NEW ZEALAND’S FEMINIST MAGAZINE Jr y ' y**' ISSUE 114 NOVEMBER 1983 $1.80 ,s '' ' y'y/ TEACHERS COLLE LIBRARY

CHANGE OF LIFE Renee talks about usin^ it positively WORKING ON WHITE RACISM X 1 ! f'' GIVING THEM HEART FAILURE Lesbians dome out to theii> doctors The Finest Books from HODDER & STOUGHTON

WHINA A Biography by Michael King Whina Cooper has been the most visible and controversial Maori leader of her lifetime. She organised her first protest action when she was 18; and she led the Maori Land March from the top of the North Island to Parliament Buildings in Wellington in her eightieth year. Among her many achievements in seventy years of public life was her work as founding president of the Maori Women’s Welfare League. Illustrated by over 140 photographs, most never before published, this major biography depicts for the first time all the highlights of Whina Cooper’s career and the excitement and argument that accompanied them. $22.95.

MEETING THE AMERICANS by Yolanda Drummond In this dramatic and perceptive first novel, New Zealander Yolanda Drummond explores the nature of personal communication and the way in which it is obstructed or complicated by sexual attraction and by the burdens of the past. The story focuses on the lives of three women, past and present, and we discover that the lives of all of them have been profoundly affected by contact with American servicemen during the Second World War. Cased $17.95. Trade paperback $11.95

LIVING HIGH by Linda Gill The ultimate in family holidays - a trek in the Himalayas with two children aged 10 and 8. New Zealand artist Linda Gill accompanied her husband and Sir Edmund Hillary on an expedition in one of the most rugged and remote areas of the world, along with children and teddy bear. The result is a moving, beautifully written and humorous book, illustrated by the author’s drawings and photographs. $18.95.

TWO SUPERB NEW ZEALAND NOVELS FOR CHILDREN AGED 10 upwards

THE POETRY GIRL ELEPHANT ROCK by by Beverley Dunlop Caroline Macdonald Twelve-year-old Natalia uses Som ething strange is poetry to escape from her happening to Ann - time troubles into the beautiful back-tracks across itself and world of Xanadu and the she seems to exist for brief delightful nonsense of the moments as her mother Mock Turtle. Often funny, when she was a girl. Those sometimes sad, this is a mysterious events seem deeply moving and percep­ somehow connected with the tive account of the stormy brooding presence of Elephant Rock. Part ghost- experience of adolescence. $11.95. story, part-thriller, this beautifully written novel is haunting in every sense. $9.95. HODDER & STOUGHTON CONTENT S

FEATURES Change of Life: Renee talks about using it positively 8 Mira Szaszy: on the Maori Women’s Welfare League 12 The Pakeha University: Maori women in Law and Anthropology 18 I can only Struggle: land issues in Guatemala 20 The most important thing is — you have to listen to women: interview with Barbara Rogers 28 Giving them Heart Failure: coming out to your doctor 30 On the Cards: a feminist index 32 Not Just Them Out There: working on white racism 37

POETRY 27

THE ARTS Reviews: Robin White/1983-84 Anti-Racism Catalogue/The Young Rebecca/ Women in Control/New Zealand’s Champion Sportswomen/National Women’s Health Conference/AII Good Children/The Nets/Mirror Writing 42

REGULARS Fronting Up 2 Letters 4 Behind the News: Women for Midwives — Midwives for Women/All Over the World/ Branching Out/lf the pie fits . . . 6 What’s New? 22 Broadsheet Bookshop 23 Hogwash 41 Directory 47 Classified Advertisements 48

COVER (front) Renee, (back) Miriam Saphira, by Diane Quin. FRONTISPIECE The Feminist Index Collective at work (see page 32), by Diane Quin THE BROADSHEET COLLECTIVE Sarah Calvert, Sandra Coney, Heather McLeish, Claire-Louise McCurdy, Diane Quin, Miriam Saphira and Renee. THESE WOMEN Worked on this issue: Peggy Ashton, Moira Marks, Kelly Grovehills, Beverley Ansell, Ariane Nicholson, Sue Fitchett, Anne Waters, Sharon Crow, Glenys Bagnall, Gabriel and Denise, Bernadette Doolan, Cathie Meehan,Cissy Rock, Margaret Shirley, Leonie Child and the enveloping women. Broadsheet is published by Broadsheet Magazine Ltd, PO Box 5799, Auckland; Registered Office: 1 st Floor, Gane Building, 43 Anzac Avenue, Auckland 1; and printed by Wanganui Newspapers Ltd, 20 Drews Avenue, Wanganui. Published: 1 November, 1983. Broadsheet — annual subscription $NZ17, overseas surface $22, overseas airmail Europe $35, America and Asia $30.50, Australia and South Pacific $24.25. Permission must be sought before articles may be reprinted. Broadsheet is on file at the Women’s Collection. Special Collection Department, Nfiitteyestern Univer sity Library, Evanston, Illinois 60201, U S.A. ISSN 01 10-8603 Registered at the GPO as a magazine.

Broadsheet, October 1983 FRONTING UP STUFFING

The Broadsheet Office is on the first floor of the Gane Building, Stuffing of the December issue will be on Friday December 43 Anzac Avenue, Auckland. Office and bookshop hours: 23 at the Broadsheet Office from 10am. All women and 9am — 4pm Monday to Friday, Saturdays 10am — 1 pm for children welcome. the bookshop. Phone 794-751. Our box number is PO Box 5799 Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand. ADVERTISING RATES______

DEADLINES FOR FUTURE ISSUES Classified $1.90 per column centimetre Quarter page $36.50 Deadline for January — November 10 Half page $70 Deadline for March — January 10 Full page $130 Small items, news, What’s new? and adverts can reach us Inside cover full page $180, half page $90, quarter page $45 up to two weeks after this date. Outside back cover $360 Other sizes and prices by arrangement especially for feminist ELLA WHEELER WILCOX______(non-profit making) organisations. Ring and ask for Renee. In our July/August issue we published a letter from Kate of Hastings requesting information about Ella Wheeler Wilcox. OFFICE WORKERS NEEDED Would Kate send us a return address so we can forward the replies. These were to be included in this issue of Broadsheet For financial reasons we have recently cut back on staff. This but are held over for lack of space. means that our paid workers have an increased workload. We Also, the second part of Madhu Kishwar, on land rights desperately need women who are prepared to give a day, issues and the tribals, is to be published in the December once a week or a fortnight to “ front” the office. This involves Broadsheet. answering the phone, banking, seeing visitors to the office, helping in the bookshop, mailing orders and any other jobs that crop up in the administration of the bookshop and magazine. We plan to have a “ familiarisation” evening 7.30 pm, Thursday 1 7 November for women who’d like to help in this way. If you can, phone 794-751 and talk to Renee, Diane or Sandra.

DEADLINES______This is a plea for contributors to Broadsheet to observe the deadlines published in the magazine and given to you when BROADSHEET STOCKS NAIAD PRESS you undertake to write an article. Currently we’ve got the im­ pression that because Broadsheet always does get publish­ ORDER FORM ON PAGE 26 ed and always does come out on time, you’ve got the impres­ SARAH ALDRIDGE Cytherea’s Breath $10.95, Turn-of-the- sion that we can perform miracles with late copy. We do century lesbian novel about early women’s rights. stretch our deadlines in emergencies, but we’re frequently SARAH ALDRIDGE The Nesting Place $10.95, Love triangle working under incredible pressure, till late at night, to pro­ involving three lesbians. cess copy that comes in late. This makes it hard for everyone ANN BANNON Odd Girls Out, I am Woman, Women in the at Broadsheet. We can’t spread our workload and the last Shadows, Journey to A woman, Beebo Brinker, $5.95, Five classic pulp novels. week becomes a nightmare to edit, type, proofread and paste TEE CORINNE Yantras of Woman Love $11.50, A picture up copy in a short time. Everyone’s work suffers because book of the spirituality of Woman’s Sexuality. of this. We don’t think we can do justice to our writers, ar­ BARBARA GRIER The Lesbian in Literature $11.95, A tists and other contributors under these conditions. Things bibliography in its third edition. get overlooked, sloppy mistakes appear in the magazine and BARBARA GRIER Lesbiana $6.50, Early Ladder book we frequently see what could have been done better had we reviews. more time. On top of this the health of Broadsheet workers ELIZABETH LANG Anna’s Country $10.50, Novel about suffers because of this and between us we have a com­ coming out from a marriage. prehensive range of stress-related health problems. This situa­ VICKI McCONNELL Mrs Porter’s Letter $10.50, Nyla Wade, a lesbian journalist detective. tion seems to be getting worse. We suspect it is because VICTORIA RAMSTETTER The Marquise and The Novice we do cope and we do get the job done, and we’ve been $7.95, A gothic lesbian novel. doing it for so long. But we cope at a cost, to us and the J. R. ROBERTS Black Lesbians $8.95, Bibliography of black magazine. We recognise that all our contributors have heavy lesbian literature. loads of work, political actions, and families on top of the con­ JANE RULE Contract with the World $12.75, Novel with tribution to Broadsheet. It’s often the women who are doing lesbian characters. the most for women, who take on more. We value these JANE RULE This Is Not For You $11.75, An unsent letter women and their commitment. We value their work for Broad­ to a beloved woman. sheet too, we’d just like to get it in on time. ANN SHOCKLEY The Black and White of It $8.95, Short stories about black and white relationships. THANKS THANKS THANKS SHEILA TAYLOR Faultline $8.95, Racy tale of a lesbian with six children and 300 rabbits. VALERIE TAYLOR Journey to Fulfilment, World without We are heartened by the letters, phone calls, and assistance? Men, Return to Lesbos, $5.95, Classic 1 96 0’s pulp. in the way of donations, promises of subscriptions and buy­ L. FALDERMAN Lesbian-Feminism in turn-of-the-century ing books in response to our appeal for help with our finan ­ Germany $10.50. cial situation. We all feel very grateful for these signs of con ­ JANE GAPEN Something Not Yet Ended $9.50, A coming tinued interest and support and also for the expressed deter­ our autobiography. mination from so many that Broadsheet must survive, More about this in the December issue. 2 Broadsheet, October 1983 ,

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Broadsheet, October 1983 3 as neo-paganism, wicca, or the “women’s spirituality” movement. I would like to share a few thoughts and images concerning rape, racism and ideological imperialism. Rape takes place on more than just the individual level. We have STRIP SEARCHES younger generation will build their ADVERTISING RAPE in the history of NZ, ecological, own demands. CAMPAIGN______social and spiritual rape. For ex­ Dear Broadsheet, The YWCA Conference of 600 Dear Broadsheet, ample: To destroy the forests, to women unanimously supported On the 3-4 September 1983 at the I am appalled to find businesses strip bare the hillsides, to disrupt the two resolutions that came YWCA National Conference on in Auckland are happy to exploit an ecological balance that took from the workshops: Sexual Violence to Women and recent public interest in the issue millenia to develop, to introduce Children the NZ H-Block and Ar­ 1 This conference condems the of rape. dangerous foreign pests, to reduce magh Committee Women’s Group use of sexual assault including I enclose a photo of a sign almost everything of beauty and held two workshops on “Women forcible strip searching of displayed in a shop window in power to an exploitable economic at War”. women prisoners all over the Queen Street (see below: the resource; to conquer, subdue and Special emphasis was placed on world. Shriek Alarm bears the message harness the earth for the use of the current “Stop the Strip Sear­ 2 This conference supports the “Don’t be molested. Silent models man . . . ches in Armagh Jail” campaign struggle of women in Armagh Jail, available for those who live in To disrupt and to destroy the in­ that is being organised here in co­ Northern Ireland, to stop the hope” ed). tact fabric of Maori society, to ordination with Irish and English escalation of the harrassment of Clair McCormick dispossess and demoralise its peo­ women’s groups who are women prisoners by forcible strip Auckland ple, to deny them livelihood and highlighting internationally the searching. health,, to make them admissable sexual harrassment of Irish Petitions to “Stop the Strip Sear­ to our “superior” culture only at women prisoners. It was an oppor­ ches” have been sent to 150 Ed: Claire also drew our attention the price of their own dignity and tunity for discussion on the special, womens’ groups throughout New to a radio advert heard in July. at third-rate, losers, status only. and often ignored, problems fac­ Zealand and were circulated at the Realto Advertising designed an Then to officially deny this ed by women in a war situation. conference. These will be return­ advert for Auric Finance which shameful record, to rewrite history Their struggle is against two op­ ed to the organising committee in began: “It was three o’clock when to show colonists and missionaries pressors — British imperialism and England to be presented to the I got to the woman’s apartment. as heroes and saints, bringing the male sexism — which of these two British Parliament and the British It wasn’t a pretty sight. Her money one true light of Christian civilisa­ wars should take precedence for High Commission here in New had been ravaged by inflation” tion to the benighted “savages” — Irish women is an issue for endless Zealand. and ended “People could rest which meant, along with disrup­ debate. If they can fight them both The H-Block and Armagh Com­ easier in their beds with the help ting the balance that existed in pre- at the same time it is of immense mittee wishes to recall all petitions of Auric finance”. European Maori society, importance to politically active throughout New Zealand as the discrediting the religious beliefs women everywhere. In Northern present campaign is brought to a which were central to it, reducing Ireland they are attacking both close by 30th November 1983. RAPE, RACISM AND THE them to “fairy tales” and “heathen these fronts, women are active in In Sisterhood WOMENSPIRIT superstition”; and replacing them all areas of the Republican Move­ MOVEMENT. with a religion that sees people as ment and have forced both the Kathleen Byrne, “sinners” to be redeemed (like Sinn Fein and the Irish Womens Group NZ H Block Ar­ Dear Broadsheet readers, goods for sale) and the natural Republican Socialist Party to magh Committee, P.O. Box I am writing as an active partici­ world as spiritually inferior, only develop impressive women’s 50-466, Porirua, Wellington pant in what is variously known fit to be conquered, divided up and policies over the last few years. Discussion at the conference varied from the effects of Catholicism since British colonisa­ tion on Irish politics and on the everyday life of women living under its influence, to the part Irish women are now taking in the armed struggle and the daunting question of whether the hard fought for equality won by women within the Republican Movement will prove to be a lasting autonomy or whether the situa­ tion will revert to the entrenched oppression of the traditional status quo following the long awaited revolution. The general feeling was one of optimism; most could not see the Irish Nationalist women giving up a position won in battle that cost them so much through physical and mental sacrifice. Girls growing up now have models of strength — women single-handedly protecting homes from the British occupying forces, confronting these soldiers in the street, organising protests, undergo­ ing the torture of the Armagh prison — and on these models this

4 Broadsheet, October 1983 bought and sold (as are women and “darker” races). QUOTE OF THE MONTH I realize that some Christians have moved a long way from this, “Out of the ash I rise with my red hair And I eat men like air.” such as those who protested at Waitangi recently and during the from Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath October 26 was the 50th anniversary of Sylvia Plath’s birth 1981 tour, but they still have a lot of saying sorry to do. It is easy enough for white NZ place within it, and recognise both I’m pleased to say my their own path to beat just as men women to see the processes of the our limitations and our commit­ womanhood is as strong as ever, do. rape mentality in their personal ment to change. my libido unchanged and to top For years feminists have told lives; knowing what it is like to be Having stated these concerns, I it all off I’ve never been so healthy. men that they will be more fully individually demoralised, abused, would like to indicate the interest I was freed from pain and from themselves if they accept the loss raped, kept subject in economic many women in this movement subsidising drug companies. My of unjust power. It astonishes me and spiritual bondage — and if have in Maori spirituality, both only legacy of those days is grey­ that some feminists see white you are white and middle-class, to past and present. Many of us are ing temples. women aiming to lose their own find a relatively easy personal solu­ delighted by Robyn Kahukiwa’s In her poem Marilyn says to me unjust power as somehow to be tion. It is much less easy or satis­ “Wahine Toa” series of paintings. that through the shedding of her pitied. Moderates (a term Frances fying to re-examine our national Our search for myths, rituals and “Mother-given womb” she is no adopts) have not traditionally been history and realise what our own Goddess images that are specially longer at the mercy or vulnerable in the vanguard of social change ancestors, our own immediate meaningful to NZ women has so “to rape and fuck and marriage and as with liberal men, liberal families, may have done to far meant a reliance on Celtic and and sex and menstruation and white women are likely to under­ perpetuate and profit from the op­ pre-Christian European imagery, pregnancy and cervical cancer and estimate rather than overestimate pression of the Maori people, but and Californian Neo-pagan rituals. abortion and sin”. My answer to the change they need to effect in it is the same culture which Some of this is excellent stuff her is that hysterectomy no longer themselves. A radical change in does both. (The last Broadsheet (especially Starhawk, whose books put me at the mercy of menstrua­ oneself involves fighting, even if revue made this all very clear and have provided much personal in­ tion, pregnancy, abortion or cer­ inelegantly, the conspiracy both provided the inspiration for this spiration) but at the same time we vical cancer. I have never felt within and at large. letter — well done.) feel a little remote in time and vulnerable to marriage, I do not I feel I have a lot to gain in “Appropriate responses”. space from much of it. I would be acknowledge the concept of "sin” return for travelling the bumpy Guilt — useless. We have been interested to know what Maori and finally all women are road. No matter then that I may conditioned to believe that if we women feel about reclaiming their vulnerable to rape. sometimes scrape my soft white make ourselves feel terrible over own spirituality, as well as how I know and understand that for liberal underbelly and expose some our misdeeds for a good long time, they view our own efforts, but if some women hysterectomy is an raw guilt. Guilt? Well, I’m a that will somehow atone for them. their reply is this “Leave well ill-conceived solution derived by ir­ woman, I’ve been trained for i t . Meanwhile, nothing has changed, alone” I feel we must respect this. responsible doctors as a means of .. a little more won’t kill me, and and the structures and mentality Our history is too full of us trampl­ dealing with particular complaints. besides, over the years I’ve learnt of racism are as strong as ever. ing on other peoples’ sacred things. I also know that hysterectomy as a lot about dealing with it. Taking power-taking back our However, I hope a time may come a solution is for some women sud­ So give me more of that “mes­ bodies and souls, reclaiming the when we can share and listen to den and a shock. However, what sianic fervour”, complete with night, realizing we have the power what each has to offer, respecting I also feel needs to be said is that songs about the promised land, the and the right to change our lives, diversity of origin and culture for some others of us it has ended land of freedom where we can feel without any claims to superiority years of being debilitated and is ourselves at one with each other our world, for the better. We on our part. So might it be. not therefore always the negative and the earth. It’s a message that refuse to be helpless victims (now experience that is often portrayed. deserves to be sold for joy as much this sounds better . . .). The real Shelagh Gorringe (Cody) as for justice; two sides of the same meaning of “witch” — one who (age 22, solo parent, pagan) Sandi Beatie coin. bends and shapes reality. Reclaim­ Christchurch Auckland ing our sources of spiritual power Diane Bell — creating new forms of religion GIVE ME MORE . . . New Plymouth based on womens’ understanding NOT ALL NEGATIVE and experience. But what about a Dear Broadsheet Dear Broadsheet, RIGHTERS dispossessed people reclaiming While I don’t wish to deny I don’t mind being gripped by a bit of “messianic fervour” as Frances their dignity, their spirituality, Marilyn Gardiner’s feelings about Dear Broadsheet Porter calls it in her attack on their land — all of which are in­ hysterectomy (Broadsheet Oct In the October issue, on page 19, white women who support Maori separably linked? (Oh dear have I issue) I must admit to being taken there is an article on “Politics in sovereignty (Letters, October). I gone too far?) aback by her penned response the Playpen”. I am given as the can do with some optimism in Goddess forbid we impose yet which to me was neither sensitive author. another form of spiritual im­ or supportive toward other women these dark political days. I don’t In fact, the article was sent to perialism and remain a well-off, who might well be contemplating experience the “utter abjection” you by me as “Adapted from a well-educated white clique occa­ or about to go through a she refers to, nor do I see it as a paper presented to the Hamilton question of “who’s in the wrong” sionally condescending to pick hysterectomy. Childhood Convention 1983 by in the individual case. over the remains of Maori culture Before having a hysterectomy Kate Clark, Helen Cook and Jean In the general case, white races and religion because it offers two years ago, I thought it out Pearson”, and they should have have dominated and oppressed all “ethnic interest”. This would be carefully, questioned the appeared as the authors. the greatest mistake the NZ gynaecologist and read everything non-white races across the world. I think I can see what has hap­ “womenspirit movement” could I could find on the topic. Much of That is presumably not a matter pened; that information was make. It would do well to the literature written by feminist of dispute between us. As in­ mistakenly set as a final footnote, acknowledge that our privilege in and non-feminist sources seemed dividuals, whites are inevitably af­ and as you knew the paper had fected ' by the propaganda for having the time and educational to imply that hysterectomy meant been sent in by me, I then ap­ superiority, just as are men in rela­ level to join such a movement I was allowing the patriarchy to peared as the author. tion to women. The impetus for ultimately stems from our deprive me of my womanhood, Please publish this letter to clear forbears’ success at taking over NZ my libido and to induce emotional white women to change the matter up, and by way of themselves is slowly increasing as from its rightful inhabitants. We disorders, endless urinary tract in­ apology to the three women is that for men. White women can­ must, then, have the courage and fections and early menopause. I concerned. integrity to extend our insights and was no longer to be a “real” not ride on black backs to equali­ analysis from a personal to a womon. Heterosexist assumptions ty, either by displays of guilt or as Anne Else political scale, and see honestly our to say the least. innocent liberals. They surely have Wellington

Broadsheet, October 1983 5 BEHIND THE NEWS wives to be both nurses and midwives (which means that two home birth mid­ wives will lose their jobs) while in hospital WOMEN FOR MID WIVES anyone can attend a woman giving birth. At present each woman must be attended -MIDWIVESFOR WOMEN by a midwife but with the bill any enroll­ ed nurse, for example, could attend a birth in hospital. "The midwife is not a product of man- any nurse who has done her training in a made-science but of human nature itself. hospital from doing a midwifery course and Sexism It seems to be a natural thing, instinctive­ registering. Similarly it prevents midwives The bill throughout speaks of the midwife ly chosen by all human beings, that a who have trained in a hospital programme as “he” and of “obstetric nursing” not of woman in labour needs mental support and from registering in New Zealand. The new midwifery which in this context seems aid from another woman.”.1 NZ course prescribed by the bill is quite unsupportable. The bill places power Midwives have historically often been technical institute-based and takes six years into the hands of the mainly male medical equated with witches. The Nurses Amend­ to complete. It has a remarkably small fraternity to shop nurses seeking medical ment Bill, currently before a select com­ component of midwifery and is clearly go­ assistance; gives the MOH powers to sus­ mittee, is the 20th Century equivalent of ing to lose New Zealand trained midwives pend for undefined offences; and if passed burning at the stake. It will have the same the reciprocity they have had with, for ex­ will succeed in denigrating midwifery and effect, forcing midwifery underground and ample, the UK. replacing it with obstetrician attended placing power in the hands of the barber- births.3 Maori Women surgeon equivalents, the obstetricians. Action “The dramatic disappearance of a cen­ Mana Motuhaka has pointed out that the bill will have an adverse effect on the Go to see or write to your MP, send a late turies old profession, almost to extinction submission to the select committee on was no accident. It was not due to objec­ number of Maori and Pacific Island women who can undertake midwifery Health and Welfare. Join Save the Mid­ tive, scientifically based health care plan­ wives Association and get the quarterly ning seeking to improve the quality of training. Four years of the six-year course require financial outlay. In addition, the newsletter (sec. 24 Ashton Rd, Mt Eden, maternity care. It came about by a con­ Auckland, $2). spiracy on a grand scale, spanning more criteria required for admission to technical institute courses are now UE or 7th form Barbara Macfarlane than a century and continuing to the pre­ certificate. This discriminates against Save the Midwives Association. sent day, on the part of medical doctors seeking to eliminate their economic women with different language and 1 David Stewart, The Five Standards for Safe cultural backgrounds, and academic record Childbearing, p. 155. competitiors.”2 2 Ibid, P. 112 This description of the state of mid­ should be only one element in selection for suitability for midwifery training. The 3 Ibid, p. 117. The source of the best data on relative wifery in the United States has exact safety of obstetrician versus midwife attended births course is now highly technical and scien­ parallels in New Zealand. The Nurses comes from the American Journal of Obstetrics and tific and quite unrelated to the needs of Gynaecology (109, 1971 and 105, 1969) dealing with Amendment Bill is seen by Save the Mid­ midwives dealing with normal birth or the Madera County Hospital, California. Prior to 1960 wives Association as an expression of the women having them. , family physicians only attended births and the neonatal powerful doctor lobby’s concern with its mortality rdte was 23.9 per 1,000 live births and the economic future — supported of course by Civil Liberties prem rate 11%. In 1960 a state-funded programme for nurse midwives was introduced. From 1960 to June a male-dominated Health Department and The bill is a direct attack on the doctor- 1963 the neonatal mortality rates dropped to 10.3 per government. We have a falling birth rate, patient confidentiality where the patient is 1,000 and the prem rate improved to 6.4%. an over-supply of obstetricians, an increas­ a practising nurse. The doctor now has a These rates were better than the average for Califor­ ing trend towards natural and home birth, duty to report a nurse to the Nursing nia as a whole and Madera County was a poor agricultural area. The Californian Medical Association and midwives inadequately represented by Council if she/he feels the nurse is not succeeded in terminating the funding for the midwives the N.Z. Nurses Association who regard physically or mentally able. Male doctors and had them replaced by obstetricians. From January midwifery as a mere gloss on nursing and are notoriously unable to diagnose and 1964 until June 1966, neonatal deaths tripled averag­ not as an independent profession. treat female illness. Surely this is the area ing 32.1 per 1,000 while prem rates increased to 9.8%. Passage of the bill would have grave ef­ in which an employer has responsibility as fects on midwifery as a profession and on is now the case, not one’s medical the rights of women to make informed practitioner. choices on birth attendants. It will Home Birth ALL OVER necessarily increase lay midwifery. The bill discriminates between domiciliary Nurse versus Midwife and hospital midwives. The former may THE WORLD This bill will prevent any direct entry mid­ now be suspended for one month if the wifery graduates (eg who have completed Medical Officer of Health "suspects” that Raven, a Mauritian woman, a three-year midwifery course in the UK she is practising in an “unhygienic man­ describes how Diego Garcia in the but are not registered nurses) from register­ ner”. What could this involve? Wearing Indian Ocean became a nuclear ing in New Zealand. There are 200 direct slippers? The petty tyranny currently ex­ base. entry midwives employed here now and ercised by some MOHs who personally op­ quite a number of women completing the pose home birth suggests this will be a new course with the intention of returning here and fertile ground for interference. A se­ Diego Garcia, a horse-shoe-shaped coral and practising. The bill will also prevent cond provision requires domiciliary mid­ atoll, 14 miles long by five miles wide, lies

