ALGERIA UNEXAMINED • BORN AGAIN7-ONCE IS ENOUGH THE PROGRESSIVE WOMAN'S QUARTERLY • SPRING 1998 F MARY GOT A RAISE A/ould it make a difference or women?. i \ "v; ;,••-• IRAN UNCOVERED MEDICAL POWER: RESEARCHING FOR YOUR LIFE JUVOMEN COMBAT REPORTERS The Advancement of Women Virginia Valian "[A] work that is both scholarly and anecdotally rich. But it also posits concrete suggestions for changing the way we view the sexes, from stepped-up affirmative action programs, to timetables for rectifying gender-based valuations. Accessible and lively, Why So Slow? is a breakthrough in the discourse on gender and has great potential to move the women's movement to a new, more productive phase." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Virginia Valian has made distinguished contributions to the science of language acquisition, and here she turns her analytical eye to another challenging problem — how the human capacity for categorization affects the perception and status of women. Why So Slow? is comprehensive, skillful, and well-written. It is an important advance and an indispensable resource." — Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology, MIT, and author of The Language Instinct and How the Mind Works "This is a very valuable book, as a resource, as a source of insight and understanding, and as a good read. It stands on the solid ground of social science research, yet opens that research up to the critical questions of gender and society." — Claude M. Steele, Stanford University "Valian provides insights and remedies that, over time, may help us all to achieve the equality for which we have been striving for so long." • — Julia S. Falk, Michigan State University 401 pp., 23 illus. $30 The MIT Press http://mitpress.mit.edu To order books call 800-356-0343 (US & Canada) or 617-625-8569. 10 MASONS TO BUY THIS MAGAZINE: GREAT w „ REVIEWS-. veum Margaret SUBSCRIBE TO HERBOHS TO: Laurence Stolen Moments | The Wyri . Sisters Gut Symmetries about important legal ar Daughters ol^ * for $23,95 Ihe moon SAVE $8 1 WOMEN'S 1 NEWS: 'WOM and great feature artic S ** DO TOO MUCH > Receive absolutely no beauty tips. Aboriginal (Or feel QuiKy if they don t) Games VANDANA SHIVA: Eco-feminism is the answer URBOD.ES OUR BREASTS: turn this page! Four issues for send your cheque today to: '"V - w. MB CANADA R3C2G1 US lunds THE PROGRESSIVE WOMAN'S QUARTERLY SPRING 1998 VOLUME VII NUMBER 2 ON THE ISSUES FEATURES COVER STORY Should the Trinity Be a Quartet? Should Mary Be Elevated? - 13 Manifesting the Goddess - A Conversation with Mary Daly -14 Mary Co-opted as Co-Redeemer - Frances Kissling -15 Mary:A Muslim Feminist? - Laila al-Marayati -17 The Priesthood of Women - Carter Heyward -19 RISK-TAKING When Death is a Constant Companion - Marilyn Stasio - 20 Why women reporters go to war EXPOSE Algeria Unexamimed - Laura Flanders - 24 Tens of thousands dead and it's barely news PORTFOLIO Infant Mortality in America - by Michele McDonald - 29 SPORTS How We Got Rid of the Bloody Corsets - Anngel Delaney - 34 and Other Tales of Women's Sports MEDICAL POLITICS Research for Your Life - Katherine Eban Finkelstein - 38 Investigating your own health care MENTORING Letter to a Young Feminist - Phyllis Chesler - 42 Letter to an Older Feminist - Sanda Balaban - 45 PROFILE "There Once Was a Union Maid" - Lawrence Lader - 46 Hattie Canty plays to win in Las Vegas SPECIAL SECTION: READERS POLL Let us know what you feel passionate about - 53 COLUMN Iran: Notes from the Interior - Merle Hoffman - 5 t; DEPARTMENTS Feedback - 4 Talking Feminist Born Again? Once is Enough, Thank You. - Richard Newman - 9 It's a Boy! - Cheryl A. Passalaqua -10 What Does A Pretty Girl Like You Do for Extra Money? - Rita Henley Jensen -12 Books and Film The Cultural Politics of Fur, reviewed by Carol Adams - 50 The Wrath of Angels: The American Abortion War, reviewed by Patricia Baird-Windle - 52 The Feminist Dollar: The Wise Woman's Buying Guide, reviewed by Lisa Vincenti - 52 Film: Hollywood Downsizes Women - Molly Haskell - 48 Back Page - Heartbroke - Joan Hilty - 62 COVER ILLUSTRATION- MARY ELLEN CROTEAU feedback Multiple Relationships - Yea and Nay Light Shed on Rape Crimes Your review of Celeste West's Lesbian Polyfidelity:A I was deeply affected by Jan Goodwin's article on Pleasure Guide for All Women Whose Hearts Are Rwanda in On The Issues ["Rwanda: Justice Denied," ON THE ISSUES Open to Multiple Sexiurtoves states that the author is Fall 1997]. I can't tell you how enraged, saddened, and a Buddhist and that she makes many references to ashamed I felt when I finished it. 077 brought the Vol. VII • No. 2 Spring 1998 her Buddhism in her book. [See Carolyn Gage's experiences of these women right up in my face, and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief review, Winter 1998.] As Buddhists ourselves, we are they have stayed with me. I hope I never forget. Merle Hoffman concerned that readers