THE LABBER THE LADDER, published by Lesbians and directed to ALL women seeking full human dignity, had its beginning in 1956. It was then the - l y VOLUME 15 No. 11 and 12 THE publication in the U.S. It is now the only women s magazine openly supporting AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 1971 Lesbians, a forceful minority within the women’s liberation movement. LADDER Initially THE LADDER’S goal was limited to heterosexual women, that is. fuU second^ilass citizenship as a whole were as yet unaware of their oppression. The Lesbian knew. And she wondered silently when her sisters would realize that they too share many of Lesbian’s handicaps, those that pertained to being a woman. THE LADDER STAFF Editor ...... Gene Damon THE LADDER’S purpose today is to raise all women to L T w Director of Promotion...... Laporte all of the rights and responsibüitics this entails; to include ALL women, whether Production Editor ...... Hope Thompson Lesbian or heterosexual. Circulation M anager...... r ‘ ' V-’ ¡i ‘ ' Production Assistants ...... Ly" CoUms, Kim Stabinski, OCCUPATIONS have no sex and must be opened to all qualified persons Jan Watson, King Kelly, Ann Brady, for the benefit of all. Robin and Dana Jordan Staff Cartoonist...... Künstler LIFE STYLES must be as numerous as human beings require for their Art C olum nist...... Jean Ixmise personal happiness and fulfillment. Cross Currents E d ito r...... • • ^ 7?* Staff A rtis t...... Adele A. Chalelm ABILITY, AMBITION, TALENT - CONTENTS: THESE ARE HUMAN QUALITIES. Thank You For Asking, Editorial by Gene Damon ...... ^ The Undefeatable Force Revisited by Rita Laporte ...... 5 THE LADDER, though written, edited, and circulated by volunteer labor, Mother Said Someone Called Here, Short Story by Mickie B urns...... 7 cannot survive without money. We Lesbians are perhaps more anxious than The Threat of Women by Lennox Strong ...... 14 16 other women to make our views known. We wish we could blanket the country Journeys in Art by Jean Louise...... 20 and the world with free copies. But stern reality tells us that, more important Book Reviews by Hope Thompson ...... even than mass distribution, is the need to keep alive the only real Lesbum Conflict of Identity by Kane Kelley 24 j (Photograph by Lyn Jo n es)...... magazine in the world. Therefore THE LADDER will no longer be sold at 27 newsstands. We will survive only if there are enough o f you OflEndings, Short Story by Dolores Klaieh ...... concerned with the rights and the liberation of ALL women to spend $7.50 a Poetry by Anne Zimova; F. Ellen Isaacs; ! Martha Shelley; and Patricia Hanen ...... ^ year to subscribe. (Sample copies are always available at $1.25.)______Fejnale Sexual Alienation by Linda Phelps ...... Cross C urrents...... ADVERTISING RATES Lifeblood, Short Story by Ellen C old...... $45 Back C o v er...... tlOO Lesbiana by Gene Damon ...... Readers R espond...... QuirtoPage' !!!!!'’...... *25 Full Page ...... S 80 COVER: Winslow Homer: A Summer Night (Detafl). See: Journeys m Art. Repeated Advertisements at Reduced Rates Unless otherwise credited all illustrations are by staff artist Adele A. Chatelin BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE. WRITE FOR COST. and all cartoons are by staff cartoonist Ev Künstler. “Gumdrop Flowers and Marilyn” photo by June M. Smith (page 29) Published bi-monthly at Box 5025, Washington Station, Reno, Nevada, 89503. THIRD CLASS MAIL IS NOT FORWARDABLE. All rights reserved. No part o f this periodical may be reproduced without the When moving send us your old address and ZIP as well as new address and ZIP. written consent of THE LADDER. By RITA LAPORTE ^Itanli ^ vou o u ^or asliin^ Editorial By GENE DAMON The Undefeatable Force Revisited A year has elapsed since I wrote a short and fundamental and that none of the Response to our two last requests for mail we receive day in and day out, editorial for the Augusl/September 1970 myriad other oppressions and exploitations expressing delight and joy on finding us help liis been enormous. Many women who issue of THE LADDER, the issue that will be effectively eliminated until women from women who have felt isolated from felt they could not supply any of the things inaugurated THE LADDER’S transition liberate themselves and each other. Every asked for have asked how they might help the world and hopelessly so, you would from a Lesbian rights to an all-women’s human being alive today was born of a slave mote easily understand our determination with THE LADDER. rights magazine. In rereading that editorial I and learned at an alarmingly early age that Through the good help of a Boston to continue publishing THE LADDER. Our was struck by my statement that men’s she was an inferior creature or that he was a D.O.B. woman and a Denver woman active only reward is knowing that for each issue ‘divide-and-conquer’ tactics are on the way .superior being. It is the fact that one learns safelv published, wc will reach a few in women’s liberation there, we have a out. 1 have a pollyanna way of soaring off this .so eariy that ha.s enabled humanity to women who will find in our pages their mailing or handout sheet which describes us on the wings of optimism despite daily Wind itself to llie oppression of over half hope for future freedom and happiness, or very well. This is suitable for giving out at evidence that would lead any realistic, the human race. It takes a black child a even more altruistically, their hope for the meetings or for posting on bulletin boards. rational mind to expect an early end to good deal longer to realize her oppression future lives of women like themselves who We would like volunteers who live near human life. Whatever has happened to hy virtue of her blackness and by that time might, in a better world, not have to suffer eolleges and universities or women’s libera­ men’s ‘divide-and-conquer’ tactics, what I her oppression by virtue of her s«-x is well tion groups to post this for us on the their pains. have picked up in a year of intensive buried in her umarnseioiis. It i.s therefore Give us your ideas. That helps us too. bulletin board. This can be done, of course, reading of women’s liberation literature is not surprising that many minority women Tell us what pleases and does not please in the case of institutions, without any that women themselves have taken over still see their race or color as their primary you. We are together, THE LADDER lives permission whatever; simply stick the things their own divi.sion. Hundreds of small oppression and are standing Iwhind their and progresses, or dies, because of you, up. Libraries and student unions of all groups proclaim that only they have the men. But these women are not feminists by schools have bulletin boards with ready and us. answer and all the rest of us women must my definition, however worthy their cause; access to the public. If you could do this do as they say or be cast out in disgrace. IS in other re.s[)eet.s. for us, write to us and tell us how many (After this Editorial was written and But, true to my unquenchable idealism, 1 Nor do 1 consider women w-ho blame you can use. There are other places where typed, we also received help from a am not discouraged. I have simply altered the System and think men eiiually oppres­ this could be handed out as a handbill, and woman in the Washington, D.C. area my timetable to allow room for this current sed to be feminists. 1’bese women are we leave this to your fertile imaginations. and another in far away Nova Scotia in phase of gettitig it all out in the open. victims of fuzzy Ihinking. The Sy .stern, after W'e arc in need of good short fiction. preparing material to use in publicizing 1 will set down what 1 consider to be all, is Ihe in.ile power structure and consists Very bluntly, we do not like to run less and promoting THE LADDER. In some of the divisive ideas espressed in Ihe of male people only. Ihese women are than top quality fiction, and until we get a every case the work and the cost was women’s liberation literature of the past afraid to label men the enemy. Perhaps tlicy 'substantial supply of usable short stories we absorbed by the helpers. We are prop few years. One of the most harmful, in my are not clear about the meaning of the won’t be able to run many. We know there erly grateful) opinion, is what 1 call political theology, word, enemy. During World War II we are writers out there, but getting to them is i.c., the idea that society must first undergo Americans had no doubl who was the something else again. If you know anyone some kind of Marxist Revolution, led by enemy, Ihe (¡ermans and the Japanese. I his who w rites who isn’t aware of men enamoured of power and an outmoded never meant to any intelligent American us . . . make us all happy and put us in European male ideology, before wc women that every .single (ierman and every single touch. We realize that some women might can hope for first class citizenship. There lapanese was evil inearnate, born of the be willing to write but not under their own arc today Lesbian groups who actually Dcvil. Most were themselves victims of their names; this is no problem, pseudonyms are believe that totalitarian dictatorships respective male [hvwit structures. I hey welcome. We need to know who you are, (China, Cuba, the USSR) welcome Le.sbians Iwcame victims of their governments but no one else does. and homosexuals. As long as these Lesbians through apathy and ignorance. Nevi rthe- Recently we have been told by some live on dreamy faith rather than fact, there less, most of ns felt Ihe need to laliel women that due to personal situations they is no sense in attempting to disillusion Germany and Japan the enemy and light, arc unable to keep their copies of THE them. While 1 deplore the fact that so rather than argue that Ihese Iwo eouniries LADDER. Some have said they have no one many women arc hoodwinked into leftist were the victims of a world System, lay to give THE LADDER to and they do not politics first, women’s rights and liberation down our arms and let them overrun us. like to di-scard it. Please DO ^0 T discard second, I am encouraged that more and Women who cannot see that men are the your copies . . . If you have a situation more women are leaving .such male domina­ enemy in the fight lor the liberation of which precludes your keeping your copies, ted groups or skipping them altogether. For women must perforce turn aside from send them back to us with a diort note my own peace of mind I do not consider women’s liberation and take up some other saying that you want to donate them for tlicse Politicos - these women still under fight. sample issues and the like. This magazine is the spell of leftist males - as feminists of If we feminists are not careful, we can become involved in lights with minority very expensive to produce, and this would gMCRlCh'S NO-I any kind. be a blessing to us. We would prefer you EOtIC/lTlOM/'L TOY- This raises the question of what is a women that will render us all impolent. to keep your copies, but if the choice is the feminist, what is a women’s liberationist. the delight of the male establishment. I recently came across a stalernint by Nina wastebasket and us . . . send it back and n- WINKS, IT COOS; WETS IT3 There seems to be no consensus here and I let us use it in the common fight for our do not expect one in the near future, but I Harding, billed as a black feminist, and rights. PANTS/ FOR ll-SOE/iRfl, have my own definition; a woman who reported in PANDOR A, a women’s new.s- One important comment. If all of you G oes THROUGH M£N0PftU5E knows that female oppre.ssion is universal paper published in Seattle. I'o a question could share with the LADDER women the 5 feminists will become so fed up with the women who wislAo exclude Lesbians from about the advisability of separate black heterosexual women’s movement that we women’s liberation groups [which seems liberation are not feminists. But even among women whom I would will simply desert it and watch it collapse as most advisable to me ], Ms. Harduig said, ‘1 did the 19th century feminist movement. find that white women have no humanity, caD feminists, there is much divisiveness. We are frightened by diversity and lose sight of W'herc would Betty Friedan’s NOW be sensitivity, integrity, commitment or moral without the closet Lesbians who gave it fiber in their relationship with their own the fact that all we have in common is our oppression as women and that is all we much of its initial impetus? Where would all peer group let alone inter-group relation­ the profes.sional women’s groups be without ships with Third World women.” This state­ should want to have in common, other than our humanity. The feminist dream is of a us? .Some of us feminist Lesbians are wrll ment is a reminder that racism is not aware of the fact that, without us, hetero­ confined to whites. However much we may society of expanding choice of lifestyles for all women, which will bring in its train an sexual women are doomed to remain the understand all forms of racism, women who .slaves of men till the end of time. W'e are expansion of choice for men. Too many A/OW y o u 6 0 TO SCHOOL AND are afflicted with it are not feminists also aware that without the help of hetero­ bona fide feminists cling to conformity, in according to my definition; they have not sexual women we are doomed to lead our STUDY REM HARO AND this case conformity to what happens to be yet seen that underlying racism and all hidden lives, but we are NOT doomed to their peer group. Some women decide that SOMEDAY ALL THIS VIILL other forms of prejudice is the bedrock of .slavery. W'e will still have our half a loaf all forms of leadership are bad, apparently B E - T O U R S . society — the oppression of women by men. while heterosexual women have none. It on the theory that leadership is a purely I loathe racism in anyone and do not can get very difficult at times for the male phenomenon and that everything male entertain any sentimental notion that it is Lesbian feminist to keep faith with her less lesbian than hctero.sexiial. is bad, and so they must hate any woman less heinous in black women than in white liberated heterosexual .sisters. These so- I titled my editorial of a year ago THE who appears to them to take some form of women. I do not subscribe to the notion called heterosexual feminists, these women HNDEKF.ATABLE FOHGE. Soeiety’s that, as a white woman, 1 am to blame for leadership. Groups who prefer to operate ignorant cruelty causes many individual without overt leaders, who wish to try to who .stop short of permitting any women the importation of slaves from Africa. That (other than perhaps nuns) to be emotion­ Lesbians to fall by the wayside, but. taken was white man’s doipg. What I would like function without anyone in charge of any­ ally free of men, are at best only partial all together Lesbians are an undefcatable to a.sk Ms. Harding is her feeling for her thing, should be free to do so, but should feminists. My feelings range from fury to force, something I cannot say about hetero­ Lesbian sisters, black Lesbians. Would her not condemn another group that has deci­ hilarity when these “innocents” speak sexual women. In this past year, however, black chauvinism override her heterosexual ded on some kind of structure. Another proudly of great women of history and the seeds have U'cn sown for the coming chauvinism? form of peer pressure that helps to alienate great feminists of the past whom we Les­ together of Lesbians and hetero.sr-xual Some of these heterosexual black many women is the compulsive pres.sure to bians know to be part of our history, our women and those of us who are real women arc attempting to take over the LOVE every woman. The more women feminists will see to it that the .seeds grow. leadership of Third World women, while endeavor to force conformity the more Lesbian history, llcr-story is more often objecting vigorously against white women they strengthen centrifugal forces, ending who, they say, are shoving aside minority ultimately in hatred of their fellow femin­ women. A black woman who thinks only ists. Why on earth must I love all women in Mother Said Someone Called Here blacks should lead minority women because order to work for their and my justice? Or, blacks are the largest minority arc no better why must those who think promiscuity By MICKIE BURNS . . . when I get out, I am going to than white women who think leadership enlightened, condemn my preference for those who were my pals in the place, monogamy and sexual fidelity? Or, why Denver with the guys for about a week should devolve upon them as representing ordered a double whisky, ignored an old must women bent on careers ridicule before / come home. After you left at the majority race. This aping of male racist lover, played the juke-box, and flashed my women who want only home and family? Christmas, things got pretty interesting with power struggles is gruesome. But there is a rings and cuffs in a final whi.sk of self- I will continue to believe that there need Mother. She kept trying to trap me into a large segment of the female population, one satisfaction. Betty came over through the be no divisivencss between feminists, be­ long tH.scussion about you. / cut things at least as numerous as all minority women crowd and sat herself down in a tawdry, tween the single and the married, between short as possible . . . Mainly she was trying put together, that cuts across all racial and gaudy, clattering, chattering, peroxided the poor and the middle class, between to indoctrinate me to her way of thinking. I class distinctions, that knows oppression (ultimately splendid) heap. Clearly a pro­ young and old, between career women and think I handled it very well, ft’s kinda hard not only from men, but from most women duct of, but unspoiled by, Hunter College. the home and motherhood types, between to explain everything in a letter. / will just as well, that can make a mockery of this It was good to be back in town. those who favor monogamy and those who have to talk about it later, ff^rite soon and dangerous divisiveness among heterosexual A few days later, on a more utilitarian favor promiscuity, between prostitutes and let me know how your new enlarger works racial and ethnic “feminists.” These are the evening, 1 was reflecting upon a pleasant those who give it away, because 1 believe . . . (letter from my brother) country’s Lesbians, those women who “in­ That Saturday night was right after but somewhat obscure incident that had filtrate” every other female group, who are that women can rise above such irrelevant occurred while 1 had been home for Christ­ divisions. 1 have to believe this because 1 Christmas, the last of nineteen-seventy. 1 themselves at least as diversified as all entered a small velvet and neon establish­ mas. 1 pul down the coffee mug into which heterosexual women taken together, but beUeve they can rise above the most diffi­ 1 had been focusing and asked the long­ cult division of all — that between Lesbians ment sequestered in a business .section of who, unlike heterosexual women, suffer an Manhattan that had been deserted since 6 distance operator if there were a listing for and heterosexual women. additional oppression by virtue of their o’clock. 1 was feeling good and looking a Miss .Ioanna Kirkpatrick in Louisville, Lesbianism. This creates a sisterhood among A real beginning has been made here. Kentucky. There was. A cryptic but quite But much more must be accomplidied in -great and knew it and deserved to know it. all Lesbians that is not available to hetero­ We all of us deserve once every so often a •igreeable conversation followed. It seemed the years to come. We Lesbians are still up sexual women. It is this Lesbian leavening feeling of complete well-being, and that that this Miss Kirkpatrick had gone to against a great wall of prejudice on the part sprinkled throughout the female population night it was my turn and therefore not an college in our mutual home town, but after that will bring together all women. Hetero- even of women who scream “sexist” at occ:asion for envy or for conceit. 1 greeted graduation had spent a more Bohemian sexuahty is not a unifying principle. And men. It is not inconceivable that we Lesbian couple of ycari in a large eily out \^'est and be the town whore or at least a hippie and the kitchen where I knew my mother would mented for her housekeeping is when some­ had seen sights and had a story to tell. never marry anybody worth having. .An be staring grimly into her coffee; but if the body wants something from her pretty bad. Short of money and something of a starved infinitestimal quantity too much virginity rest of the family were going to get their “Oh, it’s the new colored girl, Nettie, she’s artist. Miss Kirkpatrick had accepted a means being an old maid who will never breakfast, I knew I had to get it over with. ju.st a jewel.” (All right, Mother, if I have to teaching position and had returned to the marry anybody worth having either. Most It was my fault. Fool! Why did 1 have to mess up the “colored girl’s” fifty-year-old home town. Only one month ago Miss ■shocking of all is the young girl who escapes make a big deal and write that letter? 1 put raw knees in order to talk to you. Mother, Kirkpatrick had once itgain left home - this that degrading old game altogether. She is on the negligee Mother gave me as a you can see I am doing it.) My mother is time for Louisville, where she was presently the one who wears the proud but paradoxi­ birthday prc.sent that she thinks I look so quite proud of having a “colored girl” or employed as an apprentice trainer on a cal stigmata of both virginity and sensuali­ sweet in and wa.shed my face and put on two. i^e was once a sharecropper’s daugh­ horse farm. She supplemented her scanty ty. She i.s the one who has her cake and eats makeup and walked in. “Good morning. ter accustomed to such niceties as picking income hv selling Iwr drawings and paint­ it too. Only with horror may a mother Mother.” Now what am 1 going to say? worms off tobacco leaves. After she left ings of horses. In turn. I reported very little reconcile her daughter’s smug flat stomach “Oh, the floors look so shiny, Mother. 1 school, Mother worked in a factory in about mvself except that I was steadily and with that same daughter’s wicked eyes. have never seen them look so shiny.” The Obensburg where she saved her money and eonlentedlv employed. 1 did attempt to Therefore my Mother makes somewhat only time my Mother ever gets compli­ put herself through beauty school. She exchange passwords, a primilive, even corny pitiful attempts to justify or to excuse to procedure, with Miss Kirkpatrick. When­ the neighbors or to her God the existence ever 1 fly home Ihi're is a stop-over in of a daughter who is two years out of Louisville: I usually gel a taxi and go to the .school and husbandless. Therefore I do not X: it is an interesting bar in a way. Have often write home - and when I do, 1 always you ever been there/'’ No, Miss Kirkpatrick lie. For at least six years the only factual had not. “W ell, have you ever Ik-cii to the Y information my parents have had about me in Kvansville, perhaps?" "Do they have is that 1 am alive. inten'sting places in Kvansvillef Miss Kirk­ Yes, Mother definitely wax pouting. I patrick inquired, "hi a way.’ W e talked at had just gotten off the plane and had length from our separate and distant cities unpacked and suddenly, instead of talking and agreed to write each other. W’e did not. to my brother and my father and me in the living room, she went off by herself to the den to address Christmas cards. My brother Mother is craft; 1 saw at once that it and father ignore her little rebellions, but was going to be necessary for me to she knows just how to “get to” me. Father “handle” her. a family public relations and brother grew quiet in the living room, fimelion at which 1 have been adept since safely awaiting the rc.sults of my diplomatic .Mother's hysterectomy when I was thirteen. mission to the den. I knew what was It is only fair, because after all it is u.aually 1 bothering her this time. My letter. I was an who upset her. V on see. I have not done ass to send it .so near Christmas or to send it what my hrolher has not done as yet either at all. Oh hell. Then of course my brother but can he counted on to do vyhen his time had just clued me in that he had phoned up comes, namely “settle down. ” Actually 1 drunk saying hr was going to be a day late have mam of tlie accoutrements of the getting in. Mother is a Southern Baptkst and settled-down condition: life insurance, a teetotaler. Just the same, the truer cause annuities, gas and electricity bills. But I of mother’s exile in the den had to b»' me. have not married and one cannot be un­ My brother never does anything so a-skance married and settled down at the same time: from the norm that it would jeopardize it is a eontradietion in terms. .According to Christmas. Mother, I have been living vaguely in a “.Madness,” a friend had suggested, “to distant city for .some years, and before that, go a thousand miles bearing expensive gifts obscurely away at college, and even before and all that plane fare and fretting for that, uncertainly at home where by the weeks beforehand and then spend all your senior year of high school I had failed to vacation time being interrogated by your "blossom out” profierly. By the time I left motber.” “When you grow up in Obeas- for college. Mother had already come to burg, you go home for Christmas,” I had bile her lower lip whenever she began to answered. After complimenting Mother on brag about my virginity to other girls’ her Christmas card selection, conversation mothers. Virginity is a preei.se and certain toppled; and I saw Mother wasn’t about to quantity in a yotnig girl’s character. (It is be her usual jolly ruddy self and was not non-existent in a young man's.) A fraction going to capitulate, not on my first night too little (the back seal and not the front home. seat of a parked auto or as according to The next morning I made more serious other local customs) and the poor girl will efforts. I dreaded getting up and going into 8 to cause me .some grave personal concern. avoided dyinp her hair or smoking or tains that privacy conceals only .sin, and in ignored it, and galloped and offered up The availability of old high school girl­ another prospective unwed mother for our drinkiirg so she wouldn’t look like a factory' consistency with this philosophy, no doors friends, particularly the married ones, is not girl or a beautician. She worked hard and in our house in Obensburg are locked and conversational delectation. Perhaps 1 should providing my handsome and sexually switch to bowels. .Again Mother forgot that kept herself pure. When she wa.s twenty-six no mail is sacred. 1 had considered strength­ satiated brother with sufficient marital ening the suggestion of my letter by adding she wasn’t .suppo.sed to be enjoying talking she owned two beauty salons of her own motivation. It is my selfish wish that he will that I had never been out on a dale since to me. Later I thought it over. My mother and married the town “catch” — a hand- commence his reproductive activities imme­ the last time Mother had sent me to .some doesn’t lie altogether and .something has ■soine, well-educated, well-to-do young diately upon discharge from the armed Younger Women’s Club Dance or other, but happened to cause her to make a statement bachelor who insisted slie never work again. services, thereby diverting Mother’s atten­ 1 thought better of that. The letter was a like that. Someone has called. I was dead While she was making money as a beauti­ tion from her daughter to her grand­ hint and my parents elected not to compre­ sure she didn’t mean the call had been cian, she .sent home dresses to her sisters on children. the farm for their high school proms and hend it. They telephoned me in New York about my brother. I had been gone a long bought her mother a dining-room “suite” after they had received the letter and said, Once we were in the living room, I again time but Obensburg has a long memory for and a set of real china so the family “You have been working too hard- Don’t had difficulty engaging Mother in conversa­ eccentric behavior. wouldn’t have to stand up when they ate worry, the right man will come along some tion and in restoring, through this means, A few days later we were wrapping and drink out of jelly jars. My mother had a day who will love you as we do. Remember, her chuckling good spirits. There arc two Christmas gifts and Mother said, “Oh, yes, 1 high school home economics teacher who dear, nobody loves you like your own topics of conversation that never fail to forgot to tell you Joanna Kirkpatrick called here Thanksgiving.” made fun of the fact that Mother could not parents.” However, the privacy invasion excite the ladies of Obensburg. 1 had so far afford material to bring to class and reference hit home with Mother; and al­ exhausted my store of other trivia without “She thought you might have come brought flour sacking instead. W'e have though she did not go into her grievances securing Mother’s interest. Now 1 must home for Thanksgiving, and I told her you quantities of information about each other; over that little accusation on the telephone, bring myself to discuss one of the two wouldn’t be home until Christmas. She was therefore we are a family. she did not omit to “straighten me out” on remaining topics, both of which 1 find in your art cla.ss at senior high, wasn't she? calling her a “detective” when .she “got me distasteful beeau.se they are sadistic. 1 was Wa.s she your year? She said she had been 1 kept up through breakfast with what 1 home.” even less attracted by (1) “Lower Intestinal living out West and had been a ‘starving hoped would be a few more unloaded My brother blundered into the breakfast Gothic Distress” than I was by (2) "The arti.sl’ and had to come back to Obensburg pleasantries. Usually 1 began with queries room. “Hiya, Ma,” he said affably, and Histories of Obensburg’s Unwed Mothers in to live at home again for a while. She said like, “What do you hear from old Mrs. Mother beamed at him in excessively bla­ This Century.” Knowing no other way to site had been teaching out at County High Baines?” Mother did not play my game tant contrast to the expression with which 1 restore the .serenity of our Christmas re­ and had run into Gail and .she got to fairly. To such a colloquial query she had been greeted. My brother started teas­ union, 1 began by asking Mother whatever wondering whatever became of you. Well, I tended to make some universal response: ing and horsing around with her: picking happened to Sharon Miles — knowing damn just don’t know a think about her but 1 “Well, her children don’t come to .see her her up and puttiiqt her on his knee and well what happened to Sharon Miles. 1 was gue.ss her people arc all right. They go over much any more,” accompanied by a pitiful bouncing her up and down as a child. being quite the verbal whore that morning, to the big Baptist church over near where but proud shrug, “Well^she’s just going to Inadvertently he knocked into her breast a trifling with the reputation of some poor Margaret Fogel lives.” have to get hard to thinjg, like some other little. Mother grabbed at herself “Be care­ female wretch who had to be sent off to (In I began hastily rummaging about in the folks.” Mother is quite dextrous with signi­ ful — you’ll break my tumor.” (I have been the Year of Our l-ord 1970) a “home” in past. Joanna Kirkfiatrick, Gail, and high ficant observations. .My mother had been a suffering from the threat of Mother’s fe­ Louisville where .she is not permitted to school six years ago. Seven years ago? spunky girl. I can see traji:es of it still. She male cancers for years. Mother is in bloom­ slay out past 10:30 P.M. To prevent her Mother went on, “She sounded nice was once the proprietres.sj of beauty salons, ing health.) My brother said, “Whaddya from getting pregnant again, no doubt. It enough on the phone. You know .she said to but more recently of ovarian .squalor. mean, your tumor?” Mother answered ever wasn’t long until Mother was in full swing me, ‘Of all the people I went to high .school Early in November t had received a so vaguely as from Calvary, “Oh, it’s just a again and we were once more a happy with, 1 wondered what happened to your letter from Mother saying, “ You never seem little thaanng 1 got.” The “Old Rugged family gathered together for Christmas. daughter most.’ ” Mother is sometimes, to write us, we could drop dead and you Cross” scene again. Dammit, Mother, you One of Mother’s more recent moral occasionally, rarely, proud that I am one of don’t seem to care to know.” 1 did not have gone too far this time. Thai’s close to fables has as a heroine, one of Mother’s own Obensburg’s most astoni.sliing-looking ex- want my parents to think 1 did not write an outright lie. Usually when 1 hurt your relatives: It seems cousin Mattie, who.se citizens, but more often it would he easier because I did not love them. I wrote a feelings you just threaten to get cancer of mother is my mother’s sister Nila, has on her if she could have traded me in for reply. In it, I told them that 1 thought we the breast. 1 said nothing. After breakfast I recently delivered her fifth child. After the someone a little less dark, a little less tall — could be belter friends if they would first just followed Mother into the living room birth Aunt Nila received an anonymous a nice girl with long brown hair who likes to accept three things about me. 1 apologized where she intended to brood over another letter saying, “Congratulations, Grandma, bake pies, perhaps. Someone who would to them for not being able to alter myself cup of coffee. All the other housewives in you have just had another grandchild by just fit in for a change. on any of these matters: That 1 would never our town drink secretly. They have “water” another father.” Apparently cousin Mattie “Oh, have you .seen Gail anywhere marry, that I detested the idea of preg­ glasses on the right hand comer of their was involved in really quite a tacky extra­ lately. Mother? How’s she doing?” Mother nancy, and finally, that I had never had sinks in the kitchen which they rinse out marital arrangement this time. I responded allowed .she had run into Gail in the grocery .sexual relation.s with a man and did not immediately afterward. The younger house­ to this quaint anecdote with what 1 hoped only just la-st week or so and slie had intend to do so. I concluded by asking again wives, the girls my brother and 1 went to would be. an appropriate, “Gee, that’s a seemed fine then. I said, “Well, 1 don’t for their affection and requesting that my high .school with, now have the added terrible thing to happen to a mother. think I will try bothering to call her. She privacy be respected. Mather has a trouble­ amusement of wife-swapping. My mother’s Mother.” Mother decided to remember, at knows I will probably be home and she can some habit of going through my drawers religion and the fact that she is “artistic” this point, that she was supposed to be call me if she wants.” Mother became and wallet and interrogating doormen about and has lots of flower arranging hobbies has pouting at me. She quickly resumed the sympathetic as in my old high school and me when she comes to visit me in New rescued her from some of these more marty( expression, “Well, I’ve had anon- junior high .school days when 1 knew Gail. York. This habit is in keeping with her popular forms of atrophy. The wife­ ymoijis telephone calls, too.” 1 dropped it. She had liked Gail and had felt .sorry for her religious beliefs. The Baptist religion main- swapping vogue, incidentally, is beginning 70 was only .salutalorian. Later .she flunked out but she had not liked the way Oail always We had an old and complicated relation­ sometimes displayed them as her own. tried to gouge me and demean me in order of Vanderbilt and had to endure the humili­ ship even then. Life has gone well for me of During my last year I had come to thor­ ation of going back to the small religious to emphasize her own social importance. late and 1 have no time for old misunder­ oughly hate being her pet, and decided to We had been **best-fricnd.s’' since the college in Obensburg, getting her degree standings. become her “enfant terrible’’. One day I somewhere in between her divorce and seventh grade and had parted bitterly in our Rut Joanna Kirkpatrick was another was given the trusted assignment of making senior year of high school. I had seen her psychotic episodes in which she claimed to matter altogether. I had no one at all I football posters, which I executed to the briefly on a few of my subsequent visits be God. At a di.stance, I illuminated her cared to call up from high school days and bald school principal’s and Mrs. Overhurst’s back to town. She was now divorced and failures by being, on ocea.sion, her intel­ for the most part was grateful when Mother horror. On the posterboard 1 had created recovering from a .severe mental illness. I lectual superior and by fini.shing college excused me from these stiff little encoun­ violent abstract messes with the date, place, had never met her husband. She met him in without a visible hitch. Wlien I think of Gail ters. For the past several years, whenever I and time of the game ultaehed almost as an Nashville after 1 left town. Gail had appar­ now, I do not think of us as looking as we go home to Obensburg, I stay in the house, afterthought in the form of a tiny type­ ently gotten well enough to student teach do now; but I do think of what children we or go to the country with my father, or go written paragraph which was attached to at County High, where she presumably had must have been then. Fifteen years old or for long drives with my brother. I had never the already virulent painting by mean.« of a the opportunity to di.seuss me with Joanna fourteen. Me a tall dark looming creature been close friends with Joanna, mairdy lavish W'ad of Bazooka bubble gum. Such Kirkpatrick. 1 wondered what Gail, in ven­ looking down in awkward “popcorn because Gail dictated who would and who instances of scintillating wit had always geance or in madness, might have told bobby socks at ber - a dumpy-figured little would not be permitted in our clique, and I made Gail treasure me as a member of her Joanna. It could only have been a hint, termagant who was always in a temper but never liked to annoy Gail — nor did any of clique and closest chum. On the day of the something that would not implicate herscll. who said such clever things. 1 remember the rest of our group, because we all knew football poster scandal, Gail made a great Gail had been driven by her social-climbing standing in that over-heated hallway at our that Gail was not from a very happy family point of accompanying the “enfant terri­ physician father to make good - to make (always adjoining) lockers with the radia­ and therefore we permitted her eccentrici­ ble” all over .school. After that I made F’s perfect grades. She failed miserably. She tors hissing — for years and years. ties and suffered our indignities and let her in art, and Joanna became Mrs. Overhurst’s think she was our leader. Gail did not seem favorite. During most of the senior year, to feel Joanna was from a prominent Mrs. Overhurst put me to work on some enough family, nor did Gail feel Joanna kind of simple manual lalmr ta.sk where I possessed a sufficiently remarkable intelli­ could do no damage, like building Southern gence. Joanna was (for Gail’s information) .Mansion columns for the prom. 1 was not from as respectable antecedants as any of even trusted with the glitter that had to be the rest of US in that small town with one put on after they were painted. A young movie house and strong rural connections. man in our class with a telling facility for Gail’s own mother had grown up in worse glitter and net did that. circumstances than my own in a tarpaper The redoubtable Mr.s. C. Overhurst tried shack near Rumsy, Kentucky (a fact that very hard to promote a rivalry between me Gail’s mother didn’t like to be reminded of and Joanna. This purported rivalry occa­ when .she became “Dr. and Mrs. Yarbuni.’’). sioned the only conversation I ever had Gail, with her dumpy body and overbearing with Joanna that I recall vividly enough to personality could do little to glorify the remember that something important was family name as the town debutante. That’s said between us two and to remember how why .she damn well had to make straight she looked as she spoke. The boys in our A’.s. “Dr. and Mr.s. Yarburn” ran tlie kind of class would not have considered Joanna household that even when we very naive Kirkpatrick attractive. She was short and and very young kids went there after ,s()uare-built rather than fat and wore nar­ school, we preferred next time to go to row black cat-eye glass frames that ob­ somebody else’s house. Joanna had a more scured many of her expressions. She was casual, less desperate intelligence than Gail, plodditig of speech and deliberate of mind. and an affectionate family. Her seriousne.ss made one glad when her My most intimate encounter with mouth began to crook up on one corner Joanna occurred during our senior year of with a bit of sarcasm. In such a tone, she high school when we were both in the addressed me about our embarrassing rela­ / / formidable-bosomed and petty-hearted Mrs. tions with Mrs. Overhurst and our alleged / ■ C. Overhursl’s art class together. Mrs C. rivalry. The outcome was that Joanna rea.s- O verhurst-of - the-bulldog-chest’s artistic sured me that she did not want to impinge 4 claims rested upon her ability at painting upon my number one position and was roses on china and at needlepoint. We were sorry to have succeeded me. 1 was touched also given to understand Mrs. 0 had a lot of that she would be so self-effacing and told I social wallop in our mothers’ garden clubs. I her to forget it, that it was high time had been, in years past, Mrs. C. Overhurst’s another prima donna took over anyway. I pet due to an exacting and precise skill at said I admired her drawings, and we ended drawing. I drew roses quite superior to by agreeing to continue friendly relations, those of even Mrs. Overhurst. Indeed she in spite of our teacher’s childish ambition you or me — probably me if I know that wc l>o at each other’s throats. 1 noticed worse, so he drags in secret computer a male run world only worse. Armed guards Mother’s tricks - getting any anonymous her hair matched the black plastic of her control. It seems that this perfection of march around the streets (mo.st of the telephone calls? Have you ever heard eyeglass frames. Her skin was very white, happiness and plenty was done by a nasty lovingly told violence in this book concerns Wc never became close friends. Graduation Mother or Father say anything about my computer, not those helpless hapless wom­ crushing their skulls and the popping sound getting anonymous telephone calls?” “W'ell, came. But any memory of Joanna 1 have is en after all. An evil machine has made this as they are variously splattered, punched, Sis” he said, “there was that Joanna Kirk­ plea.sant. wonderful world. Now the thing that is crushed, shot, chopped, etc.) and there is a patrick. She called here Thanksgiving.” wrong with this world is that there arc no brave band of men who live in the city “Yeah, I know about that. Mother told me men and even though 5000 years have past sewer system with their own loyal group of about her; but 1 mean anonymous calls. Or I told her, “I am sorry I couldn’t get in since the last man died, and even though groupies. ConditiorLs above ground are con­ touch with you when I was home Christ­ did Joanna supposedly have anything — you everyone is happy, Mr. Maine has a handful know - did I get an anonymous call and siderably better than below ground so there mas. Mother told me you called Thanks­ of the women (in complete defiance of any is some puzzlement as to why the women Mother think it might have also been from giving, so 1 railed your hou.«e and your known laws of heredity or environment) are below ground with the men, but this is mother .said you might not be able to come her or something? It’s i»nfusing; you know begin to yearn for a man. All this though Mother — she all of a sudden one day never explained either. In fairness (why are home for Christmas: and she said you had NONE of them have seen a man nor so women always fair?) it should be men­ started hinting around about cousin moved to Louisville, .so 1 asked for your much as HEARD about them. In the end, tioned that no action is taken in this novel Mattie’s new baby aiid Aunt Nila getting an address there.” 1 was really rattling on in this group artificially creates a man and as that could be considered to be based on anonymous letter, and then she started explanation, “Mother .said you had met Gail the book ends . . . “the exploaon flung logical thought processes. One of the major some funny business about me getting when you were teaching at County High.” one of the windows of the room inwards in activities of the underground crew is to anonymous telephone calls.” “Hey, yeah, ” “No,” she said, “I haven’t .seen Gail in quite a cascade of glass splinters . . . there was blow up food trains coming into the city he .said, “.somebody did call here for you a while. 1 didn’t know she ever taught at something wrong with the sky . . . the . . . this aUows a lot of skull cracking of when I was home Thanksgiving, and I County.” “Well, yes — at least Mother deepening purple of approaching night was female train guards. And, wouldn’t you seemed to have the idea that ...” Maybe wa.sn’t paying much attention. I was watch­ aflame with a livid orange stain . . . Tt has know it, when they go out at night on ing rV, but Mother and Daddy went into I should not push the point. “Have you started’, she told herself fearfully. AH be­ dangerous scouting expeditions, guess In-en able to sell many paintings in Louis­ the dining room and were whispering about cause of one male child. This is the end of which members of the underground are “up ville?” “Well, not bad; you know how they it. They didn’t say who it was, I guess.” all things . . . But a voice in the darkness front” . . . sure enough, the chicks. In the are around here over horse pictures.” “Yes, of her mind whispered, ‘This is only the end the men overtake the government in Louisville and Lexington, therc’rc horses beginning’ . . Thus we are left with the because the powerful mayor of New York on every Shetland sweater and all over “Of all the people she went to high way in which a man solves things . . . blow City discovers that the most wanted leader every gift shop.” “Sure are. Anyway, with school with, she was most curious about up the world. of the underground is her long lost son . . . my job on the horse farm, it’s not a bad whatever happened to you,” Mother had Other males have also used the theme of so when the crowds are about to tear him living,” said. I had ramposed my face into an all female worlds. They see them as very to pieces, yup, she throws herself between I had taken my brother aside and said, expre.s.sion appropriate to the mild experi­ evil, of eourse, and the worlds always faU to him and the crowd . . . he escapes, and as “Hey, when you were home Thanksgiving, ence of hearing from an old acquaintance of some kind of male influence in the end. the female taxi driver explains to him as did you hear Mother say anything about the female sex. One such (many cuts above the two books they drive away, “When she had to face the THE FEMINISTS and WORLD WITHOUT choice the mayor discovered she possessed MEN) is John Wyndham’s classic, CON­ the major feminine weakness . . . before SIDER HER WAYS, N.Y., BaUantine, she was a Feminist, she was a mother”. T i J ó n t e t t By LENNOX STRONG 1956, In this, the threat of sexuality is avoided by creating a world based loosely (*Philip Wylie, whose hatred o f wom­ ,A very small paperback original publish­ in paperbacks. 1’he stories, while very dif­ on the ant or bee structure, with workers, en is hardly a secret, in his novel THE ing company in New York City, Pinnacle ferent, are very much the same. They are queens, etc. Mr. Wyndham uses the device DISAPPEARANCE, N.Y., Rinehart, Books, has issued a 95c novel, THE FEMI­ about how men feel about women; they are of having a female narrator accidentally 1951, documents a divided world NISTS, by Parley J. Cooper, with a 1971 about the threat of women. visit this world . . . and awake from the where the men are shown in an all (opyriglit. On the cover we read “They rule WORLD WITHOUT MEN is set 5000 visit as from a nightmare. But even so, Mr. male society and women are shown in the world, and top dog is bitch!”. years in the future, when all men have died Wyndham is unable to get away from the an all female society. In the male Reading THE FEMINISTS with a back­ out and all women are naturally Lesbians. impression left with the reader of a very society, holocausts and wars and vio­ ground of reading science fiction, there is Birth is by parthenogenesis, which always happy world, except perhaps for the moth­ lence and crime are the total activity no way to imagine what the reader reaction (very conveniently) produces same sex off­ ers (queens). . . . in the female society most prob­ would be without such a background. Due spring. There is no war, no violent crime, no THE FEMINISTS is very up to date; lems in terms o f social problems are to the women’s liberation movement in this pollution, very few problems indeed, in a instead of 5000 years away, we are only to solved at once and all wars stop, etc.) country, no publisher would care to bill well-run and orderly universe. But Mr. 1992. Mr. Cooper is not nearly so good a .such “lieadline” material as science fiction, Maine, who described WORLD WITHOUT writer as Mr. Maine or Mr. Wyndham, so we CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS? If you but it was not always this way. MEN as the book he most enjoyed writing, have to overlook some pretty bad plotting. are planning to move, please let us know six weeks before changing your address. In 1958, Charles Eric Maine, a minor lets his feelings be known right off when he His aU female run world still has males, but Please send your old address and your science fiction writer, had his WORLD describes the offices of the administration they have last all political power because: new address, clearly marked. You MUST Include BOTH your old and your new WITHOUT MEN published by Ace Books as building as “effeminate,” not feminine, but the feminists have taken over. How they zip codes. Remember, third class mall Is a 35c paperback original. It has 190 pages effeminate. As his plot unfolds, Mr. Maine managed this is never discussed. But despite not forwardable. Send to Circulation Department, P.O. Box S02S, Washington while THE FEMINISTS has only 188 for its writes himself into a couple of comers. . . even the most prejudiced predictions to the Station, Reno, Nevada 89503. 95c . . . a measure of the increase in cost how to make a clearly better world seem contrary,* this female run world is very like J ournei^s- in A r t By JEAN LOUISE The Independent Women of Winslow Homer A rather dandified image of Winslow strolling the beach in the mcjonlight, two Homer and Albert W. Kelsey* taken in Paris men on a hunting trip or two fishermen in 1867 prefaces the 1958 Homer e^italogue battling a storm at .sea, never a word is CD CL published by The Metropolitan Museum of spoken. And, although this theme of silent Art. Homer is actually and (perhaps sym­ understanding between friends of the same bolically) seated upon a pedestal while < sex is repeated over and over, only once C Kelsey with clasped hands leans against docs Homer allow it to blossom into sensual Homer’s shoulder. Although not shown, the love. ■ö O photograph is stated to be inscribed by A Summer Night, painted in 1890, is the Kelsey, “Damon and Pythias”. Damon and only “romantic” painting of Homer’s ca­ Pythias were two young men in Roman reer. The story ascribed to this work is that mythology who so loved each other that the artist was watching the sea from his wlien Pythias wished to return to his home studio at Prouts Neci, Maine, one night and for the la.sl time before being executed for suddenly noticed a number of people on plotting against Dionysius I, Damon offered the rocks below. As he watched, two his own life as a pledge that Pythias would women disengaged themselves from the return to face his sentence. At the last group and danced on his lawn. The scene so moment before the time set, Pythias re­ affected Homer that he rose the next turned as he had promised. Dionysius was morning and painted the .scene from mem­ so impressed by Pythias’ return and the love ory adding only a porch for better composi­ between thes«' two men, he pardoned them tion and as a light source. In looking at this both. work it is important to remember that the The photograph is in many ways a dancers were not inspired by any sort of O revelation in regard to Homer’s personal life U music excepting the sounds of the sea, the and adds greatly to the understanding of his intimacy of the night and their feelings for O art. One of his most dominant themes is that one another. X of eompanionship, a kind of silent, heroic The Homer sea is a constantly changing and enduring bond between two people personality but its temperament is always G ì (always of the same sex), who trust in each relatable to the mood of the figures played CN other’s continued existence so completely against it. In A Summer Night, the sea, like d that speech or any other overt form of the dancers, is sensuous and free; the G) 00 communication is no longer necessary. ' moordight glitters lusciously upon the Whether it is two peasant women working waves and this sensuousness is echoed by side by side in a field, two elegant ladies the embrace of the figures, the tenderness b S ç

