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• Exposê by stroppy stripper — what it’s like on the job • Women’s Rights Groups - how effective are they? • Broadsheet puts psychology on the couch. Registered at the GPO, Wellington as a magazine. FRONTING UP Broadsheet Office Requests for Information Broadsheet by displaying a Broad­ is at: We frequently receive requests sheet sticker on your car. A 1st floor, Colebrooks Building, from readers for information on a stamped addressed envelope sent 93 Anzac Ave, Auckland. vast range of subjects. How much a with your request will help us save Office hours: 9-3, Mon-Fri. sub costs; what local feminist money. Phone number: 794-751. groups are there in an area; health Our box number is: problems. We would like people, Enveloping of November issue P.O. Box 5799, Wellesley St, when writing to us in future, to en­ will be on: Auckland, New Zealand. close a stamped addressed envelope Saturday 27th October for the returning of information. We at the Broadsheet address above. simply can’t afford to bear this cost Any hours you can donate between Subscription increases any longer. 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. would be grate­ Because we were already making fully accepted. Just turn up at the so little on each copy of Broadsheet Free back issues office, and bring kids too. Numbers we are unable to absorb the in­ It is our policy to give bundles of were thin at the enveloping of the creased postal charges, which by back issues away to readers who September issue. We need some the time they have fully come into can place them in staff cafs, doc­ new blood! Please help us out with effect next April will have doubled tors’, dentists’ and lawyers’ waiting this arduous job — with many hands the cost of posting subscriber’s rooms, for women’s groups. If you we can get through it much quicker. magazines. We have therefore in­ could put Broadsheets somewhere creased the price of a subscription they will be read by people who may Bookshops from $8 to $8.50. Any readers who be interested then write to us for Readers can help us get Broad­ have recently renewed at the old them but please enclose 55 cents sheet more widely distributed by •price who feel like helping us out worth of stamps for your order to be asking for it at their local stationers could send the 50 cents or maybe a sent back to you. or bookshop. We need new outlets, especially in towns outside the main few stamps. Car Stickers Overseas subscriptions will in­ centres. For instance, we only sup­ We have brand new, bright yel­ ply one bookshop in Rotorua which crease from $10.50 to $12 to cover low car stickers once again availa­ postal increases. gets one copy of Broadsheet. In ble from us free. Help us advertise Wanganui \Ve supply H. I. Jones with four copies so we’re hardly flooding the market in the town TO ALL NEW ZEALANDERS where Broadsheet is printed. What do you think caused the Auckland University Haka Women in these areas can also en­ Party incident? courage friends to buy Broadsheet Do you think people’s rights are being ignored, or not? — what about sending to us for a Do you think cultural differences are being respected, or not? free bundle of back issues to distri­ bute to women in your local wo­ The HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION wants to hear from you, as an individual or an organisation, if you are interested in such questions as: men’s group (be it Plunket or Fed­ erated Farmers) to promote in­ * What do you think causes intolerance between races? terest. There are still lots of women * Does racial intolerance affect you personally and, if so, in who do not know about Broadsheet what ways? or who are interested but don’t * Is lack of understanding of cultural differences sometimes know where to get it. Help us reach seen as illwill or hostility? them. * How can feelings of anger be redirected to increase under­ standing between people? Submitting work All articles, fiction and poetry If you have ideas about what should be happening, this is a chance for you to be heard. sent to Broadsheet (not letters) should be accompanied by a- The Commission will be pleased to receive your comments, if possible stamped addressed envelope and before 15 October 1979, so that it can consider them all and prepare a report for publication. should be typed, double-spaced on one side of paper only. Two copies Please send to: Human Rights Commission, of articles would be appreciated and P.O. Box 5045, the name and address of the sender Lambton Quay, ______Wellington. Telephone (04) 739-981 should be written on the work not just on the accompanying letter. C ontents

1 Contents 20 The Many Faces of Love 2 Letters 22 Stroppy Strippers Fight Back Behind the News 26 History of the Women’s Movement 6 Women’s Studies Association Report Part 2: Women’s Rights 7 The Party’s Over Now — knocking back 30 A Gift of Life by Dara McNaught — feminist art short story 8 The Missing Children of Argentina The Feminist Eye — Broadsheet on 9 Inaction on Health Recommendations the Arts 10 In Brief 33 Arts Centre for Women in Los Angeles 11 Interview: Nancy Kiel, Musician 34 5Arts Journal Review 14 Breaking the Circuit of Control: 35 Exhibition Review: Allie Eagle Psychology and Oppression 36 Book Reviews 18 Dear Feminist Fanny: Broadsheet’s 39 Hogwash Own Agony Column 40 Classified Advertisements

