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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Women's Rights Department
Pope Joan: A Book Review
Feminism end Religion, py Olga Drucker
Women's Groups
Males Are Very Young, by Carolyn Dissosvay
A Women's Interdisciplinary Journal: Hectgte
Calendar snd Group News
Le Bonheur: A Film Review, by Sue Lasher
Women's Center
Oo OO oO Dw NH FS W pp a
Letters to SpeekOut
~
Oo
Education
Bartlett Amendment Dropped, DHEW Avpropriations
Bill Cleared
a)
©
U.S. Civil Rights Commission: Bartlett
Amendment Could Nullify Rights of
Poor Jomen 11
March for Life 12
Proposed Lezislation to Restrict Our Rights
to Abortion 12
Internstional Women's Year Ls
"WHEREAS, certain disagreements..." --— A
Seperation Agreement, by Carol Harp Biernacki 14
Brand Loyalty 15
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year
or 35% per issue at the local bookstore. Advertising is
$10.00 per quarter page, $18.00 per half page, and $30.00
for a whole page.
Mail subscriptions to: SPEAKOUT, P.O. Box 6165, Albany, NY 12206
Cover by Pom Scola, SUNYA
AS Rs Sees complaint vith tho Nev York State
Division of Human Rights. If you
need help, contact your local
NYCLU chenter or the NYCLU's Women's
Rights Project.
Nev FPoir Credit Lavy
On July 16 a nev stcte law become
effective prohibiting sex or mari-
tal status discrimination in any
s a 5 ye. : T a g alc
credit trensaction in Nerr Yor Some Rssint Cases
eferred, whether or not inter- By ‘ ‘ .
phar h a! Beso ad Yereds tar" League for rejecting gzirls who
as any bonk, pei Do —
"T 2 ail merchent pepe” er 7
| holes “a Or re . eae ce 1974, Commiseioner Jack Sable ox
credit card issuer, or finonce ‘ : the > ~ , 3
compeny. Under the lov, credi- the St-te Division of Human Rints
tors al not: oe , issued en order--agreed to by
| } stlowy ° f 4+. A ~ a e
1)Discriminote onthe besis of Little League Baseball, Inc.—-that:
sex, race, creed, color, nation-1)Little Leasve shall chenge oll
a] opisen or mecttal status in 28 policies and practices, written
the extension of credit. | end unvritten, that exclude sirls
2) Discriminate inthe fixine of i4YOmM Lull perticipation in Little
rates, terms or conditions of Uveagve or any team in New York State;
i tine at sear’ : 2)Each local Leasue shell be noti-
cll} L e 7 i a
3)Use ony form of application, fis od Little League, Inc., in
or make any inoviry concerning 3) ° ing, Of the change in policy;
the applic-nt's childbeerine J)end, Little Le-gue Besebell, Inc.,
capocity or use of any form of will enforce compliance vith the
> a :
. : 4 -,..new policy
birth control or femily pvleannin>: § bet é
4)Refuse to consider ei of _,slthough the baseball season is
)
:
|
|
:
|
i i ; stil veral i ayvay, ant .
an appliccnt's income or dis- 1 several months ovay, any Nev
: - York girl bettreen the aves of 8 and
oe *s ? a ae = oO : +4 cy, D C
a es te = he amie ke 12 ‘rho is barred from > Little
ec eal ee Se ee Onn Eee Bad ples contact NYCLU
apa . :
a ae : for assistance.
5)Require tromen to have co-
signers for loans or to re-pply Tosapane University Sued by Vomen ,
for credit after marriage if eae oe _8 ventral Net fork
same requirement is not made forviaPver Tiled chorges against
helt. = ob besa 10r relusinzs to hire fe-
II. If recvested in vriting by on males, denying equal terms and
epplicent for credit, a creditorCOMcitions of employment ond termi-
must furnish a statement of the oe age oe 8 SER. the Nev
specific reasons for rejection York State Division of Humen Rizhts
- Sy + mode a findine ber
of the crecit application. ane inte eee 1, sigh
III. Credit reporting bureaus must ‘epee re Reg aes gy Oo be=
eintrin = separate file for 1Scrimimeavion hed occurred
married ‘omen vho so request it @Sh.openes 2 tpll public ee.
in vriting. (This will overcone———~— —— — :
the historic practice of credit an sabut 28 oo benpo ee gugley ge ot
reportins bureaus which routine=from her job for refusing to cut
ly merge the vomen's credit fileher heir to comply vith en "above
into her husbend's file, erasing the collar" male hair srooming
any seperate credit history she resulation. The St-te Division of
mey have or earn during the Human Rights dismissed her compleint
marriage. ) because the heir code -ras found to
There is elso a new federal lay te fair since it vas applied equally
prohibiting credit discrimination. to males end females. NYCLU stofi
Ye recommend thot the Nev York Lc attorney David Beier, III, is
provides more protection -end is appecling the decision on the
easier to utilize. grounds that the hair code discrim-
Should you hove a credit discrim-fn-tes against women by imposing -
ination problem, you can file a | Continued oh poze gw
Omens ¢
At the convention of New York State N.O.W. (Natienal Organization for Women)
recently held in Albany, several workshops were being offered to those attending.
All were "meaningful" and "relevent" to the women's movement. I managed to get to
three of them, One was on Media, and one called "Assertive-Aggressive Behavior".
But none, I think, was as meaningful or as relevant, to me at any rate, as the one
listed simply as "Religion", _ Even now, a week or so later, I am still haunted by
the things that were said by some of the women there, as we sat on chairs and sofas
and plush hotel-carpeting in that smoky hotel room. I am awed by the ijplications.
I am filled with hope for the human race,
The essential questien which we all arrived at, after a geod half-hour of search-
ing and groping for the words was this: Is feminism a religion? We arrived at this
question in established C.R. fashion, C.R. stands for conscieusness raising, the
method being, briefly, to let everyone speak in turn, for a predetermined length of
time and -- most important -- without interruption. Questions for clarification
may be asked, but under no circumstances is the speaker drawn into argument, or in
any way put AG:
Using this method,we learned one another's religious backgrounds and our reasons
for being here at this particular workshop. We learned that feminists are: Protes-
tant, Jewish, Catholic, Agnostics, Atheists, Historians, Anthropologists, Existen-
tialists, followers of Eastern religions, poets and delvers into the occult. (In one
small room there were representatives of each of these. And each of these had ser-
ious questions or naging doubts or outright disagreements with their professed re-
ligions. (If you consider agnosticism and atheism forms of religion, as well as
communism or any other- ism.) We were serious, thinking women, who at last had the
opportunity to lay our cards on the table and to carefully examine our thoughts for
what may have been the first time for some of us.
All religious institutions, said our anthropolégist, just as all institutions,
such as family and education, are man-made. They were made by man, the male of the
species. Put, she concluded, from personal experience she realized that such in-
stitutions offer a means of identification. Someone pointed out that identification,
a sense of belonsing, is inherent in most animals, certainly in the gregarious human
species. Her ctesus Mication of humans as animal was not unanimously well received,
though most conceacd -- with reservations. She wondered why some feel so threatened
by this comesyt. It is, she thought, the one point at which all of us ought to begin.
We have vocal cords, she told us, through which we have learned to form words, which
have enabled some of us to arrive at reason and logical (?) conclusions.Period. If
that is what is meant by "soul"...?
Another woman held firmly to her very personal relationship with God: "I have
talked with God whenever I wented to. He has been a personal frierid all my life, ~
someone to whom I couid talk and who listened to me...all I had to do was switch him
on, ——- something like a switchboard operator..."
"Who is this God?" someone asked, And someone else wanted to know whether her
communication was in the form of dialogue or simply a one-way conversation. I felt
& momesary sense of loss for an innocent simplicity, and I knew I was not alone.
Words @0i phrases like "spiritual fescd-back", "personhood" and "androgany" were
scattered around, like seeds, expresising all. our needs, Other thoughts flew around
the room; if there isa Deity, is that Deity male or female? Does it need a sex
at all? Is Ged a noun or is it a Vero? Isi't organized religion another form of
politics? What about women priests? Why, ecnvore wondered, should women want to
enter the priesthood or the rabpvinate in the first plase, thus beceming themselves
part of the hierarchical system. Based on all this and more, we came, somewhat
a ‘
Feminism & Religion Cont'd.
painfully, at the main question: the possibility of a feminist theology. Will
feminism be our new religion? . 3
"Not yet." said.some. "The closest I've ever come to religious feeling", said
ethers. "I hope not!" said one. "If the women's movement should ever become
another hierarchical organized institution, please count me out!" she added with
emotion. Others agreed: the thought of writing down new rules thus formalizing,
erystalizing another religion, was "scary". The idea was rejected.
Perhaps the question was never answered. Then again, perhaps the answer came
a little closer to each woman who was wrestling with it that day. For myself, I
realized that in my own fervent denial of so-called spirituality in the human animal,
I am constantly reaffirming the undeniable fact that we need and forever seek
Something beyend our mere animal existence, Something that is Spiritua]l,that is
God, in whatever language. Perhaps it is to be found in feminism after all? If
feminism opens a new concept in our search for the meaning of Spiritua],and if this
new spirituality will open the door to universal personhood, a religious experience
not based, as are so many others, on guilt, then Right OM!
Olga Drucker
KXXKK KHKKK HHHKK KHXHK # HHHKK
WOMEN'S GROUPS
This is a listing of grouns which in our opinion have helped, and are
helping, to further tromen's rights in the srea. There are undoubtedly
some missing. We hope to receive feedback, information, and help in
makingthis list more thorough and inclusive.
American Association of University Women - Open to vomen with baccalau-
reate degrees from AAUW approved collezes and universities. They
help tromen to continue their intellectusl grorth end generally fur-
ther the advancement of tromen. Dr. Susan Smith 439-5143
American Civil Liberties Union - Doris Trashen 283-6274
Albany Women Against Rape - Nancy Dudley 489-8261
apital District Women - Widely based seroup whose emphasis is on con-
sciousness raising. . Ellen Smith 459-8393
Coalition for a Free Choice - Working to educate people about abortion
and contraception, md to prevent eny future restrictions on abor-
tion rights. Lauro Rossman 457-1294
crys 7 Katie Rich 345-7992
elmar Consciousness Raisins - Susan Nagel 439-7994
EGOS - Encoursge Girls’ Orzanized Sports - Joen Floyd 355-2925
Lait Women's Caucus — Women's eroup et Alb-ny Let School, working to aid
vomen througn legal means, and to interest more vomen in the lav
profession. Mcureen Ely 482-4565
League of Women Voters - Fran Levis 869-9317
Lesbions for Liberation - 332 Hudson Avenue, Albany
National Oreanization ror Women — Action oriented women's rights group.
"Anne Borel 434-1712 or 463-5195
Nev York State Lesislative Forum - Dedicated to stimulating interest
~~ “through veekly public meetings held during the legislative session:
publishes weekly lezislative review. Rezsin Adams 462-0891
! “i Continued on page [if
|
MALES ARE VERY YOUNG
by
Carolyn Bissosway
Crepidula is the genus name used by scientists for the snails also known as
slipper shells, beat shells or quarter decks, The reason for these popular names
is the presence of a shelly shelf which partly divides the oval shell of the snail.
The shell does resemble a small boat.
Slipper shell snails are pretandrous, they all hatch as immature males. To
become and remain sexually functional males the snails must live near females. If
a sexually mature male is isolated from females the gonads degenerate. If it is
then returned to the presence of a female the male organs regenerate, Male
Crepidulae are active. }
As inevitable as being born male is becoming female; unless the snail is first
jlled by disease or predators. Females grow rapidly. They are secentary. The
eggs are laid in fragile capsules which are incubated under the shelly shelf of the
female and are attached to the surface to which she is attached. Thousands of
eggs are laid per ovulatien.
The most common species found on the American Atlantic coast is Crepidula
fornicata*, This species forms chains ef snails. A male ready to become a female
attaches, by its foot, to an empty Crepidula shell, an empty cench shell or to
some other solid surface, or to the top of a living Crepidula's shell. A second
male attaches its self to the top of the first one's shell, and so on, Whike the
chain is still young a progression frem the basally attached females through in-
termediate forms to mature males exists. The males are usually, but not always
smaller. In elder chains the snails are all female and all approximately the same
size.
Many comparisons have been made between other animals and mankind, Readers
may jump to any comparisons they wish — including none at all.
* The arched slipper shell.
%* %* * * * * * * * * *
A Women's Interdisciplinary Journal
Hecate
Contributions welcomed in any area of the humanities or social
sciences. We are also interested in articles on vomen's position, or
involvement, in any other are-s. Reviews of films, plays, and
original poems and stories are also welcome, as well as eraphics
Si meta etc. A small payment will probably be made to contrib-
rse
First Issue: January 1975, and thereafter twice yearly
m M4 - re ay os = :
the closing date for copy for the first issue is lst December, 1974.
Overseas rates, including surface postage, are $4.00 per year
$2.50 per single issue
Subscriptions/contributions/articles to Carole Ferrier, English
Department, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia 40€
Calendar’ and Group News
Womens Center Library
Rose Baker and her committee
are hard at work planning a
library for the new Center on
Lancaster St. All interested
women should come to the plann-
ing meeting to be held at the ~
Center, 128 Lancaster Street,
Albany on Janua 6 at 7 p.m.
Anyone wishing to donate books
or other materials should con-
tact Rose Baker ( 482-7928 ) or
write 41 Manning Blvd.
Albany, N.Y.
SPEAKOUT is pleased to donate
its collection of exchange per-
iodicals, We have some back
issues as well as the current
issues of small feminist press
from all over the country. We
really enjoy reading them and
we hope all of our readers will
now also. These journals are
not held by most libraries
because they are small, often
local efforts by sisters who
like SPEAKOUT cannot afford the
fancy printed , glossy wrapping.
We love them all the more.
ER
1
Marxist -' Feminist Study Group
vet weit RA kee week
This month the greup will be
studying WOMANS ESTATE by
Juliet Mitchell. Please call
Mickey Green for more information
and for copies of the book. They
are pleased to announce that the.
next meeting will be at the
Womens Center ;:
January 6 7:30 p.m.
New women are welcome !!!
eke ve wee ka vk % wee
League of Women Voters
January 9 8p.m.
The Bank, Guilderland >
Routes 155 and 20
There will be a report of the
League's study of pretrial pro-
ceedings , bail and counsel for
the indigent.
New York Legislative Forum
Forum is gedicated to stimulating
interest in legislation through
weekly public meetings held
during the NY State Legislative
Session. A review of current
legislation known as the CLIP-
SHEET is published weekly. For
further information please
contact Reszin Adams 462-0891
112 Chestnut Street, Albany, N.Y.
12210.
Forum is a non-partisan,
mational organization © All
Forum meetings are held in
Chancellor's Hall in the State
Education... ~ Building in Albany
from 10 a. me until 12 p.m. and
are open to hte public.
Any groups wishing to join
should send $5.00 and the names
of three delegates to:
Pat Thomas
8 Locust Lane
Loudonville, N.Y. 12011
Clipsheet subscriptions are ©
available from the same address
infor-
_at $4.00 per year.
Officers for 1975 :
Gertrude Purcell, Chairone.
Marge Collins , First Vice Chair
Reszin Adams, Second Vice Chair
Christine Root, Secretary
Pat Thomas, Treasurer
In addition there are comm-
ittees for each major area of
legislative concern such as
ees -paatcatibeaaaemuaaa ». M@alth...
ae ee 02" sa. a " ye
OPENING MEETING
February 4, 1975
“The Democratic Legislative
Program "
Chancellors Hall 10 a.m.
Opening Luncheon 12:30 p.m.
Presidents and delegates are
asked to make reservations in
advance,
Sneak Preview: the ERA will be
the topic on February 18th !!!1!!!
More Group News-------
.
Albany Area N.O.W.
Albany NOW's Officers for 1975:
Georgia Gray - President
Diane Herrera - Vice President
Mary Louise Satterfield - lreasurer
Rosemarie Rosen = ,
Teaax (ai wisi Secretaries
Deborah Botch - Membership
Christine Root = Phone Referrals
Mary Lu Satterfield - Delegates
Corrine Williams -NY State N.O.W.
The old and new officers will
meet during the first week of
January to plan for the coming
yeare
There is no longer a NOW
chapter in Troy. Women and men
in the Troy area interested in
NOW are urged to join either
Albany or Schenectady Now.
Albany- call Pebbisopgtch
Schenectady= call Ann Yooth
399-5790
SCHENECTADY N.O.W.
Schenectady NOW is negotiating
with the Schenectady Gazette
about their editorial policy
and attitudes toward women.
Please keep writing those letters
to the Gazette. They are crucial
at this time. .
The chapter is also studying
the abortion and ERA issues in
depth in preparation for their
Speakers Bureau.
*he next open meeting will be;
January 15 6:00 p.m.
Yow. Coa
44 Washington Ave.
Schenectady, N.Y.
New York State Now
Eileen Kelly has been elected
Cobrdinator for NOW chapters
across New York State. Any
readers interested in forming
a Now chapter in New York State
may call Eileen 518-438-5237.
Capital District Women
Interested in a C¥ Group on
aging? Please contact Jackie
Imai at 861-6205.
Any woman interestediin a
more generalized CR group please
contact Susan Walter 372-0014.
They are planning both beginning
and advanced consciosness rais-=-
ing groups.
Resource persons for new CR
groups are needed. any woman
interested in aiding the movement
in this capacity shuold contact
Susan Walter.
Other Capital District Women
contacts :
Speakers Bureau:
Joan Peak = 474-1387 (days)
456-0214 (evenings)
If anyone would like to have
women speak to a club or school
about teminism please contact Joan.
Telephone Chain:
“stelle Frankel - 456-3283
Publicity:
Carol Harp Biernacki -765=4946
Treasurer:
Maxine Gootzeit = 765-2862
Literable Table :
Lois Chaber -— 462-0385
Lois also has copies of the record
Free to Be ...You and Me for
Sale at cost. Hurry,
x HK %#* XH % ** x **
Coalition for a Free Choice
Help save H.R. 14214 by calling
or sending a telegram to Pres.
Ford today. Urge him to sign
this much needed family planning
legislation.
his bill is receiving tremendous
opposition from Right to Life
groups and may be vetoed without
our help.
If passed this bill will author-
ize grants to public and private
agencies to provie family planning
services and research in the
subject area of population and
human reproduction.
oy . SAVE H.R. 14214. Write 1'1
Le ee ge eee ee eee ee ee eS ee ee er a a ee SS UCU ee
A Film Revie: :
LE BONHSUR:
Agnes Vardo)s film, Le Bonheur |
(Happiness), shorm at Albanv Stite
December Il ond 12 as part of their
Women in Frence festival, is not a
film of this WORDS 5 SEG tells the
story of a happy young French fan-
ily. muewesae. Therese, ond.their
children Gisou cnd Pierrot. The
biszest _problem the fanily hes’ is
tht Thérése, 2 €ressn: ker, hWUst
meke the sco-ns for 4a vredéine on
short notice. This she scconplish-
es vith no sreot trouble. Avas, -
while Th6rése ene the chil?ren are
attending the redding reception,
Francois is makinz love’ to another
vomon “rhom he has recently met ond
proiesses to love. Froncois h-s
his t:7o loves neatly worked out
within his mind. He is married to
Thérése because he met her first.
He loves her, end their children
are 2a delicht. -His:-newr lover Emilie
vith her more adventuresone love-
meking, gives him added joy. He is
able to quiet Emilie's incivient
jeclousy.
On one of the 1emily's “reelkends
in the country, Francois haltinely
tells Thérdse oi his’ne? love. She
says it is herd to accept all at
once, but seems to reconcile her-
seli, to the situstion. Francois
end Thérése m-ke love vthile the
child ren nap. When FPrengois acrekes,
his vite is gone. He sathers up
the children and soes lookine ror
her. He fines her Cead, crotimec in
a nearby lelke We ore lert with
the impression that Thérése has
committed suicide because or
Prema Nels.
Fréncois is saddened by his trife's
death and, naturally enovzh, avoids
his lover for the remainder of the
summer. Then, seemingly without
guilt, he soes back to her. The
film closes as Frangois, Emilie,
end their children Gisou end
Pierrot make their vay amons the
trees in the autumn countrvsice. |
Le Bonheur is all streetness and
light and Mozart music in the back-.-
eround. The single problem ‘rshich
arises in the film is immeci-tely
kitted sicrz ek tins charecter in
whom i+ =xrises rngois Taen OF
Suilt° cr See her: eriem is as unreal-
istic as the children’ Ss immeciste 9
acceptance of Emilie. Voarde has
chosen the provocative, sensitive.
issue @ extramarital sex as the
topic of her film, and then -bdi-
cated her responsibility to deal
vith that issue end the problems
which surround it. In contrast
vith The Adversary sho1m December
6 and 7 es part @ the Prize
Internationcl Cinema series, Lie:
Bonheur is an entertoining filn.
agoin unlike The Adversary, it is
cummpenes: lepiernaiena
totally lockins in substence.
~-< ue Lesher
Iv any of our readers have com—
ments on Le Bonheur, tre: ould be
hanpy to heor from them,
WOMEN'S CENTER
Speakout is happy to announce
that the Women's Center is alive.
and functioning at 128 Lancaster
Street, Albany, N.Y. On Saturday,
January llth at 7:30 there will be
a get together. Everyone welcome
but bring your own refreshments.
Speakout will be publishing a
schedule of the times and dates
each group will be using the center.
The Women's Center Cemmittee
consists of;
Library - Rose Baker ~*": r
Maggie Scharp, 48203506
Mary Higerupys. 27384108
- Lib Berger, 748902931
Hilda Duafics ap oa virtaciaag
Mainténante--- Carél ‘Afne. Ordway;...
489-1605
Jennifer Chatfield,
465-5922
Susan Chelius
Julie, 489-2714
Publicity
Scheduling -
Werk parties will be held every
Saturday and Sunday, from 1 te 4
pem. Pledges are still needed,
call Donna O'Higgins, days 457-5724
evenings, 436-0107,
Someone is needed to chair
- the fund raising committee, contact
one of the other committee members
if interested. |
The Wemen's Center needs the
support of all women and women's
groups in the area te survive.
Let's all de what we can to see
that it does.
LETTERS TO SPEAKOUT
Bear Sisters,
It seems to me that I rarely take
time to write an unsolicited "positive"
letter, but I do want to comment on the
pleasure I felt on reading the article in
your November issue on COSMEP, I should
express where I'm comint from...as a
collective member of KNOW, Inc. a women's.
publishing:company in Pittsburgh, as a
member ef the COSMEP board and as a mem-
ber of the women's cammittee for COSMEP,
I think your article illustrated an im-
portant.cembination of change generating
ferces today; the women's movement and
the small press movement. I do believe
that the women's movement could and would
exist...even slowly grow stronger without
the small press movement and the :reverse
is probably true...but by combining these
two forces we insure an alternature voice
ec ee ee a Se ee ee ee Se ee ee
As feminists, as women with souls,
we need the New York Book Fairs and
COSMEP and most ef all SPEAKOUT and KNOW
to build alternatives...and offer those
alternatives to the world. Together, no
one can step us.
Again, thanks for including that
good article. Reading it made me proud.
In Sisterhood,
Anne Pride
Dear Sisters,
Just a note te let you know that I
have asked the Textile Workers Union of ©
America to send you press releases as the
feminist media are usually overlooked in
sending out information. Events in the
for all of us and we strengthen the grow=::textile industry should be of great in-
ing communications network for women.
And, there is something else we must
insure, As women, we are becoming more
and more aware of the value and real in-.
portance of our creative work..,our songs
ee-Our plays...our peems. We must insure
our souls. We have listened to others
for so leng concerning what is art and
what is not. But, now we know and in
terest to feminists and may be an area in
which some further action could be taken.
There are about one million textile
workers in the United States; about 80%
of them are women. They are the largest
group of wemen.in factory/industrial jobs
and also the lowest paid group of indus-
trial operatives in the country. Only
about ten per cent ef all textile workers
knowing we find no room for ourselves in are organized as the three major companies
the establishment press and only an early (Burlington, Stevens, and Deering-Milliken,
awareness of our value in the "male" run have repeatedly sabotaged labor organizing
small presses, ‘So we've created our 4wn. efforts. Traditionally male-dominated as
COSMEP has helped us to establish the are most labor unions, the Textile Workers
women's network and, at the same time Union of America is in the midst of a rise
helped us to raise the consciousness'‘of ef rank-and-file feminism with more and
the "male" run small press. . more women taking leadership positions in
. their locals. TWUA will not be able to
The establishment publishing world win the battle for women taxtile workers
mirrors the real world, only worse. The alone, but they seem to be making a ser-
big companies, run by conglomerates, by ious effort.
war mongers, are white men at the top and
women, mostly white, at the bottom, They For these reasons, I hope you will
are sexist, racist, and ageist, They ex- be able to use their releases in report-—
ist without consideration for the author/ ing news of women workers and that your
artist or the worker, They exist for coverage will generate an active response
profit margins and fall lines. The women in the community of working women.
do the shit work...they always have...
and at slave wages. If they complain
they are fired and there is always a new
recruit waiting to break into the glamour
world of publishing...an opportunity that
never comes.
In sisterhood,
Rachel Maines
, Center for the History
" of American Needlework
EDUCATION
Scholarships. For. Mature Women felt was ameliorated by the Confer-
a po as ee oe ee ence and the sharing of experiences.
Fifty women, thirty-five or Brooklyn College offers a
older,. returned to college this variety of programs for the. return
fall with. "Loving Caré Scholar=':.:ing student. These. ‘include: |
ships." The Clairol Corporation OUTREACH, ‘a rieighborhood program
earmarked $50,000 for women who °° te prepare individuals for open.
wanted to continue their educations:ddmissions entrance to the college
interrupted by marriage, child- and SPECIAL PROGRAM for these yhose
bearing and other responsibilitiés requirements and qualifications
and who were not el#gible for are different from ‘the trgdetionat
student aid from other sources. undergraduate,
The scholarships for $1,000 each o‘Fomefarther ineetaiet Sor anriter
were given to 50 four year collegesBarbara Gaines, Director, The ._
and universities throughout the Women's Center, Brooklyn. oa dave,
country and were available for fullThe City University of New Yerk,
or part time undergraduate work. Brooklyn; N.Ys 11210. |
There is a trend among colleges “ 5
to develop and offer new programs: (The above ‘two articles. on
and support services that will ~. education were reprinted from |
attract oider and married women Marriage, Divorce and The ‘amily
to their cempuses. Other scholar- Newsletter)
ship. programs similar to the ae wits”
Clairol one have been established. BARTLETT AMEND NT DROPPED, DHEW.
For more information contact: APPR GS Heat ae BILL CLEARED
fssociation for Women's Active
Return to Education (AWARE )., 5820 ¥ Sorat tems iiekes and ‘sent
Wilshire Blvd., Suite 605, Los: tothe Preaddent.tor his signature
Angeles, California 90036. the main DHEWsDepartment of Labor
. oF appropriations bill for FY 1975
The Return to School: An (the current fiscal year which énds
Alternative for Women ext June 30). The Bartlett ;
: , 7 Amendment was not included in the
Older women students at > bill. Finalk action took place on
Brooklyn College mét to discuss November 26 when both houses
their problems, challenges and approved the report of the confer-
solutions at a three day Conferenceence committee, vhich had been
in October. Barbara Gaines, : trying to reconcile various diff-
Director of the Brooklyn College erences in the Senate and House-
Women's Center (a sponsor of the passed measures since September 25
Conference) said, "The women come (with a four -week recess for the
from’ many different situations; elections). Threats ef a presid-
are speaking from different | ential veto over the overall levels
perspectives; are beyond all. kinds of the DHEW appropriatiens appear
of ostensible barriers such as. to have disappeared, and the
color and age; and are on the way measure (H.R. 15580) is expected
to someplace else." <- te become law with the Presidgnt's
The program combined workshop. approval.
and rap sessions. The women's . . The Bartlett Amendment, which
stories are poignant. A Spanish was dropped by the conferees,
speaking mother of six, who was __. would have prohibited all funds
going to college with her daughter appropriated during this fiscal
spoke of_balancing her children's year through DHEW and Department of
needs against her owns; the mother. Labor Programs te “pay for" er
ef a young daughter was having . "encourage" "directly or indirectly"
difficulty finding a peer group . the performance of abortion except
among her classmates -- as was to "save the life of a mether."
a middle-aged woman. The feeling Therefore, it would have reversed
of isolation some of the women rine policies of 47 states whé¢h
; }
2 ea ee Re ee ee eee eee
*
Bartlett atendment, cont'd.
currently have more liberal polic-
ies for reimbursing the medical
costs of abortions for eligible
Medicaid patients than would have
been permitted by the Bartlett
Amendment. The amendment also
would have affected dozens of fed-.
eral employees insurance benefits,
medical and nursing education,
maternal and child health, néigh-
borhood he#lth centers and health
maintenance organizations, (HMOs).
The Bartlett Amendment had
been approved by the Senate-in
September by a sizable margin. A
similar proposal, however, had
been rejected by the House in
June by a two to one margin (see
Washington Memos, W-7, July 8,
W-10, September 20, 1974).
Conference agreements general-
ly are ratified routinely by
Congress, since most members are
reluctant to hold up an entire
measure for one disputed issue.
However, foes of legalized
abortion have repeatedly made use
of unorthodox legislative tactics,
and there were reliable reports
that when the bill came to the
floor for final passage, attempts
would be made to send it back to
committee with instructions to
include the Bartlett prohibitions.
When the Conference Committee came
up in the House on November 26,
the Chairman of the Appropriations
Subcommittee on DHEW and Labor,
Rep. Daniel J. Flood (D-Pa.)
indicated that he had received
"thousands of letters on the sub-
ject of this (the Bartlett)
amendment" and recorded his
personal objection to abortion
"except under very special condi-
tions." He added: "Nevertheless,
Mr. Speaker, the conferees were
of the opinion that an annual
appropriation bill is Net the
proper place to deal with this
guestion,"” and that _they had
agreed to drop the Senate-passed
antiabortion provision. The
Conference Committee Report
(No. 93-1489) describes the com-
mittss's reasoning as follows;
és majority of the conferees
strongly support the apparent
intent of the Senate amendment
|
to prohibit the use of public
funds to pay for or encourage
abortions. Nevertheless, they are
persuaded that an annual apprcpr-
iation bill is an improper vehicle
for such a controversial and far-
reaching legislative provision
whose implications and ramificat-
ions are not clear, whose consti-
tutionality has been challenged,
and on which no hearings have
been held. The rules and tradi-
tions of both the House and Senate
militate against the inclusion of
legislative language in appro;e .
priation bills. The cenferees
urge the appropriate legislative
cemmittees of the Congress to give
1974 early consideration to the enacte
ment into basic law of carefully
drawn legislation dealing with
the subject of abortion.
U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION:
BARTLETT AMENDMENT WOULD NULLIFY
RIGHTS OF POOR WOMEN
In identical letters October 8
to Sen. Magnuson and Rep. Flood
co-Chairmen, respectively, of the
Senate and House Appropriations
Subcommittees, the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights stated that the
Bartlett antiabortion amendment
would nullify the constitutionally
protected right to reproductive
choice for poor women. Opposing
the amendment, the Commission,
chaired by former DHEW Secretary
Arthur S. Flemming, noted that
the House in June had defeated a
similiar antiabortion rider to
the Labor-=DHEW appropriations
bill. Fhe Commission stated:
The €ommission beliwves the
House acted wisely on this eccas-
ion, in rejecting a statutory
limitation on an area ef privacy,
which the U.S. Supreme Court
has determined is protected by the
U,S.Constitution. . . The passage
of the Bartlett Amendment by the
Congress will have a direct,
delimiting effect on the area of
privacy carved out by the Supreme
Court over the years, culminating
in Roe v, Wade and Dee v. Bolton.
The statutory invasion of this
constitutionally protected area
U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS. COMMISSION, ‘cont. to force it out of committee --
ae Se Bee eee et needs signatures. of 1/2 House
and the concomitant limitation of (218); it now has 90.
the free exercise of the right to” 2, Whitehurst Amendment: G, William
reproductive choice will effect- Whitehurst (R-Va)..
ively nullify, especially for poor ‘Would turn over to each state the
wemen, the Supreme Court's decise:nright of “allowing, regulating or
ion. : - ‘prohibiting.the practice: of
The Commission announced that abortion." (Probably the most
it is making a study to identify | dangerous amendment)Still in com-
the contribution of the Supreme ~© mittee, and not likely to come
Court's-abortion decisions "to | out, unless by a successful dis-
strengthening the implementation charge: petit fomises 21°:
of the civil rights provisions’ 3, Roncallo Amendment: “ngelo
of the Constitution" and to show Roncallo (R=NY) . 360 - oH o
the adverse effects on the civil Would prohibit abortion in the
rights of women of proposed U.S. and its territories and give
constitutional amendments and Congress and the states. the pewer
other antiabortion legislation. to enforce the legislation. Still
: oh eet in committee. | 6 ud =
(The above two articles on the Senate:
Bartlett Amendment were reprinted 1, Buckley Amendment: James
from Planned Parenthoed-Werld - Buckley (R=-NY) |. 7
Pepulation, Washington Memo) Would ban abortion from moment ef
implantation and extend coverage
MARCH FOR LIFE . | ef the 5th and 14th amendments
Set to a fetus from time of _implant-
You will probably be receiving a ation. Still in Birch Bayh's
solicitation (by mail or. in person) (D-Ind) Subcommittee on Constitu-
fer the March for Life. All of: tional Amendments of the Senate
the literature will look like that Judiciary Committee. . ,
produced by the March of Dimes. 2. Helms Amendment: Jesse Helms
This collection, hewever, is for (RNC) = .
"Right to Life". ;They have -- Same as the Hegan Amendment in
selected the March ef Dimes the House. Also in Birch Bayh's
because of its popularity and their Committee.
opposition to it beeause of the Amendments to Congressional Bills:
March of Dimes' genetic clinic. (amendments usually added to
, - appropriations bills that would
PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT prohibit federal funds from being
OUR RIGHTS TO LEGAL ABORTION | used for abortionerelated expenses
: easier to pass than constitutional
Constitutional. Amendments (requires amendments-ewould severly testrict
passage by 2/3 of- both houses of poor women's access to abortions):
Congress, the President and 3/4 House:
of the State Legislatures: 1. Amendment to Legal Services
House of Representatives: 3 bills Act, June 21, 1973 to prohibit
1. Hagan Amendment: Lawrence the use of federal funds for legal
Hogan (R-Md) 3 = = services for wmen seeking thera-
Would extend due process of law peutic abortions, passed 301-68.
and equal protection of the law 2, Froehlich (R-Wis) added amend-
to any-"human..being from the ment to Community Services Act,
moment of conception." Would May 29, 1974, to prohibit the
also prevent the U.S. or any state use cf family planning assistance
from depriving any human being of funds for paying medical expenses
life on account of illness, age — in abortion cases. Passed 290-91;
or incapacity. Bill is new in . . now in Senate committee.
Don Edwards (D-Cal) Subcommittee 3. Roncallo (R-NY) added amend-
#4 of the House Judiciary Committee ment to HEW appropriations bill,
where it is being killed. Hegan June 27, 1974, to ban federal
is circulating a discharge petition funds for abortion and severly
1)
ee eee, ee eS 8 eee eS oT yee ee Le ee ee ee ee
7
“Proposed Legislation, cont'd. ment effort, especially by emphas~
: izing women's responsibility and
restrict federal funds for contra important role in economic, social
ceptive and abortion research, and cultural development.
Rejected 123-247. to recognize the importance of
Senate: women's increasing contribution
1, Helms (R-NC) added amendment on to the development of friendly
June 11, 1974 to the Military relations and cooperation among
Procurement Authorization of 1974 sister, and to the strengthening
to prohibit the use of federal © of world peace.
funds for providing abortion refer-~
ral services or performing aborte In New York State a committee
ions, transportation to abortion of various organizations has been
referral services or abortion formed to implement these proposals.
clinics, or for medical assistance The International Women's Year Com-
or supplies in peforming abortions.mittee is working on a many faceted
Tabled by motion of John Stennis program. One of these is the
(D-Miss), 64-27, construction of a Women's Hall of
Fame in Seneca Falls. Eisenhower
As you can see from the above College has donated the land and
articles, our precious right to The Seneca Falls Historical Society
a legal abortion is in jeopardy. has undertaken the fund raisina
We urge all our readers to write for the project. Jennifer Chate
their .Congresspeople to vote field has published a memo abstract
against these amendments. Let's of famous women in New York State,
note sit by and lose our rights. taken from The Whots Who Among
American Wemen.
Fortunately, many of the sponsors The Committee is also working
and supporters of these amendments to promote legislation favorable
will not be back in Congress to women such as an insurance bill
| next year, (Bray, Broyhill, Grover,prohibiting discrimination under
| Hogan, Hudnut, Keating, Maraziti, no fault to allow for the inclusien
Burgser, Guyer, Ichord, Kuykendall,of homemaker services in payment
McSpadden, Powell, Rarick, Roncalloof no fault; a bill extending work-
Shuster, Zwach, Camp, Hanrahan, men's compensation to cover mater-
Gerald es Huber, Junt, King, nity; a bill to limit cross-exam-
Landgrebe, Parris, Sandman and ination of rape victims to limit
Zion). the questioning of the victim's
sex live except where it relates
The anti-abortion forces are very to the defendant, where relevant;
strong and someone will be around 4 pill to establish an office of
te lead the fight so let's not Family and Children's Services;
rest on the Laurels of false and a bill to create day care fac-
victories. ilities in State office buildings
and to make part time empleyment
more available te State workers
whe have child care obligations.
The Committee is also working on
the adoption of the ERA on a state
level,
Saturday, January 11 is Amelia
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR
The United Nations has proclaim-
ed 1975 as International Women's
Year. It has asked all interested
organizations to join in working
to advance the status of women Earhart Day and marks the official
throughout the world. In ité beginning of International Women's
December, 1972 Resolution, the Year. A dinner will be held in
U.N. General Assembly decided to
ae Washington,D.C., sponsored by the
devote the year to intensified
Ninety Nines, an association ef
actions: women pilots. In Albany that same
to promote equality between day, there will be a luncheon
men and women, meeting at the Italian American
to ensure the full integration Center, Washington Aves:Ext. Fore .
of women in the total develep- reservations, call Betty Huba at
13 489-7602,
“
oT
-"WHEREAS...", Continued from page I++ LES
and the defeat of mother-risht are implicit in present marriage vows.
Estate rights vritten into separation agreements illustrate hith-
erto hidden paternity rights. Take a second example. During the prep-
aration of custody considerations, it became apparent to the to par-
ties concerned that their ideal for reising their children (spending an
almost equal amount of time with either parent), would ultimately be
impossible. Since the roman chose to keep her children with anc since
the woman vould have to seek further education and career employment
out of the state, a ner re-lity emerged for the husband faced with the
complete loss of his children.
To both parties, clauses on estate rights left the realm of the
ebstract. She now sought economic protection for the sole existing
children until they reached their majority. He sousht to effect estate
rights for 211 his future children and their children. What had been a
purely intellectual understanding of estate rights nov melted into a
fiery element in the battle for control over their economic futures.
Besides estate rights, other economic relationships are typically
revealed in a well-vritten separation sgreement. The list is long:
debts, exclusive rights to all forms of property, support obligations
for children, alimony, increases in support or alimony as related to ©
changes in the husband's income, multiple forms of health, auto, home,
and life insurence, yecrly tax filings, educational funds, last will
and testament, and responsibility for attorney feces.
The demise of 2 marriage seems to be printed in the red ink of
accountants. Sever a marriaze and its economic skeleton is revealed, a
skeleton that should serve as a srim reminder of the body politic of
marrige.
Carol Harp Biernacki
KHXKX* KHHHK KKHKH HHKEKK ) HXHHK
WOMEN'S GROUPS, Continued from page 4
SpeakOut - Albany eres feminist nevs journal. Cheryl Shenkle 899-4121
or Chris Root 482-7256
Women's International Le-sue for Peacc and Freedom - Working to esteb-—
lish by non-violent meens peace, freedom, ond justice for all.
Rezsin Adams 462-0891
Women’s Liberstion at SUNYA - Marsha Krassner 482-5396
Women's Political Caucus - Jane Sanford 463-0477 or 462-3446
KKRKKK KEKKE KEK KK KRKEK KHEKKK
Brand Loyalty
From Parade magazine, December 15, 1974
Female students are more committed to name brands when shopping
for shampoo, perfume, deodorant, toothpaste and cosmetics than are male
students, according to 2 recent study by Yankelovich, Skelly, & White,
inc.
Can it be that young vromen are less adventuresome, curious, and
risk-taking?
SpeakOut note:
Or is it just that they know quality when they see it?
15.
1975 is INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR
PL IGE Ee ER EO A Nl EA Ba emt mes
Subscribe to Sneakout
3,50 ner vear
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SPEAK OMT
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Join our sisters worldwide in promotina
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naman
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its 7) a Oa agi
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ar 5 = ‘Se
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SID
SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
IV No, II FEBRUARY 1975
Table of Contents
Notice of Public Hearing on February 24 re.Application for
Zoning Varience for Women's Center (128 Lancaster St.)
Researching and Reporting a Bill
News from Tri-City Women's Center
China and Women - Rezsin Adams
Rape Crisis Center: A Service for Women
Amazon Odyssey: a Review - Susan Lasher
Jane Alpert on the Today Show - Christine Root
Jobs
Women's Political Caucus Convention
N Y State Legislature: Women Legislators and Local Legislators
From Our Mailbag
Group News
Lilith, Androgeny, The Deadly Nightshade, and Sex After Sixty:
a Review - Carol Harp Biernacki
International Women's Day
Rules of the Tri-City Women's Center
Now One-to=One Committee
Group News
Calendar
Cover Design by Pam Scola
Workers: Christine Root, coordinator; Rezsin Adams, Carol Biernacki,
Mary Gallagher, Susan Lasher, Cheryl Shenkle, Janet Warner
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year
or $.35 per issue at the local beokstore. Advertising is $10.00
per quarter page, $18.00 per half page and $30.00 for a whole page.
Mail subscriptions to: SPEAKOUT, Box 6165, Albany, New York 12206
LEGAL NOTICE
Board of Building and Zoning Appeals, Albany, New York Notice
Is hearby given, that a public hearing will be held
before the Board of Building and Zoning Appeals in the
COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS
S8E8h4 Floor of the CITY HALL , ALBANY,N.Y.
7 ON
ne
upon the application of ELIZABETH BERGER, 11 Victor Street, Albany
New York, asking for variation from the requirements of the zoning
laws of the City of Albany, New York requeating permission to
establish the TRI CITIES WOMENS CENTER in the basement of 128
Lancaster Street, Albany, New York under SPECIAL USES in the
Zoning Laws of the City of Albany , New York in an R=} Residential
Zone, as more particularly described and designated upon plot plans
and specifications filed with the Commissioner of Buildings when
application for the permit was made,
ALL THOSE PERSONS wishing to be heard will have such opportunity
at the above time and place,
| John G Wallace, Chairman
128. *** 128 *** 128 eH 128 HHH 128 HHH 128
The above legal notice was received by Elizabeth Berger and
reported to SPEAKOUT on January 25, 1975 after we had already
gone to press but we are adding this extra page a bit out of
context in order to bring this urgent message to YOU, our readers,
SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE TRI CITIES WOMENS CENTER
by attending the hearing on Frbruary ch th filiriiees
If the SPECIAL USE PERMIT is not granted the Womens Center
will be forced to move. Remember how long we waited and
labored before we found 128 Lancaster Street. Don't let us
LOSE the Womens Center now that we finally have a home, SISTERS !!!!
Late news Flash to help all would be lobbyists----
le
Be
De
De
66
‘RESEARCHING AND . REPORTING A. :BILL
| _ NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE
cs
Check the Legislative Index for specific bills;
Copies can be found a. at Documents Windows (3rd floor Capitol)
Assembly Doc. Window LOB end floor
b. Legislative Library
ce N Y State Library- Legislative Reference
( State Education Building)
de some public libraries.
ee a friendly Legislator's office
There is no charge for copies of bills or the Calendar,
Obtain copies of bills at Documents windows,
Contact the Legislator. (introducer) or.someone on his/her staff
personally or by phone for the following information:
a why bill was introduced
b. what group will benefit .
Ce what organizations are for , what against the bill
d. who is actually responsible for the bill ( bills are
often drafted by. someone other than the introducer
: and he/she may not know very much about the bill)
e. ask for MEMORANDUM- this will give background
Talk with the Chairpersons of the Standing Committee , Joint
Legislative Committee (or members of staff); committee chair-
persons listed in the Index; JLC ( Joint Legislative Comm.)
Chairpersons listed in the New York State Red Book.
Other Resources: newspapers, citizen's committees, special
commissions, lobbying groups, friendly legislators or your
own representatives; one resource may lead to another.
If Governmental departments are affected check with them and
the Attorney Generals office and the Governors Office.
Report to your group should include Introducer, brief resume
of bill, impact of bill on public especially WOMEN, cost
to public, give PROS and CONS, quote arguments on both sides
mention groups for and against, Stress impact on your group.
7. Write up Report ..e. Be sure to include bill numbers.....«
Senate Intro. # S. Assembly Intro. # A.
Introduced by Se Ae
Synopsis
Comments
Signature Date Reported
How to find your way around the LOB and the CApitol------
Legislative Office Building (LOB) Capitol
ist FI. —- press conf. room Assembly Chamber - 3rd Fl,
2nd Fl. - (Capitol level) take elevators 3&4 Wash. Ave. S.
Hearing Rooms. A,B,C, . Document windows near-by
3rd.Fl. - exit to Swan St. _ Senate Chamber - 3rd Fl.
take elevators 1&2 State St. side
OC
Naws | an
FROM THE TRI-CITY OMEN'S CENTER
In spite of what you may have
heard, the nev Tri-City Women's
Center is alive and well at 128
Lancaster Street, Albany. Many
area women's orzanizations are al-
ready using the Women's Center for
regular meetings and special events.
Groups who are scheduled for use of
the Center are:
en Against Rape), Lesbians for Lib-
eretion, Marxist-—-Feminist Study
Group, N.O.W., SPEAKOUT, Women's
Counselling Collective, Women's
Politicsl Caucus, and several cons-=
ciousness raising groups. The
following social events have been
held at the Women's Center to date:
a Capital District Women Christmas
party December 20, an open Rap
Night January ll, and a Communal
Supper January 24. We hope you
will think of the Women's Center
when planning business and social
meetings of your feminist—-oriented
group. Call Julie Schvartz at 489-
2714 to schedule your event.
The Steering Committee of the
Yomen's Center is in the process of
applying for a Special Use Permit
from the City of Albany. A Special
Use Permit enables a charitable or
community service orzanization to
locate in a residential area, and
is held by that organization for
the time it occupies the premises.
If the organizetion leaves the lo-
cation, the facility reverts to
residentiel zoning. In that vay
the Special Use Permit differs from
a Zoning Varience. The Steering
Committee is avaiting word from the
Board of Appeals before ‘rhich the
application for the permit will be
presented at 2 special public hear-
ing. The date of the hearing will
be published in the City Record
for three consecutive trecks before
the hearing takes place. The Wom-
en's Center will need your support
at the herring, especially if you
are a resident of the Center Square
or the City of Albeny. A petition
drive is being considered to ac-
quaint the neighborhood with the
purposes oi the Women's Center and
to gein support for its presence.
Volunteers trill be needed to cir-
culate petitions. Notices concern-
ing the hearing and petition drive-s
AWARE (Albany Won-.
will be posted at the Center.
As-;might be expected, the most
serious threat to the continued
operation of the Women's Center is
financial. So far, only one-half
of the operating expense is cover-
ed by monies vledged monthly. The
Women's Center was established and
has been able to exist thus far
because of funds donated and
pledged by individuals and groups
prior to the Center's establish-
ment. But these funds will soon
be exhausted. A pledge from you,
no matter hoty small it may seem,
is vital to the continued opera-
tion of this facility which has
become a crucial center for women's
concerns in the area. Please fill
out the attached pledse form and
return it to Donna O'Higgins,
Treasurer, 339 State Street, Alba-
ny, 12210. If you have already
pledsed, sre urge you to continue
Sending your money each month as
regularly eas you pay your rent and
utilities.
It was decided early on that
there trould not be a fee for the
use of the Women's Center because
to require the payment of a fee
would prevent groups who are unable
to pey it from using the facility,
Individual and group pledges should
be sufficient to cover: the minimum
monthly expenses of $200 for run-
ning the Women's Center. If this
relatively small amount cannot be
raised from all the feminists and
feminist-oriented groups in the
area, then it trould seem that there
vould not be enough other kinds of.
Support to make o Women's Center
viable. The Center hes been so
well received (as indicated by its
use by groups already) that the
financiel Support should be forth-
comings.
Aside from financial support, the
Women's Center needs your energy,
ideas, skills, and time. Every
Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. women may
be found at the Women's Center
renovating, painting, cleaning,
planning, laughing, enjoying their
work and each other. Everyone is
encouraged to come}
Committees have been set up for
Operating the Women's Center. Some
demand more time than others, but
there is room for your interests
» Continued: on:page2° >
TRI@-CITY WOMEN'S CENTER, Continued
from page |
and special skills on one of them.
The committees are: Financial &
Purchasing, Legal, Landlord Liason,
Scheduling, Housekeeping & Security,
Furnishing, Library & Literature,
Fund Raising, and Publicity. . Lists
for signing up for the committees
are posted at the Women's Center,
along with e short description of
the committees! functions. ¥'*
There are so many possibilities
for expanding the programs and uses
of the Center. All that is required
is groups of women willing to spon-
sor them. At present, the Center
is not used during the day except
on weekends. Day stoffing would
enable the Center to be open for
those who tvrould like to brotse in
the library, to relax and eat lunch,
and to rap with other tromen--the
possibilities are limited only by
our imagination and our willingness
to give of our time.
One important function of the
Women's Center is as a clearing-
house for information. Each group
using the Center has bulletin board
space for notices of events, happen-
ings, announcements, educational
and employment opportunities and
i
will help in gaining support for
feminist activities and in bring-
ing important events to the atten-
tion of interested women.
The Women's Center is in need of
the following items in addition to
your i and other support:
lamps, a desk, shelves, typing
tables, “trading stamps, an exten-
sion cord, an ice bucket, a corn
popper, an electric clock, table
Silver, and a telephone. If you
can supply any of these things of
know of someone who can, please
call Jackie Imai at 861-6205 to
coordinate pick up and/or delivery.
The Women's Center is fast be-
coming terrific success and is
already meeting many of the needs
for which it was established. As
with anything else, you get from
it in direct proportion to what
you put into it. Your involvement
will be a source of satisfaction
to you and a contribution to all
vomen in the area. Won't you come
down and see what your Women's
Center is all about?
im
fas 0
--Tri-City Women's Center
Steering Committee
the like. It is hoped that this
Tri&City Women's Center Pledge Form
Name
Address
Phone
Enclosed is: |
my Monthly Pledgel
my Donation | |
As an indiviauall__|
On Behalf of
(name of erOup)
Donna O'Higgins, Treasurer.
2Q
send to:
! 339 State Street :
Albany, New-York 12210
CHINA AND WOMEN
I spent three weeks in the Peo-='
ple's Republic of China in November,
1974, "Women hold up half the sky"
and "Whatever men can do, women. can
do" are the slogans on the walls. A
woman in Shanghai told me that women
say that there is another mountain
in addition to the three mountains -
feudalism, imperialism, colonialism
- that China has had to overcome
Since Liberation, namely, male chau-
vinism! :
We used this evidently great a-
wareness among. Chinese women to help
get answers to some of our questions.
When we asked if there is divorce,
desertion, alcoholism, abuse, we
were told, no. But when I said to a
woman translator in a confidential
tone, tell me what you do about men
who drink too much or abuse their |.
wives, or whatever, I was told, yes,
we have a few bad men, who....
There are no "bad" women. Women
drink only a little, rarely smoke,
have little trouble with childbirth
(infant and maternal mortality rates
are low), practice birth control,
are seemingly well-behaved, hard-
working, politically aware, Of
course, there is no prostitution, no
forced marriages, no VD, no rubella,
cholera, small pox, no premarital or
extramarital sex, no advertising, no
starvation (no fat Chinese), no lack
of medical care, day care, or pri-
mary and secondary schooling, no un-
employment (not all women work out-
side the home), no inflation, no
lack of warm clothes, wrist watches,
thermos's (for hot water to make tea)
sewing machines, radios, no private-
ly owned cars, no dresses (little
girls wear skirts), no steam heat,
no “room of one's own",
Everywhere the struggle for equal-
ity goes on. Equal pay for equal
work is the rule, but some jobs, har-
der jobs, hazardous jobs, pay more
and the longer a worker has worked
(in a factory or institution), the
higher the pay. In the embroidery
factory in Chang Sha and in the Tex-
tile Factory #2 in Shanghai, the ma-
jority of workers are women, and the
women's committees are important and
women serve on the management commit-
tees, but the highest paid workers’
‘do -
are the elderly men who head the
design workshops. We saw only womer
hand-embroiderers. We were told ~
that men do not have the patience.
And. yet, men and women work side
by side at the craft workshops in
Peking, painstakingly doing the
ivory-carving, jade-carving, cloi-
sonne and so on, creating objects
for sale abroad. The question we
‘posed, by turning around the slo-
gan ~ can men do whatever women ca
invariably provoked some
laughter and animated discussion.
One woman told us I can take care
of my children better than my hus-
band can. We were told women like
their jobs in the nurseries and
kindergartens and don't want to.
give them up to men. We were told
men are learning women's work, are
learning to stay with children,
cook and do other household tasks.
And women are going to meetings,
participating in government and
decision-making more and more.
A guarantee in the marriage law is
the right of women to work outside
the home and to join associations!
When we went to the theaters,
movie-houses, sports arenas in the
evenings, they were crowded with
people, mostly men, a few couples,
a few families. Girls and boys at-
tend kindergartens, schools and
cultural centers in equal numbers
and orchestras are made up equally
of men and women, but at Peking
University, 30% of the students
are women, A majority of primary
School teachers are women, half of
the secondary school teachers are
women and half the health workers,
At factories which employ mostly
women, most of the medical workers,
including the gynocologists are
women. Some industries are domina-
ted by men and we never saw a wome:
bus driver or a traffic cop, but w
did see some women in the militia
and a few in the People's Libera-
tion Army. One I particularly re-
member is an army person at the
airport in Peking, in army dress,
with a khaki-colored great coat,
Snuggling a very bundled infant in
her arms,
On the communes, where most
fnnnet )
I eee
CHINA AND WOMEN. (cont.)
Chinese people live, the struggle
for equality is complex; each com-
mune,a relatively independent econo-
mic unit, distributes its income to
its members according to the kind
and amount of work each member does
for the commune, So, since women
spend more hours working at home,
their incomes are less than men. Ef-
forts are underway to introduce some
. labor-saving devices to free women
to work more outside of their homes,
These include electric mills for
grinding grains and: clothing work-
_ shops where women can order clothes
for their families and pay for these
clothes out of their. salaries, Along
with this struggle, are the strug-
gles to raise the level of the poor
communes, those with poor soil, for
instance, to the level of the rela-
tively wealthy communes and to raise
the standard of living in the coun-
tryside to that of the cities. Wo-
men now participate in these commu-
_ nity-wide struggles, as well as in
theirown struggle.
We saw many attractive children,
very well-disciplined and very ac-
complished for.their ages, in the
schools and after-school cultural
centers. We saw many girls working
on lathes in the machine and. wood-
working shops attached to. the
schools. Of course, we saw many wo-
men dancers, musicians, performers
of all sorts. We also saw many women
doing exceedingly boring-looking
work, painting lines on dishes,
bending wires, cutting bamboo strips
for can_ing, mostly in commune and
neighborhood workshops. The women
told us that most of them had not
worked at such tasks before, that
they were happy to be working and
"serving the people" and helping
their "developing" country. And
they really seem to mean it.
We met old women at a home for
"respected old people", who were
cheerful and smiling and greeted us
warmly and took us to their rooms
to show us their beds with many
quilts and pots of flowering chrys-
amthemums and geraniums. A delight-
ful old woman, the head of the fa-
mily, invited us to her four-room
house in Peking. She shares her bed .
with her three granddaughters, all
~gchool children. On Tuesday and
Friday afternoons, when the school
children come home early, they all
come to her bedroom, to play and
she supervises their homework, She
has learned to read recently and
meets with other old people once &
week to read newspapers together.
She had had five. children before
Liberation, now has two, two daugh-
ters and her two son-in-laws, who
work in factorics, each ‘wupile has
bedroom next to hers. She told us
that she is not very well, not very
strong. Her husband, who had died
a long time ago, had been out of
work for fourteen years and she had
supported her family before Libera-
tion by scavenging cinders. She sai’
I would not have been alive before
because there would not have been
anyone to take care of me. She said
without Chairman Mao I would have
died. We asked her about her fami-
ly's income and who manages the
family's money. She said I do.
The four working members have three
bicycles. She showed us her wrist
watch, her two radios, her sewing
machine. She markets, takes care
of laundry, makes the fire to cook
Supper, and the little fires to
heat the beds. She told us every-
-one in the family has warm clothes,
warm quilts. And,
yes, they have
some money in the bank. What are
you saving for, was our last ques-
tion.. Her answer - a television set,
Rezsin Adams
HHX HH XK KX
—re Adams is eager to speak
about China, For the past sev=-
eral weekends she has been
holding teas in her own home
in order to talk about China
in an informal setting so that
people feel free to ask any
and Squestions . Rezsin is an
active member of the local
US = China. Peoples Friendship
association . Call 462-0891.
Le
, '
RAPE ‘CRISIS CENTER
a service for womene-ee
In fullfillment of a cam-paign
promise Sol Greenburg, recently
elected District Attorney for
Albany County, has called to-
gether a committee to plan a
Rape crisis Center. The Con-
mittee is chaired by Jane Small
sanford,
Fraya satz, Susan Langdon and
mimi Philips were chosen by
AWARE ( Albany Women Against
Rape ) to represent AWARE on
this committee, Women from
a number of-other groups are also
Serving on the committee.
During the. first two meetings
the committee worked on the goals
of the proposed Rape Crisis —
Center. They are:
~- to handle.the crisis of rape.
- to see that: the woman gets.
proper medical and legal help
- to provide moral support and
guidance in dealing wit the
doctors, the police and the
courts
- crisis counselling
referral to long range
psychological counseling
In terms of the nitty - gritty
they must come up with a pro-
posed budget for the finance
coumittee of tne Albany County
Legislature. :
he committee is planning
a budset of $75,000 to cover
the salaries of three full time
staff: two co-directors/
Counselors and a clerk and
the cost of telephones and
office equipment.
there is concern for the
autonomy of the Rape Crisis
Center if it is located within
any one hospital.
Mimi Philips has been hired
under the Federal assistance Pros
gram to work on the Rape
Crisis Center, is. Philips
has had previous experience
and training in a Rape Crisis |
Center. However it was not
Clear whether she has been hired
to do " investigatory work!’ or
actual counseling, .
* Victims in the
peo eKOULT has also Learned that
the Albany County Legislature
vassed a. resolution calling for
a comialttee of representatives
of Osteo" (1) the diealth Dept. (1)
the DeAss office a (1). the
sherizf's Office (1) and taree
‘nembers- at Large to mace plans
for 2 Rave Crisis Center in Albany
County. As far as jc can teil,
this resolution nas received little
attention and has not been acted
Upone
- Women concerned about the
setting up of a community based
Rape Crisis Center ousht to make
their views known to the Albany
County Legislature. If the Rape
Crisis Center is set up under the
auspices of the D.A.s office ,°
some women fear that rape victims
will not have the right to choose
not to report the rape.
Throughout all of this AWARE
has striven to remain an indepen-
dent group dedicated to serving
the needs of the rape victims and
educating the public about the
enormity of the crime and the myth
that surrounds rape. How does
AWARE fit into the plans of the
Albany County Legislature, the
D.A.s office , Refer or any other
group now making plans to help
rape victims. :
Unfortunately while all of these
groups talk about how they are /=:
going to go. about helpings rape
victims, the news reminds us
that men are continueing to rape
women and are not waiting until
we decide how we are going to go
about helping their victims. As
this story is being typed the
television news commentator
reports on the molestation of an
eight year old girl and on the
rape of an eleven year old girl
by the father of the two children
for whom she was to babysit.
These are bigtcity crimes. The
eleven year old girl was raped
near Wemple Road in the Glenmont
area just south of Albany.
Both AWARE and Refer have
given limited help to rape ©
past . For help
call Nancy ( 482-4584) Or Diane
( 439-2634) of AWARE or the 2h hr
Rede Gat gupeREA at ot g4- 1202.
Amazon Odyssey
by Ti-Grace Atkinsen
(New Yerk, Links Beeks, 1974, $4.95)
What is extremely difficult and
"unnatural," but necessary, is
fer the Opressed to cure them
selves (destroy the female role),
to throw eff the Oppressor, and
to help the Oppressor te cure
himself (to destroy the male role).
It is superhuman, but the only
alternative—the elimination of
males as a money group— is
subhumane
Amazen Odyssey is a collection ef
speeches, essays, and other writings pro
duced by Ti~Grace Atkinsen ever the years.
From the first essay it is ebvious that
she thinks very carefully. She has great
analytical abilities, the mind of a law
yer or a philosopher, Ti-Grace Atkinson
is brilliant, Her closely reasoned, much
footnoted work is heavy going. EHlaborate
cross references tie the essays together.
In October, 1968, Miss Atkinsen (as she
prefers to be called ) resigned frem he
N.O.W. offices because she believes women
sheuld seek not to enter the pewer struc~
ture, but to destroy the pewer structure,
By holding offices in N.0O.W., she felt
she was filling the role of an oppressr.
She would like to see feminist groups
governed by the "let" system, _
The let system is one ef the most
ancient governmental systems.
Representatives of the people are
chosen for short terms frem the
people as a whole by lot. Repre-
sentation is random and, eventual—
ly, completely fair, since every
aes wes at some time represents
e "people" by representing him—
eae °
She is right; the lot system should be -.
used.
Atkinson believes that the institution
of the family must be destroyed as surely
as was the institution of slavery, and
for the same reasons. However, she fails
te prepese a new system fer preserving
the human race, and this is one of the
shortcomings of her work. She gives a
stinging indictment ef pregnancy, some of
which is less than factual, She states
that bkood curdling screams from delivery
rooms show that women do not enjoy child—
birth, whereas such screaming rarely if
ever occurs. She cites U.S. Vital Statis—
tics for 1966 in stating that the mater—
nal death rate was 29/1000, while the fe~
male death rate was. 81/1000, A librarian
was unable to find these statistics in ~
U.S. Vital Statistics fo oF 1966; however,
Page, Villee, and Villee” cite a 0,33/1000
maternal mortality rate for 1964, This
approximately hundred-fold discrepancy
could not be accounted for.
Following aleng in the same oulaes, the
author states that
The maternal death rate for the
entire world in 1966 was at least
twice that of the U.S., so that
the average woman,...more than
sextupled her chan Spe of death by
beceming pregnant,
This is a non sequitur, since women
as a whole outside the U.S, also have
higher death rates than American women,
This is the only instance of faulty Iegic
this reviewer was able to find in Amazon
Odyssey.
Ti~Grace ren ey has words of warning
Visea—vis relationships with men.
The price of clinging to the en=
emy jisee, men, is your life...
To enter into a relationship with
aman who has divested himself”
as completely and publicly frem
the male rete as possible would
still be a risk,..But to relate
to aman who has done any less
is suicide,..The proof ef class
consciousness will be when we
separate off from men, frem these
one—to—one units...There can be
no significant improvement in
the situation of women wntil this
happens,” :
It is statements like these which make
the bourgeois female realize how middle
class and simplistic her own attitudes
are when compared to Miss Atkinsori's hard—
hitting positions, As she says, most
feminists complain, while she is working
for a serious revolution, ©
— its failings, the work ef this
: »Continued on page 7 ©
a
Amazon Odyssey, Contizfued frem page
radical feminist deserves to be read cas
fully and often. Ti-Grace Atkinsen is a
woman to be reckened with, The Movemant
would do well te listen to her,
livetaphysical Cannibalism," pe 62.
2" Juniata II, The Equality Issue," pe 69. inside out!
" The feminist movement is what enables
us for the first time to see our own
oppression,"
'" The movement always is mine,"
Revolution means turning things
One should first do this to
3Ernest We Page, M.D., Claude A, Villee, internal relationships,"
Ph.B,, and Dorethy B, Villee, M.D., Human
Repreduction (Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders
Company» 1972) De 376.
As a result of the censciousness raising
and the sisterhood of the womens move~
"The Institution ef Sexual Intercourse," ment women are feeling more capable
pe 15.
"The Pelitical Woman," p. 90,
I cs se
Jane Alpert
en the TODAY SHOW
January 21,1975
After four years on the run, Jane
Alpert gave herself up to the author
ities, Appearing in an exclusive
interview with Barbara Walters ef
the TODAY show, Jane Alpert gives her
reasons for joining the "radical left"
movement in this country , fer going
underground and now for turning
herself in even though she faces a
probable imprisonment,
Jane describes herself as " no
longer a militant radical but a feminist,
She chose to be interviewed by Bar~
bara Walters besause because Barbara
Walters "is a woman, " And someone
Jane Alpert has always admired,
Despite being on FBI mest wanted
lists , Jane held a series of jobs
and led a fairly normal life except
that she could not visit friends and
family. She wore dresses at first as a
disguise but gradually came to feel
as at home in them as she did in jeans.
Her last job was in a small religous
school for girls. While "under
ground " Jane said that she had time to
think and grow and become her ewn
woman, Janes own words say it best:
" Through the womans movement and con=
sciousness raising I got back myself,"
" I could fall in leve again but net
be swept up again to do something I
did not believe in",
ofacting and more confident in themselves
The interview was taped and held
until the judge had passed sentence
on Jane Alpert, Jane Alpert was
sentenced to two years and three
months in prison,
The point that keeps cropping up in
this writers mind is the seeming
realization that while on the run
without the help of "professionals"
Jane Alpert was able to rehabilitate
herself. Would Jane Alpert have
come out of four years in prison
such a whole person such a warm
and sensible woman, Fear of prison
and fear of what prisan would do to her
lover of those early days ,Sam Mellville
is what led her to run from authorities
in the first place four years ago,
Of all those who watched this
young, attractive , soft-spoken woman
on the TODAY shew that morning I
wonder how many felt as I did. Full
of joy at the healing powers of the
movement. / Beauty in the bonds of
sisterhood. Bewilderment that this
wonderful , loving caring human being
could have committed such acts of
Violence only four years before, and
to have done so partly through fear
of losing her boyfriends love, How
many other women have been pulled into
crimes by the men they love? I wish
I ceuld reach out to Jane Alpert and
say I forgive you for what is past
move on now to be your own woman, But
I am not the judge and the judge
ruled that such crimes cannot go
unpunished, And so Jane Alpert goes
to prison, Let us hope that her newly
found strenght as a woman will carry
her through the brutality of prison
without becoming brutal,
Christine Root
CURRENT ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR POSITIOIS
WITH NEW YORK STAT®™
Announcements chenge about every
tvo weeks.. For more information,
visit the Examination Information
office, Building 1, State Office
Building Campus, or telephone
A474—- 6218.
Continuous Recruitment
Laboratory Technician
Stationery Engineer
Senior Stationary Engineer
Industrial Foreman
Assistant Actuary
Junior Engineer
Occupationel Therapist
Speech end Hearing Theravist
Theranist
Steom Fireman
Food Service ‘Jorker
sanitary Engineer
Professional Careers in Hospital
Administretion
Letal Careers
Nurse
Dietician
Supervising Dietician
Offset Printing Machine Operetor
Licensed Practicel Nurse
Dental Hyszienist
Public Librerian
Mental Hygiene Assistant Therapy
Aide
Others me
Campus Security Officer Trainee I
Canel Shop Supervisor
Senior Cable Television Specislist
Coble Television Municipal Consul-
tant .
Cempus Security Officer
Supervising Campus Security Spe-
cialist
Campus Security Specialist
Assistent Business Officer
Business Officer
Senior Mathematician
Senior Public He-slth Physician
Director of Correctionel Dental
Services
Assistent State Accounts Auditor/
Exeminer of Municipal Affairs
Psychiatric Sociel Worker I and II
KEK KH %*H% %*%* KH Ke
Friends of Maryanne Krupsak
dinner FEBRUARY 14 1975 7:80 P.M.