(U E O T S O

-A

Winslow Homer. The N ew Novel. 1877. 9y2''x20Va". Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Massachusetts, The Horace P. Wright Collection. in the gesture of their outstretched hands, but is rendered in a way which completely the clo.sed eyes of the woman facing us. In subordinates the male rescuer a.s well. In the ê addition, the sea not only reflects the original oil paintings upon which the print figures symbolically; in actuality, the cou­ is based, the rescuer has a far more domi­ ple is reflected on the water’s surface at the CN nant role; his heavy boots are large in the J- f O) left center edge and here the two women foreground and almost control the rest of unite to form one whirling image. The the painting. 13 figures on the rocks seem to face this 4 ,, _ ’ - C In changing the domination of the work, 3 reflection and are perhaps enchanted as the Homer also changed the title from The Life r ^ S t U- magic of the dancing reflection continues. .As ‘ Line to Saved. The new title not only There is a strong feeling of independ­ confirms the woman’s victory in the fact 5 ence projected by A Summer Night; the that she ha.s survived but also eneoiiragcs ■ W - 4 ’ o> women are oblivious to the world and its new religious connotations. The po.sition of conventions, demonstrating a kind of defi­ these two figures is exactly that of the I’ieta ance which is characteristic of almost all the where the dead Christ is draped aero.ss American women in Homer’s work. Wheth­ .Mary’s lap. In this CâS6, it is d woman who er it is a farm girl, a woman on horseback, a plays the role of martyr but the same fisherwoman, or ladies of fashionable coun­ overtones of dignity fhrougli suffering are try life, the females of his paintings are present. This etching is one of the few allowed a very great amount of physical instances in art when a woman, like Christ, freedom for art in America in those Vic­ emerges as the conquering victim and for torian times. In fact, several of his paint­ this rca.son, it is a very exceptional work. ings, especially those of women swimming, In conclusion, it should be repeated that were thought a bit risque for the amount of Homer firmly rcfuse.s in a nnyority of his physical activity allowed the female sex. works (except his book illustrations) to Homer, who lived almost all of his adult combine the sexes. There arc only three life alone, was fascinated by a certain kind major breaks from this rule: Saved, The of self-sufficient, unaffected country wom­ Undertow and The Wreck o f the Atlantic. an and liked to paint her isolated against a In all three cases the paintings deal with life landscape that was left just as independent and death struggles with the sea in which and unidealized. In Girl with a Pitchfork, men and women come together only in acts Weary, The Bridal Path White Mountains of heroism. There is an honesty in all this as and Inside the Bar, this is especially true. Homer’s personal life followed this same The girl reclining in The New Novel, repro­ pattern. He lived in self-rsolation for long duced here, clothed in a very simple dress periods of time and at other times visited for the period, has the stubbornness of face, only with a .select group of male friends and with cleft chin, straight no.se and strong with his brother. Homer has been accused forehead usually reserved for portraits of of being dispassionate because hi.s work boys. She is content to be alone entertain­ ing herself with a new book; she is inde­ pendent and self-involved and the foliage about her has this same kind of unself- conscious simplicity. It is possible after dwelling on this watercolor for a time to smell the grass, feel the warmth of sun on face and even to become half-consciously annoyed at the summer insects pestering about. The New Novel and A Summer Night depict the strength of women with inde­ pendent minds. In Saved, the final repro­ duction here, a very different kind of strength is examined, the fight of life against its destruction by the sea. Saved is a study of courage and heroism. The woman, who, as a symbol of weakness, is u-sually presented as the dead victim of such a powerful male symbol as the sea, is, in this etching, not only victorious over that sea A f f f y O rOUfi F£U/\f 19 Lesbianism to live on well into the 21st .seems we already have our freedom (that i.% docs nol relate to heterosexuality but for who, as ‘7enn Ixyuis4‘" dors this fine century, and it would be unrealistic of me if we arc heterosexual); and we are permit­ those who understand the meaning of a column for us, asks that anyone with to expect the myth of male superiority to ted only one life-style (“we need a model deeper companionship lx*tween morniK^rs of any information regarding ieshians in die any sooner. Ideas, whether true or false, for women”, writes .Mrs. Oden); and “femi­ the same sex, Homer’s paintings are deeply art send the information to her e/o are very long-lived. The other day I came ninity” is our strength. I think LADDER fulfilling and, in fact, the real passion of his Gene Damon at the Reno address. She across this: “The poor creatures do not readers will get the picture. work cannot be truly appreciated without Ls interested in seeing ¡A'sbian and wish to become men in order lo be more Mrs. Oden tells us that feminism is this knowledge. feministic art hy women and is also perfect, but to have freedom and escape the self-aelualization for women as an end in interested in non pornographic l.es bondage which men have imposed on tliem itself, but she goes “beyond” this for to her ^Aihert If. Kelsey, a lioston paintetf bian art hy male artvds. Please send as by their own authority.” These arc the self-actualization is but “a means to effec­ was a life long friend and /it>ed with much information as you have, such as words of Giuliano de’ Medici, as reported tive self-giving.” Much of the book simply Homer fora short time in Paris. o f artist, TITIA o f paintifpfor by Count Balda.ssare Castiglione in his restates the obvious, c.g., “we are victims of droiein/iri ^’HKRE you saw it, every­ book, THE COURTIER, completed in reality, and, paradoxically, wc arc also its (KDITOH^S !\()TE: Sarah IVhitworth, thing that might nutke tracking the 1516. They arc in answer to a David Allen crealors.” Her rehash and popularization of material down possible. Thank you.) type who said, “man resembles Form and such thinkers as Eric Berne, Viktor ErankI, woman Substance; and, as Form is more Erich Fromm, John Gardner, Rollo May, perfect than Substance, man is superior to Jean-Paul Sartre, and Paul Tillich may woman; . . . moreover all women want to By HOPE THOMPSON impress the Ladies’ .Sodality, but it says nOooli l'Ip v iPUJS be men, by a natural instinct which teaches little aliout the pliglit of women. Mrs. Oden THE PRICE OE WOMEN, by David Allrn, I do nol give a damn what men think them to seek their perfection.” What is this wants women s career development lo rec­ Jarrow Press. Inc., .N.Y. 1971 ($6.95, 206 they .should or should nol give to women. but a 16th century version of Freud’s penis ognize our humanistic qualities and our PP) The matter is quite out of their haiid.s,, for envy? 1 will not engage with anti-feminists importance as volunteer workers. .Appar­ I camiol review tins book for I cannot they are not dealing with the demands of in a battle that is now at least 500 years ently men are not lo be .saddled with force myself to read it. Instead, I will minors, or hor.ses, or dogs, but are l>eing old. I embrace dear old Guiliano de’ Medici, humanism and voluiiteerism. “She [the explain why I cannot read it. Under .Ack- gently and nol so gently bypassed by the but my concern is the women’s movement, woman of faith | decides to follow the way nowledceinents Mr. Allen begin.s. “This majority of human iM-ings, It is women who not what men think about it. of Christ — to live her life for others . . . book utili/ps and synthesizes the work o f have the better claim lo the u.se of “u>e” t t t Her giving of herself is her reward . , . She many men. ” In the Introduetion he admits (above) in speaking of .society, if for no lives a sacrifirial life . , . Being aware of “Ihere is indeed something wrong . . . other reason than that wo are more num­ BEYOND FEMINISM, The Woman of Faith her worth as a person . . . .she decides lo between the sexes” and the theme of the erous. So it is we who will have to teach the in Action, by Marilyn Brown Oden, Parthe­ respond by giving herself away.” There is book is that “insofar as this is true the boys that neither .sex alone can speak for non Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1971 nothing wrong with all this giving — I current feminist cry for reform has some .society. What the conceited bastards |)lan ($3.50, 112 pp). wonder only why women and not men are le/iitimacy. ” (Italics mine). “What is needed for us in their all mail’ preserves is irrele­ This information is enough for this to follow Christ in this manner. Probably is not more equality or greater freedom/or vant. reviewer. It tells me that Marilyn is a very becjiuse, as Mrs. Oden says, “the role of the female, but more responsibility from 1 was surprised at my n'aetioii lo the proper MRS who thinks that Christian wife and mother is ba.sic.” By now, nearing her.” That is (as 1 understand it), we first few pages of this hook and paused to women are finer than other women and the end of the book, I had concluded that women, who once “suffered injustice and take stock. Ihere was something very fami­ that she has ri.sen above feminism, a selfish, Mrs. Oden is the limp, sentimental, wishy- had legitimate grievance - which was re liar in this violent emotional re.spons*- of contentious, and deplorable stance. It also -washy type of female Christian, the anti­ (/ressed” (Italics mine) should become more mine. .And then it all flooded in on me — tells me that Lesbians will not be men­ thesis of my favorite, St. Teresa of Avila. I respotrsihle slaves. We should run the plan­ my years of reading psyehiatrie claptrap tioned, even to be damned. But I did read W'as then agreeably surprised to learn that tation, the home, without bothering Ma.ssa. about the mental disease known as l.esbian- the book - just to make sure. she favors the repeal of abortion laws. By now I was seething, but puslied on ism. Il was some six or seven yi’ars ago that In order to “stop short of” - what Mrs. “Abortion, tubal ligation, and vasectomy into Chapter 1. There I found, “the out­ I swore never to read another line about Oden calls “beyond” — feminism, she first need to be seriously considered as options come of the first feminist revolt was that this “illness” and never lo argue the point. tells us that militant feminists advocate to the inimorality of producing unplanned .society acceded to women’s demands . . From time lo time I run into someom’, imitating males and she will have none of and unwanted additions to the masses of .SOCIETY ACCEDED TO WOMEN? What usually male, who .spouts the illness theory that. I have noted elsewhere that non­ did that mean? Il .sounded to me rather like to me and I an.swer, “Thai’s fine. You may feminists think feminism is nothing more society consisted of men only. Two para­ think of me as a mental ease if tlial pleases nor other than women aping men. I have no graphs down I read, "in tlie face of the new you, and I lake my leave. The.s<‘ people, idea whence this misconception arises for it feminist demands for more equality, we after all, have a need to think tne sick. It is is not in the women’s liberation literature. 1 want lo know what the cost will be . . .” their way of holding their shabby little can only conclude that women who fear .So there il is Eadios. Society, i.e., we males, psyches together. freedom and autonomy must invent a false must consider that, “if the cost is to be Anti-feminists, male or female, an- of concept of feminism in order to damn it. home by men, the eurrent disequillibrium the same ilk as far as I am eoneerned. Jii.st Quoting from the foreword, “[Mrs. Oden] will obviously be increased.” Therefore, as I know that my Lesbianism is healthy for makes a clear and convincing case that a “ue may want to consider other alterna­ me, so too do I know that being a woman is woman today . . . has both the freedom tives, . . . we may want to shift some of a.s valid as being a man. and perhaps a wee and the responsibility to carve out a new the existing costs to women, with no bit more so since women are free of the and creative life-style which builds on all eorre.sponding increa.se in benefits.” I could Juvenile notion that one sex is better than the strengths of femininity . . Well, it go no further. the other. 1 expect the sickness theorv of the Politicos. “To women disgusted with humanity.” Would she consider the option twat like a horse-collar.” Is this becau.se of morality w'hich does not disqualify her conventional political methods, whether of I.esbian eouple.s who do not want chil­ that “full eunt” .syndrome? Do hetero­ from excellence, and a psychology which (xjiistitutional or totalitarian or révolu, dren? “She [the Christian feminist] under­ sexual women fear that one penis won’t fill docs not condemn her to the status of a tionary,” neither the NOW approach whiiii stands the need for finding ways of relating it up? “. . . we still make love to organs spiritual cripple.” There must b<‘ a way for to the . . . deviant . . . of her com­ attempts to fight discrimination by demand and not people”, a sad hctero.scxual state of hctcro.s<’xual wi>mcn too, though Ms. Gn*cr and eompetition nor the political eoiescious- munity.” How .sweet! This “deviant”, (diris- affairs. leaves their fuhire nebulous and concludes ness approach which Ihinks the proper tian reviewer would like to reassure Mrs. Ms. Greer explains the female eunuch as with a quotation from Kaiticr Maria Itilkc, politics will usher in the better life, “can Oden that Lesbians are no threat to women the female stereotype of today. “Her c.s.sen- Letters to a Young Poet: "'flic great re­ have much appeal.” Ms. Greer urge.s that who freely ehoo.«e heterosexual marital tial quality is castratedness . . . and she newal of the world will perhaps consist in women begin by reassessing themscive.s. sacrifice as their life-style. Many life-styles, must not hat>e a sexual organ. ” I think her this, that man and maid, freed from all false What is at first ineomprchcnsible and then many models for women, is what feminism, point is well taken — there is something feeling and aversion, will seek each other gives rise to a great belly laugh, (for this even Christian feministh. is all about, asexual about the ideal Madison Avenue not as ojipo.sites, but as brother and sister, reviewer, at least) is how her whole expo.s*'" t t t female, about those women who go to a lot as neighbors, and will cotne together as of the heterosexual life-style points to the of trouble to attract the male. .Ms. Greer human beings.” Unless we are all Lesbians success of the Le.shian life-style and yet she THE FEM.ALE EtiNtlCH by Germaine helped me solve a problem that has pur.zled and homosexual.s, there is .something cither remains chained to the hiderosexual way. Greer. VlaeGibbon and Kee Limited, Great me off and on for years: Why is it that, for incestuous or asexual in this dream. Britain 1070, and MeGraw-Hill, N.V. 1971 “At all events a clitoral orgastn with a full tlie most part, the women whom men It is hard to say who fares worse at Ms. ($6.9,'>, :« 9 pp). cunt is nicer than a clitoral orgasm with an gather round like moths to a flame are the “Hopefully, this book is subversive. empty one, as far as I can tell at least.” (p Greer’s hand.s, men or heterosexual women. very women I find most unattractive, vapid, And, when she dares to use the word Hopefully, it will draw fire from all tlii' .K)5). However that may be, and even Full silly? Becau.se, being a lover of women and articulate .sections of the eommunity.” Guilt Greer is not certain, let us .see in her ‘lycsbian’ toward the end of the book in the a fully sexual being myself, the female chapler tilled Rebellion, we fare about as writes Ms. Greer in the Introduction. own words how high a priee she is willing to eunuch is repulsive to me. Ms. Greer ex­ Though this book too is all about hetero­ pay for that engorged cunt. well as mongoloids. I might have gotten plains the development of these strangely furious had I not been so tickled at Ms. sexual women, as the title susgtesls - for The hook is divided into five .sections: desexed females as resting upon age-old fear there is nothing 'eunuchy' alnnit Lesbians, Body, Soul, Love, Hate and Kevolution, In Greer’s ignorance, feigned or real. “Much of the womb — the wicked womb, as she lesbianism . . . may be understood as it is heaps of fun for I^e.sbians. How any a general way Ms. (ireer follows the baby calls it and cunt-hatred on the part of men. woman could honestly espous«' hetero- girl through to maturity and, though much revolt against the limitations of the female Female sexuality is denied and in its place is role . . . as well as rejection of the brutal­ .sexuality after reading THE EEM.ALE of this is old hat, .she makes it intere.sting all sulistituted femininity or .sexles.sness. “What EtiNI (!ll is beyond me. But Ms. Greer over again. “ I'he Y-chromosome has a ity and mechanicalness of male sexual happens to the .[ewish boy who never passion.” Heterosexuals do cling to that purports to tie hetero.sexiial and I will negalive function: . . . it .simply reduces manages to escape the tyranny of his revolt idea, unable to imagine that one review her book assuming her to be .so. the amount of femaleness which would motlier is exactly what happens to every woman can love another above and Ix'yond Since we Lesbians are working both sides of n-siilt in the formation of a female fetus girl whose upbringing is ‘normal.’ She is a the spur of any negative emotions, love the street these days, some of us eoniing . . . tlie (male I fetus then inherits a female faggot.” Ms. Greer herself admits to beyond anything hetero.sexiials .seem out openly as Lesbians and others taking a number of weaknesses . , .” Later on Ms. having had a lover at school, “a girl who capable of according to Ms. Greer. It .seems heterosexual stance in our efforts to edu­ Greer writes, “If the frontal lobes are to lie was obliterated by puberty.” She talks of to me too that rejection of male .sexual cate the hapless heterosexual, I will not risk considered as the .seal of intelligence, fas “inseparable girls [who] are often fasci­ brutality and mechanicalness is rather sen­ any guessing. But Ms. Greer makes the men at first thought, till it turned out to nated by each other, deeply altruistic and sible. El.s*-where Ms. Greer puts the blame Perils of Pauline pale Ix'Side the Horrors of their disadvantage I then it must akso be cooperative, and often genuinely spiritual on hctero.sexual women for the less than Hetero.sexuality. ,\nd the Lesbian reader pointed out that the frontal area of the . . .” Yet, when her mother discovered a ptTfect rnalc/fcmalc art of sex. Despite male cannot help but renew her thanks to God or brain is more developed in women.” .Ms, letter from her lover, “screaming that I was cunt-hatred, despite the male's conception Kate that she was spared the sufferings of (ireer is very careful to avoid any inference unnatural: to stem her flow, I repeated of the [lenis as a weapon, heterosexual “normality.” So. while her btmk sliould of female .superiority, but, as the shamele.ss what I had read in the Sunday Supple­ women should “embrace and stimulate the indeed draw fim from the articulate .sec­ female and Le.sbiaii ehaiivinist that I am, I ments, that it was an adolescent homo­ penis”, they “must humanize the penis, tions of the hHerosexual community, I find s<’c no reason why 1 cannot take such facts sexual phase, and I was through it anyway. lake the steel out of it and make it fle.sli little to complain of. The book is well as evidence for the |ios.siMe superiority of I expiated that pusillanimous, lying betrayal again.” Ms. (ireer, it seems to me, puts a written and int( lligent and shows a care for women. Ms. Greer tells us that even bones of myself and my love for week.s. After scholarship of tlie proper, not pedantic, very large burden upon heterosexual are affected by the use made of one’s such knowledge, what forgivenes.s?” If she kind. It has its moments of humor and is women, leaving nothing for men themselves muscles and that the adult female body is indeed made a ‘successful adju,stmcnt to uniform ly interesting. Highly recom­ to accomplish. Perhaps, like me, she is very much the result of post-natal activity, heterosexuality’ thereafter, she is to be mended. I can touch on oidy a tiny fraction something of a female chauvinist and natur­ not heredity. In a chapter titled “(iurves” commended upon her ability' in warping her of the wealth of material covered. ally expects little from the male. .she says, “They [her breasts] are not parts nature, like a tree that survives, bent and Ms. Greer takes potsliots at everyone in But to get back to Greer on Lesbianism. of a person but lures slung around her neck, twisted after being half cut down. sight, at times getting herself painted into a to be kneaded and twisted like magic putty, “All forms of lesbianism involve an inven­ The (hapter titled Ifomanpou'er fits comer with illogical critici.sms of every sort or mumbled and mouthed like lolly ices.” I tion of an alternative way of life.” An of fcmini.st activity. But, .since her object is learned something new about heterosexual rather well, I thought, what the Lc.sbian invention? This strikes me as an odd way of describing the freedom of Lesbians to l>e to make women think, - “if it (this book] women on page 30: “the anxiety about the reaches for. “Womanpower means the self- themselves and to love fully and humanly is not ridiculed or reviled, it will have failed bigness of the penis is only equaled by determination of women, and that means another person, without pn)blems of of its intention” — 1 should not be loo anxiety about the sinallne.ss of the cunt. No that all the baggage, of paternalistic society weaponry and frigidity and orgasmic crises. harsh on her. 1 thank her for daring to anger woman wants to find out that she has a will have to be thrown overboard. Woman must have room and scope to devise a Then Ms. Greer gets hung up on tribadism, which she imagines to be “the principal eanl intercourse with the opposite sex.” lesbian mode of lovcinaking.” Maybe she No, if they are lucky, they can limit their knows something I don’t. For 30 years I public “intercourse” to an occasional have wondered how that method is aeeom- appearance in the company of a butch male pli.shed and have yet to meet a I.esbian who homosexual and otherwise dispense entirely knows, though I do not doubt her exis­ with the opposite sex. Nor docs she under­ tence. Ms. Greer gets upset over Anne stand the neurotic cruelties that stem from Koedt’s The Myth o f I'ofrinal Orgasm and the repressed Lesbianism of many women “wonders just whom Miss Koedt has gone and the even worse cruelty of unrepressed to bed with.” I might ask the same of Ms. Lesbians who denounce their Lesbian sisters Greer, for here Is where she gets into the in their immoral efforts to deflect suspicion full cunt bit, I guess she does not know that from themselves . . . I suspect that Ms. what is important to l.esbiaas is love and Greer would not write about Lesbianism not a fixation on what to do with one’s toilay as she did in her book. When she vagina. After quoting Ms. koedt on Les­ wrote the book women’s liberation had not bianism (a favorable view), she tells us that yet openly faced up to the issue of Lesbian­ “sex is simply not a cohesive force.’’ And I ism. The women’s movement is moving so agree with her. Lesbians are no more in fast that all of us who write about it are apt agreement with each other than any ran­ to wish we could disown our words of the dom sample of heterosexual women. But, if past. sexual orientation is not cohesive, why all “Men are tired of having all the responsi­ tills effort to get women and men together bility for sex: it is time they were relieved in heterosexual bli.ss? Then Ms. Greer of it. And 1 do not mean that large-scale speaks gratefully of .Nancy Mann, who lesbianism should be adopted . . . The cunt “attempts a new explanation of female must come into its own.” Well, it’s all so failure to achieve orgasm, mostly on the heterosexual. And what would be wrong grounds that we are not doing it right, that with large-scale Lesbianism? Men’s libera­ we are not lurned on to the essential nature tion groups are getting around to discussing of the exfx;rienee. [Rememlier, Ms. Greer homosexuality. We may sec an “increase” has amply described its “essential nature” — in homosexuality there, Jiist as we are bnital and mechanical |. Her eonelusion is a seeing an “increase” in Lesbianism in hopeful one for women who really don't women’s liberation groups. I put “increase” want to masturbate or learn iribwtism," in quotations because it is not a true (Italies mine). Tribadism, anyone? increase, only a pealing off of “successful” “It is true that her [the Lesbian’s] layers of heterosexual conditioning. Ms. inability to play the accepted role in society Greer would like to see the “emphasis . . . probably results from a failure of condition­ replaced upon human .sexuality” and so ing . . .” If the conditioning is all wrong in would I, but I care nut whether that leads tile first place, as THE FEMALE EUNLICH to more Lesbianism or better heterosexual so ably proves, let us hope for more and relations or both. For me and for millions more “failures.” .Ms. Greer is naive about of Le.sbians “the cunt long ago came into its Lesbianism. “Most women teachers are not own.” married and do not have any very signifi- ♦ ♦ ♦

