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Anti-Nuclear Women Racism and the Women's Movement Self-Defense Lesbian Separatism Report : 1st Latin American Women's Conference women's international information and communication service

ISIS is a resource and documentation center in the international women's liberation movement. It was set up in 1974 by a coIFective of women to gather materials from local WQrrienY groups and the feminist movement and to make these resources available to other i^Dien. The quarterly ISIS International Bulletin reproduces theoretical and practical information and docwnjentation from women's groups and the women's movement around the world. It includes resource listings, reports and notices to help pass on information about what is going on in the movement in other countries and continents and to help in the exchange of ideas, contacts, experiences and resources among women and feminist groups. If you would like to have notices, information of your activities or resources produced by your women's group included in the ISIS Bulletin, please send them to the ISIS collectives in fipme and Geneva. We ^ould like to exchange th&JSIS Bulletin on a regular basis With those who are proQfoing newsletters, magazines and other materials.

ISIS is coordinating the International Feminist Network (IFN), a communication channel through which women can mobilize international support for each other. The IFN was proposed*at the International T||>unal on Crimes Against ^rVomen in Brussels in March 1976 to aid in the mobilization of support and solidarity among the women's movement on an international scale when needed for the struggles and actions of women — as in the cases of rape victims, court cases or strikes of women. The IFN can also be used for rapid spreading of information about international feminist actions and demonstrations. Women needing international support should write or telephone the ISIS collectives in Geneva or Rome giving details of the case and the ways women in other countries JJtafehelp them. Requests for support will be passed on to the contact women w^Jpve volunteered to inform the women's movement in their countries.

Graphic Credits : p. 6 Virus 39/81; p. 9 Rachel Burger cpf; p. 11 Off Our Backs July '79; p. 20 New Internatio- nalist; p. 28 Carillon/LNS; p. 32SWAPO, P.O. Box 577, Lusaka Zambia.

Women at ISIS : Lone Balsen, Rossana Cambi, Manuela Cienfuegos, Daniela Claro, Jane Cottingham, Javiera Fabri, Marilee Karl, Monika v. d. Meden-Niebergall, Jane Thiebaud, Valsa Verghese.

Women working on this issue : Rossana Cambi, Roxanne Claire, Jane Cottingham, Valsa Verghese, and Marie- Rose Vuffray. Special thanks to Miranda Davie* who did a large part of the work.

Unsigned articles and reviews are by members of the ISIS collective. Other views presented hsre are not necessarily those of ISIS members.

Copyright 1981 ISIS. Nonprofit feminist publications may reproduce articles provided that ISIS is credited as a source and that subscription rates are included. Permission to reproduce signed articles should be obtained from the author.

NOTE NEW ADDRESSES : ISIS in ITALY : Via S. Maria dcH'Anima 30, Rome - Tel: 06 / 65 65842 SWITZERLAND : C.P. 50 (Cornavin), 1211 Geneva 2 - Tel : 022/33 67 46 NEWS FROM THE WOMEN'S

EDITORIAL .",'.'.'-,' '• - x'".,..' '* 'r' Dear Readers of ISIS,

Some of you have asked us for more regular and updated information on topics we have already covered in our ISIS Bulletins. We ourselves often go through agonies trying to decide what to cut out of Bulletins — there is so much we would like to include amongst the tons of information we receive each week. So for this last Bulletin of 1981 we decided to put together a big mixture. In selecting material for this "News from the Women's Movement", we waated to present issues which over the past year have been of growing importance in the women's movement. We identified (amongst others) the anti-nuclear struggle, racism, lesbian separatism, prostitution, violence against women and health. As always in ISIS, we wanted to bring a broad geographical mix too, and the result, we feel, is somewhat remar- kable. '• '""

Some of the issues are easily seen as universal : the women's aid movement in Germany is one — fairly successful — response to violence against women. The Sri Lanka statement against thuggery indicates just how many forms violence against women takes. The anti-nuclear struggle becomes more and more international, although perhaps still more a concern of women in industrialised countries (even though it affects everyone everywhere). Other issues like devdasis (forced prostitution) in India or Lesbian separatism in the West, seem at first to be more culture- specific. There are people who believe that Lesbianism is not an issue in third world countries. The questions raised by Lesbianism and by separatism, however, are relevant to all women. In addition, both compulsory heterosexuality and the particular practice of dedicating young girls (devdasis) to a goddess, which sanctions their becoming prostitutes, are different manifestations of the wider problem of women's sexual oppression. Whatever the forms, the underlying forces are the same.

We do not want to say that differences are not important What each woman holds to be important or true in her life must be respected. Each different viewpoint in fact raises basic, sometimes crucial, questions which enrich our understanding of our situation as women in its entirety. This can only be achieved by sharing, exploring, challenging and supporting each other. "News from the Women's Movement" is our continuing contribution to this. Happy New Year.

The women of ISIS

ISIS 21/page3 Report From Bogota: Women and Liberation in Latin America

This is a report by two women from ISIS who attended the first Latin American Women's Conference in Colombia in July 1981. It is translated from ISIS Spanish Bulletin No 7 which focused on Women and National Liberation Struggles. More about what was discussed in Bogota will be published in the next english-language issues of ISIS which will concentrate on women in Latin America. The conference will also be the entire theme of Spanish ISIS No 8 which comes out

The first ever conference of Latin American and Caribbean women was held this year on 18-21 July in Bogota. Women from 25 countries took part. We met over all four days in a trade union centre on the outskirts of Colombia's capital. It was very moving, arriving there to find more than 250 women, many with ponchos and guitars, each carrying their own struggles, experiences and hopes on their shoulders — all set to discuss and exchange points of view about women's from vindication feminista struggles in different countries and regions.

The atmosphere was warm and friendly with none of the formality and rituals so often found in international conferences, so communication was easy. Everyone worked hard during the day, showing great dedication and enthusiasm. When it came to discussing the autonomy of the women's We all wanted to learn from each other. During breaks and in movement, everyone agreed that this doesn't mean breaking the evenings we entertained ourselves by singing, talking, away from the general process of social change. Instead it reading poetry, dancing and doing theatre and mime. There implies examining the need for structural changes in society was an overwhelming feeling of unity, fantasy, and freedom. from a new perspective. Feminism, as an autonomous movement, has to become a strong social force allied to other Women came to the conference from all social backgrounds : sectors of society. Several women stressed the need to get students, housewives, peasants, professionals, workers, etc. away from a particular attitude which is prevalent in many Understandably, given the characteristics of our under-deve- feminist and Left circles and amounts to ,~ '* f ~* *u' loped continent with its history of colonisation and military dictatorships, the most discussed issue — and the one which proved to be the most explosive — was the relationship results between feminism and broader political struggles. These are a*rfOlnking awjjlittcontact with "Society and, without the main points we discussed : any 'motivation for power', easily leads to a form of sterility. - the autonomy of the women's movement in relation to Feminism needs to be a mass movement capable of helping political parties to transform society through a series of progressive conquests. In other words, the women's movement has to act as a very - double-militancy, i.e. working both in the women's move- strong pressure group. Feminist perspective implies an entirely ment and in political parties new outlook on life which requires profound changes in - the political significance of women's liberation struggles society's dominant values — a veritable cultural revolution. and a feminist concept of poHtics It means redefining the roles which society at present assigns - feminism and cultural imperialism to women and men, as much in our private as in our public lives. Consequently, it affects the education system, the — the need to broaden and strengthen the movement through organisation of healthcare, the role of the mass media, or- the mobilisation and participation of women from the mass ganisations in the community and the political system itself of the people and not only the middle classes It is for this reason that the autonomy of the women's move- - an emphasis on feminist organisation which is primarily ment is founded on the very specific nat6re of women's based on direct personal experience. struggles.

ISIS21/page4 The question of two levels of militant action (double mili- violence against women. This was because three sisters from tancy) revealed different and sometimes directly opposite the Dominican Republic were murdered on that date after views. Some stressed the right and the need for women to agi- suffering sexual attacks. tate inside political parties, introducing the specific problems of women into them, in the belief that the liberation of All the themes which were discussed — political as much as women cannot be achieved without the liberation of the those dealing with personal life — are interrelated. As we people. Others spoke against this double-sided approach said in one of the editorials of our international bulletin because of the vertical, sectarian nature and the sexist atti- (Spanish ISIS No. 5) : The private is directly political because tudes prevalent in the existing left political parties. Neverthe- patriarchal ideology cuts right across the lives of individual less, both tendencies recognised the specific oppression of men and women. The important thing is to relate both levels women and the obstacles which political parties have placed and understand that women's liberation will not happen in the way of women's issues, as well as their resistance to the without the transformation of society, nor will there ever emerging women's movement, something which is happening be true social transformation without the emancipation of not only in Latin America, but also in other continents. women.' Everyone agreed that feminism lets loose an ideological and political struggle to change society. The problem point is the We were all sad the last day of the conference arrived. There relationship between feminism and political parties. was still so much more to discuss. But we left with the satisfaction of having started a communication between women who all share the same fundamental experience. It was decided Efforts to climb out of the ghetto into which some feminist to definitely hold a second conference in two years time in groups have fallen, and which incorporates a certain elitism, Peru. Meanwhile different groups will carry on working led to a very interesting discussion about new methods of towards women's liberation, enriched by this new exchange community education. Strong criticism was voiced against of contacts, ideas, and experiences. dominant politics and programmes for development, including those practiced by international organisations, which aren't based on any genuine participation of the people where women, too, have a lot to say. It's not a question of giving things to women in order to try and integrate them into a society which operates on the basis of machismo and injus- tice. It's a question of letting women express their most genuine values. New experiments in working with women in the community (popular areas) start from a very simple basis. Meetings are organised where women can talk to one another in an isolated situation and in mutual confidence. In this way they begin to perceive, little by little, that they have a lot in common for they all share problems, worries, feelings of isolation and the longing for a better life. The best results have been obtained through the use of audio-visual material, cartoons and pictures, or popular theatre. Contrary to common opinion, in a very short time women show great interest in talking not only about problems of survival, but also about their sexuality, problems arising from couple relationships, the education of their children, personal development (for example, many women want to learn to speak in public), and society in general.

At the Bogota conference we also dealt with women's work and the conditions of inequality which prevail in this area, starting with the high percentage of female unemployment in Latin America, on top of low wages, the lack of proper employees' contracts, the difficulties, and in some cases the impossibility, of forming trade unions, and the lack ot laws to protect maternity etc.

The other major theme to be tackled was sexuality. This included practical demonstrations of self-examination for those who were interested. Many women wanted to get to know and learn how to control their own bodies, so as not to be helpless in the hands of gynaecologists. Detailed information was provided about different methods of contraception, including the harmful effects of some of them the right to free and conscious maternity and the need to separate sexuality from mere reproduction. We also touched on the question of lesbianism and society's attitudes to it, introducing arguments which until now have been taboo in Latin America. We strongly denounced sexual violence as a social and political attack on women and it was proposed that November 25th should become an international day of protest against

ISIS 21/page 5 OWt Battered Women basso

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"Physical violence therefore is only the tip of an iceberg, only a small, but most obvious part of the daily and taken- for-granted structural violence," stated the Cologne Women's House. The standard form of structural violence against women is safeguarded by the institutions of marriage and the family.

This is an edited version of an article published in Off Our The German legal terminology even refers to the marital Backs July 1981. The authors are Sybille Kappel and Erika relationship as "violence". Instead of marital power, the Leuteritz. A selected bibligraphy of literature available on the term "eheliche Gewalt" explicitly speaks of violence. In trying subject in German, has also been included. to determine the causes for this violence, the Cologne women stated, "important is not the form in which violence is Most violence against women is taboo. It has been effective- clothed, important are the relationships — cemented by ly suppressed from public attention by what can be described society — in which women and men engage, or rather, are as a functional co-operation between the agencies of a patriar- forced to engage." chical system and the ideological conditioning of women. '• 'Gf^lf? O* • • fr The first women's aid project was started by six feminists in The West German women's aid movement is a part of the new Berlin who worked as family counselors, psychologists, and worldwide women's liberation movement. In the process of social workers. consciousness-raising, women realise that violence governs a large part of their lives, both as individuals and as members of society.

Underlying violence

According to the Federal Family Report, published in Cologne in 1977, "in nearly one half of German families (10 million), Creating safe houses there are fights once a month, and in 5 million families they *>,"••;<:•:?{; f*' y'}'d='ju" 'I^O ';<.:"%.,;'• end in battering, the worst time being at weekends." The task of the Berlin group was to make the problem public and to begin to look for ways to finance a house for battered Existing crime statistics give vague and incomplete informa- women. Among themselves they did intensive consciousness- tion on the relationship between offender and victim. For a raising and became aware they were not only doing something bodily injury offense to be prosecuted, the victim must for other women, but, by fighting one aspect of violence file a complaint against the batterer. This frigtens many against women, also working on their own behalf. "A house women into inaction. Battering is a process in which the for battered women is an expression of practical solidarity woman is unable to defend herself before, during and after between women based on their shared experiences", they the offense and which makes her responsible for the bodily stated. injury. Federal and city governments and other social agencies of In March 1976, evidence of this kind of violence was collec- Berlin showed no interest in a women's house until the broad- ted at the International Tribunal On Crimes Against Women cast of Sarah Haffner's film "Screaming's Useless" — on in Brussels. Later in the year, the National Congress on Vio- battered women. It was only then that they decided to fund lence Against Women in Munich, supplied more evidence a model project for three years with 80 °/o federal and 20 °/o of violence in all stages of women's life and discrimination city funds. in all sectors of public life. A house was rented in October 1976 and opened in November. Violence against women is on different levels : direct physi- Contrary to the funding institutions' will, the house was not cal violence; hidden violence in institutions, laws, morals; called "crisis center" but "women's house". Any other desi- and internalized violence against ourselves. Violence against gnation, the women argued, would have left open the ques- women is a structuring principle underlying the way life of tion of who or what was in crisis — the battering men or the modern western societies. It is due to unequal power distribu- battered women, or the society in which battering is tolerated, tion and is manifest in unequal opportunities. or even considered normal ?

