J i,1 M iob . sneer journalism - whingeing at women’s success 180

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R a n d o m C e n t u r y Broadsheet Akuhata publication date 1 august 1990 number 180

2 herspective, 3 letters, 4 fronting up 6 broadcast sneer journalism, demolition, WONAAC AK, sex abuse tax, first couriers, breast milk, anti-pregnancy vaccine, beneficiaries, racism, election blues, pregnancy counselling 16 making her own feminism Helen Wernham Pat Rosier 20 home away from home Manying Ip on NZ Chinese Pat Kipping 24 pesticide plague Lynne Wright chemical activist Pat Kipping 28 a passion for writing Fiona Kidman Pat Rosier 30 frances porter leaving in the gossipy bits Claire-Louise McCurdy 33 arts Whoopi, a girl’s gotta eat, lethal/zusters, honeymoon killers, enemies, a love story, artists community, mihipeka, out of the frying pan, healing wise, listing 39 what’s new, 40 classified, 41 the gripes of roth cover: Helen Courtney

NEXT MONTH elections women’s refuge poetry

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AUGUST 1 990 BROADSHEET 1 herspective

urf Guards do it, Greenpeace does it, even Plunket does it. Broadsheet is a not just a magazine. We’re part of a Now Broadsheet is doing it. No, we’re not jumping into movement, a committed, active and diverse movement of S the ocean and saving drowning creatures. (Although the New Zealand feminists putting one another in touch with all way things are going, maybe we should be, metaphorically at the issues that affect our lives... your life. least.) This year Broadsheet is participating in a tradition For 18 years we’ve been publishing your news. We’ve put growing in popularity as the new economic order takes hold. you in touch with groups, conferences, demonstrations, We are holding an ANNUAL APPEAL for funds. We wish books, films and music which have inspired and informed we didn’t have to do this. We wish we could use this space - you. We’ve been there as you explored your career options, our 18th birthday Herspective - to tell you that Broadsheet is your sexuality. We’ve supported changes in your relation­ a viable economic entity, that advertisers are begging to ships, your union. We’ve helped you get healthy and stay advertise in our pages, our subscription and newstand sales healthy. We’ve cared about your children, your schools, your are at an all time high and we can now afford to pay our staff workplace and your environment. We’ve challenged the wages they deserve. your assumptions and given you tools to challenge others. Well, we can’t tell you that because it’s not true. Even We’ve been there when you thought you were alone in your after 18 years, it is harder to be unfunded, independent and struggles. feminist and have an account book in the black. We figure Are you there for us? This women’s movement needs we’re not doing too badly because we are still unfunded and your help now. independent and we are still publishing regularly unlike Please send us what you can. We accept all forms of pay­ some Canadian feminist publications which had to quit ment - cash, cheque, or VISA, lump sums or installments. If recently when funding was cut by the conservative govern­ you are short on “disposable income” as most women are ment. Or Ms, which stopped publishing for a few months this these days, maybe you could hold a fundraising event with year and only started up again with a $1 million injection your friends, or at your workplace, creche, play centre, from a “guardian angel”. Broadsheet is still unabashedly women’s group or student union. Have a decadent dessert feminist, bringing you news, views and ideas you won’t find night, a dance, a concert, sell tupperware, anything - but send in any other New Zealand publication. us funds! The part we fmd the hardest is keeping the account book Other things you can do: form a Friends of Broadsheet out of the red and that’s where we need your help. You may group in your area, support our advertisers and let them be one of the wonderful women who make regular donations know you “saw it in Broadsheet” , find advertisers in your to us through automatic deposits. You may hold a debenture. area who would like to advertise with us. Read us, subscribe, Some of you have even turned your debentures into give subscriptions to your mother, sisters, friends. Donate a donations. If you’re supporting us that way, THANKS !!! subscripton to your local library or to your organisation’s We would not be here today without you. Can you increase library. your already generous contribution? We’ll continue to write the wrongs and record the rights If you’re not donating to Broadsheet here’s why you for women in New Zealand. should. The Broadsheet collective

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2 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 MARGOT, METRO AND NORTH Metro and North and South sneer at lesbians, As a Pakeha lesbian employed as a social A N D S O U T H and the manner of their persistently shrill worker in the Department of Social Welfare, I The June issue of Metro magazine had a nasty refusal to face facts about male violence. am interested in the disadvantage and discrimi­ little piece about me and my association with The rhetoric has echoes from past centuries nation experienced by other lesbians employed the Women's Studies Certificate at Auckland when over-stimulated men aiming at positions in social work in the DSW. University’s Centre for Continuing Education. of authority dreamed up “rational” grounds for I would be interested in hearing from other The July North and South had a nasty big the burning of witches. Today’s manly expla­ lesbians either currently employed as social piece about the Women’s Studies Centre at nations - “feminist backlash”; “post-femi­ workers in the DSW, or having been in the Waikato University. nism”; “old slag” - are also directed at past four years, who would be interested in The editors of Metro and North and South maintaining inequality by insulting women participating in this study. are, I’m told, husband and wife, so it is under­ who have notions of a fairer distribution of Given that the DSW has an Equal standable that the two publications reflect resources. Employment Opportunities policy which similar interests and world views - which are I am grateful for the forum of Broadsheet, includes “sexual preference” as one of the tar­ rather narrowly based, conventional and hys­ which I can trust to deal fairly with my letter. I get groups, I have expected that there would terically anti-feminist. They are, of course, do get depressed though, when I think of the be more positive discussion and action on the true representatives of New Zealand’s main­ majority of journalists in our small conserva­ issue. My observations and the anecdotal stream journalism, encouraging the good, tive country whose masters (I use the word information I have obtained suggests this is keen, Kiwi preference for attacking individu­ advisedly) prefer to make their profits by pro­ not so. Also that for Maori lesbians and les­ als rather than examining facts and ideas care­ moting small-mindedness and ultra-conser­ bians with disabilities, discrimination is con­ fully. (An ongoing example is the vatism - which include the destruction of siderably compounded, and more often preoccupation of the media with opinion witches called feminists and/or lesbians. involves having to choose a particular target polls, which single out people or topics but Margot Roth group as a priority. have little to do with the complexities of the AUCKLAND To date I have covered areas such as the underlying issues.) historical development of EEO, the impact of I just feel too tired to challenge either of CALLING ALL WELLINGTON sexual identity status on lesbians in social these examples of malice directly. This is FRIENDS OF BROADSHEET work, theories of social work practise from a partly because it strikes me as so appalling I am interested in starting up a “Friends of feminist perspective, and the development of that after the years of building up a solid, Broadsheet" group in Wellington and would legal interpretations of discrimination from the scholarly, lively body of work, women’s stud­ like to hear from other wymin living in the point of view of Human Rights legislation. I ies in New Zealand should suddenly become area who would be interested in helping me would now like to develop this into a focus on the focus of uninformed double trouble. The organise it. Any fundraising ideas would be lesbians, discrimination, and the implications North and South article betrayed an amazing­ more than welcome as well. for EEO policy in the DSW. ly inadequate grasp both of the intellectual Please contact me at (04)844-820 in the I have a small lesbian “ethics committee” debates (including feminist theories) during evenings. I look forward to hearing from you! (2) I am consulting with on such issues as con­ the last 25 years or so, as well as the actual Kate Annesdaughter fidentiality of the material gathered, future work performed by Waikato’s woman aca­ WELLINGTON uses of the research when it is completed, and demics. It would be ludicrous if it were not so the personal implications for me in carrying carefully aimed at reinforcing anti-feminist IVF EXPERIENCES WANTED out the research on such a topic. I appreciate prejudice. I am currently working on a thesis for an MA the need for confidentiality and therefore will Another reason I am hesitant about writing in Social Anthropology. The aim of the thesis protests is because I feel intimidated. Metro is to analyse the social effects and personal and North and South are not overly bothered experience of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) for about accuracy when they embark on cam­ women. This involves looking at what IVF >£ H/4 0 To paigns to keep on hounding particular people, means for both women as a group and women and I don’t want to be on their demoralising as individuals. A part of the latter I would be lists of the repeatedly and mischievously very interested to hear from any Auckland abused. women who have been or currently are on an I am well accustomed to having jokers IVF programme who would be prepared to be pouring scorn on any uppity female who interviewed three times over a period of three expresses views unlike those held by the or four months. Areas of discussion would majority of their sports clubs or their work­ include your experience of and/or ideas about places or their political groups. (And bringing motherhood, infertility, and IVF. up children does tend to invite full and frank I would like to emphasise that all informa­ commentaries on parental character.) tion given will be confidential and the presen­ However, in referring to me as a man, and tation of parts used in my thesis will ensure describing me as a “bad tempered old slag” your anonimity. If interested or wanting more the allegedly up-market Metro demeaned information, phone or write me. Many thanks. itself. In some cultures, my elderly age group Sally Abel, C/- Anthropology Department, is publicly respected, not reviled, no matter University of Auckland, Private Bag, what the private criticism might be. AUCKLAND (09)764-557 As I personally lack any kind of power that might affect Metro - which makes me an easy LESBIANS AND THE DSW target - I can only assume that it’s the femi­ I am about to undertake a research project as nist ideas I endorse which are somehow part of my final year of study at Massey threatening. The schoolboy language used University for the Master(sic) of Social Work J . T - T - ^ about me is typical. Equally familiar is the degree. cartoon: Josephine Tetley-Jones

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 3 letters cont. not be presenting the material in any way that naturopath... trail - and that without my body What power to suggest that confronting “the respondents can be identified. All raw data being assaulted by a single medical instru­ system” implies ill health! I have a certificate will be destroyed after I have written it up. ment. For the first time in those eight years I of sanity and shall continue to uphold my con­ I can send a questionnaire which I hope feel like I have a strong influence over the stitutional right to freedom of speech. can be completed and returned as soon as pos­ state of my body. So, if there’s something Meanwhile, I was concerned at the number sible. I would also appreciate comments or going on in your digestive process which is of papers at the International Pain Conference feedback on areas of discrimination not causing you pain and people start to whisper in Adelaide that labelled pain sufferers as included in the questionnaire, or on the IBS, I suggest you take a look at this book. “catastrophisers” (unacceptable) or “copers” research itself. Kathryn McPhillips (acceptable) with the constant being apparent I have a copy of the research proposal AUCKLAND that all had received high quality medical available if respondents want to peruse this care. Give the history of medical contact of and I can provide a copy of the final research PAIN ISSUE PERSISTS pain sufferers, “catastrophising” would seem when it is completed. We read with interest the letter written by I. to me to be the healthy response with “cop­ Anthea Raven Madjar, Vice President, New Zealand Pain ers” possibly repressing feelings that could be AUCKLAND Ph (09) 789 136 Society (Broadsheet May 1990). counter to rehabilitation. Early in the planning stages of the Pain has become an industry with high HOPE FOR IRRITABLE BOWEL Christchurch segment of the New Zealand stakes - women must not be the losers. SYNDROME SUFFERERS Pain Society Conference we were invited to Margaret Moon I would like to share with other women a participate. We represent 250 financial mem­ CHRISTCHURCH book which has changed my life. Coping bers nationwide and a further 200 supporters, Successfully with Your Irritable Bowel by 70% overall of whom are women. LESBIAN MOTHERS DEFENCE Rosemary Nicol (Sheldon Press, 1989) is the We were excited at the prospect of being FUND book. It would, of course, be a very boring able to present the consumer’s viewpoint. It I writing in the hopes that you will publish book for some, but for women with IBS it’s seemed to indicate a long awaited welcome some or all of what follows so that your read­ stimulating reading. It does suffer from a breakthrough in communication between ers can have the information. The screening of patronising foreword contributed by a male health care providers and consumers. “A Question of Love” by TVNZ highlights surgeon and the odd victim-blaming comment A section of the program which seemed the problems faced by lesbian mothers in throughout the text, but on the whole it is a aimed at chronic pain sufferers, “Can you society - believe me there is little difference comprehensive and practical guide to the think your pain away”, by Professor D. Turk, between the situation here and that shown in whys, hows, whats to do. I got more informa­ sounded particularly interesting. Alas, it was the movie. In the last twelve months we have tion in the hour or so it took to read the book not to be. We were subsequently notified that received enquiries from about twenty women than in eight years of trekking the therapist, our participation was considered “inappropri­ who think they may have to, or are having to, naturopath, GP, gastro-enterologist, therapist, ate”. face the pain of a custody battle in which their Unfortunately for the 600 (mostly pain suf­ lesbianism will be used against them. ferers) who attended the Burwood Hospital Lesbian Mothers Defence Fund was set up fronting up Open Day (with its keynote speaker), the topic by Yoka Neuman in 1980 to help women in mentioned was not discussed. We have to this position. Yoka has now “retired” but her assume therefore, that this was intended only work is being continued. LMDF offers sup­ EDITORIAL DEADLINES for the ears of health care providers. Why? port and information from a wide variety of For the September Issue 26 July, for We also note with considerable interest that sources to lesbian women. Our files contain October 24 August. the Auckland pain sufferers were offered “a documentation of court cases from the United POETRY significantly reduced registration fee”. We States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. If you would like your poetry considered were not. Also we have copies of studies from overseas for a two-page spread in the September We are pleased to learn through and New Zealand which address the issues issue, send with SASE to Lisa Sabbage at Broadsheet that consumers were represented around lesbian parenting. Many of these stud­ Broadsheet by July 26. in Auckland. Presumably by a non parochial, ies are of direct relevance to lawyers working OFFICE STAFFING fully independent public group, not a group on behalf of lesbian mothers. Best time to findsomeone in the office is manipulated or “supervised” by health care The service we offer is free but we are between 9.30 and 3.30. professionals. chronically short of funds for postage, photo­ THANKS In conclusion, we would like to hear from copying and these sorts of expenses. It’s annual appeal time. Please keep us in women who have pain - especially Donations would be greatly appreciated. mind when you want to share some of your endometriosis sufferers. How do they manage? During the course of 1990, an updated hard-earned money. Thank you to all the This is a pain problem we know very little publication list is being compiled and this will women out there who already make regular about. We would also like to lend our support be available to anyone who may have need of donations and those who add a bit to their to women who have family members with it. Women wanting to have their names put on subscripton renewals or just send us some­ pain. the mailing list for this should write to the thing out of the blue. It all adds up. Lynette C. Lyntott, Secretary address below. There will be a cost involved THE COLLECTIVE PAINZ Pain Action In NZ Inc. PO BOx but we will keep it to a minimum. Edith Gorringe, the mainstay of our sub­ 24-026 Lesbian Mothers Defence Fund can be scription department is on holiday CHRISTCHURCH 6 Ph (03)660-716 contacted by writing and most Lesbian Lines in Canada having fun! She has left sub­ are able to contact us by phone in the event of scriptions in the capable hands of Athina May I thank the many women who wrote to an emergency. so keep those new, gift and renewal subs me about their experiences relative to chronic Lesley, coming in. pain. Thank you for your trust and sincerity. for Lesbian Mothers Defence Fund In contrast to this sincerity, I am sorry that OOPS! PO Box 11 009, DUNEDIN “the medical boys” whom I challenged could Kerryn Perkins’ letter on “Making it in the not reply for themselves, but appear to have ACCESS TO INFORMATION Dailies” in the June/July issue should have sheltered behind the skirts of a nurse. I can I read with interest in the May issue of read, “a ‘lesbian’ focus and ‘other women only laugh when psychiatrist, Bob Large, con­ Broadsheet Audrey Fenton’s account of trying ’”, not “other vision”. Our mistake... fessed to reading Broadsheet and said, to find out the circumstances surrounding the “Margaret, I am concerned for your health!” premature birth and death of a daughter at an

4 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 are going through and maybe to help them through it. It may also help me in a personal way when the time comes for my own mother Admitting nothing to die. Di Graham Blaming everyone 23 Hiropi St, Newtown, WELLINGTON 2 Being bitter Ph (04) 894 126 P M T A D V IC E There’s something I’ve discovered that a n d women in this country should know. That is that in China, women avoid onions, garlic, all Looking fabulous members of the onion family and chillies, at times when there is risk of menstrual haemor- raging. Acting on that may have been the fac­ tor that altered my situation. motto for 90’s yuppies, luppies and guppies Further, in India, it has been found that very sharp spices upset the mind-body equi­ librium, bringing difficult emotions. So that Auckland hospital some 40 years ago. Audrey wasn’t completed so I am now updating the bit of information may be relevant to some was obviously very well served by Lynda information we received, hence this letter. PMT problems. With minor PMT, I found that Williams, the Patient Advocate at National We are hoping to compile and produce a unrecognised and therefor unresolved prob­ Women’s, and did not have to resort to other directory/contacts book for all the Women’s lems presented themselves with force at that avenues to obtain the information she wanted. Health Centres in New Zealand, and we would time, because the body needed a peaceful Some of your readers may not be aware very much like all groups to contribute to the mind during menses. that Area Health Boards are subject to the offi­ booklet. Nicky Negrescu cial information legislation. This means that Any information that you would like to NELSON information that the Boards (including the offer about your centre would be very wel­ hospitals and services which they run) hold is come. Eg. What days and times are you open? LESBIAN VISUAL ART AND open to requests. Procedures for excluding the What resources and services do you offer? We ARTISTS public from board meetings is also regulated. would also be pleased if you could write a I’m the co-chair of the Lesbian and Gay The review function in relation to complaints small paragraph about how/why the centre Caucus, an affiliate society of the College Art about access to information is given to the came into being and what your aims are. Association and the Art Books columnist for Ombudsman, which means that Ombudsmen Women’s health centres around New Zealand Feminist Bookstore News. can and do help with just the sort of problems vary tremendously and are making an invalu­ I am soliciting ideas, information and Audrey Fenton describes. able contribution to women’s health. We hope copies of articles for a series fo lectures and a If any of your readers require assistance that a directory/contacts booklet will not only book on Lesbian Visual Art and Artist. I’m they are welcome to contact an Office of the help to put centres in touch with each other, interested in locating others who are doing Ombudsman. They are: but also show the variety and scope that research in this and related fields. PO Box 10 152 exists. Although I am interested in all of the visu- The Terrace, WELLINGTON Ph (04) 739 533 Victoria Broome al/plastic arts, photography seems to be a very PO Box 13 482 for the THAW Collective fertile area for locating women artists who CHRISTCHURCH,Ph (03) 668 555 PO Box 884, CHRISTCHURCH related primarily to other women, whether or 5th Floor National Mutual House Ph (03) 796 970 not they would have called themselves les­ 17 Albert St. AUCKLAND, Ph(09)796-102 bian. I have advised Audrey Fenton of the fore­ DAUGHTERS’ GRIEF STUDY Within the discussion of what defines a les­ going in the enclosed letter, which I should be I would appreciate if you would publish this bian, I’m making space for women who never grateful if you would forward to her if you letter for me, to help me with a bit of research married and who were not interested in men, have her address. I am interested in. “Study on daughters’ grief as well as those who bonded overtly with Nadja Tollemache following the death of their mothers women. Ombudsman I am a registered nurse working with the I am also interested in reviewing work by dying in a hospice situation. An area which I contemporary lesbian artists who would want DIRECTORY OF WOMEN S am particularly interested in is the effects a to appear in a book of this kind. If you are an HEALTH CENTRES mother’s death has on her daughter. It seems artist, please send slides or xeroxes of work, In 1988 women’s health groups in New to me, that regardless of the type of relation­ personal information, and copies of articles Zealand would have received the following ship a mother and daughter may have, the loss you have written or that have been written letter from us. Unfortunately this project of the former so often has a really profound about you. I am especially (but not exclusive­ effect on other aspects of the daughter’s life, ly) interested in self-portraits by lesbian sometimes positively, but often negatively. artists, and in work that contains some indica­ I would like women who have lost their tion of lesbian content. X ’ M N O T T I T S - mothers to share their experiences by writing Please include a stamped, self-addressed to me or, if prepared, by expressing them­ return mailer or international mail coupons if selves through drawing pictures or poetry This you wish material returned. It may be several information will be handled very sensitively months before you hear anything form me. and with the utmost confidentiality. Please pass this information on to anyone I hope that the study will enable me to get who might be interested. a clearer picture of how women cope with one I would be grateful for any help, ideas, images of the most important changes in their lives. I or contacts you could share. work in an area where I am in contact with Tee A. Corinne these daughters and hope that through learning PO Box 278, Wolf Creek, other women’s experiences, it will enable me OR 97497-0278 to have a better understanding of what they USA □

