Xlll:6 February 1991 enls Vanderbilt University Margaret crosses the very rigid class lines that Cuninggim often exist in West Indian culture. Women·s Center West Indian women want to talk about their relationships to their islands; about how the island and the New voices from the West Indies: lives of women are intertwined in ways which are foreign to those of us Women writing women's lives who live in this part of America. Essential to their development as When yuh succumb to certain lings in silence yuh build up the power women, West Indian women, is an of di oppressor to exploit a next person. Me starts boots meself fi talk up. awareness of the history, the life story of the island upon which they live. This personal identification Margaret Kent Bass, assistant have often received from fathers, with the island stems from the professor of English companions, and employers. They African notion that we must know want to talk about the devastating our ancestors before we can know Critic David Williams notes that in effect that their collective silence has ourselves, and that the earth, the the "West Indian literary conscious­ had upon their lives, and how the piece of ground upon which we were ness, indeed, the idea of the Author, articulation and sharing of a common born, is woman and mother to us all. and more particularly the idea of the condition of suffering has encour­ But colonialism has done to the is­ author of an autobiography, continue aged a sisterhood among them that lands \vhat the patriarchal society to be associated largely with the male has done to woman: it has abused imagination, despite the presence of their natural resources, wiped out novels by women that employ the their history, refused to grant them autobiographical mode.... " In other autonomy and independence. So words, men write tme stories about West Indian women protest against ren/lives; women write fictions about the colonial presence in their lives their lives. I would suggest that "novels" and in their countries. For example, like Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John are Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John pities also autobiographies, and that West the little English girl in her class Indian women are simply forcing us to because her "ancestors had been the change, among other things, our no­ masters, while ours had been the tions about what autobiography is. slaves. She had such a lot more to be The autobiographical act, the writ­ ashamed of, and by being with us ing of one's own life story is, for the everyday she was always being West Indian woman, an act of self lib­ reminded." eration. West Indian women are recre­ Annie later remembers disliking ating themselves in their own images, Christopher Columbus and delight­ becoming the subjects of their own ing to find that he was once "fettered discourse, and breaking the silence that in chains" and sent back to Spain. has made them what Erna Brodber Annie takes great pleasure in defac­ calls "accomplices in their own op­ ing Columbus' picture in her text­ pression." book and feels no remorse when her What do West Indian women want teacher accuses her of blasphemy. us to know about them? One of Ja­ There is a most powerful so­ maica's "lionheart gals" from the cial protest in the autobi­ Sistren Theater Collective says ographies written by that women want to tell people - ... West Indian about how they suffer and women, but the ---·~ -r-1-\ E=" about "how men treat us ~'y-,/(3:_S.~ protest bad." Women want to talk ---r , A/:r:>I.. ~ _s lies within about the physical and (continued mental abuse that they page 2) West Indian women In crime, too, some gender-related reality they arc living, changing (continued from page one) inequities. tissue. By one measure, at least, violent Throughout life, our bodies replace the mere telling of the story and in crime seems to be declining. But as in old bone tissue with new. During the acknowledgement that I exist, my so many other things, the trend childhood, new tissue forms faster life matters. West Indian women appears to be benefi !ling men more than the old tissue breaks down; move in their own stories from object than women. therefore the bones of children grow, to subject, from invisibility to visibil­ According to a new study by the Around age thirty-five, bone tissue ity. Each autobiography is a personal Justice Department's Bureau of breakdown speeds up and bone loss declaration of independence from the Justice Statistics, about 2.5 million begins. In time, this bone loss may bonds of and imperialism. women a year are robbed, raped, or lead to osteoporosis, which means Women are triumphant in their dis­ assaulted, and about a quarter of "porous bones." The bones become covery of themselves and rejoice in such crimes are committed by family less dense, more fragile and weak, so the new existences that they have members or men they have dated. that minor falls can cause fractures. created for themselves. It is for these The study, based on interviews Crush and collapse fractures of the reasons that I offer kudos to Jamaica with about 50,000 households a year, vertebrae are also common and can Kincaid, Erna Brodber, Paule found that violent crime, reported cause back pain and noticeable Marshall, and all of the