Women • Broadsheet is published by Broadsheet Magazine Ltd, P.O. Box The Broadsheet Collective: Sarah Calvert, Sandra 5799. Auckland; Registered Office: 1st Floor, Colebrooks Build­ Coney, Miriam Jackson, Anne Macfarlane, Priscilla ing. 93 Anzac Avenue, Auckland I; and printed bv Wanganui Pitts. Newspapers Ltd. .70 Drews Avenue. Wanganui. These women also worked on this issue: Christine Permission must be sought before articles are reprinted. Dann, Joan Oswin, Helen Porter, Jill Ranstead, Do­ Broadsheet is on file at the Women’s Collection, Special Collec­ reen Suddens, Michelle Treadaway, Jean Volkerl- tions Department. Northwestern University Library. Evanston, ing, Joy Wright and the enveloping women. Illinois 60201. U.S.A. Cover: Priscilla Pitts Illustrations: Helen Courtney, pages 1, 6, 9, 10 Harriet Lee, page 30 Vanya Lowry, pages 14, 16, 17 1 i LETTERS Death by Adoption — would like to meet me. Al­ P.19! Her remarks about in­ love, but as a security ob­ responses. though at first I felt that fertile women and women ject, and as a raison d'etre? perhaps buried memories wdth infertile husbands are I feel that anyone who Dear Broadsheet, were being unearthed at the remarkably insensitive for gives birth'to a child must With reference to your cost of more pain, I now someone w'ho claims examine their reasons for article The Case Against feel happy that my daughter "never to do anything doing this and be fully Adoption (Broadsheet No. is being raised as an indi­ against other women.” And aware of their responsibil­ 7l}, here's just one piore vidual by parents whose her comments about wo­ ity to themselves, to the "case" for the record. primary consideration is men's bodies make them child and to life itself in When I was 15 I gave birth not possession. sound as though they are doing so. For children do to a daughter, who I’d de­ May I suggest that Joss machines — another phal- not belong to anyone but cided to have adopted. The Shawyer uses a little more locratic trap. themselves. Joss speaks of decision to go through with grey matter to see the adop­ It does seem that a great rights, I w'ould prefer to the adoption was entirely tion procedure in less black number of children are born speak of responsibilities. mine. I was not even ap­ and white terms. unwanted and wall remain "And a w'oman who held proached by a welfare of­ Yours sincerely, so all their childhood. In ficer until 1 had made that a babe against her bosom Deborah Telford. such circumstances it be­ said, decision. I could not have comes credible that some hoped for a more sympathe­ Speak to us of Children , women may prefer for their And he said: tic doctor, family, or group Dear Broadsheet, child to be adopted, if they of friends to help me Your children are not . ‘ Inreply to your article on realize that they cannot your children. through what was a very Joss Shawyer (Broadsheet carry out their responsibil­ painful and traumatic ex­ They are the sons and No. 7l), although 1 sym­ ity to their child and are daughters of Life's longing perience. Moreover 1 am pathise with much of w hat glad for the child to have a sure that all three would for itself. she says 1 would like to chance of grow ing up in a They come through you have been equally as help­ reply to several points in secure home even if it is not ful if I'd decided to keep my but not from you the article. w ith the "natural” mother. And though they are wdth daughter. P.16, f doubt whether the Surely this w'ould be better Joss Shawyer em- you yet they belong to fact of being a mother really than leaving these children ph asises the fact that a you, makes one automatically to be fostered all their You may give them your mother's child is her child. capable of looking after a childhood wath no hope of This seems to her the most love but not your child. Furthermore, to ever really belonging to a thoughts. important consideration. argue in such a w'ay can be family. Don't all feminists look For they have their own turned against women and The very absolute tone of thoughts. forward to a time when the important w'ork they do the 'article bothered me as I women will be treated as You may house their raising children. It also feel that one cannot make bodies but not their souls. individuals rather than as reinforces the role-playing one rule for everyone as possessions? Why deny For their souls dwell in idea. Joss seems to waint to do. the house of to-morrow. children that same right? P.18. Her comments about There are no right or wrong It took me almost 3 years Which you cannot visit, women's rights ignore that reasons in the absolute. not even in your dreams. to come to terms with the rights are never absolute One woman's reasons may fact that what I went You may strive to be like and particularly in the cases be right for her but not through was more than a them, but seek not to she mentions the rights of necessarily for anyone else. make them like you nightmare — I really did the mother and those of the What of the woman who have a daughter somewhere For life goes not child may be in conflict. keeps her child not out-of who I knew absolutely no­ backw ard nor tarries wdth thing about. To accept that yesterday.” 1 had to find out where and Excerpt from The Prophet how my baby was. If I knew by Kalil Gibran. that she was alive and Yours sincerely, happy I could get on with Rosemary Arnoux. my own life, and stop closeting the fact that she existed. I approached the Social Dear Broadsheet. Welfare Department and 1 found Mag Freeman's through them managed to interview' with Joss contact my daughter's Shawyer in regard to her adoptive parents. They book Death by Adoption. have since sent me a photo­ (July/August issue) in­ graph and two letters telling teresting reading. me about "my" daughter, Assuming that Ms and have said that they Shaw'yer has been accu- 2 lately quoted, she makes Not withstanding this the Give birth or be ing obstetricians. some amazing statements. I social work task is clearly delivered? Ms Bunkle has inadver­ quote: to assist the mother look at tently put forward a strong “The Domestic Purposes her own resources both Dear Broadsheet, case for home birth, the Review Committee Report personal and practical and Philida Bunkle’s article most crucial statement — known as the Horn Re­ to reach a decision that is in “ Birth the Way We Want being — ‘‘Most women port — said in 1977 that not her interest, as this is seen if it” , (July/August 1979,) is aren’t even going to be able enough single girls were the person is mature and worthy of comment if only to weep in private” — a giving up their children for thoughtful to be in the to correct the inaccuracies situation RARELY seen on adoption” . child’s interests also. and temper the exaggera­ the district, but tions. ROUTINELY encoun­ 1 can find no statement to My sadness at Ms tered in post natal wards. Shawyer’s attitude is that it Wellington Hospital is that effect in the report al­ sadly lacking in sophisti­ “ . . . hospital is simply not though in Chapter 2 consid­ takes me back to my begin­ the place for well women ning social work days, cated facilities for high-risk eration is given to the dif­ mothers and babies, keep­ ficulties facing the solo pa­ when to have an ex-nuptial child was not acceptable to ing in mind that as a base Lyn McLean, rent particularly in the Domiciliary Midwife, society and literally the hospital it serves a much younger age group. Wellington. only alternative was adop­ greater area than just the Ms Shawyer goes on to tion. 1 had hoped that not city. It is unfortunate that say that machinery was set the new O & G Department Reviewer taken to only social workers but our task up to counsel single preg­ society generally now ac­ is being provided at the ex­ nant mothers who applied cepts that some single pense of a hospital that was Dear Broadsheet, for sickness benefit. “The women have the once so good —as hospitals I read with interest counselling,” says Joss, capabilities needed to raise go — and I stress the past Nancy Peterson’s review of “really means putting the a child alone, either for a tense. St Helens is finished, the film “ Girlfriends” in case for adoption” . short or long term period, open or closed, and the the July/August issue. sooner women stop flog­ I am not aware of any but that some women also Unlike Nancy, for me the machinery that exists to in­ have the honesty to see ging a dead horse and start message contained in the terview pregnant single themselves as people in being more positive to­ film was not heterosexism. women although I am their own right who at the wards the new unit, the bet­ Middle classism and white ter. aware that in some de­ time of the birth of the child racism maybe. However, partmental offices social are not capable of giving St Helens is now living on had the film portrayed the workers have chosen to do him/her the loving com­ a reputation it no longer de­ women as working class, this task because they are mitment that is needed. serves — staff are leaving black or white, would that and not being replaced, have served to appease a concerned at the plight of Neither decision leads to some of the women who midwives do not want to few consciences and thus life being a “ rose garden” work there because of the make middle class white leave the hospital with their but at least today there are child and very little in the unstable situation, morale racism any easier to live some choices of situations is low, tensions are high, with? way of basic requirements, that did not easily exist pre­ e.g. housing, clothes. staff are overworked and at The plot a simple one — viously and which it seems times doing many hours about a beaut friendship be­ Ms Shawyer obviously is Shawyer would deny the overtime. “Super flexible” tween two women, with not aware of the responsi­ single pregnant woman is a gross exaggeration in their growing and going off bility of a social worker in a again. both the delivery and the in different directions but counselling role, a respon­ Ann Corcoran post natal areas. All pa­ naturally not without re­ sibility that is consistently Senior Social Worker tients are monitored grets on both sides. It also put before the social worker Foster Cafe & Adoption routinely and taken to showed that marvellous in the Social Welfare De­ Department of Social Wel­ theatre for delivery. To de­ lesbian side of every wo­ partment. That is to make fare. liver in the bed is a happy man, the ability to love and the client aware of the al­ accident! Quality of post hold dear a friendship/ ternatives that are available Broadsheet note: With re­ natal care has little to do relationship with someone to them to assist them gard to the Horn Report, with private rooms, and ev­ of our sex. explore these alternatives the relevant passages are: erything to do with the I did not recognise Su­ and to enable the client her­ “ 2.15 In the matter of adop­ nurses that happen to be on san’s shedding of her self to reach the decision tion we are on firmer duty. hitchhiker/lesbian flatmate that is in her best interests. ground and it is in this area As far as the new unit as an attempt to retain cre­ that there is clear evidence goes, the labour and deliv­ At social worker training dibility. Nordid I see Eric’s that an increasing number ery rooms will NOT be pressure on Susan to live courses anxiety is often ex­ of single women are not “one and the same” . Pa­ pressed at what has hap­ with him as particularly un­ making their children av­ tients will be moved, in usual. A coupled society is pened to the “best interests ailable for a d o p tio n p 17. labour, to a theatre for de­ of the child" and given the not a heterosexual preroga­ Emphasis ours. livery. To say that “only tive alone and nor is pres­ number of young single “2.16 . . . We are informed very ill patients will have a mothers to whom they are sure on one’s lover to share that there is no lack of de­ private room” is only par­ an abode. I find it very hard daily giving support social mand by prospective pa­ tially correct; the other workers' concern is well to agree with your reviewer rents for children whom people will be the private when she states “women, based. they wish to adopt", p 17. patients of the senior rank­ unless they are lesbians. 3 , simply don’t commit them­ that Feminist ideology can Children our allies selves to each other.” Night work give them. Their actions do Dear Broadsheet, Generalisations like that give rise to chain reactions Long may you publish — carry all the connotations of Dear Broadsheet, which affect other women, Further to Kerry Justin’s and be read. the "we are better than but the structures which are thou” syndrome which letter, Broadsheet July/ The UWC was exhilarat­ so oppressive to the major­ ing and the most ap­ immediately sets women August, re nightwork for ity of women in our society preciated aspect for me was even further apart and so women. Some months ago can go unchallenged. I to feel completely free from continues to foster the very the Auckland Branch of think that Charlotte Working Women’s Council others’ expectations. Free fear some of us would like Bunch’s comments that she to be ME. to see lost forever. protested to Elizabeth Orr, would like to see struggle The provision made for The important thing to chairwoman of the National over the notion that the children was the most dis­ me about the film was that Advisory Committee on the Women’s Movement appointing aspect and at last on the screen were Employment of Women, re should have a programme hopefully will be remedied women relating to each her reported remarks re­ need thinking about. By at future gatherings. Not all other. It made a statement, garding women working at “ programme” I mean night. In our letter we stres­ children have others that perhaps not as political as something which can re­ can take care of them for a some would have liked, but sed the importance as we flect the heightened con­ saw it of proper discussion weekend. then I really wonder if it sciousness in the Women’s Or is this part of the was set up for that purpose and research being done be­ Movement which has de­ fore any decisions were blindspot many women anyway. veloped so much since the seem to have when it comes Sandi Beatie made. To date no reply has days of the original de­ been received. to children? As women we mands for “ Women's One union I know of has are aware of our oppression Post-convention Rights” . depression instituted discussion and and are concerned that it be Perhaps lessons can be research on the question in ended. However, at the Dear Broadsheet, learnt from labour struggles consultation with its female same time, it would seem to In the post-convention through the years (last membership. be obvious that children are depression which seemed year's events at Kawerau For women, it is vital that the world’s largest oppres­ to pervade the June Broad­ for instance). Without or­ they be heard on this issue sed minority — and 50% of sheet, I noticed a feeling of ganisation and unity, (that's but alas the committee on them are females — and frustration running through a difficult wail'd too after the which Elizabeth Orr is that our liberation is inti­ some of the articles, at the United Women’s Conven­ chairwoman appears to mately related to theirs. It is effect structurelessness tion). to what extent can presume that women in surely as children that we was having on the Women's our society's economic, paid employment are only experienced the condition­ Movement. political and social struc­ there for ‘ pin money’ so any ing that has led us to believe Tied up closely with tures be successfully chal­ opinions they might have at some time that women structure or non-structure, lenged and overthrown? are of little or no conse­ cannot be fulfilled unless is the whole question of Comments by women in the quence. they have children and all “ power” . What happens recent films Babies & Ban­ With no information the other garbage that is when groups set them­ ners and Harlan County being gained by interested thrust upon girls as part of selves up in a non- U.S.A. stress the role parties on just what is hap­ their upbringing. Thus it hierarchical way and make played by organisation and pening, may I suggest we all would seem that part of our collective decisions, only to unity. bombard the spokeswoman struggle would be directed find that power is not exer­ By making these com­ on women. Ms-sorry-Mr towards liberating those cised openly by a group ac­ ments. I don’t intend negat­ Jim McLay. who are not in a position to countable to a larger group, ing the insistence that Sandi Beatie do anything for themselves but goes underground via struggle to change personal Convenor. — i.e. children. unofficial influence and circumstances is in itself Auckland Branch Working The feminist teachers, control exercised by “ lead­ vital political struggle. Women's Council. who are at present organis­ ers” who emerge despite However I do want to look ing themselves, are attack­ the fact that they're not at whether there is a need New women’s health ing the problem from within acknowledged? for forms of organisation group the system ; but it feels very What seems to happen in that can be developed to Dear Broadsheet. much like an attempt to the Women's Movement at widen the limits in our soci­ Am just w riting to inform merely balance all the times, is that in correctly re­ ety. within w hich personal you and your readers that a bullshit with an equal jecting some kinds of struc­ change is possible. The group of Whakatane amount of cowshit. Perhaps ture and leadership because events at the convention, women have formed a necessary, given the pres­ they are seen as oppressive and what is happening to self-help health group. We ent condition of the educa­ means of exercising pow er, women in New Zealand at would be happy to hear tion system and the laws the baby tends to go out the moment, mean that it is from other similar groups supporting it; but it would with the bathwater. Some­ a matter of continually throughout the country. . . make more sense to take times. w hat is left is “some­ looking at and re-evaluating We also welcome in­ away the power from the thing” that is turned in on the politics of organisation, terested visitors to this area state to indoctrinate all our itself: it exists, and indi­ structure and power in the to come and see us. children for 10 years by viduals work for liberation, Women's Movement. Shelley Rata. abolishing compulsory doing their ow n thing using In Sisterhood. 2X1 Pohutukawa Ave. schooling. This does NOT the know ledge and impetus Liz Riddiford Ohope. mean taking away their re­ 4 sponsibility to provide free should be able to choose is (omitted words bold): schooling. whatever they wanted to do “ As I see it, it reflects Daybreak Bookshop Rosedale School Inc. with their lives whether it very much on the way these Daybreak Bookshop would Society is at present cir­ be a housewife, career, or women feel about lesbians like to hear from Broad­ culating a petition to this ef­ whatever. I told my friends in the first place. They have sheet readers of possible fect and it gives all of us an about Broadsheet be­ been very careful to specify books or publications they opportunity to register our cause only one of them had that it was just this small can sell in the bookshop. protest —that is if we really ever read it before. They group they were talking ab­ CARE about oppression in were all keen to read it so I Send title, publisher and au­ out. But I think it affects all thor to: Daybreak Book­ any form, and are not just said I'd do what I could. I of us. Lesbians are tolerated mouthing off about ourown took a few old copies to shop, P.O. Box 5424, so long as they keep their Dunedin. frustrations. school (ones which I could place. We are allowed to Yours in love and anger, part with) and had them put entertain . . Tricia. in the library. So far I’ve Petitions may be obtained had no feedback but would from: like to know if I could have Rosedale School Inc. Soci­ a bundle of back issues for ety, Rosedale Road, Al­ the library. (I'm sure many bany. staff members would read Phone 4159-769 or 478- them as well). 8487. Yours in Sisterhood, Supporting Fiona Millar. Broadsheet Broadsheet note: Any read­ Dear Broadsheet, ers who can distribute back I am \1V2 and am in the issues in schools, doctor’s 7th form at Queen waiting rooms, staff rooms Elizabeth College, Pal­ etc can write to Broadsheet merston North, and I've for a free bundle of back is­ been reading Broadsheet sues. A few stamps is ap­ ARE YOU PLANNING for a long time. (It's usually preciated to cover postage. a race between me and on travelling? Mum as to who reads it Mistakes first!) At my school we have a very large and comfort­ Dear Broadsheet, We specialize in all aspects of travel able senior library for When I sent you my two for women and would be very happy if study and reading. One day letters to Broadsheet in you contact Sally Mills or Betty a group of friends and I June, I requested that they Bayley, Trend Travel, NOW were sitting and talking in were to be published as there and we noticed sev­ they were, or not at all. I am eral copies of a magazine very disturbed to find that called Above Rubies on one of them has been sub­ Office at: 3 Bankside Street, Auckland 1 the shelves. I had already stantially changed. I realise (opposite Shortland Street car­ read one copy of this that as publishers you have park) dreadful magazine (once a right as well as a privilege All mail to: CPO Box 1916, Auckland. was enough) and I told my to publish what you wish, friends about it. The but I would have thought Phone: 31-189 or 793-594 magazine is written (I be­ that if a reader makes a re­ lieve) by a group of Christ­ quest of that kind, it rests ian women in our local area. on your publishing integrity Its sole aim seems to be to not to change anything. I inform women that they have often wondered if were only created by God in Broadsheet cares very order to serve and comple­ much about their readers’ ment men and that their wishes. Now I think I only vocation in life was to know. become good mothers. Yours in struggle. Naturally, this caused a lot Pilar Alba. invite you of indignation amongst us Broadsheet note: We rggret to an exhibition of women’s and began a heated discus­ the omission of some writing opening on 26 October sion on women's rights. words from Pilar’s letter at 7 p.m. This magazine condemned published in the September women who wanted to have issue of Broadsheet. This careers and follow their was not due to editing of her Parnell Art Gallery, 1 Scarborough own way of life without letter but was a typesetting Lane, Parnell men or with another wo­ error which was not picked Wine and cheese will be served man. The result of our con­ up by the proofreader. The versation was that women corrected text of the letter 5 BEHIND THE NEWS that energy. There was nothing out­ side the papers, except for the din­ Women’s Studies ner — and the dinner was embarras­ sing. The cost was obviously too high for half the women, and the Assoc. Conference “ high” table, with its scarlet cloth and conference officials was a de­ Last year’s annual conference of the Women’s Studies Associ­ nial of the communality we thought ation came in for a drubbing from feminists on account of its lack it was all about. The token Maori of feminist perspective and the inclusion of men. CLAIRE- speaker made it all worse. The only LOUISE McCURDY attended this year’s annual conference other Polynesian women there were held in Hamilton 31 August — 2 September and reports some the women who served at the tables. improvements. And the papers? The opening ses­ sion, a “ plenary” session was a dis­ The newly formed Women’s women who had enrolled, she re­ appointment. The papers were Studies Association (New Zealand) ceived the tentative programme. It thoroughly competent, but why is to be . . . would you believe “ a was too late to book a flight to New those? Myra Williams and Jackie feminist organisation formed to Zealand. It was also too late to start Cook, from the South Australian promote radical social change to write a paper. All the withdrawn Salisbury College of Advanced through the medium of women’s papers did mean that at least time Education had been billed as studies” ? Feminist? Promoting was available for discussion after “guests-of-honour” the night be­ radical social change? This will some of the papers, but it was em­ fore. Why not their papers? There have to be proved in the future, but barrassing for the women who were were several papers defining as­ the A.G.M. of the Women’s Studies .at the Conference to keep hearing pects of women’s studies. Why not Association (New Zealand) did their names on the lists of papers those? There was a whole session make that future possible. At that that would not be given, as though it on the Human Rights Commission, meeting a constitution was finally was their fault. which climaxed in a paper by Mar­ accepted, a constitution that had as I arrived at the social on the Fri­ garet Wilson. I didn’t hear it — that its first object, the description given day night, and was disconcerted to was the session with a male speaker above. find how disturbed I was by the pre­ — but the excitement she aroused The events leading up to this sence of (two) men. Last year, and the relevance of the topic would year’s Women’s Studies Associa­ much of the A.G.M. had been spent have made a good beginning to the tion conference seemed much the on the question of male membership Conference. same as last year. The problems of and by a vote they had been allowed organisation seemed unresolved. to stay. The tentative programme Twenty minutes is just too short Auckland members of the Associa­ had included a male speaker and I for a paper of any real intensity. The tion were posted two copies Of ev­ was already wondering whether to sessions that were really satisfying erything, or none. Some women avoid that session altogether and were those where someone had continued to receive the newsletter wait for the A.G.M., or to walk out and nothing else. Some received the before he spoke, or to announce my proposed constitution and the objection before I walked as a group proposal for the journal — twice. of women had done last year. I was Some received neither. And it irritated that I should be wasting my didn’t seem to matter whether one energy on this issue at all. One of the had paid a subscription. men did spend his time right through What did matter was that there the Conference serving drinks and was no reply when women offered washing dishes, but I’m not sure papers for the Conference. You sent that that made me happier. Role re­ off your title and your brief descrip­ versal? Self sufficiency? These tion — and waited. Patricia Grim- questions are a part of our present, shaw (author of Women’s Suffrage and our future, and right then I in N.Z.) wrote from Melbourne wanted womanspace. early in the year offering a paper, Last year I had regretted the ex­ and she heard nothing until just posure of all that womanspirit in the three weeks before the Conference, poetry reading to an audience where when, along with all the other there were men. This year I missed 6 withdrawn, and there were only two papers in ninety minutes. Both speaker and audience could relax The Party’s Over Now into a real participation in discus­ ‘7 woke up this morning with the terrors. First thing I thought when I opened my sion. And most of the papers were eyes was about The Dinner Party . . . how I was creating the biggest white elephant so good; offered by caring women, in the world." (Judy Chicago 918179) deeply involved in their subjects, they inspired a new vision, and a Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party, the pro­ the Museum, Doubleday (the publishers new understanding. duct of five years intensive labour on the of the Dinner Party book) and herself. This Conference was frustrating, part of 200 people, has nowhere to go. It Reports in the New Women’s Times was shown for three months at the San (which is published in Rochester) suggest the excitement aroused by the pap­ Francisco Museum of Modern Art (see that a great deal of feminist activity had ers continually diminished by the Broadsheet review, September 1979) been planned around the exhibition and surrounding circumstances. But the where it attracted 90,000 viewers, took that the Museum saw this as unwanted future might be different. A publica­ over $58,000, was reviewed in Life, competition for funds by Through the tions meeting set up a feasibility Newsweek, the New York Times, Art Flower, the corporation which produced group in Auckland which will inves­ News Ms, and other magazines — and The Dinner Party and which is still in tigate form and funding for a jour­ now it is to go into storage. debt. There has obviously been a lack of nal, while the editorial group based communication and a certain amount of The University of Rochester’s Memor­ misleading information bandied about — in Wellington gets on with organis­ ial Art Gallery, the only other gallery ing its content. The feeling that the but as Chicago points out, such details scheduled to show The Dinner Party has are merely clouding the real issue. journal should be by New Zealand cancelled. They’ve implied that it is for “ Rochester is not an isolated event, it is women, for New Zealand women, monetary reasons (although in San Fran­ connected with problems of getting the about New Zealand women was cisco the exhibition recouped the whole work shown all over,” says Chicago. clearly expressed, as was the desire cost of mounting it — a rare occurrence.) “ What are women artists to do? What for a feminist perspective. This Diane Gelon, Administrator of The Din­ do$s my experience mean to women’s cul­ meeting on the Saturday afternoon ner Party Project, says it’s a question of ture? If we’re not strong enough to pro­ foreshadowed the A.G.M. on the “control” of activities around the exhibi­ tect a work of art like The Dinner Party, Sunday morning. A constitution tion. The Museum wants control over it says a lot about how powerless we are as came out of the A.G.M. partly be­ “all programming and publicity in the women.” greater Rochester area” ; Chicago Information from New Women’s Times, cause a Women’s Studies Associa­ wanted publicity to be co-ordinated by tion (Inc.) has developed in Auck­ July 1979. ______land, and its constitution was avail­ able. It was quite simple to transfer from that constitution to the na­ tional one, the objects, the member­ ship clauses and the committee structure. The process was simple because the the women at the A.G.M. were almost unanimous in their vision of what the Women’s Studies Association (New Zealand) should be. It should be nation-wide — so the committee, who will make their own decisions about individual re­ sponsibilities, come from Auck­ land, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wel­ lington and Invercargill. It should be for women — so there are three categories of membership — voting membership for women, corporate membership for libraries and other interested organisations, and as­ sociate membership for other in­ terested individuals. And it should be — a feminist organisation for the promotion of radical social change through the medium of women’s studies. ■ Judy Chicago (centre) and assistants — working on Hypatia’s plate and runner Claire-Louise McCurdy 7 NEWS The missing children of Argentina “ Raquel Negro was abducted with her son, Sabastian, aged 18 months, at Mar del Plata on January 2, 1978. She was 6 months pregnant ...”