Conflict of Identity By KANE KELLEY It came as a great surprise to me that the hang-up since 1 belonged to an over­ Lesbians did not Jump on the bandwagon of forty group and I felt 1 belonged to the women's liberation or cry for joy that at movement before it was. long last here was a movement that was for I soon found that my personal enthusi­ and by women against the great oppressors asm for women’s liberation ruined every of our society. True there are pockets of cocktail and dinner party to which I was activists like the radical Lesbians, the gay invited. Even the mere mention of it was women’s liberation and others, but it is also like waving a red flag. These women were as true, that the.se women are, for the most hostile as suburban housewives. Dismayed, I part, under thirty. WTiere are the great decided to explore the causes. numbers of women who by reason of their Most of my Lesbian friends are profes­ experience you expected to be right on the sional women. 1 have known them for years front lines pitching? I couldn’t accept age as on a completely social basis. 1 suddenly reali2ed that 1 had seldom talked politics or and honestly. They must rid themselves of usual well-remarked entrance. Not that they social issues with these friends. Now, pro­ this self-hate that has oppressed them too intentionally made such entrances, far from bing, 1 found they read little in this area long in the name of a heterosexual culture it, but the two of them, quietly handsome, and wished to discuss it even less. Sports, which daily reminds them of its contempt complete somehow, never failed to cause current fiction, theater, music, yes. So here for Lesbianism. They need to relate to comment: No two people should look so was the first big block: they were indeed those sisters, the radical Lesbians, in good together; They are an extraordinary underdeveloped politically and, amazingly women’s liberation who can help them over couple. That their twelve-year-old marriage enough, had not read any of the literature this hurdle. Otherwise as long as they had long since come to a standstill was of the women’s liberation movement. They maintain this image of themselves as some­ acknowledged by no one. Nor did John and only knew by some emotional response that thing less than pleasing they will continue Julia dwell on the fact. They knew that it they were against it! to seek identification and approval from existed, they talked of it from time to time, Many reasons cap be advanced for their their oppressors. They must learn to let but in the end they ignored it. .seeming lack of social consciousness. As their energies flow toward their sisters, not When Julia was introduced to Angela, women they were well aware that they were backwards to men for acceptance. her eyes lingered on her a moment too long. second-class citizens and as Lesbians they Once the Lesbian achieves this she will After dinner she came to sit with her; they were something less. Could they get out and recognize how women have been systema­ talked easily, softly. Later, at home, John declare themselves for peace, motherhood, tically made into empty consumers, com­ .said to his wife: “She looks very much like belter schools, etc.? Who the hell would peting in fashions and material goods. She you, you know. The hair, the eyes, .some­ listen to them? So why get all hot over these will see that the male supremacy upon thing about the shoulders . . .” issues? Besides, fear and insecurity about which the nuclear family is based has been It was a .simple matter of looking in the their own social roles had imbued them prescribing for her too in the area of phone directory. I’m going to do some with a kind of Puritanism, a view of life clothes, jobs and class consciousness.lt will galleries Saturday. I wonder if you'd care to that makes the past an authority over the be clear that it is as important to root c^t come along? They met at the Magritte pre.sent. A view too, that while they are gay male domination as it is to root out racism. .show, then went on to an exhibition of and always will remain so, they have There will be no guilt, no submission, \ Felicien Rops etchings. The devastating “bought” the .system’s brainwasliing that necessary when the system no longer sets erotic elements held them for the better such a life is “inferior” to the straight life. up an “ideal” life style. part of an hour. They kept returning to a Next, they have straddled two worlds The Lesbian who faces this will find the small book-plate version of La Dame au successfully. They have made it in the simplest of reasons for women’s liberation, Of Endings Cochon, looked at it silently, then looked system. The liberation thing might open up namely, that men as a group oppress at one another in wonder. That they both too many doors and in the process things women as a group; therefore women must By DOLORES KLAICH had the same unspoken reaction to the are being mentioned that could be embar­ organize to confront male supremacy col­ small etching seemed in some way to turn rassing to them as women who are sensitive lectively. “Free Our Sisters, Free Ourselves” They were quiet now, stretched before their separate worlds upside down. On to their “hidden” life. They thank God is what it’s all about. the fire. leaving the gallery, J ulia bought the etching. every day for their job security (?) and the “More brandy?” Julia asked. Outside, it was snowing. They walked to image they have been able to maintain in Again they were quiet. When it hap­ the park where they watched the seals, the office. They’ve worked hard to prove pened it was Angela, the younger of the going on to the Plaza to warm up with that they can “relate” to men on the job. two, who hesitantly reached to caress mulled wine. Later, If you’re free . . . How could they join forces with a move­ Julia’s breast. Unsure, Angela kept her eyes please come to dinner. John is away. They ment that the male-dominated establish­ averted and for a quick moment the vulner­ shopped at the neighborhood Cristede's, ment is already calling a bunch of dykes. ability of her action paralyzed her. Julia went to the cheese store, to Colette’s, They can only shiver in terror at the took her hand, they rose and together they picked up some wine. They laughed at their suggestion they are part of such a thing! walked. Was it awkward, Angela thought, numerous bundles, their by now red noses, Another factor here, of course, is that in somehow dreadfully awkward, walking the their disheveled hair. Angela bought some living room hand in hand? When they anemones. the process of achieving a certain position, » « » they have patterned their power and success reached the bedroom they came together symbols after that of the system. Accord­ violently. “ I’d best check the fire,” Julia said now, ingly they are submissively conservative and Later, Angela asked, "And John?” climbing from bed. imitate the “good” life of the straight “He’ll be away all week.” “Bring back some cigarettes, will you?” society with almost slavish compulsion. In “And then?” Angela called after her. fact they work so hard at it that in many I When Julia returned, having put on a ways they are more establishment than the Julia. . . ” blue velvet robe, Angela reached to stroke establishment. Yes?” it. Julia leaned over her and stared at her. It is difficult to talk rationally with “John was right, you know. We do look these women because they are really in alike.” conflict with their own identity. WTiat they They had met at a dinner party the “Nonsense,” Angela said, reaching to need, of course, is to attend some Lesbian preceding week. Angela had been brought touch her hair. “You’re quite beautiful.” rap sessions where they can uncover the by a young man, a friend of the host. Julia “And you?” plastic layers of a false role and talk clearly S f l l i r . THERE'S MORE ROOM. and John had arrived late, making their “Oh, me.” “Yes, you. Come on, get up, come on.” Angela to her. “Not now. Not yet.” “Do you remember how we used to visit She wrapped her in part of her robe and the seals?” (Dolores Klaich is 34 and is Associate they walked to the closet mirror. “L ook-” The next evening it was John who spoke “They’re still there, are they?” Editor o f TRANSATLANTIC RE first. Julia came to kneel on the sofa beside “Oh yes. God knows if they’re the same VIEW. Born in Cleveland, Ohio and Julia hugged her. “So solemn,” she said, him. “John, she’s marvelous.” ones - but it seems so.” educated at Western Reserve Univer­ smiling. “1 think it’s splendid. Here, stand He smiled and kissed her hair. She “Good weather for seals,” he said, again sity, she has been a newspaper report­ right next to me, here, shoulder to should­ touched his hand. kissing her hair, then letting her go. er, magazine reporter (for LIFE er.” They stared into the mirror and Angela “It has happened, hasn’t it?” she said. In the bedroom John saw the F¿licien MAGAZINE, etc.) and as a free lance began to laugh. “It’s incredible,” she said. “So it certainly seems.” Rops etching that Julia had had framed: a non fiction writer has had scores of articles published. She has ghost­ “Look at u.s.” “You’ll like her very much.” heavy-thighed woman, blindfolded, dressed They spent the rest of the week togeth­ “1 don’t doubt it.” only in a large hat, long gloves and black written two books and is now working on a project which will result in a er, Angela went to her office; she worked “We tried that bar around the corner.” net stockings, is led by a pig on a leash. In and she worked well. When she arrived at “Oh?” the air, winged cherubs, holding their heads, book we hope to review in these pages someday. This is her second short Julia’s, always with a bouquet of anemones, “Depressing.” are scurrying. story to be published, the first ap­ the fire was already going. In the mornings “I’m sure.” He called out to Julia: “Is the Rops peared in TRANSATLANTIC when she returned to her apartment for a “She’s coming for dinner tonight. I want show still on this week?” REVIEW.) change of clothes the quiet she found made you to meet her.” She called back from the kitchen: “ Yes, her do what she had come for quickly, “Good.” it just opened.” without thought. “I didn’t fuss.” They dined in every evening. Twice they “How are we with wine?” bundled up in pants and boots and fur coats “I’ve seen to it.” and went to a neighborhood movie, sitting “Good,” John said and then got up and P o e t rij in the balcony, smoking, touching, watch­ walked toward the bedroom. “I’ll unpack a ing the film. few things. I should be able to find a place One of the evenings after the movie To Carol easily, don’t you think?” By Martha Shelley Julia suggested a bar she had heard of. It “ Actually,” Julia said, walking to him, was not a success. The drinks were over­ “I . . . I cdled a few agencies today. You priced, the place smelled of disinfectant and do want the East Side, don’t you?” When her voice crosses the Mojave, the couples, well, the couples looked sad “Oh yes, I suppose so. It’s going to be passes through huge black cables somehow, nervous, and when they danced strange, looking.” buried under the Father of Waters, they did so without grace. No, Julia “Do you want me to go with you?” leaps across the Alleghenies thought, a bar scene really has nothing to “No, no, not necessary.” He surveyed to me in Manhattan, do with it. the apartment. “All this furniture,” he said, in the sad-assend of February: “So many things. That ’j the hell of it, isn’t It's like she wasn't gone. The evening before John’s return they it?” were again lying before the fire. Julia put her arms around his waist and It's speed and acid in a way no solo trip could be; “Well?” Angela said. hugged him tightly. “It has been good in its dormant privet hedges swell Julia bent to kiss her. “That, my love, is time, hasn’t it?” and stretch their twigs in lightning angles, an excellent question.” He kissed her hair. “I envy you falling traffic signals flash a secret (jattern, Angela shrugged and pitched her voice in love again, you know. How good that is.” hinting of rhythms I scarcely imagine: theatrically low, “Well, nothing much we Brainpaths of a manic city. can do about it, is there?” They laughed, clowned a bit, and grew And I run down the morning streets, silent. It was the quiet that preceded their no money to fly but I run West lovetnaking. as far as Second Avenue. But Angela sat up and looked at Juba. “It’s serious, Isn’t it?” “ Yes.” “ A beginning, really.” “ An ending too, you know.” “How do you explain it?” “Falling in love?” “Us, I mean.” “Us falling in love?” “Julia . . . ” “Let’s not.” “And that bar?” “It means nothing.” “Julia. . . ” “Slowly, darling,” she .said, bringing //-4WT YOU SEEN OR. ERIK ERIK30N? t t t

WEEKEND Manners forgotten, polished silver- finger bowl-upbringing gone, thrown to the floor along with miiddy boots. Driving towards the city I'm a ravenous, noisy guest on a Sunday night I loathed myself at a feast of delicate sensation; back to your wakeful husband, for doing it. you've lost the pungency of my mind’s my one-way ticket home, wanted desperately The Bobsey twins last hesitation; you transcend your hand warm milk in mine, to wait incestuous — the taste of flowers. a primal comfort I kiss, but couldn't face herm aphroditic beast, four legs, one m outh ■ Absence has given me a gourmet's palate for it's soon to go waiting perhaps in vain, rolling, squealing on the couch, and a gourmand's appetite; the way the other went. didn't want to make mock passion raking my eyes no time to savor when I cannot get enough; a scene as if your play were real, in my haste I nearly bite my tongue - You make a wrong turn — when I see you me with itching hands in pockets, a curious hunger that takes me further Eros-inspired accident — out of pure aching for my share, from satiation with each swallow. and a wandering hour is stolen frustration. not daring to rock You come and come, finally a y , from his watch, his bed. our leaky rubber raft, the "Maybe," half-laughing, for compassion. We spend the extra seconds I tranquilizad on our fingers, my passion, A plot afoot, a vodka bottle Wiping the corners of a bruised, untidy mOuth, each pulse a portion so far gone given me to suckle, I remind myself we again have many seasons, of shared treasury, from mental games a sentimental, soulful tinkle many linen-covered beds. buying our way out of with high-charged from the piano; I am young and hungry, but you have enough. this hard, diminishing return. words, predictably, I exit to the kitchen, I will be fed. it went to sleep sob into the frigidaire; ANNE ZIMOVA in thirty seconds. when you appear on cue (braval) femme fatale and ingenue forget their lines. One tightly curled hair find themselves in an agonized embrace, clung to my finger, confessing love and guilt, tucked itself flowering with forgiveness. under the edge of a nail Still Life: Drinking Tea to surprise me What histrionics we cowards need turning a page to let another see us in humility. Graveyards, minds. Ghosts play shadowy of poetry hide-and-seek behind weedy headstones. half an hour Peeking out behind our eyes, waving misty after my isolated handkerchiefs, talismans that disappear assignation. with a wink in the jostle of a crowded aisle.

