RINGING UP KIDS-REPORT, A WOMAN’S LIFE

DALE SPENDER - WOMAN OF IDEAS ALIX DOBKIN - LOVING LESBIANS UZZLE POLITICAL CONTROVERSIAL UNCOMPROMISING

BROADSHEET ♦C*0*N^T*E^N*T ♦ S ♦

MAY ISSUE 158 1988

FEATURES 17 Love Women or Die Interview with Alix Dobkin Pat Rosier 21 Is There Sex After Childbirth? Post-natal libido Reprint 24 Dale Spender - Woman of Ideas The woman and her work Alison Jones 28 The Rape of Tibet Genocide in Asia Dianne Cadwallader 34 Bringing Up the Kids A report and a woman’s story Pat Rosier!Anonymous 38 Policing Pornography Not the way to go All a nah Ryan REGULARS 2 Herspective 3 Letters and Fronting Up 5 Broadcast Judge Sinclair Your Prejudice is Showing 0 The Modern Witch­ hunt 0 Women's Health Survey 0 Wanted - Women. Women, Women 0 Poverty is Global 0 Unbalanced Banking 0 Women in Eritrea 8 In Brief 33 What’s New 36 On The Shelf 47 The Gripes of Roth 48 Classified

40 ARTS Mary Kay, review and interview 0 Barbara Kruger, review and interview

THE PROBLEM OF PORNOGRAPHY 32 BROADSHEET

BROADSHEET is published by Broadsheet Magazine Ltd, P O Box 56-147, Dominion Rd, Auckland. Registered Office: 228 Dominion Rd, Auckland. Editorial, Office and Bookshop phone (09) 608535 Advertising and Art department (09) 607162 y mother used to buy Broadsheet feminism, as a woman of Indian descent when I was a child, and I remember bom in Aotearoa, will differ from the femi­ M nisms of Maori women, and from the femi­ BROADSHEET COLLECTIVE Sharon Alston, looking through it avidly, cutting up ar­ Jan Cowan, Edith Gorringe, Tanya Hopman, ticles and pictures to use in school projects. nisms of Pakeha women. Caro! Jillsun, Claire-Louise McCurdy, We lived in a South Auckland suburb To me feminism is an ideology that has Pat Rosier, Lisa Sabbage, Shirley Tamihana, and like most of the other women on our its roots in a woman and her experience, an Athina Tsoulis. street, my mother had four children by the ideology that continues to gather strength time she was 25. Like them, she stayed at and be informed by that experience. Editorial and policy decisions are made by the home in an unpaid, demanding job while Young women who see feminism as an collective. Main areas of responsibility are: her husband worked in a paid job. anachronism have taken for granted the Bookshop, Lisa Sabbage; Design and Buying Broadsheet was a luxury, like gains that women working for social change Layout, Sharon Alston; Editorial, Pat when we were allowed fish and chips for have won for them. They’ve been blinkered Rosier; Finances, subscriptions, Carol by the media, by the politicians, and the Jillsun; Resource Collection, tea. A luxury like talking guiltily about her Claire-Louise McCurdy; grievances with some of the friends she capitalists,the very same estates of power Advertising and Promotion, shared coffee with before the kids got home who construct and perpetuate an image of Tanya Hopman. from school, as if they were conspiring to feminists as butch, embittered women un­ commit the great crime of the century. able to get a man. But even more insidious Those cups of coffee and discussions, is the message they broadcast to women Cover Painting by Claudia Pond Eyley. which says, “you’ve got equality, you can Design: Sharon Alston grumbles and gripes, kept my mother sane and probably still keep women who face vote, you can work, you can go to univer­ similar forms of isolation, as close to sanity sity, you can buy our products, what more These women helped around Broadsheet as possible. Sharing cups of coffee and do you want? There is no more.” this month: Barbara Mundt, Diane Bush. food, talking and listening, is still a valu­ The truth is that there is a lot more, but it Kirsty Fathers, Sue Freeman, Linda Ceato, is disconcerting to admit it, disconcerting to Diane Calder. able tool women use to make connections with each other. discover that yes, your life has been limited Yet it took my mother a long time before without your knowledge. Betty Friedan Printed by Rodney and Waitemata Times, she admitted she had “feminist” ideas, and talked about this in The Feminine Mystique Mill Lane, Warkworth. Electronic Pagination by very few of those friends she had then when, after surveying housewives in Amer­ Laser Type & Design Studio. Typeset bromides by ica during the sixties, the majority of whom Times Laserset. Photoprints by Monoset, would ever have used the word, and proba­ separations by Star Graphics. bly still cringe at it now. were middle-class, educated, with all the In those days, she says she was an in­ things they’d always dreamed of, a home, stinctive or intuitive feminist, without facts husband and children, she found them to be Publication date:l May 1988. and figures, or theoretical knowledge to ar­ desperately unhappy. Nearly all those ticulate her gut feelings of injustice, the women blamed their education for expand­ ing their intellectual horizons, opening BROADSHEET annual subscription $40 sinking feeling that her work was underval­ Overseas surface $56. Overseas airmail: ued if valued at all. Her struggle to make doors for them, challenging what they had Europe $101.65, America and Asia $85.40, ends meet, feed the family, deal with ra­ been brought up to believe was their des­ Australia and South Pacific $66.60. cism against her children, are all only parts tiny. These women had suddenly found out of the day to day battle to survive that that their lives were limited, that the ideal nuclear family wasn’t enough to fulfill their Articles and illustrations remain the property of women in Aotearoa still wage today. the contributor. Permission must be sought from So what is so frightening about the own personal needs, and they didn’t want to Broadsheet and from the contributor before any words feminism and feminist? What know. It is safer to reject things which item in reprinted. stopped my mother and the other women threaten the framework you have always like her from saying, yes we are feminists operated in. But no matter how isolated or extreme a LETTERS POLICY: The Broadsheet collective and we aren’t happy with the way things may not agree with or endorse views expressed in are? Why do so many women my age (23), woman’s experience, or conversely, no letters. Nearly all the letters we are sent get pub­ see feminism as irrelevent, redundant and a matter how “normal” or privileged, there lished. Those that are not published in full are thing of the past? can be a basic commitment to women and a considered by the whole collective and edited in I think the answer lies partly in the fact recognition that as women we share an consultation with the writer. We do not publish that “feminism” and “feminist” have been oppression, whether she chooses to use that personal attacks. Letters from men are published jargon or not. only when they correct matters of fact. We particu­ perceived too often as prescriptive, rather larly welcome letters about the content of the than descriptive terms, as a rigid definition If there were no challenges to be made to magazine. Letters that are addressed to the collec­ rather than an adjective. There are many feminism it would cease being challenging, tive or to the editor are assumed to be intended for different ways of being feminist, not just it would no longer be serving any putpose. publication. Please indicate clearly if they are not. one way. There are outlines, but they are If women did not continue to shake it up and constantly being expanded, there are con­ redefine it, offering new feminisms, it tours, but they are constantly being painted would not grow, it would die. BROADSHEET is on file at the Women’s new colours. I believe that women are keeping femi­ Collection, Special Dept, Northwestern Recently I read an article which talked nism alive and well by offering each other University Library, Evanston, about feminisms. I like this because it new challenges, and as always, listening to Illinois 60201, USA. suggests something which is open and those challenges, making it stronger mutable, rather than something closed and through diversity, and by stressing time and intransigent. It recognises that to women of time again that the fight is far from over, no Registered at the GPO as a magazine. different ages, cultures, classes, sexuality, matter what the power-brokers would have ISSN 01 10-8603 and religions, perspectives of the world us believe. , . . will differ, and that values and priorities will vary accordingly. It recognises that my

2 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 E ETTERS

AN OPEN LETTER TO TVNZ seems male interviewers are re­ CURRENT AFFAIRS luctant to speak to women who Kia ora Clive Litt, espouse an outspoken feminist Last weekend intemationally- viewpoint and can’t handle it renowned and leading feminist when they do. None of us have writer, Dale Spender arrived in forgotten Lindsay Perigo’s par­ Aotearoa for a week of lectures ticularly unfortunate attack-inter­ and talks around the country. Not view with Allison Webber on the unnaturally her visit created huge current affairs programme Sun­ interest as women rushed to buy day a while ago. tickets for her public lectures and While we’ve learnt not to ex­ queued to get into her other talks. pect miracles, we would like tele­ She was also interviewed by vision news and current affairs to newspaper and radio media. We give women a much better deal knew television had booked her than they do at present and more for the current affairs programme, accurately reflect our enormous, Frontline, and thought this an vital and valuable contribution to ideal opportunity for women the running of this country. throughout the country - who may CLAIRE O'BRIEN not otherwise be able to see this PAMELA FLEMING remarkable feminist - to hear her for the WOMANZONE ideas and watch her in action. collective. But, no. At the last minute she was dropped in favour of Jim THANKS Anderton - a man we’ve all had Dear Broadsheet, ample opportunity to watch re­ I’d just like to say a huge thank- peatedly and whose ideas are you for my gift subscription. It is scarcely new to us. a complete delight to be continued When we contacted Me- on the mailing list, when I thought diawomen - the group which or­ I’d be lapsing. Thanks again. ganised Dale Spender’s trip - we DIANA were told the background to this Hamilton abrupt dismissal. One of the premises of Dale Spender’s work is the anti-woman BREAKTHROUGH EXPO woman accountant, a female fitter England with a long-established attitudes of men which render us Dear Broadsheet Collective, and turner apprentice - but there feminist scene; one and a quarter invisible, perpetuate male ideas in We are planning an expo focusing are lots of gaps too. hours from London by train, two male environments and do not let on non-traditional careers. This is Do Broadsheet readers in and a half hours from the south us SPEAK. Television New Zea­ to be called “Breakthrough” and Lower Hutt, Wellington, or coast. land has provided yet another will consist of stalls staffed by Wairarapa know any women in Interested parties don’t have to classic example of this. There’ll individuals and organisations non-traditional occupations, pro­ be able to offer identical accom­ undoubtedly be plenty of “rea­ who have broken through barriers fessional and non-professional? modation: we would like a rea­ sons” why the decision to scrap of gender-specific occupations - We’d be delighted to hear from sonable amount of self-contained Spender were made. We’ve heard women engineers, fitters and them. space for the four of us. Preferably excuses like that all our lives and turners, and male nurses, kinder­ SALLY EVERS within easy reach of Auckland, we don’t believe them any more garten teachers and care-givers of c/o Parkway College though we will consider any area unless they admit to the rank other sorts, and the like. Parkway of either island, urban or rural. We misogyny of television current It will be held over three days, Wainuiomata would appreciate early replies to affairs. Thursday 30 June, Friday 1 July, help us in our planning. We are angered and disturbed Saturday 2 July, in the Hutt Valley PAM GERRISH NUNN by television’s consistent failure High School (Wellington). Stu­ EXCHANGE RUTH H. BOTTRILL to meet its obligations under the dents from local schools will at­ Dear Broadsheet readers, 4 Guinea Lane Broadcasting Act to represent tend on Thursday and Friday, We (two white feminists and boy Fishponds, Bristol, significant points of view, i.e. while Saturday is an opportunity 12, girl 10) are coming to Aotea­ BS16 2HB, Avon. those 52 per cent of this country’s for women in jobs they aren’t roa in early 1989 for a stay of up to England. population. happy with to consider a change 12 months. We would like to Dale Spender has said male of direction.We hope to attract exhange accommodation with interviewers are afraid to inter­ members of the general public as any women interested in visiting INFORMATION/CONTACT view her: we would like to know well as parents of students, and Britain. Dear Broadsheet, who was responsible for the deci­ students. We can offer our 1908 four- I’m currently living with a woman sion to drop Spender from the The expo is the initiative of a bedroomed house with small gar­ who is returning to New Zealand programme fronted by Lindsay goup of (mainly women) careers den, three living rooms, kitchen, round Christmas. I’m helping to Perigo? Who selects the topics we advisors in the Hutt Valley, re­ bathroom - not smart but comfort­ save up lots of money (difficult to see, what commitment do you sponding to a felt need. We are an able. Resident cat negotiable. We do here particularly when the only have to feminist news and what informal grouping with no Educa­ can send photos on request (of cat work I have is voluntary as a criteria for selection do you em­ tion Department funding. (An and/or house!) It’s in a residential member of the Women’s News ploy? application for Ministry of street, convenient for shops, parks Collective), and come over with Womanzone on Access Radio Women’s Affairs Project Fund nearby, bus routes, local schools her. We would both like some is one of the very, very few places money has been made.) within walking distance; on the kind of info on the women’s scene in the mainstream media where Some good role models have outskirts of Bristol. This is a lively in New Zealand. If you could send women can have a say, our way. It agreed to contribute - a Maori and historic city in the west of ps any kind of publication, we'll

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 3 reimburse cost and postage and sexual pleasure, which is a com­ maybe would like the idea of For The Unsaid plex and precious thing not likely some kind of correspondence, to survive rigorous political we’d be very grateful. analysis. I believe that those of us You buy me SHEILA PAGE" who know this pleasure must four bunches Women’s News tread warily when discussing the 185 Donegal 1 St of flowers rights and wrongs of pornogra­ Belfast BTI 2FJ in four days phy, expressions of lesbian sexu­ Ireland each day ality and so on, as we run a severe I thank you risk of becoming total hypocrites and find and will undoubtedly lose any EDITORIAL PRIVILEGE? another vase fight for a cause in which we do I was disturbed by your treatment not truly believe. DEADLINES of Allanah Ryan’s article “Sex - Words you LOUISE A MALONE For the June issue 24 Pleasure and Danger" in the Janu- cannot say Wellington April, for July/August 24 ary/February issue. Why were done up April. two members of the Broadsheet with ribbons collective permitted to reply to the trapped SUBSCRIPTIONS article in the same issue? Is this ALTHLETICS in cellophane A sub is $40 per year - normal practice? It seems unrea­ Dear Broadsheet you get your magazine sonable privilege - surely they Your article “Sexism in Athletic what will posted to you. Add a could have waited until March Association” (issue 156, March you do donation for a sustaining like everybody else. 1988) is unfortunately mislead­ when I run sub of $60 or consider a I’m bothered, too, by the car­ ing. While the title of the article two-year ($75 or $105 toon which illustrated the article. out might be literally correct, the ac­ sustaining) or three-year It showed a woman in leather of tual events which have transpired ($110 or $150 sustaining) corset, stilettos, stockings, sus­ vases? in the Athletic Association are sunscription. Overseas penders, studded dog collar and much more encouraging. Perhaps rates (these plus the hor­ clutching a whip - and with a Susannah Walker a more accurate title for the report rendous costs of overseas woman symbol dangling from in the March issue might have postage) on page 2. one ear. Which could actually be been “Athletic Association Ad­ Regular readers please quite funny. But, given the con­ dresses Sexism” note: we get a better text of illustrating an article which Not only has the Athletic As­ return from subs than is accompained by the opposing sociation established a Women’s from bookshop sales. views of collective members, it I first identified as a lesbian Committee (and, I believe, is one seems more likely it was intended and left the man I was living with of the few - perhaps the only - BUY BROADSHEET A as a mockery of Allanah’s ideas. when I realised my female lover major mixed sporting code to do COMPUTER And even if it wasn’t, it’s easy to aroused me far more than I'd ever so) but it has made several other The wonderful MacPlus take it that way. been aroused before. I finally administrative moves in an at­ that we now use to CAREN WILTON acknowledged that I love looking tempt to eliminate sexism. For produce the magazine and Wellington at women’s bodies, I love the feel example, at the national level age for subs has been on loan of my woman’s skin, I love her grades have been renamed to to us for the last two Editorial response to Caren’s touch and that I love the sexual remove a previous connotation years. We now have the points: pleasure I get from her far better that “Senior” implied male; at opportunity to buy it on a 1. There was a great deal of than anything else. To me that is local levels competition previ­ really good deal. Does collective discussion about the what being a lesbian is all about ously reserved for males only has anyone out there want to article before it was printed, and and I can’t believe my story isn’t been opened to females, and so be an “aunt” and buy it, or what we did seemed the fairest the same as that of thousands of on. The battles to get women’s part of it, for us? Please way to represent that. Allanah saw other lesbians. athletics better recognised by the phone Carol or Pat on the responses before they were That is why I’m alarmed at the media are tougher, but at least 608535. printed and had the opportunity to puritan streak I perceive in Sharon some centres are fortunate to have reply to them, which she did. Alston’s and Claire-Louise sympathetic - and interested - DONATED SUBS (April issue, page 39) McCurdy’s comments in the Jan/ sports editors. This problem goes These are really 2. It was a coincidence, but Feb Broadsheet. McCurdy com­ beyond the nature of the sport it­ appreciated by women Allanah was in the office when the ments that “homophobic society self, and beyound the area of in­ who cannot afford to cartoon came in and saw it pre­ is not likely to differentiate be­ fluence of the Association. renew (see letters). Just publication. She preferred it to the tween categories of lesbians”, While the comments made at send $40 to the office and cover. implying that it’s not fair on those the Association’s Annual General we will arrange f$r a 3. Sexuality is a tricky subject. of us who choose lesbianism be­ Meeting are accurately reported I subscriber to continue to We take risks in our presentation cause we lust after women. It’s wish to argue that the implications get the magazine. of it and at times aim to be pro­ bad enough that my lover and I get are not. The motion for automatic vocative. But we never intend to taunted by drunken men for hold­ representation of women was re­ APOLOGIES mock anyone who writes for the ing hands in the street, without jected, in my opinion, as a rejec­ We were very unhappy magazine and if we gave the having our sexuality judged by tion of tokenism. Rather, the about the quality of the impression that we were doing other lesbians (eg Alston’s com­ Women’s Committee which was printing of the April issue. this, then we apologise to Alla­ ments on butch/femme relation­ set up might consider its brief to We have discussed this in nah. ships, women in “men’s clothes,” encourage and enable women to detail with the printers 4. We appreciate getting feed­ long-handled mops etc). participate on equal terms in the and have their assurances back like Caren’s, that comes di­ To define lesbianism as some­ Association and thus make a real that the situation is being rectly to us, and give it serious how the purest form of feminism contribution which will enchance rectified. attention. (McCurdy’s “woman-loving the opportunity of other women in In the article “Up and woman”), without taking lust into all branches of the sport in the Running” in the April account, may be fine for us all to future. Sadly, but perhaps pre­ aspire to. This attitude ignores dictably. the most alarming lack issue the pages are out of LESBIAN LUST order. Read them in this those of us for whom sex is an of support for the efforts of the order: 14, 17, 15, 16, 18. Just who are these “political lesbi­ important part of life and also committee so far seems to be Our apologies to readers ans” who don’t really enjoy sex belittles the struggles of both coming from women at the “grass and to the women at the with women (referred to by Alla­ straight feminists and non-femi­ roots” level, not from the men at Ministry. nah Ryan and Claire-Louise nist dykes. the top. McCurdy, Broadsheet Jan/Feb Let’s try and keep tolerance as JAN CAMERON 1988 in “Sex )? an ideal, especially with regard to Christchurch 4 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 I \ l \ l BROADCAST l / l / l PHOTO: GIL HANLY The three first place getters in the women’s world cross-country championship held in Auckland in March. First was Ingrid Kristiansen (centre) from Norway, second Angela Tooby (right) from Britain and third Annette Serqent (left) from France.

“...one can quite firmly say that on JUDGE SINCLAIR, this occasion this he could “have” any woman his com­ girl really asked for panion did, and what right had the YOUR PREJUDICE IS judge to reinforce this assumption? what she got.” You are showing a strange attitude SHOWING here, judge - do you really believe a woman your “companion” has sex with During the course of making his judge­ should then be sexually available to Pat Rosier looks at a recent ment on the sentence (which he re­ you? oral judgement given by duced), Judge Sinclair said some abso­ Ah, but wait. “She succeeded,” the Judge J Sinclair in the High lutely appalling things about the com­ judgement goes on, “in a way which can Court, Auckland. The context plainant (ie, the young woman who was only be deprecated in that the act was done violated). He referred to: “ ... the com­ in public - not even in the privacy of a was an appeal against plainant who obviously made a running sentence by a young man room - and it is little wonder that in those for one of his companions. Despite the circumstances the person who was the who had pleaded guilty to a fact that she was only 15 years of age it object of the complainant’s attention and charge of attempted is quite clear she set out to seduce his his companions should regard the situ­ sexual violation. companion.” Leaving aside how ation as one where the girl was readily “clear” anything is in these situations, available for all to have.” what right had the defendant to assume How dare you assume, judge, that any

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 5 woman is “available for all to have” in any FBI), assisted by local police, carried announced her plans to finish the book circumstances. A woman has an absolute out simultaneous raids on 33 addresses while behind bars with the publisher also right to say “No” to any man at any time in the characteristically efficient and remaining committed to the project. and be taken seriously. You accept that thorough style of the political police. Both women are still locked down in there was “some degree of force used”. They claim the sweep was to unearth the prison, after being denied bail based on the Great. But, “there was no full act of inter­ activities of “Roten Zora” (Red Zora), a prosecution’s claim of “probable flight”, course.” Okay, so it's all right for a man to feminist women’s guerilla network. and are confined under the 15 point pro­ use some force as long as he doesn’t actu­ In a very well-planned execution aimed gramme of “special regulations for politi­ ally have intercourse? Is this what you at painting a picture of State omnipotence, cal prisoners”. The pivotal factor is the mean? It’s what you said. they sealed off streets and forced their isolation, “white torture”, that has become You seem to have made some sort of way, with firearms drawn, into women’s the trademark of the German decision about the young woman, judge, homes, family member’s homes, private government’s method of breaking down and you seem to think that because she was workplaces, and research/archive centres. prisoners. Non-association with any other “that sort” what the young man did wasn’t Announcing the grounds for the raid as prisoners (political or general); solitary serious. So you’re judging her, not the “Article 129a” (paragraph of Criminal one hour daily exercise; 23 hours daily in crime. That’s prejudice, judge. Code with wide applications concerning a windowless security cell with empty And your prejudice shows most bla­ “terrorism”), they searched the premises neighbouring cells; screened lawyer vis­ tantly in one statement, a statement for without warrants, seizing radio and video its; censorship of mail; two hour visit only which you should be prevented ever giv­ recordings, personal mail, address books, each month; restricted number of books; ing any sort of judgement in any sort of mailing lists, and scientific material relat­ and wearing of prison uniforms only are sexual abuse case. You said, “...one can ing to human genetics, pre-natal diagno­ further aspects of this inhumane pro­ quite firmly say that on this occasion this sis, and reproductive technology research. gramme. And this even though they have girl really asked for what she got.” No The grounds for the seizure of these docu­ not even been brought to trial yet but rather woman ever asks to be violated, judge. ments was their “extreme condemnation” are merely charged, with evidence as soft Have you been watching those nasty vid­ of genetic engineering. Twenty-three as “conspiratorial meetings” in cafes in eos where the woman says “rape” while women were detained at police centres Ulla’s case, and the purchasing of a clock she’s enjoying sex? Well, they are actors where they were photographed, finger­ in 1986 by Ingrid that has been linked to and it’s not true, judge. I’ll say it again... printed, questioned, and in some cases the exploded clock shrapnel found at the in real life women never “ask for it”. strip-searched, before being released. Lufthansa attack. So please get off the bench, judge, and In Hamburg that afternoon, Ulla Pense- As Ingrid Strobl writes from prison out of the High Court, because your com­ lin remained under arrest, charged with early this year... ments clearly indicate prejudice and “membership in the terrorist organisation “The essential power interests of impe­ there’s no place for that in a court - is Roten Zora”. On 20 December, in Koln, rialism are attacked by the broad struggle there? Ingrid Stroble was arrested by the GSG9 against gene technology and refugee pol­ Swat Squad after a two day stakeout in her icy. This explains the almost hysterical apartment awaiting her return, and activities of the State against people who charged with “membership in the terrorist lead this struggle on every level. That organisation Revolutionary Cells/Roten these activities primarily aim at women is Zora” and suspicion of participation in the also logical...All people who carry out October 1986 sabotage attack on these attacks must be intimidated, and the Lufthansa to protest both the forcible militant ones must be isolated and crimi­ deportation of women seeking asylum and nalized. Therefore, it is only logical that the promotion of South-East Asia sex- suspects must be found and if one can’t tourism. The authorities announce dra­ find them, one has to create them.” matically that they have now cracked two Since the charges have only weak evi­ cells of Roten Zora and, on 18 Febru­ dence to back them up, and the raids netted ary 1988, cross-country bulletins an­ little, surveillance and intimidation of the nounce a search for four related “terrorists feminist community has escalated in at large”. This is not the first time the months since December 1987, as the po­ Model Police State has brought a massive lice search for further personal connec­ crackdown upon political activists but it is tions and turn the screws to find witnesses/ the first witchhunt to crunch down specifi­ informers. The authorities have created a cally on the women’s movement. new term “Probable Attack Issues” which, Neither of these women are an- when combined with their powers under onynmous but rather are well-known and Article 129a, gives them grounds for har­ active within many feminist circles. Ulla assment of all aboveground legal work as THE MODERN Penselin, 36, has been running a commu­ well. This will be their strategy for trying nity printshop in Hamburg for 10 years as to destroy the movements resisting repro­ WITCH HUNT well as organising, both locally and na­ ductive technology, sex-tourism, and tionally, the network exposing population refugee deportation policy. Their intent is Jill Bend writes from Canada control policy and genetic technology. to silence all critics including journalists, about anti-feminist actions in Ingrid Strobl, 35 is a familiar name in most lawyers, and health professionals and Germany. German households after working seven keep the community under siege. years as a journalist with “EMMA”, the Considering the high profile of the two widely circulated liberal-feminist suspects and the thin evidence against On 18 December, spreading up the in­ monthly, and campaigning for the rights of them, cause is created for questioning the dustrial Rhine River region to Ham­ refugees and immigrants. She received her timing of this witchhunt. Sabotage actions burg in the northeast, the West German doctorate as a “Germanologist” (specialist from Roten Zora had increased in the last police flexed their collective muscle on German history and culture) and, at the two or three years with often victorious against the feminist movement critics of time of her arrest, had almost completed results, greatly mollifying the police. genetic engineering and State immigra­ writing a book on the armed resistance of Public awareness and sympathy grew for tion policy. Two hundred federal offi­ European women against German Nazism the women guerillas’ demands for justice. cers from BKA (German equivalent of and fascism. After her imprisonment, she So the police responded with a power-