Send $15.00 to Sally Lester,
2451 Troy Road, Schenectady N.Y.
12309 by Feb. 7 for reservations.
x
Amazon Odyssey _
— a trip to the SUNYA library
after the review was typed turned
up a copy.of VITAL StATISTICS
a postscript
. of the United States 1 966, Vol. II
Mortality, Part A. Bi. page 1-2
the female. death rate is indeed
listed as 8.1/ 1000. However-on —
page 1-41, the maternal death
. Pate is listed-as 29.1/100,000
live births, or 0.291/1000.
Villee!s figure of 0.333/1000 for
1964 is corroborated. It would
. appear that Ms. Atkinson misread
the table in arriving at her
29/1000 figure.
Susan Lasher
Ke HE* KH
HEX KKK 5 a ah od
Russell Sage College
Evening. Division offers
WOMEN in ‘MANAGEMENT
ECO/BUS 154x Mondays 6:00-8:30 p.m
Troy Campus ( no prerequisites)
He Stern, coordinator.
For further information call the
registrar at 445-1715.
-A series of twelve lectures on
everything from Affirmative action
and Women's Rights to Styles of
Leadership and the Woman Entre-
preneur. Each week an outstanding
woman executive will-lecture ona
current issue in management prac-
tice. Lectures will generally be
followed by a case study or film
and a (hopefully) lively question
and answer period,
Delores B. Schmidt, Kay Reinartz
and Maryluise Satterfield will
be the lecture line up for the
opening three weeks.
- May le
KR*
February 10
HEX EHR
1975
KE KEK
EFFECTIVE SPEAKING FOR WOMEN
UNIONISTS
The Capital District Office
of the NYS School of Industrial
and Labor Relations ( Cornell U.)
with the cooperation of the NOW
Labor Union Task Force announces
this special six week course in
oral communication to be held
Monday evenings February 24=
March 31 1975 call i aa
2
WOMTN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS CONVENTION
Local members of the Women's
Political Caucus of Ne York State
are busy preparing for their annual
statevide convention to be held in
Albany March 14-16 at the DeWitt
Clinton Hotel.
several hundred vomen are expect-
ed to be here that *reekend to honor
Nev York's nevly-elected Lieutenant
Governor Mary Anne Krupsak and to
conduct the business of the Caucus,
including election of officers end
formulation of committee priorities
for the upcoming year.
Things nov look hopeful that the
Lieutenant Governor herself ‘rill be
on hend to open events vith a key-
note address to be delivered Satur-
lay morning at a seneral Caucus
meeting in the Assembly Chamber of
the Copitol.
Highlishting © banquet in honor
of Lieutenent Governor Krupsok Sat-
urday evening will be an appearance
by Manhattan's U.S. Representative-
and on old friend-Bella Abzuz.
Other guests invited ore U.S. Rep-
resentotives Shirley Chisholm end
Elizebeth Holtzman and former Nev
York State Assembly-7oman Constance
Ee Cook.
Also anticipated is
by meny of Nev York's
lesislators as suests
people at meetings of
participation
nine women
and resource
the Caucus?
many standinz committees such as its
Affirmetive Action and Lerislative
Prosrem Committees.
Presently eiforts to host the con-
are centered with the Albany
vention
County sroup, ‘rhich is seeking the
help ot its sister Caucus members
in the Tri-Cities area. Anyone in-
terested in ‘rorkins on the event,
or needing more information, should
set in touch srith Convention Commit-
tee Chairvromen Jane Small Sanford
at 4635-0477. No workers ill be
turned array.
The availability of hospitality,
baby sitting and funds for those
sisters tho could not other'rise at-
tend is also a priority item. Any-
one able is asked to help provide
these essential services.
Friday Evenins
Registration and wine and cheese
reception hosted by the Albany
County Caucus
Committee mectings
saturda:
10 OeMe-—Keynote by Lieutenant
Governor in Assembly
Chamber
early afternoon-Committce meet-
ings, public heering on
household technician legis-
lation
{
late afternoon-Party caucuses
6:30 p.m.-Cocktail party honoring
all elected women in
N.Y.S.-DewWitt Clinton
ballroom
7:30 p.m.-Banquet in honor of
Lieutenent Governor
Sunday
10 a.m.-Plenary session-—DeWitt
Clinton ballroom
To meke it easier for all Caucus
members to attend, a lov advance
rezistretion fee of $5.00 will be
asked. It is anticipated thet
this fee vill cover all necessary
literature, Sunday morning break-
fast, and free coffee throushout
the business sessions.
Free registration information
may be obtained from the Caucus
office at 393 Hamilton Street,
Albany, 463-0477.
KHKHKHK HHH KK KRKHKK KHHKE
From now until the statewide
Women's Political Caucus convention
to be held in Albany March 14-16,
the Albany County Caucus group till
meet every other «reek. For infor-
mation on the time and location of
the next meeting, call the Caucus
office at 463-0477.
Sisters from other area Caucuses
are urged to join with the Albany
W.P.C. at these meetings in a joint
A tentative schedule of events for e1iort to host the convention, and
the convention follovrs.
1
ney members, as always, are cor-
dially twrelcomed.
SENATE
Party District —
Dem.-Lib. 5
Dem. 9
ASSEMBLY
Party District
Den. 8
Dem. 61
Dem.-Lib. 7G
Rep. 93
Cons.-Renp. bY f
Dem. 70
SENATE
Party District
Rep.-Cons. Al
Den. 42
Rep.-Dem.- 4.35
‘Cons.
Dem. 44
ASSEMBLY
Party District
Rep. 102
Rep. 104
Dem. 104
Rep.-Cons. 105
Rep.-Cons. 106
Rep.-Cons. 107
Rev. 108
Rep.-Cons. 109
Rep.-Cons. 110
N.Y.~0. Levtisleture
See ar SEES
WOMAN LEGISLATORS
~Name
Carol Bellamy
Karen S. Burstein
Linda Winikow
Name
Jean Amatucci
Elizabeth A. Connelly
- Bstelle B. Diges
Mery B. Goodhue
Rosemary R. Gunning
Marie M. Runyon
LOCAL LEGISLATORS
Name
Douglas Hudson
Hovard C. Nolan, Jr.
Ronald B. Stafford
Fred Isabella
Name
Clarence D. Lane
Fred G. Field
Thomas W. Brown
Charles D. Cook
Neil ‘!. Kelleher
Clark C. Wemple
Robert A. D'Andrea
‘Glenn H. Harris
Gerold B. Solomon -
Room #
4O5LOB
7O5LOB
noon i
741L0B
4350LOB
827LOB
511CAP
654L0B
Room #
411L0B
S5O1LOB
5O02CAP
515L0B
5235L0B
319LOB
429L0B
921LOB
521L0B
530L0B
9s 2phone
472-2127
472-2007
peLephone
472-2570
472-2150
nd fence,
472-8004 or
472-3020
Telephone
472-2177
472-6600
472-7877
472-2517
Telephone
472-2550
4772-8090
472-8468
472-6390
472-6170
472-2200
472-7620
472-2020
472-3820
SpeakOut hopes thet this list till be a valuable resource for
letters, phone calls, and visits to our representatives in Albany. Why
not tear it out end post it on your bulletin boerd for easy reference?
Remember thet there ere plenty of big-time lobbyists vith whom ve must
compete; why not meke your views knoim, and see to it that our offici-ls
do the job they
One additional note:
Tuesday through Friday morning.
Friday afternoon.
‘rere elected to do.
The best time to visit our legislators is
Little work is done on Monday or on
ig
From our Mailbag --=-
WOMEN IN DISTRIBUTION
Women in Distribution, Inc.
would like to announce the for=
mation of a national women's
small press wholesaling distri-
bution company. They will be
seeking retail outlets in estab-
lishment, litery and women's
bookstores, college and public
libraries, and women's studies
courses, Their first catalog
will be released in “arch 1975.
They plan to distribute
women s books, records, posters,
quart8rlys and postcards. Small
presses and independent pub-e
lishers are urged to send in
materials for inclusion in their
catalog. Deadline for inclusion
will be February 15, 1975 for
the March Catalog and J une Ist
for the September Catalog.
Women in Distribution, Inc.
PO Box 8858
Washington, DC 20003
HK KH HX KH
HEX xX
New York Book Fair
Plans.are well underway for
another exciting New York Book
Fair in which small: press,
feminist press and third world
press will have a chance to
exhibit their wares. “ny
readers who would like to work
with the Book Fair Committee
should contact:
Sara Mittelman |
312 E 206 th *treet
Bronx, NY 10467
Home phone : (212) ie veanse:
Hho
Work Phone: (212)
By the time Speakout goest
to press they hope to have some=
one to coordinate the Poetry
Readings, Women who would like
to read their own poetry should
contact Sara. One well known
poet, Alta carries copies of
her books of poetry in a suit-
case and sells it to the audience
immediately following her
reading. What better Time ?
THRE
WOMEN IN THEATRE
In January, the Independent
Woman's Theatre presented several
plays written and directed by
women at the Iglesias Theatre Club
at 178 W. Houston St. off 6th. Ave
in Manhattan. Two showings _
were for women only. A small
contribution of $2.50 was
requested. |
For more information about
about future plays write to
OFF OFF BROADWAY ALLIANCE
2hu5 West 52nd Street
NY, NY 10019
and ask to be put on their
mailing list.
HEX mk
The WESTBETH PLAY /RIGHT'S
FEMINIST COLLECTIVE presents
the New York premiere of Gloria
Albee's MEDEA. Gloria Albee
developed Medea while attending
women's studies classes in Seattle.
February 1 at 7 and 10 P.M.
February 2-at 8 P.M.
Tickets are $2.50 Write to |
Westbeth Feminist Playwrights
“a Collective
463 est Street, 402 D
NY NY 10014
or call (212) 691-1129
The theatre is located at the
above address, near abingdon
square.
KEE BEX %** KH HE
From the Chapel and Cultural
Center at RPI----
Sunday, February 16 at 2:00
P.M. SUNDAYS AT 2 presents _
Mary Lou Saetta of the Albany
Symphony, with children who have
been trained by the Suzuki |
method. Games will be played
to show the learning process
of the Suzuki method ; members
of the audience will be asked to
participate,
Call the Cemter for directions
or more information : 270-6518
or 274=7793. “gy,
\\
New York State
Legislative Forum
All Forum meetings are held in
Chancellor's Hall in Albany from
10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Forum is a non-partiaan, infor-
mational organization which hopes
to encourage women to get in-
volved in legislative action, |
Member groups and others wishing
to speak to Forum on the issues ©
listed below or about the services
provided by their group should
contact Rezsin Adams
112 Chestnut St,
Albany, NY 12210,
February Forum Schedule
Tuesday, February 4, 1975
"Phe Democratic Legislative
Program'!
1975
"The Republican Legislative
Progran'!
Tuesday, February 11,
Tuesday, February 18, 1975
" The Equal Rights Amendment
Pros and Cons "
This will probably be a panel
SPEAKUOUT encourages all its
readers who are free at 10 a.m.
to attend this program.
Tuesday, February 25
" Financing Education In New
York State!l!
Question and answer periods
follow each session. In addition
to the main speaker there will
be committee reports each week
giving a run down of the most
important legislation and the
progress on each bill. The
Forum publishes a weekly review
of legislation known as the
a which is available for
4.00 .
WOMENS
COUNSELLING COLLECTIVE
Crisis Line: 462-6739
462-6730
- in Center: 332 Hudson Ave.
Hours: M,T,W, 6:30-8:30 pem.
cs
oo
Walk:
There will also be counselling
available at the Womens Center
at 128 Lancaster st. Albany
by appointment.
The Womanis Counselling Col-
lective is a non-profir group
-composed of feminists who are con-
cerned with the availability of
counselling available to women
int the Capital District. The
group whish began last summer
now operates the crisis line and
walk-in center listed attlove. They
offer both peer and professional
counselling.
In conjunction with the Center
for Human Growth they sponsored
a Woman's Encounter/Therapy
group which began on January 2end.
For further information call
Gina at (518) 462-3714.
Donations are presently needed
to help the group cover its in-
corporation fees, telephone bills
and publicity costs. Send what
you can to : Woman's Counselling
Collective, 332 Hudson Ave.
Albany, Ny 12210.
KEE KEE HE KE
KX
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS YEAR
Amelia Earhart day, January 11,
marked the official beginning of
International Womens Year. In
Albany a luncheon was held at the
Italian-American Community Center
with Mary Anderson as the very
special guest speaker. It
would take more than a column in
SPEAKOUT to list pilot Mary
Andersons background and qual
ifications to be the next
FEDERATION AVIATION DIRECTOR.
The next meeting of the In--:y
+ernational Womens Year committee
will be held on February loth
at Maria College, New Scotland Ave.
Albany. 7:30 P.M.
"2
"Lilith, Androgeny, The Deadly Nightshade, and Sex after Sixty": A Review
Boxing my not be every worn's cup of tea, But there is something about
seeing ywo ferhe ten year olds slugging it out in a boxing ring that makes me
want to relive my life,
Opportunities for viewing this kind of sports close-up are few. Women-
sports are receiving more attention from network stations now that sizable
financial prizes are in vogue, Regretably, I did not see the Ms. Golden
Glovers on a Saturday afternoon Letween football games, but rather on an NBC
television special entitled Women-——Men,
The three hour special was a first. Barbara Walters was the anchorwoman,
This too was a first as she somewhat sarcastically remzked, both for ther and
women. Lilith, the little hezd of, proud predecessor of Eve, also appeared
in a first, an animated version of her rebellion in Paradise,
According to a woman I know, the myths about Lilith stealing into town at
night to greb babies and wreck marital havoc are totally untrue. She was
actually nipping over:for more ice.
The show was an.action-packed three hours, Watching, I felt I could see the
writers planning the show, "Three hours of prime time--let's sock it to them."
To say it was mass consciousness-raising is to put it mildly. Among the
topics covered were Androgeny, the only woman hockey player on a male team, a
couple receiving divorce counselling, the woman who won a suit ggaingt
Southern Bell Telephone when her women lawyers proved that the weight-lifting
qualification which supposedly disualified her was-equal to the weight of a two
year old baby. .
The Dedly Night Shade rock group laid it on the audience with a little
ditto wherin the former secretary—"go for girl" is now the boss interviewing
her former boss for a job. Vivica Lindfors performed segments of her I,a Woman
show underlining women's pathos and joy, her talents, and the fact that women
over fifty are very sexy (her husband left her for a younger woman),
The show was full of statistics that should jog many viewer's realities,
including Barbara Valters' comment that only 10% of all national t.v, news—
casters are women.
Other segments included one on a woman mayor, and an interview with a
sixty year old woman living with a man for the tax break and apparent}y the
physical companionship, among other things. (The special emphasized only
heterosexual choices, )
Although this show might seem a rose garden, there were a number of
thorns besides the one just mentioned. One professional woman approximbely
thirty years old, starred in the swinging singles segment. She seemed to
rationalize her heterosexual life on the basis that she wanted to have as much
fun as possible before she settled down to marriage and motherhood, It
sounded too much like the old "whore with a heart of gold" story for me. It ©
was supposed to provide insight into the life of a bachelor girl. I use the
word girl deliberately.
I also disliked the segment on the California male teenager with a
motorized bedroom on wheels, I hope his girlfriends were watching,
A good argument against the objectification of women in pornography was
presented. However, I feel that pornogaphy has potential in Women s lives, (In
\3
International Womens Day.
A march 7 celebration. of Inter-=
national Working Womens Day is
being planned by an ad hoc committ
ee of interested Albany womene
The film and music program
will be held on Friday March 7
at the First Presbyterian Church
Assembly Hall, State and Willet
streets, Albany. All proceeds
collected at the door will go
to the Tri Cities Womens Center.
7:30 Pp.
The celebration commemorates the
march of thousands of. working
women in New York City's Lower
East Side on March 8, 1908. They
rallied at Rutger's Square
demanding better working conditions
an end to sweatshop conditions in
the garment industry, and the
right to vote. In 1910 an inter-
national socialist conference
meeting in Copenhagen proposed
that the women's protest be
observed every year as a tribute
to working women and their
struggles everywhere.
fhe film, ONEITA WOMEN ON STRIKE
is the story of the recent strike
for union recognition at the Oneita
Knitting Mills of South Carolina.
The work force which was predomin=—
antly black was 85% women. The
pre-union wages were $1.65/hour
coupled with intdherable working
conditions and no job security.
This victory represents the first
major breakthrough in the textile
mills and factories of the South-
east.
Following: the film wid be a
program of music featuring songs
from the women's and trade union
movements. Song sheets will be
available so that all can join in
the fun.
Next eae Meeting :
Sunday, Feb. 2 7:30 P.M. at the.
Womens Center, 128 Lancaster st.
Albany. ( 4° block from the Mall)
Womens and other progressive
groups are invited to set up
literature tables on March 7th
but please call Anita Thayer at
489-5022 or Micky Greene 465-6874
before 10 P.M. to register your
group and pledge to the Center.
(continued from page |)3 )
the first pl&@ggit beats 1 Love Lucy
reruns all to ‘pieces.
The show was not without built-in
sexism. In one segment, a black woman
and man argued about his sexism. He
was allowed to use the word bitch and
ho (whore) repeatedly; to illustrate
negative types of name. calling on the
street. However, when she objected to
some other remarks ‘addressed to women
walking on the street, she was bliped
out when she said bull shit. The censor
kindly left the bull in so we would be
certain of the exact expletive. It
would appear bitch and whore are not
words on the censors list. 1 guess he
feels that women aren't as sensitive as
bulls about that kind of thing.
The definitive remark of the
entire evening was made when the dude
just mentioned threw down his final
gauntlet, "You sound just like a
feminist!" At this remark, I stood up
and cheered. |
Carol Harp Biernacki
KR HH KK 3 eH HH
Lesbians for Liberation
Study Group
The LFL study group meets
every Thursday evening at the .
Womens Center, 128 Lancaster _
Albany at 8:00. This is a
radical feminist study open to
any women who would care to
join. The next topics will
be the Clit Manifesto in the
July issue of OFF OUR BACKS
and Mary Daly's book BEYOND
GOD the FAPHER.
HH KHER : HEF HK HK
AWARE
Albany Women Against Rape met
on Sunday January 26th at the
Womens Center . Members of AWARE
are organizing into groups and
plan to start training now.
Nancy Dudley was the chair for
this meeting. Call Nancy at
489-8261 if you cannot make the
meeting but plan to start
training as a rape crisis center
counselor or worker. Call
Diane Howard at 439-2634 to be
on the mailing list. MY
o
. .
~
RULES OF THE TRI-CITY WOMEN'S CENTER
1. Individuals and groups using the
Center vill provide their ovm
refreshments, including cups and
utensils, and will be responsible
for cleanins ‘up. Particular at-
tention must be paid to crumbs
etc. on the floor so that infes-
tation by vermin is discouraged.
All trash must be placed in
covered cans outside.
No crashing will be permitted.
Men who ere members of feminist
groups vill be admitted only for
official business meetings of
those groups. Otherwise, men
are not welcome at the Center.
Ash trays must be emptied into
the butt can provided by the
Center for that purpose.
Before leaving tie Center, please
see thot all ‘rindows are closed
and locked, shades are dram,
stove and lights are off, except
the ovtside front light.
The Center Association is not
responsible for valuables left
on the premises. Hotrever, stor-
aze space in the pontry is avail-
able, and groups may provide
locks for their cupboard.
Plecse remember that the use your
group mokes of the Center ‘rill re-
flect on all women vho participate
in it. Also, positive rection from
the neighborhood is most important
ot this time. The above are tempo-
rary rules, subject to change and
addition.
KKXKKE KKKEX
KKEKEKH KHKHEK
TRI-CITY WOMEN'S CENTER ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTER
* indicates keys to the Center
* LIB BERGER, 11 Victor Street,
Albany, 459-2931 _-
* JENNIFER CHATFIELD, 196 Jay Street,
Albany, 465-5922
* SUSAN CHELIUS, 26 Loudon Parkvay,
Albany, 462-3247
HILDA DUNNE, 27 West Bayberry,
Glenmont, 439-0088
“MARY Hecke 17 Beman Lane,
Troy, At 4108
Ps JACQUELINE IMAI, RD 2 Voorhees-
ville, 861-6205 (PM) or
471-5834 (days)
MINA LACROIX, 4 Waverly Place,
| Albany, 482-8795 (PM)
* DONNA O° HIGGINS, 339 State Strect,
Albany, 436-0107
* CAROL ANNE ORDWAY, 89 Hazelhurst
Avenue, Albany, 489-1605
( PM)
JULIE SCHWARTZ, 112 Manning
Boulevard, Albany, 489-2714
PHOEBE SHERES, 248 Manning
Boulevard, Albany, 482-6728
BUNNI VAUGHN, Paborton Road,
Sand Lake, 674-2007
KKKKE KKKKHK KHKKK
ONE TO ONE COMMITTED
HKKKE
N.O.W.'s One to One Committee is
working ‘rith the Nev York Women's
Lobby this yecr. One voman is
assigned to lobby each Ne York
Stete Legislator in her or his
home district. Volunteers are
needed to lobby Assemblymen
Charles Cook, Glenn Harris, and
Gereld Solomon. If interested,
please call 454-1712.
One to One and the New York
Women's Lobby: are concentrating
on fourteen issues. These are:
Lesislative Reiorm
Reproductive Freedom
Child Care
Household Workers' Rishis
Right to Sexual Privacy
Class Action in State Courts
Rape
Discrimination in Insurance
Rates
Title IX for the State (No
discrimination in educational
moneys)
Discrimination in Professional
and Trede Organizations
State ERA
Repeal oi Jury Exemption for
Women
Extension of No Fault Insurance
to Homemakers
Prohibiting Discriminetion in
Volunteer Fire Departments
\5
Women's Avareness Group for house-
wives forming in e |
ared.
Throwzh consciousness raising,
housevrives can get together to dis-
cuss their problems and examine
their role and status as housewives.
Lonely, housebound and other vise,
vromen. are welcome. The meetings
will.be held during the day and
child care vill be available. A
morning out a veek might help to
combat the tired housevife syndrome.
The meetings will start in Jenuary.
An evening group could be started
also, if there is enough interest.
If interested, please call 465-8283
or 555-8704.
"Women's Liberetion, Ideas and Ac-
tion
-A course entitled "Women's Liber-
ation, Ideas and Action" trill be
offered during the spring session
of the edult education vrogram at
the Guilderland High School, start-
ins the last tvreek of February.
Here is our chance to raise the
consciousness of many omen tho
micht not otherwise be touched by
the women's liberation movement.
Let's hone thet there will be a
great turnout, as the course ‘vill
be cancelled if they get less than
10 students registering.
will be taught by our own Linda
Hart, past president of Schenectady
N.O.W. If you wnt more informa-
tion you can call the Guilderlend
High School, or Linda at 377-5994.
We hope that the women in the move-
ment till support this class.
HKKKKE HKHHEKK KEKKE KEKKE
"An Artist Looks at Troy"
All adult artists within a 100
mile redius of Troy have been in-
vited to submit landscapes or city-
scapes of Troy to the Rensselaer
County Council for the Arts (RCCA)
Art Center. Cash prizes trill be
siven in the categories of oil,
water color, print m-king, photo-
grophy and miscellaneous. The ex-
hibit trill be open from February 2
through 28 at the RCCA Art Center,
183 Second Street, Troy. For more
information call the RCCA at 273-
0552.
The course
eciicnoctady Now
Schenectady N.O.W. is in the
process of forming a Speakers
Bureau . Speakers on feminist
topics will be available to area
schools, PTAs and any other inter-
ested groups.
A press conference is planned
for February 15th ( Susan B.
Anthony's Birthsay ) in conjunct-
ion with the AAUW, the League of
Women Voters Albany NOW and the
YWCA. Support for the ERA will
be the main thrust of the press
conference. If interested please
call Ann Booth (399-5790) or
Dorothy Bellick (355— '704)
New officers will be elected
in March 1975. Until then
Co Presidents: Ann Booth
Martha Schultz
Vice President: Linda Hart
Secretary: Claire Pospisil
Treasurer;:Sue Lamanna
Meetings are held every end
Wednesday at the schenectady YWCA
44 Washington St. Schenectady.
The upcoming February 12th meet-
ing will focus on the ERA and the
press conference. Please call
or write for membership or
futther information:
Ann Booth Phone
36 Kile Drive 399-5790
Scotia, NY12302
HEE eH * tee HEX KH
Albany seWTSH COMMUNITY CENTER
A opurse entittled " Images
of Women in Our-Changing Society"
has bead begun and will continue
for 6 weeks. Elizabeth Berger
of Capital District Women is
the instructor, Ms. Berger
opened the course with a dis-
cussion of sex stereotyping in
Childrens literature. Each week
in addition to a discussion of
the readings Ms. Berger will
talk about one of our foremothers
such Susan B. Anthony.
Time: Thursdays 7:60-9:00 p.m.
Cost: $12.00 non-members
$ 8.00 members
Call the center on Whitehall
Road to register. There may be
time to get\on this great course.
. KEKE :
- ©
ne
Capital Women in Cable _
af
First General Meeting for 1975
February e2hth at 7:30 P.M.
The BANK (across from SUNYA)
Community Room
Western Avenue at Tryon ST,
Albany, NY
Capital Women in Cable ( CWIC )
would like to urge all area
womens groups to send two represent
atives to this meeting, A com=
pleted slide presentation on
Capital Women in Cable and possibly
their very own video tape sampler
will be shown,
CWIC has just started a newsletter
to keep its members and others
informed about women's progress
in cable tev. and the activities
of CWIC,. CWIC SCAN editor
asks women to contribute toward
postage if they wish to be on the
mailing list. Send one dollar to
383 DLR avenue
Albany, NY
If readers are interested in
alternative TV programming
producing programs
script writing
filming with portapaks
acting, directing, creating
Capital Women in Cable is for you.
CAPITAL WOMEN IN CABLE
Ms. Debikae S. DeGear
345 State Street
Albany, N, Ye 12210
HX
KEK KEKE KKK KE HEX
Deadline for the March issue
of SPEAKOUT is February 17th.
Please send stories and news to
SPEAKOUT, P.O. Box 6165,
Albany, NY 12206
or call Chris Root 482-7256
KK XXX XKEX KEE HK
oe
SCHENECTADY RAPE CRISIS SERVICE
To report a rape
To request information
To learn more about police
and medical procedures in rape
CASCS eeceses CALL
346 = 2266
Schenectady Rape Crisis Line
Call anytime day or night. The
service has a 1, hr, a day
answering service.
Organization = The next Group
Meeting of the Schenectady Rape
Crisis Service will be held at the
YWCA
ht Washington Ave.
Schenectady, N.Y.
Monday, February 3, 1975 8 PM
New women are welcome. Officers
Will be elected at this meeting.
Committees will be set up and
plans well be discussed for a
new training session for counselors,
KEK
ALBANY COUNTY
League of Women Voters
February 12th 8 P.M.
Farnesworth Middle School
State Farm Road, Route 155
Guilderland, N.Y.
LwV will sponser a panel on BOCES
by their Financing Education study
group chaired by Gerry Oakley
456-8669. Everyone Welcome.
For information about Albany
County LWV meetings and projects
contact Fran Lewis 869-9317.
XE HX %HX HH *
KEK xx HKE* KEK HH
LESBIAN FEMINIST LIBERATION y
Meets every Monday at 8 P.M.
Gey Comminity Center
332 Hudson Ave. Alb. 462-6138
Letters to Speakout
Dear Speakout,
Here is a copy of the letter I
sent to President Ford, Congress-=
man Cohen, Senators Hathaway and -
Muskie from Maine. Also I asked
President Ford to pass H.R. 14214
I felt like sending a copy of
SPEAKOUT to all four of them
because they should be aware of
such newsletters, I saw that
SPEAKOUT was indexed in ULRICH's
ee PERIODICAL DIRECTORY
eai!l ————— |
Take Care,
Ellen Root Paterson
The writer is the younger sister
of this months SPEAKOUT coordin-=
ator. We print it here not
because of blood ties but to
remind all SPEAKOUT readers to
write to their own Congresspeople
about the need for a free choice
in regard to abortion,
Lewiston, Maine
January 15,1975
Dear Congresspeople,
Please vote against amendments
that place in jeopardy our
precious right to a legal abortion.
House: 3 bills include the Hogan,
Whitehurst, and Roncallo amend-
ments,
Senate; Buckley, Helms,
Amendments to Congressional Bills
Legal Services Act, Froehlich,
Roneallo,and Helms.
As a professional librarian and
wife, I am very worried for
myself as well as other women who
deserve the choice to an abortion.
The Right to Life groups threaton
my freedom and I do not intend to
lose my right to legal abortion.
As a woman I am also concerned
for support of day care services,
family planning, and human |
reproduction research. I want
alternatives for men also in the
forms of birth control that
could help relieve the burden of
Cont. Ned cor
hope to have a report on this
meeting in a future issue of
population control and family
planning on me and all other
women. I want to see supported
paternity and maternity leaves
at Bates College and other private
institutions.
Sincerely Yours,
Ellen Root Paterson
Science Reference Librarian
HE KEE HE HH KEE KEE
ed. note. The National Abortion
Rights Action League (NARAL)
is meeting January 25=27 1975 in |
Washington D.C. to plan for
the struggle to retain women's
right to a legal abortion. We
SPEAKOUT. In the meantime NARAL
could use your support. Write
NARAL
250 WeBbt 57th Street
New York, N.Y. 10019
regular membership $10.00
limited income $ 5.00
KH %% KH % % HH HHH
Atlanta, Georgia
January 17,1975
Sisters:
Just wanted to say thank you
for mentioning my calendar.
Several people mentioned finding
out about it through SPEAKOUT.
Carol Vanderschaaf
Carol sent SPEAKOUT one of her
huge Women's Birthday Calendars
which includes the birth:date sof
over 450 women from Bella Abzug
to Mai Zetterling.
Speakout plans to donate the
calendar to the Tri Cities
Womens Center to be hung in the
office room.
Womens Birhtday Calendar
The Art Works, Inc.
4?5 Lakeshore Dre N-E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30507
Bulk rate available..
| | . i
TRI-CITy WOMEN'S CENTERK - FEBRWARY 1975
“Sun. | ow. | ) .
3 | 3 | yo ; | co : i Fg ‘ FRI. <n
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730 eM Ite, * lechedul ! PARTY
Committee paeteeind ets cawout Poet
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aan cy, 7
—_ Bus ese STUDI EP wo RK
Forum joam any 00 “ Paty
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@city Ha -r™ Forum lOAm AFF —_ REGA Rp a4
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*- he \¢ C in Comracttle @. 1 Sel [ol G AF4-2IO14
Q NTC every tude. | PeAKG P pn
1975 is
ete ee ee ee a
Subserihe to Sneataut
€3.50 ner vear
Send counon tos:
SPEAK OMT
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we _ cmamunemen
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at MSN ok mene ee ee eee . Pe EP arn ne .
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR
Join our sisters worldwide in promotinna
the cause of women's rights. Can: iew
Teshirts feature the official U.N.
emhlem for IWY == svmbolizina equality,
develonment, and veace. ae
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will he donated to Wy), ‘Send for
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let SPEAKONT know vow rew address
a @ MARCH 1976
Owes
3 a FQamMINIST PUBLICATION
SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vol. IV Now III MARCH 1975
Table of Contents
1 International Working Women's Day--Anita Thayer
2 Rape Crisis Service of Schenectady; Beginnings and
Purpose--B. Tuck
3 The Nev York State Legislative Forun
4 Petition for Sanity
5 Nev York State Women's Political Caucus
6 AWARE+-Betty Kommer
7 YWCA Reaches Out+«Gcoorgia Gray
8 News
10 The Legislative Program of the New York Women's
Lobby for 1975--cdited by Cheryl Shenkle
14 Marlene Kennedy--Carol Bicrnacki
14 Women's Sports--Carol Biernsecki
LS POETRY :
Clownchild--Mary I, Cuffe
Free Verse--Mary I. Cuffe
Clean Svecp--Fayc Harris
Woman in a Box--Alice Brand
17 Woman & the Professions
18 Breast Sclf-Exanination--Suc Lashcr
18 Nevs
19 Calendar
Cover design by Pam Scola
Workcrs for this issue: Christinc Root, Coordinator; Rezsin
Adams, Carol Bicrnecki, Carolyn Dissosway, Susan Lasher,
Susan Sccbald, Chcryl Shenklc, Janct Warner
SPEAKOUT is publishcd monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per _
year or 35¢ per issue at the local bookstore. — Advertising ,
is $10.00 per quarter pace, $18.00 per half page’, “and $30.00
for a whole page. — Y
Mail subscriptions to: SPEAKOUT, Box 6165, Albany, New York 12206
ees Soe ee se ee ee ee ee ee ee eee a ee ee ee ee
INTERNATIONAL WORKING WOMEN'S DAY .
Everyone is invited to the Al-
bany celebration of International
Working Women's Day on Friday eve-
ning, March 7, 1975, et 8 p.m. The
evening progrem will be held at the
First Presbyterian Church Assembly
Hall, State and Willett Streets,
Albany.
A sons fest of tvomen's songs and
labor songs by local women musicians
will be a highlight of the evening.
Such all-time classics as "Bread
and Roses," “Union Maid," end "I Am
a Union Woman" are on the agenda.
Sing-a-long sheets trill be provided.
A nev, as yet unnamed trio of song-
sters will be making their debut.
Jackie Alper of WRPI folk-sho'; fame
will contribute a few of her irre-
Sistible fevorites. Other tyomen
who would like to join the program
should call the ad-hoc committee at
the number belor.
A recent film -bout the strike
of hundreds of black tromen at the
Oneita Knitting Mills in South Car-
Olina will be shotm. Their strike
culminated in company recognition
of their union and a union contract
in July,-i97T3:
The March 7 progrem will also
include introductory remarks by
Reszin Adams and short comments
from representatives of some local
women's groups.
A donation of 50¢ will be col-
lected. Proceeds vill go to the
Tri-Cities Women's Center fund. No
one will be turned array because of
lack of funds.
International Working Women's
Day commemorates the march of thou-
sands of working tromen in Nev York
City's Lower East Side on March 8,
1908. They rallied at Rutger's
Square demending better ~orking
conditions, an end to sveatshop
conditions in the garment industry,
and the right to vote. In 1910 en
international socialist conference,
meeting in Covenhagzen, proposed
that the vomen's protest be ob-
served every year as a tribute to
working women end their struggles
everywhere. Since then it has been
celebrated annually in many Euro-
peen, Scandinevian, and Communist
countries.
‘ Last month a resolution askin;
Governor Carey to declare March
International Women's Day was intro-
duced in both houses of the legis-
lature by Assemblyman Seymour i
Posner and Senator Karen Burstein.
The resolution, which hed 108
sponsors, including local legisla-
tors Field, Isabella, and Nolan,
saluted yworking women for etrug-
gling for “better working condi-
tions for all workers" and for
contributing "their intelligence,
labor, and creativity to build the
wealth and greatness of New York
State."
Tivo coalitions of women's groups
will be sponsoring demonstrations
on Saturday, March 8, in Ne; York
City--one at the U.N. and one in
mid-to-m Manhattan. As SpeakOut
soes to press, details are not
clear but informetion vill be a-
vailable at the March 7th program
or by calling the phone numbers
noted belov. A third N.Y.C. pro-
gram will fexcture vriters Shirley
Graham DuBois and Susan Warren
speaking about "Women in China."
This progrem vill be held at the
McMillan Thester of Columbia Uni-
versity (Bywy. at 116th St.) at
2:50 on Sunday, March 9. This
progrem will include dance and
choral groups. ,
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE
COMMITTEE TO CELEBRATE INTERNA-
TIONAL WOMEN'S DAY. ‘PHONE:
465-6874, 489-5022 (evenings).
CALL 465-5617 IF YOUR GROUP WOULD
LIKE TO SET UP A LITERATURE/INFOR-
MATION TABLE.
KEKKE HHKKKHK KEXKK KHKKX
A quote from "Objections
Ansvered" by Alice Stone Blackvell,
probably written around 1905. The
pamphlet is in the State Library.
"A vorking girl (sic) put the
case in a nutshell trhen she said:
'I would gladly stand for twenty
minutes in the street car going «+...
home, if by doing so I could get
the sme pay that a man would have
for doing my day's vork.!"
Also:
"Justice and chivalry are not
in the least incompatible."
RAPE CRISIS SERVICE OF SCHENECTADY
BEGINNINGS AND PURPOSE >
The Rape Crisis Service of
Schenectedy began in February of
1974 as a sub-committee of the
Nationel Orgenization for Women.
In Mey @ public meeting :-s held at
the Unitarian Church in Schenectady
at which the Rape Crisis Service
gained the verbal support of
Planned Parenthood end Family and
Women's Advocacy Service (a segment
of Legal Aid). Both groups sup-
ported RCS with volunteers as tell.
As of June '74, RCS ves operating
as ©. Separate organizetion outside
NOW, Plenned Parenthood, and FAS.
By August of '74 RCS had begun a
pilot project vith Ellis Hospital
through the efforts of Louise’: :
Kelsey, the Director of Social Ser-
vices at that hospital. RCS fur-
nished the Bmergency Room ot Bllis
with a 24 hour schedule of volun
teers. In the event that a rape
victim is brought into Ellis, the
Emergency Room calls the volunteer
on duty. Since Ausust RCS has
helped vith approximately nine rape
victims. In the fall, RCS besan to
meke contact with other organiza-
tions. They had a meeting vith
Detective Wood of the Schenectady
Police Devartment and Detective
DiCarlo of the Rottcrdam Police.
At this meeting they discussed po-
lice procedure in metters of sexual
abuse #0 tried to find tw-ys in
which the police could help RCS and
vice versa. RCS then began to sup-
ply the tro police departments with
a convy of the 24 hour schedule for
each veek end made preliminery con-
tact with other police departments
in the Schenectady area. Later,
RCS met with John Connell, the
Assistant District Attorney in
Schenectady. He discussed sexual
abuse end the lay in Nev York State.
At the time, Mr. Connell «ras pre-
pering the prosecution in a rape
case in which RCS and FWAS had
counselled the victim. A similar
meeting vas held vith Dr. Orhm, the
pathologist at Ellis Hospitel. Dr.
Orhm has helped RCS coordinate with
the OB/GYN medical community in
Schenectady.
In Jaenuery, 1975, RCS received
some financial support. The
soroptimists, a women's organiza-—
. tion in Schenectady, gave RCS a
grent of $500 to overete a hotline
telephone. This phone system works
through a telephone enswering ex-
change. The exchange ansvers and
asks the caller to hold. The ex-
change then connects the caller to
the worker. on duty. The caller is
not required to say anything to
the exchange. The phone number
for the Rape Crisis Service of
Schenectady is 346-2266,
The primary job of the volun-
teer is to act as a friend to the
victim. RCS volunteers try to
help the victim decide what she
vants to do and make the victim
avare of her options. The most
important things to remember if
you are raped are: DO NOT WASH.
DO NOT CHANGE CLOTHES. DO NOT
ALTER THE SCEVE OF THE CRIME. GET
TO A HOSPITAL HMERGENCY ROOM AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE. You do not have
to talk to the police if you choose
not to even if in certain circun-
stances the hospital is obliged to
report the crime. If you do re-
port the crime to the police, you
do not have to go through vith
prosecution.
The Rape Crisis Service o@
Schenectady is also available to
help women who are not in a crisis
state. Women who have been raped
some time ago or family members of
victims are velcome to call and
talk things over with sympathetic
person. RCS vill also be happy to
ansirer eny questions the public
mey have about the crime of rape.
The Rape Crisis Service of
Schenectady has come a long way in
only one year. Plans for the fu-
ture ere to coordinate efforts
with other rape crisis groups in
the area and lobby for legislation
in Ne York State that will better
protect a rape victim's rights and
privacy. RCS also hopes to stin-
ulate public awareness about this.
groving crime and through its
Speekers' Bureau educate the public
about; the Myths of Rape, Rape |
Prevention, and the Aftermath of
Rape. RCS plans to continue to
work for medical, legal, and sup-_
portive assistance for rape vic-
tims and vork tovards realistic
information in the media concern-
ing rape. In the near future, RCS
a Continued on page 32
RAPE CRISIS S°RVICE OF SCHENECTADY
BEGINNINGS AND PURPOSE
Continued from page
will be having another volunteer
training session. Check your nes-
paper for the date, time, and
place.
FOR INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE,
THE RAPE CRISIS SERVICE OF SCHENEC-
TADY NUMBER IS 346-2266.
KHKKEK KKEHKHK KEKKK KHKHHK
THE NEW YORK STATE
LEGISLATIVE FORUM
Chancellor's. Hall, New York State
Education Building, Albany, Nex
York :
Tuesdays: 10:00 - 12:00 am
Maren 4.
WCourt Reform"
Apre?72
WHeelth"
soeaker to be announced
Apriisd
"Legislative Reform"
THE HONORABLE MARY ANNE KRUPSAK
Lieutenant Governor, New York
State
- President's Luncheon
DeWitt Clinton Hotel
L2r50 PMs
"New York State's Public Welfare
System: A Time For A Change"
NORMA M. WEDLAKE
Executive Director, Nev York
State Temporary Commission
to Revise the Social Services
Lat 3
The Forum is non-partisan and
takes no stand on eny legislation,
but provides the factual informa-
tion, upon vhich organizations or
THE HONORABLE RICHARD J. BARTLETT individuals may base their action.
Chief Court Administrator
New York State Court of Appeals
Legislative Vievpoints:
Speakers to be announced
Moderated by:
MRS. CHARLES HUBBARD
New York State Leazcue of Women
Voters
March 11
"Penal Reform"
Speaker to be announced
March 18
"The Enerzy Problem in Nev, York.
state"
COMMISSIONER GDEN R. REID
Nery York State Denartment of
Environmental Conservation
March 25
"The Arts and Cultural Resources in
New York State Government—-the
Newry York State Council on the
Arts"
SENATOR WILLIAM T. CONKLIN
Deputy Majority Leader
A veekly nevs letter, the "Clip
Sheet," is published during the
Legislative Session. This is a
Summary of the Speaker's dialosue
and the bill reports of the dele-
sates. Anyone may subscribe.
Most feminist issues are handled
by the Social Services committee,
chaired by
Mrs. Samuel Ornstein (Estelle)
12 Darnley Green
Delmar, Ne York
439-5755
(12054
Upon request, committee chrirper-
sous provide information beyond
that covered in the oral report to
the Forum or in the Clip Sheet
summary.
KKKKHK KHREKXKK KEKKE HKKEKHK
LESBIANS FOR LIBERATION
Lesbians for Liberation meets
every Mondey night at 8 P.M. at
the Gay Community House, 332
Former Chairman of the Commission Hudson Avenue, Albany, Ne York.
on Cultural Resources
EDWARD M. KRESKY
Vice President, Wertheim & Co.
Chairman, Ad Hoc Committce of
New York State Council on the
A amede --
Newry people welcome.
omarSe,
. th,
PETITION FOR SANITY
Spe-kOut has been requested by MS. magazine to reprint their
Petition for Sanity
from the February issue.
circulated to "a small but broadly representative
The Petition wes initially
group of ‘yomen,"
whose names (excepting the entire MS. staff) appesor in the February Ms.
We hope our readers will join \
with us in Signing the Petition.
KHEKKEKKEKEE KEKE KEKKEK KH KK KKK HK HEH HK KK HKK HH KH HK HEH KHKE HHH KKH KKK HKKHEK KKK HK HKKKKKKEH
Ms. Editors’
prepared
Notes
This petition for freedom of sexual choice w-s
with the help of Kathleen Peratis, Director of the Women's
Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union; Jean O'Lecry,
board member of the Nationel Gay Task Force and former cheirvoman of
Lesbion Feminist Liberstion; Dolores Alexander, former executive direc-
tor of the National Orcani zation for Women; and Ivy Bottini, former
board member @ NOW and Consciousness—Raising Organizer for its Los
Angeles chapter, ~
Gloria Steinem of the "Ms." stoff.
Crawford,
The project tres coordine ted by Elissa Krauss and
We especially vvish to thank Jan
convenor of the Ne York City Feminist Community Coalition,
who suscested this petition; Jeon O'Lecry, who tras most responsible
tor making it a
this effort.
reality;
and all those
vromen who may wish to join us in
KKKKKH EK KEKK KKK KK EKKEEK KKEK EEK HEEK KE EREK ERK KKK KEKE ER KEKE EER KEKE KE EKER KEKE
We, the undersisned, vish to .
state publicly our opposition to an
archaic practice that is still
alive in this country:
by government to interfere in the
sexual lives of consenting edults,
and the failure by government to
protect the civil rights of people
tho suffer such interferencé from
others.
We believe all people to have
common cause in eliminoting this
practice. Though laws and regula-
tions governing private sexual be-
havior tend to be selectively en-
forced against lesbians and male
homosex ‘uals --particularly from
poor, minority, end politically un-
popular fsroups--they potentially
affect every person, regardless of
personal power or sexue al orienta-
tion. Not only do these laws and
regulations leave privacy and in-
dividual freedom to the ‘rhim of
employers and lesislators, land-
lords and judges, but their enforce-
ment results in a trazic vaste of
human talent. Even when not en-
forced, their existence serves to
inhibit the free choice of life-
style.
Therefore, we urge every person,
regardless of race, age, class,
sex, or sexual orientation, to join
us in establishing this fundamental
rimt to privacy and individual
freedom. Lf
the attempt
As feminists, we sign this peti-
tion for one edditional reason.
In the history of women's struggle
for self-determination, it has
been a painful fact that almost
eny woman who did not choose to
play a traditional or secondary :
role might find herself labeled a
lesbien, and restricted in her
efforts for fear of the effects of
that label. Indeed, even the
Women's Movement itself hes some-
times been divided and weakened by
this fear. Therefore, we must -
unite on the issue of all women's
richt to a free choice of life-
style, regardless of sexual orien-
tation. Only when the word les-
bien has lost its pover to intim-
idate and oppress, when it’ is as
positive as other human choices,
can each individual roman be fear-
less and free.
As vomen and as feminists, te —
pledge to work tovard the follovw-
ing goals which we. believe will
benefit all citizens:
1.The repeal of all seed eutions
and elimination of institutional
practices that limit access to en-
ployment, housing, public accom-
modations, credit, government or
military service and child cus-
tody because of sexual orientation.
2.the repeal of all laws that
make sexual acts betiveen consent-
ing adults criminal.
, Continued on page So
PETITION FOR SANITY, Continued from
5-The pass-ge of legislation that
will guarantee each individual's
rights, regardless of sexual orien-
tation, so that those vho suffer -
discrimination for that reason will
ae ee ee ee eS ASE es ee ee ee ee ee
ave the same access to redress as
do: the victims of discrimination
because of race, sex, religion, .or
national origin. . |
4.The creation of a social cli-
mate in which lifestyles may be .
freely. chosen. | |
This. statement and its list of sipners vill be sent to the United States
Congress, stote lesislatures, and the White House; to national
already fighting for such changes; and to women!
countries that may
be organizing similar campaigns.
groups
S groups in other
If you vould like
to be included, please fill in the Space belotr and send to Women's
Petition for Ssnity,
Yori: onbOO iis
Signature: _
Name (please print):
Occupation/Orseni zation:
Address: _
“
Citys
Ms. Magazine, 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, New
ee ae a eee ee Set eee
ee A A teseneen s
LLM Comet oof mht
Zip:
KHKKKK KHKKKKKH HHH KK KH HK KKK KKK HK KKK KEK KEKKKEKK KKK KK HK KKK KKK HH KK HK KKK K HHH KH
New York State ‘Womens Political Caucus Bese Anmual Convention
Mareh is-16 , 1975
The Caucus asks... Women of the State :
DeWitt. Clinton Hotel Albany, New York
What's the State of the Women in the
year of the Women? The Caueus convention will open with registration at 5 pom
on Friday evening, Albany County Caucus will host a wine '!N Cheese party at
8 peme that same night. A testimonial luncheon in honor of Lt, Governor Mary
Anne Krupsak will conclude the weekend event, :
New York State Womens Political Caucus ...Convention Regkstration Form
ES AE SS AS ee Se See Se See
Enclosed:
Registration LEGce csiceadewaed5g00
Wine 'n CheeS€eececsccccceselree
Saturday lunch, e@ecevveeseeces 22,00
Saturday baffetessessesseeediOe00
sunday breakfasteccoesvescoedle?5
Sunday Luncheons secessccvesedle50
All. fees payable to: NYS Womens Political Caucus
393 Hamilton St. Albany 12210
. -—-——non-—affiliated
2
-caucus
I need free housing-~-—-—-—~-~-—-~~
I need pickup service-—~———-———
Bus-—--—— Prain-——-———-—d at ¢——--———
Arrival time-—————-—--______
Child Care for-—-——-——~
A ee ey Se tae Sn ee
at. $1.00 per day, per child, including
meals, Give names and ages, —
Reserve rooms directly
DeWitt Clinton Hotel
AWARE |
After months of hard work, AWARE |
(Albany Women Against Rape) held its
first training session for its volunteers
on Saturday and Sunday, February. 15 and
16 at the Women's Center, |
The program began on Saturday
‘morning with the participants, .in small, |
consciousness raising groups, sharing
their feelings about rape, In the
afternoon, the medical committee's -
information was presented to the greup,
by Susan Langdon, a nurse~clinitian
and member of AWARE. Susan discussed
the medical aspects of rape, Emergency
Room protocol for suspected rape cases,
statistics on rape, possible treatments
for venereal disease, and DES (Diethy-—
1stilbesterol) and menstrual inductions
as. possibilities for pregnancy--term=. -
ination,
_ Following the medical presentation,
Betty Kemmer, for the legal committee,
briefly discussed the rights of rape’ -
victims. The legal aspects of rape
were discussed in detail by Diane
Dubiac, an assistant District Attorney _
who handles rape cases for the D,A.'s
office, and Lt. Haan of the Colonie.
Police Department,
Ms, Dubiac covered legal procedure
from the initial report to the police
through the trial. She explained the
importance of evidence, how to take
certain types of evidence if the
victim doesn't want to involve the
police immediately, how to counsel the
victim as to the law and the legal
procedure, and how AWARE volunteers
can assist the victim and the D.A,'s
office during the trial, Lt. Haan then
explained procedure followed by the
Colonie Police Department in handling
rape cases.
Sunday was devoted to counselling
skills. David Merens, a member of
AWARE and former counsellor with
Middle Earth at SUNYA, discussed methads
of empathic listening and responding
during a crisis situation, Bill Vituous
@ PhD student in Clinical Psychology
at SUNYA and a counsellor with, Middle
Marth, explained the crisis intervent-
ion model of counselling, ;
Following this instruction,. the
AWARE volunteers broke up into groups
of four for the role=plays. Each. group -
was accompanied by a counsellor from —
Middle Earth, The members of the group
took turns being victims and counsellors,
and each role play was discussed by
the group, At the end of the session,
the representative from Middle Farth
commented on the roles,
Each AWARE volunteer who participated
in the training session will be writ:
ing an evaluation of the session —
comments, criticisms, ways to improve
the program, etc, Each volunteer was
_ also asked to supply two references which
will be checked by AWARE's screening
committee to help assure the women
counsellors that all of AWARE'S
volunteers are responsible and concerned,
AWARE will be operational very scon,
Anyone interested in working with
AWARE should contact Diane Howard at
439-2634. AWARE'S next meeting will
be Sunday, March 2 at 7:30 at the women's |
Center. The chair is Betty Kenmer, !
— -436—8626,
Rights for Rape Victims
New Jersey is soon to become the
tenth state that has approved err made
effective changes in rape laws this
year and-legislation is pending in at
least twelve other states.
According to Mary Ann Largen of
the NOW National Task Ferce on Rape,
Michigan has the code that most encourages
women to prosecute their attackers:
#* Victims do not have to prove
didn't consent,
Defendants are prohibited from
introducing evidence of past sexual
activity between the victim and
any other person than the accused,
A person in the process of divorce,
may, if attacked, charge a spouse
with rape,
Rape is re-defined as "sexual
assault", and does not differen-
tiate between women and men,
There are four degrees of sexual
assault, replacing the definition
of rape as sexual penetration,
they
KK
KH
This bill which took effect on
November first was sponsored by the
Michigan Women's Task Force on Rape. (p
(The above article was taken from an
article by Alice Sant Andrea in the
February 8th issue of Majority Report, )
YWCA RLATHES OUT
The ‘lbanyv Young ‘ omen'ts
Christien Assoc.ation (YWCA)
is in the process of re=
evaluating its place. in the )
community, It has asked a vari-~
ety of groups ena persons to
provide input -uidance about the
needs of this community. The
Albany Y’'CA wants to buile a
program that will both serve
thecominunity and be in keeping
‘with the purpose and program
directions of the National Y'CA
decided at their 1973 Convention,
-. Eo was invited as a represente
ative of the local chepter of t
the National Organizetion for
Yomen (NOW) to work with the
YVCA’ in this endeuwvor,. Since
then I have completely revised
my own image of w.at the YVC° is
I had thought, es do many of us,
that the Y was a “bland ,
middle-class group of women pre-
occupied with a few 'do good!
social.services," and that its
program was limited to offering
such courses as 'Powder Puff?
mechanics, slimnastics, aquae
babies, etc. and had no real
relevance to the women's movement
Or dealt with the real critical
concerns of women, esrecially in
this communitye
Sctually, this is a true im-
age of the “‘lbany YWCA3 it does
notrelate to or deal with the
concerns of women in any meaninge
ful sense. ‘And for this reeson
tie Albany YWCA°is in trouble,
It hes been audited by the Nee
tional Association cand by the
United Way of Albany Co,.and has
been found lacking in its proe
gram. The local Y must either
cheng its directions ind focus
or die Oute
The YWCA program for action
for 1973-81976 formulated at the
jational Y convention to be
implemented by local Y ‘\ssociae
tions is a statement deserving
of endorsement by all who call
themselves feminists and are
working on beh.lf of women in
any waye The Y's progrem tare
gets are the empowerment of
women, of youth, of Third
World people, to the ena of worke
ing for social and economic
justice, peace with justice and
a more human environment.
To achieve the empowerment of
womenthe objectives of the Y are;
1) Stimulate affirmative
action to eradicete sexism within
the context of the elimination of
racisme
2): Reorient YWCA procramming
including classes, to open new
options for womenin education,
jobs, careers ana politicse
$O Releas2 and utilize at
every level of Association and
community life the unique leadere
ship inherent in women of many
different backgrounds and life
Stylese
4) ork for quality,volune.~
tery, nonracist, nonsexist chilsu
development with a strong parent
involvemente
5) Develop programs that
train women to be politicelly
active and to tie public policy
which implements YV'C% prioritiess
The Albany YWCA is reaching
out to the community at large
for help in redirecting their
progorseme The Y has the potential
to be a pert of. the women's
movement in this community, to be
involved in social action, to be
an change agente The Albany
YWCA is at this point “in time
ready and willinc to accept our
input; it must or it will not
survivee.
ny groups or individuals who
wish to participate in helping
the Y identify the needs of this
community end establish goals |
ana objectives to meet ti:ose
gosls shou:: contact Sheila King,
wiregctor, Young \.omen's Christian
ssociation, 55 Stuben Street,
lbany, ev. York 12207
Georgia Gray
999 . eee eee eee se¢
9° KOUT is now listed ins
ELI. R.PORT TO vO? LN INDEX/
DIRECTORY which has Just beer
relcesed, Good ‘ews. Ask for
it at your local library,
‘T
NEWS NEWS NEWS ——
Frem Phyllis Kennebecks o«
The Schenectady deans LWV, AAUW and
the YWCA are joining together to en-
courage the selection and appointment
of more qualified women to positions in
local gevernment.,
Women are sempetients and qualified to
have responsibility in the policy and
decision-making processes of the
institutions that affect their lives.
A survey of local government boards
and committees show that, while women
comprise fifty percent of the citizens
and voters, only about 5 percent of _
the appointive positions are held by
women, We are trying to reach as many
women in the community as possible,
through all listed womens organizations
and through personal contacts to inform
them about the available positions,
encourage them to apply for an appoint—
ment, and to gain support fen more
representation ef women in these posit-—
liens,
7f you are interested in more informat
atien on any of the 40-or more ad
visory commissions in schenectady County
( Health, Housing, Human Rights, Youth
Aging, ebce etc, ca We can let
women know when appointments expire
and how to apply... Please Call,
De not let it be said that lack of
representation is due to the failure
of women to seek appointments,
Call Phyllis Kennebeck 37h—4641,
Se a ee
Correction—
The telephone number of the State
Examination infermation Office in the
Department of Civil Service was ‘given
incorrectly in our February issue
The correct number is 457-6216 or
157-6218.
Call for dates of upcoming
civil service examinations for jobs
with the New York State Government,
6
Mentessori School of Albany
Either education ‘contributes to a
mevement ef universal liberation by show
ing the way to defend and raise humanity
or it becomes like one of those organs
which have shrivelled up by not being ~
used during the evolution of the organism.
| M, Montessori
If you are interested in a Montessori
education for your child, call the
Montessori School of Albany at 4397999
or 459-5851.
Sisters— |
We are three women at Thomas Jeffer—
son College in Allendale, Michigan,
We're hoping that you can: publish this
enclosed notice: we're trying to set
up an unofficial link between women of
all ages, classes, races, etc, We're tir
tired of seeing our differences in
politics, sexuality, or economic status
set barriers between us. want to>
find women's commonality in all of our
daily lives,
If you can't run this, could you
please post it where it can be seen?
Best Wishes,
Linda Smith, Jere Van ye sherry
Karosi
“WE'LL PUT YOU IN TOUCH
WITH YOURSELF THROUGH OTHERS
Women all over the country are try=i
ing to make a bett#r world -—- and to
survive at the same time, For both we
instinctively, intuitively, develop
and use magic —- the magic of love, the
alchemy of joy -——- which we express
through magical objects, shared celebra-
tions, rituals of daily life which
transform the busy=ness of living into
delight and creation.
We are women who see our involvement
with our children, our jobs, our plants,
our pets, each other, as expressions of
the Eternal Feminine which unites all
women, from seventh—grade baseball
pitchers through aspiring architects,
retired teachers, busy homemakers, Alone
we may feel drowning in trivia; together
we are immersed in the rituals of
Women.
WE'LL PUT YOU IN TOUCH, cont'd.
If you would like to increase the
presence and power of magic in life
send us your address and any a SUREETRCD,
objects, photos, descriptions that .
express you. Send anything — deacript~ :
ions “6f your fantasies; pictures of
your geraniums, your softball team, your
grandchild. ‘Send drawings, poems, —
steries, autobiographies, Send your
story in any form of magical debris, for
Herstory is Ourstory. Send us your
address, and we'll put you in touch, |
Send to : Grand Valley Women
Pie O»..BO% 2511
_ Grand Rapids, MI -
eee
eM AE TE AE GE AE SE AE Sh SE SE TE TE SE SE MR aR ME Se te SS GE EE: 3
Womens. pumas) Library
The Women's Center nov hss
a siidgll library,of paperback
books, magozines and hardcover
books located in the entrance
hallway. For te present, ple se
use these. boos..IN Tis WOMEN'S
CENTER ONLY. Articles and book-
lets will be made available in
the near future.
The follo:ving artiéles are
needed to continue worixs on the
reference section of the library:
1 metal file cabinet oe
1 index card fiie box - size
yt ¥ Gt
manila folders
Contact Rose Baker at 482-7928
if you know where we con get any
of tiiese materials.
The library committee, on _
behalf of all tue women who will
use tne resources of the library,
would like to than'!s SPEA,OUT
and Capital District ‘omen for
their generous donations of lite
erature ti the library. We would
also like to acknowledge the
substantial collection of books
and magazines don-ted by Patricia
Gould. Many of these books and
magazines are in the present
collection available in t e libre
ary.
If you n.ve any sug. estions
for the use of the library and
available literature, please
contact Rose or come to the next
library committee neeting at the”
Women? s Center on March 18 at
‘ FeOOoOP iy:
ATID FOR Tt. LESBIAN MOTHER
fe know of two lesbians in
Ohio who are in need of finen -
Cial and - moral support. One of
them is trying:to retain custody
. of her three children, and has
recently undergone several
serious operetions. The combined
costs of medic 1 end legal. fees
is incredible. - Anyone interested
in furtner information, or in
helping, please call ose of
Harry at 482-7923 after 5:00 P.M.
-
FER 2 #* eG LH a.
VIRGINIA JOOLF STUDY GOUP .
tT must open the little trap
door and let out t..ese linked |
phrases in which I run together
Jhatever happens so that instead
of incoherence there is perceived
a wandering thread, lightly join= ©
ing one thing to another.”
' The Javes
Virginia Woolf
| | . <n: Se
A Virginia Woolf Study Group
is nov being formed. Any Interest-
ed “sJomen should call Betty Kemmer
436-8626. The time and place of
the meetings will be decided by
the group as a whole. Possible
works under congideration will be:
The saves, & koon Of Ones On,
and otner essays and s.ort stories
by Virginia voolf, and "Virginia Wo
Woolf a Biography by juenton
Pell.
HH EK HH KEKE RES
Albany Community Calendar
A group of concerned groups and
citizens have formed the Community
Communications Coop . The Coop
publishes the Albany Community
Calendar each week in "the public
interest." To list events just
call the Refer Switchboard at
454-1202 or mail to Community
Calendar, 362 State Street, Albany
New York’ 12210. Calendars are
available at THE STORE, Central
Ave. Albany and at the 8th STEP.
*
ad
THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM OF THE NEW YORK WOMEN'S LOBBY FOR 1975
de Legislative Reform 3 7
In order to achieve equality under the laws. of this wise: the women of New
York must have the fullest possible access to the legislative process. Therefcre,
The New York Women's Lobby supports reform to achieve an open, democratic,
accessible and responsive legislative body and believes. this is one of the most
crucial issues which faces the Regneiabure in 1975. o_o reforms riven include:
1. All committee meetings should be regularly. iota dacaiad and open to tHe
. general public,
2, All votes taken in committee should be epen, recorded and made immediately
- available to the general public,
3. The agenda of bills to be heard at a committee meeting should be announced
by name and number in sufficient time for all members to be heard.
4, All floor votes should be recorded and made irmediately available to the
public (preferably through electrenic voting); "empty chair" voting
should be ended.
5 A complete transcript of legislative proceedings should be available
fer examination, and accessible to the general public within a prescribed
time.
6. Messages of Necessity should be accompanied by clear evidence of the
existence of an emergency sufficient to justify waiver of. the three-day
waiting period,
. 7. All committees should remain open until adjournment.
8, Legislative conflict-of-interest rules should be strengthened to prevent
improprieties in fact er appearance.
We further believe that legislative reform is too impertant to be left to the
whim of whatever majority may control future legislatures. We therefore urge the
Legislature to give first passage to a constitutional amendment that would add
these principles to the state constitution to be implemented by specific legis—
lation that would translate these principles into permanent rules.
II, Reproductive Freedom
A. Maternity Rights
/
1. Disability Benefits fer Pregnant Workers--S728 Goodman, A2325 Posner
The Women's Lobby supports legislation that weuld repeal the provision of the
Workman's Compensation Law that makes female employees ineligible for short-term
disability benefits while they are medically diabled, during pregnancy and child—
birth, The current law requires empleyers to provide a plan to insure regular
members ef the work ferce against wage loss, fer up to 26 weeks, when they are
medically disabled and unable to perform their regular job duties. However,
the law specifically excludes all women workers who suffer disabilities in connect—
ion with pregnancy. Pregnancy is a condition unique te women, but the effects
of pregnancy and pregnancy-related illness are just as disabling and have the
same significent characteristics as all other temporary disabilities covered in
the State program. The exclusion of pregnancy-related disabilities deprives
pregnant women of the equal sr pie varpeee of this law, ie
2. Hesith: Insurance Coverage For Pregnancy and Related Conditions -—— S55 Donovan
The Womens Lobby aesoraren legislation requiring that all health insurance
policies sold in New Yerk provide coverage for medical and hospital expenses
related to child birth, pregnancy and termination of pregnancy te the same extent
that other medical conditions are on, a given pelicy.
New York Women's Lobby Legislative Program
page 2 .
?
x * are
: :
Most insurance policies (group and individual.) sold. in New. York either exclude
or severely limit pregnancy-related coverage and do not provide this coverage at
all for unmarried women and dependents of policy holders, . ae 2 Ay pe
ry
~ ~
B. Contraception Rights iF xg
The Women's Lobby supports legislation that would repeal Section 6811 (8)
of the New York State Educatien Law which makes it a misdemeanor to dispense
contraceptives to any person under 16, prohibits distribution of contraceptives
by anyone other than a licensed pharmacist, and prohibits advertising and display
of contpagephivetes tustdoiv .odd Juods sexobive 7 ONDE" teense cing
The elimination of the licensed pharmacist requirement would mean that
contraceptives are readily available to all those who want and need then, It
would make contraceptives readily available to minors who are sexually active,
and are obviously at high risk of pregnancy and venereal disease and, finally,
make neede¢ information available to the people of this state so they can make
informed, reasoned -choices among available contraceptives.
C, Abortion Rights 38
7 The Women's Lobby position is to remove all restrictions or limitations on
access to abortion from the law of. New York State and te support all legislation
that accomplishes this goal,
+ ete ar”
TI, Geils feenns c:. ccs. odsdtint 94 2! eaed
i Sa Se ee ee
The New York Women's Lebby supperts legislation that advances the’ goal of
universal, community controlled. child care. We believe that in'1975, publicly
subsidized child care should be available to all families who need this service
and cannot afford it. Eligibility criteria and fee schédules should be designed
to permit the fullest participation in child care programs. ~
Further, we call for an immediate increase in state expenditure for this
vital service, The Women's Lobby also supports legislation to provide estate tax
deduction for child care expenditures, —
IV. Heusehold Workers! Rights -~ A24 Posner
The Women's Lobby supports all legislation which pratects and advances the
status of household workers. Specifically, we suppert legislation which weuld
include household workers in the benefits of mandatory collective bargaining and
administrative review ef unfair labor practices.
The current labor law of this state excludes "domestic servants" from these
benefits.
V. The Right te Sexual Privacy -- S731 Goodman, A220 Passanante
The Women's Lobby believes that private behavior between consenting adults
(prostitution, adultery, sodomy), should be decriminalized, We support legislation
that would repeal Section 130.38 ef the Penal Law which provides that people are
guilty of consensual sodemy when they engage in "deviate sexual intercourse" and
which makes such conduct a Class B misdemeanor, This applies to both heterosexual
and homosexual behavior, but has been selectively enforced to harass homosemials.
We believe the present law is an attempt to define appropriate standards of private
conduct and moraiity. Government should not enforce one standard of semal
behavior, creating a crime where there is no victim, and a statute that is
unconstitutional,
Mes
New Yerk Women's Lebby Legislative Pregram -
page 3
The Women's Lobby supports legislation to prohibit discrimination because
of sexual orientation. or. marital. status in employment, housing, public accom—
modations, education and."the extension of credit. The State Human Rights Law
should be amended to include "sexual orientation" and "marital status" as prohibit~
ed bases of discrimination in all of these areas under its jurisdiction, - |
VI. Rape |
.The Wemen's Lobby supports legislation that would amend the penal law in the
following ways:
“de
To limit the introduction of evidence about the victim's.prior sexual
conduct in trials of rape and other sex crimes.* At present, many defense
attorneys, in order te prejudice juries against rape victims, harass
and humiliate them by-cross-examining them or otherwise. introducing
evidence concerning their irrelevant prior .sexual history. Victims
"know this, and often refuse to cooperate in pursuing meritorious proséc-
26
36
utions. If rape is to be properly controlled, this unnecessary roadblock
to prosecution must be removed,
To change the rape law so that when a man who has been legally separated
fer six months or more, imposes sexual intercourse by fercible compulsion
on his estranged wife, he will be guilty ef rape. Under the present law,
been separated for many years,
The present law contains a definition of second degree assault which
makes a person guilty of that crime if he inflicts an injury while.
attempting to commit any other felony except a sex felony. Now that
corroboration is not required for proving certain sex felonies, such as
it is not a crime for a husband to repe. his wife, even if they have
forcible rape, the reason for that exception no longer exists and it
Should be deleted. Second degree assault is a Class D felony.