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 5 sneer journalism university lectureship involves research as A commonly-used technique is to North and South and Metro well as teaching and the assessment of make a strong statement like “It is now magazines have each published fur­ Hilary’s work is based solely on her teach­ possible to say that the inquiry was ther attacks on well-known New ing commitments; objectivity, so-called, launched on evidence which was misun­ Zealand feminists and their work. Pat is widely disputed in many fields (literary derstood and misinterpreted and reached Rosier looks at what they say. and film criticism, anthropology ...); and conclusions which were not justified by The July North and South airs its preju­ there is an extensive literature in educa­ the evidence.” and fail to produce any evi­ dices and ignorance in “Waikato tion around the merits of internal assess­ dence to support it. Wimmin” by Deborah Coddington. You ment. The article, in ignoring all this, Judge Cartwright’s intelligence (“did get the sneer right from the beginning - makes each statement a personal attack. she understand what she was told?”) and these are not “women” like you and me, And this is an abuse of the power of the integrity (she was in a photo with Clare dear reader. media. Politicians, bureaucrats and those Mathieson and Sandra Coney taken six None of the women would speak to who make appointments to policy com­ months after the end of the inquiry, which N&S, except Jane Ritchie, head of the mittees and institutions are notoriously apparently “proves” some kind of conspir­ Women’s Studies Centre, who clearly nervous about appointing people they fear acy) are attacked. Her response to the arti­ didn’t want to. This is reported in the arti­ might be “controversial”. They don’t eval­ cle was to suggest that people read her cle, fairly enough, but without any consid­ uate media coverage, they just react to it. report (which is available from the gov­ eration of the reasons for this Metro, having taken a small but espe­ ernment printer, and includes refutation of “closed-door response”. Margaret Wilson cially nasty swipe at Broadsheet columnist every argument brought up in the article). is quoted as saying “I’ve found in the past Margot Roth in its June issue (see There is an implication that in some when I’ve spoken about things, they don’t Margot’s comments in the “Letters” sec­ un-named, draconian fashion Sandra get written how I’ve described them.” I tion of this Broadsheet) spends 20 pages exercised undue influence on her. That know many women who do not trust in July trying to discredit Sandra Coney, would be funny if it wasn’t so insulting. either N&S or Metro to report them fairly, Silvia Cartwright and the entire cervical But it’s Sandra who is the main target so prefer to leave them to produce their cancer inquiry in “Second Thoughts on of the article. An uncritical reading of it distortions without help. The Unfortunate Experiment” by Jan could lead one to believe she manipulated For example, “In recent years a succes­ Corbett. The style is the same as in the and bullied a Minister of Health (Michael sion of radical feminists has been appoint­ N&S piece, snide and sneering. Bassett), single-handedly created a dis­ ed to positions of power in the educational trust of the medical profession and con­ institutes” of Hamilton. They name five trolled media coverage of the inquiry, as and imply it’s a takeover - the subtitle of well as having the judge “in her pocket”. the article is “Capturing the Campus”. As in the N&S article, feminists are Pity it’s not a takeover really, but vice attributed with an amazing amount of chancellor Wilf Malcolm doesn’t seem power. How come we never experience it threatened, in fact he speaks in support of like that, but rather as constantly strug­ the women. gling to get a perspective that is fo r So the article moves around the depart­ women heard, let alone acted on? ments of Waikato University, swiping at I suspect Sandra’s greatest “crime” in women on the way, making insinuations the eyes of these publishers is that she has rather than looking at issues. Just one refused to be intimidated and simply example: Hilary Haines (now Lapsley), won’t shut up. She will not be silenced the article says, in various contexts, “uses because her advocacy arises directly from lesbianism as a political statement,” has a the women who tell her their stories. job that is “a bit of a sinecure,” “has Sandra does not create distrust of the med­ demonstrated in the past her inability to to ical profession among women, she treat a subject objectively,” and runs expresses it. (And in traditional fashion, courses that are “all internally assessed; the medical establishment, with help from that is, there are no exams.” Each of these editors like Warwick Roger, hope that if statements says more about the writer’s they can “shoot the messenger” the whole ignorance than it does about Hilary issue will go away.) Sandra does have Lapsley: being publicly lesbian is politi­ more power, as a competent and thorough cal, whether she chooses it to be or not; a . writer, in the media than your average Ms

6 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 New Zealand, and she uses that power to the article continues. It is actually quite advertisers re not supporting advertisers. keep alive the issues that concern women, respectable for journalists to have a And then there’s the other rumour that for which she is widely respected. specialty area - economics or sport, for people are clamouring to be included in “Despite her claims to the contrary, example - so why not women’s health the Metro/N&S Hall of Fame (by being Sandra Coney is more a polemicist than a issues? (And why say “women’s sick­ trashed in either magazine) for what it will journalist.” bellows Metro. Well, she has ness,” no-one else does?) A difference do for their credibility and how it will had more than enough material published between feminist writers and almost all demonstrate their effectiveness. (four books, a fortnightly column in the others is that feminists are overt about A while ago the Broadsheet collective Dominion Sunday Times, and occasional having a point of view. Everyone writes decided to ignore Metro and N&S. We Listener articles - and that’s without even from a point of view, it’s just not common changed that policy recently for two rea­ mentioning her writing for Broadsheet in mainstream media for that to be sons. Firstly, Jan Corbett, talking at an over the years) to claim “journalist”. Or acknowledged. Doctors, for instance, like ethics seminar run by Auckland are they saying that the editors of Tony Baird, until recently president of the University on 25 June, said of another Penguin, the DST and the Listener have NZMA, write and speak from their point Metro article that the lack of response to it all been bullied and/or manipulated too? of view and are expected to rather than was seen by them as “an admission of And then there’s the Qantas Senior criticised for it. guilt”. Secondly, our silence began to feel Feature Writer Award - which is judged There’s been a small practical protest like intimidation, so Pat Kipping, the overseas - she won in 1988 for a portfolio against both magazines going on around other co-editor of Broadsheet and I, wrote of work, and the Jubilee Prize for inves­ the country. Instead of buying magazines, jointly to N&S in response to “Waikato tigative journalism awarded by the women have faxed and photocopied the Wimmin”. We have had an apologetic call Journalists’ Union last year. articles. (And reading a photocopy of a to say her name got accidentally left off “She [Sandra] has seldom written fax of a 20 page article is not easy!) the letter in the publication process. Why about anything other than women’s sick­ There’s also a rumour around town that do I feel like I might be next on the hit ness, and has seldom, if ever, looked at an fed-up Metro /N&S readers are talking list? If so, I’ll be happy with the company issue from any side other than her own,” about contacting the publishers and I’m in.

auckland wonaac activates as praying and singing, WFL shows models of fetuses to the hus­ Auckland women are actively defending abortion services bands and male partners of women about to have abortions. in the city and preparing to counter the actions of the Probably the most infamous and persistent of the anti-choicers anti-choice movement. Cushla Managh reports. is Ross Bolton, who has been arrested and jailed numerous times An Auckland branch of the so far Wellington-based Women’s for trespassing at Epsom Day. Bolton gave up his labouring job in National Abortion Campaign (WONAAC) was established in December 1987 to protest full-time, and says he is prepared to May. Its aims include lobbying for better services and taking spend his life in jail. In May 1988, Panmure school teacher Phil direct action to defend women having abortions. O’Connor (who now heads Operation Rescue in Auckland) was WONAAC Auckland has already counter-demonstrated twice arrested for trespassing at Epsom. He trespassed again in October outside the Epsom Day Hospital after hearing that Women for that year, and was fined $100. Life, a religious group, was harassing women entering the clinic. On October 12, 1989, 14 “antis” were arrested for trespassing Auckland clinics are increasingly the but were later released without being target of actions by rightwing groups like charged. Women for Life, SPUC and the misnamed But possibly the biggest anti-choice Operation Rescue. action in recent times was the one held Tactics vary but the methods of the outside the Auckland Medical Aid Centre anti-choice brigade include telling women in November of last year. Fifty Operation at the clinics that their “baby” wants to Rescue members, wearing identifying live, intruding on them with prayers and labels, blocked the clinic entrance and religious songs, throwing plastic fetuses at refused to move. When police arrived at women going into the clinics, following the clinic and tried to stop the antis from them home or to work and telling their blocking the clinic, about 40 operation families/employers that they have had an rescue people went and sat outside the abortion, physically blocking entry to the Dominion Rd. shops, singing anti-abor­ clinic and, ultimately, entering the clinics tion songs. One brave woman, the manag­ themselves and trying to shut them down. er of a clothes shop nearby, let women get In clashes outside Epsom Day Hospital to the clinic through her premises. A during the 1980s, fundamentalists waved a police inspector said he was cross the cross with a doll tied to it. protesters were blocking entry to the The clinic was fire-bombed on April Counter-demonstration, Epsom Day shops. (What about women going into the 21, 1987 in an attack which destroyed the Clinic, June 11. Photo: Gil Hanly clinic?) Eighteen anti-choicers pleaded operating theatre and adjacent clinic, and not guilty to charges of trespass when they damaged equipment. Operations had to be transferred to National appeared in court. I don’t know what happened to them. In May Women’s Hospital. SPUC denied any link with the fires and in this year, 10 Operation Rescue members were arrested at Epsom fact blamed the attack on pro-choice supporters trying to “gener­ Day and charged. They pleaded not guilty. ate sympathy for their cause”. If you would like to find out more about WONAAC Auckland Women for Life have been protesting outside the Epsom clinic or are able to help in anyway, telephone (09)3032-085 and ask since November 1987 and, ten months after they started, the group for Debbie Hagar or Brenda; or write C/- PO Box 68 027, claimed it had stopped 23 women from having abortions. As well Newton, Auckland.

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 7 new, sinister, means of the injection, the absence of fac­ anti-pregnancy vaccine tors which could cause irregular menstru­ ation, and the simple method of Third World women have long been administration. used as guinea-pigs for drugs. Their latest battle is against a pregnancy While Depo Provera has been banned vaccine. Lisa Sabbage reports. in some industrialised countries (but not Some Third World women believe the in New Zealand), it is still given to six World Health Organisation (WHO) has million Third World women annually. It stepped beyond family planning into the pays to remember the long-term effects of realms of population control. But their Depo Provera: if injections are given over voices are going largely unheeded. a long period, there is danger of infertility, In 1988 a Brazilian woman spoke out liver and kidney damage, depression, and at the Second Women’s Congress Against change in the mucous membrane of the Genetic and Reproductive Technology. womb, which can result in cancer. She said tests with a new anti-pregnancy One of the major problems in the use vaccine had been carried out on women in of the anti-pregnancy vaccine and other YOO MAY HAVE SOMf-TMlNO contraceptives in the Third World is that her country. Opposition from Brazilian IN COMMON-But th a t Ooiw 'r NecessRRXuY women are often not given a choice. women forced the testing to stop. After He AN TMAT YOO'RC fttXCNPS. she spoke, Antigena, a Swiss reproductive There has been some suggestion of com­ rights group, began piecing together the cartoon: Josephine Tetley-Jones bining the anti-pregnancy injection with a story of the vaccine. tetanus vaccination. The vaccine immunises women against In spite of this uncertainty WHO con­ Antigena questions the premise on their own HCG-hormone, which is instru­ tinues testing the vaccine on women, with which WHO have based the development mental in lodging the fertilised egg in the a view to marketing it. David Griffen, a of the vaccine. “In Tschad four people live womb. If this HCG-hormone is genetical­ WHO staff member, described the need in an area of one square kilometre, in ly coupled with a certain substance, the for the anti-pregnancy vaccine this way: Switzerland over a hundred. Which of the hormone is activated. In other words, “Frequent re-occurring pregnancies two countries is forced to adopt a rigorous the egg cannot lodge in the womb. become an epidemic. In order to avoid family planning programme? By dispos­ In the 1970s, at the request of the epidemics the anti-pregnancy inoculation ing of the ‘product woman’ [as David WHO, two Swiss chemical firms began is a very attractive weapon which must be Griffin does in his statement] politics can developing the anti-pregnancy vaccine. integrated into the present arsenal.” be engaged in without anybody mention­ From 1984 the vaccine was tested on This statement is revealing. Pregnancy ing war or destruction.” women in Australia, Chile, The is considered an illness and an epidemic. Dominican Republic, Finland, India and Secondly, as Third World women have Sweden. pointed out, it promotes a policy of abol­ Little is known about the time the vac­ ishing the poor rather than injustice, cine stays effective (estimates vary from exploitation and poverty itself. six months to a few years). Nor is much Like Depo Provera and Noristerat Why not vaccinate the known about it’s long term effects. (NetEn) the vaccine is administered as an However, a quarter of the Australian injection every three to six months. The men? women tested developed arthritis as a supporters of the vaccine mention three University of Virginia professor of result of an auto-immune reaction to it. advantages: the long-term “protection” by anatomy and cell biology, John C Herr, has identified a key protein in human sperm, known as SP-10, that could lead to the development of a birth control V A A techmark vaccine. SP-10, which appears to occur Manukau Polytechnic is pleased to announce our combined naturally only in males, is found in the skills and services available now as human resource region of the sperm head that fuses with the female’s egg at conception. A development programmes. vaccine for women could block con­ Techmark can offer you training and development skills in ception by stimulating the immune the following areas: system to produce antibodies against > Accountancy > Electrical & Electronic SP-10, this sperm-based vaccine would intervene before pregnancy > Law Engineering begins, and thus could not be consid­ > Business Computing > Fabrication Engineering ered a form of abortion. > Management Development > Video & Photography Researchers believe that an inocu­ > Office Systems > COMMUNICATION SKILLS lation followed by a booster could last > Mechanical & Production for several years, avoiding the Engineering common problem of irregularity or improperly used contraceptive Call us now and we will send you details on over 200 seminars methods. [!!] & short courses • Research & Development • Consultancy • On site evaluation & training Information from Healthright May TECHMARK PH: 274 3025 MANUKAU POLYTECHNIC 1990. 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8 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 b r o a d c a s t by Mary Lambie, the local radio talkback host, who presented a positive, prp-woman stance in her programme. Meanwhile, Jill Pettis, the Labour can­ didate for Wanganui, checked with other Labour women MPs and the Human Rights Commission only to discover that there is a great hole in the current legisla­ tion which does not cover this form of advertising. Margaret Shields has since visited us and she is aware of the issue and legal shortcomings. The sign was painted out after two days and the firm’s name now surrounds a blank white space. The firm claims intimi­ dating phone calls and it is possible that some local women felt strongly enough to wanganui demolition The ad depicted a scantily clad woman, protest in this way. A sexist advertiser in Wanganui was her pants about to be pulled down by a Our approach was to encourage com­ swiftly dealt with by women there. digger and the boast, “we’ll pull anything ment, to raise awareness through discus­ Maureen Harris of the Wanganui down”. sion. From some comments made on Women’s Centre reports. Our comments were reported in the radio, we still have a long way to go here On April 20th a local newspaper Midweek of April 24th (blatantly in Wanganui, but the public debate gave reporter drew our attention to a large, anti-woman, sexist, inappropriate use of a other women a chance to speak and also painted advertisement on the side of the woman’s body) and this provoked consid­ the realisation that they are not alone in Wanganui Demolition Company Building. erable response, especially when taken up their stand against offensive advertising.

contaminated breast- m ilk What happens when when the first, West German firm urged women, in an Toxins Action Group (TAG), the New most perfect food our species can area known to be heavily contaminated Zealand Department of Health and DSIR ingest, becomes contaminated? The with agricultural chemicals, to breastfeed conducted a study called Chem ical Department of Health has released a their babies for as short a time as possible Residues in the Bodies of New report on the situation in New to limit the pesticide intake and to buy the Zealanders. It’s curious that breast milk Zealand. Pat Kipping reports. firm’s expensive baby milk instead. Who isn’t mentioned in the title because that is Organochlorines, such as DDT and is testing the cows’ milk and how much what they measured - the breast milk of Dieldrin are stored in the fatty tissues of more exploited in the interests of big busi­ 38 urban and rural women during weeks animals and breast milk, due to its high fat ness can we get? six to 10 of breastfeeding their first child. content, has a high level of residues. At the request of the World Heath Dr.Kate Short, Australian pesticide In Guatemala, breast milk contains 244 Organisation and due to pressure from the activist, says the most telling levels would times the allowed limit established by the World Health Organisation for cows. In Chile, breast milk contains 139 times the MANUKAU POLYTECHNIC allowed DDT content. A US study CERTIFICATE IN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION showed that in some places in the United States, newborns are getting 18 times Improve your Communication Skills at one more dioxin in breast milk than the of these modules amount considered safe for an adult in a Commencing in September lifetime. Women there are being advised to breastfeed for only three months. English for Everyday Use Breastfeeding advocates are finding Effective Listening themselves in the strange position of rec­ Nonverbal Communication ommending that mothers limit the length of time they breastfeed although the Neurolinguistic Programming International Baby Food Action Network The Communication Process states that “under no circumstances will International Business Communication breastfeeding be discouraged because it prevents infant malnutrition, increases the Effective Speaking baby’s defenses and provides a sensorial Report Writing and affectionate relationship between Rapid Reading mother and baby”. At the same time they recognise that the presence of pesticides Memory Study and Research Skills in breast milk can pose health risks that Assertiveness range from possible genetic mutation to Interviewing cancer. To add a macabre twist to the situation, Phone TECHMARK on (09) 274 3025 for further details Pesticide Action Network reports that a

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 9 be in colostrum and that is what should be days, waiting for the appropriate person. I example of subdue-speak - placing a triv- tested. did manage to find a copy that I could ialising word, like “simply” in front of a Jill Thorne, of Auckland TAG says look at in a downtown office but was worrisome statement - should warn us they are disappointed in the study because warned that the document was about two that there is something to worry about. of the small sample of women who were inches thick. Only through TAG did I Women want to know more about the tested and because it only tested for acquire a copy of the Health Department real health effects of pesticides in their organochlorines such as DDT and PCB’s brochure designed to summarise the study bodies, for their children and themselves. and dioxins. Those are not and results. The Health Department should get that the pesticides currently used It is a reassuring little information and make it available, stop widely in New Zealand. piece - if you know nothing trying to trivialise the concerns and take TAG has asked the about pesticides and want to positive steps to prevent further contami­ Department of Health to do stay that way. For example, nation of people and the environment. another survey including a in summarising the findings The thing to do with this information is larger number of women liv­ it states, “the levels...place not to stop breastfeeding but get informa­ ing in heavily sprayed areas. New Zealand in the low to tion and take action to stop pesticide They also want residues of mid range when compared spraying locally and globally. 24D and 245T and the car- to other countries” and “even For contacts see Pesticide Plague bomate insecticides to be the highest values record­ article in this issue. studied. 24D is still being ed... were considerably manufactured and widely lower than the average val­ used in New Zealand. ues in some countries”. No Although production of mention is made of which 245T has ceased, stockpiled countries and if they are supplies are still being used. comparing us to Chile or There are some widely used Guatamala then I’m not at all herbicides, deemed safe by the regulatory reassured. agencies, but known to be causing signifi­ In discussing the discovery that chemi­ cant health problems in New Zealand cal levels appear to rise with the age of a which should also be studied. woman we are reassured that this “may The New Zealand study results were simply [italics mine] be because a person released in June and at this writing, my is constantly exposed to contaminants in unsuccessful efforts to get a copy of the the environment and these substances report involved five phone calls over two accumulate in the body faster than they can be broken down.” This blatant

THERE'S • ONLY • ONE Congratulations BROADHSEET! HUMAN RIGHTS AUCKLAND COMMISSION LESBIAN/GAY The Human Rights Commission Act HARVEST / ^ 1977 and the Race Relations Act 1971 COMMUNITY make it unlawful to discriminate on the WholefoOdS grounds of & race, colour, sex, marital status national or ethnic origin and AUCKLAND’S NO 1 HEALTH CENTRE religious or ethnic belief NATURAL FOOD STORE in areas of ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR A project of the Isherwood Trust employment, accommodation, access ALL CARING VEGETARIAN S by the public to places, vehicles and KITCHENS facilities, the provision of goods and SECURING OUR FUTURE services, and educational institutions. If you feel you have been treated unfair­ “DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY” Get Involved # Join Up Today ly in this way, ring (collect) the Human GENUINE ORGANIC FREE RANGE EGGS Rights Commission office nearest you. NATURAL SUGAR-FREE FIZZY DRINKS Full membership is open to all FRESHEST, CHEAPEST NUTS, RICES, GRAINS SUCCULENT ORGANIC DRIED FRUITS lesbians and gays. Send $25 ($15 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ORGANIC VEGETABLES unwaged) to PO Box 54526, KOMIHANA TIKANGA TANGATA SUPERIOR RANGE REMEDIES, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1, SUPPLEMENTS, EXPERTISE with your name, address and AUCKLAND 2nd Floor Southern Cross Bid Cnr Victoria & OPEN MON-THURS 9AM-6PM phone number. High Sts PO Box 6751 Phone (09) 390 874 FRI9AM-7PM (For all queries - Tel. 302 0590) WELLINGTON SAT 9AM-4PM 1st Floor United Bid Society Bid 107 THE BIG FRIENDLY YELLOW SHOP The Isherwood Trust is a charitable Trust Customhouse Quay PO Box 5045 Phone (04) 403-405 Richmond Rd which was set up to improve and enhance the 739 981 Grey Lynn lives of gays and lesbians in Auckland. Its CHRISTCHURCH Telephone (09) 763 107 1st Floor Kenton Chambers 190 Hereford Street main project is the establishment of a com­ PO Box 1578 Phone (03) 792 015 Happy Birthday Broadsheet! munity and health centre. Happy Birthday Broadsheet!