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play, both premature and miscalculated, to ful efforts of South Korean women strik­ Prozessgruppe/Schwartsmarkt, Paulinen- sow the seeds of suspicion in the public ing for better conditions in German- platz, 2 Hamburg 4, West Germany. and fear among feminists. Certainly nei­ owned textile factories, RZ launched a ther of these have been the result. A great series of attacks against eight stores of solidarity has been generated among radi­ “Adler Co.” Only then did the owners cal activists who feel the harassment is, in finally capitulate and rehire the women, spirit, against all of them. Feminists who raise the salaries, and meet all their de­ POVERTY IS previously had not been as aware of anti­ mands. This success invoked the wrath of imperialism came to post-raid meetings the government and the urge for retaliation GLOBAL giving money and public statements at­ reached maximum boil. testing to the full range of support from Are the authorities’ claims of having women’s cultural, service, and political paralysed this women’s resistance net­ organisations. In several German cities, work accurate or just police hype? To they have sponsored workshops and con­ paraphrase an anonymous German femi­ ferences on gene technology, the traffick­ nist ...“the structure of women’s organisa­ ing in Third World women, and women’s tions, and Roten Zora, has always out- struggles in the Third World. Large sup­ imagined the police”. No, it is not likely port rallies in Kiln and Hamburg with­ that this first blow against RZ since their stood intimidation and provocation by beginnings will be successful at cracking eo firo police, and defence groups for Ingrid and their invisibility or crushing the women Ulla have been set up in these two centres. behind bars. In a country long familiar with guerilla The call from the defence groups is activity, the public need more than a few “Freedom for Ingrid Strobl and Ulla coincidentals to be convinced of any legal Penselin” - nothing less than that. Interna­ Jo Elvidge writes of women “guilt” and furthermore, much of this tional publicity and support can help these and development from a general public has been inclined toward political prisoners and the feminist com­ CORSO perspective. sympathy for the actions carried out by munity to be strong against State attack. Roten Zora. They have been operating Write the women in prison to let them since the mid seventies and, in union with know their isolation is only physical. Ulla In the past women have been ex­ Revolutionary Cells, have carried out 250 Penselin/Ingrid Strobl, c/o Ermit- cluded from or damaged by aid and attacks, all within the context of current tlungsrichter am BGH, Herrenstrasse 45a, development programmes, which have political affairs. Direct action strategy 7500 Karlsruhe, West Germany. For fur­ been based on a model that maintains confronted issues of militarization, nu­ ther information, or to send solidarity let­ the status quo and defines development clear technology, Palestine, South Africa, ters and financial donations, write to either as “overseas” from the countries giving asylum solidarity, and human genetics. defence group at: Stadt Revue, Maastrich- development aid. But development is During 1987, to support the long and pain­ ter Strasse, 5000 Koln 1, West Germany. not an overseas problem - all so- >► p 8

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 7 A NEW MALE BIRTH no right of appeal, nor was there any reason CONTROL METHOD given for a refusal. IN------Some areas had no TACs because hospital A Chinese doctor has been experiment­ boards were stacked by anti-choice people. ing with a new method of male birth Like New Zealand, there were immense geo­ control claimed to be 99 per cent effec­ graphical differences in access to abortion. For tive. The simple technique involves those with the money, a trip across the border to blocking the spermatic duct by inject­ the US was the answer. The BRIEF It looks as though Canada will be the envy ing it with elastic polyurethane. method, unlike vasectomy, is easily reversible of feminists all over the world for providing and has been tested on 10,000 patients so far throughout the country came in their thousands freedom of choice for women - at least until with a 99 per cent success rate and no reported to show their feelings in this Year of Mourning legislators do their worst. Pat Syme side effects. and also to press demands for sovereignty and The Chinese Xinhua News Agency re­ self-determiniation. At Belmore Park, thou­ INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ported that a panel of experts from the World sands and thousands of supporters joined the ACTION FOR WOMEN’S Health Organisation has approved of the new march, which ended in Hyde Park for the rally. method, calling it simple and safe, although it The BPG feels this was a landmark day ... in HEALTH did not report whetherWHO has oficially en­ our support role we were guided by the repre- The date is 28 May, the theme “Prevent dorsed the procedure. sentaives of the Aboriginal community and Maternal Mortality”. It is being coordi­ From UPI, Beijing, China, 31 OCt hopefully were able to tell the government that nated jointly by the Women’s Global 1987, reported in ISIS Aboriginal people are not fighting alone for Network on Reproductive Rights and justice. The mainstream media once again showed the Latin American and Caribbean LET THEM EAT CAKE its true colours. It pursued Aboriginal leaders Women’s Health Network/Isis Interna­ Minister of Housing Helen Clark has with gusto in the weeks preceding the march. It tional. Groups will be organising na­ said that she doesn’t accept there is a continually asked, “Will it be big and will it be tional and local events on this day. A national housing shortage. (Dominion, peaceful?” It was massive and it was peaceful. special newsletter on maternal mortal­ 20 March 1988) . This is yet another example Most media reports then went on to grossly ity is being prepared. The organisers of the Labour Government’s failure to take re­ underestimate the number of participants and want to hear from any groups organis­ sponsibility for the consequences of their poli­ coverage of the peaceful event was generally ing actions. cies. The creation of the corporations, espe­ thin on the ground. Maternal mortality is defined as the death of cially Forestry Corp has created thousands of The BPG notes with cynicism that perhaps women caused by complications in pregnancy, unemployed in rural areas. That many of them the greatest ever show of strength from Abo­ childbirth and induced abortion. Among have moved to Auckland, in the belief that riginal people since colonisation was diluted. healthy, pregnant women spontaneous labour there are more jobs in the cities, is perfectly From BPG Newsletter, March 1988. and childbirth without serious complications reasonable. They then become homeless as P O Box 174, St Peters 2044, NSW, are the norm. Why, then, are so many women in well as jobless. If there are houses in Oamaru or Australia. the world dying in pregnancy and childbirth wherever, then the government should take re­ each year? sponsibility for ensuring redundant workers ABORTION IN CANADA It is the state of the woman’s health prior to have access to that housing and the jobs to pay A decision by the Supreme Court of and during the pregnancy, together with the for them. Canada at the end of January over­ way in which any complications are dealt with, Claire-Louise McCurdy turned the old abortion laws, leaving that determine how safe pregnancy and child­ the country with no laws restricting birth will be for her. Women have abortions whether they are REPORT DELAYED abortion. The judgement was based on The office of the Cervical Cancer Inquiry legal or not. The number of deaths because of an interpretation of the 1982 Charter of abortion, however, is directly associated with advises that Judge Cartwright’s report on the Rights and Freedoms, which guaran­ inquiry is not now due to be released until 6 whether abortion is legal and available under June 1988. tees a woman’s right to “life, liberty and safe conditions. More than half the 30 to 55 Pat Rosier security of person”. Five out of seven million abortions carried out in the world each judges supported the decision. Said the year are clandestine. One of the most common YOUR LIFE IN THEIR Chief Justice “Forcing a woman by threat of reasons why women aged 15-49 are admitted to criminal sanction to carry a foetus to term hospital is for clandestine abortion. HANDOUTS unless she meets certain criteria unrelated to The number of maternal deaths occurring A Canadian doctor claims New Zealand her own priorities and aspirations is a profound each year is most often quoted as 500,000. This GPs rely too heavily on drug company interference with a woman’s body.” estimate has not changed for many years. In handouts when prescribing medica­ A woman justice concluded that the old fact, the number is likely to be at least two or tion, and the Medical Association is abortion law infringed on security of the person three times higher, since reliable statistics are because “it asserts that the woman’s capacity to not available from many countries where the calling for the government to provide death toll is high. We believe the real figure independent guidance to doctors. The reproduce is to be subject not to her own control, but to that of the state.” must be closer to one million. In addition, when pharmaceutical companies say they are just What happens now remains to be seen. a woman dies, the children who survive her are providing a service. Forty-five companies are British Colombia’s health minister immedi­ likely to die as well. competing vigorously for the market. Incen­ ately announced there would be no change if Countless numbers of women survive preg­ tives to doctors include being paid to take part women wished their abortions to be covered by nancy, childbirth and clandestine abortions in drug trials and “sponsorship” to medical the provincial medical plan. In other provinces, with permanent injuries to their uterus, fallo­ seminiars. pian tubes, bladder and intestines-injuries that From The Auckland Sun, 5 March 1988 though, clinics that had been closed by the police would now be able to function legally, often cause infertility, chronic ill health and meanwhile, parliament is faced with the prob­ pain. Both the nature of the injuries and the 1988, WHAT’S THERE TO lem of whether to draft new abortion legislation resulting infertility may lead to permanent CELEBRATE? during what could be an election year. social isolation as well. On 26 January the months of hard work Canada’s abortion law was much more re­ Maternal mortality is, above all, associated strictive than New Zealand’s (and we know that with poverty. It costs money to get medical by the March Committe of the Bicen­ assistance during pregnancy and childbirth, tennial Protest Group (BPG) culmi­ is no model of liberalism). A woman’s case history had to be presented before a Therapeu­ and to get a safe abortion. Poor women cannot nated in a moving and very public dis­ tic Abortion Committee (TAC) before permis­ afford to pay for these services. play of determination and strength, as sion for an abortion was (or was not) granted. From promotional material sent out by the the March for Freedom, Justice and Criteria were that “the continuation of the preg­ organising groups: WGNRR, P O Box Hope weaved its way from Redfern to nancy ... would be likely to endanger her life or 1009 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands, & Hyde Park, Sydney. health”. TACs met infrequently and a woman Isis International, Casilla 2067, Correo People from Aboriginal communities from could not present her case in person. There was Central, Santiago, Chile.

8 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 cieties are developing. The common divi­ sion of the world into First and Third world countries perpetuates the idea that poverty is “out there, in places too far away and exotic for us to have any common links. •LoEoGoAoL»SoEoRoVoloCoE°$* But poverty, like sisterhood, is global.” If we are to make true the claim that sisterhood is global, we must develop an BUYING AND SELLING PROPERTY • BUSINESS PURCHASES international perspective on issues that AND COMPANY INCORPORATIONS • DEFENDING CRIMINAL affect women. How can we further the CHARGES • CIVIL LITIGATION • FAMILY LAW • PLANNING cause of women if we successfully cam­ APPLICATIONS • LIQUOR LICENSING • WILLS AND ESTATES paign against the use of dangerous contra­ ceptives in our own country, only to have them dumped on women in the Third World? How are we upholding the right of Williams, McDonald & Co. women to have power over our sexuality when poverty forces Filipino women to AIM TO PROVIDE SYMPATHETIC, QUALITY LEGAL ADVICE prostitute themselves to our men who fly AT COMPETITIVE RATES over for a dirty weekend? Or when our campaigns for a living wage merely result in industry re-establishing itself where Contact Partners they don’t have to pay a living wage? DEIRDRE MILNE, GEORGE IRELAND or TONY WALKER The struggle of women cannot be sepa­ rated from the struggle of the poor and the AUSTRALIS HOUSE 36 CUSTOMS ST AUCKLAND powerless. In general, feminists who are middle class are insulated from the reali­ PHONE 796937 ties of the lives of the poor: accepting there is little that can be done about the starving faces (the man on the news said there had tended (supposedly) to create wealth by Rather than looking for something to been a drought); being ignorant of the boosting internal development. Often improve the families’ well-being, he mistaken arrests of the children of Pacific schemes were totally inappropriate to the spends the money as he wishes for his Island mothers in dawn raids; reading communities’ needs, and in many cases needs without saying anything.” (“Le about the statistics of young Maori women the introduction of cash crops was very paysan, le village et l’avenir”, Construire in detention, whilst white girls swell the much to women’s disadvantage. The man Ensemble 5/6 1979, reported from a vil­ ranks at law school. will usually expect her to work on “his” lage in Upper Volta.) As CORSO workers, we are constantly cash crops, thus taking women away from Thus, imposed development can actu­ battling the ignorance of the well-to-do working on the land she uses for domestic ally make women worse off by entrench­ that arises from the barrage of misinfor­ food production. Plus, she has no guaran­ ing the already-existing sexist attitudes of mation from the media. We find ourselves tee that the small increase in income from the men, increasing the women’s already in the same position as the Peruvian priest cash crops will go to the family. “When a heavy work-load, and making the family who said, “When I give to the poor they man has some money, even as a result of dependent on wages that are insufficient to call me a saint... when I ask why they are joint work with his wife, does he consult meet family needs. poor they call me a communist.” We need her on how to utilise the money? Not at all. It also wears the more sinister face of to be informed and active in order to align ourselves internationally with women and the poor. While many women are aware of the historical impact of colonisation there is less awareness of the ongoing sexism of current development schemes. In govern­ mental aid programmes to the Third World (the largest aid projects), the plan­ ners and development workers tend to be men, and technical training and assistance is given almost exclusively to men. “As agricultural work done by family members is not recorded as ‘work’ by the statisticians and since statistics do not show women working, planners do not plan for women to work.” (Marilyn Car, quoted in “Of Conjuring and Caring”, Charge International Reports, 1982.) In a survey of 90 village households in Tanza­ nia, 90 per cent of women were found to use the hoe, whilst ox-drawn ploughs were used by the men of the same families for cash-crop production. Cash-crop produc­ tion was introduced in colonial times and now, post-independence, many govern­ ments are keen to produce cash crops to earn foreign exchange. In the majority of cases this is necessary to repay the enormous debts incurred from loans in­

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 9 and Tigre two women's programmes; and omy through their participation in the very in Ethiopa the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospi­ lowest paid jobs. They were successful not tal for women; and in South Africa the only in stopping the City Council from ANC and PAC women’s programmes. In moving the people, but also in negotiating Latin America we support Nicaragua an agreement that the council will not clear Women’s organisation AMNLAE; Chil­ them away without finding somewhere to ean women’s groups work and food aid rehouse them. This is a major step forward KITES THAT FLY! projects; in Asia the Indian organisation for pavement dwellers, who formerly had SPARC; in the Phillipines, Gabriella. In no status and no recognition as a group at PEACEFUL, SOLITARY the Pacific the work of women is sup­ all. ACTIVITY OR FUN ported through the Belau Pacific Centre; In preparation for any possible future WITH OTHERS, formerly in Kanaky through the women’s evictions SPARC have organised a train­ YOU, THE WIND, THE KITE! organisation GFKL; and in Aotearoa ing programme for women in house con­ through the Aotearoa fund. struction, the whole process from mixing Each of these women’s groups has a Direct importers of beautiful birds, concrete to laying bricks to getting quotes bees, butterflies, bats, dancers, story and each has a different set of condi­ and making costings. The women worked swoopers & fighters from tions to struggle under. The only constant collectively, designing models of houses S.E. Asia & India. is the bravery and determination of the and eventually voting to get costings on women. Through enormous work loads, six house designs. The group was con­ Mail orders from around the world. threats of or actual violence, through ex­ tacted by some ex-city slum dwellers who Great fliers from $6 up. treme poverty, they have persisted with had been forcibly relocated out of town, Ring or write: their work and refused to be defeated. where they were far from markets or work Grimalkin Distributors N.Z. Ltd One such group is SPARC - the Society and again had very sub-standard housing. 22 Wilton St, Auckland 2 for the Promotion of Area Resource Phone (09) 765-172 They agreed to help train them and are Centres. This is a 20-strong group based in working on building new homes for the Bombay. Like New Zealand, India has women out there. SPARC women have many unpublicised state benefits that are been asked to speak at many national underused because people don’t know conventions to pass on their experience about them. This group’s aim is to educate and model of organising the projects and and mobilise the poor to make better use of their teaching model. the existing social amenities and to press The reason for their success? The in­ for their human rights. As the name sug­ volvement of women. Because women are gests, they have been responsible for the direct beneficiaries of the programme, sparking off a number of positive social they ensure that it works. CORSO has projects around the country. supported the SPARC programme since it starvation. The TV news we get of Indian The project CORSO has supported with began three years ago. Most recently, we or Mali people queueing for food is often them is their work with pavement dwell­ enabled them to get a video camera, which a direct result of development aid. Devel­ ers. These are the very poorest of all they use extensively in their education opment encourages men to grow cash people in India, who cook, eat, sleep and work. SPARC is an ongoing CORSO crops, which draw women’s labour away work on the streets. SPARC launched a project. from growing food for the community. massive campaign to prevent the Bombay As many women heard Dale Spender say, Thus, as soon as any drought or flood City Council cleaning them up and off the women have always worked for a better, occurs there is no surplus available to feed streets. The campaign included a survey of more just and humane world. It is no people - so development serves to rein­ the 26,000 families showing the contribu­ different in the Third World. The women’s force dependency. tion pavement dwellers make to the econ­ unions that CORSO supports are all in-

INAPPROPRIATE AID THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND Aid does not take into account that the CENTRE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION work of women will always fail for the simple reason that women are the centre of the household. The well-being WOMEN’S STUDIES of women affects the well-being of the TERM II COURSES COMMENCING MAY 30 entire community. As women are the WOMEN IN ART Elizabeth Grierson childrearers, it is only they who can be Tuesday 10.30-12 noon counted upon to use their labour and WOMEN, DREAMS & MYTHS wages to serve the interests of their Juliet Batten, Aorewa families and communities as a whole. Tuesday l-3pm & Friday evening McLeod, Jill Wittmer At CORSO we are concerned that Saturday & Sunday women’s interests are represented and all WOMEN PERFORMING POETRY Michele Leggott projects vetted to ensure this. Every proj­ Wednesday 6.00-7.30pm ect recommendation must answer the SEVEN AGES OF WOMEN Noeline Alcorn questions, “How will this project benefit Wednesday 10.30-12 noon women?” and “Have women been in­ WOMEN & DEPENDENCE volved at all levels of decision-making?” Penny Heavlin As well as this, we support a large number Thursday 7.30-9.00pm of projects specifically for women. In A programme with details of these and other courses is available from: Africa projects are almost exclusively The Centre for Continuing Education University of Auckland, Private Bag, geared towards women; in Angola we AUCKLAND Telephone 737-831 or 737-832 support the SWAPO Women’s Council programme and the War on Want pro­ Contact Marion Feasey 737-999 extension 7037 gramme in midwife training; in Eritrea

10 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 volved in this struggle. Like the Palestin­ ian Union of Women’s Work Committees UNBALANCED (UWWC). This group is a feminist organi­ sation involving all sectors of the commu­ BANKING nity. It is active in human rights activities and giving aid to prisoners’ families. They Jane Blaikie, Women's Co­ work from a democratic base involving all ordinator with the Bank sectors of the community. They consist of Officer's Union, writes. over 100 local committees with around 30 Financial Planners members each, throughout the Occupied Financial Advice Territories. Each committee decides its own priorities and activities. Many centres “For Women By Women” run vocational classes in sewing or knit­ ting, some teach literacy classes, others Phone: 774-264 organise consumer bazaars, productive for a Consultation projects or health clinics or run nurseries or kindergartens. They also run a newslet­ We All Need To Know About: ter, which has commented on such issues How to Plan as the Women’s Conference in Nairobi, Savings interviews with women ex-prisoners, the Home Ownership UWWC, Palestinian feminism and the Superannuation struggles of women. Investments Each project offered to satisfy women’s immediate needs also forms the Learn about these and basis for discussion and reflection, leading other financial areas women towards greater self-confidence. through our free Women bankers concluded, at a seminars The UWWC helps add women’s voices to seminar organised by their union in the national political forum, through Wellington in March, that while they demonstrations, rallies and celebrations, had made solid gains in the last five GARDNER, as well as working in unions and other years, there is still a long way to go. They BRADLEY, national institutions. Last year CORSO noted that a few “career” women, gen­ O’NEILL gave $20,000 to the UWWC pre-school erally young, single and without chil­ programme. Apart from their child care dren, had benefitted from changes in 115 GRAFTON RD, GRAFTON. function the kindergartens also provide bankers’ attitudes, but most women P.O. BOX 37425, AUCKLAND the only forum for women to meet and talk were still stuck in lower-graded jobs. TELEPHONE (09) 774-264 about issues important to them as women Women continue to experience dis­ and as Palestinians. crimination because of the banks’ re­ quirements for unbroken service, mo­ CORSO raises its money by an bility and study at home when it comes ing parties with the union set up by the annual door-to-door appeal, this year to to promotion. Part-timers, mostly Human Rights Commission and designed be held the week of 7-13 June. If you women, still get a raw deal and the to work towards equality. The women’s would like to help, call your nearest banks are unwilling to even consider seminar concluded that any significant CORSO office, or send a donation resolving the question of childcare. gains for women are now only likely to direct to P O Box 9716, Wellington. At the end of last year, as has been come by way of legislation. The women’s reported, the banks withdrew from work­ campaign organised by the union over the last five years will likely change direction as a result of this withdrawal, with more direct lobbying of government. MYRA NICOL The government, via Geoffrey Palmer’s social equity committee, has set MOWERS • CHAINSAWS up working parties on equal pay, equal opportunity and childcare. Legislation WEEDEATERS may result from these working parties. PETROL AND ELECTRIC But the working party on equal pay/ equal opportunity is already shaping up to 442 RICHMOND RD be another government mouthpiece of business thinking. As this article was GREY LYNN, AUCKLAND being written Geoffrey Palmer was con­ PHONE 760-053 sidering who should be on the committee. The proposed list included a representa­ tive from Treasury and a woman merchant Full motor mower sales and service banker, but no women activists. Women Only woman owned and operated unionists in Wellington have been lobby­ ing government to include on the working Auckland mower service party at least one woman who has been Free pick up and delivery active in the campaign for equal pay/equal opportunity. Is it too much to ask? HFlymo On 17 March the union launched a Y<)ur next mower report entitled Unbalanced banking - the campaign forequality for women bankers, WOMEN ONLY WORKSHSOPS RUN REGULARLY at a function in Wellington. Women’s PHONE YWCA Affairs Minister Margaret Shields spoke, as did the union’s outgoing president,

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 11 Angela Foulkes and Margaret Clark from disaster they were embroiled in. It was grades has increased, up from five per cent Victoria University, who described her clear by the end of 1986 that legislation in 1984 to 13 per cent in 1987, with a work with the union’s campaign as “radi­ was not imminent. corresponding drop in the percentage in calising”. Angela Foulkes used the occa­ “Additionally, the public heat had cooled. the three lowest grades, from 94 per cent to sion to introduce the union’s incoming That was partly due to our own decision to 87 per cent in 1987. president, Eithne Walters, an accountant allow the banks some breathing space. But “Nowadays, one is much more likely to with the ANZ in Auckland. it was partly due to media saturation. encounter a woman supervisor in a bank. The report was written by the union’s While we have had good press coverage, Before a female supervisor was worthy of women’s co-ordinator, Patricia Sarr be­ one can only get just so many stories about comment; they are now relatively com­ fore she left for a year in Nicaragua, work­ women being discriminated against in monplace. it may not be revolutionary, but ing at the Central American Historical banks. it is something. Institute. The report documents the her- “Finally, the heat from women union “The picture for men is dominated by a story of the union’s women’s campaign members had not cooled, but there has dramatic increase in the percentage at the and looks at its future direction, particu­ never been the prospect of industrial ac­ top level, accountant and above, this has larly with regard to legislative changes. tion to force equality programmes. It is been accompanied by a decline in the Qomp nurvtAC fm m tV»P rpnnrf* 66 fhprp hqc vjuuivo iiv/m uiv i vp vi i. ... uivi v lido simply not realistic to expect that women number of men at almost all the other been some positive change for some will take strike action. All the facets of the levels. The percentage of men in the bot­ women, but ...the structural discrimina­ very discrimination we were trying to tom three grades has dropped from 57 tion remains largely untouched.” stem combine to make industrial action percent in 1984 to 45 percent in 1987. This And, “ ... even if women do everything extremely unlikely. is a much bigger improvement than that right they still have not had the same “In short, the employers don’t have to enjoyed by women. The proportion of rewards men have. continue: They’ve never had to. When we women at the bottom dropped by 7.5 per­ This is what it says about the banks’ with­ could keep up the public pressure, when cent, but the proportion of men in the same drawal from the working parties: there was expectation of legislation, they grades dropped by 21 per cent. “One can only speculate about the reasons continued to meet with us, and did produce “So while the position of women improves for the banks’ pull-out. When we began some changes, even if not structural ones. slowly, men begin in a greatly advantaged the work, Australia was making strong “But there is nothing that requires them to position and they are also favoured by the moves toward legislation to require af­ produce real change, nothing that requires trends.” firmative action programmes and a La­ them to keep on working towards equality. A few copies of the report are still avail­ bour government had just been elected They have behaved entirely predictably, able from the union’s national office here. The employers may well have be­ and walked away.” lieved that legislation was coming, and Finally, some information about where that they might as well get in ahead of the men and women are in banks: “The pro­ Write to the Women’s Co-ordinator, requirement, to reduce the public relations portion of women in the three highest NZBOU, P O Box 27355, Wellington.