VII Prohibiting Tnsurance Discrimination
Discrimination against women in the sale of insurance has been an Historic
practice in the insurance industry, Women are often unable to. buy the same
insurance that is available to men, particularly in eee i disability income
protection,
be
a
The Women's Lebby proposes that Section 292.9 of the Human Rights Law
be amended to add insurance companies to the definitien ef "place of
public accommodation," - Section 296.2 of the Human Rights Law-should be
amended to add "the sale of insurance". after the words "including the ©
extension of credit." These amendments would specifically add insurance
to the purview of the Human Rights Law, giving the State Division of
Human Rights and the courts jurisdiction over the insurance industry
in New York to enforce non-discrimination in the sale of insurance,
The Women's Lobby also-preposes legislation to amend Section 40.10
of the Insurance Law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex,
sexual orientation, and marital status as well as discrimination based
on race, creed, color and national origin which the current statute
outlaws. This would prohibit any discrimination or distinction based on
sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in extent or type of coverage
or in premiums. ) i @
VIII Educational Equality
While New Yerk State Education Law currently prohibits sex discriminatien in
admission to any course of instruction in public schools, the law does not prohibit
the traditional practice ef providing dramatically unequal extracurricular
12
ee es ee ee ee ee
New York Women's Lobby Legislative Pregram
page 4
athletic activities for boys and girls. Many school districts either do not
fund or provide shockingly little funds for girls! athletics while boys sperts
are promoted and encouraged,
The Women's Lebby supports legislation that would require equitable funding
of activities, allocation of resources and access to facilities for male and
female students in the public schools of New York State.
Further, the current New York State Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination
based on race, color, religion, disabitity or natural origin in any non-sectarian
tax exempt scheel, It does not cover public schools. The Women's Lobby supperts
legislation to add sex, marital status and sexual orientation to the prohibited
bases. The Human Rights Law should also be amended to include public educational
institutions,
Ix New Yerk State Equal Rights Amendment -- A2543 Diggs
"Equality of rights under law shall not be denied or abridged by the state
of New York or any subdivision thereof on account of sex,"
In 1974 the New York State Legislature gave first passage to the above-
quoted Equal Rights Amendment to the New York State Constitution. The Women's
Lobby calls for second passage in 1975 which is required before the amendment
goes te public referendum. This amendment is 200 years overdue!
X. Ne Fault Insurance - Compensation for Homemakers
The Women's Lobby supports amending the No Fault Auto Insurance Law to provide
for compensation for the value of work which an injured homemaker would have
performed for the family had the homemaker not been injured, up to one thousand
dollars per month for not more than three years from the date of the accident
causing the injury. The present law provides only for reimbursement of actual
expenses incurred in hiring someone to perform homemaking functions, but dees
not compensate injured homemakers for the value of their work. Furthermore, there
is a maximum of $25 per day for this reimbursement.
The amending legislation would previde that the "value of werk" shall include
not only labor and services at prevailing wages, but also an amount for household
management and creative effort usually associated with homemaking.
XI, Prohibiting Discrimination in Volunteer Fire Departments -- $966 Burstein
Publicly supported volunteer fire departments have often functioned like
private clubs excluding racial minorities and women from membership, The
participation of women as police efficers and fire fighters in recent years
clearly cstablishes that many women are in fact physically capable of fulfilling
those responsibilities,
Section 296 of the New York State Human Rights Law already prehibits race,
creed, color and national crigin discrimination by volunteer fire departments
in their selection ef memebers,
The Women's Lobby supperts legislation to add "sex" as a prohibited
classification to this section,
The Women's Lobby also supports laws that would Repeal Jury Exemption fer
Women, supports Class Actions in State Courts and prohibits Discrimination in
Professional and Trade Organizations, S682 Geodman and A364 Thorp. Due to lack
of space these laws could not be included, For further information, contact
The New York Women's Lebby, Suite 300, 84 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10011,
Felephone 212 924—7800,
A ol
WHO IS MARLENE KENNEDY AND
WHY DOES THE US GOVERNMENT
WANT TO PUT HER IN PRISON :.
FOR | RS YEARS? :
| Area women are. presently av. -
work on behalf of Marlene oT
Kennedy, a 27 year old Seneca .
Indian chared with attempted © i
muder ‘and réckless endangerment —
and Jailed in liéu. of $25, ‘elele) Sak
Bail...
Marlene lives on “the.
Cattaraugus reservation near
Burttaio. On senuary 9, 1975 *
she was awakened by. her dogs |
barking. Looking out, she saw
her home surrounded ny 18 care -
loads of white men clothed a
hunting jacktes,. She demanded >
three times to know. who they
were. She got’ no answer so she
fired three warning shots. The.
shooting was returned by the :
men, endangering the lives. of .
Marlene and her two children-
in her home, a trailer, :
These men were the State -
police ‘arid Niagtara Mohawk Power.
497° coe Supervisors who
alledgediy had come to turn off
the powers Why they came rt dh
has not been explained. Further-~
more the power was already off.
Marlene was charged > with °
"the crime", The. bail,
no bail at all for a poor person
was nedaced after one week to
$3 , 500.
The underlying reason for °.
this incident is easily under-
stood. The land of the reservae-
tion contain 25 natural gas w
wells producing 34 million
cubic feet of gas per daye
For the use of thése wells,
a $20,000 token payment has
been made yearly
Marlene Kennedy's crime is
that of other Traditional
Native American8s wanting to
live in peace without fear or
exploitation, or robbery,
YL
—
"
State-wide Demonstration
re Capitol Steps March i
2 aa pie a ; . 1H
a feng ery . thee.
wid ‘Rea’ eo se fe" age: ts
®
DT ee
18 carloads. and in plain ¢iothes
which is _
WOMEN'S SPORTS
Starting next month Speak out
“will carry.
regular. news reports
and articles on women in sports.
Since no one on ‘the staff at the
moment has a backfround suffieie~
ntly knowledgablee mtonpréduce
-a regular column, perhaps some
reader could take this on for a
‘couple of months. We have made
a request to area schools to send
“us schedules of events and
publicity releases. But what we
really need is reports on area
% events, articles ‘on ‘womens
Gole Gh dontemporaryr Sports.-home
to s on almost everthing sire
m@Py of spent.a lot.of time
‘with dolls and dishes when we
‘were little (say last week,
. when we were cleaning house.)
Give us ede our bodies, wi
2nd articles, letters, press <a
SIDERED Soak ers
THE FOL! Owl NG Is STOLEN
LIBERALLY FROM THE “sp A
SUNY PAPER BY FES)
; Mike: Piekarski writes that
“Changes ‘in, nules may, @ffect the’
ac
\
the olay; of the walrte" én varsity
“pasketbalt "The rules committee
has chxaged women8s game time to
two twerty minute halves just de
the menfs..These longer periods.
might take its toll on the Albany
team as far as endurance is cone
cerned, and :could require some |
time to get used to,)
The varsity team is scheduled to
play twelve games beginning the
first of last month.
My country 'tis of thee
Land of Jockocracy acert:
Of thee I sing ay |
Land of Pigocracy
Land of pig gluttony
Lad of gross apathy
Of thee I sing Flo Kennedy
Clownchild
Sunflower,
earth cannot keep you
under her wings af
you are thé not too well kept
secret |
of the flambouyant streak
in our serious mother
who ; |
after the pattern is laid, —
put down her knitting
to dream of you,
Clownchild
Free Verse
Rhymes?
I have no rhymes for us;
no scheme for matching
me to you.
All the shoulds we learned
wont work | |
& though we smile, though we touch,
though we say the words the same
the endings will not fit.
SO you look at me with hurt & whys
& all I Know to say to you is
the best poems I wrote just came to me
& rhymes?
I've lost my knack
for rhymes
both poems bys: Mary I. Cuffe
Averill Park, N. Y.
Clean Sweep
she wags the womb keeper
sweeper of the cage
moving with grace and purpose of a stalking
panther
through the deadly monotony of her days
none of us realized how wild she really was
we always thought of her as a warm lap
til we woke one day and saw the bleody cords
hanging free
she had tied the knots so cleanly
emptied the womb without sound
and left only her shadow hanging ominously
in t e sunlight
: Faye Harris, Albany, N.Y.
IS
Women in a 30x .
voy Ges Alice Brand
Highland Park, N,J.
Vhere wie 3 when the world was turning on-
Where was |] sevesesssstultseepn
Where was I as lI was imersed in: t e
paralyzing srencompation with |
earthemother games against the
morbid backdrop of depression-~
standing as an impassive, concrete shrine:
to a psychic stupor= —
impervious to penetration.
Fourteen years I reneiowe inerte
Amidst this mosaic of tinseled children
fnd hollow, irencubis half-mate.
Quiescente
jsut the morter insidiously corrodinge
Where~was ,l-when I-needed to connect
Where was" when I cried to be singled out
feeling confluent with only a sole, stray micron
of his thoughts, myri:d and satedsarpetiattng,
su»ceresaturating the intersections of his mind,
‘here was I while directions were devised
patterns planned
designs drawn.
The world was turning. on They were turning on
* e a - ,
SG was turttina on
v i(@ where was 17
WOMAN & THE PROFESSIONS
The conference Woman & the Pro-
fessions was held at Albany State,
January 25 through 27, to acquaint
“omen with some of their career op-
tions and to encourage them, by
supplying role models, to choose
these options.
The multi-media presentation
(i.e., slides and music) "A Women's
Place is Every Place," by Audrey
seidman with Pam Scola and Kim
Krieger, onvened the conference.
This vriter has not been overly im-
pressed by multi-media presentations
in general, and "A Woman's Place"
was no exception.
At the Openins Work Session:
Context Set, Patricia Bull of
Patricis A. Bull Associates attempt=
ed to show the conferees how to be
more fully vresent*as participants.
This tras accomplished chiefly by
hoving the women share their con-
cerns, first on a one-to-one basis
and then in small groups. .
One of the best sessions of the
conrerence was that siven by Marge
Karove of DeGraff, Foy, Conyvay and
Holt-Harris Lay Firm. She stated
thst lew is an entity unto itself
and cen be approached from any
becksround; however, she recommended
"hard " math and science courses
which teech one to think accurately
and concretely. Knowledse of the
English language and the ability to
write corefully are essential. In
choosing a lav school Ms. Karove
stressed that opvortunities for
conceptual lay courses, for prac-
tieal law experience, and for non-
lew courses should be considered.
Lay study is the study of. trivia,
she said, and teeching is by intimn-
ideation. The lav student becomes
immersed in a way of thinkine. The
legal world is extremely male ori-
ented. (4.7% of the lavyers in the
U.S. are vomen.) The women men-
tioned in case ex-mples are invar-
iably stereotypes. Ms. Karovve
werned that the job market in law
is very tight, although being a |
‘omen moy help during the.next five
veers OT. 80. |
Patricia Bull's workshop on
"Human Services, Community Develop-
ment" centered on the techni-cues
she uses to reveal the goals of ©
groups with which she works. First,
eS a eas ee ee ee ee ee ee ne a a
‘she has the participants look at
what is (defining the proble::);
then they consider what ought to
be (stating the goal). Finally
there is a brainstorming session
in which at least three people
write on posted newsprint the
idess' which are thro:mn out by
group members. Ideally, this is
a, lively process in which thoughts
are announced as quickly as they
occur. Discussion follows.
The main thrust of Virginia
Corsi's talk ebout "Education as
a Medium of Change" was thet
knowledge is transferable. Women
should feel not limited to a par-
ticular field, but free to move
into ney areas. Corsi has done
this herselr, changing from edu-
cation to revorting and communi-
ecctions to a position on Mary
Anne Krunsek's staff.
Karen Burstein, the charismatic
State Sen-tor from Nessau and
Queens, geve a worthwhile sketch
of her career. It seems fair to
say that she more or less drifted
into law school at Fordham and,
efter practicing poverty lav,
into the Senate. She does not
intend to remein in the Senate
for on extended period of time
because the seniority system
sakes it hard to effect change
there. She vould like to run for
Nassau County Executive. Ms.
Burstein felt that fields such as
economics are as good a prepara-
tion for politics as lay is.
The conclusion to Woman vas a
speech by lawyer Florynce Kennedy,
one of the founders of the Nation-
al Orgenization for Women.
Reactions to oman & the Pro-
fessions varied. One voman
thouz it vas very good, came
away feeling confident, and has
finalized her decision to go to
law school as a result of the
conference. Another thought the
sessions led by Marge Karovwe and
Koren Burstein were valuable,
while several of the others she
attended were not. A third par-
ticipant got so discouraged with
unannounced schedule changes
which caused her to miss inter-
esting sessions, that she left.
17
BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION
"Every seven minutes, breast
cancer is diagnosed in the United
Stetes and every fifteen minutes a
women dies of the disease,,.Breast
cancer is the most common CoNSe of
dcath in vomen aged 40 to 45."
Over 90% of all ge: cancer is
discovered by the roman herself,
and her best protection is to dis-
cover it early.
A training session for omen who
want to teach others to examine
their breasts vas held at the New
York State Department of Health on
February 19. The leaders of the
conference vere Rita Pacheco, Dir-
ector of Community Progrems for the
Bureau of Cancer Control of the
State Health Department, and Shirley
Dunton, a registered nurse. The
session consisted of an hour-long
course in breast self-examination
follovved by a discussion of vays of
motivating vromen, teaching tech-
niques,
Illustrated pamphlets describing
breast self-examination are avail-—
able from the American Cancer So-
Ciety, 219 East 42nd Street, New
York, 10017; the New York State
Health Department, 84 Holland Avenue,
Albany, 12208; and the Planned
Parenthood Association of Albany,
225 Lark Street. Your physician
can give you additional instructions;
She or he should give your breasts
a careful examination once a year,
in any case. If you or. oe
is interested in attending short
(hour or less) course in becca
self-examination or if you vant
more information, contact Lib Berger
(459-2931), Sue Lasher (463- 5027),
or Bunni Vaugn (674-2007).
Next month SpeakOut 7111 have an
article with instructions on the
breast self-examination.
“philip Strax, M.D., Barly.
Detection: Breast Cancer is
Curable (New York, eer & Rov,
Publishers, 1974), p. 5.
sch tiolc THEKEX KKKKHK KKXKKEK
""For the most part, I enjoy it,'
he said, ‘especially the mixture.
I teach beginners, professionals
and housevives.!"— -Nick Brignola,
January 19, 1975, Times Union 18
will begin Tuesday ,
and sources of teaching aids.
eroup
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The Senate hearings on the ERA
March ll, at
10:00 asm. in Hearing Room B. Of
the Legislative Office Building.
Many anti-ERA people are preparing
to speak at the hearing. IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT AS MANY ~ PRO-ERA
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ATTEND THE
HEARING AND VOICE SUPPORT FOR THE
AMENDMENT. Call 472-8800 and ask
for Senator Gordon's office if you
would like to speak.
to
KHEHHE KKHKX HKHHKK KHKHHKH
WOMEN'S CENTER HEARING
The Tri-Cities Women's Center
zoning hearing took place on Feb-
ruary 24 in the Common Council
Chambers. About 35 yOmcn -Ene-one
man were present to support
Elizabeth Berger and the Center.
270 residents of Center Square
Signed petitions which stated
that they welcomed the Women's
Center in their neighborhood.
Speak Out will publish the decision
of the Board of Building and Zon-
ing Appeals as soon as it is
available.
KHEKE KHKEKHK KKEHKE KHKEKK
CAPITAL WOMEN IN CABLE
There will be a meeting of the
CWIC Steering Committee on March
153 at 8:00 p.m. The location is
the Brady Building, 40 North Main
Avenuc, Albany.
KHKKKE KHKEKK KKKKEK KHHEK
NOTE TO OUR READERS
SpeakOut is trying to build up
its circulation. We have placed
posters in strategic locations at
supermarkets, laundromats, SUNYA,
and coven at the Unemployment
Office. You can help by sharing
Speak Out with your fricnds;
giving gift subscriptions; leaving
back issues on buses, in waiting
rooms, or on bullctin boards where
someone else is likely to pick
them up. The SpeakOut staff
appreciates our readers' support.
>
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opescout Community calendar and other Group Contacts '
Lesbians for iberation- 332 Hudson Ave. Albany NY 462-6138
Womems Counselling Collective- 332 Hudson Ave. Albany 462-6739
AWARE (Albany Women Against Rape)=- call Setty Kemmer at 436-8626
Capital Women in Cable- Debikae DeGear- 345 State St. Albany 463-5642
Albany County League of Women Voters- call Fran Lewis 869-9317
Schenectady Rape Crisis Service= 346-2266
Schenectady NOlWW- call Ann Booth 399=5790 (36 Kile Dr. Scotia, NY12302
Albany Area NOW=Box 6137 Albany NY 12206 call Georgia Gray 765-2168
Guilderland Womens Awareness= call 465-8233 Or 355=8704
Marxist-Feminist Study Group- call Anita Thayer at 4389-5022
Womens Center Scheduling Committee- call Susan Chelius 462-5922
WILPF- Womens International League for Peace and Freedom- 465-4653
Delmar CR group call Susan Nagel 439-7994
Capital District Women= gall Susan Walters 372-8014 or Estelle
frankel at 456-8283
SPEAKOUT = call Susan Lasher 463-5027 or Cheryl Shenkle 899-4121
Virginia Woolf Study Group=- call Betty Kemmer 436-8626
EGOS= Encourage Girls Organized Sports= call Joan Floyd 355=2925
NYS Legislative Forum- call Rezsin Adams 462-0891
Womens Political Caucus= 393 Hamilton St. Albany 463-0477
SUNYA Womens Liberation= Athena Newsletter- Diana Woolis
Box 1054, Colonial Quad, 1400 Washington, SUNYA, Albany, NY
ra alll
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a Feminist JouRNaL === APRIL1I75
SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vol. IV No. IV | APRIL 1975
Table of Contents
1 Women in Svorts=-Cheryl Shenklo
2 AWARE The Race Is On--Nancy Dudley
4 The Women's Center Special Permit Hearing--\/omen's
Center Stecring Committee
2 The State of Nev York Senate Hearing on the ERA--
Carolyn Dissosway
6 The Nev York State ERA--Carolyn Dissosway
7 More On the BRA--a letter from Chris Root
8 International Working Women's Day--Sue Lasher
9 The Women's Political Caucus Convention--Carolyn Dissosway
10 Book Review; A True Story of a Drunken Mother--
Carolyn Dissosway .
Par VYomen in Academia--Cecrolyn Dissosivay
12 Breast Self-Examination--Sue Lasher
3 Suzanne Benton: Masks and Drama--Sue Lasher
13 Eugene McCarthy and Feminine Mystique--Carolyn Dissosway
14 Feminism and Fertility: Germaine Grecer--Cheryl Shenkle
LS Group Nevs--special thanks to Mary Gallagher
Cover design by Pam Scola
Yorkers for this issue: Susan Lasher, coordinator; Rezsin Adoms,
Carol Biernacki, Carolyn Dissosway, Mary Gallagher,
Cheryl Shenkle, Janet Warner
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are 93-50 per year.
35¢ per issue at the local bookstore. Advertising is $10.00 per
quarter page, $18.00 per half page, and $30.00 fa@ a whole page.
Mail subscriptions to: SPEAKOUT, Box 6165, Albany, New York 12206
* E.G.0.S. -— False Victories
When the courts directed Little
League to stop its sex discrimination
and allow girls to play baseball, we
all hailed this as a victory, E.G.0.S.
(Encourage Girls Organized Sports)
contacted the President of thé Pinebush
Little League about signing up girls
(assuming that the League would now be
epen to girls) and he refused. Girls
could net participate, they might get
hurt. EGOS members, Dorothy Bellick,
Jean Floyd and Charlotte O'Donnell
along witn N.O.W. President, Georgia
Gray asked for a meeting with the
Town Supervisor to protest this discrim
ination, The Pinebush Little League °’
didn't show up for the meeting but the
Tewn Supervisor did speak with the
President of the Little League and he
agreed to open up the League to girls.
This was decided, apparently because.
ef E.G.0.S. and media pressure, EGOS
had reported his action to the local
press, The Pinebush Little League,
not represented at the meeting, did ©
not ‘give the details of its open
pelicy to the Town Supervisor. It was
later learned that while baseball was
epen to girls, the peewee league was not
open to girls, ner was softball open
to boys, What EGOS had worked so hard
for and thought was a victory turned
eut to be only a partial concessicn,
a false victory.
EGOS has net given up. One girl,
an eleven year old newcomer to Guilder~
land has signed up to play baseball,
She's the only girl: on the team so far
and the Pinebush League has made it
clear that if she doesn't work out, she
will not be able to switch to softball.
They, of ceurse, are expecting her to:
fail. The openings for girls are not
publicized by the Little League nor are
they encouraged but they do exist, The
EGC! member present when the girl -
signed up wondered if the League would
have tried to discourage the girl had
she tried to sign up by herself,
EGOS main thrust has been in
getting girls sports pregrams in high
schools, The small membership was
very drained morally and physically by
the fight over the Little League but
they still have high hopes. They are
working with the A.A.U.W. (American
Asscciation of University Women) in
setting up girls sports programs. They
ee
|
|
hope to meet seon to discuss prepesals
for next year. They would like to become
a full fledged organization and support
from women interested in girls sports
is desperately needed. They hope to
give the girls a sense of potential, of
achievement, to help them overcome the
feelings of second class citizenship--
goals that all feminists desire.
The sports section of the Title IX
guidelines is appalling. In a letter
to EGOS, Jan Cunningham, National Task
Force Coordinator, Women In Sports,
N.O.W. states, Women have been excluded
from participation in contact sports.
Under the regulation a team may provide
one single sex tea in a contact sex and
may prohibit women from trying out or
playing for this team. Also they do not
have te provide a women's team in that
Sport -- basketball, baseball, softball
and foetball are defined as contact
sports,
Since most colleges spend’ so much
meney on men's sports they don't feel
they could afford it if they had to
provide equal facilities for women.
And the law is on their side.
The Pine Bush Little League does
have spaces avaidable for girls. EGOS
hopes that more girls will sign up
for paseball, EGOS needs yeur support.
Contact Joan Floyd at 355-2925 or
Dorothy Bellick at 355-8704 and firid
out what you can do to help.
With the recent court ruling, if
girls do sign up they are assured of
at least a little action. The court
stated that all Little League players
must be given an opportunity te play
in each game.
Cheryl Shenkle
Added Note: Did you know that the
fathers of little League players do
some coaching but are not required to
help the team; the mothers, however,
are expected to work at the refreshment
stand! So any woman who signs her
daughter up to play can expect a few
nights selling candy. Unless of
course we open ceaching to women and the
refreshment stand to men.
AWARE The Race Is On
Let's face it. Sol Greenburg
was elected D.A. by the wemen of
Albany County. We all know that.
He picked a winner in the rape
4&
proposal for a rape crisis center,
and so AWARE formed an ad hoc
committee to write the proposal.
Returning to the committee,
issue and rode it right down to the AWARE's representative submitted
finish. Then, prancing in the
winner's circle, he made us wonder
if he had forgotten us who had put
him there, we who had discovered
that issue, raised it, trained it
and groomed it for the public.
The issue appeared to be
such a good one that the County
Legislature entered. the race and
placed $33,000 en itself to win.
It has just left the starting gate.
The only other entry in the race
is AWARE, Albany Women Against
Rape, which has a two year head
start, a roster of trained volun-
teers, and is about to open up its
phone service. If you were a bet-
ting woman, where would you put
your money?
Not so fast! The odds are
pretty good; but AWARE is discover-
ing that the track has become very
muddy, and that someone may be
trying to fix the results. For
all its experience and expertise,
AWARE is learning that it may need
a few lessons in how to win races
and influence politicians.
Until recently, AWARE has
relied on Politicians and other
Friends in High Places to keep us
informed of what was happening of
any political concern or importance
to us. But recent events have
shaken our confidence in the
sincerity of such contacts.
Well, there we were, strolling
down the Proverbial Primrose Path,
when we heard that one of our
former members had been hired to
work in a rape-oriented capacity
in the D.A.'s office. We hadn't
even been told there was an open-
ing. Shortly thereafter, we again
heard that the County had formed a
committee to study the feasibility
of a rape crisis center.
why AWARE hadn't been asked to
send a representative, we sent a
representative to the committee
meeting, who turned sut to be the.
only one there whe knew anything
av all about the rape issue. wad"
was asked to write a funding
the proposal and was then rudely
ejected from the meeting by the
Assistant D.A., Diane Dubiac ("If
you don't leave, 1'11 have a
matron:come up and drag you out!")
Apparently, someone had decided
that AWARE was not going to be
represented on the committee.
Subsequently, AWARE learned
through various news media that
Charles Cahill of the County
Legislature had been named to hire
the directors of the County's rape
crisis center, that the center
would likely be required to :
report each case to the police,
and that a "member of the D.A.'s
office" would probably be appofnt-
ed to the position of director.
Well, isn't that terrific,
you saye The county is moving
right along, and Sol Greenberg
is making good on his campaign
promise!.
Sure it's great, if you don't
care what kind of rape crisis
center you get. But if you've
been doing research and planning
for a rape crisis center for a
year, as AWARE has been doing, and
have some sturdy guidelines and
strong principles already establ-
ished, you wonder primarily why
you haven't been contacted to
have some input into the County's
center, and you see that the
County's proceedings have a lot
cf bugs. Let me talk about the
bugs first.
Bug #1: AWARE propesed that
a board of community wemen be
formed to write job descriptions
and draw up guidelines for the
rape crisis center. The directors
of the center would then be
responsible to this board, which
Wondering would in turn be responsible to
the larger community that it
represented. The County has gone
about this in the exact opposite
way, starting by appointing
someone who, admittedly, Knows
nothing abeut the rape issue, to
hire the directors (without
AWARE, cont'd,
benefit of any job description, disrupted by rape trials for anyone
we might add) who will then draw to coerce a victim into prosecuting.
up guidelines for the center For this reason, AWARE feels
(based on what experiences or uneasy about the possibility of
information we do not know), and a center director being appointed
then submit their guidelines to from the D.A.'s office. The
the Legislature for thumbs up or purpose of the D.A.'s office is to
thumbs down. What that meansvis, get prosecutions. That is not
they may or may not agree to final-the purpose of a rape crisis :.%*
ly fund the center. center.
AWARE's objection is that the Further, it wasn't until
County's plan. provides for little, AWARE protested the backroom way
if any, input from community women,in which the County was staffing
the very population the center is its center that the DA. calied
Supposed to be serving. We wonder,a press conference and grudgingly
actually, who the County is ultim= announced the positions and the
ately serving; but more on that deadline for applications. More
later. suspicions about whom the center
Bug #2: It has been the intends to serve. 3 :
experience of rape crisis centers Well, who is the center
across the country that when women supposed to serve? AWARE fears
are not assured of confidentiality that the primary purpose of the
in rape counselling, they do not County's rape crisis center is to
use the service. While it is true stick a feather in certain
that there are many women who politician's caps,rather than truly
may wish to prosecute their assail-serve the needs of rape victims.
ants, there are also many whoa do AWARE fears that another signife:.- :'
not want to get involved with the icant purpose of the County's center
police in any way. If a rape is to create a large well of
crisis center is required to prosecutions for the D.A.'s office
report all cases to the police, : to draw from, rather than deal with
then it is little more than a the individual needs, and wishes of
fancy law enforcement agency rathereach rape victim. AWARE fears
than the social service which it that experienced, interested and
ought to be to best serve the need qualified women will be passed over
of rape victims. Once again, we in favor of more convenient, pliable
wonder whom this center is political appointees whose main
ultimately supposed to serve. interest will be the re-election
AWARE would not only require of larcal democrats, rather than an
that a woman's confidentiality efficient, productive and success-
be assured, but would also like to fyi (from the victim's point of
see a system similar to that it view) rape crisis center.
Rochester where a victim, without Actually, AWARE would rather
becoming involved with the police, not be running this race against
could contact the Chief of Police the County. We do want input in
privately and give him a descript- the County center. We should be
ion and M.O. on her attacker for working together. But as the
the benefit of other wmen who may County continues slogging around
choose to prosecute the same the track with blinders an, igner-
rapist. ing our proposals, guidelines,
Bug #3: If a woman wishes experience and expertise, we're
to prosecute the rapist, she shouldfinishing this race by ourselves
have the full cooneration and and opening our own rape crisis
support of the police and the ..."*.'eenter as planned; and the County
D.A.'s office. But if she chooses will be saddled with a loser,
not to prosecute, she should not ) .
be forced to an to trial. There
Nancy Dudley
are too many exatwies of marr leges ,
broken, jobs lost and lives ae,
GARING
The hearing on the Special Use
Permit for the Tri-Cities Women's
Center was held as scheduled on
February 24, 1975, before the Board
of Building and Zoning Appeals.
The Women's Center Steering Commit=
tee had orchestrated its side of
the issue so that as many people as
poesible would be testifying.
Center Square Neichborhood Associa-
tion, opposed to the granting of ©
the permit, was represented by
attorneys Steven Herriek and Arthur
Reingold. Contrary to the notice
of the hearing, the Board of Build-
ing and Zoning Appeals indicated at
the stort of the hearing that not
all those who wished to testify
would be alloired to do so. The
Tri-Cities Women's Center tras forced
to reshuffle its testimony and
omit some importmt points.
The Women's Center presented its
Side first. Elizabeth Berger,
Women's Center leral committee men-
ber, testified regarding the legal
aspects of the Center's locating in
the neighborhood, and defined the
scone of the Special Use Permit.
She stressed the fact that to grant
a Special Use Permit is not to set
a precedent. Hach group seeking a
special Use Permit must be judged
on its own merits. She then des-—
cribed the physical layout of the
facility and gave a picture of the
Center as an important community
resource. Ms. Berger concluded by
asking that she be given time on
behalf of the Women's Center to
rebut the opposing testimony. This
request was granted: She was given
about three minutes in which to
rebut the testimony of tivo attor-—
neys and five opposition witnesses.
Susan Chelius, also from the
legal committee of the Center,
testified next, presenting the rea-
sons for the Center's choice of its
present location. She mentioned
the symbiotic relationship bet reen
a Women's Center anda residential
neighborhood, and stated that the
Center's location in the neigzhbor-
hood vould be of significant velue
to the community. She presented a,
petition signed by tio-hundred and
THE WOMEN'S CENTER SPRCIAL PERMIT
support for the presence and ,the
aims of the Center.
Rezsin Adams, a neizshborhood
owner-resident and member of many
political and community organiza-
tions including Center Square,
testified in support of the ‘lJomen's
Center in the Center Square neigh-
borhood. An overview of the pro-
grams end activities which are
taking place and which are possi=
ble at the Women's Center was pre-
sented by Julie Schwartz. She
mentioned that the Women’s Center
would serve as a clearinghouse for
information on vromen's issues,
vocational training, educational »
and career opportunities, referral
services. The Women's Center
vould act as the coordinator of
women's resources in the community.
She also spoke of the workshops
which the Women's Center hopes to
initiate on such topics as child
care, discrimination in banking
and credit, self-defense, sexism
in.schools and at home, and other
topics of community interest.
Mary Hegserup presented testimony
regarding the library we already
have and its potentisl as a con-
munity resource. She also dis-
cussed women's avareness groups
as a community service.
Michael Howard of the Hudson
Park Neighborhood Association
testified in favor of benefits
the community receives from flex-
ible interpretation of the zoning
ordinances and the granting of
Special Use Permits, and he indi-
cated his willingness to have
organizations such as the Women's
Center in his neighborhood, which
adjoins Center Square. Emma
Devellyn, a long-time owner-resi-
dent of the Center Square neizh-
borhooc, spoke of the problems
women face at different stages of
their lives and of how the oments
Center vould meet the needs of all
women. She also testified as a
rormer member of the West Side
Planning Board in Manhattan and
stressed the importance of voriecty
in a cenver-city neighborhood.
Lois Chaber, a resident of State
strect, testified that the Women's
Center would be an assct to the
neighborhood from her point of
seventy residents of the ee LL Wee, and thet parking problems
neighborhood, indicating their
Continued.on page. °°
le ee eee ee: eee
‘THE WOMEN'S CENTER SPECIAL PERMIT
HEARING--Continued from page L
which might result from its pres-
ence would be less than those cre-
ated by private entertaining done
by residents. Jackie Choiniere-
Imai gave statistics from the 1970
census which show that the Center
Square neighborhood and its environs loudly.
have the highest concentration of
Separated, widowed, and divorced
women in the city.: Carol Harp |
Biernacki testified as a spokes—- ©
person for the Unitarian Society,
indicating thet the Women's Center
is supported by this group. She
also read the testimony of Dr.
Jenilu Schoolmen, a psychologist,
who stressed the importmce of.
women's awareness groups ond peer
| support in the prevention of men-
tal and emotional illness among
women.
Center Square presented seven
male witnesses in opposition.
Steven Herrick, Art Reingold, Bob
Meyer, Buzz Gosch, Bob Lamb, Harold
Lamb, Harold Reuben, end another
resident covered the following
points in their testimony: parking
difficulties resulting from the
presence of the Vomen's Center
in the neighborhood; non-—community-
service aspects of the Women's
Center; develuation of property
values in the neighborhood result-
ing fromthe location of the Women's
Center; inadequate "p wder room"
facilities, one bathroom for tienty
women, women, at the Women's Center.
The Center Square Neighborhood
Association stressed its goal of
making the neighborhood a white,
upper middle cless, single family,
strictly residential area.
In her rebuttal, Elizabeth Berser
answered succinctly the objections
of Center Square regarding parking,
develuation, and community service
aspects of the Center. After the
hearing had been adjourned, many of
those who had come to testify on
behalf of the ‘Jomen's Center but had
not been given the opportunity to
do so submitted written statements
to the Board.
The Board of Building and Zoning
Appeals has a month from the date of
the hearing to deliberate. We
should receive the decision by
March 26.
™~
we
THE STATE OF NEW YORK SENATE
HEARING ON THE ERA:
IGNORANCE AND POTTY PARANOIA
The March 11, 1975, hesring on
the BRA has come and gone. There
must have been some husky voices
end sore throats among its oppo-
nents, they shouted so long and so
Their favorite objection
still seems to be their fear that
men end women will have to share
public toilet and dressing room
facilities. They talked about it
so much that one person suggested
they. suffer from potty paranoia.
Many of their objections to the
State laty are not. relevant because
they are not strte functions.
These include the fear that women
will be drefted; there is no. state
army. Changes in the Social Secu-
rity laws are also a federal, not
a state, function. Some important
questions did come to light and
light was shed upon them, largely
by Senator Karen Burstein. It will
be necessery to review all the
state laws which contain gender
words such as he, she, his, hers,
mele or female. The Legislature
has already begun this review.
It will not be es costly or time
consuming es opponents of the ZRA
claim. .
The ERA's, state and federel as
well, apply to the government, as
Constance Cook told the hearing;
onother amendment will be necessary
to bring private business and in-
dustry into line vith the intent
of the GRA forces.
There is a great need for clar-
ification of this and other points
as to how the GRA will influence
the lives of the people of the
state. The objections of HRA op-
‘ponents heve not made any contri-
bution to this clarification by
their rude shouting, insulting
remarks and irrelevent criticisms.
supporters or the DRA must
offer concrete evidence for the
need for this amendment, <¢vidence
which can be substantiated, unlike
most of the claims of opponents.
It would be tragec if the ERA
Tailed because its supporters were
over-confident of its success.
The cost in time before it can be
— offered and passed again is too
Continued on page lo
THE STATE OF NEW YORK SENATE HEAR=
ING ON TH ERA, Continued viioeas page
great for the victims of its absence
from the laws of this state. The
possibility that eech discrimine-
tory law would have to be chal-
lenged, one at a time, in each
state, with the burden of proof
placed upon the individual victin
rather than the state, should in-
Spire support for ERA's from all
fair minded women.
KHKEKKE KRKKK HHKKG KEKKE
TH® NEY YORK STATE TRA
Considerable confusion still ex-
ists about the ERA. Part of the
confusion is due to the failure of
BRA critics to distinguish between
the New York State and the federal
anendments. This was true of those
at the Legislative Forum on Febru-
ary 18 andat both the Assembly and
Senate public hearings on the BRA.
The possibility of drafting women
is a federal, not a state, function,
as is any change in Social Security
laws. Private pensions and retire-
ment plans would not be a function
of either state or federal govern-
ment. The BRA applies to the gov::..
ernment, not to private business or
industry.
Employment: The amendment would
prohibit the governments within New
York State from discrimination on:
the basis of gender alone. It
would be illegal to set separate
standards for edmission to institu-
tions of higher learning which are
run by the government, and for hir-
ing and promotions in such institu-
tions. Hopefully it would result
in a change in the present public
school systems in which 85% of the
teachers are female and 80% of the
principals are male. Some of the
"ynrotective" laws for women would
be changed to remove bias. They
have been poorly enforced on the one
hand and often used to keep women
out of some kinds of jobs on the
other hand. No one should be asked
to do werk beyond her or his phys-
ical or mental ability; no one
should be denied work she or he can .*:
iv
do on the basis of gender alone.
In cases of discrimination the:
burden of proof would be shifted
from the individucl woman to tke
state, Senator Karen Burstein told
the Legislative Forum.
Domestic: Maternity benefits
in employment would not be lost.
They are not adequate now. Preg-
nancy disabilities are not nov
anong those listed'as‘tenborary?:
disabilities for, which workers can
receive compensa tion. There are
no re-employment guarantees for
women following parturition.
Yomen would become subject to
jury duty, not only a privilege but
a reasonable obligation of citizen-
ship. Women could also be excused
from jury duty for en adequate rea-
son, as men are nov.
Alimony, custody and child sup-
port are determined by the courts
on an individual besis. The best
interests of the child, the need
end ability to pay are all taken
into consideration. Alimony is
rarely asked for, less often grant-
ed and even less often paid. Child
support is also hard to collect.
Some women may have to pay alimony
under the ERA.
There is no lav which requires
a wife to take her husband's name.
Lucy Stone did not. There is no
enforcible law requiring men to
support their wives; most do, some
can't, others wontt, some expect
their wives to both keep house and
support them. The decision is up
to the individual couple.
Under the ERA the status of
homemaker would be enhanced; it
would be the result of free choice.
It would no longer be a condition
imposed upon women as "inferior"
beings.
Carolyn Dissosway
From Suffolk Words and Phrases,
by Ldward Moor; originally pub-
lished in 1823 (in England);
Augustus M. Kelley Publishers;
New York, 1970.
Brank. Buck-wheat, Polygonum
fazopyrum. "Brank, buckwheat...
in some counties they call it
crap.”
MORE ‘ON THE ERA
Dear Speakout Readers,
I am angry. I wish I eculd spit
nails. The ERA has gone down to defeat
in yet another state! What e@ ludicrous
situation! Male legislaters with support
from some women who have never known
freed*m voting tha6 we the people of
4merica shall never even have a chance in
public referendum to say whether we want
men and women to be equal under the law,
If those who oppose the ERA are so sure
they are in the majority why not put it
to vete. Of course I really wonder if
it is fair to let men vote on our equal~
ness, It's like asking white people if
blacks are equal human beings and should
be treated accordingly in the law. But
that's the way -— The smerican Way. So
be it. Put the ERA to the test.
Despite my anger, I feel sorry for
wemen who say to me, "But, Chris won't
we be losing, more than we gain." I
can't believe it. What have we te lose?
Chairs, Lower pay hassles, a 99 hour work
week, No prestige, Na voice. No chance
to be President. Second Class status,
Our status as doormats. Some say we will
lose privileges, that we're on a
pedestal, How long has it been since a
man opened a door for you or gave you
a seat on the bus? Darn long. And I
fer one welcome it. I will give a
seat te a blind person, a child, or
an older mén or woman, They need it. I
am neither blind nor lame. Let me
stand Proud and Free! I feel like I'm
choking to death when I think that this
country in its Bicentennial shall cele-
brate by saying I am not equal to aman,
I am a Second Class American not entitled
to the legal pretection men give them
selves,
& foot is at my neck ready to crush
me, Sometimes I can hardly breathe. I
toss about sometimes being angry, some-
times being patient, sometimes heing
Na lady." I'm fed up. I'm sick to
death of being Ms. Nice Guy, I drag
myself out of bed every morning to run
for the 7:10 a.m. bus to work and back
again at 5:30 p.m. I eat the dirty air,
carry my brown paper sack, pay my taxes,
shop for bargains, buy hamburger in 3 lbs
or over to save. I hustle. Where is
my pedestal? Where is my having it
easy as a woman?
Sisters get out and hustle for that
State ERA because it doesn't look like the
federal is going to make it. The second
wave of feminism better flood those
legislators with phone calls or letters
or we're washed up.
This essay will never make an A in
English Composition I but being polite
and articulate hasn't gotten me too
far. Give me Liberty, Equality and
Sisterhord, For those who want it keep
your husbands names, your "lady" status,
your polite respectability, your .“"*
auxiliaries, I don't ask you to agree
with me. I don't force my life style
on anyone,
I'm a waspy, heterosexual, who ~~ --
doesn't drink, smoke, take drugs, tell
dirty jokes, swear or overindulge in
any way except the women's movement,
And I am unacceptable to the Silent ~
Majority,to Seciety? I refuse to conform
further, Give me my freedom. Keep that
fake pedestal. I, for one, don't
want it,
Chris Root
Albany NOW Task Forces
Healthe Marylu Satterfield
H 45681327 0457=5423
Sexuality Denise McNaughton
He O67Re71eR1
Labor Unions, Robin Gerber
He 372—5858 O. 445-1248
Barbara Tytell Brandes
463-7774
Marriage,Divorce and Family
Relations Jean Callahan
H H 482-7704
Criminal Justice, Betty Kemmer
He. 436-8626 O. 457=8553
Masculine Mystique, Bob Fager
H. 785-1197 O. 474-6576
Employment/Compliance, Debbie
Botch H. “me 449-5010
i? r 457-4495
Sports Liz Craigltow, H. 274-3930
Image »%f Women/FCC, Chris Dupuree
Credit,
Consciousness Raising,
Jean Callahan 482-7704
Errors in the larch idsue
Women's Counselling Cellective
Pam Lerman 438-4815
Marxist-Feminist Study Group
Mickey Greene 465-6874
Women's Center scheduling
Committee, Susan Chelius
462-3247
INTERNATIONAL WORKING WOMEN'S DAY
To liberate women is to liberate
society. :
No more traditions' chains shall
bind us.
These were the slogens of the
March 7 celebration of Internetion-
al Working Ylomen's Day at the First
Presbyterian Church, where nearly
200 people gathered to commemorate
the march of thousands of working
women in New York City's Lower Bast
Side on March 8, 1908. Those women
of nearly seventy years ago rallied
at Rutger's Square demanding better
working conditions, an end to svweat-
shop conditions in the garment
industry, end the right to vote.
Rezsin Adems of the Women's
Internationoel League for Peace and
Freedom opened the evening with her
reflections on meeting Marlene
Kennedy on the Capitol steps in
Albany Merch 1. Rezsin learned of
Kennedy's plight and the scheduled
denonstration from last month's
SpeakOut.
Next on the agenda was a groypoft
working women's songs led by Kris
Healy, Jennifer Wolff, end Suzanne
Von Arnem. Some of the labor songs
sported new, women-oriented lyrics
for the occasion. The audience
perticipation was not as grezt as
it misht heave been, but the leaders
did a fine job. This writer par-
ticularly enjoyed a Spanish farn-
workers! song, done a cappella by
Healy and Volff.
After the songfest, the filn
Oneita Women on Strike was shown.
It details the 6-month strike by
workers at the Oneita Knitting
Mills in South Carolina during 1973.
The textile workers--mostly black
and 85% women--were protesting $1.56
an hour wages, poor working condi-
tions, and lack of job security.
Their fight lec to a contract with
the Textile “Jorker§' Union of Amer-
ica, a breakthrough for the facto-*
ries of the Southeast. The film
was difficult to understand because
of the poor sound and the southern
accents, but rousing nevertheless.
One white woman in the film said ,
that as a result of the strike, she
hed learned that black vomen are
"people, just like us." It was ral
heartening to see
ably nneducated woman, t prod-—
uct of a@ racist culture, able to
revise her prejudices at the age
of twenty or thirty. Sisterhood
is powerful.
The next segment of the pro-
gram was devoted to area women's
groups. Speakers from Lesbians
for Liberetion, SpeakOut, the Tri-
Cities Women's Center, AWARE, and
the Women's Counselling Collec-
tive gave information about their
groups, some of which appears in
this month's Group News. Mickey
Greene of the Marxist-Feminist
Study Group gave the history of
International Working Women's
Day and her position as a social-
ist on some current issues. The
talks were interspersed with en-
tertainment by Angela Ni Kallahan
end Julie Schwartz.
Angele Ni Kellahan has changed
the prefix of her name from "0,"
which means "son of," to "Ni,"
which meens "daughter of." Most
of the songs she sang, accompanied
by her guitar, were original, fenm-
inist compositions. Some had
lesbian themes, and one was a
haunting mother's lament in Gael-
1c e
Julie Schwartz put on a real
show. First she played music on
an‘-assemblage of kitchen equip-
ments: the pie pan vas featured.
Then came a series of screeches.
These experiments with the sound
of her voice vere accompanied by
frenzied movements. She closed
with a combination of foot stamp-
ing and wordless singing. The
sudience was encoutaged to stamp
along.
Jackie Alper of the WRPI Mostly
Folk show was the final performer.
She came to folk music through —
the labor movement, and therefore
sang many labor songs. She
recalled going with her mother to
Union Square in New York in
March, 1930, to demonstrate for
work relief and food,
KKEKKXK KKEKK KHHEHKKK HKHEKKK
The Vorking Women's Day cele-
bration raised approximately $75
for the Tri-Cities Women's Cen-
ter. The committee would like to
thank everyone who helped make
the occasion a success.
a. poor, prob.
’ The Women's Political Caucus
"We will -work together or we will
talk each other to death," a member of
the Black Caucus told me, at the Annual
Convention of the New York State Women's
Political Caucus. The Convention was
held in Albany, New York, March 14-16,
1975. At times it did seem as though
the conveners would talk each other to
aeath, Out of all the talk came agree—
ment on important issues, Bella Abzug, .
Carol Bellamy, Constance Cook, Elizabeth
Holtzman, Mary Anne Krupsak, the
Republicans and Democrats meeting in
separate caucuses, the panel on "Women,
the Economy and the Military Budget,"
and the conveners agreed that women
must unite on issues regardless of
‘political preferences, We must become
political, We must insist upon being
respected as people, we will not be .
satisfied with anything less, We do not
want to become like men. We want to
humanize society, to make life better
for all people,
The Manhattan Caucus brought a
program to the Committee on Legislation,
It was similar to that of the New York
Women's Lobby for 1975, Their program
was published in the March issue of
"tSpeakout,"
Senator Carol Bellamy told about
the 1856 appointment of a legislator
named Foote to study the Woman Question,
He was chosen because he was the longest
married member of the legislature and
so an expert on women. He decided that
it was men who were the injured party,
women's clothing cost more and occupied
more space, Women had no need for re-
dress, The spirit of Mr. Foote remains
with us today.
Flo Kennedy, at the closing hours
of the convention protested the "white
out" by the TV media. The only coverage
was by Capital Women in Cable, The
major networks can cover every kind of
ball game. They should also cover the
more important work of women, and that
includes the Annual Convention of New
York State Women's Political Caucus!
Mary Anne Krupsak told the
conveners at the Sunday luncheon:
"Men seem not to recognize the dignity of
human life." This was in agreement with
the panel on "Women, the economy and
the Military Budget."
omy is being undermined by the high costs
of the military budget; and we don't know
how much more is wasted in clandestine
The civilian econ- °
spending. The interest paid on old
military debts owed to banks is about
$32 million a year. Seven banks control
-most of the industry in this country.
Money spent on military items is non-
productive, it is removed from circula-’
tion, Civilian industry suffers because
of reduced buying power. Unemployment
is one result. We oppose further milit~
ary aid to Cambodia and Vietnam.
One method of solving the unemployment
problem is job sharing. Everyone would
work some, everyone would have a little
less but everyone would have something.
The government would make up part of
the loss to those giving up part of their
work week,
The panel on Minority Women in
Politics met concurrently with the "Women,
the Economy. . ." panel. Because many
women would like to have attended both,
the question was raised as to the
purpose of the convention, To conduct
business? To exchange information and
ideas in committees and at panels?
Or both?
Throughout the sessions the import—
ance of supporting the Equal Rights
Amendment was stressed. We will work
against any senator who votes against
the state ERA,
On Sunday there was a testimonial
luncheon honoring Lieutenant Governor
Mary Anne Krupsak. When Congresswoman
Bella Apzug rose to speak, there was a
standing ovation. In 1976, she told
the convention, women must complete the
American Revolution, we must make the
fruits of the revolution ours. We must
have equality in fact, not just on
paper. Today we have injustice for all.
Women are losing out due to the reces-—
sion, there is no political or economic
equality. We must make this country
work for all the people, Mary Anne
Krupsak's election was a turning point
in New York State. Women do cross
party lines, We women have served
notice that we no longer will accept a
society which is half free, half ful-
filled, half realized, half meaningful.
In 1975 we shall complete the American
Revolution,
Lieutenant Governor Mary Anne
Krupsak was also greeted by a standing
ovation. She told the convention
that powerlessness is more corrupting
than power, Women have been on the
right side of issues, We must insist
that the legislators respond favorably
“| to our political agenda.We must set aside
Women*s Political Caucus, cont'd,
differences and unite. We must think
ahead to the next legislature, She
suggested a march on Washington to demand
peace and dignity for everyone, an end
to:the waste of war, There is no equal-
ity without jobs. There is nothing we
can't accomplish if we work together.
Flo Kennedy suggested that Mary
Anne Krupsak replace Governor Carey,
that Bella Abzug replace Senator Buckley
and that women unite in a March Against
Media ‘Arrogance (MAMA).
As a matter of fact, some marches
are being planned for the near future.
| The Albany Caucus deserves credit
for planning an interesting, informative
and enjoyable convention,
Carolyn Dissosway
A TRUE STORY OF A DRUNKEN MOTHER, Nancy
Lee Hall Daughters, Inc., Plainfield,
Vermont, 1974
This was a difficult book to
review. I can feel patience and support
for the first generation alcoholic. The
alcoholic children of alcoholics knew
what they were doing, I find it difficult
to be patient with them. Nancy is the
daughter of an alcoholic father, She
observed her father's black-outs, his
violence, the lack of money for neces-
sities and the fights between her parents.
After the divorce Nancy stayed with her
mother's parents. When her mother mar-=
ried a second time to an alcoholic,
Nancy chose to stay with her affluent
but tyrannical grandfather and her
mad-house-wife grandmother. Nancy began
drinking when she was fourteen, 4s a
rebellion against her grandfather's
tyranny. Both of Nancy's husbands were
alcoholics.
It is unfortunate that so little
attention has been given to the studies
of Roger John Williams of the University
of Texas and others with similar under-
standing of the alcoholic. According
to the research from Williams laboratory
there is only one thing in common to
all alcoholics; they have an uncontrolled
compulsion to drink, (see Alcoholism:
The Nutritional Approach; the University
of Texas Press, 1959.) This urge to
drink is not due to a need to eseape,
Tt is due to a deranged cellular metab-—
“genetic mechanism for transmission ‘of
the derranged metabolism.
Nancy wrote her story with the
hope that it might help someone else.
Help came to her through Alcoholics
Anonymous and especially the feminist
friends she found, Dr. Williams supports
the work of the A.A.
One interesting character in the
book is the mad-housewife, While she
was a patient in a mental hospital,
Nancy visited her. The grandmother
recited lines which seem to have come
from Euripedes:
And yet they say we live secure
at home, while they are at the
wars, with their sorry reasoning,
for I would gladly take my stand
in battle array three times o'er
than once give birth. . .but
I am destitute without a city,
and. therefore scorned by my
husband, a captive from a
foreign shore, with no mother,
brother, or kind man in whom to
find a new haven of refuge from
Senator John V. Tunney introduced
legislation which will permit —
single parents with young child-
ren a tax deduction for child-
care costs as business deductionse
Tunney reported that 4.5 million
mothers with children under age
six were in the work force last
yeare Child care costs are not
personal expenses, they are
ordinary and necessary expenses
incurred to enable an individual
to be gainfully employed. —
Tunney has introduced similar -:
legislation in previous sessions
of Congress only to have them
eliminated. Better luck this
yealre
Senator Tunney also introduced
letislation to creat part time
jobs in the govern mente During
the next five years two percent
of full time Federal positions
would be restricted to make
part time opportunities availablee
These would not be just at the
menial levels but in responsible
positions up and down the career
ladder and across the spectrum
of Federal agencies. This will
give the government a chance to
increase its chance to choose
olism induced by a physiological agent-—- ~ high quality applicants.
alcohol. Dr. Williams has suggested a
1c
— ieee
SPOT LIGHT ON ELIZABETH TIDBELL
"THE EXECUTIVE WOMAN,"
February 1975
and
THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN
MICROBIOLOGY by Eva Ruth Kashket
et al."Science" 183, February
1974,
Dr. Elizabeth Tidball,
professor of physiology at
George Washington Medical Center,
Washington, D.C. has been
intercsted in working for and.
with achieving women since 1969,
She has been trying to identify
the characteristics of undere=
graduate institutions and.
their faculties shich are espee
ciallu useful for the devele
opment of talent in women.
Women, she found, are twice as
likely to succeed if they
attended an all women's cole
lege where they were stimulated
by many more role models, .
In the study of microbiologe
ists it was learned that women
felt a lack of role models,the
lack was especially felt by
those who continued to the
doctorate degree.
Dre. Tidball found that about
50% of women achievers are
married. There are 44% married
women among microbiologists
compared to 90% married male
microbiologists. About half
the women with Ph.D.s had no
children but only 12% af the
male PheDes had no children,
There is discrimination
against unmarried male and
female microbiologists, espe»
cially those having the Ph.D.
Dr. Tidball also found dis»
crimination against unmarried
women. She came to the belief
that "...an achiever is an
achiever, is an achiever,"
She uses speaking engagements
to encourage women to seek
careers. One of her students
was quoted: "She gives you a
feeling that there is no where
to go but up...”
i
eee ee
WOMEN IN ACADEMIA, a seminar at
“SUNYA, Tuesdaym March 18, 1975,
by Debra Kaufman
Dr, Kaufamn made a study of
both male and female members
of the faculty of a College of
Human Ecology. She selected
only those who were associate
professors or higher in rank.
This excluded a large number
of women who held various
titles, such as research assist-
ante. Many of the studies of
academia have been made at
Harvard, or by Harvard students
or graduates. This study was
not made at Harvard,
No evidence exists to show
that women in academia become
manish. Women define and ap-
proach problems in different
ways than men. They are more
apt to look for new ways to
solve problems rather than
forcing a solution to fit into
the old model or technique,
Dr. Kaufman used the "social
network" approach to her study.
She used data from interviews
for this seminar. She was
interested in comparing the
colleague-friend relationships
of male and female members of
the faculty. Males tend to
establish "“old=boy" networks
through which they maintdin con-
tact with collegues, place
graduate students, andexchange
informatione Women have not
yet formed such networks.
They lack the influence to
place or even to get graduate
Students. They do form net-=
works for friends in academia.
These friendships are no strong=
er than those formed by males,
All of the males studied were
married. Only: 50% of the
females were married. Contrary
to the myth single women didn't
form closer ties to friends
than married people.
Dr. Kaufman found it difficult
to interview academians; they
wanted to change the program,
they didn't want to follow the
questions as asked,
94% of all jobs paying 515,000 or more are held by white males.
BREAST SELF—EXAMINATION
--Breast cancer is the leading
cause of cancer incidence and decth
among women today.
--There will be 89,000 new cases
and 33,600 deaths in 1975.
—Only 20-35% of all breast
lumps are cencerous.*
Last month SpeakOut printed an
article about a training session
for women who vant to teach others
to examine their breasts, as well
as listing sources of information
about the breast self-examination.
This erticle will give instructions
on the breast self-examination.
Examining your breasts should
become a health habit, much like
brushing your tecth. Be sure to do
it carefully and slowly, a fev days
after your period, or, if you are
not menstrueting, at a set date
each month. Remember, the ttrenty
minutes you set aside each month
could save your life.
The breast self-examination is
done in tivo parts: first look, then
feel. You will be looking for in-
dications of a lump within the
breast and feeling for the lump
itself. Throughout the exam you
should be alert to changes from the
last time you examined your breasts.
If you find a change, report it to
your doctor at once. In the vast
majority of cases a breast change
is not cancerous; in the minority
of cases which are cancerous, early
assessment by a physician is of the
utmost importance.
Sitting or standing in front of
a mirror vith your arms at your
Sides, look for changes in size,
shape, or contour since the last
time you examined your breasts.
Also look for dimpling or puckcring
of the skin end changes in color.
Turn from side to side to get a
more complete viev. Gently press
eoch nipple to see if a discharge
occurs. Next reaise your arms high
over your head and look for the
same Signs. Finally, bring your
arms to chin level, bend then at
the elbow, and press the palms of
your hands hard together, thus
contracting your chest muscles. 2
**75 Cancer Facts & Figures,
American Cancer Society, Pde 7, 15.
Look for any dimpling of the skin.
In approaching t:e feel portion
of the breast exemination, it is
important for some of us to deal
with tabus about touching our
bodies which were inculeated when
we were very young. These tabus
have no rational basis; there is
nothing wrong with touching our
bodies. In fact the touching
portion of the breast self-exami-
nation may someday save our lives.
Lie on your back on a bed with
a pillow or folded bath towel
under your left shoulder. Raise
your left arm over your head and
rest it on the bed. Hold the
center three fingers of your right
and straight and together. You
will use them with a gentle but
firm, circular motion to feel your
left breast for any lumps or
thickenings.
Start at your breastbone and
palpate (feel) the inner, upper
quarter of your left breasts:
Also feel the area around the
nipple. Next feel the inner,
lower portion or the breast.
Bring your left arm down to your
Side and feel under the armpit.
Still using a circular movement of
your three outstretched fingers,
exomine the upper, outer quarter
of your breast. This area is
particularly important. Finally,
feel the lover, outer section,
from the outer. part to the nipple.
Move the pillow or towel to the
other side and repeat the proce-
dure on your rizht breast.
There are tvo other, slishtly
different methods for exanining
one's breasts. One is to start
at the perimeter of the breast and
feel inward to the nippvle, repeat-
ing the process. ell the way around.
This is often referred to as the
"spokes of the wheel" method.
Another is to begin at the nipple
and follow a spiral pattern around
the breast until the entire area
has been examined. Whatever method
yow use, be sure to check under
your arms and over your breastbone
because there is breast tissue
there as vell.
If you have full breasts, you
nay find that you have to support
the side of each breast with one
hand while you examine it with the
Continued on page 15
OO OO
~-BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION, Continued
from page |i)
other. You may also-heve a ridge |
of firm tissue under your breasts.
This ridge is perfectly normal and
lends support. If you are ‘thin.
you may feel your ribs through the
breast tissue. To be sure you have
found a rib and not. a lump, you can
use your fingers to folloy it back
to the point of attachment atthe
breastbone.
“If you or your group is inter-
ested in attending a short (hour or
less) course in breast Sself-exan-=
ination or if you want more infor-
mation, contact Lib Berger (459-
2931), Sue-Lasher (463-5027), or
Bunni Vaugn (674-2007). These ~
women gave. their first workshop on
March 4 for the: Steering Committee
of the Tri-Cities Women's Center.
HRXXK HXKKE HHKKK 9 HHH
SUZANNE BENTON: MASKS AND DRAMA
‘From the time she first started.
making masks, metal sculptor
. Suzanne.Benton felt they had a di-
rect connection with the Women's
Movement. Her masks are not only
ee ee
ference table to speak. At first
the women reflected on the proper-
ties'of their masks, but gradually
they began to tell stories.
Benton claimed that the mask
changes the way its wearer sees,
takes on a life of its own and be-
gins to tell the story itself,
through the wearer. Many of the
women seemed nervous at speaking
before a group.and eager to be
done, perhaps because thay had not
been present. the previous evening.
Some did indecd feel the effects
of the mask. One woman said she
became emotionally involved with
both her own story and the other
_participants' stories.
The whole workshop had psychol-
Ogieal overtones--abstract elements
of the masks were-described in the
Seme way as ink blots on that psy-
chological test; stories were rem-
iniscent of the Thematie Appercep-
tion Test; the revelations of self
vere almost like therapy. It was
& provocative experience.
Eugene McCarthy and the "Feminine
Mystique" ;
The posters said Senator, Presid-
examples of sculpture, but serve as ential hopeful Eugene McCarthy would
dramatic props and role-playing
aids as well. Two of the stories
she presented in masked narrative
at SUNYA March 13 were re-tellings
speak on Betty Friedan's "Feminine
Mystique." He spoke on his 1968 camp-
aign, how right he was, and his plan to
run as an independent candidate for the
of biblical tales from the viewpoint presidency of the United States. "The
of the troman involved.
mask of Hagar, Sarah's maid, Ms.
Benton depicted her reaction when
sarah told her husband Abraham to .
sleep with Hagar, since she herself
Wearing the Feminine Mystique" was one of five
books published during the 1950s which
he thinks influenced society, That was
all he had to say about it,
That evening, March 7, 1975 at the
could not give him a child. (Sareh Unitarian Church in Albany, he seemed
later gave birth to Iseac.) As,
Sarah, Benton watched Abraham take
more relaxed, During the lecture at
SUNYA he had seemed to avoid answering
Isaac to be sacrificed at the order questions related.to women's issues.
of God. The vivid reactions of
Hagar and Sareh are not even men-
tioned in the Bible.
On March 14 Suzanne Benton gave
a lifestory workshop, also spon-
At the Church he did respond to similar
questions from Joan Strauss of Aabany
Community Video Project.
During the afternoon and again in the
evening he said- that he was a sponsor of
sored by the Vomen's Studies depart-the federal ERA but that it is not really
ment at SUNYA.. She pointed out
that the stories: each of us carries
with us are as ‘importmt as myths
end biblical teles. Participants
were asked to pass the masks around
examine them, ‘and try them on. |
Then each participent chose a mask
to wear and climbed up on the con-/
necessary because all the needed laws
are already on the books, The ERA would
only facilitate the inevitable change,
The video tape was made for the
? McCarthy Committee. For further infor-
mation, we suggest you contact the
4 Committee or Gail Rathburn of Capital
Oiomen in Cable, 463-5642,
Feminism and Fertility
Germaine Greer, feminist, author of an agricultural laborer. In her
The Female Eunuch, and deliverer of the culture, when she and her husband get
keynete address at the U.N. announcing old (around 40) they must have 2
International Women's Year spoke at surviving sons. In order to produce one
SUNY, Albany Wednesday evening, March 12, male child, an average of 6.5 pregnancies
Her topic, Feminism and Fertility is one are necessary. Therefore, sometimes the
of concern to all women especially now girl babies are not allowed to live, If
that ,our right to a legal abortion is there is not enough food the boy children
in serious danger. Greer stressed that are fed first. The mother knows that not
feminists are not antinatalists, not all her children will survive and she must
against childbirth itself but only choose,
compulsory childbirth, She differentiated This sounds cruel and Greer is no
between positire and negative pregnancy ~~ condoning it, The Indian woman is ~
negative, she described as a travesty, an probably one of the most oppressed women
abscenity, like the difference between of the third world but it is net up to
loving sexual intercourse and rape. She us to decide the degree and the quality
alse stated that terminating a pregnancy of oppression that woman faces, She
is a completely different matter than says that we, as feminists, cannot turn
destroying human life, our backs on the majority of women in
She made reference to the Edelin the world for whom childbearing is
case and called for the prosecution of an economic necessity, Birth control
every institution that denied that woman failed in India because children are
a timely and early abortion, Sue everyone essential to women and men. It is cruel
involved! A late abortion is dangerous to try to — fortility by force,
to a woman's health. In addition the We are doing to ‘d womle, women what
medical profession cannot help us learn doctors are doing to us;;trying to
about our bodies, gynecology is 500 control our bodies and manipulate our
years behind brain surgery. For instance. reproductive faculties, For example.
why didn't Edelin. know the age of the there are at least 16 official agencies
fetus? Surely a trained gynecologist ‘shotildfunding Family Planning in the third
be able to tell, world.
A slight reference was made that This country uses 85% of the world's
breast cancer as well is a scandal resources yet we are trying to force
against the medical profession, but this other countries to limit their reproduct-
was not elaborated upon, ion, In doing so, feminists are being
She spoke of a case pending in the o«c-optéd to castrate other women,
California courts about three women For most ef the world's women,
who were sterilized after caesarean childbearing is not a full time career,
births without their knowledge or consent, Most women continue to work, predominate-
When questioned about this, the doctor ly as agricultural laborers, Greer
stated it was done to save future bother! pointed out that these women were not
These women were denied any choice, any represented at the U.N. When the women
control over their bodies, to make the there were discussing sharing housework,
medical profession's life easier. She she mentioned that 2/3 of the world's
then quotes Aristotle who said, “Without wamen don't have a kitchen to get out
choice there can be no morality," out. The third world women were not
We live in a amoral universe and represented at the U.N. Instead it was
as women are treated like infants by @ symbolic confrontation of women
erganized religion, the state and our representing the upper class,
parents, This amorality is carried over
into our relations with other countries, During the question and answer period,
particularly tnderdeveloped countries. Greer was asked what can we (U.S.) de
We don't understand the priorities of #o help these people (redistfibute
women in these countries, assuming rather resources, etc.)? She answered that we
arrogantly that they have our moral all know existing wealthy governments
standards, aren't going to do anything. "My -onky
The sex life of the Indian woman _; concrete suggestion is to overthrow your
is Spartan, she haves sex only when [if government,"
she wants children. The Indian woman is
GROUP NEWS
LESBIANS FOR LIBERATION
Lesbians for Liberation meets
every Monday evening at 8 P.M. at
the Gay Community House, 332
Hudson Ave., Albany. There are
also dances on some Friday nights.
Speakout does not seem to
have a correct telephone number
for LFL. Could someone from the
group please contact Speakout-
rey this |
WOMEN'S COUNSELLING COLLECTIVE
The Collective is sponsgring
a support group for women going
through separation or divorce.
Women interested in joining may
call 4626739.
The Collective is also
sponsering a group for lesbian
women. The group is currently
active but is still open. For
further information call 4626739,
Any women interested in doing
counseling with the collective
may call Pam Lerman at 4384815.
Volunteers are needed.
DELMAR CR GROUP
An open meeting will be held
on April 28 at 8 P.M. The
meeting will take place at 16
Sutherland Court, Delmar. For
further information please call
4397994 or 4390343.
ALBANY WOMEN AGAINST RAPE
AWARE is holding a training
session for new people on Saturday
April 5 between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M,
and Sunday, April 6 between 1 and
5 P.M.ee The sessions will takz
place at the First Presbyterian
Church, State and Willet Sts.,
in Albany. Training materials
should be picked up in advance.
Charge for materials is$5.00.
This includes the book AGAINST
RAPE by Medea and Thompson, and
other necessary materials. To
make arrangements call Nancy Dudley °
at 4898261 or Fraya Katz at
4652084,
I5 spring.
AWARE'S next general meeting
will be Sunday, April 6, 7:30 P.M.
at the Women's Center.
WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS
Monthly meeting will be held
Aprill?, 7:30 P.M. 1st Presbyterian
Church. For further informatien
contact 4630477.
MARXIST#FEMINIST STUDY GROUP
The next meeting of the
Marxist-Feminist Study Group will
be held on April 6 at 4 P.M. at
the Women's Center. This is a
tentative date. Subject under
discussion will be E.R.A. Topics
may include: 1. Who are the anti-
ERA forces and Why? 2. The ERA
as a democratic right. 3. The
positions of various radical and
women's groups on the ERA.
Recommended reading: "The E.R.A.
and It's Enemies," Majority
Report, Jane £5, 1975.4
For more information, and
reprints of the above mentioned
recommended reading, call Mickey
Greene at 4656874.
SCHENECTADY N.O.W.
schnectady N.O.W. meets
every Other Wednesday at the Y.W.
C.A., 44 Washington Ave.,
Schenectady. There will be a
meeting on April 9 and April
23. For times call the Y.W.C.A.
Schenectady N.O.W. has
formed a Speakers Bureau. Area
groups who would like information
about the Equal Rights Amendment
may call Ann Booth at 3995790,
SCHENECTADY RAPE CRISIS SERVICE
Schnectady Rape Crisis
Service will hold meetings on
April 7 and April 23 at 8 P.M.
The meetings will take place at
the Y.W.C.A. April 7 will bea
business meeting. Call 3462266.
‘The group will be holding a
training session sometime in the
They need volunteers.
More Group News----8--{--~
CAPITAL DISTRICT WOMEN
Anyone interested in joining
a Consciousness Raising group
or leading ene may call Susan
Walter at 3728014.
VIRGINIA WOOLF STUDY GROUP
Persons interested in
obtaining information re: next
meeting may contact Betty
Kemmer at 4368626.
ENCOURAGE GIRLS ORGANIZED SPORTS
EGOS is happy to report
that the Pine Bush Little League
will be admitting girls this
season. For more information,
contact Joan Floyd at 3552925.