10 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 b r o a d c a s t

election blues Having said that, small political parties cannot grow The election is coming... and what’s a woman to without support. If there is an alternative party in your do with her vote, so hard won by the “first wave ” electorate which you favour, consider standing as their of feminists. Lisa Sabbage tries to make some candidate in an electorate or campaign actively on behalf sense of a dire predicament. of that party. Joan Smith is suffering from electoral paralysis. The ✓ Lobbying small or major parties is also impor­ general election will be held in October but Joan does not tant. For instance, NLP needs to be held accountable in know which party she will support or whether she will terms of support for revision of the Contraception, vote at all. Sterilisation and Abortion Act. Similarly, the Green Party Joan is not alone. has fine environmental policies, but does it support safe, A mid-year Canterbury University poll showed that legal abortion, employment equity and upgrading the most undecided voters are women aged 25 to 40. Political health services for example. analysts expect Labour and National to target undecided ✓ Supporting the most progressive candidates women voters over the coming months. irrespective of which party they represent is an option One or two of Joan’s friends plan to vote National. But favoured by former SUP activist Bill Andersen. He and his National’s thinly disguised racism, anti-abortion and anti­ supporters will be throwing their weight behind Labour lesbian stance, its opposition to employment equity, its MPs Richard Northey and Jenny Kirk. Although you may negative attitude to unpaid work and single mothers rules be disenchanted with Labour actions to date, do you sup­ out National as an option as far as Joan is concerned. port your MP? Joan has always supported Labour. However she dis­ If you have a candidate you do support, the same tactics likes her MP, who has been instrumental in selling off pub­ lic services. She is disillusioned with a Government which you probably used last election are still appropriate: letter promotes itself as caring sharing and socialist but has writing campaigns to newspapers; phone-ins to talkback introduced right-wing economic policies with little regard radio stations; press releases on behalf of groups you’re for their effects. involved with; public meetings in your local school/com- What other options are there for women voters? munity centre. The one thing going for Labour at the moment is a fear / Don’t vote - Not voting is effectively a vote of National Government and its implications - private for National which is enjoying up to 49 percent of support health, cuts in social welfare (John Banks wants to intro­ from voters. Sabotaging a vote form has the same result. duce work-fare), abandoning the 1:20 class size targets, / Alternative parties - In our first-past-the-post regressive industrial relations, voluntary unionism, freez­ electoral system the biggest parties dominate elections. ing the minimum wage and the repeal Because of this, some people believe a vote for an inde­ of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill pendent candidate or a small party like the New Labour and the Human Rights Act, to name Party or the Green Party is a wasted vote as it simply but a few of National’s promises thus divides opposition and makes it easier for the main parties far. to win. Unless proportional representation becomes a real­ ity, alternative candidates who do manage to become MPs The question is, will fear of a remain excluded from cabinet and essentially powerless to National Government be enough to introduce the policies they were elected for. make Joan Smith vote? Let’s hope so.

post. That seemed unusual but Steph interview did Peter Stewart suggest to FIRST COURIERS FIRST realised it wasn’t normal procedure when Steph that she was unsuitable for a job at TO DISCRIMINATE she read what her interviewer, Peter First Couriers because of her appearance Elizabeth Smith writes of a nasty Stewart, had written on the interview or “lifestyle”. He encouraged her to talk piece of homophobia in the courier form. to her bank manager about a loan and business. He acknowledged that her appearance check the details with an accountant and When Stephanie Brockman applied for and personality were both good but suggested that a job might be available at a job with First Couriers she put on her exposed his problem at the bottom of the some time in the future. He said her likeli­ best clothes, took out her ear-ring and form: “Stephanie appears to be lesbian, hood of getting a job depended on vacan­ presented herself as a potential courier this may or may not be a true reflection of cies coming up and whether anyone with driver. She didn’t think of growing her her lifestyle, but if that’s how I see her more experience applied. hair, an oversight which could have cost others will think the same. Not the right When the interview form was returned her the job if she had decided she wanted image for ‘First’”. to Steph she sent letters and copies of the it. Luckily for Steph she didn’t have “I was staggered,” says Steph. “Here form off the Peter Stewart and his boss at enough money to buy a courier van and was this guy confirming all the fears I First Couriers, Dennis Stevens. She point­ withdrew her application. normally put down to lesbian paranoia; ed out that she had been discriminated A couple of months later her CV and and someone was kind enough to send me against because she looked like a lesbian interview form were returned to her by the evidence.” At no time during the and questioned their employment policy.

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 11 to stop discriminating against lesbians.” The Human Rights Commission has Mr Stevens didn’t want to be inter­ been working on the amendment since viewed by Broadsheet but said the com­ 1987. It is wide-ranging and applies to ments on the interview form were a some of the functions and powers of the misunderstanding by a staff member commissions as well as specific issues like which didn’t reflect First policy. He also discrimination. said Peter Stewart still had responsibility Lesbians, homosexuals and other dis­ for interviewing prospective courier advantaged groups have formed a group drivers. called Common Ground to lobby for the Steph wrote to Rae Julian at the amendment to be passed. They say the Human Rights Commission in the hope more pressure people can bring to bear on that the commission could apply some government the more chance this amend­ pressure to First Couriers. ment has of going through intact. First is owned by Air New Zealand. Steph is only one of the many people Ms Julian wrote to First pointing out the who have been, and will continue to be, Commission did not have jurisdiction discriminated against without any covering the comments Peter Stewart recourse to the law. made on the interview form and stating her concern that First was appearing to Steph discriminate on grounds that were com­ pletely irrelevant to her ability to do the Mr Stevens rang Steph to apologise job. Steph wasn’t denied a job, because media to the max and explained that he knew just how it she withdrew her application and even if Lesley Max and her new book would feel to be accused of being a homo­ she had been, discrimination against Children: Endangered Species? sexual. “I asked what made Peter Stewart lesbians is legal. made quite a media stir when it was think I was a lesbian and Mr Stevens said A proposed amendment to the Human released in May. Pat Kipping looked that he had mentioned that I had short Rights Act may give lesbians and gay at the book to see what all the fuss hair,” says Steph. “Beware women with men more chance of justice in the future, was about. short hair applying for jobs with First but its passage into law is slow and shaky. The answer to the question of this Couriers. I asked him where discrimina­ The proposed contents of the Bill are cur­ book’s title is NO, of course children tion stops if it starts with lesbians. Maybe rently under discussion by government. aren’t an endangered species. Humans are it will be fat people, or Maori people, or The wording is still in some doubt as les­ the species and women or older people next. What is the bian activists have lobbied for the word some of us - right image for First?” “lesbian” to be included in the legislation, women, the poor, Mr Stevens also questioned Steph believing that an Act would be open to people of colour, about the envelope in which the interview abuse of the blanket term “sexual prefer­ indigenous people form was sent back - was the address ence” was used. Rae Julian is supporting and our children - handwritten or typed? “He seemed more lesbians on this issue. It looks likely that are more endan­ concerned about finding out who sent me the part of the amendment referring to gered than others. the form than about Peter Stewart’s homo­ “sexual preference” may be subject to the That’s the connec­ phobia,” says Steph. “I pointed out that I vagaries of a conscience vote by Labour tion Leslie Max didn’t want a witchhunt, I just want First MPs. misses as she accuses the oppo­ nents of sexism BROADSHEET would like to thank and racism of the team at - advocating “insti­ tutional childism” and putting their con­ x cerns ahead of the concerns of children. o She comes down hard on solo mothers, ; PHONE PQ Maori and Pacific Islanders and beneficia­ o ries. In fact the whole book is predicated E S3 on the unstated but obvious notion that BOX a, life in a white, middle-class home with a Mum and Dad serves the best interests of children. (Did you see the photo of her in Small Business Systems the L istener [May 21] all Laura Ashley-ish surrounded by antique dolls? o Talk about idealising...) key phones ■ PABX’S ■ FAX’S ■ answer- •s Max cites grim statistics and and inci­ £ phones ■ cordless phones ■ domestic O dents about life for children in New and commercial installation Zealand in areas of health, abuse, child­ Phone Bron or Graeme care and education and no-one would dis­ pute the misery that many children (09) 375 842 CQ experience. She quotes snippets from a 99 Broadway Newmarket ■3 variety of reports, legislation and govern­ ment studies in an attempt to support her For suppling our wonderful, new cx p. recommendations to improve the plight of MessagePhone 7800 ! children in New Zealand. She proposes such things as screening of mothers,

12 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 compulsory parenting classes for benefi­ ciaries, state boarding schools and increased legal powers for social workers to remove children from their homes. This is another “blame the victim” book. In a recent Listener interview Max admitted to being worried about seeming anti-feminist, that “a line will be dragged out of context and... much of what I say will be misinterpreted”. Well, the book is anti-feminist, not just a few lines but throughout, with the assumption that injustice and violence toward children is somehow different from injustice and vio­ lence toward women and people of colour. The crises of poverty, neglect, violence and poor education of children cannot be solved without solving the complex prob­ lems caused by a society that values peo­ ple solely as producers and consumers for the advantage of a few. This book does not begin to address those issues.

stop attacks on Beneficiaries Union, Mr. Fava finally economic and psychological discrimina­ relented and agreed to sell the unit to the tion, bigotry and prejudiced pressure at beneficiaries woman but just this once. He will not do present so widely practiced in this A woman on the widow’s benefit was it in future. country.” refused the right to purchase a bur­ Although the case ended satisfactorily They also called on “all retailers, glar alarm, not by DSW, but by the for this particular beneficiary, the struggle wholesalers, manufacturers and all other manufacturer of the alarm! Pat is not over and it stimulated a wide organisations and individuals who deal Kipping investigates. response to end discrimination against with, or are involved with, any people The police advised this woman to get a beneficiaries. From June 7 to July 7 the who are on any benefit, to do so with burglar alarm after her house was burgled Combined Beneficiaries Union (CBU) compassion and understanding. Always twice. (She prefers to remain anonymous logged a staggering 62 cases of economic remembering that beneficiaries are in their for obvious reasons.) Department of and psychological discrimination against situation not by choice but by circum­ Social Welfare gave her an advance on beneficiaries. stances beyond their control”. her benefit to make the purchase. Agitated by the blatant prejudice of the The CBU and the CTU are in the pro­ However, when she tried to buy her bur­ Micron case, the CBU and the Auckland cess of writing to all church organisations glar alarm from Micron Systems Ltd of District Council of the NZ Council of proposing that they set up a commission Auckland, her cheque was returned and Trade Unions (CTU) called a meeting to look at the whole question of discrimi­ she was informed by Mr. Fava, Micron’s attended by forty people representing a nation suffered by beneficiaries and to be Managing Director, that he refused to sell wide variety of community groups. From funded by unions and local bodies. her a burglar alarm because in his opinion, that meeting they called on Government For further information contact the all beneficiaries are bludgers. and individual Members of Parliament to Combined Beneficiaries Union, After several days of pickets and “widen the scope of Human Rights legis­ 159 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, protests by members of the Combined lation to protect all beneficiaries from AUCKLAND (09)764-760.

sexual abuse tax abuse prevention. At present women do on child sexual abuse in Wellington in Kim McGregor, a worker at the band-aid work that results from May, Stephen Wolf from the USA said Auckland’s Help Foundation, adds male violence, like the long-term sup­ that male violence in the form of sexu­ another idea to the “Focus on port of rape survivors and their fami­ al abuse was costing that country the Offenders” suggestions in the lies. This work is emotionally draining equivalent of the gross national prod­ June/July Broadsheet (p 7). and deserves more financial and moral uct. We have no reason to believe the As rapists are overwhelmingly support. (Funds should be split so that cost in New Zealand is any less. male, it seems sensible that under our 50% goes to Maori groups working in As an incentive to draw men into present “user pays” philosophy the the area and 50% to Pakeha, Pacific sexual abuse prevention through educa­ government should impose an addi­ Island and other racial groups.) tion, I would also suggest that those tional violence tax on men. The tax The idea behind the sexual abuse males who work in the area of sexual collected could then be distributed to tax is to draw to the attention of abuse prevention education, voluntari­ the grassroot community groups non-raping men the enormous cost to ly, for a year or more, could receive tax specifically working to support sur­ the country of the behaviour of some of rebates. vivors of sexual abuse and in sexual their gender. At the recent conference

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 13 LESBIAN GATHERING Occasionally there is a slightly earlier concerned about our voices being exclud­ ON 1990 ISSUES invitation to Maori women, individuals or ed, then we should do something about it. handfuls of individuals being asked to join We often feel like guards of Aotearoa’s This gathering was held in the collective, but it is rare for these to indigenous culture, constantly guarding Christchurch at Queen’s Birthday demonstrate understanding of Maori net­ against the inclusion of take with racist Weekend. The following is an open working processes. All too often it is content. We argue against simply remov­ letter from Nga Waahine Takataapui apparent that networking has not been ing racist take. Since we have no reassur­ Ki Otautahi, a Maori lesbian group, to done in Maori women’s communities, ance that such practices won’t continue, tauiwi lesbians. though extensive networking has been we refuse to participate in white-washing Our constant struggle as Maori women done through the so-called lesbian to make the Pakeha women involved feel is around racism. There are times when feminist network. and look good. It is unsettling to think that we are approached by Pakeha groups Pakeha women asking their few Maori if we are not constantly vigilant in making when we must point out we lack energy to women friends and acquaintances or call­ Pakeha women aware of racism it may deal with issues beyond that struggle, and ing on the same high-profile Maori well continue. leave them to be what they will be without women again and again, does not in any Late, individual invitations to be our energy, white women’s take, which way constitute networking. Pakeha include racist content. involved raise several questions for us. In our experience, Pakeha women Are we being invited merely to perform frequently make a minimal attempt at the the role of guards - to fix things at the last beginning of, or more frequently, during minute, make it free from racism, and the planning process, to educate them­ more representative? Why has there been selves on how their white privilege and no energy put into networking among their actions and lack of actions as Pakeha Maori women? women are racist. Because they take little We do not want to put energy into vet­ or no responsibiity for anti-racism educa­ ting racist structures; we want to put ener­ tion themselves we are frequently put in gy into matters which tell the truth about the unwilling position of educating them our lives, from our perspective. when we recognise racism and they don’t. By leaving it to us to do most of the This is time-consuming, energy-sapping work, Pakeha women are saying that and frustrating for us. racism is not a white women’s issues and There are many ways in which white networking among Maori women is not privilege is manifested on women’s col­ the responsibility of Pakeha women. Each lectives. All too often Maori women are time we join a collective, we confront asked to join a collective at virtually the Pakeha women about their Pakeha privi­ last minute, generally to extend a powhiri lege and racism. We hope they will do when the form of the gathering has been things differently next time. decided, and the networking phase is women must question why it is that they Sometimes we decide to join or stay in assumed to be complete. These invitations must go out of their network to reach a collective because of our commitment to clearly represent a token effort to include Maori women. Does this not say some­ lesbian issues. Hui, conferences and pub­ Maori women. thing about their established network? lishing are powerful media. We want to The feminist/lesbian network in ensure that the power of the voices and Aotearoa is a white network, and exclu­ the visions of Maori lesbians erupt sive networking such as this reproduces through the racist fabric in Aotearoa racism. It ensures that only the voices of today. white women are called upon, encouraged Sometimes we are just too tired. SEXING THE CHERRY and heard. Continuing to use this process is racism by exclusion. take = issue, cause, reason, subject (of Jeanette Winterson’s marvellous Pakeha women on the various collec­ argument). novel of originality and vivid tives clearly don’t know where to do this imagination! networking, nor do they make it a priority Adapted from “Notes on Racism in the Now in to learn how to network amongst all Process” from Dykeversions, a Only $12.95 women. The message is clear - if we are Canadian lesbian anthology.

PH (09) 765 870 THE JAVA JIVE Wishes Broadsheet a 18 308 Ponsonby Road Happy th Birthday. Cm of Pompalier Tee Phone 796-503 Open every night from 6 pm H A P P Y 18th We’ll take care of all your Macdonald Publishers (NZ) Ltd BROADSHEET! printing needs

14 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 b r o a d c a s t

pregnancy counselling warning The bullying that this woman was subjected to in Pregnancy Counselling Services are not what fact interfered with her being able to make her own they seem. Pat Rosier reports. choice - and even in its own terms the service she We have had a number of complaints about rang was counterproductive. Pregnancy Counselling Services (they are listed in the But the real point is, as always, a woman’s right to Yellow Pages under Counselling Services) the information, support and services she needs to over past months. They are not a counselling ser­ make her own decision. Warn your friends, Pregnancy vice, but part of the anti-abortion movement. They do Counselling Services are not there to support women not help women make informed choices for them­ in making a choice about pregnancy. selves but tell women they will be “killing their baby” Auckland women who want support in making a and that abortion is dangerous (properly performed, it choice can contact the Auckland Medical Aid is not for most women). Centre (AMAC) on (09) 686 041; Epsom Day One distressed reader who contacted us wrote that Clinic, (09) 520 1191; or Family Planning (09) 775 after a call she made to them late at night when she 049. Epsom Day offer a counselling service to was feeling “desperate”, she was “devastated at the women before they get into the system - that is, way I had been treated”. After that experience she women can phone direct and make an appoint­ “had the abortion. I chose to go privately as I couldn’t ment to see a counsellor before they get the doc­ face any further ‘counselling’ and/or intimidation.” tor’s referral necessary for any formal She goes on to say, “I realise now I made a mistake proceedings. Family Planning Clinics will also pro­ for myself and that supportive counselling could have vide a women who thinks she may be pregnant been of great help to me. But at that stage I had had with information and counselling about the options enough. I am very sad about what happened to me and available to her. the choice I made. But I am also angry about the way I was treated...” When she complained to Pregnancy Counselling Services about the telephone counsellor she spoke to, the caller found they “condone her tech­ nique and feel I am the one with the problem.”

“ If you have com e to help me then you are wasting your time. But if your liberation is WOMEN’S ART 1990 tied up with mine then let us work together." An exhibition and auction of Women’s Art is Lila Watson in YWCA South Pacific Area to be held at the A.S.A. Gallery from 23 Newsletter. October to 1 November, 1990. This event has been organised by the Friends of f r BROADSHEET as a fund raising effort for BROAD­ SHEET and the Auckland Caring for you Women's Health Council. naturally The official opening and auction will take place on Tuesday 23 October. Watch BROADSHEET for more details... W eleda start saving your pennies for the auction ! Baby Care Products Natural Massage Oils Homoeopathic Medicines First Aid Remedies ICTORIA Skin Care Products Natural Toothpastes byoCAFE and as the sole Dining Mon-Sat, 6-11pm BYO New Zealand agents for f J V 250 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden, ph 607 335 ______59 Brougham St______We congratulate BROADSHEET _____ Mt Victoria Phone on attaining 18 years of publishing - Cheers! ______(04) 842 420______FLOWER REMEDIES Tues to Sat 11 am -2 pm 6pm -10pm Available at selected Pharmacies SPICERS-something special in restaurants, and Health Food stores featuring ethnic & vegetarian dishes. or by mail order from Congratulations BROADSHEET m agazine We promise excellent value on 18 years of great publishing! WELEDA (l\ID LTD. for you dining dollar P0 Qox8l52. HAVELOCK NORTH, Telephone (070) 777594

AUGUST 1 990 BROADSHEET 15 Helen Wernham, third year feminist studies student at Canterbury University, talks to her mother, Pat Rosier, co-editor of Broadsheet, about what being feminist means to her. making her own feminism

rowing up in the 70s and 80s feminism was all about equality and I was very attracted to that. I needed to g make sense of injustice. I was a bright girl at school “white and bright” and I had this concept of injustice and a very strong concept of equality. I didn’t think I was dis­ criminated against because my life was seemingly equal - 1 Helen at six was the norm — I felt so normal. I had no race analysis at all, but some class analysis I thought. Heterosexism was It’s hard to be younger than that, and sort of jump in. I actually working so well I didn’t even recognise it. do consciousness raising for myself by taking every opportunity What connects with that is that when I was 17-1 was that arises. So I talk to you whenever I can, and I have my friend this bright young thing doing everything right - you came Jenny. She and I speak a very similar feminist language in that it out to me as a lesbian. I had this incredibly strong reaction has been developed and informed by the same stuff because we’re of “Oh my god, I’m going to catch this nasty, horrible dis­ both going to the same feminist studies department. Then I’ve got ease, no one’s going to talk to me again and no one will like the wider group of students because I’m in my third year. I’ve me. It’s going to rub off!” got life-long friendships, and that what happens with conscious­ I remember your reaction quite clearly when I told you. ness raising. You create a community you can live in. You put your hand on my arm and said very seriously, “As So your feminist studies courses have provided you with a long as you’re happy, Mum.” context? I couldn’t tell you about it. I wanted nothing to do with any Of course they have. And I wish they’d actually acknowledge that of that feminism. I didn’t see it in terms of homophobia, I function because I think it gets ignored. didn’t see it at all until I started reading stuff that I think There is a huge fundamental problem with a feminist studies you were throwing in my direction. I really needed to make department inside a university. Universities are patriarchal institu­ sense of the stigma, the injustice. “This is my Mum, and tions, that’s obvious, so there’s a problem with putting feminism she’s neat, so why is all that stuff going on. Just a second, in there in the first place. Will we get contaminated? The answer that’s injustice.” is yes we do. I’ve got lots of memories of my own resistance to But contamination works both ways. Admittedly the patriarchy feminism. A lot of it is to do with being younger than the has more power to contaminate, but feminism can transform by visible main body of feminists in New Zealand. My interac­ infiltration if you like. The fact that it is there alters the nature of tions with feminists in the last five the university because in there is that little years have been more or less limited to the fingerprints bit that is headed up “feminist studies”. textual ones - books - and not so much Women want access to the power base a focus on activism. That’s an impor­ of patriarchy are that academia offers. To get in you have to tant distinction that has to be made. be like them, so feminist studies has to be I can remember you saying things in on everything academic. I can’t get away from that. It’s a the past like you didn’t feel as though problem of language and you have to you could “belong”, you weren’t part of the group. accept a very peculiar amalgamation of two concepts, feminism Yeah. Okay. In the sense that all these feminists I saw had and studies. Feminist studies exists so woman can actively exer­ come to feminism through the school of hard knocks. I’m cise their intellects without having to be squashed in to the limita­ white, bright and I’ve had a sweet life. (I don’t see it as tions of the given disciplines. that, because it’s been hard, but it’s what so many women I think as a feminist studies student it is really important to aspire to having, so I can’t very well get derogatory about it constantly challenge feminist studies lecturers. Not at a personal or I’m being derogatory about other women’s aspirations.) level that says you aren’t being very feminist because you’re So you felt you hadn’t been oppressed enough to teaching like this, but to critique content and constantly evaluate “qualify” as a feminist? it. As a feminist battling patriarchy it’s very good to get into the Yes. I hadn’t experienced enough awfulness. I hadn’t been practice of evaluating and analysing, to learn those skills. a mother, a lesbian, raped, sexually abused... What are some other feminist issues for you? Right through the literature consciousness raising is so Sexuality, heterosexuality and fertility. important to western feminism. Every woman, as she Sexuality. Celibacy. My personal problem with sexuality is I comes to feminism has her consciousness raised, it’s like want to actually explore the question of being a getting equipped to live the double life of a woman, the non-actively-sexual being. A woman, very much a woman, but double life being that we are women and the fingerprints of as a woman who’s not interested in having sex. patriarchy are on everything. We live in it. We have to kill My experience of heterosexual sex, because I have only expe­ ourselves to not live in it. But we also want to live in anoth­ rienced heterosexual sex, is when it all boils down to it it’s not er world, so we’ve got to live in two places at once, and actually worth it, it’s not worth the hassle. The joy, the gratifica­ we’ve got to be well-equipped to do that. The women who tion, the satisfaction, the nice buzzes and whatever I get from sex, did consciousness raising in the 70s obviously got such a when stepped back from and looked at and evaluated against big buzz of energy and went on to do a whole lot of other everything else, comes off small in comparison. things. I don’t have that point of view for myself.

