•v ISSHJEFANCE FOH PHOGREi S VOLUME XIII

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Merle Hoffman

MANAGING EDITOR Beverly Lowy

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Eleanor J. Bader Phyllis Chesler

ASSISTANT EDITOR Karen Aisenberg

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Irene D avail Roberta Kalechofsky Flo Kennedy Nancy Lloyd

ART DIRECTORS Michael Dowdy Julia Gran

ADVERTISING AND SALES DIRECTOR Carolyn Handel

ON THE ISSUES: A feminist, humanist publication dedicated to promoting political action through awareness and One of the "Hysterical Housewives", education; working toward a global FEATURES Louise Geddings, blocks a truck from political consciousness; fostering a spirit of collective responsibility for positive SEXUAL MALPRACTICE: entering a landfill in Sumter County, SC, social change; eradicating racism, Therapists Who Seduce Their an area known for hazardous wastes. sexism, ageism, speciesism; and support- Patients ing the struggle of historically disenfran- by Fred Pelka HYSTERICAL HOUSEWIVES chised groups powerless to protect and Data indicate that six to 10 percent of (AND OTHER COURAGEOUS defend themselves. therapists sexually abuse their pa- WOMEN) by Karen Jan Stults UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS tients. Experts consider this a conser- All unsolicited material will be read by the editors. For vative estimate 7 Grassroots organizers are fighting return, enclose self-addressed, stamped envelope with against toxic wastes in their commu- proper postage. Articles should be not less than 10 and not more than 15 double spaced, typewritten pages on STRANGER IN A nities... and they're winning the women's health, social or political issues by people with STRANGE LAND: battle 22 hands on experience in their fields. Professional papers are accepted. All editing decisions are at the discretion Attending a Right To Life of the editors. Feminist cartoons are also acceptable Conference SPECIAL FEATURE under the same provisions. by Eleanor J. Bader ON THE ISSUES does not accept fiction or poetry. A pro-choice editor / reporter goes be- "NEVER A MAN MINISTER" Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the hind enemy lines to get the story 10 by Willie Mae Kneupper publisher. Acceptance does not necessarily imply A quiz that really tests your endorsement. SUSAN ROSENBERG: feminist I. Q. 24 PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The opinions expressed by America's Most Dangerous contributors to our publication and by those we DEPARTMENTS interview are not necessarily those of the editors. Woman? ON THE ISSUES is traditionally a forum for ideas and concepts and a place where women may have An exclusive interview by Merle Merle Hoffman—Editorial 1 their voices heard without fear of censure or cen- Hoffman; profile by Patricia Golan Win Some'Lose Some 4 sorship. At 34, Susan Rosenberg faces the pos- sibility of spending the rest of her life Choice Books 25 ON THE ISSUES is published as an informational Film/Video 29 and educational service of CHOICES Women's in prison. Her crime: dissent against Medical Center, Inc. 97-77 Queens Boulevard government policies 14 Feedback 35 Forest Hills, NY 11374-3317 ISSN 0895-6014

PHOTO: COURTESY CITIZENS CLEARINGHOUSE MERLE HOFFMAN women and men working together in "Search your heart. Are you ready for coalition, connecting heretofore uncon- war? How much are you willing to ON THE ISSUES nected issues, creates a situation ripe sacrifice to see this massacre ended? "I love your enemies because they with its own particular challenges, The day of distress has dawned." drive you to my arms for comfort" struggles and extraordinary opportu- (Randall A. Terry's Rescue News Brief, — Edna St. Vincent Millay - 1941 nities, quite apart from the external August 1989) I was very young when I read that political threats. The fact that the abortion issue has sonnet — when those words arrested There has already been an explosion the potential of splintering the society me with the power of their insight. of coalition work. The recognition of and, in fact, has been called the "sec- With similar shattering clarity, the political, social or psychological con- ond civil war" and "the Vietnam of the recent Supreme Court's decision al- gruence, the amalgamation of com- '80s", still has not translated into the lowing the states to restrict or regulate radships — all have the ability to importance of women's personal lives, abortion may be viewed as having light up the social, political, historical in the scheme of things in general, and presented both the pro-choice and landscape with a thousand points of in the abortion battle in particular. women's movements with extraordi- power. A power that will comfort us in What issue is more central to the nary opportunities. We are poised at a the heat that it generates while collective than whether or not to bring moment in time and history that is ripe scorching the ideology and agenda of another life into it? If abortion were with possibilities and the potential to the opposition. ultimately a "women's issue alone", by truly enact positive and lasting social change. On the surface, without reflection, it would appear that we have suffered a catastrophic defeat. But one can only truly lose what one has. Although supposedly guaranteed by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, legal abortion has been under constant attack since 1973 with a consistent chipping away at the most vulnerable target areas — parental consent and Medicaid fund- ing (teenagers and minority women). The pro-choice movement, lulled into a false sense of security by the Supreme Court and restricted by class self-inter- est and diffused political agendas, made the grave error of minimizing the oppo- sition; so much so that when Medicaid funding was cut off in 1977, adversely affecting poor and minority women, few people protested to Washington. It would seem that upon closer examina- tion, the concept and practice of women's equality, liberation and full participation in society was built on shifting sand. We have to realize that we are not safe, and there are no safe harbors, not in the Supreme Court, not in the states, not in the legislatures and not in the Constitution. Our safety must lie within ourselves and the movements Item: August 3, 1989 — six weeks prior to the New York Mayoral Primary. The that we build. Women are now going to New York Pro-Choice Coalition fields a 10-point questionnaire to all Mayoral have to win their rights to full and hopefuls concerning different aspects of the pro-choice position. A press unrestricted sexual and reproductive conference is held on the steps of City Hall where the results are announced. A freedom in potent social and political "Choice Chart" is unveiled and two-foot-long photos of the candidates are placed battle. We must struggle for the hearts along a 10-point scale to visualize their standing on the issues. The results and minds of the American people while provoke a great deal of controversy with the four Democratic contenders trying not succumbing to personal or sectar- to "out Pro-Choice each other"; the two Republicans trail at the bottom of the ian conflicts that siphon the power chart and the Right to Life Candidate is symbolized by a hanger on the from our vision and struggle. ground.This "women's issue" now takes on enormous importance to the seven Far from being a complete disaster, men who would be the city's Mayor. The results inspired Republican-hopeful or an omen that portends the destruc- Rudolph Giuliani to change his position on abortion for the seventh time in less tion of the women's movement, the than six months — and Newsday touts the fact that there is a "Gender Gap" recent Missouri decision may create a placing Rudolph Giuliani on the wrong side of the abortion issue and, as a result, groundswell of activism, anger and losing ground with women voters.One year ago it would have been unthinkable politically strategic creativity that to be discussing abortion in a Mayoral election. One year ago we thought we could well fuel a whole new order. were safe. This summer the Supreme Court gave us our wake-up call. The crushing, immediate necessity of

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 PHOTO: COURTESY CARTER BURTON definition mere fluff, not nearly as possible that all this attention, all this "Hey man, are you going to raise my important as the Pentagon, or Stealth struggle, all this resistance will enable three other kids too?" "Go home and Bomber, why all this fuss in the first women to feel stronger and more cen- pray in your own church." Not one place? If it is not politic to speak of tered in their decisions, rather than patient changed her mind or turned women's rights, women's demands, weaker and riddled with guilt, as the away. women's needs, women's "issues", be- opponents of choice would like us to We may only guess what seeds of cause they appear too strident, too believe that they do. dissent were planted that day in those radical, too unfeminine, too selfish — Item: this past summer, I was called people. let us not forget that this is the reality to assist an abortion clinic in the middle Obviously, much more needs to be of the issue. Minimizing abortion to be done. The early work of the New York merely a "women's issue" gives the lie Pro-Choice Coalition, the Bay Area to the passions and profound responses Coalition Against Operation Rescue that it generates. In the struggle to and an Atlanta, GA coalition that stood As more and more young women are up to months of assault by OR in the brought into the abortion rights win the "hearts and summer of 1988, should be formalized struggle, as more and more people get and reinforced. No clinic should ever be up at 5 a.m. to physically defend abor- closed, no woman should have to be tion clinics, as more and more people minds" of the brutalized by the continuing harass- march in the streets, as more and ment of Operation Rescue. Clinics more sit down, lie down, in acts of civil American people, should, and can, become training disobedience, as more and more women grounds for both activists and patients. say out loud, "I had an abortion", as the pro-choice and Patients can be politicized through their more and more students become acti- individual experiences; activists should vated on campuses, as more and more be educated about the reality of women's checks are written to pro-choice or- women's move- direct abortion experiences. Feminist ganizations, as more and more people counseling centers can evolve as natu- ask "are you pro-choice?" of their po- ments must take ral extensions of abortion clinics and litical candidates, there is a new rec- other women's health care facilities to ognition of "Me" being part of a larger offer on-going support for women who "We". As more and more women of care not to lose may be experiencing ambivalence or color join hands with their white sis- difficulties with their abortion deci- ters, and as more of the old-guard their souls sions. leadership allows young women to take And there is a secondary gain: clinic active roles and leadership positions, workers and professional staff would the women's movement may gain what of an attack by Operation Rescue. It gain immeasurably by a broader un- it so desperately and continually needs: was a busy Saturday afternoon and the derstanding of the ultimately political the assurance of legacy, the knowl- waiting room was crowded with pa- nature of their work. edge that the torch will be passed onto tients, husbands, lovers and friends. In But other tasks also exist. Clinic the next generation, and the possibil- the middle of the waiting room, Opera- owners should create financial policies ity of unifying behind a transcendant tion Rescue faithful were lying on the that allow subsidies for indigent political vision. floor attached to a "Cryptonite Block". women. This is particularly critical in The historic bifurcation of the serv- This madly creative device allows a states that have no Medicaid funding. ice end of the pro-choice movement group of protestors to attach them- No woman should be turned away from with the political end has begun to selves to specially designed bicycle locks a legitimate abortion provider because dissolve, forming the beginnings of a that defy police attempts to free them. of an inability to pay. All women, femi- powerful new alliance. Through par- Used successfully in clinics in the Mid nists and those who are not historically ticipation in direct action against and Southwest, Operation Rescue (OR) affiliated with the movement (includ- Operation Rescue at clinic sites, ideo- targeted New York City for the strat- ing moderate Republican women), logical and activist feminists touch egy- should consider tithing a certain per- the direct reality of abortion. Once By the time I arrived at the clinic, five centage of their incomes so that the viewed as either the "dirty end of the OR participants had been in the same chronic lack of funds that besets all business" by many medical profession- positions, leg to neck to ankle to thigh, progressive and feminist causes can be als, or the "capitalist establishment for approximately three hours; it would minimized. control of the women's health move- be at least another two before the po- How to think about abortion? ment" by socialist or radical feminists, lice would dismantle them. One Catho- How to think about women and their the reality of over one million women lic priest, attached to five women, was place in society? each year having abortions at clinics sitting with his neck chained like a dog, In a sense, the way we think about across the country, and their ultimate screaming to the women in the waiting abortion mirrors the way we think about vulnerability to Operation Rescue, har- room "Go home, go home. There'll be no ourselves. It touches, as well it should, assment, violence and more restric- baby killing here today—go home. You the deepest, most personal core of our tive and dangerous regulations in up- will not be killing your babies this image of the world and our place within coming Supreme Court cases, place Saturday." it.While every poll taken on this issue the clinics and their staffs in the fore- Far from being intimidated or shows that the majority of Americans front of the abortion rights struggle. ashamed by all of this, the patients are pro-choice and don't want govern- Patients themselves, in the midst of became electric and erupted with what ment interference in this decision, they the most personal and intimate of de- was basically a spontaneous rally and also show very clearly that the major- cisions and life events, are thrust into speak out. "Who the hell are you to tell ity of Americans are ambivalent when a vortex of politics and passion. It is me what to do with my life anyway?" it comes to the reasons for abortion —

2 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 otherwise known as the "Rape, Incest only allow "them" to have three or two care about people after birth, that they or Me" position. or four, etc., etc. They must under- turn a deaf ear and cold heart to the According to a recent New York stand that when one goes into that economic and day-to-day sufferings of Times poll on the women's move- slippery slope of what is an acceptable much of the population, that both sides ment (August 22, 1989) "roughly half number, or an acceptable reason, we are really looking at reality through a of the women who say America needs a begin to be the regulators. far different set of glasses. Jay Bagget, strong women's movement favor more It may, in fact, be necessary for the writing in the Victims of Choice Jour- restrictions on abortion than exist pro-choice movement to cloak to some nal, has problems with a "pro-choice" under current law." degree the crushing, blinding, primary ethic that says "unless the child is For the anti-choice movement, this wanted, unless the mother won't end ambivalence often centers around sexu- up on welfare, unless the child will be ality. Many in anti-choice groups truly loved, then it should be aborted." She believe that sex resulting in pregnancy A 12-year-old victim and many of the anti-choice advocates has to come to fruition — sex for pleas- see this as a "terrorist ethic" holding ure is unacceptable. The fact that some of incest does not the "weak and defenseless" hostage in anti-choice activists would allow abor- a Utopian vision of society. For the anti- tion in cases of rape or incest says it's choice movement, showing compassion all right to "kill a baby" if the woman is have much "choice" and love, caring for the weak and help- forced to have sex, but, let a woman be less are good and noble things, but they an active participant — choosing her — 63 percent of are outweighed by the one objective partner and her involvement — then overriding value: the sanctity of hu- abortion becomes absolutely unac- man life. All other issues are relegated ceptable. women who are to second place — life, regardless of Larry Letich, writing inTikkun,July/ how it is lived, is the ultimate priority. August 1989 says that" 'Reproductive economically driven Using this understanding, the pro- Freedom' and the 'right to choice' seem choice movement must work to create a to emphasize the primacy of the indi- to choose abortion society where "choice" truly exists — vidual and neglect other moral consid- not one where economic deprivation, erations. Sadly, these phrases conjure racism or despair dictates the outcome up a vision of self-indulgence and self- do not have much of pregnancies. Choice diminishes in ishness." This thinking from a suppos- relation to the equity of the opposing edly pro-choice person reflects much of "choice" options — a 12-year-old victim of incest a general attitude that reads: women does not have much "choice" — 63 are having abortions for selfish rea- percent of women who are economi- sons, meaning that "women are having reality of abortion — that it is abso- cally driven to choose abortion do not abortions for reasons that I wouldn't lutely necessary for women's survival have much "choice". Instead, the pro- have them for." I have personally heard and participation as full citizens in choice movement must move to a posi- countless women, prior to their abor- this society; that the price of women's tion where "choice" is truly possible, tions, say "I'm not like all those other equality may ultimately have to stand not where it is always the lesser of girls in the waiting room; they don't on millions of aborted fetuses — into two evils. seem upset about it at all; I don't take palatable political terms for the major- If our movement has not been there it as lightly as they do;" etc., etc. This ity of the American people. According in terms of adequately supporting lack of empathy from woman to woman to Celinda Lake, a Democratic women who are young and wish to is the microcosm of the macrocosm — pollster,"The opponents of abortion continue their pregnancies against all from women separating themselves would like to frame the debate as one of odds (without parental or economic sup- from each other — to the separation of 'irresponsibility and excess'." Lake port), we must answer not only with the importance of women's lives and advises the advocates of abortion rights the rhetoric of abortion, but by positing women's equality from the general to steer the debate to the issue of gov- an alternative program or "feminist agenda of the society. Underlying this ernment interference with individual birthing home", where women and girls reality is the strong assumption and rights. (New York Times July 21,1989) can choose to have their babies in sup- myth that women are just not to be It seems that women's rights, women's portive enriching environments. If it is trusted with moral and/or life and death lives and women's equality and auton- true that there are endemic concerns in decisions. omy just doesn't sell in the American this society about the loss of parental The words "pro-choice" are really not marketplace. In the struggle to win the control, the growth of "decadence" descriptive of what we are talking about "hearts and minds" of the American (sexuality among the young), the femi- on anything but a theoretical, ideologi- people, the pro-choice and women's nist movement has a responsibility to cal level. We are talking about pro- movements must take care not to lose address these issues in a more thought- woman politics that are pro-women's their souls. Self-reflection is necessary ful way. A deeper understanding of the lives and pro-women's sexuality. If, in for any type of personal or political limitations of education regarding birth control usage is imperative so that we fact, there are millions of Americans growth, but its purpose should be to strengthen and inspire, as opposed to are not caught in the trap of believing who are ambivalent about abortion, that better and more effective methods this must be acknowledged. Yes, there defensively explain. Certainly we must look to our movement for more reality are all that is necessary. Methods and are people who will not agree with my education about them must be com- reasons; who will decry them. Should — and then move on creatively and boldly to address the issues that are bined and integrated into the individ- we limit the number of abortions? There raised. ual and collective political psyche so are many avidly pro-choice people who are very disturbed about multiple We must also understand that when abortions and say perhaps we should we argue that the anti-choicers don't continued on page 33

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 WIN SOME 0 LOSE SOME A Compiled Adaptation of News Items with Editorial Commentary by Beverly Lowy

OPPRESSING Petersen said he considers will accept ads that sell sex Assignment editor Donna WHOSE RIGHTS? unborn babies a group. over the phone, research Marie Branton called the ban (The following was submit- "Because I interpret the papers and entertainment "childish and ridiculous, the ted to us by Laura Blinder- advertising policy, it indi- at topless bars. It also both- brainchild of some male man of California) rectly would be a Jon Pe- ers me that a person can't ideal. If they're going to have From a piece by Katie tersen-referred abortion, have access to an ad from a these sex-kitten ads, then I Deininger, Daily Aztec staff and I can't live with that on business that gives abor- think it's a double standard writer. The Daily Aztec my conscience. tions. It's a woman's right to that they're not going to have publishes out of San Diego "For me it's black and white have an abortion and it's abortion ads." State University: that an abortion-referral ad her right to have informa- The Aztec is independent The Daily Aztec's editor- violates our policy that we tion that deals with it." and supports itself through in-chief, Jon Petersen, has won't run ads that primarily Vore also objected to the advertising. The university banned advertisements that oppress the rights of certain way Petersen made the provides free office space and offer abortion services, al- groups." decision. "I was troubled pays for electricity. The though ads for other Petersen said ads for 976 because he didn't consult paper has no faculty adviser. women's medical services telephone numbers, re- with anyone on the editorial will still be accepted. search papers and nude or board, which consists of the Mr. Peterson doesn't under- Petersen cited a Daily Az- topless bars will still be ac- editor-in-chief, the manag- stand that pornography tec advertising policy that cepted because they do not ing editor, the opinion edi- oppresses women. Or, more states ads "must not pri- violate Daily Aztec ad policy tor and the two city editors," likely, he doesn't consider marily serve to oppress the or state and federal adver- Vore said. "I know his mind women as people, so he rights of a certain group" tising laws. was made up, and he doesn't needn't worry about it. We as his reason for discontinu- Said Adrian Vore, a city have to consult with any- are pleased that others on ing the ads. editor of the Daily Aztec: one, but it would have been the editorial staff have His decision has drawn "It bothers me that Jon nice if he talked to us before very different thoughts on national media attention. won't accept abortion ads but he made the decision." the matter.

