736 10 13267 https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/16/2745/1976_Vol_3_No_2.pdf a7c8cf49ba350ea0a8b70f83147b780d PDF Text Text r M...6 Volume 3 Issue 2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ABBY HOFFMAN VISITS THUNDER BAY 50 MMO 1111111111111111 MONO ION= I 11111111111 111111O11111 IIII111111 1111111 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �editorial The Northern Woman Journal began as a newsletter out of the Northern It's reason for being was to keep informed our own Women's Centre. members and interested local women of the issues that we were trying Embattled and beleagured, without public support, we to deal with. became an oasis for the woman who had reached the end of her endurance and needed the support that only women who genuinely care, can give. The newsletter bound us 4egecher and in it's pages we poured out all the rage and frustration that comes when we are surrounded by an indifferent, uncaring and sometimes malicious public. It has been a year since the Northern Woman Journal changed its publishing format and dreamed of a wider distribution, a broader range of gut issues that effect all of us as we explore the ever growing move The word feminist still has the power to equal status for the sexes. to threaten the unenlightened as to its sincere intent. The idea of women caring for, and about other women with all the committment of a sister has an unreal quality. To a thousand years of military mentality The the banding together of any group is a direct intent to do battle. adversary system calls for retaliation and we end up embattled and defensive. To choose ones sisters is the ultimate weapon of the divide How can we, in the exalted state of our own and conquer strategists. in our opinion, less than what we frail humanity choose what is, Hence, we fragment into like-thinking perceive ourselves to be. groups using the yardstick of conventional society to wall ourselves in and maintain in our own eyes and that of the public, a difference of quality that is in the final analysis a figment of our own imagin- .1 '111P o WHAT H ation. The readership of the journal now ranges far afield from Newfoundland to the Northwest Territories, from libraries and universities in every province, to American university archives requesting the journal as a historical contribution in the ongoing record of the Women's Our exchange list grows as dozens of newsletters and Movement. Status of Women publications request that we share. The weakest spot in our subscription list is at the local level reminding us again of the old adage "a prophet is without honour in his own country". Even here we are encouraged as the faithful stand fast and a new name appears from time to time. As we move with the times and sense the changes in our own perception of ourselves, we are overwhelmed again at the responsibility of a To keep the core intact, the values defined, to feminist press. question the legal structures that betray our right to be full and participating partners in this society and this country and keep to the energy, the sacrifices, and the uncommitted women informed as If, in the triumph that a struggling minority make on their behalf. final analysis, through our pages a clearer vision of the term 'sisterhood' emerges and calls for your support and goodwill, you will join a growing number of women who have taken a second look and found us worth the price of a subscription. Our intent is to consolidate not divide, to inform not to persuade, and to charge us all with the growing times. excitement of what it means to be a woman in these changing m Eleanor Pg 2 person who can put t before the board for tells us in an inter Northern Woman's Jou PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �H ello to you all! Where does one look to find the familiar faces again? Thank gawd can see for the Northern Woman so you're all out there still fighting for changes for woman. Please renew my subscription and also put my youngest sister, Paula, on your subscription list. She's a pretty special woman, trying to find herself in her unique lifestyle on a piece of land in the I'm sure she'll Slocan Valley. enjoy many of the things the Northern Woman has to say. enjoy the paper immensely, particularly the local content. hope the energy and money to keep up the good work is endless. Dear Sisters, am a Toronto-born woman, a feminist and a subscriber to your Most of my friends are not paper. many are in fact, from Toronto; This summer, from Thunder Bay. went home with my lover for the summer, her home being in Thunder We spent the time with her Bay. Since both parents were parents. on holiday, we were chauffered around the countryside and spoiled Both her by home-baked goods. parents are ardent nature lovers and berry pickers. They knew the bistory of much of the surrounding area and the people in the area, the rivers and woods. was most I I I I I Keep healthy and happy, Laurie I impressed with how naturally my lover's mother fitted into the whole experience. have enclosed The poem is not only about her, but about all the women know or have had the pleasure of meeting while was up there. have never experienced a more natural environment in which learned so much about my ignorance of the north. admire and respect as well as envy their beautiful countryside and delightful nature. was made very welcome by many prople in Thunder Bay, but none could compare with that very personal experience of discovering strength in women in an entirely different environment from any have ever known. The northern woman is a beautiful example of what we all could be if we gave ourselves the chance to be free and one with I I I I I I I I nature. Thank you, ladies of the north. will always have a good feeling about this summer and will indeed I return. Charlene D. Robertson Enclosed is $3.00 for six issues of the Northern Woman. enjoyed reading you June issue that borrowe4 from a woman in town. Would it be possible for you to send me your mailing list for Kenora? have just moved here from Toronto where was a member of a consiousness-raising group, and would be interested in meeting with people who may have similiar ideas to mine. Perhaps the easiest way to do this is to know the women in Kenora who subscribe to your paper. hope you Thank you. can help me with this. I I A businessman is aggressive; a businesswoman is pushy. A businessman is good on detail; she is picky. He loses his temper because he's so involved with his job; She's I I I Long time no see - keep meaning to drop in - and think of you all often. am renewing my subscription to the Northern Woman plus adding a small donation. The last few issues were outstanding - looks like lots of hard work. Sharon Mertens I Best to you all and the paper Love Lewy Dear Sisters, Are there any of you or your families who are taking vitamins in magadoses for headaches, forgetfulness confusion, senility, dysperception, depression, alcoholism, or related If so, are there any who illnesses? would be interested in forming a group in order to remind each other Its easy to get careto take them? less when you feel you are alone in your treatment via vitamin approach, even though you know it helps. Perhaps depression causes this, ante a group has been known to lift depression, as in the case of AA's S incerely, Thelma rill 110111111 ITHUNDER CLAP Thunderclap to Rita Ubriaco of Thunder Bay recently appointed on Federal the Status of Women. to the Advisory Council bitchy. When he's depressed '(or hungover), 41111.0111111111 everyone tiptoes past his office; she's moody, so it must-be her time of month. He follows through; she doesn't know when to quit. He's confident; she's conceited. He stands firm; she's impossible to deal with. He is firm; she is hard. His judgements are her prejudices. He's a man of the world; she's been around. He drinks because of the excessive job pressure; she's a lush. He isn't afraid to say what he thinks; she's mouthy. she's power mad. im exercises e il mmilm. authority diligently; He He's close-mouthed; she's secre 4 He climbed the ladder of succes . she slept her way to the top. I He's a stern taskmaster; she's to work for. . He's witty; she's sarcastic. M.O.B. reprinted from Toro U I I I Phone 683 6703 I I immocmomemos..4141..mammoommopcmoimmiN People who did this issue: I IGert Thyra, Eve, Lynn, Noreen and Marg. I To the Crown and Prosecuting Attorneys who bargained a vicious sexual attact into a lesser charge of attempted Rape for reasons we find hard to understand a UM II 0 II 1 Location..224 Drop in centr Monday throug Time..±1-4 P. Clothing depo Wednesday and Everybody Wel 1 Meetings 2nd . of the month and 4th tuesd 1 Donations nee 1new members w Main Motto 1 imPEOPLE HELPI 10.mmommmm... 5 MI= II PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �The Brave Hearted Women "Anna Mae Aquash was atkested at Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota, on Septembet 5, 1975. 100 to 150 agents invaded Cnow Dog's Paradise and At Running's.tesidence ,i_muttaneourty. The FBI agents identiiied het immediately as Anna Mae Aquash and though thete was no warrant bon het ayes t, they handcuikd het and ptaced het undet aittest. She was titans otted to Pienke (S.D.) immediatety where 'she uncle/ went inten- CONTINUED FROM LAST ISSUE Throughout the Seige of Wounded Knee 1973, women organized, planned, provided support and material, and in effect, gave continuity to the endeavour. They travelled back and forth through the battlelines backpacking in the food to sustain the Oglala and AIM defenders. In Dakota tradition, they were called "Brave-Hearted Women". In the media, these women were ignored. The cameras hummed and clicked upon the faces of male AIM members. And after the Battle, these AIM men were arrested, neutralized, or eliminated by one means or another. The white male enforcement officers, blinded by their own sexism, failed to recognize the power of the women and that the heart and soul od the women would carry the movement forward. With so many males no longer functional the American Indian Movement more than ever became a woman -run organization. One older woman observed that "it is sad how few men are involved in the movement. It's hard for just us little old ladies with out pop bottles (to sustain it).' The AIM offices were run by women as they had at the start. One said, "We are here because there is work to do". The Wounded Knee aftermath continues to the present time like devastating seismic shocks bringing repercussions In a seige in of violence and death. July, 1975, at Oglala on the Pine Ridge Reservation, one native man and two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents were killed. A full-fledged military operation was launched which left Pine Ridge a living hell while some 150 FBI agents ransacked homes and ran search parties through fields and woods. As of April, 1976, 35 deaths have occurred in this bleak poverty-stricken corner of South Dakota since Wounded Knee. The Government-supported political faction - the original cause of the Second Wounded Knee - has acted out its burning hostility against AIM and the traditional Oglala people who support it with an unrelenting series of beatings, shootings, car "accidents" and other destruction. Dino Butler, now awaiting trial on the charge of first-degree murder of one of the FBI agents, tells another chapter in Anna Mae's life: Pg 4 sive intettogation bon 4ix on seven homs, being questioned about the June 26, 1975, Ogtata shootout between Native Amoticans and Oteign AmeAicans. She coutd not tett them anything because she was -in Council Btu, lewa, that day. The FBI agents made he the zame oi6et they made me that day in Piet/Le a4ten I too was attested and ttansponted pcom At Running's home - 'cooperate and tive; don't cooperate - die.'" Anna Mae described her encounter with the FBI agents. "While I was standing there with a group of women, waiting, I was being verbally harassed by some of the agents. They were implying that they had been looking for me for a long time, and that they were very pleased that they finally found me." Now that essentially all the mediaprominent male AIM members and supporters were effectively neutralized - in hiding, in jail, in courtrooms or dead - the mid-70's was seeing a new pattern in battlefield sexism, the targetif,g of women by enforcement officers and vigilantes. A foreshadowing of this occurred in the Northwest where Native People have struggled to preserve their "In traditional fishing rights. Washington State," one of the embattled survivors explained, "women have had to stand in (the men's) place because we are supporting them and supporting our unborn. There have been issues like fishing rights where our men were put in jail and all that was left was women to go out and fish. Yet the women were still treated the same, with the same harassment from the police, being beat up and going to jail, even women with children." Nor was death a stranger to the women along the banks of those rivers, sudden violent death. In Wagner, Sioux Falls, Custer, Gordon, Rapid City and of course, Pine Ridge, greater and greater pressure came down upon women as a new point of attack. Gladys Bissonette observed that "every time women gathered to protest or demonstrate (peaceably) they always aim machine guns at us women and children". But with the work of the women, AIM did not die. Nor did the greater movement for natural rights of which' AIM has always been but a part. As the Cheyenne people say: A nation Zs not conquered Untie the hearts 6.6 its women Are on the ground. Then it is done, no mattet _How brave its wattiou Not how stAong its weapons. The women patriots who bore a heavy share of the task of physical and spiritual survival of their people through all the years would not now surrender. The list of native women who have been harassed, jailed, beaten, stabbed and shot grows long in this new -campaign. On February 24, 1976, the body of a young woman was found where it had lain for many days and nights along the highway north of Wanblee on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The coroner contracted by the BIA declared that death was caused by exposure, that is, natural causes. FBI agents severed the hands from the body. They said they had to send them to the Washington office for identification. A week later, the body was buried in an unmarked grave at the Holy Rosary Mission. By that time, however, the identity of the yound woman was known and communicated to family and then to friends. They insisted on an exhumation and a second autopsy. This time, the independent autopsy read differently, the horror of its statement blotting through its precise language: "On the posterior neck, 4 cm. above the base ob the occiput and 5 cm. to the tight (14 the midtine .is a 4 mm. peqmation o6 the skin with a 2 mm. 'um o4 abrasion 4untounded by a 1.5 x 2.2 cm. area oi btackish discototation. Suttounding thi4 an area o6 t-eddi6h discotokation measuning 5x5 cm. This area cis gto6ty compatibte with a gunshot entrance wound .. Removed (6/tom the bra -in) .ins a metallic pellet dank grey in meon gtoty comiztent with tead." March 14, 1976, dawned windy, flinging snow upon those who had come to bury Anna Mae Pictou Aquash. "Creation was unhappy," one woman said. Some women had driven from Pine Ridge the night before - a very dangerous act - "to do what needed to be done." Young women dug the grave. A ceremonial tipi was set up. Anna Mae's naked body was removed from the morgue's body bag. Her severed hands - from which the fingertips had also been severed - were returned to her. The women clothed her in a ribbon shirt and jeans with a jean jacket emblazoned with the AIM crest and an inverted American flag on the sleeve. Beaded moccasins were placed on her feet. A woman seven months pregnant gathered sage and cedar to be burned in the tipi. Young AIM men were the pallbearers: they laid her on pine boughs while the religious leader spoke the sacred words and performed the ancient duties. People brought presents for Anna Mae to take with her to the Spirit World. They also brought presents for her two sisters to carry back to Nova Scotia with them to give to her orphaned daughters. The executioners of Anna Mae did not snuff out a meddlesome woman. They exalted a Brave Hearted Woman for all time. The traditional leaders of Oglala released the following statement about her death before the second autopsy was performed: cont'd on pg 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Familis ProPertY Lair RECOMMENDED CHANGES and 2 of the Family In parts Property Law series, we have had a look at existing Ontario laws that govern ownership of the family home and ownership of property other than the family home. The Ontario Law Reform Commission appointed by the Ontario government in 1964, has made a positive recommendation in its 1974 Family Property Law Report regarding ownership of the matrimonial home and the household goods contained in the matrimonial home. It recommends that the matrimonial home which is the principle residence of the marriage, should be co-owned in joint tenancy by the They also state that cospouses. ownership should be retroactive to The include existing marriages. principle of co-ownership of the matrimonial home and household goods would entitle the husband and wife to equal sharesin the home and its contents, secured by their joint control and rights of occupation and use, retained for their joint enjoynent and capable of being dispos ed of or otherwise dealt with only by the consent of both spouses or by court order. The Ontario Status of Women Council supports this recommendation and states that co-ownership of the matrimonial home should be given immediate, widespread and retrospective effect as a general legal principle, irrespective of registered title and irrespective of the financial contribution of the spouses It is also recommended by the Ontario Status of Women Council that "matrimonial home" be defined as the principle family residence or where co-habitation has primarily taken There can be only one place. matrimonial home at any given time. In rural areas, it may be defined as the principle family residence area of land as may be and such of severance capable 1 Whether we support or reject these recommendations for change in Ontario's Property Laws, consideration must be given to the following: 1. Perhaps we should be apprehensive about introducing a novel system (such as deferred community of property) alien to the established principles of our common law. It is always safer to adapt an existing system to any new needs than to implement revolutionary change. 2. Serious thought should be given to enacting the immediate legislation to protect the spouses in the matrimonial home, and to give each spouse a fixed share on death or divorce.... which share could be varied upwards or downwards by the court following specific guidelines set out in the legislation. Once such a system is in operation, it should be carefully monitored and assessed. If it is found seriously wanting them further consideration can be given to a more radical solution. Remember that no legal system can alone and unaided solve interspousal difficulties or social Note that the system injustices. proposed by the Ontario Law Reform Commission (deferred community of property) will not apply to existing marriages unless spouses jointly agree to have their family property affairs governed by the deterred community of property system. One must ask how realistic It is to assume that the majority of married couples will opt in. 4. The Ontario Law Reform Commission has recommended (in view of the rigid formula propcsed by them) that persons who are about to be married be given a choice as to which matrimonial system to have govern their they wish property relations. One must ask: a - Will the majority of people understand sufficiently the consequences of choice to make an intelligent one? b - How can a young couple possibly forsee their economic future? c - Will prospective brides not be influenced by their prospective mates to go along with the latter's wishes? 5. Experience in countries where a similar- system to the proposed deferred community of property system has shown that persons with any substantial amount of property, including the professional classes, opt out of deferred community of property. Think for a moment of the consequences on a man (or woman) who owns a small business if he has to contemplate selling it or mortgaging it to meet his wife's equalizing claim. Deferred community of property will be of little value to those people who are in a lower income bracket, for example, the family whose total income is a weekly wage of $200. Half of nothing is nothing. 6. Deferred community of property will cause serious accounting and valuation problems if spouses wish to claim deductions. 7. If the women's liberation movement is to have any success whatsoever, it must surely result in a better informed, more economically independant woman. If this is going to be afforded the middleaged woman of to-day by the Ontario Law Reform Commission's proposals, is the price of a comprehensive scheme such as deferred community of property for the future too high? Hopefully, fewer numbers of women will require its alleged protection! EXAMPLE CALCULATION OF AN EQUALIZING CLAIM For property acquired during the course of a marriage, other than the matrimonial home and its contents, the Ontario Law Reform Commission recommends that it be governed by the Matrimonial Property Regime. In this Regime the spouses would continue to own acquire and dispose of their separate property during the marriage. On termination of marriage, either by death or divorce, the spouses would share equally the financial product of the marriage. This is known as Deferred Community of Property. Division of the assets aquired during the course of the marriage would be accomplished by means of the equalizing claim rather than by claim to specific assets. Sharing would take the form of a cash payment from the spouse with the greater assets to the spouse having the lesser assets. 1. Calculation of the husband's residuary estate. Net Estate.(total value of the husband's property less his debts and liabilities) $58,000 (property) - $3,000 (debts) = $55,000 (net estate) From the net estate are subtracted the value of property acquired before the marriage and the value of property acquired as a personal gift. $55,000 (net estate) - $10,000 (property owned before his marriage) = $45,000 (residuary estate) 2. Calculation of the wife's residuary estate Net Estate (total value of wife's property less her debts and liabilities) $12,000 (property) - 0 (debts) = $12,000 (net estate) From the net estate are subtracted the value of property acquired before the marriage and the value of property acquired as personal gifts $12,000 (net estate) - ($4,000 bonds acquired before marriage +$3,000 personal gift) = $5,000 residuary estate $. Calculation of net financial product of the marriage Husband's residuary estate + wife's residuary estate net financial product of the marriage $45,000 + $5,000 0. $50,000 (net financial product of the marriage) con't pg. 6 Pg 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �ABBY 1101411i N about some of the influences which keep women out of fitness and sports activities, and talked particularly about the influence of school programs. She stressed at one point that women were only partly responsible for not being involved -- that there were other factors like stereotypihg and lack of encouragement which also worked to keep women out. From the studio, we went to the College, where Abby opened the Conference. Here she expanded on the kinds of social pressures she had mentioned earlier. Specifically she dealt with the myths and stereotypes our culture perpetuates when it comes to women and sports or fitness. A lot of these are reviewed in the booklet Abby wrote in co-operation with the Ontario Status of Women Council, "About Face ... towards a positive image of women in Abby Hoffman came to Thunder Bay to address participants of the Women's Fitness Conference held October 16, 1976 at Confederation College. She arrived Friday, the night before the Conference, and I was lucky enough to be one of the three women from our Planning Committee who met her at the airport. Sport". They included the myths that women are basically physically in inferior; that sports activities damage our child bearing potential and that to be successful as an athlete She made you had to look like a man. particular reference to the slams given by the media (and losing competitors) to the female gold medal swimmers in the '76 Olympics. We took Abby to her hotel where we discussed the Conference -- our plans and our hopes. We also talked about a lot of other things too. Like how Abby had left a teaching position at Guelph University (Political Studies) to take her preAnd how her job as sent job. Co-ordinator of Athlete Assistance Programs for the Canadian Olmpic Association ends soon, leaving her unemployed. We told Abby we'd like her to work in Thunder Bay, so we could have her Who knows? full time. I drove Abby to CBQ first thing Saturday morning for an interview. She had done freelance work with CBC Radio on "This Country in the Morning", and is virtually an "old hand" She talked around radio studios. The evening before, Abby had talked about sport as an area which should be of primary concern to the women's movement, as it was here that the concept of biological destiny/inferiority is a fundamental issue. Abby talked about our right "to fitShe mentioned that some ness". countries like West Germany, this right We is guaranteed in the constitution. have the right as citizens and tax payers to equal access to public There would be as many facilities. opportunities, time allotted and funds Day care would allocated to each sex. be available so that mothers (and fathers) were as eligible as nonparents. Abby drew some rather obvious comparisons between our system and alternatestyles in other countries, particularly She spoke of culsocialist countries. tural and recreational centres in socialist countries which were beyond our comprehension given our experience with such centres. Entire families could go to a single facility where many activities, for all ages, were happening. There was no need, as in Thunder Bay, to drive one child to a Boy Scout meeting in the church basement, another child to swim class at the university, while Mum goes to a fitness class at the Y and Dad goes to play in a chess tournament at a local Lodge. All of these activities can be centralized in the community centre. Abby talked about how Olympic athletes are more effectively encouraged and financed in socialist countries. She also mentioned the evening before how the stereotypes regarding women are not the same as ours because generally women's contributions as workers and athletes seem to be valued more highly. She talked about male-dominated commercial sport as a hurdle to equal opportunity. It works to perpetuate the idea that women are not athletes and that, for all of us (men and women) our role is as spectator rather than participators. Abby referred to her own high school experience in a school which gave 1,160 students time off to watch only forty student/football players compete. In her talk and in her workshop, Abby looked at strategies for effecting change which included the integration of male and female sports programs, compulsory physical education classes every day in school, an emphasis on participation and personal fitness, equal allocation of funds and programming and media coverage of events other than strictly maledominated, commercial sport. Having Abby with us, even for a single weekend was like a shot in the arm. The things she talked about were valuable on an intellectual level, but there was something else there too. There is a physical sureness and grace in Abby which comes, I believe, from training her body to I would perform at its potential. like very much to be more in touch with my body -- its limits and its potential. I think, for all of us, it is the best thing we can do for ourselves and our self-image. Source material: 4. Calculation of the Equalizing Claim Net financial product of the marriage smaller residuary estate 2 = equalizing claim $50,000 1. Family Property Law Report, Ontario Law Reform Commission 2. A Brief Over-view (report of the O.R.L.C, on Family Property Law)bprepared by the Ontario Status of Women Council. Joan Packota Thunder Bay Club - Canadian Federation of University (net financial product ) - $5,000 (smaller residuary estate) 2 = $20,000 (equalizing claim) t********************ic******** * This year,the Law reform commission 5. Calculation of the financial situation of each spouse at termination of the marriage. a. Larger residuary estate - equalizing claim = financial situation of the husband at termination of marriage $45,000 (husband's residuary estate) - $20,000 (equalizing claim) = $25,000 (husband's financial situation) b. Smaller residuary estate + equalizing claim = financiii skuation of wife at termination of marriage $5,000 (wife's residuary estate) + $20,000 (equalizing claim) = $25,000 (wife's financial situation) Pg6 4E Itof Canada submitted a report on 41 41 family law which merits the attention The Government 4E of all Canadians. intends to carry on discussioni,(Ho-Hum): 41. 4E 41 4E with the provinces to encourage the 41 41 creation of unified Family Courts 41 with comprehensive jurisdiction 41 41 4E over Family Law permitting disputes 41 11 4E to be dealt with more constructivly. 4E In addition,the government will 41 nce an and with 4 discuss scuss w thee pr 41 1 41 the public other aspects of family 4E law bearing on the stability of 11 marriage,the protection of children, 41 41, 4c. and the fair sharing of the economic 41 consequences of marital breakdown. .11E PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Physical Assertiveness An article, written by Thomas Boslooper, appeared in the Journal of Physical Education and Recreation, May 1976. In it, he spoke of the need for more opportunities for women to engage in sports activities of all sorts--particularly, competitive, co-educational and contact sports. H e felt that it was not cultural attitudes alone which could account for the lack of opportunities for women--money, or lack of it, is an important factor. "Men don't want to share the money with the women." He points out the contradiction we tolerate when we acknowledge the high incidence of physical aggression directed toward women, and our refusal to allow warren the means to cope with this aggression. "Girls and women are struck and beaten, hurt and humiliated physically by brothers and sisters, a few mothers and many fathers, male friends and bosses, lovers and husbands. This is true on all economic and social levels." "Women, however, are told not to fight because it is not ladylike, and are kept from developing an kind of experience that will be beneficial to them in trying to cope with physical aggressiveness that has been directed against them." Based on 20 years of counselling and research, Boslooper is certain there is a correlation between physical competence/confidence and mental health. RECIPE FOR HEALTH He has found that women who feel they cannot cope with life "lacked satisfying physical activities, were unrealistic about their physical strength, had had unfulfilling experiences in physically competitive activities, or had been hurt physically or sexually abused by someone at some time, and so had cane to characterize various forms of physicality as a denial of femininity. Although not all emotionally distressed women were negative in all of these areas, most were negative in at least three out of four, and all were negative in the fourth." "On the other hand, I saw that women who felt they could cope adequately with the problems of life, and generally thought themselves to be vigorous emotionally and physically were likely to be what I call positive in all of these factors. They had developed and maintained a satisfying form of physical activity or sport; they had a realistic image of their physical strength and liked the feeling of being strong; the competitive element in physicality was stimulating to their awn achievement; and they never been hurt physically by anyone and/or they had the capacity to conceptualize physically assertive activity as a nonsexual or nonhostile act." THE HOOPLACHEERLEADER GLADIATOR SYNDROME He makes quite the case for coeducation, competitive, contact sports for women. "Certainly, men and women of insight and goodwill should be able to devise, develop, and regulate various forms of individual and team contact sports between females and females and between females and males for the establishment of energetic and wholesome activity that will promote the physical and social development of both sexes." "How much better human beings we all would be if males and females could learn to have the kinds of physical contacts that terminate in mutual feelings of respect and liking and the recognition that each participant is strong--where skill, rather than hostility, becomes the prerogative for winning, and the sharing of self-esteem becomes the mutual reward for both participants!" Can it be that, as boys and girls develop individual physical skills and learn in games and sports how to compete with one another playfully, they will be well on the way toward learning to relate constructively in marriage, in business, in the professions, and i n politics? Can wholesome contact sports promote healthier social contacts between male and female?" To these questions, Boslooper answers affirmatively. He joins the chorus of female voices asking for increased opportunities in sports. MID Robert Hue, in an article entitled, Athletics and the Community College, or...the Hoopla-Cheerleader- Gladiator Syndrome, looks at how school and college sports stress winning rather than participation and education. He addresses the star-making process which can only accommodate a limited number of people "at the top". Starmaking, and the need to win, are both products of a system which seeks public recognition/financial gain above educational value. In such a system, there is little opportunity for students to meet one another with the intention to develop skills and strengthen their sense of community through encouragement and understanding, and female students are taught to take on a supportive role; not to develop their own skills but to rejoice over the achievements of male athletes. Rue discusses these and other issues which require changes in attitudes and changes in behaviour. He makes yet another plea for the use of sports as a vehicle for learning, fitness and respect for the skills and efforts of others. Pg 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Marlene It takez a wide net POETRY to capture the zpitit that knows Lt's cwn The 6inezt mezh (.-(1.et net cortin LETTER TO ALL NV att phantasy temo ved, thetez power in the stone 14 I am quiet now; Lt -ins becaus e, the, here The sent; L 1\4 E that cant be moved. / am thinking 6aeze concetn iz dross, o6 you,each ob you. W ith yowl dietent ti6eztyLez all zympathy zuzpect, and habitz;and ways o6 bon those who scorn thinking and 4eeting; to pray the game on I admite you pt yours courage; battet zeti -tezpect. Gert It takez coonage to be dietent,and each o6 uz are di64etent. At some point in out Zivez; W e may meet and sit down and tatk, We may not agree on a tot o6 things; I We may be at dietent ztagez o6 growth, REASONS but we mItt tezpect and accept I out di66etencez. Thete ate two /Lea/sons thi/s quest teaLized, I believe aa women ate strong arm in atom- - I want to zee I and getting zttonget. we have a gent& inzight into things; Each o6 uz,we want to teach out in at kinds oi ditectionz,that many oi uz have only dreamed about. N ow Lt's happening in 40 many ways; We zee it and beet Lt every day It iz exciting. The 4a4-t, 40 obviourty, it ha4 been 40 tong coming, And Let's 6ace Lt, quite overdue... The second, same maticious dezite to show even so zubtey those who nevet betieved in women that the incapacitiez they saw in ws wete metety the 't own tegectionz theit own inadequaciez zhining thtough-and theystt know. . their childrei She's at home in the fields and in the woods, s he can identify sound or smell, S he knows what to in earth that only weeds,and, she'll still have of that growth on h er table next The Northern Woman can drive a tracto a truck, a school bus or a bicycle; she can clean,cook . Pautah Edwards It -o a good andiviondet6oLe thing to be a woman, we ate not only ptoving every day,thatide have b/Lainz;but W e have physicat and mentae strength and have fresli blu pie the same day; Her teeth are stai and patience to do amazing things in each o6 out Li6e time. We ate Leatning that we, as women Can have mote conttot overt w hat we want to do, And what we don't want to do So Li I am quiet tight now, It .cis becauze 1 beet att these things, and I had to Let you know. CaxoL Anne Waugh "Het-zete The Northern woman a brown eyed susan that she calls an ox-eyed daisy; S he's a jackpine w ith wild bluebert at her feet, a log camp out in the bush thi she helped build; She's the northern lights in full dre! The northern woman the one who s knows the names of all her neighbor their history their gossip i To zee at Last my ziztutz and I I THE NORTHERN WOMAN art day Long out argument have ch azed the cat outside thL from pure spring w and you couldn't h notice them b ecause The northern Woman smiles at stranger house L growing incteazingLy neutotic Charlene D R t 6it your ting in my noze then turn Lt on my 6inget a noose on a tiny neck az you ignite your wands with matchez my skin cut-P Like ceaophane unwtapping ate Lts de6encez against you i can only tetteat inzide my shredded 4!Mn zttetching tarn edges to covet th,i4 strange evidence oi Love. P g 8 Myna McFattafte itom B.C. ixom "The Fat Executionet" PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �NIIII..4"1.14)004).flabom4 ramom mmoscmooimmot sGaim.0 00404011m4 mi04 ANI4 r4soo4004mmt I OlYmPia I I wanted to say the dteamet was mad, His ego and ptide was a sin. I wanted to tett him, the castle he buitt was a btot on the season we've in. I wanted to say the ptanetz at bay, and some whet e a child is dying. I wanted to choke him, and scream in his eat. What manna o6 man is unabte to heat when hati od the wottd is ctying? RAPE The final outrage,the ultimate insult to the human spirit.... forget the flesh, all bruises fade. I , By physical, assault man's point is made. but in that dark,and secret place,a violated spirit drinks the distillation of revenge. Who rapes has made an enemy to all his kind, exposed that real potential for a rapist, .... and more andmore her sisters empathize and strip him of pretension through her eyes. I Stitt as the vision KM stowty ttans6used in the cynicat ()toad od a nation. I somehow dotgot, that the otiginat thought and vatued the dream as divetzion. Fot nobody cried and nobody died, and nobody screamed disastet. The potitics tumbted behind the dacade, making theit points with invisibte Gods, teaving no Wad on the gteen sat tut Gert od Otympia. The youth od the ptanet was on pa/Lade, -att muscle and brawn and grace. A or under my arms either, visibte skating od energy with a tired and spitittess twice. but don't hate men! So to the dreamer, who dreamed the pume That didn't quite contain us I'm not supported by a bra, dot paying the pipet is the ptice, or pluck my eyebrows blue. and the dteamet's dream may &Lain us. I es don't shave my legs I One thing I know sure for my Brother my sister always' love you. Donna Shaw TO GERT What a beautidat spot 04 a massacre I thought, when the Indians entered the ting, i6 under each bonnet and deatheted cape a hatchet shatp was hidden! What a tovety time dot vanity to meet its dinat doe, to h ang the dreamer upside down where once the citctez gew. Gent Beadle It was cages, and cages, on and on 'ery hex timbs row ees ne uly; stretched.... They ran through the dietds to mote cages and cages. They ctimbed oven and over the w'tought .iron bans and on and on they tan thtough cages sew :rry POEM Untitled by Marg Smith and cages anti weary they tested by an ad woman who spoke.... When / was young p but I ran thtough cages and cages b ut tined atso teatizing.... there witt always be cages and cages to tun itom, to tun to )ertson z o now / zit knowing my timitations, ittuminated by my possibitities. I Live! / tive! seeing no baAz £n my btindness" and so they sat,sat and thought o4 those cages, :er cages and ball.;... And they heeded, heeded the o!d woman, knowing one mat realize timUations,in olden to be itee. Kate Give me a hole to hide in, and I'll obediently disappear from view You need not ever more consider whether live or die, prosper or pine. My pain can be as nothing to you because it is not seen by you. don't fit into my body, knowI'm too awkward, lumpy, scratchy ever to be containable by skin. So go, don't look at the grotesque thing don't hear the cacophone of my clamouring desires don't taste the bitter taste of failure to come to terms with what is not smooth and neatly packaged. That's what we always said stay, or go if we can be together gently, that's cool if not why stay, why hang around and waste the sunshine? But days are made from clouds as will, I've found, So, when yoU go, that's fine but don't expect to leave with my I I I respect. credit 'She Ain't Heavy' Pg9 1111111.0111111111.0414 blimp( pinimpoemm 114.111111111141N10111114,11411411041111M1410041111111.11M11111.0. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CRISIS WOMEN' S CREDIT UNION AWA I TS CHARTER *************************k 4E Over thirty women assembled, on short notice, at the Northern Women's Centre on Oct. 14, to meet and be signators as founding members of the * credit union. Bert Richards from the Ontario Credit Union League, 4E 4e Toronto, and Jim Zebruk, the local 4e representative were present and answered many more questions asked 4E by the women. 4E One of the requirements, before 4E obtaining a charter from the Province * was that four women allow their ie names to stand for nomination for President, Treasurer, Credit Committee 4E and Supervisory Committee. Women were selected for these positions. The election of these women, and any 4e others nominated for these positions will be held after the credit union has obtained its charter. 4E Another requirement was that the credit union have a bond of association, i.e. ethnic, company, etc. 4E The credit union's bond is with the Northern Women's Centre. However, since the centre does not demand a 41 membership fee, the membership will 4E be drawn from sbuscribers of the 41 Northern Woman Regional Journal and/ 4E or volunteers of groups such as the Rape and Sexual Assault Centre, 4E Equal Pay Committee, IWY Decade Coun4E cil, Citizen's Group on Crisis Housing, Etc. Sounds complicated--don't worry. 41 The easiest way to become a member 4E is to subscribe to the Northern Woman. This will make you eligible 4E to receive loans and make deposits 4E 4E in the credit union. 4E The name Northern Women's Credit 4E Union Limited was voted as the most 4E popular with Women's Credit Union 4E (Thunder Bay) a close second. 4E The response to the fact sheet sent * to many women, indicated an overwhelming positive response that a women's 4E credit union will be a success in 4E Thunder Bay. The charter will take 4E six to eight weeks to prepare. We if will keep you informed. Save your money for the union! ic************************** HOUSING The annual meeting of the Citizen's Committee for Crisis Housing was held in the dining room of the Crisis House on Tarbutt St. on Oct. 7, 1976. Dorothy Akram, counsellor and manager of the homes, met with eight of us from the Committee. Mention should be made that there are four houses. One house is used as the communal dining room. This is where all the meals are made and served to the residents. Another,house is used for the young women who formerly were housed in the Coach House. The other houses are provided for the women that we are concerned about, woman in an emergency crisis situ- NCO -OP BOOKSHOP and RECORD CENTRE * Excellent selection of Canadian literature, classics, 4E 4E 4 film books, science fiction, crafts, poetry, many unusual titles. Best folk, ethnic and blues selection in town. .E Open till 8 eadi day it. and all day SundsV 4E182 S. Algoma Street. On campus eve ry Thursday beside the Main Cafeteria phone 3458912 ************************** Pg 1 0 Woman, there are still no cribs or highchairs, and according to Dorothy Akram, they are overspent on their budget. The city, without bothering to inform Dorothy, has closed off access to these houses. A mountain of dirt blocks Tarbutt St., just off Victoria Ave. A detour down Lillie St. to a narrow unmarked dirt road between Hogarth Hosp. and Grandview Lodge is now necessary to get over to Tarbutt St. A while back, Lakehead Living, our free paper on life in Thunder Bay, as approached by one of our committee, hoping they would do a feature article on the sad situation that prevails for abused women in Thunder 3ay. Tom Grand didn't feel the number of women in distress warrented any :overage by his paper. After our depressing talk with Dorothy, we reaffirmed our original agreement to supply what we could out of the interest on the money we received from Grenville Group Homes. Money is presently being used to transport one child to and from the Ogden Day Care Centre, as the city cannot afford the $6 taxi fare. The mother of this child is ill, requires surgery and cannot cope with her two children. Other children temporarily housed in crisis housing, are missing school till permanent housing is found for them. The bulk of the money will remain in a preferred savings account until a situation presents itself to invest in a crisis shelter for women only, that meets our expectations, or failing that, perhaps invest the money in the Women's Credit Union to a,id women in crisis with a small loan situation. We have undertaken to make a personal appeal to service clubs and church groups and have written a form letter asking them to intervene on behalf of women and children. Trudy Perroud will take the Sec. Treasurer office vacated by Janet Owen. Gert Beadle will continue as President for another year. Trudy and Gert are the signing officers. The fund is now in the new name of our charter "Crisis Homes Inc." ation. Dorothy told us of the difficulty of locating permanent housing for these people, mainly women with chil dren. The housing shortage in Thunder Bay coupled with the reluctance on the part of people to rent to women with children makes the task twice as difficult. Many women are being turned away from this emergency shelter, thus remaining in an intolerable home situation, where beatings may be frequent. (One woman related to one of us that she is well known at McKellar Hosp. Out of five pregnancies, she has only two live children because she was beaten.) Records of exactly how many women are turned away are not kept. However, most of us on the committee have been contacted or know of such women. For the past couple of months there has been a waiting list to get in. Women with children are a priority. While we are very aware of the problems encountered in finding permanent accommodation for these women, after being admitted, it is still our main concern that NO ONE in a crisis situation is turned away. The need for more emergency shelter is evident to us and we feel that every woman refused accommodation, due to lack of space, should be documented. Shelter for men in Thunder Bay seems adequate but for women, two houses w ith approx. 15 beds is appalling, especially when you consider some women nave many children. One woman housed there presently has eight children. In Toronto, emergency beds for men total 1,184 and 77 for women. The ratio in Thunder Bay is probably worse. Women have never been a concern of the government. The operational costs of running these homes are shared by the province and the city. Our mayor beats his-chest for the working man while many of these working men are beating their wageless, powerless wives. As for the rest of the city council, they are hardly aware these houses exist. In spite of invitations, none have 411"c"*"*"**********)1414cg"lbothered 4E the REPORT (he Crisis Housing Committee. 7 o visit. Intoaddition, the judge said, per o Themitting governments cutbacks toin social the name change this case 4E services women the hardest 0 mighthave havehit "serious repercussions o 4E --theperhaps poorestthroughout and weakest. The cuto the country". 4E o backs budget named for operating :'Heleft saidthe a person Jackson could 4' thesepetition houses less than adequate. 0 to change the name to o 4E One house had toanbeindividual opened before o Jackchild; namedit o 4E was furnished (furnished means beds 0 Manning would want his surname 4E 0 to Peopling; andprovided a woman 4c. and0 achanged T.V.) mattresses were 0 0 called Carmen would insist on being 0 4E then, and not much else since. Wino o AL 0 called Carperson. 4 dowsO are without curtains, beds (cots) o without spreads. 4 are Towels and insane," o endless and increasingly bedding ooare being depleted. "This One would tru'y wrote Scileppi. broom between four spite be in ttghouses! realm ofInnonume." of our last appeal in_the Northern , i BABYLON, N.Y. (AP) What's in a name? A legacy of sexism, says a Long Island feminist. But Justice John Scileppi of New York State Supreme Court disagreed and denied the woman legal permission to change her name to Ellen Cooperperson rfrom Ellen Cooperman. In denying the petition Scileppi said such a "ludicrous" change would expose the women's liberation move% ment to ridicule. "The possibilities are virtually 0 0 o : o o i o o 0 o o .0! PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �:************************************************************************************i Decade Council goes to Gera idlon ********************************************************************** ************* Oct. 16/76 Saturday morning, fifteen membprs of the Decade Council drove about 170 miles to Geraldton to share with the women there some of the progress reports of the various action collectives that function under the support and leadership of the Decade Council of Northwest Ontario. This has to be one of the most beautiful drives in the area. The first winter snow we have seen accompanies us and deepens until near Geraldton we see that the Our thanks snowploughs are out. to Reiko Maeba for arranging the visit and providing the lovely lunch and coffee for the group. We also appreciate the Separate School lending us the class room for the meeting. The meeting was called to order at 2 PM by chairperson Bernice Cain with 32 persons present, all having been identified and introduced to each other. The committee reports w ere each followed by a question period and appeared in this order; E ual Pay Report - Leona Lang Leona gave a 'retailed report on lobbying efforts to date and the Working Women's Conference to be held sometime in March at ConfedHopefully, it will eration College. be co-hosted by Trades and Labour She stated Council and the College. that Grace Hartman of CUPE has accepted an invitation to attend and more good speakers will attend It will be a two the workshops. day affair and will stress unionization as the shortest route to equal pay. The Felt Feea Manket vats a zuccus {yon The NottheAn Women'4 Centre. One Hundred and 4ixty-4ive dottaius wa4 made. Spec a,2 thank4 to ate those i that donated and ezpeciatty to Leistet I Conga son att. the good junk 4he We- description of the project, an outline of what we hope to preserve the progress to date and the appeal for participation from the women of Geraldton. , il-111LHousinv Gert Beadle, Pres. of Citizens committee for crisis housing support. Gert gave the background to the establishing of the city-run crisis houses in Thunder Bay, the original philosophy of a house for the women in transition as opposed to the shelter and food for displaced families, that the city provides. She spoke of the pressing problem of physical abuse in a marriage situation and the public indifference to a subject they prefer to pretend doesn't exist. The discussion on this report and the questions asked indicated a general interest on the part of our 1.414=IimmitIINIMII1410111111141i4114P+11111100114 NEW WOMAN DOCTOR IN TOWN Dr. Fulford is with the Spence Clinic and those of us who have had occasion to need her advice and medrical attention recommend her highly. Ra e and Sexual Assault Report - eri lee Berry and Marg Wallington Much progress was made this Marg outlined the previous summer. attempt which the Northern Women had instigatea, wnich failed from lack of public support and stated that the time seems right for progress All local hospitals in this area. Her group now carry a rape kit. has met with the police force and found a willingness to co-operate. They have a room in McKellar Hosp. and a counselling service. Paula Brooks is the first woman in Canada to be hired as a co-pilot 1!operating out of Timmins. She is iemployed by Nor-Ont Air to sevice a northern route from Timmins to North Bar, Chapleau, Sudbury, etc. In an interview with CBC Radio, 1 Paula stated there was some fear that she might not be capable of 1 loadi ng her own baggage, but she was able to calm the fears of her 1 counterparts. Paula was a imale flight instructor and had 1500 hrs. flying time before she was consia She ered for her present position. 