courageous and unreported, against people over decrease in height. autobiographers, these Lionheart twelve years old had declined from Women are more likely to develop Gals. And as they say in Jamaica, 1973 to 1987, but that most of the osteoporosis than men because their Respect due everytime! II decline had been in crimes against bones are less dense and their cal­ men, which dropped about twenty cium reserves lower. Moreover, percent. women lose calcium during preg­ Harvard to offer conference "The trend is that the men's rates nancy and breast feeding and at on campus men and women. A are coming down closer to the menopause because of lowered levels two-day conference, Women and women's," said Caroline Wolfe of estrogen, the female hormone that Men on Campus: Inequality and Harlow, who wrote the report. "But helps prevent bone loss. Its Remedies, will be held at the main lesson is that violent crime In fact, until recently, estrogen Harvard College, Cambridge, against women is different than with calcium was a treatment Massachusetts on March 7-8, crime against men because it's six prescribed for osteoporosis. In the 1991. Registration is $195 and is times as likely to be committed by spring of 1990, however, the Nw due by February 25. their intimates." England journal of Medicine reported For more information contact has on a new therapy in which Women and Men on Campus, become the focus of increasing Etidrona te (pronounced eh-TID-ro­ 339 C Gutman Library, Harvard concern throughout society, with nate) is administered in two week Graduate School of Education, new fears about campus , cycles every thirteen weeks to reduce Cambridge, MA 02138. and law enforcement authorities the breakdown of bones. Calcium is seeming powerless to stern a pattern taken either in diet or in supplements of assault and murder.... Feminist along with Etidronate and for there­ Girl's self-esteem groups argue that it is a troubling maining eleven weeks of the cycle. (continued from page 4) reflection of how much less political In a study of more than four "This survey makes it impossible and economic power women have hundred post-menopausal women, to say that what happens to girls is than men. the regimen reversed the gradual simply a matter of hormones," said from The New York Times, loss of bone that characterizes osteo­ Carol Gilligan, an adviser on the January 20, 1991 porosis. Women taking the treahnent development of questions asked in had half the number of spinal the survey. "If that was it, then the fractures of female patients who did loss of self-esteem would happen to not receive the drug. Etidronate all girls and at roughly the same altered the bone loss by slowing the time. lfs your health natural process of bone removal; the "This work raises all kinds of calcium helped build bone mass. No issues about cultural contributions/' Charlotte Frankel significant adverse affects of the she added, "and it raises questions treatment were found. It apparently about the role of the schools, both in can increase bone mass more than the drop of self-esteem and in the New treatment for hormones can and reduce fractures potential for intervention." more than an experimental treat- from The Nw York Times, osteoporosis ment, sodium fluoride. II January 9, 1991 We tend to think of our bones as Page 2. Womens VU, February 1991 hard, unchanging structures, but in Speaking of women . • •

'eanne Peck, A&S ]r. The group will also try to clear the sexist air which has polluted the en­ Coco Weiss says being a feminist vironment of so many college won't stop her from running for po­ campuses, Weiss said. litical office someday. "It's hard to show where "A staunch feminist could not suc­ actually occurs," she said. "Some of ceed. Any extreme view isn't going to the fraternity T-shirts are just so de­ win," said the twenty year-old presi­ grading to women." dent of the Women's Political Caucus. Weiss cited a photo printed in last ''If a woman came out and said, 'I'm year's Commodore which featured a a feminist and fln1 running for office/ young woman in a bathing suit many people would see her as a bra lounging on Peabody Lawn. Coco Weiss, president, campus-based burner. "Under the picture it says, 'A good Women's Political Caucus "But whenever anyone asks me if book and sunshine are two of the I'm a feminist, I always say, 'Yes, biggest reasons to con1e out/ "she Interhall and Arts and Science Coun­ aren't you?"' said. "I mean, 'two of the biggest cil, those are primarily made up of Weiss, a Russian major and reasons?' That's just ridiculous." women." Women's Studies minor, plans to go Weiss said she had never been a "But I think it's obvious that to business school after she graduates victim of sexism at Vanderbilt, but [women's political groups) are not from Vanderbilt. "International she knows of other women who taken as seriously, otherwise more business appeals to me," she said. have. women would be involved in them." "But at the same time- as far as "If a professor has adopted a sexist The Women's Political Caucus will running for office- that is attrac­ attitude, then somebody has to sponsor special programs to attract tive." change it," she said. "It's a two-way politically-concerned women, Weiss The primary goal of the twenty-five street. If the