16 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 No. Mine will probably change. It’s just important to me at the moment, and what I’m bringing it up for is when sexuality gets talked about in feminist circles celibacy, actively choosing celibacy, is invisible. For me it is really important when I as a feminist talk about fertility that I explicitly acknowledge infertility as of concern to women. The issue in fertility is the right to control it in a meaningful and sensible way. The reason infertility is alongside that is because medical ways of controlling our fertility can render us infertile - taking the choice away. I get really really angry at the main­ stream medical profession because they show us all the time how they can put in hearts and lungs and livers and kidneys and do all sorts of amazing microscopic surgery Helen and Pat, 1990 Photo: Glenda Laurence yet they haven’t yet come up with a really reversible vasectomy. That would be a choice for a woman who was in a long term “We’ve understood what’s been wrong in our lives, one relationship with a guy. thing we can do is make it better for the next generation of Women should have at least six safe available, practical cheap women.” That sort of thing. To me there are a lot of prob­ forms of contraception to choose from. And when I say safe I lems in that. mean both safe from pregnancy and safe from side effects. And One is you doing our consciousness raising for us, user-friendly. because we’re still growing up in patriarchy, we haven’t got My challenge to the medical profession, anyone involved in rid of that one yet. Maybe what’s happened is sexism has any medical research at all, is to stop, right now, what they’re been driven underground. The gross, overt sexism is harder doing and come up with these six different contraceptive alterna­ to find. It’s not so obvious, it’s still there, it’s phallocen- tives, then they can go back to what they’re doing. It would take trism now that’s the enemy rather than sexism. six months, maximum. They’ll have to do a lot of reading, Phallocentrism — this is a word I’ve got through my aca­ because a lot of them will be really ignorant, otherwise it would demic stuff, and it’s what happens because we’re not take three weeks. I’m not just talking about medical means, I allowed to be sexist any more and say chairman, but peo- mean alternatives as well. So you can choose. Natural, herbal, ple/person still means man. The language has changed but interventionist barriers, hormonal, sperm interference. Get it the norm is still that whoever is in the chair is or should be before it leaves the man, which to my thinking is the most practi­ a man. cal way. My very basic understanding of women’s and men’s biol­ Being a daughter of a feminist and a daughter of femi­ ogy is that male reproductive biology is a lot simpler, so you nism, I am this product, the target for some of your strate­ might as well interfere with that. Are they dumb or something? gies. One thing I get really angry about - the more I think No, unwilling. about it the more angry I get - is the lack of foresight in If someone came to me tomorrow and ran some tests and told me initiating programmes like non-traditional trades for I was not capable of having children, I might be pissed off at hav­ women. You were pushing us into places that you weren’t ing the choice taken away from me but it’s not going to destroy prepared to go into. You were pushing young 16 and 17 my life because I’ve never really seen myself as a particular per­ year old girls onto construction sites, the one woman in a son’s mother, a biological mother. And when I do it tends to be gang of 30 men where feminism meant hairy-legged incredibly romantic and I sort of get bored with the idea really women. The only women that should be advocating quickly. non-traditional trades for girls are women that through But imagine being a non-feminist woman trying all your life to sheer grit and determination and a hell of a lot of guts have do it right. You marry and try for years to get pregnant and then been in non-traditional trades themselves. you’re told that because you were on the pill - controlling your All trades, all vocations should be presented as capable fertility, building up the little nest egg, or you had an IUD put in of being done by everyone, so if a girl at 16 does want to for the first year of your marriage - you can’t have children. be a carpenter there’s not going to be a red tape across the Sorry. You’re fucked. A fucked unit. That’s how it is in her head. door, she’s going to be able to choose to open that door and I want to talk about something that’s been very problematic to choose to deal with the problems of being in there. my feminism, which is being this product, this daughter that your But Girls Can Do Anything. My god! It’s a pity the peo­ generation of feminists were aiming a lot of their strategies at. ple who got that one together didn’t actually go and ask a Helen at eight months few schoolgirls what they read into it. Because it’s sort of hilarious. We knew, I knew at 15, 16, 17 18, that girls can do anything. I lived in an equal and just society! (although I was having problems with all this injustice.) I also knew - but I couldn’t articulate it - that it was until I got married and had children. And that’s the crucial thing about it because what that actually creates is still a limited role model, there’s just twice as much work in it. You

BROADSHEET 17 can’t just be a wife and mother any more, you’ve got to be a ★ DECADENT* wife and mother and a career person because the role is still one. What about the working class woman, the 15-16 year old whose mother has always worked outside the home because she's had to, who knows women can do everything, because DESSERT NIGHT they have to. Okay. What you’ve just spotted is my middle-classness. I was trying to do it gently. It’s good. Because I’m talking about career, vocation - what that mother was doing was shit work for shit money. I’m talk­ SUNDAY AUGUST 5 7-10PM ing about - because that’s where my experience lay - the white and bright and middle class. Career. Career. Career. And have children. And be a wife. And no-one ever tells you how much METHODIST HALL, 2 AIREDALE ST, CITY time and energy being a wife - being a partner to a man - takes up. Especially if that male is in full-time paid employment. And you are too. Even if he’s good around the house he proba­ ★ Women only* bly expects a 21-gun salute for doing it. Limited numbers, so come early The Girls Can Do Anything campaign was really blind. I see better strategies for a political feminist as being to just get as many feminists as possible teaching in secondary schools and Low sugar and dairy free desserts in vocational guidance, especially. We need a range of counter-hegemonic devices, so women no longer collude in available their own oppression. I know it sounds very wordy and aca­ demic but that to me is the focus. Give me an example of a counter-hegemonic device. Okay. Hegemony - colluding in your own oppression. Playing in tree huts can be an example.“I don’t want to play in that tree hut. I don’t want to. It’s not because the boys won’t let me,I don’t like it, I don’t want to go up there.” What could a mother do? Okay. You’ve got a tree hut and a girl who’s been playing in it and something’s going on-maybe an older boy has “Q jr|s C£m

ANOTHER FUNDRAISER FROM FRIENDS OF BROADSHEET - AUGUST 1990 Not being women-defined women and essen- tialist and all that - but towards that - but getting some real things happening. What I see in feminist theory at the moment that I really want to see out of it is this dividing it up into liberal versus radical and even creat­ ing new ones like humanist versus gynocen- tric. This versus stuff. Don’t like it. I like the notion of think globally, act locally. So thinking globally I’ve got to think ■ I " sSi about class and race and economics and envi- • ronmental conditions and all those sorts of HR things so it’s a big one. The social attitudes are so many and varied. I can think locally in ■H H H H H H b the sense I can think English-speaking, I can take action locally in the English-speaking K ^ ^ I world, because that’s the text I can write for, so I can act locally in terms of America and photo: Glenda Laurence Pat and Helen England for example. I can even think geographically locally - efficiently. Another positive outcome is that it has actually pointed what can I do here, in my suburb or in my house. But if I’m out the negatives of liberal reform. It failed, I can’t get past that, having a really good visionary future, it is basically where sex and it blames girls - if a girl can’t do anything, it’s her fault. And role stereotyping doesn’t get the attention. Okay? That it’s min­ that then affirms all those myths about femininity. “Girls are no imised and mitigated, a bit old hat, a bit passe. good with hammers.” And unemployment. In times of high unem­ I’d like to see a society that values autonomous develop­ ployment the girl carpenter and the girl brickie and so on will be ment rather than sex-stereotyped development. The implica­ laid off first. So it’s not actually a career option, is it? It’s not actu­ tions are really hard because a society that’s very much rooted ally a viable economic choice. And the abuse. Now that’s the bit in structural organisation can’t cope with that. You can’t have a that makes me angry, because all these feminists I’m sure were state-wide education system for a start, that teaches the same very aware of sexual abuse and domestic violence and stuff. stuff to everyone. Because if we’re talking about autonomy Feminists have known about sexual harassment in the workplace we’re actually talking about making some choices between for a long time. And what are you doing? You’re actually pushing things, having a lot of access to lots and lots of alternatives. young women on their own into a situation without support. And from there you can move into anarchy. Not in the sense of And the other thing is the class issue. I mean we’re talking chaos, but an anarchy based on autonomy and individual about traditional trades, we’re talking about career here. And I’m responsibility. talking from my experience and I’m middle class - but what if So, through my rose (lavender?) tinted glasses I see: the you haven’t got the choice of a career and your brothers haven’t grandmother - Suffrage; the mother - Equality; the daughter- either? If your brothers can’t choose because you’re working class Autonomy; and one of Autonomy’s daughters, Anarchy. They you definitely can’t choose because you’re a woman as well. all have the same surname: Feminism. I like this metaphor, it That’s just so important to me at the moment because I am experi­ acknowledges the context of each generation without encing it and seeing it at Polytech here in Christchurch, looking at falling into the trap of each “writing o ff’ the previous genera­ the vocational programmes that are being inaugurated by the tion as being wrong. I need my herstory, we must continue to Labour Employment Service. create it. □ I don’t want to take anything away from what they’re doing, but I want to say let’s have another look at what is going on here and what are we confronting. Rather MYRA NICOL than have a Girls Can Do Anything sticker I would prefer something that says “So MOWERS * CHAINSAWS you think girls can’t do everything?” and actually state the sexism. WEEDEATERS My visions for feminism at a theoretical PETROL AND ELECTRIC level are to do with feminist ways of operating in the world and with each 442 RICHMOND RD other that work without us destroying GREY LYNN, AUCKLAND each other, and for a theory that does in fact talk about all women. On a lifestyle PHONE 760-053 or day to day level my vision for femi­ nism is basically to change the world to Full motor mower sales and service one where words like justice and choice, have some meaning for everybody. Only woman owned and operated Which means, among other things, eco­ Auckland mower service nomic revolution. And that’s big. It won’t get done by Christmas. My femi­ Free pick up and delivery nist visions. I am mainly interested in the concepts I read that are along the lines of S F Iyilfto developing theory that takes into account \our next mower living as women in patriarchy and making some women’s stuff happen in places that women’s stuff hasn’t happened before.

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 19 HOME AWAY FROM HOME life stories of Chinese Women in New Zealand

Manying Ip photo: Gil Hanly

What did you hope to accomplish with this book? Just to record what has happened. It is a very humble kind of desire but it was ardent and became quite burning. I was very often shocked by my own ignorance. We really have taken many things for granted. I met a number of these women socially soon after I arrived in the early ‘70s. They were always so gracious, kept a low profile and never spoke of anything. You could think they were ordinary, kindly grannies. You wouldn’t know they had been through so Marking's chop much and were really remarkable in their way. Without them the Chinese community would not have achieved what it has Chan-Ho May-Yun with Manying Ip, 1988 or made such a contribution to New Zealand society. Without the women the men would not have been successful in sinking their roots like they have..The businesses would not have been as pros­ perous or the children would not have made the professional ranks. The community would have been totally different if the women hadn’t been that strong and supportive. Can you explain the migration pattern of the Chinese to New Zealand? M anying Ip collected the oral histories The first men came in 1866 as goldminers in the Otago of eight Chinese women who came to New gold fields. By 1881 there were about 5000 of them, Zealand between 1908 and 1970. Home mainly in central Otago. It caused a lot of outcry and Away From Home, published by New alarm in the white community. There were only nine Women’s Press, is the carefully edited and women: at that time only men came because things were very readable compilation of their stories so hard. It took three months to sail from South China to generously illustrated with photos from here, not a journey that women would usually undertake. family collections. The book reveals much They were expected to remain home to care for any chil­ about what life was like for Chinese women dren who might be bom and to take the place of the hus­ in China and New Zealand. The lives of the band in the clan, to serve her in-laws. The men would Chinese, the history of the home country return to China periodically and they usually remitted Lam-Lau and the challenges of the new are all inter­ money quite regularly. Yuet-sin woven into the fascinating stories of these From 1881 — 1920 we call the period of restriction. enjoys paper New Zealand passed a whole lot of exclusion laws cutting at her eight unique New Zealand women. against the Chinese so this country could be kept pure home in Pat Kipping talked to Manying Ip in her and white and protestant and anglo-saxon. There was the Cambridge, office in the Asian Languages Department poll tax, at first £10 raised to £100 by 1896. There was a 1988. of the University of Auckland. tonnage ratio fixed to ships so that ships could only carry one Chinese per 100 tons of cargo, later raised to 200 tons. The introduction of the poll tax made it even more unlikely for women to come here. If Chinese men had any money they would send for their sons and male cousins and uncles who could work in the mines or vegetable gardens. By 1900 the gold fields were exhausted and so they moved to vegetable gardens.There was very little incentive to make comfort­ able homes because men in China didn’t have to look after house­ hold duties and also they worked usually from early dawn until sundown so were not in their dwelling for very long. What changed in 1939 that the women started to come? They could come as refugees from the Japanese invasion. After the women came the change was quite dramatic. Among the women I interviewed, most of them and the children would be staying on the orchard or at the back of the fruit shops. The living quarters and the working area were very closely linked. After a couple of years, they decided the women and children should have separate quarters. If they couldn’t build a separate house they would add

AUGUST 1990 another floor and they all wanted a better kitchen to cook nice Chinese food. There were more social activities — more by their standard, not ours because they didn’t even have Sundays off. But there was more interaction within the Chinese community with the arrival of women and children. Many of the women seem to accept the racism and sexism they had to endure. They seem to have an amazing lack of resentment about it. Yes... the lack of rancour and bitterness. It is quite amazing. I think we accept racism - well not accept but you have to live with it for so long and you know so many people who have experienced it — not only in New Zealand but all over the world. So if you have a sense of comparison you won’t be too resentful. Lily Doo knew what happened to her mother who had to become the fourth concu­ bine of someone who was thirty years older than her. So in that way you don’t accept it but you think that you are pretty lucky not to be treated so horribly. Or like Ou-Lee Fong. I said, “It must have been dreadful not to see your husband for eight years”. She said, “Oh no, my mother never saw my father until he came home to die”. Compared to her mother, she thought she was quite lucky. As for sexism, they accept it from their sons and husbands rather well. All these women came to New Zealand not because they wanted to but because the men wanted to. That’s Chinese cul­ ture. We have the three obediences: When you are at home you obey the father, when you marry you obey your husband and if you are a widow you obey your son. It is ingrained in 2000 years of Formal portrait of Lily Doo, Canton, 1919. The book she is Confucianism, in the folklore, and the culture, and the popular sto­ holding emphasises her status as an educated young woman. ries. Otherwise you are not a virtuous woman. Most of them made sacrifices for the prosperity of the family. If the women decide to high degree of education and their own profession. Women like my be independent or not helpful in any way, the family would not mother are able to have amahs and maid servants to look after the have prospered. To the women, the children and family was children while they work full time which no other western woman everything. could afford. In that way they are independent and equal to men Is that changing now in the new generation of Chinese who were because they are not tied down by any kind of responsibilities in born in New Zealand after 1939? the household. That is not possible in the west. This idea of family loyalty and allegiance to your own clan is still So it's really a certain class of women, educated women who very strong among the local bom Chinese. It is not as strong have that opportunity? For women who aren't educated is life among the new immigrants. Chinese communities away from still much the same? China tend to be very conservative. They keep the traditions much It would be still more advanced than here to a degree... No local longer, even if they have disappeared in China proper or Taiwan or Hong Kong, Singaporean or Taiwan woman would be a household Hong Kong. Here women are so devoted to their family and so maid anymore. Maids are now imported from the Philippines and devoted to the prosperity of their husband. They only have family Thailand. There are over 50,000 of them just in Hong Kong. So it business. At that time (post WW 2) even men, no matter how well becomes exploitation of your sisters across the seas but that is educated would have no chance to become a New Zealand govern­ another story. ment civil servant or be accepted in any big business. So they Will you have to do another book on the new wave of immigrant worked within the family so the family concerns and prosperity are women? her prosperity. In a way it was just practical. That’s changing It was not until 1979 that New Zealand opened itself to though, especially in the more urbanised, westernised societies like entrepreneurs and it was only since 1986 that you have had this Singapore, Taiwan, or Hong Kong where women are more aware Business Immigration Policy and just these last few years that all of their separate identity. of them came. There are some exciting new developments with Is there a women's movement there? these younger more adventurous immigrants. Many of them were Not in the same way as you have in the western countries. But trained teachers at home and now after they migrated here, they are women there are very independent. They earn their own money quite well off and in no hurry to work This is quite a good develop­ and they have equal pay and equal status with the men. There is no ment because these people from the various societies - Singapore, way that you can keep them subjugated when they have a very Malaysia as well as Hong Kong - are so fresh from the Chinese culture. They have a much deeper understanding than third genera­ tion Kiwi Chinese who might be very willing to promote Chinese culture or Chinese language but wouldn’t have any way of doing it. For example, there is The Waikato Chinese Heritage Group and in Wellington they have a Cantonese kohanga reo with all new mod­ em methods and inspired by the Maori to have a preschool to pre­ serve Chinese culture. This never existed before the 1980s. Even though people like Mrs Chan had been very religious in teaching children Chinese by rote learning, the success rate was minimal in spite of all the time and effort. Of course many of the Kiwi Chinese feel overwhelmed by this new wave of 1980s’ migrants who came so quickly and have such a high profile, so vocal and highly organised. Not everyone likes it. In the magazine, Perspective 21st Century, there’s an article called Kathleen Pih-Chang and friends at school, Dunedin, 1928. “Crunch Time for Kiwi Chinese”. They could see that they would

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 21 feature cont be overwhelmed because there are fewer that experienced any trauma when she was in the 20,000 Kiwi Chinese. If these new immi­ medical school and she wouldn’t speak. She grants keep coming there could be more new just said they were all from very good fami­ immigrants than old. Their kind of high pro­ lies - the other women. It was very difficult. file really worries and offends the sensibilities She kept on saying they were arrogant and of the Kiwi Chinese. I think partly they fear a treated her as if she was transparent. Pakeha backlash which is quite justifiable. Can you talk about the process of making Because of their own experiences they know the book. we should keep our heads low and be very I interviewed over quite a long period. Very frugal and never compete with white people. often I would see the women socially first But these new people come in and don’t care and sit with them, look over their a thing and just go ahead and do whatever photographs and get to know them really they would at home which has got its good well. After each interview I would put it on and bad points. There is quite a bit of tension. computer at once in translation and try to get The Kiwi Chinese had “made it” before the their nuances and tone. Inevitably some ques­ new immigrants came so they could also tions would come up and I would then have afford to flaunt their wealth. But if you’ve to go back to them. Also I needed to check saved your pennies hard and rise like that you the background of that period very carefully. would never flaunt your wealth in the same Either in the archives or in the writings of way as people who make their money through other people. Although I put just the stories the stock market. Their style is different. of the eight women in the book, I interviewed above Bickleen Fong and her mother in One thing I found fascinating was how a number of other people who knew the Canton, about 1932. Kathleen Pih-Chang internalised the kind woman or the period. With Kathleen for over Bickleen Fong and her mother at of racism that she was subject to, being the example, I needed to interview her cousins, the family orchard in Blenheim, 1941. first Chinese child most people in Otago had the husband of a cousin and friends of the seen. Did she talk about that? She mentioned in the book how McNeur family. Mrs Chan has got a big family but it is not very she hated being Chinese and how she admired the Scots. polite to go to her family to check her story so I interviewed anoth­ I think that’s the most poignant part of it. It‘s very sad. She is very er woman who was the wife of another church minister around the low key about it. She must have found her life bewildering. She same time. It was not so much checking the facts but to get kept saying, “If I had died I wouldn’t have had all these ups and the atmosphere of the period. I would then look through the drafts downs”. She would avoid any Chinese person altogether and of the interviews and compare it with the interviews with the sup­ would refuse to speak Chinese. She wouldn’t speak to the miners porting characters and decide the theme and how I would like it to or laundrymen who came to her auntie’s house to study the bible. run. I tried to take out those sections exactly in their own words. Whenever they appeared she would escape to her room. She You say in the preface to the book that you started this project to regrets her rudeness now but at that time her Chinese identity was get to know your new country better and realised that women's too much of a burden. Her cousins said they remember all the voices hadn't been heard. Did the process of making the book battles she engaged in with her aunt who tried to make her study nurture your sense of belonging in New Zealand or did it work Chinese. Kathleen absolutely refused to speak a word. She used to another way? stamp her feet and say “No I won’t speak Chinese”and so she It changed me a lot. I have become very strongly identified with never spoke it until she had to relearn it when she went back to the New Zealand Chinese community, much more so than before. China as a medical doctor in the 1930s. Her life must have been In the process of doing this I found my own direction and my own very traumatic. I’m sure she must have suffered. I asked her if she identity. Many of the things these women went through I also

n g n t h e w m m © OVERSEAS WORK OPPORTUNITIES V" POLYTECHNIC Te Kuratini o Waikato • Doctors for Namibia GENERAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT WOMEN’S LIVES • Physiotherapist for Zimbabwe A new course for women that you can do from home • Speech therapist and Special Education teacher for Malaysia An opportunity for women anywhere: • Secondary teachers for the Pacific and Africa e> to develop confidence and • ESL teachers for Indonesia and Laos communication skills <=> to look at their own lives and • Primary teachers for Bhutan, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands the lives of other women These are some of the two-year paid jobs offered through Volunteer Service o to plan ahead for their own Abroad. future If you are looking for a challenge, personal self-development, and the oppor­ tunity to share your skills, VSA could have the assignment for you. Begins: September 1990 For more information contact Fee: $34.08 (incl. GST) Marion Ferguson Time: 40 hours over 12 weeks Volunteer Service Abroad/Te Tuao Tawahi TO FIND OUT MORE: P.O.Box 12-246, Wellington Continuing Education Section, tel: (04) 725-759, fax: (04) 725-052 General Studies Dept, VSA The Waikato Polytechnic, 31 Pipitea Street, Wellington Private Bag HN 3036,Hamilton 2020.

