M a k i n g it right: women an 187

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2 herspective Athina Tsoulis 3 letters 4 fronting up 5 broadcast March of Anger 0 Treaty Hui 0 Chess Champs 0 May Day 01993 History Projects 0 Notes on Language features 10 Making It Right Women and Aids Sally Shipway 13 Living With HIV AH Tells Her Story 16 Feminist Population Policy Marge Berer 20 Shallow Smiles and Short Stories Sheridan Keith Megan Fidler 23 Young, Lesbian and Proud Rhiannon Thompson 26 Margaret Thatcher Whose Sister? Anne Goslyn 28 Poetry Pages 30 Dworkin on Dworkin Elizabeth Brae man and Carol Cox 47 Sabbage Blows Lisa Sabbage

34 arts 0 Visual Cutout Art 0 Homage to Potatoes 0 Inheritance 0 Women Jewellers 0 Nga Wahine 0 Film Distant Voices, Still Lives 0 Men Don’t Leave 0 Video Living With HIV 0 Music Queen Ida 0 Books Staying Power: Long Term Lesbian Couples 0 Birth Without Doctors 0 Women’s History of the World 0 At School I’ve Got a Chance 0 Beyond the Barriers 48 classified

Policy is made by the Womanfile collective : Helen Courtney, Megan Fidler, Cathy Hall, Lisa Howard-Smith, Juliet Jacques, Claire-Louise McCurdy, Pat Rosier, Lisa Sabbage, Athina Tsoulis. Main areas of responsibility are: ADVERTISING: Lisa Howard-Smith EDITORIAL: Megan Fidler, Pat Rosier FINANCES: Cathy Hall SUBSCRIPTIONS: Edith Gorringe. THANKS TO : The Print Centre, Ann Purdy, Glenda Laurence, Michelle Quinn. 1 BROADSHEET is on file at the Women's Collection Special Dept, Northwestern University Library, Evanston, Illinois 60201, USA. SUBSCRIPTION $50 for 10 issues. Overseas surface $70. Overseas a ir: Europe $120, America / Asia $110, Australia / South Pacific $77. Laser prints by Paradigm. Printed by Putaruru Press. ISSN 01 10-8603. Registered at the GPO as a magazine. Published by Womanfile Inc., PO Box 56 147, Auckland. Registered office: 131 A Williamson Ave, Grey Lynn, Auckland. Phone 0-9-360 1897.

1 9 9 1 MAY BROADSHEET 1 Herspective

o realise that I am out of step with the times does not current intellectual guru. Sounding incomprehensible has make me feel terrific. But then, I think I always have returned as the sign of being one of the chosen and been out of step. It is depressing to be dismissed as communicating to a few a sign of great intellect instead of Thaving a ‘dinosaur mentality’ or ‘living in a time warp’ a return to authoritarianism. simply because I adhere to a set of ideas which flourished We live in an age where image is the new icon. An in the sixties and seventies. For all their faults some of exponent of this view is the filmmaker, David Lynch. these ideas did stress non-hierarchical, non-competitive, Currently David Lynch’s Wild at Heart is doing the non-violent values which would lead to a better world. cinema circuit rounds. This classy film won the best film I see people who had these ideas in the sixties and award at Cannes. It displays freaks as the ultimate image seventies ditching them, along with non-sexist or non­ tum-on. Laughing at fat, ugly, misshapen people is now racist ideals. They have become part of the present image back in fashion. What is depressing is that although Wild conscious age, a direct opposite to their beliefs of the at Heart may look good it is one long litany of misogyny mid-sixties and seventies. Now for these people image is and racism. all, money and shallowness reign supreme. Among them Lynch’s television series Twin Peaks, is being are those vacuous young women who do misogyny’s advertised by TV3 with a huge black billboard, containing dirty work by proclaiming that feminism is passe and a 3-dimensional model of a naked woman wrapped in being a woman has little relevance to their lives plastic with the headline, Who killed Laura Palmer? This and insecure men who hysterically label Broadsheet and billboard has chilled many women who have been feminists ‘gender Nazis’. confronted with it on the street. The misogynist world I I’m not suggesting that we cling to a set of beliefs as thought we were leaving behind is now seen as rigidly as to a life buoy - discussion, reappraisal and progressive, new and refreshing: the sexism and racism in moving ideas along are essential - but there is nothing this film can be conveniently overlooked in the name uniquely wonderful in abandoning a set of beliefs of art. But all we have got here is a re-emergence of wholesale because someone decrees they are old- perverted Playboy male sexuality. As long as it is a fashioned. Fashion is an enemy when it is applied to pretentious well shot film it apparently doesn’t matter ideas. what it is saying. I am coming to the sad conclusion that for a certain This is a reflection of the wider political arena where section of the population certain ideas to which I am the poor certainly don’t look cool. Lets pretend they don’t committed were a fad which they are ditch in middle age exist, or attack the welfare state for breeding such to move on the the new fad. Feminism or left-wing unfashionable people. And we certainly won’t be ideology is being depicted to the young as being “not concerned with them because that is definitely not cool. where it’s at”. Intellectual ideas have not been immune to Fortunately there are still uncool people, who don’t a return to elitism. In the sixties and seventies just follow ideological fashion, who still believe what you communicating was seen as important, now we have to think is more important than what you look like. But the grapple with new jargonistic theory — in film criticism seduction of the image will tempt many and in the process for example — which changes according to who is the perpetuate their oppression.

Athina Tsoulis Womanfile collective member

CONTRIBUTIONS: Articles and illustrations should be sent with SASE enclosed and remain the property of the contributor. Permission must be sought from Womanfile and from the contributor before any item is reprinted. LETTERS: The Womanfile collective may not agree with views expressed in letters. Some letters are edited in consultation with the writer. We do not publish personal attacks. Letters from men are published at the discretion of the collective. Letters that are addressed to the collective or the editor are assumed to be intended for publication. Please indicate clearly if they are not. ADVERTISING: All copy and artwork is subject to approval. The collective reserves the right to cancel any advertisement. We do not advertise cigarette or alcohol products. We ask readers to let advertisers know you saw their product in Broadsheet.

2 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 *

those basic necessities like food. obviously unable to breed in any Now when I see advertisements on TV numbers and consequently their for financial assistance for Third World population suffered a decline. This I countries I allow myself a wry smile as believe, as the evidence presented the voice over explains how my shows, is the only logical conclusion. donation would allow a child a decent Sylvia Baynes THE PAVLOVA PARADISE - diet, give them the opportunity of a Auckland WAS IT ALL A CREAM better education and improve their DREAM? health and well being. The irony doesn’t DEAR MS SHIPLEY... escape me. I grew up believing in this small nation Eliza Storey Full exposure to Jenny Shipley’s of ours. You know; kiwi ingenuity will Auckland unedited comments was a good idea. I always save the day, and all you need is think it’s important to see for ourselves a piece of number 8 fencing wire! I still SPEARS AND SWORDS NOT the calibre of the MPs who claim to have immense pride that ‘down under’ ENOUGH represent us by using a lot of windy we produce so many greats - Kiwis are words that don’t contain very many hard always up there with the best. However, I have just watched two episodes of the facts. these days the feeling of national pride is new television series The Celts and have I take issue with most of what fast being replaced by one of noticed how few women are featured. Minister Shipley said, but will mention disillusionment. I find myself experi­ We seem to have huge numbers of men only the Domestic Purposes Benefit, as encing real fear, what is happening to marching around brandishing spears and the women who receive it have become God’s-own? swords, yet there seem to be almost no the particular public target of Irate New Zealand/Aotearoa was once the women. When the commentator Taxpayer and his ilk. Interviewer Alison envy of other nations, we had successful questioned why the Celts were not McCulloch made a good point when she Social Welfare, free education, and ultimately successful I felt there must be referred to the DPB as “an efficient excellent health care. There were jobs a simpler explanation. As vigorous and benefit”, but Shipley’s reply suggests for most, a good standard of living (tho’ creative a people as they were, in view that she failed to understand the some had better than others), and a of the scarcity of women, they were economic sense of this. clean, green country in which to live and be happy. Okay, a little simplistically put I admit, but it was fair to expect that one would receive a decent education, be certain of being cared for if ill health or misfortune befell you, while being part of this nation and enjoying a reasonably V/HV MUST satisfying life. you AfNAV* Was I wrong to buy into the ideology perty of this, to assume there would always be R£M -\Ty y a reasonable economy to support my aspirations and those of my fellow country-people, and to continue for future generations? As the song says “where did we go wrong?” To the average person like me, with little political analysis, it is all rather bewildering. When I look to the future nothing much inspires me. Currently I am fortunate to have a job, but one more twist in this downward spiral of recession and I probably won’t. Then how am I to pay my Housing Corp mortgage, arrange medical insurance,

support my child’s education and buy cartoon: McKenzieSue

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 3 Letters Betraying ignorance of plenty of A PLEA FOR HELP information, Shipley said the question FRONTING UP was “should people see the DPB as a This letter was sent in by a reader who hopes long term source of income and the others might be able to help this lesbian. answer was no,” The answer always has been a resounding NO from DPB Thank you for your card and some ADVERTISING DEADLINES recipients themselves. Research shows words of hope you put in it. For June Issue: booking 3 May; that for the majority it is a short-term I am still living with my friend whose camera ready copy 10 May solution, with the average stay on the address I use on this letter. I have no For July Issue: booking 7 June; benefit lasting about three years. (With other place to go than my friend’s house. accelerating unemployment, it may be Since my parents chased me out of their Camera ready copy 14 June longer now.) I hope that the Minister home life has been difficult for me. will supply updated facts and figures here. Feeding and clothing is a big problem. EDITORIAL DEADLINES One of the attacks on the DPB comes I don’t have a bank account because I from a section of those who receive the have no money to keep there, but if you For June Issue 29 April Guaranteed Retirement Income. For will send some money to me it will be For July Issue 30 May now, anyway, this starts at age 60, and through the post because I don’t have a the life expectancy of New Zealand trustworthy someone to use her account. , women is 77.4 years (Maori women I have some requests to make which I OFFICE HOURS 68.5 years, Maori men 63.8 years and hope you will consider. I will be glad if 9.30am - 3.30pm or you can leave non-Maori men 71.3) — which means you will help me finish my course a message on the answerphone. that superannuitants are likely to receive which I stopped due to financial their benefit for longer than those on the problems since my parents drove me out DPB. THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT FOR of their home due to my sexuality. If VOLUNTEERS ELIMINATING OR REDUCING EITHER ONE you are to help me finish my course I If you have some spare time during The other point which a knowledg­ will be glad and grateful. The amount I the day and would like to help eable Benefits Minister should surely will need for the course will be $1295 make is the comparatively tiny number for two years. If you are sending money Cathy or Lisa with tasks in the of Domestic Purposes Beneficiaries. In please send it in American dollars or office, please call them on 1989 there was a total of 1,190,736 cash British pounds, as these are the 360 1897. benefits paid out. Of these, 85,615 were currencies that can be changed into our Domestic Purposes, or approximately local money here. SEVEN PERCENT. There were over five Another thing is that I want to STUFFING IS BACK! and a half times as many beneficiaries emigrate to your place, is it possible? Friends of Broadsheet Auckland receiving National Super (485,962). Can you do it for me after I might have are looking for more members to I hope I’m wrong in suspecting that finished my course? I also need some Shipley, as our “representative” accepts dresses from you, maybe the ones you help mail out the magazine. W e as received wisdom the hatred directed are no longer using. I need some clothes used to do it ourselves in the past at those on the DPB which builds them because my parents did not allow me to and was was called “Stuffing". It’s uo into a massive drain on public go with my clothes when they drove me moneys. If she’s about to, as she out from their home. a sign of the times that we’re doing garbled: “deal with all the provisions, As you said you have some books it ourselves again. If you can help right from gateway through to reporting you can send me, please do send them, — it happens on a Saturday through to renewals through to where even magazines, Because I like reading, we have focus interviews . . . ” (phew!) especially women’s books and morning at the end of each month we must urge her to use the research. magazines. Whatever way you choose to — call the office on 360 1897 or Much has been done on which to base help me will be most appreciated and no Juliet 444 4529 sensible provisions — like for example, amount will be too small for me because maintaining as a minimum the level of things are really very difficult as I have the DPB before it was reduced to a non­ no one, I have been rejected by all my COLLECTIVE sustaining amount. I would like to know people. But with someone like you I Good-bye and thank you to Lisa what resources she and her advisers are hope I will survive the difficulties Sabbage who is leaving the using. The Business Roundtable and because I believe in lesbianism and no Treasury are totally inadequate. a'mount of hardship will make me collective. Lisa will continue to write Margot Roth change my mind. the very entertaining, very witty, Auckland I don’t have much to say now until I and never boring “Sabbage Blows” hear from you. But before I finally drop my pen I want to send my warm and occasional other items for the [Ed note: We have sent a copy of greetings to to your friend. magazine. Margot’s letter to Jenny Shipley asking Ebere Chukwa her to respond to the questions Margot c/- C. N. Chikerê, P O Box 2308 raises. Watch this space.] Garki-Abuja, Nigeria

4 BROADSHEET MAY 1 991 E d u c a t io n w o r k e r s p r o t e s t a g a in s t t h e e m p l o y m e n t C o n t r a c t B ill Photo: Gil Haniy parents and grandparents did ... grow Once in QEII Square, these DAY OF ANGER our own vegetables, do our own baking, demonstrators were met by the 4,000 Jo Schmidt reports. make our own preserves .” Or we can strong crowd led by the unemployed look forward to new jobs as a result of workers groups. This angrier group Everyone knows about the wonderful the government’s much promised “cut in turned back up Queen St in an benefit cuts which will “revitalise” our unemployment figures”. Of course, we unauthorised demonstration that resulted economy by leaving an unemployed may not be too much better off with our in the main road being closed for over person under 25 trying to live on $108 a contracted wages, especially if we are two hours and many shops shutting their week, and a single parent with two young or unskilled, but we’ll be suitably doors, undoubtedly remembering the children “managing” on a basic rate of grateful and not kick up a fuss, 1984 riots. $202. Everyone is aware of the especially in the light of the fact that if Their fears were partially founded ridiculous attitude of the government, we are fired for anything that can be when demonstrators entered major which is typified in the “Accommo­ construed as “misconduct” it’ll be six banks, only to leave quietly at the dation Benefit” section of the What You months before we are entitled to an request of the police. Things became Are Entitled To Pamphlet recently unemployment benefit again. more heated at the Victoria St distributed by DSW, where it states that Or we can let our government know intersection where the march halted for “... people on Benefits shouldn’t have to exactly how unrealistic they are being. some time while effigies of Bolger, spend more than a quarter of their That is exactly what over 100,000 Richardson and Shipley were ceremo­ benefit on rent or board...” How many people did on a nationwide basis on niously torched by the Grim Reaper of unemployed single people do you know Thursday the fourth of April. The initial the Treasury, arousing the crowd’s whose rent is $27 a week? action in Queen St was taken by the rebellious spirit. Attention was then Once these facts have been accepted, more sedate education workers turned on McDonalds as a symbol of the the next question is what can be done protesting against the Employment multinational corporations which exploit about the situation? Of course, we can Contracts Bill. Numbers were estimated low paid workers while making policy follow the dubious wisdom of John at 6,000 for this orderly march from decisions which have lasting effects on Banks and “learn to make do as our Aotea Square to the bottom of town. our economy and environment. Here the

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 5 Broadcast

became the stage for the demonstration. The Centre itself was closed off, but its outer walkways and balconies swarmed with protesters, mostly people who would, especially now, be unable to afford to use the venue they had helped finance. At this stage things lost their momentum and after a few speeches the crowd dispersed. By 2.30 pm it was all over. Although this day of anger about the Employment Contract Bill and the benefit cuts was reasonably peaceful,one can’t help but feel that as the financial constraints become a reality the masses will become more vocal and more violent in their frustration. It is hard to imagine that, especially after the Poll Tax riots in the UK, our government still thinks it can get away with taking even more from those already on the line march began to resemble the Springbok became apparent, with anger obvious in between an acceptable standard of living Tour protests, with demonstrators trying the voices of the chants and the and poverty. Obviously someone earning to force open the gates while police stubbornness of those trying to break well over $100,000 a year simply can’t physically restrained people from through the police barricades. It was appreciate the importance of losing $30 entering the restaurant. It was at the also here that the only arrests of the day a week. Hopefully they will be made to point where the “protest mentality” occurred, with two people being charged understand this simple equation before with obstructing and resisting the police. things get too bad for those of us whose P h o t o : G il H an ly After some time the march continued quality of life will be drastically affected P r o t e s t e r s s to p t h e t r a f f ic in Q u e e n S t to Aotea Square, and the Aotea Centre by the loss of that $30.