She is now the leader in her WOMEN IN village of a “unit” - an arm of the women’s movement in Er­ ERITREA itrea. Like many of the women we spoke to, Metmet tells us Eileen Cassidy and that the problems for women Jenny Moisier write in Eritrea stem mainly from about a women's the war situation and from the conference they feudal relations of traditional went to in this North society. African Country. Some areas of Eritrea are free of land-based attack from the Ethiopian regime but Metmet’s home is in an area Metmet Idris travelled four contested by both the Ethiopi­ days by camel to get to the ans and the Eritrean People's third women’s congress Liberation Front [EPLF], This held by the National Union makes it difficult to maintain of Eritrean women. To food supplies. avoid attracting the atten­ In 1984/5 the drought was tion of enemy fighter very severe, forcing Metmet planes, she travelled at and her husband to sell their night and rested by day. We goats and cattle. Now there is are permitted to take her drought again. The Eritrean photograph because she is Relief Association [ERA] is already known to the Ethio­ supplying food but landmines pian regime and is one of Metmet Idreis and her baby scattered throughout the area their targets. make collection dangerous. f Finding families who could look after youngest two with her. The children are a We met other women at the Congress her children during the Congress was dif­ recurring problem for Metmet when she who told us how their crops had been ficult. In the end she left three of her wants to attend a meeting - as she does burned by Ethiopian soldiers and live­ children in the village and brought the these days, often. stock herded into houses which were razed

12 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 For 26 years the Eritreans have took precedence over the tary. As there was no strong been fighting for independence wishes of the Eritrean people. So united civil party, the military from the Ethiopian Dergue. As in 1952 the United Nations feder­ “dergue” continued, under an Italian colony from the 1890 ated Eritrea into the feudal Colonel Mengistu who has fol­ until 1941, when the Italians Ethiopia of Haile Selasse, a pro­ lowed the same repressive pol­ were defeated and Britain took tege of the West but a tyrant at icy as Haile Selasse on the Er­ over, they expected independ­ home. Severe drought and itrean people. The EPLF now ence like other Italian colonies thousands of deaths finally controls 85% of the country. The at the end of the war. But the brought about his downfall in Ethiopian military have control great powers considered their 1974. The “marxist” revolution of several towns, including the strategic interests in the area was spearheaded by the mili­ capital Asmara.

to the ground. We heard repeatedly of wheat, looking after children and working Union is careful to relate all subjects to the women and children who had oil poured in the fields have not dimmed their hopes daily lives and concerns of the women and over them and who were burned to death. of an education. In the villages and refugee accepts that emancipation from male and In 1985 the Ethiopian airforce bombed camps we saw many classes. We spoke, feudal domination is a slow process. Solomuna camp for people displaced from through interpreters, to a number of We also visited maternity annexes all their homes by burning and drought. Some women whose strength and determination over the area, from small clinics in camps families were entirely wiped out. Also in made a deep impression. One of the and villages to regional hospitals and the 1985 Ethiopian troops rounded up and women told us why she had come to the very big central hospital. The different raped 91 women around Barentu. refugee camp. “The Ethiopian soldiers units of the central hospital spread over “When I saw the atrocities being com­ descended on my village near Asmara. several kilometres are very well camou­ mitted against our people by the Ethiopian They burned my house and others, killed flaged, half underground and hidden by soldiers,” Metmet explains, “I could not my husband and children.” She said she the ever present acacia thorn trees. As bear to do nothing so I joined the EPLF in reached a point where she no longer felt Alemu Ghebresellasie, the head of the eye 1977 to fight for independence.” grief for these catastrophes but deep anger department, said of his operating theatre, As leader of the women’s unit in her and she determined to become literate so “People in the west would not consider it village she organises meetings where that she could work with the Women’s suitable even for their kitchen, but great women come to learn about the twin Union, help other women, and eventually care is taken with cleanliness. We have not causes of their oppression - both as victims win the fight for independence. lost anyone through infection.” The ma­ of Ethiopian colonialism and as women in There is a long way to go to get rid of ternity and waiting-in rooms were clean, a feudal society. Traditionally women had illiteracy under war conditions, but the cool, inviting places. no say in whom they married. A woman enthusiasm of the women and the strength A very great boon to women in recent was not allowed to see her husband’s face of the Women’s Union give confidence years has been the establishment of a sani­ but had to prepare the food and pass it to that it will be achieved. Not only arithme­ tary pad factory which we saw in opera­ him through a hole in the wall. Afterwards tic, reading and writing are taught but tion. The Women’s Union had purchased she ate his leftovers. Women were infibu- processes of economic, political and so­ the machine fron Italy and it produces 800- lated and circumcised, customs which cial change, agriculture, hygiene, handi­ 1000 pads an hour. Lack of money for raw caused recurring physical pain throughout crafts and social issues. The Women’s materials has meant the service can be their lives. The lion’s share of daily work fell to their lot. Literacy barely existed. With the establishment of the EPLF a new chapter opened in the history of Er­ itrean women. They joined the army and THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND now 40% of the front line fighters, are CENTRE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION leaders in the various units. By 1975 they were taking part in the village councils. We visited several, most of which had 50% or more women representatives, QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY WOMEN’S FILM WORKSHOP some of whom are heads of various com­ mittees of Social Affairs, Education, Agri­ Saturday 4 June culture etc. Even women who are not yet Sunday 5 June literate are organising in the villages and 9.30-4.30pm becoming delegates to the National Union Includes Workshops on of Eritrean Women which was formed in 1979, incorporating all the organisations Film Production, editing, writing, reviewing, writing, funding inside and outside Eritrea. proposals, documentary and commercial video making. Maori Women The National Union of Eritrean in television. Experimental and short films. Pornography, Images of Women started a literacy programme for Women in Advertising, Lesbians on Film. Women in NZ television and film industries. women in 1983. It considered literacy essential in order for Eritrean women to FEE: $66.00 includes teas and lunch. participate consciously and fully in the For programme and enrolment forms contact: liberation of their country, and to ensure Centre for Continuing Education their equality through work. It is being University of Auckland or call at the Centre continued despite all the difficulties of a Private Bag 22 Princes Street war in which women are constantly har­ Auckland phone 737-831, 737-832 assed, raped and killed. Drought and the work of carrying water, grinding the

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 13 eration Front. It’s a common sight to see a LESBIAN PASSION: woman with a gun in one arm, and a baby Loving Ourselves and Each in the other. Other. Many Eritreans have returned for this By JoAnn Loulan occasion from overseas - the Middle East, published by Spinsters/aunt lute. Africa, Europe, America. To observe and Drawing on information from 17,000 listen to the Eritrean women is an exhila­ lesbian years of experience, author of the bestselling LesbianSex brings us a rating and powerful experience for all our book about ourselves and how we live our lives, how we want to live our group of twelve women ( and two men ) lives — with passion. $29.95 from Holland, Germany, Sweden, Nor­ way, Austria, Canada and Greece. These people are all very committed to the Women’s Movement in their own coun­ tries. A bonus of our Eritrean visit was to learn of activities of these women in their own countries. SHOULDERS Everyone seems very happy that we are By Georgia Cotrell MISS VENEZUELA published by Firebrand Collected Short Fiction here, hoping we will be able to alert people Books by Barbara Wilson in our own countries as to the situation of published by The Seal Press Shoulders is about coming of age in the Eritrean people. “Why is the world so the 1970's when you're dewy-eyed A new collection of short stories. and brash and a lesbian. It's about "Barbara Wilson is an important quiet,” they ask us. making it through to the 1980's when w rite r, and her honesty and you've survived love gone bad, still understanding of women's lives is As night, with its attendant safety from believe in love against the odds. central to her art ..." Body Politic. $22.95 $26.95 attack, falls upon us, people crowd into the amphitheatre which consists of a huge tent Benton Ross furnished with row upon row of tiered rock seats gouged from the surrounding moun­ Distributed in New Zealand by Publishers L im ited tains. There’s a feeling of expectant ex­ citement as more and more people enter and are greeted by the women’s traditional given to women in the front line and refu­ and work out plans for future develop­ piercing call of welcome. Lots of children gee camps but not as yet to women in the ment. From liberated areas, contested and lots of men too - for this opening in­ villages. The third Congress of the Na­ areas and the front line itself, women have cludes the opening of the Workers Con­ tional Union of Eritrean Women, the rea­ walked many miles to get here. Many of gress and, in any case, these men want to son for our visit to Eritrea, is an opportu­ them are fighters - whether presently ac­ support the women in their struggle for nity for delegates from all over the world tive at the front line or fulfilling other roles liberation. One of the EPLF’s main slo­ to come together to discuss progress made as directed by the Eritrean People’s Lib­ gans reads, “Conscious participation of women is decisive for the victory of the revolution.” Issayas Afewerki, the secre­ tary-general of the EPLF, leaders of the liberation army, men as well as women 4 ^ CARRINGTON from the many mass organisations - work­ ers, peasants, teachers, etc - all came and JLji, POLYTECHNIC showed strong support for the Women’s We Care for Your Future Congress. Now it is the turn of the foreign visitors COURSES MAY-NOVEMBER 1988 to come to the podium and give their mes­ sages of support to the Congress. Claudia FULL TIME (study grant) from Austria begins “Dear women”, Accountancy (NDA), Automotive Pre-Trades, pauses, looks up, adjusts course, “and dear Business Studies (NCB), Horticultural Skills, men”. Our New Zealand message was de­ Reception, Tracing livered to the combirled Congresses of Workers and Women and was very warmly received. Each of us finds differ­ ACCESS COURSES (short, full-time, training allowance) ent words to express our admiration for Academic Catch-up, Automotive Skills, Basic Building, what Eritrean women are doing and our Basic Welding, English and Job Entry Skills, Fibrous own need of this ‘model of success’. Plastering, Introduction to Carpentry and Joinery for After the opening session in which the Women, Introduction to Metal Trades, Introduction to progress of the union is outlined and a Timber Trades, Roofers Assistant, Survival Skills in simultaneous English translation pro­ vided, the following sessions are restricted English, VDU and Microcomputer Operators, Welding to Eritrean women only, but at their con­ 4711, Women Back to Work, Work Preparation clusion we are briefed by Askalu Menk- erios, member of the central committee PART TIME Adult Office Management, Beekeeping, and newly elected general secretary of the Community Work Training, Computing, Craft, English as a women’s union. She mentions the in­ Second Language, Horticulture, Management (NZIM), creased number of women on the central and executive committees (sixty one and Maori (evening or three week intensive), Navigation, Small thirteen, and six alternative members) to Business Management, Welding, Word Processing cope with the increased workload. In the past they have been helped by the EPLF For further details contact: Private Bag Mount Albert and other unions, but now the women were Auckland 3 Phone: 894180 prepared to do the work themselves. They would base their efforts on the skills and

14 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 capabilities of women - women from the hours, isn’t in it. Helen Connon, first any occupation, background, religion or EPLF economic, health, agriculture and woman in the country to graduate with race. But they must be women for whom other sections - to start the departments of honours, an early headmistress of some information exists. I am afraid that the Women’s Union and get help from in­ Christchurch Girls High School and an it’s no use telling us you have a fantastic side and outside Eritrea. They would invite important role-model for younger great-grandmother unless there is infor­ skilled Eritrean and non-Eritrean women to women, figures only in a brief comment mation available on her. Perhaps she left come and give short courses. Their plans at the end of an article on her husband. diaries, correspondence, printed materi­ aimed at getting rid of illiteracy, improving Anna Stout, a prime mover in the move­ als. We can get busy on women like that the health conditions of mother and child, ment for women’s suffrage and in the even if (in male terms) their lives were and improving the economic condition of Women’s Christian Temperance Un­ “unimportant”. women and their skills so that ultimately ion, is also treated as a wifely append­ There are, of course, Dictionary work­ they could be self reliant. They hoped to get age. ing parties both regional and thematic, all increased financial support from the grow­ Not only do men predominate in this over the country, trying to identify sub­ ing membership both inside and outside 1940 production, but they tend to be jects and to collect information on them. Eritrea. The Union was going to have its men of a certain kind: soldiers, politi­ But working parties often have difficulties own research unit. cians, clergy. They also tend to be men in finding women and some of them are With war and drought, Askalu said, they of a certain colour: white. There are few not as interested in the matter as they could realised the immensity of the problem. articles on Maori people and they are be. This is the reason the women’s net­ From our observation of the perseverance written from a Pakeha perspective. work has come into being. It includes and dedication of the Eritrean women and But that was 1940. Times change Dictionary staff such as Claudia Orange, the progress already made toward equality, and so do historians. The editor of The the deputy editor and others, and a few vol­ we do not doubt that they will eventually Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, untary workers, such as myself. succeed. Dr W H Oliver, has a very different Along with the working parties we have policy from Scholefield’s. There are to collected information on well-known be more women in this work, more “or­ women. But we need to discover or to be dinary” people, representatives of par­ told about many more in order to ensure that women are well- represented. The period we are working on now - women active be­ WANTED - tween 1870amd 1930 — is an important one, a WOMEN, time when women gained the vote and WOMEN, broke into new occupa­ WOMEN tions. We are convinced that we can add consid­ erably to our list of Beryl Hughes women. But we do need writes about a your help. search for the Any sizable amount women from our of information you can past, and asks provide on woman of for help with it. this period will be put to use. The Dictionary > staff, in addition to pro- W hat’s spread all over the country and £ ducing eventually eight | volumes, is building up lives in a little build­ ing near the Beehive? £ a biographical archive The Dictionary of New o which will be computer- Zealand Biography. o 'sed and available for Who are elusive, fas­ o researchers indefi- cinating, frustrating? nitely. The number of subjects who can get The women subjects of the dictionary. And into a volume is 500- 600. The archive will who are ruthless, de­ termined, fanatical, reciting names, contain material on a ticular groups (including ethnic groups) much greater number of people. In time names, names in their sleep? The and professions and there will be sepa­ there will be thousands of subjects in the women’s network for the Dictionary of rate Maori volumes. archive who will not appear in the Diction­ course. My particular concern is with ary. Broadsheet readers hardly need to be women. I am a member of the women’s If you can help with information, please told that women are, to a large extent, network of the Dictionary, which tries get in touch with me, giving, if you can, both “hidden from history” everywhere. Here’s a to identify possible women subjects and married and single names of the women. New Zealand example: A Dictionary of to collect information on them. (We are This is important since some women have New Zealand Biography, edited by G H not concerned with articles on the several surnames over time and can be a Scholefield and published in 1940 by the people chosen as these are commis­ researcher’s nightmare. Since the women Department of Internal Affairs, allotted sioned by the editor.) Can Broadsheet on the Dictionary staff are extremely busy only two per cent of the entries to women. readers help us with information on I have offered to deal with postal responses The 98 percent given to men included many women? We are interested at present in in the first instance and then pass the mate­ of truly monumental importance. Yet Freda people who were active between 1870 rial on to the staff. du Faur, the first woman to climb Mount and 1930 for inclusion in the volume to Please send information to: Beryl Cook, breaking the previous record by two be published in 1992. They can be of Hughes, 11 Central Tee, Wellington 5

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 15 WOMEN’S HEALTH NEW WOMEN’S SURVEY FICTION Pat Symes writes of a study undertaken by three staff members of the Otago School of Medicine, and published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, 24 February, 1988. (Maybe now some notice will be taken of what women's health groups have been saying for years,)

The researchers randomly selected 2000 women, both urban and rural, and asked them to comment on health care services. A significant number were critical of their GPs poor communication skills. They complained that consultations were often hurried, with too little time to find out what was wrong. A lack of doctors was a problem in some areas, giving either no fa*Co'frMfltiA fiw^us choice or limited accessibility to a doctor after hours. Many deplored doctors’ un­ willingness to do home visits. Cost to the debts. of many western countries. They have a consumer was another major complaint. Women in particular are more vulner­ better ratio of doctors to patients than we An earlier study showed a decrease in able to poor medical treatment. To start do in New Zealand (120 families per doc­ child consultations and another found that with, medicine has been male dominated, tor) and entered the high tech field with fewer women attended their GP because resulting in a traditional neglect of heart transplants in 1985. Yet this is a of the cost. women’s areas of health. Felicity agrees country that many would call “Third Most of those who had criticisms were with THAW about the attitudes of some World”. It is just a matter of government busy women: most had children and a job doctors. priorities. outside the home. A frequent complaint “New Zealand could learn from Cuba,” Doctors in Cuba have a better attitude was the amount of waiting expected of she says. She visisted Cuba in 1985 with a towards their patients than many doctors consumers, either waiting time for an work brigade and found they have given here. In a country based on a socialist operation, or just waiting around at a clinic top priority to health and education, have philosophy, they are not an elitist group as or a hospital. For women with pre-school worked hard to improve nutrition and our doctors tend to be. children, this created problems trying to hygiene, have improved basic care such as While economics is part of the answer, entertain yongsters in unsuitable sur­ providing immunisation and now have a making health services answerable to the roundings. Delayed appointments caused public health sytem that would be the envy consumer is also important. ■ further stress for women who had to get home for school-aged children. The report finishes with the comment “Consumer choice and accessibility of facilities and personnel need to be high priorities when new (health) schemes are being introduced.’’ I asked Felicity Brereton, a doctor who works in general practice, whether she thought these criticisms were justified. “Unfortunately, yes, some of the criti­ cisms are fair,” she said. Felicity partly blames the lack of government funding, resulting in too few people in the health system and insufficient resources. Economics has a lot to do with the poor service that consumers receive. A general practice has to be run as a business and this means that consultations have to be 10 to 15 minutes long if the business is to be viable. (See “To Market To Market To Milk the Health System” in Broadsheet 156, March 1988, for arguments against running health services as businesses.) It is not possible to practice a humanitarian system if financial considerations are paramount. During an economic recession there are inevitably bad debts and maybe patients are refused care because of their

16 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 Love W omen O r D ie

I can’t stand the phrase “cultural feminism”, I reach for my gun! A ux Dobkin LESBIAN, SONGWRITER/ l see myself as an educator, SINGER, EDUCATOR, lives that they don’t want to have any­ even more than an entertainer, thing to do with it, and I certainly under­ and I believe in fun! You can’t have AMERICAN, WAS IN stand that. On the other hand I feel okay a revolution without fun. I’ve always with butch and femme. I didn’t grow up been very political. I was raised in a very NEW ZEALAND with it, I came to it long after I had political, progressive household. My RECENTLY GIVING established a very strong identity for parents were Communists in the forties myself, so I find it fun. It’s not restrict­ and early fifties and politics has always CONCERTS FOR ing to me, I can define it any way I want. been central to my life. I was a commu­ WOMEN. WHILE IN To me it’s a liberating idea, to others it’s nist myself when I was 16, from 1956, not. We have to be very careful with our through to ’61 or so. AUCKLAND SHE history and very careful who we con­ I knew I loved women and I had demn, especially within our own com­ crushes on girls, but I didn’t want to live TALKED TO munity. We need to redefine it, not to the Lesbian life. Because when I was in PAT ROSIER romanticise the past, but to build on it. college I met my first Lesbians and they I was a heterosexual folk singer in the were all into the bar scene, there was a PHOTOS: SAND HALL sixties. I sang a few protest songs but lot of alcohol, it was very depressing. So mostly Scottish, Irish, American and I made that choice, even though it was be visible in the days when it wasn’t so Spanish folk songs. I was known as the very exciting to me, I didn’t want to be easy to be visible. A lot of us, we kid international folk singer. “Miss Alix that. So when Lesbian feminism came around and we talk about “butch” and Dobkin, international folk singer, sings along I was ready! That gave me a “femme”. In the area of the Michigan in 14 languages,” Of course that counts political context to come out in - I festival that I worked at last year we had Chilean, Argentinian, Mexican and wouldn’t have come out without Les­ signs up in the tent. And one of them was Spanish as four languages. I was sup­ bian feminism, because I was relatively “hutches have tender hearts” and the porting myself with my singing, but happy as a heterosexual, I liked men, I other was “femmes can do anything, then I’ve always had a very marginal liked sex with men, I hung out with men they just don’t want to”. We have to living, so I don’t need all that much. a lot. But when Lesbian feminism came honour those women, at the same time When I came out as a Lesbian I got a along then I had a political world and sorting out what was good in these roles whole new set of politics - feminist ideology. and what is not good. There are some politics. I feel that music is the most I honour those women, those bar women who are so turned off by what effective way of getting ideas across. If dykes, who were courageous enough to butch and femme has meant in their I knew of another way that was more ef-

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 17 fective, I would be doing that. But I love music, I’d die without it, so I don’t want For me music is the most effective to disparage music or downplay it. I also lecture in the United States. way of getting ideas across My lecture topic is “Women-hating Racism and Violence in the Top 40” and them - not all - do not acknowledge our These are vitally important to Lesbians it’s a multi-media presentation that 1 do culture as Lesbian culture, do not say wherever I go. To me this says we have in colleges and universities in the the word Lesbian, are not specifically a culture. Not to mention the history we United States and I’ve done it quite focused and centred on women. have, which Judy Grahn talks about in extensively in Canada as well. I talk Our Lesbian culture is remarkable. Another Mother Tongue. It is so impor­ about pop music and the images and the I’m in a very privileged position, I get to tant for us to realise we have a culture messages that it puts across. I show travel all over and everywhere I go I’m because when you’re isolated and you slides and play tapes and we read lyrics with Lesbians because I always stay in lose track of that you can’t tell, you and discuss the content of don’t know who you are. pop music. I’ve been The ear-rings, the t-shirts, doing it about eight the badges, everywhere I years. I would like to do a go it’s the same, but with programme for younger their own particular style. people, but high schools I always considered have no budget. separatism to be more of a I’m not planning an­ consciousness than a other record at the mo­ lifestyle. It’s a set of pri­ ment. First of all, I don’t orities, it’s my centre. have enough material, Separatism means to me and secondly I’m in great that I put myself first and personal debt from the then I put Lesbians and last LP and a 3-track ex­ then women and then eve­ tended play I did in ’85. rybody. Those are my So I’ve got to pay those priorities. There are sepa­ off before I can really ratists who would dis­ think about making an­ agree with m e - I ’ve been other record. The loans called a “middle of the are long term ones, but I road” separatist, which is feel very responsible for okay. It’s hard to really them and don’t want to take on more their homes. And it’s always so much trace how your ideas change unless you debt. the same, no matter what country I go to, read something that you wrote earlier. Lesbian culture, for me, has always no matter what part of the States. I’ve written mostly songs, of course and been culture that is by, for and about There’s always posters, the same kind I still agree with all the songs that I women. We call it women’s culture, of feeling, the same kind of books, wrote in my most heavily separatist because it might scare women away if there’s so often crystals or little collec­ days. we used that terrrible, difficult word, tions of stones, feathers, shells the same I don’t know that my ideas about “Lesbian,” but it is Lesbian culture as kind of jewellery, and it’s the same kind separatism have changed over the years, far as I am concerned because “lesbian” of issues that we’re all going through. but my practices have changed. I used to includes all of women’s concerns if they Always relationships issues. We’ve do women-only events exclusively, are centred on women. The minute they moved, I think, tremendously on those now I do mixed concerts in the US when get centred on men it’s no longer lesbian issues. Lesbian feminism is maybe 20 the occasion suits. When there’s a big culture and as far as I’m concerned it’s years old, and I have 16 years of it gay event or if I can’t get produced no longer women’s culture. There are behind me, so we have this body of women-only in a place and I want to go some who disagree with that definition experience and we’ve learned a lot. there, then I’ll do a mixed concert. I’ve and more and more women’s record­ What I love to see is a group of ex-lovers been doing this for three years or so, first ings in the United States include men hanging out together and having a good of all because I couldn’t make a living playing or arranging the music. I myself time. There’s just a certain kind of doing women-only exclusively and worked with a male engineer on three of atmosphere that’s universal when dykes secondly because I want to reach as my tunes for my latest album. And that get together - it ’ s so clearly dyke energy many people as I can with my message. was because I asked Carol McDonald to and it crosses every boundary that I’ve I’ve always been able to talk to men. do the arrangement for and produce experienced. So there is that culture and I never lost touch with my father and my three of my tunes and she works with a there is the literature, the music, the family even in my most separatist days. man, so if I wanted to work with her I comedy (we have some Lesbian comics But I still don’t like little boys at con­ had to work with a man. So we did and in the United States who are very good), certs when they’re women-only, so that it turned out beautifully. He was won­ so it’s really a consciousness, an envi­ hasn’t changed. There are some situ­ derful, very supportive, very helpful, no ronment and values. ations when I can’t do anything about problem. That was quite a change for that - last night in Auckland, for ex­ me. ample, there were little boys there. By There are very few women-only the time I got on they were sleeping. concerts in the states, the festivals are They don’t like my concerts, they don’t really the women-only events. For quite E lv e ry w h e re I go there are like the energy of concerts that are really a while there has been an increasing lesbians working on environ­ specifically geared for women and trend for performers to mention women mental issues, land rights, racism Lesbians, they always act out, and start and Lesbians less and less, and I’m talk­ issues, how we treat each other, fighting with each other or beating up ing about Lesbian performers. Many of how we relate to each other. somebody else.

