6 10 77 https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2760/1979_Vol_5_No_6.pdf 97c05d189780a10ce858ab42d2e8a8fb PDF Text Text orilon VoCume 5 750" -*Mit 6 NOV./ DEC. 1979 oman Jour-tied INSIDE: WOMEN & POVERTY WOMEN ARE PERSONS COMEN ARE PERS 01S WOMEN ARE PERSONS ? Heather Bishop FEMINIST SINGER sudbury conference A NORTHERN WOMEN'S GATHERING PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Northern Women Builds Morale and Momentum Gathering of Report on The Northern Woman's Conference Sudbury, November 3rd & 4th by Gert Beadle It has been brought sharply to our attention that the unique quality of all that it means to be a Northern woman operates not only west and north of us but extends without variation as far East as North Bay. The Conference of Northern Women, hosted for two consecutive years by Sudbury women, is a rousing example of what happens when west goes east, but not too far east, and find they have never left the family. The Celebration, and at no time did I feel it was not a celebration of our potential to change what was seen as the common threat to us all, isolation, and its attending injustices formed a cohesive base for collective determination to challenge both personally and politically that comforting thought held by the bureaucracy that we are powerless. Delegates from Northwestern Ontario arriving by train and plane were comfortably bedded down in the President Hotel, and invited to shed travel weariness in the Friday night hospitality room, hosted by the North Bay Women's Centre. The contingent from Thunder Bay, eleven in number, with three resource persons, two delegates, and the Saturday morning entertainment troop now known as "The Common Woman Players", had the double advantage of meeting those we knew west of us and those we came to know east of us on the evening before the sessions began. Saturday morning, approximately 200 women and a man or two met in the Sheridan auditorium of the Sudbury Secondary School to hear opening remarks and greetings from Debbie Knuff, the chairperson of the standing committee, and to be entertained by a 40 minute production of "Letters to the Sisterhood" from Northwestern great joy and relief received a standing ovation. A solid two days of work shops ensued in which resource persons conducted seven on each subject Women and Economic Development in Single Industry Resource Communities, Native Women, Francophone Women, Unemployed Women in the North, Violence against Women (A Northern Pertrue the women of the north are spective), Isolation - and made it smart, too smart to wall themselves possible for everyone to attend each off in little cliques and claquea to workshop. If there was a fault to push their private ego trips. The find it has to be with the time allotted that could not equate with the ap- wives of the Sudbury mine strikers were a consolidating force epitomipetite of concerns expressed. This zing that gutsy spirit we know so well. was plainly manifested in the SunWhen they linked arms and sang Bread day attendance which held to the and Roses at the luncheon on Sunday. last minute of the conference. Our It was like liberation all over again. own resource people, Lisa Bengston, They hosted the coffee house on SatSandra Steinhouse and Julie Fels, urday night and we were treated to a who conducted the Northern Develo, program in both French and English. ment workshops were exhausted but It's not the first time I've been pleased at the interest. sorry I'm unilingual and I'm sure it It is impossible to record all won't be the last. The Francophone the work shops and those very abla women's workshop on sexist language persons who conducted them. I car in test books was a vivid reminder of only quote one woman who was att(nding her first conference of women, Continued on page 5 who said wonderingly,"My God, th y're all so smart". Yes, Virginia, it s WE NEED PLAN OF ACTION WE NEED AN ORIENTATION TO UNITE US Women, who make up more thar half the population, are being denic 1 their fundamental rights. In northern communities, we face an even grea' ar lack of jobs and social services, which only intensifies our oppression. And the recent cutbacks are wiping out the little that we had. Many women's groups have sprung up to organize our fightback, groups like the "Wives Supporting the Strike", who brought many new women into the struggle, when they joined with their husbands against Inco. Ontario. It was the general opinion that the production set a mood and a climate that pervaded the conference to its end. The letters from Atikokan, Pickle Lake, MacDiarmid, and Thunder Bay were read by, Gert Beadle, Noreen Lavoie, Sandra Steinhouse, Leni Untinen and Mollie Lesperence from MacDiarmid, with Monika McNabb doing the introduction. Marg Lanchok sang her originally composed songs, each one as a component of the preceding letter. The "No, No" song as an ending, a collaboration of Marg and Gert, was a rouser and we have evidence that it will be sung by many women's groups at future meetings. Other songs were the Atikokan song, The Wabigoon Song, Isolation and Your Leaving. The production, to our At this second NOWC, we should not only have a beneficial sharing of our experiences, we should also develop a clear direction for the future. Women across the country are rising. Through struggle, they have just won the right to a job at Stelco in Hamilton, for the first time in 15 years. In Saskatchewan, our sisters have recently formed their own organization "Saskatchewan Working Women", with a clear set of goals and a program for action. We in NOWC are part of this growing trend. Take Up the Struggle Against Our Oppression *Organize active opposition to health, education and social service cuts through petitions, pickets, demonstrations. *Fight for jobs by putting pressure on local companies, and fighting the reduction of jobs in the public sector, which hits many women. *Demand women's rights on the job, such as equal pay for equal work. *Fight for adequate parent controlled, government funded daycare. *Take up local compaigns against the sexist stereotyping in the schools, starting with the demand to monitor the books used. *In all these areas special attention must be paid to the situation of Native and Francophone women, such as the right to services in their own language, and education that meets their particular needs. Credited to Women helping Women Sudbury Continued on page 5 Northern Woman Journal, page 1 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �-lo`C4t% concept of feminism (in the collective sense) and possess an energetic enthusiasm which seems to tie the whole thing together. And last but not least, are our closet writers, who as a result of this paper, are choosing to "come out". All in all the challenge of putting out this paper has been exciting and inspir= ing for all involved. EDITOR& Dear Readers:The Northern Woman's Journal is A new feminist collective alive! This collective has been formed. has been meeting every week for the past two months. It is the first time for us to both work together collectively, as well as This put out a feminist paper. issue of the Northern Woman is the result. We are a small collective Three comprised of ten women. people are presently on the editorial board, three people are doing proof-reading, typing and layout, two people are in charge of distribution and finance. Several of the collective in addition to the above tasks, have contributed articles for this issue. Our experience in the women's movement varies among each individual. A few of us have been active in feminist activities for many years while a couple of us have recently recovered from the 1975 'feminist Remember 1975? What burn-out'. did they call that year....ah yes... YEAR OF THE WOMAN. That was the year that the government was going to help us gain all that equality. Well we know better! Those of us who have once again become active through this paper are perhaps a bit rusty but a hell of a lot more determined. Others in our collective are relatively new to the time I don't suppose there was in history when one was more inclined to say with a certain bravado, "My life is my own". Women, in particular, whose lives have never been their own in general terms, are now speaking of "taking my life in my own hands", a happy state that somehow we have always seen as a male prerogative. Man the hunter is also man the hunted, and his life, with very few exceptions is no more in his hands than ours is. The sad and devastating truth is we are mainly in the hands of each other and the difference in those hands is the difference that social conditioning has defined as 'male' and 'female'. We are both in the hands of that great beast called the system that has legislated to him the right to control and plainly has left us little room to protest. His right to challenge the system.is established, our right to challenge him not yet a made case. Historically speaking, we have a fine record of some women who challenged both him and his system which is not disputed and properly known as a patriarchal system. Feminists have recognized this challenge properly as political. Society has designed a cage which, for lack of a better name, they have termed 'marriage', for these two combatants and blessed it to produce even more.future combatants. Man, who has a builtin role to oppose the system which controls him now finds himself beset on both sides, to seize control on the one hand and to maintain control on the other. His success at both challenges term, him socially as having:manly' attributes. Northern Woman Journal, page 2 COMMENT - Our goal is to have as much original material as possible. Further we will attempt to solidify the concept and ideals of feminism through our articles. To do this, we must learn how to give and receive constructive criticism among our own collective as well as with our contributors and readers. We realize the need to establish a political base (a solid foundation) on which to build our paper. To do this we will need your help in the form of feedback both supportive and critical. We have chosen not to seek any form of government funding. All our workers are presently volunteer. Any contributions to aid us financially will be greatly appreciated. many letters of support and encouragement for the continuing of this We look forward to working paper. together with you. To all who have made this paper possible including you our readers, a very happy and healthy northern winter. For 1980 we wish you all strength and determination mixed with sensitivity and love for all beings. Thank you The Editorial Board Donna Phoenix Margaret Phillips Estella Howard Vieoz expneued in the Non -therm Woman Joutna do not necezzaAity teitect the vie-& ************************************ s oi the catective f,! *IS THERE AN ASTERISK ON YOUR LABEL ? ;t: Our thanks to all our contributors for this issue. We will do our best to give you helpful criticism and encourage you to continue writing. If your material did not get published in this issue of the Journal, we will attempt to share our reasons with you. TAKING BACK OUR Our thanks to our readers for the To woman has been given the role of creating the illusion that he is up to the task. Her deference to him is an indication that he has not failed at least half of his God-given mission. Her capacity to endure his fumbling progress has created the actress, the resigned and patient female who sees through the charade and who sometimes has profited in a material way for not telling what she knows. It is sometimes said that love is a woman's business, and love demands a certain blindness of intellect, a single-mindedness of purpose that we have been persuaded to believe will one day pay off. It will indeed, not only change the character of the antagonist but will in time remould us with its leavening power. We have not understood that love is not a man's business, he has other business which supercedes it and he relegates it to an off-hour recreational device for replenishing his shrivelling ego. I call this man a ten percenter and I fail to see how the man-centred female pouring her heart into this imbalance can do more than reveal herself to be of nuisance value. Into the imbalance come children, deluged by the unused portion now called mother-love and well on the way to perpetuating the myth that the world revolves around them. Sons in the role of father, daughters in the image of mother. Children leave. Fortunate ones have been fed and clothed, educated and loved and we are reluctant to give up this free exchange of abundant caring for the ten percent now dwindling under the stress of man's dou-- PLEASE RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION *- :,:*********************************** LIVES by Gert ble pressure to control both fate and his responsibility to be the head of his home. This is the winter of our discontent, we have either been sufficiently persuaded that we are no more of use to anyone or the seeds of rebellion begin to sprout, the sprouting is painful. There is anger at our failure to build a life support structure to take up the slack. We have emotion and creativity to spend, we have energy and capabilities no longer needed in the empty nest. The volunteer sector sucks us up like flies to flypaper but it is to the woman's movement that the aware and vocal woman turns, the hungry woman who seeks to establish herself as a person in her own right. Our younger sisters who debate the questions before the fact in their own lives, have need of those with after-the-fact experience and wisdom, for we have been there and without malice or self pity we know their logic is sound, their analysis correct. The pressures to accept and submit to a diminished role will not abate: it can only intensify as we struggle to break out of set patterns. For the woman who has paid her dues in the old game and deals herself into the cause for her own sex, it is a time of renewal and growth and one of hope as well, as we see indications that men, - some men - are also repudiating the roles that history has consigned to them. These men constitute a new brotherhood and will experience the same pressures to return to the old role as we do - the question is, will they hold and grow. We hope so. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �LETTERS Dear People: Some thoughts in response to your plea for ideas re continuation of the Journal. I liked some of Audrey Anderson's suggestions in the Oct-Nov issue especially the idea of a regional paper with contacts in each community sending information in for publication. As someone who subscribes to NWJ from afar precisely to find out what is happening with women in northwestern Ontario, this would suit my needs as reader. However, from personal experience I know that setting up a 'decentralized' system of community contacts can bog down for various reasons, not the least of which is the fact that someone still has to produce the actual newspaper after receiving all the news. A committee of the Women's Equal Rights Association in Prince George, B.C., called the Northern Women's Network, have recently received a small amount of funding from Secretary of State to publish a small newsletter. They have contacts in many of the small northern B.C. towns, and have allowed for phone costs etc. in their budget so they can get the news in. The rest of the grant covers paper, postage, printing etc. The newsletter, called ASPEN, is nowhere near as large as your Journal, but it appears to be working as a publication that serves the immediate communication needs of the towns and groups. I guess you have to figure out whom you are serving with your present paper, whether or not you want to serve those people, how to change so as to re- excite people (workers) and draw new women in. Don't be afraid to go small for awhile, it may be a creative alternative. Also, as hard as this may sound - people communicate when they need to, and if this NWJ dies away, perhaps another communication link will sift to the surface in a while that will meet the needs of those who want it. Meanwhile here's a small donation to help the cause. Sincerely, Diana Ellis Vancouver, B.C. P.S. I would really like to hear about the quality of life research that was being undertaken with women in your area. We are nearly finished some research on the effect of the construction of the Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline on women in the Yukon and North B.C. and will send a copy of the report soon. Dear Journal People: What is the matter? Don't you know how important you are to us? Sometimes I think that we women have spent so many days of our lives placating the males and smoothing the turbulent waters in our various maleoriented relationships that we have quite forgotten or lost the art of doing any of the same for one another. Wherever there is growth, change and new innovative thinking there must always be a certain amount of dissention. Perhaps if we could think through the problems and fling ourselves with as much energy into making things work out well for ourselves and our female friends as we have in the past (and present) for a meeting Friends, you really knocked me off guard. Here I thought I was attending a meeting that would slot each person for a particular assignment. I thought for sure I would just observe the procedure like a behavioural scientist. I even came to the meeting with a notion that I would be a curly-headed, bespectacled stranger. I expected to offer the occasional timid suggestion but only if I didn't have a scratchy voice. I did not have much time to feel left out. After my sketchy, clumsy introduction, I realized I was more than initiated, I was feeling part if not all of the emotions charging up inside us all. Damn it people, such raw honesty. I haven't discussed any issues more vital than my shopping list. I'm out of practice, rusty. My feminist leanings have been stuffed into ,cushion covers and naturally I've dusted off and flicked away anger or any healthy soul-searching. Everywhere around me, friends and acquaintences have settled into a set routine. I don't keep proper hours. I am becoming a neighbourhood pest. I'm suggesting to some of my friends that keeping house and feeding baby might be fine right now but later they will have a gut feeling that somehow, somewhere, they missed the great variety life has to offer. Lately, I haven't been asked over for coffee. I began to think that I was ungrateful. I have my health, I think.I have a fine husband and a loving mut of a dog. My well-meaning friends think I'm acting like a whirlwind because I'm frustrated. I haven't been in a 'family way'. I have been kept at a distance. No one wants me to rock the boat. It has been light years away since a friend has really opened up, showing our male acquaintances, we would clearly see the way. I certainly look forward to receiving my next copy of the Journal and am enclosing more poetry. Love and Luck, Violet Winegarden. Vancouver, B.C. P.S. There are seven of us down here who do indeed rely on the Journal. Only two of us are subscribers but as you well know... those of us in the low income nonsense must subscribe. to only one or two women's journals and pass them on and pass them on .... Dear Madam: A "Thunderbolt" to the designers and manufacturers of the new shoes for women -- high heels which are not only dangerous on our Northern stretts and sidewalks, but also will end Tr permanent disfigurement as the women grow older. A "Thunderbolt" to the m4 n who wish to disfigure women and m .ke them servile. En:losed also find a Xeroxed copy from :he book The Unfashionable Humar Body by Bernard Rudofsky (Doulleday Co. c. 1947.) which illus. trat(s how the body was made to conform painfully or otherwise, to some ne's idea of beauty. C n this article be used for further ng women's rights? 1 Lank you. Yours sincerely, Claire Cikall)___ Thunder Bay. hoT vulnerable she can be, asking for help. I have suddenly grown proud, not wishing to weep on anyone's shoulders. Naturally I was not prepared for women even more intense than I ever could be. I understand how important it is to reach a common meeting ground regarding the journal and each individual involved. The feminist issues should never be abandoned. I'm still searching for a dictionary definition of a feminist. Let me say that it is the healthy emotions that should never die. Don't ever hide anger or sweep it under the rug because it will explode inside of you instead of on the outside where it counts. Don't be afraid of losing your guts because you'll find them again. Just don't lose your perspictive. Just don't lose your mind. Thanks for waking me up. I was beginning to think that women could not reach this plateau of conversation with each other. My other friends made me look twice at myself so I spent money I couldn't afford trying to find out what was wrong. Now I know that searching for the ingredients of inner peace is part of growing up. Rosalyn Taylor Perrett Northern Woman Journal, page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �UPDATE A news column to keep our readers up to date on women's issues - national, international, and local. Day care rates in the city have steadily climbed; at present the minimum rate is $180 for one. child per month. Subsidies are available for those with very little or no income., However, low income working women, unable to pay the full cost and ineligible for a subsidy, are turning to the old solution of private babysitting arrangements. Thunder Bay's Day Care Centres are faced with the problem of empty place The city, which administers the provincial subsidies under provincial guidelines, will not provide subsidies for a new centre while existing day care is underutilized. Director Barbara Elliot describes the centre as a "different kind of day care". It will utilize a home model, with living room, dining room and kitchen and try to provide "a family atmosphere with the same discovery learning experiences." The centre, called "The Children and Family Centre" will try to encourage the parents to take a part. As well, it will serve as a field placement for Early Childhood Education students at the College. Native Women's Crisis Centre Opens "Beendigan", It translates to "come in" from the Ojibway language. Beendigan, a crisis centre for Native women opened its doors at 239 N. Syndicate St. on November 5, with an official opening slated for after the New Year. Originated by the local chapter of the Ontario Native Women's Association, the centre has its own board of directors, a co-ordinator and three full time staff members. Open twenty-four hours a day, the centre is geared to serve Native women and their children in crisis situations "Money is still a problem", according to spokeswoman Bev Saborin. "We hope everyone will continue to support our fund-raising efforts. College Daycare not for Students The long awaited Confederation College Day Care Centre is finally opening its doors after the New Year. but will likely be little used by students because of the high cost. The rate for all users will start at $200 a month for one child. Students and staff members who may be eligible for a provincial day care subsidy will not be allowed to use the subsidy at this new centre but must pay full price. The situation at the College Day Care Centre is tied in with the Provincial day care situation, now in a state of crisis after gradually worsening during the past three years. In Thunder Bay, credit must be given to May Sutton and the Northwestern Ontario International Women's Decade Co-ordinating Council for their vigorous endeavor to have this law changed. Benefits to continue OTTAWA (CP - Legislation to continue survivor's benefits to widows and widowers between the ages of 60 and 65 was giVen royal assent and became Jaw Thursday. A New Class of Canadian Victims Hyacinth Burnett may be deported. Her husband sponsored her as a landed immigrant but now he has changed his mind. H. Burnett is a member of a new class of Canadian women victims. What happens to an immigrant woman when her husband decides he doesn't want to sponsor her any more? H. Burnett married her husband, a landed immigrant, three years ago in Breast Cancer Li N The rate of breast cancer, long the leading cancer-killer of women, has increased again according to the American Cancer Society in its' annual report "Cancer Facts and Figures". A new born girl now faces one chance in eleven of developing breast cancer during her lifetime compared with the previous figure of one in thirteen. Lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The amendments to the Old Age Security Act, passed by the Senate on third reading earlier in the day, affect some 5,000 people who have lost their pensioner spouses. Earlier legisration provided for survivor's benefits to end six months after the death of a 'spouse receiving the old-age pension. The amendments allow payments of up to $300 a month to continue until the surviving spouse reaches the age of 65. Assent to the bill was given by Mr. Jusice Willard Z. Estey, deputy to Gov.-Gen. Ed Schreyer December 1976. They immediately moved to Toronto and Mr. Burnett applied to sponsor his wife. Two years later immigration officials had not made a decision on the application but by this time Mr. Burnett had changed his mind. In April, 1978, the couple separated. Mrs. Burnett, now eligible for deportation, has not been able to enforce a $45 a week order of support for her two year old child, Denise. The Association of Immigrant Lawyers has said that the government should deal with the question of whether sponsorship can be withdrawn. In one case, according to lawyer Carter Hoppe of the Association of Immigrant Lawyers, a Jamaican-born woman was married to a Canadian citizen who, while they were living together, withdrew his sponsorship without even telling her. "The threat of withdrawal of sponsorship is often a weapon in marital dispute", he said. He accuses Immigration officials of "gleefully accepting" withdrawals of sponsorship. LA LECHE LEAGUE to help encourage good mothering through breastfeeding. Includes a lending library, books on childbirth child care and breastfeeding as well as telephone help. Contact: Pat - 767-7275 or Tiina - 577-5261 or phone Northern Women's Centre for further contacts. 1711110)141:0134513. A Thunderbolt to Radio Shack for refusing to bargain in good faith with its union. 85% of the employees of Radio Shack's Barrie warehouse are women. When these workers sought to organize to fight lack of job security, low pay, inconsiderate treatment and favoritism, and hazardous lifting conditions, Radio Shack attempted to stop the process by intimidating the unionists. Five were fired (two were later reinstated by court order); others were harassed. As a result, 40% of those originally signed up no longer work for Radio Shack. The women have been on strike since August 9th and still the company continues to stall, uses the courts to hassle the union, etc. Until this strike is settled, give these workers your support by boycotting Radio Shack, by encouraging others to do so and by letting your Radio Shack store know where you stand. BEENDIGEN a native women's crisis home - for women and children. Also provide individual counselling, follow-up and referrals Contact: Dori Pelletier - 622-5101 Northern Woman Journal, page 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �The plenary also supported unanimously letters to the Ontario Government, with copies to opposition leaders protesting the racist slurs aimed at the Italian community by Ed Havrock, member from Timiskaming. The women from that community wished to have it known that he did not speak for his constituents in this ill-advised and habitual mouthingoff at minorities. They collectively felt he should be severely reprimanded by the Premier and the Gathering of Northern Women continued from page 1. the double oppression of both church and state, but their numbers at the conference is an exciting forcast for northern sisterhood. The plenerary supported a move to lobby the provincial government to support health and social programs in the north by Wintario in the short run; to keep the pressure on changes House. in the rape and sexual assault legislation now planned; to bring March 8th, International Woman's Day, to We Need a Plan of Action the consciousness of all small towns continued from page 1. in the north; and to make the 1980 conference a working conference to Co-ordinate the Work We Do in Each produce resolutions. City, Around these Goals Monika McNabb addressed the plen*A liason committee made up of indiary on the Northern Woman Journal viduals and representatives from as a tool in a continuing struggle groups, should be established that against our isolation from each other. From the response we have every reawould: son to believe both our input and *Help co-ordinate the research, our distribution will profit by exeducation and activities of the tending our coverage as far as North different groups. Bay. A truly regional women's paper *Plan campaigns on these demands is one we have all striven for, a trufor northern women. ly human document dedicated to the *Establish links with the labour spirit of the northern woman in both movement and other groups to take up common issues. For example, victory and defeat, a source of information not generally found in the the Canadian Union of Public Empapirs of the day and a bond of assoployees (CUPE) has adopted a plan ciation that works for consolidation of action that includes estabof effort. To Debbie Knuff and Donna lishing committees with :ommunity Plater and all their fine co-workers, groups, to fight the cutbacks. our gratitude and delight for a conference well planned and warmly hosted, see you next year some place. Immediately, the Focus ,f the Work of the .NOWC Should Be: *The fight for better szvices for women and in general, aid opposition to the cutbacks. *The Holding of March E (IWD) meetings in each northern regioi , *Building unity with ti ! labour movement, and other groups VANCOUVER WOMEN IN FOCUS SOCIETY Women In Focus is a non-profit feminist women's video/film production and distribution center. At present we are working to expand our videotape distribution library. We would like to hear from both individual women producers and women's groups who have or are working on videotapes which they would like to distribute. At present, Women In Focus has 38 women-produced videotapes on women's issues and their lives. These tapes are for rent/sale. A catalogue is available upon request. For more information, contact: This leaflet was discussed and written up by a numb !r of women from Sudbury, so that th( se proposals could be discussed :a the workshops and in the plenary. UPCOMING Women in Focus Production and Distribution Center, #6 - 45 Kingsway, Vancouver B.C., V5T 3H7 Canada ISSUE WOMEN & HEALTH CONTRIBUTIONS WANTED! We are interested in hearing about birth control, hysterectomy, pregnancy and birthing, physicians, mastectomy, abortion, pregnancy in the older woman and any other aspect of women's health. If you would like to share your personal experiences with other women please write us at: THE NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL 316 BAY STREET, THUNDER BAY 'P', ONTARIO P7B 1S1 Northern Woman Journal, page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �OW On October 16, 1929, women were considered 'persons' under the British North America Act. Fifty years later, women are still treated less than equally. IF WOMEN ARE How come we don't get equal pay for work of equal value? How come we're called the secondary labour force? How come we lose our credit rating when we get married? How come the work we do for PERSONS How come we're on trial when we How come we're not in the history books? get raped? How come so few reported rapes How come they call us chick, baby and broad? end up in convictions? How come we can't walk down the How come we're expected to cripple and mutilate our bodies with street at night in Thunder Bay with- tight clothes, high-heeled shoes, out being afraid? make-up and razors? How come the devaluation of our minimum wage so closely resembles the work we do in the home for nothing? OW How come we have to fake orgasms? bodies is the central theme of pornography and it sells so well? How come the majority of the elderly poor are women? asked to dance? are abused for acting as though we have the freedom of other persons? How come 11/4 million women in this country are poor? How come we're blamed when we How come we have to wait to be How come they give us tranHow come we get fired when we quillizers and shock treatments when How come women still go to we display healthy anger? complain about sexual harassment in the work place? Minneapolis for abortions? How come house work isn't work? How come we don't have control of our bodies in deciding whether or How come our work is only re- not to have abortions? cognized if we bring in a paycheque? How come the Port Arthur Clinic How come when we stay at home isn't unionized? with our children, they call us nonworking mothers? How come the sale of cancer-causing makeup, medication, and feminine hygiene products is still on the rise? Miss or Mrs."? dence of breast cancer is on the rise? working mothers we can't get daycare? How come we do not have thermography in Thunder Bay yet the inci- How come when we want to be now come we're asked "Is that How come we have to lie about How come Native women aren't our age, our weight and our hair colour? persons? How come unnecessary hysterectomies are performed? "Man and his Society"? are depicted as stereotypes without any real identity beyond that of a How come, unlike male-related diseases, birth control research is How come women in advertisements How come we only hear about How come we still use male-de- controlled by the pharmaceutical fined standards to determine when companies? a women is successful? @3#*#$ consumer!!!? How come we could write a book on all of this and never come to the How come doctors do episiotomies as a matter of course? How come doctors give women drugs during birthing? How come we hold down two jobs: end? one inside the home and one outside? How come we're last hired and first fired? Some of the 'how comes' were taken from Upstream Oct./Nov. 1979. Others were written by Rosalyn Taylor Perrett. Northern Woman Journal, page 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WOMEN AND POVERTY Most Canadian women become poor at some Point in their lives The Facts st Canadian women become poor at e point in their lives", This is a conclusion reached by National Council of Welfare in ir recent report on Women and This report is important erty. ause, while other reports have mined the disadvantaged situatof certain categories of women g. single parents, elderly en), or have studied categories poverty (e.g. urban, rural). en and Poverty is a study which lyzes the relationship between By and poverty in Canada. nting out that the fact of poverty Canada is mainly a female nomenon the report challenges y poverty myths and t "(women's) poverty is rarely result of controllable circumnces, and it is seldom the oute of extraordinary misfortune. most cases, women are poor because erty is a natural consequence of role they are still expected to y in our society", Socialization women to expect to be financially ed for by their husbands, and to ume responsibility for child care home-making; improper training paid jobs; lack of access to l-paying employment and advancet opportunities; job ghettoizan; sex-role stereotyping at home at school; inadequate legislan in terms of family law; insuffent support for separated and an inadequate and orced women iliating welfare system; lack pension plan provisions; lack of ld care services - are reasons for en's poverty that are examined ; the report. Although indicating the difficulty obtaining information about poor en (there "is an apparently wideead belief among statisticians t wives do not exist") the report compiled impressive (and A total of ressing) statistics. 19,000 adult Canadian women - one of every six - live below the erty line. Three out of every 66% of e poor adults are women. ows over 65 are poor. Less than in four widows get regular efits from husband's pensions. ows and other formerly married en are most likely to be poor - 54% live below the poverty line. "If a single parent woman has a fulltime job, her chances of having at least minimally adequate income are almost as good as those of a married woman living with her husband. If her only sources of income are a former husband or the government however, she will almost certainly be destitute" What must be done Numerically the largest number'of poor women are married - almost 500,000 married women ir Canada live in poor two-spouse fami ies. One startling statistic - w' ich should lay to rest some myths bout why women work - is the fac: that 51% more two-spouse famine; would be poor if wives did not 1A)rk outside the home. (In Ontario that percentage raises to 65%) The Council, which s an advisory body to the federal Mi, ister of Health and Welfare, di ects its recommendations to tho e areas that require government int rvention. Both long range and sF rt-term solutions to "strength ,11 the financial position of womer are put forward. Because wom( i's poverty is often linked to th ir having children, the Council believes that government assistance to parents, in the form of an increased refundable child tax credit, is necessary, Funds for this tax credit could be freed up if the Income Tax Act was amended to eliminate tax exemptions for dependant children. The report also recommends that "welfare rates should be at least equal to Statistics Canada's poverty lines and adequate income supplementation programs should be available to all working pooH'. Support for senior citizens is recommended in that the "government should increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement without delay to make it at least equal to Statistics Canada poverty line for urban areas" Long term solutions centre on the need for government to ensure equality for women in education, in the labour market and in marriage. While these changes have been advocated by women's groups for years, they are nonetheless, well articulated and bear repeating. The report calls to take measures th demeaning portrayal television and adve will eradicate sex textbooks and other Sensitization sessi students and counse for, as are school so that all childre home economics and Affirmative action a better representa among school admini recommended. To achieve equal market, the report pay for work of equ tion must be enforc better enforcement that prohibits disc job advertisements, promotions and work needed. The report affirmative action with a rigorous ana staff and practices with the developmen ation of concrete h training strategies timetables, rates o expected completion is advocated for "m workers to better f responsibilities as larger subsidies fo and new labour legi provide parental le for either parents following the child regular paid leaves leaves) when parent to care for sick chi The Council beli "provinces should c to make spouses fina Reform of family la enforcement of main and the establishme family courts, is r Pension legislation "child care drop out provide pension cov who leave the labou for young children The report conclu governments vigorous stop the damaging e stereotyping in sch to reform family la employment policies ing women's positio market, to give more care and other assis and to improve incom programs for disadva there is no reason future generations women will be any le poverty." Copies of the Wom report can be obtai National Council of Brooke Claxton Build Ottawa, Ontario Northern Wo PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �HEATHER BISHOP Performer, Singer , Painter, Carpenter, Feminist ... the concert by Gert Beadle Once again the Little Finn Hall presents itself as the place where one can still have an evening of excellent entertainment for a reasonable fee. A Sunday evening concert with William Roberts as M.C. played to a full house of enthusiastic music lovers. It is refreshing to see the balance of male and female entertainers given more than lip service by the producers of these concerts and all the more so because of the quality of both visiting artist and local talent. Our own Anne Merlin and Joyce Michalchuk opened the program with rousing harmony. Lovely energy from both. Heather Bishop is a performer as well as songstress and she took us on a merry ride through the bars and "Kau did you miginatty get into down the streets, thumbing her nose muzie" at the girl watchers, suffering along with the victims of intemperate thirst and charming us utterly with a chilWell, I started, like most young dren's song about alligators. A powergirls, on the piano - took lessons ful voice with wide ranging scale, for ten years - and then became a piano she sings blues or tender love songs teacher. I was about 16 or 17 when I with equal ease. A solid evening of picked up the guitar. And then a woentertainment: Thank-you Heather and man friend of mine started a women's band in Regina in 1971 or '72. They continue to show the way with music needed a singer, so I sort of got and song to our mutual benefit. this whole role foisted on me. I became the guitar player and singer and treAttgniptt."11A0:1107010:1.trarite:terlitZT:110: played keyboards. I was with the band for a couple of years. We were called Walpurgis Night, which is the night when the witches got together and celebrated in song and dance. It's really a neat notion behind the name. There were some really great women in the band, who I still play music with. My bass player is from that band. She played on my album and whenever I need a bass player - or can afford a bass Heather Bishop was in town last player - I hire her. Another woman from month for a standing room only conthe band is in school in Edmonton takcert at the Little Finn Hall. She ing jazz guitar - becoming a jazz guidelighted the audience with her tarist - which is really exciting. strong voice and the range of her I was with the band for a couple of material - from the blues to chilyears. When it split up I moved to dren's songs to humorous material. Winnipeg and started to do some work After the concert, we spent two to as a solo musician. About two years three hours with Heather and her ago, I became a professional musician manager, Joan Miller. The conversathat is, I began to make money from tion moved from music to feminism to it and pay a few bills. I guess it's housebuilding. (Heather and Joan have been about a year now that music has just finished building their own been my major source of income. Ever house in the country with the help of since the album came out, I've been Heather's father and a group of women on the road quite a bit. I pretty well friends.) It is a treat to talk with made that decision after I invested Heather. The strength and the humor money in the album. If I was going to that comes through on stage, is even do the thing, then I was going to have more apparent in conversation. I wish to get out on the road and flog it. we could print the entire interview, There were no two ways about it. I had but space and cost considerations to tour to sell the thing - and if won't allow it. The following is a you're going to tour, you've got to condensed version of the conversation make enough money to live on. You that took place. Present were Heather, can't be tied to any kind of job at Joan, Estella Howard, Helen Halet, all and tour at the same time. Since and Liz Martin. the album came out, I've been on the road a good two- thirds of the time. speaking with Heather "You came up with the money io& the tecoltd younzeti?" What happened was I began to be approached by fellows in the business who would come up to me and say - hey, I want to produce this record of yours and I'll do this and this. It's a really big hype business, you know. quite terrible in that respect. They freaked me out quite a bit, because they had all these ideas about what they were going to do with me. I knew that I didn't have the experience in the studio to deal with them at that point. I knew if I went into the studio with one of those guys, that he would have his way with me because I didn't know what I was talking about. One of the big trips that gets laid on you about making a record is - WHO is going to produce it?,I think producers are getting into a star trip all by themselves. They want to produce a record that has their name all over it, so that someone can listen to it and recognize their work. At some point the musician must get lost in that process. I don't think it's all that healthy. I want to give them credit for what they do, but tome, a producer should be a facilitator. Anyways, the other thing that happened was that my audience began asking for an album. So, we sat down and decided - okay, it's time for an album, but let's do it ourselves. I had some money saved, I borrowed some more. "Mete did you itecoltd?" I used Kollassal Studios in Winnipeg. It's only an 8 track and most people will tell you that you can't record an album on 8 tracks; that you have to have at least sixteen. But I think my record is proof that you can. You need a good technician, someone who can really make those 8 tracks work for you because they aren't very many. Normally , Northern Woman Journal, page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �if you were recording on 16 or 24 tracks, you'd put 5 tracks on the drums alone and then you get a real good drum sound. With 8 tracks, all you can afford to give the drums are two. So, you're constantly battling to get a good drum sound outof those two tracks. But you can get into such little picky things, you know. Only musicians are going to notice a lot of those things. Your audience is not. And so, you have to keep weighing those things back and forth. I mean who are you selling the record to? You're not selling it to as many musicians as you are to just "plain, ordinary people". You should be trying to produce something that they're going to like. When you get into the studio, you're under a lot of pressure. It's costing anywhere from $30 to $150 per hour for that time. So, your musicians have to be good. They have to be able to work under pressure and lay down stuff that's correct and has lots of punch to it. And that takes practise, you know. You can't just walk in and do that. I hired as many women as I could women that I've worked with before and that I wanted to get into the studio so that they would be learning as well as me. Hopefully, as time goes on and I record more records, there will be more and more women who have the skills to do it. Apart from these women I already knew I wanted to use - I looked for people thatwere both really good at what they did and that I thought I could work with. All the men that worked on my album were didn't balk at dojust great-they ing anything. my records under my arm and I could go to all the stores and put my records in. Joan: Heather's really well organized. Yeah, working for the government trained me to.be well organized. That's really an asset. Other musicians I've met who've been in the business since they were 18, have never learned any administrative skills. I was a business manager for a year and did bookkeeping, so I can do that. Also, I have a fabulous manager, which really makes a big difference. I think it's an error in a business sense, the way distribution companies work. I've just now turned over distribution to Joan, who is my manager. She knows where I'm going to be and when. So it's really easy for her to keep on top of it and have records in the stores in the places where I play. I'd rather give her the money than a distribution company who won't even move my record. The record came out at the end of February and we've just gotten our third pressing of a thousand. We're doing really well compared to other musicians I've talked to who made their own records. "You said dating the concert that you don't tike gaying in bait's. Do you an to expand on that?" Well, in a business sense, I think it's wise to stay away from bars. If people can get in and drink and see you for free - then when you try and put on a concert, which is a much better situation to really affect people emotional"Ti someone came acing now and said ly with the music - they're not going they'd pay Aot zne next kecokd, to come. There's a real problem of ovdo you ieet that you've gained e, erexposure. We make a conscious effort no ugh expekience to stand up to the to not play somewhere more than 'x' 'experts', the pnoduceks?" times a year, depending on the size of the community or whatever. You've got to keep yourself underexposed almost, Well, now I feel like I want to in order to draw enough people to make make all my records myself. First of it worthwhile. all, because I have total control over Also, the sound is terrible in bars what comes out. And secondly, because like the inside of a rainbarrel. And the record business is just getting people don't usually go to hear the enso bizarre. By the time everybody tertainment. My music depends on peogets a piece of you, there's nothing ple hearing my lyrics, being affected left. And as soon as you sign a conby my stage presentation and movements. tract with anyone you're completely I use a lot of different things to try tied up. The way the record companand reach people emotionally. But yr,u ies work is they figure you might be get into a bar and all of that's out potentially 'hot stuff' and so they the window. I might as well sing any sign you up. But they decide when old song - make it fast, snappy and they want to use you. They could hold hot. I'd have to get rid of all the they'll even you for two years before criteria I use as a musician, if I release a thing that you do. And then want to play bars. depending on how much money they deBut beyond the business things, I cide to put into promotion - that's just think it's really hard for wogoing to determine how well you're men in bars. Bars, to me, with the going to do, or not do. In my opinexception of women's bars, are comion, it leaves the musician out and pletely men's places. I know a couple it leaves the audience out. You just of women who play bars and the shit get railroaded with whatever they want they go through is unbelievable. Perthe current hit to be at that time... sonally, I don't go to bars unless I think there's an act I really want to see. that we can bypass all of that. If I have to play bars, I'm getting We distribute the record ourselves, out of the business. There has to be We were originally going to go to a dissome other way to.feed yourself. tribution company - a Canadian distriBut I've got advantages over the bution company. But I found from talkmale performers - the fact that I can ing to other musicians that they were do the women's circuit. actually having a harder time of it than I was. We'd go on tour together and hit say, Saskatoon, and there "flow Lange a tate does the suppont wouldn't be any of their records in you get itom the women's commumWes the stores. And so, they'd lost out on ptay in youk music?" a whole bunch of sales. But I'd have Initially, it wasn't so large but initially, it wasn't an issue. When I decided to be a solo musician, I went through a lot of personal anguish because I couldn't be a musician without being who I am - which meant I had to be a feminist and I had to be a lesbian. I couldn't sing songs about loving my man - I just couldn't. The real breakthrough for me was the Regina Folk Festival about 2 or 3 years ago. It was the first time I actually did it, went out and did a set with a couple of lesbian tunes. I was scared shitless - I didn't know how people were going to deal with it. I got a standing ovation and I was really blown away. And so, I felt real encouraged by that. I really try ly when I present 'touchy' issues, to present them in a way that people have to understand, that people can relate to. Either it's funny so people have to laugh at themselves, or I'll slip a song in about two-thirds of the way through. By that time somebody's just grooving; they think I'm great, - and then they find out I'm a lesbian. So they have to deal with that emotion. It happens to men and women. It puts dealing with the problem where it belongs, which is on their shoulder. I think that works really well. I don't do it in a threatening way. "Do you get ieedback itom men about your, music?" Yes, I do, a lot. A lot more than I thought I would. And it has always been positive and supportive. It always catches me by surprise when people come up and they've been moved by the music ... I have some of the nices encounters with total strangers. I can raise issues, make people thi; about them, get the ball rolling; confront an issue and it can change peopl, whether it's an issue of racism or fem. inism or lesbianism or whatever. The reaction I've gotten has sure been 'proof of the pudding' of that to me. It's a great treat for me when I ge to play to an all women's audience, yo, know. I love it. The women's community has become 50% of what I do. But I als, like playing to audiences like tonight I would never opt to play the women's circuit only. Again for political reasons. Why convert the converted? I thi it's important for women like me, for political people like me, to stay in the mainstream. You're a good enough musician that people want to come and hear your music and then there's all the other stuff. I want to keep doing that. "Is potiticizing though you& music important to you then?" Well, I want to be a good musician but yeah, I don't think I could do it if I wasn't trying to have a certain number of political songs, to raise is sues. Yeah, I make a conscious effort to do that as much as I can. continued on page 10 Northern Woman Journal, page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Heather Bishop interview continued from page 9 "Doez youn ma-tuttat change. when you son women' z audiencez?" peay .Maybe a little bit, not a lot. Most of my songs, even if they aren't expl citly lesbian, are certainly not heterosexual. But, I don't think of myself as a lesbian all the time, I'm a woman, I'm a feminist, and the person I share my life with is a woman. When I'm on the 'stage I'll make a conscious lesbian statement or song or something because I want to make people deal with that idea. I put it there and make them look at it. But I certainly don't run around living my life, feeling always like I'M A LESBIAN: Professionally, I can do that. I can be a .lesbian that people can look at and decide that I don't wear leather jackets and ride a motorcycle or whatever their particular image of lesbians is. In my private life, I don't have to do that. I can just be who I am. "Whete do you want to go wLth muzic?" yowl. Well, it's important for me to make a good word for you here. a living and by going to the States I can double my record sales within a year. become intetezted in the We've begun to get offers"Hay fromdid theyou women's Mies, which -1.4 circuit in the States. Distribution com- cettainey not knaun Lt6 album. tack o6 zexizt tyAicz?" panies have approached us6o)t. for the There's a whole network of independent women distributors. I've gone through I was So, 13, I saw this lady on T.V Ladyslipper, which is one"When of those. playing piano It's starting to get spread around in and singing and she blew me away..I discovered that she was the States, which is a nice surprise. And so, I began.at that But it means we've got toNina get Simone. down there age to collect everything of hers that and start touring. I could get my hands on. And I listener to her all these years and just really got into the blues. In some ways, I 'you ate zuppotting youtzet6 Pram youit hard to figure out, I mean enough muzic and zo, obviourty, guess there it is up who with country and western wank bon a woman musician you -In grow Canada doezn't want to pt ay bates and ?" polkas and things, but blues you just never heard. I really like the blues but it is hard to get material that I can cirdo. Although some songs you Oh yeah, because of the women's do just a little bit of a word cuit. In some ways I havecan a lot of adhere and there and make them vantages over some of thechange male musicians. a songfor that doesn't have a sex I get a lot of gigs that either they can't, preference one thing. And another thing is that beeither song that I can sing as a cause a lot of pressure has comea to lesbian, or a song that doesn't have bear on the people who run folk festia sex vals, to hire women - they havepreference to scram- and so everyone can relate to it. Which I think is a good ble and hire women. That's a danger-s to treat music. I don't want to ous thing to say becauseway I don't think my music and have it so that I get hired just because take I'm aall woman. lesbians can relate to it. I thinl I think I'm a good enoughonly performer. that's just as bad. There is no reason why they shouldn't hire me. But, thank God for that pressure or they wouldn't. And, thank God you witite any o6 yowl. matmiat?" that women like Sandi are"Do now taking festivals over, because it's a matter of course that she's going to try to Very little. I just don't have the ge t women. time. I want to make time. That was one of the ideas behind moving to the "Do you tike playing eta-country. tit /a z?" I'm kind of a perfectionist and so it's really important for me to be very good at what I'm doing. Like "Eezidez being a muzician, youlte a I now have a vocal teacher who is Oh yeah, I do. I like catpenten. festivals aYou've built your aon just fabulous. I'm training with her lot because you can leachhowse a lotinof the count/Lg. You're atzo a and I think. I'll be with her as long people that maybe wouldn't you vety 6ine paintm I wonder hae you as she lives. T feel that anyone who were otherwise. Also, I get to see oth6ind a balance ?" 'sings is crazy not to have vocal er performers. It's a really lonely -. training. business in some senses. You travel My teacher's name is Alicia Sea around, you play, you get soActually, sick of I was making more money born. She's a beautiful woman. I as a You painter, yourself and your own voice. never than as a musician, up can't describe how good she is- There until So, a year get to see another performer. the ago. I was painting a are only two people .inCanada with her lot. I haven't painted in over a year folk festival is like a hig feast of training. It's called belle canto and now, which. I'm very sorry to say. But that your - you get to meet some ofyour herit means. that you aon't deal with I've been so busy on the road and oes. And if you're into singing polivoice like you're a soprano or an alto building this new house. The house tool tical music, the festivals are a really or whatever. All of us have the abilevery ounce of energy we had. I want goodsimchance to reach a lot of people. ity to have a complete range. You to get back into painting now. And a good place for making contacts, ply have, to learn to use your.body, I made a conscious decision. I detoo. which is your instrument, correctly. cided that if you're going to be a Youoccan line up your winter's work. I went to her with a range of an musician, you have to be on the road. You know, your festival and Fargo's tave and a half. She.had me singing I'm not getting any younger and the were three and a half octaves within twothe two most outstanding festilials older I get the harder it gets. And in terms of hiring more women performers. months. painters, for the most part, don't really have a chance to do very well Joan: SheYeah, wantsshe's her to sing opera. gorgeous. Her students with their work until they're 60 years are her whole life. Anyways, ques"Rent the y? Wt. Aare that ass zomething tackold and have this horrendous body of tion was - where I want ing to go inwith out my 6eztivae- not at att a weli work. It takes a long time for people music. I'm really into becoming batanced anumb et o6 mate and 6emate pet to give you credit for the work that good musician. 6onmetz. 81t out pnobtem Waz that we you've done. didn't know wheite to go to find good Joan: Getting back to piano. And so, I figure I'll just keep women pet6otmeltz." painting. It's something I'll always Yeah, composing on piano, playing do. But music- well, I either have to more piano. It's great for blues.,I shit or get off the pot. I've got to want to make a living for us, to supThat's a problem. I get back and do it now while I can still stand traport ourselves from the music. I'd forth across this country and I meet velling that much and sleeping on like to make more records, good reall these women, that say, Sandi floors and hotels and that sort of cords. doesn't have an opportunity to get to thing. Because I'm not going to be I don't have any big know. ideas.They'll My am- come and jam with me at able to do it when I'm 40 or 50. bitions are for perfection rather and I'll see of they're a workshop I go on the road and work my ass than making it 'big', whatever that to play at a festival. good enough off for maybe two weeks, and then I means. I'll usually jump on those women right can go home and put it away for a litaway and say - okay, are you intertle while do the painting, whatever. ested in doing this for a living? BeI think I've given up time from my cause you are, let's get down to "Do you zee it az impottant toif play painting to do my music. But then, if in the Staten? Iz that zomething brass tacks. You've got to do this, I can make a living at music, it gives that haz to happen in- yout tatter? this, and this, and contact this perme time to paint. It's better than Northern Woman Journal, son pageand 10 that person, and I'll put in working in an office. By Liz Martin. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WORDS WE LIVED BY... The following is excerpted from the Ladies' Guide, a popular reference book of the 1890s. EFFECTS OF SOLITARY VICE IN GIRLS The victim of this evil habit is cer- tain to suffer sooner or later the penalty which nature invariably inflicts upon those who transgress her laws. Every law of nature is enforced by an inexorable penalty. This is emphatically true respect- ing the laws which relate to the sexual organs. Wide observation has convinced us that a great many of the backaches, side-aches, and other aches and pains of which girls complain, are attributable to this injurious habit. Much of the nervousness, hysteria, neuralgia, and general The expression of the eyes. The dull, Unnatural boldness in a little lusterless eye, surrounded by dark ring, tells the tale of sin. girl. If she has previously beena retal weakness and inactivity. of the heart, hysserved, this is just ground for Palpitations the St. Vitus's teria, nervousness, suspicion of secret vice. dance, epilepipv, and incontinence A forward or loose manner in of urine, giving rise to wetting the company with little boys. Girls bed. addicted to this habit are guilty of HOW TO CURE VICIOUS HABITS the most wanton conduct. The habit of self-pollution is one Languor and lassitude. In a girl who has possessed a markedwhich de- when thoroughly established, is N1g4T44!, )..e. by no means easily broken. The victim of this most *Ste terrible vice is held in the most ab- .47'6 1 ject slavery, the iron fetters of habit daily closing the prisoner LADIES' GUIDE more and more tightly in their grasp. The effect is to weaken the moral sense perhaps more rapidly than any other vice, until there is HEALTH left in the child's character AND DISEASE. little to which an appeal can be made. worthlessness of girls originates in this cause alone. The period of puberty is one at 614 pailenhcod, which thousands of girls break By J. H KELLOGG. IA Ilifehced, The mother should first carefully set before the child the exceeding sinfulness of the habit, its ID down in health. The constitution, already weakened by a debilitatg -ee of activity and energy, this in;4-, debasing vice. is not prepared -should give rise to-ea-rnest-solic" for the strain, and the poor victim drops into a premature grave.tude on the part of the mother for the physical and moral condition SIGNS OF SELF-ABUSE IN GIRLS of her child. Mothers should always be on the _ An unnatural appetite. Somealert to detect the first evidences of times children will show an excesthis vice in their daughters, since sive fondness for mustard, peplater nothing but almighty power vinegar, and spices. Little its seems competent to loosen per, girls who are very fond of cloves grasp. The only positive evidence are likely to he depraved in other is detection of the child in the act; respects. should be A suspected child loathsomeness and vileness, and the horrible consequences which follow in its wake. But in most ases, the evil is not so easily mastered. The little girl should be kept under constant observation every moment of her waking hours. Care should be taken that the child dges not feign sleep for the purpose of gaining an opportunity to avoid observation. It is much more difficult to cure this soul-destroying vice in girls than in boys. They are seldom as ready to confess their guilt as are boys, and then are less easily influenced by a portrayal of its ter- The presence of leukorrhoea. watched under all circumstances Self-abuse occasions a frequently with unceasing vigilance. recurring congestion of the parts, [ But] aside from positive evitogether with the mechanical irri- rible consequences. Sleepless vigidence, there are other signs which laqce must be coupled with the tation accompanying the habit. may lead to the discovery of posiUlceration about the roots of the most persevering patience. tive evidence. In obstinate cases, severe means nails. This especially affects one A marked change iv disposition. must be adopted. We were once or both of the first two fingers of When a girl who has been truthobliged after every other measure ful, happy, obliging, gentle, the andhand, the irritation of the fingers being occasioned by the acrid had failed, to perform a surgif-al confiding, becomes peevish, irritaoperation [clitoridectomy] before ble, morose, and disobedient,vaginal she discharge. we were able to break the habit in Biting the fingernails. The irriis under the influence of some foul tation of the 41-igers, which gives the case of a girl of eight or ten blight. Loss of memory and loss ofrise the to the habit of biting nails, grows out of the irritable condilove for study. The nervous forces tio.-},of the nails mentioned above. are weakened, giving place to men- years who had become addicted to the vice to a most extraordinary degree. Northern Woman Journal, page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Northern Women's Credit Union LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3. Dear Editors: I was astounded to read in the Northern Women's Credit Union newsletter that the board will be recommending a by-law change allowing all male members of the shareholders' families to become members of the credit union. The reason cited for the proposed change is that the credit union has been guilty of controvening the by-laws of the N.W.C.U. by allowing male children to become members. Surely if that is the only reason, the simplest and most reasonable approach would be to recind that privilege. I joined the N.W.C.U. because it was just that, a women's credit union. I thought I saw, at last, a financial institution that would put a little financial control into the hands of women - an institution that would give women an opportunity to help other women in an area where there is precious little help to be had elsewhere. I believe that if men are allowed to become full members of the women's credit union it will fail in its primary function, that of making loans available to women and in particular, those women most in need. A woman with an income of over $14,000 does not encounter the problems that she once did in borrowing money, but the woman whose income falls short of that figure still has great difficulty, if she succeeds at all. I think it a reasonable assumption that if men are allowed to join the credit union they will eventually sit on the Loan Committee (as well as on the board - policy making). One can easily conceive of a situation in which a man earning $19,000 and a woman earning $9,000 each make loan applications. In a tight money situation, need one wonder which applicant would be successful? Possibly, the board members are more concerned with the fresh surge of money they see emanating from the pockets of prospective male members, and are more concerned with economics than ideology. This being the case, aren't we, the shareholders, entitled to be informed of the real reasoning behind their decision? If, on the other hand, the by-law decision was arrived at as casually-as the newsletter would suggest, perhaps the board should take some time to consider the ramifications of their proposed new by-law. Should economics supercede ideology as the main criterion for the existence of the N.W.C.U., I would feel obligated to withdraw my support by closing my account. Distressed Shareholder, Ann McColl. MAY ALLOW MALE MEMBERS Just recently I sat down to read my copy of the Northern Woman's Credit Union's newsletter. Under the title Annual Meeting the following was stated:"The next annual meeting has been set for February 21st and there are a couple of issues coming up that we would like to bring to your attention at this time. We have been allowing male children to become members of the Credit Union and it has come to our attention that this contravenes the By-Laws of the Northern Women's Credit The Board will be recommUnion. ending (emphasis the writers) a By-Law change that would allow all male members in your family to become members of this Credit Union': For the past week I have been considering this recommendation and have been discussing the same. When the Credit Union first began three years ago I was completely opposed to the policy of Not allowing men but in the last six months my attitude and/or politics on this issue has changed. Why did I change my view in one direction and the board change theirs in another (assuming of course that they supported the I find this original intent). very confusing so I have attempted to put together a list of questions that I have asked both myself and other women. I hope that these questions will stimulate discussion so that when you attend the annual meeting you will feel that the issue has been well thought out and your decision-an intelligent one. Do you feel that by not allowing male membership that we are practicing the same discrimination that men have forced on women in the past (and continue presently)? 1. A 3. Why was the Women's Credit Union established? 4. Are you concerned changes would happen or attitudes towards members on the board about what in ,emphasis and women with male and committees? 5. Do you feel that the Women's Credit Union has met the needs of women in this community? 6. Do you feel that the Credit Union can be economically successful with an all woman membership and, has it thus far been successful? 7. Did you join the Women's Credit Union because it was specifically created for the needs of women? 8. If the original bylaws intent was to have a woman only membership, why at this time does the board recommend a bylaw change to include male members of families? 9. How is family to be defined? 10. If this by-law is changed, will the bond of association (i.e. original intent) be changed? 11. Would single males be allowed to join? 12.Since men have a greater earning power is it possible that they would have a greater borrowing power? 13. Would the Women's Credit Union continue to be a Women's Credit Union if the boards recommendation is passed? An inquiry was made to the former treasurer manager who said that at the time of her.leaving the Credit Union, there were no male children with Member accounts. The ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations had made it clear to her that women could open TRUST accounts only for their male children. There are probably many more question that you could ask yourself and other members of the Credit Union. COME TO THE MEETING PREPARED! by Estella Howard Do you feel that the exclusion 2. of men was the main reason for the establishment of the women's credit union? REPRINTED FROM BROADSIDE, VOL.1, NO.2 We've probably all winced at the commercials on TV in which a man tells us- oh so sweetly and with such conviction- how he's designed just the right bra for us. If I hear the expression "lift and separate" one more time, cross my heart, I'll choke. Let's put the show on the other foot so to speak: there is no way on this earth, even if I wished, that I could design or sell jockstraps. Men would laugh themselves silly! What's more, they'd have a perfect right. Now, let's add a recent newspaper appointment notice: "Marc Dupere, Vice-President of Sales of Canadelle Inc., makers of WonderBra... is pleased to announce the appointment of Howard Pfeiffer as National Sales Manager. Mr. Pfeiffer has had ectensive experience with (wait for it!)... WonderBra (sorry to lift your expectations)..." Altogether, doesn't it make a terrifi picture? Just think of all these men devoting their lives to designing and selling something about which they know absolutely zilch. This support we can do without. HB Northern Woman Journal, page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �HER SMILE k c.t lk- le- 17) ie& MUSIC My being is totally immersed; Pulled along by the invisible waves I float on a tide of melody Now stormy, Now calm, Now crashing in the alcoves of my brain, Now clear and cool and comforting. Caught in a current of arpeggios, I am hurled through rapids of ecstasy Whirling, I wish to be her friend; her intelligence poise caring posture instant smile draws ... but leaves me wanting I wish to be her friend; yet an unspoken rebuff is felt 111 in the radiant, polite smile in the impersonal depths, as quiet waters in a closed sea I wish to be her friend; sensing her isolation, -! sorrows, needs, insights -becoming chilled in her crystal-sparkling smile Diving, Breathlessly, delightfully lost In a lyrical rapture of the deep! I wish to be her friend; but the veiled green eyes, the sensitive face breaking into that shining armour, is the door firmly closing For one fleeting moment My soul is freed from its prison Skipping, Soaring, Gleefully cavorting about me, Like a ray of sunlight dancing in the mist! My eyes watch from within their empty shell, As my body surrenders to the eddying rhythm Spinning 'round, Pulled under; Only to find myself once again Gently rocked in a sleepy lagoon, Lulled on a soothing sea of sound! Sharon Olsen Silence catch the motion of carousels turning, touch the shadows of beach fires burning, hear the call on the shore of the lake lone scavenger searching, crying out for a mate. feel the stillness of night with relief from the day, count the stars in the sky as they revolve on their way. chanting waves lullaby the sea comforting sounds floating for free. I wish to be her friend; then as I stand on the periphery of her sightlessness her smile, dazzling as sun out of clouds, as light in sudden darkness, leaves only emptiness. Lily Hooper Gmb Snow Dance On this late day lost in winter a stillness rings with waiting for the trees outside my window have started their snow dance Pendulum pacing, they sway this way, then that, this way then that, Unceasingly miming the crows walk. Charcoal shadows pretending to be birds warm their feet on chimney pots They huddle furtively fidgetting while the green faced trees swing on.... Provocatively defying the barometer the weathervanes cheerful choice, my own yearning for warm rain.... they do the disco hustle. Tomorrow this town will wear white for the trees outside my window have started their snow dance violet winegarden thcoolness of sand e relieved of its warmth now feeling the dew damp in the hand. see the moon and catch its glow lighting the sea as her essence flows, darkness is mine until the dawn, silence is mine, love the sound. POETRY - i Viola Goderre Northern Woman Journal, page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Women's Centre PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a JOIN US IN THE CELEBRATION SNACKS AND CONVERSATION OUR ENTERTAINMENT SAY THE SOOTHSAYERSevaluation WILL BE "THEcopy watermarked COMMON WOMEN PLAYERS". of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE CONFEDERATION COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY THUNDER BAY DISTRICT Winter Programs for Women Women's Programs offers a variety of learning experiences which are designed to meet YOUR needs; whether you are working at home, whether you are single, married or have been married; whether you have an educational background or not; whether you are 19 or 90. Come and join us; learn and grow. ZW 010 99 WOMEN IN ART A new kind of art history - one which seeks out women's work. Through a visual presentation utilizing 360 unique slides featuring the exceptional abilities of women artists from the early middle ages to the 20th Century, students will be introduced to long-ignored perspectives of women in art. 7-9 pm, Wednesdays, January 16th to March 12th $20.00 Room 346 FEE: 225 99 SOCIOLOGY OF SEX ROLES GS A credit elective sociology course which examines our socialization processes in terms of sex roles and reviews the assumptions and stereotypes based on sex. The participants of this course will be introduced to the subject of sex roles from a sociological perspective. Through the utilization of various teaching methods the students will come to understand the process of sex typing and sex role development. This experience should lead students to become more aware of the extent and effects of the socialization process. 7-10 pm, Thursdays, January 17th to March 20th $25.00 Room 282 FEE: SY 112 99 WOMEN, SOCIETY & CHANGE This course is offered as a credit elective. It is an organized learning experience which will provide the students with the necessary knowledge and skills to examine processes of change in society regarding the status of women. Times and Dates to be Announced FEE: $25.00 INTRODUCTION TO NON-TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS Have you been thinking of getting back into the world of paid employment? Haveiyou been thinking of some of the more "unusual" jobs that might be available? If so, this could be the course for you. Canada Employment is sponsoring, through Confederation College, an 8-week course for people who wish to seek employment in areas generally regarded as restricted to members of the "opposite se'. This course is designed to help students: 1. Assess their own skills; 2. Determine their own skills; 3. Develop job search techniques; 4. Provide -four weeks on-the-job training. The student will choose, with the help of the instructor, where training will take place. The next course will begin in January. For information call 475-6353. To register contact your local Canada Employment Counsellor at 344-6601 or 623-2731. ZW 021 99 PERSONAL GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR This seminar, sponsored by the Women Teachers' Federation, is open to the public, and consists of: Friday, April 18th (7 pm) - Keynote Speaker on Career Development; Saturday, April 19th (8:30 am - 3 pm) - Workshops on Personal Development. For further information call 475-6232. 7-10 on Friday, April 18th; 8:30 am - 3 pm on Saturday, April 19th FEE: $10.00 (includes lunch) GS 219 99 WOMEN MAKE MOVIE Can you recall one film you have seen that was directed by a woman? The most popular image of the great director is male. But women have been directing films since 1896. For a refreshing change, view over 35 films made by women. Included are feature, short documentary, and animated films. WOMEN MAKE MOVIES is for everyone. It offers prize-winning international cinema to encourage a critical interest in the influence of women on filmmaking. Some of the titles include Lina Wertmuller's LOVE AND ANARCHY and A NIGHT FULL OF RAIN, Shirley MacLaines' THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY: A CHINA MEMOIR, Judy Collins' ANTONIA: PORTRAIT OF THE WOMAN, Barbara Kopple's HARLAN COUNTY, U.S.A., and Claudis Weill's GIRLFRIENDS. 7-10 pm, Mondays, January 14th to April 21st FEE: $35.00 Room 262 ZW 017 99 WOMEN KNOW YOUR CAR Women's Programs is pleased to be able to offer this 5 week WOMEN KNOW YOUR CAR Course in response to the success of the spring pilot program. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the basic procedures of car maintenance and to acquaint them with the general operation and function of the modern car. station waaon. or 1/2"tefr.' 7-10 pm, Mondays, January 14th to February 11th FEE: $15.00 ZW 019 00 EFFECTIVE SPEAKING FOR WOMEN This course introduces women to some of the skills and techniques which make effective speaking a reality. speak with confidence; think clearly; increase Learn to: your vocabulary; write effectively. Come and join us, learn and grow. 7-10 pm, Tuesdays, January 15th to March 18th FEE: $30.00 Room 333 ZW 018 99 OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE A special program designed for women at home who are looking for a change in direction. Perhaps they wish to enter the area of paid employment or return to school or become involved in voluntary community work but are having difficulty identifying the exact course of action that would be best for them. The program offers women a chance to consider the various opportunities for change. 1:15 - 3:15 pm, Wednesdays, January 16th to March 19th FEE: $5.00 FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR WOMEN ZW 011 99 A 6 week course which will serve as an introduction to the subject of financial planning. The course will ad1. What are the four dress itself to such questions as: corner stones of financial planning? 2. Is R.R.S.P. 3. When do you need both life and disreally for you? ability 4. What are the pros and cons of life annuity? In addition, money management, a look at successful spending, saving and investment will be explored. Come and learn, it's your money. 7-10 pm, Wednesdays, January 16th to February 20th $20.00 Room 278 FEE: WOMEN'S PROGRAMS, CONFEDERATION COLLEGE, 475-6232 Senior Citizens age 60 or over, upon proof of age may register for any subject at the College for a tuition fee of $5.00 plus any laboratory fee. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: -REFUND OF FEES WILL BE MADE SHOULD INSUFFICIENT ENROLLMENT FORCE CANCELLATION' OF SUBJECT. Northern Woman Journal, page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE CONFEDERATION COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY THUNDER BAY DISTRICT Winter Programs for Women Women's Programs offers a variety of learning experiences which are designed to meet YOUR needs; whether you are working at home, whether you are single, married or have been married; whether you have an educational background or not; whether you are 19 or 90. Come and join us; learn and grow. ZW 010 99 WOMEN IN ART A new kind of art history - one which seeks out women's work. Through a visual presentation utilizing 360 unique slides featuring the exceptional abilities of women artists from the early middle ages to the 20th Century, students will be introduced to long-ignored perspectives of women in art. 7-9 pm, Wednesdays, January 16th to March 12th $20.00 Room 346 FEE: 225 99 SOCIOLOGY OF SEX ROLES A credit elective sociology course which examines our socialization processes in terms of sex roles and reviews the assumptions and stereotypes based on sex. The participants of this course will be introduced to the subject of sex roles from a sociological perspective. Through the utilization of various teaching methods the students will come to understand the process of sex typing and sex role development. This experience should lead students to become more aware of the extent and effects of the socialization process. 7-10 pm, Thursdays, January 17th to March 20th Room 282 $25.00 FEE: GS SY 112 99 WOMEN, SOCIETY & CHANGE This course is offered as a credit elective. It is an organized learning experience which will provide the students with the necessary knowledge and skills to examine processes of change in society regarding the status of women. Times and Dates to be Announced FEE: $25.00 INTRODUCTION TO NON-TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS Have you been thinking of getting back into the world of paid employment? Havelyou been thinking of some of the more "unusual" jobs that might be available? If so, this could be the course for you. Canada Employment is sponsoring, through Confederation College, an 8-week course for people who wish to seek employment in areas generally regarded as restricted to members of the "opposite sex". This course is designed to help students: 1. Assess their own skills; 2. Determine their own skills; 3. Develop job search techniques; 4. Provide lour weeks on-the-job train ing. The student will choose, with the help of the instructor, where training will take place. The next course will begin in January. For information call 475-6353. To register contact your local Canada Employment Counsellor at 344-6601 or 623-2731. ZW 021 99 PERSONAL GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR This seminar, sponsored by the Women Teachers' Federation, is open to the public, and consists of: Friday, April 18th (7 pm) - Keynote Speaker on Career Development; Saturday, April 19th (8:30 am - 3 pm) - Workshops on Personal Development. For further information call 475-6232. 7-10 on Friday, April 18th; 8:30 am - 3 pm on Saturday, April 19th $10.00 (includes lunch) FEE: GS 219 99 WOMEN MAKE MOVIE Can you recall one film you have seen that was directed by a woman? The most popular image of the great director is male. But women have been directing films since 1896. For a refreshing change, view over 35 films made by women. Included are feature, short documentary, and animated films. WOMEN MAKE MOVIES is for everyone. It offers prize-winning international cinema to encourage a critical interest in the influence of women on filmmaking. Some of the titles include Lina Wertmuller's LOVE AND ANARCHY and A NIGHT FULL OF RAIN, Shirley MacA CHINA MEMOIR, Laines' THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY: PORTRAIT OF THE WOMAN, Barbara Judy Collins' ANTONIA: Kopple's HARLAN COUNTY, U.S.A., and Claudis Weill's GIRLFRIENDS. 7-10 pm, Mondays, January 14th to April 21st $35.00 Room 262 FEE: ZW 017 99 WOMEN KNOW YOUR CAR Women's Programs is pleased to be able to offer this 5 week WOMEN KNOW YOUR CAR Course in response to the success of the spring pilot program. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the basic procedures of car maintenance and to acquaint them with the general cttinn wannn nnpratinn Pnr1 fmnrtinn of thp mndorn or 1/2 ton. 7-10 pm, Mondays, January 14th to February 11th FEE: $15.00 ZW 019 00 EFFECTIVE SPEAKING FOR WOMEN This course introduces women to some of the skills and techniques which make effective speaking a reality. speak with confidence; think clearly; increase Learn to: your vocabulary; write effectively. Come and join us, learn and grow. 7-10 pm, Tuesdays, January 15th to March 18th $30.00 Room 333 FEE: ZW 018 99 OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE A special program designed for women at home who are looking for a change in direction. Perhaps they wish to enter the area of paid employment or return to school or become involved in voluntary community work but are having difficulty identifying the exact course of action that would be best for them. The program offers women a chance to consider the various opportunities for change. 1:15 - 3:15 pm, Wednesdays, January 16th to March 19th FEE: $5.00 ZW 011 99 FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR WOMEN A 6 week course which will serve as an introduction to the subject of financial planning. The course will ad1. What are the four dress itself to such questions as: 2. Is R.R.S.P. planning? corner stones of financial 3. When do you need both life and disreally for you? and cons of life annuity? ability 4. What are the pros In addition, money management, a look at successful spending, saving and investment will be explored. Come and learn, it's your money. 7-10 pm, Wednesdays, January 16th to February 20th $20.00 Room 278 FEE: WOMEN'S PROGRAMS, CONFEDERATION COLLEGE, 475-6232 Senior Citizens age 60 or over, upon proof of age may register for any subject at the College for a tuition fee of $5.00 plus any laboratory fee. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: REFUND OF FEES WILL BE MADE SHOULD INSUFFICIENT ENROLLMENT FORCE CANCELLATION OF SUBJECT. Northern Woman Journal, page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Coma MN* Goma hut BMW Ps. No Eluk Ennombro third trobierhe doss dare 220 RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. The NORTHERN (OMAN JOURNAL pu.ba6hed zix tAlmeis a years by the NoAtheAn (Abrneniz Centite. CORKERS ON THIS ISSUE ARE: Joan Eaibil, Gent Feadte, Heten Hata, E6tetee Howattd, Wande Hunt, Noreen Lavoie, li,ionika McNabb, MaAgcutet Phiteio, Donna Phoenix, Roatyn Taytoit. Petot.ett, Rthna Return Postage Guaranteed 411111111111111111111111111111111111, YOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS DUE HAVE YOU MOVED??? PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CALLING (807) 345-5841. We must pay return postage to keep up our mailing list. Subscribe: PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 5 No 6 Description An account of the resource Vol. 5. No. 6 (Nov-Dec 1979) Title: Northern Woman Journal: Women & Poverty Topics include: Northern Woman’s Conference (Sudbury, Nov 1979) Northern women’s unique lived experiences Isolation of Northern women Solidarity of northern women needed New feminist collective at NWJ (10 women) Letters to the editor Northern women’s networking Opening of Native Women’s Crisis Centre - Beendigan Confederation College daycare opens Immigrant women in Canada face deportation Breast cancer Legislation passed to continue survivor’s benefits for widows & widowers Women in Focus Society (Vancouver BC) Call for submissions for next issue - Women & health Women & poverty Musician spotlight: Heather Bishop Women & music Northern Women’s Credit Union may allow male members Poetry Women’s Centre Christmas party Winter programs for women Confederation College Authors/Contributors: Gert Beadle Women Helping Women (Sudbury) Donna Phoenix Margaret Phillips Estella Howard Diana Ellis (Letter to the editor, Vancouver BC) Violet Winegarden (Letter to the editor, Vancouver BC) Claire Cikalik (Letter to the editor, Thunder Bay) Rosalyn Taylor Perrett Ann McColl Sharon Olsen Lily Hooper Viola Goderre Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1979-11 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2759/1979_Vol_5_No_4.pdf f7dd73105c6e0ecb4b4bd07b0b153db9 PDF Text Text orAtt. AUGUST-SEPT., 1979 VOL .5, NO.4 750' onan Jour-0.r Photos courtesy of the THUNDER BAY HISTORICAL MUSEUM 50 YERRS PERSON!! THUNDER BAY'S MAYORS (top left) CATHERINE SEPPALA elected mayor of Fort Wiiliam in 1951. (top right) EUNICE WISHART became a Port Arthur councillor in 1939 (bottom) DUSTY MILLER elected mayor in the fall and installed in December 1978 4, ,to - 4) ,4 1-* 4.41 z PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �FIFTY YEARS OF PERSONHOOD WILL BE COMMEMORATED BY REGIONAL WOMEN This fall, Thunder Bay women will British North America Act. While in the minds of most women there never notice an unusual billboard on Memorexisted much doubt about whether or ial Avenue inviting them to share in not they were persons, legal minds3 the celebration of 50 years as"perfound this point highly contentious sons." Historically speaking, it is until that day in October 1929 when indeed something to celebrate, for Lord Chancellor Sankey, reading the just 50 years ago, women were not opinion of the highest tribunal in considered persons under the British the British Empire, concluded that North America Act, This lack of status iwomen are "persons" in t?2e eyes of helped to keep women from being the law and hence entitled to be appointed to the Canadian Senate, ummoned to the Canadian senate° among other things. To celebrate the victory of Judge Women, under the common law in 1867, Emily Murphy and her colleagues in were under every conceivable form of 1929, a group of local women are planlegal incapcity and definitely barred ning a celebration to take place the from public functions. How then could evening of October 18 at Confederation ii be possible to suppose that the drafters College. of the B.N.A. Act had meant to include Part of the celebration will be women' a publicity campaign alerting women There is a famous photograph of Lord to the significance of 1979. The Sankey at Temple Bar on October 18,1929 commemoration will consist actual on his way to deliver the important of a wine and cheese party at the "persons" decision. Preceded by the heavy College beginning at 7 pm on October mace of office in full court regalia the 18. stern Lord Chancellor looks as though pre= The evening's program will consist pared to pass a death sentence upon some of a display comprised of material poor scoundrel , rather than to read a from the Canadian Archives, photodecision which would bring joy and a new To commemorate the Person Case, graphs depicting women created by sense of dignity to thousands of women to be celebrated in Thunder Bay local and Canadian photographers, in the senior dominion." on its Anniversary, October 18, and exhibits put on by interested the National Action Committee on women's groups. The Status of Women issued this In the spirit that Canada was Kam Theatre Lab will perform a seal. intended by the Commonwealth to be play based on the historical details a place of growth and expansion, the Case. From 9 to 10 of the Person firmative; and that women are eligible Judges of the Supreme Court appm coffee and cake will be served. to be summoned and become members proved the amendment to the constitAdmission will be 1.25 per person, of the Senate 6f Canada. ution, aware that in this context, There will be a cash bar and the no policy or constitution could be event will be open to the entire exempt from change. public. Added to their decision was the fact the word "person" was used in Taken from an ambiguous manner throughout the Catherine Cleverdon's Woman Suffrage Movement Act which only occasionally specified "The Person Case is the name in Canada, University of Toronto "male persons" where that was the commonly used to designate the valPress, 1950. This book is available intention. Hence the Supreme Court iant contest waged by Judge Emily through the Lakehead University LibMurphy and her associates from Alberta ruled as follows: It rary and Women's Centre Resource LibTheir Lordships have come to to prove that women are eligible for rary for anyone who would like to the conclusion that the word persons appointment to the Canadian Senate. read further on THE PERSON CASE includes members of the male and fename is derived from the fact The THE HISTORY that eligibility hinged upon the legal interpretation of the word "person" as found in section 24 of the male sex, and that therefore the question propounded by the GovernorGeneral must be answered in the af- WOULD YOU VOTE FEIN INIST? That is what the Feminist Party of Canada wants to know. WHY BUILD A NEW POLITICAL PARTY INSTEAD OF INCREASING THE NUMBERS OF WOMEN WITHIN THE EXISTING PARTIES? Because, says the Feminist Party, women elected from within these male dominated power structures usually end up denying the roots from which they came. At the moment of victory, most women shake off their political debts to other women. In the struggle to retain credibility within thar male context, they walk alone. The only, way a woman can maintain her feminist beliefs while in office, the Feminist Party concludes, is when she is shielded by a feminist party structure. EMPHASIS ON WOMEN'S MORAL ROLE: Women's full participation in the political arena will bring a new direction to government in general, Feminist Party advocates maintain. "The vision women will contribute to politics is the same vision we have always been dependant upon to bring to our more traditional spheres. In the family we have provided a moral base; in the wider world we have constantly struggled to hum anize our environment... "Moral values, social relationships women have taken responsibility for all that which renders communities more fully human. If politics is the process through which society safeguards the humanity of its members, then women belong in politics; and if politics is not such a process, then clearly women are needed to make it so." At its first meeting held June 15 in Toronto, the Feminist Party admitted that theirs is a formidable task: turning vision into policy and policy into strategy. Troublesome questions have been raised. How can you expect women with only gender in common to take unified action and overcome the years and allegiances of ideological differences? For the interim committee of the Feminist Party, the choice is clear. They advance the idea that a feminist party is "the only method that could be truly representative of women's needs and desire for change FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE FEMINIST PARTY CONTACT: The Feminist Party of Canada, 122 Hilton Ave., Toronto, Ont. . reprinted from KINES!S. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EDITOR& time is ripe to join, and keep in FEMINIST PARTY IS BORN, reads touch with the early developmental the headline in the Toronto SUN stages of a party that could have following a meeting June 10 to which an impact. 600 women and a smattering of men turned out. Write to: While still in the formative, FEMINIST PARTY OF CANADA PART! pre-constitution stages, the FemFEMINISTE DU CANADA inist party of Canada is a thing to P.O. Box 5717, Toronto Ont M5W 1A0 1 welcome because it is the first Send your NAME, ADDRESS, attempt of women to introduce TELEPHONE and state whether or not 'the most momentous poltics existyou are interested in receiving the ing (i.e. feminism) into the formal newsletter, becoming a contact for political, system of this country. the Party in your area or purchase At present,the party is cona Party membership at $5 ($1 for fined to Toronto and the immediate seniors, single parents, students and While this might appear to area. people on welfare. some to be an indication of where Remember other hopiess battles the Party's sympathies and concerns that have been won. may lie, we must give it time to prepare a constitution and mandate to share with the rest of the country. Webave waited this long for something of this nature to emerge and must be prepared A RESOUNDING THUNDER CLAP to the to wait a while longer until mat- Thunder Bay's Women's Fastball League formerly CNRAA Women's Fastball erial is available to provide a ( basis for those interested in League) who will take their place among the Feminist Party outside of Tor- those recorded in the GUINESS WORLD onto to start their own chapter. BOOK OF RECORDS as the only group to It is, as the Feminist party play 60 hours of non-stop fastball founders say it is--crippling in the world to date, Beginning June for feminists to have to carry 22,_the women played non-stop at Chapple on their political work as if the Ball Park until 9 pm, Sunday June established parties provided a 24. Women suitable element for it. Last June the League played for currently hold a meagre six of 52 hours but had that record broken one hundred twenty five seats in twice in the next month. Prior to the provincial legislature and their 60 hour performance, the record eleven of two hundred and eighty stood at 54 hours. two in the federal. The women / who should be proud of For those who find the concept their endurance represent 18 teams from of a feminist party appealing, the . THUNDERCLAP GMT'S GOSPEL the Thunder Bay Women's Fastball League. Ellen Deschutter---Mayottes Donna Berini--Mayottes, Connii Larabee, Forresters, Richelle Nicolette--Forresters, Diane Dysievic--Leisure Lanes, Terry Bannon--Mission, Sharon Halworth-College Park Variety, Debbi Svienson-Hornettes, Rosemary Sieminiuk--Hornettes, Susan Nemec--Mayottes, Sharon Giertuga--Mayottes, Aileen Kramer- Forresters, Ruth Pervais--Mission, Evette Legarde--Mission, Laurie Smith- Forresters, Shelley Hobbs--Hornettes, Judy Walimaa--Hornettes, Becky McMartin--College Park. The only damper on the event was the the almost nonexistent public support, which the League relies upon to raise oney for a charity, which this year was the Kidney Foundation of Canada. THUNDERBOLT (a devastating one) to the men who saw fit to disqualify single parent students from being eligible for Ont. student loans. An especially fierce bolt to director of this province's student awards branch,who justified a now rescinded policy of limiting the amount of money that single parent students could request from the federal government in the following manner: "This (the amount of money, available to the single parent students through the Federal Government) presented a problem in that when these large amounts of money came into the familytenefit's recipients' hands, some of them had never seen that much money before and spent it without really any thought being given to the consequences of paying it back. Not really a Requiem, but almost subscribers because we operate from It's been almost four years since a negative energy source. I first expressed myself in the 2. We can meet the situation face JOURNAL and my affection for it has to face and decide that this paper increas ed along with my anxiety as has served its putpose and regretto what will become of it when we fully fold it up. OR face up to the question: Where does 3.We could, if we had imagination, th e NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL stand arrange to turn this paper over to in a priority list of energy projects a collection of women not necesthat is even now spreading the energies sary connected to the centre, women dangerously thin. who are perhaps plugged into creatThere is a question in my mind as ivity rather than the heavy message, to the desirability of women emotionbut nevertheless would find room for ally involved in the heavy subjects for some of our input. We could of rape and battering, attempting continue to subsidize this paper to produce a balanced, informative under the arrangement that the and creative feminist paper that name remain the same and that the appeals to our strengths not our feminist priciples not be violated. weaknesses. We have been fortunate It would have to be for a set perto have Elaine Lynch for the past iod with a possibility of renewal, year. I am sure you have noticed a but as a project it should, it rising general quality. Unfortunately seems to me, be a challenge any her term is ended with this paper and generally already number of groups could sieze. because her format was The question of losing control set by the centre collective, she too is one that every feminist group must have felt some constraint on her has to deal with. The last UPSTREAM, own creativity. It is my experience a feminist newpaper originating that when purist philosophy meets in Ottawa reported on a leadership creativity, the scale tips with the conference and quoted a delegate power. as saying that she felt obliged We have three options, it seems to serve on projects that did not to me. interest her because she believed 1. We can force ourselves to conthat only she could keep the theory tinue a paper that does little on the rails. I commend for her credit to us and provides little honesty in admitting that she in the way of inspiration to the thinks this way, but I tee' sorrow at its lack of realistic evaluation of her place in the general movement. It is a common mistake to suppose that the changing of society begins and ends and is nourished in between as a ,academic exercise. My perspective is a working class one. I am not now nor have I ever been in tune with repetitious female laments. I strongly believe we're too well put together up here in the North to lend ourselves to the role of victim. Millions of women in the third world have a right to make this claim; they have no one to turn to. We have each other, and if we weren't so preoccupied with proving we are different, we could do marvels. The history of the Journal began with a socialist message in the day when the message was not popular. It evolved into the women's struggle quite naturally. It is my contention that it is time to evolve again, this time to true diversity, combining thought from both and adding a more imaginative and wider range of the arts. It is time we left the cloister and joined the human family. If you the subscriber have any thoughts on this, please feel free to submit your opinion. In the meantime, this may be my last GOSPEL, in which case....It was fun and good to know you... Northern Woman Journal, page 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �new blood ill WANTED: A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO ARE ENTHUSIASTIC AND COMMITTED TO THE IDEA OF PRODUCING A FEMINIST NEWSPAPER. THE NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL IS SEEKING PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO MAKE A COMMITTMENT TO PRODUCING A PAPER ONE EVERY TWO MONTHS. THEY WOULD BE GIVEN COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE FORMAT AND EDITORIAL CONTENT. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO WAGES TO PAID FOR SUCH A PROJECT, THE JOURNALtS EXPENSES WOULD CONTINUE TO BE PAID BY NORTHERN WOMEN'S CENTRE. PRODUCING A PAPER HAS A GREAT DEAL TO OFFER IN TERMS OF ACQUIRING SOME TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN LAY-OUT AND DESIGN AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF ALL ASPECTS OF PRODUCING A TABLOID NEWSPAPER. IT IS ALSO A GOOD CHANCE TO EXPRESS PERSONAL CREATIVITY, POLITICAL VIEWS. ETC. 1WE OFFER THE UNLIMITED THE PAPER IN RETURN FOR SIX TIMES A YEAR, IT IS BY ALL MEANS BE HANDLED USE OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND COMPLETE CONTROL OF A SOLID COMMITTMENT. BECAUSE THE JOURNAL COMES OUT NOT A PARTICULARLY TIME CONSUMING EFFORT, AND COULD AS A SPARE TIME INTEREST. Established circulation and mailing system, and a good chance to attrack to more subscribers. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY...THERE WILL BE PEOPLE AROUND TO PROVIDE ADVICE OR INSTRUCTION ...LEARN AS YOU GO. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED INDIVIDUALLY, OR AS A GROUP, PLEASE COME FORWARD AS WE HOPE' TO ENTRUST THE PAPER INTO THE HANDS OF OTHERS FOR THE OCTOBERNOVEMBER 1979 ISSUE. DROP INTO WOMEN"S CENTRE AT 316 BAY STREET OR CALL 345-5841 for further information. ern Woman Journal operated at a loss of 840.92 an average of $70. per month. For the first six months of 1979, the loss has averaged $53.00 per month, an improvement, but a long way from realizing our long term goal of being able to have enough revenue to pay one staff person. The staff person that we have now is paid by WOMEN SHARING a Canada Works Project. This payrent ends in W\ugust. Statement of Loss for Northern Woman Journal for the 6 month period ending June 30, 1979 NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL: Sales Advertising 572.04 60.00 Cost of Printing 687.23 Supplies and Postage 162.48 Telephone 101.70 TOTAL EXPENSES 951.41 NET LOSS $319.00 TOTAL REVENUE 632.04 For this reason we have decided that it is perhaps time for a infiusion of new enthusiasm that will improve the overall situation. For the year ending in 1978, the North- BETTERS Dear Editor: lam am going to tell you something unbelievable; the story of the end of the Employment Services for Immigrant Women, an needed and productive agency. In February 1978, ESIW opened its doors to the public. Since that time we have increased our clientele at the rate of tenfold each month.. In May of this year, ESIW had 1200 registered clients; a tally which exlcudes numerous calls and casual referrals. We have had a successful placement rate of 25%. Manpower, with a staff 500 time greater than ESIW has a placement rate of less than 20%. Manpower has on the average, 130,000 clients tin one month, and their client staff ratio is only 9 to 1. ESIW, on the other hand has a client to staff ratio of 300 to 1. The need for employment services for Immigrant women is indisputable. The efficiency and dedication of the ESIW staff is clearly demonstrated. Despite this, the Employment Services for Immigrant Women is being forced to close because of government cutbacks. ESIW was originally funded by Canada Works but since Manpower has removed women from the list of priorities,we were advised that our agency's funding would not be approved. With this realization we turned to other public and private funding sources. But agency after agency closed their doors to us, telling us that with out mandate we should be funded by Manpower. We mustn't stand by while our agencies fall prey to government cutbacks one by one. We must band together and make our voices heard. Sincerely yours, CATHERINE KO, Project Manager ESIW, Toronto, Ontario SOLICITING MANUSCRIPTS For an anthology on WOMEN WRITING ABOUT THE ART OF WOMEN WRITING. Essays, short fiction, novel excerpts, journal entries, and poetry. Previously published or unpublished works. Can relate either symbolically or literally to the experience of woman as a writer. DEADLINE: January 15,1980. A self-addressed, stamped envelope must accompany manuscript. SEND TO: Cathryn Diane Miller, 4615 Filmore St., Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 15213. Northern Woman Journal, page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �PORNOGRAPHY EROTICA Reprinted from KINESIS, VANCOUVER STATUS OF WOMEN, April-May, 1979 The wisdom to know the difference .6111123411371.17717,.../.1. BY JILLIAN RIDINGTON AND BARB FINDLAY INTRODUCTION: JILLIAN RIDINGTON Recently, I was looking at a card on display in my neighbourhood giftstore. It showed two women from the waist up, both nude, the head of each resting on the shoulder of the other, the arms and flowing hair of both forming a supportive circle. A set of coiffured and girdled matrons stood behind me. One said, "Disgusting--that stuff shouldn't be where decent people have to see it." They left, sniffing. At the recent National Action Committee on the Status of Women conference a workshop on pronography was held. Lorenne Clark the moderator, brought with her a collection of material confiscated by the Ontario Provincial Police being held as evidence in an obscenity trial. The material was placed on a table set up outside the and the panelists workshop room took turns guarding it. I had seen such stuff before. Like most women, my first reaction to it had been, "Oh my God, I didn't know it was that bad." One of the first "hardcore" things I saw showed a woman's buttocks. A cane was inserted in her rectum, a male hand held a cigarette to the skin of her thigh. On bad nights, it is the stuff of my nightmares. And exposure has not created immunity. My gut reaction to pictures of women in nipple presses (devices which encircle the nipple and force it erect, pressure can be increased by means of strings and laces at the will of the "operator"), women in spanking harnesses, women being whipped, beaten or spanked raw in the name of "titillation", women's genitals being penetrated by fists or foraged by animals (usually pigs), and to pictures of children displaying immature genitals or performing sex acts on adults was and is nausea and disgust. When I lotilk at the ads"in the back of the mags", soliciting orders for harnesses, nipple presses, paddles, whips and other tools with which to torture women, I feel great anger as well. While I was guarding the NAC table, a woman picked up a magazine called, I believe, Lollitots."oh, this one isn't too bad," she said. "No violence, just naked kids." I agreed with her; compared to the bondage and degradation which filled the other magazines, the contents of Lollitots seemed relatively innocuous, one step removed from photographs found in many a family album The kid's legs are spread a bit wider, the angle of their bodies is more one of display, their expressions are not those of innocence but of premature knowledge. All things difficult to define, and impossible to legislate. But the child models were definitely exploited. Their young bodies had been captured and sold for purposes of titillation. They were being peddled as images to masturbate by. These photo- graphers were pimps, making money off their flesh. In all of the confiscated material, an imbalance of power was implicit or explicit. What was being depicted was not consensual sex between equals. Unlike the gift card I admired, their content is pornographic, not erotic. At the present time, the confiscated material is unlawful, and the card is not. But the current Criminal Code does not always clearly differentiate between material that feminists would find acceptable and unacceptable. Were the card to show the entire bodies of the women and were their activities more explicitly sexual, the card would not be sold in Canada--at least not in a neighbourhood card shop. The present law fails to distinguish between erotica and pornography. Casablanca Records and Film Works. Magazine ad for the punk rock group Kiss' album "Love and Kisses." The woman appears to be a willing and passive participant in a gang attack. This interaction is labeled "love and kisses," implying affection. EROTICA AND PORNOGRAPHY: CELEBRATION AND DEGRADATION: Erotica is the depiction of the sexual expression of love(from the Greek, "eros", meaning sexual love). It shows or describes sexual activity which is loving, non-coercive and joyful. It celebrates the sexuality which makes us uniquely human; the ability to communicate emotion, express love and break down barriers between individuals through the sharing of sexual intimacy. Pornography erally means, "writing about prostitution;"its roots are in the Greek word "porne" (prostitute) and "graph" (drawn or written). The concept that women are sexual commodities is integral to the meaning of pronography. "Obsecene" comes from the Latin word meaning "dirty, containing filth". It is because we have denied the nature of human sexuality, particu larly female sexuality--that porno-, graphy and erotica have been confused and both labelled "obscene". The free expression of feamle sexuality threatens a patriarchal structure, particularly as it is embodied in the family. While more trustworthy forms of birth control have to some extent freed women from being labelled "promiscuous" or "adulterous", many people, including those influenced by current rightwing backlashstill condemn any sexual expression that is outside of marriage and mot The sexual freedom of women--far intended for procreation. more than of men--threatens the nuclear family, still seen as the backbone of western culture. Though the majority of people no longer live in two-patent, single breadwinner homes, it is important to a society that sees itself as patrilineal to maintain the myth that we do. If we do not understand and express the clear and present difference, between erotica and pronography, In reality gang rapes are instead vicious, brutal and traumatic events for the victim." we may find ourselves alligned with those who seek to deny us our control of our bodies by denying us the right to abortion and sexual choice, FUNCTION OF PRONOGRPAHY Erotica celebrates our humanity and s exuality. Pronography denies and denigrates both. Pornography has been described as hate literature against women. While this definition cannot be applied to all of the pornography which concerns us, it is a useful way of examining sado-masochistic pornography. If male members of any visible minority group were depicted as being tortured, burned, or beated few people while bound or shackled, w ould argue that the publication of such materials did not "violate community standards". We understand that material which objectifies and dehumanizes people because of race, colour or ethnic origin, dehumanizes us all. We call it "hate literature" because it teaches hate, teaches that outward physical characteristics determine value as a person. White becomes equalled with "good" black, or yellow or red becomes "bad".Externals become all, and feelings, thought, abilities, behavior-qualties which distinguish all of us as human species and each of us as individuals--are rendered invalid. It is no accident that many of the children that are features in "kiddie porn" publications are non-white, "third world" children. Accoeding to Butta Stovling, they are chosen becaus "it is easier to exploit or abuse Asian children". Northern Woman Journal, page 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �porn-, por'no-. From Greek porne, prostitute (prob. from pernemi, sell, as captives) ... por-nog'ra-phy, n. 1. Description of prostitutes and of Prostitution ... 2. The expression or suggestion of the obscene in speaking, writing, etc.; licentious art or literature. e-rot'ic, a. Of or pertaining to passionate love or sexual desire; suggested by or treating of love; amorous; amatory... .n. 1. Lit. An amatory composition, especially in poetry. 