Amnesty International is using the Aires. In October 1976 his mother International Year of the Child to reappeared in official detention in draw attention to the missing chil­ Montevideo, Uruguay, but there dren of Argentina. Since the Argen­ has been no news of Simon since his tinian Armed Forces seized control abduction. of the country on March 24, 1976, many thousands of people have dis­ A group of women known as the appeared including many children. Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo The total number of disappearances gather in silent protest every Thurs­ since 1976 has been put at 15,000 by day in the square outside govern­ human rights groups working in ment house trying to obtain some Argentina, and many of these information about their missing re­ people are now presumed dead. latives. On January 18, 43 women Pregnant women and mothers were detained for several hours with small children have all disap­ after they tried to hold their usual peared, sometimes the mothers Thursday vigil in the Plaza de Mayo reappear, dead or in detention, but and on several subsequent occa­ no news of the children can be as­ sions the women have been pre­ certained. At the end of 1978 the vented by police from entering the Argentinian police reported that 40 square. Another group of women Simon Antonio Riquelo — abducted children had been given new iden­ who have come to be known as the at 20 days old. tities and sent for adoption. _ Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo their grandchildren would therefore The baby in the photograph is are searching for grandchildren they have been born in detention. Simon Antonio Riquelo. He was 20 have never seen. The grandmothers For further information contact days old at the time of his abduction only know that their daughters or Julian Gillespie, Amnesty Interna­ on July 13, 1976 with his mother, a daughter-in-laws were pregnant tional, Box 27-207, Upper Willis St, Uruguayan refugee living in Buenos when they disappeared, and that Wellington. Watch Out For NATIONAL LESBIAN SUPPORT NETWORK This! 22-year-old Christine Main of Ayr, A number of groups have formed or are forming as action groups/ Scotland was awarded only $1 theory groups/support groups for lesbians initially in Auckland with the hope of linking with lesbian groups beyond Auckland. A resource maintenance for her daughter born file has been started for lesbians and is based atthe Auckland Womens out of wedlock in 1977 because she Health Centre. Several groups have affiliated to the National Gay had not used the Pill. In the con­ Rights Coalition e.g. Resource Group and Media Action Group. tested action at the Ayr Sheriff Women involved in these groups would like to hear from women Court, Sheriff Neil Gow ruled that interested in a National Lesbian Support Network. Christine had been negligent in be­ coming pregnant. “ In my opinion.” The Health Centre hopes to run ‘coming out’ support groups and workshops on sexuality and would like to hear from women in or near he said “ in this modern day and age,, Auckland who are interested in these. when a young girl knows about con­ traception and has a supply of con­ Contact Address and Phone Number for above. traceptive pills available for her use AUCKLAND WOMENS HEALTH CENTRE: and regularly embarks on a course P.O. Box 47-090; Pohsonby; Auckland. of sexual relations with her boyf­ Ph. 764-506 riend, she must be taken in law to have voluntarily assumed the risk of falling pregnant.” 8 They support themselves by grants, donations and in the case of the Auckland centre some rental from groups and consultants who utilize Inaction on Health the house. Health centres in Aus­ tralia receive some financial aid from their government, however, in Recommendations view of our present administration’s International Women’s Year in 1975 spawned a whole rash of attitudes it may be wiser for wo­ men’s health centres in New Zea­ governmental conferences on education, health and social and land not to receive funding through economic development of women. Broadsheet was sceptical at a government department as it the time of the usefulness of such gatherings, now the Committee could easily lead to a compromising on Women has asked for comments on the degree to which the of aims and a watering down of recommendations of the Report of the 1977 Women and Health planned projects. Conference have been carried out. Women from the collective of The second mention of women’s the Auckland Women’s Health Centre have had a look at the health centres in the recommenda­ Report, especially with regard to the recommendations of wo­ tions is a rather strange one. It ap­ men’s health centres. pears in the “ Special Problem Groups” section which is entitled As far as implementation of re­ Health centres are mentioned at “ Depression and Suicide” . Sand­ commendations is concerned there least twice in the course of the re­ wiched in between IV/G/94/SG might as well not have been a con­ commendations. Under “Commun­ (“ It is recommended that the com­ ference, which points to the ity Services” II/H/45 it is recom­ munity be urged to recognise-that uselessness of any government- mended that “ Women’s Health depression is a reality, especially sponsored conference making re­ Centres be established to provide a for young mothers with dependent commendations unless there is fully supportive atmosphere for children; that the traditional sense some requirement that legislative women and to encourage research of being stereotyped is a major and executive bodies pay practical into women’s health needs. Note: cause of unhappiness and that many heed to such recommendations. (a) These centres may be inside, or women are not enjoying life and If we tried to list the recommen­ independent of, existing community need assistance.” ) and IV/G/96/SG dations not implemented we would services or organisations; (b) they (“ It is recommended that the educa­ be writing for a long time. Whole should be funded by the Health De­ tion system, from pre-school on­ sections of the recommendations partment; (c) they should be staffed wards, work to eliminate sexual e.g. those relating to the Royal by women, health professionals and stereotyping.” ) — is the following Commission on Contraception, lay people; (d) they should be capa­ clause; IV/G/95/SG “ It is therefore Sterilisation and Abortion, and ble of giving special consideration recommended that Women’s health education, are now pointless to women with cultural or com­ Health Centres, when established, in view of the Contraception, munication difficulties.”. educate women to adapt to the ex­ Sterilisation and Abortion Act of The three existing women’s pectation of their role.” 1977. A specific example in this area health centres in the country: Hopefully this is a printing error is the recommendations relating to Waltham in Christchurch; Hecate in and the recommendation should health education courses in the Wellington and the Auckland Wo­ read “educate women to not adapt schools. The conference recom­ men’s Health Centre, are not to their expectation of their role.” mended that such courses “ should funded by the Health Department. The report and recommendations include information on sex, sexual­ are depressing reading in terms of ity, V.D., parenthood, contracep­ where we are in regard to women's tion and interpersonal relations.” health issues two-and-a-half-years At present schools are removing after the conference was held. It is from their libraries books with in­ even more depressing when it is re­ formation on some of these subjects membered that the conference was for fear of contravening the above government sponsored. Maybe the Act. conference was a token handout to In relation to specific problems women and never intended to be like rape, while some legislative j taken seriously by a male gov­ changes have been made e.g. with ernmental structure; its recommen­ regard to evidence, important re­ dations promptly filed away in some commendations such as that “the obscure backwater of the Health law be widened to cover rape within Department. marriage” are far from being im­ Auckland Women’s Hea i Centre plemented or even considered. Collective. 9 IN BRIEF NEW AUSTRALIAN Coming out of the weekend were with one another. It will also act PUBLISHING HOUSE suggestions for action women in the of a resource file on films, vid­ area could take: “to encourage and eotapes, pamphlets, books, and FOR WOMEN support women who run for local women knowledgeable on particu­ Five Australian women are direc­ council elections in 1980, to investi­ lar women’s issues. Marianne was tors of a new feminist publishing gate work co-operatives for women initially employed by the YWCA house based in Melbourne. Called in Golden Bay and to begin new to investigate the Duke of Edin­ Sisters the group aims to fill a gap in women’s groups where there was burgh Award scheme. “ When I Australian publishing — books continuing interest.” Heather re­ found that it didn’t fully occupy strictly by and for women. Sisters is ports that the first of these, a wo­ me, Janet Eales, the executive di­ looking at mail order outlets, with man’s health collective, has now rector of YWCA, and I discussed both their own publishing efforts been formed by the Onekaka the possibility of setting up a re­ and other houses’ releases available Feminist Front, the group largely source file. This was a project at lower than retail prices. Three responsible for organising the that NOW had expressed interest publications are already ready for weekend. in.” Marianne sees the resource distribution; they cover women’s World Conference on as useful to women in the com­ poetry in Australia, discussion pap­ munity as well as feminists. “ I’d ers from the Working Women’s Women 1980 like to see a telephone service Centre in Melbourne, and stories We have a little more information which would be able to give out written about women in the country about the Mid-Decade World Con­ information on women’s concerns by Sydney writer Jean Bedford. Sis­ ference on Women to be held in and needs. It need not stay per­ ters’ brochure promises that it will Denmark next year. The Committee manently at the YWCA — be­ “ publish across the full range of on Women informs us that the cause of the temporary nature of feminist writing: creative, Mid-Decade Conference is to be my employment it may not be academic, polemical and general.” held in Copenhagen from 14-30 July able to stay there because of the Write to: Sisters Publishing Ltd, 1979 with the same terms of refer­ Y’s limited resources. They are P.O. Box 125, Carlton South, Vic­ ence as the 1975 International Wo­ making a short-term commitment toria, 3053, Australia. men’s Year world conference held to it to get it off the ground. It in Mexico, that is, “ Equality, De­ could go to an Auckland Women’s ONEKAKA velopment and Peace” . The sub­ Centre if one is established.” themes are to be “ employment, Women who are interested in BREAKS OUT education and health.” The confer­ using or contributing to the re­ Heather Harris, a member of the ence is to assess progress since 1975 source file can contact the YWCA Onekaka Feminist Front, reports and set priorities for the second half at 397 Queen St, Auckland / that a successful workshops for of the decade, decade. It is possible phone: 778-763. women weekend was held in Gol­ that a non-governmental meeting den Bay at the beginning of August. will be held at the same time. There “Golden Bay” she writes “ is not will be a preparatory regional con­ really noted for activists and its ference in Delhi in November this geographical isolation ensures an year for the Asian and Pacific reg­ essentially rural and conservative ions with the same themes as the population. However, a happening world conference. We will publish is still a happening in a small rural further information as it arrives. town and seventy women, some of Please note that the Committee on whom would otherwise not be in­ Women’smew address is: terested in feminist discussion, at­ Committee on Women, The Treas­ tended.” Speakers Sarah Calvert ury, Box 5010, Wellington. and Dorothy Stafford spoke to the women on health and women in the workforce and workshops looked at RESOURCE FILE subjects like marriage, women in al­ Auckland’s YWCA is in the ternative lifestyles, decision­ process of setting up a resource making, separation, divorce and be­ centre and information exchange. reavement and health. “ The Under the guidance of Marianne Feminist Activism and Strategy Doczi the centre will help put in­ workshop was held impromptu at dividual women and groups who the pub Saturday night.” want to learn or help in touch RALLY - 6RIN5 ft T

Nocturne Last night, the angels sang in my front room. Two were nicely drunk, and the little one, Wrapped in feathers by the fire, was singing in her sleep. In the middle was the angel dressed in black singing bluegrass with her throat o f gold, arch angel she, our nightingale with the birds o f her feather, singing. Gabriel fiddled in the corner weaving out and into wild laments and love songs as exalting as sweet red altar wine. Nancy Kiel at the 1977 United Women’s Con­ vention in Christchurch. Today, the house is quiet, angels gone, flown off" to other roofs, music is away of life. “ It’s eve ij thing in my life and as I clear the clutter they have left - just about. Almost all my energy and time is (oh yes, angels can be messy!) taken up with music. I go through stages when I I found harmonies everywhere sit at the piano all day. And when I’m not play­ dancing deftly in the fireplace ing music I’m thinking about it. I go to sleep lilting lightly through the lampshades every night with a new piece of music in my chording high up in the corners head, a new song. I never remember it in the humming softly in the armchairs morning but it’s a nice way to go to sleep.’’ Does of my song blessed home. she see herself as obsessed with music? “ I don’t Sandi Hall find it an obsession, but other people might. Someone said to me once: ‘You don’t think of Sandi Hall wrote this poem after the second anything except in terms of music.'I make a concert of women’s music at Auckland’s Island statement to you and you sing me a song’. It’s of Real Cafe in August. Despite having just true. Someone says ‘Tell me you love me’ and spent four hours on the stage, Linda and Jools you go ‘Bah dah dah da da, Tell me you love me, Topp, who sing under the name Homemade like I want you to . . .’You know? You keep on Jam, and Nancy Kiel had stayed up till six the remembering bits of old songs that’ve got the following morning at Sandi’s house singing and same lines. But of course it doesn’t drive me playing in an impromptu jam session. Nancy is crazy because it’s just part of me.’’ the angel in black, an apt description as anyone Nancy’s an American and started out taking a who’s heard Nancy sing would agree. Nancy theatre degree at Michigan State University. told me when I interviewed her that she couldn’t When she came to New Zealand she transferred imagine a better way of spending her time. “ It’s to a music degree at Canterbury University. But magic — it’s a real source of inspiration to spend at the same time she joined a rock band, so the time with friends who are good musicians be­ degree was abandoned. Women in rock music cause you keep learning new things, especially are a rare breed. “ You don’t find many women if they’re into stretching musically.’’ For Nancy who are really involved in heavy rock music. 11 You can almost count them off on two hands — excellent. Sonja Kristina from Curved Air, Grace Slick “There’s one thing that upsets me. I think it’s from Jefferson Airplane, Elkie Brooks who used really great that we have women’s concerts but to sing with Vinegar Joe, Maggie Bell, Joplin unfortunately that’s about the only time you see . . . Women just don’t go into the rock field. those women musicians. Why is that? Why They don’t have that push that so many men can’t they perform with other musicians in a have who’ll spend hours and hours playing riffs concert situation without having to organise a and working out songs.” I suggested that the concert specifically for women.” reason was maybe that women felt alienated As well as having a wonderfully rich and from rock music because it’s macho music, very powerful voice, Nancy Kiel plays a very beauti­ male. Nancy pointed out that there’s rock and ful flute. I asked her why she began playing this rock music. “Sure a lot of it’s macho ‘cock instrument. “ I was a singer and I started getting rock’ but it isn’t all like that, like jazz rock criticised within the band because I was just a music, the type of music put out by Genesis or singer not a musician. There’s a distinct differ­ Floyd. ‘Cock rock’ music is a pretty low form of ence. So I decided that instead of fighting for the rock music in my estimation. I think one of the ‘singers are musicians’ I would get an instru­ reasons why it’s so difficult for women to get ment. I’ve always liked the sound of a flute so I jobs in rock bands is because you need to be walked into a music shop and thought ‘OK if I quite pushy, because there’s a lot of competi­ can get a note out of it the first time I blow it, I’ll tion. For them to pick you you’ve got to be quite buy it’. And I blew it, and I got a note. So I took ambitious and I suppose a lot of men are wary of it home and I didn’t get another note for three women because so many of them quit after a days. But I learned and within two weeks I was while for whatever reasons. So if you’re a musi­ actually playing it in the band. And when you’ve cian you’ve got to be almost better than the men got people coming up to you and saying ‘Honey, that you’re competing with to get the job in the you've got a great voice but you’re the worst first place. Musically you’ve got to be so flautist I’ve ever heard’ that humiliation is hard talented that they go ‘Fuck! Did you hear that to live with for very long, so you learn really .woman keyboard player? She’s amazing!’ fast. So now I’m considered a musician.” How Whereas if you’re bad it’s ‘Oh yeah, yet another does she emotionally relate to the flute? “ Musi­ bad woman musician.’ ” cally it’s in the same register as my voice so it’s Nancy played with an all-female band in Syd­ almost an extension of my singing. It’s almost a ney for a while called Garbo. “ It was a rock part of me, when I play I just melt into it. Like a band and all the women were dynamite musi­ pen when you write. It’s a pure sound, it’s a cians, real gems. They’d done about six years pure instrument. It’s a beautiful instrument — cabaret before they formed their group so they the sound itself has a really woman type of tone. were very good. They were really, really lovely I like it for it’s clean, pure sound.” to play with.” “ I’ve had said to me by some women that we In New Zealand Nancy’s mainly been playing can t use any of the techniques, in terms of with Di Cadwallader. They’ve had to play in music, that men have adopted because it will pubs, in late-night cafes to survive and they’ve taint my music as a woman. That really annoys also played at the last two United Women’s me because I don’t think of technique as being Conventions and at many women’s concerts male or female — I think of technique as being and benefit concerts. Does she prefer playing at asexual. You take the technique and use if for all-women concerts? “ I prefer playing with your own ends. So what you’re doing is not good musicians. Now the women at the Island using a man-made way of producing, what of Real concert were good musicians and it was you’re doing is using the most logical and effec­ lovely playing with them. It was good fun, it was tive way to get the best result. a hoot. It was lovely harmony with all those And then, who made a flute? Are you going wonderful female voices soaring in and out. I to tell me a man made a flute? I don’t believe enjoy playing with any good musicians but it's that. I don t know who made a flute. There’s a true, there s a different type of energy when lot of different flutes around in a lot of different you’re playing with a group of women. You get a cultures.” lot of support, a lot of encouragement. If you “ I had one woman say to me T can tell the make a mistake you hear someone call out ‘Do difference between a man playing an instrument it! Do it! Don't worry about it, just sing. It’s and a woman' and I thought ‘Fuck! How clever great!’ You get a lot of encouragement which is you are, how incredibly clever you are!’ be- 12 cause I’ve been a musician for a little while and I “ We’re expected to not only play for nothing, can’t tell the difference. If I shut my eyes and but to pay for our own transport. And of course listen to a piece of music I can’t tell if it’s a man you’ve got to maintain your musical instru­ or a woman playing. What I can tell is whether ments and spend money on them. All the PA, they’re a good or bad musician. I don’t want to mikes and speakers, and the transportation to play with women just because they’re women. move it. Now who’s helping with that? And then And I don’t want them to play with me just they expect free music.’’ because I’m a woman —that’s a cop-out. I want The women’s movement ethics of them to want to play with me because I’m a good egalitarianism and collectivity make it difficult musician. I don’t want to give women second- for anyone who stands out by virtue of their rate music. They deserve better than that. Not special expertise or energy; this must be acutely everything is good because it’s women doing difficult for a performer, who by the nature of it!’’ the activity, is highly visible and must be ex­ I talked to Nancy about the women’s move­ troverted. However, a woman like Nancy Kiel, ment attitude to women musicians. Nancy and individualistic and dedicated to her music, will others frequently play both to entertain and to keep on playing, women’s movement or no fund-raise at women’s movement functions. women’s movement. As she says, it’s just hard “We got criticised at the United Women’s Con­ to win with feminists. vention because people thought we were being “ Some women in the movement won’t sup­ paid and they said it was a rip-off playing for port some women artists because of political women and asking money for it. Well, we we­ differences or something like that. So you’ve ren’t being paid. But would you ask a woman got to go out and play in pubs, and play with artist to paint twelve pictures for nothing? guys to earn money to eat and then we get criti­ Would you ask a woman welder or plumber to cised for that. When you’re an artist you’re just go in and do all the plumbing for nothing? No! so vulnerable because they say ‘You’re repre­ But women musicians are asked to do all the senting us and we don’t like the way we’re being concerts for nothing. Most of us aren’t even represented’. Well, fuck! Learn an instrument making enough money to eat. It’s great to do and go and represent yourself. Get off my back. benefit concerts for rape crisis centres and wo­ I'm a woman musician and trust me enough — men’s centres — really great. And if we had whether you do or not I couldn’t give a shit — to high-paid jobs as musicians it would be fine but let me choose what I’m going to say and where we haven’t. We’re seen as professional musi­ I’m going to play.’’ cians but we’re only professional because we Sandra Coney set certain standards of music for our audiences not because we’re making enough money to live Nancy (second from right) spent time with off. Sydney-based women’s rock group Garbo.