18 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 But of course the point is not how they feel about it, the point is that Lesbian culture, for me, has always women-only space is just that, and that means no males. I think there are things been culture that is by, for and that should happen for everybody, there should be family events, there should be about women. events that are without children. I’m a care. And we thought all these boys ourselves feel good. Women have tradi­ mother, I have a 17 year old daughter would come and we’d tell them how it’s tionally worked for everyone else but and I hated it when she would come to nothing personal, and not to get their ourselves. And that’s one of the things my concerts when she was four, five, six feelings hurt, because it was nothing to that's revolutionary about Lesbian years old. It was too much, to ask a kid do with them, and we would explain and feminism, about the kind of work that I to listen and pay attention and my con­ they wouldn’t feel bad. I don’t want do. We put ourselves first, we take care certs require that. I don’t do party music anyone to feel bad. of ourselves. This is a very revolution­ things, you have to concentrate, and Well, we got to the childcare area and ary idea. when that’s broken it really destroys the there were no boys at that workshop. So, I can understand how some effect. So I think there are some events And they knew about it. None of the would object to it because nothing is that should be child-free. boys were interested. They were all truly “serious” unless it has the approval I love to watch kids, they’re fascinat­ circling this group of girls with sticks of men. And that’s really what they’re ing. And that’s a problem. I was watch­ and masks playing “terrorists”. It was so saying - we don’t do serious work un­ ing them last night during one of the difficult! So we sat and talked to the less there’s some male approval in there sets, and I shouldn’t have been. I would girls, who were interested in women- somewhere. That’s why the other issues much rather have been focused on the only space. There were a dozen girls like racist, environmental and peace performer. So I think we need all kinds aged five to 15 and they sat around and issues are, in that sense, “safe” issues. of events and I definitely think we need talked about how they wanted girl-only They are not really revolutionary, women-only events, and that does not space because they didn’t like being they’re reformist, just a different ver­ include boys. with the boys because the boys always sion of the same old thing, because A very important point here is that beat them up and took things away from socialism and capitalism are both sons boys need to learn respect for women- them and gave them a hard time. We of the patriarchy. only space at an early age, and it doesn’t didn’t lead the discussion, we just sat And so, I think back to the early have to be done in a hostile way - and listened to these girls talking. So, 1970s, to an article that Jane Alpert “You’re bad, so you can’t come to this” let’s have a little respect for our daugh­ wrote. She was a radical involved with, - that’s unnecessary. It really depends ters. If an 11 year old girl goes to a I think, the Weather Underground, one entirely on the attitude of the adults, of women’s event and there’s a ten-year- of the radical male groups, and she was the women who are responsible for this old boy there, she’s not going to want to involved very deeply in socialist poli­ boy, to let him know that he can’t go take her shirt off like all the women tics in the United States. She wrote an everywhere. Among some aboriginal there, who don’t care about a ten-year- article called “Mother Right” and it was tribes there’s no question about it in old boy, but she does. I think the lack of a great scandal because in it she exposed their culture, when they have their boy-free space is disrespectful to girls, the male left as anti-feminist and as sacred women’s space, their sacred so we have to think about that as well. male chauvinists. She described meet­ women’s meetings, a boy who has been ings at which feminism was discussed raised in the Koorie tradition wouldn’t and the decision was reached that if the even dream of going. It’s not a reflec­ male left, or these groups, could not tion on his personality, it’s just the way control feminism they wanted to de­ it is. Women have to have our own space l can’t stand the phrase “cul­ stroy it. So whenever I hear our culture and it’s very important in his upbringing tural feminism,” I reach for my being described as “cultural feminism” that a boy realises that he has to have gun! The under-valuing of women’s I immediately think “this is part of the respect for women’s privacy. culture is a very typical male left, con­ male left plot to destroy our move­ I’ve been dealing with this subject ventional kind of way of thinking. I ment”. Because it’s divisive and nega­ for many, many years and I’ve had don’t call the male world the real world, tive, it’s a no-win situation and I’ve seen countless discussions and all kinds of I call it the fake world. Now, Bernice these women at work in women’s and experiences where little boys have in Reagon, she’s brilliant, she’s in Sweet lesbian’s groups and when they raise fact disrupted, and interfered with Honey in the Rock and she’s done an issues of race and class it’s done in a women’s enjoyment of an event, and awful lot of work on coalitions, she does way which means there’s nothing you that should not happen. workshops on working in coalitions. can do to satisfy them. They take the It has also raised interesting points She talks about working with people leaders, the women who have put them­ about childcare and should there be girl you’d never want to hang out with but selves out, and they make them targets childcare and boy childcare. I went to you work with them for certain ends. and destroy their credibility and accuse the West Coast Women’s music and She says that it’s fine to do coalition them of these horrible, horrible things. Comedy Festival in 1980, the first one, work, and you have to do it, but you The fact is that we need our goodwill, and there was a tremendous controversy have to have a home. We have to have a and we need the space to do things the about boys not being allowed at my place to come home to, and that’s what way we need to. The bottom line of concert. (Boys up to ten could go any­ Lesbian Culture is to me, it’s my home. feminism is that each woman is her own where at that festival.) So I got in a lot It’s also my world, because I’m fortu­ final authority, that’s what it says to me. of trouble. There were women scream­ nate enough to be able to work in it and I have to make decisions based on my ing at me telling me they hated me, it stay with women, but for women who heart, and I can’t have anybody telling was a nightmare. So at the next festival, have to go out into the fake world, our me that’s incorrect. My heart tells me the next year, I organised a couple of culture is our home base. that racism is intolerable in an interna­ workshops with my lover. One for I think it’s interesting how academic tional Lesbian Community. It’s in our women, about why we need women- and left-wing types put down making own best interests to combat racism, not only space, and one for the kids in child­ ourselves feel good. We have to make because it will be good for somebody

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 19 else but because it’s good for us and rebels. There’s always going to be some self-hatred, and it’s not an easy or short­ that’s the bottom line. That attitude is dyke who’s going to have a hard time term task to get rid of it. All our lan­ intolerable to the male left, to socialists, with whatever is decided. That’s just the guage, everything, is from the hetero­ to anybody so steeped in conventional way we are, natural anarchists. On the patriarchy, so of course we’re going to male political thinking that they see other hand, some of the so-called politi­ carry around all these ideas. We make doing things for yourself as indulgent cal correctnesses are really values and mistakes - 1 don’t know if you can even and not serious. ideas that we’ve developed over long, call them mistakes - we leam from our The fact is that our relationships with hard struggles. Whenever somebody experiences, we leam what works and each other are deeply serious. If we makes a reference to being “politically what doesn’t work. Of course we take can’t relate to each other, how can we incorrect” I always wonder, if she’s all these values with us, even to women- change and improve anything? I know a going to tell a racist joke next. We’ve only spaces, we’re not automatically a politician who comes from my part of struggled long and hard to confront hundred per cent where we want to be. the world in the Catskill Mountains, and some of these issues and we can’t throw The older I get the more I see it in a long he’s right-on about every issue - toxic the baby out with the bathwater. It is all term perspective. This is a very long waste, all the issues. Yet, he beats his values, and I think the values of our term project. wife. Where is that at? What kind of culture must be inclusive. We must I really, really thought, when I came great saviour is this guy? So let’s get it include all lesbians in our culture, all out, that I was going to agree with all straight, the personal is political. How women who love women. Lesbians, because I was a Lesbian. I you conduct your life, how you relate to really believed that. With 16 years people, what your values are. These are under my belt I don’t believe that any crucial, serious politics, they’re just not more - and it’s great. validated by traditional, conventional, I live in Woodstock in the Catskill male, old-fashioned ways of thinking. Y■ ou know, there’s an atti­ mountains, an hour south of Albany and The valuing of women-only space, tude that when we write some­ two hours north of New York City. I the valuing of Lesbians is crucial, and thing, when it appears in print, have a wonderful living situation, that’s what these people dismiss with that’s the last word on it. But that’s which is quite inexpensive but beautiful their so-called “real world”. We live in not how women operate. We move on and comfortable. I travel most of the the real world, we have to survive in the from each other. We take what’s good year and really like it. I’m always with real world. W e’re not stupid, we’re real and move on from there, the last chapter Lesbians. I get to come to places like smart, Lesbians are very smart. And has not been written. We need each Aotearoa and Australia, and I’m going Lesbians are represented in dispropor­ other to bounce off, to feed from, to to England in June, and I travel all over tionate numbers in every progressive learn from, expand from, and to value the United States. That’s a great gift, I cause there is, but we have to have a every woman’s contribution, because get to see my best friends, who live all home, we have to have a sense of our there’s always a grain of truth in there, over the States and be with them, and selves. even though you may hate what some­ meet Lesbians everywhere, and get a Our Culture has two purposes as far body is saying. And then you can ex­ sense of a Lesbian community and cul­ as I can tell. One is to empower our­ press yourself. ture. I can experience Lesbian culture, I selves, to feed us so we can survive and But women, especially women who can go from town to town and country to make changes in ourselves and the are one hundred per cent committed to country. Everywhere I go and hear world. We’ve had countless examples women, and advocating for women, and Lesbians talking about their lives I of burnout, of women dropping out, of who aren’t satisfied with safe issues, know what they’re talking about. No not getting stuff back, just putting out these women get attacked brutally, as if matter what country they’re from I can for somebody else’s cause, somebody they had written the last word. But that’s relate to what they’re going through, else’s cause, somebody else’s cause ... not how we do things. Women do things what their issues are. It’s a very privi­ We cannot survive like that, we have to so differently from men. Our mass leged life and very satisfying. I'm ap­ take care of ourselves. The other pur­ communication is word of mouth. preciated everywhere I go, which is pose of our culture is to spread the ideas. That’s how women operate. This move­ great, I love it. And I love performing, And I choose music because it goes ment is one by one by one. which I can’t keep doing unless I travel, places nothing else goes. Every pro­ A good example is Sonia Johnson’s so it works for me. gressive culture, whether it’s the union book Going Out of our Minds. She was Whenever I go into the fake world, organising movements of the thirties attacked viciously for that book because and I go to places that are so straight and and forties or whatever, they have their she puts women first, and that’s inex­ male-oriented, it’s so empty. Turn on music and their culture. It’s a crucial cusable, you can’t do that, you’ve got to the television. It’s empty. This culture part, historically, every movement has make sure that it’s good for men. What is so meaningless and without sub­ it. And what we are is a movement Sonia’s book says, basically, is “Take stance, not to mention destructive and plotting for the transformation of the your eyes off the guys”, pay attention to conflict-ridden. Because that’s how world. women, let’s take ourselves seriously. they know they’re alive, if there’s a It doesn’t matter where you go, city That’s where our power is, and that’s conflict. But women are quite different. or country, we all have to do what we’re the only place our power is, I think, When we get together for ourselves we good at, what we’re effective at. Maybe because men limit women. Whenever might as well be living on another that means for a few years we go out of men have anything to do with what we planet. So to validate that world and not town and we don’t have contact. Maybe do they limit us. As soon as we’re alone engage with these death-dealing forces, that’s what we need to do to take care of together, as soon as we’re working off is crucial to women. When we engage ourselves, and who is somebody else to each other, that’s when we get our we lose our power. tell us that that is wrong. power, women’s true power. It’s very worthwhile to improve the As far as I’m concerned “politically We’ve lived with men in our lives quality of life of oppressed people. We correct” and “politically incorrect” are and our heads for thousands of years so have to do that, that’s one of our values. exactly the same thing, because all it is this is a long term thing. It’s not a five or However, when we engage and give our is an attitude. If you’re snotty enough ten year plan. We’ve thoroughly ab­ energy to somebody else’s cause, to you can be either one. Lesbians are such sorbed all of those sick values, all of the male ideas and to male conflict,>• p 33

20 BRO A D SH EET M AY 1988 Is There Sex After Childbirth?

This article, by Teresa Pitman, is reprinted from Healthsharing , a Canadian women’s health quarterly

“For the next baby I did a lot more doctor or midwife attending the birth can preparation, found a new doctor and knew also be important. A woman who has exactly what I wanted. I gave birth to my given birth with minimal intervention will baby without medication or intervention, usually have less physical trauma and is nursed right away and was back home in more likely to have positive feelings about “I thought I was prepared for four hours. No episiotomy, just a little tear her body and her sexuality afterwards. birth - we went to prenatal that needed no stitches. 1 felt so good, I was Many women, however, find the classes - but in the end I found ready to make love the next day.” months after giving birth a difficult time A woman’s sexuality is rarely static. It sexually. They may experience physical myself laying flat on my back is affected by all the physical and emo­ discomfort or pain, or may simply find on the delivery table, my feet in tional changes she experiences, so that themselves disinterested in sex. As one stirrups, no feeling from the sometimes her libido (level of sexual de­ new mother said, “I felt like a switch had waist down, and my baby being sire) is high, and other times it is low. been turned off.” She was afraid that it pulled out with forceps. I had a Pregnancy is an obvious time of dramatic would never be turned on again. These physical and emotional change, but giving problems seem even worse because there huge episiotomy and it felt like birth doesn’t make everything go “back to is little information available about how a horse had kicked me between normal”. childbirth and breastfeeding affect the legs. Sex? I didn’t even The postpartum period (just after the women’s sexuality. want to think about it. baby is born) will be different for every Maria’s experience was typical: her woman, just as labour and delivery are. doctor advised abstaining for six weeks Having a caesarian section, an episiot­ and being sure to use contraceptives after­ omy, a forceps delivery or other forms of wards. She didn't even know what she was intervention can affect the mother’s sex­ supposed to be abstaining from: oral sex? ual feelings. The place of birth - hospital intercourse? masturbation? According to or home - and the relationship with the Dr Joyce Barrett, a family practice physi-

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 21 cian who frequently speaks on sexuality, vaginal lubrication. Normally, as a this standard advice often leads to fears woman becomes excited, lubricating fluid that sexual activity “too soon” after the coats the walls of her vagina. This happens birth will cause serious physical damage. during the postpartum period as well, but Barrett advises her own patients to follow it usually takes much longer, requires their own inclinations and express them­ like a switch more stimulation and less lubrication is selves sexually in whatever ways appeal to had been turned produced. Women who are not breastfeed­ them and feel comfortable. ing generally find this response returns to One of the most common physical re­ off. I w as afraid it normal within about three months. sults of giving birth in hospital, and one would never be Breastfeeding, however, suppresses that is frequently related to sexual prob­ the ovarian hormones, which can mean lems, is an episiotomy. This is an incision turned on again. that decreased sexual response and lubri­ in the perineal tissue at the bottom of the cation may continue for a long time. A vagina that is stitched together again after vaginal lubricant (such as saliva or K-Y the birth of the baby. A recent study by the jelly) may be useful in this situation. Canadian Institute for Child Health found As a result of these hormonal changes, that in half the hospitals surveyed, more food for the baby. According to Masters many women find they have little or no than 75 per cent of mothers received episi- and Johnson these changes affect sexual sexual desire. Sometimes this improves otomies during delivery. The percentage responsiveness. Even when a woman does once the baby is about six months old, tends to be higher for first-term mothers, not breastfeed and lactation is suppressed, starts on solid food and is nursing less. For because they generally experience a the breasts are generally less sensitive to other women, this disinterest in sex may longer pushing stage and the vaginal tis­ stimulation for about six months after the last through the entire time of lactation, sues stretch more slowly. Episiotomies are baby’s birth. perhaps even longer. often done to speed up the birth, even A breastfeeding woman may experi­ This lack of libido can be very frighten­ though research shows no benefit from ence sexual excitement as her infant suck­ ing to a woman who has previously en­ shortening the pushing stage when the les. Her uterus will contract rhythmically joyed her sexuality. Mary, for example, baby is not in distress. Women who give as she nurses, just as it does during orgasm, had five babies in ten years, and breastfed birth with midwives in attendance are and the baby’s strong sucking may be them all until the next pregnancy became much less likely to be given episiotomies. quite stimulating. Some women are horri­ obvious. During that entire time period she Any episiotomy, whether cut straight fied and guilty about these feelings, and experienced very little sexual desire, and back or off to the side, can cause problems may react by weaning the baby or by began to feel that she would never experi­ during sexual activity. The same is true to redirecting these sexual feelings into their ence it again. She was relieved and de­ a lesser extent of accidental tears which adult relationships. Such feelings are lighted to discover, after her youngest may happen during the birth but which common and normal, though, and women daughter was weaned, that she was once usually heal more easily than episioto­ should seek to accept them as a fringe again interested and responsive. mies. During arousal, the vulva and vagina benefit of breastfeeding. A major physical factor affecting post­ normally become engorged with blood. A baby’s suckling is very strong and a partum sexuality is fatigue. New babies This swelling pulls on the episiotomy nursing mother’s sexual partner may be are exhausting. The mother may simply stitches and can cause considerable pain, surprised at how vigorous the sucking or have little energy left for sexual activity - even if the incision is healing well. Any rubbing of the nipples needs to be before she’d rather take a nap. kind of sexual stimulation can cause geni­ the mother responds. Breasts may be so Constant tiredness is probably inevi­ tal swelling - stroking breasts and sucking tender and engorged during the early table with a baby, but some mothers find it nipples, touching the clitoris with tongue, weeks of breastfeeding that touching them helps to have a nap whenever the baby fingers or penis, licking or stroking the is more painful than pleasurable. When sleeps, or to have someone else take the inner thighs. There doesn’t need to be any sexually aroused, a woman may feel the baby (even for an hour or so) while the contact with the vulva or penetration of the tingling sensation that indicates her milk is mother rests. Bringing the baby into the vagina for discomfort to be felt. “letting down”. During orgasm, milk may mother’s bed at night, so that she doesn’t After a few months, the scar tissue at the drip or squirt from her breasts. have to get up for night feedings, can help episiotomy site often becomes less sensi­ Some women and their partners like as well. tive to the swelling of the surrounding this, and find the larger, firmer breasts and Sheila Kitzinger, author of The Experi­ tissues. However, many women find this even the leaking milk very erotic. In other ence of Childbirth, describes giving birth area feels numb and completely unrespon­ situations, a mother’s sexual partner will as a psychosexual event in a woman’s life. sive to any stimulation. One woman de­ feel that “her breasts belong to the baby The experience causes not only the physi­ scribed it as “a gap in sensation”. Other now.” Some sexual partners dislike the cal changes described above, but emo­ women experience a burning feeling when sweet taste of breast milk and the messi­ tional changes that can effect physical the area is touched with some pressure, ness of unexpected leaking. It may help to responses. even when the episiotomy is apparently know that leaking decreases as breastfeed­ Heather, for example, had expected a healed. This can be quite painful during ing becomes better established, and usu­ natural, unmedicated birth. Instead, her repeated movements of vaginal penetra­ ally stops altogether by three or four daughter was delivered by an emergency tion. Some positions put less pressure on months. caesarian section after a long and frighten­ scar tissue; it often helps for the mother Another important part of sexual ing labour. “I felt like my body had failed and her sexual partner to look at the episi­ arousal that is affected by childbirth is me,” she says. “It didn’t work properly, I otomy, noticing exactly where it is and wasn’t normal. And all those feelings what kind of touching causes discomfort. carried over into my sex life.” Oral sex and stimulation of the clitoral A vaginal birth can also be traumatic. area with fingers or a vibrator may avoid Sandy was given a large episiotomy and the sensitive scar tissue. If an episiotomy her baby was delivered by forceps while causes a long-term persistent pain, a felt so good I was an anaesthetist held the gas mask over her woman should insist on medical attention. I face. “It was like being raped,” she says. For many women breast stimulation is ready to make loqp “For a long time afterwards any touching an important part of sexual activity. Dur­ the next day. in that area seemed like a violation. I just ing the postpartum period, however, the wanted to protect my body.” breasts take on a new function: providing Some women find that talking about

22 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 ness of the situation. Even in lesbian relationships the baby may be seen as primarily the mother’s VISIT LOPDELL HOUSE responsibility, and she becomes the one who must make all the arrangements for TITIRANGI babysitting, daycare, doctor’s appoint­ ments and anything else that the baby OPEN EVERY DAY 10AM-4.30PM requires and that the family can afford. A • Buy your gifts in our quality craft shop relationship which leaves one parent free to go to work or out with friends in the • View our current exhibition May 2-19 evening while the other must find, evalu­ "Paintings by Walter Figgins." ate and transport to day care, take time off for doctor’s appointments and worry • A Special Event "Interiors Handcrafted about the scheduling and suitability of 88 " May 23-June 12. The best NZ crafts­ these arrangements is clearly unfair. Life people, furniture, ceramics, weaving, glass. changes after a baby, and both partners need to adjust and contribute. • Come to our Classical Concert, Sunday If resentment builds up in this area, the USE OUR SEMINAR ROOM May 8 (Mother's Day) at 5pm the mother may find she is less sexually re­ FACILITIES "Broberg Duo" - Sally Anne Brown, sponsive to her partner. A mother who is FOR SMALL Cello, and Ingrid Wahlberg, Piano. disinterested in sex may also feel resent­ GATHERINGS ment if her partner pressures her for sex. AND CONFERENCES • Enjoy a light lunch or meal at On the other hand, a woman can feel hurt The Beat Cafe Open Wednesday to if her partner makes no attempts to initiate Sunday from 11 am touching or sexual activites, being afraid she is no longer attractive. Talking, both before the baby arrives, and afterwards when problems develop, is the key to pre­ these experiences helps them to come to mother and infant are cared for by others, venting serious damage to the relation­ terms with the anger and resentment they and the mother doesn ’t put energy into any ship. Both the mother and her partner need may feel about their births. It helps to other relationships. A Canadian woman to express their feelings, concerns and connect with others who have been from the Mediterranean island of Malta fears to each other as they experience through similar situations and to share described how, as a teenager, she was sent them. reactions and suggestions. to do the housework and cooking for a The single mother faces an even more Even a woman who is pleased with her relative who had just given birth. Years difficult situation. The baby is totally her birth experience often feels dis-satisfied later, when she had her own child, a young responsibility and her financial status may with her body during the postpartum pe­ cousin came to so the same for her; she was mean she has few options. All her energy riod. Her breasts will be larger, may be able to rest and concentrate entirely on her may go into meeting the baby’s needs, marked with blue veins, sagging a little or newborn. This total absorption in the baby with little left over for her own. When a lot, and the nipples will be darker. Her usually decreases as the baby grows older Anne, a single mother, met a new sexual belly will be soft and flabby and possibly and less dependent. partner, she said, “it was like being a virgin striped with stretch marks. She may have Women who give their babies a lot of all over again. I’d ignored my sexuality for a caesarian scar or extra weight gained nurturing - carrying them in their arms or so long (I just didn’t have time to think during the pregnancy. Many women find it in a baby carrier much of the time, feeding about it!) that I wasn’t sure I could remem­ hard to see themselves as sexually attrac­ them on demand, sleeping next to them - ber how to do it.” tive when they compare the body in the may find they are “touched out” by the end Another common experience after giv­ mirror to the thin, unblemished young of the day. They don’t want any more ing birth is postpartum depression. More woman in the magazine on the dresser. physical contact or any more demands than 50 per cent of mothers will have a The extra weight and lax muscles can made on their bodies. Sex becomes “one brief episode of so-called baby blues, but improve with time and exercise. But more thing I have to do before I can go to one in ten will suffer from real depression. stretch marks and scars are permanent, sleep.” One common symptom of depression is although both will fade to a lesser or Sometimes it only takes a short break, a loss of interest in sex. Unfortunately, greater degree gradually. It can take time chance to reclaim her body as her own, a many women with postpartum depression for a mother to accept her new body. Her walk around the block, a meal in a restau­ never seek help and may suffer alone for partner may also find it difficult to adjust rant, or a long soak in a hot bath, for a months. Talking with supportive friends to the changes, and so communicating woman feeling this way to find her interest or other new mothers can help lessen the about feelings is very important. in sex returning. This situation also im­ isolation; sometimes professional coun­ Despite the exhaustion and stress of proves as the in-arms-baby who nurses all selling helps. motherhood, some women find them­ the time becomes a more independent The changes in sexual response during selves completely absorbed by the baby. toddler. the postpartum period are real. It isn’t all in Gabrielle, who had been married for sev­ Even women involved in long-term your head. Sexual changes are normal, eral years, wished during the early months relationships that have been based on an although every woman’s experience will of her baby’s life that her husband “would assumption of equality may find that the be different. Some women find it takes just go away. He had done his part, I didn ’t balance of power shifts after the birth of a years for desire to return. Other women need him anymore. All I wanted was my baby. The mother may discover that she is find that it returns quite quickly. baby.” expected to do a larger share of the house­ Sexual desire and responsiveness will Some women are surprised by the in­ work during her maternity leave (or if she ebb and flow throughout a woman’s life­ tensity of their feelings for the baby and decides not to return to work) because time. The postpartum period is often a their desire to focus entirely on the “she’s home all day, anyway.” This im­ time when sexual energy seems to be redi­ mother-infant relationship for a period of plies that mothering and caring for the rected into mothering, but that energy has time, but in some cultures a period of baby is somehow an insignificant contri­ not disappeared forever. It will be there isolation for mother and baby of six to 12 bution and not real work. The overbur­ again as the sequence of pregnancy, birth weeks is expected. During this time dened mother is likely to resent the unfair­ and lactation is complete. ■

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 23 DALE SPENDER -

Dale Spender’s approach to writing and speaking about women is immediately attractive, powerful and exciting Her whirlwind, packed, speaking tour of New Zealand gave many women the opportunity to hear and meet a woman whose writings they were already familar with. Media Women, The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, women working in When she rang to order some New Zealand champagne for her hotel the universities and some university room, Dale Spender explained that her surname was “ ... as in lots of money.” departments and the Women’s Wishful thinking.DESPITE her prodi­ Studies Association were all gious output of very popular feminist books - she has written or edited more involved in organising the visit. than ten since 1980 - she is still sup­ ported by her mother and other family Alison Jones, the writer of this members who believe she might starve at her desk if left alone. She does not article, chauffeured and have a saucepan in the untouched kitchen in her Sydney flat. So her accompanied her on the Auckland nephew is paid to supply her with half a section of her visit. dozen boiled eggs per week. For the rest of the time she eats with her sister and parents, or from the 24 hour pizza store above which she lives. Much to my embarassment, these de­ tails of Dale Spender’s life as a feminist writer fascinate me as much as what she

24 BROADSH Ē ĒT MAY 1988 WOMAN OF IDEAS Feminists throughout history who have argued for justice, compassion, better relationships - “a better world” - have been attacked and vilified as vicious and destructive writes. But the daily minutiae of women’s believes in a just society and a decent lives are not simply to be understood as world.” A just society is one in which the interesting asides, of course. It is women’s resources that she has had would be avail­ traditional responsibility for the minute- able to everyone; where people are not by-minute emotional and physical servic­ discriminated against on the basis of race, ing of others’ needs which has determined gender, creed or class, “...things that my what else we can do. mother says ‘For heaven’s sake, Dale, In order to write, Dale Spender has Jesus Christ said them before you did.’” eliminated from her daily life all emo­ But as she points out, feminists tional and physical servicing for others. throughout history who have argued for Her life is totally and admirably devoted to justice, compassion, better relationships - her own work. The place where she lives is “a better world” - have been attacked and her study. She rises each morning at 6.30 vilified as vicious and destructive. While am; after an orange juice she runs to her men who exploit, who go out and make sister’s house nearby. They run up and wars, are considered heroes and have stat­ down the local beach, buy newspapers, ues erected to them. (“and get abused by the newspaper man She has a clear and absolutely single- because he thinks we’re potty”), and go to minded positive interest in women which the hot bread shop. defines her politics and her writing. Her At 7.20 am Dale goes upstairs to her work, she says, is determined by her inten­ flat, showers, waters her pot plants. At 8 tion to “enhance” women’s lives, ideas, am she starts writing and goes until 2 pm words, work and to give men no resources (every day). She writes with a purple foun­ (“they already have 99 per cent of the tain pen, purple ink, on special paper, (“I world’s resources”). Her unequivocally like it to look absolutely beautiful”). She pro-women stance means that she is never never rewrites anything because, she publicly rude to any woman; she would maintains, the third or fourth draft is dif­ never publicly criticise even anti-feminist ferent but never better. When two o’clock Margaret Thatcher. (“What I do in private comes she doesn’t want to stop because is another matter”). Nor does Spender she loves writing. She writes with a par­ evaluate women’s theories or their writ­ ticular person in mind, including literary ing. As she said about Mothers of the jokes for them. Her cousin types her work Novel: 100 good women writers before for her. Jane Austen , “when people want to talk At about 2 pm she has some coffee, and about whether they’re good novelists, 1 goes to the Post Office. At 3.10 pm her 10 don’t know. But I know they’re good year old nephew comes in. He does her women.” Evaluation and categorisation, shopping and vacuuming, and eats treats she says, have been created by men; thus and watches TV at her house until 5.30 pm. she dismisses the debates in modem liter­ During this part of the afternoon Dale ary criticism - it is simply patriarchal answers letters, and makes phone calls. thinking which predisposes us to arrange When her nephew has gone home she the world in hierarchies and evaluative often works until midnight. She eats out, categories. or the family bring her food. Such a position is rather odd coming Dale Spender is one of the best known from a writer who explicitly feminist writers in Britain, Australia and evaluates(negatively) men’s writing New Zealand. Her books and articles have (“there are basically three different had a significant influence on the way in plots”). But Spender, it seems, only avoids which contemporary feminists have evaluating women. This uncritical stance thought about education {Learning to has been attacked by writers such as Lynne Lose, Invisible Women, Men's Studies Segal, author of Is the Future Female?, Modified), language (Manmade Lan­ who argues that it implies and encourages guage), women’s writing {Mothers of the an “essentialist” view of all women as Novel, Women of Ideas), feminist theory being inevitably good, correct and worth (Feminist Theories, For the Record, listening to. This has similarities with a There's always been a Women's Move­ culturalist feminism which implies (or ment) and relationships with men {Reflect­ asserts) women’s essential superiority to ing Men). men, and their intrinsically nurturing, Dale Spender sees her forthright and caring and non-competitive natures. uncompromising radical feminism in Dale disputes this criticism, simply simple terms. She is, she says, “basically arguing that she wishes to boost an old-fashioned conservative person who women.They’ve been criticised enough