Association (WEA), had planned the A question that was raised early on TREATY HUI event for workers who were already was whether in fact continuing to run More than 30 women and two men, committed to Treaty implementation, so workshops with Pakeha about the Treaty mostly Pakeha, gathered in those in the group had a range of shared of Waitangi was doing anything to shift Auckland over three days in March values and a high level of skill at power and resources to the iwi in to evaluate their work among operating in groups. This meant that the Aotearoa. If the answer was no, it was Pakeha to further the structure set up for the weekend, with suggested, then maybe workshops were implementation of the Treaty of facilitation shared among group an ineffective use of energy. This Waitangi. Pat Rosier was there. members and regular agenda and time question remained alive throughout the setting worked extremely well. Subjects gathering, as related questions about the I did not go to the hui as a reporter but as that people felt passionately about were content of workshops and who attended a participant, and am writing about the dealt with in an atmosphere of attention them were discussed. As were other event as I experienced it. and consideration without personal issues like funding and charging, Some of those who came have been recrimination. The beautiful setting, a working inside and outside of working — paid, unpaid or a combina­ scout camp on the shore of the Manukau institutions, accountability, requests for tion of these — in this area for up to ten had adequate amenities. training of iwi groups and working with years and have a wide experience of By sharing cooking and domestic mixed groups that included the iwi and gatherings such as this. For others the chores within the group the organisers people from Pacific nations. The latter gathering was a first and the area of were able to cover the costs of the was one of the most difficult topics of work comparatively new. There was a gathering from registrations and thus the weekend, with concern to stay strong contingent from Network have a pool of money to make available focussed on the Treaty yet not render Waitangi (previously Project Waitangi, for hui for iwi people. Fundraising non-Pakeha immigrant peoples invisible. but the change of name goes with a efforts had, from the beginning been The value of these discussions for me change in direction and focus). committed to supporting iwi-based hui. was not in seeking answers or solutions The organisers, a group of Auckland This is part of the “walking with but in becoming clearer about the women, with administrative support the talk” — sharing resources — of analysis that leads to a commitment to from Auckland Workers Educational honouring the Treaty. fully honouring the Treaty and strategies

6 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 Broadcast for disseminating this. For instance in the report back after a small group session the following questions and issues had come up around selecting who to do workshops with: • Are our efforts best directed at grass roots groups or at institutions? • What are the differences between working with those at the “bottom” in institutions and in grass roots situations? • Does working on Pakeha culture and identity have a better outcome for the iwi than Treaty workshops? People from the iwi have expressed a need to have their own education about the Treaty and for Pakeha to look at who Pakeha are and what Pakeha are doing, with the Treaty being part of that process. F r o m le ft : Ly n n e G id d in g s a n d C h r is t in e H e r z o g w it h p l a n t s g iv e n to t h e o r g a n is in g g r o u p . • An “entry point” should be established for making the material Another important discussion of any other group. Recognition of their of workshops relevant to an concerned the meanings of kawanatanga role as kaitiaki is fundamental to righting institution or group. This may be and tino rangatiratanga and how each the injustices that a colonising economic different every time. relates to the Treaty and to today. system has wreaked on them and their The discussion of workshop evaluation Kawanatanga can mean the Pakeha land. brought out the difficulty of measuring institutions and values that run the “The embracing of alternative effectiveness. It also included reiterating country at present or it can mean the economics which recognises tangata the need for operating from a group base place of Pakeha within tino ranga­ whenua and which is based on ecological (the ethics of “loners” making a career tiratanga (the latter as defined by the sustainability will benefit all people who out of Treaty workshops came up several iwi). The implications of this are vast. It live in this country. times), and for building evaluation into is worth noting that an original intention “Pakeha in particular will need to all work. The need to interpret of kawanatanga was to bring law and move beyond a value system that evaluations was also considered — it is order among the Pakeha who were here promotes competitiveness and individ­ not necessarily the aim of a workshop to when the Treaty was signed. ualism to one of co-operation and justice make people “happier”. (An awareness Another quote from my notes, attributed for the common good.” of injustice does not lead to happiness.) to Mitzi Nairn: “In the absence of an Another session focussed on linking There was strong support for building economic base there is no culture.” sexism, racism, classism etc and using evaluation and measurements into Economics was another continuing thread models that do not present these as a workshops: “This is what we will do, throughout the weekend. The group agreed hierarchy. I have not covered all the how we will do it and the time it will to a press release (which was, as expected, issues that were given attention in a full take and we will meet again on this received by the media with a thundering and stimulating weekend. The pitfalls of date.” On-going work of this sort with silence). It reads: a simplistic approach to resource sharing, groups would mean restricting the “As an association of anti-racism and the need for support and networking number of new groups. A quote from an Treaty workers we believe that an among workers and the role of Network un-named woman in my notes at this alternative economic approach is Waitangi in this, the economic myths that point is: “We discover the limits of what essential for the well-being of all people are presently current, like the one that we can do and carry on”, which in Aotearoa/ New Zealand. This private health care will cost the country illustrates both a commitment and a alternative must be based on tino less, all these and more were debated. A willingness to keep examining the whys rangatiratanga, ecological sustainability final quote from my notes. “We Pakeha and hows of Treaty work. and co-operation. are addicted to being right and being “We recognise that the present good rather than looking to see what has economic system lies at the heart of the to be done.” racism in this country. Te Iwi O Aotearoa There were no easy answers, but and their resources continue to be exploited themes and patterns emerged, and the by this rapacious, capitalistic system. closing evaluation indicated that the “Te Iwi O Aotearoa have been gathering had been overwhelmingly kaitiaki (guardians) of the land and sea successful in that it had offered the in their respective areas since the support that was vital to those working in beginning of human habitation in this isolation and stimulation and challenge land. Their knowledge of what the (of the invigorating rather than environment can sustain surpasses that demoralising kind) to everyone. □

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 7 Broadcast

NZ WOMEN’S CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP This year the New Zealand Women’s Chess Championship was held at the Auckland Chess Centre over Easter for the first time since 1984. Helen Courtney reports.

A tiny number of women in New Zealand play competitive chess and for obvious reasons few manage to make it to the championship if it is held as usual in December just before Christmas. This has resulted in the championship not The national coach Lev Apetkar is moves. Played well it is a thing of being held at all in some years. The aiming to establish a pool of talented beauty: subtle and highly ruthless. So Easter tournament, sponsored by Prime girls with the hope that some of them you don’t have to worry about it being Time Games, had eight entrants so it become olympiad players of the future. politically correct. If you are tired of was a good turnout despite the fairly Ewen Green holds fortnightly coaching mindless violence and would like to try short notice. The championship was a sessions on Sunday afternoons at the some of the more thoughtful kind and get round robin over four days with the Chess centre in Mt Eden for women at in touch with your local chess club. □ winner taking the Mabel Abbott trophy all levels. It is fun and an excellent way contact: AK Chess Association, and prize money. The entrants included to learn one of the Great games. There is President, Ewen Green a grandmother and two school girls with more to chess than just knowing the ph 0-9- 412 9701 one coming from as far away as Otago, though most were from Auckland. Fenella Foster beat everybody to take the title. Her toughest opposition came from Vivian Smith and Katrina Metge a b o v e : th e who were 2nd and 3rd respectively. Next CRUNCH GAME year it is hoped that the tournament will F en e lla playing act as selection for the women’s team for B lack the 1992 chess Olympics in Greece. a g a in s t V ivia n There are efforts to encourage more (OPP.) PLAYING women to play and to a higher standard. WHITE.

MAY DAY

On May 1 1886, nationwide strikes calling for an eight-hour working day, were launched all over America. In Chicago, on the evening of May 4, a public meeting was called to protest against recent police violence which had killed two workers. Towards the Hundreds of people were arrested after the Haymarket tragedy end of the meeting, a team of 180 patrolmen marched into the and eight were prosecuted. Of the eight defendants charged with square and ordered everyone to leave. A bomb thrown hit the exploding the bomb only one was present when the bomb police, killing one and seriously wounding five others. The police exploded. All were accused of murder. opened fire indiscriminately into the crowd. They clubbed and On July 1889 the Paris Congress of the Second International * fired at those who tried to escape. Six workers were killed and voted to declare 1 May International Day of Workers Solidarity. 200 wounded. For details of action planned for May Day ring your union. □

8 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 Broadcast

TWO 1990 PROJECTS In the short time available it will not ON THE HISTORY OF be possible to research and write about every women’s organisation that has WOMEN’S existed, let alone put them all in one ORGANISATIONS book. So the editor and the project Women Together: A history of advisory committee have decided that Women’s Organisations in New the best approach is to divide the book Zealand/ Nga Roopu Wahine o te into a number of sections. In each Motu is the working title of a new section an “overview” essay will cover book project now under way in the how women have organised in a Historical Branch of the Department particular field — for example, health, of Internal Affairs. Anne Else, who welfare, education. One section will look was one of Broadsheet’s “founding at the ways in which Maori women have mothers” back in 1972, has been chosen to organise, for example through appointed as project editor. the Maori Women’s Welfare League and through marae-based groups, besides The aim is to publish a book in 1993 — being involved in other organisations. the 100th anniversary of women’s Other sections will feature immigrant suffrage — which will document and groups and rural women. archives, so these will be available for foreground the important part women Each section will also contain brief future generations of women — have played in the making of New historical profiles of about ten different especially students of women’s history. Zealand Society through the many organisations in that field. Organisations Existing organisations, archive different organisations they have created. will be chosen with the aim of covering repositories and research institutions are Jenny Gill, in a recent report “Women’s as wide a spectrum as possible: past and now being contacted to find out: Unpaid Work in the Non-Profit Sector” present, national and local, iarge and - what records have been collected (Roy McKenzie Foundation, 1989) small, encompassing paid and unpaid - where they are held points out that when it comes to work of all kinds. At this stage the book - what historical research has already voluntary work for non-profit is planned to include plenty of been done. organisations, particularly those illustrative material too. This basic information is needed both “dedicated to the care and betterment in WOMEN’S ORGANISATIONS for Women Together and for the Women’s some way” of men, women and/or ARCHIVES PROJECT Organisations Archives Project. children, “Women hold up somewhat Although not every existing women’s Anne and Ellen would particularly more than half the sky”. Gill’s own organisation can be profiled, as many as like to hear about local women’s experience leads her to conclude that not possible will be invited to take part in a organisations and groups, past and only are women extensively involved in parallel Women’s Organisations present, which they might otherwise unpaid voluntary work outside the home Archives Project being run by archivist overlook. Individual Broadsheet readers but that such work is “crucial to the Ellen Ellis, under the auspices of the who have information or material which functioning of New Zealand society on a Women’s Studies Association, with they believe could be useful for either daily basis”. Yet very little contemporary financial support from the Heritage project can write to: Anne Else, Editor, research has been done on the extent and Fund. This project aims to encourage the Women Together, Historical Branch, Dept nature of their involvement, and women’s permanent preservation of the records of Internal Affairs P O Box 805, organisations have rarely featured in and archives of women’s organisations. Wellington or, Ellen Ellis, Women’s poplular accounts of New Zealand They will be assisted to identify, arrange Organisations Archives Project, 106 history. and deposit their own records and Brougham St, Wellington. □

SOME NOTES ON LANGUAGE should stop using the word Maori.” Her of a specific thing (like Te Maori). And at Pat Rosier writes. explanation was: “We have never been a times “people of the iwi” reads better. So, I When the phrases “te iwi” and “tau iwi” nation. The basis of our life and culture is the have used a number of different forms as they started to appear — I noticed them first in iwi, the hapu, the whanau. We are Nga Iwi o seemed appropriate. Does it matter? Why government reports— it took me some time to Aotearoa.” I have since been involved in a bother? If you believe, as I do, that language find out what they meant. By asking around I number of discussions about this, with people helps to shape our thinking, then it does discovered that “te iwi” was a way of referring from the iwi and with Pakeha whose opinions I matter. The power of naming is well- to tangata whenua (literally, the people of the respect. While there is not complete agreement, established. If the word “Maori” creates a land) and “tau iwi” meant all of those who the general feeling seems to be that using “iwi” false sense of the culture it names we do need came to this place (Aotearoa/New Zealand) is a more accurate reflection of the ways things new language.The general policy in later. So tau iwi is inclusive of all immigrant are. It is not as simple however, as replacing Broadsheet is to retain the usage of the writer, groups in New Zealand, unlike Pakeha, which the word “Maori” with the phrase “Nga Iwi O unless there is a particular reason to make a refers to European settlers and those of white­ Aotearoa”. I have made the language shift in change, in which case it will be discussed skinned, European descent. the piece in this issue of Broadsheet, ‘Treaty with the writer. So readers may find all of the Recently it was suggested to me, by a Hui”, and refer to “the iwi” because it was above language used in the magazine. We colleague and friend from the iwi that, “We pointed out that ‘Te Iwi” sounds like the name would welcome letters for publication on this.

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 9 MAKING IT RIGHT AIDS and women

Sally Shipley’s article was originally published by the Australian

Federation of AIDS Organisations. ublic perceptions and health Both her analysis and possible initiatives around AIDS have been shaped by the high preva­ solutions are very relevant to lence of HIV in the gay community. In the early to mid-1980s the major risk New Zealand. The article has been Pfactors for women were: heterosexual slightly edited. contacts in endemic areas such as Central Africa, intravenous drug use in the USA (52% of all female infections), heterosexual contact in the UK (41%) and transfusion of infected blood or blood products in Australia (55%). Following the securing of the Australian drug supply in 1985, it seemed that genital ulcers, the T4/T8 lymphocyte heterosexuals who did not inject drugs ratio of the infected partner, and the would remain safe from the virus. number of exposures to the virus. In the Of 9,000 firm reports of people in US it has been estimated that the Australia with HIV in 1989 at least 129 infectious risk from a single episode of people were believed to have contracted unprotected vaginal intercourse with an it through vaginal intercourse. Research seropositive male is 1:55 (two percent), findings on HIV transmission risks to the increasing to between ten and 45 sexual partners of infected heterosexual percent after several years of unpro­ men and women have been hazy. One tected intercourse with the same partner US research project indicated that the or 60% after 500 encounters. has the potential to create mass panic out virus can be equally efficiently It is not surprising that reports of the of a highly-charged issue like the AIDS transmitted between men and women. risk of HIV transmission to the general epidemic. Others proposed that male to female community have been so varied. AIDS The shifts in emphasis of heterosexual transmission of HIV is more common pundits and the media have had to infection transmission have tended to than the reverse. This is borne out by US contend with conflicting evidence, detract from the fact that many AIDS- figures which show that 94% of cases of guesstimates and hypotheses. The aware women indulge in behaviour that heterosexually acquired HIV are female. competing social obligations to alert puts them at risk of HIV infection. Of Factors which are believed to modify those who are unaware of any risk and these women an untold number are in the heterosexual transmission rate are the to placate those with an unreasonable long term relationships they (falsely) type of sexual activity, the presence of fear of AIDS have produced much believe to be sexually exclusive, and contradictory information. with men they believe to be “hetero­ The insidious nature of the virus sexual”. The possibility of contracting challenges planners and policy makers HIV by these means may never have to define, quantify and assess while been given a thought. effectively blindfolded. Media interpre­ Given the universal male prerogative tations of the available data are likely to of sexual freedom and female be coloured both by individuals’ views responsibility for its consequences, it of the absolute and relative risks, and now seems likely that greater numbers of their world outlook, including moral women will be presented with many stances and the value they place on the more problems than the usual range of lives of men and women and children. sexually transmitted diseases that can be More importantly, in the age of discreetly alleviated. But for all women, syndicated news, media opportunism including those who knowingly take

1 0 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 The social changes of the last two decades have provided a legacy attitudes and behaviour that leave women exposed to the risk of HIV. Among the much vaunted reforms were sexual freedom, the re-entry in large numbers to the workforce where women’s wages were raised to two-thirds those of men, and opportunities for women to leave foundering or violent relationships and rear children alone. But freedoms were an even greater boon for men. They allowed for frequent casual sexual Where a woman knows that she is encounters, with women taking the infected, the chances are that she will responsibility for contraception and have to deal alone with the disease, abortion, no social requirement to share stigma, isolation, expense and short and the responsibility of rearing unplanned long-term provision for children. In children, and no enforced legal Australia, as HIV positive women come obligation to financially support their out of seclusion to join support groups in offspring or the women who rear them. three states, the question is being asked: The era of HIV presents a new set of who will look after the women with challenges to women having relation­ AIDS ands take over their unpaid risks, the problems of reversing the ships with men, who have been let off domestic labour? The examples set by subordinate roles to which they have the hook for so long. In both casual and the gay community will be difficult to been socialised are paramount in the follow for the infected women who do effort to contain the spread of HIV. not form a community, have no group For those women whose lives are advocacy and no commonality of affected by the HIV infection of others, behaviour. there are developing strategies for The numbers of infected Australian physical protection and emotional women are low — as far as we know. support. For the salaried and voluntary This may reflect inadequate surveillance carers of people with AIDS, infection measures, the lack of awareness or control procedures and information on reluctance of women to be tested, wrong HIV-related issues are available. The diagnoses, or genuinely low numbers. issues of “burnout” among workers, The anticipated increases are expected to friends and families of people with occur through the sharing of injecting AIDS is also being addressed by equipment and unprotected sex. community orgnisations and researchers. At a time of economic restraint it is While their efforts may not be reasonable to expect a division of acknowledged, the women who are committed relationships where infection resources, but how will women rate? If involved with male AIDS-care structures is a possibility, women will need to the current pre-occupations of the can generally expect reliable information persuade, trick and train men to use Australian media reflect those of the and a measure of support in carrying out condoms. The knowledge that men are at general community there is cause for their paid or unpaid work. These same less risk of infection from women than concern. The recent breathless reports of women, however, may well share the the converse, will make the socialisation the risk to men through infected difficulties others find in negotiating of safe sex an even more difficult task. prostitutes in Australia and on overseas with their male sex partners for barrier Several studies on attitudes towards tours raises questions about the fate of protection against possible infection. condom use have revealed a universal infected women. It also says something Despite the notional equal status of male preference for unfettered about the failure of public health men and women as human beings, few intercourse, ranging through to strong would argue that this is borne out in aversions based on religious or cultural reality. For those women who have no factors such as machismo. Where a difficulty in claiming their rights in woman believes she is at risk and cannot relationships and in the workplace, the negotiate safe sex, the option of risk of HIV need never be a major issue supporting herself and any dependants in their lives. But for many more women on a single wage is not an attractive there are deepening cracks in the veneer option. For the increasing numbers of of gender equality as economic women who are homeless, drug stringency erodes their bargaining dependent, unemployed or in violent power. The spectre of HIV has arrived relationships, safe sex make well and a particularly unfortunate time for become a luxury in the struggle to contemporary Australian women. survive.