EGOS is working with a
Schenectady County Committee
affiliated with the American
Association of University Women
regarding salaries of persons
who referee women's sports. It
seems that salaries of women's
sports referees are considerably
lower than those of persons who
referee men's sports. For
more information on this committee
contact Virginia Plunkett at
3955207 «
ALBANY AREA N.O.W.
Next scheduled meeting will
be April 8, 7530 P.M. at the
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 275
State Ste, Albanye Main topic
under discussion will be the
ERA. and What* to say’ to’the 77
Opposition? For further info.
call 7652468 or 7654033.
ALBANY COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN
VOTERS
Albany County League of
Women Voters will hold their
annual League Auction and Dinner
on Saturday, April ek. Dinner is
$5.00 per person and will begin
at 6:30 P.M. to be followed by
the auction at 8 P.M. For -
further details or to volunteer
at 4578594 or Marge Wilkerson at
8690326.
SUNYA WOMEN'S LIBERATION
There will be a.Women's
Weekend at SUNYA fpom April 18 to
the 20th. Tentative program will
be as follows:
Friday P.M. — Communal supper and
coffee house featuring entertain-
mente
Saturday=Workshopson:
Careers
Athletics
Fear of Success
self Defense
Sexism and Language
There will also be a Crafts
and a Health Clinic.
Saturday evening there will
be a dance.
Sunday=There will be a film and a
softball game. Coffee and
doughnuts will be served.
All above events will take
place on campus. Fortime and
place of events contact Andrea
Carson at 4383127.
Fair
SCHOOL#WOMEN'S CAUCUS
ALBANY LAW
The Law Women's Caucus is
hasting a discussion on "The
Effects of the Proposed New York
and Federal E.R.A. on Current
Law" on Saturday, April 19. The
program will take place at the law
school, Coffee will be served
from 9 to 10 A.M.
The program will start at 10
A.M. and last approximately three
hours. Professor Bernard Harvith
(Albany Law) will discuss
constitutional aspects. Professor
Kathryn Katz (RPI) will discuss
family and-domebtic Tawy “Msoi%
Greta Powers: fKATZ and Powers) will
discuss criminal law. Professor
Anita Morse (Albany Law) will
discuss Title VII and its special
problems. Everyone is invited.
Bring your questions and your
friends.
or contribute call Maureen Salk | ly
s * 4 }
?
P} . >
EE IIESSSSSSSSSSSIO'SE ZS iC ae
*Stil% More Group News----------
IMAGES OF WVOMTN IN A CHANGING
SOCIETY
A course with this title will
be taught sat the Jewish Community
Center, 340 Whitehall Road, Albany,
by Lib Berger, a member of the
Voren's Center Steering Committee.
The class will meet weekly for 8
weeks, beginning April 10 from 7:30
to 9:00: p.m. The cost is $8 for
Community Center members and $12
for others. Call the Community
Center at 438-6651 for further
details.
CR - SUPPORT GROUP FORMING
A group is forming in the
Albany area for women with some
previous CR experience. The first
mecting will be in early April, and
membership will close at the end of.
April. Mectings will be weekly,
some evening other than Wednesday.
Cail Caroline, evenings at 489-7806.
CELEBRATION OF INTERWATIONAL
VWCMEM'S YUAR
A celebration of International
Women's Year will be held at the
Albany YUCA April 12 from 9 a.m. to
6 pom. Area vomen's groups will
have booths to display their
literoture--ebout 30 groups are
expected. There will also be a
variety of discussion groups led
by prominent aree women. Admission
is free,:and refreshnents will be
evailable.
WOMEN IN VIUTVAM
The Peace Project at SUNYA
will present the film Women in
Vietnam, which depicts all aspects
of vomen's lives in North Vietnan,
in a program to be held about the
third treek in April. A native
Vietnamese women, Mme. Thoa, ill
lead a celebration of Vietnamese
culture, including the preparation
of a typical meal of the people and
& discussion of the role of women
in her country.
requested. Watch your newspaper or
call 457-5233 for more information. |
A donation vill be °
RAPE CRISIS CENTER FORUM
_The Unitarian Church, 405
Washington Avenue in Albmy, is |
planning a forum on the rape crisis
center being formed by the District
Attorney's office. It will be at
- 9:30 on a Sunday morning at the
end of April or beginning of May.
For more information, call Carol
KKEKN KUEKE KKEKEKE KHKEK
NEWS
SoIINAR ON RAPE
A day-long seminar on rape,
Sponsored by John Jay College of
Criminol Justice and the American
Acedeny for Professional Law En-
forcement, will be held in New
York City on April 10. Topics
will include "Rape: Analysis, In-
vestigation, Prevention;" a panel
discussion on legal aspects, in-
cluding rights of the victim to
use force and implications of the
new rape law for the defense: and
"Resisting Patterns-oif Victims and
Their Outcome." Some of the speak-
ers are from the Sex Crimes Inves-
tigation Unit of the N.Y.C. Police
Department, dohn Jay College of
Criminal Justice, the N.Y.U.
School of Medicing end Victimology
Program at the Karen Horney Clinic.
There is no charge, but it might
be =. good idea to call and confirm
that places are still available.
Register by sending your name,
address, employer, and position to:
American Academy for Professional
Lart Enforcement, 444 West 56 Strect,
Suite 2312 S., New York, NY 10019.
WOMEN INVOLVED IN SOCIAL CHANGE
Training program for women organizers
involved in social change will be
held April 12 through 19 at the
Philadelphia Life Center, Philadel-
phia. The fee is $60. For further
information call Pam at 438-4815.
———————— ee eee
SPEAKOUT CALENDAR FOR APRIL--strn GROUP NEWS FOR MORE INFORMATION - .+»*
_2 Albany Co. League of Womén Voters - dinner, 6:30; auction, 8:00 Pll
17 Woments Political Caucus meeting, 7:30 PM,1st Presbyterian ‘Church.
5 AWARE training session, 9-5, First Presbyterian Church
6 AWARE training session, 1-5, First Presbyterian Church
AVAR® general meeting, 7:30-9:30 PM, Women's Center
Merxist-Feminist Study Group .(tentative), 4:00, Women's Center
Schenectady Rape Crisis Service business meeting, 8 PM, Y.W.CeAe
Schenectady N.O0.W., Schenectady Y.\W.C.A.
Seminar on Rape, New York City, 9:30-4:00, 445 W. 59 St., Room 4302
Albany Y.W.C.A. celebration of International Women's Year, 9-6
18-20 SUNYA Women's Weekend, SUNYA campus
19 "The Effects of the Proposed New York and Federal E.R.A. on Current
Law" 9-1, Albany Law School
20 AWARE mecting, 7:30-9:50, VYomen's Center
25 Schenectady Rape Crisis Service meeting, 8 PM, Y.W.C.A.
Schenectady N.O.W., Schenectady Y.'W.C.A.
28 Delmar CR Group, 8 PM, 16 Sutherland Court, Delmar
Nl ohkols
Lesbiens for Liberation--Mondays eat 8 PM, Gay Community House
OTHER EVENTS AT THE WOMEN'S CENTER:
Tuesdavs N.O.W. CR Group, 7:30 Pil
Iomen's Center Steering Committee, 7:30 PM
Thursdays Capital District Women CR Group, 7:30 Pil
SpeakOut (except April 3), 7:30 PM
Book Study Group, 8 Pil
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SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vole IV Now V May 1975
Table of Contents
1-4 ERA
Why Bother With the ERA? by Carolyn Dissosway
Pros and Cons of the ERA : Legislative Forum Panel -
Senator Karen Burstein and Mrs. Lillian Koegler
Reported by Christine Root
News and Status of Federal and State ERAS - C. Root
> Erica Jon'g Fear of Flying : What Does it Do For
the Women’s Movement? by Ann Galen
6 AWARE Better Develop Some Political AWAREness!
by Marilyn E. Rothstein
(4 Household Workers by Carolyn Dissosway
Tri-City Women's Center by Christine Root
8-9 Book Review: WOMEN IN CHINA - Cheryl Shenkle
10 Assertiveness Training Weekend by Susan Lasher
11 SUNYA Women's Weekend by Susan Lasher
le Womanpower in Albany: an IWY Celebrabion at the YWCA
by Susan Lasher
15 Abortion Update by Carolyn Dissosway and Cheryl Shenkle
14 Letters To SPEAKOUT
15 =- 1? Group News - Reported by Mary Gallagher
Cover Design by Pam Scola
Workers for this issue: Christine Root, Coordinator for May
Cheryl Shenkle, Treasurer and typist extraordinaire
Susan Lasher, first rate reporter and writer plus
Carolyn Dissosway, Researcher and Reporter Plus
Janet Warner, Mailing Labels
Rezsin Adams, Beloved Mimeo Operator
Mary Gallagher, Your Group News Coordinator
Denise Fingerman, new recruit
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $390 per year.
J>¢ per issue at the local bookstore. Advertising is $10.00 per
quarter page, $13.00 per half page, and 3350.00 for a whole page.
a to: SPEAKOUT, P.o. Box 6165, Albany, New York
1220 7
WHY BOTHER WITH THE ERAs?
Some supporters and many opponents
of the ERAs say they are unnecessary,
that all the laws needed are already .
"on the books," Experience has proven
this is untrue. In interpreting the law
the courts depend upon the "intent" of
the legislature, the one which passed the
law, one which amended it, or even an
existing legislature, It was not the
intent of the 1868 (Fourteenth Amendment )
Congress to confer full citizenship
upon women. Nor was gender among the -
classifications of people to he protected
under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or |
the New York State Civil Rights Law.
Laws which are supposed to protect women ~~
or the homemaker function of women, —
are abused. Attempts to challenge such
laws are often unsuccessful,
I. dury Duty
A, Ms. DeKosenko's lament:
Maria DeKosenko was illegally evict—
ed in October of 1966, For several °*
years she attempted to obtain a fair’
settlement of her lawsuit. In 1967 - a”
local law (New York CGity).was passed
which allowed illegally evicted tenants
the right to claim trebble damages. Ms.
DeKosenko tried to make such a claim
but was told that punitive laws may not
be applied retroactively. (57 Misc.”
2d. 574.) |
She then tried, in 1970, to challenge
the law giving women the right to .
exemption from jury duty. (Judiciary
Law 599 subdiv. 7.) This law, Ms.
[TeKosenko claimed, denied her the right
to trial before a jury of her peers.
Less than 20% of the jury pool was females.
(DeKosenko v, Brandt et al 1970 63 Misc.
2d. 895; NYS 2d. 827; affirmed 36 and
AD 2d. 796; 318 NYS 2d, 915.) Again
her claim was unsuccessful. The opinion
of the court was:
Exemption of a class based on a
r= reasonable classification, and if
the manner in which it is exercised
rests on a rational foundation,
iv 35 sufficient to withstand the
avcack of unconstitutionality,
There is but one difficulty which
the plantiff has thus far been
unable to surmount. The perogative
of a women to exempt herself from
jury service has consistently
been custained whenever challenged,
Indeed, the constitutionality of
this very statute has been sustained
by the United States Supreme
Court in Fay v. New York, supra. « «:
Plaintiff is in the wrong forme
Her lament should be addressed to
the ‘Nineteenth Amendment State
of Womanhood! which prefers cleaning
and cooking, rearing of children
and television soap—operas,
bridge and canasta, the beauty
parlor and shopping to becoming
embroiled in plantiff's problems
with her iandiond.
Motion denied:
os Archer and Johnson v. Circuit Court
of Amelia County (Va.)
In 1973 Grace Archer’ and James
‘°- "Johnson sued the Judge of the Circuit ~
Court of Amelia ‘County et al. They claim
ed that the method of jury selection
denied them-their right to.a trial beforee
Sa jury of their peers, . The law which wives
gives women exemption from jury duty
discriminates against men. Women are
exempt because of their presumed.
responsibility for children and dependerit
adults in their home, Mr, Johnson claim—
ed that some men also have this response
ibility, But men are not exempt from
jury duty because they might have such
responsibility,
The court decided that the classif-~
ication of women as homemaker is a
reasonable one, the court recognized the
emancipation of women from many of the
restrictions of the past but still ;
regarded them as the center of the home,
Archer said Johnson also challenged
the possible application of the jury
commissioner's oath: "In «selecting
persons to be drawn as jurors, I will
select none but persons whom I believe
to be of good repute for intelligence and
honesty. . ."' The complainants suggested
that this could be interpreted as only
people the commissioner knew and so would
be discriminatory against colored
people, They wanted to examine the jury
lists, The lists, they were told, are
secret. Exposure to the public could
lead to tampering with and harrassment ©
of potential jurors, Their petitions
were denied (194 SE 2d 707)
II, Ms, Kennedy's Complaint
t On December 20, 1967 Yoan Gordon
ERAs, cont'd;
Kennedy went to the bar in the Rainbow
Lounge of the Hotel Syracuse and ordered
an intoxicating beverage, Althcugh she
was quiet and didn't disturb others at
the bar she was refused service because
she was not escorted by a male customer.
This caused her such mental anguish and
public embarrassment she sued the
management, (288 F. Sup. 530.) Her
friends Karen DeCrow and Joy:.0sofsky
(president and vicepresident of the
Syracuse, New York chapter of N.0O.W.)
joined in her suit based on the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, The law.sforbids
discrimination on the kasis of race,
ereed, color or national origin. Judge
Port decided that "This court should
not gratuitously do what Congress has not
seen fit to do," He advised Ms, Kennedy
to address her complaint to Congress.
The case was dismissed.
On July 31 and October 3, 1968
Ms, Xaxen DeCrow went to the bar at the
Rainbow Lounge of the Hotel Syracuse,
sat quietly and ordered an intoxicating
beverage. She was refused service
because she was not escorted by a male
customer. This caused Ms, DeCrow such
mental anguish and public embarrassment
that she sued the management. (298
NYS:.2d 839) In this case the appeal was
to the New York State Civil Rights Law.
Judge James H. O'Conner agreed with ".
Judge Port. He sugg&sted she address
her complaint to the New York State
Legislature,
The Federal ERA is in danger, four
more states must ratify it for it to
become law, There is some very vocal
opposition to the New York State ERA
from a small but noisy and persistent
lobby. If you care, educate yourself
and your neighbor, work for ERA Now!
(Before it's too late.)
C. F.-R. Dissosway
Speakout will be devoting space
each month to a series of articles
on the state and the federal ERA.
This is a CRISIS. The ERAs are in
trouble partly through lack of
understanding from those outside
the womens movement and from lack
of action from those in the womens
movement. If YOU do not know what
to do to help the ERA call Rose-~
marie Rosen of NOW at 438 - 8820,
The EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Pros and Cons
Scene: New York State Legislative
Forum February 18, 1975
Senator Karen Burstein Pros
Mrs. Lilian T. Koegler Cons
Mrs. Raymond Marinelli Moderator
Ms. Christine Root....+e..eReporter
Pat Marinelli opa@ithe discussion
by saying that she had no jokes or
funny stories. "I am very serious
about this." No matter what the
outcome in regard to the ERA there
are many more problems to solve.
Perhaps now is the time to disagree
and then to learn to work with each
other.
Mrs, Lillian “oegler, the first
speaker, represented Women United
to Defend Existing Rights (WUNDER).
After reminding us all that the
New York State Assembly is about to
consider for a second time , passage
of an Equal Rights Amendment to the
N Y State Constitution , she noted
that the wording is exactly as the
Federal Equal Rights Amendment:
"Equality of Rights under the
law shall not be denied or
abridged by New York State or
any subdivision therof on account
of sex,"
Surprised that Forum has not had
& program on the ERA until now, Mrs.
Koegler stressed that women have not
been informed about the ERA. In
opposing the ERA she made the foll-
owing observations:
1. The ERA is not Equal pay for
Equal Work. Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal
Employment Opportunity Act require
equal pay for equal work.
2. The ERA will abolish protective
labor laws which regulate rest areas
rest periods, maximum hours and 8%
other working benefits. Separate
rest rooms for women would be
abolished,
3. Women are phsically different
from men and require certain con-
Siderations for decent working
conditions.
4, If overtime is required, many
women cannot work and still care
for their ilies.
i ob At on the next page
ERA = PROS and CONS cont.
De When men complain about special
protection for women, the concess-
ions are not extended to men but
eliminated for women,
6. Women will lose the right to
Support by their husbands, to
to raise their children in their
own homes, to share in their
husband's estate if he dies in-
testate. |
7+ Men will no longer be required
to give their names to their wives
or children or be head of the
household,
8. The spouse who earns the most
money is the head of the family
calls the shots, and decides where
the famil's legal residence
Should be. ,
"It is quite plain that since
according to the Preamble, the
Constitution is to 'promote the
general welfare' and increase
domestic tranquility,' the ERA
is already unconstitutional!
Senator Karen Burstein was
second speaker, an unusual posit-
ion for the affirmative. Prior
to coming to Albany, Senator
Burstein was in private practice
handling many divorce cases,
so her rebuttal in the matter
of court decisions regarding
support was effective.
She stressed that the great
importance of the ERA is the
Symbolic value of recognizing
women and men as equal human
beings. Until 1970 women were not
considered persons under the U.S.
Constitution. In Reed v Reed
the Supreme Court extended the
meaning of "persons" in the 14th
amendment to include women,
The ERA will not abolish sepc-
arate rest rooms for men and
women or interfere with the
internal workings of marriage.
“rrangements within marriage as
to who would provide support
or take care of children would
be the choice of the individual
couples,
In response to women who fear
thet the ERA will do away with
their right to support by their
cont. next column
husbands, Senator Burstein stated
there are no enforceable laws in
this country guarenteeing support.
Only 35% of husbands are in full
compliance with court ordered sup-
port. payments by the end of the
first year. The support would
Pequire only that a husband sup-
port his wife in the manner to
which she had been accustomed. If
while marrked she had lived in
poverty with no running water,
that is all she is entitled to
after a divorce (Maguire v Maguire)
If a husband and wife are living
together, the husband is presumed
by the courts to be supporting
his wife. |
What has happened in regard to
Support in ERA states? In the
case of Colorado v Eliot, the
court did not force a woman to pay
alimony to her husband but did say
that the husband could not be
Jailed for non-support. In
Colorado the court ruled in effect
that non-support could not be a
criminal effence for one sex and
not the other. i.e.Colorado is
an ERA state),
Throughout her presentation,
Senator Burstein reiterated that
the most important change to be
effected by the ERA would be that
the burden of proof would now be Oo”
the State rather than the woman
to prove that discrimination has
occurred,
For more information about
WUNDER ( Women United to Defend
Existing Rights) write
WUNDER
P.O. BOX 466
Harrison, New York 10528
or call the local area contact
for OPERATION WAKE UP = an
organization of women's groups
united to defeat the ERA and
defend existing rights,
Capital district contact-
Mildred Breitenbach
(518) 861-6979
For more PRO RA information
Senator Bursteins office will be
happy to aid you in your search,
Call Senator Bursteins staff
3 member, Blair Barrett (518)472-2127
Federal ERA Progress
ee TE aa eT a
So far this year only one state
has passed the ERA and nine states
have defeatedit,.
Passed- North Dakota:
Defeated= Oklahoma
Arizona
Nevada
Georgia
Utah
Indiana
Virginia
Louisiana
South Cardlina
The sponsor of the. bill in |
Illinois withdrew her-bill because
She did not have enough votes,
Betty Ford was given a hard
time when she lobbied for the. ERA
in Arizona. Some women wrote to
the White House in disgust that
their "FIRST LADY" would get
involved in politics. We need
Betty Ford's support and she needs
our support. Write to the White
House and let it be known that
many of feel that it is very
fitting that our "FIRST LADY"
Support the equality of women and
men under the law in a democratic
country. Mrs. Ford's (Ms. Ford?)
mail is running 3 to 1 against
her public support of the Equal
Rights Amendment, Lets turn
the tide,
(or lack of0
Only 4 more states are needed
by 1979. \ We can make it if
we try.:i “
Facts from —
WOMEN a Berkshire Feminist News
Journal with a personal plea
from Chris Root.
KHEKERKHEKHHHKHEKRHHREHKHKRKKHKR HIKE HH
NEW YORK STATE ERA
For those of you who feel that
letters to your elected repre-
sentatives don't count,I would
like to share with you the response
from my recent letter to State
Senator Howard Nolan .
March ©9 149975
Dear Ms. Root,
Thank you very much for your
recent letter concerning the
Equal Rights Amendment. The :
many letters, telephone calls if
and personal visits I have received
- indicate great public interest and
have helped me decide my position
on this issue,
_ As you know, the New York Legis~-
lature ratified the federal ERA
ain 1972 and last year passed an
identical amendment to the State
Constitution. A second passage ~~...
will entitle all citizens of New
York to vote on the proposal in a
statewide referendum. To date,
fifteen states have adopted such
amendments to their constitutions,
Many of:my constituents have ex-=
pressed concern about the intent
and possible impact of the ERA. In
essence, it is a statutory recog-
nition of the legal equality of men
and women, and of the rights and
duties that accompany such equality,
Laws which arbitrabily penalize or
protect citizens solely because of
their sex will no longer be valid
without another more reasonable
basis for distinction. Thus, it
appears Clear that the proposed
amendment would not invalidate :.
those protections traditionally
afforded our women (i.e. rape laws,
maximum work hours etc.) rather
that it would compel legislators
and the courts to look behind such
laws to insure that all individuals
Similarily situated are similarily
protected, Neither will constitu-
tional guarentees disappear as a
result of the ERA. Thus, the .:-:
threat of shared facilities (rest
rooms, dormitories etc.) disappears
in view of the established prin-
Ciple of an individual's right to
privacy.
Citizenship entails responsibil-
ities as well as rights which all
of us must be willing to accept.
Because I believe that all citizens
regardless of their race, color,
Creed or sex are entitled to the
privileges and protections of our
laws, I support New York's Equal
Rights Amendment,
Sincerely,
Howard C. Nolan, Jre
Senate - 42 nd District
One letter does count. And lots
of one letters count plenty!i!!
a lSCsSCiéCNCOC__ié#é#aéa.tuw..... J
eee
Erica Jong's. Fear of Flying: conflict with herself-- her need
What Does it Do for the Women's of and fear of "flying." Her need
hiovement? | for freedom and for security. Her
No doubt Erica Jong stirred Up fear of being alone:
quite a bit of controversy as a m. . 6 Cif no man loves me I
result of her novel Fear of Flying, have no identity.*
the uninhibited saga of a woman 1n §he tries to understand why she has
| search of herself, Isadora, the tuese feelings -- what is so ter-
very autobiographical heroine in rible about being alone? Why must
Fear of Flying has been criticized her identity depend on whether
as an insult to the Woman's Move- or not she has a man? This is the
ment, a Slave to her desire and crux of feminism--to be able to
enotions, a wotian wig must use sex establish an identity for oneself
in order to sell her book. These without the help of or dependence
criticisms are made by people who on aman. When a woman starts to
might as well have not read the ponder these topics she is introd-
book, for Erica Jong is to be ucing herself to feminism and
for her intelligence, talent and rilliantly. She realizes that
especially her approaci: to the most ghe igs trapped, that she is a pris-
beautiful job of consciousness oner, a slave to her own emotions
raising ever portrayed, I think and lnst.
Fear of Flying is as important to Knowing this is one thing.
the Women's Movement as the Knowing this is wrong is feminism.
Communist Manifesto LS to te Con= She knows she doesn! t want tO be
munist Movement because it involves trapped in her own book. She
awareness -- self awarenes’, one understands that sie will always
of the inost important cuaracteris- survive life's little tradgedies:
tic a woman ust nave in order to It is easy to lxill yourself
understand and participate in the jn a fit of despair. It was easy
Women's lovement. enough to play the martyr. It was
In Rear of Flying, Isadora harder to do nothing. To endure
leaves her psychoanalyst husband your life. To waiti.
in Vienna to go on a drunken jaunt This is one of the most important
throughout Burope with Adrian -- realizations Isadora wakes in the
another psychoanalyst -- only to book. She is determined to take
find herself ‘seduced and abandon= her fate in her own hands - to
ed" in England, This incident stop beins a schoolgirl." She
causes her to review ner life, decides to grow up, she agrees to
family, previous husband and survive. "Life has no plot‘, she
critically at terself as possible, very special because then and only
admitting things t at are sometines then can one take life's tradgedies
quite painful to aduit: | in stride. Then one can live with-
"e « of said ny own name to out being dead half the time,
try to remember wao I was: ‘Isadora, i, , .whatever happened, I
Isadora, Isadora, Isadora. . . knew I would survive it. I knew,
Isadora Wiite Stollerman Wing. .. above all, that I'd so on woriing.
BeA., MA. , Phi Betva Kappa, Surviving meant being born over and
Isadora Wing, promising younJer over, I wasn't easy, and it was
poet, Isadora Wing, promising always painful. But there wasn't any
younger sufferer. Isadora Wing other choice except death,"
feninist and would-be liberated Isadora should be admired by
woman. Isadora Wing, clown, cry- feminists everywhere for caring
baby, fool. Isadora Wing, scholar enough about herself and her role to
ooe With her fear of flyin;.. . examine it so carefully and ruthless
seeker of saviors, sensuality, ly. She explores as deeply as she
certainty. ee tighter of windiills, Cans he soes all the way doiwm to
professional mourner, failed the bottom and pulls herself bacls
adventuress,!! © up. This beautiful example of self-
Page after page covers her terrible awareness should be falioqusd by all
Fear of Flying, cont'd.
women who wish to understand
themselves and whree they stand
in life. Liberating oneself from
the mystery of oneself is an excel=
lent step in the right direction.
Know thyself.
'S
Ann Galen
* * &€£ & *F FF K% HK HH HH HH He HE KH
AWARE Better Develop Some Political
AWAREness! |
Here is a more objective report
of what went on in the formation
of the Rape Crisis Center, First
of all, this is a more important
issue than who should take credit
for what, although I admire comple-
tely the work that AWARE has done
and urge them not to give up on
working with a county-funded center.
But facts must be faced and public
funding will have some degree of
political control. So far the
Center has been surprisingly free
of interference from the politic=
ians. I say that as a long time
observer of county affairs for
the League of Women Voters and
Citizens for County Executive. I
hope to offer a few suggestions on.
how to keep it that way.
Now for the way it was: (1)
I attended a meeting of the County
Finance Committee 6 months ago and
first heard of the definite pro-
posal to form thr Rape Crisis
Center.
to serve on a proposed county
committee and nominated her in
written form to several members of
the county legislature. Judy made
many attempts to contact AWARE
people about the proposal. After
some personal lobbying with key
members of the legislature Judy
was named to the commission.
(Point: Women must take the time
1
to attend and observe local govern-;
mental committees to find out for
themselves what is going on.)
(2) At the first commission
meeting Fraya Katz, knowledgeable
as she is, was not the only person
there to recognize the issue --
Ann Borel, Jane Sanford and myself,
sitting in for Judy Merrill, were
also there, ;
(3) Charles Cahill inames" the-
Director and Assistant Director to
The LWV asked Judy Merrill
the center because he is Chairman
of the Legislature and this is a
county=funded project. In reality
Charles Cahill does nothing - lit-
erally! He will pass on the names
of the nominees he receives to the
county legislature for a vote.
This outcome can be affected by
getting the support of enough
legislators for your own choice of
nominees -= this will take members
of both parties. (Point: Women
should take the time to learn who
functions effectively in local
governments in order to use this
knowledge for their own benefit.)
(4) Support for the Rape Crisis
Center was amazingly strong from
both parties, with the exception
of a few old City Demos. LilV
members did call several county
legislators to let them know of
their support for the issue - that
certainly helped. County Attorney
Bob. Roche, MCP as he is, made ane
eloquent plea to. establish this
center at the March meeting of the
County Legislature, including a
statement that partial confidential
ity for rape victims could be
worked out. The resolution was
passed, |
(5) The original commission
-eXamined resumes from 45 or so
applications. The overwhelming
majority of the applicants had
impressive qualifications for the
job. Non-county residents were
eliminated, with the exception of
one former resident who was anxious
to relocate in the county. Of
the seven nominees finally chosen
for interviews, any and all were
well-qualified for the position,
including Fraya Katz. Pressure to
name a certain nominee from the
D.A.'s office, though felt, was not
strong. Whoever is finally chosen
from that list, women of the county
Cannot losé. AWARE jumped the gun
in their criticisms, should con-
centrate on gaining a little more
political savvy, and be willing .
now to work with the new directors
of the center to set-up guidelines
and resolve issues. Cooperation
from county officials can be gained
if it is done with knowledge of the
people involved, preferable conduct-
ed with facts in a rational manner.
We have count hart
proofs a “Marilyn &. Rothstein
HOUSEHOLD WORKERS
=
Seymour Posner (D,. Bronx), known for
his sense of humor, and for his
serious concern for working people
has announced a bill (A+24) which will
make domestic household workers full~
fledged employees with the right to
collectivebargaining, the right to
appeal to the State Labor Relations
Bord. Actually the bill is not new.
It hs been trapped in the Assembly
L. Committee for the past three
legislative sessions. Now that’ Mr.
Posner is ChadBerson of the committee
there is confidence hat it will be
brought out of committee this yeare
The unionized, mostly male members
of Cleahup crews, working for contract
cl@ing firms,arePid $3.81 hour,
The non-unionized, mostly female, -
mostlyblaek, household workers,
working. for contrat: elening firms,
get $1,60 an hour, The nousehold
workers were specifically excluded
from Labor Relaticns Laws 3 4-24 will
change that for scme household
workerse
The contract cleaning firms will be
the most strongly influenced by A-243
ineividual householders are too hard
to organize. Lieutenant GeYernor
Mary Anne Krupsak has endors¢d the bill,
During his 1974 campaign Governor Carey
premised to sign it.
The contributions of household work
ers are significant. They deserve the
goed pay, benefits such as health insur-
ance and social security, and the res
spect shown other working pecple,
Mr. Posner was the only male on the
panel et the Heusehold Werkers* Speskout
ef the annual conventien of the Women's
Political Caucus held in Albany March
15, 1975. @ther members of the Speakout
told about their experiences with employ-—
ers. Me woman injured in an automobile
accident and treatai at a clinic was un-
abhe to collect on her hospitalization
insurance, unable to collect on the
drivers duto insurance and without
income. Other workers were premised
pensions net given when workers were
eld er no longer needed by employers,
Katherine Todd, president of
the Reonx chapter of N.O.W., said:
ITreve I5 nme real liberation for a
woes, who achieves her freedom at the
price of another weman's slavery."
4
Tri-Ciies Womens Center
Must Move!
On Tuesday, April 29 all women
in the tri-cities have been in-
vited to an open meeting on the
future of the Tri-Cities Womens
Center, The Center Steering Comm-
ittee hopes to hear from both
regular users of the Center and
new , interested womene The
meeting will take place at The
Bank on Western Avenue in Albany
(across from SUNYA) from 8:00 poem.
until 9:30 pem. The agenda for
this meetingwwill include:
1. the history of the Tri-Cities
Womens Center.
2. the status of the search for
a new home
3. brief reports by each of the
groups currently using the Center
at 128 Lancaster Street in Albany
4, the structure of the Womens
Center Organization
5 a financial report
6. ideas for projects and programs
to be held at or sponsored by
the Womens Center
7. GAiscussion of Center working
committees and a time to sign up
to worke
The Womens Center Steering
Committee hopes to expand in
a way that will spread the res-
ponsibility , love, joy and work
of the Center amon; all of the
individuals and groups using the
Center. The Steering Committee
urges all interested women to
speak up about their ideas and
hopes and dreams of what the
Center could and should BE.
The denial of the special Use
Permit by the Albany Board of
Building and Zoning Appeals has
meant that the Center cannot
remain in an area zoned residen-
tial but it does not have to sig-
nal the death of the Center, If
the Center is wanted and needed
the Committee hopes that women
Will show support by their :
presence at the April 29th meeting
by signing up for Center comm-
ittees and by continueing to send
their monthly pledges to Center
Treasurer Donna O Higgens
3359 State Street, Albany, NY
for information call 436-0107 7
Wemen In China, ed. Marilyn B. Yeung,
Michigan Papers in Chinese Studies, No.
15, The University of Michigan Center
For Chinese Studies, Ann Arber, 1973.
Women In China is a collection of —
essays dealing with the liberation ef
women in China particularly during the
early years of the Communist revolution,
The essays are written by wemen who
are experts in the field of Chinese
studies, two ef whom are Chineses—
Soong Ching-ling and Lu Yu-lan. Soong
Ching-ling is Vice-chairperson of the
People's Republic of China and widow
of Sun Yat-sen and Lu Yuelan is a
member of the Party's Central Committee.
The book is well documented and
the bibliegraphy includes many works
written by prominent Chinese as well
as leading American works , such as
China.
In the essay entitled "Chinese
Women in the Early Gommunist Movement"
Suzette Leith examines the early liber-
ation groups which were to be incor-
porated into the Communist party, The
liberation of women in China did not
begin with the Communist party. The
first political mobilization ef wemen
began in 1911 with the formation of
the Suffrage Alliance, The Alliance,
hewever, failed to gain substantial
support. By 1922 two new organizatians
had fermed, The Wemen's Suffrage Organ-
ization and The Women's Rights League,
Both groups were composed of urban,
educated, middle and upper class women
and were more vecal than organizational.
Their tactics were limited to holding
rallies and street rrotests.
"The Communist Party first took
public note of wemen in a 1922 proclam
ation demanding women's rights and
announcing the organization of a special
bureau to incorporate women into the
party. u
Hsiang Ching-yu wes to emerge as
the leading Communist woman of the
period. She was critical of the exist-
ing women's movement, dividing them
inte three groups: werking women's
groups, suffragettes and Christian
groups such as the YWCA, She was most
critical of the suffrage groups who
ignored the masses and were poor organ
izers. Their goal was to participate
in the corrupt politics!of the time
forgetting China was in tke midst ef %
& revolutien,
"Hsiang censidered the labor organ-
izations to be the only part of the
women's movement with a potential for
organization and struggle, the only
eones whose members were willing to make
ecacrifices." Most feminist groups had
paid no attentiea to lower class women
and they were often excluded from their
meetings,
"Hsiang had no sympathy for a
bourgeois women's movement apart from
the Communist revolution, and this sent-
iment possibly influenced the Chinese
Communist Party policy of organizing
its own women rather than seeking a
united front with, say, the Women's
Rights League."
In Communist women's history, a most
revered event is the first celebration
of March 8, International Women's Day,
in 1924, Rallies were sponsored by the
party throughout China and several
hundred women participated, The March 8
celebrations gave symbolic encouragement
te the women of China. More and more
women activists were beginning to take
the position of Hsiang Ching~yu that
feminist rebellion was meaningless
without general political revolution.
The Communist party, however, began
to realize that the revolutionary
mebilization of the masses had to begin
with the peasants.
The problems of the female peasants
peinted to the pressing need for a
feminist movement. Although all Chinese
women were sexually oppressed, the work-
ers had gained a small degree of self-
sufficiency, They were not as dependent
en husbands and fathers and could more
easily participate in the Communist
movement. i In the countryside even where
men were politically radical they were
still personally oppressive to their
wives and daughters. The women's move—
ment was toned down by the Communist
party because the problems of the female
peasant largely concerned with marriage
and divorce were a hinderance to the
overall goal of peasant unity. Hsiang's
view that only after political revolut—
ion could there be feminist revolution
wasn't applicable to the women of the
countryside. The problems of wcmen
were put aside in favor of the goal of
economic revolution,
Delia Davin begins her essay on
"Women in the Liberated Areas" by quot-—
ing Mae Tse Tung whe wrote, "A man in
China is usually subjected to three
systems of authority (political authority,
Wemen In China, cont'd,
Clan authority, and religious authority).
As for women, in addition to being
dominated by these three systems, they
are alse dominated by men (the authority
ef the husband),"
She agrees with Suzette Leith
that the interests of socialism were put
ahead of the interests of women during
the early years of the Communist
revolution, She states that the Com
munist s thought the key to women's
equality was economic independence
arising frem involvement in producticn,.
She then examines the attempt to
establish women as a productive labor
force. The handicraft industry was
revived on amass scale. Not only was
the production of cloth increased but
women were brought together and were
organized into Village Women's Assoc
jations, These organizations gave
wemen confidence in public speaking and
taught them important skills, Vital
skills necessary in guerrilla warfare,
such as how to sabotage and repair
bridges and reads, rescuing and nursing
the womnded and the gathering of
intelligence. These activities increas-—
ed women's commitment te the new
seciety by giving them a sense of
participation and brought them experience
and self confidence which they then
drew upon in land reform.
Under land reform, men and women
could get equal rights to land and
separate deeds were sometimes issued
to husband and wife.
"Both the morale and consciousness
of women had been raised by *he
production movement and by land reform,
and women increasingly came to reject
their old subordinate role in the
family and in society," quotes Davin,
Finally in a 1948 Communist
party resolution production was no
longer advocated as a panacea for tk2
liberation of women. The party acknow~
ledged the need for laws against foot-
binding, infanticide, purchase
marriage and adopted daughters-in-law
and education on the equality of the
SEXES.
Yielcnce was not advocated in this
struggle as it had been in the class
struggle against the feudal landlords.
Some vielence did occur as more women
began to assert themselves. The old
feudal marriage system was deeply rooted
and would take a long time to die. The
basis for change had been laid.
Davin concludes her essay by
reiterating the Chinese Communist
Party philogophy that woman's social
inferiority was her economic weakness
and the solution to the problem was an
economic one. She states, “Hewever, in
a backward agricultural economy where
physical strength is a major factor in
prosperity it is extremely difficult
te make women, especially women whose
energies are taken up with frequent
child bearing ecenoemically equal with
mene "
Despite this, a great deal was
accomplished and millions of women learn-
ed to stand en their own feet economical-
ly, freeing themselves at least part—
ially from their dependence on men,
They had started on the read to libera-
tien in 1948, and the revolution is
still continuing in present day China.
I have limited myself te a review
ef two essays in the book, two that I
eensidered the most important in the
study of the development of the women's
mevement in China, The beok also
contains several other excellent articles,
one lengthly and surprising essay on
the Women in Taiwan. This essay is the
final one in the book and is a depress-
ing contrast after reading about the
advances in the status of women made
during the 20th century. Taiwan is
presently in a regressive phase. The
women are geared into roles of strictly
wives and mothers, In the upper and
middle classes it is disgraceful for
a wife to work. Aman often takes two
jcbs to suppert his family rather than
allowing his wife to work. Concern by
a woman fer a career and the development
of her talents is interpreted as selfish
and destructive behavior and particular-
ly harmful to growing children. The
media and public opinion are strong in
the belief that the mother's continual
presente is necessary drring the first
twelve years or longer of a child's life.
A marked contrast from what is happening
in China today{as well as what is begin-
ning to happen here).
This book can be obtained by writing
to the above address and I believe it is
definitely one to be read by anyone who
is interested in a serious study of
wemen in China,
Cheryl Shenkle
7
WOMEN'S ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING
An assertiveness workshop for
women was held at the First Pres-
byterian Church on March 29. The
session was sponsorec by Albany
NOW and led by tivo women, Jan and
Donna, from the SUC «-t Plattsburgh.
Jen spoke first. She listed a
number of humen rights, which cre
printed in the box st the right
Then she divided hum-n beh-vior
into three catesories--aggressive,
non-assertive, and esscrtive-~end
described the cheracteristics of
each. Basically, en ageressive
behavior expresses the needs 2nd
emotions of the actor while compro-
mising the humen rights of the
other. Non-assertive behovior
feils to express one’s needs end
emotions. It often sllowvs feelings
to build up inside, lesding eventu-
ally to on egsressive outburst.
Assertive behevior enables one to
express her own needs and emotions,
while upholding the hunan richts
of the other.
Next Donna exvlained the six
categories of assertion and sve an
exanple of each. These r= nge rrom
soft assertion (giving compliments)
and pimple assertion (standing up
for one's rights in everyday situc-
tions) to the special cases of en-
pathic, conrronteative, angry, end
persuasive assertion. The central
idea in e-ch type of assertion is
to stete what the situction is,
ho:r you feel ebout it, and to sug-
gest a solution.
Meny ttomen feel thet tre have no
right to be assertive. As inci-
ceted in the box on this page, “‘e
hove certain rights simply because
we are human beings. Assertiveness
is an expression of these righis,
and usuclly results in © climate of
mutual end self-respect for the
peovle who cre interacting
Donna hed severcl sugzestions
for women who vant to assert then-
selves but sre airaic to do so.
One technique is to think about
possible positive outcoies oi the
assertion. Another is crestive
anser, attacking and. fecling engsry
towv-rec one's otm ferrs. Thinking
ebout c pest sood time ‘vrith the
other nerson end reelizing tht
one assertion is not zoing to
chonge things can also hel».
KH RK KKK KKH KK HEHE HK HK
x-YOUR RIGHTS AS A HUMAN BEING =
es
* To refuse @ request vithout *
od feeling guilty or selfish. *
* %*
* a _ *
To feel and express anger.
x > %
% a ¥
x To feel and exyress a healthy ,
% competitiveness and achieve= ,
% ment drive. %
* e , Bue . *
y To use your orm judgment in *
% your need hierarchy. %
* . *
x To make mistakes. *
* . * * . x
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on special occasions. %
ER Eee He EH EHH EH E He F
* ok
tice, even if it is just role-
plsying with another friend or
prep ring responses to possible
outcones of the assertion, is
invaluable,
Donn=> end Jon stressed the in-
portence of body lenguage in as-
sertive pehevior. A person who
Slouches, smiles, or looks eat the
floor is conveying leck of self-
respect, regerdless of what her
vords say. Perticipents in the
workshop practiced eye contact
eicrceises with each other. Some
Oi us Yound the maintenence of eye
contsct elnost impossible. 2t times.
One vomen rarely even blinked, but
confessed leter thet she felt she
was felling svert inside.
The remainder of the workshop
was cevotec to vracticing asser-
tion and to role-pleying by every-
one present. In one memorable
role-play, Donna was making no in-
pect by exvressing her feelings to
| Continued on page 10
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study on Anericen
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SUNYA JOMSN'S W.k ND
The SUNYA WYo:ien's Meek end April
18-throuwth 29 50% off bo > good
st*zt Sith © ecormunal dioner.. It
wee Yolleed > = coutechouse pro--
Soh Of Congs. -0. skits, including
yerzorucnees br Gloris Jean, angele.
Wi Kellehcn, end Suz-nne Von Arn-n.
One Poin red «~ lrtveer irom =
nother to-her d-ushter encourrcing
hor to ~et mor ied. No -ronder. it
scoenecd so re-listic-+it wes not
Nore~vive weodelme, *- | sut = recl let-
ger irom --rrel mother. The voacn
eho oOrep rid. tlie on disvroved
-the ucvth thet teninists are hunor-
Less «
Of SAture those vere “© oeer
x vor shovs. Tro “era led br
Berber~ Orrok, * sovuneer anc ¢co-
>
-Cirector o:. the Jouen's Comaunit;
Ha ith Center in Boston.* The
eitrrnoon ses ion beern vit a re-
vies? ot the norning's slices cn¢
‘Gdiseussion, Berversn Loic om
sole ground rules, yassed out vlos-
tic speculuns, anc h-d us i: tro~
duce ourselves Meany or us Dro-:
ceecet. tO unéress anc.” Gc line; our
corviiies vith the -ic of the spec-
uluns cad ~ WLPror. The tronder ox
Socine. nether vox T's corvixz, =
taen 11 on, is sometaing I vill
nover ror-a;, Lt os arent to Soe
cvents Trouen ecnoneins o.meriences
“nc intori. tion obovte our bodies
“Ne juse servtin= uscd to the 72>
De -r-nee of ien-le dene al--
SOUS Tew. “He. Scientizis ih-
LOM CLOn "SB Hoo TS ily WoLl—tte °
le, the e: nerienti-l cspects
scce the *rorkshop ‘ell ~orth xt
Dome. ee inverestsd in sorne
ine ¢« Sinil-r Herlth Center in the
albon? ree, ehereta oars ct the
fonen's Liber-vion Groun a7
The "Self.-Defonse" -ork
720% Silver bee vith 2 pe
ciscus ‘Sion or "rs. 1% Had @aclt
“Lith @ 7 ke :
insults whist
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| Continued On prge’:
#£1thouch ~ this ~roup is not the
sic -s the Boston Wouen's Herlth
Book Sill aekd oe SMiOh VTrote« Our
Boéics,. Ourselves, the br ‘crows
“yc. sssocictad vith esch other.
SUNYA WOMEN'S WEEKEND, Continued’
from page .:
43
by saying, "That looks just like a
penis, only smaller." Whistles and
catcalls can be ignored or returned,
depending upon the situation, feamil-
iarity with the male(-s) involved
and the degree of the insult. Ve
then did some role-plays on situa-
tions suggested by members of the
workshop.
The self-defense workshop con-
cluded with a discussion of chapter
seven in Against Rape by Andrea
Medea end Kathleen Thompson. This
chapter covers both verbal and
physical defense; some suggestions
for the latter are given here. To
avoid being suffocated when grabbed
around the neck, turn your head in
to the crook of the attacker's arn.
Try to pry avay his little finger--
break it if necessary and possible,
jab your elbow into his solar plex-
us, end/or drive your heel down
over his very sensitive and rragile
kneecap end down his leg, stamping
your foot on his instep. You do
not need to be an athlete to use
these techniques. If you: are strong
end confident, there are more og-
gressive eapprooches to self-defense.
Some are suggested in Against Rape.
Courses in self-defense are also
available.
The Women's Weekend concluded
with a dance Saturday night, fol-
loved by > brunch and sports on
sunday.
x x% KKK % K% HH
Bxperimental Theater at SUNYA
planned tivo events to coincide with
the Woments Weekend. String, pre-
sented in cooperation with the
Black Ensemble, wes a comedy written
by Alice Childress and directed by
M. Debra Gilmore. The all-black
cast wos predominently female. It
was a pleasant play, and both ac-
tors and audience seemed to enjoy
it.
Home to Ourselves was a dramatic
revue of poetry, plays, dance, and
songs conceived end compiled by siz
SUINYA women. It included pieces by
Alta, Adrienne Rich, the Boston
Women's Health Book Collective,
Lavender Jane, Colette, and Urica
Jong. We were particularly impress-
ed by the acting and beautiful cos-
Continued on page ;%3
lA
WOMUNPOWER IN ALBANY
Womenpower in Albany was the
titiێ 0. a ce LD StS of Interna-
tionel Vomen's Year held at the
Albany YWCA April 12. More than
tienty local women's groups set up
booths to pass out literature and
inform oree women about their ac-—
tivities. There were also two
panel discussions.
The topic "Women and the Econ-
omy" sparked a lively discussion.
Rezsin Adams said that we must
work foreconomic equality, support-
ing issues which are in our long
term interest even if they are not
in our short term interest. An
exemple would be subsidized day
car centers, which are not neces-
Sary for most middle class women
and might lead to higher taxes,
but are clearly vital if ell women
are to achieve economic equality.
Mickey Greene pointed out that
women in different cultures have
different needs, and Bettina Wolfe
expressed concern thot they may
not be able to egree at the Inter-
notional lomen's Year conference
in Mexico City because each women
wants to satisfy her own needs
first. Hilda Ford felt that these
conilicts, which also exist within
the Movement, can be resolved by
ering about cach other.
On the subject of "Vomen and
the Lay" Val Washington reported
that 20% of the classes at Albany
Lair School are now vomen. This is
ebout four times the percentage of
vomen lawyers in the work force.
According to Anita Morse, Esq., if
she h-d become a lawyer just like
male lewyers, she would have
failed. She believes that women
should strive to maintain their
personhood and supply new, more
humanistic values to the legal
profession. Gloria Bellien, Isq.,
stated that she has seldom felt
discrimination in her career as an
attorney. She believes that women
who establish good working rela-
tionships with men do not suffer
discrimination.
Womenpover in Albany was an ex-
citing way to mect and exchange
ideas‘with local women of various
backgrounds end opinions. Many
thanks are due the Albany Area
International Women's Year Commit-
tee and the YWCA. --Sue Lasher \2
*
Abortion -- Breath of Life by Robert
J. doling, Fall 1974, Medical Trial
Technique Quarterly, pp. 199-232
Mr. Joling begins the article with
a survey of religious attitudes toward
abortion and with a study of the
Biblical account of man's creation,
Until 1585 the Catholic Church did not
forbid abortion before the 8lst day of
formation (of the fetus). Then Pope
Sixtus V forbad abortion, His rule was
reversed in 1590 by Pope Gregory XIV
who permitted abortion until the
quickening of the fetus (12-16th week
of formation). In 1869 Pope Pius IX
forbad abortion, Aristotle and Plato
accepted it as a means of limiting the
population, The nineteenth century
prohibitions were based on the high rate
of mortality of women because of the
lack of aseptic methods of surgery,
not because of any rights of the unborn
or the father,
The question of the time the life
of the individual begins has not been
forgotten, Some claim it is from the
moment of conception, Others from the
time the fetus could survive apart from
the mother's body, Modern technology
makes this tinie difficult to determine,
Survival with incomplete organ systems
may be only that-—~survival., Adam was
fully formed when he received the
breath of life, the soul from God,
There is no soul before the breath of
life is received, Otherwise by deduct—
ion each sperm and ovum would have soul-
giving potential, each unused sperm and
ovum would be part of a disgarded soul,
The impossibility of knowing the time
an individual exists, in utero or at
parturition, led the United States
Supreme Court to leave the decision to
the individual woman and her physician.
The Court would not presume to do what
those who were trained in medicine,
theology and philosophy could not do,
Carolyn Dissosway
Notes taken from NARAL's newsletter
(National Abortion Rights Action League)
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
has issued a lengthy report on "Consti-
tutional Aspects of the Right to Limit
Childbearing", It concludes with the
following recommendations:
1. Congress should reject
s\
constitutional amendments which seek
to abolish the historic freedom
to limit childbearing as contained
in the Bill of Rights and the
Fourteenth Amendment and as recogn=
ized by the Supreme Court of the
United States, .
2. Congress should reject anti-
abortion legislation and amendments,
and repeal those which have been
enacted, which undermine the const—
itutional right to limit childbearing.
3. Since low-income persons have
no other access to legal assistance
in attempts to vindicate their
rights, Congress should amend the
Legal Services Corporation Act to
permit legal services attorneys
to bring abortion-related cases
for their clients.
-—— Quotable Quotes —
(also from NARAL)
"To refrain in every instance from
offering or giving advice on the subjects
of contraception or sterilization, and
to refrain from referring any person
to another person, place or agency for
this type of advice! ...
The Charter Document of Birthright -
Article III, Section 2
>
SUNYA WOMEN'S WEEKEND, cont'd from pg /&
times in the scene from A Doll's House,
Melissa Manshester's song "Home to
Ourselves" was also excellent. The
words about having come a long way and
having a long way still to go were very
moving and an appropriate finale for the
revue.
—Carolyn Dissosway and Susan
Lasher
The SUNYA peace Project's program on
WOMEN IN VIETNAM has been postponed
until the fall semester due to difficult-—
ies in getting the planned film,
The Jeen Little Defense Committee at
SUNYA is planning a forum on May 9th and
a dance on May 10th at State Quad, U
Lounge, § psm. For more information,
call Dianne Pichet, 457-5233 or Laura
Daigen, 482~9726,
Letters to Speakout
Dear Sisters,
We enjoy receiving copies of Speakout!
Yes, WOMAN ALIVE is under YWCA non~
profit status, They buy the paper and
postage but we do the work, And we're
completely autonomous—-they have no
editorial control,
We started out as a group of six
women——Now down to two -~ but our ©
spirit's strong. |
Your 4 years of publication seem a
miracle,
In Sisterhood,
Le Ann Cragen
Dear Speakout, |
Here is my check for a subscription
to Speakout, Now thet I can't type or
help in anyway I think I should pay
for my issues of Speakout, It's my
only contact with women's activities
here in Albany at the present time,
So keep it coming! I really enjoy
reading it,
Love,
Phoebe Sheres
Dear Speakout,
This is a comment on Chris Root's
letter in the April issue,
I moved to Tempa Arizona one year ago
to go to grad school and get out of the
snow. When I was living in Albany, I
was a feminist, I read Speakout but I
didn't really "do" anything--All I did
was complain about sexism, I guess I
just needed a kick in the pants.
As soon as I hit Phoenix (10 mi, away)
I went looking for employment in my field
of expertise, radio news, Did I blow
a lot of minds?! One station told me
point-blank they had "one black chick"
and didn't want any more, The attitudes
of sexism are so pervasive here, in the
images the society sees itself in and
especially for the Chicano women, God
help them as they try to survive with
no job, no medical care, pesticides in
their lungs. 7
You want to know why ERA failed? Fow
democrats broke ranks in the Senate, My
representative reneged on a campaign
promise and voted "no",. The red lights
fleshed in the Arizona House and I left
my press seat, left the chamber and
cried, not because the people voted "no"
Our N.O,W.-financed Behavior Research
conducted polls showed 85%of the voters
a ERA specifically, women's rights
9523
So why the House and Senate reject—
ions? Phony mail, Threats and pressure
from the Mormon church. Utah and Nevada
would have ratified two months ago.
Spencer Kimball, leader of the Mormon
Church said that he was opposed, That
week, Nevada and Utah did not ratify .
The Next month Arizona voted no!
The issue here is: Should the
Mormon Church threaten my representa=*
tive with 6,000 guaranteed votes?
Should the Catholic Church from its
untaxed properties, finance an assault
on our right to choose?
Does separation of church and state
exist in this nation or doesn't it? One
church with its rich, influential people
holds 3 state legislatures captive, over
the wishes of the people. I am sick
and disgusted, I hate the Mormon Church
and I'm beginning to hate the Mormon
people; foolish people in their rich
homes dictating the life of this great
state, I'm ashamed of myself, but on a
very basic level, I know I'll never be
able to treat a Mormon fairly as long
as their church and their money show
such contempt for me, for women, for all
people,
I encourage you all, every one of
you, no matter how busy you think you
are, to get involved, to fight the chains.
"Private solutions" are a myth-——no one
is "liberated" in a sexist society, I'm
tireder now than I've ever been, But
it's a tired happy, I know I'm having
an impact and the momentum will build
if all the women of America rise up and
say like those farmers of 1776—"This
shit has got to end!"
In Sisterhood,
Vicki Petix
1020 E, Orange #4
Tempe, Arizona
% % HOT FLASHES * +
"Take hold of kettle, broom and pan;
then you'll surely get aman. Shop
and office leave alone; your true life-
work lies at home." . . « « « «© «
Adolph Hitler
OO
GROUP NEWS
WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LeAGUE FOR 3 pm. The session will take
PEACE AND FREEDOM place at theEmmanuel Baptist
Church, Nott Terrace, Schenectady.
WILPF will be holding a All interested women may attend.
joint meeting with the NAACP on For further information call
Sunday, May 4 at 7:30 pm. The 3462266.
meeting will take place at the
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 441 ALBANY COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN
Washington Ave., Albanye Guest VOTERS
speaker will be Dr. Kenneth
Edelin, a black physician, An open meeting will be held
recently on trial in Boston in on May 1, 7:30 pm at the Jewish
regard to an Shor€toanpesrépmea’ Community Center, Whitehall Road,
in thé eourse ef fis work, Dr. Albany. There will be an informal
Edelin whblcdigéassdn0¢ wafyes and debate sponsered by the League's
Soerph¥srabeht his work and his trig pcucual Committee. The following
trial. Also under discussion will ?°SU&S will be debated:
‘ . 1. Plea bargaining=-Should
be the issues of*whether or not the punishment rit SHE vine?
there was racism reflected in the sneaking in the affirmative will
quilty verdict, and what sort of be Albany Police Court Judge
health care do young black women Thomas Keegan. Opposing views
receive in our society. ODrs will be given by Jack Kress from
Edelin is a surgeon in the the school of Criminal Justice at
Department of Obstetrics and SUNYA.
Gynocology at Boston City Hospital. 2e Is the grand jury really
so grand? Taking the affirmative
CAPITAL DISTRICT VWONEN position will be Sol Greenberg,
Albany County Listrict Attorney.
Anyone interested in joining Paul Cheeseman, Assistant Public
a Consciousness Raising group or Defender for Albany County will
leading one may call Susan Walter give opposing views.
at $728014,. —
LESBIANS FOR LIBEKATION
OCHENECTADY NOW
nee LFL meets every Monday evening
Schnectady NOW will meet on at 8 pm at the Gay Community
May 7 and May 21 at 8 pm at the House, 532 Hudson Ave.,Albany.
Schenectady YWCA, 44 Washington Per further information call
Ave., Schenectady. StQ@EASRLA
Elections were held on April — ,
9, The results are as follows: ALBANY WOMEN AGAINST RAPE.
ie ye a Ba P isil AWARE now has its hot line in
Vice-President=Ciaire Faspisi operation. The phone number is
Secretary-Linda Hart 3931165. The hot line will be in
Treasurer#Mary Micholaou operation seven days a week between
State representative-Martha Schul taro Seo of 7pm se 3 am during
. which time counselors will be
Schnectady NOW Speakers Bure@ available. AWARE hopes to even-
Bureau is still active. Area tually be able to have the hot line
groups who would like to have in operation twenty four hours a
someone from the bureau: to speak day. For this, more volunteers
on the ERA may call Ann Booth at are needed. Women interested in
$995790. training for counseling may call
- the hot line number,
SCHNECTADY RAPE CRISIS SERVICE AWARE will be having a regular
business meeting on May 18, 7:30
A volunteer training session © t 706 Madison Ave..Albany. New
will be held May 3 from 11 amto ™™ & SES SSE SPs ee es
ee Oo
More Group Newst#uW0nessme=0
persons are welcome to attend.
SUNYA Women's Liberation_is
sponsering a concert for the %
benefit of AWARE on May 4 from
7 pm to 11 pm at the Campus Center
Ballroom. The Concert will
feature John Simpson and Hector.
Admission is $1.00 or 75¢ for
those who have a SUNYA tax card.
Proceeds will go to AWARE. For
further information call Teri
Holbrook at 4577920,
RAPE CRISIS CENTER FORUM
The Unitarian Church, 405
Washington Ave.,Albany, is still
trying to plan a forum on the
rape crisis center being formed
by the Albany County District
Attorney's Office. It was hoped
the forum could be held on a
Sunday morning at the end of A
April or the beginning of May.
However, as of yet, the D.A.'s
office has not responded with a
definate date as to when people
from that office can participate.
Organizers of the forum are
uncertain as to why this is so
and are waiting to be contacted
by the District Attorney's office
so that the forum can be
scheduled. For more information
call Carol Harp Biernacki at
6742007.
WOMEN'S COUNSELLING COLLECTIVE
The Collective is in
operation Monday through Friday
from G6 to 9 pm. The phone number
is 4626739. Counselors are
needed.
4. ADS ‘5 TMT Op emrry euey ae i
i ARKA SP e Fa bo LS Te GLUE Gece!
sae nema OME MOST IY FIT be held
sunday, ‘ay ll at 7:30 oa. To dics
of discussion will be "Cn
Contraciction," and "(Cn the @orrect
handlinys of Contradictions Anmone:
the seople." These are two essays
by Man Tse sun’. for information
on the location of the estins,
contact /4ickey Groene at 4656871,
i. C
SS
-ersons interested in obtainins
information re: next meetin; way
contact Vetty -emmer at 4363626,
wo Go. oy oe Ty
as ce ones a x os SiTsa “1%
g J) GA CO} Ce Acs ( va Ncw
Singers, instrumentalists,
son;; writers or anyone interested
in music? A music collective is
bein;, formed. «.eetings will be
April 23 and iiay l2 at 666 i adison
Aves, Albany. “or more information
call :ris at 4695022,
Albany area Helene Will hold a
meetings on say 7 et the inmanuel
Vaotist Church, 275 Stato Street,
Alonaye Areas of discvssion will
be .iA anc plans for the Albeny"
Chanter$s particination in the \
astern ‘erion's Cemonstration at
the Vatican vumbassy in \ashin::ton
120, ‘the cevonstretion will take
olace on ‘other's Yay, irayll, 1975.
this mobilization is a direct
mubkiet challenve to the Roman
Catholic hierarchy's attensot to
undermine the risht of wonen to
contre] their own bodies.
Tax exoupt monies have bee
illevitinatcly usec in efforts
by the Ronan Catholic hierarchy
to overturn the Supreae Court
decision which suarantees vome
tne right to sare and lexal
ebortions.
This desonstration vill
publicly repudiate the clein of
tae Rowan Catholic hierarchy that
it has the richt to imoose its
reliciovg beliefs on all American
wouon, Catholic and non-Catholic
alike.
Albany area WC. is chartering
a bus to #0 to Washinston. The srouo
dlans to leave early Set., May 16
an’ come back Sunday, hay 11. The
cost of the bus is 20.90 round
trip. Anyone interested in joinins
the group may contact Georgia Cray
at 765-2468 or Debbie Botch at
bhyQeSO1LO,
Albany NOW is also forning
a Task Force on Health and
Reproduction, The initial mecting {,
will be May 1, 7:30 pm at the home
"< ——
vi
of Mary Louise Satterfield, 13
«wilson Court, Guilderland. For
more information call 4561327.
oh
SUNYA
The 1975 Annval Institute
of the Ney York State of Hunan
“cology will concuct a progra
on May 13 at the Camnus Center at
SUNYA. This yoar, the institute
will discuss the tovic: ““elfare:
rroblews and Possibilities." The
prozran will begin at 1:90 om.
For more cetails contact SUNYA
Canpus Center. Martha Griffiths
will be the guest speaker,
¥NXE KH EES WHE He
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
on WOMEN and the MEDIA
The first National Conference
on Women and the Media will com-=
prise the first two days of the
4th Annual A. J. Liebling Counter
Convention (May 8-11, Hotel Comm-
odore, New York) an annual gath~
ering of media workers and media
watchers,
The Women and the Media por-
tion of the convention was organ-
ized by a womens sroup headed by
Dr. Donna Allen of MEDIA REPORT
to WOMEN. Registration for the
conference costs {$20.00 which
includes participation in the
entire convention and a one year
subscription to MORE, the monthly
magazine about the news business,
The conference is open to both
members of the press and the
public,
Registration for the conference
Will begin on Thursday, May 8th
at 8 P.M. AT 9 P.M. Gloria Steinem
Will introduce the Academy Award
Winning film ANTONIA. On Sate~
urday at 9A.M. Representative
Bella Abzug will give the open-
ing speech, followed by workshops
on employment and the image of
women in the media. To register
write to : MORE
Liebling IV
750 Third Avenue
Neve @ Nes TOOT?
=
ed. note= This conference is men-
tioned in the May issue of MS, We
were leary at first to print the
Se
a
We now feel that we can suggest
“that women who can scrape up the
oney GO. unless a conference
f EDITORS and WRITERS is more your
our bag----
A CONFERENCE of EDITORS and
WRITERS
The Coordinating Council of
Literary Magazines ( CCLM ) is
Sponsoring the 1975 regional
meeting of editors and writers
May ( 9-10 at the New York Studio
School, 8 West 8th Street, New
York City.
sonia Sanchez, author of BLACK
MAGICAL \JOMEN will be one of four
poets participating in the READING
Friday evening 6:30 to 11:30 P.M.
Workshops on Saturday include:
Direct Mail, Publication Design,
The Painter and Poet in Collabor-
ation. The READING and Reception
Will be’ . at 8:30 P.iie on Sat.
For further information write:
CCLM, 80 Eight Avenue, NY, NY
10011.
RHEE KR KR HH HHH
Law Boards got you down???
The student pre-law society
of SUNYA plans to offer a compre-
hehsive LSAT review course this
fall. The course will consist
of four parts: reading, data in-
terpretation, cases and principles
and English, The fee will be
roughly half what a commercial
courses would cost, hopefully
under $30.00 . Call 472-8211
right away if interested,
FH Ww to HH % HH 3 HH
/omen and Sports
We have just learned that the
first member of Siena College
basketball team to sign with a
pro team is a woman.
Women with news af "firsts"
at local schools, colleges and
nei-hborhood sports please let us
snow so that we can print the
good news.
Christine Root just returned
from the Outward Bound Winter
Course held in Greenville, Maine
as part of the Hurricane Island
Outward Bound School. Anyone
interested in learning more about
Outward Bound from a woman's point
notice until we could verify facts... Sbr¥i6yptay write to Chris c/o \7
FOR MORE INFORMATION
NOW Task Force on Health and Repr
3 Schenectady Rape Crisis Service Training Session
4 SUNYA concert to benefit AWARE, 7:30 p.m., SUNYA ballroom
WeI.L.P. F. joint meeting with the NAACP -- Dr, Edelin is the guest
Lesbians for Liheration, Gay Community House, 332 Hudson Ave, Albany, N.Y.
Z Albany NOW, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Albany, 7:30 pm.
Schenectady NOW
11 Feminist—Marxist Study Group, Friends Meeting house
"Day of Outrage" demonostration at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C,
12 Lesbians for Liberation
13 NYS College of Human Ecology, Program on Welfare, SUNYA Campus Center
18 AWARE ~~ business meeting, 7:30p.m.
19 Lesbians for Liberation
21 Schenectady NOW
26 Lesbians for Liberation
26,27,28 Speakout exhibits at N.Y. Book Fair, New York City, Call Chris 482-7256
Women's Counseling Collective, Monday through Friday, 6 to 9 pm.
To have your group's events and meetings listed in Speakout, contact Mary
Gallagher, 462-9486.
For Speakout's meeting dates, contact Susan Lasher, 463-5027 or Chris Root,
482—7256.
Subscribe to SPEAKOUT
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~~ s ”
No aes ne 2, — ed “em SC
| JUNE
A
Y
/
I. Ml
| DY ;
My)
y
;
| WD
aFemiInisT JOURNA
eee ene eee,
SPEAKOUT: A FSMINIST JOURNAL
Vol. IV No.VI June, 1975
Table of Contents
Equal Rights Amendment--Christine Root
Coalition for E.R.A.--Carolyn Dissosway
Statement by Albany County Women's Groups
The Rape Crisis Center Conflict--Susan Lasher
Frederic Storaska Speaks!!!--Christine Root
NOW Investigates STORASKA
The Albany Girls Club--Denni Fingerman
Dr. Edelin Speaks--Denni Fingerman
Oo OO Oo Hw WN WNW DY F&F
Abortion Rights--reported by Christine Root
Women's Center Progress Report--Susan Lasher
=)
oO
"Structure of the Yonen's Center"--Tri-Cities Women's Center
Steering Committee
=
O
~
N
Poem--Ann Galen
Nina Strokata, A Prisoner in Siberia--Carolyn Dissosway
ee
> OW
Martha Griffiths Speaks Out on Welfare--Carolyn Dissosway
Why the ERA? Night Work for Women--Carolyn Dissosway
ee
On W
Equel Employment Opportunity--Carolyn Dissosway
18 Group News
Cover design by Pam Scola
Workers for this issue:
Susan Lasher, Jane of many trades
Rezsin Adams, Still Ovr Beloved Mimeo Operator
Carolyn Dissosway, Researcher, writer, AND typist
Denni Fingerman, Writer supreme and booth staffer
Mary Gallagher, Group News person and ELECTRIC typist
Chritine Root, Reporter, writer, typist, and new coordinator of
subscriptions
Cheryl Shenkle, Treasurer and lightning-fingered typist
Janet Warner, Mailing labels and assorted headaches .-
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year.
Single copies are 35¢ at the local bookstore. Advertising is $10 per
quarter page, $18 per half page, and $30 for a whole page.
SPEAKOUT, P.O. Box 6165, Albany, New York 12206
Equal Rights Amendment is the
On Tuesday May 6th the Senate
Judiciary Committee of the New
York State Senate,that is, voted
to report Senate Bill. 2844 out of
committee and on to the Senate
as a whole. That means that the
State ERA is one step closer to
ratification! ! The ERA must stil
pass in the Senate and at the
ballot box in November.
Both Stop-ERA and Pro-ERA peopl
attended the Judiciary Committee
which was held in hearing Room A
of the LOB in order to accommodate
all of the people wishing to atten
The lone woman among fourteen
men seated at the long committee
table brought home to me the long
way we have to go before true
equality in government exists for
women. Senator Baren Burstein
our lone female in residence at
the Judiciary Committee fielded
all questions concerning the
effect of the ERA on the people
and the government of the State
of New York. Personally it re-
minded this writer of a Doctoral
candidate defending her thesis.
Senator Burstein should not have t
defend herself nor should she have
to defend the position that women
are people and that all people
are equal under the law . Until
the ERA is passed that is the way
it is. The women of New York Stat
can be denied their(4ibait under
the guise of protection.