ISIS 21/page 6 the Women's Aid Movement in West Germany

Since it was a model-project, the Berlin house had to accept with her negative experiences, her negative image of her own an Advisory Board composed of non-feminist women from sex is reinforced whenever she experiences herself as being public life to share responsibility with the feminists and to weak, and a victim. Therefore it is important for women to ensure a form of control over money. see that they can cope without men, that they can help each other, give each other security and thus learn to grow Official support for women's groups initiating houses, was more independent from men. seldom granted. Most often it was refused by a two-step /?../' "' ---^ blockage : first, the group was asked to prove the problem's It is fundamental to the concept of self-help that there is no actual existence in the specific city; and when that was done, hierarchy among the women working in the houses. All of the problem's existence was admitted but it was said that the the daily work, except working with the children, is done on social administration could cope with it, due to an adequate a rotation principle. There is an informal agreement that all number of municipal and other shelters. women should receive the same pay. Furthermore, everything is done to try and avoid creating new dependencies — on Feminists oppose municipal homes set up for battered women, therapy, on the women of the initiating group or anyone as their very structure tends to hinder women from finding else. A house for battered women is not a therapy center. their own way. Municipal homes offer help to the helpless The starting point of its organization must therefore be the and thereby impose the role upon their clients. Feminists potential self-determination of the women living in it, their argue that battered women are not helpless. These women capacity to solve problems and to help each other. have sometimes, for years and decades, found the means, developed strategies, to make an intolerable situation tole- Avoiding social work rable for themselves and their children. What battered women need is not "resocialization" into their former environment, This is a dilemma the movement has become increasingly but a house where they are safe, where they can find both aware of : we started out by saying that all women experience medical and legal advice, and where they are encouraged to violence and that changes can only come about on the basis of make decisions regarding their future. sisterhood and self-help. The reality in the women's houses is different. Although they experience the structural violence Self-help basis against women, almost none of the woman working in the houses have experienced direct physical abuse. This had the Thus women's aid groups set up their houses on a self-help effect of them taking on the role of listening to and advising basis. Women working in the house give newcomers informa- those less privileged than they - a relationship that can be tion concerning the house and advise all women on legal and characterized as a hierarchy typical of traditional social work. medical questions. Everything else is organized by the battered Women are again doing "emotional work" by which is meant women themselves in weekly meetings. Tasks are distributed that we offer and put to use on a professional basis the psy- and problems of mutual concern are discussed. The battered chological and emotional abilities that we have learned in pre- women answer the telephone and take care of newcomers at paration for our roles as housewives and mothers. An emotio- night and on weekends. They accompany each other to nal worker forgets herself and her own problems thinking various social agencies, thereby making the experience more them to be slight while concentrating all her efforts and successful than by going alone. emotional energies on her client. The result is an increasing emotional dependency between emotional worker and client, which obviously has nothing to do with self-help. A possible Create shelters way out of this dilemma, that has been discussed since the What is more important in self-help, is the exchanging between beginning of the German shelter movement, might be to women. They discover the battering they experience is take self-help seriously and to have only battered women common to all of them. Their conversations take on the organizing the houses. character of consciousness-raising groups where they can finally discuss their hidden fears and their constant humilia- tions. This enables them to find out more about their needs Money strategies and to explore new ways of organizing their own lives. .' •'.-. •. " - C'- -V • '* 1 • H'*<:v".- • ..> • In order to increase funding prospects, all of the feminist Self-awareness without men *i groups and shelters in North-Rhine Westphalia have joined in a Working Group of Women's houses which also has the Men are not allowed into any of the groups of houses. Men task of coordinating the flow of information between the cannot be truly sensitive towards the typical kind of violence group and of organizing regional and national meetings. women experience, and consequently only women can really There has already been a small success in that the state govern- help women change their situation. Society in general has a ment of North-Rhine Westphalia has granted 1.5 million positive conception of men and a negative one of women; Deutsche Mark (app. US Dollar 750.000) to be used for both are internalized to a great extent by individuals. Where- paying women working in the women's houses; two women as the battered woman's positive image of men is confronted per house receive an official salary.

ISIS21/page7 social work which in effect means trying to cure the symptoms without getting at the causes and which is - in the long run - contrary and damaging to the women's movement and to our goals of basically changing society. By Sibylle Kappel Erika Leuteritz

Further literature : Fischer, E. Lehmann, B., and Stoffl, K : Gewalt gegen Frauen. Cologne 1977 : Kiepenheuer & Witsch. ISBN : 3-462-01 188X Frauenhaus Berlin (Ed.) : Frauen gegen Mannergewalt - Berliner Frauenhaus fur mishandelte Frauen. Erster Erfahr- ungsbericht. Berlin 1978 : Frauenselbstverlag. Order from : Frauenbuchvertrieb GmBH, Mehringdamm 32-34, 1000 Ber- lin 61. Frauenhaus Koln (Ed.) : Nachrichten ausdem Ghetto Liebe — Gewalt gegen Frauen. Frankfurt 1980 : Verlag Jugend & Politik. ISBN : 3-88203-051-8. Pp. 6 / 7. Haffner, Sarah : Frauenhauser — Gewalt in der Ehe und was Frauen dagegen tun. Berlin 1976 : Wagenbach. ISBN : This however does not solve all financial 3-8031 -2025x. communities are still very reluctant to support a house ope- Ohl, D., and Rosener, U. : Und bist du nicht willig... Ausmass rated by feminists; however, they can no longer close their und Ursachen von Frauenmishandlung in der Familie. eyes to the problem of battered women. Means and ways had Frankfurt-Berlin-Vienna 1979 : Ullstein Materialien. to be found to show their awareness of the problem and at ISBN : 3-548-35021-6. the same time to avoid having to support feminists. So far they have come up with three alternatives : The fight continues 1) To grant financial support only according to Section 72 i;.-.--ctf'. •-'•:-•.-• • of the Federal Social Welfare Act which states, "Persons, On 23rd August 1981 a Turkish woman was knifed to death whose special social difficulties hinder them from partici- by her husband in a battered women's refuge in Giessen. pating in community life, are to be granted help to over- Continuously pursued by her husband, she had moved to the come these difficulties, provided they are not able to do house from another refuge. After a while she had started to this with their own resources and facilities." feel better, learn German and set about getting a work permit. However, her husband still followed, demanding to discuss The feminist women's aid movement refuses all financial divorce and access to their two children. Now, after the support on the basis of this article because : murder, he is threatening to kill the friend who helped his — with this paragraph, battered women are forced to accept wife escape from his violence. the status of a marginal group of society — it is taken for granted that they are the ones with "social At 11 o'clock at night, a man recently entered the women's difficulties" and that they cannot cope with "life in com- refuge in Koblenz where he tried to murder his wife with a munity"; this can only refer to their having left their knife. She was taken to hospital and is happily alive and husbands and their homes as otherwise Section 72 would back in the refuge. The woman had come to the house seven not be applicable at all times, seeking help. What is frightening is that the man, knowing where to find his wife, managed to get into the house — it is dangerous to acknowledge that battered women are and none of the ten women living there even heard him utterly helpless because this can result in their not getting enter. custody of the children.

2) To ask other welfare organizations (catholic, protestant, workers' welfare, etc.) to open a shelter which will of course be supported financially.

3) To set up their own municipal shelters for battered women, in order to make the feminist groups superfluous. This strategy was also not very successful : in those cities where the feminists opened their own shelters, both houses were full. But, support from the population is very important as could be seen recently in Frankfurt, where the feminist shelter stood in danger of having to close after 2 years of effective work because of severe financial problems.

So while it is a good thing to have as many shelters as possible, the movement feels that after having practically forced the socio-political administration and bureaucracy to become aware of the problem, they opened their eyes even further and saw women combatting it independently, effectively and in a way that may even affect the basic structures of society. So now they try to re-integrate us into traditional

ISIS 21/page8 India:

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report is taken from the Indian feminist journal Manushi, The conference began with a women's liberation song. Women's No. 7 (1981). Address : C1 / 202 La/pat Nagar 1, New Delhi liberation posters had also been put up in the hall. Bapusaheb 110024 India. Patil said : "Throughout the world, inequity exists between the rich and the poor. It is only in our country that inequality The following is a report of the conference held in Nipani - based on low and high castes also exists. The dalit community India, to discuss the problems of Devdasi Rehabilitation. is a brutally oppressed community and within this community The Devdasis are women who are dedicated, as very young the most oppressed are the devdasis. The working class move- girls to the Goddess Yellamma. They are supposed to serve ment has never touched this question. All the leaders of the at the temple of the Goddess. These women as devdasis are workers' movement are upper caste men. Their so-called not permitted to wash or clean their hair or to be married. In progressiveness makes no dent in their caste pride. This middle reality these girls and women were pushed into prostitution. class leadership is utterly ineffective hence the need for an Traditionally only women belonging to the Dalit castes (Hari- independent movement to eradicate casteism." jan castes) are dedicated to the Goddess. The Dalits are the lowest castes (the so-called untouchable castes) in the Indian After this, the founder of the first devdasi organization, system of caste hierarchy and are the most socially and econo- Gorabai Salvode, who is known for her tireless efforts to mically oppressed sections of Indian society. Today the root out the devdasi cult, spoke : "When I was a little girl, Dalits have begun to organize to fight their oppressive situa- I was dedicated to the Goddess. In 1967 I was 'married' to tion. The following report is an example of how the devdasis Bapu Khot, a government official. We had a daughter but he are organizing in order to challenge the existing social tradi- refused to give her his name, because I am a harijan. After a tions, and to put an end to this terrible cult, which ruins while, he remarried and discarded me. While we are young, the lives of hundreds of da/it girls every year. men prowl around us but as we grow older, they slink away. This is the experience of all of us. MAHARASHTRA

Devdasis Organize I filed a suit against Bapu Khot. Now my daughter is studying in Baba Adhav's hostel in Kolhapur. I will never dedicate The devdasi cult of temple prostitution has for centuries her to the Goddess. We devdasis are dishonoured and treated been a weapon in the hands of upper caste men to exploit as prostitutes. The first time I spoke out like this, the local the lower castes. Young girls of dalit castes are dedicated goondas beat me up. I complained to the police but of course to the Goddess Yellamma and then pushed into prostitution. they did nothing. So sisters, never dedicate your daughters Dalit organizations are now actively engaged in the effort — let not their lives be ruined as ours were. After all, why to destroy this cult. does the Goddess demand only harijan girls and not brahmin or Jain girls ? We need to think about this. On June 15, 1980, the Mahatma Phule Samta Pratishtan organized a Devdasi Rehabilitation Conference in Nipani. This was It makes no difference to us which party comes to power — the second such conference. The first was held on September not one of them is bothered about us. We must strengthen 20, 1975. The devdasi cult is rampant in eight districts along our own organization. Todey, even god belongs only to the the border of Karnataka and Maharashtra. About 550 devdasis rich. He does nothing for us who are poor. If we want our attended the conference. A number of social activists from rights, we will have to struggle together." Pune, Bombay and Kolhapur were present. Akkatai Kamble : "People refuse to believe that a devdasi

ISIS 21/page9 i can be a good woman but married women have as though a Dr. Argade had brought a little girl whose hair he had un- readymade virtue. Whatever we do, we will still be called matted and cleansed. He offered to do this free of charge prostitutes." for any devdasi who wanted it done. The girl also spoke and said she felt much better now and god had not punished her for unknotting her hair. Hosabai Chavan asked : "What if something happens to us after we clean our hair ? Will you take the responsibility ?" Baba Adhav answered : "We will all take the responsibility together. It is said that if a devdasi's hair is combed or washed, it starts falling and there are terrible consequences. But this is not true — it is a superstition. Don't you remember it used to be said that smallpox was a sign of the Goddess' displeasure ? But now smallpox has been eradicated. So what happens to the Goddess ?"

Nishtatai, a French woman, spoke about a voluntary centre at Pune where sewing, knitting and printing skills are taught. She welcomed any interested devdasi sisters to come and enrol themselves at the centre.

The following resolutions were passed :

1. The Devdasi Abolition Act was passed in Bombay in 1934 but not one case has been filed by the government under it. Every year hundreds of little girls are dedicated to the Goddess but our democratic government, just like the British government before it, does not move a finger, on the pretext that interference will hurt religious sentiments of certain people. We demand implementation of the 1934 Act.

2. The devdasi question is also a women's liberation question. Activists should pressurize the Maharashtra and Karnataka state governments to set up a Devdasi Rehabilitation Commis- sion (since the Devdasi cult is predominent in these two states).