ANOTHER I DESIGNER JOINS I THE RANKS According to "Insider New York" in Newsday: Designer Giorgio Armani who once dealt in furs, has banned animal skins from his bou- tiques. In Manhattan, his boutique, Emporio Armani, SOME THINGS Sprinkle a dusty poison now sells only fake furs, DON'T CHANGE where priced from $500 to $1200. The following poem by John The quiet aphid feeds? He is also marketing a line of Russell McCarthy was first Chlorinate the tiny ones bath oils with the promise printed in The New Yorker In water that I drink? that they have not been in 1941: Trap the slim and silken tested on animals. Morning Question mouse What shall I kill this That beds below the sink? Now that furs are no longer morning, sir, Catch a rabbit for a stew, considered chic and people To prove that I am I? A chicken for a pie? have become aware that The cricket leaping across What shall I kill this they're wearing murdered the rug, happy day animals, perhaps more ce- The too inquisitive fly? To prove that I am I? lebrities will join the ranks of Cut down the tree for fire- the converted. And shame on wood, Oh when will we ever __, skater Dorothy Hamill for her Uproot the heading weeds? learn ? • TV ads for Flemington Furs.

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 APARTHEID, U.S. is structural underpinning STYLE of the underclass." Isabel Wilkerson,Afeif York Times: A study conducted Segregation also creates a by Douglas S. Massey, pro- "Them and Us" mentality fessor of sociology and di- that contributes greatly to rector of the Population Re- fear and hatred. You can search Center at the Uni- hardly "love your neighbor" versity of Chicago, and if there's a wall of segrega- Dr. Nancy Denton, a re- tion between you. search associate at the Uni- versity, shows that racial segregation in 10 of the na- FAT FOOD FOR tion's largest cities is more SCHOOLKIDS deeply entrenched and AP news dispatch: School takes more forms than so- lunchroom cooks have a hard cial scientists previously time providing nutritious thought, being most pro- meals because the govern- nounced in Northeastern ment donates mainly fat- and Midwestern cities. laden foods such as ground The study measured un- beef, pork and luncheon evenness of racial distribu- meats, according to the tion, lack of potential con- Public Voice for Food and tact between Blacks and Health Policy, a consumer JUST A PIECE OF •Judges too frequently de- whites, the clustering of health group. The group said PAPER clare assaults and violations Black neighborhoods, the that 67 percent of 177 school Sheila Ann Feeney in the "adjourned in contemplation concentration of Blacks in food-service directors sur- New York Daily News: of a dismissal", which re- the inner city and the popu- veyed cited the U.S. Depart- Elizabeth Croff, Lydia sults in repeat offenders lation density of Black Grohoski, April La Salata never being convicted. neighborhoods. Moreover, and Erica Due had some- •No cross-referencing be- the study said, "if they thing in common: they all tween family and criminal [Blacks] go to adjacent had orders of protection courts. neighborhoods, or to the warning their abusive hus- • Drastic lack of jail beds neighborhood adjacent to bands to stay away from and counseling programs that, they are still unlikely them. All four women are for violators. to encounter a white resi- now dead. Charlotte Wat- • Lack of resources and serv- dent." On the other hand, son, executive director of a ices to help battered women non-Black Hispanics do not Westchester, NY shelter for flee their persecutors. live in the extreme levels of battered women, calls the Charlotte Watson says: segregation found for orders of protection "orders "People always say "Why Blacks, although Black of illusion". Court officials doesn't she leave?" About 75 Hispanics experience simi- admit that restraints de- percent of women killed lar segregation. According ment of Agriculture's com- signed to protect the accused by their batterers had to Professor Massey, modity distribution program frequently place women in made at least one previous "Whites find Hispanics as one of the most significant danger. Legal technicalities attempt to leave. more acceptable than barriers to their efforts to prevent police from arrest- Surveys indicate that be- Blacks. There's not the same provide nutritious meals. ing a violator even when a tween one third and one half level of fear." Scott Dunn, acting admin- woman implores them to of the 4,611 women mur- The effects of such pro- istrator of USD A's Food and and the cops would be dered last year in the U.S. longed and severe segrega- Nutrition Service, stated eager to oblige. Lawyers were killed by a husband, tion are apparent, he said, that the department is com- and women's advocates say boyfriend or an ex. More citing higher poverty, crime mitted to dietary guidelines the heart of the problem lies women are admitted to and unemployment rates developed jointly with the in a defective system that emergency rooms after being among Blacks isolated from Department of Health and must be dramatically over- battered by their partners the opportunities and ad- Human Services. hauled. Among the prob- than are treated for mug- vantages of the mainstream. lems they cite: gings, car accidents and "Where you live deter- And ketchup is a vegetable! •Reluctance by judges con- rapes combined. mines the chances you get With the high incidence in cerned about unlawful evic- in this world," said Profes- this country of coronary ar- tions, to grant "full" orders Until harsher, swifter pen- sor Massey. "It determines tery disease, high LDL cho- of protection specifying that alties are instituted against the school your children go lesterol levels in the young the abuser vacate and avoid offenders; until women are to, the crime you're exposed and the generally poor eat- the home of the victim. warned when their abusers to, the peer influences on ing habits instilled in chil- • Judges routinely allow are released from jail; and your children. If you're iso- dren, deliberately contribut- first offenders — and even until the law takes domestic lated from the mainstream, ing to poor nutrition should repeaters — to be freed on it's not a fair world, it's not be viewed as nothing short of low or no bail. violence as seriously as other crimes, women will die. a fair contest. Segregation criminal.

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 STOP THE Hingst, national director of SEEING THE LIGHT DELIVERY public relations for Dom- Congratulations to the re- Domino's Pizza has been in ino's, states: "On the subject visors of the new Presby- the press a good bit lately. that Tom Monaghan made a terian hymnal, scheduled There has been heavy criti- personal contribution to the for publication in the cism that their promise of a Committee to End State- spring of 1990. The 30-minute delivery has re- Funded Abortions in Michi- revisors have tried to sulted in a number of traffic gan, we do feel that Mr. eliminate sexist or other- accidents, including 20 fa- Monaghan is entitled to his wise offensive references. talities in 1988. However, opinion, and the National "Onward Christian Sol- ordering Domino's Pizza can Organization for Women diers" has been expunged be even more dangerous folks are entitled to theirs." because it's too militaris- than that. The chairman and tic; "God of the Fathers" is founder is Tom Monaghan, Right. And we are entitled to now "God of the Ages"; a contributor to the anti- ours. Beyond the usual cho- and "Good Christian Men choice movement. In a letter lesterol and sodium of the Rejoice" has become to the editor {Newsday, product, Domino's Pizza is "Good Christian Friends August 13,1989), Ronald A. very bad for women's health! Rejoice". May all religions follow suit. We'd appreci- ate hearing from those that have done so or are planning to do so. THE EASIEST PREGNANCY From two articles, written AFTER ALL, IT'S independently in the New ONLY RAPE! York Daily News by An AP news dispatch from Sheila Ann Feeney and Dallas: A police officer work- David Horowitz: ing undercover in a drug There's a new device for investigation watched a expectant fathers, suppos- group of men rape a woman edly designed to give them a but did not interfere because real feeling of pregnancy. he didn't want to reveal his Called "The Empathy Belly", identity. The officer, Tomas it's a strap-on vest that pre- Echartea, told reporters from sumably simulates about 20 the Dallas Evening News: different symptoms of preg- "You don't want to ruin your nancy. A water-filled pillow credibility. If it had been a ON THE MOUTHS plete line of make-up under gives the feeling of carrying life-threatening situation, I'd OF BABES another name. The big seller the unborn fetus at various have blown my cover. I'd have Linda Wells in The New this year is Mattel's Li'l Miss stages of development. Lead had to. You just can't let York Times Magazine: Make-up, a doll that re- balls press in on the upper someone be killed." Even before they're old sembles a 5-or 6-year-old- rib cage, just like the knees The Dallas police said they enough to have allowances, girl. When cold water is and elbows of the growing would investigate to find the little girls are playing with painted on, the doll develops fetus, while a pendulum woman, whom they believe make-up and fragrance, eyebrows, colored eyelids simulates the motion of the works as a prostitute. Detec- getting them from toy manu- and fingernails, tinted lips fetus in the uterus. The cost tives will also ask Mr. facturers and cosmetic com- and a heart-shaped beauty of this little present for the Echartea to give them a full panies alike. Mattel makes mark. Says Paul Block, father-to-be? A not-so-little account, said Ray Hawkins, stick-on painted fingernails. Revlon's executive vice presi- $500. The device is the the Dallas Deputy Police Next to the pencil boxes at dent/marketing: "Children brainchild of a counselor in Chief. "I think he had some FAO Schwartz in New York 11 to 17 spend $63 a week on Washington state. Feeney obligation as one human are cases of eye shadow, pleasure. That's a tremen- questions whether, at this being to another to help blusher, nail polish and lip dous amount." price, syrup of ipecac will her as best he could," said colors. Maybelline has insti- be included. Chief Hawkins. "All women, tuted a bubble-gum flavored And the cosmetic and toy even prostitutes, have a right lip gloss. Tinkerbell has for industries want to be sure to And how do you simulate not to be raped." years sold fragrances, lip- get their piece of the action, heartburn, puffiness of stick and nail polish but not no matter what the psycho- ankles and wrists and all Obviously, Mr. Echartea does eye shadow or mascara; logical cost to the children. the other little discomforts of not consider rape a very seri- according to Tinkerbell's We can look forward to a pregnancy? It also seems ous offense; and aside from president, Martin Green- country full of living Barbie highly unlikely that "daddy" the terror and pain — both field, "We don't want to tell dolls with ever-younger chil- will wear his belly to the of- mental and physical — that an 8-year-old that she should dren getting into the act. We look like 18." However, the fice. Somehow we think the victims suffer, in this age anticipate free make-up kits "daddy'spregnancy" will end of AIDS, rape may very well company is thinking about bringing out a more com- with every potty to encour- in a very quick abortion. be life-threatening. age quick toilet training! ON THE ISSUES VOL XII1989 SEXUAL MALPRACTICE Therapists Who Seduce Their Patients By Fred Pelka

udith Daire began therapy in children is highly prevalent," says Dr. The ethics codes of every psychiatric 1971 with a psychiatrist who Nanette K. Gartrell, associate clinical and psychological association in the ended sessions with "a light professor of psychiatry at the Univer- country say that sexual contact be- embrace, and a kiss on the sity of California in San Francisco. tween client and therapist is unethi- cheek". By 1975 he was kissing Gartrell, a leader in the movement to cal. One study indicated that close to her on the lips. By 1976 they address this issue, believes that the 90 percent of clients who have sex with werJe having sex. sexual exploitation of patients by their therapists suffer long-lasting, Carolyn M. Bates had been seeing therapists "is an extension of the gen- harmful effects. Drug or alcohol de- her therapist for nine months when he eral cultural acceptance of sexual pendent clients sexually exploited by began to "sexualize the relationship". abuse of women and children." their counselors often lose their sobri- The abuse continued for another 10 In a ground-breaking study published ety. Many victims end up in psychiat- months, until Bates terminated the in February 1987, Gartrell and her ric hospitals for problems directly re- therapy. colleagues concluded that "the best lated to the exploitation. The sexual exploitation of patients available data indicate that six to 10 Nevertheless, throughout most of the by physicians is nothing new. The percent of psychiatrists have had sex- country, becoming a "psychotherapist" Hippocratic Oath, written more than ual contact with their patients". Most involves little more than hanging out a 2,000 years ago, requires doctors to experts consider this to be a conserva- shingle or placing an ad in the paper. abstain "from the seduction of females tive estimate, especially when other This means that "counselors" who are or males, of freemen or slaves" who are types of psychotherapists — psycholo- not psychiatrists or licensed psycholo- patients or living in a patient's house- gists, social workers, chemical depend- gists or social workers are not bound hold. Presumably, its author would ency counselors, religious and family by any code of ethics. not have included the prohibition if the therapists—are included. Many of the A former school teacher with a back- problem didn't exist. offending therapists have sexwithmore ground in engineering, Carolyn Bates Neither is the sexual exploitation of than one client, some of them abusing is now completing her doctorate in clients by psychotherapists anything hundreds of patients in the course of psychology, andhasco-authoredabook, new. No less a figure than Carl Jung is their professional lives. with Dr. Annette M. Brodsky, called reputed to have "seduced" at least one Sixty-five percent of the psychiatrists Sex in the Therapy Hour: A Case of of his patients. polled in another study said that they Professional Incest, published by It is, however, only recently that the had treated at least one client who had Guilford. Bates was 19 years old when medical establishment has begun to been sexually exploited by a previous the abuse began. even acknowledge the problem pub- therapist. The Walk-In Counseling "I went into therapy because I was licly, much less deal with it. The tradi- Center in Minneapolis, which has a depressed. I'd left home and a very tionally male-dominated psychiatric national reputation for treating vic- sheltered family, and I didn't know a and psychological associations, left to tims of therapist abuse, has seen more lot about how to structure my life. My police their own, chose in many cases than 1400 such cases in the last 15 father had died three years before, and to pretend that the abuse wasn't hap- years. Of those cases, roughly 80 per- I was still mourning him. I had had my pening. Medical review boards refused cent involved male therapists exploit- first sexual experience, and felt in- to take the issue seriously. Therapists, ing female clients. credibly guilty about it, coming from a fearful of lawsuits or the disapproval of So widespread is the abuse, and so religious background that spoke their colleagues, kept quiet even when devastating its consequences, that against that." they knew of instances of abuse. It is several states have passed or are con- Bates trusted "Dr. X", regarding him no surprise, then, that fewer than five sidering laws making sexual contact as a compassionate man with only her percent of abuse victims ever report between therapist and client a crime, best interests at heart. their experience to a licensing board punishable by fine and imprisonment. "One session he asked me if I'd lay on or professional association. Civil codes have also been amended to the floor, to relax. About two sessions "We live in a very patriarchal culture, allow abuse victims easier access to later he sat down next to me, and where the sexual abuse of women and redress through civil lawsuit. rubbed my belly. He told me he was ON THE ISSUES VOL XII1989 doing 'relaxation exercises'. I wasn't had his door locked. We were always pist that she won't share with anyone going to question this guy. You'll find locked in." else, even her lover or spouse. Conse- that's very common. Patients very Daire's therapist, a married man, quently, clients often come to view rarely question their doctors." promised to divorce his wife, and their therapist as an authority figure, "I felt exposed," says Bates, "laying marry Daire. almost a surrogate parent, someone there with my belly up. I had my arm "He said he wanted to do everything whom they respect, even love. These over my face. He just pulled down my for me. He didn't want me to go to feelings are called "transference". pants and penetrated me." anyone else for any of my problems." "And to take advantage of those feel- The abuse continued over the Daire eventually became so disturbed ings," says Dr. Herman, "to exploit a next 10 months of "treatment", as about what was happening that she patient sexually, is really very similar the teenager struggled with her attempted suicide. to a parent sexually exploiting a child." feelings of shame, confusion and "I don't think I really wanted to kill "Transference" also makes it diffi- betrayal.Unwilling to sacrifice the myself," she says. "I just wanted to cult for clients to end the abuse after it attention of a man she had come stop the pain." has started, and speak out once it has to see as a "father figure", she re- Victims of therapist abuse, like rape ended. It may be years before the client sponded in ways similar to those of and incest survivors, are often held understands that she has been victim- incest survivors. responsible for their own victimiza- ized, and is able to discuss the experi- "What I experienced was a lot of tion. Few people recognize the imbal- ence with anyone. confusion, and numbness, not under- ance of power in a therapy/client rela- "After the first time," says Biele, "[the standing why it was happening, but tionship. victim] feels like she is in collusion being caught up in the belief that he "People have a real hard time with with the offender, because she's not was there to help me. His standard this," says Nancy F. Biele, president of saying no. In reality, she can't say no. line was, until I learned how to relate the National Coalition Against Sexual There's also a fear of hurting the the- to him in the office, I would never be Assault, and director of the Sexual rapist. 'I want this to stop, but I don't able to relate to men outside. Violence Center in Minneapolis. "They want to hurt this guy. He gave me a lot. "We had sex probably eight to 10 say, 'Look, you've got two consenting He has a wife, a family.' Often they times, about once a month. I knew we adults.' They don't understand how don't tell until they've found out that were going to have sex when I came it's possible for this to be called 'abuse'." their therapist is also abusing some- into the office and he locked the door Dr. Judith L. Herman, assistant clini- one else, which also resembles incest." behind us, and closed the drapes. There cal professor of psychiatry at Harvard The violation of trust between was one time, right after sex, when he Medical School, likens therapist/client therapist and client can be devastat- said, "I really felt a breakthrough abuse to incest. Dr. Herman, a co-au- ing to the victim's self- esteem. An es- there." thor with Dr. Gartrell of several stud- timated one percent of exploited Judith Daire also went into therapy ies on therapist abuse, is also the au- clients commit suicide. Others, such for depression. Her psychiatrist be- thor of Father I Daughter Incest, pub- as Daire, attempt it. Carolyn Bates, gan treatment by prescribing psy- lished by Harvard University Press, though she never acted on her feel- chotropic drugs, which Daire believes and considered to be a major work on ings, also felt suicidal after her experi- was a part of his pattern of abuse and that issue. ence with Dr. X. manipulation. Good therapy, according to Dr. Her- "Essentially, it boils down to a so- "He was considered to be one of the man, is dependent upon the client pla- phisticated form of rape, where the best therapists in Waterbury (Con- cing trust in her therapist. Clients coercion is psychological instead of necticut). Other members of my fam- come to therapy to address their deep- physical," says Dr. Dennis Pearne, a ily had seen him, previously. Very est concerns. They often feel vulner- clinical psychologist practicing in soon after we started therapy he able, confused, frightened. A client may Belmont, MA, who has treated several initiated a light embrace, a kiss on discuss troubling experiences, dozen victims of therapist abuse. the cheek before I left. He always thoughts and feelings with her thera- "Generally, these people end up with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress WARNING SIGNS himself or herself, talking about his disorder, with all the accompanying Barbara E. Sanderson, coordinator of own problems rather than the client's; symptoms: anxiety attacks, night- the Minnesota Task Force on Sexual •uses alcohol or drugs during therapy, mares, startle reactions, difficulty Exploitation by Counselors and Thera- or suggests that the client use alcohol venturing outside the home and par- pists, lists these warning signs. or nonprescription drugs; ticipating in the outside world." If the therapist: • asks the client to keep secrets about If nothing else, the introduction of •singles out a client as "special" or the therapy; sex into therapy means that the ther- "favorite"; • is uncomfortable answering ques- apy has stopped, that the issues which •suggests special arrangements, such tions about his credentials, or where brought the client into counseling in as meetings after office hours, or at the the therapy is going; the first place will never be addressed. home of the client or therapist, or • suggests unusual financial or busi- Biele stresses that the abuse also af- waives fees contrary to normal office ness arrangements with the client; fects a victim's family and loved ones. procedure; • If a therapist asks for a date, or sug- "Often, while the exploitation is going •focuses on sex (unless the client has gests or initiates sexual activity, such on, the victim's relationship with their a specific sexual problem), tells sexual as kissing, petting, or intercourse, it is significant other is deteriorating. And jokes, or asks intimate questions without doubt time to find a new thera- then, when the victim finally spills the unrelated to the therapy, or "ogles" the pist. Likewise, it is unethical for a beans, the significant other doesn't client, undresses, or suggests that the therapist to end therapy in order to know what to do. They have a real client undress during therapy; start a romantic or sexual relationship hard time seeing it as victimization. •shares personal information about with a client. They're much like other secondary victims, angry and depressed and sad."