2. sing. orpl. A theory or science of love. -from "Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Dictionary of the English Language." True--and perhaps not only economically easier. Most purchasers of pornography are middle-aged, married white men. Young non-white people are not like them and therefore easier to objectify. Such objectification h,as always been used in wars to make our enemies less human and therefore easier to violate and kill. We "gooked" the Vietnamese, "Japped" our Asian enemy in World War 11 (and interned those Canadians who shared Japanese heritage, though we let Canadians of German and Italian (white) origin go free. As Andrea Dworkin says, "Genocide begins, howin the conviction ever improbably that classes of biological distinction indisputably sanction social and political discrimination." Simone de Beauvior taught us long ago that women have been made objects in a society ruled by men. Pornography focusses on and exploits those characteristics which made us "other" and denies those parts of us which are common to all human beings. It reduces us to breasts, buttocks and genetalia--tits, ass and cunt--to be used and abused. Worse, it integrates that message with another, the message that sex and violence are linked. The lesson taught by all hard-core pornography is that men's pleasure comes from inflicting pain and women's from feeling it. Its logical consequence is "snuff movies", the ultimate pornography made in South America where, as the publicity says "life is cheap", and shown in major cities of the US and in Toronto. Snuff movies feature the (apparently) actual disembowelment and killing of the woman, as part of the sex acts. They are the most blatant example of woman hating and the confusion of sexuality with aggression. Robin Morgan has said, "Pornography is the theory and rape the practise". Maorgan is right, though perhaps she does not go far enough. Pornography explicates and condones all forms of woman abuse. It justifies wife battering and rape in marriage by stating that sex partners are appropriate victims of violence. It is a form of pimping for it depicts womn as sexual commodities and derives profit from their bodies. It contributes to sexual harassment on the street and on the job by reducing women to breasts and buttocks. It condones incestuous molestation. of children by showing such relationships as normal and desirable. Its relationship to rape is obvious. By showing a world where sex and violence are equated, pornography makes all the sexual relationships it depicts and inspires a form of rape.' (There are two ways of seeing women) Only "chaste" women are good and deserving of male protection. Women who are sexual beings' are evil unless controlled and made passive, obedient and acquiescent. In order to be categorized so simplistically, we must be seen to exist only to serve as vehicles for the realization of men's sexual desires. Pornography teaches that we are fair game, that we really like to be brutalized and raped. "Let's kiss and make up," says the wife batterer whose victim is suffering ruptured , untold generations, women's clitorises have been torn from them., their outer genetalia severed then crudely clamped together with thorns in order to assure female chastity and ensure natrilineage in polygamous , society. In China for millenia, girl children suffered the pain and crippling foot-binding, a practise which destroyed the mobility of the female children when they were six or seven years of age, forcing them to walk on the outside of the toes which had been bent under the foot. It was believed that binding the feet deepened the vagina and created new folds within it, thus increasing the pleaure of the male. Women were literally sec sexual prisoners. In the western countires the most cruel example of woman abuse was the extermination of nine million "witches" over six centuries, (most of whom were women who defied male control) in Europe RCA Records, Album cover for Nelson Slater's "Wild Angel. ' and America. We have had out ribs remChain used is like a bit for a horse which is being broken in. oved to produce desirably thin waists worn girdles and high heels to force kidneys from his kicks;. our flesh and our feet into attractive "Did you enjoy it," sneers the cop forms. And what about the women and at the rape victim. "I'm black and Blue from the Rolling Stones and I love children who model for pornography? Their torture does not appear to it," screams.the billboard. "Jump on be simulated. Nor is it for the sexual it," directs another album cover, the partner that men buy the products message flashed across the scarlet taradvertised in the back of the magazine. get of a woman's crotch, Today's pronography reinforces One of the premises of pornography is that we are natural masochists, the same ideologies as clitoredectomies "controlled in our feeling and thought and foot binding. It mystifies and by the idea of being completely and corrupts the nature of true sexuality unconditionally subject to the will and enjoins that women must suffer of a person of the opposite sex; of to give men pleasure. "All she needs bein g treated by this person as (if is a good fuck"--or a slap, or a whip. he were) a master, humiliated and Pornography creates two mutually Exabused." clusive or mutually understandable In sado-masochistic fantasies, or castes of people. It leaves no room for practise, there is no possibility of love or communication or understanding eqaality between the sexes. Men and across the wall it builds between the women are enemies by nature, engaged sexes. It glorifies power and dominance, in a continuous war of the sexes. over women, over other non-human creaSacher-Masoch, after whom the theory tures and over the earth itself. The of masochism was named, writes, "Woman as nature has created her and as man at equation of sex with violence opposes the sharing of experience,,the effort present raised her, is his enemy... to communicate, the gentle integration she can only be his slave or his desthat is the basis of sexual bonding-pot, but never his companion...." and of living in a world that is not Sado-masochistic fanatasy and practise destroyed by the human presence. are not about sex; in Sacher-Masoch's In that it sanctions violence awork, and in that of many of his followgainst those less powerful and labels wers, no genital contact need take place. acts of desecration as "manly" and The fantasies are about power, domination, breaking of will, victimization negates the acts of tenderness and com= passion by categorizing them as effemiand victory. nate and therefore undesirable in half Though our socialization may indeed t the human population, it denigrates cause some of us to feel ashamed of a all humankind.This view of power is our sexuality to the point where we fantasize about being overcome in order consistent with an ideology which exploits the world--including the physto remove the guilt we have been taught to associate with sexual feeling, ical world--through power. It is not merely coincidental that rape of the few women would seek the reality of a women of a country is a traditional sado-masochistic relationship. Most of part of the spoils of a war, an affirmaus have known physical pain; often it Lion of the victor's conquest of the has been: inflicted by those who were men who would "rightfully" have sexual supposed to love and protect us. We rights to the women. that it is not pleasant, not sexual But egalitarian relationships are but simply painful. But in a society only difficult,not impossible. They in which women have less power than would be less difficult in a context men, and where those who profess where propaganda for coercive relatto love us are often our violators, ionships was not prevalent. All such we may have little chance to escape propaganda is not pornographic: such pain. themes dominate the mainstream media. The infliction of pain on women to make us conform to male sexual desires is not new. In Africa, for 11 Northern Woman Journal, page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �the power within our own country. While propaganda, and all men who have not we know that feminists are a relatively denied their ability to feel compasunheard group, our opinions have been sion as well as passion must see the asked and our suggestions incorporfallacy in the catharsis arguement. ated in proposed legislation. On many issues, feminists and civil start with it. Debra Lewis and Lorenne Clark both libertarians are in accord. But the THE MYTH OF CATHARISIS were asked to present briefs on pornissue of restriction of pornographic There is an alternate view which ography to the parliamentary commitmaterials is one that separates those sees pornography as serving a positive of us who see pronogrpahy as a contra- tee on Justice and Legal Affairs, in function, and claims that it provides March 1978. Though the ammendments an outlet for male sexuality which acts vention of the civil rights of women proposed a few months later did not from those who see censorship of poras a safety valve, thus decreasing sex correspend closely to their recom -nography as limiting the rights to crimes against women. mendations, the influence of their The theory seems to be based on thes e freedom of another individual, group presentation was obvious. or community. premises: that men naturally equate We cannot accept that it is not We have laws against assault and sex and violence; that men must have a within our power to make our views "anti noise" civic by-laws. We have sexual outlet in which women are vicheard. To accept our powerlessness laws wh ich restrict the publication timized; and that lacking such an is to accept the message that pornoand dissemination of hate literature. outlet in pornography, they will seek graphy tries to imprint on us and on And there are existing laws against women victims on which to stake their men who are the other half of our obscenity. Censorship in many forms "violent lust". species: -- that women are natural exists. Some old and short -term studies victims, objects to be acted upon, Without consorship of any kind, we which showed a decrease in reported rather than people participating in could find nipple presses, spanking rape in Scandanavian countries after the process of defining their world. obscenity laws were made more "liberal" harnesses and paddles on sale'in (a local department store). We could have To accept that it is impossible to are usually cited. The theory seems define pornography is to acept that our eyes assualted by depictions of invalid on several counts. The "eviwe too are unable to distinguish women and children being sexually dence" does not state what proportion between pornography and erotica. coerced as we' passed every bookstore of the material subjects were exposed or patronized our neighbourhood dairy to was actually pornogrpahic, and store. Pornography offends women. It what proportion simply erotic. It does creates a climate in which the freedom not express the long term effects of for women to walk unmolested and to Censorship laws--or laws regardpornography on children brought up form relationships without fear of viing obscenity--do exist and no in a culture where pornography is olation is impeded. The question is doubt will continue to do so. The pervasive and available without age not one of freedom versus liberty, but restriction, as is now the case in new government... will probably of whose freedom, ours or the pornogradraft new legislation, as the LibSweden. phers???Some feminists--particularly Nor does it distinguish between erlas did in the last two sessions feminists actively working in socialof parliament. Proposals for change actual and reported incidence of rape; ist politics, have given other valid are included in bills C-51 and C-21. perhaps an effect of the increased resons for taking an anti-censorship availability was to create a climate Like the ammendments regarding prostitution they died on the order stance. in which the credibility of awoman reporting rape became even more suspaper. Section 159 of the Criminal Code pect, or in which women felt that of Canada, which has been in effect they would be considered "poor sports" since July 6, 1959 states: if they reported. The catharsis theory Cynthia Flimod (PRIORITIES, January does not explain why killers like 1979) raises two issues: that it may 1)Everyone who commits and offence Charles Manson and David Berkowitz prove impossible to come up with a defwho (Son of Sam) collected stacks of hardinition concerning material we do not a)Makes, prints, publishes, districore pornography, nor why pornography want controlled; and that the present butes, circulates, or has in his is used to "cure" homosexuals and governments would enforce any legislation posession for the purpose of pubconvert them to "normal" heterosexual in ways untenable to us. In an lication, distribution or circulatrelationships. accompanying article, Hilda Thomas ion any obscene written matter, picThe catharsis theory seems based notes that censors have been tradition ture, model or phonograph record or on a view of human sexuality which ally anti-women; censorship laws have other thing whatsoever,... denigrates men and women alike. It been used to control women rather than says that appropriate male repsonse to relieve our oppression. 2)Everyone who commits an offence who is to be turned on by material deAll their points are worth considerknowingly, without lawful justificapicting women being violated and ing. Certainly we know that when "comtion or excuse, maimed. munity standards" are cited as critereon While it is ture that many (if for judging obscenity, it is not a fema) Sells, exposes to public view or not most) North American men are inist community that the judges are rehas in his possession for such a ferring to. Yet Thomas' and Flood's purpose any abscene written matter, socialized to equate the violation positions seem to lack the distiction p'_ture, model, phonograph record or of women with sexual pleasure, there between erotica and pornography. We other thing whatsoever, is no solid evidence that is biologicdon't think that they really want instrually based. Sex is a basic human need, ments of torture to be universally avail- A) No person shall be convicted of as is hunger; but the forms in which able. It seems certain that most women an offence under this section if he such needs are fufilled are culturally don't. And we cannot wait for the social- establishes that the public good determined. Foods are considered edist-feminist millenium to come. As avid- was served by the acts that are alible in some cultures and detestable ly as we might wish its advent, we are leged to constitute the offence and in others; forms of sexual expresliving our lives within the constraints that the acts alleged did not extend sion are 'normal' in some cultures and that exist for us now. beyond what served the public good. and 'deviant' elsewhere. The equation We do not advocate legislation as the of violence with male sexual arousal panacea; we favour legislation that is ideologically based; pornography For the purposes of this secwould ban only the most extreme and 4) is both a product and a perpetrator vilent forms of pornography; the snuff tion it is a question of law whether of that same ideology. Pornogrpahy movies, the animal-woman intercourse an act served the public good and contributes to a climate in which onthe images of small childwhether there is evidence that the pictures going generations- of males are ren with large penises in their mouths. act alleged went beyond what served taught that degradation rather than Such laws would be combined with the public good, but it is a question love is the appropriate form of sexother tactics combined to increase of fact whether the acts did or did ual expression. But behavior that is public awareness and decrease the pronot extend beyond what served the learned must not be confused with infitability of pornography. Our attack public good. stinct. All women who have loved and "on pornographers would be double pronged. shared non-coercive sexual joy with For the purpose of this section To agree totally with Thomas and Flood 5) a male partner, or know the trusting the motives of the accused are irwould leave us feeling hopeless and love of a male child too young to relevant.... helpleSs, totally alienated from have been affected by woman-hating But pornography is the most outrageous and outraging sexist propaganda; the fight for non-sexist material must The Law Censors , Northern Woman Journal, page 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �PORNOGRAPHY 6) For the purposes of this act, any publication a dominant characteristic of which is the undue exploitation of sex, or of sex and any one or more of the following subjects, namely, crime, horror, cruelty and violence shall be deemed to be obscene who do make legislation to reflectour interests if we do not make our position clear and known. Debra Lewis, Vancouver Status of Women legal researcher, has made suggestions for re-defining 'obscenity'. Lewis states," We want a law based on new standards which would entrench the physical and sexual autonomy of Bill C-51, the omnibus bill introduced 'women and children within the law. in parliament in May, 1978, and its Such a law should be based on the successor, Bill C-21, introduced to following principles in establishing the next session of parliament in November 1978, would have been amended a definition of obscene material: subsection (8) of section 159 and 1) That the material displays or added another subsection (9) to condones the actual or implied use define 'child'. of physical force or coercian against Clause 18 of Bills C-51 and C-21 another individual. (they are identical in all but date) states; Subsection 159 (8) of the 2) That the material depicts or said act is repealed and the folconddnes sexual contact between lowing is substituted therefore: adults and children. restrict children's rights to selfexpression. Nor is all material which is "sexually suggestive" to an adult necessarily sexual to the child engaging in the activity. While we deplore those who make profits of children's bodies, we feel that banning material which simply shows naked children with no coercive features or adult-child contact implicit or explicit in the depiction would create more problems than it might eliminate. It might for example prohibit the publication of pictures showing family scenes at Wreck Beach. In dealing with material that is offensive but not covered by the suggested definitions the use of other methods described below may be preferable. Pornography exists because our 3) That the material exploits, for (8) For the purposes of this act a society provides a context where men commercial purposes, the sexual actmatter of thing is obscene where feel a need for it. To eliminate ivity of children. a)Dominant characteristic of the it completely reuqires fundamental matter or thing is the undue exploitsocial change, the creation of a "Lewis suggestions have great merit ation of sex, coercive sex, violence, non-sexist egalatarian society and and would serve well to explain and crime, horror, cruelty, or the undue a society where women would not be define the changes we would propose. degradation of the human person; or victimized emotionally or financilThey would remove the emphasis on ly so that models for pornography sex which, while less explicit in w ould become unavaliable. b)The matter or thing unduly depicts Bills C-21 and C51 than in the present Feminists are working in many ways a totally or partially nude child legislation, still seems focal. to achieve that goal,; the harder (i)engaged or participating in an It is not sex, but the association we work the more we understand that act or simulated act of coercive of sex with violence which is truly the realization will not be accomplishsexuality, masturbation, sexual inter'obscene'. We feel that the replaceed soon. But pornography also exists course, gross indecency, buggery or ments of subsections (8) and (9) because there is a profit to be made bqastiality, or with the following words would proii) unduly displaying any part of from it. (Hard-core "porn" magazines, hibit the material that is objectioncover priced at $15-$25 in their his or her anatomy in A. sexually able to women, while permitting the country of origin, sell for $30-50 suggestive manner. free-flow of erotica and educational on the Canadian market). material. While we work on the fundamental (9) In this section, a 'child' means (8)For the purposes of this act, a changes, we also work on more solsomeone who is or appears to be bematter of thing is obscene where utions. By decreasing the profits low the age of 16. a) a dominant characteristic of the of the pornographers and distributors, we may be able to reduce the flow The proposed ammendments were criticized matter or thing is coercive sex, violence, crime, horror or cruelty. of degrading material. These tactics by feminists, and rightly so. The b)the matter or thing unduly depicts may be applied not just to hard-core most important criticism was that the a totally or partially nude! child material, sold under the counter, but proposal failed to distinguish between magazines(like HUSTLER) and films pornography and erotica. It was felt by i) engaged or participating in an act or simulated act of coercive Lewis, for example that "the law and other material which can be offensexuality, masturbation, sexual sive but is not illiegal. We can boyremains primarily ori6nted around sexintercourse, gross indecency, bugcott stores that handle offensive ual factors and subjective judgement gery or beastiality. on what is or what is not immoral." material, magazines and newspapers that carry ads for material, and The terms were neither clear nor nar(9) For the purposes of this section, products that advertise in offensive row enough to ensure the exclusion coercive sex means: magazines. of truly pornographic material while a) the implicit or explicit associWe can picket and leaflet movie houses permitting the distribution of erotic ation or force or violence with sexshowing smut films, and bookstores material primarily aimed at women, ual activity or carrying material degrading to women. information on women's bodies and b) non-consensual sexual activity. Again, our numbers must be strong; their particular medical problems, propsective clients should have to and explicit sex educational material.. Subsection 159 (9) as proposed in Bills deliberately walk through our lines Despite dissatisfaction with present C21 and C51 would become section to get to their sources. and proposed legislation, feminists 159(10). In this section a 'child' We know that most of the hard-core in Canada (like US feminists) have weans someone who is or appears to pornography is published in the US been reluctant to attempt suggesting be below the age of 16. or in Scandinavia. We do not know who wording which would reflect their owns and controls these publishers concerns. We have not includea any specific and producers. Since most Canadian At a major national conference held mention of material depicting children corporations are afilliates or subin San Francisco in November 1978, in "sexually suggestive ways". Adultsidiaries of larger US corporations feminists agreed only to "work to child sexual contact is by nature co(this holds true for crime syndicates eliminate all images of women being ercive sexual contact, since an imbalance as well as General Foods) knowledge bound, raped, tortured and murdered of power is inherent in such relationships of the sources and the connections, for sexual stimulation." Material obviously designed to exploit if any to Canadian interests could The NAC workshop put forward two children's sexuality would be covered be useful. We could then boycott afresolutions: "that the government by Subsection 8 (b). filiates, confront the Canadina conmake funds available for longitudinal We do not believe that the question tacts and ask for their cooperation research on the casual connection beof whether a child is "unduly display -' qn eliminating offensive amterial tween pornography and violence against ing any portion of his or her anatomy (and publish an account of our efforts women"; and that there be a moratorium in a sexually suggestive manner" is if they refuse). on amendments to existing legislation one that can be determined by law. Defeating pornographers will require until such research was complete. Since we believe that children dedication and comitment. But if we Moderator Lorenne Clark stated, have a right to freedom of sexual exif we do not try, if we do not define "We are not in the business of pression and it is the exploitation needs and devise and follow a drafting legislation." of their sexuality which is abhorent, unified strategy to see them met, we We disagree with this perspective, we hesitate to recommend the adoption cannot balme others when material believing that we cannot expect those offends and oppresses us. of legislation which might be used to Northern Woman Journal, page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �MEDIA: TEE UNDERPLAYED by Helen Lafontaine There are a lot of people in society that do not understand that there is anything wrong with the way that women are depicted in the media. And even if they begin to come to a little bit of consciousness about it, they don't really understand that how women are depicted in the media will affect them on the job, in their lives, in their homes and on the streets late at night. think we need a tremendous amount of consciousness about these particular issues and guess for me it's always been to try and do some educating about it. I've always believed that media has been the most powerful influence on lives in this century think it it is hard to realize that just a few hundred years ago, there were no such things as books. Now we: have television, radios, newspapers, billboards, movies and store windows. mention store windows because this was reading the Tormorning when onto GLODE AND MAIL, there was a large picture in it of the window of CREED'S department store. Now don't know what your nicest, most expensive, most splendiforous store is in Thunder Bay, but in Toronto, guess the most expensive store in the whole world has to be CREEDS. It is elegance. You pay $50 for the box, $200. for the label and then you pay for whatever it is you bought I I I I I I I there. Well, this particular window was a display for bathing suits and it featured a number of mannequins who were bound and gagged and tied to posts and coral and to other things that you would find on beaches... and they were being attacked by crabs. Now the point of all this is that JAWS is playing in town again and the designer of the window, whom spoke to this morning on the phone said that he wanted to be original. He wanted it to be CLAWS---get Claws/Jaws-He was very upset that called him and he said that depressed him--apart from how much that he had depressed me--and he said that it was rather late in his career for him to feel that he had to defend himself. And wasn't it sad that people were so narrow minded that they just couldn't understand a-good I I I joke. really found it sad that hard to laugh seeing piCtures of women bound and gagged and being attacked by anything. see that all the time in Toronto newspaper movie advertisements, and probably you do too. There not the kind of movies that you would necessarily want to take your children guess more than anything to and said that his display looked else, like the porno movie ads....And he didn't think that was the right image for CREEDS, and neither did I. I I I I I But the point of this whole story is that the designer thought it was a joke, He thought it was kind of cute. In fact, he said to me that one of the women mannequins in the window wasn't even tied up and that perhaps she was the one who tied all the other women up... this is the verbatim conversation. The point is, if that is the nicest store in all of Toronto, and certainly the most expensive, and this is the type of advertising that they're able to do now in their great big display windows, ther think we have to realize that the kind of things that used to be confined to certain kinds of bookstores, and adult game stores and certain kind of dirty movies that old men went to in their raincoats,has now all moved out onto beautiful Bloor street in downtown Toronto. We really have to be aware that It is OK. This kind of thing is not only OK in the places where it used to be confined, but it is OK anywhere, just anywhere and that is very, very dangerous. would like to talk to And so, you about violence, and then I'd like to give you some facts about think we can the media, and then tie it all together. I'd like to give you a definition of violence. This comes from the ROYAL COMMISSION ON VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY--the Lamarsh Commission. We made a presentation to it on how women were depicted in the media and they consequently sent us some very interesting stuff material. First: violence is action that intrudes painfully into the physcial, psychological or social well-being of persons, or groups. Violence or it's effects may range from the triv;. ial to the catastrophic. It may be obvious or subtle. It may arise naturally or by human design. Violence may take place against persons or property. It may be real or symbolmay be ic. It may be sudden or it gradual. think that all of these ways of defining and describing violence have happened to women. The Commission also goes into the nature of media violence; violence television, depEcted in films sound print or live performance is not necessarily'the same as violence in real life. Things not violent in reality may be violent in their portrayal. Violence depicted in the media may reach large numbers of people where real violence may not. I Such blatant public that coercive, violen1 pleasurable. I I I , And the interesting thing about that is ,that when it happens that way and does affect large numbers of people, then sometimes, some people feel that other people actually go out and do those things;, and sometimes learn literally to do those things themselves. They collected a lot of evidence about that during the Lamarsh Comission. There was a BBC production in which they were going to cover the subject of suicide. think they were actually begged not to film in the subways of London and ofcourse they did, and it was shown and then a few days later a number of people had managed to coma mit suicide in front of the various subway trains in London. You always read in the paper about children trying things that they saw on television with incredibly catastrophic results....children hanging themselves children shooting themselves. Some I children were trying something frc a movi e called THE DEERHUNTER. Apparently, in THE DEERHUNTER then was a Russian roulette scene, and so some kids tried it and one of is now dead. There is the Robert Poulin case in Ottawa. A couple of summers agc a boy of 17 killed a girl of 16, burned her and the room and then went to school and killed a few me students and ultimately killed hir self. When the police investigate( they found in his room, 300 pictui of women who were bound and gagger thir and handcuffed. They found, 16 sets of handcuffs and numerous orders for mail order rifles that you can just write away for in th country. Who knows? Who can prove on a one to one bagis whether the impetus for him doing the things did came from the kind of literati that he was able to get a hold of Now...would anybody act that m W ould only a few people act that way or does it really matter?Even if one person acts that way...it evidence of the tremendous impact 1 I I media. want to give you a few inter' ing figures about media. First of all, did you know that there are more TV sets in this country than flushing toilets. Ninety six perci of our homes have one or more teli vision sets. Ninety percent have flushing toilets. It is more impo to us to have TV. These people who have TV--you everyone else--are watching an average of 13 hours per week of televi sion. As a country we own something like fifteen million ra We listen approximately 3.4 hours per gay, each of us. think in 1975 they collected some figures on this. There were in 1975, 87 million dollars spent on records, 200 million dollars on movies and more than 24 millio comic books were sold. Something like 84 % of the people have a newspaper come into their homes everyday. I'm just trying to poi out just how involved we are with I I I media. I'm going to try and show you just how very much we are influen Northern Woman Journal, page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �posed to relate to one another, guess it is important to look at all of this from the context of feminism, if you will. It is important to look at it in the way that women concerned about women's issues look at it. Many of you are probably aware that what we believe about ourselves, what people tell us about ourselves, is ultimately what we come to believe. If you have taken courses in psychology at university or community college, we learn that it is a message that we learned a very long time ago. If someone tells you often enough how you are, eventually that is how you will be. If someone tells some one that they are a rotten person for twenty years, you will have a rotten person. If you tell someone that she is a victim for 20 years, she will be a victim. And then there is no use getting angry with her and asking why didn't she defend herself in the incidence of say a rape. We still have problems with the police, trying to persuade them not to show a film that tells women that it will be much better for them if they are raped, to go along with it and even sort of praise the man and then they won't who serves her family tang for breakfast. They don't care. They are very careful in figuring out their market and who should buy what they are trying to 'sell to us at a level at which we respond to them--even if we say we don't--even if we say we never look at ads, even if we say that there are certain things we wouldn't buy because they offend us so much, there is another product by that same company that you buy without even knowing it. It is a very, very good business and we support it 100%. And they know us. think that is what mean about educating ourselves. IF we can't read media, then we really don't have ourselves anymore. If we ,can't figure out what it is that they are trying to say to us, what kinc of message they are trying to give us, what kind of people they are telling us to be, then we really have nothing of ourselves anymore. If we just give ourselves over to it, then we are.really controlled. don't think people like to think of themselves that way, but am suggesting to you that we are controlled a lot more than we know. It starts really when we are very small and continues be hurt. And that way it 1%4111 all be all through our lives. fine. Now, that is not true. And What our textbooks say to our secondly...if she wants to prosecute kids, what our highschool English in court texts say to them, what we see in she is not bruised enough and beaten enough magazines directed to teenage women, to have a case in court. And when what we see in magazines like Chatyou think of the other side of that, elaine and Redbook and McCalls, that when you have to carry enough tell us what kind of housewives we bruises on your body before someone should be, what we see in business thinks you have a case in court, then magazines, what the billboards have that is a pretty funny thing too. on them, what we see the record So how is it that media affects jackets depicting---Has anybody looked us? believe it's because it tells at the record jackets lately--the us who we are. It tells us what we really funky rock albums? You wi111 should be. It tells us how we find it very hard to find one that should act. It tells us every single doesn't have some woman tied to something that .pwe need to know about thing, bound to something. don't how to behave in the Canadian society know what it is about tieing women's of 1979. hands, but this year tieing women Along with all those facts and up is the big thing. It is the in figures gave you, it's important things to do and it is everywhere. And to realize that 26 billion dollars so this whole business of media comes was spent on advertising last year. at us from just about every direction How many rape crisis centres, interin life and from just about every direc val houses, and Nellies etc. could tion of our society. It is always with' we have in this world with 26 billion us and in some ways that you aren't dollars? But we know enough to realeven aware of. think that I've said ize that if somebody is going to this, but cannot stress enough to spend 26 billion dollars, they have you how important it is: THE MEDIA IS a good reason for it. They want to VERY POWERFUL. influence you; they want you to do There is no point in pretending that something. They want you to go out it isn't. It isn't that we are giving and spend your money. Nobody undertoo much emphasis to this, we don't stands psychology better and what aive _it nearly enough. makes people tick than the people (When we come to talk about legiswho work in advertising and that is absolutely terrifying. The majority lation and censorship) everyone is supof these people don't have a parposed to be against censorship, but ticular amount of conscience about some of the ads see are hate literatit. ure. We have laws against hate literaThey would not spend 26 billion ture in this country and nobody calls dollars on something that doesn't them censorship. We say in this country work. It makes you buy because it that it is morally wrong and further fufills a fantasy, feeds an anxiety to that, it is illegal to incite vioor makes you do something for some lence against groups of people. We say reason that you are not even aware that t is wrong to show croups of of, some reason that is probably people in situations that are degrading very subliminal--otherwise you to them. We say that it is illegal and would not spend the money. And every immoral to spread hate literature in sJngle cent of that money is acour country. think that those kinds counted for and they are advertising of violent movies and billboards and all the time to different groups of record jackets are hate literature. The people. So, the people that bring other kinds of violence are much more you the ring-around the-collar subtle. It would be very hard to say commercial, which believe is a very that a picture of a little pop-up doll subtle form of violence against womdepicting a young girl's ultimate goal en, also bring you the very liberated MO LS: commercial about the executive woman ! ays reinforce the idea is acceptable and even by it and this is what mean about educating ourselves about what media does to our consciousness. don't know if any of you have seen the book THE EARLY WINDOW, but it talks about the impact of television on children. It says that children I I spend more time in front of the television than in the classroom. Before a child is fifteen in this country, he or she will have seen on television, 13,000 murders. Almost 84% of all television programming involves violence.And we think that that is just fine. Nobody is saying too much about it.. We've been more concerned with sex on television. The kind of violence on television is very very strange. There are subtle and blatant forms of violence but television violence is strange. You shoot somebody, they fall down and that's death. Well, that isn't what death is like at all. In television it is not messy, it is not painful, there is no suffering. There are just thirteen thousand people being killed in front of the eyes of children before they are 13 years old. think that is absolutely amazing. don't know why we aren't more And concerned about it. When you look at women in television and you look at women in movies--I know movies are changing a little bit in the recent years and we are getting into some fairly strong characters--but for almost ten years we have seen some very macho films, in which friendships were only between men. Women were only there as little sexual assets. No movie was complete without its obligatory gang bang, or at least a rape. Even SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER--almost any kind of movie deals with incredible violence against women; always women are victims. Very rarely do they fight back and defend themselves. In fact, in some of the is about movies, the whole myth if you know rape is inevitable, then you are supposed to relax and enjoy it. This is what we see in movies, is what we are told about ourselves. This is what boys and girls are told about the way men and women are supI I I I I I I I I I I I i I I Northern Woman Journal, page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �as Miss Universe in a school textbook is violence or hate literature. It think would be pushing things. But that we have to be aware that we are teaching kids at a very early age to have certain expectations of themselves and then when they get older they get to reap the benefits of those expecthink that by the time you tations. get to th e really wonderful hard core pornography and violence that that is hate literature and we shouldn't be at all embarassed about asking our legislators to do something about it. really think that it is imAnd portant for us to have fights with civil liberties groups who say "NO we age taking away the freedom of think it is a red herring speech. am asking you to think about it and don't see the difference betoo. tween this kind of depection of women and some other kinds of depictions of violence against other groups of people --depictions that we have already outlawed in this country. We have not extedded it to women because it's only women and women are the ones who really have to fight back about these kinds of things and try to persuade the people who make the laws and who do hopefully set some kind of standards in our communities I I I I I I that we are very serious about this. honestly believe that abusive billboards, movies and record jackthink ets help women to be abused. it helps rape to happen. It helps incidents of wife and child battering. Because it makes it OK. It puts it on a billboard, it puts it in a store's display window and what it is saying is that it is quite all right and that there is not a thing wrong with it. "See how all right it is. don't We have it everywhere." And think that there is any doubt that that all the things we are concerned about are on the increase. Rape is on the increase, or maybe the reports are more frequent--but wife battering, child abuse and the sexual abuse of children are definitely on the increase. If any of you haven't seen the magazines that depict 3 and 4 year olds having intercourse with adult men, then you haven't really lived. And there is no law against that. And most of those children are girl children. It doesn't make it any better if it is a boy child, it's just that it so happens that the victim in most cases happens to be a I I I girl. We are living in a society that doesn't mind brutalizing women, whether ring it's subtle put-downs like around- the -collar in the stupid WHISK commercials of the cleaning woman who hasn't got nice enough legs or enough cleavage to get a new broom, or whether it's "I'm Black and Blue love for the Rolling Stones and it!"---all of it is violence. Sexual harassment on the job is an enormous,problem. When Rebook did a survey of its readership, more than 80% of the women that responded said that they had personally experienced sexual harassment on the job and we're only just beginning to talk about this. We really need to do something about it. When you are working and you can't afford to quit or you are going to school and you don't think that you are going to get a grade because your professor wants to go to bed with you, or you are supporting your children Subtle media putdowns: You may not believe it, says 'a male lab technician in a recent Playtex commercial, "but we know more about bras than you do. and you have to do what the boss says or get fired, then you are victim and it is very difficult to something about it if you are not a free agent. You can t just walk out. A lot of women do, but it is very difficult to get help and a lot of people won't even acknowledge that it is happening or some of the others think that it them to change and get them to listen to us. There is a new commission set up in Ottawa which is going to look at advertising in Canada for the first time and try to come up with some reasonable standards for it. If that happens, we ought to be in touch with those people and let them know what we think, why we feel the way that we do and is OK. what w e know from our experience. We Because we are walking down the ought to maintain a very close association street at night, it's OK to get with those kinds of people. raped. If you didn;t have a nice We ought to try and influence media dress on, and you weren't 17 years old have women it is more important old, then it wouldn't have happened to in media and in advertising, in teleto you. You should have stayed home vision and in management, in programand locked your door. But, how many ming and in writing and acting so that rapes happen at home or how many rapes finally we are going to have some imhappen to women who are 87 years old pact on content. It is violence against and no one in years has accused them' women in the school textbooks that parof wearing cute little tight skirts?? ents can do something about. There are a It doesn't matter. Violence against lot of actions people can take. women is condoned in our society and If you are concerned about wifethe reason that we know it is is because beating rape and sexial harassment our media says that it is OK. And once on the job, youi have to be very inmedia gives it its stamp of approval, formed about all the ways that society it is really OK. That is why we have condones this kind of activity and you to work at understanding the media and have to find ways to fight back, because how it affects us, and finally, how it is impossibilt to do anything about we can come LID with actions to get it otherwise. , This ad insults everyone if you can't ban them 0 I Northern Woman Journal, page 10 To date there has been one meeting of women interested in forming a Media Action Committee aimed at monitoring the media and making our voices heard by advertisers, agencies, and government monitoring committees. June 27, it was decided by 8 On women who attended a meeting at women's centre, that they would draft several form letters appropraite to the various kinds of media, to distribute to women interested in making their objection known to the people responsible for producing and airing or publishing, advertising that is offensive to women. Because Advertisers are the last to be convinced tha more realistic portraya in media would be bette to by the public, it was ided that the Committee earch the existence of v monitoring committees an and determine their poli W the media. changing to have imput into any cerned with legislation the media. If you are intereste ticipating in a committ actively observe the me pare briefs to be prese influential legislative tact Miriam at 345-5841 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �ra er, I'd et a tow it riot 1Vood fron A tom s We ALL live in AT I KDICAN Do-rtik The whole issue of nuclear energy is one which has been taken up by feminists across Canada and the United States. The new Feminist Party of Canada plan to use it as one of their major campaign issues. The Feminist Anti-Nuclear Task Force in Washington D.C. has prepared the following statement to show that energy is a feminist A demonstrator with a very good reason along. these disasters to happen. But women pay the price. Who will compensate us for our forced job loss and our evacuation expenses? How can we put a price on damage to our reproductive potential? Who will foot the bill issue... when women must support the ill and the dying as a result of a nuclear No studies adequately assess the disaster? Women must force those health effects of radiation on present and future populations. Medical sciresponsible to be accountable for their destruction. ence lacks even the knowledge to deEnergy is a feminist issue. Women fine and monitor populations at risk. In the face of inadequate safety conhave been caretakers and nurturers for centuries. trols and inadequate evacuation plans, Thus we know the crucial women bear the final burden of fleeing link between survival and the regenwith our families from a nuclear horror. erative, nurturing use of all our reWe who bear ultimate responsibility sources. We also know that the exploitation and domination of Mother for the health and well-being of our Earth reflects and perpetuates the children, ourselves, and our families, must halt the lethal threat of radiviolent exploitation to which women ourselves are subjected. ation and nuclear destruction. Myth, language and history make this clear. The nuclear industry is exempt We must end the nuclear threat before it from financial responsibility in the event of a nuclear disaster. Women becomes the ultimate violent att. We do not control the nuclear industry call on women worldwide to resist, with which produces the disasters, nor do our rage, our hearts, and our actions, this final threat to our survival. we control the government which allows There's a road about 12 miles outside of Atikokan that has seen a lot of changes in the past few weeks. This is the road that goes into Forsberg Lake. For many years the people of Atikokan have used the road to get into some of their favourite fishing and blueberry picking spots. But in early July if became private property --the property of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. For a private citizen it is virtually impossible to close a road. No matter how much property you own, you are not allowed to deny public access. But AECL managed to have the road to Forsberg Lake and their drill site closed almost overnight. A citizen of Atikokan requested and received permission to use the road on Saturday July 14 for a picnic with an unspecified number of friends. The Citizens' Committee Studying Nuclear Waste was also well prepared. One member had obtained a prospector's license and on Tuesday, July 10 had 'staked a mining claim which included approximately 600 feet of the "private" road. On Saturday corning, the 30 vehicles which arrived were met by one OPP officer. He had been informed that permission had been revoked and was there to inform the demonstrators that it was an "arrestable offence" to enter the road. After a short conference, the group decided to ignore the NO TRESPASSING signs and walk to the drill site. The OPP officer didn't move as 75 people carrying picnic bas- tiA This piece of technology is the drill that will determine whether or not the land is fit to accomodate nuclear waste. kets and picket signs reading SPLIT WOOD NOT ATOMS and I'D RATHER GET MY GLOW FROM SATISFACTION headed up the road. At the drill site things were pretty quiet. Drilling had not yet begun and the two AECL employees who were there remained in their trailer wearing their white hard hats and taking a few pictures. After some general milling around, the Atikokan group read letters of support from Jim Foulds and various anti-nuclear groups. Across the drill site were hung copies of the petition which over 1,600 Atikokan residents had signed. The demands were made, yet again, for open public hearings into the issue of nuclear waste and that the test drilling be carried out by an independent research group. Meanwhile, back at the corner, there was some prospecting going on. People holding certificates for Mammot Mining Company were busy working their claim--in the middle of the road. The demonstrators returning to their cars crossed a small creek which now ran ac across the road. AECL road nuggets were being sold. The day had been a pleasant one but there was a general feeling of frustration. It was kind of an anticlimax as, once again, there was noone there to listen. Its a common problem here in Northern Ontario. But it's not over yet. The Citizens' Committee Studying Nuclear Waste is meeting to discuss future strategie If you're concerned about this issue, or would like more information about nuclear energy and nuclear waste, contact the Citizens' committee at their office on Miles Street at 623-4501. Northern Woman Journal, page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �north I enclose some poems you might find a use for. I have been thinking of what to say of my experience of life in the North and came to the conclusion that this is the best way to express some of my feelings. I hope you like them and can use them. My own story can be told in one paragraph. My children are grown-up and at university. I cannot retrain here in Pickle Lake as there are no facilities, therefore I cannot get a job, and there are very few jobs available anyway, I am secretary of the Recreation Committee of Pickle Lake and keep myself busy with my own interests, but get very fed up at times with the lack of facilities and the restrictions of such a small population. I occasionally think of leaving Pickle Lake and establishing myself elsewhere, but am very happily married and attached to my husband. Tres difficile! I cannot say too strongly, I think you have all (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY under the auspices of the NWO International Women's Decade Council) been doing much needed work in making so plain the quality of life of the women in the North. Before we came to Canada, we spent twenty years in the copper belt of Zambia, in Central Africa. Northern Rhodesia as it was when we went out there, is a one-industry country-copper mining. There were two companies there...As the mines are all in the bush, the companies had built lovely townships with every facility one could want, including Little Theatres for the amateur actors. As a result, the people were happy and stayed a long time. Ofcourse, the the companies were very ri&h as the copper deposits are vast. We are very surpirsed to find that Canada is so behind African mining companies in these policies. Things are changing here as many companies are becoming more progressive, but not all. It takes time. ELIZABETH ROBERTSON BORLAND POEMS BY ELJIMBETH Wild Flowers He came from a world strange to me, A world of high mountains And deep bush, A world of bear cubs rolling in the Sunshine, Of wolves howling in the icy dark, Heard from a warm bed. He told me of the salmon Racing, leaping, flying, Up the rivers To spawn, and die. Of the bald-headed eagles, And the black raven, whose racous cry, Becomes a bell in the Springtime; And the humming-birds Who drink the nectar of the Lovely wild flowers of the North. I dreamed of the mountains, Rising sheer from the seat. I dreamed of the mists rolling in From across the ocean, I dreamed of the home I could Give him, And of his children. What children we would have Strong of limb, Sturdy, Wild and free, like The wild things of The North. The Swallows It seems so long ago the swallows gathered, Strung like blue beads On the power lines; Gathered for the long flight towards Summer And warmth. They tested their wings, their flying formations, Spread like a shower Of rain blown by wind; Blue rain swirling skyward towards Freedom And escape. Like those of the swallows, my fledglings have flown. Last year they flew With the swallows; Flew southward to find life's fullness, Among Other people. I wished that I too had wings, the power to fly, Fly on the wind Like the swallows, To find a life of fulfillment, A life Of my own. But now with the spring, the swallows are returning, Bringing summer and The flowers of summer. What have you seen, as you followed the stars, And I waited Alone? Now We have those dream children, Two boys and a Dark-haired little girl; Delight of my heart! They run free among the Wild flowers; Wild flowers themselves Flowers of such a wild love. They are strong, and they hear music, The music of the mountain streams Draining from the glaciers, From the heights above Into the fjord below. They smell the fragrance of Air like wine, White wine with Heady bouquet. They tumble like the bear cubs In the sunshine, Run like the wolves In the rain, Singing, Shouting, For joy: Such a gift my Love Gave to me! But now my wild creatures Must be tamed. They must learn the music of Anotherworld; My world. So much it has to offer, So many treasures to give. But so far away! Northern Woman Journal, page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �songs My Northern Love Where do I go from here? ROBERTSON BORLAND, Pickle Lake Ontario I I I I I hate him! hate this place! have no part in it am dying a slow death, am witnessing the death of Me, I am witnessing the death Of my love. It hurts! Oh! How it hurts! Why did I marry him? Why did I leave my home To go out into the wild world Of Adventure, The glittering world of False Promise? I left my home; so snug So safe, so warm. I left my mother crying, My father sorrowing, My sisters weeping, My brothers sad. Why? I remember he was so strong, He was so beautiful, So passionate, So kind. I remember he was shining And I loved him. How I loved him! He seemed like a knight stepped from The pages of Poetry, From the Court of King Arthur, Dreamed of by Tennyson, And me. My Prince, Come to wake me with his kiss, His touch, His touch! Longing The beavers are preparing their Cosy den, The bears feast on blueberries And wild honey, For the long sleep ahead, A sleep full of dreaming, Dreaming of summers too soon gone. Yesterday I saw the wild geese, Winging toward the South, The slow beat of their wings Warning of winter's approach. Today there are flakes of snow Drifting in the clear air, Settling on the bright yellow leaves On the silver birches, Falling into the shining waters below. But how I long for The harsh music of city streets, To hear the busy mind of the city Hum with activity, To feel the city's throbbing heart Again throb in mine! Here is stillness, Silence; After a while, Loneliness. He told me of his love, His love for the harsh world, The harsh world created by men For strong men, Men who seek the earth's treasures Coper and Iron, Silver and Gold; Who seek these treasures in Strange Places, Who brave dangers and fight hard To win their prize To achieve their goal. As he spoke I could see the Modern Odysseus, The Jason of the present day, Hercules labouring again at His gigantic tasks. How do I convince my wild Love Of my need? How make him see that life isn't only The wide horizon and The empty sky; Empty, yet full of the Soaring Eagle, Soul-mate to my Love? I hate him! I hate this place! I have no part in it But tonight, in the soft light Of evening, In the gently warmth Of his smile, In the excitement of his touch, I will love him. Where do I go from here? Northern Woman Journal, page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �MOTHERS ON BUDGETS STILL PLUCKY OPPONENTS of WELFARE SPIRIT-KILL Mothers on Budget is an organization that has been around Thunder Bay since May, 1972. Like all volunteer organizations aimed at coping with certain unsatisfactory aspects of our social system, the group has had its radical and complacent periods. Right now, in spite of the problems they face, MOB is attempting to mean' more things to more people in Thunder Bay. On July 19 MOB held a coffee house at Ogden Community School, which is at present their headquartThe 5 active and 4 relatively ers. active members meet once weekly to regulate the numerous purposes and objectives The problem that MOB is having is getting into an office space that they can call their own five days a week. They want a sense of permanence, a telephone, ana a place for people to drop in. Although they were recently considered by Community and Social Services for a contract of services grant, they and so remain at were refused Ogden School, getting moved around when various spaces are required by other groups. There is also a problem of membership. MOB gets calls from women on welfare who would very in and see what much like to drop about. But often they it is all have small children and no car. The MOB members, are without cars also. The following is a list of their present purpose and objectives: --To generally assist families of low income, particularly those receiving welfare benefits, to cope with economics and social problems. --To provide a social milieu for families of low income. --To provide a forum through which people of low income can co-' operate to improve their economic and social position. --To provide a medium through which low income people can voice their opinion and through which social action can be initiated in response to social inequities. --To educate and inform people of low income of resources which are available to them. - -To receive household item and articles of clothing to be distrIbuted at a minimal cost to persons , For Further information on MOB call Janet Knowles at MOB has served as a general dropin place where mothers can bring their children, 345-0465. Doctor liable:ignored abortion request The Alberta Supreme Court recently held a doctor liable for failing to help his patient find access to legal, abortion in Edmonton. The doctor had argued that he only had admitting privileges at at hospitals without Therapeutic Abortion Committees. But the Court said that the doctor's legal duty was to refer the patient to physcians with admitting privileges at hospitals where there were Committees. Therefore a doctor who refuses to refer a patient entitled to abortion to a physician or agency able to help could be in violation of her/his legal duty. Further, hospitals themselves have duties to patients and may not be able to excuse a violation of those duties by saying they have decided not to set up a Therapeutic Abortion Committee. In other words, hospitals cannot voluntary disable themselves from meeting their patients' health needs. Anyone for test cases? Reprinted from Upstream, June 1979. Sweden bans spanking ehildren STOCKHOLMreligious (AP) A new law that forright". bids parentsThe from beating new law prohibits "any act spanking,which, cuffing otherwise fororthe purpose harmof publishing ing theircauses children takes in injury the child effect physical Sweden in July,, 1979, but some or pain, even if the disturbance, is parents are about It it.is meant to inmildnot andhappy passing." One father questioned, said he clude psychological punishment, but thought spanking was good for childlegal experts have criticized the ren, and wording a spokesman for as the small on this too vague. Maranata religious sect said frankly: The new ban does nor carry any "We will specific go underground if we However, have punishment. ordinary to but wecriminal will continue to exercise law allows sentences of up to our natural ten rights." years for serious cases and up Swedentowill themilder first ones. two become years in country with such a law, adopting it in the International Year of thg, Child. The law is a new step in a long process aimed at protecting children's rights here. A children's Ombudsmen said that an emergency phone watch for youngsters already A short quiz on women & art exists. by Liberal DONNA PHOENIX When the minority government introduced the bill to ban HOW spanking many Canadian women painters can parents from last March, you name? Justice Minister Sven Romanus said it means "our society has HOW many women artistsview do you know? taken an increasingly negative of beating or spanking as a means HOWupmany are internationally known? of bringing children. There has been no organized long been successful oppositionHOWto the have law, women but reactions from jurists, lawmakers and parents in fine art? has been mixed. Most critical thethat new women law were DID you of know were barred spokemen for fromthe life Maranata drawingsect, classes a (nude models) group of about who split until 300 the people 19th century? from the Pentecostal Church in the WHAT physical are the reasons for our success 1960s.It sees chastisement by parentsinasfine a natural means of corart? rection and an "ethical, moral and WHY have many women painters/sculptors in need. been excluded from many ART HISTORY ---To conduct activities both soccourses? For example, in the entire ial and commercial, necessary to "CIVILIZATION" series did you hear Centre three wonderful achieve Women's our objectives or see any work done by women? days at the Summer Solstice Festival Summer Solstice at Loch Lomond June with 22,23,and --To enter into contract per- 24. The idea to set up a food booth sons, companies, agencies, or govwhich sold perogies, cabbage rolls ermental departments for performance and coffee was both for the purpose of services compatible with our of fund raising and to particpate objectives. in something that we hope will become a strong annual tradition. Grace and June Cryderman are to be commended for weeks spent preparing the food a and their long hot hours in the kitchen that weekend. Also, all of the volunteers who gave any form of assistance are heartily thanked. Although we turned a profit of $300. (rather disappointing)--we're just that much wiser and will eb there again next year. have asked myself these questions Please join me in this quest for answers in the second APPRECIATING WOMEN ARTISTS course at Confederation College starting September 26. Our art herstory has and will continue to be another strong statement in woman's struggle to become her own I person. We are challenged to take pride in the art work of women from the middle ages to the present. My research has only just begun. Anyone who is interested or has further information are welcome to contact me through Women's Centre. urnal, page 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE CONFEDERATION COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY THUNDER BAY DISTRICT Fall Programs For Women Women's Programs offers a variety of learning experiences which are designed to meet YOUR needs; whether you are working at home, whether you are single, married or have been married; whether you have an educational background or not; whether you are 19 or 90. Come and join us; learn and grow. ZW 019 99 EFFECTIVE SPEAKING FOR WOMEN This course introduces women to some of the skills and techniques which make effective soeakino a reality. Learn to: Speak with confidence Think clearly Increase your vocabulary Write effectively 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 25 to Nov. 27. FEE $30.00 Room 278 ZW 017 99 WOMEN KNOW YOUR CAR Women's Programs is pleased to be able to offer this five-week "Women Know Your Car" course in response to the success of the spring pilot program. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the basic procedures of car maintenance and to acquaint them with the general operation and function of the modern car, station wagon or 'h ton. 7-10 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 24 to Oct. 29. FEE $15.00 ZW 002 WOMEN IN THE WILDERNESS 99 Would you like to develop your skills and confidence outdoors in the company of other women, who like yourself need just a "nudge" to change their whole outlook on outdoor living? What would it be like to pack your own backpack or canoe and head out on your own, or with others, assured of your ability to not only survive but, comfortably enjoy yourself outdoors? Experience the wilderness ... it's great. This course will resolve your fears and stumbling blocks, teach basic skills, give information on proper equipment and food and to introduce you to other women who know themselves in the wilderness. You will . FEE $20.00 Room 282 disability? 4. What are the pros and cons of life annuity? In addition money management, a look at successful spending, saving and investment will be explored. Come and learn, it's your money. 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 10 to Nov. 14. FEE $20.00 Room 278 ZW 018 99 OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE the exact course of action that would be best for them. The program offers women a chance to consider the various opportunities for change. 1:15-3:15 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 26 to Nov. 28. FEE $5.00 Room 327 GS 026 99 INTRODUCTION TO CLEAR COMMUNICATION PART I: ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING A course which now can also be taken as a credit Assertiveness Training An organized learning experience which will provide the students with the necessary knowledge and skills to examine processes of change in society regarding the status of women. For further information regarding this course, please call Women's Programs at 577-5751 Ext. 353. 7-10 pm Wednesdays Sept. 12 to Dec 12 . FEE $35.00 INTRODUCTION TO NON-TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS Have you been thinking of getting back into the world A special program designed for women at home who are looking for a change in direction. Perhaps they wish to enter the area of paid employment or return to school or become involved in voluntary community work but are having difficulty identifying provides of paid employment: Have you been thinking of some of the more "unusual" jobs that might be available? If so, this could be the course for you. Manpower is sponsoring through Confederation College, an 8-week course for people who wish to seek employment in areas generally regarded as restricted to members of the "opposite sex". This course is designed to help students: 1. Assess their own skills; 2. Determine their own skills; 3. Develop job search techniques; 4. Provide four-weeks onthe-job training. The student will choose, with help from the instructor, where this training will take place. The next course will begin in October. For information call: 577-5751 Ext. 353. To register contact your local Canada Manpower Employment counsellor at 344-6601 or 623-2731. the job and in the community. 7-10 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 27 to Nov. 29. FEE $25.00 Room 282 HU 120 CANADIAN WOMEN WRITERS . one which seeks out women's work. Through a visual presentation utilizing 360 unique slides featuring the exceptional abilities of women artists from the early middle ages to the 20th Century, students will be introduced to the long-ignored perspectives of women in art. 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 26 to Nov. 21. 3. When do you need insurance both life and WOMEN, SOCIETY AND CHANGE confident, to set priorities and goals and to negotiate honestly for the things she wants ... at home, on the 99 . planning? 2. Is R.R.S.P. really for you? 99 SY 112 student with the skills necessary to become self- FEE $30.00 Room 282 WOMEN IN ART A new kind of art history 99 FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR WOMEN A six-week course which will serve as an introduction to the subject of Financial Planning. The course will address itself to such questions as: 1. What are the four corner stones of financial elective, have the opportunity to progress at your own pace to an optional overnight camp and/or a solo. Join us to discover yourself. 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 25 to Nov. 20. ZW 010 ZW 011 99 A credit elective course which focuses 'on the contributions of contemporary Canadian women . writers. Exciting authors such as Atwood, Laurence, Engel along with others will be read and discussed. 7-10 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 10 to Dec. 17. FEE $35.00 Room 327 ZX 085 99 WOMEN TOWARD MANAGEMENT One or more of the topics which may be addressed: 1. Development of administrative skills 2. How to increase your effectiveness 3. Developing your mangement potential 4. The effective management of stress and relationships. 8:30 am. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Oct. 2 to Oct. 4. FEE $200.00 Room 381 IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: WOMEN'S PROGRAMS, CONFEDERATION COLLEGE, 577-5751 Extension 353 REGISTRATION: at Shuniah Building, EVENING REGISTRATION: Wednesday, August 15th 4:30-6:30 p.m. Confederation College Wednesday, August 29th 6:00-8:00 p.m. 8:30a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursday, September 6th 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, August 16 to Monday, September 117, 1979 SENIOR CITIZENS AGE 60 OR OVER, UPON PROOF OF AGE MAY REGISTER FOR ANY SUBJECT AT THE COLLEGE FOR A TUITION FEE OF $5.00 PLUS ANY LABORATORY FEE. REFUND OF FEES WILL ONLY BE MADE SHOULD INSUFFICIENT ENROLLMENT FORCE CANCELLATION OF SUBJECT, Northern Woman. Journal, page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Carob Paola ird thBulk Eno:mhos boiler* Plot crab duo dome 220 RETURN TO: INSIDE WHAT is the difference between pornography and erotica and what can we do to curtail the production of the page 4 former THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. SPECIAL FEATURE: Poems by Elizabeth THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Robertson. Borland; ,the voice of a women braving the isolation of Pickle Return Postage Guaranteed Lake, Ontario. page 12 NUCLEAR waste disposal: our part of the fight to keep it out of the area. page 11 HELEN LAFONTAINE on media page 8 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS DUE E YOU MOVED??? PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CALLING (807) 345-5841. ust pay return postage to keep up our mailing list. bscribe: e illorgitrn `Not-Tutti 316 &-4reffr,, bd. aw" x suss) o vas- ,so ati.sisulire v itt.dittruifon. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 5 No 4 Description An account of the resource Vol. 5, no. 4 (Aug-Sept 1979) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: 50 years of personhood The Persons Case Feminist Party of Canada Feminist newspaper production NWJ Financial statement Jan-Jun 1979 Letters to the editor Pornography & erotica (“and the wisdom to know the difference”) Censorship laws & pornography Function of pornography Consequences of pornography Media representation of women Nuclear energy Poetry Mothers on Budgets (Thunder Bay org.) Doctor liable for ignored abortion request (Edmonton) Sweden bans spanking children Summer solstice at the women’s Programs for women Confederation College Authors/Contributors: Gert Beadle Katherine Ko (letter to the editor, Toronto) Jillian Ridington Barb Findlay Helen Lafontaine Elizabth Robertson Borland Donna Phoenix Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1979-08 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2757/1979_Vol_5_No_3.pdf b4d170035851ce38eb6d6eba29d6ccd3 PDF Text Text li5ortigern JUNE- JULY, 1979 VOLUME 5, NUMBER 3. 5 0° i^0 TRUDY DON JOANIE VANCE Vomag Journal/ LEAH COHEN HELEN LAFONTAINE WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE SEE CENTRE SPREAD PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EDITOR& by GERT BEADLE NEWS ITEM: ROME ITALY, EASTER SUNDAY The Pope pleads for the world's hungry, an indication that he is aware that seventeen million children perish each year from starvation and related diseases. ****AAA**** Seventeen Million! Think of it. Not in Canada,you say...."Well perhaps a few natives"...."A minor detail, really, in the face of what is truly important to US. You see in Canada, we don't much care what happens to the fruit, but we'll fight to death for the seed. Copulation is a religious rite in the west; the seed sacred from conception. Man's right to sow it is undisputed. We may yet prove to be the last bastion of defence for lust, but in order to perpetuate the myth of holiness, we have penalized and trivialized and diminished women into nothing more than passive receptacles rfor man's sexual apetites. Seventeen million children! Too bad they didn't have an organization to defend them. It could have called itself, CHILDREN WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE, but one could not expect them to be as effective or powerful as our own RIGHT TO LIFE, for obviously God could not support both and we alr ready know whose side he is on, don't we?? At the time of the potatoe famine in Ireland, a man named Malthus (now recognized as a progressive thinker because he struck the first warning bell of population explosion) actively lobbied against measures to relieve the suffering in that unhappy country. He felt that the famine was a divine intervention to check the threat against himself and others of his ilk whom he regarded as being of some vital importance to civilization. There is a survival of the fittest attitude built into the Western mentality that is very hard to disguise. With this att(itude comes a complete lack of sympathy for the women who bear and bury their young outside the perimeters of our narrow Christian influence in the world. In spite of the mutual reluctance to become parents, in spite of the evidence that many of us are not born with the nuturing spirit that every child needs and wants, choice is a luxury that the conservative Right denies to the children who perish or to the women who question the wisdom of bearing them. The arrogance of unenlightened morality must be challenged, for the choices are too narrow. What does society intend to do with the fine passions of future generations? If heterosexuality allows us no control over our own reproduction, then we surely must be prepared for Lesbian and homosexual choices to be made as an alternative lifestyle. We might very well say, as Malthus did, "It's God's way of regulating the population in a nation hooked on sperm." In my own simple-minded way, I don't see the redeeming virtue of making an issue out of unwanted preganancies in a world where seventeen million children are turned back to the soil and more than we care to mention are abused physically and sexually in our country. If we really are interested in laying guilt trips on each other, there are plenty of reasons, other than a rational decision to end a pregnancy early and safely. ere do YOU stand? We were quite surprised after the publication of the previous issue, vol. 5, No. 2 to hear a few comments about the nature of the cover of the Several people felt that Journal. it was extremely bad taste to use a nude woman as the cover illustration. Some even went so far as to speculate that the woman was stimulating herself sexually, although the painting gave no indication that this was so. We were bewildered. First of all because the cover was chosen to represent an art show held at Women's ?lace last month. The painting happened to photograph very well, and as a work of art, was one of the finest Frankly, there the show had to offer. was not a thought given to the fact that the painting protrayed a nude... and a woman at that We like to suppose that our readers are forward thinking people trying to make sense of the oppression and discrimination of which women are the This oppression operates victims. on a physical level, as well. as a socio-economic and psychological level. Objectively speaking the cover is in good taste.The objection would not likely have arisen if the magazine had been any other magazine. It is because we are an openly feminist publication that a few among us might eel a little self-conscious of what we are doing and its public acceptance. After a bit of discussion on the matter, we have concluded that the cover was a perfectly acceptable one and that as an art piece expressing a woman artist's conception of the female body, the painting was one of the finer examples. No apologies. GMT'S GOSPEL 21.11111IP THE DYNAMICS OF CABIN FEVER If you were lucky enough to escape that dreaded scourge of the North this past winter, the Gods were kind to speak of cabin fever, a woto you. man's disease and a kind of madness known only to those of us who know about isolation and the seductive voice of Poe's Raven inviting us to the depression that accompanies unrelenting cold and ceaseless snow. Our moods respond to the barometer, leaking energy and good feelings. We are full of unresolved anger with noone to punish but frail politicans and an unrepentant God. It is astounding the number of things that we can think of to depress us when we really get into the subject. Once upon a time it was considered a victory of the will to talk ourselves out of a depression. "Count your blessings", we sane through clenched teeth, "Half the world is starving and you have a leg of lamb in the oven, your spouse loves and needs you--you were I - 14' simply imagining that he planned to smash your hand in the door-- that funny look in his eye means nothing. myself.So many things and places to am such a pitiful express my anger. crtature that it's a pleasure to sympathize with me. No one loves me. am couldn't bear it if they did. not yet ready to be loved or liked or even borne. One of things that retards returning spirits is the pressure to become lovable once more, and soon. The danger is that we will pretend to be lovable when in truth we haven't an ounce of charity in us. Let's face it sisters, when you are depressed your cup is emptied of true generosity and you need a refill. But, contrary to what we presume, no one can fill it for us. The barometer rises. The sap runs. The sun shines. The snow melts and if we are as receptive to the light vibes as we were to the dark, we have once again come full circle as one who intends to find some redeemcon ing aspect to all our experiences. sider depression a time when we should take advantage of a situation that demands nothing more from us that we be miserable. I I Now we know that depression is a normal and passing phenomenon that requires the ability to walk a piece down the road of its choosing and at the first fork in that road, choose another direction. What we have not understood is the futile struggle to master what patience will resolve, in the end, leaving you intact. approach this monster with tongue know him well. You cannot in cheek. completely master depression but you can take on his whole bag of tricks. This nameless dread must be named and never singlely. Pile it on. When wallow in misery walk with depression feel the country breaking non-stop. lock my doors at night. The up. word "Conservative' gives me hives, the faces of politicans leer and sneer, bigotry drips out of talk shows, born again shills harass me, sleep evades me. At some point in this high drama, am enjoying usually discover that I I I I I I I I I I Northern Woman Journal, pa e _2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �FROM the RESOURCE hIBRILRYTHUNDER by Monika McNabb Full of insights, dedicated to awareness, self-mastery and growth showered with humour, the New Woman In this issue - try is for you. "Foods you can eat and not eat to heal your nerves Are you happy with yourself? Under the Blanket Wife Beating why does he beat her? what can she do?" Recommended Reading: My Mother, My Self by Nancy Friday Women on Women trom the Gerstein Lecture Series featuring Margaret Atwood, Laura Sabia, Linda Nochlin, and Patricia Graham Taking What's Ours, everywoman's guide to welfare and student aid Women and Credit by Betty Glenister CLAP to the Women Against Violence organizers, who spent many months of meetings, letter writing and telephone calls to make the conference a success. : The resource library is always growing. Take advantage of it! : Quote : No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eteanot Roosevet THUNDER BOLT_ New Woman, March-April 1979 to the Royal Bank, the wealthiest bank in Canada that did not find the Women Against Violence Conference significant enough to provide complimentary folders to the delegates "This is the first time I've stayed up to watch 'Wonder Woman.' Until now, I'd always assumed it was a show about a divorced woman who raised two kids while running a household and advancing herself in the business world." meet the ere preaching their the Conservatives ld encompass the ques- The Northern Women's Credit Union would like to thank all of the people who responded to the last newsletter's appeal for funds. We are happy to announce that we are fast appraoching the $100,000. mark in the area of assets. The Board of Directors and all committees plan to meet fOr a policy workshop, June 2 at Women's Centre. Beginning at 9:30 am, the workshop will carry on for the entire day in an attempt to formulate policy and procedure for the Northern Women's Credit Union. CORRECTION: In the last issue of the Journal we carried an article on the subject of PROCHOICE. That article contained an address for people interested in obtaining a membership to CARAL. The correct address for information and donations is: CARAL, Box 935, Satation Q Toronto, Ont. M4T 2P1 CANDIDATES. WITH FOOD PRICES ted produce ks questioned the boyproducts. It was me products, which as lower-priced e now priced almost lar brand-name prowere particularly the marketing tech. putting all noogether where the make an easy compars have been conned ng gimmick into re getting a good not always the case. ustry is extremely me cases a large in owns the wareessor and the trans- portation service and also controls the producer. Consumers understandably feel powerless as individuals. But consumers, as a whole, have an incredible amount of power. W.A.R.P. members feel that with strong support the boycott can be extremely effective. In southern Ontario W.A.R.P. boycotts have been going on since February with some interesting and positive results. The next meeting of W.A.R.P. will be held on Tuesday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Ogden Community School. At this meeting members will look over the list sent from Bramalea and make any changes they feel are necessary to make the list more applicable to N.W. Ontario. All interested persons are invited to attend. For further information call Miriam at 345-7802. NO/=tlierri woman JOiirfia 1 i page' 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Feiffer An Feet co*. 00111.__WOE FATIBP 17/5ANM GX1H Me. 60 TO A EMIR. I To-. evawai UST 3)S. I FRG smeter f-2? ALv ad Au. 136M. PUr UV Fig 0.1 tf.R. MOUTH advantages overboyfriend a peace bond or a charge remedy. The woman's or type of "injunction" It is a or will assault. husband inevitably find out thehas courtgone may to grant as with other the and, police that she itoften must than accompany injunctions, to complain and more not, another main action such as a divorce. she will be under pressure to with- In Britain, such injunction can be draw the charges andan"keep the peace" granted on its own, as we saw in the It takes strength within her own home. Davis case. to see a proseand determination courts came to the realization that instead of going away that incidence of domestic violence is escalating at a frightening rate. American statistics estimate that 60% of all marriages involve at least one incident of wife abuse. British legislation and case law show a concern cution all the way through, and about the plight of battered women THE RESTRAINING ORDER: battered women seldom receive any that our government and courts have Restraining order can be obtained support along the way. not yet recognized. much more quickly than a peace bond ; Again, there is nothing necessarily The U.S. Senate voted last sumin an bond emergency situation in a peace to order a man a lawyer can' mer to authorize a $150 million to stay away from his wife or his launch and action and apply for a temporfor a five year program to curb girlfriend--it is only after she wife-beating and other domestic aryagain, order perhaps within amore day severely, or two. The usis hurt abuse. ual peace restraining will prohibit that the bond isorder of any value. Here in Canada we need a serious a husband from arrest entering The police can then thethe manhouse and re-examination of exisiting legal harrassing his or wife. and put him in jail fineShould him. he breach remedies that focuses on their the conditions setthis out remedy in the order, One positive aspect of effectiveness and accessibility. he may be held in contempt of court ad is its availability to anyone- We need continued and generous govandmarried can be or jailed. whether not. A second ernment support of shelters for advantageAlthough is that restraining no lawyer isorders are probattered women and we need communbably the strongest required. A woman can go toprotection the pol- a ity support for women who start battered canlay obtain, they're not ice station andwoman ask to an informsaying no to physical abuse. the final answer. The woman must ation before a justice of the peace. The women who need help most, The prosecution is them taken over however, are in no position to make a main action such as divorce or civil by the Crown Counsel, and the woman's their concerns known; their own assault before she can apply for an role becomes that of a witness for personal tragedy demands all that It has never been granted autoorder. the Crown. they have. They cannot raise their matically, and judges are often relvoices to their husbands, much less uctant to turn a man out of a house to their legislators. Our laws should that he owns himself THE COMMON ASSUALT CHARGE: or with his wife. meet, rather than dismiss, the needs In can Alberta, of the new MATA woman chargePart her 2husband of people in such situations. The RIMONIALwith PROPERTY makes or provisions or boyfriend commonACT assault law should not treat marital viola"matrimonial homePolice possession assault bodily harm. forcausing ence any differently than it does order" .Upon the Court has are hesitant to layapplication, such charges the power evict may one have spouse from that any other crime in the community. themselves, and to a woman Until we overcome the myth that matrimonial home, and to restrain the to go down to the police station battered women are willing victims or "attending person from entering if she decides to preceed with the at or near" the homefor a certain period and that violent husbands are merecharge. This remedy suffers from the . A consider- of time. It is hard to state with car ly exercising their rightful mate before rimonial perogative, we will be concertainty when the courts will grant and if a doning terrorism within the home. these orders, since the act just came ly be fined, into force in January of this year, The need will remain hushed and ilar crimes. and few applications have been made the victims will remain gagged. he man out under it. There is some hope that the Welfare for BATTERED WOMEN: HOW TO USE THE LAW Act will be of some help to battered is not is a pamphlet by several law students women, at least those living in Alonment. in conjunction with Edmonton's berta. een com"Women In Need" House. Designed to Canada's laws offer piecemeal prod, it is help battered women understand about need of tection to women in desperate s of his legal remedies available, it is it. Existing remedies, for the most he will available free of charge from Studpart, do not correspond to the needs lesting ent Legal Services of Edmonton, of battered women. Legislative sted, howLaw Centre, University of Alberta neglect presently smacks of the a matter (ph. 432-2226) and from Clagary Legal attitude "if we don't do anything Guidance, 100A-315-10 Ave. S.E., about it maybe it will go away." ery difCalgary (ph. 265-5545) The Eritish House of Commons and many , Northern Woman Jnurnal c PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �LITERARY morning has already broken the harsh, cruel wind slapping the gnarled bodies huddled in the store alcoves contorted bodies, which rise only to wretch blood regurgitating onto tattered clothing a man, skin leathered & coarse, stands, shakily wiping a mucussed stream from his nostrils, and bends his head down down between his legs remaining still eternally silent until the wind whips his frail bode and he cringes WOMEN are beautiful, are me, feel mutual, are free. moans & smashed bottles, cries of despair.... Women vc Women -- Women v Women O 4, Women work together, In the rough weather, ....and in the dsitance, V7e gleaming towers of capitalism engage in social intercourse counting, devising, scheming, buying....laughing laughing.... falling night cruahing as the day closes, the what little warmth the city sun, begrudgingly releases, shelters are sought, but rarely found, as they return to their haunts & continue with their lives as victims. Caring, Sharing, Women can see. By Tanya Shaw Age 10 Ogden Community School CAROL AULD ROCKS We mend Out zitentty itent antagonim6 tike 4titt tack's when the watet,6aZt puzhez oven them. They hoed themzetvez back and tizten with detachment, without taging ot binding themzetvez weak broom ttying. We ate wotking to pet4ect the tough 6ibte o6 tockz hotding out thoughtz again4t each othet we ate dizcoveting most tock6 ate 4aLeib.e.e. Rozatyn Taytot Pettett she is waiting. sometimes, as she lies on the divan with her eyes closed, letting the sun lick her eyelids, she feels that she is not of this planet, that she was born elsewhere in the whole of the universe & was placed here purposely by some domineering &Iduthoritarian force. she -is physically weary & tense, and even when the most immediate physical agonies have temporarily vanished, she is left with a numbed, aching mind. she is drugged, groggy, filled with an interminable exhaustion that even keeping her eyelids propped open is an accomplishment. though her mind is often churning with ideas she cannot bring herself to the strain of writing with the small. portableunderwood on the desk. she reaches, hungrily, for a fountain pen, and hastily scrawls a few passages a day before her mind again wanders, and she gazes out the window for several moments. often she will find that she 4 has spent the entire morning with her eyes out the window writing lain aside, pen still in hand. Aid she continues to wait. AIN CAROL AULD ires 1 08,04111ft eirgvaoe.SerVIIPp "46 glO If you set your mind to mending what was broken in the past and you have some expectations that the glue will hold at last, there is mote than wishful dreaming in the skill of pottery for the odds are all against you in a human lottery. Only if the wish is mutual and the pieces seem to fit can you come together gently just to try the strength of it But have-no expectations that the mend will be secure, or the reasons for the joining have the patience to endure. For the more we know of loving The less we lean to trust when the heart has once been broken the blood congeals like rust. GERT BEADLE. wad the fireplace embers had no prayers to last the winter, the coals disappeared in October. the room sat silent, abandoned, suspended. a corner rocker, unswaying, attracting dust like rust on an old Ford wagon, fingered the carpet for warmth, frost-bit. Viola Goderre she took the leap from the back porch step, scraped her knees, tore her palms, left her flesh on the concrete's face. VIOLA GODERRE Northei.n PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �111 1-- ; AT MAKE WOMEN... DISAPPEAR -- _automatically denied equal status. And in employment practises, only in recent years has an effort been 9 made to eliminate sexist labels from :job titles. Newspapers now have changed their job listings from the segregated ---=-"help Wanted--Male" and "Help WantedFemale" to a single, non-segregated list. instead of saying, "if the student practices this exercise, he can learn it., you can say, "If studer practice this exercise, 'they can learn it." Finally, once we have included both females and males in our language, we should remember to treat them equally. Instead of saying, "Henry Harris is an up-and- Yet gender-free job titles can make coming lawyer and his wife is a a difference. When the Los Angeles striking brunette ", we can say,"Th( City Council approved a plan to abolish 'Harrises are an attractive couple. Henry is a handsome b the titles of "policeman" and is striking brunette "policewoman" replacing them with the Harrises are highly r --classification, police officer women their tields. Anr.is on the force became eligible for promusician; and Henry i motions to ranks for which they had coming lawyer". been ineligible in the past. Equal treatment sh As the little girl in the nursery accorded to women of school noticed, "man" is one of the Consider a headline t most overworked nouns in the English a few year's ago, "Wr language. It is used to mean a Becomes Mayoe'. This person, worker, member, agent, canbeen the first woman mem1 .cratrzca.v.--N .,', ... ',Ng W ..... didate, representative, voter, even `' -- ''' _A willawkIEAMMAt to the local City Cou astronaut. Consider the legislator. irsImInv aVoit"."-".;taiARNIC,V1Mk ae, when she became mayor He is a man of the people. To prove a "writer's wife ". that he is the best man for the job, ARTICLE BY ALMA GRAHAM, reprinted from In 1976, The NEW Y he takes his case to the man in the REDBOOK MAGAZINE, March 1977. dated its manual of s street. He is champion of the working cautioning writers th man. He speaks up for the little The Ontario Status of Women Council to women we should av man. He remembers the forgotten man. thinks language is important. Sex phrases that seem to stereotyping is deeply engrained in And she believes in the principle Times speaks with a p "One man, one vote." our day-to-day language. And while voice". But despite t If we agree to stop overworking there are those who scoff and make front page story that the word "man ", what other words are poor jokes about "personhole covers", porting on a study of we going to use in its place? The the OSWC views the misuse of language come, cited statistic cardinal rule is simple: Be inclusive. as a major obstacle in the attainment ried retiree - and Firs When referring to the human species, of total equality for women. If, as any indication that we can say people, human beings or children grow older, they hear only retirees might have h men and women. For "mankind' we can of policemen then they learn to think Wives, Ladies. Gir substitute humankind, humanity or of police officers in male terms. property. Someone fra the human race. "Primitive man" can Society assigns roles to its members ite. An innocent. Not be changed to primitive people; "prethrough language--we are what people been defined as some historic men" can become pre-historic say we are. than a lady and some human beings; "mans" conquest of All of us must develop a greater than a girl; she has space' can be the human conquest of awareness of the implications of fickle and foolish, s space. sexist language in all forms of comficial and, above all Where job titles are concerned, munication. language the qualitie the major rule is: Be specific. strength, courage, wi Name the occupation by the work perand self-reliance-hav formed, not by the gender of the exclusively to the ma worker. "Mailmen", "firemen", and What is sexist lehguage? It's lanno wonder that until "cameramen" are mail carriers, guage that excludes women or gives word "woman" was avoi fire fighters and camera operators. unequal treatment to women and men. it were something bad A "workman" is a worker, a "newsman" It's language that tells a woman that "girl" is like callin is a reporter, a "foreman" is a she is two things. She is a man and "boy"--it makes the a supervisor and a "watchman" is a she is not a man. If a woman is swept ant and immature. guard. off a ship into the water, the cry Now increasing num Whether a male or female does the is "man overboard." If she is killed are showing a new pri job shouldn't affect the title. Ina hit and run driver, the charge by adulthood. They do no stead of using the terms "steward" is "manslaughter". But if she encounters "called "honey" or "d and "stewardess", we should use the visible or invisible signs that say grocers or bank telle inclusive term flight attendant; "Man wanted' or "Men Only" (under the ly know them. They do and instead of saying "maid' or 'Ontario Human Rights Act, visible be called an "old mai "janitor', we can specify whether signs give her the legal right to are single or a "hous we want a house or office cleaner complain)- she knows that the exclusion are not. They are not or a building superintendant or does not apply to plants or animals "gals", "wives", "lad custodian, or inanimate objects but to female "fair sex". They are But the pronoun is the real probhuman beings. beginning to be happy lem. How do we avoid referring to While watching a film in nursery fact. the unknown singular subject as school on primitive people, a three"he"? Our language needs a common year-old girl was told that "man pronoun but none of the various invented tools" and "man discovered ones suggested has yet shown signs fire ". Later she asked her mother, Outcries against s of gaining acceptance. The likeliest "Mommy, weren't there any women in are often dismissed as candidate is already in the language those days2" of paranoid feminist at least on the level of informal A very good question, and one that surprising. Half the po speech. This is the quasi-singular prompped her mother to do some thinkthe male half, feels p "they", as in "Everybody will wear ing about just how unfair to women. table with the English what they want to wear." Often you the English language is. After all, its popular pronouns. A can reword a sentence to avoid a if all human beings are constantly singular pronoun altogether. Thus, referred to as "men", then a woman is MANKIND --( n4. it,icez. ....,.. ' ,,..7, .i.5,..! L - r . % - MA.mmmarW"WM5 LANGUAGE STEREOTY See next Pa Northern Woman J PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �mornimmiliiiimi _...mi.. 62ipp.11,111,1......immiii........_ L r. 01,z.2 A164.1.11111 TE LA NI Alt?::". as is in their favour. But the language is hardly sacred, (as is demonstrated each day in the way most people use it), so why not let women state their case? form, the In its least offensive English language can be annoying to women. Consider the business woman. Each day she opens mail addressed to her yet starting with the words "Dear Sir". Consider the working woman who happens to be married. Regardless of the prestige of her position, most legal documents will presumptuously refer to her as "his wife". For example, the contract, deed or whatever might read:"This is to state that Joe Smith, Electrician and Mary Mack-Smith his wife...." and so on. The fact is that broadly circulated literature uses the pronoun "he' when referring Now as acceptable as this to people. may be in the grammar text books, think that it is safe to say that most I women feel excluded by the English language, for as hard as we try, it to conceptualis very, very difficult ize ourselves as "he'. Even if this is not an irritation of which we are conscious, consider what the years of hearing "he" has done to alter our psyches. The words themselves are not the real issue. It is the social mentality that they imply that is so frustrating to those who are battling against the limiting effects of sex role stereo- IT HELPS TO RAISE AWARENESS IF WE OPENLY OBJECT TO '3 PEOPLE WHO SAY HE. socialization, the educational system is still ridden with it. Even though there are dedicated groups working against sex-role stereotyping, the problem persists. Often the main contingent of these groups are teachers typing. radically opposedto who can't be too Probably the most offensive example the system which employs them. of discrimination-by-exclusion is And even when the schools have been contained in the United Nations declar- purged of all material and attitudes ation of the International Year of the that stereotype the individual, there The pronouns "he ", "his" and Child. is still war to be waged against the "hint' are used approximately 26 media which continues to promote the times throughout the document which worst aspects of the human personality addresses itself to children and their in the name of entertainment. Now when one considers the rights. In its least harmful form, sexist lofty aims and objectives of IYC in language reflects a mere failure to the area of human rights,rone would think about the language and the way think that the time could have been that we have been taught to speak it. taken to draft a declaration that refers At its worst, the language bears to children in the plural, that is, testimony to a tension between the both the girl child and the boy child. sexes. It demonstrates that women Language happens to be an extremely are inferior, dirty, promiscuous important factor influencing the way creatures who embody all that is we come to see ourselves and our place ignoble, that they have no visible or significant place in our culture, in the scheme of things. and that they are doomed to remain invisible. Certainly this is no small As hard as we may try to shield matter. our children from role-oriented r omen gainst iolence Last October several women got together and began discussing the basis of a conference to bring women together to discuss something of It was vital importance to them. determined that violence against and abuse of women is probebly the, most National Assistor of Rape Crisis Centres from Montreal, Trudy Don, Interval House Worker from Toronto and Leah Cohen Co-author of a book on the subject of sexual harrassment on the job, gave informative talks on their various areas of expertise. barbaric and insidious thing in our The conference got underway Frisociety because the victims are inday evening with a keynote speech by Seven months visible and helpless. Helen Lafontaine on the various later on the weekend of May 18, 19 forms of violence, particularly and 20 at Confederation College subtle violence towards women in the conference finally happened Canadian Society. giving those who attended a new As a media expert for a Women!s awareness, a sense of sadness tinged Consulting firm, Helen argued that with a small hope that as women continue the solution to the more obscene to struggle for a better status forms of violence towards women, in all respects, blights like violi.e. pornographic magazines and ence against women will begin to films, is more restrictive legisladisappear. The following is an tion. She said that much of the approximation of what the weekend pornography today violates women's conference was about: basic human rights and would not be tolerated by an ethnic or racial group if it were aimed specifically The Women Against Violence ConIt is violence because at them. ference at Confederation College it is insulting and perpetuates a May 18, 19 and 20 attracted approxstereotype that will continue to imately 75 women from Thunder Bay prevent women from achieving their and the region. The four keynote full potential as human beings. speakers, Helen Lafontaine, a media Advertising, explained Helen, reexpert from Toronto, Joanie Vance, flects blantant discrimination against and prejudices towards women, particularly in business publications which promote office equipment on the basis of women's sexual endowments and basic incompetence. Furthermore, she stated, the existing rape laws which result in very few actual convictions point to a kind of a condoning attitude in society towards acts of violence directed at women. The lack of effectlegal provisions for battered ive women seeking protection also points to a kind of approval of violence towards women in society. In a slide presehtation, Ms. Lafontaine illustrated the more subtle, but nevertheless effective forms of advertising which exploits the image of women, confining them to menial and trivial roles. Enter the RingAround-The Collar-Syndrome. She also showed advertising that more openly advocates violent Northern Woman Journal, page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �abuse of women. The trend is especially apparent in contemporary album covers--i.e. women bound and gagged and chained. The all-pervasive media must be reackoned with. It must be acknowledged, she said, as the power it is, and the affect it has upon us. The media is currently so powerful that we can never be sure that our every day actions are selfmotivated or the result of subtle messages from the media. "By adolescence the average child has witnessed 13,000 deaths on television without really learning ,what death really is and means. find that very frightening," said Ms. Lafontaine. A general solution to the problem of violence against women, particularly in the media, are individual protests directed at advertisers, record companies etc. She said that the protest of a Toronto Women's Group against the performance of a rock band called the BATTERED WIVES resulted in a loss of revenues to the performers. I JOANIE VANCE TRUDY DON As a result of her experience as a staff worker at Toronto's Interval House for battered women, Trudy Don has developed a very down to earth approach to the problem of abuse between spouses. She said that she first became invol ved with battered women several years ago when she and several other women decided to open some kind of refuge shelter to deal with a problem that they felt must certainly exist. "We struck upon a genuine need. We hadn't really realized what a strong need there was until the home was opened. It had suddenly come out into the open because there was an outlet." Currently the home, which is designed to accomodate 25 people harbours anywhere from 28 to 30- people each night. And there is even a greater demand for , am forced to make a "Often times decision between a woman who is a victin of emotional abuse and has been contemplating leaving and a woman whose very life is threatened if she stays in her home one more night. The choice I is clear." Joanie Vance, Montreal based National Assistor of Rape Crisis Centres in Canada spoke of the misconceptions that surround the problem of rape. She urged women to realize that rape can happen to any woman. "I used to think that rape couldn't The women sheltered at interval house are given sanctuary. "If their husbands come looking for them and they don't want to see them, they don't have to. We will deal with him. A worker will accompany a woman back to her home to collect the belongings she has left happen to me'; she said. " behind." It is easy to believe that it can only happen to certain kinds of women and that the rapist is a kind of monster who lives in an alley way, rather than just an average man that one might pass on the street." She described the rapist as falling into one of three categories. The psychoPathic rapist, she said, makes up such a small percentage that it is hardly an issue. The "John Wayne" type of rapist, she said, is usually a man who cannot relate well to women and places them in categories, 1,e. "good women" and "bad women'!. The good women are usually people directly involved in his life, like his mother, sisters, wife and daughters. The bad women are the other women he meets in public and social situations. "He would probably justify raping a woman he sees in a bar by saying that she deserved it. He really doesn't see what he does as wrong, but merely as giving these women what they deserve," she explained. The third type of rapist is the most common. He is the person with whom you might go out on a date. "This man's problem is that he has to prove his masculinity," said Ms. Vance. "He is reinforcing a role that he is taught by socialization that he should live up to. He often does not believe that a woman who says no, means no because he thinks he is expected to try something and that a refusal is really just a postponement of consent. "Also this type of man may feel that if he spends money on a woman that she is indebted to him for sexual favours.' She concluded by saying that it is important for women to realize these forms of socialization work and to make sure that when she says "no" that she is clearly understood to mean no and not "maybd'. LEAH COHEN space. Emphasis is placed upon allowing the woman in crisis to make her own decisions. "If a woman decides to return to what may be a potentially dangerous situation then we must respect her decision. " Ms. Don feel that many battered and abused women tolerate their circumstances because their alternatives are so bleak. "To go from your own home to a dingy apartment and welfare is more than some women can face particularly when they consider the impact of the transition upon the children." She says because it is so difficult for women to gain economic independance, they often stay at interval house as long as several months before they get on their feet. Ms. Don feels that the impulse towards violence originates in childhood when the child is taught to deal with anger through violence either by example of a father who abuses the mother or by a parent who abuses the child. "We are not taught how to be parents and we are not taught how to fight fair. For many people, the only way to deal with their own anger and frustration is to strike out physically." She stresses that we must respect the rights of all individuals and truly realize that no person has the right to exercise violence against another person. Until our own violent impulses are confronted on an individual level the problem will persist. In the meantime, we must work towards a better socio-economic status for women which will reduce their dependancy and confinement in a destructive situaticn. Leah Cohen, Co-author of SECRET OPPRESSIONS: SEXUAL HARRASSMENT ON THE JOB, outlined a history of case studies of women in various social classes and occupations who have experienced sexual harassment and coercian. She began by describing a case that occurred at the turn of the century in Toronto in which a household domestic shot her employer in self defence and was acquitted on the basis of a medical examination which verified her "purity". She talked about office workers both married and single, harrassed by their employers to the extent that they either quit because of their discomfort or were fired for failing to come across. Waitresses, women in academia and professional occupations who have had their personal success jeopardized because of sexual pol-:itics are quite a few in number. She emphasized that few women are exempt from the possibility of sexual harassment. A REDBOOK readership survey conducted several years ago indicated that out of 8000 respondents, 82% had experienced some form of harassment. Sexual harrassment is often very difficult to prosecute because so few women are willing to withstand the humiliation of bringing the case to trial, and the chance of permanently damaging their employment record. Ms. Cohen did make several suggestions on how to avoid sexual harrassment but qualified them by saying that they don't always succeed. 1) Attempt to dress in an unmistakeably business-like manner. Avoid dress and make-up that might be considered "provocative. Although this may not succeed in deterring the harasser, it often adds to a woman's credibility should she decide to prosecute. 2) Avoid after hours social situations in which alcohol is consumed. A male co-worker might loose his inhibitions and make advances which could permanently damage working realtions. Do not ask for special favours from male co-workers and in turn, do not do special favours for male coworkers which could later be used 3) cont'd to page 14 Northern Woman Journal, page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �fat and women My friend Joan is a compulsive eater. She diets relentlessly, joins peer support groups to lose weight, has an expensive membership at a fitness spa, and has even had injections to assist in speedq weight loss. Joan is not what most people would call fat, but because her objective is to be extremely thin, she sees herself as a fat person. She likens her problem to that of an alcoholic. Things will be going along smoothly, she will be succeeding with her diet and then something happens. In a fit of despair she will sit alone in her apartment and gorge herself on peanut butter, eaten from the jar with a She becomes ill. She regards spoon. her actions .as a statement of self Ahd although she hates her hate. impulse to over eat and agonizes with guilt after one of her "binges" there it a kind of triumph mixed with the despair in her voice when she says that she couldn't possibly become involved with a man in her current "fat" condition for the thought of anyone touching her gross 120 lb. body mortifies her. Joan is not an unusual example of the way many women feel about their bodies. Eating and fat have become a symptom of a larger emotional frustration, and are even a way of avoiding the confrontation with that frustration and disagreement of what is expected of them as women. Weightwatchers, Tops, Self help groups to lose weight. Although both men and women have trouble combating the problem of being over-weight, it is not unreasonable to say that weight loss and dieting are more often the preoccupation and even obsession of Magazines for women are never women. at a loss for something to print when it comes to the subject of dieting or the improvement of our bodies. Each month the covers of the most establshe women's magazines boast some new mirac diet or a new angle on the business of weight loss.. What does it all mean?? What are the social and ultimatelq political implications of the fat obsession in North America. The following collection of article: reprinted from the Washington based feminist tabloid OFF OUR BACKS explore a number of perspectives on the fat and thin obsessions and what they mean in terms of the way we feel about ourselves and out position in society IS IT II FEMINIST ISSUE? REPRINTED from OFF OUR BACKS, vol. 4, number 4, April 1979, washington, d.c. OVEREATING The consequences of eating--overeating, undereating, compulsive dieting and intense awareness of thiness-affect women differently than men. Women are less accepting of their bodies, view their bodies more as ornaments, see food as a reward, are more conscious of food and handle other peoples1 food more often. recently watched a table of men and women eat dinner and then desert. The men all had sumptuous ice cream also sundaes; the women nothing. recently listened in on a conversation between two thin women about their eating. One woman said she did all the right things during the day--no butter, one-half a bagel, rarely a potatoe, no fried foods--but at night she went crazy and ate all night. At a clinic for eating disorders a woman who worked there said that obese men would come in and ask her and other women for a date while the fat women would walk with their heads hanging I I down low. Eating problems for women today have some parallels to the problem of hysterical fainting and illness among upperclass Victorian women. Both bring attention to women, reinforce the idea of being out of control undisciplined, passive, eliminate or reduce sexual contact, and give women a strange control over other people. As one of the reviews says, eating for women is as much a consequence of our oppression as women as heroin addiction is of racism in the ghetto Women who want help with compulsive eating or dieting should be able to get it. They should not have to wait for the oppression of women to end, but what is missing is an understanding of its root.causes. Some groups like Overeater's Anonymous, composed almost entirely of women, at least don't say that women are weak, gluttonous undesirables. battle women put themselves through They flake the guilty burden off the to extinguish their pain with food, women and say that overeaters are The group has helped many feel that powerless in the face of the obsession. they are not alone with the problem A higher power--God, the group, or that few non-compulsive people undo anything else--is needed to help constand, but what is needed are femin trol the obsession. The focus is the food-support groups for women whose obsession, not thin looks. But they eating bothers them. Even those who have no analysis of why women eat try to control eating need to examil and the idea of telling women that their feelings about fatness and eat they are powerless reinforces too ing as do all women. much the idea of feminine passivity_ -mammw 4 by t.d. and ignores the enormously strong On the practical level, the compulsive eater must learn about her eating patterns, learn how to distinguish between mouth hunger and stomach hunger and finally attempt to eat only out of stomach hunger It is importas much as possible. ant to recognize your body's signal! about when to eat, what to eat and Once you have how much to eat. learned to accept your own body, yol can trust yourself to make these important decisions about eating. Any women interested in forming a group to discuss the issue and trying some of these techniques, pleas call Miriam at 345-7802. A local view by Miriam Ketonen Fat is a Feminist Issue offers some interesting techniques to deal with compulsive eating. Other books on weight loss tend to make the fat person feel that she is not normal and does not react normally to food, so that for her entire life she must be continuously policing herself around food. This book, however, takes the approach that the compulsive eater must learn to view herself as a normal person so that she can learn to eat like a normal person. There is an emphasis on demystifying the fantasies associated with fat and thin, as well as the practical aspect of learning new ways to approach food and hunger. The new angle REVIEWS of the book FAT IS A FEMINIST ISSUE by Susie Orbach. Paddington Press, 8.95 hardback. In 1970, Susie Orbach and some 40 other women jammed into a room at the Alternate U. in New York City to explore their own patterns of compulsive eating and their selfimages using the techniques of women's consciousness raising groups. After gaining an insight into her own problem with compulsive eating, Orbach then went on to train as a therapist and to run groups on selfimage and compulsive eating. This book is based on her own experiences and those of the women she worked with. This book is available in paperback at local bookstores. As a person who has struggled with found her this problem myself, insights helpful and liberating. came across ideas that struck like lightening into some aspects of my own seemingly inexplicable behavior around food. So what's a feminist issue about fat? Orbach states,"the fact that over-eating is overwhelmingly a woman's problem suggests that it has something to do with the experience of being female in our society." Con pulsive eating is defined by her and the woman she worked with as a group of behaviors that includes: eating when you are not physically hungry; feeling out of control aroun food, submerged by either dieting or I I CONT'D Northern Woman Journal, page 10 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �TAKE OFF UNWANTED WEIGHT TODAY! ationship between mothers and daughters. "A tragic reprecussion of women's cool salads in This Terrific inferior social position is that in For aybe-Tor-You,, thQ,transmitting of culture from one summer generation to the next, the mother Peel Off Pounds While Eating What You Like has the dreadful job of preparing on the New. University Diet her own daughter to accept a life EATING IS OKAY! that is built upon second class citizenship. It is in the learning How to Keep Your Face Young-Looking of gender identity--that is, what For Your Health: Winter Medifacts s your body aging it means to be a girl and then a you are? & A Brand-New Pocket Diet Guide aster thanedical woman in this world--that we find test our place in society," a role that AMAZING BIOTONICS: 6-SECOND EXERCISES is fraught for women with ambiVilence. THAT TRIM YOUR BODY Orbach states that many compulsive A Cookbook of eaters and self-starvers report E LAST CHANCE LOW-CAL DISHESfeeling their mothers expressed ennew medical ET Rovahrtiortory G. approach to weight loss ormous ambivalence about the daughter's OUTRAGEOUSLY GOOD! existence. Hardly surprising since their own political and economic roles have been so restricted. The mother-daughter relationship is one of the most unexamined areas to grips with themselves as women." gorging; spending a good deal of time in psychoanalytic writing. worrying a bou t food or fatness; scouring These women felt that they would not Lots has been said about sons and be taken seriously by co-workers if the latest diet for vital information; mothers. The reason for this lies, they allowed themselves to be seen as feeling awful about yourself as somein the patriarchal therto my mind, one who is out of control; and, feeling women. To rise in the male system they apy itself. You don't analyze the paid by sacrificing a part of themawful about your body. roots of oppression if you are the selves. All of these are terrible feelings oppressor. Rather you further obWhat Orbach's book focuses on beto have. Compulsive eating is a scure that oppression in order to sides her feminist perspective in unvery, very painful activity. Presumderstanding patterns of compulsive eat- maintain and consolidate your own ably we all want to be thin. Or, as ing is not dieting , but rather break- power. Most medicine has operated she asks, do we? What is there about oppressively against both women's the social position of women that leads ing the addictive relationship that minds and their bodies... compulsive eaters have to food.She them to respond to it by getting fat? Nancy Friday's book My Mother/ sees in a short chapter on anorexia This book shows in example after Myself and others are beginning nervosa, or self-starvation, that example, what indeed there is in to take steps that only the women's this is like the flip-side of comour western patriarchal society that movement could set the climate for pulsive eating...compulsive noncan produce this response. One of taking, towards examining this primal eating. The same intense preoccupatthe most prevalent themes that runs Fat is a Feminist Issue ions with body size and food dominates ,relationship. through the book is that many fat the thoughts and a /ts of the woman. has much to say in this area. From women equate being thin with being Like compulsive eating anorexia nera position of sympathetic sistersexual. Their experience has often vosa is almost exclusively a disorder hood we need to understand what those been that they must deny their own of women. The compulsively thin woman forces are which have been oppressexuality in order to be seen as a also denies her own sexuality. Feel' sing our mothers. "As long as a patperson. To expose their sexuality ing powerless, she attempts to take means that others will deny their riachal culture demands that women control over one aspect of her life personhood." So fat covers them, rebring up their daughters to accept an Inferior social position, the mother's --her intake of food and body size. moves them from the sexual marketHer menses stop and her body returns job will be fraught with tension and place. to a pre-puberty parody of thiness. Repeatedly Orbach emphasizes the confusion which are often made manifest Orbach asks, "...what are the way in which patriarchal society in the way mothers and daughter interbasic assumptions in our society denies women access to knowledge of act over the subject of food." that women with eating disorders are and pleasure in their own bodies. challenging ?...If this is a psychoIt is destructive, addictive, painOur bodies are used to market every logical state that affects women, thing. But at the same time, only ful relationship to the food that what is an appropriate social rescertain types of bodies ( and the many women have that this book explores. ponse? Must not treatment include style changes) are seen as most deNot so we can be magically thin, but so recognition of the social factors sirable. We are taught implicitly and that we can reclaim power over our lives that lead women to compulsive eatexplicitly that how we appear is and find real pleasure in feeding our ing and anorexia nervosa?" She then critical for success in society as bodies. Ideas and guidelines for individ goes on to the heart of the feminist a woman. We are, in fact, products uals and group self-help work are inanalysis of the problem: to be marketed on the basis of apcluded. It's a fine book exploring "...modern western societies place pearance. In this society, when that an area of considerable concern to definite expectations and prohibwomen. It is also an area that product is fat, it is unacceptable, hope itions upon women's activities. Our bodies have been colonized in other feminist writers will explore Women are expected to be petite, further. Out energies must move from a political and economic sense by demure, giving, passive, receptive male capitalist society. So it is no in the home and above all, attractbeing tied to responding self-destructwonder that we sometimes find them ive. Women are discouraged from ively to the pressures of male-capto be unruly and in a constant and being active, assertive, competitconfused state of rebellion. italist patriarchy to creating ourive, large and above all, unatSo getting fat as a method of selves, our worlds. But while we are tractive. To be unattractive is opting out of the whole sexual scene obsessed with food and our body image not to be a woman. In the case of is not so crazy and destructive a it's hard to have energy free for this compulsive eating, some women's response as one might at first think. task. strategy for dealing with these Orbach is not at all advocating straight jacketed stereotypes is to staying fat, but rather understanding become large, to have bulk in the what is in it for women so we can world; to become large to compenchoose consciously and not compul1. We believe that fat people are fully sate for always giving out; to besively how we wish to be. entitled to human respect and recognicome large to avoid packaged sexualSuch a reponse (getting fat to tion. ity. For the compulsive eater, food avoid sexuality) is not that differ2. We are angry at the mistreatment by carries enormous symbolic meanings ent from the reponse of 25 top commercial and sexist interests. These that reflect hhe problem that womlevel management women studied in have exploited our bodies as objects of en face in dealing with an opThe Managerial Woman , By Margaret ridicule, thereby creating an immensely pressive social role." Hennig, except that they acted perprofitable market selling the false Tied to this analysis is another haps less unconsciously. During the promise of avoidance of, or relief from theme that recurs frequentfirst ten years of their managerial car- parallel that ridicule. ly throughout this book as well as in eers all 25 acted, dressed, and behaved other recent ones by women: the relin ways which "avoided having to come light Timing Is E.,..er Ann IN4 ATING IS OKAY! I MANIFESTO CONT'D Northern Wornw:)., p-ouna 1 , ,page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �3. We see our struggle as allied with gical procedures, apetite suppressants, the struggles of other oppressed groups, drugs and gadgetry such as wraps and against classism, racism, sexism, ageism, "reducing machines". We demand that they capitalism, imperialism, and the like, take full responsibility for their 4. We demand equal rights for fat people false claims, acknowledge that their products are harmful to public health in all aspects of life. as oromised in (our country's Bill of Human Rights)... and publish long-term studies proving any statistical efficacy of their proWe demand equal access to goods and services in the public domain, and an duct. We make this demand knowing that end to discrimination against us in areas over 990 of all weight loss programs, of employment, education, public facili- when evaluated over a 5 year period ties and health services. fail utterly and also knowing the 5. We single out as our special enemies extreme, proven harmfulness of repeatthe so called "reducing" industries. ed large changes in weight. These include diet clubs, reducing salons,6 We repudiate the mystified "science" which falsely claims that we are unfit. fat farms, diet doctors, diet books, diet foods and food supplements, sur- It has both caused and upheld discrimination against us, in collusion with the financial interests of insurance companies, the fashion and garment industries, the food and drug establishments. 