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 11 Making it

messages to promote male responsibility meanings of sexuality that are not based responsibilities as cultural norms. The for sexual behaviour. Does this mean on penetrative intercourse or on men presence of HIV throws up a new that heterosexual transmission is assuming control over their female challenge for the women’s movement to understood only in the context of the partner’s sexuality. Alternative forms of regroup in defence of women’s rights in infection risk to men? Other reports have sexual expression and shared responsi­ relation to sex and reproduction, and to described the horrors of the new-born bility for condom use are two means by keep exposing and questioning and young children who have been which some women can take charge of traditional views of femininity. As infected by their mothers, with little their own health and reproduction. Stephanie Holt as argued: “Effective safe concern for the women themselves. Addressing the behaviours that place sex education requires the production of Some writers have suggested that women at risk also calls for changes in positive images of women and of female women have a right to self-protection community attitudes, values and power sexuality.” To this end, the networking of from the virus for their own survival, but structures. The advent of HIV provides women’s groups at local, national and the media has yet to examine this an opportunity for women to eliminate international levels provides the best precept, despite evidence that women are many of the contradictions in their lives chance for the development of a safe sex more prone to HIV infection than they while guarding against the virus, and to ideology with many beneficial spin-offs are likely to transmit it to men. press for lasting benefits in social and for the lives of women and general Moreover, women’s traditional lack of sexual activity.lt is a daunting task in an society. Such support would greatly status in the family and in society androcentric society, but the past encourage and enhance the work of increases their vulnerability to the virus. successes of community organisations community organisations. Numerous studies have shown that for show that they are an effective vehicle As the need arises community many women their socialised for creating new values. As in earlier organisations can extend their networks submissiveness and economic self-help movements, the mobilisation into health care systems. By drawing on dependence often mean that sexual of women to seize control of their own local economic and political resources activity occurs on the terms set by the destinies is the best known means of the community network would then be in male partner. The evidence that women developing the sanctions needed for a strong position to define and pursue are more likely to contract HIV through sustained individual behaviour change, health priorities, and implement behaviour and conditions that are In Australia, lesbian women have begun programmes that go beyond the needs of imposed on them makes the need for self-education on HIV issues and many men. In this way programmes designed preventive education and assertiveness are known to be active in the care and by women to assist the survival of training to implement safeguards. treatment of AIDS-ill gay men. women and their children would be Women who are particularly Because of the diversity of women achievable. In some urban communities vulnerable include partners of bisexual, who are at risk or infected by HIV, programmes to keep women safe may intravenous drug users who may be community services that respond to a need to extend to housing, drug treat­ doubly exposed through needle using range of ethnic, geographical, social, ment centres, extended health services, and unsafe sex, partners of intravenous and economic backgrounds are crucial. refuges, child care and legal resources — drug-using men, women married to As there is no common agenda of needs, all of which would require strong infected men, aboriginal women whose one set of HIV prevention techniques is community organisation and support. sexual favours are sought by both black likely to leave many women While Australians may cling to the and white men, sex industry workers underserved. Community organisations hope that here at least the epidemic is in (particularly migrants), women who are in an ideal position to address local hand, a misreading of the situation from practise anal intercourse, those who are women’s educational needs with a position of strength is unaffordable. intellectually impaired or psychiatrically appropriate language and graphics, and While the perceived low risk of hetero­ disturbed, women who are homeless, to empower them to implement that sexual transmission tempts complacency, destitute or the subject of sexual assault, information. But if women-oriented the US reports that the doubling time of any woman who has unprotected vaginal adaptations to HIV are to receive heterosexually acquired HIV is shorter intercourse with multiple partners and widespread acceptance, relations than that of the epidemics among young women who believe they are between the genders will need to change intravenous drug users and gay men. invulnerable and have no perception of on a large scale. In a society where, Additionally a recent report to the United personal risk. For those women whose according to a recent survey, 20 percent Nations Commission on the Status of main risk is from sexual transmission, of Australian men believe it is OK to Women suggests that at least 1.5 million HIV presents a challenge to create new physically abuse their female partners, women world-wide would be infected by there is clearly much to be done. HIV, and many more will be affected by At the community level, individual its economic and social consequences. awareness and self-assertion exercises The view that AIDS is changing the will go a long way towards empowering world, the way we think and see basic women to take control of their personal issues of our time may not have touched situations and to utilise educational many Australians yet. But while there is material and health care services. But time, what do we lose by giving a these effects would be greatly enhanced response to the possibility of hetero­ by other collectives of women’s sexual transmission, which is a reality advocates working toward establishing elsewhere? Certainly, for Australian gender equality and shared sexual women, there is much to be gained. □

12 BROADSHEET MAY 1 991 Ali tells her story

i I . •

I was diagnosed as being H IV positive

in September 1989. I caught the virus

through sharing needles. Not that I

think it’s important how we catch the

virus, it’s important how we deal with

it, and how others around us react. 1991 MAY BROADSHEET 13 HIV

When I was first told I was HIV positive who just don’t want to take the time to spoke to others who have avoided death it spun me out. I was trying to cope with learn how the virus is transmitted. by using alternative methods. Now I am getting off drugs, but somehow it made People should know this. It makes me so getting my act together and learning how coming clean easier because I knew that angry to read articles in papers where to listen to my body, treat it with raw abusing my body that way was the road people have lost jobs just because of the foods and vitamins and, most to destruction. ignorant, prejudiced people they work importantly, deal with stress. I chose to live and with the support of for. This happened to a friend of mine I remember when I found out I had some wonderful friends I was able to who has the virus. the virus, in my thoughts I blamed my kick the habit. The next step for me was Last year I became ill. The way I had parents for a lousy childhood, I blamed to have another blood test. Things went abused my body caught up with me. I others for the pain they caused me, and I through my mind like they could have went to doctors and had treatments but blamed myself because I put that mixed the blood samples or something not much was working. They told me I infected needle in my arm. Now I feel else could have gone wrong and they had would be lucky to live past 27. Close there is no use dwelling on things in the made a mistake. But the second test friends started talking to me about past, it’s just that, the past, and the only proved positive. I think it’s important to alternative life styles and ways of taking things we should bring with us into the have more than one test because things control and responsibility for my own future are the positive things we have sometimes can go wrong. health, so after some time I decided to leamt. I wanted to learn about the virus and leave my job, sell my house and try to As the plane was flying in over New find out what it could do to my body and find this new life. Zealand I saw the trees. It just looked also ways of being safe so I could not My friends said I was strong and they magic and the vibes I had were good and pass it on to anyone else. I went to the were proud of what I was doing but I very strong. Within a week of arriving I Health Services Department in Australia, feel if I was stronger I could have had found a magic house to live in. where I come from, and talked with achieved my new life style at home. For When the women invited me around to them. They also gave me some me there were still too many influences see the room and meet them I can pamphlets to read which I found emotionally around me, so I decided to remember them offering me a cup of tea. informative in giving ways the virus can move to New Zealand. I was feeling nervous because I wanted be transmitted, but also very negative in But first I went and spent some time to be honest with them about having the saying things like you were starting on in a buddhist commune in Queensland, virus. So we talked for a while but I the road to death. That was about 18 where I learnt about meditation, remember not drinking anything out of months ago, and thankfully the latest relaxation and health diet. However, I that tea-cup until I had told them I had pamphlets are not so negative. could not lock myself away in that sort the virus, which is stupid, because it Dealing with telling people was next of environment forever — to me that’s can’t be caught in that way. But that’s and that was very difficult. I could only not living — but I respect others who the way it’s got me thinking sometimes tell a few close friends but they were do. I guess what I’m trying to say is that because of the people out there that are wonderful. Some of them were my we all have to learn how to deal with scared of catching it in that way. I just workmates and they were very our lives, the ups and downs, in ways don’t want to freak anyone out, I want to supportive and took the time to find out which suit us. I have looked into educate them. about the AIDS virus and how it is different religions and learnt positive When I got around to telling them transmitted. They hugged me, they things from them without feeling the they said it was not an issue for them, so kissed me, and drank out of the same need to get into any of them in a big I relaxed and had a great cup of tea. I stubby. Of course they have not caught way. have only been living in this house for the virus from me. There are so many I read a lot of books such as Ian about three months and even though in myths and also many ignorant people Gawler’s You Can Conquer Cancer and many ways we live our own lives I feel a bond between all of us. Since deciding SILLINESS to do this story I have been feeling very emotional but my new-found friends have been there with hugs and talks. With my work situation it’s the same. They accept me and treat me as a normal human being. My friends at home, their partners and my friends at work, even before I had turned up had taken the time and been willing to leam about the virus. This is what I want to get across in telling my story: if anyone is unsure about any aspect of the virus, take the time to find out, don’t just close your minds. Sadly, I think the spreading of the AIDS virus will get worse before a cure or vaccine can be found, so every day in your lives there’s a greater chance that

14 BROADSHEET MAY 1 991 HIV you will come across someone like me, either at work or socially. Don’t run from it or push us away, take time to leant. I didn’t do this story for sympathy, It’s just that I think there is too much discrimination against people with the AIDS virus and that’s what makes it difficult for people like myself to come out in the open about it. I am not dirty, I have a virus which with common sense and safe practices I cannot give to anyone else. I want to live a happy and healthy life taking each day as it comes. I have good days and bad days but on 3 April I will be 27, and I’m looking forward to 28.

AVOIDING AIDS Safer sex and safer drug use

DON’T SHARE NEEDLES and cancers which healthy people with • Using several fingers or your hand You can exchange needles and intact immune systems can fight off. inside the vagina or anus if a glove is syringes at chemists participating in the This virus can be transmitted from one not used and you have open sores n needle and syringe exchange scheme. person to another only by the your hand, These chemists will shortly display a exchange of body fluids through sign saying they are part of the sexual intercourse or sharing needles VERY LOW RISK SEX scheme. The following regional for instance. (Transmission may be possible but organisations can tell you which The virus can be found in semen, there are no known cases) chemists are involved in your area. vaginal and cervical juices, blood and • Oral sex on a man without a condom They also operate an after hours menstrual blood, but these have to if he pulls out before he comes. needle and syringe exchange, sell enter the bloodstream of another • Oral sex on a woman not having her sterile water, swabs and bleach saches person to spread the virus. HIV can period. There are no known cases of and give information about safe using. also live in breast milk, saliva, urine, women getting HIV from oral sex with • ADIO (Auckland Drug Information faeces or tears, but cannot be a woman. Outreach) 09-398 519 transmitted through saliva or tears. • WIDE (Wellington Intravenous Drug S A FE R S E X Education) 04-828 791 R ISK Y SEX • Protected vaginal or anal intercourse • CIDURG (Christchurch Intravenous • Penile-vaginal intercourse without a using a condom. It’s even safer if Drug Users Resource Group) condom. spermicidal jelly or cream containing 03-652 293 • Anal intercourse without a condom. nonoxynol-9 is used with condom. • IV UNION Palmerston North • Sharing sex toys (anything like • Touching up or masturbating each 063-72066 vibrators, dildos, restraints, whips) other, body rubbing, hugging, dry • DIVA (Dunedin Intravenous Drug from one person to another without kissing, licking nipples or skin, Agency) 024-479 2300 condoms or cleaning them. massage, fantasy. • Any kind of sex where blood, • You could use latex barriers on CLEANING WORKS including menstrual blood, is shared women for oral or anal sex - there 1. Pour bleach into a glass. between people. are no known cases of getting HIV 2. Dip needle and works into bleach, • Using several fingers or your hand from oral sex. draw up and release three times. inside the vagina or anus followed by • One or two fingers in the vagina or 3. Pour out bleach and rinse glass. intercourse without a condom. anus if you don’t have open sores, 4. Put plain tap water into glass. rashes or cuts on your hands. 5. Dip needle and works in water, draw LO W RISK • Use condoms on your sex toys, clean up and release three times. (Some cases may be from these) them with soap and water between • Oral sex on a man without a condom people, and then soak then for 10 SA FE R SEX if he comes in your mouth. minutes in rubbing alcohol and rinse AIDS is caused by a virus called • Oral sex on a woman during her well with hot water. human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). period without a barrier or dental dam This virus attacks the body’s immune (a small square piece of latex placed AIDS NATIONAL 24-HOUR TOLL- system and leaves it open to infections over the vagina). FREE HOTLINE: 0800-802 437

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 15 eminists must take a more Mass opposition movements on this women to have more children. But sophisticated look at their issue have been practically non-existent, wherever these have been tried, they response to international family with the exception of the resistance to have also failed. planning and population policies Indira Gandhi’s sterilisation programme Until recently, because women’s own if they are to be effective in changingin India in the late 1970s. However, there needs and interests have not been taken them.F The following description of what has been a great deal of individual into account - neither in official a feminist population policy would resistance to population policies - both justifications for the population policies, contain was presented by Marge Berer, pro-natalist and anti-natalist - that people nor in the formation of such policies, nor of the Amsterdam-based Women’s do not see as being in their own interests. in their implementation - the women’s Global Network for Reproductive One example is the widespread health movement could not afford to Rights, at the 4th International Inter­ resistance to the one-child policy in step back and ask whether there is a disciplinary Congress on Women in New China, from a people who widely population problem at the global level. York City (USA) in June 1990. accepted a sharp and rapid decrease in This had been complicated by the In the past, the dominant feminist the average number of children from six contradiction that pro-natalist and anti- response to population planning was to two or three. Another example is the natalist policies exist side-by-side “Population Control - No; Women failure of governments like Nicolae between countries and even within Decide”. The international women’s Ceausescu’s in Romania to increase their countries, where they are promoted by health movement has consistently drawn countries’ population growth rate by conflicting forces. attention to the abuses of women’s rights making contraception unavailable and In my opinion, the continuing failure that have gone hand-in-hand with many abortion illegal. Some developed to address this question will serve to existing population policies and have countries, like France and West isolate the women’s health movement formed the main opposition to those Germany, have tried to increase their internationally and prevent us from policies. Liberal governments took a birth rates more humanely by offering making necessary interventions in this stand for development and against positive incentives and social benefits to area on behalf of women’s needs and population policies in 1974 at the interests. I would therefore like to international population conference in indicate some of the issues I think Bucharest. Most of those governments feminists should be taking up regarding now have different politics, and today’s ... the world population policy at all levels. economic and political realities have led cannot sustain an almost all these governments to POPULATION GROWTH implement or accept the need for unlimited number of I believe we must acknowledge that the population policies in their countries. world cannot sustain an unlimited people number of people, just as women’s Reprinted with slight editing from bodies cannot sustain unlimited Women’s Health Journal April-May- pregnancies. We find ourselves at a June1990 historical moment when births and 16 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 what would a feminist population policy be like?

deaths are out of balance, an indication Most Third World countries are, or population policy is. Evidence from our that our development is out of balance. are becoming, anti-natalist in practice. own work with women and from Our task is to find ways of setting this No matter whether such policies are numerous studies gives a clear picture right, at a macro level, on the basis of justified on grounds of economic of how women’s needs differ from reproductive rights for women, without development, international debt, nation to nation. These differences must contradiction. protection of the environment, or other be taken into account. Most developed countries currently high-sounding reasons, those who have a zero population growth rate. espouse them return to the same point - BIRTH CONTROL Many are facing imbalances in the age the number of children women have is The first factor to consider is the structure, with too few children one of the main keys to the policy’s tremendous level of unwanted preg­ compared to older people, which creates success or failure. This is true. Hence, I nancies and the corresponding desire by complex economic and social problems. would argue that women have a right to women to control their fertility. This is I believe feminists must actively oppose judge population policies as being shown in the high rates of abortion, in any moves to solve this problem through acceptable or not, according to whether the high rates of sterilisation to prevent pressure on women to have more or not they meet women’s needs and further pregnancies, in the high rates of children. Canada is one of the countries promote women’s interests. From a use of whatever method of contra­ that has had at least some intelligent feminist viewpoint, there is no ception is available wherever women debate on this question, in which it has justification possible for a population have this option. It is also shown more been acknowledged that women are not programme that is discriminatory or negatively, in infanticide, in the enor­ interested in having more children than violates women’s dignity or rights. mous numbers of abandoned children in they have. Finland is one of the few Feminists continue to have a central role the streets of many cities, and in the countries that does not have this to play in opposing such policies. number of children being put up for demographic problem. Its development At the same time, we have a adoption. and population policy is worth responsibility to define what a good Second, few women in the world examining for lessons for other have ever been free to decide not to developed countries. have children at all, let alone admit to Because the concept of population themselves that this may be their policy as such has become legitimised, Women’s own preference. It would make a tremendous despite feminists’ efforts to prevent this, difference if women actually had that it will increasingly become an issue in needs and interests have choice and were not made to feel developed countries. The Green Party in not been taken into incomplete without children. Britain, for example, has called for a On the other hand, there is a large twenty percent reduction in the British account minority of women who are unable to population, citing environmental and have the children they want because of development justifications. And this is infertility. Other women would like to only the beginning. have children but are prevented from

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 17 Population

doing so because of the threat of social punishment or lack of social support. This includes single women and lesbians. It also includes women who are too poor to have a choice at all. All these needs exist side by side and must be taken into account. Finally, when women are pregnant, their lives and health are at risk, whether their pregnancies are wanted or unwanted, if they are not in good health and lack access to adequate services for pregnancy, childbirth and abortion. This is evidenced by the high rate of maternal and morbidity internationally.