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 The sad fact is that a victim of sexual Another important feature of the lice and charged Dr. X with sexually malpractice may end up losing her Minnesota package is the mandatory assaulting her during therapy. Dr. X therapist, her self-esteem, and some- registration of all psychotherapists or pled guilty, and was given a 10-year times her marriage or love relation- counselors. Unlike psychiatrists, and probated sentence. As a condition of ship as well. licensed psychologists and social work- his probation, Dr. X could no longer Minnesota and Wisconsin were the ers, who must conform to professional practice therapy. first states in the nation to make the ethics codes to keep their licenses, un- After nine years of lawsuits and sexual exploitation of clients by thera- licensed therapists can operate with complaints, it took the threat of a prison pists a criminal offense. In Minnesota, relative impunity. Even psychiatrists term to finally stop Dr. X's abuse. this legislation came as part of a three- and licensed therapists who have lost Carolyn Bates returned to therapy year effort by a special task force funded their licenses for ethical reasons can, a year-and-a-half after terminating by the state legislature, and coordi- with Dr. X. nated by Barbara E. Sanderson, direc- "I went into therapy with a female tor of the Minnesota Program for Vic- "Several states therapist, and that was the begin- tims of Sexual Assault. One of the rec- ning of recovery. The hardest thing for ommendations of the Task Force on me was to forgive myself for having Sexual Exploitation by Counselors and have passed or are been so gullible, for having been so Therapists was implemented in 1985, needy. The hardest lesson for me to with passage of a law that made sexual learn was that the therapist is always contact between therapists and clients, considering laws responsible." either during therapy or within two It was more difficult for Judith Daire years of its termination, a felony of- to extricate herself from the abuse. fense. A separate bill, passed a year making sexual con- After years of medication and psychi- later, made such contact specific atric hospitalizations, she filed suit grounds for civil lawsuit. against her therapist, winning a mil- Says Sanderson, "What this does is tact between thera- lion dollar court settlement. Her psy- send a message. It tells the victims, chiatrist declined to contest the case, even if they don't file a complaint, that pist and client a alleging that his poor health precluded what happened to them is so serious, a court appearance. so bad, that the state has passed a law Suing a therapist for sexual malprac- against it. Victims tell us that alone crime, punishable tice is an expensive, difficult and time has been healing." consuming process. Carolyn Bates was "It has led to a dramatic improve- in litigation for more than four years. ment," says Gary R. Schoener, a li- by fine and Even if the suit is successful, many censed psychologist and executive di- insurance companies refuse to cover rector of the Walk-In Counseling Cen- claims involving sexual malpractice. ter in Minneapolis. Schoener also cites imprisonment." Daire, for example, has yet to collect the various workshops, conferences, any of her settlement. pamphlets, and articles generated by "He claims he has no insurance, and the Task Force, all with the theme, in many states, continue to practice. no money. Very likely he has hidden "It's Never Okay." By requiring that all therapists be his money, but we haven't been able to "The goal of all this, quite frankly, registered, professional associations find it." was to come down on the profession and state regulatory agencies have The sexual exploitation of clients by like a ton of bricks, to say to them: greater clout when faced with an un- psychotherapists doesn't occur in a 'That's it. No more.' The professional ethical practitioner: they can put him vacuum. As one respondent to Dr. mechanisms are not adequate, and so out of business by revoking his regis- Gartrell's survey put it, "the American it has become a social, and therefore a tration. Psychiatric Association should political problem." Even with mandatory registration investigate...the deeper issues of psy- Schoener believes that the greatest and/or licensure, many experts believe chiatric training and the socialization impact will come as a result of the re- that criminal laws such as the one of men (and doctors) that make this vision of Minnesota's civil statute, passed in Minnesota are needed to acceptable for some." which now holds employers and col- deal with worst case, multiple offend- "The kind of deeper issues that this leagues of therapists potentially liable ers. Says Biele, "We can slap your hand person is referring to," says Dr. Her- for damage caused by sexual exploita- with ethics. With a felony we can put man, "are the pervasive sexism and tion. And so clinics, hospitals and coun- you in jail." sexually exploitative attitudes of the seling agencies have become much more Dr. X is a good example. Bates and wider society. It's simply an exaggera- conscientious when checking the cre- two of his other female clients filed a tion of socially accepted norms: that a dentials of prospective therapist-em- lawsuit in 1978, which was eventually male should be in a position of greater ployees. settled out of court. Several other vic- dominance and power, and a female "Just before this law passed," recalls tims came forward after the suit be- should be subordinate." Sanderson, "one of the most reputable came public. Another woman filed a Dr. Gartrell and Dr. Herman both agencies in Minnesota hired a thera- complaint in 1984 with Dr. X's state point to the lack of sexual ethics train- pist who had worked a block from them. licensing board in Texas, which sus- ing at medical schools and counselor They didn't check his references be- pended his license, but allowed him to training programs as a factor contrib- cause he was so well known." What continue practicing under the supervi- uting to the incidence of sexual mal- wasn't well known, says Sanderson, sion of another licensed psychologist. practice. Sexual "countertransference" was that this therapist had been fired Finally, in 1987, yet another client, "for being sexual with his patients". this time 17-years-old, called the po- continued on page 30

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 9 Baby Lite

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CALL 1-800BETHANY Strange Land Abortion Alternative Hotliie Leta Bab* Attending A Right To Life Conference liie! By Eleanor J. Bader CALL 1-800-BETHANY Abortion Alternative Hotliie everal days before the Supreme wrangling and electoral involvement. We condemn violence in all forms, Court gutted the historic deci- On the grassroots level, they organize whether it is the violence of abortion or sion in Roe v. Wade, the 1973 letter writing and petition drives, visit violence against property." case which gave women the right elected officials and provide direct NRTLC president John C. Willke to terminate unwanted preg- service help to pregnant women and and executive director David O' nancies, more than 1500 mem- girls through the (non-deceptive) Steen were quick to point out that Sbers of the National Right to Life Com- Catholic church sponsored group, they both oppose capital punishment. mittee (NRTLC) met in Minneapolis. Birthright. While some of their mem- Willke also said that on a recent trip Heady with anticipation of a court bers may be involved in Operation to the Middle East he told Israeli gov- victory, they set out to discuss tactics Rescue and other "militant" organiza- ernment officials that that country and map strategy for the coming year. tions, the NRTLC keeps a marked would be better served if women in From planning what they hope will be distance from the largely evangelical, the military carried pregnancies a massive April 28th "Rally for Life", to Fundamentalist Christian rescue rather than guns. Although Willke organizing legislative lobbying in the movement. Religious, tactical and sty- was unclear about his reasoning — 50 states, they bolstered one another's listic differences keep the disparate does he think women are unsuited for morale, taught concrete skills and components of the anti-abortion move- the military and capable only of moth- provided a theological and political ment at arms length; not surprisingly, ering, or does he oppose the Israeli framework to support their agenda. the leadership of Operation Rescue, military and support a two-state, ne- The all-white, (there were no more the American Life League and Joseph gotiated peace? — his past support for than five people of color, two male Scheidler's Pro-Life Action League of ex-president Ronald Reagan and cur- rabbis and three members of the Hari Chicago were nowhere to be seen at the rent man-in-the-White House George Krishna sect) largely female crowd NRTLC convention. Bush, cast doubt on his pacifism and included a large number of Catholic In fact, James Bopp, NRTLC counsel, respect for women's capabilities. priests and nuns alongside the leader- explicitly criticized these groups be- Nonetheless, the fact that the NRTLC ship of the many NRTLC chapters and fore a packed press conference. "It is is not a monolithic lot was continually affiliates. More than 100 "Teens for our policy to pursue only lawful means underscored. Feminists for Life, a secu- Life" held a simultaneous convention. in creating an abortion-free America," lar group whose members support the The NRTLC has, since its founding he said. "The appropriate way for us to ERA and a host of other pro -women, in 1973, been considered the most staid reach our goal is to operate within the progressive positions, wore stickers organization in the anti-abortion legal system of the United States. urging the government to "eliminate movement. Their work takes place in Others have been motivated by other human problems, not human beings". Congress and the statehouses and rationales. If they commit unlawful At the same time, members of various reflects a penchant for legislative acts that are violent we condemn them. Knights of Columbus chapters, Lu-

10 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 Baby Baby Live!

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CALL 1-800-BETHANY t CALL 1-800-BETHANY f CALLl"800BETHAN\ Abortion Alternative Hotline [ Abortion Alternative Hotline t Abortion Alternative Hotline therans and Presbyterians for Life and tion of human life has dulled our con- are making decisions they deem ap- Columban Fathers and Sisters were sciousness in this society. The very propriate for God, and God alone. on-hand with misogynist, anti-choice same rationale—inconvenience—that Dolan then threw an unexpected messages about love, marriage, sexu- leads a woman to kill an unborn child curve to the plenary crowd. In oppos- ality and family life. can lead to the killing of unwanted ing what he called "institutional heart- Although many of the conferees were Aunt Mary or a handicapped baby." lessness", he made some concrete pro- traditional Catholics, when discussions "Euthanasia violates justice," added posals that merit looking at. "We need veered from the subject of abortion John Dolan, a philosophy professor at to ask why people are so in need of there were questions and disagree- the University of Minnesota. "Judging desperate measures like assisted sui- ments. Nowhere was this clearer than a life as not worth living is what the cide," he said. "We need to develop in the seemingly tireless push from Nazis did. It contravenes the demands crisis critical care centers." He also NRTLC staffers to broaden the move- of common decency. A doctor or nurse recommended lobbying for pay hikes ment agenda to include infanticide and should not decide if a person is worth for those working in the caring profes- euthanasia. While not new, this em- saving. Their job is to save them." sions, the nurses, nurses aides, order- phasis resulted in confusion about Examples were given: a selfish daugh- lies and recreational therapists who organizational priorities that was never ter, estranged from her mother for 25 "are the lowest paid and least re- completely resolved; virtually every- years, reenters the picture and says spected". Lastly, he cautioned against one seemed to agree that the three are that she wants the elderly woman using loaded, offensive language; re- linked, yet, they never ironed out stra- unplugged from life support systems. ferring to people as vegetables or as tegic plans for legislative and legal Is the mother ready to die? asked the defective, he said, "reflects a corrup- actions and expressed uncertainty speaker. Of course not, the conferees tion of moral attitudes". about how to do this. agreed. If God wanted her to die, she The crowd's humanity and moral But that did not matter. The sup- would die while hooked up to the ma- soundness was reinforced again and posed link between the "three evils" chinery. But what about a terminally again. "We must lead the nation," said was hammered home repeatedly, as ill patient who has decided, for him or NRTLC executive director David though getting the ideology out, and herself, that s/he wishes to die? Do we O'Steen. "There is no organizational not setting an actual action plan, was honor living wills? asked Dolan. Can opposition to these practices out there. the goal of the 1989 conference. death ever be perceived as a friend, or The burden is on you to turn the nation "The charter of the NRTLC says that must it always be an enemy, to be around and restore sanity." This so- we seek protection under the law for all fought and hated? called burden infused the conferees living humans," said James Bopp. "This Many in the crowd nodded in horror with a sense of purpose, putting them means that we oppose abortion, infan- as Dolan posed these ethical dilem- on the side of God, the angels and ticide and euthanasia. The denigra- mas, visibly angry that human beings political correctness.

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 11 Details were unnecessary as the "high the point of guilt and intense grieving". that some diocese have unpure mo- moral ground" unified the crowd, at Project Rachel trains professional tives —perhaps they are hoD ing against least on the surface. But while abor- counselors and clergy to work with hope to lure lapsed Catholics back into tion and euthanasia — and the alleg- Catholic women who wish to put the the fold by appealing to their desire for edly horrible social consequences of abortion experience behind them. compassion, forgiveness and plural- them — were discussed in detail, in- Although hardliners within the ism —it is also clear that Project Rachel fanticide was barely mentioned. No church have lambasted Rachel for is filling a service gap for countless one referred to the highly publicized weakening the papal stand on abortion women and their mates. case of Rudy Linares, the young man and making grave sins permissible by The pro-choice movement's task, then, who unplugged his infant son after removing the long-term penalties for is to be aware of all efforts, Rachel watching him lie hopelessly in a hospi- them, Thorn sees it differently. "To be included, that take advantage of emo- tal bed for months. Nor did they cite healed after an abortion is a way of tional fragility and tell women' that other instances of the practice. encountering the Lord," she said. Fa- they should feel guilty or bad. Discus- Instead, they allowed Debbie Petrie sion among pro-choice activists is ur- and her four-year-old son Trent to tell gently needed to forge a strategy to their story in the exhibit hall. A mother Far from being deal with Rachel. One option, of course, of four, Petrie told anyone who would is to run our own counseling programs. listen that "I knew there were prob- For if the Supreme Court or the states lems with my last pregnancy from the polyester-clad overturn Roe, it will reinforce the very beginning. The doctor said every- doubts of women who ambivalently thing was okay. Then one day I felt chose abortion and who, months or something really wrong and I returned fanatics, they years later, are still not sure they made to the doctor. I was dilated at the time the right decision. The government's of the exam. They gave me medicine to implicit statement that 'we were wrong, prevent contractions and the doctor demonstrated them- but now we're righting ourselves,' could kept saying that if the baby was born open the floodgates of confusion, sor- now he (sic) would not survive. I was selves to be row and regret. We need to be there, for 20 weeks pregnant. The doctor never if we are not, Project Rachel will be the mentioned the neonatal intensive care only place to turn for counseling and unit. Luckily a nurse asked me if I formidable foes and assistance. wanted someone from intensive care Our job is also to make pastoral coun- to come and see me. I said yes." Once selors listen to women who are not the 12-ounce, 10-inch-long baby was intelligent, able "victims of abortion", but molders and delivered, he was resuscitated and put shapers of their own destinies. At the in the unit where he gained weight same time, it is essential to break the and began to develop. Although Trent strategists and misogynist theological stranglehold is blind, Petrie is outraged that "there that keeps women in line by control- would have been no legal problems if planners ling their sexuality and their options. we did not choose life supports for Not to do this leaves an enormous him." Her emotional, heartfelt presen- number of people vulnerable to the tation, aided by Trent riding his tri- ther Joseph Nauman, a St. Louis priest arguments of anti-abortion forces. cycle around the exhibit space, was associated with Project Rachel calls it For it is the unorganized that the gauged to elicit both sympathy and an injunction to "hate the sin, love the NRTLC seeks to convert. Conceding empathy and force us to conclude that sinner". Despite his expressed compas- that about 25 percent of the American her brave decision was the only com- sion for women experiencing unplanned populace is unequivocally pro-choice, passionate option. Since no one was on pregnancies, his virulent opposition to the NRTLC wants to go for the center, hand to counter her experience and abortion shed a different light on the the people whose positions are un- offer testimony about the agony of Project. For him, Project Rachel is a formed or who are "personally opposed" watching a terminally ill child hang on way to bring wishy-washy priests to to abortion, but think it should re- to life supports without any sign of the anti-abortion cause. main legal. Another target population improvement, or to discuss the impact Since pastoral counselors affiliated is teenagers, and veteran organizer of such a decision on other children or with Rachel only see women whose and teacher Molly Kelly was on-hand the household unit, Petrie's one-di- emotional problems were exacerbated to train delegates in speaking to mensional saga was meant for the by abortion, the evidence points to the youth. A fast-talking, funny and heart, not the head, and attempted, practice as hurtful and damaging. In charismatic speaker, Kelly boasts of once again, to impose an absolute moral addition, since they counsel only Catho- addressing 300 school groups in 21 standard on the rest of the world. lic women who grew up believing abor- states and three Canadian provinces But not everything was presented as tion to be the sin of sins, they never during the 1988-89 school year. "Abor- a moral absolute. A particularly eye- hear witness from women who were tion is so controversial some schools opening workshop on Project Rachel raised differently and who have little will not let you in," she says. "You can described Catholic church efforts to or no remorse following the termina- get in on the chastity issue because of create a "pastoral ministry of recon- tion of an unwanted pregnancy. AIDS. It's now seen as a healthy ciliation for women who have had abor- Rachel does not exist in every diocese option and if more people embraced tions". Victoria Thorn, of the Archdio- nationwide. Thorn's program was set chastity before marriage there would cese of Milwaukee, helped create Proj- up as a model. But why some diocese be less abortion." ect Rachel in 1984 because she felt have jumped at the chance to do this Kelly makes no bones of the fact that that it was possible for women "trau- ministry and others have not is un- she sees her job as "entertaining kids matized by abortion to move beyond clear. And while it is certainly possible and conveying the fact that I love you, 12 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 Attending the National Right to Life the fetus. who Jane Roe was. The reporter Committee convention was, as you But there was an exception that broke explained the Roe v. Wade case and might expect, like being a stranger in a the mood of caring and nurturing and handed the young lady a People maga- very strange and extremely frightening revealed an insidious, misogynst under- zine story about Norma McCorvey. She land. Reasonable, smiling, friendly current. John C. Willke, the president of looked at it, threw it down and ran out people were everywhere, expressing the National Right to Life Committee, of the room," said Willke. The hushed earnest and passionate anti-abortion reported on a story he read in the crowd was clearly delighted with the sentiments. Their dedication was pal- Knoxville Journal. According to the tale, cheering Willke's perverse re- pable, as was the sense of moral pur- article, he said, a zealous reporter counting of the interaction. "Imagine pose which keeps them in the thick of tracked down the 19-year-old daughter your mother not wanting you so much the issue. of Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff in the she went to the Supreme Court to have With one exception, they expressed tre- landmark Roe v. Wade case. (McCorvey you aborted," he thundered. "The mendous empathy for women caught had attempted to get the courts to allow young woman was shaking all over and betwixt and between. A large and grow- her to have an abortion. When her crying." ing network of homes where unmarried request was denied, she was forced to Surely not surprising. What was pregnant women (they cannot seem to bear the child and decided to put it up surprising, however, was the fact that fathom an unwanted pregnancy in a for adoption.) Aided by an adoption the audience seemed impervious to the nuclear family) can live for free while counselor, "the reporter went to Seattle, obvious cruelty and hostility such an pregnant and for up to a year after located the child, took her to a restau- interview was laced with. Caring? Pro- delivery, addressed the charge that the rant and told her that she was the life? I shuddered to contemplate the anti-abortion movement cares only for daughter of Jane Roe. She did not know consequences.