6 Broadsheet, October 1980 almost in the centre of the Indian Ocean. marines and have, therefore, facilitated Since 1815, Diego Garcia has been part of Polaris and Poseidon strategic submarine the ex-British colony of Mauritius. Great patrols in the ocean. Britain however, detached it from Diego Garcia will also be the Mauritius in 1965 and included it in the springboard of the Rapid Deployment newly formed colony, the British Indian Force which is to be “available for use Ocean Territory (BIOT). Great Britain and anywhere outside Europe . . . to move the United States then signed an agreement quickly and fight quickly in a number of entitled “Availablility of certain Indian regions”. Ocean islands for defence purposes” and Diego Garcia was leased to the United States for an initial period of 50 years The People renewable for a further period of 20 years. Diego Garcia is also the story of violated The British government received $11.5 human rights. It was only in 1975, nine million to help them establish the BIOT years after the signing of the Anglo- and remove the islanders. The money was American defence agreement, that the given as a waiver on research and develop­ world first learnt that some 1,800 people ment costs of Polaris missies so that US were living on the island. Even the Congress approval need not be sought. American congress was misled and was in­ Why was Diego Garcia chosen? Apart formed in 1972 that the islands were vir­ from economic reasons — the Afro-Asian tually uninhabitated and erection of the BRANCHING OUT continent abounds in rich natural and base would thus cause no “indigenous mineral resources and the Middle East pro­ problems”. The British Government started Women at a recent Women and Agriculture day vides the West and Japan with their much held at the Wairarapa Training Farm learned needed oil (some of which is transhipped evacuating the island in 1965; the people how to prune fruit trees, use chain saws, cut up through the Indian Ocean via the Cape were forcibly transported to Mauritius and mutton, skin opossums and ride farm bikes. Joan route) — the US saw the Indian Ocean as were not allowed back. 650,000 pounds Peterson holds the snips and June Shields keeps an important strategic zone. In the opinion representing what was called “a full and her fingers out o f the way. (Photo by Danna of Admiral Zumwalt, US Chief of Naval final discharge of British obligations in this Glendining) Operations, “the Indian Ocean has become regard” was paid to the Mauritian Govern­ the area with the potential to produce ma­ ment. It is now widely known that the jor shifts in the global power balance over Diego Garcians were living an abject IF THE PIE FITS . . . the next decade”. In his judgement, that poverty in the slums on the outskirts of the is the crux of the rationale for the choice capital. They however put up a remarkable During August, John Banks was visited in of Diego Garcia. fight for jobs, better houses and the right his office by a group of his Whangarei The Indian Ocean has become the new to return to Diego Garcia. As the island women constituents. They were there to area of superpower rivalry. A Soviet task was a matriarchal society, the sit-ins, symbolically present him with a custard force of several warships, cruisers, guided demonstrations, hunger strikes, were pie, in response to his remark in the House missile destroyers and submarines have organised and led by women. The Mauri­ — “Fair enough” — in a discussion of been operating in the ocean since the 70s. tian Women’s Liberation Movement ac­ women’s lower pay rates. He subsequent­ The US remains however the major Indian tively gave its support. ly said this was “just a joke”. ocean power — it has numerous bases and Finally, the British government agreed The eight-woman delegation had all facilities in the region. to fresh talks. A Mauritian delegation com­ previously agreed that to actually throw Furthermore, Diego Garcia is a vital link posed of Diego Garcian women, support the pie would be to descend to Banks’ own in what is described as the “island workers and politicians came to London level of debate. As the first three woman perimeter” strategy adopted by the in June 1981 to negotiate for a further came into the office, and before a word had Americans since the Vietnam defeat. This compensation of eight million pounds. The been spoken, Banks attacked Pat Gray, new strategy relies on sea-based forces: sub­ British government finally paid a compen­ who was carrying a brown paper bag con­ marines with nuclear warheads, aircraft sation of four million pounds. taining the freshly baked pie. He pushed carriers with nuclear bombers and naval Compensation can only solve part of the her in the chest, causing her to fall against bases to support them. problem. No one is allowed to return to a chair. The pie flew into the air, landing the island and there is evidence that on the carpet as the last of the women nuclear weapons will be stockpiled on the entered the room. Banks shouted “That The Base base. Polaris and Poseidon missiles are lady was going to throw that pie at me”, It would appear that Diego Garcia is now already in the Indian Ocean. It is thus not and he moved behind his desk. Pat Gray a fully operational naval and air base. As only a question of dismantling the base — angrily demanded an explanation for his many as 12 warships can dock in the the struggle is for the demilitarisation of violent action. He declared that someone lagoon simultaneously. The 12,000-foot the Indian Ocean. The Mauritian Women’s had rung him earlier in the day to say that runway is able to handle DC-8s, CT41s, Liberation Movement is demanding com­ he was “going to get a pie in the face”. KC-135 tankers and B-52 bombers, even plete demilitarisation and a nuclear-free In­ Each women denied that this had been the if fully loaded. F-l 11 bombers which are dian Ocean. intention, that he had been misinformed normally equipped with nuclear weapons The nuclear problem is an international and that he had over-reacted. Where was can be placed on the base. The com­ problem. Even some third world countries his self-acclaimed sense of humour? munications facilities on the island are link­ want, and some already have, their nuclear The atmosphere was tense and unplea­ ed to similar stations ranging from Asmara weapons. Our struggle is one and the same sant but several women went on to express in Ethiopia to the North West Cape in — our ultimate demand is for a nuclear- their real concern over the disparity bet­ Australia. They include very low frequen­ free world. □ ween men’s and women’s wages. □ cy system for communications with sub­ Reprinted from Spare Rib Elizabeth Vaneveld

Broadsheet, October 1983 7 OF LIFE A BIT OF EUPHEMISM FOR THE LESS PALATABLE WORD — MENOPAUSE. BUT FOR RENEE IT LITERALLY WAS A TIME FOR CHANGE ... OF A POSITIVE KIND.

8 Broadsheet, October 1983 RECENTLY the British feminist have outlived their usefulness as human be­ hour-and-a-half, spread newspaper from magazine Spare Rib printed an article on ings. The remaining years may just be my side of the bed to the lavatory so I the menopause. To start it off they quoted marking time until they follow their glands wouldn’t gush on the carpet when I from Everything You Always Wanted To into oblivion.” stumbled out in the moring, and felt drain­ Know About Sex But Never Dared To Ask With gems like this being read and ed and sick with aching legs and sore back, by Dr David Reuben. It’s worth quoting believed by the majority of people it’s no I looked forward to the cessation of periods again as an example of the arrogance, in­ wonder that a woman approaching the as a condemned prisoner looks forward to difference and women-hatred which menopause wants to hide it as long as release. abounds amongst those who specialise in possible. I‘d heard a few stories about “the change women’s “problems”. As far as I’m concerned the only pro­ of life”, usually to the effect that a woman “As the oestrogen is shut off, a woman blem women have is men, and it is at the had gone crazy or what was worse, was ex­ comes close as she can to being a man. In­ menopause that this becomes glaringly hibiting “nerves” and driving her family creased facial hair, deepened voice, obesi­ obvious. crazy. ty, and the decline of the breasts and This wasn’t going to happen to me of female genitalia all contribute to a ONE DAY about seven years ago I was course. I was busy, had many interests, I masucline appearance. Coarsened features, busy teaching when suddenly I became was ecstatic when the last of my kids left enlargement of the clitoris, and gradual aware that I was sweating profusely and home and in between periods I was very fit. baldness complete the picture. Not really was extremely hot. “Shit!”, I thought to Imagine my anger and resentment when a man, but no longer a functional woman, myself as I continued to discuss the finer none of these things proved to mean a these individuals live in a world of intersex points of Romeo and Juliet, “Eve go the damn. I found I was at the mercy of my . . . sex no longer interests them. ’flu”. hormones and there was precious little I “To many women the menopause marks At lunchtime I described this “turn” to could do about it. the end of their useful life, they see it as my colleagues. Not one of the four over­ the onset of old age, the beginning of the fifty women there said, “That, my dear SIX YEARS AGO I started having severe end. Having outlived their ovaries, they simpleton, is a hot flush!” various explana­ hot sweats; I use this term because “flush”

i’m flashing myself, throwing up my skirts above my pants like an old whore on party night, showing blood dov^ g lT to the moon; BADLY i am ready to let it leak down my legs plunge my fingers in this sticky coagulation touch it to my mouth and cover my face if necessary with scarlet juice like dahlia stains, look i’ve had all these years of screaming and cry­ ing and hurting and behaving badly tions were offered, but not that. I know seems to me to be too pallid a word for the being inappropriate now that they were terrified to drenching, debilitating experience. Every and trying to hide the pain acknowledge their own menopausal state 35 minutes I had a hot sweat. Nights and disguise the smell because they would be seen through Dr became a true nightmare. Changing the i’ve had enough Rueben’s eyes, washed out, on the scrap- sheets, changing my clothes made me so of this bloody heap, half-people. wide awake that there was little change of thirty year flowering Although I didn’t realise it at the time getting back to a restful sleep. I had a before it's finished I had actually started menopausal symtoms demanding job teaching, and it didn’t make can’t i just show a few years earlier when I began to ex­ it any easier when drops of water fell from you perience severe flooding for the first three my face to the desk in the middle of a my guts? days of each period. As I had to wear four lesson or when my glasses fogged up just sanitary pads at a time and change every as I was taking roll-call.

Broadsheet, October 1983 9 Debilitated, irritable, tired, angry and threatened by my involvement with decreed that two people just because they resentful 1 turned to books for some feminists and lesbian feminists now saw my were married should share a room for so knowledge and or comfort. There was decision to sleep in a different room as a much of their lives. I began to question the some knowledge but little comfort. I tried personal rejection. There was no attempt compromises I had made and took steps ginseng, Vitamin E, Vitamin B, Vitamin to understand my feeling, no concern for to stop my habit of seeking male approval C, bought a fan. Nothing worked. I did my physical state (mind over matter wasn’t or permission for my actions. If I wanted discover that hardly any research had been actually said but it was implied), and no to go out to dinner with a woman friend done on this stage of a woman’s life, pro­ desire to listen to me talk about my con­ I did, if I wanted to involve myself in some bably because men don’t experience it. fusion and shock. All was resentment, political action I did. My physical symptoms were severe but so focussed on me moving to another room I started writing what I wanted to write were my mental and emotional reactions. which was seen as the loss of a possession. and not worry about what the person I was I experienced some times of deep depres­ The hideous thing is that looking back I living with would think. I began to realise sion. On the good side I had improved felt guilty about it all! At first, that is. that lots of things I’d thought and said were mental efficiency and creativity. Now I was waking up off and on all true and that I wasn’t “being silly” or I found that I wanted to be alone a lot night, I had to change the sheets and my twisting the facts”. of the time. I started to face the way my clothes. I needed to be able to move So although I was still left with irritating life was going. I turned 50 and thought around, have the light on, use tissues, get and at times miserable physical symptoms about what I wanted to do with the rest a glass of water. I had begun to alter my situation so that of my life. Did I want to lie on my death­ I could cope with the symptoms a lot bet­ bed and think of all the things I’d wanted AFTER A WHILE something strange ter. I opted for celibacy and this was great to do that I hadn’t done? happened. I started to revel in the limited and I coped with a couple of outbreaks of Wanting to be alone seemed to be a terri­ freedom of having a room to myself. I’d vaginal rash fairly well because of this. I ble thing to say. I was living in a long-term never had that before and I loved it. I also had a D & C and finished periods heterosexual realtionship and my partner began to question the heterosexual custom completely. who had been getting more and more which by its rigid expectations and customs After a while I stopped thinking about

MENOPAUSE HOT SWEATS A feeling of sudden mild heat which increases in intensity to feel­ ing excessively hot. Accompanying this is the appearance of sweat which gets heavier • Starts 45-50 until it has to be wiped away. Area affected are the face, the head, and under the • The amount of hormonal stimula­ arms, under the breasts, the small of the back. The face may become quite red. (The tion produced by the pituitary gland sweat and red face can be construed as guilt when talking to a policeman). One’s to the ovaries and uterus begins to head becomes very hot to the touch and hair around the face and back of the neck diminish. is often dripping wet. • Oestjtjgen and progesterone are the EFFECTS I use lots of paper towels to wipe my face and hair; ordinary tissues are hormones responsible for triggering not absorbant enough. If you wear glasses you can get chafing across and around off the monthly shedding of the lin­ the bridge of the nose. I have found plastic frames much easier than steel frames ing of the womb. which are heavier and have more of an edge to them. Face creams and lotions are a thing of the past. There is nothng worse than feel­ • These hormones are mainly (but ing the hot sweat gather under the cream and the heavy mixture of sweat and cream not solely) produced by the ovaries. rolling down one’s face. In fact I have found that the application of cream seems From our mid-20s there’s a slow to trigger off a hot sweat. falling-off of oestrogen from the Hot drinks, cold drinks, alcoholic drinks, hot food, cold food, hot or cold ovaries. At menopause, steady pro- temperatures, smoking, spices, can all bring on hot sweats. So can not being expos­ ductiton is replaced by a stop-start, ed to any of these things. pattern which means there’s a Clothing has to be loose and layered so that the outer layers can be peeled off general reorganisation of the whole quickly. I tend to avoid buying new clothes; it’s almost inevitable that in the small endrocrine system. Your body has confines of the spaces provided for tyring on clothes I will have a hot sweat. to cope with these withdrawal Night time sweats seem more intense; pyjamas are soaked, pillow-slips and sheets symptoms. are drenched and all bedding seems to have a damp smell about it after a while. • Other glands, particularly the After a bad night the first thing I notice in the morning is that my hair smells. Con­ adrenals, compensate for the less ac­ stantly interrupted sleep is debilitating and depressing. tive ovaries and it is incorrect to Hugging, kssing, making love are all affected. Find a partner who can cope with assume that the loss of ovary func­ this. You can say “Oh shit!” but don’t say “I’m sorry!” tion (or the loss of ovaries through The length and duration of hot sweats varies. At one stage I was having them surgery) means total withdrawal of every 35 minutes during the day and about every two hours during the night. I know oestrogen. this because I kept a record. Sometimes I feel very cold afterwards but generally I feel tired and as it goes on through the day a feeling of resentment accompanies • Some women adjust very quickly the tiredness. A very real “poor me” kind of syndrome. The tiredness is not so much to lower levels of hormones (the a physical response as a mental weariness and lasts for a few minutes. If I am feeling withdrawal symptoms), others below par or getting a cold then I have a noticeably increased number of hot sweats. don’t. □ I am into my sixth year. The hot sweats are less, about one an hour and three

10 Broadsheet, October 1 983 and feeling sorry for other people and started to concentrate on myself. It’s a wonderfully liberating thing to do. To think about what is best for the person that is you. I mean one can spend a lot of time caring for plants, seeing they have the right situation for maxiumum growth and blooming but how often do we put even half that time and concentration into our own growth and blooming? I realised that marriage was a health hazard and that I would never be really well while I stayed in it. I recognised my love for women and for one particular woman and looked back to all the times my sanity had been saved by the love and friendship of other women. Some time after I left my marriage I realised I was a lesbian and somehow all things fell into place.

ALL THESE CHANGES have not entire­ ly relieved the menopausal symptoms. I’ve found that acupuncture lessened the sever­ ity and number of hot sweats but I still get them. I get irritable from sleepless nights still and I’ve given up wearing polo necks or four per night. The nights ones are still acute enough to wake me so as to wipe forever. What has happened is that I cope my face. better because a lot of the pressure to con­ form to society’s expectations has gone and WHAT I DO ABOUT IT I make it public. I never go anywhere without paper so thêre is less stress. towels. I don’t sit by heaters. I live with a woman who’s made it her business to I’ve changed my job to one that is less be sensitive and kind about how I feel about it in spite of the the fact that her expec­ stressful because of the fewer hours involv­ tations of the menopause must now be pretty dismal. I have learned to be open to ed but it is also of course less well-paid. I talking about it and also about the process of aging and society’s attitudes towards buy a lot of my clothes at op-shops and us. The only thing that concerns me is that I mix only with pre-menopausal women grow some vegetables. and sometimes I ask myself where are all the menopausal feminists? Surely I’m not The menopause stage is time to re-assess the only one? your whole life. It’s a valuable stage in all Oestrogen I hear you say? Well, yes, if I wanted to start bleeding again but I don’t. women’s growth and development. We see OTHER SYMPTOMS I’ve concentrated mainly on hot sweats because they have our lives very clearly and although this been my main symptom. Other women I’ve learned from reading about it have bad may make the people we live with very ner­ times with rashes (I’ve had some), feelings of panic (same again) formication (a feel­ vous that doesn’t mean that we are crazy ing that ants are walking across an area of your skin), headaches, stress and depres­ or that we have to go on living in a situa­ sion. The other main symptom which has affected me is driving a car. I get an awful tion that is not healthy for us. feeling of panic, so I avoid driving. I suppose this will go, I don t know. No doubt To answer Dr Reuben’s statement — there are many other symptoms I haven’t mentioned but I guess I’ve said enough I’ve always had a deep voice, there is a to fill every woman under forty with dread. So just remember this is my experience, [ slight increase of facial hair, my breasts yours may, hopefully, be much milder and therefore easier to cope with. Probably \ haven’t declined and I’m not going bald. the most important thing to remember is to talk about it now, find out all you can : I’m a woman and I function as a woman. about this stage you’re going to go through, ask your mother, aunts, older sisters : Sex does interest me. The menopause has or friends about their experiences and build up a picture for yourself about what : not marked the end of my useful life and : I don’t intend to mark time until I follow you might expect. Think about all the older women you respect and admire for whatever reason. : my glands into oblivion. They have all experienced the menopause and coped, some better than others, often : I’ll always be grateful for this stage of j my life where my physical symptoms forc- depending on their circumstances. Find a doctor who’s sympathetic and doesn’t hand out pills with monotonous ; ed me to face up to other changes I need- regularity. Try vitamins, herbs, acupuncture, any of the unorthodox treatments, one • ed and wanted to make and that with the I help of my lover and a lot of other women of them might suit you. And remember it has to finish sometime. And then you hit the stage Margaret : I’ve made. I also realise that these major Mead called PMZ, post menopausal zest. A wonderful prospect and one that’s kept : changes have not come without pain, self- me going through some very tedious and depressing moments. I’m sure it’ll do the : questioning and doubt, during some of the Ī Changes. And 1 only know one thing for same for you.D ;• sure. I don’t regret any of it. [T]

Broadsheet, October 1983 11 MIRA SZASZY In the final part of this interview SHARON HAWKE talked to MIRA SZAZY about early days of the Maori Women’s Welfare League, the League’s 1983 Conference and her hopes for the future.

What do you see Maori women of today striving for? I’m not absolutely sure of the answer to that. My general feel­ ing is one of disappointment, because I expected more support for my stand on their behalf. There is support in certain areas but by and large Maori women are not true to themselves or are not totally aware of the forces in this society that affect us. They are unaware of the influences that put us where we are in society. Maori women are leading in the political arena, but outside the decision-making areas, so their say is not noticed. They choose not to be in the system and because of their radical status are not eligible for election onto statutory bodies. So they are in one sense powerless to enforce the changes they want. Are their aims so different from those of older Maori women? No — I don’t think so. The basic principles are the same. It is the methods used in attempting to change the structures which are different. Would you agree then that the “division” between younger and older Maori women is false? Yes — I would say so. I myself feel there is no difference bet­ ween myself and younger people — I’ve never thought that way. The underlying principles they promote are true for me. I don’t operate too much on personalities. What exchanges need to take place between younger and older women? They need to come together more. Maybe to begin with, the younger ones could learn about their roots and get closer to the older Maori women who still have vestiges of a sense of things Maori. These can be shared as a beginning towards bet­ ter understanding. Perhaps in exchange for this the younger ones could talk to the older ones about the effects of structures, such as the exercise you young women went through on struc­ tural analysis (Filip Fanchet facilitated from INODEP) — Paris). If they could share those experiences with the older women, I think it would bring about a closer relationship bet­ This lead to a great challenge to Maori Affairs and to the govern­ ween the two groups. ment regarding the housing needs of the Maori people. We In the beginning of the Maori Women’s Welfare League a lot challenged some of the banks who would not employ Maori of the work focused on the family. What other areas did the people. Challenges were made to insurance companies who League work in? would not give Maori people insurance. I suppose the companies The focus was on the home — the children and mothers, but felt that Maori life expectancy was too short so they didn’t want because there was no other national organisation to promote to take out insurance policies on them. The League initiated the things the Maori wanted to put forward the Maori Women’s the battle on this. 1 hey also battled with the police about their Welfare League took up all issues to do with the Maori world. attitudes to young Maori people. The promotion of Maori arts Everything that you could think of they handled. So they went and crafts was carried out by the League. The League pressed far beyond the original intention of the organisation. very early the interest of Maori people with regards to the South African Rugby Tour. As a body the League took the initiative In the first part of our interview you mentioned getting better in 1954, we laid down a policy against rugby with Soutn housing for Maori families in the inner city. Africa. We challenged the booklet Wash Day at the Pa and The League carried out a housing survey because the Depart­ the League took up the nuclear issue in the Pacific. This is a ment of Maori Affairs said there were not many Maori people longstanding policy with the League. applying for houses. The survey was a tremendous effort on These issues are resurfacing now, but they were tackled by our part because all the cars and kai were from League members. the League a long time ago. 12 Broadsheet, October 1983 I would admit the total membership of the MWWL wasn’t you what the causes were. For me as a trained social worker, in tune with these policies. But sometimes the few must lead. in no way can I begin to deal with the problem unless I know the cause. The League didn’t have the type of expertise that So how different is the role of the MWWL today from its role was available to other organisations, such as the National Coun­ in the past? cil of Women, to do the studies that we required to put for­ It would seem to me that we’ve retrogressed in a sense. But that ward submissions on ALL the legislation that was proposed by was due to the setting up of the New Zealand Maori Council Government. Who do I turn to for help? NZMC had people (NZMC). A dichotomy in leadership developed between the two like Dr Ranginui Walker and Dr Pat Hohepa doing studies — organisations. The NZMC stepped in and took over issues to I didn’t have people like that in the League to call on, other do with the land and legislation and the League seemed to retreat than depending on myself and the immediate women around back into welfare problems, although there have been quite a me who were already under pressure. few issues to do with legislation that we’ve made attempts to You were talking earlier about the dichotomy in leadership bet­ handle. In my time as President of MWWL in 1976 we cer­ ween NZMC and MWWL — has this continued? tainly handled the issue of the Children and Young Persons Act. Yes, yes I do believe it has. I’ve tried very hard to bring the We made submissions to the committee dealing with human two together — I think to some degree we managed to do that. rights. This was a combined effort with the NZMC. I worked pretty well with Sir Graham Latimer, in fact the There were a lot of other issues during that time — it became presentation of submissions to the Human Rights Committee a heavy burden to deal with. To handle the organisation as the as a combined effort was evidence of that coming together as number one administrator and then to be involved in other a group. I threw out hints of the two working together a great things like NZBC. I was a member of Radio New Zealand deal. It was during this time that NZMC sent a representative Board, I was lecturing at Training College, tending to my own household demands, and helping my husband with his business. to our executive meetings. The pressures were great and the time to spare for larger issues And you feel this relationship is continuing? was very small. I found it difficult to keep up with all these I think that it is still continuing in some way — but there is demands and also to still carry on with the real work of the not a great deal of evidence as to the results of that combined League. I had to travel in the weekends because I was work­ effort. ing. I was rushing to regional meetings in the weekends then What about the MWWL relationship with Maori Affairs? Has back home to carry on. it grown? Has it weakened? Also the women of the League were getting older and hav­ Oh — it’s hard for me to comment on that. My own experiences ing worked in this area for 20 years it’s understandable they since my term in office ended was in a sense a disappointing were getting weary and tired — there weren’t enough younger relationship. When Maori Affairs began promoting its policies, members coming forward. This was the very basis of the move they went ahead for quite some time before consulting the that I made in 1974 to encourage junior members to join the League as a body. They might have done so at executive level, League because of the aging of its members. Especially the foun­ with individual members, but this didn’t filter down to the bran­ dation members. They were very very loyal, in spirit. Although ches as far as I was concerned. For example, in 1980 Tu Tangata they weren’t active they supported the activities of the League. Whanau policy of NZMC was brought to a national conference Again in 1974 I made attempts to encourage the older ones to in Timaru without prior consultation with League members and come out of their weariness and challenged them to teach the branches. The League is supposed to be a democratic organisa­ arts and crafts of the people to the younger in order to revive tion and it must be seen to act democratically. That’s when I their own interest and help the younger ones. At that time the get my hackles up, when people try to pressure for things like problems of youth had become extremely complex. In fact that this without time for proper consultation with the League. was the time I asked Government to have research done on Maori people. We had the highest rate of mental breakdown There have been policies put by Maori Affairs to the MWWL? — I concluded from this that the mental pressures were far too Yes — There was repetition of what happened in Timaru at great. The problems w | were having with our youth were com­ this last conference at the Sheraton (May 1983 — Auckland). plex. I felt we were no longer in a position to do anything to When they came to the conference to present Matua Whangai help unless we knew the causes. You couldn’t any more go to policy. It is quite wrong that this should be done at this level a house and talk it out — you couldn’t do this any more, you — again no prior consultation given to the members at home had to have the data in order to work towards solving these — the delegates are only delegates. problems and this information had to be provided by somebody. Do you have any comment to make about the session you held We were all working in the dark. with two other women at MWWL Conference this year which What was the Government’s response? was followed by Kara Puketapu’s presentation of Matua There wasn’t a great deal of response. Matiu Rata, who was Whangai? then the Minister of Maori Affairs did respond in a small way Maori Affairs presentation suffered and ours too because of the but an offer of $500 wasn’t going to get you anywhere. Then decision to combine two very important issues. Important from there was a change of government, so I made a submission to my point of view, because it was time to present the theme of the new Minister of Maori Affairs. He responded by saying ap­ conference “Me Aro Koe Ki Te Ha O Hineahuone” (Pay heed proval was given for health research. I think my mind was really to the dignity of women) to the women. I felt the timing was wanting to get to the root causes of social problems. I even wrote wrong, that the theme should have been presented at the very to the Association of Psychiatrists asking them to try and do beginning of the conference but the powers that be felt it could some study on the reasons for mental breakdown amongst Maori be done otherwise. The agreement to receive the delegation from women. The studies that were being put out were telling you Maori Affairs on the same evening as ours was quite wrong. I that these problems existed — but nobody, nobody was telling It didn’t give the women the opportunity to ask the speakers Broadsheet. October 1983 13 on the theme any questions to clear their own minds as to what look back and we look around. It is going to have to come from certain things meant. It would have cleared up a lot of yourselves, individuals need to think about what you’re going misunderstandings. I managed to get in most of my talk — but to do with your own spirituality. The spirituality of your im­ I felt that the last speaker who spoke on unemployment of Maori mediate surroundings, your own people. It is easier to say than women was cut off very badly. It was such an important issue. do. I look at men and women. We need to come together, not Conference should have heard everything to the last word! continue discussing our issues separately in separate places and What was the response from League members and others to so far apart. your speech on sexism you gave at conference this year? In the first part of this interview (September ’83, Issue 112) you There was a very varied response. Strangely I think the most spoke of feeling alone — having no spiritual inspiration. How positive response came from non-League members. League do you see this need being fulfilled? members were still chewing over in their own minds how they For me I m going to probably have (this is very personal) to felt about it. The impact must have challenged them and they go into a source outside our community. I know of few other couldn’t quite grasp the significance of it. I think they reacted ways that I can get it except in the everyday things that I do rather more to what they thought was being said rather than and everyday interactions that take place between myself and what was actually said. They didn’t hear the words — I think those I work with. There is a great deal of satisfaction that comes some came with negative feelings before we started. from there but, I’m not too sure what I’m really saying — I’m The men felt challenged. They felt hurt. I expected these reac­ talking about soul relationship, a likeness in spirit, you know? tions from the men. I didn’t go into the thing blindfolded — Those ones I was associated with in that way (Te Puea, John I knew that was what I would get. I felt the time had come Waititi, Maha Winiata) are mostly all gone. for it to be said. I have been silent all my life about equality, my rights as a human person, of my rights to be given the op­ What are your most positive hopes for the future? portunity to speak. As an elected leader of a national organisa­ (Long pause and heavy sigh) tion (1974) I felt one should have had that right in every area I think that Maori groups are getting to grips with positive issues of Maoridom. Not because it was me, but because of the all over the place. I’ve probably sounded negative in some ways challenging issues of the times that one needed to promote at but a great deal is going on. the real Maori forum — which is the marae. Women weren’t allowed to speak on the marae. I managed to do it in different ways. It was the principle behind it that mattered a great deal. Also I felt the time had come for me to open out on the issue having been silent for so long — know­ ingly silent. When I was lecturing on Maori Studies, equality was a question that was constantly being put to me by students: “and how do you stand as a woman when you are not allowed to do this or that or the other?” The resurgence of Maoritanga took place in the 1960s and because it was important that the total culture of the people found its place in present day society. In a sense I suppressed my individual rights for the good of a larger issue at the time. But twenty years have elapsed now and I’ve already given them time, in fact my whole life is that time, so I can’t remain silent because I would be dishonest to myself. What are the major areas of work Maori women should be put­ Mira Szaszy (centre) with Mayoress Goodman and Mere Penfold at the United Women’s Conference, 1973. ting their energy into? From a League perspective I think they need to look back to the reasons for the League’s establishment, particularly to the People who have gone back to their own land and are work­ position of our children today. We must be aware of the facts ing, running their own affairs. Even this business of Kara about our children in the street, think about what we are doing Puketapu s Maori International. How successuful it is going to in our homes, why they are living on the streets. Maybe there be is anybody’s guess — but the mere fact that somebody is are reasons beyond ourselves and so we need to look at those working in that area is positive. So too is the young people’s also to understand why we are in this situation. But there is involvement in striving to understand the structures which op­ a need to do something yourself also, to be involved in the crea­ press us. It s a political awareness of the sources of oppression. tion of work for our young ones and for ourselves. To be creative A result of that awareness becomes the ways you find to get and imaginative. So the League should be in a position to try out of it and solving the difficulties you are confronted with. and do that. The employment of our own people, and women, Maybe everything you and I have been talking about is begin­ particularly our young girls — that’s enough for anybody to ning to happen in its own way, and own time. handle. I suppose I was inclined to look towards the church and peo­ ple in the church to bring about this spiritual rebirth amongst In order to handle these tasks you’ve mentioned the physical our people and maybe it’s not where one ought to look. You and mental drain upon Maori women is tremendous — is there have to look at the people themselves, at every level of opera­ a need for spiritual inspiration within the League and other tion for that to grow. I think things are beginning to come right Maori women’s groups to maintain the work? for the Maori people because of this awareness of our own One can talk about spiritual inspiration but how do you bring situation. □ about spiritual inspiration? Where can you find the source? We Ka mutu! 14 Broadsheet, October 1983 ME ARO KOE KI TE HA O HINE-AHU ONE Introduction Tonight, I am going to place myself at the very centre of what PAY HEED TO THE DIGNITY OF WOMEN is a world wide controversy on sexual inequality. The origins Talk delivered at the 1983 National Conference of the Maori of this denial of the principle of (sexual) equality trace back in­ Women’s Welfare League (Inc) in Auckland on the Conference to the darkness of time, and its effects have continued theme by Mira Szaszy. throughout the span of human history up to this very moment of our existence. My approach will, therefore, need to begin Theme with a look at these original concepts through religious beliefs Our theme is, in essence, an expression of our deep concern — both Judeo/Christian and Maori. about the status and dignity of Maori women, and a cry for (ASIDE: At this moment people, I need to pray for God’s understanding. guidance on what I have to say tonight, and your understanding. It was taken from a waiata composed by the late Hori No reira, e Kui ma, e nga Whaea o te Motu, e nga Matua, e Mataiawhea, and recited by him at our Timaru Conference in hine ma, e tama ma, he inoi atu tenei ki a koutou katoa kia 1980. It was a tribute to the wisdom and teachings of his grand­ whakawateatia nga pungawerewere e iri ana i roto i te hinengaro mother, and her exhortations to her children. His actual words o tena, o tena mo tenei kaupapa uaua, tapu hoki, kia rongo mai were: ai koutou ki te wairua o enei korero.) “Me aro koe ki te ha o te tangata” “Pay heed to the dignity of Man who was created in His image." Sexism (Mihi — Noho wairua mai e koro i runga i enei kupu Sexism and racism are blood-brothers, born of the same attitude maharatanga). of mind. If you believe that racism exists in our society and it But, because of the strong feelings expressed by our younger is evii _ then believe also that sexism is equally evil, and as members, the word “Tangata” was changed to “Hine-Ahu-One”, damaging to the dignity of women. The first is prejudice based thus leaving no doubt as to the intent of this theme — “Me on sex; the other on skin colour, or race — both human at­ aro koe ki te ha o Hine-Ahu-One” — “Pay heed to the dignity tributes beyond the control of the individual, or group, that has them — it’s decided before birth; no one has a choice. of Women”.