1 hopes to one day sit in a co-pilot's seat in Air Canada. In the meantime, she savours the knowledge that she 1 has broken another barrier. Ruth Cunningham from Confederation College gave the Family Property Law Report for Joan Pakota of the University Women's Club who was unable to attend. She spoke also about the Status of Women of Ontario of which she is a member and her position as head of Women's Programs at the College. She gave tribute to the Northern Woman's Centre, which she said had contributed greatly to her growth as an aware, dedicated worker in the women's movement. Women's Credit Union rratrer777757,rn the absence of Laurie Hill, reported on the progress of the Women's Credit Union (see report on page 10 of this paper) I .Lo..i.tated. Herstory Report 77777-17Fay gave a loose WS 1 ' ' ! 111101c************************* it 4E 4E 4E 4E A poem to my friends, with thanks for helping me through the roughest time of my life. * 41 4E 41 4E .* 4E 4f 4f 4E 41 if 4E if if 4E Acknowledgement to My Friends. Journes Northern Woman. Apprehension mingles with fear the collike the clouds that form on a grey lective, spoke about the journal as menacing day. the collective and joint property wonder what the future holds And of the women in Northwestern Ontario.* for me 4E She stated her desire to broaden * Calm, peace, serenity, the vision, to have it make a clear 4E and the knowledge that and positive statement on the 11 always intended to do what was right iE She issues that concern women. if 41 said "We want to remove ourselves 4f Chaos, confusion, pain II from the portrayal of pathetic if 4E and the reality of my shortcomings 4E iE losers to a great sisterhood who in my everyday existance? 4E if knows where they have been, where 4E Or will the middle of the road il they want to go and will arrive 41. iE be my fate, my destiny if 4E there without losing either their in this time of my life? 4E 41 sense of humour or their capacity 4f 4E to love both th eir sisters and 4E ifWhatever the case iE if. their brothers. Whatever the feelings 4f 41 This visit to Geraldton was a am secure right now iE 4E pilot project and will no doubt 4f 4E Because as long as this new life 4E 41 be followed by the Decade Council within me surges forth 4E If we moving out to other areas. and pulls from eternity *find the same warmth, the same if A kick for my awareness, woman-to-woman rapport in the 41 am close to myself, know future meetings, our Decade Council 4E * and to you my friends, will grow in strength and stature. * who helped make this state of I sisters in Geraldton and told us they may have cause to consider the value of one in their own community. Hilda Holm is also keenly interested in the plight of elderly women in isolated communities who have lost their mates and are without financial advice are emotional support. The responsibility of women to help women is widely accepted; only the means has not been established. Home-makers Group - Eleanor Eryou m.ming-gillintrirtup have been monitoring television and the printed word for sexual stereotyping, stating with much good humour that we are still weak and passive but men, poor dears, are still dumb and bumbling. Hopefully they will do more monitoring. I I I - we must work collectively if we don't , our energies die 4E 4E if I being a reality. 411** Love Paulah ************************9 Pg 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �HERSTORY PROJECT .1 % %i /IS LP YOU R IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAVE A STORY TO CONTRIBUTE, PLEASE SEND IT ALONG. THE HERSTORY GUIDELINES BELOW MAY GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME AREAS YOUR STORY COULD INCLUDE. HERE IS OUR ADDRESS: HERSTORY PROJECT 316 BAY STREET THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO FOR HERSTORY GUIDLINES 1. Now old were you when you came to N.W. Ontario? 2. Were you rural or urban? 3. Did you have a sense of adventure at the prospect? 4. Did yiu think of yourself as a pioneer? 5. Were you disappointed or elated at the reality? 6. Did you realize the importance of coping on an individual basis or was your husband the one who shielded and protected you and took the load? 7. Did you expect it 'to be hard or did you perhaps romanticize the life? 8. What was the thing you missed most? 9. How did you meet the needs for spiritual growth,for creative growth? 10. Did you cope with loneliness, was there music, books in your first home? II. Do you remember the first radios, the first phones, the silent movies? 12. Were you interested in the politics of the country? Did you vote your own vote? 13. Did you lose anyone in the First War or the Second? 14. Do you remdmber the bread lines,the hoboes in the depression, the great Welfare roles, and the labour camps that paid $5 a month for a man? 15. How was it with you then? 16. Was educating your children a passion with you? 17. How much value did you put on personal vanity? 18. What beauty preparations were available, for instance - who cut your hair, and did you curl it and how? 19. How old were you when you married. Were you prepared to be a wife and later a mother or did you find a surprise waiting for you? 20. Have you thought much about Women's rights or have you been content to have men take the lead and decide what is best for you and the family? 21. Have you ever done a really militant thing because you knew it was right even though your husband disagreed? 22. Did you feel the generation gap they speak of these days with your children. 23. Were you able. to trust their judgement, push them out of the nest or did you long to protect them? 24. Was there a difference in protective feelings between your daughters and sons? 25. Was there any time you had to fill the breach in supporting the family (husband sick)? 26. Were you active in the communtity, see (9) 27. What was the health facilities 28. As 29. ; the famity doctor; the flu epidemic, the fever epidemic? you look back, is there anything you would have changed or has your life pleased you? Does the Divorce Rate disturb you or do you feel there is some merit in woman asserting herself more today? Pg 12 30. What do you feel you have contributed as a friend, as a parent and a citizen? PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �as loose a statement as "we support the Native woman's cause" without realizing it is their own cause. She cannot be wounded unless the pain is general, the anger allencompassing. When we know this, and our native sister knows that we know it, she will forgive us for our patronizing pity, our sanctimonious rhetoric, our self-seeking indifference and lend to us the pride and power, the natural affection that sustained her through the nightmare our society has imposed on her. The poem Sylvia read to us is below and says it all and we in the Decade Council say Amen. 4E "Anna Mae worked hand setving het 4E Indian people and assisted in out 4E e6iont4 to shed the shacktes o4 4E She is with 4E Government patetnatism. 4E us. In het btook is Ogtala. We 4E So theteiote 4E considet het a Wend. 4E we ate concerned because we beet 4E that het invotvement as out ally 4E pxobabty brought hex death... We 4E 4E want to know the truth about Anna Mae's death and the possibitity o4 31 the Government's .involvement in it. * Anna Mae Pictou was tespected and 4E We loved by the people o4 Oglala. 11 mourn hex, and we urge all law4E abiding citizens to demand the teat 4E 4E truth about het death." The Brave-hearted Women who remain to face the dangers of the Indian world have sadly been given a martyr, Anna Mae of Shubenacadie, Boston, Washington, St. Paul, Wounded Knee, Los Angeles, Oregon and finally a frozen grave site on a ridge in Oglala. 4E 4E 4E lt 4E 4E 4E It * 4E 4E Among the Iroquois, it is the women It who decide when the people will go 4E to war * because when the war is done, it is the women who weep. 4E Will the Brave-Hearted Women decide 4E 4E that, with Anna Mae's death, the war is over? Or will they decide with Lorelei Means who declares, 4E "Hell, we're struggling for our life.* * ='e're struggling to survive as a , people". 4E 4E 4E Anna Mae Pictou Aquash faces the 11 sun's first light with the white, black, red and yellow streamers 4E flapping overhead on poles placed in 4E the Four Sacred Directions cornering her grave. 4F 4E The Brave-Hearted Women have decided * 4E there will be war. The Second Battle of Wounded Knee found Anna Mae among the many young and old women who shared a common denominator: the loss of patience. Regina Brave put it into words: WE'RE TIRED' We'te tined oi seeing out men dtiven by despait, tutn to alcohol, commit suicide, or end up in penal instituions. We've neared out chitAen only to 4E 4E 4E 4E 4E * 4E 4E 4E 4E 4E 4E 4E It 41 4E 4E 4E 4E see them brain -washed by an atien system with a genocidal poZicy which 4E 4E desttoys out tanguage, customs and 11 heritage. We'te tited oi seeing out btothens and on go oi.6 to wan only to come home and be stain by United States Govetnment iotces. 4E 4E It 41E. 4E 4E Wet 483 yeau, we're Cited - we're damn sick and tiled. So, we've standing up next to out We're standing up and taking men. up the battle here and now to ptotect out young so theit unborn can know the (xeedom out gAandpatents knew. 4E 4E 4E 4E 4E * 4E 4E * 11 The iutuu oi out young and unborn to butied in out past. We axe today 4E who wLU biting the tebitth 04 spiti- 4E 11 dignity, and 4oveteignty. 4E We ate Native AmexLcan Women! HEARTBREAK * 4E 4E AL 1IT ERALDTO ************************4 Sylvia Ullich is a beautiful native woman. Physically and mentally, it shows itself. Yet, in the town of Geraldton, she has reason to believe the townspeople have not seen the person she is. They have dismissed her and her people as only Indians. She came to the Women's Council meeting to tell us that we have nothing to give her, that we are part of the structure that has taken away her pride and her heritage, that our problems are as nothing to the problems of her race. She is almost right. The structure that declared her Non-Indian when she married a white man is ours. It is obscene and utterly without a redeeming feature, but it's ours and it must be changed. Who will change it, if not women, for she is one of ours, beyond the Indian beyond the white, is woman blood and bone, doubly oppressed in her case because of her race and our indifference. She struggles to teach 42 native children, away from their homes billeted in white homes whom she feels have no personal interest in them. There are tears in her eyes as she tells of a social she planned for the pupils and their house parents, inviting them by letter, but "not one turned up". Does this make them racist? Probably not. Unthinking, insensitive, preoccupied with their own small affairs, more likely. But she was wrong w hen she said she wanted nothing from us, for at the first sign that she was in the presence of women who truly cared and suffered with her, she broke and we wept together. Perhaps we wept for the things that divide usb.for the love we deny each other, for the support we need from each other and perhaps we wept because there's a revolution going on and we know love is not enough. It will take controlled anger and we don't know who to be mad at. No woman truly tuned in to her own female core could make am am of am am Indian and proud. Indian you could pick me out a crowd. Indian stand tall. Indian you'll never see me I crawl. am Indian am Indian am am of am am I live on a reservation. Indian and proud. Indian you could pick me out a crowd Indian stand tall. Indian you'll never see me I crawl. am Indian lived on a reservation am Indian need the white man's education. am Indian deep down inside. am Indian I've got my pride. I I am Indian ain't greedy. am Indian am not Treaty. am Indian without any land. am Indian is that hard to understand? I I , am am am am Indian Indian Indian Indian proud of my race. not a disgrace. set me free. let me be. am am am am Indian Indian Indian Indian day and night. I'm not white. doing time. is that a crime? Ronnie Syrette, Ojibway Nation 11**************************V 4 'By nice women...you probably mean * selfish women who have no more thought *for the underprivileged, overworked 4E * women than a pussycat in a sunny window 4E for the starving kitten in the street. *Now in that sense I am not a nice 4E * woman, for I do care." 4E - Nellie McClung, The Stream Runs * Fast, 1945. 4F 4E 4E 4E 41 4E 4E 4E 4E 4E 4E * 4E 4E 41:**************************4 P g 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �The members of the Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre have composed this questionaire in order to gain data on the frequency and conditions of rape, sexual assault or attempts at such in Northwestern Ontario. This form is to be completed by any woman who has been a victim of sexual assault of an attempted sexual assault in this geographic area. Names, if provided, will be kept in the strictest confidence. The compiled results will be published at a future date. Hopefully, by identifying the times and places in which sexual assualts occur in this area, we can prevent some other women from having this traumatic experience. By filling out this form, you will help us identify the need for the Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre. Location: Time: Date: Were other people present? Describe how you arrived at this situation: When did you first become aware that your attacker's intention was to sexually assault you: Did you know your attacker previously? The day long conference sponsored joi ntly by our centre and Confederation College on June 19th was attended by over seventy persons. The conference dealt with a wide range of issues concerning rape. We began the day with a speaker from theeToronto Rape Crisis Centre w ho spoke about the way our society's rearing of male and female children and our traditional way of looking at male and female sexuality contribute to the myths about rape and to its high incidence. Workshops w ere offered on assertiveness and self-defence, the role of crisis centres, methods of supporting rape victims, legislation, In the and assaults on children. afternoon we viewed the film "How to say-No to a Rapist...." (Storaska) and offered a critique and discussion result we reAs a of the film. solved that we would object to the use of the film for any attempt at serious education of women of the We general public regarding rape. will attempt to find or develop more meaningful media presentations. We've gotten a number of new volunteers since June, but need many more if we are going to provide full crisis and counselling help. Volunteer training has begun, and will be an on-going activity at the Centre so volunteers can join us at any time. You can be involved in a number of ways depending on the time you can spare and the type of help you would like to give. We need volunteers for phone service, counselling, typing and preparing materials. We will be settled into a permanent location by the new year, at which time we will be able to publish our phone number. Until then, anyone wishing to contact us can call Women's Centre (622-3989) or the Journal office (345-5841). Your message will be passed on. Thunder Bay Rape Our address is: and Sexual Assault Collective, P.O. Box 314, TBF. We'd like to hear from you. We w ill need a great deal of support from women in the area to meet our goals of educating the public about what rape really is, and providing w oman-to-woman support for victims of rape. A panel discus sion with a police officer, lawyer, nurse, rape counsellor, and a rape victim concluded the We felt that many issues conference. w ere discussed quite frankly and Pg 14 If so, describe the relationship. What was the attitude of the attacker? What force was utilized by the attacker? If you resisted the Could you describe attack, how did you resist? (ie. physically or verbally) details of the actual assault? What did you do immediately afterwards? Did you report the incident to the police? What was the attitude of the police? Did an arrest or conviction result? Would it have been helpful for you to have had a woman from a rape crisis group to talk to? Who did you talk to about the incident? How has the incident affected your life? Who or what has helped you deal or cope with the sexual assault? Could you give us characteristics of the attacker if known or remembered? Age: Height: Weight: Occupation: Marital Status: Could you give characteristics about yourself? Name:(if you wish) Age: H eight: Weight: Occupation: Marital Status: Please cut out this form and mail it to: Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre Box 314 Thunder Bay 'F' Thank you for helping women! that the day had given us all valuable information and the opportunity to discuss our feelings and beliefs with a variety of people. A video tape is being made based on the conference. This wLll be used for educational purposes and will be available for community groups, new volunteers, and other groups interested in a discussion of rape and its effects. The centre has received a $3000 grant from Secretary of State to be used for the educational aspects of our work. The centre has a resource file on rape arid related topics. W e are now developing an educational package which will be distributed to libraries and schools. One section of this package Will contain a collection of verse and thoughts from local women. Please send us any items you'd like to share. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �1 411, THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 Bay St. Thunder Bay, "P" Ont. return postage guaranteed RETURN TO: Coned* Postai Post Ftr,cm0 Bulk Ennombre third troisikno clams demos 220 414************************ * page of Contents Table Eleanor Morin makes her move Letters The Bravehearted Women Family Property Law Abby Hoffman Decade Council Report Women's Credit Union Herstory Daycare 2 3 If 5 7 11 11 12 16 * * * * * * * * * * * Donna Shaw 627 S. High St. Thunder Bay P **********************400 HAVE YOU MOVED? THIS IS YOUR LAST ISSUE LET US KNOW PLEASE. (We must pay postage on your returned paper in order to keep our mailing list YOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS DUE up to date). PLEASE SUPPORT US (six mssuEs) X32 YEAR Tact BuSINESS OR rNIST I TvnoN NAME GIFT t -want to get involved? call 345-5841 any Tuesday or Wednesday ADDRESS DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED Free to one parent families 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 The Northern Woman, Vol 3 No 2 Description An account of the resource Vol. 3, No. 2 (1976) Title: Northern Woman Topics include: Journal distribution and readership Letters to the editor Native motherhood Family property law Women athletes Abby Hoffman Women in sports Access to sports and fitness for women Poetry Women’s Credit Union Crisis housing Women’s Decade Council Homemakers Group Rape & sexual assault report Herstory project Racism Anti-rape conference Authors/Contributors: Gert Beadle Paulah Edwards Myra McFarlane Carole Anne Waugh Charlene D. Robertson Ronnie Syrette 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 1976 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/16/2746/1977_Vol_3_No_3.pdf bec7b2d4e1b72d0eeb004dbbe3136dbb PDF Text Text NORTHERN WOMEN JOURNAL VOLUME 3 ISSUE 3 500 WORKING ./774; WOMAN ISSUE PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �editorial OPEN HOUSE Open house at The Northern Women's Centre is a ritual and this year Starting at two is no exception. pm. we begin arriving together and singly, loaded with good food and the Old faces and stuff of the spirit. new faces blend into a tapestry of One has occasion loving solidarity. to ponder the significance of this house of women, where having stepped 0 in College Canada became on January a reality 12th in when Con. ()Moo ials from the Credit Union Central S The Second Women's Credit Union r, all pessimism vannsions dissipate and are ntagious hilarity. It will be known as : League presented a charter to an 0 enthusiastic group of 35 committed Ontario Women's Credit PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Daar People; We like your work and would like We would to trade subscriptions. also like to trade the right to reprint articles, with the provision that proper credit be given. We are hoping that this will meet with your approval and that you will favour us with an early reply. Yours very truly, Dear Friends, Your periodical is to be mentioned in our resource guide in preparation, "Non-sexist Teaching Materials and Approaches", as a recommended resource for Teachers/ Learners against sexism. With relation to this: We are also in the process of putting together a mobile exhibition of a selection of the materials and publications which appear in "Nonsexist Teaching Materials and Approaches", to tour Teacher's Centres, Colleges, Conferences, etc. If you should wish "Northern Woman" to be included in this exhibition could you send two or three assorted issues for display, plus a number of subscription forms so that potential subscribers need have no difficulty in ordering? Many thank's for your kind look forward to your attention. Jeanne Georgeso:1 Apple Cider Press Dear L.E.D. Please contact the Northern Women's Centre, 622 3989, on Tuesday or Friday. Someone there may be able to help you concerning your enquiries. In sisterhood, Northern Woman Journal L Dear People; attended It's two weeks since the rap session at the Northern am at anchor Woman centre. Here for an indefinite period--evidently no one wantsNo.1 feed barley. Seeing all of you,such divergent personalities working to-gether for a common cause has sustained my drooping spirits. Perhaps Sisterhood still lives in the outlying areas. It certainly doesn't in our urban centres. Meeting all of you was such a shot in the arm- it gave me the courage and inspiration to hang in I . 'NEWS RELEASE 'NEWS o o The 1976 edition of the "Direc- ! o o storyof Community Services" is now i reply. The Directory: joint :o :available. Very Sincerely, o endeavour of the City of Thunder :endeavour o Bob White :Bay and the Lakehead Social Planning. New Childhood Press :Council, provides information con- -: London, England :cerning the many community services : :available in Thunder Bay - health, : o :social services, and recreation o : :agencies, citizen groups and com0 The 1976 :munity organizations. o Directory contains over 440 listings: 0 there. A new inclusion in the 1976 o The ship remains an uphill Directory is the "media resources" : shall be glad to get off battle-section, which outlines the services: in about five weeks,go home for two This : offered by Thunder Bay media. and then get down to the theory of : Dear Sisters; listing is provided as a guide so navigation. When woman embraces . that community organizations may o It's always a nice rush to receive feminism her sensibilities sharpen make the most effective use of the It reminds me the Northern Woman. considerably. Being submerged in a media resources available to them. of Thunder Bay women and the year : business andisindividual: male chauvenist enviroment is hell. guess this spent withAgencies, them have to found thewith Directory to: The further dimension of racism a belatedcitizens love letter those had isolated doesn't help either. $ be a most valuable information recan't And was involved. whom myself from the "real" world for so Directory, which sells think of source. a better The person to convey find the adjustment very long that $3.00 the love at than you.per copy, may be obtained hard. There was nothing in my "haute from astonishes the Lakehead It always me Planning to see a Council Bourgeoise" colonial up-bringing to George St. Crisis or from the City page-long409A report on the think we prepare me for this. For further Hall Information Desk. Houses - that they actually exist. feminists have not done enough prosinformation please And yet they were such a bigcall partthe Lakehead have been elytizing. For myself, Planning Council at 623-7071. of my life. content to sit around with people of Please continue sending the like minds and forget that the Northern Woman to big, bad Toronto "movement" has not touched 65% in any rg Phillips it feels good. way. In Toronto, we labour under not ecutive Director ...we*. Love, only a gay-straight split but a Mary Tomlinson main-stream-counterculture split, a I I I I I I I I I I I ..q, radical-political split etc.etc. realize now that the section calling for reform of the system has to join hands with those calling for restructuring of roles;rhose advocating revolution have to dialogue with those calling for an autonomous" movement" for women. It's Got to be"rumps in .. horns out". will be able to cope hope with the isolation better next June. Next time we come into Thunder Bay I are six new subscriptions l. As these woman only to glance at my copy, y would appreciate it scription started with for distribution least some of you to I I again.(I am going to save my pennies for a trip toThunder Bay in March PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Had Myself a Merry AU I want OA Chtiztmaz iz myset4 Just wrap me up and give me back to me Flom ancient myth and custom zet me 6tee I'm not a tinset angel on your Chtiistmaz ttee /'m just a hungry zeatchet Sot my own teatity Who zees the 4habby pnomize in thiz 6a -be equatity Can't you zee the giSt I'm &teaming oS lz giving me to me with Love. Gent Little Christmas THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS T' waz the night beiote Chitiztmaz when out oS -the notth, A 4tesh wind was btowing Sot att it waz worth. Fot Etma Ctauz had Santa Ctauz down upon the Stoot, She'd taken Uiendo Sot a yeah and wasn't passive anymore. She took hiz ttouzeAz and h-L cap and zttoked away hiz beard, Not heeding att hiz wild ptotezt that beatdtezz men. wee Seated. She btew a zingte pietcing note that onty sistets heat, And hold "Come thtow this tascat out to pasture with hiz deep" They ttazhed the peas tic toots wan and all the Batbie DottZ The sound oS cheeting zptit the ait and echoed thtongh the hat's. Only cuddly things were saved and beauty Sot the spit it Such things ad open up the mind or gave some meaning to it. They carted on Doe and Fawn, come Nettie and come Jean, Come Hitdegatd and ALUzon, Noreen and Getatdine They broke the ctockz o' 90 ptooS and tan them in the snow Untie. they made azkating link at Sotty-Sive below, Because they knew that Santa Ceauz and alt hiz metty men Would tie one on to cetebtate the Sight they didn't win. Down on the planet oS wanly and din The mothers .lay steeping tight as a stAing Fat that heathy Ho Ho! that tang through the snow Always nailed up the box she was in. When out oS the darkness she heard a zoSt voice tee choice" "Deco. Mothet, I bring you the git oi "Your chadten ate greedy, your mattiage hum-dtum, Stoned with regret and Valium, So I give you the ikeedom to {gorge gout own key To open the door to equatity. Yout edges ate tattered,' you're .Less than a whole Sweet mother, the giSt I give L6 gout soul. The 6athet was zobet, the chitdten dizmayed, Something went wrong with the peans they had made. They looked £n the iiteptace and up on the ArIq And pund -the' -the trace oS a deticate hooS And night there beside it, as plain as could be Was a print Stom the heel oi a 61/2 B. Wet they ztatted to cuddle the cuddly toys, Fot cuddeing's a pleasure Son both gittz and boyz. Now Sather who saw thete were Sew Chtiztmaz biJXs Turned glad in a (.lash, .looked in his wallet And Sound there some cash. "Come, sweetheatt" he cried "Leave thiz toiling behind" I'm slanting to pay what the {y amity owes ya, By soinging Sot steaks at the Ponderosa!" "Oh! Thank you, thank you Etma Ceauz The chadten heard het say "Fot giving back the thing I .Los -t, Th.to .lovely Cht-iztmaz Day." Gent Beadle :. o r o oWho did this issue: o Gert, Eve, Thyra, Marg, Noreen,: o o o Lynn, Peggy, Faye. o o o o a career? How come nobody ever asks a man how he manages to combine marriage and .0 Pg 4 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �ALONE I cty out in sell pity But they say, in that, I bind no answet. I cty out qtaid I say nothing that I'LL be passed by I won't be able to Oa ative Just passing by unta I die. P. W. I woad Love to go and see alt the wondens there coact be in this would 16 I were attowed to be the person I woad Zike to be. THE RAPE POEM To do the things 1 Like to do. and go where I woad tike to tee Land of ouits but in this It is not attowed. We must con6oAm We must do as tad to be accepted we Ballow out own minds but we ate outcast by the system becauae we ate to be seen not hewed, It £4 ea -Let to, be oppressed it takes nej enetgy but to stand and speak out Loud takes stamina and couitage and ptobabty an eternity. Until the whole woted changes and men zee and accept us as we ate witt we escape being squeezed into a mold o6 someone ea-5y to Live with. Thyta WHAT HAPPENS WHEN What happens when youWant to try and undetztand yout Zi4e, when aft. around you they ask why you stUt ate not a wiie. POETRY ARE WE HERE TO: west pink dress es play with dotes, don't maize messes wash the watts. play with gitts not with boys, have cute cuffs don't make noise. go to schools be nice and sweet, Leann gift's tines stay very neat. don't be tough thAow no kisses, don't be tough change to Mts. Do ate these things and never vary, God help you please you'll ptobabty maw. Eve What happens when you try to tee them and stite they wonder why, It makes you want to stomp and yett and maybe even cry. From what I heat and what I tead husbands aren't that great, I don't want to sound too cruel but I think I'd tathet wait. Eve. There is no difference between being raped and being pushed down a fligh t of cement steps except that the wounds also bleed inside There is no difference between being raped and being run over by a truck except that afterwards men ask if you enjoy ed it. There is no difference between being raped and losing a hand in a mowing machine except that doctors don't want to get involved, wear a knowing smirk, the and in small towns you become a veteran whore. There is no difference between being raped and being bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake except that people ask if your skirt was short and why you were alone anyhow. There is no difference between being raped and going head first through a windshield except that afterwards you are afraid not of cars but half the human race. The rapist is your boyfriend's brother. He sits beside you in the movies eating popcorn. Rape fattens on the fantasies of the normal male like a maggot in the garbage. THE RIVER artily The tivet we had known as blue Has funned to mud much too soov Eat it was beauti6we and btight But now it is an aw6wf sight And boats that have gone by Have said their -fast good-bye. To the tivet which was blue Has died much, much too soon What a shame it Ka'S to you Daddy since it's no Long et deep blue FOA the teams on his ace Feet sontow Got the mistakes of the things people do To the smatt tivet once blue. Pg 5 Colleen, Aube Age 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Bears make the difference In most of the personal stories have come across, the author appears to dwell on the pure joy of the experience or takes the martyristic attitudes describing the persecutions in detail. found that could not stick to either route, as my emotions have always seemed to bounce around, like a child on a trampoline, hitting all the highs and lows, with an occasional pause for coffee break. Once had decided to relate the experience of moving to the country, debated on who would appreciate the effort. Certainly not most of the people who live jn the country, as they have come to grips with it and live quite comfortably in their chosen locations. As for the confirmed city dweller, my story would probably not in the least encourage her to 'come over to the rural side of life'. suppose the only reason have for writing this, is a feeling have, that somewhere there is someone who feels the same way as I, and it might be beneficial to her to know that there are at least two of us stumbling around on this earth I'm not a country girl, nor did ever expect to become one. We had talked of moving to the country but felt safe after making the stipulation that would consider only moving to either of two relatively unobtainable locations. As per usual a wife should never underestimate the determination of a man bent on following a dream and found out that one of my locations was not quite so unattainable. So under BY PATRICIA SHAW reminiscent of highschool days, cheering on the football team and think that draw them out of the ground a little higher each day, just wishing. Crooked little rows, maybe, but there's going to be a whole lot of boasting going on if they ever make it to the pot. The prophets of doom over the past six months have been placing bets on the length of my stay; the general consensus is that the first sign of a bear would most likely be the last sign of me. I, of course, reassured them, along with myself, that we would most likely never see a bear. Naturally, as with most of my predictions, out came the bear (not too big, but not too small) right up to the garbage cans. Now, if bears weren't called bears, they'd be called litterbugs and don't know if what felt at the sight of him was actual fright or indignation at the nerve of him as he spread garbage all over the area that had been working on. presume the bear assumed that this had been bear country long before it had been people country and that he had as much right to be there as anyone. called the Lands and Forests in my attempt to determine who would be the boss of my back yard. It had yet to be decided who would leave and who would stay. A trap was set and two days later, the bear was caught. As went towards the cage, the bear raged from fits of growling and banging to calmer spells when he just sat and shook. The only previous time had seen a bear, he had been in a zoo and that sight had sparked little interest in me and certainly no emotion, but as watched this pathetic animal trapped in his own environment, had to keep speaking softly to the bear to calm him. It is unsettling to find yourself over and over experiencing new emotions, compassion for the bear, kinship to strangers and awareness of nature. After years of feeling that had it all together, there is quite an adjustment to be made. I've come to know that nothing can shatter your sophistication like moving to the country. Without realizing it, began to enjoy all those corny old sensations like the songs of birds singing in the trees, the orchestration of choruses of frogs in the evening, the smell of the woods following a rain and the feel of warm sand under my bare feet. The semi-isolation offers you studies in everything, from the nature around you to mind-boggling self-examination. Our city friends' reaction to our move differ considerably from those who come again and again to bask in what they call our wonderland to those who periodically stop by to check on my sanity. I'm finding a change in attitude creeping in, replacing my 'never admit you've made a mistake' with I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 6 d° I I I I I I 414 \Oa Alh I I i toit a feeling of smug satisfaction when someone raves over the beauty and tranquillity of it all. One day as was riding through an old and busy section of the city, was surprised to find myself visualizing the people rushing up and down the street as scurrying ants methodically carrying on the repetitions of life without pausing to ask: "What is it all about?" Just lately drove down a street where a young woman had paused a few moments to sit on her steps in the sun and felt as if were intruding on someone sunbathing at the side of the road. felt an odd sympathy for her because she didn't have my privacy, or beautiful view, and had only the noise of the traffic to accompany her thoughts - a strange reaction from someone who, less than a year ago, was satisfied to sit on her steps for a few minutes' rest from a busy schedule. want you to know that would have never passed an agricultural course (the longest could keep a plant alive was three weeks) so when gardening season hit the area felt as out of place as a skunk at a garden party. My husband's overenthusiasm on the subject only served to dampen my spirits. As the little pots of seedlings began to clutter the house, up came the old defences and spent most of the time figuring out how not to have anything to do with it at all. Our first attempt at gardening last year, through inexperience and neglect, had turned My the yard into a disaster area. response to the commotion around me was that this year's endeavour would only result in a more spectacular failure, though at the climax we may be able to declare ourselves bankrupt farmers and seek some tax relief. Like a person who enjoys what he is doing, my husband planted with precision and was aghast when the corn had scattered around popped from the ground in rows showing no sign of uniformity at all. originally felt resentment for the little green beasts that are causing me so much trouble, but like most things out here, am watching in awe as they grow. Sometimes get a feeling I ,/ I the old whither thou goest' rule of thumb, become a rural resident. After a combination of triumphs, tears, hard work and plain good luck, our home was built and we moved in. Adjusting from six months of feverish activity to daily routine can, at the best of times be difficult, but when it occurs just as the long winter white settles in and most of the neighbours are going into hibernation, the results can be almost disastrous. And crashed into this period with a loud thud. January and February have always been my blue months, but this year cartwheeled through them alternating between deep depression and near hysteria. When, at last, drops of water began seeping from the ice on the roof, had to give realized that up the good fight and at least reconcile myself to the fact that here was, and here would likely stay. Probably the most confusing emotions came as watched the rest of the family really enjoying their new life while was being squeezed and prodded into the niche that had been designed for me by another. Fortunately, have learned in the last little while, that when you ' I I I I I I I I I I relax your defences, it is possible p g6 to stumble over a little pleasure. I I I I C1:34If o 444P40.. I 4 CPO I I I I Someone else could probably have written a better story of living in the country. There are a lot of women born to country life or women who have made the transition more gracefully. The conflict between being manoeuvred by another person's vision and the determination to fit into his plans is still going on inside of me. know that have to find a way to be my kind of person yet follow his kind of dreams and make it our kind of life. There's a long way to go before the conversion is complete. can't sniff the air for a hint of frost; don't have hayseed in my hair and you wouldn't catch me alone outside in the dark if the trees sprouted $10 bills at midnight. But, like the bear, think that belong here. I I I I I I I PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �family law reform ONTARIO Two years after the Ontario Law Reform Commission recommended changes in family law, the Ontario goverment has introduced new legislation, which; they claim, will "abolish the last remnants of the married woman's inferior status". The extremely complex new legislation aims at redefining property rights, support obligations, marriage contracts, common-law spouses, and the function of family courts. If the nemilbill is passed, homemakers will automatically be entitled to a part of the marriage estate upon divorce, even if they have not contributed capital directly. This will finally recognise the value of their work and their real contribution to the marriage. Support laws have been revised so that children, even those born outside the marriage, have to be supported until they are sixteen. The concept of support has been extended to cover common-law spouses. After two years of co-habitation, such spouses will be treated as legal marrieds in as much as they will be under the same obligation to support each other and their children as married people will be. This, it is claimed, will remove the stigma from common..law marriages. Sounds great? For years, women have been fighting for an equal distribution of assets upon marriage breakdown. But does this legislation really represent a victory for feminist rights? It does not. It does, however, grant women the 'right' to be equally responsible for the support of their families. This despite the fact that women earn less than men, and are harder hit by the desperate need for daycare. The real thrust of this legislation is not to work towards the true equality of women and men, but to prop up the tottering institution of marriage. Attorney General of Ontario, Roy McMurtry)admitted as much. The new legislation on commonlaw marriages should, he says, "act as an encouragement for common -law couples to regularize their situation by entering a formal marriage". Only then will they be able to enter into contracts outlining rights to property, to support and to the custody and care of children. It is in the interests of our provincial goverments to emphasize the obligations of couples to support each other and their children. It relieves them of the responsibility of providing adequate,social services. "Saving the tax-payers dollar", they call it. Again, Attorney General Roy McMurtry explains: "certainly it is more desir able to place a support obligation on common-law spouses than have a large number of persons who are living common -law looking to public welfare for support instead." More desirable_for whom? Many details of the legislation have yet to be publicized and discussed, but feminists across the country will be checking it out carefully. We have fought too long and hard to be fooled by false promises of equality. The Ontario Tory government cannot hide behind the claim that they are abolishing women's inferior status if all they are really doing is evading their responsibility for providing adequate social services by thrusting the burden of support back upon individual families. Kinesis CANADA THE FAMILY COURT The Law Reform Commission of Canada believes that many family problems could be better handled if a unified family court were to be established. At present, families facing divorce or separation, are channelled through complex court structures and procedures which often prove slow, expensive and even contribute to the already existing emotional tensions arising from marital breakdown. Quite often husbands and wives have to go to a number of different courts at different times to resolve matters concerning property, the maintenance rights and obligations of each spouse, and child arrangements. One family court could and would be capable of dealing with all legal problems that arise from family breakdown. The parties could appear before one judge, a specialist in family matters, and have most of the problems settled at one time. A 'unified family court' would provide public accessibility to information officers, family counsellors and maintenance enforcement officers available. Advice and assistance for spouses attempting to settle their differences, could eliminate much of the now complicated slow and expensive practices of resolving problems. Many family problems might find a better solution if a 'unified family court' were to exist. What do you think? If you have an opinion, write to: Secretary, Law Reform Commission, 130 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 016 ;PP FOR HOUSEWIVES On Oct. 13, 1976, MP Ursula Appolloni of Ontario asked if the Federal government would finally recognize housewives under the CPP during this session of the House. The Honourable Marc Lalonde, Minister of Health and Welfar'e/Minister Responsible for the Status of Women did not confirm when this would happen. On Oct. 29, 1976 MP Lincoln Alexander of Ontario asked if Mr. Lalonde would abandon the new amendments to the CPP plan since the Ontario Status of Women Council had objected to the amendments which would effectively subsidize working women while homemakers would receive less benefits. Mr. Lalonde replied Mr. Alexander was mistaken and he hoped the OSWC would change its mind. On Oct. 14, 1976 MP Iona Campagnolo of BC noted that the new amendments to the CPP, if passed, would ensure that children of the homemaker would be protected in case of her death and the homemaker would also be protected under the CPP against disability, aside from pension benefits. She advises that under the new amendments, the woman who drops out of the labour force to raise children will not be penalized for that period of low or zero earnings in calculating her benefits under the CPP. Kinesis FEDERAL HUMAN RIGHTS On Oct. 25, 1976 The Honourable on Basford, Minister of Justice/ MP Vancouver, in debating the throne speech said he regretted that the newly proposed federal human rights bill had not been passed yet. However it gave him more time to meet with women's groups to consult on amendments. As a result he said he will introduce a greatly improved human rights bill to prohibit discrimination on grounds of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age marital status as well as physically handicapped. He did not, however, say when he would do so. Mr. Basford noted he is now convinced that "equal pay for equal work" is not adequate as a legal clause to protect working women arguing that since most of us are in a job ghetto where no men work, we cannot claim equal pay. Thus he has decided to adopt the definition of "equal pay for work of equal value" as proposed by the International Labour Organization and he said this would be a 'milestone' in the commitment of the Canadian government to women's rights. Basford also said women's groups could congratulate themselves for this change and advised us to press the government now, to pass this bill speedily. However, VSW still has some criticism of the new bill. from Kinesis A woman's place is where she wants to be. A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. Pg 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WORKING WOME CO-SPONSORED BY NW° INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DECADE CO-ORDI FRIDAY- SUNDAY, MARCH 11-13,1977 CIARCl/ // FR/DAY, 11e/co n e. 2e' --z/ ce- ecii/v Ato.--rx /i7/c-,667.-4/5 i/.<ey.-7o71-r 7be n2e/?// 5c2cicil /WA RCP /Z. 5A7711? DAY, 0. .3o -.9 3a a r22 - s-/-47e . 3o /2: 3, -3:49( p- /22 3.. 00 - 30 5-- oo 2 aps WO /---74)25 V/ /ea /y2/00,5/Y-79, - /152/72 of Me /7 a .- Do /-7/ar---67-23c?w //Can //7 o74-' am;,/& ' SI/ A/ PAMARC k/ /-/ d90 a. ,k). Ce3n eve-/y 12 Ar/r2s-4-n,29, 9: 36 Q 7.5" a_ 192 - /77c;-frvce"-ds cr /67"-ar'e yord i/(72:r7f C-07e3)e,c,-. . 3o a. /22 . .5/f /A/ >/oe/47 ow/v p,27. G-77/9;5- REGISTRATION FORM (Merl AcA dress 'Bus- }4orys.e. Tel. Pleckse- 1c51.Rctue--(-- Plectsecial core. C-cree,), rte. oa cirt-arer,(.L.,,r)Ae.r n blVe-A-ivv3 Su,k7sck'cz:inca\ give-x-se.ns tv\-mres i(t=.1r1Gaczi) inn caiex\s:Un \141,\c) S Er NiL FEE= Kal No-re. A,;(:),S Mc,:t 1 -4 \r"i6 01v\ 4 10°-' 5, c'c' *2 cn 4.c) : . no-4- cc-V1/4erdirn ce,h1.Aefi-vv.,evccr.) e, Ci>6.co.te.4-oAic.r. Co F'1 OrvIc) r) r i-nc-15rrno-4:-Lon co .t\ \No rAe-AA -Sp..Aszk't CAS Co 1-Nc-tgaeArtx-6 on Co 1 577-557.5 t Pg 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �I'S CONFERENCE COUNCIL t -THUNDER BAi DISTRICT TRADES # LABOUR COUNCIL AT CCVEDERATION COLLEGE LABOUR CENTRE NOP5 WO ge/7/ 4.5 c Ogi / z/ ?y - y pv 05Q/7 0/cyaz z_e-c/- Wha, Nexl- ? 0/917,;t7 - Pa)/ 7zA--7 7/-7/n4/ /off //49(sewiice /17 Pt/e- hic7-K /74 ? Arev-%-/ 4 ,t//- 7isie X706 5/76-A N GIG-ANTE S /t1P,49 /I/cc/47,0,2W .q --e6; e/ GRACE HARTMAIi EVE 49/' C4V2a.d/ a./2 Od-,0/4/ //7,/d/Q05- EVEL>1N ARMsTRoNE-, A(a7;-,20/,*,.;*/--z/,-zzed e doioo&,--d ojz--7o Coe-J/2 / of 46,/opa.//77/-; BERNICE CAIN 10/me/I fs NORM RICPARDS, ,77,--eside#2t /-ew /Kw, .Z,2ie,-/7a7liao/ 70e- gay / /t1 SALT OF EAKTR tv74r 21 /27), ///e-/ -//7 `-7)ave-- ODN'T; GALL- ME SABY be7,7 cry 77o,-):2a.7 ,./1/7/;9 5er-7easy 47 /he /PM c Ii/O/7/e/2 7.5 4r/a..q0,6` a.,7U1 7/./D7',//2.9' 7.5 1,05 teift"7-e'd /df/ /./ 97 PhD /.-en/ 7.%7/7 /776//e t.o /3/7/.5 ki./x; /2-2,Aie a/ccisir0.5 72)),!4/ ,:77-y7Ved h/,b.-i7e,,7 (.5 ..5?-/-eee 2i,=w7 of /2a, 0 on a-/cos7 c/b-ica/s- OPFRAT1ON FINGERP141<\/o/- a/7/z7e,2,9 e-1-p-/--2'ee- 3 .6-777-/-177-. //te-/- a/7ii a&;'e/(//7 '17C7P/ ey ThE AMAZING EQUAL d SHOWP4' .55e.."7 /77o /6 5/ a n7/)2erg ,ae_e_74//i7e- awd .7`-ew/Ca/ o,/_-9/>70/4/ YOU' RE URGED TO PRE-REGISTER! -.4rmw i ncl Vi pho-Lo bl Yeas/ Ala rvi Pg9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �111 horrors! Women)at that!women's While waitBy now, guess the local to get into the mainstream of strike ing is past history - filed away traffic one day,won't one of them astever in dusty archives. us allwas by involved suddenly in throwing forget onished it becabse his car into reverse, when in his this much -publicized dispute which rear view mirror he caught sight was to become known as the "battle a few of us scurrying to safety of the of women versus the doctors". The ecstatic look It was behind one of his the car. most frustrating, of pleasure on revelations his countenance, hilarious, inspiring of made us positive thatand he devhad an my life. My determination orgasm every surprised time he terrified otion to our cause me more us. goodmymany daysand thereafter than itA did family friends. looked would will like neverscenes regretfrom it, the and "French Connection" with tires squealing as do it again. The grandmothers, chased picketers all over the widows,they wives, mothers and daughters parking lot. who spent six months on that line, We heat harboured no grudge against through the of summer, refreshthe patients we accepted ing fall winds, and freezing galestheir need pitted of medical aid.oneMany a day of winter, against of the wasmost spent listenifig to elderly richest, powerful establishments tales all of woe, their lonein the patients' country, would agree. liness, andany their never once heard one concerns of them overillnesses. Perhapsofthey felt expresstheir regret over the wisdom that no one listened to them inside. their choice. HowOne didday this in conflict particular, takea that very nice littleold flame of feminism gentleman stopped think his car, was always flickering inside of me rolled down his window, and-in the and feed it with a fuel so great, middle of the entrance to the parkthat iting islot, roaring furiously launched into now, a sad tale In renever of to his be quashed again? past three operations. As trospect, was up a pattern of slow and cars it piled on the roadside plodding thegrowth main thoroughfare over the months, became bottleof struggles, necked, of we gaining started a topainful get obscene new consciousness, and thenby a furious gradual gestures accompanied joyousmutterings affirmation one which will all of and- shaking fists, never which be denied we couldn't again. understand through closedthe windows. Perhaps first incident Despite that repeated pleas myself and fellow picketshattered myfrom sense of self-worth occurred the course of mynot move, ersduring to proceed, he would daily for duties he had whenfinally heardfound one of a sympaththe 'healers of humanity' confide etic ear. He was finally persuaded in onetoofmove his on most when learned a verycolleagues angry young womanknow pulled her -"I don't why up, theyrolled want adown union, after window, all, we and hirepromptly monkeys here, went up one that'sside why of we us payand them down peanuts!" the other, for Our harrassing polite, apologizing and intimidating picket such a line started sweet old with man. everyone feeling Oh, well---you win somenervous and youand lose somewhat illsome! at ease, We from did have pet peeve, suffering that one chronic diseasehowever. mockery organized men and calledThe guilt - an that affliction parthad ofAstheir we tried tomembership union icularwomen to women. hide behind our crossed picket signs from line.. when they our picket a group of themselves annoying news many werereporters on strike at reflected with popping the time. flashbulbs, Perhaps they would have on howbeen difficult more appreciative it was to ignore of the benefits they enjoy by belonging to xism. After unions if they had all experienced eternal our struggle. y accept think perhaps the action felt MOSES most difficult to accept was how ade around women could betray other women by d with crossing their co-workers' lines. der the Many of the striking women were ks here! single, widowed or single parents. ote Robin Perhaps the women who crossed'the Passage" lines to work throughout the duration ew code of the strike would have joined their need to sisters on the picket line if they ty--".,so had experienced living on one source that soul. of income - clinic wages. Women tion when must learn to realize they will ion we continue to be segregated in deadend low.paying job ghettos until ctors bethey can express solidarity and day. It support for women who are enlightor them ened enough to fight for change. We fter all, can't waste our energies fighting arking each other. lowed As the months wore on, we didn't ion. Come cry as easily as at first. We got years at used to being called bitches, whores can't and phrases like "Go home to your when a kitchens, you sluts!" rolled off treat male our backs like water. We became s female adept at dodging pop cans, beer cans first firecrackers and even human spit. too much We learned what the obscene gesture cept the for every finger on the hand meant. ecided We were bumped by cars, knocked over m.