I care about you and I need you in the perhaps emulated. The fact that more they are out of high school, members pro-life movement...We need to reach than 100 teens attended a simultane- will have participated in electoral work, our teens. They are the most impor- ous "Teens for Life" conference is largely lobbied their legislators, participated tant ingredient in the pro-life move- due to her efforts. While many of the in walk-a-thons and marches, organ- ment. We will win. We have God on our youths in attendance were the daugh- ized rallies, designed leaflets and bro- side, but the timing of the victory de- ters and sons of anti-abortion leaders, chures, gone house-to-house discuss- pends on the involvement of our youth." it is significant that they are not rebel- ing the issue and distributing mate- She then went on to describe how to ling by rejecting religion or finding rial, sold literature and buttons, held teach, exhorting the crowd to moti- separate spheres for activism, but fundraising events and led discussions vate, activate and freely communicate. rather, are marching to the same tune and debates. Some of them will un- Describing a blend of folksy humor and as mom, dad and Molly Kelly. doubtedly go on to become seasoned, concrete, factual material, she urged In blue jeans and tee-shirts, mini- skilled organizers for this or other the potential educators in the audi- skirts and tank tops, the teens did not movements. ence to "affirm our young people. Re- conform to stereotypes about anti- While the teens, seemingly equally spect engenders respect. If you treat choice, fanatical young people. They divided between females and males, young people like animals, they'll act rallied, told personal stories, honed shared information and got to know like animals. Answer their questions. debating skills, ate pizza, swam in the one another, the adult conferees at- Send them out on a high. Don't be judg- hotel pool and elected officers. For tended plenary sessions and workshops mental. No 'why don't you' or "Why them, abortion and sexuality are on everything from working with state aren't you'. Touch their hearts. Tickle simple matters — the choices are be- legislators, to debating abortion in the their funnybones. Make fun of your- tween right and wrong, morality and media and making links with anti- self. Elevate them, lift them, energize immorality, good and evil. Sixteen- choice activists from around the world. them with your enthusiasm and enlist year-old Karen Gloe of Watertown, They questioned each other, argued, them in the pro-life movement." SD, for example, said that she is anti- shared resources and experiences, When debating someone who is pro- choice because "I just adore little kids. laughed, cried and planned for the choice, she said, it is imperative that I don't see how anyone could ever not future. A 54-person board was elected you be direct and clear. She cited a give a child a chance, how they could (38 of the members are women) as recent situation in which the modera- kill a baby." A lot of her peers, said were officers (five men, four women). tor asked a pro-choice speaker to dis- Jennifer McNearney of Rosemont, MT, Uniting them throughout the three cuss when life begins. The woman have been forced to abort "because their days of sessions was a fierce belief in answered glibly, telling the group "that parents aren't ready to be grandpar- the ecclesiastical Tightness of their doesn't matter. It's irrelevent." This, ents yet", something she sees as both mission. Prodding them is government, smiled Kelly, gave her an opportunity disrespectful and unfair. Wearing, "I'm and a videotaped welcome from Presi- to go for the jugular. And she did. worth waiting for" buttons to indicate dent George Bush made them giddy "Always identify the problem. Identify their preference for chastity before with pleasure and gave them confi- the solution and identify which side marriage (if there is any option save dence that they will win this battle. you are on. Interject yourself in the heterosexuality, any choice but mar- Far from being polyester-clad fanatics, talk. Tell them why you're doing this riage, these young women are oblivi- they demonstrated themselves to be work. Verify your information. Be ous to it) these devout Catholics are formidable foes and intelligent, able truthful. If they catch you in a lie it's all surefire candidates for the services of strategists and planners. With 50 sepa- over." Project Rachel should they ever weaken rate battles looming in 50 state legisla- and get unintentionally pregnant. tures — and a Supreme Court perched Kelly's fire and passion are conta- to winnow away the right to abortion gious, and even if you vehemently dis- "Teens for Life" is training its mem- bership in the rudiments of grassroots, — the pro-choice community has its agree with her conclusions, she is work cut out for it. It will not be easy.B clearly a leader to be learned from and community organizing. By the time

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 13 America's most dangerous woman SUSAN

14 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 ROSENBERG "...it was the prison that had proved the best school. A more painful, but a more vital, school. Here I had been brought close to the depths and complexities of the hu- man soul; here I had found ugliness and beauty, mean- ness and generosity. The prison had been the crucible that tested my faith. It had helped me to discover strength in my own being, the strength to stand alone, the strength to live my life and fight for my ideals, against the whole world if need be." Emma Goldman — Living My Life, Volume I 1931

Interview by Merle Hoffman Profile by Patricia Golan he signs her letter, "Vencere- "Your background paralleled mine to mos, Susan Rosenberg". The old some degree and but for fate, fortune or slogan of the Cuban revolution choice I could be where you sit now." — We shall overcome — seems Free-lance writer Patricia Golan was ironically symbolic of the plight living in Tucson, AZ when she first of a woman whose political be- heard of Susan Rosenberg. Rosenberg Sliefs have led her into direct confronta- had been sent to a Federal lock-up in tion with the United States govern- Tucson when she was first imprisoned. ment, and to the prospect of virtual "I had never before considered the life imprisonment. possibility that there could be Manacled and On the far left of the political spec- 'political prisoners' in the United shackled, Susan trum and a self-proclaimed revolu- States," said Golan. Rosenberg sits tionary, 34-year-old (Oct. '89) Susan "For all my adult life I have held a behind a plexiglass Lisa Rosenberg's path of dissent certain set of political beliefs, and have I wall in a Washing- against government policies has pro- lived my life accordingly. What, I won- ton, DC courtroom, voked an extraordinary reaction on dered, would happen if my politics were April, 1988. the part of judicial and law enforce- so fundamentally opposed to the gov- Rosenberg is ment authorities. ernment in power that I would feel considered by law "Why interview me rather than the forced to break the law? How would / enforcement others involved in the case?" Susan behave in a situation similar to that of authorities to be "a Rosenberg asked On the Issues pub- Susan Rosenberg's? Would I refuse grave danger to the lisher Merle Hoffman when she vis- to renounce my politics, or become a security of the ited her last May in the Washington, psychological cipher by giving up the United States". D C jail. "Because," Hoffman answered, 'me' that has invested so many

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 PHOTO: COURTESY DAEDALUS PRODUCTIONS 15 Bella and Emmanuel Rosenberg share thoughts of their only child in happier days. Photo on left: 12- year- old Susan at an anti-Vietnam war demonstration in Central Park, New York City, 1969.

and explosives, 34-year-old Rosenberg was under indictment again. Along with five other radical activists (Alan Berk- man, Tim Blunk, Marilyn Buck, Linda Evans, Laura Whitehorn) who had long histories of political involvement and most of whom also were serving lengthy sentences for politically motivated of- fenses — Rosenberg was indicted for complicity in a series of bombings in 1983 in and around Washington, fol- lowing the U.S. invasion of Grenada. The seven were charged, among other things, with "engaging in a conspiracy to resist foreign and domestic policies of the United States government". The defendants' attorneys and supporters years in an ideal? "It was this aspect led her to her present plight, there is maintain the indictments are politi- of Susan Rosenberg's story that something about her quiet, unwaver- cally motivated. made me want to meet her and to find ing presence that inspires respect. The government has been extremely out more about her." In April, 1988, Susan Rosenberg, con- vindictive in this ["Capitol Bombing"] Despite her many months of harsh sidered by law enforcement authorities case because of the leftist, communist incarceration, which included a 20- to be a grave danger to the security of politics of the defendants," comments month ordeal in a women's "control the United States, sat manacled and Ronald Kuby, a cooperating attorney unit" in Lexington, KY, Susan Rosen- shackled behind a plexiglass wall in a with the Center for Constitutional berg remains articulate and self-as- Washington, DC courtroom. Rights. sured. Whatever one's political stand Already serving an unprecedented 58- Why, asks Kuby, should abortion or attitude towards the movement that year sentence for the possession of arms clinic bombers be allowed to plead to

16 PHOTO: COURTESY DAEDALUS PRODUCTIONS ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 lesser offenses? "It's clear," he says, child, fighting each legal battle as it out this period she was deeply involved "these kinds of indictments are exclu- comes up. They also help in the legal in radical politics, working with the sively reserved for political radicals." battles of others. New Afrikan and Puerto Rican inde- Last spring, the charges against "It is a matter of principle," says Bella pendence movements and the May 19 Rosenberg and two other defendants Rosenberg simply. Communist Organization, an offshoot were dismissed by a U.S. District Court Matters of principle were a part of the group of the earlier Weather Under- judge on the basis of double jeopardy. Rosenberg household when Susan was ground. (May 19 was the birthday of As of July 5,1989, the U.S. prosecuting growing up on New York's Upper West both Ho Chi Minh and Malcolm X). attorney has appealed the ruling, but Side. Emmanuel Rosenberg has mo- Rosenberg was working in a radical whatever the outcome, the publicity ments when he blames himself for the health center in Harlem using acu- surrounding the case has revealed a path his daughter took. "We were al- puncture to treat drug addicts, when side of the American system of justice ways liberal, always into causes, tak- Brinks happened. of which few citizens are aware. ing part in Civil Rights demonstra- In October, 1981 a Brinks' armored Eosenberg has already served four truck was held up in Nyack, NY, alleg- years of her 58-year sentence. Most of edly by members of groups known as it has been in isolation. For 20 months the Black Liberation Army and the she was held in a special "high secu- Her strength and Revolutionary Armed Task Force. rity" facility for women at the Federal There was a shootout. A Brinks' guard Correctional Institution in Lexington, and two policemen were killed. KY. Described by Amnesty Interna- honesty and will- Brinks would prove a turning point tional as "deliberately and gratuitously in the U.S. government's efforts to oppressive," and by the ACLU as "a •__ •_ CC m • eliminate what was seen as a danger- living tomb", the unit—ordered closed ous threat. Through a concerted effort down by a Federal district judge—had by law enforcement agencies, anyone been specifically designed as a control who had ever associated with the unit for women convicted of politically money where her groups involved in the heist was motivated crimes. Unfortunately, in rounded up or issued grand jury mid September the U.S. Court of Ap- subpoenas. This included a long list of peals overturned that lower court deci- mouth is" is a radical groups, including May 19. sion. At the present time, the federal Susan Rosenberg was on the list. government has been given a green challenge to us all There were those who went to jail light to create "control units" for fe- rather than cooperate with the grand male political prisoners like Rosen- jury investigation; although she has berg, (see box "Lexington") always denied any part in the heist, Her photo appears among a series of tions and anti-war marches," he re- Rosenberg went underground. "I did headshots under the banner calls. "Susan asked to go with me even not believe I or anyone else could get a WANTED!. She is a smiling, pretty though she was only 11 or 12 at the fair trial given the incredible hysteria young woman with curly hair, mag- time. I never pressured her." generated by the FBI around the case," netic green eyes and gold hoop ear- Susan attended Walden, a progres- she says. "I also knew that because of rings. "These fugitives are dangerous sive private school. A gifted child with my long history of support for Black and may be armed," reads the caption a talent for singing and acting, the liberation I was a target of the investi- in the lurid 1984 Reader's Digest ar- young Susan Rosenberg was an accom- gation, and I believed that going un- ticle "Terror Network, U.S.A.", which plished athlete and straight-A student. derground would enable me and oth- describes what the magazine terms A political prodigy, politics were her ers to continue our work in opposition "self-styled revolutionaries engaged passion from an early age. At 11 she to the U.S. government." in a war on American society". wrote a paper on the effects of McCar- (The indictment linking Rosenberg How does a "nice," middle-class, Jew- thyism; at 17 she went to Cuba with an to Brinks was eventually dropped. But ish girl end up with her mug shot on American youth work brigade. references to the original indictment the FBI's most wanted list? Rosenberg She was accepted to prestigious Bar- persistently appear in subsequent was the intellectually privileged daugh- nard College after 11th grade. Then, documents and reports. Thus, while ter of liberal activist parents who grew finding Barnard too isolated and pro- the indictment implicating Rosenberg up in comfortable surroundings. How tected, she transferred to City College in the Brinks' case has long been did it happen? where she earned a degree in history. dropped, she may be forever stigma- "It's hard to answer," Rosenberg re- Lisa Roth, a political activist living in tized by it.) plied. "I think it's a combination of San Francisco, has known Rosenberg Since litigation in her case is ongo- time, place and conditions." since Susan was 17 and remembers her ing, Rosenberg's life as a fugitive for Indeed, it's a long way from the Wash- having a maturity beyond her years. "I two years cannot now be known. What ington, DC jail to Candlewood Lake, a was always surprised at her age," says is clear is that, having previously serene, haven near Danbury, CT, where Roth. "She had a very clear political worked with various national libera- Dr. Emmanuel and Bella Rosenberg vision for someone so young." tion, "anti-imperialist" groups active have had their summer home for 20 "Susan was always very fierce and in the U.S., she was drawn further into years. A semi-retired dentist, the 71- tenacious, but she also loved to laugh clandestine political activities. year-old Emmanuel Rosenberg keeps and have a good time," says Roth. In November 1984, she and Timothy up his practice two days a week at his After college, Rosenberg became a Blunk were caught by police and the clinic in Spanish Harlem. Bella Rosen- drug counselor at Lincoln Hospital in FBI in Cherry Hill, NJ, in possession of berg was a theatrical producer. Today, the Bronx, then studied for three years several weapons and a carload of ex- most of their energies are taken up to become a doctor of Chinese acupunc- plosives and carrying false identifica- with rallying support for their only ture and holistic medicine. Through- tion. At the subsequent trial, the two

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 17 unit for past political associations they will never shed unless forced to renounce them is a dangerous mission for this country's prison system to continue," Judge Parker said in his ruling. The unit was unlike any other in the prison system. Kept in isolation in small, starkly lit cells, the women were moni- tored constantly by 11 surveillance cameras operated by male guards who watched even while they took showers. They were subjected to random full- body cavity strip searches, kept awake for long periods and denied medical treatment. All the women suffered extreme physical and psychological deterioration. A video segment "American Gulag?" HSU at Lexington was cited by the Soviet Union as an example of human on the Lexington unit from independent rights violations by the U.S. film maker Nina Rosenblum was shown on NBC's "Today" show. Originally com- WOMEN'S HIGH SECURITY Torres, a Puerto Rican nationalist were missioned by ABC's 20/20, that network, UNIT(HSU) AT LEXINGTON the first inmates of the special unit. The apparently under pressure, decided We arrived here (in Lexington) last two were joined by Silvia Baraldini who against showing the segment. night at five in the evening...caravaned had also been convicted of politically Sociologist Gilda Zwerman, an associ- with four cars and a van. motivated criminal offenses, and later ate professor at The State University of We drive right up to the entrance of three other women. (As of this writing, New York at Old Westbury in Long this unit. The entire prison was locked Silvia Baraldini is awaiting transfer to Island, has done extensive research on in, and there were hundreds of prison- her native home to serve in an Italian women in the American prison system. ers' faces at the windows watching this prison according to the Strassburg She maintains that the HSU at Lexington entrance. There must have been 25 Convention.) reflected "the emergence of a new police of one type or another. One In his order to shut down what was, at strategy in correctional philosophy." woman screamed out "Hello Susan, we first, a secret underground unit, Judge The HSU, Zwerman writes in Social know it's you." I started jumping up and Barrington Parker said the treatment of Justice, "utilizes and manipulates the down, and screamed "Don't let them the women "skirted elemental standards 'terrorist' label...in order to justify the bury us down there." Someone else of decency". 'special' treatment of political prison- screamed, "We won't." They hurried us Widely publicized before being or- ers," and represents "an expansion in inside. Inside three doors and into the dered shut down, the Lexington unit the use of incapacitation, surveillance unit's own R & D (receiving and was the first prison specifically de- and deterrence as mechanisms for discharge). Such a big deal for the two signed with politically motivated of- social control and repression to a of us; it was frightening and ridiculous fenses in mind. At last year's summit in degree heretofore unprecedented in the at the same time. Moscow, the Lexington unit was cited U.S. correctional system." Susan Rosenberg, writing to sociolo- by the Soviet Union as an example of The Bureau of Prisons has appealed gist Gilda Zwerman, quoted in Social human rights violations by the United the ruling, citing internal security needs Justice, July 1988. States. for keeping it operational. Susan Rosenberg and Alejandrina "Consigning anyone to a high-security —Patricia Golan were each sentenced to terms of 58 vicious political move. We suggested at Nina Rosenblum, an independent film years, with a recommendation of no our sentencing that our 58 years could maker now completing a film on United parole. read "The God that failed"... States prison abuses, has followed According to Arizona State Univer- At their trial, Rosenberg and Blunk, Rosenberg's case and interviewed sity associate law professor Jane Aiken, acting as their own attorneys, tried to people who were present at the trial. who has followed Rosenberg's case introduce a political defense. Describ- She believes the handling of Rosen- since she was first held at a federal ing themselves as "resistance fighters" berg's case in court damned her. lockup in Tucson, the severity of the in a "revolutionary struggle against "Their friends were coming into court sentence, on a first offense conviction in U.S. imperialism," they cited Nuren- wearing Arab head garb and raising which no one had been hurt, was un- berg, Universal Declaration of Human clenched fists," said Rosenblum. "Blunk precedented — 16 times longer than Rights and international law which put his feet on the table, to show they the average sentence meted out to gives citizens the right to resist the war had been shackled and that he did not weapons-possession offenders, and crimes of their own nation. Among other recognize the court's authority. twice the average for first-degree mur- things, their brief outlined U.S. crimes "It became so theatrical, the worst derers in the Federal Courts. against Central America, the Contra that could happen did." Clearly, maintains Aiken, the judge war, crimes of colonialism and geno- Professor Aiken agrees. "There is no was responding to the political nature cide against Puerto Rico and Native question that Susan prejudiced her of the case. Rosenberg, writing from Americans. own case by putting on a political de- the DC Jail, August 8, 1989, says The judge refused to allow this line of fense," she says. "If you behave as if "[Judge] Lacy's sentence of us was a defense. you're contemptuous of the court, you