A t the first conference o f the Maori Women's Welfare League in Wellington, 1951 Mira Petricevich stands behind Whine Cooper, who became the first president. (Courtesy Alexander Turnball Library.) Broadsheet, October 1983 My “take” is sexism. The challenge is, therefore, to those peo­ Human prejudices throughout the centuries have denied ple in our society at large, and in Maori society in particular, women these rights and, in so doing, have undermined their whose predjudices and unlawful discriminatory practices deny inherent dignity or mana tuku iho. equality to women — purely on the basis of their sex. The Marae Christian Origins Haunani-Kay Trask, a Hawaiian woman, said that “the women’s As our introduction to Christian teaching, let us take again the movement had made her aware of the patriarchal nature of second line of Hori’s poem — “Man who was created in His culture and politics”. Similar to her experiences, for me, our image” — which he surely took from the Bible. But I shall quote marae is a patriarchal institution, “pervaded by assumptions of it fully: male domination.” This position of women in our political family • “ So God created man in his own image, in the image of (whanau) mirrors the role of women in the larger society. The God he created him; male and female he created them“ The custom which disallows women from speaking on that forum Bible — Gen. 1:27. with the assertion that men and women have complementary • “For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put roles is, in fact, “a denial of equality, as such roles are certainly on Christ. There is neither Jew or Greek, neither slave nor not equal”. 3 free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one Denial of speaking rights, in itself, appears on the surface to in Jesus Christ.” The Bible — Gal. 3:27-28. be harmless, and acceptable to many women, because the • “It is fundamental to orthodox Christian belief that God had custom is said to be traditional. But, like education in our school created women and men together in God’s image, and that system, it is the “unwritten curriculum” with its hidden messages, God’s will and intention is that we should all be ‘one’ — a that is so corrosive. community — in Jesus Christ . . . Hence, the denial of equal rights to women on the Marae We are still far from the realisation of this vision. Injustice reinforces the structures which dominate and oppress them in and oppression still prevail in many of our social systems the Pakeha world. and structures. To look at one aspect alone, women Turning a blind eye to this situation of our women, even throughout the world are still commonly regarded as inferior those in privileged positions, is a form of dishonesty; of con- beings whose role and function in life is to serve the needs of men, as wives, mothers and labour force. Statistics tell the story; women are half the world’s people, do two-thirds of the world’s working hours, receive one-tenth of the world’s income, own one-hundredth of the world’s property.”1 Maori Beliefs Our present day understanding of Maori religious beliefs came down to us from the Creation Myths. Such knowledge was “tapu”, since it pertained to the Gods, and the descent of man from them. The Primal Parents were Ranginui and Papa- tuanuku. The most daring of their many offspring was Tane who, among his many feats, sought the female element in the early stages of Creation and, failing to find it, fashinoned Hine- Ahu-One from the body of Mother Earth. Thus was the first human created; both human and divine — and a Woman (Ira atua Ira tangata). As Violet2 said, “Ko tatou te matamua o te Ira-Tangata”. Perhaps, on second thoughts, we should have used the name of Mother Earth (Papatuanuku) to further underscore the sanctity of Maori women in Maori terms. Therefore, since both Christian and Maori beliefs declare the divine origins of women, no man — but no man — anywhere in our society has the authority to deny women their sanctity and dignity ie, their tapu and mana — both coming, as they do, from God. Every person in this room is unique — whether man or woman — and everyone of you carry the seed of perfection in you. That is the divine element in you: Deny it, and you deny your relationship to Him. Your purpose in life is to reach towards perfection — that is my belief. Your inherent poten­ tial or talents must not be hidden or denied their full flowering by anyone. To do this is evil and a sin against Him who created you. If you were a rose, your perfection will be in thê beauty of your blossoms and the quality of your fragrance. A violin must produce the most beautiful music its structure will allow. So it is with us humans. If we are born to be singers, carpenters, or orators, our maleness — or femaleness — should have nothing to do with our becoming the best singer, carpenter or orator that our talents allow.

16 Broadsheet, October 1983 doning the situation and, so, equally guilty of perpetuating embraced us. discriminatory systems? Both men and women are guilty ofthese This is no comment on individual men today — only the evasions.3 powerful feeling that marae kawa has now followed us, intruding even into the House of the League. Status and Role of Maori Women “Common sociological indices (such as income, housing, employ­ Institutions in New Zealand ment and education)” show Maori women also to be at the very As with the rest of the world, injustice and oppression continue bottom of NZ society. But, more damaging are the health con­ in many of our NZ institutions. Parliament, the highest institiu- ditions of our women, as revealed in our health statistics — tion in the land, is guilty (as hell) of sexism, as are many of our higher rates of mental breakdown, cancer, heart and abdominal social systems, such as education and employment, but time does not allow for detailed discussion. Suffice it to say, that women diseases, etc — the same sad things I told you all in 1972. We must therefore ask ourselves some very searching questions eg. should, perhaps, go on strike like the unions, or the Greek • What are the causes, or the root-cause, of this increasing women of old, as mentioned by John Bennett and Lady Beattie. deterioration in the health of our women? Human Rights • What is happening to us that is apparently not happening People, in their highest moments, translated Christian ethics to other women? into a Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, and incorporated Is it living in racist and sexist cultures, producing what Trask them into the United Nations International Covenants on calls an “identity of inferiority” and, in turn, “spiritual Human Rights. New Zealand’s acceptance of these covenants degradation”? resulted in the passing of the Race Relations Act and the set­ AH the above physical illnesses, ladies and gentlemen, are but ting up of the Human Rights Commission. It is a sad comment the symptoms of this deeper, inner disease. on those whose responsibility it is to implement these laws that Quoting Trask again, she says that “spiritual mana is one of no thought is given to looking at the status of women in general, the qualities of leadership, especially charismatic leadership, the and Maori women in particular. They researched racist attitudes exclusion of young women, especially, from its possession en­ and produced their book Race Against Time. Why not one on sured their exclusion from the highest circles of leadership.” sexism called Women’s Time Has Come? Again, like them, only when Maori women reach old age (Kaumatua status) with specific cultural wisdom (and are seen in some quarters as no longer being a threat to male domina­ tion) are they free from discrimination generally — but, even then, still only outside the marae forum. Maori women who acquire leadership roles through educa­ tion, church, community work or other positions in the com­ munity, ie those who have shown the capacity to think, argue and act with sense and political insight, receive the full force of male resistance. These women are thus limited in the recogni­ tion, authority and legitimate power due to them. They are denied access to decision-making, but all decisions made by others are, by and large, referred to them for action. Maori women who are seen as serious threats to male security and leadership usually become subjects of the quiet “put-down” — at social functions in important places, for example. Sexual innuendo, in the guise of “compliments”, undermines our credibility, and I do not have to explain this to you — you’ve The International Bill of Human Rights which became a reali­ heard so much of it so often. ty in 1976, with both legal and moral force, proclaims the in­ The Maori Women’s Welfare League herent dignity and the eqaul inalienable rights of ALL members The League was set up as a separate organisation from the tribal of the human family — male and female — and form the prin­ committees because of the sexist nature of our tribal structures. ciples of human justice and peace. In order to give Maori women decision-making powers on the “Male and Female created He them” ie Women have equal issues which affected them very closely — as mothers, and their value in the eyes of God. I believe this to the depth of my soul children and their homes — it was necessary to set up a struc­ — that my human worth is no more — AND NO LESS — ture which was not dominated by men ie on non-Maori lines. than that of any man. Thus, the voice of Maori women was for the first time clearly “Do not lead me — I may not follow heard in our public forum and was heeded by the Government Do not follow me — I may not lead of this country. The League established the “mana” of our But stand beside me, and together let us go foward into the women on a national basis, being the only political body of its future — our destiny.”4D kind in existence in the fifties . Originally, the League gave honour to one Kaumatua only ‘(From “Vision for a New Community” by Rev Janet Crawford — writ­ on its paepae of welcome. Maori men of stature and mana, the ten during the visit to NZ of the Archbishop of Canterbury — exclud­ leaders of Maoridom, graced the walls of our conference halls. ed from talk due to time factor.) 2Mrs Violet Pou, National President of the MWWL Maori men encouraged us, and were happy to let women of ‘Quote from Haunaui Kay Trask. the time take the issues of the Maori world to Government. Dr Peter Tapsell says: “Maoris would have to reassess their attitudes Marae structures were never brought into our Conferences by to their women if Maori people were to catch up with the Pakeha”. / them; no did they feel threated by us in any way. Rather, they “Author unknown. Broadsheet, October 1983 17 Maori Women in Law School

aori women in Law School, confront a system almost entirely bereft of any Maori content. While Maori people are being prosecuted and imprisoned in dis­ M proportionate numbers, this absence of Maori content is alarming. Real commitment to Maori people must go much further than the piecemeal courses that Law School already offers. The Maori Land Law course has the potential to provide such a commit­ ment but until there has been a reappraisal of the way that course is being approached, there seems little hope of improvement in the future. I should perhaps note that it is taught by a pakeha who still has problems in pronouncing Maori correctly. For too long Maori students have been subject to the constant mispronun­ Photographs by Gil Hanly. □ ciation of Maori case names, and the inevitable twitter in the lec­ ture theatre when the offender has the matter brought to his or her attention. The absence of any opportunity to use Te Reo Maori as a THE PAKEHA medium of communication in moots or mock trial also shows the monocultural basis of law school. Maori language is unique to It is little wonder that fewer Maoris are opting for careers in this soil and with the decline of those who speak the language this area and those that do cry academic schizophrenia. Maori fluently, the administrative staff should be working to encourage women face the further difficulty of inadequate creche facilities avenues where Te Reo Maori can be used more frequently. If which cater very much for the white child. We have yet to see law school can recognise this then perhaps we can see similar Te Kohanga Reo created for our own children at any university. trends in the courts to amend appalling decisions of recent years The legal system in New Zealand for too long has concentrated which have denied the use of Maori in the courts. on a neo-colonial viewpoint. This has to be changed. The lack of Maori staff throughout the faculty further rein­ Ka mahi Ka moe Ka mahi ano. Kia ora te Mana Maori forces this monocultural bias. Motuhake. Teimaima Sykes

Kia maumahara tatou He ahua ano to te Wahine Maori

Maori Women and Anthropology

he Social Anthropology department at Auckland University employs NO Maori lecturers, NO Maori tutors, NO Maori staff. Of the ALL WHITE staff, T only 25% are women. Needless to say both the Pro­ fessor and Associate Professor are male. Institutions do not exist in a social vacuum. They are part of a system in New Zealand that is dominated by a white male oligar­ A place to stand chy. The absence of Maori staff and the abysmal representation During September and October, Maori students at Auckland University of Maori students in the department reflect the educational bias created a marae at the university registry. They were protesting at what in New Zealand. The education system in this country is con­ they called “a decade o f talk" but no action on plans to build a marae trolled by pakeha for pakeha. as a Centennial project in 1973 and approved it in principle in 1976, Social Anthropology in Aotearoa has for the most part con­ however, in September 1983 the Minister o f Education said in a letter to Carmel Williams that neither the University Grants Committee or the centrated on the study of Maori society, isolated from the con­ University o f Auckland see it as a priority project. He suggested that Maori text of imperialism and neo-colonialism. This enables an­ Affairs fu n d the project from their urban marae fund, and others have thropologists to avoid confronting their own part as represen­ suggested the Auckland maori community should pay. Those who sup­ tatives and practitioners of the powerful majority pakeha culture port the project point out that 30,000 acres o f confiscated Maori lands were given to the university in 1885, that the urban marae fu n d has only and their “objects” of study, the oppressed Maori. Anthropology $500,000 annually to spend, that the Maori people are hardest hit by has ignored the explication of power relations in preference for unemployment, and that a marae is a cultural and educational asset for a detached scientific approach. Under the guise of objectivity, the whole university. anthropologists have quietly recorded traditions for posterity, After 11 days o f protest the vice-chancellor announced that the building while failing to observe that the people under observation are be­ o f a Whare Whakairo and Whare Kai would commence in 1984. Next year Maoris on campus will start the struggle fo r a full marae on the ing annihilated by white imperialism. university again. □ Those Maori in Anthropology have a responsibility to challenge

18 Broadsheet, October 1983 the discipline. Many of us feel that our oral traditions should be used only for our own edification. That the pakeha have already taken too much from us. On the other hand, whatever we gain from Te Ao pakeha must be channelled into our Taha Maori. Maori women in Anthropology have specific problems. The attitude of our own people is dependant on a number of factors that relate directly to our own tribal base. The most extreme view is expressed in the preface to Te Ao HuriHuri (King, 1975): “These books are valuable: they hold your whakapapa and your tapu. If you want to learn from them, take them away from food and clothing that belongs to women...” However, in some tribal areas there are kuia who hold the whakapapa books without any retribution. This is a poignant issue for Maori women in anthropology, because we don’t want to be seen as undermining our traditions. UNIVERSITY

The all-white staff of Auckland University Curriculum In the Faculty of Arts, there are 28 permanent positions listed in the Calendar for teaching English, 9 for teaching French, 10 for Germanic languages, and 4 each for Italian, Spanish and Russian. In all there are 59 permanent staff ap­ pointed to teach European languages at the University of Auckland. Under the category of European Culture, there are 70 positions in the Music, Fine Arts, Art Flistory, Classics, History and Philosophy Departments alone. Auckland may be the largest Polynesian city in the world, and Maori may It is our contention that the status of Maori women has been be the indigenous people of this country, but you would never influenced negatively by colonisation. Pakeha concepts have had know it from our Calendar. a destructive effect on Maori female-male relationships. An­ There are only 4 staff appointed to teach Maori in the Facul­ thropology is implicated in this process. The discipline is controlled ty of Arts, and these 4 staff teach not only the language, but by white males, so that their perspective has reinforced the ef­ cultural topics as well. The allocation of resources in the fect of colonisation. Consequently this has eroded the status of University of Auckland curriculum suggest that Maori Maori women. language and culture, the indigenous traditions of this coun­ There is evidence in Maori oral traditions and in the very struc­ try, are less important to us than Asian languages for instance, ture of Maori language which affirms the proposition that Maori with 9 teaching positions, or non-local European languages. women were accorded higher status and more privileges in pre­ And as for the Pacific — Serbo-Croatian is taught in the Facul­ contact Aotearoa than anthropologists have led us to believe. ty of Arts, but not Tongan or Samoan. The structure of the Maori women and men are oppressed by all pakeha. Therefore curriculum of this University is a Eurocentric scandal. pakeha women are implicated in the power relations in Aotearoa as members of the dominating culture. Pakeha hegemony defines Staffing and Promotion Policies the terms of our race relations. Under these conditions I am not In all of the Faculty of Arts, there are only 4 Maoris and no prepared to discuss the intricacies of the subjugation of Maori Polynesians on the permanent staff. There are no Maoris above women by Maori men in a pakeha women’s magazine. Pakeha the position of Senior Lecturer. The picture overall in other men not Maori men constitute the oligarchy of oppression in NZ. faculties is worse. Six years ago, one of the Maori Queen’s Pakeha women have a big job sorting out their own men. Maori chief orators was appointed to teach Maori in this Universi­ women are capable of confronting Maori men, but it is an issue ty. Despite his erudition and nationally-recognised mastery of that we are resolving in our own terms, in Maori terms. Yet 90% Maori he was appointed (in his 50s!) as a junior lecturer. As of the Anthropology Department is blissfully oblivious to Maori far as I am aware, none of the Maori staff, even in the Maori suffering. They have deliberately misconstrued Ti Harawira’s section have ever received recognition of their Maori qualifica­ directive and the efforts of ACORD to force the issue of institu­ tions, and yet pakeha staff with no knowledge of Maori tionalised racism in anthropology. Anthropologists who could con­ language and little knowledge of Maori culture may teach and tribute to the liberation of Aotearoa instead hide behind liberal write on Maori topics, and are promoted and rewarded for inertia, that conceals their true objective, which is that of passive their efforts.D purveyors of racism. Hei aha, kia kaha te Mana Maori MotuhakelD Anne Salmond, reprinted from Craccum August 9 1983 Na Naomi Te Hiini Broadsheet, October 1983 19 Rigoberta Menchu (Janet Fries. Plexus) f

: The Guatemalan people, 70% of whom are Indians, descendants just enough corn and beans to feed us for 4 or 5 months. The : of the Mayans, have been robbed of their land for 400 years. rest of the year we were forced to work on the plantations. Then : RIGOBERTA MENCHU, a Quiche Indian, has seen most of we would go back to our place in the mountains. That was our i her family murdered and will almost certainly be in danger on life; that is why I say I had no childhood. : her return to Guatemala.* My mother and father were responsible for our community. When people had difficulties or were sick, they came to my My name is Rigoberta Menchu. I was born in the region of Quiche parents. My parents had started the village along with other peo­ and learned to speak Spanish 13 years ago. I have neither a mother ple whom my father called together. All of them had devoted nor a father, and I will explain why. themselves to clearing and sowing the land. But the earth barely First I must tell you that we Indians in Guatemala have no yielded anything at first. They had to wait years for the first childhood. We have always suffered from repression and exploita­ harvest. And when the village finally had a cornfield and some tion. I began earning my living at the age of 8 .1 worked on the beans, the patron came and said that the land belonged to him. south coast of the Pacific on the estates of the patrones. I decid­ Then my father, the only one who spoke some Spanish, was ed to start working because I could no longer stand seeing my chosen to settle things with the authorities. exhausted mother’s pained face — always picking either coffee He travelled around seeking support to get the patrones to leave or cotton with a new born baby on her back and my hungry us in peace. But his complaints went unheeded. They sent him brothers and sisters surrounding her. from place to place; they demanded that he get a lawyer. Almost We left the mountains where we lived to work on the estates all of his time was given to the community and that meant that because my father only had a small piece of land that yielded he didn’t have time to work enough. We, his children, worked 20 Broadsheet, October 1983 in his place. After that, my father went away, saying there was a great deal As a child I never went into town. Our customs don’t allow he had to do for his people, that he must go from town to town a girl to go alone — at least two people must go together. Our telling what had happened. That was the last we saw of him. A life is communal; in our village there is a community house where little later, my mother decided to travel around and talk with peo­ we gather and where we celebrate. When we were very young, ple about what she had witnessed. She said “As a woman, our parents taught us that we must remain true to our ancestors, I have an obligation to make my experiences known in order to our culture, and our traditions. For example, before sowing seeds, prevent other mothers from suffering as I have”. She took along we ask the earth permission to inflict wounds. For us, the earth my youngest sister. My brothers also left; and my little sister, who is holy; only for our livelihood do we have the right to hurt her. was nine, said she was going to join the guerrillas and not die When we chop down a tree to build a house, we beg for nature’s of hunger or be killed by the troops. forgiveness. It is not our right even to pick flowers. Shortly after that, my father was murdered. He and other In 1973, when I was 15, my father was arrested for the first peasants had occupied the Spanish embassy in Guatemala City time. He was accused of creating a disturbance and of threaten­ to protest and to draw attention to the repression in El Quiche. ing Guatemala’s sovereignty. My mother went in search of a He and 29 others were murdered by the army. Three months later, lawyer; she had to leave us alone. While my father was in prison, my mother was raped and murdered by the military. We, her the rich patrones came, and since none of us spoke Spanish, they children, had to find another way to struggle. Otherwise, it would intimidated us. They said the land belonged to them, and they be impossible to go on. threatened us with guns. They went into our houses and broke A few years ago I went to the city to become a maid. I thought all our things, even our pots which were made of clay; they that everything would be different there. But the rich lady I work­ broke everything. At that time, we still believed that our only ed for demanded that I give up my Indian clothes. “What would enemy was the big landowner. It was not yet clear to us that all my friends say if they saw you in my house in those clothes? She the rich people exploit and persecute us, the peasants. gave meat to her dog; to me she gave tortillas. To these people We began to organise ourselves, and this resulted in even an Indian is worth less than a dog. greater repression. Then my father was released from prison. He I must continue the fight that my parents began. I joined the had gotten to know a Ladino (people of Spanish descent or cultural organization of Revolutionary Christians in order to get involv­ values) there who was a political prisoner, and who had explain­ ed in the mass struggle. I began to learn Spanish, which is ed to him that the enemy is not just the patron who wanted to necessary if those of us from different areas want to speak with rob us of our land. My father realized that our struggle could each other. I also learned three of the Indian languages, but no no longer be fought as it had been in the past, and he chose to one can know all of the 20 that are spoken in Guatemala. work with the underground. So he was no longer at home. We The army is getting more and more sophisticated, with its never knew where he went because he knew that our lives would weapons, equipment, tactics and intelligence operations. We must be in danger if we were in contact with him. do the same; we must know how to defend ourselves. We must My 14-year-old brother was only the secretary of a cooperative know how to get out of our houses when the soldiers block the in town, but the army abducted him. They held him for 16 days. doors. We must know how to make and throw Molotov cocktails. They tortured him — tore out his fingernails, cut out his tongue, Even a two-year old child must know this. If a child’s parents cut up the soles of his feet, burned his skin. I saw him afterwards are killed, the child has the right to defend itself. I have been do­ with my own eyes, and I’ll never forget it. The army brought ing this — teaching and learning these things. us together, four or five hundred peasants, saying they would Before I have children, things must change. The Ladinos show us how they had tortured the “guerrillas”, and telling us, celebrate the day honoring Tecun Umans, an Indian here who “If you get involved with this Communism, this is what we’ll do fought against the Spanish. We refuse to celebrate this day because to you”. And I saw my brother there. In the end, they poured we can’t accept that our struggle lies in the past, as if it were over. gasoline over him and the other prisoners and set them on fire. We haven’t given up fighting. People think the Indians are idiots We saw all this. So you can imagine how much rage we have. because we are so obedient, because we don’t speak Spanish. But Finally the soldiers left, shouting, “Long live the army! Long live we are fully conscious of who we are and what our rights are. President Lucas! Death to the guerrillas!” It is this consciousness that prevents me from having children and leads me to participate in the struggle. As a woman, I have decided not to marry and not to have any children. Our traditions don’t accept that. A woman must have children, and we enjoy having them. But I could not stand it if what happened to my brother happened to a child of mine. I have often wished that my mother had aborted me and that I had never seen the light of day. I also don’t want to have a lover. That would only bring addi­ tional pain. They would most likely kill him and I don’t want to cry anymore. At one time I had a lover. He went to the city and dreamed about having a home and living in peace. But for me that wasn’t possible. As it is, I am no longer in control of my meager existence. The world that I live in is so gruesome so bloody. From one moment to the next, they can destroy me. That’s why I can only struggle. □

*7'his article has been reprinted from Big Mama Rag, who reprinted it from Connexions, an international women's quarterly. Fall, 1982. It was~ originally translated from Unomasuno, Mexican daily, May 29, 1982.

