of being called homophobic or ment, is that "healing" conveys and further all. that I mentioned earlier on. That is, what's anti-gay that again nothing has been said. In privatized the harms of systemic oppres­ Some recent examples of this are first of happening around the Butler decision and the failure to stand up for feminism, the sion. It excludes the realities that these inju­ all, the lack of response to the criticisms of what's happening around the Canadian worst thing that could happen is that femi­ ries arise from structuralized, institutional­ Butler [the .Supreme Court decision that Human Rights amendments. nism could self-destruct and that will be the ized imbalances of social, economic and changed the basis of the obscenity law in What happened with the Canadian end. political power. Canada] that have been made in the press Human Rights amendments is that it ex­ Mary Eaton is working towards her Feminists know our real enemy is male lately. posed a division in the lesbian and gay com­ doctorate in law at Columbia University in supremacy and that, for years, male Ithascomeas quite a surprise to me that munity about what was important. The les­ Neiv York City. She is while, lesbian, able- supremacists have declared our movement feminism hasn't stood up and defended what bian feminists who have difficulty with the bodied and considers herself to be in a state dead. The privatizing and therapizing im­ it did in the name of women to get that case. proposals aren't suggesting that sexual ori­ of class transition. age of feminism is one way of deeming us The other example is that, after the federal entation should not be added to the Code but Thanks to Agnes Huang for transcribing.

14 APRIL 1993 ARTS

Persimmon Blackbridge's Sunnybrook; Trip through a mindfield by Nancy Pollak and our imaginations? As adults with 'men­ tal handicaps,' or teenagers with 'learning SUNNYBROOK disabilities,' are we helped by the systems Sculpture by Persimmon Blackbridge provided, or simply made more manage­ March 19-April 25,1993 able? Charles H. Scott Gallery .; Sunnybrook is about dissonance and the Emily Carr College of Art & Design sham of surface truths. Here, 'retarded' peo­ Vancouver, BC ple possess extraordinary insights; deaf peo­ ple hear; helpers do not help; adults are Whenever sculptor Persimmon Black- 'kids;'inmatesappearashappypeopleabout bridge mounts a new show, you can be sure town (but not really)... of walking into something big, something This dissonance extends to how the show whole. She's a world-maker, as much story­ can be experienced. For all the heaviness of teller as visual artist and, in Sunnybrook, she its subject matter, Sunnybrook can be a light walks us through a discordant tale of life and ride. Many of the images are delightful, exu­ labour in an institute for the 'mentally handi­ berant. There is playfulness in the chaotic capped.' angles; in the miniature furniture, books, This isn't the first time Blackbridge has and art work (the shrink's office is ringed drawn us into an institutional nightmare. with tiny Van Goghs; Diane's home has a StUl Sane (1984) and Doing Time (1989) fo­ tiny Jo Cook and a Debbie Bryant—two local cused on psychiatric hospitals and prisons. Both were intensely political and personal collaborations between Blackbridge and women who have been incarcerated. In Sunnybrook is like good Sunnybrook, the story is more her own. (It's about collaboration, too, but of a different political theatre, with a sort.) And while her earlier shows followed clear paths of pain and resistance, this show cast of complex is more complex and clever. characters, visual spectacle, a surprising Staring down the length range of emotions—the of the gallery, you pieces are anguished become aware of and whimsical, raw and standing inside an analytical—and exploded city, whose reflections on power, people and buildings identity and personal hang on the walls like morality. torn seeds. Janey

artists); in the romancenovel cut-outs (nurse- Sunnybrook explores another of soci­ tion techniques—she does, on the receiving The journey through Sunnybrook is a doctor images ad nausea); and in the sheer ety's literal lock-ups, but it's also a trip end—Diane is assigned to three inmates. familiar Blackbridge tour. Once again, she fun Blackbridge has with herself—Diane is through the mindfield (pun intended) of Her task is to improve their communi­ exposes the brutalities of institutional life often represented with photos from Drawing communication and text, of personal and cation skills. Stuart is 29, white and blind. and the politics of social control in a style that the Line, the lesbian sexuality show public codes, and the strain between pic­ He has been at Sunnybrook all his life. is non-rhetorical and often wry. Sunnybrook Blackbridge collaborated on in 1988. tures and words. Gentle and profoundly neglected, Stuart is like good political theatre, with a cast of The text also shifts between pain and Theshowisvast.Staringdownthelength spends most days rocking in front of a complex characters, visual spectacle, a sur­ play: it's full of ironies, comic asides, of the gallery, you becomeawareof standing television. Janey, another lifer, is frequently prising range of emotions—the pieces are mutterings and sarcasm. inside an exploded city, whose people and strait-jacketed and tossed into solitary con­ anguished and whimsical, raw and analyti­ With all these complexities, Sunnybrook buildings hang on the walls like torn seeds. finement for breaking things or biting peo­ cal—and reflections on power, identity and isn't as easy to 'get' as Blackbridge's earlier Sunnybrook consists of 25 separate pieces— ple [see photo]. She's young, white and selec­ personal morality. shows. And the long, intricate storyline three-dimensional scenes and characters tively articulate; like Stuart, she easily re­ But Sunnybrook also vibrates with a ten­ makes it possible to almost overlook her constructed of painted plywood, metal plates, peats words and phrases she hears, and she sion between its text and its images. They artistry. Again, Sunnybrook is likegood thea­ photographs, wire mesh, plexiglass, book sings. Mary is a 36 year-old Native woman hang side-by-side on the wall, but often tug tre: there is so much happening, you are covers, doll furniture and miniatures (com­ who came to Sunnybrook at seven. She has the viewer in different directions. You see undistracted by the technical skill behind the puters, books, picture frames etc). a stringof labels—"borderline retarded, non- and feel one thing (the energy of the image, drama. Hanging beside each piece are copies of communicative, anti-social and deaf." Mary the emotional tones of colour, texture) then In particular, Blackbridge's painting is the accompanying text. The type is large is defiant, knowledgeable and, as Diane read and think another. Do they tell the same deceptively simple. While the show uses enough to be read off the wall, but a viewer learns, not completely deaf. Shirley, an­ story? Which is the more authoritative ver­ three-dimensional materials (plywood, plas­ can collect their own sheet, which is also other inmate, also looms large. She's a les­ sion of Sunnybrook? Can the mind really hold tics, metal) in three-dimensional settings, it helpful to people with sight impairments bian and knows exactly how to push Diane's these two ways of knowing at the sa me time? is Blackbridge's colourful brush that gives (audio tapes are available). By the end of the buttons. These aren't just abstract philosophical shape, shadow and a lively depth to show, you will have a substantial sheath of For two months, Diane treads through questions. At the heart of Sunnybrook is an Sunnybrook. papers—there's a lot of reading material the Sunnybrook system. It's a world of re­ inquiry into the politics of communication It's an interesting trick: the flatness of 3- here. pression, boredom, violence and small joys. and reality. Whose code, whose version D meets the roundness of paint. Like the The story tracks a couple of months in She collaborates—Diane fakes it with her comes out on top? name itself—Sunnybrook—and like the the life of Diane—Persimmon's nom dewaged boss in order to keep the job; she fantasizes Woven throughout the show is Diane's world within and beyond its walls, things ivork—who gets a job as a one-to-one coun­ about pursuing this as a career—and she owndif ficult story of learning to speak, learn­ are not necessarily what we are lead to be- sellor at the Sunnybrook Institution for the subverts the system, too, by trying to pay ing to write. Her difficulty, in fact, was in lieve. Mentally Handicapped. Diane is a fraud. attention to what Stuart, Janey and Mary learning to conform. Sunnybrook asks: are we Nancy Pollak usually reads the caption before She lied on her application about having want. She also dips in and out of the world taught to communicate in order to relate, or looking at the picture. Pity. worked in a child guidance clinic—in fact, of Harlequin romance, via a paperback she to be controlled? When we learn language, For more information on Sunnybrook, call she was a patient there, a 'learning disabled' discovers stuffed behind a toilet in the base­ are we merely learning to echo acceptable 844-3809. The gallery is wheelchair accessible teen. Having convinced the head psychia­ ment washroom. (Diane is a lesbian, but meanings, acceptable renditions of reality? and the text is available in audio tape. trist she understands behaviour modifica­ escape is escape.) As kids, are we forced to colonize ourselves