13 This article explores the relationship between psychology (which in this article is a term used to cover all of the therapeutic/helping professions including psychiatry and social work, as well as ideologies that seek to define and explain human behaviour and power) and oppression. Specifi­ cally, I want to explore the political (meaning exercising power) nature of psychology and the ways in which that relates to women and the op­ pression they suffer. Why breaking the circuit of control? Because psychology in all its forms has become one of the most powerful agents for social control. Although we cannot define what psychology is, nor what its exact function in our society might be, psychology has been described as: “ • • • an undefined technique applied to un­ specific cases with unpredictable results. For this BREAKING THE technique rigorous training is required.” (Ramy, 1964) CIRCUIT O F Psychology has also been described as a perfect blend of science, rational and authoritarian, and re­ ligion, incomprehensible and awe-inspiring. It is this CONTROL: blend of authority of science and the mysticism of religion that gives psychology such unique power and control over human beings: that places it in such a dominant position as the major instrument of op­ PSYCHOLOGY pression in many people's lives. Psychology is not a neutral science, it is political ideology defining not only how people should behave AND but acting as the agency whereby this definition will be upheld. It is not only in the Soviet Union that OPPRESSION psychiatry is used for the political ends of the state; if we look more closely at many of the so-called 'free' “ Psychology in all its forms has nations we can see examples of the use of psychol­ ogy to control dissidents, those who oppose actions become one of the most powerful of the state or who are a threat to it. The labels mad, agents for social control . . . it is a insane, bizarre, function to make people less effec­ political ideology defining not only tive in challenging a situation. Their actions will be how people should behave but acting judged in terms of the labels that have been applied to them. I think there is more than one kind of madness as the agency whereby this definition anyway. There is a personal experiential madness will be upheld.” This is the first part which can be both negative and positive and which is of a two-part article by SARAH alternately romanticised and ignored or repressed. This type of madness frightens and confuses a ‘sane" CALVERT looking at psychology world which seeks not to understand, but control and its political nature. There is also a social madness; the response of 14 powerless individuals (such as women) to the impos­ suggested that madness is a revolutionary concept, sible situations that they find themselves in. It is a they have tended to romanticise madness, while in response which is condemned by those who control fact it is often a harrowing and unpleasant experience society and who seek to perpetuate the world as it is, for those actually involved. Others have suggested thus they ignore or control it, seeking to prevent this that it is society that is mad, and have concentrated madness becoming a revolution among the oppres­ their attacks on the institutions of this society such as sed. the nuclear family and the rigid stereotypes of be­ Psychology is supposed to explain human be­ haviour we are expected to conform to. But real haviour, it is held to be a science that will allow us to change means analysing and confronting the issues predict and understand ourselves and our fellow of sexism, race and class and this new force in human beings. There are two major streams in psychology has a poor record in these areas. psychology: behaviourism and humanism. What do The old functions of a religion, fostering the interests they tell us about ourselves? Behaviourism sees the of the state while appealing to the masses, are the task of psychology as learning to predict and control current functions of psychology. The professionals the behaviour of human beings, as well as lower who work in these professions have aligned them­ forms of life. Basic to this belief is the view that all selves with the interests of the system. They take organisms are passive and inert, moved into action stereotypes, based on definitions of acceptable and shaped by environmental factors. Manipulation human behaviour decided by the system and those of these external factors will change and shape be­ who have power within it, and develop methods of haviour. Some critics suggest that the success of be­ forcing people to conform to those stereotypes. haviourism in modifying human behaviour is due less These include setting up definitions of abnormal be­ to its world view and specialist skills (possessing haviour that include deviation from acceptable pat­ knowledge peculiar to itself) than that these terns of being, and they develop the treatments for specialists have borrowed common knowledge, this. If we look closely at this closed system we see things that we all ‘know’ and wrapped them up in that it is the poor, minorities, women and political fancy jargon and clever symbols. This is the know­ dissidents who are most at risk of being labelled and ledge of the marketplace that human beings have treated, not because they are mad but because they adapted for thousands of years in order to survive. present a threat to the system’s smooth functioning There is nothing especially academic or different by pointing to its limitations. Psychology is the most about it, the words and symbols have been changed effective tool yet developed to keep these people in but that has merely removed it from the common line. This is why psychology is a political activity. ground of understanding. Behaviourism is a view of human behaviour that is ideally suited to those who In New Zealand almost all the professionals who are employed as psychologists (and therapists) are wish to control the individual, for it suggests that employed not by the person who is seeking treatment everyone is controllable. but by third parties, most significantly, the state. Humanistic psychology was an outgrowth of the re­ Thus they are responsible immediately not to their volt among some psychologists against both be­ client but to their employer. They share their skills haviourism and psycho-analysis (the Freudian view and insights with the very institutions of oppression of human behaviour). It focuses on the experiencing that many of their clients are trying to fight. Often person, based on the concept of free will, of the abil­ they operate out of inaccessible institutions such as ity of the individual to affect and change her/his life universities, institutions which are once again set up by actions and thoughts. It is supposed to be based to perpetuate the system by allowing only selected on the concept of the ‘whole human being’ (without students into them and by teaching only politically being provocative I could say the whole male human acceptable material. Once professionals are trained being). This might be seen as a step forward from they operate in a hierarchical system which ensures behaviourism which makes no claims to any univer­ that others decide on priorities and control the real sal^ in human behaviour. Humanistic psychology power. Becoming part of the decision-making group encourages individual solutions to people’s prob­ requires that one adopts their values and priorities, lems (for those who can afford them), an internalisa­ becomes a part of the club. tion of those problems rather than a reaching out for If we look at research, we can see clearly that the solidarity and strength. While it is valuable to affirm ends to which psychology is put serve the status quo the healthy side of normal human activity, to remove rather than people.Psychologists avoid studying this activity from an awareness of the oppression, those who support the profession and the system poverty and powerlessness of most individuals is to (such as politicians, religious and economic leaders); provide another prop for the continuation of the sys­ they avoid studying aspects of the human system tem. which could embarrass the people who hold power. More recently there has been a new set of ideas about When they do engage in research in the real world mental illness and madness called radical psychol-% they do so from an apologist point of view, that is, ogy which is often identified by the slogan ‘therapy is they start from the point of view that it’s the indi­ change not adjustment’. These psychologists have vidual that needs to be changed or adjusted, not the 15 mainstream of the society. psychology, especially humanistic psychology with It should be noted that where anyone does do a piece its emphasis on personal growth and change, are of research that looks at the reality of the human aimed at middle-class values. This may explain why condition ahd people’s responses to it, she/he is it is that psychology is most at home and successful likely to be attacked both for not writing in ‘jargon’ with middle-class people. Many psychologists feel ill and on methodological grounds (the way in which at ease with working-class people or oppressed they did the research). This is a very easy way of groups. They emphasise verbal communication, the destroying dangerous ideas, by denying their value separation of thoughts and actions, they tend to see not by actually questioning the ideas themselves but individual, internal blocks to self-achievement and the ways in which they were researched or written change. This is a classist and patriarchal concept. up. It is significant that psychology today is more For working-class people, the external blocks are interested in statistical design and methodology than likely to be more important. They deal daily with it is in ideas. Those in power are most scared of social/economic oppression, with housing problems, ideas; they are the most threatening thing in the poor food and economic stress. These are the pre­ world. dominant features of their lives. Their failure is usu­ ally a failure to incorporate the protestant work ethic of the middle-class. Classism means that therapy is based on concepts of personal failure, and for ĒLĒc working-class people (and oppressed groups) this can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Eventually the ‘de­ viants’ accept these labels and attempt to change themselves. The operation of this control by psychology occurs T R E A T M f primarily through the use of diagnosis and treatment of so-called deviant behaviour. The label ‘mad’ is DISPARITY, often sufficient control in itself, removing the right of m a d n e s s self-determination and control of one’s own life. Howeverpsychology has refined the use of diagnosis & i R b by applying technical terms to‘madness’ which only other professionals are able to identify and deal with. The choice of a particular label (such as schizop­ hrenic, paranoid, manic etc.) is arbitrary in many cases and few professionals actually agree on the ° z ° > application of these labels. Once labelled, approp­ riate treatment, also determined by psychologists on fairly arbitrary grounds, will be applied. Once again there is considerable disagreement about these forms of treatment. Here in New Zealand, the use of Breaking this circuit of control whereby psychology ECT (shock treatment) is a controversial area but is used not only to define what is acceptable human thousands of people (especially women) continue to behaviour but is the enforcement agency, determin­ receive this treatment. Professionals do not have to ing treatment for deviation and defining the ‘cured’ account for the label they have applied or for the person, means more than having an understanding of form of treatment they order. The patient could re­ the political aspect of therapy. If we are to oppose fuse but such behaviour is usually seen as further the use of psychology for control of society we must evidence of deviance. Added to this, many patients understand the basis of its oppression. I think there are not in a position to refuse treatment; they may be are three bastions of oppression in society: racism, in a psychiatric institution against their will or they class and sexism (especially heterosexism, the con­ may lack any other realistic choice (which is often trol of women by men through heterosexuality and the case for women) or they may lack sufficient in­ all its functions). Racism is rampant in psychology formation to make an informed decision about their which has failed to demonstrate more than a liberal situation. Much treatment involves either a loss of understanding of the effects of racial oppression and personal control or a loss of awareness and under­ injustice. However as'a white person I am not in any standing. Drugs are particularly at fault here but be­ position to comment further on this aspect of the havioural techniques can be equally repressive by control exercised by psychology. 1 feel somewhat denying the individual a chance to work through moTe at home looking at the relationship between the problems from an aware point of view. At the basis two others, class and sexism, and psychology. of treatment is the need to control and adjust Psychology is middle-class in its functions and its people’s behaviour (which can include their thoughts ideas. Its practitioners are mostly middle-class in and emotions), to prevent deviance and political background (and upwardly mobile) and the ideas of challenge. One study quoted research in which pa­ tients and staff at a mental hospital were given a 16 political attitudes questionnaire. The patients were more radical in their political views than were the staff and a second survey found that the political views of the patients had a major effect on the diag­ nosis and subsequent treatment of these patients. Where patients’ views were politically left wing they were seen as being more psychologically disturbed. Studies such as this one have implications for other deviants, doubtless those patients whose views or behaviour differ in other than the political area are also treated as being more disturbed. This is a logical continuation of the view that allows one group of people to define appropriate behaviour and act to force others to accept that definition. Having a radical view of psychology does not mean that we should romanticise madness or remove it from ourselves but enjoins us to regret the wastage of human life when oppression of any sort denies us real fulfilment. Madness can do this as can social control of the individual. Some authors have suggested that the major obstacle psychology faces in making a sig­ nificant contribution to the human condition has been the inability of psychologists to translate their concerns into meaningful intelligent professional be­ haviour. If this is the case then where do those women who perform these professinal tasks stand in relationship to the oppressive institution of psychol­ ogy? who are psychologists/therapists/social workers I believe that a feminist psychologist/therapist etc., act to challenge and change that. This begins should function as a revolutionary midwife, deliver­ with asking where each individual stands, to whom ing women of their dreams and fears, not as a do we owe allegiance, how much is invested in jobs superior being, but as an equal, one of the women, a and security, getting degrees, what control do these helper, an experiencer. She should act to place any allegiances give the system over the individual. skills she might have at the disposal of all women. As Feminists have argued that because professional I see it we are either midwives within the revolution women have more invested in the system they are or we are collaborators in the hell created by the more likely to sell out to it — is this true? Redstock- patriarchy. ings, an American feminist group, has suggested seven ways in which women who work within the “The women say shame on you. They say you are system (especially the therapy/psychology system) domesticated, forcibly fed, like geese in the yard could operate to extend feminism; of the farmer who fattens them. They say you 1. Speak out with anger, strength and dignity. strut about, you have no other care than to enjoy 2. Trash things —actions speak louder than words. the good things your masters hand out. solicitous 3. Develop contacts with other women, get to­ for your wellbeing as well as they stand to gain. gether, support each other. They say there is no more distressing spectacle 4. Have awareness, do not be afraid, see the reality than that of slaves who take pleasure in their ser­ of the world and take strength from that vision. vile state. They say you are far from possessing 5. Resist oppression. the pride of those wild birds who refuse to hatch 6. Look at the ways in which you oppress women, their eggs when they hve been imprisoned. They start to deal with that. say take an example from the wild birds who even 7. Be public, join the rest of womankind. if they mate with the males to relieve their bore­ Sarah Calvert (c) 1979 dom, refuse to reproduce so long as they are not at liberty." The second part of this article, “Bitch, Sisters, Bitch: Monique Wit tig, ‘ ‘ Les Guilleries". Mid wives and Revolutionaries” , will look at the We must ask ourselves whether we perpetuate or specific relationship between psychology and the op­ even encourage disparities between the ‘haves’ and pression of women, and postulate changes that the ‘have nots’ by the very nature of the ways in feminism might make. which we act or operate. The personal is political; if we have power of any form over another person then we are part of the oppressive system. Those of us 17 IF l AOC HER NOW SHdS BOUND 70 ' Dear s^y y e s ...... i'll mve My &RTy < & as taken care. Feminist CF f& C TUB REST CF M y UPE I s m e l l a Ra t ...... Fanny I'D BETTER WRITE TV M dM IN /S T FANNY FAST. Broadsheet’s Own Agony I Column \

Dear Feminist Fanny, Dear Feminist Fanny, Dear Feminist Fanny, I am fifteen and my boyfriend I am a twenty-five-year-old My man and I have a really wants to have sex with me. I think mother of two. My husband often equal, sharing relationship except I’m too young. What do you think used to take me out to dinner, he for one thing. He uses a condom is a good age to start having inter­ would give me flowers and little but refuses to dispose of it after­ course? presents and all the little attentions wards. I am the one who has to Cherry a woman likes to receive. How­ pick it off the bedside table and ever, since I’ve had the children all flush it down the lavatory. He says Dear Cherry, the romance has gone out of our he’s done his share by using it and We think 75 is a good age to marriage. Now we spend our that it’s my responsibility to deal start having sex with men. If your °\* evenings with me washing dishes with it afterwards. Do you think boyfriend really wants you, hell and him slumped in front of TV. this is fair? wait. What has happened to our mar­ Gumboots riage? Dear Feminist Fanny, Squeaky Clean Why doesn’t Broadsheet have a Dear Gumboots, centrefold for those of us who Try splitting it down the middle have long nights? . . . preferably afterwards. Itchy fingers Dear Squeaky, Dear Itchy, Yours is a classic case of: First We don’t actually find that you sink into his arms, then you women have a crease down the end up with your arms in the sink. Dear Feminist Fanny, middle — why don’t you discard Our advise? Pull the plug out and I am a seventeen-year-old girl your long nights — be daring, send your marriage down the and lately I’ve been having funny sleep in the raw. drain. thoughts for the boy next door. 18 Whenever he comes to visit my Dear Feminist Fanny, Dear Feminist Fanny, brother I find I’m stuttering and I am a fourteen-year-old girl and My boyfriend uses a condom stammering and can’t look at him hate the school holidays because I when we’re making love however, without going weak at the knees. love school so much. My favourite they keep on slipping off inside Dear Fanny, I am worried I maybe subject is physical education be­ me. What can we do? abnormal — do you think I could cause our gym teacher is just so Galoshes be heterosexual? neat. I get this churning feeling in Dismayed my stomach when I see her. I think Dear Galoshes, I’m in love with her. Do you think I Dear Dismayed, He must withdraw as soon as will grow out of it? possible after ejaculating, as soon Don’t worry. Lots of girls go Rompers through a stage where they’re at­ as he can feel his penis returning to a resting state (otherwise known as tracted to their brother’s friends or Dear Rompers, limp). For some men this is almost the woodwork teacher at school. We most certainly hope you It’s just part of growing up. If these immediate, for others it is con­ don’t grow out of it. Forget all the stant. Check to see your boyfriend feelings persist you may need to nonsense about boyfriends and seek professional counselling. is putting it on properly, if he is brides. Remember the greatest re­ having difficulty, try using pliers. lationships in the world are bet­ ween women. Read about Ger­ trude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, Dear Feminist Fanny, Colette and such famous women. Dear Feminist Fanny, I think Broadsheet is anti-man. And believe me, some of them My wife seems to have lost in­ I don’t like it because some of started with the gym mistress. Fail­ terest in sex. She always says she my best friends are men. ing that, would you like to settle for has a headache. When we do Auntie Tom a witty middle aged, agony col­ have sex she doesn’t seem to Dear Auntie Tom, umnist? enjoy it much even when I hold P.S. Stamped addressed en­ back for five minutes. Some of your best friends may velope enclosed for your reply. well be men — but would you Desperate Dicky want your sister to marry one? Dear Desperate Dicky, Dear Feminist Fanny, Look at yourself— are you still When I’m making love with my the attractive young man she mar­ Dear Feminist Fanny, boyfriend it doesn’t fell very satis­ ried? There are a number of things I have met this marvellous man factory — it feels like a tadpole you can do to regain your wife’s and wish to really get to know him. wriggling round inside me. I’ve interest. Try popping out in your, I have thought of asking him to heard that the size of a man’s penis lunchtime at work to a health dinner so have purchased red doesn’t make any difference to a studio for some muscle building candles to match my red linen tab­ woman’s enjoyment. What should exercises. A visit to a hairdresser lecloth and red carnations in a Ido? for a change of hairstyle or colour crystal vase. I can hire some sterl­ Perplexed Pisces can work wonders. What about a ing silver cutlery which will go well new outfit — some new black with my Wedgewood dinner set Dear Perplexed, briefs. Try hiring a sunlamp to get and Queen Anne dining room You could wait for him to grow back that youthful tan you had suite. Do you think I, should invite into a frog but I doubt that he’ll when you frequented the surf him? turn into a prince. Go fishing for club. Is your sexual technique all Hazel Nutt another — you may have a whale that it should be? Perhaps you of a time. should brush up witn one of the Dear Hazel, more recent books on female sex­ A note of caution is required uality like “The Hite Report”. For here dear. To begin with there is instance, some men aren’t aware no such thing as a marvellous man Dear Feminist Fanny, of the importance of the clitoris in but should you seek his company I am a seven stone, 4’ 11” wo­ satisfying a woman sexually. forget the dinner table trappings man. My husband is 6’ 2” and has Good luck. and concentrate on the menu. I recently put on a lot of weight. suggest Cream of Toadstool soup, Sometimes when we’re making Braised Partridges spiked with love I get this suffocating feeling'. Slug Pellets, Mercury Marble Cake Gasping Gail Dear Feminist Fanny, and coffee. My friends vouch that- What is a clitoris and where can I this menu will render any man Dear Gail, buy one? powerless to resist your charms. Try sitting on top. Desperate Dicky. 19 Dear Cousin Sal, Thanks fer the letter, which came by just as I was on my way back from gatherin’ the eggs, so I thot I’d drop you a line while boilin’ one up fer breakfast. I’m right sorry to hear yu so down, ‘cause that ain’t no way to appreciate the day. All that talk about you bein’ scared of love ain’t nothin’ but the jitters. You just do what feels right, and what feels good is bound to come after, fer sure. I bin in love so many times you’d think I’d get tu be an expert. Or immune. But no, ever’ time that shinin’ process starts, ever’thing I know about love goes plumb outa my head, and there I am agin’ grinnin’ like my friend Darlene lookin’ at two cakes of hash. Not only that, it jest never enters my head that other folks is lookin’ at me, an’ can see plain as day that I’ve bin lovestruck. No, I jest roll my smile along an’ think they’ll never notice. Lemme tell you right now, it don’t matter a dogies damn what the object of your affections looks like, says or does. Love is the one thing that can turn a pig’s ear inta the finest prime rib roast yu ever seen. An’ it sure changes folk, too. You d think with ever’one likin’ to be loved, an’ lookin’ fer someone to be special to, love would be easy. But it ain’t never bin so. Most times, I’m in love with You, You’re in love with Her, and She can’t see You for the stars in her eyes about Terrific from Timaru. Now I don’t know why that should be so, but I reckon it could have somethin’ to do with them Muses. Well, I mean, there’s nine of ’em up there, all supposed to be inspirin’ folks the whole time. I reckon when they get bored, they go off an’ add one more string to the latest tangles in a triangle that’s tryin’ to be a pair. ‘Cause when you think about it, satisfied lovers are a bit borin’, specially at first when all they can talk about is each other; and you don’t like to look too close, it’s like bein’ a keyhole peeper. Mind you, there’s love and love. And love and Love. You know. There’s love that’s mainly throbbin’ thighs, with the flames of lust havin’ you jump outa your jeans each time your eyes meet. An’ then there’s the yearners— the folk who sit at the far end of the room from each other, and yearn. If one goes to the other, it’s all disconnected — long distance love means just that. An’ there’s puppy love' rollin’, tumblin’, bitin’, scratchin’, not much fuckin’ but a lotta pantin’ after! Green-eyed love is bad love. I remember when one of my friends was in love, an’ she couldn’t bear the thot of her lover even goin’ to the store, seein’ other folk. They had a helluva great time in bed, an’ misery the rest of the day. An’ they ended up on a note so sour that she didn’t need lemon in her gin for a year. Mother-love can be a problem, and there’s two sides tu that one. On one side, there’s the older women failin’ for younger lovers, an’ worryin’ about their bodies and their age, an’ on the other, there’s the youngsters failin’ for the older women, wonderin’ how in hell they can even be seen by someone so mature, poised an’ confident. That’s all as foolish as a 21 year old worrying about drinkin’ 12 year old whiskey, ‘cause no matter who drinks it, the quality of the booze is always the same, and likewise, it makes sense that folk who wanna drink booze should oughta start at the quality end! When I think about what I want in someone to love, it don’t seem like much, jest someone to watch sunsets with, an’ cuddle at night, an’ be willin’ to cut my toenails, and kiss me after eating onions. An’ who lays her voice on mine, and lets our souls clasp hands. Now that’s called romantic love, an’ it sure does occupy a lot of song space. Which ain’t so bad, ‘cause singin’ and talkin’ and thinkin’ about love is a whole lot more interestin’ than most things, includin’ shellin’ peas, which is what I gotta go do right now. Hello to all your home folks, and kissin’ cousin love to you,