student doesn't stand up said. Professor Jean Elshtain, Centen­ member campus-based Women's Po­ for herself, how will the professor nial professor of political science, itical Caucus group is to support ever know he is being that way?" addressed the group earlier this fall. other women in their political en­ Weiss said women have finally Vanderbilt's administration needs deavors, Weiss said. broken into the once-elusive political to be more sympathetic to feminist "If someone says she's going to run spectrum. issues, Weiss said. for SGA (Student Government Asso­ "Women in public offices are taken "They say they are on this big pull ciation), we'll support her/' she said. as seriously as men-- especially since for diversity," she said. "Well, diver­ "We'll work on other things as broad they've been nominated," she said. sity is more than just racial issues. It as tenure for women professors, too." "Even at Vanderbilt, if you look at also has to do with sexist issues." II

Date/ Clearinghouse on Marital and Date added to Stanford Rape, based in Berkeley, California. requirement. Beginning next fall, all Husbands who force their wives to It is a crime to rape your date but it students enrolling as undergraduates engage in sexual cannot often is not prosecuted. at Stanford University must meet a be charged with rape under current Laura X chose her pen name to gender studies, a non-European cul­ Tennessee law. State Senator Steve symbolize the anonymity of women's ture, and an American cultural diver­ Cohen, Democrat from Memphis, history and the concept that women sity graduation requirement. Before says the law "hearkens back to a time are legally owned by their fathers the additions, faculty teaching in the when wives were considered chat­ and husbands. Ms. X graduated from required areas found themselves tel." He has tried several times to the University of California and has "preaching to the converted" accord­ repeal the spousal rape exclusion, spoken extensively throughout the ing to Deborah Rhode, former even as recently as September 1990. since 1979 to affect director of the Institute for Research Opponents have argued that such legislation. on Women and Gender. cases cannot be proven and that the Plans are under way to have Laura University Women, state should not legislate what X speak sometime towards the end University of Wisconsin System, appens in a couple's bedroom. of February on Vanderbilt campus January 1991 Tennessee is among fifteen states regarding date and marital rape. Call where marital rape is legal according the Women's Center for more infor- to Laura X, director of the National mation. II Page 3, Women$ VU. February 1991 February calendar News quotes Call 322-4843 for further infomration on the programs listed below. Tie that binds is lifeboat for males. "Marriage," as the old saying ( goes, "is not a word but a sentence." 6 (Wednesday) 18 (Monday) Be that as it may, marriage also Women's Center Advisory Board, Lunchtime Book Review. Gisela may be a lifesaver for middle-aged 4:10p.m., Carmichael Towers East, Mosig, professor, Molecular Biology, males. room 208. reviews A Feeling For The Organism Research by the University of Cali­ by Barbara McClintock, 12:15 to 1:15 fornia at shows that 11 !Monday) p.m., Sarratt 205. men between 45 and 64 who live Book Group will discuss Postcards alone, or with someone other than a From The Edge by Carrie Fisher. Jody 19 (Tuesday) spouse, are twice as likely to die Mattison, facilitator, 5:15 to 6:15 Editing Your Own Dissertation. within 10 years as men of the same p.m., Godchaux Living Room. Marty Nord, associate professor, age who live with their wives. Practice of Management and Techni­ Further, says the study of 7,651 12 (Tuesday) cal Communication, OGSM, will adults, risk factors such as smoking, What's It Like To Be A Woman In discuss clarifying the main point, drinking, obesity and lack of exercise Law School? A panel of women law writing clear and direct sentences, do not alter the numbers, and neither students will discuss law school and and developing paragraphs, 4:30 income nor education is a factor. law as a career and answer questions p.m. to 6:00p.m., Owen Graduate In presenting the study's findings from undergraduate women, 4:30 to School of Management, room 126. to the American Public Health Asso­ 6:00p.m., Law School, room 027. ciation, Maradee A. Davis, an 20 (Wednesday) associate professor of epidemiology, 13 (Wednesday) Women's Health Series. Women said that women who live without a Noontime Seminar: Men and With AIDS: Fastest Growing husband also face increased chance Abortion. Katharyn May, associate Group. John W. Greene, Director, of dying sooner. Nevertheless, Davis professor of nursing and chair of the Student Health, and Robyn M. added, "Women who had a higher department of Family and Health Minton, Activities Coordinator, income but who lived with someone Systems Nursing, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., AIDS Project, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., other than a spouse were not at a Sarratt 118. · Sarratt 203. disadvantage for survival." As for men, even those who lived 14 (Thursday) 27 (Wednesday) with somebody other than a spouse, New Employees Brown Bag So You Think You'd Like To Go including their children, were no bet­ Lunch. All recently hired Vanderbilt To Med School? A panel of women ter off than those who lived alone. employees arc invited. Bring your medical students will discuss medi­ Said Davis, "The critical factor seems lunch. Hot and cold drinks will be cal school and medicine as a career to be the spouse." provided. Noon until!:()() p.m., for women and answer questions, from AARP Bulletin, Women's Center. 4:30 to 6:00p.m., Sarratt 205. II January 1991