22 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 experienced. For example, when my daughter but I wish they had told me earlier because came home from kindy wishing she had official biographies only include people who blond hair and blue eyes after reading are dead. I would like to introduce a course Rapunzel, it was a shattering experience. on the New Zealand Chinese in our depart­ Then there were all the debates we had ment by 1991 - a general course opened to among my women friends at the time - the university, not only for people who are should we teach the children English at home studying the language but for people who so they can fit in better or should we keep the want to know more about New Zealand soci­ Chinese identity for them? Doing this book ety in general, New Zealand history or has done me marvellous good. Everything aspects of ethnic literature. I feel that it would seems to fall in place and I understand what do the young Chinese - Kiwi and new immi­ it has all been about - my own bewilderment grant — a lot of good; relevant to New since coming here. Zealanders too. This is a basic kind of knowl­ Any new projects growing out of this? edge that New Zealanders should have to They need a few entries of Chinese women understand the Chinese community better and in the official Book of New Zealand Women to understand ourselves better.

Selections from HOME AWAY FROM HOME: Life Stories of Chinese Women in New Zealand

Lily Doo arrived in 1922 from Canada via New Zealand, Mother had to cook, do all China where she had been sent to the washing as well as housework, and help receive traditional education. in the orchards and the shop. I can’t remem­ I led the life of a typical eldest ber Mother saying anything about wanting daughter-in-law. Serving morning and me to study, but she must have endorsed it evening tea ceremoniously for years. I had heartily. Because I was studying so much I to look after all my younger brothers and had very little time to help her with her sisters-in-law as well. Little sister-in-law chores. I remember relatives saying “make was only four when I came. My main duty her work in the shop, then marry her off. at the shop was to keep accounts, write let­ Girls need not study so much”. ters, copy records, write out receipts and so on. I remember holding the baby in one arm Kathleen Pih-Chang arrived in 1908 as and copying accounts and receipts with the the adopted child of a missionary. She other hand. Often I had to do such paper was the first Chinese medical graduate in work until twelve or one o’clock in the New Zealand. morning. As a girl, I did not like being Chinese at all. The people I admired were the Scots. I Lam-Lau Yuet-sin arrived in 1939 to join accept that I am Chinese now, but I was 7 i 6 i her husband, a fruitier who had been here very sensitive about it when I was young. since 1922. Going back to work in China in the 1930s When my husband sent word that we could was really good for me, otherwise I would M come, I was so happy. Going to “Gold always have felt sorry for myself for being Mountain”, you see? I was not worried at bom Chinese. Only after working in China all. No, we were not allowed to have per­ did I find my Chinese identity. manent residency. WE had to promise to go back to China at the end of the war, and we Ou-Lee Fong arrived in 1940 to live with had to leave with all our children, including her husband, a market gardener since those bom here. I was just excited that I 1922. could come, even for a few years. It was When the war ended our livelihood was good to be with my husband again. more stable. We thought we had to go back to China. Then there was this missionary Bickleen Fong arrived in 1939 at age 8. who went to the government and pleaded She was the first Chinese woman in N Z our case, “the Chinese are not bad people, to receive an MA degree and is the they should not be expelled.” We never author of The Chinese in New Zealand. quite knew how he did it. It was a real My mother was a very genteel woman bonus that we could stay. I read about it in before she left China; she had never cooked the newspapers. The government even before, never washed clothes or dishes, and returned the two hundred pounds to us. New had never worn flat shoes. After we came to Zealand was home to us at last.

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 23 handle at the least little thing. Those were the major symptoms for me and all one after the other, which was PESTICIDE pretty hard to deal with. I had a definite change of personality. The angry, irritable, tending to hate everybody, attitude is a physical symptom of chemical poisoning. It’s probably the one thing that somebody on the outside can identify. All those other symptoms are inside you but that one, you can tell if someone’s got a central nervous system problem. I was like that. I don’t know how my marriage stuck together. I’m sure a lot of the marriages that are disintegrating today stem from the chemi­ cal poisoning problem and the victims just don‘t know what’s causing them to be so growing number of people are being than I could cope with. My muscles ached horrible. A directly affected by chemicals in their so much I couldn’t even hang out a whole Violence is definitely another factor. environment. They refer to themselves as load of laundry. My memory was It’s been proved elsewhere that pesticides “chemical victims” or “chemically sensi­ impaired. I couldn’t think what I’d done and food additives all cause violence and tive”. In a concerted attempt to silence the day before. At one stage I’d get in the surely play a large part in our over­ and marginalise them, the chemical indus­ car, start off down the road and forget crowded prisons and institutions. try has labeled them “chemophobic” and where I was going. I’d have to stop on the □ DIAGNOSIS the conventional medical system has side of the road and wait for about five I went to my GP numerous times about ignored or trivialised them as weak, com­ minutes for it to come back to me. It was these symptoms and he was always telling plaining and neurotic. Contrary to the so frightening. I thought I was having a me that I was just a neurotic housewife nay-saying of the chemical and techno brain problem. The lack of concentration and to get myself organised. He was total­ medicos, mild chemical poisoning which was such that I’d have to read the same ly unsympathetic. There was no talk of leads to chronic sensitivity can be diag­ sentence five or six times. These things post partum depression or ME. I never nosed by a testing method known as made me feel like an imbecile. I’d always heard of ME until I joined TAG. I know I Electroacupuncture according to Voll been good at digesting information and would have committed suicide if my (EAV) and other homoeopathy tech­ recalling it but now it was just hell. daughter hadn’t been there. The fact that I niques. These methods are used by a I went through a very depressed stage, had to look after her and see that she grew growing number of doctors interested probably because of these things happen­ up is what kept me living and fighting. in environmental medicine or clinical ing to me and I didn’t know why. My My GP insisted that all my problems ecology. Once diagnosed, homoeopathic limbs felt very heavy, my arms and my stemmed from my back but after 18 preparations can be used to detoxify the legs had a dragging sensation as if I had a months and periods of physiotherapy, I body, restoring the person to much better sack of potatoes on them and I was trying was no better. I knew I wasn’t going to get health within weeks. to drag them along. We live down a fairly better under that regime of treatment. I Pesticides affect the immune and steep road and I could only get about a insisted that he refer me to someone who central nervous systems and are caus­ quarter of the way up it before my breath­ was a specialist with backs. ing major health problems. People with ing became so rapid and shallow, I'd have The doctor he referred me to dealt with chemical sensitivities are the canaries in to turn around and come back. I couldn’t homoeopathy and acupuncture and was a the mine. We should learn from them even take my toddler for daily walks. back specialist. It took four months to get now, before it’s too late. Insomnia was incredible. I lived on about in to see him. At the first consultation he two hours sleep a night for about two examined my back and x-rays and insist­ Lynne Wright is a business woman in her years. My heart raced. I felt fluctuations in ed that I’d never had a disc displacement. thirties. She lives in a conventional, my chest like butterflies. I had numbness He checked my whole health history. It upwardly mobile West Auckland suburb in my extremities. My fingers used to go took him about 45 minutes and because of with her husband and six year old daugh­ white and sometimes I had to put them in the symptoms I had given him, he felt it ter. Her story illustrates the process that hot water just to get the circulation back. worthwhile to pursue a homoeopathic many chemical victims share. My head felt like it was filling up with approach so he muscle tested me for all □ SYMPTOMS water and it was so heavy that it felt like a manner of things including chemical toxi­ My bizarre symptoms started after the sack of potatoes on top of me. It was hor­ city. He came up with definite toxicity birth of my daughter. I felt my body rible. I tried describing it to my doctor and attributed to 245T. He confirmed that my wasn’t what it had been. I was very leth­ he thought I was crazy. I had tingling and lower back muscle had seized up com­ argic. I wasn’t coping with the ordinary, gnawing sensations in hands and feet, pletely but because of the poisoning, not a everyday things a mother should be doing extreme exhaustion at the slightest exer­ disc injury. I was horrified to learn it but with her baby. When my daughter was 11 tion, stomach pains, muscle spasms in the at the same time very happy and relieved months old and I felt the best I had since stomach, blurred vision and a swaying to know there was a real problem with her birth, I was working in the garden feeling in my head when I was standing me, that I wasn’t crazy. grubbing for gorse and I felt what I up. My feet and hands were always cold During the drive home, I stopped at thought was a disc, go in my back. That and I was breathless. Being around per­ some traffic lights and just broke down... laid me up for about a week. fumes, hairspray, tobacco smoke, made with anger that the powers-that-be, the As the months wore on I was experi­ my breathing go absolutely crazy. I lost government, the health department, who­ encing other symptoms: After about 9:00 quite a lot of weight. I experienced dizzi­ ever is responsible, could let these terrible in the morning I could barely look after ness, nerve root pain and obvious temper­ sprays take over a person like me and do the baby. Just peeling a potato was more ament imbalance. I’d just fly off the all those horrible things.

24 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 a EXPOSURE blood test done to verify the diagnosis. because he was too lazy to cut his lawns. I When my specialist asked where I’d been The specialist felt it was unnecessary but I took him over all my Roundup reports and exposed, I had no idea. He suggested the said I wanted some proof for the Health told him that if he used it after reading the food chain. Because I didn’t know any­ Department. He knew of a method being reports, I was going to sue him. He thing about chemical poisoning at this used at the time by another doctor who changed his attitude and the next weekend point I assumed that this had happened was diagnosing chemical victims. It was he got a weed eater and cut all his grass very recently. So I came away wondering using mass spectrometry and gas chro­ down like that! where I had been exposed in the past eigh­ matography to find out what pesticide lev­ The new pesticide regulations state that teen months since these symptoms had els were in the blood. This was all done at if a sprayer contaminates any property been occurring. my own expense. I had to go to Hamilton other than the area intended to be sprayed, When we moved on to our section in to have the blood checked by an agricul­ he is liable for prosecution. I think the the Waitakeres seven years earlier, there tural analyst. There was no machine like word “property” should include was a lot of gorse on our property and that in Auckland. The results showed that the human body. I’d like to see a court neighbouring properties. When we were I had a very high dose of 24D and a small­ ruling on that. clearing our section, my husband used er, although quite high, dose of 245T. TORDON granules, a herbicide to get rid Upon discussing these doses with people □ GETTING CONNECTED of gorse. Its basic ingredient is 24D. Later, who had been analysed from around the About six weeks after I was diagnosed, I when I was seven and a half months preg­ Ivon Watkins Dow plant in New was desperate to find someone to talk to nant, a spray contractor came along one Plymouth, my doctor determined that I who’d been through the whole experience. morning and sprayed right along my had been recently exposed rather than a It was by sheer chance I found out about boundary, with what I’m unsure, but I sus­ long time ago. I was pretty convinced that Toxins Action Group (TAG). pect it was probably the the same product the herbicide that was sprayed along our It was so fabulous to know people who or one with 24D or 245T. This was 1983. boundary just prior to me giving birth was had been through the same experience and I have tried to get information from the what was causing my problems. were dealing with it and had just formed council but they have no record, and they After I was diagnosed, I felt like I was this group to help others. They also try to don’t know who the contractor was. the only person in the world with chemi­ make people that you would expect to be They didn’t want to talk to me about it cal poisoning. I didn’t know of anybody responsible, aware of the terrible things then. else with chemical poisoning. I felt so that are happening to people. I’m talking Once I’d been diagnosed and knowing filthy about the whole thing I wouldn’t tell about MAF, the Health Department, the I had to go through with the homoeopathic anybody. I didn’t want my own family to MP’s, the Pesticides Board, people who treatment to get rid of the stuff in my body know because I felt so full of this chemi­ make the rules. and because we wanted more children, I cal muck. If my sisters phoned to ask how I see it being the major fault of the wanted to know more. I asked to have a I was I’d say, “I’m fine, I’m fine,” and chemical companies for harbouring make out it was all over. I wouldn’t tell the knowledge they have that they do not my neighbours. I just couldn’t discuss it. I want the general public to know about was like that until I got to know TAG peo­ their dirty products. They feed the people ple. I felt so alone! who are making the decisions the wrong information. I’m talking about the toxicol­ □ GETTING WELL ogists people, the people in the Health I was treated by homoeopathy in the form Department who are responsible for CERES WHOLEFOODS of injection therapy - one injection per week over a period of ten weeks to get the 181 Ladies Mile, Ellerslie, Auckland. toxin out of the fatty tissue. I also had Phone (09)597126 drops to excrete the toxin out of my body via the bladder, sweat glands, breath, 100% ORGANIC bowel motions - all the parts of your anatomy that are designed to excrete KELMARNA We Stock: waste. That worked wonderfully. Four to * Organic & Biodynamic Produce five months after beginning the treatment GARDENS * Organic Grains & Flours I noticed a remarkable gain in my health * Organic Bread but it probably took eighteen months or so 12 HUKANUI CRES * Organic Dairy Products to come up to 85 % health and I don’t GREY LYNN * Organic Herb Teas think I’ve achieved much more than that. (N. Z. Grown) I know immediately when someone*s •Retail sales* Co-operatives welcome * organic malt coffee been spraying in the neighbourhood. Some of them spray malathion for the * Organic Juices, Honey, Oils Veges picked daily. lichen on the native trees around here and * Weleda Homoeopathies A lso fresh fruit, the fungus. Within two seconds of them * We offer a wide range of foods opening the can I can smell it. It’s just herb plants, seedlings, suitable for allergy suffers sheer hell. Sometimes I don’t experience honey and organic * Retail price list available any symptoms because I make myself get p re s e rv e s . out of the neighbourhood for the day. I go as soon as I smell it. Most neighbours Come and visit our peaceful Shop Hours know I’m chemically sensitive but it inner city gardens. Monday-Friday 9am-5.30pm hasn’t stopped them using spray and they MON/TUES 10-5.30 don’t warn me. One of my neighbours did WED Closed Saturday 9am-12.30pm THURS/FRI 10-5.30 ring me about eight months ago to tell me SAT 10-1.30 he was going to spray his entire property with Roundup to keep his grass down

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 25 fe a tu r e making decisions as to whether we’re able said he will implement blood testing in to use or not use a certain product. the Bay of Plenty around the kiwi fruit CALORGNA ORGANIC FARM - Port Hills It’s interesting, no staggering, to note areas. Organophosphate poisoning is hav­ Road, Heathcote, CHRISTCHURCH. Stockists that there is one government toxicologist ing an enormous effect on health there. of Demeter and other Biodynamically grown in New Zealand wearing three hats - one Malathion is the major one used common­ produce from NZ & AUSTRAUA: Fruits, for MAF, one for DOH and also for the ly by the home gardener as well as in the Vegetables, Dried Goods, Dairy Produce & . Pesticides Board. How can one person orchards. Fortunately organophosphates Small Goods. Janice and Hans Schaper PH have an objective opinion on such a seri­ can be tested in the blood so it’s pretty (03) 844 521 ous issue for all three bodies. They’re fed easy for a lab technician to determine. the information primarily from the chemi­ Most of these other pesticides such as ORGANIC FOOD CO-OPERATIVE - 36 Arthur cal companies and that’s all they have to 24D, 245T, Roundup or Escort don’t show St, Wellington. Suppliers of Organic Fruits go on apart from the EPA in America who up in blood because they get stored in also get fed the wrong information. We all & Vegetables, Free Range Eggs, Honey & fatty tissue and they stay there until the Organic Dried Goods. Membership avail­ know that from the Roundup experience person loses weight. At that time those and the Monsanto results that were falsi­ able PH (04) 851 856 chemicals will be leeched out of the fat fied by the IBT Laboratory. tissue and start to play havoc with the I’m putting the primary blame at the central immune system causing all foot of the chemical companies, but the the symptoms that I’ve experienced and secondary blame must also go to our others. Health Department, and the people who You can detect other chemicals by fat are responsible for dealing with this whole or urine testing which is not being done in spray issue. Even though they have been about chemical poisoning and the effects this country because of the machinery fed information by people such as TAG it has on people and to research the whole involved. Gas chromatography and the who have very good information from thing from a worldwide perspective, mass spectrometer machines are only used world sources, they don’t seem to want to gleaning information from other sources by agricultural analysts although we know accept that there is definitely a problem. outside the country. that DSIR here in Auckland has one. They They seem to think they must stick to the Each time TAG got these reports they brought one in specifically for the chemical companies’ side of things. It would send copies to our health establish­ Commonwealth Games to test for drugs in makes one wonder where the priority is. Is ment. I’m sure the powers that be were the athletes. So why not make use of these it for the person or is it for the big mortified by what they were reading machines? If they’re here in the country money-making monopolies? I guess we albeit they wouldn’t say so. This is what we should jolly well use them. The scien­ can all answer that. TAG has gone on to do - make people tists or the people who have the power □ TOXINS ACTION aware of reports coming in from around with these machines want to use them for the world that says chemicals are toxic to some things but not for others that can GROUP human beings particularly those with cause controversy. They don’t want to TAG are people who have been subjected weakened immune systems. scare the population. They don’t want to chemical poisoning. Their aims are to Although no one in government would to terrify people because terrified people make people and the medical profession say it to your face, it’s really only been by might insist that they stop using sprays aware of the symptoms caused by chemi­ the methods employed by TAG over the altogether. Then where would the chemi­ cal poisoning and to push for the elimina­ last five years that the government has cal companies be or our chemically tion of spraying. They try to let the even become aware of chemical toxicity addicted agriculture industry? responsible government authorities know in the human body. Geoffrey Palmer has □ GETTING ACTIVE In 1986, a resident at Laingholm saw Congratulations BROADSHEET on 18 years of publishing some children sucking the honey out of the ginger plant flowers directly after it had been sprayed by contractors. He phoned and said, “I‘ve got a council meet­ / 1/ Milne Ireland Walker ing to go to tomorrow night. Can you give BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS me some details on Roundup?” So I worked til 3am, typed the whole thing up, and went to the council meeting with this fellow. He presented it and at that meeting We aim to provide quality advice at competitive rates the councillors agreed there was a spray problem and decided to set up a task force • Buying and Selling Property • Refinancing to deal with it. • Business Purchases and Sales • Company incorporations They did put in place a lengthy list of • Defending Criminal Charges • Civil litigation recommendations but they still refused to • Family Law • Planning Applications stop using sprays. All they were interested • Liquor licensing • Wills and Estates in was warning the public via media • Legal Aid Applications advertisements and putting signs up around the parks that they were spraying. They were going to set up neighbourhood Level 10, Guildford House areas where people could take care of 2 Emily Place, AUCKLAND their own reserves with council support so Telephone (09) 796 937 Fax 778 014 that they no longer needed to be sprayed. I was very disappointed that the work­ ing party they said they would establish Deidre Milne, George Ireland, Tony Walker y \ A \ iv never took place. When we were invited to give them our response to the recom-