-and by trucks and flipped onto carhoods. One day, a huge brute stopped his I I I I I I I I I I I truck, leaned on the horn and bellowed his desire to drive over the two feet of sidewalk we were standing on, because the fifteen feet of entrance just would not do. These day -today happenings just strengthened our convictions. We could not and would not give up - because we were right. If, in the event of a first contract dispute, no settlement is reached at the end of a six..month strike, the employers can legally hire new employees to fill in the strikersijobs. We wouldn't give them this satisfaction and returned with no protection whatsoever and needed all the toughness and tenacity we had acquired on the picket line. Laws prohibiting discrimination against employees for union activities were all but trampled by these dedicated humanitarians. A book could be written on the repulsive behaviour of some of the employers on our first two days on the job. Half of the thirty-six returning were driven out, and the remaining could easily be outvoted in a decertification vote. This did become a reality a few months later. don't feel any bitterness any more, only pity, and the realization that they aren't gods after all, as they would have us believe. One year later, the remaining dozen or so remember their struggles in silence, but their presence acts as a reminder to those who labour inside. Working conditions and salaries improve daily, although they still have not achieved parity with other women doing the same jobs elsewhere. It has been made a better place for those who follow. My deepest sorrow is for the women who gave their all for what they truly believed in, and had their careers smashed as a result. Revenge is sweet to those who had their absolute power challenged. Despite the scars accumulated by a long battle fought and lost, still believe that women will never achieve economic equality in the work force until they employ the clout of collective action. Earning a decent wage is perhaps one of the most fundamental issues in the women's movement. The shortest route to achieving that end is to organize. My energies will forever be devoted to preaching that litany. I I by a former employee m The L.S.P.C. Annual Meeting will be held Thursday, January 27th at 8 p.m. at the Da Vinci Centre. The meeting is open to the public and a cordial invitation to attend is extended to all citizens. The Ontario government is proposing new legislation concerning matrimonial property and supportobligations. The legislative proposals have engendered much discussion and controversy and are of significant concern. Persons interested in studying the proposals should obtain the booklet "Family Law Reform" available from the office of the Ministry of the Attorney General. I 1. 1 MOINE I II 'Milli I MINIM 1111... Readers of the Northern Woman may be interested to know that Family Law Reform will be the subject of an address given to the Annual Meeting of the Lakehead Social Planning Council. Guest speaker is Mr. Larry Grossman, MPP, Parliamentary Assistant to Attorney General Roy McMurtry. 111=1111 111111 n PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Women in Neighbourhoods This is a program women to get together interests while their under the guidance of developed for and share common children play a Child Care Worker. This programme is planned for the winter months because when it's frosty outside contact with other women is less frequent ent and cabin fever runs high. We hope that getting together one morning a week for fitness and exchange of ideas may bring spring closer for some and en hance winter for others. If you are interested in joining a group in your neighbourhood, or starting one please call the Fort William "Y" and ask for Linda or Peg for more information. Call 623-8411. Despite the wide diversity of women who settled on the prairies, they all shared a common dilemma. They were self-reliant, independent individuals, while the traditions of their day constrained them tot to step out of the bounds that were considered 'ladylike'. A Harvest Yet To Reap, published by the Women's Press, is an unusual book about the unusual women who first settled on the Canadian prairies. THE CO-OP BOOKSHOP AND CRIAW UPSTREAM The aim of the Canadian Re- OPEN TILL 8 P.M. EACH DAY AND ALL DAY SUNDAY. 182 S. ALGOMA STREET PHONE 345-8912 The Canadian women's movement has another newspaper. UPSTREAM is published every two weeks by Ottawa feminists. The first two issues have been excellent, with an emphasis on labour news, and a superbly professional format. The lead stories in the second issue are: the Ontario Family Law Reform legislation and a comparison of Ottawa's high school CRIAW wants your MEMBERSHIP NEW AND RECOMMENDED women's studies programs with those elsewhere in Canada. Having UPSTREAM coming out of Ottawa will hopefully give us access to up-to-date news of government inaction/ action vis-avis women's RECORD CENTRE BOOKS: GIRLS WILL BE WOMEN is a collection written and illustrated by Canadian girls. It is available from All About Us/Nous Autres Inc.,Box 1985 C.P., Ottawa, Ontario, KIP 5R5 for $2.00 plus $.50 postage and handling (40% discount for 10 or more copies) search Institute for the Advancement of Women is to foster a underand, particithereby promote their full greater knowledge and women of standing pation in Canadian society. CRIAW needs your SUPPORT BECOME A MEMBER 3 ways to help issues. The year's most important book on women has received no reviews and is virtually impossible to find in the bookstores. A goal It is Opportunity for Choice: for women in Canada, a paperback bringing together six scholarly essays examining the position of women in employment, Evidence coleducation, and the family. lected in the book suggests that Canadian women are increasingly curtailing their lifelong maternal and homemaking role, although they continue to marry at the same rate and, perhaps, at a slightly younger age. by Mary Eberts, One of the articles law professor at the University of Toronto, and economist Gail Cook who edited the book, provides a particularly searching analysis of how public policy affects private choices for women. The 217-page book is a joint publication of the C. D. Howe Research Institute and Statistics Canada, and may be obtained by mail from Information Canada, Ottawa, KlA 0S9 or from the Institute at 2064 Sun The cost is Life Building, Montreal. MEMBER NOTICE The 11th Fort William Boy Scouts are having a tea Jan. 29th at First Church United 2 to 4.30 pm Individual ($10.00 per year) Institutional ($100.00 per year) DONOR Individual ($100.00 and up, tax deductible) Institutional ($500.00 and up, tax deductible) CONTRIBUTION Any amount less than $100.00 (tax deductible) Make cheques or money orders payable to the Canadian Research Instituteforthe Advancement of Women, Suite 415, "What do you meanfellshe down an open personhole?" $3.75. LNS 151 Slater Street, Ottawa, OntaAn official NN*Dt rio K1P5H3. will be issued. Pg PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Decade Council FAMILY PROPERTY LAW: Joan Packota informed council members of a few of the problems encountered with Bill 75, giving rise to the proposed Family Council members Law Reform. were urged to get the brochure from the Attorney General's office and send comments to Roy McMurtry. Much concern was expressed over provincial family property law reform conflicting with federal divorce laws. A new Family Property Law subcommittee of was formed with Colleen Hughes, Thyra Digby and Joan Packota. A motion was passed including a review of Bill 75 to lay groundwork for comparison to family law reform on the next The SOCIAL SERVICE CUTBACKS: Coalition for Social Justice has dissipated. Sharon McKay will now act as liaison for the Lakehead University's Faculty of Women's Status of Women Committee. Thirty people CREDIT UNION: have signed the founding charter for a women's credit union in Thunder Bay. The Herstory HERSTORY PROJECT: project is progeeding well. Forty-nine manuscripts have been typed and edited. Gert NORTHERN WOMAN NEWSPAPER: Beadle briefed the meeting on her intentions to initiate a series on pioneers of Herstory No in Northwestern Ontario. names will be used or material The from the herstory project. material used will be of personal experiences and experiences of acquaintances in an effort to arouse the readers' interest in the pioneer trend. It will be reminiscent in nature. RAPE & SEXUAL ASSAULT: The collective has a room at McKellar and has received a $3,000 grant from the Sec. of They are busy planning State. their education campaign. KENORA REPORT: Maria Seymore was presented with the Woman of the Year award for KenoraKeewatin. Lorraine Smith of Ear Falls has been appointed to the Ontario Status of Women council It was noted that she is the first Metis woman to be appointed to the council. A motion was passed to send letters of congratulations to Maria and Lorraine on behalf of the council, and to invite Lorraine to sit on the decade council. A motion was passed to send a letter of thanks and appreciation to Nancy Forbes and the staff of Kenora Library for displaying council's "Directory of Women's Organizations", and for their help, interest and willingness to distribute it. agenda. Following discussion of the recent court case in which a judge decided to dismiss charges of indecent exposure because the woman pressing the charges was going through menopause, a motion was passed to send a letter with copies to the Attor ney General, Roy McMurtry, the Globe and Mail, and all local and district newspapers. WORKING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE: The program has been finalized. See this issue for further information. mom newS Two hundred women met at Alberta Status of Women Action Committee's first Annual convention and presented a brief, "Joint Initiative: a goal for Women in Government" demanding appointment of a minister directly responsible for Status of Women and the formation of a Cabinet Committee Deputy Premier on equaloppertunity. Hugh Horner assured them' they have to suggest eqqality in Alberta; that they hadn't was to place them in the category of the Native population Kinesis who had real problems. quotes Fetheringham as saying Alberta males think more of their horses than they do of their women - and agrees. Lorna Marsden, National Action Committee president, warned delegates at the convention that a backlash of public opinion against women's Despite issues may be developing. much publicity about the increasing There was NEW BUSINESS: discussion on proposed plans to meet with Atikokan women_ A TALE OF TWO UNION CONTRACTS In the previous issue of the newsletter, we asked for information on claUses in collective agreements which may=be exceptionally beneficial to women or for examples of progressive practices voluntarily introduced by employers. FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS: I January 29 - Atikokan February 19 - Thunder Bay The following is the letter sent by the NWOIWDCC to the Attorney General protesting an Ontario judge's decision. We welcome the response of Jane Adams, staff representative of the Federation of Community Agency Staffs. Ms Adams calls our attention to innovative The Honourable Roy McMurtry clauses in the collective agreement beAttorney General of Ontario tween F.O.C.A.S. and the Y.W.C.A. of The agreement affects 65 Metro Toronto. . Dear Sir: employees, most of them women, working for the 'Y' at seven locations in Toronto. The Northwestern Ontario InterBecause of the difficulty many women have national Women's Decade Co-orm in attending union meetings in the evedinating Council must protest ning, there are provisions for seven union the precedent-setting remarks meetings a year during working hours. made by Judge Victor K. McEwan The employer agrees to assist mothers of I recently as reported in the preschool children with a childcare Globe and Mail, Nov. 18. There is to be allowance of $15 a month. To indicate that instability m no discrimination in hiring, training or is the natural consequence of promotion on the basis of political menopause is an insult to inaffiliation, sexual preference or the . number of dependents an employee may have. telligence, as well as a colosWorking parents may use their sick leave In an sal put-down for women. credits to stay home with a sick child . age of enlightened approach, opportunities for women, she noted, and fathers may take a paternity leave of this type of nonsense emanating women are still kept apart, as a five days with pay plus a two-week leave from the bench does no credit segregated group in the labour force. requested, at thenor timeto of the departwithout pay, if to you, sir, Moreover, she said, the unemployment the birth or adoption of a child. ment that you represent. rate among women in Canada is much Instead of the statutory 17 weeks, We are unanimously outraged higher than "we suspected...and up to six months of maternity leave are ' at the possibility that this unconnected to the cyclic unemployallowed, one week of which is at full pay. could set a precedent and ment plaguing the male (labour) We have also force." heard from Local 4592 question the criteria that danger The women's of movement is in the United Steelworkers Union, whose allow this kind of unenlightenm Now, of losing momentum, shework said. members for International Harvester ment to aspire to the bench. is imperative more than ever, in it Hamilton. After for two years of service, We would hope that your office women to organize in a unified a woman in the bargaining unit has the will take the strongest steps manner, and notoption to permit solidarjty of taking a year-long unpaid mapossible to see that this type to be corroded by in-fighting. She must then be reinternity leave. , of incident does not recur. Kinesis stated by the company though not necessarily in the same job she left prior to Bernice Cain the birth of her child. Let's hear from more employers or I union representatives about this topic. I P g 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CREATIVE DIVORCE An analogy between Creative Divorce by Nel Krantzler, and Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' book On Death and Dying. Divorce, like grief, requires periods of mourning and adjustment. To cope effectively with divorce, you must come to terms with your grief, recognize self-defeating behaviour Most and be willing to change it. important, you must recognize that The the relationship has died. feelings of anxiety, guilt and anger that erupt with separation are healthy and, interestingly enough, are the feelings which provide the impetus to new growth. With this growth comes the ability to be assertive; to express yourself directly, honestly and spontaneously. This is vital to coping effectively with the new situations that were never encountered before divorce. Children go through a similar process of adjustment, and parents must recognize their children's need for a period of growth. Divorce often brings peace to the home and children, if allowed a mourning process, seem to weather the storm ,yell, and continue to function effectively with their peers and in their schools. Mel Krantzler, in his book, Creative Divorce, stresses that divorce does not have to be completely life-shattering. For many families it saves the emotional and physical lives of adults and :hildren. Divorce can be a positive learning experience, less painful and more rewarding than all our religious and societal pressures would have us believe. Patricia Cooper and Ann Kos From Her-Self. would seem more progressive than we could hope for, but one could readily see the value of the kind of dialogue it could create in this There is a people orenage group. tation to it that is appealing in spite of the female directed message If Betty Fredans 'Feminine Mystique" is the bible of the feminist movement, "Girls Are Equal Too" could well be the primer that whets the appetite for a stronger fare. Dale Carlson has written seven novels for children, several picture books, five workbooks and edited an anthology of children's literature. Her approach to bringing the potential realization of equal personhood is so reasonable one cannot imagine anyone being so perverse as to challenge it. This is a clear and lucid statement of the evolution of female thinking written for a new generation of women who already have begun to question the mythology of woman's place in a modern society. To make it required reading for both sexes in the Educational System In the Islamic region of Yugoslavia, wives are still sold for an average of $4,000 and are expected to be complete slaves to their husbands. Zihriaja Hussein, the rebel leader of women in the area, is training young women to take as much as they can from their husbands in gifts and bridal fees and then to run away and 'remarket' themselves. "We old-timers were taught to be guerillas in World War II, and can train guerillas again," she said. (BMR) Gert NEWS NEWS BRIEFS One Battle That Got Results. On Jan. 1, 1977, the indexing of family allowance payments will be resumed to compensate for the rise in the cost of living during 1976. From the Speech from the throne, Oct. 12, 1976. In response to the need for good day care services everywhere in Canada, the government will help provide more and better day care services by encouraging the provincial governments to adopt a new system of fees related to incomes. A great many more Canadian mothers who seek employment outside the home will thereby be free to do so, because partially subsidized day care will be more widely available. Amendments to the Canada Pension Plan are being considered, which would further recognize the value of the contribution made to the family and society by both marriage partners, in the event that one remains at home to raise children while their partner works outside the home, or in the event of marriage breakdown. This year, the Law Reform Commission of Canada submitted a report on Family Law which merits the attenThe governtion of all Canadians. ment intends to carry on discussions GIRLS ARE EQUAL TOO - by the Womans Movement for Teenagers -Dale Carlson Dedicated to a free soul, her daughter Hannah Published by McClelland and Stewart in Canada. YUGOSLAVIA (ho hum) with the provinces to encourage the creation of unified Family Courts with comprehensive jurisdiction over family law permitting disputes to be dealt with %more constructively. In addition, the government will discuss with the provinces and with the public other aspects of family law bearing on the stability of marriage, the protection of children, and the fair sharing of the economic consequences of marital breakdown. PENSIONS FOR WIDOWS On November 3, 1976 M.P. Stanley Knowles of Winnipeg asked the house to urge the Federal government to amend the Old Age Security Act to provide pension benefits to widows, spinsters, (widowers and bachelors, too) between the ages of 60 and 65, who are not working..The motion was defeated. On October 23, M.P. Jack Marshall of Newfoundland asked the Minister of Veterans Affairs when he would introduce an amendment to the Pension Act to get 100% coverage for widows of veterans who were covered for 43% or less. On October 26,M.P. Stanley Knowles urged the House to review all federal employee pensions to provide that all widows or widowers will not receive less than 70% of the contributor's pension and that the eventual goal would be 100% for either survivor. The motion was seconded by M.P. Douglas of B.C. but was defeated by the house. WRITE TO YOUR MP URGING HIM/HER TO SUPPORT BOTH OF MR. KNOWLES MOTIONS NEXT TIME IT IS BROUGHT UP. (kinesis) WOMEN ALCOHOLICS The battle against alcoholism may be even tougher for women than for men. A Canadian study has shown, for example, that nine out of ten wives stick by their alcoholic husbands while the same percentage of husbands abandon their alcoholic wives. A HARVEST YET TO-REAP by Linda Rasmussen, Lorna Rasmussen, Candace Savage and Anne Wheeler, published by the Women's Press $8.95 paper 9 x 9 1/2 100 photographs $20.00 cloth Pg 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �From what could see in all the explanations offered by the Handbook what the 'type' of job meant was more accurately a 'woman's job' or a job which women do which is therefore lowpaying because it is women doing I MORE WAYS DISCRIMINATION: THE UNMENTIONABLE WORD was quite surprised by the picture that was emergingjespecially since had the general impression women were making progress in the labour force. wanted an explanation. looked to the Handbook on Women Workers, a government publication put out by the Women's Bureau, one of the standard sources of such facts. The Handbook had a lot of facts, but as read on realized was going in circles looking for an explanation. The Handbook had no explanation. The few times they tried to offer one, it was contradicted by their own statistics. Of course, the questions wanted answered were why women made less money than men and why the labour force remained so segregated. Some of the more common explanations currently in vogue started coming to me: that women are absent more from the job, that women don't need the money, that men are the supporters of the family, that women really only work for pin money. But the Handbook itself says our job absenteeism rate is the same as men's. As for needing the money, all women need the money I I I I I I I I See-R /6 for personal independence. In addit, ion most women have no economic choice but to work in order to maintain an adequate standard of living. Many work to support families either because they are the head of the household or because their husbands don't make enough. So lack of need is not the explanation. The argument that women don't stay attached to the job market and so lose continuity of work experience which lowers their wages was refuted by a New York Times article that said a recent census bureau study of 5,000 women showed that women aged 30 - 44 who worked every year since leaving school had much lower incomes than men who were the same age, had the same education, and held the same types of jobs. The only thing that came close to being an explanation for the sizable discrepancies in pay and the segregation of jobs was the recurring reference in the Handbook to what is vaguely characterized as the 'type' of jobs women held. Just exactly what they meant by the 'type' of jobs however, and what the defining characteristics were, was very unclear. If women made less money than men working in the same occupation and industries, whether they were highpaying or low-paying, then the specific occupation or industry could not be what they meant by 'type'. the job. thought the Handbook would clarify my understanding of discrimination but found that the word doesn't even appear in the first 250 pages, the bulk of the manual. It is finally mentioned in the appendix in talking about the laws governing women's employment. As the picture gradually became clearer, it made me angry. was naive, confused, politically unsophisticated. had been led to believe there were a lot of good reasons why we weren't able to compete equally I I I I with men in the job arena, things based on past discrimination, certainly not present; things based on discrimination against women by society in general, certainly not by the male employers themselves; and had bought it. Well, my consciousness is clearing now. see that all the theories, excuses, and explanations for our inferior job status are inadequate. see that education, skills, job occupations, continuity of work experience, seriousness about the job, are all factors which influence salary, rank and job status but only when the girls are playing against the girls and the boys are playing against the boys. When women conpete against men such factors are all but irrelI I I evant. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!! In Lunenburg,where Allied Sea Food run a tidy ship, The management has flipped it's lid and put relations on the skid,because The rules say twice a shift ON BEING FIVE the panties peel The zipper zips. There's magic in being five. all hands must bring their urge to heel At five, one is old enough to cross streets without holding a grownup's hand, but young enough to snuggle into a parental lap at bedtime for a story. So ask the question, Pee in five, wash your hands,and all that Jive. At five, one can be very big and brave and businesslike in carrying out an errand at the grocery store, but very little and loving and sleepy when it's a bit past bedtime. In Lunenburg, the Union struck at this indignity, both male and femme and country-side that Capitol A five year old can hob nob with the fairies and elves and make believe folk, and still boast gleefully over a recently acquired mastery of roller skates and zippers and knots that really stay will rule your mind until no thought can soil it,and having turned it At five, one can spank and scold dolls, and say grace at the table with equal dexterity. side by side,informed the press tied. into crap will barricade the toilet. P 14 "The surest way to get a job done is to give it to the busiest man you know - he'll have his secretary do it." In a five.year -old's world, there's scarcely ice cream cone won't cure. 0 0 0 0 0 0 an ill that an Five years is the age of decision. Dresses are discarded for blouses and skirts, one cuts her own meat and butters her own bread, one has stridently verbal and voluable preferences in breakfast foods and hair bows and cousins. At five, one is queen of hearts and mistress of all she surveys. 0 0 0 0 Hazel Murphy Sullivan. 0 0 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DRY CARE NEWS A tremendously enthusiastic and hard-working group of parents and community citizens in Atikokan have investigated the need for a Day Care Centre in their community. The group presented a brief to the Atikokan Town Council on November 23 requesting Council support to implement a day care program. At the request of the Atikokan group Julie Fels and Margaret Phillips of the L.S.P.C. Day Care Committee attended this meeting. The Atikokan Council responded most positively and established a civic committee composed of a Town Councillor, a town staff representative and members of the parents group to further investigate all aspects of the development of a - Support for programs to meet other identified unmet needs eg., homemakeA service, playground programs, baby-sitter training, should be encouraged. The study has been organized into four reports - i.e., Thunder Bay, Paipoonge, Oliver and Ontario Government (the Province has jurisdiction in the unorganized areas). Recommendations have been made to the respective municipal/provincial authorites concerning the development of new or expanded child care facilities and services. Copies of the reports may be obtained from the Lakehead Social Planning Council office at 409A George Street, Thunder Bay F. Centre. We understand that the Day Care Centre at Sabaskong has been completed and that the new Heron Bay Day Care Centre should be ready in January. RURAL DAY CARE STUDY In the past two years, interest has been expressed by a number of families living in the rural area surrounding Thunder Bay, concerning the need for child care services. Because of this interest, the Lakehead Social Planning Council Day Care Committee undertook a study in 1976 concerning child care needs in rural Thunder Bay. A summary of the study's findings shows: 117 respondents indicated a present or anticipated future need for child care services; 107 responses noted less than complete satisfaction with the child care services they used; preference for type of service indicated 73 respondents would prefer to use a day care centre - only 11 presently have children enrolled in a centre. 44 indicated a preference for private home day care - only 6 were presently served by private home day care. Concern was expressed for the need for flexible day carefor emergencies, for occasions when parents have appointments (eg., doctor) in town. Conclusions reached from the study included: - There is a demonstrated need for child care services in the municipalities of Paipoonge and Oliver and in the unorganized areas of Blake, Scoble, Nolalu, Gillies, Gorham & Ware and the Kaministiquia area. - There is a significant need for child care services for the rural neighbourhoods of the City of Thunder Bay. There is a demonstrated need for additional private home day care. - Latch-key services continue to be an unmet need. - There is a significant feeling amongst rural parents concerning the need to provide a socializing experience for pre-schoolers, whether or not both parents work outside the home. Support should be provided to parent groups wishing to organize play-room facili- 10************************** 4E On Oct. 14, 1976 MP lona Campag- 4E *nolo of BC noted that daycare is no * 4E *longer seen as a welfare service *for the poor and that the newly pro- 4E *posed federal daycare legislation 4E :would increase the number of families * *eligible for reimbursment of fees. * On Oct. 29, 1976 MP Aideen Nichol - * *son of Ontario said that the federal * * government had recognized daycare as if' 41 the single highest expense of working *parents by doubling income tax deduc4/ tions for daycare. 4t Then she noted * that the new measures proposed by the: * federal government would increase the* :availability of partial subsidies. * *Nicholson also advised that the fed*eral government would be encouraging if * the provinces to adop't a new system 4F *of income related daycare fees. Ms. iF * Nicholson quoted the following day* care related figures: from 1971 to if *1974 the number of daycare centres 4E * doubled while the number of spaces it * tripled. However, she noted that in * 4E *1974 fewer than 3% of children under * 4E *3 years of age, and less than 9% of 4E * children aged 3 to 5 with working 4E f;parents attended daycare. Alternate * * inadequate daycare by relatives and lt * neighbours accounted for 4/5 of all * *daycare, she said. Kinesis t************************44 WHAT UNIONS HAVE TO DO An excerpt of a speech given by Shirley Carr, Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress. "....Before International Women's Year caused women's issues to be taken from the social pages and put in the business section, the humaniaing of the work place was often a common theme of articles. While it was a popular theme among writers of a variety of opinions, in fact most such plans boiled down to means of increasing the efficiency in the work place. Thus, working units replaced assembly lines, or work tasks replaced work to the clock, because they produced either higher quality or greater quantity. However, the question of human values in the work place should not be lost. indeed,the question of women's rights is also concerned with this issue. "This human issue is most clearly seen around the question of child care. As a society, we have accepted two assumptions, but have not followed through on the necessary conclusions. The first assumption is that any willing adult should be able to work regardless of race, creed, colour, age or marital status. The second assumption is that children are necessary for the continuation of society. "The conclusion would draw from this is that we must make provision both for people to work and for children to be raised. However, until now we have sadly neglected this area of child care. Until relatively recently, society continued to solve the dilemma by excluding women with small children from the work force. Indeed, the very fact that a woman was married might have excluded her from the work force. The events leading up to International Women's Year have tended to correct this assumed solution. But what, then, of the children? Indeed, are not both spouses responsible for their upIt is true that in Canada bringing? we do have some form of maternity leave. Anci it is certainly better than it was a generation ago. However it is still a patchwork system. Our oldest assumptions still shine through. To take an obvious example all statistics refer to working mothers and their children. What happened to the fathers? I "In Sweden they have introduced parental insurance. 'Fathers are, under this measure, also entitled to stay at home during the immediate pre- and post-natal period to care for other children, receiving compensation on a level with ordinary sickness benefits. Finally, during the period following the birth of a child, its parents will be free to decide which one of them is to remain at home with the child after the 29th day of post-natal leave for the 180 days coverage period.' "One of the reasons Europeans are often ahead of us in this field is that they have recognized women not as accidental participants in the work force but as essential parts of any employment policy what suppose we would refer to as 'manpower' policy. I "Unions must push for more child care facilities. However, this is better done as a society rather than through collectiveS. ties. Pg 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �New Ways of Keeping Women Out of Paid began this paper to find out what the current situation of women in the paid labour force was. At the outset of the investigation knew that women were discriminated against in the paid labour force but figured there must be some_ good reasons why. don't exactly mean good reasons, because feel that probably all the reasons have their basis in unfairness, but it may be that at this moment in history it could be said that women in general are not on a competitive par with men. Byt then again what does women in general mean? I've always felt on a competitive par to the men I've worked with. tend to feel on the defensive when confronted with those stories of so-and-so's sister-in-law who makes so much more money than her husband, or the woman supervisor on the job who's in charge of all those men', or the promotion of a woman executive to yet a higher level...the exceptions which disprove the rule. understand that it's supposed to calm my basic feelings of any wrongdoings, and at the same time stop me from talking about it since the opposite can be demonstrated. But it's the intimidating aspect trip up on. All this in the way of showing why I'm the perfect candidate to research this topic since obviously haven't got an idea or feeling on this issue which is clear and not immediately contradicted by another idea or feeling. And so started looking for the reasons I I Labour I I I I ' I I I I why. FALSE IMPRESSIONS FROM THE MEDIA recognize confusion as a tactic and an effective way of paralyzing the opposition. The information had taken in from the usual media, newspaper sources, was a mass of unresolved contradictions. One of the most common ploys used by the media is to state the problem as if it has long ago been solved making it look like more is changing for working women than really is. If there is a legitimate story about a woman or women reaching executive levels at jobs they get paid for, the papers blow it all out of proportion and make it seem like we're taking over the industry. The papers are flooded with plea articles in search of talented women and with tales of women 'firsts'. This is just to show us how much progress we've made. Every era of agitation from women brings with it some temporary strides in the labour force. We suddenly start hearing about all the 'women firsts' who are allowed in previously male fields. How many of these firsts are a matter of regaining lost ground in the past. Some women are allowed in previously exclusively male occupations and some make contributions in their new fields. Then the pressure dies down and not many seconds precede the firsts, The women and more importantly their contributions, are forgotten. When the next era of agitation arrives we start off again as novices, without a history, without even a trace of our former contributions. This keeps people from knowing what women have actuallrdone...again and again and have already proved themselves Pg able to do. I I We got our 'first' woman airline pilot last year, even though 66 women were earning their living as aviators in 1930. But you see, they mean she is the 'first' woman airline pilot with a 'major passenger 'carrier'. But she got laid off six months later. How long will it be before we have out next 'first' woman airline pilot? And in 197 we got our 'first' two women miners. But The History of Woman Suffrage says 7,000 women were engaged in mining interests in the 19th; century. There are women alive today who worked in small 'family' mines during the lean years of the '50's and '60's. The argument is often advanced that technology makes it possible for women to work in the mines but this ignoresthe fact that for centuries women have known how to handle the pick, shovel and shot of the mines. Yet the onslaught of news coverage of women 'firsts' outside the traditionally female occupations continues. While I'm sure the initial intent of such a thorough coverage is to impress upon us the recent flurry of activities and advancements surrounding women workers, it is more acurately serving the purpose of enumerating for us all the jobs we've previously been restricted from. THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE, NOT BETTER From these reports it's easy to get the false impression that steady progress is being made by women in the labour market. thought things were changing, what with the Women's Liberation Movement and its imvolvment with these very issues in the past few years. Certainly women's consciousness about working has changed enormously. Women's participation in the work force continues to rise, and there has been an increase in the numbers of women attending professional schools. But when looked at the statistics of the actual job situation for women...their low pay with respect to men and the all-pervasive job segregation...things hadn't really changed, not for the better, anyway. Since 1955 women's pay as a percentage of men's has been on the decline. In 1955 women nade 63.9% of men's salary; in 1972 women made 57.9% of men's salary, a decrease of 6%. This neans we were actually closer to receiving equal pay 18 years ago than we are now, despite all the highly publicized ,equal pay and back pay cases. Nearly 2/3 of all adults over the age of 16 living in poverty are women. One out of every three families headed by a woman lives in poverty as compared to one out of every fourteen families headed by a man. Today half of all full time working women are earning less than $5,903 a year. Any woman trying to raise a family on that u salary would be in poverty. I I Reluctantly edited from Redstockings 1975... by Colette Price For the most part, the position of women workers in the segregated labour force has remained stationary; the claim/accusation that women are invading men's jobs is false and there may even be a danger that the flow is going in the opposite direction. It may be men who are riding the wave created by women's militant efforts at breaking through sex barriers on the job. It was reported that the biggest break-through for men are coming in the telephone and airline industries, two major employers of women. The telephone company said anyone picking up a telephone five years ago who dialed the operator had one chance out of 100 thousand of hearing a male voice. Today the chance is one in 20. Eastern Airlines said it received more than 9,000 applications from men since it began running unisex ads in March. (Such ads were fought for and won by women). Before then they had about 150 stewards, the male counterpart of stewardess; now they have 320 stewards. The situation of men moving into women's jobs without a mutual counterflow would be bad enough in a period of economic stability, but at a time when the economy is worsening, women's unemployment rates rising steadily, jobs for everyone getting tighter*--------such a trend is disastrous. Yet such a trend does seem evident. As well as the airline and telephone companies, men are moving into nursing, secretarial work, teaching and library work, while maintaining their monopoly on traditionally male occupations. There is a lot of talk and news coverage these days about large numbers of women moving into the police force and also the field of medicine. "Moving into" however is not quite accurate Since women have been in both these fields since the 1800's. It should be pointed out also that the reasons for themovement of men into all-female fields and women into the all-male fields differ tireativ. Men have not been restricted from allfemale fields; whatever social taboos stood in their way have been greatly reduced by the activities 6f women's liberation. 'Women,howevershave been restricted from all-male jobs; in the police force by quotas, height, and weight requirements and the assumption that women were not equipped for certain jobs; in medical schools by admission quotas which restricted the number of female applicants. Special efforts are being made to attract men to teaching and nursing. The only efforts being made in the other direction however are the removal of blatantly discrimin.= atory criteria, under legal threat, such as the police force's previous Dolicy of giving separate entrance xaminations which gave preferential treatment to male applicants. The current Depression has undermined what little progress was being made. As New York City police officers have been laid off, the old hiring practices resulted in women being the first to go.CoAr p Aq PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial Page Had Myself a Merry Little Christmas Poetry Family Law Reform Credit Union Report Decade Council Report Day Care News New Ways of Keeping Women Out of Paid Labour RAVE YUU MOVED? 2 14 5 7 10 12 15 THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 Bay St. Thunder Bay, "P" Ont. return postage guaranteed RETURN TO: 16 LET US KNOW PLEASE. THIS IS YOUR LAST ISSUE (We must pay postare on your returned paper in order IS DUE[---1 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION to keep our mailing list esuE5) YEAR PLEASE SUPPORT US up to date). I uSINESS AT I Tclr1ON I 1 1 1 get involved? 5-5841 any Tuesdays sdays - DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED Free to one parent families 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 The Northern Woman, Vol 3 No 3 Description An account of the resource Vol. 3, no. 3 (1977) Title: The Northern Woman: Working Woman Issue Topics include: Women’s Credit Union Quebec election Northern Women’s Centre open house Letters to the editor Christmas & capitalism Poetry Rape Rural living experience Family law reforms CPP for housewives Federal human rights Working women’s conference Healthcare striker testimonial Consciousness raising groups Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women Women’s Co-op Bookstore Women’s Decade Council Alberta Status of Women Action Committee Divorce Pensions for widows Women slavery in Yugoslavia Women & alcoholism Women’s movement for teenagers Workplace discrimination Rural day care study Atikokan day care Day care legislation Swedish day care Unions & day care Women’s experience in the formal economy/paid labour Authors/Contributors: Bob White Jeanne Georgeson Mary Tomlinson Marg Phillips Janet Gert Beadle Colleen Aube Eve Pykerman Thyra Kinesis Patricia Shaw Bernice Cain Hazel Murphy Sullivan Colette Price 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 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/16/2747/1977_Vol_3_No_4.pdf f80f56c197c7bc0697fbbcea7e2db9f7 PDF Text Text orfRon Voincon NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO WOMEN'S PUBLICATION 1.1-1.1....1-.91...1.-1-1-..1.1-1-1..-1-1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1-.., )1. 4nslieo ea,/ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WORKING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE GUIDELINES TO EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Dear Gert Beadle: dvertising in the Woman's Journal: (25 sq. in.) $35. (15 sq. in.) $20. ( 6.qq. in.) $12. e the right to select we are prepared to Some non-profit groups ceived Margaret ble for from reduced rates. she stated her sup- $ Gert wrote ournal. lowing her answer. : I was very touched by your letter and want to assure you that I am interested in groups working on improving the quality of our society in all regions in Canada. I know that the specific needs must differ from community to community, but that in the end they reflect the general $ need. 0 0 0 24 ,111X9ES PritIt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I look forward to receiving a copy of the Northern Woman Regional Journal. Sincerely, and in sisterhood, 0 I 0 0 o 0 o 11.11- relevent the philosophy) ional maturity plays its s we approach our persons with our own sisters ity and a code of behaosters trust, we cannot e an impact on those who h justified suspicion. t itself flows in many but like rivers and creeks a certain sea. Let's rrent open and the water THE SNOB STORY Snobbery is an old vice. When the wily serpent thought himself to have a truth that superceded every other truth, he printed it chapter and verse on the only audience he ernational Women's Decade had and established himself as a ng Council Sub-committee, superior intellect and a first class Collective, for the fantasnob. Myth or fable, the drama plays ng Women's Conference Held its little charade in the name of th, 12th, and 13th. truth whenever a difference of opinion dares to challenge. One normally supposes snobbery operates from the top down but on closer scrutiny, we see it up, down and cross-wise and it takes some fancy footwork to avoid the selfsatisfaction it brings. Our truth is our total experience, as fluid as tears. It forms and reforms and it grows no larger than we grow. Why we should imagine foisting as Works" (the new Manpower tenuous a thing as the'sdm of what ation make work programe) is ours alone on our human family is the worst kind of snobbery. be exploiting workers by es of $122. per week. Splits and factions and divisions, slevels and strata and classes, high style, no style and life style, progressives, regressives and passives - a million truths and all with something to teach us. What a feast tive just az women but for the intellect to pick and choose without pressure/ Would we see each other differently if we had nothing to sell? Would we love each other better if we felt no need to buy? The Messianic fever that sends minorities flailing about to establish their personal and collective wisdom as eternal truth, is retarding out growth as thinkers. We are the truth and in us resides the capacity to distinguish what refines or retards the person we like to live with (our selves). We can be weary foot-soldiers in a divided army that may or may not stone each other to death before we ever "see the whites of the enemies' eyes". Indeed, we may 0 be so preoccupied pushing our own 0 0 point of view that we will never recognize the all-pervasive danger that threatens us. 41. atit a PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Dear Editor, and Friends of "Northern Woman", With the enclosed cheque for three dollars, I shall be glad to receive your paper for another year. Owing to eye trouble that makes newspaper reading difficult, I have sent the latest issues to Hazel Wigdon of our Editorial Committee. As the struggle of the Women's Decade goes on, and we do our best for Development and Peace, and take as full a part as we can to bring these about in our country and across the world - then I think we shall win Equality. But until we do, the gap between men and women will possibly even widen. In our society)so largely controlled by the multi-national corporations whose aim is money and power, we as women are the easiest victims. If not always just in Canada, then in Taiwan South America, Africa - where ever the great companies are powerful - even our own Alcan in Jamaica for instance. But I do believe in the growing struggle, and believe that the women's part in it is extremely important and it will help us to win out. Sincerely, Nora Rodd Toronto, Ont. We cannot express too strongly what a joy it is to hear from a woman we know to be over eighty years old, an expression of solidarity and encouragement. Our deepest admiration and love for this senior sister. Dear Northern Woman; Please find enclosed six dollars for my subscription to Northern Woman which is long overdue. Hope this will at least bring me up to date. I enjoy your paper and I think you girls are doing a great job. Keep up the good work and good luck in the future. Sincerely, Ruby Roulston Abbotsford, B.C. Dear Sisters; Received Issue No 3 of the Northern Woman on the last mail plane and cannot express the joy it brought me. Have been teaching Adult Education here in Webequie Ont.for the past five months and as a consequence have been totally out of touch with the outside world except for news passed on through letters from friends. Your paper certainly was enlightening; congratulations to all who have worked so hard to give women the support they need. I will be returning to Thunder-Bay in April and as soon as I have an address will be one of your ardent supporters. Peace and Friendship, Chris Torre, Webequie Ont. Dear Women; As a subscriber and an avid reader of your paper, I would like to know more about those of you who put it together. To some of my non-subscribing friends, you represent a nebulous group of "women libbers". However, whatever else your name and image implies, it does seem to pose a threat to many men and some women. Reddem yourselves. Why first nanes only? You would appear far more credible with some background info on yourselves. No harm in asking! Curious Dorothy Dear Editor; I was really impressed by the radical view on women in the work force, "New Ways..." in your last issue but was disappointed that the writer didn't even suggest one positive remedy for improving the situation.