Of Women for Mother's Day
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May/June 1989 A feminist newspaper distributed nationally 1 Ho.· .n,:q\;o··· \u· :•·<*~~e· t•15·.•.•g.·1··.f of women for Mother's day <.;:A1~1.lftl.Z1'.~~1: sale~ftax i1;1sµr~n~.. conference ... oonf~renee~~· igr~O:t atilfJ visible mihQ ment;:ttle anti~choiee Altifjrta ..... women with di· p~u~nts,. too ... Yukon wpm~n1s cor:at,erenoo.:·:Audre~ Mclauglin on w9(tienJo;ffl~ Yukon,· discrimination against men?:- the Wen-Do case .... book review "In the Name of the Father" ... the faces of motherhood .. .feminism and women at home .... the myth of motherhood ... afld more ... pa{fe2 May/June 1989 I Womenspeak Look around Barbara Editing and production staff: Thank you Lynne Tyler, Joan Riggs, Beth Dear Womanist: maybe she would realize very much Services Commission of Ryan, Michelle Albert exactly what her government Canada (PSC). According to I want to congratulate you has done. .... But the Employment Special Women who helped on this on a great edition And to add salt to the There is no more stressful, Measure Program of the PSC I Issue: Gloria Shalay, Janet commemorating International wound she waits until one ardous and time consuming a am euphemistically part of the Wason, Patricia Ginn, Diana Women's Week. Bravo! I find month after IWW and anounces task than looking for a job. But Visible Minority Group which Ralph, Audrey Wildman, that your newspaper is not only the unemployment insurance for an immigrant woman the job would give me priority status Michelle Simms, Janice informative, but also very cutbacks. Yes, women can is even tougher. but I am not a Canadian so I do Freeman, Cynthia Rurak, accessible to all women. now take longer maternity Whether you have not have priority. Katherine Robertshaw, Nedra The only problem I found in leave, but not if they've consciously decided to I was very disappointed as Lee Prisk, Noelle-Dominique this edition was the hypocritical adopted. Single mothers who become an immigrant or have the door closed for me to work Willems. article sent in by the find they have no choice but to become one for another in the Federal Government. As "Honourable" Barbara quit their jobs, or who are fired reason: civil war in your the days passed I received a We would like to thank the McDougall. I realize that your because they've missed too country, prospects of a better bunch of beautifully expressed many women artists who paper is for all women, but much work due to family needs, life here or marriage with a man negative letters. contributed their artwork where did she find the nerve to will be left to the decision of the from another country, you have After that I changed my without tribute. write her article? Her UIC worker as to whether or not all sorts of new experiences, direction and went after any government has done she will get benefits. More new goals and challenges. And job. I decided to expand my Published by: absolutely nothing for money will be put into training one of the first is looking for a knowledge to more practical Catalyst Research and Canadian women. Everyday, programs, but for whom? Will job. things that could help me. So, I Communications. women in this country are the money also be put into day Canada has not been my did an introductory course in 541 Sussex Drive, Suite 201 losing something, from non- care programs to allow mothers first attempt at the job market. word-processing. Ottawa, .K1 N 6Z6 affordable, non-accessible day to go into training programs? Holding a bachelors degree in I also discovered the large (613)233-2621 care, to no pay equity. You Once again, "her government" International Studies from my world of the volunteer often hear "her government" is working for Canadian women. country, Venezuala, and some organizations in this country Circulation: 12,000 talk about what they are As far as I'm concerned, a past university studies at the and left my name registered in planning to do, what they have Conservative representative of lnstitut Internationale d'Admin- some of them. This is a good Distributed: nationally done, what they will do; but if women is almost non-existent. istration Publique en Paris, way to meet people who can you take a close look around, it Barbara McDougall should France I pinned my hopes on give me ideas and at the same Printed by Ottawa Web Press amounts to absolutely nothing. have kept her. speech for finding a job in Canada using time do something valuable Maybe she should take off someone who doesn't know my experience. with my time. Thank you to the distributors of her rose-coloured glasses, get what "her government" has I sent away about fifty Although the situation may the last Issue: Dorothy Inglis, off her ivory tower and take a done for Canadian women. I resumes to