APRIL 1993 ARTS

Film review: Speak it!; Review: Imagining Lesbian images; Fight Looking the power like lesbians by Nikola Maria De Marin What is surprising about this video is by Alice Swift beautiful sculptures of vulvas in the shapes the effort and commitment of the 30 or 40 of flowers, seashells, and other natural ob­ SPEAK IT! "St. Pat's" kids who go where most school IMAGINING LESBIAN IMAGES jects. directed by Sylvia Hamilton boards fear to tread. In empowering them­ Videos and presentation Fougere's video from 1984 documents National Film Board, 1993 selves to explore questions of identity and by Myriam Fougere some of her sculptural work, from which International Women's Week Film culture, they have to contend with obstacles Pacific Cinematheque, Vancouver she later turned to making jewellery in the and Video Series that range from accessing materials and find­ March 18 shapes of women and their bodies. Fougere Pacific Cinematheque, Vancouver ing someone qualified to teach them, to the talked about the importance of having daunting pedagogical prospect of teaching What would the world look like if we women-only spaces in which to exhibit her "You don't have to be from Scotland to themselves and their peers stuff they are in could create it from a lesbian point of view? work—in a heterosexual context, she says, have a history," says Shingai Njajeha, the the midst of learning. What kind of reality could we create if we her work would be, at best, unappreciated hipyoungcommentatoroffilmmakerSylvia When I look at the fact that the students didn't need to continually devote our ener­ and, at worst, reviled or ridiculed. Hamilton's latest video, Speak it!, from the formed a group, participated in a confer­ gies to fighting the one that men have made, Women-only spaces are the subject of heart of Black Nova Scotia. ence, put on a play, held protests, made the one that wants to destroy us? another Fougere video, Sacred Space. In the The rap group Public Enemy gave out presentations in class...it confirms my own These are some of the questions at the video, a number of women speak about the the call in their hit, Fight the Power: "most of feeling that students of colour display com­ heartofMyriamFougere's presentation, "Im­ importanceofcreatinga space wherewomen my heroes don't appear on no stamp." paratively intense commitment to their edu­ agining Lesbian Images," the second event can be the centre of the experience, free from Shingai speaks to this absence of Black his­ cation when they are called to be so much in the Looking Like Dykes lecture and film/ the demanding presence of men. tory, both in the mainstream and at St. more resourceful, resilient and original than video series taking place this spring at the According to Fougere, the video grew Patrick's High, a school in Nova Scotia, when their white counterparts. Cinematheque. The series provides an op­ out of her experiences in producing the East he notes in a 380-page history text that "only As a university student, I have had to portunity to discuss the ways that lesbians Coast Lesbian Festival, an event she has been one and a half pages are about us...it's like reckon with the feeling that I was subtly "look"—both as spectators and as images— involved with for the past four years. Find­ we've been erased." putting nails in my own coffin by internaliz­ and to consider whether there is such a thing ing herself unable to single-handedly an­ Not only does Shingai and his class­ ing so much of European thought and ideas. as a specifically lesbian aesthetic. swer all the questions raised by the issue of mates of colour bear witness to the institu­ Thus, the process documented in Hamil­ Fougere came to video making from male children at the festival, Fougere created tionalized racism that obscures and in- ton's video, of finding personal integrity in a sculpture, where she had first encountered the video. visibilizes the 300-year old history of Nova white-chin chauvinist environment, is one I her desire to represent women ina new way. As was pointed out in the discussion Scotia's Black community, they must also can relate to on so many levels. She fell into the practice of "cunt art" by period following the screening, Sacred Space contend with the racist violence, discrimina­ Nikola Maria De Marin is a volunteer writer chance, when she was sculpting a face and includes a fairly narrow range of perspec- tion and name calling that makes school a for Kinesis. noticed that it resembled a vulva. Soon, she hostile and harassing environment. was using clay, and later, porcelain to make See FOUGERE page 18-^H^ ^

FROM THE NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY The Federal Women's Film Program presents two new videos from its WOMEN AND WORK series that call for change, stimulate debate and challenge traditional attitudes about work and family.

THE GLASS CEILING A BALANCING ACT

SOPHIE BISSONN DIRECTOR: HELENA O ER: CHANTAL BO 27 minutes Orde 9192 094 23 minutes Order number: 9192 098 i de verre Available in French: Question d'equilibn To rent or purchase, call toll-free: Atlantic Canada 1-800-561-7104 • Quebec 1-800-363-0328 • Ontario 1-800-267-7710 Western Canada, Yukon and Northwest Territories 1-800-661-9867

_.. — ^^^ National Office :. VpJl JJ Film Board national duf _ Kft?4 of Canada du Canada ARTS

Lotus of Another Color; A few journeys in one by Archana Gandhi and Sur Mehat There are half as many pieces by women as there are by men. Also, while the voices Lotus of Another Color is an anthology of themselves are somewhat diverse, the con­ poetry, short fiction, critical essays and in­ tent of the pieces all tend to deal with similar terviews by and about South Asian lesbians, issues—community, love and finding gays and bisexuals. "home". This gives Lotus a certain homoge­ The anthology is divided into three sec­ neity and excludes discussions of issues tions: Uncovering Our Pasts—InventingOur such as class, caste, ableism and mother­ Present; Awakenings; and Many Journeys hood. In One. Some of the issues explored are It is also surprising that the anthology AIDS, global networking of Asian lesbians, does not explore the experience of South Asians settling in places other than Europe and North America, even though South Asian peoples have a long history of migra­ ...the common thread of tion to Africa, the Caribbean and Fiji. The anthology does provide a very use­ the work is "a sense of ful directory of resources for South Asian lesbians, gays and bisexuals. Lotus is par­ isolation"... that takes ticularly important for South Asian lesbians and gays who live in isolation, and are not the form of racism in the supported by a community. The writing is quite accessible and we West and homophobia i both found it to be an easy read. in the South Asian communities. It is a powerful Temple carving of four women having sex from the city of Khajuraho, acknowledgement that feminism and men, bisexuality, and hijras India (the term used for hermaphrodites, trans- South Asian women vestites and drag queens). ences of South Asian lesbians and gay men. and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Lotus of Another Color is the first anthol­ Its editor, Rakesh Ratti, was born in northern (GLAAD) in the US. have always had sex ogy devoted solely to the lives and experi- India, and now works with the Gay The anthology breaks new ground in recognizing the presence of a South Asian with each other. lesbian and gay community in North America. Before continuing with our review of Lotus, we feel it is important to acknowl­ edge the place from which we speak. We are first-generation Canadians, one middle class Itwasdisappointingforboth of us there­ and the other working class. One of us is out fore that, after reading the anthology, most to her family and the other isn't. We are both of the poetry and prose didn't have a lasting South Asian lesbians, active in the lesbian of effect on us. What did stand out for us? It was colour community in Vancouver. the historic representations of lesbians in new and According to Ratti, the common thread India, as well as the interviews of some of gently used books of the work is "a sense of isolation" experi­ those presently living in India. enced by South Asian lesbians and gay men Photographs in the book of cave sculp­ SJS^IfeJBM Feminist tha t takes the form of racism in the West and tures depict sex between women and his­ Philosophy - Poetry homophobia in the South Asian communi­ torically place lesbianism in South Asian Native - General ties. culture. It is a powerful acknowledgement As Ratti states in his introduction: "the that South Asian women have always had sex no GST v benefit of coming together has been tremen­ with each other. if .lg| dous, yet we gay and lesbian South Asians Ratti's statement that "just as our cul­ Open daily 11am-7pm |v jl still continue to be an invisible group. We are ture and our gayness or lesbianism sets us Coffee Bar relatively unknown in the gay and lesbian apart from others, so they serve to bring us 1020 Commercial Drive communities, and we are similarly over­ together with one another," rings true, par­ Vancouver BC V5L 3W9 looked in the mainstream South Asian com­ ticularly given this historical context. Over­ (604) 253-1099 OCTOPUS BOOKS munities. Whether because of benign ne­ all, Lotus of Another Color is politically im­ Bonnie Murray 1146 Commercial Drive Vancouver glect or a conscious desire to deny our exist­ portant because it makes a strong statement Cynthia Brooke 604 253.0913 ence, evidenced by myriad rationales, we about our existence and survival as South too often go unacknowledged in both Asian lesbians, gays and bisexuals. groups." Many of the authors in this book don't The voices in Lotus are diverse in several use their real names, even as they take evi­ ways. The authors are: lesbian, gay and bi­ dent pride in their sexual and cultural iden­ Western Canada's sexual; originate from different regions of tities. One of us (Archana Gandhi) chooses South Asia; have different vocations; and to do the same. It is an act that serves as a Lesbian & Gay live in different parts of the world, some in reminder of the many real dangers that exist Bookstore Canada, the US and England while others in a racist, homophobic and sexist world. tidfati.. live in South Asian countries. The diversity, Archana Gandhi is a South Asian lesbian Open Daily 10am to 11pm however, does not extend to class—many of living and studying in Vancouver. the writers are professionals in mainstream Sur Mehat is South Asian dyke living in the occupations, and only a few appear to be spraivling working class suburb of Burnaby, The Night Audrey's Vibrator Spoke working class. BC. A Stonewall Riots Collection by Andrea Natalie WOMEN'S WORK VANCOUVER From lesbians on Jeaopardy! ("Ok, Alex! Personal Ads SCREEN PRINT, for $1000, please') to safe sex for small mammals ("I swear, Ethel! She said you use it to protect your We give to the Commun. WOMEN'S beaver!), Andrea Natalie takes a deadpan, dead-on that supports u: look at lesbian life and culture in the 90s. A zany.clever • Women Positive BOOKSTORE colletion of cartoons. • Earth Friendly Monday-Saturday $13.99 • Community Economi 10:00 am-6:00 pm Development • Equality Right! 315 Cambie Street Vancouver, BC 1221 ThurlowCat Davie), Vancouver, B.C. V6B 2N4 (604)684-0523 Tel:(<504)<5<59-1 753 or Fax:(604)685-0252 ARTS

for his 2 Alsatian dogs." Wickedness is clearly timeless; tran­ Review and interview: - from "Contemporary" by Suniti Namjoshi scending cultural boundaries.