26 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 mendations, we thought we‘d all be in the big fat dollar”. You only have to read there together - the chemical company the book Elements of Risk to know what people, TAG and all these other people I’m talking about. that we thought were going to be there. We got there to find that they’d set up an appointment for the chemical reps before □ RESOURCES us and they wouldn’t let us near them. We There are 11 branches of Toxins Action had to sit outside and wait until the chem­ Group (TAG) in New Zealand. ical reps had gone. Then we were allowed e> PO Box 99 315, Newmarket, AUCKLAND to go in and give our two pennies worth. acts as a clearing house providing references to It was obvious that the chemical company doctors and groups in other areas. Some TAG people had got to the councillors. I’m still branches are: not sure how, but by the time we got there C l- Brian Goulstone, 65 Pennuddick Rise, the whole attitude had changed complete­ Westmorland, CHRISTCHURCH 3 ly from one that had been of great support C/ - Anne Forw ard, 4 Hartwell PI. for making Waitamata City free of spray TAURANGC/- Sheila Clegg, 16 Wood to “Oh no we can‘t do that”. Street, Wainuiomata, LOWER HUTT I think the chemical companies are • PO Box 7018, TIKIPUNGA beginning to panic because they know The Pesticide Action Kit includes valuable their products are no longer warranted in information on pesticide problems worldwide, the food industry so they’re looking for legislation, lobbying strategies, alternatives and other places to dump their sprays. I can a resource list. Available for $12.40 plus $1 give you a clear instance of how the postage from Pesticide Action Network PO Box 11 345, WELLINGTON (04)851 909. chemical companies are trying to pump photo: Gil Hanly ^ Soil and Health is the quarterly publication their products into the local council peo­ country who are environmentally aware or of the Soil and Health Association with excel­ ple. The Waitakere City Council is going know how to deal with the chemical lent news and information about the latest in to have a huge spray program initiated at victim. The medical school doesn’t want organic growing and environment-related the beginning of spring to get rid of the to know about it because they don’t know health issues. Membership info: Box 2824, ginger plant in the Waitakeres. They’re how to treat the problem. AUCKLAND. Phone/Fax (09) 480 6650. going to be using Escort which is metsul- It doesn’t matter how often the general furon based, a very toxic chemical proven public are told about chemicals, unless it □ SUGGESTED READING to be carcinogenic. It belongs to the same happens to them they don’t care. It’s like Elements of Risk - The Chemical Threat to group of chemicals as tri-chlorphenol that road accidents. Unless it happens to you America, by Cathy Trask and available through in 1976 poisoned thousands of Italians or a member of your family, you don’t interlibrary loan. and produced deformed babies and mis­ care. The Chemical Connection by Louise Samway. carriages in Seveso, Italy. This is the stuff The people that really must question Not All in the Mind by Dr. Richard Mackemess that they are going to dish out willy nilly themselves about this are the chemical Chemical Children by Drs. Jean Munro and to all the residents who want it and companies. I feel like I was this unpaid, Peter Mansfield they’re going to sell it at cost price! Come walking zombie that was nothing but an Allergy Overload by Stephan Griffiths summer, we are going to have one hell of experiment for the chemical companies Pesticides: Issues and Options for New a health epidemic in West Auckland. and these corporate hot shots are saying Zealand by Angus MacIntyre et al, Lincoln This is why I have given up part of my “we don’t care about them, all we want is College and Ministry for the Environment. □ job so I can approach the appropriate peo­ ple before they do it. I’ll be working on this for the next month and I’m going to tell them once and for all that they are not CENTRE FOR CONTINUING going ahead with that bloody program. They’ve got $22,000 to spend on this EDUCATION exercise that can only be described as bla­ UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO tant chemical warfare in light of what they HAMILTON know - or will when I’m finished with UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO Te Whare Wananga 0 Waikato them. It’s frightening because the health of LISTENER WOMEN’S BOOK FESTIVAL the average West Aucklander is not that Launching “Exploding Frangipanis” etcl6th to 21st September 100% fantastic. They’ve already been exposed from the spray drift from the WOMEN ON WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL orchards. I have referred about six people Courses include: Feminist Fiction, Visual Diaries, Spirituality etc. from around here in the last eighteen 12th to 18th September. months to doctors who are involved with environmental medicine and every one of Enquiries: Dianne Yates - (071) 562 899 ext 8199 them has come back and told me they have pesticides in their bodies. It’s just BRIDGING COURSES shocking. They’re people I meet locally, For Pakeha and Maori women considering enrolling in tertiary study. Programmes feeling rotten with head aches, body include confidence building, study skills, subject options, Maori language. Social aches, muscle aches, a whole range of Equity funding childcare provided. symptoms. It‘s so clear to me what their problems are. Also the number of children Enquiries: Christine Hedges - (071) 562 889, ext 8198 who are suffering concerns me. There are not enough doctors in this

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 27 Fiona Kidman talks with Pat Rosier of that. It makes her very intuitive to what’s partly because I’ve been involved in politi­ about her latest novel, True Stars and going on all down the line in an increasingly cal action of one kind or another, including her work as a writer. violent society, so that alone among Rose’s canvassing and working for the Labour friends she actually believes her predica­ Government. ment. She acts to help her friend, but she Although a lot of people now see me as a Passion for leaves it too late to help herself. part of the literary establishment, I don’t feel I felt at the end that Rose looked back on particularly like that because I’m involved in that friendship and her tribute to it was the a lot of other things in my life, things I’ve Writing co-operative which she sees as more useful been working for over the years. It seemed than political grandstanding and inter­ to me the history I should be writing is the minable fulminating about relationships. At history of what’s happening now - it was this time anyway. So she buys into the really important for me to say all of the True Stars seemed quite a pessimistic book co-operative, and there’s no way of knowing things I have written about. I don’t write to me. whether it will work or not, but it’s more novels unless I am in some way passionately In the political sense it is, because I feel that positive than what’s been happening. People involved in the action of them. people who’ve tried very hard, who believed have to try alternatives that look workable to So the historical ones all have bits of me that New Zealand society was going to take them if they’re to have any hope for the that were a strong personal concern. With a turn for the better and were tremendously future, I think, and out of it all that’s what this one the personal concern was what’s optimistic and worked really hard for a Rose does. happening now. I felt I had to so something, Labour Government, feel betrayed by what You’re not kind to your male characters on even considered getting into politics myself, has happened in the past few years. the whole. but in the end it seemed that writing was I don’t know that I’m pessimistic about No, although I think I’m kinder than I am more effective. Anyway, I’ve seen other individuals. I ’m not pessimistic about the given credit for. There are at least four sym­ women get into politics, and I don’t know way women interact with each other but I pathetic male characters in that book. I’m that I’m strong enough in that way. think we’ve been pushed into a position also aware that many men get a pretty raw It’s a very powerful machine once you get where, in spite of ourselves, we have to fight deal out of things, and although they may in there. for ourselves in an individual way which is not understand this, I think those in relation­ That’s right. I worked in the Miramar branch rather against the movement of women and ships with women who have traditional of the Labour Party - and feel totally what we’ve been working towards for years expectations are getting the worst deal of the betrayed and let down by that machinery. If and years. lot these days. I hope the book expresses my you upheld the party, which is what you I was just reading over somebody’s belief that some men are capable of tender­ were there for, there was a sort of grinding shoulder this morning on the plane about ness and want to do their best. down to make you somehow feel that you domestic purposes benefits being reduced But it’s also saying that there are many couldn’t contribute anything more than ... again. I know several people on benefits and opportunistic men around who use power in Was it something to do with a sense that it I just think there are people out there fight­ a very corrupt way. It’s hardly original to had to be an act of faith. You had to go ing for themselves and their kids and that note that male abuse of power and men along with the party, regardless of what means that broad movements about things going out for their own self-interests is you thought was wrong with what parlia­ we believe in are much harder to do. So in what’s stuffed up the very hopeful situation mentarians were doing? I think that’s that sense I am a bit pessimistic. we had in 1984 when the Labour where a lot of the disaffection of loyal The relationship between the two women, Government was elected. I’m pretty sour Labour Party supporters has come from. Toni and Rose, seemed quite sad in the about that. Yes, I think so. It’s also extremely male ori­ sense that all through the book there was May I also just say, in passing, that there entated and there’s very little room in it for the sense that they had lost something in is a certain kind of male around who cannot women to do anything. They would perhaps their relationship. There’s a lot about disil­ bear to be laughed at, not even gently. Yet disagree with me there. I just felt very put lusionment among 70’s liberals, the young women have been the butt of bad jokes for down a few times. Maybe I’m a bit who were going to change the world and centuries. Now that some of us have become super-sensitive, maybe the very fact of then actually got some political power. amused rather than desperate there is a being a writer and spending a lot of time on Toni of course at one stage says “Fuck poli­ terrible flailing and state of agitation in male one’s own - I’m actually not a great team tics, you and I count more than politics” but ranks. person, so perhaps I’m being a bit harsh on Toni’s own life is in disarray and she’s a vic­ One of the things I found interesting about them. I know there was a committed tim of white collar domestic violence, which True Stars is that it’s very much a novel women’s group in the branch and perhaps is not at all uncommon in my experience. I about contemporary New Zealand. It’s it’s partly a reflection on me that I wasn’t ... don’t want to dwell on it, but one of my about the present Labour Government, it’s just some things happened, and I thought great friends was Leigh Minnit, and I about selling out, it’s about political dilem­ there go the boys again ... I was totally disil­ wouldn’t like her friends or mine to think mas, loss of idealism, things that are on lusioned by the whole thing. I had used that situation as Toni’s but people’s minds with an election coming up. The people in this book interest me. I nonetheless it’s made me enormously aware Most of our novels tend to have been set in really like small town New Zealand, and of the level of violence within seemingly the past, if sometimes in the recent past that’s quite unfashionable. I’m working on a respectable situations, and Toni was a victim I was very conscious that I had been writing television series about the history of rural novels set in the past, except for A Breed of New Zealand at the moment, which gives Women which was contemporary to its time. me the opportunity to go back to small coun­ I even considered I’ve been writing period and historical try towns, which is where I was brought up. novels for some years and I think that as a I know they are mean and brutish in many getting into politics country with a young European history it’s respects, and that some awful things happen important to write those and track the past there and that the patina of the green fields myself and where we come from. But I have felt so and so forth is not necessarily true and that a passionately about what’s happened in the lot of the work is about killing animals and past few years that I decided that it was a so forth, but all the same there are some true cop-out not to do something about it - and real values about people helping each

28 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 photo: Robert Cross other which I grew up amongst and which I film companies, I’ve written things like a in the morning and work through until believe in and which do work for the people “keeping ourselves safe” series for schools two-ish every day, that’s about how long my who live there. They are doing the best they and quite a lot of educational videos, which I concentration span will last. Then I do the can in the situation they find themselves in. I get paid very well for. But I’m not making a other things in my life. I try and have a rest think it’s easy to dismiss that as being not living as a novelist, although I imagine I’m and a relaxed evening then away I go again important, but it it is I wanted to say that in one of the better-paid. the next morning. I don’t have a particularly that book. Do you have a particularly disciplined way social life, I don’t go out a great deal when Yes. Although the picture you paint of the of writing? I’m writing a novel. When I do finish a small town is certainly not a romantic one. I’m disciplined. When I set out to write a novel I probably have a splurge of seeing No. But it takes the lives of its inhabitants novel I do quite a lot of research first. I like everybody I haven’t seen for ages. So it’s seriously. And I hope it says that their lives a lot of concrete detail in my novels. I used quite demanding of friendship. are important. to be described as a realist. I don’t really Sometimes when I’m writing a novel I I don’t think the police will particularly think that’s stricdy accurate any more, but I am also doing other work. It has to be some­ like the book. like to build up a surface of real things, thing I badly want to do or I badly need the Not much I imagine. I feel sympathetic to I liken it to skating on an iced-over lake. money. I’m now at the point when I can look the police in the sense they’ve got a job The ice looks real and is real, but ice also ahead and see that if I get the book to such to do which is often a rotten one and people cracks and there’s dark water beneath, and and such a point I could take a month or so who do rotten jobs deserve some compas­ my work is like that. It’s dense with real off and do something else. I do less and less sion and concern, but I don’t think they’ve detail which the reader will go along with now. There was a period in my life when - I handled it very well. I think 1981 was a very and believe, so I do a lot of research before I remember going to do my tax once and find­ bad time for the police in the sense that the start a novel. ing I’d worked for 23 people in the year. power they were given to believe they were I also try to get reasonable fit before I I thought my God I can’t keep this up, I legitimately wielding was corrupting and it start a novel because you have to be quite can’t maintain that. will take them a long time to recover - if strong when you’re writing a novel the way Finally, futures. they want to recover. There’s a lot of thump­ I do. I start writing every day at about half I am working for a year on these television ing up of kids that goes on late at night in past seven or eight o’clock. I do my reading documentaries and that’s building up my Wellington and I find it extremely early in the morning from about half past bread and butter. I’ve had quite a few grants unsavoury. five, and that’s part of a Umbering up pro­ but I don’t want to live in a grant system for I want to shift focus a bit from the book cess. I take long walks, and I try and get the rest of my life. I’m grateful for the ones and ask you whether you actually make a early nights and eat reasonable food. Once I there are, but there are a lot of new, young living from writing. start it is just such hard work and I expect it writers and I think they should have a share Yes, but not by writing prose, by writing to take at least a year. I think to myself, well in it I want to start another novel but I seri­ other things. I spent quite a few years work­ now, if I do x, y, and z and write so many ously want to spend some time writing ing as a media writer for radio and television words a day - which I do - 1 can do it faster, poems and short stories again. I’d like to and although I do very little radio work and but you never can, because there’s always have six months or so where I didn’t have a don’t work directly for television any more, the redrafting and rewriting to do and I’ve lot of pressure on me. I have published three I am doing this work for an independent film become more meticulous about that as collections of poems and two of short stories company. I write videos for independent I’ve gone on. So I start about half past seven and both of those are the things I like most.D

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 29 Frances Porter won the 1990 New Zealand Book Award: Non Fiction for Born to New Zealand: A biography of Jane Maria Atkinson. She talked with L la ire-Louise McCurdy. FRANCES PORTER leaving in the gossipy bits

hat got me interested in Maria in Council of Women and all that, I’d go be extricated. Joseph Hutton’s son kept on the first place were the back to doing research on New Zealand turning up with books, by which he proba­ Richmond-Atkinson papers history. bly meant chocolates and flowers, and which Scholefield edited and Actually, from about 50 on, I’ve been Maria, avid for books, kept on taking Wpublished in 1960. Scholefield’s interest flat out writing. I was editor of the them, but she wasn’t attracted to him at was mainly political, but he couldn’t Historic Places Trust for a little while and all. It had to be pointed out by her mother finally not put Maria’s letters in - they I decided that if I wanted to get back to or elder brother that he was getting quite wrote themselves in, they were such dam Maria, now is the time. Before I did get the wrong message. The mother actually good letters. But he cut out the “gossipy writing on her, I was working on some writes to him to tell him he’s wrong in his bits” - and of course the gossipy bits are women missionaries, and the contrast is interpretation of Maria’s feelings towards what is now called social history. I’m total. Of course, the missionaries, whether him. You get the impression that women awfully glad I didn’t start researching man or woman, come out to labour in the of Maria’s age really weren’t expected to Maria then, because woman though I am, Lord’s vineyards and they really don’t handle this tricky minefield of the whole woman’s thing hadn’t washed expect to enjoy themselves in New men-women relationships because she is over me sufficiently for my antennae to Zealand. But Maria came out to find extricated from France by her brother with pick up what Scholefield had discarded. herself - and to enjoy this country and her mother covering up. Then when she I’ve been helped immeasurably by the she did. This creates the difference encounters poor Henry Hutton she is extri­ work that has been done in the last twenty between Maria’s letters and the cated again and then when it does seem as years in women’s studies, particularly missionaries’ letters. though she has actually fallen in love, the studies of nineteenth century women and family regard him as rather unsuitable and the whole Virago Press. In Wellington even Maria feels that this is a situation Central Library there are three bins of **if you look at settlers like where the love of a good woman will do them, all very much thumbed. A lot of the Richmonds and wonders for his imperfections. But she them are either by minor writers of the Atkinsons simply through isn’t too sure and is extricated from that. nineteenth century who would never have In a sense, women turn to each other with seen the light of day again otherwise, or the dark glasses of colonial relief. written by later writers about nineteenth imperialism, you don’t see I don’t use the term “homosocial ties” century women. Along with more scholar­ but one of the women who wrote in schol­ ly things , they have been a very great them at all" arly fashion, Carol Smith-Rosenberg talks help, because you never get a balance of of them. That is what they were. Marriage sources when you are doing this sort Scholefield left out what I call the didn’t really intervene in that relationship of job. You get a period of three years bonding letters, the letters from Maria to of Maria and Margie, it didn’t interrupt it when you’re absolutely inundated - her friend Margaret in Germany. Margaret, at all. And when you get to the second everybody’s writing to everybody else and fortunately living in a castle, kept the let­ generation, you get Dolla and Alla keeping diaries - and then there are years ters. She had 28 desks in that castle and (Dorothy Kate and Ann Elizabeth when there’s hardly a thing. Occasionally one of them probably held all the New Richmond, Maria’s nieces), two sisters. I had to leap in the dark but the other writ­ Zealand letters, largely from Maria. Maria That was an intense bonding. Of course ers had put out some lights for me, so I didn’t keep any of hers - living in such they lost their mother early in their lives, could say something or assume something crowded quarters, she didn’t hoard any­ but the interesting thing is that there is no without feeling I was going to fall in a pit. thing. She was always careful about her self-consciousness about it. Alla said I did a degree in history at Victoria, correspondence, but I think once she had openly “We tried sleeping in separate beds just after the war, and from there I went to answered, she tossed the letter aside or - we didn’t like it so we’re back in one Internal Affairs, Historical Branch. I was destroyed it. double bed”. And when Dolla is in Italy paid probably half what a male research The “bonding” letters between Maria waiting for Alla to turn up she says “It officer would have been paid but still, I and Margaret are crucial, partly because may be tonight, it may be tomorrow we’ll was happy. I had been working on early they establish such contrasts. Maria, par­ be together under the same mosquito net”. settlement and I thought that once I ticularly when she was in England and She writes this to her aunt who’s elderly reached 40 which seemed miles and miles rather bored and introspective, pours her and obviously one of the Establishment away - over the horizon - and got out of heart out to Margaret. But at the same group in “the mob” without a moment’s children and good works and playcentres time she seems to commit extraordinary hesitation. In the same way when and school committees and the National faux pas with men from which she has to Margaret (another niece, one of C.W.

30 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 Richmond’s daughters) goes to Newman husband Harry? Harry found her death a College and gets caught up with a group total surprise. Had he said anything to of young women, Mary and her mother Jane? Even if he had, she might have find “the young lovers” quite maddening thought “Oh well, it is my job to produce but there’s no hint of “immorality”. These children every second year”, and thought relationships are interesting and I think she was lucky because some had them just M aria at 28, 85 1 they become stronger in the second gener­ on the thirteen months. He didn’t tell any­ ation as women start to do things. They body there was no way she could survive wouldn’t have thought of the word “net­ and she went straight into death. working” but they were starting to work Around the same time, the Hurworth together, they’re going to university men went off to the Taranaki wars. They together, they hang on to each others either joined the Volunteers or were hands as it were. Or they are going on a pushed into the militia. There were about painting expedition to France and you get 12 or 14 of them and they all marched off that delightful letter (you can’t blame and they all came marching back and Scholefield for not using this one - it’s in none of them was so much as scratched.

a different collection) of Alla writing to But the women died. Four of the photo: Alexander Turnbull Library Dolla in some upset because they’re in Hurworth women died in childbirth or gulf between the European concept of France and Connie wants to sleep with from fevers immediately afterwards. In St. property, private and fenced and the Dolla and that’s making Margaret jealous Mary’s church at the moment there are the Maori conception of an indivisible com­ and Connie’s slightly consumptive and hatchments, but where are the women - munal heritage. Immigrants coming here Alla is bothered about that. She writes in on neglected gravestones somewhere, saw thousands and thousands of acres of some perturbation “I wish one of you probably crumbled away. bush and hadn’t any conception that in a would turn into a man”! Here you’ve got the 1989 person look­ tribal view that bit was renowned for its In grief situations too, the women turn ing at them just as you have with the pigeons, this bit for the stream which pro­ to each other - when they lose children or wars. I don’t go along with the activists duced eels, that it was all known and used lose daughters in childbearing. It is so who say they were colonial imperialists in a shifting seasonal way but it was not much assumed it was a normal hazard, and therefore bad eggs. I think you have fenced and owned. they turned to their sisters - although they to ask what else could they have been? I William (Maria’s brother) thought he wouldn’t have thought of them as a sorori­ think immigrants like the Richmonds and would be conferring a great benefit on the ty in those days - and they were much Atkinsons didn’t think about coming to a anarchy of Maori land ownership if the more open with them. When Mary country settled already by an “indigenous native title was individualised. If he had Richmond (Maria’s sister-in-law) has a people” - the term was a generation away. done that, the wars would have been total­ baby, her husband James describes it as The New Zealand Company propaganda ly devastating. a normal delivery and Mary writes “It was stated blandly that the tribal fighting is I know people now talk about a plunge into the dark from which I over, people are converting to Christianity Maoridom as though it were one whole, thought I would never see the light again”. and the excitement of literacy and but it probably isn’t that now and it cer­ Mary did die very shortly after childbirth. the advantages of trading with the tainly wasn’t then. Arthur (Maria’s hus­ And in the second generation when Fanny Europeans and you can forget about the band) fought against Maori, but he also Atkinson was in labour her cousin, Alla, Maori problem. fought alongside Maori fighting Maori, writing to Maria, said “They weren’t Nobody, I think, except some mission­ then when he wasn’t fighting Maori he going to let Fanny have chloroform but I aries like Hadfield really understood the was going off on an expedition to live told Clement he was an idiot and Fanny might well be having a baby in Queen Elizabeth’s time”. Alla reported that the CONTINUING EDUCATION doctor thought the delivery was normal but Fanny thought it was awful. FOOD, FAT AND FASHION WOMEN I can still remember getting cross with A workshop based on the book “Nobody’s Cathie Dunsford the manner of Jane Atkinson’s death - she Perfect” by Pat Rosier and Jasbindah Singh. Saturday/Sunday 6/7 October 10.00am-5.00pm was Harry Atkinson’s (Maria’s Saturday 29 September 10.00am-4.00pm WHAT CAN ONE PERSON DO? brother-in-law) first wife. She had PERSONALITY TYPE AND EFFECTIVE Empowerment for Social Change Derbyshire throat - goitre was endemic in PERFORMANCE Fran Peavey Derbyshire. Maria and her mother noticed Keven Hall Monday 3 September 7.30-9.00pm Friday 12 October 7.00-10.00pm MUSIC AND HEALING the goitre was growing but didn’t like to Saturday 13 October 9.30am-4.30pm Helen Bonny say anything because it was a disfigure­ TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CAREER Thursday 20 September 7.30-9.00pm ment. Jane had had a child every two Saturday/Sunday 17/18 November THE BONNY METHOD OF GUIDED years and this was her fourth. Maria went 9.30am—4.30pm IMAGERY AND MUSIC to call on her and noticed she was having COMMUNICATION SKILL FOR HEALTH Helen Bonny trouble speaking. The last words she heard PROFESSIONALS Saturday 22 September 10.00am-5.00pm her say were “Haven’t I always done so Saturdays 6 & 13 October 9.30am^4.30pm well.” This was in reference to childbear­ Thursday 3 October 7.30-9.00pm Enquiries to: ing. She had a cold, she had phlegm in her WRITING OURSELVES WHOLE: THE Centre for Continuing Education, throat and she asphyxiated. What made CREATIVE PROCESS FOR WOMEN University of Auckland, Private Bag, me cross was that Dr. Rawson, who also Cathie Dunsford AUCKLAND. classed himself as a farmer then told Saturday/Sunday 22/23 September Phone 737 831, 737 832 Maria’s husband that there was no way 10.00am-5.00pm ADVANCED WRITING COURSE FOR . she could have survived this pregnancy and it was a miracle that she survived the previous one. Did he say anything to her