* No mention was made either about discrimination towards women who work for self-empThis area is not too loyed husbands. visible or well-known perhaps. I am only one of the many wageless women who are so employed. By law, an unincorporated business cannot deduct as a business expense any money paid to a wife who works in any capacity for such a business. The'attitude)eing(in my view) that * Although you didn't sign your last such women are not viewed as working name, we are printing your letter. for the business, but rather working We, as a collective don't put much for their husbands ,so are not entitled credence in marital status, age, etc. to a wage. However, you have a point about last Women are still legally the pronames. Perhaps we don't take ourperty of men and any service provided selves seriously enough. See next is considered as just part and parcel issue. of being a wife. The inequality in Editor. this law is more'blatant when you consider this same self-employed business man can employ and deduct as a business expense any wage paid to a son or daughter. I have been working for over 8 years with my husband and alone for three of those years while he was recovering from a stroke; expanding, operating, being open long hours, and doing the bookkeeping for our/ his confectionary store. We have a large family and the child-rearing duties were also my job. We, or should I say my husband)is now talking about selling the store. For my contribution, I'll get nothing, not even C.P.P. as I was not eligible Hello! to participate. I'd like to subscribe to your magSorry for going on like this, but azine. I heard about it through I am angry. I hope Women's Laurie Hill. I was travelling from Conference can in some way protest this England to Holland, and met Laurie injustice. I cannot attend; I am on the train to Amsterdam. We got working on Saturdays. In the meantime, a place together in Amsterdam and I hope other women who work for their Laurie continued the next day to husbands will write your paper and also Copenhagen, and I to Assen, Holland. write to the new minister in charge... I joined up again with Laurie in The Honourable Monique Begin, Dept.. of Oslo where we stayed with a friend National Revenue, Parliament Bldgs. of hers, also from Thunder Bay, for Ottawa, Ont. a few weeks. I returned home shortly Sincerely, before Christmas, and have received Jane S. a couple of letters from Laurie since. You probably already know *We were remiss in adding she's in Greece and it sounds like that the article would be she's having a great time. She just continued in the next issue. said to let you know that I'd met See page 10. her, so....I have. Back to business! I'm not sure of your subscription rates; I'll send a money order as soon as you fill me in on the price. Thank you Judi Gough Dear Northern Woman; It seems that I have been delinSault Ste. Marie quent in paying for my subscription, and there is no excuse for it. I can only apologize for my procrastination. Dear People; As I am enlightened by)and enjoy I am writing on behalf of myself reading your publication, I would and one of my friends. We are doing still like to continue receiving it. a project on Women's Rights. Please accept the money as a payment We are wondering if it would be for two years subscriptions. possible for you to send us inforOh, and keep up the good work, I'm mation on Women's Rights in the form sure our sisters everywhere appreciate of pamphlets, newspapers or other your hard work and dedication. Thanks material. again! Our project is due on April 20/77 Lots of love so we would be most appreciative if your sister you could send them as soon as posKate sible. Thunder Bay Rosemary Shuslawry Thunder Bay 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �AND CONGRATULATIONS TO Lorraine Smith from Ear Falls for being selected for the Ontario Status of Women Council. Her presence on the council indicates another step in removing barriers that were a detriment to the potential of that Council. OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO Maria Seymore for being chosen Woman of the Year by Kenora Business and Professional Women for outstanding service to her native brothers and sisters. A teacher of Ojibway language for the past six seasons at Confederation College, she also translates on a volunteer basis at the Kenora Jail, works in the summer camp for children in the care of the Children's Aid Society, teaching them Indian crafts, and advises the Foster Parents Association in the care of native children. She currently works part-time for the probation after-care in the Juvenile Division. These are only a few of the things Maria has lent her time and talents to. Her recognition as Woman of the Year is simple justice. That she accepts it as a tribute to her race's potential makes her a worthy candidate of the honour. TO Roberta Wren from Ignace, who has been chosen Citizen of the Year by the township council. Through her efforts, Ignace now has a Library with 9,000 books on the shelf and a membership of 700 adults and 300 youngsters. 182 S. Algoma Str. Phone: 345-8912 Open: 10 A.M.-5 P.M. Monday to Saturday AL ANON 345-2711 ARTISTS CO-OP 622-9577 ANTI-POVERTY 622-1538 NORTHERN WOMAN'S CENTRE 622-3989 WOMEN IN NEIGHBOURHOODS 623-8411 NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL 345-5841 SOCIAL SERVICES 623-2711 CRISIS INTERVENTION 344-3571 FAMILY COUNSELLING 623-9596 LEGAL AID 345-1972 TELECARE 344-1192 SMITH CLINIC 344-2471 CRISIS HOUSING 623-2711 HUMAN RIGHTS COMM. 475-1693 EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS 475-1691 MUNICIPAL DAY CARE 344-3922 344-0727 FREE CLINIC News anais nin dies LOS ANGELES--Anais Nin, the widely-read writer, died of cancer at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital on Friday, January 14. She was nearly Her diaries and seventy-four years-old. novels discussed sexuality openly and were enjoyed by many women. SPECIAL THANKS To all those who included something extra along with subscription rates both brothers and sisters and especially to Marg Bengtsson whose gift of calligraphy has given us a new look. THE NORTHERN WOMEN'S CENTRE, for reasonable rates, will produce copies of notices, announcements, etc. We retain the right to refuse work from groups affiliated with a political party. Good Numbers In New York City, a class action suit is under way against the New York Police and the Family Court.It is being filed by one of 12 married women who were seriously beaten by their husbands and were then refused assistance by the police and the family court. This is the first time ver that such legal action has been taken by women. The National Congress f Neighbourhood women and other omen's groups who were active in rganizing the suit are also demanding funds to provide shelters for attered wives. They insist that these shelters must be controlled y women's groups, not by the state. is class action suit follows on the eels of a large speak-out in NYC by attered wives, most of whom were oor and working class, nearly half f whom were black. In Vancouver, a research group sponsored by the United Way has just completed an extensive study of Wife attering. Included in their Recommendations are the establishment of Transition Houses. We must ensure that such new Houses are staffed and controlled by feminists. LAST LAUGH New York - Tex Antoine, TV weather reporter/sketcher of a quarter-century, blew his cover and his $100,000 a year job; after a news item on the rape of an eight year-old girl, Tex guffawed that, according to Confucius, if a rape victim can't avoid attack she might as well enjoy it. Within 25 minutes, 650 unamused watchers called the station, ABC, to Tex was indefinitely complain. suspended for an "inexcusable lapse of judgement". info from Washington Star EQUAL UNDER THE LAW Chicago - Angela Winslow was arrested on charges of failing to have proper gun registration and discharging a firearm within the city limits. She had discharged this improperly registered gun within the even narrower limits of her 15th floor apartment - at a man who broke into it, raped her friend who was visiting her, and then threw her friend from the window (her friend escaped death by landing on the building's canopy and was taken to hospital in serious condition.) info from Lesbian Voices WHAT'S THE WORLD COMING TO? Adelaide, Australia - Rape within marriage was made a crime by the South Australia parliament, the first such law in that country. In the US only Michigan wives have the right under the law to accuse their husbands of rape, but similar provisions are being considered in Florida, California and Washington, D.C. info from Washington Post BEATER BEATEN (NY) - Julio Elias was sentenced to three years in prison for beating his wife with a kitchen chair, a screwdriver, a bicycle wheel "and anything else he could get his hands on." When he was arrested, he said "What's wrong? She's my wife." Elias pleaded guilty to first degree assault; the case was resolved by plea bargaining. Info from Washington Star c.;s PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CINDERELLA: We, Led Ate Fox TAKE ONE Swept and shovelled and zctaped and zcAimped and saved onty a dottat a week but that was enough to putchaze a winning tottety ticket entitling het to iaity godmothet pumpkin coach dtawn by mice boatmen good box 1 passage to bale and netutn by midnight oi same day onty the witting by the unknowing doing the impozzibte the ungtateiut- 1 We have been doing zo much Fox zo Long, with so eittee, We ate now quati4ied To do anything With nothing. 1 Weendamahgawin Newt (Indian Ftiendzhip Centne and a4tet the bat wads aver and the prince disappeated and she needed an abottion SAILING ON THE SEA Sailing on a zait boat and piling itee, To be able to zee the beauty which haz zutitounded me. To be able to tide on the water and to Arnett the zea. Thiz iz heaven Which I have just seen. I'm glad to sail on the sea. Fax it btingz a great beefing to me. It 4eeezaz 4.4 the tea ato pant c)4 me. I'm happy to sail on the tea, So bond Let it be. at the tate o4 saving only a dottat a week and the had the baby and was Lucky enough to be given her ad job back and who knowz the baby might grow up to purchase a winning Lottery ticket o6 itz own. WHAT IS LIFE? It 4...6 the gnacquenezz oi a gooze in 4tight It iz the breath oi a buiiato in the wintet time It Ls the swi4tnezz o4 a deer in 4/Light, Eve Metz] iam coedit Newioundeand Statuz o4 Women Council Newztettet. Sailing on a tail boat and 4ee2ing the breeze, Where thete'z no -zmoke that could choke the ait out oi me. I ptayed Lotd that I zee there thingz. Then, the good Lotd Let these things be. It -cis the teat on my bale. Colleen Aube For it can be wiped away, Like nature can slowly be. (age 14) Thundet Bay J. Pie Ate Feat o4 tape L a cold wind Hawing all o4 the time on a woman's hunched back. Nevelt smote atone on a sand toad thtough pinewoods, never to ctimb a ttait actozz a bald without that aeuminum in the mouth when I zee a man climbing towatdz me. POETRY It izn't always way to zee anothet point oi view. In out conceited tighteouznezz We want out 4niendz to think tike uz. We only zee the zuniace o4 what moves the people that we Love, and so we ztnike to wouqd and shame -hose who te4use to play out game. How necktezzty we make the bteak, when only FRIENDSHIP L at stake. Gett DREAM OF TROPICAL ISLES Nevet open the doot to a knock Without that tazot just gtazing the thuat. The bean o4 the datk side o4 the What I am tetting you hete iz that I have lost what he called a state oi grace hedges, and what I bet the back seat o4 a cat, the empty house tattting keys tike a snake's az a thread o4 mist. watning. The beat o4 the 6m4ing man in whose pocket -1.4 a kni4e. waiting to glide zhatkiz Length between the tibz. The bean o4 the zetiouz man in whose 4ist Ls Locked hatted. ALL it takez to cast a tapizt iz to be able to zee yout body as jackhammet, as blowtorch, as adding-machine-gun. Atl it takes -is hating that body your own, your seti, your muzcte that zoitenz to blab. All it takez iz to push what you hate, It KVZ Lost Long ago I tete you And the beack tivet 4ot the thitd time iz &wet on Lts banks. Fitzt 4utt with zpting Second gone in the winter Thitd gone in the Ott. I tizten to many voices I tell you and they at hum and my wotdz goat out I stile heat the dtipz o4 watet Loud and echoing in the steel ztAuctute that once issued clangs that once aaz not thete. 14 it being buitt at tarn down I azk you tell me tett me am I being buitt of torn down? what you beats onto the 4c/it alien gezh, To bucket out invincibte as a tank anmouted with tneadz without rented to passers and punizh in one act, to tip up peeazute, to mutdet those who date live in the teaiy itezh open to Love. Mange Piency Wettgeet, Mazz. (Betceuse, betceuze, will you always mourn ?) And I am tort goddamn you id I cannot conceive that I am being buitt and torn down simuttaneourty Even as I tread unevenly in the muddy ttachz o4 a giant machineEven az a Lead bAuzhez my neck and Leaves it wet. Deitdte Hamitt When tined oi winter's sleet and snow, To some ttopicat izte I Long to go, Whete watm gentle bteezez blow And palm tteez way to and 4to, Over tunny silvery sands. In teae tibe it does not seem possible, Enjoyed by the /Lich setdom the pock, In dteamtand bate evens up the score, How could you azk ion mote. Sheila DesChenez age 12 Thundet Bay IDENTITY Call me Mrs. Miss, Ms, It doesn't mean A damn. I am what I am. I do not need To pose. To quote G. Stein: "A rose, is a rose, Is a rose" Janet Craig-James Thunder. Bay 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �9 Guidelines to Equal con't from Credit Opportunity Two major guidelines have been set out for consideration of the individual's application: m 0 . pg 11 1. A married woman shall be granted credit in her own name if her credit Ieach spouse free to engage in a busqualifications, including her earnings ~ iness without having to have the othe or separate property are such that a spousels agreement or opinion in inman possessing the same credit qualdividual transactions. However, ifications and property or earnings where both spouses actually particwould receive credit. ipate in the business, the contribWHY A WOMAN'S UNION? woman shall be granted . ation of each would be recognized. 2. CREDIT An unmarried credit if her credit qualifications, Bill 14C 7(2) "where one spouse has Those of us property who are founding mem-are such that or earnings contributed work, money or money's bers of the newa Women's Credit Union man possessing the same credit *worth in respect of the acquisition find ourselves qualifications, explaining dailyproperty why or earnings management, maintenance, operation, it is that we who so vocally strive would receive credit. 1 or improvement of property in which for equality should now exclude To expand upon thethat general statements - the other has an interest, the court other sex who have plainly believed above, creditors shall continue to Imay by order: that the handling of money their conduct theirisbusiness affairs, a) direct the payment of an amount forte. holding to these principles. 'in compensation therefore; or Our case was1.made us by Holdfor women andRobert men to the same Ib) award an interest in the property Cooper, the ombudsman forinC.B.C. on standards determining creditworth- appropriate to the contribution. Feb. 6 when the question of woman's iness. JOINT TENANCY OF REAL PROPERTY, JOINT right to borrow2.onExtend her own merittoand credit a credit worthy BANK ACCOUNTS, SAVINGS, DEPOSITS, ETC ability to pay married was challenged a own name. woman inbyher Sidneyfrom Handleman manager of a bank. 3. Refrain refusing to extend Bill 140 8a) The fact that property the Provincial credit Minister, clearly to awho newly separated, divorced is placed or taken in the name of draws the government position non- because of or widowed womanofsolely _spouses as joint tenants shall be discrimination,her shifted changethe in responmarital status. prima facia proof that a joint ten sibility to those in positions ofstandards to the 4. Apply the same ancy of the beneficial interest in authority at the executive in including mortextending of level credit, the property is intended the money lending gageinstitutions. transactions, That regardless of which b) money on deposit in a bank, saving: these officialsspouse have not as yet per- supporter of is the primary 1 office, credit union or trust company sonally accepted as equally thewomen family. min the name of both spouses shall be Observe thesolvent same standards in reresponsible or 5. sufficiently deemed to be in the name of the spousl quiring credit to pay will remove women from data the on the spouse 1 ga joint tenants" and that beneficial regardless of thea sex touted government policy until new of the appli' interest in the property is intended. generation of men or women, as the cant. Next issue: Bill 140 - Support 6. Change in marital status shall not case may be, bring an enlightened Obligations the sole consideration in requiring iby Joan Packota, Thunder Bay Club, approach to thebe lending institutions. re-application for previously issued The new women's credit Union was Canadian Federation of University credit out cards conceived and formed of or ourthe ownre-negotiation .Wairiamm . I MEM 11 n n of the credit arrangements. impatience to wait forexisting that great We a have under-income, if 7. Consider spouse's rebirth of new values. when a couple taken to do fornecessary each other what clear- applies for ly is not beingcredit. done in the market News on the Metro Toronto Women's 8. Consider alimony place, and to make the exercise a and child support Credit Union: learning experience the process. as a in source of income. They have been in operation for Our officers have been chosen with 9. In appraising a woman's credit one year and have 430 members and worthiness, consider Among our shareholders is a her credit hiscare. assets over $100,000. They now are 1 former, now retired,manager of one of tory when single or married. =offering five-percent interest on the most successful credit unions in 10. An individual's credit-rating savings, to be paid quarterly on Her shall knowledge andaltered advice solely on the not be the area. the minimum quarterly balance. 1 sale of ensures our success. basis ofThe the credit-rating of the shares is brisk spouse. and encourages us to believe that most do not ques- agency shall 11.women A credit reporting .1m tion the reason upon for our existence but request Theirs of a spouse, a are assets keep to date over women. NORTHEN WOMEN'S CREDIT UNION NEWS f obtaining see goods, services, in us an avenue to broader equality. separate file on the husband $6300.00. They would like and to thank all They have been in existenctfor approx. ey in exchange for a promise To our aggrieved brethren would them to date and wife.women who who supported two months and have a membership of 70 for them at support some future us iftime. weCredit allowed it, we apolis a form ofwomen borrowing. It is= to invest. encourage more credit has both advantages .1 I NEI= 11 1 ogise for the necessity that shuts I advantages. you out, but we are convinced for the Although credit-granting policies and practices have changed moment that the credit union slogan - considerably in the past year or so, the whole credit-granting THEFOR NORTHERN UNION industry will not necessarily be aware of all the changes. If you "NOT PROFIT WOMEN'S BUT FOR CREDIT SERVICE" will PM ON and believe you have been discriminated S NOW FROM 1 PM TO 9when are denied credit find its OPEN highest expression WOMEN'S of your sex or marital status, ask to see the TUESDAYS ATdedicated THEagainst NORTHERN intelligent, andbecause compassion., AND FROM of the agency involved. Be prepared to CENTRE, 120 W. AMELIA ST senior credit ate women deal with other women officer in ATclaim THE and to back it with facts. If your request for your 1 PM TO 4 PM ON assert TUESDAYS the money marketplace. is still refused and you are not given a satisfactory exc NORTHERN WOMAN REGIONAL JOURNAL, contact the Women's Advisor of the Ontario Minisplanation, 316 BAY ST. Consumer try ofAND MEMBERSHIP IS $5.00 DEPOSITSand Commercial Relations, 555 Yonge Street, mm .... sm. . mir um. Toronto. CAN BE MADE. 1 Imi lam 1 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Plea to Ombudsman! Mr. Robert Cooper CBC, Box 500 Stn. A Toronto Sir: Enclosed is a copy of a letter written to Mr. T.V. McCallum of the Law Society of B.C. I am sure that in this vast country, there are many women who have been or are in the same position as I am. There are many questions which could be asked - why are women treated as they are? It is my opinion that too many women are in complete ignorance of 2711: talsnd=tpildi:hyt:n;hemn can use the law to his own advantage there are many cases of "battered wives" that have never come to light. Being a woman, I can understand why many never do - if a charge is laid against the husband, he may very likely lose his job, which would leave the family in dire financial straits. In this case any sense of security that a woman has had is then completely done away with. If a woman is ignorant of the law, she does not have any knowledge of what can be done and she is fearful of retaliation if she stays in the immediate area. I believe every woman should have the opportunity to be as well-educated as she can in Family Law and her rights as an individual, and not just as a woman. Naturally, every woman wants to keep her family and home together. For her, this has been a small source of security and safety, but why should she have to tolerate violence, abuse and mental anguish to do it? Would it not be far better if she were able to take steps to see that these things were not allowed to happen? My personal experience of trying to get help was met with indifference. The children of such a union are the ones who suffer the most - torn between their love for both parents and unable to understand why these things are happening. How many women in the country have suffered the anguish of a mental and physical breakdown, simply because they were forced to become too dependent on the husband to supply them with their only material and emotional needs--only to find that the husband cannot be relied upon for those needs when they are needed most? When a woman has been out of the labour force for a number of years, a job is not easy to find, as I am In many instances discovering myself. it requires re-training, or perhaps even returning to school to complete an inadequate education. She has spent all her time caring for her family and home, which is really no different than if she were out working except that she is receiving no salary for her services. Her days are aftenzmuch longer and she must be able to perform many tasks--nurse, housekeeper, laundress, chauffeur, carpente gardener--and on and on. It is an established fact that if every hus- band had to pay his wifetor all the services performed, he could not possibly afford to pay for them. For a woman, therefore, who has spent half of her life, or more, in this manner, it comes as a big shock to suddenly find herself, and has lost all or most of her possessions- a cruel and terrifying experience! At this point she is depressed and the very thought of court appearances and dealing with the law is one whe simply CANNOT endure. I believe that all household furnishings and other possessions should automatically become the property of both parties, and therefore an equal division be made of all these articles or a fair monetary settlement made for the person who has been deserted or forced to leave. Perhaps the husband did pay for all these possessions, but who but his spouse works hard at keeping them in good condition and caring for them. Why then are they not just as much hers, as his? It seems to me the rights of women have been very badly neglected. How is a woman to survive when she has all her dignity stripped from her, and must try to begin again when she has so little earning power? And what of a woman who has small children who is going to care for them and how great is the cost of any care she can secure for them, when she finally does' find employment? It seems to me that men have dominated women long enough - they sould no longer be allowed to do so. How many more women in this big country will suffer the same indignities and mental and physical abuse that I did, before something is done? Why must a woman be pushed to the very brink of mental and physical breakdown before anything can be done to help her? It hardly seems fair for a woman who has been faithful, frugal, and hard-working, to be treated in such a shoddy manner! If my own personal investigation into this matter helps just one woman, then I shall feel that I have accomplished at least a small triumph in winning equal rights for women everywhere Yours very truly, Lillian E. Turner The following is a copy of the letter to Mr. T.V. McCallum of the Law Society of B.C. Sir; Re: Divorce between Turner vs. Turner, Dec. 13, 1976 I am writing to you to inquire about legal procedures in a divorce case which was recently completed before Judge Wetmore of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. My lawyer, here, Mr. John Hornak had asked for a copy of the Decree Nisi before it was to be heard in court, but never received one. At that time, certain properties had not yet been settled and to this day have not been proI feel I was deceived perly settled. and denied any rights to object to or have any agreements changed, in that I received no copy of the Decree Nisi BEFORE the 3 month period was I also have not received a up. copy of specific charges laid against me, and the only ones I read were ones in the Petition for Divorce which I read at my lawyer's office all of which were quite incidental. Had not my oldest daughter Lori come to Thunder Bay for Christmas, I would still have no knowledge of the divorce or other agreements made. This, to me, is a highly unethical procedure and I wish to voice my strong objections to such procedures. I had to get in touch with my lawyer who then wrote for copies of both the Decree Nisi and the Decree Absolute. It was rather shocking and unnerving to find that legal action in which I was a participant had gone through legal channels without my knowledge or my counsel's knowledge. The Petitioner and his legal counsel, were all in communication during the entire 2 year period, and I can see no reason why I was not sent papers of any kind. The Petitioner has repeatedly reneged on agreements made, and now that the Decree final, I have no other way to handle it, except through legal counsel in British Columbia, which I can ill afford, especially with 2 yound children to care for. This was also the reason why I did not appear or have legal counsel in Vancouver to represent me. Simply because the Petitioner is a member of the Vancouver Police Force, does not entitle him to any special or favoured treatment. Of a houseful of expensive Victoriaville French Provincial furniture, I received only a few items, worth less than $2000. The separation was one known as "constructive desertion" in that I had been threatened repeatedly by the Petitioner. The Petitioner refused to support me, and has repeatedly been late in sending the minimum child support he is supposed to, to which I also strongly object. In the past he has been irrational, brutal and very abusive. I would strongly urge that every man applying for a law enforcement job should be very carefully analyzed psychologically. I feel this whole case was mishandled and my right6 as an individual have been denied me, and I would appreciate it very much if an investigation were made to determine why it was allowed to happen, and what recourse I have in settling this in a more satisfactory manner. Lillian Turner CON'T PG 13 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WORKING WON CO-SPONSORED BY NW INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DECADE ( Evelyn Gigantes Evelyn Gigantt.s set the mood. for the Working Women's Conference on Friday Night. Her plea to be relentlessly determined while maintaining the feminine qualities that set us apart from the Macho approach is one that finds response in most women. She noted that every oppressor is oppressed and stated equality for Women would be a step in the direction of freeing men from the bondage of stereotyp ing in their own Roles. She reminded us all that we are the best Educated,the most affluent in the world. We have birth control which guarantees freedom of choice and s tability in our lives and we have the vote. As such we have the responsibility use our strength and our energy in to promoting equality for women all over the world. The hostility of women to women must be seen as a challenge to better communication. Those who stay at home must not be made to feel as parasites,which lends itself to a natural feeling of hostility toward the aspirations of her sisters in the paid labour force. She reminded us again the feminine culture respects fertility,warmth, sensitivity and love. Grace Hartman The banquet of the Working Women's Conference was highlighted by an address by Grace Hartman, National President of Canadian Union of Public She spoke on "Role of Employees. Women in their Unions". The following is an excerpt of her address. "The inequalities suffered by women at the hands of insensitive employers a few years ago are now perpetuated by legislation. Unions are the only vehicle through which women can seek equality of opportunity at the work place. One would have hoped that the trend of women turning to the labour movement for this kind of support would have continued in an effort to end discriminatory practices. However, the Anti-Inflation Board mechanism has had a very substantial effect in slowing the But the obvious question process. is being asked about the advantages of joining a union, negotiating a decent increase in earnings only to have a large part of it taken away from them by AIB decision. The end result of this practice can be seen in the organizing statIn the first istics for Ontario. six months of 1975, the Ontario Labour Relations Board heard 609 applications seeking certification for new local unions -- this was the six months prior to the wage controls For the same six month legislation. period in 1976, after the legislation was in full operation, the Ontario Labour Relations Board heard only 509 applications -- a drop of 16%! I believe that any thinking person can accept some things as self-evident And it's self-evident that women who want to have a say, and to have some influence in their destiny at the work place, will only get that opportunity by joining unions that will speak out and act on their behalf. But the AIB has discouraged it. By their very existence they have That is the Trudeau discouraged it. gift to working women. And in so doing, they are further widening the gap between unionized and non-unionized Or perhaps being more wage rates. realistic -- they are permitting a a widening of the gap between male and female rates of pay. When the AIB legislation was first introduced, I was most critical of it, There did, however, seem to be one feature of it that held a ray of hope I'm referring to that for women. section of the regulations that permitted wage increases in excess of the guidelines for the elimination of discrimination by sex pay rates. I thought it might permit us to work toward the elimination of male-female pay discrepancies. As a matter of fact, this part of the legislation was hailed by both Beryl Plumptre and her eventual successor, June Menzies, as a recognition by government of discriminatory practices and was essentially a feminist regulation. My expectations in this regard proved that I was naive indeed. Instead of the AIB permitting increases to women in order to observe the principle of equal pay for work of equal value -- they had riders on the It would allow an upregulations. ward adjustment for women only in cases where women were performing the same work in the same establishment and the jobs were called by exactly In addition, to seek the same title. redress against the obvious wage discrepancies, the local union must first be convinced that the case is just -the local union then must approach the employer and obtain their agreement that the employer has been discriminating! The employer - and only the employer - must then appear before the AIB and ask consent to end the discrimination which they, themselves, imposed! The sinners must voluntarily go before the Board, admit they are sinners and then ask permission to stop sinning! How is that for a "just society"? This may help you understand why, out of 4000 applications filed with the AIB seeking redress against rollbacks, only 20 have been appeals against sex discrimination in wage rates. When I learned that so few applications had been filed with the AIB, I couldn't help wondering what the results of the 20 applications were. So, I had June Menzies office contacted for the in- They couldn't tell m formation. They didn't refuse to tell me. just didn't knowl" "It cannot be denied that the controls legislation has had a d astating effect on the labour ma The unemployment statistics in t country are just staggering. As reprehensible as that situation for everyone, women haVe suffers from it most. As an example, la fall, there was a decrease in th number of unemployed men by twen one thousand, coupled by an incr in unemployed women by taenty-fo. thousand. The September figures released by Statistics Canada shy that unemployment fell from 6.3 6.0 percent. The unemployment f: ures for women in that same peril rose from 8.7 to 9.4 percent." "The role of women in the unil has changed. They are no longer passive viewers at unon meetin& They have things to say and they They no longer sit with a them. raised hand to second a motion. make the motions. They have lonl since ceased to be token anything at conventions. They are at the microphones airing their opinion! So, the role of women in the ions has changed. The unions wil: never be the same again and that a step in the right direction. contribution of women in their ul ons has been enormous and it is ongoing process. 'their union is obvious vehicle to provide for ti the opportunity to be heard - th, hicle for self-expression. And very short period of time, I sug that they will be a voice, and fc that will give pause to governmel everywhere when the contemplate islation that interferes, in any with their right to play a prope] and meaningful role in the Y.fe this country. : N RV for "Oh, I don't think a woman on e is bad luck - especially when E your navigator." PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �N'S CONFERENCE TING COUNCIL t 'THUNDER BM t DISTRICT TRADES t LABOUR COUNCIL PRESENTATION TO THE HOUSEWIVES WORKSHOP OF THE WORKING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE. by Florence Richard Anything that can be had for free is usually regarded as of no value. The position of the housewife in today's society is directly related to attitudes developed throughout To use an analogy ages of history. from what has become known as the "third world countries", we have all seen the TV documentaries where, in subsistence level societies, the birth of a female child is regarded by the family as something of a On the other hand, the calamity. birth of a male child is celebrated This way of as high good fortune. thinking cannot be explained by economic considerations alone. True, the boy will work for the family, but so will the girl. Her burdens will not be less by reason of sex. True, that when the girl comes of age a dowry must be provided. But from where does this tradition originate? Why have dowries never been provided for sons? Why is the son considered to be a gift himself while the daughter must have a dowry in order to be acceptable? The only conclusion to be arrived at is that Vomen, in a male dominated society, are generally regarded as part of a man's goods and property. Whether that man rides a camel or a Cadillac, his wife occupies pretty much the same position. Her usual role is to take charge of all domestic This may entail anything from duties. running the home, to making the meals, to mothering, to chauffeuring, to taking care of household accounts. When and if the housewife works at a paid job, whatever she earns, as a rule, becomes part of her contribution to the home, which she may or may not a legal share in. With a more erl2Y: tened husband she will, of All too course, share all benefits. often, however, we are reminded that comparatively few men are so enlightened. In our society, because of pressure and lobbying by women, laws are grudgingly being changed. The process is slow and painful. The housewife and mother who is employed outside the home must accelerate her activities in order to cope with two jobs. If her traditional home duties are neglected, she will be confronted by husband and family. If she is imcompetent on her other job, she will hear from her employer. She is constantly under obligation to others. She has lived so long without rights or consideration, she no longer thinks herself worthy of either. We all know some housewives (in more enlightened situations) who enjoy working for their families and We also ask nothing more in life. know many whose lives are a nightmare. As the family unit has long been considered the backbone of the nation the wife and mother has certainly been There the mainstay of the family. is something inherently wrong with a society where this essential member must rely for her welfare on the vagaries of human enlightenment. Thirty-six percent of Ontario's work force is made up of women. Needless to say, they are generally employed at the hardest, most menial jobs for the lowest pay. Since woman's traditional role has been to marry, to have children, and to be unpaid slaves of the nation, her employer is not suddenly going to become generous as soon as she emerges out of the home. Wherever she goes, she is haunted by centuries of abuse. Only recently has organized labour taken a second look, and realized that women are in the work force to stay, that their reasons for working are largely the same as men's reasons for working. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em;" or have them join you. The dominant male is aware that this vast pool of cheap labour represents a threat to his own job sec'Why hire urity and rates of pay. a man, when a woman can be hired for Women are now being included less?' in the mainstream of organized labour. This is indeed helpful for the But no "gainfully employed" woman. one has as yet reached out to the original base of that cheap labour source, the exploited housewife. It is unlikely, however, that anyone will see the housewife as an meploitad person until she herself makes this discovery and moves to cast out time-worn, self-effacing images. If anyone objects to being seen as an exploited person, do not be concerned. The housewife is not seen by society as a person of any kind. She is not seen period. Even when she reaches the age of retirement, only her spouse qualifies for Canada Pension. Even though she may have spent her entire life caring for him, putting sons and daughters through school, into the work force, and/or armed services, her contribution to the common good of the country is recognized as precisely ZILCH! When and if the husband (who has been the contributor) dies, his widow may apply for the survivor's benefits. She will still receive by virtue of his contributions. She is not even allowed to make any monetary contributions as the 'selfemployed' person is encouraged to do. It is fairly obvious that no matter how essential the housewife is in our society, she will just have to muddle through without her rights or recognition until she demands pay for her services. I think that the time has come to talk about salaries for housewives. And let us keep in mind that even universal education was at one time ridiculed as some crack-pot's utopian dream. Evelyn Armstrong Evelyn Armstrong addressed the Conference on Sunday morning on the future of women in Unionized Labour. A strong woman with a strong voice, she stimulated her audience to consider the past and the present as well as the future. She stated that the inequality in wages for the sexes is a bonanza for the corporations who derive over two billion dollars in extra profit just because of this injustice. I.W.Y. was the catalyst that for the first time raised the awareness of a broad spectrum of women from all walks of life and challenged the sham of the presence of equality being practiced and perpetrated. She berated the advertising media that portrays women's biggest concern as being the "whiteness of her laundry" and drew hoots from the audience at "the ring on a shirt collar that leaves HER apologising because HE has a dirty neck," the Education System that still is rank with sex`Ism and those unions still not pushing for day care (she made an exception in the case of CUPE). She encouraged the group to affiliate itself with the Toronto based Organized Working Women, who are committed to a massive educational process to inform working women of labour issues and suggested that women's committees be formed within the union structure to lobby the union itself to make women's issues appear in the bargaining process She left us with her favourite quotation, which also happens to be mine, "BEHOLD THE TURTLE, THE ONLY TIME SHE PROGRESSES IS WHEN SHE STICKS HER NECK OUT." The conference endorsed a resolution to organize a chapter of O.W.W. Gert Beadle. con't pg 16 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �New Ways of Keeping Women of Paid 'labour Out CONTINUED FROM VOLUME 3 ISSUE 3 OF NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL WHY CAN WE NEVER REMEMBER THE FACTS: THE NEED FOR ANALYSIS The more statistics I read, the more reservations in my mind were disposed of, the clearer my consciousness became and the more furious I "Women must know this" I became. kept saying to myself, "If only women knew..." and then another thought struck me. How come I didn't know? I've been in Women's Liberation for about six years, and a worker for longer than that... how come I didn't know? Had I just become privy to some sacred information? I expanded my research. You know there are volumes written on this subject... magazine articles, newspaper stories, doctoral theses, best-seller books, pamphlets, manuscripts, all telling the same tale. Worse yet, as I looked over the material it dawned on me that I read most of this before. Something was terribly wrong. I read all this stuff now with my present awareness, my present consciousness, and I can envision female workers lining up for battle Monday morning; I read it then and can hardly remember having done so. Maybe I've just never been very interested in the issue before. But, what does that mean? I'm a worker, why shouldn't I be interested? I was interested enough to join W.L. so how come I didn't get the lowdown on this issue from my connections with the Movement? It is very clear that a radical feminist approach to the job in question is necessary now. We must have a way of understanding reality. As a political feminist movement we must have a political feminist way of understanding that reality. Trying to "make sense" of the facts, much less organize ourselves around them, is all but impossible without such a guiding principle. When you are serious about building a political movement designed to effect real change it is essential to be clear It is when presenting the issues. essential to be definite, to be precise, to be simple, to avoid confusion. Confusion halts progress and saps the energy unnecessarily. To analyse a situation means to defend the reasons for something, but the liberals seem to deny there are reasons for discrimination, for example, or for good reasons. Liberal economist Barbara Bergman, for instance, goes under the assumption that there are no good reasons, only psychological hang-ups. Bergman denies that there is a conflict of interest involved, even suggesting the employer is going against his "...Discrimination does interests. not by and large serve the economic ends of those ?who do the discriminating...the financial gains to those who do the discriminating are low or The major cause served is negative. 10 psychological (it feels so good to have women in their place)." Whenever I run across this ambiguous, erroneous nonsense, I see stars. Keeping women in their place may feel good but it pays in a lot more ways than that. For instance, if discrimination does not by and large serve the economic ends of those who do the discriminating, then how is it economists have computed the total underpayment of women workers as amounting to $109 billion each year? Bergman is making a plea for irrational causes by advancing this idea of oppression for the 'hell of it', or because 'it feels so good'. Though I don't doubt it, aside from being a bit naive, I'm afraid it's a bit more serious than that. This clouds the very real benefits... more than psychological...which men receive Discriminfrom keeping women down. ation benefits male employers in terms of money, status, recognition, power, prestige and fame - to name just a few factors. To make matters worse, some liberals, while they imply that men and employers have nothing to lose by ending the present system, imply that Juanita Kreps, a liberal women do. economist who has done a fair amount of investigation into this issue of job discrimination, suggests that a reason for discrimination is women's desire for protection. According to her, the real issue is the stereotyped roles of the male as the 'protector' and the female as 'protected'. ^C7MliTC "And if the protected gains equal status, would she not lose more than she gains?" But what are we protected from in the labour force? We cannot run elevators late at night when the pay is higher and we cannot serve in restaurants and cabarets at that hour. We can however clean office buildings till all hours of the morning because cleaning office buildings is a low-paying job and nobody wants to protect us out of It has nothing our low-paying jobs. to do with the issue of protection, it has to do with the issue of money. I can envision by no stretch of the imagination or flight into fantasy Re-edited from Red Stockings by Colleen Price how women could possibly lose anything by equal status, except for the monopoly they seem to have on the lowest paying jobs in the entire labour force. Caroline Bird doesn't have an analysis either, though she claims of Born Female that "this is a frankly feminist book. It counts the social, moral and personal costs of keeping women down on the job and finds them high..." But she doesn't question why, if the costs are so high, employers are doing it. For whom are the costs high? Are they high for men or for women? For private interests or the general public good? She says "We are destroying talent...we are wasting talent... we are hiding talent..." But who is the amorphous "we" she is exhorting? Women can't be discriminating against women on the job because they're not the ones doing the They're not the bosses, hiring. very few of them anyways. Born Female is an exact example of what's wrong with the liberal Bird does excellent approach. research and lays out the facts of discrimination for us precisely, and Since the book lacks there they lie. a political analysis...a frankly political analysis... a way even of understanding the full impact of those facts, they never become the stirring, moving force they could Instead they're just another be. pile of statistics. THE ECONOMIC ISSUE APPROACH The liberals avoid analysis by taking the problems they're dealing with out of their political context then proposing to resolve them. The liberals don't see causes, they don't see inter-relationships, they don't see connections, they just see problems'. When you discriminate against women because they're women, whether that results in not letting them have full control over their own bodies or not paying them an equal amount of money for an equal amount of work, it is a political problem. You might think that I am squabbling over words and ask what the big deal is about emphasizing that job discrimination is a political problem. It is essential to understanding the problem that the issue be viewed in this broader political context, because doing so reminds us that unequal power is the ultimate problem. Whatever strides are made in the paid labour force, whatever reforms are won, they will never be permanently secured unless 'we are simultaneously building a power base equal to the power of men. Women have at different times in history made tremendous advances in the paid labour force... witness World War 11, for example, but we didn't have the power to hold our ground. con't P914 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Decade Council Goes to Atik9kan with the need or a crisis house, and o) start documenting cases of women Fourteen members of the NWO Decade in crisis situation to present to Council travelled to Atikokan on Council as proof. Jan. 29/77 via chartered bus to meet Lisa informed women of the Young and visit with interested women in Canada Works Program grants available that community as part of the out(deadline August 29th) and suggested reach program the council has es they choose this route to start their poused. Although the representation project on a crisis house. from Atikokan was less than we had A home which provides a real haven hoped for, the interest and enthusand emotional support for women and iasm made the effort an unqualified children in crisis situations was success. the home and food to be envisioned; Members of the council introduced provided, with the care of children themselves, giving their occupations and housekeeping duties done by the and committee on the Council; the Lisa advised the women themselves. Atikokan women introduced themselves Atikokan women present to lead an and stated why they had come. interest group in seminars and workLisa Bengtsson gave a short desshops in crisis housing and daycare cription of her job as a Social A copy feasibility for Atikokan. Development Officer for Secretary of of Mary Tomlinson's Model of a Crisis State; she is a resource person with House was presented to Joyce Meyers. contacts in NWO communities. Lisa Other Concerns: can be contacted at the Secretary Concern was expressed regarding of State Office, 240 S. Syndicate the problems of Atikokan's teenagers Ave., Thunder Bay at 623-5241. (male and female) Colleen Hughes is a Community Need for a social centre for teens. Educational Consultant for the SecNeed for more preventative care retary of State and she gave a short r rather than crisis situation care of description of her job, dealing with teens. the organization of groups throughout - Failure of High Schools to educate Northwestern Ontario. ( She can also teens for their future regarding be reached at 623-5241.) interpersonal relationships. REPORTS: - Realization that girls of 14 - 15 Reporting for Herstory - Gert years old are more mature in their Beadle congratulated the town of thoughts than a generation ago. Atikokan for its response to this important chronicle and stressed the Goals: Get more Atikokan women project must take the time to make involved in Atikokan teens' problems a quality presentation. Get a teenage social group set up Leona Lang, Secretary of the let teens plan the direction they Decade Council and Chairperson for will follow. (Sue will see Lisa the Working Women's Conference Comre: possibility of applying for grant mittee reported on the coming confrom the Secretary of State to fund ference co-sponsored by the Thunder a feasibility study by teens of a Bay and District Labour Council to teens' social centre.) be held at Confederation College on Meeting was adjourned at close to Mar. 11, 12 &13. 