"I am made of rock "I like sleeping with somebody harder than diamond different it cuts through your conventions and your sticky, sticky lies." It's nicest when my husband is Being - from "Lesbian" by Caroline Claxton in a foreign country and there's rain in the streets at night "I had to include Atwood. I adore and wind Atwood," Dawson confesses. "There aresep- and nobody" eral Canadian poets actually," she is quick to - Anon, 12 c. AD add, when she notes my there's-more-to- Canada-than-Atwood look. "Like CM. Wicked Verse is not one more eulogy to wicked Donald, Winona Baker, and others." the dead poets' society, but rather very much Baker gives us a glimpse into the alive notes from the underground: every day wickedness of many women's by Pam Fleming Virago Book of Wicked Verse that was just lives. "I'm rappin it up in a real tight squeeze released this winter. "The couple I don't cross my eyes I don't dot my teas VIRAGO BOOK OF WICKED "One way to widen the scope of an married a long time Shakespeare Milton Poe and Dryden VERSE anthology such as this is to include, as we lives in uneasy truce Woodsworth Eliot Great Traditions have, folk poems, rhythm ballads and songs," Edited by Jill Dawson waiting all you poets I don't give a fuck Dawson writes in the introduction. Virago Press, London, 1993 neither cares coz you're dead I am PA an'i am for the way the house looks RAPPIN I met Jill Dawson (alias Ruby) when we "Oh my name is if he were gone IT were mutual strangers on our way to Diamond Lily she'd sell his tools UP" Fiddlehead Farm last August. Fiddlehead is I'm a whore in Piccadilly burn bits of lumber - from "Rappin' it up" by Patience Agbabi an organic oasis on the northernmost tip of And my father runs a brothel in the Strand. if she goes first the Sunshine coast in BC. It is reachable only My brother sells his arsehole he'll throw out "I want it to be the kind of book that by boat—the Irish Mist. Fiddlehead, like To the guards at Windsor Castle books and pictures women will come across while browsing in Avalon, is mythical, magical and for dream­ We're the finest fucking family in the land." won't ask bookshops, nudge each other, smile and say, ers only. -from "Diamond Lily" the family if they want them 'Oh! Look at this! This is funny, or lovely, or Ruby sat on the hull of the Irish Mist. solicitously inquire wicked'," Dawson explains while dipping With her short black curls, rhinestone cat's- "Wicked has so many meanings," How do you feel today?" her big toe in the cold stream. "You know eye sunglasses, and black and white shorts, Dawson confided as we sat getting our feet - from "Waiting" by Win Baker how women get together and get into taboo she looked like she would be more at home wet in the bubbly creek the next day. "Like subjects and the kind of hilarity that comes in a London nightclub than in the back­ humourous, subversive, spirited, sexy, un­ Dawson has chosen poetry for Wicked of that." woods of British Columbia—and more like acceptable, and wick-ed as in awesome. Verse with care and clarity, humour and The Virago Book of Wicked Verse is guar­ Madonna than the mother she is to three- 'Wicked' is what women are often catego­ thoughtfulness. Over 100 women croon, anteed to make you "nudge, nudge wink, rized as, but being wicked, as we define it, is year-old son Lewis. swoon, scold, seduce and scorn in the pages wink know what I mean? Know what I generallydenied us.It's the whore/madonna Later, as we gathered on the porch of the of the five sections—^Clitoris in my throat; mean?" in many ways and places. Buy it and syndrome." cookhouse, I learned that Ruby is not just a Listen if you dare; The bush catches fire; share it with someone you want to get wet pretty face but an editor, poet and writer. In order to get a broad range of wicked­ Queens of the underworld; and If they can't with in a cold stream on a hot day. She is author of How Do I Look?, a bookabout ness, Dawson sought out poems: from take a joke". Pam Fleming is a volunteer Kinesis writer. adolescent women's self-imagery. Sappho of AncientLesbos, to Chrystos of the Dawson had just won the prestigious Menominee Nation, and Adjoah Ando of Eric Gregory award for poetry for Britons Ghana/England; from ancient China to under 30. Her family's holiday to North modern-day Poland, Canada, Japan, India, America was partially funded by the award, and more. Lesbians, straights, autoerotics, which is intended to be used to broaden bisexuals, libertines, celibates—anarchists, one's experience through travel. rebels and revolutionaries—will find much "I've never been so rich in my life!" to titillate their fancies in this jam-packed Ruby said, in herSouth-Londonaccent,about trade paperback that's a deal by its size the 8000-pound award. Ruby sounds like alone. she might be middle class, but she is from a working class background. "I got my accent "The government official educated out of me," she said. speaks in English with friends, Dawson's working-class background in Hindi with servants certainly comes through in her editing of the s his mother tongue

by Luce Kannen

Attention book lovers! Paging Women is a regular preview of titles recently received at space. For similar reasons, she says, the need Kinesis. If you are interested in writing an in-depth review of any of the following books, FOUGERE from page 16 exists for women of colour only spaces within please call us at 255-5499 or drop us a line. tives on the issue—none of the women inter­ women-only spaces. Circles of Strength: Community Alternatives to Alienation edited by Helen Forsey, viewed is the mother of a male baby who ha s While Sacred Space addresses some with a foreword by Judith Plant. This collection of essays deals with the need for community by chosen not to bring him to the space, for important issues, the interviews tend to be­ sharing the experience and reflections of over 20 members of collectivities as diverse as First Nations, instance. In addition, the question of how come somewhat repetitious, with several religious orders, activist camps and urban neighbourhoods. Contributors offer practical advice about women with male children are expected to women making the same points. As a result, ways to construct circles of mutual caring and support. This is the fifth volume of the New Catalyst afford to be a part of woman-only spaces is the video loses momentum. It is also flawed Bioregional Series. Contributors include Sonia Johnson, Marge Piercy, Rachel Bagby, Laird not raised, nor is the fact that a few women's by what Fougere admits is an intentional Sandhill, JoanNewmanKuyekandMargoAdair.(NewSocietyPublishers,Gabriola Island 1993) festivals do provide separate childcare areas bias—the video could have been more pow­ Sheepish Beauty, Civilian Love Poems by Erin Moure. This latest collection by the for boys. erful had it presented a wider range of expe­ Montreal-based poet is described as an extended outcry on the will to tenderness, even in the face of One of the women in the video ex­ rience among the women interviewed. itsabsence. Moure's 1988book,'Furious,won the Governor-General's Award for Poetry: (Vehicule, presses her surprise that some women think Fougere's video, Lesbian Art, marks the Montreal 1993) we shouldn't have any women's spaces, bridge between her careers as sculptor and The Goddess in the Office: A Personal Energy Guide for the Spiritual Warrior at given that there are so few to begin with. A video artist. This is a quietly "arty" video Work by Z. Budapest. No kidding. A book at once playful and serious (dedicated to two celebrity Black woman talks about this type of "sa­ that shows sculptures of women's bodies figures of sexual harassment, Anita Hill and Francis Conley and the millions of women who tell the cred" space in terms of political power— being built in the sand, then washed away by tru th). Budapest comes from a long line of witches, feminists and herbalists and, in this volume, she that is, women having the right to determine the tide. The shapes of the sand-women offers spells and meditations to: purify the office; get a raise; repel sexual harassment; protect who does and who does not come into their constantly change as they are gradually computer data; and give a speech, not necessarily in that order. (Harper Collins, San Francisco eroded. 1993) Fougere shot the video in a lesbian com­ The Telling by EM. Broner (including The Women's Haggadah by E.M. Boner with munity in Florida—it was a space where she Naomi Nimrod). For over 15 years, a group of Jewish feminists gathered to celebrate a more felt safe making sculptures of vulvas on the inclusive Passover, and to create community and ceremony for and by women. Tlie women include beach. Considering how recent and how Gloria Steinem, Michele Landsberg, Phyllis Chesler, Bella Abzug and Grace Paley, among others. rare it is, still, for women to be in control of This is the story of their celebration of a woman-positive Pesach (Passover), of women's presence in the way our bodies are represented, Lesbian Jewish history and exploration of their matrilineage. (Harper Collins, San Francisco 1993) Art is at once very simple and very remark­ Terrorist Letters by Ann Diamond. Diamondliasauthoredshort stories, a novel andnow this able^ collection of poems, fragments. Her previous workhas been describedas "outrageous, blasphemous, Alice Swift is a first-time Kinesis writer and painful, hilarious, touching." She's a provocative and funny writer. (Signal Editions, Montreal dyed in the wool dyke. 1993) ARTS COMMENTARY Reviewing April Nam A compelling read