AUG UST 1990 BROADSHEET 31 with them to learn the language and cus­ There was one despondent letter, when toms. But as far as the land went, certain­ Jane Maria Richmond Arthur is finally in the General Assembly ly in New Plymouth where there was just in Wellington and Maria is in New a strip of farmland and then thick bush, Settling in Taranaki in 1854. Jane Plymouth looking after a whole heap of the settlers just wanted more accessible Maria Richmond married Arthur children at Beach Cottage - the elastic land that they didn’t have to cut down, Atkinson, nine years her junior, had cottage. Arthur sends her a book of bum off, that they could own. five children, suckled others and looked Browning’s poems and buys John Stuart I don’t think anybody could know that Mill for himself. And Maria, choosing to after friends and relatives. She was an the demand for land was insatiable. If forget that they had read M ill’s On you’re looking at it from 1989, you can ardent letter writer, to “the mob” of Liberty together writes, with heavy sar­ say that within 30 years of the Treaty of Richmond-Atkinson kin, and to friends casm that obviously J.S. Mill is too much Waitangi, the land changed hands. That is in England and Europe. A constant and for her brain which is just a woman’s a fact. But on the other hand, if you look catholic reader, she commented vigor­ brain but perhaps Arthur and those wise at settlers like the Richmonds and ously on political and moral issues, men might realise some time that equally Atkinsons and others like them simply including the position of women. With wise men are finding out that half the pop­ through the dark glasses of colonial impe­ many of her male relatives involved in ulation are women and perhaps that might rialism, you don’t see them at all. national politics and the Taranaki wars, be an interesting job, to raise them from I did find that I had to watch again and her life encompasses both the wide their degradation. About this time male again that I didn’t take after Harry political context and the day-to-day Maori get the vote and to Maria, rebel Atkinson, politician, or C.W. Richmond Maori were able to vote and women detail of woman’s life in colonial and the Waitara problem or J.C. weren’t. Richmond when he was minister of New Zealand Maria wanted women to be indepen­ Native Affairs. I had to focus on Maria dently minded, but not strong-minded or but background her so when she gets very strident. Rosemary Smith, writing about much like a virago about being entitled to think Maria is definitely gungho when she Susan Wood, a settler in Southland in the scream for help in Taranaki, then I do writes about “nervous old ladies”. I have 1840’s (I quote with permission of the edi­ point out that she is shrieking here. And contrasted that with somebody else’s tors of the forthcoming Book of New that she ceases to shriek as the war goes description of women screaming and Zealand Women ) says “She was a femi­ on and on and on and she becomes more grabbing children and not even grabbing nist in the nineteenth century sense of aware of the danger Arthur’s running their bonnets they are so anxious to get claiming equal value for woman’s role and although in fact she is probably in greater into the barracks and safety, to show that a right to develop talents. But she rejected danger just keeping on having kids. When Maria is being a bit insensitive there. the ‘crowing hen’ as foolish and outside she talks about subduing the Maori with But also constantly throughout her life, God’s order”.Now that is Maria. British steel it is pointed out that they’d it was just taken for granted that if people I suppose you could say she is a radical tried that and it wasn’t too successful. were sick or troubled, they were sent to in the sense that she wanted people to I like the comments of Mary King’s Maria. When she is in Bristol, later in life, probe to the root of things and she says where she says “We have become she goes for a walk by herself and I think again and again, “Of course, I’m a sceptic immersed in the war. All our talk is of that is the only time I heard of her being to the very backbone”. Towards the end of fighting, of killing. If the war goes on, it by herself. Every time she was suckling her life in Nelson, she becomes interested will make savages of us all”. There is her own babies, she was suckling some­ in the Baptist Church. At that point, the another woman’s comment on the war. I one else’s as well. non-conformist churches in particular were taking up Temperance and the other cause that went with it, women’s suffrage. So Maria becomes a Baptist, largely for a . our prim ary aim has been to address the needs o f intellectual reasons. She likes the ser­ women to go one step beyond the awareness o f being in mons, but writes “unimmersed, of course”. unhealthy relationships in which they give away their I think her basic nature was a forward personal power and sense o f self 5 5 looking on, but she didn’t want to move * STEPHANIE COVINGTON - LIANA BECKETT outside the warmth of family ties. She would have found our tight little nuclear family far too small. Her own family was so large, so extended and interesting, she would have said she had enough to do with her role there. I’m not sure if I’d started writing about Maria when I returned to writing some years ago, whether I would have been capable of picking up the little things. There’s a lot to be said for waiting until you’re over 50 and have experienced life yourself before you start writing about another woman, even though she’s 100 years before you. The more experience a writer has, the easier it is to related to the little things. In a sense, the networking has always been there, but women now, like women then, are appreciating it again. □

32 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 s t r o k e s and art attacks

WHOOPI GOLDBERG A GIRL’S GOTTA EAT Reviewed by Lisa Sabbage If ever there was a feminist equivalent of toilet humour Whoopi G oldberg’s is it. Male comics use toilet humour a lot - you know, those silly jokes about penises, wees and farts which everyone from Benny Hill to Rowan Atkinson delights in making. Their jokes about women are inevitably derogatory jokes about mother-in-laws, nagging wives or insatiable mistresses. Whoopi’s toilet humour turns the toilet on its head. A large number of the jokes in her one-woman show were about sex, sex­ ual organs and bodily functions. However, women were not the “victims” of these jokes but the audience for them. For instance, when Whoopi complained about the inadequacies of young lovers (she did her best to include lesbians) and their inability to give “good head”, there were shrieks of recognition from the women in the audience. In the end, Whoopi said she had to give her toyboy a lifesaver lolly and tell him “use your tongue not your teeth”. More howls of laughter. Similarly, Whoopi’s jokes about the perils of PMT had women rolling in the aisles. Her description of tampon use was greeted by guffaws and giggles and by this stage many men in the audience humour tended to get more laughs than witty digs at sexism and were noticeably uncomfortable, which somehow seemed to make racism. Annabel Lomas said her worst moment was when “I was the women laugh even louder. I particularly liked Whoopi’s visual wrapped from head to foot in a piece of muslin for a Comedy description of masturbation - she just wiggled her index finger Store skit with Andrea Kelland and some guy yelled out ‘con­ and said “boop, boop”. dom!’” Get the picture? However, there is more to Whoopi than toilet humour, albeit Reactions like that underscored the need for an arena for subversive toilet humour. Humour is a powerful educative tool women comics which was less like a lion’s den. Every second and Whoopi uses it to good effect. Safe sex, racism, abortion and Sunday, the Gluepot in Auckland becomes this arena. AIDS were issues discussed in her brand of no-nonsense comedy, On June 24 I went along to their first performance, which had and she left the audience in no doubt about her Black and feminist a fashion theme. The obsession with slimming, the fashion indus­ political perspective. try, heterosexism and much, much more came under fire. Over I guess you have to understand a joke to laugh at it. So there 300 people crammed into the pub, while others queueing outside was some irony in the fact that the vast majority of Whoopi’s had to be turned away. audience (at her first Aotea Centre performance) were Suzanne McAleer’s performance proved the value of a venue middle—class and white. They laughed at Whoopi’s jokes about for women comedians. This was the first time she had performed white racist cops and the hypocrisy of a government which does her Noreen routine, yet her timing was perfect and her delivery little to alleviate poverty and and yet bans safe, legal abortion. just dry enough. Noreen came on stage and told the audience Does this mean all those people who chuckled also support her she’d been to a psychic who told her she was going to meet a anti-racist, feminist stance? reticent man. At her sister’s wedding she did meet a man. Noreen Or is it a case of laughing at a funny Black woman and forget­ was pleased she was wearing an apricot coloured dress because it ting the punchline? I wonder how many would have laughed if a matched the colour of her car. They both climbed in and she knew Maori woman had stood up and told the same jokes in a New this was the one when she said that magical word “condom?” and Zealand context. Whatever the answer, A Night with Whoopi he answered reticently, “yes”. Goldberg was incisive, inspirational, funny, and, most of all, Fashion took a beating from all the comedians - from satirical affirming for the women in the audience. sociologist to the opportunity shop fashion parade compered in The same can be said for A Girl’s Gotta Eat, a bunch of women appropriately nasal tones by Alison Wall. The St Vincent de Paul who have created a forum in Auckland for comedy by women. (or was it the Methodist Mission?) creation modelled by Celia Women comics have been bubbling in Auckland for a number Nicholson in sneeringly fine form, was particularly attractive. of years now. The Bandana women, Annabel Lomas, Andrea In her incomparable style, Lynda Topp delighted and shocked Kelland and Celia Nicholson have won an enthusiastic following everyone by leaving the stage to discuss her topic - lingerie. She through sheer hard work and clever sketches. Alison Wall’s satire strolled through the audience stopping every now and then to as seen on the short-lived Laugh INZ and in the more endurable inspect the bras of various wearers or non-wearers and describe Theatresports have won her many fans also. And Lynda Topp has the implications of each garment. If anyone else had attempted been threatening to break out from behind her guitar for some such a routine I would have been offended, but Lynda managed to time. get away with it. In the past, the only opportunity the women in A Girl’s Gotta A Girl’s Gotta Eat is looking for new writers and performers. Eat have had to perform alongside other comedians has been at Hopefully the success it is enjoying will encourage other closet the Comedy Store. Not surprisingly, at the Store male toilet women comics to put on their disguises and polish their routines.

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 33 a r t

“I found this ‘old lady’ mask in the horror section of a toy shop!! I am reclaiming her - this is my tribute to the Crone.” Lauren Lethal.

CONTAIN ANTS images, bits of drawing, painting, photos, remain visible, and “Allied Wholesale Lauren Lethal - Jane Zusters magazine cut-outs and some openings in Meats, the boxed beef people”. Blues, McDougall Art Annex Christchurch the form of windows and flaps. light and dark, storm sensations, Roxdale M ay-Ju ne . One large piece in red, with green and peaches, Whiskas cat food, spaghetti, Reviewed by Pat Rosier. yellow, has a number of “daily bread” splashing Zusters colours. Jane Zusters and Lauren Lethal each treat­ images - bread, milk bottles, basic food, a Lauren Lethal, on the other hand, takes ed the containants theme quite differently. cameo creams box, and a restaurant image containers - small, clear, plastic cases and Jane Zusters took packaging cartons, from a magazine. Some are painted over, domes and fills them with visual puns. opened them out, joined some together, like the boxes - the artist engaged in daily Then adds a title that also puns. As in “A and made surfaces to paint on. And paint living as well as art. There are many other blatant case of heterosexuality”, that she did, with a typical Zusters free-ness juxtapositions of art as serious intent and includes, among other things, Mills and of brush stroke and colour. There’s colour profound and daily living, as no less seri­ Boon cupids dreaming money-bags, a on colour, brightness, movement, add-on ous but mundane. “Top stow” allowed to kissing man and woman, a bride and groom, and “Direct from the manufactur­ TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS er”. Very witty and playful, but incorpo­ rating stringent - wonderfully shrill even presents - comment. Australia's most compelling Then there’s “An open and shut case” singer songwriter about women and art, “1990 - a show case” with a white sugar bag (get it?), frilly curtain, plastic tiki with one half JUDY SMALL painted over white, a bit of tourist tea-towel in the background.... “A case 1990 NZ TOUR of who dunnit” about Edward Kennedy, and more. “A case of mistaken identity” is a profound comment on the status and Thurs. 9th Aug - Memorial Theatre position of women. The imagery includes Victoria University, Wellington a figure bound in a tape measure. Sat. 11th Aug - State Trinity Theatre The domes work in a similar way. “I Worcester Street, Christchurch get the tranquilizers you get the tranquilli­ Mon. 13th Aug - Maidment Theatre ty” and “The day Jack turned into the tele­ Auckland University, Auckland vision she knew it was time to leave” were favourites of mine. And “Sacred Book at BASS ticket offices everywhere cow”, with a woman’s head on a bovine Tickets $20.00 + booking fee figure with the words, “God could not be everywhere so he made mothers.” There’s a density of reference in both "the writer and singer of some of our most powerful social and political songs..." the content and method of these two very different collections of work that I found stimulating and fun.

34 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 films The Honeymoon Killers dir by Leonard Kastle Enemies, A Love Story Dir by Paul Mazursky Reviewed by Lisa Sabbage Both these films have been critically well-received, but surprise, surprise, sur­ prise, both demonstrate the subtle and not-so-subtle ways misogyny can operate on the screen. The Honeymoon Killers is currently travelling the alternative cinema circuit, and the narrative, pace and direction of the black and white film are certainly interesting and distinctive. Based on the true story of Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez, who defrauded and murdered up to 20 middle-aged women in 1950s America, the film deals with only four of the couple’s crimes. The film has been described by critics as “upbeat” and “witty” but there really isn’t much to laugh about. In fact a great chunk of the film’s humour is at the expense of the victims: women who Kastle has chosen to depict as whining, pathetic, desperate or whoreish. Laughing husband’s Jewish faith, Masha despises in the newspaper. There are some fine at these women is little different from Ray and renounces her God. The virgin-whore comic moments between Tamara and and Martha’s victimisation of them. dichotomy becomes more obvious as the Yadwiga and Tamara’s character is the Some critics, and indeed the actor who film progresses. only one who seems to see through played Martha, have claimed the film Masha is as desperate as Herman to Herman. shows a fat woman in a positive light - as escape the memories of fascist violence. As each woman finds out about the sexual rather than the asexual beings fat She breaks the rules as often as he does - other, Herman becomes more and more women are popularly perceived to be. both are unfaithful, both liars, Herman is disturbed. He is forced to confront all his Ignoring the question of why women are an irresponsible husband, Masha an irre­ ghosts - fear, guilt, grief - and he can’t required to be sexual on-screen at all, I sponsible daughter. The difference cope. He runs away instead, leaving felt this “praise” was hollow. More screen between them is that Masha is a woman Tamara to look after Yadwiga and the time was devoted to showing Martha eat­ and women are not allowed to break the child she is pregnant with. Escape is an ing handfuls of chocolate in secret than to rules. When she fails to even have a prop­ option for Herman, but it is not for the sexual/sensual encounters between her er pregnancy, the patriarchal test of true two women. and Ray. This bingeing and Martha’s womanhood, you know Masha’s cards are Enemies is most optimistic in its final floundering attempt to drown herself tap on the table. She has to pay the ultimate resolution. And I couldn’t help thinking as into the old stereotype of fat women being price “bad” women always do in films - I watched Tamara, Yadwiga and Masha, ridiculous - worthy of ridicule. they must die. how much more I would have enjoyed the If Killers is an attempt to explore the Anjelica Huston brings a strong breeze film if it had been focused on them relationship between Martha and Ray, as of fresh air into the film. She plays instead of Herman. Without Herman, the some critics claim, then it fails. The audi­ Herman’s first wife, Tamara, who he film does indeed become a love story. For ence leaves without knowing what fueled believed dead until she advertises for him this reason, Enemies is worth seeing. the obsession between them - there was little sign of lust or genuine affection. What the film seems to suggest most strongly is that the fraud was motivated by greed, but there would have been no mur­ NEW W O M EN ’S A RTISTS ders if it were not for Martha’s jealousy COMMUNITY and manipulation of Ray. Somehow I HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY Auckland’s Galatos Street Theatre was doubt it was so simple. the scene of the fundraiser and inaugu­ BROADSHEETUom Enemies, A Love Story is not so much a ral introduction to the new Women’s love story as a story of the guilt, despair, Artists Community (WAC) for Auckland desperation and dishonesty of one man. EVERYTHING BUT in May. Joshna La Trobe was there. Herman Broder finds himself in New The Women’s Artists Community (WAC) York in 1949, married to the Polish peas­ THE GIRL is a newly formed, evolving group of ant Yadwiga who saved him from the women from diverse backgrounds who Nazis. New single from the acclaimed have come together to express their love Set against the fair, simple, innocent album L A N G U A G E O F LIFE of the arts and desire to do something for and faithful Yadwiga is Herman’s mis­ “ Take M e ” the environment and society. WAC wants tress, Masha. Masha is - yes, you guessed to encourage the musical, literary and it - dark, sensual, cynical, stunningly out now! artistic education of women; to assist with beautiful, and faithless. While Yadwiga research and to promote performance and desperately wants to convert to her exhibitions of aesthetic, social, political

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 35 music and environmental significance. As Arani Cuthbert, the evening’s compere said “If society will not support women artists then we will have to support ourselves”. Well this is the kick in the bum that the tired local entertainment scene needs. Films and videos by Auckland filmmakers Adriana Tuscia, Linda Earle, Brigette Sutherland and Sally Smith display a vivid antipathy to the typical portrayal of women on the dreaded celluloid. This constant flickering of experiment with animation, old soundtracks, dated Hollywood, subur­ ban tedium, plus the praises of women’s beauty in madonnas and movie stars was the injection of inspiration that the packed audience took into their hearts and imaginations. Music for the evening included the fierce trumpet of Edwina Thome, the off­ beat and laidback humour of Kathryn Tait, the spontaneous Maria Monet who had the entire audience chanting soul, the familiar ballads of Jess Hawk Oakenstar, plus the truly celestial harmonies of Turiiya, and finally the Blue Marbles (plus giggly, wig- gly gogo dancers) who shook the audience with their high energy, sassy lyrics such as Auckland band Turiiya “I don’t want to be your funky sex machine...” nicely followed by the Contact the Women Artists Community group C/- Joshna La Trobe, 5l Sussex St. throaty,“Shutup and Kiss Me”. Grey Lynn, AUCKLAND. (09)762-290

Susun Weeds' Wise Woman Healing books are stocked by the Read our Writers

The Australasian- MANYING IP COLLEGE HOME AWAY FROM HOME Life Stories o f Chinese Women in New Zealand The wonderful book everyone is bringing Susun to N.Z. for is talking about. two exciting Workshops ALEXANDRIA CHALMERS in November 1990. THE WINTERING HOUSE ‘Shimmers with epigrammatic Write today - lines glistening with truth. Freepost 2164, Few modern novels can have P O Box 4451, Auckland. such magnetic attraction.' (Nelson Evening Mail) YES, please send me your - NGAHUIA TE AWEKOTUKU □ FREE Mail Order Catalogue TAHURI □ Susun's Workshop details 'Creates place and mood □ FREE College Prospectus beautifully. . . the characters move through NAME:___ these stories as though they truly belong there. ’ ADDRESS: (Broadsheet) New BS LIMITED

36 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 37 If any M etro. BROADSHEET Broadsheet! environment. readers have any doubt about Term Three 1990 at courses available courses at please phone 771228. Happy Birthday September 10.00am - 12.00pm THE PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL SCHOOL ARTS PERFORMING THE on self-expression andto explore their creativity a in non-competitive and fun Sandra’s thoroughness was evident THE PERFORMINGTHE SCHOOL ARTS wide range ofdance and drama WOMEN’S DRAMA VENUE: Orange NewtonBallroom 145 VENUE: Rd To enquire aboutTo and class thethis This class is open is class to those who toThis wish focus WOMEN'S DRAMA begins Tuesday 11th and “The first post-Cartwright year: a appearance of JanSandra Corbett’s attack “Second on Thoughts on the the inadequacies ofJan Corbett’s article, I writing styles. throughout the cervicaland continues cancer to inquiry,be manifest in the two urge post-Cartwright them year.” And compare to the read “The first case study in institutional resistance”. It is piece be available at present, given the Unfortunate Women’s”Experiment in the at National July the women’s liberation movementlate seventies that in seem to the have resulted in some disillusionment with feminism in the eighties. I guess I wanted a bit inmore the belly”“fire about feminism itself. Broadsheet final pieces of this book, “The recall row” particularly appropriate that the latter