At this point insiders at the
capitol predict a narrow defeat
for the Eckert Amendment and a
victory for the ERA in the Senate.
Feminists ( to a woman,as the new
saying goes) oppose the Eckert
Amendment because in allowing
differences in the law based on
sex would negate the effect of
the ERA.
Most of the questions raised
at the Judiciary Committee in
regard to the effect of the ERA
Top News of the Month !?!
Senator McFarland: Will the State
still be able to fund the boy
scouts or the girl scouts or other
single sex groups?
Senator Burstein:Probably. Based
om case law a private clubcan ex-
clude people and still receive
federal grant money. The Jr.
Chamber of Commerce was a case in
point.
e@ M: Can we still have stag parties?
B: Yes.
M:Can the State take away the
qliquor license of a club that
discriminates against women?
B: The courts decided that the
State could not take away the
license of the Moose Lodge (a
private club) because it discrim-
.ates against black people in its
membership rules.
M:Will the ERA give homosexuals
the right to marry?
B:This is not under under the
purview of the ERA. Homosexuals
do not have the right to marry
in New York State and the ERA
would not change this.
6 There was a loud mumbling roar
in response to this statement
which indicates that many people
in the room felt that the ERA
would give homosexuals a chance
to marry.
e
M: What effect would the ERA have
on the church?
B: The church can discriminate.
The church can still have separate
orders for nuns etc.
M: What about boys and girls
sport teams? ,
B: Schools would have to make
equal amounts of money available
to boys and girls sports programs.
M; You mean if a school spends a
$1,000 on boys sports it has to
spend $1,000 on Girls sports?
B: YES, And I think that!s fair.
This wrought a burst of applause
were directed by Senator McFarland from the Pro-ERA people present.
to Senator Burstein. Here are
his questions and her answers:
When the vote was called, all
[but one Senator were in the affirm-
ative.
COALITION FOR E.R.A.
On May 5, 1975 a coalition of
about thirty women md a few
men interested in the success of
the New York State ERA waited
outside a room in the State
Capitol to greet Republican
Senators as they came to a
meetinge The senators were asked
to support the ERA -- unamended.
The women were members of a wide
range of organizations. At five
o'clock the met to compare loby-=
ing experiences, organization
activites and to plan stratagy
for the next two weeks of
lobyinge
On May sixth they lobied again.
They asked senators how they
planned to vote and asked them
to vote for the ERA and against
the Eckert or any other amendment,
The Eckert amendment would add a
rider to the ERA which would
preserve all existing protective
laws and exemptions (service on
juries as an example) enjoyed
(sic) by women. This would negate
one of the goals of the ERA ==
to free women of hampering
protection. Most of thes laws
were amended by extending the
privilages to men or revoked
between 1963 and 1973 (see A
4187, 1973 as an example). No
one could provide lobiests with a
list of existing protective
legislation. When senators were
out lobiests talked w th aids,
signed the register and left
cards explaining the reason. for
their visit.
By the second week the coali«.
tion had grown to fifty members
and a few individuals. The
organizations included:Amalgamated
clothing workers, American Jewish
Congress, Business and Profession~=
al Women, Church Women United,
Communication Workers, Democrat
and Republican Women's organiza~
tions,The National Gay Task Force,
National Organization for Women,
National Union of Hospital and
Health Care Employees, New York
Junior League, New York State
Chapter of the National Associae
tion of Women Religious, New
York State Nurses Association,
+
100 Black Men, 100 Black Women,
Puerto Rican Women's Caucus, The
Ripon Society, The SUNY Student
Association and the Rochester,
New York AFL-CIO (Senator
Eckert's home territory) o*
Packets containing information
about the ERA and reasons for not
adding limiting riders were
distributed to senators offices.
Similar packets were given to
lobiestse Plans were made to
bring lobiests to Albany on
Tuesday, May 13 to observe the
meeting of the Senate Committee
on the Judiciary when it discuss-
ed and voted on the ERA, to a
rally on May 14 on the steps of
the Capitol and on Wednesday,
May «1 when the senate will
discuss and vote on the ER& and
any amendments proposed from the
floor.
« The names of organizations
were chosen to demonstrate the
variety of interested organiza’
tions. No other significance
exists for the choices made,
Sesese EI S63e5¢
Se SP Ne MALL
WETS Titi
Mt
TRUSTEES NAME DOLORES SCHMIDT
to direct affirmative action
program from "The News"
State University of New York.
The University's Board of Truste;
ees last week named Mrs Dolores
B. Schmidt to direct the Univer-
Sity's affirmative action program.
Mrs Schmidt will hold the title
of assistant vice chancellor for
affirmative action and will be
Chancellor Ernest L. Boyer's
special assistant for affirmative
action. Since 1973 she has served
as affirmative action officer and
later as equal employment oppore
tunity coordinator at the
University Center at Albany. Her
responsibilities include direc#
tion of an equal employment op-=
portunity program which guaran-
tees job access to women and
minority group members in the
State University system of ap-
proximately 32,000 professional
and Civil Service Employess.
Mrs Schmidt's appointment is
effective March 6.
7 Cadi
re ee ht en ei
STATEMENT BY ALBANY _COUNTY WOMEN'S GROUPS
RE: Albany County Rape Crisis Center
The special committee, named by the Albany County Legislature, was
chosen to look into the feasibility of creating a rape crisis center in
Albany County. It was also charged with recommending a director and
assistant director for the center. The committee members included
women from Albany Women Against Rape (AWARE), Capital District Women,
Lesgue of omen Voters, National Organization of Women (N.O.W.),
Woments Political Caucus and the black community. 7
The committee approved guidelines for the center. It also collect-
ed and reviewed resumes of several candidates for the two positions.
Upon completing interviews with seven candidates, the committee over-
whelmingly approved the names of two of the candidates, Martha Yourth
Zheutlin for director and Margaret Jones for assistant director. The
names were submitted to the Chairman of the County Legislature, Charles
Cahill, who was charged with the responsibility of making the final
choice.
Mr. Cahill chose to ignore the recommendations of the committee.
The below named organizations deplore this action taken by Mr.
Cahill, because the opportunity for citizen input was encouraged, pro-
vided for, and then ignored. By choosing an unqualified and inexperi-
enced person, Mr. Cahill has placed the health and welfare of the women
of Albany County in jeopardy.
‘Albany Chapter, National Organization of Women
Albany County Women's Political Caucus
Albany Women Against Rape (AWARE)
League of Vomen Voters of Albany County
N.O.W., Rape Task Force
SUNYA Women's Liberation Group
* * * OF * % * * * * * * *
THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER CONFLICT Kindlon as acting director of the
. Rape Crisis Center May 1 was po-
The conflict between Albany litically motivated. She was
County women's groups and the originally hired by District At-
County Rape Crisis Center seems to +torney Sol Greenberg to work with-
be based on tyvo issues: the methods jin his office toward the formation
to be used in choosing the Center's of o county rape crisis center.
staff ond the guidelines for its He has stated that her appoint-
operation, perticularly with regard ment was based in part on a recom-
to confidentiality provisions for mendation by her former employer
rape victims. (2) at the Office of Human Re-
According to Diane Howard of sources in City Hall, where she
AWARE, no job descriptions were worked in ccnnection with the fed-
established for the three paid eral Comprehensive Employment
positions in the Rape Crisis Cen- Training Act, CETA (3). The
ter--director, assistant director, commissioner who would have made
and secretary. This appears to be the recommendation could not be
borne out by a March news story reached for comment.
which quotes Diane Dubiac advising Mr. Greenberg further stated
all women who feel they are quali- that he did not meet Mrs. Kindlon
fied to apply (1). In addition, until the end of January, that
Howard reports that the only adver- she had supported his opponent in
tising for the positions consisted the November election (4), and
of thet news story and brief men- that her eventual marriage to his
tion on television. _ canpaign manager played no part in
There is en atmosphere of suspi- his decision to hire her. ‘hen
cion among some women that the . ‘questioned following the Unitarian
appointment of Mimi Phillips 3 Forum (2), the District . (cont.)
RAPE CRISIS CENTER CONFLICT, cont.
Attorney claimed that if proof had
been submitted to him while Mrs.
Kindlon was in his employm that she
had lied about her qualifications,
he would have fired her. However,
since she is no longer responsible
to him, Greenberg says he would be
powerless if such proof were now
produced.
Some members of the Legislature: -
committee have reported pressure to
recommend Mrs. Kindlon for appoint-
ment (5,6). They did not indicate
who was applying the pressure. In
considering their recommendations,
Albany Democrat Charles Cahill
(Chairman of the Legislature) says
he "f£é1t both the pressure of an
early appointment and the urgency
of the correct appointment...so,
pending further input,...I asked
Mrs. Kindlon to take the position
of acting director to, effectively,
continue what she had previously
been doing for Dist. Atty. Green-
bere. es” (7). He claims that he
bypassed the committee's suggestion
because of the lack of previous
employment records for those
recommended (5).
Sol Greenberg denies ever having
spoken with any legislator (8)
about particular people to be ap~=
pointed or even the possibility of
making = temporary rather than
permanent appointment (3). He
claims that he mercly set the Rape
Crisis Center in motion, that the
Center is now completely separate
from his office (2,3). He feels
that this is important in order to
avoid a possible conflict of inter-
est, especially with respect to the
system of reporting which is even-
tually chosen.
Center is in operation, he plans to
give it total cooperation (2).
Greenberg is no doubt sincere in
making these statements. However,
it would ke naive to ignore another
reason he wants to divorce himself
from the Rape Crisis Center: The
Center has become a hot issue, and
those who are not involved will not
be damaged politically, whatever
the outcome.
In spite of Sol Greenberg's
denial of any influence on the
Kindlon appointment, the foct
Once the Rape Crisis
he was satisfied with her work in
his office may have been = as
ndorsement Cahill. o
quote ?rom Mr. Yniit +5 the left
column implies that this may have
been the case. In spite of three
telephone calls, three messages,
and long hours of waiting for him
to return the calls, the Chairman
of the Legislature could not be
reached for comment. While it is
interesting to note that Mr.
Greenberg and Mr. Cahil4t are Demo-
crats and that Mrs. Kindlon former-
ly worked at City Hall, it is not
always necessary to protest poli-
tical appointments unless the
appointee is not otherwise quali-
fied.
A May 5th newspaper article
discussed Mimi Kindlon's experi-
ence with the Champaign-Urbana
Rape Crisis Center (of. According
to the article, Center director
Linda Steiner presents a picture
of more limited involvement on the
pert of Mrs. Kindlon than Kindlon
herself does. Steiner, the article
cleims, reported that Mrs. Kindlon
worked at the Illinois center for
6 months, while Mimi Kindlon once
Said a year and later emended it
to 8-10 months. Ms. Steiner is
quoted as saying that Mimi spent
"quite a bit of time ansivering the
hot-line crisis phone," but it is
not clear whether this represents
counselling experience or merely
an ansvering service type of duty.
Fraya Katz of AWARE has stated
that several rape victims have con-
plained about Mimi Kindlon's
counseling--4 complained to the
Schenectady Rape Crisis Service
ond 3 to AWARE (2). One might
also consider lirs. Kindlon's for-
mer work within the D.A.'s office
as a possible source for conflict
of interest.
The issue of confidenticlity
has not been presented clearly in
the press (10,11,12). It would
appear that, under the lew, the
police would have to be notified
of every rape reported to a County
Center, but that there could be
some provision for confidentiality.
Apparently rape victims would not
be forced to prosecute their
assailants. Unfortunately the
that 1} ***orney to the Legislature,
Continued on page |
Frederic Storaska Speaks !?!
On Monday, April 21,1975 Fred=
eric Storaska presented his pro-
gram "To Be R,ped or Not To Be
Raped/The Dating Game" as part
of RPI's Speakers Forum. Although
Mr, Storaska bills himself as a
"National Authority on Rape and .
Assaults!! many feminists includ-
ing New York NOW claim that his
record would indicate otherwise,
According to the press release
issued by the RPI student Union:
"One evening in the summer of 1964
Frederic Storaska witnessed the .
brutal rape and assault of a
young girl by a gang of teenage
boys. He immediately fought off
the assailants, ‘but the girl
though now at least saved= had
already been seriously injured,
This incident prompted him to
seek information en assaults and
devote his complete energy to
understanding the problem of
rapee in November of 1964 he
presented a program "Prevention
of Assaults on Women" and began
his crusade to bring information
on assaults to prevent the rape
of American women in today's
society."
but never finds that magic moment
when she can safely resist? Is
there a chance that women will
feel guilty for being raped be~
Cause she could think of some
"intelligent activism" under a
moat stressful situation?
To give credit where credit is
due, Mr. Storaska is a very hand-
some and entertaining man, It is
a pity that the subject matter is
not very funny. Mr. Storaska
made reference to the fact that
some men have told him that they
;. would not believe what he says
if he were some "effeminate" looke
ing man but here he is obviously
tall and virile. ( and Humble?)
Mr. Storaska does tell the men and
women in his audiences that society
teaches men to be "macho" and womenn
to be passive, " Rape is not men's
fault; it is societys fault." He
emphasives that the rapist is a
human being and the victim is a
human being. " What the rapist is
doing is monstrous but he is not
a monster." " A rapist is a seem=
ingly normal person with a problem
in one area= male = female relat-
ionships." According to Mr. Stor=
What is Mr. Storaska's program? 728ka, if the rape victim rejects
By the phrase "to give women psy-
chological preparedness and
physical techniques" Mr. Storaska
means that women should go along
with the rapist until she can
think of a way to safely resist
or get away from the rapist.
Women followizg his advice are
said to have narrowly escaped be-
ing raped by telling the rapist
1 I would love to go with you
but I have a kidney problem
2 please do not hurt my unborn
child and that old chestnut
of saying you are having your ®2
‘the rapist as a person he may kill
her or if she treats the rapist as
an ugly human being. Thus the
theory to say something like" I
would love to go out with you but
let me go back in to fix my makeup
the rapist is supposedly so flat-
tered that he lets his victim go.
Why does Mr. Storaska say that
the three leading methids of rape
prevention will not work? 1) Most
people will not take the time to
learn MARTIAL ARTS. ( Storaska has
a black belt in Sarate) 2) A
SCREAM is helpful in only 50% of
period. According to Mr. Storaska assaults 3) STRUGGLING creates
his lectures have prevented
assaults or saved lives in 250
documented cases, This method
is termed "intelligent activism"
What if the rapist does not care
whether his victum is pregnant
having her period or suffering
from kidney trouble? What if
erotic sensation,
According to other spokespeople
on the subject of rape,the victim
is MORE likely to be killedi if the
rapist feels safe and if there is
no resistance,
Christine Root
a woman goes along with a rapist 5
NOW investigates STORASKS
The National Organization for
Women, New York State, has request-=
ed 4“ttorney General Louis Lefkowitz
to investigate Frederic ss
Executive Director of the National
Organization For the Prevefition
of Rape and Assaults for possible
consumer fraud,
Dr. Eileen Kelly, President of
the statewide organization of NOW
noted that a detailed list of
allegations, together with support-
ing documents, had been sent by
Mary Ann Largen, Coordinator of
the NOW (national) Rape Task Force.
According to Dr. Kelly, " Mr.
Storaska bills himself as an ex=
pert in rape prevention but his
record indicates otherwise, Ms,
Largen's letter details a number
of allegations, backed up by
statements from various experts
on crime, rape srisis centers
across the country, and govern=
ment agencies, Although many
consumer frauds hurt us in the
pocketbook, the nature of Mr,
Storaska's activities are apt to
damage women and children in life
and limb, NOW must especially
alert the rape crisis centers
since these organizations may sée
the results of this man's work in
an increased case load,"
Details of Mary Ann Largen's letter to
Attorney General Louis Lefkowitz
Aprih 20, 1975
1. NOPRA literature indicates the
following aims, "1) to provide a national
rape hotline for women who wanted to
report or discuss an assault without fear
of social ostracism; 2) to offer in the
caller's area referral services including
psychological, medical, legal, and law
enforcement; 3) to consult with police
and campus security departments on
assault cases; 4) to stimulate other
groups, organizations, and researchers
to help solve the myriad problems of
the crime of rape; 5) to establish an
effective lobby which must change the
laws governing rape which are so dis~
jointed in most of our state and
federal legislative bodies,"
Though it was established in May 1972, a
as far as we have been able to ascertain,
NOPRA, is non-functional in any of these
areas=~particularly in the area of
providing services to rape victims.
Callers have received no counseling or
referral services and New York women |
who have asked to visit the Center have
been told that it is not set up yet.
This despite the fact that an interview
with Mr, Storaska by the Daily News”
3/13/75 disclosed the fact that "Women
can phone NOPRA at 212-371-3664 for
advice and counsel,"
2. February 28, 1975 letter from Attorney
Jay D. Kramer stated "The Foundation
application for classification as a tax
exempt organization has been submitted to
the Internal Revenue Service and is pend~
Tt
ing.
A check with the Intelligence Division of
the Internal Revenue Service shortly
thereafter indicated that no application
was pending or received from either
NOPRA or the Foundation.
3. A review of rape crisis centers
nationwide operating from 1972 shows that
all centers provided the advertised
services immediately upon their opening, .
None has taken two years to implement
their programs, None has accepted
contributions without a tax exempt status.
4. Mr. Storaska bills himself as the
"nation's leading authority on rape and
assaults,"
His self defense theories are refuted
by Dr. James Selkin, Director for the
Study of Violence at Denver Genefal
Hospital, Storaska's "research" and
statistics are contradicted by Manachen
Amir's Patterns of Forcible Rape and ~
the 1973 report of the Denver Anti-Crime
Council, The scientific certification
of Storaska's work has been challenged
by Dr. Lynn Curtis of the Bureau of Social
Sckence Research (Washington D.C.) a
former member of the Presidential
Crime Commission, Further, his theories
have not received the endorsement of the
Police Foundation nor the Law Enforcement
Assistance Administration,
de Storaska utilizes the names of well-
known persons on the NOPRA Board of
Directors, including Lt, Mary Keefe,
Commanding Officer, Sex Crime Analysis
Unit of the New York Gity Police,
cont 'd
eee (ne eee
Mary Ann Largen's letter (cont'd)
Lt, Keefe stated publicly at the National
Rape Conference at the University of
Alabama in January 1975 that she was not,
in fact, a member of the board, Further,
Mr. Wilbur Rykert is still listed as
Director of the National Crime Prevention
Institute at the University of Louisville
in his Board listing, despite the fact
that he retired some time ago.
6, Storaska claims endorsement from the
National Crime Prevention Institute,
A telephone call to NCPI indicates that
Storaska is not, and in fact, has never
been a consultant to NCPI as he claims,
His only contact with NCPI was through
the showing of his film there, We have
requested a follow=up written confirma~
tion on NCPI endorsement from Mr. O. C.
Foster, Director,
7. Storaska presents the theory that
rapists are looking for sexual satis~
faction, companionship, and ego enhance~
ment, and not usually threatening to
their victims.
Convicted offenders at South Florida
State Hospital and Lorton, Virginia
Reformatory state otherwise, Further,
while Storaska ignores the psycho-
logical impact of the crime and advises
women to resist only if they feel in
danger of death or serious injury,
authorities such as Dr. Selkin are
advising immediate, loud, and firm
resistance, "Murders," says Dr. Selkin,
"are usually committed when the rapist
feels safe and no one is giving him
any trouble,"
The National Organization for Women
contends that as a profit making
venture, Frederic Storaska is selling
advice which, if followed, could
potentially cause death or serious
injury to women, We are further concern-
ed that Mr, Storaska is utilizing the
existence of a dubious organization
(NOPRA) to promote his profit making
venture, We are further concerned that
citizens of New York and elsewhere are
being misled as to the status of this
organization the credentials of it¢
founder, and that such possible mis-
representation may be sanctioned by the
State of New York.
The seriousness of misrepresentation in
the area of rape prevention/self defense
lies in the fact that we are dealing with
the safety, welfare and even lives of
citizens, The vast majority of citizens
lack the background and expertise to
discern for themselves that which is
valid information for their self-preserv~
ation, Likewise, they are susceptible to
titles such as "expert" and "authority."
In light of the serious nature of the
concerns raised, in light of the tax
exempt status of the Frederic Storaska
Foundation, Ince, and after consultation
with NOW's legal vice president, Judith
Lonnguist, NOW has called upon the
Attorney General to 1) look into the
need for an audit of Mr. Storaska's
foundation and organization; 2) look into
the possibility of misrepresentation in
public advertising of Mr, Storaska's
bbok, film, lectures, and 3) take
whatever action and relief may be
appropriate, $
MRK HHH HKRHHKKRHH HHH
FILM FESTIVAL
"Write On Women"
Women Screenwriters
-—- <A Tribute to
A special film festival sponsored by
the Women's Interart Center in collabor~
ation with the New School For Social
Research will be held at 7:30 pom.
Monday June 2nd through Sunday June 15th
at the Fifth Avenue Cinema, 66 Fifth
Avenue at 12th Street, New York City.
There will be a different film each
evening. 4mong the screenwriters chosen
are Thea Von Harbou (Metropolis),
Lillian Hellman (These Three), Anita Loos
(New York Hat), Eleanor Perry, (Last
Summer), Penelope Gilliatt (Sunday, Bloody
Sunday) and Frances Goodrich (Diary of
Anne Frank), .
When possible the writers whose films
will be shown have been invited to meet
with the audience after the screening.
For more information on either the
Women's Interart Center or "Write On
Women" contact the Women's Interart
Center, 549 West 52nd Street, New York
City, 212 246-6570 or 768-684) (Monday —-
Friday, 2-10 p.m. )
KH KK xX *%H x
SPEAKOUT is in need of help with
reporting, writing, and typing;
Call Chris Root at 482-7256 Or
- 7Cheryl Shenkle at 899-4121.
The Albany Girls Club
Arriving at the Albany Girls Club, I
found Mary Hess, the program director,
involved in a conversation with a
parent, surrounded by excited girls
heading home. The Albany Girls Club
is located on Washington Avenue, near
Robin Street in a converted carriage
house and its activities are divided
between two floors and a back yard,
After Ms, Hess was free from the activ~
ities of what she described as "a wild
time between 5:00 and 5:30", we talked
about some of the aspects of the Girls
Club,
The Girls Club is an after school
recreation program which for the past
year and a half has been running at its
present location three afternoons a
week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday,..
Ms. Hess and the Club's Board of Direct-
ors would like to see this part—time
program become a full program running
Five afternoons, This would enable
the Albany Girls Club to become a member
of the national organization, the
Girls Clubs of America. But due to
limited funding, this is impossible
right now.
The Girls Club is funded by the
Albany City/County Youth Bureau. It is
in the porcess of applying for member~
ship in the United Fund, which funds a
large portion of the Albany Boys Club.
When asked if she thought this dis-
crepancy was due to sexist discriminat—
ion, Ms. Hess replied that "boys act-
ivities are usually funded more than
girls activities." The club's building
and partial programming is contributed
by the Girls Club Board, which also has
an ongoing fund-raising program, A
token fee of one dollar per year is
charged to members who can pay it. The
club has 220 registered members, about
130 of whom are active, This means that
from forty to fifty girls between the
ages of six and sixteen come to the
Girls Club each afternoon for a
variety of programming which ranges
from cooking and sewing classes, arts,
crafts, games, gardening, and gym
activities, to group dancing, There are
four age groups, each headed by a group
leader, who designs the group's program.
Ms. Hess described the goals of the
program in terms of providing a place
for girls to come and feel they belong,
to develop some skills to use as they i,
get older, and just to have fun.
The busy Ms. Hess, a mother of
four growing children and a graduate of
Syracuse University where she studied
Home Economics, is in charge of just
about everything at the Girls Club,
She began as a volunteer who taught the
cooking class and as program director
is responsible for the building and
its equipment, doing the shopping, .
obtaining the movies shown Friday nights,
sperial programs, correspondence, and
supervision of the group leaders, In
fact, the evening of our interview Ms.
Hess was preparing to take a group of
girls roller skating in Schenectady
where it was Ladies Night on Wednesday,
She was delighted at having any publicity
about the Girls Club, for as she put
it, "It seems nobody knows about us."
Denni Fingerman
Dr. Edelin Speaks
On Sunday night, May 4, about two
hundred and fifty people gathered at the
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Albany
to hear Dr. Kenneth Edelin, the Boston
obstetrician who made headlines recently
for the alleged manslaughter of a fetus.
While the Right-to-Lifers handed out:
their literaturg in the rain outside,
Dr. Edelin received a standing ovation
for his eloquent address in which he
reviewed the origins, development, and
repercussions of the abortion case which
brought him to the public's attention,
Dr. Edelin, who is Black, was educa~
ted in segregated schools in Washington,
DG, and received his medical training
at Mahary Medical School and in Dayton,
Ohio and England while serving in the
Air Force, It was in Boston City
Hospital, where Dr, Edelin was a resident
since 1971 that he performed an abortion
on a seventeen—year old Black woman in
her twenty-second week of pregnancy in
October, 1973. Dr. Edelin has always
been outspoken about the care women ~
were receiving at Boston City Hospital,
and was one of many colleagues who
testified at an open hearing of the
Boston City Council held to investigate
abortion practices and fetal research
at Boston City Hospital. This led to
an investigation by Mr. Flanigan, the
assistant District Attorney of Suffolk
County, which subsequently resulted in
Dr, Edelin's indictment for manslaughter
on April il, 1974.
The tHial, which cost Dr, Edelin
Dr. Edelin, cont'd,
$65,000, began on January 6, 1975, |
where sixteen members of a Grand Jury’
were to hear expert witnesses, all of .
whom belonged to some formal anti-
abortion group. Dr. Edelin said that. ~
he was not on trial for performing an
abortion but that Flanigan had used
his office and public funds (at $3,000
a day) to promote his own personal
philosophy, In addition, there were.
racist overtones to the trial of the
Black surgeon, which took place during
the time of the controversial school
bussing issue in Boston,
Br, Edelin spoke of the sharp
curtailment in abortions done at Boston
City Hospital since his indictment,
and said that they are now being perform
ed at the low rate of six a month, |
because doctors are afraid of being
subjected to criminal prosecution, In
his closing statement, Dr, Edelin said
that "if a woman exercises her freedom
to make a choice and decides to termin-
ate her pregnancy, then society and I
as an individual physician, must ensure
that her choice is granted in a safe,
legal and dignified manner,"
Dr. Edelin is taking further legal
steps to appeal the decision because
it's a wrong decision, and is assuming
the cost of this appeal ($85,000 to
$125,000) with the help of a group of
people in Boston who have formed a
defense fund, Contributions can be
sent to:
Kenneth Edelin Defense Fund
15 Broad Street
Boston, Mass. 02109
Denni Fingerman
HHH HH HH HH HH HEHE HEH HH HH HE HH HH HK
Abortion Rights
Legislative Report
NYS Council of Churches
The Committee on Legislative
Concerns of the NYS Council of
Churches fully supports the
Supreme Court decision of 1973
assuring the right to privacy
of a woman seeking an abortion
up to the point of viability of
the fetus. The ethical problems
involved in the decision to term=
inate a pregnancy remain, under
these conditions, with the in-
dividual, This reflects the pos-
ition of most religious bodies -
Ie i i it ed
as they affirm their respect for
1) Any further restrictions as to
individual conscience. The
Councit would oppose the following
limitations: .
the time an abortion can be per=
formed. Such prohibitions, aimed
mainly at saline abortions,
penalize the poor, the ill inform-
ed and those groups especially
vulnerable to genetic defects
which. may not be medically ident~
ified’ until the second trimester,
2) Placing #Institutional Con-
science" above individual con-
science, i.e. allowing institu-
tions, when receiving government
funds, to decide whether or not
to performance abortions,
3) Returning the decision to the
states by Constitutional Amend~
nent.
4) Removing the decision from
the individual,
There are now attempts to
Change both the Constitution
of the United States ang that
of New York State. In “ew York
State , Senate Bill #54 is an
attempt to confer in essence
citizen rights to the unborn
fetus. Further restrictions
would thereby negate the rights
of the mother, the father, or
Medical profession to function
in the field of Abortion rights
or family planning,
The Council: does not support
the concept that public employees
in the behavioral science fields
(ise. social workers, teachers’ ,
have the right to deny or fail to
disseminate information in the
total family planning planning
Services which have been directed
by law and at public expense,
The selective conscience concept
has been ruled out in the quest
ion of military service,
Limited Dissemination of In-
formation Action: S149 A
and A= 281 would require any
group funded in whole or part
by State funds to distribute
information on abortion altern-
ativese support these bills,
No one should be forced to
have an abortion nor should they
be denied such a procedure,
. Reported by Christine Root
WOMEN'S CENTER PROGRESS REPORT
The first General Assembly Meet-
ing of the Tri-Cities Women's
Center April 29 drew about 50 women
to The Bank on Western Avenue in
Albany. First on the agenda was
the presentation by various members
of the stecring committee of the
structure they have set up for the
Women's Center. This structure is
extremely well thought out and no
doubt represents many hours of hard
work by the steering committee.
Bxcerpts from the structure paper
are printed at the end of this ar-
ticle; the complete text can be ob-
tained from Susan Chelius (462-3247)
The VYomen's Center needs a per-
manent address in order to complete
its incorporation, and the temporary
Search Committee is nov looking at
new homes for the Center. Among the
alternatives are rented rooms at the
Albany YWCA, a rented house or
apartment, and a purchased house.
Considerations include zoning re-
strictions, our need for a larger
Center, and the possibility of drop-
in hours.
The Tri-Cities lomen's Center
has been in the process of becoming
for over four years. ‘Je are getting
close to our goal of a permanent
meeting place for area feminists--
let's not fail now! The Center
needs our support. There was only
about $150 on hand as of April 29.
Both contributions and monthly
pledges are welcome. Current
pledges range from 50¢ to ‘510.
Workers are also needed on the con-
mittees. The original steering
committee has worked long and hard;
it is time for some others of us to
get involved and help shape the
future of the Center. Only about
five women attended the meeting of
the new steering committee May 13.
The oments Center may die if more
people do not make at least a small
commitment to ensuring its success.
--Susan Lasher
| EXCERPTS FROM "Structure of the
Women's Center"
General Assembly Les
General Assembly Meetings will
be held on the first Monday of
each month. All members of the
women's community are encouraged
to attend. The purpose of each
General Assembly Meeting is to pro-
vide a forum for the exchange of
ideas.
Bach working committee will re-
port on its activities and encour-
age nev women to become involved
in them. Announcements and busi-
ness of the steering committee will
be shared. )
Anyone, including tomen not
formally involved in the Center,
is free to suggest. any program or
project which is consistent with
the goals of the feminist movement.
If there is sufficient support for
the program or project within the
assembly, the initiators should
form a committee to implement the
program or project.
Other suggestions from the floor
are welcome, and will be considered
by the steering committee before
the next General Assembly Meeting.
The initiator will be invited to
attend the meeting at «hich the
Suggestion is discussed. All
results will be announced at the
next General Assembly Meeting.
Programs of general interest to
the women's community may be a
pert of the General Assembly Meet-
ings.
(Editor's Note: The next Gener-
al Assembly Mecting will be held
at The Bank, Western Avenue and
Tryon Street--opposite SUNYA, at
8pm on June 2.)
Steering Committee
he steering committee is re-
sponsible for the day-to-day
functioning of the Center. The
actuel operation shall be carried
out by the working committees list-
ed below. Each working committee
Continued on page | |
HELP SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S CENTER
Contributions and pledges can be sent to Donna O'Higgins, 339 State lO
Street, Albany, New York.
FXCIRPTS FROM "Structure of the ©
Women's Center," Continued from
page 10
shall choose a representative and
en alternate to serve on the steer-
ing committee. The assignment of
personnel to the steering committee
shall be reviewed by each committee
every six months. In structuring
the operation of the Women's Center
this way, active participants will
manage the Center. Members of :
groups and unaffiliated women are
encouraged to join working commit-
tees. The stecring committee shall
meet once a week. There will be a
rotating chairperson and scribe.
Consensus will be the method of
reaching descisions. The steering
committee is also responsible for
providing a chairperson for each
General Assembly Meeting.
The steering committee must
approve any actions or statements
planned by individuals acting as
representatives of the Vomen's
Center before such actions are in-
plemented or statements made. It
is strongly suggested that those
who represent the Women's Center in
public do so in groups of two or
more.
Vorking Conmittees
(For more intormation about the
duties and plans of the various
committees, contact the person
listed or get an unabridged copy of
"Structure of the Women's Center"
from Susan Chelius.)
STAFFING & SCHEDULING - Susan
Chelius, 462-3247
LEGAL & PROCEDURDS - Mary
Hagerup, 275-4108
FINANCING & FUND-RAISING ~
Donna O'Higgins, 436-0107
FURNISHING - Bunni Vaugn,
674-2007
MAINTENANCS - Pauline Brundage,
436-7063
LIBRARY - Rose Baker, 767-2983
PUBLICITY - Nicki Swolos,
271-6259
GENSRAL ASSEMBLY COORDINATING-
Susan Lasher, 463-5027
TEMPORARY SWARCH - Jean Juhre,
462-1771, or Susen Lasher, 463-5027
I]
eee ee
Responsibilities of Groups Using
ee Center
T> participate regularly in
vork parties as determined by the
Maintenance Committee.
To inform the Women's Center
community of their activities
through the use of bulletin board
space. Groups are encouraged to
keep their bulletin board informa-
tion current.
To participate in fund-raising
events.
To contribute financially to
the support. of the Center.
To observe the rules and poli-
cies of the Women's Center.
“. To provide a representative to
the Staffing & Scheduling Commit-
tee. --Tri-Cities Women's
a Center Steering
Committee
HK HUH % HK HH HK 3% ¥ X%
Please Note€ecee
Bethlehem Coffee House ( 125
Adams Place) presents:
Classical Folks:
May 31, 1975 8:30 P.M.
an euening of classical and folk
music of many cultures, performed
by three feminists who are also
faculty members of the Arts Center
Joan Nane$ nti er
and Carole Friedman.
The program will include music
by women composerSe For further
information call 436-8811.
HEE KEE xe * HEX
Full Circle Collective per=
formed before a packed house at
the Eight Step Coffee House on
Tuesday May 21st. Unfortunately
all SPEAKOUT staffers were busy
that night typing in an effort to
get this issue out on time, thus
we do not have a full report.
I£ any one would like to send us
a review of the concert, we will
Gladly accept. Chris Root was
able to attend the last half hour
of the performance and was imp-
pressed by both the group and the
wonderfully responsive audience.
Women are truly Guilding their
own culture. How sweet it is]
Many thanks for a fine half hour
to the Full Circle Collective...
Christine Root
Why is it so great to be a woman in 1975?
Why is it so great to be a woman?
Why is it so great to be?
I think, therefore, I am, right?
How do you know I think?
When did you ever acknowledge that I thought?
When did you ever acknowledge me?
Oh, I can sing and dance for you
Cook for you, love for you
Darn your fuckin! sock for you:
I'll sit out in the street for you
Paint for you
Tell your boss you're sick
Starve for you, drive for you
I'll consume every tongue of fire for you
I'll sell for you
I'll drink for you
I'll scream out your name for you,
I'm a shadow on the wall,
I'm whirlpooling down the drain
Beating my chest in vain
Crying out while I drown in the sand,
The dung, the devil's domain —
Land hof Land ho}
Be mine, be mine~ .
Be the impossiblexbe mine,
I'm kissing your hair
It falls in torrents across your face.
I'm loving y8@ so badly now I can hardly see you.
Today
I am a piece of clay.
I've been that way for quite some time.
A piece of clay
Covered with slime.
I can be molded and shaped
Any way you please
I can get down on my hands and knees.
I'm resilient as rubber
And I'm here for you
I'll do whatéver you want me to,
Me, Me, me, me,
Where could I be?
Why is it so great to be a what when?
Oo. I wish I were a bird
The color of sky
Ann Galen
The Allen Center
Albany, New York
NINA STROKATA, ©
A PRISONER IN SIBURIA
The American Society for Micro-
biology (ASM) held its Annual
Meetings in Nev York City, April
28 through May 2, 1975. Among the
exhibitors wos one which had to be’
unofficial. Mr. A. A. Zwarun, a
research microbiologist from
Somerton Road, Treose, Pennsylvania
19047, offered conveners large -
"HELP STROKATA LIVE" buttons and:
Nina Strokata Survival Kits. |
People were asked to wear the but-
tons as a means of showing the
Soviet delegates their interest in
ovr colleague, Nina Strokata. The
survival kit contained information
about her and an envelope which
could be used to send her a message
of encouragement. (The address is
Nina Strokata, Women's Canp,
ZhnKh 385/3-4, Mordovian, ASSR.)
ASM members were also invited to
write to Ms. Helvi Sipila, Secre-
tary General of International
Women's Year, United Netions Head-
quarters, New York 10017, to ask
her to use her influence to bring
help to Dr. Strokata.
Dr. Strokata is a Ukranian
microbiologist. Her husband,
Svyatoslav Karavansky, is serving a
33-year sentence, in a Soviet con-
centration camp, for writing "anti-
Soviet" literature. He had accused
the Soviet government in the
Ukraine of being enti-Lenin. He
was released from prison but was
confined again for not having been
sufficiently rehabilitated. In
prison additional charges were
brought against him. Dr. Strokata
refused to testify against her hus-
band. She said it is a wife's
moral duty to defend her husband's
interests. She lost her job; her
apartment at Odessa was searched.
A copy of Shakespeore's Sonnets,
two issues of an underground
Ukranian publicstion and a leaflet
distributed in Moscow by a person
from the Netherlands were found.
She was accused of destributing
anti-Soviet literature. Her trial,
like that of her husband, failed
to meet the constitutional
requirements of the Soviet govern-
ment. It also violated articles
10 and 11 of the "Universal Declar-
' nied .tests and treatment.
ation of Human Rights," which the
soviet government has signed.
Even under the unconstitutional
circumstances of her trial there
was no proof that she had distri-
buted the literature.
She was sentenced to four years
at a hard-regime labor camp at
Mordovia. The sentence was imposed
on May 19, 1972. In 1974 word
reached Dr. Zwarun that Dr.
Strokata had symptoms of breast
cancer, and that she had been de-
At the
1974 Congress of the International
Association of Microbiological
societies at Tokyo a petition was
circulated and later sent to
Leonid Brezhnev. Dr. Strokata was
soon taken to Rostov for examina-
tion. No word has been received
about the nature of the tests, the
results or any treatment pres-
cribed, if any has been given.
The Soviet government is sensi-
tive to the opinions of other na-
tions. Nina Strokata will not
receive letters sent to her:
Those sent by registered mail have
been returned, but the underground
informs her that they have been
Sent. The government is kept
conscious of the opinions of people
outside of Russia by letters sent
to her and to officials of the
government asking better treatment
for her.
Dr. Zwarun, a Ukranian himself,
says that Siberia is populated by
Ukranians like Dr. Strokata and
her husband. They were not anti-
Socialist. They were opposed to
the Russianization of the Ukranian
language and culture.
Those of us who learned of them
through the ASII are opposed to the
violation of their rights, under
both the USSR Constitution and the
"Universal Declaration of Human
Rights."
--Carolyn Dissosway
KHKHKKG KHEKKE KEKER KEKE
Women's Movement Media: A Source
Guide, edited by Cynthia Ellen
arrison. Published 4/29/75. 6x9,
269 pages. $13.95. R.R. Bowker
Co., 1180 Avenue of the Americas,
NY, 10036. A directory with infor-
mation about 567 groups that have
| sprung up within the Movement.
isi
MARTHA GRIFFITHS SPEAKS OUT
ON WELFARE
The Annual Institute of the New
York State College of Human Ecology
met at the Cempus Center, SUNY
Albany, on May 13.
was the keynote speaker. Ms.
Griffiths was a sponsor of the |.
Federal ERA and guided its passage
through the 9lst Congress. Those
anti-ERA people who fear success of
the ERA will mean women will lose
their femininity should meet Ms.
Griffiths!
She told the audience that nine-
teen Congressional committees are
in the welfare business. The nun-
ber of programs is so large that it
is difficult to know which one or
ones an individual is qualified to
join.
Part of the problem is the atti-
tudes toward: women--they should
remain in the home; children--they
must have their mother in the home;
men--any able-bodied man can get a
job if he wants to; the poor and
jobless--they are incompetent to
handle money and must be given
services rather than cash. Eis
thirty years ago, when the welfare
lays were being formed, some women
had been involved in the decision
making, this mess might not be so
bad.. Congresswoman Griffiths was
the only member of Congress who
could sce the laws from the view-
point of the family. The laws
which were formulated in the ab-
sence of such wisdom might as well
heve been called "A Bill to Break
Up the Family." The father (but
not a boyfriend) vas driven out of
the home by laws which restricted
the help given to a family with a
breadwinner. Women with jobs find
it better to quit work, get on
relief and then go back to work.
But they can not get marricd with-
out losing part of the means of
support for their families. That
becomes the responsibility of the
husband,
The food stamp program began as
an effort to assist our agricul-
tural industry and improve the
nutritional status of the poor.
It became a part of the welfare
system. It is costly to run and
reflects the attitude that the
=
_
—
Martha Griffiths
former Congresswoman from Michigan; -
(L}
a
’ poor should not be trusted with
money. The use of stamps also
identifies the person using them
as poor and may cerry with it a
feeling of degradation for the
users. Yet some recipients of
welfere live in effluent neighbor-
hoods. They are divorced women,
unable to live on their income
- even with some money from a former
husband, often without money from
him.
The Subcommittee on Fiscal
Policy of the Joint Economic Com-
mittee of the Congress of the
United States, with Martha
Griffiths as chairman (chairone?),
nade many studies of our public
welfare programs. The results of
these studies have been published
in twenty-three volumes. They are
available at the Legislative Ref-
erence Room of the State Library.
In some cases a family received
aid from many programs. Other
families of the same size and
having financial problems were not
receiving any aid, and could not
become eligible for aid. The
Federal Equal Rights Amendment
could solve some of tle problems.
A change in the attitudes toward
men, women, children and the unen-
ployed or working poor are needed.
Congress must look at the whole
economy in planning reforms. The
financial aid to families programs
must be seen from the family view-
point as well as that of the
federal, state and municipal eco-
nomic’ needs. --Carolyn Dissosway
KK HEX KH KEE HE
The 2nd Annual
NEW YORK BOOK FAIR
The ist New York Book Fair
drew 10,000 people; who knows what
to expect this year, In any
event SPEAKOUT is proud tobe one
of the participants once again.
If in New York City please stop by
the Fair:
Old Customs House
1 Bowling Green (no. end of
Battery Park)
Bele ze
MAy 26 11 AM = 9 PM
MAy 27 and May 2 10 AM = 8 PM.
Come join us}
Why the ERA? Night Work for Women
Between 1925 and 1930 Corning Glass
plants in Corning, New York and Wellsboro
Pa. underwent mechanization, Night
shifts were introduced, At that time
there were laws in both states which
prohibited women from working in
factories at night. Women had been
employed as inspectors on the day shifts.
Men considered inspecting women's work
as degrading to men, To encourage men to
accept work as inspectors on the night
shift, a pay differential was introduced.
No other night workers were given a
shift differential in pay.
During World War Two exceptions were
made to the laws prohibiting night work
for women, Those doing the inspection
on the night shift were given the same
pay as men. Women doing other jobs
on the night shift received the same pay
ag men doing the same job. In 1944 the
plants were organized by The Amalgamated
Flint Glass Workers Union, collective
bargaining was introduced. A plantwide
wage-shift differential was introduced,
superimposed on the job differential in
the case of night time inspectors,
In 1953 a New York amendment was
passed which permitted women to do night
work in factories if the Industrial
Commissioner found that transportation
and safety conditions were satisfactory
(New York laws c 708 Labor Law 172). A
similar law had been passed by the
Pennsylvania Legislature in 1947. That
law required public transportation to
be available for women doing night work.
There was no nighttime public trans~
portation at Wellsboro,
In 1963 the United States Congress
passed an amendment to the Fair Labor
Standards Act, known as the Equal Pay
(for women) Act. This act was passed
because the Congress found that paying
women lower wages than men depressed
wages and living standards for employees,
endangering their health and efficiency;
it also created an unfair method of
competition, (77 Statt 56 #3 Public Law
88-38 June 1963.) This law stated that
equal pay must be given for equal work
on jobs requiring equal skill, effort
and responsibility and which are per-
formed under similar working conditions.
Exceptions were: differences based on
seniority, a merit system or by
measuring earnings on the basis of the
quantity or quality of the work done {CS
or any other factor than sex, This
proved to leave a lot of room for
discrimination on the basis of sex, It
was partly revised in 1965—<€fines were
established for violations, Night shift
workers at Corning did more lifting than
day shift workers. Corning claimed that
this meant the working conditions were
not similar.
Industries use a complex system of
job evaluation which includes the
qualifications listed in the Equal Pay
Act, as it was amended. The bill as
originally drafted had been too vague.
A representative from Corning had test=-
ified at the hearings on the bill, He
had said that surroundings encompassed
two subfactors; surroundings and hazards,
Obviously neither of these had anything
to do with the time of day or the small
amount of lifting done by night but not
daytime inspectors. Corning's 1969 job
evaluation program treated day and night
inspectors as equal -—- until a suit
was brought by Secretary of Labor
Peter J, Brennan, 1973.
In 1966, after the 1953 and 1963
laws and subsequent amendments made
night work for women legal, Cornifig
opened the night shift jobs to women.
The male and female seniority lists
were consolidated. The turnover on the
night-shift was rapid, in a two year
period women got 152 of 278 job openings.
The fair wage was the base wage paid to
night shift workers. However, in 1969
there was a reevaluation of jobs, Under
this system the day and night shift: :.:
workers hired after January 1969 got
the dame pay, however, those workers
already on the job got "RED CIRCLE"
rates which were higher for night—shift
(still mostly malé) inspectors than
day-shift (still mostly female)
inspectors,
In 1969 New York amended its Labor
Law in regard to the employment of
women at night. (New York Law 1969
c 1042 #2 p. 2630). This Law was pre~
pared by and introduced at the request
of the Department of Labor, “Women could
work after midnight and for more than
forty-eight hours a week provided such
work was voluntary, satisfactory working
conditions existed with adequate
safeguards and transportation available
and not in viglation of any collective
bargaining agreemerit. The work week for
women was still limited to 54 hours a
week for women over 21 and to 48 hours
a week for women under 21,
Night Work, cont'd,
In 1973 the state passed an amendment
to the Labor Law repealing sections 174~
177. The same working hours and stand-
ards for men and women. Corning's Red
Circle rates clearly violate the Equal
Pay Laws. Although couched in neutral
terms the Red Circle rate was based on
illegal discrimination on the basis of
sex. The Secretary of Labor sued,
There were actually two suits, one
in New York, (No 73-20) and one in
Pennsylvania (No 73-695). He won the
suit in New York and was upheld on
appeal. He lost in Pennsylvania, due to
differences in state laws, The Pennsy-
lvania Court of Appeals upheld the lower
court decision, The cases were combined
in a suit before the Supreme Court of
the United States (417 US 188, No. and
480 F 2d 1254) and the Secretary of Labor
wone The court failed to recognize
any difference in the working conditions
between the day and night shifts, (This
court, anyway). Without the ERA women
wihl continually have to fight for their
rights in court case after court case,
Sometimes we're lucky and we get a not
so sexist judge and other times weren't
notso lucky. Equal rights for women
shouldn't have to depend on luck. We
should have the right to work, the right
to the same job, wame benefits and
same responsibilities, It's time we
made our own decisions instead of letting
employers, labor unions and courts
make them for us. The Equal Rights.
Amendment will give us that right,
Carolyn : Dissosway
Equal Employment Opportunity
On April 25, 1975 the New York State
Senate Committee on Consumer Protection
and Affairs held a public hearing on the
Federal Guidelines to Equal Employment
Opportunity, Similar hearings have been
held in other parts of the state, Some
of the many problems related to imple-
mentation of this law were discussed,
especial interest .to women were the
reports of methods used to circumvent
the law in cases where the hiring or
promoting of a woman was under consider=
ation, Some of the devices used to
avoid hiring or promoting have been a
reclassification of the job so that a
Of
man who had failed or had a lower score Fr for years,
on an exam could be hired instead of a
well qualified female candidate , and
oral exams containing questions not
relevant to the job. One woman reported
being asked what her husband did and
whether he planned to move, It is
doubtful that a man would be asked what
his wife does or if she planned to move,
When this woman asked for a copy of the
Civil Sergice Law it was refused her,
She thinks every Civil Service employee
should be given a copy. Questions about
the private lives of job applicants are
not job related and should not be asked,
Considerable care is taken to validate
written examinations. The oral exams
should test the applicants ability to
reason, to make sound judgements, and to
establish relationships with other people.
Often they are very subjective, Candid-
ates should know what standards will be
used in scoring them, in practice they
are not given this information.
Oral exams were not the only technique
for avoiding the hiring or promotion of
females, On tito exams this woman had
top or near top scores but was not given
an appointment, In one case she got the
same score as a man but he was given the
third place and she fourth, Under
affirmative action programs she should
have been given the job, inspite of the
fact that he worked in the office where
the opening existed and had some exper-
ience with the kind of work to be done,
He got the job. 3
A man who spoke later supported much
of what this woman had said, He recom
mended a strict following of the rank of
examination scores in hiring afd promot-
ion, but with a six to twelve month on-
the-job probationary period, c
A member of the Civil Service Enploy-
ees association (CSEA) said he thought
CSEA should be sent copies of the
minutes of all the meetings of the legis-
latures Human Rights Committee and of
any other relevant conmittee meetings.
He believes CSEA has a right to know what
decisions are being made coéncerning them.
Women suffer job discrimination in
other ways, some of which may also hurt
men, Some employees take leaves of
absence without pay which last for several
years, This holds the job for them ~
but keeps other qualified people from
moving up, A "returning veteran", even
one who has held a civiliati job since
leaving military service, may bump an
employee out of a job they have been
Carolyn Dissosway
ee ee a eee
RAPE CRISIS CENTER CONFLICT,
Continued from page 4
Robert Roche, was not in his office
when contacted for clarification.
There will be a follow-up report
on this article in the next issue
of SpeakOut.
<3 is in the interest of the
women's community that we have ac-
cess to a victim-oriented rape
crisis service. It wo be wonder=
ful if politicians had our best
interest as their top priority, but
since most of them have a different
rerspective even if they are well-
meaning, it is up to us to get out
there and fight for a share of the
funds, for able administrators, for
confidentiality. Charles Cahill
has been quoted by The Knickerbock-
er Nevs-Union Star as urging
the citizens of the County to "come
together" to "continue to view and
review our options so that our fi-
nal choice, when made, will be the
best one for all our citizens."
Do we need another invitation?
Let's get documented evidence that
those we oppose are not qualified;
let's get employment records and
recommendations for those whom we
support; let's lobby to sway the
legislators to our point of view.
The Albany County Legislature
meets on the second Monday of each
month at 7:30 on the second floor
of the County Courthouse. They are
expected to discuss the director-
ship of the Rape Crisis Center at
the dune 9 meeting. Let's make
ourselves heard before that mecting,
The STATEMENT BY ALBANY COUNTY
WOMEN'S GROUPS is one step in that
direction.
--susan Lasher
1 "3 rape center crisis (sic)
posts pegged 'for women only,'"
The Knickerbocker News-Union Star
(KN), 3/13/75.
eqoesieeat
2 Albany Rape Crisis Center:
Its History, its Purpose, Forum
presentec by the Unitarian Social
Responsibilities Council, 5/4/75.
3 Greenberg, Sol, District
Attorney, Telephone conversation
with reporter, 5/21/75.
4 An interesting point, consid-
ering the attitudes toward rape
victims which Ralph Smith expressed
at the Eighth Step Coffeehouse *
ee
‘Meet the Candidates" program,
10/16/75.
5 "Rape crisis center gets act=
ing director," Tires Union (IU),
5/2/75.
6 Rothstein, Marilyn E., "AWARE
Better Develop Some Political
AWAREness$", SpeekOut, 5/75.
7 "Cahill calls rape center row
'myopic,'" KN, 5/8/75.
8 Charles Cahill was elected to
the Legisloture just like any other
legislator. He was chosen by vote
of the legislators to act as their
chair.
9 "Mrs. Kindlon disputed by her
ex-boss," KN, 5/5/75.
10 "Committee to weigh rape
center," KN, 3/7/75.
ll "Rape crisis center," TU,
3/9/75.
12 "Funds for Albany County rape
crisis center approved," KN,
3/11/75.
KHEHEK HHEEK KEKKE HHEKK
NOTE TO OUR READERS
Nancy Dudley's article "AWARE
The Race Is On," in the April
issue, and Marilyn E. Rothstein's
article "AWARE Better Develop Some
Political AWAREness," in the May
issue, were unsolicited contribu-
tions to SpeakOut. ‘While the
views expressed in these articles
may reflect the views of the organ-
izations to which the writers be-
long, they do not necessarily rep-
resent the views of the SpeakOut
staff.
The current article, although
written by a SpeakOut staffer,
presents her personal opinions,
again not necessarily the opinions
of the staff as a whole.
KEEEE KHKKE KEKKE KHKKE
Women Who Make Movies, by Sharon
Smith. Hopkinson and Blake, Pub-
lishers. Illustrated/$9.95 cloth-
bound, $5.95 paperback/307 pages.
The full story of the contributions
of women filmmakers throughout the
80 years of motion pictures, in-
cluding a@ historical account of
women filmmakers all over the
world, a section on American film-
mekers like Jill Godmilow who work
IT outside Hollywood, & a directory.
GROUP NEWS
LESBIANS FOR LIBERATION
LFL centinues to meet every
Monday evening at 8 pm at the
Gay Community House, 332 Hudsen
Ave., Albany. For further
infermation call 4623714.
WOMEN$s COUNSELLING COLLECTIVE
The Women's Counselling
Collective is located at 332
Hudson Ave., Albany. Counseling
is provided Monday Through Friday
from 6 to 9 pm. The phone num-
ber is 4626739.
On June 14, the Collective,
in conjuncion with Albany Area
NOW is sponsering a program
entitled "Woman Alone." This is
a program for single and
separated or divorced women, or
married women who might feel
alone or trapped in their life-
style. This event will take
place at the State University
Campus at Albany and will begin
at 10 am. Area women's groups
are invited to participate and
bring information and literature
about their organizations. There
will be workshops dealing with a
variety of areas important to
women. For further details call
the Collective number,
ALBANY AREA NOW
THERE WILL BE A_ picnic
Wednesday, June 11 at Georgia
Gray;s house,,53 North Main St.,
Voorheesville. Starting time
will be somewhere around 6 o'clock
pa. For further information call
Georgia Gray at 765-2468.
SCHENECTADY RAPE CRISIS SERVICE
Schnectady Rape Crisis
Service will be meeting with
representatives from area police
departments on June 21, 8 pm, at
Schenectady YWCA. This isa
tentative date. Purpose of the
session will be an exchange of
ideas and information between the
various groups regarding the
issue of rape. For further
information call the Rape Crisis
hot line, 346-2266.
SCHENECTADY NOW
REGULAR meetings will be
held on June 4 and June 18 at the
YWCA in Schnectady. Meetings
are held at 8 pm.
A garage sale has been
scheduled for May 31. In the
event of rain, the sale will be
held on June 7. Place: 20
Washington Road., Scotia. For
more details call Dorothy Bellick
at 355 8704.
Schnectady NOW would like
to announce its participation in
the Spring Festival sponsered by
the Schenectady Community Action
Program (SCAP). The festival will
take place on June 7 at 7 o'clock
pm at the Steinmetz Junior High
School, Oakwood Ave., Schenectady.
Over forty-five area groups and
agencies will participate with
booths, games and other events,
For further information call
Carolyn Hind at 377-6684.
EGOS =. «*
ENCOURAGE GIRLS ORGANIZED SPORTS
EGOS is now affiliated with
the New York State Lifetime Sports
Association whose purpose is to
encourage participation in sports
that can be continued throughout
one's lifetime and that emphasize
physical fitness and body building.
Competition is de-emphasized
although there is competitiveness
in some of the lifetime sports.
Some examples of lifetime sports
would be running, tennis, golf
and volley ball.
In connection with the above,
members of EGOS have visited the
four elementary schools in the
Guilderland School District to
observe physical education programs
with the idea of eventually making
some recommendations to the
School Board. Anyone interested
may call Joan Floyd at 355-2925.
-
MORE GROUP NEWS------------
WOMEN'S CENTER
There will be a Women's
Center General Assembly meeting on
June 2 at 8 o'clock pm at THE
BANK, corner of Western Ave., and
Tryon St., Albany. Topic of
discussion will be progress on
plans for our new Women's Center,
The meeting is open to all
members of the Women's Community.
ANY VWOWNEN ACAINST RAPR--AVARE
AWARE will hold a reneral
meeting on June 1 and June 15 from
7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Friends
Meeting House, 727 l'adison Ave.,
Albany (between Quail St., and Lake
Ave.) New members are welcome.
ANAPF, will be having another
training session on June 1h, 9:00 to
5:00 pm, and June 15, 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
All persons interested should call
Mancy Dudley at 1898261. Arrangements
should be made in advance to pick up
training materials which include the
book ACAINST RAPM by Medea and
Thompson. Training materials are
%5.00. The sessions will be held
in a dormtowm Albany Church. Tor
exact place and location, call
Nancy at above number,
On June 7, Trederick Storaska,
author of HOW TO SAY NO TO A RAPIST
AND SURVIVE, will speak at the
Palace Theater, North Pearl St.,
Albany. His appearance here is
sponsered by I'imi Kindlon, Acting
Nirector of the Albany County )ape
Crisis Center. The members of
AVAR®, wish to state their organization
is in arreenent with the press
release issued by NOI’ (see story on
page ) which states that Mr.
Storasléa's credentials are
questionable and his methods of
preventing rape could be harmful if
followed, At the June 1 general
meeting, members of AMAPE will discuss
action to be taken by their rroup
rerardins Mr. Storaska's appearance , é
eee
here in albany.
Women Helping Women
Women helping women will be the
emphasis of a Saturday June 14th
Workshop dealing with problems
of women who are confronted with
separation or divorce. The all
day workshop is being offered
free of charge for all women
facing such problems and is
being sponsored jointly by NOW
and the Women's Counselling
Collective. The workshops will
be conducted at the SUNYA Uptown
Campus, Washington Avenue, 10 AM
~- 5 PM
Women in the initial stages
of seperation or divorce seem to
have little or no idea of the
community agencies from which
they can expect help. Workshop
facilities from many agencies will
be available to respond to
questions with many problem
areas such as legal, finantial,
vocational and racial. Through
the sharing of questions and
answers with experts in various
fields women can find mutual
Support for the unique problems
they encounter.
The program is geared to
individual concerns and problems.
Through the use of small groups
as suggested by the theme of the
day "Women helping Women" all
experts and participants will be
Women.
Child care will be provided »*
for those who must have it in
order to attend and as far as
possible transportation will be
available for those who require
it, All participants are
requested to bring their own
lunch,
Further information may be
had by calling 462«6739 between
6 and 9 P.M. Monday-Friday,
KEE HEE HRK KEK MH 3 EHX
Cheryl Shenkle will coordinate
the joint July-August issue of
SPEAKOUT. Contact Cheryl at
899-4121 evenings.
SPEAKOUT CALENDAR--SEE INSIDE FOR MORE INFORMATION
May
31 Classical Folks, Bethlehem Coffee House, 125 Adams Place, 8:50 pm
Schenectady NOW garage sale, 20 Washington Road, Scotia--RAIN DATE
JUNE 7
June
1 AWARE general meeting, Friends Meeting House, 727 Madison Ave.,
Albany, 7: 30-9: 30 pm
2 Women's Center General Assembly Meeting, The Bank, Western Ave. and
Tryon St. opposite SUNYA, 8 pm
4 Schenectady NOW--regular meeting, Schenectady YWCA, 8 pm
ll Albany NOW picnic, 53 North Main St., Voorheesville, 6 pm
14 Workshop for separated and divorced women, SUNYA Campus, 10am-5pm
1
AWARE training session, location TBA, Jam-5pm
AWARE training session, location TBA, 1-5 pm
AWARE general meeting, Friends Meeting House, 727 Madison Ave.,
Albany, 7:30-9:30 pm
Schenectady NOW--regular meeting, Schenectady YWCA, 8 pm
Schenectady Rape Crisis Service meeting with police, Schenectady
YWCA, 8 pm
Mondays Lesbians for Liberation, Gay Community House, 332 Hudson Ave.,
Albany, 8 pm
To have your group's events and meetings listed in SpeakOut, contact
Mary Gallagher, 462-9486.
For SpeakOut's meeting dates, call Cheryl Shenkle (899-4121), Chris
Root (482-7256), or Susan Lasher (463-5027).
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Send coupon to: Albany, New York
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tia
~——_ J
September 1975
> a
& Feminist Journay.
7 S
Es. "1
y ~ fs C]
y/ \ Os
/
\
ye}
SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vol. IV No. VIII September, 1975
Table of Contents
1 News from the Tri-City Women's Center--Tri-City Women's Center
Steering Committee
2 Campaigns--Chris Root
3 Letters to Speakout
5 Civil Service Appointments -- Women Policemen--Carolyn
Dissosway
6 The Women's Forum
7 Feminist Librarian Reports--Chris Root
8 Female Delinquency and PINS--Leslie Newman
9 Men's Awareness Network
10 "From the Other Side of the Door: An Experience of Two Years
With the Women's Group"--Denni Fingerman
10 Growing-Up-Skipper--NOW Public Information Office
a1 POETRY: Women Can Change the World--Kathleen A. Jones
12 Group News
Cover design by Penny Kurtz
Workers for this issue: Rezsin Adams, Mary Gallagher, Susan Lasher,
Christine Root, Cheryl Shenkle, and Janet Warner
Troy distribution: Nikki Svolos
Schenectady distribution: Susan Chelius
Bookstores which carry Speakout:
Albany SUNYA Bookstore, The Store, Channing Bookstore at the Unitarian
Church, New Times Center, Seven Arrows Bookstore
Schenectady YWCA, The Open Door
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year. Single
copies are 35¢. Advertising is $10 per quarter page, $18 per half page,
and $30 for a whole page.
SPEAKOUT
P.O. Box 6165
Albany, New York 12206
NEWS FROM THE TRI CITY WOMEN'S CENTER
First, some background. Since
1969 many women in the tri city
area, have become interested in the
women’s movement and many have
joined feminist groups. These
groups have been meeting in the
homes of members anc in various
community rooms. Over the years
the number of feminists and femi-
nist groups grew, until it became
apparent th:t a women's center was
needed. In October, 1974, space
became available on Lancaster
Street in Albany and was rented by
a group of women for the use of the
women's community as a Women's
Center. Many women worked, paint-
ing end refurbishing, to create a
suitable environment.
Enthusiasm and participation ran
high. The Center was in use almost
every evening and most weekends.
It was obvious that the Center was
filling @ need in the tri city
feminist community... Activities
were soon curtailed, however, by a
zoning battle which had not been
anticipated. Even though the
Center was supported by more than
270 residents of the immediate
neighborhood, as indicoted by their
Signatures on a petition, the
Board of Zoning and Appeals denied
the Center a Special Use Permit,
and the Center was forced to move.
Since April 26, 1974, the Women's
Center has been without a home.
The search for new quarters
made necessary by the Center's
eviction from Lancaster Street led
eventually to the Albany YVCA,
whose director and board showed
great interest in renting a large,
Six room arca for the exclusive
use of the Center. The YJCA
Program for Action 1973-1976
reveals many objectives in common
with the women's movement. One of
the "Targets" is the empoverment of
women. The national YWCA organiza-
tion sees one of the sources of
its power in the pluralism which
unites all women regardless of age,
race, end financial condition. We
call this sisterhood. YWCA's in
nineteen cities across the country
have women's centers. The Albany
YWCA is introducing many new pro-
grams in an effort to become more
of a force for positive change in
centers across the country, will
the lives of women. It soon be-
come apparent that an association
between the YWCA and the Tri City
Women's Center would be mutually
beneficial.
The Board of the YWCA has been
most understanding of our finan-
cial condition and our modcst
beginnings, and has agreed to rent
us the space for six months at the
rate of $150 per month. After the
Center is established, a new rate
will be negotiated which will more
nearly reflect the actual cost of
the space to the YWCA, closer to
$250 por month. Rent will include
all utilities except the telephone,
and the services of a watchperson.
In addition, several large renova-
tion jobs will be done by the YWCA
maintenance staff before the Women's
Center moves in. Much painting
end small carpentry work will have
to be done by volunteers. Please
call Carol Anne Ordway at 489-1605
to sign up for a work party.
The Women's Center steering
committee is in the process of
negotiating a rental contract with
the YWCA, end work will soon begin
on renovation of the new Center.
The major difficulty still remain-
ing is one of finances. The phi-
losophy of the Center has been
that there would be no fees for
the use of the facility and that
the Center could operate solely
on pledges. This would eliminate
the possibility of discrimination
between groups and make the Center
accessible to all. However, we
have pledges totaling less than
0175 per month, and this will hardly
cover the rent, let alone a tele-
phone and mailings. This figure
ay even be optimistic since it
includes women who had been
pledging and stopped when the
Lancaster Strect Center folded.
If you are not pledging, please
do so. If you are already sending
your monthly pledge, please con-
Sider increasing the amount. Mere
Survival of the Center will require
$300 per month. The more realistic
figure of $500 per month, which
is the average operating cost of
assure the kinds of programs and
workshops that the women's
iat aera So a aes eel
News from the Women's Center, Cont.
community wants end needs. Twenty-
five new pledges of fie dollars
each would give us our >reak even
figure. Pledges may be sent to
Donna O'Higgins, 339 State Street,
Albany, 12210. Make checks payable
to the Tri City Yonen's Center.
The Center is in the process of
incorporating as a not for profit
corpor-tion and of applying for
tax exempt status irom the IRs.
It As -probcblec thet we ~i1L be
incorporated and have tex exenpt
status .by late fall. Donations of
furniture, mazezine end newspaper
subs a ae i books, and art work,
as well as monthly pledges enc con-
tributions, will then be tax de= -
ductible for the donor.
It is anticipated that the
' Center vill move into the YWCA on
or about September 1. The next
General Assembly Meeting of all
those interested in the Women's
Center will be held at our new home
at the YUCA on September 8 at 8 pn.
Until then, anyone interested in
working on the formotion of the
vomen's Center may get in touch
with the steering committee repre-
sentatives listed below or attend
a steering committee meeting. The
Yomen's Center will be whet the —
women's community wants it to be
only if you cre concerned enough
to become involved, vith your
energies
FINANCES AND FUND-RAISING--Donna
O'Higgins, 436-0107, or Andrea
Lurie, 434-3526
MAINTEN ANCE--Carol Anne Ordvvay,
489-1605 ;
PUBLICITY--Lib Berger, 459-2931, or
Wikki Svolos, 271-6259
LIBRARY--Rose Baker, 482-7928
FURNISHINGS-<-N-ncy Nevhouse, ~
271-6259
LEGAL & PROCEDUR3S=--Susan Chelius,
462-3247, or Janet liowbray,
7835-5158
STAFFING & SCHEDULING—-lia
Robinson, 439-0544
PROGRAMING--Toni Schiff, 459- 4013
“ eline
--Tri City Women's Center
Steering Committee
a
and your finenciscl support.
CAMPAIGNS
The following women are running
for office in Albany County and
would greatly appreciate your
support through volunteer efforts/
and/or contributions:
COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Theresa Cooke
164 Manning Blvd. 438-0704.
Albany, NY 12203
Dem. primary and Indep. line
COUNTY LEGISLATURE DISTRICT #1
Dorothy Bross
12 Bohl Ave. 465-5914
Albany, NY 12209 Dem. Primary
COUNTY LEGISLATURE DISTRICT #7
Rezsin Adans
112 Chestnut St. 462-0891
Albany, NY 12210
Dem. Primary and Indep. line
COUNTY LEGISLATURE DISTRICT #11
Fran Fanuéle
256 Partridge St. 489-8060
Albany, NY 12208
Republican candidate
Margie Skinner
49 Ryckman Ave. 489-5311
Albany, NY 12208
D“m. Primary and Indep. line
COUNTY LEGISLATURE DISTRICT 7-15
Betty Gross
66 Lenox Ave. 438-8148
Albany, NY 12203
Dem. Primary and Indep. line
COUNTY LEGISLATURE DISTRICT ;- 34
Ann Brandon
84 Parkview Drive
Delmar, NY 12054
Dem. candidate and Indep. line
In order to help any of the
above candidates just send your
name, address and phone. number
to the addresses listed. iJorkers
are needed whether they can help
only days, only evenings and/or
only at home. Women can make the
difference in this election, In
Some parts of New York State
there are more women than men
registered to vote. Fifty Five
years ago WE received the right
to VOTE; LET US USE THAT RIGHT
to put people in office who
Will vigorously Fight for women's
issues. Christine Root
Pees eee a ee eee nt eee ee en
RE eee Gi 5 cd ee
August 11, 1975 of Comptroller, both elective
Dear Speakout, offices. In addition the 39-
member legislature is also up
I thought you might be interested for election. It is my own
in this article. As you may know, personal belief that feminists
my background stems from almost should become invloved in politics
six years of effort in reform of on a realistic level, and that
County government. I headed means putting our efforts where
Citizens for County Executive they will have the most effect
through the fight to get a charter and the best chance of winning.
commission named until the charter Those candidates who have a shot
was passed at the polls. I just can be supported by sending con-
quit the board of the League of tributions or offering your time
Women Voters to work on Ann and services.
