Branching Out Canadian magazine for women Volume V Number 4 1978 $1.25 Women in Sport Sport and Feminism • Media Coverage • Legal Remedies Grass Roots Resistance • Women's Rugby • and more Will Chrysalis publish the Yes, Chrysalis will publish bold, fearless and radical the bold, fearless and utterances of the current radical utterances including women's revolution? these features in each issue: a Resource Catalog, that will bring together the practical resources generated by feminism- publications to send for, activist groups and individuals-on such subjects as money and finance, women's history, feminist publishing, women's communities. a Chrysalis Interview, in-depth interviews with women whose work has made an impact on our culture. a Feminist Look at Current Affairs We believe all issues- not just traditional "women's issues"-necd to be analyzed from a feminist perspective. Plus these additional sources of energy and inspiration from women's culture past and present: Visual art Poetry Subscribe now Fiction 'And share the excitement of Historical analysis women's culture with a friend. Investigative reporting Mail your subscription orders Theoretical essays today. You've waited a long time. Chrysalis, c/o the Woman's Building Writings from the First Wave 1727 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, California 90012 / ^^^ $10 one year $18 two years $25 three years $3 single issue $15 yearly for institutions and overseas Branching Out Editor Sharon Batt Columns Business Manager 2 editorial Sharon Batt Elaine Butler 3 letters Editorial Assistant Sharon K. Smith 4 printed matter Sports Theme Editor 34 law Elaine Butler View from the Bench Helen Greaves Contributing Editors Legal Notes Helen Corbett, Karen Lawrence. 39 books Diana Palling About "books" Aritha van Herk Editorial Departments A Separate Justice Diana S. Patting Art: Barbara Hartmann, Cathy Hobart Components Left to Reader Karen Lawrence Books: Aritha van Herk, Joanne Ellison The Necessity for Involvement Betty Mardiros Fiction: Heather Pringle. Anne O'Grady, Helen Rosta, Marion Thorn Syllables of Pain Nancy Schelstraete Film: Margaret Cooper Books for Mother Donna Rue Law: Linda Duncan. Doris Wilson More Books Photography: Diana Palling Printed Matter: Sharon K. Smith 46 film & Daughter Judith Mirus Design Joe & Maxi/Father Annette Henderson, Barbara Hartmann. in Sports Diana Palling Features: Women Board of Directors 6 Fair Coverage Kris Purdy Dallas Cullen, Halyna Freeland, Kris Purdy. 10 They Who Risked their Sharon Batt, Elaine Butler, Annette Henderson, Mary Lee Morton Delicate Organs Alison Griffiths 20 On Track Mary Lou Creechan "Copyright 1978 by the New Women's Magazine Society. 29 Shop Talk Elaine Butler Edmonton. Alberta. All rights reserved. Unless used in a 32 Pink Bows and Sweat Patty Laverock review, the reproduction of this work in any form, by an> means, including photocopying, recording, information 37 Can this Sport be Liberated? Jolanta Samler and storage and retrieval systems, et cetera, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher. Frankie Ford Branching Out is published every two months by the New Women's Magazine Society, a Canadian Charitable Organization. Editorial office located at 863] - 109 Street. Fiction, Poetry, Art Edmonton. Alberta. Phone (403) 433-4021. Published with assistance from Alberta Culture, the Alberta 6 poetry The Hare and the Law Foundation and Canada Council. Maria Jacobs Send all correspondence to Box 4098. Edmonton. Alberta. Tortoise T6E 4S8. Submissions should be typed, double-spaced and 14 poetry Victim Paddy Webb accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. We review unsolicited manuscripts from Canadian women only. 15 fiction Morning Subscription rates in Canada. $6.00 per year. SI 1.00 for two years for individuals; SIO.OO per year. $20.00 for two years Afternoon Infinity Barbara Brown for institutions. Add $1.00 per year for U.S. rates. $2.00 per 24 art Stepping Out Rebecca Burke year for overseas rates. Advertising rates available on request. Back issues of Branching Out are available on microfilm from Micromedia Ltd.. Box 34. Station S. Toronto cover: by Maureen Paxton M5M 4L6. The magazine is on file with the Jntemational gouache, 13"x20", 1976 Women's History Archive housed at the Special Collection Library. Northwestern University. Evanston. IL 60201. Branching Out is a member of the Canadian Periodical Publishers' Association. The magazine is indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Typesetting by Superior Typesetting Ltd. Printed by Alpine Press. Edmonton. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3517, Volume V. Number 4. 