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 25 She has a clear and absolutely single-minded positive interest in women

by men over the centuries. Even if women in the past led her to refuse to be inter­ that sort of research which is incredibly do have negative aspects why focus on viewed by male media persons. The tables complex and various. If you’re looking for them? Why join men in putting women were turned recently in New Zealand the sorts of things that I’m looking for, that down? when Lindsay Perigo, of the Frontline actually can be used to empower women, While this answer is hardly satisfac­ television news programme, refused to to extend understandings, you want things tory, and avoids addressing the issue of interview her - reportedly when he heard that can take you on to the next stage” how women as human beings are to be that she was a woman (and a feminist?). It From a feminist perspective , “empow­ understood, it underlies all Spender’s was a pity really. Many New Zealand ering women” is a reasonable basis for work - and must contribute to her massive women would have enjoyed watching making research decisions about the use productivity. If things are so simple and Perigo squirm under Spender’s sharp wit, and interpretation of data. I could have clear - that women are to be reprinted, having had to listen to him publicly tell a little objection to any researcher discard­ listened to and not criticised, the tortures Media woman representative last year that ing contrary data or different theoretical and difficulties of critique, analysis and women should be flattered if asked to interpretations if she did it explicitly from categorisation which determine most con­ model underwear on television. a clear theoretical position. Such debate is temporary academic writing can be Dale Spender’s tendency in her writing the bread-and-butter of the development avoided. And justifiably avoided, as a to use her own everyday experiences and of thought in feminism and elsewhere. political rejection of patriarchal thought. those of other women is refreshing and But Dale Spender does not do this; she While Dale Spender would never be inspiring. Rather than relying on the pub­ simply presents her “selective” data and rude to a women, she is positively “ad­ lished words of experts, Dale often uses her articulate arguments about women’s dicted” to being rude to men. This is a the words and ideas of “every-woman” in continued oppression under male-con­ political, but polite, act. According to the past and present as the basis for her trolled language, knowledge, institutions Dale, being “rude” to men involves not writing. Not only do women’s words pro­ and so on. She does not engage explicitly deferring to them, which is what women vide illustration for her arguments, but with the work of other feminist writers are always expected to do; it involves they also offer a clear and powerful expo­ whose approach does not concur with her trying to talk as much as men do, and not sure of women’s lives to which many own. In education, for instance, there are allowing men to interrupt - with absolute others can relate. For example, her analy­ now large number of studies by Marxist- courtesy. She recommends this as cathar­ ses in Reflecting Men of sex as a major feminist and Black women who are criti­ tic, good for the ego, and a “necessary aspect of women’s “management” of cal of the assumption that seems to under­ exercise” for women living in a male- men: “It’s a bit like atonic. Everytime I see lie the radical feminist focus on girls/ dominated society. She manages to assert the symptoms I give him a dose. And women-as-a-group. For example, they the rule “never allow men to dominate sometimes it works and all that nastiness argue that girls’ experience of schooling is conversations” at public speaking engage­ goes away. He’s back to being healthy and fundamentally influenced by their class ments, often inviting only women to ask happy in no time” (pi 16). Or her discus­ and race; that white and non-white girls’ questions. This has the effect of empower­ sion of women talk as political talk in education differs considerably. Thus ing women and, she says with a smile, men Manmade Language : “We often had “girls’ schooling” as such cannot be un­ get very angry about it. arguments after we had been out some­ derstood without central attention to race Every experience, every conversation where, mixing with friends, when I had and class. provides data for Dale. Her frequent inter­ been talking to other women. I would start Similarly, in social theory, socialist- actions with women and men in the media, to see things, I mean, things I hadn't seen feminists such as Lynne Segal and Ann for example, provide her with endless il­ before. I remember being staggered once Curthoys have pointed to the vast differ­ lustrations of the dynamics of female and by a friend’s description of the difficulties ence in women’s lives and experiences male conversational style. She says that she and her husband were having after she even within the same periods and places, most men interviewing her on the radio would do all those life-support things. such as the gulfs between the lives of and television are concerned primarily Well, I was doing those things. Exactly the bourgeois women and their servants be­ with enhancing their own reputation, and same things, and, I was spending my time fore World War One - and, I could add, with trying to rubbish feminism. Often, cleaning up after him, shopping, cooking, between wealthy rural or urban Pakeha she says, male interviewers will ignore her the washing, ironing, the lot you know... I women and poor rural or urban Maori and play with the equipment until the very tried talking to him about it, of course, but women in 1988 in New Zealand. As Segal last second before they go on air; women that didn’t work. You know he could just points out, though, today in Western soci­ on the other hand will chat socially, and not hear the things I was saying. He was ety it is not so much the domestic circum­ ask what she wants to talk about. While convinced I was emotional, and well stances of women, but rather the very women journalists elicit, men confront impressionable.” (p 115). different job prospects open to them, de­ and control. The former is a better strategy The relentless truth of these words for termined primarily by their ethnic and forgetting information, she says, but is not hundreds of thousands of women gives class positions, which provide the major recognised or rewarded by the male media Spender’s work much of its appeal. contrasts in women’s lives. But Spender establishment. Indeed, she points to in­ Such research, however, is not without ignores women in the paid workforce - stances where women have been sacked as its critics. Her method of reporting allows where there are massive contrasts in the interviewers by men who think they her to use only that data which supports her degree of self-assertion, authority and haven’t done a good job if they haven’t arguments. Indeed, Dale Spender is open creativity different groups of women may controlled the interview. about her selective use of data. She ignores exercise, and in the level of respect and These differences, says Spender, are research/examples which do not support reward they may receive. simply an extension of the way women her case, saying that all researchers do this By ignoring the area of paid work and and men operate linguistically in the wider - the only difference being is that she by focusing on “women” as a single social society - most men see talk as providing admits it, they don’t. category, Dale Spender constantly as­ opportunities for gaining the floor. For She points to some abandoned research sumes that women’s experience - whether women, a successful conversation is one she was doing on single-sex schooling for in education, conversation, or the domes­ where everyone has a turn. girls. Half the young women she inter­ tic sphere - can be unproblematically dis­ Her dislike of male “conversational” viewed were positive about their experi­ cussed. She fails to address the “complexi­ style, and her desire to point out that there ences in all-girls schooling, half were ties:” those differences between the lives are relatively few female interviewers, has negative. She says “There’s no point in of working class and middle class women/ 26 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 girls, or white and non-white women/girls Women, p 134). - which are arguably as significant as those Racism is not simply a value system. between women and men. Like class it refers to a set of material Let us be clear: it is not that Dale circumstances which determine the op­ Spender denies the differences between portunities, experiences, housing, health, women. Rather she denies the significance schooling etc available to groups of of these differences. So when she speaks people. about women novelists in Australia she Furthermore, assuming women have a says, “White Australian women have writ­ “common experience” is unhelpful and ten about Black women and not as an alien inaccurate. Our experience - whether of experience, they've often written about motherhood, paid work, childcare, house­ Black women as heroines of their books ... work - is influenced by a range of factors What you find in the women’s literature is which may or may not mean our experi­ that there are many novels about Black and ence is shared. As Ann Curthoys put it, white women sharing the same master and “The forms of sexual division in any soci­ that promotes a certain sort of empathy, ety depend on the nature of the society in insight and understanding. There are cer­ question, on its accumulated historical tainly lots of accounts of Black and white traditions, its mode of production, its po­ women helping each other during birth. litical structure, its ideological, religious, And never in all those novels have I found cultural practices... The degree to which any account of white women seeing Black being male rather than female brings with SELF DEFENCE women as a threat, as vicious, as some­ it cultural value and power varies for thing to be subdued or conquered. And enormously in different societies, differ­ almost always where Blacks are men­ ent historical periods, and within social Women and Girls tioned in Australian literature it is in terms classes, and, whatever the degree it needs by of conquest, conflict and subjection. I to be demonstrated rather than assumed'’ Sue Lytollis think that’s one of the most salient charac­ By focusing on “women’s common (and accredited members) teristics that emerges from the literature of experience’’ writers such as Dale Spender women, and shows how different it is from also tend to overlook the fact that it is not the literature of men”. only women who have been so often ex­ ☆ If you want to organise an 8 Dale counters the criticism that she cluded from control over their own lives, hour course in your business/ glosses over the crucial power relations knowledge, work and so on. All subordi­ community/or town then call beh\’een women by simply reasserting her nate groups are similarly placed. Taking Sue (09)592 495 or write PO Box commitment to analysing and understand­ language as an example - not only has 227-67, Otahuhu, Auckland. ing the power dynamics between women women’s speech been historically sup­ ☆ If you are interested in train­ and men. “I would never have said that’s pressed and distorted, but also ethnic all that is going on. It’s what interests me, ing to become a teacher in the minority and working class speech has 'Lytollis' self defence method, and 1 think it's important to state that this often been treated as linguistically inade­ then please write (including is the way the boys in general behave quate. Dale is clear about her approach to your background) to above towards girls in general...Never in my life such issues: “how men divide up 99 per address by June 30. Applica­ have I assumed that girls’ experience is a cent of the world’s resources amongst tions from all major NZ centres homogenous experience. I certainly think themselves does not interest me, except welcome. there's a common experience there which that they fight a lot about it.” It seems to me is shared by women because they’re that how “men” divide things up via na­ women. There’s a shared female experi­ tional and international capitalism, sys­ TURN YOUR ence. Sometimes in some circumstances tems of cultural domination and imperial­ FEAR INTO ANGER. that’s the most important thing, and some­ ism is of crucial importance to any femi­ times it’s not very important at all... I’m nist analysis. All women’s lives are deter­ certainly vis-a-vis males, going to create mined (and determined differently) by females as a group every time. Girls get these things. one per cent of the world’s resources. I Despite its problems, Dale Spender’s find that fairly important.” approach to writing and speaking about Which women own or control that one women is immediately attractive, power­ per cent does not interest Dale Spender. ful, and exciting. It is inspiring, and fun, to Yet it is this failure to confront such com­ listen to a highly articulate woman dis­ plexities which has meant that radical cuss, for example, D H Lawrence: “If we feminist analysis continues to be unable to put a DH Lawrence novel inside a Mills came up to Dale after her talks, thanked address the interests of working class and and Boon cover who would tell the differ­ her for being inspiring, and walked away non-white women, who often seek more ence? If women write it, it's romantic feeling excited about feminism. That is satisfactory political alliances with work­ fiction, when D H Lawrence writes it it’s cause for delight these days when many ing class or non-white men. great literature”; or women's diaries as young female students sit in university Radical feminist analysis often fails to “dangerous literature” because they often lecture rooms dismissing the feminist even comprehend such a critique. The make suggestions about what to do about analyses of their teachers as “old-fash­ class system, says Dale dismissing a large dreadful husbands; or modern architecture ioned" in what they see as this sexually Marxist-feminist literature, was simply “when women worked in the kitchen it egalitarian society. ■ devised by men, and as women don't fit it, was tucked away at the back of the house. it is not particularly useful for understand­ Now men are beginning to work in the ing. kitchen, it’s designed into the centre of the References When Spender writes about racism it is house!" And on a personal level she is Ann Curthoys, "Politics and Sisterhood” in Arena, in terms of discriminatory “values” which extremely dynamic, funny and seemingly no 62. 1983, and “Feminism and the Classes” in “have been used to prevent women from tireless. I liked her a lot, as did her audi­ Arena no 64, 1983. understanding and recognising the com­ Lynne Segal Is The Future Female? Troubled ences throughout New Zealand. Thoughts On Contemporary Feminism, Virage, mon experience of all women” (Invisible In Auckland several young women 1987.

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 27 Rape

T t d c t A I I j I j X

D ia n n e C a d w a l l a d e r , T ib e ta n B u d d h is t fo r t w e l v e y e a r s , w r it e s o f a p r o c e s s s t il l GOING ON IN THE 1980s THAT HAS CHILLING PARALLELS WITH THE COLONISATION OF MANY COUNTRIES, INCLUDING NEW ZEALAND. THE DETAILS ARE DIFFERENT BUT IN EVERY CASE A CULTURE IS THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION.

T ib e t w as a c o u n ­ t r y WITH ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY DEVEL­ OPED SACRED CULT­ URES THAT HAS EVER EVOLVED, ON A PAR WITH EGYPT OR THE MAYAN AND INCAN CIVILIZATIONS. HER LANDS WERE AS EX­ TENSIVE AS WESTERN Members of Friends of Tibet (NZ) EUROPE. THE STATUS offering flowers at the Auckland cenotaph, OF WOMEN WAS in memory of the 1.2 million Tibetans who have died in occupied Tibet EQUAL TO THAT OF since 1950. MEN IN BOTH BUSINESS AND THE HOUSEHOLD, AND THE HIGHEST IN ASIA. AND YET IN THIS CIVILIZATION THE WHEEL HAD NOT COME INTO GENERAL USE. TECHNOLOGY OF ANY KIND, EVEN SIMPLE MECHANICAL AIDS, WAS VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN.

PHOTO: GIL HANLY 11 contained, nonethe­ to destroy this civilization, less, vast libraries, thou­ to replace it in one genera­ sands of palaces, con­ tion with a communist vents and monasteries laden with art It was supported and cared for by a model. They have tried to eradicate, and other treasures and whole univer­ gentle, loving people, a population unexamined and unrecorded, all the sity systems filled with scholars, its which was independent and economi­ learning, all the libraries, all the arte­ knowledge and mastery of spiritual dis­ cally entirely self-sufficient in its own facts and all the knowledge of this magi­ ciplines have not been surpassed by any isolated mountain ecosystem. cal and unique people. They have gone culture on record in history (or her- In 1949/50, unprovoked, the Chinese further in trying to bury the very people story). Its schools of medicine were People’s Liberation (PLA) Army themselves, their language and their sophisticated and highly effective and crossed the Upper Yangtse River and culture, under an overwhelming tide of used methods largely unknown to the invaded Tibet. Since then, the Chinese repression, ideological re-education outside world. seem to have taken it upon themselves and immigration.

28 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 ny ibetan ity Chinese Communists rose to power in A T C - 1988 the late 1940s, the decision was made to In 1949/50, unify the nation culturally and abolish H Tibetan mother arrives at the hospital UNPROVOKED, THE ethnic diversity. to give birth. She is asked for her pass, Many of the ethnic groups were issued by her local occupying Chinese C h in e s e L iber a tio n enormous, with five million or more Government administration unit, grant­ people. In all they must number at least ing permission for the child. When it is A r m y invaded T ibet 70 million, yet the world has hardly not forthcoming she is allowed to go noticed their eclipse during the last forty through labour, and often hears the years. newborn cry, only to revive and be told The Chinese set out, in 1949/50, to the infant died. The universal method is take Tibet through this same assimila­ by injection. In many cases the bereaved tion. But of all the minority groups, mother will then be informed that she Tibet has been China’s largest and most has also been sterilized. difficult pill to swallow. And today, These acts are not to curtail any though much of the culture has been population increase for ecological rea­ destroyed, the job of absorption is not sons. In thinly populated Tibet the complete, as we can see from the recent motives are clearly political. They are riots and disturbances. part of China’s “final solution” for this In 1979/80, as a first step towards devastated country at the roof of the changing relationships between Beijing world. China’s strategic, economic and (Peking) and Dharamsala, the Indian political goals in Tibet have remained seat of the Tibetan government-in-ex- unchanged since the invasion: trans­ ile, three fact-finding missions were form the region into a military bastion allowed into Tibet. Visiting over 500 dominating central Asia; exploit the towns and cities in 11 and a half months, vast mineral, animal and forest re­ they emerged with 10,000 slides, forty serves; convert her people into the Han- hours of film and the first documented Chinese mold. World opinion has evidence of the destruction that had helped force overt policy change but occured. This is the legacy of China’s under China’s current moderate leader­ rule, 1949 to 1979: ship line Tibet's destruction is, in fact, • 1.2 million Tibetans dead - one escalating. Another part of the “final sixth of the population; solution” is a massive population trans­ • 6,254 convents and monasteries de­ fer of Han Chinese to Tibet. stroyed, their art and statuary ei­ Already, excluding the People’s ther melted into bullion or sold for Liberation Army, there are 7.5 million foreign exchange on the Hong Chinese to six million Tibetans in Tibet. Kong and Tokyo antique markets; In the capital, Lhasa, there are 150,000 • 60% of Tibet’s voluminous philo­ Chinese and 50,000 Tibetans. This is sophic, historic and biographic lit­ the very means by which the People’s erature burned; Republic of China has overcome oppo­ • The nation vivisected; two-thirds sition in every other substantial minor­ of its original territory appended to ity area. (In Manchuria the ratio is about the contiguous Chinese provinces 35 Chinese to one Manchurian; in with only Central and parts of Mongolia five to one.) Eastern Tibet remaining as the so- called Tibet Autonomous Region; • Amdo, previously Tibet’s northeastern province, now called W hy? Chinghai, converted into the planet’s largest gulag, capable of interring, by some estimates, up to TIBET until 1949 was an independ­ ten million prisoners; ent and isolated culture. In spite of the • One out of ten Tibetan women and strength of its Buddhist teachings and men imprisoned and at the close of the integrity and cohesiveness of its the seventies, 100,000 people still in culture, Tibet was untutored in contem­ labour camps; porary power politics. She had no • Over a quarter of a million Chinese friends in the outside world. occupation troops, stationed on the The Han Chinese are a majority Tibetan plateau, have underwrit­ (97%) of the Chinese population that ten two decades of political “re­ includes - or included - many different education” meetings, 14 hours of ethnic groups. The Han regard all its daily labour, no freedom of move­ minority groups as barbarians with ment, no education or health serv­ nothing of value to offer to the main ices to speak of and two five-year culture. They consider Tibetans to be periods of nation-wide famine; one of these minority ethnic groups. The • Entire mountainsides have been Tibetans do not. For more than 2000 clear-cut of their forests and years Tibet has been a completely sepa­ Tibet’s unique wildlife, including rate and independent state. But as the once-great herds of gazelle and

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 29 wild ass or kiang, as well as flocks of The Chinese have set up a segregated bar-headed geese and brahmany social system. With few exceptions, uch of ibetan ducks, obliterated. M T Tibetans and Chinese live separate In sum, a 2,100-year-old civilization CULTURE HAS ALREADY lives, with strictly enforced inequality. was essentially destroyed in a mere 20 In practice, liberalisation has made little years. BEEN DESTROYED. difference for Tibetan women. China In the face of the wide-scale riots of adamantly denies the existence of welcome which greeted the exile forced abortion or sterilization. It has governments’s fact-finding missions, supplied written statements to this ef­ China has forfeited its effort, at compro­ fect directly to the Tibetan government- mise with the Dalai Lama and Tibetan in-exile. In reality the widespread prac­ refugees. Where the policy of the early begin with, you’ll receive a guaranteed tice of both, common during the Cul­ eighties saw a wooing of the Tibetan supplement of $ 12 a month, issued, the tural Revolution but suspended in the leader in the hope that he would return to government states, to meet your need late seventies, recommenced in 1981/ stabilize the region, the new goal is for a healthier diet in the trying altitude. 82. founded on a cessation of all dialogue. That’s on top of free furniture, house­ For the masses, two children is the In its place the PRC has adopted the hold items and clothing. When you ar­ official limit. For the 40,000 Tibetan final solution for Tibet - sinocization rive at your job you’ll be given a title cadres, one. The fine for having a third, (making Chinese) within ten to twenty with the designated salary, far in excess unapproved child - 500 yuan or $200 - years. of what a Tibetan receives. For Tibetans is twice the per capita income. As this is The current policy began in January there are additional discriminations. unpayable, what actually happens to a 1983. Reversing its 1980 promise of an For example, jobs will be announced, woman giving birth to a third child? In 85 per cent withdrawal of all Chinese along with a $2 application fee. Four or Chamdo, three, four and five month personnel in Tibet, the Chinese Com­ five hundred applications will be ac­ foetuses are routinely thrown out in the munist Party, by June of that year, had cepted from the legions of unemployed garbage bins and storm drains of the dispatched 50,000 new settlers to the Tibetan youth, then it will be stated that Chamdo Public Welfare Hospital... plateau. By September the Beijing Re­ only 20 positions are available. For the Since 1980 there have been an esti­ view reported calls for widescale immi­ rest there’s no refund. mated 600 forced abortions there. At the gration to Tibet, age and home leave What do these new immigrants think Gyantse People’s Hospital, which has a incentives guaranteed, with bonuses at of Tibet? They hate it and see it as cold, separate department for sterilization eight and twenty-year increments for all barren, barbaric. There are no vege­ and abortion, the figure is eight proce­ immigrants. By May 1984,60,000 were tables, no rice paddies, and in central dures a day. Many of these children, as en route. A year later the figure had Tibet, barely any trees. You can see one at Lhasa's hospitals, are already full reached 230,000, from 20 provinces lot arriving, with bags of cabbage, on term. across China. Where are all the Tibet­ the buses and another literally brawling In Amdo, Chinese health teams have ans? An increasing number have been for tickets out. But rather than indicate been reported collecting mothers of two forced to leave farming and become an eventual slackening in immigration, children by the truckload for forced dropka or nomads. In other words, they this phenomenon is a transient one. As sterilization. They also operate directly are landless. they have in every other border region, in the fields. Finally, it is common Beijing claims its immigrants are the Chinese colonizers will one day knowledge throughout Tibet that all “skilled labour” sent to develop Tibet make the Tibetan highlands home. And new medical procedures and instru­ for Tibetans and then leave. Reports when they do, like other pioneers in ments are employed on Tibetans first, from every area, however, indicate the other countries, they will be tenaciously for Chinese doctors to be trained in their opposite. Rather than being “engineers” possessive of what they consider theirs. use. Life expectancy in the People’s and “contractors” as they are termed, This influx promises to negate the Republic of China as a whole is 65 the settlers are young, poorly educated cause of Tibetan self-determination. years. In Tibet it is 40. The infant mor­ men, encouraged to intermarry and Rendering internal resistance negli­ tality rate in Tibet is one child in six. settle down in small business or farm­ gible, it will reduce the efforts of the In 1984 the PRC launched 43 proj­ ing. They are drawn by the prevalent Dalai Lama and exiles to quaint, unreal­ ects, costing $160 million, to upgrade unemployment in China proper, inter­ istic claims by the turn of the century. the Autonomous Region. Looking how est-free loans that need not even be And in two to five years a point of no basic resources are allotted in Tibet, it is repaid, guaranteed housing and jobs and return may well be crossed in Tibet plain that none of these endeavours is, the dream that Xizang (the Chinese itself. The infrastructure that China is as China claims, for Tibetans. Rather, name for Tibet), or the Western Treaure currently building will then be ready for they constitute the foundation for ongo­ House, will prove their el dorado. In­ a truly rapid migration to begin, far ing immigration. centives for educated professionals surpassing Mao Tse-tung’s 1952 pro­ include three-year renewable contracts jection of ten million Chinese in Tibet. featuring double the mainland's sala­ As a recently returned western aid Health Care ries, five working hours a day and worker commented, "Tibet is finished.” home-leave every 18 months. Even the Chinese themselves have What’s it like if you are a Tibetan condemned the violence and brutalities WHAT happens if you get sick in woman or man lucky enough to get a job of the Cultural Revolution of the 60s, Tibet today? If you’re a Tibetan in removing debris from mining, doing but the basic sinocization of Tibet has Lhasa you’d want to go to the best road repairs, sweeping or pig-feeding in continued. The most brutal forms of facility in the country, the People’s a Chinese compound? You are likely to Chinese repression may now be in the Hospital. It has 262 doctors for 530 get one to two yuan a day (equivalent to past, and much is being made of the beds. Unless you’re a cadre in Chinese about 70 US cents. All money is given in recent movement towards more liberal employ, however, it’s unlikely you’ll be its equivalent in US dollars.). policies. But has the Chinese pro­ admitted. This hospital is primarily for What’s your pay cheque if you are a gramme changed at all? What is the Chinese. Your hospital is the First newly arrived Chinese immigrant? To nature of society in Tibet today? Workers Hospital. It has 150 beds, no

