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NEW ZEALAND’S FEMINIST MAGAZINE SIXTEENTH YEAR

HORRORS OF HOUSEWORK MOTHERS EXPERIENCES EXPOSED

GIVING UP THE TOP JOB

i m O R E G A N AUCKLAND.

7 JU L 1988

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JULY/AUG ISSUE 160 1988

FEATURES 17 It’s Your Turn to Clean the Loo Feminists clean up Pat Rosier 21 Festival Films to Watch Out For Four from women directors Mary Rowe 24 The Highest Paid Public Servant Mary O ’Regan leaves the ministry Debbie Jones 29 Health Alternatives for Women One in Christcurch, one in Canada Pat Syme!Healthsharing 36 The Motherhood Experience From Jenny Phillips’ book Pat Rosier

REGULARS 2 Herspective 3 Letters and Fronting Up 5 Broadcast A Den of In-equity 0 Towards Supermarket Education 0 Talking for Ourselves 0 Waihopai 0 Early Childhood Workers 0 Takaparawha 0 Malaysia 0 “They Killed My Brothers” - Kanaky

8 In Brief 34 On The Shelf 23 What’s New 47 The Gripes of Roth 48 Classified

ARTS 41 Marg. N. L. Persona - Margaret Dawson 0 Glasnost Comes to the Movies 0 Living With The Man 0 Dry Your Smile 0 Virago’s Birthday 0 Making A Way

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 1 BROADSHEET

BROADSHEET is published by Broadsheet Magazine Ltd, P O Box 56-147, Dominion Rd, Auckland. Registered Office: 228 Dominion Rd, Auckland. Editorial, Office and Bookshop phone (09) 608535 Advertising and art department (09) 607162

BROADSHEET COLLECTIVE Sharon Alston, Jan Cowan, Edith Gorringe, Tanya Hopman, Carol Jillsun, Claire-Louise McCurdy, Pat Rosier, Lisa Sabbage, Shirley Tamihana, Athina Tsoulis.

Editorial and policy decisions are made by the collective. Main areas of responsibility are: y the time you read this, Telethon one. They may still appeal the decision, Bookshop, Lisa Sabbage: Design and Layout, Sharon Alston; Editorial, Pat B ’88 will have been and gone. This but it was a victory for childcare groups Rosier; Finances, subscriptions, Carol time incest, sexual abuse and domestic and women councillors aware of the Jillsun; Resource Collection, violence were the target of all that need for inner city creches. Claire-Louise McCurdy; hearty competitive fundraising. And Advertising and Promotion, Most Auckland area councils still Tanya Hopman. the widely quoted guesstimates of the have done very little about their part­ amount of family violence were femi­ nership obligations under the Treaty of nist ones. Eight years ago, as one of Waitangi. Cover photo and design: Sharon Alston. Thanks to Jan Cowan many struggling rape crisis workers, I The Town and Country Planning would have found that hard to imagine. Act, which controls all local body plan­ Another feminist achievement ning, doesn’t mention the treaty. But in These women helped around Broadsheet this month: Barbara Mundt, Diane Bush, crossed my desk at work the other week its preliminary waffle it requires coun­ Janet Cole, Diane Calder, Carole Stewart. - a Radio New Zealand guideline of cil district schemes to deal with marae, non-sexist language. Work hours in­ urupa (burial ground) reserves and tra­ Printed by Rodney Waitemata Times, stead of man-hours, control rather than ditional and cultural Maori uses. Mill Lane, Warkworth. Electronic Pagination by master-the kind of thing Broadsheet’s Auckland community worker Mari­ Laser Type & Design Studio. Photoprints by been printing for more than a decade. It lyn Grey found in a 1986 survey only Monoset, Separations by Star Graphics. was rubbished by some guardians of 15 of 26 Auckland area local bodies male dogma. But my editor circulated had made any provision for marae. Publication date: 1 July 1988. it to other suburban newspapers be­ They were mainly rural or South Auck­ cause he thought it was good stuff. land councils, where the Maori popula­ BROADSHEET annual subscription $40 These recent milestones have been tion is proportionately higher. Overseas surface $56. Overseas airmail: very welcome. Since I stopped being a Excuses for doing nothing included: Europe $101.65, America and Asia $85.40, paid worker at Broadsheet, I’ve been not knowing they were meant to; too Australia and South Pacific $66.60. reporting development issues, local much work; no submissions from local body training and the trickle down ef­ Maori asking them to do something; Articles and illustrations remain the property of fect of Rogernomics in inner city and existing marae in a local body next the contributor. Permission must be sought from Broadsheet and from the contributor before any Auckland - subjects on which feminist door. In areas short of vacant land, item in reprinted. and Maori agendas have had depress- tennis and bowling clubs often have ingly little impact. more chance of using council reserve HERSPECT1VE is written each month by a The Market, whether bullish or land than marae komiti. member of the collective or an invited contributor. sheepish, rules okay in the Queen St Many Pakeha voters seem to think a This month’s writer, Jenny Rankine, was a canyons of the country. And under tiny minority of Maori is enough in voluntary and paid collective member for four years, until the end of 1987, Labour’s More Market policies, devel­ local bodies or government. We need a opers have become impatient with different election system to get partner­ even minor restrictions on what they ship numbers of Maori women making LETTERS POLICY: The Broadsheet collective can do. Local bodies can influence the may not agree with or endorse views expressed in policy. We also need some organised letters. Nearly all the letters we are sent get pub­ kind of development that happens, if feminist resistance to this govern­ lished. Those that are not published in full are enough councillors want to. But Auck­ ment’s More Market policies. One considered by the whole collective and edited in land City Council, like many others, is thing I do know - only bullshit trickles consultation with the writer. We do not publish personal attacks. Letters from men are published dominated by businessmen. down. Since they’re keen on flogging only when they correct matters of fact. We particu­ It has a history of being easy on off state assets, why don’t they sell larly welcome letters about the content of the developers, a tiny staff to enforce plan­ Treasury. And pirate Roger. magazine. Letters that are addressed to the collec­ tive or to the editor are assumed to be intended for ning conditions and under the law can publication. Please indicate clearly if they are not. extract only ridiculously small penal­ ties if it does catch developers out. BROADSHEET is on file at the Women’s One of its recent decisions reflects Collection, Special Dept, Northwestern feminist concerns. Fay, Richwhite I&AAMA University Library, Evanston, Corporation and NZI were told they Illinois 60201, USA. had to build the creche they'd promised in the Queen St joint venture tower Registered at the GPO as a magazine. instead of weaseling out of it once ISSN 01 10-8603 they'd discovered the cost of running I& a a M m a s u

2 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 WHO ARE THE ADMIRABLE make little boys and little girls the relate to that. Children are an op­ WOMEN? is entitled to it and obviously is in way they are and if we see our­ pressed group, and we should be a position to exercise her choice. Dear Broadsheet, selves as educators we should use careful about seeing them as the However, that man-made concept Thanks for an exciting May issue. every opportunity to counteract problem. of “class” that Spender prefers to It contained some views that the effects of a misogynist society The other area that I would like ignore, makes it difficult (impos­ roused me into responding. upon little boys. to take issue with Alix Dobkin sible) for the majority of women I felt quite troubled with some c) Any child would fall asleep (and other feminists) on is her to exercise a choice over how they of the comments made by Alix or “act up” at an adult event re­ statement of “putting yourself would like to spend their lives. Dobkin. Boys are a problem at her gardless of gender and bored chil­ first”. I can appreciate what un­ Refusing to acknowledge class concerts, she says. They either fall dren will indulge in anti-social be­ derlies this view, that women does nothing to lessen this reality asleep before she comes on stage haviour. A sexist culture encour­ have been encouraged to be self- or to address the problem caused or they “play up”. They do not sit ages boys to be more vocal and denying, not important enough to by this economic division. quietly at these adult events, ap­ physical. Girls tend to withdraw have their needs met, but con- | I am glad that Alison Jones preciating her music. Although into themselves when they are stantly seeing to others’ needs, j questioned Spender’s views. But I she then goes on to say that child- bored. However, feminist chil­ However, I don’t like the lan­ must say that I save my free concerts are desirable, she dren, I hope, are not passive and guage and the connotations with admiration not for individual returns back to the idea of hoy- would make their presence felt at words like “first”. Why should we women (like myself) who are in a free, this time because she be­ an adult event. I would find the think in terms of first, second or position to lead their lives in a lieves little boys have to learn at situation of little girls sitting qui­ third? It is a very individualistic comfortable fashion doing the an early age that women need etly, being “good” while mother way of looking at things and is sort of work that gives them pleas­ their own space to expore/express enjoyed the music, rather odd. more compatible with the hierar­ ure, but for the countless women their special energy. d) Dobkin falls into the trap of chical structure we reject. who still manage to salvage some The problems I have with these blaming the child rather than soci­ Surely it would be more useful dignity in the face of poverty, statements are: ety. Little boys are irritating, a to speak in terms of “rights”. All violence and hatred. They are the a) I was under the impression nuisance. The questions we human beings have “rights” admirable ones. that the argument for women-only should ask are: why were boys (I which have been consistently ATHINA TSOULIS space centred not on the idea that would prefer to say children) at an denied to women, and we have to London women have some inherent spe­ adult event? Should children be ensure that our rights are not ig- i cial energy that required taken to adult functions which nored any longer. In order to do PORN ILLUSTRATIONS preservation hut was due to the make little effort to include them? this we have to begin valuing Dear Broadsheet, silencing/inhibiting effect of Aren’t we imposing upon chil­ ourselves as people whose needs Thank you for the full and stimu­ mens’ presence and the power im­ dren by expecting them to enjoy are just as important as anyone lating May issue. balance that invariably occurs. adult entertainment? Shouldn’t elses. And although we have Concerning Allanah Ryan’s b) There is too much gender di­ creches/child spaces be manda­ rights as individuals, we also have article “Policing Pornography,” vision when it comes to child- tory a{ any women'seventto cater responsibilities to our particular we really enjoyed discussing it, rearing. Dobkin says she is an for the many women who are the communities too. We have a re­ even though we didn’t agree with educator, yet it is differential only parent in the household, or sponsibility to other women who it all. It raised some important treatment that she is advocating. who have partners who shirk or have boy children to not make points. Little boys and little girls Dobkin are unable to undertake their re­ insensitive remarks or to exclude However, oh yuk, did we re­ views as bom inherently different sponsibilities? them. We have a responsibility to ally have to see those pictures? and this difference should be fos­ My two daughters can behave children, who also have rights. One of the things we like about tered. This is the first time that I in just as revolting a manner as I found the interview with Dale Broadsheet is not having to see of­ have encountered the idea of dif­ little boys when they get dragged Spender very “interesting”. I am fensive images of women. They ferent child-rearing based on along to adult events. Their “pro­ pleased that there are some didn’t help clarify the issues be­ gender proposed as a desirable tests” are memorable and their women who can exclude most cause we nearly didn’t read the possibility by feminists. In her tantrums are not due to the fact things from their lives, devoting article because we didn’t want to scheme of things it isgirls/women that they are “bad”. It is due to the themselves to a single task, and look at the pictures. who have special, superior quali­ lack of control they have over that they have the necessary in­ LOUISA HOPWOOD ties. I do not accept this (dare I say their lives, which makes them come and support system to do so. KARIHUNTER it, cultural feminist )view. We restless and angry. Surely we can This is Spender’s choice and she Christchurch CARTOON: CARTOON: HELEN COURTNEY MORE ON MIDWIVES Dear Broadsheet, In the April 88 issue Broadsheet OBITUARY published an article on midwifery education entitled “A Lolly YVONNE JOY HUGHES Scramble” by Joan Donley. This 1940 - 1988 article, contains a number of inac­ curacies and misleading state­ ments, about which we would like IN memory of neral arrange­ to comment. Yvonne who was ments, ensuring a an inspiration to Ms Donley refers to “the in­ strong women en­ women with her adequate midwifery option” ergy and participa­ never ending enthu­ tory element. Serv­ available in a number of Ad­ siasm and drive for DEADLINES ices were held in vanced Diploma in Nursing everything she be­ the chapel and at For the September issue Courses (ADN). The Department lieved in and the graveside - an 24 July, for October 24 of Education publication, “An thought possible. emotional and August. Evaluation of Advanced Diploma She denied the exis­ sometime humour­ ADVERTISING in Nursing Courses”, published in tence of the word ous dedication to a Our advertising rates are 1987, found that 21% of students “can’t” and worked woman who will very competitive. Details who undertook the midwifery on the philosophy be sadly missed by on request. Phone Tanya, option were dissatisfied or very that there was her loved ones, (09) 608-535 dissatisfied compared with 48% nothing women could not do. friends and colleagues, both in the who were satisfied or very satis­ Yvonne held many positions community and at the Department SUBSCRIPTIONS fied (pi 43). working for women and children, in of Social Welfare. A sub is $40 per year - Midwifery became an option the Department of Maori Affairs Yvonne battled bravely with a you get your magazine of the ADN in 1980. Graduates Taupo, Vocational Guidance Man- terminal illness for four years and is posted to you. Add a meet the requirements of the gakino, as Community Advisor to now at rest, free from the pain and donation for a sustaining Nursing Council of New Zealand the Auckland City Council and as frustration she suffered. She died on Equal Opportunites Officer for the sub of $60 or consider a for registration as a midwife. The the morning of 7 May 1988, at Northern Regional Office of the De­ two-year ($75 or $105 ADN also prepares nurses to prac­ home. partment of Social Welfare. Yvonne, thank you for your sustaining) or three-year tise at an advanced level. Mid­ Before her death Yvonne at­ presence in our lives ... you encour­ ($ 110 or $ 150 sustaining) wifery in New Zealand is seen as sunscription. Overseas tended to all the details of her fu­ aged us to go beyond ourselves. advanced nursing, meeting the Jan Cowan rates (these plus the needs of women and families who horrendous costs of over­ experience all the health problems seas postage) on page 2. of the population at large, and who VOLUNTEERS are entitled to as wide a range of addition, we have post-basic ing new meanings to an existing There’s always heaps of skills as possible. Midwifery now qualifications and experience in word. Anyone talking about work to be done around follows a comprehensive nursing education and feel well qualified “pornography” has to be careful to Broadsheet, and it’s a course, which has a health focus to work in this area. specify exactly what they mean by good opportunity to and a holistic family centred ap­ We hope this clarifies some of the term. Otherwise there’s a experience working in a proach to care. the misunderstandings in the ar­ danger of the very name Women feminist environment. It The working party to which ticle. Against Pornography evoking helps us most if you can Ms Donley refers was set up to ROSLYN PENNA images of puritanism and anti-sex come in regularly for an look into a reallocation of some KATHRYN KERSHAW crusades - which is liable, no hour or two (weekly, existing palces in the polytechnics Department of Health doubt, to both attract the wrong fortnightly or monthly) now offering bridging courses for Wellington people and deter the right ones. and do a specific task. registered general/obstetric and Similarly, for feminists accus­ Some of the tasks that psychiatric nurses. The opportu­ PORN MEANINGS tomed to the WAP definition of need doing are: renewal nity has been taken to establish Dear Broadsheet, porn it’s easy to throw up your reminder and sub-drive some separate midwifery courses, In all this discussion about por­ hands in horror at Allanah’s asser­ mailouts; organising the while some polytechnics will re­ nography, I think there’s a seman­ tion that “we need more pornogra­ library and back copies; tain the midwifery option within tic problem that needs to be ad­ phy, not less”. filing newspaper cuttings the ADN. These courses will be dressed, and isn't being. Women There are real difficulties etc; sending out account evaluated over three years and fu­ Against Pornography (WAP) de­ when a word comes to have differ­ statements; being the sales ture policy determined on the scribe pornography as sexually ent (but related) meanings. I think person in the bookshop; outcome. The brief of the working explicit material which degrades in this case it has tended to ob­ making up packs of party did not include evaluation of women; sexually explicit stuff scure the possibility of any meet­ particular articles for the content of courses, which as which is non-exploitative, on the ing point or even useful debate be­ school resources; entering far as midwifery registration is other hand, is called “erotica”. tween the two groups - after all, if subscription information concerned, is the responsibility of The definition of pornography Allanah is in favour of "more por­ on the computer. If you the Nursing Council of New Zea­ used by Allanah Ryan (and a nography”, how can she have would like to help with land. number of other anti-censorship anything in common with the any of these, please ring Members of the working party feminists) is that it is sexually aims of a group who are “against Carol on 608-535. were chosen to provide a balance explicit material designed to pornography”. between nursing service, nursing arouse its consumers. She be­ I’m in no way trying to mini­ CORRECTIONS management, nursing education lieves that some of it is sexist and mise the difference between There was no credit on the and employee organisations. The that this sexism must be chal­ WAP’s position and Allanah’s. drawing on page 19 of the working party was not only con­ lenged and removed. They’re very different ways of ap­ June issue, which was cerned with midwifery. These are two quite different proaching and dealing with sexu­ done by Linda Sabbage. Ms Donley made the claim that uses of the term “pornography” by ally explicit representaions of Our apologies for leaving “four senior nurse advisors from feminists. Allanah's definition women, and there are major issues your name off, Linda. the Departments of Health and comes closest to the dictionary involved, which need to be exam­ The cartoon on page 17 Education” were on the commit­ definition and to what is probably ined and debated thoroughly by was wrongly credited. It is tee and that none were midwives. the most widely accepted mean­ feminists. But we need to be clear from the pen of Alison This is incorrect. Two of us (the ing. Which isn’t to put down WAP about what we mean by the terms Bechdel. undersigned) are both registered for using the word in a different we are using, or I think we are in The Box No. for Life midwives, have practised as reg­ way: I think the concept they're danger of tripping ourselves up After Rape questionnaire istered midwives and have also attempting to describe is a useful with our own words. is 36-336, Auckland. experienced the services of mid­ one. CAREN WILTON wives, as patients ourselves. In But there are dangers in assign­ Wellington 4 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 I\J\I BROADCAST l / T / l

I GET THE FEELING THAT THERE”S SOMETHING Sexual harassment procedures are ADEN being put into place at Carrington, in ac­ PRETTY SEEDY cordance with Auckland Hospital Board OF IN-EQUITY G OING ON, policy, and an initial training day has been While massive media W ITHIN THE held. This means that there are now con­ attention has been focused tact people to whom staff can make an on events at the Whare Paia, HOSPITAL, initial complaint. However, the biggest women staff in other parts of BUT PEOPLE ARE problem seems to be the attitudes to Carrington hospital have AFRAID TO women of some staff members. Manda­ been dealing with the tory training, for all staff, on sexual har­ TALK ABOUT IT assment, using material available from the (apparently less newsworthy) Human Rights Commission (see “Hands effects of rape and sexual O ff’ in Broadsheet 153, November 1987) harassment. would be a good place to start. Pat Rosier reports. A chap who was fired because of a rape allegation has been reinstated, through the It will not be news to many idea that it’s not safe to report rape. Two efforts of the PSA, his union. The woman Broadsheet readers that women who female staff members have reported being he is alleged to have raped is a member of have been raped or sexually harassed in raped. the same union, and they haven’t done as other ways find it difficult to talk about Both have been subject to open hostil­ well at protecting her interests. The rein­ or report because of the reactions they ity at work and the women ’ s support group statement is common knowledge, but at get: you must have asked for it; what have received a threatening letter (signed the time of writing no-one seems to find sort of woman are you, then?; Who? “The gang of ten”). One of the women has out when or where he will actually return But he’s such a nice guy; and there are moved to work in another hospital, not to work. There are plenty of rumours. So the looks of disbelief as well. because she wanted to, but to get away she comes to work each day not knowing Events of the last few months at Auck­ from the hostility. Another case of the whether or not he will be there. (My at­ land’s Carrington Hospital reinforce the abused having to leave. tempts to contact the hospital’s principal

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 5 nurse for information about this have so little power. Often they are unaware of sexual harassment of women patients and never got beyond his secretary.) And be­ what little power they do have (like ap­ staff as they are about the threat to their cause she spoke out, she has to work in a proaching the hospital’s District Inpec- collective ego and power that the Whare hostile environment. tor), or find the process too daunting. Paia seems to represent. There isn’t really No complaint of rape was lodged with Carrington’s District Inspector, Paul a “gang of ten” running some sort of den of the police, because of lack of evidence, but Treadwell, is aware of the problem. I sexist vice in there is there? the Human Rights Commission has been spoke to the Assistant District Inspector The PSA is a worry in this instance, too. approached. for Carrington, Sandy Barry, who has just There’s been some good work done for There seems to be a significant number been appointed to that position. She says women by the PSA, but this time they of Carrington staff with really sexist anti­ that now there are two of them they can do seem to have supported one member (the woman attitudes. I hear comments about more than just react to calls, they can start alleged rapist) at the expense of another the “Oakley mafia” (but then no-one will going and talking to patients. (the woman). explain, so I assume it’s a reference to At a recent meeting of hospital resi­ Why won’t anyone say what his “rein­ some of those who worked at Oakley dents organised by Psychiatric Survivors statement” really mean? Three weeks af­ Hospital before it closed). And I have patient to patient sexual harassment came ter it was announced no-one knows. Both heard references to a “sauna club” and up as a big issue. The feeling was strong hospital management and the union have a blue movies and “the rec centre”, but that women patients must be better pro­ responsibility here, surely. again, no-one will elaborate. I get the feel­ tected from patients - and staff - who I guess I never expected that anything ing that there’s something pretty seedy sexually harass. All women patients in particular would come of the manager going on, within the hospital, but people should have the choice of a mixed or of the mental health programme within the are afraid to talk about it. And then I start women-only ward, (there is no such Health Department, Basil James, being to wonder what they’re frightened of, is choice at present), and sexually harassed made a consultant to the Auckland Hospi­ there some sort of bullying going on? women should be moved immediately to a tal Board to sort out the mess of Auck­ Well, there was that threatening letter to safe and supportive part of the hospital. land's psychiaric services. He’s been in the women’s resource centre. Recently an 18-year-old woman pa­ Auckland consulting with board and hos­ In my prodding around seeking infor­ tient had to wait several days to leave her pital managements and the buzz is that mation I start to hear about the sexual har­ ward after an attempted rape from another he’s recommending the appointment of assment of patients by patients. (Nothing patient in the same ward. After much pres­ about a dozen more psychiatrists. Super. to do with the Whare Paia but an outcome sure from the District Inspector and her I wonder if he dug deep enough to un­ of mixed wards.) Although one workerex- family the young woman was moved to cover this particular cess pit. Or does the plains that female patients were sexually Auckland Hospital. There was no safe persistent (the incidents I have written of harassed by some male patients in the place in Carrington for her. are a sample only) sexual harassment of grounds before the wards were mixed, so I wish I could believe that hospital man­ women patients and staff not constitute a it’s not a new problem. And patients have agement was as much concerned about the sufficient crisis?

demented advisory service members TOWARDS whose long hot summer is over. It SUPERMARKET became apparent that many areas of primary service - art, drama, music - EDUCATION would be hit hard, obviously because someone thinks they don’t matter Jill Brame, an Auckland very much. That night we raced back Secondary School from dinner to catch the Minister of teacher, writes about Education giving a forthright, frank and honest interview to a journalist Administering For who didn’t seem used to it. The Lis­ Excellence, more tener gave up several pages, and the commonly known as the major newspapers gave about an Picot Report. eighth of a square metre of coverage each - slightly less than they do for I was fortunate enough to be in I INTERVIEWED MYSELF... racing. I raced down to the Gummint Wellington when the Picot CARTOON: JILL BRAME Printer and bought two of the last five Report came out. In the hush that remaining copies of the morning’s followed each radio broadcast, you other title because they are ever so slightly best seller; interest was running high and could, from the Terrace, hear the soggy indispensible, according to some teachers; the Public had been Informed - just as they splash of civil servants falling onto their who realise that they personally cannot do, have been informed of other swooping ball point pens, wondering what they or know, everything. Woe unto the Na­ great changes in education wrought by were going to do about their mortgages. tional Film Service, however. It is going to Fairy Godmother in Wellington - such as Lucky old civil servants. They should have to support itself, just like the video Curriculum Review and School Certifi­ worry, what with my cuzzies in agency down the road - they may have to cate Grading System. Gisborne losing a farm and winning a stock some best seller titles other than Have you been informed, then? How hundred-acre swimming pool after Johnny Visits Lower Perugia (1949), much more do you know about the Picot Cyclone Bola. black and white, subtitles. report other than (a) the printer got it out on I’m not unsympathetic; however, after Whilst in Wellington I had no idea that time (b) it’s very expensive (c) it may well Cyclone Picot, there is every chance that I was an Investigative Freelance Journalist be remaindered because although there’s the advisory and support services people Writing an Article on the Post Picot Blues been a big build up, there seems to be not may well be re-employed under some Period, so I sat back, eaves-dropping on much difference between it and kissing a