A FEMINIST POLICY? Based on these points, I believe there is a strong basis for a “population policy” that feminists can and should advocate. It must be recognised from the start, however, that as long as women live in poverty, with unequal and inadequate access to food, housing, education, a source of income and good health care, no population policy will be of any benefit to their needs and must be rejected. Such on-the-cheap programmes children will make their lives better. It must provide universal sex are the source of most of the abuses An acceptable population policy education and the whole range of birth criticised by the women’s health must make care for the children, the sick control methods, including safe movement. Moreover, such policies do and the elderly a social responsibility, abortion, access to infertility treatment not work. not only a women’s responsibility. and care during pregnancy, childbirth It is unacceptable to tell women who It must raise the age of marriage until and the postnatal period. These should have few alternatives, for whom children alternatives of education and work are be an integral part of educational and are the only source of their value as available to the young women who health care services and should be a people, and/or for whom infant mortality otherwise have nothing to do except priority of these services. We have many is a daily reality, that having fewer marry and start a family. models for such services, particularly those run by women for women, in many countries. We need to be campaigning for these to become the rule and not the exception. The lack of responsibility taken by men for starting pregnancies which are unwanted by women, and the power of men or families to decide how many children a woman has, and to prevent the use of birth control, is also unacceptable and should be a major issue in all sex education and family planning programmes. However, we as a movement still have some serious thinking to do. We need a serious re-thinking of our priorities internationally about birth control methods, taking into account the fact that women increasingly do not wish to be pregnant more than a few times in the 25-to-30 years they are fertile; taking into account the need to delay a first pregnancy until a woman is ready for it; the need for birth spacing, and the need to stop getting pregnancy

18 BROADSHEET MAY 1 991 Population after the last wanted child. Taking into account that we want access to the safest possible methods, but that we have an inadequate definition of what is safe from most women’s point of view. We need to understand why women are not using birth control in the only ways some feminists are willing to approve of - for example, choosing long-acting methods like implants and sterilisation. Otherwise, we will also contribute to the oppression of women. We need to reconsider at all levels what we mean by safe and effective methods, not as idealists demanding perfection from a technology that will never provide it, but on the basis of what is possible. We need to expose the real reasons why contraceptives are still not an option for so many people in every continent, despite high levels of unwanted pregnancy. Then there is the need to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases - an issue we have barely begun to address. This is an issue which should be affecting our entire discussion of contraceptive benefit and Lastly, we must stress that we have Such funding ought to be used instead to risk, yet it is hardly mentioned. How no reason to believe that any gov­ set up non-govemmental programmes to many more deaths from AIDS are ernment that oppresses part or all of its protect women’s rights and provide needed before we start? Above all, we population and violates the rights of its women with the quality of services they need to discuss sexuality in this context. people will be the source of a beneficial deserve. As a friend of mine from Britain keeps population policy. The politics of those Lastly, we should examine the reminding me, this is not just an issue of who will implement population policies policies of our countries and of condoms, condoms and more condoms. must never be absent from this international organisations and agencies. We must stress that no population discussion, because this is a political This is not only to criticise and reject policy is acceptable if it treats women issue. Where dictatorship, right-wing their policies but to influence and change (or men) as a target or object of its and repressive policies exist, where them, in order to turn the growing lip policies and services rather than the corruption is the rule, where the people’s service paid to reproductive rights into subject of them. For example, no person welfare is not high on the list of programs to benefit women. We need should be seen as the “acceptor” of a priorities of those in power, there is no feminist demographers to work with us contraceptive, to cite terminology chance that any population policy will in this task. Acknowledging that widespread in population and family benefit women’s needs or improve their population growth on a global level is a planning policy sectors. lives. We must to ensure that the politics problem does not mean we believe that No incentive or any other form of behind the policies are exposed. women breed mindlessly. It does not coercion should be necessary to We must expose and condemn the mean we have to throw away a convince women of what is in their own practice of donor governments and reproductive rights perspective, which is interests. Rather than argue over whether international aid agencies and founda­ based on women’s right to decide as some forms of incentives are ethical and tions willing to pour money into the individuals. It means that if we are to be others not - a growing debate which hands of such governments for asked as women to take responsibility serves to legitimise the concept of population programmes, because they for the world by having fewer children, incentives in itself - we should be are responsible for supporting existing then we in turn have the right to demand examining with people themselves, in a abuse of women and women’s rights. that society makes our lives and health way they can understand, why they say Donor governments and agencies a priority, so that we are in a position they have more children than they want must be more vigilant in monitoring for to do so. and still do not use birth control. abuses. Where these exist, surface I believe that reproductive rights Incentives are an unacceptable way of pretences of change should not be thinking should and can become the bypassing what Paulo Freire called accepted and funding should not basis of population policy, and not just “conscientisation”, that is, working with accepted and funding should not be an outsiders’ opposing point of view. I people to improve the conditions of their offered or continued. Human rights firmly believe that if women did have a lives through self-education and self- violations in the name of population real choice, there would be no population awareness. policy remain human rights violations. problem. □

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 1 9 Photo of Sheridan Keith by Gil Hanly

Shallow Smiles & Short Stories

Sheridan Keith talks to Megan Fidler 20 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 he short stories in Shallow are fantastic feeling. It was the first time I’d good job to combine with writing. I the Smiles at the Supermarket, left home. It was like walking on air. I’d always thought I wanted to be serious written by Sheridan Keith and never experienced anything like it. I got about writing. So about 18 months ago I published by New Womens a job working for an extraordinary said I’m going to stop working. I’ve got Press,T are primarily about relationships television company who were supplying enough money to keep going for a or “non-relationships”, in all their weird programme material and technical while. I’m going to try writing full-time and wonderful variety. The clarity of know-how to a circuit of television and see how it goes.” writing and vision allows the stories to stations in far flung places, and who You say in the blurb on the back of retain a sense of positiveness, despite the were doing a bit of gun-running as a your book “I use stories to state a often depressing situations. side-line. The place was full of crazy problem. The important thing is to This collection is Sheridan’s first characters, a really wild scene!” look clearly, and keep looking: it’s the published book. Sheridan Keith was born in Wellington in 1942, the daughter of an artist and an engineer. Sheridan counts her mother, who was “keen on culture, I think men and women are interested in interested in reading and literature, and somebody who looked at what was different things, so they are going happening culturally on a world scale”, as a very important influence. Her father to write in different ways. was “scientific and calculating, very rigid, and almost impossible to get through to on an emotional level.” Sheridan’s early education was at a After travelling in Europe, “doing only way you can possibly see”. What private Wellington girls school. She the New Zealand thing of going on the do you mean by that? says, “I hated college. They had a policy continent with no money and staying in Women suffer from delusions a lot. of bringing teachers out from England. I Youth Hostels, wandering from place to We’re deluded into thinking that once guess the teachers who came out to New place,” Sheridan returned to London we get married we’re going to be happy Zealand had a sort of idea that this was a and got a job with Scottish television, for ever after, we’re deluded into big adventure for them ... they arrived in working in sales. After working there thinking that relationships can make us New Zealand and were shell-shocked. for a couple of years, she married and feel complete. I think we need to assert They couldn’t believe how primitive we had two children. “I had two little our realities. Women suffer from a lot of all were. They often weren’t very good babies. London is a terrible place for loneliness. Often within marriages teachers.” children. I was stuck in a flat with two women suffer from loneliness more than Sheridan left school for Victoria babies and I just wanted to get back any other situation because they can’t university after the lower sixth, the here. I really felt I wanted some beaches communicate. They think they should be equivalent of sixth form, to begin a and some space and some sun. So we happy but they are not. Women have to Bachelor of Arts degree. Sheridan’s came back here.” be really careful about not being earned impression of university in the early In the late 70s, after they’d been away with the latest trend. I think the sixties is certainly not as a hotbed of back in New Zealand for about five feminist revolution did an awful lot for politics and flower power. “University years, Sheridan went back to paid work. women, but I don’t know if it made seemed pretty apathetic. I don’t know if She worked as a fundraiser for Art New women any happier. I think economic it was just that time. I remember going Zealand magazine. It was at this point independence is terribly important for a along to a lecture that Rewi Alley gave, that she started writing and having work woman - to feel that economically self he’d come out from China, and I printed about different artists. She says, sufficient. That’s the only thing that can thought, ‘Well here’s this world figure, “I started sending stuff to the Listener, really give true freedom. I think it was I’ll go and have a listen to him. Only two mainly stuff on the arts, and getting that Oscar Wilde who said “90% of or three other people turned up.’ printed, so that gave me some independent thought comes from After leaving university Sheridan encouragement. For a while I edited a independent means”. I think the family worked briefly in the statistics division funny magazine called City Girl which thing for women is terribly important of the Education Department and later was good experience. It went down the too. A lot of feminist thinking really for the Department of Broadcasting in tubes. It didn’t have any money, there didn’t understand that. It’s very head office television. “TV was just were all sorts of financial problems but underrated in our society which is a starting, I used to write the programme it gave me an opportunity to organise a real pity. writeups for the Listener, which was magazine, commission stuff and do my Do you think there is a female voice, a neat fun. We used to watch the own writing. I worked as a copy writer female style of writing in modern programmes and write little blurbs.” with Radio I. I stayed with that for a literature? Whilst still in early early twenties, couple of years and then moved into Definitely. I think men and women are Sheridan and a friend left for England. “I sales. That’s quite good and you can interested in different things, so they hit London in the sixties. It was the time earn reasonable money doing it and it’s are going to write in different sort of of the Beatles and Mary Quant and all all so free. You’re not stuck with a nine- way. I’m not saying you can look at those people. London just had the most to-five sort of job. I found it a very any particular story and say that’s

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 21 S h o r t s t o r ie s written by a woman or that’s written by very immediate relationship with the that doesn’t have a little nodule of a man, there’s a great overlap. But I do person who is reading and they get right reality. think basically men are interested in into that role. I think that’s okay, but the As to my methods of writing - I action, territory and power, and women problem with a lot of women writers is would love to have a routine. Some are interested in their own feelings, love that they tend to become too involved in writers say they write for so many hours and death, and relationships. There’s just their own emotions so that it can become a day - it all sounds so desirable. It a totally different view of life or areas of self-indulgent. So, you have to use that would be good if I could do it. I tend not concern. mechanism fairly advisedly. I have used to be like that. I tend to be someone who Do you think that's nature or nurture? it in certain stories where I wanted to get has to be in the right mood, then I might I think it’s probably a bit of both. I really right into the emotions. write for three or four hours. I don’t believe that men and women are I liked the honesty and detail you used write in long stretches. I don’t have a biologically different. I think that is to write about subjects which are quite pattern. I do need a lot of quiet. I need to hardened into attitudes through nurture. heavy. be on my own to write anything. I have a word processor and I find that absolutely marvellous. And how did you get your work I think short stories are wonderful, a published? It’s quite difficult. I suppose I’m quite brilliant medium for women ... lucky because I wrote for the Listener, so there may be some awareness of my name as a writer out there. The first A short story should take you from one short story I had published was Skywalking. I must have been feeling emotional state to another. particularly bold. I thought, ‘I’ll start from the top’, and I sent it to London Magazine and lo and behold I got a letter I noticed that the stories written from Well I think it’s about looking things back from the editor, Alan Ross, within a the point of view of a child, were in the straight in the eye. I think a certain couple of weeks saying he would like to first person, and the others in the third. amount of dissatisfaction is to be publish it. Wow! That was a good It’s always an interesting decision cherished, because that is what pushes moment. But it isn’t easy and short whether you write a story in the first or you on to other things. If you’re a person stories are particularly difficult because the third person. I think a lot of women who is self-satisfied, that’s really the end people say that short stories don’t sell. I writers start writing in the first person of where you’re going. think short stories are wonderful, a because that’s the natural way to write. How do you write? brilliant medium for women writers. If you’re writing about yourself you tend My work often starts with a visual There seem to be more and more to write in the first person. It creates a image. For instance my story Pleasuring collections of short stories being Mr White came from an image of thirty published in “theme” anthologies, often years ago. Just thinking about that shape containing really marvellous writing. of that man sitting at the top of the steps. Short stories can be experimental or I started wondering how he got to be traditional. People go on about how the there, at the top of the steps, very ill, short story has to be superbly crafted. I ADVERTISING coughing away. So I created a chain of don’t like that word “crafted”, you can events to get him to that place, moving polish something to death and take all backwards if you like, right to his the spontaneity out of it. The written ■ childhood, to find out why he arrived at word has to compete with tv, video and that place at that time, and what was film, it’s got to be short and smart. I let the world know going on for him at the moment when think short stories need a sharp edge, the teenage girl walks past him, and he they’ve got to cut. If words could kill, grabs her. I tried it in a few different the short story would be the weapon. ways and eventually that’s what came I’m also interested in very short out. stories; I’m fascinated by the idea of There’s usually a little kernal of how a few potent words can deliver reality that’s happened to me or an emotional effect in only a somebody has told me about which I’ve few paragraphs. I recently read a short thought is an interesting thing to happen. story that was only half a page, and I’ve used it and created something it was so powerful it worried me phone Lisa around it. On top of that you might take for weeks. For women’s lives in two or three things which are real and particular short stories are a bril­ combine them, so what you get is a liant medium. A short story should 0-9-360 1897 now combination with somewhere in it take you from one emotional state something which is absolutely true to to another, you should travel you. I find it difficult to write something emotionally. □

22 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 Rhiannon Thomson is a co-ordinator for ALGY (Auckland Lesbian and Gay Youth Organisation). She spoke to Megan Fidler about being a young lesbian. young, lesbian

You came out when you were still at At lunchtime we would discuss school. Could you tell me a bit about lesbians (including suspected teachers that? and older students), what could they I’ve liked girls for a long time, ever possibly do in bed, what made them that since I was really young. I came out way and that they had pretty cool when I was 15. I was at an all-girls haircuts too. school and I experienced most women’s Until I decided to be a lesbian I was attitudes to be heterosexist and ignorant. sexually interested in boys and would The label “lesbian” was used in a have liked a socially acceptable male to derogatory way and not something to be show off to friends. I would say I had proud of. There was heaps of fear that been almost successfully conditioned we were “lessos”; I was lucky in that I into being a heterosexual. But hung round with the more liberal kids emotionally I’ve always related better to P h o t o : R h ia n n o n at 3 y e a r s and lesbian was less of a dirty word. other women.

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 23 L e s b ia n y o u t h

How did you"come out”? this lounge room and just wallow in it. Through my mother I met my first She was the person who was there lesbian friends who I soon idolised. It almost from the beginning until now. It hadn’t occurred to me that I could be a was wonderful having someone who lesbian until then. These women was so supportive. seemed happy, loving, supportive and For six months or so I read every admirable. It seemed to be what I liked book I could find that even hinted at and had been looking for all along. lesbianism. One day I was in the lesbian After finally deciding that lesbianism section in the university bookshop and I was what I wanted, I felt a massive saw an old teacher of mine and she was “The next relief. Before making that decision I buying Lesbian Images. I didn’t even hadn’t realised how important it was to look at the book. I just picked it up, difficult task wasn’t so define my sexuality. went over to the counter and bought it much telling people as The next difficult task wasn’t telling because she had bought it. I wore lots of people so much as dealing with their clothes from Moa, went to any women- dealing with their reactions. I was confronted with my only things I could find, and played first of many incidences of homophobia spot-the-dyke everywhere I went. I reactions. ” when good friends I’d known for years began acting and looking as much like a were concerned that I might “come on lesbian as I could. I went through quite to them”. a long phase of short hair, Moa tights, After leaving school I started political badges and doc martins. working with a lesbian who I became^, I still didn’t really know what to do. I good friends with. She answered any was really attracted to women, as much questions I had, introduced me to her as I’d ever been. So I decided I was friends and eventually I moved into her going to be a lesbian and probably flat. She would take me home where celibate for the rest of my life and wear about eighteen women were living. It colourful jumpers and leather jackets was an amazing, really big house in and all the things I thought lesbians Ponsonby, and I was allowed to sit in wore.