Example: an interior person drinks from the same cup her outside face does, some nights, only tissues swallow. We sat, three sightless monkeys, benched in a jangling neon room; still I could softly remember (between our frequent sips and smiles) fog's early morning, My hand, heedful of etiquette, once, when we sat outside. Then I said no, and stared hard at the mist. (But a qualified paragraph for Lovers, long-estranged, Out of regard for the piano player's fK), since sooner that month I'd wanted to die.) covers your breast politely, feelings, you lead me to a private, Now - perhaps I'd say yes, but there's only interweaves my palm's nerve ends curtained room. We hear him play bright plastic sky. Your friend laughs, playing with each woolen strand of your sweater. a few bars, no more, sound-proofed catch with your sleeve: let her rest safe in her Hesitant, not wanting to offend, as we are by pounding blood, yes, in whatever tongue; fog time has gone by. I gently press soft flesh, loose flowing hair, tongues in ears, communicating friendship, pillows, pants, sheets, a tangle a calumet between two palefaced Graveyards; headstones. Minds invent ghosts of clothes and covers all finally to lurk as shadows in our eyes. We all look women warriors, come together torn from the bed after four months' wake of nnoons, at one another, but those weeds are what we and you are beautiful, my ghost, will not see. Fog behind each glass is safer: blink, one hundred twenty chaste, bored beddings, my lovely apparition, my unreal love, and quickly lid if over; touch it only with the inner eye. so many nights, so much delight, come real to me at last. wasted on ungrateful pride. Patricia Hanen sullen madonna Female Sexual Alienation By LINDA PHELPS I. In the last few years, the so-called sexual People break down when they aren’t ‘doing’ — when the world around them still I lie while the teeth revolution has turned sour. The end of I knew it would end does not reflect the active involvemctil attached to the ends of your fingers inhibition and the release of .sexual energies with you as it began of their own creative powers . . . bite my bones which have so often been documented as nothing said Alienated man is man separated from beat at the flame the innovation of the revolutionary culture my mouth at my mother's breast involvement with and respon.sibility drum up the march over my skin are now beginning to be seen as just another child half asleep fraud. After the gang-rapes at Altamont and for the effective u.se of his je(/-pouiers. What is more difficull to understand is and the red foot lightly Seattle, after the demands raised at People’s I held you too holy precisely how alienation comes about in steals into the shadow of the wings Park for “P’rce Land, Free Dope, Free I held the image of you Women”, after the analyses of (male) rock certain individuals. Becker suggests three too close behind the mirror glass culture, women are beginning to realize that ways: (1) .Alienation occurs along the di­ its all mension of time. As children we learn already seen nothing new has happened at all. What we from where you stared out at me have is simply a new, more sophisticated certain patterns of behavior which bring us like lines of a play lips held too tight for fear (and thus more insidious) version of male approval. .As we grow older, however, we I've acted in before a little girls voice would cry out sexual culture. Sexual freedom has meant must constantly adapt to new situations. If in too much anger more opportunity for men, not a new kind our early childhood training has been too of experience for women. And it has been rigid, we arc unable to make the necessary I held you behind a gilt frame precisely our own experience as women adjustments and l)ecomc increasingly it wasn't you in that faded picture slyly slyly which has been decisive in developing the unable to handle our experiences. (2) Aliena­ I knew it would end here Women’s Liberation critique of the sexual tion aLso occurs in terms of the roles we I must steal away still I lie revolution. The generation of women who play, 'fhis problem affects both men and I lie idle only a few years ago saw themselves as the women, but we are particularly familiar dark winged eyebrows and fall along the edges vanguard of the new sex, now .suddenly find with the female version. Nol only are dark feathered eyes of a love themselves plagued with all the problems of females confined to a few narrow roles, but the mouth moth like stealing their grandmothers - loss of interest in sex, they are al.so subject to contradictory mes­ down the throat frayed dark II. hatred of sex, disgust with self. This turn­ sages about the roles they do play. Mother­ and tense for flight about happened very fast and 1 think it hood, for example, is viewed as a sacred hand and foot by candlelight happened because we opened ourselves up task, but mothers arc not taken seriously already seen my foot beats out in consciousness-raising and a lot of bad when they act outside their kitchens and moth wings at the flame home.s. (3) The third dimension of alien­ I was young then flying feeling we thought we’d gotten rid of your hands in this ation is more complex: breakdown of self a hundred miles an hour out of the ( floated to the top. It has been good to get these feelings out and look at them. But can occurs when the gap between thought and fingers flicker as they juggle action, theory and practice, mind and body I broke out not even knowning we explain them, can we understand what lightly blood red shafts becomes too great. The classic and extreme you wanted me has happened to us in the last five years? on blue black shadows I would like to suggest that we can example of this form of alienation is the schizophrenic, living totally in a thought a pythoness wants understand the destruction of female sexu­ why do I celebrate this pain world of his own creation with no relation a bird in her belly ality if we conceptualize it as a special case I sing a song of sadness of alienation, understood as a political to reality. This three-dimensional model of alien­ its all so old now phenomenon. If alienation is the destruc­ your fine bones flicker ation is complex but I think it can help us everything here is old tion of self which ultimately leads to with the thin cry of blue veins schizophrenia, the widespread alienation of understand our own experience with sex. burnt by moth wings females from their own sexuality is a kind What I am about to .say about female I knew it would end fade away sexuality as schizophrenic will make more lines lose their sharpness of rampant mental illne.ss at the base of our as in a mirror sense, however, if I digre.ss for a moment to too delicate to handle experience which we must rect^nize for your breath lay along the pulse what it is. describe some attributes of schizophrenia. that beat at my throat Alienation is a much used and little This extreme form of alienation, you will already seen the moth wings recall, is produced by a split between mind have beaten out the flame explained term. Put simply, it refers to the you out your finger on it and body. Such an odd condition is po.s.siblc in the mirror disintegration of our very selves and person­ I sing a song of madness alities which occurs when we are powerless. in human beings as opimsed to animals because we arc self-conscious beings. We F. ELLEN ISAACS The opposite of powerlessness is self- what rests in the hollowness actualization; and the healthy, self- have an ‘imier self of reflection and but sharp moth feet actualizing human being is one who moves thought bill our body is part of the world while I cry out in laughter through the world as an autonomous source ‘out there’ of experience and material of action. As Ernest Becker put it in an objects. This mind-body dualism is at the too much silk important essay on alienationl; base of human power - our ability to too many bruised petals enough of these tongues early into a set of fantasy images which male become an object of .sexual desire for reflect upon and then act upon the material to the search for the man who is smarter, define female sexual roles as passive, the female? It is not clear, in fact, that the taller, more .self-confident — someone to world. Such power become.s destructive — women are constantly ^ denying feelings male body per se is deemed erotic by look up to and thus worthy of giving into. as in schizophrenia - when the mind turns which don’t fit the cultural definitions. And women, certainly not in the same way that In each of our lives, there was a first in on itself and never tests its perceptions in • so all pervasive is the male bias of our the female body is for men. In fact, since man for whom we were prepared like concrete reality. culture that we seldom notice that the women arc bombarded with the same sex lambs for the slaughter. My fantasy of It is in grappling with the outside world, fantasies we lake in, the images that stimuli of the female body as is a man, him was a compo.site of Prince Valiant, in testing the powers of thought and descrilK- to us how to act, are male fantasies females often respond in a narci.ssi.slic way emotion that the individual becomes a full, Gary Cooper, and my father. Trained altout females. In a male world, female sex to their own body and what is being done in submission, in silence, I awaited him .self-actualized person. In this self-directed is from the beginning unable to get a clear to it rather than projecting sexual desire out behavior, we test ourselves, make contact through a series of adolescent boy­ picture of itself. onto the male. 'I’he female is taught to be friends who were not masterful with reality and gain control over ourselves And from the beginning, women experi­ the object of sexual desires rather than to enough to fit the dream . . .because and our environment. ,\nd the more posi­ ence Becker’s second dimension of alien­ be a self-directed sexual being oriented I ..would not really graduate to the tive and successful experiences we build up, ation: the role of woman as sexual being is toward anothiT; .she is taught to l>e adored the more secure we are as whole persons. estate of womanhood until 1 had been subject to contradictory evaluations by rather than adoring. Is it surprising then taken by a strong man. 2 This is the mechanism by which we become socicly. Young girls quickly become that so many women find the male body liberated; the reverse process is alienation. Trained in .submission women instinctively attuned to society’s ambivalent view of ugly, that .so many women sec the drama of In this reverse process, the schizophrenic look for the strong man who will continue their .sexuality. Women come to see them­ sex in what is done to them? fails to develop the necessary unity between the loving benevolence of the father. That selves as synonious with sex yet female Two things happen to women’s sexual mind and body, takes refuge in a world of this pattern of sexual relations is our sexuality is si-en as valid only under certain lives. Many women have no sexual fantasies symbols, and thereby forfeits experience. In .society’s model is confirmed by psycholo­ conditions such as marriage. Lven as such at all (since there is little male sexual other words, a schizophrenic is someone gist Abraham Maslow. In a study of .sexual narrow restrictions break down in more imagery available in this culture). Masters who becomes accustomed to relating to behavior,'^ Maslow reported that women permi.ssive ages like our own and the limits and Johnson found that many women who who find a partner more dominant than symbol-objects rather than person-objects of female .sexuality expand, we still run up could not focus on .sexual imagery had they usually make the best .sexual adjust­ and in doing so loses all self-powers. agaimsl those limits at the point where a difficulty having oigasm. The good doctors ment. On the other hand, a very .sexually I would argue that as females we are female can U- labelled promiscuous. And have tried to encourage sexual fantasy (by active woman in his study failed to reach sexually schizophrenic, relating not to our­ women who initiate and direct .sexual reading arousing material!) to enable these orgasm with several male partners because selves as self-directed persons, not to our activity on a regular basis find that they women to experienee orgasm. she considered them weaker than herself partners as sexual objects of our desire, but have gone beyond the limits of the possible Kemale.s that do have fantasies often and thus could nut ’’give in to them”. Thus, to a false world of symbols and fantasy. and arc termed castrating. Male sexual have tb<' same sado-masochistic fantasies ‘normal’ sexual adjustment occurs in our This fantasy world of sex which veils our desires, on the other hand, are affirmed tliat men do. As Shulamith firestone points experience is the world of sex as seen society when the male plays the dominant out in The Dialectic o f Sex, role. throughout and are associated with through male eyes. It is a world whose prowess, power, and man(self)tiood. Cultural distortion of sexuality also If we come to view male-dominated eroticism is defined in terms of female As females, then, we relate to symbol- explains how female sexuality gets sexual relations as by definition healthy powerlessness, dependency, and .submission. objects rather than person-objects. Like the twisted in narcissism: women make sex, the mechanism of this learning proce.ss It is the world of sado-masochistic sex. If schi/rlphrenic, we are alienated from our love to themselves vicariously through is the bombardment of sexual fantasy that you don’t know what 1 mean by sado­ own experience and from our own sclf- the man rather than directly making we experience long before we experience masochism, think of the erotic themes of all powm of initiation. This form of alienation love to him.'^ sex itself. Sexual images of conquest and the novels, comic books, movies, jokes, has To do with sex in a very direct way In these fantasy epi.sodes, the female does submission pervade our imagination from an cartoons, and songs you’ve ever experi­ because women do not ollen take tlic not always play the masochistic role. The early age and lay the basis for how we will enced. The major sexual theme which initiative in relation to men. female who is focusing on sexual imagery appears over and over again is the drama of later look upon and experience .sex. Scljiizophrenic passivity is a direct re­ can take the part either of the male, the conquest and submission: the male takes Through the television .set and the story­ flex of the abrt^ation of one’s powers female, or an onhHjker, but in any case the initiative and tlie female waits, waits in book, we live out in imagination .society’s in the face of the object . . . If you eroticism is still dealing in female power- a thousand variations on a single theme — definition of sex and love. Kapunzel waits relate to an object under your own lessness. eagerly, coyly, shyly, angrily, and at the in her tower years in hopes of the young initiatory powers, then it becomes an How do women tolerate a situation in outer edge of pornography and fantasy, is prince who will free her body from its object which enriches your own which men control and define tlie experi­ taken against her will. Usually it is more imprisonment. Sleeping Beauty’s desires nature. If you lack initiatory powers ence of sex? I believe we solve our problem subtle. The female stands in awe of the slumber until they are awakened and ful­ over the object, it takes on a different in the same way the .sehizophretiic does. A hero’s abilities, his powers; she is willing filled by the kiss of the young prince. The.se value, for it then becomes an indi­ woman’s sexuality is experienced in sym­ when he takes the initiative, guides her by fairy tale princesses are not unusual. There vidual which crowds your own bolic terms at the expense of active physical the elbow, puts his arm around her waist, are few women, no matter how intelligent, nature . . . A girl really comes to involvement. Sex is represented to her by- manoeuvres her into the bedroom. What is no matter how dedicated to the pursuit of a exist as a feminine sex object for the society in .symbolic messages of passivity it that makes such descriptions arousing? goal, who will not finally be conquered — adolesi:ent only as he learns to exercise and eonquc.st. Like the symbolic world of Not a mere run-down of anatomy but the and like it. And if they are not conquered, active courtship powers in relation to the schizophrenic, a woman s fantasy life — tension in the social situation as male it is understood that no man desired them her.A her desire to be taken, overpowered, ma.s- advances on female, whether she is willing anyway. If women become objects of .sexual lered - allows her to play the passive role or not. By experiencing such sexual fantasies at desire for men in the social process of and perhaps even to enjoy it if she fully Such submission is acceptable in our an early age, we become alienated along male-initiated relation.ships, how does the accepts the world as defined by men. culture if the man is superior, and this leads Becker’s first dimension of time. Locked 34 Caught bctwwn the demands of a male- of dominance and pbmission that begin dominated sociely and the demands of our with sex and extend throughout our society Psychoanalysis and h'emale Sexuality articulated, this view o f hopelessness own self-definition, we survive by fully — is at the very ^orc of our cultural (New Haven, tamn.. College and Uni­ in male I female relatimcships is fre­ accepting the masochistic symbol-world experience. So it is with little joy and much versity Pres.s, 1966), p. 161-197. quently implied in all women's libera­ given to us by male society at the expense sadness that we peel back the layers of our 4. Becker, op. cit., p. 125. tion media. We feel there are alterna­ of our own experience. In fact, our physical consciousness and sec our sexual experience 5. Shulamith Firestone, The Dialectic o f tives clearly available to this view, and experience has been denied and distorted for what it really is. And it is also with Sex (New York, William Morrow, we specifically invite readers to re­ for so long that most of us aren’t even much sadness that we admit that there is no 1970), p. 178. spond in depth to this article.) easy answer. It is too easy to say that we aware of the sacrifice we have made. We are (Editor's Note: Though seldom ns well only uneasy that all is not well. have been merely the victims of male power Yet ultimately in the lives of those plays. The sado-masochistic content of sex women for whom, fantasy and reality be­ is in the heads of women loo. As long as come too far apart, a crisis occurs. The female powcrlcssness is the unspoken un­ mechanism of crisis in some cases may be derlying reality of sexual relations, women merely the demystification of the male will want to be conquered. As long as our WARNING: Now that THE LADDER is TIME MAGAZINE, January II, 1971. through years of marriage. It is hard to keep cultural vision is the projection of solely becoming widely known, wc arc suffering The behavior section of this issue contains a in tact fantasies of male power when male experience, women will not be able to the u.sual co-opting that .seems to hap))cn to fascinating hxik at the male attitude toward confronted with the reality of a pot-bellied, understand even tlieir own alienation. any individual, organization or publication women. Wc received this late, but recom­ lethargic husband. Such a crisis may result To say this is to suggest some ways out that achieves some recognition. No person mend you look it up at the nearest library. either in a transfer of fantasy to a new male of our cultural and sexual alienation. Yet it connected with THE L.ADDF.R wrote this It’s worth the trip. or in a loss of interest in sex altogether. For is also too easy to blithely assume, as we letter, hut someone u.sed our name and PREGNANT BY GOD'?'' OR ELSE IN women in Women’s Liberation the whole often do, that all this .sexual distortion is obviously intentionally. We do not much IRELAND: March, 1971. The Irish Senate fragile structure of fantasy and power often going to be easily changed in some new object to .some of the letter, but those who refused to consider a bill introduced by falls along with the myth of male su­ culture in the future. We have pushed know u.s know wc would not use some of .Senator Mary Bourkc Robinson to repeal premacy. Males arc subject to the .same beyond the economic revolution and the Ihe phrases in Ibis letter under any circum­ the 1935 ban on the import, sale or fantasies of conque.st, yet their fantasy life cultural revolution to come face to face stances. (This apfiearcd coast to coast dur­ advcrti.sement of contraceptives. A group of is an expnvssion of their own active powers with the real sexual revolution and we are ing mid-April. 1971 ). women outside chanted “We shall not (albeit also in a false way) and does not not sure what we have left in the way of Dear Ann Landers: 1 am glad to see conceive”. Obviously the legislature says separate them from their own experience. hope and affirmation. you are printing some decent informa­ otherwise, but the women vow they will Women, then, are alienated from their Perhaps the most courageous and in the tion on homosexuality. I am pleased, continue protesting until contraccptivi-s arc sexuality along several dimen.sions. From an long run the most positive statement we can too, that you are publi.shing sensible legalized. The hierarchy (read .MALE) of early age, we are abenated from ourselves as make is to acknowledge the pain we feel letters from homosexuals. ,As a lesbian the Roman Gatholic Church in Ireland has sexual beings by a male society’s ambivalent now and perhaps irreparable damage that 1 can tell you there arc plenty of vowed it will stop the protesting. One definition of our sexuality: we are sexy but we have sustained. But saying this is not kooks in our si’gmcnl of .society, as in wonders how — by keeping them pregnant we arc pure; we are insatiable but we are totally to despair. Sometimes it is necessary others. Whenever you separate people 9 months of the year and barefoot Ihe frigid; we have lieautiful bodies but we to touch rock bottom before we can find into groups you are bound to get some other three? must shave and anoint them. We are also the strength to push up for air. nut.s. This goes for lawyers, doctors, 1200 WOMEN AT N.Y. CONFER­ alienated because we are separated from our (Linda Phelps is a member o f the teachers, homo.scxuals, creep.s, poets. ENCE; March 6, 7. 1971, New ) ork Citv, own experience by the prevailing male Kansas City, Missouri Women’s Libera­ Women’s Lib. — yes. even newspaper .Special to THE LADDER: The New York cultural definition of sex - the male fan­ tion Group, Her educational back­ columnisis. Women’s Strike Coalition s|x>n.sorcd this tasy of active man and passive woman. ground includes graduate study in The principal desire of lesbians is two-day meeting, hosted by Barnard and From an early age, our sexual impulses are both sociology and history. Her early to be accepted as human k-ings, to be Columbia Women’s Liberation. Women trained to turn back onto ourselves in the pamphlets, “Mirror, Mirror, On The allowed to hold jobs, to be |iaid from schools and colleges in New York narcissistic counterpart of the male fantasy Wall” and “What Is The Difference: commensurate with their abilities, and State and all over New England attended. world. In social relations with men, we are Women’s Rights and Women’s Liber­ to be left alone by straight people who 87-ycar-old Florence Luscomb( this worthy alienated from ourselves as initiating, self- ation?" are in wide circulation.) view them as freaks. You can't believe woman lives in a commune) opened the directed persons. Some women hold all some of the questions 1 have been session with a rcminisceut and humorous FOOTNOTES these contradictory parts together; most asked by supposedly intelligent speech. Included was comment on Dr. Anna women, I suspect, have given up on sex, 1. Ernest Becker “Mills’ Social Psychology people. For example, a man I work Howard Shaw, who on being introduced whether or not they have informed their and the Great Historical Convergence with (he knows alxmt my relationship onee'by a man as “a woman with the brains husbands and lovers. on the Problem of Alienation” in with another woman who is employed of a man” asked to “see the man whose Calling into question our traditional Irving Horowitz, The New Sociology, by our firm) recently asked, “Which brains I’ve got” . 35 workshops were set up. Essays in Social Science and Social female role has meant calling into question one of you is the guy'f” Such miscon­ and after the opening talks the women Theory in Honor o f C. Wright Mills more and more layers of our experience. ceptions make by blood boil. broke into groups for the various .sc.ssioiis. (New York, Oxford University Press, With this questioning has come the dis­ Your are doing a great deal to lift The best-attended workshops were on les­ 1964), p. 108-133. covery that there is not much left that is the veil of ignorance, Ann, and 1 hope bianism, on living with a man, and on 2. Motherlode, Vol. 1, no. 1. p. 1. valid in male-female relations as we have you will continue to do ,so. -THE alternatives to the family. The aliortion 3. A. H. Maslow, “Self-Esteem (Dom­ known them. Kate Millett showed us in LADDER workshop was also well attended. An all inance-Feeling) and Sexuality in Sexual PoUlia that fascism - the relations Dear Ladder: I’ll eonlinue to try. women’s dance was held with the New Women” in Hendrik M. Ruitenbeek, Thank you for writing. Haven Women’s Liberation Band. Highlight speaker on Saturday was Kate Millctt, this. Not to be missed. Motors, have successfully caused the re­ SISTER GEORGE? We hope so. author of SEXUAL POLITICS and a found­ NATIONAL WELP'ARE RIGHTS moval of .several sections from a law that THE NEW YORK TIMES RIPS OFF ing member of Columbia’s Women’s Libera­ ORGANIZATION, WOMEN’S LIBERA­ has been used to discriminate against N.Y. DOB: In “The Disciples of Sappho, tion. Millett’s talk stayed right with her TION AND FLORYNCE KENNEDY AND women in employment. This is just one Updated”, Judy Klemcsrud wrote a run-of- usual subject, the repressive sex roles. “No­ GLORIA STEINEM GO TO RENO: March example, as similar actions are being taken thc-mill destructive and generally vicious body except the women’s movement has 20, 1971. Recently Nevada did some wel­ all over the U.S, Some fear that this will (and untrue) article about the N.Y. Chapter begun to be honest about how sick sexual­ fare cutting, and women’s liberation and mean the employers will brutalize women of DOB. This appeared in the New York ity is in this society, and we are only NWRO didn’t like it and said so. The in some other manner. We feel that any Times MAGAZINE, March 28, 1971 (and beginning to understand how desperate, conference they were to hold on March 20 woman who will not take brutalizing will on the editorial desk 10 times). As far as we how brutal a thing sex has been in the past. was cancelled, and on the same day, cu­ not have to. know the only newspaper or magazine to Our very notion of the erotic is deeply riously, a federal judge ordered the State of SUITS FILED - MOSTLY IN WAGE comment on the situation was the under­ suspect on every side. Even our language of Nevada to put the recipients (mostly poor d ispu t e s OR JOB OPPORTUNITIES ground socialist rag, MILITANT (April 16, love abounds in a diction more miUtary women) back on the welfare rolls. Interes­ DENIED. .March, April, May and June, 1971). than amorous. It is loaded with terms like ting coincidence. 1971. About one in four clippings received DR. CARL MeINTIRE: March 29, ‘surrender’.’’ Some of the costs of the TENNIS FIRST, NOW BOWLING: covers women from coast to coast filing .suit 1971. A group of male homo.scxuals and conference were defrayed by selling a per­ WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 23, to obtain their rights on the job. All social Lesbians picketed Dr. Meinlire’s church in fect duplicate of the most expensive per­ 1971. Women bowlers are fighting to join levels are included. A little less than two Philadelphia. Dr. Meintire (who is seem­ fume in the w'orld, “Joy”, which retails for the professional all-male bowling circuit. years ago all we heard from officials was ingly for everything that is bad and nothing $64 an ounce. The women cooked up their Dotty Fothergill was denied membership in that women would not bother to sue. They that is good) told them he loved them but imitation “Joy” and sold it for $3 a bottle the all-male Professional Bowler’s Associa­ are bothering on a mass basis now. Keep it homosexuality “is a sin . — it cost them about 50 cents a bottle to tion, and this started the suit. Her argument up. Sisters. SONS OF THUNDER GALLOP make it. That should tell you something is logical — PBA pays better than all-female AGAIN: TIME MAGAZINE, March 29, about cosmetics. TOO MANY INSTANCES TO TALK tours. a b o u t, AGAIN! Wchave received so many 1971. A militant group of male Catholics MARCH 8,1971 WAS WOMEN’S DAY: HEARINGS IN THE HOUSE ON comments on changes in women’s pay are out to see to it that women have babies And women all over the U.S. celebrated it EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT: March scales thal wc cannot list them all. Some whether they want to or not; more specific­ in various ways — speakers, marches, 24, 1971. Hearings opened in the House dozens of companies, large and small, are ally, to keep the abortion laws on the dances, joy and sorrow. Too much of all with the usual proponents and opponents. being forced to revise their inequities, books. The men wear red berets and khaki those things to report here except to say Both Bella Abzug and Martha Griffiths though not on a grand scale. The biggest of shirts. They need a color advisor. f if t y WOMEN DEMONSTRATE TO that every major city and many smaller testified for the amendment. Senator Sam this batch was the April announcement by cities had activities. We note too that Ervin was in there fighting again. He is SAFEWAY STORES, INC., which employs END POLICE HARASSMENT OF PROS­ sufficient general coverage was given by the obviously a woman-hater of unbelievable 97,000 people, that they would eliminate TITUTES: New York City, March 30, 1971. .50 members of The Feminists peace­ media, with an improved tone and less proportions. Women are continually being the pay scale differences between male and snideness. accused of hating men, but no one says female workers on May 2, 1971. This will fully demonstrated for several hours in WOMEN IN PSYCHOLOGY MEET: St. anything about men like Senator Ervin, mean a pay hike of between 5 and 50 cents front of the 54th Street police station to protest the unu.sually brutal harassment Loui.s, March 12, and 13, 1971. The Associ­ whose personal bias could conceivably keep an hour for thousands of women coast to prostitutes and alleged prostitutes in the ation Por Women in Psychology met and women enchained several more years. coast. set up a broad program for eliminating DEPARTMENT OF IMPOSSIBLE IRRI­ KOO WOMEN AT BOSTON: March area have been receiving. sexism in psychology. Good luck. TATION: Did you know that in some 13 or 27-28, 1971. Over 800 women attended the THE WOMAN ACTIVIST. This is “An EQUAL PAY IN CANADA? March 14, ro states you have to register to vote by first New England Congre.ss to Unite Action Bulletin For Women’s Rights” pub­ 1971. The Government has proposed legis­ marital status? 