BranchingCanadian magazine for women ^^ Outdecember 1977 $1.25 Women and Politics Do we want to play the 'old Jane Rule on S/ta boys' game? Filmmaker Marva Nabili Laura Sabia ' s Power A Radio Play with a Part Brokerage for Both of You Rosemary Brown's Photography, Art, Fiction, Feminist Campaign Poetry Abortion Law: Where the Real Power Lies / Branching Out Columns Board of Directors Dallas Cullen, Halyna Freeland, Sharon 3 letters Batt, Elaine Butler, Annette Henderson, 5 law Marylee Morton Medical Rights: Beyond the Editor Written Law Louise Dulude Sharon Batt 39 film Business Manager Elaine Butler "My Audiences Work for Contributing Editors Themselves" Margaret Cooper Linda Duncan, Jannie Edwards, Susan 43 books McMaster (Ottawa), Mary Lee Morton, Sita: From Painful Record to Diana Falling Singing Tribute Jane Rule Editorial Departments But Can You Type? Art: Barbara Hartmann Rebecca Smith Books: Aretha van Herk, Shirley Swartz The Comfort of Words Rebecca Smith Design: Annette Henderson, Terri And More Books Whetstone Children's Books for Christmas Fiction: Heather Pringle, Anne O'Grady, Helen Rosta Film: Margaret Cooper Features Photography: Diana Palling, Lauren 2 Whither WISP? Lisa Strata Dale, Cherie Westmoreland 8 Political Power: how and why Administration 9 "We Need a Network of Power Jennifer Ellman. Diane Walton Brokers" Maureen Hynes 12 "You Have to Run for Yourself' Maria Eriksen ^Copyright 1977 by the New Women's Magazine Society. 14 "Power is not Electoral" Edmonton. Alberta. All rights reserved. Unless used in a Jean Burgess review, the reproduction of this work in any form, by any 16 Running a Feminist Campaign Rosemary Brown means, including photocopying, recoiding. infotmation stor­ age and retrieval systems, et cetera, is forbidden without the 19 How to Run and Win Elaine Butler express permission of the publisher. Branching Out is published every two months b> the New Women's Magazine Society .a Canadian Charitable Organiza­ Women in the Arts tion. Editorial oflice located at 863! - 109 Street. Edmonton phone (4031 433-4021. 8 poetry Dinner Audrey Conrad Published with the assistance of Alberta Culture, the Alberta 15 poetry Nellie McClung Law Foundation and Canada Council 22 art essay At the Edge Val Power Back issues of Branching Oul are available on microfilm 26 fiction At Home Barbara Brown from Micromedia Ltd.. Box 34. Station S. Toronto. M5M 4L6. The magazine is on file with the International 29 poetry Putting on Shoes Rosemary Aubert Women's History Archive, now housed at the Special Collection Library. Northwestern University. Evanston. 1L 31 photo essay Jay Marian Penner Bancroft 60201. Branching Oul is a member of the Canadian 34 radio play The Apple in the Eye Margaret Hollingsworth Periodical Publishers' Association. Send all correspondence to Box 4098. Edmonton. Alberta. Submissions should be typed, double-spaced and accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. We cover photo and photo on page 6 by Diana S. Palling review unsolicited manuscripts from Canadian women only. Subscription rates in Canada. $6.00 per year. SI 1.00 for two years for individuals: $10.00 per year. $20.00 for two years for institutions. Add $1.00 per year for U.S. rates. $2.00 per Photos pages 19, 20, 21, courtesy of Alberta at the Turn of the Century, Provincial year for overseas rates. Advertising rales available on Archives of Alberta request. Typesetting by Superior Typesetting Ltd. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3517. Vol. IV. No. 5. November december 1977. ISSN 03*2 - 52*4 November/December 1977 Nation Ponders Unity Threat Whither WISP? news feature by Lisa Strata A recent Gallop Poll predict that a charismatic allowed to keep upon experience in this area" showing that the Women's leader could sway the un­ graduation. No civil ser­ said a highly placed aide. Independent Separatist decided women to the vant has refused to take "He's obviously the one cause. the Party (WISP) has suddenly course but in private men are going to look many have to as gained amazing strength Secret Meetings called it a they grope to understand was publicly pooh-poohed waste of time. One deputy women's talk WISP was started over minister of separation. by the country's male complained that If worst comes to worst leaders. In private how­ 10 years ago and govern­ his office was always clean ment insiders say there and they do leave, he'll ever, speculation has when he arrived in the know how to get are many secret reports on morning. "I us the mounted as to what effect finished the custody and financial set­ separation by the women the group's activities. A course in March," he said, leaked document shows tlements we want." Con­ would have. The