5:00 pm. Trudy Perroud for the Northern Women's Credit Union reported on the granting of the charter to this group and the progress to date. Joan Packota of Lakehead University Women's Club gave an extensive review of Bill 75, comparing it to the new Family Law Reform - Bill 140. A stimulating discussion followed. The role of the Northern Woman Regional Journal in the ongoing reporting of progress made in the interests of women was presented by Gert Beadle who said she hoped a clearer vision of the term'sisterhood' would emerge from its pages and called for the support and goodwill of all women - complimentary copies were distributed. FAMILY PROPERTY LAW Gert, who is a member of the CitIn October 1976, the Attorneyizens1 Committee for Crisis Homes Inc. General of Ontario presented the described the formation and motivation Family Law Reform Act - Bill 140 of this group - which stemmed from to the Ontario Legislature. Bill a blueprint of an 'ideal' haven for 140 has received first and second women as set out by Mary Tomlinson reading, but it was withdrawn from (who with her group first approached the order paper in December 1976 for city council to set up a crisis house) technical revisions by the Ontario The Atikokan women felt there was Justice Committee. It is quite a desperate need for crisis housing possible that it will be re-introduced Children's Aid has in Atikokan. for third reading during the spring been approached many times by women session of the Ontario legislature. in crisis situations but this is out If it passes third reading it will of their jurisdiction. become law very quickly, possibly Gert advised the women to a) form by the summer of 1977. a Committee to approach Town Council DECADE COUNCIL GOES TO ATIKOKAN FAMILY PROPERTY LAW DIVISION OF MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY - BILL 140 Family Assets System. In Bill 140 the Family Assets System has been adopted as the basic system of governing property relations between husband and wife in Ontario. The division of matrimonial property under Bill 140 applies only at marriage breakdown where: - judgment nisi of divorce if pronounced. - a marriage is declared a nullity - spouses are separated and there is no reasonable prospect of the resumption of co-habitation. - judgment absolute of divorce is pronounced. 4. i) "Each spouse Bill 140 Part 1 is entitled to have the family assets divided in equal shares notwithstanding the ownership of the assets by the spouses: Bill 140 Part 1 3a. "Family assets' means property owned by one spouse or both spouses and ordinarily enjoyed by both spouses or one or more of their children for shelter or transportation or for household, educational, recreational, social or aesthetic putposes, and includes: i) money in an account with a chartered bank, savings office, credit union or trust company where the account is ordinarily used for shelter or transportation or for house hold, educational, recreational, social or aesthetic purposes. ii) where property owned by a corporation or trustee would, if it were owned by a spouse, be a family asset, shares in the corporation or an interest in the trust owned by the spouse having a market value equal to the value of the property. JUDICIAL DISCRETION Provision is made for Judicial Discretion to be used in certain situations where a spouse appeals to the court because he or she feels division of the family assets in equal shares would be unfair. Bill 140 4(2) "where, upon the application of a spouse, the court is of the opinion that a division of the family assets in equal shares would be inequitable, having regard to: a) any agreement between the spouses b) the duration of the marriage c) the date when the property was acquired. d) the extent to which property was acquired by one spouse by inheritance or by gift; or e) any other circumstance relating to the acquisition, preservation maintenance, improvement or use of property rendering it inequitable for the division of family assets to be in equal shares, the court may: f) make a division of the family assets resulting in shares that are not equal or g) order other property of a spouse to be transferred to or vested in the other spouse as the court considers appropriate." BUSINESS PROPERTY The family assets system does not subject business property to automatic sharing and would thus leave con't Pg 6 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Greater Need For Crisis Homes! BUT WHY DOESN'T SHE LEAVE H IM? tive values of our society, his earning money outweighs her possible injury". The growing movement which demands an end to wife-battering also recognizes that the violent expression by the man upon the woman is an expression of a violent society. He's taking out his anger upon her ANALYSIS which is produced within him by Until the women's movement raised having to compete for his job, by the issue, wife-beating went unrecbeing pressured by his boss, by layognized and unreported. Beaten offs, speed-ups, etc. Instead of women were forced into pretending fighting back against this exploitthat theirs was a non-problem. In ation, he finds it easier to release this way, wife-battering has much his frustration by kicking his wife in common with rape. Both were around. It's one step up from kickseen as personal rather than socing the cat. The battered wife is ial problems until the women's movethus a casulty at the end of a long ment raised consciousness about them. line of abuse and alienation which Both stem from the system of male is integral to our capitalist system. supremacy within which women are pieces of property to be used/abused Transition Houses are a necessary by men. But there are two important step in combatting this brutality: differences between rape and wifewomen must have a safe place away beating. One is that the "wife-batfrom their attackers. But finally terer is supposed to be the very it's a temporary Band-Aid solution person to whom the woman can turn as are more sensitive responses for shelter from the storm. The from the legal system. What we are other, and this is vital, is that really opposing is the violence of a in the case of wife-battering (part- whole society. ner-battering might be a more accurate term), the woman is economically dependent upon the man. ACTION Woman's position in the family as an unwaged worker is one which socThroughout the last decade, femiety has trained her for and encour- inists have been working upon public aged her to enter. Her skills, education to dispel myths surrounding those of home maintenance and child wife-battering. When TIME, in Sept. rearing, are not skills she can of '74 professed to enlighten us on easily sell, as society can conventhe subject of "Wife Beaters and iently pretend that these are nontheir Wives" by telling us that the skills. Stemming from this economic men were 'mother's boys' and that the dependence is a whole network of beaten women were "aggressive, efficemotional and psychological relation- ient, masculine and sexually frigid', ships between the woman who is being we didn't let them get away with it. beaten and the man who is doing the The women's movement has consisbeating. Then there's the kids. tently opposed the ideology of the Even if the woman is working, she's church and of psychiatry which ratearning less than the man 90% of the ionalizes the oppression of women. time. Her income is keeping the ("Women are like the masses in wantfamily above the poverty line. To ing to be mastered and ruled." Freud) Myths surrounding female ask a woman to walk out of this overnight (as in "If a man ever masochism have been widely brought into doubt. struck me, that would be it....I'd be out that door so fast...") is to Along with public education, the ask her to abandon not only her women's movement has demanded social, physical shelter and her arrangements economic and legal changes which will for having something to eat, but make it easier for the battered woman to escape her husband. For an excelalso the whole social fabric she Betsy has been trained to accept. lent account of these demands, and of Warrior writes: the current parlous state of Canadian "Women's economic dependence justice with respect to battered women, of males must be abolished and the read Violence Begins at Home, which family structure itself must be appeared in "The Canadian" (The ProvSexism, like racism..is a ince's weekend supplement) on Nov. 2, changed. 1976. political philosophy of which wifeVancouver Status of Women membeating is but one expression. Only ber Arlene Gropper and Joyce Marvin when this political crime is not investigate the alternatives for the simply a matter of male-female sex- battered woman. Where can she go? ual politics but reflects the domin- The police consider 'family disturbance' calls trivial matters. In a ation of our society by those who exploit the many for the profit of recent six-month period in Vancouver a few. As long as our social dethey bothered to make written reports cisions are being made on the basis on only 17% of such calls. And locally, of what is humane, the wife-beater only a few cases ever do reach the has a whole arsenal behind him. As courts. Gropper and Marvin quote a a feminist lawyer puts it, "A judge JP's remark: " Most charges by battered isn't going to put a guy who makes women are withdrawn at a later date a living in jail and his wife on and besides, these are private matters welfare. In terms of the respecbetween a man and a woman.." 12 Where can a woman go? An extensive study of wife-battering in the Vancouver area in the fall of '76 indicated that well over half of the women contacted Emergency Shelters, Transition Houses, Crisis Centres and the Vancouver Status of Women. Almost a quarter of the cases in this Vancouver study contacted Vancouver Transition House. Of the 330 women contacting the Transition House, 180 had to be turned away because of lack of facilities. Credit Kinesis (Vancouver Status of Women) ip 111 11111111t(111100 Alm "Why get drunk and beat up your wife? Your co-ordination is so much better when you're sober." 111104) 41111!041 Locally 1 1 1 1 I I The following was contributed by Lucy Rissanen_of a L.I.P. project (social support for Native People) ending in July who asks for public assistance in finding homes for 16 native women and their 38 children. Case 1 -Native women, 8 children. -came to Thunder Bay, Oct. 75 first person in city Crisis Homes. S.S.F.N.P. found them a home - a slum. Rats in basement, frozen water lines, drains clogged, unsafe steps, windows broken, etc. Application to O.H.C. not successful, has money for rent; feels children a cause for discrimination. -sister Hilda arrives, 6 children husband abusive, burn marks on body, held over a stove. City Welfare says 'Go home - not out Children responsibility'. temporarily at C.A.S. Upset, emotional problems, one child disturbed. Woman ready No money, forced to give up. to return to brutality if no place found. Daughter arrives with baby. If you can help, phone 623-0391 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �A Memory Forever:Rape seemed like there was a crowd all taking turns. I cried out but to I will never forget the time I no avail. Quickly, one locked his was raped. It was a nightmare. It thighs around my head. I started was after work, around six o'clock to vomit and cry and kick out but and I was walking home with an asthey pinned my whole body down and sociate of mine, Kevin. We'd been the assault continued on. working together for seven months It seemed like an eternity before and he seemed nice enough, wellthey finished and then they left. mannered, polite and attractive. As I lay there looking through a All the-way home, we told jokes, veil of dirt and tears, I recognized talked about our jobs, ourseltes one of them. It was Kevin. I screamand some trivia. We separated at his ed and pounded the earth, wishing I bus stop and then I was alone to were dead. After I was all cried out walk home. I wasn't scared, since I got up and saw that there was no thought of rape entered my mind, blood across my stomach and running and besides, it wasn't dark. To get down my thighs. Deep, dark bruises to my house, I had to cross a field, swelled about my arms and my back used as a short-cut, cross the drive hurt violently. I traced my fingers way and I would be home. over my face and felt it was wet, A group of boys were walking puffy and sticky with blood. through as I entered the field. They Struggling to get up, I vomited came closer and I was thinking about again and headed home just a short what kind of a snack I'd make myself way ahead. I was so close to safety, before supper, when all of a sudden so close. I walked into the living I heard a high crack and fell to the room and everybody stared. My mother ground. screamed, my two young brothers cried, I fell on my face and as I tried and my sister ran to the phone. to get up, I was hit again. SomeThe result of the trial was that where, as if echoing in my mind, I Kevin was acquitted; I and my family heard laughter and shouting and were humiliated right out of town. felt blows to my arms and face. It Kevin's story was that he'Walked me A MEMORY FOREVER. home and I enticed him - there were no other people. By Julie Stojko This article was submitted as fiction from a young author from Terrace Bay. Her insight will, we hope, find more exposure in the Northern Woman Journal in the future. RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE III NEM I con't I EMIR 11 MEM II MIMI II MEM MOM from pg 7 ny neighbour - no charges laid Physical abuse while on holiday 1974, thrown from car with thre killing me - damage dome to rig leg and hip - inflamed hip join required several weeks of treat from chiropractor. Has damaged broken furniture, punched hoLe bedroom wall, deliberately dri erratically when angry, making suffer emotionally. Has used f and abusive language against me times for which there was no re IREGARDING TURNER VS TURNER MENTAL CRUELTY Spent several weeks at Hollywood Hospital for nerves - unable to remember date, but hospital would have records. Complete mental and physical breakdown at age 28 - largely caused by harassment and cruelty by husband plus physical abuse of boy we were to adopt. I called the Welfare and had the child removed 1 from our home before the situation could worsen. I . THUNDER BAY RAPE & SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE The Centre is not permanently located at McKellar Hospital. Our new address and phone number: THUNDER BAY RAPE & SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE McKellar Hospital, Box 47 Thunder Bay, Ont. P7E 1G6 623-3220 (answering service) The phone is handled by an answering service. A Centre member will return the call within 24 hours. We are getting ready to print our educational package and to distribute brochures throughout the city. A general meeting was held Feb.8 at Confederation College to acquaint more people with the Centre and to recruit new volunteers. The turnout was far less than expected but we hope that those who attended will pass information along to others. We plan to hold a workshop later this month to prepare volunteers for the activities that the Centre will be undertaking, especially for victim support and speaking engagements. Further notices of the workshop will be sent out soon. The Centre still needs many volunteers. Even if you have only limited time available but are willing to support us in the activities of the Centre, please call. We especially need volunteers who have time available during daytime hours. The Centre is preparing a resource library on rape and we will gladly make this information available to anyone wanting it. Spent 6 weeks in Riverview Hospital under care of Dr. Adler - received 6 shock treatments while there. At at later date, I received 6 more shock treatments at Royal Columbian Hospital as an out patient under Dr. R. Harrington, Psychiatrist, at whose office I attended for some time I also spent another week at Riverview Hospital at a later date for nervousness, at my own request be!cause of the pressures and home situation. At present I am under ' care of two doctors re: nervous'ness, due to stress of the situation at hand. On two occasions I was deserted by him - no charges laid. IHe also tried to stop the adoption of the child Shawn on his last desertion, but it had already been completed. im Was forced sexually - even to point where I was fearful of h I had major surgery and still stitches - admitted he had mar to make sex legal - used force times to the point where I COU respond and would fight him off self defense. Fired service revolver in house first year on police force - I also had to struggle with him s times since for his gun. Many incidents too numerous to menti but all equally cruel. During the entire period of mar to him I cared for the children him in the best way I knew, and made sure his home was in the b possible order, with no thought ever committing any wrong again him deliberatellair otherwise. im Elm= I Nom O MOM ;PHYSICAL CRUELTY Has made a number of threats on Emy life - has threatened suicide on numerous occasions. We spent approx. 31/2 years in marriage 1 1 o counselling. I found that when I 'began to become more independent as a person, he began to become more i owards me. Physical attack 1964 - police called II MIMI I MINIM 5 William (Bill) Cook previousl quitted of a rape charge has charged with attempted rape. wishing to attend his court c do so on June 13th at the cou house. 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CONT I NUED FROM PAGE 10 Does this mean we should not fight We No, not at all. for equal pay'? should always fight for what is rightbut we should also keep fully ours; our analysis clear. Women aren't oppressed because they are paid less money for equal work (which is the implication of the "economic issue" approach), they are paid less money for equal work because they're oppressIn the first case, the focus is ed. on economic advancement as a way of overcoming oppression (that's 7why liberals refer to a woman with a successful career as 'liberated') and this tends to be individually advanceIn the second case the ment oriented. focus is on political power building as a way of both fighting for and securing economic advancement and this tends to be collectively oriented. The point is that economic equality for all women can never be achieved without political power. ever. It almost seemed like a logical divsion of labour, at least for the time being. And so, radical feminists temporarily left the fight for jobs now to the liberals, and the fight for socialism to the male left and their non-feminist women. Jobs and socialism didn't follow. standards It doesn't seem to make a damn bit of difference where we are in the labour force, what sphere we move in or what position we occupy, compared to men it's a less advanIf we're in an alltageous one. female occupation we make less money than comparable male occupations; if we're in an all-male occupation we make less money than the men in If we work in the that occupation. factories or the universities we occupy the bottom rung. Actually it comes as no surprise to anyone that the labour force is segregated, one only wonders at the 0 consistency with which segregation If one has a has been maintained. feminist ideal that men and women should work side by side in all fields then one is shocked at how pervasive the sexual division on jobs still But it is not immediately apparis. THE WORK ISSUE IN THE EARLY WOMEN'S ent that these things are the result LIBERATION MOVEMENT of oppression, discrimination, polIf the liberals are at least paritics and power. We saw how separtially responsible for the lack of ated men and women were in the labprogress of women in the labour force our force and now jobs remain divmarket it is interesting to recall ided by sex into "men's" and "women's" that from the start of the movement with women's being synonomous with the job issue was their special prolow pay, low status, low importance, vince. At various times there have etc. My initial attraction to the movebeen laws and written company rules ment had little to do with the questClearly enforcing this pattern. ion of job discrimination. My initia] However, when the pattern persists was toward the radicals who were during times without such laws, concentrating on general feminist three possible explanations are left. political theory, "raising consciousEither the continuing segregation This just seemed more importness". patterns, the relentlessly continant and a matter of top priority uing segregation patterns, are atHOW SEGREGATION WORKS AGAINST WOMEN the first step toward further changes. tributed to nature, a natural diviThere Ages a general wariness in the The first thing we see is a dual sion of labour based on abilities beginning of the Movement toward labour force. Men and women might and inclinations, as the conservative getting too caught up in single issue work in the same labour force but anti-feminists would say; or to tradiquestions before the basic groundthey are separated for all practical tion and education as the liberals work had been laid, and I think that purposes1by the work they do. For say; the tradition in society wherestrategy proved to be correct. instance, women make up the majority by both men and women each learn and There were differences in interest of clerical workers while men make play their different, respective regarding the job arena. The left up the majority of craftsmen and fore- "sex roles", or to the fact that said socialism first and all else men. Women make up the majority of women are being kept out of men's will folloW. The liberals said jobs household workers while men make up jobs by discrimination and exploit,The first, and all else will follow. the majority of managers and admination, by force without laws, for questions of housework, child care, istrators. And the division becomes the benefit of some against the would all be altered once sex, etc. even more sharply delineated when we interests of others. But radical good jobs came through. look within job categories. That division of labour is based feminists looked at countries where In the professional field: Women are on natural abilities, is disproved women were making more progress in nurses and teachers, men are doctors, by history as well as a review of jobs than the U.S. and countries lawyers, scientists,draftsmen. The division of other cultures. which had socialism, and all else In the service occupations: Women labour has changed. When babies They looked at wasn't following. are cooks, nurses' aides and waitresses were born at home, without instruthemselves, some of whom had good men are bartenders, guards, firemens. ments and all the formalities now jobs, and all else wasn't following. policemen and detectives.... attendant on it, delivering babies Among managers and proprietors: Women was natural for a woman; she was Radical feminists knew there were other basic and important things to operate small retail establishments, called a midwife. Then the Chamberbe done to win women's liberation in men manage manufacturing plants and lain family invented forceps, sold addition to fighting for socialism wholesale outlets. the idea to the Medical College of The first and immediaEE and jobs now. Even in the same occupation men Amsterdam to which only men were need 'was to raise feminist conscious- and women are in different positions. admitted, and it suddenly became nesssorganize a power base,and deal In teaching, women are concentrated natural for men to deliver babies. with women's oppression within the in the elementary levels while men Canning and preserving food used to family (Housework, sex, child care) monopolize the college and university be very much a woman's job before and the so-called body issues (abort- faculties. the invention of canning machinery ion, false beauty standards and cloth.Well, so what? Men and women work which made food preparation a paying ing requirements). at different types of jobs. The sigMen took it over then, business. Neither the liberal feminists nor nificant factor is not that the jobs although they still employed women the left were working on these very are- different, out what that differin their factories. basic feminist issues and many actamounts to. In each and every jab They seemed to ually opposed them. category listed above the compare be taking care of other issues howable "woman's job" commands-less pay than the male version, is generally less prestigious, opens up fewer opportunities for advancement and is generally not the kind of work thought highly of by society's O CAN'T IN NEXT ISSUE 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �-fitintse These were long days, the days I learned to live with silence. I was not used to this ticking of the clock Outside the winin such a vacuum. only the dow it was still dark; stars remained cold and unwinking before the dawn. My young husband had left for the bush; he will be the sleigh there till nightfall; tracks he left behind him are like The pencil-shadings in the snow. The pot-bellied stove house is warm. sends out comforting waves of heat. The kerosene lamp sits among the There was remains of breakfast. a hearty good breakfast for my provider this morning, I gathered four eggs from the six hens yesterday. I Do they know how grateful I am? may get none today, though I will probably visit the nests a halfdozen times before the day is over. This is my first winter away from Funny, I never thought about home. It just came - such a food there. It was such quantity of everything. a chore gathering eggs and cleaning How I them to sell at the market. hated washing the cream separator, with its fifty-two discs - Ugh! But the cream, thick and yellow - how we lavished it on everything! Will I ever again make a proper tea biscuit? I shake the nostalgia out of my mind and set about the chores of the She The cow has to be milked. day. is almost dry, heavy with calf, but still she shares - patiently chewing her cud while I burrow my head in her There is a small piglet in flank. the straw, squealing for his breakI never use soap in my dish fast. water and I keep up a running conversation, reminding him it's coming with chop in it too. Now some grain for the chickens and I'm back in the house and it's daylight. day I bring the water up to a decent level to sustain the laundry and bathing needs. One never knows when a blizzard will make every movement outside the door a hazard. To have wood in the shed and water in the barrel is of prime importance. I sing a great deal these days, sing and whistle through my teeth and learn to carry on long and animated In short conversations with myself. I became good friends with myself and have enormous confidence in my ability to hold up half of the sky, as they But each time my husband say now. leaves, I know that moment of being abandoned, isolated, set adrift in silence with only my own resources to I must sternly remind sustain me. myself that money pays the taxes and we need another cow. As the day passes I want everything done that would deThis is my first house; I came prive me of his company, hay in the here in July. The first night I It spent here was my wedding night. barn for the horses, the cow milked, We moved the bed the animals fed and his supper ready rained all night. four times and finally slept under for the table. I glow and sparkle as the staircase. How fortunate we were if every moment of the day has been I want to be praised to have been part of the make"do gen- high adventure. and appreciated and marvelled at, but eration, a board here and there a bit of roofing off an old shed, a lot I soon learn I've done nothing specof laughing, a lot of loving and very tacular. I just pulled my weight as little of anything else! As evidence indeed he has done. The business of of our maturity, we had planted some survival is a serious one. Any spirit garden in the spring and now if the of adventure is my own fantasy and not potatoes don't freeze and the hens The period of foolishness shared. keep laying, we have high hopes for is behind us and I am expected to The white pine floor the future. share a common anxiety, a general I scrub it is unfinished but white. pessimism for the future. What a when I am bored, when I am mad and thorn in the side, in the midst of It is also an era that seemes to hold so little when I have excess energy. as bare as the house itself. An old promise - to be saddled with one who cast iron cookstove that leaks ashes persists in thinking that in spite of The all obstacles we are even now living in the oven, shines with pplish. homemade table has bright oilcloth. in paradise! The chairs are benches and the cupboards are orange crates, but the A story from the Herstory committee curtains on the windows have hours of cross-stitching on their sugar bag hems. With the dishes washed and the bed neat, I begin the daily chore of melting snow in the barrel behind the kitchen stove. Heating water and piling the snow in the barrel, each I herstory is not the ascent of women up the I i token poles of this society ; the crucial women ! are the millions who never become famous INN/ Alm, Mom' I/ gcrt is' a 01 ...mit 4, ...NV I 4,411, ( Sstift-tLtituct,t±y its' 65rers; l i I 31.)110 Soos geor .0a geom. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CONFERENCE is difficult to believe that CONTINUEDthisIt Working Women's Conference was The excitement and enthusiasm which we all felt as we joined in the Conference on Working Women was a heartening indication that large numbers of women in Thunder Bay are ready to take on new responsibilities. I joined in a workshop about women and unions and heard nurses, factory workers, seamstresses and postal workers discuss their common problems and decide on how they could pool efforts to overcome them. I am leaving this conference with a renewed faith in the capabilities It has been a delight to of women. be invited to participate in the work that the women (and men) of this community are doin to change the circumstances of their lives. The sucess of the conference is a tribute to the organizers, a sign that the time is ripe for change and a source of hope for women throughout Ontario. With thanks, Evelyn Gigantes RESOLUTIONS d) enough guaranteed annual income for homemakers to allow them security and dig- and carried at f the Working nity. Labour Relations g arbitration negotiations nion security first contract. ployment Standards ers to show ssal and to emnstate employees 5. Recommended that women work towards elimination of wage controls; and that this conference endorse the C.L.C. 10 point program which together comprise a positive programme to fight i nflation and relieve the related soci al problems: - A major program of subsidized lowrental housing for low-income fam- tract workers be on to make it ized to take benefits now employees. - Effective rent controls covering not only existing house structures but also new rental accommodations to curb gouging of tenants. - An active program to curb land speculation and to establish land ilies. Pension Plan now discrimin- P. available to uting homemakers amount of spouses ilable to the wed women eligible pecurity at 60 e under the same as married women . banks. - Subsidized mortgage rates for lo4er income families to enable them to purchase homes. - Regulation of oil and gas prices which has seriously fuelled inflation. - a negative income tax, or some form of tax credits, to protect those who have little or no bargaining power and who fall into lower income brackets. - An increase in old age pensions the first one that most of the committee members had organized. They did a superb job of coordinating The speakers, the the arrangements. workshops, the accomodation and food were exactly what was needed to inThe sure a really good conference. delegates knew this from the first moment of Evelyn Gigantes' key-note The same enthusiasm and address. active participation marked the workshops and the rest of the weekend's Many women met others with program. similar interests, made contacts for further action and learned new skills I expect there will be continued action to help women in the Thunder Bay area. I made some wonderful new friends and met some of my favourite old ones Thank you for inviting me and giving me such a wonderful welcome. I think there will be some very effective lobbyists from this area - and some good role players and actors too! Kay Macpherson Vice-President, National Action Committee on Status of Women - A definite guarantee that any tax concession made to corporations will be used for investment purposes to create jobs and not end up in higher payments of dividends. - Full employment policies to abolish the high rate of jobless in this country. - A stable monetary policy in line with potential economic growth and the total eradication of wasteful government expenditures which benefit only a privileged group at the expense of the ordinary taxpayers. 6. A chapter of Organized Working Women be established locally - committed to educate women more effectively to move their unions to address themselves to women's issues (day care, equal pay) and to recognize their responsibilty to organize the unorganized women. 7. The practise of excluding Native people from English as a Second Language courses now taught is discriminatory and should be changed. 8. The teaching of Labour History in Canadian Studies should be promoted in the high schools - with assistance from Thunder Bay Labour Council by way of books and speakers. 16 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Canada pr...a. Poet I 1°` Bulk En nombre third troisieme claw dense 220 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Return Postage Guaranteed Editorial Letters Poetry Equal Credit Opportunity Plea to Ombudsman Working Women's Conference New Ways of Keeping Women out of Paid Labour - Part 11 Decade Council Report Crisis Homes A Glimpse of the Past 2 I 3 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 15 People who did this issue: Thyra, Gert, Eve, Pat, Noreen, Lynn, Marg, Florence Want to get involved? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Call 345-5841 weekdays HAVE YOU MOVED? (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 The Northern Woman, Vol 3 No 4 Description An account of the resource Vol. 3, No. 4 (1977) Title: The Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Working Women’s Conference Equal credit opportunities Women’s Credit Union Letters to the editor Woman of the Year Maria (Kenora Business & Professional Women) Lorraine Smith (Ear Falls) elected for Ontario Status of Women Council Class-action lawsuit against NYPD by abused wives to whom they refused assistance Poetry Metro Toronto Women’s Credit Union Women & the law/Sexism in law Family property law Returning to work after raising children Housewive’s Workshop @ Working Women’s Conference Women as “cheap labour” in the formal market Housewives not receiving pension Keeping women out of paid labour Systemic underpayment of women Lack of protection for low-paying jobs Job discrimination as a political problem Women’s Decade Council Atikokan Division of Matrimonial Property (Bill 140 - Family Assets System) Greater need for crisis homes Women’s welfare Women’s economic dependence on men Housing for Indigenous women & their children Rape testimonal Rape & sexual assault centre Mental & physical cruelty/abuse Authors/Contributors: Elizabeth Janeway Nora Rodd (Toronto, letter to the editor) Ruby Roulston (Abbotsford, BC., letter to the editor) Chris Torre (Webequie, ON, letter to the editor) Judi Gough (Sault Ste. Marie, ON, letter to the editor) Rosemary Shuhlawry (Thunder Bay, ON, letter to the editor) Jane S. (letter to the editor) Kate (Thunder Bay, ON, letter to the editor) Eve Merriam J. Pierre Colleen Aube Gert Beadle Marge Piercy Deirdre Hamill Sheila DesChenes Janet Craig-James Lillian E. Turner Florence Richard Colleen Price Lucy Rissanen Julie Stojko 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 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/16/2748/1977_Vol_3_No_5.pdf d66035f469f5e5b30b9cadc6f670d40c PDF Text Text 1\110,r1Rern Votnan 7 v01,11110 c0 CUM 3 4010 T/ 7 7 - PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �to high school women This issue was planned for high school women. We sent a letter to local high school guidance counsellors asking that they let women in their schools know that the Northern Woman's Journal wanted creative writing from high school women to publish in the paper. We received about 15 responses, most of it was poetry or short stories. One woman wrote an article describing her feelings of isolation and boredom. We would like to hear more from high school women about their everyday lives. We know that, according to "creative writing" standards, everyday life is not considered to be The exciting material on which you base a short story. "What I did on my summer vacaclassic essay assignment, tion", usually results in stories of moonlight canoe rides, trips to exotic countries, or everyday experiences embelNo one wants to admit lished to the point of fantasy. painful, boring, lonely, that many life experiences are scary or confusing. On looking back, we feel that asking each other the following questions, and talking with women friends about the conclusions, might have helped dispel some of the confusing, lonely feelings and led to changes that would This process is called make for a more fulfulling life. "consciousness-raising" and is a method that has been developed by women in their struggle for liberation. What position does lack of money put me in? Why can I not be financially independent? What kind of jobs are available to me? What kind of jobs are available to boys? How many women are in machine shop classes? How many boys take home economics? What are the differences between arts, technical and commercial courses? Why do these differences exist? Do guidance counsellors encourage women to break from traditional roles, and take courses that will lead to decent paying jobs? Who controls the school? Who is the principal? the vice principal? Who's on the school board? Are they men or women? How much money do they make? How much money is available for physical education? How much of it goes to men's sports, how much to women's sports? Why is there "men's" and "women's" sports? Is self defense available for women? How many books on women's liberation are available in the school library? What do I learn about women who have fought for their rights in the past? How many books, or paragraphs in books, describe women's role in history? Are there dress codes at school? Are they imposed by the school or self-imposed? What kind of pressure results from following these standards? Does anyone question the status quo, the way things by other are? How are they treated - by me? Do I get the feeling it's students? by teachers? not o.k. to ask questions or challenge the status quo? What do I do so that boys will like me? What do I want from relationships with boys? What do I get? If there's a difference in what I want and what I get, why does it happen this way? What happens to women who get pregnant? What do I know about my own sexuality? Where did I Is information freely available at school? learn it? Is masturbation, intercourse, orgasm, birth control, lesbianism or abortion discussed in sex education class? Who decides some women are sluts while others are good girls - the kind a man would like to marry? Why are there these kinds of differences between women? How do I get along with women friends? Do I get support from women? Do I see other women as a threat? Is my best friend a woman? Will I drop her for a boyfriend? Has this happened to me? Are there any women I look to as an example? are they? What do they do? Who What is the attitude to women's liberation? What father? mother? teachers? principal? do boys say? other women? TOWARDS CHANGE Talk with other women. Discuss problems. and trust each other. Build solidarity. Learn to like Begin challenging Learn and understand who holds power. them if what's happening is not in your interest as women. Do it together! cti4; Read about Women's Read about women's history. Read the Northern Woman's Journal. Liberation. Study. Talk with women who have some experience fighting for their rights. Ask your mother, your grandmother, your women teachers. Come to Woman's Place, 316 Bay Street and talk with women there. Find out what resources are available to you - through the library, local women's centre, community college, university, local Y - use them! Get in shape. yourself. Build your strength and learn to defend readings in women's liberation The following books may be available at the local libraries Confederation College (if not, see Lynne in the Women's Studies Dept.) or the University library. They can be bought from, or ordered through, Co-op Bookstore, 182 Algoma St. S. voi,ceon,, from W°111 Li,bera"° n THE SECOND SEX by Simone de Beauvoir THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE by Betty Friedan THE DIALECTIC OF SEX by Shulamith Firestone SEXUAL POLITICS by Kate Millet VOICES FROM WOMEN'S LIBERATION, edited by Leslie B. Tanner SISTERHOOD IS POWERFUL, edited by Robin Morgan RADICAL FEMINISM, edited by Koedt, Levine & Rapone FEMINIST REVOLUTION, Redstockings, P.O. Box 413, New Paltz New York, 12561 WOMEN'S ESTATE by Juliet Mitchell AGAINST OUR WILL by Susan Brownmiller WOMAN'S CONSCIOUSNESS, MAN'S WORLD by Sheila Rowbotham 2 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �From High School Women.... ONE WOMAN'S STRUGGLE So why not take some courses at different grade levels? I tried that, but they couldn't work it out with my timetable - I wanted too much, or something... Then there's the teachers. In high school, there are two types of teachers - the wimps and the bullies. This year I was blessed with exactly four of each. Needless to say, they aren't helping me grow or develop as a person at all, and plaCe all sorts of unnecessary restrictions and punishments on those who try to be individuals. Finally I come to the students, who comprise the bulk of the population at the massive institution where six hours of my life are wasI could, at ted five days a week. this point, viciously flay my peers, describe in graphic detail how they've mocked and ridiculed me, how they've considered me a radical because I'm a feminist, how they hurl insults and torment me. But I'm not It would be futile, going to do that. seeing as how they're so puerile, immature and so sadly unaware. Most of them reached their peak at about age eleven anyway. But anyone who doesn't succumb to the whole teen culture bit - swooning over the likes ol,Peter Frampton and Kiss - has to be prepared for a backYou pay the price for individlash. uality. Their rejection doesn't matter, since my peers are not my friends. I'm just ten steps ahead of them, in terms of values, perceptions, "Ah, to be young again!" That's almost become a cliche among those in the over-forty age bracket- even those in their mid-thirties utter it I listen to wistfully on occasion. them and wonder "Don't they remember?" and think that they must have either become senile or mellow with astonishing speed. I noticed a book recently which reminded me of the above exclamation. The book was called Why Am I So Miserable If These Are The Best Years Of My Life? and the morose-looking young woman on the cover, not to mention the title - caught my eye. I picked up the book, flipped through it, and put it down again. I'm sure that it will help many young women make decisions regarding their lives, but it doesn't have the answers that I'm searching for. You see, it's rather difficult to School is a major reason explain. for many of my frustrations and (until I'm a high now) hidden resentments. school student, approaching sixteen (anxiously) and, to put it bluntly, fed up with school. If I were a typical student Why? I'm not I suppose I wouldn't be. a troublemaker and my assignments are handed in and returned with ASo what's the pluses attached. problem? Well, there are a number I've learned I'm bored. of things. more on my own through the wonderful world of books than from school, so most of my classroom time is spent daydreaming and/or gazing out the window. poet, cir% goals and even the books that I read. Education should be a very individual thing, and right now, the system is just too judgemental to let that be so. Now you may shake your head, saying that I've grown up too fast (which people have told me countless times) and I can see that, in a way, that's true. But I can't go back - and I certainly don't want to. I know that there are going to be days filled with loneliness and depression (which I feel is inevitable no matter who you are) but I've already experienced that, both in and out of school, and know how to cope with it. I thought long and hard about this situation for some time, and eventually decided that I don't like the way the teachers and students are reacting towards me, and that I have to find an alternative method of education. They think that I'm weird ...or at least very, very strange. I don't need that attitude perpetually surrounding and stifling me. I just don't need that. So, until June, my time in the classroom will continue to be spent gazing longingly out the window. And I know that the best years of 17.-i Life are still to come and they will, they will. Eventually. by Athena Caine Thunder Bay 14111SLI1Do1 wowlest5c wevAtAkts Sittdies MISTER ON THE RADIO I No vwe,,,,,.. o n worrier $ ,eC..teVi role_ Ccursts3 Hey misteA, on the Judi°, I want you to know, Someone'.6 very sad today. Why don't you gay tisykk.ryvecN Hor"e, Ec..0 »OP% KS 4 IP'"5 600et?""1. a coupee o6 sad songs? Not too 4hott on tong. Because I'm so biue I'm 2.eaving it to you To bting back my smiZe to my 6ace Hots I Zort it some pace. Whete? I don't know, But some time ago. When I to paying the nadio Yes miztet, the good ofd tadio. wean, misteA, you'te doing neat 6ine I got to say you're zo kind. I tea-C.4 got to hand it to you, You sune hap someone btue. Oh, a-4ot o6 aU, Thanks iot taking my cat, And bon "Someone, save my Zi6e. tonight." Thanks again and good night. Cotteen Aube Thundetc. Bay PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �H.S. Women CONT D Memories The ad woman sat on the dboutep, Hen head hanging timpty on het bxeazt, The cased, cobweb Lace disclosed nothing 06 the memonies nevotving in het mind. . Although the memory o6 you OL aitmoon walks in the pa/Lk With het Latest beau, Mama and Papa waked sedately behind Supposedly unsuspecting 06 the glances oL Love. stia tingeAs on my mind, The teradAops and the rainbows the past ate Zeit behind. o On that golden stain way you bxought me to the top... I didn't seem to xeaLize OWL Love must someday stop. Now there is another who has captuxed at your heart.. The coniusion and the tutmoit is teating me apart. I nemembet being with you; at the good times that we had, Now you're with the other and that can only make me sad. My ieetings now ate &Leaky, my tears axe bleak as /Lain. Happiness i4 Zike the sunshine ib we chance to Love again. Yes, it's been a white but my yearning just won't end, I've suxtendeted to you everything, my /oven and my ixiend. Tomovcow ..4 anothet day, When the anticipated day had attived at -east, Papa was nervous, and Mama anxious, The sun shone btittiantty above A4 she waked down the gowet-4ttewn aisle. When the ioteseeabZe notice was anzwexed And the unitioAm adjusted to 6it, Fined_ goodbyes were said Amid tears o L parting and dxead. Lists oL suxvivoits were tead out In 6/tont oL the old count house. "Where ms his name? Why doesn't he read out his name?" "Hey Lady, you aLL tight?" The voice jetked het back to teatity, Her wainkeed hand brushed away a Lew stray teats As she nodded and tutned to go into the empty house. Cathy Metcatlie Long Bow Lake I'LL try, my best to cope I'm always Looking, always Aeraching, Fox where there's Love there's Hope. Lori Christensen Geitaidton Highschoot. A NIGHT WALK The waves were &Upping upon the skate The tomist Lay on the sand A swat bxeeze blew about the txees A4 to ove,tcoti,e the -Cond. And the chiLdten oL the woAid shalt. Live; The sun went down to We .its el 6 When the moon They stand iion innocence and putity. - beautiut tays o6 moontight Their hands and minds have not yet touched Which glow and glow and glow. Upon the neaeity and ways oi the world. Let them gtow and undeAstanding witt goutish Jackie Duxochet Grade 9 Let them Live and there witZ be LOVE. Gexadton Highschoot Lori ChAistensen GuLaZdtn Highschoot Spring The smelt oL the eatth, /tanning water, GIANT STEPS Canada has always been my home, and I am very fond of it, but it is not where I would choose to live. These may sound like traitor's words, but they are not. I am not a true "woman's libber". I am more old fashioned. I do believe in careers for women, but for me they are secondary matters. I like to be treated as a woman. I have travelled widely over our beautiful country, but nowhere have I found a place to fulfil'. my needs. Canada does not satisfy me. I believe I have found a place that does. I am not totally informed on European life, and I have not spent a great deal of time there -- only one week in southern Spain, but of all the places I have been, it satisfies me the most. I love their way of living, their style and warmth, and I suit their environment. So, when I am capable of doing so, I plan to move lock, stock and barrel to Costa de la Sol. I also have plans of becoming a Writing is my pet and journalist. I enjoy taking proper care of it. Essays in school do not "turn me off" as they do others; I enjoy them. Joining journalism and Spain together would be the culmination of all my I intend to do everything dreams. possible to make this happen. I also realize the problems involved in "creating happiness" but am preparCourses in French and ing for them. Spanish are on the agenda, and obtaining a post as journalist to establish myself. These may be exaggerated dreams for such a young person, but I feel the time to start is when you are young, not wait until it is too late. I do not feel that mine is an impossible case, The power of prayer and faith goes a long way in solving impossible I shall leave things in the cases. hands of God and trust. 6xogs singing in the swamp, pussy witioaz, tetatning bitds, bikes, and ditty chitdten, art herald the end oi wintet and tebitth. Nancy Fume. ton Dryden Highschoot Linda Longe Lakewood Highschool Kenora, Ontario PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �H.S. Women PERHAPS LESSONS.... My mind's eye vieta Deeds oi past days CONTD When tiSe seemed zimptu And summers .longer: Last yeat - the yeah, A wanted wonthtezz white Hampeted by 6eetingz 06 dreams and naivete; Yeatning Son the unknown Putzating with every breath And misguided step, Emotion's tapping out To communicate with others Please undetztand me, Can't you zenze my Longing? Supply me with anzweAz Fon ate oS my queztionz Yet I don't neatly want to know. Come closet - back away Love me - hate me ON AN AUTUMN EVENING A POEM WITH NO TITLE The tat pines yietding to the wind. Dancing, nodding, There within my mind tiez a connen all my own to gaze at pazzetz-by but steel be ate atone. and taking IS my conzciouz mind could .S eel in gtoupz. Sithouetted againzt an evening sky. I'm certain it would say Leave me here atone, pteaze go away. IS my ti6e depended on a ptiend one succeeding aitet the °ther they would being me to the end. Those who have 6ot4aken me ptuz those who didn't cake never 6ett my ptezence Nancy Fumenton Dryden High4choot Hetp me - hinder me Do you neatly know me? They say they do But they don't. theit act auz a metre eat. So -in. _my etdetty catiow zubconzciouz Let me 6ind my peace and mark upon the milestones one eternal ttuce. 16 my mind should drive me ctazy I wish Got you to know I don't want you to know. Like an .iceberg You zee only pant: What tiez beneath Is oS more signiiicance And -is Son you to uncover. BcUtoetent rebel with Give Give just Show Swelling anger and Sean, Yet 40 unawate oS The would and tit's wotkingz. We weren't then We won't be tomontow We ate NOW! My mind's eye cOpq0AtiS My tezttezz 4out Projecting images Show me Lill e and the rhapsody of Living in zotitoquy. Qui, va t2t. dams ma pied-a-tette? 14 it the atien who means nothing, N' eat paz? On a Hank, barren screen I catt my memory; Recalling my past, Sutviving today, Fotzeeina mu 4utunp. But de I neatly Sonzee? Oun time will come To set out sights on Ctaiming OWL tivez InheAiting out wottd 6tom Dead worn out once-upon-a-timed. My mind's eye evaluates today: Cynicat, zatcaztic neatity - me quiet. me tight enough to zutvive. me grace. i4eLizs A meanAngLeas t.h.t.c. yak:de._ waLL staking my brain zertAch.Eng ion. a hat. Let hir sea.Lch. Let him taboux in vain. Let him tart shoat Sot he ishatt bind no heft within the ckevicez oS my being. Simp4 unaduttetated peace. Connie Johnson Age 16 Hammanzjkotd Highzchoot but -c4 A.t neat? Harrah gtazz and zteet city, Ptecizion kni6e-edged sophisticate. 