THE NUOAZINI Or SUBSTANCE VOL. XIX SUMMER 1991 $2.95 FOR PROGRESSIVE WOMEN

SUPPORT OF (EARTH) HOOD A Conversation with Earth First! Activist Judi Bari • The Uncommon Women of Greenham • Critiques W'a of New Contraceptives

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-It I •in I =00 =^ I =b I -•* --* New Books for Women on Women's Concerns!

JEWISH WOMEN IN WOMEN AND DIVORCE/ THERAPY MEN AND DIVORCE Seen But Not Heard Gender Differences in Edited by Rachel Josefowitz Siegel, MSW, Separation, Divorce, and Ellen Cole, PhD and Remarriage "The [chapters] in this volume are marked by WOMAN-DEFINED compassion, intimacy, and a feminist willing- Edited by Sandra S. Volgy, PhD MOTHERHOOD ness to explore the terrain where the personal, "Solid research based data for gender issues in the mythical, the historical, the pathological, separation, divorce, and remarriage.... It is a Edited by Jane Price Knowles, MD, and the therapeutic all intersect."—Susan very valuable resource for the clinician who takes and Ellen Cole, PhD Weidman Schneider, Editor, Lilith Magazine; seriously the need for substantive date analysis "An intellectually and emotionally riveting Author of Jewish and Female and results. It is also a book which could be very book. The contributions from these talented au- Here is the first volume ever to focus on the helpful to an individual or couple who want to thors expose the unidimensional myths of issues of Jewish women in the context of coun- have more cognitive data and a deeper under- motherhood and delineate the multifaceted na- seling and psychotherapy. The authors convey standing of both men and women and divorce is- ture of being a mother.... The complex reali- the richness and variety of Jewish women's sues."—Ralph H. Earle, PhD, Psychological Coun- ties that these authors affirm have never been experiences and the Jewishness and female- seling Services, Ltd, Scottsdale, Arizona so clearly articulated until now. Whether you ness of the concerns, issues, values, and atti- This is one of the few books in the field dealing come to this book as a clinician, mother, father, tudes that Jewish women—both clients and with gender issues in divorce in a research con- daughter, or son, it will expand your under- therapists—bring into the therapy room. text. This important book presents the most re- standing of being, having, or loving a $9.95 paper. ISBN: 0-918393-93-0. cent research available in the area of gender is- mother."—Barbara Swain, PhD, Clinical Psy- Spring 1991. sues as they relate to divorce and personal ad- chologist, Prescott, Arizona; Adjunct Faculty, justment to divorce. Prescott College, Prescott, Arizona $14.95 paper. ISBN: 1-56024-114-4. Spring 1991. Feminist authors examine some of women's FEMINIST APPROACHES full, rich, and varied thoughts and experiences about motherhood. In contrast to the too often FOR MEN WOMEN'S MENTAL accepted male notions of what constitutes a IN FAMILY THERAPY HEALTH IN AFRICA "good' mother or a "normal" family, this impor- tant book presents a comprehensive and bal- Edited by Michele Bograd, PhD Edited by Esther Rothblum, PhD, anced view of motherhood—as women have ob- "A wide and rich variety of material that both and Ellen Cole, PhD served and experienced it. educators and practitioners will find fills this "An important and interesting book since it ad- $14.95 paper. ISBN: 0-918393-87-6. gap. Michele Bograd and her contributors dresses the problems associated with women's present many of the sociopolitical issues that mental health in Africa apart from those of men, men bring to therapy. Looking at the social which has not been done before in one volume. It WAITING construction of the male gender through a should be read by all those involved in medical feminist perspective, the reader will find this and paramedical fields and by concerned A Diary of Loss and Pregnancy text rich with stories, personal reflections, and laypeople."—Georgina Buijs, PhD, Lecturer, Ellen Judith Reich, JD clinical vignettes that brings the theoretical Department of Anthropology, Rhodes University, Waiting is an honest, in-depth examination of material to life. "—Richard L. Meth, CISW, Grahamslown, South Africa one woman's experiences of pregnancy and Director, Center for Marital and Family This landmark volume looks closely at the mental miscarriage. This journal, kept by author Therapy, Marital and Family Therapy health of women in Africa, a topic that has been Ellen Judith Reich through her third preg- Program; Lecturer, School of Family Studies, virtually unexplored until now. Replete with nancy, reflects upon two previous miscar- University of Connecticut some of the most provocative feminist issues of riages. She explores not only the terror that This collection of is the first of its kind to ad- the day, this unique book examines various fac- can accompany the prospect of becoming a dress the treatment of men in marital and tors that have a major impact on the psychologi- mother, but the loss of innocence and fear of family therapy from a political or feminist cal well-being of women in African countries. future loss that haunt any woman who has perspective. Feminist Approaches for Men $9.95 paper. ISBN: 0-918393-86-8. Winter 1990. miscarried. Reich focuses on grief and hope in Family Therapy is also the first book in and on learning to cope with change and loss the field of family therapy to systematically of control. apply the insights of feminist and gender-sen- HIPPOCRATES' $14.95 paper. ISBN: 0-918393-88-4. sitive authors and clinicians to the treatment Spring 1991. of men in marital and family therapy. HANDMAIDENS $14.95 paper. ISBN: 1-56023-000-2. Women Married to Physicians Spring 1991. PRISONERS OF RITUAL Esther Nitzberg, MA An Odyssey Into Female "An unflinchingly honest look at the last redoubt Available at in the 90s of the feminine mystique—doctors' Genital Circumcision in Africa wives.... Professional, and vivid, Esther Hanny Lightfoot-Mein Your Local Bookstore Nitzberg's book, with wit, with pathos, and with "Hanny Lightfoot-Klein has dedicated the past or Order Directly from research explores the island of medical wifedom decade of her life to studying firsthand how still untouched by feminism's flood. A wonderful and why these things are done. She did most of and insightful book!"—Frances B. Cogan, PhD, her research in the Sudan, which is perhaps Associate Professor of Literature, University of the most tenacious stronghold of these mutila- Harrington Oregon Honors College, Eugene tions Prisoners of Ritual is her superb This riveting new book is about what it is like to account of what she discovered. Although it is be a woman married to a physician. The author, a Park Press part travelogue—and an exciting one at that— counseling psychologist and doctor's wife herself it is mostly solid ethnographic research focused an imprint of The Haworth Press. Inc. for 31 years, has compiled a comprehensive look on the enigma of female genital mutilation."— 10 Alice Street at these women and their most intimate feelings TheNew York TimesBook Review, April 15,1990 Binghamton. NY 13904-1580 and experiences. $14.95 paper. ISBN: 0-918393-68-X. 1-800-342-9678 $19.95 paper. ISBN:0-918393-81-7. Fall 1990. PAD91 THE MAGAZINE OF SUBSTANCE FOR Earth® First! PROGRESSIVE WOMEN VOL. XIX SUMMER 1991

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Merle Hoffman MANAGING EDITOR Beverly Lowy ASSOCIATE EDITOR Eleanor J. Bader ASSISTANT EDITOR Karen Aisenberg

EDITOR AT LARGE Phyllis Chesler

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Charlotte Bunch Vinie Burrows Naomi Feigelson Chase Irene Davall Toi Derricotte Roberta Kalechofsky Flo Kennedy Fred Pelka Helen M. Stummer ART DIRECTORS Michael Dowdy Julia Gran EARTH FIRST! activist, Judi ADVERTISING AND SALES Bari, (top right), with her DIRECTOR WHEN TERROR STRIKES: New Age family: (top to Carolyn Handel The Six-Week War bottom) Lisa Henry, Jessica By Patricia Golan Bari, Lisa Bari, and Mo, the ON THE ISSUES: A feminist, humanist pub- A frontline report on the effects of the watchdog in a rare quiet lication dedicated to promoting political ac- Gulf war on Israelis 7 moment at home after Judi's tion through awareness and education; work- narrow escape. ing toward a global political consciousness; IN SUPPORT OF fostering a spirit of collective responsibility for Cover by Julia Gran positive social change; eradicating racism, MOTHER(EARTH)HOOD homophobia, classism, sexism, ageism, A Conversation with Earth First! speciesism; and supporting the struggle of Activist Judi Bari "OUT OF THE CARING CLOSET" historically disenfranchised groups to protect By Christine Keyser By Eleanor Bader and defend themselves. Commitment is Judi Bari's life. It was A Profile of Feminist Writer /Critic nearly her death 10 Suzanne Gordon 28 UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS All unsolicited material will be read by the editors. P'nr return, enclose self-addressed, stamped envelope with ROBERT BLY AND IRON JOHN THE UNCOMMON WOMEN OF proper postage Articles should be not more than 10 double By Fred Pelka GREENHAM spaced, typewritten pages on health, social or political issues by people with hands-on experience in their fields. Macho poet Robert Bly has the answer Told by Leslie Webster, Written by Professional papers are acceptable. All editing decisions to men's inadequacies: Blame women 16 Ginna D. Rose are at the discretion of the editors. Feminist cartoons are also acceptable under the same provisions Since 1981, a small band of women has ON THE ISSUES does not accept fiction or poetry. ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? braved the elements — and the U.S. Critiques of the new contraceptives military 30 Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher. Acceptance does not necessarily imply endorsement. After Norplant, What's Next? 20 By Jill Benderly TALKING FEMINIST PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The opinions expressed by contributors to our publication and by those we Ru Angry? 22 Animal Experimentation — A interview are not necessarily those of the editors. By Rhona Mahoney Woman Physician Stands Alone 32 ON THE ISSUES is traditionally a forum for ideas By Marjorie Cramer, M.D. and concepts and a place where women may have Ru Sure? 23 By Jill Benderly their voices heard without censure or censorship. DEPARTMENTS ON THE ISSUES is published quarterly as an infor- "I AM SOMEBODY": mational and educational service of CHOICES Merle Hoffman — Editorial 2 Women's Medical Center, Inc. 97-77 Queens Boule- Barbara's Story vard, Forest Hills, NY 11374-3317 ISSN 0895-6014 By M. Robbyn Swan Win Some*Lose Some 4 Choice Books 34 ON THE ISSUES is indexed in the Alternative Press A woman's desperate fight against dual Index dependency 24 Feedback 43

PHOTO CHRIS KEYSER and ambitious, but fated to move inexora- macy. The connection must have been MERLE HOFFMAN bly towards the headsman's ax because very powerful and very early — ON THE S S U E S she did not have the control over her body sex=death. Growing up in Philadelphia in the 1950s to enable her to give the King what he As the years passed and I matured, my was a special kind of wasteland, a time wanted most— a male heir. relationship with Elizabeth changed to when one's worth and acceptance as a Four hundred years too early for am- reflect my seasoned political and feminist female was measured by the width of a niocentesis, Anne had the misfortune to analysis of power and gender politics in hooped crinoline skirt, when "soul" kiss- miscarry two male children. Elizabeth, the 16th century. Losing some of her ing branded you a sexual outlaw and her first live birth, was tolerated because romantic mantle, I came to understand when little girls' dreams had well-de- she proved Anne's worth as a producer. that Elizabeth also was a prisoner of a fined limits and barriers. It was a vast Even in my adolescence I formed a rather kind and paid prices for her power and wilderness of traditional female totems psychoanalytic view of Elizabeth's vir- achievements that were beyond my — of mothers, teachers and friends encir- ginity. It was obvious to me that — at the imagining. But she always retained a cling me and creating a suffocating lone- age of three — having one's mother be- special place in my heart — this unique liness that I could not name or understand. headed because of reproductive failures Amazon Queen who I was sure would The silence was finally broken when I could certainly turn one off to sexual inti- astound and challenge generations far found HER. beyond mine. Having discovered her when I was 11, Suffering from a terminal birth Interestingly enough, she continues to my obsession with Queen Elizabeth I was defect? Elizabeth I, age 25, in appear in my life at odd places — spaces the first real love affair of my life. Having her coronation robes, 1558. that I would never expect her to inhabit. no female role models whom I could relate to, I immediately realized that here was a woman with qualities I wanted — bril- liance, power, courtiers who worshipped her, the ability to influence the world as she knew it, the grudging respect of her mortal enemies (even the Pope who ex- communicated her praised her political skill), access to the most profound thinkers and creative geniuses of her time, and a great battle to fight and to win (the Span- ish Armada). She ruled 16th century England by her- self, refusing to marry or to bear children, unheard of for a female monarch of her time, preferring, in her words, to be both "King and Queen" of her country. She spoke five languages, was a virgin by most relevant accounts, including her own, and put her name to an entire his- torical period. Wearing shining Amazonian armour, she also made eloquent and profoundly movingbattle speeches to her troops while astride a wonderful white stallion. Eliza- beth was a woman with traditional "masculine" courage — indeed much greater than ordinary men. In a famous speech to her troops at Tilbury in 1588 during the approach of the Armada, she rang out: "I know that I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a King, and a King of England too". She was indeed a mystical creature, powerful beyond anyone I could imagine, and a survivor. Born to be third in line for the throne behind her brother Edward VI and sister Mary I, Elizabeth was forced to navigate the perilous channels of Tudor power politics and spend nearly four years in the Tower of London where she came very close to losing her head. Her mother had not been so fortunate. Anne Boleyn (called the Great Witch and Whore by her enemies) was Henry VIII's second wife and, by all accounts, beautiful, brilliant

COURTESY NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 I was reminded of Elizabeth and her ignorance held women responsible for is performed for the purposes of genetic mother recently at Choices when an In- the sex of a couple's offspring, and, in screening — sex determination becomes dian Hindu woman, 18 weeks pregnant, some cultures, wives were — and in a few a by-product for some and a secondary came in with her husband and two young cases still are — abandoned if they fail to gain for others. With more and more sons seeking an abortion. Having had the produce a male heir." women delaying childbirth until their benefit of modern technology, she had These attitudes and firmly held beliefs late 30s and 40s, amniocentesis is rec- had amniocentesis to insure that there are still with us. "The pressure to have a ommended by most gynecologists and were no fetal abnormalities. She was 37 child of a particular sex can become espe- sometimes required by certain pre-paid years old and both she and her husband cially intense if a couple has already health insurers for any pregnant woman were concerned about having a normal, produced several children of the opposite over the age of 35. As a result, more and healthy child. She was happy to report sex, and with the current desire for smaller more women will potentially have the the tests proved negative—there was option of sex-selection abortion. absolutely nothing wrong with her fetus. In societies such as China where one's Why then was she here— what was her A world where very survival as an individual woman, reason for wanting this abortion? "Oh," and as a member of a kinship group, is she said in a manner and with a gesture determined by one's children and their that implied the question was patently being female relationships in marriage, all financial, unnecessary, "I don't want a girl— and political and social forces drive the deci- that is what I was told it was — a girl. is the primary sion to produce male children rather than Girls are liabilities." female. Having females, as well as being My mind flew to China, to reports of and most one, is definitely a liability. waves and waves of unwanted girl chil- However, in the U.S., where the status dren left alone and unwanted on the of women is not determined by the needs doorsteps of orphanages. The communist terminal of birth of an agrarian peasant culture but partly government appeared unsuccessful in by the economic forces of an advanced eradicating sex role attitudes and prefer- defects capitalist society, along with the sup- ences in the majority of the peasantry. posed give and take of constituency-influ- Most families still want boys, and girls enced democratic politics, the need or are viewed as handicaps simply because natural families, couples are less likely to desire for sex-selection abortions should they are girls. The intensified family want to keep on having children until be minimal if not non-existent. When it planning policy in China during the last they get the child they want," writes does occur, sex-selection abortions (which decade was a strong impetus for families Brody. can be read as male selection) very often to abandon and kill infant girl children in According to experts convened by the are rationalized as being financially, so- favor of boys. If a family was to have only National Institutes of Health and the ciologically and politically necessary. The one child, it was obviously more benefi- Hastings-on-Hudson research center, economic and social pressures that im- cial for them to have a male. there was strong advice against the use of pact on Chinese women may be far more "Many families still have a feudalistic prenatal diagnosis for sex selection. These severe and glaring than those impacting attitude of favoring men," said Li experts are worried about such social and their American sisters, yet the occur- Dingkun, deputy director of the Hunan psychological consequences as the fact rence of sex-selection abortions within Province Civil Affairs Department. "We that "prospective parents, both men and the American system may point to a must change the old ways of thinking. We women, admit to a distinct preference for survival decision of a different sort—one must get rid of this custom of the woman's boys." Thus sex selection is likely to skew where issues of success, status or social being married off to the man and becoming the sex ratio towards boys. Even those acceptance define and drive reproductive part of his household. If two people get parents who want one child of each sex choices. Imbued by a philosophical and married, it shouldn't matter which side of often prefer to have the boy first, and political belief system that denies the the family they go off to live with." (NY "since studies of first-born children have mystery of procreation and refuses to Times, Feb. 26, 1991) shown that they tend to be more aggres- accept the limitations of biology, repro- China is not the only country where sive and achievement oriented, this could ductive technology becomes a natural being male almost guarantees survival further undermine the status of women." ally for potential parents. It allows them and growth. The U.S. also appears to The argument that "the status of to make what is, in a sense, the ultimate have attitudes that favor male children women" would be undermined by breed- in supposedly informed consumerism, and over females. Technological advances ing more aggressive first-born males re- creates a world where being female is which allow amniocentesis, as well as inforces the Freudian scripture of biology viewed as the primary and most terminal other less invasive and safer tests done as destiny and is a political cop-out. In- of birth defects. earlier in pregnancy, and societal prefer- deed, the "status of women" in this soci- For opponents of abortion, assuming ences for boy children, result in some ety is a multi-determined reality that technological control over women's re- families having sex selection abortions. cannot be subsumed under anxieties of productive nature and God's will is the There was a time not very long ago genetic gender engineering. However, in ultimate arrogance. However, within the when one of the more pleasurable and a deeper sense, sex-selection abortions prochoice framework, this control is exciting aspects of being pregnant was may be viewed as the apotheosis of a viewed as the cornerstone of reproduc- the mysterious and the unknown — the liberal prochoice philosophy which focuses tive freedom and, for radical feminists, it surprise of finding out whether the baby on bringing children into the world who is the underpinning of women's full au- was a boy or a girl. But with the advent of are wanted, loved and provided with the tonomy and liberation. For feminists, the amniocentesis, individuals or a couple entire range of material and social ben- realm of the female body through which may now choose to abandon the unknown efits that enable them to be "successful" the patriarchy wields its power in terms forever. and, for many, being male is a sina qua of rape, abuse, inequity and injustice non of success. According to Jane Brody, writing in the NY Times, "Beliefs spawned by biological Indeed, because most pre-natal testing continued on pg 38

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 A Compiled Adaptation of News Items WIN SOME • LOSE SOME with Editorial Commentary by Beverly Lowy

FRANK PERDUE: dozen workers and Federal Stuart Catalgo, a founder of "Most of us treat our pets HAZARDOUS TO ALL inspectors have filed com- the animal-rights group, said [sic] generally better than Mr. From the NY Times "Campus plaints against him for occu- Perdue's factory farming is Perdue treats his workers," Life": Frank Perdue has been pational-safety hazards, said harmful to the environment, said Donna Bazemore, an em- a University of Maryland sys- Tom Devine, a lawyer for the his workers and the health of ployee in a North Carolina tem regent for only a short Government Accountability consumers. plant, told a Congressional time, but a number of student Project, a Washington-based "It's one thing to claim it's subcommittee on labor man- groups and faculty members public interest group. natural to eat animals, but agement relations in testi- say they want him out. "If the goals of the university we're stepping outside the mony given in November 1989. Among his opponents are are simply to make money, he's natural cycle with these big She described conditions in animal-rights advocates, who good for the job," said Karen factories and treating animals the plants as "modern sla- describe Perdue's record as a Davis, a campus English in- like part of the machine," said very" and said the poultry in- factory farmer as poor, saying structor who is faculty spon- Catalgo, a pre-med major. dustry "has not shown any re- he mistreats both his workers sor of the Animal Rights Coa- Others have criticized the spect for consumers' health." and his chickens. lition. "He doesn't support treatment of both chickens Perdue is the chairman of higher education. They chose and employees at Perdue When Perdue said, "It takes a the nation's fourth-largest him because he knows where Farms, which has sales ofmore tough man to make a tender producer of broiler chickens. to put money to make people than $1 billion a year and a chicken " we should have asked During the last year, about a think he's a swell guy." work force of about 14,000. what he meant by that.

DON'T BELIEVE manufacturers, who began EVERYTHING YOU adding ingredients like starch READ and sugar to plastic several From the NY Times "Science years ago, saying the products Section": Anew study appears would disintegrate in landfills. to support what environmen- In the study, the plastics talists have contended for were placed in containers some time: That so-called bio- called bioreactors, full of bac- degradable plastic products, teria that decompose materi- from disposable diapers to als by feeding off them within garbage bags, do not disinte- a matter of days. For example, grate into their natural ele- a paper bag, which can take ments as their manufacturers decades to biodegrade into say. carbon dioxide and water in a "People have jumped to the landfill, was reduced to its conclusion that biodegradable natural elements within a day. plastics are good, but the truth The study concluded that is, they don't biodegrade," said most plastic products now sold, Dr. William J. Jewell, an au- including sandwich bags, thor of the study and a profes- plastic egg cartons, disposable sor of agricultural and biologi- food containers, magazine cal engineering at Cornell mailers and six-pack bever- University. age rings, did not break down The study, which had not yet into their natural elements, been published at this writ- though they may decompose ing, tested a dozen plastics into smaller pieces of plastic. found in household products that were labeled "biodegrad- Manufacturers are aware that able." It is the first study to "green" means a lot — espe- contradict the assertions of cially our money.

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 IS HAVING A in Washington. "A few states SICK CHILD have legislation that protects "MISCONDUCT?" their jobs when they have to From an article by Tamar take time off, but Minnesota Lewin, NY Times: Diane and most others don't." McCourtney said it made per- While the issue comes up with fect sense to her when she lost some regularity, Lenhoff and her job as an account clerk at others said, the McCourtney Seagate Technology in case is unusual in that few Minnetonka, MN last year women who are denied ben- because she took off too many efits pursue an appeal. days to care for her sick in- "The basic theory is that you fant. can get unemployment as long What angered McCourtney as you left your job for 'just — and what she has taken to cause,' not misconduct," Len- the courts — was that state's hoff said. "But these cases raise refusal to give her unemploy- the question of exactly what ment benefits. family-related things are con- Unemployment benefits are sidered 'just cause.'And there supposed to provide a finan- is no clear answer on that be- cial cushion only for people cause unemployment varies so who lose their jobs through no unemployment benefits be- It is particularly serious, they much from state to state." fault of their own. And in the cause she chose her family say, for single mothers with case now awaiting a ruling by interests over her employer's no family nearby or families It's obviously time for another the Minnesota Court of Ap- interest," said Steven B. Liss, in which everyone works. family leave bill — for George peals, lawyers for the state a special assistant attorney "There are a lot of women Bush to again veto. argued that legally, general handling the case for out there who lose their jobs McCourtney's absenteeism the state. because they're absent so UPDATE: was her fault. Women's advocacy groups much because of on-and-off The court has ruled in "She made a choice, and even say McCourtney's case is a illnesses," said Donna Len- McCourtney's favor. We're though it was a laudable textbook example of the prob- hoff, legal director of the pleased for her, but that doesn't choice, she is not entitled to lems facing working mothers. Women's Legal Defense Fund alter the national conundrum.