'You must sign Mrs. if you are W‘omen. Florence Luscomb was among the lished monthly from 2310 Barbour Road. lation broadening the rights of women in Mrs. and Miss if you Miss and if you sign opening session speakers along with Hor- Falls Church, Va. 22043. Cost is $5.00 for Canada. Included was the idea of a 17-week Ms. your vote doesn’t count. Did you ync:e Kennedy, Jane Pollack of NOW, etc. an individual (other rates also available). maternity leave as well as the equal pay know that in most places you have to pay Conference was sponsored by the New Contains news of the fight for the equal legislation. more to go to the JOHN if you are a female England Women’s Coalition, which includes rights amendment, and other pertinent HOW DO YOU SAY THANK YOU TO (and note where you are going to) than if NOW, Black and Third World Womens legislation. VIVIAN GORNICK? VILLAGE VOICE, you are a male. In Mansfield, England, this Alliance, Boston DOB, YWCA, etc. Marilyn WELL SERVED: WOMEN IN TENNIS: March 18, 1971. Every so often we run a was recently stopped by the local women’s l/;vin, writing in THE MILITANT, said April, 1971. After a lot of temper raising by comment on an article by Vivian Gomick. liberation group bringing pressure to bear “Highlights of the workshops included the women’s liberation, there is a pro tennis Her “The Next Great Moment In History” on the city council. Did you know that the Gav Women’s work.shop . . •” tournament and tour for women with sub­ is a classic essay on women’s liberation. Her Air Force demands from each female appli­ 'z e e , DETROIT FREE PRESS, March stantial prize monies. Billie Jean King may latest, “In Any Terms She Shall Choose”, is cant four photos - but none from the male 28, 1971. By the time you read this the become the first female athlete to win a low-keyed totally comprehensive explana­ applicants. DO you KNOW what they had movie ZEE with Susannah York and Eliza­ $100,000. An April Las Vegas tournament tion of why women’s liberation cannot the almightly gall to say they were looking beth Taylor may be in general release. It is had a total purse of $30,000 with $9,000 for the winner. Nothing like male tourna­ succeed if it arbitrarily or accidentally for? They are looking for a “healthy, supposed to deal with l.esbianism. We wish excludes any group of women. In this case personable appearance”. Marvelous! we could be more excited, but having seen ments of course, but a vast improvement. MOVING TO CEYLON? SAN FRAN­ she very specifically is discussing Lesbians. UNEQUAL WORK LAWS SLOWLY Hollywood’s efforts to date in the area, we CISCO CHRONICLE, April 3, 1971. An Every woman in women’s liberation should BEING DECLARED ILLEGAL: Dayton, feel mild dismay instead. Do you suppose article on the condition of women in read this, and somehow 1 feel sure all you Ohio, March 27, 1971. Two women, both Susannah York won’t be cast as a moron Ceylon by a writer identified only as “S. l-esbians out there already will have seen employees of subsidiaries of General married to a sadist as in THE KILLING OF 1 speaker on Saturday was Kate Millett, this. Not to be mis.sed. Motors, have successfully caused the re­ SLSTER GEORGE? We hope so. author of SEXUAL POLITICS and a found­ NATIONAL WELFARE RIGHTS moval of several sections from a law that THE NEW YORK TIMES RIPS OFF ing member of Columbia's Women’s Libera­ ORGANIZATION, WOlVffiN’S LIBERA­ has been used to discriminate against N.Y. DOB: In “The Disciples of Sappho, tion. Millett’s talk stayed right with her TION AND FLORYNCE KENNEDY AND women in employment. This is just one Updated”, Judy Klemesrud wrote a run-of- usual subject, the repressive sex roles. “No­ GLORIA STEINEM GO TO RENO: March example, as similar actions are being taken the-mill de.structive and generally vicious body except the women’s movement has 20, 1971. Recently Nevada did some wel­ all over the U.S. Some fear that this will (and untrue) article about the N.Y. Chapter begun to be honest about how sick sexual­ fare cutting, and women’s liberation and mean the employers will brutalize women of DOB. This appeared in the New York ity is in this society, and we are only NWRO didn't like it and said so. The in some other manner. We feel that any Times MAGAZINE, March 28, 1971 (and beginning to understand how desperate, conference they were to hold on March 20 woman who will not take brutalizing will on the editorial desk 10 times). As far as we how brutal a thing sex has been in the past. was cancelled, and on the same day, cu­ not have to. know the only newspaper or magazine to Our very notion of the erotic is deeply riously, a federal judge ordered the State of SUITS FILED - MOSTLY IN WAGE comment on the situation was the under­ suspect on every side. Even our language of Nevada to put the recipients (mostly poor d ispu t e s o r jo b OPPORTUNITIES ground socialist rag, MILITANT (April 16, love abounds in a diction more military women) back on the welfare rolls. Interes­ DENIED. March, April, May and June, 1971). than amorous. It is loaded with terms like ting coincidence. 1971. About one in four clippings received DR. CARL MeINTIRE: March 29, ‘surrender’,’’ Some of the costs of the TENNIS FIRST, NOW BOWLING: covers women from coast to coast filing suit 1971. A group of male homo.sexuals and conference were defrayed by selling a per­ WALL STREET JOURNAL, March 23, to obtain their rights on the job. All social Le.sbians picketed Dr. Meintire's church in fect duplicate of the most expensive per­ 1971. Women bowlers are fighting to join levels are included. A little less than two Philadelphia. Dr. Mclntire (who is seem­ fume in the world, “Joy”, which retails for the professional all-male bowling circuit. years ago all we hegrd from officials was ingly for everything that is bad and nothing $64 an ounce. The women cooked up their Dotty Fothergill was denied membership in that women would not bother to sue. They that is good) told them he loved them but imitation “Joy” and sold it for $3 a bottle the all-male Professional Bowler’s Associa­ are bothering on a mBss basis now. Keep it homoscxualitv “is a sin”. — it cost them about 50 cents a bottle to tion, and this started the suit. Her argument up,, Sisters. SONS OF THUNDER GALLOP make it. That should tell you something is logical — PBA pays better than all-female TOO MANY INSTANCES TO TALK AGAIN: TIME MAGAZINE, March 29, about cosmetics. tours. ABOUT, AGAIN! Webave received so many 1971. A militant group of male Catholics MARCH 8, 1971 WAS WOMEN’S DAY: HEARINGS IN THE HOUSE ON comments on changes in women’s pay are out to see to it that women have babies ■And women all over the U.S. celebrated it EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT: March .scales that we cannot list them all. Some whether they want to or not; more specific­ in various ways - speakers, marches, 24, 1971. Hearings opened in the House dozens of companies, large and small, arc ally, to keep the abortion laws on the dances, joy and sorrow. Too much of all with the usual proponents and opponents. being forced to revise their inequities, books. The men wear red berets and khaki those things to report here except to say Both Bella Abzug and Martha Griffiths though not on a grand .scale. The biggest of shirts. They need a color advisor. FIFTY WOMEN DEMONSTRATE TO that every major city and many smaller testified for the amendment. Senator Sam this batch was the April announcement by cities had activities. We note too that Ervin was in there fighting again. He is SAFEWAY STORES, INC., which employs END POLICE HARASSMENT OF PROS­ sufficient general coverage was given by the obviously a woman-hater of unbelievable 97,000 people, that they would eliminate TITUTES: New York City, March 30, media, with an improved tone and less proportions. Women are continually being the pay scale differences between male and 1971. 50 members of The Feminists peace­ snideness. accused of hating men, but no one says female workers on May 2, 19:1. fhis will fully demonstrated for several hours in front of the 54th Street police station to WOMEN IN PSYCHOLOGY MEET. St. anything about men like Senator Ervin, mean a pay hike of between 5 and 50 cents protest the unusually brutal harassment Louis, March 12, and 13, 1971. The Associ­ whose personal bias could conceivably keep an hour for thousands of women coast to prostitutes and alleged pro.stitutes in the ation For W'omen in Psychology met and women enchained several more years. coast. set up a broad program for eliminating DEPARTMENT OF IMPOSSIBLE IRRI­ 800 WOMEN AT BOSTON: March area liave been receiving. sexism in psychology. Good luck. TATION: Did you know that in some 13 or 27-28, 1971. Over 800 women attended the THE WOMAN ACTIVIST: This is “ An EQUAL PAY IN CANADA? March 14, co states you have to regispir to vote by first New England Congress to Unite Action Bulletin For Women’s Rights” pub­ 1971. The Government has proposed legis­ marital status? 'You must sign Mrs. if you are Women. Florence Luscomb was among the lished monthly from 2310 Barbour Road, lation broadening the rights of women in Mrs. and Miss if you Miss and if you sign opening se.ssion speakers along with I lor- Falls Church, Va. 22043. Cost is $5.00 for Canada. Included wa.s the idea of a 17-week Ms. your vote doesn’t count. Did you y nee Kennedy, Jane Pollack of NOW', etc. an individual (other rates also available). maternity leave as well as the equal pay know that in most places you have to pay Conference was sponsored by the New Contains news of the fight for the equal legislation. more to go to the JOHN if you are a female England Women’s Coalition, which includes rights amendment, and other pertinent HOW DO YOU SAY THANK YOU TO (and note where you are going to) than if NOW, Black and Third World Womens legislation. VIVIAN GORNICK? VILLAGE VOICE, you are a male. In Mansfield, England, this Alliance, Boston DOB, YWCA, etc. Marilyn WELL SERVED: WOMEN IN TENNIS: March 18, 1971. Every so often we run a was recently stopped by the local women’s Levin, writing in THE MILITANT, .said April, 1971. After a lot of temper raising by comment on an article by Vivian Gomick. liberation group bringing pressure to bear “Highlights of the work.shops included the women’s liberation, there is a pro tennis Her “The Next Great Moment In History” on the city council. Did you know that the Gay Women’s workshop . . .” tournament and tour for women with sub­ is a classic essay on women’s liberation. Her Air Force demands from each female appli­ ZEE, DETROIT FREE PRESS, March stantial prize monies. Billie Jean King may latest, “ In Any Terms She Shall Choose”, is cant four photos - but none from the male 28, 1971. By the time you read this the become the first female athlete to win a low-keyed totally comprehensive explana­ applicants. DO you KNOW what they had movie ZEE with Susannah York and Eliza­ $100,000. An April Las Vegas tournament tion of why women’s liberation cannot the almightly gall to say they were lookiiig beth Taylor may be in general release. It is had a total purse of $30,000 with $9,000 succeed if it arbitrarily or accidentally for? They are looking for a “healthy, supposed to deal with Lesbianism. We wish for the winner. Nothing like male tourna­ excludes any group of women. In this case personable appearance”. Marvelous! we could be more excited, but having seen ments of course, but a vast improvement. MOVING TO CEYLON? -SAN FRAN­ she very specifically is discussing Lesbians. UNEQUAL WORK LAWS SLOWLY Hollywood’s efforts to date in the area, we CISCO CHRONICLE, April 3, 1971. An Every woman in women’s liberation should BEING DECLARED ILLEGAL: Dayton, feel mild dismay instead. Do you suppose article on the condition of women in read this, and somehow I feel sure all you Ohio, March 27, 1971. Two women, both Susannah York won’t be cast as a moron Ceylon by a writer identified only as “S. Lesbians out there already will have seen employees of subsidiaries of General married to a sadist as in THE KILLING Oh I'hiagarajah” would indicate (assuming it is “Ecce The Sapphic Swimmer” on April 8, unmarried New Yorker, has sponsored a bdl the evening event wherein Jill Johnston, true) that women are possibly more for­ 1971, for the first time telling specific truth which will possibly end the inequities in Jacqueline Ccballos of NOW, Diana Trilling tunate there than any other known area of on the subject. It is about time someone taxation between .single persons and mar­ and Germaine Greer (see review of her book the world. They may well be in control for exploded the myths about orgasms and the ried couples. The arrogance we find in it is elsewhere in this i.-suc) took on Norman tlie most part. It seems unlikely, and wc penis. Then on April LA, she described a that this bill is bring described in terms of Mailer in a dialogue. NEW YORK POST suspect it is a pipe dream, but pleasant visit with the local TV media in .N.Y.C. its BENEFIT to the bachelors of the land - reporter Helen Dudar sums it up neatly by reading. which will surely be familiar to all of you no accounting made for the fact that saying it wa.s a “jolly pandemonium” . Jill, WE ALW.AYS HURT THE HANDIEST who have been “u.scd” on the air and the women work in shit jobs, are paid lesser after cleverly announcing to the very mixed VICTIM: WOMEN'S STRIKE COALITION, TV screen. audience that all women are Lesbians, April 4, 1971, New York City. Governor wages and work harder and are still taxed to LIVES SAVED: April 1.3, 1971, New death. Other house sponsors include unmar­ occupied the stage only long enough lo Rockefeller cut medicaid payments for York City. City Health Services Adminis­ ried Republican Barry Goldwater, Jr. of irritate Mailer. She was then greeted by two abortions, and the Women’s Strike Coali­ trator Gordon Chase announced that from California and liberal Democrat Robert friends from the audience who joined her tion protested it on .April 8 at his office. July 1, 1970 through (apparently) March Drinan of Massachusetts. The latter is a on stage for a WTll-rcported event: they all The stupidity of this particular cut is well 31, 1971, 97,881 legal abortions liave been Roman Catholic priest. left shortly thereafter. Germaine is said to e.xplained in their news release: “W'omen performed in N.Y.C. In France on .April 20, THE ARMY IS GOING TO ALLOW have best told Mailer off; with the support who are poor enough to require medicaid 1971, contraceptives went on .sale for the of the balcony (where the women who will p r o ^ ly also be on welfare. A baby MOTHERHOOD; April 25, 1971. The first time. Slowly the world is changing could not afford the main floor sat), the born -()i^he.«e women will . . . cost the Army is going to allow its female officers 343 PROMINENT WOMEN IN women won the evening. (Editor s Note. state far more than the cost of an abortion. and enlisted women to have children if they FRANCE: Newsweek, April 19, 1971. The are married. Unmarried women who get May we point out that Simone de Beauvoir Nl.XON IS AGAINST ABORTION MANY years ago in SECOND SEX said the women signed a statement to the effect pregnant still get axed unless they have (THIS IS NEWS?) April, 1971. Since every they each had had at least one (illegal) same thing — that all women are naturally paper in the nation carried this, we only abortions or give up the child for adoption. abortion. In a country where this is a The Air Force adopted this same general Lesbian). comment to indelibly record. SEXUAL BEHAVTOK. April, 1971. Wc capital offense, that’s some confe.ssion. Of policy in -March. 1971, and the Navy is received so many copies of an article from MAJOR WOMEN’S COLLEGES RE­ interest too is the fact that women of equal expected to follow suit. One WAG officer this Issue purportedly on Lesbians that we MAIN SEGREGATED. NEWSWEEK, April prominence in this country probably would commented: “I would think most women issue this warning. If everything in this 5, 1971. Although Vas.sar, Bennington and not .sign such a statement and remain in who want to have children would prefer to magazine is to be along the lines of this Sarah Lawrence have gone co-ed, most of their positions. Interesting. leave the Army” . We tend to agree with her. the major women’s colleges have remained MORE AND MORE LESBIAN MAR­ A WOMAN’S PLACE IS IN THE initial issue, skip it. Some of the material included is a marvelous lesson in the old for women only. These include Smith Col­ RIAGES; New York City, April 19, 1971. HOUSE: The Fresh Woman In Congress, adage that “figures don’t lie. but liars do lege, VUlls in California, Stephens in Mis- An article in the NEW YORK POST about Bella Abzug. Detroit Free Press, April 25, -souri, Bryn MawT, and the four prominent the Church of the Beloved Disciple (which 1971. Writing abtiut Bella Abzug’s first four figure”. PHILADELPHIA MAGAZINE; April, Virginia schools: Hollins, Mary Baldwin, later promised to get that church and its months as a “fresh(wo)man” congress- 1971. Well-known reporter and now editor, Randolph-Macon and Sweetbriar. minister. Father Robert Clement, in trouble (wo)man, Eileen Foley lists her deeds to JACK BAKER IS PRESIDENT OF THE with state law) describes the marriage cere­ date. She believes women should be leaders Nancy Love, of this most prestigious “city” UNIVERSITY OK MINNESOTA .STU­ mony (called “Holy Union”) of two black and the top jobs in her office are filled by magazine, included a good article (.hicken- DENT ASSOCl.ATION: April, 1971. Seven Lesbians. 3'he article also comments that women. She opposes the war and draft and ing Out On Women’s Lib” in this i.ssue. or so women sent us this armouncement. this marriage was the 20th such in the last 9 carefully tacks on anti-sex discrimination Despite that HORRIBLE title, this is good lack Baker is an admitted homosexual, a months. (Metropolitan Community Church amendments to every federally-assisted pro­ honest public consciousness examining. law student, and is suing to be allowed to branches all over the West Coast have been gram that passes her desk. She has started a GLAMOUR MAGAZINE, April, 1971. marry his lover, James M. McConnell, a performing such marriages for well over a national newsletter called “National Con- In an editorial dripping with ill-concealed venom, GLAMOUR asks “shouldn’t wc librarian. Jack and James have had quite a year.) stituenev for Bella Abzug” and it’s available bit of national publicity. Wc were plea.sed INTERNAL REVENUE MAY GET from 1829 Phelps Place, N.W., Washington, separate the women from the girls”. Ihe that 8 of the 7 women sending us notices of THEM YET: New York, Los Angeles, other D.C. Clearly, a woman’s place is in the editorial goes on to explain that Lesbians this victory for Jack (he polled 2,766 votes locations, April, 1971. Many Lesbian House (and the Senate and everywhere else are little girls who haven't grown up proper­ and his clo.sest competition had 1,873) couples and male homo.sexual couples are where power is and can be wielded), ly, and therefore they have (amoi^ other commented “NEXT TIME A LESBIAN?’’ filing joint returns, according to various ERA PASSES FIRST HURDLE IN failings) no sense of community. Wc would wonder, therefore, why such a dispnipor- LAYOFF WOMEN FIRST: Albany, articles from around the country. So far the HOUSE; Washington, D.C., April 30, 1971. tionatc number of women of accomplish­ N.)., April 8, 1971. If State Government reason that they get away with it (sup­ A House subcommittee has approved the ment have been Usbians. Quite obviously Officials start laying off State employees, posedly) is that the computer c.annol pick ERA again this year and it’s gone to Cellar s 1/3 of the population isn’t Lesbian? Ihe women will be the first to go in most cases. up two male or two fem^e names (we can cellar for holding for 3 weeks. Before you In fact, a woman with 30 years on the job think of families where this would be editorial expresses its belief that the girls read this it will almost surely get out of full (appendages to “their males”) belong in gay could be laid off before a man with 4 damned hard anyway). So far no one has committee and onto the floor and pass, months experience, if he happens to be a contested it in the courLs, but thn.se who liberation. again, as it did last year. After that 3 HE THE FEMINIST PRESS, 5504 Gr«a:n- veteran. have been doing this legally (there are ways SENATE. spring Avc., Baltimore, Maryland 21209, is JILL JOHNSTON: VILLAGE VOICE. to do it) for many years are apparently ALL WOMEN ARE LESBIANS EX­ During March Jill finished up her “Lois successful. asking for money to get its p u b li^i^ CEPT THOSE THAT DONT KNOW IT: A program started. First planned are 50-75 Lane Is A Lesbian’’ series (mentioned in the A REFORM WE LABEL NEEDED BUT DIALOGUE?, New York City, April 30, last issue of THE L ADDER). She went on page biographical pamphlets on famous TYPICALLY ARROGANT: Washington. 1971. Nearly every paper in the U.S. and to examine female sexuality in print in women. One problem we foresee is that April 15, 1971. Rep. Edward I. Kock. an most major news magazines have reported 40 1 the largest U.S. city to do such a tiling. And Gay Women’s Service Center and Le.sbian thfv arc using some women aboiil wtiom Social Security-Welfare Reform Bill was a small lait excellent college in Detroit much is already available. Otherwise the approved by the House Ways and Means Feminists of Los Angeles. FIRST WOMEN SKY MARSHALS; DO (Shaw College) has named a woman. Dr. idea is good and might work if they can Committee. This contains one slight pro­ Dawn E. Francis, a dislingui.shed chemist, as WOMEN GET ATHLETIC SCHOLAR­ launch it. vision for working mothers allowing them its academic dean — which may be a first SHIPS’^ FIRST MIDWIFE GOES ON H.ARASSME.NTDOESNT STOP . . . to deduct for child care with a total family d u t y - EXPLORERS go CO-FU); WOMAN for women. EVER: May 1, 1971, SPECIAL TO THE income of up to 112,000 a year. Presently MECHANIC LIBERATES AUTO SHOP; Now then* art* some key word.s in the LADDER. iM.Y. DOB was holding a fund­ the limit is $6,000. Thus a family where the g ir l s ADDED TO RELAY CARNIVAL opening headlines ol this commentary. raising dance on this date when the local husband makes nearly $6,000 a year and Note “accept”, “allowed” (twice) and policeman entered the premises and at­ there are 3 or 4 children, the wife cannot FOR THE FIRST TIME; WAF WEARS 12 HATS IN TACTICAL UNIT; WOMAN IN “added” - to our conditional humanity - tempted to enter the offices. Local officers work even at the slave labor wages paid to we are accepted or allowed — or added to refused to be intimidated, and drove him women to supplement the income without COMMAND; COUNTY GIRLS ALLOWED TO lOlN TEAM,S; GIRL PAGES AL­ the real world. But in Phnom Penh, Cam­ away. They also called the local precinct the family losing the total cost of child bodia, in April, 1971, an added and allowed promi.sing to fight any trumped-up charges care, which is astronomical if it is minimally LOWED TO CARRY U.S. FLAG;PRIEST­ HOOD SOUGHT BY WIDOW (age 76); and woman, Catherine M. ’ Kate Webb, United in court. Two hours later 3 summonses adequate. Press International bureau manager in were served on DOB officers. By now LOIS H. STAIR TO HEAD UNITED SO\? BOX DERBY TO ACCEPT GIRLS. Now those are simply headlines from arti­ Phnom Penh, wa,« reported missing after charges have been dropped. They always PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Rochester, being caught in an area that was overrun by are, but the hara-ssment goes on and on and N.Y., May 17, 1971. For the first time a cles sent to us during April, May and June, 1971. We will see many more of them Communist troops. It really doesn’t matter woman has been chosen to head the annual before vou read this, but along with these in a mart-made war what kind of troops WOMAN LEFT TO DIE AT HOSPITAL assembly of the 3.1 million-member church. which range from the ridiculou.s to the were overrunning or whal they were run­ DOOR: Kirkwood, Mo., May 8, 1971. St. She was elected from a field of four sublime, were .some very serious appoim- ning over. Whal matters is that people die, Joseph Hospital has been suspended from candidates and she was the first woman ments and a serious afterthought. Ihc including .some women like Kate Webb, age membership in the St. Louis &unty emer­ candidate for the office since. 1963. Ms. Mayor of Hartford, Conn., Ann Uccello, 28, of Christchurch, New Zealand. Miss gency care program because a woman who Stair is not a minister, which adds to the was named by 'I'ransporlalion Secretary, W'ebb, incidentally, had been a combat had been stabbed 8 times, beaten and honor since usually a minister fills the John Volpc, to head the Office of Con­ correspondent early in the Vietnam W ar for robbed, was refused emergency treatment. po.sition. sumer Affairs. Barbara Hackman Franklin, two year.s. The emergency room staff used as excuse WOMEN FIGHTING FOR THEIR on leave from her job as Asst. V.P. and hwd the fact that they “believed” hu.spital pol­ RIGHTS IN EDUCATION FIELD: NEWS­ of government relations at the First INa- (Editor's Note; IPe dcbalfid rr writing icy was to refuse treatment to any woman WEEK, May 17, 1971. In the Education this segment o f CROSS CLRRd^T'S who “might have been raped”. As it hap­ tional City Bank of N.Y.C., has been section a four-page article covering battles appointed a staff a.ssistant to Nixon, as- when we Imrned, on May 1, 1971, pened, Ms. Jaequelin Price was not raped, that Kate ICebb is alive and welt and from coast to coast in the “placid” Halls of .signed to bring more qualified women into though her assailant had attempted such an Academe for women’s rights. Worth looking top government jobs. The city of Oklahoma has been released from captivity, but assault. She was left for .30 minutes on a up and reading. decided that the points still remain stretcher without treatment before she was City elected a woman. Patience Sesvell MORE WOMEN GENERALS: WASH­ Latting to be its Mayor, thus making itself valid.) taken to St. Louis County Hospital. She INGTON STAR, May 19, 1971. Brig. Gen. remains in serious condition. Elizabeth P. Hoisington is retiring as head WHOSE FCTURE?? Wa.shington, D.C., of the Women’s Army Corps; she is to be May 13, 1971. .A large group of upper- replaced by Col. Mildred C. Bailey, who middlc-cla.ss white males (representing wUl, of course, be promoted to the rank of obviously the whole world) and calling General. Brig. General Anna Mae M. Hays is themselves the World Future Society (they retiring as head of the Army Nurse Corps decide what the world is to be like in the and will be replaeed by Col. Lillian Dunlap, future) were decidedly kept from the pur- who will also be elevated to one-star rank. ' THIS STEINEM CHICK WAS po.se of their meeting by a take-over by MOM AND P COLLECTIVE, 3015 PAPPIN ’ ABOUT SEXUPiL Wilma Scott Heide of NOW. The male .Mackland, Albuquerque, New Mexico reaction from the audience was to yell they 87106. A group of l/csbians at this collec­ OPPRESSION. LIKE IT’S were being drowned in “noise” and “fuck tive (together with some straight sisters) are OH, 6URU, YOU'VE GOT 60NNA BE A WHOLE you” and other adult responses to serious planning to do a non-commercial book to .speech. be called A Cay Reader”. They are asking TO HELP ME GET MV NEW BARMAN- OH, TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS OF for help from Lesbians who are into HEAD TOGETHER... 6 REAT WHAT MOTHER’S LIBERATION ON THE SAME women’s liberation. j 00 YOU THINK OF HER? DAY, May 14, 1971: Rep. Bella Abzug, NEXT ISSUE WE WILL REPORT ON together with Rep. Shirley ChLshoIm, an­ THE WOMEN’S LIBERATION AND LES­ nounced the introduction of a bill in BIAN MEETING PLANNED FOR THE Congress calling for 23 billion over a three- LOS ANGELES AREA OVER THE WEEK­ year period for day-care nurseries. Ms. END OF JUNE 25, 26 and 27, 1971. Billed Abzug was speaking before the first na­ as GAY WOMEN’S WEST COAST CON­ tional conference on equal pay and pro­ FERENCE, their handbiUs specify women motion for women sponsored by the Urban only and STRAIGHT SISTERS WEL­ Research Corp. Also on May 14, 1971, the COME. Sponsoring groups are L.A. DOB,