6 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 week old flounder (d) we are the only and the current impasse. Students and country in which Acadaemia is analysed classroom teachers are still left with the by Foodtown specialists. (Brian Picot, huge issues of equity, of asessment, re­ TRACY CHAPMAN chairperson of the task force that produced sources, class sizes, rural education ... like the report, is a Foodtown director.) a hungry family they sit around the table, What we seem to have here is a docu­ waiting to be fed, the kits of knowledge ment which rationalises, along commer­ unopened, while Papa Picot Report yells cial lines, the Gilbert and Sullivan quality out - “Shut up - eat what you can - I’m that pervades educational services. It of­ busy redesigning the kitchen.” fers CHOICE, as do the supermarkets;this There is a charming and idealistic as­ word, its synonyms and cognates, prolif­ sumption behind the report that people in erates amongst the diagrams and flow­ general are rational, objective, idealistic charts. Choice is fine as long as it is used, and committed educators with a wide preferably by informed people. If that variety of communication and manage­ doesn’t happen, students will be involved ment skills. It is rather pleasant and naive in a giant pin-ball game in which they still and gives me the warm fuzzies for all of have no pull on the flippers. two minutes. The diagrams and the document, with This is because I conducted a series of an emphasis on a tiny ministry and a lot of interviews. community feedback, suggest other dia­ “So what do you think of the Picot re­ grams to me - the Pyramid of Power has port?” 1 asked Mother of Five. turned into the Plumber’s Plunger of “If people pay taxes in order for stu­ Power. There will be, apparently, a much dents to gain an equitable education why smaller ministry, headed by a Chief Ex­ the hell am I now being asked to do the job ecutive, (who probably will bear a much that we, in fact, are hiring qualified people closer resemblance to Rabbit Who is Good to do? There are whole groups of people at Lists rather than Tigger Who Bounces); who are trained in various areas and skills somewhere further down, a broad base of to deal with schools and their support community members and interested par­ systems. They are, some of them, facing ties who will be able to participate in unemployment-as if that wasn’t problem writing up school charters, working out enough - and I'm being asked what I’m what to do with the tuckshop profits, if going to do to help run the schools? I’ve any, and find out who is accountable for done all this PTA work, largely involving toilet paper. fundraising and cakestalls and gala days to I’m frankly fascinated by this structure. try and help get decent equipment for Not only does it remind me of a plunger, schools plural - 1 have sons and daughters but also of a bottle neck, which has an - and I’m now invited to help run schools almost exactly opposite effect to a as well ...” plunger. Following this amazing insight, I There is some other discussion. I am had a look in ten dictionaries for a big word forced to agree. Let’s face it, we do not meaning heaps ofpower exerted by a few collect all the books we don’t want to read people over a lot, which is what this struc­ any more, lug them to a gala day, buy ture also reminds me of. There are several, someone else’s books that no-one wants to including “oligarchy”, which is the nicest. read, and then administer the funds in the Granted, there will be fewer salaries, best possible way - for the army. That H er Debut Album flights, motels and cars to be paid for, but seems to just get on and be run by people Out Now! fewer people will be rubber stamping who know how to run armies. And, more­ decisions, counting things and checking over, they don’t seem to have to run cakes­ THROUGH accountabilities. Somewhere, there is talls. going to be constipation ... I was inadvertently interviewed by an­ WEA I also think the Picot report is like one of other investigative journalist, aged 15. the old kind of mental arithmetic books “What difference will the Picot report On LP - Ca ssette that is full of problems and doesn’t have make to me in form six next year?” in­ any answers in the back. It does recognise quired N. CD difficulties within the system. How can I thought. “Interaction in the teaching you, for example, recognise within your environment” isn’t in the index, and that school all the special needs and character­ actually is where all the real stuff about istics of your community? There are no teaching is. It may be fractionally easier to solutions given for the puzzles that have get a new whiteboard into the school, or faced us for a long time; only a careful de­ get mad Mr Fenthwaite out. It may be that F eatures T he H it scription of who is going to be accountable your medal for teaching well won’t be to for figuring it out. A Board of Trustees be yanked out of the classroom and buried including Socrates, Mother Nature, Le­ under two tonnes of paper work, thanks to Fast Car onardo da Vinci, the Head Prefect of St the Teacher of Merit scheme. It may mean Trinians, Germaine Greer, Papatuanuku, that N may be able to vote for a student to Athena, Sonja Davies and Demeter may represent heron the board, but Miss Rabbit ultimately come up with something after will not get better at teaching science, and they have passed their Mensa test. Mr Fing will still be grumpy because he ▼ I'm interested in the index. So many didn’t have to do playground duty in Scot­ important issues are not addressed, or are land. also available swept under the carpet. For example, the I replied with slow deliberation: “Bug­ through broadsheet bookshop bilingual issue is covered by a paragraph ger all, actually.” briefly outlining the historical problem > P9

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 7 FURTHER CANCER tested for abnormalities using a genetic REPORT DELAY test kit. Embryos which passed the test IN------could be inserted back into the uterus, thus avoiding the need for abortions for the Judge Silvia Cartwright’s report on the prevention of genetic defects. Cervical Cancer Inquiry has, again, been “The fear of producing a child with a delayed. It is now due for release on 29 genetic defect was so great that genetic July. BRIEF testing was sought in a large number of pregnancies, most of which were not at serious risk.’’ abundance of research embryos. From The Dominion 18 May 1988 PERFECT BABIES AND “It was the absence of an in vitro tech­ EMBRYO FARMING nique, rather than any legislation, inhibit­ ing the development of genetic engineer­ “‘Quality controlled’ babies produced ing of human embryos. The pressure for through genetic engineering may soon the use of human embryos came from par­ become the norm, according to Sydney ents fearing producing a child with a ge­ NUCLEAR FREE SEAS molecular biologist, Ditta Bartels. netic defect and from entrepreneurial bio­ FLAG TO FLY AT NAVAL “She told the Australian and New technology companies. The development REVIEW WEEK Zealand Association for the Advancement of recombinant DN A gene probes makes it of Science that a new technique would possible to test for a wide range of genetic allow genetically defective embryos or disorders. These include sickle cell ane­ Greenpeace and the Auckland Peace those of the ‘wrong’ sex to be discarded mia, cystic fibrosis, huntington’s chorea, Squadron, working with the Sydney before even implanted in the uterus. muscular dystrophy and hemophilia. Peace Squadron, plan to be a presence “It was now one of the hottest topics for “Dr Bartels said proponents of genetic at Naval Review Week in Sydney in overseas researchers, she said. Reproduc­ testing still had a problem in that genetic September. At least two boats will defi­ tive technologies, which produced in vitro diagnosis was stigmatised by its associa­ nitely be crossing the Tasman and oth­ fertilisation, had moved out of the context tion with abortion. They believed it would ers are possible. of infertility and into genetic engineering. be better if the testing could be shifted Last week the New Zealnd government Dr Bartels said genetic engineering be­ closer to the beginning of pregnancy and announced it will be sending three ships to came possible when human embryos preferably before pregnancy started. This take part in what will be one of the biggest could be kept alive outside women’s bod­ would involve genetic tests of the embryo gatherings of warships ever seen in peace­ ies. This was achieved in the 1970s with in itself before it had implanted on the uterus. time. Some 50 odd ships are expected, vitro fertilisation. The technique called embryo biopsy in­ including ships from four of the world’s “Currently there was a world-wide volved the removal of one or two cells five nuclear navies, including those of the shortage of embryos for research work and from an early embryo. These would be USA, UK and France, none of whom have manipulation in the laboratory. Neither in ratified the South Pacific Nuclear Free vito fertilisation or a technique called Zone Treaty. embryo flushing were producing many Greenpeace is disppointed with the at­ eggs. A vital first step to obtaining em­ titudes of both the New Zealand and Aus­ bryos involved super-ovualtion, where tralian governments. With the increasing women would be given a hormone treat­ nuclearisation of the navies in question, it ment to generate as many as 20 eggs ripe is highly likely that nuclear armed and/or eggs in a monthly cycle instead of one. powered ships will be present in the centre Recent evidence, however, indicated that ((aril ((owan of a densely populated city. A survey daughters of women so treated might end published in Australia in February showed up with reproductive abnormalities or INDEPENDENT NURSE PRACTITIONER the 50 per cent of Australians opposed infertility. Some women treated for super­ such ship visits, with only 24 per cent in ovulation had developed cancer of the favour. ovaries. From a Greenpeace media release. “Embryo flushing, now commercial­ Helping you ised and patented by the US company Fertlity and Genetics Research, involved to reach producing embryos inside women’s bod­ ies. But before they attach to the uterus your health they are Bushed out. The technique was SISTERSHIP AFLOAT developed to deal with infertility but it has potential now permitted access to embryos for the The first issue of Sistership, a magazine laboratory. Australian health research au­ for women who are concerned with thorities have recommneded the technique & nursing assessment nautical issues, was published on 1 not be used for the time being. ik action methods April. It is to be produced six times a “Another technique for ripening eggs massage year. outside the body had not yet been per­ The editor, Ruth Boydell, writes, “It is fected. ‘If the in vito method becomes ☆ stress management ☆ meditation/trance a forum for meeting and networking with possible than an entire ovary removed maritime women." Whether or not they from a woman during surgery or at the actually get their feet wet. It includes a his­ time of death would become the source of 5 2 7 GREAT NORTH RD torical piece about pirate women of the thousands of fertilisable eggs and there­ GREY LYNN Caribbean, one on sexism at sea, personal fore the source of thousands of research AUCKLAND stories and more. embryos.' Dr Bartels said the technique A years' subscription is $A25 within had so far only been made to work with PHONE (09) 781-678 Australia and $A30 (airmail) from New animals, but once it succeeded with hu­ Zealand. Send to: Sistership P O Box mans she had no doubt there would be an 1027, Crows Nest, NSW 2065, Australia. 8 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 it easier by refusing to play your teacher schools, early childhood centres, pol­ role outside the classroom. Brain surgeons ytechs and teachers colleges would be run BROADCAST tend to do brain surgery in the appropriate by a Board of Trustees consisting of five place, not every time they meet others. elected parents, the principal, a staff rep, Anyone can make the effort and read and in the case of secondary schools, a the report - like Coke, nothing beats the pupil rep. Having hit a couple or three responses Real Thing. My question is: is the Picot National guidelines will set teacher/ to, “What do you think of the PIcot re­ Report really about education? or is it pupil ratios and curriculum standards, and port?” Like: “Those doctors do a terrific about saving money, streamlining the the trustees will establish a charter for the job”; “What report?” and “Friere wouldn’t assembly line and saving face? school, subject to the approval of the Min­ like it, and neither do I,” I rapidly ister of Education. The intention is moved on to interview myself as an that the charter will“ be a reflection average sort of teacher. I said: Institution Funding Flows of the hopes and aspirations the “You see, after all, I’m a teacher. parents and the community in the I must be right. That’s my job, I Funding Recommendations Minister district have for their children.” I Funding Flows to institutions being right about Things, and if you Once the charter is established think that because of the Picot Education the Trustees get to administer Report I am suddenly going to be­ Policy nearly all the funding, “which will CEO Council come a whole bunch more sensitive Review & Audit take account of pupil numbers, the to my community’s needs, then you Ministry Authority condition and types of buildings as Community are wrong. Of course I’ll be sensi­ Education well as the wider social and eco­ Forums tive where those needs coincide ±1 nomic factors in the area.” with my prejudices and and pet J. An external audit, “conducted by causes - which are left of centre, Education an independent Review and Audit Service women-oriented, minority group Centres }- Authority, would take place every affimative polices - but look out if second year. If the school doesn’t my community wants to bring up INSTITUTIONS “perform” it gets a short period to Bible-banging white rich Reebok- “reform” after which, if the auditors Parent wearing Nats. They have got to be Advocacy aren’t satisfied, the trustees can be wrong - and I, the Teacher, will of Council dismissed and a manager installed course need to squash any nastiness until new elections take place. like that. I can do so, because COMMUNITY Parents will also have a Parent people react to teachers in terms of Advocacy Council (without any the power politics of the class­ Diagrams about policy flow and lines of accountability funding) where they can take dis­ rooms in which they were taught. D e - and servicing and support relationships have lines and arrows to and from the community. How come there are no agreements. And the community mokrassy will rule OK - because I the funding lines to the community? will have Education Forums (no funding) Teacher say so.” to “provide a venue for debate on educa­ Blecch. Even the Picot report is hegdey WHAT’S IN THE REPORT? tion issues in the district” and “provide a about all this power to people stuff. Con­ common meeting ground ... where re­ sultation is becoming the magical ingredi­ It’s complex and not easily summa­ source sharing could be agreed on ...” ent, not consensus. rised. Ask your local school for a copy to The Education Dept will become Here is a piece of consultation: read if you want the full report., or buy it “smaller and more specialist”. Principal to member of trust board from the Government Bookshop for An Educational Policy Council will who just joined the PTA last year: Jerry - $9.95. filter policy to the Minister of Education. your little group won’t mind awfully if we Essentially, if the report is adopted, Education Boards will be abolished. have a little fundraising thingy in term two, eh? Jerry: No - well, er, I guess that’s okay but what about ... Principal: Good lad, Jerry; I knew we could rely on you. We need two hundred and fifty grand. When can you chaps start? Consultation or consensus doesn't CAFE dance well with expediency, really; and the Picot Reprt is also about that. After all, <1 M 93 million dollars can’t be wrong. A By now this article should have ad­ dressed the problem of why things won't HOURS’ change much. Old channels of power will LUNCH: TUE - FRI 10AM - 5PM remain. Old Pakeha, patriarchal patterns SAT 10AM - 3PM will remain. People may not want to use DINNER: TUE - SUN FROM 6PM the power given to them (see Mother of 422 MT EDEN RD. Five, above). People may not know that MT EDEN, AUCKLAND there is power for grabs. “If, Post-Picot, PH (09) 687-236 you want some of the power ... then the B.Y.O first step is to get yourself on the Baord of Trustees.” To do that, you and your aunt and your daughter must understand that the school is as much yours as your garden, as sunshine, as beaches. You have every right to the education you and the kids Every Sunday Night A Taste Of Yhatland want and need. If you’re a teacher, you may just make

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 9 daily contact hours and school holidays. “Childcare workers have virtually no break in the year,” says Bronwyn Maxwell. “Most have to take their holi­ Massey days over Christmas and New Year. It’s really hard to be a quality child care worker in July. Winter is always the hard­ University est time with young children, with most time having to be spent inside and winter SITUATION VACANT illnesses. Six days sick leave is totally inadequate, and once this is used many Palmerston North Department of Education can't afford to take unpaid leave because of their low pay, so they come in sick. Lecturer in Multi- Cultural Education “The quality of care is suffering be­ cause of the appalling wages and condi­ Applications are invited from per­ quires a multi-cultural perspective in tions of these workers. They are subsidis­ sons with an interest in and commit­ developing courses at the graduate and ing the service at a cost to themselves and ment to biciltural-multicultural educa­ undergraduate level and to take ac­ the quality. In the worst affected parts of tion within the New Zealand context. count of the diverse nature of New Auckland there is an annual staff turnover Specific teaching duties are in Zealand society. Competency in the of up to 200 per cent, and there is a crisis courses on “Maori and other Polyne­ area of women’s studies in education in the recruitment and retention of trained sian Issues” and Multicultural Educa­ would be an advantage. staff. As childcare and kindergarten fund­ tion”. The Salary for Lecturers is in the ing gets more integrated - eventually there A range of criteria will be used when range $35,000 - $42,100 p.a. will be three years’ at teachers college for making the appointment. It includes: The appointee would commence both - kindergarten, as the better funded academic qualifications, publications, duties as soon as possible. Further in­ service, will siphon off the trained people. teaching and research experience, formation is available from the Head Who will do three poverty years’ training practical firsthand work within differ­ of Department of Education or Mrs V to work for seven dollars an hour and bad ent cultural settings, ability to commu­ B Bretherton, Personnel Section with conditions?” nicate in Maori, ability to base with the whom applications, including a full Kohanga Reo and child care are the two wider community and cultural groups, curriculum vitae and names of three growing areas in the pre-school sector. and school-based experience. referees, close on 22 July 1988 More and more women have an economic need for quality, affordable child care be­ The successful applicant would join B R H Monks a supportive academic team which re­ REGISTRAR cause they can’t afford to stay at home. The employers have been unmovable on what are in fact very reasonable demands. The employers’ offer of an eight per cent “...boards which were responsive to the The union is as equally concerned for wage increase and no improvement in needs of the schools would have an oppor­ parents as it is for workers. “Quality af­ conditions would put the national award tunity to establish education centres.” No fordable, accessible childcare is our aim,” even further behind Otago/Southland. Nor funding lines, but apparently they would says Bronwyn Maxwell, Regional Organ­ would the employers agree to take the contract their services to schools in areas iser. The union has been lobbying the dispute to the Arbitration Commission, like accountancy and maintenance. government since 1982 for government where it could be given a fair hearing and Teacher appointment procedures will funding for a realistic wage for child-care decision by an independent arbitrator. change: the Board of Trustees will appoint workers that will not escalate parents’ Childcare workers receive the lowest teachers; principals will appoint basic fees. They do not want an elitist service wages and have the worst conditions of all grade teachers, and senior teachers with a that only the wealthy can afford and feel workers in the education services and panel; teachers could get promotion with­ that the government must accept more national award workers get the lowest of out leaving the classroom. ■ responsibility for provision. all. At present a worker in Otago/South­ Some employers pay wages and offer land in her first year of service is paid conditions that are above the award, often $6.40 (untrained) to $7.03 (trained) an what the union is claiming. The Employ­ CHILDCARE hour. At present a trained worker in her ers Federation should be informed of this first year under the national award gets (which constitutes agreement to the WORKERS SEEK $6.39 an hour - that’s $255 a week before claim). FAIR PAY AND tax for a 40 hour working week. If the A particularly ironic feature of this dis­ present claim is successful a first-year pute is that, in general, pay and conditions CONDITIONS trained worker would get $7.35 and hour for childcare workers are worst in Auck­ ($294 gross per week). land. Otago/Southland employers are Working conditions are every bit as im­ treating their workers better, in spite of the Early childcare workers over portant as pay in this dispute. Otago/ most of the country stopped extremely depressed economic situation Southland workers currently have an enti­ in those areas. work for three hours on the tlement to 17 sick days a year and four A spokesperson for the Employers’ morning of 31 May. weeks’ holiday, increasing to five weeks Federation claimed that if wages were Pat Rosier reports. after three years. The national award at “too high” employers would have to raise present allows six sick days and three fees to pay for them, and that would mean The National Award for early weeks’ holidays a year, with no increase to some parents not being able to afford childhood workers covers all of the four weeks until after seven years. A childcare. Helen Baxter, of the Early country except Otago/Southland. working day includes eight hours’ contact Childhood Workers' Union, disagrees. Workers here have a separate award with children. As a comparison, kinder­ She says that many employers could af­ with employers that give them better garten teachers (who in turn are lower- ford to pay more, and that childcare was wages and condition than those paid than primary, secondary or tertiary “not an appropriate place to look for working under the national award. teachers) get about $12 an hour, have less profit.”

10 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 Peace activists and women protesting against the station are adamant that it will be used to eavesdrop on activists in the Pacific, who unlike the French embassies or US military bases, do not have scrambling or coding devices. “What’s happening in Waihopai is that the government is building a military in­ CENTRE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION Financial Planners stallation down there, which will basically be a spy station to intercept telecommuni­ WOMEN S STUDIES Financial Advice cations and faxes,” explained Louise. She • Susanna Stuart • CONTINUING EDUCATION said that the building of the Waihopai UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO station is probably part of a United States- Phone: 774-264 Australian spy-link which includes a base A Seminar on Pornography for a Consultation in Geraldton, Western Australia. Saturday 9 July, 9.30 am 4.30 pm “We think there will be five satellite Fee $12 We All Need To Know About: dishes on the site. We suspect that infor­ Taking Heart: How to Plan mation will go directly to the United States A Revitalisation Workshop Savings because at the moment New Zealand Friday 22 July 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm Home Ownership hasn’t got the equipment to decipher a lot Saturday & Sunday 23 & 24 July Superannuation of information the dishes will receive. We 9.30 am - 4.00 pm both days Investments estimate that the station is going to cost Fee $30 unwaged $25 Learn about these and $200-300 million when fully complete.” Sexual Abuse Education - other financial areas At a time when cost-cutting of social serv­ Training Day for Teachers and through our free ices, and the user-pays philosophy is pe­ Early Childhood Educators seminars nalising those who can least afford it, how Saturday 6 August, 9.30 am - 3.30 pm can the government justify spending this Fee $ 15 GARDNER, amount on a scheme which will be of no Readings by Michelle Cliff use to the New Zealand public, and will BRADLEY, Thursday 15 September, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm probably be used against them? Fee $5 O’NEILL “I think it’s an issue for everyone. It’s For a brochure and enrolment form Phone our money that the government is using and it’s us that the station will be spying Hamilton 62-889 Ext 8195 or write Centre 115 GRAFTON RD, GRAFTON. for Continuing Education University of P.O. BOX 37425, AUCKLAND on, so we’re paying for something that will TELEPHONE (09) 774-264 be used against us. Waikato Private Bag Hamilton. “The base will be used against the la­ bour movement, Pacific people, Kanaky, the things happening in Fiji, and it means that getting information to people pri­ Which brings us back to the whole issue vately is going to be that much more diffi­ eating the public about what is happening of government responsibility. Increas­ cult. It’s also another way that the United in Waihopai, and of obtaining national ingly, business people are looking to serv­ States is strengthening its hold on the media coverage, said Louise. “While the ice areas as new sources of profit and the Pacific.” awareness of people in Wellington and the government is seeking to reduce its in­ The women’s camp is one way of edu- South Island is quite good, Auckland volvement and spending. So the con­ people don’t know what Waihopai is or sumer, and in this case the workers (there what it stands for. The women’s camp has are interesting parallels with cleaners been quite effective in getting the media’s here), get caught in the middle. If you can attention. The women camped there for a afford it you’ll get it, if you’re poor you’ll week before the big protest in May and just have to “manage” better. they continued camping there. Now At the Early Childcare Workers’ Union they’re resolved to continue over the stopwork meetings in Auckland and Wel­ weeks and months ahead until the base is lington, resolutions were passed to strike stopped. for a half or full day if employers did not “The women have got to know each start addressing the argument for parity other really well, there is a feeling of with Otago/Southland when they met solidarity between them and they trust again on 17 June. ■ each other which probably wouldn’t have happened with men. In that way the women work together really well as a pro­ CAMPING DOWN test group.” One way of showing opposition to the What is the Waihopai base and making the issue public is by satellite tracking station, what writing letters to the editor of major news­ will it be used for, and why are papers throughout the country, said Lou­ women trying to stop it? Lisa ise. There will be another national protest Sabbage talked to Louise at Waihopai during the weekend of Au­ Rowden who was at the gust 27-29. Anyone interested in travel­ national protest in Waihopai in ling to the protest or wanting more infor­ mation can contact: Louise Rowden or May, and stayed at the Jane Harrison, Auckland 765-310; May women's camp that is Bass, Hamilton 56512; Lisa Thomson, determined to halt Wellington 737-247; Vicky, Blenheim construction of the base. 86879. ■