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McAdam comments, "but those who often visited Rosenberg in his capacity "We all knew the process was stacked have surfaced are clearly not crazy as Jewish chaplain at Lexington. The against them from the beginning," says people. They are radicals who took the Rabbi was the only visitor allowed other Roth. "They had obviously been shack- new left to its logical conclusion." than her parents for 14 months. led to enhance the jurors' perspective It is, in fact, the label "terrorism" Kalmanson agrees that anti-Semi- that they were dangerous and evil. The that attorneys for defendants in the tism exists within the prison system, prosecution didn't have to say any- current trial take exception to. It is, despite the fact that there are rela- thing. [One has] a political responsibil- they maintain, the government's ex- tively few Jewish prisoners. ity to disable that line of attack." cuse for retrying defendants already Denied her request to observe Cha- According to Rosenberg, she stated in serving lengthy prison sentences; in nukah her first year at Lexington, her response to her sentencing that she second year she was allowed to light a would continue to struggle, and fight menorah. "Susan and I fought strongly for her beliefs alongside other political for her to be part of the Jewish services prisoners in prison. Rosenberg states Society really and to take part in the Seder, but she that her statement was translated by was forced to do chores during the holi- the press into "Rosenberg called for days," he stated. armed revolution in prison" and that hates women. Most The dialectics between the Chabad became the basis for her "high security Orthodox rabbi and the anti-imperial- status" and one of the reasons given by ist revolutionary woman must have the Bureau of Prisons for her transfer women who are been curious for both of them. Kalman- to Lexington. son calls Rosenberg "an interesting, Theatrics notwithstanding, the se- seeking person, but very gullible. Had verity of the sentences shocked the imprisoned are in she been more exposed to Judaism she legal community. Experts often cite would have been a very different per- the earlier Weather Underground for for social crimes — son." comparison, whose members, though Perhaps. admitting to bombings, were rarely, if Whatever the case, Rosenberg is con- ever convicted of anything. crimes of survival vinced that prison authorities view her For example, in the early '70s, requests to practice Judaism as a ploy. Weather Underground leader Ber- "I can't tell you how totally enraging nadine Dohrn sent a communique with that is to me — being Jewish is just her finger print to the authorities, Rosenberg's case, relitigating her origi- part of who I am." declaring she was responsible for a nal trial in New Jersey. "There are not many Jewish women bombing, but she was never charged. "It's like the '50s," states attorney in U.S. prisons, so I am a rarity for "In 1970 the Weather Underground O'Melveny, "only instead of commu- many reasons," she continued. "At first Organization bombed the U.S. capitol nism, it's the rubric of terrorism. The it would bother me when they'd yell —no one ever served a day in jail for it," point is, if these people are terrorists, 'Rosenberg!' [in a deprecating tone] at Rosenberg says bitterly. "Now we are then their rights can be abused." And me, and now I'm just glad." charged with bombing the capitol and then, there was Rosenberg's religion. Those who have met Susan Rosen- are called 'the most dangerous terror- Although both her parents come from berg, both before and after her impris- ists in America'." Orthodox Jewish homes, for the most onment, have been powerfully affected "In the 1960s and '70s, trials of vari- part they led secular lives. Since her by her. Among her political friends and ous radical groups were carried out in imprisonment, Susan Rosenberg's re- supporters there is a tendency to ideal- an openly political manner," says Mary affirmation of her Jewish identity is, ize her, to speak of her in terms of near K. O'Melveny, a New York attorney she says, connected to the "profound" martyrdom. Women especially find her who became Rosenberg's lawyer after anti-Semitism she has encountered in inspiring. her trial. "Today, people are afraid to prison and at the hands of law enforce- "She touches that part of us that is question or challenge the system in the ment officials. dissatisfied with the way the world is," same open way, so that judges who Carrying false identification at the remarked one woman attorney who have repressive positions regarding time of her arrest, Rosenberg refused has befriended Rosenberg. political dissent can punish the dis- to reveal her true identity. The police "Her strength and honesty and will- senters far more severely, without fear had called in FBI agents, one of whom ingness to 'put her money where her of triggering wider political protest." looked at her and told the police officer, mouth is' is a challenge to us all," says There is scant information on any of "That bitch is a kike. Go check the Lisa Roth. "You look at her and think, the radical leftist groups active in the records for a name." if she could survive Lexington, then 1980s. Few historians or political sci- "When I heard that," Rosenberg re- you could too." entists have ever heard of Susan calls today, "I knew that I was at the Many women identify with Rosen- Rosenberg, or the May 19 Communist beginning of a whole new stage of my berg. "I can imagine myself, under dif- Organization. Most tend to be dismis- life. I knew I had really been cap- ferent circumstances, taking the route sive, some denunciatory, others tured." Susan took," says a legal aide who frankly mystified. "Anti-Semitism in prison is really works with prisoners. Sociologist Douglas McAdam, author extreme," she says, "more so than I Another woman attorney, after visit- of the recently published Freedom ever experienced growing up in New ing Rosenberg in prison, sold her busi- Summer, calls this period "the black York. This has really pushed me along, ness and is dedicating her life to help- hole of political science." along with my own internal processes, ing a woman who, in all probability, ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 19 will never leave prison. sexual differences. I think the other now than ever before. But, I couldn't Like chasing a shadow, it is difficult, political prisoners involved in my case tell you that I would condemn violence. if not impossible, for someone not di- came out of this period of intensive MH: You know, there's a wonderful rectly involved in her case to under- activity against the government. One saying by Ghandi, "The means are an stand who Susan Rosenberg is. She is of the most important things about us end in process." One must question locked up literally and figuratively. is an identification with the oppressed. what kind of "just society" is built on She will discuss her beliefs, describe I feel as if I never could stop learning the foundation of armed struggle. prison conditions, talk about the com- from oppressed peoples. SR: I agree. It's something that I've raderie she felt with the other women MH: Many people have feelings for the thought a lot about in the last number at Lexington. Under continuing litiga- oppressed and the injustices of this of years. I wish I had then. tion, however, she cannot discuss her world and many people connect on dif- I'm left with all these questions, but life underground, and those who knew ferent levels of political struggle, but one of the things that's clear is that the her then will not speak. you put yourself at risk of completely government is trying to get us to reas- In a letter on Rosenberg's behalf to sess, to apologize, to get us to say we the sentencing judge requesting her won't ever do anything again — and, sentence be commuted, author Doris for all of us, certainly for myself, I'm Schwerin wrote: "I would stake my not going to say that to the greatest own life on the certainty that Susan I'm not involved in terrorist state in the world. Rosenberg is a garden to be saved, that MH: So in essence you are willing to she may save others." revolutionary social stay in prison under intensely difficult There is much beyond the slogans, conditions for the rest of your life? the political rhetoric, the endless legal SR: If I have to, that's what I'll do. It's battles — even for the right to eat with change because not a pleasant thought but I didn't do it the other women or to walk without for personal gain to begin with; and shackles. Perhaps some day she will there wasn't anybody saying "Do this". write about herself — her loves, her I love the violence I think you have to take responsibility sexuality, and what drove her to such for your own actions. extreme confrontations. Perhaps some MH: Do you see yourself as a martyr? day she will write her own book. SR: No. I don't want to be. For now, she speaks to us from her losing your freedom. What motivated MH: You may have to give up all hope silence. that level of activity? Is it just the final for a so -called "normal life". Merle Hoffman: If I were to say "Who step in a political process? SR: Yes, but I like to think that the is Susan Rosenberg?", how would you SR: In part. I really believe that you best part of my life is in front of me. I define her? have do what you say you believe in. like to think, and I do think, that most Susan Rosenberg: I would say I'm a MH: That includes armed struggle — of the contributions that I and the revolutionary. I'm an anti-imperalist. does it not? other imprisoned people in this case I am woman-oriented woman in the SR: Let me put it this way. I believed have to make are important. You have sense that I believe in and am totally then and I believe now that under in- to make certain sacrifices. committed to the liberation of women; ternational law oppressed peoples/na- The limitations on physical freedom and I'm a doctor of Chinese medicine tions have the right to determine their are so profound. Last weekend was the and acupuncture. I'm a product of the own destinies, and that includes the first time any of us [in this case] had social movements of the '60s and '70s right to wage an armed struggle — and been outside in almost a year — liter- in this country with a very unique kind that's happening — it's happening all ally, we finally got a court order from of experience that made me dedicate over the third world and it's happening the judge to let us go outside. I guess he my life to justice. here as well. I believe that and I sup- decided a year was enough, and it did MH: What was that experience? port that. I also believe that when you a lot of good on the human rights rec- SR: My parents had many, many come from a country with the greatest ord. We went outside for two hours — friends who were touched by the war machine in the world and a coun- what can I say, it was great. For me it McCarthy blacklist and were associ- try and a government that is respon- was the biggest space I've been in for ated with left-wing organizations. I sible for state terrorism all over the four-and-a-half years. What you said went to a progressive high school and globe, we, as citizens of this country, about the physical reality of spending grade school that was completely in- have an absolute responsibility to try a lot of time under these kinds of con- volved in the Civil Rights movement. and stop that in a number of ways. At ditions is very true, but, at the same This combination of the Viet Nam War, the time I felt that supporting national time, it's also true that I feel freer in the Civil Rights movement and seeing liberation struggles that were fighting my heart than I ever have before. a need for justice, put me in a direction the United States was the most impor- MH: There are wounds and there are that I've basically never left. tant way I could make a statement and very intense scars, I'm sure. MH: Did you have any role models? say "No, this is not going to go on in my SR: And I haven't begun to fully under- SR: Emma Goldman. I read Living My name as well." So in that sense I sup- stand them yet. Life when I was 13. I feel fortunate port armed struggle. MH: Tell me about your days here — that I became part of a movement At this point I have a huge amount of what are they like? when I was in my early teens. There questions about a number of things. SR: DC is a county jail and we are in a was a sense that you could really When you're in prison for a long time category that is known as "pre-trial change something. I guess I could say you get to think about and evaluate detention". So, we technically have a that I fell in love with the idea that everything. I would look at the ques- lot more rights than federal prisoners. people could control their own desti- tion of life and responsibility and However, we've been in jail probably nies, free of serious class, racial and armed struggle much more seriously longer than 80 percent of most people

20 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 who ever even go to prison; my term now stands at 58 years. DC is totally different than federal prison which is centralized, bureaucratic, repressive and a much more controlled environ- ment. Most of the time that I've been in prison I have been in solitary confine- ment or in small isolation with a group of three of four other people. Now as a result of a lot of legal and political fights with the courts — I'm in the general population. I've never been in the general population before. It's both completely better on a human level and also very, very difficult. MH: How is it difficult? SR: Well, you get used to being locked up and you make a certain kind of mental adjustment...there is a ques- tion of resocializing. It's very intense. This is a 99 percent Black jail and we are white prisoners in for a political crime, so there is a very great divide between what we are here for and what Alejandrina Torres (left), Susan and activities of the right and/or the left. the majority of the prisoners are here Silvia Baraldini were monitored con- SR: I'm against terrorism but I think for. stantly by male guards. the whole issue of violence or a rela- MH: But aren't you here for them in tionship to violence and terrorism is essence? drug wards for a population of 1300- complicated. There is violence in a SR: Absolutely, but when we first got 1400 people. There is really no activity system where you have 30 million here, the authorities locked us up, put that people can do. There are no books. people who have no health care — how us in individual cells, and called meet- There is a law library but we are not many people are dying of AIDS who ings of the prison population saying allowed in. I teach a yoga class a couple have nothing? — no programatic an- that we were racists who had tried to of times a week and we are trying to swer in the richest country in the world bomb Jesse Jackson. For the first help people learn how to read. that should have socialized medicine. couple of weeks they created a very, MH: What are the options for you in So, violence has many faces...I'm not very dangerous situation, basically terms of your own sentence? You say involved in revolutionary social change hoping that somebody would do some- you don't expect to serve it out. because I love the violence — I think thing to one of us so that we would SR: It's so extreme. There is a certain that violence has to be stopped—but I have to ask for protective custody. Pro- irony about all this. From the begin- think that the most extreme and diffi- tective custody in prison marks you ning it was obvious that the govern- cult forms of violence stem from the forever because it implies that you are ment was being completely vindictive system under which we live and I think working with the police. So they put because of who we are. There are six of it's the system that's responsible for a out all these rumors, and, fortunately, us in this case and we've all been im- multitude of these faces of violence. we were able through talking and prisoned for at least four years or longer MH: What is the essence of being a through our reputations that preceded and, out of the six of us, we've been revolutionary? us and through some people being through 14 different classifications in SR: For revolutionaries there is the conscious, to say — no we're here for four years. We have a total of 300 years need to change the system fundamen- the exact opposite. Since then, we have worth of jail sentence time among us tally. I don't really think change can been able to build a lot of unity with already. They used the word "Terror- take place through politics without a the population, but it's not perfect be- ist" in order to punish us in ways they complete restructuring of the system cause even inside this situation, ra- wouldn't normally do. There are con- from beginning to end, from top to the cism continues to function. Now things stitutional and human rights for bottom, but maybe it can. Maybe the are okay, and people have an everybody except terrorists. kind of massive social upheaval that enormous amount of respect for us and MH: Are you a terrorist? will take some resistance forms and we've been able to organize here. I SR: No, I am not a terrorist — I've legal forms will be able to do that. write letters to judges for people, never been a terrorist. I'm against ter- MH: You are idealistic enough to still which is clearly one of the reasons why rorism. I'm against terrorism on the believe that people can change funda- they put political people in isolation or right by the United States, and I'm mentally? control units: They know we are going against the terrorism on the left. Ter- SR: I hope so. to organize against the conditions rorism is a political and military strat- M H: There is a very heavy price for that that exist. There are no real programs egy that I think is wrong. A lot of what kind of change. What we're talking here as resources for people. There's no passes as right-wing stuff is absolute about is revolutionary struggle which rehabilitation to speak of. The main terrorism and this is also true of the in it's wake can potentially cause the things that exist are the religious left wing. I hate to say that... deaths of millions of people. ministries that do try to provide some MH: I think it's important to be said. SR: I don't want you to come away kind of social services for people. There The results of terror and violence have is one educational program and two no politics. People can suffer from the continued on page 31

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 PHOTO: COURTESY DAEDALUS PRODUCTION 21 HYSTERICAL HOUSEWIVES (And Other Courageous Women By Karen Jan Stults mcuonaias in

Activists hold a McTOXICS DEMO at the K Street McDonald's in Washington DC—April, 1989 omen committed to a cause, authority. It is happening through the Together, these leaders form a grass- especially one being fought United States, in places like Emelle, roots movement against toxics. The at the grassroots level, are AL — home of the world's largest toxic movement is made up of more than often labeled "hysterical". wastes dump — and a community 4,600 community groups, led almost When Cora Tucker, a Black which is 69 percent Black. In River- unanimously by women, throughout woman who's been organiz- side, C A, teenagers live with the chronic the US, Puerto Rico and Canada. By Wing in the South for years, was called a debilitating illnesses they contracted providing information, assistance and hysterical housewife at the Virginia as children 10 years ago when the training, CCHW helps these women General Assembly, she said, "...You're Stringfellow Acid Pits overflowed into and men fight against unsafe chemical exactly right. I'm hysterical. And when the school playground. In Blooming- plants, toxic waste incinerators and it comes to matters of life and death, ton, IN, young Black kids rummage leaking landfills. The work of CCHW especially mine, I get hysterical." through junk piles outside a Westing- is doing more than just protecting our Women activists are proud of the en- house plant for transformers. They take fragile earth. It is building strong, self- ergy and emotions which some people the transformers home, tie them up in sufficient leaders who can take control call "hysteria". They know these emo- a tree and let the oily stuff drain out locally and win their own battles on tions express their passion and onto the ground. They pull them apart their own turf with their own resources. strength, and enable them to confront to sell for scrap, not realizing that the It is empowering women who would "city hall" — to stand up in a general oil is full of PCBs — a chemical that never call themselves activists to take assembly meeting and fight for their destroys the liver, reproductive organs charge and to make a difference. right to clean water, no matter how and central nervous system. Although CCHW is a dynamic, na- Black, how white, how poor, or how The pattern is the same throughout tional organization, it comes from rich they are. the world, with the United States being humble beginnings with an angry Cora Tucker is just one of thousands particularly at fault. In the U.S., while young woman in a quiet, dying town — of women working at the local level to our right hand is dumping wastes in Lois Gibbs, Executive Director of the protect her environment from the the small, forgotten towns of America, Clearinghouse and founding mother of hazards of toxic waste. Although toxic our left is guiding barges full of toxic the toxics movement. wastes don't discriminate on the basis ash and PCB-laden soil to third world Lois Gibbs was a young mother of of race, religion, income or education, countries, searching for a community two when she first discovered contami- people do. And because of this, the desperate enough or unknowing nation at her son's school in Love Canal, majority of people being dumped on enough to take toxics in exchange for a NY. She had moved to Love Canal in are poor, uneducated minorities who few American dollars. 1974 with her husband, Harry, and are seen as weak and expendable. Or, CCHW, the Citizen's Clearinghouse their one-year-old son, Michael. Shortly they are white, working-class commu- for Hazardous Wastes, is a national thereafter, Michael developed asthma, nities where people have strong reli- organization working to develop local epilepsy, blood disorders, immune- gious convictions about respecting leadership to end these injustices. system deficiencies and urinary tract

22 PHOTO: COURTESY EATON/GREENPEACE ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 infections. By the age of five, he had three. They couldn't leave and they They won. President Carter flew to already undergone two operations to were warned not to grow vegetables, go Love Canal to stand with Lois and try to alleviate the problems. Lois' into their basements, or let their chil- personally deliver the emergency dec- daughter, Melissa, conceived and born dren play in their yards. "But," officials laration that gave Love Canal resi- at Love Canal, was born with a rare told them, "there is no cause for alarm." dents their ticket out. The leadership blood disease that often left her black The Love Canal Homeowner's Asso- of Lois Gibbs and several other Love and blue. ciation decided to hold the incumbent Canal women saved a generation of In the spring of 1978, a local newspa- New York State Governor, Hugh Carey, lives and launched a new movement of per reported that the 99th Street School personally accountable. They and their women leaders fighting to protect life. which Michael attended had been built allies followed him around the state, Today there are thousands of women next to a toxic waste dump and the showing up at his election rallies and like Lois Gibbs across the country. 20,000 tons of chemicals buried be- fundraisers, asking him why he was These women are involved for a variety neath the school playground were of reasons and they bring to the issue a beginning to rust holes in their con- variety of emotions: passion, fear, tainers and rise to the surface. anger, hope, humor. The faces and Lois immediately linked her son's Although toxic places vary, as do the types of facilities illnesses to the leaking chemicals at and contamination the women are fight- the school. She went to the local school wastes don't ing and the degrees of damage already board with two doctors' statements to incurred. But the patterns of govern- get him transferred, but the school ment obstacle and the subsequent board refused to recognize the letters discriminate on the growth of community activism are the and the concerns of "one over-emo- same. tional mother". Lois sought help from In the initial stage of discovering the local, state and federal officials and basis of race, problem, for example, most of these from national environmental groups. women have blind faith in the govern- Repeatedly she was told to "just move, ment. They are motivated not by suspi- if she was so concerned". But that wasn't religion, income cion or mistrust, but by concerns for an option for her family of four living their health and the well being of their on an annual income of $10,000 and children and they believe that if they paying a mortgage. She decided that or education, only tell the right person the right the only place left to look for help was facts, the problem will be solved. In in her own community. Lois didn't people do their search for the "right person", they consider herself a leader or an organ- are frustrated at the lack of response izer so going door-to-door and talking from state and local officials, and as to her neighbors about a sensitive allowing continued risk to the children their search continues, outraged at the subject wasn't easy for her. But it was and families at Love Canal. Conces- cover-ups and compromises they find. a better option than watching her son's sions began to trickle down from the They keep searching and educating health deteriorate and wondering what state, proving the effectiveness of po- themselves and before long, they are would happen to her daughter. litical pressure. Learning from this, more knowledgeable about the issue She learned that she was not alone in they went next to the President of the than their "authorities". For every her fears. Household after household United States. Lois began contacting woman who becomes a community contained another sick child. One Jimmy Carter and, with the Home- leader, there comes a point when she woman's attempts at childbearing had owners, used the media and direct learns to rely on herself for answers yielded only miscarriages. These con- action to gain national support for their and action, instead of her public ser- cerned people came to form the Love fight. The breaking point finally came vants. It is at this point — when she Canal Homeowner's Association, with in May of 1980 when two representa- realizes that no one else is going to Lois as their president. The more they tives of the Environmental Protection solve this for her — that she is ready to looked into the contamination, the more Agency (EPA) came to announce the fight, to take the risks of speaking out real the danger became and they de- results of a chromosome study of Love in the community, of disrupting the cided they WANTED OUT. Canal residents. On Tuesday, May 19, pattern of her life and the security of State agencies tried to compromise the EPA officials stated that they had her home in order to protect her com- with some minimal clean-up efforts. discovered chromosome breakage in munity or her children. As these women They put up a green fence around the Love Canal residents, but, again, that make the transition from "housewife" site and sent workers in to dig up a foot there was "no cause for alarm". This to activist, they become part of the or two of the toxic soil for removal. Love infuriated the people of Love Canal history of women standing up for their Canal residents, mostly mothers with almost beyond control. For five hours, rights. As each woman talks about her strollers, protested this gross, inade- the two officials were virtually held personal experience, she tells a story of quate and dangerous step by blocking hostage by the homeowners. During growth, empowerment and change. the entrance to the site and restating this time, they called President Carter The process of organizing a commu- their demands for evacuation. with an ultimatum to evacuate them nity, learning new skills, and fighting In the summer of 1978, the first string by Wednesday, May 20 at noon, or for a child's life is stressful on many of evacuations were granted. Pregnant "what they had seen here today would levels. As one woman described it: "You women and children under two who be a Sesame Street picnic in compari- become obsessed. You just don't know lived in the first ring of homes around son to what they would do next." On where to stop. You're driving down the the school were allowed to leave their Wednesday, at exactly 12:00 noon, Lois street and noticing the leaves are al- homes and stay in a local hotel. Lois received a call from the White House ready green and thinking 'Wow, it's lived in the third ring of homes and announcing the terms of their evacu- Melissa, her youngest, was already ation. continued on page 30

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 23 "I was never a man minister," said the politician of question number 6 when questioned about being the first woman foreign minister of her coun- try. Can you identify her and J&g^^'rM) the other outstanding women described in the following questions?