30 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 outpatient clinic, and only 17 doctors. In Shigatse and Gyantse you’d be admit­ Religion ted to the local hospital, but first your T he “ fin a l s o l u t io n ” place in the eight-odd class designa­ IS TO MAKE tions will be checked, and only then will U IM L T a handful of the hundreds of your treatment - what ward you are T ibet C h in e s e w it h in convents and monasteries being rebuilt placed in and what medicines you re­ in Tibet have been financed by China. ceive - be decided. TEN TO TWENTY YEARS The majority are being reconstructed by What about the countryside? Lhasa Tibetans who pool labour and capital, has an anti-epidemic station charged then apply to the Bureau of Religious with combating measles, whooping Affairs for permission to build. On cough, TB and flu throughout the re­ completion, though, the same bureau gion. The physician in charge is eager to takes over the re-opened monastery’s start a nutritional programme, though administration. It sets a quota for she complains her unit is too small. She monks, who must be 18, politically has 80 doctors - one for every 50,000 “correct” and, according to various people. Each of the Tibet Autonomous Education reports, as uneducated as possible. It Region’s 75 counties has a hospital, then appoints the abbot and sets the under which there are generally four so- daily schedule. An “abbot” in Tibet called “regional hospitals”, beneath H L L Chinese children go to one of today often does not hold vows. He which are clinics for every 2000 Tibet­ the schools, two-thirds of which are re­ monitors his monks or nuns through a ans. What are these facilities like? Take served for Chinese only, while one out network of informers, reports regularly Da Tze County, population 21,000, not of five Tibetan children is able to com­ to the Chinese, and sees that following in a remote area but directly adjacent to plete primary school. The others must the designated study period in the morn­ Lhasa. The county hospital has 20 beds. engage in crude labour to supplement ing, the rest of the day is relegated to It has no operating table, no gynaeco­ their families’ inadequate incomes. enterprise. What is the endeavour at logical equipment, no disinfectants. This labour is often in the fields, but also hand? Tourism! For it is we, the tourists, The “regional hospitals” beneath it are includes roadwork, factory labour and who are solving the problem of how the one-room facilities staffed by a single the like. The illiteracy rate among Tibet­ new Chinese community will support physician. There are no examination ans is 80 per cent, while all Chinese are itself on the barren plateau. tables, no medicine cabinets, no phone. fully literate. The doctor must be summoned in per­ In Tibet today you cannot do much if son, then she or he will visit the patient you are not fluent in written and spoken Tourism by bicycle or horse-drawn cart. Of the Mandarin Chinese. Much of secondary 18 local clinics in Da Tze County, prac­ school education is in that language, and tically none have even bandages or all instruction at the university level. IN 1986, almost 30,000 tourists vis­ syringes. At best, some anti-biotics or The spoken Tibetan language is consid­ ited Tibet, well on the way to China’s TB medicine is available. ered by many to be in danger of becom­ projected 100,000 a year. They exult in ing an ethnic peculiarity, no longer used the most rarefied air on earth, marvel at used to do business in daily life, but used the Potala, seat of the exiled Dalai Jobs and Social W elfare mainly by Tibetans among themselves. Lama, and enjoy Tibetans’ native kind­ The usefulness of written Tibetan is in ness beside their nervous Chinese over- even greater danger. lords. What most people fail to recog­ THE annual income of a Chinese liv­ So what has become of the best and nize is that the money they pay to see the ing in Tibet is three to four times that of brightest of Tibet’s young women and 160 rebuilt monasteries and convents a Tibetan. All Chinese are guaranteed a men? Those not lucky enough to get an does not go to Tibetans. Instead, it di­ job, whereas there is massive Tibetan accounting job in a Chinese office or rectly subsidises the purveyors of unemployment, with no welfare or employment as a phys-ed instructor in a Tibet’s destruction, 32,000 of whom are support systems of any kind for those primary school are literally on the already in well-paid jobs in the tourist without work. Thus, unemployed Tibet­ streets. For the first time in Tibet’s his­ service sector. ans become a further burden on working tory there is a “lost generation”. They Tibetans, who are already struggling to are bitter, depressed and, with all oppor­ survive on bare subsistence level wages tunity denied them, lazy. China has Prisons of about $88 a year. fostered this underclass mentality by the introduction from Szechuan of rot- gut liquor. Called san jiu and bai jui, i n c Chinese still keep some 20,000 Housing these fluids are used by less impression­ to 100,000 Tibetans in the 84 prisons of able Tibetans for fuelling propane the region, many of them in the “Amdo stoves. Chinese administrators in Lhasa Gulag” in northeast Tibet, which, con­ Mil Chinese live in blocks of modern frequently point to derelict Tibetan taining both Tibetans and Han Chinese, concrete housing projects integrated youth by way of explaining their un­ is said to be the largest prison camp with office complexes, called “new suitability for employment. complex in the world. Amnesty Interna­ towns,” which surround the older, Ti­ Not only is the immensely sophisti­ tional has publicly adopted several betan settlements. Tibetans live in the cated scholastic and artistic heritage of well-known political prisoners. “old towns”, which are now rotting, Tibet unknown to the Chinese, it is now Tibet’s present state is perhaps best dilapidated slums, often without elec­ unknown to the Tibetans. Among the described by a single comparison. The tricity or running water. Disease, over­ 1.2 million dead were the majority of prisoner-to-guard ratio in the country’s crowding and crime are among the Tibet’s intelligentsia. How capable are larger prisons is one soldier to every problems they face in these neglected those remaining of resurrecting Tibet’s four inmates. Outside the prisons there quarters. identity? is one soldier for every ten Tibetans. As

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 31 a result, many Tibetans feel that their the United States Congress for civilian country is itself one large prison. T ibetans and Chinese use, were employed illegally to drop Public executions of counter-revolu­ Chinese troops behind Indian lines dur­ tionaries have occurred regularly since LIVE SEPARATE LIVES ing 1968 skirmishes in Arunachal 1959. Prisoners are brought before a Pradesh. A Re-Enactment of the 1962 large crowd, vocal cords tied so they WITH STRICTLY Border war may soon take place.For can’t denounce their captors, arms this, and the chronic instability that will bound behind their backs. After their ENFORCED INEQUALITY ensue, the People’s Republic of China’s “crimes against the people” have been population tranfer is immediately re­ recounted, a bullet is delivered to the quired by the Chinese government. rear of the skull. When women collect This influx will, of course, relieve the their son or husband’s body they are Chinese army of its police duties in charged $5 for the bullet's expense. diers garrison not just the border with Tibet. And Beijing’s original strategic The last wave of such executions India, but every major town in the inte­ goal will be attained - China's “back took place during the spiritual pollution rior. They have converted the plateau, door” will be locked, with a wedge campaign in 1983. At that time an esti­ previously a buffer state between the driven between Asia's two other giants, mated three to four thousand dissidents world's most populous nations, into a India and the Soviet Union. And Tibet were arrested nation-wide and dozens principal anchor of China's defence. will be the sacrifice. executed. In February 1987 in Lhasa Tibet’s militarization includes 17 secret Politically, the Chinese Communist two Tibetans were executed for “seri­ radar stations, 14 major airfields, 20 Party’s biggest failure will not be no­ ous economic sabotage,” a frequently airstrips, vast underground bases rid­ ticed - that they have been unable to employed pretext for the punishment of dling the east and west sectors of the develop reliable Tibetan communists. political prisoners. Three more were Himalayan front, and, behind them, the For with the influx, the few Tibetan sentenced to die and 30 were given ultimate arbiter-one quarter of China’s figureheads currently in place will lose terms at hard labour. If the current po­ 350-strong nuclear force, including 70 any slight influence they might have litical climate worsens in China, one can medium-range and 20 intermediate- had and Tibet will become a truly Chi­ expect an even more stringent crack­ range missiles, based 165 miles north of nese domain. ■ down in Tibet. Lhasa. With two Intercontinental Ballistic Missile bases, the People's Liberation ilitary ources M Army today holds 20 of India’s largest S cities nuclear hostage from Tibet. On John F Avedon, In Exile From the CHINA has converted Tibet into a the northern front as well, China has Land of Snows, published by Michael bristling military base, with tactical and backed up its famous Lop Nor installa­ Joseph and Tibet Today, testimony to intercontinental nuclear missiles. tion by a second nuclear base, less vul­ the US Senate Foreign Relations Fifteen Chinese army divisions nerable to Soviet attack. Committee, September 1987. watch over Tibet. This includes six elite The 24 S-20 Sikorsky helicopters John McClellan, “Tibet Viewpoint” in Hri divisions, present to prevent revolt recently sold to China by the US, modi­ the Vajradhatu Sun, a Colorado in the regular troops. The 200,000 sol­ fied for high altitudes and mandated by newspaper.

• NEW ZEALAND ACTION •

HiI is Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama of Tibet liament. 50 people who turned out in spite of the has called for Tibet to be declared a "Zone A petition seeking New Zealand's sup­ wind and rain of hurricane Bola. of peace" for the world. port will soon be introduced to Parliament "It was a very sad day," said Ms Lardner- The Dalai Lama spoke in September here by Friends of Tibet (NZ), a group formed Burke. "The radio news from Lhasa was that 1987 to the US Congress on human rights in November last year to increase New Zeal­ already 18 Tibetans had been killed in riots issues in Tibet, following a bill passed anders' awareness of the true situation in that weekend. They are desperate now through the US House of Representatives in Tibet. with so little left to lose. We are working ur­ June which addressed the human rights Auckland spokesperson Ms B Lardner- gently to get this petition to Parliament to problems and the transfer of millions of Chi­ Burke explains: "We know New Zealand en­ draw attention to the Dalai Lama's peace nese to Tibet. He proposed a five point joys a special and unique frienship with proposals. Peace between China and In­ Peace Plan: China. The Dalai Lama is calling for the dia is of vital importance to the world - the 1. Transformation of the whole of Tibet world to be his witness before the extinction restoration of Tibet as a buffer zone would into a zone of peace. This would require of the Tibetan race is completed. Perhaps be beneficial to us all. And, as we have in withdrawal of Chinese troops and military we are in a unique situation to be able to other instances, we must be aware of the installations from Tibet, which would enable help ... we have to believe we can, any­ human rights policies of our trading part­ India also to withdraw troops and all military way. The Dalai Lama says world opinion is ners. China also wishes to become a GATT installations from the Himalayan regions now the only thing that can save Tibet." member. We are planning to write as many bordering Tibet. Friends of Tibet (NZ) started a national letters as possible to the Chinese govern­ 2. Abandonment of China's population campaign of action on 10 March, the anni­ ment in the hope that they will listen again transfer policy, which threatens the very ex­ versary of Tibet Uprising Day, the day in 1959 to world opinion. We simply must try to make istence of Tibetans as a people. when the unarmed citizens of Lhasa them listen." 3. Respect for the Tibetan people's fun­ blocked the streets of their city and facili­ So far the response from MPs has been damental human rights and democratic tated the escape of the Dalai Lama to encouraging. The petition will ask Parlia­ freedoms. India. Every New Zealand MP was sent a ment to: 4. Restoration and protection of Tibet's letter outlining the five point peace plan • Endorse the five point Peace Plan, as natural environment and the abandon­ and a red rosb so that they would notice ratified by the US Congress and the Eu­ ment of China's use of Tibet for the produc­ and remember the letter from all their other ropean Parliament. tion of nuclear weapons and dumping of mail. • Instruct New Zealand delegates to the nuclear waste. A large wreath with the word "Tibet" in United Nations to vote "yes" for ob­ 5. Commencement of earnest negotia­ both Tibetan script and English, was laid at server status for Tibet in the General tions on the future status of Tibet and of the Auckland Cenotaph in memory of the Assembly. relations between the Tibetan and Chinese 1.2 million Tibetans who have died since Anyone wanting a copy of the petition or any peoples. 1950, and with wishes that no more would further information should contact Friends of Tibet The Peace Plan has already been ratified die, Auckland's two resident Tibetan lamas (NZ), by the US Congress and the European par­ offered the wreath with flowers from about P O Box 5991, Wellesley St, Auckland.

32 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 tion is hosting the National Conference, Fourth International Lesbians and 13-15 May at Samuel Marsden College. Gays of Colour Conference,Toronto, For details conact your local branch Canada, 29 July-1 Aug. The theme is member or phone WGTN 331810. Grass Roots. If you are interested write to: International Lesbians and Gays of DUNEDIN Colour Conference, PO Box 6597, STN Lesbian Line Update, Lesbian Line is A Toronto, ONT Canada. now run from the Women’s Centre at Cleis Press is seeking contributions to 111 Moray Place, on Thursdays from 7- an anthology documenting and explor­ AUCKLAND 10pm, phone 778765. The Women’s ing the concept of sexual outlaws. Bi­ Non-Alcoholic Lesbian Space, every Centre can give contacts for Ladders, sexual women, transsexual women, Wednesday night, 7.30pm onwards. the new lesbian group; and the Crone non-monogamous women, sex work­ Music, games, food, drinks and various club, for mature Lesbians. ers, celibate women, lesbians, s/m entertainment on selected nights at Just women, “promiscuous” women, Desserts Care. Contact Linda, 893352 NATIONAL women who buy sex, passing women for information. American Author Visit, in July, Judy and other women who generally view Takaparawha poster marking the Norswegian, foundation member of the themselves as living/thinking outside of tenth anniversary of the eviction of Boston Women’s Health Book Collec­ the prescribed sexual behaviours and Ngati Whaatua from Takaparawha tive will be in New Zealand for one attitudes (fantasies) of their particular (Bastion Point). Available from Broad­ week. Phone Sue, Auckland 592495 or communities are invited to contribute sheet Bookshop for $7 or by sending Auckland 836 7982. nonfiction and fiction. Send with SASE $5.90 to Action For an Independent Women’s Spirituality Newsletter, to Frederique Delacost, Editor, Cleis Aotearoa, Box 453, Christchurch. subscriptions to the newsletter, a quar­ Press, PO Box 14684, San Francisco, Bastion Point Tenth Anniversary terly, can be obtained by sending $ 10 to Ca 94114. Concerts at the Gluepot, 25 and 26 May 53 Ardmore Rd, Herne Bay, Auckland. Lesbians Over Sixty. We are collect­ with some of New Zealand's top enter­ Australian Women’s poetry tape ing accounts of love between women tainers. available by writing to Tantrum Press, over sixty by women over sixty for an Research, Carrington Tech adult stu­ GPO Box 513, Adelaide, South Austra­ anthology. We are interested in reading dent requires women to interview or lia, 5001. Include $A 12.95 for each 90 your material. Send your poems, short answer questionaire who have been minute cassette. prose pieces, letters, diary, entries, married about 20 years, have three or songs, photos and drawings. Photocop­ more children and have maintained a INTERNATIONAL ies please. Include SASE. Deadline career. Phone Catherine Gaze 463064. Sistership, a magazine for women extended to Crones’ Day - Halloween Auckland Film Society, Three films by concerned with maritime issues. Subs 1988. Send material to: Old Lovers, c/- Australian women, 10 May, 6pm and $A25 per year for six issues, $A30 air­ WomanSpirit, 2000 King King Moun­ 8.15 pm, at Charley Gray’s. Fifty fifty, mail. Contact: Ruth Boydell, Sistership, tain Trail, Sunny Valley, OR 97497, by Carol Sklan, My Life Without Steve PO Box 1027, Crows Nest NSW 2065, USA by Gillian Leahy, and At Edge by Australia. Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival Solrun Hoaas. For further information National Women’s Studies Assn 10-15 August. Write to WWTMC, Box contact Lisa Kissin, phone 786254 or (USA) tenth annual conference, “Lead­ 22, Wallhalla, MI 49458, United States. Kirsten Thompson, phone 764590. ership and Power: Women’s Alliances for Social Change” will be held at the Women’s Mental Health Gathering HAMILTON University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, To be held in Auckland 25-27 Novem­ Lesbian Links, A Flamilton informa­ 22-26 June, 1988. The conference goals ber at Nga Tapuwae College in tion and support service provided by include exploring coalition building by Mangere, Auckland. Creche, wide lesbian women for lesbian and gay looking at culturally diverse leadership range of food, marae, good access and women. Phone 395939, Wednesdays 7- models that empower women. Call for facilities for disabled women. More 10pm. Drop in also at this time. proposals available form Lori Graven, information from Women’s Mental Dept of Professional Development, 315 Health Gathering, c/- Mental Health WELLINGTON Pillsbury Drive, S E University of Foundation, P O Box 37-438, Parnell, National Home Birth Conference, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Mn 625- Auckland. The Wellington Home Birth Associa­ 8803.

p20 >- we are giving them our power. book she says, this is nonsense, this is reason, with a particular strategy in We’ve done it for ever and it’s never nowhere because we give away our mind. changed anything. They just give us our energy the minute we engage with them. If you just examine the history of rights when they feel like it, and when it We're feeding them and it kills us, it progressive movements, the power re­ suits them. And then when it doesn’t drains us, it doesn’t give us anything lationships have just polarised even they take them away. It doesn’t matter back. more, even with the best attempts of the what we do, we’ve been talking about This is very scary, this is very revolu­ best people to change it. Those that have equal pay for how long? And where’s tionary, it’s really radical, not just pre­ the power will retain it, and they will do that at? Pretty much the same place it’s tend radical. When we have fun to­ whatever they need to co-opt and dis- always been because they don’t want us gether, that’s one of the most revolu­ empower us. The minute we don’t give to have power. And that’s what Sonia's tionary things we can do. The minute we them our energy, that's when we have book is about. She engaged in conven­ engage with them and get involved in our power. But if we’re always seeking tional male politics, she fasted for about their issues we’re sunk unless we have a male approval we’ll never have our 40 days for the Equal Rights Amend­ strong base and we know what we're power. Never. Never. Never. ■ ment, she ran for President, and in her doing and we’re doing it for a particular

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 33 BRINGING UP TH E KIDS —*-—

he committee has 14 members, 11 of T he N ew Z ealand parents experience problems which put them health professionals of one sort the family at risk. These would include or another. The overall tenor of the Board of H ealth’s families in which parents are physically or report is conveyed in this paragraph from COMMITTEE ON psychiatrically ill, where drug-taking or theT summary: “The extensive promotion alcohol consumption is a problem or abuse of positive parenting is proposed as a most CHILD HEALTH HAS has taken place. effective means of reversing the escala­ “Still other families are at risk because tion of troubled children. Social indica­ RECENTLY RELEASED there are vulnerable children such as those tors, such as the extent of domestic vio­ with physical disabilities, intellectual dis­ lence, of child abuse and neglect, of sexual A REPORT CALLED ability, sensory loss or recurring medical abuse, or the rate of infant mortality, of “Parenting". condition. In each of these cases parenting hospitalisation, of children in care and of becomes even more burdensome__” adolescent violent offending, all point to Pat Rosier looks at It is notable that there is, again, no an urgent need to help troubled children. mention of social factors like unemploy­ The well documented social, emotional, SOME OF THE ISSUES. ment, low income, racism - the causes of cultural, intellectual, physical and educa­ a family’s “vulnerability” are placed tional needs of children require to be firmly within the family. The sexual and matched with competent parents physical abuse of women and chil­ to meet those needs. The compe­ dren within the family (just) gets a tence can be enhanced through mention. community supports, wider “Normal” families are not de­ knowledge and increased skills.” scribed but the recommendation Okay, there’s no argument for the promotion of parenting with about the need to promote parent­ them calls for the production of ing skills. But the statement im­ "material on a wide range of every­ plies that domestic violence, child day family situations and tasks” to abuse, sexual abuse and adoles­ be distributed widely to “appropri­ cent violent offending are a result ate personnel”. The report also of "poor” parenting without any asks that “The Parenting Project mention of poverty, bad housing, Group give particular attention to male violence, racism, unemploy­ promoting policies and strategies ment or any of the social factors. to strengthen parenting in families The report doesn’t say that its par­ where children are known to be at ents’ fault if their kids turn out greater risk,” without spelling out “bad” but it reads as though this is what these policies and strategies an underlying assumption. might be. Surely a reasonable in­ They recommend the setting up come and decent housing are pre­ of a "Parenting Project Group of requisites to a successful parent appropriately trained personnel education programme, but they within the Women, Children and don’t get mentioned! Family Health programme of the The general impression is one of Health Department. (I have com­ muddled thinking, which arises, in mented before on the inappropri­ part, from this attempt to classify ateness of a programme for Families as normal or vulnerable. women, children and family health, all In fact, all children in all families are bundled together. It indicates an attitude vulnerable in some ways and the distinc­ that these are special needs groups, sepa­ tions made only reinforce prejudices to­ rate from the main group - which must be wards, for example, solo mothers. men, as there are only men left to be in it.) I have some problems with the use of The report makes some sensible recom­ the word “parenting” as well. Regardless mendations about school and public edu­ ALL CHILDREN of what we think ought to happen it is cation, the promotion of parenting skills IN ALL FAMILIES almost entirely women who do it, so why among women and men and making con­ ARE VULNERABLE not acknowledge this and call the range of traceptive information freely available to skills and activites involved in bringing up young adolescents. But some of the value­ IN SOME WAYS children (after all, breastfeeding is the laden language makes me wince, like dis­ only activity after birth that is biologically tinguishing between “vulnerable” and determined) “mothering” or “mother­ “normal” families. Vulnerable families hood,” even when men do them. To say are identified as those that “have more family, the single father family, families that “he is good at mothering,” or, “moth­ difficulty bringing up their children suc­ who have suffered marital disharmony, erhood was a wonderful experience for cessfully. Such families would include separation or marital dissolution and fami­ him" is not contradictory if they refer to a those in which the structure determines the lies where a parent has died. Other fami­ set of ideas and actions. Perhaps we could vulnerability, such as the single mother lies are vulnerable because one or both promote the idea that those men who get to

34 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 take part in mothering are privileged. The needs of children are described in that the values of many families come into There’s some useful information in the detail and lead on to a description of the conflict with the major values of society. section “Social Indicators of Child Dis­ “ideal” parent. I’m glad I didn’t read this Then there are some principles on tress”. Child physical abuse, incest and when I was involved in active parenting, it which to rest the promotion of positive sexual abuse are included here. But how would have totally demoralised me. My parenting. These somehow seem more to about this, a statement that follows figures kids (now adult) are great people, but I the point than the unrealistic demands of under the heading “Domestic Purposes don’t want “credit” for this, any more than the “ideal parent” list, maybe because they Benefit” (in a list called “Social Indicators I would want to be “blamed” if they are expressed as principles. I would have of Distress”, mind you!): “... over 13% of weren’t. “The ideal parent is one who has liked more emphasis on breaking the vio­ New Zealand children are currently not reached adult maturity and is experiencing lence cycle and, again, a statement about benefiting from a dual parenting experi­ personal need satisfaction.” It’s a very having basic economic and housing needs ence and are therefore disadvantaged”. vague statement, but if it means what I met as a prerequisite. Otherwise, they are Not a mention of prejudice against solo think it does it excludes most of us. I don’t sound principles. Some of the phrases mothers, housing difficulties or poverty as want to knock the idea of having ideals for used: communal responsibility (of both disadvantaging the children and an inac­ mothering, I’d just like to see them pre­ parents); society as a whole has responsi­ curate assumption that it is necessarily sented differently. And I’d like some dis­ bilities; culturally unique needs; change better for children to have two parents cussion about which values they are refer­ over time; empowering; the greatest re­ living in the same house. Even if the father ring to in “Capacity to provide clear val­ source are other parents and older parents is never there? Disinterested? Violent? ues, beliefs and standards of behaviour, (eg grandparents) themsleves; the rights Miserly? as well as at least an acknowledgement of children; the dignity of children. ■

T he day I w as w r itin g th is State paid good child care is a far-off dream, men doing 50 per cent childcare/ PIECE THE ITEM BELOW ARRIVED housework a bloody joke. (Even the nice IN THE MAIL, HANDWRITTEN THE HOME IS ones have very good excuses - making AND ANONYMOUS. A SUPPOSED TO BE money, improving their jobs - how cruel A HAVEN OF CALM, of you woman to try to hold me back - my MOTHER LETTING OFF STEAM. ORDER AND PEACE work is important. Or, I do what I can, but S he h ea d ed it I can’t stay home all day. Or the un-nice AND US MOTHER ones - it’s your job, you stupid cow!) OCCUPATION: MOTHER WOMEN ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT THAT WAY. ome days seem to be much worse omen-only solutions are just than others. From the minute the as unsatisfactory. The woman four-year-old shows her overbear­ friend down the road or living ingly cheerful face at the side of the bed, with us, the mother’s mother are often not makingS immediate demands. “Mum, my W the world seems crazy, violent, uncaring, there to bale us out or require incredible nappies are wet.” “I want to paint.” “I want pessimistic. Come to think of it the world organisation and planning to keep them a kitten.” “Read me a story.” I might try is like the home. The difference is, every­ going. Women-help is there sometimes, not answering but this doesn't work. Chil­ one expects the world to be like this, but though, and often enough to keep some of dren are natural assertives. The techiques the home is supposed to be a haven of us going. But it’s not consistent and it’s not are bred in them. They don't need to be order, calm and peace. good enough. It lets men off the hook taught the broken record technique. Re­ And us mother women are supposed to again or leaves the problems of mother peat over and over again, that’s children. make it that way. He (the husband, the women invisible. It lets the myth that Or I might say “Go away” and feel guilty father, the boyfriend) expects it, or denies home-life and mothering is an idyllic, easy when she cries. that he expects it, but as soon as things get occupation go on. Us mothers are always May as well get up, another wonderful rough he takes off. They all have their being asked by non-mothers (ie men and day ahead of you, smile on through the retreats away from the tensions of the child-free women) “What do you do?” boring, directionless, tiring, depressing home, they go to work, sports, the pub, Some answers: tasks of motherhood. Day after day, the amusement parlours, the streets, or they • I twiddle my thumbs all day getting a same thing, the boredom broken by child leave her to go to another woman’s better sun tan or lazing about because chil­ things - Playschool (if the cricket hasn’t home. dren are so easy to look after and the wiped it out) kindergarten, looking after In fact, the men spend very little time at mod-cons make housework so quick. the child’s friend, cleaning up the constant home, because it drives them mad, other­ • I look after my children. (Blank looks mess. wise why aren't they all fighting to stay in response; may as well say I look after This pre-child sane, even confident, home? The mother women are left by nothing or I fly to the moon.) woman is slipping away by about 10 themselves to go mad alone and try not to • I plan rebellions and plots to get hold of o’clock, ready to cry with frustration. It’s let it affect the children. The effort of enough power to create some excellent the effort of repressing angry outbursts at trying to be nice to him if/when he comes services for me and other mothers. the child and the guilt at wanting to. I know home is often too much. All the resent­ • I fight to stay sane in the face of over­ these fantasised outbursts are unnatural ment (hidden, of course) at his freedom whelming life forces designed to beat because the child is just being a kid. Talk­ boils over into more tense confrontations me down. ing and asking and crying, needing this, and violent outbursts, which he sees as • I spend hours working out ways of get­ needing that, comfort for banged heads, unreasonable and she feels guilty about, ting away from the children. stubbed toes and on and on and on over and and off he goes. Or he gives her a hiding I hope you know, though, that I love the over. All done working in isolation from and then goes off. children. Now I know it's not love of men the rest of the world. Who wants to be in Us feminists try and work out ways that keeps women down, it’s love of chil­ the world anyway? From here in the home around all this. Change is too slow for me. dren. ■

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 35 ON THE SHELF

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KHUL KHAAL Women of C olour Five Egyptian Women Tell Their Stories Nayra Atiya NON fit I ICTION Women of Colour are the focus Virago $29.95 of On the Shelves this month. UNHEARD WORDS Broadsheet has a selection of Women and Literature in Africa, fiction and non-fiction by the Arab World, Asia, the Caribbean women from North and South and Latin America. America, India, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Any titles Edited by Mineke Schipper that you have read and would Allison and Busby $24.70 like to see us stock for other women, just drop us a line with the relevent information. Ro PHOTO: ASMA EL.BAKRY