Brandon's campaign. I will still The following candidates should
be active in the League, since I be of interest to feminists.
helped to get a federal grant for Ann Brandon--Candidate for
a productivity project to be undere County Legislature, Delmar: Ann
taken by the League on the local is the most qualified candidate
government level, Maybe I'll in the field; originated the
write that up next issuel study that led to the County
charter; former president of the
League of Women Voters; trying to
be the first Democrat in 50 years
to win in the Town of Bethlehem;
has to face a straight-ticket
Republican vote that is ag pre»
valent as the straight-ticket
Democratic vote in the city. An
Independent line is a necessity
for her.
Betty Gross--Candidate for
County Legislature, Albany:
Betty is extremely capable and
hard-working; would be an asset
to the Legislature; lost her
previous campaign by 16 votes;
however, this campaign will be
tougher=<her opponent is popular
socially in her district.
Feminist support could make the
difference here.
--Marilyn Rothstein
Politicians as Feminists
Politicians try to bé all things
to all people--that is part of
"The Game." Any sort of a move=
ment is bound to attract politi.~
cians like flies to honey because
collections of people mean votes.
Now that the Women's Movement has
legitimized itself to the point
of raising the consciousness of
such populist magazines as the
Ladies Home Journal, it is perfect-
ly understandable that candidates
for office would seek the notice
of women's groups. Many are sin-
cere in their views, others are
insincere; all will use women's Jack Barner--Candidate for
issues if the occasion arises.
County Comptroller: R.1.P. Jack
This is an attempt to rate some of
. Barner. Jack was always open to
the local candidates. This year feminist ideas. He sponsored the
brings a more than ordinarily
resolution to establish a County
important county-wide election rape crisis center and found the
because 1976 begins the advent of funding for it; has been respon-
a new charter for Albany County-- sible for much improvement in
a new form of government brought
. the way the County is run.
about promarily by the determina- Unfortunately his dramatic link ~
tion of women. The League of
up with his former opponent was
Women Voters study on alternate
tantamount to political suicide.
forms of county government begun Jack tends to blame feminists for
in 1970 led directly to the writ- his loss of the County Treasurer
ing of the County charter and to campaign--close as it was, he
its passage at the polls. The may be right; in any case, his
charter creates two new positicns usefulness to reform is over,
urged by the League, that of Chief -
along with a promising political
Executive for the County and that z career, (Cont. on gti)
4
— Se ]
Politicians a Feminists, Cont.
Theresa Cooke--Candidate for
County Executive: As.a feminist she
ranks right up there with Annette
Stern. Re: her silence on the ERA;
her lack of interest in establishing
a County-~funded rape crisis center;
her harassment out of office of an
elderly, competent woman clerk and
replacement by a hot-shot male law-
yer--in the words of one of her
supporters, "unfortunately Terry
doesn't work well with women; she
prefers to work with men,"
Murray Sharkey--Candidate for Coun-
ty Legislature, Colonie: Murray
looks like a hockey-playing jock;
hockey player he is, but he was
right there in the front lines
testifying at the Senate hearing on
the ERA; helped out with the rape
crisis controversy; always open to
new ideas. His brusk, out-spoken
personality rubs some people the w
wrong way, but the voters like him
and he is a shoo-in for re-election,
James Coyne--Candidate for County
Executive: Don't know much yet about
Jim, but he has made improvements in
the County Clerk's office and seems
Open to new ideas; I do know that he
is liberal in his praise for the work
women have done to improve County
government; one of the few politicians
to give credit where credit is due.
* * * * * * *
EDITOR'S NOTE
The following women are running as
Democrats in the primary election
September 9, Acdéresses and phone
numbers which are not listed below
can be found on page 2.
The poils will be open from noon
until 9 pm on September 9.
County Executive candidate
Theresa Cooke
County Legislature candidates
Rezsin Adams--7th District
Dorothy Bross--lst District
Ann Gaffney--33rd District
2 Gabrie!l Terrace, Guilderland
456-0088
Betty Gross--15th District
Helen Mendieson--13th District
162 Rosemont, Albany, 12208
459-8547 ,
Margie Skinner--llth District
* ° * * * * * *%
MORE LETTERS TO SPEAKOUT
The Open Book
1025 Second Avenue
Salt Lake City
Utah 84103
Dear Sisters,
I am the owner of a new feminist
bookstore in Salt Lake City, called
the Open Book. The store is in the
basement of an old home I bought last
Summer, and is a refuge, meeting and
enlightening place for women, child-
ren, and men involved in or interest-
ed in learhing about the human liber-
ation movement. I now also feature
One month exhibits of art and craft
work of all media by female artists.
Groups meet here, and ideas rush in.
And the best thing is that the people
are very receptive to the ideas and
the place, and we are all thriving
together,
I am writing to ask you for advice,
information, help, and support.
Unfortunately, I don't have time to
write you all separate letters. If
you have a publication or any other
kind of product or information that
you recommend for my store, will you
please send me descriptive and bulk
price information on it? If you just
have something to recommend, I'd
appreciate that. And if you can put
me in touch with other people who are
involved in similar things, please
doi Also, please don't hesitate to
Send me information that may seem
alien to Utah -- this is a city of
refugees from many other places,
passing through or staying on, and
they are eager for news from the
"outside" and contact with those ideas.
Thanks in advance to all of you for
any input you can give me. I'm
looking. forward to hearing about
what's going on elsewhere and to being
in touch wihh new friends and new
ideas. And if there's anything I can
do for you, please let me know.
Thanks}
Pam Pace
CIVIL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS
I Dianne Berni et al v Adele Leonard,
Executive Director of the Nassau
County Civil Service Commission,
et al.
In April of 1972 there were two
vacancies for policewoman sergeant
and several for police sergeant.
Separate examinations were to be given
for the two kinds of appointments.
One official said the exams were iden-
tical, another said they were
Similar. Some of the policewomen
wanted to compete for the more
numerous police sergeant appointments.
One of the requirements for admission
to that examination was four years’
service as a police patrolman just
prior to the examination. Police-
women were not assigned to patrolman
duties. Dianne Berni and four other
women attempted to get an injunction
to prevent the use of separate
examinations for male and female
police sergeant sppointments. Their
argument was that there was no proof
that women could not perform the
duties of police sergeant.
The Police Commissioner said:
"Their (policewomen's) training and
experience as well as their physiol-
ogical makeup would make it impossible
for them to perform the general
functions necessary to fill the
regular position of police sergeant--
supervisors of patrlomen."
The injunction was denied. Justice
Shapiro dissented: "What probably
makes the Police Commissioner boggle,
and caused him to warn of chaos, is
that supervisory authority of all
successful takers of the police
sergeant's examination...would be
over policemen, males."
II Eva Hawkins or the State of New
York Division of Human Rights v
City of Schenectady and the
Schenectady Patrolmen's Benevolent
Association. 1973.
Eva Hawkins has served on the
Schenectady police force since 1957.
She had taken and passed competitive
promotional examinations but had not
been promoted, although men with
equal o. inferior scores had been .
promoted. One such examination had
been given on August 17, 1967.
= eligibility list.
WOMEN POLICEMEN
Policewoman Hawkins had been eighth
on the resulting list of eligibles.
By August of 1971 she was third on
the list. A vacancy occurred. A
three member advisory committee
considered the top three persons on
the eligibility list. One member of
the committee expressed some sex
stereotypic opinions. The man in
the first position on the list was
given the appointment. Ms. Hawkins
protested.
A hearing was held, in Albany, on
October 2, November 14, and December
14, 1972. It was decided that Eva
Hawkins had been illegally discrim-
inated against on the basis of sex
by the Schenectady Police Department.
On March 30, 1973, the Human Rights
Commission issued an order to the
City of €chenectady that Eva Hawkins.
be given the next appointment as
police sergeant. However, the 1967
eligible list had expired in
August, 1971. It could not, by law,
be revived. Eva Kawkins had taken
an examination in May, 1971. When
the new eligibility list was pube
lished, her name was not on it.
Appointments to police sergeant must
be made from a valid list. The City
questioned the legality of the order
from the Human Rights Commission,
The Commission claimed that the order
was correct because Hawkins! name
had been on a valid eligibility list
at the time the discrimination took
place. The courts agreed with the
City of Schenectady.
Dianne Berni and Eva Hawkins made
the same error. They waited too
long to protest and then protested
in the wrong way. The time to re-
Sist discrimination is before it is
so bad that it becomes necessary to
resort to the courts.
III Thomas Button individually and foi
all those similarly situated v
Nelson Rockefeller, Governor of
New York, et al. September 7,
&
On March 17, 1973, Thomas Button
took the examination for New York
State Troopers. His score was
92.333; he ranked 270 on the
There was a need
Continued on page [+
Civil Service Appointments --- Women
Policemen (Continued from page 5)
portive informational body that will
work to improve communications be-
_ tween women, to share information, to
for female State Troopers to perform
particular duties which were believed
best performed by women. Therefore
five women, including four with
lower scores than Mr. Button, were
given appointments. Mr. Button did
not receive an appointment. Mr.
Button protested. The issue to be
determined was whether the need for
female troopers was real or based on
sex stereotypic attitudes.
The decision of the court is inter-
esting. Some of the duties presumed
to be better performed by women were
considered so by the court, and Mr.
Button lost the case. The court
decided that female troopers were
needed to search female prisoners
and for undercover investigations.
It also decided that although sensi-
tivity was needed in questioning
female complainants, this was not
necessarily a quality restricted to
womene. Nor were women especially
better qualified to interrogate or to
transport female prisoners. The need
for more female troopers was further
supported because of the larger
numbers of women being arrested for
crimes, including those on drug
charges.
--Carolyn Dissosway
* * * * * * *
CIVIL SERVICE -- THE WOMEN'S FORUM
The "Forum of Women in N.Y. State
Government" or "Women's Forum" is an
informal organization of women who
share the common circumstance of
being employed by New York State,
The group was conceived by the
participants in a Civil Service
course held in February, 1975, and
waS formed by these and several other
interested women in March.
The Forum has developed from a
strong sense of need to take positive
action to improve the status of women
in State government and to increase
their opportunities for developing
their potential, and from a sense of
frustration at the ineffectiveness
and seeming indifference of those
officials designated to plan for the
meeting of these objectives.
The group will function as a sup-
increase awareness of avaiable
opportunities and to show the means
for a woman to achieve her goals.
Since the Women's Forum does not have
official status with the State, under
no circumstances can it function as
an official representative. Hopefully,
however, the group will be able to
provide sufficient information,
guidance, and encouragement for women
to be successful in their efforts to
establish their rights and further
their careers.
The organizational structure of the
Women's Forum is purposely very
Simple, consisting only of a steering
committee whose major responsibility
is to plan meetings. The direction
the Forum will take in the future
depends in large part on the needs
and interests of its members. There-
fore, the steering committee would
like to have your questions and sug-
gestions. If possible, contacts with
committee members should be made
outside of working hours.
Steering Committee
Betsy Gordon 587-1881
Sue Larsen 286-0496
Joan Peak 456-0214
Wilma DeLucco 439-6164
Lucy Day 201-488-7433
Helen Byrne 212-455-6984
Marge Oathout 456-1647
KEHREKKKKEEKKKEEKEKHEKEREKHKEHKEKEKHHRKEHRHERHEHHEKE
BLOW FOR BLOW is a dramatization of
a strike by women workers at a French
textile factory, based on several real
factory take-overs in recent years.
It was produced by a collective of
over 100 workers, students, filn-
makers and performers, using a demo-
cratic procedure for decision-making
and skill-sharing.
The elements out of which the
strike grows include sweatshop work-
ing conditions (low wages, no rest-
room privileges, no smoking, no talk-
ing, no rest periods), callous and
authoritarian management, and sell-out
union bureaucrats.
Most fundamentally, Blow for Blow
is an account of how women can unite
and struggle successfully against the
bosses. --Tricontinental Film Center,
A non-profit educational group,
333 6th Avee, New York, NY 10014
a EEEEEEOEOEeeOOOO
Feminist Librarian Reports --
Lots of items of interest to
women come across my desk every
day and this new column is my
way of sharing this information
with YOU. Christine Root
Roster of Historians of Women
names and credentials of more
than 130 scholars who teach and
write about the history of
women in America.
To secure a copy of this
roster, send $1.50 with your nane
and address to: Organization of
American Historians, ll2 North
Bryan St., Bloomington, Indiana
A74Ol.
WOMEN BEHIND BARS:
Tool by -.Resources.
Change; P: 0. Box 21066; ‘
Washington, D.C. 20009.’ $1.75. —
WOMEN BEHIND BARS strives to
give an overview of the active
prison movement for radical
change in women's prisons. This
56 page booklet is divided into
three sections: articles, groups
and resources.
Articles discass the particu-
lar problems of the incarcer-
ated women, the integral relation
ship between prisons and cCap-
italism, China's legal system,
how outside groups can help
Sisters inside, and the question
od working for reforms versus
radical change.
Over 100 groups offering pol-
itical support and services to
women prisoners across the
country are described.
Books, articles, films and
personal accounts male up the
very handy resources section.
For such a short publication
it is truly amazing to have
subjection, group, geographic
and resource indexes.
Certainly this reviewer would
concur with the statement " it
is useful for those who would
like to support their sisters in
prison as well as feminists who
seek to learn from the experience
of women under strong sexist
conditioning and control."
An Organizin
|
A .Few Handy Adresses :
WOMEN'S PRISON ASSOCIATION
110 second Ave.
New York, N.Y. 10003
(212) 674-1163
WOMEN IN PRISON Task Force of NOW
P.O* Box 19398
Denver, Colorado 80219
(303) 935-6908
BEDFORD HILLoO
WOMEN'S PRISON PROJECT
80 Fifth Ave.
Room 1502
New York, N.Y. 10011
(212) 924-3200
it ga legal aid / education group"
BEDFORD HILLS
LONG TERMERS COMMITTEE:
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
247 «arris Road
Bedford Hills, NY 10507
a prisoners organization?
News !
A \loman will head men's prison
Ms. Warne, superintendent of the
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
for Women will become the super-
intendent of the Albion facility,
a minimum security prison for men
which grew out of the Attica
rebellion of 1971.
JOANNE LITTLE ACQUITTED
Joanne Little, a 20 yr. old
black woman from North Carolina,
has been acquitted uf charges of
murdering a 62 yr. old white
jailer who had sexually assaulted
her. Many are now comparing this
case to that of Rosa Parks who
20 years earlier refused to give
up her seat on a bus and kicked
off the Montgomery bus boycott.
Bad News ?
Albany:s celebration of WOMEN'S
DAY had to be postpomed until
September 7th due to heavy rain.
Women's Day is designed to promote
the anniversary of womens suffrage
disseminate information about
various womens groups and most
of all to be a joyous time of
togetherness with other women.
FEMALE DELINQUENCY AND PINS
There is net much written ©
on the tepic of female juvenile
delinquency. Almost all the ~
studies I looked at were of young
males. The data Il used were com-=
parisions of boys to girls, —
records of a co-ed industrial
school (correctional facility)
and works written about both sexes
before the 1970 decade.
The Family Court, in the
state of New-York has control over
juveniles who vielate the penal
code ("delinquents") as well as
those who are truant, incorrigible
or ungovernable ("persons in need
of supervision" - PINS). Since
delinquents and PINS are not the
same kind of people, each group
must be clearly defined. A
delinquent is a person (M/F) over
seven, under sixteen, who does
any act which if done by an adult
would constitute a crime. Delin«
quency is a status in a juvenile,
characterized by anti-social
behavior that is beyond parental
control and therefore subject to
legal action. <A person in need
of supervision = PINS - is consid-
ered to be a person (M/F) who is
habitually truant, incorrigible, —
ungovernable or habitually dis-
obedient and beyond lawful control
of parent or authority. Both
groups are deviants from society's
norms, yet, they are not the same
group. .
Delinquency is in general
male delinquency. Ratios of males
to females vary greatly. "Male
delinquency is at least four
times as common as female delin-
quency." Some types of offenses,
if committed by females are usual-
ly referred to police and the
courts, while males for the same
charge will wind up as statistics
on the charts. Authorities say
that although much ef female
delinquency may appear as the
behavior of PINS, most females
are picked up for sex offenses.
Stealing and other property ..
offenses characterize the males.
In Albert Cohen's Delinquent
Boys,he tellsus that "People
want to excel as aman or as a.
woman, that is to say, in those
respects, which, in their culture
are symbolic of their respective
sex rolese »«. « -Even when they
adopt behavior which is considered
disreputable by conventional
standards, the tendency is to be
disreputable in ways that are
characteristically masculine and
feminine." He continues by saying
that female delinquency is metivat
ed by quite different problems
than male delinquency. Male delin-
guency is the subcultural kind
(ethnic, regional, economic, or
social group) while female delin«
quency is specialized. This
specialization is based on their
status in life and the environment.
The majority of female delinquents
are picked up for behavior that
would characterize a PINS. The
Minority are female criminals.
"A 1966 survey of more than
fifteen juvenile correctional
institutions disclose that about
thirty percent of the inmates were
young persons committed for |
conduct that would not have. been
criminal were it committed by
adults. They were runaways,
"stubborn children", - preblem
children, but scarcely major
threats to society." Many female
delinquents, who have committed no
"crime" are judged and jailed by
the same system that convicts
delinquent killers and rapists.
The court has the pewer to assign
sentences to all delinquents and
PINS. Mest females who are PINS
either have their case dismissed,
receive probation or are put in
foster homes. The bulk are come
mitted to training schools, away
from their home, friends and
family. They will often remain
there until the legal age of
eighteen. These females convicted
of delinquency are usually placed
in homes and schools. So, PINS
and delinquents (although not
the same kind of paca ley receive
the same kind of treatment and
rehabilitation. Who is being
teeated unfairly? |
In one study of the Nerth
Dakota State Industrial school
for delinquent boys and girls, it
was found that females composed
one fourth to one third of those
cemmitted. Boys, generally, were
Sale years sai to the school for
b
violations in the areas of burglary,
Delinquency and Pins, cont'd.
car theft, larceny, rape, and theft.
Girls, generally, wére involved in
offenses of incorrigibility, shop-
lifting, running away and sexual’
promiscuity. It was found that
none of the girls had committed
felonies.
From the data I've searched
through, I think it's about time
somebody thought about and wrete
about female delinquents and PINS
as individual
contrasted or analyzed against or
with males. Female delinquency is
a crowing problem in our society,
and if steps are not taken to ° ~
alleviate it, it will soon become
a major problem. Many females .
groups, not compared,
are convicted for how their cultural
economic, and social environment
causes them to act. (Sexual
premiscuity may be the family's.
only income.) Males are "put
away" for committing crimes, not
actSe
It. is time to re-evaluate
the system fer dealing with female
delinquents and PINS. Better
rehabilitative measures should be
initiated. Research is a
necessitye Many young girls are
put away in training schools at
an early age for an act they may
not even understand, They do not
emerge into the "real" world until
they are adults. These adults,
as shown by statistics, commit
crimes because they can not conform
te a society in which they have
not participated,
Female PINS are the
most unfairly treated by
There must be a distinction made
between PINS and delinquents!
The PINS children of our culture,
may grow up to be the most mis-
understood people. If our system
of helping others doesn't work, it
must be changed. We, the new
group
our system.
generation must face these problems
and try to alleviate them through
a better system than our elders,
Leslie Newman
q
MEN'S AWARENESS NETWORK
A group of men from defferent
parts of the country who met at
the "Mem and Masculinity" con= ;
eld at the University o
TERREEECE at Knoxville in April
are hoping to develop a men's
awareness network. Volume -One
number one of Mem's Awareness
Network Newsletter, dedicated to
consciously creating awareness be~-
tween, among and about men and
men's issues and concerns has
been publihed and mailed to over
2,000 people. In order to get
onthe mailing list for this
newsletter, send $1.00 to :
Knoxville Men's Resource Center
P.O. Box 8069 - U.T. STation
Knoxville , Tennessee 37916
The Men(s Resource Guide 1975
lists 19 Men's Resource Centers
across the country as well as
men's publications, media sources,
courses on male roles, current
books available and other special
projects and contact persons.
Other contact sources that should
appear in the revised version of-
this Guide to be published in
October, should be sent immed-
lately to : Knoxville Men's
Resource Center, Include name,
address, phone number and the
Nature of the Resource.
1 i
Future Men s awareness Conferences
Toronto= Waterloo, Ontario
October 3=5 1975
contact: Peter Cole
Conf, Planning Comm.
266 Brunswick Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
" to provide an opportunity for
men to share their experiences
in consciousness-raising, to allow
for further examination of tradit-
ional male roles and to create
an outlet for expressing the frus-
tration felt by many men in the
face of changing lifestyles,"
New York = New Jersey Conference
Contact: Perry Kaufman
Dept. of History
Burlington County College
Pemberton, New Jersey
Fall 1975 (date TBA)
a ei i aa Rae aia a a ee ae a a Ree gy wag RS ee pee Rm i ee See ee ak i cen” pee al heen ie ae en nr Or alee en er cea
f
/
"FROM THE @THER SIDE OF THE fo The group is open to all
DOOR: AN EXPERIENCE OF TWO YEARS ‘women who would like te jein.
WITH THE WOMEN'S GROUP" For infermation about the greup,
| centact Elizabeth Berger (459=2931
Since June, 1973 a unique or Toni Schiff (439-4013).
consciousness=raising group has
been meeting at the Albany Medical Denni Fingerman
Center Hespital. At a recent
Grand Rounds presentatien at the News srom the National Public
hespital's Huyck Auditerium, I Infermaticn Office, NOW
heard some ef these women speak
abeut their experience "from the The National Organizatien
other side of the doer." for Women teday denounced the
The greup consists ef patients introduction ef a new toy fer
on the psychiatric wards ~ E=2 and children produced by Mattel, Inc.
E-3, ex-patients, staff, and women as effensive and detrimental to
from the community who meet for a the develcpment of young women.
"sharing ef problems common to The new doll, Growing-Up-Skipper,
all women." <A panel ef women develops breasts when her arm is
speke to a varied audience filled twisted.
with members ef the psychiatric Allenna Lecnard, chair ef
professien and wemen's cemmunity. NOW's Subcommittee on Teys,
The seven women representing the expressed NOW's eutrage ina
group discussed its origins, letter to Arthur Spear, president
development, past topics, common ef Mattel.
themes, and other issues concerne "We thought that ne tey cemp-~
ing the group. We heard frem a any would express such centempt
cress~section of wemen who had fer the female body and its
participated in the group, and precesses of maturation as to
frem several women who talked market such a doll."
about their reactions to the group In her letter, Ms. Lecnard
via a tape recerder. All ef these pointed out the ebvious centrast
women spoke favcrably ef this tc male dolls which lack genitals
group where “wemen in turmoil whe entirely. She further emphasized
are searching for answers" meet the danger of this toy to children
each Friday morning. All material whc are likely to "begin twisting
in the grsup is confidential and their own arms and those of their
no one acts as therapist, although friends to see ig breasts develop.
she may be practicing therapy They may discever that ferceful
outside ef the grcup, One woman twisting can develop dislocated
spoke ef “dropping all barriers" arms and shoulders instead," she
in the greup anc it was clear that said,
this has been an enlightening, Citing the doll's offensivee
humanizing experience for all the ness, poor taste and physical
group's members = patients and and psychelogical dangers tc
professionals alike. children, Ms. Leenard said that,
At the time I attended thts "all it deserves is to gather
presentation, the group spoke of dust en the shelves cf Mattel's
having gained "passive acceptance" warehouses and of those stores
from the hespital staff, but ina who let twisted visions of dollar
recent conversatien with Dr. Ruth Signs flashing and cash registers
Pickering, who has participated jingling lead them tc crder it
in this group, I learned that the in the first place."
group has made some gains in its "We'll be happy when the
status. She tcld me that a number develcpment of a girl's mine
of area clinical services have receives as much attention as
referred patients for membership the develcopment ef her bosom,"
in the group and that plans to Leonard concluded.
form ancther §roup using the
same model are heing made, to . 7
begin possibly by September. OC
ee OU IG eee ee eee Sere eee Teer eS
ee Fe Oe ee PE ee meee Met SP eet at ee mon 7 Dae eee ee een eee e ele een abies er eee ee
4
\
Our time has coiie
The parade of hushed hopes and denied dreans
Of all our sisters through all the ages
Is on review ae ee
Come out of your caves
For we can chanze the world. ..
How?
By challenging those children our husbands left for us to raise alone
With new concepts, nev roles, a new world...
Kindle fresh fires in the kindergarten of their lives
Breathe justice into their hungry hearts
Fan the flame of equality to new heights
And turn life into the two-way street it never was.
When you've done your homework, paid your dues,
Your labor pains will bear the golden fruit as yet untasted
If not by you, then, by the daughter of your daughter, or the son
of your son.
Write a letter, pen a poem, buy a book, sing a song, dance a jig
But, don't just sit there, sisters - take that thumb out from under
And stand up and be counted,
Now that we've blowm up, throm up, growm up, let's get going up,
Up, Ges ;
Again you say, how?
You've always known, and you weren't alone
Stick by your non-acceptance stance when you lnow you're right
It makes more waves:than all the nagging, complainin:;, crying ever
could |
You ilay not win the first roung, or the second
But all men go home sometime, ..
And we are the sculptors who must mold a brave, new breed:
Sons, wno will be the men our husbands never were
To the dau hters of our consciousness--raised sisters
The only real guts left reside in women
For "the ~irls'" have come of age
While man has lost his nerve
Some men were dreams that never came true
Othere were nightmares that did... .
When he's avay from you, he can't wait to be with you
When he's with you, he can't wait to get away
He wants tiore - more is the others men le's with you
And you, when he's with the others. ..
But, sisters, should you see or lear of a man who, in the face of
your demand for equality
Does not run, then tell him, show him, acknowledge him, for ne is
the NEW MAN
And this is Good, with a capital G,
Life does not have to be a game that is rigged
Where no-one wins, and each of us can win, in our own particular way
Don't play the child-woman role right down to the grave
Face a man, head-on, and say, I All TUR NEY WOMAN ,can you cope?
Tell the boys to grow up, the kid stuff is over
Little girls have grown up all over the world
And they will never be the same again
Those who do not accept this will be left behind
For the nature of the universe is to grow
And the right to make love, not war, is a battle in itself
Are we up to the new-way, the two-way, of our dreams?
If so, it can be ours and those who live after us -- our children!
‘Kathleon’A. “Jones,” 20: 7
Hintington- Beach, California
pass Sy
ne OO)
WOMEL! CAI CHANGE THE WORLD
News from Area Groups -----
Schenectady Area
International Womens Year Conf.
Friday, October 3,1975
A movie followed by discussion
and a coffee hour.
Saturday, October 4,1975
Panel featuring:
Jennie Farley from Cornell
Hedi McKinley from SUNYA
Workshops ;
Women Returning to Work
Sexism in Education
Women and Health Issues
All are welcome. AND there is
mo charge. Place? Schenectady
YWCA, 44 Washington Ave. Schenec
tady, For more information
call Debbie Botch at 374-3394
at the YWCA.
HEX eK KEE KK KU Ke:
Albany Women Against Rape
AWARE General Reorganizational
Meeting, SEPT. 7 7:30- 9:30 PM
Place: 4G2 Hamilton Street
Albany ,NY
All AWARE volunteers must
attend this meeting.
WARE Executive Board will meet
September 14th.
Training Session
September 50 = al
Sat. 9-5 3 Sun. 1-5
This is the chance for all new
members and those interested in
being an AWARE volunteer to
go through training. All inter-
ested: persons should contact
Nancy Dudley (489-8261] to
register and to make arrangements
to pick up training materials.
The cost of the training packet
will be $5.00.
AWARE HOTLINE 393- 1165
AWARE Committee Chairpersons
Training- Flinda Huntington
438-1641
Public Relations- Nancy Dudley
489-8261
Roster (members) - Paula Wilson
482-5390
Medical - Susan Langdon
463-4678
Albany Area NOW
The major focus of the chapter
will be on passage of the NYS
ERA. Contact Ro Rosen (43803208)
if you can contribute time and
energy e
ERA tee shirts are available
as weell as ERA buttons. Send
$5250 along with size to
Georgia Gray, 53 Main Street
Voorheesville, NY for a tée
shirt.
Sept. 10 - ERA Workshop 9-12AM
Legislative Office Bldg. Albany
sponsored by the Albany ERA
Coalition.
For information regarding
membership and upcoming meetings
contact Debbie /Botch 449-5010.
1975 National NOW Conference
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
October 24-27, 1975
Pre-Registration by 9-20-75 $20
Send money to 3:
NOW National Conference
PO Box 185
Phil. Pa. -19105
Include no. of children, ages
other needs: private housing
Spanish interpreter
special facilities
Local NOW chapters have further
information on speakers. work-
shops and other events.
“xe KXX KK KX KE
Betty Freidan to Speak
The Womens press Club will
have Betty Freidan as their
Dinner Guest speaker Friday
September 5, 1975 800 PM at
the Americana Hotel. You need
not attend the dinner in order
to attend the talk.
KEK KEK KEE HEE KKK
Speakout NEEDS YOU.
All women interested in working
on SPEAKOUL in any capacity
please come to our organization
meeting Thursday, September 11th
8 PM at the new Womens Center
in the Albany YWEA, Steuben Sy.
Albany, NY.
* {Qo SEPTEMBER 111975 8PM comes
eee
MORE GROUP NEWS------
WOMEN'S DAY
The fourth annual Women's Day
celebration, entitled ERA for Women,
will be held in Albany's Washington
Park on Sunday, September 7, from
11 am to 6 pm. The festival was
postponed on August 24 due to inclem-
ent weather; if it rains on the 7th,
the celebration will move to the
YWCA on Steuben Street,
Some of the goals of this year's
Women's Day committee are to promote
the anniversary of women's suffrage,
to create an awareness of women's
issues and concerns especially as to
their relation to the ERA, and to
make a contribution to the formation
and maintenance of the Women's ~~
Center. Profits will be contributed
to the Women's Center,
Some of the people appearing at
Women's Day are Maxine Feldman,
Senator Carol Bellamy, Dottie Spoor,
Theresa Cooke, Reverend Megora
Kennedy, Paula Wilson, Mary
Linebaugh, Bobbie Palm, and Diane
Mariah. Medusa Muzic will be coming
up from New York to provide rock
musice Workshops are planned on self-
defense, education, bicycles. There
will be crafts, food, arts, and
educational booths throughout the
day. Day care will be provided,
Following the celebration in the
Park, there will be a women's
covered dish supper at the First
Presbyterian Church at the corner of
State and Willett Streets. If you
plan to attend, be sure to bring
some food to share. The evening will
conclude with a women's dance at the
YWCA.
COALITION OF LABOR UNION WOMEN
The Capital District Chapter of
the Coalition of Labor Union Women i
sponsoring the local showing of the
Smithsonian Institution traveling
exhibit Workers and Allies: Female
Participation in the American Trade
Union Movement, 1824-1976. The
exhibit will be at the Schenectady
YWCA from September 13 through
October 12.
The Coalition of Labor Union Women
became a national organization in
March, 1974. Presently there are
39 chapters.
Fran Jackson is the
local contact person (465-4585, days).
The main purposes of the CLUW are
affirmative action in the work place,
legislative and political action,
organization of the unorganized, and
participation of women in their own
unions.
MORE ABOUT THE SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT:
Sinte colonial times women have
played an active role in the
American labor movement. The
exhibition follows their participa-
tion from the first anonymous entries
into the mills of New England,
through the formation of sisterly
self-improvement societies, to the
blossoming of full-fledged and
politically powerful trade unions.
Because the technological advances
stimulating industrial expansion also
contributed to the growth of the
newspaper and journal, and because
information about employment and labor
conditions was of interest to readers,
the story of this mass movement is.
depicted as it appeared in the pages
Of popular reportage.
Other groups interested in booking
a copy of the exhibition should
contact the Smithsonian Institution
Traveling Exhibition Service,
Washington, DC 20560 (telephone:
202-381-6631).
* * * * * * *
M.A. DEGREE IN LESBIAN CULTURE
This program is being offered by
the Feminist Studies department of
Goddard-Cambridge Graduate School for
Social Change in Cambridge, Mass.
The project will examine the social,
creative and intellectual aspects of
Lesbianism to establish a solid,
multi-dimensional understanding..of
Our culture as it exists today and
has in the past. Emphasis will be a
study of politics, history and the
arts of Lesbians in Western society.!
A goal will be documentation of
previously undocumented aspects of
the Lesbian community using the
techniques of interviewing, community
work and sociological group study.
Tuition is $2500. The duration of
the program is October, 1975, through
September, 1976. For more informa-
tion about financial aid, child Care,
& other projects, write Feminist
Studies c/o Goddard-Cambridge, 5
Upland Road, Cambridge, 02140.
WOMENS CENTER COMMITTEES ‘
Finance weer ee 436-0107
-ae een 454-3526
Programing 439-4013
Staffing and 439-0544
scheduling -~ yas ay 3 See
Legal 462-3247
783-5158
Furnishings 271-6259
Library 482-7928
Publicity 459-2931
271-6259
Maintenance 489-1605
Let's welcome the Tri-City
Women's Centcr to its new home!
Subscribe to SPEAKOUT
$3.50 per year.
send coupon to:
SPEAKOUT
P.O. Box 6165
Albany, New York 12206
Name
Street
City, ate ip Code
If you are planning to move,
please send a change of address
to SPEAKOUT.
Change of Address __ Old Zip
Renewal New Subscription
Please check the appropriate box
when completing the coupon, and
fill in your old zip code if your
address has chenged.
a
‘ SEPTEMBER CALENDAR--DETAILS INSIDE
4. Women's Political Caucus endorse-
ment meeting with women candid-
ates, 8th Step, 7:30 pm
Speech by Betty Friedan,
Americana Inn, Colonie, 8 pm
7 Women's Day, Albany, 11 am-6 pm
Women's Covered Dish Supper,
1st Presbyterian Church, 6: 30
Women's Dance, YWCA, after Supper
7 AVJARE meeting, 462 Hamilton, 7: 30
8 Women's Center General Assembly
Meeting, Albany YWCA, 8 pm
Albany NOW - ERA Jorkshop, 9-12
SPEAKOUT MEETING--EV ERYONE
WELCOME. Albany YWCA, Spm
AWARE training session, Jam-5pm
AYARE training session, 1-5 pm
10
Ld
20
21
September 13 — October 12--Smith-
sonisn exhibit on women in the
labor union movement, Schenectady
YWCA, 44 Washington Avenue
OCTOBER 3-4 Schenectady Area Women's
Year Conference, Schenectady YWCA
Bulk Rate
Use Postage Paid
Permit # 12
Albany, New York
Fileen Kelly
98 S/ Pine Ave
Albany NY
12208
eT ee ae ee ee era NN eae ts See ee ee Ee Ne aE
t
SULY- AUGUST [9757
a
O
4
8
7
=
5
1
oO
SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vol. IV No. VII July-August 1975
Table of Contents
Page
1 Witchcraft and the Establishment of Male
Dominance over the Medical Profession
3 Why the ERA? Alimony -- Carolyn Dissosway
and Susan Lasher
4 Legal Ramifications of the ERA -- Chris Root
6 Senate Vote on the ERA, 44-14 -- Carolyn Dissosway
7 "The Affirmative Action You Have Reached Is
Not In Service"
10 The Continuing Saga of the County Rape Crisis
Center -- Marilyn E. Rothstein
11 Feminist Economic Network
12 Susan Saxe's Statement of June 9, 1975
13 Professional Women Around the World Discussed
at Kirkland College Symposium
14 A letter about Lucy Stone
15 Women's Counseling Collective
16 The Rebel Girl -- Book Review by Judy Jaeger of
the Allen Center
18 Group News -- Mary Gallagher
Cover Design by Kate Steele, 514 Madison Avenue, Albany, N.Y.
Kate is a talented local artist and craftswomen. She will be
displaying her crafts at the Women's Day Festival,August 24
in Washington Park.
Special thanks also to Nikki Svolos who has agreed to distribute
Speakout in the Troy area and to Susan Chelius who offered to
take Speakout to Schenectady.
Workers for this issue: Cheryl Shenkle, coordinator; Susan
Lasher, Mary Gallagher, Rezsin Adams, Christine Root, Carolyn
Dissosway, and Janet Warner.
If your group is not mentioned in Group News, then it is
probably because you have not contacted our Group News
coordinator, Mary Gallagher. To make sure your events and
meetings are listed, call Mary at 462-9486, evenings.
Speakout is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per
year. Single copies are 35¢ at the local bookstores.
Advertising is $10 per quarter page, $18 per half page and
$30 for a whole page. .
SPEAKOUT, PB. O. Box 6165, Albany, New York 122064
Witchcraft and The Establishment
of Male Dominance over the Medical Sprenger and Kramer wrote:
Profession
The dictionary defines witch
as a woman under the influence of
evil spirits and able to perform
magic. Most of the witches were
Simply lay healers, healers of the
peasant population. Yet the witch
es were accused of every conceiv-
able sexual crime against men as
well as having magical powers
affecting health--healing.
For these "crimes" nine
million women were executed over a
period of 400 years, between the
14th and the 17th centuries in
Western Europe and the United
states.
age of feudalism and lasted until
well into the age of reason. It
was an organized ruling class
ious, vain, stupid and carnal.
*, . « because in these times
this perfidy (witchcraft)
is more often found in women
than in men, as we learn by
actual experience, if anyone
is curious as to the reason,
we may add to what has already
been said the following:
that since they are feebler
both in mind, and body, it
is not surprising that they
should come more under the
spell of witchcraft.
Witches were accused of fly-
ing, having carnal relations with
the Devil, injuring cattle,causing
Witchcraft was born in the hailstorms and tempests, causing
illnesses and epidemics, bewitching
men, changing men and themselves
into animals, changing animals into
campaign of terror against a femalepeople, committing acts of cannib-
peasant population. Witches
alism and murder, stealing male
represented a religious, sexual andgenitals, causing male genitals to
political threat against the
Catholic Church as well as the
State.
The organized persecution of
the witches began officially on
December 9, 1484. Pope Innocent
VIII named two Dominican monks,
Heinuch Kramer and James Sprenger
as Inguisitors and asked them to
define witchcraft, to isolate the
modus operandi of the witches and
disappear. In fact, this last
zct was grounds for divorce under
Catholic law. If a man*s genitals
were invisible for more than three
years, his spouse was entitled to
a divorce.
In the eyes of the Church, all
the witches power was ultimately
derived from her sexuality. Her
career began with sexual inter-
course with the devil. The
to standardize trial procedures andMalleus makes this clear:
sentencing. Kramer and Sprenger
wrote a text called the Malleus
Maleficarum or Hammer of Witches.
The Malleus was high Catholic
theology and working Catholic
jurisprudence. It was the law.
Anyone guilty of questioning it
was guilty of heresy--a capital
crime.
Witchcraft was a woman's
crime.
why. First, they explained,Jesus
Christ died"to preserve the male
sex from so great a crime; since
he was willing to be born and to
die for us, therefore he has
granted to men this privilege."
In other words, Christ died liter-
ally for men and left women to
fend with the Devil as best they
could.
In the Malleus Maleficarum
omen are defined as wicked, malic-
ieee
Sprenger and Kramer defined
1
All witchcraft comes from
carnal lust, which in women
is insatiable. . . Wherefore
for the sake of fulfilling
their lusts they consort
with devils. .. it is
sufficiently clear that it
is no matter for wonder that
there are more women than
men found infected with the
heresy of witchcraft. . .
And blessed be the Highest
Who has so far preserved
the male sex from so great
acrime.. .
In addition to the sex crimes,
the witches were also accused of
the high crime of healing. Witch-
‘healers were often the only general
medical practitioners for a people
who had no doctors and no hospitals
and who were afflicted with poverty
Witchcraft, cont'd.
and disease. In particular, the
association of the witch and the
midwife was strong. "No one does
more harm to the Catholic Church
than midwives." wrote Kramer and
Sprenger.
The Church saw its attack
on peasant healers as an attack
on magic, not medicine. The
devil was believed to have real
power on earth, and the use of °
that power by peasant women was
frightening to the Church and the
State. The greater their satanic
powers to help themselves, the
less they were dependent on God
and the Church. The magic cures,
even when successful, were an
‘medical profession, having become
classes were cultivating their own
breed of secular healers: the
university trained physicians. The
established in Europe in the 12th
centruy, was actively engaged in
the elimination of female healers-
their exclusion from the universit-
ies, for instance--long before the
witch hunts began.
The Church imposed strict
controls on the medical profession
allowing it to develop only within
the Church guidelines. There was
nothing in medieval medical train-
ing that conflicted with church
doctrine and little we would
recognize as science. Bleeding
was a common practice as well as
the application of leeches. Incan-
accursed interference with the willtations and quasi-religious
of God,achieved with the help of
the devil and the cure itself was
evil. There was no problem in
distinguishing God's cure from
the devil's, for obviously the
Lord would work through priests
and doctors rather than through
peasant women.
The witch healer relied on
her senses rather than faith and
doctrine. Many of her herbal
cures are still in use today, such
as ergot for labor pain and
belladonna used to inhibit uter-
ine contractions when miscarriage
threatened. The witch healers
methods were based on trial and
error, differing sharply from
the attitude of the Church. The
Church was anti-empirical. It
discredited the material world.
In the persecution of the
witch the anti-empiricist and the
misogynist, anti-sexual obsessions
of the Church coincide. Empir-
icism and sexuality both represent
a surrender to the senses, a
betrayal of faith. The witch was
a triple threat to the Church:
she was a woman, and not ashamed
of it, she appeared to be part of
an organized underground of peas-
ant women. And she was a healer
whose practice was based in empir-
ical study. In the face of the
repressive fatalism of Christian-
ity, she held out the hope o
change in the world.
While witches were practic-
ing among the people, the ruling
a
rituals were thought to be effect-
ive. It was the witches who devel-
oped an extensive understanding
of bones and muscles, herbs and
drugs, while physicians were still
deriving their prognoses from
astrology.
The establishment of medicine
as a profession requiring univer-
sity training, made it easy to
bar women legally from practice.
With few exceptions, universities
were closed to women and licensing
laws were established to prohibit
all but university trained doctors
from practice. The literate woman
healers were the first to be barred
from practice. By the 14th
centruy the medical profession's
campaign against urban, educated
women healers was virtually
complete throughout Europe. They
were now ready to eliminate the
great mass of female healers--the
witches.
The partnership between Church
State and the medical profession
reached full bloom in the witch
trials. The doctor was held up as
the medical expert, giving an
aura of science to the whole
proceeding. He was asked to make
judgments about whether certain
women were witches and whether
certain afflictions had been
caused by witchcraft. The Malleus
says: "And if it is asked how it
is possible to distinguish whether
an illness is caused by witch-
craft or by some natural physical
ee ee RE
temporary or permanent alimony hes
‘eee
Witchcraft, cont'd.
defect, we answer that the first
way is by means of the judgement
of doctors. . ." In the witch
hunts the Church explicitly legit-
imized the doctor's professional-
ism, denouncing nonprofessional
healing as equivalent to heresy:
"If a woman dare to cure without
having studied she is a witch and
must die". Of course, there was
no way for her to study, as she
was barred from the universities.
Finally the witch craze provided
a handy excuse for the doctor's
failings in everyday practice.
Anything he couldn't cure was
obviously the result of sorcery.
The witch trials established
the male physician in a moral and
intellectual plane vastly above
the female healers he was called
to judge. It placed him on the
Side of God and Law, a professional
on par with lawyers and theologians
while it placed her on the Side
of darkness, evil and magic. He
owed his new status not to med-
ical or scientific achievements
of his own, but to the Church and
State he served so well! And so it
was continued until present day.
(Two excellent sources were used
for the above article, They are:
"Remembering the Witches", an
article by Andrea Dworkin and
"Witches, Midwives and Nurses,
a pamphlet by Barbara Ehrenreich
and Deirdre English)
* * * % * %
WHY THE ERA? ALIMONY
Opponents of the New York State
ERA fear it will cost women the
right to alimony and possibly child
support. The facts show that won-
en do not have a clear right to
support peyments for themselves and
their children even now. The 1973-
74 legislature passed a bill which
changed the word "wife" in the
alimony law to "spouse." This
means that a man may now claim
alimony from a former wife; he may
get custody of their children and
receive child support from their
mother.
In practice the awarding of 3
been left to the discretion of the
court. A woman is not entitled to
a share in her husband's income as
such, nor is her claim for support
based solely on his ability to pay
(Hunter v. Hunter 1960). Itis
the ages of the individuals, their
health, needs, ability to pay and
the standard of living maintained
during the marriage which are used
in making decisions about alimony
(Bronstein v. Bronstein 1966).
In Lewis v. Lewis 1971 a court
order for temporary alimony was
reversed on the basis that the
husbend should not be required
to support his wife, "as she vol-
untarily left her well-paying posi-
tion to seek a college degree {in
nursing| and is therefore capable
of being 'self supporting.'"
Shirley Levis wes a licensed prac-
ticel nurse earning "in excess of
$6000 per year" at the time of the
Separation agreement in 1967, and
no arrangements for support had
been made at that time.
Bernstein v. Bernstein 1971 was
a case in which the wife's tempo-
rary alimony was eliminated and
the support payments for the two
children were reduced from $75 to
#50 per week, because the
Bernsteins' federal income tax
return shoved that the wife's
income was greater than the hus-
band's.
“Alimony was not designed to
confer on a woman of independent
heans a status of leisure and use-
lessness in society; the separated
wife should be encouraged, if con-
Sistent with her capabilities and
obligations to her children and
family, to devote her energies to
their full reach and to make her-
Self economically useful." This
quote brings to mind the diffi-
culties all women, married, single,
widowed or divorced, meet in find-
ing work commensurete with their
capabilities and at the same pay
as males doing the same work,
--Carolyn Dissosway and
Susan Lasher
Legal Ramifications of the ERA
The Scene: Albany Law School
Saturday Morning
April 19, 1975
Prof. Harth (male)
Joan Kohout(Female)
Anita Morse (Female)
Kathryn Katz (Female)
Audience: Mixed
An
The Panel:
(mostly women)
on
Professor‘ opened the program
by giving his views on the importe
ance and effect of the New York
State ERA. " The major pro argu-
ment is that the Supreme Court and
the Federal ERA will be a long time
in coming." After the ERA passes
even "a compelling interest will
not be enough to uphold classific-
ation on the basis of sex,"
Although there is concern that it
will cost quite a lot of time and
money to work implications of the
ERA into the law, Professor Harth
reminded the audience that the
states that have already passed
the ir own ERA's are mot having
tremendous problems, The area
of pensions may be the one
costly area for New York State,
Joan Kohout, a recent graduate
of Albany Law School and a member
of the firm of KATZ & POWERS,
concentrated her remarks on the
area of criminal law, New York
State Criminal is sex neutral
except in the area of RAPE and
SEX OFFENSES. If the ERA passes
here are some possible solutions
to bring our laws into line:
1) have all sex offenses as
sexual assault and do away with
rape as a separate crime category.
Rape could be a Class B Felony.
2) retain the rape statutes on the
basis that the physical differ~
ences between men and women are
real and the fact that socity
views rape differently from other
crimes. ( ed. Note This one
sounds a bit risky but we are
reporting the views of the panel
as to what possibilities are
available; not our suggestions.) °
3) create aanew category of law
for all sex crimes.
a > ER Car TT. OK, Aydt Co
Although there are not dispar=
ities in statute, there can be
disparities in sentencing because
judges have tremendous room for
discretion.
Kathryn Katz, Poofessor at RPI
and a partner in KATZ & POWERS
spoke on the ERA and the Domestic
Relations LaWe ,y a
moving on a piece meal basis toward
equal treatment of spouses and to
decisions based on individual
needs (not sex)e With or without
the ERA ; change is coming."
Name Change: Law varies from
state to state. In New York
women have always had the right to
keep their own names after marriage
and Also note that children cannot
be forced to take their father's
name, This is custom and not law.
Dominile;: Right now a married women
must make her husband's dominile
her own or SHE COULD BE SUED for
desertion, This would change
under the ERA, Dominile is the
place where one votes, runs for
office and gets counted for state
univ, thition purposes. A person
Can have many residences but only
one domicile, Right now the dom-=
icile of a child is that of the
father. In an ON GOING MARRIAGE
the state does not interfere and
the perties make their own terms
but the law will step in when
parties cannot agree,
Support: A wife can NOW be forced
Oo suppo rt her husband,if cannot
provide support. In NYS a woman
Can also be liable for the support
of children. The husband has the
primary obligation of support.
ALIMONY: Alimony is based on abil-
ity to pay and contribution to the
marriage. Note that if a wife is
the guilty party she loses her
right to alimony and will usually
receive it only if she would be
on welfare otherwise. No matter
what,alimony is so difficult to
collect that one cannot count on it.
7
ERA cont.
Under COMMON LAW, each spouse
controls his/her own income.
New York is a TITLE State whish
means that whoever has title to
an item such as real property
or a car, gets to keep that item.
In a divorce situation the spouse
not having legal title may be
granted the right of use.
Rights of Service- The husband has
a legal right to the services of
his wife but reverse is not true.
Custody - is not a right of one
Sex over the other. In New York
State, there is no presumption
that the mother will get the child.
Anita Morse, a lawyer and
librarian at Albany Law School,
was the final speaker on the
panel. As her opening remark
Ms. Morse reminded the audience
that "anatomy is not destiny.
It is only anatomy." Eighty per-
cent of the married women who
work outside the home do so
because they need the money.
Protective labor laws- These laws
result in a lack of freedom of
contract for the female worker
and protection for the employer.
Labor unions used social reform
legislation to keep women out of
the higher paying craft jobs.
Ms Morse discussed the problems
which surround the EEOC : they
are short 4 commissioners, the
head of EEOC has been asked to
resign and the EEOC BIBLE still
does not contain a section on
sex discrimination.
No Fault Divorce - " would be a
problem unless NY becomes a
community property state,"
KEE ERX %% HE
For further information on the ERA
consult the
YALE LAW JOURNAL
Vol. 80, no. 5 April 1971
ppe 871-985
" The Equal Rights Amendment: a
Constitutional Basis for Equal
Rights for Women, by Barbara
Brown, Thomas Emerson, Gail Falk
and Ann Freedman,
>
SENATE VOTE ON THE ERA, Continued
from page lo
Senator McCall reminded the op-
ponents who claim all the needed
legislation is on the books and
that the ERA will cost women the
loss of protective legislation,
that a bill sponsored by Posner in
the Ascembly end passed there, is
tied up in a Senate committee.
That bill wovld give collective
bargaining rights to the mostly
women, poor and Black household
workers. As Senator Bellamy pointed
out, the recommended piecemeal leg-
islation to correct wrongs does not
work. There ere other corrective
bills tied up in committee--by the
same members of the legislatur~
who ere opposing the ERA and recon-
mending the slover (more costly,
less effective) method of piecemeal
legislation. As for the fearful
"unknown" results of the BRA,
Bellamy asked: "Can you imagine
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas
Jefferson saying 'Hey, guys, I'm
not sure what this Bill of Rights
says. We'd better not adopt it.'?"
Senators Nolan and Gold spoke in
Support of the ERA. McCall noted
the irony of the name Operation
Vake Up, since "the nation has becn
asleep to the oppression of women
Since the birth of the nation."
Griffin voted for the ERA in the
senate because he feels that it
deserves a referendum, but plans to
vote against it at the polls in
November. Knorr voted against it.
As one of the closing speckers,
Senator Burstein told of the changing
lifestyles of our society. Even
the women who choose to be exclu-
Sively in the home while there are
children will have smaller families
and so a whole length of time after
the children are grow. This means
thot they will have time to look
around and weigh the consequences
of the way the state acts on them
end the people they love.
Ve must not be put to sleep by
the success of the ERA in the Sen-—
ate. By way of warning, there is a
resolution in Assembly committee for
repeal of the State's ratification
of the Federal ERA. We heave to
keep vorking!
--Carolyn Dissosvay
}
SENATE VOTE ON THE BRA, 44-14
On May 21 the New York State
Senate debated on and voted for the
Equal Rights Amendment. The bill
vas first sponsored in the Assembly
by Assemblyperson Diggs. In the
Senate it was sponsored by Senator
Winikov.
The traditional opening prayer
of the Senate was offered by the -
first woman to serve as a chaprain
in a state correctional instrtution
Amy Cortese of Bedford Hills Cor-
rectional Facility for Women. In
her prayer she remembered the im-
possibility of pleasing everyone.
She asked a special blessing on
women that day.
The debate lasted from about
4:15 until after nine in the evene
ing. It was sometimes emotional,
sometimes factual, sometimes irrel-
evant to the New York ERA, but in-
teresting throughout. There is a
public record of 300-plus pages at
the Capitol.
The discussion began with a
dialogue between the sponsor, Sen-
ator Winikow, and Senator Burstein.
The dialogue was frequently inter-
rupted by senators who wented to
cut off the information-giving
device by raising a point of order
about two members being on the
floor at the same time. Senator
Winikow is not a lawyer; she is a
former teacher. The questions she
addressed to Senator Burstein were
directed to her as a2 lawyer. The
President of the Senate, Mary Anne
Krupsak, and Senators Ohrenstein
and Padavan supported their right
to inform the Senate.
Only one amendment vas offered
+o the Amendment. It was not the
previously published end much dis-
cussed Eckert Amendment. Senator
Bekert was now offering 2 differ-
ent one. That is, the wording was
different, but the objective was
the same. By adding any amendment
there would be a delay, required
by lav, until after a nev legisla-
ture was elected. Every amendment
to the state constitution must be
approved by two consecutive legis-
latures before it is placed on the
ballot for a referendum. Senator
Eekert's amendment included the
statement: "Resolved, if the
Assembly concur, that the fore-
—
6
5732 amendment be referred to the
irst regular 4 6g2 Gi scare session
convening after the next succeed-
ing general election." The next
general election of legislators
will be in 1976; the one after
that in 1978. So it would be 1979
before the Amendment could be of-
fered in a referendum. (Opponents
still complain that we are rushing
into this Amendment!) Senator
-Ggliber described the amendment as
"actually a stick to chase women
back into the kitchen," as a de-
Laying tactic which vould say that
we are not really ready or prepared
to give equal rigts to all people.
Fortunately the amendment was de-
feated; there were only 16 votes
in favor of it.
Senator Schermerhorn made some
ctatements which revealed his read-
iness to give equal rights to all
people; "I'll support legislation
that any women who wishes to vol-
unteer for the draft (What draft?)
be put in the front line. I have
no hengups about that." The Senat-
or seems to think this is the Fed-
eral ERA. He was reminded of the
difference but chose to ignore the
reminders. Schermerhorn also said
that "...the people that support
this are really not out to protect
women. I think they are in compe-
tition with men, and we don't
want to be in competition." He
fears that the ERA will make mar-
riages between homosexuals legal
(as in Colorado, he says) and that
it will lead to the same moral de-
cay which is supposed to have re-
sulted in the decline and fall of
the Romen Empire.
Senator Bronston read a letter
from a Black constituent into the
record. She said that most women
work because they must support or
help support their families. "We
are not affluent women backed by
poverful, wealthy institutions who
ave the time to bake cute loaves
of bread and hand them to legis-
lators with charming vivacity with
a pamphlet." We give our families
the bread we bake and use bus or
plane fare to Albany for transpor-
+-tion to work instead. “We are
Phyllis Shafly's secretaries,
maids and cooks...Give us a chance,
She asked him to vote for the ERA.
Continued on page 5
eee ee
"The Affirmative Action You Have
Reached is Not in Service”
Two years ago the government
called the Bell Telephone System
"without a doubt the largest oppres-
sor of women workers in the United
States" and forced the company to
hire more women end minorities into
upper level, non-traditional jobs.
The whecls begen to spin, but two
years later the company and the
women are back where they ctarted.
A group of Denver women have be-
come the first in the US to file
federal action against both Moun-
tain Bell and the Communication
Workers of America (CWA) for delib-
erately subverting the antidiscrin-
ination agreement with the govern-
ment.
* * *%
On January 3, a Bell supervisor
valked up to Evon Stith, phone in-
staller, and told her that in three
days she could become Evon Stith,
clerk, with a $25 pay cut or she
could quit. Besides Evon, 14 other
women installers were declared
"surplus" labor and demoted. An-
other dozen women were bumped into
lower positions and replaced by
men with more seniority. Six male
installers were moved laterally
with no pay cut--into different in-
staller jobs.
This was more than an uncertain-
ties-of-the-recession shock to
Stith and her fellow (?) workers.
She and 27 other women had been
hired as installers by Mountain
Bell last summer as part of the
company's obligation to ellow women
into more skilled craft jobs.
She had been told that in six
months she could apply for a higher
paying position and probably re-
ceive it, also due to the govern-
ment-AT&T agreement. In addition,
she had been assured that if lay-
offs or "force adjustments" (demo-
tions or lateral shiftings in phone
company talk) were necessary, she
would be given 15 days (sic) notice
and an opportunity to take an in-
staller job in another part of the
state i ne were open.
erAt rea cond the comen ‘baead
with her went to their union, the
CITA, for help. But the local union
leadership told them their demo-
tions, consent decree or not, were
7
consistent with the union contract
which provided for layoffs accord-
ing to inverse seniority—-last
hired, first fired.
The new union contract, nego-
tiated in September just after the
women were hired, had further elim-
ineted Bell's obligation to notify
workers being demoted of openings
in other ereas covered by Mountain
Bell. Finally, the union admitted
that the company had given it the
required 15 days (sic) notice, but
that union stewards had made a
"mistake" and not told the offected
workers.
So much for the union. Stith
end friends then began to express
their dissatisfaction to their
Supervisors, who were willing to
argue with them individually, but
not in a group or with a lawyer.
"They also kept telling us to
put on miniskirts and wear meke-up
like the other ‘girls’ in the of-
fice," said Stith. "We were in-
stallers! ‘Ye weren't used to that
kind of stuff."
On January 23 and 24 the women
picketed the downtown headquarters
of Mountain Bell, an cvcnt ignored
by both the Post and the News, but
reported in Bell's company news-
letter, which implied that outside
agitators were behind it all.
The women then began amassing a
legal staff, which now numbers six,
and support groups, which now in-
clude the National Organization
for VYomen, the National Lawyers
Guild, the Coalition of Labor Union
Yomen, Colorado Workers Unity and
Better Jobs for Women, a division
of the US Labor Department.
A mound of paperwork filed with
the appropriate federal agencies
has begun an inexorable struggle
with Bell and the Communication
Yorkers: a years-long court fight,
destined for the Supreme Court and
almost bound to change the future
of trade unionism in the US.
* %* *
The case against Bell Telephone
really began where everyone thought
it had ended--with the agreement
reached bettreen AT&T and the gov-
ernment in January 1973.
Prior to the agreement (formal-
|
ly a consent decree), the Equal
Loployment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC), which spearheaded the
"The Affirmative Action..." (Cont.)
govcrnment's case, found that:
* 60% of all Bell workers were
women. Women held 99.8% of all
secretarial jobs and 99.9% of all
operator posts, but only 1.1% of
higher-paying craft jobs, like in-
staller.
*Bell claimed that 41.4% of its
managers were women, but actually
94% of these women were at the low-
est management rank, like supervisor
of clerks or secretaries.
*The average woman earned 60% of
what her male counterpart did for
the same job.
In a precedent-setting argument,
the EEOC successfully argued that
AT&T's entire personnel structure--
from recruiting literature to pro-
motions and pay schedules--was sex
segregated. Every woman in the
company had been discriminated a-
gainst, even if she was perfectly
satisfied and had never wanted an-
other position.
Some feminists criticized the
government's willingness to nego-=-
tiate a consent decree rather than
sue Bell. A court decision would
be stronger, they crgucc prohpeti-
cally (sic).
Neverthclcss, the nation's rich-
est corporntion and the BEOC nego-
tiated a consent decree in which
Bell agreed to desegregate its en-
tire system end pay $15 million in
back pay to compensate for pest
wrongs. A legal technicality, hor-
ever, allowed the company to deny
all charges of unlawfui discrimin-
ation.
According to the decree, each
Bell affiliate was to set up its
own timetable for desegregation
with the approval of the EOC.
As part of the effort to fulfill
its timetable, which is a tightly
kept compeny secret, Mountain Bell
hired 50 women installers in the
summer of 1973. By that December,
all but two or three of them had
quit. So when the BEOC checked on
Bell's progress early in 1974,
Mountain Bell did not get high
marks, according to a source within
the company.
About 30 more women installers
werechired last summer, and these
were the women recently demoted.
"Tt was like 1974 was over,
their '74 quota was reached and'
two weeks later we were demoted,"
| said Evon Stith.
Indications are that even if
the women hadn't filed suit, the
EEOC had been considering a pos~
sible suit of its own against
Mountain Bell for non-compliance
with the consent decree.
Bell, however, has denied any
ill intentions in the recent demo-
tions.
"We were going by the union con-
tract and as far as we were con-
cerned that took precedence," said
Bill Neathammer, Mountain Bell's
assistant vice president in charge
of personnel matters.
"The problem isn't females, it's
females and males too," he said.
"We've always had the women in
management jobs--per se. But when
you're talking about the females
in non-traditionel jobs, or the
males in non-traditional jobs like
secretarial, there has been a prob-
lem."
* * *
The fact that Bell has been
able to defend itself against
workers using the union contract
stems again from the original con-
sent decree.
Although the decree states that
collective bargaining provisions
should be adjusted to meet anti-
discrimination requirements, it
also states that the decree is not
intended to affect seniority pro-
visions.
The Communication Workers were
not involved in the original con-
sent decree, but since it was
Signed the union has not masked
its disapproval. On a national
level, the C\JA has hired lawyers
fulltime to work against the decree.
"A basic core of trade unionism
in this country is the principle
of seniority," said CWA local pres-
ident Bill Himmelmann. "It (the
consent decree) is eliminating
seniority in promotion and advance-
ment.
"T had to tell those ladies
that ultimately they may very well
prevail, but we have to go by what
we have to work with now. Some-
day the Supreme Court may say we
were wrong," he said amiably,
"someday it may say they were
wrong."
"The Affirmative Action..." (Cont. )
The women have charged Himmel-
mann with taking a "do-nothing |
stand" on the whole issue, end of
being among those in the CWA who
"traded a closed shop for a shitty
contract."
"what the workers involved have
called for," explained Marcie.
Tremmel, an attorney for the women ~-
installers, "is 'super seniority'--
that they should be given credit
for past discrimination. If the
company has to keep on more workers
than it can afford, then that -
should be the price it pays for
past discrimination."
Although a case involving the
Bell system has never reached the
courts, the decisions in other re-
cent affirmative action vs. senior-
ity law suits have been contradic-
tory. Just as its forced desegre-
gation spurred other corporations
to affirmative action, the Bell
case is expectec to decide the
issue.
Before the women could formally
sue Mountain Bell in federal dis-
trict court, they first had to file
a@ request to sue with the BEOC.
Usually that agency takes 180 days
to investigate the charges and then
mekes a recommendation, but the
women's attorneys have asked for on
excription from this to sue immedi-
ately. A similar request was made
to the National Labor Rtlations
Boerd for permission to sue the
CWA.
Meanwhile, the US Labor Depart-
ment has given one of its local
agencies, Better Jobs for Women,
the go-ahead to take the side of
the women installers. In fact,
Better Jobs (1545 Tremont) is coor-
Cinating their defense fund; about
$2000 will probably be needed,
according to one of the organizers,
who hastened to add that all contri-
butions were tex deductable (sic).
* * *
With the case expected to last
for years, most of the women in-
stallers may not be with Bell for
the outcome.
"A lot of the women have set up
their ow timetables," said ex-
installer Stith. "They say: ‘If
I'm not an installer again by June,
I'll quit.' Which is too bad,
|
because that's what we really like
to do.
| "We don't think they should lay
off anyone, because they're just
doing it to increase profits."
Ironically, Mountain Bell only
gained about $30,000 in salaries
by demoting the women. By compar-
ison, the company recently got a
$28 million rate hike and announced,
in the middle of their supposed
recession, a $182 million expan-
Sion program. In fact, it cost
the company $162,000 just to pre-
pare its side of the recent rate
increase for the Public Utilities
Commission.
Nationally AT&T has continued
to quietly lead all US corpora-
tions in total yearly profits.
At last report the company's after-
tax profit was more than $2.5
billion--more than the combined
profits of US Steel, Dupont,
Chrysler, Westinghouse, Goodyear,
RCA, Union Carbide, Bethlehem
Steel, McDonel-Douglas, Greyhound,
Firestone, Xerox and Shell Oil.
While the top 500 corporations
earn an average annual profit of
5%, AT&T earns a 12% profit, ac-
cording to Fortune magazine.
Attacking the Bell stronghold
is not a situation that inspires
optimism. If the company danced
around one federal order, it could
probably do it again.
"But the only way to get them
to change is to keep up the pres-
sure," said Evon Stith, "*cause
they're surely not going to do it
if you don't."
"Ultimately the people's atti-
tudes in the company are going to
have to chage. The law is one
thing, but attitudes are another."
--From a reprint from The
Straight Creek Journal,
February 16-04, 1975,
9 Neil D. Klotz
* * *
To quote from a letter sent us
by Suzanne Lucy of the Women
Installers! Legal Defense & Educa-
tion Fund, "We are not asking that
men with more seniority be laid
off...We are saying that the Conm-
pany, not women, should pay for...
[their] discriminatory...policies."
Contributions can be sent to the
Fund, 1545 Tremont Place, Denver,
Colorado 80202.
THE CONTINUING SAGA OF THE COUNTY
RAPE CRISLS CENTER: :
(Answering the question, can a
group of starry-eyed political
neophytes armed only with righteous
indignation subdue the forces of a
50-year political machine?)
Chapter 2
With a strong feeling that
our side had not been heard, while
the controver-sial Acting Director
of the County Rape Crisis Center
had proceeded to set policy and
apply for funding, members of a
new coalition of Albany County
Women's groups set up a June 4th
meeting with Charles Cahill,
Chairman ot the county legislature,
to discuss the problem. Delegates
were Jean Dross,N.0.W. Rape'Task
Force, Fraya Katz of AWARE, David
Merens of AWARE, formerly of
Middle Earth, and Marilyn Rothstein,
League of Women Voters. County
Attorney Robert Roche conducted the
meeting for Chairman Cahill, with
Cahill and county legislatyr Ea
. Rerfone in‘:attendante. ©
Delegates criticised the
handling of the situation from the
very beginning, noting that
minimum qualifications for the
position of Director should have
been published along with a descrip-
tion of its duties,
The question of whether to
reconstitute the original
nominating committee was discussed
and the concept of a Board of
Directors to include members of
the women's groups and two county
legislators was proposed by the
coalition. Delegates insisted that
any Director had to be oriented
towards women's issues to be
effective.
When urged to put forth names
for the position, delegates declined
to do so immediately on the grounds
that they had not actually seen the
the applications and that first it
should be published via legal job
specifications. Also, the
coalition urged that a list of
questions drawn up by counselors
active in rape counselling be given
to the Board of Directors who would
then be able to apply an oral exam
'to applicants.
County Attorney Roche declared
that there was a good chance for
state and federal funding for the
County Center. He asked that
women's groups submit names for the
positions of Board of Directors
and Director of the County Center.
Delegates submitted professional
guidelines to the County Attorney,
then proceeded to address the County
Law Committee on how the AWARE
program had been set up and what
could be done about the confiden-
tiality issue in the reporting of
rapes. They tried to impress
the committee with the need to
set minimum qualifications for the
position of Director. They left
copies of their guideline sugges-
tions with the committee members,
along with a hope that progress had
been made.