i i j L T stood in the opera watching the people Life ‘BlooJ around them. Most of their energies were invested in the apartment and in the bars. By ELLEN GOLD The darkness, the drinking the physical were what held them until one day Sayre TIuy had created an atmosphere about went to Paris, leaving a note that she had to themselves that hid the cramped clutter of find her mind. She thought it had preceded the apartment. It was a small place, but the her there. She .said she wanted to sec the ceiling was high and sometimes when they pale flowers of Paris surrounded by the were home at night, the East River’s breer.es city’s passionate colors. She said she did not bdlowed the deep red drap<‘s in the room, know why she could not take Naomi, but bringing with them through the wide that it wa.s better. window a city smell tlial made them wild to Naomi tore the drapes down from the be outdoors and near the water. Naomi kitchen and rolled herself in them, rocking tried to keep the household need.s behind in pain on the bed until she could stand the an oriental screen, ornate with reds and color around her no more. Turning to face golds. Sayre had hung more red draperv the white sheets she found their em­ across the small hall between the big room broidered pillow eases. She pulled a jug of and the bathroom that .sencd as a kitchen. wine onto the bed with her and laid it Usually when they were home the couch sideways to her lips. She tasted Sayre’s was opened to their bed and they would be mouth and felt the wet wine staining the there drinking wine, looking from their sheet red beneath her. liooks to the manllcpicce draped with a purple doth above the fireplace, now bricked in. The moon could follow the cents, 't he book contains 23 songs, draw- breeze inside their window, falling from the ing.s, photos, and a chord chart. One of the sky across a thin strip of Riverside Park and songs is a Chinese song dating from 718 linally onto their toes if the lights were off. B.C., but most are contemporary. Testing Sometimes they found themselves making with crazy quilt materials, carpeting pieces them out in true fashion,Gene Damon and love at the foot of the bed to catch the light even that last vestige of Naomi’s street laie Stuart spent part of a Sunday playing l>fe was ornamented by her saint, as she on each others’ bodies as they moved in called iJayre, and (hopefully) singing them . . . some of chase of each other. DAMON them arc quite delightful; .some of them .‘iayre was imposing. She would come in Down in the bars where they sometimes a. aren’t. All arc fun. WE DON’T NEED THE went Naomi preferred to stay at their table Irom the fresh .spring city streets still in her fSpeciat !Sote: Promises and Apolo­ .MEN by Malvina Reynolds is especially while Sayre, in white pants usually on those only coal, a big brown fake fur. The bright gies. After this column was completed, delightful, and the full page photograph of occasions, with shirts of bright orange or colors ot her dres.ses and scarves ernpha.sizcd typed, the whole issue finished and in her is excellent as well. Well worth buying some homemade print, danced until she had the breadth and height of her body Her the hands o f production, it was at the ridiculously low price. The back to stop and save her energies for Naomi. decisive movements, her careless ' walk pointed out to me that it's really not a cover, featuring one of Sarah Teasdale’s Sometimes Naomi danced with a guict made her a giant to Naomi in daylight' “¡j!sbiana” column at alL I'd already “Songs for Myself,” is not to be missed. gayboy or one of Sayre’s old lovers. They W hen they walked through the park .Sayre more or less mentioned this (see later The 27 bound volumes of the unprinted would tell Sayre that Naomi was an elf, or a ^emed to be bounding, leading, protecting in the column) with some explanation. diaries of Virginia W'oolf are now a part of Mie was a surpri.se to Naomi each time they child, and they envied her, but Sayre would The point is that next issue the whole the Berg Collection of English and Ameri­ protest that Naomi was simply her strength, ■ threw oft their street clothes and their column (which will be much longer) is can Literature at the New York Public leannesses inel. her life blood and certainly no child. Then devoted to the last several new Lesbian Library. Ms. Woolf kept her diary for 26 And it was .Say re who insisted they have they would sit close together and watch the novels . . . and there are a lot o f them years . . . the last entry was dated four their wine in delicate stemmed glasses. She people look for one another, often resting including some very major studies. So days before she walked into the sea in 1941 Hith them when discouraged. ook he responsibility of pouring for them until then, forgive me. Ijong time for a very final swim. Hopefully someday Irom the gallon jugs Naomi’s smaller hands would be on a Saturday night, or a readers know I'd rather review Lesbian they will be edited and printed . . . by a ould hfl but not control. It was .Sayre who hriday’ and the next morning Naomi would literature than edit this magazine. . . woman. had put fine embroidery on their bargain pull Sayre from their bed to go to the park so my heart's in the right place, Atheneum Books includes a novel based store pillow ea.ses, and who chose Naomi’s There they saw old people and children and readers, at least. J on the 1917 suffragist movement in its new flovving ilothes. often white or pale wmc p s s , some trees and finally the river. spring books for children. They mark it for Naomi hked to buy cheese and French yellow, .sheer, with the lines of Greek togas We start off with a good fun book and the 10-14 year group. We hope it has no bread on the way and with a couple of Naomi wondered if she had brought any- one that ought to be useful as well, stereotyped ending, but trust one of the cokes they would have their breakfast, thii^ to the apartment at all besides her WOMEN’S SONGBOOK, compiled by collectives working willi children’s litera­ shivering a little, by the river. ^lall body and worshipping mind, both to Judith Busch and Laura X, available from ture will check it out. Title is NEVER JAM, They talked, yes. They worked, too. be cared for by this force .she found more Judy Bu.sch, Oral Herstory Library, 2325 TODAY, and author is Carole Bolton. They listened to records and planned to go Oak Street, Berkeley, California 94708, for Jill Johnston, the VILLAGE VOICE powerful than freedom. Sayre even patched to Paris. They set violets over the mantle- the worn spots of her dungarees for her $1 per copy plus postage . . . book rate columnist we talk about in these pages all piece. They saw art films and sometimes postage is 14 cents and first class is 65 the lime, has a collection out, MARMA- I.ADK ME, N.V.. Dutton. 1971, The book Street, Northampton, Mass. 01060. They 1 iiidiido.« seloctpd foliimns from I960 don’t show a price on it. Contents aren’t try . . . give it something even if you don’t loo.se in the Detroit area. It is, actually, in througli 1970 . . . and .shows tiu- radical remarkable . . . but the approaeli, quiet NEED ANYTHING from it . . . even a tlie area of poetry that the journal best change in .MH’.s lone as .she came toward the and in good taste, is. spare buck would help. Like all women succeeds, with fine material by LADDER point of coming ont into the open and they are terribly poor. This is a personal artist and writer Adeic A. Chateliii, Nancy Boston DOB has a magazine which was announcing her I.esbianism. Readers who recommendation . . . they have helped Hcmies, the above mentioned Ms, .Shriman, formerly called MAIDEN VOYAGE and is have been reading her only a short lime me, heljicd THE LADDER . . . now let’s Judy Ansuini and several other promising now called FOCU.S. De.spile the poor name (less than four year.s) as 1 have will be support them. 0-k? And while doing it, poets. No cost is listed for this . . . but choice, it is a good small magazine, with .surprised to tind she is a .serious art erilie in accord them the same patience and kind­ write and ask, it's wortli it . . . and if it increasingly le.ss obsession with Lesbians the sense that she has quite thoroughly ness you accord us, for few do the labor grow.s, it .should be supported. alone and more knowledge tliat indeed, all covered the many facets of art in the and many benefit. This has always been the Low-keyed and marvelous, “A women must stand together. Their Volume broadest sen.se ;md has done it very well. way of the world, but it’s time women Reprieve.” hy Frank Tuohv, in his collec­ 2, Number 4 issue, March, 1971, marks tion FINGERS IN THE DOOR, N.Y., Scrib­ Her style isn’t easy reading, and she cannot their change to women’s liberation inter­ changed all that. We can . . . there are be read for hours at a time, but the ests, though the cover still states it is a cnougli of us. ner’s, 1970, treats of a brother in a hospital and a visit from his sister. He is a homo­ collection is very very worth your time and “journal for gay women,” Not so, and Long time LADDER readers will recall sexual (he doesn’t know it): site is a Lc.sbian energy. II then- is anything lacking, it is a righlly so. (iosi is $5 per how bored you were with books you Horan the author/lyricist) is about a Presi­ partially .solved by the addition of two “have the best marriage, no competition”. were allowed to read at 12? dential election and a women’s revolution qualified “helpers”, both librarians and In the context of the novel this is true. ,-\ Ah, QUEEN ANNE is being visited that stops it. Talent runs in fami­ botli book women and LADDER suppor­ syrnpalhctic portrait, .since left lo them- again . . . this time by author David lies . . .Vicki Vidal is Gore’s cousin. ters. One has provided the following: WF- .selves the Le.sbian.s are never a pari of the Green, N.Y., Scribner’s, 1971. Yet another Two movies by women . . , WANDA, version of the triangular love affair between DANCE AND SING, by Richard Dough­ town’s numerous copulative scandals. Read­ .starring and directed by Barbara Loden, and erty, Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, 1971, able novel, and libraries will have thi.s for Anne, the powerful, beautiful and ambi­ A NEW LEAF, starring and partially dir­ tious Sarah Churchill, and the “mean” is a fictionalized biography of the Malloy the most part. ected by Elaine May, are around Just now. family, an ex-show business couple, down In addition to previou.sly mentioned chambermaid, Abigail Hill . . . the latter Haven’t seen either, but -will, and you was undoubtedly doing a good deal of on their luck and talent, who settle in the items coming in the next issue, we will have probably should too. husband’s hometown in Western New York ■some 10 or more new Lesbian titles to laugliing up her sleeve. Too bad history A new “helper” provides this about hasn't left anything to tell us how SHE felt in the early part of this century. Among the report on . . . all received loo late or ARFIVE, new novel by A.B. Guthrie, Jr., townfolk is a Lesbian couple. One character simply not handled in time, for thi.s is.siie. about it all. (The November, 1964, issue of Boston, Hoi^hton-Mifflin, 1970: Conflict THE L.ADDER has a long article on the of Eastern Victorianism and the turn of the love affair between Anne and Sarali.) century west is an atypical “western” novel. i' ' ' ^ \ t (For the readers who pointed out to us This is a good picture of life in a small that the New York TI.VIES has proclaimed western town at that time. The Lesbian Willa Gather a larsbian: Yes, ’tis true, and clement is provided by a school teacher. we knew it all the time; just haven’t had Miss Carson, who arranges for a young time to work on the subject. And for the Indian girl to enroll in the local school. She reader who a.sked if either Vem Niven or then provides a home for the girl. “Ob- Lennox btrong would be kind enough to .served” in a compromising position with write about her for us, the answer is no. But the girl by the local peeping tom and there will be a biographical article on ('.ather in a future issue.) confronted with the information, she sends the girl back to the reservation and commits We are working on a list of famous < ■suicide. Very sympathetic view presented of Lesbians, a sort of Lesbian 'Tierstory” to the teacher, but the trite “leave them dead borrow the phrase used by various west or dying ’ bit is from a l.esbiana of another coast feminist groups (notably Varda One time. Mr. Guthrie was obviously getting on of EVER YflO.VIAN and Laura X of Dear Gene: de.stroycd seventeen paintings in an in.staiit the “Lesbian bandwagon” to add spice to his I have a rotten self image — due to many of self hate. Ala.«. But, listen: ymi cannol WOMEN’S PAGE). We are prompted by- book. two thing.s . . . we are tired of being “left factors; (1) family . . . ugh! (2) The imagine how iiuicli THE l..■\D^ER helped Future reviews will include a new biog­ out of such li.stings on the one hand and “Academy”, mainly. At the Academy (in me. I mean, I really began thinking aliout raphy of Gertrude Stein which more clearly Philadelphia) instructors (all male and how every concept in art (EVERY concept) even more irritated when a woman is listed details her personal life than any prior as ostensibly heterosexual. WTien you see VERY chauvinistic, except one female in­ ha.« been created by the male, and now is work, a new find from the classics, and a structor who was stuck teaching a very dull the time for new concepts to hi- dis­ what a proud heritage we do have histor­ review of Donn Teal’s THE GAY MILI­ ically, you’ll get the point. The list will run ca.st drawing class, although she is one of covered . . . so 1 can say, “fuck you” to TANTS, which clearly shows the reasons in a future issue (or is.sues), and we wel­ the best painters in the East) used to kick in all the little male chauvinistic ghosts who women^ are deserting gay liberation for (literally) paintings done by students whose have followed me from the .-Ycadcmy. come suggestions from readers. No living women’s liberation in droves- persons will be included, of course, and no work they did not like. We — female Adeic A. Chateliri l.MPORTANT NOTE: The very very rare students — were told to leave the art field Detroit, Mil'lligaii one for whom only “ Intuitional” proofs classic Gertrude Stein major Lesbian novel, e.xist. and have babies instead, since that IS the THINGS AS THEY ARE, which was first Dear Gene, Much comment critically and otherwise function of Woman, etc., blah, blah, blali. titled (by her) QUOD ERAT DEMON- 1 just wanted you to know how very on the new movie, THE CONFORMIST, You know, women can’t paint becau.se we STRANDUM, has been reprinted in FERN- much 1 appreciated your letter. It really which is based on Alberto Moravia’s novel lack a basic “something”. Of course, they HURST, Q.E.D., AND OTHER EARLY never said WHAT . . . balls, I presume. I gave me a feeling of closeness for all of our of the same name . . . the faithful will WRITINGS, N.Y., Liveright, 1971. Cost is recall that it has a very substantial Lesbian got this attitude every day. There was the sisters fighting, in various ways, for our $7.50, which seems high but isn’t, not for a class of 100 students where one instructor freedom as women and individuals. 1 am sub-plot which has, apparently, been carried book that includes a novel now selling at over in the movie. Genet of NEW' YORKER butchered a .student’s ego (and self-image) more convinced than ever that we especially $25 (if you can find a copy, and you very in front of everyone . . . especially the need lo deal with the Lesbian issue. Since commented favorably about tlie movie in definitely cannot). The history of THINGS her regular feature, “Letter from Paris” women got it. I completed'the four year the report on our first attempt at presenting AS THEY ARE, from its writing date of March 13, 1971, and the March 31 issue of course in two years . . . thank God! . . . an educational meeting on Lesbianism 1903 to its initial publication in 1950 by a the same magazine carried a more or less and left. Since then, I have had crisis after appeared in our newsletter, adding that we rave review. small private press in Vermont, is a monu­ crisis of self doubt. Then there was a were going to re-group and plan a new one, ment to the history of how great works get ) ictoria Vidal and Patricia Horan’s play Psychiatric ease-worker who lived across the we have gotten many calls and also women kept out of circulation through fear. Great GOD BLESS GOD, SHE NEEDS IT, wa^ hall from us. He was gay and very ashamed stopping by the office to say they are as Gertrude Stein was, she did not dare recently tried out in the New Haven area. It of it and he scared me out of my mind until interested and wanting to participate in publish so explicit a proof of her own is rumored to be on the way to Broadway. I began thinking that everything I painted working on it. Lesbianism in her lifetime. The musical (Ms. Vidal is the composer, Ms was a phallic symbol or vaginal teeth. I I very much like, in THE L.ADDER, The increasing problem of having time 48 49 Ihosf sections devoted to women's creative could love another woman in a deep over­ One can only hope that those ALA mem­ That is, of course, to be a voice of the endeavors. I like to write myself and have whelming and permanent way. It .seemed so bers who woik so diligently for the ri^ ts of women’s liberation movement. They feel done poems, articles, etc. but always con- odd. I think there are more of us who felt various minority groups will see fit to labor that rock music is male dominated and male .sidered myself “not very good.” In fact, that (and hid or suppresst^d it) than anyone for equal rights of the women within their oriented. They cite examples like the Roll­ though I loved "putting things together,” I has guessed. Now that we are getting own organizatioiL ing Stones’ “linder My Thumb” as the rock was always afraid to even tr>' out for a together, maybe we can share our fears, Jan Watson that is being played today.! They are all too school newspaper. Now that I’ve become dreams, and future. Denver, Colorado accurate in their analysis of rock. Their involved with women's liberation. I’ve Ue.st of luck on your magazine! It’s lyrics are concerned with women and their thrown myself into working on onr news­ really great. When I read if, I felt like crying Dear Gene, songs range from militance to gentle danc­ letter and I love it. because it was so proud — women should be I read the letter from L.F. in the ing music. I know of no time when they I will subscribe to THE LADDER and proud of what they arc and can be. April/May 1971 issue of the Ladder and I have failed to turn on an audience more also order back is.sues, a.« soon as I si’t aside A Canadian Sister would like to mention a song I think has than any other group I have ever seen. the money. It was exciting to .sec the “implications” also. It is in the Country Everyone dances. If you are in the north or coverage given Women’s Movement activi­ Dear Gene Damon: Music style. The tjtle is "Help .Me Make It middle eastern part of the country, go to ties and tbe support shown for them. I hope I hope the married sister doesn’t need Through the Night” recorded by Sammi see them or bring them into your city. They we are able to give and share as equally the prestige of a Kale Milletl to be accept­ Smith. It is a 45 RPM on “Mega” label. I are an experience we can all appreciate and within the Women’s Movement . . .Within ed. After reading Ms. McCormick’s article in think many would cigoy it very much. are, hopefully, just the beginning of a trend very politically-oriented groups such as the February'/March, 1971, issue. I’m a B.W. in all music. ours, there is often a real and tragic lack of little confused. I am not an Ethel Kennedy ElmhursL N.Y. L.F. enjoyable relaxing and personal contacts, fan cither, but I wonder if Ms. McCormick New Y ork free of all the business, work, and political thought to really look beyond the Mr. Dear Gene Damon, (Editor’s Note: Liberation News pressure. Kenneth hair-do or the idle vacant stare, There are two rock groups which all Service has been circulating an article Our meeting should be interesting as and lake a count as to how many of these women who read THE LADDER will want about the New Haven Women’s Libera­ we II have several women from our local women might really be her sister in heart to be aware of. The first is one which comes tion Rock Band which includes their W.L.M. who arc svmpathetic toward and and soul, need and desire, to give and to from the West Coast and has been together request for songs from women. Their interested in Lesbianism but basically accept. The blank .stare might just be the about five years. It is called “Joy of address is New Haven Women ’» Libera­ “ straiglit” by experience and several question “How the hell did I gel myself Cooking” and consists of two women who tion Rock Band, 1504 Boulevard, New Lesbians who are very unpolitical and not into thi.s, and how do I get out”‘f No sing and play instruments, write the music Haven, Conn. 0651L Also like to add part of (jfiy women’s group (they saw the answer, just silence. and lyrics, and do the arrangements. On the our recommendation concerning JO Y newsletter and asked to eonu'). It’s funnv Considering the religious upbringing record they are backed up by three men; OF COOKING which is really some­ when you feel emotionally Lesbian yet have mo.st women over 30 years of age today their significance is obvious just in the fact thing special. This is one album you’ll no physical experience, and we all feel had, it would be very interesting if an that the men back them up. The women, keep forever.) awkward and adoleseent. like we have to honest count could be taken to discover the Terry Garthwaite and Toni Brown, are grow up all over again. I’m sure we can all true sexuality of the over-30 suburban wife basically the group and all its dynamic learn a lot from each other. I otdy wish my and mother. energy comes from them. Listening to their Dear Gene, best friend (we've loved each other four D.W. two voices is not only an incredibly beauti­ I have not written to you in a very long years but can’t figure out how to confront Small Midwe.stem Town ful music experience, but also a message to time. Not since before the last N.A.C.H.O. the ‘ physical” aspect of it - .so we have all of us about how good women can be meeting. You made it quite clear that the avoided it) was here to participate (,She's in April 14, 1971 together. They intertwine, give each other entire idea of male-female co-op efforts in the -States - it's a complicated story, we Dear Gene Damon, room, and generally accomplish things mu­ the Gay Movement turned you off. At that both live with men). I know 1 will never The Library Administration Division of sically that I would expect only to hear time, I am afraid I suffered from a familiar fully forgive this .society for depriving me the American Library Association recently silently in making love with a woman. If disease combination; Idealism-Naivete. But (at least temporarily) of my freedom, po­ i:onductcd a salary survey among ALÁ that is not enough of a recommendation, I it is amazing. Gene, how quickly reality tentials, and choices without even letting members in all types of libraries. A report would like to add that their appeal trans­ makes itself obvious. A Radicalesbians me know they were there at all. This is of that survey is in the April Issue of cends that of rock music. Women who group has formed in Buffalo. I have been Woman’s biggest oppre.ssion — that she is AMERICAN LIBRARIES. regularly do not listen to rock have raved invtdved in it almost from its inception and brainwashed into believing she has no op- Of those librarians responding to the about the recording. Buy it, listen to it, love have learned the real meaning of Conscious­ pre,ssion - not only that she has no survey, 2778 were men and 9030 were it. They sing to all of us. It is on a Capitol ness-Raising. The sense of community, the freedom of choice, but that there are no women. With a ration of more than three to label, and the album bears the same title as sense of real and honest love among wom­ other choices (or if there arc, the others are one in the profession, some might expect the group. en, is an experience I never imagined could negative reaction to the one central choice women to command the better .salaries. Not The second group does not have an exist. It has truly been a personal revelation we all are horn to “make" and live). so. The average salary for a man with a in the most profound sense of the word. I’ll keep you informed of how the album and may never have one because Ph.D. was listed as Sl9,649. The average their audience, as well as their mission, is It has also laid a heavy trip on my educational meetings progress and any salary for a woman witli the same degree is personal life. My lover - a male-identified papers or literature that comes out of if. derived from Women’s Liberation. The New only $15,492. This same difference held Haven Women’s Liberation Rock Band is woman - and I, are parting company after Thanks again for your encouragement and true down the scale through those people almost five years. It Is a great tragedy, the opportunity to tell somebody my own worth at least one hundred male groups. holding less than a Master’s degree. They begin their sets and most numbers particularly for her, since she feels that she feelings about .some of the issues. For a long It Ls ridieuloiis to think that a field so has done nothing “wrong”. But I can no time, 1 was afraid to admit to anyone that I with raps from the members of the group dominated by women would tolerate this. on their purpose and reason for existence. longer relate to someone who thinks 50