Kathleen Oliver The Dykes in Diapers stance is vehemently rejected by Claire's radical friends. As WELL WORN GENES Miranda puts it, "What? We're supposed to by April Narr apologize for being this thing that's so awful Well Pre-noon Press, Vancouver, 1993 that no one could possibly want to choose it? 'Sorry, we can't help it?' I don't think so. Claire is not having an easy spring. It's Whatever happened to pride? We're sup­ Worn either her "semi-annual mid-life crisis" or posed to be proud of an accident of birth?" just another cycle in her Saturn Return, but Stumbling into the convoluted world of somehow, life seems to have lost its focus. Dr. Troggle and his backers provides exactly Genes Things have gotten so bad that, at the the distraction from her own life that Claire peak of her ennui, Claire lets a friend talk her needs—particularly when she approaches into accompanying him to a market research the local feminist newspaper about doing a group. Between samples of donut holes, she story on Troggle, and develops a hopeless notices that the session leader is staring at crush on the editor. At the same time, Claire's her labyris (the one she wears around her involvement in her community and her faith neck). both in herself and in other dykes get a This is to be the first and most innocu­ much-needed boost. ous of her encounters with Dr. Herbert A particularly powerful scene comes in Troggle, a molecular biologist determined the form of a confrontation between a group to prove that lesbianism has a genetic basis. of dykes and Troggle's female assistant, Through a little research of her own, Claire Penny, who has been sent to collect samples discovers that Dr. Troggle is so obsessed from the washroom ata lesbiandance. When with proving his theories that he has been she is caught and her connection to Troggle extracting urine samples from the sewer established, a group of dykes coaxes her out a novel systems serving the homes of prominent onto the dance floor and gets her dancing to lesbians in the community. Madonna's "Express Yourself." Penny is by Questionable research methods, to be swept away: "It was clear now that she was sure, but when Claire catches Dr. Troggle enjoying herself, her hips swaying, her eyes snooping around her sump pump, she finds half -closed, though every no w and then she'd herself caught up in a web of intrigue, ad­ take a shy peek over in Claire's direction. April Narr venture, and truly hair-raising, not to men­ She started swinging her arms, and vials tion hilarious, plot twists. All in all, it makes were falling out of her pockets, smashing for compelling reading. and spilling all over the dance floor. Women were stepping back, not wanting to slip, but Penny kept on dancing, heedless of the lost samples and not giving a moment's thought To tell any more would to how she was going to explain this to Dr. Troggle." be to give away too age-obsessed scientists like Dr. Troggle, I'm and hmn, that sounds kind of interesting; or The scene is at once hilarious and em­ sure there are plenty of researchers who you wonder if it would be possible to bring many of the surprises... powering: a vivid and inventive example of would just love the opportunity to get inside that show up to your town or city; or, or, or... the power of collective resistance. It also our pants, one way or another. None of this I have to have a bigger set of eyes, ears, marks the beginning of an unlikely—but is all that far-fetched: some would even tastes than just my own when I'm seeing a ultimately delightful—romance between suggest that living in North America in the play, film, reading a book, or whatever that Despite its too-clever title, Well Worn Claire and Penny. latter part of the 20th century is like living in I'm going to review (I also have to take Genes is a smart, stylish, and very funny take To tell any more would be to give away a satire. notes!), so that I can take you along too, and on contemporary dyke life. It's rare to find too many of the surprises that make Genes The other thing i s humour of any kind is bring you back some of what we saw there. a lesbian novel that is so shamelessly satiri­ such a consistently enjoyable read but, be­ reliant for its success on a delicate balance of And yet at the same time, I'm still just little cal. At the same time, Genes manages to lieve me, you will neither predict nor be inclusion and exclusion: it includes those ol' me with my peculiar set of assumptions, incorporate elements of the mystery genre disappointed by the ending. who are going to get the joke and excludes likes and dislikes, etcetera. It's no wonder so that has become so popular with dyke writ­ Narr is an exciting new voice on the those who either don't get it or are the butt of many reviewers (feminists too) get arrogant. ers in recent years, along with the requisite lesbian literary scene and, whether or not Often, one of the hallmarks of "great" main­ dose of eroticism and rich character devel­ my desire is genetically induced, I look for­ stream reviewing is a tone of unrelieved opment. ward to reading her next creation. snottiness—you really know whether you're A first-time novelist, April Narr man­ Actually, I look forward to reading her Reviewing.-.hinges on "in" or "out" based on how well you can ages simultaneously to explore and explode first creation—or my first creation, since decode the reviewer's obscure references to many of the straight world's myths about there's no such person as April Narr, and creating a sense (or little-known works, esoteric philosophies, lesbians. But she's clearly not above poking there's no such book as Well Worn Genes. and so on. fun at her own community. The characters That's right, folks, I made the whole thing illusion) of community... Obviously, this sort of thing won't do at who populate Claire's world range from up. Kinesis—though, as a recovering English earnest academics to playful video artists Why, you ask? major, I'm always having to check my ten­ like Lucy and Miranda, who are working on I've been writing reviews for Kinesis for dency to throw in obscure references; it's a 50s pulp parody informed by 90s S/M close to a year now, without ever really possible to be academically trained into a (lesbian sadomasochism) sensibilities, called stopping to think muchabout whatthe whole it. Any of us who have less power—whether certain type of affection for them, y'know. Satan Licked My Cunt, and who frequently process entails. This exercise—besides be­ we're lesbians, women, people of colour, But a feminist newspaper isn't about making prevail upon Claire for advice and small ing my dutiful fulfilment of my promise of people with disabilities in hetero-patriar- women feel excluded, nor is it about trashing loans. bringing in a story when all the other things chal-racist-ableist mainstream society, have anybody. That's why I also have a difficult Narr's playful style has a more serious I was going to review fell through—helped felt the exclusion of being ridiculed for what time reviewing anything that I really didn't edge, though, particularly in her characteri­ to raise some valuable questions. we are. But hopefully we've also felt the like—you know, if you can't say something ze tionofTroggle'ssupporters,a group work­ For one thing, Well Worn Genes is the inclusion of being able to share certain codes, nice... ing toward the genetic "extinction" of lesbi­ sort of lesbian novel I would like to write— vocabulary, and understanding among our­ So it was a treat to have the freedom that ans. The range of personalities is a continual if only because it's the sort of book I'd like to selves—jokes that those who try to deny or came with reviewing something that didn't surprise to Claire, as she seeks to expose read, and I haven't found it on the shelves suppress our existence simply wouldn't exist—no feelings to hurt but my own. And, their motives. There are the moneyed and yet. There seems to be a real shortage of "get" because they are not part of our com­ as it turned out, I had nothing but nice things powerful corporation owners, the sermon­ satire among the lesbian-feminist titles out munities. to say! izing "family values" types, and even grass­ there. Reviewing is similar, in that it hinges on I hope I'm not the only person who'd roots activists who spraypaint slogans like It's not that there's any lack of serious creating a sense (or illusion) of community, like to read a book like Well Worn Genes, one "It's in her piss" in lesbian neighbourhoods. issues to ridicule and seek to correct, which if only for a moment, of those engaged with that doesn't so much make fun o/lesbians as It becomes impossible to know who to trust. is what satire is all about. One of the chal­ the work being reviewed. You were either have fun with them. (Remember that old And politics makes strange bedfellows: lenges in imagining Well Worn Genes was there, and, that's what you thought, too; or distinction between laughing at someone Troggle's research is also endorsed by the coming up with scenarios that sounded so you totally disagree with what I think and and laughing ivith them?) In fact, I hope lots "Dykes in Diapers Campaign," a group of much more ridiculous than real life that they how could we have been at the same show?; of you would like to read it—because I think lesbians seeking to fit into the mainstream were obviously satirical. The genetic re­ or you wanted to go, but didn't make it, and I just might write it. you're either very sorry or very relieved; or by insisting that they were born as lesbians search idea came from a very recent news Kathleen Oliver is a regular Kinesis contribu­ you're hearing about it now for the first time and therefore cannot help the way they are. clipping, and whether or not there are sew- tor and aspiring novelist.