14 it worthy? Is it teat?. SttuggLing to ii-td outzetvez Shuiiting thnough a deck oS Experienced Eztabtizhment Vatuez now outdated Where ate we? Ate we any ctosen on iutthek to out goat? What goat? madness? Waz there a teazon behind thLs /Lace My mind's eye views Deeds o6 past days The present iz piing mane btickz When tip. seemed zimptet And zummetz tonget: to the 9/teat bat/Lien And now have we impnoved? that zepatatez Were not the pat days oS childhood better? now £A0171 then. On did we not know bettet? Too great Lon any human to zcate Ake we expected to gnace6utty use it mockz mortal me Out adotezcent days to zuddenty evolve az I gtimpze the past From optimztic caneSnee childhood minnoned in old peoples' eyes adulthood? To wovUzoMe burdened hypoctiticat and azk in iutite eatnutnezz Was thus- to be done eazity? "can I get thete Snom here ?" Out values exptoited Mona t4 chattenged Vintuez deiied iStumbting in the dark We beet confused; What vatuez? What monate What viAtues? Did we even have any at att.? Perhaps teszonz zhoutd be given Suzan Reid Age 16 Hammaltajad High4choot But then a pebble oL childhood .lath Satz 0.0m the watt stonily teminding me: Mice never did go back dawn the kabbit hate. Atma Byzewski Font FAancez High4choot 6.0m TUESDAY NIGHT 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �The Sexual Revolution This antiete on the Sexuat Revotution was done by Eve Pyketman and campaign. CerFiona KaAtztad. but lost the larger tainly, they had the vote, but those who the had fought for our civil rights sible woman could only realize will be examinremained very conservative on questIn this paper, we and privileges a penis could bring in attitudes and Freud ions obof female sexuality. Women's ing certain changes by deduction desire one. sexual relationwith- consciousness became political roles in terms of served psychological structures by asking: What anesthetized by the "myth of emanciships and will begin out ever questioning their social in the sex pation" for the next fifty years. is the role of a woman context, but given his cultural entitled to an act? and Is the woman Ifexpecwomen were still unhappy with the prejudices we can hardly have and joy in this problem. After al equal mutual interest ted him to make such an examination. Perhaps, at Simple questions? they had gotten what they wanted, act? But Freud was only one of a large throughout history What more could they first glance, but cast of 19th century male experts on the feelings Emancipation became a wherever we can trace conask for? female sexuality, all of whom and the reand ideas on this matter to responsibility: salvation wa private cluded that women are very close find discord, personal, not political. With the sultant conduct, we being asexual. Dr. William Acton, conflict and anguish. thirties, came the Depression. In the Victorian English sexologist, Throughout Notate every act o6 the forties,there was another world decided that pneceded by a zexuat union a and to think about. Women had subThe best mothers, wives war There a stantial jobs for the first time in pxocezz of courtship. manageAz a househotds know tittte physiotogicat teason decades - they were genuinely needed a sound on nothing .06 zexuat indagencez. ion ,.in the bon this couAtzhip, by society. And, if women were sexLove o6 home, children and domestic bang wooed, act o6 wooing and they frustrated, they had Kinsey to dutLez are the onty pazzionz ually gnadHe laid to rest the belief the psychic excitement look to. beet. 5 watty genetated in the btains that women got no pleasure at all while Dr. Isaac Brown was performing 0,6 the two pantneAz ac tz as a from sex. The marriage manual craze women numerous clitoridectomies on that stimulant to amuse into &at followed him assumed that a to prevent the sexual excitement activity the mechanism (fhich lifetime of psychological destructio caused which, he was convinced, union... enzuAez sexual could, with the aid of a book, be "insanities", "hysteria" and other remediedlthus ensuring the right of The evolution of society, however, Monogamy and home diseases. 6 a woman to her sexual birthright to tended to overlay and sometimes even existed for the benefit and protection orgasm - provided it was vaginae and suppress these natural tendencies. But while women were abof women. so long as their orgasms were zimaIt a conceivable that the Oncesolutely confined to the home, men (Contrary to the most eletaneouz. 6u2 zuppAezzion of women's inwere free to exercise their erotic mentary common sense, which shows ondinate zexuat demands was a The activities outside the home. the clitoris as the source of orgasir pnekequizite to the dawn of every had sexual order thus establishedmen had invented that a woman's orga modern civitZzation and almost repressive influan unnatural and must be transferred from the clitori every tiving eatune-Not untit women's ence on the erotic aspect of to the vagina. Nobody would ever these dAivez were gtaduatty have thought of asking men to transf brought under conttot by Aigidty their orgasm from the penis to the enOtced sociat codes coutd... But the effect of these scrotum.) modern civitized man emerge... the manuals ran counter to their purpose 4ttength oi the drive deteAminea Sex was made so mechanized, detached the 6otce tequited to zuppnezz it. and intellectual that it was robbed On the basis of social, economic Man became a spectt of sensuality. and legal developments which were experience. ator of his own sexual established as the conditions of a There was a swing from repression developing civilization, new moral, :':o preoccupation with the orgasm spiritual and religious forces were resulting in new pressures on the generated, based on rules of exter'men to perform; witness the menior order, giving men power over ials' endorsement of the desireabilwomen's souls as well as their bodies. oity of vaginal orgasm. All through history legislators, With the fifties came the first # priests, philosophers, writers and long stretch of peace and affluence, scientists have striven to show that As anthropologists have shown, women the subordinate position of woman is sexual response is culturally conwilled in heaven and advantageous on ditioned and the political conserearth. vation of the fifties was echoed in The Opiate a a 6ema2.e by viAtue a social conservatism which stresse oi a centan 41ack o6 quatitiez; a Victorian ideal of the woman's we should regard the iamate natune a full womb and selfless life: as aWi ct od with a natutat de:'octdevotion to husband and family. Wit 4 the end of the war the average age ivenezz. at marriage declined, the average .St. Thomas for his part pronounced size of families went up and the woman to be an "imperfect" man, an suburhan migration began in earnest "incidental" being; while the first In her book, The Feminine Mystique, sexual life. among the blessings which Plato always been Freidan documents the stifling he had there have thanked the gods for was that Although creative motherhood cycle and its female rebels in history, conditions enslaved, the been born free, not devastating effect on women and the The before existed to enable women second, a man, not a woman. never families.7 Young girls of all ages effectively and collectively overresult was that directly andtoindirIt was dreamed of escaping the dull homes throw their oppressive roles. erotic ectly the legal, economic and of their mothers through Teenage until the Industrial Revolution nonrights of women were all butnot leave the home and Romance. We saw adolescent boys when women began to existent. force that things growing up begging for sexual cruml enter the labour the "envy of Freud has described But from from girls frightened for their began to change slowly. the penis" as an essential component "reputations". The parked car, Freud's very beginning, their simple of the feminine psychology. the and finally the perhaps the one prop that best cha: demands for justice view of women was that they are not being acterized the passions of this vote were met with violence, whole human beings, but mutilated decade, became an urgent necessity viewed for as a serious threat to the males who long all their lives After a But girls were taught that since t established (male) order. a penis and must struggle to reconneeded sex less, it was their resprolonged and frequently bitter To be cile themselves to its lack. struggle, women did win the battle sure)in the Victorian Age when everything was permitted to man and everything was forbidden to women, a sen- 4 6 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Cont'd ptom page 6 ponsibility to impose sexual restraints and they were so busy setting limits and holding off that they never got a chance to explore their own. They were continually selecting actions and repressing erotic impulses in order to conform to what was acceptable. As this bleak decade came to an end, social developments emerged which were to make a rebirth of the women's struggle inevitable; the large influx of women into the labour market, suburban life and marriage was turning sour, and a growing civil rights movement was sweeping the continent. Traditional political ideologies and cultural myths, sexual mores and roles with them, began to disintegrate in an explosion of protest. The sixties is remembered as a decade of liberation. Masters and Johnson published Human isexuat Reoponise, a massive clinical study Briefly of the physiology of sex. and simply, their conclusions about the female orgasm are: (1) anatomically all orgasms are centred in the clitoris (2) women are naturally multiorgasmic (3) women's orgasms vary in intensity and (4) there is an infinite variety in female sexual response in terms of intensity They wrote and duration of orgasms. "With orgasmic physiology established the human female now has an undeniable opportunity to develop realistically her own sexual responses." With the advent of the Pill and other birth control methods, women were also no longer at the continual mercy of biology. They could enter into sexual relations without the accompanying fear of pregnancy. What else was needed to make their sexual liberation a reality? Men travelled to Europe, joined political movements, went to University. We witnessed the growth of the "love generation". Liberated men with a new lifestyle who needed women who could keep up. But there was no place for women there either. Although sexual mores may have appeared to have changed, it amounted to no more than lip service. If a woman asked for some commitment in return, she was labelled as "uptight" and told she should strive to be more "independent". Women couldn't register fast enough for all kinds of courses - ceramics, weaving, psych. and lit. courses - anything to get off his back. Women were still reluctant to organize around their own issue and thus they fell once again into the trap of the "private" solution, which as often as it was art or academia was the "bag" of radical politics. Radical politics gave every woman the chance to do her own thing, but the sexual class system existed everywhere and the old double-standards were expressed just as succinctly there. Stokely Carmichael once said, "The only position for women in revolution is prone."9 This left women in a bewildering dilemma: were they to remain in a movement which allowed them only to exist as silently submissive bedmates or would they refuse to accept a subordinate status. It became clear that if women were to establish the right to self-deter- mination it would not/could not be within that framework. As Robin Morgan said, "Goodbye to Hip Culture and the so-called Sexual Revolution which has functioned towards women's freedom as did the Reconstruction towards former slaves - reinstated oppresSion by another name."10 The result has been the growth of a new women's movement and the creation of a variety of organizations which have facilliated the critical examination of the institutions controlling their lives. Ranging in politics from reform to revolution, the movement has produced critiques of almost every segment of North American society, and constructed an ideology that rejects every hallowed cultural assumption about the nature and role of women. However, the sexual problems of our society will never be dealt with effectively until there is real and unfeigned equality between men and women. This equality does not imply that women adopt certain male characteristics. There must be a'conscious effort made by all men and women to examine the quality of their life, for sexu4lity today, if it is to be fully enjoyed by both, is the one drive that demands recognition of its values: cooperation, spontaneity, openness, sharing, sensitivity, trust and freedom. If prolonged pleasures and meaning are to be drawn from sexuality these values must accompany the lover who seeks them. When that understanding and recognition become apparent, then we will know that the Sexual Revolution has indeed come to pass. RejvLedcea avaLeabi.e upon uquat at the NoAthenn Woman JouAnat 066ice. further reading on sexuality OUR BODIES OURSELVES by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective, $5.95 at Co-op Bookstore. THE HITE REPORT by Shere Hite, $2.75 at most grocery and MUST reading! book stores. Send $4.00 to Betty LIBERATING MASTURBATION by Betty Dodson. Dodson, P.O. Box 1933, New York, N.Y. 10001. FOR YOURSELF: THE FULFILLMENT OF FEMALE SEXUALITY by Lonnie Garfield Barbach. $3.95. Order through Co-op Bookstore. TEENAGE WO When I was in high school, I had no doubts about my future. I would marry a kind and handsome man - he didn't have to be rich because I knew love was most important, not money. My husband and I would have beautiful, clever children. I woul be a young, attractive, fun-loving mother to these children. The picture of my future family was a conglomerate of all the ads I see dail which depict clean, healthy, happy families. And, oh yes, a career. This career would enable me to support myself until I married, and would be one to which I could retur when my children no longer needed me at home. Now for the realities. I did become one of the 8 in 10 women who PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �HU- DEFENSE Attacks on women, especially rape, are continuing to increase. Any woman is a potential victim. How we look or dress, our age, our occupation or economic condition does not protect us. As rapists continue to escape legal sanction for their crimes the threat to all women grows. Self-defense training for women is growing in popularity and availability for this reason. Some common reactions about selfdefense: 1. It takes long and strenuous training. 2. It may make a woman overestimate her physical capabilities. 3. Resisting an attack may only enrage an assailant and cause more serious injury. I'd like to comment first on the body awareness women have been conditioned to have and then look specifically at each point above. Most women have never had access to activities that test their physical abilities and develop realistic physical integrity. Traditionally girls and women have not been encouraged (or allowed) to participate in body contact sports or playful roughhousing. We have had little or no emphasis placed on developing activities that keep us physically fit. We've learned that men ( our brothers friends, spouses) are supposed to protect us. Agression is punished in girls and we are shamed for being unfeminine. We've been told to "help" never to "hurt" others. This type of conditioning has announced us to the workd as "easy victims". It has denied women the opportunity to develop the confidence in their bodies essential for physical and psychological well-being and personal safty. 2. Self-defense training can provide the means for developing a more realistic estimate of physical capPractice, not lack of it, acity. develops both competence and evaluation. 3. Self-defence techniques aim at giving you the chance to get away. There is never a guarantee that submission will prevent injury. However, in any situation the woman facing attack is the best judge of whether resisting will increase or decrease her chance of escape. Only you can decide that if you are attacked. Self-defense training develops quick responses which give you the advantage of surprise in an attack and let you get away. When there appears to be no opportunity to run or if an assaillant is armed you have to rely on your own judgement. But self-defense training does increase the alternative available to someone who is being assaulted. Consider these facts: 1. A rapist doesn't expect a woman to resist; he especially doesn't expect her to resist effectively. He wouldn't risk the attack if he He relies on the "fact" that did. women are physically inferior. 2. In countering an attack, surprise and speed are the best weapons. Since the rapist doesn't expect resistance the woman has the advantage in using these weapons. 3. Most men rely on pure strength or the threat of it to overpower a woman, not on skilled fighting techniques. This all means that it is our lack of training and confidence, not any physical inferiority, that is our biggest disadvantage in an attack. It is this increased confidence in nur bodies (coupled with some basic techniques) which is the main benefit of self-defence training. A woman whose demeanor indicates physical competence is less likely to be chosen as a target than the woman who looks weak and passive. When confronted'with an assault, the woman whose first actions indicate confidence and effectiveness is more likely to make an assaillant consider finding an easier target. Most rapists want to prove their "power" not risk losing ft. LEARNING SELF-DEFENSE -Photo "Pess Srni*K Regarding the three points above: 1. Self-defense training need not be long or strenuous. Self-defense is not the same as competence in a martial art (karate, judo, etc.) Selfdefense does not aim at making someone a-skilled fighter. Its aim Is to teach a few basic defense techniques which can help you counter an attack long enough to run."Distance is the great equalizer" in any confrontation. An additional benefit can be an increased awareness of general fitness which can be the incentive for a regular exercise program. The best way to learn is to enroll in a self-defense course. These are available locally through Parks and Recreation YM-YWCA Confederation College Courses normally run one night a week for 6 - 8 weeks. An excellent book is Self-Defense for Women by Jerrold Offstein (available at the Mary Black Library or order through a local bookstore) SOME BASICS IF YOU ARE ATTACKED 1. If there is any chance that people might hear you, yell "FIRE". This is more effective than "Help". 2. A sharp clear yell (eg. HUT!) coming right from the diaphram can startle an assaillant. Practice this! fn addition to attracting attention and distracting the assailant , a yell is a physical energizer for you. The oxygen breathed in after a loud lung-clearing yell helps you utilize the adrenelin that the body produces when faced with a threatening situaThe yell takes practice. If tion. you can't bring yourself to practice in you home or yard (due to reactions from others) practice it while riding It's not as good because in a car. you should be standing up, but it's better than no practice. 3. If you decide to carry a weapon, (and opinion on this is quite divided) a. it must be immediately available, not in a purse or clothing pockets covered up by a coat. b. it should not be something easily taken away and used against you. c. know how to use it. 4. Some common objects (keys, umbrellE books) can be used as weapons. Use keys to scrape across an attacker's face or jab them in his taceL Don't swing with a book or unbrella - get a firm hold on it with both hands and jab it at the assaillant's face (jab with the corner of a book). A lighted cigarette can be smashed in the attacker's face. D. Women typically are much stronger in the legs than in the-arms. KICK! If someone grabs you from behind, come down hard with Y our heel on his instep. YELL as you do it. RUN! If attacked from the front,kick to the shin or knee hard. Men tend to naturally protect the groin so a kick to the leg may be more effective and isn't as likely to throw Kick fast and don't you off balance. leave your leg out where he can grab it. 6. 7. Jab up under his nose with the heel of your hand. 8. Don't flail your arms around. They can be grabbed. Make fists and keep them close to your body unless you are punching with them. 9. Maintain eye contact with the This lets you know what assailant. he is doing and can, in itself, indicate confidence. These are only a very limited number of suggestions and are no substitute for a good course in self-defense. The threat of rape has been used throughout history to control women and restrict their freedom, even within their own communities. What are our options? We can retreat into our own homes (though many rApes occur in the vicim's home) OR we can educate ourselves and our friends (male and female) and the public in general about rape; we can support local rape centres; we can do everything possible to demand law reform and the demythologizing of rape. Rape and Sexual Assault Collective 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor AN EXPLANATION OF FEMINISM I 1111=11111 INIIIMII II �KEEPING WOMEN OUT OF PAID LABOURPART 3 fitting, they say. Women might think History attests to the real basis for the division of labour in the work force, and it has little to do with natural abilities or inclinatTracing women's work history ions. we see that "women's jobs" became defined as either jobs men didn't want to work at, finding them boring and drudgeful and lacking advancement or jobs which opened up to women because men were scarce, especially during war times, and which they managed to keep a foothold on. In the 1880's telephone operators They were soon replaced were men. by women,supposedly because men didn't do well. Actually, there were many better work opportunities for men around. They didn't need to put up with confined, disciplined Telephone compersonal service. pany jobs were among the few around for women and they took them, and did well, and for less pay than men. The same thing happened in the clerical field. When the typewriter was first invented, men alone operated it; it was then said to be too complicated for women to handle. But as soon as men were able to move up and out of the clerical field and it became available to women, women easily "caught on" to this complicated machine (did they ever!) During the Civil War when men were away, women entered the teaching field in large numbers. They continued to increase their numbers in this field chiefly because of the dual pay scale which made it cheaper to hire women teachers. Women also became sales clerks during this time Storekeepers hired women due to the It is not natural shortage of men. ability that's the reason for the existence of segregation into "men's jobs" and "women's jobs" and the lower pay and status accorded to "women's jobs". Yet everywhere it would seem that natural ability is used as the explanation. The liberals do not claim the continuing segregation patterns are due to nature; they say they're due to tradition and education. But what does tradition mean, except "things have always been that way". We're "programmed from birth into employment patterns" is the way they put it, and proceed through life learning our appropriate "sex roles" dictated by society through training or "conditioning". Women, for example, become nurses, secretaries, teachers, because they learn that is what they're supposed to be, that is what they see other women working at, that's how women are pictured in the books and in the media; and men become doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. for the same reasons. Traditional work patterns just perpetuate themselves. But nurses, secretaries and teachers make less money than doctors, lawyers and engineers.So the "roles" women "learn" obviously don't benefit them in the same way as "roles' that men "learn". "Sex roles are oppressive" the liberals say, and their future elaboration, that they are equally oppressive both to men and women, obliterates the idea that one group is benefitting and the other is not. Neither is bene- they have it tough being continually on the bottom, but men supposedly have it just as tough being continually on the top. The fact that women have been restricted from men's jobs, yet men have never been restricted from women's jobalfurther challenges the liberal theory that "sex roles" are equally oppressive. Why were restrictions imposed on men's jobs in the first place, if this orderly division of labour were absorbed so obediently through our training? Are women after all so stupid that they'll keep proliferating in fieltis that are lower-paying and less important just because society says it's their place, their role, it's what they've always done, it's traditional and they think they should keep on doing it? The third possible explanation, and the truest one, for continuing sex segregation of the labour force, is Discrimi nation in discrimination. the form of overt or covert restrictions of women from men's jobs, is one way of keeping women out of men's but for segregation to be jobs; truly effective it is necessary for the power structure not only to keep women out of men's jobs but to make sure women's jobs remain defined as the low-paying, low status, relativeFor example, if ly powerless ones. women were suddenly to get equal access into medical schools and women doctors became commonplace, we might then see a situation similar to what happened in the Soviet Union, where a majority; of women are-doctors and so being a doctor is neither prestigious nor high-paying. If women are going to move into high-paying, high status fields, then either their numbers have to be kept to token levels so as not to disrupt the basic imbalance of power, or if large numbers of women "move in" the field must then subsequently become lowpaying and low status. This is the whole point of segregation. Women are discriminated against, which means that although they are qualified'for certain jobs, they have a hard time getting those jobs. Women's unemployment rate is always a good deal higher than men's and would probably double if you were to count all the women who are housewives but would want to work if they could find a good job. This sets up a vicious cycle for women, of either not being hired because they're women, or being hired because they If are women and can be paid less. women_move into a field, they're going to be paid less than male If their numbers are kept workers. to a minimum the overall pay scale of that occupation will not be affected. If, however, large numbers come into the field, then naturally since their salaries are lower, the field will become low-paying. Men leave both because they have more opportunities elsewhere and because the general salary range is driven down as well as the prestige of the work. Such is what happened in the case of telephone operators, bank clerks, teachers, and with the doctors in the Soviet Union. Such are the cyclic manipulations of women workers which dictate the types of job we hold and enforce segregation. LIBERAL FALLACIES Liberals recognize that job restrictions both overt and covert exist, they talk about quotas at length and the discrimination which abounds, but they also suggest it is women themselves who are the major obstacles to getting into men's jobs. Women accept limited and damaging selfconcepts, accompanied by low aspirations and lack of self-identity and women have difficulty throwing off their "sex roles" they say; women aren't interested in moving into men's fields. Your general view of women's adequacy or inadequacy is essential to how you see the discrimination issue. Because if you look at women as being equal right now to men, just as adequate and just as qualified, then you know the full significance of discrimination. Granted it is an overwhelming outrageous experience to "look at" the discrimination against women in the labour force, to "see" and understand that the great majority of women are qualified, capable workers who are being kept out of better jobs, kept down in mediocre jobs, shuffled around into dead end jobs, and all for the benefit of the few in whose interests it is to keep women powerSo outrageous is it in fact less. that many people will not see it. The effect of the liberal theory that women have been "socialized", "conditioned" and "brainwashed" is to soften this view, to dissipate the injustices of discrimination by suggesting that all that much isn't going on, part of it is women's fault for not being qualified. WOMEN ARE TRYING Liberals say that women are not But before trying to get better jobs. we even consider the validity of such propositions, let me ask "Is trying for a woman the same as trying for a man?" In order to qualify for a doctoral program a woman student much try for an A average. a man must try for a C. Women college students on the average get less financial aid than men, and since many families won't support women going to college, with some even still objecting, more of a try is required from a woman. Once in a male dominated field it seems it's even harder to survive. A woman scientist working in the lab said "I was told not to expect favours just because I was a woman in a male dominated field. And yet every male I worked with expected favours of me because I was a woman in a male dominated field. This ranged from expecting me to clean up after them, to keep smiling as it kept the atmosphere of the lab jovial, to sex... The drain of energy needed constantly to fight these pressures make a woman lose interest, and confidence in her ability to work." Cont'd page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Con-t'd inom page 10 If you're going to get into judging whether women try hard enough to advance or not, then what you must first prove is that what you're asking women to try is equal to what you're asking men to try. It it's not equal and you're asking for a more enormous try from women, then you're discriminating. Nowhere in all this talk of trying is there the recognition that women are up against a lot more than men, that women are in fact facing discrimination. Not only must we be excellent at our work but we must also constantly be battling the forces of discrimination which try to keep us down. To suggest that when we don't make this enormous try we are damaged, or that our position in the labour force is then our fault, is both illogical and Trying for women is anti-feminist. battling discrimination; trying for men is just trying. But despite this, women tried anyway. They triad and they battled discrimination. All the jobs we see around and don't see any women in, women have tried for...have even at one time or another filled and filled well, but they have been pushed out. If women are not represented in these fields at this particular time in history, it's because strong efforts are being made to keep us out. And we're always trying to get back in. In 1918 women became street car conductors and ticket agents. Railway companies allowed women to work at these kinds of jobs because they could not secure a sufficient numIt was a real opportunber of men. ity for women since the pay was good; they were being paid the same But we were kicked out! as men. Come World War 11, women tried During the war, necessity, again. plus the fact that women were proving to be as capable as men in many industries, eventually opened all inTheir numbers dustries to women. increased from 13 million in 1940 to over 19 million at the peak of lower rates of pay than they had been jobs earning. And so if women had of the war, they at all at the end were not essentially different from the types of jobs they had before the war. But this is past history, right? In 1974, a survey of 84 Wrong. the war. Women worked as mechanics, in the aircraft engine plants assembling airplanes, in the munitions factories, in the trucking industry, on the assembly line in automobile plants; suddenly they were perfectly qualified and competent. A government survey in fact showed that women could perform four-fifths of the almost 3,000 occupations studied. Women were working at good jobs at But higher wages than ever before. we were kicked out! Within one month after the war ended, over 600,000 women lost their jobs outright, and without much explanation. Although unions recalled "that women had done men's jobs during the war with 100% efficiency" such jobs were now re-designated as men's jobs and not suitable to women ...the very same work which weeks earlier women had done adequately. Certain female classifications were changed to male classifications in order to exclude women. Protective legislation, which was suspended during the war to permit women in men's jobs temporarily, was reinstated. Women who weren't pushed out or laid off were reshuffled into women's jobs. Women who tried to resist this reshuffling were denied unemployment compensation if they refused jobs at industries showed that 50 of them employed no women in starting bluecollar work. The employers said are you ready - "Women aren't trying for this kind of work ". Meanwhile a women's group reported it had to stage a long, cold, overnight vigil just to get 22 women as applicants for an apprenticeship program in blue-collar jobs. Before 1973, the first year the Police Dept., at the instigation of women, began hiring women in any number, women police officers were barely visible. Yet when the barriers were lifted, the quotas and other discriminatory criteria, women swarmed into police work, quickly raising the number in New York from the quota level of 350 THE SELECT FEW Qualifications are what is being talked about and not the more obvious issue of discrimination because in effect liberals in the Women's Movement don't believe women on the whole are qualified any more than the male power structure does. We've seen the contradictory position they take on the discriminatory issue, stating that it is indeed the problem then undercutting it by focusing on women's "socialized", "conditioned" behaviour, which then turns out to be Behind this contradicthe problem. tory stance lies, I think, the liberal position on discrimination and explains why they've fought discrimination at all. What the liberal position amounts to is that some women, a small select few, are qualified, but most women are not. to 618. It seems if you fight every obstaclE placed in your way and manage to make it in some sense, like the tokens, that's the test that you!re qualified. All the rest of us, however, who can't surmount the incredible odds, who cannot get around the barriers, prove we were never qualified to begin with and hence discrimination does not apply to us. Some women, the small select few, have apparently overcome their conditioning, and because they're so qualified they are the ones the discrimination issue must apply to. But who are these small select few? They are token women. We have performed in every area. We are, in fact, sick to death of having to prove our qualifications. Our history, past and present, attests to them and to our ever-present discrimination, the real culprit behind such accusations. UNDERSUPPLY OF QUALITY? In line with this view that there are large numbers of unqualified women milling about in the labour force and "I want a votuntany ovettire agtement, too." WOMEN ARE ALREADY QUALIFIED. Let's just look at some facts about women workers. A woman college graduate working in the labour force is making less money than men highschool drop-outs....are you going to accuse her of being unqualified? Not only are women PhD's available and not being utilized, ie. not only is there an adequate pool, but looking at the facts, it seems like it's a very selective, highly qualified Just consider for a second pool. 44% of women entering freshman year across the country had B+ or better average compared with 38% of the men. Add to that the fact that only 54% of women enter college as compared to 67% of the men and only 29% of those in college go on to graduate school compared to 44% of the men this tougher selection process, points out that by the time a woman finishes her PhD, she is probably better qualified than a man, since she had to hurdle more barriers. If this is so, then why isn't every woman PhD not only employed, but employed at a salary and status position commensurate with such training and perseverance? Qualified women are available; businesses and government, like the colleges and universities have only to hire them. women, liberals can't fathom why society would be discriminatory against a select few. This has to do with their basic assumption that society is as it's presently constituted benefit of all, being run for the for the common good; that the smart are on the top, and the stupid are on the bottom; that the present system needs and wants quality and They see no problem excellence. here of vested interests contending with the common good and have no recognition (analysis) that vested interests exist. Not to understand the basic structure of society is not to understand in oppression. Women are oppressed because men can't this society not understand our capablities or see what we have to offer, but because they they have the power to see what what they want want to see, to use to use, to makethings as advantageous What for themselves as possible. class you came from decides your excellence; what sex you are decides what will be recognized. You don't and educate away vested interests receive by exthe privileges men They'll get their plOiting women. token women, but tokens can be replaced whenever it's thought expedient. Cont'd on page 12 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �WAITRESSES' ACTION COMMITTEE Cont'd Thom page 14 mother somehow more noble than the unwilling perpetrating our function as merely carriers of the royal seed. The rising role of women who see themselves as more,comes under a tremendous pressure to return to the birthing stool. The old saying "Keep her barefoot and pregnant" still holds true, and what better way to preserve that status than having other women in whatever guise to reinforce it. Abortion is only one of the sad realities of our life and times. Battered children, children dying of neglect and hunger, rape, incest, a growing obscenity, rising suicide rates among the young, drugs, delinquency, promiscuity ( a search for love) all point to the ridiculous statement "There is no such thing as an unwanted child". The Alliance for Life have a point and cannot be faulted for making it, but the maternal instinct cannot be legislated and an early termination in a pregnancy that is unwanted, unsought and emotionally revolting is a humane response to the That women are reality that exists. sufficiently responsible to make that decision has now been recognized in the very bastion of oppressive thought is a signal that the time is past when we can decide a question of individual conscience. Gert Beadle Pro-choice is NOT Pro-Abortion Consider how you did, would or might feel if you were pregnant. Is it from birth control or sterilization failure? Is it from a lack of knowledge of effective contraceptives? Whatever the reason, as a woman you have the right to decide to bear and rear the child, give this child up for adoption or approach a therapeutic abortion committee if one exists in your locality. ARP IP 1100 vfoRt_. . H.S. Woman o 11 pro- choice The following letter was sent to It was Donna Shaw and Julie Fels. written by a highschool student from a local high school. I want to thank you very much for your presentation at our school. I, and a majority of the class found your talk very enlightening. The following day the "Right to Life" Organization gave their presentation and it was found by many in the class including myself, to be sensationalistic and in poor taste. I was antiabortion but now I am pro-choice. I believe this is the only humane way to deal with the issue of abortion. Thank you for helping me see it in another light. (Name withheld) The tourist industry has been complaining recently about its falling profits, which it attributes in part to the "exorbitant" wages of individual workers. The Ontario government, ever sympathetic to industries' crises, is said to be considering raising the differential between the standard minimum wage and the minimum wage for workers earning tips in hotels and restaurants from the present 15c to 50c an hour! The majority of minimum wage workers and workers in the tourist inOnce again, women dustry are women. are being asked to bear the cost of industry's crisis. But just as when the federal government froze the Family Allowance last year, and the local governments tried to shut down Nellie's Women's Hostel in the autumn, women are refusing to make any further sacrifice to "help out the government". Waitresses from the Wages for along with Housework Campaign other waitresses, have formed the Waitresses' Action Committee, and with many supporters, are demanding an end to all minimum wage differentials and wages for all the hidden work that waitresses now do for free (setting-up time, cleaning uniforms, etc.). We are sending a brief to the Ministries of Labour and Industry and Tourism to protest the government and tourist industry's plans to take money out of our pockets and put more work on our backs. For more information, contact: , Ellen Agger Waitresses' Action Committee 112 Spruce St. Toronto, Ontario TO THE NORTHERN WOMAN REGIONAL JOURNAL RE: PLEA TO OMBUDSMAN I thought you might find it interesting to know about replies I received after writing to the people I had I enclose copies about my situation. of all letters I received in reply not much to encourage anyone, and very little help anywhere! I do have a copy of the book mentioned - Law Reform Commission Report - and I imagine one could be obtained for anyone requesting it. Fortunately, since I wrote the article you printed, I have obtained a job I had hoped for and am now working full However, as far as a proper time. settlement, I have received none a very discoluraging situation, and no forseeable one to come! Yours very truly, Lillian Turner Lillian Turner received replies from The Law Reform Commission in Ottawa, The Law Reform Commission of British Columbia, The Ontario Ombudsman, and Each in his the Law Society of B.C. own way told her 1) she must look elsewhere for help 2) it was not within their jurisdiction 3) they were aware of the injustice 4) they Well, we're sorry too, were sorry. Lillian, sorry that the poor old wheel of justice is such a sorry Thank you for sharing your thing. experience with us and congratulations on finding work. MA LE R.EAC Ti N One of the evaluation reports el erging from the Working Women's Conference contained a personal ri Alt] action from a male educator. he found himself outnumbered and overwhelmed, his comments hold a grain of encouragment that we as His frank admi women appreciate. sion that he was not always aware what his wife was saying to him a then to find himself among 200 wo who sounded exactly like her, mus have been a terrifying experience "As that great gap between the ma and female experience" came home him and in his own words the enor of the job we have before us was revealed, he felt depressed. That depression is a hopeful sign. We however, cannot afford to be depr The gap between the thinkin sed. of the sexes has always been appa We have struggled singly collectively to be understood, to play our full part in equal parti The days of the stoic re pation. itory of male thinking is coming This calls for celebrati, an end. not depression. to us. Cont'd pLom page 11 Liberals are in error about the structure of this society as they are about the amount of qualified, adequate women that are being disIt is the ess criminated against. of discrimination that female exce lence is not wanted, is not seen, found threatening; not that it is The huge number of discrim there. ination cases being brought by wom before the courts challenges this view of the select fewias any peru of the facts about women workers challenges the fact that we don't have the qualifications. Liberals see a society where qua is scarce and urge women to get qu Yet qualifications abound, ified. Caroline Bird pointed out in an ar Th idle entitled "The Job Market: Class of '73 Need Not Apply" that there was a surplus of college gra uates for the present job market, tremendous in fact that the Carne Commission on Higher Education war that during the 1970's there will about 3 million more graduates tha there will be jobs traditionally Then requiring a college degree. is always a need for certain basil skills, but beyond that level, sil '.:hat level is adequately being me it is not a question of qualifica it is a question of or quality. goals. And if your goal is keepi: position, rather than opening (7111r eyes to excellei then logically the "out" group ca never qualify. Women are one of "out" groups. The fact is that tl is an over-supply of power to use people's abilities, all people's abilities, for a better society a The problem is not exploit them. organizing society to utilize all the quality and still get the har work done. Male supremacy and ca italism prevent this from happeni THE END 12 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �THE NORTHERN WOMEN'S CENTRE, for reasonable rates, will produce copies of notices, announcements, etc. We retain the right to' refuse work from groups affiliated with The women presently working on a political party. the paper - Thyra Digby, Noreen Lavoie, Sharron Lund, Eve Pykerman, Donna Shaw, Peggy Smith and Lynne Thornburg - would like to build a stronger collective and.a better We are going to begin newspaper. discussions to re-evaluate the goals of the paper and find better ways of working together. The following questions will give you an idea of the direction our discussions will be taking. 0041,.**Aftsk COMING CHANGES COMMUNITY LAW PROGRAM, The Community Law Program, as a special project, is planning a public legal education Caravan which will visit various communities in Northern Ontario this summer. The Caravan project is designed to accomplish its aim of public legal education through 1) the presentation of forums, public meetings,and seminars on a variety of legal topics 2)the distribution of copies of legal publications directed to the layperson; and 3) the screening of videotapes and films on various legal subjects. The Community Law Program Caravan will be in Thunder Bay tentatively on June 12 - 15th. Watch for further announcements in the local media. THUNDER -t 7 CLAP What is a collective? What is feminism? What does each individual want the paper to be? How can we reach more women? Is government funding hampering or helping us? What problems have women working on the paper experienced? Fed up with little squealers? High What criticisms do School readers have? Women's Liberation is a pam- Fight Male Chauvinist Piglets! phlet with 20 articles by and for young We invite our readers towhich sendwillinhelp raise your women ICS only $1.25 from criticism and feedbackconciousness. about the 2007 Washtenaw Liberation, Youth paper, and constructive sugges.tions Ave., Dept. W, Ann Arbor, Mi. 48104. for change. Any woman who is interested in working on the paper and would like to be part of the discussions defining our future direction should call the office at 345-5841 for further information. 4004100.00.0.0 THE CO-OP NORTHERN WOMEN'S CREDIT UNION BOOKSHOP The Credit Union has now moved into AND RECORD 4omen's Place at 316 Bay St. Our office is bright and attractive and you are welcome to share our pleaIt will be open officsure in it. ially on Tuesdays and Fridays from phone number 10 AM from to7 5- PM 9 PM. and onOur Thursday nights is CENTRE 345-7802.. IA ;t. s" ett, Margie h and Cheryl April as the enter and win on First Aid stry of ey did it with n who came The lties. e Thunder Bay o brought a e-month to y at the As of May 9th, we have 87 members and deposits of over $8.000. Loans are available and application may be made at our office at 316 Bay St. A general membership meeting is planned for June 6 at 8 pm. Members and those who are interested are invited to attend. We are looking for an assistant anyone with bookkeeping treasurer; experience or an interest in learning please contact us. USEFUL NUMBERS AL ANON ARTISTS CO-OP ANTI-POVERTY NORTHERN WOMEN'S CENTRE WOMEN IN NEIGHBOURHOODS NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL SOCIAL SERVICES CRISIS INTERVENTION FAMILY COUNSELLING LEGAL AID TELECARE SMITH CLINIC CRISIS HOUSING HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS MUNICIPAL DAY CARE' FREE CLINIC 345-2711 622-9577 622-1538 345-7802 623-8411 345-5841 623-2711 344-3571 623-9596 345-1972 344-1192 344-2471 623-2711 475-1693 475-1691 344-3922 344-0727 182 S. Algoma Str. Phone: 345-8912 Open: 10 A.M.-5 P.M. Monday to Saturday A POEM The Piano it playa come hawi-tLng notez and tettz me not to tatia and when £ Zook £ zee wan eyez etazed and £ am tined oi thiz canztant aching in come the viotinz and £ begin to cry the guitan £ a baztand who dnivez me night and day he tettz me when to make Love and who with he beat6 me come to me in the ho4pitat Let me go back there don't come to me zometime £ need you tomomow bland CUAt4 PLOM the pzychiatnic wand zcneamz in the manning the 21 day zatute take me in the piano zoundz 40 4ad the only d4um beat tb a cymbal Deindte Mamite Thunder Bay PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �QUOTATIONS FROM THE BADGLEY REPORT AN ILLUSION "the procedure provided in the Criminal Code for obtaining therapeutic abortion is in practice illusory for many Canadian women." p. 141 SOCIAL COSTS AND DISCRIMINATION "a substantial number of single mothers who had unwanted pregnancies had low incomes and many lived in Because they were less poverty. well educated and less familiar with the workings of health services a number of these women would have preferred to have had an abortion, if they had known how to proceed." p. 175 EXCLUSION OF SMALL HOSPITALS "Hospitals whose medical staff consists of three of fewer physicans are in practice ineligible to establish therapeutic abortion commitp. 