Broadsheet, October 1983 21 PUBLICATIONS ARTS MEETINGS In This Bitter Season ... a collec­ Feminists New Zealand Herstory Lesbian Drop-in Every first Tuesday tion of prose and poetry by Auckland Still available at the price of railage, of the month 7.30pm onwards. Womenspirit Women Writers. the Herstory exhibition collected by Dunedin Women’s Resource Centre, The Funding Handbook — a com­ the Dunedin Collective for the Room 10, Second Floor, Regent pilation of funding sources available Herstory Diary 1977. Lots of Chambers, The Octagon, Dunedin. (government and .private), includes mounted photographs of women from Dunedin Lesbian Line 778-765 Mon­ hints on preparing funding applica­ 1860 to 1976, 1 metre by 90cm, days 7-10pm tions and how best to approach agen­ with commentary. Would do beautiful­ Lesbian Mothers Gatherings Next cies for money. Directory — an ex­ ly as a background to a display. Write one is November 11. For further tensive list of over 300 films of in­ to Yoka, 433 High Street, Dunedin. ddtails phone Frankie 768-239 or terest to women which are readily The First Annual Celebration of Jan 498-527. Childcare can be ar­ available in NZ. Both $2 from Ad­ Women’s Art & Music — Hattie St. ranged by phoning Claire or Michelle visory Committee on Women’s Af­ John is organising a women’s art 763-133. fairs, State Services Commission, festival for March 1984 in the New Zealand Women’s Political Private Bag, Wellington, New Auckland area. The aim is to open it Party Wellington Branch meets every Zealand. to as many artists and performers as Wednesday at 7pm at the Women’s YOUTH HEALTH possible. At this stage Hattie is seek­ Gallery, Phone Lesley Smith EDUCATION CENTRE ing information and feedback from 861-828 or Anne Corege 887-251 women throughout the country who Wellington. Auckland Branch meets Te Hauora mo te Rangatahi aims to might be interested in participating on every Monday at 62 Balmoral Rd, Mt provide a free preventative health any level. If you have land available Eden. For further information write to education programme so as to reduce for a women’s only festival site in the Box 6608 Wellesley Street, Auckland health problems and provide in­ vicinity of Auckland please write or phone Jess 544-986 or Jo dividual responsibilty for health. The urgently. Notice of participation by 769-698. Centre will operate both on an infor­ performers, audience, craftswomen, Women Against Pornography mal drop-in basis as well as being an workshops of interest to women, Women's Gallery, Wellington. Alter­ “ outreach” to existing youth groups. donations, organising sound, lights, nate Thursdays 7.30pm. Contact Further details for the collective, stage, carpentring, security, kitchen, Rowena PO Box 475 Wellington, or Sharon Hawke, Sandra Searancke, food preparation, child care. All letters phone 721-294 extension 789 Mary During and Clare O’Leary. COURSES answered. Hattie St John, 46 Lincoln Wellington. Phone 792-020 ext. 695 Creative prose writing for Women Street, Ponsonby, Auckland. Hecate Names are being taken for a Renee will be taking a weekend SPREADING THE WORD Woman To Woman— exhibition disabled women’s group: also for “ Fat course November 12/13, 10am-4pm about relationships. Outreach, Pon­ is a Feminist Issue” groups. Phone Stickers Christchurch Anit-racism daily. For bookings ring YWCA sonby Road, Auckland, November 14 842-732 Wellington. group has stickers for sale to help 778-763 raise funds for local Christchurch anti­ opening 5pm. Curated by Juliet Bat­ Feminist Librarians First Monday racism and Maori groups. Details from BOOKS WANTED ten, Sharon Alston, Bronwyn each month Women’s Gallery, Well­ 338 Madras Street, Christchurch 1. Feminist Books wanted for Library Nicholson. ington. Contact Kathleen Johnson Peace Posters $3.50 and cars 75c Papakura Women’s Support Centre, Women’s Cushion Concert — Fri­ 729-379 or Chris Todd 722-101 are available from Box 8558 12 Dominion Road, Papakura, phone day November 18 at Outreach, Pon­ Wellington. Symonds Street, Auckland. 299-946. sonby Road, Auckland. Singers — Hilary King, Meryl Yvonne, Tess FILM Hawk Oakenstar, Mahuia, Story tell­ Saturday Night Political Film ing — Rachel Webber. Series: November 12 8pm Bastion Postcard Exhibition — The Women’s Point, Battle of Chile Part 1 (demise Art Movement, 238 Rundle Street, of Allende), November 19 8pm Home Adelaide, 5000, Australia, invites on the Range (CIA activity in submissions of postcards for an ex­ Australia), Battle of Chile Part 2, MAORI hibition to be held over Xmas November 26 8pm Union Maids (Women in USA trade unions in A Photographic and Social History 1983/84. As they hope to have a large quantity to sell you are asked to 1930s) Rosie The Riveter (the submit as many different cards as manipulation of women during world possible with copies of 25 plus if war 2), December'3 The Bridge, MICHAEL KING possible, before November 31. Wildcat (NZ Trade Unions). Universi­ Collaborative Project Juliet Batten ty Conference Centre, Symonds Providing valuable insight and informa­ has offered to do a collaborative pro­ Street, Auckland. Further information tion to an area of major controversy in ject at the Women’s Gallery with a phone 767-553. Wine and cheese New Zealand society. available.

• A unique history of the Maori • A readable, authorative text by a leading New Zealand historian • Over 450 fascinating photographs

If you are concerned by Maori land issues, the Treaty of Waitangi, or simply interested in New Zealand History then MAORI is for you. AVAILABLE NOW FROM YOUR BOOKSELLER AT $34.95

group in early 1984 (before March). WOMEN’S Any woman interested or who would CO-OPERATIVES like more information please ring The Women’s Co-operative Bakery 850-179 Wellington. took over the premises at 401 Rich­ Women's Poetry Group Women’s mond Road, Grey Lynn on October Gallery, Wellington. Alternate 19. The Co-op is set up as an incor­ Thursdays. Contact Mary-Jane porated society with capital status. All 896-547 or Doreen 729-009, profits will go to projects for women Wellington. and children. Donations of money or Life Drawing Group Beginners labour are welcomed. If you can help Heinemann Publishers welcome. Every Thursday, Women’s please phone 886-609. The co-op is PO Box 36064 Auckland 9 Gallery, Wellington. 6-8pm. Bring keen to meet other experienced own materials. (Cost for model). women bakers.

22 Broadsheet, October 1983 BROADSHEET FIRST BLOOD,______MAORI, H ill,______BOOKSHOP Elizabeth Summer Michael King Anne Salmond This NZ poet writes her first A social and pictorial history of novel, based on the real death of Aotearoa’s tangata whenua. A Alice Walker Chloe, the first murder to be com­ large handsome hardback with mitted in the young settlement of The Color Purple numerous black and white photos New Plymouth. covering many aspects of Maori Hodder and Stoughton (NZ) life and history. $11.95 Heinemann (NZ) $34.95

WHINA, WOMANSIZE, Michael King Kim Chernin

Biography of the founder of the In her book, subtitled “The tyran­ Maori Women’s Welfare League, ny of slenderness”, Chernin looks and leader of the Maori Land at attitudes towards large women March in 1975 when she was in and the bizarre lengths women will her 80s. Documents a lifetime of go to, to beat their bodies into sub­ struggle for her people. mission. An often lyrical and pro­ Hodder and Stoughton (NZ) found work. $22.95 The Women’s Press (UK)$15.75

THE COLOUR PURPLE, Studies Maori ceremonial gather­ Alice Walker ings and the rituals of the marae. Thorough, but leavened with Pulitzer prize-winning novel by anecdotes. this outstanding black American Reeds (NZ) $16.95 novelist. Celie starts writing to God when she’s 14, and raped by ME AGAIN, the ipan she calls her father. Walker’s novel traces a life of suf­ Stevie Smith fering, struggle and eventual Now in paperback, this collection freedom and reconciliation. You of Stevie Smith’s poems, prose and won’t be able to put this book drawings. A gentle, witty and wise down . . . gift to give. New Women’s Press (UK)$12.95 Virago (UK) $15.50 NEW ZEALAND HERSTORY DIARY,

If there’s such a thing as a feminist institution then this is it. This P A N 8 8 F; A t P 1 S S year it focuses on working women. Get lots for friends, but don’t forget yourself! Pale Spender New Women’s Press (NZ) $8.95 THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A WOMEN'S MOVEMENT SELF DEFENCE FOR WOMEN, THIS CENTURY Sue Lytollis

A helpful chatty manual on how to defend yourself against the rapist, woman basher and office creep. New Women’s Press (UK) $11.95

ASTROLOGICAL MOON CALENDAR 1984, Gretchen Lawlor

Gretchen’s now famous calendar will let you know what to expect in 1984. Featuring this year: old wives’ tales. Gretchen Lawlor (NZ) $6.00 DREAMS AND DILEMMAS, THERE’S ALWAYS Shelia Rowbotham BIG RED DISARMAMENT DIARY 1984, BEEN A WOMEN’S The eminent socialist feminist, A must for peace activists — appointment diary featuring graphics, author of Women, Resistance and MOVEMENT THIS quotes, facts and figures on peace and war. Handy pocket size, col­ CENTURY,______Revolution, Women’s Con­ ourful cover. sciousness, Man’s World and Pluto (UK) $9.95 Dale Spender______editor of Beyond the Fragments, has collected together her writings Spender fills in the gap between spanning the years 1968 to 1982. EVERYWOMAN’S ALMANAC, the suffragists and the new wave She writes on everything from the feminists. She talked to Dora beginnings of women’s liberation A popular diary every year with feminists. Pocket sized, attractively Russell, Hazel Hunkins Hallinan, to “Reclaim the moon”. A good presented. Mary Stott, Constance Rover and solid read. The Women’s Press (CANADA) $11.95 Rebecca West. Virago (UK) $14.95 Pandora Press/RKP (UK) $9.95

Broadsheet, October 1983 23 m m Cynthia Enfoe oes KfMKl w u y H 4 f t n D ' B E o m i m T The Militarisation of Women’s Lives

g s & * !

, I

mm»' mi. mum. A M^iRCENT NCVfcCCF *f\eMT^.

LETTERS FROM A BODILY HARM,______women’s movement, with the Beat DOES KHAKI BECOME Generation and the Playboy FAINT-HEARTED Margaret Atwood_____ revolution. YOU?,______FEMINIST,______Pluto (UK) $18.95 Cynthia Enloe The latest novel from the Cana­ Jill Tweedie______dian author of The Edible Woman The army uses women in more and Surfacing. A woman on a HOLY VIRILITY,______ways than as soldiers. Enloe’s book Written for women in whom the seemingly innocent journalism spirit may be strong, but the flesh Emmanuel Reynaud provides a feminist analysis of the assignment gets caught up in a army’s use and abuse of women. weak. A bit of light-hearted fun for web of corruption, espionage and women who find Feminism with Fascinating study of the social Pluto (UK) $18.95 violence. construction of masculinity. a capital F too hard to take. Virago (UK) $7.95 Reynaud examines male power Picador (UK) $6.95 and the crimes inflicted on FAT CHANCE, women, and argues that only Sue Freeman radical changes in men’s relation­ ON THE ship with women and with men Straight from the hip novel of NZ STROLL will do. ! on-the-road life. Our heroine, v; $K KATES Pluto (UK) $13.50 Bronwyn, is a solo mum who gives as good as she gets as she tours the J shearing sheds and small towns of ALL PASSION SPENT, the South Island. Our reviewer Vita Sackville West called it “a beaut”. Cdromandel Press (NZ) $6.95 At 17 Lady Slane nurtures a secret ambition — to be an artist. In­ THE YOUNG REBECCA, stead, she marries, has six children. Finally released by widowhood Rebecca West she finds a new passion . . . a plea for the right of every woman to Collected writings of this feminist foremother covering the years be herself. First published in 1931. Virago (UK) $11.50 1911-1917. These essays, and reviews were originally published in socialist and feminist journals. FUNNY TROUBLES, Contains also “The reed of steel”, ON THE STROLL, a perceptive portrait of Emmeline AMBITIOUS WOMEN, Fanny Tribble Pankhurst. Alix Kates Shulman Virago (UK) $17.50 Barbara Ellen Wilson Feminist cartoons from the author From the author of Burning Ques­ of Heavy Periods. See her work in tions, a novel set in the back A highly readable novel about a Spare Rib. streets of New York. Robin the group of feminists working at a Sheba (UK) $5.25 Mothers Matter Too refuge and with a women’s press teenager is wooed into a world of A bookfo r drugs, prostitution and madness who get hauled before the Grand Xeu ■ Zealand women at borne Jury for harbouring a fugitive. MOTHERS MATTER Virago (UK) $12.95 Politics and personal relationships TOO,______within the women’s community. The Women’s Press (UK) Jenny Phillips______IN THIS BITTER $12.50 A book for New Zealand women SEASON,______at home. This is a sensible down- Womenspirit THE HEARTS OF MEN, to-earth book about real life on the Barbara Ehrenreich home front, written by a woman A new collection of prose and who’s been there too. Looks at poems by Auckland women The lucid author of For Her Own myths, maternity hospitals, depres­ writers including Rosemary Good, traces men’s rejection of the sion, suburbia, sex and money, Brewer, Karen Swenson, Renee traditional role and the “breadwin­ with an emphasis on self-help. A Taylor. ner ethic”. She argues this began survival manual for kiwi mums. Womenspirit (NZ) $8.00 a good 10 years before the Reeds (NZ) $14.95

24 Broadsheet, October 1983 WOMEN OF IDEAS AND WHAT MEN HAVE DONE TO THEM, Dale Spender______

Spender uncovers 300 years of women’s ideas and looks at the way men have taken women’s ideas. If they like them, she argues, they use them; if they don’t they lose them. RKP (UK) $15.50

WALKING ON WATER, ed Jo Garcia and_____ Sara Maitland______

A collection of women’s ex­ periences and writings on the sub­ GIVE PEACE A CHANCE! jects of spirituality: feminism and ADAH’S STORY, Christianity, Jewish feminism, GREENHAM WOMEN EVERYWHERE, myth and religion, sexuality. A Buchi Emecheta______variety of forms is used: essays, This Nigerian novelist brings her The women’s peace movement in the UK autobiography, cartoons, poetry two most popular novels together Pluto (UK) $9.95 and fiction. in one volume. Adah is a young Virago (UK) $14.50 Nigerian woman who comes to FATHERING THE UNTHINKABLE,______England and finds the streets are Brian Easlea______.______RIGHT WING WOMEN, not paved with gold. She battles to leave a violent husband and Masculinity, scientists and the nuclear arms race. Surveys the devasta­ Andrea Dworkin______manages to bring up her five tion “science” has wrought on the world and argues for a re-evaluation children while not losing her Feminists and right wing women of musculine institutions and ideologies. dreams. see the same thing, says Dworkin, Pluto (UK) $22.95 Allison and Busby (UK) $9.95 it’s just that the latter decide to make the best possible bargain THE CND STORY, ______with their oppressors. They sell PADDY’S PUZZLE, ed John Minnion and Phillip Bolsover ____ themselves for survival. Eloquent writing from the author of Por­ Fiona Kidman______A good backgrounder to the current peace movement. Goes from the nography and Silence. Kidman’s, latest novel is set in war­ first Aldermaston march to the eighties, the fullest account of the CND The Women’s Press (UK)$17.50 so far., time Auckland. Clara Bentley lives Allison and Busby (UK) $6.95 in an inner-city apartment block THE RED AND______along with an assortment of other KEEPING THE PEACE,______THE GOLD,______city characters. Like many of Kid­ Stanley Roche______man’s women, she searches for her ed Lynne Jones______identity and to assert her in­ Wonderfully readable account of dependence, while her daily life Contributions from UK, Germany, Japan, USA, Holland. contains illness, a relationship with The Women’s Press (UK) $13.25 the 1913 Waihi Miners’ Strike with special attention given to the a black US marine, and an older sister who hangs on to their OVER OUR DEAD BODIES, role of women and how the strike affected personal lives and what childhood past. Ed Dorothy Thompson was happening in the home. Lots Heinemann (NZ) $17.95 of photos and cartoons. Historians, novelists, politicians, activists, philosophers have con­ Oxford University Press (NZ) tributed to this book against the bomb. $19.95 SPRAY IT LOUD, Virago (UK) $7.95 Jill Posener______

Redecorated bill-boards, fences and advertising makes a witty col­ lection of photos. RKP (UK) $9.95

JERICHO,_____ Pat Arrowsmith

Arrowsmith’s novel of the peace movement was written while she was in jail for Ban the Bomb ac­ tivities. We learn just as much about the internal conflicts of the peace movement as we do of peace politick in this easily readable novel. Heretic Books (UK) $13.95

Broadsheet, October 1983 25 FOR THE OFFSPRING

KIMI AND THE WATERMELON, KO KIMI ME TANA MERENI,______Miriam Smith,______iilus. David Armitage

Gentle story about Kimi living with her grandmother in the coun­ try, who waits for the watermelon to ripen, for that’s when her lov­ ed Uncle Taua will come home. TATTERHOOD,______PRUPIE FINDS OUT, OF CANNONS AND Available in Maori and English Ethel Johnston Pheips Natania and Litza Jansz CATERPILLARS, versions. Adela Turin and Brick Row with Kidsarus 2 Non-sexist folk tales from all over Prudie is a cat who leads a dog’s $5.50 the world, from Africa to Ireland. life — boredom, no scratching or Sylvie Seiig All have strong heroines and the fleas allowed. But she discovers illustrations are delightful. A cats’ liberation and life is not the Lovely full-colour picture book of classic. same again. A witty rhyming tale how Princess Phillipinna rebelled The Feminist Press (UK) $8.95 for threes to eights. Ideal gift for against the cold militarist kingdom feminists to give to littlies. of her dad. Pandora/RKP (UK) $11.95 hbk Writers and Readers Publishing IHAKA AND THE Co-op (UK) $9.95 SUMMER WANDERING, THE PLAYBOOK FOR Joana Orwin,______THE SILENT ONE, FOR KIDS ABOUT SEX, iilus. Robyn Kahukiwa Joy Cowley Joan! Blank and______Ihaka and his friend Pahiko, ac­ Marcia Quackenbush A deaf and dumb boy living in the company their hapu off on the Pacific makes friends with a giant summer wandering. They discover A resource book for colouring in albino turtle. An award-winning some giant moa, which the elders and writing on for 6 to 11 -year- story from this well-known NZ thought extinct. Set in Delaware olds. Designed to make kids feel author. Presently being made in­ Bay, near Nelson, 1000 years ago. good about their bodies and sex­ to a film in Aitutaki. For 9 to 13-year-olds. ual feelings. Whitcoulls (NZ) $10.45 O UP(N Z) $11.99 Sheba (UK) $5.95 ONE PROUD SUMMER, ORDER FORM Marsga Hewitt and Please send me these books: Claire Mackay______fl ...... The event is the 1946 strike bet­ ween the mill workers of Valleyfield, Quebec and the com­ pany, the police and the church, seen through the eyes of 13-year- old Lucie Laplante who had to quit school to work in the mill. The Women’s Press (CANADA) $10.50

...... lf p i fnr mv friend □ , to sustain Broadsheet ($30) “ I would also like a $17 subscription: for myself U , Y □ , other rates on Contents page:...... ;....

My name is. My address...... 1 enclose (including money for postage) $...... ” ...... " " " Avenue, between Send to Broadsheet, TO Box 5799 WetatorS - e t , Auckland, or ca , „ 9 — 4 Mondays to Fridays, 10 1 batu y .m^^ÊĒĒ^ĒĒtiKĒÊKĒĒKĒÊÊĒĒÊÊÊ .___ Broadsheet, October 1983 POEMS NO MORE p °e 'ry No more hook baited words, ANAWHATA squeaky pleas locked in my chest, furtive fleeting glances, The sharp blue sky tight taut lips.m , and bright tops of the waves pulled us down I’ve come out with the track to the beach women who weave the world with their with its strong and powerful rhythm. songs colours sharing In the sand dunes rituals wisdom we explored dreams • love each other lightly with lupin leaves. bodies

Our naked bodies heated and warmed We meet plunged into the waves. close together The surf drew its breath as patterns on driftwood around our bodies and sing songs of windstorms. dragging and drawing us in. Robyn Sutherland We ran together close, the hot sand on our feet. I watched your buttocks move in motion. TO JOE

We lay under the warm sun August, and it’s now a year drying. Since we met again, Gaps, And my heart beat with there were slight gaps The deepest joy and love whether we should reach out. I had ever known. Instead you laughed at my bras and singlet. We parted in pain, And I promised you I cuddled you. My love for all eternity, And that I’d never love We drove home close Again another man. but still. Time passes and destiny j ê Is a strange journey. J a l ’ The sea softly I soon discovered drew back from Eternity is quite short. the beach. About four months. And I’m in love again, But I’ve kept that promise, Robyn Sutherland This time it’s a woman. Rest inside your pink rose, P o e t r y The air I breathe/ is sweet.

Marilyn Petersin

Broadsheet, October 1983 27 BARBARA ROGERS TALKED TO SHAYRN OLDS u The most important thin you have to listen to

Perhaps an obvious and hardly difficult conclusion to reach, yet refusal to accept this idea has cost millions of Third World women and their families access to a reasonable standard of living. Barbara Rogers has been attempting to push that message across to people involved in development planning, but admits she has met with little practical success, bar an acknowledgement that there is a “problem,”. Rogers is a well-known British writer and researcher on issues relating to Africa and development in the Third World. She has worked as a consultant to the United Nations Committee on Apartheid and has spent time reviewing f all the material gathered on women and development projects connected with the United Nations. That was in 1976. Since then, Rogers has had several books published on development issues and racism (with particular regard to South Africa). She hopes to have her latest work, on the voting of women in Great Bri­ tain, published some time next year. However, when Rogers visited New Zealand in August, I was particularly interested in discusing issues she had raised in her book The Domestication of Women — Discrimination in Developing Societies (1981). In that publication, Rogers maintains that nearly all Third World aid programmes have no beneficial effect on those they original­ ly seek to help, because they translate a western male ideology of what society should be like, without a thought of the conse­ quences. As a result those third Third World societies are radically transformed — for the worse. In the process, women, lives especially are incredibly damaged; they lose their land, their workload increases markedly, and they are forced into subsistence living. In my discussion with her, we ranged over various topics related to her experience of aid projects — both from inside the institu­ tions structures and out in the field — where the effects of deci­ sions made mostly in the United States of America by white, wealthy men are felt. What are most of the men’s views in the UN? Barbara Rogers: “They don't see women as central to society. Women Mostly very upper class men’s attitudes — “I can earn the money are — anywhere — but especially in Third World countries. ” (Photo courtesy NZ Herald) and my wife can stay at home”. will fall dead on the spot and the silly things believe us”. And they translate that into what they are doing with I development? And then the women’s version: “Well, the men play around j Yes. Absolutely. with these silly horns and we know what they look like although we’re not supposed to!” i Couldn’t that be countered by the argument that there are forms This came out of a study from some Indians in the Amazon. : of discrimination in traditional societies anyway? It seems to me that some aid programmes treat women as separate : I really think that at the moment we don't know enough to make issue and don’t look at the total context — how do you feel? : any judgements. What we do know suggests that the idea that They don’t see women as central to society. Women are — : men are tops in all traditional societies is rubbish. Even if they anywhere — but especially in Third World countries. I appeared to run everything, it might just have been because they : were carrying out ritual roles. Because they’re working in subsistence economies? : “For example, I have read a couple of bits of writing where Yes, and because they’re responsible for keeping everybody else j men and women have worked as a couple and the man will get going, much more than here. Here you can make a case of sorts : the men’s version and the woman, the women’s version. They that most men support children financially, but that’s a very : are really funny to put together because the men will say pom- specialised system and in Third World countries most men don’t : pous things like “Well, we have these sacred horns which we blow get a regular income anyway. : on and make a bit of music and women don’t know anything Do most men own the land in Third World Countries now? : about them, and we tell them that if they see these things they They tend to now, yes.

2 8 Broadsheet, October 1983 ; But, they didn’t before colonialism? know about. They said “we’ll take one of you and see how she •; That’s right. That’s where you have the most fundamental change does,” and fortunately she did brilliantly but it could easily have . in the whole question of ownership — especially of land. Previous- happened that she’d fall flat on her face, in which case they’d : ly you wouldn’t have one owner to one piece of land. You’d have say — “Aha! There, you see, women can’t do it”. So it’s very : a whole block of land belonging to one community and it would much a matter of chance. ; be allocated to different members of the community according : to how much they could work or what their standing was, that And in many cases it’s the women who are doing the really hard manual labour. : sort of thing. It was a very flexible system, it could cope with Yes, and in some areas where generally it’s becoming more pro­ : strangers for example, strangers who were accepted into the group. sperous, the women are getting worse off and some are treated : So they were actually very resilient ways of living. more and more like labourers within the family. ; Was there any power structure in that? Do you think aid is detrimental? : Yes, but it’s different from the way understood by the visitors. It can be, easily — if you forget the women it can easily have : You would usually have a chief who wouldn’t always be mar- a negative impact. : ried (they had always had difficulty accepting women chiefs). So, : you see, because you had a single chief and perhaps a few elders, And you think it has a negative impact now? : that would look like a very autocratic system. But in fact in many I’m ambivalent about it. I know a lot of people are very critical j cases there were mechanisms so that although formally you of aid programmes and say they’re insensitive and they’re ignorant. : couldn’t challenge the system, in fact you could. So they had all But the basic impulse behind them, which is to provide some kind i kinds of checks and balances to make the chief accountable to of support to really poor people, to try and develop their ■ the people. There would be a system for distributing food to peo- economies, that impulse should be encouraged. : pie who couldn’t support themselves — the old and the sick. How should development programmes be changed? Do you stay : So, colonialism came — then the development programmes later. within the system or change the framework from outside jt? • What happened to the land then? Both, as usual. You need to have women in those agencies plug­ • Well, the land is commercialised and the need for individuals to ging away although it won’t be a very happy experience for many : own the land is deliberately pushed. of them, but you also need to set up separate women’s networks that work internationally. • So, the land is divided into household units and the male is defin- • ed as the head of the household while the woman does a lot of : the work . . . : Of course at the same time not all households will have the same : amount of land and one of the big problems is that more and ■ more of the land is concentrated in a few hands where it then : gets taken over by agro business which sets up plantations. So : with the concentration of land in the ownership of a few, women : are losing out across the board, women are in a bad situation. : Do most of the resources tend to go to the large farms? • Oh yes — in fact the model agricultural project is to identify your • so-called “progressive farmers” — the entrepreneurs who will in- : variably be men — and the qualification is they must have families : to provide the labour. It’s half recognised and half not. So you : divide society. You, say, right, these familites are progressive : families, we’ll give them money, land, fertiliser, credit, you name Women made arguments fo r a medical programme, literacy teaching and agricultural support with development workers, Upper Volta. (Maggie : it. And the rest we don’t care about because they’re backward Murray). : and traditional and that involves most of the women who are : seen as very conservative just as women are in our society — Increasingly we need to relate Third World women’s ex­ : although we’re not. periences directly. Very often they’re the same ones we experience • Have women in those countries ever been given a chance to decide like violence against women and sometimes they’re different. In I what aid they’ll get? some cases we’ve taken up cases on behalf of Third World women : No. Very few cases. It has happened here and there because and prioritised them wrongly — for instance, with the issue of : women locally were determined to get it. genital mutilation and circumcision. Sometimes with the best in­ : In Zambia, I was at a project which was just packing up and tentions we move in with boots on without bothering to consult the woman on the spot. I think that’s the most important thing i the local manager had finally realised how critical the women : were. It was just a bit late at that stage! But the women had ac- — that as long as there is proper consultation about matters that : tually come along to the management, had sent a delegation. are really theirs, there’s an enormous area for co-operation. One of the things that’s being said to aid agencies is: “You : What was the motivation behind that? should do more campaigning in your own country about its pro­ : All the land was being given to the men. It was a special project blems”. The United States for example — you’re not going to : where they were irrigating plots and you had to go through a solve the problems of Central America by sending aid as long : training course and be assigned a piece of land. They came and as there’s a war going on — in no way is it the solution because ■ demanded that they should go to the courses as well and then it’s our own governments who are fuelling the war. So, the best : get the land. I think the men were really taken aback and they thing we can do is try to defuse that by dealing with our own : agreed to take one woman. I mean this is a real syndrome we governments policies. □