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 11 We don’t see ment. The answers given to them reveal COMPUTER USERS ourselves as a telling attitudes. “The classic answer we ARE HEADACHES, SORE EYES charitable trust, get is ‘sorry, we only do business trade.’ and we didn’t It’s because we’re women - they don’t ask OR GLARE AFFECTING YOU TOO? want to incorpo­ ‘are you trade?’ They just assume we’re rate, so we not.” T h e c a u s e ? formed a part­ In the past they have run women only Your Video Display Unit (VDU) nership. Legally video courses because they believe having The electro-static fields emitted by the VDU it was the sim­ men around can intimidate women. causes an ion imbalance resulting in the operator's plest thing to “Women somtimes step back and men skin and eyes being bombarded with negative do.” take over especially in areas which are dust particles. It dries out skin & eyes. One of the considered male preserves.” Another cause is the better known, and more main things Video Aotearoa is currently working visible one: GLARE. Overhead light and about Angela on a Rangatahi drug and alcohol abuse opposite windows cause a downturn in contrast and Helen’s video. “It was important that the video was making the letters more difficult to read. work is that they tribally based. We were all from Tai The result.... see themselves Tokerau and filming was done in Whanga- Sore Eyes! Headaches! as being part of rei.” whichever The Remedy? The Labour Department Job Opportu­ group they are nity Scheme which subsidises people like INSTALL A FOCUS OPTICAL FILTER SCREEN! working with, Angela and Helen who are making the not as two video transition from unemployment to self-em­ It eliminates all those VDU side effects to greatly enhance the contrast makers. They ployment, has made life for Video Aotea­ and to eliminate the electrostatic fields. Different sizes, mesh types don’t impose roa possible. But the scheme finishes in and frame colours are available to suit almost every VDU on the themselves. less than twelve months. Survival for market today. Imported from Scandinavia where it is now compulsary Some people another year is Angela and Helen’s ambi­ that every VDU is fitted with a filter screen! respect that, tion. “We want to be able to get enough some don’t. work to survive without any subsidy.” REMEMBER SMOKING....WHEN NOBODY CARED?! “Process is an Making videos is one way of empower­ REMEMBER ASBESTOS...... WHEN NOBODY CARED?! important part of ing people. THE TIME HAS COME TO CARE ABOUT our video mak­ “A lot of people are talked about in VDU EMISSIONS! ing, not just the things like submissions and educational For more information, a end product, al­ situations. You often hear people talking FREE mini sample or a PRHIDft So ft International though a lot of about people. But video is one way people NO OBLIGATION Freepost 13204 RO. Box 51-429, Pakuranga, Auckland 6 static measurement people don’t can talk for themselves. Rather than being Telephone: (09) 562-529 Fax: (09) 567-751 agree.” taught about something you can see a When Video video of people talking for themselves. Aotearoa talk about making videos they “And that’s especially true for Maori TALKING FOR mean the whole thing - scripting, writing, people and it’s true for women.” ■ filming and editing — skills they have OURSELVES leamt partly from courses they have taken, Video Aotearoa but mainly through practical experience. PO Box 46143, Herne Bay, Auckland. Lisa Sabbage writes. “It’s true that the industry tends to keep Phone 784954, Angela or Helen. information and technology very close Angela and Helen are Maori women making it hard for people to learn outside from Tai Tokerau who work as Video recognised institutions. It can also be very Aotearoa. expensive. Chance played a big part in the two be­ “We did a bit of formal training at “THEY KILLED MY coming involved in video. Five years ago Whitecliffe Art School, basically to find they were employed on a Steps pro­ out how much we already knew and be­ BROTHERS” gramme as drama and video teachers. cause people were always asking us what Then at the Hui Kaitito at Hoani Waititi we had done. Some people have been very Lyn Daws and Dale Pobega Marae they took up a request to record it. helpful and we’ve always asked a lot of interviewed Susanna Ounei, With Steps trainee Eleanor Black they questions. It’s true that as women we are official representative of the produced a one hour programme. constantly having to prove ourselves.” Kanak political party FLNKS, in Subsequently they made three videos They recount an anecdote about a video Wellington, about recent on a six month PEP scheme for the IHC. course they did in which they were the events in Kanaky (New “From there we decided we wanted to go only women in a large group of men. The Caledonia) involving the into video in a lot more depth. It was man who was taking the course talked something that interested us and was a way about the basics, handed Angela and He­ taking of gendarmes hostages of earning a living. len an iris and said, “do you girls know by Kanaks and the later “We saw ourselves working in the what an iris is, you might like to take a look storming, by French armed commmunity, in fields we had worked in at this.” forces, of the cave where in the past to do with creativity, politics “We got the worst camera and he ig­ they were held. and education, something which involved nored us. When we were editing he just left all these things, and that was video. We us to it. What we ended up with was the We spent three weeks in Kanaky from had learnt the basic skills.” best product in the class and the first com­ before the first round of electionsuntil The Video Aotearoa partnership was pleted. There wasn't much they could say the day before the second round and established out of necessity. against it. After that the tutor came and have been left with a sense of outrage at “In Pakeha society, it’s organised so praised our work and talked to us exclu­ the military intimidation of the Kanaks that you are required to form a legal entity sively for over an hour.” - ordinary people who, unlike the to be recognised. We established the part­ Angela and Helen often have to ring up majority of the Caldoche (white nership because there was nothing else. suppliers to enquire about video equip­ settlers), are unarmed. At the same time 12 BROADSHEET JULV/AUGUST 1988 we were frustrated at the very successful media blackout over recent events on the east coast of Grande terre and on Ouvea. We had heard that two of Susanna’s brothers had been killed when the cave was stormed by the armed forces. “It’s heavy!” she said. “It’s really heavy - a big thing for us. How can I explain “brothers” to you press people? There’s the son of my mother’s sister, my father’s sister’s hus­ band’s nephew and others. You call them cousins, for us they’re brothers, uncles, all my relatives — all the Kanak people are related. We on Ouvea felt it very much that our relatives on the main island suffered so much under the military. They work in the fields. You have to carry a pass to work there and to go to the toilet you have to show your pass and say “I want to go to the toilet”. And it’s not like here, you’re crouched down under some bushes or under a coconut palm and there’s a heli­ copter hovering overhead - are you going to finish going to the toilet or are you going to be shot for behaving like a suspicious person? “Well, it’s hard to live like this and on Takaparaw ha - Stic k To T he Point Ouvea we felt very badly that our brothers had to go through this sort of thing. Can Marchers arriving at Takaparawha on 25 May, ten years after the eviction from you imagine what it’s like on Ouvea? It’s Bastion Point. (See Broadsheet 159, June 1988). It was a day of commemoration only forty kilometres long and not very which included the unveiling of a carved stone to mark the burial place of Joanne wide. Everyone knows everyone else, we Hawke, who died in a fire during the occupation. The day ended with a concert at are all brothers there, and this loss is very Auckland’s Gluepot heavy for all of us. “One of the chiefs arranged for the burial of the 19 dead brothers on land where the women’s struggle committee are going to make a weaving co-op. They beat him, this chief, my uncle, the French beat him very badly in front of everyone. We won't forget that for a long time. There are only 2700 people on Ouvea so 19 is a very severe loss.” The issue of dead brothers has been very addressed and Susanna is agitated, very emotional, as is expected under the circumstances. During the time the hos­ tages were held Susanna tried to phone home, but for four days the line was “overloaded". The same thing happened, when she tried to get through to Canala, perhaps the main centre of the Kanak eruption. She expects more brothers will be killed there. At the time the hostages PHOTO: GIL HANLY PHOTO: GIL PHOTO: HANLY were taken, there were more than 700 Moana Maniopoto Jackson (right) and Hinewihi singing up a storm at the Gluepot. troups on Ouvea for a population of 1700 - one soldier for every three Kanaks. Her black plaits are bouncing again as region would take the sort of action that the that we will live like that. They can have her degree of animation rises to emphasis circumstances and aggravation de­ ten times as many troops - we will never the point. “Such a small place and it’s manded. On Ouvea they couldn’t takeit give in.” almost unbearable to live like that, with any longer and they took the hostages,” The conversation turns to one of the soldiers all around you. They have their “Yes, they were your brothers, but can kidnappers in particular. barracks right there where we live and the you tell us any more about the kidnap­ “O la, la ... and Alphonse. I was so sur­ flag, the tricolour, stuck in the mud where pers?” I ask. prised that he was there in the cave. we plant our taro. “Hey man, move it back “Who were they? Well, they weren't Trained in Libya, that’s a joke. He was a bit” 1 told them, “just move your flag just kids - sure, there was one aged 18 trained in Fiji as a priest for years, he back out of there so we can grow our vege­ among those killed, but ther was one wasn't into violence at all. ‘Ask then to tables. brother who was 40 and another who was pity you’ he told a meeting of young "They couldn’t bear it, the people on 35, one left 10 children behind, the other people. We argued about it. ‘They’re not Ouvea, so they took those hostages. It was 11. They weren’t just hasty, they had going to pity us dirty Kanaks,’ I told him. agreed and planned by the FLNKS long enough to lose, but they knew they Alphonse helped to lead the non-violent before, that when the time was right each shouldn’t live like that, it is impossible protests during the referendum on inde-

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 13 sciousness has changed so much, even the QUALITY SERVICE kids want to be Indians now. You see the kids in the villages playing out the struggle. None of them want to be the soldiers or the puppets, they all want to play the part of the FLNKS. It’s quite funny. “And it’s not just the kids. We Kanaks are a shy lot - people won’t come forward to speak their minds. But we want all GUARANTEED Kanak people to have a voice, to have opinions, to be able to think and express themselves, so in the villages we organise role-playing sessions to help the people FASfiT OJiAINHUPSI overcome this problem. But even the adults say ‘Oh no, I’m not going to play the O f H o u s e s A n d F l a t s military.’” Kitchens - Bathrooms - Toilets - Laundries “Isn ’ t it true that the 30 or so kidnappers Walls - Windows - Skirting - Carpets Cleaned were taken from Ouvea to Magenta to Noumea and then to France to be tried C a r p e t C l e a n in g S a m e D a y within 24 hours of the siege? What do you think about that? Why isn’t the trial going (Flood - Emergency - Weekend Work) to be held in Noumea?” I ask. A simple but suggestive answer. Phone 693-729 7 days, 24 hours “Because the French want to avoid V a l S m it h trouble. Ironic isn’t it?” “Susanna, considering that the Pons Statute is now in place, what kind of trial pendence last September. And then I heard gotiate, they still thought you can talk with will your brothers get in France?” that he was in that cave. I wondered how he the French, but you can’t. The French “Well, we’re French now, aren’t we? came to be there. What happened to murdered them in cold blood. And what They at least used to call us Melanesian to change Alphonse?” for? Because the white boss enjoys to have our faces and ‘dirty Kanak’ behind our “But isn’t it true that two of the kidnap­ his coffee brought to him by a Kanak backs. Now they don’t even want to say pers had been trained in Libya?” I insist. woman. O f63,000 Kanaks only 7000 have the word ‘Kanak’. Over there, in France, “Trained in Libya? That’s a joke. Fiji is jobs. And what jobs - only the lowest - the Le Pen wants to kick out all the blacks where Alphonse had been. Maybe some­ most menial.” from North Africa because they’re not one visited Libya as part of a delegation or I learn that Susanna had a job in Kanaky white, and for them white is French and yet something, but are you going to believe a as a bank clerk before being sacked for they want us to be French, but we’re not story put around by the French military? political activity, so the jobs of the 7000 white. How can we be French? How can They’re the experts in dirty war, not us. are conditional on their not being involved we be white? We don’t even want to be Now we’re so angry, we can plan our own in the struggle for independence. French or white! It’s obvious what sort of campaugn of resistance. We don’t need “But we are all involved. When I was a trial they’ll get, those brothers of mine, it the Libyans, we don’t need anybody. kid we all wanted to be the cowboys and was obvious when they took away the Alphonse and my brothers wanted to ne­ not the Indians. But our political con­ identity of us all with their laws!” ■

MYRA NICOL MOWERS - CHAINSAWS WOMEN V WEEDEATERS ORGANISING IN PETROL A N D ELECTRIC MALAYSIA

442 RICHMOND RD An item put together by Pat GREY LYNN, AUCKLAND Rosier from information from the Malaysian Detainees PHONE 760-053 Support Group in New Zealand and from Malaysian Full motor mower sales and service women. Only woman owned and operated In October 1987 the Malaysian Auckland mower service Government arrested and detained 106 people under the Internal Security Act Free pick up and delivery (ISA), which gives wide powers to detain indefinitely without trial. At the L C F l y m o same time three major newspapers Your next nxm er were closed. The arrests took place in the context of WOMEN ONLY WORKSHSOPS RUN REGULARLY growing criticism of the government con­ PHONE YWCA cerning corruption within its ranks, eco-

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Many industries training session last August a policeman are some of the strongest and most consis- operate under “free trade zone” conditions said the women deserve to be raped. ten critics of government policies. where international companies are prom­ So far it is mainly educated women who The arrests, the atmosphere of fear ised non-union, cheap labour. are speaking out about violence. Once it created by them, and the closure of three Since the 60’s the union movement has had been raised in the media cases began to major newspapers, have severely under­ become more pro-management than pro­ be heard, and sexual abuse and the rape of mined the ability of public interest/human worker. For example, the National Union children also began to come to light. Child rights groups, the media and opposition of Plantation Workers is very rich and the abuse is now recognised as an issue, but it parties to express their legitimate views. president owns several plantations as well is not easy to document the level of it, Four Malaysian women activists are as being the highest paid union official in although it has been established as exist­ amongst those who have been served with the country. Conciliation, with union lead­ ing across all racial and income groups. these two-year detention orders.The ers working with management, is always There are the usual problems of people not women are being held at the detention the catch-cry. “The only issues they usu­ wanting to speak out about it for a variety centre in Kamanting, Perak. They are ally concern themselves with are slightly of reasons, including the shame it will broadly charged with being involved with better working conditions, maybe some bring on the victims and their families. In activities aimed at “promoting communist health issues. Never pay. There is no one case, where a religious teacher had influence and ideology within certain minimum wage in Malaysia.” sexually abused and raped a number of circles” with the intention of “influencing Most of the women who work on plan­ children, the parents did not want to bring and encouraging them to launch a move­ tations get paid below the acknowledged it up because of his well-known name. In ment of class struggle in line with the poverty level, usually in bad working Malaysian culture women are taught to communist struggle”. conditions. In rubber estates women have submit and keep quiet, so it is very difficult International church organisations like to carry heavy loads of latex. for them to speak out. the Council of Churches Malaysia-Urban Women in one plantation organised a With the general public and activists Rural Mission, were accused of being strike themselves. “The companies try and silenced, top opposition leaders “inside” infiltrated by communist or pro-commu­ bring in immigrants, some illegal, to work and a general atmosphere of fear, the nist elements from a non-existent body, even more cheaply as contract labourers. government may not find it necessary to namely the International Communist The women’s strike got them more com­ make more arrests at present. The arrest United Front. From the alleged charges it pensation.” that received most publicity in New Zea­ would seem that any social activites un­ Collective bargaining exists but applies land was that of Kharpal Singh, lawyer for dertaken by any Malaysian could be only to unionised workers and many the New Zealanders being tried on drug deemed “communist” by the government. women are not in unions. There is a small charges. His arrest was not related to that Women are still organising in Malay­ secret union formed by women workers in trial, but was political. sia, although the risks have increased. One one factory. Because it is so dangerous for people example of the sort of thing that is happen­ Malaysian laws make any sort of action inside Malaysia to act, international sup­ ing relates to a voluntary theatre group that difficult. A strike can become an illegal port is essential. The four women de­ was producing theatre about the concerns assembly and you have to ask for a police tainees are: Cecilia Ng Choon Sim; Chee of the people. It has done two productions, permit - which you may not get, or you Heng Leng; Lim ChinChin; Patricia Irene one about squatters’ problems and the may get on the day of the strike, which Lourdes. Support can be given in the fol­ other about traffic problems. In each case makes organising anything like a mass lowing ways: the script had been submitted to the special rally extremely difficult. • Ask organisations within New Zea­ branch for approval. The group has now Many of Malaysia’s political problems land to enquire about the charges levied on been accused of being Marxist in usind are historical. When the country became these women activists; drama to influence people, and it is doubt­ independent from Britain three parties • Request your local Member of Parlia­ ful whether it will be able to continue. were created, one Malay (UMNO), one In­ ment to make enquiries with the Malay­ The direct quotes that follow are from donesian (MIC) and one Chinese (MCA), sian embassy about the charges and try to Malaysian women, who cannot be iden- each to protect their own ethnic interests. seek an unconditional and early release; tifed because of the risks to them in Malay­ The Malays’ political domination is en­ • Launch a local campaign to bring at­ sia. shrined in the constitution. Such ethnic- tention to the issue; Three of the women activists arrested based politics has been one of the main • Write and organise friends etc to write are from the Women's Development contributing factors to ethnic polarisation letters or send postcards of support to - Centre (WDC). They have been accused in Malaysia. Communal issues tend to be The Families of the Detainees, c/- 114 of using issues like rape and nuclear weap­ exploited by politicians for their own per­ Jalan SS4/10,47301 Petaling Jaya, Selan­ ons to incite unrest. “If you take up the sonal gain. Thus the two opposing factions gor, Malaysia. This will give all the de­ interests of less privileged groups in Ma­ in UMNO try to outdo each other by play­ tainees moral support and will indicate to laysia you are ‘communist’ and indefinite ing up the alleged “Chinese threat” to the the authorites that there is still interna­ detention is justified.’’The fourth detainee Malays. The Malaysian Government has tional support. Detainees are allowed to worked with a group called Friends of always conveniently used the excuse of receive letters from abroad but not al­ Women, who do a lot of contact work with the racial issue to “silence” its political lowed to send them. Communications working women. The official story is that opponents and its vocal critics. Thus the from overseas are opened by the authori­ people organise in Singapore and infiltrate government has alleged that the recent ties. into Malaysia through church, drama, ISA arrests have been necessary to prevent It is crucuial at this stage to continue to women’s and environmental groups to “racial hostilities” from escalating. put international pressure on to: undermine the government. “Some accu­ Violence against women is a big prob­ • Demand a fair and open court trial for sations are quite wild. One student leader lem in Malaysia, as in New Zealand and all the detainees or their immediate and left the country in the student clamp-down elsewhere. It has been raised as a national unconditional release, and, of ’75 and he is now ‘accused’ of being in issue only in the last two years, with the • To seek for the repeal of the repressive contact with China and setting up a Malay­ work of women’s groups like the ISA. sian Liberation Army.” Women’s Development Centre. Rape and “We need your continued soldarity There is a national trade union body in domestic violence are the main issues. support in order that dignity, peace and Malaysia, which has a women's section, Very few cases of rape get reported, justice can be restored in our beloved but women are still quite weak within it. probably as few as one in ten. Neither country, Malaysia.” ■

16 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 It's Your Turn To Clean TheLoo

T ha nks t o : L in d a C assells J anet C ole J an C o w an M ar ya n n C rick C a n d is C raven H ila r y H aines C la ir e -L ouise M c C u r dy L yn ne M ilne J en ny R an kin e M ar go t R oth L isa S abbage and C ar ol J illsu n

P a t R o sier

D ale S pender says she avoids it completely B ut at least for S pender it seems to be ang st- ( w ith the help of a neph ew ), but none of us free. I ’ve talked to about a dozen fem inists THOUGHT TO ASK HER WHEN SHE WAS IN NEW about how they deal w ith housew ork and Z ealand recently, what she did about her WHAT PART IT PLAYS IN THEIR LIVES, IN PREPARA­ CLOTHES. TION FOR WRITING THIS, AND MOST OF THEM FELT

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 17 THAT THEIR ATTITUDES WERE, SOMEHOW, INADEQUATE time working class women don’t have any REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY ARE. choices so they get on and do the house­ F or e x a m p l e , the w o m a n w h o en jo ys it w a s I'm too dirty work. And in many working class homes EMBARASSED AT ADMITTING THAT AND FELT SHE WAS standards are high: “I was polishing door s o m e h o w “ lettin g the s id e d o w n ” . T ho se w h o to have a handles and the floor and washing up by AVOIDED IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FELT THAT MADE the time I was five. Our father was a tyrant THEM “ IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE WITH” . AND THE TWO housekeeper. about cleanliness. Now, I have to fight WHO PAID SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR THEM WERE VERY against being fanatically clean and tidy COY ABOUT ADMITTING THAT. THIS IS HOW ONE OF It's a terrrible while my sister’s completely at ease being THEM TALKED ABOUT IT! a slob.” “I struggled with my conscience. I imposition, Guilt is rampant around housework - wouldn’t want to clean anyone else’s my standards are too high, I’m a slob, my home, why should I expect anyone to you have to lover hates my kids’ mess and I hate nag­ clean mine? Would my refusal to employ ging them, I should do it myself...... a cleaner make the world a more equal clean up first “Housework is never a problem when you place? Or would it deny someone who was live by yourself and always a problem able to do that job an opportunity to earn? when you live with other people.” Said by What sort of statement was I making about “holier than thou” attitude towards those a woman who lives with her woman lover women that I didn’t want to spend my time who do does nothing to improve the and two teenagers. “It’s terrible having doing what other women drudged through economic circumstances of cleaners. kids and living with other people be­ daily. Should I ‘reclaim’ drudgery for Given the part-time, isolated and cause you feel guilty about your kids. myself to help me identify? stop/start nature of the work, sug­ It’s bad enough with your kids mak­ “No. My time is precious to me so I gesting that the women who do it ing messes, but when there’s some­ exercised my choice and em­ body else who minds their ployed a cleaner. As it turned out, messes even more than you a man. A new set of dilemmas - do-w ell - life’s hell! Espe­ am I denying a woman some cially if the person that you earnings? Or is it a useful role re­ H o -'P o ' 1 live with did not contribute versal? On the other hand, house­ Vo o f £ £ L to their genetic makeup and work is something the poor have has no inbuilt feeling of tol­ A & > °+ always done for the well-off. erance for their mess.” J„CLeftwNCr Women clean other people’s v J o W - And our own mess is houses because women on the different from others’ mess. whole are the poor. OV£N ? le t “Somehow there seems “I agonise over these dilem­ .. Ofc to be a subtle difference be­ mas because I feel guilty about MC-L£A£ tween other people’s messi­ all this. After all, it’s not very po­ h/AR. ness, which annoys me and litically correct, is it, for a femi­ my own, which I can cope nist to employ a house worker.” with. Whether living with And the other woman who flatmates or family, I see a 0 pays to have her housework done » \ m division between personal felt she was making the “ultimate housework - keeping my confession” when she owned up NICOLE HOLLANDER room tidy, restraining my to it. “It was a decision that was reached dirty washing within the limits of the this year. And I can assure you that walk­ organise and unionise seems idealistic, clothes basket, dusting shelves and so on - ing in on a Friday after work is paradise. I too. and housework shared with the household, did have to have a big chat with my con­ “I don’t much like the idea of paying like cooking, cleaning the kitchen, lounge, science. Basically it was the time thing. someone to do my housework, but I do pay bathroom, mowing the lawn etcetera. It’s My (male) partner and I always shared, but someone to, say, fix my car - quite possi­ very important to be seen doing these we got so grotty that Saturday, our one day bly more than I earn.” There is also the chores in order to remain popular with the off, was always spent hunting and gather­ theory that the people who do the work that people you live with. ing and cleaning. nobody wants to do, like cleaning loos, “There is something about being re­ “Mind you, I have worked as a domes­ collecting garbage (childcare?) should be sponsible to each other when you live tic. I worked for an agency called ‘Spic paid the most. Great in theory, but in fact collectively that can be difficult. Hence and Span’ in London. There was one these groups tend to be paid the least. it’s fish and chips for tea sometimes when woman that I worked for for four hours Which says something about where the it’s my turn to cook and I just feel like non-stop, and I had to dust her walls. I tried power is. That sort of change seems to me blobbing out to talk to her about the law of gravity.” to be a very long way away. In the mean- “I tend to live in a kind of organised Some of us feel we would have to clean muddle. When things get too chaotic I fold up for the cleaner. “I’m too dirty to have a the washing and finally put it away, ar­ housekeeper. It’s a terrible imposition, range my books and bills into nice, neat you have to tidy up first.” One of the piles and remind myself that I must sort out There’s one argument thrown at femi­ an efficient filing system - one day. nists which says that if you employ some­ joys of living “Housework is something I enjoy one to do your housework you should pay doing only if I'm playing a favourite rec­ them the same rate that you earn. In an alone is that ord, singing louder than the vacuum ideal world, I would agree, but we haven't cleaner and dancing out the cobwebs. The got that yet and for women who do the I can be as only other time I enjoy it is when I’ve work it can be a source of untaxed income finished.” that does not affect a benefit like the DPB. much of a Housework is probably the biggest There are contradictions and dilemmas for cause of conflict in flats, and if it’s less ob­ feminists in employing someone to do slob as I like viously so in families that’s probably their domestic “shit work”, but adopting a because everyone assumes that Mum