86 tees." ACCESS IN SMALL CENTRES "In this small community of less than 25,000 people, the Right to It inLife group is very vocal. timidates local physicians with phone calls in the middle of the night. Hence, few physicians are willing to perform the operation, so that patients are referred to larger metropolitan centres." DELAY AND COMPLICATIONS "The major factor contributing to the delay by most women obtaining abortions in Canadian hospitals occurred after an initial consultation had been made with a physiciar. An average interval of eight weeks between the initial medical consultation and the performance of the abortion procedure not only extended considerably the length of gestation, but increased the risk of associated health complications." p. 19 BIRTH CONTROL FAILURE "47.3% of the women who had had abortions in the national patient survey "reported they were using birth control at the time of conception of the present pregnancy." They "can be considered to be seeking an abortion as a result of a p. 352 contraceptive failure." ILLEGAL ABORTION "It is estimated that 46,096 Canadian women between the ages of 15 to 49 years have had illegal abortion. This estimate excludes women who have attempted self-induction or had abortions in the United States." p. 71 For more information about Freedom of Choice contact CARAL at Box 527 Stn. Z, Toronto, Ontario M5N 2Z6 every child a want ed child, mother a willing mother. ever y EXCERPTS FROM THE C.A.R.A.L. CRITIQUE ON THE BAGLEY REPORT The Committee on the Operation of the Abortion Law Report abounds with evidence that the law is not In 1976 there were 1,348 working. civilian hospitals in operation; 789 of these were excluded from eligibility to establish abortion committees, either by the Provincial Government, because of their religious affiliation, or because they did not have a large enough medical staff to conform to the requirements of the law itself. Of the remaining 559 eligible hospitals only 271 of them (48.5%) had established therapeutic aborIn 1974 the tion committees. figure was 265 hospitals with abortions committees; and 46 of those reported doing no abortions. There were "sharp regional disparities in the accessibility of the abortions procedure". In British Columbia there was one abortion committee for every 10,000 women; in Quebec there was one committee In 1976 for every 96,000 women. two out of five Canadians did not live in communities served by hospitals eligible to establish therapeutic abortions committees. After the initial visit with a physician, Canadian women were faced with "an average interval of 8.0 weeks until the induced abortion operation was done." In 1975, 9,627 Canadian women were forced,to go, to the United States to obtain an abortion; seven out of eight of them indicated they would have preferred to have an abortion in Canada had it been available to them. Since the C.O.A.L. Report has been tabled, Mr. Basford, the present Minister of Justice has announced, with considerable relief, that the Federal Government was going to begin discussions with the Provinces to find ways of bringing about a more equitable interpretation of the law. In his initial response to the C.O.A.L. Report,.the present Federal Minister of Justice does not appear to be as dogmatically opposed to freedom of choice as was his predecessor Otto Indeed, in his promise to conLang. sult with the Provinces about making abortion services more equitable under the existing law, he might even be called sympathetic to the plight of unwillingly pregnant women. But the record of the Federal Government's treatment of Henry Morgentaler is still fresh in the minds of physicians and hospital administrators for them to be persuaded to interpret this law more liberally. The government is obviously fearful of the political power of those opposed to freedom of choice in abortion, and appears to be prepared to go to any lengths to avoid a parliamentary debate; hence the "don't do as I do, do as I say" approach to the Provinces. But if Canadians are expected to get behind Federal Government in its attempts to keep this country together, are we not entitled to a higher calibre of leadership than it is presently showing in the abortion issue? abortion: a woman's right to choose! From time to time in the last year we have found it necessary to reaffirm our position as supporters of free choice in matters that concern the individual as against legislated In view of impendforced pregnancy. ing debate in our parliament and the blanket coverage afforded to the forces that see this question as a test of their own superior morality, we have a duty to speak on behalf of all those women who see another view to this very important and sadly inThe last freeflammatory subject. dom granted is that which removes us from the perimeters of someone else's reasoned judgement. All the high-sounding phrases, all the cold statistics to support that judgement will not remove from it the arrogance of the Ego that demands subjugation to a minority view that is based on unrealistic interpretations of the times and mores of our society. Abortion is not the kind of thing that anyone approaches lightly. The inference that either a doctor or a patient approaches it in the spirit of a romp for simple gain or offhand convenience is a myth. There is no question that more emphasis on family planning, better methods of birth control and better counselling for the young would manifest These itself in lower incidence. are the things that need all our attention. To think we can simply legislate a reality out of existence shows only our head in the sand, our "stop the clock" mentality. A willing mother is a loving mother. She contributes healthy, loving children to this society. Abortion will play no part in her life style. An unwilling mother, cemented into playing a role she has no talent for, provides us with the product of her discontent or in desperation aborts herself or puts herself into the hands of incompetent people. Here is the traffic and the first thing we have to face up to is abortion is with us; it always has been. The old weapons of shame and guilt and retribution from the almighty are obsolete, We have seen power and wealth send millions to their death, and flourish in the exercise; it just won't wash anymore. We have made the willing cont'd pg 12 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Decade Council in Fort Frances The Decade Council had a long, but very rewarding trip to Fort Nine of the Council Frances. members travelled there on May 7 to meet with women of Fort Frances and the surrounding area who had recently formed their own council to work on issues of concern to them. Joan Packota gave a brief history of the Decade Council, and then sub-committee representatives reported on the activities of their respective groups. Highlights of some of the reports appear on this page. REPORT - FAMILY PROPERTY LAW Joan Packota brought everyone upto-date on Family Property Law Reform. With the election approaching, these bills have all died on the order papers. However, Joan reviewed some of the highlights of the last bill presented to the legislature (Bill 6). REPORT - HOMEMAKERS' ACTION COMMITTEE Florence Richard reported that they have had a founding meeting, 1) preand have set certain goals: paring a brief on Old Age Security benefits to widows (at present a widow can receive the benefits at age 60 if her husband received OAS, but this is stopped if he dies before she turns 65); 2) researching the issue of Canada Pension Plan for non-wage earning spouses; and 3) researching the question of a -guaranteed income for all people. REPORT - EQUAL PAY COMMITTEE Mickey Murray and Thyra Digby spoke on how successful the Working Women's Conference had been. The Committee is presently working on a booklet summarizing how the conference was organized, what happened in the workshops, excerpts of keynote speeches, and the resolutions which were passed. Julie Fels served as a resource person on the Day Care issue. Fort Frances women are particularly concerned about establishing Day Care. Several years ago the Business and Professional Women's Club presented a brief to the local Council but nothing hapSeveral groups wanted to try pened. Julie informed them of the again. Regional Conference on Day Care scheduled for June 10 - 12 and suggested they attend. Fort Frances women were also greatly concerned about teenagers there who have no planned activities. There is a bylaw against teens gathering in groups (loitering). It was reported that four local teenagers were trying to get something started and they had held a coffee house recently. It was suggested that the women's group support the activities developed and provide help if needed. The women continued their conversations over coffee and a snack. The meeting adjourned with an invitation from the Fort Frances women to participate in a social later that evening. Billets were provided for those women who needed them, and the Council women began the return trip to Thunder Bay the following morning. NATIONAL ACTION COMMITTEE Joan Farrow, a delegate from the Decade Council to the National Actio Committee annual conference and lobb held March 18-21 in Ottawa sends this report. Over 200 women met in the Skyline Hotel to attend the NAC conference From the Maritimes to and lobby. B.C. and Alaska, the delegates represented over a million members of this energetic women's action group. Judge Nancy Morrisson was one of the key speakers. Humourous and intelligent, she made a point to reach every woman there and left us with many helpful suggestions. Kay Macpherson, now president of NAC, when asked by the media when we were going to take a stand on abortion said "1972 - Am I making myself clear?" She stated while many members were not entirely in agreement on the abortion issue, the majority favour the "Free Choice" We must let Marc Lalonde option. know how we feel about the Bagely The effort is small when Report. we consider its importance to ourselves, our friends and our daughter The lobby on Monday was well organized and stimulating and left me in awe of the collective determination. "I waiLhed you they iLeaity don't Like being dogged and conked on the head. GIRLS WILL BE WOMEN SEX EDUCATION GREAT IN THEORY The following is a letter to the editor of the Globe and Mail, Feb.'77 I am a Grade 13 high school student and so was interested to learn that we have reached an era of enlightenment and freedom in the teaching of sex education. According to Bob Gladish, health and physical education director for Toronto Board of Education, "through role playing, discussion and film, students are now taught about things like personal identification in the belief that if people are sure of themselves they don't need to be promiscuous." I'm delighted to learn this, but I'd like to know exactly where all these "sophisticated family planning" Certainly courses are being offered. not at my school, where the only course that vaguely resembles the one you describe is a Physical Ed ucation option which in practice is -1,1e to a limited number only av Nor are these students. of sea-, confit, "sure of themselves" students present in great droves, Most of my peers are conei:Lier. fused about, and pressured into, sexual activity, in spite of the advice of such competent teachers as the one who urged all voting women to remain virgins until marriage, but did not give the same advice to young men. Book Review from StatuE of Women News. BUT WHERE IS IT? Then in Dick Beddoes' column, I read that school trustee Dan Leckie tells us it is immigrant parents who are largely to blame for the poor school reception of Birth Control Try explaining that to my Week. principal, who through dealing with a predominantly WASP community, is persuaded he will be charged with encouraging promiscuity if he allows an informational display in the school. Surely uptight Anglo-Saxon Canadians can bear the responsibility...significantly ones such as Messrs. Leckie and Gladish who insist on diffusing the issue. It makes me darn mad to read about all the great things that are hap- pening in high school when they don't seem to be happening at my school, or at any of the schools my friends Fatuous comments such as attend. those made by Mr. Leckie and Mr. Gladish misinform parents, many of whom have handed over the responsibility of sex education to the schoclg. Toronto Board of Education policy looks great on paper. When will it be implemented in the schools? Susan Wright Toronto In their growing awareness of themselves, today's girls appear to have attained the objectives of many femIn their own words young inists. Canadian women declare their liberation and their willingness to assum( the responsibilities of free and They are remarkactive citizens. ably non-belligerent, and admirably self-assured. In sensitive, articulate poetry and prose these 6 - 18 year -olds set They especially forth their views. recognize the importance of caring about human beings - old and young, rich and poor, male and female. These poems and essays by and abou young women cover the wide range of joys and concerns which are part of growing up in today's world. The serious responsibility of becoming a woman is contrasted with its bitte sweet counterpoint of loving, losing They write of the are and learning. old search for the meaning of life well as their perceptions of cont 1,porary problems that beg for persona and global understanding. Readers of GIRLS WILL BE WOMEN wil be left with thP feeling that their world may well be a more humane plat if these concerned young women are free to make their fullest contribution. Edited by Betty Nickerson Available from ALL ABOUT US Box 1985, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5Rf 1! PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �CARE NEWS DRY The 3rd Annual Regional Day Care Conference is being held in Dryden on June 10, 11 & 12, under the sponsorship of the Lakehead Social Planning Council, AECEO - Thunder Bay Branch, Confederation College and Dryden Day Care Centre, with funding assistance from Secretary of State, Thunder Bay. All those interested in the care and education of young children are invited to attend. Please contact LSPC at 623-7071 or Dryden Day Care Centre at 223-5724 for further information. my dog is a plumber by Dan Gxeenbutg My dog is a plumber, he must be a boy. Although I must tell you his favourite toy Is a little play stove with pans and with pots Which he really must like, 'cause he plays with it lots. So perhaps he's a girl, which kind of makes sense, Since he can't throw a ball and he can't climb a fence. But neither can Dad, and I know he's a man, And Mom is a woman, and she drives a van. Maybe the problem is in trying to tell Just what someone is by what they do well. VEOM FREE TO BE... YOU AND ME Published by McGraw-Hill Book Company JOY Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy is is is is is on Wimen's Day today a beautiful thing just like a wonderful perfume on every face Here are some more titles of books (They you might wish to order. are available from Toronto Women's Bookstore, 85 Harbord St, Toronto) Children - Ages 3 to 8 Mandy and the Flying Map -Beverley Allinson Girls will be Women Fresh Fish and Chips - Jan Andrews Mumbles and Snits - Beverley Allinson Grunk - Doug Jamieson Myra Builds a House Older Children - Ages 8 to 12 Heroine of Long Point -Leslie Benham Cockoo Tree - Joan Aiken Charlotte's Web - E.B. White Blue Castle - Montgomery It's not Always a Game. Judy's Journey - Lois Lenske by Tania Shaw Age 8 1110 man's Pia (P WOMEN SHARE Housed in a spacious building five groups of women share resources, equipment, skills, and a common concern for the needs of women. WOMEN'S HEALTH COLLECTIVE -otganization in pnogAess To help facilitate this harmonious working and socializing relationship, delegates from each group regularily participate on the management committee, ,(photo). Also pictured is part of the working area. To the right is a comfortable living room and a saparate credit union office. Of course there is a kitchen, very large. A warm invitation is extended to all women to drop in to see our new Women's Place. NORTHERN WOMEN'S CREDIT UNION 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. 6 F/Li. Ph. 345-7802 7-9 p.m. ThaAs. NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO WOMEN'S CENTRE 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thu/Ls. evng - coLg. in ptogtess Ph. 345-7802 Mon.-FA i. NORTHERN WOMAN REGIONAL JOURNAL 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-FAi. Ph. 345-5841 THUNDER BAY RAPE & SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE McKatan Hosp., Box 47 Ph. 623-3220 (answeAing seAvice) CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE ON CRISIS HOUSING FOR WOMEN -oAganizat,Lon in pugtess 16 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �t C. Ads .431. o.d Peva* Ca Woe Ennombm third VISIWIrm dim dome 220 RETURN TO: THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Return Postage Guaranteed TABLE OF CONTENTS pg. 2 Editorial - to High School Women 3-5 From High School Women 6 The Sexual Revolution 8 Self-Defense 9 Explanation of Feminism Keeping Women out of Paid Labour 111 10 14 Quotations from Badglet Report 15 Decade Council Report 16 Day Care News People Who Did This Issue:Thyra, Eve, Gert, Pat, Noreen, Lynn, Donna, Peggy, Sharon, MargGraphic on Cover done by Sue Reid of Hammarskjold Want to get involved? 345-5841 weekdays PLEASE LET US KNOW. Call HAVE YOU MOVED? postage to keep (We must pay return 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 The Northern Woman, Vol 3 No 5 Description An account of the resource Vol. 3, No. 5 (1977) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: The everyday lives of high school women Solidarity building & open communication between women Reading list for women’s liberation Limitations of high school - restrictions/punishments for individuality Loneliness & depression as a feminist high school student Poetry Comics The sexual revolution The role of the woman in sex Reading list for sexuality Teenage women: expectations vs. reality Self-defence for women An explanation of feminism Sexism in rock music High school women on pro-choice Community law program caravan for public legal education CARAL critique of the Badgley Report Abortion: a woman’s right to choose Fort Frances Women’s Decade Council Equal Pay Committee Fort Frances National Action Committee Women’s Decade Council conference Book review Sex education Day Care News Day Care Conference Dryden (June 10-12 1977) Women’s Collective Thunder Bay (Northern Woman Journal, Northwestern Women’s Centre, Northern Women’s Credit Union, Thunder Bay Rape & Sexual Assault Centre, Citizen’s Committee on Crisis Housing for Women) Authors/Contributors: Athena Caine Colleen Aube Lori Christensen Cathy Metcalfe Jackie Durocher Nancy Fumerton Linda Longe Connie Johnson Susan Reid Alma Byzewski Eve Pykerman Fiona Karlstad Peggy Smith Rap & Sexual Assault Collective Leslie Campbell Deirdre Hamill Thyra Digby Noreen Lavoie Sharron Lund Donna Shaw Peggy Smith Lynn Thornburg Susan Wright (Toronto) Betty Nickerson Dan Greenburg Tania Shaw 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 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/16/2749/1977_Vol_3_No_6.pdf 7f2946da0fd3b9ba3780cb3b34f20332 PDF Text Text �The Northern Woman Regional Journal collective accepts the responsibility for publishing all articles in this However, the opinions of the paper. author are not necessarily those of each collective member. Any comment should be sent to our office. The Collective. GERT'S GOSPEL It was a great personal relief to me when multiple personalities began to be documented. It has been quite a long time since I faced my morning mirror and asked plaintively, "Who am I am now perfectly content I". to query, " Are we all here?" knowing that we are indeed all here and ready for just about When I first disanything. covered I was a crowd it was The collective of the North- my intention to be absolutely ern Woman Regional Journal owes fair with equal time for everyour subscribers both an apology one concerned but when I discovered we were a fairly easy and an explanation for the going crew we just decided that lateness of this issue. when I knocked on the door of The transition from paid cookies she bought at the market myself, whoever had the energy staff to a working collective in the cookie jar and take the would answer and surprise the cannot be successfully made loose dirt out. rest of us. without a firm basis of comA couple of days a week it's itted voluntary workers. In Consequently on any given bound to be Libby the Libber, off the past, the load has not morning it could be Carlotta, to the house of women where she been fairly distributed, and a gift from my Spanish grandfeels not indispensible but we have relied too heavily on Will she in her permother. reasonably intelligent, spiritthe creative energy of too few. petual lust for life invade the ually energized and creative. This has had the effect of chamber of my aging spouse, rip Lib is a late bloomer, stuck like making those who were involved off his sheet, expose him to the a fly in the syrup of the biblical feel they were taken advantage morning air, bite off half his good woman, she had stifled her of, and those who were not ear and sink her long nails inown rebellion by gnawing off her involved feel they were not to his quivering and flabby wings and laying down for the needed. Not likely, but she is flanks. Just in time she expersugar. We attempted to cement a not dead, she sleeps, weary of ienced a born-again conversion foundation of collective soliit all and no one mourns her which straightened her spine, darity before we went to press abscence more than my spouse. removed the film from her eyes again, to insure a continuous She was his favourite, and sent her out to preach the publication every two months gospel of the total female, hayIt could be Nanna, the proas we originally promised to do. mother, ing recognized the enemy who shall fessional relative, alias After long discussions, and She is out to grandmother, aunt, sister, and remain nameless. many disagreements, we have curb his influence, reduce his established a working volunteer wife not to mention daughter, him of his fantasmother-in-law and daughter-inpower, relieve collective. Some of the members ies while hoping there's enough In the days before I knew law. of the new collective particiin there to good stuff under all that garbage I had a lot of help pated in the evaluation and to win her love and respect. straighten her out, she almost Some new goal setting meetings. Hell-bent on being did me in. That is only the beginning of members did not. Some of the indispensible to an ever widenthe personalities that inhabit participants in the organizaing circle who were just as the long house that shelters us. tional meetings chose to withmyth, committed to testing the I am enchanted with the idea that draw as "collective" members, she found herself with a case of I might be a long house. It has but will continue to offer the terminal guilts whenever the connotations of natural people, their services. cookie jar was empty or a button While the format will not be ina natural place doing natural missing, used to grind her teeth things in harmony, where the gut changed a great deal, we hope She's very relaxed these fighter and dreamer, the dirt a lot. to do more that is original, days, saying things like "Is youi farmer and poet puff lazily on with each member of the colleg broken?" "Don't bother me, the pipe of peace and the smoke lective committed to their I'm thinking" and "Get your drifts out either end of this special interests. We just let foot off my neck". open -ended structure, where the We still make regional input o pack the her out long enough to aging crone who has advanced to a high priority, and earnestly reflection sits in solitary digsolicit from all our readers nity observing the sweat and letters and advice on the fever that takes place outside paper itself as well as news of the long house, lays another log things that concern women. on the fire and thanks the great We feel the bond created in spirit that love never diminishes the forming of this new collectwith use. ive will show itself in a richer, more diversified Journal. The single personality has no Stay with us and continue to balance. Without ling and yang, support us. it lies rigid as a stone, never The builder gets off the ground. builds better knowing the destroy It takes patience er is present. to know and appreciate the value Some of of your own complexity. people in me the most interesting are socially unacceptable which has increased my affection for them and made it practically impossible to be either surprised or disappointed in the human equation present in all my human northern woman journal page 2 family. APOLOGY PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �OUTERS CLUB Pam Wilson is interested in forming an informal Women's Outers Club. People interested in planning season's activities will meet Sept. 27 at 7:30 pm at Women's Place, 316 Bay St. or contact Pam for details, 683-5764. IMPORTANT NUMBERS THUNDER BOLT - TO RlArk Sauirrel for the sexist T.V. ads showing women 's posteriors and stating "We have the best bottoms in town" And to the Chronicle Journal who distorts the idea of women's Liberation by a sexist ad appealing to Have they run out girls (Girl's Lib.). of boys to exploit ?? . AL ANON ARTISTS CO-OP CRISIS HOUSING CRISIS INTERVENTION EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS FAMILY COUNSELLING FREE CLINIC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION LEGAL AID MUNICIPAL DAY CARE NORTHERN WOMAN JOURNAL NORTHERN WOMEN'S CENTRE NORTHERN WOMEN'S CREDIT UNION SMITH CLINIC SOCIAL SERVICES TELECARE 345-2711 622-9577 623=2711 344-3571 475-1691 623-9596 344-0727 475-1693 345-1972 344-3922 345-5841 345-7802 345-7802 344-2471 623-2711 344-2471 THUNDER CLAP to Marilyn Cavar one of four women who belong to the Toastmasters International. It took courage to speak on an unpoplar subject (Wages for Housework) in the presence of her male peers. Carry on Marilyn. Anyone interested in forming a group for Alcoholic Women please phone 345-7802 and leave first name and phone number. A meetin will be arranged. Cancer - causing Cosmetics The Food and Drug Administration is beginning an investigation into cancer causing properties of 27 popular shampoos and lotions. This investigation came only after a report on these products was prepared by Dr. David Fine for the National Science Foundation and released at the Americar Chemical Society's March meeting. Products under investigation are: Clairol Herbal Essence, Breck Shampoo for Dry Hair, PP Baby Shampoo, Mennen Baby Magic Shampoo, Head and Shoulders Shampoo, Wella Balsam, Johnson's Baby Lotion, Noxema Skin Cream, Keri Lotion, Nivea Cream Lotion, Sea and Ski Suntan Lotion, Extra Strength Desitin, School Cocoa Butter Lotion, Nutaderm Dry Skin Lotion, Bain de Soleil Suntan Creme, Diaparene Crado, Scholl Rough Skin Remover, Almay Deep Mist Extra Rich Lotion, Avon Topaz, Revlon Young Blush, Max Factor Ultraluscent Waterproof makeup, Clairol Creme Formula Hair Colour, Helene Curtis Everynight, and'Extra Body Conditioner. by jk "SHE WON" BRITISH RAPIST RELEASED London--Thomas Holdsworth, a guardsman in the Coldstream Guards, was given a three year sentence for his attempted rape of Carol Maggs. He broke herribs caused her serious internal injuries and ripped cut her earrings. When he appealed, his sentence was reduced to six months and suspended. One judge said, "It is probable that this girl would have been less severely injured if in fact she has submitted to rape by mere threat of force rather than forecebeing applied in the manner it was. " As the London Times said, "This almost suggestSthat refusing to be raped is a kind of contributory negligence." In other words, we can't win. If she had submitted without violence, they would have said that she didn't care whether she was raped. Maggs is seventeen years Inez Garcia, convicted of second-degree murder in 1974 for killing a man whom she said helped rape her, was acquitted this spring after a retrial. Raped and threatened with death Hitchhiker Advertise Availability she testified that she had picked up a gun, gone after her Calif. - In a nice companion tormentors, and killed one of piece to the Madison judge who them. After she was sentencedruled that rape is a normal refive years to life-Garcia stataction to women, the California ed simply, I have won...people Court of Appeals voted unanimbelieve in me...they identify ously to set free a man convicted with me." She spent 15 months of raping a woman because she was in jail before the decision a hitchhiker. In the written was overturned and a new trial decision, Judge Lynn Compton said, ordered. Susan Jordon, Inez "The lone female hitchhiker in the Garcia's lawyer in the second absence of an emergency situation trial, said she felt that thouas a practical matter, advises sands of women had identified all who pass by that she is will- with Inez Garcia's struggle and ing to enter the vehicle with any- had brought pressure to bear on one who stops and in so doing adthe public to reexamine its vertises she has less concern for attitudes about rape, and that the consequences than the average this was instrumental in winnold. female. Under such circumstances ing the acquittal. Holdsworth was ostensibly released it would not be unreasonable for Ms. Magazine,July/77 while waiting for his appeal bea man in the position of the decause of his fine military service fendant here to believe that the in Northern Ireland, where he was female would consent to sexual .,BNIII 1111M111 supposed to return. relations." However, A coalition of women's groups after his sentence was reduced, he was discharged from the army. picketed the Los Angeles Court Groups of angry women staged sev- of Appeal protesting the ruling. eral demonstrations in response The goups will work to have to this verdict. Two hundred Compton recalled and the ruling members of Women Against Rape overturned. (WAR) staged a mock trial in In other words, it is impossible Trafalgar Square, in which they to rape a hitchhiker because she found England's judges and gover- is the property of all men. The nment ministers guilty of connext woman hitchhiker raped in spiracy to rape and trespass again - California should sue the Court of Appeals. st the minds and bodies of women. 182 S. Algoma Str. NEWS 1111111=1111 11 THE CO-OP BOOKSHOP. AND RECORD CENTRE Info from LNS and the Detroit Free Press Info from LNS and In These Times Phone: 345-8912 Open: 10 A.M.-5 P.M. Monday to Saturday I 'm MIMI I northern woman journal page 3 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �FEMINIST BOOKS individual problems, and individual solutions. Overall, however, there is enough material to sort through, so that most everyone will find something to take from this book and apply to our private and political lives. I've just finished reading a book I'd like to share. I made a mental note to buy copies for all my friends and family. I'd also like to donate a copy to Women's Centre. I realize that this first flush of enthusiasm may not last as long as it takes to find the necessary number of POWER POLITICS by-Margaret Atwood, Published by Anansi, Toronto, 1971. This must be what reviewers traditionally label "a slim volum It's also a book of poems describ a dissolving relationship between a man and a woman. I like poems which conjure up feelings and events and places In this book, th I can remember. imagery does not always make this connection with my experience. I does, however, make the connectio symbolically: I see you fugitive, stumbling acr the prairie, lungs knotted by thirst, sunheat nailing you down, all the things after you that can be after you with their clamps and poisoned ma copies. The book, Notes of a Feminist Therapist, by Elizabeth Friar Williams, is published in paperback by Dell, and sells Should I help you? Should I make you a mirage? for $1.50. My right hand unfolds rivers around you, my left hand releases The value of the book for me was that it helped me to analyze more clearly, and to identify specific behaviours in myself and others. I saw myself and some of my friends quite often among the pages. I will admit I was cautious at the outset for as I skimmed through the book before settling down to read it, some clearly Freudian references leaped out. I feared the title might not relate to the content. The book, however, was better than I dared hope. A number of "cases" are used to illustrate the conflicts in women's lives- in the areas of love, marriage, sex and work. Each "problem" could be connected in some way to either failures in communication, or a failure to reasses goals. For example, women are socialized to be devious and manipulative rather than to express honestly what we want. (In fact, we learn very quickly that making demands Is "uppity" and uppity women tread on very thin ice.) Ms. Friar Williams points out that nice girls/good girls don't often get what they want despite being nice/good--although they do manage to escape the hostility generated by "uppity" women. The book offered more honest examples of communication. With regard to goals, the author works closely with her clients to ensure that the goals like marriage and motherhood are realistically assessed and that goals like independence and work satisfaction are carefully reviewed. I am not without criticism of the book, of course. I think there is not enough (although there is some) recognition of the realistic necessity of much of the behaviour discussed. There is also an undue emphasis on its trees, I speak rain, I spin you a night and you hide i Now you have one enemy instead of many. Kin-flicks by Lisa Alther The title is translated as home movies and this author has a feast in store for the brave and the bold. A first novel, it could only have been written by a woman and one has the feeling that sadly it may only be fully understood by a new generation-of female readers. It's southern base firmly establishes of this only daughter as far removed from the realities that free wheeling Ginny Babcock explored with zest and as wicked a sense of humour as anyone repressed under penalty of exposure. Her adolescent fumbling into sex is the most hilarious you will ever see in print yet has the stamp of such authenticity one dredges up almost against your will a similar set of circumstances you didn't take full advantage of. Her abiding belief that there has to be more than this takes her out of her parents influence and embarks her on a trip of intellectual discovery through the hippy counter culture, the radical feminist movement complete with a journey into bisexuality, the back to the land trip with a woman's commune into the cult of trancending spirituality with a small episode of traditional wife and mother, and deposits her back at the source with a dying mother. There is a sadness here one senses rather than reads. It is an adventure story of grand proportions, mocking and tongue in cheek as she peels the varnish off each succeeding experience. Her feeble attempt to end it all tells us all plainly she still believes there is more. The sadness comes when we recognize there will never be enough. Gert Beadle northern woman journal page 4 Same of the poems are brutal their description of the man and relationship. These ones most Some o certainly evoke memories. the poems offer insights that rel to any number of reltiprships. We are hard on each other honety, and tali choosing our jagged truths with care and aiming them across the neutral table. The things we say are true; it is our crooked aims, our choices turn them criminal. On the cover, the reviewers comments include references to ti peeling away "layer after layer c protective armour", "cutting dcwi to the bone", "poems that lie on page like secretive and dangerou pieces of glass". This is very definitely what the poems in man' instances do for me--sometimes I appreciate the results, sometime: feel uncomfortable because it al: seems so raw emotionally. One thing the book didn't doN to offer viable alternatives to traditional male-female relation: The poems may tell it "like it but not "how it could be". PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �The Wind Through the matches the wind blew Caressing and weaving about the teaves Bending and ploughing the grass, Gently so St on steadity iast. The soothing brush oi the breeze, Ftowing, sensuat, beholding Stowing in /Lich sweetness and cteantiness, Atways there ,so youltt never be 6tiendtess. Mown and golden edged in black the moment Where you crushed my chin in you/L. 6ist And I Leaned °vet without thinking Kissed you on the mouth 40 solitty I Liked the taste 40 much it seated me And I drew back. On the beach waters it entertains you. Showing you its enetgy, its pow n, Stinning viatentty on shaking tovingty the blue, Jotting and sttiking but never at you. Goddamn you and your ttuth6ut whispets Goddamn you and yout mouth 1 should kitt you ion_ att the broken glass sptendot, Roaning to the iuttest masses, Mighty axe the cuts tents which never test, Son the best. No matte& what it does, i your ctuet gestures break me. It L majestic in att Jutie Stojko Tennace Bay Actoss my kitchen goon And the rings in my hand But instead you break me Deitdte Ham Thunder Say Why am 1 the one to do the dishes, and wash the goons, make art the meats and not compLain? POETRY Am I here onty to have the babies change the diapers do the shopping and keep smiting? When move money is needed, 1 go to won& and make a meagre Living, I take the bus everyday white you take the cat. BETRAYED There was a man With whom I chose to Live. The others did not matter, 06 no cane did I give. Unshamety there was Love, and cane. There was this woman Who said she was a sistet. Who cowed resist het? Behind a deceptive smite She puttayed a 6tiend and assistot. What contemptuous deeds, Have been done in the name o6 Sistethood. She slept with my man, "you're my sister, so I could." "Whyte", I recounted "is thiis sisterhood?" Promising tespect and considetation o6 women Ruining something o6 mine that was good I condemn him But I condemn you too. I witt sttip you o6 your deceptive 4m-ice, 1 witt sttip you o6 you/L. thetotic. What then, sister, £4 theme te6t but gwUe. There is no cane oi hutting hen, That who you pto6ess to protect. 06 distespect and contempt, To that woman you project. Sexuaeity that £4 not yout night Fon other women's men you Sight. You ate no sistet o6 mine Yout acts and yout kind. What contemptuous deeds Have been done in the name o6 Sistethood! Doreen Boucher Why, when something is bought it is away:5 youits never mine because art my money went into just sutviving? And you tett me It £4 better that evetything is youts. A6tet att, women can't handle money, and things tike that. And then you wondeA why I packed my bags, walked out and started a new ti6e os my own. Eve/77 To The Pink Goodie Cutlet Set I was having a good time untie a boy tad me to shave my Legs and stop spitting on the ground my ti6e was very simple then a Lady teacher said to weak dresses to the knee and paint my Lace to prove non-mascutinity I used to be a happy gint penson then glamour magazine said I should be mattied and dependant I was 6tee goating enetgy why did "society" teach me not to be me now, evetytime I breathe 1 must explain and prove my honesty in order to be the tittte gite again I must terrain 6nom potitics and tegatities the peon inside oi me canes not i6 it £4 mate of iemate the peAson inside this ptison is a human-being 6itst this body-cage-machine matte/Ls tittte oi its' sex my point £4 to tespect every 6otm o6 humaness Beverly Pudas Thundet Bay Aug.22nd, 7977 northern woman journal page 5 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DOING IT TO US The job situation for women in Thunder Bay is absolutely horrifying. am one of many women, university educated, who for the past few years has gone from job to UIC benefits to job, etc. Collecting U.I. benefits has to be the most degrading and humiliating experience. The workers at the UIC building behave as though the money you are collecting and it is rightfully yours) comes from their own personal bank account. They suggest that you are a liar, a burden on the country and that you are "ripping off" the government. Women, more than men, are generally harrassed. After all, most women are not unionized, and from my experience, UIC workers assume they don't know their rights. Some unions (male oriented) don't even have to go to Manpower for interviews cr to the U.I.0 office because their union has made a deal with them. Their unions are considered their sole hiring agent. This means of course that if these men refuse a job for lower wages than they were getting before, or whatever, U.I.C. will not "cut them off" because they have no knowledge of their activities. Whereas they know almost every move you make when you do not belong to a union. Many men in trades, plumbers, electricians etc. are not harrassed or "cut off" because they are considered trained in a specific area and are usually unionized. After a certain number of weeks there is a system where you can be demoted. For example--if you are a nurse after this certain number of weeks,U.I.C. can make you work as a waitress for minimum wage even though you may have made two or three times that amount. These woman are trained too, but U.I.C. doesn't seem to really recognize this. There is a case that happened last year to a woman collecting U.I. benefits who was making $150.00 a week before being laid off. She was "cut off" when she said she could not possibly work for anything under $3.00 an hour because she had babysitting expenses that would cost her $12.00 a day. That would cut her wages in half and she would be living on $60. a week-no wonder women are forced to live on welfare--they can make more MANPOWER AND U.I.C. - If you want to speak to a counsel for at Manpower or UIC - demand it. It is your right. 7) Ask the Interrogation Officer if she/he can provide any ideas for jobs if you get to the point where you don't know where else to apply. That is also part of their job. 6) Following is the procedure when applying for UIC benefits: I The first step when applying for UIC benefits is to be interviewed by a counsellor at your local Manpower office who will determine if you are eligible for benefits. Then they will fit you into a category they.believe suitable. You are then given an application form for UIC benefits. Remember to have your If you separation slip with you. have not received it, your previous employer has five days to send it After filling out the apto you. plication form, some people (not all) will be asked to go to the UIC office for a group interview. If you are not called within two weeks of applying, they have not forgotten you, you will be called eventually. At the group interview, be prepared to wait at least ten minutes after the set time to be called in. You will be directed to a room to watch a film which is incredibly immature and an insult to intelligence. The counsellor will then explain your rights and obligations under the UIC Act. Before you leave, you will be given a Job Search form which you must complete before returning for your next interview (in about a month). Possibly it has changed, but last year was called into the office every two weeks for three months and my Job Search form was checked for approval. ( money. It's a wonder no one has nervous breakdowns while collecting benefits. recall last year that every time the phone would ring would contemplate whether to answer it or not for fear that the U.I.C. Interrogation department were checking on me and heaven forbid wouldn't want to be caught having a cup of tea when should be on the street begging for I I I I a job. An organized group is needed to harrass these bureaucrats back and stand up to their abuses, perhaps calling itself the UIC Action Group. Something must be done to stop this unnecessary harrassment of people who's rights are being violated. W.I. C.) I I I I I tto,:r4ftiox,ii e V1C4 .-Sr..r4 sr- ,cloys k &,1.1 . I'm a secretary, at least accord, ing to my work history and my marketable skills. In my heart am no a secretary. want better things: to be able to use my head, to have freedom of movement, to make a livii I've tried in the past to ge wage. Manpower to recognize my own desire for something better. I've asked t( be registered as a labourer, told was interested in different them training, perhaps heavy equipment Of course, my clerical operating. skills remain on record, and since they are much more impressive than my lack of training in other areas, and since there has been a period was collecting U.I.C., the when times they have called, they have called to tell me about available And that is frequen clerical work. My heart ly at least once a week. pick up the phone dies ever" time and my helpful Manpower Counsellor asking me if I'm interested in a secretarial job at $4.00/hr. "Of course, of course", say to the U11 police force, "What's the address, I'll call to arran, what's the pay? I'll let you know ho an interview. it turns out." And all the time I', like to scream, "Leave me alone stuff your typing jobs at $4.00 an Help me find something diffe hour! ent, give me some support to break out of the typing pool, open up you training courses in male-oriented expect fields to women." But if that next UIC cheque to keep me goil explore other alternatives while keep my mouth shut. my own, I I vt-it.rrt.(Aqii I NEFAer;,-iizieT I I 04ue 145+ oLppl,eck -Ccr \ c\os e. mo,41,.. When you go for your interview, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!! Because they have a quota (for cut-offs), many will try to trick you. Here are some important rights to know: 1) Read the pamphlet they have given you very carefully. If you do not understand something in it, ask for a better explanation from a UIC counsellor. (That is their job) 2) Don't sign anything unless you Again, ask have read it carefully. if there is something you don't understand. No matter what education you have, tell them you will work for less money and will take any kind of job. 4) Apply for Every job Manpower sends 3) you. 5) Check in with Manpower once a month - talk to the person at the information desk. She/he will mark down on a pink card that you were there. northern woman journal page 6 Testimonial : 1 I've been working for some years had Grade 9 typing and begat working for agencies selling tempor, did this for a clerical workers. never wanted to long time because accept the fact that secretarial wo always might be my lot in life. figured, this is a temporary job, won't be here long, when this is ov, I'll go on to something different. would work for $3.50 an hour. The company selling me would get $1.00 hour for finding me a job, screening me and sending me my pay cheque. Manpower has never challenged these Right here in Thunder Ba, agencies. such an employment agency exists, and is able to find work for women looking for temporary jobs, and yet Manpower hasn't/won't do the same. and give the women in those jobs th, extra money that private agencies currently make. now. I I I I I , It seems Manpower plays an effec ive police role for both private agencies and UIC, and provides a fairly efficient, cheap service for employers looking mainly for cheap If UIC labour to do "shit work". continued on page 7 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �filed nerFive other men and vously into a room and sat around a hadn't written any kind big table. "Please don't let of test in years. We played word prayed. me fail," games, games to indicate hand and finger dexterity, simple algebra, basic geometry, the usual shape puzzles and round peg/square hole I continued from page 6 wants to take a few claimants off its roles, it can call Manpower to put pressure on claimants who have little choice about the kind of work they accept. If an employer has unsavoury jobs to do and doesn't want to pay to have someone do them, he can call Manpower and count on their coercive abilities to again shame someone into working who has little choice or training. And the private agencies can count on Manpower to leave them a clear field for providing another cheap, convenient service to employers while cheating their workers out of their rightful wage. I I tests. Then it was on to the interest All of these were done under the direction of a monitor with stop watch. staggered out at noon - a nervous wreck. They informed me that would need another 2 hours to go over the results with my counsellor.. And so returned the next week. tests. I I I The worst thing about both UIC and Manpower is the image they present as defenders of the public good. The progaganda certainly contradicts my And experiences with both agencies. what so often happens is that I'm fooled by the pitch, and start to believe that it may be my fault that can't find a better job. r r If You're Smart - Don't Bother with 0 4 was out of work. Last spring UnThe first time in twenty years. able to return to my trade because of applied for U.I.C. and an allergy, registered with Canada Manpower. I I I I I I I thought you were goir "Anyway to retrain me? How about welding?" "Oh no, you can see by your interest chart, that you hate routir It would be a bad investment for us to place you in something that you would be bored with in a year or twc said Mr. C. told him Iwouldn'tbe When evoked a sick smi' bored on payday told him I'd done hous( from him. work for 20 years and couldn't thinl didn't of anything more boring. quit that. Another sick smile flow "Well is there an, across his face. can be retrained in, what thing asl about a professor of English?" "We have to take into consider ation how many years it would take and your age." "So you're not going to retrail could do How about your job, me. This got a real hissed. this," chuckle out of Mr. Counsellor. "I suggest you go to the Chron icle Journal and apply for a job there," he said, "but you might have to start at the bottom. didn't mind start told him I I I We went over these results, my creativity was high, routine was low, All these results were etc., etc. numbered and this gave me a rating. My number started with 836. He showed me how we would look up my number in a great red book to see what kind of job would like. We went to a private room upstairs to evaluate my results. My counsellor drew a Bell Curve for me, explaining that the first section indicated the 10 percent of the population who are in the below average range of intelligence. The large middle section was the 80 percent of the population who are average and the end of the line indicated the 10 percent of the population who have above average intelligence. "Where do you think you are on this curve," he asked. "Well probably about here," said, indicating somewhere in the upper average range. "No, no," he said and smiled, "you are right here," and he pointed He was really to the top ten percent. "You can do anything - anything you set your mind to." thought, "now "Oh good," don't have to get stuck with a clerkI I I I I I I I ing at the bottom, but I was a litt too old to scrub floors. "I can't They'll laugh me right even type. How about retraining me in there. typing, then at least I'd have a sk to sell." He blinked at me and said, "We we can't retrain you in just one su ject, you would have to take the wh secretarial course. And as you can see by your interest chart you real hate routine and need a challenging job to keep interest up. So you ca see that would be a bad investment. told him that my babysitter could only stay two hours and had already been there for 21 hours. have to leave. "Let me know what you come up left. with," he called as waited for the bus thou As "let me know how YOU make out..What is his job anyway?"