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24 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 What support systems are there for How does being a lesbian influence had a dress on and was wearing make­ women coming out as lesbians? your politics? up) she thought I must be not out yet or I think the Auckland lesbian community It fits in just nicely. Whenever I am be unpolitical. I had been a lesbian is getting it together in providing considering any issue I come from a longer than she had. I was also asked to support for lesbians coming out. There lesbian perspective. My experience since leave a lesbian venue four years ago by are ongoing coming out support groups, coming out has given me more of am a woman because I was wearing a dress. support and social groups. Lesbian and understanding of minority groups. I feel there is justified resentment from women only venues can also be How does y out sexuality affect your some lesbians who think people who supportive. feminism? dress as if they could be heterosexual Do you think being lesbian is a choice? I think feminism is having an strut through life having the privileges I believe I made a conscious choice to understanding that women are prevented of being assumed heterosexual and the come out as a lesbian. I think most from reaching their full potential within benefits of being lesbian. I guess there women have the potential to be lesbians society. Women are paramount in all is truth in that but I am going to dress and that many of us are in fact areas of my life and I call myself a how I feel comfortable and that is a way physically and emotionally capable of feminist lesbian. which I may challenge both lesbian relating to women and men if we so Are you a separatist? women and heterosexuals. choose. Women may have a preferred I live a separatist lifestyle, but I don’t What is your connection with sex or an innate sexual orientation but I see separatism as being the ideal. heterosexual women? think regardless of that there is, to What is your opinion on the butch, Because my job is lesbian, I live varying degrees, a choice or decision femme and androgyny issue? in a lesbian household, and most made about our identity and behaviour. This has been an issue in my life. of friends are lesbians, I don’t Women and men are socialised to be Through my evolution as a'lesbian actually come across heterosexual heterosexual. My theory is that there are women I have been butch and I’ve been women often. I have more recently many people who could live happily as femme and I have also been confused. done things with groups of hetero lesbians or gays, if they knew they had a When I first went to the youth group I sexual women and that has been choice. met my present lover, Bernadette. After really good, I am open to having For me being a lesbian is a positive we had known each other for a while she friendships with women regardless choice for women and I encourage it. told me that when she first met me (I of sexuality. □

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 25 Anne Goslyn, a freelance British

journalist who has been on

holiday in New Zealand, takes a

retrospective look at Margaret Margaret Thatcher, throughout her reign (for that surely was what it was), Thatcher’s impact as Prime seemed to look back at Britain’s imperialist past with nostalgia - the Minister of Great Britain. pre-social welfare days, the centuries of warfaring and bulldog posturing, the days when youth was exploited, poverty flourished, education was bought by the privileged, and women were puppets or drudges. When Virginia Woolf wrote of being turned away from a university library for being the wrong sex in the 1920s, she could hardly have forseen the achievements of feminism at the other end of the twentieth century - women in positions of political, economic and academic power; women entertaining the libraries of universities not as the guests of fellows, but as undergraduates and graduates; even a woman as Prime Minister. Had she seen these things, she might have smiled but also noticed with her sense for acute detail that the femocrats of political power had for the most part had their feminist energies subsumed into the political machine, giving their energies to socialism or conservatism, or more recently environmentalism, but rarely to the prime objective of promoting feminism. In a sense, despite arguments about the validity of the phrase, the first world is in a “post-feminist” phase. For, although the need for radical feminism remains, the women who have benefitted from feminism and achieved equality on some level with men have chosen to ignore the fact of their own sex and the feminist aims as yet unachieved. Women may now wear suits to the office, play golf at the weekends, go for drinks after work with colleagues, but there remains the inequality of the balance of the MARGARET sexes throughout the various grades of the workforce, from shop-floor to THATCHER board-room. WHO SE SISTER?

26 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 There also remains the inequality of unpaid workers in the home, the inequality of the ratio of male to female undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge (four-to-one) to name two of many possible examples. The female reactive system which aids and abets patriarchy in its dominance over women, is still intact in the values of the women who refuse to identify with feminism, whether they remain in the home or enjoy the benefits of entry into the professions, business, academia and government gained through feminist action. Who could have forseen a champion of the female reactive system using the pathway to power opened up by feminism in order to rise to such a position of influence that, as British Prime Minister, she could turn back the years and do nothing to further the cause of the women’s movement? Virginia Woolf, had she been able to live four centuries like the main character of her novel Orlando, and thus witness Margaret Thatcher’s politics, might well have observed, as she does in A Room of One’s Own, “so accurately does history repeat itself’. Woolf observes in that essay that Nick Greene, a contemporary of Shakespeare, said a woman acting put him in mind of a dog dancing, and that two hundred years later Dr Johnson, that great upholder of eighteenth century English values, repeated the phrase in relation to women preaching. In the twentieth century actresses are no longer an oddity, but the battle over preaching continues. Woolf’s mention of Dr Johnson puts me in mind of his entry for “oats” in the dictionary for which he was so highly acclaimed in his day. Oats, he said, were that which the English fed to animals and the Scots fed toj their children. This prejudice remains two hundred years on. Scotland has been the testing ground for Thatcher’s poll tax, much as the Pacific is a testing ground for British, French and American nuclear weapons. The poll tax (officially “community charge”) was tested on the Scots for two years before it was implemented in England. The Scots complained and a few British voices dissented, but it was not until the tax came south to replace the old rates system that the English rioted and protested. Woolf might well nod and utter that just as Dr Johnson treated the Scots as inferior, so two hundred years later did Margaret Thatcher with her poll tax. “So accurately does history repeat itself’ she might murmur again, this time from within a university library, or in the halls of parliament, or in the board-room. And she might well note what a token women she was in many of those environs, for men still out-number and out-manoeuvre women there. Still more, Woolf might lament what a lonely feminist she was in a country such as further the cause of women, but rather sought to undermine it Britain so recently governed by a woman whom cartoonists through welfare cuts and a refusal to look at the needs of frequently place in male clothing, a woman whose politics of women in the home, the rights of single parents, lesbian bulldog ferocity, high world profile, savagery of social welfare motherhood and adoption, lesbian and gay rights, positive programmes, deconstruction of civil rights, and insular discrimination for women in workforce promotion to redress disregard for European neighbours continue months after her the balance which favours men, provision of medical and resignation. educational services for the nation as a whole, protection of Will the Gulf War cause bulldog spirits to influence voters at women and children from criminal assault in the home, down to the next general election, as they did during the Falklands War the simplest of objectives, such as stiffer sentences for rapists in the 1980s? Will the sham of Britain’s world prestige - so and adequate street-lighting. A woman, many believed upon her carefully constructed to mask a recession, poverty, election, could have prioritised these issues as a man would not unemployment, inflation and institutionalised abuse - once have. But she did not. She left us the image of a woman in again move the British heart to vote a Thatcherite government men’s clothing wielding a battle-axe not a lambda. in for another term? For, like many gurus of religions or What would have been the case had Shakespeare had a politics, even though she has gone, her brand of politics sister? Woolf asked in 1928. What would have been the case remains and may well outlive her. Her achievement was the had Margaret Thatcher been a sister? I ask in 1991. So construction of a code of national policy which did nothing to accurately does history repeat itself. □

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 27 BOUDOIR. oasis green spa steam aqua dream each room different theme your knee between mine love’s I love this thing called lust, bower this overwhelming bliss, cold but I can quiet the beast — shower it’s you I’ll miss. Madonna of the Nineties As a mother she indulges Betty Don remember? in acts of cruelty walking quickly behind a buggy Catherine while a whinging child runs mair to catch up there is time to watch my pretty breath gasping, panic rising William in his furry wait for me. Maori Women’s Hui suit spraying the neighbours' dusty hubcaps She pulls a nappy too tight Sleeping in the wharenui round a body contorting encased within my bag and there with fury surrounded by women the pin stopped by wads of cloth I remember that other time ... is time but releasing pleasure encased within my bag for a lie-in with my cuddly in the jab. sleeping within my mother radio now & then / and surrounded by woman The spoon which scrapes there is time for astonishing sunsets spat-out custard Caressed by the hum of voices sloshing across the west like great wet into a mouth women’s stories births in the sky sometimes slips too quickly women’s snores gagging a throat. soft noises there is time woven into dreams... The corner of a face-cloth dreams woven into the past time to stick my nose in a book & gasp it twisted to a point the past all encompassing a book-sniffer, high on words scours an ear-drum in the poupou of resident wax. the tukutuku time to do the not-urgent the kowhaiwhai tasks first But she smooths the wash-cloth with tender hands Sleeping in the wharenui to stare at the maudlin telly with a wipes the tear away in the belly of our ancestors cat on my stomach like suet pudding from the apple-ch feeling safe folds into an armchair like that other time yes there is embryonic in despaii before birth wrapped in her failure as a mother. Margaret Blay Marewa Glover Mary Cull

28 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 Self-Liberation Sonnet she opens the door atop the high place and feels again the truth and the passion the accusers stand at the silvered sheen knows once more the satiated embrace at doubters depth of the bottomless well speaks the unspoken free from obsession and there the apparent in fitful dream is able to leave the prisoners shell search for yourself in wholeness and heart don’t settle for less, don’t settle for part the faces dissolve in silent decay consumed in the fire of cleansing death Shirley Pokoati she leaves them: hears the pain and dismay looks back at the self-denying bereft

Not Telling For Yvonne I bought myself a dress The Shower while you lay dying. I weep for the birds in their black viscose mantles The woman said it would look The shower was made for man by man, as they reach for the bright blue sky, very attractive Of that I have no doubt. only to fall back into the black slough of war It suits the shape of man's physique with high heels and a little red Whether he’s thin or stout. to be consumed by the folly of man. lipstick, It’s easy for your average male I weep for the birds. not knowing I never wore them. To soap himself quite clean, I didn’t tell her. And wash the muck that might be stuck I weep for the child in her ugly mask of terror In places in between. as she cringes in her mothers arms, She asked Upon this point no words I’ll mince, In fact I’ll be quite blunt: protected from the invisible death of this war. was it for a special occasion. It's easy for a chap to rinse And I weep for the birds. What would she have thought if I’d said Equipment in the front. Yes, my mother’s funeral. I weep for the woman dressed in a volatile cloak of But ladies are made differently, I didn’t tell her, anger In case you didn’t know. she may have thought the Their undercarriage, it is hid as she screams at the aggression which has killed colour not From sight and does not show. her child. appropriate, When washing off the soapy foam She craves neither power nor territory I knew it was. That smells just like a flower, only life for the fruit of her womb. Our hands we cup to swish right up Still, I weep for the birds. One day I’ll tell you this The water from the shower. because you’re still very much Upon this point no words I'll mince, I'll tell you through bared teeth: I weep at the “ Boys” in their camouflage costumes alive, years later. It’s awkward for a girl to rinse rejoicing in the triumph of their toys of destruction Equipment underneath. as they explode and penetrate the bodies of the Instead I wore it to “Swan Lake” innocent. In France they understand these things, at the State Opera House, Thank you Monsieur Bidet Whilst I weep for the birds in Vienna. For inventing a receptacle They in their jubilation care To wash our cares away. not for S.M. Thompson A mini jet of water hot The Birds Which spouts from floor or wall nor for Is all we need, so please take heed You shower makers all. The Child Take Your Partners Upon this point no words I’ll mince nor for In fact I’ll be quite fair: I used to dance, dance with abandon The Woman. Twill be a joy for girls to rinse Without thought to onlookers Equipment under there. That is, until I learned the dance of life As I weep for the birds - the steps of grown ups. Lucinda White I weep for The one-two-three of acceptance please. The Child Oh, I learned the tunes and danced with feeling, AND Lost myself inside the steps. The Woman NOW ... AND WHEN I DANCE ... I weep for I IMPROVISE. THE WORLD. Sue Skye

Kay Memmott 1991 MAY BROADSHEET 29 DworkinDworkin on

Andrea Dworkin talks about her

work, her life and the future

of feminism with Elizabeth

Braeman and Carol . This is

the first part of a two-part reprint

of the full interview from Trouble

and Strife 19,Summer .

30 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 Elizabeth Braeman: The Theme of Letters from a freedom of speech and that we can combat War Zone, Writings 1976-1989 is that women do not pornography in the “marketplace of ideas” and what have freedom of speech. What exactly do you mean you have said certainly has an impact on that idea by that? that we can freely compete in the marketplace of Andrea Dworkin: Well, I think that our restraint ideas and that our words have equal impact as the from being able to engage in speech operates on words of pornographers do. many levels. There’s the superficial level of what’s A D : I think that that part of the argument is a specific required to gain access to mainstream media, the argument and it’s very important to address it answer being complete and total conformity, not just specifically. The first amendment to the United States’ stylistically but in terms of content. You have to say constitution only protects speech that has already been what fits in their picture, what it is they want to hear, expressed and it only protects its from punishment by If you don’t do that you will not be able to publish, the state. It doesn’t stop a man from punching you out you’ll have a terrible time. That’s across the board, for what you said. Supposedly there are other laws for any political person. But it works in a much more that do but in fact they don’t. It doesn’t stop anybody ruthless way for feminists because men take feminist from using economic recriminations against you for analysis as a sexual challenge and experience it that what you say. It doesn’t stop anybody from deciding way and therefore have a very visceral and vengeful that you’re an uppity bitch because of what you you reaction to pieces of “speech” that they don’t like. say and they’re going to hurt you because you said They experience, I think, a lot of radical feminist something that they didn’t like. If you think about it, writing actually as if it were a sexual assault on them in interpersonal relationships that women have with and since most of them don’t know what a sexual men, I mean how often women are insulted verbally assault is they have the privilege of over-reacting in or are physically hurt because of what we say. We say that way. something that is perceived as being not sufficiently Then, on a deeper level, one of the things I’ve compliant and then you take that and you put it out in learned in the last 15 years is how much women are the world in the sphere of social reality. There is no silenced through sexual abuse. The simple experience doubt that the first amendment does not save women of being abused whether as a child or as an adult has from all kinds of punishment that women are incredible impact on everything about the way you consistently subject to. see the world around you, so that either you don’t feel Then the second part of that is that the first you can speak because you’re frightened of what the amendment protects people who have access to the retaliation will be, or you don’t trust your experience media and in our country that means mostly people of reality enough to speak, that happens to a lot of with money. It doesn’t protect anybody who doesn’t incest victims. Or you are actually physically kept have access and was never intended to. It was written from being able to speak — battered women do not by white men who owned white women and black have freedom of speech. So it operates on that level. slaves, none of whom ever got any first amendment I was quoting in the book Hannah Arendt who was protection of any kind. In fact, if there’s any kind of a brilliant woman but certainly no feminist and her correlation between the first amendment and the observation that without freedom of movement you actual status quo, the keeping of wealth by those who can’t have freedom of anything and in fact most of us have privilege, specifically has to do with literacy. still live as quasi-prisoners in order to maintain some White men, who owned property, who owned women kind of safety. If you think about all the places we as chattel, who don’t go, all the boundaries we have to accept in owned black slaves, order to stay alive, then the extra boundaries that we also happened to be One of the things I’ve put in there as a kind of buffer zone for ourselves so the people who learned in the past 15 that we all feel safe whether we’re safe or not, I mean could read and write our freedom of movement is exceptionally restricted. and there were years is how much And then also I was referring to the restriction, the actually laws in the women are silenced physical restriction of women’s bodies in women’s slave states saying clothes, in things like high heeled shoes, in girdles, in you could not teach through sexual abuse. things that bind the body where the object is to turn a slave how to read, the woman into some kind of ornament and in turning it was against the law. The first amendment didn’t her into an ornament she is then deprived, literally, of really do anything about it. Now lawyers have all the physical ability to move, or it’s seriously kinds of reasons why that’s true. It doesn’t matter, the impaired. So I think it operates on all those different point is that the first amendment is now being used in levels and I think that any woman who thinks that she an almost metaphoric way for freedom of speech as if has freedom of speech or freedom of movement is the first amendment protects everybody’s right to absolutely denying reality. speech and it doesn’t. It’s not a grant to individuals of EB: The argument used in defence of pornography a right to speak, if it were you would be able to go to is that it is freedom of speech and that women have the government and you would be able to say “I need