More women are playing, but fewer call the shots. From basketball to Girls' self-esteem is lost on way to cross-country, more women than ever are competing in college sports, but adolescence. Girls emerge from fewer are coaching or running athletic programs. adolescence with a poor self-image, Since 1972, when a federal law was passed requiring colleges receiving relatively low expectations from life government money to provide equitable programs for women, opportunities and much less confidence in them­ for female athletes have expanded markedly. selves and their abilities than boys, a But as women's sports gained more money and prestige, an increasing study made public [in January] has number of men sought and obtained coaching and administrative jobs previ­ concluded. ously held by women. Confirming earlier studies that Educators, coaches, and sports administrators said that some of those jobs were smaller and more anecdotal, had gone to men who were often deemed better qualified because they had this survey of 3,000 children found coached the big-revenue sport of football or had contacts in the network of that at the age of nine a majority of sports administrators. girls were confident, assertive, and In many cases, they said, women who apply must convince college admin­ felt positive about themselves. But by istrators that they can juggle family responsibilities and a demanding job, a the time they reached high school, 1 burden male applicants never carry. less than a third felt that way. from The New York Times, December 11, 1990 (continued page two) Page 4, Women~ VU, February 1991 giving an excellent portrayal of policies of two universities, the Virginia Woolf. American Council on Education's Statement on , New Books. and a sample survey developed by '13ar6ara Cfarkf In the Men's House by Cpt. Carol the University of Illinois. B Barkalow with Andrea Raab is an 'Women S Center account of Army life as seen through {i6rarian the eyes of one of the first female The UlackWomen'sHealth graduates of West Point. She was one Book: Speaking forOcirselv~s, of the 119 women who entered the edited by EVelyn C. White, is an Academy in July 1976; this was the empowering, lalldmiukanthol­ first class to accept female cadets. ogy. The forty piecesinthis In the library Barkalow describes the positive and collection offer a broad· spectrum the many negative experiences of the of writings on black women's young women in that first class, and health. The writers featured in the sexual harassment, the , this book are among the most Audiotapes. and the extreme discipline they well respectedwomen in the The library has a growing collec­ encountered. She also discusses the country: Faye Wattleton,Alice tion of audiotapes, which you may ways in which the situation for Walker, Angela Davis; Audre either check out or listen to at the female cadets has improved since Lorde, By !lye Avery, Marian Women's Center. that time. Wright Edeln1ai1,Barba~a Smith, We have recently acquired tapes of The writer also describes her life in Jewelle Gomez, and many others. the "Southern Songbirds" series, the Army after graduation: her three The Black Wonieh' s Health Book which is a thirteen-part radio series stressful years in Germany, and her is a direct response to analarm­ documenting women's role in experiences as a captain back in the ing health crisis in the African, country and old-time music. The U.S. The book concludes with an American community. The programs include interviews with informative chapter entitled: "A stories in this book cover: the the musicians and examples of their Chronology of American Army National Black Women's Health recordings. Many of the women are Women in the Twentieth Century." Project in Atlanta, blackmid­ well-known today, while some have wifery, black women and AIDS, '10t pursued music as a career and Another recent acquisition is The the politics ofh¢althcare. for .ave made few recordings. Artists Lecherous Professor: Sexual Harassment black women; black teen preg' included are Ramona Jones, the on Campus, second edition, by Billie nancy, blacldvolnen and obesity, Carter Family, Martha Carson, Wright Dziech and Linda Weiner. In ca:t,ccr~.. and more, , the Girls of the 1984 the first edition attracted much To order a·copy, colltactSeal Golden West, Wilma Lee Cooper, attention from the media, and this Press, 3131 WesternAvenue, Etta Baker, Patsy Montana, Phyllis may have contributed to some Suite 410, Seattle, WA 98121- Marks, and others. positive changes in the academic 1028. Enclose $14:95 plus $2 for We tape many of the programs climate. shipping and handling. sponsored by the Women's Center, Sexual harassment is related to so that those unable to attend a sexism, and the writers describe Call for nominations: particular program can listen to the many