18 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 takes care of it - what she doesn’t do “Housework is monotonous, repetitive herself she organises others to do. From and usually not appreciated. I do, how­ one flatter: “It’s not the idea of transform­ Guilt is ever, get a sense of satisfaction when I can ing the bathroom that gets me, it’s having cast my eyes around a clean, tidy, fresh­ to shift other people’s grime. Bristles line rampant looking house. Even if it does remain so the basin and long hairs block the bath. for less than 12 hours.” Just after she had And elsewhere there’s old porridge in around made this statement, the woman said to a pots, half full ashtrays and cat shit in the friend, “I really must get out and get a job comer. Ah yes, the joys of flatting.” housework next year.” To which the friend replied, “ Some women in flats really get into I thought you had a full-time job here.” sorting it out. “I used to talk with flatmates “No, I mean a real job, where I’m earning about the bits of the house that had to be money.” She couldn’t believe she’d said clean for them to feel that the house was it! But she had, and it shows how well we clean. For me, the rest of the house-could learn that what we do at home isn’t really be an absolute mess but if the kitchen “work”. bench is clear of dishes and wiped, then the It’s clearly easier to be laid-back if you house is clean. For other people it’s the don't have children. “I have a dinner-party toilet, yet others the handbasin. Floors every couple of months and that makes me come very low on my list, they get done clean up,” says a lesbian who lives on her maybe four times a year. own. A friend who’s married and expect­ “When I’m living with someone else ing her first child says it’s “Boring. It gets I’m made to do housework when I don’t done every other week in our house and we want to,” says a long-time flatter, “be­ share it,very equally. We do it for an hour cause I have the lowest level of wanting to and a half and then stop. What’s not done do housework of any women I’ve ever gets left. With a baby on the way I’m going lived with. Men often have lower levels to contemplate paying someone to do it, than me. “ Clean may be clean, but because I want to buy some more time. I “One of the joys of living alone is that clean’s not always white by any manner of plan to return to my paid job, and getting I can be as much of a slob as I like. I have means. It’s as true today as it was when I someone in to do housework is one way I suffered endless systems whereby people was a girl. You can take my word for it, can do that.” in different flats have tried politely to get Reckitt’s BLUE in the final rinse Some thought doing the shopping was me to live up to their standards of house­ keeps your linen a good colour.” part of housework, others didn’t. It’s work. In one flat there was a roster, in harder if you have accompanying chil­ another a gentlewomen’s agreement that dren. I hate it. “The supermarket is the ugly we would each keep our end up, and I just all in clean clothes, was oblivious to face of capitalism,” was one dour com­ felt pressured all the time to do stuff that I greasy walls, and had never heard of vacu­ ment. didn’t want to do and I did it badly or late uming the mattress. “Housework’s fucked.” “It’s just tedi­ or reluctantly and always felt hassled.” “Housework to me is a full-time job,” ous.” “I quite enjoy it. There’s a certain “And once you’ve got a gleaming says the mother of two small children with sense of satisfaction in getting your envi­ washroom, how do you cope with the first a large house and section. “It is a constant ronment into order. I don’t mind it as a toothpaste stain on the sink? The first and never-ending job. I can sweep and physical activity. You can actually see shampoo lid left off? The first damp towel wash a floor, for example, then have to what you’ve done.” So many different on the floor? All that handywork gone to sweep it again an hour later because a opinions, I can’t see a feminist consensus waste in the first round of showers.” The certain amount of ‘lunch’ is crumbled and developing here. actual doing of it is not such a hardship for scattered under the chairs and table where Even talking about it bothers some of some: the children sit. On wet days the floor may us. “I get very anxious when people want “It’s quite nice to potter about the bath­ be covered in dirty footprints just minutes to talk about housework because I imagine room once every week or so, shining a tap after it has been washed. that somebody’s going to tell me how bad or two, taking off a stain here and there “Children don’t think and don’t under­ I am at it again. I’m anxious all the time (‘without all that harsh scratching’). It’s stand my out bursts of rage and frustration because I think somebody else is judging satisfying to watch that crumb-ridden at times such as this. They are just being me. I know that my friends actually table and bench become smooth and clean. kids. I am the ‘clean and tidy type’ so I couldn’t care less, but I still worry in case It’s a nice feeling to go to a freshly ajaxed probably do more than is ‘needed’. Having people come and see what the place is like. toilet, sparkling in all its toilet duck glory. small children around certainly increases I assume that I have worse standards than Or to be able to find my knives again after the load, and not having a partner means anybody because it was dinned into me for three days’ of dishes are finally put away. the entire task is mine. I do resent at times so many years, when I was married, how “But then again, sometimes I just feel that lack of being able to share the respon­ filthy and incompetent I was.” like a mug. Sucked into using all those new sibility for keeping my house and property We really do seem to care what other ‘super powders’ with special smells, tex­ at a standard that pleases me. people think of our levels of cleanliness. tures and colours - things I’d never con­ It’s really common when you go into sidered using until I had to choose between someone’s house for them to say ‘I’m them. Of course, I often just go for the sorry it’s such a mess,’ no matter how cheapest and forget it.” spotless it is.” Children make an enormous difference Housework is Housework even follows us to our to the amount of housework, but so do places of paid employment. We have a individual standards. I can remember dur­ monotonous, roster at Broadsheet and generally man­ ing the time I was at home with pre­ age to approach it with a fair level of schoolers trying to work out how it could repetitive and goodwill. This is not the case in every possibly take all day to clean the house. usually not workplace, however. “For years our staff But then it never ocurred to me to wash any meetings were dominated by the topic of floor until it looked fairly disgusting, once appreciated who should do the dishes, and who wasn't a week was quite enough to vacuum, I doing the dishes, and whether the dishes washed only just often enough to keep us should be done on a collective or individ-

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 19 ing and have a staff meeting all about ing up, but for cleaning up eveybody else’s dishes!” To which the speaker got the messes.” Which is “so unremitting and response, “But if you just did them they relentless because, basically most of us are wouldn’t be a hassle,” which caused a slobs, and have to be trained to have further outburst. “I can’t stand it when wonderful standards of cleanliness. Stan­ people say that sort of thing! People are not dards have risen, too. Dirt floors are very sympathetic to deeply ingrained neuroses different from floors that can be kept to a that prevent you from doing dishes.” mirror shine. But it’s not that simple be­ There’s another opinion on that, too. "It’s cause my grandmother had higher stan­ not neuroses, it’s perfectly healthy to not dards than my mother and hers are totally want to do housework.” out of sight of mine. Some workplaces have notices. You “There are all these created needs now. can almost hear the pleading voice of the Like ‘get the germs from under the rim’. receptionist or secreatry who writes, “My You do the work to the limits of the tech­ job does not include the dishes, please do nology - all these by-products of the oil your own.” And at the place where they industry have been turned into cleaning used to have staff meetings about it there’s things.” a sign that says, “In the event of fire or Nearly all our cleaning products come earthquake, please do your dishes then from the same detergent base. A whole leave in an orderly manner”. aisle of many supermarkets is cleaning Most of us welcome any authority that products, where a few decades ago there validates our practices. From the woman would have been one or two shelves. We who felt she had the lowest standards at clean our houses while the business men home and at work: “One of the most liber­ clean up the profits. ual basis, and basically, after years of ating things I ever read was in an early There are some defences, however. hassling and grumbling we all decided to Broadsheet. It was a doctor talking about “White floor vinyl and white and green do our own dishes. Except for one housework, and she said she only washed lattice wallpaper in the bathroom - very (Pakeha) man who walked out of the sheets once a month, and she only did the crisp, very clean, very chic. When I first meeting saying he wasn’t going to co­ bottom sheet. I thought that was really had the vinyl laid I spent time each day operate with this Pakeha individualism. great, because I did that but I wouldn’t wiping off the hairs. I was fascinated at But since everyone started doing their own have said it. Someone actually saying it how much of my hair fell out. Now I don’t it hasn’t been a hassle. was really neat.” notice. I try not to wear my glasses or “Don’t quote me on this, because I’m Are we trail-blazers on the domestic lenses in there, so I can’t see the indict­ the worst at work too. Housework hassles scene or just slobs, those of us who don’t ment of my slovenliness lying on the can follow you from work to home to work do housework in any systematic way? floor.” to home. You can have a hassle on Sunday There’s the “training that women get, to None of us was into taking on board the at home and go to work on Monday morn­ not only take responsibility for our clean­ “Mum” role in housework, although some of us have done in the past. At least one was never in any danger: “I think I became a feminist when I realised that my mother expected me to wash the dishes more often than my two brothers. At the age of nine or Deborah Wolfe, ten I put a roster up on the kitchen wall and made sure everyone did their own turn.” International I think back to my own pre-feminist Corporate days when I (grudgingly) ironed my hus­ band's shirts, passively accepted that he Spokeswoman, would not do dishes and (usually) waited until he had got up on a Saturday morning performer, Social before I vacuumed the bedroom, and I feel progess. Most of the women I spoke with Worker, Home Birth about housework are younger than me, and none of them are cleaning up for Advocate and anyone old enough to do their own. Instructor. Progress, but not social change. These women have insisted on domestic sharing Read about her and fought for the equality they have. (The problems of housework don't disappear, amazing recovery though, even with equality; as in women living together, either as lovers or flat­ from cancer and MS. mates. One woman’s comfort can be an­ other’s awful mess.) There are still heaps of women cleaning up after adult men, GOOD HEALTH, New Zealand’s leading health magazine, is some happy to be doing so, others resent­ committed to holistic health. Offering information and articles, ful. But all accepting, more or less, that we are committed to helping you to stay healthy, so you can that is the way it is: women take the major responsibility for housework, and what enjoy life to the full. On sale at your book store or health shop. they don’t actually do they organise. He “helps”, and she is often grateful. ^ Also available on subscription ^ If survival depends on food and shelter, then housework is survival. Big, impor­ v Phone (09)444'8053 J $3.50 tant stuff. You're missing out if you don’t get into it, chaps. ■ 20 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 moral or psychological problem and these women choose this work over and above other options. There is, however a tacit protest against prostitution. And there is humour. Gillian Armstrong’s earlier film My Brilliant Career won much critical ac­ claim. Her new film High Tide is a simple story of three independent women, told with a combination of wonderful acting and mesmerizing imagery. It is also a tale of not belonging, rootlessness and ulti­ mately a renewal of commitment. It is about wanting to get things done, the urge to draw near and the opposing will to resist. In this film Gillian Armstrong has once again shown that she can convey tender, conflicted feeling. She is aided in no small Mary Rowe provided this measure by a literate screenplay by Laura Jones. The film focuses on Lili, played by information about films by Julie Davis, who is stranded at a summer IDE* women showing in the p When your past resort town in the middle of winter after catches up with you, you either face it festivals in Auckland, being fired from her job as back-up singer or keep running. Wellington, Christchurch and for a bad Elvis Presley impersonator. Dunedin that are likely to be Another theme is her growing friendship with a young girl and her grandmother, for the ebb and flow of the characters’ of particular interest to who live in the caravan park where Lili is lives. Broadsheet readers. staying until her car is fixed. / ’ ve Heard the Mermaids Singing is the Judy Davis gives the character of Lili first feature film from Canadian director, enormous complexity. She has a wonder­ Patricia Rozema. It has won wide criticial fully ravaged face, which she enhances by acclaim, including a Prix de la Jeunesse at here are four films by women wearing blackish-red lipstick. Judy Davis Cannes in 1987. The film uses “the inno­ directors, one of them Merata said of Lili in an interview, “She is a strong cent abroad” theme as a strategy for social complex woman, a very strong role...”. criticism. Mita’s Mauri and four others, di­ Each of the women characters in this film It focuses on Polly, a rather innocent rected by men, that have strong has a vast reserve of well-supressed long­ and gauche temporary secretary who well-developed woman characters. ing and each shows this in a different way: works in a trendy art gallery. She is totally Lizzie Borden's earlier film Born in the young girl as a dreamer with an aura of tongue-tied in front of the obviously cul­ Flames was shown at the film festival four mystery and wild permissiveness; the tured well-educated French-speaking gal­ years ago. Her new film, Working Girls, is grandmother, a survivor, with a rough and lery owner, Gabrielle, but alone in her flat about prostitutes. But not the stereotypical ready exterior which covers a deep emo­ she lives a fantasy life in which she walks prostitutes, the “fallen women,” “street- tional uncertainty; and Lili, who drinks too on water and discusses philosophical smart hookers,” or even “whores with much. problems with herfriend. Polly innocently hearts of gold” that one is presented with The film’s setting has a tacky atmos­ loves Gabrielle, who is unaware of her. so often. These prostitutes are working phere - winter in a beach resort where all The film explores the nature of female girls in the true sense. This is their choice entertainment is in imitation form, where love in an unfussy and economical man­ of career, a choice each has made for life is under the control of nature. To show ner, but is primarily an allegory about reasons of her own. the rootlessness of her characters Gillian trusting oneself. Patricia Rozema said the The film follows a day in the working Armstrong has used a fluid camera which film evolved from three simple ideas, a life of Molly, who is a Yale graduate, lives character, a tone and a point. The charac­ with her woman lover and works at the ter is a “little” person, an innocent and a brothel part-time. It details Molly’s day, holder of a vast and vivid internal uni­ showing her interaction with clients and verse. The tone was to be quietly whim­ the relationships she has with the three sical, compassionate and absurd, with other women who work in the brothel. enough reality for the emotions to be There’s Dawn, a part-time student, Gina recgnised, and balanced by enough fairy who is saving up so she can open her own tale to let the mind fly. The point is “trust business and April who has been working yourself’. in a brothel for many years. The establish­ Mauri is Merata Mita’s first fiction ment where Molly works is run by Lucy, a feature. She says, “In the film when Kara's businesswoman, just another corporate nephew, Willie, comes home on holiday, executive. she knows he is going to die. This is not Lizzie Borden did not see the old stere­ premonition, it is certain knowledge. And otypes as relevant to the image she wanted when he meets his end some two hundred to portray. The film carries a feminist miles away, she responds at the exact imprint and ranges widely in its sympa­ moment of his death. These are not excep­ thies, which convey a quality of honesty. tional powers when seen in the context of There is a straighforward presentation of her culture. Kara is part of the tapestry of the characters that argues that prostitu­ life woven by those who can still read tion is perhaps not the chamber of hor­ omens in nature and the landscape, whose rors that is usually presented, but just insights, inherited from the past, give them another boring job. It is work, not a second sight into the future.”

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 21 vision of the perfect family he resorts to slaughter. This is the All American Dad as a mass murderer. Perhaps this is the re­ venge of the American film-makers who have had to watch just too much gooey JK w f f ’ sentiment on the box. It may be true that the American family is now the monster and the the elements j S r S t v i " i imposing repressed in American life sexuality, and in particular female and child sexuality - , statement?' have all returned to haunt us. There are a etemental number of important themes in Stepfa­ ther: the “terrible house”; women as the » female power ultimate object; the release of sexuality presented as perverted, monstrous and excessive; ambivalence towards the family; and the theme of the double. Lynda, Rita, Sue and Bob Too is a comedy is a rebel. She about two completely amoral teenage girls outrages the town with her bra­ from the rough side of a Bradford estate zen physicality and profanity. She is fasci­ who set up a threesome with a nouveau nated by sex, strong-willed and the despair riche sleazeball from the better part of the of her straight-laced, widowed father. estate. Behind the obviousness of this not- Lynda, however, is lonely, and more af­ too-secret menage a trois is a comment on fected by her mother’s death and her fa­ contemporary Britain. In particular Mauri’s central theme of birthright is ther’s coldness than she fully understands. Thatcher’s north - victim of endemic most thoroughly expressed through Rewi, She is seemingly bent on self-destruction, unemployment and social disruption. a character whose claim on it is insecure. but also struggling for survival in an un­ Grimness, misery, decay, both physical The true nature of his spiritual transgres­ caring world. Jenni Moore, reviewing the and mental, schools whose teachers have sion is the mystery that is held in suspense film in Spare Rib, (December 1985) said given up the battle against ignorance - all until the end and gives the film its peculiar of it, “Lynda is not a victim. Wish You urk in the background if this film. edginess. Rewi, as played by Zac Wallace, Were Here is not a film depicting the life But in full view throughout is energetic is a force-field of jumpy, bottled-up en­ of a fallen woman, it blends pathos and ba­ hedonistic fun. Is this the only antidote to ergy. The other young maori man inthe thos, wit and wisdom and is one of the Thatcher's Britain, a dance at the edge of film, Willie, leader of a city gang who funniest films I have ever seen. If femi­ the volcano? These girls, like others from visits the marae, is also spooked, under nism is about striking back, Lynda, bless the depressed northern areas, have no threat. her, is an icon. I loved this film.” advantages other than their high spirits. Female power in the film is not so Stepfather is an American thriller that They are hungry for what men offer, impeded. Eva Rickard as Kara represents casts a long and detailed look at the family which can put their friendship at risk, but the ideals of Maori woman’s courage, unit. Mr Family Man of this film, who is a never jeopardises their individuality or wisdom and harmony with the natural real estate agent, says of himself, “What I their knowledge that women are smarter world to perfection: her performance is sell is the American dream.” The family is than any man. richly informed by her personal mana. She a sacred thing, in which he believes totally. Finally, there is Half of Heaven (La calmly dominates the film as she imparts a Mitad del Cielo) from Spain, directed by sense of their mauri, their life-force, to the Manuel Gutierrez Aragon. It won a Gran troubled younger characters - and, it may Premio at San Sebastian in 1986. It tells be hoped, to the viewer as well. Women in the story of three women in postwar this film embody nothing less than des­ (Franco’s) Spain, as a celebration of fe­ tiny. This is strikingly true of Kara’s niece male resourcefulness in a repressive, in­ Ramari, whose actions absorb conflicting fantile, male culture. forced in her world and restore harmony to Rosa is a peasant woman whose rise to the land and the people. be a wealthy restauranter to the rich and There are passages in Mauri that are famous is the central theme of the film. more passionate in their feeling than any­ She is all things to all men - mother, thing else in New Zealand cinema. The daughter, lover - but for all this apparent emotion is so raw at times that it doesn't softness she never submits to a man’s will, seem ready for public consumption. It is she has an ambition. She’s succeeds in her embarassing, and the actors tackle it ambition, due not only to her ability to use breathtakingly. Graeme Cowley’s cine­ male influence, but according to Aragon, matography not only captures the wild and more importantly to the kindness of intense beauty of the coast around Te womanly spirits. These women - Rosa, Kaha, but also evokes the sense of a land her grandmother and her daughter - are in inhabited by tribal history. Mauri is a rich sync with the forces of nature. The grand­ brew, not a smooth one. Even at its most I’VE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING mother and daughter share special powers. frenzied, it is easily the most interesting The film unfolds like a novel and one is feature made in New Zealand this year and This family man is boyishly handsome drawn into it's mystery.Women in movies an imposing statement of elemental fe­ but bland. He is a TV sitcom father where are often portrayed as making addled male power. every crisis is solved within 28 minutes decisions requiring men to come along The first of the films of interest by male and whose motto is “every father knows and put them straight by teaching them diectors is David Leland's Wish You Were best". He sees his own fulfillment as their own minds. Aragon believes that this Here, a film that looks at the constraints of complete, in this vision of the perfect is not so. He sees what is often pejora­ growing up in a small, conformist seaside family unit, but when it doesn’t work out tively termed “women’s intuition” as a town on the 1950s. The main character. he goes off the deep end. To keep the primal adaptive part of the life force. ■ 22 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 An A-Z of Activities for Voluntary Third Annual One Sky, One World Groups includes advice for organisa­ Kitefly for Peace Sunday 9 October. In tional activities and promoting volutary Auckland at the Domain form 1 lam to groups, particularly at the branch level. 4pm. There will be kite flys organised at It suggests ways to attract new people, other centres also. Come and watch or run effective meetings, and keep the make and bring kites to beincluded in activities of the group in touch with the the world-wide tally. For more informa­ wider community. Available for $5 tion contact Kites That Fly, 22 Wilton St from ROW< P O Box 12270, Welling­ Auck 2, Ph (09) 765-172 ton Cyclone Bola Women’s Fund is a AUCKLAND special fund that will be used exclu­ INTERNATIONAL Non-Alcoholic Lesbian Space every sively for women's individual and Wednesday night, 7.30 pm onwards. group needs. Those invovled in distri­ Adelaide Lesbian Feminist Confer­ Music, games, food, drinks and various bution decision-making will be: Judy ence and Celebration 13-25 January entertainment on selected nights at Just Hamilton, Anne Robinson, Heni Suth­ 1989. Information from Pam Price, Desserts Cafe. Contact Linda, 893-352 erland, Sue Trafford, Josie Keelan, Jean Adelaide Women’s health Centre, 64 for information. Lloyd and Caroline Cave. Send dona­ Pennington Tee, North Adelaide 5006, Takaparawha poster marking the tions to Women’s Fund, Cyclone Bola Australia. tenth anniversary of the eviction of Relief, P O Box 640, Gisborne. Nemesis is seeking written work and Ngati Whaatua from Takaparawha Women’s Health Group Gathering photographs from separatists, lesbians (Bastion Point). Available from Palmerston North, 29-31 July at Flock and radical feminsts which tell our tales Broadsheet Bookshop for $5.50 or by House, Bulls. Organised by Dannevirke of heteropatriarchal disruption and sending $5.90 to Action For an Inde­ Women’s Health Centre and and Palm­ womyn-positive reality-building. For pendent Aotearoa, Box 453, Christ­ erston North Women's Health Collec­ more information send SASE to: Neme­ church. tive, who are keen to attract groups that sis, c/- Amber L Katherine, P O Box Access Radio Auckland will be on air are working in isolation. They want to 417042, Chicago, IL 60641-7042, again in August. The first AGM of create a chance for groups to share skills United States. Deadline 1 December. Access Radio Auck Inc was held in and experiences, and to develop and 1 he Lesbian Wedding Ceremonies of June. For more information call strengthen the New Zealnd women’s commitment, rituals of relationship. A Francine on 788-251. health network. Registration: $100, call for stories. Send a description of Gay Lesbian Welfare in Auckland is including meals and accomodation. your own ceremony, or a more polished aiming to get more lesbians involved in (Contact organisers urgently if help story covering any of the following: their telephone counselling, with a view needed with travel or registration costs.) Why did you decide to have a cere­ to beginning a Lesbian Line service. A Contacts: Anne McSherry, P N mony? What was yours like? What tra­ new training course is starting in Au­ Women’s Health Collective P O Box ditions did you draw on? Did youex- gust. Any interested lesbians contact 4253, Ph Palm Nth 70314; Lauren change vows? who witnessed? How do Jeannette at 393-268 (office) or 600554 Askey, Dannevirke Women’s Health you feel if differs from the heterosexual (ah) Centre, P O Box 203, Ph Dannevirke tradition? What problems did you en­ 48811. counter and how did you solve them?

HAMILTON Waikato University Continuing Education Term Two courses: Practi­ cal Management Skills For Women, lour days, 25 -27 July and 11 August 9.00 - 4.00, $70, enrol by 18 July; THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND Taking Heart: A Revitalisation Work­ CENTRE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION shop 22 July (evg), 23, 24 July (day), $30/$25, enrol by 15 July. Readings by Michelle Cliff 15 September 7.30 $5. Sexual Abuse Education Training Day FREELANCE WRITERS’ WORKSHOP for teachers and Early Childhood SATURDAY 23RD JULY Educators 6 August. For more informa­ 9.30AM - 4.30PM tion phone Ham 62-889 Extn 8195 or 8197 or write University of Waikato, An opportunity for self-employed writers to investigate Private Bag, Hamilton. outlets for their work! Fee $44.00. UNDERSTANDING MENOPAUSE NATIONAL SATURDAY 6 AUGUST Women’s Mental Health Gathering 9.30AM - 4.30PM to be held in Auckland 25-27 November at Nga Tapuwae College in Mangere. A look at the medical and social issues surrounding menopause. Creche, wide range of food, marae, Practical guidance will also be offered! Fee $29.70 good access and facilities for disabled Organiser: Claudia Bell women. More information from For information and enrolment contact Women’s Mental Health Gathering, c/- The Centre for Continuing Education Mental Health Foundation, P O box 37- 438, Parnell. Auckland. 21 Princes Street, Citv. Phone 737.831 or 737.832

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 23 THE HIGHEST PAID WOMAN I IN THE I PUBLIC SERVICE

it I think the Irish in me feminism • •• has probably what always got quite got me was a lot to do the feeling with what of a burning eventually sense of led me to injustice. 99

I was raised as a Catholic and my foremoth­ ers and fathers on both sides of my family are Irish Catholics. I didn't know either of my MARY O’REGAN,™ grandmothers but from what I have heard FIRST SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF they were quite strong women. In my imme­ WOMEN S AFFAIRS, LEFT THE MINISTRY diate family, there are my four brothers and IN JUNE AFTER THREE YEARS ON THE me. I come second. My mother was a tradi­ JOB. SHORTLY BEFORE HER DEPARTURE tional stay-at-home mother, but she had ma­ SHE TALKED TO DEBBIE JONES ABOUT triculated from Erskine (as I did), a Catholic HERSELF, HER LIFE AND HER girls' boarding school in Wellington, which EXPERIENCE AT WOMEN’S AFFAIRS. was quite unusual in those days.