BUT WHO'S REALLY DOING THE DAMAGE? From Econews: Animals killed last year as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's $26-million Animal Damage Control Program (partial list): 86,626 coyotes 9,703 beavers 7,151 foxes 3,675 raccoons 1,300 badgers 1,200 bobcats 506 mountain lions 500 prairie dogs 236 black bears 80 wolves If that money were put into true environmental projects instead of into murdering animals, we could have some real damage control.

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 "GIVE PEACE A The videotape was produced CHANCE" WASN'T IN by September Moon Produc- THE RUNNING tion Network for an earlier From Ad week's "Corridor project for the UAW-General Talk": September Moon Pro- Motors Human Resource duction Network knows an op- Center, and the UAW-GM BU1513939B portunity when it sees one. And Human Resource Center ac- WASIILVGTON.D.C. f\ the Southfield, Mi-based pro- tually is supplying the troops duction company apparently with the 1,500 copies. But it saw a big one after the U.S. was September Moon Produc- sent troops to the Persian Gulf. tion Network's idea. The company helped package "It gave us an opportunity to and send 1,500 videotapes of a show our clients that their United Auto Workers member projects can be multifaceted," singing "inspirational" ren- a September Moon spokes- ditions of "The Star person commented. Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful" to Guess for some, war is just the troops. "Another day, another dollar."

OF BLOOD AND OIL been reports that access to FromReproductiveRights Up- feminine hygiene supplies is DYING FOR A Chernobyl, a radioactive date: Some Army Reserve limited, and that there may be VACATION? waste dump at Kopachi and nurses have reported that problems disposing of sanitary An AP news dispatch: Ukrai- the concrete "sarcophagus" prior to their departure for napkins in Saudi Arabia. In nian authorities are offering built around the blown-up re- the Persian Gulf, they were 1984, the women's military Soviet and foreign tourists a actor. The plant is 80 miles strongly encouraged to take magazine Minerva reported new suggestion: A tour of the north of the Ukraine capital, birth control pills or receive that Army enlisted women in radioactive contamination Kiev. hormone injections to stop Honduras who ran out of sani- zone around the Chernobyl Visitors will also see the town their periods for six months. tary napkins were given large reactor that blew up in 1986. of Slavutich, home to thou- Officials in the Pentagon sponges; others were given All trips will begin and end sands of workers who still op- said they are not officially pills to stop menstruation. with tests to check visitors' erate three reactors at the suggesting that women stop Information still remains exposure to radiation. If medi- Chernobyl complex. Accord- their menstrual flow while sketchy. Anyone with fur- cal treatment is needed, it will ing to Komsomolskaya deployed, the Army Times ther information, contact An- be provided "at no extra Pravda, Ukrainians often say reported on February 4, drea Miller, ACLU Reproduc- charge," the newspaper that in Slavutich, "life is good, 1991. A spokeswoman for the tive Freedom Project, 132 W. Komsomolskaya Pravda re- but short." Surgeon General of the Army 43rd St., NY, NY 10036, (212) ported. is quoted as saying that a 944-9800 ext. 744. The itinerary planned by the At least you can be sure service-wide policy was con- Soviet tour company, Kievtur- you'll see all the "hot sidered for hygiene purposes Maybe next time the Pentagon ist, will include the city of spots!" but rejected. The same ar- will suggest hysterectomies to ticle indicated there have permanently solve the problem. NO CHOICE FOR Bryant sent letters through PREGNANT INMATE the prison mail service to the STAFF MUST HAVE An AP dispatch: A divided warden and the doctor in BEEN DISTRACTED Federal appeals court ruled charge of medical services. But From various news dis- that the constitutional rights the doctor said he did not re- patches:A Philadelphia nurs- of a pregnant inmate were not ceive the letter until almost a ing home resident lay dead violated when administrative week later. more than 24 hours before staff delays prevented her from get- He then scheduled an abor- members found his decompos- ting an abortion. tion for her at Kings County ing body, officials said. A majority of a three-judge Hospital in Brooklyn for the The body of Daniel Luther panel of the United States earliest available appoint- Orvin Jr., 67, was found under Court of Appeals for the Sec- ment. But Kings County re- a sheet at the Riverview nurs- ond Circuit in Manhattan up- fused to perform the abortion ing home, where he had lived held the dismissal of a lawsuit because by then Bryant was since 1987. that the inmate, Grishelda past her 24th week, and "Peoplejust messed up," said Bryant, had brought against New York State law pro- Catherine Kimrey, superin- Westchester County prison hibits elective abortions tendent of the city facility. "It officials. that late. She gave birth in should not have happened. In 1985, Bryant informed December 1985. Her law- Our people were not doing officials at the Westchester yer, Jeff H. Galloway, said their job." County Correctional Facility she was raising the child. that she was 21 weeks preg- Gives you real confidence in nant and that she wanted an If this isn't a violation of con- city-run nursing homes, abortion. After being told to stitutional rights, we'd hate to doesn't it? put her request in writing, find a better example.

6 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 WHEN TERROR STRIKES The Six-Week War A Reporter's Notebook By Patricia Golan

he only time in 15 A teenager and her dog years of marriage my wait out a missile alert mihusband ever hit me in their sealed room. was the first time we ran into our sealed out. "Let-me bring-the- room. Weeks before phone-in-here", I kept re- the Gulf war, Israelis had peating, my voice muffled been instructed to prepare through my gas mask. a gas-proof room by cov- Each time my demand ering windows with plas- came out slower and an- tic sheeting. grier. When I tried to force We had been out of the my way through the door, country for the first two he let fly with a punch that Scud attacks, but returned sent me reeling onto the to Israel just in time for couch. There was nothing Scud Number Three. The to do but sit it out and hope sirens went off, a chilling, whatever radio network unmistakable wail. Maybe was calling would under- this is it. The first two mis- stand. siles had carried conven- Then I remembered we'd tional warheads; maybe forgotten the cat outside. this time Saddam Hussein Much later in the war I will make good his threat to hurl chemi- phone line into the sealed room. Since I realized that versions of our absurd little cal weapons at Israel. report for half a dozen radio networks, I scene in the sealed room had been played So in we went with our two dogs, sealed knew the call had to be one of them. But out in hundreds of thousands of other the door with masking tape, donned our when I tried to get out to answer the sealed rooms around the country. gas masks, turned on the transistor ra- phone, my husband blocked the way. My Israel has known six wars in its 43 dio, and waited. distress at not being able to get to the years of existence. But this was the first Then the phone rang...in another room. • persistently ringing phone grew, as did war that affected Israel directly in which In my haste I had forgotten to connect the i his agitation. He was not going to let me Israel metaphorically sat on its hands. It

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 PHOTO: RACHAMIM ISRAELI was a war of nerves more than anything Israeli children during the attacks, as the imity for long periods of time. The family else. Instead of black-bordered photo- British took in German-Jewish children was together a great deal, cooped up in graphs of fallen soldiers, the newspapers during World War II. The well-meaning the house. Schools were not in session carried notices of hotlines for psychologi- offer shocked Israelis. As one Holocaust and the children got on everyone's nerves. cal help. And we needed it. survivor put it, "When I came here, I The self-imposed curfew, even when there Cigarette consumption — already far stopped running." were no missile alerts, acted like a pres- higher than in the U.S. — skyrocketed, Israelis very quickly adjusted to life with sure cooker. as did compulsive eating and insomnia. gas masks. The square cardboard gas "We know that men who are prone to Terror is not new to Israel. But this was mask boxes had plastic straps and were to violence become violent when they are a new kind of terrorism. Television be carried everywhere at all times. The together with their wives for long peri- graphics on the nightly news may have boxes soon became fashion accessories as ods," comments Ruth Resnick, founder of made the war in the Gulf look like an teenagers began decorating them with the Battered Women's shelters in Israel. Atari computer game, but here it was no luminescent paper, ribbons, flowers and "But the impotence of the situation also game. True, the threatened chemical peace mottos. worked on these men," she added. "The weapons never arrived. But even with- An afternoon television children's pro- whole atmosphere of sitting and waiting out the chemicals, 39 eight-ton missiles, gram featured a goofy puppet called for something to happen somehow dam- each carrying a quarter-ton of high "con- "Maskie" who complained that he never aged the male ego of Israeli men in gen- ventional" explosives were flung at Israel. knew what to wear because the weather- eral, although women functioned very Miraculously, most missed their targets, man had stopped working. The weather- well under the circumstances. The men but some slammed into the greater Tel man — a heartthrob among Israeli youth didn't know what to do with themselves." Aviv area, demolishing several city blocks. — then explained that the weather had, What Israelis had to deal with was, of Nightlife throughout the country unfortunately, become classified infor- course, mild compared to the enforced ground to a halt. Tel Aviv bills itself as mation. confinement of the 1.7 million Palestin- the one Israeli city which never slows True. Local weather reports were sus- ians living in the Israeli-occupied West down. But at nightfall — the time the pended for the six weeks of the war, so as Bank and Gaza Strip. From the begin- Scuds were usually launched — the not to give vital information to the enemy. ning of the war, fearing pro-Iraqi demon- streets were as deserted as a country Israeli television and radio carried end- strations and violence, the Israeli mili- village. less military commentary — the country tary authorities imposed the harshest Thousands of Tel Avivians fled their certainly has no lack of ex-generals and blanket curfew ever on the Palestinian city which had become the prime target intelligence chiefs, and they all seem to population. Indications are that domes- of Saddam's Scuds. They flocked to have been disinterred to offer their ex- tic violence in the territories was epidemic. Jerusalem, reasoning that Saddam would pertly uninformed opinions. But the war Wars always cause a backsliding in the never lob missiles at a city holy to Mos- seemed to have turned everyone into status of women. And this short, peculiar lems as well as Jews and Christians. military experts, especially the journal- war was no exception. Although it was Jerusalem, Israel's relatively sleepy seat ists. Even me — commenting on "dimin- not a conventional war, the conventional of government perched in the Judean ishing missile launching capabilities." stereotypes were strengthened, as women Hills 50 miles from Tel Aviv, was soon Does this make me a war correspondent, were forced to stay away from work to overwhelmed by traffic jams. Graffiti I wondered. stay home with the children. "The women began appearing on building walls: "Tel Dumb Scud jokes started circulating. "If were made conscious of the stupidity of Avivians go home!" you can see the light at the end of the their role," commented Resnick. It was a war of nerves in an already tunnel," went one joke, "you haven't sealed Israeli libidos were also negatively af- overwrought nation. Would the scuds your room well enough." fected by the war. Sex is the last thing on fall that night? Would it be a chemical Surely the most pathetic victims of the one's mind during a missile alert. Accord- attack? Would Israel retaliate? mass exodus from the Greater Tel Aviv ing to the local press, the almost nightly Israel's much-praised restraint in not area were the household pets who were Scud barrages played havoc with couples' exacting revenge for the Iraqi missiles simply abandoned in the streets and high- sex lives, and call girl services reported a was, in fact, imposed by Washington. ways as their owners took off for other booming business — during the day. Dr. Only after the war did we learn that cities. Some pets were lost when the Ami Shaked, director of the Institute for Israeli planes twice scrambled and took family's house was destroyed, but most Sex Therapy at Sheba Medical Center, off on retaliatory missions, only to be were shamelessly abandoned. Animal advised readers of a Tel Aviv weekly to recalled because the Americans had welfare volunteers picked up hundreds of "be creative. Try to find time for privacy withheld the vital "friend or foe" codes for pets on the streets, in some cases tied up at other times than the night. Even if pilots flying through heavily patrolled in front of houses in the wealthier suburbs. neither partner is interested in sexual airspace. The Let Animals Live anti-vivisection- intercourse, there are other ways of be- After the first few attacks, some Israe- ist group gained sudden fame and public- ing close in a sexual way, such as caress- lis began taking to their roofs as soon as ity when it began taking in the shell- ing and massaging," he counseled. the sirens sounded to watch the shocked and abandoned dogs. Director Dr. Ruth Westheimer arrived in the Gotterdaemmerung scenes in the skies, Benny Schlessinger began appearing middle of the war with a delegation of as good missiles (the American Patriots) regularly on afternoon television, pre- psychologists to show solidarity with her clashed with bad missiles (the Scuds) senting pets looking for adoptive homes. fellow Jews in a time of crisis. amid great rumblings and flashes of red. Domestic violence escalated. By the third Dr. Ruth, who dispenses sexual advice It was a scary period, alright. But com- week of the war the country's half-dozen on American radio and TV, offered her parisons with the London Blitz to elicit shelters for battered wives were besieged own advice to frustrated Israelis: "I would sympathy (as in Deputy Foreign Minis- by applicants, as were the crisis centers say couples should talk and touch a lot in ter Benjamin Netanyahu's histrionics) run by Israel's major women's organiza- the sealed room. That will serve as the were, I felt, pushing the limits of the tions. arousal phase for what will happen after sympathy pitch. Nevertheless, many Psychologists theorized that the phe- the danger has passed and you are in a American Jews volunteered to "take in" nomenon was the result of enforced prox- room without your children."

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 During the war, the chief military spokesman Brig. Gen. Nachman Shai, became a new Israeli hero. A slim, handsome former military correspon- dent, Shai was responsible for giving instructions over radio and TV during Scud attacks, and was quickly dubbed "the Valium of the nation" for his low- key, calm advice. If Shai was the Israelis' Valium, Saddam Hussein was the Palestinians' LSD: It was Israeli missiles and war- planes disguised to look like American weapons that attacked Iraq; thousands of Israelis were killed by Scud missiles and the Dimona nuclear reactor was completely destroyed; Saddam Hussein would emerge victorious from the battle, he's just waiting for the right moment to mm incinerate Israel as he promised. These rescue fantasies were remark- ably wisespread amongst the Palestin- ians. By backing Saddam from the begin- ning of the Gulf crisis, the Palestinians lost sympathy and support in the West and among Arab coalition countries. the women stayed at home. Rather than A Tel Aviv youngster clutches his gas The fact that some Palestinians clapped stand at their weekly vigil, they held mask as he gazes at the ruins of what and cheered and danced in celebration on stormy meetings in which they argued was once his home. their rooftops whenever there was a mis- and agonized over what they should do, sile attack, seriously damaged hopes for ultimately deciding to return to their not telling us it is good to be silent — Israeli-Palestinian co-existence. But al- silent demonstration. rather that in bad times we are punished though the Israeli peace movement has Some felt they shouldn't stand because by not hearing the voice of the wise." been dealt a serious blow, it is by no their message could be misinterpreted as One could imagine that if he were alive means dead. being somehow pro-Iraq. But others be- today, the angry prophet who chastised "You should all die, you whores!" some- lieved it was more important than ever to the Israelites for their evil, would have one screamed from a passing car. stand, arguing that the situation in the been placed in administrative detention It was the type of curse hurled fre- territories was worse than ever. "If not for speaking out too freely. quently at the group known as the Women now, then when?," argued some. "The The women remained split. Following in Black, Israel's most persistent cam- faint of heart should stay home, but they the debate, only a handful of women paigners against Israel's occupation of can't stop those of us who feel a moral showed up at the square. the West Bank and Gaza. imperative now." The six weeks of war was a serious set- Since the early days of the Palestinian "This was a discussion like no other," back for the group. Their ranks have been uprising — the intifada, which began in recalls Anat Hoffman, a member of the diminished — some women may never December of 1987—this grassroots group Jerusalem City Council for the leftist return — and Women in Black groups of women has met every Friday after- Ratz Party. "First, the culture of listen- around the country have disappeared. noon at a busy square near the Prime ing among the women is so different. For awhile there were 31 other groups. Minister's residence for an hourlong si- They listen to each other, and encourage They were smaller but no less dedicated lent vigil. They carry signs in English, each other to speak. They don't talk just than the Jerusalem group. Since the war Hebrew and Arabic reading simply "End to hear themselves talking, as people do there are only eight. the Occupation." in the City Council," said Hoffman. Nevertheless, insists Anat Hoffman, the Today, verbal attacks and threats of Arguing against demonstrating while women remain a community. 'This is violence have diminished, perhaps in j people were walking around carrying gas something that is so brittle and so pre- proportion to the beefed-up level of police masks, one of the women quoted a verse cious and so unusual on the left, and so protection of the women, but people still from the "Book of the Prophet Amos": invisible. Women in Black are incubating spit and throw things out of buses at the That "the prudent shall keep silent in a force whose power they themselves don't women. A few months ago someone that time." realize. We have formed a community of pointed an M-16 riflea t them through the These are not religious women, but as people with such diverse opinions, and window of a car. Israelis they have been schooled in the yet have held to this consensus—End the It was March 8th, International Bible as a source of articulate wisdom. Occupation. We were able to meet every Women's Day, and members of Women Another woman countered that the com- week, rain or shine, one color, one sex, one in Black had mustered about 75 dem- plete verse in "Amos" has a different j message. It's a great achievement." • onstrators, half their pre-war num- message: "...ye have built houses of hewn ber. They had stopped demonstrating stone but ye shall not dwell in them, ye Patricia Golan is a freelance radio and during the war, though not without an have planted pleasant vineyards but he print journalist living in Jerusalem. She agonized debate. shall not drink wine of them, and the has worked as an editor and reporter for The first three weeks of the war in the prudent shall keep silent in that time." Israel Radio, The Jerusalem Post, U.P.I., Gulf were "the black weeks of Women in "In other words," explains Hoffman, Voice of America and National Public Black". For the first time in three years, "this is a list of punishments. The Bible is Radio.

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 PHOTO. RACHAMIM ISRAELI 9 IN SUPPORT OF

he spirit of Mother Jones disenfranchised and the downtrodden lives on today in the back- A in factories, fields and offices across the woods of Northern Califor- land. nia. The North Coast's most Bari has put her organizing skills to eloquent anti-chainsaw work on the North Coast building coali- organizer, Earth First's! Conversation tions with timber workers to fight cor- Judi Bari, is back at work porate abuse. She founded a Mendocino Tdefending the ancient forests from corpo- with chapter of the Industrial Workers of the rate slaughter after surviving a crippling World and represented a group of mill car bomb in Oakland last May and the workers who were poisoned by leaking FBI's subsequent attempt to pin the blame PCBs at Georgia Pacific's Fort Bragg on her and her companion Darryl Earth First! pulp mill. Cherney. Just as the grandmother of the In a wide-ranging interview at her rus- American labor movement fought King tic "hippie shack" in the backwoods of Coal a century ago, Bari has taken on the Activist Mendocino County where she lives with Big Timber barons armed with a bullhorn her two young daughters, Bari shared and a diehard credo, "No Compromise in her perspectives on the impact of Red- Defense of Mother Earth." Judi Bari wood Summer, progressive coalition- Bari's battlecry has reverberated from building in the 1990s, the "feminization" California's redwood forest to Wall Street of Earth First!, and the departure in to embrace a broad-based progressive August of Earth First! co-founder, Dave agenda rooted in a profound reverence for Foreman, who, in a parting swipe, pub- the earth and its creatures. For the chief licly denounced Bari and her feminist architect of 1990's Redwood Summer— compatriots for injecting "class struggle" the celebrated nonviolent campaign to By Christine Keyser and "humanism" into an organization he save the vanishing remnants of conceived to preserve wilderness. California's once verdant old-growth coastal forest—stopping environmental Looking back on the last year, how do destruction has profound urgency. you feel about the outcome of Redwood Bari has grafted environmentalism onto Summer? peace, social justice, equal rights and I think Redwood Summer succeeded other progressive concerns. A former beyond our wildest dreams. The most Maryland labor organizer, she is a long- conservative measure is that 3,000 people time crusader for the dispossessed, the participated. The summer before no more

10 PHOTO: EVAN JOHNSON/IMPACT VISUALS ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 than 150 people participated. So that's log in an environmentally sound manner. they can enjoy it on backpacking trips, quite an expansion. People came from all People never raised these questions be- which in itself is a class privilege. People over the country, including many stu- fore. One thing I was very, very impressed in the ghetto don't worry about wilder- dents and people who were doing first- with was the way in which the vast majority ness because, number one, they can't get time activism. We radicalized a lot of of Redwood Summer participants got the to it, and number two, the issues of sur- people. One of the ideas of Redwood Sum- message that this was not directed against vival are so predominant for them that mer was to plant the seeds and pass the the workers. they have to deal with them. When the torch to the next generation. We've got- environmental movement began it was ten calls from people who have gone back Wasn't that because of the campaign's primarily focused on saving scenery. But home and tried to start things. We just emphasis on nonviolence and the con- the destruction of the earth has reached got a real touching letter from the mother tinual nonviolence training programs \ such proportions that it's threatening the of a 20-year-old college student who was throughout the summer? very life support systems, so we're not killed in a car crash this fall. He had Absolutely. One of the results of Red- saving scenery anymore. We're saving participated in Redwood Summer, and wood Summer is that these issues have life support systems. she said it was the most meaningful thing been raised, including the issue of who is he had ever done. No, we didn't stop the at fault. What followed Redwood Sum- J This leads into a broader issue of environ- logging. They cut 20 years' worth of trees mer was Corporate Fall. We said that the mental destruction becoming the central last summer. But we brought this issue individuals need to be held responsible — focus of the 1990s. to national attention, to international these aren't faceless corporations. Our It's becoming the principal contradic- attention, on a scale that it's never been slogan is: "It's not dying, it's being killed. tion because we're destroying the earth at And the people who are killing it have such a rate that the earth can no longer names and addresses!" That's a quote sustain this kind of society. We're reach- from (Wobbly songwriter) Utah Phillips. ing the end of the resources. Our society The purpose of Corporate Fall was to has been built on the exploitation of both bring the demonstrations to the corpo- the lower classes and the earth. I would rate offices and lavish homes of the people differ from Marx there. Marx says that all who are actually benefiting from the de- value derives from labor. I think that all struction of the eartri. Somebody who is value derives from labor and the earth. making seven or nine bucks an hour cut- Profits are gained by not paying the work- THE QUESTION IS, ting down the last of the Redwood forest ers the true value of their labor, and by is not benefiting from the destruction of taking from the earth in a manner that the earth. The wages in the woods in doesn't replace resources. So the profits IS IT EARTH FIRST, Mendocino County are appalling. Nine are stolen from the earth as well as from bucks an hour is the average. And there the workers. are many Mexicans, including illegals, The disenfranchised, the poor, the people OR is IT EARTH who get paid less than that for the most who are working in cancer alley— there's dangerous job in the United States. It's nobody representing them. The unions appalling. They're being exploited to ac- are not representing them, with the ex- FIRST! FIRST? complish the destruction of the earth. ception of the farm workers union. Only When the corporations are done they're 15 percent of the workforce is unionized. before. I think the contention that ''you going to lay them off, and they're not And the unions tend to really limit didn't stop the logging" is ridiculous. They going to have any money to relocate or to themselves. Even if they talk about safety never went up to anti-war demonstrators retrain or anything. What we're trying to on the job it's in such a narrow sense that during the Vietnam era and said "The do is to make it really clear who is to once the poison leaves the plant, they're movement failed because you didn't stop blame. We're not trying to fault the people no longer concerned about it. There's the war with this particular demonstra- who are working in the industry who are certainly no party representing the tion." It's not a question of a particular also being exploited. We're trying to lay workers. That's what I think we should be demonstration stopping the cutting. It's the blame where it belongs. doing. That's who I think our constitu- more of a cumulative effect. I think that ency needs to be. Our constituency also we've raised the level of awareness of this Do you think Redwood Summer was effec- needs to be the loggers who are being issue, raised the stakes. tive in reaching beyond the environmen- destroyed along with the forests. tal movement to build a broad-based pro- What other impacts did Redwood Sum- gressive coalition? 7s this because many environmentalists mer have? Redwood Summer had Central Ameri- don't understand the interconnection be- Another accomplishment of this sum- can groups doing demonstrations. We had tween the exploitation of poor and work- mer that you'll never, ever read in the people who work on anti-nuclear and ing class people and the exploitation of the mainstream media is the education of the peace issues. So another thing we've earth ? people working in the timber industry. done is help to link different issues and Deep ecology proclaims the interrela- Even independent loggers who work for help to link environmentalism with the tionship of all the different species on the big timber corporations are begin- rest of the movement, which it's been earth. If you're acknowledging that ev- ning to question and say things. There sadly separated from. erything is interrelated, how can you say was an editorial in the Fort Bragg Advo- that we can separate off this wilderness cate, which is a very pro-timber, anti- Why doyou think environmentalists have here and claim that it isn't interrelated to Earth First! paper, conceding that there remained apart from mainstream pro- the society around it? That strategy con- is an overcut and that the corporations gressive movements? tradicts the very theory of biocentrism. I are doing this. And now that we're run- To begin with, the people who were refuted Dave Foreman, Earth First's! co- ning out of corporate timber land maybe doing it have tended to be privileged founder, on this in the Earth First! the small land holders can learn how to people. They want to save wilderness so Journal. He red-baited us, actually. He