^ Harrie j of MANY FACES The 20 “And if in my heart of hearts I do not believe in love as a totally genuine feeling apart from my imperative need to invent it (in which case it is real and you are not), I nonetheless refuse to deny it, since it truly does exist in and o f itself: a vice, an urgency, a precipice, whereas you are scarcely more than a motivation, a beginning, a garment in which I envelop you, a garment woven of my much greater pleasure at feeling myself moved by passion than in loving you, a cloak for involving you in my much greater pleasure in saying I love you than in really loving you.” And lying in the truth of this is the knotted question — what if it were not so? — and the cry of a desolate night — let it be different; let true love come to me and comfort my isolation, fill the void that surrounds me, lend me a future to share, a seed to create. Let me joust with a mind that can meet mine, let me share tenderness with a body that can equal my passion, let me explore with another the complexities and crevices of the world. Do I hope? Or do I stand alone in pride and testimony? Where do you stand, my sisters? I have suffered the pains of love. Nights of lying in tense expectation for the beloved footstep; dawn arriving on a face of tears. The racks of jealousy, the hate, the suspicion of every woman, of every glance. Thoughts of nothing but the other, memorising his passions and moods, the moulding of self to ease his life, giving way to his superior wit and wisdom. Dreams — are they mine or his that I take up? Slowly to find that I only want to do what he does, that I only want to be where he is. I want to show off to others: I am part of his life and I am indispensable to him — am I not beautiful and womanly? My attributes are those of a slave — I am willing to work for him when he wants it. I sublimate myself to his desires but I hide my own in case he should think me unseemly; I prepare myself for his future and declare myself willing to carry his child. Tell me, my lover, how much you love me for it. Say those three words — I love you — because they set my heart racing and I let myself believe all I want of your love. But you leave. And in the sorrow of your leaving I find the delight of the released prisoner. In the vacancy I find myself waiting for me. In the hollowness of my thoughts I find the truth. My love was a lie. Janet Stephenson The quote at the top is from ‘New Portugese Letters - ■The Three Marias’ by Maria Isabel Barreno, Maris Teresa Horta and Maria Velho da Costa. Paladin 1975.

Men have forgotten how to love women have forgotten how not to. We must risk unlearning what has kept us alive.

Robin Morgan from “ Monster”

21 STROPPY STRIPPERS BEATTWe BOSS- Upstairs at the Las Vegas strip club in Auck­ tery in the peeling off of garments. With a prac­ land's K’Rd it’s predictably red carpet, red tab­ tised flick the stripper tosses them over her lecloths, dark corners and flashing lights. After shoulder where they land expertly, neatly, interviewing a stripper, one o f a group o f women through the gap in the curtains. The idea seems who'd taken union action to get better working to be not so much to strip, as to get naked as soon conditions in the clubs, we decided we'd better as possible. She offers the catch o f her bra to one take a look ourselves to see just what the work of the football team. He undoes it as seriously as involved. a five-year-old attempting his first button - and I t’s $6 to get in and stay as long as you like but as unerotic ally. His mates make muffled noises by looking reluctant we manage to get the three o f admiration as he dives back into his seat. The o f us in for $ 11. We station ourselves in a solitary stripper looks bored. Once unclad she doesn’t so possie above the stage - 1 wondered why all the much dance as walk up and downs the catwalk guys were sitting below it until the performance with the occasional bump of the hips and mock began. The soundman plays thumping rock so pout at the guys. loud conversation is impossible and in those Stripper number two has a very anxious look tones of phoney enthusiasm beloved of PJ’s on her face. She performs a very laboured sort o f exhorts us to partake of the house’s “ Coffee, bump and grind and gets out o f her clothes even coke and uh, toasted sandwiches from our lovely faster - no point in trying to titillate here - she’s topless waitress. ’ ’ also the topless waitress. The men are either alone or in half football The men seem rather overawed - the few team sized groups. They could be the owner of comments are tentative rather than bawdy. Mind the local hardware shop or the sales team from a you it's a bit hard to play the man of the world carpet manufacturers. They look neatly dressed, when there’s only about twelve people present clean shaven and respectable -just normal guys. and the atmosphere’s more gloomy than The only other woman is middle aged, wears long glamorous. And coke hardly wets your whistle. white gloves and is stationed in the middle at the The show goes on . . . we leave. back. Debbie Robertson’s been a stripper at K’ Rd’s With a flourish of pulsating music and a dim­ Pink Pussycat for over a year. In August she and ming of lights the soundman breathlessly intro­ other women from the club got fed up with their duces the first stripper. . . . "the lovely Stormy treatment by their employer and joined Actor’s Nights - a ve-rry foxy lady ...” Equity. Broadsheet talked to her about the job and The clothes come off quickly, there’s no mys- and the industrial action. was that. They said I was really good and they The job used to ring me up after that when they were

“ You do it once an hour" short. I got dragged into it by all the glamour and attention. It’s just a big ego trip, that’s all it is. I didn’t find an ad in the paper and think Going back to working in the chemist shop would “That’s me” . I never thought I’d end up being a have seemed very boring. After working at the stripper. It all started because I had a friend Vegas I went to the Pussycat — it’s a bit higher working at the Vegas and I used to go up with class. friends to visit her. Then one night, when it was It’s not really like working, it’s a bit like going my birthday, they said “Come on, lower it!” . I to a night-club — you’ve got music and people. was quite drunk and I got on the stage and that You're supposed to be there from 7.30 till half 22 past twelve on Monday and Tuesday; till half past and your sore eye and your pimple. Someone one Wednesday and Thursday and three o’clock says look at your double chin and you start get­ Friday and Saturday. The only night you get off is ting worried. Sometimes when I get really Sunday. It’s an easy job, a lazy job. On Saturday paranoid I put a record cover up in front of the you’re on the stage seven times. There’s usually mirror and look the other way. By the end of the about five or six girls and it’s an hourly show night your makeup looks like it’s ten years old. through the night. You do it once an hour. So it’s Past twelve o’clock you can never look really not heavy work physically, but mentally . . . good — you look tired and your eyes are blood- when there’s a lot of people and really crowded shot. it’s a bit hard. The audience It can be areally happy atmosphere. All us girls “ We're just girls dancing in the nude." — we’re like sisters. We spend most of the time with people from work — we all go through things You get lots of abuse from people in the audi­ together. We’re all sitting round in the nude to­ ence. People'come in expecting all these Playboy gether so obviously we talk about anything to bunnies with huge tits. We’re just girls dancing in each other — we feel really close. There’s really the nude. Most of them have been drinking and nothing to do except sit round when you’re wait­ they make derogatory comments about your ing to go on, unless you want to go out and sit in body. You’re going out there to do your act and the audience and be abused. But on nights when you’ve got people giggling, nudging and swear­ everyone’s in a sort of down mood, really quiet ing. It’s expecially bad with a football club or a and just staring in the mirror because there’s stag do. You’ve got to force yourself to smile and nowhere else to look, there’s mirrors everywhere be nice otherwise you’ll get booing. You can’t tell . . . There’s mirrors everywhere when you’re on what they’ll be like till you get out there. Some­ stage and in the dressing room there’s mirrors in times you go out there feeling really good and front of you. You’re forced to look at yourself you’ve got a nice flat tummy and you get “ Yea, Photos: N.Z. Her:.1d

23 too skinny” and you think “Oh, no!” But you through the door and we got “ You’re not dancing can’t expect everyone to like you. It gets pretty well enough, You’re not showing enough” . But depressing. ' it’s not that. It’s gas and there’s not much money Sometimes you get a horrible crowd and you around. Nightclubs are going through a bad get paranoid and you need a drink to get out there stage. There’s not many people showing up. and dance. I’ve never been so run-down in my They tried to get us to do these new and exciting life just from drinking and smoking so much. things. They wanted us to do spreaders, you Some nights you just can’t handle it. You think, know, to open your legs on the stage. Some girls “ My hair’s greasy. I can’t dance. I feel stiff.” do it, but some girlsjust don’t and I wouldn’t. To You need a drink just to relax. Sometimes you me you shouldn’t be forced to do it. I mean, that’s just feel like screaming. You can walk on the against what I believe in. It’s part of my personal­ stage and dance and there’ll be lots of people ity, you know. You can’t change someone just there but they’ll all just sit quietly. It’s so embar­ for the sake of the audience wanting to see that, rassing. They’re all just staring at you. Some­ but anyway they don’t. Like perverts are getting times when you think about it you’d rather have fewer and fewer; it’s couples and young guys the rowdies. You’d rather hear them yelling out coming into the club. All of the audience isn’t rotten things than all just sitting there completely coming in to see what you had for breakfast. silent. It’s a real nervy job. I was told that if I wouldn’t do spreaders, open Sometimes when it’s boring in the dressing my legs on stage, my wages would be dropped room, or when you can’t hear yourselves be­ from $120 to $90 a week. I said “You can’t do cause the music’s so loud and there’s drunks that” but he said yes, he had every right to. banging on the door you go out to sit in the That’s when we thought we needed a union to audience. You just want to sit there and watch protect us. I thought “I’m not going to sit here the show and have a quiet time away by yourself and take this. I’ve been here for a year and al­ and have a little think. And yet people come up to ways helped out. I’ve always turned up, haven’t you and say “ How much?” and “ Do you go had many night’s off. I’ve been the only one here straight home?” You have to explain yourself all waiting for the other girls to turn up lots of the time. “ What do you do this for? Why are you times.” here? How much do you get? How did you get> into this?” They’re either trying to pick you up or The union guy was rung up and told to come suggesting that your main reason for walking up. We were told that if any of us had anything to through the audience is to be picked up. You get do with the union we would be fired on the spot. some nice guys wanting to talk to you, but they’re So we said “ Right, we’ve got to do this together, obviously not thinking of you as someone to talk every one of us.” We all felt a bit guilty — think­ to. They just want to get something out of you. ing “ Oh, what have I done.” I don’t know why. Some of them are interested in why you’re there We had a right to do it. We talked to the union guy but in the end it’s always “What are you doing and signed a paper and he said “ From here on after work?” you’re members of Actors’ Equity.” Then Rain- They’ll offer you $50 as you walk past. None of ton (Rainton Hastie, owner of the Pink Pussycat) the girls now are into prostitution. When the strip fired me and the sound man. So we packed up our clubs first opened they were because they were things, the whole lot of us, and just walked out. so low paid they had to earn more money but it’s The next day we all met at the union office at changed now. It’s ordinary young girls, not old twelve o’clock. We all sat round and had a big tarts and prostitutes. discussion with Don Farr, secretary of Actors’ It gets embarrassing when there’s women Equity — he said he would speak to Rainton and there. Like every now and then the girls say we’d all meet back there at five o’clock to go back there’s lots of women out there, lots of couples. to work. But Rainton wouldn’t speak to him so Everyone feels a bit ... ‘cause it’s women when we met there at five o’clock we decided to watching you and you think “ Well, I’m one of picket. We were going all the way. We had no them and there lam. . . and I’m not really . . .” money, we’d been fired without pay. They rang South Pacific Television, the paper and every­ The union thing and said “ There’s'going to be a happening "It was for the people after us." tonightSo we marched down the street — there were only five of us. That was the whole It started when we got fed up with being abused thing. There wasn't that many people. It’s diffe­ on bad nights. One night we got only thirty people rent if it’s the Drivers' Union or the Westfield 24 Freezing Works where there’s all those people happened because it was hard keeping on work­ and all the people who are depending on them. ing there. Everyone just sort of drifted away. But Then all these guys from the Packers’ Union there’s an award being drawn up for strip clubs so and other unions turned up — all these big muscu­ that’s alright. It really wasn’t for us. We knew we lar guys and they said “ Hello girls, we’re right were going to go soon anyway. What we thought behind you here.” Then Don Farr and other was, not trying to be sort of good Samaritans, it people from the union turned up. People were was for people after us. All the other suckers that stopping. Women walking past said “Good on are going to come along and think it’s an easy job, you.” We had this huge crowd. We never really but we’d all been there for a while and we knew did anything, we just stood there and attracted so what was happening.- much attention. It was like something out of a TV The new girls that have come along since are programme. No-one went into the club, not really interested. They can’t be bothered be­ everyone wanted to see what was happening out­ cause they don’t know what it’s really all about. side. The TV and radio turned up and we said They’re told, look, here’s $120 for walking up “No we don’t get any holiday pay.” We brought up and down the stage and taking your clothes off out all the things we’d ever complained about. and being fussed over and told how nice you are We thought, “This is the time. We’ll tell them by the manager and the office. And they think everything.” About not getting sick pay and how This is good . It’s all good at first, being fussed we didn’t get transport home. over and it’s rather glamourous with everyone Within an hour and a half Rainton and his looking at you when you’re on stage. lawyer were drawing up an agreement, that we But you’re just a name, just another person. were going to get this and that. So really, you They’re not bothered about your mental or phys­ know, we did win. It was worth it, we got every­ ical state. It’s just “ Come on, get on the stage, thing we wanted. dance!” All the other girls have left the job since that Miriam Jackson and Sandra Coney.