cases of sexual harassment of Women's Center Advisory Board tape at a later date. The audiotapes female students by male faculty in our collection cover a wide variety members. As the most commonly The Women's Center Advisory of topics, such as child care, femi­ reported form of harassment on Board is seeking interested persons nism, literature, politics, health, college campuses, this is the type on to serve as at-large members begin­ suffrage, and higher education. which the book concentrates. ning in the fall of 1991 for a two-year Sexual harassment is not a minor term. (At-large members may serve Videotapes. problem. It has caused many women for two consecutive two-year terms.) The library has a smaller collection to drop courses, to change majors, or Undergraduate and graduate or of videotapes, which may either be even to change colleges or drop out professional students, faculty mem­ viewed at the Women's Center, or of school. It can change women's bers, staff, and administrators serve checked out for two weeks. The lives and affect their career plans, as on the board. Interested women and subjects covered by our videotapes well as their perceptions of them­ men should apply. include rape prevention, literature, selves and of men and sex. Send personal applications and/or abortion, sexual harassment, femi­ Dziech and Weiner give useful nominations to Jan Rosemergy, chair, lism, and affirmative action. Our advice not only for college students, nominating committee, Box 40, newest tape is the Masterpiece but also for their parents, for faculty George Peabody College. B Theatre presentation of "A Room of members, and administrators. One's Own," with Eileen Adkins Included are the sexual harassment Page 5. Women~ VU, February 1991 Announcetnents et cetera

Eighth Annual National Graduate First American Bank, First American Campaign for Progressive Toys Women's Studies Conference will Center, NA 1115, Nashville, TN and Games. Are you tired o f being be held March 8-10, 1991, at the Uni­ 37237-1115. Deadline is March 3. GI-Joed and Ninja-Turtled to death? versity of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Are Barbie and Ken's wardrobes Inquiries to: Graduate Women's Share life - donate blood. Women threatening to exceed your own? If Studies Conference, Women's are special people, and the Red Cross so, join the Campaign for Progressive Studies Program, 234 W. Engineer­ needs them. Female donors typically Toys and Games. This project of the ing, University of Michigan, Ann have more plasma volume than Cumberland Center for Justice and Arbor, MI 48109-1092. males, yet women comprise only Peace welcomes your thoughts and about half of those presently giving ideas about their effort. A complete Women's History Month, AUtena blood in middle Tennessee. brochure is on file at the Women's Award. The National Association of A donation of one pint may sustain Center or you can write P.O. Box 857, Women Business Owners (NAWBO) more than one life, since blood by­ Sewanee, Tennessee 37375, or call will join several other women's or­ products are used to benefit those (615) 598-5369, 598-5748). ganizations including CABLE, the who suffer from anemia, leukemia, Tennessee and the Nashville shock, and hemophilia. I (i) printed on recycled paper Women's Political Caucus, BPW, and Currently the Red Cross is coming LAW, in celebrating Women's to Vanderbilt on Thursdays from History Month in March. Each group 12:30 to 5:00p.m., Langford Audito­ will nominate one businesswoman rium. For more information call the from the Nashville area for the Red Cross on Charlotte Avenue at For Athena Award, which honors the 327-1931. recipient's high level of excellence in Men business and the community. Only The Award Ceremony at the Support the Lady Commodores. Parthenon will be on March 16th February Nashville area games: from 6:00 until 8:00p.m. Registration 3 Louisiana State University, fee of $10 includes admission to the 2:00 p.m., Memorial Gym r~ife is too Car;ge to lian)t ceremony and the art exhibit as well 6 Middle TN State University, as hors d'oeuvres. Anyone may 7:30p.m., Murphy Athletic out a sign: ':For :Men attend, but only those who have Center, Murfreesboro f'. Ill preregistered will be admitted. 14 David Lipscomb University, 0 nt-y. Registration checks payable to 7:00p.m., McQuiddy Gym Barbara Jordan, NA WBO can be sent to Susan 24 University of Mississippi, former U.S. representative Haisley, Assistant Vice President, 2:00p.m., Memorial Gym

Women's VU Margaret Cuningg im Women's Center Editor: Judith Tefft Helfer Vanderbilt University Franklin I31dg., West Side Row Subscription information: return this form or call the Box 1513, Station B Women's Center at 322-4843. Nashville, 1N 37235 • Newsletters (published monthly except July and August) arc sent free upon request to all students and contributors. Address Correction Requested Faculty and staff subscriptions are free to a campus address. Include mailing label • A yearly subscription to off-campus addresses is $5.00. Please make checks payable to Vanderbilt University. • TI1is is a copyrighted publication. Reproduction is encour­ aged with permission of the editor. Name ------Department Address Zi Student (give school and class) ______Staff Faculty __ Adrn. Contributor Other_ _