12 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 basically said "you're not green, you're verting. Not only is male aggression part red." He said we're bringing in extrane- BAR I HAS TAKEN of the problem of the destruction of the ous issues of class struggle and social earth, but hatred of the feminine is part issues, and we're anthropocentrists for ON THE BIG | of the way that they maintain control that reason. But I don't think that's [ both within the movement and within true — you can't separate the issues. the society that the movement's a part of. And the only reason for trying to TIMBER BARONS I mean the Movement with a capital M. I separate the issues is that people don't think this has always been a problem. I want to challenge the society because ARMED WITH A used to laugh at my father. He had this they are benefiting from it. He (Fore- book on his shelf that we called "The man) calls himself a patriot! To this Women's Question." It was for men, day he calls himself a patriot. His BULLHORN AND A commenting on the "women problem." lifestyle conforms to that, and his You know, "what we do in the movement politics conform to that. DIEHARD CREDO about the women's question?" As Freud Another aspect of this — although I says, "what do women want?" I'll tell you don't think that Dave Foreman or any of one thing, Freud. We don't want penises! that group recognizes this — I think part of their discomfort is with a feminine It s not a question of men and women. It's rather than a masculine organizing style. really a question of feminine and mascu- One of the things we accomplished in line energy. Redwood Summer is what I refer to as the I think that's a really important distinc- feminization of Earth First! We changed tion. I'm not against men, and I'm not a the organizing strategy. We used collec- separatist. I'm a feminist and I'm an tive nonviolence as a strategy rather than ecologist. I don't think that the only prob- individual bravado. We're not just trying lem is the male-female problem. But I to depose male leaders. We're trying to definitely think that's part of the issue, change the style of leadership so that it's and anybody who pretends that it isn't is a collective style and not dependent on | able with mass organizing. They're real supporting the status quo. glorifying individual personalities. I uncomfortable with collective action. Do you think Redwood Summer is a good Women can be egomaniacs, too. I've hadDo you think they're elitist? model for organizing other coalition ef- some pretty bad women bosses. Absolutely! As one friend of mine so forts? Bad women bosses are imitating men, aptly worded it: "The question is, is it Absolutely. In fact, a lot of other groups but I think there's more to it than that. earth first, or is it Earth First! first?" have said that they want to do something Women have a biological role as the giv- These people see it as this little clique, similar. It provides a way to expand the ers of life and the nurturers of life. You and they want to preserve its purity at movement. It provides a way to have know, I never believed this before I had the expense of its effectiveness. continuity between the generations, and children. I thought the difference between between local organizers and people who men and women was all in upbringing — It reminds me of the old fight between have a general interest in saving the until I had children. There is a biological Trotskyists and Stalinists. planet. It provides a way for different difference. Women are certainly capable Right. We have the correct line, and we elements in the movement to unite be- of imitating men. Look at Margaret don't want to have all these people com- cause we're trying to use existing struc- Thatcher, she's the perfect example. But ing in because they won't have the correct tures. For example, a Central American it's not as basic to women. It's harder for line. The question to me is "do we want to affinity group decided to do an action in women to do that. They have to not only save the planet, or do we want to form a which they focused on the comparison betray their class to do it, they have to little elite corps?" If we want to save the between Central America and what's betray some basic instincts. planet, we need to address root causes, being done on the North Coast. Redwood including patriarchy and the destructive, Summer also provides a model of non- Some feminists contend that patriarchal exploitative society. We can't separate it. hierarchical or less-hierarchical organi- aggression is the basis of all problems. If all we want to do is make ourselves feel zation that the movement can use. It I don't know if it's the basis of all the better and assuage our guilt, then sneak provides a way that we can be effective problems. I can't say that, but it's defi- around at night and sabotage bulldozers and have actions without adopting this nitely an element. There is that drive, and have a rendezvous once a year in hierarchy and control of the male society, that male aggression. There's also that which 400 people get together and do an of the dominant paradigm. kind of need, the individualism that goes action afterwards. But that's not going to along with it. The male strategy, the save the planet. If we can't expand beyond Some people have said that that opens you former strategies of Earth First!, in- the white middle class, we don't have a up to anarchy and chaos. cluded a reliance on individual acts of chance. It's true that there was a lot of chaos, bravado. That was the basic strategy. but don't forget that Redwood Summer We'll get some brave guy to climb way up It's interesting that Dave Foreman and started with the principal organizers in a tree and we'll get in the newspaper his friends would come up with the slo- being wiped out by an assassination at- for it. Or we'll sneak around in the night gan, "No Compromise in Defense of tempt. I mean, give me a break! First of and sabotage bulldozers. 'Mother' Earth." all, our most experienced organizers were That's part of the male myth. "We brave taken out by the bombing. People either It's sort of a "real man" approach. warriors are going to go out and protect were scared off, became incapacitated, or Exactly. And that whole little macho motherhood and apple pie or Mother were helping in my care and in my and scenario wasn't designed for mass orga- Earth!" It's no different from the domi- Darryl's defense. nizing. In fact, they're real uncomfort- nant paradigm that they claim to be sub- This is also a first. None of us were

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 PHOTO; EVAN JOHNSON/IMPACT VISUALS 13 really experienced enough to handle this. need to do. Just as we need to change investigation last summer actually got We haven't worked on this scale before. hierarchy within our society, we need to one. The Committee submitted a list of I've helped organize demonstrations of change our hierarchical view of nature. questions to the FBI, and the FBI has 2,000 people before, but not in a far-flung That's what's so revolutionary about declined to answer them. So I don't know rural area out in the woods. We could do Earth First!, and that's why we're not where that's going to go—we'll put what- a lot better with a lot fewer people if we do willing to give up Earth First!, even when ever pressure. it again. Mississippi Summer took four macho men give it a bad name. Because years. There were four summers before the ultimate message of Earth First!, You don't seem afraid now— Freedom Summer. We had four months. what the phrase Earth First! means, is It's been a real long, hard process to get So I think that we have a lot to learn, and biocentrism — the idea that humans are from where I was to where I am now. I've we could make a lot of improvements. not the center of the earth. The earth is little by little, with a lot of support from There was a lot of confusion, but the not here, nature is not here, to serve a lot of people, gained back confidence. confusion was brought on by the attacks humans, but humans are merely a part of But not all of my confidence. on us and by our own inexperience, not by nature and we need to reclaim our proper As soon as I tried to move back here the tactics of Redwood Summer. place as part of nature. Our attempts to after the bombing, a poster and another dominate nature have led us to the brink death threat appeared on my landlord's There's always been this tension in the of destruction, have led the earth to the mail box. It said "Ban get out!" It gave movement between people who want morebrink of no longer being able to support exact directions, mileage and everything, organization and people who want more life as we know it. I don't actually think to this place. It said the hippies out here freedom of individual action. that we can destroy life. I don't think are building me a hideaway for national We tend toward the anarchistic side. I we're that powerful. But I think this form Earth First! And it offered a case of Coors think that if you have too much organi- of life can be right at a dead end — a total to the stud who burns me out and a six- zation you suppress individual creativity evolutionary dead end. pack for every hippie shack taken out on and you end up parroting the society that my road. So not only was I threatened, you're trying to change. We're also trying What is happening with the investigation my entire neighborhood, a remote rural to provide a model of new ways for people of the bombing? neighborhood, was threatened by arson to relate to each other. On one hand we're Nothing. I can say with no doubt in a dry summer. It was signed by the trying to save the Redwood forests. But whatsoever that the FBI actively pre- Stompers. It's pretty hard to be recover- the other thing that we're trying to do is vented any real investigation from tak- ingfrom a bombing and continue to receive learn new ways of relating to each other, ing place. They actively made sure that death threats. form new kinds of societies that are not the bomber was not found. And there's a exclusive. And there are going to be inef- reason for that: Most likely they are di- Are you worried about your kids? ficiencies. I mean fascism is the most rectly complicit. I don't have evidence of I certainly am. I've chosen the safest efficient system there is. But I can cer- that except their behavior after the place that I can find to live right now. tainly tolerate inefficiencies in exchange bombing was perfectly consistent with After the bombing I thought I would for greater freedom and a more collective their past history with COINTELPRO. never do anything political again. If spirit from a less hierarchical organiza- There are too many things that just don't somebody had asked me if I was willing to tion. make sense. Why were they even there die for the cause I would have said "wait The FBI has certainly helped the move- immediately? Why did they say that until my children are grown." I didn't try ment come together. Some of the first Darryl and I were not only suspects, but to sacrifice myself at the expense of the groups to offer support after the bombing that we were the only suspects? They children, and it's been really, really hard were the American Indian Treaty Coun- concluded that within hours of the on the children. The kids have trouble cil and the Rainbow Coalition. Through bombing, despite the fact that we have sleeping still. those groups, the American Indian been involved in a highly volatile orga- But after the bombing I told Lisa (Bari's Movement (AIM) and the Black Panthers, nizing campaign in an area and in an nine-year-old daughter) that I would drop who are not really functioning very much industry that is known for its violence, out of politics altogether. She told me under those names anymore, expressed and we had been receiving increasing that she didn't want me to. She told me support. AIM representatives came to death threats preceding the bombing. But that several different times. And, you the Earth First! conference in Colorado they never even looked at them. Their know, one of the reasons that I do this is this fall. Those groups were both targets whole contention was that it was our for my children—so that my children can of the FBI harassment — although more bomb. They "knew" it was our bomb be- have a decent place, or any place, to grow intense — by the same man, Richard cause it was behind the seat. Therefore up in. Held (director of the FBI's COINTELPRO we should have seen it. Later on we undercover surveillance program of do- showed, by the locations of my injuries, You are a good role model in terms of the mestic protest groups). And I think that that the bomb was under the seat where type of children you're raising your kids to helped bring us together. Environmen- I couldn't see it. And the FBI conceded. be in this world — not being afraid of talists tend to see ourselves as separate. speaking out. Well, the FBI doesn't see us as separate. The problem with the FBI is that these Well, maybe they'll be more afraid. things don't come out for years. Another thing that's made me able to go Should Native Americans be involved Right. If ever. There are investigations on—have you ever hear d John Trudeau's because they are the custodians of this going on, but they're not from the FBI. We poem "This is not El Salvador?" You know land? have an investigator that Greenpeace what happened to John Trudeau? He was They didn't see their role as custodians. has paid for. There's also a Congressional an AIM leader and he was warned not to They saw themselves as part of nature investigation by the House Judiciary give a particular speech, but he went and not in charge of nature. They didn't Committee on Constitutional and Civil ahead and gave it anyway. When he see themselves as the dominant species. Rights headed by Congressman Don came home he found that his house had They didn't see humans as being the Edwards (D-San Jose). The coalition of 50 been firebombed and his wife, two chil- climax species. That's something that we (progressive) groups that called for an dren and mother-in-law had been killed.

14 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 "This is not El Salvador" is a poem about summer; that we wrecked Earth First!, that. The theme being, of course, that it is THE EARTH IS NOT caused local divisions, and that the prob- El Salvador, When I think about John lem is still jobs versus trees, which has Trudeau, and I think about Fred Hamp- HERE, NATURE IS never been the problem. The problem is ton and the Black Panthers, and I think short-term profit versus long-term survival. about the people in El Salvador and Nica- It's really important to get the message out. ragua where 50 percent of the children NOT HERE, TO I intend to speak and write as much as are orphans ... I can. I also need to be based in the local We know that the system is enforced by SERVE HUMANS, community. I can't just go national and violence. And if we are effectively chal- lose my local base or I lose my grounding. lenging the system, then it's not surpris- I don't just do this in a vacuum. I do this ing that they're going to use violence BUT HUMANS ARE because I'm connected both with the earth against us. The people from the Ameri- and the people here. I think that the can Indian Movement said "Violence isn't MERELY A PART OF movement is way farther advanced than a choice to us. It's like the weather. It just it was before the bombing. happens." It's part of the powers that be, The thing that we lost the most from the and it's something that we're trying to NATURE bombing was the work of coalition. It's change about this society. But with that very brave of a worker to begin to align knowledge of what this society is and how with us and to work with us and say brutal they really are, if as soon as they "yeah, these people are right. The em- start doing that to us we drop out, then peror has no clothes." There were a few we're defeated. workers who had begun to do this pub- I don't see how we can support the licly, and there were more who had begun people of El Salvador and be so easily to do it privately. And there were more intimidated fighting the battles here. I'm than that who had begun to do it anony- not trying to take away from El Salvador not fun and it's not glamorous. It's mously — including people who were solidarity work. I've certainly done that. fucking painful. sending me information and calling me. I was regional coordinator for the Pledge People in the timber industry got scared of Resistance. But I think that we are You've given people a lot of support by off by the bombing, and the worker coali- effectively helping the people in El Salva- your courage and integrity. I've heard a tion lost ground. We've got various logger dor by fighting the battles here. Okay, lot of people who aren't activists say what supporters, but we have a long way to go well how can we do that if all they have to a tremendous example and inspiration just to have them begin to trust not just do is the slightest thing to us and we back you've been to them. me, but environmentalists. And to begin down? When I look at the courage of the I get all kinds of letters from all kinds of to not buy the company line. comadres in El Salvador, when I look at people, and it's amazing how many of There's a lot of lay-offs going on right the people in South Africa and the things them are women. I don't like being con- now because they cut 20 years of trees last that they have to put up with, then our sidered an icon, it really bothers me. But summer. They've got them stacked up on problems pale by comparison. We are I have to say that I'm proud to be a model the log decks and there's a recession. It's still very privileged. If we are serious for women. I'm proud to have helped from automation and from exporting — about it — I mean the alternative is that women stand up. And I think that's one it's from overcut. What I'm seeing among they are going to kill the earth and ev- thing the bombing has done. In Redwood some of the timber workers is more of a erything on it! The alternative is either Summer, in my absence, 10 strong criticism of the corporations than before. we are going to stand up to them or women rose to take my place, and the There's an opportunity to rebuild the alli- everything is going to go. We need to movement increased tenfold. These ance that we had started to build before, exhibit both personal and collective cour- women were already in the movement and I hope to be able to work on that. It's age because that's the only way we are but were not taking as prominent a role. not glory work. I don't get credit for it. It's going to survive. With me out of the picture, many people, slow, and I think that it's the most impor- primarily women, rose to more prominent tant work that I can do. What you're saying is the struggle is be- roles. That was the other aspect of the I have a unique perspective to do that yond people's personal safety. feminization of Earth First! — the rise of because I'm not just aligning with the I think our collective safety is more individual women leaders. working class. I've been a blue-collar important than our personal safety. And worker my entire life. I deliberately the fate of the forest is more important That may have been why it was so threat- sabotaged myself by not getting a college than the fate of me. I think I have a ening. A women's movement is threaten- degree. I've done factory work and car- purpose in being here. I have been given ing to the male power structure. pentry work and various other jobs like talents or abilities: The ability to analyze, to Just like a Black movement is threat- cashier. So I'm not just saying hey, it's speak clearly, the ability to make connec- ening to a white movement. because those are the conditions of my life tions. I feel that the reason that I have also. I live pretty marginally — I always those talents is for the movement, and I Aside from healing yourself what are you have. I'm culturally different from them, want to use them for what they're for. If working on these days? but economically we're the same. I stop doing it, then they don't have to kill I'm beginning to coordinate a book on The problem is the way we all live on the me. They've succeeded. Redwood Summer because it's been very earth. Pursuing a yuppie lifestyle while But it's scary. I'm scared to death suppressed. We're compiling anecdotal claiming to be an environmentalist is a sometimes. Sometimes I'm so scared accounts. We all know that we will never tremendous contradiction. We have to that I can't sleep and I literally shake be the same. But if you read the press you simplify our own lives. • from fear. I'm not going to pretend to would think that nothing happened, that not be afraid, because I'm definitely it was a complete failure. The New York Christine Keyser is a journalist from afraid. I don't want to be a martyr. It's Times said 500 people came — all Berkeley, CA.

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 15 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 ROBERT BLY& IRON JOHN Bly romanticizes history, trivializes sexist oppression and lays the blame for men's "grief" on women By Fred Pelka

or generations our institu- Br/s thought is set down in Iron John, tions, and our parents, have A Book About Men, many weeks at the top warned us and shamed us away oitheNew York Times best-seller list. The from our wildness—Our intu- book — an exegesis of one of Grimms' ition, exuberance, and tears. fairy tales — "is the result," according to FNow, soui l and spirit suffer in great the publisher, "of 10 year's work with measure. At gatherings of men...the men to discover the truths about mascu- healing often begins with the telling linity." of ancient stories of male initiation..." "I want to make it clear...," Bly says, So says a flyer for "Initiation in the "that this book does not seek to turn men Masculine Soul — A Day for Men," fea- against women." Bly argues, however, turing keynote speaker Robert Bly. For that men need to turn away from women, $100 ($85 if I register early) Bly, through to liberate their "mother-bound souls." the telling of myths and fairy tales, will What Bly wants, in the words of Boston take me "places that our parents never Globe reviewer Suzanne Gordon, is "a thought of." patriarchy that is kinder and gentler." Robert Bly, acclaimed poet, winner of And in making his case for the sanctity of the National Book Award, and leader of a male bonding, Bly romanticizes history, burgeoning men's movement, travels the trivializes sexist oppression and lays the country speaking to mostly white and blame for much of men's "grief on women. almost entirely male audiences about Bly begins Iron John with an examina- "male grief and the myriad difficulties tion of men in America, and he is inherent in being a contemporary man. straightaway disturbed by what he sees. He commands a huge following and has "When I look out at an audience, perhaps been referred to as "this year's Joseph half the young males are what I'd call Campbell," especially since the broad- soft." "Soft" males are the "Sensitive New cast of the Bill Moyer's PBS profile, "A Age Guys" lampooned by Christine Lavin Gathering of Men." —men who cry freely and work at food co-

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 PHOTO: MILLICENT HARVEY 17 ops, men who have, according to Bly, could be 10 or 20,000 years old," which "renounced violence." The problem, says Men still hold the presumably gives it its Jungian legiti- Bly, is that these "soft" men have some- macy. how surrendered their self-esteem, their preponderance In fact, the Grimms' Nursery and playfulness and zest for life. They are Household Tales are of dubious authen- afraid "to show a sword," to stick up for of economic, social ticity. Many scholars see the Tales, themselves. They have lost touch with a heavily edited by Wilhelm Grimm, as host of inner characters — "The War- reflecting a moral code formulated not in rior," "The King" and especially "The and political power pre-historic or even pre-industrial times, Wild Man." As a result, they are indeci- but rather in the context of the hyper- sive and subject to uniquely masculine everywhere on earth nationalistic middle class of 19th-cen- strains of "anguish" and "grief." tury Germany. The Grimms, according To explain all this, Bly describes how to folklorist Ruth Bottigheimer, stress fathers traditionally distance themselves "diligent work, gender specific roles, a from their children, leaving boys to be generally punitive stance towards girls raised by women. Much of the emotional and women, and a coherent world view resonance Bly generates among his audi- conducing to stability in the social fab- ences has to do with the anger and grief Apparently, the feminists won without ric." Germanic scholar Maria Tatar re- that come with having a distant or aban- even knowing it. Bly adds that "When the counts how the ideologists of the Third doning father. Bly often describes his mythological layer collapses, and the po- Reich hailed the collection, especially such own father's alcoholism and frequently litical kings fall, then the patriarchy, as a anti-Semitic tales as "The Jew in the uses the jargon of the Adult Children of positive force, is over. The sun and the Thorn Bush," as "a sacred book," and how Alcoholics (ACOA) movement. moon energies can no longer get down to the Allies removed it from German class- Were Bly to leave it at that, his book earth." rooms during de-Nazification. Wilhelm would be little more than a plea for men This statement is instructive in several Grimm himself was a member of the to be better parents. Unfortunately, he ways. First, it tells us that, like most Christian-German Society, which doesn't stop there. It isn't just that fa- reactionaries, Bly has a romanticized vi- Bottigheimer describes as "a reactionary thers are absent, he says: The mothers sion of the past, of the once-upon-a-time group...its program was anti-Philistine, who parent in their stead are incapable of when life was so much better than it is in anti-Semitic, and anti-woman." providing their male children with that the degenerate present. For Bly, this was Bly offers no reason, other than their special "energy" that passes from father the era of the positive patriarchy, of kings, supposed age, as to why he prefers the to son. Even worse, many mothers are when warriors fought for the higher causes Household Tales for his analysis, but it is conspiring and destructive to the sensi- of chivalry and blissful male bonding, when striking how much Bly's own arguments tive male egos entrusted to their care. fathers worked with their sons and taught resemble the Grimms in their attitude They are encouraged in this by man- them how to hunt and farm far from the toward women. In the Brothers Grimm, hating feminists. "The emphasis placed baleful influence of grasping mothers. mothers (especially stepmothers) are in recent decades on the inadequacy of Second, the reference to "sun and moon generally wicked, cruel and "unnatural." men, and the evil of the patriarchal sys- energy" lets us know that Bly's analysis is In Bly, mothers co-opt their children into tem, encourages mothers to discount a mythological one, as is his understand- conspiracies, the aim of which is to iso- grown men," deflating their boys' role ing of history. He sees myth and fairy tales late, sometimes even destroy, their fa- models. "Between 20 and 30 percent of as unerring signposts on everyman's psy- thers. "The mother looks to the son for American boys," according to Bly, "now chological journey; metaphoric ciphers on emotional satisfaction, and her fantasies live in a house with no father present, how to live the good life. And so Bly often in this regard may have deepened in and the demons have full permission to expresses himself in fairy tale terms, of- recent years." (Bly is silent on just how he rage." ten with unintentional humor. "The Iron knows what women fantasize, or that "Bly's historical analysis and his de- John story proposes that the golden ball "much of the rage" that feminists feel is scriptions of contemporary life," says lies within the magnetic field of the Wild really "disappointment over...their own Gordon, in one of the few critical reviews Man, which is a very hard concept for us to fathers.") "Your father is convinced that of Iron John to appear in the mainstream grasp." Indeed. Or as Jungian scholar he is an inadequate human being," he press, "are difficult to reconcile with the Marie-Louise von Franz, often quoted by tells his all-male audiences. "Women have realities women experience daily." Gor- Bly, puts it: "Fairy tales are the purest and been telling him that for 30 or 40 years." don asks, "Who are these soft men?" not- simplest expression of collective uncon- Consequently, boys end up being "bound" ing the absence of "softness" among the scious psychic processes." to their mothers, and "more than one decision makers in Washington and But some fairy tales are purer and sim- American man today needs a sword to Baghdad, and no great diminution in the pler and more unconscious than others. If cut his adult soul away from his mother- male violence that is so much a part of we use myths to govern our social and bound soul." A boy raised by his mother women's lives. However "soft" they might personal lives, then the choice of which "will probably see his own masculinity be, men still hold the overwhelming pre- myth to use is of utmost importance. One from the feminine point of view"—which ponderance of economic, social and po- has to examine the values represented by is "fascinated with it," but also "afraid of litical power, not only in American and these myths, the purposes served, and it." "We are aware," he adds, "of a disturb- Western society, but everywhere on earth. who exactly benefits from the telling of ing rise in the number of sons who report And "renouncing violence" doesn't mean any particular myth or story. sexual abuse by mothers, as well as by that "soft men" don't continue to share in "Iron John" is taken from the Brothers fathers, uncles and older brothers; but the benefits all men derive from living in Grimm, and speaks to Bly of a "third the culture still does not take seriously a sexist culture. possibility for men," somewhere beyond the damage caused by psychic incest be- Bly, however, doesn't see it that way. being too "soft" and too hard. "Though it tween mother and son." "We now live in a system of industrial was first set down by the Grimm brothers There is much that is disturbing in this domination, which is not patriarchy." around 1820," Bly tells us, "this story equation of "psychic incest" with sexual