Having anxiously awaited the
results of the previous meetings,
Friday, June 7th, brought unsettling
news in that the guidelines so
carefully prepared by members of
the coalition seemed to have been
castrated by the Law Committee into
a vague statement on confidentiality
and a Board of Directors to be
named by Chairman Cahill with no
mention of the women's groups in it.
Certain members of the legislature
suddenly became unavailable for
comment. Plus the previous days'
effort to address the Finance
Committee on the imperative not to
release any funds until a permanent,
qualified Director had been appointed
fell apart whrn the Finance Committee
walked out en-masse. At least we
were not guilty of being the cause!
Legislator Ann Rose pointed out that
once this resolution was passed,
funds could be released to the
Acting Director and a strong
suspicion that we were being" done-
in" assailed members of the coalition
Spending the entire weekend talking
Dutch to politicians, Monday came
with the question hanging over US,
shall we make a floor fight at the
1O
will be gi
’
meeting of the county legislature
tonight org,will they give us some
action to ack up their promises?
Monday noon brought a phone
call from the county attorney:
(1) the adds for the position of
Director had gone out to the papers
with coalition minimum qualifications
and job specifications included;
(2) there would be no funds released
(3) the Board of Directors would
be re-written to include members of
AWARE and N.O.W. of their own
choosing.
Now if only we could convince
the two political parties not to
ruin it all by sumabbling; if we
weren't double-crossed, if-------.- :
Tune in tomorrow for the next
chapter in the continuing saga of
the Rape Crisis Center, or can a
liberated woman find happiness
in raising the consciousness of
the Chairman of the County Legis-
lature? Is the Chairman of the
County Legislature conscious???
by Marilyn E. Rothstein
AVAZON POETRY
‘le are inviting submissions of
An Anthol
poetry to Amazon Poetry:
ogy, a collection of writing by
living lesbian poets, to be
published in the fall of “7 5.
Please send poems (typed,
8 1/2 X 11 paper) to Amazon P
496 Third Street, Brook E see
York 11215, your fan
hed previously, please indicate
this clearly on the same page as
the poem itself, so that we can
request permission to reprint.
(However, no Special preference
ven to previously publish
ed poems), Only poems accompanied
by a stamped, self-addressed
FEMINIST ECONOMIC NETWORK
“Money is the one thing femin-
pin Svar eS :
ABSELY RO ot Pate b8s 898 gargs x once
said.
"Not so!" retort the represent-
atives of the 9 existing feminist
credit unions who joined together
over Memorial Day weekend in New
Haven, Connecticut. Thirty-two
officers and staff members of the
credit unions represented their
nearly 5,000 members, at the con-
ference. These unions, all under
2 years old, control over $1 nil-
lion in assets.
A credit union is a co-operative
Soevings and loan owned by people
with a common bond or tie between
them, in this case sex discrimina-
tion. A feminist credit union
gives its members an opportunity to
share money and skills, learn to
manege money for their own inter-
ests and add to their collective
Stren Bani evement of the confer-
ence was the founding of the
Feminist “conomic Network*, an
association of feminist credit
unions designed to 1) develop and
aid the formation and growth of
feminist credit unions; 2) offer
technical assistance for new and
forming feminist credit unions;
and 3) provide ond share operation-
al information. Each of the found-
ing credit unions has assumed the
responsibility of aiding a newly-
forming "sister" credit union.
The Network will hold 2 conven-
tion for feminist credit union
members in Detroit, November 25-
28. The major item of business
will be the adoption of the trea-
tise and by-laws of the Network.
There will also be opportunities
for the exchange of information on
ell phases of credit union opera-
tions.
If the energy end excitement
expressed at the Memorial Day
conference is an indicator of the
envelope will be returned,
line: August 15, 1975.
We want lesbian poetry
visible to those presently unaw
é ar
of a vital lesbian literature: °
Dead- economic development of the fen-
inist movement, we are indeed
becoming a strong and poverful
force.
! *Contact the Feminist Economic
Network at P.O. Box 20008, Detroit,
Michigan 48220.
dt
Susan Saxe's Statement of June 9, 1975
In late March, Susan Saxe, a
was arrested in Philadelphia. On Jime
9, 1975 she plead guilty "in the
context of the laws of the United
States" to all federal charges against
her, which included aiding and abetting
in a Philadelphia bank robbery and
theft of classified government docu-
ments from a National Guard Amory.
_ Despite all the media publicity,
the real issues of the case as well as
the significance of her guilty plea
were obscured. Since Susan's statement
is the best expression there could be
of why she decided to plead guilty and
why . she believesher plea to be a
victory, Speakout would like to reprint
a portion of the statement Susan made
at the time of her arrest 3
"The most significant point of this
plea agreement is that the United ~
States government realizes that I am
not and never will be a collaborator,
I have made it clear to them that if
I em called as a witness in any govern-
ment proceeding, I will refuse to
testify. The government has agreed that
I will not be held in contempt for
this refusal. In return, I have agreed
to enter a guilty plea and receive a
ten year and a two year sentence, The
length of the sentences is a direct
result of my refusal to talk,"
Susan Saxe's guilty plea and refusal
to talk is particularly important to
system can peacefully accommodate théir
feminist demands and that women as women
have no obligation to support or protect
revolutionary, a lesbian and a feminist any peoples! struggle that is not explic~
itly feminist in idéology or even™
separatist in practice. These women feel
that it is permissible, even desirable,
to collaborate with the state in the
name of feminism, and that it is in the
interest of feminist revolution to dis-
sociate itself from any forces or
individuals which are idéntified as
enemiesof the state on the assumption
that it is we who bring down. state
repression on a movement that othertrise
could domfortably exist within the belly
of the beast,"
"On tke other hand, alfe we women whose
growth into feminism has madd us even
more détermined not to givé in, not to
accommodate ourselves to Amerika,not
to collaborate against sitters and
brothers who are our natural allies in
revolution, not to repudiate our past, cut
ourselvés off at our own roots, Forme,
feminism is a commitment to be even more
radidal, to strike more déeply at the
root of our oppression. My feminism ~
does not make me regreb economic "crimes"
against one institution of capitalism;
it makes me even more détermined to see
that whole system uprooted forever, . ."
The Susan Saxe Defense Fumd néeds
help. Checks may be addressed to SUSAN
SAXE DEFENSE FUND, c/o LAWYER'S GUILD,
a@427 Walnut Street, Philadélphia, Pa,
"The Iove that I share with my
her sisters and brothers in Philadelpliia.sisters, my people, is a far more power=
It will mean an end to the F.B.I.s
investigation there—lno grand jury,
no barboring prosecutions, no legal
torture for sisters who refuse to
speak to tke FEI," The women's and
gay communities have suffered much
harassment in other parts of the
country even inefore Susan's presence
in Philadelphia was known and her
refusal to testify against other
feminists is an important one,
Susan Saxe believes that women have
a right to self-determination and a
(Editor's note:
ful weapon than any the police state
can bring to bear against us, What else
can I day but, once again, that I love
you, We are strong and we are not afraid!
As a feminist and oné of
our sisters, Susan Saxe deserves to be
heard, regardldss of whether we agree
with her or not,)
HRHHHH HK
right to a new world of our om creation,
She talks of the split that has
developed in thé women's movement
around this issue,
"Qn the one hand are womeri who like
Jane Alpert feel that the Amerikan 43
Professional Women Around the World
Discussed at Kirkland College Symposium
Clinton, New York -— The women's move~
ment is global, although the degree of
involvement and success varies around
the world. This was the general consen-
sus of the participants in Kirkland
College's International Wemen's Year
Symposium, enthtled "The Professional
Woman: An International Perspective,"
The panel of women, mostly profess—
ionals in international development with
the United Nations and the Overseas
Education Fund of the League of Women
Voters, spoke about the conditions and
roles of women in Arab Countries, Latin
fmerican nations, Africa, China, |
Yugoslavia, Mali and Senegal.
Of the emergent African woman, Carole
ine Koroma, program management officer,
Human Resources Projects Section of the
Africa Branch of the Office of Technical
Cooperation of the United Nations, said,
"Within her community she has a great
task. She is regarded as a freak,
because in traditional Africa we are
supposed to be breeding machines or
farmers or provide men with the where~
withal to sit in their hammocks and swing
and smoke their pipes and talk shop.
This has changed. We feel that we have
let our men, for such a long time,
dominate and we don't want to say that
we haven't seen progress, but we think
we can contribute more,"
She added that the emergent African
woman wants to "open doors and to work
side by side with men to contribute to
the development of Africa,"
One of the things the emergent
African woman is trying to do is to tell
the world that her country is not over~
populated, "The United States can fit
into Africa twice," Ms. Koroma said,
"And I don't think it is fair for the
United States and Africa to have the same
population." She explained that educate
ing her people so that they will space
out their children was a desire of
the emergent African woman,
In contrast, Sister Caridad Inda,
editor of "Intercambio," a Spanish—
language newsletter distributed by the
Overseas Education Fund of the League
of Women Voters, said women continue to
hold an inferior position in Latin
America, although some gains have been
made recently. To what extent male
+ | a
dominancy is determined by the men acting
as "gatekeepers" or by the women's own
self-inflicted restrictions has not been
determined.
Sister Caridad further explained that
the power lies in the hands of a small
number of males in Latin America, and
that many men, as well as women, have
been "objects not subjects of history."
Zofia Sierpinski, a program officer
for UNICEF, who has been stationed in
Dakar, Senegal, spoke about the growing
number of professional women in Senegal -
and Mali, Women, she said, are teachers,
social workers, nurses, dodtors, business
women, lawyers, judges, and in this large
ly agrarian society, farmers. "Under the
law the woman has gained equal rights,"
she said, "Yet tradition as well as harsh
economic realities create a great deal
of stumbling blocks in the implementation
of equality with men." For example,
young girls are usually forced to end
their education earlier than young boys
because of the great distance of travel
to schools and the lack of dormitories,
In her portrayal of women in Yugo-~
slavia, Vera Petnicki said that women
become equal with men during World War II
' when the women worked in the factories,
hospitals and schools and fought in the
fields, Ms. Petnicki is a native Yugo-
slavian and wife of the counselor of the
Permanent Mission of Yugoslavia,
"Being equal during the war, our
women decided to stay equal in peace and
fight for the liberation of the country,"
says Ms, Petnicki, Women's health center
free maternity care, maternity leaves,
day care centers, schools and supervised
after-school activities make it possible
for women in Yugoslavia to combine the
responsibilities of career and family.
And, Ms. Petnicki pointed out, the
emancipation of Yugoslavian men and their
increasing willingness to share domestic
duties are encouragements to women in
Yugoslavia,
Women also have equal access to
education and professions in China,
according to Bon—yu Chu, a translator for
the United Nations. "Chinese women now
work, study and take part in social and
phlitical activities along with the men.
Instead of confining their vision inside
of their homes as in the past, they are
now more concerned about the affairs of
the state and of the world,”
Lina Ribhi Hamadeh, a social develop-
ment officer in the International Women's
Year Secretariat of the United Nations
it ke
Kirkland College Symposium, cont'd. her husband, Henry Blackwell, As a part
of the wedding ceremony they read a
attempted to correct some of the myths t t
of hie tua leab waren ‘ancakal inthe statement of protest of the laws which
The deny married women a legal existence, °
people and the media of the West, She did not take her husband's name.
veiling of women, polygamous marriages —
and the bride price are decreasing in When she was challenged by authorities
frequency in the Arab states, but are she offered to call herself Lucy Stone,
; : Wife of Henry Blackwell, Although there
eee pee ry Ree jay ates, was no law requiring women to take their
: ; husband's name and in spite of the fact
which have the highest rate of urban-
ization in the world, hl yo that she owned property and paid taxes
college and have entered a variety of as Lucy Stone the authorities refused to
professions, although polities do not recognize the existence of Lucy Stone as
‘ a voter in school elections,
seem to interest Arab women,
In many Arab states women have The marriage was a long and happy
me . ’ one. Henry said so. She died of cancer
political rights, yet in other states in 1893. Before she died she told her
neither men nor women have any rights, daughter, " Make the world better,"
ret pee . bodes one eee nee ay d During the 1920s Lucy Stone societies
not receive indep oo A GE le Ste were formed. Members, Called Lucy Stoners
1938, Ms. Hamadeh reports, " We are Bt Pee names after marriage,
going through rapid transition in which | } think Sepsis: Steet Peer eP
we have to jump from=-in some places ¥
like Saudi Arabia~~almost thirteenth ig a
century society to the twenty~first," pocamp
The symposium, which was held on HHHHHHKHHKHRHKRHHRHE KR HHH HK
May 4 on the Kirkland College campus, ‘ ,
marked the tenth anniversary of the Goddard ~ Cambridge feminist Studies
7 : ‘ Program
sche iat lake foe eee ee agi The Goddard— Cambridge Feminist Studies
one of a series of events at the college Program is beginning its 6th year in
: September, 1975. Goddard—Cambridge is a
z ’
Ta. observance of International Women's Gradua of Goddard College.
Year.
Two of the participants in Kirkland Vermont, and offers an accreditdd MeA,
: , Degree. Collective as well as individual ~~
t
Nations Taternatienal Weneete fon"! work 48 important, Studente in the Progra
Conference in Mexico in June, They are required to reside in the Boston area,
ware Slater Caridad Inda anit on=yu Chu. Each student enrolls in a project and algo
participates in some school governance
Dal activity. An extensive field project in
eae sth of Public Rela~7OUr project field is required at the end™
oi oe ae at and College °f the year. The Feminist Studies Program
7 is cohesive to the extent that all of the.
faculty and students are feminists, but
the projects vary widely in their assump-
tions, priorities and focus, as does the
Lucy Stone was born on August 13, = wonents movement in general. The year's
Dear Speakout,
1818, During her childhood she was tuition is $2,500, Applications for 1975/
offended by the preference shown her 1975 will be accepted through July. Fo
older brother and by the discrimination more information, contact: we
against all women but especially Feminist Studies Program
married women, She decided to get an Goddard—Cambridge Graduate School
education, teach as a living but never 5 Upland Road
to marry. She didn't count on the Cambridge, Mass, 02140 (617-192-0700)
persuasiveness of Henry Blackwell,
brother of the first woman in this Projects for 1975~1976 include: ~
country (perhaps modern times) $o earn @ pBiack Women and American Society, Feminist
medical diploma, He argued long and — Theory: Sociological and Psychological
hard, from 1853 to 1855, | . | Dimensions, Lesbian Culture, Studids in
Lucy Stone didn't promise to obey the Female Psyche, Theory and Practice of
Feminist Journalism and others,
st
~~ '
ee ee ee ee, ee ee ee ee ee ee EE ee
. WOMEN'S COUNSELLING COLLECTIVE
*
WHERE: 332 HUDSON AVENUE
WHEN: MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 6PM to 9PM
SWITCHBOARD NUMBER: 462-6739
PHILOSOPHY:
The purpose in forming this collective was to provide peer and
professional counselling, support groups and other self-help services
for all women in the Tri-Cities area regardless of their age, race.
religion, sexual orientation or ability to pay. IN addition we also
aim to create a better liason with exbisting social services in an
effort to aid them in bettering women-Oriented procedures.
In expanding an atmosphere of support, empathy, and guidance, we
hope .to provide an opportunity for all women to integrate themselves
as whole human beings with a total potential of healthiness and
productivity.
WHAT SERVICES DO WE OFFER?
1. We have a staff of twelve peer counselors. Two women staff the
center every week night, and are there to talk to any woman who comes
to the second floor counselling office.
PROFMSSIONAL COUNSELLING: We have available on the staff, two psychiatric
soc.ai workers and one psychologist. We can also refer women to area
pro.sssionals that we know to be the most cooperative and effective with
WOME Te
ERT SiS LINE: Our counselors are present Monday through Friday, 6PM to
gr to answer all crisis calls (462-6739). If we cannot handle the
problem cirectly, we will connect the woman with someone who can.
JOB COUNSELLING: We have on call a job counselor who has offered her
services to a limited number of women.
Do THERAPY ENCOUNTER GROUPS: We offer group therapy sessions to any
women who are interested. Two professional counselors facilitate the
group. There is now one group presently functioning.
WOMAN'S SUPPORT GROUPS: We will set up Women in support (CR) groups
With ctheor women of similiar interests. It is our belief that many women
can find answers and support in their individual lives just through
communication with their sisters.
The @ollective offers other services such as an information bank on
women's activities in the area, and skills workshops for women, and
marital counselling. To find out more about the Collective services,
call the Switchboard number: 462-6739.
The Rebel Girl -- Book Review
The Rebel Girl, an autobiography of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (1690-
1964), displays the life of an active labor acnmutanr. first, and
a woman, second. These two roles that she pihayed preved to be
inseparable, however, In a look at her childhood it becomes
clear that she was weaned on feminism. Her mother was an early
advocate, having attended lectures by Susan B, Anthony, Frances
Willard, Frederick Douglas, Dr. Mary Walker, and Charles Stuart
Parnell, all active defenders of women's rightse Ms. Flynn describes
her mother as being one who "rebelled against the endless monotony
of woments household tasks, and after her marriage remained at
work in the tailoring establishment as long as she could get care~-
takers for her children." She remembers her mother shocking her ine
laws and neighbors by having women doctors in to treat her children.
All of this exposure to feminism had a direct effect on Flynn's
choice of acquaintances as well as her interests during her early |
years. Her first boyfriend was a boy by the name of Fred Robinson,
sone of Dr. William J. Robinson, a pioneer advocate of birth control
long before Ms. Margaret Sanger became its chief spokesperson. Her
father, who belonged to various socialist organizations, influenced
her interests as well. Once combined, her socialist and feminist
values became inseparable. Her first speech, made before the
Harlem Socialist Club at age sixteen, was entitled "What Socialism
Will Do For Womene" This was the spark that began a lifetime of
firey speeches concerning the labor movement, and the role of wmen
in a socialist society.
Although her efforts were concentrated on labor reform, Flynn's
womanhood often proved to be a barrier giving her no choice but to
be a feminist. She, as well as many other active women, was
constantly criticized for being too aggressive. Such opposition
was generated from all areas including fellow union organizers:
"Many union leaders like Samuel Gompers, . . » did not consi der
women workers organizable or dependable." There was even opposi-
tion found within the socialist movement. When Ella Reeve Bloor
was first proposed as an organizer in 1905, “two Catholic Socialists
objected on the ground that she was @ divorced woman. Some object=
ed simply because she was 4 womane" Ms. Fiynn tells of one of her
experiences during the Lawrence textile strike of 1912 in which
she was the only English speaking organizer present at a meeting
taking place in a Greek Catholic church, Although the Greek priest
recognized the labor struggle, he objected to her speaking due
to an archaic dogma. They were finally able to convince him that
she spoke as an organizer and not aS @ womane
The Lawrence textile strike was a monumental incident in labor
history,and the feminist movement played a significant role in its
SUCCESS.
The women wrked in the mills for lower pay and in
addition had all the housework and care of the children.
The old world attitude of man as “Lord and master” was
strong. At the end of the day's work--or now, of strike
duty-=the man went home and sat at ease while his wife
did all the work preparing the meal, cleaning the house,
etc. There was considerable opposition to women going
to meetings and marching on the picket line.
Ms. Flynn goes on to explain how these conditions were detrimental
to the success of the strike, and how they had special IWW
meetings for the women to try to alleviate this situation.
Education of the people in equality of the sexes was a vital aspect
of many labor movements, because women's strength was significant
when compared to the strength of the union as a whole.
Af
~i e
a ee~Eeer—sSe
ee ee ee ee eee
Rebel Girl, cont'd.
While facing constant conflict in her public life due to her
sex, Ms. Flynn also faced pressure in her private life. At seven-
teen, she fell in love with an organizer of the Western Federation
of Miners and married him. Two years later, after having spent
little time with him, and pregnant with his child, he demanded that
she settle down with him.
A domestic life and possibly a large family had no
attractions for me. My mother's aversion to both
had no doubt affected me profoundly. . . I saw no
reason why I as a woman, should give up my work for his...
So she refused his demand, and decided to continue to expend her
efforts in the labor movement where she knew she was badly needed.
Without her mother who was willing to care for her new son while
She traveled, however, she might have had no choice but to settle
down.
Her open love affair with a fellow organizer later in her life
illustrates the sexual freedom that she felt, which was extremely
unusual for the time.
I was still legally married to Jones, and Carlo
Tresca was separated but not divorced from his
wife. We lived and worked together for the next
13 years--until 1925. This was according to our
code at that time--not to remain with someone you
did not love, but to honestly and openly avow a
real attachment.
|
When this affair was discovered and hit all the New York newspapers
as a hidden IWW romance, one striker comforted her embarrassment
when he said, "Don't you care. It helps to advertize our strike."
Such cooperation was not rare, however, despite all of her
opposition. Many leaders of the suffragette movement, although
often disagreeing with her radical political views, supported
her right to free speech and sometimes demonstrated or marched in
the labor fights. Elizabeth Freeman, a Suffrage leader, led a
group of pickets in 1914 around the Standard Oil offices in New
York in protest of the murder conviction of John Lawson, which was
the result of a strike that he organized for the United Mine
Workers Union.
Ms. Flynn had many admirers, both male and female, who
respected her courage as a labor agitator, and as a liberated
woman in an unliberated society. These friends provided some of
the moral and financial support that was much needed and apprec-
iated at the most trying moments in her life and travels.
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was a remarkable woman. She was a
feminist, though her main cause was the labor Struggles of her
time. This phenomenon occurs very often when a woman pioneers
in a field; however, in this case, there is a direct correlation
between her socialist beliefs and her feminist beliefs. Equal
rights for women as well as birth control are advantageous to
the class struggle that the labor movement represented. Solidarity
was a vital tool of the masses; solidarity between the sexes, as
well as solidarity among nationalities and religions. The insepara-
bility of the socialist movement from the feminist movement seems
quite obvious. However, it is not obvious to many people today, and
it was even less obvious during the ‘life-of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn.
She posed a threat to the status quo in many ways, and therefore,
had many enemies. 4F
GROUP NEWS
RENSSELAER COUNTY RAPE CRISIS CENTER
The Rensselaer County Legis-
lature has approved a resolution
which will fund the county's first
rape crisis center, The center was
given$1.225 for operating expenses
for the remainder _of the year,
It will be staffed by volunteers
and will operate wWrom Leonard
Hospital in Troy.
Training sessions for volun-
teers are expected to start some-
time at the end of July. Those
interested may contact Liz Craiglow
at 2743930.
ALBANY AREA NOW
Albany Area NOW will hold their
next meeting on August 13th, 7:30pm
at the
Albany.
celebration of Lucy Stone's birth-
Emmanuel Baptist Church in
The meeting will be in
day. Lucy Stone was one of
America's earliest feminists. Since
she was one of the first women who
fought for (and won) the right to
keep her birth name after her
marriage, part of the meeting will
deal with this subject, Alternatives
to the traditional marriage ceremony
will also be a topic of discussion,
Refreshments - a birthday party -°
will follow.
* * * * * * * *
SCHENECTADY RAPE CRISIS CENTER
Members of the Schenectady
Rape Crisis Center have met with
representatives of the Schenectady
Police Department in an effort to
The
police department has agreed to
Clarify their relationship.
work with the Rape Crisis Center in
cases of rape when the victim
requests the Center's assistance.
The Center is forming a Speaker's
Bureau this fall. Members of the
Bureau will be available to speak
to area groups on the topic of
rape.
On July 24, two members of the
Schenectady Center, along will
two members of ALBANY WOMEN AGAINST
RAPE, will discuss the topic of
rape on WGY radio station program
CONTACT.
LESBIANS FOR LIBERATION
Anyone interested in
contacting LFL may call the Women's
Counseling Collective at 4626739.
WOMEN'S DAY
Plans are being made for ¢pig
years celebration of National
Women's Day to be held in Washington
Park. The festival is scheduled
The festival
committee has not yet chosen a
theme but publicity for the ERA
is one of the chief concerns.
for August 2h,
Several sub-committees have been
43
2 Ee
More Group News-------~----
organized -- such as financial,
publicity, arts and crafts, organ-
ization and service, entertainment,
child care, photography, mainten-
ance and space planning. Volunteers
are very much needed to staff the
committees. Only a few @roups were
represented at the last meeting.
The Women's Day Committee hopes
more women's groups will become
involved. Help is needed! Only
a month remains before the Festival,
Anyone interested in working on
Women's Day should contact Nancy
Newhouse at 271-6259,
WOMEN'S CENTER
The Women's Center will have
its new quarters at he YWCA in
Albany. Hopefully, this move will
take place in September. The Center
will be occupying six rooms and will
have a separate entrance. Anyone
interested in coming to see our
future Women's Center, may do soe
on Thursdays between llam and 1 pm.
This area of space is currently
known as the Piccadilly Shop and is
open at that time.
Financial pledges are still
needed for the Women's Center and
may be sent to Donna O'Higgins at
449 State Street, Albany.
47
ALBANY COUNTY RAPE CRISIS CENTER
Regarding the subject of
Confidentiality:
By law, The County Rape
Crisis Center must report all
known rape cases to a law
enforcement agency such as the
District Attorney's office or
the police. Reports to the D.A.'s
office have a degree of confiden-
tiality, whereas those to the
police are available to the public
under the Freedom of Information
Act. The legal committee of the
County Legislature has approved
a plan by which the Director of
the Rape Crisis Center would
discuss each case with the D,A.'s
office. If the victim elected to
testify, all of the Center's
information about her case would
be given to the D.A,;s office.
If the victim were not willing
to testify, the rapist could not
be prosecuted,
The Albany County Rape Crisis
Center is accepting applications
for the position of Director,
Those interested in obtaining a
list of the qualifications for the
position may request this from
the County Legislature at the
County Court House in Albany.
& * * * x % % *
Wanted: Female roomate, about 25
years of age to share large house
with married couple. Includes
own furnished bedroom. $75 per
month plus utilities. Call Fraya
at 6 5-2084 cy
FREE ENTERPRISE
The cost of starting any kind of competing newspaper or
magazine is astronomical. In an era when publications of all kinds
are dropping dead in the streets, women have, with practically no
resources, started publishing ventures, newspapers, magazines and
newsletters. Such ventures depend upon the time and energy of very
few people, there are constant problems with finances and distribu-
tion, and the future is always in doubt.
Women's papers are usually classified as "alternative" or
even "underground." In some circles our publications would not be
covered under the First Amendment, which the U.S. Supreme Court has
been whittling away at for the last few years. The American Bar
Association voted against a resolution favoring a@ press shield law,
one attorney saying that journalists were too loosely defined and
would include "a 16-year-old college drop-out or a member of the
underground press." In other words, freedom of the press does not
exist; just as the giant newspapers decide what is news and what is
not, the law can decide who is a@ journalist and who is not. If
women aren't news, they may not be journalists either.
-~-Reprinted with permission from
Yomen In Struggle
P.O. BOX 324
Winneconne, Wisconsin 54986
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ctober
ie WES
O
Vol.
F- Ww fh F&F
SPEAKOUT: A , FEMINIST JOURNAL
V No. Ix October, 1975
Table of Contents
ERA for Women--Women's Day 1975 -- Cheryl Shenkle
The Feminist Alliance -- Carol Reid
From a Feminist Librarian -- Christine Root
An Interview With Fraya Katz, Director of the Albany County
Rape Crisis Center -- Denni Fingerman
Letters to Speakout
The "Girls"! -- Carolyn Dissosway
Marriage, Divorce and The Family -- from the Newsletter of the
Same name
The Housewife/Student/Mother Syndrome -- Anne Powhida
Poetry: Surprised?
The Inheritance 50th by Joan Fernandes
Book Review: Hillbilly Women by Kathy Kahn -- Cheryl Shenkle
Group News -- Mary Gallagher
Cover design by Penny Kurtz
Workers for this issue: Rezsin Adams, Janice Barbuto, Ellen Deutschman,
Mary Gallagher, Maxine Gootzeit, Susan Lasher,
Carol Reid, Christine Root, Cheryl Shenkle,
Janet Warner
Bookstore Distribution -- contact Susan Lasher
Albany -- Susan Lasher and Christine Root -- New Times Center,
Planned Parenthood, Seven Arrows Bookstore, The Store,
SUNYA Bookstore, Unitarian Bookstore, YWCA
Schenectady -- Susan Chelius -- Family and Women's Advocacy
Service, The Open Door, YWCA
Troy -- Nikki Svolos -- The YWCA is considering Speakout. The
Hudson Valley Community College and Russell Sage book-
stores are not willing to carry it. If you wish they
would, please let them know.about it.
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year. Single
copies are 35¢. Advertising is $10 per quarter page, {$18 per half page, and
$30 for a whole page.
SPEAKOUT
P.O. Box 6165
Albany, New York 12206
ERA for Women ~~ Women's Day 1975
The fourth annual Women's Day
festival washeld again this year in
Washington Park thanks to a group of
four dedicated, hard-working women.
Rose Baker, Nancy Newhouse, Nikki Svolos
and Yvette Middleton deserve our congrat-
ulations for their work on this year's
festival, In June it was beginning to
look as though there wasn!t enough
support among the women's community
to have a festival, At one point the
festival was almost cancelled but the
determined steering committee didn't
give Upe
Unfortunately when the rain forced
the festival to be postponed, some of
the events and speakers had to be
cancelled, Several organizations—
Women In Sports, Albany Community School,
Women In Prison, League of Women Voters,
Tri-Cities Women's Center, N.O.W.,.
Planned Parenthood, AWARE, Forum for
Women in New York State Government-—-
were represented and literature was
available at each booth, A new group
was represented this year—Wheels to
Independence, It was organized to help
wheelchair users and other disabled
persons help themselves toward broader
opportunities and greater independence,
Its objectives are to increase public
understanding of the needs and capabil-
ities of the wheelchair user, to premote
changes that will benefit wheelchair
users and esther handicapped persons and
to encourage exchange of information
and ideas among wheelchair users and
those concerned with their rehabilitatien
Wheels was giving away ccekies to anyone
who would spend 5 minutes in the wheel-
chair.
Handmade jewelry, pettery, weaving,
"katydids? stuffed dolls and animals
were for sale, The Women's Center
had a little bit cf everything at their
flea market.
Music was previded by Medusa
Muzic frem New Yerk, Their music was
excellent and attracted quite a crewd
on the grass. Most ef them seemed te
be people who ceme to the park every
Sunday to hear a concert. It wculd be
interesting to find out how many could
have come just for the festival, We
should thank Jeri Goldstein for her
superb handling of the sound system.
(Dreme Sound was afraid that we would not
have a capable "man" to run their
system.) Sunday morning it waw beginning
: |
to look as though we might have to
share the electrical outlet with a
male band aleo scheduled for the same
day. The Park Commissioner had told them
they too could use the park. However,
since eur festival had been planned for
months, the other bank agreed to take
their cemplaint to the Commissioner.
The Reverend Megora Kennedy from
the Metropolitian Cemmunity Church in
New York spoke for a few minutes on the
ERA, Diane Meriah spoke about the
women's eemmunity in Albany (or lack of
same), Rezsin Adams spoke about her
legislative campaign, (Rezsin is :unning
on the Independent ticket in November )
and lastly Teresa Cocke gave her usual
dynamic speech on wemen running for
office in Albany Ccunty. As wth most
politicians (male) Ms. Cenke made a
peint of mentioning that the women
rumning fer office were mothers of many
children. Apparentiy that must be a
real vote getter,
Special thanks to Ruth Pelham, the
announcer, who kept the festival going.
Thanks also to all who participated, It
was a good festival. Anyone who has
comments on how to improve the festival
next year can send them to Speakeut.
Cheryl Shenkle
= + 2's 2
We were astounded by the June 30th
press release we received from the office
of Assemblyman Seymour Posner (D~Bronz).
Some excerpts frllow:
Assemblyman Posner, chairman of the
Labor Committee, is sponsoring the
measure which .would require all public
works contractors to include a provision
in their contracts that would prohibit
out-cf-~state contractors from discrim-
inating against employees because of
race, creed, color, or national origin.
"The bill passed by the Assembly
would close this gaping loophole in the
hardwon battle for complete equality for
all ‘people in New York State," according
to Pesner,
Mr. Posner seems to have forgetten
that women, too, are people. Perhaps
passage of the ERA will jog his memory.
HHH HHH MH H
.
The Feminist Alliance
Ti: SUNYA Women's Liberation
Group has changed its name to the
Feminist Alliance as a gesture of
newness, freshness, end energy;
olso, because Molliance” connotes
banding together against a common
oppression as opposed to the
unfortunately often understood
meaning of "liberation" as a
personal solution (eug>...T don’t
need a novement, I've always
been Liberated"); and because we
are sick of being dismissed as
"women's libbers" (of course, it's
not inconceivable that ve night
start hearing ourselves referred
to as "fem allies" or something-
but that would require a little
nore imagination, I think, which
reactionaries are notably short
One
The Feminist Allience held
its first meeting on September
10 and was quite successful in
getting women to enthusiastically
sign up for various committees.
The Grievance Committee
will soon be functioning as an
agency to which students can
pring formal complaints (the
forms will be available in the
Canpus Center) regarding sexist
practices or reuarks by faculty
members, administrators, or any
university-connected agencies.
These complaints will be dealt
vith by the committee depending -
on their severity and number by
yvarning letters or personal visits
+o the tescher, etc. involved or,
if thet fails, by taking it to
Affirmative Aiction. The
Grievance Committee plans to
yublish a booklet at the end of
the year to advise students of
the sexist/feminist reputations
of eny professors they nisht be
consicering. It would 2@l1so
include statistical information
about women (stucents end
employees) at the university.
~ “Tne Student Government
Liason Committee tants to
establish communication with
Student Association officers,
Central Council, and its
associated committees.
vonen from the Feninis
are running for Central
Four
+ Alliance
Council
Ps
as part of a Coalition which
includes students from Fuerza
Latine and DOPSA. This committee
feels that it is essential to put
women end minority students on
Central Council since the Council
has heretofore shown itself to be
very insensitive in terms or
drastic budget cuts to Fuerza
Tatina, GOPSA, Feminist Allience;
and Peace Project (resultantly
defunct.) Another part of the
Tiason Committee is concerned
with setting up a communicotions
system with both on-campus groups
and outside comaunity groups of
interest to SUNYA women (e.g.
Speakout, The Tri-City Women's
Genter, The Women's Counselling
Collective, AWARE, Encourage
Girls Organized Sports, Russell
Sage Women's Studies Dept., the
Peace Project, BOPSA, NYPIRG,
Fuerza Latina, the ‘Jomen's Caucus
and serving as a referral agency
for SUNYA women. They also plan
to be involved in lobbying for
passage of the GRA.
The Women's Center Resource
Committee has as its goal the
establishamt of a federally
funded (under Title IX) and
profession-lly run ‘Vomen's Center
on campus. The Athena Committee
puts out the Feminist Alliance's
binonthly newsletter. Both
workers and contributors are
sreatly needed. The Consciousness
Raising Committee is setting up
C-R sroups for interested women.
The Sports Committee is
investigating the physical
education program at SUNYA in terns
of what opportunitics do or do not
exist for women vho vant to play
sports. They want to elevate the
Lov status of tvomen's sports as
evidenced by the virtuel invisibil
ity of women athletes on the sport:
peces of the ASP as well as the
numerous instences of women's
sports not being taken seriously
by the university itself (e.g.
wonen, unlike men, can not £et
Lab schedules changed in order to
accommodate their practice times.)
They also vant to set up a fund
for women othletes in finencial
ATT ‘\
need at SUNYA. Cont.)
)
aie ee ee ee ee
The Committee for Deeling with
the Rape Problem on Campus plans
tt do that by workins in conjunct-
ion vith AWARE as well as campus
security and by educating the
universityas to the incidence of
rape on camnus and what can be
done to prevent it.
The Publicity Committee feels
that the Allieonce's image in the
eyes of the rest of the university
anc the community is vital to its
success. ‘hey need artists, PR
women, end anyone who has contacts
with any groups which vould likely
interest or be interested in the
SUNYA Feninist Alliance.
If you are interested, contact
the folloving people:
Grievance- Jill Shepard- 438-4260
Student Gov't.— Hlie Axelroth-
465-7142
Liason- Judy Tilienfeld- 463-2559
Center- Andrea Carson-
465-7142
Athene- lilonica Robinson=- 489-4848
C-R- Lynne Ambrose- 489-4848
Sports- Lisa Greenberg= 457-7816
Rape on Campus- Teri Holbrook-
489-4848
Publicity-— Nonica Robinson
489-4848
President—- Diana Woolis-— 449-3830
VYomen's
Carol Reid
% x x % x *
FROM A F°MINIST LIBR ‘RIAN
Pick'n and Sing'n Gotherin is
planning to vrint songs in its
monthly newsletter appropriate to
the Bicentennial Yerr. Since women
also helped to found this country,
perhans Sperkout readers con submit
some eorly American folk songs of
our foremothers. Send song titles
and words to Kethy Vestra, 8 Lind-
bergh Drive, Lathem, NY 12110.
Kathy will vork on transcribing the
songs.
For those readers trying to fine
prosrans that sare appropriate in’-
this Bicentennial end International
VYomen*s Year, here are three
suggsestions--=
America's History in Song, a
program exploring American history
through the folk song tredition.
Avoilable for coffee houses,
J
ee ne ee Int eee ee ee er Ce ee ee
schools, and clubs. For further
inform tion ond booking, contact
Joon Pelton or Kathy Vestra at
(518) 785-1703. I'll bet they
could emphasize vomen in American
history if requested.
Dutch Women in Albany--Dr. Sherry
Penny has researched the position
of vomen in lei Werk, Particularly
the stetus of Dutch tronen in
Albany in the 17th Century.
Penny is 2 notec speaker and
historian ond has given a number
of talks in the tri-cities area
on ionen in Higher Uducation,
VYomen in Americon Politics, and
VYomen in History. She cen be
contected at the Uducation
Depertment in Albany, (518)
474-2593.
Vomen Pocts--Poets end Writers
hes received - grant of $72,500
from the Ne York State Council on
the Arts to help supplement fecs
for vriters to give readings or
workshops in New York State. A
good number of the participating
poets end -riters ore vonen. For
further information end a list of
porticipeting -rtists, contact:
Poets and Vriters, 201 ‘est 54th
Street, Ne’ York, Ney York 10019,
or call (212) Plhaga7-1766.
HEHEHE IE HEH
Inform-tion from COSHMEP, the
Committce of Small lilagazine
Sditors and Publishers
Dr,
First of <ll, ve at speakout
vould like to vish Judy Hogen our
best as the new Chairone of
COSITEP's Board of Directors. Judy
Hogan took a personel interest in.
two Speakout staffers who were
"homeless" one night at COSMEPts
1974 conference held in Ne York
City. Judy Hogan--we love you.
Moving out, a feninist literary
and arts journal, «ould like to
receive small press books written
by vomen for reviev. Send to 169
Mack Hall, ‘Jayne State U., Detroit,
Michigan 48202,
Gravida, Box 76, Hertsdale, NY.
10550, would like manuscripts—
poetry with fanily/relative/influace
themes.
--Christine Root
ee en ee = —
AN INTERVIEW WITH FRAYA KATZ, DIRECTOR OF THE ALBANY COUNTY
RAPE CRISIS CENTER
On September 18, 1975, Fraya Katz
was appointed Director of the Albany
County Rape Crisis Center. This was
the culMination of several years of
long, hard work by Ms. Katz and lots
of political pressure by the communi-
ty. Ms. Katz's appointment followed
the resignation of Mimi Kindlon in
July $ 1975-6
Ms. Katz, 34, a native of Rochester,
N.Y., came to the Albany area in
1971, and hooked up with the women's
movement here. She has an academic
background, with a doctorate oe
English from SUNY at Buffalo, has
taught college, and did research on
the discrimination against women in
the university. Ms. Katz became ac-
tive in a number of projects,
including Speakout and Capital
District Women. During the '72-'73
year, Ms. Katz and other women in
C.D.W. formed a study group on rape
and began finding out what was going
on in Albany County by talking to
people like Mayor Corning and the Po-
lice Department and by researching
rape crisis centers in other cities.
During this time, Ms. Katz, who was
active in Refer Switchboard, was
called on by Refer to do her first
rape crisis counselling.” She began
to see what was lacking in the hos-
pitals that dealt with victims, in
the way evidence was collected, in
the availability of anti-pregnancy
and V.D. information. She realized
the need by rape victims for moral
support and information. At this
point, basically on her own, she
spoke to various women's groups
throughout the Capital District, and
was instrumental in the formation of
Schenectady's Rape Crisis Center.
It was at Women's Day, 1974, at.
which Ms. Katz spoke, that a list
of women was drawn up which became
the base of AWARE (Albany Women
Against Rape).
an organization finally began shaping
up. The membership represents a wide
spectrum of women, and of the eighty
Or so members, there are twenty-five
to thirty trained counselors. The
group is a voluntary body of women
interested in the problem of rape,
who began putting pressures on poli-
ticians to get funding for a County
rape crisis center. A citizen board
was formed but its input was ignored
Center "was on its way."
After a year's effort,
by the County, which then appointed
a woman to head a County rape crisis.
center in May, 1975. Her qualifica-
tions, according to Ms. Katz, were
questionable. AWARE then formed a
coalition with many area women's
groups, lobbied the County Legisla-
ture, and went to the media to
apply pressure for the resignation
of the acting director, which was
effected in July, 1976.
A Board of Directors was formed
with days. edges eam from the vari-
ous women's groups, the community,
and the County Legislature. This
Board has the power to hire the dir-
ector, approve budgets and any major
changes in policy. Ms. Katz drew up
a series of guidelines which were
accepted by the Board of Directors,
funds were released by the County,
and by the second Monday in Septem-
ber, the Albany County Rape Crisis
The Center
is now in the process of setting up
its offices, which will be located
in the Albany YWCA, and the County
will be taking over the Albany Women
-Against Rape hotline.
AWARE will be
working for the Albany County Rape
Crisis Center, while maintaining its
identity as a voluntary group.
Although it will take several weeks
before the office is fully set up,
the Center's services are now in
Operation because of the continuation
Of AWARE. Ms. Katz has a newly hired
assistant, Carol Glowinsky, and is in
the process of hiring an associate
director.
When asked her reaction to being
named director of the Center, Ms.
Katz said it was one of "overwhelming
joy and surprise--I never thought it
would happen." Now that political
differences have been resolved and
the County is pleased with the Center
and its new director, the women's
community must push for continuance
of the Center, which is only funded
for four months, as well as Ma. Katz':
position.
Ms. Katz takked about the creation
recently of a "Center for the Preven-
tion and Control of Rape! under the
National Institute of Mental Health,
which will mean the availability of
about $10 million in funds for
iy, COCR RUE SS and research projects.
Continued on page 5
An Interview with Fraya Katz,
Continued from page
Ms. Katz is eager to explore avenues
which will provide more services, more
staff and projects for the Center and
other community agencies. Ms. Katz's
excitement is contagious and under-
standable--many people may be unaware,
as I was, that the Albany County
Rape Crisis Center is not only the
first time a women's project has been
funded in this area, but is only the
second center in the U.S. that is
supported by county funds. So keep
in touch with your County representa-
tives and keep up the pressure.
Support the Albany County Rape Crisis
Center$
--Denni Fingerman
KEEKREEHKKEEKKEKEKEKREKKKKEKKKEKERHKKREK KKH EKHHE
LETTERS TO SPEAKOUT
Sandlake, New York
18 September, 1975
Dear Ms/Miss/Madam(?):
Please renew my subscription for
. another year. I admire the dedication
of the women working on the Journal
and especially enjoy the variety of
coverse
Please keep it up.
Bunni Vaughn
HHH KKE
P.O. - Box 42
Madison Square Station
New York, New York 10010
Dear Speakout:
I enjoyed your July-August issue
and in particular want to congratu-
late you & Kathryn Katz on her piece
about the ERA and the Domestic Rela-
tions Law.
This was as clear and accurate a
description as I have ever seen.
Best wishes and keep up the good
work.
Sincerely,
Betty Berry
Editor's Note: Excerpts from this
month's Marriage, Divorce and The
Family Newsletter, which is edited
and published by Betty Blaisdell
Berry, appear on page “] of this »
month's Speakout,.
_ Editor's Note:
a Se EE en ee ee eee eee Cm eee MEE eer ea ee
Albany, New York
September 9, 1975
To The Editor:
I attended the "Women's Day"
celebration held in Washington Park,
and for: the second consecutive year,
men were excluded from some of the
activities, most notably, the covered
dish supper and the dance. While
there may be some weak theoretical
justification for this discrimination,
I wondered how local women's groups
and the YWCA could continue to recon-
cile this blatant discrimination
within their own ranks, and their
Stand against sexist activities in
our society.
How can groups, such as N.O.W., who
have men as functioning members of
’ their organization, continue to
Support the exclusion of their men-
bers from these activities on the
basis of their sex? It would seem to
be in conflict with their principles
Of equality and non-discrimination.
Are these principles and ideologies
Seen by local women's groups as only
applicable to men and their activi-
ties? Is sexism seen by these groups
as only within the domain of the
male?
In addition, while I am not a legal
scholar, it would appear to be a vio-
lation of Federal anti-discrimination
laws for the YWCA, a non-profit, tax
exempt organization, to allow these
discriminatory practices (the
aforementioned dance) to be conducted
on their premises. If it is not
legally wrong, surely it must be
considered morally wrong.
I support emphasizing women and
their achievements, but is it neces-
Sary to exclude men? Are women still
So threatened by the presence of men
that they must be "banned" from some
activities? Perhaps local women's
groups should examine their actions
more closely in the future.
Sincerely,
Joseph F. Stellato
Speakout hopes that
our readers, and particularly some
members of the groups mentioned by
Mr. Stellato, will respond to his
letter. Please submit your replies
| before October 15 so that they can
appear in the next issue.
THE "GIRLS"
I. Walter J. Phillips v The State
Human Rights Appeal Board, 341 NYS 2d
454, 1973. "
Walter Phillips was offended by the
use of the word "girls" in the name
of a temporary help agency which han-
dled applications from males as well
as females; apparently he was not
offended by the use of the word as
insulting to women. Phillips com-_
plained to the Human Rights Division.
Their decision was that no discrim-.
ination was proven. Kelly Girls, Inc,
handled job applications from males
and females, the name was established,
and there was no reason to demand a
change in the name. Walter took his...
complaint to the Human Rights Appeal
Board. They upheld the decision.
then took his complaint to the Court
of Appeals. The Court of Appeals
also upheld the original decision.
Justice Kupferman dissented from
the third decision. "Inherently it
is discriminatory because it impliedly
excluded a male...While there has
been a rule of extension under which
females are included in words impart-
He -
trator of the BUDP, nor the legendary
Bill Klein of major league fame,
could meet those standards.
. Bernie Gera was told that the
application had been approved and
"he" could attend the next class.
Bernice phoned to inform the school
that she is female. She was told
that she had raised an important
question of policy. That was the
last she heard about that application.
During the summer of 1968 Gera wrote
to Vincent McNamara, President of the
New York=-Pennsylvania Professional
Baseball League, requesting an
application to work as an umpire.
She had played on her high school
soft ball team, coached Little
League games, umpired games sponsored
by the American Legion, Catholic
Youth Organization, YMCA, New York
Police Department, and at Brighton,
New Jersey, and umpired a semipro-
fessional tournament in Kansas.
McNamara sent her a discouraging
letter. She took her complaint to
the Human Rights Division.
The Division found that the stan-
dards used in hiring umpires would
ing the masculine gender...the converseexclude all but one percent of
has not been true. Further, in prac-
tice, there is antipathy toward this
approach. Editor's note: THIS IS
SEXIST. If weight is given to the
argument for insuring equal rights,
the scales must balance."
II. Bernice Gera was born June 14,
1931. In 1967
to Al Somers School for Umpires. She
claimed to be five feet three inches
tall and to weigh 135 pounds; she was
actually five feet two inches tall
and weighed 129 pounds.
In December 1964, five months after
the Human Rights Act became law, the
Baseball Umpires Development Program
(BUDP) was formed, under the sponsor-
ship of the major leagues. Standards
for umpires were established. These
included graduation from high school
women and that there was no proof
that there was a relationship between
the physical standards and the abil-
ity to perform the job. After Gera
had initiated her complaint, McNamara
sent her a questionnaire which she
filled out, correctly, and returned.
McNamara referred it to Philip Piton,
she applied as "Bernie" President of the National Association
of Professional Baseball Leagues,
without recommending Ms. Gera, for
his decision. The Human Rights
Division and the Human Rights Appeal -
Board decided against McNamara. The
complaint was taken to the Court of
Appeals (35 AD 2d 364, 29 NY 2d 921).
The Court reaffirmed the decision.
No bona fide occupational qualifica-
tion existed. It is not necessary
to prove that there an intention to
discriminate when the standards were
adopted; they do in fact discriminate.
and from an approved school for umpiresNew, job related standards would have
and certain physical requirements,
including a height of five feet ten
inches, a weight of 170 pounds, and a
minimum age of 35. Neither Vincent
McNamara, President of the New York-
Pennsylvania Professional Baseball
League, nor Bernard Deary, adminis- (op
to be established. There was no
question that standards are needed,
only that those established were not
job related and were discriminatory.
Continued on page at Pereree eer ee
“The "Girls," Continued from page (o MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND THE FAMILY
(Ceres emanate catenin
. LEGISLATION
Iilé The New York City Department Federal
of Parks and Recreation had estab- These bills have been introduced,
lished minim@i physical standards for If you agree with them, ACT, WRITE your
lifeguards. These had been set with- legislators to support them.
out any relationship to job perforn-
ance, but only because "some line H.R. 7003. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR
of demarcation" was needed. There DISPLACED HOMEMAKERS ACT. Rep. Yvonne
had been no intention to discriminate R, Burke, Would authorize multi-service
against women. Miss Candy Callery centers for homemakers who have been
applied for a job as a lifeguard. widowed, divorced or whose government
She was five feet six inches tall benefits (such as AFDC) have ended, The
and weighéd 125 pounds. The stan- Centers would provide job training with
dards were a minimum of five feet stipends, supportive services (such as
seven inches and 135 pounds. Her a well-woman clinic), and would pave the
application was denied. In fact,
when she first applied to take the
test she was told, "Sorry, girls
aren't allowed to take it."
way for unemployment insurance for
displaced homemakers, :
H.R. 4772, Koch (and Senator Moss).
THE NATIONAL HOME HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1975
Comprehensive provisions designed to
provide attractive and reasonable
alternatives to NURSING HOME CARE. Reci-
pients would be entitled to help with
their household tasks, shopping, walking
transportation to senior citizen centers
and rent subsidies.
Candy Callery took her complaint to
the Human Rights Division. Their
decision in her favor was appealed to
the Court of Appeals (35 AD 2d 25).
The Court supported the Original
decision. The burden of proof that
the standards were job related was
upon the Parks and Recreation Depart-.
ment. They had failed to prove the h
job relatedness of the standards, S.2001 Eagleton and H.R. 7158 Koc e
Would amend the Social Security Act to
Only ten percent of women between 17 reduce eligibility ihe Sigded for
and D4 vtec of age could meet the : divorced women to 10 years of marriage
height requirement; 70% of the men in foe-A ighfe ta ce Video! a Genet
that age category could. 60% of the ; : :
women could meet the weight Standard,
HH %
compared to 80% of the men. spite ieey oy
The Parks and Recreation Department
was directed to admit Candy and all THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON MARRIAGE
DIVORCE AND FAMILY RELATIONS OF THE
other female applicants to the test
for lifeguard training and to train NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN (NOW)
and employ them if th expects to consider the following resol-
peo agile os tects aude Gag utions at the national conference in
about the need for standards, only October, according to Betty Spalding,
about the job relatedness of the National Coordinator, 1, The establish~
standards chosen. Again it was not ment of a Marriage Equality Act and
necessary to prove that there was an %tate Marriage Equality Bills; 2. Full
intent to discriminate, only that the ‘Social Security Coverage for the home-
Standards were discriminatory in maker partner; and 3, The creation of a
effect. full time staff position in NOW to work
--Carolyn Dissosway on married women's rights.
NOW chapters in Connecticut, New
York and Oklahoma joined with other
organizations for Father's Day demon-
strations at Family Courts, The women
KKK KKK ERE HEE KKK KKK KEK K KKK KKK KHKKK ES
Speakout sends warm thank yous to were protesting lack of child support
Dorothy Bellick, Debbie Botch, Fraya enforcement, Me slogan used was "Give
Katz, and Sherry Sussman for their Dad a Subpeoena for Father's Day."
contributions to our financial well-
being. . This column was excerpted from the
September 1 issue of the Marria eC,
.DBivorce and The Family Newsletter,
which is dedicated to the idea of
equality in marriage.
THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS
THE HOUSEWIFE/STUDENT/MOTHER SYNDROME, by Anne Powhida,. The Allen Center
I have chosen to discuss the problems facing a woman returning to
school or just beginning a college career after the years of diaper
training are over or "when the kids are in school." We may sit at
home for years anticipating that big moment when we can at last
venture out on our own to earn our keep and become independent, or
at least to work toward those goals. But the obstacles have a way .
of materializing much sooner than the revelations in the form of .
two major concerns for the housewife/mother in school -- the
financial burden and continuing family responsibility.
The financial aspect is of the most importance at this time because
it is the absolute criterion for continuing my education and the one
most likely to end my own brief stint as a student sooner than I
had anticipated. Alternatives do exist, but not without serious
limitations for the woman with other responsibilities consuming
a great deal of energy and time. After nearly four years of
work-school-work-school, etc., I had completed no more than twenty-
seven credit hours. Unfortunately my sophomore status was not
enough of an ego boost to carry me over another four years in the
same manner. Which brings me to the vresent and the remaining
alternatives in the office of financial aids.
The Scholar Incentive Award is one which a woman earns on her own
based on her achievement in the college entrance exams given in
high school. It is doled out to her on the basis of her husband's
income. There's no consideration of whether he could, or even
would contribute to her tuition, only whether it is deemed
acceptable by some inhumane sliding scale of allowable income for a
family of your size. The further drawback is that it is awarded
only to students ey, rolled full time --- that is 12 credit hours or
more. Most women in my situation have found it impossible to
handle this much of a load. Merely filing for this "award" is a
tiring and humiliating merry-go-round of bureaucratic shuffling.
It is at such times that one learns to resent economic dependence
on one's husband. For whether the money is granted or denied, you
are still at his mercy. And if you are lucky enough to get his
financial support, you are more dependent, and the debt is felt more
than if you had taken a loan. Therefore, my future is now lying on
the desk of a university employee in Financial Aids, who may or may
not be sympathetic to my plight. It is this MAN who will decide
my fate.
If one can break the barriers of communication as to information,
the outlook is not any brighter. One advisor suggested a work-study
program for me. That is, part time work provided by the university
combined with partial or full time study. Since there is no
allowance for human sleep requirements, I ruled it out easily. Full
scholarships exist for those precious few fortunate enough to have
earned them in high school.
Loans seem to be the most accessible means of aid and they are the
first tonic of discussion from most advisors. This is the last
resort, for it seems too early to succumb to indebtedness without
the prospect of a career and means to pay it off. The reality is
that there is no place to turn. With part time aid for part time
education non-existent, many women simply can't go at all or must
settle for a piecemeal education and the awareness that one isn't
getting younger. The man who is considered the "breadwinner" has
eee See ee ee ey ee a a
merely to apply and the office will comply with immediate attention
as one secretary to an advisor confided to me. Her justification
was that society had to change its' views toward women before the
university would change theirs. And there is always the veteran's
assistance that a man may have earned. But not a penny for the
woman who stayed home and spray starched his military wardrobe.
There is little encouragement to endure, no information available
on how to get help and no rewards for endurance or academic achieve-
ment; nothing at all to end the frustration. Everyone seems to be
stonewalling it from the individual advisor to the Bursar himself
(who suggested Master Charge).
As if this monetary worry were not enough, the housewife/mother/
student must tackle with a barrage of problems of which the typical
single student could not conceive. The routine consists of the
usual cooking three meals a day and/or packing school lunches
followed by the cleaning up after the three meals (about an hour and
a half in the dishpan singing the Dishwater Blues); shopping for
groceries; runs to the laundromat with loads of dirty clothes; the
folding, ironing and putting away of said clothes. And the extra
curricular activities such as correcting homework, searching for
lost sneakers and gym attire, kicking one's way through toys and
overseeing the bath and shampoo to insure that the kids don't
resemble the local street gang.
Studying requires a major strategy of attack with the endless clutter,
growing piles of dirty dishes and distractions of chattering three-
feet people. Evenings are usually eliminated as time for class
preparation from meal time until the kids are in bed. And burning
the midnight oil is definitely out when one rises at seven a.m. to
face a school morning. Life becomes a schizophrenic adventure
whereby the housewife/student/mother/person must be ritualistic and
organized concerning the priorities for her own sanity, and at the
same time learning to live with dirt and confusion and loving it.
Strange physical debilitation begins to take its toll in the form of
vague neurotic symptoms such as migraine headaches, intestinal
disorders waivering from constipation to diarrhea, followed by
hyperstates of nervous energy and just plain exhaustion.
Most of the problems mentioned are the recognizable and defined
variety. However there are others less tangible but adding
substantially to the conflict because they revolve around guilt. One
feels guilty because a husband who is more capable than the children
of taking care of himself is the most neglected. And guilty because
you're only taking in half of what the children are saying, and
guilty if you don't sign up for the PTA food-fair or have all the
neighborhood in for Kool-Aid.
What started out as a venture in optimism has turned finally into a
lesson in despair and futility. A man studying even part time has a
woman who cooks and cleans and cares for his children freeing him
from all the trivialities that allow him to endure. He also can earn
a living adequate enough to subsidize his college years. Most of the
options for the returning woman student are in the form of hope ---
hope for a change in policy and partial grants for part time study.
It's not as though I expected it to be easy. But what I didn't expect
were the barriers presented by the educational system itself -- one
which outwardly appears to promote equal opportunity for all but in
fact perpetuates, consciously or not,a system that gua s th
Survival of the educate i q exten guarantees the
a ee eT een ee ee ne ee eS a ee ee ee ee
-
_ Surprised?
‘Thy won't the world let women renble?
Ricing through kitchens on motorbikes.
Women leaving |
their pots boiling on the stove unguarded
Who'll «atch the children don't get burned?
leeving on barefeet
beckvacking, interstating, holid-ying
Look, I'm not asking for - quick getoroy=
2 bicycle will do.
But don't think your jr.high dog-tag can keep me.
I weer shoes, you know
end my thumb can hold up if my pedel brakes don't. |
Better not take too long vith the georbage,
or you & your glad bog will be enting alone.
The Inheritance
I am the mercury in your thernometer
liquid to take your shape
solid pieces in your hond
“reflecting 2 rise or fall
of love-hctve
by climbing up a scale
or chipping down 2 statue
of myself
in your eyes
I on that statue
ond shovld feel at home
in the narrow glass case you've built
it wes your nother's before ne
Poems by Joan Fernandes, Brooklyn, New York
lO
——: Sa ae Ba a i mm ec a a a
Book Review
Hillbilly Women by Kathy Kahn
"One girl VISTA told me recently
that I don't know anything about life
because I had never been to college, .--”
never been to New York City, Said I
didn't know anything about what's
really going on, like campus riots and
all that crap, I may live in my ow
little world, but as far as knowing
anything about life, that’s a bunch of
bull, Cause you just don't get preg-
nant, get married at fifteen, get
divorced, work to support your kids
and yourself without knowing a little
bit about where it's really at. And
I don't care if she has hitchhiked all
over the country. Anybody that's got
damn little enough sense to get out and
hitchhike these days ain't too up on
what's happening,"
Those are the words of Donna Redmond,
born in Balfour, North Carolina, Born
the daughter of Ruby Green, Donna grew
up in a little cotton mill town where
her mother worked in the mill, After
years of trying to make it there, Donna
followed the thousands of other hill-
billies and migrated to Atlanta, Ga,
Donna Redmond has a lot to say, I
wish I could print the entire interview,
She has a keen awareness and understand-—
ing of herself, her life and the woman's
movement as well.
Her story and that of Ruby Green are
only 2 of the 18 stories of the lives
of hillbilly women as told to Kathy
Kahn, Hillbilly women are strong,
courgeous and independent women as
the interviews reveal, These women
have had to work hard in the mines or
the mills or at home supporting their
families. This book is indeed a book
of heroines, women who remain undaunted
despite their struggles, or the
inhumane treatment received from state
and federal welfare agencies, or the
abuses from the mine and mill operators
or from corrupt union officials and
their gun thugs,
I was initially interested in this
book because my mother and grandmothers
are hillbilly women. My parents and
grandparents were born and raised in
the hills of Tennessee, Both spent
their childhood helping their parents
on the farm. When my mother's father
suffered a stroke and couldn't work,
the family left the farm and migrated
|} selves, | 4
to Indianapolis. My grandmother then
went to work in a factory, where she
packed bottles for 20 years,My father
also migrated to Indianapelis,by himself
in his early teens. When he was 21 and my
mother was 17, they were married, Neither
one had finished junior high school, They
settled in the southern part of Indiana —
polis where other hillbillies lived.
Reading this book was a tremendous
ego-booster for me. When I was a child
I was ashamed of being poor.and being
called a hillbilly. I was ashamed of
my parents! accents, their incorrect
grammar and strange diets. I had forgot-
ten what a rough life she must have had,
how hard she worked and how frustrated
she must have been. She very seldom
complained though. Like the hillbilly
women in this book, she somehow managed
to keep going.
This is a book to be read by everyone
who is seriously concerned about the
problems of women in America. Read this
book and raise your consciousness about
the lower-class working women-—women that
have been neglected by the women's —
movement, Learn what Donna Redmond means
when she says, "Middle-class women’s lib
is a trend; working women's liberation
is a necessity."
Cheryl Shenkle
Hillbilly Women are beginning to
organize, and to receive media attention.
In the September issue of Ms, in the
Gazette section, there is a mention of
the Appalachian Womens Rights Organizat~
ion (AWRO), This organization was formed
to help solve some of the problems of
mountain women, such as teaching each
other to drive, setting up shelters for
women and providing child care, In the
latest issue of Woman-A Journal of
Liberation there is an article of
Appalachian Women. It contains a series
of interviews with Appalachian women,
The appendix of Hillbilly Women contains
a list of grassroots organizations and
publications in Southern Appalachia,
There is a summary of each organization
and the address to contact them. One
organization listed is McCaysville
Industries in McCaysville, Georgia, This
is the women's sewing factory that devel-
oped after the 1966 wildcat strike against
Levi-Strauss in Blue Ridge, Ga. The women
ewn, @perate and manage the factory them
GROUP NEWS
Schenectady Area:
International Women's Year
Conference:
Place: Schenectady YWCA, 44
ait Washington Ave., Schenectady
Date: Friday_- October3, 1975.
The evening will be hosted
by Schenectady NOW. Wine
and cheese will be served,
The movie "Tell Me Where It
Hurts," with Maureen
Stapleton will be shown,
Saturday-October 4, There
will be a panel featuring
Jennie Farley from Cornell
University, and Heidi
McKinley from SUNYA, All
are welcome and admission
is free, For further
details call Debbie Botch
at 374-3394.
Schenectady NOW:
On October 2, Reverend
Margaret Bunnell will speak at the
YWCA in Schenentady. Reverend
Bunnell is assistant minister at
the Union Presbyterian Church in
Schenectady. Her topic of
discussion will be "Women and
Religion,"
Schenectady NOW will hold its
regular business meetings on Oct.
15 and 29, 8pm at Schenectady YWCA,
Schenectady Branch, American
Association of University Women:
State senator Karen Burstein
will address a meeting of the
Schenectady Branch of AAUW. Place:
Unitarian Society, Wendell Ave.,
Schenectady. Time: 9:40am,.°
Albany Area NOW:
Regular meeting will be on
October 8, 7:30pm. The group hopes
to be able to schedule the meeting
at the new Women's Center, YWCA in
Albany. Main topic of discussion
in Philadelphia which will take
place October 24-27,
Albany Area NOW will also be
sponsering a workshop on Parliamen-
tary Procedure on Oct. 16, 7:30pm
at the new Women's Center in
Albany.
Albany Women Against Rape:
Next general meeting will be
on October 5, 7:30-9:30pm. Place:
462 Hamilton St., Albany. Discus-
sion will center around the progress
of the Albany County Rape Crisis
Center.
Rensselaér County Rape Crisis
Center:
The first volunteer program
for the future Rensselaer County
Rape Crisis Center is now in
progress, Training is taking place
at Leonard Hospital in Troy. The
sessions began on September 8 and
are being held twice a week, ending
on September 25, Discussions have
included counselling and sensivity
training, practice of crisis and
intervention techniques, and infor-
mation on pregnancy, venereal
disease and other health related
areas of concern. Later sessions
have covered (or will cover) training
in the areas of police procedures
the law, and rape victim care, which
includes emergency room procedure.
The Center will be located at
Leonard Hospital, however the crisis
line is not as yet in operation.
Coalition of Counties for ERA:
Representatives from the
counties of Albany, Schenectady,
Rensselaer, and Saratoga, have
formed a coalition group to work
for passage of the Equal Rights
Amendment. Several events are
scheduled for October and early
November,
October 15 = Debate on the
ERA at Hudson Valley Community
College, 8pm, Eileen Kelly will
will be the National NOW conference [speak in favor of the amendment;
More Group News-<--<----=-
stove, refrigerator, chairs,rugs,
pillows, cushions, tools, plants,
. Mildred Brietenbach will take the .waste baskets, vacumm cleaner,
opposing viewpoint.
October.21 - Eleanor Pattison
will speak on the ERA at the RPI
Cultural Center, Burdette and
People's Aves, Troy. Time: 8pm.
November 2 - Benita Sanchez
will be interviewed on the
television program "30 Minutes,"
which will air on Sundays at
10:30 pm. Topic of discussion: &
Also on November 2 - Bill
Duffy of Capital News WRGB will
interview some representatives
from the area coalition for
passage of the ERA, Time: 10am,
Capital AM, with Sherry
Harrington, which airs at 9:30am
daily on Channel 13, will be
presenimng some members of the
coalition in an interview situation.
The exact date is not available
but the program will probably air
sometime during the week before
elections.
A.
Albany Branch, American Association
of University Women:
The group will sponser an
informational meeting on the
Equal Rights Amendment on October
16. Place: Chancellors Hall, State
Education Building, Washington Ave.,
Albany. Time: Spm. Assemblyman
Tom Brown, and Mayor Erastus Corning
will give introductory messages.
Professor Harvith of Albany Law
School will be discussing the ERA
and will answer questions on the
subjecte
pRI-CITY WOMEN'S CENTER:
The new Tri-City Women's Center
will open officially on October
6 at 8pm. Refreshments and
entertainment will be provided.
RS he new Women's Centersits Still
in need of-your financial assistance.
Pledges may now-.be sent to:
Tri-City Women"s Center
P,0,: Box. 11215
Albany, N.Y., 12211
The Women's Center is in need
of the following items: electric
. Ste, Albany.
he
desks, tables, filing cabinets,
boards, cinder blocks, silverware,
pots and pans, lamps, trading
stamps, clock, curtain rods.
The Women's Center Library
Committee is looking for books
by and about women. If you have
any books you would like to donate
call Rose Baker at 4827928.
Women's International League for
Peace and Freedom:
On friday, OctoberS ‘WILPF will
sponser a United Nations Day program
at Harmanus Bleeker Library, Dove
Time: le - 1:30pm.
Program details are not yet
available.
FILM: .
Title: "Blow for Blow"
Place: RPI Cultural Center,
Burdette and People's Avé.,
Troye
Time: 8pm
Pate: November 8
Donation: $1.00
The movie is a french film
about awomen's strike in a
garment ractory in France.
SPEAKOUT STAPLING PARTY
Speckout is having a collating
and stapling party on October 28
at 8 om at the Women's Center.
This can be a time for sharing
thoughts and a sense of accom-
plishment upon completing a
circumscribed task. Bring your
ideas, reactions, suggestions,
end spere staplers. You'll be
revarded with refreshments and a
free copy of Speakout. © |
WOMEN'S TENNIS AT SUNYA
Vednesdoy, October 1, at 3:50 pm
SUNYA vs. Vassar in.the.SUNYA
Physical Education building
Saturday, October 11, at 11 am
SUNYA vs. Herbert Lehman
College in the SUNYA Physical
Education building
More Group News----- eee
CAPITAL DISTRICT BOARD OF
WOMEN'S OFFICIALS:
There will be a volley ball
clinic at SUNYA for women | ~gen
officials on five Monday naghts
during October and November,
Women who attend the clinic and
pass the written and practical
exams will be qualified as
officials for high school and
college volleyball games. There
is a $10.00 fee which includes
the cost of a rule book, the
sessions, and the exams. |
Interested women should attend
the first session at 7.00pm,
October 6 in room 123 of the
UNYA Physical Education
Putiding call Jan MacDonald at
399-7977 (Home) or 382-2678(work)
for more information,
YWCA - Troy and Cohoes
The Cohoes Center of the
Troy-Cohoes Y.W.C.A. will present
a series of "Women's Concerns
Workshops" at the Center located
Subscribe to SPEAKOUT
$3.50 per year
Send coupon to:
SPEAKOUT
P;0.-Box 6165
Albany, New York, 12206
Name
Street
City, State, Zip Code
If you are planning to move,
please send a chane of address
to SPEAKOUT.