25 A HISTORY OF THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT-PART 2

In the second part of her article on the ideologies of the Women’s Movement PHILLIDA BUNKLE looks at the women’s rights lobby, here and in the US, and discusses its strengths and its shortcomings. Next month: the emergence of women’s liberation from the radical movement, socialist feminism. 1,

The Emergence of and now has gone into documenting structure like any other lobby, but it the existence, extent and serious­ quickly developed a mass base, al­ Women’s Rights Groups ness of sex inequality. though regional groups were largely The Women’s Bureau within the autonomous. NOW remains the Department of Labour and such Betty Friedan’s book, 1963, The largest women’s rights organisation conventional lobbies as Profes­ Feminine Mystique articulated the although it has been joined by a var­ sional and Business women had rising frustration of the women’s iety of other groups such as WEAL been active before 1964 in pressing rights lobby. Cogent and passion­ which fights educational discrimi­ for an end to discrimination against ate, it reinforced their emerging nation through the courts, the Wo­ women, especially in employment. analysis. men’s Division of the United Auto In 1961 Kennedy responded to their In 1966 after a confrontation with Workers’ Union, and the YWCA pressure and set up the President’s the E.E.O.C. over enforcement of which gives access to younger and Commission on the Status of Wo­ anti-sex discrimination provisions, working class women, and provides men. The Commission focussed some members of the Commission valuable urban resources for the upon anti-discrimination legisla­ on the Status of Women, led by movement. tion. An Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963; sex was somehow included Who are Women’s in some provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Supporters? Rights Act; and in 1965 Johnson Sociological explanations for the signed an Executive Order, outlaw­ rise and strength of feminism in ing sex discrimination in the public America stress the importance of service and all the firms dealing with personal conflicts in a society which government. rewards individual achievement but These may sound like powerful refuses to allow women to compete. weapons against discrimination but Members of women’s rights groups as always the key to effectiveness were particularly likely to be high lay in enforcement. Responsibility achievers. They are typically and for enforcement of the Executive explicitly concerned about Order was vested in The Office of employment opportunity and the Federal Contract Compliance. The short-circuiting of women’s educa­ enforcing agency for the Civil tional promise. Rights Act was the Equal Employ­ Most of the earlier members of ment Opportunity Commission, an Then-NOW President, Shirley NOW were professional women agency very similar to our Human Andrews, (right) presides at 1976 whose frustration grew directly Rights Commission. Most of the NOW Seminar on Rape. from their work experience. As energy of the nascent women’s NOW gained ground women’s rights lobby was directed toward Friedan, formed the National Or­ rights groups attracted a younger getting these agencies to enforce the ganisation of Women. NOW was in­ membership of women at home. provisions against sex discrimina­ tended to be a civil rights lobby for These women expanded the range tion. By the mid sixties, however, women directed at organising public of concerns of NOW but they were the black movement was at its pressure in favour of enforcing the typically also well-educated middle height and the enforcement agen­ law against sex discrimination. class achievement oriented women cies took discrimination against The main thrust of NOW has con­ who were experiencing the same blacks to be their first responsibility tinued to be anti-discrimination but conflict at a different stage. and did not take sex discrimination it has steadily extended the range of The salience of this conflict for very seriously. Much of the energy issues it acts upon. At first NOW Jewish women may explain their 'of the women's rights lobby then was organised with a top heavy apparently disproportionate rep- 26 resentation in women’s rights or­ ganisations and leadership. The ex­ perience of recent persecution em­ phasised the need to “ make it” for survival, while at the same time reinforcing the role of the mother in the preservation of cultural con­ tinuity through socialisation and the observation of ritual in the home. Women’s Rights Ideology Competent and skilled, the strength of NOW women lay in their media flair and their unsentimental understanding of institutionalised

power. Their focus has been on the Photo: Time Magazine nitty gritty of economic relation­ movement for equality in full cry -former U.S. NOW president, ships especially employment oppor­ Karen DeCrow and other delegates hail the passage of the Equal Rights tunity and economip independence. Amendment resolution at the government-sponsored National Women’s rights groups have Women's Conference held in Houston in 1977. documented the extent of women’s women s liberation engages in edu­ such a profound change in the work force participation and cational efforts. exploded the myth of the woman at power relationships between men home as a non-worker. Left wing women criticise the pol­ and women that it will transform Although they have continually icy of equal opportunity for de­ society. manding only a slice of the capitalist expanded the range of their con­ What has Women’s cerns the core of their protest is action, without changing its struc­ women’s economic dependence'. ture. All women’s rights wants, and Rights Achieved? They tend to follow Friedan’s all it will get, is a change in the , The formal, structured women’s analysis of the traditional female genitalia of the people at the top. rights organisations have remained role as a con. The role of the depen­ Integrating women into capitalist viable in the face of dissent and fric­ dent wife/mother is seen as a production, especially in the board tion. Women’s rights organisations straightforward “ have’’ which op­ room will strengthen capitalism. have legitimated the cause by erates to guarantee women’s in­ Left wing feminists argue that wo­ documenting the seriousness and feriority. Their estima#?i^)f tradi­ men’s rights will be successful in as extent of the issues. Ironically, al­ far as they lend themselves for co­ though the goal of women’s rights is tional feminine values tends to be option. unsentimental. The crux of the wo­ institutional change it has been, men’s rights analysis is the insis­ Women's rights advocates reply more successful in changing con­ tence that the traditional feminine that equal opportunity involves sciousness. personality is not grounded in na­ ture but is the product of the sociali­ sation process of girls. Much of their work has gone into the documenting ot this process and its economic ramifications. The goal of women’s rights groups is equality, especially equal opportunity. Ultimately they aim to assimilate female and male roles. Criticisms of Women’s Rights The women's liberation wing of the women’s movement criticises equal opportunity as a reformist position. Women’s rights advocates reply that, on the contrary, they are the political activists who push the radical policies of total reproductive and sexual freedom coupled with NOW, Christchurch, celebrates Christmas legal and economic equality, while

27 Women’s rights organisations lishing the Council for Equal Pay those women who were involved in took on the corporate world how­ and Opportunity which was in­ NOW in the States. In a few areas ever and won some significant legal tended to be a powerful lobby rep­ they have been quite effective in battles, such as the successful pro­ resenting women’s interests in pol­ mobilising such women. WEL has a secution of ITT, the largest Ameri­ icy making. As far as change is con­ national structure but its credibility can employer of women. They cerned it has, however, been virtu­ in national politics suffered when scared and infuriated all the major ally moribund. Its chairperson, they allowed Muldoon to pick his universities, by bringing discrimina­ Elizabeth Orr, eschews activism own interviewers in 1975 for a sur­ tion suits against them. These ac­ and conceives the Council more as a vey of politicians’ attitudes to wo­ tivities, however, provoked mas­ branch of government than a strong men’s issues. He manipulated sive resistance, abetted by voice for women’s interests. them, with the traditional ploys of economic recession. The problem New Zealand anti-discrimination charm and champagne, into giving now is how to hang on to these con­ legislation was first formulated by him the questionnaire, which he cessions. Of major concern is the the Select Committee on Women’s was able to share with the rest of his fact that the ERA has not yet been Rights in 1974. Submissions to the party. The fact that the last two ratified. This is particularly omin­ Committee showed how wide­ elections have amply demonstrated ous in the light of some higher court spread concern was despite the fact the absence of women’s vote means decisions backing away from the en­ that it had no powerful organisa­ that WEL’s effectiveness as a par­ forcement of anti-discrimination tional voice. liamentary lobby is limited, and its laws. Most critically, abortion and The radical women’s groups of most valuable work is in publicising reproduction freedom also continue the 1930s had not survived World political issues.* to hang in the balance. War II. The first of the new wo­ Women’s Rights in New men's rights organisations was the Society for Research On Women Zealand (SROW), founded in 1966 with the ON TOUR Histories of New Zealand rein­ aim of overcoming the almost total from force the idea that women have omission of information about L.A. Women’s Video Centre never been involved in public af­ women in New Zealand. SROW be­ fairs. In fact New Zealand women lieved in objectivity and imagined have been extraordinarily active in that improvement in women’s CANDACE COMPTON all fields of social reform. Since the status would follow from the correc­ demise of the first National Council with tion of this omission. They did not a programme of for Women (NCW) in 1910 there see the omission itself as political. have, however, been few groups SROW provided a pseudo­ WOMEN S VIDEO explicitly concerned with ending professional role for skilled women sex discrimination or changing the caught up in role conflict. The TAPES female role itself. When NCW re­ emergence of feminist activism and formed in 1917 as a federation of professional status is still unresol­ women's organisations it became a ved in this organisation because powerful lobby, but was almost exc­ those women who are the most skil­ lusively concerned with the domes­ led at information gathering also tic role of women because these have the highest investment in pro­ AUCKLAND: Oct 10-11 were the issues that affected the fessionalism. (Tape presentation overwhelming majority of its mem­ Groups called NOW were and workshop) bership. Similarly the New Zealand founded around New Zealand from WELLINGTON: Oct 27 Federation of University Women • 1972 onward. Local groups were in (Tape presentation) was less concerned with discrimina­ fact entirely autonomous and there CHRISTCHURCH: Nov 5 tion than with the ambivalent status was no national organisation, com­ (Tape presentation) of the educated woman at home. DUNEDIN: Nov.10 mon constitution, or formal com­ (Tape presentation) Business and professional women's munication between them. Some Further details ring groups have been too small to were oriented toward women's Auckland 606-429. be powerful. The largest group of rights and some toward women’s employed women has always been liberation. in the Public Service. Women's The only group explicitly estab­ Just arrived from U.S.A. ^ struggle for equal pay and perma­ lished as an anti-discrimination the 1979 Catalogue of nent jobs within the Public Service lobby was the Women’s Electoral FEMINIST HORIZONS is still largely an untold story al­ Lobby (WEL) which was estab­ “ the most complete feminist gift store in though W.B. Sutch gives some de­ lished in 1975 to influence the elec­ the world’’ tails in Women With A Cause. Ac­ tion. WEL adhered very closely to Send 50c and stamped (17c) self- tivists in the PSA, supported by a women's rights ideology and had addressed envelope to Broadsheet, P.O. Sutch, were instrumental in estab- the potential to activate precisely .Box 5799, Auckland. 28 not on theory or analysis - the were largely middle class, educated “where do we go from here?” not and not in paid employment. The the “how did we get here in the first movement’s appeal was enormous. place?” But until you have given It pointed out that their own hurtful thought to the forces that formed experiences were not personal but today’s society you won’t properly political. For most women it was understand what you have to do to their first experience of being part change society. of a group - togetherness or “team Their strength was and is their spirit” is usually a male thing, and broad appeal. To those outside, the first experience of sisterhood is these groups seemed “moderate” a dazzling and intoxicating one. But or “ respectable” and thus less too often the experience remained a threatening. This is in fact untrue personal one and not enough since even reformist feminism poses analysis or theoretical discussion a very great threat to established was done. society, but their less radical ex­ I believe that the women’s rights terior led hundreds of women to groups offer a necessary first step join, and very many o f these moved into feminism and that leftwing on through to join more “ militant” feminism, radical feminism or some or more “ radical” groups. The type of separatism offer a second groups were educational as regards step (chosen according to which the public at large in that by their view of society and of sexism you We asked Deidre Milne to actions and size they persuaded the accept). Most women enter the comment on Phillida’s analysis of media and those with power that movement through the women’s women’s rights ideology and wo­ women's issues could not be ig­ rights groups and many pass men’s rights groups in New Zea­ nored. They were also educational through to something else. There land. Deidre was one of the people as far as women were concerned are always new members coming in who founded the first National because they were non-exclusive and the groups therefore have a Organisation of Women (NOW) (all women were welcomed, how­ duty to explore the theoretical basis group in New Zealand, in Auck­ ever tepid their views) and the of feminism (a duty they have not land in 1971. Since then she has groups touched and influenced always fulfilled). It is important that been involved in Wellington many more women than just those feminism should not be monolithic NOW, helped organise the found­ who joined. and that diverse view points should ing of the Women’s Electoral be able to co-exist. If any group The women's rights groups demand starts to believe that it is the only Lobby (WEL) in Wellington, is a a less total involvement from those past president of NOW, Auck­ bearer of the one true idea of who join, but they reach many more feminism, the movement will tear land and is currently on the com­ women with at least part o f the mittee of NOW and secretary of itself to pieces. The women's rights feminist message. It is debatable groups offer to many women an ac­ WEL in Auckland. which is more important - to have a comparatively few women with a ceptable way of externalising their own struggles and of working to end thorough analytical grounding in them. These groups may not be the the basis of sexism and a total ultimate or only answer but they The first New Zealand women’s commitment to radical change or to rights groups which were overtly make a valuable contribution to a have a large number of women con­ new society. feminist heg an in 1971-72. They vinced o f the rightness o f some arose not from existing male domi­ feminist demands (equal opportun­ One footnote: Muldoon used nated civil rights groups hut as part ity in employment and the right to neither charm or champagne on of a world-wide wave o f awareness control one’s fertility are the most WEL. The questionnaire was leaked o f women's subjection to male widely accepted). In my view we to him by a ^close female friend” domination. Women were spurred need both - radical changes in soci­ who was coincidentally a WEL to join groups like NOW in large ety are impossible unless some few member and an interviewer for the numbers after reading books by spearhead them and unless the survey. WEL was horrified that a Friedan, Greer or. Firestone, but majority of women are open to the woman might put sexual or party they simply accepted what was said new ideas. political loyalties above her com­ in them. The weakness of the wo­ mitment to feminism —how naive we men's rights groups was, and is, Women joined the new groups in the were, m that they concentrated on action, early 1970s in large numbers - they Deirdre Milne

29

It was painful to breathe: that was the first thought. Her throat So it was not the pain, nor the memory of it, that haunted those hurt all the way to her stomach, a harsh, raw hurt and her ribs long hours of darkness. were bruised and aching. “ When am I to see the Doctor?” The second thought, struggling to form through the heaviness of confusion, was dismay that she had failed, and following Doctor Fletcher? He has a Ward Round tomorrow morning, then a rage that took her to the edge of consciousness. But her so I expect he’ll see you then.” Sister Pearce nodded again, an body betrayed her, as it did so often now, and she slid back oddly reassuring gesture, and returned to her office. into the darkness and slept. Miss Williamson slept fitfully, dreading the inevitable day­ When she woke again it was evening and she was alone. That break. Dr Fletcher came, mercifully, early, briefly and alone, an was an illusion, in this place no-one would ever be alone. She earnest young man only acquiring the sense of power he must remember not to take it personally. Already the watchers would hold all his life long. He smiled down into the grey eyes, had sensed she was awake and one of the young ones moved hooded now, and was disconcerted by the suspicion that she in swiftly, lifting her head to a cup of water. It hurt to swallow was assessing him too. but her mouth was dry and the water cool and sweet. “ Miss Williamson? How are you feeling this morning?” “ There now, Miss Williamson,” the nurse said, patting the Anxiety tightened her face. He even smelled the healthy young pillow smoothe. “ You just rest while I tell Sister that you’re animal he was, his cheerful curiosity thinly covered, his ques­ awake.” tions not yet entirely automatic. If I tell him the truth, she She was surprised at the-vehemence of her reaction to the thought wearily, he’ll want to know why. girl’s indulgent tone. I could be your grandmother, she pro­ He examined her carefully, his questions prodding, sharp re­ tested silently, and looking at the young face wryly recalcu­ minders of her body's anguish. “Just hold out your hands for lated. She smiled weakly and watched the girl scurry away. me . . . and noted their uncontrollable quivering that But the effort had been too much. She closed her eyes and seemed an extension of her whole body. “Just relax now. You rested, holding her breath against the pain in her ribs, hoping live alone, I remember, ” he said, folding away his stethoscope. the Sister was busy and there was time to pull herself.together. “ How have you been managing?” It was an abrupt leap from the secluded comfort of her own She smiled, wary, and somewhere an echo shrieked in silence room and the drowsy anticipation of death, to the forced and wept. “ A nurse cal Is each day, and a woman comes weekly intimacy of a hospital ward. In another time she might have to clean the flat. They bring me meals.” She said with quiet laughed at the mockery of her awaking, but now she had to emphasis, “ It’s my home. I am too old to change now.” quell the wash of self-pity. He nodded, careful to acknowledge only the words. “ We have Across the room, on another locker, a small cluster of candy­ been very concerned about you. You could have done yourself floss pink geraniums were bunched into a jar; as she looked a a lot of damage with those pills. We’ll have to do something’ petal fell to the polished floor. Geraniums took a long time to about you, Amy.” die, even when they were cut they shed their delicate petals For a moment he was startled as her eyes flared tawny with one by one and teased you with their fading colour. In this anger, then were veiled by the heavy lids with their sparse whitewalled room they offered a hard reality and the reminder of another life. lashes. Then he stood, folding away his notes. “ Don’t worry now, we'll take good care of you.” Presently there were footsteps, soft and competent, and her head turned reluctantly to meet them. The flicker of relief must She watched the young man retreat, sensing there was sym­ have been evident, for the nurse’s watchful blue eyes pathy but not understanding. Her hands lay at rest on the shadowed a smile in return. bedcovers, their trembling stilled until she needed them to obey. The helpless suffocating frustration rose and died. “ I’m sorry to have you back with us, Miss Williamson.” “ So am I, Sister.” Shaken and alone, she stifled tears. Her ribs ached as her lungs moved, she was weaker than ever. She was also The irony slid past them. Sister Pearce nodded, a crisp profes­ frightened, now there was time to think — lately there was too sionalism overlaying her sympathy. much time to think — and she had no illusions about what lay Doctor says you’re to rest. Take as much fluid as you can. A ahead. Dr Fletcher was not unkind, he was astute and firm, but stomach pump doesn’t leave much.” Even less for a frail old he was not unkind. It was his sense of kindness that she lady like this one. dreaded most. The nurse held her smile against the blurred scrutiny from the There would be no more chances. old woman, her mind shying away from the appeal she glimp­ Her mind closed down against the knowledge and she dozed, sed behind the rheumy hazel eyes that were faded almost to dreaming of summertime when she was young, long before grey. Grey with specks of yellow . . . Amy Williamson must her world became the stale perfumes of boarding houses and have been fine-looking as a young woman, she thought, won­ gasoline and the eternal clacking of typewriters, — dreamed dering what had been the twists and turns in a life that led it to of the river with its cold smooth pebbles and the willows' such a bleak ending. gentle shade against the staring sun, of the long dusty days Remembering the fractured bone and the long months of when only the rata tree could offer unwithered its bloodred rehabilitation, Sister Pearce said with more concern than she splashes, and of the evenings drowsy with warmth and the intended, “ Have you had much trouble with your hip?” “ No drifting fragrance of wild honeysuckle and trumpet Hflies by more than I could expect.” The grey eyes were watching her, the front porch. There were three voices then to share sadness without hope. Oh, it aches now and then and wakes me in the and pride and secrets whispered with joy. night, but I can live with that.” When the summer ended she was aione, as the chill of memory

31 merged into winter, and in her dreams she shivered with the cold. HUMANIST WORKSHOP FOR Miss Williamson woke again in the late afternoon, as Sister WOMEN Pearce stood by her bed. Her anger had burned out, leaving with Anne Rowntree and Sue Brighouse only an infinite despair that would be read as acceptance. at Centrepoint Community Sister Pearce thought, watching, It’s the same with the dying, they always know. 9-11 November A mind I body workshop designed to explore The tired grey eyes studied her face and the wrinkled mouth tightened as the last hope flickered. She said, wanting to offer your untapped energy. $30 comfort and unknowingly confirming an execution, “ Is there Book with Betty Flower, ph: 4159-468 something we can do for you, Miss Williamson? Something J we can bring from your flat, perhaps?’’ “ No. Thank you.” The old woman’s voice rasped against the effort, but the words carried the finality of absolute courtesy.