24 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 She went on to university to do ac­ countancy but she never actually fin­ PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM: ished. I’ve always thought this was Mary on her first day at school because she got married, but she says she didn’t finish because of some ad­ Mary, age 17 ministrative requirement she didn’t Mary, age 24 meet. So she was a trail blazer, but I Mary O’Regan, April 1988 don’t think she saw herself as one. She says she was mostly in classes with only men and had some very sexist lecturers. who I was. Those things happened a lot My parents lived in Miramar when I later. I had quite a few failures, which was born and when I was two we moved I think was to do with my lack of con­ to Island Bay, also in Wellington, to my fidence. I was ready to abandon it at grandfather’s house. My grandmother one stage, but my mother encour­ had died. That was the house my mother aged me to stay on, so I did. I ended had literally been bom in. I went to the up taking four years to get local parish school, St Madeline my BA degree and as Sophie’s, until I was eight, when I soon as I’d finished it moved to Erskine College (then called I went overseas on a Sacre Coeur) where I stayed until I fin­ working holiday. ished school nine or ten years later. I I went to England was a boarder in secondary school. and did the classic OE My father was a lawyer and actually (overseas experience) ended up being a High Court judge, but thing. I was one of the my parents weren’t very well off when last of the group of I was small, they got better off as I grew people who went to up. My father grew up on the West England by sea. I went Coast and his parents were farmers and with four other women, weren’t well off at all. During the de­ all nurses. One of them pression I suppose they always had was a friend of mine and plenty of food because people on farms the others were friends of tended to. He won a scholarship to hers. It took five weeks to boarding school in Auckland and then a get there and I ended up scholarship to university. staying six years. I started There was a strong emphasis on off waitressing in a restau­ education in my family and when I went rant attached to the Cordon to university my parents supported me. Bleu Cookery School and then I did a I lived at home, and they paid for all my whole range of different jobs. I had an books. I never had to work except in the English boyfriend who had been to summer holidays, but that was less to do Essex University, which was one of the with my parents’ finances than what new quite left-wing universities, and they thought was important. through him met other people who were At school I was in a class with some more political than anyone I had ever daughters of very wealthy people, so I mixed with before. The anti-apartheid didn’t actually feel very privileged. I movement was quite strong in remember saying to my mother once, England at that time and then “Why don’t we go skiing in the August the whole Irish question was holidays?” because everybody else looming again. seemed to be going, and she said some­ thing like “Because we can't afford it”. At that time I would much rather she had said “Because we don’t know how to ski". It seemed terrible to me to live in a I think the Irish in me has family that couldn’t “afford” to go probably got quite a lot to do skiing. with what eventually led me When I went to university I mixed to feminism, and in many mainly with people who had been to respects my Catholic back­ private schools and with hindsight I ground has been important regret that. I think I did it from lack of too. I don’t know what it is. confidence rather than because I wanted It might be the clear dis­ to stick with a certain group: I just didn't tinction made between quite know how to break out of it. good and evil, in Irish Ca­ I wasn’t a good student. I had been tholicism particularly. It spoon-fed at school and I didn’t cope can be quite oppressive very well when I went to university. I in that you feel guilty don't remember my university years about the things you very happily at all and and don't look have, which isn’t al­ back on them as being very important in ways productive, but it terms of my development or finding out does make you see what other people don’t have. I think that I 66 porting the things that happen in com­ have always had a really strong feeling It hasn't munities, where people gain confidence against injustice, even being wrongly actually been by actually doing things. I also had a acused of something at school. It wasn’t growing awareness of the needs of because the punishment troubled me: harder for me to women in terms of employment and what always got me was the feeling of a access to economic independence, and burning sense of injustice. do it differently of the difficulties for them once they It was in England that it started to be have children and are busy just coping focused. Towards the end of my stay in from men day-to-day. England I got involved in a neighbour­ because I don't While I was still working at the hood group which was trying to get Vocational Training Council I went to some play space for children. There was think the way live in Nelson. I had met the person that a piece of British Rail land that was I am now married to and I went to lying vacant and so we formed a pres­ they do it is Nelson to live with him. I was about 34 sure group called “Playspace”. The when I got married. I think I got married whole process was new and interesting right §§ so I could, in my parents’ eyes, become to me in terms of seeing something someone’s wife and stop being their through from an idea into political ac­ daughter. I think that’s why. I definitely tion. We got our playground but sud­ wanted some form of commitment in denly British Rail decided that they though I have ever personally suffered. the relationship, that was very impor­ wanted to sell the land to the council for My feminism developed more on an tant to me. A lot of people in close council flats. So no sooner had we se­ intellectual level, which then moved personal relationships want some form cured our goal than it was threatened into my heart. of commitment and we haven’t found a and we were fighting to save it. I re­ I suppose the next job move I made lot of alternatives yet. member thinking then that I was inter­ was the most significant in terms of ested in working for change and that I where I am now. I went to work with the would actually rather be putting that Vocational Training Council as their energy into my own country. I never Women’s Advisory Officer. The job saw myself as settling into a career in had no real definition. I had some sort of W h e n I went to Nelson I actually England. bland job description like, “to advise the managed to persuade the Vocational My mother would have liked me to council on the training needs of Training Council to let me work from have beem married by then and to have women,” and it led me in some interest­ there. My job had a national responsibil­ started having children, and I still hadn’t ing directions. ity. I had contact with the Community really started to develop a career. My For example, I received a request Education Service there and they had an brothers had taken career-oriented de­ from a group of women in Golden Bay old house in Nelson so I negotiated with grees and I hadn't. So I suppose I had to go down and run a workshop on them to rent a room. The Nelson Com­ done neither one thing nor the other. training at a women’s weekend they munity Education Service is now part of When I got back to New Zealand I were holding. I responded that I didn’t the polytech, but it was established in started looking for a job, thinking that I know anything about the training needs 1975 as a pilot for non-formal learning, wanted it to be something “interesting”. of rural women, and I didn’t know what community education “without walls”. I got one at the New Zealand National I could contribute, but that if they were Also in the house was the Nelson Hos­ Commission for UNESCO. I remember happy for me to come on that basis - that pital Board’s family counselling serv­ thinking then that here I was, nearly 30, I might learn something as well as give ice, the Nelson City Council’s recrea­ and that I could very possibly be on my something - I’d be pleased to do it. So I tion advisor and the Nelson Community own for the rest of my life, so I'd better went, and in the process of these work­ Arts Council, so it was a real commu­ start doing some planning about how I shops we came up with suggestions and nity house. In 1980 the woman who had was going to support myself and so on. I said I could possibly help by following been assistant director of the Nelson I had never consciously thought about up some of these. That was the begin­ Community Education Service re­ it, but obviously I had seen myself move ning of what is now the Golden Bay signed, so I applied for the job and got it. into a role like my mother and just about Work Centre Trust, which started off as That was the job I was doing before I everybody else I knew. I realised that all an entirely women's group. I think the came to the ministry. my old school friends were married and role I played in the development of that In Nelson I had clearly identified that having children and I wasn’t. I don’t group was quite important, although I the focus of my energy and work was remember being scared or shocked by it, didn't actually do that much. I believe women. I enjoyed working with them but I do remember thinking, right, I'd what was significant about it was there and I could see there was a hell of a lot better start doing a bit of planning. Not was “someone in Wellington” who had that needed to be done. So when I that I actually did, really, but I did do access to people who could make deci­ moved into the community education some rethinking. sions, who was actually supporting job I quite unashamedly said the focus At that stage I don’t think I identified what these women were doing. of my part of the job should be on as a feminist. I suppose if anything my At the community level a lot of women. I worked with a lot of groups; concern was much more about the right women find that their initiatives floun­ work groups, women trying to get play of people to be free and I didn't clearly der because they don’t know how to groups off the ground, that sort of thing, identify that women were oppressed as work the system. They have the skills, and 1 also set up a women’s studies a group. One of the things that 1 have the knowledge, and even the confi­ programme when I was at polytech. I set found quite hard in being interviewed in dence, but they lack the contacts in the it up and ran it because, like most wom­ respect of this job has been being asked system. So I suppose that’s when I en’s studies programmes, it only hap­ “Do you feel you have ever been dis­ started becoming more focused. I can’t pened because someone in the system criminated against because you are a identify any strong sort of turning points was prepared to put the energy into it. woman?” I can never actually identify or blinding flashes, but I began to realise Because my job brought me into an instance and hence I don’t feel as the real focus of my interest lay in sup­ contact with so many women and I was

26 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 identified as a woman who was commit­ There’s also a lot of my ego tied up in ted to and believed in women’s initia­ I have given my job. I actually care what people tives, when this job came up at the the job every think of me and my performance. It’s ministry a lot of local women told me I really important to me , and the people should apply. In the end I applied be­ single bit of I care about are the people I respect - the cause I wanted to show my support. I feminists. I’m not motivated just by saw that the ministry was there because energy I could §§ high principles and it hasn’t been hard of the years of work of lots of women. It for me to do it differently from the way seemed important that there was sup­ men do it because I don’t think the way port for that, and that one of the ways of to point out the double standard implicit they do it is right. I don’t really care indicating that support was to get lots of in that view. Whether I have actually whether they approve of what I have applications for the job to show that felt supported by him or not is not the done, but I do care what women think. I women were really interested. issue. The issue is that they are saying was always anxious every time I met I didn 't actually want the job. I had no he’s wonderful because he “let me go” women who I had read about or heard of expectations of getting it, it just didn’t and yet if he had come to Wellington to - anxious about whether or not they enter my head. I applied in March, and a job as important as mine, and I had thought I was a good choice, and in May I received a phone call inviting stayed in Nelson, I would not only not whether they approved of the way me to an interview. For a moment I have been considered “wonderful” I things were going. didn’t actually know what the person on would have actually been considered I think my thinking is quite radical. the phone was talking about. At that very selfish. To do a job like this without But I look at the older women and the stage I hadn ’t even told my husband that daily domestic support is bloody hard. It more conservative groups and I have I had applied, so when I said I was going is definitely much harder for women never wanted to dismiss them, because to this interview and he suggested we than it is for men. I can see that they had to work in a should discuss what we would do if I got certain way in their time and we can’t the job, I said there was no point in expect them to change radically be­ putting any energy into that discussion. cause times have changed. This has So I went off to the interview and was been affirmed for me in a way by Maori very relaxed about it. They rang me that I n terms of what the job has been I have women - we need to respect the older night to offer me the job and I must say always felt that there was a huge conflict women and affirm what they have done, at that stage I wasn't entirely surprised. between what we wanted to model as a and acknowledge that that has helped I had a feeling when I came out of the work place and what we were actually create the context in which we can be interview. When the phone rang at nine doing, which was working those ridicu­ more radical. So I wouldn’t want to o’clock that night my heart actually lous hours. It seemed crazy. But at the dissociate myself from those older, leapt in a panic. I was standing in the hall time we just didn’t have any choice. All more established groups by a label, but in my mother’s house. There was a that would have happened if we had I think that what I want to achieve is mirror there and I remember looking at worked half as long is that it would have quite radical, because I want to see the my face and seeing the colour visibly taken twice as long to get where we are achievement not only of equality for drain from it. The next x number of today. Often, while women were telling women but a society which values years flashed before me. I was thinking, us we shouldn’t work such long hours women, and that’s radical social “What does this mean? To start from they were at the same time pushing us to change. I think we all have different scratch and to have to meet all these do more and more. When I took the job reasons for deciding what comes first women’s expectations. What will they I think one of the things that filled me for us, but gender for me is a key thing think, and will I be considered good with panic was the thought that it would because that’s what I can identify with. enough?” engulf my whole life. That’s really what I’m not black and I'm not working class, I was quite petrified, I stayed awake it has done. What has been nice is that I but I am a woman. I think the important all night. I was completely overawed by have worked in an environment where I thing is to be clear who you are and the feeling of responsibility. I had high have formed some dose personal where you're coming from and what expectations of the ministry, and while friendships with women on the staff and stand you are taking and to support the I would have been supportive of who­ we have worked well together. It has struggle of other oppressed groups, not ever got the job, I knew I would proba­ been a lovely supportive working envi­ compete with them. bly have been tough on them. I just ronment in one way and a bloody tough I 've found dealing with the challenge didn’t want to be the one that everyone one in another. Working out the internal of bi-culturalism personally really hard, was going to be tough on. At that point process in the ministry has been the but I think when I leave the ministry it I wanted it to go away because I had most stressful part of the job forme, per­ will be what I regard as the most valu­ actually been thinking of going part- sonally, by far, because it seemed im­ able part of the whole experience. It has time at the tech, having a bit of a break portant to get that right. been an enormous learning experience and possibly having a baby. It's partly a result of my personality, for me and it has actually changed the Not having children is something but I feel incredibly responsible for this way I think, the way I view the world, that is a source of sadness to me, and I place. I don't actually have to carry that and that will never go. I am so much can't quite work out why I never did it responsibility alone, because of the way more aware of racism and what it means earlier. I haven’t exactly abandoned the we work. In that respect I'm not a good now. I have learned a lot from working idea even now. I think this is an ongoing person for this sort of job. I’m one of with the Maori women in the ministry. I issue for women: how to combine the those people who takes responsibility think I have still got a lot to learn. various facets of who they are. It would for things. For example, if I am in a There are conflicts sometimes: “Am have been quite impossible for me to do social setting and there is a gap in the I operating from guilt? Or is this actu­ this job if I had had family responsibili­ conversation I’ll feel responsible to fill ally a constructive thing to do? Am I ties. it, or if there are no table napkins and being pressured, bullied?” A lot of these I’ve found it interesting the number someone is looking for one I'll take things aren’t easily resolved, but there of people who have said to me I must responsibility to go and ask where they have been times when I’ve felt bullied, have a wonderful husband. I use it now are. and that demands have been unfair, and

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 27 then we’ve acted - or not acted - on been torn about something, about what those demands, and I’ve looked back 99 I actually is actually the right thing to do, I’ve and understood why it was so important. believe that discussed it with her in confidence. She The other thing I think I’ve learned to is a very spiritual woman and she be­ do well in this job is to separate out most people are lieves very strongly in the power of personal relationships with someone prayer. If I was troubled or under stress from the structural struggle. You can not inherently she would pray about it and it always felt have good personal relationships with very supportive for me to have her and someone with whom you may have a malicious or evil her community concerned about me. battle on an issue, but only if you sepa­ My mother has been really important rate out the two. fact that I am married, all those things to me, mainly because she has always I have tried to always remember that that helped to make me more accept­ been really supportive. She’s a wonder­ I am one of the few women with a lot of able. They break down some of the ful role model of a mother. She has potential power. For women who are barriers so that things I say are more obviously made sacrifices because she working for change, I may be the most palatable. I may be saying exactly the has devoted her life to her family. She is powerful person they have direct access same things as people who look differ­ a very intelligent woman, but I don’t to, so I am the one they push. So if I ent, who make their statement in other think she credits herself with that, be­ separate out Mary the person from the ways, who dress differently or refuse to cause she hasn’t got the bits of paper or Secretary of Women’s Affairs it makes be nice and polite or whatever. “a career” to prove it. She says she feels it all a lot less painful, and I think I have I think the front person in an organi­ very proud of me but I think she feels a a real responsibility to do that. sation which is working for change certain ambivalence because she actu­ I am usually the only woman, for needs to be able to present the things ally can see that it’s hard for me. She’s example at most meetings of heads of they are working for in a way that seen me under a lot of stress. You tend government. If I just sink into the posi­ doesn’t actually scare people off. If you to be more vulnerable with those you are tion of being an agreeable permanent scare people off, especially the people closer to, and she’s seen me close to head who they all feel comfortable with, who actually have more power than burn-out, unhappy and not coping, and then I am actually counter-productive to you, then in fact they can actually pre­ because she cares about me that’s been women. I had an interesting experience vent anything happening. I’ve always really hard for her. She has said to me on recently over the State Sector Bill. I worked on that basis and I think my more than one occasion, “I wish you went to a permanent heads’ meeting community work helped me here. I ac­ would give it up, I don’t like seeing what where they were talking about the pro­ tually believe that most people are not it is doing to you.” But she is very proud. posed strike. There was an assumption inherently malicious or evil. Often they Another really important woman for that not only would permanent heads are threatened, they are holding onto me has been Dorothy Stafford. She was not be striking, but that none of their power for some reason, their egos are the Chairwoman of the Vocational senior staff would either. very tied up in what they are doing. Training Council when I was the I had every intention of going on Often they are just perpetuating struc­ Women’s Advisory Officer, and so we strike at that point so I thought I had tural discrimination because of a reluc­ worked closely together. We really better declare this. My right to do that tance or an inability to change. I try to liked each other and worked well to­ was questioned because permanent apply the principles that I appled as an gether and were able to laugh at some of heads traditionally don’t go on strike. I adult educator, which is to start from the terrible things that happened in explained that the reality for me was that where people are at, because if you terms of our work. She’s been really this group wasn’t my reference group, don’t they are not going to hear what supportive of me. She wrote me one of that I felt in a very different and difficult you are saying. If you start off by telling the references which I think might have position, because the reason that I was people they are absolutely wrong then helped me get this job. It brought tears to in that room was that women had fought you are likely to cut off the communica­ my eyes because it was so affirming. for my right to be there; as the highest tion at that point. She is a wonderful model of a woman paid woman in the public service who comes from a working class back­ women would be looking to see where ground and has achieved so much. She my solidarity lay. I explained that I was began her battling for women when of no use at all to those women if I just feminism was a very dirty word indeed did what’s “always been done” because I m very close to Pauline O’Regan.* and I think she’s incredibly brave and that’s exactly what has kept women out She’s my aunt, my father’s sister. We lovely. in the past. At that stage the Bill was not get on very well. We think very much I have given this job every single bit looking at all good for women, and I had the same way and I think we’ve learned of energy I could. I have put everything to decide whether I was there as an a lot from each other. I’ve learnt a lot into it and I have done the very best that advocate for women or just another from her about faith in people and that I could do. If that’s not the best that permanent head. I had to decide which empathy that I was talking about before. could have been done, then I wasn’t the of these was the most important. As it She is totally intolerant of bigotry, right person for the job, but I can hon­ happened it wasn’t an issue in the end prejudice, malice and injustice, but she estly say I have given it my all. I think I because a lot of the changes happened in is very good at finding good in people have taken some risks, it hasn’t always between my making that statement and and actually building on that. And been easy, and I have had to make some the strike. They were some of the sometimes in this job when I’ve really hard decisions and fight some hard changes we had been pushing for, and battles. But because of the way we work the work of a lot of other women as well. * Pauline O'Regan was interviewed in in the ministry I have never felt alone. I felt that I should acknowledge that and Broadsheet issue 143, October 1986, None of us could have done it without I didn’t go on strike. where she is described as a “nun with a the support and cooperation of the oth­ There is absolutely no doubt that one strong feminist analysis”. She is the ers. We should never have to, because of the things that’s made it easier for me author of A Changing Order, published we are working towards a common to do this job is my background: my by Allen and Unwin. goal, we must always be able to share class, the way I look, the way I dress, the the hard bits and the triumphs. ■

28 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 HEALTH ALTERNATIVES FOR WOMEN IN CHRISTCHURCH THAW

“CAN you give me the name of of women themselves. a sympathetic woman doctor in Pat Syme The range of enquiries that THAW my area?” “I think I might have handles in one day is quite astonishing. has been looking They also offer free pregnancy testing. thrush. Can you tell me anything Either they can give an authority to have a about it?” “Do you have the re­ at The Health blood or urine test at the laboratory (sym­ sults of my pregnancy test?” pathetic doctors have provided THAW “Who should I see about natural Alternatives For with the forms) or they offer the kit which family planning?” “I went to see Women (THAW) in a woman can use herself and get a result in the midwife you told me about a couple of minutes. A drop of urine, a drop of two different liquids and the result and I was very happy with her.” Christchurch, a is either cloudy (positive) or clear (nega­ “I’m terrified I might be preg­ year after tive). Togetherness took on a new mean­ nant. What can I do about it?” ing when two couples came in recently to they received do the test together. One couple hoped for a positive result and one for a negative. These are some of the calls that come in Health They each got the results they wanted and every day to THAW. The women in the went away happy. THAW collective have had considerable Department For women who are not happy about experience now at handling all types of being pregnant, THAW can refer them to calls. They are especially concerned to Funding, on a one of the doctors from their hot and cold give the woman at the other end of the trial basis, as a file. Now that the Lyndhurst Clinic is phone plenty of time to speak of her prob­ providing a service, including a good lem or inquiry. There is never any feeling well-women’s counselling service, one of the earlier of being rushed. Unlike many doctors, functions of THAW - abortion counsel­ these THAW women make the caller feel centre. THAW ling - is no longer needed. However, the she is of prime importance at this moment. smooth operation of the abortion service is THAW grew out of Sisters Overseas is now located of concern to THAW and when it threat­ Service (SOS) at a time (1980) when fewer ened to break down because of a shortage women needed to go to Australia for abor­ in new rooms of doctors more than a year ago, THAW tions. There were by then counsellors at at the old met with other groups to work out a solu­ Christchurch Women’s Hospital and al­ tion. And THAW was one of the co-ordi- though some abortion counselling was Christchurch nators of the counter-picketing outside the still being done by SOS they now had the clinic when SPUC picketers were particu­ opportunity to extend their services. Girls’ High larly objectionable. Women’s health issues needed to be dis­ While it would be marvellous if the cussed by someone other than doctors. School abortion service worked well and THAW There was a need to call on the experiences could move on to other matters, the fact is

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 29 PHOTO: PAT SYME just left the room.” the left just nw hts etfrtercins espe- clients, their for best what’s know they who believe doctors, with most easily sits that role a a termination, for missions per­ withold or grant to power the has tor they what women tell to inquiry didn’t this it need But doctors. by treated are they encounter the health services when taking taking when services health the encounter 30 doc­ the whereby decisions, abortion with with god play doctors that knew, already way the with happy from far are women that was a recognition inquiry cancer vical their children for treatment. for children their and also Women psychological conditions. with musculoskeletal women of ber num­ disproportionate a is there but ogy, isand the sexes gynaecol­ due to obstetrics between imbalance of services the Some men. than health of consumers greater are women. The state has given them this role this them given has state The women. set up seven and a half years ago. Women Women ago. years a was half and seven up set THAW that getting were they ment “I didn’t get a chance to ask anything. S/he to get a “Iask anything. didn’t chance awful having was medication the doctor isfaction of women with the medical treat­ the medical with women of isfaction side effects but s/he didn’t want to know.” to know.” want didn’t s/he but effects side I about “When my asked doctor of doctors. behaviour present the with happy not are women that show get they letters and calls that it is a constant area of concern. Wait­ concern. of area a constant isit that of calls from Southland and the West West the and particular. in Southland Coast from calls of much wider than abortion. Many of the of Many abortion. than wider much still unavailable in many other South South other gets a many number large THAW centres. Island in unavailable still are abortions and weeks) three (currently t I int e a ase. “ tl my told “I answer.” an get didn’t I it, ing lists are still too long in Christchurch Christchurch in long too still are lists ing RASETJL/UUT 1988 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST What emerged from the Auckland cer­ Auckland the from emerged What THAW’s interest in women’s health is health women’s in interest THAW’s It was because of the widespread dissat­ It of thewas widespread because ELHATRAIE O WOMEN FOR ALTERNATIVES HEALTH They’ve also been involved in a listening listening a in involved been also They’ve to what the patient wants to say. to wants patient the what to sise the importance of taking time to listen to time of taking importance the sise to trying empha­ with doctors, series skills exam- vaginal sensitive a do to how them hoped that medical students will read read will is students it them. medical and that hoped relationships on books doctor-patient now are there that see to good ignoring whilst colleagues her their to cervix removing or undressing to comes the that is implication the then itself, ent pres­ not does ailment an for explanation session with GPs a few years ago to teach teach to ago years few a GPs with session n ec tm o wehr t ut r not. or hurt it whether on time each ing comment­ examinations, internal for used possible explanations. possible to enough annoying is client the if dally hy ut ev te om buty I is It abruptly. room the leave just they to how aend know consultation, tors don’t doc­ Some owner. the is who woman the am the one with all the training, and what what and training, the all with I one the am presumptuous! “How say to if as have, might she theories any dismiss They con­ tact. eye make even don’t they equal; an nain Te alwd hmevs o be to themselves allowed They iniation. ask questions or to presume to offer some some offer to presume to or questions ask underpants, pointing out the interesting interesting the out pointing underpants, it when deserves she dignity a the accord woman don’t They neurotic. is woman likely a If it?” about know you would as woman a to talk to how of idea no have listen that impression to the give doctors busy properly; too are doctors that com­ plain women Many relationship. doctor- the patient with lies system medical the hi tm i peiu ad ut o be not must Many and questions. by wasted “unnecessary” precious is time their t s ie otr lsee t te con­ the to listened doctors time is It training a in part took women THAW Another course of dissatisfaction with dissatisfaction of course Another Broadsheet ment THAW would like to see is special- is see to improve­ like would One THAW ment offered. the are for they system the crumbs thank to learn down medical have or specialists, and hospital tion or $55 for a home visit. home a for $55 or tion a consulta­ $33 at poor, the for market the weekends at open Christchurch, in centre medical The new emergency consultation. a for $20 of inexcess Many charge now money. doctors the have don’t you cause down wind to beach the at holiday family To Market To Milk The Health System” In System” Market Milk To To The Health Market “To (See system. health the public THAW told the story of a woman who who woman a of story the told THAW money can afford to pay for a private private a for pay to afford can money public the means this inevitably because one have to enough good not is It this.) and evenings, has priced itself right out of of out right itself priced has evenings, and be­ doctor the to going off put you sick are you when And year. the of end the at a afford You can’t levelhigh. anxiety your and poor, to be likely are housing and tion nutri­ your money, of short constantly are if with, you start To to health. access one’s h wmn a n mas fgtig to money. getting no and of hospital means no had taxi?” woman a get The to money have you Do car? a have you “Do not told, was she gency,” emer­ and accident to her “Take choking. little very with way, are elitist an in Doctors trained doctors. most from ground back­ different a vastly has consumer that system gets run down. Those who thehave gets Those run system down. poor, the for one and rich the for system ag e dco bcue e cid was child her because doctor her rang when especially and THAW, said sumer, insurance, whilst who those are whilst too ground insurance, understanding of what it to is like what be poor. of understanding inquiries that inquiries astonishing quite is day one THAW handles in handles THAW The range of range The THAW believes that we must build up build must we that believes THAW cnmc hs srn baig on bearing strong a has Economics 156, March 1988 for more on 1988 more for 156,March