18 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 abuse: As if the alleged harmful effects of occasional clue. Bly sees the lover and the nevolent, paintedin fairytale colors. Even a female-headed household are somehow warrior "mingling," and offers the axiom: illness and death are romanticized, as equivalent to rape by a parent or sibling. "No sword, no eros." when Bly discusses how Keats died at age We see this same fuzzy language when One wonders about Bl/s vision of clas- 26. Things are different, he says, "for Bly discusses "male mothers." "You mean, sical and medieval warfare. Anyone who those of us who have agreed to live longer," 'mentors?'" Moyers asks, the journalist has read Thucydides' account of the wars as if Keat's death of tuberculosis was a refining the terminology of the poet. For between Athens and Sparta, or Tacitus' matter of choice, perhaps coming out of Bly, "psychic incest" is equivalent to ac- description of the mass rapes and mur- the poet's desire to be poignant. tual sexual abuse; a man spending time ders committed by the Roman legions, It is distressing, but not surprising, with a boy is equivalent to a woman can have little doubt that war, even among that Bly's barely sublimated misogyny giving birth; contemporary "male grief is pagans, has always meant atrocity and strikes such a chord among so many men. equivalent to several millennia of women's murder. Similarly, Bly's notion that ag- Bly and his followers celebrate their oppression. And though he mentions the gression is somehow purified by a cause gathering to seek "a new vision" of mas- sexual abuse of girls, Bly never admits "beyond" oneself is simply wrong. It is culinity. But Bly's ideas of "masculine" that the vast majority of sexual and do- always the religious and political zealots and "feminine" are cut from the same old mestic violence is committed by men upon who make the most brutal soldiers, as has sexist cloth, and his anger and distrust of women and children, and that boy vic- been demonstrated in every ideological women seem hardly cause for celebra- tims of incest and domestic violence are struggle from the Thirty Years' War to tion. most often abused by other males. today's purges, genocides and jihads. There is, indeed, a need for a pro-femi- Bly offers no evidence to support his It's obvious that Bly's notions of history nist men's movement, for men to join in contention that vast numbers of men suf- come from poems and fairy tales, not the struggle to end rape, domestic vio- fer from a sort of post-female parenting always the most accurate of sources. At lence, and the political, sexual, social and syndrome. Instead, he tells us that cer- times his idea of what past life was like is economic oppression of women. But rather tain dark "forces in contemporary society ludicrous, even comical, and it is appar- than move forward to a new definition of recently have encouraged women to be ent that Bly is always talking about, and masculinity that does not include the warriors, while discouraging warriorhood to, male elites. "We know from oppression of half the human race, Bly in boys and men." Hasn't the man ever Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and would have men look backward, through heard of Rambo? Does he watch CNN? other Renaissance accounts, that it was the prism of myth, fairy tale and pop Even Moyers, in an interview uncritical not at all unusual for a young man at that psychology, to recover the positive patri- to the point of being obsequious, stops Bly time to take two or three years off, and archy and "the male mode of feeling," to when he describes how his mother con- spend it learning to be a lover. We spend cut loose the inner life from the outer spired to isolate his father. those years in graduate school instead." reality. At first glance Bly might appear "It seems to me," says Moyers, "you and In Bly's world view, war, warriors, kings, your mother didn't push your father out; the patriarchy, all are sanitized and be- continued on pg 39 your father removed himself through al- coholism," to which Bly replies, "It's pos- sible." Rather than pursue this point, the FINDING OUR WAY: MEN TALK ABOUTswer," and then poses his own. interview breaks away to another fairy THEIR SEXUALITY, 40-minute videotape.There are no leaders or gurus here, tale. Available from Nick Kaufman Produc- just an attempt to have an honest Most of the other myths and stories that tions, 14 Clyde St., Newtonville, MA conversation about a topic of fun- Bly cites are as anti-female as the Broth- 02160; (617) 964-4466. damental importance. ers Grimm. Bly's comments on "Zeus" In contrast to Bly's mytho-poetic "Wouldn't it be great," one man and "Hermes energy," for example, refer analysis of men is "Finding Our Way: asks, "to be able to just have sex, and to a mythology in which women are seen Men Talk About Their Sexuality," a not worry about dying...1 don't even as the root of all evil: The Pandora of 40-minute video produced by Nicolas have fantasies that are not safe sex Hesiod is analogous to Eve in the creation Kaufman, Mark Lipman and Cooper anymore." Another man, who has myths of the Bible. Women in Homer Thompson. spent his entire adult life in the closet, appear most often as temptresses like Filmed discussions are by their na- confronts the pain his coming out has Helen, nags like Hera, dutiful (but con- ture suspect: Can we really trust any- caused his wife. "How can 1 live a free niving) wives like Penelope, or slaves, one to answer intimate questions as if life, at the cost of someone else's?" he whores and victims. I need only remem- camera and microphone weren't asks. It's a question of tremendous ber the myths of the Thunder God's many there? And how much of what is ed- complexity. rapes to dampen any enthusiasm for "Zeus ited out changes the substance and What fascinates as much as the energy," or that Odysseus, whose bonding feeling of the completed product, the differences in perspective are the with his son Telemachus is much praised filmed discussion? similarities in experience. Several by Bly, ordered the boy to butcher their However you might answer these men recount their growing up with female slaves as punishment for the crime questions, what is immediately evi- the Boy Scout Manual, one man of being raped. dent in "Finding Our Way" is the summarizing its single page of sex It's also difficult to follow the distinc- respect the producers have for their education as "'Don't waste tions Bly makes between "The Warrior" subjects. From the beginning, the yourself...That was my total sex and "The Soldier," "The Wild Man" and men who do the talking control the education." "The Savage." Bly says that healthy male agenda, and stake out whatever "Finding Our Way" is a thoughtful aggression is unjustly condemned and space they need to tell their stories. exploration of men's feelings and that "The physical warrior disintegrated When the producers begin by ask- experiences, "a gathering of men" into the soldier when mechanized war- ing, "What do you like about sex?" without hype and without recourse fare came on." Though Bly is vague on one of the men responds, "That's to myth and historical romance. just who or what today's "warrior" is not the question 1 wanted to an- — Fred Pelka supposed to conquer, he does give us the

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 19 ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? Critiques of the new contraceptives

AFTER NORPLANT, change. There is also the risk of infection ning programs. Antiabortion groups have WHAT'S NEXT? where it's inserted. If there are problems, flexed their muscles, stopping RU-486, By Jill Benderly or if a woman wants to get pregnant, the "abortion pill," from being introduced Q: Why is a bikini like a doughnut? Norplant is a good deal harder to take out into the U.S., although it is available in A: Because they're both new contracep- than to put in. Indeed, when Norplant China, France and Germany. This show tives about to come on the market. was tested on women in Bangladesh in of force has intimidated pharmaceutical Norplant is the first new U.S. birth 1985, providers refused to remove the companies, which fear boycotts of their control method since the cervical sponge device in cases of side effects. entire product lines if they are associated arrived in 1983. The coercive uses of the Last but not least, Norplant is expen- with new "unnatural acts" to prevent new five-year levonorgestrol implants sive: $350 for the kit, $100-250 for inser- pregnancy. have been widely and well discussed. To tion and $100-400 for removal. So far, Another political reason for slowdown recap: a California judge sentenced Dar- Medicaid in nine states will cover the in birth control research is sexism. "Im- lene Johnson to Norplant as part of her costs. "We're not going to be able to pro- munology, molecular biology and endo- punishment for child abuse. The Phila- vide Norplant to all who want it. We'll crine disorders are honorable scientific delphia Inquirer was forced to apologize have to prioritize," says Dr. Gary Stewart, fields; sexuality, family planning and be- for its editorial titled "Poverty and medical director of Planned Parenthood havior are considered tacky," says Dr. Norplant — Can Contraception Reduce of Sacramento Valley. "The best candi- Felicia Stewart, gynecologist at the Val- the Underclass?" The Kansas state leg- dates are noncompliant patients." ley Center for Women, Sacramento, CA. islature is considering a bill that would Planned Parenthood president Faye pay welfare mothers $500 to get Norplant, Wattleton calls Norplant "the one bright MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING plus providing the implant and annual spot" in the dismal outlook for contracep- While politics is the most blatant ob- checkups free of charge. The man who tion. Birth control R and D moves at a stacle, economics plays a big role, too. The developed Norplant, Dr. Sheldon Segal, snail's pace, compared to the boom of 20 baby boom generation has entered its says, "We created a method to enhance years ago. Government agencies fund 95 40s. Projections show the number of reproductive freedom and people keep percent of U.S. contraceptive research. Of women of childbearing age will increase finding ways to use it for the opposite the drug companies, only Ortho does re- by only three percent in the next 10 years, purpose." search. This despite women's dissatisfac- while women over age 50 will grow by As health workers learn how to insert tion with existing methods. One study of more than 30 percent. This changing and remove Norplant, they also get a look 200 Norplant users found all but 10 per- market has fueled research and develop- at the benefits and problems of this low- cent opted for Norplant because they were ment in estrogen replacement therapy dose progestin they are placing under the unhappy with all the other methods they instead of contraception. skin. It lasts five years. It's highly effec- had tried. As the demographic curve moves up, tive. It's a quick fix — once it's in, there's the contraceptive experts change their nothing further to do. WHAT'S DERAILING prescription. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones, Norplant poses fewer problems and CONTRACEPTIVE RESEARCH? medical director of Utah Planned Par- short-term risks than birth control pills The noisiest opponents of the search for enthood, enthusiastically promotes wider because it does not contain estrogen. But better birth control are the by-now-not- use of the pill in women over 40. "There's its active ingredient, progestin, does so-New Right. Under the Reagan and a 33 percent chance of a woman having a cause: Menstrual changes, including Bush administrations, government sup- child in her 40s," she told the 1991 Con- heavy bleeding and spotting or no men- port for contraceptive research has traceptive Technology conference.""We've struation at all; headache and weight dwindled, as has funding for family plan- been so afraid of the risks that we've been

20 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 unwilling to give these women pills and from England, caps are still barely known mous is RU 486 which could be used to IUDs. The emotional and physical risks in the U.S. today. Only in 1988 did the bring on a delayed menstrual period. of unwanted pregnancy are actually cervical cap come off the "investigational Another method of "postcoital contra- greater. The good news is that the Food device" list and out to the U.S. general ception" is the morning-after pill. Ovral, and Drug Administration has recom- public. a combination pill, is given within 72 mended removing age as a risk-factor Cindy Pearson, executive director of the hours of intercourse. Side effects are said listed on pill-package inserts." National Women's Health Network says to be less severe than with its predeces- Parker Jones reminds clinicians that that because of AIDS, the FDA "got smart, sor, DES. While Ovral is not approved the pill has "non-contraceptive benefits" changed its rules, recognized reality and here for morning-after use, U.S. physi- for women over 40. "Older women near- made the trials easier. For the female cians do use it, especially for rape survi- ing menopause have shorter cycles with condoms, also known as "intravaginal vors. heavier bleeding. The pill can improve pouches." (I'll discuss this and other new Progestin, the active ingredient in this, as well as reducing hot flashes and methods later on.) Norplant, works in other forms. The pro- osteoporosis." In other words, she pro- gestin-only minipill is rarely used in the poses to keep the artificial estrogen flow- THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW U.S., but makes up eight percent of the ing until women are over the rollercoaster The Dalkon Shield fiasco led to more than British pill market. The minipill seems to of menopause. Then "the patient can dis- just tougher FDA regulations. The gigan- lower cardiovascular risks but raise the continue contraception and enter into the tic lawsuits and settlement payouts ul- chance of ectopic pregnancy. dialogue with her physician regarding timately bankrupted shield manufac- The most well-known progestin shot is postmenopausal hormone therapy," she turer A.H. Robins. By 1986, fears of fall- Depo-Provera, used on four million recommends. out led to the removal from the U.S. women worldwide. Because it has been Meanwhile, with well-off white women market of all but two IUDs — the linked to cancer and sterility, women's bearing children later in life, infertility Progestasert, a progesterone-releasingT- health activists have kept Depo from be- has become the hot, "compassionate" — shaped device, and the ParaGard, a cop- ing approved as a contraceptive here. "It's and more medically exciting — research per-wrapped T. One manufacturer, G. D. a U.S. political reality that it won't be topic. New reproductive technologies con- Searle, gave as its only reason the fact passed as a contraceptive," says Dr. Gary tinue to raise ethical dilemmas: Surrogacy, that liability insurance was "virtually Hogden, director of contraceptive research fetal selection, genetic engineering. unobtainable." Today only one percent of at Eastern Virginia Medical School. "But Of course, infertility research spills over U.S. women who use contraception use there's nothing illegal or unethical about into contraceptive technology. The more IUDs. (However, many types of IUDs are using an FDA-approved drug for a differ- we learn about what keeps a couple from still sold for use in the Third World, ent use." getting pregnant when they want to, the where risky drugs find their "market Progestin is also used in the vaginal more we know about what can be used to niche." But that's another story.) ring. A woman inserts this rubber keep men and women from being fertile Other suits have attempted to link hor- doughnut into her vagina and it releases when they don't want to. mones with cancer in offspring and hormones for three months. spermicides with disabilities in newborns. New methods of female sterilization TESTING 1-2-3 Surely the courts are a vital arena for attempt to improve the prospects of One reason it takes more time and money seeking redress against corporate greed. reversibility. The Filshie clip, made of to develop contraceptives today is testing. But sometimes I feel the ball has been titanium and rubber, seems to cause less The women's health movement won taken out of our hands again, this time by damage to the fallopian tubes.Ovablock stricter regulatory processes from the Food lawyers' greed. silicone plugs are used in the Nether- and Drug Administration (FDA) follow- While researchers and corporate reps lands to close off the tubes. ing the Dalkon shield tragedy, in which rail against regulatory, litigational and A new device called Bioself should be an inadequately tested IUD caused wide- liability obstacles to new high-tech meth- helpful for measuring basal body tem- spread pelvic inflammatory disease, ste- ods, women still express major dissatis- perature for natural family planning. rility and as many as 36 deaths. Many in faction with the available options. Yet Bioself is a hand-held computer that the technoestablishment openly chafe at low-tech barrier method research and takes basal body temp in two minutes, the road-blocks created by concerned con- development is not exactly proliferating. records past temperatures and menstrual sumers. Stanford researcher Dr. Carl Loretta Ross, program director of the cycle length. Then it identifies whether it Djerassi complained in 1969 that FDA Black Women's Health Project, says, "Why is a fertile or nonfertile day with a red or restrictions had "a particularly devastat- don't they work on safer devices instead? green light. ing effect on the development of new But no, the drug companies seem to be contraceptive agents," and he still leads saying, 'Till we can get U.S. women to BY THE YEAR 2000 the chorus of the anti-regulators. accept whatever we hand to them with- "We're looking forward to the female It took 16 years from the time Norplant out them suing us, we don't offer anything condom," says Cindy Pearson, for their was developed until it reached the U.S. at all.'" protection against AIDS and other sexu- market, although it was approved for use ally-transmitted diseases. Three types, in Finland in 1983. While many feminists READING THE FUTURE the Bikini Condom, the Reality Sheath feel such caution is warranted in the case So there are lots of reasons that new and Women's Choice Condom are coming of new chemical methods, the cautions ideas are stymied. But what can we ex- soon to your neighborhood pharmacy. All have also held up barrier methods that pect to see coming on the market soon? three are lubricated with spermicide. The should have been less controversial. The What are the scientists cooking up in the Bikini is a tan latex G-string with a rolled- cervical cap, which does not differ radi- lab? And when will they find a new male up pouch that is pushed into the vagina cally from the diaphragm, has been on the contraceptive? by the penis. "Finally a condom for women English market since the mid-1800s. But, to wear," gush the ads. "Bikini Condoms because in 1925 Margaret Sanger's hus- AVAILABLE TODAY put a woman in control of her own body." band chose to fund a business importing A number of methods are being used or You can wear it for two hours before diaphragms from Holland instead of caps tested around the world. The most fa- intercourse "providing more spontaneity

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 21 than a male condom." That is, if you don't tifically inappropriate and clinically self- of events. The phenomenon of twinning, mind getting your clitoral stimulation defeating." for example, happens several days after through a rubber panty. Gary Hodgen is much more optimistic. the fusion of ovum and sperm. Strictly The Reality has two rings, one at the "I think we are beyond the time when speaking, then, RU 486 is not an abortifa- cervix and one outside the vagina, and a fertility regulation was considered the cient. The woman who takes it is only a polyurethane sheath connecting them. It exclusive responsibility of women," he little bit pregnant. is inserted like a diaphragm. Women's says. "I don't contend that men will ever In a study of 2,115 French women pub- Choice is similar, but made of latex and take an equal responsibility for fertility lished in the New England Journal of inserted like a tampon. control. But the more options we have Medicine (March 8, 1990), researchers Spinoffs of barrier methods in the works available to them, the greater a respon- found a 96 percent success rate, very close include disposable diaphragms and cer- sibility they will be willing to take." to surgical methods. The main side effect vical caps as well as plastic condoms. The In the prevailing political, economic and was a four to five percent rate of heavy glanscap is a minicondom that fits over scientific climate, the future of contracep- bleeding, as in a "normal" miscarriage. the glans of the penis and sticks with tion — as always — is uncertain. The This risk makes medical monitoring adhesive. It can be put on before erection National Women's Health Network puts necessary for several hours after a woman occurs. The search is on for new it succinctly: "If Norplant proves to be takes the drug. As widely reported, it spermicides that kill viruses. widely acceptable to a broad range of must be taken during the first 49 days of Contraceptive experts tout new varia- users, as its distributors hope, it may pregnancy (counting from the first day of tions on the birth control pill. With ultra spur other private or nonprofit compa- the last menstrual period). low-dose pills, "I think we ought to push a nies to make a stronger commitment in Workers at Roussel-Uclaf, the manu- lot harder," says Gary Hodgen. He also the area of contraceptive research. Un- facturer, noted as early as 1980 that RU suggests quarterly pill regimens, in which less that commitment is made, Norplant 486 has many possible uses. Because it the placebos which cause a woman to get may be the last new method for quite blocks the action of progesterone, it soft- her period are only taken four times a some time." • ens and dilates the cervix. It may there- year. fore make vacuum aspiration easier for Transdermal patches now used for women who choose that method. After estrogen replacement therapy could be RU Angry? the first trimester, it may prove safer used for contraception. Large Band-aid By Rhona Mahony than surgical methods to end pregnancy. size patches would be worn at the base of ctivists and state officials want It helps induce labor, and so may reduce the spine or neck and release hormones to bring RU 486 to California, but the need for caesarian deliveries. It might into the bloodstream through the skin. Athe French manufacturer won't work as a contraceptive, by preventing New uses of progestin are expected to let them. The new pill ends pregnancies ovulation. It could also treat cancers that bear fruit soon. Biodegradable im- — over 40,000 so far in France — but not bear progesterone receptors, including plants (Capronor) would last 18 months the disproportionate influence of the an- some breast cancers, or non-cancerous and not need removal. Of course, removal tichoice right-wing. tumors that synthesize progesterone re- also would be impossible in the case of California Attorney-General John Van ceptors, including some meningiomas side effects. de Kamp announced last March that he (tumors of the meninges, the membranes Microspheres containing hormone par- favors testing in the state and approval that surround the brain). ticles would be injected under the skin. by its Food and Drug Branch. Since then, RU 486 has a second, entirely different They would biodegrade and work for family-planning advocates and feminists effect: It blocks the action of glucocorti- three months. have worked hard. Every Child a Wanted coids, or adrenal hormones. That means Child, based in San Francisco, is prepar- it may help burns and other wounds heal THE LONGER RUN ing clinical trials in the city with between more quickly. It is also being studied as a "Wouldn't it be terrific if we could vacci- 200 and 1,000 women. Carol Ruth Silver, treatment for Cushing's syndrome. This nate a population against sperm?" asks co-founder of Every Child a Wanted Child disease is caused by an over- production Hodgen. Experiments in immunization and a former city supervisor, hopes the of cortisone and leads to hypertension against various reproductive cells are still trials will raise awareness of the value of and osteoporosis. Barbara Bush is the in early lab stages. Vaccines might work RU 486. She says her goal is "to create an United States' most famous Cushing's for men and women. educated public who says with one voice, patient. Hopes for unisex nasal sprays and injec- "Why can't American women have what In spite of its promise, serious obstacles tions of GNRH, a hormone that disrupts French women have?'" Widespread pub- will block approval of RU 486 in the U.S. the pituitary gland, have been delayed by lic enthusiasm could eliminate the most for many months to come. The Economist clinical difficulties, including decrease in serious obstacle to approval: The French (June 23, 1990) reported that, in Febru- the sex drive. manufacturer's dread of the American ary, the company cut off the supply of RU Inhibin is another natural substance right-wing. So far, the company seems 486 to the Los Angeles County-University being explored as a contraceptive. It is frozen by fear. of Southern California Medical Center, thought to regulate production of follicle- RU 486 is a powerful synthetic hor- where the only U.S. trials of the drug to stimulating hormones in men. mone that blocks the action of progest- end pregnancy were being held. Suppos- New, potentially reversible sterilization erone. Some people call it a contraceptive, edly, it stopped the trials because it didn't methods are being tried for men and while others call it an abortifacient, that see any point in testing for the American women. However, four times as much is, an agent that causes abortion. Its market. Extremists have threatened, money goes into research on women's inventor, Dr. Emile-Etienne Baulieu, calls among other things, a boycott of French contraceptive methods than on men's, it a "contragestive," because it prevents wine. Mon Dieu! If true, it is surely dis- perhaps the only place where women get gestation by blocking the implantation of appointing news about Roussel executives' more funding than men. the embryo in the uterine lining. He says outlook. Researcher Roy Greep comments that the latest scientific studies show that As to the rest of the world, some progress "whatever the historic reasons, the result pregnancy is not an all-or-nothing thing. can now be noted. Roussel Uclaf in Paris is an imbalance in the field that is scien- Instead, it is the result of a long sequence has given permission to its British sub-