Sister Pearce turned to go. She paused by the glass of geraniums that were beginning to look scruffy, a sparse ring of fallen petals lay around it. With a small impatient gesture she brushed them aside into the rubbish bag and lifted the bunch from the glass, then slowly, almost reluctantly, settled them WOMENSPIRIT back. invite you She glanced back once at the still figure in the bed and was to an exhibition of women’s surprised at the intentness of the gaze. She nodded in her writing opening on 26 October reassuring way. at 7 p.m. “ Don’t worry,” she said. “ You won’t be disturbed for a while. We’ll take good care of you.” Parnell Art Gallery, 1 Scarborough Lane, Parnell She smiled again and left, and her footsteps sounded, soft and Wine and cheese will be served competent, long after she was gone.

/ THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF NEW ZEALAND Your problems cannot be solved within the world-wide system of capitalism, whether state-controlled or private enterprise Only world socialism can free human society from war, want, pollution, racism and crime.

Want to know more? Then write to: The Socialist Party of New Zealand, P.O. Box 1929, Auckland. V. 32 The Feminist Eye ARTS CENTRE FOR WOMEN IN LOS ANGELES

A total women’s art envi­ visual arts area, stressing a basic ap­ Women (WAVAW) — while I was there a ronment in one building — proach to expressing ideas visually campaign was underway to protest each floor humming with through the development of a visual voc­ against a movie called “ Bloodline” with a activity. New Zealand abulary. This included workshops in “ Be­ cast of famous movie stars, but regarded ginning Drawing” ; “ Getting known and as being violent towards women. WAVAW feminists have yet to being shown” (dealing with women’s self gets results too. When the Rolling Stones’ realise that dream ... images as professionals). Other work­ album “ Black and Blue” was advertised DEBBIE FILLER reports on shops in the summer programme that on a giant billboard on Sunset Boulevard such a building in Los caught my eye was one on “ Liberating WAVAW was instrumental in having it re­ Angeles. Disco”, “Ad-Dressing our clothes and moved. ourselves” — examining our wardrobes, Also on the ground floor are the offices “ Okay, you want to take the 83 bus down photo albums, mental self-images and for Spin Off, a monthly publication. Karen Wilshire, then transfer on 7th to Spring clothes that we never wear but cannot part Minns, the editor, spoke of some of the and take the Number 8 bus to North with. There was also a “ Feminist Tarot” , difficulties they have in running the paper Spring’’. Easier said than done. After run by a genetic witch; “ Oriental and Belly (does it ring a bell Broadsheet workers?). spending two hot afternoons looking for Dance” , and many workshops too time They define themselves as a Women’s the Woman’s Building — a woman’s cul­ consuming to writedown but they seemed Community Enterprise, and concentrate tural and art centre I finally located it on explorative. These workshops, are, I un­ on women’s culture and the arts. They foot. So much for the buses. derstand, subsidised by the Women’s print 5000 Spin-Off copies per month, and It is a three-storied building in the Latino Building, and the participating women ail have an estimated circulation of 15,000 section of down-town Los Angeles, and pay a fee for the workshops they attend. readers. Karen regards the long hours she once you’re actually standing outside it The lower floor of the 3300 square feet works as being revolutionary work, and Kate Millet’s “ Naked Lady” statue situated building holds the graphic arts centre with therefore well worthwhile. on the roof over-looking all of downtown three printing presses (one very ancient The first floor up is the Women s Com­ L.A., makes it easy to distinguish this one included) and silk-screening facilities, munity Gallery, which was exhibiting tradi­ building from all the warehouses in the the idea being that women can create their tional and contemporary art by Asian, area as one for women. This statue, “ invit­ art and then show it in the upstairs gallery Black and Latino women, entitled “ The Art ing any woman interested in learning, and so they continue the process right of Cross Pollinisation” . The art was of a exploring, growing or the arts to come to through. very high standard indeed. our open house” , is indeed the symbol of a On the lower floor too, is the L.A. Centre At the back was a large room where the unique place-space. for Women Against Violence Against summer workshop was taking place. I The Los Angeles Woman’s Building opened its doors in 1973 to provide a pub­ Kate Millett’s ‘ Naked Lady” statue situated atop the Los Angeles lic space for exhibiting women’s art and Woman’s building M culture. The building has established itself as an educational institution where women learn skills which allow them­ selves to realize their vision of the future. The building is a bridge for women to move from the personal to the profes­ sional life, and bring with-them their own proud heritage of women’s accomplish­ ments. The woman in the reception area (wear­ ing a tee-shirt that read “ Ladies Sewing Circle and Terrorist Society”) indicated the bulletin board and the Feminist Educa­ tion Workshop brochure. There I read the summer workshop programme which was taking place two stories above where I am standing. It was divided into four Sections: a women’s graphic centre, which in­ cluded basic and more advanced photo­ graphy courses; a women writer’s prog­ ramme, including journal workshop; a healing arts section, including psychic healing, making your own music and ex­

panding senses (E.S.P.) programmes; a Photo: Mary McNally

33 poked my head in the door, and asked if I Los Angeles Women’s Video Centre, and to the woman concerned, then, ifthatdoes could sit in for two minutes. A gentle but the “ Lesbian Art Project” . not work, use a mediator to avoid hostility, firm chorus of “ No” came in reply to my Twenty women are employed by the and to obtain objectivity; and if that is not question, and as I walked away, a sound of Woman’s Building Collective. It was origi­ successful, I understand, the grievance laughter and a “ Ya-Hooo” came from the nally founded by three women, and has committee will examine the problem and room. They seemed to have it very much grown into a viable business. The major come up with a solution. There is also together! source of income is from membership, “Time off to Heal” for employees if they The third floor has a cafe at the back grants, private donations, corporations feel they have too many pressures to cope (with a highly un-tuned piano) and the grants and arts council grants. The women with. central area is the public performance have formed a professional committee to I got a good feeling from the Woman’s space, which can hold over five hundred start procedures toward buying their own Building. The very fact that women here people. building in a more populated area . . . in have a cultural centre where they can ex­ To belong to the Woman’s Building, fact, while I was there, they heard that a press their creativity is a drawcard and ex­ costs $20.00 per year, which includes grant had come through for $60,000.00. It cellent motivation. I spoke to several membership, subscription, reduced rates had taken four re-writes of the initial re­ women who had moved to this city be­ for all classes, and registration to the im­ quest, and three months, but I could see cause the Woman’s Building was here. mense slide library. the result was definitely worth the trouble. Who knows? Perhaps we could have a There is a two year programme called Many women utilise the Los Angeles similar set-up in New Zealand. Wouldn’t the Feminist Studio workshop that is de­ Woman’s Building. Government women, that be wonderful? All you need is lots of gree affiliated. It is $1500.00 to enroll, and professionals, unemployed, married, les­ women: volunteer labourers, fund raisers, women can attain a Feminist Art Degree if bians and singles. Mary McNally who people prepared to be back-ups, and of they wish to. showed me around the building said, “ It’s course a belief in effective action. There is also a rental gallery available, an ideal situation. Conflicting, but ideal.” Deborah Filler in Los Angeles and for a low rent, women can show their For the women who work there, if any work. Also connected with the Woman’s personality conflicts arise in the job, the The Woman’s Building is at 1727 North Building is a Woman’s Writers Series, the break-down procedures are: to firstly, talk Spring Street, Los Angeles.

pointing the treatment of the extremely in­ is okay” theory, however, and in view of arts journal review teresting looking work of Christine Hellyar some of the comments heard elsewhere — there were only three photos of her about the Festival, I wonder just how criti­ Spiral 4, sculptures, no critical or explanatory note cal the reports in Spiral were. Published by Spiral Collective, about the artist and her work, only a brief By now it will be fairly clear that my main Christchurch. biography. All the works were in different criticism of Spiral is that is doesn’t always Spiral — the only women's arts media and it was a little difficult to come to look deeply enough at its chosen subject. I magazine in New Zealand. What is its pur­ grips with exactly what the artist is doing think it’s essential that it do so — not only pose? In its own words, it aims to provide — Ifeltherworkdeserved much more than does women’s art deserve, as all art does, “ an outlet for women artists whose work the frustratingly tantalising glimpse we to be treated with thoughtful, loving and might otherwise not be sufficiently were given. Tiffany Thornley (etchings) scholarly care, but also we need to build acknowledged .. . a forum for women’s and Ruth Bruhns (photos: Women at up a body of information and resource ideas and work to be presented in a more work) came off a little better with four material on women artists and their work, caring and sympathetic way than most of examples of their work and an and a sense of heritage for ourselves and the conventional male avenues available; explanatory/critical note. for future generations of women. As yet it allows for a new, fresh approach to the A similar criticism applies to the inter­ Spiral has not had a chance to fully de­ whole area of creativity and self- views with Maggie Eyre (dancer?) and velop these roles — let's hope it gets it. expression . ..” It is therefore sad to learn Rosemary Johnson (sculptor) r— though Priscilla Pitts. that this may be the last issue of Spiral. the latter has a brief note on her interests Sad, not only because we so desperately at the end I’d have liked both interviews to fReduced to 50c. need a magazine with the aims towards have had an introduction telling us some­ which Spiral has been directed, but be­ The Broadsheet thing more about these two women, put­ cause Spiral seems about to die so soon ting their ideas into some kind of context, Special after its birth, without any real chance to telling us more about the women them­ reach maturity. It seems to me that, as an Articles include: arts magazine, Spiral has still a long way to selves. The Economics of the Nuclear go — I’d like to see it get the chance to I enjoyed the poetry in Spiral 4, though Family develop to its full capacity. I’d have liked more of Mike Minehan than Diary of a Moment with Breast The collective that produces the the two very different poems published Cancer magazine is breaking up and unless here and probably less of Rosemary Put Your Money Where Your another collective is formed to carry on the Seymour whose constant repetition and laboured rhymes irritated me. I also en­ Movement Is magazine it seems doomed. The collective Lesbianism and Feminism has suggested that anyone who is in­ joyed very much the three page review of terested in a future for Spiral write to them Maidens, a film by Jeni Thornley, which The Tyranny of at P.O. Box 21-069, Edgeware, Christ­ discussed both the film and its maker in Structurelessness church. some detail. and others. So, what’s in Spiral 4? Basically, there’s Also interesting were the reports on the Ideal for discussion groups a good and interesting variety of material, Women’s Arts Festival and the ideas ex­ 56 pages of essential reading not always developed to anything like its pressed in some of these reviews. I kept ^Order form on back cover______y full potential. For example, I found disap- getting whiffs of the “ anything women do 34 feminist art exhibition through it; the delicate and subtle varia­ However, the Grandmother drawings tions in the pinkish wash uniting woman form a link between the domestic and the and water; the isolating of this image on political. There are only a few of Allie’s Allie Eagle, the paper — all are handled with a rare and celebrated political works in this exhibi­ Auckland, July 1979 poignant sensitivity. The Water Race tion. There is one painting from the mov­ paintings share the same qualities: in one ing abortion series, This Woman Died. In it Mid-July. A pleasantly mild Saturday af­ a river of merging, changing blues pools the fallen, sprawling, graceless female fi­ ternoon. A little sunshine. A lot of women and flows into a perfect horseshoe curve; gure (taken from a police photograph of a in a small house, moving from room to from the limpid blue beyond, antennae of woman who died from self-aborting) room, looking, talking, buying, enjoying. colour stretch tentatively back across the bleeds into a sea of blue greens; written And a lot of paintings — hung on the walls, surface of the paper. between her spreading legs the words propped against tables, cupboards and The last room is the bedroom. Here, a “ This Woman Died: I Care” . Words on chairs, piled on beds and on the floor. number of paintings and drawings on a another painting — “ Oh yes, we will, we This is Allie Eagle's one-day exhibition domestic theme — fireplaces with flames will” — thisone with a magnificientfemale held at Juliet Seule’s house in Auckland. flickering in the grates, dogs, cats, friends torso wrenching itself forward from its The range of work is amazing. In each Perhaps to be considered part of Allie’s background — the colours a rich and sub­ room the paintings form a coherent group “ domestic” works is the Grandma series tle range of purples, browns, reds, flesh with a particular theme or themes. Yet, (My Grandmother is a nurturer in need of tones — We Will Resist. And in one corner despite a variety of styles, the personality nurturing), which consists of photographs a little painting, the paint still wet and trick­ and preoccupations of the artist give unity of an old woman’s hands, charcoal and ling, brush and paint-saucer still beside it to the exhibition as a whole. pencil drawings telling of the growing — Lesbians are Everywhere. In the living room there are Allie’s Te helplessness of an aging woman, and of An exciting exhibition, one which de­ Henga (Bethells Beach) landscapes — the artist’s guilt and pain at her own inabil­ clares the artist's commitment to feminism strong black charcoal drawings capturing ity or refusal to nurture in her turn. In the and to women, yet springing also from the the dark threat of macrocarpa trees, the largest of the Grandmother works the New Zealand landscape; a woman- shapes and shadows of hillsides and cliffs; touching imageof theold woman patiently orientated exhibition with a tremen9ous large watercolours of swamps and sitting with her hands folded in her lap is feeling of warmth and energy. It’s a pity streams and vegetation, often vivid with given an added poignancy by the words that Allie Eagle is not exhibited more unexpected colour, vibrating with forms written above it: widely — woman need the chance to see that move energetically through and more of this kind of work; to see that it around one another; small watercolour / got your letter today Grandma, you say really is possible to work, as Allie does, sketches — more macrocarpas, and a you'll be going to an old people’s home. from one’s roots as a New Zealander and series entitled Woman in the Waterfall Your ear trouble hasn't improved and as a woman. Pool, with softer colours, more isolated you've had a rather alarming fa ll. .. Priscilla Pitts and generalised forms, placed on the paper with great sensitivity and delicacy of touch. In the dining room — a number of sur­ prising contrasts. There’s a group of works — such as Gift Cactus, Wading Woman and the Goddess paintings — which are extraordinarily naive in their handling. With their plain pencil outlines, coloured in neatly but unexcitingly with cololired and ordinary lead pencil, es­ chewing the artist’s devices of shading, perspective, beauty of colour, form or composition, these works seem important more for their personal significance to the artist than for their visual qualities, impor­ tant more for some emotional or spiritual resolution than for an aesthetic one. They form a direct contrast to other paintings in this room such as Travel Safely and the Water Race paintings, which combine superb control of watercolour techniques with an exquisitely sensitive awareness of form and subject matter. In Travel Safely a woman (the same woman as in Wading Woman, the same simple outline) walks out into water, a short stick in her hand. The faint pencil outline of her body, barely containing the soft colour that floods

Allie Eagle with Te Henga land­ scapes and “Grandmother” drawing Photo: Sandra Coney