3. The government should arrest and prosecute the contrac- tors who operate in big cities like Madras, Bombay, Delhi. These men exploit the backwardness and poverty of parents and force them to dedicate their daughters. The government should take steps to rescue such women from the dens into which they are sold. Akkatai Shevale : "I was dedicated to the Goddess in my childhood. At the age of 17, I formed a relationship with Vilas Patil and had a son. He disowned paternity and his 4. A census must be taken of the devdasi community. family threatened me : 'We will not let your son grow up. If he starts walking, we'll bury him in a gutter.' When I com- 5. Steps for rehabilitation : daughters of devdasis have to use plained to the police, they said : 'Well, what do you expect ? their mothers' names and are thus deprived of the special After all, you're a prostitute. What have you got to do with a privileges available to dalits. The rules should be changed decent life ?'" to rectify this; employment opportunities must be made to devdasis; special hostels must be set up for children of Sunanda Skelke : "My parents dedicated me seven years ago devdasis in Nipani, Belgaum, Kolhapur; all practices allied to and I remained in the temple, performing odd jobs. Baba dedication of girls must be banned; children of devdasis Adhav brought me to Pune and now I study in the Sewa must have inheritance rights from the man with whom their Sadan there. Last year, I finished classes six and seven and mother was living when they were born; all devdasis must stood first in the exam. Though I have stopped doing temple be given an old age pension. work, god hasn't managed to punish me yet. Sisters, you also come out and leave this way of life, as I have. Come and study at the Sadan. Baba Adhav is with us." We are keeping up the agitation. We meet the chief minister and the social welfare minister. We print posters condemning Baby Manohar Shri Phanawar : "My mother was a muslim. the practice of dedication and stick them up in the annual She had a relationship with a jain. When he deserted her, fairs where such dedication is done. I want to tell you that she did not know how to support me. So she made me a we at the Mahatma Phule foundation provide education to devdasi. I've been in this profession for ten years. I'm 20 girls. If a minority organizes itself and stands united, it is sure years old and have two children." She began to sob : "I was to succeed. The country has become independent. When will driven into this profession. I do not want it. I want a better we become independent - so that no woman should have life, but there is no way." Here she broke down and had to to sell her body to stay alive ? We will ask society and its stop speaking. All the women in the room were weeping with rulers to answer this question." her. P.O. Hankare

ISIS 21/page 10 Opposition to Thuggery

in Sri Lanka

Women as follows : "From 6.30 to 8.30 on the morning of the 5th, we carried out a successful picketing campaign in accordance with the national 'day of action' to express our opposition to the ever-rising cost of living. After 8.00 am we went for lecture and at 11.00 am about 150 of us went to a funeral. At 12.30 pm we came back in CTB buses, got off and entered the college. This article is reproduced from Voice of Women, No 3 (March "Just then a CTB bus entered the college gates. Though the 1981), an excellent feminist journal produced by women in security guard lifted a hand it did not stop. Some people got Sri Lanka. Started by a women's group of the same name, off the bus, shouting threats at us which, translated literally, the first issue came out in January 1980. The journal covers meant 'we will eat you' and began to hit us with rubber a wide range of areas, including women and health, wife- belts, with stones and with their fists, all the while uttering beating, the problems of women on plantations, religion, the indecent words. They got us on the ground and covered us in dowry system and detailed monitoring of sexism in educa- oil until our clothes were completely blackened, and they put tion and in the mass media. It is published in Tamil and oil in some people's eyes and ears. Some they threw on the Sinhala as well as English. Voice of Women is available from ground and hammered. They tried to run over a friend of 529 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo - 8, Sri Lanka. ours. Some people fainted and some ran to the hostel. Our male colleagues were having their lunch at that time. For a long time women in Sri Lanka have fought alongside "We wrote down the number of the bus — it belonged to the men for trade union and political rights. Heroic women have Maharagama depot. We couldn't imagine why we had been given their fullest co-operation to every strike, rally and pro- attacked in this way. At 4 o'clock that day the police arrived cession since the beginning of the labour movement in the and took down our statements. At about 6 in the evening we 1920's. They stood united with male workers in the 1923 were taken to the Kalubowila Hospital at the expense of the general strike, as well as in the tramcar strike in 1929 and in college. We remained there for three days while receiving 1945. treatment and we still haven't fully recovered. One of those Over a period of nearly 50 years, they have made an immense hammered was an arthritis case and after this incident she contribution to the Suriyamal Movement and to left politics. But while participating in these progressive mass move- "After June 5th we carried on an unbroken strike." ments they have been systematically harassed by thugs and by the police. History illustrates this only too well. For A similar incident occured on July 15th in Kekisawa. On that instance, during British rule even women on a flower-selling day nurses took part in a token strike demanding trade union campaign, 'every flower is an attack against imperialism, rights. Thugs later invaded the boarding place of six nurses facism and war; wear Sooriya flowers for freedom and peace', from this hospital and attacked them. One nurse was taken were threatened by the police. In the 1945 tram strike Ponsi- to the hospital as a result of her injuries. nahami, a woman worker became involved in a fistfight with police and all the women who took part were subjected to The nurses then took part in another token strike in opposi- countless insults and ridicule from the opposition. tion to thuggery and to denounce the attack. The organisation of Voice of Women sent a letter to the President, expres- The capitalist economic system steals woman's labour by sing opposition to the Maharagama incident. We also issued urging her into childbirth and housework for which she a statement to the newspaper concerning what happened receives no pay, and into other jobs for which she receives very to the nurses in Kekisawa. The statement is published below. little pay at all compared with men. Then, when she comes forward to express her ideas on those facts and others which SISTERS DO NOT BE AFRAID TO COME FORWARD deeply affect her life, is it capitalist virtue that incites the Some people think that women should be silent always and police and others to defile her body ? leave men to protest against social evils. We disagree : we feel At about 12.30 in the afternoon on June 5th 1980, a group that women must come forward to speak of the issues which of thugs attacked the women teachers of Maharagama Training concern them, and they should now agitate against these College. The teachers described this incident to Voice of degradations and the criminal forces behind them.

ISIS 21/page 11 Voice of Women speaks out strongly against these attacks things as the recent conference in Copenhagen which was and denounces them as anti-democratic. To subject working concerned with uplifting the status of women. We expect, women to attacks of this kind in an age when women are therefore, to be able to rely on their support in this matter. taking an ever bigger part in our society is to hinder the pro- gress of the whole society. Nor is it appropriate to a free and Individuals who indulge in these insulting activities ought to just society. be punished, whatever their political connections. The protection of the women of our country against such degraded cri- The government has acknowledged the contribution of women minals is not only the duty of the government, but also the by establishing a Women's Bureau and by taking part in such duty of all those who value democracy and national respects.

City of Ithaca Department of Rape Prevention U.S. WOMEN ATTENTION ALL MEN ;- Vfsf :•'•••: ;>'-•£ - ,•?*."•" •; •-',; v-5*:?:-" - '• "- ' ''.,£?. '' .':0' '' !' - . '•••:* 1O PM CURFEW W^imSsiS!?. IfeQ^f^ FIGHT BACK effective June 1, 1981 Rape is the fastest growing crime in Itruca Less drastic measures have been ineffective, in order to assure the safety of women and prevent Women in the U.S. are fighting back. In response to the further sexual violence, rising incidence of rape, U.S. women are : holding "Take ALL MEN MUST BE OFF Back the Night" demonstrations, marches of women held at CITY STREETS EVERY NIGHT night to "take back" the right to walk at night safely; learning AFTER 10:00 PM self-defense techniques; and instituting curfews of their own unless accompanied by two for men (a women's group, not the police, were responsible for or more women the poster at right). VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED

WOMEN DEFEND YOURSELVES AGAINST RAPISTS

TARGETS: JftM Jff3V^-:~r,^ WEAPONS:

Throat: ****

Solar Plexus: •**• iwd w«h ^nd pm* oouo> CUM «i 10 ftig. Hands:

Groin: «<*. i™.. »«* «xi ,»<*. M. 0010 down »Mt >ld> o( fbt. pib,

Knees: Kk* mm inn <* rah* «M< faro. Mo pofc or Mtxx. Kn66S:

kick, ttam. Mrap. Feet:

RAPISTS BEWARE: <& ^ jyntq: -*.^**.**«».*««~»^. women have weapons with them all the time. TRUST YOUR WSTWCTS. REACT AS OUCKLY^ORCEFULLY t LOUDLY AS YOU CAM

A Public Service Message from Rochester Women Against Violence Against Women

ISIS21/page 12 SELF-DEFENSE

The following interview is translated from Lua — a feminist dangerous, and Setubal is a notoriously "machista" city, the review from Portugal (see Resources for details). guys here go about as if... and we believe that women must be aware of this... this is not a matter of theorizing, of talking, Lua magazine (L) : What exactly is aikido ? this is real. We must possess a defense technique. It could be judo, or this or that. But here they had aikido. We went to Conceicao (C) : It's a technique for defense and attack; basi- a session, we found it fun and joined. cally a defense technique. L : How long does a "training" in aikido take ? L : What parts of the body does one use ? C : Years and years. C : The whole body. L : And do you earn belts, like in judo ? Filomena (F) : The aim is to throw the enemy off balance. C : Yes, and the teacher even has a different suit. C : Yes, to unbalance him so as to make him fall and neutra- lize him. He no longer moves. It's all based on a controlled- L : Why did you give up ? breathing technique. Basically you must control your breathing and be aware of your body; with the complete control C : Because of practical problems (classes, work, etc.) we of your body which you achieve through breathing control couldn't keep up with all the lessons. But is was not at all you can overcome your enemy. But the technique is not because we didn't like it. I thought the lessons were extremely attack, like when you go into the street and someone attacks useful, it was wonderful. After each session you just felt you, what do you do ? You push him away, you defend great. yourself. In aikido it is not like that. If someone attacks you, F : Yes, each session starts with a lot of concentration and you immediately draw back; and what happens ? Your oppon- so, apart from the gymnastic side of it, there's all the other ent has to go after you and when he follows you, you imme- things, like interiorization and relaxing which are extremely diately try to unbalance him; it is his offensive... good. Each lesson starts with a long pause, so we can concen- L : So I use his force against him... trate on ourselves.

C : It's not really his force. One uses very little force in aikido. C : I think it's always useful for a woman to know how to defend herself, whether it be judo, or karate or aikido. L : So it's ideal to use in combat by a weaker person against a stronger... ?

C : You don't need any force at all. You just try to use the unbalance of your opponent.

L : Why did you start thinking about doing aikido ? Is Setubal such a dangerous city ?

C : Yes, at night it is. ft •:;,>" >'--'~::;,*;.Ui,_-: :j» • F : First of all, because it is something new. And then because we were fed up with men bothering us on the streets and we couldn't respond... if they do anything to us, what can we do ? A woman also has strength like a man, only men use it and develop it while we don't.

C : When we went to aikido lessons it was partly for kicks, but I also remember it happened because in our discussions about freedoms and rights of women, there was one right which we considered fundamental : the right to walk in the streets. Yes, walk... just like that... calmly walking ! During the day we can still walk, despite the whistling and the dirty words, but at night, after a certain hour, it is extremely

ISIS 21/page 13 The article below was taken from the September 1981 issue 11. Women are capable of developing accurate and fast tech- of New Women's Times (804 Meigs Street, Rochester, New niques and using the element of surprise in an attack to York 14620 USA) which focused on women fighting back compensate for a potential and relative lack of strength. against assault. Self defense is not a sparring match.

12. Self defense is a serious, practical skill that nearly every- 1. Self-Defense is a process consisting of : one — regardless of age, ethnicity, education or life a) increasing awareness about patterns and politics of style — is capable of learning. assault, b) taking responsible precautions to avoid attack, 13. Self defense is the process of reclaiming physical integrity c) preparing for the possibility of assault not only by that results in turning our fears into anger at intrusions learning self-defense tactics and techniques, but also by upon our self respect. developing the self confidence and judgement necessary to determine appropriate responses to different attack situations.

2. The vast majority of attacks are planned in advance. An intended victim is frequently watched by an assailant Fighting Women News before he approaches. Box 1459 Grand Central Stn New York NY 10163 3. Frequently, assaults are preceded by a casual conversation USA. $7.50 for the U.S. ranging from two minutes to two hours. This "screening procedure" is used by an assailant to evaluate a women's A quarterly magazine of matial arts, self-defense, and com- attitude and behaviour to determine whether she is good bative sports. Write for non-USA price. "victim material".

4. Despite the friendly overtones of such exchanges, women who have found themselves in these situations have usually felt uneasy. Those who were likely to ignore, repress or rationalize these feelings, were more likely to be attacked.

5. Most assailants are looking for victims who will be passive and cooperative. Research findings suggest that rape prevention is more possible through vigorous and aggressive resistance. Passive resistance (verbal stalling, slapping, pleading) correlates highly extreme violence.

6. Violence occurs in over 80 °/o of all rape attempts. It is the nature of the crime in that the primary aim of the sex offender is the expression of power, dominance, and control. Non-resistance doesn't necessarily insure that violence won't occur.

7. Studies show that in weaponless assaults, the sooner a woman resists, the greater the likelihood of escape. Women who bide their time may lose a strategic advantage in that while she hesitates, her assailant has time to check things out to reassure himself that help for her is not nearby.

8. In assaults involving weapons, biding one's time until an opportunity to escape presents itself, ie the assailant in momentarily distracted, is usually a good idea. The risks involved in resisting an armed assailant are obviously much greater than those in weaponless assaults.

9. Women who appear to be alert and suspicious and not overwhelmed by fear and panic are more likely to prevent or escape assault.

10. All women experience fear when confronted with an assailant. However, the sooner we can move past panic and paralysis and focus on our escape, rather than the possibility of injury or death, the more effective our defense will be.

ISIS 21/page 14 Women and Racism

There have been many articles in the feminist press on racism, and anti-semitism. Sources for the article below include Off Our Backs (June 1981); Big Mama Rag (November 1981), and to a large extent Broadside (November 1981). See the Resources for publications on racism and the women's movement.