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NO POSTAGE NECESSARY ISSHBES IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL NOW, FIRST CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 272 DENVILLE, NJ and we POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE will bill ON THE ISSUES Subscription Services you later. P.O. Box3000, DeptOTI Denville, N.J. 07834 sidiary to apply for a product license, as advocates described progress in bringing To express an opinion, write: Roussel long as the subsidiary can show that it the new pill to the U.K. Dr. Elizabeth Uclaf, Dr. Edouard Sakiz, President, 35 could keep very tight control over distri- Aubeny, of the Hopital Broussais in Paris, Boulevard des Invalides, 75007 Paris, bution of the drug. The British staff is where RU 486 was first tested, also at- Cedex 07 France. • confident they can, and will soon apply tended. She revealed the results of her for a product license. RU 486 could appear eight-year study of French women's Rhona Mahony is a freelance writer from in British hospitals at the end of 1991 or emotional experiences before, during, Stanford, CA. the beginning of 1992. and after treatment with RU 486. But there is one other obstacle to RU So far, the groundswell is rising fastest 486's distribution in the U.S.: RU 486 in California. As Attorney-General Van RU SURE? must be taken with a prostaglandin. The de Kamp announced in March, the state By Jill Benderly prostaglandin stimulates uterine con- has the independent statutory authority have for a while now argued that we tractions, raises the success rate from 80 to test and license drugs. Researchers are should get access to RU 486, but that to 96 percent, and is considered medically testing seven AIDS drugs under this law, Iwe shouldn't be so quick to praise and necessary. The problem is that the pros- and some people believe the program embrace this drug. Instead, we should taglandins being used in Europe — spurred the FDA to streamline its process maintain our feminist role as skeptics sulprostone in an injection, gemeprost in for approving them. The California about the health consequences of a vaginal suppository — have not been Medical Association supports approval hormonal intervention. We shouldn't approved in the U.S. Upjohn, the Ameri- in California, and has declared RU 486 underestimate the risks of RU 486, can pharmaceutical company, makes two safe and effective. Ray Wilson, a California particularly in a country where products that might be good substitutes, Food and Drug Branch scientist, says the prudishness about sex and medical but it limits their use to a few hospitals. state's drug approval process may not be passivity means that most women will be Conservatives might succeed in intimi- faster than the FDA's, but that several unlikely to return to their physicians in dating Upjohn from offering those prod- drugs that started out in California have cases of unsuccessful fetal expulsion. ucts more widely. been approved for national use, like Jonas Mahony criticizes Americans' penchant Third, Americans' penchant for liability Salk's AIDS vaccine. for liability lawsuits. I think the women lawsuits — like the Dalkon Shield and Of course, RU 486 is not ideal. Women who sued the makers of the Dalkon Shield the Copper-7 intrauterine device battles with heart disease, or at high risk for it, and Copper-7 IUDs are heroic for — has made the whole contraceptive like heavy smokers, should use it with notifying the medical establishment area much riskier and less profitable. caution. Women can't use it in complete that if they want to use us for guinea The possibility of lawsuits concerns privacy or be guaranteed access to it. The pigs, they will have to pay the damages. even Every Child a Wanted Child, price, or distance from a dispensing She also lauds European access to which is emphatically not profit-ori- physician, may keep it unavailable to injectable contraceptives and hormone- ented. Since the group hopes to apply many. It is clearly poorly suited for un- releasing implants. Have we forgotten for permission to market RU 486 — if derground use, since it must be taken the complications brought on by the birth Roussel will supply it — Carol Ruth with a prostaglandin and, even then, control pill (blood clots, hypertension and, Silver has assembled a team of lawyers medical supervision is necessary. None- possibly, cancer)? Or the even worse risks to study the liability issue. theless, the best evidence says that it is associated with hormone shots like Depo- The federal government is doing noth- safe and effective. Thousands of women Provera (cancer and/or permanent ing to bring RU 486 to this country. Con- would prefer to take three pills and an sterility)? Rather than seeking new gress has banned federal funding for re- injection to having an operation. hormonal technologies, I think we should search on abortifacients, which has been Will those women speak up? Will they be looking at improving access to barrier interpreted to cover the new French pill. tell Roussel, "Let us benefit from your methods. Many poor, young and less- The FDA barred its importation for per- discovery"? It will take lots of education. educated women are routinely denied sonal use by putting it on the "dangerous Most Americans don't realize how pecu- information about diaphragms and and experimental" list. Of course, Roussel liar it is that we haven't gotten hold of a cervical caps because they take too long wouldn't allow personal importation new contraceptive for 30 years. to fit and require too high a level of anyway. Representative Patricia In the meantime, Europeans have compliance. We should be pushing family Schroeder (D-CO) has introduced a bill gotten injectable contraceptives, hor- planning personnel about this. Look at (HR-4583) to increase federal funding for mone-releasing implants, fallopian how long it took the FDA to approve research on contraception and infertility. tube clips, and improved IUDs. Re- cervical caps! This bill is an excellent move — since the search, mostly abroad, points to break- I think the main reasons many feminists United States is 30 years behind Europe throughs in hormonal and chemical are so steamed up about RU 486 are clear in marketing safe and convenient contra- contraceptives for males, a very low — we don't want antiabortionists to ceptives — but it leaves intact the ban on dose pill, female condoms, better male instill fear in the marketplace. And we federal funding of RU 486 studies. condoms, and reversible male and fe- are seeking a way to get around a ban on Approval of RU 486 in the U.S., then, male sterilization. abortion, if the Supreme Court votes the depends on activists and private agen- Nor do most Americans realize that way we're afraid it might. cies, and on state and private money. The between 1.2 and 3 million women get But I think our reproductive rights groundswell is building slowly, but pregnant accidentally each year. Or that agenda should put more energy into steadily. The Fund for the Feminist Ma- the most popular form of contraception holistic solutions for women, and less jority, headed by former NOW President among married couples — many of them unequivocal cheerleading for RU 486. Ellie Smeal, has gathered 115,000 peti- young — is sterilization. It's clear that Our job is not only to get access to new tion signatures calling on Roussel to re- millions of Americans don't have access methods, but to make sure they're lease RU 486 in the United States. The to a form of birth control that suits their safe. • Reproductive Health Technology Project religious, cultural and practical needs. held meetings in July in D.C. and New It's also clear that RU 486 is just one of Jill Benderly is an activist and writer York City where British family-planning many choices we should have. from Salisbury, MD.

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 23 SOMEBODY" Barbara's Story By M. Robbyn Swan

Barbara, 42, is lying in the middle of the tering to themselves on street corners living room floor in a pool of her own and, at night, drift into shelters and door- urine, tooting a brightly colored paper ways. horn. It is New Year's Eve. I've just come In the United States, the homeless in from an evening with friends. As I number between 300,000 and three mil- approach, Barbara rises and stands lion, depending on who is doing the count- swaying before me. On her face is the ing. Dr. Bert Pepper is the country's fore- blank, little girl grin she reserves for most expert on the dually diagnosed. Pep- such occasions. She has been caught per estimates that as many as 40 percent again. of the nation's homeless fall into this Diagnosed as mildly schizophrenic, category. Barbara has spent 25 of her 42 years Pepper began to treat the dually diag- battling coke, heroin and alcohol addic- nosed 10 years ago. "It became apparent tion. This coupling of mental illness and to me," said Pepper, "that the new gen- Deinstitutionaliza- substance abuse has become so wide- eration of seriously psychiatrically ill lien sent vast spread in recent years that it has left 10s young adults, who could no longer be numbers off of thousands homeless. Barbara is part institutionalized because of the changes marginally men- of this large and growing population; in that policy, were living most of their tally ill people experts call them "dually diagnosed." The lives in the street where they had access into communities increasing number of dually diagnosed to drugs and alcohol." that were not people is one of several tragic coinci- Spending so much time in the streets, prepared to deal dences that created the phenomenon of already beset by delusions and fears, it is with them, thereby homelessness in the past decade. not surprising that many fall into alco- causing a tragic In the 1960s, the Federal government holism and drug abuse. Experts say they increase in the moved to protect the civil rights of the are reaching for ways to silence the voices homeless, who mentally ill by abolishing the system of in their heads. wander the streets state-run mental institutions that had In the past two decades, the increase in helplessly and warehoused patients. the numbers of mentally ill Americans without resources. In the process, vast numbers of margin- without any kind of daily supervision has HOItf O WOItlQ ally ill people were released into commu- been mirrored by an increase in the avail- gets a meager nities that were unprepared to deal with ability of lethal street drugs. As mental breakfast from a them. Community- based mental health illness and substance abuse feed on one programs were supposed to replace hos- another, many patients spiral out of con- pitals, by providing a combination of out- trol, exhausting financial and emotional patient psychiatric care and small neigh- resources, often losing access to the most borhood-based homes called Community basic human necessities: Food and shel- Residential Facilities (CRFs). For a ter. number of reasons, including commu- In the summer of 1990,1 spoke at length nity opposition to the homes, CRFs never with Barbara, who is dually diagnosed developed as intended. Since deinstitu- and, until recently, homeless. Barbara is tionalization began, a new generation of 42, African-American and a lifelong resi- mentally ill adults has been added to the dent of Washington, DC. I met her in first. With only sporadic psychiatric 1987 when she was accepted into the treatment and meager family support, transitional house for homeless women these people spend their days in the that I run in northwest Washington. This streets, sleeping in public libraries, chat- is Barbara's story.

PHOTO: ILENE PERLMAN/IMPACT VISUALS ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 "I'm a Washingtonian, came up with The cycle of Barbara's illness is typical sort of a middle-class life. In my teens, in The increase in of people like her. Most of their mental the '60s, I was like every other teenager illnesses can be treated chemically and with the music, going to movies, dances the numbers of the symptoms held at bay with consistent and things. I became an unwed teenage treatment. mother, not once, but twice. The fathers Tragically, however, in the dually diag- rejected me and the children, but I had mentally ill nosed patient, treatment is often derailed family backup and they tried to help by substance abuse. Unfortunately, these support my children and myself. Americans without substances decrease, and can completely "They were older people and so we were eliminate, the effectiveness of prescribed coming along. Times were changing. I any kind of dairy medication, feeding the cycle of delusion was trying to go to school to get my GED and addiction as the patient confronts a (a high school equivalency degree), but I welter of increasingly intense emotions. never finished. supervision has been If it is true that over one-third of the "I had this fantasy about finding the homeless suffer from some combination perfect man for me and my kids. But, mirrored by an of mental illness and substance abuse, well, that didn't come to real life 'cause I then current programs — geared only to kept running across the wrong men as far subsidizing the cost of housing — will as alcohol and drugs were concerned. increase in the never meet their needs. Without changes "My family found out and threatened to in public perception and government take my children from me, so I got off of availability of policy, such people are likely to become that for a while and stuck with my chil- homeless as quickly as apartments are dren. I was getting jobs here and there. lethal street drugs found for them. Between these facts and Not lasting very long, but long enough to help for those in need is a vast sea of make a little bit for myself. I was on public political quicksand. Even advocates for assistance and that was some help. the homeless seem to have trouble decid- "We moved from the District to Annapo- saying to myself, Why should I be home- ing how to realistically describe their lis, MD, and things got kind of difficult less? I've got people here, was born here.' clients. It is far more difficult to evoke there. I wasn't getting welfare anymore. "I was in and out of alcohol programs, public sympathy, and public funding, for I saw my children going through some- the hospital, shelters, using alcohol, a drug-addicted mental patient than it is thing I had never gone through. We were drugs...going to work, quitting jobs, and for the working poor. freezing and starving. Things just didn't then I ended up in Mt. Carmel, which is Experts say that our current mental work out right, and I went back to drinking about the best shelter anyone could go health system fails people like Barbara heavily. The kids ended up in a foster into. The sisters there are very patient, because it has yet to recognize the unique home. they deal with you. You get your medica- treatment problems faced by the dually "I moved back to the District when my tion, which is something else I needed diagnosed. Carole Schauer, President of mother was dying. I was trying to work in after the changes I been through." the District of Columbia's Mental Health order to get enough income to get an Mt. Carmel is a small overnight shelter Coalition, agrees. "You have a number of apartment. That's all I needed to get my run by the Carmelite Sisters of Mercy and detox programs in this city that demand kids back. But the rent here is so incredibly housed in an old convent behind the giant that the patient give up all medication high... headquarters of the U.S. General Ac- during detox. If you've got a schizophrenic "I was able to save enough money, but I counting Office. In 1984, Sister Maria patient who needs psychotropics, it is needed someone to co-sign a lease with Mairlot, then Director of Mt. Carmel, and almost impossible for them to undergo me. With my past problems with alcohol- other members of the Women's Shelter treatment for their addiction, or even ism, my family didn't want to risk their Providers Network got together to form a cope with day-to-day tasks, without their credit. My mother passed away and I new organization to provide permanent medication." went into a depression. I was living with homes for the women in their shelters. Dr. E. Fuller Torre is a nationally known my family but I didn't understand them The group, Housing Opportunities for expert on schizophrenia who treats large and they didn't understand me." Women (HOW) was born at that meeting numbers of Washington's homeless. Barbara's memories are redolent with and now maintains four dwellings which Torre believes the best way to treat the anecdotes about her addictions. Like are permanent homes for 20 formerly dually diagnosed is to aggressively treat many psychiatric patients, however, she homeless women. Barbara was inter- their psychoses with medication and then has much less understanding of her men- viewed and accepted into HOW in June deal with their addictions. He is exas- tal illness. 1987.1 first met her in my capacity as live- perated by the medical system's reluc- Doctors say that the form of depression in house manager of the rowhouse she tance to force treatment on patients who Barbara experiences is completely debili- shares with four others. desperately need it. "We can't force people tating. She cannot eat or sleep, and can Unlike other shelters, HOW's first pri- to take their medication, we can't stop become harsh and abusive or withdrawn ority is providing permanent, affordable them from drinking, and because of this and silent. She is often delusional, hearing housing for indigent women. HOW does they remain psychotic," he says. "Thus, voices that tell her she is worthless, a not link a client's ability to stay in treat- we have decided, in most jurisdictions, to whore. At such times, she dons a cheap ment or sober with a place to live. The allow these people to remain in the garish wig, slashes her clothes in an ef- organization does, however, require that streets." fort to make them more provocative and clients agree not to be intoxicated or use Torre and Pepper represent the two walks off into the night. drugs or alcohol in the houses. In practice, extremes of treatment for the dually di- 'The situation as far as my being home- this has meant that HOW is one of DCs agnosed. Pepper thinks that treating a less is that my family just got tired of me. few programs to accept the dually diag- person who is still addicted is ineffective So, I kept going in and out of shelters for nosed while they are still struggling with and dangerous. But both agree that the five or 10 years. That hurt because I kept their addictions. problem continues to worsen. It's a classic

26 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 Catch-22. A breakdown in the enough money to have the staff public mental health system persons to keep meetings going coincides with an increase in throughout the day, it's very the availability of illegal drugs, boring and disgusting. To be creating an environment that I under this medication and then breeds an even more intrac- I have only one or two meetings. table disease than the one I So during the day you just lay originally faced. The same I around and watch TV or shoot breakdown in public health I pool, and you feel like you're an care makes it impossible for | animal in a cage. You feel like the system to respond ad- HSOOb you're unwanted, and the equately to new and harsher medication isn't working, and realities. youdon'thaveanyfreedom. So, Barbara, like many who have I just left there, because I felt used this system, shakes her that maybe I can come back head in disbelief at its vagar- X INCREASE and get this out of my system ies. and start all over again. But, as We both got a chance to see )F THIS ONE. I far as this drinking...whenever the system at work on that I I get disappointed or angry or New Year's Eve, when I dis- I upset, I stop taking my medica- covered Barbara had once I tion. I get back to drinking. I again gone into crisis. That I can't sleep. I can't rest. I try to night, even with my help, it I stay up because I'm afraid that took Barbara 15 minutes to I somebody is going to come and negotiate the short distance to I attack me while I'm asleep. her bedroom. There had been "So I have this battle going signs for several weeks that I on. I'm fighting with the out- Barbara might be headed for I side world. I'm fighting with collapse. During the past few I the shelter situation, and on days she had become uncom- I the streets, with people out municative and hostile, and I I there in the community, and had asked her psychiatrist to I with myself. So, it's a hell of a intervene and have her com- | battle." mitted to either St. Elizabeth's, In many ways, Barbara has the District's publicly-funded been trying to help herself in psychiatric facility, or to a sub- all the ways our society de- stance abuse program. When these at- Ironically, a homeless woman is mands. tempts failed due to a chronic shortage of propped up by American Express. She consistently refuses welfare in fa- beds, her psychiatrist and I decided that vor of working long hours as a janitor. if Barbara did go on a bender, I should about her life when she is drunk. There is She dotes on her children and grandchil- work rapidly to have her admitted to the a great gulf between the sober woman dren, encouraging them to stay straight. city's acute care detoxification unit. We who gives a careful account of missed And she is still trying to save enough were hopeful that after the required three- opportunities, and the woman Barbara money for a subsidized apartment where day stay, the unit's staff would be able to becomes at these times. In a long tale of she will gather the three generations of admit Barbara to a residential substance tragedy, she repeatedly, without intended her family around her for the first time. abuse program for further counseling. irony, injects the phrase, "I am some- Former HOW Executive Director, Brian Washington's dually diagnosed are body. " Period. Carome, says that Barbara is typical of luckier than most. The city does have a "I've been in Garrick Hall [the District's many of the organization's clients, "an program geared to their needs, the two- residential substance abuse program], extremely intelligent and sociable woman year-old Psychiatric and Substance Abuse DC General, and St. Elizabeth's as far as who is trying to make progress in life, but (PASA) clinic. Tragically, with an esti- my nerves. They put you on medication. who is hampered by two severe problems mated 10,000 people a year passing At Garrick Hall, I was on Mellaryl. But, — alcoholism and mental illness — for through emergency psychiatric services, I felt claustrophobic, like the building which she has never been able to get the PASA program has a two-month and walls were closing in on me. Plus consistent treatment." backlog of patients. there were men there, more men than While the experts wrangle, and continue The city's detox unit shares grounds females, and I always get into this bad to agree to disagree, Barbara suffers on. with DC General Hospital and the city habit when I end up in the alcohol pro- "I get real depressed for a few months jail. It stands in a separate building half- gram. I'm always ending up with the and then one morning I get up and look in way between the two, reflecting its status guys. the mirror and say, 'Well, wait a minute, in its location. The outside door is locked. "I was getting paranoid about that, too. who are you? What do you want to do? Is You ring to gain admittance. Every floor I felt like I didn't have any control. So, I this what you want to be?' And then I wake is locked, every window covered in wire felt like it was just better for me to come up and I try all over again. It gets kind of mesh. The foyer looks like a high-school out of there. sickening to be always starting your life gym with its pea green walls and bare, "The program at St. Elizabeth's had me over again, but it's necessary..." • humming fluorescent lights. There is a on Halydol, and that kept me paranoid, coke machine on one wall, and a locked and I was having the same feelings. So, I M. Robbyn Swan is a Washington, DC- telephone near the elevator. left there. based freelance writer and advocate for Barbara talks easily and emotionally 'The program, since they don't have the homeless.