HEALTH ALTERNATIVES FOR WOMEN

ists being fully employed by hospital edge should be shared and want to em­ boards instead of splitting their time be­ Women are far power women with the knowledge to tween public and private practice. The understand their own health problems. present system can create a conflict of from happy at Whilst the THAW women do enjoy interests: it is not uncommon for a doctor their work (when they are not too stressed at the public hospital to tell a woman there the way they are by the multitude of things happening at is an 18 months wanting list for her opera­ once) and are pleased they are becoming tion, but if she dropped round to his rooms treated by more well known, they are aware of the he could get her into a private hospital next dangers of being used by the health system week. There’s no financial advantage to doctors as unpaid consultants. The fact that hun­ doctors to reduce the waiting list at the dreds of women contact them every year public hospital. or a select committee. How is it that it’s a means that they do fill a need that is not THAW have met with doctors. Re­ “case study” when reported by a doctor but provided for by our public health system. cently they were invited to speak to GPs an “anecdote” when reported by a patient? Groups also call on them to give work­ who specialise in obstetrics and gynaecol­ The word “anecdote” trivialises it, turns it shops or talks. Access programmes fre­ ogy, but most doctors defend themselves into a slight ocurrence or a funny story. quently include a workshop on contracep­ from criticism. “You’ll always get the Sometimes these “anecdotes” have a tion or women’s health and these are an complainers,” they point out. “What, common thread running through them and important means of introducing the young hundreds of them?” say THAW, because by ignoring such a source of information, to the idea of taking responsibility for their hundreds of women contact them in a year. doctors are wasting an opportunity. One own health. THAW has also given a This contact has shown that women are woman who had just had a cancerous lump number of workshops on the West Coast the victims of poorly researched contra­ on the breast removed asked the doctor where women have travelled up to 100km ceptives. This is another area where whether there might be a link between the to attend. Rural women, who have few THAW have played the woman’s advo­ cancer she had now and the hormones she health choices, have been keen to find out cate after gathering together the experi­ was treated with for infertility some years about alternatives to the present system. ences of many women. Some who have ago. He replied that it was time to look Then there are the women’s groups like suffered infections from an IUD lack the forwards, not backwards. True, but she La Leche, women students and the politi­ confidence to complain on their own be­ was offering the information in the hope cal and professional groups such as occu­ half, or they fear repercussions, or they that it might be of some significance in pational therapists. Recently THAW gave may think their own case is an isolated one helping other women. a talk to dieticians entitled, “How do you - just bad luck - but when THAW have Now, ironically, THAW is often a stay well in spite of the system?” seen patterns emerging, affecting num­ source for research. They often get re­ Although THAW asks for a donation bers of women, they have made it their quests from health professionals, like an for the services they provide, funding is a business to speak out. airline medical unit, for information. Or continual problem. A little money is pro­ We all know of the Daikon Shield, THAW will initiate the information. A vided by pledges from supporters, more through the publicity it has had, but other local medical centre, for instance, put out comes from various talks THAW women IUDs have caused infections and possibly a newsletter on the frequency of Pap give, but most is from various grants. The permanent damage. THAW have made smears which THAW felt was inaccurate. grant of $50,000 to run as a well woman submissions to the Health Department, THAW wrote to correct the misinforma­ centre was only for one year, but they are made press statements and helped to raise tion. hoping for more from the Health Depart­ the general awareness of the public to ment. They would like to set up a Pap inherent dangers. In many respects they smear pilot scheme as part of a coalition have been the trail-blazer, not afraid to N o t all of THAW's information comes with other women’s groups and have rock the boat and challenge the status quo, from the women who ring, visit or write. A applied for a $30,000 grant to do this. whereas other health agencies might agree lot of their time is spent on research. They Much of their time, in fact, is spent making in private but feel they have to keep a low read medical journals, publications on funding applications to various bodies like profile. Gradually, as public perception women’s health, minutes of health com­ local councils, Golden Kiwi, benevolent changes, these other agencies have been mittees and medical conference reports, trusts and the Ministry of Women’s Af­ able to speak out, too. and attend many meetings of medical fairs. Part of the role of THAW is in fact “experts”. Their office is brimming with Grants, however, are minimal and only political activity. They have made submis­ files on such subjects as ME and allergies, stop-gap. Their operating budget for sions on the privatisation of the health hysterectomy, yeast infections, the pill, wages, books, files, phone rental, room system and, more recently, to the cancer barrier contraceptives, pregnancy. They rental and equipment is $67,000. Equip­ inquiry. Two members went to Auckland also have information leaflets on other ment is laughable - one Xerox machine, a to present the submission. topics ranging from osteoporosis to natu­ small fridge (for the pregnancy test kit), The continued use of Depo Provera has ral sea sponges and a large range of books some old furniture and not much else. been another ongoing concern for THAW. for women to read. They would like to be able to attract an They are suspicious of the stated inde­ What about “fringe” alternative medi­ older woman worker, but are aware that pendence of Upjohn, the manufacturers of cine like aromatherapy, iridology, colour applicants would need an additional Depo and the source of funding for the therapy? THAW is reassuring on this. source of income since the collective share research being undertaken. THAW called “We don’t promote any one health the wages, each working only three days. for evidence of side effects from women method," they say. “We have no vested Because things get so hectic at times, taking Depo and have received enough to interest in the health system, alternative or they rely on a number of volunteers who make them critical of its continued use. conventional. We offer information such come in to help with tasks like answering But the trouble with such evidence is as, ‘One woman found this useful for this the phone and keeping pace with the filing that it is “anecdotal” and therefore "unre­ particular ailment' and then we leave it up system. At the moment they and the col­ liable", say the authorities, whether they to others to decide whether they want to try lective are working to find a way for the be the Health Department, a hospital board it for themselves.” They believe knowl­ volunteers to have a greater role in the

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 31 HEALTH ALTERNATIVES FOR WOMEN running of THAW as a recognition of their ing been designed by a (woman) architect. like to be more accessible to women in the value. As part of a much larger women’s coa­ suburbs. If money was available they The move to the old Girls’ High School lition THAW hopes that they will become could foresee a future with branches in site adds another $100 a month to the better known by the women they most several areas in Christchurch and in rural budget but brings with it many improve­ want to reach - working class women. districts, because the need is there. ments. The best feature is that here THAW Very little money is used for advertising: Meanwhile, the struggle to improve the is part of a women’s house coalition, with there are a few pamphlets in women’s health system goes on. While there is some the Otautahi Women’s Labour Pool and toilets and the library, a small ad in the progress with doctors’ attitudes, the medi­ the Canterbury Women’s Employment personal column, but mostly they rely on cal profession at large is conservative and Trust in adjoining rooms. There is also a word of mouth. The trouble with this is reluctant to change. The time to influence meeting room to be let to other women’s that many women still don’t know of their doctors is during their training, says groups as needed. Another very important existence and often these are the ones that THAW. They start with an open mind, but feature is that now THAW has street level could most do with the services THAW after several years of belonging to this access, enabling women in wheelchairs or offers. male-dominated, elitist, capitalist and with pushchairs to visit. It’s a much more Where to in the future? Apart from racist club, they become deaf to the needs attractive set-up too, the renovations hav­ adding a Pap smear facility, they would of those who don’t belong. IN CANADA HEALTH *ON* WHEELS

“WE try to show the women that Further, language differences impede information about health isn’t This programme is being their access to information about preven­ carried out by the tative health measures, as well as their the exclusive property of doctors. access to medical personnel, whom they We want women to take their Immigrant women’s often consult only in cases of emergency. health into their own hands.” Centre of Toronto, Canada For all of these reasons - language barri­ through its “Mobile Health ers, long work hours, and inaccessibility to The mobile Health Unit Project began in Unit Project”. The project health services - these women were tar­ January 1984. The idea for the project geted as a priority group by the Immigrant arose out of the necessity to provide health provides primary health Women’s Centre. services to high risk, hard to reach immi­ care for women The centre staff decided that the only grant women of Toronto. Many of these immigrants in an original way to reach these women was by going women, the majority of whom are factory, and useful way, and can directly to their workplaces, during hours laundry and cafeteria workers, tend to which were convenient and which didn’t work long hours, are poorly paid and have be put into practice in any require them to leave the factory. Thus, the little time to perform their daily household country of the world. The idea of a mobile health unit was born. tasks. As a result, they don’t have time to Canadian project is funded worry about care for their health. Because by the City of Toronto “T ake a ride with us ...” health, the type of work they perform, whether SALURE, SALUD, SAUDE skilled or unskilled, often involves heavy, Department of Public The Mobile Health Unit is a small but tiring labour, these women are considered Health and other Canadian well-equipped mobile home, which in­ a high risk group in terms of their gynae­ institutions cludes: cological and general health. 1. An examining room in which breast

32 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 HEALTH ALTERNATIVES FOR WOMEN

examinations, Pap tests, blood tests, vi­ sion, hearing and reflex exams and blood pressure tests are performed; 2. A waiting or reception area; 3. A kitchen; 4. A counselling area; 5. A washroom. Here, in this simple but effective clinic, a female doctor and nurse work together with six multilingual counsellors from the Immigrant Women’s Centre. The coun­ sellors have had training in community health and provide information about family planning and other matters, serving at the same time as interpreters or interme­ diaries between the women who come to talks have certain characteristics in com­ are male. Other impediments to communi­ the clinic and medical personnel. mon: they are simple and understandable, cation include the language barrier and the The counsellors who staff the mobile they don’t use complicated medical termi­ attitude of medical personnel in general, unit are part of the particular communities nology and they are accessible to every who often decide to do what is most con­ which the centre serves. This is important woman whether she speaks Chinese, venient for them without explaining to or in all aspects of their work and enables English, Italian, Portugese, Spanish or consulting their patients, thereby denying them to serve as a bridge between women Vietnamese. Through the talks the coun­ them information about their own health. from diverse cultures and their new coun­ sellors inform the women about the clinic Thus, many of the women who visit the try. Because each new immigrant woman - how it functions and what services it Mobile Unit have little understanding of comes from a district community and cul­ offers - and try to determine the interests the importance of regular exams, Pap ture, the counsellors work on an individual and most common problems of the group. smears or other matters related to the care level with each of them. They also work on The health presentations usually consist of of their own body. a broader, social level, developing educa­ six presentations which take place during The Mobile Health Unit Project pro­ tional material, audiovisuals etc in the the lunch hour and take three weeks to poses a new way of understanding medi­ different languages. complete. cine and the role interpersonal communi­ The counsellors also provide informa­ For the Mobile Unit this method of cation plays in the practice of medicine. tion and/or references on such health introducing itself to the women, of getting The Unit promotes the education of matters as family planning methods, preg­ to know them and overcoming their fears, women and encourages them to develop a nancy and childbirth, breastfeeding, de­ is not only a part of the strategy, it is a consciousness about their own capacity to tection of breast and cervical cancers, fundamental aspect of the Unit’s work. care for themselves and to know about gynaecological infections and sexually Perhaps the most important aspect of the their own bodies. transmitted diseases, nutrition, stress presentation is that the women know they However, this process can only take management and patients’ rights. can ask any question and that they will be place in a horizontal relationship in which understood in their own language. This doctor and patient have something to say, “M aking C ontacts” also makes it more likely that the women where they can talk in everyday language, The Mobile Unit group has developed a will come to the clinic. As one of the without creating distance or artificial hier­ strategy to have greater access to counsellors said: archy. As another counsellor has said: workplaces where the greatest number of “The fact that I speak the language “The women have knowledge and in­ immigrant women are concentrated. The makes them comfortable coming to the formation about their own health and Unit team not only has to allay the fears of clinic. They know I’ll be there. I think their own bodies. We don’t act as if we factory administrators or businessmen most of the women trust me after the were the source of all information.” about the loss of work hours; at the same presentations. We know each other. “This is a big city with huge institu­ time the team must seek their cooperation They trust me and then they’ll come.” tions. the bigness of the city veils things on providing a place where counsellors ... we can talk to people in a way that can conduct talks with the workers. The T he M obile C linic at the W orksite breaks down the distance created by the strategy that has developed usually re­ After the presentations, clinic visits are city; we make it more of a village. We quires the Health Unit staff to contact the scheduled for four to five days, five hours share the women’s standpoint and employer, sometimes with the help of a a day. A clinic visit involves a gynaeco­ speak in ordinary language. This makes sympathetic union representative, to pro­ logical and general physical examination, what the women have to say important vide management with informational ma­ including vision, hearing, reflex and blood ... We always have time for questions.” terials and to meet with them in person. pressure tests. If any illness or health prob­ In one year the counsellors talked with The staff then prepares a workplace sum­ lem is detected, the Mobile Unit doctor 1500 women at their workplaces and pro­ mary describing the number of women sends a letter to a specialist or to the vided medical attention to 430 clinic employed, their ages, nationalities and client’s family doctor outlining the prob­ clients. During the course of the examina­ languages and the type of work they do. lem. tions a case of cervical cancer was discov­ All of this preparatory work is carried out In general the Mobile Unit staff tries to ered and a high percentage of Pap tests approximately one year before the Mobile encourage the women to be in direct con­ required new exams. Of the 251 women Unit actually visits the workplace. tact with their family doctor, especially who had blood pressure tests, 23 suffered concerning reproductive health problems. from high blood pressure. ■ Factory P resentations Through talking with the women staff Reprinted from Isis International Latin Once this groundwork is laid, the Mobile discovered the total lack of communica­ American and Caribbean Women’s Health tion between the women and their doctors. Network Women's Health Journal 4-5 Nov ’87 - Unit holds a series of talks with workers in Jan ’88. Their address is: Isis International, the workplace on a variety of subjects. The This is particularly true when the doctors Casilla 2067. Correo Central, Santiage, Chile.

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 33 ON THE SHELF

B roadsheet B ookshop • 228 D ominion R oad • M ount E den • A uckland • P hone 608535 P O Box 56147 • H ours 9.30-5.30 W eekdays 10-1 S aturday

MOMMY AND DADDY ARE FIGHTING Toddlers and Teens Susan Paris and Gail Labinski ICTION • • m Seal Press $17.95 If you have children or young adults in your family, know A story which deals with fighting between TANIWHA them, look after them and parents and how children feel about argu­ Robyn Kahukiwa teach them, some of the books ments and family violence. The pictures we have this month on the are in gentle greys, browns and pinks and Puffin Books $7.99 shelf w ill be of interest to you. illustrate the fear, anger, confusion, and ideas which often grow in the minds of children.This is an excellent book to use for discussion and includes a list of ques­ tions to use after reading and information to share, such as reassuring children that it is not their fault when adults fight, that there are lots of different kinds of families, and that grown-ups and children both need to learn to solve problems without hitting each other. The book also includes a useful bibliography of adult books and picture books for kids on the issue of domestic violence.

THE DOWNHILL CROCODILE WHIZZ And Other Stories_____ Margaret Mahy Puffin Books $5.99

Full of unusual and non-conforming char­ acters, this collection of short stories is fun reading for children aged seven years and over.The stories include characters like Weedy Deedee, the orphan with the big­ gest feet in the world; Ethelred, the boy who is ready for absolutely anything; Minnie, the girl with the magical green ear who can understand the language of plants; and of course, the unstoppable roller-skating crocodile. Pen and ink illus­ Sometimes she talks to me. trations by Jon Riley accompany the sto­ ries.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FAMILY Maureen Pople University of Queensland Press $14.50

A boy is guided by the taniwha he sees in his river to understand the three Forced by World War II to stay in the Aus­ creative elements of Tangaroa, God of the Ocean; Ranginui, Skyfather; tralian township of Parson’s Creek, fifteen and Papatuanuku, Earthmother. The taniwha carries him down into the year old Kate Tucker finds herself living sea, up into the sky, and through the earth, giving him a gift each time. with her unknown grandmother. After Laughed at by a friend who does not comprehend the meaning of the gifts, arriving in Parson’s Creek with prejudices a stone, a feather and red earth, the boy is comforted by his grandfather and false expectations, Kate discovers who knows very well how rich the knowledge makes the boy. This is a everything is not as she had assumed it to beautiful picture book with text that could be handled by six year olds and be. The other side of the family is full of up. The illustrations and text are evocative of many emotions. Available in Maori or English. mysteries and riddles, and in solving them Kate learns a number of startling facts about her grandmother, her father, and most of all herself. Good reading for boys and girls from eight or nine. 34 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 and their own creativity and integrity. A FREE MAN ON SUNDAY Miller asks searching questions about the Fay Sampson bringing up of children, but the language Gollancz $27.95 (translated from German to English) is often academic, although interesting throughout. This book is an adventure set against the 1932 Mass Tresspass on Kinder Scout in Derbyshire. Fired by her growing sense of THE PLAYBOOK FOR KIDS ABOUT SEX social injustice, Edie follows her father Joani Blank and the other ramblers, (banned by Eng­ lish landowners from walking across their Sheba Feminist Publishers $11.95 property), on the morning of the protest even though she has been forbidden to A clear, easy-to-read book designed for accompany them. Readers of 10 to 13 will pre-puberty boys and girls, which deals be stirred by Edie’s determination as her frankly about sex, nudity, masturbation, eyes are opened to the issues at stake, and lesbianism and homosexuality, and the they will recognise parallels in what is body. The child reader is asked to write happening here in Aotearoa today. and draw in response to questions about how they feel about all these different things, and most of all to ask questions. This is a really great book with funny line- years old. She suggests that parents con­ drawings that kids and grown-ups will non F iction ... tinue to read aloud to their children, since find entertaining. Inspires thought in a she believes that learning to listen plays a way that is not intimidating or associated vital part in the learning-to-read process. GIRLS ARE POWERFUL with “homework”. In order to catch the interest of children, Young Women's Writings from the first step toward enjoyment of books, Spare Rib Butler provides a list of titles and descrip­ tions of books she has found successful Edited by Susan Hemmings with this age group. The descriptions are Sheba $19.95 genuinely useful, but they don’t con­ sciously indicate whether the books are A collection of writing from British written from a feminist or anti-racist per­ women of different classes, cultures and spective, but it is easy enough to glean religions between the ages of seven to 22. whether the books are positive or not. The ideas they raise, how being a girl or young woman affects the way people treat you, the way young women are allowed to THE DRAMA OF BEING A CHILD look and dress, friendship, racism and Dr Alice Miller sexuality, opens up discussion for women of all ages. A great gift for a younger sister. Virago Press $14.95

UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN’S A psychoanalyst of 20 years experience, Dr Miller writes in this book of her convic­ DEVELOPMENT tion that violence and cruelty in society Anne Smith have their roots in conventional childrear­ Allen and Unwin $29.95 ing and in education. She shows how many children, now and throughout his­ The second edition of a New Zealand book tory, have adapted from birth to the needs which concentrates on the years from birth and ambitions of their parents, losing both to adolescence. Anne Smith brings to the the ability to express their true feelings, book a deep knowledge of the theory, literature and principles of child develop­ ment. This is a book which preschool and junior teachers, childcare workers, par­ ORDER FORM ents, students of education, nurses and social workers, will find particularly use­ Please send these books/items: ful, as it is written in an academic context. Chapters include an interesting and femi­ nist look at the development of sex roles in children, social development, language development, and a chapter on main- streaming in preschool classrooms. My name is: My address is: FIVE TO EIGHT Dorothy B u tle r___ Bodley Head $15.95 I I enclose (please include $1 p and p per book) $ ______I I Please charge to my □ Visa □ Bankcard Butler, another New Zealand writer, • Credit card number stresses the importance of sharing books with young children from five to eight ■ Expiry date: i______i BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 35 ★ THE MOTHER ★ L C U L z O U L U L ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ m X R-

A BOOK BY THIS NAME, WRITTEN BY JENNY PHILIPS, HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED BY PENGUIN. PAT ROSIER DISCUSSES THE BOOK AND SOME ISSUES AROUND MOTHERHOOD.