4. The first Black woman to serve in the U.S. cabinet was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and then Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. Who was the Black lawyer 10. An escaped slave became a very MINISTER' and public official so honored? successful "conductor" on the Under- By Willie Mae Kneupper ground Railroad leading more than 5. Indira Gandhi, prime minister of 300 slaves to freedom. During the Civil India, had a very democratic admini- War she worked for the Union forces stration and would not suspend civil as a laundress, nurse and spy. Who liberties though urged to do so. True was this leader? or False? 6. When asked by Julie Eisenhower, 1. Who founded Troy Female Semi- how it felt to be appointed the first nary in 1821 as part of her lifelong woman foreign minister in 1965, the effort to improve the education of minister said, "I don't know. I was women? She taught subjects (mathe- never a man minister." Who was this matics, history and foreign languages) politician who started out as a teacher not commonly taught women and in and went on to be minister of labor, 1832 founded a teachers' training minister of foreign affairs and a distin- school for girls in Greece. guished prime minister? 2. An American social reformer in 1824 7. This woman served in the Connecti- accompanied General Lafayette on his cut Legislature and the U.S. House of triumphant tour of the U.S. In 1825 Representatives before becoming the she established a colony of emanci- first American woman to achieve the pated slaves at Nashoba, TN. She office of governor in her own right advocated marriage as a free union Who was she? based only on moral obligation and opposed private ownership of banks. 8. Betty Friedan, founder of the What was this social reformer's name? National Organization for Women, attacked the tradi- tional notion that women find fulfillment only through homemaking in The Feminine Mystique. True or False?

3. A controversial politician, who was the first woman to sit in the British Parliament, once said, in exaspera- 9. Charismatic Eva Peron commanded tion, to Winston Churchill, "Winston, a huge political following and virtually if I were married to you, I'd put poison ran the ministries of health and labor ANSWERS in your coffee." Churchill replied, "And while her husband was Argentina's UBUiqnj, )3ixiB[] "01 ssaxps loutui B if you were my wife, I'd drink it." Who president. Before Eva married Peron "6 9tux-8 OSSBJQ Bna A -irajM «Pl°O'9 was this first female member of Parlia- she was (a secretary/a teacher/a minor '9 stxiBjjBIDLEJBJ ' ^ ment? actress/a nurse).

24 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 CHOICE BOOKS Scottsboro Boys garnered worldwide torney General Robert Kennedy and attention — and sympathy. The case Assistant Attorney General Burke involved nine Black Alabama teenagers Marshall sided with Hoover, fearing "RACIAL MATTERS," The FBI's Se- who were sentenced to death for the anything more aggressive might re- cret War on Black America 1960-1972 alleged rape of two white women. The sult in Southern opposition to even by Kenneth O'Reilly (Free Press, NY; Communist Party, an ever-present modest civil rights reforms. $24.95 hardcover) thorn in Hoover's side, was active in This policy of benign neglect led to "Racial Matters" is an enraging book, their defense. To Hoover, this show of hundreds of civil rights workers being but therein lies its brilliance. A com- support could only auger badly. The beaten, harassed, or killed while the prehensive indictment of U.S. govern- Party's "alliance with the Black cause government stood by. Freedom Riders ment policy on matters pertaining to raised the specter of 13 million colored in Anniston, AL were greeted by Klan race, it is a painstaking and detailed people willing to follow Communist members wielding baseball bats while look at FBI policies and practices. At leadership and led him to question the the FBI took copious notes. In Bir- the same time, it is a sharp-penned loyalty of an entire race." mingham, says O'Reilly, FBI staffers, chronicle of presidential cowtowing to By 1942 a "Negro Question" investi- "aware of planned violence weeks in the dictates of racist former Bureau gation was launched to study "foreign advance, had actually given police Chief J. Edgar Hoover. inspired agitation in colored details regarding the Freedom Riders And what a racist he was. Reared areas...Hoover wanted to know why schedule, knowing full well that at under Jim Crow conditions, Hoover particular Negroes had evidenced least one law enforcement officer re- had nary a chance to interact with sentiments for other dark races (mainly layed everything to the Klan." African-Americans. His school and Japanese)." Informants were recruited, Although an indignant civil rights church were attended only by whites organizations were bugged, phones movement was somewhat mollified and his neighborhood was a bastion of were tapped. Olympic track and field when John F. Kennedy rammed an class and racial privilege. Moreover, champion Jesse Owens was "checked". Interstate Commerce Commission his station in life was reinforced by Letters to potential NAACP and Ur- order banning segregation in inter- popular culture. School teachers la- ban League donors warned of Commu- state bus facilities through Congress mented "the Black man's (sic) incorri- nist influences in an effort to starve in June, 1961, violence did not abate. gible morals" and D. W. Griffith's "Birth such groups into disbanding. Even In addition, the FBI began to use a new of a Nation", an epic 1915 film portray- Eleanor Roosevelt was investigated; tactic, dividing the movement by red- ing Blacks as dangerous, conniving she had had the audacity to visit the baiting many of its leaders. and full of lust was a box office smash. Tuskegee Institute in 1941. Although such tactics had some suc- Then came 1917. In step with other Despite his efforts and the work of a cess, when 250,000 Black and white similarly situated American men, loyal cadre of FBI ideologues, by 1954, civil rights supporters came to the Hoover's white supremacist outlook when the decision in Brown v. Board of March on Washington in 1963, Hoover found itself bolstered by another Education was handed down, "Hoover was forced to concede "that the civil hatred—the Red Menace of socialist knew that the [civil rights] movement rights movement would not wither revolution in the USSR set him into was a gathering social and political away on its own, that he would have to apoplectic rage. The twin scourges — force that was already beginning to smash it before it irreparably dam- movements for socialism and racial develop its own political culture, its aged his America." Martin Luther King justice — became obsessions which own leaders and its own ideas." became the focal point of FBI antipa- haunted him for the rest of his life, a Hoover responded to this recognition thy. Robert Kennedy approved the life which included 55 years in the FBI, by creating a program to squelch the director's request to wire tap King's from 1917 until his death in 1972. most dynamic women and men enter- home and office and a fishing expedi- The FBI's surveillance of Black ing the fray. He did this in Knoxville, tion to gather data on King's alleged America coincided with Hoover's em- TN by utilizing a strategy that he sexual promiscuity and political asso- ployment there. The man-who-would- would continue through the 1950s, ciations was off and running. be-Bureau- Chief supported the inva- '60s and early 1970s. When that city's The same time King was being sion of dozens of communities of color Human Rights Council complained of watched, the FBI wrote phony letters to assess attitudes about World War I Bureau footdragging on complaints to the husbands of white women active and investigate rumors of subversion. about civil rights abuses in the st \te, in the movement alleging adultery. "Concluding that second-class citizens Hoover responded by ordering a full- But with few exceptions, these tactics would have second-class loyalty, the scale investigation into the records of did not work. Activists continued to FBI dismissed every Black dissident Council members to ascertain if any of pour into the South and King contin- as subversive, every criticism of Ameri- them had radical affiliations. ued his vibrant leadership. By early can policy as un-American," writes "Hoover's attitude about what the July, national outrage over the deaths O'Reilly. FBI could do meant that Southern of three volunteers, James Chaney, Surprisingly, the Red Scare of post- sheriffs and Klansmen could beat voter Michael Schwerner and Andrew World War I included a Black scare, he registration workers right under the Goodman, forced the Bureau to change continues, and by 1919 the FBI had FBI's nose. According to the Office of its public stance and don the look of an "institutionalized surveillance pro- Legal Counsel, Bureau agents could agency that cared about its sons and grams aimed at Blacks...Informants make an arrest if they observed a crowd daughters. Despite considerable lag infiltrated every racial advancement of white citizens pursuing and beating time in initiating the investgation of and Black nationalist group, from the a Negro student. But the 'no arrest' the murders, the killers were eventu- moderate NAACP to the immoderate policy ruled...So the FBI stood, ally rounded up and the FBI trum- African Blood Brotherhood." watched, took notes and sometimes peted its efforts. In the early 1920s they targeted even snapped photos while the resis- Business as usual reigned for the rest Jamaican Black Nationalist Marcus tance beat up voter registration work- of 1964. But by 1965 something hap- Garvey. Then, in the 1930s, the ers and other movement people." At- pened. Urban violence escalated and

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 25 Black areas became scenes of unrest. war. Even the Kerner Commission, set Black Panther Party, was investigated. Despite "Great Society" reforms, the in motion by the government, warned Informants were recruited by the hun- movement's left wing demanded of the emergence of two societies, one dreds. power, not paternalism, and offered a Black, one white, separate and unequal, The Nation of Islam came under the critique that undermined the Presi- unless something major was done. Bureau's watchful eye and squabbles dent's constituency. In addition, by By now totally discouraged and frus- between different factions of the Black 1967 "some civil rights leaders had trated, President Lyndon B. Johnson movement were encouraged and ex- moved beyond a limited moral began pushing for the establishment of ploited. Offices were destroyed, homes struggle to raise questions about local police intelligence units. As a re- were ransacked and sometimes power and national policy from Watts sult, counterintelligence was stepped burned and individuals were tor- to Saigon." King was speaking out for up in unprecedented ways .Every Black mented by FBI "visitors". a redistribution of political and eco- leader, whether active in local Demo- It is ironic that after successfully nomic power and against the Vietnam cratic Party politics or the newly-formed destroying the Panthers, the FBI it- self came in for scrutiny. After Hoover's death in 1972, the Congressional Black Caucus held hearings on government lawlessness and witnesses brought reams of FBI files on Black Americans eves#.- to the Caucus's attention. We grow pleasurable A Senate Subcommittee investigat- ve's Garden is a warm, supportive space which provides a woman E with the opportunity to safely expand and celebrate her own sexuali- ing the FBI campaigns against both ty. Created in 1974, by women for women, it is the first mail-order King and the Panthers found enough catalog of its kind to dedicate itself specifically to the sensual needs of evidence to push the Justice Depart- women. We offer a carefully chosen selection of books, quality vibrators ment to indict three FBI agents for and many other sexual-awareness accessories for women in all life- styles. Our tasteful and informative catalog has been endorsed by conspiring to violate the civil rights of many leading professionals in the field of human sexuality who find our movement members. Not surprisingly, materials helpful in their clinical practice. To obtain your catalogue, Ronald Reagan pardoned the agents send S1.00 to Eve's Garden, or visit our' elegant midtown boutique, Dell Williams Gardenkeeper in 1981-Still, 72 years after the FBI Mon.-Sat. Noon to 6:30 PM. 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One can Oakland, CA 94602 only wonder what the files would re- (415)536-3174 veal were we to investigate the women's, lesbian and gay, ecology, THE WISE WOMAN, a national quarterly journal, focuses on feminist peace and racial justice efforts of the issues, Goddess lore, feminist spirituality, and Feminist Witchcraft. late 1970s and 1980s; what the file on Includes: women's history/herstory, news, analysis, critical reviews, Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition art, poetry, cartoons by Bulbul, exclusive interviews, and original would tell us. A research about witch-hunts, women's heritage, and women today. Kenneth O'Reilly has given us the / \ Subscription: $15 a year/$27 for 2 years, $38 for 3 years (U.S. funds). A tools to question government complic- \ y' Sample copy or back issue: $4 (U.S. funds only). / \ ity in keeping justice from our shores. J y Published quarterly since 1980 by Ann Forfreedom. \. /* The book is a page-turner of tremen- A/\\ A FREE 1-year subscription to each Women's Studies teacher thaw 'C //// s dous significance. But, "Racial Mat- sends in a copy of this ad. L ^ \ ters" would have been a better book THE WISE WOMAN, 2441 Cordova St., Oakland, CA 94602. ^ had he included some notice of gender differences in his analysis, for while he " We need this book ...it should be read at once." mentions individual women in the —Alice Walker movement, he rarely, if ever, goes into YOU YOU CAN'T KILL THE SPIRIT the specificity of the harassment of Pam McAllister women activists. This hole left me pon- CAN'T dering whether the FBI lumped all With style, passion, wit and insight, Pam McAllister tells the inspir- "rabble rousers" together without re- ing stories of women using nonviolent action in their struggles for Kill social justice. These vivid accounts from around the world testify to gard to gender, or if, in his seemingly women's courage, inventiveness and effectiveness in working for thorough research, O'Reilly himself THESPIMT women's rights, economic self-sufficiency, liberation, human chose to ignore these distinctions. BYPlMMcUUSTEA dignity and self-determination. Yet, despite this grave shortcoming, w "A wonderful tonic for activists and a treasure for those who teach, "Racial Matters" is an eye-opening, these stories bring women's history to life." breathtaking introduction to a govern- —Charlotte Bunch ment ruled by pathology, fear and 252 pages. Paperback $ 14.95 (postpaid). Send check or money order to: hatred. It evokes deep respect for the New Society Publishers brave women and men who have shoul- j PO Box 582 Dept.Y Santa Cruz, CA 95061 dered responsibility for the 213-year TIC IMUJU DPMG HEMOflU StHS Write for a free catalogue or for MC/Visa/Amex call toll free: 1-800-333-9093 struggle for social justice in the United

26 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 States. And it leaves us feeling that it is our duty to carry on, lifting each other as we climb the rocky road to freedom and equality. We shall, in- deed, overcome someday. Reviewed —Eleanor J. Bader

BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT HANDED by In This Issue! Bouthanina Shaaban (The Women's Press Ltd, 34 Great Sutton St., Lon- don, EC1V ODX, U.K., 5 pounds ninety- five pence paperback) Bouthaina Shaaban describes Both Right And Left Handed as a personal THE RECURRING SILENT SPRING "Pat Hynes has written a book to slap the book in which she has acted as "an ena- by H. Patricia Hynes, smirk off the face of conventional bler only, a microphone through which Institute on Women and Technology, North Amherst, MA . ." -Patrick A. Parenteau my speakers could speak and my read- "... Patricia Hynes draws on the Commissioner, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation ers could hear, through barriers of class, principles of environmental protection race and culture." The Syrian, Leba- inspired by Silent Spring to make the 1989 272 Pages nese, Palestinian and Algerian women soundest policy recommendations on the interviewed represent a new class of Softcover ISBN: 0-08-037116-7 US$12.95 highly-educated women, beneficiaries new reproductive technologies I have Hardcover ISBN: 0-08-037117-5 US$27.50 read—policies centered on women's right of the radical social changes which US Dollar prices quoted are valid for all countries except have affected their countries in the to dignity, bodily integrity and self-defined Australia, Austria, FR Germany, New Zealand, UK and Eire. past 20 to 40 years. Most began their existence ..." —GenaCorea (Prices for these countries and others are available from author of The Mother Machine the appropriate Pergamon office.) Prices and proposed lives in peasant villages where female publication dates are subject to change without prior notice. life was proscribed by traditionally in- grained social and religious traditions. For rush book orders call our toll free number: 1-8OO-257-5755 By virtue of the educational reforms of (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) the '60s and '70s they have been able to .) PERGAMON PRESS move up in social class, and outward in : Please send orders to: Order Department, Front and Brown Streets, Riverside, NJ 08075 world view, through university and Editorial Office: Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523 post-graduate experience. A member of Maxwell Macmillan Pergamon Publishing Corporation The basic question for Arab women is freedom. What does it mean to have achieved personal goals, public status in societies where only men have power? Farida, an Algerian speaks. You can change the world, "Education liberates a woman from her own ignorance, but it doesn't liber- one hour at a time. ate her from her own social fetters. I feel free when I'm on my own, but I am "Provides a head start for anyone con- not free when I'm with my husband THE GOOD HEART BOOK: A sidering community service." and I am not free in society... this GUIDE TO VOLUNTEERING — Christine Franklin, CVA freedom is limited and President, Assn. for Volunteer Administration Author David E. Driver, a veteran Vice President, United Way of Massachusetts Bay personal...because I can't do what I volunteer, shows you how to invest want. I can't even say what I want." your time and talents most "A major contribution to volunteerism." These women are very angry. Many effectively in the fight against - Anita Katz, LCSW of them have fought in wars of political today's most pressing social Director, Neighbors Helping Neighbors liberation, have carried arms, acted as problems. Discover the challenges spies, have demonstrated when the of volunteering and the deep sense of fulfillment that comes from 286 PAGE HARDCOVER EDITION men in their armies were, of necessity, includes step-by-step guide, overviews of hiding underground. Once the wars making it a part of your lifestyle. seven major social problemsJnterviews with volunteers, national and l^cal agen- were over, the "liberation" achieved, cy directories, and more. they saw themselves reduced, once again, to chattel. Um Mohamed Biadoum of Lebanon, Send to: Please rush me copy(ies) of The Good Zehra in Algeria and the author in Heart Book: A Guide to Volunteering Syria, all speak of the anti-woman bias The Noble Press, Inc. ATTN: Customer Service ($18.95 per copy plus $1.00 shipping and built into the Arab legal code. "Most handling). Arab men, with a large percentage of 111 E. Chestnut Suite 48A Arab women, believe that outside Chicago, Illinois 60611 Name marriage and children womenjust don't Address exist. Legally, no woman can be en- City, State, Zip tered in the census of any Arab coun- For faster service, call us collect at Check enclosed try. An Arab nation's citizens are all 312-642-1168 to order by phone. Bill my Visa/Mastercard (circle one) men — with daughters and wives as Acct. No. Exp. their property."