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 31 D w o r k in

four minutes on NBC [a national network] I have grass-roots organising, but who are very poor and something I want to say” and you can’t do that don’t have access to mass media in a country where (laughter). I have found the arguments around the first mass media makes up reality for so many people. amendment incredibly naive, absolutely unwilling to It is my impression that at the beginning of the deal with the reality of male power and of money women’s movement [in the United States], and I power, the meaning of wealth in this society, and I’ve wasn’t there for it, I was living in Europe at the time, been deeply disappointed not to see feminists making people were very excited and thrilled and celebrational an analysis that addresses the marginality of women’s and all those words that I think are fairly good words: speech and the speech in particular of people of arrogant and pushy and brazen. However, they colour, who also don’t have that kind of access. apparently didn’t anticipate that people who had power Probably the worst liberal cop-out of the women’s weren’t going to be thrilled to give it up and might movement has been to accept this freedom of speech actually start fighting back. When they started fighting bullshit from white boys, who in fact do have freedom back some blood was going to flow because they have of speech, because they do have money and they do the means to hurt you very badly. We have lost that have access. middle ground because the retaliation against feminists Carol Cox: You say in Pornography and Grief has been very serious and very systematic. Now written in 1978, “perhaps I have found the real women are making decisions for individual survival source of my grief: we have not yet become a over political solidarity and political, what I would call revolutionary m ovem entA re we closer or further honour. away from forming a revolutionary movement? CC: When you say that you think a lot more radical, AD: The honest answer is I don’t know. The grass-roots actions are going on, is that something movement has changed tremendously. On one hand, you've seen by being around? there has been an incredible global spread of AD: You can’t actually hear about most of it. It is not feminism so that international feminism is reported, even in the feminist press, which is much tremendously vibrant and that is very hopeful for the more shallow than it used to be and much less in touch future of women on the planet. But in this country with the women who are actually doing things. I know [the United States] the epidemic of violence against a lot of the women because I travel through the women has intensified so greatly. The situation of country all of the time and I see it. I see it happening. women in my view is so much worse and so much If I weren’t there and I didn’t see it, I wouldn’t know it of what was the women’s movement twelve years ago was happening. has, in a sense, cut and run. They have taken what the Liberal feminism is the feminism that the media women’s movement has been able to give them, plays back to us . But through travelling I can tell you which is a kind of minimal economic advancement if that there were women everywhere, in every part of you are middle-class and have certain skills, the country, every small town, every rural by-way, especially if you are an academic or a lawyer. A lot of who are doing something for women. Some of it is the movement really are liberal democrats. Feminism direct action, some of it is what is called social has become more and more a lifestyle word. services, to do with battery and to do with rape. I think On the other hand, I think there has been a that there is a deeper understanding of the role of male deepening understanding of radical feminist ideas and violence in keeping women down now than there has more grass-roots, radical activity now probably than ever been. How is it going to express itself in a way there has ever been, even though it is not reflected in that ‘s going to make the whole society have to deal the media. There is also what with it on its own terms is another question. The There has been an I consider to be a relatively women’s movement in that sense has deepened, has incredible global new development in that reached more people, but one of the problems that we there are also men out there have is that some of us, in different ways and at spread of feminism who have been at least different times, really are ghetto feminists. You know, so that international partially formed by feminist we know ourselves and our five friends and that is ideas and who are, in some how we see feminism. feminism is cases, activists against male But, in fact, any political movement that is really tremendously vibrant. violence against women. going to be successful is going to involve not At the same time, I see just people that you don’t know, but people who are the solid middle, which every movement has to have, very different from you. One of the interesting things having kind of fallen apart. I am a radical but I’m a about feminism now is that it is no longer the radical who believes you have to have the whole urban, middle-class movement it started out being. spectrum of people. You need your reformists, you You find feminists in Appalachia, you find feminists need the people who do all these different kinds of in Rock Springs, Wyoming who are the strongest work and I don’t know what it means if you’ve got damn feminists you’ll ever see in your lives who very brilliant, very resourceful feminists all over the are standing up to those men out there and that’s sort country who are doing direct action, who are doing of thrilling.

32 BROADSHEET MAY 1 991 D w o r k in

EB: Along those lines, what do you see as the it. The right way to deal with it is through changing role of lesbians in grass roots radical confrontation and dialogue. I see women doing a lot of feminism? political purity trips that have no content to them. AD: What I see disturbs me very much. I see women They aren’t doing anything except denouncing the younger than myself, I’m 43, and I see women who are right. If you ask them what did you do for women ten years younger than myself feeling, and maybe yesterday, there isn’t anything and what they could they’re right because they’re smart women, that they have done they didn’t do because they couldn’t do have to be closeted. Women who 10 years ago would everything. In other words, I not have stood for being closeted now are have to get myself 1 0 0 % Some ...have taken a exceptionally determined to have a very schizoid perfect before I dare do kind of minimal existence, a professional world in which they function anything in the world around one way and a private world in which they func­ me to make it different. economic advancement tion another way. That upsets and depresses me That’s just nuts. You never from the women’s beyond anything I can say to you. I think they have will be perfect, we live with looked at the environment they live in and probably our limitations, we live with movement and have judged it correctly but I hate it that they’re doing our failures and I think it’s cut and run. that and a lot of lesbians are doing it. important to do whatever it In terms of the whole country, I see women in these is you can do and not have all of these very exquisite grass roots groups taking stands for lesbians even if metaphysical excuses for not having done anything. the lesbians are closeted. For instance, to go back to I’m really old-fashioned that way. □ Rock Springs, Wyoming for a minute, they include something about lesbians in everything they do and I think that a lot of women in the country consider it a moral imperative. Lesbians are still responsible for a lot of the leadership in whatever is happening all over the country but there’s much more hiding and secrecy and duplicity again and I find it very frightening. GB: Do you think that has to do with the rise of the right wing?

AD: I haven’t heard anybody have a different motive Wenzel for anything that was done since Reagan was elected. That is too simple. I will tell you frankly I think it is because of the pressure of the people around them, the people around them usually are liberal men. That’s the point of contact, that’s where the pressure hits home. You can blame it on a conservative environment but the fact of the matter is that those men, the ones who are close to you, the ones you work with, want to believe you’re there and they can fuck you. The pressure is coming from them. Amerikans, by which I mean people who live in the United States, are incredibly juvenile about social change. Robin Morgan called it “ejaculatory politics”: if it doesn’t happen right away it doesn’t happen. The women’s movement in this country has all the same characteristics as the culture we live in, short term gratification, personal fulfilment, personal advance­ ments and yes coming out as a lesbian can get in the way of that. Liberals and left wing men have recolonised women around the fear of the right. This troubles me, it makes me feel like we are really suckers. We’ve always lived in a world that was right wing. The world has always been right wing to women. A lot of the reasons for the growth and ascendancy of the right has to do with the status of women. Having some sort of bunker mentality about the right wing, as if you have to protect yourself from contamination by either this political philosophy or these terrible people is not the right way to deal with

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 33 To make the cutouts even more real, Lynn incorporates three dimensional elements into them, and where possible, something that belongs to the person. On her friend Amokura’s cutout Lynn threaded tassles of coloured string through her dress to look like the dyed flax fibres which are woven into traditional Maori cloaks. In this piece, Lynn also included a small kete which Amokura’s grandmother had made. Each of the cutouts have a base to allow them to be free standing. Gradually the bases have become important as a way of “giving the portrait some background information and creating a visual balance to the body so it doesn’t look so much like it’s floating in space.” At the moment Lynn is working on a cutout of her friend Eddie. He is sitting down and doesn’t need a base as his wheelchair serves the same purpose. Lynn is “painting him in bright psychedelic colours because I see him as a very psychedelic person.” When painting, Lynn works from photographs. She finds it’s the best way to work because it’s awkward for people to sit for long enough for her to get the faces right. “Trying to capture a likeness is the biggest challenge for me. If it doesn’t look like the person you’re trying to paint, well I guess there’s no point to the portrait at all. I go into a slight panic each time I start the face. For ages when I was painting Amokura she looked like Carmen, and now Eddie Evans ... well he seems to look more like Ringo Starr than Eddie. I CUT IT OUT think it’s his nose.” by Megan Fidler Lynn describes herself as a creative person who always has “some sort of project on the go”. Her father is a painter “Oops, pardon me, I’m sor ...” Have you ever caught yourself and her partner a sculptor. When her children were young, apologising profusely to a shop manikin? I have - very she ensured she was either sewing, screen and fabric embarrassing. A quick glance around to check that no one saw, and then a cool saunter out the door. It’s a mistake easily made with Lynn Pronk’s cutouts. Lynn relates stories of people getting frights when they come to visit and see someone standing, silently watching them. I laugh as she tells me the story of her partner insisting on removing one of the cutouts from the living room, because it “gives him the creeps”. The cutouts are surprisingly lifelike. They’re painted, mainly with acrylics, on custom wood and are cutout with a jigsaw. Looking like overfed children’s cutouts, they have real life proportions and show remarkable similarity to the models. I wonder if Lynn could make them different outfits for different occasions. “Could I bring my cutout along?” The first cutout Lynn made was as a promotional gimmick for the movie “PeeWee’s Big Adventure”. From that grew the idea of portraying friends and acquaintances in the same way. Lynn says, “ There has been a tradition of cutouts made of famous people like Marilyn Munroe or Elvis Presley. It was exciting to be able to turn my friends into stars.”

34 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 printing, making dolls, or painting so that she had “something for myself that made me feel I was achieving something, however little, instead of being caught up on the endless treadmill of washing, cleaning, feeding and picking things up. Gradually there was more time as the kids became more independent and I’ve been able to attempt bigger artistic projects like my cutouts. I consider myself pretty lucky as a lot of mothers wouldn’t have this creative outlet.” It’s difficult to categorise the cutouts. Lynn decides they are portraits which “are much more confrontational than most portrait work. They are the full person, from top to toe, and you can’t really avoid them.” Of the process she says, “just about every time I’ve done another cutout, I’ve leamt something different. It’s very much an exploratory thing. Things don’t translate from one to the next painting. You have to take a different approach, to capture another person’s personality.” □

HOMAGE TO POTATOES The work has no gender, though it has female and male Bronwyn Cornish: An installation from the Morphic parts. The clay piece has a wall up the middle dividing the Resonance Series, 28 March — 16 May 1991 female and the male. Cornish practices yoga and is conscious INHERITANCE of balancing the female and male parts through the breath. On Art, Heritage and the Past, 28 March — 12 May 1991. Both feminism she says: “I’m a woman so I see from a woman’s at Wellington City Art Gallery perspective. Ideally I would see things in a really balanced Reviewed by Jane Blaikie way. There is the male and the female principle in everybody. There has been a need for women to identify strongly together. Cornish’s work is evocative, Jungian, archetypal. It contains But what I would like to see now is a balance together.” half a tonne of raw clay, six sacks of potatoes, broken Cornish’s work sits above the Inheritance exhibition. They crockery, three empty potato sacks, and a great quote from the do not go well together. Described by one artist as a Egyptian Book of the Dead. “supermarket show”, Inheritance is energising and speedy. It What it means depends on the response of the viewer. We does not engender the contemplation necessary to appreciate all go back a long way with potatoes. To Cornish the work Cornish’s work. represents new life (the clay centrepiece) emerging from the old which is represented by the broken dinner sets, cups, bowls etc. The six circles of potatoes are our heritage, the precious cargo brought by immigrants who would have been hungry without them. To others the work conjures up a Japanese rock garden, a whale, or steaming piles of mashed potatoes on rainy childhood evenings. Says Cornish: The work works if people respond to it. After working for five days building up the raw clay in an upstairs gallery space she has a calm, ethereal air. Working with clay is a slow, meditative process. Clay does not respond to speed, it’s necessary to work in partnership, she says, not show how clever you are or torture the material into complex shapes. “I’m not an intellectual artist. Highly intellectual art puts people off.” Art ought to encourage people to make the process of discovery. The quote from the Egyptian book, she says, sums up her approach. “What can be named can be known, what cannot be named must be lived, believed. I speak of the creator and the creation, the ordinary life, lived extraordinarily. I work for the sake of working. The joy of creating is the joy of forgetting everything.” She has been working with clay, that is, earth, for 25 years.

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 35 A r t s

Inheritance is art for the erks. It’s great, I loved it. The Unidentified Maori Woman II, centres the show. It’s a large walls are chocka with stimulating images. Lots of little visual canvas derived from a photograph of a young women of high hints for women who like art but don’t have much formal mana taken at the turn of the century and tagged in the knowledge of it. The exhibition is divided into six sections: national archives as “New Zealand Beauty”. family and personal heritage; markers of mortality, exploring Other well-known New Zealand artists featured include the churchyard and cemetery genre; old buildings; the Rita Angus, Charles Heaphy, Peter McIntyre, Evelyn Page, Sir Wellington landscape (the show opened in conjunction with Toss Woollaston, Janet Paul and Ruth Watson. A painting the Wellington City Council’s Heritage Week); cultural called Maori Boy with Fish by Eleanor Kate Mair — a heritage spanning ancient Greece to Polynesia to Kiwiana; the neglected New Zealand artist who worked at the turn of the legacy of art; and whakapapa. century — has its first hanging since being restored. Its style is Maori art is strongly emphasised as “Maori artists are often academic and romantic but it’s haunting. more strongly and consciously concerned with heritage than Freelance curators Janet Bayley and Athol McCredie, pakeha artists”. A recent work by Robin Kahukiwa, deserve congratulations for an invigorating production. □

and white versus colour photography. In Jacqueline’s opinion, colour can only add to a work, each metal highlighting and supporting the next. It appears when looking through the stock drawers at LYNX, that much of the work appears to have its sources in organic forms and is characterised by an absence of precious metals and stones. People in New Zealand seem to find it difficult to pay for abstract things like thought, design, creativity which are the essence of most contemporary jewellery. People are challenged when faced with work which utilises silver or non­ precious materials such as paua or bone. The idea of jewellery as status symbol is challenged by jewellery as art. Whilst Kate and Jacqueline agree that jewellery should be of the highest quality, Kate believes jewellery should be wearable, whereas Jacqueline is taken B r o o c h : S ilver by Kate E w in g by the idea of jewellery as body adornment - larger,less “practical” WOMEN JEWELLERS metal, particularly silver, in her work, It pieces. Both conclude that New by Lawrence Hall is the quality and longevity of silver Zealanders in general are not educated which attracts Kate. Metal lends itself to when it comes to wearing jewellery and LYNX, a combination of contemporary the will of the maker and can be therefore tend towards the conservative. jewellery gallery and studio workshop, controlled. Commissions play a major part in opened in July 1990. While it is not Kate’s work is striking in its use of financing LYNX. Women’s and lesbian uncommon to find galleries representing organic spiral forms and textural symbols and signs are sent to several New Zealand’s contemporary jewellers variations. In the spiral form, shell, tree women’s bookshops throughout New it is still unique to find a gallery with a and foliage imagery is used. Kate’s Zealand. This is good from a financial strong women-centred focus. On display creativity stems from her heart and the point of view and is good for in the gallery are pieces by resident hundreds of drawings she produces. The women’s/lesbian visibility, but it doesn’t jewellers - Kate Ewing, Jacqueline Beri analysing which exists around art comes do much to promote the art and and Blade, together with work by other to nothing when the fact remains that creativity of women jewellers. It’s a leading New Zealand jewellers including people ultimately buy a piece of difficult situation - the need to earn Stephanie Lambert, Andrea Daly and jewellery “because they like it”. enough money to continue to work, and Joan Atkinson. Combinations of metals reminiscent the opportunity to do the work they like Kate Ewing is largely self taught, of African adornment dominate to do. although she spent two and a half years Jacqueline’s work. Colour is often In the year LYNX has been operating, in the Fluxus co-operative in Dunedin. viewed as a distraction in jewellery, money from sales has not been enough Kate has a special interest in the use of rather like the old debate between black to cover the rent of the studio space.

36 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 A r t s

Despite financial problems both Kate and Jacqueline, who work full time as jewellers (Blade also works at the Women’s Refuge), are optimistic about their future. In May this year, Kate and Jacqueline will take part in a twelve person exhibition of New Zealand contem­ porary jewellery which is to be held at the National Museum of Ornamental Metal, in Memphis, USA, as part of the Memphis in May International Festival □

NGA WAHINE WHITU O TAIRAWHITI (Seven women of Gisborne), Oedipus Rex Gallery, Auckland. June 1991 Preview by Jennifer Buckley

These artists come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but their stories and struggles are remarkably similar. Their centimetre of paint on to the canvas M a r ia E r ik s o n ( l e f t ) a n d Lo u is e W alsh at paths have crossed at Gisborne. Both without creating ‘mud’. From THE OPENING OF A GROUP EXHIBITION AT FLYING Maori and Pakeha, they are women, they compilation I aim for simplicity and M o a G a ller y, G is b o r n e , 199 0 . are mothers, they are artists, and their depth, energy and life.” work reflects deep bonds with the Ann de Lautour is of English and time potter, producing domestic wear in environment, their heritage, their Maori ancestry. She was bom in Opotiki a gas kiln. She says of her pottery: families and themselves. and has lived in Gisborne with her “All of my work is done on the Jolene Douglas is a painter of Ngati family for 18 years. She began potting in wheel; I use several different types of Maru and Ngati Raukawa descent. She 1976. Six years ago she became a full clay and various colourful glazes. The has employment as exhibitions assistant at the Gisborne Museum and Art Centre. Her work, primarily pastel on paper, reflects her role as the mother of two THE SHOCK OF THE OLD! daughters in recurring mother and daughter themes. Taha Maori is an Over 100 artworks from C.F. Goldie to Robyn Kahukiua infinite source of exploration for her in her work. INHERITANCE E Nicola Eliam, fibre artist, and Art, Heritage and the Past Michele Tautau, sculptor, both exhibited pieces at the Ngapuna Waihanga exhibition in Gisborne and Kohia Ko Taikaka Arake at the National Gallery in 28 March - 12 May 1991 Wellington. Louise Walsh, a painter, says of her Sponsored by f j , TRUST B A N K WELLINGTON work: “I have been painting for eight years now. How I paint is directly related to what is going on around me. I BRONWYNNE CORNISH have four children and up until now I’ve had at least one toddler toddlering HOMAGE TO POTATOES from the Morphic Resonance Series around my feet. So, when I find the time 28 MARCH - 26 MAY 1991 and space to paint I go for it. “I work on the ground with at least WELLINGTON CITY ART GALLERY five canvasses. Surprisingly, each work is its own self. I don’t contemplate, I Temporary Chews Lane Venue ■ Wellington City Council work fast until I consider that enough is 50-52 Victoria Street, Wellington, New Zealand. Open Daily 10am-6pm. Until 8pm on Wednesday enough or until I can’t squeeze another ______Guided Tours, Thursdays 12.30pm, Saturdays 1.30pm.