APRIL 1993 LETTERS zation Flygirls. She too is a survivor and a to hysteria. For example, a promise was thing to do with the French Impressionists' reader warrior, and not just a casualty. made part way through the exhibition's run theory of light, or a particular purple-leaf I would also like to acknowledge a local to at least open the gallery on Saturdays. tree of South Asia, or maybe with an emo­ Kinesis\oves receiving mail. Please woman's business who has taken a stand by Even this didn't pan out because of a two- tional level the artist wants to convey, or it get your letter to us by the 18th of the refusing to sell tickets or advertise Flygirl hour mid-day lock-up lunch-break which might even relate to the fact that the artist has month. events until an exchange and accountability altered that schedule. With such spasmodic run out of green paint. If you can, keep the length to about toward an acceptable resolution has taken hours, many many potential viewers could But the adult artist will take the artistic 500 words. (If you go way over, we place. I and my children thank you too. not get in to see the paintings, think for freedom to paint a sky red or a tree purple might edit for space.) Another local lesbian space has con­ themselves, engage in some dialogue, read whenever, much as the child artist will also Hope to hear from you very soon. tacted Flygirls by writing letters and attempt­ some pertaining literature—in short, become insist that sky can be red, that it doesn't ing to organize meetings (this ongoing effort involved. In essence, Diana Kemble's works really have to be blue. And really, who is to were banned from public viewing. Love, has not yet resulted in any significant ex­ argue any of this? This is the explicit free­ Kinesis change between Flygirls and "the commu­ One co-curator is quoted as saying, "...it dom of choice with regard to the color range nity"). I thank them as well. doesn't matter what culture she's drawing on the artist's palette. So, Maria, these are some of the actions from. This fascination with borrowing from Currently however, a conundrum is fac­ taken in Vancouver to support and educate other cultures and mythologies indiscrimi­ ing the artist with regard to the color render­ Happy our communities about anti-mother, anti- nately hurts." ing on the figure. The white artist, it seems subscriber children and anti-woman attitudes since the The artist has written that "these paint­ by the logic of some, can color the figure bashing at the Flygirls' event in 1991. ings call attention to cavity/cave, birth/bear, white. The black artist can color the figure I must say that Karin's and Diane's woman/emergence." Apropos of what cul­ black. The brown-skinned artist paints letters also pulled raw strings in my spirit, ture she is drawing from, what if a white brown-skinned figures. Kinesis: and I too "had a sense of having failed woman borrowed from ea rly Celtic imagery All of the above is artistically inane and I'm happy to renew my subscription them." Their words spoke volumes to me yet herself was only 25% pure Celtic? Would obviously ludicrous. What sort of political early and get the regular ten issues plus one and befriended me. I thank them. this be acceptable borrowing? Another: what censorship will be issued on the creative act free issue. Good deal! I also thank Susan from Toronto who if an artist were part-Japanese, part-English, and by whom? Have the 15th Century Ital­ I've been a subscriber since my daugh­ gave me her support in her letter to Kinesis a part-French and part-Jamaican? A blend ian paintings of Madonna and Child been ter was in grade one, and now she is in her few months ago. takes only a few generations of many races examined to determined if the color of flesh fourth year of university. Long time, eh? To the women involved with Flygirls, I living in one country; this is happening in on the palette was not appropriated from only have the following to say: I do not have Canada. Now, what will the board members another culture? Thanks for your good work, your privilege to ignore hatred as I survive and committee at Women In Focus gallery Who is Diana Kemble? Does she "work Joy I. Lennox daily. I will not go away now, as I didn't on do about this mix? Mixed up? I am. (only) out of her dreams"? Why have these Terrace, BC the night that you wanted me to go away Agnes Huang's article "Women Out of been her only words with regard to her enough that you beat me up, in front of my Focus" in the November issue of Kinesis read paintings? How should this be considered? son. I had a right to take up some space then, as very balanced reporting around this very For decades she has been an outspoken, and I still have this right. I take pleasure in controversial issue—in part, the gallery's precise and witty proponent of womens' remembering that I was the very last person board members' response to an exhibition issues, in particular inher support of women Thank you to walk out the doors. going up on their own walls which they artists. Her commitment to the arts spans a sisters As Maria says, "you cannot ignore us.. I didn't know enough about until it was up real proficiency of literature and music, as am right there, in front of you...there are and ondisplay.Whata mess they then found well as visual arts. She does respect her Kinesis: fewer and fewer places to hide from our themselves in. Curious that the focus has subject matter. And what is important to me anger." And I am not alone. been on the political dynamics and not on is her sense of humanity. This letter is to thank women who wrote the aesthetics of the work. No informed Since money is a big part of race dis­ letters and supported some of our daily Burcu Ozdemir, reviews, no critical thought, no public atten­ course (that is, funding agencies), let's make survivals. Vancouver, BC tion. And almost all Kemble has said is "I am it public: she is not federally funded, a remit­ Ma ria Verghina s of Montrea l, thank you working out of my dreams." tance woman nor is she a pampered aristo­ for remembering the anniversary of the as­ One irony is that Kemble was indeed crat. For decades, she has supported herself saults on myself, my child, and friends by tentative, but for totally different reasons, as a part-time librarian. She has lived in the women at the Flygirls event on December 31, A defence about displaying this particular series from Downtown Eastside of Vancouver for about 1991. Your letter [see Kinesis, Feb. 93] offered her life's work: the very graphic portrayals 20 years (long before it was a fashionable support to many women victims/survivors of appropriation of female sexuality, the dramatic brutality of and arty pa rt of town). She shares the history like myself, Karin Mladenovic and Diane the torn vagina in childbirth, the intriguing of repression and resistance; she is of a dis­ Atkinson, in and out of the women's many yet unutterable fear of giving birth to an­ enfranchised minority already (lack of rec­ "movements". This has validated me, not other species, the stories of animal and hu­ ognition and lack of financial support for her just as a casualty but also as a warrior. If any gallery accepts and mounts an man copulation. This is all highly charged art) and these restrictions are all too familiar Thank you, sister, for walking with me exhibition of an artist's work, there follows imagery and found in the legends and my­ to women artists. and honouring me by including me in this a mandate that it therefore supports the thologies of most every society. It is arche­ My grave concerns are this: how easily walk. This has eased my nightmares of wom­ artist and the work. To do otherwise is to typal and no one single culture holds the her art and her creative process have been en's fists and boots on mothers' backs while undermine, sometimes even destroy an art­ copyright to any of these experiences. dismissed, how dialogue within the Women children wail on this anniversary. Although ist's credibility publicly and possibly Moreso, when these stories are shared In Focus gallery has been a 'no win' situa­ I did weep and drink until I couldn't remem­ personally. Simply put, support is the re­ between cultures, they often provide the tion, how that communication may remain ber or dream, I also had a "community" of sponsibility of the exhibit staff. (It does not catalyst towards the following sort of ex­ suspect, impossible and closed. That the friends with me who wept, ate, and vali­ preclude or deny critical discourse or intelli­ change... "Yeah, well, in our family (read willingness to celebrate imagination ("I am dated our pains of surviving woman-to- gent feedback around the work). culture), we had a similar story but it went working out of my dreams") and freedom woman violence. One friend was assaulted What happened to the artist, Diana like this..."It is this mode of sharing, this sort (the palette and its colours) of the artist has on that evening with me and we have been Kemble following the quagmire at Women of dialogue and interaction for decades held been abolished. supportive of each other in our nightmares In Focus gallery [see Kinesis, Nov. 92]? I around kitchen tables, perhaps centuries and harsh realizations. I thank them too. contend that she and her work have been around woodstoves or f irepits that brings us Carole Itter To my knowledge, there has been at trampled on. I also suggest that the internal closer together. Vancouver, BC least one other attack on another lesbian of chaos in the organizational skills of that To articulate why the leaves of a tree colour by women involved with the organi­ gallery rendered them ineffectual and close have been painted purple may have some- No apology from WIV?