“I woke up one day when I was a youngster and opened my eyes suddenly and found that I was grown up” - Om Gad. From K h u lK h a a l

Khul-Khaal are heavy silver or gold an­ klets worn by married Egyptian women, not unlike shackles, writes Atiya in her introduction to this book of oral histories. Over a period of three years, Atiya re­ m Africa, corded these stories, translated and ar­ the Caribbean ranged them. Four of the women are from the poorer social classes, and only one from the Egyptian middle class. What is vivid about this book is that the women themselves describe details of their every­ day lives and every aspect of their experi­ ence in a country where “boys are more A Cameroon proverb tells us that “women have no precious than girls,” including circumci­ mouth.” This book proves that women have a sion, love, polygamy, death and religion. mouth and plenty to say with it. Unheard Words is Black and white photographs accompany a compilation of writing from women about their the text throughout. Compulsive reading. experience, their literary traditions, cultural and social backgrounds, and the many problems they AIN’T I A WOMAN face, especially where literature and criticism are dominated by men. One of the most interesting Black Women and Feminism things about this book is the range of proverbs Bell Hooks about women that Schipper has gathered, stun­ Pluto Press $24.95 ning for what they reveal about men’s attitudes to women. She also includes a useful list of further reading. We only have one copy of this book left, Accepted ideas about the nature of black but can order more. women’s lives are challenged in this book. Hooks refutes the antifeminist claim that

36 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 black women are not in need of an autono­ and must learn to take pride in her ances­ mous women’s movement, nor victims of tors and their customs, but as she gets older sexual oppression. She examines the his­ and is educated by her father, those cus­ THIS T-SHIRT toric devaluation of black womenhood, toms no longer seem romantic and excit­ black male sexism, racism within the ing but restricting and old-fashioned. This women’s movement, and black women’s is a story of poverty, caste-wars, supersti­ makes a statement of involvement with feminism. tion and real life. solidarity between Maori and Aborigine. NICE JEWISH GIRLS OTHER FIRES______A Lesbian Anthology______Stories from the Women of Latin Edited by Evelyn Torton Beck America. Crossing Press $25.95 Edited by Alberto Manguel Picador $13.95 Photographs, poems, fiction, and essays recording Jewish lesbian lives. Torton This book is an attempt to redress what the Beck writes that the book’s most insistent editor acknowledges is a sad neglect of the theme, repeated from different angles and writing of Latin American women. Whilst perspectives, is the desire of the contribu­ the fame of their male contemporaries has tors to be “all of who we are.” This book spread from within the continent, the voice ★ covers an expanse of themes, isolation as of these women has remained almost a lesbian in the Jewish community, isola­ unheard in the English language. These AUSTRALIA - AOTEAROA tion as a Jew in the Lesbian community, women do not speak with a single, unified TANGATA WHENUA, blaming the Jews for the birth of patriar­ voice. Their writing reflects the different WE HAVE SURVIVED. chy, lesbians in Israel. The book gives an cultures within South America, the cul­ extensive bibliography too. tures of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Available now from El Salvador, and Nicaragua for instance. USES OF THE EROTIC: THE EROTIC AS Their stories are all important, exploring a BROADSHEET BOOKSHOP. POWER variety of different styles and themes, and Audre Lorde______exposing experiences and perspectives that have been ignored and negated for too Crossing Press $7.95 long. I AM YOUR SISTER: BLACK WOMEN AS LONG AS NOTHING HAPPENS, ORGANISING ACROSS SEXUALITIES A PIECE OF MINE NOTHING WILL Audre Lorde Joan California Cooper Zhang Jie Kitchen Table $7.95 Women's Press $13.99 Virago $17.50

These are both eight page booklets. The In her introduction to this collection of Five stories by one of China’s most popu­ first is a version of a speech Lorde gave in short stories, Alice Walker explains that lar and controversial writers, which dis­ 1978 which explores the erotic as a source Cooper’s work tells the story of the listen­ sect some of the more hidden areas of daily of power within women that they have ing women in our lives, the “sister-wit­ life in Chinese society. Zhang Jie speaks been taught to suspect and suppress. It nesses” that all of us have if we are lucky. out about such taboo issues as sex, and draws an interesting distinction between These are the women we turn to, from satirises what she sees as hypocrisies and the erotic and pornography and suggests whom we hide nothing, who are there abuses - plotting and manoeuvring at that the erotic can be tapped as a source for when we need them to be, and who we work, nepotism, conniving to secure a social change. I Am Your Sister is part of trust. These women struggle for love, prestigious husband, a better flat or job. In a series that presents issues, strategies and money, happiness, and sometimes re­ response to her critics who believe her resources which focus upon the political venge, against Cooper’s background of portraits do not serve the interests of so­ concerns of women of colour. It looks at the small-town southern states of Amer­ cialism, Zhang Jie says that she feels the how to organise around differences, nei­ ica. Her style is simple and direct, and experience of failure is just as important as ther denying them or “blowing them up filled with the ability to laugh and share the success. In these tales, she captures those out of proportion.” It also examines homo­ joke. details that we like to make invisible. phobia, and stereotypes about Black Les­ bians. r _ n ORDER FORM

Please send these books/items: ICTION...

SARE MARE S.K. Walker My name is: Pandora $17.95 My address is:

In the village of Sare Mare (meaning Death to All), the little girl Asha grows up I enclose (please include $1 p and p per book) listening to her family tell stories. She Please charge to my Q Visa hears how her mother was hung with gold □ Bankcard and married as a child; how her father was Credit card number cheated of his wealth and how the magical Expiry date: River Ganga can heal all. She is a Brahmin L J

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 37 POLICING PORNOGRAPHY A REPRESSIVE STRATEGY

— Allanah R yan —

Get your pens out women

it’s time to write yet another submission, this time to the Committee of Inquiry into Pornography

no universal or un­ changing criteria for drawing the line between acceptable and unaccept­ able sexual images”. Defi­ nitions of pornography and erotica depend more on “personal taste, moral WHILE THE INQUIRY GIVES a specific focus for the boundaries, sexual preference, cultural already considerable political activity around and class biases” than on an objective pornography, my fear is that it will do nothing more distinction between “good” and “bad” than provide space for a rehearsal of the now familiar sexual images. calls for stricter censorship of “offensive” material. Part of the problem with trying to make hard and fast decisions about what is por­ WHAT FEMINISTS NEED is an analysis and politics of nographic and what is erotic is that this pornography that is alive to both its oppressive approach neglects how images are used. features and the opportunities for pleasure that it We can take for example the hypothetical offers. The dominant feminist approach to case in which a group of feminists agree pornography, which sees it as a site of unmitigated that a particular image is erotic rather than male power and recommends censorship, is one pornographic, but a man on viewing it, which must be rejected. I believe there are three jerks off and has negative feelings towards questions that must be addressed when examining women. Does this mean the image is now the issue of pornography. Firstly, how should we define pornographic? pornography? Secondly, what does pornography do? The difficulty with trying to “draw the And finally, what should we do about pornography? line” conclusively between pornography and erotica is that it assumes the problem is in the content of the images rather than in their consumption and the overall con­ text in which they occur. For example, the W hat I s P ornography? sexual content of Lesbian Nuns is well integrated into the text and it has been well Feminists are rather fond of distinguish­ received by the feminist press. However, ing between pornography (which is bad) the same content changed its meaning and erotica (which is good). However, as when it was taken out of context printed in Paula Webster has suggested, “There are Forum as a titillating article. The problem

38 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 Feminists need an analysis of pornography that is alive to both its oppressive features and the opportunities for pleasure it offers.

was not with the sexual content per se, but between a rugby team watching a porn the way that it was used. video to bolster their masculine identity In my view there is little point in trying and the same video watched in a family to draw a line conclusively between por­ context where the images may be dis­ nography and erotica, because the line will cussed and the messages rejected. shift with time and between different Rape scenes in porn may confirm the people (even different feminists). This is sexist views of some men, for others the not to abdicate any of the analysis of what same scenes may fill them with disgust it is that pornography does. Rather, it is and horror. Perhaps most importantly, simply to recognise that there is no defini­ pornography is only one site where sexual tive distinction that can be held for every values, desires and behaviours are learnt, situation between a “pornographic” image and it may conflict with ideas generated and an “erotic” one. elsewhere. The most productive way to define It is naive to believe, as some feminists pornography is to see it as a cultural prod­ do, that male sexual arousal will be trans­ uct with specific social and historical lated into aggression. Adrienne Rich has conditions of existence. In our society gone so far as to say that “when the chord pornography can best be understood as of sexuality is struck in the male psyche, sexually explicit material which is de­ the chord of violence vibrates in re­ signed to arouse its consumers. As Angela sponse”. Again, in this analysis, there is no Carter so succinctly puts it, “pornography account taken of mediating variables is propoganda for fucking”. which influence behaviour. Content is Part of its appeal is that it is illicit, divorced from context and the selective indeed it thrives on the fact that it is nature of human responses to images is naughty. It is a multi-million dollar indus­ ignored. try. It is frequently, although not always, Anti-pornography feminists have not sexist. It is often, but again not always, only relied on empirical studies but have racist and violent. advanced the theory that pornography is As a cultural product it also reflects the an important (and some say the most other dominant ideological themes of our important) mechanism in maintaining culture, eg fat women are ugly, old people male power. Lynne Segal has made a are not sexual, and so on. It can also powerful critique of the idea that pornog­ provide the space for an exploration of raphy reflects “the imperial power of sexual identities, desires, practices and men” (an argument used by Andrea pleasures. Dworkin, Susan Griffin and implicit in the work of WAP). On the contrary, Segal maintains that pornography has flourished at a time when women’s economic inde­ W hat D oes Pornography D o? pendence has increased. While it cannot be claimed that women have won all the battles, it is nonetheless There are several different theories about true that there have been significant gains what pornogrpahy “does”, ie what its ef­ arousal actually caused “penile tumes­ made by women. In this context pornogra­ fects and functions are. The main feminist cence” (ie men “got it up” without the the phy represents not so much male power as argument against pornography is that it help of the porn). “pathetic weakness - a gargantuan need degrades women, is “woman-hating” and However, the most fundamental criti­ for reassurance that, at least in fantasy, that it causes violence against women. cisms are those based on the theoretical women can remain eternally objects for Much of the empirical evidence used to inadequacy of the models used. Many of men to use and abuse at will. It is the last support these claims has been misinter­ the studies use behaviourist assumptions. bark of the stag at bay”. preted or exaggerated. Indeed much of People are seen as being passive rather Andy Moyle has reflected as a man on what has come to be called the “effects than active in their response to stimuli. In the function of pornography and he sug­ research” on pornography can be dis­ fact, they are thought to be automatons gests that “it works by denying the reality missed on methodological and theoretical who respond almost mindlessly to any which men know and fear to be true. Sex grounds. “anti-social” stimulus. (for men) is not unproblematic but is beset Psychological studies have been used As Thelma McCormack has argued, by complications and anxieties - those of to show that viewing pornography arouses this ignores that we are “continually sur­ sexual isolation, clumsiness, ‘inade­ negative feelings in men towards women rounded by anti-social stimuli and oppor­ quacy’, the tension attendant on ‘doing it and that these are translated into aggres­ tunities to which we either do not respond, right', of not being or feeling sexually sion against women. Methodologically, or if we do, it is in socially acceptable and desirable. It is in the space between this many of these studies are weakened by responsible ways”. Men do not see por­ anxiety and the fantasy realm of a perfect using narrow samples (eg young male nography and simply take on board what is sexual world that pornography achieves university students who were often paid portrayed. Rather, there are many mediat­ its power”. If Segal and Moyle are correct, for their participation in the research) or ing factors that influence what use is made then, rather than being a manifestation of the instruments used to measure sexual of pornography. There are vast differences men's power, pornography is actually a

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 39 The production of radical and exciting new sexual images must be fostered. reflection of sexual anxiety and paranoia. presses women. However, the process is a cated connection between fantasy and In addition to claiming that pornogra­ complex one that cannot be reduced to a reality. In fact the connections between phy represents the apex of male power, notion that “pornography is the theory, images, fantasy, “reality” and behaviour some feminists have argued that pornog­ rape is the practice”. are extremely complex. If there was a raphy objectifies and fragments women’s What should be recognised is that por­ direct connection between fantasy and bodies and these processes help sustain nography may use codes that endorse reality then women who have rape fanta­ female sexual subordination. This analy­ female sexual subordination. For ex­ sies would enjoy actual physical rape sis, however, simplifies a more complex ample, the idea that women need men to (which they clearly do not), and men who process. feel complete, or that rape is a pleasurable fantasize about being dominated by Objectification is an unavoidable part experience for women. The point is that women would make themselves slaves for of everyday life. We are constantly pre­ many of these codes are also found in non- women (again a rare occurrence). senting ourselves as objects in the world pornographic material, and it is the codes McCormack suggests that pornogra­ when, for example, we decide what hair­ we must reject. phy can induce arousal and fantasies in cut we want and what clothes to wear. All There is a quote from Harlequin ro­ both men and women. “The fantasy may images (even feminist ones) objectify mance that I’m fond of using because it act as a substitute for an overt sexual act; what they portray. Images are obviously illustrates very clearly some of the same it may act as an enhancement of sexual ac­ outside of us. In this way they are objects codes that are found in pom. tivity; it may lead to sexual activity ... that are available for us to take what action “She had never felt so helpless or so There is no systematic evidence that we want with them. There is nothing in­ completely at the mercy of another people copy what they see or read about in herently oppressive in this. human being, a being who could snap pornography. On the contrary, there is Some feminists have argued that porn, the slender column of her body with one strong evidence that sex patterns, once by reducing women to sexual objects, squeeze of a steel-clad arm. No taste of established, are as difficult to change as degrades women. And indeed, sexualised tenderness softened the harsh presence any other social habits, and, in addition, images of women’s bodies are used every­ of his mouth on hers, there was only a there are strong inhibiting factors that in­ where from hard-core pornography to savagely punishing intenseness of pur­ tervene to keep our responses within the selling cars. This gratuitous use of pose that cut off her breath until her cultural norms.” Fantasy, therefore, can­ women’s bodies must be resisted. senses reeled and her body sagged not be taken as an indicator of actual be­ However, surely women (and men) against the granite hardness of his. He haviour. I am sure I’m not alone in fanta­ have a right (and many have a desire) to be released her wrists, seeming to know sising about acts and situations that in sexual objects (ie, the object of someone that they would hang helplessly at her reality I would run a mile from. But as else’s desire). This is in addition to the sides and his hand moved to the small of fantasies they serve as a means to explore right to be sexual subjects where we can her back to exert pressure that crushed themes of power and control, submission pursue our sexual desire for somebody her soft outlines to the unyielding and domination, and autonomy and de­ else. In “real life” it is of course often dominance of his, and left her in no pendence in my sexual life. difficult to separate out when we act as doubt as to the force of his masculin­ Similarly, Segal comments that fanta­ sexual objects or subjects, and the task is to ity.” sies don’t simply reflect reality, but rather, integrate both aspects in our lives. This view of male and female sexuality is “they draw upon all manner of infantile Associated with the opposition to ob­ obviously sexist. It works on a narrow sexual wishes, active and passive, loving jectification is the claim that it is bad that range of appropriate behaviours for men and hating, all the way back to our very pornography fragments women’s bodies. and women and it endorses the view that earliest feelings of desire and pleasure in The argument is that in the fragmentation female sexuality is passive and opposed to childhood”. of women’s bodies, women’s “whole” aggressive male sexuality. What is more, In summary, what pornography does is personality and self is neglected or de­ women consume this kind of romantic provide the space for a rehersal of cultural stroyed. This view maintains that we fiction in huge quantities. attitudes about sexuality. In this respect it should desire the “whole” person. How­ Some feminists have argued that ro­ works using sexist (and other oppressive) ever, I believe it is misguided and naive to mantic fiction is women’s “pornography” codes. However, pom is only one place claim we can ever know a “whole” person and that it needs to be addressed as strenu­ where we learn about sex. The sexual (including ourselves). And I'm not sure ously as male porn. The eroticisation of codes found in romantic fiction, advertis­ there’s anything wrong with fancying domination in this kind of fiction may ing, TV drama etc, are also powerful influ­ somebody on the basis of a fragmented have as much, or even more, influence as ences on the cultural and individual forms image. pornography, on the form that oppressive of sexuality. What is important is to ana­ Mandy Merck questions “Is the appro­ sexual relations take. lyse and respond to the specific context priate response to all this an insistence that However, while we might object to the and use of sexist sexual codes. sex can only be represented or conducted messages that come through romantic fic­ between old friends? And why do we often tion, we must be aware that women don’t defend intellectual or social characteris­ simply and uncritically absorb these mes­ tics as less “objectifying” than physical sages. Many feminists enjoy this form of W hat Is T o Be ones? Is it wrong to fancy someone be­ fiction because it offers a welcome escape cause of the colour of their eyes - and right from the hard slog of being “strong" and D one A bout Pornography? if they agree with you about this article?” “in control”. In the fantasy of romance the These critical comments about the ef­ reader can allow herself to be swept off her fects of pornography should not imply that feet and have someone stronger “make it I f pornography is to be understood in the I believe pornography has no social im­ better”. way that has been outlined here then the pact or that it isn’t frequently sexist. Unfortunately, the role of fantasy in call for censorship is entirely inappropri­ Clearly, pornography uses stereotyped pornography has been largely ignored by ate. Censorship will not deal with non­ images of men and women and it often feminists. Where it has beendiscussed, the explicit sexual images and text that may be endorses a view of sexuality which op­ tendency is to see a relatively uncompli­ oppressive. As a process it closes off

40 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 Unfortunately, the role of fantasy in pornography has been largely ignored Virago ^ debate about sexuality rather than allow­ type of action is important because it en­ A DEATH IN THE ing space for its exploration. It ends up courages confrontation and negotiation attacking sex rather than sexism. And about what is acceptable. It is also more FACULTY censorship has not historically (and is not likely to bring about broader cultural likely to in the immediate future), worked change than punitive and restrictive laws Amanda Cross in favour of gay, lesbian or feminist sex­ that seek to ban images at the outset. ual images. The latest mystery about Kate Perhaps the most effective way to Fansler, Professor of Literature and A rejection of censorship does not counter offensive sexual images is through amateur sleuth, in which Amanda mean that there is no work to be done on creating alternatives. Many feminist, gay Cross pokes fun at the male the issue. There are some general prin­ and lesbian cultural workers are producing chauvinist establishment. This ciples that should be applied to the ques­ new images. This is important work. book won the prestigious Nero tion of a politics surrounding pornogra­ However, it is constantly undermined by Wolfe Award for mystery fiction. phy. These are part of a project that has censorship, and is largely ineffective be­ $14.95 been called radical pluralist democracy. cause of the monopoly that the porn em­ Briefly, this is a politics that accepts that pire, and other media, have on the market. there are many different forms of sexual This implies that an important struggle CLOSE COMPANY expression. It maintains that this diversity should be around the democratisation of STORIES OF is a good thing and that institutional ar­ the cultural industry. In particular, it will be rangements should be made to safeguard necessary to work towards a democratisa­ MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS differences. tion of arts funding. It is important that What distinguishes this approach from alternative and radical explorations of Christine Park a libertarian or liberal one is that it recog­ sexuality have the funds to be produced and Caroline Heaton nises the structural limits on individual widely distributed. In this stunning collection of stories and collective choices, and it works at Sex education must also be widely about mothers and daughters the loosening these. A radical pluralist posi­ available - but our current understandings world over, tales of pleasure, tion does not assume equality, but analy­ of this have to be broadened. Schools may sadness, devotion, ambivalence, ses the oppressive features of society and not be the best places for the subject and a curiosity and bewilderment mix - seeks a democratic approach to resolving broader community approach needs to be just as they do in life. $18.95 conflicts. This should allow for commu­ used. nity participation in decision-making. The content of sex education should not So, decisions about what are “good” or only be about reproduction and relation­ “bad” sexual acts (or images) should be ships but should include a component that THE LITTLE SCHOOL based on guidelines that take into account explores the more directly “sexual” sphere context, consent and the quality of the and uses sexual images to explore identi­ Alicia Partnoy... relationship involved. This form of poli­ ties and pleasures. The contradictions, tics would not automatically assume that was among the 30,000 Argent­ ambiguities, pains and pleasures surround­ inians who 'disappeared' after every depiction of female sexual availa­ ing sex have to be addressed in a way that the military junta came to power in bility was bad, but would work towards opens up possibilities. 1976. One of the very few survivors, reducing the overabundance of images To conclude, to eliminate sexual vio­ this is her remarkable portrayal of that showed women being sexually avail­ lence the proper target for protest and ac­ events in a concentration camp. able for men. tion must be found. Any submission to the $14.95 There are two strands to a strategy Committee of Inquiry on Pornography around pornography. Firstly, there is must address the broader issues suggested much that can and should be done to here. Pornography is one place where sex­ BLOOD, BREAD eliminate sexist porn and sexual codes ual violence may be encouraged and learnt found elsewhere. Secondly, the produc­ but it is not the most important site. AND POETRY tion of radical and exciting new sexual If space for an exploration and affirma­ images must be fostered. In terms of get­ tion of diverse sexualities is to be created Adrienne Rich ting rid of the “bad” stuff, protest directed then censorship must be rejected. Sexual Examining the connections against particular manifestations of sex­ and reproductive rights for women and between history and imagination, ist material may be useful of it has an edu­ children need to be more firmly estab­ ethics and action, the author cational component. lished, economic independence and secu­ writes about being white, female, Protest might seem like too little, too rity for women must be gained and the lesbian, Jewish and a United late, but it has the advantage over censor­ democratisation of culture and politics States citizen, both at this ship of being democratic rather than au­ must be fought for. It is in these wider particular time and through the thoritarian. It allows for a process battles that sexual violence and oppression lens of the past. $ 18.95 whereby the community is involved in a will be finally eliminated. ■ public way with decisions about what is, and is not, acceptable. References

On the legal front, stronger sexual har­ Mandy Merck, “Pornography” in Looking On: Images of On sale from Broadsheet assment legislation is a good way to con­ Femininity in the Visual Arts and Media. and all good bookshops: front the gratuitous use of sexual images Andy Moyle, "Pornography" in The Sexuality of Men. NZ AGENT: BOOK REPS of women in workplaces. In this way, por­ Thelma McCormack, “Making Sense of Research on Pornography” in Women Against Pornography. BOX 36105 AUCKLAND 9 nographic shots included in anatomy Lynne Segal, Is The Future Female? slides at med schools etc can be chal­ Paula Webster, "Pornography and Pleasure” in Caught lenged through a public process. This Looking: Feminism. Pornography and Censorship.