Feminists in the United States have been struggling with racism within the movement. The theme of the National Women's Studies Association May 1981 conference was "Women respond to racism". Other public contoversies have raged in feminist publications such as Sinister Wisdom and Chrysalis. On a personal level, many black women, native women and other Third World women — Asian, Chicana, "immigrant" — in the U.S. have been drawn by the realiza- tion of their oppression as women to the feminist movement, but have encountered racist attitudes there. The third section of This Bridge Called My Back, an anthology of "writings by radical women of color", published by Persephone Press (see Resources) recalls some of these experiences. Other sections of the book look from different points of view, at the differences among women of color themselves. In one sec- But dynamic criticism and self-criticism can be combined tion, the writers consider growing up, their earliest experiences with co-operation and solidarity. Audre Lorde articulates this of racism and other oppressions. As Beverly Smith says, attitude to difference in this way. "There is virtually no Black person in this country who is surprised about oppression... Because the thing is we have Advocating the mere tolerence of difference between had it meted out to us from infancy on." Another section des- women is the grossest reformism. It is a total denial of the cribes the ways women evolve their political consciousness creative function of difference in our lives. For difference from their own experiences. Women describe visits back must be not merely tolerated, but seen as a fund of neces- to old communities, experiences at white colleges and poli- sary polarities between which our creativity can spark tical work. Yet another section of the book probes the ways like a dialectic... Difference is that raw and powerful differences in class, culture and sexual orientation divide connection from which our personal power is forged. women of color. (This Bridge Called My Back)

The recognition of these differences — between women of The message for white feminists is clear : bridge building is color and white women, and among women of color — is the responsibility of us all. As a white feminist, it's my respon- key. We — especially white feminists — need to explore these sibility to educate myself about Third World women's issues differences, not deny them. Indeed, it is the denial — the and lives. Writes Audre Lorde : ignorance and ignoring of differences — which is racist. Women of today are still being called upon to stretch across Nawal El Saadawi, a physician and author born in Egypt, the gap of male ignorance, and to educate men as to our talked about conditions in her country at the NWSA confe- existence and our needs. This is an old and primary tool of rence (reported in Off Our Backs June 81), and discussed all oppressors to keep the oppressed occupied with the the common oppression, and the differences, of women in the master's concerns. Now we hear that is is the task of U.S. and Africa. For instance, in both places men own women's black and third world women to educate white women, in breasts. In the United States many women don't breastfeed the face of tremendous resistance, as to our existence, their children because they want to preserve their breasts our differences, our relative roles in our joint survival. in order to be attractive to men. In Egypt women don't breast- This is a diversion of energies and a tragic repetition of feed because they can't. They do hard work in the fields and racist patriarchal thought... Racism and homophobia they are malnourished, with the result that they have no milk are real conditions of all our lives in this place and this and their children often die. "When American women tell time. / urge each of us here to reach down into that deep us to go back to breastfeeding, we feel bitter. There is no place of knowledge inside herself and touch that terror and problem naming the enemy, but our concrete problems are loathing of any difference that lives here. See whose face it different." wears. Then the personal and the political can begin to illuminate all our choices. As one author in Big Mama Rag (Nov. 81) put it, the failure (This Bridge Called My Back) to acknowledge differences, the exclusion or inclusion of women of color or issues important to women of color in the Minnie Bruce Pratt, a white feminist poet and speaker at the women's movement is the exercise and maintenance of class NWSA conference, described four ways in which white women privilege by white feminists, and the failure to revolutionise can make their journey towards understanding racism and hierarchical and oppressive structures. becoming anti-racist :

ISIS 21/page 15 1. Recognise the ways in which you are personally outside the Conditions No. 5 the Black Women's Issue boundaries of safety — for example, lesbian, poor working P.O. 56 class, feminist... Van Brunt Station Brooklyn NY 11215 2. Make a commitment not to compromise yourself for the USA. $4.50 plus postage. sake of safety. 3. Recognise the similarity between your experience of exile and others who are exiled for different reasons. 4. Recognise the racist events of history, not as abstractions Claiming an Identity They Taught Me to Despise but as real events that happen(ed) in your family or where Michelle Cliff you live(d). Persephone Press P.O. 7222 In reading anthologies such as This Bridge Called My Back Watertown MA 02172 (which concludes with a select bibliography of writing by and USA. $4.00 plus postage. about Third World US women), and the fiction and non- fiction of other Third World women, in respecting differences, in working to change oppressive structures and racist attitudes — both on a personal and broader basis (campaigning in our own countries against foreign investment in South Off Our Backs Africa, for example), in responding to racism, we advance in 1724 20th St. N.W. building an international women's movement. Washington DC 20009 USA. Resources

This Bridge Called My Back edited by Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua Big Mama Rag 1724 Gay lord St. Persephone Press P.O. Box 7222 Denver, CO 80206 Watertown MS 02172 USA. USA. $8.95.

An anthology of prose, poetry, personal narrative and analysis by Afro-American, Asian American, Latina, and Native Ameri- cans women. Includes a selected bibliography of "Third Broadside world women in the United States — by and about us". P.O. Box 494 "This Bridge... can coax us into the habit of listening to Station P each other and learning each other's ways of seeing and Toronto, Ontario being." An important book and highly recommended. M5S 2TI Canada.

-Bobby Hamata/Bitches, Witches £ Dykes

ISIS 21/page 16 The Anti-

The peoples of Europe are outraged about the shift from the idea of "Mutually Assured Destruction", in which nuclear war was impossible because of its global implication to the notion of "theatre" or regional warfare — with Europe as the battleground for war between the superpowers. President Reagan's decision to produce the neutron bomb, which is meant to kill people while minimizing the damage to buildings, is seen as escalating the nuclear arms race and commits the U.S. to first use of nuclear arms weapons in the event of conventional war in Europe or the Middle East. Worse still, the introduction of this new weapon promises to turn any limited conflict in Europe or the Middle East into an all-out nuclear war involving the whole globe.

Women's groups have mobilized across all of Europe. Some 10.000 people marched into Paris on Hiroshima Day this year. This march, initiated by three Norwegian women from the organisation "Women for Peace", began in Norway as a women's march of 60 people. As it wound across Europe through West Germany, Holland, Belgium and into France, it gathered thousands more, men and women.

The people of the small Micronesian island of Belau have recently won an important victory. In three separate referenda they voted for a Constitution which forbids the use of the land for nuclear power or nuclear weapons. The Belauans have been under tremendous pressure from the U.S. government which wants a naval port facility in Belau for their new Tri- dent missile launching submarines, and air base facilities. It was the women who drafted the constitution and organised anti-nuclear candidates. In Tahiti, Dorothy Levi is campaigning against the build up of nuclear weapons in the Pacific region and the dumping of nuclear wastes in the ocean. She is also investigating the relationship between French nuclear testing and the colonisation of the Tahitian people.

In Australia women's groups across the continent have started organising around specific issues.

Women in Perth's "Campaign Against Nuclear Energy", are The women's anti-nuclear movement is perhaps the fastest particularly concerned with the threat presented by the estab- growing force within the women's movement in the world lishment of a Trident submarine support base at Cockburn today. The piece which follows summarizes briefly some of Sound. Trident will be the most destructive weapon in history. the initiatives taken in different countries with emphasis on It is the Navy's plan for updating the sea leg of the strategic Australia. It is by Women for a Nuclear Free World taken from U.S. nuclear triad : the submarine launched balistic missiles. Women's News Service No. 35, Oct. /Nov. 1981. It is available Trident will be composed of a new fleet of submarines, two from WNS, 207 Lygon Street, Carl ton, 3153 Australia. generations of missiles, and an exotic communications system. •-:'." S^V" Not only does the presence of the base lock Australia into the The second piece gives details of the newest anti-nuclear worldwide defence network, making Perth a nuclear target, campaign initiated in Finland by Women for Peace. but women in Perth must contend with a succession of "inva- sions" by sailors, up to 6.000 at a time, on R and R leave. "When I speak to a general audience about nuclear war it's the women who move immediately. You can see the women The decision by the federal government to allow the B52s who have never even heard of liberation suddenly become to land in Darwin has lead to the formation of a group called tremendously powerful." Helen Caldicott. "Women Against the B52s". The Darwin women are suspicious of assurances that the B52s are unarmed; this does not mean Women are playing a large and prominent role in the anti- that they are not carrying nuclear weapons, but rather that nuclear movement. All over the world women are responding the weapons are not primed. Whether the bombers are carrying to the escalating threat of nuclear war and nuclear power. nuclear weapons in normal flight or the bombs are on the Not since the post World War 1 Peace Conferences have ground, the purpose of the B52s is to be employed in bombing women come together in such a world-wide movement. attacks which may include conventional, theatre, nuclear and Women who have previously have had little or no political strategic (all-out) nuclear war. The establishment of a B52 involvement are working together politically to stop the push landing base is part of an option being developed by the Pen- towards nuclear war and nuclear power. tagon to launch a limited nuclear strike in response to hypo-

ISIS 21/page 17 thetical Soviet intervention in the Middle East or South West WOMEN FOR PEACE IN FINLAND Asia. The people of Darwin are faced with being a nuclear A PROPOSAL FOR A DISARMAMENT STRATEGY FOR target in times of nuclear war and also must contend with the WOMEN AND OTHER CITIZENS possibility of a plane crash, given the B52s appalling accident record. Darwin Women Against the B52s have organised local Women for Peace in Finland have launched a new Campaign opposition to the establishment of the B52s base. They have for Peace and Disarmament, especially against Nuclear organised a petition calling on the government to withdraw Weapons. The background of this Campaign was the Petition their offer of Darwin or any other location in Australia as a for Disarmament which last year collected more than 500.000 base or depot for American B52 bombers. signatures in the Nordic countries, and the March from Copen- hagen to Paris for Disarmament which took place this summer. Similarly throughout the rest of Australia women have taken initiatives on the anti-nuclear movement.

In Australia over the last year there have been two national anti-nuclear conferences. The first in January in Melbourne, BASIC FACTS the second in June in Sydney, and on both occasions the 1. Nuclear weapons are an appalling threat to the security women attending the conferences got together to discuss of all people. their special problems and approaches to the issues. They are now in contact and communicating on an on-going basis. 2. There is no defence against nuclear attack. Therefore, even the major powers concentrate on consolidating their Arising out of these conferences was the feeling by some counter-attack. women in Victoria's Movement Against Uranium Mining 3. It is impossible to protect the civilian population in the and Friends of the Earth that a women's group should be event of a nuclear attack. established to encourage women to participate in the anti- nuclear struggle. This group has become known as "Women for 4. No country is protected against nuclear disaster, irrespec- a Nuclear Free World". The group has the aim of holding tive of whether it has nuclear weapons itself or not. meetings in an informal supportive atmosphere — a chance 5. Those countries that have nuclear weapons are in the to exchange information on the issues, develop skills and or- greatest danger, because they will certainly be the targets ganise activities which demonstrate women's opposition to a of their opponents. nuclear future and which also reach out to the many women 6. If the big powers use nuclear weapons, the biggest disaster opposed to the nuclear threat but who have not become will take place in Europe because both sides will attack active. their opponent's bases in Europe first. The thoughts and actions of women have always contributed 7. The Soviet Union and the United States are responsible much to the anti-nuclear movement in Australia. Women for the continuation of the arms race. Both also force have always been at the forefront even though men have ap- their allies — the members of NATO and the Warsaw peared to be taking the lead. Pact — to participate in the arms race. Throughout the world-wide movement of women, there are 8. No country can protect its citizens by national measures a variety of reasons for taking an anti-nuclear stance. Women any longer. from many varied backgrounds and differing levels of poli- 9. The only way to avoid a nuclear disaster is to prevent tical awareness are beginning to participate in anti-nuclear the use of nuclear weapons. campaigns. By doing so more women are gaining the opportunity to question the economic and social structures leading to nuclear war, which in turn leads to questionning traditional roles imposed by a patriarchal society. Through gathering The Finnish women write : and sharing ideas and skills, women can gain confidence in their capabilities to take control of their futures. "Why we need a strategy" "In disarmament negotiations between governments so far Whatever the approach by various women, we are able to most of the proposals discussed have been complicated and find a common ground in our opposition to a nuclear future. partial, serving more as bases for continued negotiations than Women For A Nuclear Free World. as real plans seeking tangible results in stopping the arms race. In recent years negotiations have even concentrated mainly on controlling the arms race rather than slowing it down or stopping it.

"Such plans do not satisfy those people looking for tangible results. The "civilian angle" — the fate of civilians in the event of modern weapons being used — has been totally forgotten and attention has focussed on estimating and maintaining the balance of power, on assuring the ability to counter attack if the other side attacks first.

"In each country, the general public can influence its own government. Our demands must therefore be addressed to our own respective governments and in each case such demands must be based on the situation and status of the particular country in the world structure. Popular movements can, however, support and encourage one another across national frontiers."

ISIS 21/page 18 THE AIM

The aim of the Campaign is to make everyone realize the basic facts, and to encourage strong protest against the present trend and the continuation of the arms race. It is also to create political opinion which refuses to live under such a threat and which will force governments to take action to abolish it.

WHAT TO DO

Finnish Women for Peace are initiating the Campaign by writing letters to women in all the major countries concerned : NATO countries (Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Great Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Greece, Portugal and Turkey), the Warsaw Pact countries (Poland, Czechoslovakia, the Germand Democratic Republic, Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria), the USA, the Soviet Union and the European neutral countries (Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Yougoslavia). The letters make the basic facts known und urge women in these countries to make specific demands of their governments (see below). Each letter also encourages the receiver to send it on to an additional ten people. In this way there will be 100.000 recipients on the fifth round, and the sixth round would encompass one million.

"The letters will assure us that each of us can do realistic work for peace and against nuclear weapons, each of us can make a contribution towards decreasing the risk of nuclear 3. The women of the Warsaw Pact countries (Poland, Czechos- war, and everyone can do something tangible for the survival lovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Rumania of their children and for their future," write the Finnish and Bulgaria) can women. — refuse to be protected against the threat of the United "WE ARE CONVINCED THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT States and NATO by weapons which threaten themselves, ISSUE IN THE WORLD TODAY AND THAT THE IMPACT — demand that Soviet troops and weapons be withdrawn from OF WOMEN WILL BE DECISIVE IN THIS MATTER." their countries, as their presence will make them targets and threaten them with a holocaust, Write to : — demand that their governments put pressure on the Soviet Women for Peace, c/o Unioni, Bulevardi 11,00120Helsinki 12, government to stop the development and production of Finland, for model letters or for further information. weapons and agree with the government of the United States on the disposal of existing weapons.

SPECIFIC DEMANDS 4. The women of the United States can — refuse to pay taxes to finance the arms race which their 1. The women of the European neutral countries (Austria, government is conducting, and encourage others to do Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden likewise, and Yugoslavia) can demand that their governments will — demand that their government stop the arms race because — stop increasing their own stock of arms because such stocks it merely accelerates the stockpiling of arms in the Soviet do not increase anybody's security, Union and makes them a target threatening the people — protest against the arms race between the great powers and of the United States with a holocaust, their allies and against the arms trade, — demand that their government agrees with the government — prepare a plan for a nuclear-free zone throughout Europe, of the Soviet Union on stopping the arms race and on the from Poland to Portugal, and devote all their political disposal of existing weapons. power to promoting such a plan. 5. The women of the Soviet Union can 2. The women of NATO countries (Norway, Denmark, the — refuse to believe that the American people are their enemies, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Great Britain, the Federal — demand that their government stop the arms race since it Republic of Germany, France, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Greece, only accelerates the stockpiling of arms in the United States Portugal and Turkey) can demand that their governments and makes them a target threatening the people of the — refrain from increasing their arms according to the demands Soviet Union with a holocaust, of the United States, — demand that their government agree with the government — call for the withdrawal of American troops, weapons, bases of the United States on stopping the arms race and disposal and military stockpiles from their countries, because these of existing weapons. are targets and threaten their people with a holocaust, — demand that the government of the United States stop the 6. We, the women of Europe, together will development and production of arms and agree with the — devote all our strength to supporting our American and government of the Soviet Union on ways of disposing of Soviet sisters in their demands from their governments, existing weapons. — force our governments to disarm.