1978. ISSN 0382 - 5264 Volume V, Number 4, 1978 editorial masculine, adj. 1. male: of men or boys indifference to sport as an adult is shared on this topic. The governments at both 2. having qualities regarding as charac­ by many women I know, but by few federal and provincial levels have not teristic of men and boys, as strength, men. Once I recognized this, I saw that been willing to recognize women as a vigour, etc. many basic feminist issues concern special group in sports, as they have in women in sport and, equally, those of us labour, health and other areas. Nor have feminine, adj. 1. female, of women or who are not athletic. the offices with a general mandate to act girls 2. having qualities regarded as Sexist attitudes and discriminatory on behalf of women looked into characteristic of women and girls, as practices are as pervasive in sport as problems affecting women in sports. gentleness, weakness, delicacy, modes­ they are in areas that have been given Yet in spite of government inaction ty, etc. higher priority by feminists. There are and widespread discrimination, few Most feminists would vehemently male and female sport ghettos just as feminist groups have rallied on behalf of reject these stereotypes of sexual identi­ there are male and female job ghettos. women in sport. Recent human rights ty. We have argued for acceptance of a Just as there are male/female roles in the cases such as the ones discussed by full range of human qualities for both family there are sex-defined roles in Helen Greaves in this issue's law men and women. In the work force, for sport (who's the player? who's the column, dramatically underscore the example, we have attempted to broaden cheerleader?). There are vast differences difficulties faced by girls who want to the possibilities for women to include between the allocation of resources to participate in hockey, soccer, and other jobs that demand something other than men's and women's sport programs and team sports. These injustices involve modesty and compliance. Our relative in the decision-making power of male young girls who cannot take remedial neglect of the subject of sport seems a and female sport administrators. There action on their own behalf. If girls are to significant omission, for here the 'male' has. however, been little feminist be allowed full participation in school end of the character continuum is analysis of these differences, nor have and community sport programs, glorified while the 'female' end of the women acted collectively to bring about feminists, teachers and parents must be character continuum is ignored or changes. prepared to act for them. denigrated. Perhaps, as Ann Hall says in There has been token recognition We must believe in the importance the interview in this issue, most feminists that sport is an area in which change is of physical strength and vigour for are like the majority of non-athletes: we needed. The 1970 Report of the Royal women if we are to take sport seriously. just don't take the subject of sport Commission on the Status of Women I know I resent society's view that seriously. devotes two pages out of 400 to women lack these qualities in mind or When the Branching Out staff began physical education and sports. The spirit. I am less certain I resent being to discuss publishing an issue on women Report recommended that school prog­ called physically delicate or weak, which in sport, the possibilities seemed unexcit­ rams be reviewed and, if need be, must have something to do with the ing to me. I thought of sport as simply a revised to provide girls with oppor­ 'feminine' body image as the ultimate means of maintaining health. After many tunities equal to those boys have to measure of female attractiveness. Until discussions with others on the staff, and participate in athletic activities. It also we revise our notions of what is with people who wanted to submit recommends that the federal Department "beautiful" to include the angular frame, articles, I realized that my limited view of Fitness and Amateur Sport undertake the well-muscled body, the purposeful of sport itself reflects an attitude typical research to determine why fewer girls gait of the athlete, we will be denying of many women. I lost interest in sport than boys take part in sport, to be athletic women full acceptance and early in high school, and aside from followed by remedial action. According perpetuating the limited vision of what a jogging and exercises for fitness, sport to Marion Lay of Sport Canada, the woman can be. Department has not undertaken research has played no part in my life. My Sharon Ball Branching Out letters Misog.ynous Message Missed women friends, one is callous and Censorship Deplored hurtful; the other, prepared to offer only In a feminist magazine, I really do furtive help. Both are insensitive and I came to live in Canada from South expect better. Joanne Hatton's review of unperceptive. Where is Liza eventually Africa three years ago. Having disco­ the "noteworthy" film, Outrageous did happy? When she's the only woman vered what a supportive and enlightening not find it worth noting that the film surrounded by men in a gay bar.