IL women are second, silly, subservient and (Editor’s Note: N.A.CH.O. is the cannot achieve real closeness like “guys” or North American Conference o f Homo- even like “hutches”. It is not a matter of phile Organizations — a primarily male relating to transvestism (clothes neither homosexual affiliation. Lesbians are make the man nor the woman), it is rather a moving out o f male homosexual matter of mental and emotional trans­ groups much as heterosexual women Leisure Books, Inc. sexuality which gives me the feeling that deserted ’’Movement” groups to form 6}40 COLDWATER CANYON. SUITE 207 tlicre is a man in the house — and that’s not U'omen’s Liberation,^ NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CAUFORNIA 91606 where it’s at!! Up until very recently I (21)) 980-4480 thought 1 was part of the movement pre­ dominantly to help my brothers that 1 saw FUCK YOU, "BROTHERS"! being harps.sed| on the streets . . . but no or 1 March 1971 longer. It’s my issue; my sisters; my flesh YET ANOTHER WOMAN LEAVES and guts that are being stepped on, and it’s , THE GAY LIBERATION MOVEMENT a different scene. A woman who feels By NANCY TUCKER profoundly the need for communication i Gene Danon, l^ditor with womanhood, both her own and oth­ All right guys, gentlemen, “broth­ ?he Ladder Box 5 0 2 5 ers’, cannot be expected to tolerate a ers” . . .lam leaving at last. I’m not going 'lashincton Station dichotomous situation. It can only lead to home to my kitchen to sulk. And I’m not Reno, lleVcuia 895^3 mutual disgust. going out to misspend what’s left of my Therefore, revelation has caused expan­ youth in the bars. (Why should 1? They’re Beckr Gene: • sion, .self-identity, communion, and sadness. male oriented, too.) I’m just leaving. As a second thought to your query as to wi-iy we will not be publishing novels Hopefully it win benefit us all. If she stays Leaving because this organization and with lesbian themes, our editorial attitude is pretty representative of all with the Movement, maybe it can happen this movement offer me nothing. Why the major paperback and hardcover publishers' thinking nowadays* to her. I pray for it. should 1 be interested in homosexual rights There does not seem to be an active, genuine, buying interest unless the But on a happier note, the Radicalcs- — they’re based on (male) homosexual material is sensational or lurid — something most responsible publishers bians group has been a beautiful experience. problems: entrapment, police harassment, prefer to avoid. Some of us are thinking of starting a blackmail, tea room assignations, venereal Women’s Band (I play electric 12-string diseases. Christ, 1 can’t relate to that kind If your subscribers wish to see more fiction available at paperback prices, now), and possibly a women’s boutique — of shit; it has no meaning whatsoever for I have to fall back upon the old cliche that action speaks louder than words. F’irst, all of your subscribers who are interested in this type of material things by women for women, with the me. should write to the various publishers and ask to see more of it; and if tne proceeds going to the rent and the Move­ I’m leaving because I’m disgusted. 1 publishers comply, then they (the subscribers) should actively back up the ment. can’t relate to people (read that men) who publishing investment by getting out to buy the books themselves. I have not left the group I belonged to need people (read that fetish objects). Snow before tliis change in ray attitude. But queens, dinge queens, chicken queens, mus­ It may help you to know that it costs a publisher roughly $10,000.00 to publish a book, with an average printing of about 1 ^ ^ 0 0 0 copies of each title. That means through that kind of facility, 1 do a great cle queens, queen queens . . . the list goes that 75|000 people should buy the book — not lend it to friends, or borrow a deal of public speaking _ colleges, radio, on and on. Pick your favorite, or add your copy, since that only cuts down sales. If you will forgive my crude languuge, 'I'.V. — for women, gay women in particu­ own to the list. I see this fetish thing in inform your subscribers to put their money where their mouths are..*or a suitable lar. People ask about women, lesbians. Men every male homosexual I know. I don’t see paraphrase will do. cannot answer those questions (even though it in women. Thank God WE see people as But you'll first have to show publishers that there really is a buying market they often presume to do so!!) 1 feel a people, not as objects. for this type of material or it may well be another ten years before publishers duty, aloirg with some other sisters, to I’m leaving because I’m tired of coping decide to "test" this market again. Based upon the information you provide- to maintain tliat communication and make use with massive male egos, egos which cannot your subscribers, even your own magazine is having trouble obtaining cuiTlcicnt of that inroad and facility. I am also comprehend how anyone could want to enbscribcrii to exist...can you bla;.ic publishers for being reluctant? starting male-female dialogue on a small have nothing to do with a male-dominated Sincerely, .scale for the purpose of providing speakers movement. If you cannot understand why 1 who have an understanding of each other, wish to withdraw, then my “liberated” all the aspects of sexuality, and the Move­ brother, you are part of the problem. ment in all its form.s. Everywhere I turn, my senses are bom­ But priorities have certainly been re­ barded with the most appalling of crude­ evaluated since I wrote to you last. Robin nesses. I’m sick of watching skag drags YT^'-iag Moigan, Shulamith Firestone, the published parading up and down, prancing and dan­ and the unpublished women who feel the cing in their “finery” and mocking me and import of their womanhood have made a my sex with every step. I’m tired of hearing profound change; an emerging conscious­ somebody referred to as “Miss” when he’s ness. I wish I had known these things when done a no-no: “Miss Terry, weU she’s I last wrote to you. always late.” “Miss Chuck, she can’t seem “FOR SISTERHOOD” to get herself together.” “Hush your BUFFALO, N.Y. (Continued on Page 54) 52 mouth, Miss Cade.” less about women. And you will suffer for Crap! The incredibly blatent sexism of it the GLF could be told in many volumes. Every time you put down a woman, you I’m tired of being called “girl”. 1 ceased drive the knife just that much deeper into THE LADDER IS BEING INDEXED being a “girl” severals years ago. I am on your own gut. You are committing suicide my own now, 1 support myself, and I by your depreciation of the opposite sex. All of its completed fifteen years of life will be recorded in a conduct myself in an adult manner — I Isn’t the worst thing that can be said detailed index to make the many facets of its life fully available. deserve to be called a woman, and 1 have about a man is that “He’s acting just like a many more claims on that title than many woman.” Don’t you all strive to rid your­ We have a competent indexing force working on this now, but of you do to the appellation “man”. selves of effeminacy, for it’s wrong to seem we need at least one and probably two women who are I can’t even withdraw into homophile like a woman. Woman is not nigger, gentle­ excellent typists to volunteer to do the final typing before literature without being offended. Naked men, but as long as you continue to believe printing. Complete detailed instructions will be provided by the “studs” on every page. And those ads! it is so, you rip open your own beUies. “Wanted — triple amputee for photo ex­ Gay Liberation will never succeed until professional indexer who is heading this project. Please contact change.” “Want cauc. male, over 8 inches, Women’s Liberation succeeds. Your fate Gene Damon right away if you would be able to help with this for Greek pleasures.” “Black stud needed as hinges on that of women, like it or not. master for willing white slave.” And on and Male homosexuals will not be equal until work. on, ad nauseam. The ads abound with women are equal. fetishism. Whatever happened to people, And the wars which so many of you so huh? violently (notice that word) oppose will not IS IT ANY WONDER WHY THERE cease until such time as women, the lovers THE LESBIAN HAVE BEEN SO FEW WOMEN IN THE of peace, have an effective voice In the MOVEMENT? AND WHY THE NUMBERS governments of the world. IN LITERATURE OF WOMEN ARE PLUMMETING? Liberation? Gay Liberation? Liberate a bibliography Oh, but in our Washington, D.C. GLF yourselves, my friends. For myself, I don’t there have been women. Yes, there have, need you or it. By Gene Damon and Lee Stuart and they’ve gone, too. How many can you AN ALPHABETICAL LISTING BY AUTHOR OF ALL KNOWN BOOKS IN count who have attended more than two or THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, IN THE three meetings? (Not that I really expect (Nancy Tucker has been the Washing­ LITERATURE, CONCERNED WITH LESBIANISM, OR HAVING you to be able to do it . . Why should you LESBIAN CHARACTERS. be expected to remember mere women? ton, D.C. area correspondent for the L.A. ADVOCATE . . . and active in After all, if you can’t go to bed with them, THE LADDER they’re of no use whatsoever.) the gay movement for many years. Like most women she is deserting the P O Box 5025, Washington Station, Reno, Nevada 8950d There aren’t even women at the dances. $2 plus 25c handling charge. homophile movement because o f its BUT THE FACT IS THAT THERE ARE uselessness to Lesbians. Nancy has MORE LESBIANS THAN HOMO­ SEXUALS. long been a “friend” to THE LAD­ DER, and we are happy to run this You faggots, and I use that word with “farewell”.) every ounee of malice 1 possess, could care THE LADDER P.O. Box 5025, Washington Station, Reno, Nevada 89503. ^iirou^li tke SPECTRE Please send THE LADDER f o r ...... year(s) to the address below. Subscription rates: U.S. I year, $7.50; Canada I year, $8.50 (U.S. oCooLin^ ^ia65 currency}; all other countries, $9.00 payable in U.S. currency.