I still think of myself as a mother of children' as seen though (among many other things) even the eyes of a child today.” though I am no longer actively It was after the second world caring for any children: my war that the ideal of “mother­ daughter and son have been hood and apple pie” spread “grown up” and looking after across the Western world. themselves for years. I like them Policy-makers seem to be­ both, which is much less of a lieve it is both natural and taken-for-granted than loving true, even in 1988. Look at them, love to see them, am inter­ the history, suggests Phillips, ested in knowing as much about and it is clear that “there is no their lives, thoughts and feelings ‘real’ motherhood, no ‘tradi­ as they care to show me and don't tional’ motherhood, just dif­ feel responsible for them any ILLUSTRATIONS: SHONA MCLEAN ferent responses to different more. I feel well rewarded for “raising” times and situations.” them. Bringing up children, though, is more I certainly had mixed feelings many than providing a situation where they can times over the past 25 years about both the grow physically. It’s also to do with emo­ demands of motherhood and my own tions, values and attitudes and we usually adequacy to perform the role. And this is ★ want our children to have values that we what Jenny Phillips’ book,77?e Mother­ like and approve of and behaviour that we hood Experience is about: the ambiguities can stand. 1 would have liked The Mother­ around being a mother at different ages Mothers have hood Experience to give more attention to and stages of one’s own life and of the this. children’s, as well as in different contexts, much in common The bulk of the book is quotes from where race, class, disability, political or questionnaires filled out by mothers. sexual orientation and so on, help to define and many (Phillips mentions several times that it’s the experience. differences not a book dealing with numbers.) The re­ “The idea has got around,” she writes, sponses are organised around five ques­ “that there are only two ways to go about tions: being a mother - the ‘traditional’, ‘old’ or exist in medieval times.” (In Europe.) In • What is good about your category? ‘real' way, and the new way with ‘the new fact if we are using the word “traditional” (New mother etc) woman', - the ‘working mother'. Both in New Zealand we should be looking at 0 What are the special problems you sides feel insecure and take pot shots at one Maori culture, where “motherhood” is a have? another. The game is called ‘who is right', “new invention” also. Phillips quotes Mira 0 What helps you survive? and both sides are the losers.” Mothers Szazy, 0 Do you have any advice for other have much in common and many differ­ “The life of the Maori woman was not women in this situation? ences, she says, and goes on to challenge based on the concepts of ‘motherhood’ 0 Have you anything to say to other the ideal of motherhood being “natural” - and ‘homemaker’ ... a specific term for women and men about how women in your if it was wouldn't all women do it the same ‘mother’ is comparatively recent. The situation would like to be treated? way? The differences are not just across woman who bore a child was a lover, or So the book is very pragmatic, it tells class and cultures today, they are also a means of procreation ensuring tribal how women cope with motherhood. Most historical, “...the idea of children did not continuity, but never quite the ‘mother of the responses outside the special cate- 36 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 gories (minority cultures, feminists, lesbi­ without children. Essentially it was a ans, differently abled, “alternative moth­ very lonely role: a foot in both worlds ers”) are from women with husbands (and but not at home in either.” quite a few of these have god on their side, It seems to work best for those who make too), and the husbands, on the whole, choices and have the good fortune to put come out as “very supportive”. I can’t help them into practice. feeling cynical about that. It’s not that “We had our first son after six years of disbelieve the women, rather that I feel marriage. During those six years we certain groups were much more likely to laid foundations in our life which I am respond to the questionnaire. convinced are now paying off. As well Being a mother can be very absorb­ as continuing to grow as individuals we ing while you are doing it, but it is a developed a strong husband-wife rela­ part of life, not the entire reason for tionship. We set ourselves up in our our existence, for most women - par­ n. own home and became financially se- ticularly feminists? So let’s value it in \ cure. We lived those six years to the practical, emotional and spiritual ways, ) fullest and while we look back on the without romanticising. On the whole, J freedom and carefree lifestyle we had The Mother Experience achieves this, I then we don’t feel we have missed out just get a little bit twitchy when a pregnant on anything. ... Even with all these woman makes a statement about “the in­ positive aspects on our side, life in the significance of other concerns which used suburbs with two pre-schoolers can to preoccupy me”. But as the same woman have its low points.” also says, “Most people seem to think Which raises some interesting issues. pregnancy is wonderful: they don’t realise Maybe there is something inherently un­ about the very unpleasant side effects satisfying about the way western society is whereby my mind and body is invaded by organised for the raising of children. Or sickness and weariness and bulk”, maybe maybe it’s largely a matter of expecta­ I’m making too much of it. tions. The same woman, a mother of teen­ Mothers with new babies responded agers, who described her live as “hectic” with tiredness. For this group the support and older children as “just as demanding of other mothers was important. One ex­ ★ as younger ones”, said, “I enjoy the family ample: and am very content with my life.” The “What helped me survive was the in­ four mothers of teenagers quoted were credible support of the Mt Victoria Being a mother is pretty content. Two described themselves community. Women I didn’t know as Christian. very well took my children to give me a absorbing while Three mothers were quoted from the break. There was no condemnation just group whose children have grown up. For loving concern. I was not coping and you are doing it, one this was great (“The years when my they helped me until I was able to again. children were small were wearying and ... my problems are that I feel suffo­ but it is a part of when they were teenagers apalling!”), but cated by the needs of very small chil­ another wrote, "... now they are gone the dren and the support of other mothers is life, not the entire best part of my life has gone”. For the what has helped me survive.” reason for your Maori woman continuing to be consulted The isolation of full-time care-givers af­ by adult children is important, and the fected most women. Many expressed a existence “fiercely Maori” attitudes of her wish to be treated as an equal, as someone mokopuna. intelligent and for positive feedback. One Menopausal mothers, in this book, in­ saw it in wider terms: clude those caring for elderly dependants, “Until we as a society accept that chil­ “By the time the baby arrived I was and those feeling “empty nestish”, along dren are not some kind of lepers need­ already feeling disillusioned. Our mar­ with grandmothers. ing to be kept in a completely separate riage, which had up till then always At this point the organisation of the world from the ‘important’ adult world seemed a model of equal sharing, al­ book changes from chronological (ac­ of work, power, money, business, then ready had symptoms of inequality cording to the age of the children) to cate­ women with children will never be creeping into it; mainly because I was gories. given adult status except by leaving the one who was pregnant. The thing Birth mothers (now apparently often their children with day-care centres and that really annoyed me was that every­ referred to as “relinquishing mothers”), joining this world of (male) adult val­ one said to me, ‘When are you going to adoptive and foster mothers get a (joint) ues.” stop work?’ I never heard anyone ask chapter. There's “absolutely nothing” Many of the women speak of the rewards my husband that question.” good about being a birth mother, “except of the growing years, the being there and The way our society is organised meant, that I have tracked down my child and her "watching the children’s growing inde­ for this woman, that she “fitted” nowhere, family have sent word to me and a lovely pendence”. The unrelenting demands, “... as a mother who was trying to be photo and I know my child is happy.” “No breaks and no breaks in sight”, was both a career person and a mother, I did Following this with a couple of stories of hard for most. Recognition of the work is not fit happily into either category. I happy adoptive mothers seemed a mite important. “It’s jolly hard work and I scorned the traditional mother and tactless. Others’ expectations can be a would like to be treated as a working adult babies groups because I did not want to burden here, too: “Everyone expects you (just happens that I don’t earn anything).” sit around talking about babies. Be­ to be as fresh as a daisy, and so happy over The attitudes of other people are in­ cause I worked part-time (most of the the joyous event that you feel you can't credibly important. Unhappy and difficult time) I was also just not available to open up about the ‘blue days’ and anti­ times for many are related to conflicts belong to a mothers/babies supportive baby feelings that come up.” One foster between expectations and reality and to network. At the same time I was not mother is quoted, and she seemed unusual feeling that others (partners, family, able to socialise or fit in with the lifes­ in that her experience was with the one friends) impose their values. tyle of a full-time working woman child and her statement suggested that she BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 37 is a lesbian. The wider issues of fostering ices for children and husband), that must do not get looked at. be her weakness. “After all, isn’t her envi­ Mothers who have never been married ★ ronment perfect?” One says, speak of loneliness, being expected to “I would like to be treated with more justify their position and coping emotion­ respect for what I do. No matter what ally and financially without regular sup­ It's jolly hard we do (stay at home, work) we feel port. Friends, sometimes family and other guilty because we feel we are not doing single mothers, are given as sources of work and I would the right thing. I think that we get pres­ support. One wrote of the prejudices that sured into doing things we really don’t single mothers meet: if they look poor like to be treated want to but feel we ought to” they’re feckless, if they dress themselves For another, having the “education and and their children well etc, they are “living as a working skills to adjust and adapt to differing too well”, they “waste” taxpayers’ money adult circumstances,” is an asset. A woman who being on the DPB, adoptive parents would described herself as “working class and be better parents and so on. Her advice to uneducated” described her problems as, single mother is, “Being unable to protect myself against “Meet other single mothers. Be up to revolution, most women will still be put-downs from people like public ser­ date with the legal rights you have and wanting their men to share the house­ vants, doctors. Being regarded as use­ also learn exactly what rights the De­ hold tasks...” less in women’s groups because you are partment of Social Welfare has and Mothers who are separated and divorced middle aged, working class and unedu­ does not have where you are concerned. are also categories. The “We seem to be cated. They only want young, talented, This is imperative or the DSW will the last married couple left!” joke is ex­ educated, middle-class women.” simply make life a misery for you. Also, posed as superiority. One recently di­ The things that help her survive are, be true to yourself. It is better not to vorced woman wrote, “Single parents are “Fighting in my own way for a more marry just anybody rather than no­ not freaks or moral degenerates. Nor are caring world, my grandchildren and body.” they ‘bludgers’ on society.” Friends are an children, husband, reading, yoga, look­ T wo women speak of being mothers and in important source of support for this group, ing after plants, walking the dog. The a de facto relationship. For one, “Being in too. Joint parenting, being a non-custodial hundreds of things that make life worth a de facto relationship is good.... It feels mother and being a step-mother are further living, enjoying the trees, sun, sea, all quite comfortable and preferable to mar­ categories and a chapter is devoted to these make the world beautiful.” riage.” But, “The ongoing problem has “Family Shapes and Sizes”. Mothers with Three lesbian mothers are quoted, one of been the relationship between my partner larger families, (five or six children), feel whom is also a grandmother. One who and my son from my first marriage. Over misunderstood. One said that her only described herself as “an older, lesbian, ten years this has never been resolved - at problems have been “the attitudes of other divorced, lower-class mother of teenag­ best, a bare tolerance of each other, at people”. Another said, “because you have ers,” wrote, worst, physical fighting between the two.” six children, people should not treat you as “I enjoy being ‘older’, because the The other moved to the Chatham Islands someone who has no brains - why else agonies of youth are passed and I am with her partner and the children from her would you have six. Some people want a established. I enjoy being a lesbian marriage “to get away from family pres­ large family.” Women with largish gaps because it’s really me and I’m happy sure and start afresh”. She has now mar­ between children see themselves as un­ with it and because (among other ried. usual these days, and all of those quoted things) it means I can (and do) have an Jenny Phillips writes, found they had to juggle the differing equal relationship with my female part­ “‘Married’ is not a category many of needs of teenagers and pre-schoolers. One ner.” my correspondents applied to them­ wrote, Among her special problems she included, selves. But most were, and ‘my suppor­ “I would like to be treated as a working “As a lesbian mother I receive contemptu­ tive husband’ was, after ‘God’, the mother. I feel very bitter that women ous treatment from some homophobic most frequently used reply to the ques­ are classed as ‘working mothers’ people such as doctors and government tion: ‘What helps you survive.’” (meaning those who work for wages officials.” For the grandmother, identity Although Phillips was determined not to and away from the home) and ‘non­ gets split: “People seem to relate to me include figures and percentages it would working mothers’ (those who work either as a grandmother or a lesbian, but I be useful to have some information about only at home). I work very hard, con­ am one person to whom these two facets the sample of women who replied to the stantly, and I would like my job to be are very important, along with some other questionnaire - income-group, for ex­ recognised and acknowledged as things.” ample, to get some idea of how the respon­ WORK.” For the “alternative mother” quoted, dents as a group relate to women in New The one mother of twins (and another pre­ “The main problem is coping with the Zealand, as a group. schooler) quoted felt herself to be a disapproval of others.” Her alternative­ While “a good marriage” or “a good “handicapped mother”, with “two hands ness relates to methods of child-rearing. stable relationship of any kind - does but three children demanding cuddles, She writes, wonders for a woman’s mental health care and attention.” “Firstly, I think there are very special and helps minimise the difficulties The more a woman deviates from the problems associated with any category which come with the joys of child- media “norm” of a mother, (white, middle of motherhood. New Zealand society rearing. ... a husband who doesn’t class, smiling and young) “the more disap­ generally pays a lot of lip service to the seem to understand, care or be willing proval she has to deal with,” says Phillips. value of family life and the loveliness of to share can have a devastating effect,” “It is also part of the ‘norm’ to be children, but the reality, I feel, is that we says Phillips. I like her cynicism in “It’s heterosexual. It is regarded as ‘normal’ live in a savagely anti-child culture. becoming fashionable these days for to accept the type of schooling our Children are expected to fit into adult men to say they would like to be at society offers - abnormal to offer your society, when ... it must be harder for home with their children (‘having a children alternative schooling at home. them to adapt to us than for us to adapt rest’) but, aside from a small and stal­ Working class mothers say they get less to them.” wart band of house husbands who are preferential treatment from doctors and A number of correspondents described mainly solo fathers, those who do go other services.” themselves as “feminist mothers” Phillips home don’t seem to last very long. If the middle-class mother isn’t coping, says, but she quotes only one within the So, while waiting for the rest of the (and indeed, providing many social serv­ category. She writes, 38 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 “I have found at times because of my health or disabilities were “fed up with feminist beliefs I have been isolated being treated like idiots by health profes­ from other women - especially in the sionals”. A woman in poor health with a early years of my children’s life in areas child with a disability said, "I don’t such as kindergartens, playgroups, and ^ want to be piiied but I do want people clubs for sports activities - as other \ to realise and understand that there women have found my ease in ex­ l are special problems involved.” pressing my beliefs and ideas a \ And from another, “There is threat to themselves. I still find concern that as a mother I will never today that women outside my I be free.” Her advice to mothers support circle find feminism a /* °f children with handicaps is, threat to their role as mothers.” “Accept yourself as a specialist She finds friends a source of support woman, with more than average ability and, “knowing that I'm okay is to cope, because of the fact that you enough to help me survive.” have coped up till now and the odds The experiences of Maori women have been against you.” are scattered (lightly) throughout the Phillips tells us not to judge mothers book. Responses in the section on who make different choices from us. Maori women were obtained during When we do this, she says, “...we see a meeting with “an Auckland full-time homemakers ... defining them­ Branch of the Maori Women’s selves as 'real’ mothers (what are the Welfare League”. Here is a selection of others?) and mothers who are out in the what they said: workforce describing the homemaker job “I was brought up to speak English so as 'degrading.’” I don’t think in Maori... I suppose a Mothers who work full time at home lot of the things I did with my babies resent being “regarded as mentally re­ my father taught me and they were tarded because we wish to give to our Maori things.” children in this way,” as one put it. An­ “I really feel Maori and do Maori things other would like to be treated as “an intel­ ... I’ve got French in me too and people ligent, competent adult who happened to say, 'Why do you call yourself also be a mother as well as many other Maori?' I say, 'Because it's the warm­ things.” She also regretted “A lack of est side of what I feel. It’s the best part We get pressured stimulation and time for myself.” One of me.’” woman was pleased to be “available to “We have lost a generation. To me, my into doing things spend time rather than money with my generation is the lost one - the ones that children,” and another has, “chosen moth­ were, through our parents, forced to we really don’t ering as my career ... because I enjoy kowtow to the system. We could not being with my children, watching them speak Maori in school. Now the kids w ant to but feel grow.” have to choose their heritage or the Common themes for mothers in the European one and they will get flack we ought to paid workforce were tiredness and lack of whichever way they go.” time for themselves, guilt and social pres­ “Maori children today will never miss or one person might seem to be compro­ sures against working mothers. Gains are out on an English education -you can’t mising all the time. That’s their independence, identity, stimulation and avoid it - so my emphasis is on making business. Don t make it yours! Don't contributing to the family income. For the kids really aware of the Maori thing put people down for giving up some­ one, resentment was a problem: “I work all and they feel good about it.” thing you wouldn’t. You are not them! day and come home to cook, clean, do “My eldest boy lives with my mother at Most couples will happily explain a washing.” Some described a strict routine the moment. ... We had a big family cultural or religious practice that they that enabled them to manage. From the talk and he wanted to go. She would have decided to adopt, eg shaving a most extreme: “.. .plan ahead and organise have them all if she could.” babies’ hairwhenborn. Andeven ifyou time and family affairs. Strict discipline is “You always look for a brown face like think it’s nuts - butt out. It’s not your essential.... I make enough meals (main) yourself. We have heaps in common.” child or relationship.” each Saturday to last all week so that each "You line up behind a Pakeha woman Breaking the isolation is the greatest prob­ night a hot dinner can be on the table with ... and see how she is treated and then lem for immigrant mothers. “It’s easy for minimum time and effort.” how you are treated. I can say things the husband - he walks straight into his "Part-time work,” Phillips points out, back because I will never let anyone put place in his work organisation.” “is of course full-time work - part-time me in an inferior position. I’m tough. I “Another aspect of motherhood must paid, part-time working at home. Some look tough. The system has created be considered when either the mother or feel it is the ideal way of life for a mother this.” her child has a health problem or handi­ - combining the stimulation and inde­ A similar group interview approach was cap,” says Phillips. Women talk of their pendence of paid work while retaining used to get information from Pacific Is­ experience of post-natal depression. “It availability for the children. Others feel it land women. Perhaps their most telling included not eating, not sleeping, diar­ is the worst of both worlds; one is never comment is, “We want to be treated as rhoea, trembling, palpitations, suicidal doing either job as well as one would like.” though Pacific Island women have quali­ fears, crying and interference with For the women concerned the “break ties and traits useful to society. breastfeeding ...” writes one. It does pass, from the children” aspect was important. The mother in a multi-racial (European was the message from this group, but you “A tremendous lift to my normal routine Indian) marriage wrote of learning about need all the help and support you can get life, mixing with a different circle of and dealing with the cultural differences. while it is happening. people,” “an outlet from home”. One She had this to say to outsiders: The woman with disabilities was proud woman was the breadwinner, with a finan­ “Accept a multi-racial couple as the of her successful mothering, and had over­ cially dependant partner. Her greatest people they are. They will have there come fears about getting involved with problem is “Trying to find a reasonable differences and they might seem odd. playcentre. Mothers of children with ill- balance of responsibilities for housework BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 39 (still struggling with this after five and a half years!).” And her advice is, ““Get a firm grip from the outset on who is to be generally responsible for what and don't get sucked into his area by default!” An­ 'fyocci ‘Ttext other sole income earner (with a great partner) sees it as “ a wonderful chance to experience how men benefit from having partners at home!” Mothers who do voluntary work want their contributions to be valued, and for some it provided the stimulation and inde­ pendence that others found in paid work. The final group considered in The Motherhood Experience is rural mothers. One feels important, for another physical isolation, without transport, was a real problem. She wrote, “Television has changed life in rural communities far more than any single factor I can think of. Through it we see men who are unafraid (sometimes) to treat women as equals. Rural men have long been supportive of their wives when they are working with them in the paddocks etc, but totally unsupportive when it comes to sharing the mothering of their children.” And the following applies to all the rural women I have met over the past few years. They are, it says, “...Knowledgeable, intelligent people and appreciate being treated as such! Many are fully participating partners on the farm, many now own and oper­ ate independent units. We are not tweedy, scone-baking anachronisms.”

While categorising is, I guess, necessary to give a book such as this order, Phillips has pulled out so many categories as to make the book a bit of a muddle. (She points out that many of us fit in to many of the categories at different times of our lives.) Creating a category, for example, called “feminist mothers” and having only one woman quoted in it, seems uneces- sary. My other quibble is that it doesn't discuss at all some of the issues that are very real for many mothers, issues like violence and incest for example. I would have liked, too, a look at the failure of many fathers to accept financial responsi­ bility for children after a separation from the mother. The value of The Mother Experience lies in the opportunity it gives for the words of the mothers themselves to be heard. It’s the third and last in a series on mothers by Jenny Phillips. The earlier two are Mothers Matter Too and The Mother ... (ttltUTHzi Manual, both of which have been impor­ tant and validating for many New Zealand mothers. ■

We would like to publish more in Broadsheet about the MANUFACTURED AND BOTTLED experience of being a mother. BY GREENWAYS ORCHARDS LTD Write yours and send it in to TE KAUWHATA P O Box 56-147 Auckland.

40 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 MARG N L PERSONA All the work is making statements the larger one the woman/artist is lying Colour photographies about image and subject and image- limp, eyes rolled, in the mud, with chooks by Margaret Dawson maker: Margaret Dawson gives herself to around. There’s a bare bush, a wire fence, the viewer as all three. It is most explicitly George Fraser Gallery, Auckland, a generally creepy feel ... it’s to do with shown in “Consuming the Veneer'' with death. “The woman appears dead, oblivi­ May/June, Review/interview its photographic background, peeling at ous to our stare. Physical death is often the top, and the face of the artist with a represented, in a variety of art forms (liter­ mouth full of cabled shutter release. ary, sculptural...), but even more in the These are big, big colour prints, some a “There are problems with putting repre­ photographic medium, where death refers metre and more high, others poster size, sentations of women in the picture,’’ the to the passed moment in time when the one oval. The photographer is in most of artist says, “one of the reasons for this photograph was taken,” she says. “Colour them, variously dressed and in many dif­ being the mass production of images of prints fade; there is nothing immortal ferent roles; all assumed personas asking women for advertising, so we as viewers about an art object or a physical death. It all different questions. She often has some­ looking at such frequently produced im­ decomposes. The idea of a spiritual con­ one else actually take the shot after she has ages become flippant or casual in our con­ tinuance after death has been broken down set it up, preferably someone who is quite sideration.’’ by theories, as has the notion of The self’ detached, who doesn't get involved with There’s nothing casual about these as a unique personality.” what's happening, just presses the button. images, though. Most of them are serious, The smaller work of the same name, Son Jeremy has been very good at it, even grave. “A Grave Moment” is, liter­ the image of a woman at home, feeding the friends help too. ally. There are two works with this title. In chooks is, “An antithesis or opposite. It

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 41 consists of yellow leaves, to make a native skirt”) from a pretty red hens, a rosy view, European book. “The maca­ but it is a re-production of an roni epitomises the hollow, historical watercolour by introduced commodity.” Frances Flodgkins (another “Mary, Margaret and past thought).” Julia in Timeless Waves” is a In “Trophies” are “a happy piece. Three women slowly decaying stag’s head, jumping in the waves, a sand- an old wedding dress and dried castle being nibbled away by flowers, against aged, stained the water, golden tones remi­ wooden panelling”-masses of niscent of winter sun, a gentle metaphors here, emphasised sea behind. But wait. Each by the dark wood panelling, the woman wears a striped gar­ overall gloominess. No ment reminiscent of 1920s woman in this photograph. “A swimming costumes. Time­ photograph is also like a tro­ less. Having fun. “Using old phy. Hers and His, plus these ways (chorus type dance) to objects.” celebrate. The continuance of The title piece “Marg N something, group energy.” L Persona” has a haunting The image is oval in an oval quality. The title signals a pe­ version of those fancy frames. riphery, being on the outside. Margaret Dawson lives “Is it real, or assumed? Are we and works in Christchurch. She able to change, move in and out is a graduate of the University of roles and situations? Are we of Canterbury School of Fine constructs? Why?” The Arts and now studies film, woman/artist is on a very ordi­ feminism and literature as well nary porch (at the artist’s home as working as an artist. - most of the photographs are “I work intuitively as a taken at her home) on an ordi­ feminist, seeking out woman photographers like Diane Ar­ nary weatherboard house with “Marg. N.L. Persona” 1987. Colour photographic print. a round, opaque overhead light. bus, Margaret Bourke-White She’s in the doorway, holding a cat, feed­ blossom queen. “Women and flowers are and Julia Margaret Cameron to study their ing a couple of others in a desultory way. often put together. The flowers are on vision. Calling myself an artist validates She’s wearing a fake fur coat and black show, available for the bee to fertilise. my work for funding and to receive exhi­ tights. Nobody much, doing nothing Another reference is woman as a collec­ bition space. And a feminst artist, as that much, without much enthusiasm. The tion of signs. I’m looking for the reasons combines political beliefs. very large print emphasises the stagey­ for these connections or juxtapositions of “My work has changed from ob­ ness, contrasts with the almost-snapshot women and animals, women and Bowers. serving with a camera (recording) to ex­ style, giving the feel of a suburban ache- They’ve all got negative and positive as­ amining behaviour, acts for life. Like once type. pects.” watching children at a kindy imitating Ordinary but chilling. Like “And The smaller “A Grave Moment”, their parents, becoming what was ex­ After, a Walk On Part with Dog”, where “Confirmation” and “Colonial Vision” all pected of them without question. So we the house and trees in the background are have a solemn, sombre feel. They’re very have more control if we acknowledge that in sharp focus, the woman and dog walk­ still. The colour tones set a mood “white/ we can change to become something. ing on the grass slightly out of focus. cream or rose-coloured or serious greys. Hence, some of my work shows women They’re walking out of the picture, in a With reference to historical paintings.” trapped or depressed, a real feeling, but moment they’ll be gone. “‘A Walk On These three works and a few others are one you can get out of once you recognise Part’ refers to the theatrical expression for framed in what looks like ornate, gilt- it and examine why. a part with nothing to say and ‘with dog’ painted moulded plaster but is actually “Because the work became personal refers to the male.” moulded polystyrene from a place called I changed from an observer/documentary The suburban theme continues in “Trendy Mirrors”. viewpoint to a more personal, home-like, “The Personal Price is too Great”. The “Victor’s Delusion” was a work I snapshot style, exaggerating the size to in­ white cast-iron fence like a prison wall, the found difficult until Margaret explained dicate the manipulation that was going on woman crouched, with autumn leaves be­ that the impetus for it came from a work by with photographic conventions. Snap­ hind the fence, planting the bright flowers Louis John Steele called “The Spoils of the shots are universal, personal, familar in the border garden. The same bleak feel­ Victor”. In it a Maori-looking woman is things and they are of us, growing up, ing of the previous two works. “This title painted, as a willing captive. It’s not about changing, assuming roles. So it seemed comes from a newspaper headline when Maori women, it’s about how white colo­ natural to use myself as actor, showing up Ann Hercus retired from parliament. Can nists depicted Maori women. There are the illusoriness and also how one can we set our horizons? Can we be as effec­ other women in the background and a move into a role and out - I discuss the tive at grass roots level? So we might plant disintegrating pa-type fence. “It's a white feminine as a construct, discuss the per­ a few flowers near the gate to brighten colonial male fantasy,” says Margaret. sonal, the artist, in the work. things for passers-by. As long as it’sacon- “To show home/England the ‘noble sav­ “My work is often described as scious choice.” ages’ and hence build up the colonists’ “naive”, which snapshots are. They are At first glance “A September Blos­ own egos as the conquerors.” So she sent made with mistakes, blurriness, central som Queen” is a pleasant relief. Tree in it up. Put herself in the picture, made positioning of figure, and also me as full, pinkish blossom, smiling woman in photo-copies (“mass-produced images, woman artist being naive. Well, I guess I among it. But wait, she has her tongue referring to the way we learn history from am as I've been fairly sheltered, going between her teeth, the smile is more of a books written by colonists with a similar from school to nursing in a hospital and grimace, does the "September" refer to her attitude”) of poles and stuck them to a living in, having rules imposed on me, and age, or is this a typical calendar image? fence for the background, made a skirt out then “raising a child”, living at home. I We’re being jolted into a re-vision of the of Italian macaroni, a bizarre idea (“How haven't travelled, and now I’m studying,

42 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 in yet another institution, which is stimu­ lating but still follows the same old patri­ archal structure. However you can get out of it knowledge, a qualification and an opportunity to explore on another level. So n H my photographic work is very important, H@Pf h r& as it’s something of myself and my (lim­ OF KHARTOUM ited) experiences.” * Margaret talks of the Feminist Stud­ X ies paper at Canterbury University as “the course that has most influenced my life. Some of it was quite devastating. In educa­ tion, for example, school children are N91 KHARTOUM PLACE. AUCKLAND. PH77Ô432 taught unconsciously that history, for in­ EXCLUSIVE GIFTS & SPECIALTIES stance, mostly consists of males. This happens from the primers to the seventh 1 &A form, whether at private schools or state. I couldn’t believe that the education system Fortnum & Mason, Twinings, Exquisite 'Dullo' & was so biased, so I asked a sixth former European Chocolate, NZ made items, Papyrus, about his history course on WW II. It essential oils, jewellery, trinket boxes, included one brief mention of a woman - i toiletries, and crocodiles. Rosa Luxembourg - and no mention of the occupations women changed to, or their * 4 extra duties and hardships. In fact, women’s role in WW II was not men­ tioned. “Now I realise that whatever subject you study, you should always look for the absences, and ask why. I want to learn ly-rtHAiL^rrrxtT-ttXiiA about my mother’s and gramdmother’s lives as well as Hitler’s rise and fall ... former with a fashion executive their own specialty: the female leads all both subjects have made an impact on our - a gravedigger with a poet and mu­ fell into one mould: the-shrew-who- lives today.” seum guide. needs-to-be-tamed. What the Soviets have She gathers ideas from all around They are what we find in workers’ made is a 20th century, communist version her and saves pictures and articles from paradise, if we judge from the recent of Shakespeare’s “comedy”, The Taming newpapers. “I look at old snapshots, both Soviet film festival. Showcased in three of the Shrew. These films romanticise the those of my family and in secondhand separate films, each of the above couples subjection of wonderfully independent shops. I’m looking for archetypes, an matches a lower-class man, who is a fail­ and successful women, who are desper­ image we’ve inherited, absorbed.” ure in the eyes of society, with an intelli­ ately lonely until a man comes in to run She plans to stay with photographic gent, independent and strong-willed their lives. techniques, although as any snapshot- woman who is madly in love with him. In the opening film, A Single taker knows, it’s expensive. A grant from I came away from this festival Woman is Looking For a Life Companion the Arts Council helped a lot to get this gravely disappointed. The women charac­ (changed to A Lonely Woman ... outside exhibition mounted. Enough work sells to ters were ultimately age-old masculine the Soviet Union, interestingly), a well-to- almost cover direct costs, but not living stereotypes. The Soviets can even boast of do fashion designer is initially disgusted expenses, books, library fines, travel, food, labour .... Margaret agonises over working as an artist and wonders whether it isn’t bet­ ter to focus on “food for stomachs, not HIGH STREET food for thoughts”. To which I respond, and I hope she will forgive me the cliche, “Woman does not live by bread alone.” There’s exciting work being done by women artists at present. Work that is technically accomplished, rich and dense in imagery and associations, often beauti­ ful and that challenges the viewer. Art that has ideas. It’s great. Pat Rosier 50 HIGH STREET PH 34-599 ♦ PLUNGERS OF TEA OR CAFFĒ