...What ever it could do it. Five hours I'm sure spent at Canada Manpower and still job....What do they do there? wonder where you apply for a job wi Canada Manpower? My counsellor did tell me." I I I ing job. I had an interview Eventually told him that with a counsellor. would really like to be retrained in some other field. He thought this was an excellent idea and said that would first have to take some tests to see where my aptitudes and interThese tests are given in ests lay. would the morning he explained and need 21 to 3 hrs. to complete them. arranged for a babysitter and reported for testing bright and early at ten tp mine Wednesday morning. said. I happy. Canada Manpower I I Vn I (Manpower) I I I Testimonial: I I I Are you willing to accept any kind of work - at minimum wage? Waitressing? Babysitting? Cleaning House? I I CANADA MAN POWER I have never outrightly been harTheir method of operrassed by UIC. ation seems much more subtle: telephone calls from Manpower to let me know there are always jobs if I'm willing to work for minimum wage; cheques delayed in the mail; the constant pressure of knowing that UIC requires a job search form; being called into interviews and being given helpful suggestions by a UIC counsellor while she tries to find out the "real" ,truth - have you been looking for work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? to be a film director?" "Well no, "he said. We went through the red book and the possibi Marvellous job ities were endless. could hardafter marvellous job. ly contain myself. "They are really going to get IT thought to myself. a great job," Mr. C was ecstatic as he read Finthrough this prestigious list. "We'll go ally he closed the book. downstairs and see what is available for you." After we wer said. "Great:" seated, he burrowed through some papers and finally said, "well this isn't the greatest but..." said. "What is it," "Clerk at a stationery store, $2.65 an hour with Sunday and Monday off." am a Universil "Are you nuts, said. professor, remember," guess you're right, it "Well doesn't sound too interesting," he "Now," he said, "the important thing is to check your interest chart. We must see where you would be most happy." Mr. Counsellor flipped through "836... the pages of the red book. 836 Ah yes, here we are, Professor of Anthropology, Professor of Archaeology, Professor of English." He read on and on. thought, "they are go"Wow," ing to send me to university." Then could we looked up 638. This time be a film director, an editor of a newspaper or a stage manager. "Hey," said, "are you going to retrain me I I I I I I I 4'0 (nameg bv 0 u. reAstw6,s northern woman journal page 7 I PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Women Against Rape Local News In May of this year, the Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre acquired two paid staff for the interim of ten months through a Canada The women that Works grant. were hired are Bev Pudas, who has a lot of experience in the communications field, and myself, Doreen Boucher. We will be endeavouring to fulfill the criteria of the Rape and. Sexual Assault Centre of victim support, education, and social change, as well as co-ordination of activities of the Centre. There are various projects in the making. An education kit will be ready for the fall to be distributed to schools, public speaking engagments, etc. We are in need of additional volunteers who can help in areas of victim support, public speaking, fund raising, etc. We are sensitive to the problem that many people would like to help but hold back because they do not feel they have skills to In order to overcontribute. come this dilemma, we are considering training sessions for the fall, and individualized Interest is training manuals. the first step, direction, hopefully, will follow. If you are interested in attending meetings, please call us and we will inform you of Our number our next meeting. is 623-3220. We have an answering service that takes calls if we are not in the office, and we return any calls we receive. Bev, myself and concerned individuals have been monitoring court cases. There will be two cases coming up during the fall assizes. It is our intention to monitor furthercases that come up and lend solidarity and support to the victim through our presence. We cannot print any information on one particular case which will be going to trial in the fall. The defense lawyer for the accused requested that none of the material on the preliminary trial (which we attended) be made public,and the judge granted this request. We are abiding to this condition because we do not wish to jeopardize the victim's case in court. We will inform interested parties as to the date of the trial, with the understanding that those who attend the trial are doing so in support of the victim, and will respond to the circumstances with discipline regardless of how much our sensibilities are outraged. I am writing this with the hope that the judicial system will northern woman journal page If come forth with justice. this does not happen, we will not be silenced. under the code of silence enforced by the Italian attitude toward women. There is a growing sense of outrage in some Italian women who no longer want rape to be silenced by attitude and tradThe risk one took by ition. rape was disownment by father, family or husband for disgracItalian feming the family. inists are angry about this tendency that openly reveals the contempt for women in Italian society. They are further outraged by the treatment of police and the ten synecological examinations one has to go through if raped. Women are now demanding public It hearing on rape charges. has been revealed that rape in Italy is a bigger problem than realized--gang rapes being the "thing" for bored youths practising violence and torture. One woman came to the front to symbolize this struggle, and was firmly backed by Italian feminists who took up her cause. International News One news item that has gained a place of distinction is the Claudia Caputi case in Rome. There is a dilemma involved with the sensationalism that was We induced by the mass media. recognize the need for some exposure of the atrocities of rape, but this kind of news does not seem to get priority or coverage by conventional media unless the attack is of such brutal calibre that it results in murder--and in those circumstances, the rape Otherwise, is minimized. rape is swept into a basket or relegated to an inch column on the last page of a newspaper. It is not often treated with sensitivity. The Caputi case is unusual because of the social and political impact in the geographical boundaries in which the rape occurred--Italy. Bound and restrained by male domination in a system that would prefer a rape victim to marry her attacker and put an end to the whole insignificant This is only the incident. second time in judicial history that a woman has chosen to make public the crime of rape committed against her. There have been rapes, and perhaps as brutal and sadistic attacks made previously on Italian women, but they chose silence rather than family Therefore, we will disgrace. never know their torment Claudia was not a feminist at the time of her rape. She had gone to Rome to work, leaving behind a small, poverty-stricken village. One summer evening, she was walking with a teenage man and was chased by a gang of 17 youths who threatened her with a club She identified and raped her. some of the rapists before she was transported to the hosSeven were arrested, pital. including her "friend" who joined in on the rape. Backed by her employer, two well-known lawyers and feminists, she defied tradition and demanded a public trial. Because she pursued the case against the rapists, she received threats on her life. Four days later, she was found semi-conscious by a road She told police that side. she had been abducted coming from her lawyers' office and raped and slashed with a razor blade several times over her breasts, face and legs. The new abductors were recognized by Claudia as members of the gang from the first Within 24 hours,an estrape. imated 15-20,000 women marched into the assailants' neighbourhood in outrage against the latest assault on Claudia's The group was made up of life. various feminist collectives, the UDI (Union of Italian Women) and the large national organization of Communist women. Feminists took up a 24hour vigil at Claudia's bedside. Complications and political manoeuverings followed. The original judge selected for the case was replaced by an extreme conservative, Paolini 8 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �When the charges Dell'Anno. for the second rape were filed, the next in line as prosecutor was side-stepped and Dell'Anno took over, something almost unheard of in Italian judicial procedure. The prosecutor's next move was that after he had interrogated Claudia in the hospital, without her lawyers present, he announced that he felt Claudia had devised the second assault and mutilated her own body. (Doctors' reports later showed that the lesions could not have been self-inflicted.) Conflicting statments from Claudia further clouded the Claudia's lawyers askissue. ed the public prosecutor to resign because of obvious prejudice, and he refused. The lawyers walked out in protest, as 4-5,000 angry women waited in front of the justice hall in defiance of the attitude of Dell'Anno, and the exploitation of and violence toward women. Further complications resulted when the possibility of Claudia's involvment with prostitution was rumoured. Her background was not unusual. She was raised in poverty in a small village and attempted to leave this situation by going to work in the big city. She answered a request for employment advertized in a Rome newspaper. Her employer, Vito Gemma, evidently wanted a bed partner as well as a housekeeper. Without friends, family or money she adjusted to these circumstances in the only way she could. The only alternative she had was to give in to the situation. We, who feel we are sophisticated in the art of survival, should remember that in Italy, women are not encouraged to participate in the labour force, and there are few alternatives to choose from. When Vito Gemma was rumoured to be involved with organized crime and prostitution, Claudia's involvement with prostitution became a viable concern although details of her inclusion are not clear. Italian feminists were thrown for a loop. Some withdrew their support, others chose to stay by her side. Some realized that rape is political, as are other facets of female exploitation. The Italian movement had some stiff competition to face up to. On one hand, their religious upbringing that condemns contraception, abortion and prostitution, and held sacred strong extended family ties, came into collision with the rape of a prostitute. Obviously, if the fact of Claudia's relationship to prostitution caused so much disorder within the Italian feminist movement, the response in the general populace would have been disastrous in Claudia's bid for judicial retribu- The prejudice against (Her her was already rampant. own father had slapped her when she told him she had been raped, telling her that it was her own fault for leaving home and trying to make it on her own.) The discussion of prostitution was kept out of the case by Claudia's defense lawyers until the moment was right, and the feminists were given time to regroup and take a stand on prostitution. Seven of the youths were sentenced to prison terms, with four released on probation because they had been underage. The "friend" of Claudia's who joined in on the rape was charged only with public obscenity because Claudia had originally accepted his invitation. Some of the defense statments reveal the degree of seriousness they attributed to the crime. "My client did not know such a sexual act was against the law." "My client was one of the last. If he refused they would have thought he was impotent." "Boys will be boys, and when a girl likes to go out and have a good time, she has to expect trouble (emphasis mine)." tion. _00,Inftc1/4 1.40t5Or+ toow.e.AN's-ce4ke. exreS> To further add insult the lawyer accused Claudia of having a phallic fetish - inferring prostitution. He reminded the judge that the testimony of minors and prostitutes is not valid evidence. Claudia disappeared with the help of feminists and her whereabouts are unknown. Vita Femma was arrested for perjury because he gave conflicting statements during the trial. He tripped up on dates and time regarding the second rape. In a sworn affidavit, after Gemma's arrest Claudia admitted to perjury because she feared for her life. She charged Gemma with setting up the second rape to keep her quiet regarding the first. Circumstances are rather vague and scattered. Obvious- ly the situation turned out to be less than "ideal" for setting a precedent in changing realities regarding attitudes and behaviour toward But it made rape victims. the Italian women face up to the broader implications of female exploitations part of which involves prostitution. A single court case cannot end the repression and stigma toward women in Italian society but to those involved, the economic necessity of prostitution became part and parcel of the whole issue of rape. Is it any less a crime if the victim is a prostitute? If a prostitute cannot say no then would it be any more unrealistic for those of us with husbands and lovers to deny ourselves the right to choose if we want sex or not when a partner demands or wants it? Nineteen percent of Italian women are employed and this number is decreasing. Prostitution is an avenue open to women being denied education and resources to enter into other "The avenues and occupations. growth of a revolutionary feminist movement depends on our understanding, and of combatting the mechanisms which produce mass poverty, prostitution and rape - all of which are part of Claudia's personal experience." Off Our Backs, June 77 Perhaps this case will never be paralleled again as to its However, the complexities. violence of this case cannot be No amount of intellectdenied. ualizing and moralizing can diminish the degree of degradation inflicted on Claudia and thus, women. We cannot begin to imagine the attitude and climate toward women unless we have been brought up ourselves under the Italian rule of female silences and obedience, pope, power and poverty. Prostitution has relevance in our own court system as well. The condition of "lack of consent" comes into play in a court case. Who says a prostitute has the right to say no? There is hope. A new generation of Italian women might learn from Claudia's experience if one recent situation is any indication of the rejection of submissiveness in Italian women._ Reportedly, 400 girls at a Milan highschool held a nineteen year old youth hostage in a "people's trial" after he was accused of rape. Only after the mother informed police was he released. The process seems slow but it only takes one assisted by others before the ball begins to roll. We hope for a mountain and lots of snow. Doreen Boucher On page 12 is the survey. Please fill in conscienciously and send to: Rape and Sexual Assault Centre McKellar Hospital, Box 47, Thunder Bay "F", Ontario. northern woman journal page 9 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �women in music THE WOMEN S WORKSHOP "We are each our sisters, mothers, We daughters, lovers and friends. have our own quests and struggles. We are We are workers and slaves. We artists and revolutionaries. have a mythology and herstory. We need to sing with and for each other...We need those shared highs that give us the energy to go ahead in our lonely quests for selfrealization. We need to sing our lives and share If we don't sifg for our songs. ourselves, no one will sing for us." NORTHERN LIGHTS FOLK FESTIVAL I went to the Sudbury Folk Festival on July 15, 16 and 17 of this year, and from my experience there, I decided to do an article on Wbmen in Music. Because this is a very complex topic, all that I hope to do is share some of my impressions, and perhaps from thLE, more specific areas can be exanined in future issues. The Northern Lights Folk Festival is a valuable concept because it draws a large part of its music and people specifically from the Northern regions, as well as from other parts of Canada. It supports and encourages talent from Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, etc., and it reflects the English, French and Native cultures through its music and crafts. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for women. What I mean by this is that, while women did participate in the festival, their numbers in all areas were either significantly less than their male counterparts or, in some cases, non-existent. For example, workshops took place everyday from 12 noon to 5 p.m. This is supposed to be a time when, people get together and share their music with other performers as well as with the audience. Approximately 81% of the performers invited to share their craft were men. In workshops for individual performers, women made up 39% of the total. In mixed workshops (male and female), this declined to 25%, and workshops which were hosted by women totalled only 20%. The evening concert performers included women even less often. Out of 17 evening concerts scheduled for the three-day festival ,only one woman was billed for a solo performance; only four women who appeared on the stage with men as part of a group. In contrast, there were 10 men scheduled for solo performances (some of whom had male back-up musicians) and four groups with men only. I think these figures are significant in terms of the kinds of struggles women musicians are underIt is certainly not that going. there is a shortage of women who are capable or available, but perhaps more a reflection of how the organizers of the festival perceive women in relation to music. The festival organizers gave names to the workshops that were meant to indicate what kind of music you could expect to hear. For example, there were workshops called Honky Tonkin, Songwriting, Blues with a FUse, Unusual Instruments, Northern Songs, Love Songs, Latin American, Odes to Mbther Nature, Songs of Protest, and, finally, one called Women. Now that's leaving a workshop wide open. All you have to do to participate is to be a woman. Host Rika Ruebsaat introduced the workshop by pointing this out. She felt strongly that it was not enough to label a workshop Women without talking about the importance of the music to be found there. She saw the workshop as a "token gesture", and suggested that a specific theme such as "Sexual Liberation Songs" might have been more appropriate. I can see the value of a women's workshop with a Sexual Liberation theme as a way to combat the traditional view of women, which for example includes the view that women "just sing" while the men "play"--leaving the real talent and authority to be seen through male musicians. Women being there "just to dress up the act". In this workshop, sane excellent music was shared, although there were some disturbing elements seem to indicate we still have a long way to go. - one woman ignored the female back up, and asked men to cone up and play "One time the M.C. forgot the name of the female half of the performing It's hard to imagine the duo. reverse happening, that is, the man's name being forgotten. Ellen Shumsky from Sing Out, Vol. 25, No. 2, 2976 INA6 6sA4m.64RN- "The judge said, Screw 'em, Boys, you're only human. They brought it on themselves being born a woman. Like a mountain's there to climb and food's there to be eaten woman's there to rape to be shoved around and beaten." Malvina Reynolds from The Judge Said BACK IN THUNDER BAY Caning back from Sudbury made me curious as to the kinds of struggles women locally were going Sane of through with their music. the women I approached talked about feeling vulnerable, always feeling on the outside, and constantly havir to "prove" themselves as good musicians. There were feelings express of belonging only on "male terms"- like a leader/follower structure, with women seldom in positions of leadership. "It's easier to stand by the side of the road and cry than to change the damn tire...it's easier to put on a record and live vicariously through Joni Mitchell, or putter about makinc, coffee, while the men play music in the living room, than to go through the pain of learning to play oneself. Holly Tannen A friend talked about what workin< with male musicians meant to her. She feels that it's important not to be fooled into believing you operate from the same power base as the men, and to avoid the trap of any special attention you receive as a woman performer because it could be a cage. I asked some women if they would like to play in an all-woman's band. Many of them felt that it would be fine if women worked together to develop a feeling of comeraderie, a sense of exploring the culture of women's music--to sing about their own experiences instead of always doing music related to men's experiences. "I could never write about a song But if I like Stand By Your Man. were to sing something Zike Stand By Your Man, my responsibility would be to put that song into some kind of context that says this attitude has to be overcome--but nevertheless_ this attitude is a reflection of women's experience." Alice Gerrard I can see support and encouragemer, occuring in this way, with women taking control over the kind of music in which they participate, in order to provide some rpal alternatives. Nothing could be better than .n and men) to work with people (w who were interested in change and responsible for the kinds of music they produce. While it would be nice for women to work together, we are still often faced with the old values. Competition is their within us all, because we've been geared to it--but for women, the roots of mistrust often go deeper. northern woman journal page 1C PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Although women may like to work with each other ,it is not a general rule. One woman in a group of men works very hard to acquire acceptance, but if there is more than one woman, feelings of fear and insecurity for your This type of position may surface. situation can then work as an advantage for some groups by keeping women isolated from each other--just as they do in society as a whole. It helps perpetuate the traditional power structure. Some women musicians feel they have reached a plateau when they are considered in a male group as "one of the guys". This deception, along with stereotypic relationships like "kid sister", "torch" between women and the men with whom they work, show how much further we need to go before we as people, as women, -1-71alans achieve equality in the truest sense. I have only touched on a few areas, but there are many more concerns and issues that should be talked about and shared: "Most of the Garlands loved to sing. We sang when we were happy, sang when we were sad. Sometimes I think be-ing a-le to express my feelings in song has kept me from going nuts." Sarah Ogan Gunning from Sing Out, Vol. 25, No.. 2, Z976 Albums: A Few Loving Women Lavender Jane Loves Women Lesbian Feminist Liberation, N.Y. ..77!E - sexism in music - what influence has the women's movement had on women in music - what contributions have women made throughout herstory in the field of music - what types of roles are women portrayed in--Mother Earth, .11cre, deceitful bitch what kinds of exoerience and struggles are women having locally? "We can't reach liberation unless But one the whole society changes. of the many problems under capitalism is the the competitive values we all have to Zive with. For example, it has been very hard to find men to accompany me. They feel ashamed, diminished and put down by accompanying a woman." Suni Paz Singer/songwriter from Argentina I'm Gonna Be An Engineer, Peggy Seeger "It should be noted that the song was written in Britain for British usage, and in Britain, an engineer is not a train-drive, but one of a huge body of industrial workers, a profession which includes toolmakers, lathe operators, fitters, etc. Give Your Hands to Struggle, songs by Bernice Reagon You Can Know All I Am Words and Music - Songbook Holly Near Held Over Malvina Malvina Reynolds, aZZ by Malvina Reynolds. Order directly from her own company, Schroder Music, 2027 Parker Street, Berkeley. ************************************************************************ Cur credibility grows, and with Women's place :omen's Place is settling in. What began as a possible dream is now functioning as a centre of various activities. The Women's Credit Union has a growing membership, with share capital around $15,000. The Northern Women's Centre has the hottest phone in town despite existing social services. The Citizen's Committee on Crisis Housing has become revitalized and re-committed to an eventual interval house specifically designed and operated for abused women and children, to supplement existing facilities. The Rape and Sexual Assault team have found it convenient to operate their research project from here. The Northern Woman Regional Journal has formed a strong collective of both old and new energy, with long term goals for the paper. The NWO Decade Council does its office work and keeps its files in their own space here. The files on the Herstory Project await future attention, but the joint effort to produce the Salt and Yeast book of poetry from the manuscript presented to the Journal by Gert Beadle, and illustrated by Sirpa Bishop, is in high gear. It will be "camera ready" in September. There are well over 100 women represented in minor and major roles in Women's Place, each group fully autonomous, with its own structure, but all moved by a single ideal, that of commitment to women. it our ccnfidence. The time has long pased when we can be dismissed as malcontents with no direction. We are a voice that has been too long silent in the pursuit of acceptance. With a little help from our friends, COMING SOON We are pleased to inform our friends and readers that the book of poetry we will speak carefully, thought- SALT ANDAND YEAST SALT YEASTpresented presented to to the the fully, and with conviction, in Journal in manuscript form by our defense of woman's right to be sister Gert Beadle is now being a full partner in the decisions It is readied for the publisher. that concern us all. a matter of great pride to us that from the financing to the final Women's Centre is open every day from 9am to 4pm and Thursday proof-reading it has been the combined efforts of a very special evening until ??? Thursday The talented artistry sisterhood. evening this fall a series of of Sirpa Bishop will get it's first information sharing meetings exposure in it's pages and the warm are planned to increasewoman's and human chronicle of one woman's awareness that they individually search for the larger truth in her as well as collectively need to own life over half a century will, examine their economic power. we feel, find it's place with women Stocks, bonds, Real Estate, your It is our intention everywhere. own business, 'and other investto share with women's groups a ments will be discussed with We invite profit in distribution. knowledgeable resource people. inquiries as to the method, write Come out and share with us your The NORTHERN WOMAN REGIONAL JOURNAL needs for economic growth. We for further information. can all learn together. Every other Thursday night meetings will be open discussion on a variety of topics emphasizing self awareness and growth potential as women. We will be sharing our frustra-' tions, problems as well as our joys and successes as women in our individual situations. We welcome everyone to share themselves so that we may all benefit and grow from each others experiences and thoughts, Phone 345-7802 for more information or to see what else is happening. NEW GROUPS THAT WILL BE FORMING. Being A Widow. Outers for Women. Newly Separated/Divorced. Over 60 and Female. Women's Breakfast Club. northern woman journal page 11 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Women Against Rape CON'T FROM PAGE 9 The Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre is attempting to compile statistices. We need honest, open responses. Please think carefully before answering. If more space is needed write on separate sheet and attach. Marital Status Present age Education 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) Race Occupation How long ago ? Have you been raped or attacked ? How many times ? Do you know anyone who has been raped ? How old were you at the time ? What time of the day/night was it ? Where did the rape occur ? Did you know the attacker ? What relationship to you Struggle ? Did you scream ? Have a weapon ? What kind ? Did the rapist have a weapon ? Did he threaten you ? Did you report the rape ? How did the hospital/ police treat you ? What circumstances surrounded the rape ? Were you hitchhiking ? Did you tell anyone about the rape ? Was there more than one rapist ? Did you have contact with the rapist after the rape ? Did the rape change your attitude toward men ? How ? Did the rape affect your sex life ? Did you become pregnant ? How was the pregnancy handled ? Has an employer ever requested or demanded sex from you ? What ethnic background would you think the rapist was from.? How old was the rapist ? What background do you judge him to be from ? Do you know if the attacker had previous rape charges ? What kind of notable qualities did he have ? As a child, were you ever sexually molested ? By Whom ? Have you taken self-defense ? In retrospect, would you handle the rape differently ? How ? ? Comments: IMO mom O 0 IMO= I OMEN II NM= I I MEM MEN UMW 11111111 speaking, in the dark as to what happens to that woman when she has, as it were, gone through the city mill, we have to ask ourselves, did she have the advantage of a restored self-confidence, was she exposed to any self-analysis, were her options clearly presented to her, could she in fact have had an alternative to marriage break up? It was generally felt we must begin a serious documentation encompassing both the agencies now involved in marital violence and the numbers of victims of that violence. Our location in Woman's Place presents us with the evidence we cannot deny; a survey in west-end Toronto presents us with the statistics that over 50% of women need it as a result of physical abuse, and further states that in more than half cases, there is no evidence of whether or not a satisfactory conclusion was reached in each case. We have no to believe the situation is any more enlightened here in Thunder Bay. have waited patiently for three years for the words "battered wives" to be spoken out loud, even in polite conion. Our mayor has been running around speaking for the sanctity of life, but we have yet to hear him give an n on the abused wife. Would he walk a mile for them--even for a crack at a bicycle? becomes more obvious to us every day that if ever a true refuge is in the future of this city, it must be through forts of a feminist group. crisis housing cont'd 0 MOON 0 MOM I izaction Guatanteed I MIMS O 10010101 BEATEN WOMAN FIGHTS BACK e, 1 was &Lazed to the teeth ked down McKibbon Stneet attoad o4 ziatheAing boy4 I woad be the 't evening toy oweted me with hoots and jems ng that's happened to me bon yea A4 ey once mote cacted the ()Zack ed o4 them to make a mock cat pated up to the cut() ompeetety teady to di4tatb amty I tai4ed my 6ace tty stated, sZowed my pace wanted to expne44 with pit.o4e nos4ed them out....with my 6inga s e. Bev Puda4 Women from the Women's Resource and Survival Centre in Keyport, N.J. have volunteered to set up a legal defense fund for a young woman, Roxanne had been batRoxanne Gay. tered for years by her husband, Blenda Gay, a defensive lineman for the Last Dec. after Philadelphia Eagles. hours of threats and beatings, Roxanne finally fought back and fatally stabbed her husband. Until recently Roxanne has had virtually no legal assistance. The Women's Centre has taken up her case in order to assist all women who may be punished by society's neglect of their terrifying situations. Besides the urgency and importance of Roxannes's position, this case has tremendous implications for battered women. Anyone wishing to write Roxanne may do so via the Women's Centre, and people are urged to send any donations possible to help pay for her defense to: Women's Resource and Survival Centre Roxanne Gay Legal Defense Fund 57 West Front St. Keyport, N.J. 07735 ern woman journal page 12 111111011i1 NI PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �NORTHERN WOMEN'S INTRODUCTION The concern for equal access to credit is based on the premise that women will only be equal with men when they have a measure of control in the This includes economic sphere. the ability to finance and pledge their credit just as it includes receiving equal pay for work of equal value. A major step in achieving this goal was taken when women began seeking independent financial commitments. This is the first in a continuing column from the Northern Women's Credit Union. This column will discuss some of the obstacles, both legal and social, that women have encountered and will continue to encounter until prejudices are challenged and eliminated. This first column is concerned with women and retail credit. CREDIT UNION occurred at their head office. Later a second card arrived still in 'his' name, this time accompanied with an explanation that -- here was the additional card had requested !!! cut this card, wrote a more indignant letter, mailed it, and was finally rewarded some weeks later. Even though the computer had only managed to spit out my first initial, it had managed to retain the Mrs., was satisfied. Fortunately my first initial and 'his' first initial are not the same or might have given up at this point. I I I I The second attempt to obtain credit came as a result of reading some material obtained from the Women's Credit Union office and an article in Chatelaine, July/77, on the importance of establishing a credit history. During the time of my marriage had opened, signed the agreement, and used extensively, various charge accounts. was also the person who was responsible for seeing they were paid, from a joint chequing account. (2) My husband rarely entered a store, let alone made purchases on the account. I I I I informed them now wanted a separate history kept, and this was agreed to. Now, after five letters, three phone calls, two interviews - not to mention the anger and frustration have two charge accounts in my name. will continue to proceed till all the accounts that use are in my name also. I I I I celebrate went to Simpsons-Sears to try and get an account with them. made purchases from this store on 'his' account CREDIT UNION day Oct. 20 I want to share two experhad in trying to obiences tain charge accounts with two local stores. The first was about a year was phoned by Macleods, ago. during a campaign they were having to get more charge custshould felt that omers. have done something earlier about getting accounts in my name but had not, so this seemed like an opportune time I I I I I to try. agreed to open an account with them on the condition that it would be in my name. (There was a long pause and then "just a moment please"). It appears she had not encountered this request before and had to consult someone with more authority. She returned to the phone and said this would be alright and that someone would be around to my home with the contract agreement. The person came, signed, emphasizing "my name only or don't want it". There was a space provided for on the application where the name of the spouse had to be entered. gave 'his' name but was not asked for any other information on 'him', employment etc. (1) A few weeks later the account card came and, you guessed it, it was 'his'name. cut it in half, wrote an indignant letter and mailed it to their head office. had first called the local office to complain and was told this 'oversight' I I I I I I I I I A testimony need three guesses. Having learned that the account with Simpsons-Sears was a joint one, dropped into the Credit Bureau (6) expecting that they would have a credit history on me. They did not. They did have an excellent history on my husband, however. The credit rating that had established while was single (7) was only kept for seven years. was also informed that if separate records on your credit history are to be kept, you must request that this be done. I a lot. filled in the application form (3) and within a few days received a phone call informing Me that could not have an I I account with them as my present employment was only on a contract basis and this was not considered permanent. My past, and lengthy employment, my financial contribution to the joint chequing account, my credit worthiness was all negated; it meant nothing to NORTHERN WOMEN'S CREDIT UNION 316 BAY ST. HOURS TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS 10 a.m. TO 5 p.m. THURSDAYS 7 p.m. TO 9 p.m. PH. 345-7802 them. Feeling that this refusal was not fair, wrote to the credit I manager asking that they confirm in writing the reason for their refusing me an account. (4) The manager responded to my letter thus, "I have reviewed your application for an account and wish to advise you that our decision can be revised, however an applicant must have steady employment to be considered....upon reviewing our files we found that in (year) you signed an agreement. This account was set up under your husbands name but has been a "joint account". (5) The letter also said could have a line of credit for $300. responded to this letter in agreement and requested that the account be set up using my first and last name, eliminating the titles denoting sex. (I could not tell by the signature from the credit manager whether it was a she or he) but didn't I I join now ! FOOTNOTES (1) Most lending agencies request information on your spouse, but if you have acceptable qualifications and plan to maintain the account on your own, you are not obliged to provide this infor.= mation. (2) The signature on the cheque means nothing - unless it cont'd page 14 I northern woman journal page 13 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �footnotes cont'd bounces - to the store or the Credit Bureau. The credit history belongs only to the person whose name is on the account. (3) The information asked for is not enough to determine properly whether you should be given credit. (4) Credit grantors in Ontario are legally required to give you their reasons, however it may be a phone call or a form letter listing many possible reasons. You take your pick. It is your responsibility to inquire within 60 days. (5) Creditors claim it is expensive for them to open two accounts for a family and with a choice between the husband and wife, they prefer to deal with the man. (6) At one time, a married woman could not only not get credit on her own, she was also denied access to the family's credit record unless her husband accompanied her. To-day the associated Credit Bureaus of Canada has a policy whereby a married woman who wants to establish a separate file may do so by advising the Credit Bureau. (7) You can maintain the credit history you had before you married and keep the accounts in your maiden name. There is no law that requires you adopt your husband's name. Married Women the Credit Ability Gap In recent years, women's desire to share in the market place equally with men is probably more pronounced. Their ability to do is often linked with their capacity to obtain credit. and in spite of the high cost of credit, its availability is vital in the upgrading of women's economic status because it determines their access to education, home ownership self employment, private transportation and independence. Few people would be able to buy homes, cars, and appliances without some form of credit. Some women, particularly divorced and separated women, suffer the results of being dependent on their husbands credit rating, even if they have worked and contributed to the family income. A woman who divorces must establish from scratch her own credit record. No matter how faithfully she may have contributed to the record it belongs to her husband. Widowed women "inherit" their husband's credit history. If it is not a good history they too must start from scratch and establish their own. It is important that married women should insist on having "true" joint accounts or separate accounts. In the area of retail credit we can start by examining What Can We Do In the area of retail credit we can start by examining those charge cards we use. Some women believe that the space provided for our own signature means the account is ours, however, these are only courtesy cards and the computer punched name in them is the name of the person whose credit history is being recorded with the Credit Bureau. We should go to the Credit Bureau and ask that they set up a separate file for us. Although credit-granting policies and practises have changed considerably in the past year or so, the whole credit-granting industry will not necessarily be aware of all the changes. If you are denied credit and believe you have been discriminated against because of your sex or marital status, ask to see the credit officer of the agency involved. If your request for credit is still refused and you are not given a satisfactory explanation contact the Women's Advisor of the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, 555 Yonge St. Toronto, Ontario. And of course,(it goes without saying) join your own Northern Women's Credit Union, a good place to begin to establish your own credit history. As women we must pursue our right to obtain credit. The attitude is in general that women are poor credit risks. Regulations and rule will not be sufficient to combat tl attitude. The assumptions must be exposed as myths. Those that offer services to the public must be forced to treat women on the same foot ing as they treat men. Noreen Lavoie Credit Union update The Women's Credit Union is growing steadily. There a now 169 members with shares o over $17,000. This is an average growth rate of over $2,000 per month in the eight months we have been open. We have $6,900 of this money now out in loans with a further $2,200 in loans approved. We have $2,000 invested in the Ontario Credit Union League. Expenses to date have be( covered by the donation we received in January from the Northern Women's Centre. It is important that we maintain our growth rate. Yoi. can help promote the Credit Union by telling your friends about it and also by starting a Credit Union savings account for your children (a great way to encourage them to save). We urge our members who now have the minimum share in their accounts to increase their shares. The importance of regular (even if small) dep osits cannot be over-emphasize as well as saving your money you are helping make loans available to women in need. Welcome to our newest anc youngest members, Beverley anc Brandy Sedore, 19 month old twin daughters of Charlotte ar Randy Sedore. Betty Harkema CRISIS HOUSING The Citizem's Committee for Crisis Housing met August 15 and again August 17 at Woman's Place, 316 Bay Street, to revitalize our original intent to have in Thunder Bay an interval house specifically designed for abused women and children. Our membership of interested persons shows both growth and energy. We discussed seriously how we might supplement the present city family crisis homes in a way that recognized the basic needs of food and shelter as being met by them, and at the same time, provide that further service we see as necessary to the emotional stability of the women concerned. The value of continual followup which is nct met in the present circumstance, is a matter of great concern to us. Since we are, in a manner of Continued Page 12 northern woman journal page 14 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Decade Council News The International Women's Decade Co-ordinating Council of Northwestern Ontario held their monthly meeting at Confederation College on August 20. Plans are being made for an indepth evaluation seminar on Sept. 17 and 18. This will be for the purpose of assessing the work of the Decade Council in the last year and planning the direction for the next year. The focus of the Decade Council at the present time is on two very important issues, Waitresses' vs. the Tip Differential and the Widows' Pension Brief. Both of these briefs have been circulated throughout Northwestern Ontario by the Decade Council asking for support. Waitresses' Action Committee Since organizing last January, the Waitresses' Action Committee has been able to give a voice to the concerns of many workers in the tourist industry. They formed originally in response to proposals and lobbying by his industry to the Ontario Government to freeze the minimum wage of workers earning tips. In March 1976 a precedent was set for this, when a new category was formed, alcoholservers, who were to receive 15C less per hour than the standard minimum wage. These new proposals would expand that category to include all workers who receive tips, and increase the 'differential' to as much as 50c per hour. Action Committee, Immigrant Women's Centre and Opportunities for Advancement met with Tim Armstrong, Deputy Minister of Labour, Marnie Clark, head of the Women's Bureau and three The purpose of this other officials. meeting was to present to the Government a broad view of how not only waitresses would be affected by a lowered minimum wage, but how this would seriously limit the options for many other women in the paid labour force, who have had to continually fight just to keep their heads above water economically. The meeting ended with support from both the Deputy Minister and the Women's Bureau, and a pledge to take the call for a public forum to the Minister of Labour. These changes in the minimum wage would affect thousands of workers directly and even more, indirectly, by setting a precedent for an industry to obtain special privileges to pay for its crisis at our expense. The Waitresses' Action Committee, with much support, has driven a wedge into the Government's closed-door decision-making policy. Please get your organization to mail the form on this page in to the Minister of Labour, calling for a public forum cn minimum wage, before any changes are made. Widows' Pensions In response, an action committee was formed to oppose any impending lowering of the already much too low wages. A brief was circulated which gained support from a wide variety of organizations. Many groups wrote letters of support to their local rIPP's, newspapers, and the Ministry of Labour. Media coverage has been steady and sympathetic. This support has been crucial in pressuring the Government to consider a meeting to present demands and points of view. The need for a public forum for debate was a focal point of discussion when the Waitresses' Action Committee met with senior officials of the Ministry of Labour on June 27. RepTesentatives from the Waitresses' TO: Two areas of concern regarding widows' pensions for older women have been brought to the attention of the N.W.O. International Women's Decade Council. These are concerns that should be widely publicized so that all will be made aware of the injustices experienced particularly by widows in the 60 - 65 years of age bracket. Protests against these injustices should be voiced to all branches of government concerned with pension programs, urging correction of the existing conditions, and the inclusion of survivor's benefits in all pension plans both in public and private sectors. A news release from Ottawa published in a number of newspapers on February 24, 1977 stated: *"ELDERLY WIDOWS PREY TO PENSION WRINKLE. About 200 elderly women a month receive condolences from the federal government for the death of their husbands...and are informed that because of his death their old-age pension (his old-age pension and her Spouses Allowance) will be cut off. They are victims of a wrinkle in the rules governing the recently created Spouses' Allowance, paid to people aged 60 - 65. But the death of the elder marriage partner cancels out the pension of the other. It means that a combined monthly pension of as much as $460 is suddenly reduced to zero. The Spouses' Allowance was set up in 1975 to assist couples when only one partner is eligible for the Old Age Security pension, but where there is little or no other income. The spouse must be at least 60 to receive it and about 70,000 now do, most of them women. It is, in effect, an old-age pension paid early for those in need. But a clause in the rules says that the Spouses' Allowance is only payable to the spouse of a pensioner. If a pensioner dies, his pension dies with him and so does his wife's. Officials say about 200 penisons a month are lost because of this rule."* * (Toronto Sun, Feb. 24, 1977) May Sutton of the Decade Council has prepared a brief on this injustice affecting widows. Copies of the brief are available at Women's Place, 316 Bay St., Thunder Bay P. Letters of support for the brief can be written to: THE HONOURABLE MARC LALONDE, MINISTER OF HEALTH & WELFARE HOUSE OF COMMONS, OTTAWA, K1A OK9 THE HON. BETTE STEPHENSON, MINISTER OF LABOUR OF ONTARIO 400 University Ave., 14th Floor M7A 1T7 Toronto, Ontario We feel that changes of any kind in the minimum wage must not be made without consulting the people who are going to be affected. We demand, therefore, that the Ontario Government provide a public forum where workers can present their position to industry and Government. SIGNED: (organization or individual name) ADDRESS: northern woman journal page 15 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �DAY CARE NEWS " P ARE NTS " Parents who are using or interests in DAY CARE and AFTER SCHOOL LUNC1 What does this tell me about how AND BEFORE SCHOOL programmes PLEA: Council views day care? It tells write to your alderman requesting me they see child care as the sole their full uncompromising support responsibility of the parents; that complete quality child care servic they do not see children as our Emphasize the child's right to shared resource for the future; that complementary parenting as a comm"parents" is a special category, and unity and municipal responsibility "full paying parents" should be the A meeting for those concerned abot ones to help out the welfare parents, DAY CARE will be held at Women's instead of sharing the responsibility Centre on November 3, 1977. This equally between parents and non-parents. a regular Women's Centre meeting we'll discuss the philosophy of dE City Council has effectively care as well as plan some action limited day care to very high income strategies -for support of day care people and to very low income people. As someone in the middle , I know I would find it difficult (an understatement) to finance two children in day care, and even harder to finance three children. NEW RATES FOR THUNDER BAY MUNICIPAL DAY CARE As a parent who uses City Day Care, I received a schedule of the new rates effective September 1/77. For day care centres, the rates are Maybe it's a Council plot to I know reduce population growth. I've considered waiting till my son is 6 and in school before I produce yet another child. Maybe Council smugly assumes that one parent in every family (probably the mother) should be at home anyway. e m" now: $8.50 5.25 4.25 6.50 3.50 for for for for for full day half day with lunch half day without lunch 3/4 day (between 4 and 6 hrs) 2 hours or less If I have two children (or three), the above rates apply to each child. Before the price hikes, second and third children obtained "special family rates"--additional $1 per day per child. Now, two children in full day care would cost $340/month, and three children would cost $510:: For private home day care, the rates are now: $7.50 for full day, under 1 year old 8.00 full day, 1 to 21/2 years 8.50 full day, over 21/2 6.50 3/4 day, any age 5.25 half day with lunch 4.25 half day without lunch 3.50 two hours or less And the special family rates no longer apply here either. In the case of private home day care, it costs the City $7.80 per child per day to offer the service. This includes administrative costs. How many other City programs recover all expenses--including administrative? The extra $0.70 will not be applied toward improving the conditions of day care workers. Home providers will still be paid $7.50 per day per child ,without receiving sick pay or vacation pay benefits. "KIDDIES " BOOKS 16151111 Travels of Ms. Beaver Rosemary Allison I'm a Child of the City Ister Fine Grown-ups speak funny They say choo-choo When they mean train, And bunny When they mean rabbit. They say goo-goo to my sister Who's a baby. She laughs at them. I'm not surprised. My aunt calls a clock A tick tock. Our dog had puppies, My aunt calls them bow wows. Perhaps she didn't have the chance To go to kindergarten Like me. Strange St-Ann Powell All About Us Bonnie McSmithers Sue-Ann Alderson True Farm Stories, Freda Kamstra (local) My friend's mother Calls cows moo moos, And ducks quack quacks. My aunt should meet my friend's mother. My teacher knows The right words But she says them in a funny voice Like my mother uses To my sister. My grandpa speaks normal. Not many people understand him Except me. Anne Clifford, adult Kitchener, Ontario from Weekend Magazine northern woman journal page 16 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor �Graft I 4k* Poolift Gollft P.M P...40 owl 11%.0.01' Bulk En hombre third Milani, dam cisme 220 TENT.w ...or moo RETURN TO: mom m . . TABLE OF CONTENTS: : is ..... THE NORTHERN WOMAN 316 BAY ST. !Editorial THUNDER BAY P, ONT. Bits and Pieces Return Postage Guaranteed ' Feminist Books Poetry Doing it To Us Rape and Sexual Assault Women and Music Credit Union pg 4 31 5 6 8. 10 13 15 'DayNews Day Care 16 I Who Did This Issue - Eve, Pat, Doreen, Noreen, Gert, Thyra, Leona, Lenny, Julie, Peggy, nne, Sharo n, Donna, Betty, Lynne, so MMMIM= tnnette. l Want Call Free Free , . I11I MM all to get involved? 345-5841 weekdays to single-parent families 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 3 No 6 Description An account of the resource Vo. 3, No. 6 (1977) Title: Northern Woman Journal Topics include: Transition from paid staff to volunteer collective at the NWJ London, UK - Rapist reduced sentence Women’s Outers Club California - Hitchhiker Rapist acquittal/women’s coalition to overturn Cancer-causing cosmetics Group for women AA forming Acquittal of woman who acted in self defence against rape Feminist book list Poetry Unemployment insurance for women - sexism & harassment Comics Canada Manpower Women against rape Canada Works grant for Thunder Bay Rape and Sexual Assault Centre Claudia Caputi Case - Rome (media sensationalization of rape case; rape/marriage laws; feminist vigil; public trial) Rape as political Female employment rates Italy Women in music Northern Lights Folk Festival Women’s Place Thunder Bay Crisis housing Keyport, N.J - Women’s Resource & Survival Centre Northern Women’s Credit Union Married women & the Credit Ability Gap Decade Council Waitresses' Action Committee Widows’ pensions Day care news Authors/contributors: Gert Beadle Margaret Atwood (originally published by Anansi, Toronto, 1971) Julie Stojko Deidre Hamill Eve Pykerman Doreen Boucher Beverly Pudas Anne Clifford (Kitchener ON - Weekend Magazine) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Northern Woman Journal Collective Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Published on this site with permission. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1977 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 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/16/2752/1978_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/16/2753/1978_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/16/2754/1978_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