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 The legal code is based on Muslim ticide regulatory laws — the bitter diligently on the development of the teaching, yet the women, like their legacy of Silent Spring. In her schol- atom bomb and those who today are Western sisters, are proud of their re- arly and well-researched expose, Hynes tampering with the inner workings of ligion and values. Many expressed sen- chronicles the chemical industry's fa- the cells in an effort to bioengineer timents similar to Nadia Nouihid of vored status and the federal govern- new organisms. She warns of a new Beirut, "I feel that the Western woman ment's capricious enforcement policies. scientific frontier along which men are is lost. It is true that she has more When a pesticide's registration is massing all the weaponry of war: the personal freedom than the Eastern "cancelled" because the chemical is new biotechnologies as in vitro fertili- woman and that she is more comfort- found to be hazardous, the EPA, by zation, and genetic engineering. able; she enjoys leisure and rest times law, must allow the manufacturer to The atom bomb, conceived in se- — which we hardly have at all—but I continue to sell its remaining stock or crecy, finds its counterpart in the feel we are still happier than Western pay the company the retail value of the modern biotechnologies that are si- women. We are happy to be able to pesticide withdrawn from the lently being developed in laboratories give so much to our homes and market.(No such provision applies to across the country. Radiation sickness families...As Muslims we value the recalled cars.) Hayne's far-reaching was a unpredictable side effect of family dearly, and we should continue analysis explores the misogyny that nuclear fission; scientists now are to do so." Interestingly, the prevalence underlies environmental public policy poised to open a Pandora's box of ge- of divorce in Western societies is inter- decisions involving both pesticides and netically engineered organisms with preted to be the loss of women's family the new biotechnologies. the potential to unleash unforeseen ties. Apparently it is not understood "Silent Spring struck , like light- devastation on the world's fragile that, in the West, it is most often the ning, at the heart of the pollution cri- ecosystem. Once released into the en- husband who "loses" his family in sis: man beating nature into submis- vironment, these mutant creatures divorce, not the wife. sion with pesticides, as she saw it," cannot be recalled. Major chemical Shaaban has brought together vivid, Hynes writes. "The pesticide industry, companies are retooling for the "age intelligent, informed testimonies skilled in the metaphor and habit of of Biology" with herbicide-resistant which are exciting to read and which war on insects, turned the force of their crops, genetically engineered bring alive the women she's inter- armaments against her book. They tried hormones, and cell fusion tech- viewed . She has opened a door to the to stop its publication; they produced niques. Recombinant DNA is today's Western reader, allowing us to enter parodies of it, they withdrew advertis- "hot handle", where the research and understand the commonality of ing and support from journals and dollars flow, while integrated Pest our worldwide feminist consciousness. media programs which favorably re- Management, a low-tech ecologically —Nancy Lloyd viewed the book. One corporate scien- based solution, languishes in under- tist.charged that Silent Spring...would funded obscurity. THE RECURRING SILENT SPRING by cause famine and death." Just as pesticides were once touted H. Patricia Haynes (The Athene Se- By examining Carson's struggle as a quick fix for insect pests, today's ries of Feminist Books, Pergamon against what she called "the brutish, reproductive biotechnologies offer the Press, Elmsford, NY; $12.95, paper- senseless things" man perpetrated fast track in infertility research. Al- back; $27.50, hardcover) against nature, Hynes explores the though IVF was supposedly developed In her 1962 book, Silent Spring, Ra- "political and ethical urgency" that for a small number of women whose chel Carson told a parable of a terrify- sustained Carson as she struggled to blocked or missing fallopian tubes ing rain of death that spewed indis- stop man's assault on the environment. prevented conception, today hundreds criminately, silencing the songbirds, The original attacks on Silent Spring of clinics are holding out empty prom- fouling the waters, despoiling the land, were built on twin pillars, of militarism ises to desperate women with a variety littering the lifeless vegetation with and misogyny," Hynes writes. "Milita- of medical ailments. Whether the the carcasses of poisoned creatures. rism is the glorification of dominance, woman or her partner is infertile, she Her chilling prophecy aroused the combat, warlike relationships and poli- can be super-ovulated with massive world to the danger of chemical pesti- cies. In this worldview, security is doses of sex hormones and undergo cides and led to a much-heralded ban maintained by stockpiling tools of de- risky and ineffective procedures that on DDT, aldrin, dieldrin and other struction, such as bombs, missiles, and have at best a 10 percent success rate. chlorinated hydrocarbons. (In fact, the other penile weapons." "IVF technology is a male-centered so-called "ban" did not recall stock- Among the tragedies of World War II technical response to the social condi- piled chemicals or prohibit sale of DDT was the development of chlorinated tion of women," Hynes asserts."IVF to other countries.) Carson warned that hydrocarbons as agents of chemical flourishes in a world in which women unless government officials and the warfare. When the atomic bomb immo- have little self-worth apart from bear- pesticide industry ceased their ruth- lated Hiroshima and Nagasaki and ing biological children." less effort to turn "plowshares into brought the war to a sudden end, chemi- Rachel Carson herself was portrayed sprayguns", the elixirs of death would cal manufacturers sought "peacetime" by the pesticide industry as a "nature silence the earth. uses for their weapons of destruction, fanatic" who liked birds better than Now, a new feminist critique by an which could kill insects as well as children. One man asked why, since environmental engineer reveals the humans. Between 1945 and 1960, she was a spinster, she was so inter- silent conspiracy of pseudo-regulation chemical pesticide use increased five- ested in genetics. Another called her a and cover-up within the pesticide fold as pesticides and herbicides were "quiet little government employee who industry. Patricia Hynes, a former relentessly marketed to farmers who lived with her mother and kept a cat." section chief in the Hazardous Waste were told that they would no longer Hynes peers beyond the myth of Ra- Division of the Environmental Protec- have to till and plow their land to reap chel Carson to the gifted writer who tion Agency, founding director of the abundant crops. was passionate about nature and Institute on Women and Technology, Hynes draws a striking parallel be- sought fulfillment in her relationships documents the evisceration of the pes- tween the scientists who worked so with women. "Rachel Carson's pro-

28 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 found influence on women generates where the wife couldn't help but find from the vitalism of her own work but her! NEW BOOKS! also from the primary and vital place One thinks that for Martha there is that women held in her own life," writes hope that she can turn her life around. MEDICINE Medicine Women, Curandvras, and Hynes. "This may explain the conta- The child of a mother diagnosed as WOMEN, Women Doctors gious quality of her work for women paranoid-schizophrenic, Martha left CVRANDERAS, since. She was profoundly influenced home at 12. She has been in foster AND WOMEN by women and, in turn, she has done homes, group homes and shelters. Her DOCTORS the same, living on in the minds of adoptive father abused her both sexu- By Bobette those who did not know her." ally and physically. Pregnant at 18, she Per rone, H. Insecticides, to Carson, were weap- now has a baby boy and she fears she Henrietta ons; nature, the battlefield. In Silent may repeat the pattern of abuse with Stockel, and Spring, she urged us to take another him (something I've heard from other Victoria Krueger road, one "less traveled by," which "of- mothers who similarly had been abused The stories of ten women healers form fers our last, our only chance to reach as children). Martha is highly intelli- the core of this stimulating journey a destination that assures the preser- gent and articulate. She also is adept at into cultural healing methods. "Dy- vation of our earth." In her new book, writing poetry; much of her writing is namic, thought provoking, and prac- Hynes echoes Carson's Cassandra-like extremely moving. tical."—Sue-Ellen Jacobs. "This is a call as she alerts us to the new scien- There is no message to this film. There provocative book, graced with insight, tific weapons arrayed against the deli- are no moral judgments and no solu- and as timely as it is informative."— cate machinery of the living cell. tion. It is remarkable that Kate Davis Marc Simmons. $22.95 —Jane Bradley has been able to capture these young Jane Bradley is an editor at Wesleyan women on film without their seeming University in Middletown, Connecti- self-conscious or aware of the camera. WOMEN IN cut, andpresident of Creative Advertis- The amount of editing must have been PREHISTORY ing and Publishing Services in West mind-boggling! By Margaret Ehrenberg Hartford. She also is a freelance writer I have been told that the Women's A thought-provoking look specializing in women's health, new Crisis Line in Oregon was offended by at the lives of women and reproductive technologies and environ- the film, thinking it was "exploitive". their social status in Eu- mental issues. In no way can it be called that. This is rope from the Palaeolithic a remarkable film by women,about era to the Iron Age. women. More women than we ever can Ehrenberg argues that GIRLTALK imagine have gone through some or the true contribution of Produced and directed by Kate Davis all of the horrors experienced by women was much greater Assistant director/cinematographer: these three. If I have any quibbles than has been acknowl- Alyson Denny they are that the film could be cut by edged to date. Volume 4 in the Oklahoma Running time: 90 minutes 10 or 15 minutes without losing any- Series in Classical Culture. $29.95 GIRLTALK, a special "P.O.V." pres- thing and, in my opinion, gaining in entation, will air nationwide on public "tightness". television on November 20, 1989. If Martha responded to the Women's PERSONAL WRITINGS you are looking for entertainment, for Crisis Line in a wonderful letter that BY WOMEN TO 1900 mindless relaxation, don't watch it. If sums up the film better than any out- A Bibliography of American you care about what is happening to sider could: "All Pinky, Mars and my- and British Writers too many of our children, don't miss it. self have ever wanted was someone to Compiled by Gwenn Davis You will be in for 90 grueling minutes listen to us and accept us despite our and Beverly A. Joyce as you watch three very young women pasts, our problems and the ways we A pioneering — two barely more than children — chose to deal with them. Kate Davis and reference work struggle to survive in a world that Alyson Denny, the creators of /sty. •/ -W on the private never provided them support or secu- GIRLTALK, did just that. •r - y- writings of rity; that, in fact, raped and exploited "GIRLTALK is a film about inspira- Ml. women, this them. tion and desperation...It poses many bibliography Pinky, at 14 is a truant and runaway questions that only society can answer. provides a from a brutal home. We see her living Yes, GIRLTALK can be quite disturb- __JHB comprehensive on the street, in foster homes, even ing — it's supposed to be. Reality is list of autobiographical and travel lit- sleeping in an alley with rats. often disturbing with no clear expla- erature, letters, and diaries by approx- Mars, raped by her stepbrother at nation. " imately three thousand women pub- 12, left home at 13. She does a strip- I have watched this film four times; lished between 1475 and 1900. $65.00 tease act in a bar, dressed as a child, each was more disquieting than the riding a tricycle, wearing white an- one before. The plight of these children klets and little girl clothes. Most re- is one we all must answer for. Each Write for FREE catalog. pugnantly, part of her act is pretend- time we turn away, another girl be- From your bookseller or ing to have sex with her father, saying comes a victim. to him, "Thank you, Daddy." Mars also If you have a VCR, tape this. If you University of was gang-raped by six men in a situ- don't, be sure to watch it. ation set up by a man she considered a These young women have exposed Oklahoma Press friend, and left unconscious on his themselves to talk to us. We must Dept. MAH3 *1005 Asp Avenue wife's running path. What a gesture of listen. Norman, Oklahoma 73019-0445 contempt for women to leave Mars —Beverly Lowy Add $1.50 postage/handling. We take: MC/Visa/checks. ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 need to be aware of their rights, and ourselves and others: Talking about MALPRACTICE from page 9 willing to ask questions when they her experience as a leader, one woman think something is wrong. Clients have said, "We are the strong ones. We have — the erotic feelings a therapist might to be educated, so that those who are no one to break down with. We cannot have for a client— is rarely discussed sexually exploited know they're not show remorse, cry or be sad with our in therapy training or supervision. alone, and are not blamed for their groups whenever we feel like it. When Even more disturbing, studies by victimization. it is time to cry, we are the ones helping Gartrell, Herman and others, demon- Says Dr. Pearne, "Anyone who enters others to express their grief, enabling strate that sexual boundaries are also a psychotherapeutic relationship in an the process, rather than participating violated in therapist training programs open and trusting manner, which is in it for ourselves." One mother said, and medical schools. One study, by Los the healthiest way to enter that rela- "The death of children at a site is the Angeles psychologist Kenneth Pope, tionship, is vulnerable to abuse." • most devastating. When we counsel found that one in four women with about the loss of a child, we are re- doctorates in psychology had had sex The Minnesota Task Force has recently minded of our own children's vulnera- with a professor or supervisor. published It's Never Okay, a collec- bility. We own the problem twice." "The system is contaminated from tion of 40 articles on every aspect of Importantly for us as women, the above," says Estelle Disch, clinical sexual exploitation of clients by thera- grassroots movement against toxics associate with Tapestry, a feminist pists. For more information, write to unites us through persistance, through counseling and education center in The Task Force on Sexual Exploitation trust and through sisterhood. As Cora Cambridge, MA who runs support by Counselors and Therapists, Minne- Tucker says, "When women set out to groups for victims of sexual sota Program for Victims of Sexual do something, if hell freezes over, we malpractice."The teachers are sleep- Assault, Minnesota Dept. of Correc- still do it. And I think it's something ing with their students, the supervi- tions, 300Bigelow Building, 450 North special for us. We do it and we know we sors are sleeping with their supervisees. Syndicate Street, St. Paul, Minnesota, can do it." "And with a group of women," They're not exactly great role models." 55104, or call (612) 642-0256. Reverend Linda Powell reminded me, Even so, Gartrell and others are Fred Pelka is a freelance writer living "we're already accepted before we be- pleased with the progress made in the and working in Boston, MA. His ar- gin." This unity is our lifeline, but it is past two years. They point to the for- ticles have appeared in Boston Maga- also fragile. Anger, stress and misun- mation by the American Psychiatric zine, Christianity and Crisis, Hos- derstanding can threaten the bonds Association (APA) of a working group pital News, The Disability Rag, we, as women, have with each other. on sexual malpractice, which has pro- Peacework, and elsewhere. He is also Sofia Martinez expressed it this way: duced several videos and other educa- co-founder and coordinator of Boston / "We internalized a lot of society's hatred tional materials on the subject. Efforts Cambridge Men Against Sexual As- of us as women and as Chicanos and as are underway to strengthen the ethics sault. Black people. As leaders, we're not codes of the various psychotherapy as- only the focus of all the hope, but also sociations. Medical schools and train- HYSTERICAL from page 23 all the anger, and that's what we're ing programs are beginning to include finding. [But] when people can't break discussions of sexual abuse in their spring!' You've missed a whole sea- us down, they'll realize we mean busi- ethics courses. And legislation crimi- son." Ruth Colvin of Louisa, KY keeps ness and we're not going away." nalizing therapist abuse, and calling a diary in which she once wrote: "I get Despite the stresses of loss and of for mandatory registration of psycho- up at 5 o'clock in the morning. I haven't change, the work of community organ- therapists, is being considered in states been up this early in years. Aunt Patty izing is satisfying and empowering for all across the country. is at the door and I wonder if I've got my these women. It challenges people like This is in marked contrast to the eyebrows on straight. I can't even see, Jessie Deer-In-Water who told me, "I situation a few years ago, when the I'm half asleep and we're in Frankfort love a challenge! I'm half Irish-Ameri- APArefused to sponsor Gartrell's study [the state capitol] by 8 o'clock." can and half Native-American and on the incidence of sexual malpractice, It requires tough decisions: "I've got those are two races that have been and funding for the project had to be to get these copies made," another struggling against great odds for hun- solicited from sympathetic therapists. woman said, "but I don't have the money dreds and hundreds of years. I was "We have a long way to go in most for it. We're down before payday. Win- born not knowing anything else but a states," says Gartrell, "to get anywhere ning this fight is more important to me racial memory of struggling." It in- near what has been accomplished in than buying milk but, my God, my kids spires people like Theresa Freeman Minnesota." She calls for a national need milk." who shares her skill and enthusiasm effort, along the lines of the Minnesota It creates guilt: "You have so many throughout her state of Vermont. "I Task Force, to produce a national re- responsibilities," one leader/mom/wife gain satisfaction from seeing others sponse to the problem. told me. "You're bound to not fulfill standing up for their rights," she says. In the meantime, therapy clients, something. And whatever you don't "Helping them stand up for what they particularly women, need to be aware fulfill, there's bound to be someone to believe, figure out what they want and that this sort of exploitation occurs. tell you that you didn't fulfill it." go after it, that's what I do." Carolyn Bates, soon to be a practicing "Everyone knows how to run your It brings recognition to people like therapist, stresses the benefits of good life," says Cora Tucker. "They try to Linda Burkhart of the Wyoming Pollu- therapy, as opposed to the risks of make you feel guilty for not being tion Posse. The fact that she could run abuse. there. And we're the ones who are for office for the State Senate in Wyo- "It's important to recognize that the vulnerable to that because we care. ming and get 8,000 votes was, she vast majority of mental health profes- Some people could say, 'oh well. I declared, "overwhelming, unbeliev- sionals are good and caring and ethical wasn't there' and that's it — and walk able." She says, "When our problem people, and want to address this is- away, but we feel guilty." began over two-and-a-half years ago, I sue." Bates emphasizes that clients It requires us to deal with death in was the 'hysterical housewife'. Liter-

30 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 ally no more than three people really understood the problem. Now, two-and- a-half years later, I run for office and 8,000 people vote for me. That says an awful lot." BERKELEY MEDEVICES, INC. And, like Diana Steck, the 90-pound 907 CAMELIA STREET woman fighting a billion dollar corpo- BERKELEY, CA 94710 ration, it changes us. Diana says of her work, "It changed my personality from being a person who thought that she always had to go along with the sys- tem, into a person who had learned to speak up and really take control. I believe whole-heartedly that one per- son can make a hell of a difference. Berkeley Medevices, Inc. Offers you a variety of OB/G YN equipment and supplies Anything that you set your mind to, to assist you in your gynecological procedures, diagnosis and evaluation. you can achieve. And I never ever thought that way in my life." The VABRA® ASPIRATOR SYSTEM allows rapid accurate in-office screening It is because of the Lois Gibbses, the and diagnosis of endometrial cancer and its precursors. Cora Tuckers, the Diana Stecks and countless others that this movement The SYNEVAC® VACUUM CURETTAGE SYSTEM offers high capacity exists today. They are to be thanked for the hard work they are doing, for vacuum pumps as well as an assortment of uterine aspiration disposable products. the risks they are taking with their health and their lives, and for the role The SCOPEMASTER® CONTACT HYSTEROSCOPE is a safe, reliable diag- models they are providing to women nostic tool which allows rapid examination of the cervical canal and uterine cavity. everywhere. Thousands of women in all areas of the United States and For further information, please contact us TOLL FREE at 800-227-2388 millions throughout the world are fight- (in California call 415-526-4046) ing toxics because they have to. These women should be joined by those of us who still have a choice, to preserve their victories and to win new ones for ourselves. •