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 37 Arts Maria Tereza Eriksen, a painter and paper-maker, was bom in Auckland of Greek and Irish parentage and has lived in Gisborne for 17 years. She says: “My work has become entwined with the environment of Tairawhiti and all the pervading spirits of the place — Tangaroa (god of the sea) and Tane (god of the forest) are both children of Papa (earth mother) and Rangi (sky father). I concern myself with these primarily because this place can be broken down to these three elements — earth, sea, sky. This land is very female in character, very strong characteristics of the earth mother exist and it is a land which has seen much of my growth from girlhood to womanhood, from childless to mother. “My work explores the themes of mother, protection, nurturing, regeneration, creation, conservation, quality of light in Gisborne is unique: environment and aroha. I use forms and there is such brightness and clarity. I materials which derive from my like the colours in my work to reflect immediate environment such as recycled that quality. I am also working on raku paper, flax, shell, driftwood, muka, and pit fired techniques and I bone, which both embody the land and thoroughly enjoy the purely decorative speak of its material poverty. I was effects of these firings.” forced to recycle my own paper and W o r k s by J o le n e D o u g l a s : Pa s te ls o n paper

Gisborne and the benefit cuts have made life doubly hard for us. There are no jobs to be forced into. I have always had the policy that my art will support itself and somehow it always has.” Rosemary Parcell is a painter and was bom in Central Otago of “Anglophile settlers”. She came to Gisborne 15 years o ago to her first teaching job, “found out Wkt tu what ‘Pakeha’ meant, survived two years, left to paint full time and exhibited two one-woman shows.” Her laiwwKrK imagery arises from “my environment and the people who inhabit it: the psychology of the place and the persons. paintings s sculpture It is always very immediate and spontaneous, gradually taking on a S^VEKT WOMEW singular orderliness and sequence. “If it’s not confronting either specific from. GISJSOKNE issues or terrors in this civilisation, my make paper from various plant fibres in work can celebrate the basic human 4. - 15 JDNB 1991 order to continue my printmaking and conception of a soul inhabiting a certain painting. space. I work in the middle of our “As I ran out of money and materials household, a pot-belly stove as one I began to use mixed media and then easel, the sideboard another, as the kids added collage pieces which were pieces paint on the floor. They contribute of prints which didn’t make it to edition touches to some works. standard. I survived through using bits “I paint with acrylics, either artist GALLERY and pieces and had just enough to frame quality or house paint. It is such an 430 QUEEN ST AUCKLAND PH. 790-588 and mount and exhibit. Luckily I sold amenable, light-hearted medium, easy to work and financed the next and the next modify and leaves less footprints on the work. Life is very hand to mouth here in carpet.” □

38 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 Film Film

DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES dir by Terence Davies MEN DON’T LEAVE dir by Paul Brickman Reviewed by Megan Fidler

Distant Voices, Still Lives is set in working class, post-war Liverpool. Relationships and abuse between family members, within the context of poverty, is the central focus of the story. Family, as a social structure, is depicted as hierachical and patriarchal, with violence - physical, emotional and psychological as the oppressive tool. The father is cruel, the mother, meek and subservient, and the adult children oscillate between being terrified, A n g e l a W alsh Distant Voices , Still Lives rebellious, and loving. The rituals connected with marriage, childbirth and death are the events upon which this Men Don’t Leave, starring film is anchored. Jessica Lange, is a sometimes Although the women are sad, sometimes funny, and shown as heroic figures, strong often realistic story of a and defiant, trying to eek out a woman left with two sons after meaningful existence, they still her husband is killed in a work end up as victims, both of the accident. The changes of system and of their biology. circumstances forced upon the From generation to generation middle class American family history is repeated. when their main breadwinner This film is aesthetically is gone, are extensive and beautiful. The lighting is disruptive. They sell their car, particularly expressive, their house, and move to a effecting an almost religious larger city so Beth (Lange) can feel to some scenes. The find work. The younger son juxtaposition of the darkness becomes involved in a kidult of the story with the beauty of underculture of theft, whilst the lighting, together with the the teenage son, moves into an choral music and long panning apartment with a thin young shots, creates a surreal feel to ethereal woman. No time for the film. By holding shots, we crime or sex for Beth - she is the viewers, are forced to just surviving. participate - a voyeuristic Men Don’t Leave separates viewing is impossible. itself from Hollywood Distant Voices, Still Lives sentimentality and avoids avoids judgement and is raw in stereotypes and taking cheap it’s honesty. shots at people. Voted by American critics as one of the ten best films of 1990, Men Don’t Leave is well worth J e s s ic a L an g e Men Don't Leave seeing for its humour and honesty. □

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 39 Arts

\ LIVING WITH HIV dir Sarah Clatworthy Reviewed by Deborah Johnson interviewed to share their knowledge of coping “Prejudice can kill” is a nice piece of corrective with the unique problems the disease presents, sloganeering from the documentary Living With problems that centre around sexuality, loving HIV. Directed by Sarah Clatworthy and made as and having a life threatening disease with so part of her Broadcasting Diploma course work, uncertain a prognosis. it focuses largely on the problem of prejudice Although Alistair Hall, chairperson of the about what, in most people’s minds, has become National Union of People Living with AIDS and ‘‘the gay disease”. Part of the solution lies in one of the people who took part said that ideally giving a human face to the disease and a people with the disease should be making the documentary has the potential to do this. It can documentaries, it is a credit to Clatworthy that allow an exchange of information in a there has been such trust in her ultimate control. supportive and controlled situation which can Clatworthy’s presentation rewards that trust. be removed from that context and shown in The messages of the documentary came through public. Prejudice rarely sees a human face and dramatically and directly, mainly because she rarely gets shown one. Clatworthy’s allows people with HIV to do the talking. documentary is just what is needed. Let’s hope Clatworthy allowed the documentary to that justifies its acceptance for a television speak for itself in another way; her locations screening. clearly place it in Auckland, New Zealand. The This documentary is also important for the disease is here now and we have to know about opportunity it provides for the people it. □

WOMEN'S NEW THIS MONTH BOOKSHOP 228 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden. Ph 0-9-607 162 RMING MONTHLY THURSDAY EVENING EVENTS RTS SCHOOL Thursday 9 May 6-7pm TERM II 1991 An hour with Lauris Edmond, renowned poet and author of Hot October. Lauris will read May 27 - August 26 from the 2nd part of her autobiography Dane© & Drama classes for YOU Bonfires in the Rain, newly published by Pre-schoolers to the over 60's Bridget Williams Books. Dance Courses in Tap, Jazz, Afro- Thursday 6 June 6-7pm Carribean, Modern, Ballet, Ballroom Meet New Short Story Writers. and a SPECIAL MUMS Judith White will read from her collection Makereti, or Maggie Papakura: 'A & BABIES CLASS Visiting Ghosts, newly published by Spectre solitary female voice in a bleak Drama classes in Voice, (Hodder & Stoughton). Sheridan Keith will wilderness of male scholarship, Improvisation, Acting Technique, read from Shallow Are the Smiles at the offering a rare vision of community Film & Television, Creative Drama, Supermarket, just published by and culture.’ Read her account of Pre-school play. Singing, Audition New Women’s Press. Te Arawa life, written in the late and Women's drama PLUS a Thursday 18 July 6*7pm (or 8pm? or 9pm I) 1920’s, and introduced by special advanced Women’s Drama Lesbians, Love & Laughter: Shared Readings. Ngahuia Te Awekotuku. course which will focus on Poetry, brief extracts from novels, short stories, Just reprinted, in paperback, $24.95 performance skills. non-fiction. Bring your own writing to read aloud informally, or select your own favourite THE OLD-TIME Telephone 0-9-771 -228 for (most diabolical?) extract. information and a brochure. Future Thursday Evening Events: MAORI 145 Newton Road (the Orange - Parker & Hulme: A Lesbian view Ballroom), Newton, Auckland - “Ladies a Plate": Women in NZ society.

Refreshments from 5.30pm before each event. ' 0

4 0 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 La M u s iq u e

VA POUR QA, QUEEN IDA! (Go for it, Queen Ida) Powerstation, Auckland Reviewed by Lisa Howard Smith

Auckland’s Real Groovy Record’s street cred as a sounds shop offering quality, non-commercial music has been well established for more than twenty years. Over the last three years, Real Groovy have been instrumental in importing off- chart artists into New Zealand. The latest in a line of Real Groovy promoted musicians was Queen Ida (Guillory) and her Zydeco Band who played at the Powerstation in Auckland recently. Zydeco music is as zany as the name implies; it tickles you around the ankles, wriggles up your legs, jiggles around the hips and shinnies up your spine. Your head begins to nod rhythmically and almost unintentionally you’re clapping in time. Well, that’s what I found myself doing at the Powerstation the other Thursday evening. I’ve always considered the accordion a rather uninspiring instrument; the thing Uncle Joe played badly at stuffy social occasions. However, Queen Ida certainly convinced me otherwise, playing hotter than a jalapeno pepper and looking equally fiery in resplendent red. Perhaps its all that hot ‘n spicy Creole cooking that gives her such energy. Whatever, this Grammy award winning Granny Before I move onto that, a word about original French, in keeping with turned up the heat and gave a inspiring Hattie St John, who with her band, were traditional elements and adding an exotic performance. support for the evening. Deservedly well pinch of flavour. There’s something to I was really intrigued by the the rub- known around Auckland, and not just for tempt even the dullest of palates! board played by Ida’s son Myrick and her Gig Guide, Hattie was magnificent in For the uninitiated, Zydeco music impressed with his deft playing. This her multi-coloured gown, with a voice to evolved around the Creole communities instrument is a modem version of the match. Although only a few braved the of Louisiana and Texas. It is a melting orginally used washboard and an integral dance floor it was superb set. Va pour 9a! pot of many musical influences; Cajun, part of the fast paced Zydeco tempo, German, Caribbean and Afro-American. providing percussion in addition to the A traditional form of music played at drumming. It was fascinating to watch. COOKIN’ WITH QUEEN IDA Creole community social gatherings, it is The Powerstation was an ideal venue AND HER ZYDECO BAND. currently enjoying a revival and more for this show, and for once not too GNP Crescendo Records popular appreciation thanks to the crowded. All who wanted could see, Reviewed by Lisa Howard Smith success of artists like Queen Ida. there was room enough to jig (and didn’t we), and Ida was able to strike a rapport I played this CD at my daughter’s with the audience. Her explanations birthday party last weekend — the first COOKIN’ WITH QUEEN IDA about the origins of some of the songs track is excellent for musical cushions. (THE BOOK) and impromptu language lessons added a The kids loved the music as much as the Ida Guillory with Naomi Wise, Prima nicely personal dimension to the night - game and the adults wanted to know Publishing $35.00 Bon temps! who/what it was and where to get a copy. Reviewed by Lisa Howard Smith If I had to have a criticism it was that Cookin’ has an appealing menu of towards the end of the evening, while musical styles starting with the sizzling This book has been compiled from a losing none of its bounce, the music did up-tempo “Zydeco”, which will get your series of extensive and fascinating seem to have a sameness about it. juices going. Then you can hoe into the interviews with Ida and skillfully edited However, this has not deterred me as a tasty mixture of Cajun, R&B, rock’n roll into an enjoyably readable book. The new convert to Zydeco, and I’ve bought and bayou-style blues. The lyrics of a language has been kept simple, giving a the latest Queen Ida release Cookin’. number of the songs are sung in the feeling of sitting around the kitchen

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 41 A r t s table with Ida reminiscing about her life in Louisiana originally from France but seasoning trinity of celery, bell pepper and sharing her Creole cooking expertise. via Nova Scotia (something of a stop- (capsicum) and garlic. There’s also a lot Reading this book after attending the off point when you remember the of oil in many of the recipes, usually for concert and listening to the CD gives a migration of some of New Zealand’s deep frying or to sautee. They all invite cohesive wholeness to the history of Scottish settlers). Creoles, however, the mouth to water, although many Zydeco music and Creole cooking. Ida’s although from France, also came from require large amounts of preparation narrative takes you from her early life on Spain and migrated directly from time and even longer cooking. I wonder the family farm at Lake Charles, Europe, arriving earlier than the Cajuns. how they might be accommodated in our Louisiana, to more prosperous times in The Creole people then expanded by fast-lane life style along with TV Texas and the final family emigration to mixing with other nationalities: African, dinners and the microwave. There’s also post war California. In reading this there West Indian, German and Native the problem of the availability of some is an increasing awareness of dedication American, though no one is certain of of the ingredients - I’d really like to by the Creole community to maintain the exact mixture. However, there is know where you can buy cornmeal. their traditional values and unique little difference between the cooking However, if you have a hankering for celebrations along with a wonderful styles, both evolved in Louisiana. Bacon Hocks’n Beans and would like to community spirit. It is this spirit that has There is, though, a vast difference know more of the flavour of life in the helped to preserve their cooking, music between this hot and spicy cuisine and Deep South, then Cookin’ with Queen and language, all recorded in Ida’s book. our basic kiwi fare. It involves a lot of Ida is a worthwhile addition to your The difference between Creole and pepper both fresh and ground, cookery book collection. And don’t Cajun refers not so much to the particularly cayenne, along with forget to buy the music to give your preparation of food as to the people. jalapeno, serrano and your everyday place a real Creole feel while the Shrimp Cajuns are Acadian people who arrived black and white too. Plus the Creole Etouffee simmers on the stove. □

Books ten years, who have some “awfully good lesbian/gay community nor subscribers ideas”. She reminds the reader that to lesbian or gay periodicals.” What this simply by being lesbian we are an also indicates to me is that many of the outrage to society. lesbians studied would not identify as feminist. I would have liked to know The existence of lesbian couples — which ones did. many even with children — Because the sample is not random demonstrates that women create stable, Johnson cautions against generalising productive, supportive families without from its findings: we cannot, she says, a thought to men and their needs. This “draw conclusions about all long-term STAYING POWER: LONG fact challenges a fundamental doctrine lesbian couples” from this information. TERM LESBIAN COUPLES of our society, that women exist to She establishes the diversity of her Susan E Johnson serve men. (page 15) group along several measures — age Naiad Press (about a third are over 70), education, Society loses, Johnson goes on to employment, income, religious Susan Johnson wants her current (not her say, because “the alternatives that background — and regrets the low first) relationship with a woman to be lesbian existence and lesbian creativity representation of women of colour, “forever”. A lack of role models for this offer are unavailable to everyone”. The which she attributes to her lack of set her on the path that led to this book. more non-lesbians know about how we contacts, as a white woman, into Her mission was to: create our relationships the more they communities of lesbians of colour. would be challenged to try something new. The bulk of the book is about what Search out the women who have The study is based on questionnaire the women-in-couples said. It’s stayed together in loving couples for a responses from 108 couples (216 organised in five chapters: Commitment; long time and ask them about their women). Each woman filled out a Sameness/Difference; Sexuality; relationships, how they have weathered questionnaire independent of her partner Problems; Children, Family and Friends; their problems, why they didn’t break and 34 couples were also interviewed, Change and Conclusions. Between up, how they do money, jobs, sex, what usually in their home. Johnson found the chapters are stories, seven in all, each their joys and special pleasures have couples by the method called “snow­ profiling a particular couple in more been, what advice they have for us. balling” — she told her friends who told detail. (page xvii) theirs.... She feels this put her in touch The most startling aspect of what with couples who would be unlikely these lesbians say, for me, is that so little She begins by stating that she hasn’t otherwise to have taken part in a lesbian of it shows a feminist influence. What found “THE secret for a lasting study as they would not have known each individual and couple says is relationship” just some women who about it. “Thirty-five percent of the fascinating, but Johnson is right that it managed to stay together for longer than women ... are neither active in the defies generalisation. Some comments