different organiz- seem very discouraging for Glenda Tulk (Newfoundland); close look at the real Canadian don't have the time for more· ations that would have an women who are immigrants but Debbie Mathers, Susan Hyde, women -- poor women, single Conservative fairy tales. interest in people like me with "don't give up." Try to look Phyllis Price (Nova Scotia); parents, women of colour, an International Relations forward to more routes, Ruth Freeman (Prince Edward irn migrant women, lesbian K. Desormeaux background. different opening, make Island) Kay Nandlall, Vicky women, battered women - then Ottawa· I started at the Public contacts and because spring in Gray, Rosella Melanson (New in the air, there is always hope. Brunswick); Julie Norton, Sheila Barrow, Esmeralda Teresa Bobiash Thornhill (Quebec); Michelle Ottawa Albert, Carmen Henry, Frank Tester, Lo.rraine Greaves, Thanks Susan Riley Theresa Healey, Jill Schooly, Janet Wason, Helen Cates, Dear Editor: have dents put in their careers Louise Brown, Jill by motherhood. For married Summerhayes, Ann Balding, My compliments to you for women, the old 1970s slogan, Nancy Birch, Sasha Mcinnes publishing Susan Riley's "You can have it att, baby," (Ontario); Monique Raimbault, Around the Hill in the remains a myth. The majority Cindy Hanson, Sheila Doig, Lou Feb./March issue. This is the of never-married women have a Erickson (Manitoba); Audrey first article I've seen which better edge -- careerwise, that Wildman, Kerry Strathie, Kathy offers root causes for women's is -- but even at that, unless Hamre, Giselle Marcotte failure to achieve total they have been exceptionally (Saskatchewan); Lisa Jensen, independence, to be successful, they still do not do university student) remarked Many women are juggling two Trudie Black (Alberta); Janet completely liberated. In well come pension time. The that our P.M.'s wife has "the jobs and, contrary to popular Wheeler, Joanne Arnott, Mary present-day mish-mash one majority of divorced women, best of two worlds." Mrs. belief, the majority of men are Elizabeth Reay, Donna can scarcely say that this whether old or young, are the Mulroney has the 1980s image not doing their share of child- Cameron, Nedra Lee Prisk, vision has been fulfilled. women (generally) suffering the of an "office." In reality, Mila is raising. Other than denial, few Jane Evans, Jude Major, Liana Feminism's loss of most from financial disaster. a good Chatelaine, doing seem to know the answer for Di Marco (British Columbia); "freshness" can easily be Where has the 1960s spirit volunteer work. this. But some have come to Kim Thompson, Eva Voisey accounted for by Time alone, gone? In present day, listen to Western society realize that until we have more (Northwest Territories); and but the lack of feminism's young working mothers. Many applauded (in token) the great women governing at the top current "focus" is far more will tell you that they would not social change. But most are these bad conditions for Ted Riggs who helped box and complicated. Given the fact be out in the work force if it women will not cease. Sad to ship the papers out. now pondering what are the that there aren't enough women weren't for the economic fact benefits? -- especially since say, social change might have in parliament, women's that they have to pay for their economic change. worked if we hadn't put the cart To subscribe: To have the expectations have been too share of the rent. before the horse! paper delivered to your home, The Second Phase of high. Women have not yet Recently, Mila Mulroney Feminism has taken place the price is $5-$25 a year. For gained complete equality in appeared on TV for an interview. Olive Thiesenhausen institutions: $15 a year for non- during the past twenty years of earning power. Women still and my youngest daugher (a the movement's opportunity. Toronto profits, $25 a year for government. The Woman/st was created to empower and enable women. We want to get back to the Definition of Womanist basics, the common ground 1. From womanish. (Opp. of 2. Also. A woman who loves flower garden, with every color that has built the women's "girlish", ie, frivolous, irrespon- other women, sexually and/or flower represented.) Tradition- movement, while celebrating sible, not serious.) A black nonsexually. Appreciates and ally capable as in "Marna, I'm our differences. feminist or feminist of colour. prefers women's culture, walking to Canada and I'm From the black folk expression women's emotional flexibility taking YOL! and a bunch of other What can we agree upon?•That of mothers to female children, (values tears as natural slaves with me." Reply: "It we as women are important and "you acting womanish, " ie, like counterbalance of laughter), wouldn't be the first time." that we have a right to be a woman.