Montreal Queen's University Lichtman's News & Alberta Wordplay, St John's Mayfair News Kinesis: Androgyny Bookstore Campus Bookstore, Books Daily Globe Inc, British Columbia Octopus Books Alternative Bookshop Kingston Longhouse Book Calgary Nelson Women's Pages and Pages I found the response by Women In View, Le Dernier Mot The Book Tree, Shop A Woman's Place Centre, Nelson People's Co-op to the feed back from Adonica Huggins on Ontario Peterborough Maison de la Presse Bookstore, Calgary Tanners-A Bookstore Books racism at Women In View sadly lacking in Blue Leaf Bookshop, Trent University Pages The Fourth Street and More, Sidney Peregrine Books substance [see Letters, Kinesis, Mar. 93.] Kitchener Bookstore, Readers Den Bookshop, Edmonton Everywoman's, R2B2 Books Rather than reacting with that barrage K-W Book Store, Peterborough Ottawa Hub Cigar & Victoria Spartacus Books of statistics, a simple apology would have Kitchener Womansline Books, Britton's Smoke Newstand, Edmonton Yates News & Books SFU Bookstore been a good start. The Daily Planet, London Shop Nova Scotia Ltd, Victoria Vancouver Wom­ We need less to deny and more to ac­ Whitby Women's Bookstop, Globe mags and Atlantic News, Halifax Vancouver en's Bookstore knowledge how we have been influenced The Ginger Press Hamilton Cigars Blowers Street Agora Co-op Vancouver Lesbian and sometimes repeat patriarchal/imperi­ Bookstore, Hi-Land News, Barrie Mags & Fags Paperchase, Halifax Ariel Books Connection alist attitudes toward race and class. Red Herring Co-op Women's Health Owen Sound Toronto Ottawa Women's Banyen Books Politics between women is going Books Ltd, Halifax Collective Lakehead University A&S Smoke Shop Bookstore Book Mantel through a painful but necessary process. We The Inside Story, West Coast Books Alumni Bookstore, Another Story Winnipeg East End Food are in the throes of hard labour. Let's be Greenwood UBC Bookstore Thunder Bay Book City Bold Print Co-op proud of our stretchmarks. Northern Woman's DEC Bookstore Co-op Bookshop Newfoundland Hearts USA Books for a Change, Bookstore, Glad Day McNally Robinson Little Sister's Red and Black, Renee Rodin St John's Thunder Bay Bookshop Booksellers Manhattan Books Seattle Vancouver, BC BULLETIN BOARD read this EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS WANNA GET INVOLVED? all day Sat and Sun, Apr 3 and 4, followed Lang Road C-22, RR 4, Ganges, BC VOS Bulletin Board listings have a With Kinesis'? We want to get involved with by a six week AT group to be held one 1E0 by Apr 20. For info, call 537-4732. maximum of 50 words. Groups, you too. Help plan our next issue. Come to evening per week. Please call Miche at 255- organizations and individuals eligible the Writers' meeting on Tues, Apr 6 (for the 5511 if you are interested. Assistance with ELP RALLY AND MARCH for free space in the Bulletin Board May issue) and Tues, May 1 (for the June child care costs is available. End Legislated Poverty will be holding a rally must be, or have, non-profit issue) at 7 pm at our office, #301-1720 and march for Hunger Awareness Week on objectives. Grant St. If you can't make the meeting, call WRITERS' RETREAT Thur, Apr 15,5:30 pm at the Vancouver Art Other free notices will be items of 255-5499. No experience necessary, all The North Pacific Women Writers' Society Gallery. The rally and march will protest the general public interest and will appear women welcome. will be holding its third annual creative writ­ lack of jobs, the low minimum wage, the low at the discretion of Kinesis. ing retreat for women May 30 -Jun 6 at the welfare rate, the increasing need for charity, Classifieds are $8 (+$0.56 GST) NOT JUST ANOTHER PAGE Rockwood Centre, Sechelt, BC. The focus the UI cuts, the North American "Free" forthe first 50 words or portion thereof, The Not Just Another Page Collective wel­ of this retreat is individual writing time, but Trade deal, federal cuts to Social Services, $4 (+$0.28 GST) for each additional comes all First Nations women and women optional activities include guided writing the high taxes on low and middle-income 25 words or portion thereof and must of colourwho are past,present and possibly exercises, an afternoon physical exercise people, the too-lowtaxes on the wealthy and be prepaid. future Kinesis volunteers to our next meet­ class and evening group critique sessions. profitable corporations, federal cuts to hous­ ing on Thurs, Apr 8 at 7:30 pm. For info on To apply, send a 5-page sample of recent ing and other manifestations of the corpo­ Deadline for all submissions is the location and to arrange childcare subsidies, work and a short description of your writing rate agenda. For info, call 879-1209. 18th of the month preceding please contact Agnes Huang at 875-1640. history to the North Pacific Women Writers' publication. Note: Kinesis is published Retreat, 3091 W 15th, Vancouver, BC V6K SFU WOMEN'S STUDIES ten times a year. Jul/Aug and Dec/ VSW WANTS YOU! 3A5 by Apr 1. For info, call 734-9816 The SFU Women's Studies Department will Jan are double issues. Want to get more involved but not sure (weekdays) or 943-6888 (weekends). offertwo courses, Issues in Women's Health All submissions should include a where to begin? Join us—become a volun­ and Health Care; and Women and Films: contact name and telephone number teer at Vancouver Status of Women. VSW AIDS IN THE FAMILY Films and Theories over the summer. For for any clarification that may be volunteers plan events, lead groups, raise Women, children and youth are the focus of info, call the Women's Studies General Of­ required. funds, answer the phone lines and help to the BC Pediatric AIDS Conference, Apr 22- fice, 291-3333. Listings will not be accepted over connect women with the community re­ 24. If you are a pregnant woman, shouldyou the telephone. sources they need, organize the library and be tested for HIV? If you are an HI V-positive WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP other exciting tasks! Come to Committee mother, what resources exist for your chil­ BC Canadian Congressf or Learning Oppor­ Kinesis encourages readers to meetings: Finance/Fundraising Tues, Apr dren? If you have teenagers, what practical tunities for Women presents a workshop on research the goods and services 20, 5:30 pm; Publicity, Wed, Apr 21, 5:30 strategies exist to help them learn about Women's Ways of Leadership, with speaker advertised in Bulletin Board. Kinesis pm; Programming, Thurs, Apr22,5:30 pm. sex, love and STDs. For info, call 822-2626 Jean Cockell on Wed, Apr 28, 7:30 pm at cannot guarantee the accuracy of the The next volunteer potluck and orientation or 1-800-663-0348. #2-1121 Harwood. Cockell will discuss wom­ information provided or the safety will be on Thur, Apr 22,7 pm at VSW, #301- en's concepts of power and leadership and and effectiveness of the services and 1720 Grant St. For more info, call Jennifer DAY-LONG POETRY WORKSHOP how they compare with traditional concepts products listed. at 255-5511. Daphne Marlatt will be giving a day-long in the bureaucratic system. For info, call Send submissions to Bulletin poetry workshop on Fri, May 7,9 amto4 pm Kate Dauphinee at 682-1343. Board, Kinesis, #301-1720 Grant ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING at SFU Harbour Centre, 515 W Hastings. Street, Vancouver, BC.V5L2Y6. For Are you interested in leading Assertiveness The workshop will explore the relationship SPRING READINGS more information call 255-5499. Training Workshops for women? VSW is between music and thought in writing, pay­ The Kootenay School of Writing will present offering free training for women with some ing close attention to how sound conducts Spring Readings on Apr 17, May 1, May 22, experience in group work in exchange for meaning in language. It will be limited to 10 Jun 12 and Jun 26,8 pm at 152 W Hastings leading an AT group at VSW. Training will participants. If you are interested, submit 5 (third floor). Readers include Catriona take place in the evening on Fri, Apr 2, and pages of recent work to Daphne Marlatt, Strang, Larissa Lai, Catherine Bennett,

Lesbian and Gay Counselling and Consulting Services V presents: A talk open to everyone.. Will Therapy Make Me Sick? Take advantage of this opportunity to meet with us as we investigate the historical hurdles and present day potential of therapy in our communities. No charge, two dates & venues. April 13, 7:00-9:00 pm April 15, 7:30 - 9:00 pm West End Community Centre -.«£*• Josephine's (Doors open at 7:00) 870 Denman Street r^ 1716 Charles St Tel: 685-8379 Tel: 733-2601

A Series of 3 Workshops... Coming Out and Staying Out April 17, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm, Fee: $95 Communication, Self Esteem and Fulfillment May 15 & 16, 9:30 am. - 4:00 pm, Fee: $ 195 Communication for Couples April 24, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm, Fee: $125 per couple

The LGCCS Team... Lesbian and Gay Counselling arid Consulting Services offers on-going workshops and individual/couples counselling. For March 31 -April 24 further information and registration, phone 733-2601. 9 Directed by -John Cooper Jamie Powers, starring MA., M.Ed, R.C.C. Brenda Robins Julia Young, MA. Leslie Carlson • Bill Dow Gail Farmer, M.B.A., I Set & Costume Design: Ken MacDonald Ticketmaster 280-3311 Lighting Design: Gerald King Playhouse 873-3311 Kathryn Templeton, Sound Design: Greg Ruddell MEDIA SPONSOR M.Sc, M.Ed., R.C.C. Advice: Mature Subject Matter ®ie1(ktDUPerSun