ISIS21/page19 USEFUL ADDRESSES Women Oppose the Nuclear Threat c/o Box 600 Resistance Internationale des Femmes a la Guerre Peace News B.P. 52 8 Elm Avenue 94210 La Varenne Nottingham France. England.

A group which began at the beginning of this year and which WONT is a network of women's groups campaigning through- now has members throughout France and also in Belgium, out Britain for nuclear disarmament. The network was set up Switzerland, England, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, partly in reaction against the generally male-dominated hierar- Poland, India, Algeria, USA and USSR. They are particularly chical structure of the disarmament movement, but the concerned with peace education, and all public initiatives to women of WONT also see the nuclear threat as a specifically stop the arms race. They are very anxious to be in contact feminist issue. They publish a newsletter, Womenergy, avail- with other groups for pace and against war. able from Hackney WONT, c/o Sisterwrite Bookshop, 190 Upper Street, London N1.

Les Femmes et I'Armee Bull-Infos 3, place de la Croix-Rousse 69004 Lyon France. 1981. FFr. 31.30.

This is a collection of articles concerning women and the military, which have appeared in the French, German and English press. It covers : conscription of women in NATO countries, the relationship of feminism and militarism or feminism and anti-militarism, speeches of resistance, and a bibliography, resources, addresses.

Women in Surinam

This article first appeared in Newsfront International, A/o. 257 exodus of well educated, middle and upper-class entrepre- (September 1981). It is translated from Courage (March 1981), neurs, technicians and administrators who feared the loss of a West German feminist monthly, available from Frauen- their privileged status. Approximately 150.000 of these verlags GmBH, Bleibtreustrasse 48, 1000 Berlin 12, West Surinamese remain in Holland today. Independent Surinam Germany. had lost a quarter to a third of its skilled work force and was WOMEN IN A POST-COLONIAL STATE suffering from the catastrophic consequences of colonialism. A t present about 40 o/o of tne population lives in the capital Surinam, formerly Dutch Guyana, lies east of Venezuela on city of Paramaribo, but more and more people are migrating the coast of South America. It is a small country, about one- to the cities to find work. Women and children without third the size of California, with a population of 375.000. sufficient income have to find the cheapest shelters in town, Traded to the Dutch by the British in 1667 in exchange for where one faucet is often shared by four or five households. Manhattan, Surinam was then shuffled back and forth among Most women must work either to support themselves and the Dutch, British and French in the 18th and early 19th cen- their children or to supplement their husbands' incomes. Many turies. The Dutch and British brought people from other Surinamese women hold four or five jobs and generally earn colonies to sparsely populated Surinam. Laborers were impor- 40 °/o less than men. Uneducated women have few options: ted from India, Indonesia and Java; slaves from West Africa; they clean rich people's houses, office buildings, or the streets; farmers from Japan; and merchants from China. After the in the evenings they sell newspapers and vegetables. In addi- abolition of slavery in 1863, the plantations, which had been tion, women have almost total responsibility for child care. taken from the native people in a bloody conquest, became no longer profitable and were gradually abandoned. The Euro- The Organization of Surinamese Women (OSV) is a very active peans sold the land, primarily to the Hindustanis who made up autonomous women's organization. Having lived in Holland as the latest wave of newcomers, and returned to Europe. Today young children or students, many OSV members are familiar there are very few Europeans left in this extremely diverse with feminist politics and the European women's movements. population. For these women, their work in Surinam is an attempt to -; Kiiftvaj: ;-.;,-'; •":.:,, --.'-: '•-• : r,\* i*vo'' adapt these new experiences to their own country's environ- In 1974, the year before independence, there was a mass ments and living conditions.

ISIS21/page 20 The following interview with Twie Toja was conducted by a jobs, so you will see them on Watermolenstraat (a prostitu- West German woman who went to Surinam after meeting tion district in Paramaribo). Toja at the United Nations Mid-Decade Conference on Women last year in Copenhagen. Toja is a sociologist and has served Most of the literacy classes are in the poor neighbourhoods. as Vice-Minister of Social Welfare since 1980. She is active in For example, many women who live in Abrakrookie come in the OSV. from the rural areas after the ground has been tilled and can stay only until the harvest. The seasonal interruptions make Q. : I see so many different woman here : women from India, it difficult to learn, so many women have to start their studies Java, Japan, Indonesia, China and Europe, black and white over again from the very beginning. women, and all possible mixtures. How do the various tradi- Once a month we have a meeting at the OSV center. We dis- tions and cultural backgrounds affect the position of Surina- cuss all kinds of questions : diet, hygiene, the housing situa- mese women ? tion, raising children, education, pregnancy and prostitution. :••<*-/ •'••"••_: •••-<•;.-:.. ••• ..••::-..!(-•;•: -:• ;js>i,d -m Last time we discussed pornography. Sometimes we invite A : Much more so than all these cultural differences, the poli- specialists — sometimes men, such as physicians — who can tical and social inequalities in this country and its relationship answer questions on subjects where our knowledge is insuf- to the industrialized nations affect these women. Surinam is ficient. There are always a lot of women at our monthly a poor nation compared with Western countries. The economic meetings, so we are building a hall behind the OSV center. situation of the people here is incredibly bad. The cultural differences are here, but poverty goes beyond the boundaries Another project is a women's building to provide shelter for of nationality. You could not say, as in the U.S., for example, homeless women and children. There are many women living that black women are much worse off. Our main problem in the streets because they are unable to pay rent, are unable is the poor economic and social conditions for everyone, to work. But so far we don't have the space or the money. both men and women. Family Life and Sexual Relations Still, an autonomous women's organization is very important to us because women are always doubly exploited and oppres- Q: Are there women who live alone or with their children sed. They are as much affected by the general poverty as-men and another woman ? are, but their situation is even worse as far as work opportunities and education are concerned. A : Yes, many. We call that mati. These are mainly women who are separated from men. A man and woman living together Women and Work are considered to be married, but it is not legal. If the couple separates, the woman has no claim on what they owned Q : In Europe, many men still don't allow their wives to work together and may end up very poor. She may move in with outside the home or to have a profession. Do Surinamese men other women and their children. The government gives very also think that a woman belongs in the house ? little financial aid and only to women with at least four children. A : They might think so, but it's an idea they can't afford to indulge. In Surinam women make up about 49 °/o of the Q : So most women live with a man without being married. work force. I guess if you were to tell a woman what you just told me, she would ask, "But why would I work outside of A : Yes. If you look back in history, you will find that the the house if I didn't have to ?" Most women have five to slave dealers always tore families apart, even before people eight children and there is always plenty to do at home. Right were shipped from Africa. Women lived alone with their now our main concern is not to be economically independent children, and this has basically continued. They didn't think of a man. Women here are more concerned about medical in terms of marriage "until death do us part". Besides, today care, housing and education. people often don't have enough money to get married. Some- times very old people who have lived together all their lives get married, and their children and grandchildren pay for the wedding.

Q : Doesn't this form of living together give the women more independence ?

A : Maybe in the countryside where women have their own land. But women in the cities have no work, no education. They often try to tie down a man by having a child with him. But the man often does not want or is unable to support a family, so he takes off. And the woman is left behind with two or three children in the same situation as before, if not worse. The women who live together as mati are often discri- minated against and called lesbians, but most of them aren't.

Q : Are there any open lesbians or gay relationships ?

For example, we have started literacy classes. About 46 °/o A : No. If you said that you were a lesbian, you would be of Surinamese women cannot properly read or write. Many completely isolated. I know two gay men whose windows had to leave grade school to take care of their brothers and are constantly being broken by people in the street. I suppose sisters while their mothers worked. If there is a shortage of the "popular rage" is directed mainly at male homosexuals money, it is understood that a boy will be the one sent to because of machismo and because people just cannot imagine school, and his sisters will have to work so he can do that. women being homosexual. Friendship between women is Some women can barely read and write, they can't find decent okay, but a sexual relationship...

ISIS 21/page 21 Q : I guess that many women's problems have to do with the question there. When I came back to Surinam in 1975, I was fact that they have so many children. Do women want the very concerned about the situation of women here. Also, as children or do they have no choice ? a social worker I dealt mainly with women. I haven't been with the organization from the very beginning. A woman A : Abortion is illegal except for medical reasons, so there are from work brought me here. many illegal abortions. We want to reach the point where women can raise all the children they want under humane Q : The women in OSV belong to which social group ? conditions. Then abortion would no longer be an issue. A: About 25 women have a strong commitment and they are Q : On February 25, 1980 the army took power in this coun- nurses, teachers and housewives. Most of them work outside try. The new government promised social improvements, of the home, and about half are married. There are many and many people viewed this with a lot of hope. What can more women who work spontaneously on different projects. women expect ? We have a monthly magazine called Tamara (Tomorrow). A : Compared to before, a number of women now participate With the magazine plus monthly radio and TV programs, we in the government. We even have a female cabinet minister. reach at least 5.000 women. Each member of the OSV pays I am the Vice-Minister for Social Welfare. Five years ago when a monthly contribution, a minimum of 25 cents. We keep it I returned from Holland, that would not have been possible. low so that all women can participate. We also get money Of course, social welfare is a typical work area for women. from our publication, and quite a bit from our sisters in During the women's conference in Copenhagen, Malaysian Holland. We all work here without pay. women told us they now have a female minister for financial Q : You mentioned a few times that you want to do some- affairs. We haven't gotten that far yet. thing for the women here. But what do you get out of it ?

Q : What brought you to working with women ? Experience A : I see the concern with personal growth and individuality with the European women's movement ? as specific to women in the rich Western countries. In Suri- nam, as in many other poor societies, people become individualistic and hard because of economic hardship. Everyone A : I studied sociology in Holland after I had been working is trying to get a little bit for herself. We are at a completely' as a social worker for some time. I was certainly influenced by different stage than you are. We see our work with women the women's movement in Holland, but I was never really as a struggle against the isolating, individualistic tendencies. active; it was more the general attitude towards the women's Women have to learn that they can actually support each other.

1 opened the road for you...

DORA TAMANA

"You who have no work, speak. You who have no homes, speak. You who have no schools, speak. You who have to run like chickens from the vulture, speak. Let us share our problems so that we can solve them together. We must free ourselves. Men and women must share housework. Men and women must work together in the home and out in the world. There are no creches and nursery schools for our children. There are no homes for the aged. There is no-one to care for the sick. Women must unite to fight for these rights. I opened the road for you. You must go forward." The long and harsh struggle against apartheid in Southern Dora Tamana, April 1981 Africa cannot be covered adequately in any short article. Since the ISIS Bulletin No. 9 which was entirely dedicated to women in Southern Africa, little has fundamentally changed The words of Dora Tamana provide a graphic insight into the for the women there. To remind ourselves of the incredible growing strength and vitality of the liberation struggle in the strength and courage of the black people there, we are inclu- 1980s. Nearly as old as the century, she was a powerful ding the following brief piece about just one of the women, speaker at the inaugural conference of the Federation of Dora Tamana, taken from To Honour Women's Day published South African Women in April 1954. 27 years later, at a by the International Defense and Aid Fund for Southern conference of the United Women's Organization in Cape Africa, 1981 (see Resources for full details). Town, attended by more than 400 delegates from the Western

ISIS21/page22 Cape, she was again calling on the women of South Africa to unite and mobilise. Through her, those present could look back at what was achieved in the past, and forward along the road of continuing struggle against apartheid.

"Today, we still have our chains" she warned, "but we are not in a trap. We are divided, but we can come together... Now that we are strong, call the women, build the organization. Mothers, release yourselves." (Grassroots (Cape Town) May 1981).

Dora Tamana was born in 1901 at Gqamakwe in the Transkei. When she was 20, her father and two of her uncles were killed in the Bulhoek Massacre, in which 163 people were shot dead by the police.

In 1923, Dora married John Tamana, also from the Transkei. Over the next seven years she bore four children, three of whom died from starvation, tuberculosis and meningitis. The family moved to Cape Town in 1930 in the hope that their children might have a chance to survive. Dora's life continued to be a bleak struggle for basic essentials. Her husband even- tually deserted her. She nevertheless became increasingly involved in the wider problems she saw around her, joining the African National Congress and the ANC Women's League, and becoming an energetic organizer in the African and Coloured townships.

During the Second World War, food became scarcer than ever. Various self-help groups sprang up in the townships, and Dora herself decided to set up a creche for 20 babies from six months to five years. She continued to be active in numerous campaigns during the early 1950s against high food prices, Bantu Education, removals and the pass laws, and in the Defiance Campaign.

Dora was sent as a delegate to the inaugural conference of the Federation of South African Women and spoke to the Women's Charter that was submitted to the conference. In 1955 she was invited with Lilian Ngoyi to attend a women's peace conference in Switzerland. Together they spent seven months touring Europe, the USSR, China and other socialist countries.

On her return to South Africa, Dora was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act, and suffered constant police harassment for pass law and other "offences".

Dora brought up five of nine children who survived, ten grandchildren and ultimately a number of great-grandchildren. Through her family, she became personally involved in the armed struggle at an early stage. Her son Bothwell fought Dora continues to be actively involved in campaigns in the Rhodesian and South African troops in Zimbabwe as part Cape Town area, against high rents and prices, poor housing, of a joint campaign by the ANC and the Zimbabwe African inadequate schools, amenities and health services, and other People's Union (ZAPU). He was captured and spent 13 years issues affecting the black community. in the Smith regime's maximum security prisons, only being released following Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.