Broadsheet, October 1983 29 oming out as lesbian is a life-long process. It does not ; that lesbian mothers rarely sought assistance from the helping matter how out front you are, even after you have ; professions. She suggests that lesbian mothers have frequently C been on the radio or on TV there is always someone new : lost their children to the courts simply by disclosing their les­ to tell. To tell or not to tell, or deciding when to tell, brings its : bianism to a social worker. Although a lesbian mother is unlike­ own stresses to any lesbian, so who better to share the strains • ly to lose her children to the state because of her lesbianism in and anxieties than your doctor. MIRIAM SAPHIRA talked to ; Aotearoa, she can certainly lose them to her parents or their father several women about how they first told their doctors that they : in a custody battle. were lesbian. • The pervasiveness of heterosexism in our communities not only threatens to break up lesbian families, it fails to provide the outreach and support groups that are appropriate. Most Alcoholics DOCTOR, DON’T FREMONT... Anonymous groups are based on very heterosexual socialising patterns. Lesbians who have tried to attend these groups are very eing known as a lesbian to your doctor should be part quickly alienated by the patter of jokes and social interactions of your total health care plan, but doctors can be just of both staff and patients. Bas homophobic as the rest of our society. In the health The most extreme area of heterosexism is probably found in field, heterosexuality is always assumed and this immediately the abortion and obstetrics fields. While it is possible to find mid­ places a barrier between the gay patient and her doctor. Such wives and doctors to attend and support a lesbian having a baby, assumptions will often prevent lesbians giving their full history at abortion clinics the patient is unable to select her doctor so and may result in the omission of necessary diagnostic tests. This a lesbian comes up against the inevitable heterosexual assump­ was certainly the case for Rachel: tions. Counsellors assume an ongoing relationship with a man “I remember going to my doctor with an infected finger. It was and reactions to some lesbians have been homophobic and ex­ really bad, throbbing, red up my arm, everything. I had to hold tremely unsupportive. One counsellor was heard to say, “I don’t it in the air at night because it throbbed so much. My doctor gave want to touch her\" In the clinics there has been little attempts me pills and ointment but it didn’t change. I went back to him to understand the lives of lesbian patients and their difficulties. and said, ‘Look I’m going to Sydney in two weeks, I’ve got to have it better by then.’ He lanced the finger, but there was nothing in it. He put a stitch in it and gave me a card for the Royal North Shore Hospital. It still didn’t clear up so as soon as I got to Sydney I was off to the hospital. This young doctor looked at it all — it was even red right up my arm — he took out the stitch and then he said, ‘Are you a lesbian?’ Well I freaked, but then I thought, Oh well, it’s a foreign country and maybe it’s impor­ tant, so I said ‘Yes’. He said, ‘Well, we are on the wrong track, this is the wrong treatment’. He changed the treatment and it cleared up. It turned out that the woman I had been with had venereal disease.” However, before anyone should feel that Rachel was remiss in not disclosing her sexual preference, we have to look at the past record of the medical profession. Several older lesbians that I have recently spoken to were subjected to ECT and mind-altering drugs to “cure” lesbianism. It is only since the seventies that there has been any move by the medical profession away from treating les­ bianism as a perversion, an aberration or a disease. One woman told me how her parents had had her committed after the break­ up of her first relationship because she was so upset. Now in her Fran describes how the doctor completely ignored the reasons thirties, she has not been in another relationship and is still fear­ why she tried to be heterosexual for a time and how this failed: ful of the word “lesbian”. She has memory problems, particular­ “I’ve only told one doctor and that was when I had an abor­ ly in recalling everyday things, and suffers from tension and anx­ tion. I went to a sympathetic doctor because I had to get an abor­ iety. Needless to say, she can still remember the loss of her first tion and he wanted to see me again afterwards. I went back to love and people’s reaction to it. him. He wanted to talk to me about being put on the pill or some Lesbians who have children are also wary about giving this other form of contraception and I didn’t want it. I had dropped information to their doctor. One US study (St Marie, 1976) found back into the world of heterosexuality but I knew it wasn’t for me, so I felt it very important to express those words, that I was A Denver, Colorado lesbian femininst recently went to her a lesbian and I didn’t need contraceptives. I really didn’t feel I doctor to have lumps in her breast examined. She had "come would have the occasion to get myself in that position again. His out ” to him at her previous appointment and was told by him reaction was very, ‘Oh well, as long as you are sure,’ but he was at her second visit: “Did you ever consider that maybe you very speechless and I suppose it did sound very peculiar.” willed those lumps to come so you could have your breasts cut off ? Your underlying pschological problem — a desire to \ y l any 'ssues ^ at face a^ women when they be mutilated — then you’d be more like a man and more at­ I I seek health care, such as disrespect, misinformation, tractive to women. ” / I mystification of our bodies, and institutional racism, From Big Mama Rag classism, sexism and ageism, are problems for lesbians as well. Very few women are totally out as lesbians. The stress of being

30 Broadsheet, October 1983 totally out or “on show” can be just as draining as the stress of the hysterectomy he was so keen to do with whatever else he being somewhat circumspect about your personal life. Some les­ had on his mind. It put me off male doctors. They all seem to bians have chosen to use alternative medical care wherever possi­ be rapists. I still shudder when I think of that hug.” ble and are teaching each other how to use herbs, yoga, massage, masturbation and healthy foods for improving our personal health care. While Gayle follows her own diet and herb routine she has to attend a clinic regularly and feels that being out to her doctor is very important for her: “My main health problem is aggravated by stress and worry, as well as my tendency to overwork and rush about trying to keep everyone happy. It’s really important for my doctor to know about my relationships and any hassles with my lover and my children as part of my total health care. I didn’t find it so dif­ ficult to tell her I was so in love I wanted to tell the world. My lover is a patient of hers too, so she knows us quite well and that’s good too.” Gayle was fortunate in her choice of doctor and some lesbians who have been unable to find very accepting practioners in their neighbourhood may feel their choice to come out is not yet a very realistic one. Nevertheless attitudes are changing and Some of the younger doctors appear to have a better understanding and are less threatened by alternative ways of living. Recently a les­ bian from overseas was staying with me. Diane works as a doc­ tor for a large Australian hospital and says that there is a much more enlightened attitude now among her colleagues but she found some of the nursing staff had room to change. Their negative attitude made it difficult for nurses and patients who are gay. So for gay patients arriving at the hospital it still appears to be the luck of the draw. In 1979, Thelma had an acute admission to hospital for herpes. She says: The lesbians who were interviewed all agreed that it was im­ “I was asked by the female house surgeon for my menstrual portant to be open to your doctor but you should take a lot of and sexual history. I though it was quite necessary to tell her that care in the doctor you select. Some of the points they raised were: I was a lesbian, so that I did not have to go through the bullshit • Ask around and check with doctors who are popular with other of whether I might be pregnant or promiscuous — not that I really lesbians. cared. It was pretty upsetting being admitted to hospital in a real • If you fear loss of the custody of your children or are under rush and when I did tell her she reacted quite favourably. She 18 and do not want your parents to know, consider whether immediately asked if my partner was in the waiting room. She you can trust your doctor well enough to disclose these fears went out and brought her in, made us really comfortable and left and ask him/her not to write anything down about your sex­ us alone for a few minutes, That was really nice. ual preference. “My GP of the last two years knows that I’m a lesbian and • If you are having a gynaecological examination it may be more that’s never been a problem. It didn’t make any difference to him painful if your hymen is intact or has not been stretched. An but when I have gone to him and needed any treatment or time unsympathetic doctor may be quite rough, so again choose off work he has taken that into account. He enquires about my wisely. relationship as I have been in the same relationship for a number • If you require hospitalisation make it clear how important visits of years. from your lover are to you. Try to avoid them saying no friends “I think that it’s important to tell the doctor. So often women and letting your parents visit. If you are young this can be who seem to be unmarried and unattached, and who have obscure difficult. A friend who works at the hospital can sometimes symptoms have to go through the whole palava of their menstrual help. One lover told me how she borrowed a lab coat and and sexual history in case they may be pregnant, have the clap, visited around staff meal times. or be uptight and frustrated. It affects your whole life, not just • Actually coming out to your doctor can be quite stressful. To one area. But I wouldn’t take any shit. If I told my GP and he make it easy you can practise what you want to say with a said I needed a cure or something, he’d get a punch on the nose. friend or you could take your lover with you., * It’s risky though. It’s not easy to say that you are a lesbian.” For Anna the actual telling was more stressful than she had It’s not only the general practitioner who may have inherited imagined. Since she was having a smear test she waited until that the myths of a conservative medical training. Senior consultants was done in case her doctor thought she might get excited by too have expressed negative attitudes towards lesbians. Martha’s the touch of any woman. It was such a relief that she left the experience with a gynaecologist is not reassuring: room wondering why she thought it would be so stressful. She “The consultant came from behind his desk and suggested that was quite startled when the doctor suddenly called her back. She all my ‘gynie’ problems (bleeding 18 days of a 21 -day cycle) would thought, What have I done? So there is some problem with my be solved with a good screw and then he tried to hug me. I thought being a lesbian? Her doctor said quietly, “You’ve left your shoes I had been thrown into the zoo. Ugh. I never went back to have behind.” □ Broadsheet, October 1983 31 ON THE CARDS

Claire-Louise McCurdy, Mag Freeman, Cathie Hutchinson and Gay Simpkin (from left), authors of INDEX — FEMINISTS — beginning Broad­ sheet VOL I, no I . . . The index to Broadsheet had its beginnings in the conviction that New out until we agreed. This very basic list was our starting place. At this Zealand’s feminist magazine is the major, and for some years the only, meeting we also adopted the principles and practice of all our subse­ publication documenting the lives of women and the progress of the quent meetings: we work by concensus: no heading is added or remov­ feminist movement in New Zealand, and that its value as such would ed, without group agreement. Each of us then took a year (10 issues) be increased by the compilation of an index to all articles, letters and of Broadsheet, went home, and started indexing. other items printed in it. As the magazine continues into its second The exciting part of indexing Broadsheet has been the creation of decade, the need for it to be indexed is obvious. How else could the feminist subject headings. This was necessary because the standard by now considerable wealth of material between the covers of over a headings reflect the interests and prejudices of white, propertied, hundred issues be made easier to get at? heterosexual British and American men. Professional indexers/librarians In 1977 two Broadsheet readers, who were also librarians, decided use the official subject heading lists that have evolved with the develop­ simultaneously but without knowing each other, to "do my bit for ment of libraries, such as the American Library of Congress subject feminism” by indexing Broadsheet. To use their librarian skills to make heading list. While it is possible to add new terms to these lists, they the information contained in years of Broadsheet readily accessible. are so institutionalised, the process is very slow. Topics to do with women Six years, and hundreds of womanhours later, Gay Simpkin and Mag are grouped under the heading Women. Freeman, with Claire-Louise McCurdy and Cathie Hutchinson, are still We were starting from scratch, with five years (50 issues) of Broad­ working on the project. The first five years of Broadsheet have been sheet in front of us — hundreds of articles, letters, items, all to be indexed, and we are now working on the second five years. The job described in a way that would make them accessible to anyone wan­ that Mag and Gay each thought she might complete in a few months ting to know “what Broadsheet has done on . . . rape? breastfeeding? has so far taken four women six years and is still not finished. Why WONAAC? Maori sovereignty? heterosexism?” then do we persist with this daunting and unpaid job? Our three basic assumptions for the index were that it must be woman- To most people compiling an index sounds a worthy and useful but centred, New Zealand oriented and non-racist. In conventional subject rather dull and bureaucratic procedure. To us in .the indexing group headings, men are taken to be the norm, but in the Broadsheet index it has been anything but dull. Conventional subject headings just do the underlying assumption is that women’s experience is the norm. The not meet the challenge of redefinition that feminism entails. Gay recalls: headings are New Zealand oriented in that, unless otherwise indicated, “In normal library practice I’d already been irritated by the sexist sub­ they imply New Zealand events or experience eg an article on abortion ject headings, and thought it would only take a few afternoons to sit in New Zealand would be found under ABORTION whereas one on down and decide on the feminist headings to use.” abortion in Australia would be headed ABORTION — AUSTRALIA. What actually happened was that in June 1977 Christine Dann (then The last of the three requirements, that the headings be non-racist, a paid Broadsheet worker) called a meeting and Mag and Gay met four has proved particularly interesting and difficult in the light of the develop­ other women also prepared to work on an index: Lyn Schnauer (now ment of Maori consciousness and feminist awareness of it. In 1976 there Lyn Crossley), Sue Stover, Jean Volkerling, and Claire-Louise McCur­ was an article on Polynesian women. We were faced with the problem dy. Three of us were librarians, all had a background of involvement of whether having a heading MAORIS was racist. We discussed this in feminism, and we all shared a naive belief that it wouldn’t be too with Donna Awatere and, on her advice, included the heading difficult to knock out an index. MAORIS. Later, as Maori women referred to themselves as black Our first task was to create a list of terms to describe what the various women, we followed that lead and changed MAORI to BLACK articles in Broadsheet were about. We decided to each take a copy of WOMAN — MAORIS. We also,used the heading RACIAL ISSUES the same issue of Broadsheet and compile a list of the subject headings (!) to cover what we now call RACISM, a term that was not common­ we thought we would need to index the articles in it. At our second ly used by us six years ago. We find this embarassing. Now, since the meeting a few weeks later we compared our headings and argued them articles on Maori sovereignty, we will have to add and change headings

32 Broadsheet, October 1983 : to index articles which break new ground in Broadsheet and in New at the final stage of typing. The interval in between assigning a heading : Zealand thinking generally. and then typing it is a valuable head-clearing time. j One of our underlying principles has been to group some subjects The three of us struggled on for a few more months, each frantically : under general headings to make links between topics that are not made trying to achieve the miracle of getting our 10+ issues of Broadsheet : in conventional indexes. Anzac Day goes under WAR — ANZAC typed in the time we had left from jobs, personal and political com­ i DAY, divorce is a subdivision of MARRIAGE and Christmas is in- mitments. “It used to be constantly on my mind — I was driven by : dexed to PATRIARCHY. A number of subjects are treated as sub- guilt” said Mag, an ex-Catholic who knows all about guilt, of that time : headings of FEMINIST THEORY eg ANDROGYNY, In April 1979, we invited Cathie Hutchinson, another librarian, to I HETEROSEXISM, LESBIAN FEMINISM, SEPARATISM, join us. The four of us have been working together ever since. When : WOMEN’S STUDIES. In an ordinary index RAPE and POR- Cathie joined us we were forced to re-examine and define our basic • NOGRAPHY would be as separate as they are alphabetically; for a assumptions. Things that had become self-evident to us were often : feminist they are subdivisions of VIOLENCE. We wanted to bring all obscure and puzzling to her. This was a useful exercise in clarifying \ such material together in the index, so that anyone investigating any and rationalizing the index. We completed typing the index for the first : aspect of if would be aware of all the relevant material. Consequently, five years of Broadsheet in early 1981, and this is now available for : the main heading VIOLENCE was subdivided into VIOLENCE — use in the Broadsheet office where anyone may use it. The format is • INSTITUTIONAL and VIOLENCE — SEXUAL and these were fur- simple: a file of typed cards, in two separate alphabetical sequences, i ther divided into VIOLENCE — INSTITUTIONAL — HOME, one for authors, the other for subjects. We were determined that the : HOSPITAL, PRISON, SCHOOL and VIOLENCE — SEXUAL — IN index for the second five years would be finished rather less than the j FIBULATION, INCEST, PORNOGRAPHY, RAPE. So if you wanted four years we spent on the first but we have already taken two years : material on domestic violence and looked that up, you would be directed over it and are nowhere near finishing. : to VIOLENCE — INSTITUTIONAL — HOME. And if you looked It was as we got into the second five years (1976-1981) of Broadsheet : up RAPE, would be directed to VIOLENCE — SEXUAL — RAPE. (the issues we are now working on) that the number of headings really : Sometimes it has taken a while for confusion in our own thinking increased. Feminists started to write on issues such as nuclear power, • to become obvious to us. We indexed material on equal pay under the economic theory and environmental concerns reflecting a shift in the : heading EQUAL PAY. We also had the heading EQUALITY AND policy of Broadsheet. New headings, such as ENVIRONMENT — j EQUAL RIGHTS with a sub-heading EMPLOYMENT but it is only POLLUTION, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, THIRD WORLD : recently that we made the connection between equal pay and equality were added. We had to provide for articles such as one on multinationals : in employment. Now, the heading for EQUAL PAY is EQUALITY and their role in the Third World. This was the first occasion when j AND EQUAL RIGHTS — EMPLOYMENT — EQUAL PAY. Cross BREAST FEEDING — in connection with the sending of milk pro­ : references direct users from the term they look up to the term we have ducts to underdeveloped countries — was needed as a heading! : used. We have found that Broadsheet reflects the hang-ups of New Zealand / : The index reflects the problems and decisions facing women. One society. SEXUALITY had only two items entered under it in the first ; decision we had to make was what to do with women’s names when five years and it was seven years before MENSTRUATION was needed : they changed them because of marriage or for feminist or other reasons. as a heading. There is only one item, a letter, indexed under ANGER. : At first, we tried to impose a rule to use the latest known form of the Choosing a subject heading can be difficult as we found with articles j name, but after talking with Jenefer Wright we realised that name on the Right in 1981. THE RIGHT was unacceptable as a heading : changes were a reality that women live with, and all we could do was as it was too vague to be useful. We refused to use MORAL MA­ j reflect this in the index. So entries appear under the name the woman JORITY because they’re not. Lengthy discussions established just what : calls herself in that particular article in Broadsheet. Cross-references the writers of these articles were talking about. We had a look at con­ : link up the different names a woman may have written under e.g. ventional indexes to see if they used terms that could apply. They didn’t. j WRIGHT, Jenefer see also MACKINTOSH, Jenefer as well as We talked to friends and eventually hit on REACTIONARY Ī MACKINTOSH, Jenefer see also WRIGHT, Jenefer. POLITICS which described exactly the right-wing reaction against : Broadsheet has increased its scope and coverage enormously since feminism that was being described. : its first couple of years: our first list of typed subject headings was six This is an example of the decision-making process we use. A heading : pages long, while our current one is 18 pages. Headings are only added can only be added when all four of us are satisfied. Even if only one : as needed, when no existing heading is appropriate to index a particular of us is unhappy we will discuss it, mull it over between meetings, perhaps • item. In the early days we would add headings we thought would be check out other indexes, consult other women, come back to the pro­ : bound to be useful later on. Almost always this proved a waste of time blem. So far consensus has always been achieved without compromise. I and such headings would be tossed out, unused. We recently removed The subject heading list is printed with this article and a copy is kept : the unused heading PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS but retained by the card index in the Broadsheet office. We feel good about it because : related but more specific headings eg HETEROSEXUALITY, LES- nothing like it has existed before and it represents to us a large invest­ j BIANISM and LIFESTYLES - SOLO. ment of time and energy in a feminist project. Our method of working : Choosing the subject headings has taken an enormous amount of has been as important as our end-product. Why have we persisted? : time, but the discussion at least, has been stimulating and sustaining. CATHIE “As a reference librarian I have seen the need for improved • Typing up the cards for the index is no less time-consuming, but rather access to information about women in New Zealand. That access isn’t : less rewarding. We didn’t confront the enormity of this part of the task available through the main stream publications (e.g. Index to New ; until Anniversary Weekend, 1979. There were only three of us left at Zealand Periodicals).” : that stage, Mag, Gay and Claire-Louise. We decided to spend the long : weekend at Mag’s house, intending to type up on cards the 40 issues CLAIRE-LOUISE “I enjoy the meetings, and I’m very interested in I of Broadsheet that had been assigned subject headings. We optimistically the whole process of indexing. The intereaction between the utterly prac­ : thought that at the end of three days all would be done and we would tical and the theoretical is, to me, one of the really important aspects : present the Broadsheet office with hundreds of typed cards ready for of feminism. The testing of the theoretical in a practical context.” use. But by Monday evening after three days of concentrated effort, GAY “It’s an intellectual challenge. Using feminist subject headings is : we had typed only two issues of Broadsheet each. Each article can have consciousness-raising because it names our own experience.” ; a large number of cards. One, on Herstory in the nineteenth century, : needed 25 cards to ensure that all the women mentioned could be trac- MAG “It’s useful, challenging, often stimulating. Sometimes I have felt : ed. Lots of people have suggested that we should get a typist to do the a bit despondent, fed-up at the never-ending nature of the job, but I : cards for us, but we are reluctant to do this; much of the creative work also feel a strong loyalty to the group and this keeps me going when • of assessing and reassessing whether subject headings are working comes usefulness and fun seem very threadbare!”D

Broadsheet, October 1983 33 BREAST CANCER. BREAST GENITAL MUTILATION not NZ, year) see also ARTS CANCER - MASTECTOMY. - GUERILLA THEATRE, INDEX — FEMINIST CERVICAL CANCER CO-HABITING (unmarried CELEBRATIONS heterosexual couples living An index can be defined as an alphabetical list of subjects with CANDIDA see VAGINAL IN­ together) DENTISTRY see MEDICINE references to the location of information. To give an example from FECTION - THRUSH - DENTISTRY an especially detailed book index, if you were using Susan CO HABITING - DEPO PROVERA see CON­ Brownmiller’s Against our Wwill to find information on the myths CAPITALISM SEPARATION TRACEPTION - METHODS associated with rape, you would find seventeen different myths refer­ CARPENTRY COLLECTIVES see also - DEPO PROVERA red to, on different pages, simply by checking the index under ORGANISATIONS CARS DEPARTMENTS - “Myths”. COMMERCE CARTOONS sec ARTS - GOVERNMENT see The index is a collection of cards filed alphabetically. The user checks CARTOONS COMMERCE - BANKS. GOVERNMENTS - DEPT under a subject heading or an author’s name and finds one or more INSURANCE - HEALTH etc cards. Each card refers you to an item in a specific B r o a d s h e e t, giv­ CELEBRATIONS COMMISSIONS & COMMIT DIAPHRAGM see CON­ ing details of page number and type of item e.g. letter, editorial, CENSORSHIP TEES OF INQUIRY see TRACEPTION - METHODS review, etc. Any article can cover one or more subjects and can be CENSORSHIP - INDE GOVERNMENT - - DIAPHRAGM given several headings to make sure it’s found. CENT PUBLICATIONS COMMISSIONS AND DIOXIN see ENVIRON­ From the beginning we have envisaged the index being published TRIBUNAL COMMITTEES MENT - POLLUTION - so all subscribers — and this includes schools, libraries, technical CENSUS see GOVERNMENT COMMUNAL LIVING (eg 245 T, TCCD institutes, universities — would benefit, not just those in the Auckland - DEPT - STATISTICS flatting) see LIFESTYLES, DISABLED area who have access to the index in the B ro a d sh e e t office. This COMMUNAL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT see also specific conditions eg hasn’t happened because of the time needed to perfect the physical see GOVERNMENT - COMMUNES see BLINDNESS index to publication stage and lack of money. CENTRAL LIFESTYLES, COMMUNAL DISCRIMINATION see EQUALITY & EQUAL ABORTION see also SATIRE, SCULPTURE. CERVICAL CANCER see COMMUNISM see also MARXISM, SOCIALISM RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS - THEATRE. VIDEO CANCER - CERVICAL ALRANZ, CORAL, COAC CANCER CONCERTS see REVIEWS - DIVORCE see MARRIAGE ASSERTIVENESS TION, WONAAC, SPUC CERVICAL CAP see CON­ CONCERTS - DIVORCE AUSTRALIA ABORTION CLINICS, TRACEPTION - METHODS CONFERENCES & CON DOMESTIC PURPOSES COUNSELLING, LAW, AUSTRALIA - WESTERN - CERVICAL CAP VENTIONS (name, place, date) BENEFIT see BENEFITS - MISCARRIAGE, MORAL & AUSTRALIA CERVICAL EROSION DOMESTIC PURPOSES SOCIAL ISSUES, BABY BONUS see PAREN­ CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING BENEFIT TECHNIQUES, TING - WAGES FOR CERVICITIS see FEMINIST THEORY - CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE see ADOLESCENCE BABY WAGE see PAREN­ CHILDBIRTH see VIOLENCE - INSTITU CONSUMERISM TING - WAGES FOR PREGNANCY & TIONAL - HOME ADOPTION CHILDBIRTH BACKSTREET THEATRE CONTRACEPTION see also DRAMA see ARTS — ADVERTISING see also GROUP - see ARTS - CHILDCARE see also POPULATION CONTROL DRAMA MEDIA CHILDREN, PARENTING GUERILLA THEATRE DRAWING see ARTS - AFRICA see also invidual CONTRACEPTION - BASTION POINT see CHILDCARE - FAMILY METHODS - CERVICAL PAINTING and DRAWING countries eg ZAMBIA DAY CARE RACISM - BASTION CAP, DEPO PROVERA, DRUGS see also AGING (process of, attitude to) POINT CHILDREARING see D.E.S, DIAPHRAGM, HER MEDICATION see also OLD AGE PARENTING BAL - SHE LINK, I.U.D.. BENEFITS — see also NATURAL’, PILL, DRUGS - ALCOHOL. AGISM (discrimination v peo­ MOTHERS - SOLO CHILDREN see also STERILISATION NICOTINE ple because of age) see also BENEFITS CHILDCARE, SEX ROLES & OLD AGE ACCIDENT COMPENSA CONDITIONING, CORPORAL PUNISHMENT DYKES see LESBIANISM TION, DOMESTIC PUR VIOLENCE - INSTITU see VIOLENCE - INSTITU ALCOHOL see DRUGS - E.C.T. see PSYCHOLOGY & POSES (D.P.B.I, INVALID, TIONAL - HOME TIONAL — SCHOOL ALCOHOL SICKNESS, UNEMPLOY PSYCHIATRY CHILDREN - BOOKS (lists COUNTRIES see IN ALCOHOLISM see DRUGS MENT, WIDOWS ECONOMICS - ALCOHOL of books, comments on books) DIVIDUAL NAMES eg BIBLIOGRAPHIES see also REVIEWS - BOOKS TONGA EDUCATION see also SEX ALTERNATIVE EDUCA BILLS, LEGAL, see LAW - EDUCATION TION see EDUCATION CHILDREN, CUSTODY OF COURTS see LAW - BILLS & ACTS COURTS EDUCATION - ANARCHISM CHRISTIANITY see BIRTH CONTROL see RELIGION - CRIME (against the law) PRESCHOOL, PRIMARY, ANDROGYNY see CONTRACEPTION CHRISTIANITY RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION, FEMINIST THEORY - CRYTORCH1DISM see CON­ SECONDARY, TERTIARY (if ANDROGYNY BLACK WOMEN subdivide CHRISTMAS see TRACEPTION - METHODS interlevel, use name of subject) by ethnicity eg PATRIARCHY - CRYTORCHIDISM ANGER ELECTIONS BLACK WOMEN - MAORI CHURCH OF THE LATTER CULTURAL FEMINISM see ANZAC DAY see WAR - ELECTIONS - LOCAL, BLINDNESS DAY SAINTS see RELIGION FEMINIST THEORY - ANZAC DAY - CHRISTIANITY - CULTURAL FEMINISM NATIONAL APARTHEID see SOUTH BOOK REVIEWS see MORMON ELECTRICAL REVIEWS - BOOKS CUSTODY OF CHILDREN AFRICA CHURCHES see RELIGION see CHILDREN, CUSTODY MAINTENANCE (eg fuses) BORSTAL see PRISONS & OF ELECTROCONVULSIVE ARTS (general commentary, CIGARETTES see DRUGS - PRISONERS THERAPY see original works in Broadsheet, NICOTINE CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT reviews if they contain general BREAST CANCER see see GOVERNMENT - PSYCHOLOGY & commentary) CANCER - BREAST CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENTS - PSYCHIATRY ARTS CANCER CLASS see FEMINIST CUSTOMS EMPLOYMENT see also CARTOONS BREAST CANCER - THEORY - CLASS CYSTITIS EQUALITY AND EQUAL DRAMA see also REVIEWS RIGHTS - EMPLOYMENT - THEATRE MASTECTOMY see CANCER CLERICAL TRADE UNION D.E.S see CONTRACEP­ FICTION see also REVIEWS - BREAST CANCER - see TRADE UNIONS - TION - METHODS - D.E.S EMPLOYMENT (subdivided _ BOOKS MASTECTOMY CLERICAL D P B see BENEFITS by nature of employment) eg FILM see also REVIEWS - BREAST FEEDING DOMESTIC PURPOSES DOCTORS, DENTAL CLERICAL WORK see NURSES, TEACHERS FILM EMPLOYMENT, - BENEFIT GUERILLA THEATRE BROADSHEET see MEDIA - PERIODICALS - CLERICAL WORKERS DALKON SHIELD see CON­ ENERGY - NUCLEAR, MUSIC AND SONGS see also OIL BASED REVIEWS - CONCERTS BROADSHEET CLERICAL WORKERS see TRACEPTION - METHODS - I.U.D. ENGLAND see GREAT NURSERY RHYMES THE BUDGET see GOVERN­ EMPLOYMENT - CLERICAL WORKERS BRITAIN PAINTING & DRAWING see MENT - Ce n t r a l - t h e DAYCARE see CHILDCARE also REVIEWS - BUDGET CLERICAL WORKERS’ ENVIRONMENT - POLLU EXHIBITIONS DE FACTO RELATION BUSINESS & INDUSTRY UNION see TRADE UNIONS SHIPS see CO-HABITING TION - LEAD, POLLUTION PHOTOGRAPHY see also - CLERICAL WORKERS' - NUCLEAR, - POLLU REVIEWS - EXHIBITIONS BUSINESS & INDUSTRY UNION DEATH AND DYING TION - 245T POETRY,POTTERY MULTINATIONALS PRINTMAKING see also CLITORIDECTOMY see DEMONSTRATIONS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES REVIEWS — EXHIBITIONS CANCER - VIOLENCE - SEXUAL - PROTESTS (town, country if TRIBUNAL see EQUALITY