J BULLETIN BOARD EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS GROUPS Dorothy Trujillo Lusk,JudiMaclnnes, Kathryn THERAPY IN OUR COMMUNITY Scheduled works include Double the Trou­ RACISM SUPPORT GROUP Macleod, Phinder Dulai, Susan Clark and "Will therapy make me sick?" Free discus­ ble (Pratibha Parmar), Two Spirit People, The BC Human Rights Coalition is sponsor­ Renee Rodin. For info, call 688-6001. sion led by staff of the Lesbian and Gay Non, je ne regrette rien (Marlon Riggs) and ing a Victims of Racism Support Group. It is Counselling Services. An opportunity to in­ more. For info, call (206) 866-6000 ext 6542 often debilitating and hard to confront rac­ MARIA LUISA MENDONCA vestigate the historical hurdles and present or write to the Evergreen State College, ism when people are isolated in their jobs or The Video In presents two screenings and day potential of therapy in our community on Library 1302, Olympia, WA 98505. other situations. Often, there is not the talks by Maria Luisa Mendonca on Apr 15, Thurs, Apr 15 at Josephine's, 1716 Charles. support and safety to challenge these atti­ 8 pm and Apr 17,9pm at the Video In, 1102 For more info, call 733-2601. EQUALITY DAY tudes. Come and share your experiences, Homer. The first presentation, Environment West Coast LEAF is holding its annual equal­ your ideas and your support with others. and Experimental Forms: Video Works and WOMYN'S OPEN STAGE ity day celebration Thursday, Apr 15 at 7 Bring your lunch. Meetings will be at noon Artist Talk, explores the influence of popular "Womyn's Open Stage", a monthly event for pm. Lawyer Gwen Brodsky will speak about and/or at 5:15 pm on the first Tuesday of culture and politics on the arts in Latin women where poets, singers, dancers and equality for lesbians and the Neilson case. every month at #718-714 W Hastings. For America. The second presentation, Broad­ performers strut their stuff. Sat, Apr 24 at The event will be held atthe Charles H. Scott info, call 689-8474. cast Feminism in Brazil: Screening and Art­ Josephine's, 1716 Charles. Tix are $2-5 Gallery at Emily Carr College, where the ist Talk will present two of the works of the donation at door. Doors open at 7:15. work of Persimmon Blackbridge is currently VLC Lilith Video Collective, the group which pro­ being shown. Tickets are $10 or by dona­ The Vancouver Lesbian Connection thanks duced the first feminist series broadcast on SUE MILLER tion. Childcare subsidies are available. For all the women who have donated books to its Brazilian Television. Tix $4/3. For info, call The Vancouver International Writers Festi­ tickets or info, call 684-8772. library. If you still havebooks out,yourname Jennifer Abbott, 688-4336. val presents a reading by Sue Miller, May 9, could possibly be on the list on the wall atthe 2 pm at the Arts Club Theatre Mainstage. SPRING CONCERT VLC, so please bring the books back. The JUNETABOR Miller is the best-selling author of The Good The Vancouver Women's Chorus presents VLC is also preparing for the next sessions The Rogue Folk Club presents England's Mother and Family Pictures. She will be its Spring Concert "Circle of Friends" with of Coming Out Groups. Please call to sign finest traditional singer, June Tabor, Sun, reading from her new novel For Love. Tix guest artists Jeanette Gallant, Lianne up for this informative group, as well as for Apr 4,8 pm at the WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac. $12. Stennes, Gwen Chapman and M.E. Kish on the Women of Colour Coming Out Group. She will be accompanied on violin, viola and Sat, Apr 17, 8 pm at Heritage Hall, 3102 Free body massage with Jo and Louisa can accordion by Mark Emerson. Tix $13/10. NATIONAL BOOK WEEK Main. Tix $12 available at Little Sister's. be had at the VLC Mon from 3-5 pm. "Words to Share" will include Vancouver Survivors of Incest Anonymous, a 12-step FULL MOON POTLUCK writers Anne Jew, Larissa Lai, and Lydia PARADISE AND THE WASTELAND program for survivors of sexual abuse is Wimmin's full moon potluck & ritual. Bring Kwa. The reading will be at the Burnaby Tamahnous Theatre presents the world pre­ held Mondays at 7 pm atthe VLC. The VLC potluck dish, pillow, drums, rattles on Wed, Public Library in Metrotown, on Sun, Apr miere of Paradise and the Wasteland, a 2- has Body Piercing on Tue evenings. Ap­ Apr 7. Pre-registration necessary; limited to 25, 1:30-3:30 pm. part epic re-telling of the King Arthur Leg­ pointments can be made through the Book 30 wimmin. $2-5 donations 253-3142 at ends by Elizabeth Dancoes, Apr 20 to May Mantel. The Women's Writing Group is held Josephine's, 1716 Charles, 6:15 pm. POETRY READING 9 at Performance Works, Granville Island. on the Istandthe 3rd Sat of the month atthe R2B2 Books presents a poetry reading by Vancouver playwright Elizabeth Dancoes VLC. For info, call 254-8458. JENNIFER BEREZAN Sharon Thesen on Fri, Apr 23, 8 pm at creates a theatrical collage of movement, Jennifer Berezan and Nina Gerber will be in R2B2 Books, 2742 W 4th. For info, call 732- music, video and visual metaphor. For info, FIRST NATIONS ADOPTEES concert atthe Vancouver East Cultural Cen­ 5087. call Denise Golemblaski, 254-4699. Tix There are so many ways to define the four tre on Sat, Apr 10. Advance tix are $12-16 available from 254-4699 or TicketMaster, directions, depending on your cultural per­ and are available at Josephine's or the PROSE READING 280-4444. spective. However, when that perspective VECC. This is a Sounds & Furies Produc­ R2B2 Books presents a prose reading by has been obscured or re-rooted, it can be tion. Susan Crean on Fri, Apr 30,8 pm. For info, VICTORIA PRIDE PICNIC very difficult to define anything. If you are an call 732-5087. The Victoria Gay/Lesbian Pride Society will adopted First Nations person or a person of be holding its third annual Bring-Your-Own colour and are interested in exploring these HEALTH COLLECTIVE Picnic on Sun, Jul 18 at Beacon Hill Park, questions of identity and other adoption- The Vancouver Women's Health Collective Victoria. Plans are in the works for a raffle related issues with other adoptees, join our will host an Open House on Apr 15, 11 am as well as a goods-and-services auction informal friendship circle. For info, contact to 1 pm at #219, 1675 W 8th in celebration priortothe picnic. Volunteers are still needed LucindaPik, 739-7145. of its new location. Refreshments will be to help at the various events. For info, call served and BC Health minister Elizabeth 598-4617 or write 1228 McKenzie St, Victo­ THERAPY GROUP FOR LESBIANS Cull, and Vancouver Centre NDP candidate ria, BC V8V 2W5. Explore yourself in relation to others. This Betty Baxter will be present. Everyone is ongoing group provides a supportive atmos­ welcome. WELFARE RIGHTS WORKSHOP phere to explore interpersonal issues, ex­ The Vancouver Lesbian Connection is hold­ periment with new ways of being, recieve LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL ing a Welfare Rights Workshop on Fri, Apr feedback from others and share experi­ The Sixth Northwest International Lesbian 9, 1-4 pm. Informative, empowering and ences. Groups provide the opportunity to and Gay Film Festival will be held Apr 30 to necessary to those using the system. workon issues of trust, intimacy, and bounda­ May 2 at the Evergreen State College in Childcare reimbursed as required at $3/hr ries. For more info, call Delyse 733-8660. OUT Olympia, Washington. It will feature a pres­ and bus fare will be reimbursed. For info, entation by filmmaker PratibhaParmar, crea­ call 254-8458. TEMPORARY POSITION AVAILABLE ON tor of Khush and director of A Place of Rage. AT THE VANCOUVER WOMEN'S SCREEN HEALTH COLLECTIVE FOR AN JOB OPENINGS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WORKER Advertising Co-ordinator Distribution Co-ordinator 10 HOURS PER WEEK FOR 6 MONTHS Kinesis is looking for a part-time Adver­ Kinesis is looking for a part-time Distri­ THIS IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION tising co-ordinator who is creative, ener­ bution co-ordinator who is energetic, well HIRING ~ VANCOUVER'S getic, well organized, responsible, and has organized, responsible, has good person-to PLEASE CALL 736-4234 FOR DETAILS good person-to-person skills and is aware person skills, is aware of feminist issues and of feminist issues and values. owns or has access to vehicular transporta­ Duties include: tion. B. Cecill 254-5824 FIFTH ANNUAL • soliciting new advertising accounts Duties include: • maintaining current advertising base, • preparing statements & records rel­ correspondence, contracts and generalfiles evant to in-town and out-of-town distribution PJ Construction LESBIAN & GAY • invoicing all accounts and following up • picking up Kinesis from the printers on unpaid accounts and delivering papers to the mailing house Additions, decks, doors, fences, •consulting with Production co-ordinator • distributing Kinesisto in-town retailers garages, painting, stairs, walls, and Editor respecting ad design • collecting payments from all retailers windows & more FILM FESTIVAL • preparing ad reports for the Editorial and maintain sales records andcorrespond- Board each month ence with them and the national distributor, Call for free estimate The position is paid on a minimum Canadian Magazine Publishers Association commission basis of 20 percent of the base • relaying information to the Editorial advertising revenues per month, including Board £J5 A Book About Menopause | solicited or unsolicited advertising. The The Distribution co-ordinator is paid for 50 pages of complete and factual information on commission increases in stages to a maxi­ 10 hours per issue ($13.85/hour as of Apr). menopause, including body changes, health mum of 35 percent of total advertising rev­ She alsocollects a mileage fee based on the issues, sexuality in women's middle years. Deals clearly with hormone therapy, pros and cons. enues. current VSW payment per mile. m MAY 26-30 1993 Deadline: Apr 5 Deadline: Apr 8 * All for only H h Job starts: Apr 12 Job starts: Apr 22 Published by The Montreal Health Press, a women's collective producing quality books on health and sexuality for 20 years! Send s400 to The Women of colour and First Nations women are encouragedtoapplyfor both positions. Montreal Health Press, C.P. 1000, Station Place CALL 684-ARTS Send applications to Kinesis Hiring, #301-1720 Grant Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 2L6. du Pare, Montreal, QC, Canada H2W" 2N1, or For more information call 255-5499. call 514-282-1171 for bulk rates. El 10% DISCOUNT WITH COPY OF THIS AD | BULLETIN BOARD SUBMISSIONS SUBMISSIONS I CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS NEW INITIATIVES IN FILM ties and disabled lesbians are particularly CELEBRATE YOUR SEXUALITY for 35 hours/week. Deadline for application: New Initiatives in Film is a program by Studio encouraged. Submissions should be no Rubyfruit Erotica is a Canadian mailorder Mon, Apr 12. The availability of this position D. It's designed as one response to the longer than 20 pages (approx 5000 words). company operated by women for women. is dependent upon the receipt of funding under-representation and mis-representa­ Possible topics include: lesbian mothers Our catalogue offers an exciting range of from the federal Challenge '93 program. tion of Women of the First Nations and and the law in Canada; lesbians choosing erotic accessories including massage oils, Women of Colour in Canadian film. NIF's children; raising children; our many experi­ vibrators, dildos, condoms, and sensual ARTIST STUDIO OPEN HOUSE Professional Development Program is a 12- ences of motherhood. Send