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 41 “HE’S NOT COMING” The whole exhibition is like this. The Ho status quo,” and “The Art Of Surren­ works are etchings, lithographs, water­ der,” a particularly chilling piece consist­ Works on paper by Mary Kay colours, pen and ink, with occasional bits ing of a pair of hands manipulating a uterus Aberhart North Gallery Auckland of coloured pencil. The puns are often in inside a female lower torso. the titles: “Memoirs of a Dutiful Daugh­ “Portrait of the Artist as a Weighting ter,” a lithographic self-portrait, staring Virgin” shows us the very famous Bot­ It was the poster that first brought this sullenly/defiantly straight out at the ticelli Venus, rising from her shell, with exhibition to my attention. “He’s Not viewer and framed by a ring of repeated the face of the artist, the whole framed by Coming" it says, below a black cross with vaginal/pod shapes; and then “Memoirs of a repeated image of - chocolate eclairs. a repeated black and white image of a Beautiful Daughter”, self-portrait again, Try imagining your own image for “Wait­ stitched up testicles and penis evenly in profile, eyes closed (the ultimate down­ ing For The Frog In The Well,” “The Art spaced within it. “Ouch!” I thought, and I ward glance?), frowning, ringed by a re­ of Repression” (a clue for this one - the don’t even have any. I like the ambiguity peated motif - apples? All leading one into repeated image is anal), “Gang Mem­ of “he’s not coming” -th e sexual implica­ layers of meaning, stimulated by the inter­ bers”, “Testament of a New Age Man,” tions, certainly reinforced by the image, play of images, the repetition and the and "Addiction to Perfection”. There is a the (for me) reference to men who don't dynamic between the picture and the title. note on the catalogue listing for the last “come” when there’s domestic work to be Most of the works have at least one re­ work: “As the 13th print ‘Addiction to done or children to be seen to or taken out, peated motif - red beans (beautifully Perfection’ was about to be printed the and the allusion to the “second coming” of painted in watercolours), a fly, fruit/anus, stone broke.” what’s- his-name, reinforced by the cross. cake, kidney, hands ... This repetition is “Standards of Selective Breeding” is a It’s witty, clever, funny, serious, startling, important to the work and is, in part, the fine water-colour painting, combining it makes my mind rush about making new message, particularly in works like “Inter­ images of a fly (the sort they use in univer­ connections. nal Desire, Gloved Withdrawal ...... Ho sities for breeding experiments), exqui-

42 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 sitely painted silver beet, and women just says, well, it’s all part of the process our culture. portrayed in a de-personalised fashion-art that goes on and the work is about process, One exhibition was called “Working it style. It works visually and it makes a so the reaction to it is going to be about Out”. That had quite a lot of imagery from profound, sophisticated statement about process, and this is just part of it. I think it’s advertising and was a lot to do with under­ “selective breeding” - plant, animal, a reflection of where the person that says it standing patriarchal culture as it is today human. is coming from. If anyone has decided that and the working it out was on a personal My favourite work of all is “The Prin­ the work’s anti-male, they’ve got a few level, through the work and through an cess Allows Herself An Orgasm”, a very things to work out to do with that and understanding of how my conditioning is accomplished water-colour with refer­ hopefully they will. constructed. Before that was “To The ences to the fairy-tale about the princess I feel a bit impatient with it, too. You Householder" and that was a lot quieter and the pea, reclaiming our own sexuality, can do the most incredibly liberal things and possibly a bit more subtle - 1 was more stereotyped paintings of female nudes, and be accused of being anti-male. Like timid. That was the beginnings of going and more. It’s beautiful and it says plenty, having a women-only event. Basically, into social conditioning, and of feminist with wit and style. anything that doesn’t fit into the white awareness. I loved this exhibition. It made me feel male values of our society is called anti­ excited again about the possibilities for male. I don’t like being called anti-male, That feminist awareness is very strong in feminist-inspired art, art that has beauty because I know that when someone is this exhibition, in works like “The Art of and a cutting edge. coming from that stance they are actually Surrender” for example. Pat Rosier closed off to seeing what my work’s about, The only people who are going to know and that defeats its purpose. what that work is really about are people It’s an attitude that presents a certain who really relate to it. People see what blank wall. It irritates me because it’s just they want to see to a large extent. another way of not confronting issues - we I talked with Mary Kay, who want to stay safe - a parallel is in calling What are your favourite works in this ex­ lives in Christchurch, when she hibition? was in Auckland for the “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman” opening of the exhibition. is quite special to me. That’s to do with internalising the muse and ques­ Pat: Can you tell us something tioning my sexuality. And I about how you started as an like the last work, “The artist. Did you go through Princess Allows Herself art school? an Orgasm,” and I like Mary: Yes, I was at “Standards of Selec­ Ilam between 1979 tive Breeding”. That and 1982 and studied one makes state­ printmaking, be­ ments about control cause it was closer and conformity and to drawing than accepting values anything else. I did that were created lithography there, for you and are cre­ which I’ve just ating you. started getting into One of the works again, because I am that means most to able to now I have me is “Memoirs of a access to a printing Dutiful Daughter”. It workshop. Between art was a very powerful school and now I’ve done work for me when I was drawings and paintings on doing it, both that and “Mem­ paper. oirs of a Beautiful Daughter.” “Portrait of the Artist as Weighting Some of the works are water-colour. Is Virgin” is taken partly from a Botticelli this a new medium for you? painting, “The Birth of Venus” and it’s Not really. I've worked with water-col­ about the birth of sexuality and the birth of ours for quite a few years. I like the fresh­ Maori people who want to explore their shame. She’s got her hair over her body, ness. heritage racist. Ultimately the sort of and if you you look at the face of Venus on change that I am referring to is a very the original, you can see that it’s a look of Would you talk a little about the ideas positive thing for women and men because shame. It felt quite appropriate to use that. that come through in your work? Where it gives us the opportunity to develop sides do your images and ideas come from? of ourselves that are repressed. But for Repetition is obviously important in your My own experiences. I feel quite hesitant many of us it means a drop in our status and work - the red beans, the anuses, the to say too much about what things are power as a consequence of questioning chocolate eclairs, the patterning in the about, because when people have my in­ what’s going on relating to forms of op­ “My Secret Garden”pieces, - I think all tentions summed up for them they don’t pression. the works have at least one repeated allow themselves to find their own con­ image. nections. My work arises from a feminist What would you say, in general terms, I tind that a really good way of working, I perspective, and that comes out of my own that your work is about? can shift out of my more conscious analys­ experience and is reinforced by informa­ The use of power. This exhibition is about ing mode into a more meditative state tion that I get from outside. sexuality, but other work that I have done while I do them. has been about social conditioning, con­ Do you get accused of being anti-male in sumerism, colonisation, they’re all about You use humour, too, although the sub­ your work? the imbalance of power, that’s a sort of ject o f your work is serious. Yes, I do. It’s totally inaccurate. Part of me basic cause of all these different aspects of Well, it’s pretty funny what’s going on. It

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 43 is, really. A sense of the Not really. To some humour is not, how­ extent I isolated myself ever. at art school, because I didn’t see any other How do you get the people that were inter­ titles to your works? ested in similar issues. I don’t go about work­ At the same time I didn’t ing in any set way. really know where I was Some works name going it was an intuitive themselves, others take thing. more conscious effort. Is there much women’s Do you see yourself as art exhibited in Christ­ having been influ­ church? enced by other artists? I don’t really know what No. I don’t, which to make a comparison seems a bit impossible to. Some of it I feel very in a way, but most of the excited by, both Ruth images I have used - Watson and Margaret except for this exhibi­ Dawson are Christ­ tion where three of the church artists who are works have references due to exhibit here in to art history - have Auckland in May. come from non-art sources. Some of the Do you call yourself a attitudes of different feminist artist? artists I have come Yes. I think a lot of the across have influenced reason why some artists me. From some of the won’t call themselves male role models that I feminist artists is be­ had at art school the cause any label can be­ attitude of taking my Untitled, “1 Shop Therefore I Am”, 1987. Barbara Kruger come a restriction. It’s work seriously was that whole process of la­ supported. I probably already had that be­ finished in 1982. It is rumoured that the belling. But sometimes P’s important to cause my mother painted and so I had quite university is about to endorse an affirma­ use a label to confront the negative conno­ a good female role model, which was a tive action policy towards proportional tations to do with that label. I’m really really positive thing, but at art school they employment of women, Maori and Pacific interested in the use of power, I think it’s had to be male role models because there Island people on university staff, which something that works on all levels and in weren’t female lecturers. would have far-reaching consequences. all issues. And where do you draw the line between something like environmental is­ Was your mother “known” as a painter? Is it accurate to say that your work is sues and feminist ones. Both are challeng­ No. Apart from the local art society, she strongly grounded on drawing? ing the accepted mainstream values. To didn’t exhibit her work, but she actually Yes. I do a lot of drawing because it’s call my work feminist is possibly a block took it very seriously, so she was a really the most immediate way of working. I did to some people seeing the diversity of enormous influence on me as I was grow­ a lot as a child and I draw a lot now. I issues that I’m dealing with. ing up. A lot of people have problems with started doing painting at art school but it allowing themselves to create and make felt more right for me to work on a small Are you working on particular themes at pictures, because there are often messages scale. It has to do with working within the moment? that it's not important enough, so I was confines. I guess you could say consumerism, tied really lucky in that I did see that it was There are hierarchies in art, just like the up with how we accept our identities from important. A combination of opportunity rest of the world, and painting and size are things around us, from things outside and priority. one hierarchy. It doesn’t always happen ourselves. this way because I still have technical What was it like being a woman at art problems to overcome, but I like to work in You would probably be interested in what school? a way that is technically fairly uncon­ Barbara Kruger has to say about every­ It was pretty strange. I didn’t understand at scious. Then it can stay close to my living thing being in the market place, whether the time what was happening, but I had an situation it sells or not, and everything and every­ intuitive feeling that there was something one being commodities, including those wrong. The way I coped with it was to Have you got new projects on now? who are unemployed. close down completely and put a wall up I’m working on an exhibition with two Yes, definitely. The unemployed are actu­ between myself and everything that was other women, Margaret Dawson and Julia ally created to keep the pyramid in place. going on around me. A few years later I Morrison that might be done through the I think you become even more of a com­ was able to work out some of the reasons McDougall Gallery in Christchurch. I just modity because there are more people in - it’s an institution built on male and keep working really, on works on paper power above you. Pakeha values. Pakeha values really stand and watercolours. out in Christchurch, there was one Rara- Do you have a studio or special working tongan at art school while I was there, and Do you have much contact with other space? apart from that it was entirely white. The women artists? I work from home, actually. I prefer to students are predominantly female, but I’ve got a few close women artist friends keep things as simple as possible, as long with predominantly male lecturers. All the who are very important to me. as I’ve got a table to work on. There’s no art history we were taught was male art real separation between my living and my history. There wasn’t any input or discus­ Do these friendships come from art working, so I don't want to have a set up a sion of women’s art while I was there. I school days? studio somewhere else.

44 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 BARBARA KRUGER purpose. All the works in the National Art Gallery, exhibition and 16 others are illustrated. Jenny Harper, sen­ Shed ĪT ior curator (international art) Wellington, March & April at the National gallery, talked to the artist in New York in May 1987. The resulting cata­ The National Art Gallery used logue essay offers Barbara its Temporary/Contemporary Kruger’s ideas on her own exhibition venue, Shed 11, on development. The artist is not Queens Wharf, to stage 30 buried in favour of the writer- works by Barbara Kruger dur­ the “what you really mean” ing Wellington’s International approach that Dale Spender Festival of the Arts. The space talks of. Lita Barrie is the other suited the recent two, three, essayist. She brings her in- four metre images with their depth knowledge of feminist superimposed statements like, theory to her excellent dis­ “When I hear the word culture course on Barbara Kruger’s I take out my checkbook,” work. “Worth every penny,” and, Her compatriot and friend “Endangered Species”. > Jenny Holzer was in town as The Barbara Kruger bill­ < well, represented in the Wel- boards in and out of town were =! lington City Gallery video fes- at least as important as the q tival. “Sign ma truck #1” is a exhibited works: few exhibi­ o video record of Jenny tions have attendances match­ Holzer's 1984 presidential ing commuter traffic passing election eve project. She used the Hutt motorway billboard, a truck carrying a sound sys­ proclaiming “We don’t need another Hal Foster writes, “Though it may often tem and an 18 foot electronic board which hero”. One outside the municipal office seem insufficiently specific it is this re- displayed images, statements and “man- building, staring at the central library, flexivity which allows her work to circu­ in-the street” interviews. Set up in East said, “Surveillance is their busy work”. late and not be totally recuperated: T will Manhattan, it gave the public the opportu­ This effective signage appeared nowhere not become what I mean to you’.” (Recod­ nity to try their hand at art and politics si­ else. Large newspaper ads and exhibition ings,1985) multaneously. An airborn woman dei­ posters were everywhere: “Progress is Take Griffin’s current TV ad for Snax, fying Reagan and power as one brought your most important product,” with a with a stereotypical sweet liittle girl and Barbara Kruger out of the audience with central hand holding a glowing radio-ac­ naughty little boy. However, the girl is not the witty retort “That is truly the voice of tive capsule. all “sugar and spice" she is also a “bossy someone who does not have their feet on What has motivated Barbara Kruger? To boots”. Marketing has been modified to the ground!” Barbara Kruger and Jenny date home has usually been New York keep up with changing sex-role types. So Holzer have different ways of working but City, so she has experienced the repressive does Barbara Kruger’s message “We both are cited by art critic Lucy Lippard as fifties McCarthy era (his lawyer’s death don’t need another hero,” where the girl bringing the message “Think for your­ was noted with enthusiasm at her public points at the boy’s fledgling muscle, take self’. lecture); the protests of the sixties, Andy the audience far enough? Ann Calhoun Warhol’s bland “ad” surfaces - “x”, Brillo The lithograph by Christchurch artist boxes, pics of Marilyn Monroe - and in the Mary Kay, “Waiting for the Frog in the seventies she joined the artists trying to Well” and Barbara Kruger’s “You invest shift societal values by becoming a ma­ in the divinity of the Masterpiece” both nipulator of its culture. use Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel hand During a visit to Auckland She uses photography and other repro­ of God creating man. Mary Kay “im­ Barbara Kruger talked to ductive media and red frames to produce proves” Michaelangelo’s hand-making it Pat Rosier. attractive ads with, hopefully, enough zap female? She thereby points to the dis­ to ensure that their message is bought. As placement of women from art. Her oval The most important thing for me is for my she says, “I do think that some kind of print encloses the hand in a border of work to be as visible as possible, to make incremental communication lurks closer apples and worms and has more bite and as many incursions into public space, to than we might suspect and is capable of more possible interpretations. make suggestions to people. And it’s sug­ inflicting a shock to the system and chang­ Yet by taking her art and herself up gestions, plural, because 1 think the works ing the rules of a few games.” (Flash Art, front Barbara Kruger has avoided the fate have different meanings to each reader or October 1987) of Judy Chicago's Dinner Party, com­ viewer. Adages such as, “Your gaze hits the pleted in 1979. This work celebrates My work is not about inspiration. For side of my face” (1981) and “We won’t women in history, it is a herstory. It has instance, I just did a show for the Museum play nature to your culture” (1983) are been exhibited 14 times in five countries of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York frequently reproduced. Slogans from but no art institution will give the work a called “picturing Greatness”. It was a 1987 may gain even more currency: “I permanent home. The work brings the show that I curated and I was limited to shop therefore I am" and “In space no-one feminine skills of china painting and em­ working from the MOMA collection. I can hear you scream”. The latter caption broidery to the fore, a far cry from Barbara picked photographs of artists - most of was surely born from the disintegration of Kruger's exploration of power. Barbara whom were men, because most of the the space shuttle Challenger and the griz­ Kruger’s work is sought by collectors, artists in the collection are men - and lined zly deaths of the crew and teacher/passen- public and private. the wall with them. There was a big central ger in 1986. The multiple references in Also in Wellington, Dale Spender wall with text on it, big, huge text that I'd both these works are accessible. Are the urged women to keep other women's written, about how the construction of the leads into Barbara Kruger's works always achievements alive. The superb Barbara stereotype of the artist appears (you know, so clear? Kruger exhibition catalogue serves this the kooky middle man between god and

BROADSHEET MAY 1988 45 the public). And then how work is valued certainly don’t believe all my own press, by institutions and museums, how con- “The artist but, after 17 years of working, I am con­ noisseurship and money determines taste, who is working cerned to use the power that I have now. It and then how photography makes history. critically has to takes power to replace power It doesn’t All those things together. take reticence, it takes patience and a will­ I don’t call myself an artist. I could, but address the ingness to really go after things. I don’t I think of myself more as a person who inflation of her want things to stay the same, I’m not a works with pictures and words. I believe guardian of culture. I definitely make that pictures and words determine who we own name” money off my work, but who knows for are and who we can ever be. So I try to how long - maybe I’ve already had 10 of work at that site where pictures and words the match books, they can just be left my 15 minutes! start operating. I want people to question around, at restaurants or wherever and my I’m here in New Zealand because of my what they see, to make the interruption. name’s not on them, so they aren’t “obiets position within the art market, and I’m Pictures work on us, we’re just surrounded d’art”.) able to make works that reach people by photographic representation, whether Also I don’t just consider myself this because of it. I did 80 billboards in Lon­ it’s movies, TV, photographs, advertising person who make black and white images don, Scotland and Ireland, 50 in Las Vegas or magazines, and I’m interested in having with red frames. I teach and I organise [A young girl feeling the muscles of a people question what they’re fed all the panel discussions and lectures in New boy’s arm with the text “We don’t need time. York and I write film and TV criticism for another hero”]. There’s no money in them I was born in Newark, New Jersey, a Art Forum. That’s all part of my work. for me. Institutions try to buy space or get very economically depressed Black city. Television is so minimal here, compared billboard companies to donate space. I And after eight years of Reagan it’s even to America. I write about TV, not because give them the images in eight parts and more economically depressed. Now I live I like it or don’t like it but because it is so they reproduce these, it’s quite simple and in New York, I’ve had the same loft for 18 powerful -- it determines political consen­ not very expensive because my work is not years and I’m always afraid of getting sus in America and it elects presidents. in colour. thrown out because I don’t own it. There are 10 channels and 20 cable chan­ I think a lot about journalism. One of When I first arrived in New Zealand I nels and people watch it all the time. It has my fantasies is that there will be another felt very familiar here. There’s a common­ more power than any president. I watch it, daily in New York besides the New York ality of language of course, and it’s very it’s an object of fascination to me and I find Times. The Times has been great to me, reminiscent of the west coast of America, it pleasurable. it’s reproduced my work, it gives me great places like Los Angeles and San Fran­ From 1975 to 1981 I was in New York reviews, but 1 don’t like their coverage of cisco. It certainly appears more American for only about 18 months, because I had no Central America and the Middle East - than European to me. money. So I was being hired as the “visit­ that determines government policy on I call myself a feminist. But the media ing girl” at universities around California these issues. I hope another paper would tends to collapse meanings and make and in Chicago. They don’t give tenure to be different! simplistic categorisations. To me there is women, and anyway I have no degrees. I While I think that journalism and the not feminism but feminisms: there are think teaching can be very effective in media can elect presidents I don’t think many many different ways to be a femi­ interrupting the dominant power struc­ that change happens just through the presi­ nist, and I don’t know that there’s any one tures. Because I am not an academic I have dent. The people running for election are correct way. Many women go at it differ­ no agenda, no recipe for teaching, I do fools, they’re hacks. Whether they’re ently from me. I think you can dress in critique and exchange, I don’t lecture. Republican or Democrat doesn’t make many different ways, do your hair in many Everything is a matter of money. Art any difference, because there’s no left different ways, do business in a million doesn’t just come from nowhere, it takes anyway and that’s our national history. different ways and still be a feminist. You money to make art. In the States, under the We have never had a Labour left in Amer­ don’t even have to call yourself one. It’s Reagan administration problems have ica, they’d be put in jail. I don’t think we how you define your life, whether you been magnified, but I can’t think of any should have one now because America is define yourself through your production, other place where I’d rather be an artist. a post-industrial society whose industrial how oppressed you feel, how much you’re There are more women there doing art, base has eroded. “Workers unite” has no willing to maintain that oppression. I making themselves visible. Things have meaning any more because the idea of myself am not interested in the battle of the changed incredibly in the last 10 to 15 working has changed. It’s a service indus­ sexes stuff because I don’t think that years. try country now, we’re not making steel women are good and men are bad. I think Because I didn’t go to college (univer­ any more. People’s notion of work has that gender is biologically constructed but sity) I was out in New York at 19 working changed and that has to be taken into that sexuality is socially constructed and in fashion magazines. The art world was a consideration. Rather than have govern­ that gender cannot be changed and sexual­ very forbidding place. I certainly didn’t ment programmes to retrain people, which ity can. I think that men can be real good hang out there, it was for “ladies” who is not the American way, we have this and women can be real bad. baked bread and made tea for these cow­ extreme bifurcation of society into a very For me feminism is free floating, it boys who did art. In Europe there are still large poor, homeless, unemployed sector comes out in every single moment in what residues of the male cowboy artist but not and a huge sector of wealthy people with I do and what I articulate. so much in America - not in New York, disposable incomes. But there’s no gov­ I don’t believe that I do “feminist art”. anyway. There’s no way anything is going ernment housing, no government health I don’t think there is a political art, I to go back to the fifties, and it’s better for care - in the middle of an Aids epidemic believe that there is politics in every situ­ women now than it was then. that is decimating some cities. ation and every artist makes political art. I I’m making money from my work now, But there are great things about Amer­ am a woman who is a feminist who makes something that I never thought would ica. I love America. I think the art. I think people try to categorise stuff - happen four years ago, although I believe administration’s a problematic one be­ feminist art, Black art - and it makes the that everyone is within a market structure cause it’s based solely on the accumula­ work less effective. - just because something doesn't sell tion of capital and very little on the actual I don't have an art education and I really doesn’t mean it’s not a commodity. And social relations between people. But it’s an try to make work that is accessible to just because you’re unemployed it doesn’t extraordinary culture, made up of many people. Some are more accessible than mean you’re not a commodity. different kinds of people, and even after its others but I try to change locations - art The artist who is working critically has been corporatised it’s an incredibly rich gallery, billboards, match books. (I like to address the inflation of her own name. I culture. ■

46 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 HE GRIPES OF POTH

l s it possible, one asks oneself through These three magazines can afford a small New Zealand Journalism Awards, while one pursed lips, to be totally committed to a radical input - Metro has columnists Syd of Metro’s less able wafflers scooped the group categorised by Metro magazine as Jackson and the Bruces Hucker and Jesson features pool. The failure of the judges to Politically Correct? I refer here to Metro's (the last is one of our most accurate political make Sandra a finalist was SCANDAL­ April issue where James Allen lightheart- analysts I believe) - because it is swamped OUS. All the backing, sidestepping and edly drew up a PC “Hall of Fame” and a ditto by the smug, inept journalism of the “lib­ shuffling that produced a last-minute, un­ “Hall of Infamy” in which the Broadsheet eral” i.e. the non-factually opiniated. Like planned unannounced “special award” to Editorial Collective appears in the former most NZ newspapers and magazines, this Sandra and Phillida for the cervical cancer at opposite Jenny Lynch (editor of the New particular trio suffers from the national lack National Women’s Hospital article were Zealand Women’s Weekly) in the latter. of basic sub-editing skills, so there is little shame-making ... However, as Allen says: “Remembering that recognition of the difference between a The awards have seven sections, and In/Out lists are very non-PC” I have decided well-researched article and waffling on at Sandra Coney put in a portfolio for the to overlook such a lapse this time. Allen’s enormous length with scant regard for hard Gordon and Gotch Award for print features. claim is interesting because I think it’s inac­ information or accuracy. Of the three, I rate She included the jointly-written Metro curate as far as Metro is concerned. A More as the least amateurish, although in piece; her two marvellous More articles on regular scanning suggests that its every issue trying to promote an up-market product for New Zealand’s rich and poor; a NZ is all a-quiver with boyish and girlish eager­ women, the editor seems obsessed with Woman's Weekly contribution on hysterec­ ness to show for pages and pages and paay- avoiding an anti-man label. tomy, with a questionnaire that attracted ges and YAWWWN who and what the real To me, North and South is marginally 1300 replies; plus a selection from her col­ insiders are. It works too. worse than Metro which does sometimes umns in the Dominion Sunday Times. Not Since they began, Metro, its one-time include good writing - although this has many journalists have provoked a commis­ stable-mate More, together with North and everything to do with the individual con­ sion of enquiry as Sandra and Phillida did. South have all steadily increased their sales tributors and nothing to do with editorial Probably no other journalist has success­ and the profits for the corporations which non-skills. The blinkered perspective of fully withstood two and a half days of a buy and sell them. They seem to cater par­ these glossies was best expressed by Spiro lawyer’s cross-examination on her facts, as ticularly to the age group with some dispos­ Zavros in Metro when he said: “By way of Sandra did. Few, if any, Kiwi freelance able income totally absorbed in reading and definition I discount journalism (except in writers have developed the political and writing about itself as a product of the fifties its extended form in magazines such as economic grasp of contemporary issues that and sixties. (I freely admit here to the Metro) as ‘writing’. Journalism is the liter­ Sandra has. warped perspective of the mother, unfasci­ ary equivalent of ginger ale.” Mere length, However, superficial rules, OK? The nated by the domestic impact of those magi- then, regardless of quality, elevates the hastily tacked on “special award” was a caldecades. You know the sort of thing: Yes bubble and belch of many features printed in shoddy gesture that in no way compensated the message is fine but turn the volume these magazines. for the failure to give tangible recognition to DOWN/ The place is NOT a hotel/ Eco­ Those columns of type may not always consistently good work; reflecting incredi­ nomic sanctions for all who don’t get a be especially riveting but they do create a bly thorough research, well-crafted writing haircut./ Your grandparents are coming - nice visual background that shows off the and a high level of productivity and versatil­ MOVE those placards for the march out of advertising - and this is the point of invest­ ity. Excellence has gone unrewarded while sight./ That funny smell is INCENSE?/ ment in publishing. The magazines are not once again the Boys’ Own expensive, You’re not wearing the nice frock/shirt/ especially stylish because they are there to glossy, non-threatening mediocrity has won jumper I bought for your party./ Of course I complement rather than challenge the trad­ the day. trust YOU but you have unconventional ing mentality which buys and sells and accu­ friends./ NOT the Viva Che shirt for your mulates goods and goodies at the level of day in court - it won’t impress the magis­ individual gain. More is the only one of the trate. Etc. etc. and etc.) three with some glimmering of editorial The growth of the Metro, More, North responsibility for cutting and shaping - and South generation took place alongside Metro's editor, for example, assured Sandra that of television, commercial radio, coca- Coney that any alterations to the history­ colonisation, junk food and throwaway making article (co-written with Phillida paper and plastic products. Consequently, Bunkle) on cervical cancer treatment would social analysis remains for the most part at be made in consultation with her. He did not the kind of glossy, superficial level that will keep his promise and despite Sandra's sub­ never disturb the sleep of our economic mas­ sequent attempts to get in touch with him, he ters, the Business Roundtable (the NZ Lis­ remained permanently unavailable. tener of April 16 clearly demonstrated the And this is the man who won the overall powerful grip of this financial octopus). excellence award in the Sir David Beattie

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48 BROADSHEET MAY 1988 For Your Health’s Sake

These and Peking Royal Jelly capsules, Fresh Royal Jelly and Peking Pollen Capsules along with detailed information on all products can be obtained from: HOMESTEAD HEALTHFOODS: Alicetown Tel (04)661274 THE GOOD LIFE HEALTH SHOP Cubacade Tel (04)857812 2 Darby Street Gresham Plaza (04)728828 Tel (09)33519 W ellington Auckland City

For Crying Out Loud ... Isn’t it time you stopped looking for cures, and started thinking seriously about how not to get sick in the first place! We Are What We Eat It is accepted now that diet plays such an important role in our daily lives, that to ignore it could cost you dearly. Unfortunately not all of the foods on our tables provide us with the nutritional value our bodies need. Dietary supplements help, but like most things, there are good ones and bad ones, man-made and natural. Natural Goodness If you are smart, you’ll check out the natural products first, and where better than the Bee-Hive. It is here that you will learn about one of nature’s greatest sources of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, Peking Royal Jelly. What Is Royal Jelly? Royal Jelly is a special substance produced in the salivary glands by the young nursing bees. They feed this to the Queen Bee and larvae predestined to become future Queen Bees. Selected bee larvae, fed on Royal Jelly, develop superior characteristics. Larvae fed on Royal Jelly grow twice as large and have a life span thirty times longer than larvae fed on a conventional diet. This biological metamorphosis in the larvae fed on Royal Jelly is in itself a striking demonstration of the remarkable nutritional powers of Royal Jelly and its potential values when applied in medicine and healing. This fact inspired doctors and scientists in the belief that Royal Jelly could be of much benefit to suffering humanity. Experiments of many kinds have been carried out, both on humans and animals, over the past few years. At present there are many records and findings of how valuable Royal Jelly can be to alleviate certain human sufferings. If you take Royal Jelly, either by intermittent courses or continuously, you will fortify your body and your mind against breakdown in health: in fact, you will most likely ward off other serious complaints because Royal Jelly builds strong, vigorous and healthy bodies. Remember, there are never any side effects from taking Royal Jelly. It is a natural product and not a drug Composition Royal Jelly is a remarkably complete substance that offers in trace amounts virtually every nutritional element needed for a healthy diet. Altogether, 16 vitamins, 16 minerals, 18 enzymes, 18 proteins and amino acids and 28 assorted additional elements such as fructose and glucose have been isolated. Royal Jelly contains the 10 essential amino acids the body requires from an outside source, and without it cannot synthesize new tissue. It contains vitamins A, D, E, K, C and the complete vitamin B complex. Also estrogen and androgen, the biological catalysts of nature, and rutin, which strengthens the walls of the body’s capillaries.

♦ T h e r e i s n o t h i n g b e t t e r i n t h i s w o r l d t h a t y o u c a n t a k e f o r y o u r h e a l t h ’ s s a k e t h a n R o y a l J e l l y AVAILABLE AT LEADING FOOTWEAR RETAILERS NATIONWIDE

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