* Socialist Ferniniçt Bulletin
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* Socialist ferniniçt bulletin Editorial 1 This is Survival? 2 Barbara Smith in Toronto 3 Gay Bashing in Whitehorse 5 Beyond the Decade 7 Voices Spoken, Voices Heard 9 Talking Dirty 10 Labour : Affirmative Action: Making it Work 13 Grenfruit: A Women's Coop in Grenada 15 Colombia: Domestics Organize 17 Choice: Update on the Toronto Clinic 18 Uruguay: The Abortion Debate 19 Argentina: Women Get Results 19 Culture: Wallflower Collective Ends 20 True Confessions of a Romance Junkie 22 Guatemala Art Project: "The Road of War" 25 Women Strip-Searched in Armagh 28 WISCA Interviews a Filipina Activist 31 Reviews : Sweet Dreams: The Patsy Cline Story 39 What Do Women Want? 41 Yes! I would like to receive CAYENNE. NAME ADDRESS I enclose $10 for my year's subscription. I can make an additional donation of S . I cannot afford to send money at this time, but would like to receive CAYENNE. Send to: CAYENNE, 229 College St. W., Toronto, Ontario, H5T 1R4. The editorial and production team for this issue included Linda Briskin, Bev Crossman Marie Lorenzo, Christina Mills, t Judi Stevenson and Lynda Yanz. Also thanks to Amy Gottlieb, Sue Kerr, Susan Prentice, and especially to Jenny Mclntyre for original graphics. Who We Are.... We are socialist feminists who are committed to producing a bulletin of socialist feminist news, analysis and debate. We encourage Cayenne readers and supporters to contribute to this process. Lynda Yanz, Christina Mills, and Marie Lorenzo Graphics in this issue borrowed f rom: Is is International, Canadian Woman Studies/Cahiers de la Femme, Womenews, Webspinner, Our Rightful Share, Central American Women Speak for Themselves, Communiqu'elles, the AFSC Women's Newsletter, Sassafras, International Women's Tribune Centre, and the Toronto Globe and Mail. Write CAYENNE at 229 College Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R4. Or call (416) 977-8118. 1 cayenne (kï-en ), n. [<native Braz. kynnha], 1. a very hot red pepper used widely in India, China and Caribbean ; 2. a female spice ; 3. a long-lasting irritant; 4. hot stuff. ISSN 0827-0732 Cover graphic: Manushi, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi Cayenne banner by dian marinn Editorial 1, , p0Sf-r'ÉMlH(5M'lî A popUL^R.1 -topic [M "tH^ .PRE« C^N yow " post- pcMiNUrt'? CAN yo^ ''SÉ ti /w A 5EN+ÇNce ? o>*pU=+€+HE PARA&KApH &EiP^- •g H 11 -t-o 6£f |flE f fiAX S X Had Microfilm 0 c = WI+H+HE ONE - eyeD MAN, guf I <vAJ /\f#VD, -to-jftfSt It U5. MAiL.X o c Issue number 5 brings to a close our via the report on the growing first year of publication. As we strength of the midwifery movement in look bank over the range of issues Ontario. raised in this first volume, we see One of our greatest sources of that it has been a good year for satisfaction is in bringing you news cayenne— but a mixed year at best of the world-wide insistence of women for the women of Canada, and of every age and race, not to be elsewhere in the world. silenced any longer: from Guatemala Cayenne has set as its goal the to the Philippines to South Africa, they continue to fight and to inspire promotion of debate and dialogue us. among socialist feminists in Canada, and the spread of news about women's We need the inspiration. When events and struggles in the 1980s. we look at the content of our articles so far, we realize that the It feels like a good beginning. We 80s are rife with loss and threats of have succeeded in persuading a number more loss to Canadian women. of women to reflect on their Toronto's Action Day Care has been experiences as organizers and stripped of its funding. Metro activists and creators, from Cate Toronto's library workers were faced Cochran and Shuster Gindin talking to with 107 takeaways of existing Marie Lorenzo about their production rights by their employer. Air Canada of a series of alternative doll tried to push a segment of its labour houses, to Penni Richmond reporting force (mostly women) from full into on the battle within the Publi1 c part-time work. The Whitehorse Service Al1ianne to keep women s Women's Centre has been forced to issues central to the progressive prepare for the decimation of its wing of the union. financial base. The jury acquittal As part of our campaign to raise of Henry Morgenthaler was overturned strategy discussions, we have brought by the Ontario Court of Appeal. And you the thoughts of Judy Rebick, of so it goes.. Nancy Adamson and Susan Prentice, and In 1986 cayenne hopes to promote of Peggy McDonagh on the abortion anger and action among Canadian struggle, and have added another socialist feminists by continuing to perspective on reproductive choice inspire more women to write about 1 