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 PHOTO CREDIT. IMPACT VISUALS 27 A Profile of Suzanne Gordon

By Eleanor J. Bader

riter Suzanne Gordon is a woman with a mission. Fiery though soft-spoken, angry yet caring for infirm family members; subsi- pleasant, she wants people in dized childcare and educational programs; the human services — coun- and adequate, affordable housing. On the selors, nurses, social workers, other hand are attitudinal changes: A who have urged women to accept the Wteachers and therapists — to join with shift in values that respects those who rules of the game while climbing to the parents and those caring for elderly adults perform caretaking functions as much as top of the corporate ladder. These women, in putting forth a National Care Agenda. we revere businesspeople, political lead- she says, have unwittingly become "pris- The agenda she envisions is broad and ers, or the international jet set. oners of pragmatism." A more socially comprehensive. On one hand are the ba- While feminists can hardly be blamed beneficial tack, she adds, would be found sic services she believes everyone is en- for society's devaluation of those in the in a feminist reclamation of pride in the titled to: National health insurance; paid caring professions, Gordon does point a caretaking that is a hallmark of "women's parental leave for new parents or those finger at "equal opportunity feminists" work": The childbearing and rearing, the

28 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 creativity and flexibility, the caregivers to fight back? How do we get ing their turf and fighting for their own. I emotional support and ability to feminists to take up issues like nursing? want to create a union of care. The trade express a range of emotions that Where are those CEOs who have heart union movement hasn't done it. To get many have lost in the last two de- attacks at 40 going to go for care if they people in a room and say that the single- cades. put working women, like nurses, down? issue strategy is bankrupt, and that we've Part of the fight, against the "masculin- Where will parents go for good childcare got to work together and ask for what we ization of American culture," says Gor- if they don't want to pay for the provision want, not what we think we can get, is no don, will require that feminists, of care?" small thing. Everyone in this country progressives and people who care "get out The "crisis of caring," she continues, is depends on someone else to meet their of the caring closet. And don't go into the so bad that "the problems that the poor, needs." closet if you're not in it." the working and middle classes, and some Part of Gordon's work is spreading this A journalist who has, for more than 20 upper-income people face are of degree, message: In political meetings, in speeches years, made activism around social and not kind. It used to be different. People to community and student groups, and economic justice issues a part of her life, now, unless they're immensely wealthy, through the print media. "Women are Gordon became acutely aware of the "cri- bear horrible burdens. You just can't buy hearing 'don't talk to anyone about caring;' sis of caring" after bearing two children, your way out of these problems." 'don't rock the boat;' 'do what men do;' and one in 1984, the second in 1986. Coupled So what's to be done? "Women have 'maturity is getting off the streets.' For with caring for her own elderly mother been depoliticized," says Gordon. "That's someone like me to say, 'talk to each and her husband's disabled parents, she the dirty little secret of the past decade. other, organize with each other, work for came face-to-face with the societal put- We have to get political if we want to collective solutions, get involved in poli- down of nurturing and concern. change this. Clearly, women in the lower tics,' is news. These are things people "Public policy in American society is classes have got no reason to be political. aren't hearing.People need to be socially built on a foundation of hostility to care There's no one to represent them, so why active. It's fun. People have lost an op- and interdependence," says Gordon. "If bother? Middle and working class women portunity for human enrichment. You we don't create a different public policy, if suffer much the same way, from the per- don't get human enrichment by going to those of us who are deeply concerned ception that politics takes too much time the inall. You get it by engaging with about this don't take the opportunity to for too little reward." others in political work." educate others and try to reshape policy, In addition, she continues, the "liberal In short, her message is a tried-and- we're going to face a profound crisis. And feminist" candidates whom many femi- true political truism: Don't mourn, orga- it's not just a problem of resources — it's nist organizations support "have done nize. • a problem of conceptualization." zero for women. Why should women vote Case in point: "A while back there was for them? Doesn't Dianne Feinstein [a PRISONERS OF MEN'S DREAMS: STRIK- a big piece on Faye Wattleton [of the democrat who lost a 1990 bid to become ING OUT FOR A NEW FEMININE FUTURE, Planned Parenthood Federation of California governor] know that 'tough by Suzanne Gordon (Little Brown & Co., America] in the New York Times. but caring* is the slogan of patriarchy? Boston; $19.95 hardcover) In it she said she was glad she The feminist movement supported Evelyn We've all been there —the discussion, the was no longer a nurse. This Murphy in Massachusetts. She was a party, the dinner — when someone, usu- attitude becomes self-rein- business candidate. She was prochoice, ally a woman, makes the dire confession: forcing. The message is but that was the only thing in her favor. "I hate having a woman boss." Our that people in these oc- She was against requiring developers to stomachs cramp, our palms sweat, as we cupations are the build childcare facilities. She was against acknowledge what has been said as true. problem, they are 'right to know' laws that would have Women are often no easier to work for, or the ones we need to identified toxic chemicals in the work- with, than men. They can be mean, petty get away from." place and the community. Her position and arrogant. They can condescend. They This attitude, on the Family and Medical Leave Act was can hurt others. They can break unions, says Gordon, never made clear. She was bad on women's fire co-workers without warning or due has not only issues and terrible on class issues. When process, and make unilateral decisions hurt those feminist organizations like NOW sup- that leave people in lower eschelons people, largely port such candidates, it's as if they're quaking with anger, frustration, or just women, who are saying *beggars can't be choosers.' Why plain confusion. in occupations don't we create our own candidates? Worse, they can act as if having a per- such as nursing, but has also harmed People believe that it's progress if a sonal life—a lover, a child or two, a hobby those who rely on the services these woman is elected. But I don't believe —is proof of disloyalty to the work ethic. workers provide. After speaking with that you can abdicate your responsibility And what an ethic it is. By the mid dozens of RNs and LPNs for an article she as a citizen, as a worker, as a member of 1980s, 43.2 of all professional and techni- wrote for the Boston Globe, Gordon real- a community, as a family member, be- cal employees, 29.2 percent of all man- ized that the nursing shortage was, at cause the right number of women in agers and administrators, and 29.7 per- least in part, a result of the feminist call power will one day magically happen." cent of all operatives were female. By for women to become MDs, and the sub- The notion that we have to take what 1988, says Suzanne Gordon in Prisoners sequent dimunition of nursing as a re- we can get, settling for incremental, tiny of Men's Dreams, these workers were spectable occupational choice. victories rather than the large-scale spending an average of 46.8 hours a week In fact, she says, it was after interview- changes that we want, infuriates Gor- at their jobs, a 15 percent increase since ing these nurses that she got "the anchor" don. "People feel that they have to pick 1973. Not surprisingly, they experienced for Prisoners of Men's Dreams, her most one from Column A, and two from Col- a 37 percent decrease in leisure time, recent book (Little, Brown and Co., 1991). umn B, but can't worry about Columns C having only 16.6 hours a week for recre- "Issues of the morality of care and how we and D. To create a National Care Agenda ation, for the kinds of restorative activi- create institutions for public caregiving Coalition will be immensely difficult be- are huge and fascinating. How do we get cause people are so committed to defend- continued on pg 39 29 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 The Uncommon Women of Greenham Public reactions to Greenham women have ranged from hatred toward "those radical lesbian separatists" to semi-idolization

As told by Leslie Webster and written by Ginna D. Rose

first heard about the women's Peace I participated in a rally for Big Mountain, too, thought the camp had disbanded. Camp at Britain's Greenham Com- trying to stop uranium mining on Navajo- Wondering if I'd come too late, I contacted mon years ago, when National Pub- Hopi sacred land. There, in downtown the Quakers in Newbury, a town near the lic Radio interviewed a "Common- Phoenix' triple-digit heat, I met a woman base, because the Quakers are known to woman" named Simone. She spoke whose son lives in Britain. Through her, keep in contact with peace groups around of a group of women from the Camp I learned that there are indeed women the world. My heart soared when they who walked across Salisbury Plain, which still camping at Greenham. Suddenly, I told me that women remain camped at is used as an artillery range, in defiance felt a powerful connection between their Yellow Gate and Blue Gate, and are com- of military exercises. The story inspired protest and mine, for Big Mountain is the mitted to staying until the land is re- me. As a longtime peace activist and beginning of a chain that starts with turned as common land. Common land is mother, I was deeply impressed that a forced uranium mining on Native land in the British term for public land. The few ordinary but determined women were the Southwest U.S., and ends with mis- Greenham women themselves put it more able to stop the military machine in its siles deployed for nuclear attack at bases dramatically: "We'll stay until the base is tracks. Their success gave me hope and around the world. At both ends, local no longer a threat to life on earth." helped me see that each of us can contrib- police protect the military; the Phoenix The U.S.A.F./R.A.F. Greenham Com- ute to the struggle for peace. The protesters, who were consulting with at- mon Base houses 101 American ground- Greenham women's point of view was torneys and keeping a vigil, were even- launched Cruise Missiles, each with the something I wanted to know more about, tually arrested and thrown in jail, as destructive capability of 16 Hiroshima but, as years went by, I heard less and commonly happens to the women at bombs. The magnitude of their potential less about them. What was going on there Greenham. devastation is unimaginable. Nine miles now, I wondered, with all the changes I wanted nothing more than to visit the of barbed wire fence, police dogs and affecting Europe? women at Greenham, but being poor and British Ministry of Defense police sur- Scouring my local (Phoenix, AZ) public having three young daughters to care for, round and guard these weapons. Once a library for leads, I failed to find any of the I doubted my wish could come true. Then, month soldiers bring the nuclear missile books that have been written about unexpectedly, a friend offered me a cou- convoy out to Salisbury Plain as part of Greenham; the most recent magazine rier ticket to England: Free transporta- their drill for war, or, as the women say, article was from 1987. When I asked tion in exchange for escorting 20 sacks of genocide. Each and every time this hap- friends and acquaintances what they mail! My mother offered to watch my pens, the women take nonviolent direct knew about the Peace Camp, many had children and I was off for a two-week trip. action against the convoy, continuing a never heard of it. Those who had, be- On arrival, I found the same vacuum of protest which is now 10 years old. lieved it had broken up years before. information about the Peace Camp I'd In varying numbers the women have I finally got a bit of current news when encountered in the States—British people, camped at the base's main entrance, Yel-

30 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 low Gate, every day since 1981 through frigid winds and drenched in rain, I held Cardiff to Greenham, a distance of 120 summer heat, endless winter rain, and onto my resolve to stay at the Camp only miles, to gain publicity for the fact that hurricanes. As I approached the site, I felt by reminding myself that these women the Cruise [missiles] were coming to as if I were coming to a reunion of sisters: had been through worse and would con- Greenham. When they arrived nine days Eager, expectant, confident. tinue to be there long after I had gone. later, not having received publicity and I arrived at Yellow Gate just after dark I learned Greenham's early history from feeling frustrated...the Camp was born. on a cold winter night. A small group of Marion (Mary) Spring of Cornwall. She After a few months the men were asked women were huddled around a commu- first came to Greenham in 1982 when the to leave. The whole thing had been a nal fire, where they spent most of their women's initiative, and the men who time. They immediately made me feel Aniko learned were there weren't behaving very well. welcome with hot tea; then they identi- From that time on it became a women's fied the guards who were watching us, 30 she could stop a camp, where men were welcome to visit, yards away. When I mentioned the ru- but not stay the night or take part in mors I had heard about the base closing, 52-ton lorry by nonviolent direct actions with the the group quickly informed me that, on women," she said. the contrary, there was new construction throwing a Strangely, this "Women Only" policy going on inside. has had more impact on people than its Aniko Jones, a petite Englishwoman, potato down its peace actions: Public reactions to became my one-woman orientation com- Greenham women hav > ranged from ha- mittee. Her hands, like everyone's, were exhaust pipe tred toward "those radical lesbian sepa- grimy from tending the fire, but her atti- Camp was small and has seen its num- ratists" to semi-idolization. The women tude was warm and receptive. She ex- bers grow and subside. Being a resident themselves are aware that the soldiers, plained that the women could recognize of Greenham longer than the missiles, police and press all react differently to military preparations for their nuclear she, like all the Camp women, has been them, and they react differently to each convoy rehearsal. They expected it some arrested, made court appearances and other, because they are a same-sex, fe- night that week. This meant I would be served jail sentences too numerous to male group. able to see, and perhaps join, their pro- remember. Mary was a funny, witty sto- At another Peace Camp in Britain, test. With Aniko's help and lifted spirits, ryteller who enjoyed regaling the group Molesworth, three women were raped by I pitched a tent. on Saturday night. She impressed me as three men from the same Peace Camp. The week I stayed was long, cold, wet a living storybook of political action. This outrageous act reinforced the and exhausting: A severe storm hit us. On "In September 1981, a group of women the most miserable night, whipped by and a few men from Wales walked from continued on pg 40

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 PHOTO: TORDAI/IMPACT VISUALS 31 TALKING FEMINIST

Animal Experimentation —a Woman Physician Stands Alone By Marjorie Cramer, M.D.

sat on the Amtrak train taking me About this time, I became aware of the The organization had, however, recently from New York City to Philadel- existence of the Medical Research Mod- passed a resolution supporting animal phia. Every movement of the train ernization Committee: A group of physi- research. I believed that if I presented a made my body hurt: I had a bad cians and other health professionals who resolution in which dialogue with those case of flu with a sore throat, are opposed to animal research exactly opposed to animal research was called muscle aches and a general feeling because it represents bad science. After for, in the medical community or in the of malaise. I probably felt worse be- so much exploration of the topic, I knew I lay public, and whether for ethical or cause of my nervousness at what I was agreed. scientific reasons, that this group would undertaking. I was to present a reso- It was the awakening and development listen and consider the alternatives. lution to the Medical Education and of an ecofeminist consciousness that led Prior to the meeting I had called several Research Committee of the American me to these conclusions. I couldn't accept committee members to try to gain sup- Medical Women's Association the philosophy that people own the earth port for my proposal. Many expressed (AMWA). My mission was to convince and must make it yield to them. I believe support, although some were lukewarm the committee members and eventu- in these precarious times, when we see or undecided. One woman, an animal ally the membership of AMWA to the bounty of the earth close to depletion, researcher, expressed scorn at the idea dialogue with people who are opposed that such a philosophy is shortsighted at and suggested that I speak to "those ani- to animal research. best. The idea that animals exist for us to mal rights people —they are all crazy, It had taken me many years to formu- use is all too typical of our wanton patri- they don't even eat chickens," rather than late my present opinion on animal usage archal attitude: Men can exploit women, to her. She said that she had not been in teaching and research. As a medical and women and men can exploit animals planning to attend the meeting but would student I thought that I would be consid- and the earth's natural resources for their definitely do so now. In spite of this rather ered weak if I acknowledged my feelings own ends. I was aware that large and antagonistic, angry response from one of pity and horror at the physiology labo- ever-growing numbers of women and men person, I had hopes that this group of women, ratory where cats were literally dissected shared my position. Surely the members co-professionals, would support me and see into pieces, shocked and drugged while of AMWA, enlightened, educated women the logic of what I was proposing. still alive. Although I was sickened, I doctors who had themselves often experi- I had armed myself with affidavits from pretended not to see them and not to feel enced oppression and discrimination, several physicians and scientists who had anything, so strong was my desire to would see my viewpoint. lost jobs or been harassed for refusing to obtain that highly prestigious M.D. AMWA exists in large part because do animal research. I also brought with After I had long been in private practice women physicians felt that the American me a letter from the editors of a presti- as a plastic surgeon, I began to rethink Medical Association (AMA), bastion of gious medical journal, accepting for pub- the situation. I read everything I could patriarchal power and physician advo- lication a paper criticizing animal re- get my hands on, on every aspect of the cacy, doesn't fairly represent them. I had search and a later letter rescinding the question from all points of view. I tried to always thought of AMWA as a rather agreement. (Over half the editorial board make sense of the arguments. I began to wonderful organization where women had resigned in protest over this unprec- realize that animal research was not only physicians became empowered to work edented decision.) I believed this kind of cruel, it was also lousy science. It was so for themselves and all women. I had heard suppression of minority opinions to be inexact and so inaccurate as a scientific that the leadership was sometimes a bit contrary to the scientific method and modality as to be, more often than not, on the conservative side but that the certainly not in keeping with a feminist useless and even counterproductive. general membership was open to change. consciousness.

32 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 Surely, I thought, this could be a great prise that anyone could question these ship. As I left the meeting room and the moment for an organization of women long-held beliefs. Surely we had all un- hotel in which the meeting was held to physicians. Dialogue would be possible dergone our rites of passage together in make my way back to the Amtf ak station, between those who are in favor of animal medical school? Surely we had erased all I kept thinking that this was a group of research and those who are opposed. If feelings of empathy for experimental ani- people whom I could have sworn were the opinion of those opposed was correct, mals from our consciousness? How dare I women but who behaved in all respects the implications were enormous. Most upset the denial system! like the worst kinds of macho men: research is funded by the taxpayer and At the committee meeting I was dealt Threatened by change and holding on to the amount spent totals billions of dol- with swiftly and surely. In my naivete, I their own narrow self-interested beliefs lars. For starters, there would have to be did not even consider until much later at the expense of others. I felt betrayed— an accounting to the taxpayers. that counter-lobbying might have gone and much worse; victimized. Perhaps it My thoughts on the train, despite my on after my telephone calls. The opposi- was the flu, but I actually felt as if my flu symptoms, were hopeful that this could tion was well-organized and united. My very body had been violated. When I be an historic moment. My nervousness arguments were not really listened to. called a close friend to comfort me after came because of past experiences with My affidavits were refused and the reso- the experience, I started by saying that I physicians, albeit male, when I tried to lution was unanimously defeated, never felt as though I had been raped. Gang- discuss this same issue: Shocked sur- to be presented to the general member- raped by AMWA! •

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 33 BEIRUT FRAGMENTS: A War Memoir by ter on the 1982 Israeli invasion, an iden- Jean Said Makdisi (Persea Books, NY; tifiable though not wholly separable in- COMIC BOOKS AND AMERICA: 1945 - $19.95 hardcover) terlude within the larger Lebanon war, 1954 by William Savage, Jr. (University Most wars have a relatively clear-cut she is careful not to apportion blame or of Oklahoma Press) beginning, and an even clearer end. It is responsibility. We rarely find out which Comic Books and America is an engag- hard to imagine a war that goes on for 15 militia, backed by which outside powers, ing social history. The author, William or more years, inconclusively, with few of i are responsible for the relentless shelling. Savage, illustrates the progression of its partisans, its victims, or its dwindling It is not surprising, perhaps, that the cold war mentality by investigating observers prepared to say when, or, in- "Summer 1982: The Israeli Invasion" is comic portrayals of post-war American deed, whether, it has ended. the most powerful chapter of the book. life. That is the Lebanon of 1991. Like the There is clarity, so often missing in the The book is refreshingly free of ponder- rubble from U.S. bombing raids of what maelstrom that is Beirut. The enemy is ous academic jargon, but this does not was once Baghdad, attention to the long- known. It is almost reassuring, after the stop Savage from formulating some im- neglected war in Lebanon is rare. Since seeming mindlessness of earlier and later portant arguments about the nature of j the Taif Agreement officially ending the episodes of the war, to set all the pieces popular culture. The most intriguing war was imposed by the Syrian-backed out in black and white. parts of the work deal with the comics' government of President Elias Hrawi in Makdisi is an astonishingly powerful portrayal of cultural enemies, particu- | 1989, one of the longest wars of this writer. But, ironically, it is precisely her larly communists. century has been gradually sputtering ability to focus our image of the numbing Savage convincingly documents the out. pointlessness of the war, that may in fact emergence of a severe cultural paranoia, Lebanon's civil war, which began in undermine her vision of a post-war coupled with an expanded world in which 1975 when the two sides grouped Syria Lebanon. Do her powerful descriptions Americans see themselves as interna- and the largely Christian rightists ultimately help or hurt the cause of tional saviors. He points to the prominent against the Palestinians and the largely Lebanon's survival and national recon- role played by global spies in cold war Muslim nationalists and leftists, has seen struction? Or, do they give new credibil- comics, and the portrayal of other peoples numerous truces, cease-fires and shift- ity to the popular mythology of Beirut as (especially if they are dark-skinned) as ing alliances. None of them lasted long. a place only of insanity, where nothing weak and vulnerable, as evidence of this What did last were the victims — the can be explained and only violence new cultural phenomenon. people living for days in fetid basement survives? Savage also asserts that comic books shelters, the families losing one and then There is no certain answer. But cer- placed a new emphasis on federal au- another member to the militias or to the tainly Makdisi's evocation of one woman's thority in the form of FBI agents and incessant bombing raids, the city itself. survival of the various hells of Lebanon's other government crusaders in the war Beirut never completely lost its pre-war war goes far to challenge the distance against the "Red Menace." The author character, its melange of European and and ignorance that allow us to dismiss as emphasizes this new respect for central Arab cultures mixing up, but never quite "crazy" a war that began long before the authority in his discussion of the "Cow- suppressing, its distinctly Lebanese carnage in the Gulf. boy Crusader." He refers to Roy Rogers' identity. But it suffered. —Phyllis Bennis "obsequiousness" in the presence of a It is in documenting the suffering — of Phyllis Bennis is the Middle East corre- federal agent, and reminds us that this the city, of its people — that Jean Said spondent for WBAI and the syndicated contradicts the rigorous independence Makdisi's book is a masterpiece. Its radio program "Undercurrents," and attributed to American cowboys. evocative language captures the pain, author of From Stones to Statehood: The last part of the book deals with the the terror, but, more often, the unremit- The Palestinian Uprising. evisceration of the comic medium, the ting boredom and the sense of repetition. cultural backlash against comic books. As Beirut crumbles around them, it COMING OUT UNDER FIRE: The History of It is a fascinating example of one piece of sometimes seems the terror diminishes Gay Men and Women In World War Two popular culture falling victim to another to a state absurdly close to normalcy. For by Allan Berube (The Free Press; $22.95 piece of popular culture. a moment, for a day, at least; then it hardcover) One of the most remarkable qualities rears up again, stark and cold. MY COUNTRY, MY RIGHT TO SERVE by of this book is the sense of social crisis it Jean Makdisi is very clear in her goal: Mary Ann Humphrey (Harper Collins; gives to what many Americans consider To paint a portrait of Beirut, of its people, $19.95 hardcover) a placid historical period. The bomb, the of its life throughout the war. This is not "When I was in the military they gave Korean War, the "Red Menace," all the a political analysis, a military history of me a medal for killing two men, and a world crises of the post-war decade are Beirut's warring factions. [That task has discharge for loving one." vividly portrayed as they reverberated recently been done powerfully in Robert —Leonard Matlovich, a gay Viet- through American society via comic Fisk's massive Pity the Nation: The Ab- nam veteran books. Savage argues that the sensitiv- duction of Lebanon, published by Ath- The goal of lesbian and gay liberation ity of the comics to these cultural crises eneum.l Makdisi's is an intimate book, in is the elimination of homophobia and and ambiguities was a factor in their which Lebanon at war swirls in a kalei- heterosexism in every arena of Ameri- eventual victimization by the culture at doscope of changes. "Should I write with can life. In that struggle, the military is large. hope?" she asks. "The guns are silent; the one of our most formidable adversaries. Comic Books and America is remark- blood has stopped flowing. Handshakes But the question of lesbian and gay ably clear considering the complexity of have been exchanged, agreements ar- equality in the military is far from simple. its arguments. It is well worth a read at rived at. The dead have been buried, the Is gay liberation something that stops a time in which we are again creating exiles have returned. Shake the kaleido- with basic questions of legal equality or new cultural enemies—Arabs. scope. The guns have re-erupted; blood is does it have to do with liberation of the —Dylan Riley flowing again. Should I write with de- human spirit, something to which the Dylan Riley is a student of history at the spair?" U.S. military and the system it defends New School for Social Research. With the exception of the lengthy chap- are hostile?