During the years of UDI, Dora managed to make the hazar- dous journey to see him and other South African prisoners in jail. At first she travelled on a South African document. After 1976 she was told to apply for a Transkeian passport, and so was no longer able to visit her son. For to have done this would have implied recognition of the "independence" of the from, n. rothenberg Transkei bantustan.

ISIS21/page23 COMPULSORY HETEROSEXUALITY EPARATISM

: - -•• || . -- " , . .„. . .j*--. . ' ••>.-_ - *Jv Hv. ' ^ These notes evolved from a number of recent conversations with heterosexual feminists, from which it appeared to me that - for a number of reasons - there wasn't a clear flow of communication. I hope that these brief notes will clarify the significance I intend of political lesbianism and separatism for heterosexual feminists. (And these notes are too brief to do much more than outline this). I am at the same time organizing my thoughts. (Why I believe this self-questioning to be important is explained below.) Since I feel that part of a lack of understanding is due to an unacknowledged difference in definition, I begin with my own.

Political lesbians are woman identified women1 who do not engage in sexual relationships with men. This does not imply compulsory sexual activity with women2. Feminist separation is "separation of various sorts or modes from men and from institutions, relationships, roles and activities which are male- defined, male-dominated and operating for the benefit of males and the maintenance of male privilege — this separation being initiated or maintained, at will, by women. (Masculist separatism is the partial segregation of women from men and male domains at the will of men. This difference is crucial.)" This separation can take many forms — from the avoidance of emotional or working relations to rudeness, from avoidance of participation in certain activities to ceasing to be loyal Why is heterosexuality so important to men ? Part of the to something or someoneS. response lies in the central role that heterosexuality, and more specifically the heterosexual couple, plays in male control What I would like to pursue further is the basis of these two of women. The heterosexual couple is the basic unit of the terms — the theme of separation, and the recognition of hete- political structure of male supremacy. It is both the model rosexuality as a political institution. and the basis for other institutions of oppression such as the church and the legal system. Within the couple, "love and Compulsory Heterosexuality sex are used to obscure the realities of oppression, to prevent women from identifying with each other in order to revolt, Heterosexuality as a political institution is discussed by and from identifying 'their' man as part of the enemy."5 Adrienne Rich in "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence". In "Compulsory Heterosexuality" she examines the various economic and social means by which women are But an equally important lesson heterosexuality has for coerced into heterosexuality. Culture (and not only Western women is the establishment of the right of male access to culture) asserts that women are inevitably drawn to men, women, the overall identification of women primarily as that primary love between the different sexes is "normal" "sexual beings whose responsibility is the sexual service of (and primary love between same sex couples is not), that men."6 women need men for adult sexuality and for psychological The huge number of men who are completion. For their economic and social survival women learn to behave in a "complaisantly and ingratiatingly hetero- pimps, procurers, members of slavery gangs, corrupt offi- sexual manner:"4 Women who do not act in this fashion are cials participating in the traffic, owners, operators, emplo- the targets of social and economic sanctions. At the same time, yees of brothels and lodgings and entertainment facilities, Lesbians who do not contradict the general assumption of pornography purveyors, associated with prostitution, heterosexuality are rendered invisible (or are erased by histo- wife beaters, child molesters, incest perpetrators, Johns rians and other researchers). It is this calculated invisibility (tricks) and rapists... should be cause for declaration of of relationships between women, and the forced dependency an international emergency, a crisis in sexual violence. of women upon men emotionally, socially, and economically But what should be cause for alarm is instead accepted that brings us to describe heterosexuality as compulsory. as normal sexual intercourse.7

ISIS 21/page 24 This right of male access to women, the carefully inculcated FOOTNOTES "mystique of the overpowering, all conquering male sex 1. cf. a male identified woman who "places men above women, inclu- drive"8 is used to rationalize why a woman "cannot" say no, ding (her)self, in credibility, status, and importance in most to justify prostitution, incest, rape, wife-beating, purdah and situations." (from Female Sexual Slavery by Kathleen Barry, pornography, along with other forms of women's (sexual) p. 172). I would add that a male identified woman is one who continues to cling to male standards, ideals, and values. slavery. 2. Love Your Enemy, the Debate between Heterosexual Feminism Separation as Access Control and Self-Definition and Political Lesbianism, p. 5. (See Resources following article).

This same concept of access is featured in Marilyn Frye's 3. "Some Reflections on Separatism and Power" by Marilyn Frye "Some Reflections on Separation and Power", in which she in Sinister Wisdom No. 6, p. 31. (See Resources following article). describes the "strength, energy, inspiration and nurturance 4. Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence by Adrienne of women that keeps men going" and institutions "such as Rich, p. 14. (See Resources following article). heterosexuality, marriage, and motherhood" as those "which maintain female accessibility to males"9, and which men 5. Love Your Enemy, p. 6. use to define women. 6. Barry, p. 103 (cited in Rich, p. 16). She also notes that the theme of separation - the limiting 7. Ibid., p. 220 (cited in Rich, p. 19). of access, and self-definition - are present in all feminist endeavors from divorce to exclusive Lesbian separatist commu- 8. Ibid., p. 140 (Rich p. 17). nities, from women's studies programs to abortion on demand... "Most feminists, probably all, practice some separa- 9. Frye, p. 39. tion from males and male-domainated institutions. A sepa- 10. But see "Lesbian Feminism" in Jill Johnston's Lesbian Nation, ratist practices separation consciously, systematically, and especially pages 180-181 where she states : "the energy expended probably more generally than the others, and advocates tho- in convincing or persuading or working on the man... is energy rough and "broad-spectrum" separation as part of the con- best directed toward the building and refining of new interactive structures among... women... To work out a suitable compromise scious strategy of liberation." This is not to say that feminist or apparent equality, at any private level, is an exceptional solu- separation is tion between exceptional people, and although not a solution sought or maintained directly as ultimate personal or to disregard or denounce in a disjunctive culture, remains an effort in isolation." "Historically, revolution has meant the political ends10... Generally, the separations are brought overthrow of one class by another, leaving the oppressive insti- about and maintained for the sake of something else like tution itself intact"... (a Lesbian feminist revolution attacks the independence, liberty, growth, invention, sisterhood, underpinning of every political-economic power base). safety, health, or the practice of novel or heretical customs. 11. Frye, p. 32. Often the separations... evolve, unpremeditated, as one- finds various persons, institutions or relationships useless, 12. Love Your Enemy, p. 57. obstructive or noisome and leaves them aside... or behind. Sometimes the separations are consciously planned... as 13. Ibid., p. 48. necessary... conditions for getting on with one's business. Sometimes separations are accomplished or maintained RESOURCES easily, or with a sense of relief, or even joy. Sometimes they are accomplished and maintained with difficulty, by dint of constant vigilance, or with anxiety, pain or Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence grief.11 Adrienne Rich Onlywomen Press Thus separatism is not a simple matter of "giving up men" 38 Mount Pleasant as one would quit smoking or boycott South African (or LondonWdXOAP Nestle) products. The re-orientation is more profound than England. 90p plus postage. who one sleeps with. It involves an internal shift from male identification to woman identification.12 No longer accepting "Some Reflections on Seperatism and Power" male "reality", male "truths". Marilyn Frye Sinister Wisdom No. 6 P.O. box 660 What I personally ask of heterosexual feminists, then, is Amherst MA 01004 that they challenge their assumptions — particularly the one USA. $2.50 plus postage. that they were "born" heterosexual. I ask them to take responsibility for their heterosexuality and to acknowledge the privileges that accompany their heterosexual status. Love Your Enemy, The Debate between Heterosexual femi- Moreover, despite numerous heated responses to Lesbian nism and Political Lesbianism separatists (political lesbian) articles, I have yet to see a Onlywomen Press, Ltd. description of how emotional / sexual relationships with 38 Mount Pleasant men contribute to feminist revolution. I would therefore LondonWdXOAP like to see a real attempt to refute the assertion that hetero- England. £1.75 plus postage. sexuality is the cornerstone of male supremacy12. And I would like them to do all this not in a spirit of self-defence or self- justification, but because sexuality is not a personal matter, but a political one. And "we have all been lied to". We would like to point out that this is a personal article and does not reflect the views of a/I women at ISIS. We would very much like to have your responses to the article, though, Roxanne Claire with a view to possibly publishing them at a later date.

ISIS 21/page 25 Jamaica:

Women's

Theatre

All the women in the group are former street cleaners who come together under a Special Employment Programme introduced by the previous Manley Government. This programme was divised to try to ease the escalating rate of The following is based on a newspaper article which first unemployment amongst Jamaica's poorest working class, appeared in Caribeean CONTACT, Volume 9, No. 6 (October and street cleaning was typical of the kind of work it offered. 1981), along with a report on the Women and Culture Sympo- In an effort to broaden the work and improve the opportuni- sium which recently took place in Barbados. The Symposium ties available to women, the local Women's Bureau selected a formed part of the latest Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts group of these workers for training as teacher's aides. Part of (CARIFESTA 81) and was organised by the University of this training involved studying the use of drama in education Barbados Women in Development Unit (WAND), in co- and this was how Sistren was born. Inspired by their introduc- operation with the Barbados Ministry of Education and Cul- tion to theatre as a means of education or consciousness- ture and the Department of Women's Affairs. It marked the raising, some women volunteered to perform a short play at beginning of a one-year 'Project for the Consciousness-Raising the first annual Workers' Week Concert in April 1977. They and Mobilisation of Caribbean Women'. The stated purpose were directed by Honor Ford Smith, an actress and teacher of this Symposium which lasted one day, was 'to show how from the Jamaica School of Drama, who later set up a special women have used various art forms to express their reality training programme for them at the School. and to examine how the methodology of cultural expression can be used for conscientisation and mobilisation of Caribbean None of the women in Sistren have any high school educa- Women'. In the morning short papers were presented by tion for they all come from the poorer areas of Jamaica's women working in the fields of dance, music, literature and capital, Kingston. They each have up to four children. Scripts theatre. Then there were practical sessions in the afternoon. are always improvised and in the beginning they evolved out These included a demonstration of various drama workshop of taped meetings, when members gathered together to share techniques by Sistren and a ritual fertility dance performed and talk about their experiences as working-class women. by Miss Queenie Kennedy, Queen or Priestess of Jamaica's Their first major production was Bellywoman Bangarang Kumina Cult Caribbean CONTACT is a monthly newspaper which explored group members' experiences with first preg- available from P.O. Box 616, Bridgetown, Barbados, West nancies. It was very successful and shared first-prize with Indies. entries from Peru and Uruguay in Women's Mass Media compe- tition for Women in Development. After another successful The Sistren Theatre Co-operative is a group of Jamaican production, based on the problems of forming a co-operative working-class women who use drama to analyse and comment and coping with law in the ghetto, entitled Bandaloo Version, on the role and position of Jamaican women in society. They Sistren moved on to explore the theme of women in Jamaica's are also committed to bringing theatre into the lives of the history, with Nana Yah, featuring the legendary exploits of country's low-income communities. Maroon leader Nanny who is the country's one national

ISIS21/page26 heroine. This was followed in 1981 by QPH, a play dealing Caribbean Women's Features with more recent history and based on a fire which broke out c/oWAND in an old people's home in May 1980, killing 167 old women. as above. The play, descibed as a 'poignant protest against society's neglect of the aged', is a fictionalised documentary of the A features service run by women, providing feature stories lives of three old women — their initials form the title — who entirely concerning women in the Caribbean. The stories end up at the home. To research the work Sistren talked to are used by local press and radio, but also by media outside many survivors of the fire and also tried as much as they the Caribbean. A recent feature, for instance, dealt with could to understand the physical experience of growing old. women in the trade union movement in Guyana. Finally, Sistren is now researching a play about the plight of women domestic workers, focusing on migrant women. The Co-operative hopes to be taking this new production to Caribbean Resource Book Canada at the end of the year where they have been invited International Women's Tribune Centre to go by the Canadian Domestic Workers' Association and 345 East 46th Street several other groups. Room 815 New York NY USEFUL ADDRESSES USA.

Women and Development Unit (WAND) Focusing on women and development, this is a collection Extra-Mural Department of resources on women's projects and organisations through- University of West Indies out the Caribbean. The Pine, St. Mjchael, Barbados.

International Contraception Action

From 31 October to 1 November ICASC (International The meeting began with a presentation of each group and Contraception, Abortion and Sterilisation Campaign) held requests for solidarity from Belgium, Spain and South Africa. a workshop in London, England. Rosangela Gramoni, a There are currently abortion trials going on in Spain and member of the Dispensaire des Femmes in Geneva, went to Belgium. the workshop, and wrote this report for ISIS. There were many workshops on the agenda. Too many in my No to Population Control opinion. In future ICASC meetings it might be more fruitful Yes to women's control to chosse only one theme and conduct workshops on the different aspects of this theme. As it was, the workshops Our bodies, our lives scheduled were : depo-provera, prostaglandins, politics of Our right to decide ! contraception, anti-abortionists, psychological reactions to ->_ :' j= -J,^ .^ - ' . . • : abortion, sterilisation, building national campaigns, sexuality Under these banners the plenary session of the meeting orga- and fertility control, self-help groups and clinics, demography nised by ICASC opened in London. There were about 60 of and population control, travelling to other countries for us, both members and non-members of ICASC groups. Eleven abortion, illegal abortion, building support in unions. European countries were represented (Austria, Belgium, Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, In the workshop on the "politics of contraception" we dis- Spain, Switzerland and West Germany), and there were several cussed how such politics depend on things like culture, reli- women from Latin America, Mauritius, India, Israel and gion, age, type of relationship, health, the economic situation, South Africa. feelings about possible pregnancy. The kind of contraceptive

ISIS 21/page 27 women can use also depends a great deal on the partner, and abuse, and finally, positive aspects of contraception (yes — this is often something which is overlooked. The attitude of there really are some !...). doctors is also very important. For example, one English woman from a group giving help to Spanish women coming In the workshop on "feminist self-help groups / clinics", we to Britain for abortion explained that a good deal of those shared our various experiences — the Dispensaire des Femmes women want lUD's inserted, but this creates problems because in Geneva, the London group within the National Health IDD's have to be taken out or replaced every two-and-a-half Service, Dutch health groups. to three years, and there are very few doctors in Spain who I was unfortunately unable to attend the final plenary session fit IDD's. An Indian woman talked of the situation in the where decisions were taken and resolutions passed. I would region she comes from, explaining that village women have simply like to end this brief report on these two days of real almost no information about what contraceptive methods sisterhood, with some personal comments. I found the atmos- exist. Another woman from Colombia pointed out that phere very warm and the discussions at the workshops I western feminists are against depo-provera but that in her attended very rich. I can only affirm yet again that solidarity country women have to walk so far to the health centres amongst women is not an empty slogan. Lesbian women were that depo-provera is an acceptable method of contraception. very present and they work in groups which give support to heterosexual women. Indeed, we shouldn't forget that contraception, abortion and sterilisation are the "side effects" of Other issues were only briefly touched upon because of lack heterosexuality whether it is freely chosen or not. I only hope of time. One such issue was the terminology of contraception. that there are as many heterosexual women supporting les- For example, abortion, sterilisation and contraception are bians in their specific struggles. often considered as different things whereas in fact they are all methods of contraception. We also discussed what is meant Once more a big thank'you and a warm hug to the women of and understood by the words "family planning" and "birth ICASC in London who organised this meeting so beautifully control". In Kenya, for instance, "birth control" is clearly both materially (accommodation, food, child-care) and in the associated with "population control" so that programmes to running of the workshops. introduce contraception are now termed "family planning". _ If you want to become "'a member of ICASC, make your Additional subjects should have been discussed, but we were own actions 'on contraception, abortion and sterilisation only able to make a list : population control and women's known, or if you want to get international support or give control, the pharmaceutical industry, the politics of IPPF your support and solidarity, or suscribe to the newsletter, (International Planned Parenthood Federation), laws, services, write to the following address : international research, the lack of any revolutionary break- ICASC coordination group, 374 Grays Inn Road, London WC1, through in new methods of contraception, contraception England.