Karen Jan Stults writes for the Citi- zen's Clearinghouse for Hazardous If you Wastes (CCHW) in Arlington, VA(703- .think 276-7070), where she is documenting the achievements of women activists in animal the grassroots movement against toxics research by recording their oral histories.She also coordinates the McToxics Cam- benefits paign against styrofoam. you... ROSENBERG from page 21 thinking that I'm repudiating revolu- THINK AGAIN! tionary struggle for the United States The cruelty of animal research is an unnecessary evil. Recent because I'm not. I think all kinds of developments make animal research obsolete. Other and more resistance are necessary. At this mo- precise methods exist and must be used. Many experiments ment in the United States we live in a involving whole live animals have and are being replaced by the violent society where the question of use of computers and tissue and cell cultures. morality and idealogy is defined by the For over one hundred years The American Anti-Vivisection ruling class. There is no alternative Society has been dedicated to educating the public concerning vision in place within any of the organ- this evil abuse of animals. ized political movements. I think, for Join our efforts. Help free the millions of animals whose example, of the escalating violence that bodies would be tortured and finally sacrificed needlessly is going on against women and chil- every year, year after year. dren in this society and the fact that THE AMERICAN ANTI-VTvlSECTION SOCIETY there is no response. Established 1883 MH: Let's talk about women and femi- For further 204 noble Plaza. 80 I Old York Road Jenklnlown. PA 19046 nism. information MS. Mr. SR: I always felt independent and that clip and mail miss Mrs. being involved in social protest wasn't enough without a very clear and con- this coupon. scious struggle about women. I wouldn't City_ say until recently I considered myself a (Not tax deductible) _Zip_ Enroll me as: Life Member S50, Annual S10 — check enclosed. ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 feminist, although I was in on the how to stay in the world because what have human rights while being impris- Women's Liberation movement and you know now, no longer is what is— oned. This country violates our human involved in organizing and conscious- but from what I can tell, there seem to rights at every level. If there's going to ness raising when I went to Barnard be viable movements of social change. be "special" treatment of us [harsher College where I met a number of women MH: Define what you mean by politi- treatment, isolation] there should be who were influential in the growth of cal prisoners. recognition; there should be political women's centers and the development SR: I would define political prisoners prisons; we should be allowed to have of consciousness. I was also involved as people who, because of their beliefs, political associations. with women in the anti-apartheid their associations and their actions, MH: They don't consider you political movement where we tried to organize have come into direct conflict with the prisoners. They consider you terror- and deal as women within that reality. United States government and, as a ists. The judge compared you to drug MH: You saw class rather than gender result of that, have been incarcerated. dealers who shoot people on the street as the primary oppression? There are over several hundred in pris- and then claim a political orientation. SR: It was both. Now I have much ons in the United States. SR: Well, I haven't shot anybody on more of a commitment and dedication That's a very generic and broad defi- the street... to the liberation of women. You know, nition, but one that I think is accept- MH: But they did pick you up with being attacked as a woman in prison able to the world. It is also one which hundreds of pounds of guns and explo- has been a really intense and ongoing we fall under whether we're in prison sives. experience — probably the worst part for being part of social movements that SR: They did, but what I'm convicted of of being in prison. I was in Tucson oppose nuclear arms, support Puerto is possession, not use. Don Black, one before I was transferred to Lexington Rican independence or are fighting of the imperial wizards of the Ku Klux — we were sexually assaulted by fed- against racist violence; are a product of Klan, was arrested with a boat load of eral prison guards.Males actually did sanctuary movements, are looking at weapons the same time that I was. He the assault but the females who were U.S. foreign policies in Central Amer- was on his way to invade Dominica to in charge held us...it was a rectal and ica, are resisting the attacks that have try to overthrow the government. He cavity search — a full body search. It gone on against women. Under that got four years and was out after 23 was very intense...it took five women definition there are also other people months fundraising for the Ku Klux to hold me and a man did the search. I who are still in prison from what the Klan. If it's from the right it's terrific was very angry and very upset but I counter-intelligence program of the FBI and if it's from the left — it's death. think that experience, along with look- did in the '60s and '70s — people who We don't line people up against a wall ing at the experiences of women in our were framed by the government. But and shoot them the way they do in society really up close, further radical- most people in America don't believe every third world country. We kill them ized me concerning women's struggles. that there are political prisoners or slowly over the years, bury them in Interestingly enough, our case has political oppression. prison, where the brutalization, the been embraced by the Gay Liberation MH: ...or censorship — or any type of contempt and institutionalization is movement far more than by the left. restrictions... used as a means to destroy people's MH: Why do you think that is? SR: Right, nothing. We're democratic political commitments and beliefs. SR: Part of it is that there are very and free. One of the reasons the gov- MH: But then, it's very primitive psy- vocal lesbians in the case and their ernment has gone to such great lengths chology because if anything gives you coming out has really been a very im- to bury us in prison — given us the more to live for, it's fighting for your portant thing. No matter what city I've incredible sentences — separated us beliefs, more opposition makes you been in, people who don't necessarily — sent us to different places—is to try stronger in your opposition. support my politics or support what I and keep a lid on the fact that there is SR: They don't see it that, way, that's stand for have been willing to build a social opposition — there isn't exactly why Lexington was able to be turned dialogue, have wanted to communi- 100 percent social peace inside the around. They never expected the kind cate, wanted to visit — there's a collec- United States. To recognize our exis- of opposition that merged around the tive embracing of us. It's great, be- tence means to recognize that there high security unit at Lexington. I think cause whatever my actual immediate is something going on with social that now we will see more sophisti- sexual orientation is now, I feel com- movements in America (as limited cated and not quite as extreme forms of pletely committed and dedicated to the and marginalized as they may be). political and social control over women full emancipation and human rights of MH: Let's say a revolutionary change who resist. gay and lesbian people. In our current takes place and a new order comes into There's a new place that they built, a society, homophobia dominates — I being — your vision of a just social high security unit in Marianna, FL, don't want to have any ideology that society, but people want to overthrow which is 100 women in an enclosed classifies, categorizes, oppresses or it because they find it intolerable to place, inside an all male prison. That's makes a judgment about what's an ac- their moral value structure. If you were where all the federal, maximum secu- ceptable form of life and what isn't. in a position of power, how would you rity, high profile crimes go, it's com- MH: So in other words there can be no deal with them? pletely controlled. It's not as bad as judgments about behavior? SR: I don't think I'd put them in a Lexington; it's not an experiment in SR: Oh no. There are societies that prison. I don't believe in prisons any- total psychological torturing behavior, define a particular sexuality as being a more. I don't believe that prisons work. but there are no programs, no educa- type of decadent capitalism. I disagree MH: What do you do with felons and tion and it's completely deviant by being with that. When you start quantifying people who break the law? in a men's prison. I've been a woman in oppressions, you're making a mistake. SR: It's a real problem. I'm not sure I a men's prison. It's the worst possible I also feel when you look at the world have any answer to it. No state recog- thing. I spent seven weeks in segrega- after you've been locked out for a long nizes its own opposition or gives it le- tion in Tucson in the men's wing. It time, things become abstract. It's a gitimacy. I understand that completely; was the most frightening time I spent very big problem trying to figure out but there is an issue of being allowed to in prison. For example, I was in one cell

32 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 and a man in another. When he heard Hikmet. He's a Turkish poet and a where you get labelled to be the most there was a woman (this man hadn't communist who brought epic poetry to extreme of the extremes, there's al- been near a woman in years) it was an that part of the world. He spent 17 ways a choice — at every corner. obscene barrage of verbal abuse — 24 years in prison and he got the whole MH: So you would never see yourself hours a day. It was okay with the thing when he talks about being cap- as a victim? guards, it was okay with the men pris- tured and says that capture is not the SR: I've been victimized by the state oners. That mentality is the same men- point — the point is never to surren- in terms of its repressive apparatus; tality that's constructed a situation der. I think he's right — I agree with but, on a subjective level, no, I'm not a like Marianna. that as a mentality for living in what is victim — I made my choices and com- The men's prison has educational basically a war between the govern- mitments — I'll stand by that. • classes — you can go to college and get ment and us, so every time you sur- a degree. I'm not saying that prison for vive, you win. HOFFMAN from page 3 men is good, but relative to what they MH: What do you miss the most? want to create for women, it's better. SR: I think, aside from the human that women truly feel responsible and So, I think they are trying to use women touch, the ocean. I miss the ocean — empowered about their sexuality and political prisoners and our so-called very basic things. I miss the social life choices. As long as women remain "special security needs" to justify in- contact. I miss having any children. economically and politically inferior, creasing the repression for all women MH: Is there a message in all this? all education and intellectual, ideo- in prison. Society really hates women. SR: I can't say I don't believe many of logical or political gains along the way Most women who are imprisoned are the same things — I do. But in terms of will be shallow victories. Alternative in for social crimes — crimes of sur- a view of the world — dogma; you can't programs should be developed whereby vival. Let me tell you a story: In this resist repression with dogma. As far as women's groups, organizations and place, like many places, they distrib- prison, the repressive apparatus tries college Women's Studies departments ute sanitary pads. You're given a cer- to dehumanize you and create a men- can activate volunteers to go to the tain number a week. If you need more, tality that's defined by brutality. If you junior high schools, high schools and you have to ask for them. One day abuse that humanity, then they win community groups to educate students there was a woman in my unit yelling, and you lose — you have to identify about birth control in the context of "I need more than my four sanitary with the people that you're with and their lives, which would necessarily pads I'm allowed." The male guard love them — understanding all the include discussion of politics and indi- said, "Why?" And she said, "I need contradictions — there is something to vidual responsibility. more sanitary pads." He said, "If you be gained and learned from every in- Women are the majority of this coun- don't tell me why, forget it." She said, terreaction at every level. It's a chal- try's health care consumers, yet have "Fuck you", and he said, "Well, you're lenge to one's own continuing racism almost nothing to say about how funds not going to get them," and she started and arrogance. Even in this system or Research and Development monies screaming "I'm bleeding, I'm bleeding, and if you don't give them to me, it's really going to get rough." He said, "I'm really glad you told me that. Bleed, bitch." And walked away. MH: How do you deal with the rage and the frustration? SR: I got sick at Lexington from that MEDICAL kind of rage. I didn't make myself sick SUPPLIES — they made me sick. You get sick CORPORATION because you contain the rage. emjcfcu I lost sleep. I wrote about it. I, too, feel that one day — consequences be damned.. .I'll fight for our dignity every time I can—what else can I do? There's really not much else to do. I get angry, I scream, I bounce off the walls — I hate men more and more and more every day. I don't mean it politically or "Suppliers quite that way, but it's increasingly difficult for me to navigate politely when the rage is contained — all of us to the Trade" are defined and labelled "terrorists" — and they're just waiting for us to riot...The issue is to never lose it. I never have in quite that way. That was the thing at Lexington. They pushed us and pushed and pushed... MH: But they haven't broken you. You're still talking about the best 228 Sherwood Ave. years. That's a lot of energy positively directed. Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 SR: It isn't quite that self-conscious. (516)420-1700 There's a poet I love a lot, named Nazin

ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 are being spent. The health care indus- try spends billions of dollars each year on research into esoteric and elitist technology, useful for saving the lives IS THERE AN "ISM" and health of the few. Where is the concerted political pressure for drug companies to spend research dollars finding safer and more effective meth- IN THEIR FUTURE? ods of birth control? A focused, power- ful and consistent lobbying effort must be employed in terms of making the drug companies accountable to the world's women. New, safer, more effective birth control must be re- searched and eventually made avail- able. RU486 is merely one possibility — not the panacea. We should not be lulled into thinking that if we are able to produce and market one abortifa- cient, that we have won any kind of battle, let alone the war. If we should not, or will not, "love our enemies" as Millay exhorts, we must, at the very least, know them and use them. Know the breadth, scope and limita- tions of their ideology and understand If nothing changes, this young wom- This young woman will face most of This baby chimp has a 77 percent the passions from whence they sprung. an's future could be blighted by sexism. the same problems as the first one. But chance of being cruelly abused and The pro-choice movement must speak If so, she will be limited to lower-paying she also will have to cope with racism. probably killed in a research laboratory. to the hearts of people — challenge the jobs traditionally held by women, or She will go to inferior schools. Her She will be innoculated with disease. Or will earn a third less than men for com- choices of where to live and work will operated on repeatedly. Or will suffer best part of their consciousness. parable work. If she does-work outside be as limited as her income. Adequate devastating psychological torture. The movement for reproductive free- the home, she will bear major responsi- services will be harder to obtain, and Her intelligence, loving ways, and dom must be grounded in the under- bility for managing it and raising chil- will cost her more. She will face greater genetic similarity to humans will not standing that the right to choose is a dren, often without affordable quality danger on the streets. She will suffer help, even though her blood is 99 per- day care. more illnesses and have a shorter life cent the same as ours. fundamental civil right. Abortion is These are but a few of the extra bur- span. More of her children will be still- You see, her future is threatened by the fulcrum of a wheel whose spokes dens that will be placed on her because born. speciesism. Like sexism and racism, it include economic parity for women, of deeply ingrained sexist attitudes that Much of her plight will be shared by is rooted in elitist traditions that allow child care, health care, housing, etc. In have become so institutionalized they her brothers and sisters, her parents, those with influence to claim for them- are hard to eradicate, even when that is and her neighbors. They may be unable selves additional rights of which they a word, all the communal, societal re- what most of us want. Still, If everyone to provide her with the support she deprive others. Her future is desperate, lationships that integrate, relate and works to change things, she will do needs. Even so, there is hope for a if nothing is done to help. We must do define women in relationship to their better. brighter future. something. families and society. If the right to abortion is a "single issue", it is the apex of many others that both support No matter what the excuse, and define it. • animal research is inexcusable.

Speciesism shows itself in many forms. The worst of these is vivisection. Animal experimentation COMING ATTRACTIONS claims tens of millions of lives each year from induced diseases, psychological torture, toxic sub- stances, burning, battering, and surgery, often without anesthetics. Only a small fraction is related to "TALKING FEMINIST": Letty Cottin the kinds of biomedical investigation cited by animal researchers to excuse all experimentation. Pogrebin, author and a founding editor Speciesism drains our resources. The cost of government funding for animal research is enormous. of Ms. Magazine, interviews journalist and political radical Renee David about Yet alternative methods have proven to be better, faster, and cheaper. More scientists should spend French feminism and Jewish identity their time developing alternatives. Speciesism, like other bad "isms," calls forth our worst instincts. In fact, the more we learn about "ON THE TRAIL OF JANE THE FOOL": a animal research, and speciesism, the more inexcusable it becomes. female jester in the court of Queen Mary I — and why we never heard about her by freelance journalist Denise Selleck

I can no longer excuse the inexcusable. "FAMILY ENGINEERING": Alison | Please enroll me in your society. Name_ Morrill, researcher on international D Individual Membership $10 trafficking of children, discusses Address. | D Family Membership $15 "political justification" for removing • Student /Senior Membership $ 5 children from one family and putting I • Life Membership $50 City/State/Zip. 1 D Life Benefactor $100 or more them into another I D Please use my conlribution of $. NATIONAL ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY I lo help the Society accomplish its goals. 53 W. JACKSON BLVD., CHICAGO, IL 60604 _907-1jJ l_ ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII1989 FEEDBACK necessity. The image of the women's living in an extremely "Machisto" soci- movement has been of white women ety. It was a wonderful fortune that fighting for white male s jobs, an your magazine was passed on to me; it PROVIDING FOOD FOR THOUGHT image which does a disservice to the has given me strength and encourage- Just wanted to drop you a line and say thousands of women who fight for ment by reminding me there are women how much I enjoyed the most recent abortion rights, affordable day care and men fighting for EQUALITY. issue [Vol. XII]. I don't always agree and other issues critical to low The situation in Latin America is with your writers (would there be any income women. The article seems to atrocious; women's rights are at least point in reading if I did?) but they support that image. 50 years behind the times and I do not always make me think. And it's re- Further, lesbian's rights and needs forsee any radical changes in the near freshing to find people who aren't afraid have been shelved in the name of broad future. Women in third world coun- to stand up and be heard on the tough support for the women's movement, tries are suffering in the extreme. issues. So: congratulations and keep which only gives credence to the over- Please, if possible, emphasize to your up the good work! all society's view of what is acceptable readers that women all over the world Michael A. Gunderloy for women, feminists and otherwise. need to stick together and work for FACTSHEET FIVE Whatever love relationships women Peace, Harmony and Equality for all. Rensselaer, NY choose, we need to look at the dynam- It is a pleasure to be part of On the ics of women's deep friendships. In Issues. Delighted with your journal, perhaps this way perhaps we can stop distanc- Sister Sue especially with "The Press Is the Is- ing ourselves from each other and Honduras, C.A. sue" but also for all the contents. create a movement which is comfort- I've already sent in my nomination able and welcoming to all women. RESERVED FOR WOMEN ONLY? for a censored story to Dr. Jensen re: Kate Shackford Your "Win Some/Lose Some" section Computer Voting Fraud Feared (in '84 New York, NY in Volume XII was highly illuminat- but highly relevant now!) Merle ing, grouping together all those cases Hoffman's feature gave me new in- EDITORS NOTE: involving women's rights. But I felt sights and I'm intrigued with Roberta Considering that the same issue con- the item on the tender-hearted dog- Kalechofsky's "Gender and Science", taining the Orbach /Eichenbaum in- catcher was both off the topic and of- and eager to read each work. terview (Vol. XII) also had an in-depth fensive, in that a woman was identi- Sorry I didn't know of your journal article by Monika Kehoe on Lesbians fied only as "his wife" and was de- before. Over Sixty; that we were the first pub- scribed as being "content" without being Elsie Merkel McCullough lication to do a two-part story I inter- allowed to speak for herself. This Lake Mills, WI view on Karen Thompson and Sharon item is illustrative of the bad practice Kowalski at a time when only gay of the source it came from, The New Just as the woman in your last issue publications even mentioned the issue York Times. said — I don't know where you got my (Vols. VII & VIII); and that we have By the way, did you know that 29% of name but thank goodness you got it. interviewed other lesbians who dis- your editorial space went to male Please keep up the good work. I sure cussed their sexual preference, we find bylines and stories about men in this did enjoy the article on "The Press is it difficult to believe that any reader edition? With so few publications fo- the Issue" by Carl Jensen, Ph.D. In can accuse us of "shelving" lesbian cusing on women's issues, I hope OTI fact, I sent it to our paper's ombuds- rights and needs. will continue to keep that a priority. A man. He has agreed to speak to our conscious editorial policy is useful to group about their policies etc. VOICES FROM ABROAD keep space available for the women, Thank you, thank you. As Secretary of Political Affairs and who are still less frequently heard. Bee Johnston Diffusion of the Student Association of Frieda Werden Louisville, KY the School of Social Sciences, National Co-producer, radio news University of Buenos Aires, I request WINGS: Women's SHELVING LESBIAN ISSUES? your cooperation for our Students' International News I was both stimulated and disappointed Periodical Section. Gathering Service by the interview, "Women and Friend- Our Periodical Section is the result San Francisco, CA ship" with Susie Orbach and Luise of an initiative carried by the Eichenbaum. I thoroughly agree that undergraduate students, consisting EDITORS NOTE: we need to redefine what "having it all" of a broad file ofjournals , scientific es- We are a non-sexist publication with means for women and men, and that says, magazines and books, etc., avail- our strongest emphasis on women and feminists must allow for introspection able for consulting among both stu- women's issues. We never have denied and self-criticism. dents and faculty members. We con- space to a female writer in order to However, I was very disappointed in sider your publication an important publish an article by a male. However, the heterosexual, upper- middle- class contribution in terms of the political we also never will deny space to a male perspective presented in their view of and theoretical activities carried by whose article is concerned with vital the women's movement. "The difficul- the student body within our School. issues. Carl Jensen's Project Censored ties of class, culture and, ultimately of Emilio H. Taddei is important to all of us; and surely difference" are reflected in the article's Buenos Aires John Stoltenberg's piece on the focus on women winning management difficulties and rewards of being positions in the workforce and on Serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in a feminist male expresses a view that heterosexual relationships. "Minority" Honduras, Central America, and should be read and understood by women, who are the world's majority, working with women's groups in the women and men. The latter article have been balancing work, children areas of development, one can become obviously could not have been written and homes for hundreds of years, out of quite frustrated. I am working and by a woman. 35 ON THE ISSUES VOL XIII 1989 THE BATTLE TO DEFEND ABORTION THE ELIZABETH STONE HOUSE is a CLASSIFIEDS CLINICS—The inside truth about the re- women's mental health program based cent anti-choice invasion of New York City's on self-help and peer support. Our prize- abortion clinics. Includes problems with po- winning video on women's mental issues BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS lice, pro-choice strategies for defense and is available for rental or purchase.Oral political analysis. Available in pamphlet histories book available for AURORA PRESS. Books that catalyze form. Produced by the New York Pro- purchase.Volunteers welcomed as growth, transformation and balance. Silver Choice Coalition. Individual copies $2; bulk advocates for residents. P.O. Box 15, Dental Fillings: The Toxic Time Bomb; Crys- rates available. 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