NAME . . .

c/o Women's Liberation Office ADDRESS 1510 SAB P.O. BOX 1254 University of Michigan CITY ------State Zip PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19105 Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104 20c Per Issue . . . Write for Sub- ALL CHECKS MUST BE MADE PAYABLE TO THE LADDER scription Rates. Published by Ann $3 .. 6 Mo. $5 .. Year Arbor Revolutionary Lesbians. (Phila. W omen’s Liberation)

j: WOMEN... WOMEN OFF READ OUR BACKS

BOX 4859 CLEVELAND PARK STATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20008

arena $6.00 Per Year t n ^ WHAT 15

A SPECIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION FOR WOMEN. 25p (U.S. subscribers send t9.60 for one year. sea mail deliver)’) MOTNER address; bcm seahorse LondonWCl England

CBS-TV’S MIKE WALLACE RANKS THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD AMONG THE NATION S BEST UNDERGROUND NEWSPAPERS . SUBSCRIBE MCTHCft is the vp'to'clate monEhly ANYWAY! netespaper for qoy women across rNr US. M.iki'y«Hn vhcvk pjvjhlc lo ihc A lljiil.i Coupcuhvo Hews, interviews.events, letters,pbold», News Pfiijcci III ilic jmoiini or$<*,year.»ii S ' ^U’\o.n il commertlor^ — all in MOTHER you drc j NliiUtfiii Of (il Post OHicc Bl'x .^44Hn. .AiIjiHj ..A" iij. II you .IK' .1 siiiJciH oi til. plejse iu»ie il:c 11.11111' oI voui scliuol Ml hjw 1b get a sample copy N jiitc - mailed To you in a plain envelope, just■ send d ^ A Jd io » - to MOTHE/ w PO. BOX 8507 ' STANFORD, CA. 94305