35 good, safe contraception, freely available portant issue for feminists. However, like book reviews abortion and adequate benefits for solo most other feminist issues it cannot be mothers adoption would cease to exist. solved in isolation. Natural mothers will Death by Adoption, There would be no children for adoption. not be free to choose without the winning At times though, I find her arguments of a host of feminist demands — for day­ Joss Shawyer, about the bonds between mother and care, for economic equality, for control of Cicada, 1979, $6.95. child dangerously close to the innate our bodies and underlying that profound Within days of the appearance of Joss motherlove line which feminists have long changes in public attitudes. Shawyer’s Death By Adoption radio talk- been sceptical about — both because we My own real criticism of the book is that back programmes and newspaper letter have nothing to really prove this and also the interviews which take up over half the columns were loud with the wounded because in the past such views have book should have been severely edited. cries of adoptive parents outraged at worked against women by seeing us as Reading some of them requires an effort of Joss’s assertion that they had committed a tied to our biology. But certainly adoption will — they simply go on too long. Some morally reprehensible act in adoption. is a barbaric solution to a social problem judicious pruning would have helped hold Their protests stressed that “ no natural not of the natural mothers’ making. If my interest better — and kept the price mother is forced to give up her child” , “ we adoption must occur Joss favours open down. appreciate that her loss is our gain’’ and adoption whereby adoptive parents, child Sandra Coney that “ I am very grateful for the love my and natural mother keep contact and work * N.Z. Herald, August 21 adopted daughter has given me” * but out some mutually agreeable way of bring­ showed no understanding of the social ing up the child. Growing Up Equal: Activities pressures which force a natural mother to Death by Adoption also looks at the and Resources for Parents and adopt nor questioning of a social system needs of adopted children and quotes ex­ Teachers of Young Children, that makes it very difficult for a single tensively from some very moving letters to Jeanne Kohl Jenkins and mother to rear a child but easy for a mar­ Jigsaw, an organisation Joss helped set up Pam Macdonald. ried couple. Much as adoptive parents which tries to put adopted children in con­ Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, would like to see themselves as simply lov­ tact with their natural mother and vice 1979. ing, giving people it is nevertheless a fact versa. Many adopted children desperately that the existence of a demand for children attempt to find their mothers (interestingly This is not a book for revolutionaries. to adopt has been a factor in the decision in a patrilineal, patriarchal culture — not Jenkins and Macdonald do not advocate to restrict abortion (The Report of the the fathers) to try to find their roots, their throwing out the present system — on the Royal Commission on Contraception, identity. In New Zealand this is very hard as contrary, they advocate working within the Sterilisation and Abortion: “Adoption will all information about the natural parent is present system towards equality for both always have its place in society. There is legally inaccessible to the adopted child. sexes. They in fact bend over backwards in much to commend it.” p. 303) and to im­ In some countries e.g. Scotland, law their examples to give equal emphasis to pose disincentives on women going on the changes have made it possible for the deleterious effects of stereotyping on Domestic Purposes Benefit (the Horn Re­ adopted children to find out their true both sexes. port p. 17). Perhaps if Joss Shawyer had parentage and Joss would like to see this “ With regards to boys, we find they too showed more understanding of the pres­ happen in New Zealand. She also makes are channelled and limited, although as sures on childless couples to make them­ the point that quite a few natural parents men they have had many more jobs open selves into a “ real” family by having chil­ subsequently marry each other so that the to them as well as being paid more. How­ dren some of the hysteria of the response adopted child has natural brothers and ever, they are very much discouraged from might have been avoided. All women feel sisters — a whole family — she does not entering “women’s fields” such as nurs­ the pressure to prove that they are “ real” know exists. ing, teaching, dancing, etc. This is UNFAIR women, “fulfilled” women by having a Adoption is seen in our society as a to them as well as to people who could be child. Childless married women are an ob­ happy, humane solution to a social prob­ benefiting from their participation. And, vious target and it is not surprising that so lem — Death by Adoption paints a diffe­ men suffer more so than do women from many succumb by adopting. Unfortu­ rent picture. People often adopt for bad health problems and are not usually given nately by focussing on the reaction of reasons (just as natural parents often have the option of working or staying at home. adoptive parents we are in danger of los­ children for bad reasons) — to prop up a Traditionally women have had much more ing sight of the person for whom the book shaky marriage, provide a brother or sister of a choice.” (p. 184) was written — the natural mother. for an only child, to replace a dead child I have reservations about this liberality The “ death” of the title is the symbolic etc. The reasons why adoptive parents — their attempts to be “fair” throughout — death of the child to the mother on adop­ prefer girls (“ bad blood” is less likely to their inclusion of males and females, tion. She is told to “ pretend the child* manifest itself in aggressive behaviour; women and men, girls and boys in every doesn't exist” and “ to start a new life” . But boys inherit the family name) are indica­ activity and example may well be quite in­ it does not work like that. I know, like Joss, tive of some underlying prejudices about appropriate. It may be that in the long run from working as an abortion counsellor adoptive children. Adoption does not al­ quite unequal treatment may be required. I that a previous adoption is a major reason ways work well for the child, who is some­ also have reservations about all the re­ for young women seeking a termination. times made acutely aware of her adoptive, sources (books, kits, equipment etc.) that They say: “ I could never go through that and therefore, second-class status. Errant they recommend as I know many are dif­ again.” I only met one woman who had behaviour is often seen as coming from ficult to obtain in New Zealand. Not­ coped with the adoption and she was able having “ bad blood” , or being born “ in withstanding ail that, Growing Up Equal or to show me a wallet full of photos of the sin” . Adoptive children are often acutely G.U.E. as they call it, is an interesting daughter she had kept contact with aware that they are “ different” . Death by book. It is well laid out, attractively hand through Bethany and to tell me proudly Adoption shows that there is often suffer­ lettered and illustrated by Pam Mac­ she was to meet her daughter at Christ­ ing on all sides — and it is a life sentence. donald, extremely well organised and mas. Joss convincingly argues that with Joss Shawyer's book has raised an im­ covers the selected topics in a smooth, 36 racy, often humorous, advertising copy manner. The U.K. publishing house, THE WOMEN’S Chapters 1,2 and 3 (76 pages) would be excellent for use in developing awareness PRESS, continues to produce interesting and in adults. These chapters cover Sex Iden­ tity (Chapter 1) which provides an under­ provocative books. We look at two recent standing of what sex identity is and how it offerings. is learned; Influences (Chapter 2) which focuses on the influences on pre-school The Women’s Press Books are available through Broadsheet. See order children of the role models found in form on page 38. people, TV, toys, dolls, books and schools; About Men, fuck his wife, his daughter, steal his gold, Play Skills (Chapter 3) which explores the Phyllis Chesler, functions of play in children’s develop­ claim his land. Why have I for so long re­ ment and covers such things as types of The Women’s Press, 1978, fused to accept men’s judgements of play and fallacies and facts on sex differ­ $10.65. themselves? ences in children’s play and body de­ Chesler accepts it. She shows: velopment. Chapters 4,5 and 6 (120 pages) That men have perverted truth: “ Men would be useful for those developing cur­ Sitting here at my “ desk” , the kitchen said: I have it. In the beginning there was riculum units for use with children. These table, which looks out to winter rain gust- the Word. I will tell a fabulous lie so often chapters cover The Feelies (Chapter 4) ing through naked trees. My personal and with such force that everyone will be­ world once more shattered, and I am feel­ lieve it.” which provides activities and resources to use in encouraging children to express ing down, betrayed, angry. Wondering Male rage at their inability to give birth: ALL their emotions and show that to do so now why I have supposed for all these “ .. . who else would have invented the is positive, healthy ^nd O.K. Living Skills years that men and women are, basically, Myth of the Virgin Birth. ‘My mother would (Chapter 5) is to expose children to a vari­ the same, when I have had an enormity of never sleep with that petty tyrant, that or­ ety of living skills so that they will be able evidence on every hand that it is just not dinary fellow my father. My mother slept so. to take care of themselves as adults and only with My True Father Who Art in Heaven’.” others when they need to, Career Skills Not being able to see it till now, this time (Chapter 6) offers ways to expose children when finally the excuses are hollow, fall Male determination to deny the female to a variety of careers and to present work away, reveal the simple kernel of truth: life force: “ .. . If female blood is needed to men are not like women. as more equally shared by males and create human life, then male blood is females. Remembering the recently read Phyllis needed to divinely redeem that human life. Chesler book About Men, and turning to it. And His side shall be pierced at uterus- Chapters 7, 8 and 9 (5 pages) covering Large paperback, classic half pouting face level, and we shall worship this male death Feminist bookshops, references and on the cover. Here in one book is evidence — Eternal Life.” index are a useful and broad information enough of how unlike women men are. source. That men kill each other: “ The young Evidence collected from the great books, soldiers lie dead, sent there by their com­ G.U.E. is basically a book of activities the great paintings, the great sculptures of manding father-figures. How proud, how and exercises for changing individual at­ our past. Evidence of actions not only re­ sad their fathers are: fathers who never titudes and behaviours — not social sys­ peated down the centuries, but recorded, meant them any harm.” tems. It is non-revolutionary, non­ actions which illustrate the difference that That men have created God in their own separatist. It will be appealing to those at­ I have refused to see for so long. image: “ Man’s new God was jealous, de­ tempting to write programmes for both I have only lately understood that our manding, impatient — and couldn’t be sexes i.e. those aiming at androgyny, entire global society is operating on the trusted.” equality and harmony between the sexes. male base of fear, suspicion and distrust. That men cannot face themselves: “ In Maris O’Rourke. Everyman’s fear that some other man will museums everywhere, women are hang­ ing, frontally nude .. . often . . . in those W W «W «W? «W? «W? «W? «W? WS very same paintings where men are fully dressed . .. top hats, morning coats .. . even in a dream we are not allowed to see | GROWING UP EQUAL! the sacred male penis . .. perhaps men ft» Authors: Jeanne Kohl Jenkins cannot bear the possibility of being com­ S Pam MacDonald pared — by women— to other men . . . ” That men are the murderers: “ A sexual ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS revolution might destroy what men do so AND TEACHERS OF YOUNG CHILDREN well together, away from women: the mak­ ing of His-story, the making of w a r. ..” $ That the battle of the sexes is a real war, PRICE $9.95 — Prentice Hall and men have identified the enemy: “ I asked a male psychiatrist to tell me about AVAILABLE THROUGH ALL BOOKSELLERS the male fear of male violence. He said that I that wasn’t the problem at all. No, what DISTRIBUTORS: WHITEHALL BOOKS really frightened him were the gangs of Box 38-694 jS PETONE. teenage girls who took up the sidewalk. No, he said, lighting his pipe, it is w om en that men fear most of all.” Sandi Hall 37 You’ll probably have heard of Elisabeth J arts journal review Vigee-Lebrun, Bertha Morisot, Barbara BOOKS Hepworth, Georgia O’ Keefe — but what The following Women’s Press titles are about Judith Leyster whose paintings Women Artists; Recognition and available through Broadsheet (for infor­ have often been attributed to Gerard van Reappraisal from the Early Mid­ mation about the books see July/August Honthorst and Frans Hals; or Anne Whit­ dle Ages to the Twentieth Cen­ ssue page 35): ney and Vinnie Ream Hoxie, nineteenth tury, Lives of Girls and Women, Alice century American sculptors, both of whom Karen Petersen and J. J. Wilson, Munro ...... $3.25 □ received important public commissions Women’s Press 1978. The Albatross Muff, Barbara which created storms of protest because Pbk $10.75, Hbk $23.65. Hanrahan ...... $4.75 □ they were awarded to women; or Kāthe The Pearl Bastard, Lillian Kollwitz, whose simple yet impassioned First of ail I must say that, although I Halegua ...... $4.25 □ works — sculptures, drawings and prints have a degree in Art History a great deal of About Men, Phyllis Chesler ... $9.25 □ — cry out against political oppression the information in this book was abso­ A Piece of the Night, Michele lutely new to me. New and startling facts (thus bringing the wrath of the German Roberts ...... $7.25 □ cropped up over and over again. For in­ Nazis upon her head) at the same time Literary Women, Ellen Moers . $7.95 □ stance, the fact that a large part of that expressing private suffering in a powerful Love and Friendship & Other magnificent Spanish Romanesque man­ and almost flawless resolution of the rela­ Early Works, Jane Austen ... $4.75 □ uscript, the Beatus Apocalypse, with its tionship between the personal and the The Awakening, Kate Chopin . $3.25 □ bold forms and brilliant and powerful col­ political? These and many others you’ll Women Artists, Karen Petersen ours, was painted by a woman (“ Ende, discover in the pages of Woman Artists. & J. J. Wilson ...... $12.50 □ woman painter and servant of God") was, The book, of course, has its limitations Lolly Willowes, Sylvia if readers will excuse the play on words, a — as the authors themselves point out, Townsend Warner ...... $4.75 □ revelation to me. Of course, we've always they have not included “ all that art by Aurora Leigh, Elizabeth Barrett known that women embroidered those women discriminatorily categorized as Brow ning...... $9.25 □ marvellous church vestments known as ‘minor’ ” — embroidery, weaving, pottery, Just arrived!!! opus anglicanum — but who designed etc. However, in the section on feminist art Shedding, Verena Stefan, a best them? who supervised the work? Do we they show clearly that these distinctions, seller from Germany; it de­ ever hear about the nuns who illustrated between “ art” and “ craft” are being bro­ scribes a personal odyssey of manuscripts? Did you know that some of ken down quite deliberately by some self-discovery ...... $5.45 □ the sculptures on the south portal of women artists — for instance in Miriam A woman on the Edge of Time, Strasbourg Cathedral were carved by a Schapiro’s architectonic patchworth col­ Marge Piercy, a woman trap­ woman — Sabina von Steinbach — in the lages and Faith Ringgold and Willi Posey’s ped in a mental hospital is able early 14th century? masked and clothed figures. to visit the future: a future There are lots of good black and white which presents one of the most illustrations — but what a shame there are fully realised feminist visions no colour reproductions in the book. The seen in fiction ...... $8.35 □ vivid reproduction of Suzanne Valadon’s Duo & Le Toutounier, Colette . $5.45 CL La Chambre Bleue on the cover indicates Women and Writing, Virginia how much more visually exciting the book Woolf; this work brings to­ could have been with even a few full colour gether work previously scat­ plates. And I, personally, would have been tered through Woolf’s numer­ happier if the book had contained a little ous published volumes, also more factual information — the includes journal articles ...... $9.50 □ nationalities of some artists were not specified, for instance; dates, however Other titles available from Broadsheet: approximate, are often missing; and there I Ask of You, poems by Miriam is little information about sizes, materials, Jackson ...... $2.75 C etc (what, for instance, is Niki de Saint- Witches, Midwives and Nurses, Phalles wonderful Black Venus made of?) Barbara Ehrenreich & Deidre To the general reader, this may seem a English ...... $1.95 □ scholarly quibble, but it is a valid one, Complaints and Disorders, nonetheless. Barbara Ehrenreich & Deidre Despite these criticisms, I loved this English ...... $2.60 C book. Reading it, I began to realise fully just how persistently and insidiously wo­ Name .. men's achievements in the visual arts have Address been suppressed and concealed. I also began to see how strong, how unified a statement women’s art has made, and how i enclose $ ...... much stronger and more political that statement is becoming. Women Artists is Send to: Broadsheet, a fairly expensive book, but worth it — an P.O. Box 5799, inspiring addition to any feminist book­ Auckland. Niki de Saint-Phalle — “Black Venus” shelf. Priscilla Pitts 38 Send your contributions for the Hogwash pages to Broadsheet, P.O. Box 5799, _ Auckland. hogwash EQUAL o p p Q K n m n

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L Part of th e solution was to tell people — wives and children In particular — that you loved them, he said. Read how you too “Women are the easiest creatures in the can invest in world to please.” real estate All they really wanted was three things without capital. — to be respected as a person, to be ap­ preciated for the things they do — like washing and Ironing and cleaning the car — and “they like tQ be loved and to be told you love them over and over and over ajgain”.

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bbliNjNi -----O' 32$ hj S k Good run for the city’s petticoat lobby A “PETTICOAT LOBBY” is how Wellington's Mayor TREVOR BEYER invested $100.000 in the New Zealand Ballet Company on behalf of Brierlev (Mr Fowler) viewed attempts yesterday by his women city Investments and therefore felt justified in testing the councillors to get more community services items onto this Cash well spent product, represented by Margaret Brooks The sponsorship was arranged by property investor and year's estimates. boxing promoter Bob Jones, in his new capacity as special project director for the ballet

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Please fil $3.50 for optional Saturday night My name is ...... out the form below and send with Chinese dinner with wine. Address ...... your payment to Broadsheet, P.O. Billets and creche available. Box 5799, Wellesley St, Auckland. Write to: “ Feeling Good about Name...... I enclose $...... for..... packs of being Female” , Broadsheet cards at $2.00 per Address...... WEL (Northland), pack. P.O. Box 4294, Kamo, Mail to Broadsheet P.O. Box 5799, Whangarei. Auckland. 40 No. 5l July 1977: Sex and violence — the new pornography, inter­ Back issues of Broadsheet view with Helen ,Marieskind, lesbian mothers and custody, women Set of all available back issues: $20 in the depression, DPB cuts, 2,4,5-T, UWC report, telethon. No. 53 October 1977: Rural women, lesbianism and mental health, The following issues are available at 40 cents each natural birth control, what’s wrong with the women’s movement? 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Halfway House, Na­ gnancy testing, Humanae Vitae, international feminist network. tional’s performance on women, British equal pay act. No. 63 October 1978: The pap smear, Charlotte Bunch on self defini­ tion, the St Helens fight, more on DPB, borstal games. No. 43 October 1976: Abortion practices in NZ’s past, women on boards, conditioningor repression, morning-after pill. No. 64 November 1978: Battered wives, Margaret Crozier, Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell, your cervix, abortion and single issue voting. No. 44 November 1976: Marilyn Waring, nursing, Maori women, Tongan women, historical perspective on abortion. No. 65 December 1978: Johnson report, UWC 1979—a preview, Erin Pizzey, Human Rights Commission, freedom of information. No . 45 December 1976: Beginning of herstory series, cystitis, clerical workers union, the pros and antis in the abortion struggle. No. 66 January 1979: Feminist periodicals, DPB again, “ Feminists No. 46 January 1977: Day care, your rights if you are arrested, radical are made not born , daughters of Mother Earth, lesbian health. feminism, woman speaks in synagogue. No. 67 March 1979: Charlotte Bunch interview, womens sewing No. 47 March 1977: Moon madness, male-designed cities, vaginal' co-op, the mens conference, sterilisation, Diane Arbus. infections, sexist vocational guidance pamphlets. No. 68 April 1979: Abortion Doctors Guide, women in cinema, marriage, self help health, hysterectomy. No. 48 April 1977: The politics of childbirth, feminist mothers bring­ ing up sons, herbs, pioneering health workers. u in J , W , 1979: F?etal monitoring, marriage and feminism, Self No. 49 May 1977: Walker’s witchhunt on solo mothers, women in help health 2, Tessa Jones, unmasking the heterosexual institution women discuss their bodies. WWI, herbs part 2, interview with a midwife, Helen Marieskind. /o June iv/y: u w l 1 9 7 9 -6 page report, 2,4,5-T, Janet Roth No. 50 June 1977: The Catholic Church and abortion, the Royal and racist engineers, postpartum depression, Charlotte Bunch. Commission on Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion, women in the shearing industry, kindergarten teachers mobilise, equal pay and No. 7l July/August 1979: Margaret Crozier, multinationals in the how the bosses cheat, depression in marriage. third world, consciousness-raising, self defence for women case against adoption. I------Send this form to 1 P.O. Box 5799, Auckland. Back issues @ 40c each Your nam e...... Nos...... Address ...... Back issues @ 60c each Nos...... Back issues @ 90c each | Please send me the following: Price Nos...... Broadsheet 3-colour poster j Subscription @ $8 50 @ $1 ...... | Overseas subscriptions $1 2 .0 0 —■ L J*™£dsheet Special @ 50c ______Total J rattstibm

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