34 Broadsheet, October 1983 AND EQUAL RIGHTS - GONORRHOEA see HOMOSEXUALITY see also EMPLOYMENT - EQUAL LANGUAGE - GRAMMAR, m e d ic in a l VENEREAL DISEASE - LAW - HOMOSEXUAL LAW VOCABULARY OPPORTUNITIES GONORRHOEA REFORM MEDICINE see also TRIBUNAL LAW see also ABORTION — HEALTH, HERSTORY GOVERNMENT see also HORTICULTURAL HERBS see LAW. EMPLOYMENT — EQUAL PAY see EQUALITY MEDICATION ELECTIONS - NATIONAL, HERBS - HORTIC ULTURAL LAWYERS, EQUALITY & AND EQUAL RIGHTS - POLITICS - PARTY MEDICINE - DENTISTRY EMPLOYMENT - EQUAL HOSPITALS see MEDICINE — EQUAL RIGHTS, GOVERN MENTS - DEPTS - JUSTICE GENERAL PRACTICE, PAY GOVERNMENT - CEN HOSPITALS HOSPITAL see also EQUALITY AND EQUAL TRAL - THE BUDGET |& HU IS see CONFERENCES & LAW - BILLS & ACTS lact, VIOLENCE — INSTITU RIGHTS see also DATE), CENTRAL - TAXA CONVENTIONS date, jurisdiction), COURTS, TIONAL - HOSPITAL TION, COMMISSIONS AND EMPLOYMENT ENFORCEMENT. POLICE, MEN see also FEMINIST COMMITTEES. DEPART HUMOUR HOMOSEXUAL LAW EQUALITY AND EQUAL THEORY - PATRIARCHY MENTS - HEALTH. HYSTERECTOMY REFORM RIGHTS — EDUCATION. DEPARTMENTS - JUSTICE MENOPAUSE EMPLOYMENT - EQUAL (etc) ELECTED REPRESEN I.U.D. see CONTRACEPTION LAW SCHOOL see EDUCA­ OPPORTUNITIES TATIVES, LOC AL - METHODS - I.U.D. TION - TERTIARY - MENSTRUAL EXTRACTION TRIBUNAL, EMPLOYMENT UNIVERSITY OF see MENSTRUATION - - EQUAL PAY, LAW, GREAT BRITAIN IMMIGRANTS (identify by MENSTRUAL EXTRACTION country of origin if possible) AUCKLAND - LAW RECREATION, WORKING HALF WAY HOUSES see SCHOOL MENSTRUATION WOMEN’S CHARTER INCEST REFUGE CENTRES LAWYERS see EMPLOY MENSTRUATION - F.0 L. see TRADE UNIONS HAMILTON INDECENT PUBLICATIONS MENT - LAWYERS MENSTRUAL EXTRACTION - F.O.L TRIBUNAL see CENSORSHIP see also ABORTION — HANDICAPPED see LESBIAN FEMINISM see FAIRY TALES see ARTS — - INDECENT PUBLIC'A TECHNIQUES, SPONGES, DISABLED T10NS TRIBUNAL FEMINIST THEORY - LES FICTION BIAN FEMINISM TAMPONS, TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME FAMILY LESBIAN MOTHERS see FAMILY DAYCARE see MOTHERS - LESBIAN MENTAL HEALTH see PSYCHOLOGY & CHILDCARE — FAMILY LESBIANISM see also PSYCHIATRY d a y c a r e HOMOSEXUALITY, FAMILY PLANNING see FEMINIST THEORY - LES MENTAL HEALTH FOUN CONTRACEPTION BIAN FEMINISM DATION see ORGANISA­ TIONS — MENTAL FAMILY PLANNING LESBIANISM - HEALTH FOUNDATION ORGANISATIONS see SEPARATION MENTAL RETARDATION ORGANISATIONS - LIBRARIES see RESOURCE (specific name) CENTRES - LIBRARIES MEXICO FARM WORKERS see LIFESTYLES, COMMUNAL MIDWIVES see EMPLOY­ EMPLOYMENT - MENT - MIDWIVES, AGRICULTURAL LIFESTYLES, RURAL PREGNANCY & WORKERS LIFESTYLES, SOLO CHILDBIRTH - MIDWIVES FATHERS see PARENTING LIFESTYLES, URBAN MISCARRIAGE see ABOR FEDERATION OF LABOUR HEALTH see also GOVERN INDIA LIVING ALONE see see TRADE UNIONS - TION - MISCARRIAGE MENT - DEPARTMENTS LIFESTYLES, SOLO F.O.L - HEALTH, HEALTH CEN INDUSTRIAL HEALTH MOHAMMEDANISM see HAZARDS see OCCUPA­ FEMINIST MOTHERS see TRES, MEDICATION, LOCAL GOVERNMENT see RELIGION - ISLAM MEDICINE TIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS GOVERNMENT - LOCAL MOTHERS - FEMINIST MORNING AFTER PILL see HEALTH - SELF HELP INDUSTRY see BUSINESS & MADNESS see CONTRACEPTION - FEMINIST THEORY see also INDUSTRY HERSTORY HEALTH CENTRES - PSYCHOLOGY & METHODS - D.E.S. PSYCHIATRY LEICHARDT WOMEN S INFERTILITY MOTHERHOOD WAGE see FEMINIST THEORY - AN CLINIC, SYDNEY etc DROGYNY, CLASS see also 1NFIBULATION see MAGAZINES see MEDIA - PARENTING - WAGES COMMUNISM, MARXISM, HEALTH HAZARDS, OC VIOLENCE - SEXUAL - PERIODICALS FOR SOCIALISM, CON CUPATIONAL see OCCUPA­ GENITAL MUTILATION MALAYSIA MOTHERS SCIOUSNESS RAISING, TIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION, FREEDOM MAORIS see BLACK MOTHERS - FEMINIST, CULTURAL FEMINISM, HAZARDS OF HETEROSEXISM, LESBIAN WOMEN - MAORI LESBIAN, SOLO see also HEMOPHILUS VAGINILAS BENEFITS, DOMESTIC FEMINISM, MATRIARCHY, INSANITY see PSYCHOLOGY MARRIAGE see also see VAGINAL INFECTION & PSYCHIATRY PURPOSES PATRIARCHY, RADICAL - HEMOPHILUS VIOLENCE — INSTITU FEMINISM, SEPARATISM. VAGINILAS INSURANCE see COMMERCE TIONAL — HOME MOTHERS - SURROGATE SOCIALIST FEMINISM, - INSURANCE SPIRITUALITY, TRASHING, HERBS MARRIAGE — DIVORCE MOTHERS’ WAGE see WOMENS STUDIES HERBS — HORTICULTURAL, INTERNATIONAL see also CHILDREN, PARENTING - WAGES MEDICINAL, see also WOMEN’S YEAR CUSTODY OF, GUIDANCE, FOR FESTIVALS (name, place, MEDICATION SEPARATION date) INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MUHAMMADANISM see HERPES see VENEREAL THE CHILD see CHILDREN MARXISM see also COM­ RELIGION - ISLAM FICTION see ARTS - DISEASE — HERPES MUNISM, SOCIALISM FICTION INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MULTINATIONALS see HERSTORY see also THE DISABLED see MASSAGE PARLOURS see BUSINESS & INDUSTRY — FILM see ARTS - FILM FEMINIST THEORY - DISABLED EMPLOYMENT - MULTINATIONALS WOMEN’S STUDIES MASSEUSES FILMOGRAPHY INTRAUTERINE DEVICE see MUSLIMS see RELIGION — FINANCE see ECONOMICS HETEROSEXISM see CONTRACEPTION - MASTECTOMY see CANCER ISLAM FEMINIST THEORY - METHODS - I.U.D. - BREAST CANCER - FLAGYL see MEDICATION HETEROSEXISM MASTECTOMY NAMES, PERSONAL - FLAGYL INVALID BENEFIT see NAMES, PERSONAL - HETEROSEXUALITY see also BENEFITS - INVALID MASTERTON CO HABITING, LIFESTYLES TITLES FOETAL MONITORING see ISLAM see RELIGION — PREGNANCY & - COMMUNAL, FAMILY, MASTURBATION see SEX­ ISLAM UALITY - NATIONAL PARTY see CHILDBIRTH MARRIAGE POLITICS - PARTY - JOHNSON REPORT see MASTURBATION FRANCE THE HILL REPORT see NATIONAL GOVERNMENT — COMMIS EDUCATION - COMMITTEE MATRIARCHY see FREEDOM OF INFORMA ON HEALTH & SOCIAL FEMINIST THEORY - NATURAL CONTRACEP SIONS & COMMITTEES - TION see CONTRACEPTION TION see INFORMATION, COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY EDUCATION, 1977, REPORT MATRIARCHY FREEDOM OF - METHODS - NATURAL INTO PRESCHOOL EDUCA JOURNALS see MEDIA - MEDIA see also GENERAL PRACTICE see TION (HILL REPORT) 1971 PERIODICALS ADVERTISING NELSON MEDICINE - GENERAL HITF REPORT see SEXUAL KIDSARUS see COLLECTIVES MEDIA — NEWSPAPERS, NEW PLYMOUTH PRACTICE ITY - HITE REPORT - KIDSARUS PERIODICALS, RADIO, NEWSPAPERS see MEDIA GENITAL MUTILATION see HOMEBIRTHS see PREGNAN­ LABOUR PARTY see TELEVISION - NEWSPAPERS VIOLENCE — SEXUAL - CY & CHILDBIRTH - POLITICS - PARTY - GENITAL MUTILATION MEDICATION (prescribed) see NIGHT WORK see HOMEBIRTHS LABOUR also DRUGS, HERBS - EMPLOYMENT

Broadsheet, October 1 983 35 |NIl)E POLITICS RAPE CRISIS CENTRES SOVIET UNION (post 1917) 245 T see ENVIRONMENT see also RUSSIA (pre 1917) - POLLUTION - 245 T NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICS — PARTY see also REACTIONARY POLITICS GOVERNMENT SPIRITUALITY see UNEMPLOYMENT see also 'NORTHLAND RECORD REVIEWS see FEMINIST THEORY - BENEFITS - POLLUTION see ENVIRON­ REVIEWS - RECORDS SPIRITUALITY UNEMPLOYMENT NOVELS see ARTS - MENT - POLLUTION FICTION REFUGE CENTRES - SPONGES see MENSTRUA­ UNEMPLOYMENT - POPULATION CONTROL NAME, PLACE TION - SPONGES GOVERNMENT SCHEMES NUCLEAR ENERGY see see also CONTRACEPTION. ENERGY - NUCLEAR RELIGION see also SPONTANEOUS ABORTION UNIONS see TRADE PORNOGRAPHY see FEMINIST THEORY - NUCLEAR TESTING see see ABORTION - UNIONS VIOLENCE - SEXUAL - SPIRITUALITY MISCARRIAGE WAR - NUCLEAR PORNOGRAPHY UNITED KINGDOM see RELIGION - CHRISTIAN! NULEAR WARFARE see SPORT (subdivide by name of GREAT BRITAIN POST NATAL DEPRESSION TY - MORMON, ISLAM. sport) WAR - NUCLEAR see PREGNANCY & JUDAISM UNITED NATIONS CHILDBIRTH - POST SPRINGBOK TOUR see NUCLEAR WASTE see EN­ REPEAL PETITION see UNITED STATES VIRONMENT - POLLU­ NATAL DEPRESSION RACISM - SPRINGBOK LAW - BILLS & ACTS - C TOUR TION - NUCLEAR POST PARTUM DEPRES URBAN LIFESTYLES see S & A ACT LIFESTYLES, URBAN SION see PREGNANCY & STERILISATION see CON­ NURSERY RHYMES see RESOURCE CENTRES ARTS - NURSERY CHILDBIRTH - POST TRACEPTION - METHODS VAGINAL INFECTION NATAL DEPRESSION - STERILISATION RHYMES RESOURCE CENTRES - VAGINAL INFECTION - PREGNANCY & LIBRARIES. ORGANISA STRIKES CERVICAL EROSION, CER NURSES see EMPLOYMENT TION OF MATERIAL — NURSES see also CHILDBIRTH SUBMISSIONS see GOVERN­ VICITIS, HEMOPHILAS. VAGINILAS, THRUSH, MEDICINE - HOSPITALS PREGNANCY & REVIEWS see also ARTS MENT - COMMISSIONS & VAGINAL WARTS, CHILDBIRTH - COMMITTEES ' NURSING see EMPLOY­ REVIEWS BOOKS. CON VAGINITIS COUNSELLING, MENT - NURSES see page CERTS. EXHIBITIONS. SUBURBAN NEUROSIS see HOMEBIRTHS, MIDWIVES 13 circled section FILMS see also ARTS — MARRIAGE VALUES PARTY see see also EMPLOYMENT - FILM - FILM FESTIVAL. POLITICS - PARTY - OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MIDWIVES, POST NATAL NAME. DATE. SUFFRAGE VALUES HAZARDS DEPRESSION PHOTOGRAPHY see also SUNNA CIRCUMCISION see VENEREAL DISEASE ARTS - PHOTOGRAPHY. OLD AGE PREGNANCY HELP see VIOLENCE — SEXUAL — RECORDS see also ARTS - VENERAL DISEASE - ORGANISATIONS (name ORGANISATIONS - GENITAL MUTILATION PREGNANCY HELP MUSIC & SONGS. TELEVI GONORRHOEA, HERPES, location) see also COLLEC­ SION. THEATRE SURGERY see specific illness N.S.U., SYPHILIS TIVES, TRADE UNIONS PRESCHOOL EDUCATION RIGHT WING POLITICS see see EDUCATION - SURROGATE MOTHERS see VIDEO see ARTS - VIDEO OUTWORK see EMPLOY­ REACTIONARY POLITICS MOTHERS - SURROGATE MENT - OUTWORK PRESCHOOL VIETNAM ROMAN CATHOLICISM see SWEDEN PACIFIC AREA see also PRIMARY EDUCATION see RELIGION - CHRISTIANI VIOLENCE see also WAR ARTS PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION - PRIMARY TY - ROMAN CATHOLIC SWITZERLAND VIOLENCE - INSTITU TIONAL - HOME, PACIFIC AREA see also PRINTMAKING see ARTS - RURAL LIFESTYLES see TAE KWON DO see PRINTMAKING SELFDEFENCE HOSPltAL, SCHOOL, specific countries eg TONGA LIFESTYLES, RURAL PRISON; SEXUAL - PRISONS AND PRISONERS PAINTING & DRAWING see RUSSIA (pre 19171 see also TAMPONS see MENSTRUA­ GENITAL MUTILATION, ARTS - PAINTING & see also LAW - ENFORCE SOVIET UNION (post 1917) TION - TAMPONS HARASSMENT, POR DRAWING MENT. GOVERNMENT - NOGRAPHY, RAPE DEPARTMENTS - JUSTICE ST HELENS see MEDICINE TAURANGA PAP SMEAR see CANCER - PRIVACY, RIGHT TO see - HOSPITALS - ST TAXATION see GOVERN­ VIRAGO see PUBLISHERS CERVICAL CANCER INFORMATION, FREEDOM HELENS MENT - CENTRAL - & PUBLISHING - VIRAGO OF TAXATION PARENTING see also SELF DEFENCE VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE CHILDCARE, CHILDREN, PROSTITUTION see also SELF HELP HEALTH see TE AWAMUTU see GOVERNMENT - MOTHERS EMPLOYMENT - HEALTH - SELF HELP DEPTS - EDUCATION (to PROSTITUTES TECHNOLOGICAL PARENTING - WAGES CHANGE (both changes 1977) see GOVERNMENT - SEPARATISM see FEMINIST DEPTS. - LABOUR (from FOR, see also EMPLOY­ PROTEST see DEMONSTRA THEORY - SEPARATISM themselves and effect on MENT - HOUSEWORK - TIONS AND PROTESTS society.) 19771 WAGES FOR SEX EDUCATION PSYCHIATRY see TEENAGERS see WAIROA PARTY POLITICS see PSYCHOLOGY AND SEX ROLES AND CO>iDI ADOLESCENCE WAR see also PEACE, TIONTNG see also COLLF.C POLITICS - PARTY PSYCHIATRY VIOLENCE TIVES - KIDARUS TELEVISION see MEDIA - PATRIARCHY see PSYCHOLOGY AND TELEVISION WAR - ANZAC DAY, FEMINIST THEORY - SEXUAL HARRASSMENT PSYCHIATRY see also NUCLEAR PATRIARCHY VIOLENCE - see VIOLENCE - SEXUAL THAILAND - HARRASSMENT WELLINGTON PEACE see also WAR INSTITUTIONAL THEATRE see ARTS - SEXUALITY DRAMA WHAKATANE PENTECOSTALISM see PUBLISHERS & RELIGION - CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING see also SEXUALITY - HITE THIRD WORLD (non aligned WIFE-BEATING see TIY - PENTECOSTAL EMPLOYMENT - REPORT. MASTURBATION countries) VIOLENCE - INSTITU PUBLISHER TIONAL - HOME PERIODIC DETENTION see SHOCK TREATMENT see THRUSH see VAGINAL IN­ GOVERNMENT - DEPTS. PUBLISHERS & PSYCHOLOGY AND FECTION - THRUSH WINTER SOLSTICE see - JUSTICE PUBLISHING - VIRAGO. PSYCHIATRY CELEBRATIONS WOMEN’S PRESS TITLES see NAMES, PER­ PERIODICALS see MEDIA SHORT STORIES see ARTS SONAL - TITLES WITCHCRAFT see PUBLISHING see - PERIODICALS - FICTION TOBACCO see DRUGS - FEMINIST THEORY - PUBLISHERS & SPIRITUALITY PETROL RATIONING see PUBLISHING SOCIALISM see also COM NICOTINE ENERGY - OIL BASED MUNISM, FEMINIST TONGA WOMEN’S CENTRES - RACISM THEORY - SOCIALIST NAME, PLACE PHOTOGRAPHY see ARTS FEMINISM. MARXISM TOWN PLANNING - PHOTOGRAPHY RACISM - BASTION WOMENS STUDIES see POINT, SPRINGBOK TOUR SOCIALIST FEMINISM see TOXIC SHOCK SHOCK SYN FEMINIST THEORY - (THE) PILL see CON­ 1981 FEMINIST THEORY - DROME see MENSTRUA­ WOMEN’S STUDIES TRACEPTION - METHODS RADICAL FEMINISM see SOCIALIST FEMINISM TION - TAMPONS - TOX - (THE) PILL IC SHOCK SYNDROME THE WOOLNOUGH TRIAL FEMINIST THEORY - SOLO LIFESTYLES see see ABORTION - LAW PLUMBING RADICAL FEMINISM LIFESTYLES, SOLO TRADE UNIONS see also STRIKES WORKING WOMEN'S POETRY see ARTS - RADIO see MEDIA — SOLO MOTHERS see CHARTER see EQUALITY & POETRY RADIO MOTHERS - SOLO TRADE UNIONS - F.O.L. EQUAL RIGHTS - EMPLOYMENT - WORK POLICE see EMPLOYMENT RADIOACTIVE WASTE see SONGS see ARTS - MUSIC TRANSPORT see also CARS ING WOMEN’S CHARTER - POLICE ENVIRONMENT - POLLU AND SONGS TRASHING see FEMINIST TION - NUCLEAR © 1983 Mag Freeman, Cathie POLITICIANS see GOVERN­ SOUTH AFRICA THEORY - TRASHING MENT - ELECTED RAPE see VIOLENCE - Hutchinson, Ciaire-Louise •REPRESENTATIVES SEXUAL - RAPE SOUTHLAND TURKEY McCurdy, Gay Simpkin.

36 Broadsheet, October 1983 ones are:“Racism is divisive — we’re all women”: “Racism/classism NOT JUST THEM OUT THERE is a male problem”; “They ignored our repeated requests for ad­ vice and input — they therefore had no right to attack us for JENNY RANKINE discusses the processes people go through not providing for them.” As Ellen Willis says in “Sisters Under when they discover they’re part of an oppressing group. the Skin?”1, “Straightforward reactionary racism, exaggerates dif­ ference and denies commonalities; liberal racism more typical of In March 1982 I was part of a workshop on lesbian-feminist white feminists, does the opposite.” These excuses assume that politics at the Wanganui Women’s Weekend. Some women, new white women as a group have no more power than women of to the idea that our society presents heterosexuality as compulsory, other cultures, or that our experience is representative of all started asking lesbians questions like “What does it feel like to women’s, or that racial conflict between white women and women be a lesbian?” and “How can we help you?”, and saying things of other cultures is not real just a male plot. like “Lesbian-feminism is a more pure kind of feminism.” These questions meant that they still saw lesbianism as alien, something GUILT they didn’t feel and would never be. After the New Perspectives on Race workshop I started to be For six months before this weekend I’d been involved in white come conscious of the racist stereotypes and prejudices that I’d anti-racism groups and these questions were similar to the ones always shoved to the back of my mind before. I felt much more I and other white women had been asking Maori and Pacific self-conscious and awkward speaking with Maori and Pacific Island women. Island women. For a while I lost all spontaneity, because I was I realised at the Women’s Weekend that the process people go scrutinising everything I was thinking and saying to them. through when they realise they’re members of a privileged group I felt guilty and paralysed about the whole subject. Racism was is very similar: men trying to understand sexism; heterosexuals everywhere and I felt so ignorant about it. This strong feeling suddenly seeing heterosexism; middle class people listening to of guilt seemed to affect women more than, say, male socialists. working class people; and whites about racism. My experience Partly it comes from our training as women to take responsibili­ of the process has been mainly as a white person in anti-racist ty for other people’s actions, and to see our own lives and issues groups. as unimportant. It is easy for white, middle class women to feel that the pressures of racism on women of other cultures make RELUCTANCE TO SEE WHAT WE’RE PART OF our oppression look insignificant. One of the first hurdles in this process is our reluctance to see Part of the feeling of guilt also comes from the way some of our collective responsibility. For instance, I began to see racism us as feminists had thought of men. It’s a small step from saying as built into the system when I first came to Aotearoa from male power over women is bad to saying all men are bad, and Australia in 1979. The situation of Maori people was so similar will always be oppressive. This is another kind of sex role to the situation of Aboriginal people that I could no longer believe stereotyping — testicles come labelled “Oppressor — responsible that their problems were their own fault. Both groups had huge for everything bad” and ovaries are stamped with “Victim — rates of illness and unemployment compared to the rest of the responsible for nothing.” We’ve received such bad messages about population, their cultures were used as entertainment for tourists ourselves as women — we’re nagging, stupid, ugly and neurotic and they were stereotyped as stupid, bludging and dirty. Until — that it is really tempting to set ourselves up as the “goodies” I realised I had to let go of that victim-blaming attitude, I didn’t for once. But nothing is as clear cut as this, as we realise when know I still thought like that. we find ourselves in the role of oppressor, and see ourselves as When I went to the Hamilton United Women’s Convention “baddies” again. in March 1979, I was overwhelmed by all the ideas and events Our feelings of guilt and paralysis are not helpful, either to and groups happening, and exhilerated by my first feminist and ourselves or to women from other cultures. I gradually stopped all-women gathering. When the “White Women’s Convention” feeling guilty when I started seeing some ways I could make anti­ protest began and a friend asked me to sit with them, I thought racist changes in feminist groups I was part of, and power struc­ “The enemy’s out there, we’re not racist, why distract us from tures in wider society. the battle with the power structure?” I felt uncomfortable about refusing to join the “White Women’s TELL US H O W TO HELP YOU... Convention” protest in Hamilton for a long time afterwards. I Once we start to see our oppressive systems, our next reaction knew I’d refused because to really think hard about racism would is often to turn to those who have finally managed to remove be uncomfortable for me and would open a huge can of worms our blinkers and say “How can we help you? What do you want? for feminist groups I worked in. Tell me how it feels? What can I do?” In the middle of 1981 I went to a new Perspectives on Race By asking these questions we’re getting other powerless groups workshop in Auckland. At that workshop my identity as a to do our thinking for us. We can ask ourselves “How would I member of a powerless group — women — and my world view feel if a man..?” or “How would I feel as a child if an adult..?” were turned upside down. I felt overwhelmed by the realisation if we want to know how a powerless person might feel in a cer­ that my behavior, the groups I was in and the feminist move­ tain situation. And if we share incidents we’ve been a part of or ment were racist. I started to see that we assume that the white seen, we realise that we know a lot about how racism or heterosex­ cultural ways of doing things are the ways everyone does things. ism works. A national Quaker summer gathering seven years ago I had put so much work into understanding sexism and the ran a day-long roleplay where half the people simulated a physical heterosexual institution'that it was a complete wrench to go back handicap — no use of their arms, for instance. They learnt to the beginning and start re-examining my most basic ideas and something about how able-bodied people react — invading the our organising methods. personal body space of disabled people, making decisions for them, There are many other ways we white feminists deny and avoid taking power. Then there’s Charlotte Bunch’s example for responsibility or awareness of being part of oppressive structures, heterosexual women of telling everyone you’re a lesbian for a besides the “It’s not us, it’s them out there” argument. Common week. There’s lots of writing by women, socialists, lesbians, disabl-