their experiences and analyses. We'd continue working with us to increase to speak about feminism and women of like to have correspondents like Jan our cayenne network. colour. About one hundred women, Langford, not only in Whitehorse but Barbara Smith in Toronto We ask those of you who have Christina Mills and Makeda Silvera one-third of them women of colour, all across Canada. been with us for a year now to note plus a handful of men, heard her Unfortunately, we also have to the "RENEW NOW" on your envelope. We Barbara Smith is a writer who has speak at A Space. The event was admit that we're in debt. We're can't afford to send another notice, been active in the Black feminist somewhat disappointing to those who badly in need of financial support— so please don't lose us in your "in" movement since 1973. She is co- had looked forward to hearing her donations and subscriptions. Your basket. editor of All the Women Are White talk about Black feminism, anti- response to the sub drive has been L Most importantly, thanks to all All the_Blacks Are Men,_ But_Some.of racist work, and the issue of forming great, and we thank you. But don't those believers who have made year Us Are Brave Black Women 's Studies, coalitions with white feminists. stop now—we need all of you to one of cayenne a step forward. editor of Hone Girls, : A Black Instead, she made a few brief remarks Feminist Anthology, and no-author and read from some short stories she °f Yours in Struggle: Three Feminist is currently writing, then asked for questions from the audience. Her P-Ç£§E>ÇP.tiyes on Anti-Semitism and reading was wonderful, f it'll of humour Racism. The two anthologies are This is Survival? and insight, underpinned by a rare firsts in the history of Black political clarity, and delivered in a Judi Stevenson women's writing in the U.S. Smith simple, direct, un-academic, almost was also involved in the founding of conversational manner. Cayenne readers will be relieved to the first and, so far, only women of hear that an organization called colour press in the U.S.—Kitchen But we wanted more! More "Survival for Women" has come up with Table: Women of Color Press (sister analysis, more information about how a way to protect us from "thieves, and inspiration to Toronto's Sister feminists, Black and white, are muggers, rapists, etc.," at least Vision: Black Women and Women of fighting racism' in the U.S., more those of them so foolhardy as to Colour Press). about relations between U.S. women of "prey on us when we are stranded in Smith was in Toronto in October colour and Third World women, more our cars". Their contribution is a (wait for it) handy-dandy, durable plastic, folding banner, which says CALL POLICE In rather large letters. This wonderful invention comes equipped with double-sided corner tapes so it can be pressed to the rear window of your car when needed— that is, if you're not too busy with the activities of the thief, mugger or rapist at hand. The price is only $3.95, post paid of course. No doubt deeply the concern that feminists you will want one for every member of everywhere have for the physical your family. Or collective safety of our sisters. The utter household. Or women's group. Maybe failure of "Survival for Women" to as Christmas presents. The grasp the serious threat of male possibilities are endless. They are prédation on women alone left all of available from, (of course), us (at cayenne) speechless. Their California. Hurry with your order, foolish "solution" is reminiscent of supplies are limited. some of the worst of R.E.A.L. Women-- This advertising information, but at least R.E.A.L. Women is not which cayenne received in a letter trying to make money from a addressed to "Dear products editor", vulnerable constituency. Only in would be funny if it didn't insult so America.... fact that lack of previous opportunities for Black women writers made it necessary for her to take a Gay Bashing in Whitehorse more active role as editor of Home Jan Langford Girls : rather than just asking for submissions and waiting to pick the Whitehorse best of a flood of offerings, she had to seek out women, persuade many that In early October the minority NOP they could write, and participate government tabled a Human Rights actively in the development of m"any Bill. Currently there is no Human of the contributions. The lessons of Rights legislation in the Yukon save that experience could apply to any the Fair Practices Act, which applies women's publishing endeavour, but are only to accommodation, employment and particularly relevant to two current the provision of public services, and projects: the Feminist Periodicals prohibits a limited number of kinds Conference's followup committee to of discrimination.