34 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 Coming Out Under Fire and My least in peacetime, the military provides that really something we want to fight Country, My Right to Serve, couldn't be a life of relative stability. for the right to do? more timely even though, at the time The struggle for equality in the mili- —Linda Roman they were published, no one thought we tary is complex. Because World War II Linda Roman is a teacher and writer would engage in yet another vicious at- was an anti-fascist war, the discrepancy from Oakland, CA. tack on people of color halfway around between what gay and lesbian service the world. They tell of the duplicity of members fought to uphold and their EXILE IN THE PROMISED LAND: A Memoir the military which "overlooks" homo- treatment inside the military and in ci- By Marcia Freedman (Firebrand Books, sexuality in times of war only to drum vilian life was profound. But the righ- NY; $8.95 paperback) out war heros when the firing stops. teousness of that battle is rarely disputed. Exile In The Promised Land is a com- They tell of the vilification and humili- Any account of participation in the pelling, first person account of Marcia ation of decent, hardworking, commit- military since World War II has had Freedman's life and experiences in Is- ted men and women and their courage more difficult questions to answer. rael. The author paints a portrait of a and will to survive. And, they tell of the Viewed simply from the vantage point of nation in flux and of her own personal growth of gay pride steeled by adversity winning lesbian and gay democratic transformations during the 14 years and self-discovery. rights, the treatment of our enlisted spent there, including four as a Member The two books are good companions. In brothers and sisters is intolerable and of the Knesset, its governing body. Ulti- Coming Out Under Fire, Allan Berube any bans on our participation are not mately disillusioned, Freedman eventu- presents a carefully researched, largely only inhumane but completely unjusti- ally returns to the United States, feeling unknown, account of the experiences of fied. Heterosexual African-Americans, that with this act of self-exile she can "be gay men and lesbians in the military Latinos, women are as competent as a Jew again, a Zionist again." However, during World War II. Mary Ann heterosexual white men to serve in any her controversial public persona remains Humphrey's My Country, My Right to capacity with honor and courage; so are intact in the collective memory of the Serve consists of 42 interviews with gay | gay men and lesbians. Even secret Pen- country she departed, along with a record and lesbian service people from World tagon research could find no reason for of remarkable contributions, especially War II to the present —officers and barring homosexuals from service (see in the area of social reforms on behalf of enlisted, draftees and volunteers, in all Gays in Uniform: The Pentagon's Secret women. branches, closeted and out, dishonor- Reports, Alyson Publications). Exile In The Promised Land opens with ably and honorably discharged, and in- However, there is a larger question: Freedman, along with other newly- cludes interviews with well-known re- Should anyone be encouraged to partici- elected members of the Eighth Israeli sisters Miriam Ben-Shalom, Perry pate in military adventures imposed on Knesset, about to take the oath of office. Watkins and Leonard Matlovich. Their the world by the U.S. government? Is It is January 1974. Until that moment stories corroborate the historical infor- mation contained in Berube's book. However, both books suffer from a lack of information about the experiences of SURVIVING TEEN PREGNANCY: gays and lesbians of color and fail to weave the overlapping yet distinct Your Choices, Dreams and Decisions threads of institutionalized racism and By Shirley Arthur homophobia in the military. Berube traces the development and refinement of the military's anti-homo- Each pregnant teen has sexual policies, daily life in the service, • Decisions to Make and life in combat during World War II. • Challenges to Meet Through letters, interviews, military records, newspapers and journals, • Dreams to Pursue Berube pieces together horrifying tales of "queer stockades," incarceration in Surviving Teen Pregnancy will help psychiatric wards, public degradation, witch hunts, the stigma of blue dis- her understand her alternatives, learn charges, lives of abstinence, secrecy and the art of decision-making, and regain shame. He also tells of heroism, drag control of her life. A wonderful book shows, comradery in battle, and protec- tion by superiors, solidarity and net- about the emotional aspects of too-early pregnancy, a book you'll working that continued long after the war. want for every pregnant teen you know. The interviews in My Country, My 192 pp. Illus. Right to Serve verify that gay men and ISBN 0-930934-47^1, Softcover, $11.95 ppd. lesbians are no different from anyone else in their reasons for joining the ISBN 0-930934^6-6, Cloth, $17.95 ppd. military. Especially in peacetime, most enlist to escape poverty, get an educa- tion, access options unavailable in the MORNING GLORY PRESS civilian world such as training and travel, 6595 San Haroido Way, Buena Park, CA 90620 get away from home, "prove" themselves. 714/828-1998 FAX 714/828-2049 Ironically, the military offers benefits Specializing in books on adolescent pregnancy and parenting since 1977. unavailable to many young people of color and of the working class: Health Please write for free catalog. care, job security, housing. In short, at

35 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 she had been living quietly in Haifa as a moral landscape of Israel was as consid- models in Ceremonies of the Heart. Be- young wife and mother, working on her erable as the latter's effect on her. Sym- sides many weddings, the collection in- doctoral dissertation in philosophy. biotically, each was significantly chal- cludes ceremonies of commitment, of Unexpectedly benefitting from a protest lenged and changed by the other. "uncommitment," and handfastings or vote in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur The book is dedicated to her late father, trysts drawn from Goddess-worshipping War, she and two others from a newly- a labor activist and grassroots organizer traditions. (The accompanying photos formed independent party are swept into whose political/moral values are cred- are as much fun as the celebrations the office. With the casting of her first vote, ited with having informed her own. In book describes.) Freedman reveals herself to be a prin- embracing this legacy, she willingly short- The most striking element of these cipled politician, responsive primarily circuited her career as an elected official, accounts is their diversity. The anthol- to the metronome of her own conscience. electability and respectability being ogy includes women of various cultural Eschewing the advantages of party prerequisites for survival. "A politician and racial backgrounds, and the rituals politics and popularity, she tries to keep never willingly creates a scandal," she reflect this. Quite a few couples are in- faith with her understanding of Jewish observes wryly. "Grassroots organizers terracial or cross-cultural, and their cer- values and its special charge, "not the do little else." emonies are often particularly rich. burden of fear, but the burden of Exile In The Promised Land is filled Trinity Ordona and Desiree Thompson, resistence." Accordingly, despite her with a great deal of information about for example, made a thousand gold pa- discomfort with confrontation, she Israeli society, politics and mores. Seam- per cranes, a Hawaiian-Japanese tradi- bravely speaks out, taking positions on lessly switching back and forth from the tion of marital good luck. At the recep- issues which often precipitate storms of subjective to the objective, it depicts the tion, everyone danced a Filipino dollar criticism and hostility, including the author's internal process as she moves dance, pinning money on the happy espousal of Palestinian self-determina- from one personal stage to the next, couple. tion and a two-state Israel. striving always to keep faith with her For some couples, a religious wedding The book is most exciting when deal- own moral vision. More than an activist is important, and Ceremonies of the ing with the author's feminism. She with a passion for reform, she is a revo- Heart includes stories of Jewish, Quaker, comes to it slowly, in the form of rev- lutionary, perhaps even a prophet. Like Unitarian and Metropolitan Community elations fashioned from the prosaic many of that breed, she shows her love Church (a national lesbian/gay congre- material of daily incidents. Sensitive and loyalty by holding the beloved to the gation) rituals. An intriguing example is always to issues of equality and social highest critical standard, no disapproval described in detail in "Gospel Under the justice, the connective tissue of her ever a final verdict, but always intended Chuppah." Furthermore, many pieces politics and personal behavior, Freed- as a prelude for constructive union. list the names of readings, prayers and man cannot help noticing the lack of Exile In The Promised Land is a lively, musical selections, making it a valuable parity within her own marriage. As she literate, and consistently interesting tool for couples planning a celebration. moves toward personal liberation she chronicle of a courageous and provoca- Besides creating a resource, editor feels "unbearably alone," and reaches tive personality searching "for an alter- Becky Butler has also sought to place out for women to "share the agony of native way of being in the world." The contemporary rituals in a larger context. change." At one level, the beginnings of book is at its best when being concrete; Her introductory essay, "A History of the feminist movement in Israel came from particularization come many of Lesbian Partnership," draws on existing directly out of Freedman's need to orga- Freedman's keenest insights and obser- analysis and current debates, including nize and recruit against this loneli- vations. Through the paradigm of her the legacy of lesbian-feminism in the ness. At another, given the jugger- own life, the reader is given an informed U.S. (All but three of the 27 accounts are naut of Freedman's commitment to analysis of a modern state dominated by from this country.) At its height in the social equity, it was an ideological historical wounds and an archaic and 1970s, lesbian-feminism critiqued mar- inevitability. resistent patriarchy. riage and monogamy as heterosexual Eventually, she becomes a prime mover Freedman refused the double message institutions that oppressed and confined in Israeli feminism, addressing issues of that Jewish/Israeli women be strong, women. It is telling that only one ac- abortion, rape, wife battering, prostitu- assertive, but only "in the service of the count is from that time (1977): tion, divorce, custody, lesbian rights, family, and under your husband's domi- "It took two weeks for us to realize we and the formation of a women's political nance." She would not be the princess were in love, and another two weeks for party, bookstore and shelters.The latter, "honored at home," but a woman of con- us to decide to spend our lives together. especially, places her in personal jeop- science who views and celebrates life "as Two weeks after that we had a private ardy as she targets and seeks to redress a political action," as a heroine-in-exile ceremony; we called it a 'wedding.'...We "those shameful secrets of family life" who has contributed more than her fair believed we were the first two wives in which are antithetical to the well-being share towards improving the quality of history." How different from Deborah of women. Charging the state with life for others. and Anna's wedding gown and tuxedo! having a vested interest in resisting Both book and author are worthy of our Butler analyzes this shift and others these exposures, she asserts, "we respectful attention. and concludes, "With the emergence of threatened the stability of the family —Eleanor Pam women's spirituality, the division be- and, by extension, the security of the Eleanor Pam is aprofessor of Behavioral tween the political and spiritual has state." and Social Sciences at The City Univer- begun to be bridged, and with the heal- Ultimately, Exile In The Promised- sity of New York. ing of this rift, the lesbian community Land is a memoir about Marcia has increasingly come to honor and em- Freedman's need to be vocal and visible, CEREMONIES OF THE HEART edited by brace the ritual affirmation of lesbian her personal talisman against the double Becky Butler (Seal Press, Seattle; $ 14.95 partnerships." It remains to be seen oppression of silence and denial. paperback) whether this trend will continue, or if it Uniquely positioned to observe and in- Whether you want to exchange private is partly a reflection of the broader fluence the politics of her adopted coun- vows at the beach, or walk down the aisle society's current focus on family and try, Freedman's impact on the political/ and hire a hall, you'll find lots of lesbian tradition.

36 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 At any rate, Ceremonies of the Heart indignation, descend upon America's Wareham in Carol Brennan's unique is a far cry from a lesbian Modern Bride. colleges and universities, and demand thriller, Headhunt. Liz is a living, The rituals it describes celebrate per- dignity and justice for female students. breathing woman, a 40-something di- sonal, often spiritual, transformation That didn't happen. Parents, public offi- vorced mother of two who, for many and, frequently, lesbian liberation as cials, and students themselves raised years, has been the wage earner for her- well. little clamor." self and her children. She has problems —Tracy Scott Now, six years later, while some schools with which we can all identify: She has Tracy Scott is a freelance reviewer from have enacted sexual harassment poli- worked hard to juggle a demanding ca- Brooklyn, NY. cies, others continue to ignore or deny reer in public relations while trying to be the problem. College women must still there for her children; she worries about THE LECHEROUS PROFESSOR: Sexual deal with unscrupulous professors, no her aging mother who lives alone in Harassment on Campus by Billie Wright matter if the institution supports them Florida; she has a sexist boss who puts Dzeich and Linda Weiner (University of or not. her down at every opportunity and who Illinois Press) The Lecherous Professor makes clear gives the best clients to a male who is on The Lecherous Professor is a small book who is at fault. After reading this book, the same level as she; and, in the cut- that tries to tackle a big problem, sexual young women will be ready to blame the throat world of public relations, she al- harassment on college campuses. Au- offenders, instead of themselves. As a ways has to watch her back. There are thors Billie Wright Dzeich and Linda college student, I have heard too many too many who are younger, faster, Weiner have wisely limited their work to women say, "I didn't mean to lead him cheaper and only too ready to take her the harassment of female students by on." Dzeich and Weiner have written a place. male faculty. It is still difficult, however, book to make women put their behavior Liz is no intrepid heroine looking for to fully address this complex problem in in perspective, finallyrealizin g that it is adventure. When she is thrust into the the space of 250 pages. But Dzeich and the academy that is leading them on. middle of a murder, she doesn't feel a Weiner try to compensate by loading —Rosemary Ferguson thrill—she's scared to death. The mur- each page with statistics and personal Rosemary Ferguson is a student at the dered man is the president of a major accounts. This approach can be as over- Eugene Lang College in New York City. executive search firm—a "headhunter" whelming as it is informative. — and Liz' own client. Since she brought Because of the sheer amount of infor- HEADHUNT by Carol Brennan (Carroll & his organization into her company, she mation and the complexity of harass- Graff, NY; $18.95 hardcover) stands to lose a large commission, which ment, the book has distinct chapters In today's mystery/suspense genre, fe- she badly needs, if the firm withdraws. which are divided by subheadings such male protagonists are, by and large, more Worse still, arriving for an early morn- as Diffused Institutional Authority and like men in women's clothing. Not so Liz ing appointment, Liz is the one who Attempts at Coping. Clearly, the au- thors tried to present the material in a methodical manner, but I often had to THIS IS A DOG. THIS IS A DOG ON DRUGS. flip back and forth to see what the origi- Thousands of primates, dogs, cats, nal subheading was. mice and other animals are delib- Despite the complicated format, the erately addicted to drugs in U.S. voices of women — the anger, despair laboratories each year—even and disappointment women feel about though addiction is a complex tragedy of human society. The academe — are captured. "I've had sev- allocation of millions of dollars eral experiences with professors staring for animal experiments simply at me, bumping into me, making sugges- means that more people are dying tive remarks. They're silly and boring, for want of desperately needed, but they also repulse me," said Susan N., grossly underfunded treatment a student from a small liberal arts college. centers. "When I talk to my friends, they're not Consider some examples of tax-funded findings in drug research: surprised; they just say it happens all the time. For the type of harassment Morphine increases heart rate in dogs genetically bred to be fearful of humans. that I've experienced, the only thing you Tail-burned mice injected with heroin are equally sensitive to pain whether can do is ignore it and make professors they were previously addicted to morphine or not. understand that it isn't a turn-on and Naloxone raises blood pressure in cats whose brains are crushed by an impact- that you're not a sex object." driven piston. In 1984, when the original edition of Let's wage war on drugs, not on animals. The Lecherous Professor appeared, it It's time for animal experimenters to kick the habit. was the first time the public heard the frustrations of college women, and it seemed that people were ready to listen. ANY QUESTIONS? Dzeich writes, "No one anticipated the Contact The American Anti-Vivisection Society media response. The book undeniably Suite 204, Noble Plaza, 801 Old York Rd., Jenkintown, PA 19046 had its hour upon the stage. Sexually 215/887-0816. harassed collegians were the focus of Name_ . publications as diverse as The Chronicle of Higher Education and People Maga- Address zine and of local and national interview- City. State Zip. ers like Oprah Winfrey, Bryant Gumbel Please enroll me as a member. Enclosed is $15. _. Additional contribution $ _ and Phil Donahue. I was naive enough to Membership includes 11 issues of The A- V Magazine. Contributions are not tax-deductible. assume that the public would rise in

37 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 finds the body and, for a variety of rea- that it wasn't always easy to decide where population. The norm in most countries sons, is under suspicion herself. When to place things. What they apparently is a ratio of men to women which usually her apartment is ransacked and the tape were able to decide, based on their fa- favors women or is close to being equal. from her answerphone stolen, she real- miliarity with the subjects of Arab femi- However, in India, by the late 1980s the izes that she is also in danger from the nism and Arab literature, was what to ratio was 800 girls for every 1,000 boys. killer. But Headhunt is more than a include in this book. Genetic tests to determine fetal sex are murder mystery. Stalked by both the They've managed to do several things. used by a vast number of pregnant Indian law and the murderer, Liz Wareham's One is to give us a sense of women's lives women who are desperate to have only life goes on. Clients have to be catered to in the Arab world — not just a picture of sons. Many girls who manage to survive and satisfied; bills have to be paid, as do oppression, but also one of resistance and till birth are chronically malnourished, college tuitions. determination. They introduce us to many particularly in rural areas where the This fast-paced novel also gives wry well-known Arab women writers and birth of a daughter is greeted with despair. and penetrating insights into the worlds activists, preceding each selection with a "Girls are a liability because they never of big business and public relations. In brief biography of the author and laying bring home good wages, they require a addition, it is witty and funny and the a good foundation for future reading and dowry when they marry, they do not best read I've had in years. study. And, they present many of these carry on the family name, and they are —Beverly Lowy works in English for the first time, hav- unable to care properly for aged parents ing done much of the translation them- because they live with their in-laws." OPENING THE GATES: A Century of Arab selves. Times (UK) Feminist Writing edited by Margot The editors chose a segment of an inter- And in a report prepared for the govern- Badran and Miriam Cooke (Indiana Uni- view with Nawal al-Saadawi, perhaps ment of India to mark South Asia's Year versity Press, Bloomington; $17.50 pa- the most famous feminist writer of the of the Girl Child 1990, the study reported perback) Arab world, to close the book. Her senti- that although girls are born biologically Opening the Gates: A Century Of Arab ment is worth quoting here: "Well, I am stronger, 300,000 more of them die each Feminist Writing, edited by Margot optimistic by nature. When I was in jail, year than boys — if they are born at all. Badran and Miriam Cooke, serves as an I was very optimistic. Even when I'm "If girl children do survive, UNICEF has excellent introduction to the world of dying, I will be optimistic. You have Is- found that a quarter of the 12 million Arab feminism and feminist writings. lamisation and retrogression, but you girls born in India die by age 15, many of Perhaps the best thing about this book, also have conflict and progress. Both them victims of neglect, discrimination for me, is that the women are speaking happen together. In spite of the funda- and sometimes infanticide because of for themselves. This is not a scholarly mentalist revival, you also have a revival their gender ."(NYTimes, October 5,1990) treatise on Arab feminism (although of the progressive forces. And the fight As I spoke with the woman, I thought of there is an informative introduction), goes on. You must go forward." the fetus within her and the primal birth but an interesting collection of essays, Opening the Gates speaks of women defect it carried. I also looked at her two speeches, poems and fragments of fic- who are doing, or have done, just that, little sons, holding on to her with tion. There are tributes from one femi- and, in so doing, the book does the same unyielding, demanding hands. Was the nist to another. For example, one set of thing for us, inviting us to know more and empire bereft of an heir? Are the two opening lines can be applied to this whole advance further. little men beside her insufficient? book: Who are you, Claire Gebeyli? What — Debbie Greenberg Ratero The sound of crashing throbbed be- do your words mean?/Are they cries? Are Debbie Greenberg Ratero is a writer and tween my temples. It was the sound of they prayers?/ Are they a wound out of student living in New York City. multiple images, associations and ide- which your blood, your/ truth, your sub- ologies tumbling headlong into each stance flow?/ Are they a way of saying Hoffman from pg 3 other. The sounds of rage and despair. who you are?/ You are a woman, and As if it were me she would be negating. rarely has poetry shouted/ this fact so must, first and foremost, be under the Rage that it was my gender that was the loud. (From "Who are you, Claire control of the woman who inhabits it. The least wanted — and despair over the Gebeyli?" by Nadia Tueni, 1968) slogans so often chanted and painted on reality that within this act was a total There are stories which well reveal life demonstration placards attest to this: Our denigration, denial and devaluation of for women in different parts of the Arab bodies/Our lives. A woman's life is a hu- the female principal, the female self. world: "The groom seemed concerned man life. Not the church, not the state, Her choice, so much determined by her about every woman at the celebration, women must decide their fate. cultural conditioning, replanted within except the bride. Laila was in a strange Yet each week at Choices there is the an American system allied with a tech- faraway world. She was distracted, in- request from a patient for information on nology that allowed it to flourish, gave capable of thinking amidst the fast cur- a six- or seven-week fetus, on whether it is her an ambiguous power. Her choice was rent which dragged her to a single point. a boy or girl. Is it a boy, they ask tenta- to be free to make the decision to abort Her pleading glances shifted to me. She tively? Because if it is, I might want to her fetus merely because it was female. realised what was happening: She was keep it—or, he would want me to keep it. The reasons that led her to make what in being sacrificed to save her family from This week it was the Hindu woman who her mind and in much of her culture's poverty." reminded me of Elizabeth and her mother. attitude was the only rational and intel- The editors have divided the book into "Girls are liabilities," she said. "It is a ligent choice, resulted in an ambivalent three sections; "Awareness," "Rejection" burden for the mother and she has to care type of freedom. A freedom that says that and "Activism." There were times when for her daughter and the grandchildren of in order for a woman to be "free" or to I found it hard to understand why cer- her daughter, which takes time away from have more than a minimal chance at tain pieces were placed in one category her husband." According to the Times survival she must deny and negate her and not another; the "Activism" section, (UK), the practice of determining the sex own sex. It is an extraordinarily Kaf- for example, was composed almost ex- of an unborn child in India is so wide- kaesque resolution to the dilemma of clusively of speeches and essays. But spread and so profitable that it is begin- autonomy — wherein women must de- Badran and Cooke, themselves, explain ning to make a discernible impact on the stroy the woman within to have more of

38 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 a chance at survival. woman carrying a medically deformed cessions some have made to get a toehold The reality of the universal negation of fetus, a 46-year-old woman with HIV, a on the American dream of financial as- female value has given rise to many cre- 12-year-old, and a graduate student who cension. And she has done her work well, ative flights of fantasy among feminists wants to finish her Ph.D. They all have writing an original, clear and pointed of the second wave who have written of good reasons, because all the reasons are class analysis that holds nothing sacred. worlds without men, worlds where there theirs. And in the end, that is the answer: Despite the wishful assertions of second- is no need for reproduction, where femi- All the reasons are theirs. If I had the last wave feminists who assumed that once nist values of collectivity, peace, self-reli- abortion on earth to give? I might very women attained positions of power they ance, self-respect and compassion for all well decide to give it to the woman who in would alter the terms of the deal and the earth's creatures become natural such a strange way made me think of all offer the world a saner, kinder, more ways of being. Worlds in which being the reasons not to. • compassionate alternative, few changes female is not a liability and where fear of have occurred. female power in men has not produced Iron John from pg 19 "Women moving into mainstream the enormous social, psychological de- American workplaces do not own the fense of overcompensation known as the apolitical, if elitist and obscure. In fact, joint any more than the majority of men patriarchy. Patriarchy, an institutional- he is riding the crest of a new wave of ever own the joint," Gordon writes. "Thus, ized social reality where violence, war, anti-feminist backlash. throwing women into positions of power rape, abuse, art, culture and pornography As W.H. Auden, a poet Bly quotes, once — without educating them about how to define the parameters of existence. wrote: "No fairy story ever claimed to be use it for the good of the group rather However, in a deeper sense, sex-selec- a description of the external world and no than only for the individual, without tion abortions could very well be consid- sane child ever believed that it was." • fostering a community to whom women ered pornographic — having violent mi- feel accountable and without valuing sogyny at its core. If pornography is the Men's Dreams from pg 29 caring — does not guarantee the warm, male will to power over the female — and supportive environment in which so many by its very nature requires more and ties that calm, tame and amuse. of us hoped to work." more violent expression to excite its Economics, of course, play a major role Examples of women's betrayal of one afficionados, then selecting female fe- in this. Between 1970 and 1989 the num- another follow: Eleanor Holmes-Norton, tuses for termination merely because they ber of women working more than two jobs the sole female board member at Yale are female could be the prototype of all quadrupled. The impoverishment of University, refusing to meet with strik- pornography—"pre-natal pornography." women—the gender-imposed inequity ing, underpaid workers; Elizabeth But feminist revenge or Utopian fanta- that follows many women who divorce or Topham Kennan, president of Mount sies aside, how can one woman judge separate from their mates—is well docu- Holyoke College and NYNEX board another's choice? How can feminists who mented, and clearly part of the reason for member, refusing to talk with phone struggle against the oppression and bio- this sky- rocketing trend. Indeed, survival, employees during a job action sparked by logical and sexual orthodoxy of the patri- just bare survival, almost always requires a threatened reduction in health ben- archy have their own — no matter how living in a two-income household. In fact, efits; banking execs who believe that seemingly moral? How in fact, can I judge only 18.5 percent of American domestic using a typewriter compromises their this woman's choice? units earn over $50,000 annually. "professional image;" and female MDs, I, who have spent more than half my life How women, as employers as well as treating medical workers with disdain in the service of a movement where the employees, fit into these equations var- bordering on contempt, enrage and rankle. concept of legal abortion on demand is a ies. But as more and more women enter The devaluation of caring, says Gor- primary political truth. I, whose entire the world of paid employ—by choice as don, is a major cause of elitist attitudes, philosophical and political agenda is well as by necessity—a wide range of attitudes that are acquired by virtually committed to insuring that this woman questions about how they function, and everyone in power, regardless of then- as well as any other is able to make her to whom they pledge allegiance, come to class of origin or racial status. "The idea choice (whatever my opinion of it), in the fore. that the oppressed, once liberated, will safety, comfort, love and legality. Suzanne Gordon has addressed these wield power differently than their op- It is for this woman and for all others questions squarely, assessing the sway pressors is a myth shared by many groups that I dedicated my life. It is to support and hold of the marketplace on individual struggling to free themselves from her choices that I make mine. It is for the women, and has homed in on the con- bondage. It has informed the belief that principal of the fundamental civil right of reproductive freedom that I have put my life on the line many times. And it is for a visionary feminism that I struggle to cre- ate a society, a "newer" world order, where A Masters With Meaning being female will not be considered a birth defect. Individually-designed, independent study, supported by region- There is politics, then there is love, then al faculty. Earn your MA in 12-18 months with brief regional there is ambivalence. There is an exer- residencies. Accredited, financial aid available. cise that is done by practitioners for those who counsel women seeking abortions. It Studies include writing, psychology/counseling, women's is called "the last abortion" and asks the studies, education, environmental studies, health education, participant to choose among six women history, and others. B.A. external degree is also available. the one who will be allowed to receive the last abortion on earth. It is an exercise in Vermont College of individual ethics and forces one to con- front her own prejudices. There is an Norwich University orphaned teenager, a victim of rape, a 1-800-336-6794 Box 694, Montpelier, VT 05602 802-828-8500