Broadsheet, October 1983 37 ed people and people of different cultures that says what they need to give them control over their lives. We have to start educating ourselves about how our systems affect other oppress­ ed groups. We’re also saying “ Tell us what to do” when we give away our power to judge our own actions. If there’s one working class woman in a group, say, or one lesbian, she may get loaded with the responsibility of pointing out the way the group doesn’t take capitalism or heterosexism into account. Or she may find that the other women don’t notice their assumption that everyone is heterosexual or middle class and she is the one always pointing such assumptions out and showing how destructive they are. Or the other women may treat her as the only judge of what is anti­ lesbian or classist. WE’LL HELP YOU IF... One way we keep power when we can no longer blame people for their victimisation is to put conditions on our support. “You can speak at our conference as long as you’re not aggressive”. Or “We’ll give you some money, but you have to spend it on this project”. I’ve heard white men asking feminists what an ideal feminist society is, trying to make us produce a complete blueprint of utopia. The implication being that if it isn’t thought out step- by-step or they don’t agree with it or it’s “unrealistic”we’ll get no support from them. We shouldn’t have to produce all the steps to the revolution. The early demands of the second feminist wave for childcare, equality at work, abortion rights and the rest have still not been met. Sometimes, however, men’s questions about the specific changes women want are legitimate. In the last few years, many radical feminists have responded by saying “Sexism is not the ‘woman problem’ but a male problem. You know how you keep power — you take responsibility for changing things.” If we say to our oppressors “YOU find out how to change things”and don’t give them our concrete demands, we are doing them and ourselves a disservice. If the men asking the questions want to work with us to produce change, they need to know our strategy for chang­ ing oppressive structures, because only the victims have the understanding to define the problem and its solutions. OPPRESSED PEOPLE CAN DO NO WRONG Sometimes when we’re stumped and our groups don’t seem to be getting anywhere, it’s easy to feel that “Working class women have all the answers on issues like this” or “Black women are more militant” or that “Lesbian-feminism is a more pure kind of feminism.” Sometimes we feel like that because we’re not able to see just how racism or heterosexism works in particular situa­ tions or in our groups, and yet we feel very guilty about it. Our self-esteem as competent feminists has had such a shock that we no longer trust our own judgement on matters of tactics or analysis. Or the wrench in our political view has been so great

that we are floundering and scared to use our women’s experience s a n v SMITH as a base for comparison and learning. So people of other cultures or lesbians are elevated to a status higher than ours, and we accept their analysis uncritically. Another example of “the oppressed are better people” comes from the peace movement, where women’s ways have sometimes been advocated as the pure, non-violent alternative to men’s ad­ diction” to power and violence. I know from my own feelings that this is rubbish — I like power as well as the next person and I’ve treated other women violently with what I’ve said. There’s nothing innate in women that makes us less violent — the way we use power and violence is learned just as it is in men. Always listening to a group and thinking they know best is

38 Broadsheet. October 1983 the other side of the coin from never listening to them and think­ male female division.”2 ing they know nothing. We’re still treating their ability to think This idea places women’s oppression at the tip of a hierachy about and analyse things as different from our own. Never of oppressions, forcing working class and Black feminists to choose disagreeing with people of another culture is just a different kind between fighting their oppression as a woman and other oppres­ of racism. sions. Other movements do this too: left groups continue to assert Saying that people from other cultures are always right also the contradiction between capital and labour as the major social means that we as whites are always wrong. Some whites as a result division; some Blacks see everything in terms of Black liberation, reject their cultural identity and adopt Maori or other ways of denying that sexism affects “their” women. This insistence on doing things. But we cannot become allies with other cultural isolating one aspect of our experience and focusing on it is a groups or classes without respect for ourselves and our own ex­ characteristic of western patriarchal thought. All oppressions are periences. In the long run we have to stop thinking the oppress­ intolerable; the question of which oppression came first, or pro­ ed can do no wrong and start working out our own perspective duces the most suffering, or is most pressing, only leads to futile — as white women in Aotearoa, anti-sexist men, middle-class point-scoring. workers, or heterosexual feminists. However, I think it may be an inevitable part of defining op­ pression for oppressed groups to assert the lack of power that af­ I’M OKAY — I’M A GOOD WHITE... fects them as the most basic one. And if one group’s oppression It’s very easy, especially for women, to take political challenges in the most pressing, guilt makes it easy to feel we have to drop — about the collective racism of whites, for instance — personally. our own and put all our time into theirs. But “Insistence on a We want to prove that we’re okay. We might say that as long hierarchy of oppression never radicalises people, because the im­ as we benefit from a white-dominated system, all whites are racist, pulse behind it is moralistic. Its object is to get the lesser victims but we want to be seen as non-racist. The easiest way to do this to stop being selfish, to agree that their own pain (however deep­ is to challenge or attack other whites for voicing the racist ly they may feel it) is less serious and less deserving of attention thoughts we think but would never say. I did this recently in a (including their own) than someone else’s... The logic of competing book review, feeling very self-righteous at the time. If we make oppressions does not heal divisions but intensifies them, since it a lot of noise and don’t let any other whites get away with invites endless and absurd extention — for every person who has anything that might be racist or oppressive, then we must be okay. no shoes, there is always someone who has no feet.’S This sets up a good whites/bad whites division, and suppresses Working class and men of other cultures, for example, aren’t honest discussion about racism in our groups. It doesn’t help going to become the committed allies of feminists because they’re women of other cultures if whites have a witch-hunt mentality told their own struggles are unimportant. But they have to see about who’s more racist. that the male privileges and male-dominated structures they use We have to question each other but the way we do it is crucial. are blocking the revolution they’re working for. If it is done in a way that leaves people scared to talk about racism because their ideas don’t fit the standards of the “Good Whites”, I AGREE WITH YOUR STRUGGLE, BUT... then the numbers in the anti-racist movement will get smaller Most feminists have endured those earnest approaches from ac­ and smaller. If it is done in a way that assumes that people can quaintances which start off “I agree with a lot of what you say, usually see when they’re copping out or avoiding unpleasant truths but...” and go on about manhating lesbians or putting down and which supports their sincerity and commitment to working women at home and other such media-created versions of in an anti-racist way, it may get larger. feminism. Other ways I’ve seen in myself and other women of being a One of the processes we go through as activists, however, is “Good White” include the “I know lots of radical Maoris” game. disagreeing with members of another oppressed group. If we work Hugging Maori women more, smiling at them more, greeting them for any time in such an alliance this is bound to happen. like they’re old friends when they’re not, dropping the names of Disagreements can be used as excuses for us to stop examining your Maori/feminist/gay/working class friends regularly into our own behavior and ideas about the other group. Whenever political conversations. “Some of my best friends are..” is after I hear men criticising the analysis or tactics of the feminist move­ all one of the oldest ways of pretending to be egalitarian when ment, I feel suspicious. I have heard some such disagreements we’re not. from men used as a way of weaseling out of a commitment to Another way of being a “Good White” is to develop a total change. Some men have ignored the radical content of a feminist identification with an oppressed group — white women who only viewpoint and looked only at how the masculine sex role restricts work with people of other cultures, heterosexuals whose friends them. But I remember when I first came out as a lesbian and are all gay, middle class people who are avidly Marxist and male friends disagreed with my vague “lesbians will lead the downwardly mobile, liberal men who “couldn’t have a relation­ feminist movement” ideas, I blew up at them and didn’t listen, ship with any woman who wasn’t a feminist”. People can be but now I accept their criticism as valid. They were being con­ sincere about these choices, but “Good White” status usually goes tractive, not anti-lesbian. with them. Our disagreements can also be ignored by the other group, or seen as an attempt to undermine their independence when that NO, OUR OPPRESSION IS THE WORST... was not intended. If we’re working with a group whose members One way the feminist movement dismisses the differences among have firm ideas about what is racist or sexist or anti-lesbian, and us is through its ideology. For some time before the New Perspec­ they consider anyone who disagrees with them to be automatically tives on Race workshop, I had been re-examining my belief in oppressive, we may censor ourselves or leave, rather than stand the original radical feminist idea that the power men have over up for an alternative idea and be labelled racist or anti-lesbian. women was the first and most fundamental social inequality. For We all must have the right to disagree with the analysis, methods example: “All political classes grew out of the male-female role and visions of any group. The fact that we disagree cannot in system, were modelled on it, and ...The pathology of oppression itself be oppressive, although the stance we take may be sexist can only be fully comprehended in its primary development: the or racist.

Broadsheet, October 1983 39 These are some of the dynamics that happen when we start to of dominating groups more to our way of thinking, but leaves realise we’re members of a privileged or dominating group. It’s the impersonal structure of oppression intact. It is attractive not always as clear cut or linear as it’s listed, of course. It feels because it makes us feel powerful. But it works only in the short cyclical to me — each time I feel guilty or realise I’ve been acting term. Seeing this, we become cynical about the possibility of real like a “Good White” again, I know I’ve learnt a lot since the last change, and are trapped because of the failure of our only tactic. time. These ideas have come from my experience and my friends, Writing this has helped to clarify some of my feelings about mostly in Auckland. The dynamics between different oppressed interactions in groups where I didn’t feel comfortable but didn’t groups are different in each centre in Aotearoa. Other women know why. It was important to me to state the dynamics I saw will have felt different conflicts and processes. happening between oppressing and oppressed groups in the hope One of the reasons we have so much trouble working out what that we can recognise destructive patterns and work from an to do as members of oppressing groups is that our idea of oppres­ assumption of mutual respect and commitment to change. □ sion is a moralistic, judgemental one. Oppression, the control of one group by another group, is an impersonal process. Women 1 “Sisters Under the Skin?” Village Voice Literary Supplement, June 1982 New York. A review of Women, Race and Class by Angela Davis, Ain’t have no consistent choice about abortion in Aotearoa not because 1 a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by Bell Hooks and Common they’re all anti-abortion and anti-women on the Contraception, Differences: Conflicts in Black and White Feminist Perspectives by Joseph Abortion and Sterilisation Supervisory Committee, but because and Lewis. the Committee and a whole system was set up to limit women’s 2 “The Feminists: A Political Organisation to Annihilate Sex Roles” in access to abortions in the first place. Having pro-choice people Radical Feminism, Ed A. Koedt, E. Levine, A. Rapone, Times Books, New York, 1973. on that committee would make little change to the restrictive way 3 Ellen Willis “Sisters under the Skin?” it works. My thanks to Mitzi Mairn, Margaret Arthur, Gill Franklin, Nancy The word oppression both describes the relationship between Peterson, Sally Smith, Judith Jollands and Sandra Coney for sharing their two groups and makes a judgement about it at the same time. ideas, experiences and thinking with me. I have also used many ideas from Donna Landerman and Mary But thinking in moral terms — “You’re bad because you oppress McAtee’s Articles on “Breaking the Racism Barrier — White Anti-Racist us and you have to share your power with us” — is ultimately Work”, published in the September and October issues of Broadsheet. a dead end. It uses the lever of guilt to shift individual members What use I made of all these women’s ideas is my responsibility.

in time for a National reshuffl­ both bills, for the status quo, STOP PRESS: NOT ABORTION AGAIN ing of Cabinet in February. It’s and that gets them off the further suspected that the bill hook. might be intended to create fur­ As we got to press Kidd’s bill The Christchurch-based The had kept away from anyone ther disarray in the Labour is about to come up in parlia­ Health Alternatives for Women who was liberal. parliamentary party, which ment. If it gets past the in­ (THAW) reminded us in last The bill restricts abortion to would split down the middle troduction stage and is referred month’s Broadsheet that the “emergency” cases where the over the issue. Unseemly to a select committee, the battle abortion battle had not yet mother’s life is “imperilled by wrangling in Labour’s ranks will be a hard one. There’s still been won for women. In mid- her pregnancy”. The foetus is could damage its election a majority of anti MPs in the October a new offensive was granted the rights of a human chances. The timing of the bill House and SPUC will turn on launched by SPUC. being and could be represented is probably aimed at the heat. There had been signs that by a lawyer. Under such a law SPUC was preparing for New Plymouth doctor Melvin Write/phone your MP. Tell him what you think! Support the women another onslaught. Nina Barry- Wall’s attempt to use a legal in­ MPs in their stand against Kidd. Martin had been travelling junction to stop a 16-year-old round New Zealand setting up having an abortion could well capitalising on the current This unexpected anti-abortion Pregnancy Help groups in succeed. In Canada right-to- upheavals in the Labour party volley has caught the pro-choice smaller centres. But when the lifers have been granted and Lange’s low position in movement on the hop. Many pro- National MP for Marlborough custody of foetuses and have public polls. choice groups have wound right Mr D. L. Kidd announced his been able to control the living Ousted Labour Dunedin down and while there are plenty intention to introduce a bill conditions of the mother. West MP Brian McDonnell, of feminists, there are few feminist restricting abortion, even MPs According to the Abortion memorable for having brought organisations. Only WONAAC in were caught on the hop. Kidd’s Law Reform Association the a foetus in a bottle into the Wellington appears to have kept proposal came only days after Bill makes provision for people House during a 1977 abortion strong and well. The response of the Abortion Supervisory Com­ who can show a “special rela­ debate, may draw to him many feminists has been an mittee tabled its annual report tionship of responsibility” to former colleagues who are anti­ anguished “Not again!” showing 144 (2.1%) more make application to the courts abortion which could divide the Yes, we do have to fight the women had abortions in 1982 regarding the activities of the Labour Party even further. same battles over and over again. than the previous year, and was pregnant woman. This means There’s certainly more at In 1977 when the CS & A Act was probably intended to capitalise that relatives and fathers of the stake here than foetuses. passed and abortion was on “shock” headlines like the foetus can gain access to the National MP Marilyn War­ unavailable in New Zealand, Joss Herald’s “ 12-year-olds granted medical records of the pregnant ing moved swiftly to even up Shawyer formed Sisters Overseas abortions". woman on behalf the foetus. the battle. Within 48 hours of Service within hours of the news. Kidd’s bill is explicitly called ALRANZ gave the example of Kidd’s announcement, she’d Within days and weeks SOS bran­ “The Status of Unborn a rapist father having more drafted and introduced her ches sprang up all over the coun­ Children's Bill” and he frankly rights than his victim. Contraceptive, Sterilisation and try to help women to Australia. states it was drafted by SPUC. Why an anti-abortion bill Abortion Repeal Bill. Sources Can we do it again? Liberal MPs now know that right now? Well, SPUC, like at parliament state her bill can­ We feminists may feel battle SPUC had been lobbying rust, never sleeps. Some MPs not pass, but that Waring is us­ weary and that our personal lives assiduously for months. Over suspect that Kidd might be try­ ing it as a tactic to draw off are struggle enough, but women’s the past four months they'd ing to find favour with Mul- half-hearted MPs who don’t lives are at stake here, and we contacted 53 MPs known to be doon, a known anti-abortionist want to fall in with the Kidd must rally to protect them.D conservative on abortion but and buddy of SPUCY Dalgety, camp. They can vote against Sandra Coney

40 Broadsheet, October 1983 HOGWASH

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"oift&o pAity Mother wins Employment Sir,—Part of the unemployment problem could be solved if many ::: ® Mastermind women stayed home and gave SHIRLEY younger ones a chance. In many cases women do not have to work In some instances it is the cause of marriage breakdown, which is evi­ ...... J- "/VAT/OA/AL r/A IES dent in our society today. I think the day will come when many young girls will have to stay home / < § • ,o T: longer to learn the full meaning of SE.NT 6Y housekeeping, looking after a hus­ band and family, and thereby mak­ RAY /MACDONALP ing it easier for boys and young men to be employed—Yours, etc E. G. PATRICK. September 21, 1983. PRESS* 24'7-23 JSCE

s e n t by K K e In her 80-hour week, she is not only wife, companion and mother but more practically, cook, waitress, house cleaner, dishwasher, chauffeur, caretaker, gardener and child minder.

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This sense of detachment is also ROBIN WHITER NEW The book ends with a catalogue 1983/84 ANTI-RACISM a feature of the book. While of the artist’s works. An aspect of ZEALAND PAINTER, recognising that artists have a right this that I commend is the inclu­ CATALOGUE, Compiled by Alister to privacy, I would have ap­ sion of the locations of all the pain­ Ed Trish Mullins and preciated a more revealing inter­ tings and the public gallery Lindsay Broughton, Taylor and Deborah view, and wonder whether, had holdings of the prints. As this is ARM 1983, $3.50* Coddington, Alister the interviewer been a woman, the sort of book that people will this may have been achieved. buy to keep and that will be in art Trish Mullins and Lyndsay Taylor 1981, $29.95 In the context of discussing Rita history libraries it will help to en­ Broughton, for Auckland Univer­ Angus Robin White said, “I’m sure continued accessibility of a sity’s Anti-Racism Movement l found this book as enigmatic as conscious of the extra effort that’s range of this woman artist’s work. (ARM), have provided an in­ many of Robin White’s paintings involved in being female and try­ Robin White New Zealand valuable resource in their 1983/84 and prints: but where her works ing to do something like paint. Painter is described on the back Anti-Racism Catalogue. The 96 have a self-containment, a com­ You’re up against problems which flap as, “The first in a series of page catalogue lists films, books, pleteness, the book left me wan­ men don’t have to face, you have monographs on New Zealand’s articles, displays and “people ting to know more. The format — to confront inbuilt prejudices and leading contemporary painters”. It resources” on racism in New an interview with the artist, a page preconceived ideas on what your is great that Alister Taylor Zealand and overseas. The most of (minimal) biographical details role [housekeeper? — see quote Publishers chose to publish about comprehensive overseas material and major exhibitions, a critical from G. Brown above] is to be.” a woman first. I hope that more deals with South Africa and the essay, a selection of colour/black She makes reference later to the of the many women working Pacific; USA, European and Asian and white plates and a catalogue Baha’i faith, in which she was seriously as painters in New resources are a bit thin. of her works — is a useful one. But brought up and later espoused Zealand will be the subjects of The A4 format newsprint I didn’t feel much better ac­ herself, and its important teachings future monographs. This is an catalogue is a model of quainted with the woman the ar­ about women, equality and educa­ elegant and worthwhile book, thoroughness and clear design. It’s tist at the end of the book, and tion. I wanted the interviewer to which I consider to be flawed by organised under subject headings wonder whether this is because of have explored these ideas further, the superficiality of the inter­ like the Treaty of Waitangi, 1981 her personal reserve or because in relation to the earlier comment view. □ Springbok Tour, and Pacific both the interviewer (Alister I quoted, and in relation to at­ Pat Rosier Region, and all the information Taylor) and the writer of the titudes to her work. 1 See The Handbook of Non-Sexist needed to follow up each resource critical essay (Gordon Brown) In spite of being aware of the Writing Casey Miller and Kate Swift, is given. The groups listed cover neglected the areas in which I was arguments about the generic New Women’s Press 1981, for a full a wide range from government most interested. Neither, for in­ discussion of alternatives to "man” and bodies like the Human Rights nature of the word “man” I found the necessity for them. stance, went fully enough into the both references to “one man Commission and Maori Affairs, content of her works and talked shows” in a book about a woman Below: Robin White photograph­ through conservative groups like about things like the recurring buz- artist irritating and unnecessarily ed at Portobello by Robin Pacifica to such radical groups as zy bee image. Gordon Brown distracting.1 Is there anything Morrison. Waitangi Action Committee discusses the formal aspects of her wrong with saying, “one woman Right: To Honour Women’s Day, (WAC). If you ever needed a con­ work in detail and takes her shows" or “individual shows” or listed in 1983/84 Anti-racsim tact name, address or phone seriously as an artist. He also com­ “solo shows” or “one artist Catalogue. number, you’ll probably find it ments on the inspiration she found shows”? Far Right: Rebecca West. here. in the life of Rita Angus and con­ cludes his essay with a quotation from Robin White: “I looked at her (Angus) and thought, if she can do it, so can l”. I wonder, however if Gordon Brown would have made the following comment if the artist had been a man: “Like a good housekeeper Robin White manages her images so they are kept to their places.” (p30) I did like what he had to say about the portraits: “If Robin White’s por­ traits are notable for their poignant spatial detachment, they are also possessors of psychological detach­ ment. Although the artist has stated that the people who inhabit her paintings are friends for whom she has “a special feeling”, it is more by inference that this fact can be established. In the portraits the sitters are never impenetrable as people, but rarely is any indica­ tion given, as in the hint of a smile on Claudia's face, that a special relationship with the artist ex­ ists. . . this dual formal and psychological detachment never allows her portraits to become completely public”.

42 Broadsheet, October 1983 on middle-class women, written in 1912, titled “Women who are Parasites”, another on the Criminal Law Amendment Bill which is aimed to deal with the White Slave Traffic also in 1912 titled “The Archbishop’s Blood Lust”. They read wonderfully. West also wrote many book reviews and it was through her reviews of books by H. G. Wells that she met him. She reviewed fic­ tion and non-fiction. Many of the books are now forgotten but it is interesting to read reviews of writers who have survived — D. H. Lawrence, Arnold Bennett, Ford Madox Ford among others. 1 « i Her greatest invective is reserved j m f j for Mrs Humphrey Ward, a best­ BBB h ' y x, j selling novelist, and the dramatist, August Strindberg. In a 1912 review she dissected him without I t l \ W * * J j P mercy: “Writers on the subject of August Strindberg have hitherto omitted to mention that he could not write. His vain face, with the hot angry eyes, the little lustful mouth, the rumpled forehead and sharp peevish chin, proclaims he Jiad neither the strength nor the humour to become an artist.” Because the struggle for the vote was taking place during these years, many of her articles are * about the manoeuvrings of politi­ cians, the treatment of suffragists and the popular definitions of women’s place in society. West did not always agree with the Pankhursts’ tactics and had the honesty to say so. There is an essay on Mrs Pankhurst in this The catalogue is stronger on THE YOUNG REBECCA, in 1937, a study of Yugoslavia, book, “A Reed of Steel” publish­ North Island and especially and The Meaning of Treason* ed in 1933, which gives a balanc­ Auckland material than further Writings of Rebecca published in 1949, a brilliant study ed and perceptive assessment of South and lists some interesting West, 1911-1917, of British traitors from Lord Haw the suffragette leader. West’s style is direct and confident with a sounding theses and material held Ed. Jane Marcus,_____ Haw to Burgess, MacLean and in places like the Auckland Philby. She lived according to her marvellous choice of metaphor. University Library. The catalogue Virago 1982, $18.50~ feminist principles, gaining The following extract from “The thoughtfully explains how to go notoriety in her twenties by her af­ Fate of the Drudge”, a 1913 about getting information from One section of this book is entitl­ fair with H. G. Wells to whom she response to a Strindberg short TV, radio and newspapers and ed “Battleaxe and Scalping Knife” had a son in 1914. story, shows it at its best. how to use libraries and and that very neatly sums up the The articles in this book are “Now, I should not mind being bookshops. writings of Rebecca West. Not for presented in chronological order, some sort of animal. I should love Of course there are omissions. her the soft approach or concern first for socialist publications. The to be a cat, and lie in a basket by I couldn’t find any listings of for easily ruffled male feelings. She Clarion and The Freewoman, and the fire all day and go out on the valuable books like Anne Sal- is forthright in her attack on the later for the Daily News, tiles all night. And the life of a mond’s Hui and Amiria, nor Dick ills of her day and merciless in ex­ mouthpiece for the Liberal Party. tiger seems attractive; even in cap­ Scott’s Ask that Mountain, nor posing the hypocrisies and pre­ In them she shows a remarkable tivity. It must be great fun to could I find The Maori Women’s judices of her victims. She gives no breadth of reading and political escape from a menagerie and liven Welfare League listed. quarter. knowledge for such a young up a rural district. But the animal However ARM wants to up­ West was bom Cicily Fairfield woman. Her stance on women’s life that the Eugenics Society date and republish the catalogue, in 1892 to cultured but not issues and the need for socialism orders women to lead is not near­ so it’s up to us to fill in the gaps. wealthy parents. She had no in Britain was clearly stated from ly so amusing as that. If a woman’s As I understand it ARM have on­ university education but read the time she started publishing at husband is rich she must lead the ly printed a small run of their widely. As she had to earn a liv­ the age of 19. Because many of the cloying life of a prize pedigree pig. catalogues, but hope, if they sell ing she took to journalism at 18, articles are responses to the And if she is poor she must live the them, to print more. So get in writing first for a socialist journal, political issues of the time — the quickly, every home should have The Freewoman. Her pen name suffragist struggle, the white slave one!D came from an Ibsen character, he traffic, divorce, the behaviour of Sandra Coney being a playwright she greatly ad­ the Liberal Party — the reader Available from Broadsheet, or mired. During a very long life, she with a knowledge of the period has write to 1983/84 Anti-Racism published articles, book reviews, an advantage but even without, Catalogue, ARM, Auckland fiction and non-fiction books, the the articles are enormously en­ University Students Association, best known of which are Black joyable. She attacks with great Private Bag, Auckland. Lamb and Grey Falcon published vigour — for example, an article

Broadsheet, October 1983 *3 life of a pit pony in a district un­ to be closed down. The 45 women inspected by the RSPCA. For she workers as a response to redun­ is to be debarred from all activity dancy notices occupied the factory save the organisation of her home — a daring move in this conser­ life. This means that if she has any vative township. They received no money she will hire specialised support from the unions and little workers to,do her domestic work from the local community. The and be idle herself. And if she is book briefly documents the poor she will live in a rabbit-hutch group’s four year struggle to sur­ handsomely provided with an un­ vive and its final collapse. The workable kitchen-range, for which women involved were mainly she will not be able to buy anough from working-class agricultural fuel, and try to make her family backgrounds with little education happy and comfortable by and no managerial skills. The pro­ adulterated food and shoddy blems they encountered were part­ clothing. To this existence, which ly due to their own lack of skills is all that industrialism has left of and experience but mainly because the domestic life, anti-feminists of a chronic shortage of work, un­ desire to consecrate woman.” profitable contracts, lack of work­ There is one fiction piece in this ing capital and exploitation by the book; a short story called “In­ business community. What help dissoluble Matrimony” which tells they did receive was both insuf- of an unhappy couple who see no fient and inappropriate. way out of their misery, divorce Behind the clinical appraisal of the of course being almost impossible Fakenham Co-operative I could at that time. I found it rather over­ not help but feel that there was an done. The virtues of her jour­ exciting human interest story of nalistic style do not transfer com­ women’s struggle against impossi­ fortably into fiction and her inten­ ble odds in a male-dominated ex­ sity and overstatement jar. But ploitative society. The field work that’s a minor criticism. for the book was done in the dy­ This book should restore West’s ing days of the co-operative and reputation to rank her with the this no doubt contributed ed to the very best of English journalists. somewhat depressing impression She is exhilarating to read and has conveyed by the book. It is never­ Above: Fakenham Co-operative, 1972 (TASS Journal). Centre: Joan the ability to cut to the heart of theless an interesting and useful Harnett with six of the 1969 NZ Netball team. Below: Ruia Morrison. an issue with speed and accuracy. account of an heroic attempt by a group of British working class Her fearlessness and ability with Star. She would seem to be the with Dorothy Simons before she women to gain control of their language are superb. For Rebec­ ideal person to write about went to print, or she’d caught up ca West at her best, read “The No­ lives. Judy Wajcman concluded women’s sport. Indeed, this book with it. For the book is full of sex­ ble Art” published in the Daily from her study that the women’s is scrupulously researched and full ist stereotypes about women and Herald June 1912, a short essay experience of working in the of essential details about each the sort of idiot cliches about on politics which appears at the Fakenham co-operative had no ef­ woman’s career. Each woman is women that could have trivialis- end of the book. Jane Marcus, the fect on the traditional role model given about 10 pages, so the pro­ ed the sportswomen had not their of the family. □ editor, has done an excellent job files have room to be quite full. magnificent accomplishments Nancy Hay in restoring to us one of the great Simons’ journalistic style is lively lifted them above it. So we’re told feminists of this century.□ ’available from Broadsheet and easy-to-read so it’s ap­ that Joan Harnett, netball champ, Helen Watson proachable also for school is “not just a pretty face”, that she * available from Broadsheet NEW ZEALAND’S students. There are a good number was “the glamour girl of New of black and white photographs Zealand’s most popular winter CHAMPION______WOMEN IN CONTROL.!" too so we can see the women in sport”, even her measurements are SPORTSWOMEN, action and at their winning given. The book is littered with ex­ Dilemmas of a Workers Dorothy Simons,______moments. amples like these. Even a decent Co-operative,______But, oh dear! How I wish the editor should have pruned these Moa Publications 1982, Judy Wajcman,______feminist movement had caught up petty insults out. $ 1 8 .9 5 *______Unfortunately too, Simons Open University Press, totally side-steps the issue of sport 1983, $19.95* New Zealand women needed a with South Africa which has af­ book about our sportswomen. We fected a number of these sports­ Judy Wajcman’s book is based on have had so many inspiring sports­ women. Jockey Linda Jones talks research she did for a PhD thesis women in numerous fields but about South Africa lovingly, the at Cambridge University. The pur­ with a few exceptions they have only thing she disliked about Cape pose of the book was to explore battled and won their victories Town was going up Table Moun­ the extent to which the women’s without public accolades. Even tain in a cable car — she doesn’t experience of participation in a when our sports teams have been like heights! Absolutely the worst workers’ co-operative affected the best in the world — hockey distortion this avoidance produces their politcal consciousness and and netball, for instance — they is in the piece on Maori tennis carried over into their home lives. have rarely been accorded more player Ruia Morrison. Her state­ The group whose history she than the scantiest notice in the ment that: “I’d have loved to have traces as the ill-fated Fakenham press. By contrast, even the most gone to South Africa when Robin, Workers’ Co-operative. The co­ abject defeat of an All Black rugby Judy O’Connor and Marilyn went operative evolved as a response to side is scrutinised in tedious detail. during their overseas circuit, but the closure of a satellite factory Dorothy Simons is a sports it was not to be” is simply not ex­ that made shoe components for a writer with a long career. She has plored or explained. Maori women larger factory. When the shoe in­ been plugging women’s sport since are not well represented in the dustry in Britain contracted in she started writing and is current­ book. Ruia and Neti Traill (table 1972 the Fakenham section was ly a sports writer for the Auckland tennis) are the only two Maori