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BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 43 by a pushy, unemployed drunkard who need-to-be-tamed, practically all other answers her personal ad. By the end she women are cardboard figures with no has fallen in love with him and regrets that more personality than plastic dolls. The she threw him out for being a lazy bum, most popular movie at the festival, Come instead of “saving” him as his friend im­ and See, shows the array of plastic dolls plored her to do. Granted, the hero makes most obviously. Every female character in some poignant remarks to the effect of, this war film, cinematising Hitler’s inva­ “I’m a human being, too”. Nonetheless, sion of Russia, can be reduced to one of the film is really rehashing the old maso­ three misogynist stereotypes: the hysteri­ chistic stereotype of the angel who, by her cal mother; the nymphomanic; or the help­ infinite love, understanding and patience, less hole-between-two-legs. saves the vastly-talented-but-unappre Our cardboard lead enters as a ciated-by-society wretch. beautiful, lascivious sex object. On The shrew-who-needs-to-be- her first encounter with the Hero, she tamed is elaborated most clearly in instantly and correctly identifies the lengthy and widely-acclaimed him as an imbecile, and dismisses Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears. him with the exclamation “Idiot!” In the beginning our unmarried But as with our other Soviet hero­ protagonist is impregnated by a ines, she finds fools irresistably at­ jerk who abandons her, and we are tractive and tells him in their first so proud of her as she heroically conversation she would “like to raises the baby alone on three hours make babies” with him. But of of sleep a night while rising from course, when our nymphomaniac factory line worker to director of the leaps on him with a kiss, he doesn’t whole factory, on the basis of talent swoon and relish the sexual assault as and diligence. female stars do, but flings her off with But, ah, she is stoically lonely and the contempt that men reserve for “sluts” cries into her pillow until a tall, handsome, - women who are assertive and dare to ap­ mysterious stranger meets her on a train. propriate control in courtship. Although she is pointedly shown as confi­ As the film progresses, she re­ dently giving orders to males at work, she gresses. When they were both crossing a is instantly put into her “place” by the muddy river, I made a bet to myself that he Hero. He interferes with life-or-death would get across first, and adopted a “wait matters regarding her child, and uses vio­ and see” attitude when she climbed up first lence, directly opposing her decision, without his help. Sure enough, at this cli­ behnid her back. When she scolds him he The Confucian proverb, mactic moment she tells him that his issues his dictate: “I am the man of the “One hundred women family has been massacred, and in a mur­ house and I will make the decisions around derous rage he chokes her and throws her here.” She instantly defers to him, apolo­ are not worth a single back into the water. This time she is car­ gises, promises never to raise her voice at testicle” expresses a ried ashore in his arms, as befits a lump of him again and is under his thumb thereaf­ similar world view clay or a china doll. ter. At this turning point she still does not to that behind By the end our shrew has been en­ know his last name, where he lives or what these films tirely tamed - by gang rape. The film he does for a profession. He did not want directors reveal their quintessential image to tell her because he insists that a husband of a woman, the hole-between-two-legs. must make more than his wife and his They cut her face off the film to emphasize position as a tool die maker is socially saying “Behind every great man is a great her genitals, the blood flowing down her much lower than hers as a factory director. woman”. These films proclaim, “Every widely-spread legs. Gang rape is certainly Moscow Does Not... and A Lonely great woman will submit to some idiot of a brutal fact of war, but the film directors Woman... have been appreciated at one a man”. In Chinese we call this “big- portray this horror from a viewpoint level as sweet love stories of how how a manism”. In the west it is called Christian­ drenched with patriarchy. Our Hero shows successful woman is still open-minded ity: husbands should be the lords of their zero concern for her welfare, but turns enough to see the lovableness of a social wives, whose duty is to obey. Internation­ away from the monster: a raped woman is failure. This is fundamentally a male fan­ ally, in capitalist or communist countries it a dirty woman and a gang-raped woman is tasy - no matter how far you sink, some is called an award-winning film. contemptible filth. And never do we see marvellous, intelligent, accomplished In the highly-acclaimed closing women resisting the Germans, other than angel will still see all your wonderful film Theme, we meet an enchanting, self- crying futilely. In this film a woman is charming qualities and fall madly in love assured woman poet - the shrew again. ultimately a hysterical mother or a help­ with you. The hero, a famous alcoholic poet, dreams less hole, to be abused and discarded. This message in itself leads to unre­ of her saving him from his hidden failure Thankfully, women are virtually alistic and masochistic expectations for as a poet with her love, wisdom and inspi­ absent in Dead Man s Letters, the Soviet women, but I can forgive and understand ration. He is rudely surprised when she post-nuclear movie. To see the patriarchy the desire to love and be appreciated, even does not fall at his feet. The mystery is survive after the earth has been destroyed when presented in this form. What I find solved when he realises that the angel/ would make the unbearable even worse. intolerable is the message that these ex­ shrew has already been tamed by a grave­ Nevertheless, the movie is permeated with tremely independent and successful digger, whom she begs, screaming and machismo: a woman iconoclastically women will joyfully submit to these crying on her knees, not to leave her. This walking around half-naked, a doctor who drunkards and let them take over and run is the only concept many men seem ca­ talks to boys but manhandles girls, all their lives. pable of comprehending in explaining a important positions held by men ... etc. The Confucian proverb, “One woman’s rejection - territoriality. Oh! There were two movies I missed, hundred women are not worth a single that’s why she doesn’t like me, she is one about youth vandalism and the other testicle” expresses a similar world view to already taken. about a woman being terrorised by her ex- that behind these films. There also is a Aside from these shrews-who- husband - billed, in the hallowed tradition

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Freepost available only within New Zealand of American slasher films, as a “top-notch expression. “I have seen it captured in thriller”. photographs that were long in the sitting, We see that liberation for women the facial muscles set in a near-to-death under Soviet communism is gravely lim­ mask: great-grandmother Matilda Phil­ ited. It is a Marxist conception of equality, ippa with her corset of whalebone, ram­ in which a woman is integrated into the rod straight like a puppet on a stick, her paid workforce and achieves economic face unserene, wearing what is usually independence. But she is still emotionally called a stern countenance, but looks to dependent on a man, who she looks up to. me like a mixture of fury and pain ... She Helen Watson White Our protagonists are not freed from ideas made her grandson my father quake with Living with the of heterosexuality, the nuclear family or childish fear ... But I know that like all Man feminine submission. white women, whatever their class, Marxism focuses on the economy she was no less than I am a child- and that which can be measured in terms of wife, victim, daughter of patri­ money, such as equal wages, maternity archy, and that the only power leave and government subsidised health she had was personal care. Marxism is concerned with what power: the power of happens in the workplace and voice, presence, ca­ marketplace, and much less with the home pability, intellect, fireplace. Indeed, it seems that in many the look of authority communist countries women’s liberation in the set of the eye­ has meant the privilege of working at two brows.” fulltime jobs instead of one. Gender divi­ As the title of sions remain in the home. A woman may the show makes be boss to many men at work, but at home clear, these poems, she will be desperately lonely or the docile songs and prose-pieces, despite the edge servant and loving helpmate to some man, of satire in many of them, are nonetheless But the prospect is not entirely any man. committed to “living with the man”. gloomy for daughters of the patriarchy. Joy Sun One poem, coming after a song Living With the Man also contains the called “Heterosexual Blues” presents this LIVING WITH THE MAN affirmation of children, laughter, songs with rich ambiguity: Created and performed by and wit. Helen Watson White Woman oh woman Judith Dale love has drowned your frail ketch, swamped and smothered DRY YOUR SMILE Living With the Man is a solo show origi­ all details in a welter nally devised for the ninth German Con­ of waves Robin Morgan ference on Comonwealth Literature, The Women’s Press $27.95 “Gender and Power” in Laufen in 1986. It here is your gulping includes mime, poetry and songs, all fo­ throated fortune: I was angry with Robin Morgan when this cused round the notion of “daughter of the that what you thought book arrived in the office, because she had partriarchy”. so poor was your refused (indirectly, through the book's The opening sequence is a series of protection distributor) to speak to Broadsheet during images called “Him and me”, where the was freedom from gain her recent trip to New Zealand. “If sister­ patriarchal stereotypes that are “worn” by hood is not powerful or global enough for men and “put upon” women are displayed and parodied by Helen’s clowning-mime, in loose trousers, sleek jacket and white- face mask: super-man, judge, father, lord, priest, as well as drunkards old and young. POSITIVE CHANGE The show was performed at the Women’s Studies Association Confer­ WHAT COLOR IS ence in Dunedin last year, and in Septem­ YOUR PARACHUTE ber there was a five-night season down­ 1988 A Practical Manual For stairs at the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin. Job-Hunters and Career This year she performed it for three nights Changers by R.N. Bolles, in Wellington (in the new National Li­ Ten Speed Press. brary Auditorium, following Elbe Smith’s A practical and creative manual for job hunters and career changers. It’s about similarly one-woman show Lillian) at the talking control by making an informed and positive career choice. Updated beginning of the Readers’ and Writers' annually, a systematic guide to segment of the International Festival of evaluating individual skills and employment opportunities then the Arts. matching the two. $22.95 The second half of the show in­ THE ASSERTIVE BEYOND THE POWER STRUGGLE cludes poems and self-accompanied WOMAN A New Look by Stanlee Dealing with Conflict In songs, all based on personal experiences Phelps and Nancy Austen Love and Work by and influences in Helen’s life, celebrating Impact Publishers. Susan Campbell and lamenting the pleasures and pains of Over a quarter of a million women have Impact Publishers. found the book a supportive, dynamic Expands perspectives on relationships her own and her mother’s generation guide to changing and often confusing in love and at work. Cam pbell growing up as women in "a man’s coun­ roles. Includes step-by-step instruc­ advocates both, and relationships tions, and dozens of examples taken which recognise the value of both try”. A reviewer in the Otago Daily Times from women's assertiveness persons — rather than the typical said, "the images are there like old photo­ workshops and daily experiences. either/or approach that leads to conflict. $24.95 $21.95 graphs in an album”. One prose piece, "Daughter of Benjon Ross Privilege”, literalises the portrait and its distributed by Publishers Limited ported your work (Sisterhood is Powerful, going to see every side of this. He is Monsters, The Anatomy of Freedom, thinking about the marriage while he waits Going Too Far, Sisterhood is Global) for for her return from ... somewhere: years ... these were the thoughts I was “The petty battles, sulks, griev­ having. ances, and reconciliations they endured But a few pages into the book I was were identical with those of other married hooked. It’s a very good novel, and ex­ couples, including those of the same age, tremely well written. The structure is of a class, even gender. How commonplace. novel within a novel, and the end part of How humiliating. the outer novel is problematic, but the “Worse: they had been adopted, in whole book is a compelling read. The the habit of America, as a New Commod­ shifts in time (the novel spans 45 ity. The revolutionary whose khaki fa­ years, 1941 - 1986) and voice (the pro­ tigues become chic, the ascetic flocked to tagonist, the mother, the husband, the by religious pilgrims, the vindicated ex­ author, the lesbian) work - and in many plorer now safely bemedaled. With their novels they don’t. own collaboration they had become fash­ Dry Your Smile is a great title, one ionable - an “egalitarian couple”. Private that rises from the story, and has a tantalis­ misery packaged under brand names. And ing array of ambiguity and associations. a market for the product.” The book opens with Julian at the funeral And a little later on it is the husband of her television “mother” - (Julian was a who says, “But you - you’ve still got it, child star, like Robin Morgan) - playing a you’ve got it with other women. The role to fit the occasion. The year is 1980. shared anger, the actions, the in-jokes, the The scene moves to her real-life mother’s shorthand code. A feeling of being effec­ apartment to introduce the anguish in the tive, of having a community. I hardly even relationship between mother (named, have any friends any more.” How many ironically, Hope) and daughter. Then to women, I wonder have or could have the birth experience they shared. A very expressed these feelings? Someone else’s harrowing few pages. The mother’s identity isn’t enough for anyone. pespective now, we're not going to be It’s her own identity Julian is seek­ allowed to dismiss this woman as a ing, because having what Larry misses she is. “But how could Julian write about doesn’t give it to her. Hope is the key. A herself? Julian is only a figment of her own 1959 diary entry: imagination - or of mine - she thought, “Truth is: I hate Hope more than reclining in an armchair forty thousand anyone in the world. feet above land. Julian is only a character, “Truth also is: I love Hope more “baddy”, we’re going to be shown her an illusion.” than anyone in the world.” point of view, too. And so we come to the novel within An aspect of Dry Your Smile I really And Julian, in 1986 a “performer” the novel. “A Mask of One’s Own” (Need enjoyed is that the context for large chunks for the women’s movement, and an ex­ For Disguises) it’s called. It begins with of it is the women’s movement. Which tremely good one, is struggling with prob­ the paradox, “All Cretans are liars,” posed means exchanges like this one between lems of identity, direction, purpose. She by Epinimedes the Cretan. The first part is Julian and Charlotte, who runs Athena, a has an urge to write about herself, to set the diaries of the young girl star, who women’s publishing house. Charlotte herself apart from her self, to find out who carries the hopes of her mother and has no speaks first: you to speak the the women in New Zea­ privacy. Then the husband, the marriage. ‘“ ...one feminst institution should land who read Broadsheet and have sup­ From his perspective, we’re damned well goddam well have the decency to support another. What are they, suffering from terminal purity?’ ‘Hardly. They’re just trying to sur­ vive in the so-called mainstream while BARRY & McFADDEN swimming aginst the current and treading BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS water. Like Athena.’” Julian falls in love with a woman, fights to accept the end of her marriage, to resolve her relationship with her mother, grapples with finances, fairness and iden­ tity , always identity. Who is Julian? There were aspects of the last sec­ tion of Dry Your Smile that I found more PARTNERS: Sandra May Barry LL.B irritating than illuminating, but to discuss Elisabeth Madeleine McEadden LL.B them in detail would give away too much 39 Jervois Rd, Ponsonby, Auckland plot. The overall feeling, though, is of a Telephone 784-959 or 788-146 satisfying book, one that spoke to my concerns and was a pleasure to read. 747 Whangaparaoa Rd.P.O. Box 260. Whangaparaoa Pat Rosier Tel: (0942) 45763 APOLOGY AND CORRECTION. COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC We left some words out of a quote in Helen Court­ ney’s review of The Rocking of the Cradle and the FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS, Ruling of the World by Dorothy Dinnerstein in the PROPERTY CONVEYANCING, June issue, and totally reversed the meaning. Our apologies to both women. The quote, in the last WILLS, ESTATE PLANNING, paragraph of the review should have read, “... the MATRIMONIAL lesbian alternative, to be viable, must be a matter of felt erotic preference, not of default or of political principle.”

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 HE GRIPES OF POTH

ncreasing numbers of women hold ments. She and her camera crew had this the All Blacks often compare their down jobs these days at various complex baby-sitting arrangement that games to real battles. Do you?” Captain: levels of the media - BUT the dominat­depended on their partners’ co-opera­ “Absolutely, Miriama! When we go out Iing image is still the monotonous uni­tion over school age kids and borrowing there on Saturday it’ll be Greenham form and uniformed chap (suit or rugby Nana’s car for the camera crew to take Common all the way for us.!” gear). On the Sunday of Queen’s Birth­ all the little ones to her place, including Trudy-Gay (now bottle-feeding the day week-end I listened to an excellent Trudy-Gay’s wee girl.” (Trudy-Gay baby): “And the best of luck from us all Insight radio programme on the persis­ smiles weakly and tries to retrieve her here in the newsroom.” (Toddlers wave tence of this male perspective. Its damn­ child who is crawling briskly along the to the camera). “I’m afraid the male ing facts and figures stirred me to con­ table). “It didn’t work in time for this contraceptive story is another casualty sider possible alternatives for, e.g., bulletin.” (Linda grabs baby). of the childcare dispute. Linda, you’ve TV’s Network News. Trudy-Gay: “In place of the planned been in touch with Dr Bertha Green­ interviews we will repeat some of the ery.” It’s 6.30 p.m. and the Southern Cross film of the big march in support of the Linda: “Yes, Trudy-Gay. Unfortu­ goes down the tube while the voice over childcare workers.” (Picture of huge nately every time we began to talk about says: “Good evening. Here is the net­ demo with many union banners of sup­ the success of this exciting medical work news with Linda Merrygo and port. There are placards in Maori, Eng­ advance, Dr Greenery had to stop and Trudy-Gay Lee. Tonight’s headlines: a lish and other languages of the Pacific. deal with a domestic crisis. It seems that settlement has been reached in the in­ Some say things like: Kiwis Care for her husband has been very depressed dustrial dispute caused by a group of Childcare; Lesbian Mothers Are Child­ about his weight problem, and being employers who refused to meet mini­ care Workers Too, Support Our Sisters; forced into fulltime care of the children mum childcare requirements, forcing Maggi Mums Aren’t Very Much Fun. just tipped him over the edge. But Dr the nation’s childcare workers out on TV reporter shoves microphone at Greenery did explain that men could strike.” (A brief flash of a couple of men people asking what they think of work­ take their pill with complete confidence with brief cases trying to struggle ers’ withdrawal of labour). Elderly - a few people might have minor side through the small children accompany­ woman: “What choice did they have effects, but all doctors are familiar with ing the workers’ negotiators). “Test with bosses like that?” Middle-aged the kind of patients who dream up match fever is sweeping the country.” man: “Just a few bullies of employers amazing symptoms to get attention. She (A shot of women netballers practising are holding the country to ransom.” said her faith in the men's pill was while a few of their team-mates sign Brief-cased, suited male junior execu­ demonstrated by the fact that she had no autographs for a queue of fans). “A tive type with baby in backpack and hesitation in prescribing it for her own recent study shows that a new male toddler in pushchair: “Those stupid husband.” contraceptive is safe and effective”. jokers are totally irresponsible”. Fe­ Trudy-Gay (anxiously, as screen (Shot captioned “Library” reveals an male ditto: “They talk about manage­ flickers): “We seem to be having techni­ authoritative looking woman doctor ex­ ment skills, but they’re really the pits.” cal problems here, like tired little kids amining a smiling man. The music and Linda: “The forced closedown of getting out of hand. Linda, let’s have an the camera then zoom in on Trudy-Gay childcare even affected our national early close-down unless the news and Linda, as pre-school children run heroes. Over to our sports reporter, you’ve got is really riveting.” everywhere trying to get into the pic­ Miriama, while she talks to the captain Linda: "Thank you Trudy-Gay. Only ture. Trudy-Gay has a baby on her lap of the netball team at the hotel where the usual boring garbage about the with baby gunk on the table in front of they’ve gathered to prepare for the all- sharemarket and the Kiwi dollar and her - bottle with some milk in it, important test on Saturday.” (Camera those clowns in San Diego messing marmite crust, chewed piece of apple, a goes to hotel room where a few small about with their boats.” few toys etc.) children are milling about with the play­ Trudy-Gay: “Why don’t they get Linda: “The small band of managers ers. We see back view of Miriama with real? It’s good-night from us then.” who brought so many workplaces to a attached baby as team captain speaks). (They both smile graciously, start say­ grinding halt through lack of childcare “No, Miriama, to be quite honest we ing good-night but are cut off as the have reached agreement with the union didn't expect to be landed with all these screen blacks out). over staffing and conditions. Childcare childminding hassles. It does make you centres will all re-open first thing to­ wonder what kind of men would put us morrow.” (Trudy-Gay and baby clap and our families under this dreadful their hands). “Our industrial reporter pressure when the whole country’s de­ can’t be here with the latest develop­ pending on us.” Miriama: “Teams like

BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 47 CLASSIFIED CLASSIFIED

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48 BROADSHEET JULY/AUGUST 1988 2 0 th AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ST. JAMES THEATRE, JULY 1 5-30 Jenifer Millstone * Carmen Maura * Lindsay Crouse * Stephane Audran * Bibi Anderson * Nana Janelidze * Marie-Francoise Bucquet * Catherine Leterrier * Sabine Azema * Fanny Ardant * Catherine Arditi * Sarah Radclyffe * Barbara Kidd * Frances Barber * Wendy Gazelle * Suzetta Llewellyn * Tessa Wojtczak * Lesley Manville * Dorothy Jeakins * Jennifer Parsons * Anjelica Huston * Helena Carroll * Cathleen Delany * Ingrid Craigie * Rachael Dowling * Marie Kean * Maria McDermottroe * Katherine O’Toole * Gabriella Pescucci * Fanny Ardant * Stefania Sandrelli * Ottavia Piccolo * Jo Champa * Cecilia Dazzi * Patricia Rozema * Alexandra Raffe * Carla Garnet * Debra Friedman * Sheila McCarthy * Paule Baillargeon * Ann-Marie McDonald * Brenda Kamino * Sandy Lieberson * Andrea Dunbar * Siobhan Finneran * Michelle Holmes * Lesley Sharp * Patti Nicholls * Maureen Long * Joyce Pembroke * Shirley Sun * Li Qinqin * Sharon Iwai * Shen Guanglan * Chloe Webb * Stephania Cassini * Dominique Maleret * Martine Rapin * Fanny Bastien * Fanny Cottencon * Yveline Ailhard * T rudy Ship * June Shellene * Lilia Skala * Willo Hausman * Karen Kohlhaas * Julia Sivo * Andrea Flesch * Maria Barga * Eszter Csakanyi * Judit Pogany * Gillian Armstrong * Sandra Levy * Laura Jones * Sally Campbell * Mary Moffiatt * Judy Davis * Claudia Karvan * Jan Adele * Monica Trapaga * Toni Scanlon * Emily Stocker * Caroline Amies * Shuna Harwood * Emily Lloyd * Clare Clifford * Claire Bloom * Charlotte Barker * Chloe Leland * Charlotte Ball * Pat Heywood * Abigail Leland * Susan Skipper * Sheila Kelley * Jennie Tate * Beverly Boyd * Marika Rivera * Diane Bolden * Grace Blake * Ruthe Carter * Lynn Wolverton * Kyme * Tisha Campbell * Leslie Sykes * Phyllis Hyman * Heidi Ludi * Monika Jacobs * Solveig Dommartin * Loene Carmen * Lynette Curran * Anja Coleby * Judi Farr * Mary Regan * Sylvie Granotier * Julie Jezequel * Irena Dedicova * Juliette Binoche * Lena Olin * Kay Ngarimu * Mira Hape * Lily Te Nahu * Dorothy Tansley * Shirley Verrett * Anna-Caterina Antonacci * Maria-Luisa Garcia *Joelle Miquel * Jessica Forde * Yasmine Haury * Merata Mita * Eva Rickard * Susan D. Ramari Paul * Rangimarie Delamere * Ana Hine Aro Kura Thrupp * Louise Brooks * Alice Roberts * Elizabeth Depardieu * Emmanuelle Beart * Tracey Camila Jones * Shelley Winters * Lillian Gish * Mei Fang * Sheila E. * Sheena Easton * Cora Miao * Wang An * Isabella Rossellini * Katy Platt * Susan Nemec * Kate Walshe * Prue Burch * Helen Taber * Gaylene Preston * Keri Hulme * Lucy Sheehan * Lilyan Sievernich * Debra McCulloch * Carma Hinton * Shelah Stein * Angela Molina * Margarita Lozano * Jill Shoelen * Shelley Hack * Silvana Mangano * Elena Sofonova * Pina Cei * Lizzie Borden * Sandra Kay * Judy Irola * Louise Smith * Deborah Banks * Liz Caldwell * Marusia Zach * Amanda Goodwin * Assumpta Serna * Eva Cobo * Barbara Durkin * Debra Sandlund * Jenifer Millstone * Carmen Maura * Lindsay Crouse * Stephane Audran * Bibi Anderson * Nana SEVENTEENTH WELLINGTON FILM FESTIVAL EMBASSY THEATRE, JULY 7-23

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