7. We refuse to be subjected to the interests of our enemies. We fully intend to reclaim power over our bodies and lives. We commit ourselves to pursue these goals together. FAT PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, UNITE! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE! For more information write Fat Underg round, P.O. Box 5621, Santa Monica California, CA 90405 ANOREXIA NERVOSA Anorexia effects one out of every more satisfying than the mind-boggling two hundred high school and college messages handed women on the subject women. Although about 10 percent of of being "one's own person." There is these women used to die from the disa parallel to anorexia nervosa in the ease, the mortality rate is decreasing way that some women turn to marriage. due to the earlier detection. The Many believe that marriage is a way purpose behind the anorexic's selfof gaining independence from their imposed starvation is not the painful family as well as social integration suicide that sometimes occurs, but is when in fact it usually provides another a truly desperate attempt attempt at dependency. finding a self-respecting identity All of this is very painful to write. by exerting some control have never put most of this down on over a larger situation (their life) in paper before, it is.embarassing, which they feel no basic sense of powand ugly and more than would like er. to admit, self-hating. When confrontThe ideal of thinness in this culture evokes not only acceptance, it ed by the gynecologist whom gone to also symbolizes one of the only ways concerned by non-existent menses, that women can attain power. The link about my self-imposed starvation, I, between social stature and thiness like most anorexics, denied everything. is both real and imagined. Its real When he accused me of trying to kill myself, because fat people are discriminated got angry because knew that wasn't it at all. My weight had against; its imaginary because the been dropping for two years, my first thin, delicate image of femininity and role. Anorexia Nervosa causes us to only increases a persons sense of examine the way in which women are able two years of college. Although had always known that ineffectuality. Ironically, anorexia to gain some sense of self-respect wanted to be a writer, is full of contradictions and just as was in college studying in their lives. Women are disproportdestructive as the feminine stereoionately concerned with pleasing others; pre-med hoping that this achievement type. we rely heavily upon others to validate might finally prove me worthy of some recognition from my father, our sense of self-worth and frequentTraditional (mostly male) psychowanted more than anything in the world to analytic theory has tended to stress ly devote our lives to fufilling the the fear of "oral impregnation" and have my father's praise and therefore feminine role rather than viewing his caring; but suggested that the anorexic woman, ourselves as individual persons. also wanted my own who, in refusing to accept her feminThe triggers which lead a woman to be.1 ife and all the possibilities that ine role, rejects her own body and come addicted to not eating in much the lay ahead. It was too confusing. sexuality. But truly, anorexics are same way a compulsive eater is addicted had spent most of my growing years women who understand all too clearly to food, are not fully known. Frequent- trying hard to please an all too what their role should be. ly, anorexia comes at a time when a wom- unpleasbale man. Seven years ago, also knew all the things that was diagnosed an's internal desires and needs clash did not want from adult womanhood as having anorexia nervosa. Looking with the external expectations of famand at my 79 pound body one didn't have knew very little about what the ily and culture. Society's unattainable to be too perceptive to gather that repercussions of rejecting them were. and superficial standards for women's something was wrong. My weight loss had ever appearance and behavior create a pressure The only sense of power felt in my life up until that point, began long before it was labelled. At cooker effect in young women. Developfirst it was gradual, soon though had been the power of my sexuality. was ing breasts and hips is horrifying to frantic with not eating at the same time most young women who have been taught that c on thinking of food constantly--the food being a boy is equivalent to being effectthat would not let myself put in my ive. The rigid control of eating habits mouth. stopped menstruating, took is a desperate attempt to gain self-conlaxitives, forced myself to vomit trol of one's body and be self-directed. by sticking my finger down my throat Although undocumented, most young if ate a bit more than allotted women experience some sort of crisis myself. weighed myself daily and at the realization that the development would not allow myself to eat that day of a female figure puts an end to most if weighed one ounce over what possibilities. Some women run away from had weighed the day before. never home, others react by going for all the allowed myself any rest. woke up at trapping of femininity, therefore trying five in the morning to exercise and ran to prove that they can still be effective laps around the block after meals. at something (even if it is at only being became so thin that it hurt to lie a woman). down. lost all interest in being At the same time that anorexia is seen sexual and remained celebate for the as a struggle for independance, it is 14 months that was at my thinnest. also a plea to remain dependant. For an Anorexia is a condition which like adult woman, independance only means compulisve eating is a direct relation trading in one form of dependence for to the expectations places on women From the Addiction Research Foundation another and frequently the retreat into in this society concerning our identity an androgynous, child-like state is far Women and Alcohol I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I vd I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Northern Woman Journal, page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �The power of denying or rewarding men knew the falseness with my body. of this power and wanted no part of it anymore. As my body grew more childwithdrew in a world filled with like, would run my fingers over my food. naked body feeling for the familiar bones was safe from the world which meant had wanted no part of. felt that waspositively no idea of how thin my hair stopped growing and became was constipated and burped brittle, constantly during my waking hours put myself from the anxious paces through. Once, while waiting in a line I I I I I I I I I I had to be as a felt between who wanted to be. woman and who gethered the strength to go home and hadn't seen in visit my father(who a year and a half) to tell him that was not going to be a doctor. None of this is clear-cut or simple The anorexics isolation and individual sense of craziness are as bad as the physiological effects themselves. know that anorexia is, like many Yet other female manifestations, a desperate reaction to the predicament of womenhood. wendy stevens I I in a drug store, the tightness in my body caused my throat to close in on my and as my face turned blue, the could Pharmicist ran to my aid. Yet confide my situation to no one. While women in the women's movement can find confirmation.in the impossibility of women's 'role by talking to one another, anorexics struggle in increasing isolation. was lucky to have been referred to a woman therapist who after hearing my story affirmed that was reacting to a very real predicament. She helped= me deal with the discrepancies felt I I I I I I I I I THE $350. REGISTRATION FEE SYNDROME ELITISM THAT KILLS OUR UNITY Women have always had someone else usually men--doing their talking for them what they want and need. The only difference today is that other women who may be no more qualified are doing it. During the National Action Committee on The Status of Women annual meeting and conference in Ottawa in March, a number of women--mostly from low income groups- were excluded because they had not preBut bureaucratic rules are registered. not the only things that keep many women out of organizations like NAC. In fact many of the strategies and tactics adopted by women's groups from rape crisis centres to status of women councils are exclusive. The National Action Committee has opted for establishment politics, playing the game with traditional lobbying tactics. What equipment do you need to play First and foremost you can't the game? be intimidated by power figures--police, politicians, bureaucrats, even teachers. Secondly, you have to speak the same, learned language. And you need a knowledge of the protocol used in legislative Reprinted from UPSTREAM, Vol. 3, No. 5, May, 1979. leged women are taking it upon themselves to speak for those women who are feeling more than anyone else the burden of our current economic crisis. "Don't worry, we'll make sure your concerns are heard," they say, and in.workshops decide just what it is poor women, immigrant women, Indian women want. We have seen women leave NAC conferences filled with bitterness because they felt the things they wanted to discuss were blocked and shunted aside by "parliamentarians" using rules of order they did not understand. We have heard women talk about how "stupid" they felt because they could not follow discussions which they had initiated. P,rhaps the worst thing is talking to women who wanted badly to attend a conference but could not afford the registration fee. We do not have a solution to circles. offer to this problem right now, but We believe that these skills are here are some suggestions for dismost readily available to women who cussions: women's organizations have had the privilege of higher educshould consider a wide range of ation--not just university, but finishstrategies from lobbying to radical, ing high school--to women who have the direct action; an examination of how time to meet with the authorities and our common concerns the money to dress in the latest, up when it comes to class and race (Spare time, sophisticated fashions. differences; are we prepared to by the way, most often comes with salsupport each other even though we aried'jobs where you have some individual differ in our choices of tactics? responsibility. To get that kind of job, Even if all women did have the skills a post-secondary education is likely necessary for establishment politics, would that route lead to the solutions necessary.) Electing a strategy that demands we seek? Or, is that a strategy these skills often results in the chosen by women who have vested exclusion, by their own choice or not, interest in the status quo; who do of those women who have always been not want to change the system but forgotten--poor women, immigrants, expand it so that it incorporates Indians, and blue collar workers. them? We cannot expect women who have This is the first time in two and lived as the ultimate victims of a half years that UPSTREAM has been capitalist and patriarchal power to truly critical of any aspect of the be comfortable meeting with the very women's movement. We have felt the people who wield that power. We canneed in the past to criticize but not expect women who have not had the have held back for fear of our critopportunity to complete secondary or icism being used against the movement post-secondary education to be prepared or causing rifts within the movement for grandiose phrases and bureaucratic itself. With the NAC conference, jargon. And most important, we must we felt the problems were too serious not expect women who have learned that We cannot expect to put to ignore. to survive you take what you can get forth a united front when the actions when you can get it, to check that of some women are causing resentment it's all right with everyone else first. in other women. If we decide we want to play the We believe it is imperative that help an open discussion on the direction game, we have to make sure we of the women's movement in Canada all women learn those skills because begin. Please share your reactions they know what they want and have and ideas with us. definite ideas about how to get it. in "We felt that understanding what But, what seems to be happening organizations like NAC is that privihappened in the movement necessitated a critical examination of ideas, actions and their consequences for women. Some would see in this the danger of factionalism or betraying unity in the movement. We looked at m:triences and saw that uni our r did not --Feminist Revolution by Redstockings Let us try, in Canada, to make history without repeating its mistake WOMEN'S CENTRE AT THE FESTIVAL We Need Workers: The Summer Solstice Festival coming up June 22, 23 and 24 will be a first for Thunder Bay in the area of large scale festivals. Women's Centre plans to participate by setting up a food booth. Grace and June Cryderman have been commissioned to make some 500 dozen perogies and cabbage rolls which we will sell at the Solstice Festival on Saturday and Sunday. But...we need workers! Experts in the food vending business inform us that the booth will require five workers simultaneously to prepare food, and serve the customers. Women Centre could stand to make over a thousand dollars to go to its survival fund if the expected crowds attend the festival. What we are asking is that if you can spare any time either before, during or after the festival to assist with setting up, operation of the booth and cleaning up, we would very much like to hear from you. Also if you have a truck that could be used at some time during the weekend or prior to the festival to transport things to the site, we would very much appreciate it if you would come forward. Just a few hours of your time towards this venture is equivalent to a big fat financial donation to Women's Centre. Please give us a call....at 345-5841. Ask for Elaine. Northern Woman Journal, page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CONFERENCE cont'd to obligate the person, or be interpreted as a sign of interest in the person. 4)If you suspect that a situation is developing in which you may be sexually confronted, try to make friends with the family of the man. One woman discovered that asking the man about his wife and children when he started making sexual advances, successfully curtailed the situation from going any further. The problem of sexual harrassment exists because women are seldom in positions of power, because they need their jobs and because they are often afraid, humiliated, or overwhelmed with a feeling of powerlessness when they become victims of sexual harrassment. RESOLUTIONS Also a part of the conference were a number of workshops in the areas of rape, battered women, and subtle violence. The resolution that came out of the conference are as follows: BE IT RESOLVED THAT personnel tr in family dispute counselling be attached to the Thunder Bay Police Department and that all appropriate authorities be approached concerning the implementation of this program. IT RESOLVED that a 24 hour crisis line be established for battered women in Thunder Bay and be it further resolved that pressure be brought to bear on the 3 levels of government for permanent funding for all support services for all battered women. BE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the law be clarified and if necessary, changed so that police officers will have the authority and responsibility to lay assault charges against the abusive spouse thereby eliminating the need for the abused spouse to establish charges. with cases on behalf of the woman by acting as laison between the Human Rights Commission, employers, the law, unions, affirmative action programs and c) by making available resource people to speak on this subject in schools, libraries and encouraging Confederation College Assertiveness Training Program to incorporate ways of handling these assaults for working women. That the new government of Canada be urged to introduce a bill addres-sing itself to rape and sexual assault changes, immediately after election. Further: we reccommend that the government be urged to incorporate some aspects of the Law Reform Commission Report 10, as well as, reccommnedations from Women's Groups/ Organizations as well as, Rape Crisis Centres. That a component_ of rape and its origins be included in the sex education or family studies curriculum for students beginning in grade 7 and that resource persons from Rape Crisis Centres and/or Women's Centres be utilized in developing and implementing this component, and c) that the services or Rape Crisis and/or Women's Centre Resource people be made available to train teachers on teacher development days for a fee. That the persons convicted of sexual assault receive compulsory and humane (non-physical) rehabilitation, with direct involvement of Rape Crisis or Women's Centres expertise. BE IT RESOLVED that when there is evidence of sexual contact against any persons under 14 years of age that someone be appointed to give evidence and be the representative in court on behalf of the child, in lieu of having the child appear in court. We resolve that Rape and Sexual Assault Crimes be incorporated under p art 6 as a sub-section of the criminal code entitled "Offences against the person and reputation." Further that the common assault premise "no one willingly can consent to be harmed or violated' should be sonsistent with offenses of a sexual nature and/ or that consent be codifi,ed. --- Be it resolved that the conduct and sexual history of the complainant under the "Evidence Act" cannot go to the issue of credibility. NOTE: THese resolutions as they appear here are in their roughest form. Each resolution will go back to the appropriate committee for rewording and clarification before it becomes official BE IT RESOLVED THAT using the national, provincial and local resources of Rape Crisis Centres, programs for dealing effectively with inter-familial or extra-familial sexual abuse of children be developed and implemented in hospitals, social services, child welfare services, and police and legal institutions; and that the emphasis be placed on the rights and health needs of the child rather than on the preservation of the nuclear family unit. BE IT RESOLVED that we urge the Attorney General of Ontario to introduce legislation specifically designed to give the peace officer the authority to remove the violent spouse from the home in a potentially harmful situation. That the Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre be a place for help, information and education on sexual harassment on the job by a) working with the Rape and Sexual Assualt Centre in the consciousness raising of law enforcement officials to realize that this crime is as serious as rape, extortion and b) by giving support to the victim and acting as a place where grievances can be brought confidentially and if necessary work Northern Woman Journal[ page 14 , PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �worker and was maturing some, but because it was a business and demanded speed from the workers; she was let SILENT SUCCESS We are all familiar with the untold hardships of women--our friends, our relatives, women around us, trying to make their way in a society that still does not provide equal opportunity for women in many areas. The following is a story about a woman who faced even greater hardship because she is handicapped. Deaf through a infant illness, her mother, who wishes to remain anonymous tells her daughter's story of growing up both deaf and female. Lynn is deaf--well almost. She has 15% hearing in one ear and none in the other. She does not have enough hearing to listen'to another person speak. What she hears well are vibrations. Other than that she relies 'upon lipreading or the written word. She became"deaf' when she was 3 months old. She had a virus infection in the back of her head. Her temperature shot up to 105 degrees and stayed there for five days. There was an epidemic of flu in the hospital so we kept her home. When the illness subsided, she was limp and unable to cry. She just whimpered. Up until she was 6 monthd old, she could not hold her head up, or sit up. She had very bad balance and was not able to walk without falling until she was 18 months old. At the time we di d not know that she was deaf, only that she had been sick and and we spoiled her badly. Because she was unable to hear, she seemed to insist upon having someone that she knew in her sight at all times. Finally when the loos 2 i years old and still not talking, made an appointment with a doctor who informed me that she was almost stone deaf. She had her tonsils and adnoids removed in hopes of improving her hearing. It cleared the passages, but didn't make much difference in terms of understanding or learning. Because she was handicapped, her pampered her and did father and everything for her. In doing so, we added to the handicap, others that she did not need. We made her dependant upon us, instead of teaching her to rely upon herself; protected her instead of letting her stand up for herself and fight her own battles. Her hearing was impaired and we proceeded to impair her emotionally as well. She grew up and when it came time to go to school, we sent her to kindergarten at'a regular public school. The teacher was kind and was able to leave her after 3 days at school on her own. She learned to be separted from me and to trust another person. She also learned three new words, "Wait a minute." She was always wanting attention from the teacher but the teacher had other children to deal with sb that the words "Wait a minute' were repeated all year long until she learned to lipread and repeat verbally something that sounded like "Wait a minute'. She was 6 years old by now and could now articulate words like "mommy", "daddy", "baby", "drink', etc., probably about 15 -20 words I I I in all. She went to speech therapy at this time until doctors, educators, and a minister finally convinced us that we were hurting her by keeping her home in Thunder Bay and not allowing her to attend the Ontario School for the Deaf. This school was almost 1,000 miles away in Bellville and it would require that she live there from September through until Christmas (when she would return for the holidays) and then from Christmas until the summer vacation. My husband, because he loved her so much and could not be sure of how strangers would treat her, did not want to let her go. But her overcame his reluctance and arrangements were made for her to attend school in Bellville. She started school in January of 1958 when the new junior school was opened. Anxious to see her again, we wrote the principal asking if Lynn could come home for the Easter holiday. The reply was "yes" that she could be accompanied by a teacher as far as Sudbury but that she would have to met there. In Belville they had little idea of how far it was from SUdbury to Thunder Bay. With the financial help of the parents of other children attending the school, made two return trips to Sudbury by train and I brought 6 deaf children to spend the Easter holiday with their families. The day Lynn arrived home, it was clear that the dull-eyed expressionl'ess, doll-faced child we had sent away had returned to us reborn. A whole new life had been opened up to her and she now had a beautiful smile and sparkling eyes. She had finally found others like herself and was not sitting isolated in a room full of people moving their mouths at one another. She began to learn sign langauge and could "talk" to her friends, in a different way. Although the school at that time taught lip-reading oral and written language, the children taught each other sign , language. As time went on, Lynn began to express reluctance when it came time to return to school, but we were adament that her education was important. At home she was treated as a guest and we continued to spoil her. which caused some resentment among her other brothers and sisters. When she was 19 years old, Lynn graduated from school with a certificate of merit. She came home and a whole new type of education began. She had to find a job. At the Tee Kay factory she passed a frustratling part of one year. She was not an experienced worker and was pressured by a quote to be met. She was finally let go. This was hard for her. Because we had treated her with special attention, she expected this same treatment from others and was angry and depressed when they didn't. She was unemployed for a While and very lonely. There weren't many other deaf people her age. She finally got another position in the laundry section of a dry cleaning business. She was a good go. Again with "Nothing to dot", she began seeking out friends.Because she was deaf and very vulnerable, she was easily spotted as an easy mark. She was spending all of her money and getting into trouble. She wouldn't listen to us. We were just spoiled sports trying to prevent her from having a "good time" Ofcourse having a good time involved things that were harmful to her personal development. She finally got a job at a home for for the aged where she is still employed after six years. We were warned that people might try to abuse her by giving her all the dirty work in addition to her own work. We were instructed that if she complained at home, we were to report it. Three weeks passed and she began _ complaining of overwork. She was upset but thought that perhaps it was just her. When called her boss, she was wonderful about it and said that she was aware of the situation and that she planned to deal with it by giving her a written schedule to follow. She was not responsible to carry out orders given by co-workers. Ihis woman was extremely understanding of Lynn's situation and called the employees in one by one to insist that they respect Lynn's handicap and give her a chance to learn her job. She is now happy in her employment. In 1975 she married. He learned sign language and "talked' to her. They seemed to love each other very much. But not long after, he decided to quit his job while she supported them both and sometimes his friends and paid for their entertainment. She was so afraid of losing him that she closed her eyes to what was wrong and to try and please him went along with it. Her health and work suffered. I I She became pregnant and was overjoyed because she was realizing her dream of having a loving family--a husband who loved her, a home--and a baby that they woOd love together. She had a miscarraige in her 5th month. We tried to calm her down the best we could but her husband's resentment towards us was increasing and we tried not to interfere. It was then that her marriage began falling apart. She tried harder to please her husband and keep him and eventually she got pregnant again. But the novelty of married life had all but worn off for her husband who was tired of having a deaf wife who couldn't talk to him or hear him. She coaxed him to stay but he was out most of the time. She miscarried again.He came to the hospital to announce a separation and took Lynn home for a rest. She convinced him one last time to return but it didn't last long and soon we got a call from a neighbour saying that Lynn was in the hosptial in a very disturbed state.After a rest period and a time on medication she dicided to go it on her own. For a time it was OK, but as a lonely person who wanted love and attention, she was an easy mark for unscrupulous I people. She met someone very much like her husband who abused her while she paid . cont'd next page Northern Woman Journal page 15, PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �FEMINIST CONNECTIONS: REPRINTED from UPSTREAM, May 1979. "Footbinding was a political which reflected and institution COUNSELLING perpetuated the inferiority of women; footbinding cemented women to a certain sphere, with a certain functionwomen were sexual objects and breeders." (from Woman Hating, by Andrea Dworkin) Have you been watching shoe styles for women lately? Have you tried to find a pair of plain, well built, reasonable priced shoes? Or have you decided that high heels look and feel great, despite the "opposition?" Are you in fact wearing them? Maybe its old age, but consider shoes to be a kind of political barometer I for women. Meaning that when shoes become more and more skimpy and pointy, and as heels become higher and by Helen Levine Western women think of Chinese footbinding as a form of mediaeval torture. It was) but we in turn tend not to recognize the mediaeval torture in our midst, in the form of shoes for women that deny us firmly on the gro-und, from being in charge of our bodies and the space we stand on. This whole question of footwear hit whether women at any particular time me last fall when I was looking for a pair are going to cave in to fashion blackmail, or consciously fight back: by boycotting of plain rubber boots. For rainy days. the product; by deciding that fashion can be fun, but not when it's ruinous to feet and backs; by blasting the manufacturers. Shoes, think, are one grim form of I social control over women. And they have a history, foot binding being the most obvious example. Foot binding kept women "in their place" in pre- The kind of boots that have been around for eons of time. My search took me into several local shoe stores, only to discover that such practical items were not available. The stores were overflowing with expensive, stylized, and uncomfortable looking winter boots, and frail, highheeled, dressy shoes. It took a trip to a basement shoe liberation China, properly restricted, department in Toronto to locate my current boots. They weren't exactly a hobbled painfully all their lives, in the name of delicacy, sensuality, great buy. The only pair that fit had steel toes, Orange Steel Toes! I bought those ridiculous boots in desperation and am men. symbolize my demand for comfort and subdued and contained. Women helplessness, in the name of pleasing viable for business by maintaining the "home and children beautiful, and the body beautiful." (It's all a cruel hoaxmost women live close to or below the man's income.) Trained to doubt our The politics of women's footwear:back to binding regarding how we are supposed to live The other part of the barometer is consumers. We keep domestic markets poverty line, and/or are dependent on a narrower, they're sending a messge and not act, to be more precise. among other things, for the role of FOR CHANGE comfort, freedom, and health, shoes that keep us from having our two feet planted and think and act-or how not to think In the hazardous structure of the nuclear family, women are destined, now quite attached to them. They own value and our own good judgement, many of us try desperately to conform to male-defined standards of beauty and consumption. Incuding shoes. Shoes seem: to epitomize convenience, my refusal to be bound. Think of what shoes are like for men. Though fashion ' influences male footwear to some extent, by and large men's shoes are made to be sturdy, comfortable, and planted firmly on the ground. Like trousers, men's shoes provide the maximum in freedom, convenience, and practicality. It's no accident. If men are to control the world, make the decisions, run industry, government, the professions-and women-they certainly need their feet particularly vicious form makeup, advertising, fashion, pills (birth control, tranquillizers, etc.), and the connection between billion-dollar industries and women's oppression becomes remarkably clear. Just in case I come across as a total killjoy, let me add that I think dressing up, and making up, and looking special can sometimes be fun and feel good, for women and men. But not in our daily lives and not at the expense of our comfort, freedom, and in the long term, well shod. Consider, for example, which sex owns and controls shoe manufacturing, which sex shapes and defines women's tastes and "needs" in footwear. Shoes of course are only one blatant example of how women's lives are controlled by profits and men. In a way, "Pain is an essenCal part of the grooming process, and that is not is simply another illustration of how women are held in contempt. Who else to put on frail stilts, but people who are primarily decorative objects to be seen straightening or curling one's hair- it and used? Women are taught to collude in such definitions of fashion and beauty, but let's make sure we keep the blame where it really belongs. health. Don't kid yourself. The shoes you buy or wear are political! accidental. Plucking the eyebrows, shaving under the arms, wearing a girdle, learning to walk in high-heeled shoes, having one's nose fixed, these things hurt. The pain, of course, teaches an important lesson: no price is too great, no process too repulsive, no operation too painful for the woman who would be beautiful." (Andrea Dworkin again) continued from page 15 his way. He moved in with her.He began selling all of her furniture including a television set that we had helped her get a few months before at a very good price. She loved TV and spent many evenings after a hard days work watching the pictures even though she couldn't hear the words. While we were away on our first vacation together in 30 years, this man sold everything that he could. The landlord became suspicious, especially because the people hanging around the place and the damage, such as broken windows, being done. He,contacted the police who discovered drugs on the premises. Because Lynn was the one paying rent, she was arrested too, and spent a night in jail. She appeared in court many times subsequently and paid S1.500. in legal fees to a defence lawyer who eventually helped her clear her name of any charges. She returned to our home and has since come a long way, improving all the time. We have established some house rules for her to follow which she now willingly accepts. We wanted to help her only when she was ready to help herself and asked for our assistance. We encouraged her to get in touch with other deaf people and to re-establish friendships with those who had other interests than going to bars. became more involved in doing things with her, going swimming or to visit friends. People around her have noticed the change now that she has become more confident and aware of her personal worth. Her w ork has improved. She is well-groomed, happy and confident looking. She is teaching an evening class in sign language who respect and admire her very much. She has found her place. I Once again she has sparkling eyes and a beautiful smiling face. She is able to work at being a happy healthy person. She wants to share her good feeling with others. She is aware that there will still be down periods in her life, but has come to trust those who really care for her to help her through. She is 27 now. She looks to the future with hope and confidence. She would like someday to find someone with whom to share her life, but in the meantime is content, happy, busy, working, helping people and just living. the CO-OP BOOKSHOP and RECORD CENTRE Excellent selection of Canadian literature, classics. film books, science fiction, crafts, poetry, many unusual Mies. Best folk, ethnic and blues selection in town. Open till 8 each day and all day Sunday 182 8. Algoma Street._ On campus every Thursday beside the Main dieted' phoe 345-8812 r rERE IS Will PEOPLE ARE SAY/NG ABOUT Women's Place Printing "GREAT!" VA QUALITY JOB...QUI AND INEXPENSIVE!" Brochures Booklets Pamphlets Newsletters No order too small 316 BAY ST. Northern a of consumerism foisted on women. Add Pho^e 3145-7802 .7an Journal, page 16 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �ei* third 1111//11=11111Mille INSIDE: WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE: Enrsombre troilism dem dime 220 a 3 day conference in Thunder Bay that resulted in thinking about some of the options available to victims of abuse. See centre spread IS FAT A FEMINIST ISSUE? Several writers analyze the politics of fatness and thiness and the way it relates to the feminine psyche. page 10 WORDS THAT MAKE WOMEN DISAPPEAR The conspiracy of the English language to ignore women page 7 RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Return Postage Guaranteed 411111=111111111111111111111111111 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS DUE HAVE YOU MOVED??? PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CALLING (807) 345-5841. We must pay return postage to keep up our mailing list. Subscribe: illOrgortt Voinan 316 &LgiCeeff., taiittiVer a,bd (Six B vats) ILO vat,' S.5° gusunisir or Ittirtiditifoti. CL1 'a °nal:ions, treefic IC kideltieS. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 5 No 3 Description An account of the resource Vol. 5, no. 3 (June-July 1979) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Famine Population growth & food scarcity Irish potato famine Cabin fever & depression for women in Northern winters Northern Women’s Centre resource library Northern Women’s Credit Union Supermarket boycott for surge in food pricing Comics Assault & battered women Poetry Androcentrism/sexism in language Stereotyping in language Women against violence Eating disorders & compulsive eating Fatphobia Fatness & feminism Anorexia Nervosa Elitism Women’s conference event summary Deafness Politics of women’s footwear Chinese foot binding Authors/Contributors: Gert Beadle Monika McNabb Carol Auld Rosalyn Taylor Perrett Viola Goderre Redstockings Helen Levine Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1979-06 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2756/1979_Vol_5_No_2.pdf bb26f35b3087cdbc5487d4631462c3f3 PDF Text Text oman N?Ttigstrn April - Pkay, 1979 VOLUME 5, NUMBER 2 journar WTI -1107 SEEING, OURSIEbUIES this oil by Anna Akerval was one of the pieces at the art show. See centre spread. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EDITOR& Strategy and job creation programmes the primary benefactors of government There will be little reason to 5)lay-offs in the public service as well restraint. celebrate the 50th anniversary of as changing the rules for paying pubis not too difficult to come to It women becoming persons in Canada. lic servants. the conclusion that the government 1')79, the_year of this anniversary has a strategy of discriminating aEqually apparent is the plan by the is also the year that women are facgainst women, particularly married Liberal Government to ensure that ing attacks unparallelled since 1945. women are the primary benefactors women to keep them out of the labour Over 50 years ago, Magistrates of the restraint programme. The force. The campaign became most Emily Murphy and Alice Jamieson of cutbacks will save the taxpayer very apparent in 1978 when the government Alberta, first women judges in Canada, little but deprive women of much introduced policies that will have a were challenged by lawyers as to the needed services and benefits. Included more detrimental effect upon women legality of the sentences they were in these are the revision of the than men: imposing, on the grounds that they family allowance system, the slashing 1)the tightening of the Unemployment were not legally persons under the of family planning grants and the Insurance Programme. British North America Act. Appointdiscontinuation of funding to rape 2)reduction of the Outreach employment ment to the Canadian senate was denied crisis centres. services programme. on these same grounds. Five women, 3)cuts in training allowance for married Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene women So what's to celebrate?! Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henrietta 4)removal of women from its Employment Muir Edwards petitioned the government for a ruling. The Five Persons Case Language difficulties was sucessfully settled when the Privy The Thunder Bay Multicultural AsCouncil in England ruled on October 18 For an anthology on the subject sociation opened an immigrant inform1929 that women are persons un the of child molestation, we are seeking ation centre in early January to proeyes of the law. first person writing--stories, poems, vide assistance to people who are exThe courts continue to be biased journal entries, etc, by people who periencing language difficulties. and downright contemptuous when it have been molested as children. We The information centre is looking comes to dealing with women. In Sept. are also interested in writing by for people who are interested in 1976, Ontario Provincial Court Judge other family members and by children. working with newcomers. if you speak Vincent McEwan contribtued the unrelAll material should be true, although more than one language and have a few iability of a 48 year old women's you may change names or use a pen hours to spare, you are invited to testimony to female menopause. In Sept name. Please type and enclose a stamped, join the volunteer staff. Call 683 1977, B.C. Provincial Court Judge self-addressed envelope. Mail as soon 6251. Les Bewley in passing down a light as possible to: Ellen Bass, 240 Day sentence to a man charged with assaultValley Rpad, Aptos, California, 95003. ing a woman stated, "You know, women don't get much brains before they are 30... " I FITEEFIESTEED" And then on October 31, 1978, the tragedy- SHORT,STORIES BY WOMEN: Supreme Court of Canada ruled that 1. Length--1,500 to 6,000 words Press Gang Publishers is collecting Stella Bliss was ineligible to receive 2. Deadline for submissions--August maternity benefits and stated that any original, unpublished short stories 15, 1979 (We'll get back to you by inequality between the sexes under UIC by women for a book to be published Oct. 15, 1979) next year. We are looking for stories rules "is not created by legislation stamped 3. Please enclose which explore and illuminate the real but by nature." .xperiences of women. Some pssoble sug- envelope. Recognizing that attitudes usually 4. Stories should be typed double spaced. change last in the courts, women have ;estions to expand on: 5. Copywright will revert to the author --women working with each other, in always held out more hope for governfolllowing publication. Now that hope )ffices,factories, restaurants; in the ments and legislation. 6. Author will be paid a $100 fee for come, volunteer work; too has been quashed. stories upon publication. To mark the fiftieth anniversary of _political activity PREE GANG PUBLISHERS women as persons, the Liberal ad-- -women in the future 603 POWELL ST. -- -girls together: at school, in ministration has given women two VANCOUVER BC special roles to play: groups 253-1224 To be martyrs by accepting the blame Whatever mode of fiction the writer 1) (press gang is a feminist publisher) to be comedy for high unemployment; and 2) may choose: realism, satire, , ANTHOLOGY UTTERS To whom it may concern: have just read for the first time, an issue of the Northern Woman (Oct. 1978) and have found it most perceptive and relevant in its portrayill of the very unique problems faced by the northern women. A recent immigrant have been struck from the "south", by the inappropriateness of strategies developed by southern women to suit southern problems-a primary resource industry town just does not offer the to urrant§e of options available ban women and consequently it is harder to overcome the feeling of powerlessness many women experience. I Perhaps other issues already do, in apologize for the ill which case informed suggestion. look forward to the coming issues, and keep up the fine work. Yours sincerely, Audrey Anderson Red Lake, Ontario I I I From this end of the typewriter, Thunder Bay seems like a booming metapplaud your ropolis and although very excellent efforts to address would the northern situation, welcome articles whose focus moved to the smaller communities so that more women could feel truly included. I I Northern Woman Journal, page Dear Margaret, Enclosed please find payment for the subscription to the Journal and a little something extra--thanks so much for sending the material down This Journal is splendid, not only that, but it is becoming famous. A couple of days after it arrived, Mr. Theron Krawer, the Hamilton based representative for Secretary of State came to see me re: the summer was attacking the depprogrammes. for its cutting of the womartment en's programmes, showing him your material. He had seen the Journal before, and his remarks were very complimentary. So are mine. Thunder Bay women have manages to sustain a great deal of the momentum in many of their activities. ... Peace Love and all good thoughts, Novia Hebert Carter. ov gern 316 Voma Im-.4iretir,, tWinVer The NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL is feminist newspaper that is pub lished 6 times yearly for the people of Northwestern Ontario Content is determined by an Ed itorial Collective which meets bi-monthly at 316 Bay Street. Submissions are welcome but subject to the Editorial polic of the Collective. I 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �MARCH 8th: The Celebration blues International Women's Day brought a host of celebrations in the region that were very well attended and very successful. People attending from Thunder Bay were very impressed and inspired by the activities that were held in Fort Frances and Atitkokan. The following are accounts from the two celebrations. RAINY RIVER DISTRICT: The Rainy River District Decade Council held its first celebration of International Women's Day on March 8, 1979 in Fort Frances. The event included a pot luck supper, arts and crafts displays, verbal and visual presentations from several district women's groups. Over 150 women were present and many favourable comments were received from those in attendance. Ruth Cunningham of Confederation College Women's Programs was keynote speaker and Gert Beadle gave a poetry reading that was a distinctive highlight. Because of the favourable outcome, the women hope to make the celebration an annual event. ATIKOKAN: To commemorate International Women's Day in Atikokan, an article appeared in the local paper explaining the significance of the day. There was also a special television program put on by Atikokan TV Productions featuring an internview with Ruth Cunningham and Bernice Taylor of the Decade Council conducted by Linda Wiens. The interview covered womens' issues, careers and opportunities, the aims and interests of the Decade Council, their sun-committees and regional efforts. MARCH 8--a day that was acknowledged in many different ways all over the world. In Thunder Bay, March 8, International Women's Day was celebrated by approximately 80 women at the Thunder Bay Labour Centre. The evenings discussion centred around a rather serious set of issues. Sponsored by the Northern Women's Centre and the International Women's Decade Co-ordinating Council, the program began with the showing of the film GREAT GRANDMOTHERS, which looks at the contribution of early immigrnat women to the development of Canada. Panel discussion was started by Mickey Murray, who was later awarded a scroll for her special contribution to the activities of the Decade Council. She spoke on the history of International Women's Day and the current international objectives of women, particularly in the peace effort and the preservation of the family. Dr. Margeurite Neelands addressed the problem of hospital bed closures in Thunder Bay and the general lack of care facilities, for the chronically ill. Margaret Boone who is active locally on Committees working to deal with and educate the public on the problem of child abuse, told of what is happening locally in this area. She stated that an increasing number of reports on the problem of child abuse does not necessarily indicate that the number of abused children are increasing, but perhaps that people are more aware of what to look for and more willing to report their knowledge of a problem. Margaret Phillips of the Lakehead Social Planning Council closed off with a talk on the new Unemployment Insurance legislation and its adverse effects Upon women. The evening was wrapped up with coffee and cake. Open letter to the women:Rainy River District Sharing the first International Women's Day held in Fort Frances, "In Praise of Women", find myself unable to stop praising. With every opportunity that arises find myself affirming that am part and parcel of that valley where women are somehow bigger, deeper and less given to paranoid fears in their relationships with other women. It is normal, say, no great surprise to find one hundred and fifty women of all ages, from every church and service club, praising each other, feasting together, showing and telling what they have done and what they hope to do, making music together. It is the northern air, say, perhaps the water (ugh), certainly the mineral in the soil. There is tension in the valley and although it is not of your making, nor will it even be partially solved by your input, the fact remains; it is you the women who will heal the wounds and restore the Valley to sanity. You will do this because you have always done it and because you are wise enough to know that bitterness and hatred has nothing to give to the future but destruction. The history of Women In The Valley has I I I I I shown us to be (you will notice say us) resilient and resourceful. The future will hopefully prove us to be pragmatic in consolidating our strength to make the necessary changes in the roles that have up to now, discouraged the free sharing of viewpoints and the interchange of nuturing affection. The level of consciousness in the CFOB radio station is abysmal. The term "LIBBER" dates the mentality. When in casually conversation, expressed the need for women to establish a closer relationship, it was immediately equated as a sexual response and a further observation that women could never be equal to men, since the moderator had consulted some Hockey Jocks who had declared that we would never have enough muscle to shoot the puck. SUPERWOMAN also functions here, dismissing her six children with an airy wave of her hand, being all things to all people, feeling totally )iberated from Pastor Peter, and having a great form as well. could not decide whether she should be decorated or investigated. wanted nothing so much as to be able to assure the moderator that only his mental capacity was under threat. I I I I The accessability of the local Cable TV station is a great asset to communication. One immediately feels a youthful vision that is able to transcend old myths and the present prejudices. In that same vein, the Rainy River Decade Council, who sponsored the Celebration of Women, has opened the door to honest sharing that deserves the respect of every thinking woman. The groups represented here, whether sorority, church group, service club, artist, entertainer or worker in the cause of women, have one thing to offer that is basic; to be of some use in the evolution of the time allotted to them for action. Like a giant net spread under today's trapeeze artists, you have nutured the arts, kept alive your cultural uniqueness, involved yourself in your community's welfare and your children's education. But nothing you have done so far will reap future benefits for your daughters like the celebration of yourselves as women and the praise of each other as productive and confident members of the human family. GERT BEADLE, Northern Woman Journal, page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �LET'S TALK KENORA RI IN WE THE WIVES OCAL M M MMMMMMMMMMMM 111111111111111111111111IMMA. MMMMM " What a farce! Those women had absolutely no business being on the scene at all. They don't work for Boise. Their husbands do.... " D. Sinclair, pub. MM AM 10/ A Kenora Miner I MS 1 r mom. mmo I r - U IN ',1". R 111 I I' I I MI MS r . WI MI MEMO I MN EV OMMO MMMMM MEM A MMMMMMMMMMMM .7119111111 MMMMMMMMMMMMMM IR MMMMM =MOM 1111l MMMMMM Ai IS 1 W F, IW IR A MIME MMMMM F OMR 'MMIMI AI I/ fill MMISIIIIIIII 1 If -7. P Jr' l ...MU OMR gm,-.WIMP .A. A MOM- I ' I 11 All Al I 1MM WZ- IM- I A - I e .A AMR I MMMMNI I I AMOMMOMMII MMMMMMM V tOMF :I'. wpm. --- 111111111MMW II:MOW - Amy I MMMMMMMMMM 4 MMMMMMMM MIIIIIMMOMM &NOW MMOMMLOMMII :1111M11MEMFAF ALM, Virilad11111 11111111M1111 M - I 111MIM ...WM AP ---.1". MOM M V-. 1111110._ Sm.7.81 mow 1. AL 'II V AS BIND VINO I 1110.-% .,1101.- i ,31 ' IMMOA 1. A. ME, .. 77MOW MI. I . SIM /EMI%Mi. immr. M svomalimmur , ... MIIII A 1.! /e. MMMMMMMM MISIMMIIM IMMOMMOMOSMOMMOM 'EMS IMO, II - OMMOMMAMMIIIMM MMMMMMM OR..-7IIMMOMMOMMOM Mb. 7 A 1 10711111MOMMOMMONOMMEW I I 0 Ii I MOM MMMMM OMMOMMOMMOMMIIIIMMOMMOM II A," IF 1 A I ' OM IM, JAM 1 In Kenora, Ontario, the strike W IV, AIM 11 ir IN l' 45MM I I MMMMM MOM A r f I AL MMMMMMMMOM I at Boise Cascade Lumber and Sawmill MMOR WM I OEM M OEM drags on. Apart from the effects 111111111111 upon the striking workers, there men make $64. per day with no room have been serious changes in families, and board and in addition they pay for resulting in the militancy of the wives of the striking workers,who are their own gas and transportation. It is interesting to note that striking for the removal of an ownerNot only is there the daily picket that have spent the most operator clause. The wives have joined the 2 women duty confrontation to face, but the time on the picket line were not only the treattheir husbands on the picket lines, conflict with the police has spilled charged but also fingerprinted, given ived, sevto the disapproval of the media and over to cause incidents after hours. a mug shot and assigned a number. together We are very concerned with the monstrate safety of our children walking to and at there in the vicinity of the from school that is Off duty officers have been known Boise Cascade mill. The Boise buses orted by to harass the women of striking workers, and pulp trucks travel at high speeds. ice--we live here and we have the sidewalk on Third Street North. One day, the children were actually made and have even pinched behinds on the picket line. In the 1°6.31 bars there enjoy ourselves over a We are outraged at the sudden Preto walkright some to distance on the road is constant harassment from the poldrink with out having the OPP breathing because the police were blocking the judice being expressed against women. down our necks. Don Sinclair, publisher of the KENORA .IMF AM'/ , I I / / A ' . l r t , A " I I i the union local Cascade_ physcially they proc- MINER AND NEWS has been abusive to the women who feel that they have a right to partcipate in the strike... and has treated them as somewhat of a joke...as you can see in parts of his columns. ring the e, was the process the media. news restrikers the media. wists etters. before tter to only ast noted print We feel we have a right to participate because we the victims of a total absence of income and we certainly can't ignore the number of police in a town of 11,000. (*Note: Don Sinclair claims he does not discriminate against women and demonstrates this by saying that 65% of the KENORA WINER NEWS employees are women---We wonder what the wages of these women are and are curious to know what their jobs are with that paper.) The following is a letter to the Journal from Shirley Ronald of Kee- watin ....We are all very nervous about the police. We women don't know which one of us will be picked up next and charged and treated like a criminal. My husband has been arrested. As for myself, have been struck, thrown, verbally abused etc, by our own FINE police force. " am afraid of the law now. My children have lost all of their respect for the law...After they saw how the police treated their mother and the other women. My Brother is a police officer here and we have not spoken to one another for 4 months. He told me that the extra police were brought in here for our protection. Then showed him my bruises and he hasn't spoken to me since. When he is in the cruiser, and pass him, all can do is turn my head. am afraid to admit that he is my brother now.... I I Tragedy has been the result of this strike. We feel that the death of 53 year old James Portman would never have occurred if it had not th charges Mr. Portman been for this strike. court had been working 12 hour shifts, 7 nforcement days a week since October 11. The ff the fellow who was responsible in the al to deal accident was not qualified to do the r is not job he was doing--Jim Portman was not It is volved doing his regular job either. nts, all rather ironic because Portman was NMENT also the Safety Supervisor. to join When Leo Bernier was approached about this incident he said that it of the was up to the company and not the here government to deal with the problem. It is very suprising to see where CANADA MANPOWER stands. They have accused the strikers of strangling the economy and of robbing the company of profits. They ask the strikers how they can expeeps) ect the company to pay $100, per day in R' (in our wages plus room and board. ly unfounded WHOSE SIDE IS THE GOVERNMENT ON and why do they distort the facts. Our I I I AS MOMOM 111111f Ea I MMMMM f I immumploommr Fr MR.7.:. , II I .' I I Wil , MEM "IMMUNE II . 1111 M 'MEOW IF ' F I IIIMMFAA. ...MEW. 1.IIW F I / IS cu. _ 6 II lorm-mr e MEI. AN O Alik AMER 11111111111111111111/ 1 MIMEO 111M1b -AIM I True to the cause, Shirley Ronald THE FOLLOWING IS THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER STRIKER'S WIFE, ISABEL ULAK: My husband has been involved in a legal strike since October. This has been a real education for me and my family. wrote to our local members of parliament. They both replied very politely but no help seems to be forthcoming in either case. Our local newspaper does not seem to be very supportive either. On Friday February 23, Don Sinclair, I cont'd , page 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Publisher, KENORA MINER AND NEWS wrote, "Those women had absolutely no business being on the scene at all." Surely this is not an illegal act or the women on the scene would have been charged. Why should women not support their husbands, fathers, or any men in their family emotionally, mentally or physically if possible. This erudite writer with expressions such as "this one was also the Pitts" (Not to be found in the Thornedike Barnhart World Book Dictionary- or is it a spelling error?) and sentences---"This time helped by the picketers wives." (sic) He did not seem pleased with the article written in the Winnipeg Tribune or the Newsmagazine feature aired recently. He stated, "Tune into C.B.C. Newsmagazine Monday evening and watch our town be dealt another kick in the pants that isn't true. (misplaced adjective clause) Mr. Sinclair wrote,"I didn't think the CBC news department prefabricated their journalism but know now that they do." He wrote about this program at least nine or ten days before the public had a chance I to see it. As a woman, am very unhappy with his remarks about women who are sticking by their husbands and trying to I help them. Perhaps in the long run, we and our families will have become a far closer unit for having supported each other. Sincerely, Isabel Ulak. Living on company land live in Camp Robinson, Ontario, ninety miles from Kenora. Camp Robinson is a bush camp owned by Boise Cascade, and the only family camp left in the area. Since the strike started here on Octoner 11, 1978, I've been heavily involved in it myself; writing articles to the newspapers, organizing :campaigns for moral support, and writing artftles to government officials, law authorities and Boise Cascade executives. For the first couple of months after the strike began, sat back and took in what was happening until could stand it no longer and had to speak out. could no longer stand to listen to the lies Boise Cascade told, or watch the O.P.P. aCt as strike breakers and harrass our men and their families. It is evident that the O.P.P. are biased by their persecution of certain individuals and they seem to dream up any charge at all to get the picket leaders off the picket lines and away from the strike. To add insult to injucy, the officials in Kenora and the government are supporting the company and the O.P.P. in their escapades. When the strike began thought it would be dealt with fairly, but as time progressed, could not believe what was seeing. have lost all faith in our law authorities and government, and never dreamt that Boise Cascade could be so callous, calculating, cannibalistic and down right dirty. could spend hours writing about the injustices to the strikers and things that have taken place, but will confine myself to the Camp RobI I I I I I I I I I inson area where live. An O.P.P. helicopter flies over the The Camp Robinson men have been camp site regularly, checking for vehicles and snow mobile trails to especially centred out by Boise Cascade, since the majority are active report to the cruisers. Some vehicles in the strike and strong union members. have been stopped and checked as many Out of 14 members who have pickas four times within fifteen miles. It eted seven have been charged and is also known that our phones are ordered off the picket lines, along bugged as several incidents have happene with being jailed several times. to make this a fact. My husband has spent seven days in don't know how much longer the jail, and all seven of those days were government can take the back-benching needless. He was charged with making stand that they are taking. Are they a threatening phone call to a foreman, so misinformed or near sighted that and thrown in jail for five days. His they cannot see what is happening here? conditions for release were that he They are the only ones who can put forth surrender all firearms, keep away some rules and regulations for the from Boise Cascade property O.P.P. and Boise Cascade to follow and leave the district of Kenora within instead' of letting them run the 36 hours. The District of Kenora is strike as they damn well please. Our approximately 5 to 8 hundred miles> livelihood is' at stake here. We are square and we live right in the middle respectable citizens who can only of it. Being that am in a leg cast take so much injustice or pushing and have been for five months now, around and it is time to put a stop my husband refused to leave me. Our to this charade before more families sewer is frozen til spring and we and people's lives are torn apart. burn wood for heat. This along with ...we stand by the facts 100 percent. other circumstances such as a shortage Marlene King, of money to move, no place to go, and Camp Robinson, Ont. the question of how authorities can banish a man away from his home in the 66 I think their husbands middle of winter brought cries of outrage. My husband contacted a union lawyer, who appealed and notified my husband that papers were being drawn own disputes. up in the Kenora court for a stay it more orderly until court five days later, and that he was to remain at home until then D. Sinclair, PUBLISHER On Saturday afternoon, the O.P.P. KENORA MINER AND NEWS arrested him for failure to comply THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT PREwith the conditions and stated that PARED BY THE WIVES OF STRIKING LOG they had no knowledge of any such papers AND SAWMILL WORKERS UNION 2693 MEMand he was kept in jail until Monday, BERS THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY DISTRIBUTED when the judge signed the necessary THROUGHOUT THE KENORA REGION: paper. It appears that the judge took sick and the papers never got to him For eight months now, we have to be signed although they were there, viewed the Boise Cascade strike in and the courts are closed on the weekKenora and Fort Frances with keen ends. Is this justice?? He spent those interest and involvement, being days in jail needlessly. At court on the wives of Strikers local 2693. Wednesday, the 36 hour condition was We have been filled with sadnes$, dropped and the case remanded until disgust, and frustration. We've watched June 20. It would appear that this helplessly as our men have been needstrike has created the rule that lessly and unjustly jailed, given crima man is guilty until proven innocent inal records for being strong minded an and is sentenced before trial. Meanand fighting for what they believe in. while who will repair the damage We've watched families and friendships done to my husband by having his name fall apart because one or the other broadcasted on radio and TV like is on "the wrong side of the fence." a common criminal. He has never had We have seen our men off to the a criminal record prexiious to this. negotiating table full of optimism, Boise Cascade has constructed a only to have them arrive home more shack at Camp Robinson for their secbitter and militant each day. We urity guards, hired from Sentinel have burned with rage as company securSecurity in Winnipeg. These security ity guards patrol our homes continuous guards patrol the camp 24 hours a day ly,,..Is it really necessary for and we are under constant surveilance. Boise Cascade to know how many times The shack is full of cameras, a day our vehicles leave the driveand radio equipment. Our every movement way, or what time each night our closely watched, written down and lights go off? They are only serving reported. We have had OPP cruisers to antagonize an already explostve stationed at the Camp Robinson turn situation. off for over a month now since Boise We have spent many hours protesting Cascade started moving equipment and and calling out for logic and fairness hauling wood. Several homes in the camp in this situation, only to watch hundhave been searched and the women reds of O.P.P. officers, supposedly and children harrassed by the officers. called in to keep the peace, aid Boise Will our children respect the law Cascade in their daily whims and after what they have seen and heard? strike tactics, by allowing Boise free All vehicles travelling in and out run of our towns and woodland areas. of camp are checked and reported. It Were they sent to keep the peace, or baffles me as to why this harrassment to be put at the disposal of Boise? is necessary. It's evident that the These O.P.P. Officers are merely only reason they are doing this is puppets to this multi-national nightbeeause this is Boise Cascade property, mare. Where does the O.P.P. involvefor there are no check points for peoplement end? Does their involvement involv( going through Kenora or Fort Frances. I I I are big enough boys to their ...they do than the women." handle . cont'd to page 6 Northern Woman Journal, page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �iledged to make the money they make our country. So to Boise Cascade, primary employe of our region, our only message is that intend to stay and work in Northwesterr Ontario, by choice, not necessity; to build it into a better place to live for ourselves and our children. In order to make anything work, we must al give and take. We have given a lot to you in the past and you have taken, No It's your turn to give. To all others, our government authorities, labour boards, and the media who grumble about the inconveni( of this strike and wonder what we are complaining about....come on down her sue. Most of us were born and raised here, for r a while and do our husbands jobs and others have moved here by choice and work with us a while. We guarantee and we'll be damned if we will give up you won't wonder what we are you, our right to live and work here by a complaining about, you'll know. company such as Boise forcing irrational WIVES OF STRIKERS issues upon us. They should feel privLSWU 2693 Were you not elected by the people, for the people? Are we only votes on election day? If this is so, then guarantee you, you will have a good deal less votes next election day. That Boise is trying to break our union is evident. People may call down unions if they wish, but in this issue we back ours 100%. If not for our union we would be totally at the mercy of companies like Boise Cascade that cares more for profit than it's employees. To this company, who is steadlly reaping the wealth from our country,' we are nothing more than numbers on the payroll, as dispensable as toilet tisI flying Boise executives to woodcutting sites in their O.P.P. helicopter, or include taking full control of our highways and town roads? The O.P.P. stops traffic for any length of rime suit Boise, while we, the taxpayers to must sit and wait, taking a back seat. Boise is moving equipment to woodcutting sites and hauling wood that they promised they would not do at the beginning of the strike. Do we have faith in these people? Contractors have been cutting wood and stockpiling since the strike began. It seems that they meant to break their promise all along. The O.P.P. is costing millions. Are we the taxpayers not paying for this calamity!! We have sat and listened to our Federal government quote statistics on inflation and repeated warnings of, "Canadians must tighten their belts, we are nation living in debt and must stop living so high off the hog and start budgeting." And then we listen with amazement as our government states that millions of dollars ($400,000,000 to be exact) will be granted to Pulp and Paper companies to help build their industry. WHO WILL BENEFIT MISTER PRIME MINISTER?? Will we benefit?We who face life-time debt and multiple lay-offs if the "owner-operator" issue goes through? Are we not also a part of the pulp and paper industry as a human resource, does this industry not also belong to us? Should we not also benefit? Since it is our taxpaying dollars that you are so liberally granting to Boise Cascade to upgrade their operation, then it seems a shame that Boise Cascade sees fit to force us into debt to upgrade their operation. We have met with the Minister of Labour and called out to the government to really see what is hapofficials pening and speak their minds. Are they afraid to incurr the wrath of Boise Cascade? Is this multi-million dollar corporation more powerful than our government and more important that your people? Are you afraid that they may close up operation? This area is one in of the best pulp and paper areas the world. We are worth millions to Boise, so fear not my friends, they won't pull out. Even if they did, there are plenty of speculators who would jump at the chance to buy this area from Boise, and probably would do a hell of a lot better job running it too.Are we, the people of Northwestern Ontario not worth anything to you? Mr. Leo Bernier, our honourable MPP, where have you been the past eight months? Come out, come out wherever you are. It seems that you have not wished to comment on the strike at all Tell your friends!! The Northern Women's Credit Uns on an intensive membership ion We encourage our members drive. to seek other potential members. Tell your friends about us. Recently the Ontario Credit Union League raised its interest rate to 12 percent on borrowed money. This could have adverse affects. If our capital should fall short of meeting the loan demand, we will have to borrow from the OCUL at this rate of interest. To encourage new members and to better serve our existing members, we have recently expanded our seri vices : A) TERM DEPOSITS of a minimum of $100. will gather an interest rate of 8.5% df left in for a period of six months. TERM DEPOSITS of a minimum of $100. will gather an interest of 9% if left in for a period of one year. The interest for both term deposits is to be calculated semi-annually. B) SAVINGS ACCOUNTS with a minimum of $50. which can be added to in multiples of $5. with an 8% annual interest rate, claculated quaterly on the minimum monthly balance. Chris Torrie has recently been hired as the Credit Union's Treasurer Manager. It is now possible for women's groups and organizations to belong to the Credit Union under one memThe former stipulat&on bership. for a group membership was that 50% of the members of the organization had to be members of the Credit Union Since this has been individually. changed, we encourage organizations and groups who have bank savings accounts to keep their savings in the Credit Union. PIM IERE PEOPLE ARE Canadian Women's studies ies carvers de is femme CWS\CV SAYING ABOUT Women's Place Printing CENTEMELM. CCALEGF PLMLICATION "GREAT!" A creative new magazine for women: articles, interviews, poetry, book reviews and much more. CWS/CF is a bilingual quarterly for all women subscription rates: Institutional 515.00 Individual $10.00 VA QUALITY JOB...QUI AND INEXPENSIVE!" Brochures Booklets Student single copy Pamphlets 5.00 S 3.00 send to: CWS/CF, Centennial College 651 Warden Ave. Newsletters Scarborough, Ontario MI L 3W6 MY NAME IS No order too small MY ADDRESS CITY PROS 316 BAY ST. CODE Those 3L5-7802 Northern Woman Journal, page 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE UIC GAME! NEW RUbES VICTIMS care arrangements. But women can't qualify for daycare unless they are already working." The UIC benefits have been cut this year from 66 2/3% of a persons wages to 60%. This will mean additional hardship for women because they only make an average of about 53% of what men make,to begin with. Part time workers workers will no longer have access to U.I. unless they work 20 hours per week. More women than men are part time workers. restraints. Changes deny benefits to people unable to find long term employment. EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMENT: All Canadians are aware that the Women are the last hired, first country has had some problem with fired which makes them largely afunemployment over the past few afted by the highere entrance reqyears. However, women should perhaps uirements for repeaters. After colbe especially aware of the problem. lecting UI, the claimant must find "We must attack propaganda that work for at least as long a period we presently encounter that 'blames' as they collected. Many women can womenfor the present economic crisis'! only get work on a part time or Marg Phillips emphasized. temporary basis. For example, one myth alleges that New entrants and reentrants into working women are all secondary wage the labour force will have to work earners and only marginally attached tp 40 w eeks in the last 2 years and 10 the workforce. to 14 weeks in the previous year to "By wage standards, yes women look qualify. This will affect all young people, male and female, but will to be secondary wage earners, but not because they want to be," said Phillips. uniquely affect older women trying "And how can women become anything but to re-enter the work force after marginally attached when they can't get years of homemaking. adequate daycare and training programmes What these changes amount to for that make them eligible to become older women and women in other categoeies is that 263,000 people will full fledged members of the labour Women in the workforce have yet to be contended with by the government as is evident in the recent changes to Unemployment Insurance in the area of eligibility and new policies on Daycare, said Marg Phillips who gave a presentation on the Unemployment Insurance issue at the March 8 IWD celebration at the Lakehead Labour Centre. Restraints in government spending since 1976 have mainly been in the area of human services. Women have been the first affected by the these force?" To demonstrate the way in which this assertion distorts the actual situation of women, Phillips cited several stat- K not qualify for UI benefits under the new legislation and therfore at least an additional 130,000 people will be turning to welfare. CUTS IN TRAINING ALLOWANCE Adverse effects can be expected from the cuts in government training grants. It is, under the new legislation, impossible to collect UI benefits and receive training allowance to make a person able to get off UI and onto the labour force. Further, training allowance to a woman whose husband is working will be cut from $45, per week to $10. per week, hardly enough to cover the cost of transportation, let along day7 care, sai d Phillips. Cutbacks will also apply to OUTREACH Programs which funded a number of women's employment centres. The National Action Committee on the Status of Women recently put forth the following resolution in response to the government legislation: "BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WOMAN, JUST AS THE MAN AND THE YOUNG ADULT OF BOTH SEXES, SHOULD HAVE THE UNDISPUTED RIGHT TO WORK AND THAT THIS RIGHT SHOULD BE FUNDAMENTAL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: ECONOMIC,PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, SOC4AL AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF THE NATION." FROM the RESOURCE hIBRIIRY istics. by Monika McNabb In fact, of the 3,600,000 women in Sexual harassment on the job and the Canadian Labour Force in 1975, consumerism have several things in 1,146,000 were single and self-supcommon - they are commanding more porting, 347,000 were widowed, separated news coverage as relevant, problemand divorced and 767,000 were married atic areas of concern to women, they to husbands making less than $10,000 further illustrate the case of woman per year. One would be forced to as victim and they are two items conclude therefore that women were which have been added to the Resource not working for superfluous cash, but Library. to support themselves, their childSexual Shakedown: the Sexual ren and share in support of the Harassment of Women on the Job by family. Lin Farley is now available in Women are accused of being the Thunder Bay only at Women's Centre. cause of unemployment, However, Ms. The Canadian counterpart Secret Phillips countered, women are the Oppressions: Sexual Harassment of victims not the cause of unemployWorking Women by Leah Cohen and ment. Women are the victims not the Connie Backhouse will soon be cause of unemployment. Women are published and Leah Cohen will be aldi off jobs in higher numbers than giving a speech and workshop on this men. Women usually assume low paysubject at the Women Against Violence ing jobs, are less likely to belong to unions and are often part time workers. All of these factors amount to an inelegibility for seniority and special training, thus making women more dispensable. Another accusation directed toward women is that they take jobs away Conference here in May. On sexual harassment, Lin Farley says "In the history of men's misuse of women, this abuse is a relatively recent arrival and is related to man's need to preserve his dominion over modern work". Because men do have dominion and control over most of modern work, women are "prey" as consumers as well eg: car and house purch ases and repairs; unfair business practices; high prices; phony schemes - and because we are not informed about Consumer Rights and Res ponsibilities, we leave ourselves susceptible to being ripped off. As the result of a two-day workshop with the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations we are better able to provide information and guidance for you on this subject. from men. "Not so," stresses Ms. Phillips. "Women are in different labout markets from men., therefore they are not directly competing. Women are in job ghettos performing tasks that men are not willing to do at wages men would never accept. The large percentage of unemployed men are in occupations that have very few women." "Women are accused of abusing UIC," she continued, "But they are in a catch 22 situation. They are cut off UIC because of unavailability for work...i.e. they are unavailable because they haven't the proper child 11 HE Re- BRINGTVE REVOLUT1014 1404E. Northern Woman Journal, page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Live nay know what you have done teatize you have a66ected a Zi6e mint. tememben my teAtmizing moment's the Emotiona pain wLU tazt 4oteven.. in youA zick mind L t waz Zovemaking simpZe bucking i.twais much mote. oppAezzian degnadation humiZiation violence. knav .thins . understand. and then with yowl con/science i cane you, tive. gage o'hanton stained glass by Estelle Howard SONG OF SOLITUDE I often wonder at the time what chance had I a dark hebraic maid against fair Helen? Donna Phoer which is dc material. I Women in Ai eration Co] presentatic the openinc Poor Miriam I think you knew your savage knowledge of the world and black nocturnal lust must fade beneath those northern lights; how could you not lose dusky face beside that myth that launched a thousand men? Nevertheless you understand the rose of Sharon never will a lily make nothing can whiten this small hand. LYNNE KOSITSKY on March 25. Batik by Claire Cikalik THE YOUNG GIRLS TOO SOON From out of the past Like some unawakened dream Realism comes I hear them say, They feel sorry for me, Sitting all day Doing nothingT'was only yesterday Mother grew old. The young girls spend too many daydreams misting over tattered pictures that burst into ... amber and gold Flashing like the blade of a knight who's coming always coming Yetnever there. JUDY ROBINSON, Espanola ALEATA E. BLYTHE Makwa, Sask. in the silence 1 the chrystal poi when all the pn beyond son flower the seeing in t, weaving by Pat Ryan she wished she had carried him when he was small and brown as a betel nut waiting to birth now he grew dark and luminous into her life and she wondered how long his first mother mourned him CHINOOK Like leav her stemn She bends that L Another too cold for a Lynne Kositsky Northern Woman Journal, page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor . �SEEING OURSELVES....an art show of work by women, many of whom have never put their work on display before. The purpose of the exhibit was to get the art work of women where people could see, discuss and appreciate it. Oraganized by Menika McNabb, SEEING OURSELVES presented the work of 10 women. The opening night was well attended and generated some interesting discussion. Looking it over. Lifeline There is engulfing lonliness which lies outside my window every night as I decipher and recalculate the length from here to other lives. h her art work a variety of who teaches a se at Conferdgave a slide discussion at EING OURSELVES The world rotates and I taut spider spinning off the Earth wave thread into a timeless universe dull blackness which negates my insect gaze in the webbed finality of silent nights I understand we lose our scanty tightrope strung across the stars and go crashing sightlessly into eternities of dark galactic forests. Lynne Kositsky Anna Akerval, batik, ink, photography SEASIDE HOW IN WINTER like a long ago school day, the street looks amiss, an once stolen kiss by stringed mitts freezing to metal railings. Viola Goderre ils by Diane Paroby The cottage gkeet4 me empty dampne44 ceing4 and hoveAs I'm WV though and walk thnough 41 ant ADOM4 to Witch on the etecttic blanket Seems i_tis /mining out and -tn... that damned ADO4 again! Now to tight my ofd btack iiton heaters then the 6iteptace a wett thought p&tn to avoid a coughinghouse of wood, moke! Onty Aaingatek &tipping 4teadity into the bucket punctuates the stittsad quiet. dedned night, es from a crying heart ere never intended Viotet Winegatden landscape in oils by Lorraine Harris Viola Goderre. WARD 2- SHIFT 12-8 AM ling together wave wantonly the sterile storm ?r. boughs ROBINSON, 7anola The old lady looked Over her thick rimmed specks And glared at meEnvying my youth? My apple red cheeks? My light, quick step? I doubt itShe said, "You know, One half of this world Is made to screw the other half And I think we got The short end of the stick." ALEATA E. BLYTHE Makwa, Sask. Northern Woman Jounral, page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Findings & outcomes of the ROYAL COMMISSION life in a small town Remember when the Royal Commission on the Northern Environment came trapsing through the north? If so, you may be interested in the background paper that expresses the cumulative opinions expressed at the various hearing held in the small towns throughout the region. The entire publication can be acquired by writing The Royal Commission on the Northern Environment, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St. West, Room 801, Toronto, M4W 1A5. However, to deal with it in part, the following is a representative portion of Chapter 5 from the section entitled WOMEN IN THE NORTH SEEK JUSTICE: ...the Commission learned that traditionally, it would be left to the native women to break camp, move family and belongings and set up another home following the seasonal pursuits of hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering. Trapping has often been a male-female team effort among native people, with the women helping to set traps and retrieve the catch and invariably scraping the furs and tanning the hides. Today in the north, trapping, commercial fishing and wild rice harvesting are usually partnership efforts for men and women. At the turn of the century, white women came to live in the north in some numbers during the second phase of "civilizing" the country, the period after the wilderness had been mapped. Traders' wives, missionaries, teachers--they all contributed to life in the north. Later came the miners' wives, the bullcooks working in the lumber camps and the women of easy virtue in the mining boom towns. For women, the north meant adapting themselves to a rough and narrow lifestyle created and dominated by men. It was not a comfortable life nor a familiar one... While there was some contact between native and white women over the years, close friendships were unusual... The division still exists to a considerable extent today in northern towns, i.e. white people live in towns, native people mainly in shanties on the outskirts or on reserves...: In recent years, some younger women of both cultures have been learning to recognize feelings and life experiences that they share in common, goals which can bring them together as women... Issues raised by women in the north were basically similar to those voiced by their sisters in the south. They need facilities for pre-school children to allow mothers freedom to seek employment or pursoe cultural interests. They want interval houses to allow them protection from beatings or abuse. They want job opportunities to give them greater economic independance and allow them to have a greater say in the devel opment of the area. The problems northern women share with their southern sisters are compounded by the realities of living in a remote community. Isolation, inadequate housing, lack of cultural and recreational facilities and a shortage of activities and occupations outside the home all serve to make life harder for women in the north: "Fear, isolation, lack of financial resources, transportation and child care are all factors that make living in the north a very difficult place for women to grow and participate as citizens of Ontario." (NWO International Women's Decade Co-ordinating Council, Nakina) An almost total absence of paid employment opportunities for women characterized a number of communities visited by the Commission. One reason for this lack, the Commission. One reason for this lack, the Commission was told, was the dependance, typical in the north, of an entire community on a single employer, generally a resource extraction industry: "In single industry communities... the majority of jobs will be male oriented and the traditional female employment opportunities will not be as prevalent as in a more diversified southern community." (Timmins Women's Resource Centre, Timmins.) In part, there are few jobs for women, daycare services and facilities are inadequate and costly; and without daycare facilties, the new jobs for women are further out of reach... With few opportunities for employment outside the home, a northern woman is restricted to her home and family. Concern was expressed about: "...the alarming increase of men- tal illness of young women attributed to the never-ending stress associated with caring for small children in cramped company houses, trailers or mobile homes." (NWO International Womens Decade Co-ordinating Council, Nakina.) Not only do women experience the psychological strain of isoMen too lated northern communities. suffer the tension of an unstable way of life. Tragically, the victims of their frustrations are often their wives and their children: "...The top priority expressed by women in the communities we visited was the desparate need for crisis or interval housing. Small communities lack even the minimal social support services..." The stresses of women living in' isolation are ,compounded for those who come to the north later in life, perhaps following a husband who has found employment: "Those of us born here are accustomed to the conditions. We value our environment four independance, selfreliance and pace of life while recog- nizing mutual dependancy in times of emergency...To newcomers...the weather conditions! can be debilitating, inadequate housing...demoralizing, the absence of medical service close at hand frightening; and recreational and educational facilities virtually nonexistent for women, depressing.... (Kenora Women's Coalition, Kenora) Many women are concerned that expansion and new development would cause further problems. An influx of workers, both single and married, imposes a burden on a community which may not be able to support it. Once again, those who suffer most tend to be women and children: "The social impact of (development) will effect all members of the community, but it may have a particular impact on women, their children and their communities. Aggravated housing problems, the pressures of overcrowding and the deterioration in the public utilities...would fall mainly on women who, during the long northern winters are often alone at home." (KenoraRainy River District Health Council) Native women in particular feel the negative impact of development. Sometimes an isolated native community is forced to absorb an influz of people without any preparation or assistance... The Commission was reminded that development, with its influx of transient workers, creates other problems for native women: "We are concerned with the sexual exploitation of our native women, through the availability of alcohol and out communities being close to the camps; the evidence of violent attacks on women, rape, illegitd imate pregnancies, unwanted children, prostitution and venereal disease will rise beyond a social problem.(Ontario Native Women's Association, Geraldton) Generally, the women of the north, both women and non-native women, recognized that industrial activities of some sort are inevitable. Consequently, they were determined that Northern Woman Journal, page 10 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �her term in mid May. The same Royal comission complete that conducted future undertaking not bring with communities designated for the the hearings and publsihed the The report them problems comparable to those that you have just read will fund are a three study Red Lake, Ear Falls, Souix experienced in past developments... this year month QUALITY OF LIFE study Lookout, Hudson and Ignace. Each commun"Traditionally, economic developthat will cover phase one ofity a hopeis at a different stage in the ecoment in single industry northern fully, positive process. nomic development process. communities has not included the The Quality of Life Study, Awhich womanwas or group of women will co-orexperience, knowledge and concerns first tried in the one industry dinatetowns activites in their communities of women. This has resulted in male of northern British Columbia a very andhad bring other women together to disoriented communities at all levels, It got women cuss together issues relevant to their experience economically, socially and politically positive effect. talking about economic development as women and in single industry towns. The The needs of women and children hopes for thei r communities. They women began in each community met for contact have been given only marginal recogto feel confident that their imput into a training and introductory seminar in nition.(Kenora Women's Coalition) economic decisions was not Dryden, only valid, March 20. From their submissions to the but extremely beneficial to both The themcontacts are as follows: Royal Commission, it was clear that RedofLake--Freda the Isaac, Ear Falls--Josie northern women want the opportunity to selves and the other members community. Let's hope the same process Barlow and Rae Kiebuzinski, Souix Lookbe involved in decision-making, to out--Kathy Keisel, Hudson--Barb Lewis is started in Northern Ontario. help determine the future of the and Bev Enstrom and in Ignace--Isabel communities in which they live and Huston and Christine Jacobs. to secure equal rights for their sex... As well as bringing together women Jill Torrie was recently employed The story being told by by the the economic women in their communities, the contacts will development committee in the preceeding report overseeing may not be this study, to carry out Phase be responsible for producing an informexactly encouraging....But ative document on their community and one.there may assist in organizing a workshop. She began work February 25 and will be hope. ENDNOTE or creative feature writing. All this, for the sake of 'exposure', in an attempt to develop that special discipline that she felt was necessary to write well. She withstood the unspoken and saLetime spoken judgement of friends who refe,-red now, feeling relieved, slightly exhilto her reporting as a hobby, which no erated.All the while, that small glow doubt kept her busy now that"the childgrowing a little, to remain there, in ren had left". These remarks relegated her consciousness. her to an odious position of filling in As the span of time lengthened, time, now that the important things hope grew and she wandered through her of her life had slipped away (the bearing days with suppressed excitement: "they" and rearing of children)), rather than were giving it a second look, that facethe fufilment of a life-time ambiless group of persons who worked for the tion to write. And then the feeling magazine and read unsolicited manuof panic, in case, perhaps, that she scripts, relegating hers perhaps, to was indeed indulging in a silly hobby that special pile of "possibles". "kept her busy". Surely this was Kay, freelance journalist-photographerthat this force within her that striving, covered local events in her small town had to be put into words was real, was for three newspapers and two radio indeed a talent which had to be heard? i stations. This led to further coverage The long working hours: her apprenticefor the women's page in the daily synship towards fluency. dicated paper which ultimately launched This summer she had gone camping her into feature stories and a weekly and canoeing with her husband. Coming column. by JOYCE DUNN,' home from these trips, tired and sunShe attended Council meetings and s supreme burned, the sleeping bags and boxes sat through countless stultifying sesden, of stale left-over food crowding her sions, dashing home later that night a riot of colour, kitchen floor, she would look up her to evolve a coherent report out of in the fragrance hurried scribblings and remember the what had been the trite haranguing of wers. glow of sunsets and the opalescence a group of well-meaning aldermen. In y is her life of early mornings. In between the order to fight back the antipathy she e says: plague of so-called friends, who dropfelt radiating from the mayor, who, o anything!' ped in uninvited as they passed. with his back to her, was constantly answer her trying to silence the vociferous alder- through in their campers, crowded cars or worse, the grown children of friends men, she developed a callousness, a o the flowers." long forgotten, who stopped for a free poker faced indifference. At public meal, she managed to write of her m hearings, she would wedge her way been an opressive day. travels, jubilant of the good coverage through the small group of citizens the long envelope in her she got, and best of all, the reward squeezed into the small village office, at at the kitchen table and of extra payment. She felt gratfied, o as they protested the attempt on the ough the window of the grey and her growing bank account gave her world of Novemeber, letting the part of the paunchy real estate agent, of self worth. But, late at a sense of cold momentary despair en- to turn their residential area into a' night, thoughts tumbling in her mind, She knew again the destructive coomercial zone. Or she would sit she would go down to her basement room ailure and disappointment. That stolidly through lenghty discussions and write her stories. on garbage disposal, or the installation glow in the back of her mind, Kay looked down at the letter and of water pipes. deep in heart?, extinguished. smiled wryly. Sometimes a few words Sometimes she got angry phone calls. rted whe she first mailed the would w be added to the rejection slip, At first she shook and stammered, but anuscript, punctuated, neat; or a letter inclosed instead with some as time wentron, she grew brave, devult of all the scribblings, kind criticism telling her either that eloping a toughness, doing her research heets from the typewriter, khr story was banal, or too melodramthoroughly, avoiding abvious pitfalls. ts of the original inspiration ,atic or, from a small magazine, that launched the agony and ecstasy Conquering sheer panic at camera failure the back log of manuscripts was too her palms sticky with sweat, she faced the story. And here it was, big to accomodate her contribution. the group of posing Chamber of Comightly worn looking in the She would seethe, die a little, the merce executive members, her confident ssed envelope,' rejected. glow extinguished, leaving in its stead, smile belying confusion. That too, e years, Kay had invented a a world where there was no life, theree. After tailing the manuscript, she overcame by learning the intricacies fore no tastes, no scents, no colour. of the camera which, in her profession, consciously despatch its For days after a rejection she would carbecame an extension of herself-, the to the farthest part of her visual reflection of factual reporting ury it deep, forgotten for ORT STORY OTHER IN fi CliNYON ' cont'd next page Northern Woman Journal, page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �icacy proffered with the same enthusiasm the impact of the glittering river as the showing of the flowers, would be seen from her living room window. All followed by accounts of grandchildren, ephemeral in texture, the force of whose pcitures crowded the top of the imagery pressed upon her mind's eye, old upright piano. to be revealed in the written word. At last, ready to leave, Kay would It was later on in the day when kiss the faded cheek, detecting that the phone rang. By this time Kay had quick flash of sadness clouding the thrown the manuscript in the drawer a bright eyes. As Kay reached the rickety already full of other such dismal fai. gate, she would smile, adjusting it ures. Giving the rejection slip a cur back on its warped hinges, a small delay sory glance (no comments this time) as she turned her back on her old friend. she went back upstairs and started to By the time Kay had slipped behind the make her Christmas cake. She was hapwheel of her car, Mrs. Blossom had pily mixing the fruited batter with moved forward a little and was standing her hands when the persistent ringing amongst her flowers with that look of of the phone interrupted her. yearning that Kay was noticing more and Nerves taut, exasperated, and more, a look which betrayed the impatedge to her voice, Kay snapped: ience that the 88 year old woman felt "Hello..." There was a slight pause, ry this dead weight in her heart, her nortoward her great age, compelling her to a rustling then the sound of Mrs. mal good humour gone, the edge of her say often as she now stood on the Blossoms voice, a little frightened, temper sharp. But eventually an inner perifery of the life she loved so saying, "Hello, hello, is that you strength would rise within her. Undewell: "I don't do anything." Kay? I hope I have the right number... feated she would gather up her forces Kay decided to write her tribute in Ashamed and contrite, reassuring and go back to her old self and to interthe form of a poem. As the clock ticked her caller, Kay held the receiver viewing local celebrities, old-timers, away the afternoon, she wrote effortless- delicately, as she would a flower, any attending Friendship teas and Council ly, each ward carefully chosen, comparing listened humbly with child-like gratmeetings. Mrs. Blossom'scspecial charm, to her itude as the familiar rough old voice Trapped in her local environment, bright garden. Later on, she took the in its hestitant, modest way reKay longed to soar, to reach out bepoem down to her den, typed it and mailed jected the poems praise, thanking the yond her boundaries. The closest thing it off to the little weekly paper. writer for its tribute. Her increasto an escape was her column., which was Kay did not think too much of her ing deafness making conversation over an expression of either her concern, poems. She likened them rather to the phone virtually impossible, Mrs. humour or sometimes a description of the lyrical tunes children could Blossom acutely embarassed as always, a rural scene in her own small town. dance to, or to the violets that grew by her lack of hearing bid Kay an It was her poems, however, that in the shade of tall grasses by mountabrupt goodbye. gave wings to her spirit, creating ain streams in the summer. Happy and Replacing the telephone delicately, a momentary perception of life, a total insignificant, a personal pleasure, in order perhaps not to break the magjoyful understanding of the world an indulgence which the people who ic of the moment, her moment--this spe around her. On sunny days she would read them enjoyed. Once, she had ial joy, Kay deposited the instrument run down to the river with Domino, the sent a group of what she considered back soundlessly, the opressiveness black and white mongrel dog, to sit her best poems to a magazine, but she of the day gone. No one could mar, by the shore and watch the water turn had never heardl...A great writer had criticize or reject the intrinsic black,as the rays of late afternoon sun once compared sending off poems for happiness she felt at times like emblazoned the leafless trees to gold, publication, to the dropping of a these. against the dark autumn sky. Picking up feather into a canyon. a stick for the dog to chase, she In flashes of cruel self-analysis walked along the gravel shore and as Kay wondered what possesed her to she did the poems would echo in her brain continue in this pursuit of life as Joyce Dunn is a freelance journalist, and clearly, like music in words, spring she so often saw it--the trembling and creative writer who lives in to her mind.Like a girl then, laughvision caught on the wings of a song, Chase British Columbia. ing, she would chase the dog back up the hill to the house and there, at the kitchen table, quickly snatching up a piece of paper, she would write in words the poetry of sound she had heard by the river. It was last week that Ruth Brown, editor of the local weekly paper, had asked if Kay would write a "little something" for the S-- Weekly, to commemorate the occasion of Kitty Blossom being chosen Mother of the Year. As she sat down to write the "little something" for Mrs. Blossom, Kay had smiled happily at the memory of the old lady showing her around her small women agqinst mence garden. Each spring, by special invitation, Kay was summoned to this bowery of colour, with the important news that "the orange lilies were out in bloom" and that the delay of even one day would diminish their glory. In the balmy fragrance of the spring day, Kay was introduced to each and every flower, until with supressed excitement, which had begun with the careful study of the first flowering bush, the old woman guiding Kay round the corner of the house, would come upon the orange lilies and point them out proudly, their gleaming petals unfurled like mute horns proclaiming the joy of spring. Later on, the tour over, Mrs. Blossom would lead Kay into the dim parlour, cluttered with the memories of a long life and invite her to partake of that special dish, Gooseberry Fool. The del- A CONFERENCE MAY 18 , & 20, 1979 FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKER TOPICS COVERED: HELEN LAFONTAINE TRUDY DUNNE LEAH COHEN JOANIE VANCE RAPE********BATTERED WOMEN*******SUBTLE VIOLENCE TO BE HELD AT Confederation College in the Shuniah Building. THE CONFERENCE IS FREE OF CHARGE, HOWEVER IT IS NECESSARY TO PRE-REGISTER FOR MEALS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BROCHURE WRITE: Women's Centre, 316 Bay St., Thunder Bay P or call 345-5841 sponsored by: NORTHERN WOMEN'S CENTRE, RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, NWO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DECADE CO-ORDINATING COUNCIL, WOMEN IN TRANSITION CRISIS HOMES INC. Northern Woman Journal, page-12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �It's spring....a time when fashion designers haul out their new lines and attempt to create an excuse for people to spend money. Although women are pretty 'much past the question of clothes, it is interesting to note the re-emergence of the emphasis on fashion that has taken place over the last few years. Even MS. MAGAZINE finds it worthy enough of a feature article entitled "How to get dressed and still be Yourself". Fortunately most of us are beyond the mentality where it is of any great concern. But here, just for a laugh, we reprint an article that appeared as a "RETORT IN A SPIRIT OF SERIOUS LEVITY", in the CANADIAN HOME JOURNAL January 1932. The author, Martha Banning Thomas has gathered her wits to respond to an article that the CANADIAN HOME JOURNAL, Novemeber 1931 by one Dr. Benge Atlee entitled "Are Women Sheep?". The article accuses women of frivolously modelling themselves on the Paris and London dictators of fashion. The respons to his assertion was overwhelming, but two responses were chosen...the following and one by Judge Emily F. Murphy, first women magistrate in all of Canada. Both and thought provoking. Add are witty so we present: BU T AREN'T MEN PE\GUINS busy for their firms some where else. No one with an honest heart, will try to lay the invention of a single, modern convenience at her door, not (circa, 1932) even the hump-hair pin or freewheeling ernity, etc. What a place man, oh what But she did her bit about destiny. a place this poor spinning world: Yes, it's a man-made world--bless their By being beautiful in a deadly sumptWheels turning. Whistles blowing. Facpompous little hearts:: And it all began uous way, and by selecting important tories screaming with energy and proa number of thousands of years ago during people like Ceasar and Antany' for her duction. No colour anywhere, but posa period known as ".THE BRUTE MANAGEMENT playmates, she nearly cracked up civsibly flowers. (Was God all wrong SITUATION." A girl had to pretty and sly ilization She invented high bloodabout beauty?) No parties, no fun, no and crafty in those days to get her own pressure, and gave the outstanding quarrels, no children bothering about way.And more often than not, she got a portrayal of a vamp. Those men ...just millions upon millions of smart clip on the head with the family were intelligent, too. Emperors and business suits going to work in the cudgel. All this must have been rather such in their own home towns, orators, morning. trying. dictators, the leaders of their people. It's a deperate vision, rather. But what could she do? What can a canDon't deny that the woman had as much Isn't it---honestly? And here we might ary do about an eagle? Absolutely nothing power as a fleet of oil-burners. be bold enough to mention the names but chirp at it and hope for luck. OfAfter that, time went on, as it alof a few out of hundreds of women, who course, in a manner of speaking, the ways does somehow--until fashions for have exercised a world-wide influence? woman got used to being dragged around men got gayer and gayer. Women just Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton by the hair of her head, of being hurled about gave up competing, and went a(organization here, surely), George hither and yon in the spirit of sport, of round in the sulks. Silks, satins, Eliot, Mrs. Siddons (the great tragic being tossed about at the caprice of her plumes, laces, curled ringlets, slashed of the English stage), and in modern darling, protective Neanderthal hubby. sleeves. Magnificent: But was it manly? days, the Pankhursts, Jane Adams, This went along for quite a while, in Everybody thought so at the time. Men Edith Cavell, Margaret Sanger. Who fact several hundred of cycles. Then the put on stylish wars, and women praised can calculate what they have done? beginnings of civilization began a faint, them in a crafty manner, and did more Nobody. feeble twitter. Caves were more or less and more what they wanted. But to return to clothes--always a abandoned, bludgeons thrown away in favThere were the female Medicii for man's petulant wail. Is there (be brave) our of swords, art, literature, buildinstance. There's a family for you. anything more depressing than a bowler ings and organized war cropped up deterSome of them bad, very bad. And the hat? More fatiguing than a claw-hammer? minedly. Women learned to manage their Borgias. But lEterature still works More dismal than masses of white shirt affairs with greater craft and skill. up a fever and dumb ague for them. The bosoms, stiff ties, black evening Helen of Troy happened. She did not hand that rocked the cradle, fooled clothes...the endless formal procession erect an assembling plant for cars, but the world. Give them gals their due. of Penguins at a party? in her girlish (sheepish) way she was They matched their wits with strength, Oh, sometimes could scream for a the cause of assembling large armies precedence and crushing dominance. And dashing, red sash, satin knee breeches who fought and raged about the city gates, they've sent their somewhat doubtful ...anything to lift the deadly pall and kicked up a memorable dust. She names ringing down the centuries. of black. They're all alike. All scared homes and humanity. wrecked heroes And so forth. There was Good Queen of being conspicuous. Not a noble achievement, but they couldn't Bess. No use going into that. Everyone Dispiriting sight! And if we women Take this idea home and live stop her knows what a booby she made out of the wore the same? The world would go inwith it a while; it's a good one. One elegant Essex. Women auch as she do not sane. haven't more time now. I've need to herd together in corporations, woman had the world by the ears. She got got to whip around the corner and orand holding companies, and lodges and results. Poets sang of her, wrote volder a couple of solid business suits. parades. They encompass a whole epoch umes of blank verse which boys and One will have to do for frying eggs in themselves. girls to this day must translate in and doughnuts and washing the dishes and sweeping etc. It will soon be order to be called educated. Certainly you must allow Helen her slice smelly and spotty and reeking of a Now we come to something else. It's of international influence? She did pitiful to think how soon after this men thousand kitchen odours. The ether will nor require a Wall Street...she was due for calls, having the parson in got scared.Scared of being pointed at, a panic all by herself. for tea, errands, pcinics, movies, picked out in -a crowd, commented upon. informal suppers given for the husband's Gradually they laid aside their beautQuite a while before this, men's law partner. iful, colourful attire. They swarmed clothes took a turn for the better. And I'll be laughed at, and hooted by the thousands, into homespun, dull, They discarded for good and all,the drab fabrics, that made them look exactat and made utterly miserable. By whom? old fashioned one piece leopard skin. By men...dear brothers and sisters...! ly alike. (It has occurred to that magThey went in for pleated,short skirts men who like their ladies well-dressed. nifying glasses might have been made at with a smart design embroidered on the By men who poke fun at plain straight time, though really don't know. hems. They wore flathy helmets, and thinking, resolute, somewhat unfeminine Anxious wives could thus go about se(irchbelts and breastplates. And tunics. ,women who have fought valiantly for ing for their husbands in the dun colYou simply got nowhere without a tunic. oured crowd (But this is beside the point)their less vigorous sisters. And there was much purple and fine Women are not men, nor ever can be. Pilgrams and Puritans clung to wide, linen here and there, even rings and But aren't men...penguins? white collars and silver shoe buckles, bracelets. but a cherry ribbon for the hair of their Then naturally, there was Patty, ladies, was blasphemy. Yes, the woman known to students of history as Cleosubmitted. They had to. Give them the patra. But her pals called her all bone and frame and sinew of the mole, sorts of cute little names, even great leave out the charm, gaiety, love, matbig strong men who should have been PO' MARTHA BANNING THOMAS. . I , I I I Northern Woman Journal, page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Understanding PRO-CHOICE Canadian Association for Repeal of For an individual Abortion Law membership ($15.) or family membership ($25) send a cheque to CARAL, Box 527, Station Z, Toronto Ont. M5N 2A6 Recently the Right to Life organization in Thunder Bay has been appearing on local talk shows, and carrying on a drive for memberships. To balance the picture,we present the following explanation of what it means to advocate Childbirth by It is important when ponderChoice. ing this often emotional issue to keep the facts in mind. It is only then that a sane and healthy decision is made. WHAT IS CHILDBIRTH BY CHOICE? Briefly, childbirth by choice means freedom in planning one's family. It means not being FORCED to bear a child. It means not being FORCED to have an abortion. We believe that a woman should have the freedom to choose whether or not to continue an unplanned, undesired preganancy. We believe that restrictive abortion laws, far from solving the abortion problem, only make it worse. Canada reveals that one third of those obtaining legal abortions in 1976 were under 20. This is a regrettable situation. But consider what might have happened if those abortions had NOT been granted. For women under 20, the physical costs of compulsory child birth are particulatly high, since it is a well documented fact that pregnancy in either the early or late childbearing years increases the risk of maternal mortality. Further adverse consequences for the adolescent may be interrupted education, restricted marriage opportunity and general economic hardship. There is also a greater risk of mortality and illness in the infants born to adolescents. One sees then, that compulsory childbirth in adolescence costs society dearly, in both human and dollar terms. UNWANTE DNE SS Opponents of abortion law repeal appear to centre their concern for life on fetal life. They do not seem A WORLDWIDE TREND: to consider the fate of the unwanted At the beginning of 1971, 380 of child produced by compulsory childthe world's people lived in countries birth. Two studies, comparing children where legal abortion was liberally born to mothers whose request for available. By early 1976 the figure abortion has been refused with a conhad increaded to 640, nearly two trol group of children born to mothers Few social thirds of the world. who had not requested abortion indicate changes have ever swept the world so that the former are worse off in every rapidly. The worldwide movement, in repspect...Forssman and Thuwe, after evidence on every continent, reflects; a 20 year study in Sweden, reported an increasing willingness by national that children born to women whose legislatures to face the reality of applications were rejected showed a abortion as a major public health issue. significant pattern of social and The international record shows that emotional disability. A study in Prague prohibition of abortion does not preof 200 children under the same cirvent its practice. Restrictive lews cumstances yielded similar results. only assure that abortion will often Ofcourse psychiatrists have long recbe inexpertly carried out under cland ognized the damage caused by maternal estine circumstances, rather than rejection, and some of them believe safely performed under hygenic condthat one of the most important goals itions with competent medical superof preventive psychiatry is the prevision. vention of unwanted offspring. LIBERALIZATION AND WELL-BEING ADOPTION Many countiqes have liberalized One often hears the glib slogan, access to abortion, including sever"Adoption not Abortion". Those who al societies that have much in common hold this view are either unaware of with out own --U.S.A., France, Great or indifferent to the trauma of giving Britain, AusLria, Israel, Italy, and a child up for adoption. In fact, the Scandinavian countries. women who have experienced both giving Although different laws, policies a child up for adoption and having and judicial decisions have evolved an abortion invariably say that abortion in each country, the official durisis less traumatic. and studies which dicition in each case is the same- compare the psychological reactions the physical, mental, social and of three groups of women (those who economic well-being of the woman had an abortion, those who gave the concerned. child up for adoption, and those who None of these countries encourages kept the child that they bore), found abortion, or enforces compulsory that although all groups experienced abortion through its laws or policies some stress, it was clear that the and most emphasize strongly the adabortion patients fared better convantages of preventative contraception. siderably than those giving up children But each state tacitly recognizes in for adoption. its laws that without broad access The number of newborns available to abortion, legally, for the poor for adoption have in fact declined in as well as the rich, maternal health past years for a variety of reasons. and family well-being will suffer. The idea that some women should be FORCED to have babies so that others ADOLESCENTS may adopt them is surely unthinkable Many women seeking abortions in Canada are adolescents. Statistics in a democratic society. GREATER HEALTH RISKS WHEN ABORTION REFUSED Advocates of Compulsory childbirth often make the claim that women who seek and obtain abortions suffer grave psychological and physical consequences. This is refuted by the emminent psychiatrist Dr. Wendall Watters, who, after a thorough and painstaking analysis of many studies states that "A woman is at greater risk to her mental health when she is refused safe, legal abortion, if that is what she really wants, than if she is granted one. Committees refusing abortions in such instances are contributing to the ill-health of Canadian women." He continues, "Apart from the risk to her emotional health is she is forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term, a woman is at a greater risk medically. The mortality rate following childbirth is much higher than that following abortion." In addition, he states,"The rate of immediate complication following induced abortion is low. Further, it is related to the length of gestation (very low in first trimester abortions) it is realted to the procedure utilized (very low in vacuum apirations), and it is related to the experience and expertise of the health care personnel (very low in free standing clintis, where high volume provides an opportunity for operating skills to be perfected). SUBSTITUTES FOR CONTRACEPTION? Supporters of restrctive abortion legislation argue that readily available abortion becomes a substitute for contraception. Studies carried out recently in the U.S., however, indicate the contrary: most women,,,,fraim, who have sought and received legal abortions request contraceptive advice and materials and go on to use them responsibly. This experience is similar to that reported in other countrtes. In Great Britain, where ready access to abortion is combined with a thorough programme for public education in contraception, the abortion rate is one of the lowest in the world. Conversely, in most Latin American countries, where abortion is severely restricted and contraception is not promoted, the abortion rate is among the highest. It is not surprising, in fact, that most women, given the choice, prefer contraception to abortion. Even if there were no other dimensions to the abortion decision, it is common sense that few people regard any surgical operation lightly. CONTRACEPTION Many people believe that there would be no need for abortion if all couples used contraception except when they desired pregnancy. It is true that if reliable family planning information, education and services were universally available, the number of unwanted pregnancies could be significantly reduced However, failures can occur with all current methods of contraception, and even responsible users of EFFECTIVE methods may occasionally find themselves faced with unwanted preganancies. More significant is the fact that several conditions existing in our society create a climate where couples may experience unwanted preganancies. Otore,-51 Northern Woman Journal, page 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Since contraception was against the law until 1969, there is no tradition of sexual responsibility in this country. *Many people still reit), on INEFFECTIVE methods of birth control to prevent pregnancy. It is often difficult for adolescents to obtain contraceptive services and information. In this age of effective female contraception, the male may not always be aware of his equal responsibility. *In this age when doctor-provided contraception receives so much emphasis, many people are not aware that effective contraception (especially effective when used in combination) are easily available at the corner drugstore. *Contracpetion and allied subjects are inadequately covered by our medical schools and thus doctors often give poor advice on this subject. *The government supplies free brochures about birth control to all who ask for them, but unfortunately the quality of information is not always reliable or useful, especially with respect to respect for life in society, leading to the advocacy of euthanasia and other Nazi policies. In fact, no country in the world has legalized euthanasia, not is considering doing so, although 640 of the world's population live in countries where abortion is legal. It is also note worthy that Nazi Germany was the only durisdiction in modern history which has punished ABORTION WITH THE DEATH PENALTY. And Nazi Germany was the only jurisdiction in modern history that legalized and enforced euthanasia. CANADA"S LAW Abortion is legal n Canada only when a hospital abortion committee certifies that a women's life or health is likely to be endangered by the continuation of a pregnancy. While appearing to promise access to abortion for serious reasons, the law places many obstacles in the way of women seeking the termination of unwanted pregnancy, and in fact denies abortions to many Canadian women who need them. Section 251 of the criminal code teenagers. requires that abortions be performed WHO IS PRO-ABOTION?? in only approved or accredited hospThe most effective way of reducing itals which have a Therapeutic Abortthe abortion rate is ofcourse the ion Committee of at least three docactive promotion and encouragement of tors. The Committee must rule on is difficult to It contraception. applications for abortions and none understadd therefore, why self-styled of the doctors on the Committee is "right to life" organizations either allowed to perform the operation. ignore contraception or actively oppose it. Malcolm Muggeridge, a leading spokes- There are several shortcomings in the law as it stands: man for these groups, has publicly proNo hospital, even though publicly claimed his opposition to contracpetion. One "right to life" organization, Birth- financed is encouraged to establish a Therapeutic Abortion uommittee. right, includes the following position No hospital, even if it has a Ther on contraception in its constitution: apeutic Abortion Committee is required "The policy of every Birthright Chapto perform any abortions. ter and everyone of its members and *No provision is made for the many volunteers in all the Chapter's efforts hospitals outside the major cities shall be to refrain in every instance which cannot find the means to estfrom offering or giving advice on ablish such committees and perform contraception or sterilization and abortions. to refrain from referring any person No woman applying for an abortion to another person, place or agency is allowed to appear before the Therfor this type of advice." apeutic Abortion Committee. This attitude is one which helps *No right of appeal is allowed where to create conditions resulting in a woman's application for abortion more unwanted pregnancies and thus has been denied. more abortions. The claim of such organizations to be "anti-abortion" DISCRIMINATION is therefore not entirely accurate, According to Statistics Canada, only and, objectively, their stance could 271 out of 1359 hospitals have Therealmost be described as "pro-abortion". peutic Abortion Commritees. A survey (The only other "pro-abortionists" are done by DOCTORS FOR THE REPEAL OF THE back street butchers and some questionABORTION LAW reveals that the number able commercial agencies who profit is even in lower. And some Committees excessively from restrictive abortion never grant abortions at all. Thus, laws.) Canadian women cannot be assured of SANCTITY OF LIFE equal access to legal medical procedIt is often held that the sanctity ure. of life is an absolute moral prohibOpponents of freedom of choice deition against abortion. But this plore the fact that a disproportionate view is far from universal, even within number of abortions are carried out the Roman Catholic Church. A well known in some hospitals in big cities like Catholic philosopher, Daniel Callahan, Toronto. They neglect to add that these urges that a "mother should have are the hospitals that often provide a bias in favour of the sanctity of safe abortions to women deprived of life so that abortion would be the them in their own community. (Some LAST rather than the first choice women have come from as far.as Newwhen an unwanted or problem pregnancy foundland to obtain an abortion in occurred. It ought to be avoided if Toronto. These same women, of course, at all possible, but as a part of resdo not and need not travel to Toronto po'ssibility for the dignity of life, to ontain obstetrical services.) it would be morally acceptable if INTERPRETING THE STATISTICS duties to self, family and society, Supporters of restrctive abortion made it the only reasonable choice laws claim that the annual government for her." statistics for therapuetic abortion EUTHANASIA demonstrate "a massive and accelerating The opponents of freedom of choice increase in the number of abortions often link abortion with what they in Canada." This view of the statisterm a progressive deterioration of tics seems to suggest that Canadian women began having abortions when the present law was passed in 1969. In fact, women have always sought abortions when they were unwillingly pregnant, and have had to resort to dangerous illegal procedures when no safe, legal help was available. It is obvious during the past seven years, safe, legal abortions have been replacing illegal ones. But because of our restrictive abortion law, many Canadian women are still forced either to travel to other countries for safe abortions, or to seek out dangerous back street abortions in this country. PUBLIC OPINION As long ago as 1971, the Canadian Medical Association resolved that the decision to have an abortion should be made solely by the woman and her doctor. The Canadian Psychiatric Association has stated that abortion should be removed altogether from the Criminal Code of Canada. Many other well respected organization have echoed these resolutions. A majority of Canadians agree. A Gallop Poll in October 1974 revealed that fully 620 of the adult population believe thatithe abortion decision should be left to the woman and her physician. DEMOCRACY Criminal law in a free society fundamentally reflects a consensus that certain activities should be forbidden. There is a consensus in Canada, for example, that attacking a person on the street or robbing someone are criminal acts. But there is no such consensus about abortion. To impose one moral vie of abortion upon everyone in a pluralistic society, therefore, contravenes the very basis of our criminal law. As Alan Borovoy, general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association states, "In a totalitarian society the tendancy is for the rulerss to decide how the citizens shall live. In a democratic society, the objective, as much as possible, is for each citiz( to decide for himself." THUNDER CLAP to the Fort Frances/Rainy River District women for their admirable celebration of International Women's Day. THUNDER BOLT REAL ESTATE to the Realty Co. 60 PROPERTY FOR SAL responsible for the ad you see here. It was spotted by Helen Lovekin in the March 10 edition of the REALTY LIMITED REALTOR Chronicle Journal. 