44 Broadsheet, October 1983 women included, despite the ma­ female, mostly young (school jor contribution Maori women leavers) women. I wondered about have made to many sports, wages, training, conditions of especially netball and softball. employment. Why also, when the However, as a resource book it children are mostly Maori or is the best we have and it has Polynesian, are the staff almost many strengths. If you want to always white. know about some of the champs Health camps have been and New Zealand has produced in are an important part of child athletics, badminton, bowls, health in New Zealand. Important cricket, fencing, golf, gymnastics, because they exist and are used ex­ hockey, netball, paraplegic sport, tensively by social/health agencies. racing, soccer, softball, swimming, The politics of this “importance” table tennis and tennis, Champion should have been addressed in this Sportswomen provides a lot of in­ book. The issues of class and social formation. While some of the control, of punishment of children women included — Allison Roe, who differ, are never raised in this Eve Rimmer and Linda Jones — book. An adequate assessment of are well known, many of these them is overdue. Unfortunately, women have had to run second to O’Connor) From All Good Children this book is not that assessment. □ the boys. It’s a privilege to meet health issues and her speech con­ ALL GOOD CHILDREN Sarah Calvert them .n tains a devastating catalogue of Sandra Coney Terry O’Connor and Maori health statistics. “Being THE NETS,______* Available from Broadsheet bookshop Katherine Findlay, Maori”, Donna states “is a high Sheelagh Kanelli, at the special price of $13.95. risk occupation” and she gives all Photo Forum, 1983 the statistics to show how this is The W om en’s Press, NATIONAL WOMEN’S so. This pictorial account of children’s 1983, $8.95* ~ HEALTH CONFERENCE Other papers look at mental health camps has been much prais­ health, PMT, violence against ed in the media. However, anyone A biographical note on Sheelagh REPORT, NZ Woman’s women, menstruation and other with a political perspective will be Kanelli tells that in 1974 she Health Network,______subjects and contain brief feminist disappointed for the book lacks helped to found a Women’s Rights statements on these topics. any political analysis of the issues Movement in Kalamata, in 1983, $1.00 The rest of the booklet holds that are clearly raised by the need Greece. That year marked the end less interest. I hadn’t heard Nor­ for such camps. of the Greek Dictatorship of the Leaving aside any queries l might ma Swenson’s speech so was glad The political perspective of the - Colonel and the political undercur­ have about spending money left to get the chance to read it but I book is best illustrated by the rents of that time come out strong­ over from the 1982 National felt her interview in Broadsheet following quotes: ly in the theme of the book. For Women’s Health Conference and was more stimulating than this “Almost half (the children) instance, she writes: “But a child scarcely available grant money on speech. Perhaps it’s lost something come from broken homes”; cannot grasp the idea of future yet another conference report, the in the change of medium. The “mother alcoholic” (nowhere does while an adult knows it is an illu­ report of last year’s Women’s workshop reports are brief and ap­ it mention “father alcoholic”). The sion. It is the same with feedom. Health Conference contains some pear a bit redundant, but with camp director welcomes the It is only that the absence of useful material. The report is in sometimes useful resources listed. children in the following way: freedom is more terrible.” (p8) four sections: presentations from The remits at the end of the “How many mouths have you The plot is deceptively simple the professional symposium, book largely deal with issues of got? and is based on a real-life incident: keynote speech from US guest racism reflecting the controversy “One. on a school excursion to the sea, Norma Swenson, reports from the that raged at the conference “How many ears? 2 1 schoolgirls are drowned when workshops, and resources, remits following challenges by Maori “Two. their hired boat over-turns. After and feedback. women about the structure and “Well that means you have to the accident various people try to The speeches from the profes­ content of the conference. This listen twice as much as you talk”. decide who is to blame, and sional symposium contain the has not at all been adequately The implications of his com­ wonder about a mysterious most useful material. Lyn Gilmore covered in this booklet. There are ment that “ all children are good woman who has come to the and Judith Madarasz give valuable mentions of it in the feedback children and most respond to a village for a holiday and succeeds data from their 12 month survey from participants, but there is no positive approach” are not address­ in saving three of the girls lives of 90% of Hamilton'GPs, cover­ reportage of what happened, nor ed by the book. All the children’s before she disappears. ing 9,648 consultations. They of the specific criticisms. The omis­ comments have come from the Ms Kanelli’s clear prose style looked at who went, what for, sion of a response or statement “positive pile” and the text is and the book’s 125 pages of large diagnoses, treatment given, con­ from the conference organisers is sugary: “the serene eight hectare type mean that it could be read at traceptives prescribed. This is a serious one. I feel they had a site,” “the generous playing fields,” one sitting, yet I feel the story thorough and important research, responsiblity to future conference yet the photos show children who deserves more attention than its giving such information, for in­ organisers (on any subject) to are clearly unhappy, fearful, out length suggests. The imagery she stance as the fact that 6% of single report on the criticisms and give of place. uses is both effective and original. Pakeha women, but 31 % of single suggestions for what could have Many of the children (most of In the village after the accident: Maori women were prescribed been done differently. Disabled the photos are accurate) are Maori “The days passed. This truism has Depo Provera, the contraceptive women have given their views on or Polynesian, most are a particular truth of its own when injection. This experience supports necessary resources to meet their economically disadvantaged, but one day seems to refuse to let the feminists’ contention that racism needs; this is now available for the this is never discussed in the text. other days come, pulls each day is a strong factor in the administra­ future. Some analysis of the I get the impression that health back stickily into itself, so that tion of Depo. Phillida Bunkle’s ma­ charges of racism would have camps are a continuation of the finally you wonder if ever there jor speech looked at the politics of enabled a better effort to have missionary mentality, of “service will be a large enough space of Depo and is a major feminist state­ been made in the future. to the unfortunates”, of cleanliness time between you and that day.” ment on this subject. It’s in­ Another ommission — who and other white middle class The reader is encouraged to teresting to note that one of the organised the conference? We are virtues. make her own judgement as dif­ conference remits called for the nowhere told who the anonymous Although the book is not clear ferent characters give their own in­ banning of Depo in New Zealand conference organisers were, nor about this, it would seem that the terpretations of the accident. The and worldwide. Donna Awatere who edited the booklet. □ camp director is usually male (and events leading up to the hiring of talked about Maori women’s Sandra Coney white). Most of the “labour” is the boat are described from the

Broadsheet, October 1983 45 viewpoint of the schoolgirls, while easy to read. I found this a Writing. This is an autobiography bohemian but decides to train as the accident itself is seen through refreshing approach. of the woman feminists have often a psychiatric social worker, and the eyes of the village priest, whose Chris Atmore been accused of being — the finds her different roles conflicting. character symbolises the role of or­ white, middle-class intellectual. In doubts about her relationship Christiana Kanellakapouioa thodox religion. However, Elizabeth Wilson makes with her lover, and her lesbianism, The author gives glimpses of the no excuses for the way she writes she enters psychoanalysis. position of women in Greek socie­ and instead gives some valuable in­ She becomes caught up in the ty, both urban and rural. The sights into experiences many of us hippy culture of the sixties and fisherman must get his sister mar­ have shared. then Gay Liberation Front activi­ ried, “There was nothing else a girl ty where she finally feels identity Mirror Writing begins with could do, otherwise she would as a lesbian through the splitting childhood in Britain in the 1930s, become an old maid, laughed at off of the women’s group. then moves to the writer’s and queer in the head.”(p38) However in feminism she still finds adolescence where she tries to find there are no easy answers to the This view contrasted with the her personality through the nar­ question of her real self. actions of the strange woman from cissism of fashion. Her attitudes to I found this a fairly difficult the city who comes into a culture early feminists are contrasted to book to read, mainly due to Ms where she has no place. the 1940s conservatism towards Wilson’s frequent use of literary Although the reader meets anything as radical as women’s references which meant very little many of the girls on the boat, we rights. She describes herself as a to me. Her style also needs concen­ never learn which three are sav­ “cultural snob” who becomes a tration to follow but the images ed. Ms Kanelli wants to use the left-wing intellectual out of revul­ she creates are well worth the ef­ story of the accident to make a sion for the alternatives, and she fort. The book is not just a per­ more general comment on the enters university with this new sonal search for identity as it also nature of Greek society at the identity. An affair with a woman reflects on how complex and time: “People began to shake MIRROR WRITING: An leaves her further confused as she unresolved that search may be. feels she should identify as themselves out of the torpor or Autobiography,______There are some very thought coma, began to realise what they masculine or feminine but finds Elizabeth Wilson, provoking views on Gay Libera­ were in danger of becoming for the the boundaries blurred. The tion politics and the women’s true horror of dictatorship lies not Virago Press, 1982, material she reads on lesbianism movement. Ms Wilson believes in the dramatic cruelties but in the $ 1 1 .9 5 * doesn’t fit in with her romantic that women coming into the daily erosion of the individual will view until she starts to read feminist movement are bringing to make decisions and accept “When I began to write this book Proust. with them a “heightened and frac­ responsibility.” (p98) I had a dream in which I was look­ Her time at Oxford is an ironic tured sense of individual identity” There are no “good” or “bad” ing through a window at a park. and depressing account of belong­ when in fact they must develop a characters but only individual peo­ The window was veiled with a net ing to the “in” crowd — who had “collective subjectivity which ple, each with their own views curtain. In the park which seem­ “the identity of the civilised mid­ allows for difference and moulded by their position, yet ed at one moment near, at the next dle class”. It is not until she takes diversity”. there is a sense of the underlying far away, was a loved friend. I was a vacation job in a girls’ home that To me these thoughts made menace of faceless authorities who she encounters ways of thinking trying to get from behind the win­ Mirror Writing not only challeng­ need a scapegoat. dow into the park, to where she totally different to her own, and ing but strongly relevant to Ms Kanelli’s treatment of her she emerges from this in an “ideal was.” feminist thinking today. □ subject on both personal and lesbian relationship”. The theme of trying to get back Chris Atmore political levels make the novel a in order to find the real self is Elizabeth now searches for iden­ powerful statement but it remains strong throughout Mirror tity as a writer and sophisticated * Available from Broadsheet

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46 Broadsheet, October 1983 HUNTLY THAMES Huntly Women’s Group, Cl- Judy Wilson, Rover Road, Huntly. WEL, Cl- Alyson De Boer, 102 The Terrace, Thames. DIRECTORY INVERCARGILL AUCKLAND TOKOROA SOS, PO Box 676, Invercargill, Ph 86-648. WEL, Cl- Lynne Holder, 35 Tarapunga Place. Action Council for Women's Abortion Rights (ACWAR), PO Box 1236, Southland Women's Support Group, PO Box 676, Invercargill. Auckland, 1. WEL, PO Box 676, Invercargill. UPPER HUTT ALRANZ, PO Box 33-135, Takapuna. WEL Newsletter Edita, Judy Taylor, 36 Park St, Invercargill, Ph 84-370. Upper Valley Family Refuge Centre, PO Box 40-051, Upper Hutt, Ph Bitches, Witches & Dykes, PO Box 68-570, Newton. 257-997. Broadsheet, PO Box 5799, Wellesley Street, Ph 794-751. LOWER HUTT Council for the Single Mother and Her Child, PO Box 47-090, Ponson- Lower Hutt Family Refuge, PO Box 31-073, Lower Hutt, Ph 695-227 WANGANUI by, Ph 760-476. or 692-541. Wanganui Women's Network, C/- 76a Koromiko Rd, Wanganui. Family Planning Association, National Office, PO Box 68-200, Auckland. Media Women, PO Box 275, Wellington. WONAAC, 56 Parsons St, Wanganui, PH 42-291, 44-939. Feminists for the Environment, Cl- Kathleen Ryan, Ph 868-399. WHAKATANE Feminist Lawyers (Nationwide) Cl- Linda Daly-Peoples, Ph 688-139. MARLBOROUGH/BLENHEIM SOS, PO Box 3049, Ohope, Ph, Whakatane 84-331. Feminist Teachers, PO Box 47-095, Auckland. NOW Marlborough Inc, PO Box 607, Blenheim. Whakatane Women's Collective, PO Box 3049, Ohope, Ph Ohope 757 Half-Way House, PO Box 78-016, Grey Lynn, Ph 767-635. Marlborough Emergency Refuge, PO Box 607, Blenheim. Ph 84099. SOS, PO Box 607, Blenheim. or Ohope 265. HELP, Counselling for Victims of Sexual Assault, Ph 399-185, 24hr service. MASTERTON WHANGAREI Hine Tu Kaha, Women's Health Centre, 63 Ponsonby Road, Auckland, WEL, PO Box 201, Masterton, Penny Bunny, Ph 88-835. NOW and WEL, PO Box 429 4 , Kamo. 1, Incest Counselling. Rape Crisis Group, PO Box 4294, Kamo, Ph 71-537. International Feminist Network (ISIS), 663B Te Atatu Road, Auckland, 8. NAPIERfHASTINGS Whangarei Women’s Centre, 1 st Floor, 5 Vine St, Whangarei, Ph 89-920. Ph 8 3 4-6629, Napier Women’s Emergency Centre, PO Box 676, Napier. Ph 436-515. Jig-Saw, PO Box 28037, Remuera, Auckland, 5. Ph 543-460. Hastings Women's Emergency Centre, PO Box 328, Hastings. WELLINGTON Lesbian Support Group, 7pm Mondays. Ph 888-325 SOS, 28 Bristol St, Napier, Ph 438-484; 6 00 Gordon St, Hastings, PH Access Radio, Ph 721-777. Mediawomen, Cl- Angela Griffen, PO Box 6860, Auckland, Ph 794-179. 68-642. Advisory Committee on Women's Affairs, State Services Commission, NOW, PO Box 2946, Auckland. WEL, Cl- 10 Bay View Road, Napier. Private Bag, Wellington, 3rd Floor, National Provident Fund Building, 1 Papakura Womens's Support Centre, 12 Dominion Road, Papakura, Ph: The Terrace, Wellington, Ph 722-834. 2 9 9-9466. NELSON/MOTUEKA/GOLDEN BAY ALRANZ, PO Box 19-052, Wellington, Ph 758-450. ALRANZ, PO Box 476, Nelson. Rape Crisis, Ph 7 64-404 Circle Magazine, PO Box 427, Wellington. Onekaka Feminist Front, Liz Thomas, Washbourn Road, Onekaka, RD SOS, PO Box 47-090, Auckland, Ph 766-386. Cl- Committee on Women and Education, Education Department, 2, Takaka. South Auckland Women's Refuge, PO Box 22-036, Otahuhu Continuing Education (Vic) Beverley Morris Ph 758-677 Nelson Women's Emergency Centre, PO Box 832. Ph Lifeline 87566. Supportline for Abused Women, PO Box 6450, Wellesley St, Ph 794-482 Feminist Ubrarians, Cl- Treasurer Chris Dodd, Cataloguing Dept, National WEL, 7 Rogan St, Hillsborough. Nelson Women's Centre, 94 Collingwood St, Nelson, Ph 8 9874 Library, Private Bag, Wellington or Kathleen Johnson, NZ Meteorological Womanline, 63 Ponsonby Road, Auckland 2, Ph 765-173. Hrs: SOS, 47 Mt Pleasant Ave, Ph 84-099. Service Library, PO Box 722, Wellington. 11am-8.30pm, Mon-Fri. Telephone listening information and referral WEL, PO Box 145, Motueka. Kate Light, Ph 89-482 (h): Lower Moutere Lesbian Line, Ph 851-101 Tues and Thurs 7-10pm, C/o Lesbian Cen­ service. 775 (bus). tre, PO Box 427, Wellington. Women's Community Video, Cl- Bellwood Ave, Auckland, 3. WEL, Cl- Patsi McGrath, Todds Valley, Nelson RD 1. Feminists in Social Service, Trish Hall (W) 721-000, (H) 842-152. Women's Health Centre, SOS, 63 Ponsonby Rd, Ph 764-506. Working Women's Council, Cl- Verna Sutherland, 18 Dorset St, Richmond, Hecate Women’s Health Collective, 287 (Back Flat) Cuba Street, Open Nelson, Ph RD 6434. Women's Studies Association NZ, PO Box 5067, Auckland. Tues and Wed afternoons Ph 842-732 WIN, Newsletter of the Women’s Movement in Nelson, Community Working Women's Council, PO Box 68-480, Newton. Cl- Kidsarus 2, PO Box 9600, Wellington. Education, 324 Hardy St, Nelson (or Women’s Centre). West Auckland Women’s Refuge, PO Box 45-063, Ph 836-4 1 1 9 ,1 0 -4 , Cl- NZ Working Women's Council, PO Box 27-215, Wellington. After hours Ph 836-9099. NEW PLYMOUTH NgaTuahine, Cl- PetaSiulepa, 17 Aro St, Wellington, Rape Counselling. Spiral, PO Box 9600, Wellington. SOS, 9 Te Mara Place, Ph 84-937. BAY OF ISLANDS Wellington Rape Crisis Centre, PO Box 11-389, GPO Wellington, Ph Virago Women’s Action Group, 71 Bayly Rd, PO Box 4030. WEL, Cl- Eileen Birch, PO Box 46, Rawene, Northland. 898-288. WEL, Cl- Vicki Dugan, 112 Pioneer Rd, 510-869. Society for Reserach on Women in NZ Inc. PO Box 13-078, Johnsonville. CHRISTCHURCH Women’s Centre, 66 Brougham St, New Plymouth, Ph 79-532. SOS, PO Box 28-099, Wellington. ALRANZ, PO Box 13-129, Armagh St. The Women's Place (feminist bookshop), 289 Cuba Steet, PO Box 19086, Christchurch Rape Crisis Centre, Ph 66742 or 66743. 24hr telephone PALMERSON NORTH/MANAWATU Wellington, Ph 851-802. counselling 794-793 ALRANZ, PO Box 639, Palmerston North. Palmerston North Women's Refuge, PO Box 573, Ph 72-057. WEL, PO Box 11-285, Wellington. Christchurch Rape Crisis Group, Doreen Green, Ph 858-088 (h), 72-166 SOS, 25 Alan Street, Palmerston North, Ph 75-460. > Wellington Lesbians, PO Box 427, Wellington, Ph 851-540. (w). WEL (Levin), Gay Stewart, 7 Stuart St, Levin. Wellington Women Against the Cuts, Hazel Armstrong, 56 Maidavale Rd, Canterbury Regional Women's Decade Committee, PO Box 237, Cl- or phone 846-727 (Work) Christchurch. PARAPARAUMU Wellington Women's Refuge Group, PO Box 16-079, Courtenay Place, Coalition Against Violence on Women, Penny Owen, PO Box 884, Ph WEL, PO Box 1491, Paraparaumu Beach Ph 736-280. 794-491. WISE (Women in Schools and Education), PO Box 11-724, Wellington. NOW, PO Box 2720, Ph 881-030. ROTORUA Women Against Violence Against Women, PO Box 475, Wellington. Patients’ Rights Group, PO Box 33-117, Barrington, Christchurch 2. WEL, Cl- J M Young, 46 Elizabeth St, Rotorua. Women's Refuge. R. Good (W) 721-253 SOS, PO Box 884, Ph 796-970. Rotorua Women’s Refuge, PO Box 1652, Ph 476-210. Women's Studies Wellington, Heather Roberts (H) 757-543, (W) University Women's Group, Student Union Building, Private Bag, TAUPO 737-800. Christchurch. SOS, 8 Taupo View Rd, Taupo. WONAAC, PO Box 2669, Wellington. WEL, Cl- Paddy Austin, 82 Hinau Street, Riccarton. Values Women's Network, Ph 797-611. Women's Refuge Centre, PO Box 7299, Ph 69-187. TAURANGA Women Against the Sexual Abuse of Children, PO Box 3260, Wellington Women's Union, PO Box 2258, Christchurch. Bay of Plenty Women's Refuge. Cl- PO Box 753, Tauranga, Ph 84-012. Women's Action Group Cl- Victoria University. Battered Women's Support Group, PO Box 2720, GPO, Christchurch. NZ Women's Health Network Newsletter, Cl- Sarah Calvert, PO Box 2312, Women's Coffee Shop, 287 Cuba St, 1 1am-5.30pm daily. WONAAC, 154 Colombo St, Ph 33-254 Tauranga. 1 Women's Gallery, 323 Willis St, Wellington, PO Box 9600, Courtenay Working Women's Council, PO Box 738, Christchurch. SOS, 20 Oban Rd, PO Box 368, Tauranga. Ph 89-698 Place, Ph 850-179. THAW. The Health Alternative for Women (Inc SOS) Cnr Peterborough Tauranga Women's Centre, PO Box 368, Tauranga, 42 Grey St (in Govt Women's Rights Action Committee, NZ Students’ Association, PO Box and Montreal Sts., Ph 796-970 (Office hours), PO Box 884, Christchurch Life Bldge), Ph 83-530. 9047, Courtenay Place. 1. WEL, 103 Grange Rd, Tauranga; Ph 63-260. Wellington Federation of University Women, PO Box 2006, Wellington. Kate Sheppard Womens Bookshop, 202A High St. TE AWAMUTU The Women's Place Feminist Bookshop, 289 Cuba St, Wellington. DUNEDIN Te Awamutu Feminists, 111 Hazelmere Cres, Ph 44 8 5 , Carol Lamb. Media Women PO Box 275, Wellington. ALRANZ, PO Box 1289, Dunedin. 20 Thorncombe Rd, Ph 5901, June Bright. YWCA Recreation Officer. Ph 850-505 Dunedin Community Childcare Centre, 86 Elm Row, Ph 77 0 9 5 0 Dunedin Family Day Care Centre, 76 Russell St, Ph 777-926 Dunedin Collective for Women, PO Box 446, Dunedin. Dunedin Lesbian Line, Ph 778-765 Mon 7-1 Opm Dunedin Rape Crisis Centre, Room 6, Regent Chambers, Octagon, PO Box 5424, Dunedin, Ph 741-592. « ^ C o l l e g e Dunedin Women's Refuge, PO Box 8Q44, Ph 771-229. LMDG — Lesbian Mother's Defence (Support Group for Gay and Lesbian Women), PO Box 11-009, Musselburgh, Dunedin, & + 6 SOS, Knowhow, PO Box 446, Ph 775-502 or 36 -2 8 4 after hours. Working Women’s Council, PO Box 5311, Dunedin. £ < ? / GISBORNE & Gisborne Rape Crisis Centre, PO Box 1398, Ph 83-857. Gisborne Women's Refuge, PO Box 1398, Ph 81-788. @ 7 Lesbian Women's Group, PO Box 1398, Ph 81576. % NOW, 3 Dickson St, Gisborne. SOS, 37 Wairere Road, PO Box 1398, Ph 81576, WEL, PO Box 282, Gisborne, Ph 81-407. Working Women’s Council, Cl- Margaret McQuillan, 6 Ida Rd, Ph 88-291. c/> GORE K Working Women’s Council, Cl- Sue Crawford, 1 Viking Place, Gore, Ph HOME STUDIES FOR 1984 5370. GREYMOUTH WEL, 7 Domain Tee, Karoro, Greymouth. Herbal Consultants Course . . . Diploma Course HAMILTON Herbalism for the home herbalist . . . Certificate Cambridge Feminist Group, Cl- Wendy Ennis, 33 Shakespeare Rd, Cambridge. The basics of herbalism Hamilton Feminist Teachers, Cl- Shirley Smith, 92 McFarlane St, Hamilton, Ph 67-491. Nutrition, bodycare and herbalism in the 20th century Hamilton Women's Centre, PO Box 7025, Subway Shops, Claudelands Introduction to naturopathy Bridge. Rape Crisis, PO Box 1560, Hamilton, Ph 80055, 6 pm - 6 am. Study in your own home at your own pace. SOS, 155 Galloway St, Ph 65-474. WEL, PO Box 9581, Hamilton North. For Free Brochure Write to or Phone: Women’s Studies Resource Centre, University of Waikato, Hamilton. Working Women's Council, Cl- Barbara Ware, PO Box 80, Hamilton. THE AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF HERBAL STUDIES National Office, Working Women's Council, PO Box 14-042, Enderley, Hamilton. P.O. BOX 4451, Auckland. Phone 728-691

Broadsheet, October 1983 47 GIFT TOKENS r7 ASTROLOGICAL^, “THIS CARD ENTITLES YOU TO BOOKS, CALENDAR SHIRTS OR BADGES TO THE VALUE OF 1984 $ ...... FROM THE Women's T BROADSHEET BOOKSHOP, 1ST FLOOR, £ T5 43 ANZAC AVENUE, AUCKLAND.” h* Bookshop Ltd O Available from Broadsheet. 202A High St, Ph 790-784 WANTED: Ergometrically sound office Christchurch, NZ. chair for ailing editor. Gift or loan Weekdays 10.30 am - 5.30 pm gratefully received. Contact Sandra Friday 9 pm Send $5.50 to Tollemjche Rd E, Hastings. Coney Broadsheet Phone 794-751 FEMINIST, LESBIAN-FEMINIST- THEORY, FICTION, POETRY, Grass-hopper Services THERAPEUTIC HEALTH, MAGAZINES, CARDS, Lawn ai d Garden Maintenance POSTERS, RECORDS, JEWELLERY Phone Anne 818-6482 Auckland MASSAGE for backache, headache, emotional stress and relaxation.

Phone Judith Lloyd \ Judith Abrahams B.A.(Hons) 605-227 of National Mutual T & G would like to offer women her SAPPHO THE WOMENS PLACE services in the field of: Superannuation WOMIN’S All types of insurance WORK (Feminist Bookshop) Recommendations made after CO-OP 289 Cuba St, PO Box 19086 discussion of individual needs. Wellington. Ph 851-802 Gib-boarding, Gib-stop­ Tel: 543-965 evenings ping, Wallpapering and Hours: 11 am — 5.30pm Painting, Lino Laying, Late night Fridays, Sat 10-1 pm Gardening and LESBIAN SOCIAL GROUP Section Clearing. Coffee evenings and outings For FREE quotes in the RECORDS - BOOKS - POSTERS Write to LSG, Box 44-167 CARDS — MAGAZINES — BADGES Auckland area phone Pt Chevalier, Auckland. Lyn 764-115. T-SHIRTS — STAINED GLASS. .

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