42 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 B o o k s made me wince, others brought a lump work, or to share child care with a to my throat. I did not find Staying partner. Power the inspiration I had hoped for. While there were cultural differences Maybe my hopes had been unrealistic — among the groups she studied, there the history I want to read just isn’t there. were many similarities in their practices A friend commented, “You mean, - the use of massage during pregnancy, they’re not all Adrienne Rich?” using herbs for healing after the birth, What the book does do is give voice the preference for giving birth in to lesbians who have lived in a couple squatting or kneeling positions, and the for up to 52 years and they are voices importance of the spiritual aspect of we do not often hear. So we learn how their work. they have managed money, sex, It is ironic that at a time when women families, arguments ... all the aspects of in New Zealand are fighting for the living together. There’s advice, from the choice of as natural birth as possible, respondents and from the author, most governments in the third world countries of it commonsense-ish. Like: don’t give are trying to medicalise birth. For up too easily; relationships take work; example in Malaysia, traditional expect things to change over time.... BIRTH WITHOUT DOCTORS midwives are no longer permitted to And they have a good time, from the Conversations with Traditional attend a woman in labour, and may only “ordinary pleasures of everyday life” to Midwives by Jacqueline Vincent-Priya provide ante and post-natal care. having adventures and fun together. Earthscan Publications Ltd The traditions and values described in Betsy, who has been in her present Reviewed by Ruth Henderson this book are a powerful antedote to the relationship for 21 years, put it like this: plethora of information which encour­ While living in Malaysia, the author took ages women to perceive birth as a I like the ‘high points’, meeting new the opportunity to research the attitudes medical event. While I wouldn’t put it people together and doing new and and practices of traditional midwives. on a recommended reading list for all interesting things, but the best is the She travelled to villages in several of the pregnant women it is an inspiring book bedrock: knowing she’s there for me, remoter parts of Malaysia, Thailand and for those who have the time for some sleeping with her every night, just Indonesia interviewing the local midwives. indepth reading. □ being around each other, being at home Jacqueline’s style is conversational together, (page 326) and she gives good background informa­ tion on the areas she visited. However I Johnson comes up with two axioms felt that the content was a little repetitive in her concluding section, which is and perhaps more discussion could have called “Ignore the rules”, a reference to been spent on the challenges to N O W AVAILABLE both the rules of society and any that midwifery and what effect it has on may permeate our lesbian communities. communities where the women go to The first is, “No relationship is perfect” hospital to give birth. MANA and the second, “There is no one perfect The attitude of all the women she way to do a relationship.” Rebecca, after visited was that birth was a normal ^TIRITI 15 years with one woman says, “It’s process, simply a part of everyday life. always a work in progress.” The midwife would generally only be Staying Power is about lesbians in called if something went wrong during long-term, committed relationships. It labour or if the woman wanted a does not set out to explore the range of massage. Births often take place with

ways to love and live that lesbians only the husband or female relatives MANA TIRITI invent. That’s another book. This one is attending. In some areas the birth would The art of protest and partnership full of descriptions of what lesbians do not be marked by any special ceremony. Haeata, Project Waitangi and the in committed relationships and that’s its Wellington City A rt Gallery Living in a society where the first $24.95 real strength. □ thing you do when you think you might Mono Tiriti - the art of protest and partnership is about the be pregnant is visit the doctor, it is hard need to improve the relationship between Maori and to contemplate that the majority of these Pakeha. women give birth safely without seeing a Based on the sesquicentennial Mana T iriti exhibition of artwork and discussion, this book shows that the race midwife, let alone a doctor. relations debate, which threatens to divide our society, still All of the villages visited were has direction and hope. agricultural. Most women would, through necessity, be back working in the fields one or two months after the D a p h n e B r a se l l A s s o c ia t e s birth, and in some cases, after as little as PR E S S S t PUBLISHING SERVICES two weeks. Not for these women the 306 Tinakori Road, PO Box 12214, Thorndon, Wellington dilemma over whether to stay at home Tel: (04) 710 601 Fax: (04) 710 489 and be full-time mother or to go back to

1991 MAY BROADSHEET 43 B o o k s

the kind of women’s history which thereafter replaced the fertile womb simply paints women in to the canvas with the virile phallus as the most THE WOMEN’S HISTORY OF already prepared for the male characters potent cultural symbol. Women’s THE WORLD in history, although this kind of consequent fall in status was reflected by Rosalind Miles “compensatory” activity is also present. in her social, political and economic Paladin Grafton Books $17.85 Rather, Miles redefines the historical subjugation at the hands of the Reviewed by Rae Frances agenda. No longer do wars, popes and patriarchs. Why did women let them kings occupy centre stage, at least not get away with it? A combination, “Real solemn history I cannot be the kind of wars we are used to reading according to Miles, of physical force interested in ... the quarrels of popes and about in history books. The battle and ideological/psychological kings, with wars or pestilences in every surveyed here is the age-old and manipulation as well as the kind of page; the men all SO good for nothing ongoing battle of the sexes. Within this collusion in their own subordination and hardly any women at all.” framework women emerge as agents of which was often the course of least History has come a long way since history as well as its undeniable victims, resistance. But throughout there has Jane Austen penned these words in a welcome change from some of the been a strain of resistance as well as Northanger Abbey in the nineteenth earlier feminist historiography. accommodation, a resistance which is century. The last few decades in Miles’ central argument is an attempt finally bearing fruit in the feminist particular have seen a determined to answer two questions. How did men achievements of the nineteenth and feminist assault on academic history succeed in enforcing the subordination twentieth centuries. which had almost entirely neglected her- of women? And why did women let No doubt there will be other such story. Rosalind Miles draws on the them get away with it? In her account, histories which will modify or results of this feminist scholarship to the roots of women’s oppression lie in challenge Miles’ conclusions. The produce a truly impressive account of the their biology, or to be more specific, in most obvious criticism I would like to rise and fall of Woman from earliest their capacity to bear children. This make is that, despite her best times to the present. And for readers made them physically vulnerable from intentions, it is not a history of women who, like me, shy away from such broad- the outset, and forced them to accept of “the world”, but is primarily sweep history, let me say at the outset male domination as the price of focussed on western women. This is that this book is different. It is engaging protection. But the kind of domination particularly a problem in her from the first page to the last, partly experienced by “primitive” women was discussion of “The Body Politic” because of the lively, witty prose-style, qualitatively different to that in where the issues are defined only in but also because of the force of the subsequent eras: although not a devotee terms of the contraceptive concerns of overall argument and the combative way of the “Age of the Matriarchs” school, women in western industrial societies. she presents her material. This is not a she believes that women in these early For many women in the third world, narrative chronicle of events, but an societies were on a more equal footing the issue is not the right to restrict analysis of women’s position in history with men than at any other stage of their one’s childbearing, but the right to which takes issue with received wisdoms history and were culturally and bear children in the face of official at every step. And the analysis itself, spiritually highly valued because of attempts to restrict the birthrate. while no doubt often too polemical for their reproductive functions. The fall Hopefully subsequent women’s some people’s tastes, is informed by an came when men realised that they too histories will take fuller account of impressive amount of reading. Nor is it had a part to play in procreation and their perspectives. □

NEW from Bridget Williams Books....

Ngaio Marsh A Life Margaret Lewis $29.95

Aunts & Windmills Stories from my past Pauline O ’Regan $24.95

Bonfires in the Rain Autobiography Volume II Lauris Edm ond $27.95

44 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 B o o k r e v e iw s

AT SCHOOL I’VE GOT A CHANCE by Alison Jones Dunmore Press $29.95 Reviewed by Jacqui Fill

The most exciting thing about this book, apart from its insights into the politics of schooling for girls, is that it is a book written by an academic, in a way that makes it accessible to an audience wider than other academics. This is a very personal account of her research, including problems and failures. In this ethnographic account, Alison Jones, a lecturer in education at Auckland University, relates how, as part of her PhD research, she went back to school for four terms as a pupil in a central city girl’s school. The purpose of the research was to ascertain whether what went on in the classroom, reflected the fact that Interaction between teachers and BEYOND THE BARRIERS: working class Pacific Island pupils the two groups of girls is central to The State, the Economy and Women’s fared worse at school than their Alison’s research. For working class Employment middle class Pakeha contemporaries. Pacific Island girls, specific learning By The National Advisory Council on The title of the book, At School skills were often at deference to the Employment of Women I've Got a Chance, indicates the teachers’ understanding. On the other Government Printer $24.95 belief that by working hard within hand, for the middle class Pakeha Reviewed by Linda Hill the schooling system Pacific Island girls, “knowledge” becomes their pupils will have a passport to the own as they learn the skills needed to This useful book analyses women’s future. But school records show that interpret and resource the situation in the New Zealand labour 40% of the Pacific Island girls in the information. They are rewarded by market and critiques recent government study left school with no school their results. policies affecting women’s employment. certificate passes, compared with Alison’s use of a feminist It results from three years research by only 8% of the Pakeha girls. methodological approach where she NACEW, a Labour Department funded Alison enmeshed herself in the reveals herself as well as the students quango. Like any government-associated school lives of the girls, inside and to the reader makes this book very report it is a little bland in its language outside the classroom. She realised readable. Changes have been made and analysis, but the straight facts have that in order “to find out what within the school since Alison’s plenty to say for themselves. schooling was like for the girls, then research was carried out. The school Women are 40% of the workforce, clearly their interpretations of their has de-streamed and the two groups half the unemployed and three-quarters activities were central”. Incorporated now intermingle more freely. of the part-time workforce. Women’s into the observations in class were Whether this will effect any further place in the workforce is analysed by recorded discussions with the girls. changes, I guess, is research for participation rate, unemployment rate, Observation in the classroom someone else. occupational group, race, age and full- showed that Pakeha pupils, “engaged time/part-time status, exploring the in class discussion, worked concepts and statistics underlying labour independently, questioned the teacher force statistics. and sometimes disagreed with her, Women’s labour force participation whilst Pacific Island pupils listened began to drop in the second half of the passively to the teacher, copied down 1980s. Women are more likely to suffer her words, and preferred to give official unemployment, statistically replies in unison rather than hold hidden unemployment and under discussions.” For these students the employment. We are concentrated in a teacher had the “knowledge”, she few typically female occupations and in was the key to passing exams and a part-time and casual work. Women are good teacher was one who gave good already a “flexible” workforce. Maori recitation of notes. and Pacific nation peoples, both men and

1 9 9 1 MAY BROADSHEET 4 5 A rts women, also work in just a few state sector restructuring, employment This book is illustrated with pie occupations. The crowding of socially equity, education, and childcare policy. charts and tables. It has a summary of devalued people into a fdw occupations Service industries, in which women findings, clear recommendations and helps keep those jobs low-paid, dead are concentrated, are unlikely to achieve well organised, referenced chapters. I end, insecure, and increasingly part-time. any growth in the next few years. liked the focus on race, though its Recent government policies are Workloads are being intensified in most limitations are acknowledged. More looked at for their impact on women’s service jobs at the same time as hours, inclusive comparisons might have employment and found wanting. Policy penal rates, job security and union illustrated more clearly the clustering of directions are unchanged or accelerated structures are being attacked. all women, and Maori and Pacific under National, so the issues raised here Employment equity and cheap quality nations men, at the bottom of the labour remain crucial. Sections critique childcare are being put on the back market heap, leaving the field to Pakeha monetary, fiscal and industrial policies, burner. men. □

Sun-Sense and papatuanuku Cars rocket up Bombay Hills disappears under streaks of tar where once they crawled and blocks of concrete Old cars now obsolete and the spread of an ever increasing population litter banks and garbage heaps who strips her bare piling higher junk upon junk leaving her vulnerable the refuse of consumerism to erosion our take-away mentality sunburn y one use. one size fits all pollution y production line products we, people for production line people are like melanoma on the surface of this earth. progress y y development Marewa Glover

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46 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 sabbage blows

he Academy Awards are exciting and glamorous. We get to Oxford University Press. Clever eh? So as taxpayers we not to see good, kindhearted, earnest, not to mention wealthy only paid Porter for the book, but if we want to read it we have stars roll in their own success and excess. It should be an to buy it again for $25. Enterprise, or con? inspiration to all of us here in New Zealand where we The apostles - Jim, Ruth , Jenny and Bill - are certain it’s t apparently roll in only apathy and depression. enterprise and they have lost no time in spreading the self-help Our noble Prime Minister, Jim Bolger, chose the week of the word. In fact, Jim’s speech at the booklaunch suggested a state Academy Awards to launch what he hopes will be even brighter of religious ecstasy, if not frenzy. A reverent hush fell over the and more inspirational than the Awards: the Porter Project. crowd of suits as Jim called for the support of “strong self- Of course in the United States they have the American started from the private sector who share the vision, and will Dream (AD) to inspire faith and confidence. According to the help to shape and spread the message of enterprise”. No one AD any American, no matter what class, race or religion, can was brave enough to step forward and say “Beam me up, be successful. Anyone can climb out of the ghetto to become a Scotty.” film star, entrepreneur, or even the president. Ronald Reagan The following week, Ruth too made a few converts when proved that it’s quite possible to be all three, although he can’t she spoke to a cluster of Rotarians in Christchurch. She spoke quite recall which one he is now. Still, it doesn’t matter, he does in holy tones and shared her vision. The reason so many New know he’s successful. . Zealanders are on the breadline is not because of government Unfortunately, we don’t have the AD to spur us on to greater mistakes but because of poor work ethics. Poor work ethics are things. Apparently the only dream New Zealanders have is of a “why 50 percent of NZ families have an income below “well paid 40-hour week, lazy weekends, a quiet quarter-acre $21,000”, said Ruth. And the Rotarians nodded and saw the and few responsibilities”, and that, according to the Porter light. Yes, the poor have to get off their butts and work harder. Project, is why our economy is a mess. Whingeing and moaning won’t improve the economy. But all this is about to change thanks to the four economic This is where Jenny and Bill come in. How can our saintly apostles - Jim Bolger, Ruth Richardson, Bill Birch and Jenny leaders help New Zealanders help themselves? Simple. Cut Shipley. The foursome is on a mission from God, and God, it benefits for a “fairer but firmer” welfare system, and drive transpires, is an American called Michael Porter. And his Bible down wages with a “flexible” system of industrial relations. - Upgrading New Zealand’s Competitive Advantage - is our This will lift our economic performance by creating a “highly salvation. skilled and motivated workforce”. In a bizarre blend of New Age philosophy and capitalist I’m not sure I follow the logic of The Word According to jargon, the book (otherwise known as the Porter project) creates Jenny and Bill, but faith is not necessarily based on logic is it? a new dream for New Zealanders to pin our hopes on to: we can And if, by some devilish stroke of misfortune, these visualise our way out of this recession. Self-help, is seems, is heavenly measures should fail, the apostles could resort to a the cure to our overseas debt. laying on of the hands. We could all report to the Beehive and Michael Porter’s two principle tenets are competition and wait, like the catholics outside the Vatican, for Pope Jim to enterprise, and he certainly practises what he preaches. The bless us with his visions of Enterprise New Zealand. If we wait Porter Project, essentially a study of New Zealand business and long enough, we might even witness him levitating or trade, was funded with over $1 million from the NZ Trade performing some equally inspiring miracle. At this stage Development Board and other government agencies. In other levitation seems more likely than economic recovery. But then words our taxes paid for Porter’s book. Yet when Porter’s I’ve always been a bit of a sceptic. contract with the TDB ended earlier this year, he sold the book Lisa Sabbage

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48 BROADSHEET MAY 1991 bookshop directory

le s b ia n / ★ CHRISTCHURCH ★ AUCKLAN Kate Sheppard HARD TO FIND \Jomcns Bookshop SECOND HAND BOOKS 145 Manchester St, 171-173 The Mall, Onehunga gay / Christchurch Ph: 644 340

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★ PALMERSTON NTH * AUCKLAN youth WOMENS BOOKSHOP survey (Embracing Broadsheet Bookshop) Books by, for and about women ♦ Non-sexist children’s books ♦ Music Posters Jewellery ■ BOOKS ■ MUSIC ■ ARTS ♦ Unusual cards ■ JEWELLERY ■ HAND PAINTED CLOTHES ♦ Coffee and herb tea a MAIL ORDERS WELCOME - Mail orders welcome - Square Edge, P.O. Box 509 Palmerston North 228 DOMINION RD, AUCKLAND, PH 607 162 comprehensive ★ WELLINGTON * HAMILTON survey of our lives UNITY BOOKS O DIMENSIONS for people up to 25 the most interesting bookshops! Women's Bookshop Ltd 266 Victoria Street, Hamilton Mon-Thurs 9.15 am - 4.45 pm years Friday 9.15 am - 5.30 pm 119-125 WILLIS ST, WELLINGTON Saturday 9.15 am - 1.00 pm PHONE LOUISE OR MARION 856 110 PO Box 19041 PH. (071) 80656 old. MAIL ORDERS WELCOME Either ★ AUCKLAN LitERArily DifFereNT write PO Box 5246

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