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 39 Many anti-nuclear supporters went on to Jews would be constitutionally incapable Women of Greenham from pg 31 of dehumanizing and torturing their Arab other types of peace work, leaving behind neighbors once they entered the Prom- a small but dedicated contingent of women ised Land. And it has been an animating Greenham commitment to a same-sex whose commitment has demonstrated, force among Blacks, who could not policy. by their tenacious and continued pres- imagine that they would be capable of the Mary brought the heritage of Greenham ence, firm opposition to nuclear arms. I same kind of racism whites had practiced to life for me with a recounting of the first realized I stood at the far end of the chain for so long." years of the Peace Camp, when the women that started at Big Mountain, where the So the oppressed become oppressors. worked hard to prevent the Cruise Mis- Navajo and Hopi are trying to hold their Or do they? Gordon suggests that women siles from arriving and being put into sacred land against the nuclear tide. need to go back to some of the precepts of position. They cut fences, blocked roads, Today at Greenham, entering the base early feminism. One message, that "sis- lay down in front of machinery, and occu- to hang banners and splashing convoy terhood could be powerful only if it was pied sentry boxes. In 1982, they sent out vehicles with paint are the women's fa- based on collective action, forming unions, 1,000 letters, requesting recipients to ask vorite practices. Once, when the military creatingworking-women'sorganizations, 10 additional women to gather at the base was using a flock of geese as guards, the and lobbying for fair employment legisla- on the anniversary of the decision to bring women "liberated" the honkers by calm- tion," needs to be taken to heart so that the Cruise Missiles to England, a decision ing them with raisins soaked in whiskey collective advancement, rather than per- which was undemocratically made in a and then smuggling the birds out, sonal achievement, becomes the goal. closed session of the Cabinet. On Decem- wrapped in blankets. The A.W.O.L. geese In addition, Gordon advocates a Na- ber 12, 1982, more than 30,000 women swam happily away on a nearby river. tional Care Agenda of federal supports: converged on Greenham, joining hands, At times the women's actions have a A return to the 40-hour work week; an- singing and covering every yard of the direct physical impact on the nuclear war nual vacation periods, like those guar- nine-mile fence with baby booties, machine. During a display of military anteed to people in Western Europe, for children's clothing and webs of wool. A exercises offered as entertainment, when all workers; well-financed public educa- few weeks later, on New Year's Day, po- the base invited the public to view a tion; paid parental leave for the birth or lice arrested 44 women for dancing on the parade of their "skills," the Camp women adoption of a newborn, or where there is missile silos. took action for a week: Occupying run- the need to care for sick children, parents Sarah Hipperson, a Scottish woman who ways, preventing exercises and re- or lovers; subsidized childcare; universal first came to Greenham eight years ago, painting the "Blackbird" spyplane. This access to high-quality, cost-effective when she was 55, described the silo-danc- plane was the base's pride and joy; be- healthcare; quality, affordable housing; ing and other direct actions as an open cause of the paint it had to be sent back to and a national pension system. invitation to the public for new ways of the U.S. for repairs. Ironically, the re- While Gordon believes these supports thinking. "Nonviolence is an energy that sponsible parties escaped three years im- are possible if the government cuts the gives you the power to overcome power- prisonment only because the military military budget, she also believes that lessness. Whatever the [military] occur- decided against a court proceeding in fundamental shifts need to take place in rence, you know that there is some action which it would have had to reveal classi- the workplace. "Ifmen are not furloughed you can take to interrupt, disrupt, or stop fied information. from the prison of work through shorter it, so that the 'occurrence' does not work Court appearances are an integral part hours, they will never play a greater role out as it was intended...Evil depends on of nonviolent direct action, as are prison in family life, and women's liberation will being thorough and efficient; nonviolent sentences. Camp women welcome ap- remain the stalled revolution about which direct action makes it unworkable at the pearing in public arenas, where they can so many now speak with despair and time. It also gives a chance to change the argue on moral as well as legal grounds sorrow...We must talk with each other thinking behind the ideas that promote against the nuclear arsenal, expose ac- about putting work back into perspective these crimes against humanity." tivities which both the military and the — considering it to be a part, but not all, Sarah, an outspoken dynamo, has wit- government try to hide from the public, of life. This does not have to lead to a nessed a number of large, creative pro- and make the nuclear nightmare and flight from the work world, nor to the tests. In April 1983, for example, the their fight against it a matter of record. creation of discriminatory 'mommy women, dressed in furry animal costumes, Many of the women at Greenham have tracks' in the workplace. What we need is held a "Teddy Bear's Picnic" on the "wrong court files as thick as dictionaries and a normal track — a set of work-related side" of the fence. They smeared police prison records to match. schedules and goals, as well as a model of with honey when they were arrested. Just to live at the Camp requires a career development that conforms to the That same year 2,000 women from all tremendous amount of energy, especially needs of the majority of human beings," over the world sewed a six-kilometer when rain, cold and wind strike. While I she writes. dragon to ring the fence—80 were ar- was there, our daily tasks included gath- Based on more than 100 interviews, rested while painting a dragon on the ering firewood, hauling water from a Fire Prisoners of Men's Dreams is an urgent three-mile base runway. On Halloween Department pipe across the road, cook- call for the integration of feminist and more than 2,000 "witches," carrying ingmeals and washing dishes. In warmer class concerns. By pointing to the myths brooms and bolt cutters, made off with months the women garden and gather inherent in "equal-opportunity femin- five miles offence. berries; but in the winter a lot of time ism...an ideology that abandons trans- Since 1983—the year remembered for passes simply tending the fire, waiting formation to adaptation, promoting male- large, theatrical events—the women's for the kettle to boil and trying to keep female equality without questioning the actions have become smaller and more warm. Chairs and a couch around the values that define the very identity it spontaneous, reflecting a change in pur- campsite make a kind of living room; off seeks," she urges us to question the pose. Large demonstrations galvanized to one side, in the brush, tents stand in a meaning of work, status, fame and for- public sentiment against missile deploy- clearing made by an off-course military tune. Reading it feels good, like relief ment; once the missiles arrived and were petrol bomb. long overdue. installed in November, 1983, Greenham People driving by often honked at us, —Eleanor J. Bader became, in a media sense, "unfashionable." some waving in a friendly manner, others

40 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 shouting obscenities. Although some lo- sodden sleeping bags. cal people gave the women a hard time, The weather had done the women's others were supportive, donating food, work and stopped the convoy. My disap- D O N' T BE money, firewood and warm clothes. I es- pointment at not being able to witness pecially appreciated "Isabelle the Bath the women taking direct action was tem- Lady" who has opened her home to the pered by knowing that every missed women for years. After a week of caked- military exercise is a blessing. on mud, smoke and sweat, my turn at the For several years the Peace Camp bath felt like a treasured gift. women could neither vote nor receive Despite the community forged by mail; Newbury declared them "homeless" Greenham women, harassment is virtu- and quickly taught them that the home- C R U E Lr ally constant. Since October, 1982, when less were greeted with suppression of bailiffs (processors) stole six vehicles from their civil rights. Only after a long legal the protestors, a pattern of constant an- battle did a British high court in 1985 FREE CATALOG tagonism, initially funded by the British declare "Yellow Gate, Greenham Com- government, has come down in the form mon Women's Peace Camp" a legitimate CRUELTY-FREE & of evictions. For weeks the women could postal address and reinstate resident's ECO-FRIENDLY hardly eat, sleep, or even sit down with- voting rights. PRODUCTS out being evicted. During that period the Immediately following this victory, the police became increasingly violent and military enacted a set of "bye-laws" (Brit- Cleaning Products arbitrarily confiscated whatever personal ish spelling) declaring it a criminal of- items they could find. Only after 10 weeks fense for "unauthorized civilians" to en- did it become clear to local authorities ter the base. At midnight, the first night that their high-pressure tactics were not on which the bye-laws were to take effect, yielding results. The women tenaciously hundreds of women flooded onto the base remained encamped. Soon the funding to demonstrate how unimpressed they dried up and evictions became less fre- were with this harassing legislation. Liti- DON'T BE CRUEL,INC. quent. gation on the validity of the bye-laws is PO Box 46504-OTl At the time of my visit, evictions were still in process, with the women contend- Chicago, IL 60646 taking place several times a week. I wit- ing that because Greenham is on "com- (312) 774-5320 nessed the procedure: Newbury Town mon" or public land, it is the United Council vehicles pulled up to Yellow Gate States Air Force, not they, who is the and out stepped bailiffs, joined by Minis- trespasser. try of Defense Police from within the Two campsites were active at the time base. This seemed to be the women's of my visit, and the day after the storm I Third annual signal to move everything (via shopping hiked over to Blue Gate, following a path carts and "Gladys the panel truck") to a along the perimeter fence. It was a four- EAST COAST strip of public sidewalk about 20 feet mile walk of extraordinary contrast: On from their campsite. One woman stayed one side were beautiful woods — green- LESBIANS' FESTIVAL by the fire to keep it going while the ery, trees, streams flowing from the storm, security forces milled around. Shortly all decorated with colorful peace signs Ukttldc C»mp, NY/PA Border thereafter, the Defense Police withdrew and stone circles made by women of many and the bailiffs returned to their vehicles. nations. On the other side, the land had As they pulled away, they watched the been cleared for concrete runways, han- women move everything back. This scene gars filledwit h convoy vehicles, and bar- has been replayed regularly for years, racks for soldiers. A Ministry of Defense and recently the bailiffs began providing Police officer with a German shepherd an interesting service, Trash collection. tailed me on the opposite side of the fence, The women burn all their combustible stiffly watching me watch him. I found it garbage and they compost biodegradables, deeply disquieting to pass the missile but they set aside plastics and metals silos, which look like pyramids with JUNE 20-23,1991 into special plastic bags which the bailiffs flattened tops. Each was surrounded by "confiscate". at least five barbed-wire fences, empha- During my stay, on a night the convoy sizing what they were there for — de- Maxlne Feldman.Kay Gardner, was predicted to come out, 80-mile-an- struction. Suede, June and Jean Millington, hour storm winds were raging. I was I found the Blue Gate women busily Faith Nolan, Karen Williams, terrified, cold and miserable, but amaz- cleaning up after the storm—they'd been The Washington Sisters, Sue Fink, ingly, the women were matter-of-fact: "evicted," too — but they graciously of- Karen Beth, 'Lavender Jane', "Remember,"grinnedAniko,packingfood fered me tea and Greenham toast: Bread Alix Dobkln and many others... items into "Gladys," "If it's blowing out smoked by fire, steamed by rain, and here, then it's blowing in there [the base] especially good with preserves made at IHEBTRE, DRN[E, [IMEDY , and there is a lot more that can go wrong the camp from summer berrying on the in there!" The next morning, even though Common. Luckily, the previous day the FILMS , RRI , WORKBHIPB Newbury had suffered a great deal of Blue Gate women had moved their tents damage from the gale-force winds, the to a new spot, for a large pine had fallen bailiffs had nothing more urgent to do onto the area where they'd been tenting. Information: E.C.L.F., ESM Telegraph Agency. than stage another pointless eviction. Feeling blessed to have escaped injury, Box 274, 132 Montague SI., Brooklyn, NY 11201 They arrived as we were hanging out our the women were planning to make a nice (718)643-3284

ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 41 dwelling out of the fallen pine. out with a promise that they could return there were camps set up at all eight gate Aniko Jones told me that it was seeing in six months or when the war ended, entrances, with women milling around the convoy for the first time that made whichever came first. The displaced people them so thick a pedestrian had difficulty her decide to become a full-time Peace were never allowed to return; many be- getting by. Camper. Brought out at midnight about came destitute and homeless. But while large numbers are impres- once a month, the convoy consists of 52- During the '60s, public sentiment grew sive, so are determined individuals who ton lorries carrying the missiles them- to return Imber to its villagers. In re- stand up against war. I thought of that selves, 40 or 50 support vehicles, and an sponse, the military passed bye-laws one brave man positioned in front of the escort of soldiers combined with Ministry making it a crime to enter the place. In tanks of Tienanmen Square when I of Defense Police. Their (supposedly se- remembrance of the once-happy village thought about Aniko with her potato, cret) destination is Salisbury Plain, 30 now turned into a firing range, seven Mary with her bolt cutters, or a few miles away. Peace Camp women spent a night in women with little pots of paint in their Nothing focuses the Peace Camp August, 1989 at Imber's church, watch- hands. Each image proclaims: lam strong women's abhorrence and rage more than ing a lunar eclipse, sleeping and enjoying and willing to do something to stop the these convoy exercises, which are simply breakfast in bed the next morning. Their war machine. rehearsals for nuclear war. The women presence prevented firing exercises, and U.S.A.F. Greenham Common Base is block the road with their bodies and they were arrested. not going to be shut down — but the splash red paint over the vehicles' win- Imber is presently used as a mock West women are not going away, either. They dows and exteriors. Ever resourceful, Belfast village, where British troops are were quick to proclaim the I.N.F. Treaty Aniko learned she could stop a 52-ton trained to fight in Northern Ireland. A "not worth the paper it is written on." lorry by throwing a potato down its ex- second mock village, built at great ex- Furthermore, they are a constant re- haust pipe. pense, boasts landscaped yards, shut- minder that governments are deliber- As a result of repeatedly following the tered, but empty homes, and a church ately misleading the public to believe nuclear convoy to Salisbury Plain, the with a graveyard. Its name is "Fighting in that the world is becoming safer; in reality women have made other discoveries about Built-Up Areas Village," a name only the the arms race continues to escalate. New how the military works: On the edge of military could love. Women have been construction is plainly visible at the Plain is Imber Village, abandoned arrested for actions in this village, too. Greenham Common Base, and although and desolate. People are impressed with large num- the base status has been reduced to In 1942, during World War II, the Brit- bers; when I returned to the U.S. and "stand-by"— its status before the Cruise ish military effectively confiscated the spoke to people about my visit, they often Missiles were brought in—the women entire village, ordering its inhabitants asked, "How many women?" In years past say the intelligent question to ask is "What are they standing-by to receive next?" Half the Cruise Missiles are still at the base and the monthly convoy ex- ercise to Salisbury Plain has not ended. eves#.garden Meanwhile, Greenham has evolved a WfWei grownrow nlfinspleasurabli irnhlfet ^—* thingthinns forr womewnmen culture all its own. On May 10,1983, Jay ve's Garden is a warm, supportive space which provides a woman Greenham was born on the Common; on Ewith the opportunity to safely expand and celebrate her own sexuality. Sept. 5, 1989, Helen Thomas, a Welsh Created in 1974, by women for women, it is the first mail-order catalog of it's woman from Yellow Gate, was killed by a kind to dedicate itself specifically to the sensual needs of women. We offer a police vehicle as she waited to cross the carefully chosen selection of books, quality vibrators and many other sexual- road. The Camp women observe both awareness accessories for women in all lifestyles Our tasteful and informative anniversaries. But perhaps what sym- catalog has been endorsed by many leading professionals in the field of human bolizes their perseverance most is a simple sexuality who find our materials helpful in their clinical practice. To obtain your Dell Williams act of nurturance: A Native American catalogue, send $2.00 to Eve's Garden, or visit our elegant midtown boutique, Gardenkeeper woman gave them some 1000-year-old Mon.-Sat. Noon to 6:30PM. It will be our pleasure to serve you. seed corn from a Native burial site, and, EVE'S GARDEN INTERNATIONAL, LTD 119 W57th St., Suite #420 New York, NY. 10019(212) 757-8651 just outside the base, the women have managed to germinate the ancient corn. It grows and lives: Life will triumph. •

THE WISE WOMAN To receive a newsletter or to send 2441 Cordova Street donations (use an international money Oakland, CA 94602 order, available at many banks), write to: (415) 536-3174 Yellow Gate, Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp near Newbury, THE WISE WOMAN, a national quarterly journal, focuses on feminist Berkshire RG14 7AS UK; Blue Gate, Greenham Common Women's Peace issues. Goddess lore, feminist spirituality, and Feminist Witchcraft. Camp, Bury's Bank Road, Newbury, Includes: women's history/herstory, news, analysis, critical reviews, Berkshire, RG14 &AS UK. art, poetry, cartoons by Buibul, exclusive interviews, and original You may also wish to contact: Big research about witch-hunts, women's heritage, and women today. Mountain Defense Fund, 2121 41st Ave., Subscription: $15 a year/$Z7 for 2 years, $38 for 3 years (U.S. funds) San Francisco, CA 94601. Sample copy or back issue: $4 (U.S. funds only). Published quarterly since 1980 by Ann Forfreedom. Leslie Webster is a weaver, longtime peace A FREE 1-year subscription to each Women's Studies teacher that activist, and mother of three daughters. sends in a copy of this ad. She and her friend Ginna Rose both live THE WISE WOMAN, 2441 Cordova St., Oakland. CA 94602. in Phoenix, AZ.

42 ON THE ISSUES SUMMER 1991 FEEDBACK Changing Men #21, competitive male sion appreciates your taking the time to sports, particularly those involving vio- make your concerns known. Please direct all comments to: lent contact, such as football, are training Brooke S. Kennedy Editors, ON THE ISSUES, 97-77 Queens grounds for men to acquire violent male Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY 11374. Executive Director egos. I also recommend Jessica Benjamin's Fla. Judicial Qualifications Commission GIVE SOCIAL WORKERS THEIR DUE The Bonds of Love, which explains how the I was horrified to read "Susana, the Myth patriarchal family tends to reproduce male- WIESEL LAUDED of the 'Saved' Child," by Naomi Feigelson dominant and female-submissive psyches. "Brava"! to editor Merle Hoffman for her Chase, in the Fall 1990 edition of On the Just as women (to not be "bitches") are skillful interview of Elie Wiesel (On the Issues. The tragedy of the 10s of thousands boxed into taking care of others, men (to Issues, Spring 1991). She deftly extracted of children in foster care (in N.Y. state not be "wimps") are boxed into meanness. from him another perception of the abor- alone) is heartbreaking. As a man trained in the psychology and tion dilemma and presented it to her read- One troubling aspect of the article was ideology of objectifying women for my own ers with sympathy and respect. This should its treatment of those it calls "social work- pleasure, of presuming authority over and be a "must read" for philosophy students ers." Was this term used simply because expecting service from women, I know and others who are concerned with the the person worked in foster care? Was this well that sexual harassment, rape and moral and ethical questions of today. the official title the agencies gave their domestic violence are the paradigms of Judith Breidbart workers? Most likely they are called case machismo. They are the visible, tangible New York, NY workers, family workers, counselors, acts by which we men flaunt our immunity though the agencies themselves often use — in preliterate as well as modern societ- PRO ANIMAL RESEARCH the term "social worker" incorrectly. ies — to the very laws and principles of Noticing the back cover advertisement Social workers in N.Y. state, where the justice and equality that men as a group (Spring 1991 issue) for the National Alli- story takes place, are trained with at least share with each other. I also want to tes- ance For Animals, I had to wonder if their a Bachelors Degree and more likely a tify here that if it were not for feminist supporters imagine there's a National Al- Masters Degree in social work from col- publications like yours and the many liance Against! leges with state accreditation. They are strong women I have known, I would not Curtailing animal research means that trained to think of the "client first," even now be learning to be a nonsexist male, a more of us will see our children and other before thinking of agency or personal whole human being. loved ones, as well as ourselves, die need- needs. Thank you for your courage, honesty, lessly while waiting for delayed discover- An undertone of the article blamed and integrity. ies of treatment and cure. agency workers for the problems. This Steve Greaves Our pets [sic] also suffer many of the may or may not have been the intention. Petaluma, CA same diseases that only animal research Most social workers are women, doing an can eradicate. extremely difficult job, working with RIGHT READING SOUGHT More humane and constructive would be abused, abandoned and neglected clients Saw the review of your magazine in Utne for the animal rights groups to channel in difficult settings and for low salaries. Reader (March/April) and had to have a their ardor instead toward increased ani- What should have received more atten- subscription! Looking foward to reading. mal research funding, for better health in tion is the N.Y. State Department of Social Lor a McVey women, men and animals too. In the Services regulations which put agencies Laramie, WY meantime, anyone for a "National Alli- and workers into a bind of thinking about ance For People?" money at the expense of their clients, SEXIST JUDGE LAMBASTED Naomi A. Cowen which allow for little if any training of I just received my first issue of On the Is- Tappan, NY workers, and which emphasize paperwork sues. What a fabulous magazine! over counseling. Doing this would have I would like to comment about your "Win EXPANDING CHOICES shown that the workers as well as the Some, Lose Some" news brief, "Victim I found Helen M. Stummer's photo essay children are victims. Blaming, Par Excellence," about Circuit "Living Without Choices" (Winter 1990) Paul Tick, CSW Court Judge Kenneth M. Leffler who riveting. Albany, NY sentenced a convicted rapist to probation I know of an organization in Newark that and noted "What a pitiful woman the rape is providing residents with one new area of ATHLETES AND RAPE victim was." Needless to say I was per- choice—New Community Corporation. Beverly Lowy in her column "Win Some, turbed and wrote a letter to the Judicial This non-profit housing corporation has Lose Some" wrote a quite valuable article, Qualifications Commission which disci- recently (June 1990) opened the first su- "Rape Is Not a Sport" (Winter 1990). She plines judges who are out of line. permarket in Newark's Central Ward, in ended it, however, with an error when she Enclosed find a copy of the letter. Women partnership with Supermarkets General said, "The athletes better learn there's in Florida will not tolerate sexist judges. Corporation. The 48,000 square foot nothing macho about rape, and women Barbara Peck Pathmark is the result of many years of are people, not trophies." Brooksville, FL organizing on the part of Newark resi- The fact is, as far as men brought up in dents —who had to travel to other districts militaristic cultures are concerned, rape Dear Ms. Peck: for grocery shopping. This created a lo- is a sport, a macho act, and women are Receipt is acknowledged of yourletterdated gistical nightmare for the community's trophies. As historian Gerda Lerner, in October 25,1990 addressed to Mr. Rhodes, residents, many of whom are low-income, her The Creation of Patriarchy, and an- received in this office on November 2,1990, single parent families and senior citizens thropologist Marvin Harris, in his Can- and referred to me for a reply. By your letter without access to private cars. nibals and Kings, both point out, war is you complain about the actions of the above- Newark needs other non-profit organi- the basis of patriarchy, and the first prize named judge. zations with the spunk and determination of war is the enemy's women. And, as Please be advised that your concerns will of New Community Corporation. Mike Messner has lucidly illustrated in be brought to the attention of the Commis- Karen R. Brown his "When Bodies Are Weapons" in sion for appropriate action. The Commis- Bronxville, NY

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