Dominion pieces too. The one thathad I was left with a slight feeling ofdisap­ The Wise Woman tradition works from Keeping in mind that Weed has lived 1980) perhaps I never experienced the antagonisms in and self-destruction of Sandra has. As I came into feminism a lit­ tle later than women like Sandra (around ing on particular issues.have displayed And not the many same staying power in the introduction about there being “not training.” (Now there’s feminist humour!) and men and media obfuscations, I admire much left of a feminist movement in NewZealand”, although there are groups work­ pointment, though. It’s true what she says There’s plenty ofhumour in the with a man who’s done assertiveness guffaw. As well as appreciating hereye acutefor sacred cows, myths about women crisp writing. Sunday Times me laughing loudest wasfor “Thefeminism” last post butbrought manyon chuckles of the and others the occasional - envy even - Sandra’s thoroughness and the ’’place of female energy” using com­ absurd places.” The main body of the to love and optimum nourishment. worthwhile.) Weed states, “Rules, espe­ “grannies, crones and midwives.the planet It as healswell as people. There are no tation writing style, this may be just the woman and earth-loving way. tle, oatstraw, seaweeds and violet. cially about food generally restrict access food rules. (That made the whole book mon herbs and healing methods from book for people seeking healing information and healthfor in a natural, intuitive, most of her adult life in Woodstock, New book is descriptions“green allies”of or commonthe herbs thatseven Weed uses: main burdock, chickweed, dandelion, net­ Following the Wise Woman way, we find York and ifyou can put up with the incan­ nourishment even in mysterious and

w G i make up the The Dominion

is a collection of Broadsheet which shehelped get start­ and the fourth “contains ■ c ■r article that she wrote “I am 0 word appears on the book cover, 0 Broadsheet, The irony and wit in her writing is And that was when she started writing, Sandra introduces the collection like In 1971 I was a housewife in Papakura In Weed’s analysis, the Scientific ------Inflammatory Writing 1972-89 scared shitless at the prospect of dealing tains a couple of essays about her child­ always is in individual pieces. It’s always Pat Rosier Penguin $24.95 splendid columns from of the YWCA, the third a selection of her cervical cancer inquiry.” two long pieces on the aftermath of the honed in the later writing. It was in a 1979 effect of reading this collection than it second section of the book. The first con­ Sandra Coney, feminist. (it Not is on that the publicity the handout) but then, (mostly) previously published writings by Out of The Frying Pan learning to support myselfafter ten years Sunday Times hood and a piece about writing the history Reviewed by Pat Kipping HEALING WISE been there but is perhaps more finely more clearly apparent with the cumulative for Writings from ed and wrote for and edited for 14 years. this: ofthing. Sandra Coney OUT OF THE FRYING PAN dog. Two years late I was a solo mother at home, andfeminist.was 1 a as as the temple of the spirit and the healer as as as mechanic, fixing and fighting disease. Susun S. Weed Broadsheet with a husband, two boy children and a f the embodiment of health. tially women hating because they hold the the body with purges, diets and enemas. saviour and ruler cleansing and punishing Tradition, or conventional medicine, Susun Weed has designated herself the publishers are notably shy about that sort ing, body-objectifying methods she Weed describes these traditions as essen­ health practices in which the body is seen Heroic Traditions encompass alternative views the body as machine and the healer Traditions. describes as the Scientific and Heroic healing, an alternative to the body-alienat­ keeper of the Wise Woman traditions of Ash Tree Publishing (USA) young, white, non-menstruating male as AUGUST 1990 book reviews MIHIPEKA: EARLY YEARS Mihi Edwards Penguin $19.95 Reviewed by Helen Barnes This is Mihi Edwards’ first book and also my first book review, unless you count the ones I wrote in school which went some­ thing along the lines of “It was a good book. I liked it. I think you will like it too.” Which doesn’t begin to do justice to Mihipeka: Early Years. If you’re reading this to find out if it’s the sort of novel you’d like for yourself or a friend, quite simply it’s a book that everyone in this country should read. “Important” is a word that seems popular in book reviews these days, (yes, I’ve been reading a few lately to find out how the experts do it) but it is a word that describes the publica­ tion of this book. Mihipeka: Early Years is the story of Mihi Edwards growing up in rural New Zealand over sixty years ago. It begins with her mother’s death during the ‘flu epidemic and follows her through school photo: Mihipeka Edwards and into her first jobs as a young woman. generation, for our mokopuna. We must other things, with some family stuff that Along the way Mihi Edwards weaves not hurt Papatuanuku. I want to write pulled me in. A good present for a roman­ tales and images into her narrative show­ more about all of these things in my next tic friend. ing us what life was like for her. book.” Dorothy Tell’s Wilderness Trek (anoth­ This isn’t a story about the past - a And, when she does, write its title on er from the ubiquitous Naiad Press) has a slice of history that can be read as a your shopping list right after Mihipeka: story line that is hardly original - an odd curiosity piece and then filed away. It is Early Years. bunch, in this case of women, on a wilder­ a book about issues that are with us today ness trek together - but provides for plen­ and a past which is shared in different ty of plot. I developed some sympathy for ways by all of us. For Mihi this meant a couple of the characters, particularly turning away from the language, learning l i s t i n g Dolly, others were too thinly drawn. to be a Pakeha in the belief that this was Plenty happens and the outcomes are survival and watching the destruction of By Pat Rosier more happy than not. Papatuanuku. All are woven together in Joan Barfoots’ new novel Family News Virago by Karen Marie Christa Minns, Mihi’s story and the Epilogue is a plea to (published by Women’s Press) is one of is one from Naiad I just couldn’t finish. take stock for all our survival “...we are the selected twenty titles for this year’s Vampires don’t do anything for me, what­ the caretakers of the land for the next British feminist book fortnight. It’s a rich, ever their form or tastes. As a friend com­ dense novel. The mother/daughter rela­ mented to me, “It’s the kind of book that tionship is satisfyingly complex and nei­ once you put it down you can’t pick it ther romantic nor dispirited. Some up.” innovative structural devices, like the use Still from Naiad, there’s The of news items collected from the daily Chesapeake Project by Phylis Horn, a papers to locate the events in the lives of romantic adventure story. The goodies are the characters, are really successful. I very good, the baddies spectacularly evil, thoroughly liked Family News. the lovers true and devoted. Everyone gets Lillian Faderman is best known for pretty much what they deserve. Sigh! Surpassing the Love of Men, her historical Why doesn’t my life go like that? look at relationships between women. She Penny Hayes and - yes, again - Naiad has editied this Naiad-published collec­ brought us Yellowthroat a while back, tion of the writings of lesbians Lesbians based around a lesbian bandit in the in Germany: 1890s — 1920’s with Brigette American West. Hayes’ new novel THEATRE WORKSHOP Erickson. Apart from the introduction the Montana Feathers is also set out on the PRESENT... book consists entirely of work written by nineteenth century American frontier. THE BODY lesbians during the time period. Reading Vivian is a farmer on her own land, A Comedy, A Musical, An Anti-Nuclear them left me with a sense of both how lit­ Elizabeth a New York socialite come for Statement tle of what we say and write about being a some “real life” before settling down to August 4th-llth 8.00pm lesbian now is different from then and the boredom of a society marriage. By the August 5th 4.00pm how profoundly it has changed. Which end of the story Elizabeth has proved she LITTLE MAIDMEYT must say something about how much of a has “true grit” in a number of ways and ... THEATRE lesbian herstory we have, if only we could well, marriage just won’t do. $12 Waged $8 Unwaged continue to find it. Detective Inspector Carol Ashton of BOOKINGS: The Comer Lifestyles is the unimaginative title of a Sydney appears for the third time in Phone - 303 3206 new Naiad contemporary novel by Jackie Death Down Under (Naiad). It’s a good Calhoun. It’s a coming out story among story, revolving around serial murders and

38 BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 BOOKSHOP DIRECTORY what's new

AUCKLAND ★ CHRISTCHURCH ★ AUCKLAN WE A Saturday morning workshops, 9.00 - 1.00. 4 Aug Talking on telly and the Kate Sheppard HARD TO FIND SECOND HAND BOOKS radio. 18 Aug Making a newsletter. $6 per yomens Bookshop workshop. Ph 764 857 to enrol. 171-173 The Mall, Onehunga HAMILTON 145 Manchester St, Christchurch Ph: 644 340 Patients Rights Advocacy Waikato Waikato Regional Network meetings 1st MON-THURS 9AM-5.30PM Largest SECOND HAND Bookshop in FRIDAY 9AM-9PM Wed of each month, 7pm, confer’ room, SATURDAY 10AM-1PM Auckland. Always buying and selling of New 65 Tawa St, Hamilton. Ph (071) 435 837. Age, Feminist and all quality books. • MAIL ORDERS WELCOME • CHRISTCHURCH If you can’t come to the shop Buyer can collect An alert for lefty women Socialism and Phone us (03) 790 784 feminism: issues for women in 1990, Christchurch 4-5 August. Ph Helen or Kari (03)664 054 or write 25 Champion St Christchurch 4. DUNEDIN Dunedin Women’s Directory Lists BOOKSHOP businesses and services, women’s groups, Largest range of Lesbian books in NZ support services, and includes info on HOURS Tues-Thurs: 10am - 6pm education, jobs, health, legal services etc. Fri: 10am - 7pm Sat: 10am - 2pm From YWCA 97 Moray Place Dunedin. ■ BOOKS ■ MUSIC ■ ARTS NATIONAL — mail orders welcome - ■ JEWELLERY ■ HAND PAINTED CLOTHES 228 Dominion Road, Auckland. Celebration of women and work Napier MAIL ORDERS WELCOME 5-9 Sept. Contacts: Jan Berry (070) 446 Square Edge, P.O, Box 509 Palmerston North Ph 607 162 (at Valley Rd intersection) 938, Jacquie Aldridge (070) 443 620, P O Box 7089, Taradale, Hawkes Bay. ★ WELLINGTON ★ AUCKLAN Gallery on One State Highway 1/Fowlers Access Rd 1km North of Wenderholm, 1- 23 Sept Knitwear: Handmade in NZ. UNITY Fran Peavey returns to Aotearoa in UNITY August and September for workshops and BOOKS BOOKS the most interesting bookshops! comedy performances. Contact Rex the most interesting bookshops! McCann (09) 820 0571, Ros Capper (04) 853 838, Nina Arran (024) 775 106. Adult twins convention Labour Weekend 19 HIGH ST, AUCKLAND (20-22 Oct). All twins, triplets, quads and 119-125 WILLIS ST, WELLINGTON quins are invited. Write To: Adult Twins PHONE LOUISE OR MARION 856 110 PHONE NIGEL OR JOE 370 393 Convention, Box 3395 Wellington. INTERNATIONAL Sixth International Women and Health ★ HAMILTON ★ HAMILTON M eeting 3-9 November, Manila Film Centre Contact Womanhealth Philippines Inc P O Box 35 UP Diliman 1101, BENNETTS O DIMENSIONS Quezon City, Philippines. UNIVERSITY I Am Your Sister Forging Global BOOK CENTRE Women's Bookshop Ltd Connections Across Differences. A cele­ (WAIKATO) 266 Victoria Street, Hamilton bratory conference honouring Audre Mon-Thurs 9 AM - 5 PM Lorde. Boston. Inquiries to P O Box 269 ♦ Friday 9 AM - 6 PM Saturday 9 AM - 1 PM Astor Station, Boston, MA, 02123. PH (071) 66813 PO Box 19041 PH. (071) 80656 I i s t in g o o n t MAIL ORDERS WELCOME

Carol’s relationship with Sybil. She’s gets scared and and in a muddle and she unversity. I found this to be one of Cross’s smart, Carol Ashton, and appealing. And doesn’t have her relationhsip with the man weaker stories. The plot never took a hold, there’s enough in the plot to really keep in her life all worked out. I liked her. The the denoument was flat, disappointing you wondering about who the killer is. story is more subtle than many and while even, and Kate herself was almost boring. Virago has been publishing its Crime the characters are clearly goodies and bad­ Barbara Smith’s controversial The Dog Series for some time now. Ladies Night dies the plot outcome has a point or two of Collars Murders is yet another in this by Elisabeth Bowers introduces another ambiguity that I found quite satisfying. It’s series. Various arguments around pornogra­ female/feminist (well, sort of) private well-written too. phy and lesbian sado-masochism are fairly imvestigator into the scene. She’s Meg Another in the series is Amanda Cross’s well integrated into the story and there are Lacey of Vancouver and she’s very latest Kate Fansler (now Kate certainly has some nice cameos. But again, both the appealing. She cares about the young her relationship well sorted out) story A exposure and the protagonist are a bit flat. women and girls who get pulled into the Trap For Fools. Kate is a spare-time sleuth None of the political issues are resolved, drugs/pomography/prostitution scene, she who earns her living teaching English in a but neither have they been anywhere else.

AUGUST 1990 BROADSHEET 39 Mainly Toys HELLERWORK LANDSCAPING Educational and Creative Toys Linda McClure • Paving & For those special toys that last including a wide range of wooden and Construction handcrafted items. SKIN CARE Registered Also a comprehensive range of art and A NEW APPROACH Hellerwork • Planting craft supplies. DR. HAUSCHKA (WALA) Play area provided for children. Practitioner NOW AVAILABLE • Design (Free of preservatives, animal test­ Hellerwork an integrating process ing, artificial fragrances) combining structural bodywork, Phone TRIAL PACK & BOOKLET $12 movement education and ALSO STOCKISTS OF WELEDA Joanna dialogue in an exploration of how HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES (09) DOMINION PHARMACY your body reflects your mind. 380 Dominion Road CLINIC 43 WILLCOTT ST. 788 254 539 Mt Eden Road Oust down from the village) MT ALBERT, AUCKLAND Ph 606-318 (09) 600 388 PH 867 031

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ANNOUNCING THE AUCKLAND LESBIAN NEWSLETTER SUBVERSIVE ACTS: Conning your way monthly from September 1st. Give A collection of short stories by NZ Women Writers, edited by your events, activities, free classifieds, articles, poetry, Dr. Cathie Dunsford. Penguin Books invites you to submit letters and drawings to; stories for the above anthology to Dr. C Dunsford, RD 2, Karen (09) 764 380 M eg an (09) 861 017 Jenny (09) 303 Matakana NORTHLAND. Deadline October 31st, 1990. 3124 (wk) or post to PO Box 46 118, Herne Bay. Stories may be subversive in terms of content, theme, style, Dont' be isolated, link into active lesbian networks. language, etc. Maximum length 4000 words. Preference for Subscribe a t $12 for 12 issues. Distribution will be almost shorter stories. Emphasis on previously unpublished work, entirely by subscription. Send name, address and funds but if you have a suitable published story, send it now. Please to the abve PO Box. send SAE for return of work. Thank you - Dr. Cathie Dunsford. Donations towards to the cost of the first issue welcome!

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BROADSHEET AUGUST 1990 t h & G r i p >f at last a You’ve got it nearly right, Tracey. It’s not LEANING for Life the vay you said. It’s LEARNING for life.. Mind you, it’s easy to get nixed up when you see how top-heavy the whole thing is. shoemaker No, that’s another wee mistake. Have a closer look at the little etters at the bottom and you’ll see it’s not about a PET because here’s a C in there. Those newsletters are about Post Compulsory Education and Training. who will treat You’re spot on there, love. It is. Dead Boring No Tracey, I wouldn’t quite say that. They’re not really naughty o waste all that paper and use up the trees because I expect some you >eople do want to read about PCET It’s about what’s going to happen in the kind of schools that ;rown—up girls and boys go to when they stop having to go to with respect chool. No Tracey, we’ve been through all that. You know you really ove going to your school and it’ll be years before you’re old nough to leave. And it looks as if it’ll take us as long as that to ave up enough money for you to go to one of those PCET places if you want to anyway. Well, there’s a university, or a polytechnic, or a college of edu­ cation. What? Grandma? No, she didn’t go back to any of those when she learned how to use her computer. She did a WEA course. All ight Tracey. Everyone knows that you’re the whizz-kid who helps Grandma best if she gets stuck and you never had lessons. Yes, Grandma’s course is PCET too. It’s in a wee tiny piece called non-formal and community education. I think the small space really means that the pets doing PCET don’t know much about what education really means. They’re keeping everything the same as it was when they were at school and in the Education Department before it was the Ministry and they want everyone to be an EFTS clone. No, dear, it’s not a fish, it’s the Equivalent Full Time Student Why? system and everybody is planning to invent as many EFTSes as Because they fit, they work, they endure. You can spend all they can so they can ask for a bigger share of the money. day on your feet without compromising your anatomy. Now that’s a novel idea, Tracey, spending money on all the Because they look so damn good, and are styled in such a EFTSes, but it doesn’t work like that because they’re not real peo­ way that you won't need to trash them at the end of the ple any more. Grandma is just a user-paying input. No I am not season. calling Grandma rude names — you should have heard what she said Because we respect your individuality we make about it when she told me. I think the money is going to CELUs, that’s Community them in the width fitting appropriate to your needs. That Education Learner Units and I probably know as much about them may not always be very flattering, but we believe other as anyone else and that’s very little except I suppose they’ll be things have higher priorities. For instance, we believe feet stuffed full of people spending their time measuring EFTSes like are human tools, not the hapless victims of some sexist crazy. designer's epitome. Probably because they feel safer if they can count and measure So if it's robust casual boots, shoes, or sandals you're and use their own special code names. Protects them from having to looking for, you might like to treat as your investment figure out what community education actually is. opportunity. You and Grandma have got your own special code? Really? Try Please feel free to call at our retail shop, or if that's these on the computer then - NEQA; ETSA; QUEST; TOPIA; not possible, phone, fax, or write to us for a colour mail CLANZ. It’s not me being silly, Tracey. You and Grandma can turn your­ order catalogue. selves into a task force with a timeline. No, it doesn’t seem to have much to do with telling time proper­ ly. It’s more like shooting a line, putting over stories with unlikely endings. THE LAST I don’t think you really would enjoy it all that much. You know and I know and Grandma knows that girls have always done every­ FOOTWEAR thing and had babies too, but this lot that says it’s the Reform of Education Administration doesn’t seem to be planning much real COMPANY change. It’s all about money and power and competition. You’re right Tracey. It doesn’t really have much to do with SHOEMAKERS teachers or grown-up girls and boys getting an education. It really PO Box 12050 CHRISTCHURCH is what it says: learning for life - the way our masters want it in a 465 - 467 COLOMBO ST. SYDENHAM, market economy. ^ . - - 7 CHRISTCHURCH, PHONE 661-392 FAX 655-522 LISTENER WOMEN’S BOOK FESTIVAL

THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND SEPTEMBER 16TH - 22ND 1990 A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S WRITING WITH EVENTS IN TOWNS AND CITIES LISTED BELOW CONTACT REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR MORE DETAILS. WHERE THERE IS NO REGIONAL COORDINATOR, ASK AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Auckland Hastings Palmerston North Whangarei Carole Beu Barrington(09) 607 162 Pamela Scott-Kerr Hastings Girls Josie Snook & (063) 83 009 Shirley Mrs T Fowke (089) 484 879 (fax) Women’s Bookshop, 228 Dominion High School, Pakowhai Road Cordery Bennetts Bookshop, Private (089) 487 632 Community Road, Mt Eden, AUCKLAND 3 HASTINGS Bag, PALMERSTON NORTH Services Whangarei Public Claudia Bell (09)737 999x8378 Invercargill Rawene Library Private Bag Rust Ave Continuing Education, University of Susan Chandler (021) 87 025 (fax) 82 Mrs Bernie Hume (0887) 57 884 WHANGAREI Auckland, Private Bag, AUCKLAND 1 885 Executive Services Librarian, C/0 Post Office RAWENE Christchurch Invercargill Public Library, Private Bag Rotorua For information: Penny Hansen, Beth Davies (03) 3558 112 Easts INVERCARGILL Alison Masters(073) 86 258 410 5 Bellvue Road, Auckland 3. Tel Corner Bookshop, 176 Papanui Road (09) 600 335 Motueka Pukehangi Road ROTORUA CHRISTCHURCH Jan Need & Jan Kennedy (0524) 87 Dunedin Timaru 047 Buddens Bookshop, MOTUEKA Angela Cooney, Librarian (056) 48 Lynsey Ferrari (024) 640 503 Napier 240 Trevor Linyard, Head of (056) 88 16 Selkirk Street, Roslyn, DUNEDIN Listener Catherine Robins (phone & fax) (070) 738 (fax) Community Education, Gisborne 358 968 Beattie & Forbes, Cnr Aoraki Polytechnic, Arthur Street, Anne C Muir (06) 8673 288 Hastings & Tennyson St, PO Box 186 Private Bag, TIMARU Muir’s Book Shop, 62 Gladstone Road NAPIER Wanganui GISBORNE. Nelson Mary Ann Lamont (064) 56 833 or Gore Janet Matheson (054) 85 075 (064) 46 303 Women's Centre PO Box Phillip Casey (020) 89 081 Gore 33 Tosswill Road, Tahunanui NELSON 568 WANGANUI Public Library, Norfolk Street, GORE New Plymouth Wellington Hamilton Marlene Benson (067) 84 957 New Jennifer Cato (04) 801 9421, (fax) Di Yates (071)562 889x8199 Plymouth, Women’s Centre, PO Box (04) 801 6920 Book Info Ltd, PO Box Continuing Education Officer, 4030, NEW PLYMOUTH 9576, WELLINGTON University of Waikato, Private Bag WOMEN'S BOOK HAMILTON FESTIVAL