not familiar with Buddhism Goodwin is one hell of a writer who continually brings Editor may be led to believe that it advocates or approves of the systematic and often appalling abuse of women Jan Goodwin polyfidelity. This is not the case. The different schools around the world to greater attention. Art Director Sharon Lee Ryder of Buddhism all commonly take certain basic vows, OTI readers will be interested to know that this Editor at Large among which is the vow to refrain from sexual mis- past summer, the indictment against Jean-Paul Phyllis Chesler conduct. These basic vows have been elaborated and Special Projects Advisor Akayesu was amended to include rape and other Julia Kagan explained very beautifully by the well-respected forms of sexual violence. In the motion to amend the Managing Editor Vietnamese teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. His state- indictment, the prosecutor mentioned "a significant Mary Lou Greenberg ment of this vow in For a Future to be Possible Contributing Editors amount of attention on this issue from outside orga- Eleanor Bader, Irene Davall, (Berkeley, Parallax Press, 1998), reads as follows: nizations..." and acknowledged that the prosecution Katherine Eban Finkelstein, Molly Haskell, Mahin Hassibi, bell hooks, "Aware of the suffering caused by sexual mis- was "not as sensitive as we should have been on the Flo Kennedy, Julianne Malveaux, conduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility issue." Amen to that. Fred Pelka, Marge Piercy, Arlene Raven and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity Mandy Sullivan, Campaign Director, Equality Advertising Sales of individuals, couples, families, and society. I am deter- Now - New York (Equality Now works for the civil, Lori Sokol Webmaster mined not to engage in sexual relations without love political, economic and social rights of women around Sara Yager and a long-term commitment." the world.) Assistant to the Publisher Joan Sophie & Deborah Scott Donna Matthew Marketing Director -Chicago An Experience to Learn From Joy Silver Thank you for Merle Hoffman's essay on abortion I am amazed by On The Issues', or should that be On activism ["27 Years, but Who's Counting? Thoughts ON THE ISSUES The Progressive Woman's Quarterly The Monogamy's frightening/frightened editorial on yet another Roe v. Wade," Winter 1998]. I was A feminist, humanist magazine of critical thinking, dedicated to stance on Lesbian Polyfidelity:A Pleasure Guide for All astounded by her insights. I had an abortion when I fostering collective responsibility for positive social change. Women Whose Hearts Are Open to Multiple was 15 years old, and now, at the age of 23, I'm think- ON THE ISSUES Sexualoves. ing if s an experience I can learn more and more from The Progressive Woman's Quarterly OSSN0895-6014) is published quarterly by Merle Hoffman Enterprises, Ltd., 97-77 Queens Blvd., Why does 077 devote two fulminating pages to rather than putting it behind me. Every woman has Flushing, NY 11374-3317. Fax (718) 997-1206. a unilateral, contextless condemnation of the first pub- her right to choose—always. World Wide Web lished research and interviews of lesbians in honest Home page: http://www.echonyc.coni/-onifl5ues Oriana Noel Lewis - Jamaica Plain, MA or http://www.igc.apc.org/onis8ues multi-relationships? Might not my book have been E-mail: [email protected] more fairly, at least more expertly, evaluated by a les- Unsolicited Manuscripts: All material will be read by the Purging Helplessness editors. For return, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with bian polyfidele? We polyfideles are, after all, about one I would like to thank you for your wonderful article proper postage. Articles should not be more than 2,000 words. All in five lesbians, according to a confirming Advocate editing decisions are at the discretion of the editors. Feminist car- on abuse in institutions ["No Safe Place" by Phyllis toons are also acceptable under the same provisions. survey. Lesbian Polyfidelity was also a finalist this year Chesler, Winter 1998]. Four years ago, when I was ON THE ISSUES does not accept fiction or poetry. in both the American Library Association awards and Advertising accepted at the discretion of the publisher. 12,1 was molested by a 70-year-old doctor while in Acceptance does not imply endorsement the Lambda Literary Awards. an institution. I knew I couldn't tell anyone: Who Publisher's Note Booklegger Publishing is getting a motherlode of would believe a 12-year-old mental patient over a The opinions expressed by contributors and by those we inter- phone orders from 077 readers, so the "any review" respected doctor? Your article was the first I had view are not necessarily those of the editors. On The Issues: The Progressive Woman's Quarterly is a forum where women may have adage must be operative when there is so much inter- ever seen on the issue.