primary "but I haven't needed to servative and the RCMP burned down a houseclean NDP leaders objective of WISP is to once since I got are upset by the day care centre in 1970 be­ back on Prime form a separate country the job. I'm begin­ Minister's unfair edge in tailored to the cultural and cause women were found ning to lose my house - to be congregating there this matter. A Conserva­ economic needs of women. cleaning skills. " A re­ tive insider said Joe Clark The realization that wo­ and the Force's listening cent Royal Commission equipment could not pick had issued a memo to all men really might separate Report on the housework party members requesting has shocked and saddened up the women's conversa­ training program said it tions over the children's any man whose wife had left many men. Said one, "Wo­ had failed to close the him to step forward to be men add a special dimen­ shouts and laughter. The widening breach between use of day care centres as a groomed as his top advisor. sion to the country. It men and women. The re­ Ed Broadbent stated that won't be the same if they meeting place for women port recommended that was subsequently disco­ he could well understand go." Another voiced the housekeeping be taught in that women would want to militant view that is also vered by police to be so school, beginning in kin­ widespread the govern­ separate from Canada con­ gaining adherents: "Who dergarten. The recommen­ sidering ment decided it was time to how they had needs them? We've given dation was shelved after been exploited by the two them enough already." He take the movement seri­ boards of education said ously. federal parties that have cited maternity wards and they would require huge ruled Canada since confed­ brassieres as amenities budget increases to carry eration. He said his goal that society had provided out the plan in order to was to convince women they specifically for women and Training Program train and hire thousands of could achieve their objec­ said that the federal prog­ One result is a little pub­ teachers with advanced tives under an NDP gov­ ram providing special licized housework training degrees in housework. In a ernment. Said Broad- washroom facilities for program for senior civil recent speech the Prime bent, "I'm sure they'll see women in national parks servants. Since 1970 over Minister denied that he that if they leave they'll was a waste of taxpayers' 8,000 civil servants with no had ever shoved house­ just be swallowed up by money. Some men are wil­ previous housekeeping keeping down men's the Americans." Admitting ling to compromise, how­ skills have been hand- throats and assured that the party lacked a ever, if it will keep the picked by the Prime Minis­ hecklers that no Canadian power base among women country together. Said one, ter's Office and assigned to man would be forced to Broadbent said he had sc­ "They have many legiti­ take the six-month course. learn housekeeping if he outs out looking for women mate complaints, but if we The training didn't want to. all the time and that quite give them special status program includes intensive a few had been informed of within confederation 8-hour sessions each day Federal Leaders Con­ the party's stand. perhaps they'll be willing with specifics tailored to cerned Peter Lougheed and to stay." For a start, he the bureaucrat's unique Despite the apparent fai­ Rene Levesque are two suggested a plan which slovenly habits. Areas co­ lure of the government's premieres who have taken would allow women the vered include bed-making, main program to under­ a position on WISP. run of businesses and gov­ washing dishes, sewing, mine the strength of WISP, Lougheed said the men of ernment offices on vacuuming and picking up the Liberal Party feels the Alberta wanted the women weekends. A majority of clothes. Each civil servant separation threat could be to stay but if they decided women are reported to be receives his own Brillo its new trump card. to leave Alberta would get still undecided about pads, vacuum cleaner and "Trudeau is the only leader along without them and separatism but experts toilet brush which he is with documented personal conl. on page 18 Branching Out letters Enchanted Summer your magazine. Why spoil it with walk on and not reveal your mortifica­ something like that? tion." \ftalifs mine \ In her review of (September/ Anita Wilhelm. Ottawa I mean, really, mortification'.' I am October) of Enchanted Summer, my aware that this happened in Toronto, translation of Cet etc qui chemtait by hardly noted for its joyous, relaxed ap­ Gabrielle Roy. Shirley Swartz accuses proach to sex: but this incident hardly me of "incomprehensible inaccuracy" seems an occasion for mortification.