911 VICTORIA AVE 623 1431 ULU HUSBANDS BEWARE! Do not show this to your wife because she will kneel down in this plushly carpeted living room and plead, then sit in the formal dining room and beg! She'll satisfy your taste buds in this large kitchen, pull off your shoes and love you in the private master suite! Well throw in the carpeting, drapes and dishwasher. You need not woke up just call! Northern Woman Journal, page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE CONFEDERATION COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY THUNDER BAY DISTRICT Spring Programs For Women ZW 002 WOMEN IN THE WILDERNESS Would you like to develop your skills and confidence outdoors in the company of other women, who, like yourself, need just a "nudge" to change their whole outlook on outdoor living? What would it be like to pack your backpack or canoe and head out on your own, or with others, assured of your ability to not only survive, but comfortably enjoy yourself outdoors? Experience the wilderness--it's great. Tuesday evenings April 3rd to May 29th 7 to 10 pm and one overnight (optional) Facilitator: H. Hyer Fee: $30.00 ZW 011 FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR WOMEN A mini course which will serve as an introduction to the subject of Financial Planning. The course will address itself to such questions as: 1.Is RRSP really for you? 2.When do you need insurance, both life and disability? 3.What are the four cornerstones of financial planning? 4.What are the pros and cons of life annuity? In addition, money management, a look at sucessful spending and investment will be explored. Come and learn, it's your money. Thursday evenings, April 5th to April 26th- 7 to 10 p.m. Instructor: L. Johnson Fee: $15.00 ZW 007 Women's Programs provides a variety of programs WOMEN AND STRESS SEMINAR This weekend experiential program is designed to help women learn how to business world or at home, looking for a change in recognize adverse stress factors in direction or just wanting to know what other women are thinking and feeling. There are no prerequisites. Forget their lives, and how to diffuse desabout what your educational background is or is not. tructive stresses. Each participant will be encouraged to "try on" some Come and learn, grow as individuals. proven techniques to deal with and/or alleviate her own stresses through biofeedback, relaxation and positive imaging, and through the development of creative, holistic, wellness-oriented habits. ZW 015 Friday, May 4th, 7 to 10 pm and WOMEN AND HEALTH CONFERENCE Saturday, May 5th, 9 to 4:30 pm Sponsored by the Lakehead Women Teachers Facilitator: J. Evans Association of Ontariof..aimed at Fee: $15.00 exploring the isssues realted to health, this conference offers a variety of workshops to choose from. 1. A Lifetime of Eating 2. Fitness at Home REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DIS3. The Pill and its Alternatives APPOINTMENT EITHER AT THE 4. "It Could Happen To You" REGISTRAR'S OFFICE (8:30 5. How to Talk to Your Doctor am to 4:30 pm) OR AT THE CON6. Stress-Distress TINUING EDUCATION OFFICE 7. Menopausal Myths ROOM 163 (4:30 pm to 8:00 pm) 8. How You Stand--the importance of good posture. *PLEASE NOTE: This Conference is open to regional women teachers until April 1. After April 1st, remaining empty IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INseats will be open to other interested FORMATION ON THESE OR OTHER women, on a first-come basis. WOMEN'S PROGRAMS, DON'T April 27 and 28th, 1979 HESITATE TO CALL 577-5751, Fee: $7.00 designed for women of all ages, married or single, in the EXTENSION 232, 352 or 278. Z W 016 THE NEW FAMILY PROPERTY ACT & SUCESSION DUTIES An information seminar on the new Laws that affect you. Come and learn about them. TUESDAY, APRIL 17th,1979 at 7:30pm RESOURCE PERSONS: P. Smith & J. Packota FREE SENIOR CITIZENS AGE 60 OR OVER, UPON PROOF OF AGE MAY REGISTER FOR ANY SUBJECT AT THE COLLEGE FOR A TUITION FEE OF $5.00 PLUS ANY LABORATORY FEE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: CONFEDERATION COLLEGE - 577-5751, EXT.353 Northern Woman Journal page 16 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Cowls NOM Pa Commis 11111111111111111=1111M Pomp pa. Ennornbre thiddyno clan doirse Sulk third 220 INSIDE: Art and Poetry, seeing ourselves 8-9 RETURN TO: THE.NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Return Postage Guaranteed Life in a Srall town...the findings and 10 outcome of the Hartt Comission KENORA STRIKE- The wives talk back....4 YES women are NOT sheep...But aren't men PJiNGUINV 13 Understanding the stance, "pro-Choice"14 IWD in the region 3 1.111111111111111/11110 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS DUE HAVE YOU MOVED??? PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CALLING (807) 345-5841. We must pay return postage to keep up our mailing list. Subscribe: PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 5 No 2 Description An account of the resource Vol. 5, no, 2 (Apr-May 1979) Title: Northern Woman Journal: Seeing Ourselves Topics include: Thunder Bay Multicultural Association seminar for language barriers 50th anniversary of women becoming persons in Canada Call for short stories by women from Press Gang Publishers International Women’s Day Boise Cascade Lumber strike - Kenora Northern Women’s Credit Union Sexism in unemployment insurance Northern Women’s Centre resource library Poetry Art Royal Commission on The Northern Environment Women against violence conference Understanding pro-choice Confederation College spring courses for women Authors/Contributors: Anna Akerval (cover art) Audrey Anderson (Red Lake, ON - letter to the editor) Novia Hebert Carter (letter to the editor) Gert Beadle Isabel Ulak Monika McNabb Estelle Howard Lynne Kositsky Gayle O’Hanlon Aleata E. Blythe Judy Robinson Viola Goderre Violet Winegarden Lorraine Harris Joyce Dunn Martha Banning Thomas (circa 1932) Canadian Association for Repeal of the Abortion Law (CARAL) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1979-04 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2755/1979_Vol_5_No_1.pdf a32a4983c8e3a1446b9bf7f74da7d9a8 PDF Text Text (743 orilon FEBRUARY- MARCH 1979 50 0/ VOL. 5 NO.1 j 411111111111111111111% oman ourn cir PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EDITORIAL, Women are up to a lot these days, as they gradually infiltrate the business world to become more and more the rule rather than the exception. This issue concentrates on many things. Rosalyn Taylor-Perrett talks to a self-made women, Lauretta Johnson who made it in the business world in the old days. We talk with an artist who is just beginning to see her work as a source of income, ON OUR COVER SiApa K6hop ekeated this beau,ti, 6we coven iettusttation i2a commegr °nate the Intennationae Yearn of the Child. S,ucpa was born in Fintand but raw Zivez in Thundet Bay. S he mo6tty doe ate tvoiLk 4c,A. hen Priend4. Hen itewsttationis appear in SALT AND YEAST. creasingly more visible, and almost Broadening our scope a little, this commonplace, in the world around us. Wha issue takes a look at what women it indicates is that a lot of speaking in Canada have of the Asian culture out and serious thought is resulting in to say about feminism and how it relates irreversable changes. Hopefully to their own experiences. It is time for some we will all be affected for the better us to recognize the unique battles by the best of these changes. of other women that are related to This year, 1979 has been declared the many years of an even more oppressive International Year of the Child. To culture and tradition than that which herald this commemorative year in prevails in North America. Are they new feature a this issue we introduce perhaps victims of a sexism that is entitled OUR CORNER which is for young a result of a racism that we ourwomen...i.e. well under 20. We decided selves feel and perpetuate. that this issue might also be a good It has been mentioned to us by one in which to recall an idealized readers and perusers of the Journal set of rights for the child...rights that women learn and benefit most through which might become formalized if the w exposure to the experience and ideas Year of the Child is successful. of other women. So perhaps it is time to focus on those very things by profiling diverse women in the pages of our paper. Women are doing. That is becoming in GERT'S GOSPEh The movement has the blahs! From the east coast to the west the spirit sags and we are left wondering if this crazy current we are so firmly plunged into is a madness that will pass. Are we solid? Are we committed? Do we believe we are a part of something that will last a thousand years? If we believe that what arrogance permits us the luxury of supposing, all our passion and fire will count for nothing unless it is our generation that turns the world around. What immature foolishness is it that drives us to make martyrs of ourselves for us end up snivelling because nobody recognized how allseeing and all-knowing we were. A poet said, "I've tasted every vine. The last was like the first. And yet I've found no wine, as wonderful as thirst." We are in the business of creating a thirst. But God help us if we imagine our role is perfecting the formula that will quench that thirst. We thirst for the reality of all we are. The true survivors of the planet. To come this far in history without being persuaded that we are invincible It must be is ludicrous to imagine. that we have the wit and intelligence to say what must be said, or to do what must be done. To be depressed because we haven't the sense of humour to view the scope of human response with all the grace of a winner is clearly a failing reserved for children. We owe blind allegiance to nc one or nothing. The term sisterhood does indeed call for some new code of ethics. If it did no more than recognize the diversity of the human capacity to think, it would solve a problem in communication. Self-interest makes us users and self-awareness recognizes how easily we fall into that trap. EVERY SYSTEM LIVES TO BE CHALLENGED, EVERY ATTITUDE TO BE EXAMINED. As feminists we are half the way there if would only realize this principle. The commonality of women is such a gut thing. The amount of time we spend proving our differences, hanging our guilt trips on somebody else is such a waste of precious time and energy that it is sure to do us may be accused of not facing all in. reality, but my response is that I I ient for our time. We can hide in a have faced it, stepped over it and dismissed it. cave or stand in the storm and enjoy the lightning. The times call for If my code of ethics is rooted in a total risk. Every route is worth my desire to bring the best possible coesidering that does not challenge committment to the movement, it is the core of individual integrity. not for duty's sake, please God, but Without that strong personal committmer for sheer love and gratitude for what to honour and self-discipline, we it revealed in me to me. Class means have nothing to offer. We have a resnothing to me. A feminist is in a class by herself. I've worked for love and ponsibility to study the history of I've worked for money and I've worked women and movements to be productive would recommend for pure pleasure. in the cause, to stand against presall three. People who think that sure inside and outside the circle. their justification for existence is Sometimes the feminist press itself pontification should never be taken is oppressive. It reeks of bleeding seriously neither by themselves or egos, and weary footsoldiers slogging by others. We perpetuate the class systhrough the mud, laying their tattem even in our small circles...the tered bodies on some man-made cross. doers doing and the deciders deciding No sense of humour, no light at the what they would have done differently end of the tunnel, no upward moveIf they hadn't been too busy with their ment of the spirit, just fuel for a own little world to do what the doers fire that they haven't yet decided did. It's a minor irritation, hardly what to do with. We are being led by the defeated, worth confrontation. Women riding on the backs of other tutored by the frustrated, and coopted by the powerful. But we whose women is a present threat. No true feminist would do it. No true feminist feet were bound for a thousand years whose genitalia is still being mutwould allow it. Rather than deal with ilated, whose bodies are sold and these truths, we cry "foul" and "butt whose minds have been stifled, have out" and sow disillusion in the whole movement. We have miles to go and a thirst to open this can of worms mountains to climb, We haven't time that civilization has kept a lid on. to hold a funeral service for every Are we like Pandora's box,filled how with dark dangerous things? Or are stone in the road, no matter to our own surprise, tougher much we enjoy the mourning ritual. we its than we knew, stronger than we supIn the foulest days of slavery, posed, more intelligent than we victims sang, "Some day, some day, from the dreamed. Will we find that when we we shall be released," up have thrown the garbage out, there gut and the bone they believed it. is enough love to build that woman The will to survive is rooted in the oppressed. The thirst is established of tomorrow ? Polarization is the act of an if it finds its first expression in uncontrolled fury; even if that fury immature person. Honest confrontatit is productive.. ion is exhilarating and God knows is di-rected inward, tell you need the practice.The movement is An old farmer like me will blueberries is bigger than any of us and that may that the best crop of be precisely where the difficulty lies found on burned over muskeg. It may never be full blown until we We are not the movement, whatever speak from the importance we attach to oursleves. are full grown. grass roots as one who never knew We are a small vanguard, lifting a had privprivilege and whom, if few lids, stirring a few pots, loosing (mainly from our own ankles) ilage today would give it away. It a few chains road to my would be a stone in the weighing a few alternatives, dabbling personal development. Two things we with political philosophy (man-made), alive and not have to learn. We are wild to give birth (without labour forever. To be fully alive one must pains ofcourse) and refusing to be impregnated with any idea but our be stimulated physically, mentally and spiritually. This movement has own. provided me with all three. It will Now for the good news. We are the live. a necessary ingred- not die while hope of the future I , I I . , I Northern Woman Journal, page 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Local committee fights sex role stereotyping by Monika McNabb had to fight to Six years ago visit my child's classroom and when suggested at a parent-teacher meeting that we look at sex-role stereotyping in textbooks, faces of "what are you talking about" stared back at me. Affirmative action in this area has been a long time coming and today we have the Lakehead Board of Education Committee on Sex-Role Stereotyping am a member as a of which representative of the Women's Centre The other members are involved in the educational field and the primary goal is to raise the awareness of educators regarding The Ministry the problem of sexism. of Education has issued a Resource Guide on Sex-Role Stereotyping and Women's Studies for teachers which includes suggestions, units of study and resource lists. To implement this guide, the following suggestions were made at the Sex-Role Stereotyping and Women's Study Conference held *ast September in Toronto: - encourage the regional Ministry to implement the guide by such means as a) discussion of guide with administration and Principals b) helping implement a course of studies at the Faculty of Education - inservice training for principals and teachers to raise the level of awareness in this area - Principals should be encouraged to include elimination of sex-role stereotyping in the schools in their -,177*#mm*mm000w goal-package - curriculum developed for the Lakehead Board should be reviewed for bias - the sex-role stereotyping committee of the Board of Education should continue to provide a team to go to schools for in-service workshops on P.A. days, and Principals should be made aware of this service. To date, the Committee has developed a presentation for Principals which can be given to I I I other groups as well. This includes the film "He and She" (delineates SRS) and how it relates to our concerns, statistics on women in the work force, single male parenting, giving examples and positive ideas on things that must be changed and a display of supportive material. Part of this display is a "trunk" of non-sexist learning material which can be circulated to schools. We have also previewed a film on Careers which is intended to be shown to children from grades 7-10. The Committee found the film to be heavily biased and decided to reject it. Letters were sent to individuals concerned with the production of it BRIEFS MAIDEN NAME Whether you are married, separated or divorced, you can change to your maiden name by the following: -take your birth certificate to Manpower or UIC office and ask for a Social Insurance Change of Name form. The person in the office will take your sworn oath that you are who you say you are. If there is no one in the office (i.e. at noon time) go to the Ministry of Northern Affairs on the corner of Donald & May Street. No charge of any kind is as well as to members of the Board of Education indicating that the film is not appropriate and should not be shown in schools. If you are concerned about this aspect of your child's education here are several things you can do find out what your child is reading and learning in school; make sure your child is being given open, nonbiased career counselling; make the next book you buy or borrow role free. Reading lists, articles, short stories, books and career counselling material are available in the Resource Library at Women's Centre. Why not use them? up a permanent residence for women who have been raped, sexually assaulted, and battered. They will also serve abused children. A questionnaire will be distributed to areas in their city, similar to the study conducted by the Women in Transition Project in Thunder Bay. It is great to centres being establsihed in the smaller communities such as Kenora, where there usually is a high incidence of rape and battering. Congratulations to Rossalyn, Diane and Diane. Eve and the Rape Crisis Collective involved. -this form is sent to Ottawa and when it is returned VOILA! Now to change your driver's license. Take the form and your birth certificate to the Department of Transport and tell them you have reverted to your maiden name and they will take it from there. If you want your name changed completely, this is another story and must be done through the courts and the Change of Name Act. Information provided by Donna Phoenix Recently on a visit to Kenora dropped into the Crisis Centre for Women. Three women have been hired under a Canada Works Project to set I The Resource Library now has a collection of 248 books with a couple of new ones on order which deal with sexual harassment and menstruation. We regularly receive 24 periodicals and magazines of interest to a variety of tastes including Akewesasne Notes, Gay Tide, Information - Status of Women, Kinesis, Pandora, Upstream, feminist newsletters from across the country, Perception (social commentary) and our latest is the always informative, interesting and funny New Woman. Reading, learning, growing is good self therapy. Take a positive step down to 316 Bay today! UTTERS Hi Everyone, Please renew my subscription to the Northern Woman Journal. Keep the change. wish it could be much, much more. enjoy reading your paper from the first to the last word. Have enclosed some Dryden Observer clippings and an interesting story that you might be able to use in the Journal or post on the bulletin board. Thanks so much for all of your concern in regards to women. Wishing you more and more success with the Journal. May it grow and reach more and more women. Can't wait for the next issue. Sincerely, Kathy Gunderson. Thank4 Kathy. Ut apwteciate it. I I Hello and best wishes for '79 from Kenora: became aware of your newspaper came to Kenora two months when ago and truly enjoyed the editorials, articles, letters and poetry...I am not fully aware of the struggle I I women have been and are experiencing but your newspaper helped open my eyes to a lot more wrongs within our society. Thanks. Hopefully, when everyone begins to realize that we are all people; living, working, fighting and struggling within the same sphere--then maybe we can all live, work, fight and struggle together for the comfeel that mon good. Until that time, that it is folks like yourselves who help to bring us closer to that point in space. Your efforts are appreciated and admired. Your brother, Brian Beaton I Editors, Northern Woman Journal, Thank you for "Once Upon a NonPerson". The article made me more aware (or, to use the jargon, heightened my consciousness) of people in this country who have done significant work in the movement for the rights and dignity of Canadian women and, as you intended for the reader, made me feel very proud of how far back in time the history (or, if you I)110:1 tiotA Think? 1.1JAITe! want to pun it, the "herstory") of this movement's activities goes. A clear, but brief outline such as you have presented backgrounding the women's movement in this country is very useful. It sounds glib, but it is true; with rights go, responsibilities. would very much like to see an article on the responsibilities of people who consider themselves feminists. mean a memBy the term "feminist" ber or supporter of the women's movement. Judith Petch. I I Northern Woman Journal page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �known ONE WOMIIN'S WRY Ontario. Lauretta and Ray had a by Rosalyn Taylor Perrett how some men would try to bait her by showing her manager for Investors Syndicate Limited. She traditionally been done by men. They handled these jobs efficiently and found them enjoyable. teaches product development for this branch and called assist in various departments such strange metal part in his Lauretta presently Johnson is district a occasionally teaches Financial Planning and Investment courses for Confederation College. Lauretta laughs at her many early ventures into business when, as a small girl on the Prairies, she parlayed her weekly allowance of 25C into 75C or more by investing in a box of fifty .22 shells and shooting crows and gophers for the govern- ment bounty of 2C each. She became such a little "Annie Oakley" that by about age 14, the local Sergeant at Arms sometimes invited her to shoot at the local Armoury to encourage the soldiers. Lauretta attended business college in Brandon, Manitoba during the depression. At that time she spent half a day in class and the rest of the day working. Her first full time job was as a general office worker for Gillis & Warren Limited, one of Canada's largest automotive and Lauretta was often to on as shipping, purchasing, cataloguing, costing, counter sales, inventory control, etc. She was fascinated with every aspect of the business. She often saw where improvements could be made and was allowed to institute changes. In the Autumn of 1944, Lauretta's husband was killed. Since he was an only child, Lauretta gave his life insurance to his aging parents. She lost interest in managing the Goodyear warehouse and didn't see any future in working so hard when she no longer had a goal. When the war ended and her sister's and her friend's husbands were returning from overseas, Lauretta felt a desparate need to get away from Brandon. A man from Los Angeles, by the name of Potter, had been courting her. He had Ray been travelling into Canada representing the Industrial Wholesale Lincoln Engineering $45. a month which, she Missouri. Lauretta mar- Louis, Distributors. She received Company assured me, went a lot further in those days. She ried him. Ray's job kept him constantly travelling into Montana, North office manager and Credit Dakota, time to keep the books for accompanied him on worked her way up to Manager and also found two service stations. At that time, Gillis & Warren were distributing tires for Goodyear. When they decided that lack of warehouse space necessitated the discontinuation of tires, Goodyear had to make other arrangements. It was then that Lauretta wrote to Goodyear to say that she had experience in this field and was highly qualified. after, Soon took she charge of the Goodyear tire warehousing for Western Manitoba. It is interesting to note that she got the job because Goodyear had mistakenly thought she was a boy. "My job as manager came about because when I applied, I simply signed my name L. Warren. The manager of Goodyear knew my father and assumed that I was a boy," she explained. "It was quite a blow when he visited the warehouse and saw that a twenty year old girl was managing the distribution of tires, many of which were large tractor tires." Lauretta was married during the war to Charles Willis. He was an artist who became a Major in the army. He was posted overseas only five days after their wedding. While he was away , she worked hard earning as much as possible to help them get started when he came home. During the war years, to a tremendous shortage of male wcrkers, many women were hired to fill jobs that had due of St. a part and asking her to identify it. One day, one of them came in with a greasy hand. With a smirk he asked her what it was. Feeling quite irritable at the time, Lauretta replied briskly "It looks like a metal ars hole for a teddy bear." He was quite stunned but it did put an end to the baiting of the woman Automotive and Industrial Distributor. On another occasion after Potter and Kerr had opebed a Chain Saw Distribution Store, Lauretta, wearing old clothes had gone to the store to check the stock and sort things out. While working in the back repair section where it was cold and dirty, a man overheard her speaking to a cutter about purchasing a load of wood. He sidled up to her and putting his arm around her, said quietly, "You shouldn't be working in such a dirty place dear, I can get you a much better job as a chambermaid." Lauretta never let on who she was. Some time later, while sitting in her glassed-in office, she saw the same man come in to the showroom. He noticed her and spoke to one of the countermen who obvious- Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Lauretta ly told him who she was. He turned several shades of red and left in a hurry. business trips. It soon became evident that up the operation of the business in spite of the these Ray was chronic a alcoholic. Lauretta felt that if they could settle down somewhere and send down roots, she might be able to help him overcome his alcoholism. It was a lot of fun setting fact that the old building was so cold heating system and the so bad wear practically everything she owned to keep warm. Lauretta had to While Morley was Since the automotive business was the one she knew best, Lauretta began to do research for the best area in which to start, and technically in charge of the bookkeeping, Ray the Thunder Bay. While still shelves started. finally decided out on west, Lauretta contacted various factories, lining up the distribution of such lines as Spark Plugs, Friction Materials, Rubber Products, Engine replace- ment parts, Storage Batteries, Welding Eqip- ment, Tools, and many other lines. She persuaded her who had been in banking, to join Morley Kerr, the Company. Unable to locate a warehouse, their business "Potter & Kerr Limited" began in a small run-down building that now houses the Co-Op Book Store. Previously this building had been used for a Restaurant and evidently bootlegging and prostitution. Working late at night setting up shelving, putting away stock, etc. they were often visited by police, who were suspicious that something illegal must be going on. Men were fascinated seeing a woman in this type of business. Lauretta recounted two funny incidents. She noticed respected and throughout Northwestern selling and Lauretta the purchasing and general warehouse management, all had to pitch in to get up and things work care to for her children for a while but she remained on the Board of Directors and was always available for consultation. Ray never recovered from his alcoholism in spite of treatment. Lauretta divorced him, he was paid his full equity in business and he left for the States. Morley and Lauretta continued to carry on. In 1960, Lauretta decided to re-marry and move away. A good offer for the business and it was sold. Later on it was aquired by Acklands. After her marriage, received was Lauretta and her family to moved Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The marriage did not work out. As Lauretta worded it, "His greatest occupational hazard was getting his fingers broken if closed my purse too fast." I Lauretta divorced him and brought her family back to Thunder Bay. Since then, she has worked for Investors Syndicate as a salesperson. When she first joined the company, she was the only woman in a salesforce of over 700 men. Quite a number of woman have joined the Street which used to get so cold that when they came home at night and read the daily newspaper they afterwards stuffed it around the windows to keep the draft out. But it wasn't long before the business got off the ground. They had begun with only $12,000 capital and the gross sales for the first year amounted to approximately $80,000. Within a few years gross sales had reached over a million dollars annually and the company employed twenty-four people. Branches were opened in Fort William, Atikokan and Geraldton. A chainsaw store was also opened. Later, a new building was purchased on Memorial and the Port Arthur and Fort William branches were amal- agreements must be strictly honoured and only the finest products available should be handled. Lauretta has achieved a good many firsts. Not many women become managers at the tender age of twenty, especially in an area that is still predominantly male. When asked why it is that so many women stay with traditionally female occupations and don't venture out, she felt that the biggest barrier women from their owri hesitation. To quote face is Lauretta, "The meek do not inherit the earth, they come last." She believes that women have a great deal more ability than they give themselves credit for. Lauretta's father did not believe in a stereo-typed job-world. He was closer to the old pioneer stock where the women stood shoulder to shoulder with the men and there was no discrimination. They didn't dare discriminate, they couldn't have managed without women. Lauretta admits the that earlier on in her life she Terrace She has more respect for When reviewing Lau- sciously aware of them- Geraldton, Longiac, Schreiber and Bay. retta's career in business it becomes clearly evident that there is a driving force behind this sequence of events. Lauretta's success was not luck, it was years found women quite boring, they were always talking about their kids. women who are con- selves as individuals. She finds herself interested in vital issues for women e.g. equal pay for equal work. She is also concerned about the number of Not women in the job world incidental but planned. The war years had proven to be a testing ground for not be part of a pension plan. Generally she hard work. of women to find out what they were into a capable of. Lauretta did not stumble career in the business, she chose it. "My father was in this of work. He was line Warren of Gillis & Warren Limited. In a family of four girls, there is always one who is father's boy. My family did adopt a boy when I was about twelve but I was always a pal of my dad." The other reason why Lauretta chose this line of work was that she loved every aspect of it. When she defined "success" and the meaning it held for her, she felt that it is necessary to love a career so much it no longer is work. She stipulated that it is important to have a clearly defined goal. "If you have to walk barefoot behind a plough, keep in mind that you are going to own the farm." She does not believe success is easily won. There is a lot of sacrifice and a lot of work involved but also a lot of gamated under one roof. Many more lines of joy. merchandise had been added and much of it was arriving by the carload. mobility of success, The Company was well- log cabin, he was Company since that time. Lauretta's work takes her to Dryden, Sious Lookout, Automotive & Industrial Lauretta and Ray rented an attic room on Waverley Avenue baby boy in 1947 and in 1956 they adopted a six year old girl. Lauretta left in a famous because he had enough brains to get the hell out." To achieve success in business one must be scrupulously honest and offer first-class service says Lauretta. Business Another quote who, when they retire, will notices that men are becoming increasingly cautious since the onset of the women's movement. She scarcely noticed any discrimination during her career but now she is aware that men consciously measure their words to avoid being accused of discrimination. Lauretta, now past sixty, has no plans to retire. Currently she is studying to obtain her degree as a Chartered Financial Planner. Her son. 15 presently taking time off from University where he has been working on his Ph.D. Her daughter is married and Lauretta looks forward to becoming a grandmother in the Spring. Lauretta's children are no longer living at home, but she has a boy living with her whom she supports. He comes from Borneo and is in Canada to further his education. Lauretta, who has a great sense of humour, enjoys telling her friends that he comes from the Iban tribe, who until recent years Lauretta is fond of using, which personifies the were head-hunters. She "Abraham Lincoln wasn't famous because he lived they say 'so long, don't says, "My friends don't say 'good-bye' anymore, lose your head.'" Northern Woman Journal, page 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Somewhat of a recluse, Gayle's ambition now is to go to art school in Toronto; not for ideas, she stresses, just to broaden the scope of her tech- MT FOR ART'S SEE and in natural settings---or two women that are part of the same women- to reflect a dual personality that feel exists. Men don't interest me as subjects. guess because feel that woman is the total--you know-- back to the womb kind of thing. put them in natural settings because identify women with nature." Her work is original. One thing she has never been able to do is copy. Yet at one time in her career, another local artist accused her of doing just that: copying. "About three years ago, a friend encouraged me to do something with my work, so decided would go to see 'someone capable of giving me a critical evaluation. I've always liked criticism, whether it's negative or positive. don't mind just so long as it isn't a neutral reaction. This woman who went to see was an artist herself. She was very snippy with me. She looked at the pictures and said,"What graphics mag azine did you copy these out of? They will never sell in Thunder Bay. The people around here like pictures of the Sleeping Giant." was crushed." As a result, Gayle made her work private again. Only recently,friends in Taos, New Mexico, a small but nevertheless thriving arts centre, took about 25 paintings for display there. He work is striking, indicating a very definite style. Each picture has a great amount of detail, some certainly taking hours just to complete the shading. All of her renderings, both of nature and I I I I I I I I I by elaine lynch nique. "I don't feel that I'm going anywhere here in Thunder Bay." It's not the social life she misses "I tend to stay to myself. don't join groups, women's clubs or go to PTA meetings. figure that teachers, like all of us, have their jobs and th they should, be left to do them as they know best." "I've never joined the formal women movement," she adds. "There's too rrich pressuring that goes on in those circl, You're not free to have your own thoug basically read what everyone has to sit bask and form my say and then don't believe in a own opinions. lot of things that the women's movemen think in some ways that has done. they are spoiling it for themselves." Even though she is a recluse, Gayle has been convinced that late spring would be a good time for a formal show ing of her work here in Thunder Bay. "I probably won't show up when it happens, though," she cringes. "Basically I'm a very shy person. But will certainly be dying to find out what people's opinions are. Really don't have much confidence. If it hadn't been for the encouragement of friends, never would have bothered," she I I I I I I Gayle Chapple is a woman in her thirties who has been through a lot: 2-divorces, learning to be independant, the births of her 3 children, and moves from Thunder Bay to Toronto, to Winnipeg, Edmonton, New Mexico and back to Thunder Bay again. Through it all her desire to create says. works of art has survived. Fortunately, quite a few people Gayle has never really perceived who have seen Gayle's work think that herself as the kind of artist who has she has a lot to offer the art world. something to sell to the world. She But even if her pictures are not a pro. began drawing as a child in Thunder fit making venture, the will keep on Bay. But parental pressure steered doing them. It's as necessary to her her away from making art a career. as breathing. "My parents always encouraged 40,111011"'women are beautiful and ornate. She guess I'm is attentive to sharp and minute detail me a great deal. But and also has a sense of flamboyance, just naturally a rebellious person. occasionally using gold paint. didn't go in for art in school," Apart from a few brief steps forward, she explains sitting in the living To people who repected the ConGayle has never actively marketed her room of her huge 1914 landmark home. federation College Support Staff But her surroundings reflect an artist's work. She has illustrated the Indian for picket line which was made up Act for the Ontario Native Women's Assoctemperament. The unique decor and the most part, of secretaries and iation and did work for a now defunct bits of paraphernalia communicate female kitchen workers. local native clothing business. Other a strong sense of design. than this, she expresses her aesthetics After highschool, Gayle studied in the window fronts of local clothing nursing. She didn't like the professtores. Right now, she says, she is a sion. So she went to Toronto to study To a locally run florist...that little tired of window dressing and would modelling and hairdressing. There she is owned and managed by a woman, for like to devote all her time to art work, met her first husband with whom she an advertisement that the Northern "I've spent the last ten years learnhad 3 children now ages 12, 11 and 6. Women's Credit Union received in the ing," '!she explains; "I guess learning Again her career was unsatisfying. Christmas.Even thougl to be independant. After my first marriage, mail just before She became divorced. At some point the letter is sent by women to women learned that really didn't need a man. she returned to Thunder Bay. Looking the following excerpt reads: could manage quite well on my own with for work, she responded to an ad At times the giving becomes a my children. My second marriage was that would eventually take her to major problem to the busy executive. hardly a marriage. was on my own most Winnipeg to become a window dresser Along with all the extra work that the of the time. As a result my children have (her present profession). Since that season brings, he has to contend learned to become very independant as time she has lived in Edmonton and with the problem of what he is gowell." Taos, New Mexico. Once again she is ing to give and where he is going At one time Gayle was surprised at how --.in Thunder Bay. to get it. After all, his employees easily her three children adapted. During all of this, she entered her and clients are very special people second marriage which also ended in "This is the first time that they and he needs a gift that will show have been in a school for 2 years straight. divorce. his appreciation of their services They moved with me, made their own lunchThroughout all her experiences, to him during the past year.... es since they were about 5 or 6 and they and all her different roles. Gayle And so on... Do you see our point? have always been very accepting of new perceived herself first as an artist. peeple around them." "I've always worked to relax. Presently Gayle shares her large use pen and ink, acrylics home with her children and 3 boarders. Primarily and currently, watercolours. When feel the impulse to work- "We all kind of fe4l into this On Thursday, February 15 at house. We get along well and take whether it be in the middle of the 8:00 pm, the Women's Centre is care of each other. This is a very onight--I get up and do it," she says. pleased to have Dr. Pat Wales, pen household. It's not that there is Gayle has never had the confidence Chiropractor, as guest speaker no discipline," she says looking at to go public. Her work, which usually on NUTRITION AND CHIROPRACTIC her son, who has just arrived home from centres on the themes of women and AS IT RELATES TO STRESS. school but has not inhibited the flow nature has long been the object of Try to attend this informative of conversation. "We talk about things friends' admiration. Some have been evening just for the health of openly...when were in the mood," she her customers. it! laughs. "I have always drawn women...alone I I I I I THUNDERCLAP I , THUNDERBOLT I I I I Thursday night I PrOgraMMing I Northern Woman Journal, page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �TAXATION UNTANGLED or, CHALK UP ANTE dismay...pension, UI...Health Ins., and then the biggest bit of all- Taxation. And as you wondered where all that money goes you may have had your first labour force insight. There are two main reasons for reprinted from the Advisory Council on the Status of Women's THE PERSON PAPERS HAVE YOU EVER FILED AN INCOME TAX RETURN? Filing an income tax return does not seem to have achieved the importance it deserves. In itself, it is a rather tedious, somewhat difficult task which requires a little knowledge of basic arithmetic. But doing it is the first step in coming to terms with Taxation and the reason why taxes are structured in one way or another. Taxation Untangled is not a handy guide to help you file your return. Instead it explains the principles that lie behind our tax structure and shows how they discriminate against women. DISCREET DISCRIMINATION It is not that there is one set of tax laws for each sex. You will not read "Men deduct $2,000. and women deduct $1,000," for this would cause an outcry. As this paper will explain, the discrimination is far more subtle than that, and most of it would not normally come to your attention. It is possible that even if you are among the fortunate few who are acquainted with the joys of tax returns, you may have filled in the facts and figures like an obedient automaton without stopping to question why that deduction or this credit or those particular exemptions. Those days of unquestioning tax payi ing must end at once if we are to rid ourselves of this costly inequality. It will not be easy, but we must learn about taxation and then demand that the laws be changed. Understanding Taxation: Whether you are young or not so young you probably joined the work force out of necessity--you needed the money. And probably, also, when your first payday arrived you received your first workforce awakening. A large bit had been taken from your cheque by way of deductions. You glanced among the columns with mild Tax test is an island: Taxes exist because we live in a society with other people and it is easier to provide common services like roads, sewers, garbage collection, schools, police protection and hospitals from a common money box. Also, everyone stands to gain from a well-run, developing economy with adequate defence. IF WE DO NOT LIKE THE WAY OUR TAXES ARE BEING SPENT, WE EXERCISE OUR lath slice- .i8,298' to $31,368-45.7% ta 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st A( B( 2.The Tax Base ) 1st slice:$654.X 7.8% ...$51.01 2nd 3rd 4th 5th HOW ARE WE TAXED? In theory we are taxed according to how much we earn, on the ability to pay principle. The more we earn, the more we should pay. After we have filled in the tax form and arrived at our Taxable Income, we look up the tax table and find out how much au( taxes are for that year. The tax table is a very simplified version of the Tax Schedule on which it is based. This is a great advantage behaving to do a cause it saves us lot of difficult calculations. On the other hand, it means that most people never get to know how the tax system works. The tax schedule is a pyramid made up of thirteen building blocks. Each block represents a slice of taxable income and each slice is taxed at a different rate. Here is the pyramid used in 1976 for Ontario residents The percent rate at which your Total Income is taxed. C( Income 4.Exemptions and deductions. D( Declared income before exemptions and deductions. ) ) Legal ways of reducing some peoples taxes. 5. Taxable Income E( ) A person who uses tax loopholes to avoid paying taxes. 6. Marginal Tax Rate. F( ) Types of income that are taxable (Not all of them are) 7 Average Tax Rate 8. Credits G( H( ) ) Amounts subtracted from Total Income Amounts deducted from your tax payable 9. Tax dodger I( )Total income minus exemptions and deductions 10. Loopholes J( )The % rate at which your last few dollars are taxed. 9=r 5,-.1 8=H ii=9 Z=d 6=3 01.=0 If your Taxable Income for 1976 was $6,535, for example, your total tax would be $1,586. This is how it is calculated (hold on to your hat): ii) People do not have equal opportunity in life. From the moment of conception, everyone has a different chance in life. Depending on family circumstances, ethnic origin, sex, educational opportunity, health and occupational chance or choice, our financial success will vary. Tax monies are used to correct the most flagrant of these inequalities, providing family allowance to parents, welfare to the disabled or the very poor and pensions to the old. Taxes recognize the different ability-to-pay depending on opportunities. The more you earn, the more taxes you should pay. ) slice-$14,377 to $18,298-40.5% tax slice-$11,763 to $14,377-35.2% tax slice-$9,149 to $11,763-32.6% tax slice-$6,535 to $9,149-30.0% tax slice- $3,921 to $6,535-27.4% tax slice-$2,614 to $3,921-26.1% tax slice-$1,307 to $2,614-24.8% tax slice-$654 to $1,307- 23.5% tax 7.8% tax slice-$654 or less VOTE. TO WHET YOUR APETITE FOR THE GOODIES TO FOLLOW, WHY NOT TRY THE MIX AND MATCH TEST. JUST FILL IN THE MISSING NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BRACKET. 1.Ability-to-pay principle 3.Total taxation: No 'man' i) THE TAX SCHEDULE 13th slice-more than $78,420-61.3% tax 12th slice-$56,973 tp$78,420-56.1% tax 11th slice-$31,368 to $50,973-50.9%; £=0 L=9 I. =V :NOIIMOS IS31 XVI slice:$653($1,307-$654)x23.51 $1' slice:$1,307($2,614-$1,307)x24.8: slice:$1,307($3,921-$2,614)x26.1: slice:$2,614($6,535-$3,921)x27.4; $1,585.' In this case your marginal tax ratethe rate at which your last dollar m taxed-is27.4%. Your average tax ratethe rate at which your total income taxed-is about 150 (Total Tax Payable divided by Total Income x 100). Don' be impressed when people (usually HI men) tell you how the government is fleecing them with an exhorbitant ta: rate. It is the average tax rate tha counts. A person with a total income of $25,000, while having a marginal rate of 45%lhas an average tax rate of only 20%. DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR RICH PEOPLE- TAXES ALLOW THE PICH TO GET RICHER AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR. WHAT IS NOT TAXED? at your Income Tax ReIf you look turn you will see two main ways that the government arranges not to tax your income: Deductions and Credits. We shall look briefly at each of the i)DEDUCTIONS are sums of money which may be deducted from your total income.Some of these Deductions are called Exemptions. There is a person exemption for each taxpayer ($2,090 for 1976), each "dependant spousd' ($1,831 in 1976) and each dependant child ($392 for children under 16 and $719 for children over 16 in 197 There is also an age exemption for those over 65 ($1,307 in 1976). Other exemptions include sums granted for disability, for expenses while attending university and for child care expenses. There are also some fairly new deductions which are particularly discriminatory because most women cannot afford them. Some examples are the Registered Retirement Savings Plan, the Interest and Dividend Income Deduction and the Registered Home Ownership Savings P1 They will be described in more detai in Chapter 5, THE LOOPHOLES, where will be explained how they benefit the rich at the expense of the poor The main problem with all these deductions and exemptions is that they discriminate by giving greater tax relief to those who earn the most. This happens because, as we have seen, people with a higher income also have a higher marginal ta; rate. A $1,000 exemption, for exam- Northern Woman Journal, page 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor I �DNE FOR DISCRIMINATION ple, will bring the following savings: Taxable Income $5,000 $15,000 $55,000 Saving $274 $405 Marginal Tax Rate 27.4% 40.5% 56.1% A considerable difference! ii)CREDITS are the fairest way of not taxing income. This is because they are deducted from Tax Payable rather than Total Income and thus affect everyone in the same way. At present they are allowed for such things as political contributions and investments costs, and ACSW suggests they should be much more widely used to iron out the discrimination against women in our present tax laws. Tax Credits could be used to eliminate sex discrimination in Taxation. HOW ARE WOMEN AFFECTED BY TAXATION There are two ways in which women are discriminated against by taxation in our society. i)Our tax laws favour the richer Canadians and by-and-large women are far poorer than men, and ii)our tax laws are so designed that they tend to reinforce the inferior dependant status of women in society. In the following chapters, this paper will show the ways in which women are controlled by and discriminated against in the present tax system. SISTERS, WE'RE BEING GYPPED WANTED Average man seeks woman to cook? clean house, care for three children under the age of seven, act as hostess at occasional business or dinner party. Successful applicant must be able to shop wisely, garden, decorate, budget, mend and provide comfort. Possibility of unpaid job in family business for the right applicant. Annual salary: Nil, plus board and share of bed. Hours: flexible, about twelve a day. No fringe benefits or pension. Good looks bonus, but not essential. Until Death do us Part: Marriage may hold the promise of security and romance, but let's face it, what other job would dare to advertise such terms and such conditions? It's enough to break a union organ izer heart. And perhaps it is not the too much to suggest that it is failure of marriage to live up to expectations, coupled with the woman's growing dissatisfaction with working conditions that explains the current failure rate of marriages. Canadian Tax Laws reflect and entrench the unpaid position of homemaker. HOW MARRIED WOMEN ARE AFFECTED BY TAXATION a)Married women who have no income because they are homemakers do not pay taxes. Oddly enough, this is not an advantage. For the payment of taxes is a positive act which gives citizens the right and responsibility to have a voice running of the country. Of in the course homemakers have the vote, but in terms of their pocketbooks, where it really counts, they can only speak through the income of their spouse. This tends to alienate homemakers from $561 political processes of Canada. b) Let's look at the effect of the exemption the husband gets for a "dependant" spouse. As the government increases this exemption each year to follow the rise in the cost of living, many married people applaud. But in fact the spouse exemption does little for the homemaker. Far from being a dependant, the average homemaker provides essential services that are worth a lot more than it costs to support the her. Worse still, the spouse exemption hampers homemakers from taking work outside the home when they want to work. This may be because the husband is reluctant to let go of his dependant spouse tax relief. Next time you come across a woman house cleaner or a babysitter who wants to be paid in cash and does not want to declare her income, remember it may well be pressure or persuasion from her husband that led her to choose this illegal course. The Married Exemption makes tax dodgers of cash-paid homemakers. How are Womeo-Working in a Family Business Affected by Taxation? At present our tax laws do not allow the owner of a family business which is not incorporated to deduct any salary paid to a spouse. This means ofcourse that there are many wives doing a great deal of work for the family business and are not being paid, pensioned or protected or receiving the proper benefits from their work. Incorporation is a fairly heavy expense for a small business and obviously would not be done if the only benefit would be to give a fair deal to a spouse who is already giving free services. Tax laws discriminate against the unpaid spouse in the family business. HOW ARE WOMEN IN THE LABOUR FORCE AFFECTED BY TAXATION? Women in the labour force are usually working because of economic necessity. They can be divided into two groups--single women without dependants and women with children. Our first comments apply to both groups: On average, women in the labour force are earning far less than men. In 1974, the average wage for all Canadians was $10,038, but the average wage for men was $11,736. and for women it was $6,734. Ofcourse, this meant that women paid less taxes than men. But they still paid more than they should have according to the ability-to-pay princple. This is because the less money you make, the less jazzy deductions you can afford, and therefore the greater the propottion of your income that gets taxed. Secondly, we would like to draw attention to the double role that women with dependants assume. The work day includes the paid, taxed hours spent at their work force job and also the unpaid work that they do as homemaker. Such women have very little time for leisure or career enrichment. HOW ARE SOLE SUPPORT MOTHERS AFFECTED BY TAXATION? Sole support mothers are such womenn4 Statistics show that they are among the poorest people in Canada today in with an average annual income 1974 of $5,910. The poverty line for 1975 for big city dwellers for a family of five was $9,388. How do sole support mothers manage to bring up their children?? Once again our tax laws exacerbate an already difficult situation. For the present they do not allow lump sum payments which may be made upon separation or dissolution of a marriage to be tax deductable. In consequence these payments are usually spread over a period of time--in order to be a deduction--and thus the separated spouse with the dependants, usually the woman, is tied to the fortunes and whims of her estranged spouse. THE LOOPHOLES In a fair system of taxation, every taxpayer would be able to take advantage of any benefits offered. In Canada in recent years some new deductions have been introduced which provide a large tax saving for those who can afford them. Recent statistics show that, alas, most Canadians do not have a hope of using these benefits.And, ofcourse, they are entirely beyond the earning capacity of most women. We call these deductions, The LOOPHOLES because they are in fact a way for the wealthier Canadians to avoid paying taxes...quite legally, and at the the other, less fortexpense of all unate taxpayers. For each time that less taxes are paid by those in the upper income brackets more will have to be paid by the others. This amounts to a massive subsidy to the "loop- hole users", but ofcourse it never appears as such reports of government expenditure. Hidden tax Subsidies are not subject to annual review or publication. SEEK TO ABOLISH BUT MEANWHILE USE LOOPHOLES! Since all Canada's poorer people are discriminated against by these tax loopholes, and women in particular, this system should be opposed and changed. But if it is to remain, obviously as many women as possible should try toI take advantage of it. It is even worthwhile to borrow the money to purchase CONT'D PAGE . Northern Woman Journal, page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �A CHILD'S BILL OF RIGHTS Because 1979 is the International Year of the Child, we thought it would be interesting to print a set of reforms outlined by Richard Farson in 1974. It is clear that, even though the matter of children's rights were being thought over in 1974, in 1979 we still have a long way to go: 1.THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION. Children should have the right to decide the matters which affect them most directly. This is a basic right upon which all others depend. Children are now treated as the private property of their parents on the assumption that it is the parents' right and responsibility to control the life of the child. The achievement of children's rights, however, would reduce the need for this control and bring an end to the double standard of morals and behavior for adults and children. 2.THE RIGHT TO ALTERNATIVE HOME ENVIRONMENTS. Self-determining children should be able to choose from among a variety of arrangements: residences operated by children, children exchange programs, 24-hour day care centres, and various kinds of schools and employment opportunities. Parents are not always good for their children. Some people estimate that as many as 4 million children are abused annually in the United States, and that half a million children run away each year. 3.THE RIGHT TO RESPONSIVE DESIGN. Society must accommodate itself to children's size and to their need for safe space. To keep them in their place, we now force children to cope with a world that is either not built to fit them, or is actually designed against them. If the environment were less dangerous for children, there would be less need for constant control and supervision by adults. t. THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION. A child must have the right to all formation ordinarily available to in- adults--inciuding, and perhaps especia information that makes adults uncomf_.-_- ortable. 5.THE RIGHT TO EDUCATE ONESELF. Children should be free to design thei own education, choosing from among mar options, the kind of learning experier they want, including the option not tc Compulsor attend any kind of school. education must be abolished because th enforced threatening quality of educat in North America has taught children t hate school, to hate subject matter ar tragically, to hate themselves. Childr An addiction, whether it be to food, alcohol or some form of drugs, is an acquired problem that has physical, cultural and psychological It is not really known causes. whether an addiction is biological and hereditary, environmental, It's cure, in or pbychological. short is taking responsibility for one's addiction and making it unnecessary by achieving a feeling of self-worth. On the evening of January 10, 26 women gathered at Women's Place for a seminar on Women and Addictions as a part of the evening programs Addicted! JOAN OF ARF them to addictions. "Women tend to suffer more from victimization than men,"she said. "They feel guilt because they tend to blame themselves for things and in turn, men also blame women. To overcome guilt is to overcome the stress that leads to addiction. Once a woman becomes embroiled in selfblame, she gets into failing to deal with responsibility...'It's can't am bad...' hopeless because will do it a lc stop doing this, so These are reasons for many addiction( and their justification," she said. I I I series. Joan Gale of the Addicition Research Foundation brought along a kit dealing with women and addictions A WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE OF ADDICTION A videotape entitled All In The Same IS INSEPARABLE FROM HER EXPERIENCE Boat demonstrated how the various AS A WOMAN. MANY ARE FRUSTRATED, pressures of being a housewife can POOR AND SLOTTED INTO INFLEXIBLE ROLES. lead to addictions that interfere with a woman's role as homemaker and TAXATION CONT'D Plan mother. 3. Registered Home ownership Savings one of the Loopholes because the saving "There seems to be a real need foi In November 1974 a new loophole was in taxes will pay interest on the loan the exploration of women and addictlaunched. Every taxpayer is now allowed many times over. ion in Thunder Bay. We plan to use to put $1,000 a year for ten years into Remember--Financial Independance is the Savings Plan. this film extensively in the city ov( a Registered Home Ownership BASIS OF POWER This money is never taxed if it is eventthe next few months," said Joan. HERE IS A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE LOOPThe Addicition Research Foundation ually used to buy a home or home furnishHOLES: provided some interesting and startlings.It is only available to first home1. Work Expenses and Business Expenses. ing facts about women and addiction: owners. Every wage earner is allowed to deIt -General Practitioners are more like Again on the surface it looks good. duct 3% from an annual income up to a to prescribe tranquillizers to woment is intended to "assist young people in maximum of $150 for work expenses which to men presenting complaints. accumulating the capital required for a do not have to be specified. This is not down payment on a house." -alcoholism develops more rapidly in very much. However, statistics show that once women than in men. However, self-employed people and again, these same young people were not alcoholism develops later in life fc owners of small incorporated businesses in- the ones who could afford this luxury women than men usually between the are allowed many business expenses which $1,000 vestment and tax saving. Note that 28 and 33. are not available to salaried workers. at the Marginal Tax Rate of 7.8% means far the majority of women drinkers, drit 2.Registered Retirment Savings Plans: less relief than $1,000 at 61.3% Marginal at home, alone. All Canadian Taxpayers are allowed to Tax Rate. -9 out of 10 men leave alcoholic wive put money into a Registered Retirement Interest and Dividends' Income 4. out of 10 women leave while only Saving Program each year. The limits Deductions. alcoholic husbands. $3,500 are 20% of annual income up to Last but not least of the loopholes -most often alcoholism in women is for those who already belong to a comis the $1000 deduction which is allowed denied by those in a position to hel and $5,500 for pany pension plan for interest on dividends on savings, them, i.e. husbands, friends, childr, those who don't. bonds, mortgages etc.its stated intent and family. As long as the money remains in the was to keep savings and investments in -women's alcoholism is often diagno It should also be plan, it is not taxed. Canada (a praiseworthy goal), but need as a psychological disorder which de mentioned that it is possible for the we point out that this incentive once fines the woman as emotionally ill higher wage earning spouse to invest ,,again means a higher share of the taxes rather than addicted to alcohol. this money in the name of the other spous Jana thus less buying power for those who Part two of the program on pills and thus if the money is withdrawn, it is have little money to invest. jother drugs will be presented later then taxed at the lower rate of that the year at an evening program. spouse! Women and their problems with addictions are unique. Sita, an expert on Yoga, massage and Tai Chi openid the program with a discussion of the different stresses that affect women and that can eventually lead ' 1 Northern Woman Journal, page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �10.THE RIGHT TO JUSTICE. Children must have the guarantee of a fair trial with due process of law, an advocate to protect their rights against parents as well as the system, and a uniform standard of dentention. P. THE RIGHT TO ECONOMIC POWER. Every year a million children get intc Children should have the right to work, trouble with the law. One out of every to acquire and manage money, to receive nine children will go through the juv 6.THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM PHYSICAL equal pay for equal work, to choose trade enile court system before the age of apprenticeship as an alternative to PUNISHMENT. 18. At any given time about one hundr( school, to gain promotion to a leadership thousand children are in some kind of Children should live free of physical position, to own property, to develop threat from those who are larger and jail. Some are held illegally, many a credit record, to enter into binding more powerful than they. Corporal punhave not committed any kind of crime, contracts, to engage in enterprise, to ishment is used impulsively and cruelmost have done nothing that would be guaranteed support apart from obtain ly in the home, arbitrarily in the considered a crime if done by an adult school, and sadistically in penal instithe family, to achieve financial indepand none have been given a fair trial tutions. It does not belong in our endance. with due process of law. The juvenile repertoire of responses to children. justice system was designed to protect 9. THE RIGHT TO POLITICAL POWER. children from the adult justice syst( 7. THE RIGHT TO SEXUAL FREEDOM: Children should have the vote and should but it is more unfair, more arbitrary Children should have the right to conbe included in the decision-making and more cruel. process. Eighty million children in the duct their sexual lives with no more United States need the right to vote restriction than adults. Sexual freedom for children must include the right because adults do not vote in their behalf. At present they are no one's to information about sex, the right to nonsexist education, and the right constituency and legislation reflects to all sexual activities that are legal that lack of representation. To become among consenting adults. In fact, children a constituency, they must have the would be best protected from sexual right to vote. are programmed, tracked and certified in a process of stamping out standardized educated products acceptable to th university, military, business and industry and community. Education can change only through the achievement of new rights for those exploited and oppressed by it--the children themselves. abuse when they have the right to refuse--but they are now trained not to refuse adults, to accept all forms of physical affection, and to mistrust their own reactions to people. THE BEST PITCHER IN TOWN! The batter stands ready for Fast Fanny's throw. The umpire watches carefully, ready to go. and the game remains tied. Fanny's first pitch and the It's hard to know which team fans begin to shout..."STRIKE will break the tie, but the game ONE", the umpire yells, "Two goes on and the spirits stay HIGH! more strikes and you're out." Yes it's true, I'm a girl and I watch my mother wipe the at that, only ten--but I can tell dirt from her pants. Adjusting you that Baseball IS NOT JUST FOR her cap, she gives the catcher MEN: a quick glance. Women begin to My mother is a pitcher, Fast chatter, "OK Fanny--Another Fanny by name, with eight other strike. Put it right past the women who play a fine baseball batter just the way we like." game. Women on the field ready SO...if you're a girl growing for the play. All positions up...wondering what you can do... MOTHER IS A PITCHER are covered...Fanny's pitch is REMEMBER--it's more than cooking by Maxine Kahn on the way a stew, or sweeping a floor or The pitch comes sailing right Get nine women together and over the plate. The batter swings-- tying a shoe... Perhaps you'll write music or what can they do? it's a hit---but wait.... dance on a stage or pfactice medThey can do more than sweepShelly Shortstop is moving far icine for a decent wage ing or cooking a stew. to the right, Leaps in the air OR More than washing a floor as the ball comes into sight. Imagine yourself with a bat and or tying a shoe. She's caught it--Shelley Shorta ball...or perhaps you're an Perhaps they'd write music stop has stopped "the hit"-umpire making the calls... or dance on a stage, or pract- the ball has landed right in And with eight other women ice medicine for a decent wage. her mitt. WHAT COULD YOU DO? But imagine nine women with "GOOD PLAY", yell the women, Perhaps you'd play baseball.. bats and with balls and a woman "One out and two to go..." YOU CAN umpire making the calls. And the next batter steps up and and Get nine women together and waits for the throw. WOMEN DO::: what can they do? Perhaps they'd Fast Fanny is at her best. play baseball. They can and... Strikes two batters out in a row. THEY DO: There's "Fast Fanny"-my_,mother And I think to myself, "Hey, that's my mom out there--and I FAMILY PLANNING IN FINANCIAL who stands tall on the mound, want everyone to know." takes her windup and looks TROUBLE around. Her arms are strong, her Monique Begin, Minister of And I sit in the stands as the legs firm on the ground. FAST National Health and Welfare, innings go by. Batter after batter has announced a reduction of FANNY, my mother... almost 50% in the ministry's family planning grants program, effective April 1, 1979. The cut entails a drop from $2.1 you keep youA heakt you ztitt have the twine million in the current fiscal deep in you pocket wrapped anound your. 6inget year to $1.1 million in the bunted in utea6ez that puffs the coAd next. Believing as we do in wheAe no one can nob it, atound my neck, the importance of contraception Ii id in the otd)s but you ingot o6 gabaiLdine cotton, we should make our views on thi< to untie the knot we aAmed by yowl. handz, cutback known to the Minister. LETTER LOBBY iizt clenched, you have tacked it avay. Via& CodeAte when you 6/teed me 6tom your. coniinement. Viaa GOdetke, Kaminiztiquia, Ontrotio Write to: The Hon. Monique Be-gin Minister of National Health and Welfare 558 Confederation Bldg., Ottawa, Ontario Northern Woman Journal, page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �BOOKS: archaics and anarchists 4. Woman must depend on a man for fame. Brown, Jeremy and David Ondaatje. Her only immortality is love. (p. 234) CANADIAN BOOK OF LISTS. Penguin Press (Toronto 1978) Paperback $5.95. 5. Cooks are always temperamental. by Joan Baril if you flattered them, they did better. thought nationalist"At last", 'If you didn't, they wilted. They were ically, "A CANADIAN Book of Lists." like women (p. 139) For I, like other triviamaniacs, loved reading fact and folly listed in groups 6. Listed under "Canadian Hang-ups". of ten. "Involutional Ennui: In women who But as sexist quip followed sexist don't know what to with themselves and quote my enjoyment soured. Thus, this menopause" (p. 30). The same hang-up is list: listed for men but the word "menoA SAMPLER OF 10 ABNOXIOUS QUOTES FROM pause" is changed to "retirement." THE CANADIAN BOOK OF LISTS: 1. No woman can resist the opportunity 7.The woman who enriches her husband to join in that most fascinating of all with her admiration and her ready resports--man-hunting. (p. 279) sponse gets her reward--from her husband. (p. 18) 2.When you educate a woman late in life, it always sort of upsets her. 8. In point of intellect, the aver(p. 284) age woman cannot reason and think. But she can argue. (p.18) 3. Under the heading "10 interesting Facts about Eskimos" the following: "According to an Eskimo proverb," A 9. A woman wants to be taken not adored. man's best friend is his dog, better (p. 18) even than his wife." (p. 331) 10.At certain moments, even an ugly woman, if she has lived with the sun and th ewind, can be sexually attractive. (p. 18) I Some of this material is several years old, brought back for laughs presumably. But even the contemporary 1950's air, like reading lists have a back issues of "Calling all Girls". Ten Rules of Etiquette for Canadians asserts, "a woman should never carve meat or fowl at the table" (p. 140) and in "Important Ways that Women Can Please Men," we read that we can please "by appearing to be dumber than he, which, let's be frank, is not all that difficult."(p. 231) Oh, deja1950-vu: And please note the lack cif a complimentary list of ways to please a woman. Published to coincide with the hol-iday gift-buying, this book was the Christmas turkey of 1978. A resounding Thunder Bolt to authors/ compilers Jeremy Brown and David Ondaatje tie to our ultimately destructive it recognizes the size of the machine Like Freud, sexual arrangement. that has been created as a result of Dinnerstein believes that the infant our own ambivalence toward life. Whether identifies the woman as the first or not things can be changed is source of comfort and nourishment. difficult to foresee dubious. It is It follows that woman is also our people living in man-made civilizations, first blame object for pain and coping with the constraints and imperhunger. She is the first power focce atives it has placed upon our lives against which we rebel for autonomy. and at the same time working towards its She is the one who presides over overthrow. One way she recommends is our early triumphs....and our humilthe mutual participation of malesand iations. The male who orbits outside females in the care of infants throughthis close, deep-rooted union comes out their formative years. But against to represent the more neutral force, the odds of outside society un the link to the outside world. Women, doing all that has been done in says Dinnerstein, are the "dirtythe home, the effectiveness of goddesses" connected with the mystery a new childraising arrangement of birth and life and yet also carried out on such a small scale associated with our abrupt and rewill not change the direction of sented initiations into selfhood. things significantly. This book gives the reader a great The result is that women become the deal to ponder. It is not terribly main focus of blame and hostility both for men and women. As the mother difficult to read, but care brings figure we know in childhood, she repthe most reward. It is also an excelresents a power that must be restrained lent way of getting in touch with and oppressed in society outside the the work of Marcuse, Brown and de Beauvior, and an inspiration to consult family where she is banned from posher original sources. itions of knowledge and authority. For the die-hard seekers of truth, But it goes much further. One must The Mermaid and the Minotaur is most read Dinnerstein and her years of definitely recommended reading. research and careful reflection to understand our basic impulse (both men and women) towards being controlled and in turn dominating others. This will Phelps, Robert. BELLES SAISONS: A COLto control and manipulate things LETTE SCRAPBOOK. Farrar, Straus and around us (which manifests itself overt- Giroux, New York, 1978. Hardback $15.00. ly in men) to somehow partially conquer ings. by Ann McColl the unchangeable fact of mortality, Superficially, it is a pretty outperpetuates the intolerable oppression rageous proposition. Dinnerstein is of women and the yet more intolerable only too aware of the fact that her This book is far more encompassing deadly progress of the male species theory will evoke rage in many readers, and absorbingthan one would expect towards the destruction of the entire particularly those not patient of a scrapbook. It provides an entrancenough to follow her arguement through. human race. ing protrait of a truly liberated Dinnerstein also relies heavily But then,ber book is not intended French born woman, one who transcends on the work of Herbert Marcuse, Norfor the reactionary defender of the the female stereotype by her refusal man O. Brown and Melanie Klein. In status quo. to acknowledge the social convention proving her thesis she uses literature, Starting with an anthropological of her time. Collette was a writer of social history and popular culture. explanation of the development of many famous novels based on her own After clarifying the universal psychpeople, Dinnerstein focuses on the actress and a respected life, an ology of the problem, she goes on to human infant's long period of helpdeal with why male dominated revolutions part of the Parisian Avante-Garde. lessness and dependancy to expJain The scrapbook chronologically fail andson a more contemporary level, how women got themselves into a outlines Collette's life in a sympathetwhat went wrong with the New Left and role that present-day technology ic manner, affording the reader a the reason for the resurgence of outhas made unnecessary and obsolete. very real insight into the life of raged feminists. She then turns to Freud (carefully a truly remarkable woman. The really frightening thing about refuting his theory of penis envy) The Mermaid and The Minotaur is that to deal with a neurotic psychological DINNERSTEIN, Dorothy. THE MERMAID AND THE MINOTAUR:Sexual Arrangements and the Human Malaise. Harper and Row, New York 1976. Hardcover, 14.00, Paperback available. by Elaine Lynch The Mermaid and the Minotaur was recommended to me by a male acquaintance. Previous to that had not heard of it. After reading the book, found it rather surprising that a thesis so radical and so urgent has not been more explosive among people with serious social concerns. The book, a very good one, might also be titled: Beyond Freud and de Beauvior; firstly because the author, uses the theories of the two innovators of thought and,secondly, because she has, like de Beauvior, created a theory of female subordination of such magnitude and complexity that it is difficult to discuss adequately in a mere book review. Using anthropological and psycho} logical theory as her initial basis, Dinnerstein asserts that society is now rapidly moving toward the destruction of the world. The reason for society's terrifying course is due to our present sexual arrangements, and specifically the female monopoly of early child care. Motherhood is far from being a sacred biological given. It is,rather, the thing that produces quasi-human beI I Northern Woman Journal, page 10 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Asian women in Canada: coming to terms with obsoletes Reprinted from the Asianadian, Fall/Winter Vol. 1 No. 3 by Momoye Sugiman For centuries Western Culture has viewed Asian women through a distorted lens, creating two disparaging images: the vacuous, submissive, exotic sexual servant--and the vacuous, submissive, virginal domestic servant. The efficacy of popular Western literature, films and television in keeping alive these stereotypes is evidenced by the fact that we, as Canadian women of Asian origin, still encounter flat, preconceptions of ourselves in everyday interaction with non-Asian Canadians. ...we are beginning the essential process of demystifying ourselves, not only by questioning our mythical media images aad hidden herstories, but also by giving expression to our creative talents and voicing common concerns, aspirations and frustrations--the thoughts and feelings that have remained silent for too long. Before we can expect to raise the consciousness levels of other Canadians tu:4-a-Lui/S Asianadian women, we must first heighten our own awareness of ourselves and erase any traces of the geisha girl mentality. We have to begin to challenge the sexist division of labour, the political distribution of personality traits--and our "place" in this male-centred society. We have to examine the various ways in which rigid cultural traditions of our ancestors continue to stultify and subjugate us. In order to fully understand our particular struggle as Asianadian women, it is also necessary to recognize the fact that our history, culture,social sphere and psyches are markedly different from those of Asianadian men. The oppression and exploitation that we suffer is more intimate. It is a combination of the personal and political, arising not only out of racism and capitalism, but ultimately out of sexist ideologies deeply rooted in all Asian cultures. Thus, our struggle to assert our rights and identities as Asianadians is complicated by an added dimension of ignorance amongst allies, i.e. Asianadian men. (A fairly valid analogy can be drawn here between our situation and that of Black women in the American civil rights movement. Like us, these women were made to feel doubly inferior, since they too were expected to defer to the 'male ego' subordinating their special needs and concerns as women.) It is horrifying to realize that a Confucian ethic in terms of the role of women still exists in Canada. A surprising number of Asianadian women still practise self-denial, deriving their personal identities and feelings of self-worth from their roles as daughters, wives and mothers. There are still many women among us . today who would not consider a career as a viable option, for they have been indoctrinated from birth to believe that keeping a man happy, by taking care of his children, house--and penisis their chief vocation in life. It must be acknowledged that in some families, women actually exercise much more power than their husbands. Yet, tradition dictates that they allow other people to think that the husband is in control. In any case, for a great number of women in the Asianadian community, the narrow definition of 'womanhood' is so deeply entrenched that any woman who violates the norm by challenging a man intellectually or in the work place--or who manifests lesbian tendancies--or even demands to have heterosexual desires fufilled, is automatically labelled "agressive." She is therefore "masculine and unfeminine". A lot of us have assiduously begun to defy the sex-role system but,generally speaking, Asianadian women are still at the awakening stage. Faced with the complex relationships between sex, economic and social class and race, how do we Asianadian women fit into the Canadian feminist movement? The development of this seemingly amorphous movement has shown us the common oppression of women has different ramifications in different racial and social classes. Certain divisions have emerged along economic and political lines, giving rise to distinct factions: radical feminists, socialist feminists, liberal bourgeois feminists, etc. As Asianadian women, is it necessary to add to the divisiveness by separating ourselves from other women? Or is it possible to work out our unique problem within existing groups? We must concede that the complex differences between feminists are very real and should be respected. And we should never ignore the fact that our experience as Asianadians sets us apart, not only from non- Asianadian women, but from each other as well. Cultural upbringings, political leanings, degree of assimilation and level of feminist consciousness may vary drastically...However, while recognizing the distinction...it is still important to strengthen our links with women all over the world by finding a fundamental ground... The next question facing us is that of trying to define the enemy. ...Not all men are (excuse the cliche) There are sevmale chauvinist pigs eral sensitive and enlightened men who actually support us in our struggle...for they too are in a state of powerlessness and are equally hurt by the prevailing sexist conservatism. Placing the onus entirely upon the capitalist system would also be an incomplete explanation. Eliminating capitalism will not guarantee an immediate, magical change in the way men and women treat each other in their personal lives...The condition of women has to improve now--not at some nebulous point "after" the revolution. As long as the idea of women as personal property lingers in the minds of men, the personal oppression will continue: despite any sort of institutionalized, or legislated equality. The enemy to be eradicated then is the sexist system upon which-our society is based---the system which equates aggressiveness with manhood and passivity--i.e. pathological passivity with womanhood... As Asianadian women we must analyze the roots of our oppression and establish roots of communication with one another. We will have to decide on where we stand on issues that directly affect our daily lives and futures. SEXUAL SLAVERY IN CANADA...THE STORY OF JAPANESE WOMEN...See next page tAlotattn (Women a 7.5% Dividend set at meeting The Northern Women's Credit Union announced at its annual meeting Jan. 29 that it has tripled its assets.' in the past year. It is monitoring current interest rates and with the 3 increases from the Bank of Canada over the past year, an increase from the current 12% per annum may soom be necessary. Savings and Term Deposit accounts After an examination are now available. by the Ontario Credit Union League, all things are reported to be in order. The distribution of surplus will be evidenced in the 7.5% interest it will pay in dividends. Northern Woman Journal, page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �SEHUM AMERY IA CAIIADA: Our Herstor by Cassandra Kobayashi This story is about women who came to the New World, the women who are our mothers. I have written primarily about the Japanese because of limitations of time and energy. I hope others will share their stories about women from other motherlands. As sisters in a world that perceives us as 'Orientals', we face common prejudices. By talking about our situation, the real and apparent differences can be sorted out. If we are clear about ourselves, we can unite against those who seek to confuse us by diyiding us against ourselves. The history of men is different from Women may live side by side our history. eat the with men, work in the same fields, the but our experience is not same food, By discussing what our foremothers same. endured, perhaps what we mean by roots and However, due to culture will become clear. the paucity of written material left to us by our foremothers, we must look for our the lines written by men, story between For example, in Roy Ito's The about men. excerpted in the A/ftivat ozi Mankichi Omutca, we are told last issue of The ,Aianadian, how our hero arrives in British Columbia, then fishes and a lumber mill, in works after serving Canada in World War I, 'setBet tles down' in Port Essington at age 28. He did not have "Mankichi needed a wife. himself, qr the money to go back to Japan he asked his parents to find him a bride." Because arranged marriages were the norm in Japan and most of the Western world it is not extraordibefore this century, nary that Mankichi's wife was chosen for she was selected According to Ito, him. Also hard-working family". from "a good, of importance was being of the same ken and socio-economic background (locality) and possessing domestic talents, good health to produce sons. A wife ability and the providing the support and a means of was maintenance -- activities necessary to hold it into a to make family together, the "Mankichi needed a viable economic unit. that he desired means (my emphasis) wife" the services of a woman qua domestic serchildren/sexual outlet. vant/mother of his bought her a sewing machine, the better He to perform her duties. female role is Such a concept of the not merely pragmatic for the harsh life in In traditional Japan a frontier culture. the wife's role was essentially the same as Women universally. almost it is today, into husband and family pour their energies while he goes into the world and makes history. Just because we are not overt targets of racist attacks today should not make us a Our security depends, to complacent. great extent, upon Canada's relations with Because Canada was friendly with Japan. of immigration Japan during the early years was economically advantageous to it (i.e. maintain relations) and because the Japanese government was highly interested in the welJapafare of Japanese wherever they were, nese were not included in the ban on immiUnlike gration by "unassimilable" groups. the Chinese immigrants who had to pay a $500 head tax from 1883 to 1923, Japanese entered Canada under the free entry clause of the However, beAnglo-Japanese trade treaty. ginning in 1908 'gentlemen's agreements', by which Japan promised to limit immigration Unwere as effective as any outright ban. til 1928, the controlled maximum did not include wives and picture brides, but following the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923 and the end of the picture brides in the U.S. in included the 'gentlemen's agreement' 1921, \\ \ \'' \\\ \ , , Unfair? \\ ' \ 0 \ \ , , We deplore the stereotypic, condescending depiction of Chinese women as cute, Little, dark breasts are brown China Date's. but the Chinese women are obviousexposed, ly viewed as children, peering with innocent wonder at the physically more adult-like White woman. Isn't it interesting how Wes- N\ -, '''''') tern artists unabashedly exploit non-Western women in the nude (c(). Nationat Geogiutphic) as though they are object of the 'local colour'. Asian women are not all brown and do not all look alike. And many do not find a white-skinned woman a source of curiosity or fascination. rying 'mongolians'. The relationship between sexism and racism has been discussed extensively with respect to the American Black Movement. The hierarchy of male over female, and white over black sets up tensions that are often expressed in sexual terms--lynching including castration, Black Power machismo, the Black sex kitten and Black Womb of Africa. While the rape metaphor is applied to white/ Black relations, 'peaceful penetration' is the term used to describe how the Japanese operate. In all cases, white men speak of 'profrom the male anicourage, tenacity, their industry, and their tecting white womanhoqd' mals of other races. Saskatchewan in 1912 skills what gifted Canadians they are." Not all Canadians share Trudeau's ap- and British Columbia in 1914 passed legislaparent gratitude. Many believe we should be tion to prevent white women from working for Women of 'other races' were thus 'shipped back where we came from'. While we Asians. not worthy of protecting. Japanese women may perceive ourselves as Canadians, others were said to be "so subservient still consider us Japanese. that they Such individueasily become prostitutes," and "many a Jaals would not openly advocate repatriation. By praising the Japanese Canadians, they can panese is supposed to make his living by the The pimp who somehow ease their consciences sufficiently prostitution of his wife." to justify repressive measures against other lives off the avails of prostitution is unigroups. (note: Immigration Act, 1978) versal, but charges that Japanese (or curSimilarly, when women's accomplishments rently Blacks) are natuhaety prone to such in certain fields are recognized, the implibehaviour is a xed herring. As Simone de cation is that anyone can make it if she Beauvoir said, there is no fatal hereditary This society factor, no psychological defect. wants. This is simply a lie. "The runs on the unpaid, unrecognized labour of truth is that in a world where misery and women. While individually we may be lucky unemployment prevail, there will be people for most to enter any profession that is open." enough to escape the gilded cage, women, motherhood and wifely duties are all It is not the woman who is to be condemned, we are expected to engage in, aside from the but the society where prostitution is the 'oldest profession' in the world: prostitu- "least repellent option." quota of wives and children in the annual 150 immigrants. Whether women and children are included was a negotiating point in an expensive Yet as recent international game of wits. there is still a notion that Japan as 1976, takes an interest in the lives of those who On his tour of Japan, Prime have left her. Minister Trudeau described the success of NiZei despite Canada's sordid' record of the on berepression and then thanked "Japan, half of all Canadians for the contribution made to Canada by the men and women of Japanese origin who have shown through their tion. Women's usefulness as a sexual object for men underlies both prostitution and marriage. Engels remarked that the wife 'differs from the ordinary courtesan only in that she does not hire out her body like a wageworker, on piecework, but sells it into slavery, once and for all." There has always been a notion that male humans have an absolute need for sexual intercourse. Therefore, one of the basic functions of the family is having the wife provide approved sexual outlets. In the Dsbrizei era before the arrival of picture des, prostitutes provided the hequi/Site sexual outlet for the population of young single men. Even beWomen were interchangeable. tween the prostitute and wife there was substitutability. However, in order to mainwives and prostitutes were tain monogamy, artificially distinguished-- good girls vs. bad girls. Thus, on the American mainland, prostitution by Japanese women was suppressed by requiring the Consul General of Japan in San Francisco to approve the application of men requesting an imported woman for a wife. If he was among the 10- 30% who did not meet the financial and moral standards, he ould likely remain womanless because California ; law prohibited whites from mar- HERE AND NOW Canadian culture is said to be multiethnic, a mosaic as opposed to the American meUing pot. Indeed, we find individual groups celebrating their holidays on the streets or in community centres. Grand cultural expositions are held (e.g. Toronto's Caltavan), during which visitors can experience the food, drink, dance and crafts of other cultures. However, these types of activities are merely the visible tip, of the iceberg. Culture and ethnicity involve much more than putting on traditional costumes. The social structures and customs which govern individual behaviour underlie and give purpose to the trimmings. It is where my personal expectations intersect with the cultural expectations, be they Japanese Canadian or mainstream Canadian, that I begin to question the value of maintaining my cultural inheritance. reprinted from the ASIANADIAN (in part), Vol. 1, No. 3 Northern Woman_Journal, page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �"VOW eCAMAI Caleb pee WO Pomp put1 Bulk third INSIDE ins En timbre bonte dams O The story of a self-made woman, before the page 4. time of a new consciousness 220 RETURN TO: Artist as private person...an interview THE NORTHERN WOMAN page 5. with Gayle Chapple 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P,The ONT. subtle discrimination of our income page 6-7 tax system Return Postage Guaranteed Rights for Children:are we big enough to let them happen, or too much used to page8-9 the role of seniority rules A look at books Asianadian and feminist page 10 page 11-12 61111/11111/111=11/1111/1 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS DUE U MOVED??? PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CALLING (807) 345-5841. pay return postage to keep up our mailing list. cribe: VI, mart gt 6 4Slil-reetr, er al, bd. A.014 tt uss) mar usittaSse ftraftrifort Lamt kWrtf% Ao-acceions' PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 5 No 1 Description An account of the resource Vol. 5, No. 1 (Feb-Mar 1979) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Women in business Lived experiences of Asian women in Canada Sexism & racism International Year of the Child Feminist movement losing steam Sex-role stereotyping in textbooks Affirmative action Sex-Role Stereotyping and Women's Studies Conference (Toronto) Changing your name after divorce Women’s Centre resource library Crisis Centre for women Kenora Women in art Income tax returns & sex discrimination A Child’s Bill of Rights Women & addiction Women in baseball Family planning during financial trouble Feminist book list: good & bad (excerpts incl.) Northern Women’s Credit Union Sexual slavery in Canada herstory Challenging racist stereotypes of Asian women Authors/Contributors: Gert Beadle Sirpa Bishop (cover illustration) Monika McNabb Eve Pikerman Judith Petch (letter to the editor) Rosalyn Taylor Perrett Elaine Lynch Maxine Kahn Viola Coderre (Kaminstiquia) Momoye Sugiman (article reprinted from Asiandian vol. 1, no. 3) Cassandra Kobayashi Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1979-02 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2754/1978_Vol_4_No_6.pdf 5ab710522a58275458a4e606182e1d08 PDF Text Text °organ DE CE MBE R-JANUARY 1928- 79 VO kin, 0 4 500/ 6 4s it THE NORTHERN _- WOMAN 'THERN 11411N 500 Welk ° WOO 1000 WOMAN w 500 yOLUME 2 RN ,Stu so0 '3 1SSI1E ,C)r, es e PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EDITOR& This issue is intended to commemorate the significance of the past five years (AND MORE) of the women's movement in Thunder Bay. It is intended to look back and recall the events that have carried us all to where we are now as women in Thunder Bay, in Ontario and in Canadian Society. In some ways, the reading of the historical milestones will fill people with nostalgic longing for the fire and fervour of the past, but we think that our pride in the balance, firmness and reliability of what we have now, should counter any regrets. alone would fill the pages of this issue. It\ What we ought to do is interpret this fifth anniversary issue as a grand thank-you card for the things that we as women have done for each other and for ourselves. Our hopes at this time should be trained on the continuing flow of energy and the preservation of what we have accomplished so far. Let us keep even the most subtle facets of the women's movement alive and fighting for positive change and justice for women throughout Northwestern Ontario. d The histories of the organizations included in this issue catalogue the events of past years that were a result of the hard work of dozens of dedicated women. We have omitted many names and decided to mention original members of boards for the most part. Apologies go to the many dedicated and hard working women whose names do not appear. The task of recording them all is too great and they GERT'S GOSPEL If we mourn that this is a user society, it must not deter us from dealing honestly with that fact. It is part of that maturity of the mind to recognize that life cannot function unless we both use and allow ourselves to be used. We are all familiar with the user-pay mentality and those who keep a little black book computing time as money, convinced that a generous heart will bleach in the sun of a human desert. It is unf6rtunate that men have been cast in the role of the money tree and are universally used for their ability to make it, invest it, hoard it, and worship it. Unfortunate too is that having defined his role as the reaper, he must 'Mow a4ttt-t_'tTrior to protect his harvest. History has not allowed him time to reflect on his real worth and if he has taken the time, society has pegged him as deviant. The honest woman will have no trouble confessing that it is man's opportunity to make money and his inability to share it without patronizing in the user pay mode of behavior that frustrates and humiliates her. Marriage often becomes a giant trade-off and books have been written on that rotten game while the only commodity either of the partners have that is worth exchanging (the capacity to love) is buried under the bullshit of covert bargaining. History has told woman that she was born to be used and that she may not always be able to choose either the method or the time. The protestant ethic has defined love as sacrifice, a theory that fits well with how man perceives his role. It is she who must pay homage to the banker and bring comfort to the warrior. It is plain, to me at !least, that until man abandons his role which casts in the light of reason, woman as the fount of creature of comforts and himself as industrial or whatever achiever we will not easily establish a sense of com- munion where using can be seen in a different light. To be used in a positive way can be be a real high. have been used in a constructive and loving way, hope, for a principle believe in. In a way, evolution demands that we all be used to perfect change and the user-pay theory is extremely selfserving, so suppose we could say that it is of great importance who uses us and for what'. Only tunnel vision would say that it is women who are alone the victims of the user pay mentality, indeed because women have been denied power and forced to bargain, they can be just as self-serving as any man. Nevertheless, one must operate from a position of trust and generosity in the larger frame and from a native intelligence that defined the liimits of gullibility. At my age, am no longer concerned with being used below the neck, but what goes on above the neck is not negotiable because that is where I I I I I I live. LETTERS In a subscription reminder mailed out to our readers at the time of last issue, we included a few questions seeking the opinion of readers with regards to the paper. Other readers are invited to submit any suggestionsat any time, but for now, we'll let you in on what the readers who responded had to say: How about some hcw- to attictes- women explaining zUfts tike gixing caws, catpentty and homezteading----LIKE COUNTRY WOWN....mote -,rig about peopte, theit concerns and sometimes, just gotget the causes, but I guess its impoAtant to keep ptugging may at them. B. Reimer. Number one comment is: I wish it was as thick ass the Toronto Phone Book...att I cowed tread got two months. I wowed need zo muchwotk ot good, just pone pteazute. L.D. Conget I would tike to zee mote stoties Sot chitdten to help them undeAstand the equatities beAveen men and women. I. Jattett book teviegs on book-s wibitten by women, especiatty novetz and pott ty--pethaps tecotd reviews too. I teatize how diggicutt it Lo to get the Joutnat out, but often events are oven by the time we tecieve the issue...R. Fattett. I tike the topic approach. Sometimes though, it zeemz that too many aittictes centte on the same causes or issues. I peAsonatty enjoy tead- (I wowed tike to zee) mote on what L s happening intetnationatty. laybe women who have tnavetted could tetay expetiencez and ginding about women in other countties...(you need) a broader potiticat analysis. J. Hatonen. I wowed be pteased to zee attictez that exptain the pzychotogy behind the oppozition to abottion on demand and atzo attictes that expose sexism in high zchoot. GzAt'z Gozpet quencheo my thitzt got truth and o4ielts the hope -never given in the tnaditionat practice o4 gaith, hope and chatity...zhe continues to be an aportte og Love. You ate an inspiAation to us all (Notthetn WOman). Thank-you got the many tong howls oicootk and dedication. Cheers. V. Boiteau trw ito-rgern iLmart 316 I:41,4tireeff, taitaer 64. The NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL is a feminist newspaper that is published 6 times yearly for the people of Northwestern Ontario. Content is determined by an Editorial Collective which meets bi -monthly at 316 Bay Street. Submissions are welcome but subject to the Editorial policy of the Collective. Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �A LOOK RACK THE FOLLOWING PAGES COMMEMORATE FIVE YEARS OF WORK FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT GOT THEIR START AS A RESULT OF A NEW CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG WOMEN. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE WOMEN WHO CONTRIBUTED THESE HISTORIES AND HOPE THAT THE WOMEN READING THESE PAGES WILL TAKE PLEASURE IN RECALLING FAILURES AND VICTORIES. The Northern Women's Centre To tell the story of the Northern Women's Centre is almost like chronicling the visible women's Movement in Thunder Bay. The clean well-lighted place at 316 Bay Street that currently serves as the Northern Women's Centre is the result of many years of dedication and perserverance on the part of women--strangers at first to one another--driven by the same feeling of a need for change. The seeds were planted back in April 1973 at a Northern Women's Conference held at Confederation College, organized by local women already in tune with the movement and eager to share it with the women of the region. It was at this Conference that a workshop entitled "Women's Centres" got women thinking about the need and the how tos of beginning their own centre. Diverse women left their names and numbers and were later called to a founding meeting. "My teazonz 4oA attending meetings with the goat o4 PAming a women's centre were the imptezzionz the women had made on me--I found them. intatigent, atticuZate, ztimut.at,ing, honest and open about theit expetiencez...." A total of three meetings were held at the College which got women talking about things like fund raising, incorporation, crisis shelter housing, Divorce and Separation, Feminist Theatre, a clipping file for a women's resource library.... and concretely, the collection of books for a sale to raise money to get things underway for a centre. "I didn't km() anyone at gut but beet compttabte, welcome and accepted." Many of the ideas that came forth five years ago are just being realized now. The Northern Women's Centre which got its name at a fourth meeting of women held at Wesley United Church is the result of a long growth process. "It waz .6azcinating the way we came together. The women that met Aegutatty at We-ley Chutchwene atmost complete zttangetz. But they kept coming back...thetewene de4inatety some convictions thete." At a meeting of September 1973 it was written in the minutes: "The composition of the Northern Women's Centre as a whole represents different ideological views and approaches to the emancipation of women i.e. political affiliation, or the lack thereof, however, the unifying factor is the sentiment that women should be emancipated. The newsletter, Northern Woman will serve as an open forum of expression of any and all viewpoints of the women of Northwestern Ontario." Because of the unification of women after the conference, several events took place in the community to make a growing feminist consciousness visible. In October 1973, a funeral to City Hall was staged by women who were being denied their birthright as a status Indian upon marrying a non-status Than. *On January 11, 1974 women visited and spoke to Atikokan Highschool students about the women's movement. "They were concerned about the opptezzion o4 all women. I didn't 6eee that tGaz opptezzion that they zpoke o4 apptied to me but I wanted to help thoze to whom Lt did apply. I Ott tike a th,itzty zponge JUA-t absoAbing and tiztening to ate that wars suddenly being zaid. I tiztened but nevet 6ett competent enough to volunteer to do anything...but it was very zttange to heat some woman an seer me when I would say "I can't" with a convincing "YES YOU CAN!" On January 19 a weekend of workshops were held in Nipigon featuring films and crafts, instruction periods, displays and a play enititled "A mat/Lied and had chitdAen. Very zetdomweAe outs peAsonat tetationzhi p. intAoduced ate a topic o4 convetzation. TheAe were not ate important ass the other things a44ecting ti4 att az -a whole thatwe had to discuss. The only time out tiez became evident waz at coqekencez and zeminau where day cake pAota.zionz were made zo that ale women cowed attend." The 'Y' located centre was a comfortable and spacious place with a seating area for meetings or informal discussions and offices for work and the printing of the Northern Woman Newsletter, In December of 1974, the centre received a local Initiatives Program grant to employ five people under the title, Northern Women's Centre Action Project. February 1975, one month into In March of 1974 the centre International Women's Year, the tried to reach ou,ttothomitr2alellat, together and staged a when Estelle HoWgi-F7777777=7M7=------17nnker-,A ine-InliTuaT-spnfts rity dinner held at the Ortona Legoffered a course entitled "Today's ion protesting the traditionally Woman: A New Awareness" at Confederall-male functions which the female ation College. athelete of the year was only allowed April 1974 was a big month for the to attend long enough to collect her women who had until this time been trophy. The sexist tradition has since utilizing other people's space to been changed. meet. April was the month that they International Women's Day was moved-into the spacious second floor' celebrated that same month on the of the YM/YWCA in the South ward and 28th with a large gathering at the received $10,000 to fund themselves Lakehead Labour Centre. from Secretary of State. Besides a multi cultural dinner prepared by a drop in centre for women, it was ethnic women, an ethnic craft disan information outlet and housed a play and an afternoon of readings and children's play area staffed by volsong chracterized the event. unteers. A National Conference of Women's "7 belt that zociety tteatedwomen Centres was hosted by Thunder Bay at unjurttywhen I gut came looking the Royal Edward Hotel during the PA the women's movement. I continued winter of 1975 as a part of Intergoing to the meetingz because I zae national Women's Year. It brought the -true cancan and untiting eiimts forth the short-lived but very ingeno4 -these women to change theiA win istaAis and the status o4 than 4.1.4tuus." ous communication plan "NETWORK NELLIE". The code name stood for The birth of the Northern Woman an information relay system in which newsletter came shortly after the small communties kept in touch with move when a used Gestetner was women's centres in larger cities, who purchased in May 1974 and later in in turn were responsible for relaying June a used Gestofax for making information of immediate concern to stencils. the women, to points directly east The Women's Centre got settled and west. Thunder Bay would contact' in its new home and began holding North Bay and Winnipeg who would in various functions. In 1974 people turn carry the chain across the began talking about a Women's Health country east and west. The expeeee Collective, a meeting was held for of long distance telephone calls and highschool women to start regular the slow falling away of some of the discussion sessions, the first ancentres was the cause of Network nual women's retreat was held August Nellie's demise just six months after 16, 1974 and in November of that her creation. Following suit before same year came the glorious grand opening of the Northern Women's the end of IWY, the Northern Women's Centre to the whole of the northern Centre in the Y closed down because f region. notice was given that the Y was "It took me awhile before I closing and it was the end of L.I.P. realized that motet o6 the women were But the people who made funding. Man Has His Pride ". Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �the centre didn't fall away. They simply moved temporarily into the home of one of the members on West Amelia Street in Sept. of 1975. The next month, they celbbrated the city sponsored crisis homes on Tarbutt street that were opened in response to pressure from the women's centre. The new year, January 1976 had a very optimistic beg inning. The Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre, with the legal assistance of Mary Tomlinson became an incorporated entity with formally stated objectives: to supply and render services of a) a charitable and educational nature to women. to establish resources for women to co-operate with other organizations...which have objects similar to our objects. to employ its property, assets d) and rights for the purpose of promoting or aiding in the promotion of, the welfare of all women in need of help. To maintain funds and property to apply from time to time all or part thereof and the income therefrom for charitable purposes. b) c) f) To use,apply, devote or distribute the income therefrom for charitable purposes by such means as may from time to time seem expedient to its directors including research, publication, education and establishment and maintenance of charitable activities, agencies or institutions The significance of the corporation, which has a mandate much more extensive and complicated than that portion included above, was to ru_wt the n' '-nncP of the women's an entity for the CvrIcre ano LL naming as a beneficiary of the inheritance of property in the will of a generous member. While at Amelia Street, women met every second Thursday night, mainly for discussion sessions. At this time the centre experienced its lowest energy period and a time of contemplation was necessary to determine direction and support. In June 1976 the investigation into the feasibility of a credit union on health issues affecting women, a place with a feminist lending library and resource file, a place where groups can be formed for discus sion and pursuit of interest. Currently housed at 316 Bay Stree are The Northern Woman Journaj, Rape and Sexual Assault Centre. Northern Women's Credit Union. to facilitiate space for the Northern Women's Credit Union, the Northern Woman Journal, Crisis Homes Inc., and Northern Women's Centre. Each group contributed toward the rent and utilities at 316 Bay Street which has become unofficially known as Women's Place. For a time it seemed doubtful that there would be adequate funding to maintain the new roof over the heads of women dropping into the centre, but a proposal submitted at 120 W. Amelia street for funding was accept- The Orginal Board of Directors for Women's Centre Doreen Boucher, Noreen Lavoie, Dawn St Amand, Eve Pykerman, Mallory Neuman, Jacqui Beauregard and Sharon Lund ed. Till May of 1978 the Canada Works Project paid 5 women from three groups to work out of Women's Place under a project hastily titled International Women's Year Revisited. Since the move here, there have been many women who have wandered through the door for assistance in their struggle to break free of harassment, abuse, oppression depression or whatever their problem. Always someone listened at Women's Place. The needs of women have not changed significantly since the opening of the women's centre in the Y. The topics of financial security and survival are never out of mind. Our main function is to try to keep alive to serve women with whatever resources available. We see ourselves now as a place to Orginal Board of Directors Credit Unic call or drop-in for a friendly visit to share a problem or success...a place Trudy Perroud, Faye Peterson, Eleanor that provides speakers on a variety of Eryou, Anna Harkema and Marion Babcock issues relevant to women available upon request...a place without political Credit Committee party affiliations, but which encourCatherine Tett, Margaret Phillips, our participation in the polages Anne Donaldson, Nancy Smith, Noreen tical system as our individual respor Lavoie and Lois Pentney. sibility....a place for information The Northern Woman Journal ing nutured by a group of area women simultaneously. One sees immediately that those involved had writing skill and a fine knowledge of their subjects. began. Meanwhile, at the N.W. J. quarters at 316 Bay St. (the paper moved here when the centre moved to Amelia St.), things were picking up. It had become a location for women to drop in for counselling as paid Journal staff were there every day. Women at the Journal also became aware that the neighbouring restaurant was closing. At first it was all just a far fetched Taking over the next door fantasy. quarters seemed a very remote possibility indeed as people worried about such things as staffing so large a centre during a time when volunteer energy was not at its highest. But optimism prevailed and a tour of the building was arranged. The kitchen area with its filth, grime and clutter deflated the women somewhat but a meeting was held immediately with a plan to solicit money for paint from Crisis Homes and with a committment of $200 rent to the place and a bank balance of a mere $2,117, on APRIL 1, 1977, the women of the new women's centre got to work moving in. A management committee was set up One of those first involved in the Northern Woman was a resident of British Columbia and had an opportunity to with whom converse with on a recent holiday. "We saw ourselves as leaders," she said and confessed that she felt the paper had lost its message and had in fact become one dimensional in pursuit of personal feminist goal, The newsletter continued from 197 coming out sporadically, but contain very vital ideas on very vital issue The year 1975, although International Women's Year was a low period for both the Women's Centre and the paper, but a small grant from the Local Initiatives Program and a re-e tablishment in a new address, when the centre itself was asked to re-lo started ate, helped get things again on a different footing. The Northern Woman continued to cover topics of concern to feminists, but without the same strong poltical analysis that there was from founder I rtg Lift' turn by Gert Beadle and Elaine Lynch The History of the Northern Woman Journal cannot be told as a sequence of dates and a list of names. It was in the beginning, a creature of the first woman's centre in Thunder Bay back in the early seventies. It was their way of expressing themselves and keeping in touch with one another. Since its beginning it has faithfully protrayed the collective minds of those who took responsibility for it. study one of the first efforts, As I on 81 by 14 inch gestetner paper see clearly a dated November 1973, social document, broader in its implications as a political journal, symbolizing the ideas that were beI This transition had both to do with the time and the place of the feminist movement. In 1975, the Northern Woman beci Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �the Northern Woman Journal and took on a new format. It was a big step changing the paper from gestetner, to a real tabloid publication, which was pasted up by members of the collective and sent off the the printer every two months. The Northern Woman Journal has not been the object for a lot of support grants. In this, its fifth year, it is on its second grant funding, but continues to rely chiefly on subscriptions which are in the area of 800 with both local and out of town contributors_ The support of the public is crucial to the Northern Woman Journal's survival. We sense a changing conciousness in women in our part of the country that is reflected in our subscription files. Reaching not just the women of Thunder Bay, but the women of Northern Ontario was considered when the format of the paper changed. The Northern Woman has suffered a few identity crises as-to its pur pose, both as a means of expression for more extreme feminists or as a newpaper for women of a range of beliefs to read...The debates have been almost detrimental in some cases, as they were in the summer of 77, but somehow there have always been a few volunteers to see that the paper survived. To some, the Northern WomanJournal is a disappointment, selling out like everything else that symbolized change in the latter sixties and early seventies. However, there will probbably be a few more identity crises before the Northern Woman Journal becomes confident of what it would like to do for its readers. Presently the Journal has one paid staff member who co-ordinates about 14 volunteers who write and do paste-up or whatever interests them about a newspaper. New people are always encouraged to join. We remain committed to the feminist philosophy, determined to provide an alternate press,determined to reflect the journey of women to a new vision of themselves and what they are becoming. You will not find her pouring tea in the Journal, therefore, but hopefully you will find her questioning even the right of this paper to exist. At five years of age, we are working to make the appearance of the paper pleasing to the eye. Next we must work hard to bring consistency and balance to our content. Financially we are still in the red, but are relying on subscriptions and the shot in the arm by the succes of Gert Beadle's Salt and Yeast, the profits of which she generously dimated to the Journal as a dedicated member of the collective. The Journal office is located at Woman's Place, 316 Bay Street and is open every week day from 9 to 4 pm. Drop in and say Happy Birthday! 11111111=11 THURSDAY NITE PROGRAMMING On Thursday January 11, 1979 several resource people will be on hand to discuss the topic "Women and Addictions". Further details will be announced by flyers, postings and other media. For more information contact the Centre at 345-5841 and ask for Anne or Monika. 6111111111111111111 AottAztn (14/omen s &Edit (Union Now it got started Some of the Directors of the credit union, Eleanor Eryou, Marion Babcock, Faye would like to begin this entry by giving sincere congratualtions to the Northern Woman Journal on its fifth anniversary. The Northern Women's Credit Union can be thankful to the Journal for covering the activities and progress of the Credit Union, and for the unceasing efforts of the Journal staff to provide the women of Northern Ontario issues and perspectives usually ignored by other forms of the media. The idea of a women's credit union for Northern Ontario was first formulated by women at meetings of the Northern Women's Centre in September of 1975.They had heard of and talked to the members of the Toronto Women's Credit Union and thought that the possibility of a similar credit union for our part of Ontario would be A good one. The suggestion was enthusiastically received and further discussed at subsequent meetings. When a grant from the Secretary of State became available to hire a student during the summer of 1976, it was agreed that I by Laurie Hill Peterson and Betty Harkema. Missing Julie Fels, and Laurie Hill. the grant would be well-used in a feasibility study and background work for establishing a credit union in Northern Ontario. The main purpose of the feasibility study was to determine whether or not the women of Thunder Bay and area would support a women's credit union. Through the distribution of a questionafre as well as, feedback obtained through exposure by various media forms, the response was seen to be positive. Information meetings were held so that the philosophy and structure of credit unions would be understood by a committed core group. Proceedures were then started to obtain a charter at an organizational meeting held in October of '76. The charter was approved on December 10, 1976 and officially presented on January 12, 1977. The bond of association for the charter is membership in the Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre Inc. The executive make-up of the Credit Union is a Board of Directors, Credit Committee, Supervisory Committee, and Education Committee. These groups meet regularly to ensure the continuing prc gress of the Credit Union. In its early days the credit union operated out of the Women's Centre's past quarters on AmettaStodbet if now occupies its own office at 316 Bay Street. Originally the geographic boundaries of the credit union were within the city of Thunder Bay but have now been extended to include the districts of Thunder Bay, Rainy River and Kenora. Our membership presently numbers 316 with assets of $70,000; unarguably an admirable standing for a credit union less than two years old The credit union exists as a source of credit for women who would likely have difficulty obtaining loans from other credit granting sources. It also strives to fufil the function of providing opportunities for women to become active participants in full financial management. Also, in the pro cess of granting loans, counselling is often given to women in areas of budgeting, spending etc. The majcrity of the loans that have been made have been for car purchases, rent, home improvements, education and holidays. Recently the credit union made an application to the Credit Union league in Toronto for a development fund. Such a fund would facilitate an active and aggressive program to let the women of Northern Ontario not yet aware of the credit union, learn of our existen With the growth from our potential membership, the credit union would develop further and thus expand member services to meet members needs. As the Northern Women's Credit Uniol rapidly approaches its second birthday the justification for its inception and continued existence is reinforced by its ongoing growth and demand for services. These trends can only indica a future growth and development with subsequent benefits to the women of Northern Ontario. Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual &mull The Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre has come a long way in implementing the plans first discussed by a concerned group of women back in 1974 at the Thunder Bay South YW-YMCA. When the voluntary service first got off the ground, it was operated by a group of women who felt that there was a need for special care and consultation with rape victims beyond the regular medical services and police assistance. They informed the police and emergency units at local hospitals of their existence and availability to give assistance in a crisis situation. Unfortunately, as with many strictly volunteer organizations, the crisis line and active volunteer group ceased to exist at the end of 1975. The women who were involved in the Rape project were dedicated to many aspects of the women's movement and consequently there were not enough full time volunteers to stay by the phone around the clock. In 1976 there was, however, a strong resurgence of interest expressed by some of the same core people of the disbanded group. This time they set about getting Secretary of State funds to hold a workshop on public awareness and involvement in some kind of help group. Approximately 100 people turned out to the College to bring about the active re-organization of the 11,,,Ider Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre. This time there was not only a 24 telephone line set up, but also a group established to collect education material for a public awareness service in Thunder Bay and the outlying regions. the collective of Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre also keeps tabs on rape legislation. A special committee works regularly on a lobby to reform the current laws. As well, the group provides an educational service through resource files, films and speakers who fufill engagements in the community on a regular basis. They as well, hold volunteer training sessions to get more women involv ed in the service and have worked with women from as far away as Dryden Kenora and Fort Frances. The local group is also a member of Provincial and National coalitions working to create a common basis for centres. In the event of an actual case of rape, theCrisis Centre is usually called in to assist, if the victim The Centre is contacted .so wishes. personally by the victim, a friend, The group acquired a space at McKei or by medical personell and police. ler Hospital equipped with one telIt all depends, says Crisis workers, ephone. They also put together an edueational kit for schools. However, on the people handling the case. The volunteers may be called to the assis the group was again the victim of problems. Located in an isolated area ance of a victim immediately, or late of the hospital, the new centre did if she requires someone to talk to. not run efficiently for very long. In the event that a case goes to A lack of consistent volunteer work, court, the volunteers will attend and the failure to keep regular files the trial and provide whatever suppor and statistics caused the organization is requested. to fall apart briefly once again, in Last year, the centre handled 18 the fall of 1977. cases of rape. However, they feel tha In May 1978, the City provided a there is a lot of room for expansion and are fighting the low 10% convicti grant to hire two part time people On November 23, to staff an office and co-ordinate rate for rapists. the operation of a pool of volunteers. they held an open house inviting both Volunteers willing to assist the public and professional workers, the latter of which they hope to in an actual crisis situation are gain co-operation with. On December 2 given a beeper to be on call during the hours that onto. the office is closed. 3 a volunteer trainign wa Before distribtuion ofand this thesession empty Tar irony of An answering service takes all lead by volunteers to help train model, however, relevant Thunder Bay and the expensive bills volunteers frokThunder Bay and calls and relays the messages to a moreasked agencies and associations were accomodation. for communities in the region where rotating group of volunteers. to provide some statisitical informCouncil not only app Apart from actual crisis assistance, centres are being encouraged. ation on the numbers of homeless of the houses, but prov women who had sought aid from them. These statistics then accompanied a working model to provide a sense of urgency. After approaching several funding agencies with the packet of information, it was learned that the Tarbutt houses, owned by the city, were empty and unused. It was also learned that an inordinate amount of money was being spent by Social Services on hotel accomodation such as the Marina Inn for women in emergency situatdons. It then became a matter of present+ ing the proposal and statistics to those on city council in a decision making position, pointing out the s Crisis Homes Incorporated by Mary Tomlinson The Crisis Houses which are situated on Tarbutt St. and reached by phone through city hall, are run by Thunder Social Services. Women and their children who find themselves in a violent home situation can find shelter, food and comfort there until a new home base can be The majority of users established. are women, however, the homes do provide shelter to men with families. The houses were opened in the fall of 1976 after approximately a year of effort on the part of local women. It began with the compilation of a working model derived from one of the original half way houses in Tor- money to hire a co-ord Although the original to rent the homes for a from the city, giving c our board of directors, problem of no-time, no opposition resulted in t Services Department tak After what seemed to be starts, the houses bega satisfactorily and to c Monies which had bee over the years were hel found corporation known Homes Incorporated whic plies the fund to relat involving women in cris Women's Programs The history of the Canadian Movement towards equality for women runs deep, but the year 1970 stands out an important milestone in recent as years. This was the year that the Federal Government issued the report of the Royal Commission us of women in Canada. T was, and is, significant respects. It shook Canadians f comfortable assumption th Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �opportunity is avaia3able to women in our society. The report documented conclusive evidence, that it must convince even the hardiest sceptic, that women have been denied equal opportunity in every aspect of Canadian life but particularly in the area of employment. Fortunately the Commissioners did not cease their work at this negative conclusion. The report recommended comprehensive remedies that have acted as a catalyst in mobilising positive action on the part of governments and women's groups. "In certain areas women will for an interim period require special treatment to overcome the adverse effects of discriminatory practises. We consider such measures to be justified in a limited range of circumstances, and we anticipate that they should quickly lead to actual equality which would make their continuance unnecessary." Ontario Staus of Women's Council which advises the government on legislation concerning women. Women's Programs became a vehicle to combat sex-role stereotyping and to provide a means for women to re-enter the educational and/or labour force. To alleviate the heavy work load, Women's Programs advertised for a Supervisor of Women's Programs; Lynne Thornburg was appointed on August 18, 1975. Her considerable talents resulted in additional programs for women: Self Discovery, The first seminar was presented by Assertiveness Training, Women and Women's Programs in 1974 (September) Money, Homemaker's Course, Sociolin conjunction with the University ogy of sex-roles, Introduction to Women's Club and the Ontatio Status Consciousness Raising, Women and of Women Club. Seventy women from Psychology, Mens, Masculinity and Northwestern Ontario attended Family the Men's Movement, The Female SexProperty Law; this was followed by a ual Experience, Health Issues for 10 week course co-ordinated by ElizWomen (Our Bodies, Ourselves). abeth Cummins, Master, Business DivApart from courses offered through 4 result of the success of As Confederation College in Thunder Bay, this program, it was used as a model Fort Frances and Dryden, the employees After the publication of the for the Fair Share conference in Torof Women's Programs have taught in Federal Royal Comission Report, the onto which 500 women from across OntHighschool classrooms when requested Premier of Ontario, William G. Davis, ario attended. Women's Programs worked by teachers. requested the Provincial Secretary hardto get 4 women from Northern OntIn the community, Women's Programs for Social Development, Robert ario to attend the conference with members participated in seminars, Welch to appoint an interministerial expenses paid by the Ontario Governworkshops as resource persons. committee to review and analyse ment. We act as a resource group and the federal report as it related In October 1974, Women's Programs take care of administrative details to Ontario jurisdictions and to sent out about 100 letters to varfor seminars on women oriented issues. make recommendations for future ious women's groups inviting them to Particular appreciation is exprovincial action. The result was a send delegates to a weekend seminar to pressed to the Northwestern Ontario report entitled Equal Opportunity for plan for International Womens Year. International Women's Decade Co-orWomen in Ontario: A Plan for Action. This was held on November 29 and dinating Council and the Northern As a consequence of the stirrings 30 and attracted about 70 representWomen's Centre for their on the federal and provincial levels, atives...it was a first in Ontafio. hard work and leadership because progat Confederation College, President As a result of that meeting, Interrams are being developed within Thunder Air-Vice-MarhsalBradshaw commissioned national Women's Year began to take Bay and outside Thunder Bay because two senior staff members to investigate shape in Northwestern Ontario and of their efforts and the efforts of the educational role of the College the International Women's Decade people like Edna Avis, Irene Slchert, as it related to fufillment of the Co-ordinating Council was born. Janet Owen in Fort Frances, Jeanine educational aspirations of women in Also in the fall, the first credMascotta in Dryden, Clara Lee Barber Area 18. In June 1972, Betty Ganton, elective given in in Kenora, Bernice Taylor in AtikSenior Counsellor Dick O'Donnell, women's studies in Thunder Bay: okan and many others. Director of Extension Division, preWomen and History-Joan Baril, In January 1977, Ruth CunningWomen and Film-Rae Farrell, sented their report and brought in ham took on the added duties of Women in Canadian Literaturerecommendations toward the improvement a women's advisor. A representative Laurie Atkinson, of the status of women. Affirmative Action Committee was Although all programs in the College Women and the Law-Elizabeth Thomson, appointed by the President in 1977 are open to men and women, there was Family and Property Law-Co-ordinated from which the members submitted a by Elizabeth Cummins, Come Alive-Fitness and to a large extent still is, a clear plan for action to the Ministry of division between traditionally male Centre. Colleges and Universities after its The first Women's Re-entry Progand traditionally female courses. approval by Senior Managers and the ram Job Search and Readiness originWomen students were not represented in Board of Governors. It is now ated November 1974 in conjunction technology or business management progCollege policy. rams which lead to higher paying, highe r with Canada Manpower as their InterDuring 1977, the Job Search national Women's Year pilot project. status jobs. and Readiness Program was phazed It was started in order to further An analysis of studies on the status out and replaced by Introduction of women in Ontari9,in our own College the attainment of their national ecto Nontraditional Occupations still onomic and social goals by developand the Equal Opportunity Plan for sponsored by Canada Manpower and ing the productive potential of Action For Women, Ontario Government Immigration. This has been particJune 1973 pointed the way for change. the women's segment of Candian Human ularly effective in getting women On February 15, Ruth Cunningham Resources. into non-traditional occupations was appointed Director of Women's The purpose of the program was to and many employers are now sympathPrograms with responsibility for the develop the confidence of women who tic to the employment of women. promotion, development and implementation were new to the labour market and In the summer of 1977, through of programs of particular concern to of those who were returning after the Women's Bureau we were fortwomen. considerable absence, to make evident unate to have Karen Dubinsky as our Women's Programs became a change the opportunities for employment, first student trainee. She carried to determine careers for women agent and subject to the anxieties out two studies: sex-role stereobest suited to their needs and and frustrations that go with attempts typing, in text books and women in skills, to teach women how to search to change hundreds of years of women's non-traditional jobs. and men's socialization to their roles for employment, to make women aware Our first OCAP student, Donna of their family and property rights in society. Lacroix gave valuable assistance under the law. The first four months were spent rein the co-ordination of the I.N.T.O. searching and organizing resource mater The program continued twice yearly program from October 77 to March 78. for 3 years in Thunder Bay and less ials for women (students, facilities Her particular contribution resulted often in Kenora, Dryden and Fort and staff). A bibliography of books in more employers being willing to Frances and films relevant to the status of accept women for on the job trainDuring the latter part of 1974, women was added to the library and ing in non-traditional occupations the Director of Women's Programs was made available to anyone in Northwestappointed to the Canadian Commission, ern Ontario. UNESCO, Standing Committee on Issues After months of trying to cope and Efforts of Women and to the with huge amounts of materials and requests for information, the employment of a clerk steno was a very welcome addition indeed. The most logical approach to beginning in carrying out the mandate of Women's Programming appeared to be to respond to the need for women's consciousness raising. In June 1974, awareness seminars for women were held in Kenora, Dryden, Red Lake and Souix Lookout where many women expressed a need for education. These ideas were passed on in written form to the appropriate educators. . . Coned next page Northern Woman Jounral Anniversary Issue page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Northwestern Ontario International Women's Decade Co-ordinating Council by Brenda Cryderman In the fall of 1975, a group of women met to form a council to coordinate the activities of International Women's Year. This is the beginning of what we now call Northwestern Ontario International Women's Decade Co-ordinating Council. After Women's Year everyone was concerned about where to go from here? This resulted in a conference with the theme: International Women's Year--Where do we Go From Here? results of this conOne of the ference was the existing Decade Council. The new council was formed April 4 of 1976 when 16 women representing communities from across Northwestern Ontario met and devised both long and short term purposes for the The women who attendDecade Council. ed that meeting were: Lynn Thornburg, Gert Beadle, Marg Lanchok, Marg Holbick, Mickey Murray, Lisa Bengsston, Leona Lang, Joan Packota, Eleanor Eryou,June Cryderman, Paulah Edwards, Thyra Digby, Joan Farrow, Diane Ratston and Bernice Cain. The Council adopted its name from the United Nations decade for women (76-86) which incorporates three signs: equality, women's development and peace. The old International Women's Year Council undertook activities Planned for Women's Year. They oversaw the initiation and completion of projects which included the beginning of a history of women in Northwestern Ontario, (HERSTORY) a travelling caravan which brought information on women's issues to all communities in the district and their women's groups. EQUALITY PEACE DEVELOPMENT 11=11111111111111111MID They have also done a great deal o work on the widow's pension. Mae Sutt submitted a brief to the Federal and Provincial governments and to the Ontario Royal Commission on Pensions and participated in National Action Committees to cabinet and party caucu Responsible for the Life Begins at Forty Conference, the goals for the Decade Council are as follows: 'To work towards an update of the UNited Nations Declaration of Rights For Children and to push for this to become actual law. *A study by the council and a possibl seminar on the Rights of Children. *Continued Outreach along the North on the women's perspective of life in the community. This sub-committee has been very vocal on Women and Economic Development as it related to the North. They have submitted briefs to the Hart Commission, responded to the Department of Northern Affairs White Paper on Northern Development and lobbied for women working in their husbands unincorporated businesses who presently receive no Canada Pension PLan, no Unemployment Insurance, no Workmen's Compensation and worst of all, NO PAY. Shore. *A follow up to the life Begins at Forty Conference. *A quality of life study, follow up survey and the investon Phase igation for funding for Phase 2. Publicity for the Decade Council *A Conference for the study of Violence Against Women. Present members of the Council are: Joan Packota, Lisa Bengsston, Leona Lang, Barb Matthews, Marg Lanchok, Mickey Murray, Mary Fedorchuk, Florence Richards, Julie Fels, Bernice Taylor (Atikokan), Ruby Camay, Marg Hobick and Barb Halliday (Dryden). 1 Herstory is presently transcribing tapes with early women settlers of the North and will hopefully produce a book outline for next year. Family and Property Law Sub Committee has studied the new laws before they come into effect and lobbied for change. They try to educate the public concerning these laws and changes and provide resource people for workshops. The Decade Council has worked on an Outreach Program to get women involved outside of Thunder Bay, Women's groups have been organized in Fort Frances, Dryden, Atikokan and Souix Lookout which are just getting on their feet. They have contacts in Kenora, Geraldton, and Manitouwadge. The new decade Council decided to direct its energies and activities into eliminating the barriers that prevent women from realizing their full potential in society. The Council's objectives are to provide a liason for all women's groups in the district, to act as a resource centre for women's issues and to help improve co-operation and communication with women's groups and the work they are doing in the district. Today the decade Council is certainly achieving the goals set out in 1976. It has become an umbrella organization for a variety of sub-committees and action groups. The work load of the council has become too heavy to be shouldered just by volunteers and this year they received funding to hire a full time secretary, Brenda Cryderman. Monthly meetings take place on the third Saturday of the month from 10 am to 2 pm at Confederation College. The Council's mandate is to improve the status of women in the economic, social, legal and political spheres of Northwestern Ontario. The Equal Pay for Equal Work subcommittee is presently working on completing the coding on the survey sent to six NW Ontario single industry communities. Phase two of this will be to examine the quality of life in three single industry towns based Y.P. gineemm. Women's Programs continued On February 15,1978 Mary Fedorchuk was appointed Supervisor of Women's Programs; she brought special skills in ciriculum development, monitoring and evaluation. The time has come to package educati onal modules for the use of persons across Northwestern Ontario. Workshops were held to give instructors an opportanity to learn how we introduced and managed a re-entry program for women, and Assertiveness More of these services Training. will be made available as more women request them throughout Northwestern Ontario. We continue to utlilize the opportunity to work with committees on seminars and to respond to special requests from women's groups. Increased actvity from within and outside the college has moved us into a Women's Centre in Room 164. W om- Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page en's Programs has become an integral part of the college. Janet Spfttlehouse is presently coour OCAP student and efficiently ordinating the introduction to non-tr( itional occupations programs. As we approach our own fifth anniv( sary on February 15, 1979, we will be giving attention to maintaining existing programs, to implementing the 4ffirmative Action Program for women in the College Community, to continue to focus on the issue of sex role stereotyping through the presentation of workshops, seminars and courses designed to increase awareness of the problem, and through the development of non-sexist cirriculum materials, and to find alternate ways and means which will move more women into education and employ non-traditional ment. 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �MUSIC: Tara takes it away This month you will notice a new album on the racks. The cover features a young woman sitting defiantly in the middle of Thunder Bay's Cumberland Street, in the path of an oncoming antique automobile. The woman's name is Tara and the record, her first, is called Ain't Playin Chicken. It is worth a trip to the cash register. For Tara, 22, the record is an admirable start. She sees it as a calling card in clubs across the country, but more important, as the milestone that gives her the credibility to perfrom exclusively as a vocalist. "I play acoustic guitar and took up electric bass because was not a good enough guitar player to front a band. But ever since grade school when was singing soprano in the school choir, I've always wanted to be able to just sing," expAsins Tara who has been appearing on stages around Thunder Bay since she was 16. In the past few years, Tara's voice has developed.On Ain't Playin Chicken there are traces of Tara's airy folksongy voice that was cultivated by her interest in Joni Mitchell in her early years of singing, There is also a strong, gutsy voice developed while playing with groups like the Last Chance Jam Band which Tara formed with her husband Barry Kivinen. In the ambitious mix of folk, rock, blues and swing presented on the album, Tara makes her unusual voice bring forth echoes of Joan Armitrading, Van Morrison and Pheobe Snow. She has developed a lot of range and power, enough to stand up to the full brass section of the Thunder Bay Jazz society which appears on the song "Night on the Town." Like other area musicians who have cut albums, Tara has made use of locally written material. "Win, Lose or Draw' is by Jimmy Kukko, "You Got the Light" and "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" are Tara's own compositions . "Factory Gier is by Paul Mutton. Donny Sponchia, I I whose compositions are heard on the Earthsine: Live at the Bess album is responsible for the title track "Ain't Playin Chicken" and "My Candy's Gone". The remainder of the songs are by Tom Labelle: "Human Canonball", which Tara has put into an interesting rock arrangment, "When A Good Love Slips Away" and "Night on the Town". The final cut, sung above the clink of bar room glasses in accapella style, is a sweet old number entitled "Falling in Love Again, by Frederick Hollander, the only non-local composer. The album was recorded by Doug Johnston on his mobile sound studio and produced by Nancy Winters who handles the job of recording different tracks at different times, in different places and mixing it all into a commendable product, The performing musicians are all from in and around Thunder Bay, and because of this, Tara says the album can accurately be called a folk album simply because it is a product of an area and its people. The people are Wayne Breiland, Smokey Wickman, Me Henderson, Tom Sinkins, Lauri Conger, Lindey Norhaugen, Ken Korey, Terry Fiorito, Barry Kivinen, Tom Labelle, Sean Mundy, Dave Smythe, Damon Dowback, Roy Coran, Cliff Ojala, Howard Humby, Peter Nowack, Ernie Slongo and Bernadetter McNally, which is quite an all inclusive cast. Tara has recently become part of a new band called Mercy Rose in which sht has finally achieved part of her dream she is the lead singer in the band. Mercy Rose will go on tour this January across Canada. Her long term ambitions, in light o the album, do not seem too lofty: want to do is work and make "All would like to bea living at it. come big enough to hire a brass sectiol I'm very taken with horns right now- and be able to put on a full show with excellent music, where ever we play." Ain't Playin Chicken may be the start of a real good thing. I I BOOKS: our room by elaine lynch THE WOMEN'S ROOM, by Marilyn French Jove Books, Peperbacks, $2.50 When one reviews a book as allconsuming as THE WOMAN'S ROOM by Marilyn French, the impulse is to become all emotions and abstractions---because it seems doubtful that anyone who picks up this book will put it down without a tear, a sigh or a grimace. But the intelligence of Marilyn French deserves more than just adjectives. In spite of the cover and its best seller, fast trade status, THE WOMAN'S ROOM is a kind of monumental work because of its scope, its insight and its deliberate feminist consciousness. The book is too voluminous to be built solely on a trite poltical bias. French is a writer, not a propagandist. Although the politics of being a woman are examined through the characters, not one of them becomes a mouth piece. They are full bodied people that draw the reader close to them and whose personal tragedies cut to the quick.The novel, though OM. is fiction, takes a very truthful look at women in different places at different times in middle class 4********************** North America. It examines how they * DECEMBER 15, 1978 fit into innately political institutions...like marriage...like Harvard. The picture does not become any brighter in the transition from the fifties, to the sixities and finally 4. into the seventies...just different. 11 II Mendacity is the problem: women It knowing how they think and feel ver** sus the persistent reality of what they are. This theme has been explored * featuring by numerous writers in the past decr: 3E * ade, but French gives it a new vitality. She has managed to make literAT THE ELK'S LODGE (CORNER OF * ature out of the past three decades 4. SYNDICATE AND MILES) * of social change. The outcome is * * TICKETS: $3.00 advance frightening. Among her *characters, * $3.50 at the door if. there are few, if any,*real survi* * vors. The women who stay alive and * * free from the confines*ofIt's psychia* a benefit for * * WOMAN'S PLACE tric institutions, live in lonely des: so anyone wishing to help* pair or give up the struggle of try* out call 345-5841 or * ing to achieve their full humanity, usually by retreating into the lie of marriage, Although the book has momit continued next page * * * ii.c.) * * * ** V 0 V IN ** * * Blue Streak& Southpaw ** it0445ia:i***************I Northerp Woman JOurnal Anraversary issue .pw.g. 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THEATRE: MAGNUS'S Goat revolve almost totally around him. He is gone in the end, but not before much examination is made of the evil his presence brings. Is this a "feminist play"? On the whole, no. The women show no sense of "sisterhood": atone point, the mother is willing to sacrifice her relationship with her daughter rather than ask Angelo to leave. The focus is on, rather, relationships between the sexes and an examination of a number of stereotypes. by Penni Burrell and Joyce Michalchuk I've seldom attended a live play didn't like and have never attended didn't like. a Magnus production don't As you can possibly tell, like giving bad reviews because of my basic belief that any respectable company, be it theatre, music or dance, wouldn't be caught dead consciously performing a dead play, score or theme. I I I The recent Magnus production of Ugo Betti's Goat Iztand conformed to my theory, although obviously all productions don't, I'm the first to It was everything but dead, admit. with its basic ingredient of life Angelo's (Robert Seale's) presence, enhanced by those of the cast: Edoardo (Don Jamieson), Pia (Colleen Murphy), Agatta (Carole Zorro) and Silvia (Goldie Scheiman), who all served as foils. In fact, the play actually revolved around the lives of the three women living together on a remote island in Italy in the early 1950's. The island was inhabited by, you guessed it, goats. At the outset, we are confronted with a sparse, desolate setting. The women are all related to one another, and their initial appearances match this desolate mood. Their speech is terse, their dress, shabby and faded. They have lived "manless" and apparently "lifeless" existences for years and are terrified at any attempt at change. Enter a virile young man who makes it obvious immediately he intends to stay. The rest of the play deals with the changes and problems his presence creates. The women show signs of a revitalization of their joy in living. The trade-off however is that Angelo becomes the "stud' for all mother, daughter and three women: Their activities sister-in-law. The women's slavery is acknowledged; they feel an abhorrence toward their position subsequently. Although the women must partially wait for fate to free them, two eventually free themselves of his bondage and are forced into chang- In it together by Penni Burrell My picture is in this issue with a group of women from women's place. thought it didn't belong. At first, I'm new in this area--a woman, yes, cerbut not a Northern Woman. And tainly haven't done anything for the journal, except buy it at the odd time. A fifth anniversary issue should congratualte all those who saw the Journal through its rough, low energy times. Me?, then, in the picture? What right, what place have I? thought to myself. Wait a minute, may be new to the district, but have over the past five years, been around the women's movement. Not one thing consistently. Not even one city. I've travelled, fit into different places and groups to suit my needs and mood at the time. Like the movement itself, I've grown, lost initiative and gained it in other ways. So, what is the point of this issue? For me, it's to commemorate not I I I I I ing their previously isolated, dead existence in the process. Again, although the play was itself far from dead, it was also far Its from lacking in shortcomings. biggest was its ending, when Angelo's stairway to freedom is raised by Agatta and he dies at the bottom of the well amid his empty and discardThat seems to be ed wine bottles. the playwright's "easiest way out". The high irony, however, lay in the words spoken earlier by Angelo which echoed soundlessly at his "Everyone knows that all demise: women want to make love with the devil, because the devil plays The devil who plays hard-to-get". no more is killed by his own devilIndirectly, of course. ish ways. just the existence of one journal, at one place. It's to celebrate that it, and many other offshoots of the movement still exist, still function, and still give birth to other projects and groups. Just think of the conversations you've had (or may have, if this is your first introduction to the movement) because of the Journal...or that coworker who got fired for asking for equal pay or that mouthy woman that really said a couple of true things. Think of the growing, painful and joyful that's come about after you decided that you wouldn't put up with that guy (who thought you were cute when you were angry) ANY MORE. How won't know far have we all come? go back. And I've got the Northern Woman Journal, and my friends, and the other groups, both existing and gone, to thank for the last few years. My picture could be that of anyone...of you. I I =IS Books cont'd ents of great optimism and profound joy both physical and spiritual, the conclusion is less than encouraging: in the end we all settle for less, but for women, less is less than less. The despair felt by the main character of the book, Mira, stays with you long after you have read her last utterance...which is very poetic, like many parts of this novel. French has revealed the web as the hopelessly tangled mess that it really is. Freedom for women is not as simple as changing some legislation or providing the economic freedom that will allow women to develop. The,web is centuries of conditioning. It is perhaps even an eternity of a fundamental difference between the sexes. In any case, man is by necessity, the enemy. This conclusion may be a little strong for some women. But when Mira, who is not what one would oall an extremist, is betrayed by one of the rarist and too-good-to-be-true men ever to walk out of the pages of a book, the message takes an irreversible turn for the bad. It is not the women in the book who conclude that man is the enemy (all except for Val, that is) it is the reader. It is not an easy conclusion to sit with, especailly when men and women must go on co-existing in the world. The real horror demonstrated by is that in spite of what appears to be compatibility between the sexes, there can be no true meetintelling of minds. In spite of igence, sensitivity and a whole range of human virtues, there are still the myths of role-oriented happiness tempting women to stray from their true feeling---and in men, sets of basic assumptions and attitudes that cannot be genuinely attacked by a woman without the forfeiture of his love. Men may sympathize, but they can't really defy their nature, Marilyn French is a scholar of James Joyce, so that while her style may be that of a contemporary novelist without the pretensions of a revolutionary new form, she transmits much of Joyce's strict ethical code, which is none too lenient when it comes to matters of comprimise and human cowardice. In this French, case, though, women are at last subjected to high moral standards. Joyc, says a character, is an mcp. Mira, in spite of her accepted place in the institutions of society, is a kind of faceless, motionless exile, engaged in a constant struggle to sort out the lies, to get through the layers of nets that have been heaped on her from birth. She demonstrates that the mammoth struggle for us all to discover truth is an even harder struggle for women. Our minds and our souls have been perverted. But such is life, says French, whose narrator lashes out angrily that she cannot solve the dillemma in her writing because life refuses to be contained. She has imposed what control she can with her powers as a writer to make clear to us, a very grave paradox. "Truth is mortal illness", agree the women in Mira's enchanted intellectual circle. Truth is what the characters are painfully struggling to get at, yet even the slightest apprehension of it is everything but fatal to the socially adjusted, "normal" human being. Read this book. Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 10 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �GERT GOES TO A WOMEN'S FILM PEST by Gert Beadle Dianne Ellis of Women's Research in the Vancouver Status of Women is of the opinion that the future of feminism would be assured if women were financially able to take advantage of opportunities to travel. The difficulty in establishing a true commmunication is by necessity curtailed when we are, for the most part, dependant upon the written word as seen and reported through someone elses eyes. Ellis's remarks were of particular attended The relevance to me as and Vancouver Women's Film Festival found myself in the presence of serious and creative women. There is a distinct advantage in being able to feel as well as see the thought patterns that produce the kind of film and video work which speaks to us directly as women and which painfully few of us may ever see. The three day Festival which took in late September of this year, place had been in the planning since October 1977 by Women in Focus, a Vancouver based group.It was supported by local feminists and producers. The publicized call for films and video work created by women, produced such avalanche of material that both an types of work had to be shown concurrently. All material was selected by a committee dedicated to the relevant expression of women's experience. They looked for material non-opressive to life styles or racial minorities and geared first of all to analysis of our present position in marriage, motherhood, legal and health systems. Also included were productions reviewing and depicting feminism as a political movement. Discussion periods to deal with both the merit and meaning of a particular film follwed each film category and included the filmmaker and the viewing audience. Barbara Halpern Martineau, a researcher of Women in the Media, outlined for us a history of women in the film industry. A strong speaker, she told us that in the four years that she has been reasearching the subject, she has uncovered hundreds of films made by women with no possibility of financial support or an opportunity to distribute their work. She spoke of the part played by women in the National Film Board during the war years and how following that period, creative women were forced back into clerical positions to make way for the retThere is no longer a legurn of men. itimate reason why women cannot prodOne has to stand uce films, she said. up and recognize that the public has been entertained so long by an industry that has used women as objects of ridicule and tittilation. Because of this, a change of menu is a little hard to translate into dollar value. The fact that women are appearing in the present structure means very little unless they have some power in the selection of material. In other words, the modern thinking woman is not entertained by the variations of love's old story as told by the mythmakers. She has a closer reality, a truer hope to communicate. Her challenge is to translate her vision into the support of commerce. At the preI sent time, those women who presented their films and tapes were hard pressed to even distribute their films among feminists because of the cost of duplicating them. An exchange library in Vancouver has an international clearing house for video tapes which has 800 titles of specialized concern. They will act as a distributor and invite new tapes for review and exchange. Among those films that personally found enjoyable were Great Grandmother, a history of prairie women using diaries, letters and interviews with pioneer women. Before the time comes by Anne Clair Poirer is a film exploring the conflicts a woman experiences in deciding whether or not to have an abortion. In long conversations with her sister, she discusses womanhood, sexuality, contraception and abortion. It is a very revealing document on the fragility of a man's I pride. A documentary on prostitution entitled The Screwing I Got by Eve Goldberg and Christine Saxon was interesting to me because it clearly portrayed Aploat the strong woman is not a!Do "! compassion for the poor human; clearly a slave of his own apetite. The look of kindly amusement that she bestowed upon her customer as he scooted out the door, should have been good for an award. Anastasie Oh Ma Chere is a fictional metaphor of a woman's condition. She is constantly assaulted by the patriarchal figures in her life--her husband, the police, a psychiatrist-- who will not allow her to live her life on her own terms. She represents a silent scream against the violence of the patriarchy. Ti Grace Atkinson; Radical Activist, Political Theorist. a Woman in Focus Production directed by Marion Barling. colour, 30 minutes. This tape was produced in Vancouver by an all woman crew. It is important not only for its content, but as evidence that women working under severe economic restraints, with whatever equipment they can muster, still produce something that is important and relevant. Ti-Grace, the woman that the film is about, was interviewed as to what her interpreatation of wh at it is to be a feminist and a radical. She discusses her book, Amazon Odessey which she describes as an historical document of one woman's evolution in the feminist movement. Some of the topics covered involved: the return to the age old institutions of marriage and motherhood, which she describes as "Reactionary Nationalism" Ti-Grace appeared as well, in Some American Feminists, a 55 minute documentary of the American Movement giving comprehensive coverage of their own history. At this festival of 300 active and creative women, there was reassurance that there is vitality beyond our imagining in so many places. The word feminist is not only becoming common place, but will in time be something to reckon with. Introducing the mechanic aside this kind of stereotyping and have undertaken training for traditions tionally male dominated trades. Celia Kenny, 20, of Thunder Bay is an oil burner mechanic. It was natural to follow in her father's footsteps. She started by assisting her father when he was called out on emergencies on cold winter nights. Passing him wrenches and other tools, Ms. Kenny demonstrated an avid interest in his work, an interest which he encouraged. Upon completion of highs school, she entered an apprenticeship course at Confederation College, passed her examinations and fufilled the requirements of approximately 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. Perhaps it was easier for Ms. Kenny than for most women because her apprenticeship was understaken under the watchful eye of her father of Remenda Burner reprinted from the Women's Bureau Newsletter Approximately two-thirds of the female labour force is concentrated in the clerical, sales and service sectors of the'economy. These occupations have been traditionally viewed as women's work and just as traditionally have been characterized by low Service. Ms. Kenny enjoys her work and the challenge of cleaning and diagnosing the ills of an oil burner. She sometimes encounters dubious clients who she pull out her licence insist that as proof of her expertise in this field. She points out that there are several disadvantages---travel to remote areas and the lifting of heavy pay. equipment and tools. But the chalThe majority of women continue to shy away from non-traditional occupations lenge and diversity of the work and the lucrative salary ($15-18 per hour) in the skilled trades and industry far outweigh any trepidation. Ms. Kenprimarily because they have been condny marri ed recently and plans to to consider these jobs as itioned establish a business with her husband dirty men's work. There is, however, sometime in the future. a small number of women who have cast Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Women's Place plans evening activities Interested in making soap, or learning about the proper way to budget? Well you might be in luck if you drop into Women's centre every second Thursday evening to be a part of activity night. Plans such as this one for the upcoming year were discussed at the Annual Board of Directors Meeting for Northern Women's Centre, November 16. In the works for this year is a conference on Violence Against Women which is currently being organized to take place sometime in the spring. Some of the things that those present at the meeting said that they would like to see come out of the conference were: the establishment of pressure groups in Thunder Bay to deal with sexist ,advertisingi, pornography, sexual harassment on the job and other things that exploit women. -A crisis house established in Thunder Bay to deal with women fleeing from violent situations. The conference will be designed also to seek professional co-operation with people who deal with women threatened or victims of violence. The upcoming year is also the International Year of the Child. Women's Centre and people interested would like to become involved in putting on some programs. Some of the suggestions were to hold a seminar dealing with Children's Rights, to have fun days for the children, or even an actual conference for children to get them talking, an awareness campaign dealing with the abused child and children that are victims of incest. As is the case every year, the Women's Centre is concerned with fund raising and ways to build the survival fund. It was suggested that another book of poetry by Gert Beadle, published by Women's Educational Press in Toronto might be feasible. A benefit performance of Voices, a feminist play was susggested. A dollar for dollar campaign is being considered and a Woman's Festival of the Arts for regional women will possibily be organized. Massage Sticks, manufactured by Julie Fels and Sita are on sale for $5 at Women's Centre. They make a grea t great Christmas gift and are a super- Women's Place Printing Brochures Booklets Pamphlets Newsletters ier device in the art of relaxation and comfort. As a part of a plan to hold regular programs each second Thurs day evening at Women's Centre, the following suggestions were made: :hat discussion groups of particular interest get together. -that educational programs dealing with such things as stress, money matters, economics, political effectiveness and organizing lobbie Anyone who would like to get involved contact Anne or Monika at 345-5841. T Bay's first woman mayor has called for and pledged herself to developing a sound economic strategy for Thunder Bay. Her call for long rar planning is crucial to our city. With no apologies, the preceeding has been a biased report of the municipal elections and some issues from have the a Dusty Miller supporter. pleasure of being able to sound off about the emotionally and polttisally captivating moment of achievement and victory those committed to her campai committed a hundred times more than Marg and Mary are you listening?) So, for fear of appearing rude or boorish, suffice it to say that the changes in the air are welcome. Congratulations Thunder Bay, and once again to Dusty Miller and the camI paign. (By the way, ran into an old hadn't friend this weekend whom seen for about a year. After hearing of my support and the writing of this editorial, he made me mention th he has recently become involved with the insurance underwriters business "1 knac I must Wye myzeq az a in Thunder Bay and his entire office woman and a potitician...." I I voted for Dusty Miller '.) Joyce Michalchuk is a resident of by Joyce Michalchuk Thunder Bay and was formerly a full Anyone with a political tilt (or, time reporter fro the Chroncle Journa. euphemistically, leaning) and a bent She currently writes for the Northern for constructive change had their hearts Her many ConSounder. doneWoman good and the the night of Monday November talents include singingand andthreatplaying 13. The political presence the guitar which sh e has done ening black cloud hovering over the quite on local stages. 4sseffrequently campaign that turned into a deluge, was Dusty Miller's campaign. City administration has a new shot in the arm. Like a political campaign, success is achieved through hard work and dedication to the cause; for Mrs. Miller and her supporters, there were a number of issues to contend with. She cited her main reason for running in the people Dusty Miller's the mayorality racewho (ifmade a main reason mayorality campaign a success... had to be cited) as restoring order there were many women... and to city and hall. No administration or gave us a new woman mayor. group can function, or hope to maintain efficiency when serious rifts become evident within the structure. City Hall has been suffering to an extent, from this malaise in the last few years and especially since amalgamation, implementation of the ward system, the Arts Complex and more recently, Lodgepole and the issue of the chief administrative officer. The Arts Centre is necessary to the cultural to development andBay viability the Thunder Chapter of of the Thunder Bay. to high cost RightAlternatives to Life Association for spe housing such co-operatives (Castleing aasgreat deal of money on a CAOevery for the green) are vital as is to pamphlet mailed househol city. Long-term, intelligent planning in Thunder Bay containing misinfo for solutions for money the city is rather a could h The ation. and Dustyon Miller, Thunder requisite. beenInspent a valuable birth Bay has control chosen a campaign...something woman of political whit experience, proven andinwith wasn't even ability mentioned a pamphl a diversesupposedly and involved background who informing people. THUNDER CLAP THUNDER BOLT LETTER HEAD BULLETINS REASONABLE RATES No order too small (Some may be too big) 316 BAY ST. Northern .Woman_ Phone 345-7802 An n,i,ve rs a ry 1ssu,e,,pa9.e 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �The Canadian Psychological Association has established a Co-ordinating Committee on the Status of Women in Psychology. This committee is working on the implementations of the recommndations of the CPA Task Force on the Status of Women (Canadian Psychological Review, vol. 18, No. 1, January 1977). One sub-committee made up of three Calgary Psychologists, Jean Pettifor, Lorna Cammaert and Carolyn Larsen is looking into standards and ethical principles relating to psychologocal services for women. The scientific purpose of this subcommittee is to develop a casebook of examples where women have been involved in sex-biased counselling or therapy. The object is to make psychologists and the public more aware of the ethical treatment of female clients. To accomplish this purpose, the committee is collecting examples of situations from women who have been in or know of counselling situations with psychologists where sex bias and/or sex-role stereotyping have occurred.. These examples will be combined with the accepted e thical principles to develop current guidelines for counselling girls and women. The types of situations which involve sex bias and/or sex role stereotyping are generally of three kinds. The first is when women are encouraged by psychologists to enter continue, or return to traditional roles without consideration of other alternatives. While many girls and women may genuinely choose homemaker and mother roles, imposing these roles upon a person simply because she is female neglects the consideration of other viable alternatives and aspirations of the individual client. For example, women might be encouraged to have another child, not to pursue an ambitious career, but to stay married at all costs. This type of recommendation is given by a psychologist because he or she believes a woman "should" behave this way. Second, are biases in the expectations of women or devaluing of women. Assuming women have certain characteristics, such as being passive, quiet, submissive, because they are female can result in biased treatment. A psychologist may use sexist language or jokes, a patronizing manner or employ diagnostic labels on these assumptions. Often the behaviors in this category are subtle and difficult to identify or define. A female client may leave counselling sessions feeling angry or depressed and not know why. A third practise involveing sex bias is treating clients in an overtly sexual manner. This practise can range from over-emphasis on the female client's phyical appearance to the extreme of engaging in sexual intercourse with her, using therapy as an excuse. Another aspect of this type is the employment of double standards in evaluating the sexual behavior of men and women. Thus a psychologist might dismiss male adultery as typical behavior but condemn female adultery as disastrous to the marriage realtionship. The committee is requesting women and men to send them written examples of counselling sessions that fit these types of situations, or other examples of what they consider sex biased treatment. Submissions may be anonymous but should spec,ify the sex of the therapist. If you have been involved in psychological treatment relevant to this committee's consideration or know of examples, please write: Women and Ethics Committee, c/o Student Counselling Services, University of Calgary, 2920-24th Ave., N.W. Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 UIC changes must be PROTESTED Changes in the unemployment Insurance Program were announced on September 1, 1978 by Employment and Immigration Minister Bud Cullen. The primary purpose behind the proposed changes is to deny UIC benifits to those who cannot find long term employment. Women, "the last hired and the first fired', will be hurt more than any other group in Canadian Society by these changes. The proposed changes appear to be the culmination of a campaign to force women back into the home, thereby leaving the impression that unemployment is really not so serious afterall. In 1977, the Liberal Government released a "Comprehensive Review of the Unemployment Insurance PrograH' which made incredible and uhsubstantiatedstatements about women workers. The Review stated that women misuse UI programs through non-availability and refusal to work and that secondary earners generated unexpected increases in 31 Benefit expenditures. The Advisory Council on the Status of Women warned that such sweeping generalizations about women claimants , which were not supported b y any data, should not be used for policy purposes. However the Liberal government has done exactly that: it has developed a policy blaming women for abusing the program and making it more difficult for women to collect benefits without carrying out a single objective study on women and unemployment insurance claimants. The twisted logic behind the proposed changes is that they will "require claimants to show a more substantial attachment to the labour force before qualifying for UI." Rather than admitting that high unemployment and the lack of economic planning are the cause of a tenuous attachment to the labour force among many Canadians, the government has chosen to cut them off completely, no matter how grave their economic circumstances. Several of the proposed changes will have a particularly devastating effect upon women in the labour The first proposed change would require claimants who had previously received UI benifits to find work at least equal to the weeks of benefits drawn in their previous claim. If a person collects benefits for 20 weeks and then finds work, that work must last for at least 20 weeks before the person can requalify for UI benefits. For many women who are more prone to lay-off than men and more likely to find short term contract work, it will be very difficult to meet this requirement. Secondly, the proposed increased entrance requirements for new entrants and re-entrants to the labour force will mean that claimants will have to work at least 40 weeks in the last two years, 10 of which must have been in the last year, before qualifying for benefits. While the government may have intended the new stipulation to be a shot-gun on young people, it is women, particularly older women who will be the brunt of the blast. Women who have spent years in the home are most likely to be unskilled and therefore only able to find work on a temporary basis. The new stipulation may force women, elderly or widowed to resort to welfare as their only means for survival. No cutbacks in the YEAR OF THE CHILD "Why should our children be the ones to sacrifice for Canada's sick,' President economy?" asks Mary Dennis of the Congress of Canandian Women, "Finance Minister Chretien's threatened cut in Family Allowance should , be rejected by Parliament4 "Family Allowances should be increaced and our children's rights defenJed, especially on the eve of INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD, 1979. In our week-end consultation with members and supporters in twelve cities found a unaniand six provinces, mous response--anger at the Liberal Government's callous and arbitrary treatment,--and also determination to defeat the Government move. We are calling on Canadian people, and esspecLally women, parents and young people to express their opposition to their members of parliament. "she I said. She said that to reduce the amount from $26 to $20 is a rude shock, and no tax adjustment vaguely promised for a year hence can possibly help the current stress on the majority of families. The majority of the people most severely affected will be single mothers who will likely be forced to go deeper into debt. "The federal government wants to save $2 billion, but why at the expense of children and of the unemployed and the poor?" questioned Mary Dennis. the CO-OP BOOKSHOP and RECORD CENTRE Excellent selection of Canadian literature, classics, film books, science fiction, craftsl, poetry, many unusual tttles. Best folk, ethnic and blues selection In town. Open till 8 each day and all day Sunday On campus every Thursday beside the Main Cafeteria 182 8. Algoma street., phase 345-8912 force. Northern Woman JOurnal Anniversary issue page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Martha: of charity and visions by elaine lynch There are no black table cloths or candles in the places where Martha Portier calls forth "people who exist on a different plane," or reads fortunes through the cards. As a clairvoyant, the local woman treats her gift like any other talent with which one is born. She uses her vision, she says, for humanitarian purposes, and sees herself as a person--chosen for no apparent reason--to do good works for others. As a child, she treated her feelings and premonitions as a kind of game, but changed her philosophy when she was older and experienced more serious realizations. "I was born in Pearson Township, just outside the city. My mother died when we were quite young and we were brought up by my grandparents who were already didn't in their sixties. At the time, To take realize just how old that was on 4 children was quite a sacrifice decided realized that, and when would always help other people that could," explained Martha in any way over a cup of coffee in the kitchen of her boarding house on Newberry CresI . I I I I cent. Her early deeds were minor, but nevertheless for others. joined the Airforce and "In 1943 was stationed in Winnipeg. A lot of women including myself, had come directly out of strict sheltered environments where we never had any contact with men. Here it was different... and a lot of girls got taken for a figured, could Well the girls, ride. handle themselves and learn if both if parties involved were single, the man was married and taking a roll in the hay at the expense of the girl, could then things just weren't fair. feel when a man was married and if could even concentrated hard enough, would determine his wife's name. So approach the fellow in the mess hall and just say casually..."Hi. How's was a comAnne?...or whatever. Here plete stranger. They'd be surprused and say..."I didn't know you knew my wife",and that would be the end of the romance," laughs Martha. Not until Martha was married and moved to Kenora did she begin to take her unusual experiences seriously. "I lived in the Kenora-Keewatin area for 23 years working as a nurse and raising my children. I've been a single parent for 16 years. At the met a worked nursing lodge where would read her woman named Caroline. cards just for fun. Finally she said to to me during one of the readings... "You're not getting all of that from had to admit that she the cards." was using the cards and was right. still do as a prop or a machine to relax people.during a session." In Kenora, Martha also discovered Elizabeth, her spiritual guide whom she met through automatic writing. To this day, Martha claims that she has never read a book on psychic occurences like automatic writing. The phenomenon just took place. She invokes Elizabeth or one of her many spiritual guides in writing. She sits with her pen resting on the paper and suddenly the pen will begin to move. The handwriting is not her own. I I I I I I I I I I I I She simply holds the pen and it moves to form the message that the spirit wishes to convey. "Elizabeth, like all of my guides, has had many lives. So have we all. Her most recent life was spent as a nanny in England in the 1800's. She is like a guardian angel to me." Elizabeth told Martha to go to visit her co-worker Caroline on a Wednesday evening. She said!"Caroline is the medium." Because Martha was not familiar with Caroline's involvement with psychic phenomena, she was skeptical. Nevertheless, she followed her guide's instructions and on the following Wednesday night attended her first seance. As it turned out, Caroline's deceased father Jules, had been a medium. He knew about guides and the spirit world. The seance was held around a plain wooden table that had belonged to the man. "There was nothing magical about the appearance of that table, but saw it do some pretty amazing things,' said Martha who claims that the table kept time to a polka. It was at the Wednesday night seances that she discovered that unlike the others, Martha could actually see spirits. "Fascinating things happened there. We had peculiar visual experiences and a sense of smell. We would smell freshly cut hay or ploughed earth in the middle of winte;-,"said Martha. It was in fact, one of these unusual occurences that brought Martha back to Thunder Bay. In 1976 she visited the city for the Labour Day weekend. Upon departing for her trip, she had no intentions of leaving Kenora. However, while in the city, she got a message from a spiritual guide that there was a new job and a place to live within the forseeable future and within two weeks Martha was a cook for the Crossroads and a housemother for Woman's Thunder Bay South. Halfway House in It was very taxing holding down the two positions and she was devoting very little time to readings or contact with the spirits until an accident occurred which Martha believes was slightly providential. She fell down a flight of stairs and injured herself so that she could not work again. As a result she devotes nearly all of her time to , I readings. An actual reading says Martha, can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Her clieets are usually satisfied if not a little amazed. "I tell them things that give them insight into their own situation, teach them like family problems and where to look in the spirit world I talk directly." Her direct conversations are documented by some strange utterances communicated through automatic writing. She keeps them all in a binder and shows people who are interested the different handwritings and messages...like the one from the person who apparently just committed suicide. Being a medium does not interfere with her life's usual worldly concerns. She runs a boarding house to make a living. She is always standing by with concern for people in trouble and opens her door to women in crisis situations. "I have financial difficulties that are sometimes greater than the said to difficulties of others. was particElizabeth one day when had nothing, ularly frustrated that never meant was that and what have any money." would "Elizabeth answered that always have a place to live and food on the table and people to love and need?" love me...what else did "And when you think about it, Elizabeth was absolutely right." me. I I I I I I I I Still not right The changes to ammend the criminal code with respect to rape are a step in the right direction, says the The National Action Committee (NAC) effectiveress of the proposed legiswill lation brought forth last May depend however, on further amendments between now and the time Bill C-52 comes to a second reading. The demands were as follows: 1. Rape be removed from the Sexual Offences of the Criminal Code and placed with new assault offences which would prohibit what was formerly defined as rape (namely, vaginal penetration by a penis) as but one type of an offence of forcible sexual . 1 contact. 2. There should be more than one Martha claims that there is no art- offence, where the division between ifice involved in what she does. All offences is based not on a consideration of whether there was penetration of her powers and insights have been as defined above, but on the basis of discovered by natural means. Her sisthe degree of risk created or ters she says, are also gifted with suffered by the victim. special powers but are more private 3. These assaults should be governabout them. ed by the same concept of consent that Martha's outlook is slightly is utilized in other non-sexual astinged with religion. She sees herself as an instrument of God. do not "I am not a church goer. need a minister to talk to God for for help. Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 14 I 1.41111 Coned next page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �the claim that women were organically too weak to participate in the broils and excitements of elections...there were even some hardy souls among opponents who contended that women did Canadian feminists no longer seem not have the mental capacity to comglaringly apparent to contemporary prehend political problems." Canadian women. However, it was a mere The appalling attitudes imposed on 80 years ago that the suffragists chalCanadian women came from much of Canlenged the discriminatory legislation ada's male population and gave women a and narrow attitudes imposed on Canadian rallying point. A good place to start women. was law reform. The National Council of women was founded by Lady Aberdeen Once upon a non-person by Elaine Lynch and Joyce Michalchuk "We don't know yet what it is to be Canadian for many of the same reasons we do not know what it is to be women. An important reason is that Canada and its people, like women, have been traditionally defined by others. Marylee Stephenson WOMEN IN CANADA Perhaps we should not be distracted from our common concerns as feminists by attempting to give the women's movementa specific national identity. Our world unity as women is something to be fostered because, unlike most causes, the women's movement is not limited to one nation or geographic location. The diverse problems we share are universal. Nevertheless, it is likely our acceptance of the definitions of others that explains the absence of comprehensive and analytical histoPi-es written about the women's movement in Canada. In the scarce Canadian publications on the subject, it is not unusual to find the Canadian Movement described as following the American movement. The public library in Thunder Bay offers abundant information under "Feminism US" but nothing under "Feminism Canada". It is one thing to know that direction and valuable inspiration came from South of the border, but it is also important to know what we accomplished as "followers" and how that has ultimately affected women in Canadian society today. Before 1972 there was no literature on the women's movement written in Canada, outside of Nellie McClung's "feminist manifesto" entitled "IN TIMES LIKE THESE", written 34 years centbefore THE SECOND SEX and half a ury before Frieden's THE FEMININE MYST IQUE. To that point it had all been imported from the United States and With this in mind we look at femUK. inism in Canada. The changes brought about by early Not right conVd saults- in which the presence or use of theeat of physical coercion is presumed to negate any presumption of consent on the part of the victim. Again this would keep the issue of risk, rather than sex as central to the offence. These assaults should also be 4. neutral with respect to the sex of the parties involved, which would allow a case for charge in the incident of a homosexual rape. They ahould also be neutral with respect to the marital status of the parties involved, that is, a wife should be The purpose of the proposed changes are to shift the perception of rape from being a "sexual" to being a "risk-creating" offence. Rape as such has been removed from the code and new offences under the Indecent Assualt section of the criminal code have been created. Thus they have gone part way in defining rape as assaultive rather than a sex ual offence. The difficulties are these. First, since the new offences are still under the old Sexual Offences section of the Criminal code, there is still VOTES FOR WOMEN in 1893 to work on a series of law reforms to affect prisons and the protection of women and children. As a result of the organization, a chain of women clubs with similar aims were founded Fn communities across the country. There was a great need for leadership in Canada; people like Nellie McClung (possibily the best known and most outspoken of early Canadian feminists) and Dr. Augusta Stowe Gullen were inspired to work for personal emancipation and polboth itical status for women across the country. The need was for the awakening of a consciousness of reform'from within, and not so much for advice from without," wrote V. Strong-Boag in her introduction to Nellie McClung's "Canada in In Time, Like The4e. this matter as in others was intended to work out her own destiny, and the need was for leadership. NELLIE McCLUNG MRS. BORRMANN WELLS. WOMEN'S FREEDOM LEAGUE. Offices : 1, Robert Street, Ade 1phi, London, W.C. "Opponents to the suffrage faced the women with a formiddable array of arguements, some of which, while carrying a great weight at the time, seem nonsensical today," writes Catherine Cleverdon in THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVE"Such, for example, was MENT IN CANADA. Nellie McClung's history of involvement in the women's movement went back to the days in Canada She stated "before the machine." her gratefulness at experiencing a part of her life before large-scale industrial involvement in the late 19th Century; she grew up in the farming countries of Chatsworth, Ontario and Manitoba, the daughter of Irish/Scottish praneers. The imposed hardiness of her early pioneer years no doubt had much to do with shaping the character of She was motivated Nellie McClung. to become involved in many "firsts": first woman to represent Canadian Methodism at the World Ecumenical Conference, the first woman on CBC's Board of Governors and the first Canadian delegate to the League of Nations in 1938. a very real problem about consent, since the concept of consent used in rape was also used in indecent assault female. Thus the onus would still be on the victim to prove a lack of consent. Thus NAC proposes that a further amendment be: 1. A definition section, or other means, must be utilized to ensure She was a case in point of strong that the concept of consent utilpersonalities with like philosophieef ized in these new indecent assault Nellie Mooney met her attracting. offences is the same concept as future husband Wesley McClung after that employed in other (non-sexual) first meeting his mother who was an assaults. early leader of the Women's Christian Secondly, the section did not remove While hearTermperance Movement. section 142, which allows for the ing a rallying speech given by Mrs. introduction as evidence, the vicMcClung, Nellie found herself captim's. past sexual history. Since tivated by the woman's "progressive is central to seeing rape as it philosophy," in her own words. She assault, the previous sexual histsubsequently met and married her ory of a person should have no releson, who was regarded as having invance to the case. Hence the further corporated his mother's philosophies amendment: in his own. Even today, he is conSection 142 be removed and the siderated a "liberated man" in terms Evidence Act (Canada) be changed to of feminist philosophy. make it clear that no evidence as to The issues of religion, terperthe past sexual history of the complis ance and female emancipation were aintant in the indecent assault closely allied according to her. admissible. however, Her feminist ideology, These further amendments need your support. Please wrtie to the Minister asking that these amendments be proposed. Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 15 Coned next page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Once upon a... cont'd from last page is illustrated in a statement on feminism and humanism: "The world has suffered long from too much masculinity and not enough humanity." This was the product of a heightened consciousness and a sharp awareness of the state of male/female relationships, particularly in the workplace but not excluding the home. "Humanity" substituting "femininity" is a way of illustrating the dichotomy of the masculine/ patriarchal aggressive attitude and the female implied or imposed subservience/passivity. In fact, the meanings of the words "feminine" and "masculine" should be explored to their very roots. Ms. McClung saw fit to refer to their one basic idea-- "humanity" -- as did Kate Millet when she explored the characteristics of femininity and masculinity in Sexual Potitiu. "Splitting" the sexes by means of defining them by certain nebulous societal impositions (and often by certain self-impositions) was seen possibly for the first time as fundamentally and ultimately harmful to the psychological and intellectual development of human beings. Her spirited voice was never raised more loudly or more eloquently than in her encounters with Sir Rodmond Roblin, premier of the Conservative Manitoba government of the 1920's, on the subject of women and industry. Her portrait of him in her book, The StAzam Run's Fa6t, was a devastating satire. He said he felt that "nice" women don't want to know about factories, let alone visit them, nor do they want or need the vote. To this, she replied: "By nice women you probably mean selfish women who have no more thought for the underpaid, overworked women than a pussycat in a sunny window has for the starving kitten in the street. Now, in that sense, I am not a nice woman, for I do care. I care about those factory women, working in ill-smelling holes, and we intend to do something about it, and when I say "we" I'm talking for a great many women, of whom you will hear more as the days go on." In 1912, after being asked to contribute to the Winnipeg Free Press and having had 17 volumes published, she joined the Canadian Women's Press Club. Subsequently, 15 members formed the Political Equality League dedicated to the enfranchisement of women. Much lobbying and support, both economically and politically, resulted in just a matter of time standing between women and the vote. Universal suffrage was granted in Canada as follows: Manitoba--Jan., 1916; Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario, 1917 and Nova Scotia and the Dominion government in 1918. Following were New Brunswick in 1919, Prince Edward Island in 1922 and Quebec in 1940. Perhaps Nellie McClung's most noted and ironic "achievement" was in her efforts to obtain Supreme Court ruling of women as "persons" under the dubious BNA Act. The ruling will be 50 years old in 1979. AUGUSTA STOWE-GULLEN Dr. Augusta Stowe-Gullen discovered her political commitment to feminism through personal experience. Her obligation to support her invalid husband and her three children made it necessary for her to cope with the problem of being a woman in the teaching profession in Southern Ontario. Her frustrations motivated her to return to school, but because women were not yet allowed in the institutions of higher learning in Canada, she obtained a degree in medicine from a New York university. Upon her return and the establishment of her own medical practice, she organized women to lobby for the opening of the University of Toronto to Canadian women which was accomplished in 1886, the establishment of the Ontario Medical College for Women in 1883 and to secure factory and health laws and a better Married Women's Property Act. The group of Toronto women who formed the Women's Literary Club in 1876 to disguise and organize efforts to obtain suffrage culminated their efforts in the formation of the Dominion Woman Enfranchisement Association in 1889. The women in Ontario were very movement-oriented, and they concentrated their efforts in fostering and fanning the flames of the women's rights movement in all of the provinces. However, the varying degrees of conservatism in each of the provinces is reflected in the chronological order of the success of the suffrage movement mentioned above. The suffrage movement was not significant only in giving political responsibility to women. The consciousness of the groups formed at this time made startling discoveries about Canadian law and the status of women which lead to the formation of other lasting organizations. It also allowed some very creative and intelligent women a chance to carve out a profile in Canadian public life. THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN CANADA The conscious resurgence of the women's movement, formally recognized by the 1967 Royal Commission on the Status of Women In Canada is something we have all experienced either as participants or as a result of its consequences. It is significant, first of all, insofar as it relates to the past. "When one reads the new feminist side-by-side with the ones from previous generations, and even centuries, one is struct by the fact that, of what is being currently said and written, very little is new: it is an ever-repeating script. This is in itself revealing of the centuries-old state of the condition Anne-Marie Ambert of women. SEX STRUCTURE But, from our own documented experience in Canada, the "ever-repeating script" is not ever-repeating because of a lack of consciousness and/or efforts on the part of Canadian women. One of the major problems of the Report of the Royal Commission of 1967 is this: it is not how to interpret the hundreds of documentel complaints and items of data gleaner from 468 briefs and 1000 letters of opinion, but how to implement the Reports concluding Plan of Action and the Commission's 167 recommendations covering everything from Poverty to the Participation of Women in Public Life. By 1972 (five year's later!), a huge conference in Toronto indicated that women were very concerned by the fact that implementation had not yet begun. More frightening was the fact that they were at a loss as to how it would get started, There was a fear expressed at this time that recommendation 166, to establish a council of women responsible for a woman's voice to the government, would be used to fan off women's complaints...that any kind of action would just get lost in a government department. Perhaps these fears were justified. Seven years later, we have seen the establishment of the Federal Advisory Council on the Status of Women; we have experienced International Women's Year in 1975, during which government funding helped launch women's centres and open the lines of communication. We have opened our minds to both the extremely radical elements and the regressive movement. What we still have not witnessed is equal pay for equal work, the disappearance of discrimination generally, sexist advertising, financial security for elderly women or single mothers...the list goes on and on. Recent publicity to do with the women's movement suggest that it has the blahs, that leaders have either burnt out or sold out, or gone underWhether we choose to believe ground. The this is another thing entirely. point is that the seeds have been A consciousness has been planted. started that cannot be reversed by any media images. Statistics may seem discouraging but they are impro' One might choose to look to an ing. article by Marjorie Harris that appeared in the Weekend Magazine in Ms. Harris chose to concentral 1973. not on the celerities of the women'! movement but on t;:e feelings expressed by Canadian women of all ages in cities and on farms and rural communities across Canada. The feelings and realizations of these women were long in forming and drawn from their own life experience, Surely these feelings have not alter ed significantly. "Perhaps," writes Ms. Harris, when the cliches and atrophied image. of the feminist movement are swept away, the positive social values emanating from it will be recognized Since 1973, this seems to have been happening but has been misinter preted by a short-sighted, starwatching media. "Right now, no one can assume to know what a feminist looks or acts like or where she comes from. We ar, your wives and daughters and sisters and we are everywhere." WANTED--Vacuum cleaner to buy...must be reasonable....call 345-5841 Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 16 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Reflecktions by carol auld the strike at the fleck manufacturing plant in centralia is over. the workers demands have been met--there are no more public meetings on how to support these workers. the media has moved on to other hard news items. all is considered settled. but is it really? the workers got what they requested and that is considered enoughan even generous--settlement. but have they demanded enough? of what real value is a few cents wage increase? the principle of this situation is important, ye$, it has also extolled the virtues of a union, but has it really changed the lives of the people substantially? essentially, they are still being exploited on a daily basis in the name of ever-necessary profit. (necessary even at the cost of human dignity) participated in the may 19 day of solidarity for the fleck women strikers in centralia, boarding a bus at 3:30 am at bloor and yonge in toronto, reaching centralia just after dawn. the bus trip itself was the usual confusion of poltical and emotional differences (this is a women's day no men should what me? i'm no lesbe on the bus" bian...i like men but don't get me if the strikers decwrong,eh7 ide to take over the plant we should help them all we can even if the violence is necessary...that is what the revolution is about...we MUST support them...but that's not what we agreed upon, we want this to be as peaceful i as possible we are simply showing our support by being there....that is not going far enough, if a riot erupts we must be ready to help them...they are our sisters!) partially drained by these exchanges everyone seemed to become revitalized as we approached the plant itself. the tension was on. would we succeed in closing down the plant for that day (the original intent of the organizers) or would the scabs cross the picket line into the plant anyway? in somewhat ironic fashion, the plant was already closed when we reached it. the strikers had been there since before dawn that morning and set up their vigil. the scabs did not show up. we marched peacefully around the plant for a while under the suspicious and contemptful scrutiny of the opp who were perched atop rooftops and nestled next to the building. obviously they were on the side of the fleck owners (partially owned by a government minister) but that, ofcourse, is predictable. however, it proved to be of no consequence-they were in their reacfacist sphere of the world tionary while we conducted our concern with the plight of our sisters. so the organizers of our protest were content- we had shown our solidarity through our presence, and that was all we had set out to do. and if that was what was wanted and needed by the fleck women i'm glad we were able to supply it. when they are ready for more...when everyone is, that is the time for a true revolution but that time has not yet come, which means that our work is not complete and even considering the possibility of completion of such battles is a fantasy. the struggles will continue in the world we are trying to change and amongst ourselves. the important thing is that we continue to try and understand and resolve these differences expanding our consciousness and working towards a more humane, equitable society. Carol Auld, formerly of Thunder Bay and known as a freelance writer for Lakehead Living, now lives in Toronto where she is involved in a number of literary journals and attended the Fleck strike rally for Solidarity this past summer. THE TBBbE SETTING: a short story by Rosalyn Taylor Perrett had been away from home for only a short time, yet it was long enough to feel alien in a familiar land. The kitchen did look different even if the same peeling vinyl wallpaper was on the walls. It was the table, the rugged hardwood table partly concealed in a startled white cloth that had not seen before. Also new to me was Mum's best chinaware brought out only for guests, and the slender stemmed wine glasses proclaiming an occasion. was apprehensive about the formal way the vegetables were laid out around the perimeter of the turkey, steaming from their separate floral dishes. Even the gravy looked dignified, satin smooth in a slightly tarnished silver jug. Five minutes had gone by, long enough for me to heap my plate with everything going on the table; still Dad had not made a comment or a joke about my appearance or the fact that had taken a shower the minute had stepped inside the door. had a vision of Mum briefing him on the do's and don'ts when dealing with a daughter newly returned from the outside world. There must have been some apprehension on their part, seeing me again. Was she going to wear her personally initialled, horribly frayed jeans? When they came and picked me up at the airport, Mum was pleased to see that had tactfully worn my dressI I I I I I I pants. he's so self-reliant. Soft music was drifting in from the "Pass the peas," Jim muttered. front room accompanied by the almost "Don't you mean, pass the peas rhythmic clanging of our four separate please?" Mum insisted, passing the chose knives and forks on plates. peas. to look around to see this instant "Yeah, thanks." who had changed besides me. My brother "Your brother lost his apetite and was still my brother, eating in the found an elephant's." Dad chuckled same studious way, watching the carrot at his humour but no one else did. on his fork as though it were going "You really are a solemn bunch toto run away and do a dance next to night," he complained. gazed across the table the potatoes. Mum was searching for a way to furat my Dad, fascinated by the movements could see her gonish the silence; going on in his face as he tackled ing through a list of possibile questa tough piece of meat. It was then ions. Jim preferred the silences, warmthat he watched me watching him and ly referring to them as "pregnant said blandly, but truthfullypauses". He lit a cigarette, proud of "What's the matter with you, can't the grown up world you believe you're home or are you his initiation into signalled by the presence of his own haven't picked on wondering why As package of Rothmans on the table. you yet?" into the he drew in, his face puckered "I'm just looking around." workings of a manly frown; then he sat "I bet this is the first real meal back in his chair and blew perfectly you've had since you've been away round smoke rings. from home." Dad looked over his glasses at me, "Well, it is the first goog cookscrutinizing the expression on my ing I've tasted for a while." face. "Naturally, no one cooks like "I imagine you say more when you your mother." are in school." Mum smiled briefly; she was pick"She's just a bit overwhelmed with ing at her turkey and not saying much. the journey and being home for the had not landed in the hoped that first time since the summer," Mum reamidst of one of their frozen silences It was nice the way she could soned. which usually followed a fight. There all times. see the best in me at was a slight knotted look about her "Esther, why do you always come to forehead. Was she inwardly worried speak for her side? Why not let her lived at about something? When herself, okay?" was her major source of worhome ry: could she be focusing her Motherly concern on my brother? Not him, Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 17 I I I I I I I I Cont'd Next Page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �cont'd The Table Setting at us for not being there to hold hin back. "How about some chocolate cake?" "Uh yes please Mum." My mother the temptress cut an extra large slice for me. "Esther when are you going to stop encouraging her; you know what all that sweet stuff does to her com- said a lot in thought said, speaking for my- "Well, my letter," self. I I I "I'm never here to read your letters; that's your Mum's job." "Oh...Classes are going well, have a good timetable and a lot of time to study." "ummph." "My courses are all relatively interhave good instructors." esting and "That's all very nice but how are you fixed for money': Your mother says you've had a few problems with finances. Ofcourse, you never mention it to I plexion." I I I me." "I get a bit short sometimes but haven't been what you'd call broke." "I give you $150 a month and you can't live off that? What are you spending it on?" "Books, transportation, food and personal items." "Booze?" "No Dad!" Mum shook her head at Dad, Jim stifled a yawn, the kettle was gurgling I quietly. "Have you met any nice boys at school?" Mum asked. "Er- Esther, would you mind saving that for one of your coffee drinking gab sessions; I'm trying to get to the bottom of this." "I'm not spending it on anything heard my little voice shouldn't," simper. "Jim here is going into auto-mechanics; he'll make money instead of costing me money." intend to pay everything "Dad, felt my can." owe you as soon as voice quake a little as it always does when my person is under fire. "That's what they all say. I'm not doubting the value of a good education, but it does not necessarily imply that you are going to get a job as an end result. You'll probably get married and that will be it, your future in a boxy little suburban home with a husband and two little brats to look after." "I don't think you believe that." said stoutly, regaining some of my misplaced confidence.'!...and if you think that, why are you helpI I I I I I I ing me out ?" "I don't know, that is not the issue here." He always took the defensive when "Oh a little bit of what you like always does you good," Mum put in. watched his irritation grow, feed ing on itself like a fire waiting to knew that he would have burn out. to rage until he reached a helpless calm. Then he would get quiet and reflective as though he were replaying the incident in his mind. "I'm glad you enjoyed supper. That was about $3.00 right there, but that's okay, I'll give you a bill at the end of the week." "John, don't talk like that You know how she is fixed." "Don't get upset Esther; it's just another joke." Well, don't keep such a straight face when you joke then." "Oh Esther, you are as sensitive as she is." Mum poured the tea and passed it to us, declaring a truce. looked at the lovely, languid mixture and hoped it would calm my tangled nerves. It tumbled down my throat, gone before knew it and didn't remember to taste it. Dad was working out an invisible plan of attack; peering over the rim of his cup, he was ready to move in. was trying to build a wall, hoping his words woul bounce off it. Mum was playing referee not sure which side would start. waited but he did not move in There was no tension. He sighed, took a sip of tea, laid his flat on tl table. He was about to get up. Was he walking away? "With all my complaining, I'm still pretty proud of you. thought you should know, that's all." His words to me, filled the room and for a moment hung suspended. reached out to him with a gesture had given up for lost--I smiled. he was being hedged. The kettle on the stove simmered watckied to a high pitched whine. the steam shooting upwards and forming little droplets on the glossy, cracked ceiling above. Mum automatically got up, hushed its protests, made the tea and dropped a quilted The world cover over the tea-pot bias silent until Jim scraped his :hair, getting up. He would probably sit in front of the TV. My brother spent countless hours there, watching other people's conflicts. At least these got settled in the form of neat and tidy little Epilogues. Dad was cracking his knuckles reflectively. He never allowed himself for to completely relax; his need perfection in the things he did kept him feverishly moving onward. Sometimes he overdid things, like the time when Mum was out--He had been working in the garden. The grass was trimmed, the rosebushes were pruned, but he got restless and went over the grass one more time. The blade pierced too deeeply and exposed the lawn to the hot sun. Blazing tentacles beat down and left a trail of scabby brown patches. He was mad at himself and I . I I I I I I I I I Rosalyn Taylor Perrett is originally from England. She attended Lakehead University. Her poetry has appeared in numerous Ontario Journals including Dorothy Livesay's CVII. She has worked as a museum Assistant for Old Fort William Histoi±cal Project. Wastaand Hind dog Karen itatkedwithKaten Wen atmort a yean i'd changed in some ways, she in others she wea pnegadat stitt seatching, we temembeted the ofd times, discussed the neo. . in atteyoay amidst garbage and decay, zeaAthing thtough btawn bags, sniWng ovettutned cans, eating room the Aubtee. at man escape, on above the stinking teiuse, 111111111111111 Please Contribute thkaim empty jam, one tematk, takenJoith a smite, 4houtis hoUcw threats, a guardian o.6 thecoasteland. she would see women ztim in 4igute and think VioZa Godette. 'L t must be nice to be ab'e to tuck your shitt into yout jeans,' WE WOULD APPRECIATE POETRY, SHORT STORIES, DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY WOMEN OF ALL AGES TO APPEAR ON THIS PAGE. BRING THEM IN OR MAIL THEM TO 316 BAY STREET. INCLUDE A RETURN ADDRESS AND WE WILL GLADLY RETURN THE MATERIAL SAFELY TO YOU AFTER USE. VioZa Godetke 111111111111111= Northern Woman Journal Anniversary issue page 18 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �MERRY CHRISTMil Eve Pykerman and Noreen Lavoie. front row: from left: Penni Burell, Monika McNabb, Gert Beadle, Anne McColl and Doreen Boucher. Mts. Ceauze tooked anound at the muddte and ceutteA. Just 3 days untLe. Chnistmas and otd Nick in the guttvt She catted up the wives o6 the gnomes and the elves Saying , "CET THOSE GJYS MOVING THERE'S NAUG-IT ON THE SHELVES:" Said Satty, "My old man is 6tat on his back, He was getting quite kintay and id-e owt o6 the sack." Welt Joy she was owing with taughteA., you zee Cause hen man ono z e said going owt PA a pee.. Sarah was mad as ate hat get up, cause She found ha man. Gam smoking up a ttee Gana said Randy had gone rather gay, He was out tromping and skipping with Rhoda's man Jay. Ceaws in disgust with the whote mate /Lace Stitt heft that bon Xnas she must tAy and save pace, So she nailied hen sisters aAaand ha with a speech "Those stupid otd gnomes a lesson we'te teach" She went dcwn to tanpavet and got otd Saint Nick's job HuAnied back home and 6-i red the zZob, She gave. ate the women the tobts oi the trade Announcing each wonkeA_ wou,ed be eqauity paid, YE - 60rs women who neatey want iIto get into the Chnistmas spun 4--/Everyone is invited to WOMEN'S PLACE / 316 Bay St/Lea, 'Decembers 21. The an gets undeAway atcten wank (say about Sisk) THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ENTERTAINXEN - PRESENTATION that you won't want /amiss. Theyhammened and sawed, they painted and patished, They cut and they sex ed tee the wank was demo/ fished, They 6ified every order son, *az day..and packed, Ave. boxes on Santa's b-La steigh, They made the detiveAiesj ate down the -tine Even statted the peans pit, the veny next time. The gnomes and the eves and Santa Ceaws too are stite wondening what hit them PLOM out o6 the btue But Ws. Ceaus smited gA,{:Inty pn she very wee knau This was just the beginning o6 the equae /tights move.. Eon 6uAthe_it. inPAInation cate 345-5841) ADMISSION $2.00 MPH NEW YEE Northern Woman Journal, Anniversary issue page 19 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE CONFEDERATION COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY THUNDER BAY DISTRICT WINTER PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN GS 225 Women's Programs provides a variety of programs ZW 006 SOCIOLOGY OF SEX ROLES designed for women of all ages, married or single, in the FINANCIAL PLANNING SEMINAR FOR WOMEN stereotypes based on sex and relates how each of us is direction or just wanting to know what other women are affected in some way by these. thinking and feeling. There are no prerequisites. Forget 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 17 to April 25. about what your educational background is FEE or is$30.00 not. Come and learn, grow as individuals. In response to a programming recommendation put forth by the participants of the recent conference, Life Begins at 40, Women's Programs is pleased to offer a Financial Planning Seminar for Women. The seminar will address itself to such questions as: 1. Is RRSP really for you? 2. When do you need insurance both life and disability? 3. What are the four corner stones of financial planning? 4. What are the pros and cons of life annunity? A creditin elective business world or at home, looking for a change which reviews the assumptions and PART I - INTRODUCTION GS 219 WOMEN MAKE MOVIES THE NEW WOMAN & NUTRITION Can you recall one film you have seen that was directed by a -Eat properly and you'll feel better." Explore how the health of woman? The most popular image of the great director is male. today's woman is affected by nutrition. But women have been directing films since 1896. For a What are some common nutritional diseases that women are change, view over 35 films made by women. refreshing susceptible to? Included are feature, short, documentary, and animated films. How can your method of contraception affect your WOMEN nutritionalMAKE MOVIES is for everyone. It offers prize-winning status? international films to encourage a critical interest in the What. are some common misconceptions about influence food withof women on filmmaking. Some of the titles include respect to nutrition? Lina Wertmuller's "Love and Anarchy", Shirley MacLaine's Come share your experience and knowledge of nutrition a Half Of The Sky: A China Memoir", and Judy "Thewith Other group of concerned women. We will all grow! Collin's "Antonia: Portrait Of The Woman." 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 23 to March 20. 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 9 to April 17. ZW 001 FEE $15.00 FEE $20 In addition, money management, a look at successful spending saving and investment will be explored. Come and learn, it's your money! 7-10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 9-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. FEE $15 includes Saturday lunch. ZW 007 WOMEN AND STRESS SEMINAR This weekend experiential program is designed to help women learn how to recognize adverse stress factors in their lives, and how to defuse destructive stresses. Each 'participant will be encouraged to "try on" some proven techniques to deal with CREDIT OR NON CREDIT. ZW 009 LIFESTYLE: SOLO A lecture series designed specifically for women who are single, divorced, separated or widowed. Lecture topics will include: Pack Your Own Chute Human Sexuality and/or alleviate her own stresses through biofeedback, INTRODUCTION TO NON-TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS relaxation and positive imaging, and through the develoment of wellness-oriented abits. creat7-10 ive, holistic Have you been thinking of getting back into the world of paid employment? Have you been thinking of some of the more -Women as Persons Women & Pensions (Widowhood) Focus on Change - Education/Employment Planning for Fun 7:30 - 9:30 Mondays, Jan. 22 to Feb. 26. NO ADMISSION FEE/ ALL WOMEN WELCOME ZW 010 APPRECIATING WOMEN ARTISTS A new kind of art history - one which seeks out women's work. Through a visual presentation utilizing 360 unique slides featuring the exceptional abilities of women artists from the early middle ages to the 20th Century, students will be introduced to the long-ignored perspectives of women. 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 25 to March 22. p.m. Friday, , Feb. . 9 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Feb. 10. -unusual" jobs that might be available? if seTth46-coutd-ttethe- E $15 course for you. Manpower is sponsoring, through ConfederaZW 008 tion College, and 8-week course for people who wish to seek EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN SEMINAR Two professional educators from Centennial College specializing in Women's Studies will present a one day seminar on: members of the "opposite sex." This course is designed to help 1. Post Secondary Courses & Components students: 2. Approaching Affirmative Action 1. Assess their own skills 3. Develop their job search techniques 2. Determine own skills The morning session will be of particular interest to all 4. Provide four weeks on-the-job training educators. The afternoon session is geared for persons The student will choose, with the help from the instructor, working in the area of personnel and affirmative action reprewhere this training will take place. The next course will begin in sentatives for the various ministries and agencies. January. For information call 577-5751, Ext. 353. To register 9 a.m. - 12 noon and 1-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. FEE NO CHARGE: REGISTER BY MAIL OR PHONE BEFORE contact your local Canada Manpower Employment counsellor JAN. 30/79. at 344-6601 or 623-2731. FEE $25.00 REGISTRATION IN PERSON AT THE COLLEGE IS PREFERRED. IF THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, PAYMENT IN FULL (NO CASH) INCLUDED WITH THE REGISTRATION FORM WILL BE ACCEPTED. CLOSE FOR MAIL REGISTRATION IS JANUARY 5, 1979 SENIOR CITIZENS AGE 60 OR OVER, UPON PROOF OF AGE MAY REGISTER FOR ANY SUBJECT AT THE COLLEGE FOR A TUITION FEE OF $5.00 PLUS ANY LABORATORY FEE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MOPE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: CONFEDERATION COLLEGE - 577-5751, EXT.353 PLEASE REGISTER ME FOR THE Ozw 001 0 ZW 009 0 ZW 010 0 ZW 350 0 GS 225 0 GS 219 OZW 006 0 ZW 007 OZW 008 My cheque for MAKE CHEQUE PAYABLE TO CONFEDERATION COLLEGE 4N MAIL TO: is enclosed. NAME SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER ADDRESS REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, CONFEDERATION COLLEGE, BOX 398, STATION F, CITY THUNDER BAY P7C 4W1 POSTAL CODE PLEASE CHECK 0 OVER 19 0 OVER 65 PHONE (Bus) (Res) Refund of fees will only be made should insufficient enrollment force cancellation. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �110 Cools NOW NW Ekdk third En nontwo troisikno dam demos 220 RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Return Postage Guaranteed 11111=1=1111111111111111111111 INSIDE: Happy Birthday Flashback....starts on page 3. The women's movement in Canada Tara cuts an album page 15 page 9 Remember the strike at the FLECK PLANT in Southern Ontario? Carol Auld does page 17 A short story by Rosalyn Taylor Perrett page 17 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS DUE HAVE YOU MOVED??? PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CALLING (807) 345-5841. We must pay return postage to keep up our mailing list. Subscribe: PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 4 No 6 Description An account of the resource Vol. 4, No. 6 (December-January 1978-79) Title: Northern Woman Journal *5th anniversary issue Topics include: Commemoration of past 5 years of women’s movement in Thunder Bay Patriarchy & the oppression of men Letters to the editor The Northern Women’s Centre (past 5 years) The Northern Woman Journal (past 5 years) Rape & Sexual Assault in Thunder Bay Crisis Housing Women’s programs Thunder Bay Royal Commission on the Status of Women Northwestern Ontario International Women’s Decade Co-ordinating Council Women in music: Tara Books at the Northern Women’s Centre Magnus Theatre Women’s film festival Gendered division of labour First woman mayor Thunder Bay (Dusty Miller) Unemployment insurance cuts Year of the Child Bill C-52 to amend the criminal code for rape cases Suffrage & voting Short story: The Table Setting Poetry Winter programs for women at Confederation College Applied Arts & Technology Authors/Contributors: Gert Beadle J. Halonen R. Farrell V. Boileau I. Jarrett L.D. Conger B. Reimer Laurie Hill Brenda Cryderman Elaine Lynch Penni Burrell Joyce Michalchuk Carol Auld Rosalyn Taylor Perrett Viola Goderre Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1978-12 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2753/1978_Vol_4_No_5.pdf a11626856b10dc4cb0074c64d1187edd PDF Text Text oriAtrn OCTOBER 1978 500/ Vo rum 4 otnan ournar Playground triumph: women and friends. See page 3. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EDITOR& are the new staff people around Women's Place. Anne Donaldson has been hired as Office Co-ord The title, however, does ator. the first. Because the Northern one. the job little justice because Woman Journal is approaching This issue and the next one anniversary, we are it involves everything from its fifth of an atwill mark the start opening mail and reception to trying for our second wind. tempt to get more women involved be looking That is, we will crisis counselling and referral reading and in the paper...both Monica McNabb has taken on the for greater input from the women writing. We are urging people will try to look task of creating a comprehensiv of the region, articles, who wish to write library for women complete with better and hopefully, be more provide photographs, literary a file of articles and periodic widely read. material...write a column on Betty Harema is the Credi als. literature...to step seventies have music or The sixties and Union's new Treasurer and Brend forward. Any contribution will lives changes in the Cryderman is the Co-ordinator o seen great appreciated. be greatly accomplishing of women. We are the Woman's Decade Council. Ea requesting that We are also be talked things that need to will work at making things sery in their people who are behind about among ourselves...both women more effectively. subscriptions to earnestly Second wind...Let us hope t for recognition's sake and for consider renewing their subscript- this is a sign of a third and a In a region as reflection. isolated as Northwestern Ontario, ions. Also a part of the second wind, fourth. we feel the need for a paper Second wind...Often it is more revitalizing and strength giving than that provides women of the area with a space to share their accomplishments is a strong GERT'S GOSPEL, A woman's place is where she Sounds so simple. wants to be. Who could quarrel with so much A man's place ditto. logic. What's the problem? The problem is the silly notion that for a man to be where he wants to be, it has seemed necessary for a woman to be where he wants her to be. Marriage has increased his I think, deep insecurity. down every woman has recognized the price of peace has been not to think too deeply about how she feels about putting the lid on her own potential so the marriage partner can extend his own limits. We have to ask the question, has this nonsense role we've played brought satisfaction for either partner? That women are sick and tired of it all is borne out in the statement of Sidney Katz, a marriage counsellor with impeccable credentials, when he states, 'It is women who are opting out of tyranny with security. They won't take the bullshit anymore." In almost every marriage, compromise without balance has the stink of death; nothing grows in that sterile soil I would like but frustration. to believe that men in general were moving toward a new understanding of their own inBut they guard securities. the crumbling barricades of mythical male superiority till their wives flee the nest, and their children hit the streets. If this lays total responsibility for marriage break-up on the male, that is not my intenI'm wise enough to know tion. if the shoe were on the other foot, if history and theology Northern Woman Journal page 2 had provided the base for female privilege, the men in our lives would be struggling for survival even as we are today. Letting go is not something that either sex dos gracefully until the self is fully persuaded that true self-esteem The right to shape demands it. and mould others to suit our convenience is not contained in the marriage bargain. The move to marriage contracts is a hopeful sign; the inclusion of birth control as joint responsibility is overdue; the role of parenting equally shared a necessity; the space and support to extend the limits of every skill and potential, regardless of sex, takes more clear thinking than fever produces. Two people can climb the same mountain for different reasons. Nobody thinks one has to stay on the ground and prepare the lunch. The need to be indispensable demands the creation of a cripple. Our men do it to us, and we do it to our children. Thank God, we're beginning to recogThe division of propnize it. erty and liquid assets, whether the mating is permanent or terminated, is the sign of recognized maturity and mutual responsibility, and should be the base of any marriage contract. As I look around and see what was once beautiful, not worth the trouble to save, I am not caught up in the rights and wrongs of it all. I see the terrible energy it takes to walk away from even limited security, the soul searching and the guilt tripping, but I see something more--a determination to survive and build from their own resources in a way that reaffirms them as a complete person. A woman's place is where she wants to 1 this is the first faltering step to that realization. I know a great many women happy with the status quo, a: I have no criticism to make about their lives. They are obviously in the place they They say things want to be. like, "I like to know I can c just so far and then he puts his foot down." "He's so gooc he lets me have my way." My own dear spouse, may h( stand the trip, constantly reminds me how fortunate I al to have a man who lets me do the things that make me happ.. even though he sees no merit whatever in my interests. There would be no point in r minding him I also allow him do and say and think things that are completely outside frame of reference. Nor do care to remind him that permission is neither sought nc He is totally prowanted. tected by my own sense of it tegrity and affection, and a such, I shall continue to bE what I am in the places whet I want to be. That he obvic ly wants the place I want tc to be his companion is a dol bonus for both of us. A very learned gentleman sees marriage as total dest] tion said, "The day you tak( the vows, the nibbling star. The fact is, one person has himself now responsible for destiny of two and ssumes c sus has to be established. fostering of diversity is r business, but the marriage pulls it off has compensati permanence. Only the free a truly bound. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Play paradise If you take a walk past St. James School on North Court Street before classes or during recess, you will notice a great hive of children climbing, tumbling and sliding in and out of what appears to be a heap of logs strewn at random around the schoolyard. What you are actually looking at is a very ingenious new design in playgrounds, constructed for creative play...it's effectiveness speaks for itself. Carrie Marshal is the woman at North Cumberland Neighbourhood Improvement Office largely responsible for initiating the project and guiding it to a finish Well, phase one of a whole scheme, at least. A group of parents and teachers worked together with Hough, Stansbury Association Limited Consultants to come up with the playground constructed with pressure treated logs and lumber. The play area, which puts many things into a small area of space, includes anamphitheatre, slide, tunnels, play house and areas where the children can play quietly on their own. As phase one, the playground is especially for primary level chi ldren.Tbere are also swings and a paint board and puppet show area are soon to come. "St. James is a community school. and the playgroundis for the neighbourhood. Something like this is an asset to a school in the community during a time of declining enrolment," explained . Carrie. The playground was constructed this summer partially by volunteers and partially by paid people. "We acted as the contractors at the NIP office. It was a lot to take on, but as our own contractor, it enabled us to employ carpenters during the strike." Next summer, a creative play area will get underway for intermediate level children. COMMUNITY BULLETIN: The Anglican Church Women will hold a Rummage sale of children's clothing at St. Paul's Church, 808 Ridgeway, October 21 from 2 to 4 pm. Got an event coming up that you would like publicized? Send it to Northern Woman's Centre 316 Ray Street. LETTERS someday. Due to the efforts of individuals like yourselves, all of my objectives will be available to me. Thank you for paving the way for women to have freedom of choice - be it homemaker or worker outside the home. enclose my subscription fee with pleasure. Sincerely, Deborah H. Kraft Dear Women: recent newcomer to Thunder Bay and was delighted to be informed by Mary Fedorchuk of the existence of a dynamic and impactful group of women in Northern Ontario. The women's movement is no longer on the front pages of local newspapers because it has become an integral part of Canadian life today. Your newspaper, credit union, crisis centre, women's programmes at the College plus numerous other activities attest to this phenomenon. Your past and present performance is particularly impressive in view of the demographic features of NorthIt consists western Ontario. predominantly of small, oneindustry towns, created by men for men with little historical regard for women's facilities The day-care, shopping, etc. area is also isolated from larger centres where new concepts tend to have easier The view of oneacceptance. industry towns is effectively outlined in the recent issue of Saturday Night. The traditionalism and stereotypes prevalent in North-western Ontario are being'rapidly dissipated by firmly all of your effOrts. believe that women are capable of achieving whatever they have a full-time want. career and a husband and definitely would like children I am a I I I The following letter was received in response to a letter sent by Julie Fels to Dennis R. Timbrell, Minister of Health, that appeared in the last issue. Dear Ms. Fels: Thank you for your letter of June 23, relating to payments made by the Plan for therapeutic abortions. would like first to assure you that payments for medically necessary services are made according to rules and guidelines without intent of discrimination. Legislation in Ontario requires that all insured services provided by physicians be medically necessary. In the specific example noted in your letter, services must be approved by a therapeutic abortion committee in a hospital to determine medical necessity and payment by the Plan. The same evies fbr this procedure are applied for those insured services provided to Ontario residents outside the province. believe the matter was clarified in the letter you I 1 attached, which was received from our Thunder Bay Office. It noted that for therapeutic bortions performed outside anada, OHIP accepts as sufficient evidence of medical necessity either of the following: a) certification of a Therapeutic Abortion Committee in Canada or, b) certificatioh by at least two qualified physicians (which may include any referring Ontario physician but which may not include the Physician performing the abortion) who have reviewed the patient's medical history and recommend termination of the pregnancy because continuation would, or would likely to, endanger the patient's life or health. This policy is not applied with discrimination or selectivity and the Plan does not knowingly process such claims without the necessary approvals. With reference to your question concerning the general guide referred to in your letter, it is to provide general information only. "Referring physician's name if applicable," applies when one physician is providing a consultative service for a patient referred by another physician. This is required determine the appropriate 'ee to be paid. Dennis R. Timbredl, Minister of Health. Northern Woman Journal page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Life Begins at 40 conference helps women plan Life begins at 40...an intriguing statement with multiple implications. Around Thunder Bay these day, though, Life Begins at 40 means a conference for women at Confederation College, October 20 and 21. The purpose of the conference sponsored by the Ministry of Community and Social Serv-cpices, the NWO International Woman's Decade Council and Confederation College Woman's Programs, is to discuss with women the changes related tp finances and overall well-being later in life. Although designed especially for women in middle age, conference orr ganizer Marg Graham says that the ideas and issues to be discussed at the sessions could aid younger women in planning for the future. Kay Hegge of Community and Social Services was responsible for putting forth the idea last spring. Recent studies, such as the one conducted by Kaye Delude of the National Action Committee, indicate that a significant number of women face serious financial crisis beyond the age of 40. Most often,the new circumstances occur after the death of a spouse, or because women fail to investigate such things as pension plans or rights of inheritance. At the time of the last census, two thirds of the women widowed, divorced, and single women over age 65 were below the poverty line. "Four out of five Canadian women are predeceased by their husbands. That indicates that women are the ones who need the financial advice, and and other kinds of advice to assist them in the great changes that occur after age 40," says Marg Graham. The conference has been organized around workshop, sessions dealing with three basic categories. Finances will cover pensions, credit, wills, estates and funeral planning. Preparing for Life Alone takes into account women rejoining the work force and general re-integration into the community, dealing with the problem of the empty nest syndrome and facing widowhood alone. Health workshops will cover nutrition, use of drugs and alcohol, the aging process menopause and stress. Keynote speaker will be Mae Sutton, a widow who has been a strong lobbyist for changes in the present pen, sion laws that greatly affected her life. An opening dinner Friday evening will be held and requires one weeks paid pre-registration. Afterwards there will be a fashion show presented by the Indian Friendship Centre"s Soto Images. Films based on the theme of aging will be shown. For more information or to register call Confederation College Women's Programs at 577-5751. Cullen's UN cuts will slam women The proposed cutbacks in Unemployment Insurance benefits represent one of the most vicious attacks on working women in recent history. Changes to the Unemployment the CO-OP BOOKSHOP and RECORD CENTRE Excellent selection of Canadian literature, classics, film books, science fiction, crafts, poetry, many unusual Mies. Best folk, ethnic and blues selection in town. Open till 8 each day and all day Sunday 182 8. Ali oma agree t. On campus every Thursday beside the Main Cafeteria phone 345-8912 Insurance programme were announced on September 1, 1978 by Employment and Immigration Minister Bud Cullen. The primary purpose behind the proposed changes is to deny UI benefits to those who cannot find long-term employment. Women, "the last hired and the first fired" will be hurt more than any other group in Canadian society by these changes. The proposed cutbacks appear to be the culmination of a campaign to force women back into the home, thereby leaving the impression that unemployment is really not so serious after In 1977, the Liberal all. government released a "Compre- hensive Review of the Unemployment Insurance Program" which made incredible and unsubstantiated statements about women The Review stated workers. that women misuse the UI programme through nonavailabili and refusal to work and that secondary earners generated unexpected increases in UI benefit expenditures. The Advisory Council on the Status of Women warned that sui sweeping generalizations about women claimants, which were no supported by any data, should not be used for policy purpose However, the Liberal governmen has done exactly that: it has developed policy blaming women Northern Woman Journal page 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Group, the Ottawa Citizens' Committee for Children, and the Ottawa Family Planning Association. Sue Findlay, who takes up her new duties October 16, 1978, is filling the vacancy created by the mid-August The Honourable Marc resignation of Monica Townson, who has Lalonde, Minister responsible since joined the Economic for the Status of Women, today Council of Canada's of Centre for announced the appointment Suzanne Findlay of Ottawa as Vice-President of the federal Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Sue Findlay has become well-known to women across Canada as Directot:.of the Women's Programme, Secretary of State, where she was responsible for administering WELCOME. The Women's Centre some $500,000 Resourceannually Library in is open for grants lending. to women's organizations Materials include and for of a the widefield rangework of fiction and regional staff who books; provided the non-fiction looseleaf programme's external liaison in a information contained unity vertical file covering over ogramme one hundred subjects; one record; an information kit; Year many feminist magazines and get of periodicals; an audio cassette direction on battered women and some ntact non-sexist children's books. ll remain VOLUNTEERS would be appreciated w role to do clippings as well as other essential work for the ars of Centre. urther WATCH for regular postings at en's your library for films, s a long speakers and discussion to be with held at the Women's Centre as having part of our new program or groups as phone the Resource Library for risis information at 345-5841 and source ask for Monika. the Study of Inflation and Productivity as Senior Econom Adviser. Ms. Townson made a significant contribution to the work of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, particularly in direct its research in such areas as Women in the Public Service, Sexual Assault, and Native Findlay appointment Women. New Library in works Monika McNabb, the new librarian at Woman's Place is in the process of putting together a collection of books, magazines, and clippings of interest to women. Come in, browse and borrow. market for local crafts a new y. The the h Cook, lt it was e a store ecialized s. And ant that town that tunity local extend es. nths of r money -mortgaged of male ckenness ook a in. And ery own eat nce we seem all urse, we st that occupatve us ult for n't like , would as crossed we've only onths, not we're but whatvery educational so far, good for our confidence and fun - its also exciting to be involved with so many talented people. One of the things we've become aware of is that those crafts which are considered " women's work" are less valued. We've also found that women really undervalue their time. We're hoping to change some of first learn to count change and stuff like that - before we tackled the next step. We're located at 420 Victoria Ave., three doors down from May St., going towards Simpson - right across from Drugworld. If you're interested in crafts, either buying or selling, we like to see you. this. When we started there seemed to be two large unknowns that we couldn't research before we started - would there be enough crafts to stock our store and would people buy them. We still don't know the answer. We have quite a few suppliers - most of them women but we need more. We are interested in all,kinds of crafts but especially original designs and ideas. We'd like to expand into the area of original design clothing - we have some but would like more. It's still too early to tell if we'll have enough customers but so far people have been pretty positive. They compliment us on our stock and sometimes buy things. The next phase of our project is to open a tea room. That won't be for a month or We thought we'd so though. try to get the hang of this 420 VICTORIA AVE., THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO TELEPHONE 623-1842 400 6" ,6 3'%, `In ©u@nq'll Specializing in... LEATHER WORK ORIGINAL ONE-OF-A-KIND CLOTHES KNITTING CROCHETING QUILTING WOODWORKING POTTERYand more WE SELL CRAFTS on CONSIGNMENT Northern Woman Journal page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Using the vote effectively...ask questions! Women should look after woin the electoral process, says the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women. "Within the year we will be facing a federal election. It is probable that the country will still be grappli.ng with economic and unemployment problems. It is a fact that during hard times, problems facing women are even harsher," said a statement issued by the men Council. In order to deal with a part of the problem the federal Advisory Council has prepared a "Shocking Pink Paper" for use by those wishing to be sure that candidates for election are aware of the problems facing women--and, says the Council- the solutions. The Shocking Pink Paper provides a list of questions with which to confront the candidates based on the issues affect- they are working to support themselves and their dependants The paper, put out earlier this year, proposes questions about the governments plans for women's pensions and security It deals with for homemakers. the problem of poverty among ing women. older women and the infringe"People are saying...we wouldn't ment upon Human Rights particbe having a problem with unemularly afflicting Indian women. ployment if so many women weren't For instance, women can trying to get into the labour ask the question: "What do you force," says the paper which intend to do to correct these answers with the Facts;that the four situations thatdiscriminate majority of married women in the against Indian Women in spite labour force have to work to of the new Human Rights legisbring their family income above lation: -Indian women who marry poverty level, and, that 45% e non Indian man lose their staof working women are single, divtus...not so for an Indian man. orced, widowed or separated, so. -Indian women who have married non-Indian men have been evicted from their homes and the reserve -the Indian act is specifically excluded from the new Human Righ Legislation. -Though the Indian act is now be revised, Indian women who have lost their status have no say. Rape is also a concern that the Pink Paper deals with. The questions deal with ammending the criminal code so that more than 100 of rape cases come to trial, which is the present statistic. For a copy of the Shocking Pink Paper write the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Box 1541, Station B Ottawa, K1P 5R5. AmmuftWoMiwoommwom cAtotaftn (14/omtn.'1 CtEdit (11PLIOn Need for contributions by Laurie Hill The Northern Woman's Credit Union continues to grow and mature. An enthusiastic group met at the Woman's Centre for the second annual meeting, Sunday The major focus September 11. of the day's discussion was a membership drive. This will be done by way of media exposure, speaking to local women's groups and having an information booth at the Life Begins at 40 conference at Confederation College Ofcourse we shall this month. continue to influence our friends, acquaintances and co- Got a minute? THE HERSTORY COMMITTEE NEEDS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS TO TRANSCRIBE FROM CASSETTE TAPES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS WITH WOMEN PIONEERS OF NORTHWESTERN ONTIF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE ARIO. PHONE GEORGINA GARRETT AT344-9087 or LYNNE THORNBURG AT 577-5759, EXT. 197. Northern Woman Journal page need for deposits. Even $5.00 a month will soon add up. Two weekend conferences at union. Confederation College in Octobe will be seeing participation Thursday, September 28, a by our credit union executive. special meeting of the Board There will be a credit union of Directors was called so that workshop October 13 and 14 focthe local Credit Union League using on credit granting, bankrepresentative, Jim Zebruk, ruptcy and the new family law could present his report to reform act and its application After going through the them. It will to the Credit Union. Credit Union's books, he rebe attended by the treasurer an ported that all was in order. at least one member of the cred A note of thanks and recognition committee. go to Betty Harkema, Treasurer for her excellent book keeping and to Eleanor Eryser, Secretary Also, the Life Begins At 40 for her detailed minutes. Conference October 20 and 21 wi have Credit Union coverage for One thing that was strongly potential members. recommended to the Board by Mr. Zebruk was that the general membership be more actively encouraged to build up deposits. UPCOMING MEETING FOR THE GENERA We have been granting loans reg- MEMBERSHIP, Thurtday, October ularly and in this way have been 19,1978, 8 pm Woman's Place, 31 meeting the needs of local wom- Bay Street. en for credit. However, unless Please make an effort to attend the members of our Credit Your vote will help determine make regular share depUnion Credit Union matters. osits, the credit union may soon MEET FELLOW MEMBERS be running into difficulties JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION OF in meeting these loan requests. NATIONAL CREDIT UNION DAY. So again, we emphasize the workers to convince them of the good in joining a woman's credit 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Women in NW Ontario need more say by The NWO International Women's Decade Co-ordinating Council. format and you must go to the women of the small communities. Fear, isolation, lack of financial resources, transportation, lack of child care, are all factors that make living in the north a very difficult place for women to grow and participate as citizens of Ontario. We ask that you consider a grass roots community development model and provide funds to enable women to organize around their needs in single industry towns. Their experiences should be considered a unique expertise for the commission. 3. We request that childcare be provided at all commission hearings to enable women to participate in, as well as observe, the proceedings. 2. The following are excerpts from the brief presented to the Hartt Commission on the Northern Environment in Nakina, Nov. 29/77pby Julie Fels and Leona Lang, two members of the council. Families in resource-based communities are there to live as well Therefore, women must as to work. be involved in the planning of the socio-economic development of their To date, corporations communities. have not exercised corporate responsibility in responding to the human needs of the community. The quality rf life is directly dependent upon the economy of the area in which we live, hence the economic development of the north affects the lives of us all. As women represent 51% of the population, they have not only the right but the obligation to be represented in all aspects of the economic and social development of the north. Looking at development from a woman's perspective is essential, for it is the women who live in these communities who are most affected by the developmental decisions which are made by men. Women have traditionally shouldered the human element of development in the community and, as such, are the The experts on the quality of life. product of this development forms the social fabric of these communiBoth sexes are equally ties. affected, so none of us should deny that both sexes should have equal input into the decision-making If process affecting their lives. the terms of reference of socioeconomic studies are entirely dependent on highly technical, nonexperiential male concepts, then we can only conclude that the outcome of these studies will not be relevant to the women of the communities north of the 50th parallel, and the status quo will only be perpetuated. We believe that women from the north should sit on this commission to ensure that women's experience will be recognized. We believe that the present structure of the commission exemplifies hew women are relegated to supportive and peripheral roles outside the decision-making process. Economic expansion will not result in the socio-economic betterment of women who are considered marginal and unimportant in the process unless a conscious decision to change the position of women is built right into In summary, the terms of reference. we would make several requests: 1. We ask your commission to seek out women to provide input from their experiences of living in the north. You must go beyond the formal hearing We ask that the planning and development schemes not make the basic assumption that women exist only as dependents of men, but that women be seen as persons responsible for their own economic future. Until this happens the development plans of industry and government will continue to deliver programs that re-inforce women's role in these communities as marginal and depenRather, community development dent. plans should and must integrate women fully into the economic and social power structure of the community. 4. In conclusion, we ask you, Mr. Justice Hartt, to make this commission a notable one; one which will be known for recognizing women's voices in economic development, an area in which they have been historically excluded. 5. Leona Lang Two million likely affected The following article appeared in the October 5 edition of the Chronicle Journal in an obscure corner of the obituary page. WASHINGTON (AP)An estimated six million nothers in the United States and their offsprings may face risks of cancer or other abnormalities from exposure to synthetic estrogen DES during pregnancy, Health Secretary Joseph Califana said today. Califano asked the 400,000 US physicians to search their medical records and notify the estimated two million women who were once routinely given DES to prevent miscarriages, "chiefly between 1945 and 1955 but in a number of cases, as recently as 1970." Northern Woman Journal page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE WAITRESS aware that we get paid such lousy also don't believe th wages. But it is up to the customer to make s know t that we get minimum wage. work for isn't a ch company that itable organization. They are cerwould me tainly making a profit. can't affor tion their name, but by Brenda Cryderman I resent is that we have to "What hustle to get minimum wage," stated Anne, a local cocktail waitress, "a right that is guaranteed to other workers." Anne is a waitress in a well established hotel in Thunder Bay. She is paid $2.50 per hour--35 cents below the minimum wage of $2.85. "The guy at Manpower said this was do get tips. Some days legal as make $4.00 in tips,and on other days $10.00. It really doesn't amount to WAITING FOR I I I I I to lose my job. am fc Unlike most waitresses, only have myself to suppc unate. and live at.home for next to not Some girls try to keep their own r on these wages and others are sine parents who could certainly make r on welfare,"Anne concluded. Eighty percent of all waitresse are women. This is just another e) ple of how women have to sell thei services at a reduced value. There are very few labour unions for thi Really, they have to occupation. prostitute themselves to the custo smiling when he is rude, agreeing when he is wrong. "Remember: the customer is always right." A LIVING I I WAGE I I I that much." The Ontario government rationalizes this form of cheap labour because, they say, only waitresses that are serving liquor get this wage and they make tips. Also, it is supposed to help boost our tourist industry. to theory a customer should tip 5% of the bill. No matter how good the service, you're lucky to get 10. talked to "The other waitresses agree that it is a rip-off. But most of them feel that there is nothing we can do about it. We need our jobs and we certainly can't afford to get don't think they would have fired. any trouble replacing us," says THE WAITRESS Underpaid and overworked, always smiling at some jerk, Walking, standing, never sitting, hurry, "service must be quick." These people are important, they have better things to do than Ii I I Anne. "Tips kind of turn waitresses against each other as everyone is trying to get the best tipping customer and '%%7.- M% Brenda Cryderm .1" wait. and if you get along really well with the hostess, she will put them in your section. So some waitresses make more than others for providing the same service and that certainly isn'tt Life can't always be this bad, someone's always getting mad. I don't make the soup or set the p all I do is serve and clean. Understaffed and underpaid, all we want is MINIMUM WAGE. fair." "I don't think most people are A Matter of Choice The CBC has produced a new film on rape. Starring Roberta Maxwell, A Matter of Choice, was shown on CBC-TV's For the Record on Sunday, January 29. The film explores rape and its emotional aftermath. It is an attempt to show the effects of assault on the victim, the terror, the rage and the despair. The legal process, the cross-examination of the victim, the necessary evidence are all looked at. Altogether, it is a very powerful film. The film was followed by a two -hour panel discussion and phone-in program. For more information contact: Maureen O'Donnell TV Network Promotion CBC Toronto Tel. (416) 925-3311 Ext. 4461 Sortl Trs jvst lerVIlAy vie jat Out dont kW icsi rfirinc+wien ron4Ye j tadwAy s ,qettiro ?replan+ or marviedi ovf of ProStAnci 05 it niet -town Or o-Iheir y rig -fkt tOterdob or get 510 tt heavy ekit Elderly Women The Canadian Council on Social Development has completed a technical study, by Ottawa economist Kevin Collins, on women and pensions. (Release date February 1978) The report examines the conditions for women in private and public pension plan systems. Mr. Collins reports that elderly women, living on pensions, are the poorest people. In effect they live below any realistic poverty line. Women are penalized by current pension systems, according to the study, by longer life expectancy,. higher turnover rate in the labour force, low wages, poor jobs and interrupted employment records. The Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan are called to task for their regressive benefits in the report: "the lowest income groups pay a higher proportion of their income in contributions than higher income groups. Because women generally have relatively low incomes, this is particularly disadvantageous for them." To obtain a copy of the report please direct your requests to: "Women and Pensions" Canadian Council on Social Development 55 Parkdale Avenue Ottawa, Ontario KIY 1E5 wr kesnniv 81'x. Andi s *tear-Jive P4440:00i ot coorie AlagyS hive PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Bloomers for girlies But shorts for boys?! by Sandra Steinhause all began one peaceful It fall day. Little. did know I that the next words would read would add drama, suspense and laughter to my life. My daughter and son go to the same high school and on this particular day they each walked into the house with a notice from school--Regulation Wear for Physical Education. It sounds routine, right? It is routine but that doesn't mean it isn't bizarre. Before had time to look at the school notice, my daughter started insisting that we go to the store shopping. "I've been told that we have to have our GYM BLOOMERS by tomorrow for phy. ed," she moaned. GYM BLOOMERS!! "What in the world are gym bloomers? asked. (I'm not originally from Ontario) GYM BLOOMERS, for those uninformed like me, are special shorts created just for girls. (Oh how lovely, a product just for us!) GYM BLOOMERS are baggy shorts with elastic around the leg. became very aware that my son was not making the same chant, "I need GYM BLOOMERS by tomorrow". He had not mentioned his need for this strange costume. Something went "click" in my head. read the Regulation notice. Girls are resquired to wear GYM BLOOMERS (that cost $6.50) while boys are required to wea wear shorts. Ludicrous. charge the schools with sex discrimination and promoting consummerism. Promoting Consummerism: If you have daughters you must pay $6.50 for GYM BLOOMERS that don't think they will ever "be caught dead in" out in the streets during the summer. The shorts that most girls have can't be'used while the boys can wear the ones they have used all summer. Why should parents be monetarily penalized for having I I I I I I been wearing them since was in school." (Did anyone ever question why they wore them 20 years ago?) 2. "It's in the'girls"best interest for health and safety." Health and safety? Is it a health interest with constricting elastic around your legs? Is baggy in the interest of safety?) I Is it healthy to wear constricting elastic around the legs?? I girls? Sex Discrimination: Girls must wear GYM BLOOMERS but not boys. phoned the school board, 4 high schools and spoke to principals, viceprincipals and gym teachers. All the high schools that phoned had a dress code for phy. ed. The girls had to wear GYM BLOOMERS while the boys could wear regular shorts. asked, Now comes the fun. "Why do girls have to wear I I I baggy bloomers that have elastic around the leg?" The following are the answers reI ceived: 1. "It's traditional, they've If it is in the girls' best interest for health and safer, ty, why aren't the schools interested in the health and safety of the boys? Surely they have more outward parts to protect in that area? 3. "You don't think it's sexist, surely? It can't be; our gym teacher is a woman." (He was shocked when mentioned that a woman can be sexist.) 4. "The girls don't have to wear them just because the notice says so." (Every school know insists that their students follow rules. believe that they have been so well trained to be obedient to authority, that if they are given a notice of regulations, they will follow them because they are afraid not to.) I I I Each person spoke to started to chuckle when mentioned sex discrimination. The replied. chuckle stopped when that didn't find it humorous at all. However, did have the impression that they thought was complaining about nonsense. Since no one has been able to give me any reason WHY girls have to wear GYM BLOOMERS and the boys are able to wear regular shorts,I am left with my assumptions. GIRLS HAVE TO WEAR ELASTIC AROUND THEIR LEGS BECAUSE OF THE SEXUAL HANG-UPS OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE POLICY. Are they afraid that boys will throw themselves on the floors and look up the girls' shorts? How come they don't worry about the girls taking peeks and I I I I I I pokes? Not consulted Britain's 1976 abortion law, the most liberal in Europe, was amended on Feb. 21, 1978 by Parliament. The new amendment will restrict the availability of abortions by shortening the permissible time period to 20 weeks, requiring the approval of five National Health doctors (instead of the previous two), and introducing a"conscience clause" allowing a physician to withhold approval. The amendment was introduced by a consertive Member of Parliament, who cited a recent poll which said 87% of Britain's gynecologists favor tighter limitations of the availability of abortions. Women, of course, were not consulted. Northern Woman Journal page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Another case for red tape 13 A PROPOSAL TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT, IMPOSSIBLE Later this month, women in Ontario could stand to loose even a remote choice in whether or not they wish to go through with a pregnancy. The Canadian Association to Repeal Abortion Laws (CARAL) is urging all women to speak up on Bill 139 sponsored by John Sweeney, Liberal member for Kitchener Wilmot to come before the Legislature on October 26. "Make no mistake about it," says CAR AL, "Bill 139 is designed to reduce access to abortion, no matter what its title, or its sponsor says to the contrary." The Bill is entitled "An Acting respecting Hospital Administrative Proceedures relating to Abortions Performed in The members of the LegislatOntario." ure will vote freely with no formal Caucas position being taken because it is a private members bill. The Bill will not alter existing federal legislation on the question of abortion. What it does though, is propose additional records being made and monitored and if successful, will double the amount of administrative work required bf the physician. What it amounts to is red tape which will make the process of getting an abortion more cumbersome than other medical attention. Says CARAL, "If that is Mr. Sweeney's intention, then it should be clearly stated and be the principle which is debated." CARAL feels that the extra administrative burden, its cost to the system and burden to the doctor, will discourage doctors from dealing with abortion do not entirely refuse, If they cases. then they will certainly avoid them. Involved in the extra paper work is a very comprehensive information statement to the patient which must be signed and forwarded to the therapeutic abortion committee before the approval process even begins. The doctor "must make an assessment of the potential for the unborn child to remain alive outside the womb," and report this assessment to the committee and the patient. If the doctor feels that there is any such potential, he must arrange to have a second doctor in attendance. If the abortion is approved and performed, th e doctor, "must prepare and forward to the TAC a detailed report concerning the circumstances, medical proceedures used and the result of the abortion performed by the physician. "One of the unsavoury aspects of the Bill," say CARAL members, "is the fact that it allows for employees of the Ministry of Health to act as inspectors and they sahll "inspect each medical record compiled for an abortion performed since the previous inspection and may inspect any other medical record compiled for an abort ion for the purposes of this act." So much for the patients right to privacy!" The information statement to be prepared for the TAC for the doctor must entail a) th e development of the "unborn child' as of the time of the operation b) any risk of emotional or physical harm that may be suffered by the woman as a result of the abortion. c) any agencies, etc., that will assist a woman who decides to carry her pregnancy to term. The CARAL organization feels that the doctor's statement is intended to intimidate women who have decided upon abortion. "Just as clearly, doctors will be giving a medical opinion in the guise of "information", there being, for instance, no medical consensus on whether abortion results in physical or mental harm to the individual.," said CARAL. Letters of opinion should be addressed to the Hon. Dennis Timbrell, Minister of Health and to Micheal Cassidy, leader of the NDP Party and Stuart Smith leader of the Liberal Party. CARAL'S Analysis jacket is dishonest. There is a notion 4 neat little section on 'consent' abroad that women who seek abortions, builds up the pressure on a woman do so with gay abandon. This is a seeking an abortion. It says, "No cruel and inhuman attitude to women consent given by a patient is valid and binding unless the patient has been in trouble for whatever reason, desprovided with the physicians assessment erved or otherwise. Most women suffer and the information statement more than untold misery and trauma over this 24 hours before the consent is given." desparate decision. To add to this misery is a particularly exquisite In other words, red tape becomes more important than a woman's decision kind of torture. All women should refuse to accept to have an abortion. Many of the ideas incorporated in th is kind of approach to a probBill 139 are similar to those found lem which is primarily a woman's in an OHIO Bill. It stopped short problem. In terms of the health care of a provision which would require system, abortion should be viewed the showing of the fetus to the patin the same way as other medical proient after the abortion. Even Ohio b ceedures. No more, no less. The moral balked at that one, and removed it. question is one for the individual to It does indicate, however, the lengths handle without any interference from to which the anti-abortion people the state, What to do about Bill 139? will go. Abortion under certain conditions We should object to this bill in is legal in Canada. To attempt to principle without getting bogged down prevent it through this kind of obon discussing the details. WRITE TO YOUR ELECTED MEMBER, THE PREMIER, struction is not supportable. And in AND MR. SWEENEY. The anti-abortionto wrap one's anti-abortion views ists are already writing in. this kind of administrative straight- Northern Woman Journal page 10 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �by Sharon Olsen It has long been a traditional belief that "to love someone is to trust them." Trust them to do what? To never hurt the one who loves them? To always be kind, thoughtful, considerate and in good humour? To never lie or cheat or fix a traffic ticket? If such a would just as saint exists, soon not meet him. Not only find his company borwould am ing in a short while but would feel quite infersure ior in his presence. beltrust someone, When ieve that they will not deliberately set out to harm me, or those close to me, in any way. The key word is deliberate or premeditated, if you're into doubt that legal jargon. there is or ever has been, a single human being who has not done or said something without thinking--whether it be unkind words said in anger, or an act of infidelity in a weak moment, or a lie told to avoid a scene. don't condone any of these actions as a way of life, but do believe that the reasons behind the deeds are more important than the deeds them- T I I I I I I I I I selves. The people trust will not purposely perform any of these actions with the explicit intention of hurting me. If any such incidents do occur, it is for one of two reasons. Either it is done in a thoughtless moment (which is only human) or it is carefully thought out beforehand and the doer honestly concludes, with my best interests at heart, that performing the act is likely to be the lesser of the two evils. In would probably, other words, suffer more pain if the act is not performed. For example, if friend ofmine has to make a a I I T (7Aui7nui decision between telling me a truth or a lie, and has decided in her own good judgement that a lie would be less painful to me than the truth, then would expect her to tell me a lie... It's not that would prefer to be shielded from the truth, rather, would expect and trust my friend to follow her own good judgement. Essentially then, trusting someone is believing in their ability to exercise good judgement when dealing with matters that are likely to affect your mental, emotional and physical welfare. Their decisions may not necessarily be the same as I I I srter,4.),--it.w/v". yours would be in many situations. The point is that they care enough, in most instances, to take the time to consider your feelings. Alternatively, the individual who wishes to become more trustworthy would do well to practice considering the effects of his actions on others as much as possible. Understanding seems to be a major part of this whole process of mutual trust - understanding the reasons behind your own behavior and attempting to understand the reason behind the behavior of others. 1,40It 4********************** NO HALF FARM FOR HUBBY * DECEMBER 15, 1978 to sue for his interest in the Ottawa (CP)-A man who signed * farm. over his half of a family * The judgement said Bingeman farm to his wife so it could did not go into business, but not be seized in a lwsuit transferred the property, appcannot reclaim the property ** . arently for another reason. A now that he and his wife are * * ** separated, the Supreme Court neighbour threatened to sue on * of Canada,ruled Tuesday. the ground that Bingeman was * The court rejected an appeal * featuring having an affair with his wife * by Gordon Bingeman of Waterloo, Ont., for the return from his *AT THE ELK'S LODGE (CORNER: estranged wife, Evelyn, of his OF SYNDICATE AND share of a 64 acre farm Filma which and Art * MILES STREET) the couple had jointly owned. "Not a Pretty Picture" is a fictional documentary on rape The judgement said Bingeman designed for high school students. It is the work of Martha * Tickets: $3.0o in advance m_* signed over the propertyCoolidge to and is released by Dabara Films. It reveals misconcep$3.50 at the door; about rape and delves into the social, psychological and his wife in Dec./67, andtions left * It's a be,nefit for physical make-up of both girls and boys in their teenage years. It her 13 months later without WOMAN'S PLACE has been endorsed by the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre and won the contributing alimony or Blue mainRibbon Award at the American Film Festival in New York so anyone wishing to help 44 tenance, Bingeman initially Available for rental or long-term lease. For cost in 1976. * out call 345-5841 or considered signing over inquiries, the write: Films farm because he wanted toDabara quit giciVagic**************Z 367 Queen Street West his job as an O.P.P. constable and go into business. He Toronto. did Ontario M5W 2A4 not want potential creditors to -- * ** * *. * AY4I ABlue Streak& Southpaw Northern Woman Journal page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �isisss ii olV***V;;i'4'4, 7VIrrririrWerfrr Fort Frances women graduate in psych Debra Pilon WOMEN AND PSYCHOLOGY COURSE - 1 FORT FRANCES--Ten women ranging in age from 24 to 55 recently completed a night school credit course entitled Women and Psychology. The course was offered through Confederation College's continuing education program and was the first credit course of that title to be offered by the college in the Thunder Bay area. Instructor Gayle Quirie presented the class with a comprehensive package of stimulating material through 15 weeks of winter. Films were shown eacn week and an anthology of pieces by psychologists and feminists entitled Female Psychology: The Emerging Self was required reading for the course. Some of the women in the course had been out of an educational setting for 10 to 20 years. One had recently completed university level courses, another woman in the night course was simultaneously enrolled as a day student in the Fort Frances High School. She was obtaining the high school diploma that marriage and children had postponed. Eight of the women were either married or had once been married. Relationships with men were discussed often and it seemed important to do so because marriage, for many women, is the primary personal relationshep in a lifetime. Part of the learning experience centred, however, on an acceptance of other women as valuable and intelligent persons. We grew to understand and like each other. WOMEN AND PSYCHOLOGY COURSE - 2 One of the catalysts to this understanding was an exercise entitled "My Mother--Myself". Each woman explored her relationship with her mother, recorded her perceptions on paper and presented the findings orally to the class. In exploring our roots we exposed ourselves to each other, through gentle honesty. In portraying where we had been, we emerged with a view of where we might be going, through awareness of our similarities. Joy also found a way into our gettogethers. It's easy to laugh and joke among friends and once the initial shyness vanished, we were indeed friends. Lest this sound too ideal, it must be noted that the personal interaction between participants was not always harmonious. On occasion, personalities clashed, though never violently and always with the arbitrator (Mrs. Quirie) ready to calm the opponents by injecting her own view into the discussion. Topics discussed included: biological perspectives, psychological sex differences, oppression on the self, female sexuality, psychothera and women and of course--keeping in mind that on most days men are not the enemy--we explored the concept of human liberation. Attendance throughout the course was excellent. Providence often scheduled snowstorms on Wednesdays (the day before our class) so that roads were marginally passable by Thursday evening. Out-of-town students were able to attend from October to February without mishap and those who lived in town consistently braved frigid temperatures u attend. Women and Psychology was a valuab experience for the women who partic pated and was also "Interesting and Challenging" (really!) for Gayle- the lady teacher who introduced us to the idea that men (poor dears) may unknowingly suffer from testosterone poisoning. Remember that next time you observe one behaving in a typically "masculine" manner.., Those who participated in the course were (in alphabetical order): Judy Beer, Myra Guimond, Gladys McPherson, Ria McPherson, Janice Pattison, Debra Pilon, Margaret Rahr Shirley Seckinger, Betty Sedgwick ar Ruth Spritt. Far from being anti-abortion historically, says Mohr, the Protestan churches were relaxed and neutral o the subject during the 1800s. Abor " We no longer can tolerate tionists openly advertised their confessing sins we have not trade, even in religious publicacommitted," said Nelle Morton, tions. "The vast majority of the a theologian participating in Protestant clergy in the United a World Council of Churches States...chose to let their flocks conference on Sexism," sins decide for themselves as individual defined by male experience... the morality or immorality of aborWe can now begin to confess to tion, rather than move aggressively sins we have committed. The to define it as sin." Not surprissuppression of our own anger; ingly, during the 1800s an estimate not recognizing it as a way of one out of five pregnancies ended fighting through to a place abortion--and married, white, middl where love can express itself; class Protestants accounted for mos the lack of confidence and of these abortions. boldness, the lack of pride, Yet by the 1900s abortions were the unquestioned obedience anathema: "Virtually every jurisand the falseness of our diction had laws upon its books tha humility." proscribed the practice sharply and ( from Spare Rib declared most abortions to be crimi No. 27) nal offenses." Whether you're the What caused the turnabout? Was religious type or you've been that the churches had at last swung pressured by society to be into action against abortion? Not "virtuous", as Ms. Morton at all, says Mohr. It wasn't the points out, the sins have been defined by men - so the "virtues" churches that became anti-abortion, it was the doctors, who saw the have also been decided by men. cause as one they could exploit in Men want women to be pure, their efforts to professionalize obedient, humble and infinitely their practice. The clergy, meansweet- never angry, skeptical while, remained aloof. or bold. If we are angry and "Virtually every petition on the show it, we are "sinners". Is subject placed before a state legis a man a sinner if he expresses lature in the nineteenth century anger? came either from a medical organiza ABORTION AND THE CHURCHES tion or from an individual physicia America's churches have always Mohr writes. He adds that the medi been strongly anti-abortion, right? cos were bitter when the Protestant Wrong, says Professor James C. Mohr, clergy failed to join the fray. Th in his forthcoming book, Abortion in book (priced at $12.50) will be pub The Origins and Evolution America: lished by Oxford University Press of National Policy. this month. PATRIARCHAL ATTITUDES: WHAT ARE THE REAL SINS? SEXIST ADS i Some 100 mostly female protesters picketed the San Francisco Chronicle Examineer last week to denounce the daily newspaper's sexist advertising practices. The protest, initiated by Women Against Violence in Pornography and Media, charged that the paper carries a full page of advertisements for pornographic films, "most of which centre on themes of violence and women in submissive positions." The group called for a less offensive policy and asked supporters to join a letterwriting and telephone campaign to demand a change in the paper's practice. Off Our Backs--April 1978 The country is yours, ladies; politics is simply a public Yours, and mine and affair. The government everyone's. has enfranchised you, but it cannot emancipate you; that is done by your own processes of thought. Nellie McClung 1917. Northern Womnn Journal page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor i �Notes before for after the Revolution homeless women. The police system leaves us subject to physical attack, so some of us are arming ourselves, studying the martial arts, and learning how to make our space more secure. The present system devastates the earth, but some of us are Getting up trusts, getting our own land, learning how to work with it. by Janis Kelly OFF OUR BACKS 1977 Tolerance From time to time a wave of anxiety travels through the women's movement: "Where are we going? What is our destination? Will this tactic get us There?" The Single Right Way These questions proceed from the premise that there is a single, unified destination, an ideal social structure. If that were true, then the reasonable thing would be to identify that place, figure out what would take us from here to there, encourage those activities, and eliminate everything else as a waste of energy. This is the method used by those concerned with developing a "correct" set of analyses and goals. The flip-side of "correct" thinking is that non-correct thinking must be weeded out. Thus we come to the many discussions over whether this or that occurrence (feminist businesses, socialist feminism, witch-craft) is a "danger to the movement." We trap ourselves into dualistic thinking, forever dividing up instead of synthesizing, forever trying to keep each other on the right path. Strength and Diversity The creation of a free society does not, however, require that we all take the same path. In fact, it requires something very different. One of the ironies of nature is that strength comes from diversity, not from sameness. Communities composed of a great variety of species are much healthier and stronger than those with only a few. Likewise, think our strength as a movement is in our variety and resilience rather than in the traditional measures of political power. The change that we are working is not based on collecting a superior force and overpowering the opposition (although some of us use this method for some things). Rather, we are breaking out of patriarchy from many sides at once, working on different problems with different tactics. This process can be seen as either chaotic and inefficient or varied and flexible. think it is the latter. And for the record I'd like to say that do not think that Lammas women's store is an anti-revolutionary cog in the capitalist system, or that Marxist-feminists are a tool of the Male Left, or that the Susan B. Anthony Coven #1 is a bourgeois escapist threat to the Revolution. Or that Gloria Steinem is desecrating the women's movement by packaging bits of feminist idealogy for mass consumption. And wish that all of us (especially me) who so readily lapse into self-righteous condemnation would examine what we're really saying, rid ourselves of the fantasy that we hold a franchise on Truth, and get more serious about what it means to be free. I I I I Non-coercion Both personally and politically, a committment to freedom means rejection of coercion as a tool in Giving up the human relations. option of force (physical or psychological) means that one has to accept the impossibility of control- Out of Bounds The kind of free-wheeling creativity we now have can continue only in a culture which accepts that there is no single Truth, no single Right.Way; that errors are inevitable, a sign of life rather than of stupidity or malevolence and that no idea is beyond question, so sacred or "obvious" that it can't be challenged. This kind of acceptance does not mean that have to support every women who does something and labels it "feminist." can argue against it. can put forth an alternative. can say she's completely off the wall and a menace. can try to change her mind. But don't want to censor her ideas or force her to stop whatever she's doing. Basically, that's how the current feminist movement works, usually in spite of rather than because of our "political" positions. The thing that has protected us is the fact that few of us ever acquire enough'power to prevent others from doing what they want to do. So somewhere people are always breaking out in new forms, trying new things. That variety is our strength, not our weakness, and want to see more of it. want to open up my own mind to more possibilities. don't want the boundaries of "feminism" more firmed up and tidy. want them blown away. want to do my own work without having to worry about being the last word on any; I I I I ling others (no matter ow wrong" they are) and learn to live with basic differences. This control thing is tricky. I'm easily aware of when other people try to do it to me, but when do it, it doesn't always feel like control. It often feels like I'm just trying to protect them, or improve them, or teach them something for their own good. The tip-off is always the feeling that le am in possession of some bit of knowledge, analysis, or feeling which is so superior that it must be right for them as well as for me, and gives me the moral right to try and impose it on them. Accepting non-coercion on the personal level eventually leads to rejecting the ideal of "acceptable" force on the mass level. At that point, the whole structure of the State comes crashing down. Any Government is at bottom State. nothing unique except for being an agency of legitimized coercion. The only real power of government (even a "born again" government, or a socialist one) is that it is permitdon't ted to force me to do things want to do. All right. So we knock the props out from under "government". How will things get done? Who will build the roads, care for the elderWe ly, feed the poor? WE WILL. will come together in voluntary association, just like we do now, to take care of the business of living. The main difference is that without the State on our backs and in our pockets (what do you suppose is the combined income tax paid by all the people associated with the women's movement?) we will be able to do things better. Even hampered by a State, we are finding ways of doing that. Government-AMA control of medical care has led to the present disaster, so some of us are running our own clinics, and others are exploring alternate forms of healing. The patriarchal system for owning and controlling women via the family is breaking down, so some of us are working on aid and shelter for battered and/or I I I I I I I I I thing. Movement want to work my little ass off on this newspaper because love it and think it's valuable. And want Z Budapest to go on being a genetic witch, and Joanne Parrent to go on thinking up and trying new ways of dealing with money, and the Marxists to go on concentrating on fighting capitalist imperialism. And want the country women to go on working with and for the land, and Dyke to go on developing dyke separatism, and the women's studies programs to go on studying women. And want the women in the organized religions to go on raising hell, and Ti-Grace Atkinson to do more and more of her crystalline thinking, and Charlotte Bunch to continue moving around like a corpuscle carrying ideas to all different limbs of the movement. And want to remember that what we have is not THE MOVEMENT, but the movement: us moving ourselves out of a death-worshipping, person-hating patriarchy and into new places which we create as we go along. Some of those new places please me. Some horrify me. But I'm not at all sure that even the most horrifying might not be producing something important. say, "The more, the better!" I I I I I I I Northern Woman Journal page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �reprinted from UPSTREAM FEMINIST CyNNECT 'cm s A NEW LOOK AT MOTHERHOOD by Helen Levine This column has had a hard time getting born. There's a reason. It's because I've been thinking about the institutions of motherhood. Not only about being a mother, but with a sense of fulfillment and altruistic sentiment, we shall attain the goal of a responsibilities are imposed upon women as mothers. "Heavy," as they say. Since struggles with parenthood crop up at the center of many womens' lives - primary information of the culture... how political and cultural roles and and thus in feminist counselling - the question deserves a very careful exploration. I've decided to use this column to try to help build a feminist framework within which to place our experiences as mothers. -Historically, there has been a powerful mythology as well as ideology of mother- hood entrenched in a variety of institutions - the family, the school, the work force, the church, the helping professions, etc., which have prescribed ways of being a good or a bad mother. Some of the propaganda goes this way. "Anatomy is destiny" (Freud). It therefore follows that: being a mother is the greatest possible fulfillment for a woman; maternal instincts are the driving force in womens' lives; women can only find an identity in marriage, and motherhood; motherhood is a biological imperative; Women are inevitably and appropriately those primarily and centrally responsible for child-rearing. Bluntly, "Who said so?" Simply, "mainly men!" It was, in fact, those "awe-inspir- ing" social scientists, the experts and professionals that Betty Friedan warned women about years ago in The Feminine Mystique. The following are only two contempor- ary examples of that large anti-woman vanguard. Bruno Bettelheim (analyst, writer): "We must start with the realization that good life." Another subtle form of propaganda is ,he beloved fairy tales we, heard in childhood. In Women Hating, Andrea Dworkin says, "Fairy tales are the Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel - all are characterized by passivity, beauty, innocence and victimization. ...They never think, act, initiate, confront, resist, challenge, feel, care or question.... We see that powerful women are bad and that good women are inert;." It's my contention that much of our aspects of motherhood. The question of kids and mothers comes up over and over again in feminist counselling. Am I a good mother? Have I damaged my kids? Why can't I always be loving and rational? How come I feel so eternally responsible, so guilty? Should I want, do I want, custody of my children? Is it OK, is it normal to decide not to have women, fraught with taboos and mystiques. I've decided to comment briefly on a handful of issues and happenings, just to get at the tip of the iceberg, and to follow through with some of these thenles in future columns. 1. female experience. women's movement arose in the 1960's, many of us wanted to talk or write about anything but motherhood. The role had so and foremost to be womanly companions of men and to be mothers." ultimate choice. We asked why only men scientists or engineers, they want first With Adrienne Rich's book, we may have come full circle: back to looking again at being mothers but in a totally new way. again, by way of responsibility, heaven help us all! 5. "In Her Place": this once-a-month cable TV program, in May, dealt with the topic of "A Baby, Maybe." A very worthwhile discussion, including the point that having or not having kids is hot necessarily the most important decision of a woman's life. I'm buying the video of this program, if any group wants to borrow it. control over their single success or failure in life. If you've been lucky enough to see J.A. Martin, Photo- experience for most of us, coming to grips, together, with a complex area in our lives with a remarkable portrayal of motherhood and womanhood. 2. Illegitimacy - one of patriarchy's-most cruel inventions: isn't it time to assert that motherhood, along with contraception and abortion, is essentially a question of control over our own bodies, our own beings? and to assert that motherhood is ours to decide how, were brought up to care for the "self" while women were taught to deny the self and to live through and for others. must be carried by fathers and the community. If it lands on mothers College: it has been a remarkable graphe, you will recall a beautiful film defined our lives, for good or ill, so limited ren, occupation, and interests and why women were supposed to make the one women and families, and greatly and powerlessness in the family and in society at large, their lack of real For a long time aver the present needs, our own oppression in private and public spheres of life. We asked why men took for granted having marriage, child- this can be a very important year if the emphasis is on daycare services, a 6. A course on "Mothers and Daughters' that I haye been facilitating through the Women's Programme at Algonquin personalities, roles, and behaviour were shaped by questions of power Rick's Of Woman Born marked a turning point in women's consciousness of motherhood as institution. our own herstory, our potential, our I'm convinced that we have to begin looking at our own mother's lives in a feminist framework, how their values, For me, the publication of Adrienne our horizons, that we needed to focus on the missing parts of our existence. Many of us moved headlong into investigating 4. International Year of the _Child: increased child-care responsibility that tions we all ask ourselves are anything but simple. The area is full of land-mines for fined this time - in this complex area of about the joys and necessity of mothers at home, damage to children wrought by "working" mothers and daycare. as the economic crisis worsens. decent income and decent housing for women and mothers is rooted in_ such stereotypes. Thanks, not to fairy tales and experts, but to the writings and sharings of the current women's movement, there has emerged a determination on the part of Women themselves have begun to examine the real issues - women-de- army of labour to be pulled in and pushed out of the work force when convenient? Watch for outpourings can't stand my kids sometimes? Is it fair to want my own life, too? Given the ideology and mythology of motherhood, the answers to these ques- many women to confront and to demystify the presumptuous, male-defined myths of motherhood. persons in the family, and as a reserve children? Am I a good mother even if I adolescent pain and adult guilt and conflict on being inadequate (meaning imperfect) as much as women want to be good Joseph Rheingold (psychiatrist, Harvard): "When women grow up without dread of their biological functions and without subversion by feminist doctrine, and therefore enter upon motherhood As feminist counsellor, I would recomment that women read Of Woman Born because it offers new dimensions, new ways of thinking about and seeing most 3. It seems inevitable that until and unless we begin to appreciate what all women have been/are up against in relation to motherhood, we will have a hard time understanding or liking ourselves. When we comprehend that mothers, past and present, were and are held uniquely and unjustly responsible for the least control- lable and most impossible of tasks - human relationships in this society - we why and if, within or outside our will no longer blame mothers for our marriage? struggles and so in the process collaborate with misogynists (woman-haters). We need to use the politics of feminism Full-time motherhood: is this a timehonoured means of keeping women in their place as second-class, service to understand the personal lives of women. THUNDER CLAP: To Pat Meredith, Chartered Accoun. ant for sharing her valuable time ani experience to set up a book keeping system for Northern Women's Centre and Journal. SIXTY-EIOIIR.MT OF ALL THE AWN IN THINTSCOUN1IYARE CCURSE GRADUNESININETY-THREE Women's Place PERCENT ARE OJER SIX FEET TAU., Printing Brochures Booklets Pamphlets Newsletters THUNDER BOLT LETTERHEAD BULLETINS REASONABLE RATES To John Sweeney, Liberal member fc Kitchener Wilmot for sponsoring B i l 139 this month in the Ontario Leg- No order too small (Some may be too big) 316 BAY ST. islature to tighten controls on ther- apeutic abortion. Phone 345-7802 Northern WomEin Journal page l See page 10 for article. 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �my Lover said, "night tatk!" L don't know it. do you understand? he said that L must. he don't be tiking women much me. thinks. Mickey Pedersen THE TRUTH The child was told to emulate her elders to not question their motives to follow blindly. - But I must km) the ansvets Summetcamp..Haiku must ask a thousand whys must Zook the problem oven Thiz bed is tumpy Not the mattters must satiz 4y my mind. Me! VioZet Winegatden Her father said "this is the Truth all else is lies, tell you so." I - But I must knew the reasons must examine aZe the 4cccts and teach my cwn conctusions must weigh, and think, then act. They said "you are rebellious and but a female child, sit down, keep quiet, listen, be passive, meek, and mild. - SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO APPROACH PERFECTION 1. 2. 3. I should accept your constructive ctiticism with a view to imptoving my quatity o4 thought, heightening out sexual pteasute and i4 I'm tacky, uttimatety, changing katma. Undet your concerned guidance I may gAow to be an unbtemished Apse: "something" inside you whispens the tnanzionmation Lo indeed within my Zimited potential. Atthough yout pumptings and hapiut hints drive ditectty to my care -sour., making me ashamed oi taws tegutatty hidden 4Aom prying eyes (even the .inward eye), I must not sink into dine bAooding on my incompetence and imbecitity. Why Let my ego get in the way of pet4ection? Rise instead to new heights o4 sets -awareness! These games ate caned honesty and discovety but I notice bittowz oi tebettiouz anger escaping 4Aom me, soiling your pate intentions. With time on my side, I take an invenLately, I've Ott tike a brown tory. apple cote, destined box the gatbage Now, I teconsttuct the apple, bin. with Zuscious gall and crunchy peet. aateiutty, I welcome back the se.Usatisiked, ti4e-enthtated peAson I once was and I say Thank You Se4ote standing 4ace-to-plastic with a pet4ected image o4 myseZ4 (Woman No.2367) I had no (taiZoted to meet your needs) knowledge oi such inane and impet4ect existence. Deb= Piton woman Zoving woman But I must speak out boidty and stand up 40t my tights I can't i_gnote my lieeti_ngs so I'te just have to 4ioht. is - Ghislaine Yergeau a matter o4 eating 4ot youAseZ4 Mickey Pedmen OREGON COAST MEMORIES I would tike to tett you that it's iatt, but your mind doesn't think in seasons. Out cony etsation traits tike the patterned Leaves on the ground. You mumble something that you won't repeat, not tistening. accusing me. o I accuse you of taziness a kind o4 bookish distaste iot physicat tabour and go outside £eavLng you with questions. I take dry leaves organizing them in piles. The £awn is naked an empty 41owet bed exposed. A sudden wind crackles through the twigs and they heave and groan protests taw and vutnetabte. go in I saris flied. I've. naked the garden but the house and its contents stilt pose as a question mark. Rosalyn TaytoA Pettett Shadaved /Lock knice sttetchez Stice cutetean seas tone Mznzanita etched against ctoud dreams oney iteineoZe vapouto efiseghe)Le o444hote 6oam 4ingeio shyly weave salt Lace upon the sand white miAAotedwateAs so4tsigh in the breeze pause. Viotct WinegaAden 11111111111111111111 Please Contribute WE WOULD APPRECIATE POETRY, SHORT STORIES, DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY WOMEN OF ALL AGES TO APPEAR ON THIS PAGE. BRING THEM IN OR MAIL THEM TO 316 BAY STREET. INCLUDE A RETURN ADDRESS AND WE WILL GLADLY RETURN THE MATERIAL SAFELY TO YOU AFTER USE. 11M11111=11111111 Northern Woman Journal page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �112ORN: What we CAN do basis of race, creed, color or religion, it would appear that the only "group" at hand is sexual--the female sex specifically. We have to take very seriously the treatment we and our children are receiving believe curin the mass media. rent trends in media are destroying the effectiveness of female humane sexuality and the male/female relaThe organized women's tionship. movement has remained curiously silent on the subject of pornography. It is time we stop serving the oppressive voice of the worst of the male culture and make our own definitions of what being a woman, and what being humane, means to us. The caption on the Industrial Telephone billboard read, "The lusinessman's alternative to Ma The coalition says this imBell." plied the woman's body was availA able rather than the telephone. series of letters demanding the immediate removal of the billboard was sent by the coalition to ITS, but only after angry citizens defaced the billboard with the message "Exploiting women will stod' did the corporation remove it. The Coalition, which calls itself Coalition against Sexist Advertising (CASA) demonstrated in front of the main office of ITS on February 7th. The group of women and men carried placards which said " Keep Our Bodies Off Your Billboards" and It's Truly Sexist' chanted "ITS: and "Let Your Products Sell Your Phones, Don't Use Women's Skin and Bones." They demanded a public apology and a permanent change in company policy for Industrial Telephone System's advertising campaigns. Shana Penn, a spokesperson for the group said"We received a statement from the corporation which evaded the issue. The company stated, "Our intention was to generate the image of a young, aggressive communications company with new alternatives to business communications problems..." The woman in the billboard was definitely young, but cannot be described as aggressive since she lies vulnerably and passively behind the Aiso, phone and is half naked. their statement that their 'company employs as many women as men' totally misses the fact that this type of advertising perpetuates the use of women's bodies and sexual inferences as lures to sell I In the August issue of Northern Woman Journal we began an interview with Judith Reisman on the Sexploitation of women. This is part 2 feel women There are many things First, we must recognize must do. our leadership role and our own personal expertise in the matter of what is offensive/pornographic. Certainly the research conducted until now overwhelmingly confirms the rejection women feel toward commercial sexually explicit materials, despite the pressures to conform by loved ones and society. Even research which finds sexual arousal in females toward pornographic material also finds rejection of the same material by the females respondInterestingly, most researchers ing. (female and male) tend to explain this contradiction in typically sexist language, e.g., women are out of step due to "cultural conditionThis is hardly the case. ing". contend this rejection is simply a still functioning "well-oiled' survival instinct--the instinctual recognition of the danger/hate inherent in these ideas and images, however well they are designed and sugarcoated. suggest anger toward this So, yes, female hate propaganda is a healthy sign for women in contemporary Women must understand and society. accept that in order to feel comfortable challenging (often) husbands, friends, colleagues and other women. We must understand that it is not we Indeed it is who are out of step. the world which is out of step, as it has been so regularly before. Second: It becomes vitally important to speak out clearly regarding rejection of sexual fascism in your private spheres, with those close to you at home, at work, and in organization. We should practice there as it were, to get our voice, our courage. Third: Although single voices do carry weight, group action is the best, the speediest way to be NOW has effectively effective. established a boycot of national significance on ERA. This kind of action must be imposed upon all aspects of sexual fascism. I I I Fourth: A coalition of all women needs to be established, regardless of race, color, creed or political persuasion. No discriminatory "radicals only' concept will do. The idea of divide and conquer is ever Women have been still effective. divided; we must reunite into kinship links throughout the nation on this In 1850 Emma Goldone basic issue. man commented that although sufferage might be nice, it wouldn't really change much "so long as women are defined by their sex they will never A coaliagree. be men's equal." tion is central to our survival...all women who refuse to accept the contemporary sexualized definition of women must agree to work together on Disagreements on other this issue. issues can be dealt with when fewer I of us are being murdered, beaten, tortured and raped. There will be that many more votes to count. Fifth: Pressure must be put on NOW and other women's organizations and magazines to advertise a national boycott of any media materials and supporting products which we believe in any way shape or form demean find it very curious that women. literally nothing has come out of any liberated womens magazines which squarely treats the Playboy fascist ethic for what it is-a threat to our very lives...as humane beings, ERA notwithstanding. Our opportunities are enormous for communication and education on this issue due to the numbers of women's periodicals and their reach. With this in mind, all women magazines should be encouraged to sanction and publicize such national boycott action or risk the loss of female readership. Sixth: Legal action must be taken wherever possible. Actions need to be determined ona national organizational scale, perhaps under the WAVPM flag as a national organization. So much, legally, needs to be done. Judges must be recalled. Again, little word from Ms., Working Women or any women's media on this kind of Simpson in Wisconsin should action. Judge Harry Lang be only an example. (who sentenced a major NY child pornographer to 53 consecutive weekends in jail) and many others ad nauseum. There must be speedy and action taken to recall all judges who perpetuate the exploitation and humiliation of females. Now we get to a rather touchy and controversial point...our problem is not just "men" in power. All oppressors worth their salt have employed members of the exploited class to do their dirtiest work. We are finding this to be reality regarding many women in many fields today. The April cover of Playboy 1976 which featured the clearest accent on incest and pedophilia was photographed by a woman. Women are being offered excellent opportunities throughout the mass media to serve as collaborators, producing- vile sexist propaganda. If my This is not a pretty time. assessment is correct, this is also a time of war. We are dealing with Let a fragile hold upon humaneness. us also remember that we are up against a powerful media industry which perpetrates and encourages pornography. We must demand a legal system which protects women from this exploitation and violence. To protest Industrial Telephone System's advertising campaign which featured a bikini-clad woman on a Bay Bridge billboard promoting telephone equipment, a coalition of women's organizations got together to demand a change in the corporation's advertising policy. There are always those who need to dehumanize others and who will exploit the weakest group at hand. Since contemporary culture prohibits exploitation and denigration on the I products." 41 "Perhaps ITS should hire a competent woman to develop a more innovative and non-sexist ad camThere are plenty of us paign. around!" The Coalition Against Sexist Advertising plans to attack other examples of sexism and violence in advertising. --WAVPM April 1978 Lemaze instruction INSTRUCTION IN THE LEMAZE METHOD OF CHILDBIRTH ARE BEING TAUGHT BY PAT SALTERELLI. FOR FURTHER INQUIRIES CALL HER AT 344-9400. Northern !,Doman Journal page 16 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �I+ POW'S lalS3 111111111111111111=11D lab poSit PLIMI. MI/ Pan 00.0 Bulk En hombre traidions class dons INSIDE: 220 RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. EDITORIAL. GERT'S GOSPEL page 2 page 2 *What's it like to 'be a waitress in Thunder Bay. Brenda Cryderman talks to a woman earning less than the minimum wage. page 8 Return Postage Guaranteed *Why do girls wear what the boys don't page 9 wear for the same activites. *Women over forty, and under-- attention See page 4. *What can women do about porn? page 16. *Abortion is again the topic of discussion in the Ontario Legislature. We stand to lose. page 10. ammimminimin HAVE YOU MOVED??? PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CALLING (807) 345-5841. We must pay return postage to keep up our mailing list. Subscribe: PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 4 No 5 Description An account of the resource Vol. 4, No. 4 (October 1978) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Gender roles in marriage Equality within marriages (childcare, birth control, marriage contracts etc.) Letters to the editor Life Begins at 40 Conference (finance management & planning for future) Unemployment insurance benefits cutbacks harm women New library Thunder Bay Women in business - local craft market Using the vote effectively Northern Women’s Credit Union Women involvement in socio-economic planning Server’s minimum wage & tipping culture Elderly women relying on pension Sexism in school uniforms (gym bloomers for girls only) Bill 139 - reducing legal access to abortion Trust & love/relationships Women graduates from Psych (Fort Frances) Sexist ads World Council of Churches Conference on Sexism Sins defined on the male experience Abortion & the churches Excerpts from Off Our Backs (1977) by Janis Kelly Strength in diversity for the women’s movement Institutional motherhood Poetry Porn & exploitation of women Authors/Contributors: Gert Beadle Deborah H. Kraft Dennis R. Timbrell Laurie Hill NWO International Women’s Decade Co-ordinating Council Leona Lang Brenda Cryderman Sandra Steinhause Sharon Olsen Debra Pilon Janis Kelly Helen Levine Mickey Pedersen Violet Winegarden Ghislaine Yergeau Rosalyn Taylor Perrett Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1978-10 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2752/1978_Vol_4_No_3.pdf d8bc9b3223574863e865154dedfcf4da PDF Text Text t141)Vitio 04 21301\111Ni 'AV2 111)titO olJelu0 011.11102 06, 0111t1j 17 AVYV 3141 -PaviNnoa 404 ONI AT. SI 'ONIWOD 1 AVS 'OS 61 n 13A s2l3nio .lanoa A7NO V l4J 111 O BELIEVE, NE ALC THIS MAN, OH IT. BELIEVE NOT MAY YOU YET FIRE, PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �editorial As the Women In Transition project moves inexorably to disclosure, and we in turn play our full part in exposing the magnitude of violence against women in our community, we have a strange feeling of relief that is echoed over and over again in the personal documentations. Thank God the secret is out, no longer any reason to pretend, as one minister who said, "There are no battered women in my congregation, Our women fear the Lord". One can readily see how difficult it would be for a woman in that congregation to ask for any kind of help. It is not easy for society to face up to its own violent instincts. It would be so simple to believe that only the base and deprived had cultivated the art to its present form. So simple to say, it's the drink, it's the drugs, it's the money, its the nagging, it's the woman's movement, it's the moral permissiveness, if we didn't know in every case it's the stronger against the weaker, the independent against the dependant and whether it is man against woman or woman against child it is rooted in the drive for independence on the one hand and the need to control on the other. It was inevitable that one day the lid would fly off and we would be forced to recognize and deal with the cycle that pits social pressure against men, men against women, and both men and women against children who in turn are at war with society. In the past woman has dealt with this brutal part of her reality by turning inward, going mad, protecting the source of her dependance and whether she has done it out of fear or love, the deterioration of her spirit and her loss of self-worth has been reflected in the family. Perhaps this first real break it the cycle comes when women are no longer ashamed to say, "This is th way it is in my life and see no good and sufficient reason to conceal it or continue to endure it." Our Society has an obligation to provide an option, a place of refu in the immediate and the support structures that encourage her to believe she can make changes that will restore her self-worth. This is short term for the fundamental change has to come from a reexamination of the power structure as it applies to personal relationships, and more specifically the I sexes. Gert GERT'S GOSPEL The column in this paper entitled Gert's Gospel must surely mean that Gert has things on her mind that she is dying to say, and that her sisters have enough regard for her wisdom to let her say them. Time slips by and the chances and the time for the saying sometime seem shorter than we like to think, so ask myself, "What part of my nature have not fully shared with you?" am as transparent as water in my total dedication to a future generation who care enough for themselves that oppressing each other will not exist, not because it is a law, but because each will recognize that infringing on another's rights is a deadly insult to their own spirit. This is not to say that struggle honestly done and relentlessly pursued in the interest of justice is not only our right, but our absolute duty. The world is full of warriors who say the end justifies the means. To say both genders are not in that march to destruction would be too fanciful for my age. see and feel the movement struggling on all fronts today; to even suggest it is a passing interest, a dying dinosaur, or even something that can be contained by pressure,is absurd. We have studied I I I I and researched everything but our own souls, and many of us still run in terror from the very word. If had one last secret of my life to share with all of my human family, especially my sisters, would speak of the mystery of the soul and the part it I I * * 4E * * * WOMEN'S PLACE FLEA MARKET We have a table at Aunty Linda's Flea Market (Labour Centre, June 11) This planet was formed by a creative life force of positive energy. IT was a supreme act of love. We are the keepers of that creative life force not because we are the chosen, but just because it belongs to us. The mind has changed and grown through the generations, but the true life force, the positive energy, plays its part in everything we do without too many people even recognizing it. Man has not been content with the simple facts of the life force that created us, he must first structure it and then conjure up the lord of the structure. It is no longer necessary to make man in God's Image; we now have him safely in our own image and have built him great mansions to prove it. have no objections to the multiple myths of the past, other than to sincerely mourn the blood shed for the foolishness of it all, and sincerely believe it will continue in the name ridiculous of holiness. I I * Bring your stuff to * 316 Bay or the * * Labour Centre. ( I I I INDIFFERENCE. Indifference, can yc imagine the incentive to care if indifference was the biggy, and the consternation to find it had nothil to do with sex. Second, claimed my creative life force; the positi energy of love in action whose onl' For many years function is to be. thought its purpose was to lay a guilt trip on me but discovered guilt was of the mind and as with many other things, was an illusion which had nothing whatsoever to do with the soul. Having shot down both sin and guilt and accepting t wisdom of the life force as my cen and my soul, and recognizing the p that passion plays in struggle if struggle is just, it is my opinion that we lose two things by not recognizing the woman's movement a spiritual; one, the committment th passion brings and two, recognitio of the power of the creative life force that makes a tiny seed split a rock so that it can bloom. I I I tions. li 11141 Gert Beadle * * it 1:111011i * *.w. * * **************** Northern Woman Journal that even my grass-roots thinking understand. First, took a good at what we're calling sin these dad and just threw it all out. pi( invite comment on the above an make only one small condition, tha you not bore me with finite quota- * 4e * * * 4i I could play in our certain destiny.''''the most heinous sin in my mind, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * In the face of all this complica of simplicity, have chosen to mak( my spiritual life work for me in we 11111111, page 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Dear Editors: I. U. D., P. I . D . etc. Dear Sisters: received four A few days ago copies of back issues of the Northern Woman Journal from a friend in Thunder Bay. Reading those issues was a very moving experience. My emotions ranged from anger and sadness to joy and exhilaration. The Northern Woman speaks the truth, not only of the anguish of women but of their was strength and courage. struck by the incredible honesty of the accounts of women's experThis journal marks an iences. important step towards overcoming the isolation of women which has prevented them from realizing and working to overcome their oppresI I Dear Women: I I'm searching for information dealing with natural cures for P.I.D I've (pelvic inflamitory disease) been troubled by this repeatedly For a year over the past 4 years. a direct was sterile: and a half of a bad case of P.I.D. result was no discovered Last fall longer sterile but pregnant. had This is another tangent but womb was to have an abortion...my had a D & C perso unhealthy, That head trip is formed here. another story. want to do now is help my What have been body regain its health. etc, for a "into" natural foods, In all that time couple of years. I've been unable to discover a natural remedy for P.I.D. and related reI'd productive organ infections. specific also like to know about can do to help myself in things Can the fight for a normal womb. you (please) help me? would appreciate you discussing this and forwarding any information How about an article in the to me. Northern Woman's Journal? This information is important to all and, sadly, hard to come by. could come to your meetwish Maybe have MANY questions. ings. from you. I'll obtain the answers I'd like to impress you with the necessity of available information. Doctors, in my opinion, are not to place my trust in be trusted. other women and their experiences. We must share! I I I I I I sion. I The Northern Woman is one of the have seen. best journals that intend to pass the copies on to the women in my consciousness am sure they will raising group. was. be as excited about them as I I I I In sisterhood, I I Stephanie Holbik I Dear Gert: The Northern Woman Journal arrived day before yesterday. Haven't had a chance to read it yet (will do that fly to on the plane tomorrow when London) but wanted to let you know am absolutely delighted with that the article and intend to use it for promotional purposes. Thank you so I I much. No time to write a proper letter. still remember my Busy packing. visit with you with great pleasure and look forward to seeing you again some time. Made a new LP (live) last night and put the Women's Liberation Blues on it. Will let you know when it's released. I I I I Thanks to all Deb Hagarty Atikokan I Best Wishes Johnson Vera Thank you for the complimentary Enclosed copy of "Northern Woman". Please enter me as a subis $4.50. scriber. Thank you for printing Sandra Steinhause's article on the I.U.D. had a similar experience and have been very lonely in the anger and feel with the medical frustration establishment. also am a woman who is very conscious of her body and health care Before my decision to in general. have an I.U.D. (CU7) inserted in 1973 had a lengthy discussion with my felt fully informed gynecologist. on the pros and cons of this method was told there of birth control. is a high rate of "infection" but was not told that this meant pelvic inflammatory disease--a fertility Nor was threatening infection. told to contact a doctor upon the first sign of abnormal pain or bleed- New Westminster, B.C. Dear Sisters: Here at long last is the promised column--written at Gert's request. I'm not sure if this is the type of column you are looking for--if it's not I'd have no objection to your printing one of my letters to Gert. Also enclosed is my payment for my '78 subscription--unforgivably agree. tardy, eagerly await my copies of The don't feel Northern Woman. Though that NWO is the best place for me to am not inflexible, but be now, shall ever live there doubt if I I I I I ing. On a Monday in November, 1976, experienced abnormal bleeding. As live 10 miles from my gynecologist and planned a trip to town on Friday, decided to see him at that time. saw him, give me a He did, when full explanation of all possible conditions that could be causing my However, he instructed me symptoms. to check into the hospital on Sunday for a laporetomy (exploratory surgery) on Monday. This three-day delay had to ravage allowed the infection my reproductive On Monday my condition was longer. diagnosed as pelvic inflammatory was prescribed a high disease and dosage of antibiotics. I I I I I I The infection did clear up and my was doctor suggested that after have a test done completely healed to see how badly scarred my fallopian had this test done and tubes are. learned that my tubes are totally blocked with scar tissue, preventing However, he also informed pregnancy. me that there is surgery that can be performed to remove this scar tissue, which would increase my chance of becoming pregnant to 20%. said, my reaction to this whole As nightmare is complete horror and feel like a victim. indignation. am a woman who prides herself on As being in control of her life, this was an extremely demoralizing experience. am left cynical and bitter towards the entire medical profession which, in the long run, may be better for my I I I I I I I health. I I Dear Sisters: I Up until a month ago, Greetings! was unaware that Northern Woman am Journal even existed and now appreciative subone of its most A dear friend of mine scribers. received the last issue after havI I ing let her subscription go for some time (shame on her) and shared really enit with me one night. article joyed it, especially the was born about Muriel Boyle, as and raised in Sioux Lookout myself. opened my Anyway, a week later I I I again. Good luck with all your activities. (Gert a letter will be off to you sometime this week.) With much love and sisterhood, I I Carol P.S. A pen name is not necessary for publication of this column. must, however, say that Sandra Steinhause's experience surprised me have always felt the best in that medical attention is to be found in am not Tho the larger centres. satisfied with the doctor who inserted My I.U.D., the doctor who attended me during my infection, laporetomy and 'testing is to be highly commended when compared with Sandra's medical team. Thank you, Northern Woman, for allowing me to tell my story and to relieve feel. some of the anger I I I I Sincerely, I Marsha Michael Cunningham (see page cont'd on page 7 Northern Woman Journal page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Dear Editors: I. U. D., P.I.D. etc. Dear Sisters: received four A few days ago copies of back issues of the Northern Woman Journal from a friend in Thunder Bay. Reading those issues was a very moving My emotions ranged experience. from anger and sadness to joy and exhilaration. The Northern Woman speaks the truth, not only of the anguish of women but of their was strength and courage. struck by the incredible honesty of the accounts of women's experThis journal marks an iences. important step towards overcoming the isolation of women which has prevented them from realizing and working to overcome their oppresI I Dear Women: I I'm searching for information dealing with natural cures for P.I.D, I've (pelvic inflamitory disease) been troubled by this repeatedly For a year over the past 4 years. a direct was sterile: and a half of a bad case of P.I.D. result was no discovered Last fall longer sterile but pregnant. had This is another tangent but to have an abortion...my womb was had a D & C perso unhealthy, That head trip is formed here. another story. want to do now is help my What have been body regain its health. "into" natural foods, etc, for a In all that time couple of years. I've been unable to discover a natural remedy for P.I.D. and related reI'd productive organ infections. also like to know about specific can do to help myself in things Can the fight for a normal womb. you (please) help me? would appreciate you discussing this and forwarding any information How about an article in the to 'e. Northern Woman's Journal? This information is important to all and, sadly, hard to cone by. could come to your meetwish Maybe have MANY questions. ings. from you. I'll obtain the answers I'd like to impress you with the necessity of available information. Doctors, in my opinion, are not to place my trust in be trusted. other women and their experiences. We must share! I I I I I I sion. I The Northern Woman is one of the have seen. best journals that intend to pass the copies on to the women in my consciousness am sure they will raising group. was. be as excited about them as I I I I In sisterhood, I I Stephanie Holbik I The Northern Woman Journal arrived day before yesterday. Haven't had a chance to read it yet (will do that fly to on the plane tomorrow when London) but wanted to let you know am absolutely delighted with that the article and intend to use it for Thank you so promotional purposes. I I much. No time to write a proper letter. still remember my Busy packing. visit with you with great pleasure and look forward to seeing you again some time. Made a new LP (live) last night and put the Women's Liberation Blues on it. Will let you know when it's released. I I I I Thanks to all Deb Hagarty Atikokan I Best Wishes Johnson New Westminster, B.C. Vera Dear Sisters: Here at long last is the promised column--written at Gert's request. I'm not sure if this is the type of column you are looking for--if it's not I'd have no objection to your printing one of my letters to Gert. Also enclosed is my payment for my '78 subscription--unforgivably agree. tardy, eagerly await my copies of The don't feel Northern Woman. Though that NWO is the best place for me to am not inflexible, but be now, shall ever live there doubt if again. Good luck with all your activities. (Gert a letter will be off to you sometime this week.) I I Dear Sisters: I Greetings! Up until a month ago, was unaware that Northern Woman am Journal even existed and now one of its most appreciative subA dear friend of mine scribers. received the last issue after having let her subscription go for some time (shame on her) and shared really enit with me one night. joyed it, especially the article was born about Muriel Boyle, as and raised in Sioux Lookout myself. opened my Anyway, a week later I I I I I With much love and sisterhood, I I Thank you for the complimentary copy of "Northern Woman". Enclosed is $4.50. Please enter me as a subscriber. Thank you for printing Sandra Steinhause's article on the I.U.D. had a similar experience and have been very lonely in the anger and frustration feel with the medical establishment. also am a woman who is very conscious of her body and health care in general. Before my decision to have an I.U.D. (CU7) inserted in 1973 had a lengthy discussion with my gynecologist. felt fully informed on the pros and cons of this method of birth control. was told there is a high rate of "infection" but was not told that this meant pelvic inflammatory disease--a fertility threatening infection. Nor was told to contact a doctor upon the first sign of abnormal pain or bleed- Carol P.S. A pen name is not necessary for publication of this column. I I I I I ing. On a Monday in November, 1976, experienced abnormal bleeding. As live 10 miles from my gynecologist and planned a trip to town on Friday, decided to see him at that time. He did, when saw him, give me a full explanation of all possible conditions that could be causing my symptoms. However, he instructed me to check into the hospital on Sunday for a laporetomy (exploratory surgery) on Monday. This three-day delay in4ect7c, had to ravage my reproauctive sys to much longer. On Monday my condition was diagnosed as pelvic inflammatory was prescribed a high disease and dosage of antibiotics. I I I I I I The infection did clear up and my doctor suggested that after was completely healed have a test done to see how badly scarred my fallopian had this test done and tubes are. learned that my tubes are totally blocked with scar tissue, preventing pregnancy. However, he also informed me that there is surgery that can be performed to remove this scar tissue, which would increase my chance of becoming pregnant to 200. said, my reaction to this whole As nightmare is complete horror and feel like a victim. indignation. am a woman who prides herself on As being in control of her life, this was an extremely demoralizing experience. am left cynical and bitter towards the entire medical profession which, in the long run, may be better for my I I I I I I I health. must, however, say that Sandra Steinhause's experience surprised me have always felt the best in that medical attention is to be found in am not Tho the larger centres. satisfied with the doctor who inserted my I.U.D., the doctor who attended me during my infection, laporetomy and 'testing is to be highly commended when compared with Sandra's medical team. Thank you, Northern Woman, for allowing me to tell my story and to relieve some of the anger feel. I I I I Sincerely, I Marsha Michael Cunningham cont'd on page 7 (see page Northern Woman Journal page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE SI LENT CRIME Violence Against Women by Jackie Gross The FACT of wife beating has always existed behind closed domestic doors. The PROBLEM of wife beating, like child abuse, is only recently coming to light. The term "WIFE", it should be noted, takes in women in situations involving husbands, common-law husbands and male friends. Until now, it has been an accepted, taken-for-granted, though unfortunate, fact of many women's lives. Wife beating is thought by legal experts to be one of the least reported crimes there is, although family dispute calls to police departments constitute a very large percentage of their total calls. Though little has, to date, been written in Canada on Abused Women, estimates from the U.S. point out that every year, there are a halfmillion calls made to police for assistance in domestic disputes, and this figure represents only a small portion of the actual instances of wife battering that occurs. The results of a Harris Poll on Family Violence in America find that 20% of the families polled approve of slapping the spouse on "appropriate" occasions. This figure increases to 250 of college-educated persons. In summary, the fact most responsible for the assailant's immunity from legal action is that in nearly one-quarter of all American families, wife abuse is an approved mode of behaviour. This includes the attitude of potential or actual victims. In a Michigan State University Study involving a series of staged fights, three psychologists found that male witnesses rushed to the aid of men being assaulted by either women or men, and that men helped women being hit by other women; but not one male bystander interferred when a man apparently Dr. Murray A. beat up a woman. Straus of the University of New Hampshire suggests that the bystanders assumed the man was the woman's husband, and therefore, he had a right to beat her up. He also points out that in the famous Kitty Genovese Case, where 38 people witnessed a woman being killed without going to her aid, many of the witnesses said they didn't intervene because they thought the killer was the woman's husband! CAUSES OF BATTERING The causes of conjugal violence Domestic assaults are innumerable. are, to a great degree, alcoholrelated, and alcohol-related violence is almost always exclusively male violence. Dr. Richard Gelles, a University of Rhode Island Sociologist suggests that cause and effect in relation to alcohol and violence are the reverse of what is Instead of men commonly supposed. beating their wives because they've been drinking, they drink because Gelles they want to beat their wives. and Straus believe that, basically, violence is a learned behaviour. "In Fact," says Straus, "The family is preeminent in every type of violence, from slaps to torture and murder...." Mental disorder of the assailant has been blamed, but the fact that men all across the country beat their wives, is a clear indication that the problem lies, rather, in the societies in which we live; societies wherein the wife-beating phenomenon is taken for granted, actively supported, or ignored. Any change in the norm could bring out violent reactions in the wifebatterer. An example of this is According to Gelles in pregnancy. his paper on "Violence In Pregnancy" (1975), he suggests that attacks during pregnancy are directed as much at the unborn child as at the wife, and they represent resentment of the This child on the husband's part. may stem from the disruption of sexual activity, interference i- cater-s of social life, or the economic threat It constituted by the coming child. has also been suggested that abuse during pregnancy might be considered a form of pre-natal child battering. According to Mary Van Stolk, in her 1976 article in "Children Today", it was discovered in researching the abused and battered child that wife beating followed the same social, statistical and cultural patterns. WHY DO ASSAULTS GO UNREPORTED? The reluctance on the part of the woman to report or discuss domestic assaults and consequently remain in her situation is due to many factors: In many cases, she has nowhere 1) else to go. 2) A desire to deny or conceal due to embarrassment or shame. 3) Abuse is an accepted way of life and many women feel that they have actually provoked a beating. 4) Psychological and emotional ties: over the time in which the wife was subjected to physical abuse, she may doubt her own worth and integrity. 5) The fear of being alone. 6) Concern for the effects of family breakup on the children. 7) Economic dependence. 8) Lack of support available from family, friends and community services. 9) Lack of knowledge about alternatives. PUBLIC AND POLICE RESPONSE TO THE BATTERED WIFE In the past, and to a large degree today, battered women have met both legal and social indifference to their plight. One would assume that families would rise to the defence of their daughters, but such is not the case. Nor do neighbours who suspect or are witness to events of family violence accept the responsibility for reporting incidents to police. Even when police are summoned, the outcome is often less than satisfactory for the victim. Women are often discouraged from even filing a complaint, because the police know that in half the cases, the victim will drop the charges and that, as well, the court process and outcomes are not satisfactory to anyone involved. The police are reluctant to involve themselves in domestic disputes and this is somewhat understandable, considering that 23 of all policemen killed during 1974 in the United States, were killed answering family dispute calls. Some women who do make an attempt to press charges often give up due to an overwhelming feeling of "What's find that the victim herself must appear in court to file charges, and that it can take months for the case to come to trial, lose all hope and drop charges. This, in many cases, is due to lack of sheltering facilities and reprisal from their assailants while waiting for the case to come to court. The entire process requires a greater strength and persistence than many women seem able to muster during this time in their lives. NEEDS OF BATTERED WOMEN One of :the most fundamental elements in dealing with the problem of Battered Women is that of raising public awareness. This exercise in education must also be directed toward professionals in the community, such as Doctors, Lawyers, Clergy, Social Workers, Police and Courts. Some of the misconceptions surrounding the Battered Wife which must be dispelled are: That battered women bring the abuse on themselves; That these C kOr Northern Woman Journal page 4 la, OA_ /-y5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �mot herhood ON THE INSTITUTION OF MOTHERHOOD: "Everything else man can do. This (motherhood) is woman's function and her glory. For this she was sent Her best years must into the world. be spent in the nursery or the nation perishes. In the noblest periods of a nation's history, the ablest women are ambitious of bearing distinguished sons. Only in periods of decadence do women seek to be distinguished themselves." (1) This published after the 'war to end all wars' told women what they ought to be and how they ought to think and feel about motherhood. This is what men expected and wanted. Some of us may say that it has changed, that women need no longer feel pushed or co-erced by male dominated ethics. But young girls are misled still today to picture motherhood as something it is not. When we think of motherhood we like to think of the home--the happy home with the mothering lady hanging out the wash and serving meals to children and husband. We think or are supposed to think of blooming women with rosy children at their knees, ecstatic madonnas, a Jewish mother lighting the candles in a scrubbed kitchen. We do not think of the penalties imposed on those of us who have tried to live according to a different plan, the art which depicts us in an unnatural serenity or resignation, the medical establishment which has robbed so many women of the act of giving birth, the experts--almost all male--who have told us how we as mothers should behave and feel. We are not supposed to think of fantasies of infanticide or day after wintry day spent alone in the We have house with ailing children. in our long history accepted the stresses of the institution as if they were a law of nature. We do not think of the power stolen from us and the power witheld from us in the name of the institution of motherhood. We are not supposed to think of the woman lying in a hospital with ice packs on her aching breasts because she has been convinced she must not nurse her child; of a woman in Africa equally convinced by the producers of U.S. commercial infant formula that her ample breast milk is inadequate nourishment; of a Vietnamese mother gang-raped while working in the fields with her baby at her side; of a woman trying to conceal her pregnancy so she can go on working as long as she can because when her condition is discovered she will be fired without disability insurance; or of the women whose children have gone unnourished because they had to hire themselves out as wet nurses. We are not supposed to think of the woman who passes for "childless" who remembers giving birth to a baby she was not allowed to touch and see because she might love it and want to keep it. guarantee to a man of "his" children; the theft of childbirth from women; the concept of illegitimacy of a child born out of wedlock; the laws regulating contraception and abortion; the cavalier marketing of dangerous birth control devices; the denial that "women's work" is productive (work in the home); the chaining of women in links of love and guilt; the inadequacy of childcare facilities; the unequal pay women receive as wage earners, forcing them often into dependence on a man; the solitary confinement of full-time motherhood; the token nature of fatherhood which gives a man rights and privileges over children to whom he assumes minimal responsibility; the psycho-analytic castigation of the mother; the pediatric assumption that the mother (she's is inadequate and ignorant neurotic just another hysterical and mother); the burden of emotional work borne by women in the family- all these are connecting fibers in this invisible institution--and they determine our relationship to our children whether we like to think so Dr not. is not only the battered child that is to be considered. When children are dependent on one uncertain, weary woman for day-in dayout emotional sustenance, there is Then think of bound to be a lack. children pushed, cajoled, manipulated and the male children who grow up thinking that a woman is nothing more than an emotional climate made to soothe and reassure, or an emotional whirlwind bent on their destruction. It Adrienne Rich (from her book 'Of Woman Born') The institution of motherhood canIt's powernot be touched or seen. ful leaders are not housed in a specific building like The Institute of Technology. Women must never again forget that our experiences belong to a whole which is not of our creation. Rape and its aftermath; marriage as economic dependence, as the (1) Reverend George W. Clark Race Suicide - England's Peril 1917 (Published by the Duty and Discipline movement) SHOULD PROSTITUTION BE LEGALIZED? Prostitution is an issue which fast threatens to be overcome by sentimentality instead of common-sense among In sympathy with prostifeminists. tutes, because the women's movement recognizes that prostitution is the extreme manifestitation of the power struggle between men and women, some feminists have lent their support to prostitutes who have organized into groups like COYOTE AND B.E.A.V.E.R. which promote decriminalization of prostitution and aim to protect prostitutes against harassment by police or exploitation by the government or pimps. What must be determined is whether decriminalized prostitution, or even collectivelyrun brothels owned and managed by prostitutes, are alternatives to the degradation and violence that prostitutes currently encounter in our As feminists, we believe that employment for women should allow comraderie, creativity and enrich the social environment in which it takes The work of women, we recogplace. nize, has been trivialized and underpaid in the denial of this principle, and so we support women who organize themselves to improve their working However, prostitution is conditions. not work like that of a secretary or It is a relationship factory worker. of power, in which the purchaser gains control in a most sensitive sphere of human inter-reaction, and asserts his superiority over the person whom he has hired. To suggest that women can be salvaged from the abuse and degradation implicit in prostituting one's self by "collective brothels", worker's control, or whatever, is to reduce In a colthese concepts to jargon. lective brothel, it will be women, instead of a government or pimps, se ing themselves to be victims in the alienation between men and women. Perhaps organized, prostitutes will not be penalized as heavily financia ly, but does that make their fate an more enviable? Decriminalization of prostitution does not guarantee that prostitutes will be freed from the control of organized crime in their profession. Gambling, for example, is still heavily controlled by organized crin where it has been legalized. Decrin nalization may lessen the degree to which police can harass prostitutes but it will not end harassment as 1( as prostitutes are mainly the young cont'd on page 16 Northern Woman Journal page 5 society. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CAROL AULD WOMEN AND STRESS SEMINAR TRANSITION STORY Its been nearly eight months now fled the shackles that family, since school and Thunder Bay placed on me, haven't had the and, looking back, slightest twinge of regret or homeThat's probably because sickness. was not running from something as was running to embrace a fuller, did not richer life in Toronto. expect it to create or destroy me but to simply aid me in my development So as a writer and a woman. braved the unknown and escaped to the cultural milieu of my choice-Toronto. feel that During this brief period have grown tremendously continuing to experience education in the truest - no, the ONLY way, that being selfwas brainFor too long education. washed into believing that learning is a process separate from Life, and that one must attend a place called school in order to "learn" and/or acquire the job ticket that everyone (Success needs to be "successful". interpreted as financial assets by the Everyone is capable of majority). learning autonomous from the penal system which operates under the guise Everyone has the of "education". People do right to that education. not have to be bribed, seduced, or threatened into learning - their curiosity is natural, and should be allowed to develop in as many or as few areas as they wish. admit to having become Though spoiled by the cultural delights that Toronto offers in abundance, there are come a number of other benefits My from being completely independent. self-respect and self-confidence has bounded back with more strength than ever - before, it had virtually vanished into a well of oblivion. Now I'm able to devote my energies to positive sources, instead of perpetually wallowing in a sea of self-pity and depression. Reflecting on my rapid growth and maturation in recent months, encourage others, caught in the stifling, oppressive, totalitarian atmosphere of school, to escape and find ways of education themselves. am reminded by a section in Doris Lessing's preface to her incredible work, The Golden Notebook, where she speaks of her decision to leave school at the age of fourteen, choosing to educate herself rather than submit passively to academic instruction. She believes that each and every child who enters the current school system should be told repeatedly throughout the time she/he must spend there that they are not really learning anything, that they are just being put through a system of "indoctrination" because our society has not yet evolved a system that does not indoctrinate. In short, our society is not conducive to learning - it has merely produced an institution where everyone must spend X number of years in order to get a job ticket, with which they hope to be admitted to the labour force. Though the number of I I I I f I I I I I years increases with each decade, employment opportunities decrease, so that the time spent in school is wasted in more ways than one. So it's with these thoughts in mind have difficulties of close. that course - no one's life is free from problems - but they will be resolved unearth solutions for them, exas periencing new ideas and new people occasionally wish in the process. had the power to free people that from the institutions called schools and demonstrate what education actually is, but that would not only undermine the person if they weren't ready for such a change, but it would be imposing my reality on them, which is defeating my very purpose. Not a single one, for Regrets? am living my life according to my standards, rather than submitting passively to someone else's reign (which only exists if one lets it To be no one is indispensable). truly free is a difficult and painful journey, but one well worth travelFor without freedom, one can ling. only exist as an incomplete person, dependent on the judgement of others. The freedom to educate oneself is necessary for this development, and I've finally found that liberation. And there's absolutely nothing foolish, selfish, immoral or subversive about that. I I I I I I Carol Auld On Saturday, April 15, Confedera. tion College was the site of a day of workshops on the topic of Nome' and Stress", put on jointly by the "Status Committee" of the local Federation of Women Teachers of Ontario, and Women's Programs of Confederation College. Organizers of the workshops were Pat Rose, Sandy MacKenzie, Margaret Lanchok and Carlana Lindeman, of FWTAO, and Mary Fedorchuk of Confederation College. Guest speaker was Mona MacLean, of the Clark Institute of Psychiatric Research, Toronto, who preMs. sented an overview of stress. MacLean also conducted workshops or the topic of "How to Alleviate Other Stress in the Classroom". workshops given were entitled "Coping Behaviours", given by Julie Fels and Sita; Personal and Physic logical Factors, by Margaret and Scott Sellick; Drug Addiction and Alcoholism, by Jean Gale, R.N., an Medical Characteristics, outlined by Dr. R. Kajander. Participants in the workshops were treated to lunch at the College, and comments were such that those who participated found their One reday a most worthwhile one. sult of the day was that Confederation College Women's Programs woul( be willing to offer a six to eight week course on the topic of Stress, if an interest was expressed by the public. Marg Lanchok I I .'orthern Woman Journal page 6 SUFFRAGE TO NOW The role of women throughout the history of the Thunder Bay district has been significant from the early days to the present. Many individual women and women's organizations may have records of their action and activities. Information and records are being sought by two women on a Secretary of State summer grant. The period from the time women got the vote (1910 to 1960) will be particularly difficult to unearth as well as information on or recor of the Women's Christian Temperanc Union, W.C.T.U. Any contacts or information would be appreciated. Please call 345-7802 and ask for Anne or Monik PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �buy for the hard-to-buy-for....a year's subscription (at least) to Northern Woman Journal, what else?? (Thanks Kathy, for mine). Letters cont'd mailbox to find a Northern Woman Journal with my name on it yet. Needless to say, was rather surprised, not to mention curious as to who on earth could have known was planning to subscribe to it. thought my friend couldn't possibly have sent in a subscription for me and have it arrive exactly a week to the night first set eyes on it. Well that is exactly what had happened, although God only knows how you managed such speedy delivery. Regardless of how you did it, please accept my appreciation and thanks. would be very interested to know how our journal started and who had a hand in its beginning. I'd like to see an OPEN woman's group started in Dryden also, but as far as know there is no such animal- as yet. A year ago Ruth Cunningham visited the Con. College here in Dryden and as a student there at the time, saw a lot of women hopeful and excited at the possibility of a Woman's Group here. Unfortunately when Ruth left, so did a lot of the enthusiasm. Any of the women spoke to about it later just said, "Yes, it's a great idea, but who's going to start it?" That's a good question, Who? Help, somebody take us to our leader!! If that's impossible, can't someone out there, anywhere, give us some suggestions. The interest is definitely here but the know-how is not. Even if we don't achieve any big solutions to women's problems in this town, at least we could meet, discuss and generally get our heads the right direction. Is there anything we can do to help our journal grow? What can we do? If you had a "Let it all Hang Out" Column that women could write into (and back and forth) on specified subjects and simply exchange ideas or just express their different opinions and thoughts on that particular topic, think it would spark a lot of interest and produce a lot of positive feedback. Especially controversial topics such as abortion (although that's been rather overdone) birth control, and women's changing attitudes towards men, sex, marriage, personal goals, etc. A special column such as that would not only be extremely interesting, but informative as 411 Women's Place Printing Your sister-in-spirit B.J. Halliday I Dryden Brochures I Booklets Pamphlets I I I I I I Newsletters Dear B.J.: It's letters such as yours that make putting to-gether this Journal worthwhile. There have been many times some of the collective have been tempted to chuck it; however, it's difficult to quit an unpaid but rewarding job. The Journal started in 1973 after a successful "Northern Women's" Conference. A group of 50 women came to-gether in a church basement to try to establish a women's centre in Thunder Bay. The Journal was a newsletter informing women who had attended the conference, about the progress of this group. Most of the women who organized the conference are involved in some aspect of the women's movement in Thunder Bay. Many of us newly involved in the women's movement began "getting our heads to-gether" through CR. We have sent you an old issue of the Journal with the out-line of how to start. Before you can become politically involved, it is helpful to recognize how and why women are oppressed. CR is a good start. To help the Journal grow, subscribe, get your friends to subscribe, and submit articles, events, and most of all share your experiences with other women readers. As you said, "let it all hang out!" Editors can't speak for other women, of course, but I'd sure like to see a change from the "Rape Theme" to happier subjects. (Except anything that shows the laws changing in our favour, finally). It's damned necessary, unfortunately, but how about some articles on victories won as well. Every small (or large) victory shared, gives the rest of us greater strength to fight the next battle. So please encourage your readers to share their struggles and hopes to our greater understanding and sisterhood. know what to Incidentally, now I I *REASONABLE RATES .No order too small (Some may be too big) 316 BAY ST. Phone 345-7802 CHRISTIAN FEMINISM CONFERENCE The conference on Christian Feminism, held at Confederation College featured Shelly Finson as Co-ordinator of the movement for Ecumenical Christian Feminism from Toronto and Penelope Washbourn, author of "Becoming A Woman", assistant professor of Religion at the University of Manitoba. It was well attended although your reporter had difficulty seeing these bright inquiring and progressive minds nailed down to any particular pew. It was generally conceded that a feminist, although a Christian,would operate for some time to come in a hostile atmosphere inside the secular community. Nevertheless saw no indication of any reluctance on the part of participants to accept the premise that some changes have to be made and that they had some responsibilities to bring them about The focal point of wholeness was an irresistable force that established a sisterhood of mutuality that generated easy sharing with the members of the feminist community and those in the Christian community; the feminists that attended with an affiliation to Woman's Place have good reason to believe that a new era of understanding has been established that will in time prove of benefit to both groups. Few feminists would quarrel with the premise that spirituality is a necessary dimension in the search for full personhood; that it contains the hope factor makes it doubly necessary. To hear our own Donna Phoenix discoursing on (from the personal I I well. LETTER HEAD BULLETINS To the Collective: Enclosed you will find an article have written about a course called Women and Psychology, sponsored by Confederation College and conducted this winter. During a Rape and Sexual Assault workshop in late January in Thunder Bay, Barbara Coomes mentioned to some women from Fort Frances that articles and thoughts from this area were welcomed. Besides the article on Women and Psychology, have enclosed some poems wrote over the past few years. They have never been published before. Do what you will with them. enjoyed your most recent edition of Northern Woman's Journal. It's getting better all the time and I'm hoping to contribute as much as possible from this area of Northwestern Ontario. agree with the idea that women from all parts of this area be encouraged to contribute to the magazine. I I I I I cont'd on page 9 Best wishes and continued success, Northern Woman Journal page 7 Debra Pilon, Fort Frances PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Is This what we want ? THE FAMILY LAW REFORM ACT (1978) (In Force Mar. 31/78) Note: This Law is Retroactive 1. ASSETS (Married Couples Only) MATRIMONIAL ASSETS WILL BE SUBJECT TO A POSSIBLE 50/50 SPLIT: B. at the time of separation and items matrimonial assets include home, camp for houseused for "shelter and transportation or recreational, social or hold, educational, (determined by how it's used) aesthetic purposes" matrimonial assets do not include non-household plans, family bank accounts, investments, pension of business, land not used in the definition matrimonial assets (above); marriage contract only if spouses have not made a to split assets otherwise. * * * 111. DOMESTIC BUT AT THE COURT'S DISCRETION: depending on such there could be a different split * was acquired or how things as how the property separated; been married or long the couple has or assets if the family split up non-matrimonial if assets have been 'unreasonably impoverished' or due non-matrimonial assets one spouse has acquired assuming child-rearing and to the other spouse household management responsibilities. * through a (In writing, signed and witnessed; not lawyer) . to This Section gives a man and a woman freedom they choos organize their affairs in whatever way A domestic contract * until divorce or Court orders otherwise: house out from one spouse cannot sell or rent the consent; under the other spouse without the latter's marriage contract CANNOT affect this. 3) "contributed work, money or if one spouse has that money's worth" toward non-matrimonial assets, property claim. spouse will have a monetary or * 11. SUPPORT 1. OBLIGATIONS self and Every spouse has an obligation to support to support other spouse. "spouse" means: a) persons married; b) persons cohabiting: more than 5 years. i. relationship of some permanence and a child is born; and application within one year of cohabi- stances; qualified for p the dependant spouse support; there is default in payment of suppo Matrimonial Home - a married person prior separation cannot contract out of the rig control to possession or the right to dealings with the matrimonial home. 2) C. FAMILY BUSINESS: prevails over the Act except aside wh the support provision can be set it results in unconscionable circum- 1) MATRIMONIAL HOME: B. JOINT RIGHT TO POSSESSION OF THE * CONTRACTS Court is always able to review provisions childrer respect to custody and access of void (clauses in agreen Dum casta clauses 31/78 in which support made prior to Mar. dependent upon the woman remaining chast( void). KINDS OF DOMESTIC CONTRACTS: (If under 18, persf be marrie cannot legally make a Contract but can 1. Entered into during Cohabitation Agreement: cohabitation - becomes a Marriage Contract o marriage unless validly terminated. . tation. 2. Custody and Restrictions: Cannot deal with after separation. 2. his or Every parent has an obligation to support her child. "child" means: Entered into before and Marriage Contract: cohabitation. Cannot contract out of the r Restrictions: with, possession of, or to control dealings the matrimonial home; child under 18 years and unmarried unless over 16 and has withdrawn from parental control. Cannot deal with Custody and after separation. 3. Every child who is over 18 has an obligation to cared for and support parent, provided parent has supported the child. "support": dependent upon need and capability; Court shall consider all the circumstances of the parties. 3. Separation Agreement: tation has ceased. Can deal with: * * Can deal with: * Entered into after c Matrimonial home, posses and the right to control dealings; Custody and Access - Col disregard if it is in cl best interest. Support - Court will in if: Northern Woman Journal page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �it results in unconscionable circumstances - the dependant spouse qualifies for public support - there is default in payment of support - cont'd from page 7 1V. DEATH 1. The new law with respect to splitting assets does not apply if one spouse dies unless an action was started before the death. VOICES A Play 2. If there is a Will, property is distributed as per the Will except if the dependants are not adequately taken care of. by Susan Griffin "a portrayal "Dependants": NOTE: of the lives -Spouse or common-law spouse -Parent -Child -Brother or Sister to whom the deceased owed a legal duty to support or was supporting. of five women" JUNE 25, 1978 8:Q0 p.m. I in (Common-law spouse - lived together five years or a relationship of some permanence where a child is born; Spouse - includes divorcees; Child - inside or outside marriage or a child whom the deceased has (Can include former treated as one of his family), spouse) 3. LITTLE FINN HALL I . If there is no Will: * * * to the political), our own JoanBaril teaching a workshop on the history of women, the kind of informed questioning of the church as oppressor by it's own members, the amount of good literature on the subject encourages us to see the Christian community not as it has been, but as strong aware women could shape it in the future. My own priviledge of standing before this group and identifying myself as a strong feminist committed to my sisters and the goals they have established, motivated by the love that cannot be co-opted and need never be apologized for and the invitation to read some of the poetry that expresses that feeling was a great joy to me, have nothing but love and admiration for my Christian sisters -- theirs is a monumental task, but the movement have set myself to, in the company of the vanguard to human liberty is moving on every front and my whole person is involved. We at Woman's Place celebrate a beginning dialogue between two groups that have in the past been strangers if not opposing groups. That we have met, and ask nothing of each other except the recognition of the bond that exists between all women, makes the visit of Shelly Finson and Penelope Washbourn important to the future of Thunder Bay feminists both inside and outside the church. If no children, spouse gets everything; If children, spouse gets first 75,000, the residue being split among spouse and children; above subject to dependants' claims set out in 2, above. by Mary Tomlinson and Dianne Baig Gert Beadle BABY PICTURE CONTEST COMMENTS: think the one on the left is a boy because he has his fists clenched and he is the more agressive looking." "I think the one on the right is a boy because he looks strong and stalky." "I "The one on the left because her The one on the eyes are brighter. right is the boy because his mouth is smaller." Kimara Holland (3 years old) "on the right is a boy because of the large facial structure" " the one on the right is a girl, she is much more delicate looking" The contest to guess which baby was of what sex was really just an exercise in how we stereo-type, even " the left is a boy because his ears stick out as mine did at his age" infants. Any of us that believed we could correctly identify the sex without an examination of the genitals is in need of further education. We recommend reading 'The Day Care Book' by Vicki Brietbart, available from Women's Centre library. The " on the right is a girl. expression on her face indicates some concern or sensitivity to the photographer." " both healthy looking babies. cares?" Who Editors Northern Woman Journal page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �so she said to me "why" answered "because -L Love him." tittte did i know Sot that Love cost me my health, and dignity. Mickey Pedersen a year oS teeth threatening to iatt out a Aniend's pout and a Lot of doubt one oS my ttuty hardest years LIVING ALONE, 1974 Living atone I have tea/tried to depend on mysetS and shun the ptoSetted but inconsistent Love oi men who want it always on theist terms to suit theit whims white I would tathet Al suited mine. So I have become undependent which .us not the same as being independent, but is a patody oS independence: barn not of Steedom but o6 bondage to an idea oi totatity within oneseti. ANOTHER DAV The showees spuitts o6 water clean away viotent nightmates and I'm ready Sot the day's dreams oi you white out Lost Love sits heavy in my empty betty. I take sustenance itom within this morning, again. Debta Piton Living atone I have Learned again and again to expect nothing o6 others and demand onty the best (36 my4et6. The pain sui6eted makes me equal to any task tequited and taps a jumble oS poems ctutteted inside steely pens. i've gtown so much sown a Little Velma Piton haven't gown and Seel so vety atone SIMPLE THOUGHTS--1975 No thought's of6 battle and yet have known at times the reason why stitt took up to see the sky and hope and breathe and cty a tot it's ate on course the struggle which Sew can zee iz just me atone sometimez in Love sometimes POETRY You just dance on down the toad Yes you've always been my Lovett You just dance on down the toad pride and List vanquished Few thoughts o6 my4et6 no thought oi tomottow Thoughts oi opening no thoughts oS Lonely rejection (IS you senseless hotding o4 me Past thoughts ,questioned now Un6eeting tovetess gameS oS gain or toss Ainatty cast aside. You know you'tt atways be my Wend Debra Piton You just dance on down the toad We've even been each other's patents You just dance on down the toad The toad that neithet 4talit4 not ends Mickey Pedersen a chatactet oS my music box and when i stop to tisten, ieet i caught queen oS Night a pmtt oi ti 6e Spa thong staAtight guides het way, Queen oi Night. i thought was missing THE DANCE Pam WitAon How do you Sect i mean, haw do you ieet 'bout ate those women wanting you Son theit very own sugat-daddy they'll Let you zteat theist hearths may now You know what you want and You don't cane hag you get it old news to me, you've known hag to take Sot a Long time nay oak! they'tewaitin' a new dtess, "my zin" pet iume exciting youth inviting eyes the putzing bazz beats out dance rhythms the Stoat is ative The dance begins You have gout choice oS Lovers tonight the thtitt oi the choice the thtilt oi the chase Ate you teatty agate on oS what's Phi tting to and Sto het cosmic doma her eyes take in het sex's helpless itusttations. ALL taughteAs heard, and recorded, another page -L added. Tears oS joy are gathered up, and added to the heavens. Queen oS Night's eyes glow with pteazute, as het eats tune in to tk sound o4 woman's Laughter. ALL het women down below, she dtear o6 theit tiSe better. Whitting thtough het witching hout, she pauses and teitects, she can't much, does what she can out Queen c Night. Each day we have out golden hour, acts it does give way to old toutir oS cries and pain these cties o6 anguish drown out the gayness and Laughter. Women stand, shout out Let us art make a pledge to Laugh c smite with all out tOMOAADWZ. Linda Richard OA. Do you tike the game? do you temtty 4eet, do you teatty Love, Can you neatly give? anon Northern Woman Journal page 10 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �lieRAE 'VISITS WOMEN'S PLACE Paul McRae is a likeable and well-intentioned member of the Federal Parliament, bumbling around in a bureaucratic stew he neither fully understands or totally believes in. That's probably the kindest thing that can be said of any politician of whatever party to-day. Acknowledging his lack of legal savvy in the area of woman's issues, he nevertheless submitted himself to the questions of several groups of women who are actively pressing for change in an informal setting at Woman's Place, Thunder Bay, with the following results: WOMEN AGAINST RAPE Meeting with Paul McRae: The Rape & Sexual Assault Centre, represented by Doreen Boucher and Shelley Vescio, attended a meeting at Women's Centre to present issues on rape and sexual assault to incumbent Paul McRae. Three major areas of concern were discussed, they are the following: Do you support Law Reform: 1. changes in the present Criminal Code involving sexual offences? The existing laws reflect the attitude that: Rape is defined by the crimia) nal code as a sexual act, (or crime of sexual passion) and therefore putsan aura on a crime that is an assault with violence, an issue of power imposed on another human being. Women are seen as property- b) therefore, rape is not recognized in a marriage. History, background style, past c) behaviour, issue of consent (by lack of resistance), there is consideration used against the victim by defense lawyers through innuendoes The woman's in cross examination. past sexual history can be brought up at the judge's discretion--including prior contact with the defendant. What support can you provide with the following situations? We feel that often local crown attorneys are not handling prosecution in rape cases adequately, regarding these 2. points: inadequate preparation and a) support of the rape victim. failure to take firm stands b) against defense lawyer's harassment of victims. poor analysis of rape: espec) cially with new research available Therefore, regarding the issues. they are unable to present accurate views to juries. Would you support permanent 3. funding of Rape Crisis Centres in Canada and,if so, what branch of government should provide financial support? r. McRae, in response to the qdestions put to him admitted to a lack of knowledge regarding aspects of the law, in this case rape, but he felt rape should be changed to an assault charge, to ensure more convictions as he realizes that this is a major problem (low conviction rate). Regarding the admittance of a woman's sexual background, he felt that this should be eliminated as well. He was unaware of any problems as those mentioned regarding the crown attorneys. Mr. McRae felt that any difficulty with crown attorneys should be dealt with through the attorney generals' office, as his He added office could do little. that a change of laws in the immediate future could encompass this problem. Regarding funding, Mr. McRae felt that Rape Centres should be funded through Health & Welfare or Secretary of State. He felt, however, that because assault and rape is very similar to wife battering, and he has trouble differentiating them as a problem, that these groups should be funded jointly with other women's groups, ie. Women's Centre. He emphasized that politicians view our groups as a "luxury" and that where cut backs are made in funding, nonbureaucratic groups as ours are the first to go. He recognizes the service that we do, but others do not. The Law Reform Commission's legislation of releasing their working paper on law reform to the public was He brought to Mr. McRae's attention. knew nothing of it--but promised to Before he left, Doreen look into it. Boucher gave him a copy of the centre's questions presented that night, and talked with him further regarding the Law Reform Commission's working paper on sexual offences. She gave the information she had received from Joannie Vance, the National Association of Rape Crisis Centres, ie. that there was indecision within the Commission to release their paper. He said he would look into it. True to his word, within the next week, his Ottawa office called to find out more information. His secretary, Mary Anne Pettit, called the Director of Research of the Law Reform Commission, Mr. Elton, and spoke to him regarding the problems with the working paper on sexual offences. Apparently, numerous problems plagued the completion of the paper, thus the delay in its release, but he told her it was in final translation (April 4/78) and would be released at the end of May to the Mary Anne told Doreen public! Boucher that she would keep in touch and a copy would be sent to the Thunder Bay Rape & Sexual Assault Centre as soon as it was released. Local News: Prior to the termination of the IWY Revisited Project (April 21/78) and the end of staffing for the Rape Crisis Centre, the city gave the Thunder Bay Rape & Sexual Assault Centre $15,000 for one year to conOur original tinue their operations. request for $35,375 had already been turned down by the Financial AssistAt the last ance Review Group. we were asked to attend the minute public meeting on March 21st and, through the support of Eleanor Morin, Don Smith and John Packota, (council person), the council passed a grant Needless to say, the of $15,000. Rape & Sexual Assault Centre were pleased. At a subsequent meeting of Rape & Sexual Assault collective, after hours of discussion, Doreen Boucher and Eve Pykerman were re-hired on a part-time basis to co-ordinate activities of the centre. Since the allotment of funds froir the city, the RCC has experienced "growing pains". There seemed to b a need for examining our direction and goals of the past, re-evaluatic made and new directions set for the future. After a great deal of discussion, debate and scrutiny, th structure of the RCC will be change to implement our new "lease" on lif A Steering Committee will be set up Members of the Steering Committee will be made up of the sub-committe that have also been formed recently These sub-committees are: 1) Education: personal education (i) (ii) public education Law Reform Study Group 2) (Committees) Funding Committee 3) 4) Victim Support: Training and Orientation Those interested in becoming involved with any of the aforemention committees, please contact the cent at 344-4502. The Centre has been active as wel in its Outreach program through Doreen Secretary of State funds. Boucher, Eve Pykerman, Julie Fels a Gert Beadle were a delegation from Thunder Bay to a workshop in Kenora Kenora is endeavouring to establish a Rape Crisis Centre there, and wer seeking assistance from Thunder Bay T Groups in helping them organize. workshop was held in Kenora the 12t It was attended and 13th of May. largely by those already involved setting up a Rape Crisis Centre and representatives from Fort Frances a Red Lake. The public is very hard reach regarding the issue of rape. Other resource persons from Kenora included Glenna Hamilton, a psycho] gist with the Children's Centre in Kenora, O.P.P. Don Jones, Kenora Police, Bob Mashaud and Vern Frolic Crown Attorneys from Dryden, The workshop served more as an educational session for Kenora members, and an opening of communicati between them and the officials, ie. 0.P.P.,Police. We have not received any feedback as to the direction Kenora is now taking, but we hope to hear from th In our opening session, we soon. stressed the need to talk to each other and find what personal needs i cont'd on page 11 Northern Woman Journal page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �silent crime Women In Transition has made considerable headway in its crusade on behalf of Battered Women in Thunder Bay. An extensive survey of social agencies and other professionals determined that, in 1977, 1,108 Thunder Bay women sought help. Based on the fact that less than half of the questionnaires were not returned, it is frightening to consider the unknown numbers of women who were missed in the survey plus those who didn't seek help. According to similar studies done in other areas of the continent, where the base reported figure is multiplied by 10 in order to obtain a realistic picture of actual incidence of Battering, the figure of 11,108 possible Thunder Bay incidents looms in the forefront. In addition to the agency questionnaires, individual questionnaires were distributed throughout the city for the purpose of reaching actual victims of Battering to determine if they sought help, from whom, and if the help was adequate. The following are some of the comments gleaned from the 140 questionnaires returned to date: , cont d women enjoy being beaten; That it is a lower class phenomenon; That abusing husbands are mentally ill. The needs of Battered Wives include Immediate Refuge for themselves and their children; a 24Hour Crisis Line; Counselling Therapy; Medical Treatment and Advice; A Crisis Intervention Training Program for Law Enforcement Officers, to enable them to better understand and deal with Legal services domestic problems. and advice are needed regarding rights, separation, divorce, custody and property matters; Emergency Financial Aid is necessary through various social services; Law Reform is needed to better protect the rights of the Battered Wife; and Greater Cooperation between the medical profession and other agencies is essential. In many cities, facilities and centres have already been or are in the process of being set up, specifically to deal with and harbour Battered Women and their children. For example, The Frontenac Family Referral Service in Kingston, The Hiatus House in Windsor, The Vancouver Transition House, and The Women's Community House in London. The reluctance of many women to report assaults against them, or their denials of such assaults, make the compilation of statistics and data a difficult detri-e,tal to the in turn, is raising of public awareness anc attitude, ensuing changes in societal available and law social services "POLICE REFUSED TO INTERFERE - COURT WAS A WASTE OF TIME..." "DETECTIVE INFORMED MY SISTER (abuse victim) THAT HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED..." "POLICE JUST SAID TO KEEP THE PEACE, EVEN AFTER SEPARATION WHEN HE BEAT ME ON THE STREET..." "IT MADE ME SAD TO GET THIS QUESTIONNAIRE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SEPARATED NOW TO KNOW THAT FEEL LUCKY TO BE OUT "CHILDREN INVOLVED, AND PARTNER'S REACTION." reform. -1--111.-11-1.1-1V-1-111.-1-1-1.-1 1*1.-1-14-.1.1.,11-1-.1 -1.-1.-V-1.-111-.111-...1-.1i-li-i11 marriage contract -Full disclosure of individual assets, and agreement that these shall continue to be owned separately by each person. -Agreement that all property acquired by either party during the marriage shall be owned jointly. -Neither party shall be forced to pay present or future debts incurred by the other (with the exception of necessaries). -An arbitrator may be appointed by mutual agreement for any future marital disputes. -The woman takes responsibility for birth control, and reserves the right to end an unwanted pregnancy. -The woman retains her own name in marriage. -Neither partner will impose religion on their children (or, the children will be raised in a particular faith). -Housework and childcare will be divided equally. -Both parties will continue to pursue individual careers. -Each partner may take two weeks vacation a year alone, if desired. -Should one partner have to relocate for business purposes, the other is under no obligation to follow. -Decision-making shall be shared equally. -A partner engaged in childraising or studying will be supported by the other. -If childcare is not shared equally, then the employed spouse will contribute a certain sum every year to a savings account or pension fund in the stay-athome partner's name. -If both work, half of each income is the property of both during the marriage. -If the marriage ends, both partners will continue to support the children. The partner with custody of the children will allow the other partner reasonable access. -If the marriage ends, both partners will split all their Canada Pension Plan credits evenly.% ADVISED ME TO FILE AN "MY LAWYER ASSAULT CHARGE AGAINST MY HUSBAND WHICH I DID. I WENT IN COURT 8 TIMES BEFORE THE TRIAL - IN THE END MY HUSBAND GOT OFF FREE OF THE CHARGE..." "THIS IS A SUBJECT WHICH TOO OFTEN IS PUSHED UNDER THE RUG. IT'S TIME TO BRING IT OUT IN THE OPEN AND DEAL WITH IT NOW!" "THE PROBLEM IS, IF I GO OUT AND GET HELP, HE TOLD ME ALREADY, THAT WILL BE MY LAST COMPLAINT." "I HAVE SOLVED MY PROBLEM. IF I HAD RECEIVED THE ASSISTANCE WHEN I FIRST APPLIED, 10 YEARS BEFORE, MYSELF OR THE CHILDREN WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD TO MY DIVORCE SUFFER AS LONG AS WE DID. SHOULD BE THROUGH IN THE SPRING. THE SCARS AND MEMORIES ARE HARD TO FORGET WHAT WILL REMAIN WITH MY CHILDREN AND THEIR PROBLEMS DUE TO THIS LIFE REMAINS AHEAD." "DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO" "TOO SCARED' "DIDN'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO KNOW" It is the object of Women In Transition to publish a handbook for Battered Women, for distribution throughout the city. Included in it will be emergency information, advice on alternatives available (Housing, Family Benefits, General Welfare, etc.' and legal steps to follow. Recommenda. tions based on the two surveys will be made to the agencies concerned--It is hoped they will be receptive. You are urged to lend your support to the plight of Battered Women -Letters to the editor, letters of encouragement to Women In Transition, (316 Bay Street) or any other form of or can pass one to the auestionnaires, been a victim of Bat---272 A-lo has 5o so -- They are -g, please libraries, comrunity available at the laundromats, Canada centres, some Thrif Manpower offices, Salvation Army Social Reclaim, City stores, Operation Agency, to name Services, Counselling Street. sew, and 316 Bay a -Either Partner ray initiate review and revision of this correlatract at any time, as the tionship grows and changes. -The spouse who stays home to look after the children shall receive a designated sum, or a percentage of the family income, for her/his personal use, to save or spend as she/he pleases. Source Unknown "No, I'm not a housewife. Are you a househusband?' Northern Woman Journal page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �ROLL UP THOSE FEDERAL POLITICS: PRETTY CUFFSCHANGING OUR DAUGHTERS' FUTURE HORROR STORY In early 1974, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Speck of Pittsburgh decided they didn't want any more children. They already had two daughters afflicted with a rare, crippling hereditary disease shared by the father. In April 1974, Mr. Speck underwent a Nevertheless, Mrs. Speck vasectomy. was pregnant again by October. In December, she underwent an operation that she was told was an abortion. However, the baby arrived-a daughter, born with cerebral palsy and crossed The sickly, premature infant eyes. was kept in an incubator for 68 days before being sent home, and now she also has that much feared genetic disease. The Specks are suing both doctors for performing operations that didn't work. After the failed told the doctor I abortion, "when was still pregnant," Mrs. Speck recalls, "he told me it was probably a floating urinary tumor." MEDICAL I ***************************4 * !the - FO-OP BOOKSHOP and 411* CENTRE IIRECORD * Excellent selection of Canadian literature, classics, * film books, science fiction, craft*. poetry. many a unusual Mies. Best folk, ethnic and blues selection in F. town. S. cipow elli 8 each day It and A day Sunday On eumpue Emery Thusly bailie the Mein Cafeteria ph., 3451111: 11 as s. Mime Street.. -X . if * ri************************4a* THUNDER CL AP To Pat Ryan and her excessive energy in organizing our successful Boogie. THUNDER BOLT To the man who smokes cigars and works at the LCBO - Algoma Street-who commented that "Our boogie must have been a fizz" when we returned some liquor. Ottawa -- A newspaper report says a study has found that one-third of 2,070 psychiatric out-patients were incorrectly diagnosed by Ottawa doctors over a three-year period. The Ottawa Journal says the study was conducted by Doctor Erwin Koranyi, Director of the Ottawa General Hospital's Adult Psychiatric Out-Patient Department. The paper quotes Doctor Korany1 as saying he found cases of cancer, heart disease, brain tumors, syphi- , lis, diabetes, and epilepsy which other physicians had missed. Doctor Koranyi is quoted as saying he had one patient who had been prescribed an antacid for what was supposed to have been a nervous stomach disorder. Tests found the patient not only had cancer but a heart condition. MEDICAL - LAST TAKE 2 These are some of the cases described in Koranyi's study: --A patient presented herself several times complaining of intense lower abdominal pain for several weeks and was told it was psychosomatic. The woman, who was 24, died of peritonitis -- internal bleeding. and complication following perforation by her intra-uterine device, a contraceptive. --A patient, whose family physician said he was complaining of neck pain and headaches, was found to have a brain tumor. - -A patient, whose physician said she was suffering from depression, was being beaten by her husband for The woman was having miscarriages. suffering from a rare form of malaria which was also causing the miscarriages. After treatment the woman became pregnant, had her baby and the beatings stopped. The newspaper says Koranyi's department returns its findings to the physicians who made the incorrect diagnoses. Some doctors accept the information with concern. Others become angry and stop referring cases. Similarly, in a speech to the Annual Congress of the Chamre des Notaires du Quebec, The Honourable Monique Begin, (Minister of National Health/Welfare) cited the following statistics on women in federal There are now 9 women in politics: the House of Commons)3 of which are cabinet ministers. Two of these ministers are Quebecoises. Of the 167 recommendations of the Royal Commission Report on the Status of Women, 122 are within federal jurisOf these, 19 have not been diction. implemented in their entirety. Begin says there are four major issues at the federal level which need immediate action to improve the status of women nationally. She advises thus: a) Remove abortion from the Criminal Code and apply the Act as it was voted by Parliament in 1968. of the Indian b) Repeal that section Act which stipulates that an Indian woman marrying a nonIndian loses her native status. c) Reform the Divorce Act and set up consolidated family courts. d) Amend the Income Tax Act to allow a wife employed in an unincorporated family business to be paid a salary. Begin reminds us "The day will come when the positions of GovernorGeneral and Prime Minister will be held by women." Adapted by Karen Richardson Credit to Status of Women News Teen Family Teen Family Program needs concerned community people throughout Thunder Bay to be volunteer Family Workers, One-to-One Friends, Special Interest Leaders, and Tutors. No special experience or education is needed: Teen Family Program offers an orientation/training program and workshops for volunteers. Please call 345-1531, or drop in to 164 Peter Street if you would like to hear more. r, IMP 411111 Milk IBM 111=1 111.110 41111Ik WE'RE I .N/ I (MP S LINEN (new/used )1 for the soon-t i NATIVE WOMEN'S "Rape I WHEN? - THURS Is An Exercise In Power" -Susan Brownmiller "SomeA DEFINITION OF FEMINISM: thing we have assidously avoided. Feminism is working for political rights within the patriarchal system changing the monopoly of patriarchal standards, and preserving female experience. 6 p.m. WHERE? - WOME 41fMassmom 316 BA (Food & Refres Iwo ow Ma 11110 UMW Joan Hoff Wilson Northern Woman Journal page 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �GER.flitY GREER PILL IS DESTROYING WOMEN Germaine Greer says it. The bodies of women are headed for ruin because they refuse to take control over their lives. The intra-uterine device, the Pill and the teeming array of contrivances designed to render a woman infertile --are destroying her. Contraceptive abortion is the only real autonomy a woman has over her fertility. Contraception supposedly freed Not so, the controversial women. Austrailian feminist told a packed lecture theatre at Lakehead University Sunday night. Pelvic inflamatory diseases brought on because of the Pill's tendency to change the body's intricate chemistry are at "epidemic levels," she said. But nobody talks about it. "It is a great irony that the world's cleanest women have guts that are completely rotten and pelvises that are unspeakably filthy." "And if you were to taste us, any cannibal would say 'yuch', she's on the Pill." The chemical changes which develop are sometimes subtle and hardly noticed. The breath, skin and vaginal secretions of a woman using the Pill take on a different odor, she said. There are a host of possible psychological and physiological upsets few women are aware of because "we don't really know what the pill does." Some of its side effects aren't so Headaches, vaginal infecsubtle. tions, swellings, sterility, blindness, cancer--and very likely, she said, a shortened life span. "I happen to think that it isn't Fertility is not such a worth it. terrible scourge." Greer, 39, is an internationallyknown feminist best-known for her book, the Female Eunuch, published in 1971. RISQUE REMARKS Grey pant-suited and black-booted, her address to the mixed crowd was sprinkled with off-the-cuff humor- some of it risque, much of it unNot everyone agreed with printable. her, but very few didn't respond to her oratorial skill. Commenting on a statement in her book which said that any woman who would not taste her own menstrual blood had a long way to go towards "I'm not asking liberation she said: I'm asking you to you to do it. that something think about the idea of your own body which is coming out It's not horrible." is horrible. The responsibility for a woman's body does not lie with the medical It lies with women, she profession. said. "Medical procedures are never foolAnd most doctors are fools." proof. At the heart of the problem is the "basic insecurity of women." "We are constantly doing things in order to be loved." She pointed out that jealousy between the sexes have separate sources of motivation. While men fear fidelity because they don't want to share their women, women fear it because they don't want to be aban- what she 5; a i d "A marriage that ends is not a marriage that fails...it's just shorter." "I don't think we're ever going to get along with men until we learn to get along without them. I'm not suggesting lesbianism as a political tactic," she remarked lightly, "It's much too good for that." UNNECESSARY She suggested that actual insertion of the penis into the vagina (intramission) is not absolutely necessary for a normal sex life. The fact is that many women don't want intramission and this is evidenced if they don't produce vaginal lubrication. But in this society, women will not tell their mates what they want or don't want, she said. Withdrawal of the penis at point of climax, is a discouraged form of contraception which Greer favors. However, she said she would hesitate to recommend it in this society because most people have sexual relations "when they're drunk or stoned," thereby lessening their chances of self-control, she said. IUD NOT SAFE The IUD is not safe. Users bleed They are often inserted heavily. They wander to other improperly. parts of the body. They are frequently rejected by the body itself. And rejecting an IUD is "rather like giving birth to a bread knife." Commenting on contraceptive creams :: doesn't rake an: jellies, s-e sects.- s upbosed to be out on the skin can be placed inside the sensitive vacina. Tubal ligations are probably "simpler to perform than vasectomies" but the real problem is the four-hour operation involved to have it reversed, she said. She didn't leave many contraceptive options open. Except abortion. Abortions, even self-abortions, can be easier, safer and faster than IUD insertions but they will continue to be for the most part embarrassing, painful and costly as long as society believes they are an evil to be only slightly tolerated, she said. "They (society) don't like abortion because abortion is a matter of choice. It has an aspect of real control. They want fantasy control (chemical contraception)." "I'm not telling you what to do but to do some accounting...find out what they've taken away from you...and don't say ignorance is bliss because that's what they rely upon." by Nelle Oosterom Credit to ChronicleJournal Despite the coverage by the Chronicle Journal on the visit of Germaine Greer to our fair city there will be only a small portion of the public with enough emotional security to understand the message she brought us. We prefer to get hung up in the rhetoric, to dwell on the fee as an escape mechanism grey painted and black booted and a dirty mouth, the media image of fascist repression bringing us decadence and Could we have borne to perversion. hear the message in simple terms, that our bodies are our own, that our minds are our own, that our conscience is our own and that every infringement upon these territories whether by state or church or man or woman is an assault on our very souls. She is saying that in the final analysis unless we recognize where availability to the sexual appetites of our brothers have led us and understand the reasons why we respond to those appetites we will continue to abuse our bodies and our minds to escape the consequences of that act. She is suggesting that we all have a lot to learn about sexual and social intercourse and that woman is paying a very high price for man's exploration of the subject; she is saying that fear of not pleasing has castrated us spiritually and made us uncertain of our own sensuality. She is telling us if we were really aware of how little casual sex (and consider anything taken for granted is pretty casual) adds to our perception of either love or romance we might seriously consider it hardly worth the trouble. I conceived in love belongs only to the blind for love is a conscious decision for a shared responsibility --make no mistake--our outmoded abortion laws have nothing to do with a burning concern for children, the world is full of battered, bleeding and starving children, enough to keep these fanatic defenders of an 8 week foetus on their knees and broke forever. What it has to do with is control, a misguided conviction that women are not capable of a moral decision unless that coincides with a predecision drafted conception of woman as a productive instrument. The hypocrasy in our present abortion law is staggering, it makes no moral statement but it draws a line. Yes if you can afford it and no if you can't, on the grounds of human rights alone we should be enraged. Given all this, Germaine Greer is saying Face the reality, your backs are against the wall, there is no help and no pity anywhere, come to terms with your own sexuality, quit putting hardware and chemicals in your system for somebody else's benefit, quit looking for someone else to complete you, you are whole persons andYou reselling your souls for the kind of gratification that is not worth the price you're paying. If one young woman heard her message loud and clear it could change her entire life and make the price paid for her (Germaine's) visit our best bargain this year. Gert Beadle Northern Woman Journal page 15 doned. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �MUST BE A MEMBER Credit Union Ne ws Update - -Th The Northern Women's Credit Union is presently operating with volunteer help only. Their paid staff person, Betty Harkema, was paid as part of a Canada Revisited, Works Project, which ended on April 28th. Betty is still volunteering her time when she can and there are other qualified women to take your deposits, withdrawals or loan application, BUT try to conduct your business on the days the credit union is officially open (Tuesdays, Fridays and Thursday evenings) when we can guarantee a qualified person will be in the office. LOAN LIMIT $2,500. The loan limit is now $2,500. in excess of the member's shares. The credit committee reports a large increase in approved loans in the past month and urge all members to keep their share accounts growing by regular deposits, by cheque or money order, if you can't come into the office. The credit committee reports, also, that the nature of the loans requested have been mainly for NORTHERN WOMEN'S CREDIT UNION i 316 BAY ST. HOURS TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS 10 a.m. TO 5 p.m. THURSDAYS 7 p.m. TO 9 p.m. PH. 345-7802 emergencies, so it is vital for a women's credit union to be able to meet the credit needs of these women who in spite of anti-sex discrimination laws are still being judged on the basis of myths about women's financial irresponsibility. This credit committee judges your credit worthiness on the basis of character and ability to repay. As you increase your share deposits the credit union's capital assets increase and the loan limit increases thus allowing the credit committee to permit larger loans. Even if you are presently paying on a loan try to deposit something, however small, into your share account. As for all of you whose account has been inactive for months, come on, help us help the many women in need rf financial assistance. If you are considering a loan remember that you must first be approved as a member to be eligible. The board of directors approves your membership at their monthly meeting. Don't delay your loan--JOIN NOW. LOGO CONTEST The board of directors appreciat the efforts of the many women who submitted logos. There have been many good ones but the board had to postpone their decision last month due to a very heavy schedule of other business. They should be deciding at the next meeting early in June. If you are still considering submitting a logo you still have time to bring or mail it in. mAINTERPRETERS NEEDED *ITALIAN *CRER *PORTUGESE *OjIBWAY *UKRAINIAN to translate a booklet on alternatives for battered PLEASE CALL women. WOMEN IN TRANSITION. - 345-827; THE COST OF BORROWING SHOULD PROSTITUTION.... by Noreen Lavoie What it costs to buy on credit or borrow on a loan is confusing to most of us when all we have in the way of information is an interest rate that the lender charges. How they determine the actual cost by this rate of interest is important for us to know. If finance charges on goods, for example, are added to the purchase price and the total is to be repaid in 12 equal monthly payments: Example #1 WHEN THEY SAY 1% per month 10% per year YOU PAY 21.46% per year 17.97% per year If finance charges are made on the unpaid balance each month: Example #2 WHEN THEY SAY 1% per month 11% per month YOU PAY 12% per year 18% per year The Northern Women's Credit Union determines interest as in sample #2 at 1% per month or 12% per year. When we read that some banks are offering loans at 11.5% we must first determine what this means in actual costs before we can compare. Lees say you want to borrow $500. and pay it back in a year: Example #1: equal monthly payments $500. x 21.46% = $607.30. Cost to you $607.30 - 500. = $107.30. Example #2: unpaid balance monthly Cost to you $60. $500. x 12% = $560. Based on the two methods of computing the interest)there is a difference of $47.30. If you cannot find out which way the lending agency computes the interest, do this: Choose a figure close to your own loan requirement and a time figure for repayment. Phone the bank instead of making a personal visit (less hassle and easier to obtain only the facts), the credit union or finance agency, and ask what your Multiply monthly payments will be. the amount they give you by the number of months you asked for to Subtract this amount from the repay. amount of the loan and the difference will be the actual cost to borrow. It is the actuat coot to you that should be uppermost in your mind when shopping for credit. cont'd. from P. 5 Rather than poor and desperate. decriminalization, the law should recognize that, as in other types of employment such as child labour, it i5 the employer (the man who solicits the services of a prostitute), and not his employee (the prostitute) who is Once the law holds tha the criminal. the man who solicits sexual services is guilty of a crime, and not the woman who works as a prostitute usually out of desperate circumstance reforms to make prostitution obsolete (as child labour was made obsolete) wi be instituted. It will be a great setback for wome kind if prostitutes are seen only as kind of proletariet whose struggle tc organize must be supported. No womar whether poor or middle-class, needs t subjugation of prostitution toleratec by the law and instituted in the fabr Thus feminists must of our society. not allow their concern for prostitut to extend to the tolerance of prostit tion as an acceptable means of employ ment for women. by Georgina Garret We know and you will find out that, for personal loans, you cannot beat a credit union. Remember, too, that most credit unions will be returning to you a percentage of the interest you paid in the form of a loan rebate. Northern Woman Journal page 16 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �006118 AWN MOM 14..1111ed 8 11118111.0r Bulk II En nonce Oicl dim dire 220 RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Return Postage Guaranteed Donna Shaw 171 Banning St. Thunder Bay P, Ont. P7B 3J2 PLEASE LET US KNOW. HAVE YOU MOVED? to keep (We must pay return postage up our mailing list) TABLE OF CONTENTS: Editorial, Gert's Gospel Letters The Silent Crime Motherhood Carol Auld Is This What We Want Poetry McRae Visit Bits and Pieces Germaine Greer Credit Union pg 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 15 16 Your subscription is due. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 4 No 3 Description An account of the resource Vol. 4, No. 3 (May 1978) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Women in transition project for violence against women Letters to the editor Police response to battered wives Causes of wife battering Needs of battered women Resources for battered women Under reporting of battered women The institution of motherhood (Excerpt from Of Woman Born by Adrienne Rich) Legalization of prostitution Decriminalization of prostitution Transition story - Thunder Bay to Toronto Women and stress seminar Christian Feminism Conference Family Law Reform Act Poetry Paul McRae (MP) visits Women’s Place Thunder Bay Women against rape Marriage contracts Teen Family Program Female contraception & negative health ramifications Northern Women’s Credit Union The cost of credit Authors/Contributors: Gert Beadle Stephanie Holbik Deb Hagarty (Atikokan) Vera Johnston (New Westminster, B.C.) Carol Marsha Michael Cunningham Jackie Gross Carol Auld Marg Lanchok B.J. Halliday (Dryden) Debra Pilon (Fort Frances) Mickey Pedersen Pam Wilson Linda Richard Nelle Oosterom Noreen Lavoie Georgina Garrett Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1978-05 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2751/1978_Vol_4_No_2.pdf 8628722c7c0db60a020419aa77bec292 PDF Text Text PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor e r t 1 B 1 & Yea st 44 February 1978 CONTEST Inside this issue.. : : : : : * * : * : : : ******************************************************* *8; Trudy, Eleanor, Betty, Marion. Faye First Board of Directors, Northern Women's Credit Union rthday and Salt * e ebration A Journa * Member too) * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1* * * i* i* :* Some of the Journal Collective: Eve, Doreen, Npreen. Missing, Pat, Thyra and Donna * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 * vcrume 4 4s'sitt 2 oman u Jornar * * C 5"0 O' THUNDER BAY, Ontario oriRern *************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * 1 * * * * * * * I ****************************** * * 674 �editorial Our first issue in the new year will depart from the usual format and will contain only the brightest of news, the things we feel good about and a sort of overall picture of the kind of thinking that makes us glad we are women, living in exciting times with new options to explore and hopefully a new spirit to become real movers in the cause of human rights. We will explore the positive and give the negative, not the least of which is present in our own approach, a rest. In other words, we are depressed with all this talk of oppression and for one issue, It is we say to hell with it. literally our plan to restore the readers faith in the divine accident that made us women in the first place, and reasonable intelligent human beings in the process of making our own judgements about what limits our capacity to function in the We are inclined second place. to think regionally and in so doing. we are deprived of the GERM GOSPEL joy of some small success in Calgary, some struggle in Newfoundland, some movement in awareness in British Columbia and a dozen other places across this country. Our mind boggles when we cross the border and see our sisters to the south of us, knocking down the barriers of status and race, standing together where it counts, transcending sexual preference declaring OUR BODIES OURSELVES all in the name of human rights. We shall go to the astonishing lengths to prove we have class by thanking the Government for the grants that have kept us able to be a thorn in their side. We shall dare to be so ridiculous as to admit quietly that there are signs of New Men around, may heaven keep them safe. We will admit we love our country and worry about the things that divide it and if we are pushed to the wall, will concede we are not perfect. Having said all that, we are now ready to face the new year with renewed faith and determination, CHEERS! I once thought you wete the symbol. ab every good and petiect thin You waved as piee in the bteeze as the Canadian I thought you blew above the zpitit. histoty o6 bigotty and suspicion, that cat the wottd would matvet at But I have what you stood bon. seen the ctimzon dtain beam gout tatnished tea.6, the putity o6 yout backgtound gtey You bait. with discontent. to catch the cuttent, the winds ob change have teduced you you nevet matteted, to a tag, you wait to be tours in two as huddle in povetty. Yout chitdten wa..ia away, yout natives bon gotd. Yout women city bon justice and yours sons matket Oace your sad base is bon sate in the matked down, you who stood bon a centuty oi dteaming can't bind enough bite to keep you itom aiding down the dtain. Stitt. I heat you cateing me, save me Dream Men It has come to me lately that I may be old enough and bold enough to draw a picture of someone whose shape has changed with every change of my circumstance and every fluctuation of my minds eye. My dream man was once beautiful to behold; just meeting his eye was to know the meaning of voltage; just touching his hand turned me into slag. I drew him lean, tall, and narrow of hips, his hair curled endearingly on his forhead, and his mind, dear god, his mind, had nothing on it but me. What more could a young woman ask ? The picture blurred with familiarity, and I drew him again, out of the spirit of the times. He was strong because the times called for strength; he was bold and full of challenge where others lost heart. He was fearless in the face of poverty and his mind, dear god, had nothing on it, except me. I drew him again out of some deep yearning to find more in his mind than me. More than work and duty, more than play and appetite. I kept him wind burned and sun tanned but gave him the soul of a poet, and the mind of a philosopher. I made hir a supporter of causes, fierce as a lion in the face of injustice. I gave him principle and irpecable virtue. I drew him again- loving, filled with human generosity; a forgiving man, familiar with beauty a companion to my mind and mood, bigger than pettiness- neither leaning, nor leaned upon; neit ther possessing nor being poss,, essed; a man to grow old with. But finally I drew him real. A very human man beset by as many frailties as I; an individual functioning within his capacity to understand why I must do the same. A loving man who needs to be loved; a stubborn man who needs to be challenged; even as I,an individual who knows his mind as I do mine. It is well to recognize our dream men come out of us with all the unreal expectations that divide us. Under the fantasy, it is possible to find unexpected treasure. Gert Beadle save save me we must work collectively if we don't , our energies die Northern Woman Journal page 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Anyway, that's just a long-winded way of saying that I'd like to see women obtaining information, facts, statistics, data on opportunities and not being pushed to accept them. You might say that no one in the Journal is forcing anyone to do anything -- but we will not win more readers, and more women to an awareness of their condition by editorializing in articles that would be powerful by their factual content Dear Friends! I've been a subscriber of Northern found it on the Woman ever since desk of a local executive and public should figure here in town (male, also subscribe to MS magaalone. note). say -- yes, the Journal should zine, Newsweek, Atlantic and Writers So would like to be an occaI'm a Czech by birth, an survive, Digest. think that American by citizenship, and live in sional contributor, but am a translator its tone should be a bit less miliCanada by choice. and writer by profession, and I'm tant, and a bit more all-encompassing, why shut out unliberated males, unmarried to a Canadian bricklayer liberated teenagers, who suffer from (after some 20 years alone, bringing So much for the not dissimilar inner struggles? up three children). am sociological background from which You asked for an opinion, and hard-pressed not to give one when my letter springs. You ask in your editorial how your asked. apprereaders feel about the survival of Still, let me repeat that feel duty bound ciate much of the information you your Journal, and supply, otherwise unavailable or unto answer, if only for the hours accessible to me here, and it warms have spent reading and enjoying many my heart this cold January morning of your articles. do think your Journal should to know that there are people moving Yes, forward everywhere, even up here in have reservations about survive. am very definite Northern Ontario. its content, but Incidentally -- when does my subin my conviction that women should owe you have an outlet (and an "inlet"). scription expire? Don't My reservations are in the area of any money? Looking forward to future issues, heavy activism, where the movement of women toward their realization and assertion of self picks up a tone of K. Henley You will forgive me, fanaticism. Elliot Lake have lived through a hope, but variety of fanatical situations-from Hitler's nazism through Stalin's Dear Reader: communism through fanatical religious have arrived fundamentalism -- and 441001W We do thank you flepr.4,410rolleedr= at the conviction that, although it We are in discussion regulback. is fanatics who have been able to arity as to the format and the points change the world in the past, fanayou mention are part of that discusticism is another facet of intolerThe input of our readers in sion. cannot identify with ance, and the paper's content could solve a such a movement. great many problems as we have stated know from experience how hard a We have hoped this paper many times. row women have to hoe -- mothers would provide a dialogue of great alone, particularly. But identifyvariation in the experience of women. ing with the idea that every indiviBeing close to the problems may tend dual ought to have all rights to to make us one dimensional and seem his/her own person, all rights to more evangelistic than we mean to be. assert her/his own talents on a par We want to point out to the with every other individual -- idenreaders that they share a responsibtifying with complete tolerance and ility to bring this paper into its complete mutual understanding, real potential as an instrument in wonder whether what the women's movethe bonding of women, where ever it ment is doing is not ill-considered. is read. Because those rights include the We have not felt as yet, that right to live as one pleases, even men, who certainly have greater the right to be oppressed or taken opportunities to express themselves, advantage of, the right to prostitute need the special vehicle of a women's oneself in a marriage situation or "Dreams For Sale" was reJournal. out of it, as long as one is not cently criticized (see letters) and directly damaging another person. as it happened it was written by a Even the right to self-destruction, male. if such actions don't hurt others. We feel very strongly that If that is the case, then we have no women need the journal as much as right to force "consciousness" on For the the journal needs input. women who are not ready or willing most part, the mass media has igEven if it might beneto handle it. nored the women's movement. Our (Here is fit them in the long run. victories are buried on "women's see the parallel with the where pages", back pages; women's news abovementioned fanatical movements is trivialized, distorted or just -- the tendency to say, our way is For example the plain overlooked. best and you must see it, and even Chronicle-Journal was sent a press if you don't, act on it and sooner release regarding the Northern An or leter you'll come around. Women's Credit Union's first annual "end justifies the means" kind of meeting, (this credit union is the thing). second in Canada) on Feb. 7, 1978 and to this date Feb. 24th it has If it was not not been printed. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I for this vehicle, women in the district would not be informed that they are now eligible to become members. We hope to hear from you again, thank you for your input. The Collective Sisters: It seems to me that the cover of the last issue, Volume 4, Issue 1, is its only redeeming feature. Page 2: "OPPRESSION IS..." - hell, The more know what oppression is. dwell on what oppression is, actualkeep myself down. ly, the longer am, strapped down at wrists There and ankles by all of SOCIETY, MAKING exploited, dependent, fearME FEEL: ful, inadequate - oh, such a delicious So comfy. Love it love it. space. It's THEIR fault. No responsibilities. Do you really think Margaret Page 6: think she's Trudeau needs defend Articles of doing O.K. on her own. support from the Women's Movement seem to me redundant. How interesting that "Bits and Pieces" contained bits entirely about become as angry as the next rape. Truly. woman at the fact of rape. The "Bits and Pieces" were placed in such a way as to seduce me into complete sympathy for the next article, "Women Against Rape". To say this article "Women Page 7: Against Rape" was written in a throughly biased and non-professional way would be the obvious response. Sensatic-alis- 's a thoroughly ::--: ed 'technique - borrAOMMMOom a How thorouahly CCHHON dominated media. of all of you to allow the sentence, "The fact that a wor-an was defending the accused was bad enough, etc. etc.. They (our support group) were hurt, shocked, surprised, betrayed." Oh, If a woman becomes a lawyer, she see. may only defend those of whom the MoveShe may ment approves as defendable. not accept clients simply because they She is perare entitled to a defense. mitted only to trade one set of limitations for another. Here we have two Pages 14 - 15: pages devoted to Harlequin Romances as related to the virtues of Marxism. shall allow my subscription think to run out. I I I I I I I I I Margaret Frenette Dear Margaret: We are happy you liked our cover, many readers did not. Pleasing all our readers would be quite impossible. Putting a feminist paper together is a difficult task as some articles may Feminism in displease some people. itself is subject to controversy. The paper tries to put forth the feminist movement in N.W.O. and other cities. 1) Oppression is - We know many readers understand what oppression is, but out of approximately 1000 subscribers, maybe there are some who do We feel if one article reaches not. someone who has previously heard nothing about the subject, it may eduContinued on page 4 Northern Woman Journal page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �LETTERS Women Read Men? cate a new person. Our collective pride ourselves in being and reaching different levels From perhaps one exof feminism. Conservative treme to another (le: feminist to radical feminist.) We have been complimented on those think it only fair grounds alone. to note, our paper is still in existence where-as many Canadian feminist journals have folded. Margaret Trudeau - Our collective is split when the topic of M.T. comes Some feel she still needs deabout. fending and others don't. Again we feel our readers may feel the same Maybe a bit wishy washy, eh. way. "Bits and Pieces" was not intentionally placed in such a way as to seduce you into complete sympathy for Unfortunately, we the next article. were pressed for time in "getting the paper out before Christmas" and we didn't realize where exactly it was placed. "Women Against Rape" again See following another criticism. I letter. Harlequin Romance - Again we can Some readers not please everyone. have said they would like to see the paper become more political, to see marxist philosophy, redstocking feminism, etc. We are extremely sorry you may let your subscription run out. We hope you don't. Collective exception of the Volkswagon But books that are uniquely female orientated have not y found their way on the avera bookshelf. A few years ago I suddenly realized most of th things I had read were writt by men, and even the way I f about myself was from a mal I even fancied view-voint. they were the ones capable o telling me the way I was. I made an abrupt about face an proceeded to establish my ow little corner of the book ca Germaine Greer, Kate Millet, Betty Friedan, Robin Morgan, Simone de Beauvoir, Gertrude Stein, Doris Lessing and the list grows. Powerful stuff that opens doors to yourself that coaxes Women's poems you out of myth and mystery and exposes the raw nerve, t bare bone, almost frightenin in it's intensity. I have to ask myself, does a book serv it's full purpose J.f it make you think or is it perhaps only a prelude to what makes you feel? Women have read men for a thousand years; t ology, philosophy, poetry. a great thrill to me, that coming generations will be Over the years when I find the occasion to go into a strang:. er's house, my eyes go almost unbidden to the presence or absence of books. A tingle of delight starts up my spine at the sight of a well-filled book shelf. These people read, therefore they think; and what do they read and think about? Everything I want to know about them is written in the titles. How to support yourself on an acre of land, the organic gardener, solar heating, the art of log house building- and I settle back prepared to discuss both the depression and the art of survival. The absence of fiction tells me I am in the house of a scholar. History and biographies of the movers and shakers of the universe, poetry and philosophy and religious thought- and what's this? -"Do You Know Your Volkswagon?" A good collection of Canadiana tells me I am in the house of a patriot and when I see the native content and the French fact represented, I add, aware of the patriot. Now we know what daddy reads, let's try to imagine what mother reads. If she is a reader, one can imagine she has shared in most of the thin things on the shelf ( with the possible exposer7 to the creativity women in all the arts and be the better for it. Gert Bead The Northern Woman. WOMEN'S PLACE IS DIRTY DISORG we had to balance the scale. We invite you to write a follow-up article of your feelings about the The recent article "Women Against Rape" written by an anonymous member of the Rape Crisis Centre broke faith with the readers of the Northern Woman Journal in that it did not abide by a newspaper's responsibility to be honest accurate and fair in reviewing events. AND DARK trial. We are sorry if it offended you in any way. Collective Dianne Pettit Baig ***************************4 *the Dear Dianne: We are sorry you feel the "Women Against Rape" broke faith with the Our paper has no policy readers. concerning signed articles as other papers do. We feel we are different If we in many ways; we hope we are. had such a policy some beautiful work would be omitted, example: "M on poetry page". The article itself was edited by our collective and was published knowing it may offend some people. We are not in the business of offending people but unfortunately it someIt was a biased times happens. article but expressed the feelings of many women who witnessed the trial. We suggest that more women should attend rape trials and try to be unRape Crisis Centre's members biased. sometimes, only see one side as the article portrayed and we felt because of the local media's one sidedness, in favour toward the accused) (le: MO-OP BOOKSHOP * and .1:0ECORD Canadian literature. classics, : . Excellent selection ofCENTRE Now that we have your attentionthis is a plea for a vacuum cle in good condition, legal sized cabinets, wall dividers and a c of end tables and table lamps. Hopefully these items will be donated, however we can possibl squeeze out a few bucks. * 111 I* him books, science fiction, crafts, poetry, many ,,_ unusual titles. Best folk, ethnic and blues selection In 7c., town. Open till 8 each day and ail day Sunday X' m.1112 S. Aliens Street._ F. It., : On campus every Thursday beside the Main Cafeteria Plume 3454912 -X * * .. * ************************** WOMEN IN MUSIC LARGE VARIETY OF LPs OF SPECIAL INTEREST Co -op Book Shop, Record Centre LPs By: SUN PAZ, BERNICE REGAN, PEGGY SEEGER, SARAH OGAN CUNNING, LIS COFFON, AUNT MOLLY JACKSON, SIS CUNNINGHAM, ALMEDA RIDDLE, HAZEL & ALICE, OLA BELLA REED, BESSIE JONES, ANNE ROMAINE, ELLA JENKINS, WOMEN'S LIB, ROCK BAND, JONI MITCHELL, BUFFY ST. MARIE, BARBARA DANE, WOMEN'S CAUCUS, ..MANY MORE... Missing Check your book shelves! Women's Centre would appreciat return of the following books: Born Female, Male & Female, Mother Was Not A Person, Rep of Royal Commission on the S of Women, Sybil, To The Ligh True Story of How Babies Are Women & Madness, The Lace Gh The Edible Woman, Rubyfruit Surfacing, Women's Astrology Bodies, Ourselves, Birth Boo Children's Books: Charlotte's Web, Exactly Lik Fresh Fish & Chips, Free To & Me, I'm A Child of The Cit We would like to expand our li so donations of books are welc Northern Woman Journal page 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �I.U.P. LEAVES WOMAN STERILE Dear Editors, 7 originally wrote this article / story that is enclosed to relieve some of the hurt and anger in myself. However, after I was partway into it I realized that these stories are usually buried and then again, that information is not passed on to other women who might be able to benefit by Dthers experiences. Therefore, enclosed please find an article that I hope you will publish in your journal. I would like to suggest that other women send in their experiences with birth control, both negative or positive so that we might learn from them. Thank you for your attention and your time. Yours truly, Sandra Steinhause I cannot become pregnant. I blame the doctors and their lack of responsibility when it comes to women's bodies. Doct!. ors disregarded me as a person and treated my body as loose parts disconnected from a whole. I have had different I.U.D.'s inserted for the past 11 years and been involved with women's issues for the past 8 years. Altogether, I have never considered myself unaware about my own body. My following experience testifies ,to the fact that women have to know even more about their own bodies in order that we may take care of ourselves. In June 1976, I was taking a French course in a small town in Quebec- Trois Rivieres. I developed terrible abdominal pains and phoned my gynecologist in Montreal. He was out of town but I assumed that the best bet would be to return to Montreal and go to the emergency wards of one of the larger hospitals. Since I had been to the Jewish General Hospital before, I went there. I was seen by a male doctor who pushed and prodded at my abdomen and advised me to curb all my eating of salads, vegetables and frnits. Although I mentioned that I had an I.U.D., he never once examined me internally. This point is important to remember. I returned to Trois-Rivieres ands after 6 days, I was so doubled in pain that I again PL EASE The Journal's subscriber cards have paper clips on the ones whose subscriptions are due. There are so many paper clips the Rolodex is Please check the back packed solid! page to see if yours is due and pay. We appreciate and need your continued financial support. phoned my gynecologist in Montreal. This time I insisted that another gynegologist in the office should see me. Upon internal examination it was found that I had a severe infection in my uterus (due most probably to the I.U.D.) and he prescribed antibiotics with an abstention from intercourse for 6 weeks. The doctor was amazed to learn that I had not been examined internally. He said, "Anytime a woman has pain at the level of her navel or below, it should be assumed that she has a pelvic infection and definitely examined intern- control) for no reason at all. Since one of the side effects of these pills is blood clots, supposing I had developed a blood clot? For what reason? Because a doctor forgot I was a whole person and things should be explained. He should have not just been treating my infection and wait for me to return in order to diagnose my sterility ors by chance, a blood clot. Since the medical profession is not helping us women in our search, for health; we must pass on our experiences and learn from each other. ally." Fine, I learned something vital but too late. It is also important to realize that at no time did this doctor talk to me about the consequences of a uterine infection. He prescribed birth control pills for me when the six weeks were over and mentioned that I could have another I.U.D. inserted in October. (Was be_trying to make more money for the pharmaceutical firms ?) This I proceeded to do. In the summer of 1977, we decided to have a baby and I had my I.U.D. removed. By December of 1977 I had still not conceived. Purely co-incidentally a female friend mentioned that the could never become pregnant because of pelvic infection she had from an I.U.D. It had travelled and blocked her fallopian tubes. This set me to thinking but since the gynecologist had never mentioned it to me, the idea seemed slim. I was still under the impression doctors tried to care for women. I arranged to have a uteregrap done by a radiologist and sure enough I am sterile. I cannot have that baby that we want so much. My fallopian tubes are scarred and completely blocked. I am so angry at the medical profession. 1. The doctor did not bother to examine me internally and left me with an acute pelvic infection. 2. My gynecologist never bothered to inform me that one of the side effects of an infection from an I.U.D. can be sterility. 3. The gynecologist never bothered to warn me of the consequences of a uterine infection- that my tubes could be scarred or blocked, What is their job ? If the doctors had cared about me as a person...I would not have built up expectations of being able to have a baby and be so shattered. I would not have had to ingest pills (birth THUNDER CLAP Muriel Boyle of Sioux Lookout who was 94 years old on February 20, She has just been awarded 1978. the Queen's Jubilee medal - An outstanding citizens award. THUNDER BOLT The Lakehead University "Argus" and those that advertise on its The contempt the editors pages. show towards its readers (especially women) is very evident. Northern Woman Journal page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WOMEN AGAINST RAPE credit KN&515 What can we do about rape in our communities other than anguish at the courts that handle it all so badly. The paranoia that sees every man a threat and every woman a victim seduces us into extreme forms of behaviour that delays us in effecting changes of a system that badly needs a cold, relentless appraisal of it's deficiencies. If, as Florence Kennedy, that great feminist says"It takes more time to get your tit out of the wringer than it does to stop the machine", then it would seem the to better part of wisdom aim a concentrated attack on the machine, which is nothing, if not antiquated, protection of women are concerned. Considering the fact that our crown attorneys are mainly of that generation that enjoyed the fantasy of women as mere appendages -should we be pushing for the victim's right to have her own attorney as a co-prosecutor ? Should we be more vocal in support of changes in the in view terms of the charge of the reluctance to sustain a charge of rape because of the penalty imposed. While the rape and sexual assault teams support an the victim and embark on extended educational program to other groups, do we have the right to expect total exemption of the responsibility that is the moral obligation of every one of us regardless of sex ? taxpayer and citizen, I,as a have honored that obligation and taken the time to voice my concern to the Solicitor General for Ontario. When the courts deal properly with this crime, for it is a crime, as every woman knows, the incidence of rape will decrease. We should all be concerned that victims are further victimized by laws that were formerly supposed to protect them. When these same victims consider that laying a charge is an exercise in futility, then we are all in trouble. Get your pen out, and do your duty- you will feel the better for it. , , Northern Woman Journal page The last issue in "Women Against Rape" reflects the disheartenment and frustration rape crisis workers and supporters feel as witnesses to the ravishing of rape victims by our legal system. Because rape is considered a crime of passion (a sexual crime) the issue of consent plays the most important part in the courts, although consent is legally unprovable. To justify the issue of consent, the woman becomes the target of an inquisition, having to account for her behaviour, her life style, appearance, personality, etc. prior to the assault, during the assault and after the assault. This unfeeling process of discrediting a witness is allowed to create questions in the minds of the jury that the accused could not have committed the crime without her participation. The jury, remember has to convict "beyond a reasonable doubt" that he If they are only 99 sure is guilty. The he is, they must let him go. philosophy, more prevalent in rape and sexual assault cases is that they (courts) would prefer to allow a guilty man to go free rather than convict one innocent person. Being as it is, we cannot argue We sit at with the justice system. each rape trial knowing that the attitudes toward women regarding "sex" and the burden of proof would set another man loose to perhaps Rape laws reflect attirape again. tudes of its society and vice versa, so rape centres feel there is little hope of mass changes in attitudes overnight when our present laws have changed very little since medieval Women were regarded as protimes. perty then, and now centuries later these attitudes are still in our present laws. The law We have an alternative. reform Commission's working paper on sexual crimes is due to be re(March) leased in early spring. The rape crisis centres across Canada were enthusiastic although uncertain regarding some of the recommendations rumoured to be conRegardless, tained in the paper. they were ready to draw up a position paper with changes and/or acceptance of proposals. There is a problem. The National Assistor to Rape Crisis Centre, Joannie Vance, stated in her monthly newsletter that there is hesitation among some members of the law reform commission to release the working It seems that paper to the public. denied the we are, again, being right to respond to laws that are supposedly there to protect us (women) from sexual abuse. We ask individuals and groups to write to the Minister of Justice urging him to pressure the law reform commission to release the working paper to the public. Our goal is law reform above and beyond the working paper and this should be emphasized. To gain this end, we must have access to the paper. After the paper is made available, more work and involvement will be More necessary to enact stage two. about that in later issues. Please write to the Minister of Justice, with copies sent to your MPs and MPPs. Get friends to write There is power in the vote also. (they denied that to us for centuries too, remember) so put it to work. Women's Centre will have form letters to be signed, drop in and The next Time is important. sign. two to three weeks will either dash our hopes of acceptable reform in laws regarding sexual offences or doom us to more centuries of injustice. The Honourable Stanley Ronald Basford, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. LIBERAL Honourable Robert Andras President of Treasury Board Ottawa, Ontario 1 Liberal 2. 11 Paul McRae Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Health and Welfare Ottawa, Ontario Liberal 3. Mickey Hennessy, MPP Fort William Queen's Park Address: Room 413 B Legislative Building Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A2 (416) 965-4130 Constituency Offices 294 E. Brock Street Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 4H4 (807) 623-1011 smosoolkomwm 638 A Simpson Street Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 3J7 (807) 623-1011 4. Jim Foulds, MPP Port Arthur Riding 245 S. Court Street Thunder Bay, Ontario 345-6714 ***** CHILD'S PLAY An 11-year-old girl successfully fought off two would-be As she was child molesters. walking home from school, a car with two men stopped, and the passenger opened his door and grabbed her by the arm. the flipped him onto his back on the sidewalk, chopped him in the neck with the edge of her hand, and jabbed him in both eyes with her fingers. The driver jumped out, screamNeighing, "That's murder!" bours, alerted by the noise, called the police, and both men were apprehended. The girl is the daughter of a woman who studies judo and a man who lolds a brown belt She was unharmed, in karate. except for a slight bruise on her arm where the man grabbed her. --reprinted from Plexus 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EATING 1VATURAL by be Natural foods can best defined as "Any food which spoils but eaten before it does." It is plain food with nothing added and nothing taken away. That means (taxi which is Storage then invert to drain the as good as the food that we buy and store properly. Time and money spent on water off. Rinse again with lukewarm water and drain. Rinse morning and evening, keeping seeds obtaining fresh moist but not wet. (If you use a square-sided jar, place it on a side to give more surface area for growth,) Alfalfa sprouts are ready when 1.2" long (4 days!, mung beans 14" long, and. lentils 1" long. make the food palatable These and safe. But we we ran also allow ourselves to develop new and more healthful habits. fact. we owe it to ourselves and our offspring to do so. In There are 3 paths that can be taken in changing :hose habits. 1) Go whole hog and discard all the "bad" things you now cat. Unwise because you will miss what you have been used to and will not be accustomed to the new flavors and tex- tures. Also, without some previous experience. most people don't have enough knowledge of what natural foods air and how to handle them to be able to nake such a sudden change. They end up very discouraged and tesort to oath 2. 2) Sec the whole problem too vast to face and so opt to continue as is. They miss the moderate but most productive and longlasting way. path 3. 3) Try a little bit at a time. Get used to new organically-grown fruits and vegetables is wasted if they are not stored to retain their freshness and eaten while they still do. In general: natural foods are perishables and should be stored in a clean, dry, cool and dark place. Some foods will steep longer and require less care: nuts in sf ells, seeds. honey, unhulled Others are very perishable and should be kept refrigerated: fresh vegetables, ripe fruit, dairy products, eggs, coldpressed oils, Some bulk supplies are best kept in the freezer with smaller portions transfered to the refrigerator for immediate use: whole grain flours, peanut butter without preservatives, unsalted butter. Salads Salads should always be fresh and crisp. Buy the freshest vegetables possible and refrigerate quickly. Close to the time of eating, wash the vegetables and dry them with clean terry towelling before cutting. '(Vegetables can be pre- flavors and textures and to different shopping and and dried and stored in the fridge in terry towelling for quick use.) If Experiment and have fun salad must sit for, a time before eating, place salad back in refrigerator with cooking practices. while finding out how good latural foods can taste and nake you feel, and how washed plastic wrap in contact with the vegetables to they can be to prepare. Best of all, discover that eating exclude air and therefore natural does not cost any more but that your money nutrients. easy is spent in different places. Get acquainted with new people who are also interested in better nutrition. most Your valuable guideline will be to eliminate all refined sugar and all refined flour from your menus. Completely!! That is your eventual goal. Besides removing these two offenders, this step will leave such a hole in the average Canadian diet that there will be lots of room to substitute nutritious and delicious natural foods. To help you change your eating habits the moderate way, let's look at some suggestions that you can incorporate. Remember, a kw at a time and you won't be overwhelmed. are the best 3 varieties to begin pith. If you start a new jar every day or two, depending on how many you eat, there Your diet is what you habitually rat. The key is have all grown accustomed to a certain way of preparing and eating food. 4 day or overnight, for The food we eat is only closest to its growing state, made edible in the simplest way possible. Any food that can be eaten. raw. should be cooking should be kept to the minimum necessary to in the word habit Patricia J. Wales, D.C. retard the rate of oxidation and loss of enzymes and Alp nonstarcit vegetables .can be used in Add raw salads. muschrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, avacado, green beans, and raw young beets to the more common lettuce, tomato, carrot, cucumber, celery, radish and onion ingredients. Use fruits and nuts for variety and extra flavour. The freshest ingredient is sprouts that you have grown yourself at home. You can buy a sprouter, one model has 3 trays with drainage spouts that lets you water easily once a day. Or you can use a jar covered with 2 layers of nylon mesh (a j-cloth will also work) held in place with a rubber band. Soak the seeds in water in the jar will always be fresh sprouts available for salads or to eat on a piece of buttered wholegrain bread. Oils and Dressings_ Cold pressed oils retain the ingredients which give each type of oil a distinctive flavor these ingredients have been removed from processed oils and so most people have never tasted the real flavor of the various oils. A mixture or oils is necessary to provide all the essential fatty ac :ds sunflower and safflower are rich in linoleic. peanut in arachidonic and soy in and linolenic is therefore the best for use in salad dressings. Soy has a strong flavor and should be used sparingly at Apple cider vinegar and fresh lemon juice both make good additions to the oil for dressings. Various herbs can be added to suit individual tastes but add the dressing to the salad just before serving to prevent leeching nutrients from the cut vegetables. Butter vs Margarine Butter has erroneously been given a bad name by the ant-cholesterol factions who promote margarine as being lower in cholesterol and saturated fats. Margarine is lower in cholesterol levels in the average diet. The oils that are used to make margarine are relined and then hydrogenated (or saturated) to change them from an oil to a solid. They are then fortified with vitamins A & D which could be better obtained in natural form from butter. As an alternative to margarine, blend coldpressed oils with sweet, unsalted butter. A combination of the two makes a delicious spread with complement of animal and vegetable fatty acids. and is soft enough to a spread immediately upon r t.9110% al front the -refrigerator. Allow butter to warm to just room temperature. Beat (hand or electric beater) in a mixture of cold-pressed oils (sunflower or safflower, sesame. peanut and a touch of soy as the latter is (nine strongly flavored) in Desserts ratio of butter to oil of '2: I or I. Store in small containers in freezer and Desserts as most Worth Americans know them are out!! They are almost always made with refined flour and sugar and cannot a I : eg) only what is currently 'a use in the frig. Fresh, unsalted butter tastes sweet: rancid butter and oils should never be used as they have toxic properties. Salt is used in most butters, disguising any off-flavors and allowing butter to be made from not-so-fresh cream and to be stored beyond the safe period without be included in a natural food diet. However, nutritious baked goods can be made from wholesome ingredients and eaten with gusto and appreciation. (see recipes in books listed). Some examples are nut loaves, muffins, granola cookies, whole wheat pastry and cottage detection of rancidity by cheese cake. the consumer. Eggs and Dairy Products Having eaten eggs from free-range hens, you won't ever want to eat those It is perhaps best to present these new foods to novice natural food eaters as variations on the theme, produced by caged hens again. Especially if you eat them soft-boiled or poached where the true :laor, or lack of it, is obvious. Yogurt is more easily thiin is milk because the lactose (milk sugar) has been converted to lactic acid by the Lactobacillis acidophilus. These bacteria also produce B vitamins in the yogurt and in the intestines as well. Most commercial yogurts packaged in small containers for snacks have large amounts of sugar and sugar-preserved fruit added. It is more nutritious and cheaper to make your own. A simple method using non-instant powdered skim milk is as follows: Sterilize a I-qt. glass jar or other glass container by rinsing with boiling water, and allou' to cool. Add IC powdered milk to I qt. of warm water body *temperature]. Use spring or distilled water if atoilable, or let water stand over- night, or boil and let cool to get rid of chlorine. Shake, mix or blend the irzilk and water. Add a little at a time to 2T plain yogurt or yogurt culture in the jar. Then fill the jar with the reconstituted milk and stir. Place in an electric yogurt maker for 6 8 hrs. or until tipping the jar causes the yogurt to pull away in a sold mass. If yogurt separates into curds (nut whey, the time was too long. A new batch can be made front the old but if off-flavors develop, use a new culture. Add fresh fruit or granola after the yogurt has set or when served. serving them in place of the usual evening snack. Here the flavors and crunchiness can be ap- preciated without clashing with expectations of cake and ice cream. Fresh fruit salads plus yogurt or sour cream or unsweetened whipped cream (add a little vanilla) are better a main served to finish meal with a light touch of sweetness. Once sugar- containing foods are eliminated from the diet, palates become more discriminating. The new desserts and treats become even more tasty while the previous favorites will be shunned as "too sweet". Breakfasts All too often breakfast in busy homes consists of presweetened cereals, milk, white bread toast and tea or coffee. The minimal protein afforded by. the nI;It is far ourtoeiyllc,! by the sugar and carThe body reacts to this by secreting sufficient insulin to remove bohydrates. excess glucose from the bloodstream often so efficiently that more sugar is needed in about 2 hrs. to sustain the blood sugar at the level necessary normal functioning. for Of course, this can happen in some individuals at any other time during the day but breakfast is most crucial as the body has been foodless all night. A meal containing some natural sugar for quick absorption (as fruit or fruit juice) plus protein (eggs, cheese, meat, milk) and unrefined (whole cereals, granola) carbohydrate grain bread, unsweetened gives a more absorbed and digested source of blood slowly sugar. Old fashioned rolled oats or mixed cooked cereals served with milk are good breakfast foods, especially if seeds or nuts, which contain some protein and oils, are added. Snacks 1: Lunches Junk foods such as pop, candy bars, chips and cookies arc readily and Cont'd on page 11 Northern Woman Journal page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �BATTLE OF SEXES RING AROUND THE COLLAR NOTEWORTHY DECISION by SUPREME COURT In a complete reversal of the majority decision handed down in the courts five years ago against Irene Murdoch, an Alberta farmwife, who had sued for a share in the family property upon her marriage break-up; the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in Jan/78, that Mrs. Helen Marie Rathwell, divorced in 1974, be granted half the family assets built up in 30 years marriage to a Saskatchewan farmer.The court ruled she had a legitimate claim over 2,049 acres of land in Tompkins, Sask., because she was not merely a housewife and mother, but did everything from the chores to driving machinery and canning garden produce, as well as contributing financially to the original down-payment of the property. "Increasingly, the work of women in the management of the home and the rearing of children as wife and mother, is recognized as an economic contribution to the family unit. The decision completely rejected the 1973 decision which ruled, "a wife's labour cannot constitute a contribution in money's worth..." The Murdoch decision generated much criticism from women's groups. The decision verifies that women's groups are gaining strength in their struggle for equal rights and they are being heard. revised from Editorial Chronicle Journal The strongest woman in the world, Jan Todd, lives in Nova Scotia. Winning all three categories in weight lifting, she has competed across the world. Coaching a mixed team of girls and boys, she took them to the U.S.A. championships where they won the team effort in weight lifting. Neither musclebound or gut heavy, she is a vibrant, healthy specimen, which puts the lie to women as the weaker sex. Her top lift is 451 pounds. ...Fort Frances Times Northern Woman Journal page When television was new, there was worry lest watching it might ruin children's eyes. That didn't happen, but someNow telething worse did. vision commercials are maligning and belittling women in ways which should, one would suppose, have feminists yelling their heads off in protest. Take that ring around the This involves the collar bit. rudeness of those who would point out such a thing and also the implication that a housewife who doesn't get shirts clean is pretty deficient. It might be pointed out in the picture, but it isn't that the collar wouldn't be dirty if the man washed his neck. Some pop-eyed radicals might also go so far as to state that nowhere in Holy Writ is it said that part of a woman's Nor duty is to wash clothes. that others are entitled to point the finger of scorn at her if she misses a soiled spot now and then. There are also the harpies who walk into a house and comThis plain that it smells bad. is a fair portrayal of women? In other plugs, women are shown as utter nitwits. Somebody walks in off the street, announces that Brand A beats Brand X, and the housewife accepts the statement instantThe suggestion is that ly. she's an idiot who'll believe anything. How about some commercials showing women with brains and courtesy? --The Boston Globe This joke wasn't funny (Ky.) - The billboards blazed In Beat Your Wife in huge letters. smaller letters, the signs added, Go Bowling. The Bowling Proprietors Association was trying to catch the eyes of But, what it potential bowlers. generated instead was a controversy with the Spouse Abuse Centre, which provides shelter and counselling for victims of abuse. Carole Morse, director of the centre at a YWCA, said that when she saw the billboard, "I almost cracked up my car. "This is just the sort of humor we have to stop," she said. "I think it is just the kind of mentality that makes this (wife abuse) the largest unreported crime." ...Toronto Star According to the Fort Frances Times, the Polish Tigerettes, a women's hockey team from Winnipeg, gave the Fort Frances Jaycee-Kinsmen-Police lineup a real tussle in an exhibition game in support of new arena roof for that a. city. In spite of the fact the home team iced a bevy of 200 pound heavies, we understand our Polish sisters even picked up a penalty for charging- tying the game six all. The Fort Frances Times quotes a beefier type as These saying, "Ho Boy Girls are Tough!" We say"GIRLS! HAH!!" ! ...Fort Frances Times ***** Digested $s Coughed Up (NY)--In an out-of-court settlement for a sex discrimination case instigated in 1973, the Reader's Digest has agreed, to pay $1.5 million to 2,600 women employees and former emThe bulk of the money ployees. will be used for compensatory back pay; 142 women currently employed by the magazine will receive immediate salary increases. --info from Woman Today NO BUT'S ABOUT IT (NY)--The buttocks has been declared an intimate part of anatomy, the pinching or touching of which without the person's consent punishable by up to three months in jail. A Manhattan criminal court judge found a man guilty of sexual abuse in the third degree for touching the buttocks of a woman without her consent while they were riding the subway during rush hour. The woman pressed charges against him; the man moved to have the charges dropped on the grounds that what he was accused of did not constitute a crime; the judge said that in this country, unlike some others, touching a woman's buttocks without her consent is not treated so cavalierly. The judge probably doesn't ride the subways. However mistaken his opinion on the highmindedness of social values and respect for another's person in this country, his ruling in the case is certainly It was reported in the lovely. United States Law Week under "significant opinions not generally reported." --info from the Washington Star 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �In 1867 she posed in proper school marm fashion, with fan in hand beside a rotund gentleman his moustache and his beard and a gold headed cane. Would she have looked so satisfiec if she had known her future lay with oxen on a trail not yet acquainted with a woodsman's axe. Was it perhaps her destiny to cut the trail herself and choose him for his skill at building log houses in the wilderness, If ever the impulse of Ruth crossed het mind and she was tempted to walk two steps behind, she saw it as another time, for someone else, and lived her true nature, a captain of industry, relegating all moustaches and canes to Water Boy. LEAVING AND SAYING HELLO I don't know you even heard 'thank you' in my btieli smiles. POETRY I was teatty smiting my betie6 in you. I coutdn't squeeze through the stumbting bZocks o6 6atten wands, OA 6ind time to remember what I had liotgotten. You were ptessuked with events, I was weighted down with emptiness. I packed my thoughts in a crowded heap and dressed to Leave finding space to say goodbye. Rosatyn Taytot Pettett Gent Thunder Bay Thunder Bay NOREEN on living with strangers The river is deep; and the water cool, here in the desert a spring-water pool. Drink me, I'm endless or bathe in my spray. I'll go for the journey, I'll stay for the day. Test me and try me I spring from a rock. I can walk lonely or fly in the flock. Words are a nuisance none can describe her The glue for the hive the ultimate sister. Gert Beadle Thunder Bay "they wouldn't be half so bad, she said wearily, through her glass of wine; if it weren't for the meat and the money and the make-up. early morning bacon combining with sickly sweet perfume wafts meandering then attacks burns acidly through my nostrils hey derry, hey derry, and a derry, derry down meat, money, and make-up turning me around. the barbie doll shuffle, "kept -woman syndrome.... I find tiviz piece a b papet And I've had three petnod And I Oa Like dying and wtiting It 'Is kitting me not to speak to you My discipZines I watch one peek atound the door I watch anothet play the saxophone The dank one's btothet smiles and speaks to me I dance with a man in a beard So young and handsome And quietZy take my French tiqueat I put my head down And my sistet sttokes it I am in pain and I cannot show it with such a sense of propriety, bright, sensitive, intelligent, keeps head and hearth together; looks after absent-minded genius man who supplies reinforcement, money, and enough fuel for barbie's masochistic fires; the gifts are more expensive, the communication witty, informal, and liberal and of course there is little chance of V.D. in suburbs dollies are swapped. one vagina, two vaginas, three vaginas more And I wig tee my Finnish con6idant To touch my at I witt. dtink cot bee and eat raisin bitead should we assume that barbie is a whore? And I wig weave my sins away in coaue wool Speaking, and taughing with you' mothex. with a down and a down and a derry, derry Deadte Haim Thundet Bay down that good ole meat, money and makeup turning my heart around. I/M/1 Thundet Bay Northern Woman Journal page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE WOMAN & THE ENTERTAINER 11/era Johnson Vera is an established singer of folk songs; she strongly resents any implication that her age has anything to do with her talent, and well she might, for what begins in her mind is entrusted to the pen and finally is translated by a rich and mellow voice in eternal youth without a single illusion. It was my rare privilege having Vera as an over-night guest and to sit with her at my kitchen table till the air was blue with smoke, since we are both addicted to the weed, and talk of the many things that delight or concern us. Although the patterns of our lives are very different, we met at the place where it matters. In spirit and mind, we are cut from the same material- she is an aging vagabond, a roving minstrel, a proud parent, a delighted Grandmother and a friend to whoever has the wit and wisdom to take her for what she truly is. The term feminist is too narrow for her liking; woman's rights give way to the larger human rights; her songs reflect her concern for the environment as well as the people in it. Power and pomposity are her natural targets; nothing is sacred; the Jesus trip falls under the same wry judgement as her shaft for the American eagle. 'Do It Yourself Divorce' is a hilarious exercise in ending something she was plainly too busy to bother with; on the other hand, her sincere and touching tribute to the mother of Bernadette Devlin reveals her admiration for the spirit that fights for justice. Vera adheres to non-violence preferring instead to blow up the idiosyncrasies of the human family then deftly sticking a pin in it before her audience in a way that invites mirth. She is warm, generous and real--has been hugged by the Prime Minister, entertained by W.O. Mitchell and shafted by the experts--she has been everywhere on the folk-festival circuits both here and on the continent, using her energy, her great sense of humour and her talents to jar us into a new perception of human potential. Vera Johnson: Song Book #1 - $4.25 Record LP Album Bald Eagle - $5.50 Send to: #207-527 Ash Street New Westminster, B.C. V3M 3N5 LODGEPOLE, NORTH WE KAY McCULLOUGH An LODGEPOLE, NORTH WEST: KAY McCULLOUGH is a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario. She has always been actively involved in art. "I was a painter long before knew how", she states. "Always did it, then later found out how and why, then taught it to other people, because it was too good not to pass on." Over the years it all became concurrent and simultaneous: -- being a wife, a mother to three children now grown, a professional artist, a business woman, a I I teacher. Since her husband was killed in an accident two and a half years ago, she has chosen depth experiences in her life rather than breadth, quality over quantity, concentration over juggling many things at once. At her own request she was granted a year's leave of absence from her teaching duties as head of the Art Department at Hillcrest High School. Since last summer her main area of concentration, painting, has resulted in some fifty very vital northern landscapes done in acrilics and mixed media. She has recently remarried, retaining her professional name. All the paintings were created at her studio-home at Birch Beach on Lake Superior. It is a ruggedly beautiful and quiet setting some twenty-two miles outside the city of Thunder Bay. "What a luxury to have the time and space to go deeply into myself and to tune into nature and the seasons as never before." A number of years ago, one of her teachers, A.Y. Jackson, wrote in a newspaper article about a current show that she was a natural colourist, versatile enough to take her place with the women abstract painters of Canada, and, if she wished, to take portrait commissions on the side and do printmaking as well. He stated that in his opinion, however, she should always return to landscape, for which she had a special feeling. "I'm glad did all those other things", she says, "and also that DID keep returning to landscape. At the moment feel there is so much there, at all levels of understanding, will never run out of inspiration." In this show, her deepest feelings about life seem to be expressed in autumn and winter themes particularly. "It gives my 'colourist' abilities a chance", she says, "to swing between the use of a very full, free and vibrant palette and a restricted, understated, subtle one." I I I I account of an organization that is trying to be born. Affordable housing is har to come by in North West On Priva rio for many people. industry builds a fair amou of housing but most of it sold or rented for a high The government also price. builds housing but most of is now for senior citizens (much needed of course, but useless to those who don't fall into that category). However, there is another kind of housing, called "Th It consis Sector Housing". of housing built by any gro not seeking to make a profi by it (for example: a Nativ People's group who decide t build housing and rent it t Native families who can't f suitable accommodation else where, or co-operative hous which will be owned by them collectively but where each part-owner will pay her or share of the expenses, like i rent) . The federal and provincia governments have a joint scheme to help finance such projects because they recog that the people who help th selves will nevertheless ne more help, such as mortgage money and funds to get star Also, these projects do pro much needed housing that pe can afford. However, very projects actually get off t ground -- or, should say, to the ground because so mu expertise is needed and bec there are such mountains of tape to overcome. But ther a ray of hope, because now two levels of government wi provide some of the finance organizations which are set to help Third Sector Housin over all these pitfalls, an also, if requested, with mai ment once the housing is bu (another area where difficu occur through lack of exper The housing committee of Lakehead Social Planning Cc cil is now trying to set up such an organization. If successful, it will then be independent and will be kno as Lodgepole, North West. hope that it will help many projects to materialize. T are certainly several group Northern Women who would be fit by organizing their own housing in order to become dependent. We hope that Lo pole, North West will be ab to give them the help they need. Anyone who would lik more information can contac Marg Frenette in the evenin Her telephone number is 983 I i 2307. Prue Morton PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �guess the s Cont'd from page 7 enticingly available wherever one goes. The availability of nutritious substitutes depends THE GLEESON CLINIC of on forethought. At home, raw vegetables can be cut up and stored in paper or CHIROPRACTIC terry towelling in the frig, ready for instant nibbling. Celery sticks filled with cheese, yogurt plus fresh fruit or granola stirred in, apple cheese with - wishes to announce the associateship of D.C. or without all can be available at home or taken to school or work. Nuts in the and sunflower seeds can be easily packed and carried PraCtice of Chiropractic for between meal snacks. Remember the essence fif a snack is availabilty .o be there when you want I irwithout requiring much 6 4 time or effort to procure it. There is a veritable library of books written on natural food: the dangers of ingredients added or removed: what happens to * GLEESON CLINIC OF CHIROPRACTIC 1304 VICTORIA AVE. THUNDER BAY, ONT. P7C 1C2 4 (807)623-5531 , The above photo spark amusing speculation o of the collective, wh arrived without docum Sex. raw foods when they are processed : how to shop One for, store and cook foods to get the food values we need for health. URGENT MESSAGE URGENT MESSAGE TO ONTARIO WOMEN The undersigned, acting as individuals, believe that the Family Law Reform Bill (Bill 59) will have disastrous consequences for women if it is adopted in its present form. The government of Ontario has stated its intention of passing this Bill within the next few weeks so that it would be law by March 31st, 1978. We strongly urge you to join us in attempting to stop this Bill in its present form. The Bill should be amended as follows: 1) To broaden the assets to be shared on separation or divorce (called "family assets" in the Bill) to include pension rights, savings and investments acquired during the marriage. This change would do much toward recognizing the equal contribution of the wife to the marriage partnership. (Section 3) 2) To guarantee widows a share of the matrimonial assets upon the death of their husbands. As the Bill abolishes dower rights without providing for sharing of the marital assets upon death, it would make widows worse off than they are at present. The law should ensure that women whose marriages continue until death get at least the same rights to their husbands' property as women whose marriages have broken down. 3) To change the Bill's retroactive presumption that a wife who received property from her husband is holding it in trust for him (in other words, he is still the real owner). Whenever a spouse transfers or buys property in the name of the other, the transaction should be considered to be one of gift. This would affirm women's rights over property they have received from their husbands and would bring the law into line with most people's beliefs and practices. (Section 11) The. Bill will apply to all Ontario spouses who do not opt out of it through a joint contract. As the above indicates, the authors of the Bill did not recognize the equality of the spouses during the marriage and have not given adequate consideration to the effects this legislation would have on continuing marriages. ACTION: (Most effective before February 28, 1978) (DO IT NOW) 1) Communicate with your Provincial Member of Parliament immediately, stressing that the Bill in its present form is not acceptable to you and why. All M.P.P.s can be reached at the Parliament Buildings, Queen's Park, Toronto. 2) If your M.P.P. is in one of the opposition parties, request that the party drop its support of this Bill. 3) Also write to the Premier (Hon. William Davis, same address). 4) Use all possible avenues (including your local media) to get similar immediate action by other women. Louise B. Dulude Lawyer and Research Officer Advisory Council on the Status of Women 29 Morris Street Ottawa K1S 4A6 (tel.: 613-992-4975) Charlotte M. England Past President Council of Women of Ottawa and Area 662 Brierwood Avenue Ottawa K2A 2J2 (tel.: 613-722-4551) Margaret J. Mason Lawyer and Member of the Steering Committee of the National is a boy and one They are not related collective does not k sex is which. Only the mothers and grapher know which se is. We invite you to sex of each and the r The correct guess wit reasons will win one subscription to the N Woman Journal. *****: Association of Women an 5 Oriole Drive Ottawa K1J 7E8 (tel.: 613-235-6736) Trudy Wiltshire Past President Provincial Council of W of Ontario and Member o Ontario Status of Women 492 Cooper Street Ottawa K1R 5H9 (tel.: 613-233-4294) (Note: The above affil stated as credentials organizations with whi are associated have ma tions on Bill 59, but too short to get their a joint text.) ***** GERMAINE GREER No better case could be the survival of the Nor Journal than the cynica of the Chronicle Journa and 7th, on the recent engagement of Germaine More on Germaine Greer issue. Anyone interested in fo ball, volleyball, socce Please come down to Wom and sign up. We have t practicing now to get i Northern Woman Journal pa PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE FUTURE NATIVE WOMEN Our Home is First Native Women Speak Exerpts from the Brief presented to the Hartt Commission by Marlene Pierre, President, Ont. Native Women's Association in Geraldton, Ontario. Nov 28/1977. We have come to tell you that if we are to live in the same house, that you must share with me, and I, with you; that if one of us begins to rip the floor and tear apart the walls, dirty the water and infest the air, that we will all have nothing left and will have to leave. , Such is the way it is becoming. With development, any given community experiences a form of trauma that requires it to readily adjust to a new thrust of development which is usual_ ly imposed upon it. This new development brings to the community a large influx of workers, both married and single. Married men bring with them their families, when re-locating to a new job. Schools, existing facilities, and housing, become a demand to accomnew on-coming transodate ient population and resulting shortages, overcrowding and emerge as new disrimination problems. Although this new family life should have a effect on the stabilizing community, it does not occur immediately. An element of the transient population lies mainly with the single men. The situation is different for single men. They live in campsites and share accommodation. Their concern lies mainly with their employer. They do not have or develop a sense of community spirit or loyalty. This, in fact, has a disruptive effect on the normal life of the community. Native people placed in this new situation must make enormous attempts to adjust and accommodate the new arrivals. It has been and will continue to be so in the future. Further, native people have lived in a relatively safe environment and have kept their own life style, values, and traditions. This new transplant upon the community will and has confused the way of life of native people.. The native society has been there for generations and will still be there when the transient population has gone. The two groups living side by side will affect each other. This effect will be greatest on the native communities because two completely different sets of value will Northern Woman Journal page 12 be in conflict with the traditional community as it is. By uprooting the basic fabric of the community, the consequences resulting from it causes social deterioration. It is this breakdown of a community, I wish to emphasize. We are concerned with the human element of development. What in fact happens to our native families when this occurs ? We are concerned about the social and family deterioration of the northern communities. We are concerned about the higher incidence of alcoholism among our native families. Residents of the communities must live along side of the construction workers; violence in the camps and the community will be visible because alcohol and weapons are freely available. Children will be exposed to these ill-effects of alcoholism. We are concerned about the use of drugs among our native women and children. Native women who must cope with problems and crisis may turn to drugs as a form of release for frustration, tension, and depression. The increasing use of gas sniffing, glue sniffing and .drugs will become more rampant among our youths. The lack of recreational facilities, no constructive use of leisure time, availability of drugs and alcohol all contribute to this problem. We are concerned about the sexual exploitation of our native women. Through the and availability of alcohol the communities being close to the camps, the evidence of violent attacks on women, rape, illegitimate pregnancies, unwanted children, prostitution, and venereal disease will rise beyond a social problem. We are concerned about depression among our native families, women, and children. The loss of dignity, self-respect and self-identity would lead to a higher incidence of suicides, murder, incarcerations of native women, violence, mental illness and crime. Communities along the C.N.R. have evidenced itself to this problem. We are concerned with the breakup of family units; abuse of wives, husband/wife beating by partners, communication breakdown-.all leading to shaky marriages common-law relationships, and eventual marital breakdowns. We are concerned about the neg lect and abuse of native children. We believe evry child has a basic and human right to live That right is the right to live at home in safety and comfort. We are concerned about the loss of cultural pride and identity, We are concerned with the lack of adequate social services in order to deal effectively with social problems. We are concern ed about the cutbacks in transportation and communications tc our northern communities. Mr. Commissioner, let us put our house in order,and let us help you. "There is no present or future, only the past, happening over now" and over again A quote from "Trinity"...Uris CALGARY STATUS OF WOMEN ACTION COMMITTEE 223 - 12th Ave. S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 0G9 For Immediate Release Prominent North American feminists -- including Robin Morgan, Dr. Lorene4 Clark and Dr. Diana Russel -- will participate in a conference on "Women in a Violent Society", to be held in Interested Calgary April 21-23. sons from throughout Western Canada are expected to attend. The conference is sponsored by the Calgary Status of Women Action ComA $3,500 grant has been mittee. secured from the Alberta Law Foundation, and further funding is expected from government and private sources. "Violence against women occurs on a continuum -- ranging from street hassling and violent pornography to battering and rape," explains Karen Lodl, conference organizer. Why focus specifically on women? Lodl points to a recent Weekend Magazine report that five of six violent crime victims are women, while only one of the nine charged with violent crimes is female. And domestic violence is of increasing concern -- one recent study indicates that almost 50 per cent of women jailed for murdering their hus' bands were physically abused by the men they killed. Purposes of the conference are to educate the public about the sources of violence in society, to garner support for additional rape crisis centres and women's shelters, and to examine law as it relates to rape, battering and sexual harassment. On the program along with authors Morgan (Sisterhood Is Powerful, Goinc Too Far), Clark (Rape: The Price of Coercive Sexuality) and Russell (The Politics of Rape, Crimes Against Women), will be Joannie Vance, natioi al assister for rape crisis centres, and Gene Errington, coordinator of Vancouver Women's Research Centre. For further information on the con ference, or to obtain registration materials, contact the Status of Women office, (403) 264-0774, or Karen Lodl, (403) 261-5697. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �I1VSPIRATION FROG it WHAT IT ALL MEANS. HOUSTWU copyright by Collen Patrick 1977 Throughout the National Women's Conference, the public wondered what it all meant. To this reporter it meant: -that women, for the first time in American history, were seen not as sex objects, but as human beings taking action on their own behalf. - that women believed they should not only act for themselves, but on the behalf of children and men as well.. Resolutions passed at Houston pertain to the entire family of humanity. - that women, at least those at the convention, felt compassion toward themselves, as well as others. They acted on behalf of those who are less- as well as more- fortunate than the individual voting. -that women- as they were represented in Houston; the cross section of poor, of ethnic minority, of disabled, of older, of lesbian, of Republican, of Democratic, of "average" women ( and none of us are average), chose to stand up for equality and real human justice. -that women, as has been the case historically, do not put a price tag on human life. Nor do they put a monetary value on the right of that human life to exist in peace, with strength and dignity. Women have long stretched the dollar the yen, and the lire beyond its real value in supporting themselves and their families. They know governments can do the same. - that women, who have for centuries supported the lives and emotional well-being of others, are now claiming the right of their own fiscal, physical, and emotional welfare. -that women, who have long played an invaluable role in decision-making processes behind the scenes, can now claim the power to act on their own behalf as well as for for others who want the benefits of that power. -that women, who have seldom been given credit for their contribution to political spheres, are openly revealing their political savvy, and they are not hoarding it- but sharing it with others. -that women, who have kno the meaning of physical endurance through childbirth, field work and "traditional" women's work like lifting children, will now, more than ever, use that power to expand their individual athletic abilities. -that women, who have long been- contributors to the arts through the use of pseudonyms or through the men they have helped, will now bring their own names to the public, and get credit for their own work. -that women, just because they are women, were heard in Houston. Particularly through the media. Women, just because they were women, were asked how they felt and what they believed. Those beliefs and feelings were considered facts by the media. The same media which has ignored their cries for recognition and validation throughout modern history. -that women, women who have been socialized to be reticent, to be silent- would in fact, act. And they continue the fight, knowing the later consequences. A woman's right to her reproductive freedom and her sexual preference were deemed necessary in Houston Not because of personal persuasion, but because women who ask for those things are in truction has the distinct possibility of being diffused by the women who are supposed to sit at home while men deliberate their futures-and fight. It means that the women who are supposed to "sit at home" and work to support fighting men, and make heroes of them if they return, will no longer sit in suffering silence. And it means that men who sit with other men, squabbling, while other men, women, and children die of poverty, neglect, disease, hunger, and war, will no longer make their decisions without another vital input-the so-called "woman's point of view." Houston is a start. It means a lot. It can mean more. Credit Pandora 7V ************************** 9 *EQUAL PAY CON T * * * * * * * * * * * * need. -that women, who recognize that * none of us will ever be really "free" would rather be captive * within the framework of a feminist consciousness than within 71. a mind which does not realize human values. -that women, those same women who have been depicted in demeaning, unimportant terms by male-identified programing and * * advertising, must be acknowledged as beings of intelligence, conscience, capability, lt courage, and compassion; as people who choose to deal with * reality, survival, and people, * more than"ring around the coil - * ar" and "waxy yellow build-up". 4E - that women, whethet conservative or progressive, will no longer remain uninvolved. What does it all mean? It means * change. It means courage and sacrifice for beliefs and a better quality of life. It means* that women will finally be recognized as leaders for us all. * It means a lot. It means that every nation in the world knows of that change, * because of the international focus on Houston. They must now recognize the indepence women will increasingly * feel about expressing their con-* the Ontario Labour Code. A reply from Dr. Stephenson was requested.within 30 days. The resolution was passed by approximately 3/4 of the 250 delegates present. AlthOugh representatives of business and industry were present, no management opinions were expressed. I left this conference both elated and depressed. Elated, because this women's caucus had, through their skills of articulation and debate, made "mincemeat" out of the It was exhilarating to know that highly competent women lawyers, economists, and researchers work relentlessly toward moving governzpent to implement equal value legislation. And depressed, because despite all these proceedings, the Ministry would not commit themselves to the equal value concept. Instead, we got the we will continue to study the concept routine( as they have been for the last 20 years.) They would closelg watch the results of the federal equal value law before considering its inclusion in the Ontario Labour Code. To all women in the workforce who hope someday their granddaughters will have equal pay for work of equal value, I leave you with one thought... the words of Nellie McClung, a great Canadian feminist activist and social reformer.. "Resignation is a cheap and indolent human virtue. It is so much easier to sit down and be resigned than to rise up and be indignant!" cerns. It means that now any government contemplating war nr deR- Leona Lang * Northern Woman Journal page lj PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �EQUAL PAY CONFERENCE Women in Ontario alone lose 3 billion dollars annually in potential wage and salary income due to male/female wage inequalities. The figure for all of Canada is 7 billion dollars ( Statistics Canada-74) Existing legislation in Ontario requires women to be paid equally with men when they prove their job requires substantially the same skill, effort, and responsibility as men under the same working conditions. This law is of no use to the 1.6 million working women in Ont.63% are concentrated in dead end low paying"job ghettos" sales, clerical, service, which are totally populated by women. Single sex job categories at low pay are being used by employers to avoid compliance with the intent of existing equal pay legislation. Women fear reprisals from employers when filing wage complaints. In the past equal pay investigators have repeatedly interpreted the existing eqdal pay legislation very narrowly. The Employment Standards Branch is underfinanced and there are not enough resources directed towards the aggressive pursuit of complaints. Women do not have the money or time to hire lawyers to defend them in their claims of wage discrimination. Consequently, despite equal pay legislation, in Ontario since 1951, the wage gap between working men and women continues to widen. Women still earn only 55% of men earn. The obvious what solution to the "economic ills" of working women is "equal pay for work of equal value" which, if implemented, would ensure women equal pay when performing jobs that are the same value as those of men. The criteria used in the job evaluation would be skill, effort, responsibility, and conditions under which the work is performed. (e.g. female sewing machine operator and male janitor). The objective of the conference organizers was to"raise the level of understanding and awarness of the issues concerning equal pay and opportunity for women in the workforce." Speakers from the United Kingdom, U.S.A., and Canada, examined existing equal pay legislation. Notably absent from the speakers' rosrepresentation from trum was the Canadian Federal govern ment, who will be implementing "equal pay for work of the new Human equal value "in Rights bill effective Mar.1/78. This clause will cover all federally regulated services such as C.N.R., C.B.C., Air Canada, Another Plaeebo banks, and agencies of the federal government. Federal representation was vital to explain how they intend to implement and enforce this law. Absent also was the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which has equal value provisions, and work hard at writing this concept into collective agreements covering their members. Instead, as an opener, we were treated to a welcome from the Minister of Culture and Recreation which, as Joan Sutton, Toronto columnist wrote "Sip your tea, ladies, and SHUT UPI Perhaps unwittingly, the Ont. government was telling the delegates in a symbolic way what this conference is really about. Giving the ladies something to do. Letting them have their say. While politics and business go on as usual. Withoutsignificant change." The Minister of Labour, Dr. Bette Stephenson, was also absent. This $20,000.00 conference was on the planning board a long time..if the Minister was really concerned with equal pay her schedule would have allowed for her presence. Instead, her deputy minister, T.E. Armstrong, Q.0 sat on the panel. His tone was patronizing, paternalistic, and uncompromising. In the face of difficulty he resorted to very slick, evasive bureaucratese, pointing outthat the issue at hand was a cabinet matter, and could only be spoken to by the Minister (who wasn't there). It soon became obvious we were in for another "snowjob" by the Ministry- how difficult and costly it was to implement and enforce equal value legislation: how, with high unemployment and inflation, women were not being realistic in our demands for equal pay for equal value(but then, we're not being realistic when the economy is booming, either). In response; delegates representing women's groups, unions, and academics, formed an informal coalition and attacked the Ont. government for"green-papering';, conferencing, and studying the issue to death, instead of passing effective legislation. One delegate asked a representative from Employment Standards what his department was doing to enforce minimum wage when there were thousands of immigrant women in Toronto working in textile mills for below minimum wage. He replied he was not aware of this situation. Amid incredulous groans, mr. Armstrong attempted to smooth this "faux paue' by passing the question over to Marnie Clark, Director of Women's Bureau, "Despite the fact that twice Mr. Armstrong instructions to her were politely disguised admonitions to keep her mouth shut, she did agree there are cases Tale immigrant and native women OD "Gee, I'd love to help, but...!" are being exploited, wnere women are working for less th minimum wage, and where equal pay complaints cannot be handled under the present law, Toronto Star.. Ms. Clark went on to discuss ways in which the government could ensure economic equality for woif,11-.. the workfarce. Government con tracts could be tended only t( those companies which voluntarily utilize affirmative action programs which are policies and programs based____-- on strategies to ensure the removal of unnecessary barrie. which restrict employment and promotional opportunities for women. It wa s argued that up ward mobility (higher educati( and horizontal moverpent (into non-traditional jobs for example) was not an equitable solution. Nurses and typists indignantly rose to point out they were highly skilled peop. but society had put a low value on their skills(hence, low pay). Ms. Clark also suggested allocation of tax incentives or rebates to equal pay/opportunity employers to which one woman scornfully retorted,"I pay taxes, which is paid to the employer(as a rebate) who exploits me in the first place!" What kind of reasoning is this?? At the final session of the two day conference, the Ont. Committee on the Status of Women, boldly walked to the microphone and amid flashing lightbulbs and whirring t. v. cameras, introduced a resolution(much to the dismay of the Ministry). It urged the government to seriously enforce existing equal pay legislation, and to legislate the equal value concept into Continued on page 13 Northern Woman Journal page 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �BOOK REVIEW What Is A Girl What Is A Boy? by Stephanie Waxman A CHILD'S BILL OF RIGHTS. WATCH ME GROW. Children of all ages need to be exposed to the exciting and informative world of books. Young children can develop an interest in learning to read from listening, watching, and participating while their parents read to them. We should not always keep only developing a desire to read foremost in our minds as we are selecting and reading books to our children. Children need a variety of books- colourful ,big pictures, small and detailed pictures, books to inform, to ask questions as well as answer questions, to laugh with, cry with, and just for fun. Take advantage of the opportunity to increase your child's vocabulary knowledge of the world around, interest in learning, and most important, your child-parent relationship. All of this, just by reading books with your child I'm glad I'm me, No one looks the way I do, I have noticed that it's true, No one walks the way I walk, No one talks the way I talk, No one plays the way I play, No one says the things I say, I am special- I am me, There is no one I would rather be than me. ...Ruth Dana Peterson Let me grow as I be And try to understand Why I want to grow like me, Not like my mom wants me to be, Nor like my dad hopes I'll be, Or my teacher thinks I should be, Please try to understand And help me grow Just like me. A curious child can, think, be stymied by some of the available children's literature on sex. To much information brings about a suffocation, perhaps of simple wondering. What is A Girl? What Is A Boy? gives. simple answers in the form of clear photographs of people (not just parts of people either) - the kind of picture a a child wants to examine. Each photograph accompanies a straightforward sentence in real language (no baby I ....Gladys Andrews SHE SHOOTS! talk or euphemisms) that stays within the vocabulary range of the average four-year old. One likes the people in the pictures. One wants to study them. They are everyday people illustrating points important to one who is sorting out things in our culture--points such as 'girls play hockey' and 'boys play with dolls' this man wears jewelry' and this lady has short hair'. It concludes that we are all people: women and girls being people with a vagina and clitoris, men and boys with a penis and testicles. The final illustrations in the book are the only non-photographs and are drawings done by small children, in which parts of the body (nose, fingernails, clitoris, etc.) are labeled. (Your mother may have been shocked had you drawn these at age four.) There is then provision for the young reader to enter her own drawing in the book. My child likes it. SHE SCORES! by Heather Kellerhals-Stewart The Women's Press $.95 54 pages Of great topical interest today She Shoots! She Scores! describes a phenomenon which has only recently become a reality. Although girls have wanted to play league hockey for many years they were only permitted to do so for the first time this season. She Shoots! She Scores! tells the story of Hilary, a girl who likes being a girl but who also likes to play hockey. She is in the fastpaced world of the hockey arena. Her family and best friend are rooting for her, but in the end it is Hilary's own determination that brings her through. Pat Conway, in the Junior Fiction Showcase says, "The text is lively and the pace is quick. This will be fun reading for boys and girls alike...". Sita FORT FRANCES DECADE Dear "Northern Woman" Here is a short piece as promised about our Decade Council DECADE COUNCIL REPORT The Women's Movement is alive in Rainy River District. The Rainy River District Decade Council had its beginnings with a core group of area women in the spring of 1977. A visit from Ruth Cunningham and Lynne Thornburg sparked more interest, and then area women travelled to Thunder Bay for the Working Women's Conference, and again to a meeting of the Northwestern Ontario Women's Decade Co-ordinating Council. In May the N.O.W.D.C.C. held its monthly meeting here in Fort Frances. After that visit, the local group set priorities, and applied for and received a grant from the Secretary of State. The Dryden Daycare Conference solidified our commitment to help in any way possible to set up a Daycare Centre in Fort Frances. On February 13, Fort Frances Town Council passed a by-law which means the town will apply to the province for funding to operate a Daycare Centre. The Decade Council has been pushing the town to take that action since August. Since October, education seminars on Child Abuse and Women and Alcohol have been presented and received solid public support. Two more seminars, on the Problem Child and Rape and Sexual Assault, are in the planning stages. A three day workshop on Women and the Law is set for May. Nine area women travelled to Thunder Bay in January, 1978 for a Rape and Sexual Assault Workshop. Women who are willing to counsel rape victims and fulfill speaking engagements have met since to plan strategy, and a liaison has already been set up with the Fort Frances Police Department. The Decade Council has made some progress, and our hope is to continue. "We've only just begun." Gayle Quirie I Homecooked Catering for, Weddings, Showers, Parties (Large & Small) 767-7355, June or 767-5173, Grace Northern Woman Journal page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Scat GO Ifsar District Women Eligil Northern Women's Credit Union almost sold out Don'tYear Be Disappointed one, was viewed to be very Order low! successful for the Northern Women' Credit Union. A dividend of 5% ar a 30 loan rebate was approved at annual meeting January 30, at WOME Place, 316 Bay Street. We are very pleased to report 0 Women living in the Districts of Thunder Bay, Kenora and Rainy Rive The-Northern Woman is extending a reduced rate to groups under who order 10 or more the bond are now eligible, Instead of the regular $5.00 weassociation, are offeringtothe special price copies. become members. of Orders should be'pre-paid by cheque or money order (made out tow,SALT location $3.50. change of geographical YEAST) and sent to the Northern Woman approved Journal, by 316the BayMinistry St., Thunder Bay, of Consur The pry Ontario, P713 1S1. Phone 807-345-5841. and Commercial Relations. vious boundary was within a 70 mi S*rigt tom C pert ORDER FORM ORDER FORM SALT Name Address I radiJs of Thunder Bay. ORDER FORM ORDER FORM Lynne Thornburg, a member of th AND Credit YEAST Union, travels extensively into the district and has kindly consented to be bonded as a colle She will have the necessary or. forms so that women may become me bers. Please Send copies Women may also phone or write t Northern Women's Credit Union and application will be mailed to you or drop in when visiting Thunder Tuesday and Friday fr Hours are: 10 to 5 p.m. and Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. el $3.50 or - e $5.00 cess Story n as The be s. ny 1 finding room for in the journal. We are seriously considering doing an anthology of collected poems--the time frame, to be one year hence. We The final invite women to participate. selection is that of the Journal No funds will be involved. collective. Send releases with material and stamped addressed envelope, if you wish your Address all poetry to be returned. suLnissions to the Northern Woman Journal, 316 Bay St., Thunder Bay. P7B 1S1. more credit union (NORTHERN WOMEN'S CREDIT UN] 316 BAY ST. HOURS TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS 10 a.m. TO 5 p.m. THURSDAYS 7 p.m. TO 9 p.m. PH. 345-7802 - The Northwestern Ontario International Women's Decade Co-ordinating Council cordially invites you to attend als ed n e r- join now "A NIGHT OF FILM" for contest International Women's Day nep and the The Northern Women's Credit Uni( can no longer use the above log( the hands and globe symbol is a copyright of the World Council Credit Unions. We invite women to submit logos for The Northern Women's Credit The woman submitting thi Union. winning entry will receive two 10th Anniversary of Confederation College -ny ua, s red ( honouring Women's Programs Confederation College Lecture Theatre Saturday, March 11 , 1978 8 shares. PM 4 I PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �I+ Cosa Paolo Carlo Peal Bulk Ennead: re third woilims dos dorm ************************. 220 ** *Editorial *Gert's Gospel **Letters pg *TABLE OF CONTENTS: RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Return Postage Guaranteed *Women Read Men *I U D LEAVES WOMAN STERILE *Women Against Rape *Eating Natural *Bits and Pieces *Poetry Artists tNative Women Speak ;Inspiration From Houston *Another Placebo Frances Decade **Typing...Leona and Cathy 2 2 3 4 ** * * * * * ** 5 if 6 7 8 9 * * * 10 * 12 * * 13 14 * 15 ** * *********************** HAVE YOU MOVED? PLEASE LET US KNOW. (We must pay return postage to keep up our mailing list) korgerti 316 Your subscription is due. CQn11411 gat-Sick tailltret (Six Ds'u.es) val., bd. 4.50 its° g usf ar %sr' Infifitruifo onattionsGt- cdertk fteeezifeti PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 4 No 2 Description An account of the resource Vol. 4, No. 2 (February 1978) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Shifting focus from oppression to positive news Highlighting grassroots activist success across Canada Poetry Letters to the editor Feminism across the spectrum (conservative to radical feminisms) IUD leaves woman sterile Doctors and women’s bodies Women against rape Law reform to support rape survivors Eating natural foods Land ownership after divorce Sexist television commercials Women in music - Vera Johnson Women in art - Kay McCullough Family Law Reform Bill (Bill 59) Ontario Native Women’s Association Native women’s experiences & status Equal Pay Conference Feminist kids’ books Fort Francis Women’s Decade Council Northern Women’s Credit Union Salt & Yeast by Gert Beadle Authors/contributors: Gert Beadle K. Henley (Elliot Lake) Margaret Frenette Dianne Pettit Baig Sandra Steinhause Patricia J. Wales (D.C.) Rosalyn Taylor Perrett Deidre Hamill Prue Morton Marlene Pierre Leona Lang Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1978-02 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2750/1977_Vol_4_No_1.pdf 07d6f2b861b6b8c31ea33ada5fb3e7d2 PDF Text Text 0111011 500" Vorurnc 4 4ssitt 1 J01111113-17 DECEMBER 1977 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �GERT'S GOSPEL The subject of mother's and daughters is as wide as thought can make it. That each generation fits into the pattern of progress in societies evolution immediately makes them different. With a quality of sameness in that the same things happen to both of them and is measured by the preception that is the product of the times. It is a wise mother who therefore knows the preceptions that have taken her years to formulate will only serve to provide a beginning and a base for the kind of experimentation and rethinking which is not only the norm for the young but the sign of personal growth. The number of daughters who think their mother's don't understand them is only equal to the number of mother's who try but somehow never make it. What goes wrong when the two people designed to be natural allies become the author of each others misery and sometimes destruction? What part is played by a mothers perception of her own self-worth? In a position of dependance does she unknowingly project her anxiety and anger in those who are in turn dependant on her --- from observation it seems likely. If she has persuaded herself that her own secret rebellion has been unworthy of her high calling as wife and mother, will she not strive to check that rebellion and the questions it asks and see her daughter safely esconced in a similar bind. It used to work and in far to many cases it still applies but one thing never changes. The pride with which the rare young woman speaks of the strong independant mother and grandmother who refused to play a passive role in the face of injustice, moved with the times in a pattern of awdreness, and nutured that same lively independance in her daughter. Since woman have been relegated to a position of dependance in the scenario of civilization and this fact is only partially compensated for in covert manipulation, the point at which mothers and daughters should find their closest alliance is mutual rebellion. The number of daughters that imagine their circumstances are different, their feelings alien is a direct result of the reluctance of mothers to establish this vital link of communication. The desperate desire to remain comforter, protector and counsellor rather than fellow travellers in a common direction to the fullfilment of all female potential separates the generation and robs both mother and daughter of the support each needs to survive. The Northern Woman Regional Journal collective accepts the responsibility for publishing all articles in this paper. However, the opinions of the author are not necessarily those of each collective member. Any comment should be sent to our office. The Collective. EDITORIAL Your Northern Woman Collective have had serious discussions lately regarding the future of this journal The survival of the paper as a vehicle that chronicles our progress in the cause of greater awareness in the public and a closer relationship with the readers has been a priority in the minds of all of us. To this end we have volunteered our time, our energy and in many cases our money to subsidize the operation that places in the hand of the reader a fair representation of what Women are doing in the region to support other women. In the last two years we have seen postage increase from 3 to 14 Our printing costs have climbed over 40%. (Materials are costly and we must therefore decide Should we go ) the route of further subsidization, and if we do, can we afford it or should we move our price of subscription to $4.50 a year.) We feel our readers should respond to our Dilemma. As alternate Women's papers bow to the pressure of economics, it is important for us to know. How do you feel about it's survival? 401111161 OPPRESSION IS... 4. ill have a sisterly Christms, INTRODUCTION TO NONTRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS -Oppression is poverty; oppression is exploitation; it is forced dependence; it is being property, yet not being valued as other forms of property; it is being confined to work ghettos; being held solely responsible for the rearing of children; it is unwanted sex; being beaten; being raped; it is having no control over one's body. It is low selfesteem, it is fear of aging, of being alone, it is not liking oneself very much, it is learning at an early age that one is not quite tall enough, slim enough, pretty enough, competent enough -- oppression is never being able to accept that as an individual, one is not solely responsible for and the cause of one's poverty, exploitation, dependence and fear. Credit - Kinesis 10 HAVE YOU BEEN THINKING OF GETTING BACK INTO THE WORLD OF PAID EMPLOYHAVE YOU BEEN THINKING OF MENT? SOME OF THE MORE "UNUSUAL" JOBS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE? If so, this could be the course for you. 1. Assess their own skills. 2. Determine which jobs are w their range. 3. Develop job search techniqu 4. Provide four weeks on-thetraining. The student will choose, with help from the structor, where this train will take place. Manpower is sponsoring, through Confederation College, an eightweek course for women who wish to seek employment in areas generally regarded as restricted to members of the "opposite sex". The course is designed to help students: The course begins October 17, in Thunder Bay South. REGIST YOUR LOCAL CANADA MANPOWER OFF For more information, call Wo Programs, 577-5751, Extension 353 or 232. Northern Woman Journal page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �KINGSTON INTERVA uirectors and staff of Ontario Interval and transitional houses met in conference at Queen's University, Kingston, Ont. for 4 days Oct. lith to 14th, to share their common experience,re-enforce their common goals and plan a future stratedgy to insure the continued concern for women and children unhappily the victims of physical and emotional battering will culminate in a series of houses of refuge that will provide the support and encouragement as well as the knowledge to re-assess her lifestyle with in a way that promotes change. With 14 houses now operating in the province and 5 more in the planning stage the question of perminent funding is crucial to the survival of an operation that speaks to the problem as well as the sol- Women-In Transition The "Crisis Homes Inc." citizen's committee, concerned in the area of interval shelters for women and children who are victims of physical abuse are sponsoring an intensive study of the problem. The present social structure now involved in offering service and counselling to this particular segment of our citizens will be This project under review. will operate from 316 Bay St., Thunder Bay, and is funded by Canada Works. ution. The lack of public interest and the persistent stereo-typing of the woman caught up in this cycle is a From a feminist major difficulty. perspective clearly those involved have a responsibility to lead the way in a concentrated effort to challenge the apathy of those whose position of influence could provide invaluable support to the projects. Donna Miller from Hiatus House in Windsor, presented an example or a community where business and professional elements play a fully supportive role which has enabled them to serve both as a refuge for abused women and a counselling service for non residental couples in marital dispute. An interesting and encouraging new element emerged in the role that city law enforcement is playing in the field of violence in the home. London's family counselling division of the regular force and the female officer assigned to family emergency calls. A unanimous decision to form an incorperated association of Interval and transitional houses in Ontario will hopefully come to fruition before Xmas when Hiatus House will host a representation of those houses both in operation and planning comprising two persons, one actively working with women in transition and one board member of an incorperated committee. The excerise to emerge with a constitution that will enable them to seek a mandate from the provincial government that will provide a stable It was my pleaoperational budget. sure along with Bev Curtis from Atikokan to share the concerns that we here in North Western Ont. have felt about the growing incident of violence in the home. Our incorperated committee has been in place At Woman's Place for three years. the woman in trauma is no stronger to us, we have felt removed and outside the city run crisis housing being neither allowed or willing to refer the women to the frist format. It has been small consolation to us that these houses exist because of our pressure when so many of our hopes were not realized in it's The climate for a closer operation. co-operation now seems possible and we are prepared to explore every avenue that leads to a better serWe have been granted a vice. Canada Works for five persons for a documentation of both incident and the gaps in social services and will concentrate on follow-up procedures as well as producing a hand book for women in difficulty. Bev Curtis from Atikokan and her group have the added problem of a mining town, the problem is real and immediate but there are strong women in that community and she feels confident a place of refuge will be a certainty. The possibi47 ity of a Interval house in Fort Frances has also been discussed. It is one of the exciting realities that in our time a woman terrified and abused may no longer feel there is no one who really cares. With the advent of a provincial association the subject of battered women will finally be exposed to public conversation. Five persons have been hired under this project, and it is their intention to research the area of "Battered Women" and to produce a booklet specifically designed for victims of violence in the home, offering choices of a course of action for their protection. The project will run from November 21, 1977 to July 14, 1978. "Can Boys be doctors, Mom?" Report from conference held in Kingston, Oct. 11th to 14th. A RIDDLE OR A MYTH? A boy and his father were driving in a They had an car. accident, the boy's The father died. child was taken to the hospital, a doctor was called. The doctor said "I can't operate on this boy, he's my son." How can that be? answer on pg. 15 "You must be new around here. That woman you called a broad this morning would like a word with you in her Ilffice." rn Woman Journal page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �$ 12,000 FEMINIST SET AS GOAL BOOKS WOMEN, MONEY & POWER By Phyllis Chesler and Emily Jane Goodman. Bantam, $2.50 As everyone knows, women have neither money nor power and they have been systematically excluded from the means to achieving both. If you have read and enjoyed Chester's Women and Madness her very academic indictment of the psychiatric profession, you will certainly find this insightful reading. It is a collaboration with a New York lawyer, Emily Goodman, to castigate another social institution - the economy. Chesler and Goodman take turns poking gaping holes into such concepts as the alimony myth (wherein women live like queens off the spoils of divorce) the total commitment of women to motherhood and marriage, and "powerful" women. The financial impotence of women is examined from every angle, from the psychology of ambilvalence in women toward women to the psychoeconomics of beauty. One thought is clear throughout the analysis of the psychoeconomic oppression of women and that is, that women simply only get close to money. Any appearance of power is merely derivative. Even the wealthiest women in the world have virtually no power of their own; any power they might have is through association, with some individual man. Achievements are generally made in the area of beauty and youthful looks... few women rarely run countries, banks, or businesses because it takes more than beauty and youth to qualify and women are not allowed access to the more important avenues. The expectation that all women are committed to motherhood particularly generally prevents them from: Obtaining high-salaried jobs, advancing, getting credit, developing necessary job skills and experiences, and receiving equal pay for equal work. Little has changed for women in terms of power in the co-called revolution. Chesler and Goodman point out only too blatantly that they have no access to the means of change and the ends are not even in sight. By Mary Burns PROTEST...NOVEMBER 5th, 1977 ON NOVEMBER 5th, A NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WAS HELD ACROSS CANADA. AMONG THE THEMES WHICH EMERGED FROM THE PROTEST WERE: ...RAPE IS LESS AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN SEXUAL GRATIFICATION THAN A WAY OF ASSERTING POWER, OF DOMINATING AND HUMILIATING THE VICTIM. Northern Woman Journal page 4 As anyone who drops into 316 Bay Street can see Women's Centre is thriving. The growth of activity, the re-newal of energy, the involvement of many women in the variety of issues and projects underway is heart-warming. What is abundantly apparent is that to maintain this energy and increase the involvement, permanent funding to provide for staff must be obtained. At the Women's Centre Annual Meeting on December 1st, considerable time was spent discussing fund-raising endeavours that we wish to pursue immediately. We began by establishing a goal. We intend to raise (in cash or commitment) $12,000 by April 1, Women Artists, 1550-1950 by Ann Sutherland Harris and Linda Nochlin, published by Alfred A. Knofp, New York, 1977. $11.95 in Canada. I couldn't read the whole book before writing this review. But before you decide to discount me as a reviewer, let me explain further. The book reviews the work of women artists over four centuries. It provides biographical information and discusses the historical conditions which hindered women as artists, as well as reviewing the works of the women. It is a very large book with a wealth of interesting information, and illustrations of many beautiful paintings. It is a book you could browse through, finding something new each time. It is a book you could begin, put down and pick up again much 1978. There is agreement that while government grants (always uncertain) will continue to be sought, energy must also go to other fund raising projects. We would like to develop small business projects, that not only would be a source of funds for Women's Centre but would generate needed employment for women. We agreed that we have many skills that could be turned into moneyraising events. Two projects were immediately initiated - wrapping Christmas presents and making Christmas crafts. Monies raised will be placed in a special account (Women's Centre Survival Fund) with the Northern Women's Credit Union and we are determined to reach our goal of $12,000 in four months. If you have fund-raising ideas we would really like to hear about them - please call 345-7802. Cash donations are encouraged and receipts will be given for tax purposes. Have you considered a donation as a gift for someone? Every dollar counts. Crafts, candles and Christmas cakes are available to purchase from Women's Place, 316 Bay Street. later. The book reviews in detail the paintings chosen for an exhibition of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The research on works not part of the exhibition was made possible by several grants. Judging from the introduction, which provides an overview of women as artists from the medieval period to the 1950's; and from some of the passages which describe the artists and their work; the perspective of the authors incorporates both an understanding and an appreciation of the women whose talents could not be-suppressed. Just one more thought- there are 32 colour plates (which are magnificent), and over 150 black-and-white illustrations. This book has something for almost everyone. Lynne Thornburg ft THE COnea6e phone Women's nace be4one BOOKSH AND Anyone intenested in a VA,st aid couue 4-tatting in _lama/1g 1978 January 18, 345-7802 OW ...RAPE .RAPE SHOULD BE REDEFINED IN THE CODE, POSSIBLY AS ASSAULT RATHER THAN A SEXUAL VIOLATION, SO CONVICTIONS COULD BE GAINED MORE EASILY. .WOMEN SHOULD LEARN-THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SKILLS OF SELF DEFENCE, AND ..WOMEN, RATHER THAN POLITICIANS, POLICE AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES ARE GOING TO ULTIMATELY HAVE TO ERASE THE EXISTING STEROTYPES OF MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE LARGELY RESPONS1BLE FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �At 93, Muria] is still active and presently residing in a senior citizens complex in Sioux Lookout. Thanks to Marion Babcock for submetting this herstory. HERSTORY muriel boyle Muriel Boyle was born on February 20th, 1884, in London, England. Seven of her adolescent years were spent in India where she lived with an uncle and attended school. Returning to London in 1902, she received secretarial training and was employed in the municipality for many years. In 1921 Muriel took a Montessory Course; she taught in private schools in Devonshire and Derbyshire before emigrating to Canada in 1927. Muriel taught at Havergal College in Toronto for a year; the next fourteen years were spent as a social worker at University Settlement in Toronto. She set up a nursery school, music centre and recreational activities during this time and was involved with a varity of people. For three years she taught at the Royal Conservatory of Music, specializing in eurythmics. She instructed children with learning difficulties in consultation with the psychiatric department of the Sick Children's Hos.)ital in Toronto. After an injury in a car accident in 1944, Muriel spent a year in Quebec where she taught school. In 1945 she arrived in the small settlement of Pearson, 40 miles south of Fort William, where she taught in a one room school for a year amid many hardships. The next two years she taught in the nearby settlement of Pardee. in 1948 muriel came to Sioux Lookout; she taught music in the public schools throughout the area for many years past retirement age. In 1965, at the age of 81, she began Lakeview School for the retarded in her home. For two years she taught children with learning problems; After this time the Board of Education purchased the present Lakeview School and Muriel discontinued formal teaching. However she continued to teach music in her hare for 10 more years and at the present she is teaching piano to a friend. She also gives instructions in reading to visiting children who require extra help in their schooling. and studies eurythmics, folkdancing, the English language, and people with enjoyment. NUriel's interest in the retarded continues; she is the membership chairwoman for the mentally retarded and an active member of the management board. An adult residence for the retarded was built in Sioux Lookout in 1975 and named in her honour (The Muriel Boyle Centre). In 1975, she was presented with the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship in Toronto by the lieutenant Governor Pauline McGibbon. Muriel is sympathetic to the women's movement and feels that women should have a choice in the work world that is equal to a man. She feels that there should be a sharing of duties in the have with no dominance by the male. She has enjoyed all stages of her life, particularly teaching. In each new setting she has become completely involved. She appreciated individuality, has lived very independently all her --life, and has few regrets. She Muriel is an active member of the believes that life is determined mainly community; she is the musician for the by,luck, She has cultivated her talents Rebekah Lodge and secretary for the and is an interesting person to be Senior Citizens' Club. Her main interwith. Her wit and intellect, as well ests- teaching, music and children, as her true concern for others, make continue to benefit the community and her a joy to know and she rerains an she is a resource person in the field influence on all who know her. of education. She is a avid reader Mimi Novick . CREDIT UNION update The Northern Women's Credit Union continues to progress very satisfactorily, with membership and assets growing monthly. Members of the Credit Union have been speaking to Women's groups about our activities. If you belong to a Woman's organization that would like a speaker about the Credit Union please call the office (345-7802). The Credit Committee, which consider all loan applications, is kept busy and we would like to explain some of the Committee's work. The Credit Committee really has a dual responsibility: to provide loans to members for necessary purposes at a low rate of interest and to protect the savings of the Credit Union members. To be eligible to apply for a loan you must first be an approved member of the Northern Women's Credit Union. Memberships are approved by the Board of Directors which meets the second Monday of each month. We point this out to encourage you to become a Credit Union member now, rather than waiting until you need a loan, and being disappointed by a delay. A member wishing to obtain a loan -'ust fill out an application form, which is available at the Credit Union office. The Credit Committee meets every Thursday evening to review all loan applications. Usually, for first loans, an interview with the applicant is held. Both the Credit Union Act and the Northern Women's Credit Union's By-Laws regulate the granting of loans. Thus, it is required that any loan over $500 must be secured. (The Credit Committee may also require security for loans under Security may be a chattel $500). mortgage (e.g. on household furniture or an automobile), an assignment of wages or other monies receivable, an assignment of Credit Union shares, or a co-signer. The total amount that can be loaned to a member is also regulated. At the present time the total cannot exceed $1,100 in excess of the member's savings. As our assets grow so will the total amount we are able to loan out. If you wish further information about the Credit Union, please drop into the office at 316 Bay Street, (next to the Hoito) Tuesday's or Friday's 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Thursday evenings from 7 - 9 p.m. or phone 345-7802. THE GLEESON CLINIC of CHIROPRACTIC wishes to announce the associateship of __%-5-eirte4.1teq c.,20A214, D.C. in the Practice of Chiropractic GLEESON CLINIC OF CHIROPRACTIC 1304 VICTORIA AVE. THUNDER BAY, ONT. P7C 1C2 (807)623-5531 Northern Woman Journal page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Margaret Trudeau Phobia Now that Margaret Trudeau is settled in New York and about to become a movie actress, perhaps it is time to check back and evaluate the whole "Margaret affair". It is hard to think of anyone in recent times who has been so castigated by the Canadian news media. Margaret was called spoiled, irresponsible and a traitor to her country. MacLeans, who came down the hardest, labeled her "a media groupie" and warned she was a danger to national unity. Ottawa gossip, usually left unprinted by the press under an unwritten "gentlemen's agreement", was inserted into the articles as fact. Harvey Kirk, CTV newsman, warned in a story in the Globe and Mail, March 31 that she was "fair game" for the press and Peter Kent of the CBC agreed on the grounds that she went into a public bar, something that Prime Minister's wives don't do. "Today's Generation", a teen magazine handed out free in the high schools, called Margaret a "national digrace" and suggested that she "keep her mouth shut." Furthermore the magazine claimed she had made the country "an International joke." In spite of an unprecedented deluge of mail protesting its treatment of Margaret, MacLean's continued its character assassination through March and April of this year. The language they used provides an interesting study in sexist reporting. Margaret did not talk; she "burbled", nor did she walk; she "skittered". She did not get angry; she "bitched", nor could she make a remark; instead she "chirped" (MacLean's, March 21, p. 63, 64 and April 4 p. 23). Every adjective and verb used was to make her sound childish and trivial. What did this woman do to merit such treatment?? Well, there was the separation and talk of divorce. Today's Generation said that a divorce would be hard on that but we should not expect her national morale (May/June, 1977). A lot of the remarks about lack of res"work" in return, nor should she be up as a model of virtue to refrain ponsibility were really a veiled criticism of the marriage separetion. activities common to Canadians such marriage separation, or going to rc Marg2ret's patriotic duty was to remain concerts for that matter. in the marriage lest she upset the Yes, it was that Rolling Stone cc country and especially upset the Prime Minister. MacLean's even opinioned that which seemed to irritate the media most. Why, they asked, should she the stress on the PM might cause him to resign, which in turn would cause the her position to get tickets? The separatists to triumph and therefore the is that heads of state and their fz have always used their positions fc break-up of the country would be on Margaret's conscience. tickets, the best seat at sports ac ities and other favours. The Ameri Let us ask ourselves this question. What are the duties and responsibilities presidential family doesn't get tic they arrange performances in Washin of a Prime Minister's wife ? As far as Former Prime Ministers in Canada ha know there are none. To be sure the used every bit of influence to meet Prime Minister's wife is in the public rich and famous as their autobiogra eye for she is often made part of that show. Prime Minister MacKenzie Kin political party's publicity as Margaret enamoured with the British aristoc, and her children have been. and pulled every string to get invi Whatever you think of the morals of there was no secret about it and not remember hearing criticism unti Margaret Trudeau went to a Rolling concert. wonder if the outcry wo have been as intense if she had bee given tickets to the ballet? There are two lessons to be learn, here. First, women in public posit are still being judged by a special of standards. For instance, it was Trudeau who used violence against hi yet it was Margaret who was blamed. The second lesson is a positive of The volume of mail from Canadian wor was an admitted suprise to the newsi and magazines. Women wanted no mon coverage of what was essentially a vate matter and there was also conch about the sexism of the reporting. pro-Margaret letters were so numerot that newspapers began to cover the It has become customary for wives to story in a more dignified, less gos! act as hostesses and perhaps most of manner. Finally, only MacLean's cor them have enjoyed it. Margaret did not. the tone of vilification. We do not pay the Prime Minister's If wife a salary nor is she elected. Joan Baril she lends herself to election publicity for her husband we can do nothing about 1 I I I who ordered them to undress and pe form oral sex on each other, then him. But while one of the women fellated the man, he lay back and closed his eyes, and the other wom hit him on the head with a rock. Stunned, the attacker dropped hi gun and fled. Police arrested him five hours later when he returned the scene to pick up his car. Jailed Victim of Incest Noreen Winchester is now in Armagh women's prison in Northern Ireland, sentenced to seven years for the 'manslaughter' of her father. From the day of her mother's funeral, when she was 13, Noreen was raped by her father, who threatened to kill her brother (9) and two sisters (6 and 7) if she told the police what he was doing. In 1975 when she was 17, she met Dertrr of Farrar and they planned to marry in April 1976. Noreen's father then said they need not be careful any more - if she got pregnant everyone would think it was Dermot's child. Noreen tried to ward him off but he raped her again. Desperate, the next night when he came home drunk, she put a knife in his neck. Passing sentence, the judge said she had been "a willing partner for years" and had had "plenty of time to go to the police about the incest" - showing a complete lack of understanding of pressures within the family. An international feminist campaign has started to fight for Noreen's release. Other raped women in the USA who retaliated against their attackers and got heavy sentences, have been acquit. Reuters. ted by higher courts after feminist publicity campaigns: Inez Garcia who killed one of two men who raped her; Joanne Little who was to be hanged for killing her rapist. This campaign is being co-ordinated by the Noreen Winchester Committee, Gerolaan 52, Zeist, Holland - they want postcards demanding Noreen's release. Irish Women United are organising support - contact them at PO Box 909, Dublin. - Spare Rib issue 62 Sept/77 RAPE IN THE NEWS Two young women sunbathing in a secluded spot near Sacramento, Calif. were approached by a man with a gun A Milwaukee man abducted a local woman and forced her to have inter'\fter course with him in his car. he'd finished, the woman told him that she might get pregnant and she wanted him to know about it if she did. He gave.-her his phone number. Police arrested him later that day. Wisconsin State Journal (Karen Kim) A newly invented rape protection product called "Repel" consists of vial of concentrated skunk oil with which the attacked woman is suppose to drench herself in order to repul a would-be rapist. Toronto Star Credit to National Lampoon. Northern Woman Journal page 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WOMEN AGAINST RAPE the male member of this lawyer team, is that he had, but two years before, called the police to report a rape committed by this very man he was now defending. had been in danger. They would realize if they had, that when your life is in mortal danger, you have no conception of time when your every move is being controlled. The victim was asked questiona regarding drinks she had during the afternoon; her boyfriend's temperment; her debts -- subtle inferences with this line of questioning. The reasons behind this questioning became apparent later when the defense called the accused to the stand. WITNESS FOR THE ACCUSED--"ARE YOU READY TO GO HOME." THE ACCUSED- "NO, I'M NOT FINISHED WITH HER YET!" How did the accused account for the bites to the victim's thigh, breast and nose? "Oh,---well---in the midst of our scuffle, accidently fell on her, my elbow hitting her inbreast, when her leg flew up and stinctively bit her thigh, and as she accidentally bit raised her head, her nose." The victim supporters reacted to his story with anger, near hysteria, urges to laugh and others They shook their heads in disbelief. felt his account was too smooth, well rehearsed, and lacking credibility. I "I'M GOING TO PENETRATE YOU ANYWAY!" I A recent trial was held during the fall assizes involving an attempted rape of a 26 year old secretary. The attacker was her employer. The case was particularity important, as the Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre was familiar with other 'activities' of the alleged rapist. A year earlier he had been charged with rape--first trial was a hung jury--and thenhe was acquitted. The TBR&SAC collective and other supporters showed up at the trial to lend support to the victim and to watch how our justice system works. For the most part most of us had never attended a rape trial before, although we had been to preliminaries. Needless to say we were educated quite severely in matters of law. "HE LOCKED THE DOOR AND TOOK OUT HIS PENIS AND SAID WHAT AM SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS? AND THEN SHUT OFF THE LIGHTS." The accused took the stand and gave his account of what happened. The defense lawyer led her questioning of the witness to portray the image of a fine upstanding citizen. In the RCAF for a number of years, 45 years old, divorced, father of three children, businessman, well dressed and very contrary to the myth of the sidezy pervert. He was manager of a life insurance agency until this last incident. It boggles the mind to realize now, that this man operated a business that allowed him easy access to women's homes. The accused only spoke in glowing remarks about his victim. He related what happened that day with the smoothness t6f a well-rehearsed actor. Tears flowed when appropriate and gestures were made to emphasize his statements. He managed to look puzzled and persecuted when the crown asked direct questions that required a few seconds to think of a response, He angered self-righteously when the crown goaded? him on certain aspects of his testimony. I "MR. DEVLIN" CRIED THE ACCUSED, AM NOT A PARAGON OF VIRTUE, BUT I "I EXPECT MORE FROM YOU THAN SITTING BEHIND A DESK TYPING." The defense for the accused was the only wife and husband team in Thunder Bay. The fact that a woman was defending the accused was bad enough, but she also had been regarded as a supporter of women's rights and was friends of members of our support group. They were hurt, shocked, surprised and felt betrayed. personally cannot speculate on her reasons for defending a rapist --frankly, don't give a damn. Another interesting fact about I I .1 (One of the witnesses testified she saw indentations of teeth marks on the victim's breast.) This 'paragon of virtue' is free again. The verdict was NOT GUILTY. He could have been found guilty of indecent assault or common assault. The jury found him not guilty on any of the included charges Our I Our members heard testimony of evidence including the victim's. The victim related how she had worked for only four months for her accused employer before the attack happened. She related that she planned to leave his employment because of his persistence in becoming 'familiar' with her. He did so by cornering her between the wall and filing cabinets, etc. During her testimony, the victim was not emotional, she was polite and not vindictive. Her account was supported by other witnesses and corroborative evidence of clothing, bruises, evidence of fighting, etc. We felt from her testimony alone that the jury probably would have convicted him. But, KNO) I "AT ONE POINT GOT INTO THE OUTER OFFICE, BUT HE DRAGGED ME BACK." I The accused, in his testimony accounted for the bruises on the victim, the bites and severly sprained finger by steadfastly insisting that she had reciprocated to his advances that day. He also mentioned, in passing, that the victim had asked him twice about an increase in wages prior to that time. (The defense's inuendos about the victim's debts come into play here.) In the middle of their 'passion' he says, "She asks about that raise". "Well," he announced, half ashamedly "I said something I'm very sorry for." He told her if she was that hard up for money, she could go out on the street and hussle for it. He claims, she, then in anger, lashed out at him and to protect himself, had to beat her up. The defense lawyer could not understand, in his summation, how a slim woman of 5'7", 130 lbs, could not have come out more physically abused if she indeed had maintained a two hour fight with a 6', 180 lb. man. A previous victim related later that a man like the accused knew he would have to have an excuse for some bruising, but controlled himself so that he didn't beat her beyond accountability. As for the 2 hour struggle--it would seem that many people have never been in a situation where their life Interpretation In the legal system, it is her Interwoven in this word against his. are the myths of rape and the attitud our society has toward women. The de fense and the accused perpetuated the myths in this case, as well as many other cases that have passed through the courts before, in order to squirm out of the grasp of the law. It is only two years since the jury was instructed by judges that th could not convict on the woman's test There had to be corrobor mony alone. tine evidence--bruises, cuts, etc. Now we are told that rape, as a crimi nal offence is treated as any other criminal offense. Is this instructio apparent in robbery, embezzlement and murder? Does this not suggest that The jury women are potential liars? is no longer instructed this way, but even with corroborative evidence or NOT, it's still her word against his. The defense therefore, must infer, an make innuendos as to the character of the victim, using all the methods of exploitation of her 'suspected' morals. For instance, don't drink before you are raped. Suggestion: You are loose and have no control Don't live over yourself sexually. Nith a man. Syggestion: If you've CONTID PAGE 12 Northern Woman Journal page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �MERRY CHRISTMS TO ALL XMAS want for Xmas is myself. Just wrap me up and give me back to me. From myth and social custom set me free. I'm not a tinsel angel on your All I Xmas tree, L'm just a hungry searcher for my own reality, that sees the shabby promise in this false equality. Can't you see the gift I'm dreaming of, is freely giving me to me -- with love! CHRISTMAS PARTY Sorry, but we really hoped to invite our subscribers to a party at Women's Place. The paper is going to print tomorrow, December 16/77 (hopefully) so by the time you, our readers will receive it - we're afraid the party will have come and gone. Hopefully, most of you know about the party and we will see you or saw you. Merry Christmas anyway! Peace '6AOM the heatth oe the wishes to hang on yout ttee, May the heath that we zhow the value, we hold dtaw to owe cite the Lonely and cold. Thete a joy eot the moment, stkength eot the day, yout welcome a sute at 316 Bay. We chetah outs 6tiends in the old ea4hioned way, Metty Xmaz to all on this greatest o6 days. Gurt The Night Before On the night beiote, the night beioke, coniusion teignz supteme, Got every woman watbs the tine between the nightmare and the &team. To pick it up on .let it tay..ot.. tun away and hide, zome mad imputse to 4atis6y the 6eveted -soot inside. The bitd Lay4 cold and hollow and the ttee not 6utty dkessed, 6athets making metty, the kids have gown the nest. Het brain iz counting dottamz white het hands ate tying stting, het heart Lis sunning on a beach where its etetnat stoking. Witt the ketatives atkive on time and who witt meet the plane, eot the stteets ate btowing -snow and the battety14 dead again. Haz the zitvet aft been potahed, wilt the ctyztat shine and gleam, witt the elves within the bottle /min the whole dwtn thing again. Stitt she moves ass automated, programmed to a dtaged task, and she zweaAs het heatt L merry, i6 anyone zhoutd ask. She wilt put it att together as she's done in seasons past, tilt the tazt pine needles petish, in the vacuums sucking blast. How society eneot6 het, how the rnetchantz bless het name, Mother served up eot the hungry, mother sucked .into the game. When we ask the Chtatma4 meaning, take the measure (le the plot, between the nightmate and the &Learning something takes a tot oe thought. Cast it out and set it dti6ting, butn a candle, give yout Love, join gout hands ackozz a table, bless the tuttte and the dove. GERT Northern Woman Journal page 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Wait. CAy I saw my sister raped to-day and I sat there immobitized. I am the ravaged victim. There nothing Leg to deOnd. I am the stinking, Orate cadaver. Let in the wake o6 a mad invading I watched, ass howl. Wet bouts they beat and kicked hen wow. and tone hen gesh and beat again. I SCheam Out, to yet - unborn Unzataiied to tear hen body, they atzo tnied to nape het mind. genetations oi women-- Heat me-Hetp me - -- POETRY And I was powentess to stop them. I saw my sista /taped to-day because she Lo a woman. Save me--- Anon SOUNDS With att the toots o6 their power and prestige They impnaoned hex, and, with constant threat hetd het captive. Then they said - You must enjoy can viotence - On why etze do you stay. Thexe are sounds 6nom your wtitten wonds Echoing across the distance, Sounds as sag az /min on my window And sounds that might be i4 I tiztened hand, Like those oi sunLight ituttcting on waters . I watched my satek /taped to-day Yet did not scream in hen de6ense But in my weakness ctept away to my sate ptace, whexe I cooed only Vomit, Vomit. Not att oi het attackens Were joy6ut in than viotence Some were uncompAtabte - some even brightened. Some joined in merely because oi than_ ignotance. White some had systematicatty devised etabonate justiiications theapanticipati.pn. But some oi them zmited. They axe sounds prom your heart, And in the depth oi a tonety night, I pick youA tetteA up And I Listen. Politics Anyone? The ptay goes on and on 6nom day to dtolny day I zit tnans6ixed it is betten than Another WoAtd bettet than the tezttess young. I pander on the quantity o6 swallowed aiA. The price o6 tongue We have ion. sate Mane garbage by the pound- Mote Aighteouz postuning Mote gexing o6 the Lung Than Simpte 6otk can bean- Canadians, they say 4Aom Coast to Rocky Coast Ate booming at the mouth A bittion Canadian bucks Witt sun their back-sides in the south. And all because, because Oun 6aith has been destnoyed God knows we're pate This Nation o achievers We'd Aathet .lose the Countty than admit we're unbetievens. The tAees stand naked against the stat-pAicked sky, The moon, Like a gAeat savet bind in the night, On Encloses the woods with platinum wings, PAessing the danknezz away, Shietding evexy crevice inom the shadow oi might. I saw my satet taped to-day because she iz a woman. Even ass I stand here, And stitt she battled back Though bruised and bteeding She stood tate, and cteanty spoke I beet the soot guttek o6 those wings in my mind. Though naked, as I am, "1 do not .let you nape me" Atone, Gent Cussing etetnities be6one birth I am Wted with the most humbte and Wen death, pAide Tanning only to the stars OA Fon the satet that I met today And iox all women who with thein strength and counage and see( Tat the wottd that Viaence againzt women must be anzWen,S, stopped. I can beet the pate tight quicken, And in my sotitude, Let the moon-bind take me &wands the dawn. Stephanie I saw my sister 'taped to-day because she a a woman. And I, myseei, am taped today because I too am woman. Maiuganet MY CAT Somewhere undo a so 6a bed. Sometimes you wilt be .cocky and maybe you won't. I once asked him how he came to be. Once I asked...Once I asked Once he came by so6tty and sneakty. He gave me a wink and sonta yipped his tail. A presence so so6t and warm and time. He gave me a wink and cotta You axe the onty one I can think o6 You've .Lived ban and wide Large and smart happy ate the time. Mita Northern Woman Journal page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �PROFILE woman artist This interview was done July 13, 1977 during Suzette Downey's exhibition of paintings at Keskus Mall. Suzette Downey was born in Hearst, and presently lives in Longlac. She is French speaking. She has Grade 8 education. Prior to her marriage, 8 years ago, she worked in plywood plants in Hearst, but quit at her husband's request. Her interest in painting was renewed during the time she spent at home. She has little formal training: an art class in Longlac sponsored by the local recreation commitee and a Confederation College art course. She's been selling her paintings for 10 years now, and has had exhibitions in Toronto and Thunder Bay. Recently she and another woman artist invested in greeting cards displaying their paintings. She has no children, but "has lots of fun trying." She spends approximately 8 hours a day, 5 days a week painting in her basement studio. finished school and they're all some- Last year I formed a group with four body. And there I was... doing other women - we called ourselves So it seemed art was my bag. Northern Ontario Artists Five. Insteai nothing. I like sculpture and stuff like that, but I found after awhile that I was better at painting. So I try to exploit the thing I'm best at. I haven't 'made it' yet, but I will. And I'm not going to let go either. A,-d there's another reason, too. All the people who go skiing or have hobbies aren't going to have anything When I'm left when they get older. 80 years old I'm still going to be able to dab. Men retire at 65 and half of them die within 5 years because they don't know what to do. It doesn't matter what happens to me, I'm always going to have something to fall back on. If I leave town, I've got something. It's kind of nice. HOW DID YOU FINANCE YOUR PAINTING? I had.a little money before I got married - not very much, but it was enough to buy painting supplies. I sold my first paintings for about $75.00, just enough to buy material to make another one. I was so greedy about getting supplies that as soon as I sold a painting, I would right away go and buy supplies, in case I wasn't going to get anymore. It's hard to change that now - I have more supplies than I know what to do with. Friends and neighbours used to buy my paintings for $25-35 as a kind of favour. Today they're glad they bought them. DID YOU HAVE ANY SUPPORT TO CONTINUE PAINTING? I like to talk about painting. I find it hard to talk to women who want to talk about housework or children. So for a long time I didn't have many friends People laughed at me when I started painting. They thought it was a big joke. 'Let her do some scribbles' was their attitude. A couple of relatives would be nice and say, keep going, keep going, but to the rest an artist was somebody who was dead and famous. People who are alive and painting aren't well enough known. People are changing now - it's not the same attitude. of paying a lot of money when we went out of town, we stayed at each other's We shared the expenses for renting malls and advertising for exhibitions. It was very important to have that kind of help. houses. YOU WERE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE YOUR PAINTINGS TO TORONTO BY THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND TOURISM. HOW DID THAT WORK OUT? I got jipped there. When I got there they only offered me about $25.00 a painting. That was another catch. A big hope and then poor! I had no idea from them. They simply said, come to Toronto and we'll buy your paintings. Just because my paintings are in a gallery, doesn't mean I'm getting rich. HOW WAS YOUR PAINTING RECEIVED IN TORONTO? People figured it was a fantasy thing snow on a tree. They figured I was something else. It was like a fairy tale for them - not real. A person came and said some people think that northwestern Ontario has lots of Eskimos - people right in Toronto! You figure only people from the U.S. would say that. YOU PUT A LOT OF ENERGY INTO SELLING YOUR PAINTINGS. IS IT HARD WORK? It's not very nice to expose .yourself in an exhibition, to say, 'here I am, these are my paintings and they're the result of 20 years of work.' There are lots of women artists, or even some young boys who come and figure, oh, isn't she lucky, she's got it made, sitting in a mall with lots of paintings. But they don't know what it's really like. I don't even know if I'm going to sell one. And I have to invest money in rent, frames, pegboard for displaying and advertising. Maybe I will go in the hole. Every art show is a fight, and sometimes you lose. But you don't talk about that. Who's going to buy a painting from someone who didn't do very well? HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN PAINTING: When I was young I always coloured, and won the colouring contests. I was always best in class and the teacher would make me do all the decorations. At school I was terriblezero on top of zero. Anything that had to do with spelling, I was terrible. Painting was my way of expressing myself. I wanted to do something. It was a big hang-up for me to have only Grade 8. There was nothing I was going to do that would ever be great. I would have liked to have been a hairdresserI really enjoyed doing it. But when I asked to take the course, I needed a higher grade. I would have liked to be a stewardess. But all the doors were closed. It was too late for me to go back - you can't redo your life. So to me art was a door to get there, to show that I could be somebody too. I came from a big family. I'm the oldest one and I'm the only one who didn't go to school - the others all My own hometown people started to accept me more because I went to Toronto to Fairview and because I have paintings in Lord Simcoe Gallery. When they see which galleries are buying my paintings they say, well, it must be good. You know you never do it in your own little town. You have to make it somewhere else before they accept it. When I first got married my husband thought my painting was ok because it kept me busy, out of trouble. It wasn't a big deal. But when I started to sell them and bring the money home, well, that was good. That's how he started to take me seriously - when my art was paying for itself. Before it was just a nice hobby. He's pretty understanding about it now. He'd have to be to let me come hereto Keskus for two weeks, and then I go to Longlac and Hearst for one week. At first he laughed at me, but when he saw I was determined, he changed his mind. Half of the artists are afraid to take the criticism that comes with exposing yourself. People say what junk it is, that prices are too high, who do you think you are. But they don't tell you to your face. When you ask them, they say, very nice, very nice. I'm stubborn. I know what I want and I'm going to get it, even if it takes 10 years. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR OWN WORK? Some of my paintings I like, some I don't even care about. But usually I'm wrong about my paintings. Something that I won't like will sell, and something I spend lots of time on and am really proud of, people don't pay so much attention to. The ones I pick to be my best are not, as popular as the others. Northern Woman Journal page 10 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WOMEN & at EE A L. ir Fi women's I) IVA c.e: WOMEN'S CENTRE IS HAVING A SERIES OF "WOMEN AND HEALTH" DISCUSSION GROUPS ON THURSDAY EVENINGS 7:30 p.m. BEGINNING SOME TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION WILL BE MENOPAUSE, THESE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF FEBRUARY. JANUARY 12, 1978. ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY, ACUPRESSURE, DRUGS-WHAT ARE YOU TAKING/SIDE EFFECTS, BIRTH CONTROL 6 ITS SIDE EFFECTS, MASTECTOMY, HYSTERECTOMY, NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH 6 WOMEN, PLUS OTHER TOPICS. THE FILM "TAKING OUR BODIES BACK" AND OTHERS WILL ALSO BE SHOWN. SUGGESTED READING IS "OUR BODIES OURSELVES" WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON LOAN AT 316 Bay St. RESOURCE PEOPLE WILL BE USED FOR THE DISCUSSION GROUPS AS WELL AS WOMENS' EXPERIENCE BY THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED WITH/ WE ENCOURAGE ALL WOMEN TO COME TO LEARN AND SHARE THEIR HEALTH CARE THROUGH THEIR OWN HEALTH PROBLEMS AND TREATMENT. EXPERIENCES. THUNDER BOLT To the justice system for their collective guilt in the perpetuation of oppression of WOMEN THUNDER CLAP To us, for struggling to keep this paper alive and to all the women who helped put Gert's book 'SALT AND YEAST' together S(Ift oint) *sr OkDER NOW t * ONE WOMAN'S POETIC DIARY OF HER JOURNEY THROUGH TRADITIONAL ROLES TO THE JOY OF SELF REALIZATION, WITHOUT DISMISSING THE VALUE OF THE JOURNEY ITSELF. * THE POEMS CHRONICLE HER PROGRESS FROM 1937 to 1977. * THIS BOOK IS OFFERED BY THE SISTERHOOD OF THUNDER BAY TO ENCOURAGE A GROWING SENSE OF UNITY IN ALL WOMEN. V ONE HUNDRED PAGES WITH OVER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY POEMS. 11114 .. * A ,S*06 *AM BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS BY SIRPA BISHOP CiOrt The- Northern Woman is extending a reduced rate to groups who order 10 or more copies. Instead of the regular $5.00 we are offering the special price of $3.50. Orders should bepre-paid by cheque or money order (made out to SALT & YEAST) and sent to the Northern Woman Journal, 316 Bay St., Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 1S1. Phone 807-345-5841. ORDER FORM ORDER FORM ORDER FORM SALT AND YEAST ORDER FORM Name Address Please Send copies @ $3.50 or 1mA awl amlIlimlVM @ , $5.00 Northern Woman Journ PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �k:o nt d from page 7 F CON COLLEGE R w 0 M E given before, you're expected to give at the office. Don't owe any debts. Suggestion: You try to get money anyway you can -- and then cry rape. The crown tried his best for a conviction, but he too was unable to pursue certain aspects -- because he tries rape as a sexual crime and not one of abuse and power. His line of questioning would have been appropriate if he was able to see a woman's point of view. After the trial the media played on the fact that a group of women shouted unpleasantries to a man who had just been found innocent of a crime. Before, during and after we were given accounts from men and women about the accused 'paragon of virtue'. Two women reported that he was the same person who harassed them in university until one told him to fuck off. When the accused showed up at her home and her boyfriend appeared he made a hasty retreat. The other victim was not so lucky. He raped her. She reported it and the officer in charge treated her story with disbelief. One man overheard another man who was reading about the case in the paper and announced he hoped they got the son-of-a-bitch. Why? The 'paragon of virtue' had been his landlord and he had often heard women's screams from his apartment. Another man told us that a native woman was raped in the car of the accused, while three people watched. They refused to report what they had seen. The Rape Crisis Centre feel that rape should be defined in the criminal code as assault rather than sexual violations so convictions could be gained more frequently. It has been shown in studies that men have not raped for sex; they have sexual outlets. Rape is used to humiliate, intimidate, over-power, brutilize and control. In its enthusiasm to protect innocent persons in this court system, they give more right to an accused rapist than they do to the victim. The sentence for assault should be :hanged from zero to life, with addi:ional years applied to the degree of the offense. Attitudes toward oomen have to be changed. Men have to be changed. Men have to start paying or their crimes against women. AND AFTER HE WAS FINISHED WITH ME, HE HANDED ME TWENTY DOLLARS, REFUSED IT!" N COURSES -- 1978 WOMEN IN HISTORY-Instructor: Joan Baril; Tuition $30.00; Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., January 9 to April 17, 1973. Description: This subject traces the place of women in the history of western civilization from antiquity to the first two decades of the 20th Century. The final lectures will concentrate exclusively on the history of women in Canada consistent with the emphasis on unity as a priority for Students will be exCanada. pected to select one woman or topic to present for group discussion (or perhaps in the case of a credit course, do a short essay on). WOMEN AND PSYCHOLOGY-InstrucDr. B. Coomes; Tuition tor: $30.00; Tuesdays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., January 10 to April 18, 1978. Descr4PA course designed to tion: familiarize the student with basic psychological concepts as they relate to women. Alternatives to the traditional approaches are reviewed and discussed. WOMEN MAKE MOVIES-Instructor: Rae Farrell; Tuition $30.00; Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., January 19 to April 20, 1973. Description: Can you recall one film you have seen that was directed by a woman? The most popular image of the great director But women have been is male. directing films since 1896. For a refreshing change, view over 30 films made by women. Included are feature, short, documentary and animated films. Women Make Movies is for It offers prizeeveryone. winning international cinema to encourage a critical interest in the influence of women on film-making. I Some of the titles include Shirley MacLaine's, THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY: A CHINA MEMOIR and Judy Collin's, PORTRAIT OF THE ANTONIA: WOMAN. WOMEN'S RE-ENTRY PROGRAM (W.R.E.P.)-Instructor: Sandra Steinhause; Tuition $25.00; Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., January 23 to March 15, 1978. Description: Do you want to return to work or to College, or to University? You do, but you're scared you lack certain basic skills? This course will offer training in skills that the group decides are important to It will be limited to them. 16 women so that the group and individual needs will be satisfied. Some examples of past trainlisten7 ing sessions include: ing effectively, non-verbal communication, report writing, preparing a proposal, role playing job interviews, giving a talk, how to use a library, problem solving, visiting apprentice-training centres, vocational guidance sessions, preparing a resume or job application forms, job search techniques, assertiveness training. WOMEN AND THE LAW-Instructor: Dianne Baig; Tuition $15.00; Tuesdays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., January 24 to DescripFebruary 28, 1978. A course designed to tion: acquaint students with the law as it effects women. Topics include labour law, consumer, marriage and property laws, and laws dealing with children, sex and welfare. REAL CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE -Instructor: Sandra Steinhause; Tuition $20.00; Wednesdays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., January 25 to March 29, 1978. Description: Did you know that Harlequin Romances are the hottest item in the paperback industry? In 1974 there were 75 million sold in North America with a 79 % increase from the previous year. The course will be a seminardiscussion type. We'll examine today's Harlequin Romances and compare them with those written in the 1950's and the 1930's to see how women are portrayed. Since popular literature reflects the leading values of culture, Harlequin Romances and Love Magazines are important to analyze in order to understand our Canadian society. Drthern Woman Journal page 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �IS IT HARDER TO BE A WOMAN AND AN ARTIST? Suzette Downey Con't from pg. I think it's harder for women to be successful. She always has to ask her husband, can I go here? can I go there? A man, if he's an artist, he's going to find a woman who will follow Women like me, who can't support him. themselves, have to follow the men. If I was a man, I would get a woman to do what I'm doing here - sell my She would be my manager. paintings. A man can stay at home and paint and get his wife to go and do his dirty work for him - sit in a mall for 10 hours a day selling his paintings. 10 I like to do black and white. In painting, black and white is usually First of all, you're not a no-no. supposed to use black in a painting, and I'm trying to break that rule. And if I'm successful at it, black and white will be recognized, but there's no guaranty. I may get shot down all over the place. But I want to prove that black and white is beautiful. I have a camper trailer and spend most of my time in the bush. That's what I paint. I think I'm better at that than at portraits anyway. So why not try to do what you're better at. I'll throw in another kind once in awhile to try to improve myself. Like my painting of the baby there - it's not real, it's kind of a caricature. But people like it. It makes them talk. It's like the skeleton I painted that's just a conversation piece. People stop and say, ugh! or whatever. Then they notice something else. But when they're going a hundred miles an hour, they don't see anything. So when you get something like that, they don't like it, but at least they stop. Suzette Downey will be holding another exhibition at Keskus Mall, Thunder Bay the first two weeks May 1978. Her cards, plaques and paintings are carried by Art-Metal Stores (Thunder Bay), 36 S. Cumberland St. Her cards are also available at Woman's Place, 316 Bay St.; Small Wonders, Keskus; Val's Cards, Keskus; and the Written Word, Cumberland St. Or you can write directly to: Suzette Downey, Box 465, LONGLAC, Ontario, POT 2A0. There are people who are a hell of a lot better than I am. But they don't do anything about it. It's a big waste. I think they're scared. I'm scared, but I try not to show it. I'm afraid of not making it. But if you don't try, you'll always say, if I had tried I probably would have made by Donna Shaw & Peggy Smith (Special thanks to Faye Peterson for help in transcribing.) it. reflections am It took me more years than prepared to admit to understand the kind of fevered restlessness that drives a woman to cut herself loose from a man that in a child's mind, seemed to personify the very virtue of selflessness, - the happy hardworking nature that demanded nothing further from you than you be lived and As a child, happy too. sometimes bore the load for the kind of harnessed fury that occasionally manifested itself in hysterical departures and the penitent tears of The quality of fornew beginnings. giveness as expressed by my father and encouraged in us by him cemented him in my mind as a saint. She would be good now, she would be happy and if she were happy, then we would all be happy, this mother whose capacity to dream dreams she had no hope of fulfilling would forget all that nonsense and get on with the business of hoeing the potatoes under penalty of destroying the happiness of this magnanimous family. She did not, of course and, in due time, a further, by this time ex pected disappearance resulted in the little legal paper that said it was permanent. Operating from the lofty perch of self-righteousness and the sting of being abandoned, we comforted ourselves with the obvious, "We had lost nothing of any real value", we asked only for the opportunity to tell her she was unforgiveable. Our father remained the Saint and to this we added the The, further attraction of victim. fact that she took nothing of value with her was not considered strange - after all, she deserved nothing. I I a mother We survived, of course, and it might even be said we flourished. We became independent deciders of our own fate and under the loose management of our father's benevolent trust there was an unspoken confidence in our ability to produce the best. We devised a pack mentality that consciously spared him any details of the occasional fall from Grace. My mother pervaded my thoughts from time to time as matured and married and became a mother myself. There were disturbing similarities in our natures which tried to hide and dismiss but the old adage "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," could make me cringe and send me into extreme soul-searching. compensated by merging myself in my father's personality and had a spell of sweet passivity that to this day makes me shudder. Today am able to assess both the mother and the daughter with something akin to profound regret that it took me so long to know either of them. don't remember the cruel things she said and did out of her frustration; remember, instead, the time she was asked to participate in a theatre group and we laughed at I I I I I I see them because know them, not because am my mother's daughter, but because am a woman the rules of the game demand she meet every expectation but her own. It would seem this story has a chance for a happy ending where the mother and daughter could meet and find something of beauty in each other. This is not he case. Over the years that separateu us, had begun to think of that mother as one who took her freedom boldly and went on to live a triumphant and satisfying life. found an elderly woman, unhappy and cringing under the cross of guilt. found her desparately searching for someone to shoulder the tame for her unhappiness, unable to speak of herself in any terms but self-pity and still resentful that she had wasted so much of her life for a husband she never wanted and the children who became a reason for not leaving sooner. found her aggressively demanding that after all these years we make it up to her, that her grandchildren and their children who never knew her, produce the kind of love accorded a beloved grandmother. found hysteria and tears if a birthday was forgotten. realized to understand is not enough, had to deal with the transference of her own deep-seated guilt. could not do it as a daughter, had to do it as a woman and that is the base of our new relationship. But have had a glimpse of the price she paid for the freedom she is unable to enjoy, and am glad that in a similar circumstance chose to struggle and grow to my present feeling of self-worth. I I I I I I I I I I her till she refused and how pleased my father was to see her make a sensi ble decision. A thousand memories return to haunt me of the sublte oppression we all practiced to make her be what we wanted her to be and do what we wanted her to do. see clearly the large spirit nailed in the small box, the strong encircled by the weak and the price one pays for survival. 1 I I I I I I Northern Woman Journal page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DREAMS for SfibE old school, and at the same time a Or pera proud and ancient family. He has a black belt in judo, beast. circles, haps he is in high diplomatic rides like a centaur, drives sports or is a famous (and wealthy) novelist, cars at over a hundred miles an hour. or he owns a very successful mill or He is arrogant, spoiled, even He harsh, is highly fashion design company. to everyone but her, of tours cruel respected. In short, HR is edging out of the The narrative key to the Harlequins wholesomeness business and edging int is that the woman is always a child and masochism business. in her relationship tothe thepassion man. She Eventually, the HR readers may have is a nobody; he is a big shot. She to look somewhere else for gentleness To comes into his world like a waif. and wholesomeness. emphasize this, his world is likely In other words, we have something to be high society in France, or Hawaii here which needs explaining. Almost or Japan, or one of the Arab nations. everyone looks down on the Harlequins In this world, he knows everything; is ashamed to admit reading them. she knows nothing, notoreven the langasked a university class to When uage. He looks down at her five-feetread GaAden of Dtearms (HR 1943) they two-inches from his six-foot-one, and objected that people might see them calls her "little one" or "ma petite" carrying the book around. And yet or "child". When she does something women read them, in such large number naughty, disobeying his orders, he as to make HR writers and investors sighs but understands, and murmurs rich. only, "Are you always so disobedient?" What do the Harlequins offer? An a When she falls off a ladder, or a on the inside cover of The La4t o6 th stone wall, or a horse, he is always Mateo/L.0 (HR 1937) says "Every month there to catch her in his strong arms, eight new Harlequin Romances are puband comfort his one. When he finds her lished, each one a gentle, wholesome trespassing on his estate with a little Gentle, wholesome love. boy she is taking carelove of, story." she and the Well, there's something to be said child confront him like two naughty for was gentle, wholesome love, heaven children, and later, "he haunted had to choose, I'd rathe If knows! by the image of Janie, tightly holding a year. have my children (boys and girls both the child's hand, both of them smiling Who are the readers that come up reading Harlequin Romances than to ha up at him timidly." Still later, he with all that money? HR told the them watching Kojak or the Six Mittio realizes that "it was the child in Financial. Pmt that its TV ads are Better they should dreary Data& Man. Janie... which first touched and aimed at "the women...who watch the of gentle, wholesome love than brutal charmed him. afternoon soap-operas and quiz shows" But the trouble is, andone violence. As a matter of fact, of the But thct represents only a group HR things can be better than Kojak and most important dreams the Harlequins is trying to draw in. Those who still not be very good, and the Harle let a reader indulge in is the dream already read Harlequins, according quins are not, in the long run, gooc Be that you don't have to grow up. to a quick survey taken by two They` propose fals for their readers. good, be chaste, be idealistic, be Regina University students, include solutions to real problems, and there patient, and sooner or later that one women from ten to fifty, from just fore discourage any real solutions tc man destined for you will come along, about all walks of life: factory those problems. with his money and prestige, and hand workers, secretaries, housewives on One of the odd things about our You don't you the world on a platter. all economic levels, university culture is that so many people think Just wait, and have to do anything. (Of the women students students. be good, and you will make the transition that stories, fantasies and dreams in university freshman classes that have no meaning and are of no importfrom being Daddy's child to being polled recently, over half said How many people say they watch ance. hubby's child. You don't have to grow they were or had been HR readers.) TV shows or read Harlequins or Wester up. So what do people relax with, in just to relax, or "just for pleasure' Harlequins? That's easy to say, as if it didn't matter what they were because Harlequins are written to doing while they relax or enjoy themThey are all much alike; a formula. selves. People know that what you only the details of names, places put in your stomach when you eat can NI particular twists of plot, etc, are either make you healthy or make you fo, The typical Harlelikely to change. sick, or listless, or even dead - bul quin Romance is the story of (a girl ok sometimes the same people think you in her very early twenties who has can feed your mind any kind of diet not yet met the man she will love. at all and stay healthy mentally and Either she has just left homeNO. and is But it does make a emotionally. working, or she is an orphan and rt, . difference what you enjoy and what never had a real home. She is humble you do to relax. Any folklorist or She sees herself as plain, simple, anthropologist knows that the popula It not loveable - though others 4A probably literature of a culture is always see her as interesting and pretty. meaningful. Taken as a whole, the She is a good girl, inexperienced stories of a culture always reflect She sexually, and full of ideals. the leading values of the culture. In deceive recent years the Harlequins have would never cheat or try to But as long as they can, the HR been gradually becoming more overtly a man. Her work may be interesting publishers will try to keep readers but woman now feels sexual and she may take pride sexual. in it, The looking for solutions in exotic passion, and can even imagine herself it is essentially meaningless. Workdreams, "wishing something that (in sharing the man's bed. ing is simply something to do until real life) could never come true." Thethen kisses Mr. Right comes along, and she are becoming less gentle Instead of doing anything about thei and wholesome, and more frankly passwill quit her job and devote herself lives, Instead of doing anything ionate. Also the liero is changing. only to him and his children (and about society, instead of trying to A decade or two ago, he was likely bossing his servants). make the world a better place, HR to be a cold, lonely man, disappointed She falls in love, always, with a readers will take their literary in love and therefore cynical about man who is about twelve years older, tranquilizers and "escape" into the women, with no one to share his wealth is strong, handsome, rich and ,''ho world as they think it ought to have and prestige until the childish purity No taking chances on a sucessful. What are they escaping from? been. of the heroine redeems him. Nowadays, young man who may or may not make good! No- as a Not from their problems! he is more likely to have the same odd This man has already made good, in a matter of fact, they dream about mixture that Tarzan of the Apes had: He owns a chateau in France, big way. those problems - about loneliness, both an impeccable gentleman of the He comes from or an estate in Spain. Harlequin Romances are an important part of the Canadian cultural scene, in spite of the fact that most people, including those who read them, talk as if they were silly and unimportant. To start with the kind of facts which are usually impressive in our culture, note that the Harlequin Romances, all by themselves, account for about 10 percent of the entire paperback book publishing industry Not bad for a in North America. Canadian company, eh? They are the If you hottest thing in publishing. wnat to invest money in a growing business, look at these figures: from 1965 to 1975, HR sales increased from 6 million books sold annually to 75 million annually. In the year 1974 alone, there was an increase of 79 per cent in sales over the previous year, and that trend is continuing. Total income from the Romances increased well over 200 per cent in just the two-year period 1973 to 1975, and that trend is conOf the more than 140 tinuing too. HR writers, several have very good incomes indeed from royalties, and at least one makes well over $100,000 I I I 1/':* Northern Woman Journal page A AS" 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DREAMS Harlequin Romances are an important part of the Canadian cultural scene, in spite of the fact that most people, including those who read them, talk as if they were silly and unimportant. To start with the kind of facts which are usually imoressive in our culture, note that the Harlequin Romances, all by themselves, account for about 10 percent of the entire paperback book publishing industry in North America. Not bad for a Canadian company, eh? They are the If you hottest thing in publishing. wnat to invest money in a growing business, look at these figures: from 1965 to 1975, HR sales increased from 6 million books sold annually to 75 million annually. In the year 1974 alone, there was an increase of 79 per cent in sales over the previous year, and that trend is continuing. Total income from the Romances increased well over 200 per cent in just the two-year period 1973 to 1975, and that trend is continuing too. Of the more than 140 HR writers, several have very good incomes indeed from royalties, and at least one makes well over $100,000 a year. Who are the readers that come up with all that money? HR told the Financiae Port that its TV ads are aimed at "the women...who watch the afternoon soap-operas and quiz shows" But that represents only a group HR is trying to draw in. Those who already read Harlequins, according to a quick survey taken by two Regina University students, include women from ten to fifty, from just about all walks of life: factory workers, secretaries, housewives on all economic levels, university students. (Of the women students in university freshman classes that polled recently, over half said they were or had been HR readers.) So what do people relax with, in Harlequins? That's easy to say, because Harlequins are written to They are all much alike; a formula. only the details of names, places particular twists of plot, etc, are The typical Harlelikely to change. quin Romance is the story of a girl in her very early twenties who has not yet met the man she will love. Either she has just left home and is working, or she is an orphan and never had a real home. She is humble She sees herself as plain, simple, not loveable - though others probably see her as interesting and pretty. She is a good girl, inexperienced sexually, and full of ideals. She would never cheat or try to deceive a man. Her work may be interesting and she may take pride in it, but it is essentially meaningless. Working is simply something to do until Mr. Right comes along, and then she will quit her job and devote herself only to him and his children (and bossing his servants). She falls in love, always, with a man who is about twelve years older, Arho is strong, handsome, rich and No taking chances on a sucessful. young man who may or may not make good! This man has already made good, in a He owns a chateau in France, big way. or an estate in Spain. He comes from I Northern Woman Journal page for SUE Or pera proud and ancient family. haps he is in high diplomatic circles, or is a famous (and wealthy) novelist, or he owns a very sucaessful mill or He is highly fashion design company. respected. The narrative key to the Harlequins is that the woman is always a child in her relationship to the man. She is a nobody; he is a big shot. She comes into his world like a waif. To emphasize this, his world is likely to be high society in France, or Hawaii or Japan, or one of the Arab nations. In this world, he knows everything; she knows nothing, not even the Tanguage. He looks down at her five-feettwo-inches from his six-foot-one, and calls her "little one" or "ma petite" or "child". When she does something naughty, disobeying his orders, he sighs but understands, and murmurs only, "Are you always so disobedient?" When she falls off a ladder, or a stone wall, or a horse, he is always there to catch her in his strong arms, and comfort his one. When he finds her trespassing on his estate with a little boy she is taking care of, she and the child confront him like two naughty children, and later, "he was haunted by the image of Janie, tightly holding the child's hand, both of them smiling up at him timidly." Still later, he realizes that "it was the child in Janie... which first touched and charmed him. As a matter of fact, one of the most important dreams the Harlequins let a reader indulge in is the dream Be that you don't have to grow up. good, be chaste, be idealistic, be patient, and sooner or later that one man destined for you will come along, with his money and prestige, and hand You don't you the world on a platter. Just wait, and have to do anything. be good, and you will make the transition from being Daddy's child to being hubby's child. You don't have to grow ii up. . , r11; 0.14 75 , In recent years the Harlequins have been gradually becoming more overtly sexual. The woman now feels sexual passion, and can even imagine herself sharing the man's bed. The kisses are becoming less gentle and wholesome, and more frankly passionate. Also the hero is changing. A decade or two ago, he was likely to be a cold, lonely man, disappointed in love and therefore cynical about women, with no one to share his wealth and prestige until the childish purity of the heroine redeems him. Nowadays, he is more likely to have the same odd mixture that Tarzan of the Apes had: both an impeccable gentleman of the old school, and at the same time a He has a black belt in judo, beast. rides like a centaur, drives sports cars at over a hundred miles an hour. He is harsh, arrogant, spoiled, even cruel - to everyone but her, of course In short, HR is edging out of the wholesomeness business and edging intc the passion and masochism business. Eventually, the HR readers may have to look somewhere else for gentleness and wholesomeness. In other words, we have something Almost here which needs explaining. everyone looks down on the Harlequins or is ashamed to admit reading them. asked a university class to When read Ganden oi Dnearm (HR 1943) they objected that people might see them carrying the book around. And yet women read them, in such large number as to make HR writers and investors I rich. What do the Harlequins offer? An a, on the inside cover of The Lazt of th Mateokyz (HR 1937) says "Every month eight new Harlequin Romances are published, each one a gentle, wholesome Gentle, wholesome love. love story." Well, there's something to be said for gentle, wholesome love, heaven had to choose, I'd rathe If knows! have my children (boys and girls both reading Harlequin Romances than to ha them watching Kojak or the Six Matto Datat Man. Better they should dream of gentle, wholesome love than brutal and violence. But the trouble is, things can be better than Kojak and still not be very good, and the Harle quins are not, in the long run, good They-propose fals for their readers. solutions to real problems, and there fore discourage any real solutions to those problems. One of the odd things about our culture is that so many people think that stories, fantasies and dreams have no meaning and are of no importHow many people say they watch ante. TV shows or read Harlequins or Wester just to relax, or "just for pleasure" as if it didn't matter what they were doing while they relax or enjoy themPeople know that what you selves. put in your stomach when you eat can either make you healthy or make you sick, or listless, or even dead - but sometimes the same people think you can feed your mind any kind of diet at all and stay healthy mentally and But it does make a emotionally. difference what you enjoy and what you do to relax. Any folklorist or anthropologist knows that the popular literature of a culture is always Taken as a whole, the meaningful. stories of a culture always reflect the leading values of the culture. But as long as they can, the HR publishers will try to keep readers looking for solutions in exotic dreams, "wishing something that (in real life) could never come true." Instead of doing anything about their lives, instead of doing anything about society, instead of trying to make the world a better place, HR readers will take their literary tranquilizers and "escape" into the world as they think it ought to have What are they escaping from? been. No- as a Not from their problems! matter of fact, they dream about those problems - about loneliness, I 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Dreams for Sale Con't from pg. 14 boredom, isolation, the lost little child in the adult, about marriage 'and the roles of the sexes, about money, about what it means to be happy. They take all these real problems right along with them, in order to dream about phony magic solutions to them. HR tells them all the wrong answers: 1. Don't do anything -- just wait. 2. Money is happiness. 3. Social status is happiness. 4. Work, and working people are vulgar. 5. 6. Society is perfectly all right. Only your own personal lonliness is the problem. So: Don't try to change anything. A rich, arrogant capitalist will come along and save you, and you will realize that the world is fine the way it is. Or, if it's too late for that in your life, you can dream that it ought to have been like that, and be nostalgic for the world as it ought to have been. Such a sweet "Is there to be no romance, then?" That is the response of many Harlequin readers, to people who talk against the Harlequins. There must be romance, yes, by all means. Properly speaking, Romance means "dreaming about things as they ought to be," as distinguished from teatbsm, which means "describing things as they already are." No individual and no society ever made any real progress without romance that is, without dreaming about a better way of life. How could they? You have to imagine a better world before you can try to achieve it. One of the great troubles with our literature (both popular and "serious") is that today there is so little romance that leads us into growth. Most of the stories we see by ourselves, nothing by working together. In other words, the same system that controls our lives and our jobs also controls our dreams, and the irony is that we pay the system handsomely for doing that. No male chauvinist ever put down a woman more insultingly than women put themselves down when they pay HR to let them dream that dream of big Daddy. That, finally, is what's wrong with the Harlequins. Like so many other stories in our culture, they are dreams that demean and belittle us, and keep us from growing, and keep us, too, from doing anything about making the strong dreams, the real dreams, the dreams about a better world, come true. Bob Cosbey Next Year Country Saskatchewan News Magazine Vol. 4 #5 or read, in novels, or on TV, or in the movies, are either sick romances that go nowhere, or sick so-called realism about how rotten and hopeless everything is. Our literature makes us dream that only big Daddy can bring us security, peace, happiness. We can do nothin.g sadness! WHO ARE WE The outcome of many years of growth and painful struggle. to say how am now trying feel about when he says, I "This is the way ing guilty for I I I am." I I start feel- am asking too much or am wanting too much! He says FACT there is more energy e xpended in one hour of ballet than in an e ntire foot ball ga me want I him to change to be something he is not. Do you feel tired, fed up with bumping your head against his wall of indifference, intolerance and apparent lack of understanding? Do you compro- mise, sell out, give in AGAIN? It seems to be a deadhead - a stalemate but something has got to give. As women, I feel we continue loving, caring and giving even when he is tired, drunk, ready to quit so many times. We continue to be the putter- upper-withers - but where and when will the changes happen? Who does it? We `Say Aunt' do. We sisters are changing, but to have change, we have got to do something. We have so much to give. Let's not let his apathy discourage our creati- vity, our growth and our ability to change. We are logical, intelligent, Answer to riddle on pg. DON'T MOURN.... 3 The answer is the doctor is the boy's MOTHER, of course. zestful and especially loving human beings. strength. Our emotional display is our We cry, we laugh, we feel ORGANIZE the pain, the love and let it out. I'm proud to say are we? I am a woman. We are sisters. Who We are women, we are changing. Donna Shaw Northern Woman Journal page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DAY CARE NEWS That provincial guidelines should recognized the need for private home day care programs to provide necessary program supplies and eauinment to enable providers to create a stimulating and enjoyable environment for the children in their care. 7. That further study is needed to develop a flexible system of staff ratios which would recognize differences in job descriptions, turnover of homes and children, differences in geographic areas and the differences in community needs (i.e., multi-cultural demands, stresses of urban living, etc.) 8. I do not providing this care. get the impression of their intending to do so in the foreseeable future either. No. 6: Full agreement. No. 7: Our City agrees. Our City program operates on the basis of 25 homes per worker, and feels the actual number of children is not a good indicator of work "We can appreciate that load. in remote under-populated areas that the ratio may be too high, and would suggest that this is the only area of change that should be considered." No. 8: "As mentioned previously, we feel very strongly that this is a Child Care Program and therefore should be staffed by child development specialAgain, the fear of ists." increasing costs precludes the possiblity of considering this alternative. No. 9: It is essential that all agencies/organizations providing private home day care have a multidisciplinary of staff insofar as educational backgrounds are concerned, (i.e., social work, early childhood education, nursing, nutrition). Competency is expected over and beyond academic qualifications. 9. PROVINCE The Ontario Welfare Council Action Committee on Day Care prepared a report following a series of meetings (Feb 10-12, 1977) in which Ontario Private Home Day Care was studied. Recommendations which are discussed in the report are listed below: That provincial regulations and guidelines recognize the need to provide additional funding to meet the needs of exceptional children in private home day care and, more specifically, that costs related to providers' fees, special support staff, equipment, program supplies and transportation be recognized. 1. That subsidized private home day care be made accessible to children 12 years of age and over with documented special needs which can be met by this service. 10. The City already offers excellent supervision of the program--"...our contact with Providers is at a minimum of a weekly basis, and at present the supervisor also has contact a minimum of once every quarter". review. The City response is No. 11: that "We are strongly opposed to the concept of hiring Day Care Providers as Municipal Rather, the City employees." That regulations under The Day Nurseries Act and related provincial guidelines should be revised to require home visits on a monthly rather than a quarterly basis, and that related records should be available for municipal The report also makes specific suggestions for improving the economic situation of day care providers. 11. CITY 2. That the province and municipal governments recognize the administrative costs of assisting parents who are ineligible for subsidized care to obtain approved private home day care placements for which the parents would provide full payments to provid3. ers. That provincial regulations and guidelines recognize the additional costs of providing alternative care when, due to sickness or other special circumstances, children cannot be cared for within their regular day care homes. 4. That provincial regula5. tions and guidelines be altered to allow for greater rates of payment for care during irregular hours (i.e., 4 day weeks, weekends, shifts and late hrs.) It is recommended the day care provider be recognized as a person giving a skilled service, and that this should be acknowledged by the commu6. nity. Mr. MacLeod, on behalf of the City Social Services Dept., responded to these recommendaOn some points there tions. is agreement, and on some there is strong disagreement. Our City feels we should recognized the needs of exceptional children with equipment and transportation- but not special support, this being available "through other community resources". No. 1: No. 2: Our City agrees. Our City charges all costs to parents who are ineligible for subsidy. In fact, the City charges more (See the than actual costs. article in last issue for a breakdown of child care No. 3: charges.) No. 4: Our City agrees that the area of emergency alternative care should be studied. Because irregular hours 5: of care would "put the cost of the program beyond the reach of full paying clients and create additional expenses to the Municipality", our City has not adopted a policy of No. No. 10: would continue-to deny them employee benefits such as holiday and sick pay, or "...to guaranteed wages. suggest that Providers would be paid for care which is not in fact provided would result in increased administrative overhead...and result in increased fees being charged to persons who are not creating the problem but would be subjected to pay their share of these increased costs." No mention of Municipal responsibility--always the threat of added charges to parents who use the service, forcing the parents into a position of accepting/permitting the exploitation of Providers in order to continue receiving day care. The City does not provide funds for the purchase of "start up materials", nor does it assume responsibility for the liability insurance a Provider must have. The City does attempt to provide income tax information to Providers who ate eligible for special exemptions as "self-employed" individuals. In answering the question, "Who Pays for Day Care?", it seems it is a joint responsibility- -the Municipality subsidiZes low income families, full paying parents add some to the pot, and the Providers also help to underwrite the cost of day care. Northern Woman Journal page 16 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �I+ Goma post Pail Cam. Imapped1.04.1.W Bulk En hombre third troislibmo dins clone 220 RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Return Postage Guaranteed TABLE OF CONTENTS: Pg Editorial Crisis Homes Feminist Books A Glimpse of the Past Bits and Pieces Women Against Rape Merry Christmas Poetry Suzette Downey Salt and Yeast Mothers & Daughters Dreams for Sale Day Care News 2 3 5 6 ' 7 8 9 ' 10 11 13 14 16 Who Did This Issue: Eve, Doreen, Pat, Noreen, Gert, Donna, Julie, Stephanie, Cathy, Betty Want to get involved? HAVE YOU MOVED? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Call 345-5841 weekdays (We must pay return postage to keep Free to single-parent families up our mailing list) Free to senior citizens PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal Description An account of the resource Northern Woman Journal Published in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northern Woman Journal (originally called Northern Woman) started in 1973 following the first annual Northern Women’s Conference in order to keep the conference attendees connected. Initially serving as a newsletter of events, local issues, and women’s resources, the Northern Woman Journal quickly became a diverse publication reaching national and international readers. Not only did it serve as a newsletter to keep local women up to date on feminist issues in Northwestern Ontario, but also as a safe space to discuss women’s resources, law, politics, economics, health, racism, sexism, homophobia, feminist organizing and activism, transnational feminist issues, poetry, feminist reading, feminist art, and women’s diverse lived experiences.One of the longest-running feminist perodicals in North America, the Northern Woman Journal reached its end in 1995. Throughout its 22 years, the Northern Woman Journal was produced by its many collective members, with membership evolving year to year. For many years, the journal worked closely alongside and shared space with the Northern Women’s Centre and the Northern Women’s Bookstore. With the exception of a year-long government grant in the 1970s, the journal relied entirely on subscription fees and donations in order to maintain publishing, which presented challenges throughout its entire existence. As stated in an early version of the editorial policy, “only by a free and open exchange of views and opinions will we develop a basis for unity which can be used as a basis for action.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Northern Woman Journal, Vol 4 No 1 Description An account of the resource Vol. 4, No. 1 (1977) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Mother/daughter relationships Mutual rebellion of mothers and daughters Funding challenges for the journal Non-traditional occupations (based on previous gender divisions of labour) Kingston interval house Crisis housing Funding for crisis housing Comics Feminist book list Women’s Centre (thriving; growth; permanent funding needed; small business projects to generate funds & employment for women) Protest - November 5, 1977 - National Day of Protest Against Violence Against Women Herstory - Muriel Boyle Northern Women’s Credit Union Margaret Trudea Phobia (character assassination; sexism in media representation/coverage) Women Against Rape Christmas poems Woman artist profile - Suzette Downey Women’s health @ Women’s Place Thunder Bay Confederate College courses for women Reflections of a mother Cultural analysis - Harlequin Romance novels (originally printed in Next Year Country Saskatchewan News Magazine Vol 4, no. 5 Day care news Authors/Contributors: Gert Beadle Mary Burns Lynne Thornburg Marion Babcock Mimi Dovick Joan Baril Margaret Stephanie Mila Donna Shaw Peggy Smith Faye Peterson Bob Cosbey Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1977-12 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Published on this site with permission. Language A language of the resource English