ISIS 21/page 28 WOMEN

AND

HEALTH

Resources :

New Hampshire Feminist Health Center 38 South Main St. Concord NH 03301 USA.

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO RESOURCES AND Produce a quarterly women's health PARTICIPANTS LIST IN ISIS INTERNATIONAL BULLE journal Womenwise. TIN No. 20 Lesbian health matters ! Participants : Santa Cruz Women's Health Center Myriam Vandamme 250 Locust St. 36, rue du Framboisier Santa Cruz CA 95060 1180 Bruxelles, Belgium. USA. US$3.50.

Publication dealing with ailments, menstrual cramps, alterna- Marina Rea c/o Department of Nutrition tive fertilization, menopause, alcoholism, and co-alcoholism. Faculty of Public Health Av. Dr. Arnaldo 351 . . . .. 01245 Sao Paolo, Brazil. New Zealand Women's Health Network c/o Sarah Calvert Gita Chakravarty 318 Ngatai Road c/o Gonoshasthaya Kendra Tauranga P.O. Bayarhat via Dhamrai New Zealand. Dacca, Bangladesh. National Conference on Women and Health, to be held in Emma Wibowo Auckland, New Zealand, on 17-19 September 1982. Further c/o Y IS information from Sarah Calvert at the above address. The New Jl. Kenanga 163 Zealand Women's Health Network also publish a monthly Solo, Indonesia. newsletter available from the above address.

ISIS 21/page29 Resources

middle east latin america

The Great Health Robbery Women in Peru and Dianna Melrose Women in Chile OXFAM Change International Reports 274 Banbury Road Parnell House Oxford 0X2 7DZ 25 Wilton Road England. 1981. £1.30. London SW1V US England. 1981. £1.25 each. Subtitled "baby milk and medicines in Yemen", this well- written and nicely presented study describes the health situ- Both these reports attempt to give an overview of the country ation in Yemen, placing it in a clear political context, and in question and describe the situation of women firmly within shows how efforts to improve health are aggravated by the the socio-political context of that country. Written by Blanca promotion of artificial baby milk and medicines in conditions Figueroa and Jeanine Anderson of Asociacion Peru-Mujer, that make their safe use impossible. An excellent case-study Women in Peru looks at areas such as education, health, legal of the health / sickness situation in developing countries, protection, employment and access to services, showing with suggestions for action that can be taken at various levels. that statistics are of little help, since they tend to leave women out. It goes on to give brief case studies of different kinds of working women — the commerciante, the domestic worker, the middle class woman and the outworker — and discusses women's organisations in a rather general way.

Women in Chile is also entitled "military ideology and the dissolution of democracy" indicating the clear historical- political perspective which the author — a Chilean exile living in Britain — takes in elaborating the situation of women. She covers the social image, looking at the Catholic Church and Hispanic Literature, law and women's place, education, economic activity, women's organisation, and politics. This last section shows how Chilean politics have been immesurbaly changed since the overthrow of the Allende Government in 1973 and that this had a major negative effect on women It shows too how the Junta-controlled mass media is decisive in distorting the image of women, relegating them to a secondary status.

First Meeting of Latin American and Caribbean Feminists available from : Match 401-171 Nepean Ottawa, Ontario Canada K2P OB4.

This is a 15-page manuscript written by a member of Match (see elsewhere in this Bulletin) who attended the meeting of Latin American and Caribbean feminists which took place in Bogota in July 1981 (see our report of this in this Bulletin). A lengthy and sensitive acount of the meeting with conside- rable discussion of the feminist movement in Latin America.

ISIS 21/page 30 Mutherio Irish Women's Diary and Guide Book 1982 Fundacao Carlos Chagas Irish Feminist Information Publications Aw. Prof. Francisco Morato 1565 c/o Books Upstairs CEP 05513 Sao Paolo 25 Market Arcade Brazil. Dublin 2 Ireland. IR£2.10 (IRX2.40 outside Ireland and England). A Brazilian feminist bi-monthly newspaper which began in May this year. Covers national and some international news, Similar in style and format to the Spare Rib Diary, this Diary and carries usually one main feature series, for instance "day- of course gives information more specifically for Irish women care" in issue No. 4 (November-December 1981). Reviews, — useful addresses and contacts etc. — with more elaborated views and letters. In Portuguese. sections on justice and law, health, violence against women, and an extended piece on women in Northern Ireland. Handy pocket size.

UNME - Union Nacional de Mujeres del Ecuador Versalles No. 1103 y Carrion Quito Ecuador.

A women's organisation (approved by the Ministry of Educa- tion and Culture) which promotes Ecuadorian women's education to enable them to participate fully in the nation's development. Particularly concentrates on hygiene and nutrition education with rural women, and acts at government level also to fight for women's equality.

europe

Status 14 Merrion Row Dublin 2 Ireland Krystyna Kowalewska A monthly magazine covering a vaste number of issues on c/o University Warszawski women concentrating on women in Ireland, but including Klub Sigma some articles on women in Third World, book reviews etc. u. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 24 August 1981 issue deals, for instance, with the Hite Report 00-325 Warszawa on male sexuality, women office cleaners. Mother Teresa, Poland. news, health notes, legal advice. A feminist group founded in November 1980 which plans to publish a women's newspaper and to start a women's theatre. Sigma has made a list of demands which it is discussing with Solidarity, the independent trade union. These demands LUA Revista Feminista include equal pay for equal qork, time off for childcare Rua Filipeda Mata 115 A for both parents, equal rights for married and unmarried Lisbon couples, increase in men's responsibility for their children Portugal. and for abortion, abolishing stereotyped images and harmful myths about women. The women of Sigma ask for any ma- A quarterly bulletin in Portuguese, published by I DM - Centra terial available on the women's movement and women's de Informacao e Documentapao de Mulheres (Women's Infor- problems to be sent to them. mation and Documentation Centre). No. 5 (summer 1981) has "violence against women" as a theme, and contains articles on women in prison, the biblical treatment of violence, rape, whether there is an 'aggressive instinct', women and madness, Women's View contraception, fashion (as violence against women), and self- National Women's Committee of Sinn Fein defense. Also news from other countries. Always has original 30 Gardiner Place articles and interviews. Dublin 1 Ireland I DM is open every evening and offers information on such things as law, health, support groups etc. Also has a collec- A quarterly magazine covering a variety of issues such as tion of more than 400 books and hundreds of periodicals, health, transport, history, women's right in the EEC (Euro- in Portuguese, French and English. For time to time IDM pean Community), day-care. Well produced. organises debates and discussion groups. Poder y Libertad Beetles Partit Feminista de Catalunya c/o Marcelle Hochstaetter C/BailenNo. 18-3<>-ia 27, rue Lamartine Barcelone 10 1203 Geneva Spain. 500 ptas. Switzerland.

Second number of the theoretical review of the Feminist A new periodical in French on feminist imagination, creati- Party of Catalunya. 208 pages long, it makes a resume of vity and reflection. First issue (October 1981) covers women activities of the Party, including a theoretical and ideological and politics, women and money, the economic situation. debate, dealing especially with strategy and tactics of the Party, its identity vis-a-vis other political parties and feminist organisations, and a discussion of "feminist power".

Mais qu'est-ce qu'elles veulent ? (But what do women want ?) Film in French (1975, 16 mm, 1 1/2 hours) Produced by Coline Serreau Available from : Centre d'Animation Cinematographique (CAC) Rue Voltaire 27 1201 Geneva Switzerland. For distribution in other countries call Centre National Cinematographique in Paris, France, Tel. 505 1240.

Although Coline Serreau had originally planned to do a film on women describing their visions of Utopian society, she soon discovered while filming the interviews that the women really wanted to speak of the realities of their own lives and struggles — both as individuals and as members of society, as mothers, wives and most often workers. In this film, Coline Serreau listens and films with compassion as seven women from various walks of life describe their lives. The result is a very moving and authentic film. She never interrupts them and is especially respectful of their silences which are particularly meaningful, conveying as much as their words.

Summer/Autumn 1980 We are moved as each woman speaks : a peasant from a mountain farm, a factory worker on a fast-moving assembly line, a textile worker, a young woman acting in pornographic films, a woman obsessed with being thin, a well-to-do bour- geoise, a theologian-mother of 7 children and a widow-con- cierge. Each woman is seen — not only herself, but also in the "Herstories" 1982 Calendar environment in which she lives and works. And between Stramullion Cooperative Ltd. each sequence there is the ever constant presence of water, 43 Candlemaker Row thrashing up against the rocks quite violently. Each person Edinburgh EH1 2QB viewing the film is left to interpret this in her own way. Scotland. £2.50.

A wall calendar with information on women and events affecting women's lives in Scotland. Photos and graphics.

AGENDA 1982 der Schweizer Frau - de la femme suisse ed. Groupe de travail Agenda Centre F. Information C.P. 50 1, rue des Barrieres 1231 Conches (Geneva) Case postale 757 Switzerland. SFr. 12.50. 1211 Geneva Switzerland. 1981 was equal rights' year for Swiss women and they won ! This makes doubly interesting the fifth edition of their bilin- A recently opened information centre for women in the gual diary (French and German). It is a handy combined French-speaking part of Switzerland. The aim is not only to diary-almanach with original graphics, useful addresses in act as an information centre on a whole range of women's Switzerland and lots of information. Every aspect of social issues — status of women, legal, professional, cultural, health living (politics, work, science and technology, theology, edu- etc. — but also to organise workshops, consciousness-raising cation, health, architecture and urbanism, media and culture) and study groups. Open Tuesday-Friday 2.30 - 6.30, Satur- is analysed in order to point out feminist actions and women's day 12 - 4 pm. contributions to it.

ISIS 21/page32 Spare Rib Women's Liberation Diary 1982 Institute of Development Studies Spare Ribs Ltd. University of Sussex 27 Clerkenwell Close Brighton BN1 9RE London EC1R OAT England. England. £2.50. The Institute is offering a Master of Philosophy course in A very useful diary for British and Irish women. It has a development studies from 1982-84. The course is designed to section called Useful Information which starts with the Wo- provide both an inter-disciplinary understanding of the pro- men's Liberation Movement, Centres and Local Groups, cesses of development and experience in the practical applica- Publications and Useful Readings. Contacts are listed from tion of analytical tools to policy decisions. The organisers A-Z under headings like Arts, Battered Women, Child birth, are keen to have as many women as possible on this course. Child Care, Women's bands, theatre groups and other specific Applicants should have an honours degree or its equivalent, topics. and have studied some economics. Further details from IDS at the above address. Applications have to be received by The Diary pages give a week at a glance. 1982 and 1983 1st May 1982. calendars, a special Menstrual Calendar and Blank pages for personal notes. At the back of the Diary there is also a very good section on Health, which covers topics like Self Examinations, Abortion, Contraception, Alternative Medicine etc., with addresses of organizations and other useful informa- Decade Network tion. c/o CHANGE International Reports m. •• •• • *if» Parnell House 25 Wilton Road ^S^'^%^*^ London SW1V US Women in the 80's England. Tel : 01 / 828 2204. CIS Report Counter I nformation Services An informal network set up to provide a forum for discussion 9 Poland Street and coordination among non-governmental organisations and London W1V3DG others prior to the 1985 Decade for Women Conference and England. Spring 1981. 32 pages. 90p. to pool and provide information about the issues, objectives ; ' . -• VvL ..".V -•-**.;',/ .;,.';:*!* CM-- 1; ~ • -^ and events of the UN Decade for Women, trying to make This report looks at how women in Britain are being affected clear their relevance to British women. The organisers welcome by the combined impact of government policies and world visits and ideas from those coming through London. economic stagnation. In a series of short articles, backed up by photographs and statistics, it analyses worsening conditions for women in the home, at work and as a high percentage of the country's growing unemployed. The report also links these conditions with racism and violence through the government's introduction of new immigration laws and a decline in public services, like transport and street lighting, which makes it harder for women to travel freely, especially at night.

,,. . ."' "•*•% , -*, '«

Women, health and development Development Education Centre Unicef Office for Europe,. , Palais des Nations 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland. 1981. SFr. 10.