proposals by lubes. Rubyfruit arises out of the conviction Lesbian feminist artist and recovering nice month program based in Montreal that will Jun 30to Professor Katherine Arnup, School that we are the best experts concerning our girl Sheila Norgate proudly announces the lead to the production of a film with the of Canadian Studies, Carleton University, own sexuality and by discovering it first on opening of her new Vancouver studio. Of­ support of Studio D. Two individuals work­ 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ont K1S our own terms. For your plain-wrapped full fered for view and sale will be paintings, ing on two separate projects or one team 5B6. colour catalogue send $4 to: Martin Enter­ limited edition block prints, and t-shirts— working on a single project together will be prises, Postal Station P, Box 386 K, To­ including the near-famous "Bad Girls Drive selected for the program. The program is NON-FICTION ANTHOLOGY ronto, Ont M5S 2S9. Fast and Kiss Slow". Everyone welcome. designed for intermediate and senior level The Women's Press Canada is developing Sat, Apr 17,10am-4pm at 204-119 W Pender film and video makers from the independent a non-fiction anthology on lesbian and bi­ JOSEPHINE'S (at Abbott). For more info, call 689-4099. production community. To be eligible, appli­ sexual women's experiences of and resist­ An eastside women's cappucino bar, craft cants must have completed a body of work ance to heterosexism and homophobia/ shop and venue is seekingfinancial/working A WOMAN'S PLACE (several film or video productions) in a key lesbophobia. The original submission dead­ partners now'm orderto continue and grow. Emotional Fitness Centre Counselling, edu­ creative role, not including works produced line has been extended to Jul 1. We are Open to new ideas, arrangements and pos­ cational and consulting service on the North through university and college training looking for essays and articles theorizing sibilities. Business experience an asset. Call Shore. Offers feminist and lesbian affirma­ courses. For more info or to apply, call heterosexism and homophobia/lesbophobia 253-7189, or write to Josephine's at 1716 tive counselling, workshops, support groups. Fabienne Pierre-Jacques, (514) 283-9534 by lesbians. Essays should include a race, Charles St., Van., V5L 2T5 Areas of specialization: low-self esteem, or write NIF Coordinator, Studio D, Box class and cultural analysis. We would be depression, anxiety, communication, rela­ 6100, Stn A, Montreal, Que H3C 3H5. interested in material which addresses LESBIAN ROOMMATE WANTED tionship difficulties, emotional, physical, homophobia and heterosexism within the Three-bedroom house near Trout Lake, sexual abuse recovery, coming out. Call Lou WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS feminist movement. Send your double- Skytrain and the Drive to share with two Moreau at 924-2424 RCC. Currently reviewing slides of recent work by spaced typed material to Resist, Women's other lesbians, 1 small dog and two cats for women photographers from the ages of 20 Press, #233-517 College St, Toronto, Ont $320 plus utilities. Call 874-2329. COUNSELLING NOW to 30 for publication in an upcoming book. M6G 4A2. Experiencing difficulties? Feminist counsel­ There are no limitations on subject matter FRESH COUNTRY AIR ling in a supportive, confidential atmosphere. for this book, the purpose of which is to CALL FOR CONFERENCE PAPERS Rural woman wishes house partner on wom­ For crises, personal growth, parent/teen highlight the strength and diversity of work This is a call for conference papers and en's land. $165 a month and one half pro­ issues, coming out, and life passage. Indi­ by young female photographers. The final workshop proposals for a conference spon­ pane. Must be smoke tolerant and cat- viduals, couples, families. Sliding-scale fees. book will include 10 to 12 artists, each sored by the Centre for Research in Wom­ friendly. One room available and own trans­ For free consultations call Eleanor represented by 3 images. Submit 10-20 en's Studies and Gender Relations and the portation preferred. Coombs, Vancouver Brockenshire, BHEc, MSW at 669-0197. slides, an artist's statement, a $10 submis­ School of Social work at the University of Island. Call Iris at 248-5951 or 248-8809. sion fee and SASE to Anna Gaskell and British Columbia to take place Nov 18-20. EATING DISORDER CLINIC Lorelei Stewart, PO Box 4711, Lexington, Poverty is a woman's issue which, like so SEXUAL ABUSE COUNSELLING "Fourth Annual Eating Disorder Symposium VA 24450. For info, call Anna at (703) 463- many others, also raises questions of other I work with sexual abuse, incest, and the 1993" Public Forum on Friday, May 14 in the 5984 or Lorelei at (703) 464-6589. forms of discrimination and privilege. The effects of abuse including: depression, an­ Robson Square Conference Centre. Film Centre for Research in Women's Studies ger, rage, low self-esteem, addictions, anxi­ "The Famine Within," 6:15-8:15 pm. Forum VISUAL ARTIST'S ARCHIVE FILE and Gender Relations and the School for ety, panic attacks, confusion, dissociation, at 8:30-10:00 pm. Principal speaker is Susie North Carolina Central University has es­ Social Work believe that feminist perspec­ multiple personalities, flashbacks, and re­ Orbach, psychotherapist and writer. Tix $9 tablished an African, Hispanic, Asian, and tives on poverty help us to recognize and pressed memories. I use cognitive therapy, /students $5. A two-day symposium for Native American National Visual Artist's File. confrontthese issues. This conference aims hypnosis, guided visualization, journal writ­ Health Care providers runs May 14 & 15. The file will be actively maintained in the to bring together anti-poverty and commu­ ing, breath work and inner child connection. Call 264-0212 for more information. form of slides, videos, catalogues, books, nity groups with interested researchers in an All in a safe, confidential, nurturing environ­ resumes and bibliographies. We are re­ investigation of what feminist perspectives ment. Call Alice Fraser, BA, Feminist/Survi­ SITKA CO-OP questing any of the above materials for mean for understanding poverty from child­ vor at 737-0531. Sitka Housing Co-operative is a 26-unit inclusion in our National Visual Artists File. hood to old age. For the Saturday sessions housing complex which was built six years Materials will be limited to 20th century we are inviting community and academic INCOME TAX PREPARATION ago. Our purpose is to provide housing for researchers to propose papers and work­ artists. Mail materials to Rosie Thompson, Income tax preparation available to indi­ sole-support women, single mothers, women shops. Presentations may draw on com­ NCCU National Visual Artists File, PO Box viduals, self employed, small businesses of colour, women over 55 years of age and pleted studies or research in progress. We 19555 Durham, NC 27707. For info, call and partnerships. Electronic filing available. women with environmental allergies. Lo­ are especially interested in work drawing on (919)560-6391. Evenings and weekends o.k. Sliding scale. cated in the East End of Vancouver, we are new feminist scholarship, which recognizes Call Yvonne at 879-9167. near shopping, schools andcommunity cen­ female diversity. The conference will close LESBIAN MOTHERHOOD tres. Participation in the operation of the co­ late Sat afternoon with a 'Working Together" Gynergy Books will be publishing a book in SEX ADDICTION op is required of all members, as well as a panel, where invited researchers and com­ the Fall of 1994 on lesbian motherhood/ Affordable counselling for exploring your share purchase. We are presently accept­ munity activists will explore, with the audi­ parenthood. The book will provide resources, family issues and relationship conflicts and ing applications from women who require ence, the implications of feminist research information, inspiration and support to les­ concerns. As a registered professional one, two, three or four-bedroom units. For for a social justice policy agenda. Proposals bians considering parenthood, to women counsellor I work with women overcoming application forms please write: Membership for Sat, including title, summary, and type of involved with lesbian mothers and to lesbi­ abuse, co-dependency, sex and relation­ Commitee, Sitka Housing Co-op, 1550 presentation, together with mailing address ans with children. Theoretical and experien­ ship addiction and increasing their self-es­ Woodland Dr., Vancouver, BC, V5L 5A5. and telephone number should be sent, by tial articles both welcome. A broad repre­ teem. For a brochure or information call Apr 19 to: Centre for Research in Women's sentation of experiences is also sought, and Carol Vialogos, 731-0758. First session VILLA DE HERMANAS Studies and Gender Relations, University of submissions from Native lesbians and two- free. All-women's Caribbean beachfront guest British Columbia, 314-2206 East Mall, Van­ spirited women, lesbians of colour, lesbians house: beautiful, spacious LF-owned guest­ couver, BC V6T 1Z3. Tel (604) 822-9171, from diverse ethnic and cultural communi- LEGAL ADVOCATE POSITION house on long secluded beach in the Do­ Fax 822-9169. The Downtown Eastside Women's Centre minican Republic. Tropical gardens, pool, has applied for a Challenge '93 grant to be large private guestrooms, sumptuous meals, CITIZENSHIP, COMMUNITY able to employ a summer student. Must massages & crystal healings. Room Citizenship, community, identity; Feminists have experience working with women, work­ rates:$330 single; $440 double per week. (re)present the political is a graduate stu­ ing collectively, legal research skills and Call our Toronto friend, Susan at (416) 463- dent conference to be held at York Univer­ experience with delivery of legal advocacy 6138 between 9am-10pm. sity, Oct 1-3. Please submit proposals for services on issues such as welfare papers to: Catherine Kellogg, Department rights,UIC, child apprehension, tenency dis­ NUCLEAR DANGER of Political Science, 6th Floor Ross South, putes and criminal law matters. Apply to Joanne Young's Nuclear Family: One Wom­ York University, 4700 Keele Street, North hiring committee at DEWC, 44 E Cordova an's Confrontation with Atomic Power. A York, Ont, M3J 1P3, Canada. Deadline: Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A1K7. The posi­ shocking, moving account of how family Apr 30. tion starts May 3 for 18 weeks at $15/hour tragedy bred activism for peace and envi­ ronmental safety. $10 from Sykes Press, 90 Cambridge Ave., Toronto, Ont., M3K 2L4. lr=Jr=Jr=Jr=Jr=Jr=Jr=JrSJT^Jr= r=Jr=Jr=Jr=Jr= DR. PAULETTE ROSCOE I'ATRICIA DUBBERLEY • Healing Issues ol Dysfunctional FACULTY OF MIDWIFERY NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN | [jf]] Counsellor Families and Abase McMasters University, Laurentian Univer­ HOMEOPATHY sity, and Ryerson Polytechnical Institute will COUNSELLING ROBIN GOLDFARB » Telephone: (604) 733-4523 • Enhancing jointly offer a program leading to the degree Relationships and Registered Massage Therapist Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery DETOXIFICATION Sell-Esteem and invite applications for contractually lim­ Appro.cH^^a.n.c HYCROFT MEDICAL CENTER #201 -2515 Burrard Street • Individual, Couples. ited faculty positions beginning in May. The 108-3195 GRANVILLE ST. Vancouver. B.C. V6R 1M6 731-783m8 | Vancouver, B.C. Family and Group deadline for application is Mar 31. VANCOUVER, B.C. V6H 3K2 V6J 3J6 Therapy 731-4183 r=J r=J r=J r=J r=J r=J r=J r=J r=J r=J put a smile on their faces.,,|

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