"Recognizing that ill-health is often the result of poor socio- economic conditions, this kit emphasizes that health is a pre- requisite as well as a result of human development. It points to the unmet health needs of women, their role in the community, as providers of water and food and as agents of primary health care, and to the fact that their health condition is related to their status as women." This kit is a series of brief papers covering the above subjects — as a kind of "inventory" on women and health and how this relates to development. It is constructed for educational use for local, national and international organisations. Gives suggestions for discussion and action, and contains resource papers and a bibliography. It is the second in a series of development education kits, the first being "Women and Disability" and the third, "Women and the North-South Dialogue".

ISIS 21/page33 Bibliografi Wanita Indonesia (Bibliography of women in Indonesia) africa National Scientific Documentation Center Indonesian Institute of Sciences Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto To Honour Women's Day P.O. Box 3065 International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa Jakarta 104 Newgate Street Indonesia. 1980. London EC14 7AP England. August 1981. JC1. Although most of the titles included in this bibliography are in Indonesian and therefore unavailable to many of our "The women whose lives and experiences are briefly des- readers, the annotation or titles are frequently translated cribed (in this booklet) have all made outstanding contribu- into English, and therefore give a good idea of works available tions to the struggle for a free democratic and non-racial on womapfc there. Southern Africa. All have endured personal hardship and suffering under apartheid". It is a moving testimony to the strength of women in Southern Africa and to the determination to continue to fight for social justice there. Feminist Resource Centre 13f*Carol Mansion^ 3$;Sitladevi TemA Road tim, Bombay JP0016 Inc

Th|(^|li^sac«Btre which has extensive documentation of the women's md|ement internationally; it also organises discussions, work||ops, and action-research dealing with topics related to the women's movement, such as sexual oppression of tribal women, violence in the family, contraception. In addition it reproduces certain documents very cheap- and doef%>nslations into Hindi. Open Tuesday, Thursday Id Saturday K- 5 pm.

Asian Women The Asian Women's Institute 37 Nazarbagh Lucknow 226 001 India. US$8 annually.

A quarterly news bulletin, telling of Asian women's struggle for a better quality of life through education, adult literacy, continuing and career education, self-reliance and awareness of their potentials in all spheres of life in Asia. The editors write : "we solicit your support in the struggle which cannot be carried out in isolation. Read Asian Women and know. Subscribe to Asian Women as an explicit guarantee of your faith in this struggle and for the satisfaction of having shared in it." Subscriptions to the Asian Women's Institute, Room asia and the pacific 439, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115, USA. Indian subscriptions to the above address.

Economic Review NoslOand 11, Jan./Feb. 1981 Women and Girls in India Published by the People's Bank Indian Social Institute Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha Lodi Road Colombo - 2 New Delhi Sri Lanka. India. 1981. Rs. 5.

This combined issue of Economic Review features a special Edited by Ngmani Rao and Jessie Tellis, this book briefly report on women and development in Sri Lanka. The report traces the history of women, the uprbringing of a girl and the includes articles on the status of women in Sri Lanka, working problems encountered by women in India. Short lives of conditions of women on tea plantations (with detailed wage great women from different walks of life are given to show statistics), community health and devlopment and a brief how they have overcome difficulties; also some poems and assessment of the first half of the UN Decade for Women. cartoons. (From the Indian Social Institute press release).

ISIS 21/page 34 Saheli 10 Nizamuddin East New Delhi 110013 India.

A women's resource center has been set up by a group of women in Delhi in an attempt to break the silent suffering and isolation of women here. By pooling together all their resources, skills and energy they hope to make Saheli "a place where we meet other women, share our experiences and collectively work out solutions to our problems. This will be a place where we can find new hope and strength to rebuild and renew our lives."

The Women's Center Saheli has been informally set up in a garage and will be a resource and contact point for women to meet other women with similar problems, contact a doctor or lawyer, and find someone to talk to. The center is open tti~ to any woman who needs help and wishes to give support in any way she can. Contributions of money, books etc. are welcome. The centre is open from Monday to Saturday 10 am to 12 am and 6 pm to 8 pm; and Sundays between National Women's Studies Association 11 am and 1 pm. •..,.,t,' .,,. University of Maryland : ., ,_. % College Park Maryland 20742 Women's Resource Centre USA. P.O. Box 520 - - J$ .-" Papua New Guinea. NWSA has provided a forum for feminists from many places. The organisation is "secondary" for many women as we This centre aims to provide a meeting place where women identify primarily with our daily work as feminist activists can come to discuss common problems and issues and give and scholars of many persuasions. The "secondary" function support towards a more general women's movement in Paua of NWSA — communication between groups — is crucial. New Guinea. There are also plans to set up a library contain- Without support, both financial and intellectual, there may ing up-to-date information on local groups and on the legal be no organisation and no conference next year.' Contribu- status of women in the area, as well as a wide range of books, tions and suggestions for sessions and papers for the con- periodicals and catalogues from the international women's ference on 'Feminist Connections Throughout Education' movement. should be sent to NWSA at the above address. For information on the Third World caucus write to : Elizabeth Waters, 620 N.E. Ainsworth, Portland, OR 97211, USA. There are also plans for a conference by and about Third World women. For information contact : Azizah AI-Hibri, Department of Philosophy, Texas ABM, College Station, TX 77843, USA. north america MATCH International Centre 401-171 Nepean Ottawa, Ontario Canada K2P OB4. "Women and Trade Unions" Resources for Feminist Research (RFR) Mentioned before in our Bulletins, Match focuses its efforts VolXNo.2July 1981 on the support of small women's projects in the Thrid World Dept. of Sociology through the financial support of women across Canada. They Ontario Institute for Studies in Education are currently preparing a number of kits which will be used 252 Bloor Street West in Canada and elsewhere for research purposes. Planned to Toronto, Ontario date are : women and agriculture, women and appropriate Canada M5S 1V6 technology, and women and cooperatives. Write for more details. A collection of articles on women within trade unions and those not unionized, covering strategies for equality, social unionism, micro-technology, domestic workers, immigrant women and women in educational unions. Has extensive annotated resources on all aspects of women and Unions including a listing of women's strikes in Canada over the past five years, and an extensive list of films. Also book reviews and listings of feminist periodicals throughout the world. A very complete work and invaluable resource. Annual subs- scription $18 outside Canada. $25 for institutions.

ISIS21/page35 Feminism in Europe Maria Mies and Kumari Jayawardena Institut of Social Studies Badhuisweg 251 books The Hague Netherlands. 1981.

Sub-titled "liberal and socialist strategies 1789-1919", this is a lecture series tracing the beginnings of the feminist movement and feminist thinking from before the French Revolu- tion in Europe. The authors point to the importance of such work in "the eroneous or prejudiced notions connected with the concept 'feminism'. Many people particularly in the Third World, following the image projected by the media, think feminism is a craze of disillusioned middle-class women in affluent societies... there is hardly any knowledge about the fact that the feminist rebellion started around the time of the French Revolution and has since accompanied, though in uneven waves, the expansion of the industrial system all over the world." The four lectures presented here (more to be published later) deal extensively with feminist thinking in the context of contemporary ideologies, and with feminist Rolling Our Own : Women as printers, publishers and distri- thinkers and their lives. Highly recommended. butors Eileen Cadman, Gail Chester and Agnes Pivot Minority Press Group Series No 4 "Mean Mothers" and 9 Poland Street "Wild Women Don't Get the Blues" London W1V 3 DG Rosetta Records England Dept. 1 1981. 116 pages. £2.25. 115 West 16 St., Apt. 267 NY NY 10011 This book contains a number of interviews with women USA. US$10 each album. involved in different areas of feminist publishing, from produ- cing a local women's liberation newsletter to working in a Other blues collections stress woman as victim (My Man Left large commercial company. It shows how they become in- Me), but Rosetta Reitz has reclaimed a bit of musical herstory volved in the different areas of work, the problems they face with these two albums and their songs of independent women and how they deal with them. The book, illustrated with (If You Don't Like It, Leave). cartoons, includes chapters on printing, distribution, writing, the importance of pamphlets, and sexism in the book trade. It also contains a bibliography, a directory of women's liberation newsletters, magazines and journals throughout Scot- land, England, Wales and Ireland, and a list of useful organisations.

ISIS21/page36 CLIT 007 Fat Liberator Publications Centre Femmes P.O. Box 7232 5, bd. St. Georges Mineapolis MN 55407 1205 Geneva USA. Switzerland. A series of publications whose contents explode such myths A Lesbian-feminist quarterly. A mixture of "serious" articles as fat people eat more than thin ones (and thus can lose and humour (C.L.I.T. itself stands for "irresistably toxic weight by dieting). One focus is on the connection between Lesbian concetrate". In French only. cultural hostility towards fat and women's oppression, the social dictate of thinness as a form of social control of women.

Of Marriage and the Market : Women's subordination in international perspective Common Differences : conflicts in black and white feminist Kate Young, Carol Wolkowitz and Roslyn McCullagh (eds) perspectives CSE Books Gloria I. Joseph and Jill Lewis 25 Horsell Road Anchor Press / Doubleday London N5 Garden City England New York 1981. 202 pages. £4.95. USA. 1981. 300 pages. $8.95.

This is a selection of theoretical papers representing diverse This book, written by a black and a white woman, looks at approaches to women's subordination from an international the differences between black and white women's perspectives, perspective. attitudes and concerns on key issues. It presents an overview of women's status through history and discusses some of the main issues where common differences occur : sexuality, However, the authors all underline the need to look beyond men and marriage, mothers and daughters, media images economic explanations for women's subordination and exa- and the direction of the women's movement. Each section is mine the significance of sexual relations and the sexual divi- divided into a black / white perspective of these issues and in- sion of labour, both inside and outside the home. Areas cludes interviews with a wide range of women. Recommended. discussed include women and reproduction, the politics of domestic budgeting, problems of feminist theory and practice in socialist societies, and women and labour in multinationals. There are specific case studies of women in Morocco and Yugoslavia, as well as examples from all over the world. The WO book also contains an extensive bibliography.

The Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism A Debate on Class and Patriarchy Heidi Hartmann and others, edited by Lydia Sargent Pluto Press London, England. 1981. £3.95.

This book contains one lead essay and 12 other contributions expressing different views on marxism and feminism, some advocating a more progressive union, others tending towards divorce.

Marxist, radical and anarchist feminists express their ideas . on such topics as patriarchy and capitalism (are they one and "Black women ponder : why feminism ?" the same or different systems ?), heterosexism, hierarchy, New Direction for Women July / August 1981 male drive to power (social or biological ?), mode of produc- 223 Old Hook Road tion, control of women's bodies, marriage as basic to women's Westwood, NJ 07675 exploitation, sexual division of labour, the role of men in revo- USA. lution, action, socialism, etc. The kinds of questions which are raised in less than 400 pages are fundamental ones which Substantial part of this monthly newspaper dedicated to women cannot brush aside unless they want to run the risk feminist thinking in different cultures as perceived by Ameri- of being eternally exploited in one system or another. A very can black and Jewish women, dealing with racism and poli- fundamental book. tical thinking within and versus feminist thinking.

ISIS 21/page 37 1982 ISIS BULLETINS

First Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Meet- ing : the entire report, translated from ISIS Boletin no. 7, from the Bogota conference which took place in July 1981.

Women and multinationals : a detailed look at the impact on women of multinational companies, in both third world countries and industrialized ones.

Sexuality and motherhood : cross-cultural analysis and testimony, myths, taboos, experiences and theories.

News from the Women's Movement : another international issue bringing news and updates on the developments within the women's movement around the world.

RESOURCE GUIDE ON ISIS WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT A Feminist Critique

This Resource Guide is the first thorough-going feminist analysis of the much-used concept of "women and development". It makes a critical and hard-hitting analysis of theories of development and integrating women into development, and elaborates in detail the way in which women aac: are and have always been central to all the major social and economic processes in the world, both in developing and industrialised countries.

Careful analysis in the areas of multinational corporations, rural development, migration, tourism and prostitution, health, communication and education show how women have been not only "by-passed" by "development", but systematically degraded by the very processes in which they play a central part.

The Resource Guide demonstrates how it is power or power- lessness which determine people's situations, and that women will only realise self-determination by taking control over their own lives. orders to: ISIS

Price: US$ 7.00 surface US$ 10.00 airmail Switzerland

ISIS 21/page 38 NEWS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MOVEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

page

Report fromthe First Latin American Women's Conference 4

Battered Women Refuges in West Germany 6

Devdasis in India Organise 9

Women Against Violence in Sri Lanka 11

U.S. Women Fight Back 12

Self-Defense 13

Racism and the Women's Movement 15

The Anti-Nuclear Struggle 17

Women in Surinam 18 "I Opened the Road for You" : Dora Tamana and South Africa 22

Compulsory Heterosexuality and Separatism 24

Women's Theatre in Jamaica 26

International Contraception Action 27

Women and Health 29

Resources 30

0 we are all racist we are all sexist some of us only some of us are the targets of racism of sexism of homophobia of class denigration but we all all breathe in racism with the dust in the streets with the words we read and we struggle those of us who struggle we struggle endlessly endlessly to think and be and act differently from all that

ISIS 21/page 39 No. 1. The International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women, 1976 No. 2. Women in the Daily Press, 1976. Out of print. No. 3. Women in Liberation Struggles, 1977. Out of print. No. 4. Battered Women and the Refuge, 1977. No. 5. Feminism and Socialism, Part I, 1977. No. 6. Feminism and Socialism, Part II, 1977/78. Out of print. No. 7. Women and Health, Part I, 1978. Out of print. No. 8. Women and Health, Part II, 1978. No. 9. Women in Southern Africa, 1978. No. 10. Women workers, 1978/79. No. 11. Women, Land and Food Production, 1979. No. 12. Organizing against Rape, 1979. No. 13. Tourism and Prostitution, 1979. No. 14. Migrant Women, 1980. No. 15. Nuclear Power and Militarization, 1980. No. 16. The Feminist Press in Western Europe, 1980. No. 17. The International Feminist Network, 1980. No. 18. Women and the Media, 1981. No. 19. Women in National Liberation Movements, 1981. No. 20. Third International Women and Health Meeting, 1981.

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