Change of Address_ Old Zip
Renewal New Subscription
at 135 Mohawk St., Cohoes beginning
on Thursday, October 9, through
January 20, 1976 at 7:30pm.
Thursday, October9 - Topic: Women's
Aexuality - Physiological and
Psychological. Speaker will be
Ann Shuttleworth, a Registered
Nurse from the Bureau of Family
Planning, N.Y.S. Health Department.
Thursday, October 16 - Topic:
Changing Roles of Women. Speaker
will be Mary Lou Sims, Lifestyle
Editor of the Troy Record.
Tuesday, Nov. 4.- Topic: Menopause,
Speaker to be announced,
A Women's Place:
A Women's Place Collective
is located in Athol, N.Y., 12810.
A fall workshop schedule has been
set yup. October events are as
follows: October 3 =-5: Women's
Health. Examining the American
health care system and discussing
alternatives, such as women's
clinics and self-help,
October 10-12. Backpacking - by
reservation only, and a dAistussi ox
on Women and Politics,
October 17-19 - Open. :
October 24-26: Workshop discussions
on Sexuality.
October 31 - Nov. 2. Workshop on
Witchcraft. - |
For further details, phone the
Collective at 518-623-9541.
Bulk Rate
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit # le
Albany, New York.
Kileen Kelly
98 S/ Pine Ave.
Alpany NY
12208
RETURN REQUESTED
* o
AFermknis? Journal
>
1872 PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
VICTORIA CLAF tN WOODHULL AND FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Of THE EQUAL RIGHTS PARTY. - :
es
‘Aad
OR:
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NOVEMBER 1975
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C SCHILLINGER
SPEAKOUT$ A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vol. V No. X November, 19775
Table of Contents
page
1 ERA Debate-——Bethlehem Public Library -—— Christine Root
3 Women Remembered-~Book Review —- Carol Reid
L Poetry by Ellen Deutschman
5 From A Feminist Librarian —- Christine Root
5 News from COSMEP
6 Her Merlin Robe-—— Mary Eliot Hagerup
7-8 Why Not the ERAs? The Draft—- Carolyn Dissosway
8 Labor Studies for Women
9-11 Letters to the Editor
12 Panel on the ERA —— Adrienne Rabinowitz
a3 Women Candidates .~
14-15 Group News
Cover design by Carol Schillinger
Workers for this issue: Cheryl Shenkle, Susan Lasher, Christine Root,
Carol Reid, Ellen Deutschman, Mary Gallagher,
Rezsin Adams, Janet Warner, Adrienne Rabinowitz
Bookstore Distribution —- contact Susan Lasher, 436-0369
Albany -- New Times Center, Planned Parenthood, Seven Arrows
Bookstore, The Store, SUNYA Bookstore, Unitarian
Bookstore, YWCA
Schenectady —— Family and Women's Advocacy Service, The Open
Door, YWCA
SPEAKOUT is published monthly, Subscriptions are $3.50 per year. Single
copies are 35¢ and are available at the bookstores above, Advertising is
$10 per quarter page, $18 per half page and $30 for a whole page,
Speakout is a member of COSMEP (Committee of Small Magazine Editors and
Publishers) and is on file at the Women's Histery and Research Library,
Berkeley, California,
SPEAKOUT
P, O. Box 6165
Albany, New York 12206
| Anti-ERA:
Dobiiiation Public eek sponsors ©
Equal Rights Amendment Debate
Armed with a legal pad, ‘clipboard,
and pen I headed out for the 7:00 debate
in Delmar to see if there was: a
"suburban" perspective on the ERA.
Several years ago a number of women in
Delmar told me that they didn't feel
comfortable in the same CR group with
Noity women" because their converns were
different.
Although the time of the program .
, was listed as 7:00 p.m. in local papers,
it was announced as 7: 30 by the posters
in the library.By 7:50 the members of the
panel from Operation Wakeup had not yet
arrived so the Director of the Library
at the request of the Coalition for the
ERA asked the audience their privilege.
A ery went up "Start the Program!"
And so the program began with only
the Pro-ERA representatives talking to
an audience of 15 women and 3 men, One
woman had to leave before the program
began because her children were too
restless. Unfortunately, child care
was not By Sie A met ewe a small
£00.
Marie. ‘reel——Coalition for
‘ERA, ee Institute of Banking, elder, |-
| Madison Ave, Presbyterian Church.
Sister Alethea Connolly—~
National Assembly of Women Religious,
|New York Chapter; League of Women Voters,
Albany County; Sisters of St. Joseph
Ginny Laven—Operation
Wakeup, working woman and mother of 13.
Jean Wright—-Chairman, ©
Saratoga County aeons Operation Wakeup
Marie Creel, as the first oaaate
read the text of the ERA, Ms. Creel
mentioned that her 90 year old mother-in-
law still remembers the days when women
could not vote or hold public office and
men had the legal right to beat their
wives, After giving a concise history of
the Equal Rights Amendment , Ms. Creel
went on to reiterate what Tig ERA will
not do:
1. not affect the differences between
men and women
26 nes interfere with how people arrange eee:
3. peer Noodles alimony child support,
or custody of children.
roar not jeopardize right to bea Sia
do get gick, lose jobs and die, The
ERA will
gain access to a wide range of choices,
For those who fear the ERA. and say we
women or equal education,
Ms. Wright said the Equal Rights Amend—
~ maker.
"Homemakers need the ii henaiing husbands
jot
be the opportunity Bor women to
already have needed statutes, Ms. Creel
pointed out that statutes can be done
; away with at any time by the legislature
(or by Congress.) An amendment would
provide leng term protection, Courts
will take inte account the intent of the
ERA when it was debated when called upon
to interpret the ERA.
There are always those who fear
change and those who will exploit that
fear, ERA will benefit men, women and
children, Don't be misled by fears.
At this point (8:10 pm) the Operation
Wakeup women arrived all apologies for
losing their way te Delmar. The plan for
the program called for:
Pro ERA 15 minutes
No ERA 15 minutes |
Pro ERA 10 minutes
Ne ERA 10 minutes
and then 5 minutes for each to sum up.
Jean Wright explained that. Operation
Wakeup involved men and women of all
jreligious backgrounds, | all political
parties depart vometees by their concern
che ccording to Jean Wright
| Operation Voices is ‘not against equal
rights for women, equal
opportunity for
To my surprise
for women, | Pre ERA people have stated
jthat the primary beneficiaries will be
A any: Operation Wakeup feelsthat the ERA
LS unnecessary because we already have
laws on the books. We just need to —
jenforcei the laws we have," : <i
Jean Wright, speaking with a charming
_ Southern accent, slowly read statements
from several major Americans who oppose
the ERA: 1. Carrie Chapman Catt felt that
it would do away with | legal protections
needed by women because of their potential
motherhood, ve breadeae Felix Frankfurter
shit that women ! Ss bane status was ade
Cea.
ERA Debate, cont'd.
Sister Connolly spoke for the ERA
because she feels it will be’a positive
substantial good for the people of
New York State. As a student at the
SUNYA Graduate School of Public Affairs
Sister Connolly is doing her research
en the Equal Rights fmendment. Sister
quoted the law and court cases to prove
her point, Sister Connolly was well
versed in the law, knew her facts, and
cited with aceuracy but fer someone
unfamiliar with the law they might not
have grasped the importance ef the ;
legal points made, Legal advisors quoted
stated that piecemeal legislation is
not the way to go because it is too much
work and too time confusing, Themes
Emerson in the Yale Law Journal (Vol. 80)
points out that the ERA would provide
the needed single coherent theory of
women's equality before the law. Had
the 14th Amendment resulted in a single,
clear cut theory for women as it has
done for blacks we might not need the
FRA, The Court has not moved to use the
14th Amendment as a clear articulation
on sex dis crimination,
- In summation, the ERA:
1. was not conceived in a vacuum, unique
physical differences are recognized
in rape laws, maternity.
2. there is an inherent right to privacy
3. ERA must square with and relate to
other constitutional principles
4e legislative intent is very important.
The intent, purpose and structure
that went into the amendment will be
used in interpretation, Sister ended
by saying that rights extended to women
such as rest periods would not be lost
but extended.to men,
Mrs, Ginny Lavan started off by
telling the audience she is for working
women, equal credit and equal education.
Two hundred years of law should not be
thrown out. "Libbers" worked to keep
some reasonable differences rider off
the ERA, (ed. note: I felt like shouting
hurrah but refrained in true reporter
style) Eckert amendment in New York
State was defeated by "libbers", Mrs.
Lavan was very concerned that voters
are expected to vote an the ERA in
November even though a study of its
effects on New York State laws will not
be ready until after November, Mrs.
Lavan challenged the audience to name
one benefit for women given by the ERA.
"If a gal feels gypped in a divorce suit
where does she go?" Social Security
if extended equally to reward women
including nonworking wives will cost us
all $1000 a year, HR3009 will "give
girls their own social security,"
(ed.note: Mrs. Lavan did not elaborate
so it is unclear why we will all pay
$1000 a year.)
Points against ERA:
1, San Francisco lowered its police
standards to admit women
2. single sex schools denied certificat—_
itn in the state of Washington
3. sexes may not be segregated
4, will hurt the family which is after
all the basic unit of any strong
society
5. "gals will go into the state militia"
6. San Quenten has two women guards,
"Gals do you want to be drafted in equal
numbers with men?"
Each side was allowed five minutes
for rebuttal.
Sister Connolly pointed out that.
states with ERAs were pleased with the
results, They were having very few of
the problems predicted by those opposed
to the ERA,
Mrs, Lavan summed up her position by
stating that the ERA will raise taxes
and result in a loss of privacy.
Quetes from both sides (completely
sub jective):
Mrs, Lavan: "Do you want a 'skirt!
to get a job instead of a man with a
family? 1
Mrs. Creel: "I'm a wife of thirty
years but we didn't stay together because
some 'legal eagle! said he had to take
his pay check home to his wife,"
After the director of the library
thanked all four speakers, a man in the
audience who identified himself as an
attorney said, "I want to especially
thank the datbon: from Operation Wakeup
for coming out tonight. Isn't it
| interesting to note that these ladies are
wearing pants and yet they referred to
women as 'skirts'," And there the case
shall rest until the voters decide on
November 4th,
Postscript: I can't really say that I
found any suburban perspective,
Christine Root
Ed .Note: The Pro-ERA speakers wore
skirts and the Anti-ERA speakers wore
pants,
eee
BOOK REVIEW
Women Remembered, a collect- de finitive works of biographical
ion of seven short biographies by criticism we are accustomed to,
members ef “The Furies," ean traly inspire further exploration
ironic title insofar as these are, and examination. And they do this
with the exception perhaps of Dona without. sacrificing textual | and
Catalina be Erauso (nun turned | biographical integrity. They say
adventurer) and Anne ‘Benny and © so much, while at the same time
Mary Read (pirates) women we sii leaving so much unsaid, than the
"remember" quite well, though un- typical academic essay which goes
doubtedly in nothing. like the way on forever eften communicating
we are bound to after reading little more than the implicit
about. them here. admonition to forget this one as
‘There is Queen Christina of a thesis: topic-— it?s -alt been
Sweden whom I remember as an said, now. And, for this, feminists
eccentric who inhospitably caused and scholars must be grateful.
the death of a visiting phi losoph- : Nahe tee -Carol Reid-
er by her intense regime of fresh _
air and exercize-- not as someone PRESS RELEASE
who rejected the female role of © Textile Workers. Union of America,
wife and mother while retaining AFL-CIO, CLC
the female virtue of peace-making. New York, N.Y.
We all remember Emily Dickinson The AFL-C1@ tinerie. Workers
who cloistered herself and wrote Union of America said today it has
love poetry supposedly inspired been officially notified that the
by an older minister she met once National Labor Relations Board once
or twice or, if that’s too. th... again. has ordered J.P. Stevens &
plausible, take your pick of any Co. to pest notices on plant bulle
of a number of male friends of the etin boards that $a: will not inter-
family with whom she exchanged | fere with the right of sts employ=
letters of a somewhat scholarly ees to engage in union activities.
nature-- never, though, do I have The latest order stemmed from
any recollection of her female an NLRB ruling that found the com-=
friends or her intense feelings pany guilty of illegally question-
for them and I'm glad to be ing Faye Rogers, one of its employ-
supplied with such a memory by ees in Wallace, N. Gry about her
this book. There is also Gertrude union activities. In addition, Je
Stein who writes to her-- one re P. Stevens tried to induce her to
moment, while I check my memory-- Sérve as an informer about the
"secretary and companion," Alice union activities. of other workers
Be Toklas, these words: "Some have in the Wallace plant, the labor
a honey moon with a husband too board found... |
soon, some have a honeymoon with | The Wallace findings are the
a husband soon enoughe And we latest in a long series of labor
have a honeymoon at noon, every — board and court decisions against
noon..." And Susan B. Anthony | J.P. Stevens. The company was pre-
whose alliance with other famous Viously found to have violated the
feminists of the day (Stanton, ne At ee ee 13) major eases, according to
Anna Dickinson, Anes Howard Shaw) Sol Stetin, TWUA general president.
was one of emoticons’ devotion as He said the. decision demonstrates
well as political agreement. We that A Stevens continues to
also learn that Euripedes himself, flout national labor law despite
for God's sake, may not have been the fact that it has lost appeals
dealing from a full deck in his — eight times in the federal circuit
account of the Trojan women. | courts and three times in the
These essays are enlightening,U.S. Supreme Court.
fascinating, and, if I may say so
without committing myself to any | ee aves
perticalar intellectual af ether 9% a
orientation, mouthwatering. That | VOTE FOR ERA NOV. 4
a3, tiey, unlike the atenetyped 2 = os rs ‘
poetry by 6llen deutschman |
sitting in a house of old ;
a familiar place sometime ago
the summer noises placidly float ee the room
faces and voices attached with this place ore gone
the night stirs deep and mellow
the easy wind shuffles through the curtains —
as the dogs bark, the snakes bite
the window is wide open waiting for someteeue to enter
women stand by their porches
waiting for their men to return
a little boy throws his ball through the open window
and one woman runs to scold him, then retrieves the ball
as the women stand by their porches
waiting for their men to return.
KKRKEKKEKKHEKE
the slightly iG ebittn g belly and backside
the fatty celled breasts and thighs
"take the male specimen if you can," says the head doctor,
"then you won't have to cut through
the excessive layers of skin of the female cadavers"
he told this to the young surgeons
stick a knife in the protruding belly and
dispose of it - why?
stick the dagger in mick jagger instead
he deserves it more
you're a woman - your curvy body, smooth skin
are what Make you beautiful
don't fall for their bullshit
kiss your blood-warmed breasts
oozing orgasm... |
handled over and over
pushed and pulled
COMMANDED! Ee
speak out - - SCREAM OUT!
vomit up the pig-men and start again
don't give in now
the fight's just begun
be a castrating bitch if you ber ne to
be obnoxious as hell :
but. don! ty take your freedom lightly
HEKKHEKKKEEE
H
Jewish Caucus >
AS South Stree,
ain Cincinnati, Ohio.
Pioneers for CenturylII, is soliciting |
MLA PUBLICATIONS. = i (ati iti
~The Commission of the status of Jomen in
Fron 2 Feminist Librarian _
Information of Jewish Jomen from ALA's _
"The Jewish Joman; an —
Anthology", appears in the summer, 1975,
issue of Response, 4 Contemperary Jewish
‘Review (No.18) Response, P.O, Box 1495, 4
Jalton, ‘ass. 02154 om
‘.
COR (FERENCE OF NOMEN 1] PLANSED IN CINCINNATI
The Office of vlomen's Studies eo: the -«
‘University of Cincinnati has announced
plans for a ntional, multidisciplinary
conference for research on women and gen=_
der issues honoring the Bicentennial and
a new beginning in the Third Centruy. |
The theme of the conference will be power
among women and men as at relates to inter-—
personal relationships, organizations,
and institutions and societies and the
world.
The conference will be held April
22-25, 1975 at the Netherland Hilton Hotel
The organizing group
papers for the conference,
ss
information, write Pioneers for Century ;
III, Office of ‘lomen's Studies, University
of Cincinnati, 1115 Crosley Tower r (64),
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, re
we
the Profession of the Modern Language
Association has published two ‘pamphlets,
"Academic jonen, Sex Discrimination, and
the Law: an Action Handbook" by Adrian
Tisley, Elaine Reuben and Diane Crothers
which includes information on Title IX and
& new section on how to omnitor Affirna-
tive Action at your own institution ($1.00)
and "Unladylike and Unprofessional: Acade~
mic women and Adademic Unions: edited by —
Elaine Reuben and Leonore Hoffmann which
<3
describes the experiences of women with
collective bargaining as it relates to
feminist issues and to other concerns of
women and men on campus ($2. 00) Write to
MLA Publications Center, 62 Fifth Ave.,
N. Y., N.Y, 10011 for copies. ge
"Tooking for a Grant: a Kit for Groups|
Seeking Financial Assistance" is a pub-
lication of the vionen's Bureau (Dept. of
Labor, Washington.D,C. 20210), It includ
es sources of information | on proposal writ-
ing and possible funding, guidelines for
grant making and gmat getting, program
- planning and proposal. writing g, foundation
grants for programs involving | women, .
suggestions for letter of transmittal
way
a
Creed tips that ake cents in proposal
writing. pit che : :
“Job Title Revisions en Eliminate
ee “Sex-and Age- -Referent Language from
the Dictionary of Occupational Titles"
(3rd) has ‘been published by the U.S.
Department of Labor. It is available
for. $4. 50 fron the Supt. of Documents
U3, Governient: Printing Office,
: dashing agton, D. om 20402, 2 ae
~ SUNYA Prize srs taeda: Cinema Series,
Dec. 586, 1975 (Fri & Sab} ocy
eR 4 Free fouan® 4G yermany) Directed by
‘Volke Schlandorff ‘Tickets: $2.00
time: 8 pa, Recital Hall :
Performing Arts, Cénter, SUNYA
Af FREE WOMAN is an autobiographical
-fiction filn about a woman who divor-
ces her husband in order to find some
path to independence--a. complicated,
rocky path, as she learns, since one's
life is not all that simple. — Starring
Margarette Van trotta, who also wrote
_ the script, which is based on an
“episode in her ‘life. | Bo
~ : : : 3
her ;.
Pn 7 ‘CHRISTINE ROOT
edie cba of Smal)
“Magazine F er and Publishers )
! feast opted will be held
“November 21-23 in Syracuse, New York.
There will be a tentative registration
fee of $5.00, which will cover meals,
sleeping bag space or free housing» in
local members" homes, and all activity.
Child care will be provided, Rooms in
a aieoat notel will be > available at
vioneii eden as ‘would ace,
contact Walt Shepperd, Pulpart Forms,”
—Unitd., 1530 E. Genesee ial Syracuse,
New York 13210,
A COSYEP/ West ‘ConiPensiine will be held
in the San Francisco Bay Area in February
or March of 1976, Details will be
announced later, c |
COSMEO ‘Women! ‘3 Committee mae prison
project, designed specifically to get
books and magazines ‘to women inmates.
Write Darlene Fife, Rt. 2, Box 206,
Alderson, we 24910. pe you have anything
to donate.
Her Merlin Robe
_*
Looking like a Siyin saucer that has just settled on the night
desert, she sat on the yellow carpet in a swirl of black chiffon with
golden stars. Her Merlin robe, we called it. As we talked at that
party about biography, other conversations, other times hovered in
_ my mind -—— how if she could have been anyone she wanted she would have
written Lois Gould's books; how she had happened to have preceded me
by several years to London's Hotel Byron; how much she denigrated her
lady finger dessert that I liked so much; how she held her wig (her
hair had fallen out by the handfuls, as she had predicted) while I
pulled her sweater off over her head; how she wondered about " a sweet
young thing" and how soon; and how she longed to be a part of her
children's growing up; and all the small/large dreams, coincidences,
talents, trials, speculations, relationships that fill a person's
consciousness.
Now I remember how when I was washing the dishes at her house
shortly before I went away for the summer, she asked me to rinse
them well because she was allergic to detergent. Almost simultaneously
the next breath we each took caught in a place halfway to our lungs.
With death so near, what were allergies? And yet I rinsed the dishes
well, Later that evening at the meeting while we explored the life
span of woman, she sat on the floor in a blue shift. "Does it look
too much like a nightgown?" she had asked as I had helped her into
my car, and again we both had wondered why that would matter.
At a new year's eve party, how does one wish a friend who is
dying a "Happy New Year"? I hadn't yet given her a plant to care
for over the summer as a way of saying, "Stay alive." I hadn't
yet gone driving on a sunny Autumn day and found all the sunshine
of the world glowing in some yellow mums which I sent to her.
I hadn't yet visited her and seen her lying, radiant with sunlight,
on a daybed and holding the smallest yellow shell, scooped from the
sea, in the palm of her hand,
At the party I did not know how to wish her a happy new year,
so we talked about biographies, women's biographies, knowing our
own and each other! s, and feeling the edges of our lives overlap.
There was magic in that communication, but also it was ordinary,
obscene at times, and absolutely true.
Some yesterday after her death, while fossil hunting, I was
struck by the slim chance of one's particular life span overlapping
another's. How extraordinary, too, and yet how easy to accept
that a flying saucer should settle on the night desert — that
we had sat. together on that yellow carpet, she in her Merlin robe,
that new year's eve almost a year ago,
In memory of Patricia Mary Gould (July 29, 1930 - October 1, 1974)
Mary Eliot Hagerup
‘Why Not the ERAS? The Draft
One of the criticisms of both the
United States and New York State Equal |
Rights Amendments is that if women gain
equal rights with men they, the ladies,
will be drafted. This is an old, tired
and proven untrue technique for keeping
power in the hands of the traditionally
powerful males. Women, like men, can
be drafted now. They always could be
because the power to draft citizens into
the military services rests with the
government. Congress has the power to
provide for the common defense and
general welfare of the United States
(Article I, Section VIII of the Constit-
ution of the United States, )
The Selective Service and Training
Act of 1940 (Title 50 of U.S. Military
Law from United States Code Service
appendix 318), which has been repealed,
specifically provided for the drafting
of males. It was not required to do
so by anything other than tradition,
There were many challenges to the draft
by individuals, most of them claiming
an exemption either because of conscience
or undue hardship. Some examples of
such cases are given below. Although
none of those I found dwelt with object—
iens because women were not drafted,
the opinions which resulted could be
extended to provide for the drafting of
women, should Congress so desire,
Local Draft Board I Silver Bow
County Montana v. Connors, 124 F 2d 388,
December 13, 1941: Connors was a college
student, making a good record as a
football player and planning to become
a professional football player, He was
drafted. He tried to claim exemption
on the grounds that he was a student,
that he would lose his football] subotags:
ship if drafted and that the period of
service would diminish his hope of reach-
ing his career goals. . .. The opinion
of the court was: "It is within the
congressional power to call everyone to
the colors. No one under the jurisdict—
ion of the sovereign nation, whatever
his or her status, is exempt except by
the grace of the goverment." The
government had decided to draft Connors.
Rase v. U.S. 129 F 2d 204, June
29, 1942: Rase, a member of Jehovah's
Witnesses tried to claim an exemption
on grounds of conscience and his role
as "minister of religion." He was
draft board.
ville School District V4
ee ere ee eg at ee ag te ee 0 eee ee a ee ee eT ee
for the Jehovah's Witnesses but was not
paid for it. Therefore, he was not
within the exempt class (IV-D) which had.
been established in Title 50. "The
phrase ‘minister of religion' as used in
the Selective Service and Training Act
exempting from training and service
regular or duly ordained ministers of
religien must be interpreted according to
the intention of Congress and not accord-
ing to the meaning attached to it by
members of any particular group. . ..
The Constitution grants no immunity from
military service because of religious
convictions or activities, but immunity
arises solely through Congressional grace
in pursuance of a traditional American
policy of deference to conscientious
objection and Holy calling."
U.S. v. Newman and same V. Buchanan,
Lh F Supp 817, April 28, 1942: The men
refused to comply with the orders of the
"The grant of exemption
fron military service to conscientious
objectors is not a matter of constitut—
ional right but wholly an act of grace
by Congress. . . ..The mere possession
of religious convictions which contradict
the relevant concerns of a political
Society does not relieve the citizen from
the discharge of political responsibilit-
ies." The U.S. Supreme Court in Miners-
Gobitas 310
US 586 etc, stated," , . . Congress,
under the Constitution, Art. I, Sec.8,
cl.2 has plenary and exclusive power
to raise and support armies, that this
power is not limited to accepting volunt-
ary enlistments but includes the power
to exact and enforce military duty, and
that Congress can determine how the army
shall be raised, the period of service,
the age at which the soldier shall be
inducted, the compenséion | he may receive,
and the service he shall be assigned."
U.S, v. Cornell 36 F Supp 81,
December 21, 1940: "The government. has
the right to the military service of all
its able bodied citizens; and may, when
emergency arises, justly exact that service
from all." (quoted from Grimley 137
US 147) Congress has the power under the
Constitution to compel military services
of a citizen in case of need, whether in
peacetime or wartime, if it declares that
. it is imperative or necessary or that an
emergency exists requiring the raising
and support of an army.”
Article XII Defense of the New York
actually employed as a gas station attend~State Constitution
ant and clerk, he did work part time
I State Militia The defense and
protection of the state and of the
7
— ERAS cont 'd. 1 a a, ? Capital District Goalttion of Labor
e, Union Women newsletter, P,0. Box 837,
United States is an obligation of all Troy, New York 12180
persons within the state, The legisla
ture shall provide for the discharge “Also —_— the same newsletter:
of this obligation | and for the mainten- . Labor Studies for Women
ance and regulation of an organized -—
militia, Peat ; i Cornell Batverekiey otters courses to
From Me Kinney's Consolidated Laws develop the skills of women trade union-
of New York Military Law: 2 SOR: >= Jesters - a € | ce ee
"The term tmilitary, service! means 7 The Woman Office Manager Pal
duty by any person, male or female, in Mon. Jane 5 to Feb. 3g “aaa
active military service of the t Un: ited << 6:15. LBs OOp.m.
States. as defined in section one, wai Cornell office °°
subdivision ten of this chapter and — . 15 State Street, Albany : fee $28)
active duty in the military service of ae
the states pursuant: to sections six and 2 Effective Grievance Handling for
‘seven of this chapter. pert. 4 porceea Women: Unionists Se
The term ‘person! when ‘used herein ‘Tues. March 9 to April 13°
with reference to the holder of any ee aes 215 -~&: 00p.me t3
right alleged to exist against a person a Cornell | Office 7
in military service, or against a 3 75 State Street, | Albany £ fee a5)
person secondarily ‘liable under such eats
right. » shall include individuals ‘ . Other non-credit, courses include:
‘partnerships, corporations and any other Public Sector Employer—Employee Relations
forms of business associations," : Labor Law for Practitioners ;
Note the absence of gender terms. “Arbitration ;
in the New York State laws. By aimplica- : j
tion women can be conscripted into For further information and registration,
service in this state. Women also can contact: > |
be conscripted into service in the United — Dave a
States armed forces as this ‘power rests =a Cornell University
with the Congress and is not , prohibited: @apital District Office
by the Constitution, a) _ 75 State Street
. - Albany, New York 12207
wee Carclyn. Dissoswey (46 ae 518) 3
J
ar;
me toh
~ 4
Sex Discrimination Case” | cuny WOMEN'S COALITION |
" . te z
| A a rt
Retteh Fish, CSEA, has uaeated: an The CUNY Hanon: 's Coalition is planning
appeal of her sex discrimination case its Fourth Annual Conference for late
through the New York State Division of Spring 1976. The topic will be The
. Human Rights. The dates of the next Woman's Experience in America: Cooperation
hearings have not been set. | Cooptation, Conflict and Contribution.
Concerned CLUW (Coalitdon of Labor The Conference will be interdisciplinary
Union Women) members from the CSEA have and will consider the following topics:
caucused; they will be meeting with Women in the labor movement, peace move-
-CSEA attorney, Marge Karowe, this month ments, civil rights movement, women's
$0. encourage “stronger backing of Rettah's movement, etce.; ‘Immigrant Women. and
case from their organization. — . _. Minority Women; Pioneer Women Women as
-Rettah Fish was the onl rebels/c conformists; women in the arts,
right-of-way agent of 600 epnde, sciences, sports, » etc.; the "New" Woman;
positions; she was laid off this summer. and Women and their Bodies.
a has a documented, 2 year history of Women are invited to submit papers
denial of equal opportunity for advance- (length: 15-20 typed, double-spaced pages)
ment within the New ‘York State Department Please submit papers to Professor Clara
of ’ Transportation. ‘Melman, Sociology ‘Department, Staten
_ CLUW members have expressed their Island Community College. ’ Staten Island ’
‘continued support for Rettah as she fightsNew York 10301 by December 1,.1975.
her case. ai publication of selected papers is
(The above was. reprinted from the anticipated. coe 3 .
a5.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To The Editors
In regard to your suggestion
for comments concerning next
year's Women's Day. I would like
to suggest that we devote that
day (or perhaps a weekend) to
Feminism, keeping in mind that we
are not only commemorating the
day we were "given" the right to
vote, to become citizens, but that
% also marks a day that our —
feminist foremothers fought and
struggled for. Women's Day should
not only be a celebration but
should include an examination by
us into the failures of the first
wave of feminism, and a close look
at where we are now and where we
hope to go from here as feminists.
I would suggest that the celebrat-
ion be taken out of Washington |
Park and put into the Women's
Center. An intensive media blitz
would alert all women in the area,
who are interested, that they are
urged and welcome to. participate.
I suggest that the boothes be
dispensed with and that. in the
intersts of making money we
charge a flat entrance fee to all
activities, all monies collected
going to the Women's Center, |
would like to see less of a
reliance on Terri Cooke to fill
up time. If there is such a
thing as a "women's vote" let's
have those women who plan to use
it meet the women candidates for
an intensive question and answer
session. Among other things,
coordinate workshops. that speak so
feminist issues--- feminist politics,
let's he understands us.
(Also, we never have enough money
to get. a "star" to speak to us |
and 11> think we could look around
at the fine musicians, _ speakers,
and thinkers we have. in. our midst
and invite their talents for the
day.) £
7 According to Mr. stellato’'s
letter in the October Speakout,
there are two vital areas regard-
ing Women's Day that we should
look closely a at-- The Dance and
the Covered Dish Dinner, both of
which, to quote Stellato, are
"banned" to men. Joe is a man
who "supports. emphasizing women
and their achievements" and he is
concerned that women are both
"threatened" by men and, perhaps,
‘Sexict, - I. think we should immed-~
iately form a committee to examine
and come t grips with the fact
that there may be manhaters in our
midst, perhaps manhaters m4 ttf + >:
access to the Women's Center and
the Y at larget?— Joe wants to
come to our dance. Joe wants to
bring his. casserole to our covered
dish dinner. He suggests that
"women's groups should examine
their actions more closely in the
future." He exhorts NOW and the
Y to. look into their sexist waySe
Joe is angry. Joe doesn't know
the difference between "banned"
and unwelcome. Joe doesn't know
the difference between "threatened"
and bored. Poor Joe. Joe's ©
feelings are hurt because, well,
And some of
us understand Joe, tood I person-
ally Suggest that while Joe is
reformism vs. radicalism, collect- calling NOW to complain he ask if
ivism, separatism, marxist-feminism, there are any ' Men's Awareness
economics, leadership, sexuality,
plus workshops that apply to .
women who do not consider them-
selves feminists but who are going
through transition and need our
support-= workshops on separation
and divorce, older women, myths :
of motherhood, returning or just.
entering the workforce, etc. I
would like to see the day as less
of a money raiser and more ee
day of community, of ideas
introspection, debate, analysis,
and support in celebration of our
history and future together.
Groups that he: could join. I urge
Joe to find and join such a group,
and because I understand him 1
support what strength it would
take as aman, as Joe, to recog-~
nize his. conditioning and how that
conditioning produced such a
manipulative _pobressive, and
threatened le feeb
re VS Paula Corey
‘ epee : : 5 ¢ ee S oO
+ lr se 40 | ia . in our F Sepenper 3 1975 issue.
rs 4 a : 4
tinea! ts letter
-
a
at a male member of NOW, and
one who. helped to_ person the N
pee Lat
t ab ut e 8 it Mra nt 8 Da
Je
ng porn. oe men — eve 2
2 supper/dan lance: featur re of be webct ee,
BAY er ec. gui of eG : Etter ‘Coton eM oe to. ‘the ee
r express the opinions of the a"
pri nting of letters Woes
ys a ‘ha a occas it ig ogre a we
- yo - es 1 re
ec of feniatas scope or spi ere te ffer niet cal our = S ms hire, Peg eet
singly for the celeb mths Coy he les in speakout represent — ;
so far_ _as the - supper/dance was a — the pean os a er's analysis — of ae
part of a cont inuing Program of — = tbe “facts Bice a given iss ssue; ieAN rpms
phos it ii regrettable that they do. not ne cessarily 1 repres sen 5? ae fet
= ak ie =
jee
mR ROup, les” and a, the views of | Speakout or t hos )
iz work to put : | akout to: t .
> conti nue ‘to. ‘ce. lebré se esa he ti atl sifts the facts
mh Sp nie e aur i ey — oA coe er t+. 4 ‘through her « own : otic = 2
a Pe Sy to at che extent that f r of | ite ae ssc eS. has mf be f
Women! + San ponaged celebrati on Ot ‘that af are ‘uae set cone shee ee, a
women united in this area, one can T+87SpEs Spe akout | has presented only Et
applaud an a: -woman suppe or /dance. . one side of or if any — age a, i:
ar | ‘Teader rane | perspective = ae
7 were we not there als Res a differi
celebration of bot oth the 2 RS 21 Eetnaes, pa Speakout —
feminist ‘movemen (S Suf ffrage ‘day) A art Lic : - i lease send us” your vi ew, orgs S
as well as in “support” of a a _~your: ‘perspect ive, your analysis cee Be
present unstoppable fouiniot TS ae Or be >t te: > yet come and join én
movement (the E ge tio, i a6 to ‘make Se Tutte Tuesday Pees has
AWARE with) its ‘female nd male é ni ghts & PM $e “sad an: if is oes. eee
members, is ee: “Also, getye 3 et : = : pike & “Sisterhood ty i Sty i ss
chauvinist men igs definitel ae a EES ea et Christine Re ot : eel cf :
kept out of the d ance, I submit ene our stapling perties ere eee
that if any attended, Sages tly being held at the Women's
have been a the 5m ooreee. ings are EERE
d to ey me rs = ting H louse, RT Mad: is no a4
any "Pealatote “there @ Sct mt Ave NUE 5 — See carat perish Tor. details. =
or: NOW in parti cu lar oa: aoe 2 oe Dee ph i Bisa: eet Bale tdeea eee
feminist p $ OT ate aut be AK. z3 es Be am
supports. the rig ht F Speakout Re ad ers es
Lo, orientate the Py oat accord: - .. 3 TUE. 3; a > eee
: ing to. thei: Be authentic. a isos ; Day 1 1a
we support the Tight of women and however, the reper poi bist Ghee.
Saar men ty live and love s oan | st teer:. ng committ ets a Sain Cie ie
| | 7 Cp hoose. — We do not support el ude men from cer rtai
force 7 seperation a Crk aga events, and eis
mixed D1 “announce peg ¢.8 stat ene
Y-
Jk 4 ¥ rot’
&
- dd,
=
.
; group of people 2 with a ier ir rot “tin
legi timate ri ght to be together. — _ men “were n not invited to these.
| =. In closing, , I would liketo «ev nts, < ar ee 7
: : thank the people who made Women! 4
5B
$8
ee:
_@
Sc,
i
- f * iil "
ho SSI: ea
3
ca
ea
ee
Mon
x
a
ds
a
Day the great day it was and alway . is osidew fegee es
oh | be ihe ponte who know what ee ‘that 2 Be ce ae rk
feminism really means to t heir tt oh
lives will naturally be there. next S
ee vere wie sip without a ‘chance e to = *
attend a supper ce. But many
: would ‘regret th the missed Besa a
opportuni itye SChbeiniee ieve -° oeean
_” Sincerely yours, ties ois
aa ; : _ Joseph - Pe Pusat tere ie a cannot spore “tne. ae Be aS eee,
‘ “
3 “i ; ; : eae. Sie :
; a a ae # ae G4 « *, Saat ie ; at : es - . =< a8 % “ — Cont inuec des eo ' = Pit es:
a ry n i 7 : : Wipe > “se ih ak ea i a \ a) ‘ua ,
(2 305 Ge aes bo oe ee 10 re Sune : cage i yikes eed eto
a Ma ee 2: Sake Ck ae ae 2 ; Sass ; Ves. : : ss ot
eg Sk pS f , , : r 7 ty uh ca i
Letters....Centinued
integrate men into our activities,
especially our public events. I
believe we are all aware of the ©
necessity of operating on different
levels depending upon our personal
needs; and I for ene am convinced
that women need the opportunity to
relate to women exclunsively,
especially as they try to sort out
those things which limit them and
free them, away from the socially.
dominant sex - men.
N.O.W., being the type of
organization it is, with its policy
of admitting men to membership and
its principles of equality and non-
discrimination, acknowledges as -
justified the Criticism by eee
Stellate and others who questioned
cur participation in. an event that
excluded men,
I know that others will ad-
dress the issue of women's need te
be exclusive upon eccasion. I
sincerely hope that next year when
we consider Women's Day, we can
accemodate our differences and
yPreferences to produce gn ret in
WRITING EDITING our
in which all who believe in the
principles of feminism can
participate freely.
I anticipate and leok fer-
ward to discussing all of the
issues Women's Day raises each
year among us, in the near future
and in a direct. manner .
Georgia H. Gray
atk : President, Albany
. Area NwOwWe ;
HORAK RRR IIR ER REE EEK ER ;
Canadian Dimension has published
a special issue to mark International
Women's Year. The original articles,
sll written by women, provide a per-
spective on the Movement in Canada.
Topics include the historical links
between the development of class and
the oppression of women, relations
between working class women and the
women's movement, and the implications
of the jailing of Canadian Dr. Henry
Morgentaler for performing abortions.
(70¢ for orders of 10 or more) a:
ee
To get a copy of this issue, send {1_
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chile ane ne.
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FE
-
P ANEL ON THE ERA The presentations * the panel «+
On Thursday, October 16, ere were followed by a question and
answer period. It was an informative
American Association of University = ei 4] Ueetae’ th:
Women (AAUW) sponsored a panel on the eet Haag re ge ce gy oo Ae
limitations of th Ss opposed
Equal Rights Amendment, held at o «eet 88 eee
to the extensive ‘power it is often
Chancellor's ‘Hall in Albany. Among falsely construed as having. F
the speakers. present was Assemblyman — ae
Tom Brown, , who co-sponsored the New Ad > ade ld en « ci
York State ERA. He expressed his be- oe, Adrienne Rabinowitz,
lief that an ERA is an "idea whose
time has come." The panel itself was "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF
made up of three Albany lawyers: AD WOMAN"
Bernard Harvith, speaking on Consti- = As ‘+ looked out the window of
tutional law; Katherine Katz, speak- the SUNY
> Bt. Albany campus. bus the
ing on family law; and Joan ‘Kohout, other day on my way uptown, 1
as
speaking on criminal law. Each_ caught a glimpse of a sign on some-
member of the panel briefly explained one's front lawn to vote for
the effects the ‘ERA will have, if any,Dorothy Bross, a woman running for
in their specific areas. i . County Legislature in ‘Albany County~
Professor Harvith discussed the need] had to follow this up. After much
for an ERA to the Federal Constitution"extensive" research (telephone
in our political system. The issue | contacts, even searching eut faces
of sex discrimination should not be at an ERA ral ly), I hit upon some
left up to the judgment of the fascinating clues £6: aid my invest-
Supreme Court; people must assert igation. | of. all. six wards within
their power as citizens. Harvith | Albany Ceunty for County Legislature
feels that if the ERA is defeated, it along with the honorable position
will be interpreted as an indication of. Albany County Executive, each
of the people's satisfaction with the had women candidates | as opposition
‘present standard of handling such Am
cases. The ratification of the ERA inpeenales Those women running
would precipitate legal changes. He for the office of Ceunty Legislator
also stressed the fact that the ERA _ by district were: lst- Dorothy Bros<
will not deny a person's right to pri-7th- Rezsin Adams, 1llth- Marggie
vacy, or have jurisdiction in cases Skinner, 13th- Helen Mendeleson, 15t
when there are bonafide physical Betty Gross, 33rd- Anne Gaffney,
is rape, which is a crime committed
differences between males and femaleSeang for County Executive-_ Theresa
The presentation by Katherine Katz, Cooke. All of them lost to their
on family law and the ERA, focused on opposition, but that really makes
the issues of child support and no difference to these womene
custody, and alimony. In this macbtall Their campaigns are just as strong
the ERA will put an end to a male! Ss and vi al ae ike pt tly
legal status” as sole supporter. Unable to speak with most of
(Currently the father is primarily © 8 poli tici: ans, 1 get a
liable for the children, obligated to basic rundown on them from a couple
support his wife and “pay alimony if of sources: whom I will quote latere
her financial need is established. Dorothy Bross from the first ward
Only a woman can be awarded alimony imhas a Liberal endorsement and is
New York State. 3 ‘With an ERA, the
ae q rbells as part of
criterion | for such support will ‘be theper unre coumad, gne 1 aes the
ability of either party to be self- pleasure to meet Ms. Bross who
supporting. ree | _ voiced it imperative to keep trying
= __in the area of criminal law,. the — to win § so as to have some kind of
will have very little impact ac- impact on the community. Because
eo Ped to J oan ‘Kohout. Most crimes. as a
ay. the fear in her ward of machine
in New York State are sex neutral, —. and too
stated as conduct by a person, rather Spurkig beams unemployment ,
— much monopolization by one group,
than male or female. The exception - she urges the voters to elect her
on November 4th if they wish te see
true representation. Ms. Bross
2 ean received her Masters degree av
t ej ; ‘ : . 14 2a ‘ah Shi
—
ona woman according to law.
+
Library Science from SUNYA at
Albany and is a qualified medical
librarian.
From the seventh ware is
Rezsin Adams who is also involved
in an active campaign. She has a.
Liberal party endorsement and is
running under a Liberal and Repub-=
lican line.
community activist who has parti-
cipated in the women's struggle and for public Ott ice,
has devoted much of her time and
energy te various causes including.
this publication. She deserves
much credit and a lot ef support |
in the election on Nov 4th because
of her faithfulness to the commun=
ity and her dignified leadership
in the past as well as the present
Cie. .
In 1973 Betty Gross ran fer
the Common Council in the 15th
ward but lost by 15 votes; she was
endorsed by tHe, Republican party.
Amember of the League of Women }
Voters, Mss. Gross is again running
in the 15th ward under the Liberal
and Republican line.for the effice
of county legislator. She worked
diligently for an elected school
in cqnjynction with. the League of
Women Voters in the city of Albany
Vote on Nov. 4th for this hard-~
working member of your community.
One of the major Albany es
activists is the woman running for. 4
Albany County Executive, Theresa
Cooke. She is running under a
Liberal and Independent (under the
name of Truman Citizen's. Party)
line for this position. Mse ‘Cooke
is the founder and past president
of the Albany Taxpayers Associatier
She was unsuccessful aa the 1973
election for Albany city comptroll
Republican and Ms. Meier is a
Democrat.
One woman I collected some
of my. data frem was Jane Small
Sanford, a leader in the Women's
Political ‘Caucus of Albany County.
She is also a leader in the state
branch of the Caucus. Ms. Sanford
Ms. Adams is a leading expressed in behalf ef the Caucus
the encouragment to women to run
and mentioned
that the women involved in this
ee pdetgead be rated on their
tavelving. ces The. Caucus. ey a
-multi-partisan organizatien formed
in 197%, 30 | awaken and assert the
vast pelitical power represented
by women-- 53% of the AUELSG:
population.
I also spoke with Roxy Smith,
president. ef the league ef Women
Voters in the Albany areas. She
was extremely informative about
the women running on Neve 4th
for county positions.
It's women like these that
help to secure: rights for 3
women as equal citizens and
encourage | them to participate
in all areas of government and
. politics. They have helped te
“create a more cohesive voice to
insure the inclusion of women's
Bia eg in all political campaigns."
your designated candidate if you
wish for your rights as women to
be heard and salar with effectively
i.
Yr a
eee ee
he Li The New york city Commission
on Human Rights, abcer the leader-
ere ship of Eleanor Holmes Norton,
Last year she was elected as county has been. working on strategies for
treasurer,
abolished with the entrance of a
new charter in January 1976. ‘The
positien will be replaced with an
elected comptroller and an appoint— more senior white males.
finance director. Ms. Cooke has
been around the Albany area for a
‘long time as a dignified activist
of the community and needs your.
support on November 4th.
It should be noted that
already in the county legislature
are two women, Ann T. Rose frem
Guilderland and Veronica Meier
from Cohoes. Ms. Rose is a
but that. office will be
dealing with recessien-induced un-
employment that would involve
neither the sacrifice of newly=
hired minorities and women nor of
Their “4
report favors reduced work heurs,
with oe sca yg by unem-
yme Hearings are -
now in. progress: on Assemblyperson
Seymour Posner's amendment te the
Unemployment Insurance Law, which
would provide such benefits. In
addition, Norton feels that unions
are increasingly responsive to equ’
employment considerations and the
need to share the recession's burc¢
13
=
i
‘SCHENECTADY AREA: ‘ee
er
8 o'clock pm at the -YWCA is
issues of BPIeere.
Schenectady.
de fense ?
panel will be two persons from
“GROUP NEWS
a
ete
<a es
ctady NoO.W. will hold a
general meeting on November 5th,
Schenectady, The membership will
be planning the program for the >
coming year. Watch for announee- _
ments of regular meetings in future
-
On November 12, Reverend
Margaret Bunnell will speak at the
YWCA in Schenectady,
Reverend
Bunnell is assistant minister at
the Union Presbyterian Church ain
Her topic of Wietiestén
will be "Women and Religion." Call
the YWCA for time. vis fac =
J
-
+
see i
‘The Rape Crisis Center Ee
ate meetings twice a month, The
first meeting which takes place on
the first Monday of. every month
ais open to the public. Ali.
interested persons are invited to
attend. There will be a training
session sometime in January at.
which time new members will. be
accepted and trained for counseling.
Anyone interested in training may.
Call the crisis line: ppeeOG
Sty
:
SUNYA FEMINIST ALLIANCE:
Event: Panel discussion on rape. ean
Place: SUNYA campus= aren: Bethe 0
Date: November | ae rie,
Rime: times hes he
ee.
Guest speakers on the eae will
be — Director of et
berbhee Palm, Physical Rodestign pre
SUNYA who will speak about | self
Also speaking on the
SUNYA campus security who will
discuss preventive techniques and
security procedures when rape bugs
ocecurs. The legal profession will
be represented by a female attorney.
h
sey
me, Sar —s em 4 f . ae
* ( @2 5 Leia ers * a7 We FOU
i. , : “oe #
A WOMAN'S PLACE:
a
| November 29-30.
COHOBS -- YWCA
There will be two ‘antes
Concerns Workshops" in November at
the Cohoes YWCA which is located
at 135 Mohawk eee Cohoes,
Time: 7:30 pm. On November 4, the
topic of discussion will be
Menopause.
ea ele
workshop will deal niih Skeorerdn
Your Childrents Questions About Sex -
Pre-school through Adolescence."
The speaker will be Carol Valentine,
Director of Education, Planned
Parenthood. of. Schenectady. F
There is no charge for these
programs and the public is cordially
TH Se ee Se
ro
a Weman's Place sg a bolléetive
located in Athol, | fe 12810. A
fall-winter workshop schedule has
been set up. October events were
published in last month's Speakout.
November events are as follows:
November q- 9. ‘Single Mothers. A
discussion of the special
problems as well as the epper-
tunities open to women raising
children outside the traditisnal
nuclear family situation.
November 14- 16. Collectivity. The
AWP Collective would like to
share their experiences with
others involved in or interested
- ain collective living.
| November 21-23. Women in Histor
The struggle for women's rights:
have we come a long way%. Also
a discussion of Amazons and
: other matriarchal cultures.
Thanksgiving. A
celebration with our sisters
; of an exciting and fruitful
year. we
ae Call the Collective at 928-6259542.
ALBANY COUNTY RAPE CRISIS CENTER:
The Albany County Rape Gelade
Center is located at the WWCA, 55
Steuben Street. » Albany. The office
phone numbers ‘are. 4652773, and
‘465-54266 The crisis line continues
to function from 7pm to 3am, and
that number is B- 1165.
Ma : aes -” : ; J 0
2 ee AS ae ¥
: : ; : ; F
jee 3
Group News Continued:
ninony County Rape Crisis Center..ee.
The Following women have been |
gipetnedd to county funded admin-
istrative positions at the Canter:
Director: Fraya Katz e
Assistant Director: Vivian Solez
Office Manager: Carol Glowinski
Counseling is provided by. a staff of
volunteers,
A volunteer training session
will take place November 22 and 23,
Call the Center office to register
and for details,
On November 2nd, there will be
a general meeing at the Center's
office. These meetings are held
once a month on the first Sunday of
every month from 7:30 to 9: 30pm,
and usually consist of educational
presentations about various aspects
of rape counselling.
FIIM: PSP Oe DORs
Title: "Blow for Blow" .
Place: RPI Cultural Center
Burdette and People's Ave.
| TPOF, als ”
Date: November 8
Time: 8pm
Donation: $1.00 vats
The movie is a french film
About a women's strike in a garment
factory in France,
TRI-CITEES WOMEN'S CENTER:
There will be a General Assembly
meeting at 8 pm on Monday, November —
3, at the Women's Center. All a:
are welcome.
A training session for C-R
facilitators is planned for Tuesday,
November ll, at 6:30 pm. The pre-
requisite is at least 6 weeks of
consciousness-raising experience.
The Women's Center is now open
on Wednesday and Thursday evenings
from 8 to 10 pm.
from 7:30 to 10:30, and there is a
work party each Saturday from 1 to
k pm. Get involved!
The Women's Center is compiling
a resource file for the woments
community. Please contact them af
you know a group which should be
list ed.
| LOUssee
Rap night is Friday
ee
~ CAPITAL DISTRICT BOA ARD ( OF WOMEN! S
SPORTS OFFICIALS: 4 yee
This group is planning a
basketball clinic along the same
‘lines as the volleyball clinic :
_ described in the October issue.
Contact Phyllis Rinella at 785-0151
for more information.
SPEAKOUT: Ss See
Speakout meets on Tuesdays: at
8 pm at the Friends Meeting House,
729. Madison Avenue. Our next>
_ stapling party -- complete with
refreshments and free Speakouts --
will be Tuesday, November 25, at the
Women's Center » also at 8 pm. You
are welcome!
Please note 9 we meet at two
different locations. We don't want
any lost workers.
ALBANY A AREA NOW: paibene 1g it
NOW's monthly membership
meeting will be at 8pm on November
12 at the Women's Center.
The fourth annual NOW-NYS.
Conference will be held November 14
through 16 at the Sheraton Eagle Bay
Inn, Ossining, Westchester County.
Events include a speech by Karen
DeCrow, a variety of workshops, an
anti pasto auction (bring an item to
donate), and a multi-media show
entitled What's a Nice Girl Like
Bor cers cine is as follows.
Before November >
Now members -- $5
Others -- $7. 50
After November 5:
NOW members -- $7. 50
Others -- $10
For more information or a registration
form, call Georgia Gray at 765-2468
or. Debbie Botch at ess 5010.
MORE FILMS:
Two more films in the Radical
Film Series at RPI, which is des-
cribed at left, may interest our
readers, They are at 8 pm November
22, same location, "Men's Lives"
explores masculinity and socializa-
tion of males. 'Janie's Janie" tells
of a welfare mother's struggle to
develop her own strength and poten~_
15 tial after years of isolation and
repression. The two films are $l.
CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER -- SEE GROUP NEWS FOR DETAILS
2 Albany County Rape Crisis Center meeting, 7:30-9:30, in their office
3 General Assembly meeting, 8,pm, Women's Center
Schenectady Rape Crisis Center meeting -- open to the public
4 Speakout meeting, 8 pm, Friends Meeting House, 72/7 Madison Avenue
Workshop on Menopause, 7:30 pm, Cohoes YWCA, 135 Mohawk Street
5 Schenectady NOW general meeting, 8pm, YWCA
Panel discussion about rape, 8pm, SUNYA Assembly Hall
7-9 Workshop on Single Mothers, A Woman's Place collective, Athol, NY
8 Film -- "Blow for Blow," RPI Chapel & Cultural Center, 8pm
11 Speakout meeting, 8 pm, Friends Meeting House, 727 Madison Avenue
C-R facilitators training session, 6:30 pm, Women's Center
12 Albany NOW meeting, 8 pm, Women's Center
"Women and Religion" ~- a speech by Reverend Margaret Bunnell,
Schenectady YWCA
14-16 Workshop on Collectivity, A Woman's Place collective, Athol, NY
NOW-NYS Conference, Ossining, Westchester County
18 Speakout meeting, 8 pm, Friends Meeting House, 727 Madison Avenue
Workshop on Children's Questions About Sex, 7:30 pm, Cohoes YWCA,
135 Mohawk Street
21-23 Workshop on Women in History, A Woman's Place collective, Athol, NY
22 Films -- "Men's Lives" and "Janie's Janie!’ RPI Chapel and Cultural
Center, 8 pm
22-23 AWARE training session
ey Speakout stapling party, 8 pm, Women's Centerk * ** R¥ ERE KEK EEK KEKE KHER EEE
KKEKKKEKEKEH HEHEHE KH KE HKKKHEKEEE
29-30 Thanksgiving celebration, A Woman's Place collective, Athol, NY
Regularly scheduled activities at tltté Women's Center:
Wednesdays and Thursdays, Open, 8-10 pm
Fridays, Rap Night, 7:30-10:30
Saturdays, Work Party, 1-4 pm
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a Feminist Journal}: - December |\91S
Vol. V No. XI
oe. ~~» & WR Ae Oe Oe
10
iz
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SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Table of Contents
Thoughts About The Last Election -- Maxine Krall Gootzeit
It's Our Revolution NOW -- Diane Herrera
Kathy Kahn and Class and Feminism -- Cheryl Shenkle
Arbor House -- Mary Gallagher
The Devil's Apron -- help from kelp. -- Carolyn Dissosway
On Campus Politics -- Ellen Deutschman and Dianne Piche'
From a Feminist Librarian -- Christine Root
FORCED LABOR -- A Book Review. -- Susan Lasher
In Memoriam: The Equal Rights Amendment -- Christine Root
More Letters
Group News -- Mary Gallagher
Cover design by Penny Kurtz
Workers for this issue:
Warner
Bookstore Distribution -- Contact Susan Lasher at 436-0369.
Albany New Times Center, Planned Parenthood, Seven Arrows Book-
store, The Store, SUNYA Bookstore, Unitarian Church Book-
store, YWCA, Tri-Cities Women's Center
Schenectady Family and Women's Advocacy Service, YWCA
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year.
above.
a whole page.
SPEAKOUT is a member of COSMEP (the Committee of Small Magazine Editors and
Publishers) and is on file at the Women's History and Research Library,
Berkeley, California.
SPEAKOUT
P, 0. Box 6165
Albany, New York 12206
December, 1975
Rezsin Adams, Jan Barbuto, Susan Chelius, Carolyn
Dissosway, Joan from Self-Defense, Mary Gallagher, Susan Lasher,
Carol Reid, Monica Robinson, Chris Root, Cheryl Shenkle, Janet
Single
copies are 35¢ and are available at the bookstores and service organizations
Advertising is $10 per quarter page, $18 per half page, and $30 for
Thoughts About The Last Election
It is a widely held political belief that ‘ew York State is one of the most
progressive in the Nation. Once again the voters have tried to prove this untrue.
were any of you really surprised over the defeat of the §.R,A.? How many of you
really became involved with friends, neighbors or co-workers in discussions of the
facts of the E.R.A. or on a larger scale, actually spoke-out at public meetings on
the E,R.8.? One of the critigisns I heard was the the "average" woman more easily
identified with the speakers representing anti-=,R.A. groups. The defeat only
proves one thing, in my opinion, and that is the inability of the voters of New
York State to decide on an issue according to the facts presented, But were the
facts presented to the voter clearly and consistently. ‘lore could have been done
by many of us.
The positive side that can be crawry from the last election is that some wonen
have started to put together political orsanizations. These organizations must be
continued and expanded and this can only be done by every one of us volunteering our
tine and money. je all must contributs what talents we have for the benefit of all
women, Lone ajo the Supreme Court decided that states that have passed on the
ratification of an admendnent to the United States Constitution cannot rescind there
vote. Perhaps little time should be spent connteractiny what effot organizations
like Operation jiakeup will be doinz in the Legislature. But if it is necessary to
lobby in the Legislature the facts should be stressed, Facts such as, the ERA.
will not undermine the family (the nuclear faawily was in trouble a long time before
the current Jomen's Liberation novenent), it will not coapel women to go to work
outside the home . (it will insure equal treatment in the job market if women aust
or choose to work), religion will not suffer because of the ERA, (the only quarrel
with religion that women should have is that it is a nale dominated institution and
as such is oppressive), there will not be coed public accom: -Jations (the Constit-
ution guarantees the right to privacy) and the concern about women be drafted will
not be affected either ( the governnent already has the rizht to draft citizens
regardless of sex for defense of the Nation), The most positive statement, perhaps,
should be that women should be treated as individuals without being either favored
or discrininated against because of her sex,
There are two ways for all wonen who believe in equality to spend their resour-
ces. One is to support financially the other states that will vote on the national
E.R.A, Another is to turn our energies to the lowval level. jiomen like Threasa
Cooke, Reszin Adaas, Dorothy Bross, Anne Gaffney and Ann Brandon, to name only a
few, have started organizations in the Albany area, They all need to be encouraged
to continue, Again, it takes time, money, and volunteers, These organizations a
great deal of menial hard work, along with special talents, If you do not know how
to get in touch with any wouaen candidates contact the jonmen's Political Caucus or
the Albany Chapter of ‘0.i or the Leazue of Jomen Voters.
The real tragedy of the last election will be accomplished if we all give up
in defeat, That may be the easy thing to do, the hard work is still in front of us.
There are 17,215 people in Albany County who voted for the E,R.A. If half of then
become involved in practical politics the changes in the political structure of the
County and City of Albany will be enoranous. To becone involved requires that we all
become better educated in practical politics and develop skills of leadership. hen
we have knowledge of the political processes we then can influence and educate the
voters. It is essential for us as individuals to behave collectively for construc-
tive organization, Individuals in a large society do not have wuch to say because
of a lack of knowledge, ‘either do they have a large chance of being heard. Affil-
iation with a group amplifies the individual voices. And groups by there very nature
are efficient for accomplishing ends.
One of the last Dinosaurs on earth is the political machine. Let's all work
to send it to the junkyard, worn out, broken, and useless,
In Sisterhood
Maxine Krall Gootzeit
It is Our Revolution NOW
We approached Philadelphia (dubbed
the City of Sisterly Love for the
occasion) with some trepidation, It
was the scene ef the eighth national
conference of the National Organization
for Women, and it was coming at the end
of a year of inhouse squabbling among
the officers, intense membership
frustration and a profound philosophical
split on all levels regarding the
structure, objectives and strategy
of NOW.
In 1966 the founders of NOW set
"bringing women into the mainstream
ef society" as the ultimate goal of
the organization, The obvious assumpt—
ion was that mainstream was a good
place to be. Over the last nine years,
NOW has grown from less than a hundred
to over 60,000 national members; we
represent all kinds of different
ideological persuasions, geographic
areas, living arrangements, income
levels, ethnic groups and sexual
orientations. We each have our own set
of priorities. . . Our one connection
is that we all identify in some heavy
personal sense with the word "feminism".
And so, we have become members of the
National Organization for Women,
The ideological split that has been
crystallizing over the past few years
is simply this: Is NOW going to remain
a mainstream, establishment-—identified
organization, or is it going to challenge
the very roots of the mainstream and
move "into the revolution? "
The debate was raging all over
Philadelphia, everywhere NOW women and
men could be found; coffeeshops, buses,
bathrooms and streetcorners all became
informal caucuses on the Great Feminist
Issue. The Philadelphia press gave
our internal struggles a lot of airplay.
It was rumored there could be a split;
this could be the end.
Karen DeCrow's keynote address
Saturday morning struck responsive
chords in most of us who had come to
Philadelphia, The membership roared
its approval as a public apology was
made to lesbians, housewives and to
men for the terrible blunders of the
past. An earnest appeal was made to
individuals who have been withholding
their energies and support from NOW on
the basis of past mistakes to reconsider
NOW. soe
She spoke of NOW victories across
the country this past year and pledged
continued pressures on the establishment.
For outrage, DeCrow spoke of the
sexist attitudes she encountered in
the Soviet Union and that the judge in
the Matlovich trial ha~ ruled her state-
ment on sexual preference and civil
rights for homosexuals as "irrelevant" (!)
She spoke of Karen Silkwood (whose
parents had come to the conference to
enlist NOW support for their struggle
to uncover the true circumstances of
their daughter's death) and of Jeanne
Little.
As incumbent president of NOW,
DeCrow has attempted to be an active
spokeswoman for all areas of feminist
endeavor and to be visible in the media
constantly. It was DeCrow's "radicalism"
that provoked the controversy that has
been raging on the national level for
the last year and a half. She and other
members of the national board and
general memhership banded together to
form the "Majority Caucus" platform for
NOW, which eventually swept the elections.
That platform embraced the philosophy
that the time has come for NOW to move |
"Out of the Mainstream, Into the Revolu- |
tion!",
It was both exciting and reassuring
as I realized that a great deal was
actually happening at the national level.
The controversy had been brought out in
the open and the membership was now in
a position to vote its choice,
JHE
Just after Karen's speech, as five
to six thousand people were milling
around the Philadelphia Civic Center, |
it was announced that the American |
Arbitration Association was on hand to
assure that the voting would proceed
lawfully, and that only NOW members had
voted. (This precaution would, hopefully
prevent anyone from contesting the
election, ) Since the outcome of the vote
could determine the whole future of the
organization, we all rushed to recertify.
Later, as the debate over voting
rules and procedures roared on, I found
myself beceming more and more alienated
by my surroundings; the Civic Center
looked like the setting for the Republican
National Convention; the microphone
set-up for debate from the floor was all
too "prdéessional"; women were election-
eering all over the place (buttons,
- posters, mimeographed sheets shoved in
cont'd
ee ___............._ EE
Kathy Kahn and Class and Feminism
:
Kathy Kahn, author of Hillbilly
Women (reviewed in October Speakout),
spoke at Siena College, October 9.
This was part of Siena's International
Women's Year program. She gave a very
informal talk interspersing her talk
—with songs.She's written several songs
and is working on her second album.
Her first album, Working Girl, is about.
three years old and is no longer available
Ms. Kahn spske about the 1966
strike at the Levi plant in Blue Ridge,
Georgia which led to the formation of
the first women's factory, The strike
lasted 14 months. It began’as a wildcat
strike because the union (International
Ladies Garment Workers Union) refused
to support the women's demands. The
demands included .freedom to use the
restroom and no timeclocks on the sew
ing machines. What really touched off
the strike though was the company's
introduction of a new, faster machine,
The new machine would have meant more
money for the woman using it since she »
was paid by the piece, Instead of
placing one of the senior women on the
machine, however, the company hired a
new woman specifically to run that
machine. This really infuriated the
women and they decided to strike. The
union negotiated a sweatheart contract
with the company and ordered the women
back to work.. They refused and the
strike lasted 14 months. The company
then brought in scab labor and continued
to produce levi jeans, The women
decided to organize their own factory,
which they did in McCaysville, It is
still in operation and is known as
McCaysville Industries, They do not .
however, sew jeans. The women decided
they would never again sew a pair of
inseams for levi jeans and* to this
day all levi jeans are made by scab
labor,
The women encountered several
problems in establishing their own
factory. The sewing machines they
purchased to get started turned out to be
hot and were soon confiscated by the
authorities. The women had no money and
couldn't get funding because of their
defiance of Levi and the ILGWU (two
powerful organizations in Georgia.) They
were hassled by the Department of Labor
because the women were working overtime
and not getting paid for it; thus not
collecting enough taxes. The Department
of Labor padlocked the door so they
teok uniforms home with them,
The women eventually received a $5000
grant from a civil rights organization
to buy a building. Today the factory
is in operation with no timeclocks,
country music playing on the radio, with
restroom breaks. Women are free to
“smoke at the machines and there is no ~
- real pressure, As a result many uniforms
get sown and sown well.
McCaysville Industries still has
problems getting contracts. Many compan-
ies are still skeptical about a collect-
ivist factory. They don't consider it
a good investment.
Kathy Kahn talked a little about
herself. She grew up in Washington
State, the daughter of a working class
family. The only thing that gave her
dignity, she remembered, - was her white
skin, Several degrading work experiences
made her very aware of the class distin-
ction, Ms. Kahn worked in migrant camps
and traveled throughout Appalachia
working with mountain people. For the
past three years she has been doing
benefit concerts. She uses her music
as an organizing tool and most of her
songs are labor songs. In her travels
she became aware of the tremendous
isolation among mountain people, and
she began taping her interviews and
playing them in different areas to help
give the people a sense of community
and togetherness, Her book, Hillbilly
Women, is a collection of these inter
views.
In her speech Ms, Kahn touched upon
the difficulties encountered in getting
her book published. She took the manu-
script to several publishers and Double-
day finally agreed to publish it. They
wanted her to change the title, though,
because "no one would buy a book about
hillbillies." She refused to change
it and they reluctantly agreed to
publish it as Hillbilly Women,
After her spéech I asked her if
she had contacted Ms. Magazine abut
possibly publishing her book. She said
that Ms. had. contacted her but she
refused,based en Ms, treatment of
hillbilly women, In July 1972, Ms.
printed an article entitled, "Three
Lives in Appalachia", in which one of
the women, Granny Hager, is described as
shameful because she is childless,
Granny Hager is anything but that in her
cont 'd
Kahn, cont'd.
community, Ms. Hager threatened to
sue Ms, for this slander but Ms. lawyers our faces); and Rebert's Rules of Order,
‘It is Our Revolution NOW, cont'd.
agreed to have Ms, print a retraction always ebnexious to me, were becoming
and an article written by a hillbilly grotesque.
woman, (The Three Lives in Appalachia In my embarrassment, for the organiza-
was not only slanderous but also tion, I gave my car keys to a friend (not
patronizing.) To date this has not a NOW member) so that she could flee, and
occurred. I began to daydream about more pleasing
The attitude of Doubleday and subjects (i.e., was that Meg Christian
Ms, Magazine exemplifies the whole class last night at the Lesbian Caucus? should
distinction concept with which Kathy I call my friend in Brooklyn to say I
Kahn and many other women, including wish-she-were-here?).
myself, have had to deal. That evening, trying to make dinner
Growing up poor in an affluent plans with 5 other people in my chapter,it
society subjects one to ridicule, humil- struck me how near-to-impossible it must
jation and embarassment that people in be to bring 5,000 people to consensus (!)
the middle and upper classes have nevered and I had a flash of tolerance for the
faced. Lower class people have very goings-on at the Civic Center...Perhaps it
different value systems and perspectives was unfair to critigize the conference
of which middle class people have no organizers for their "professionalism."
concept; The feminist movement itself Perhaps there was no other building in
is guilty of neglect and misunderstanding Philadelphia large enough to accommodate
of the views and problems of lower class 5 to 6,000 people. And when one woman in
women, This is clearly evident not my chapter pointed out that any truly
only in the Ms. treatment of hillbilly democratic process is always long and diff-
wemen but is pointed out in the book, icult, and that tyranny has always been
Class and Feminism. This book (available more efficient, I even had to concede that
on request from Diana Press, Inc,., 12 point. But most everyone I spoke to agreed
West 25th Street, Baltimore, Maryland that there has to be a better way.
21218) presents a series of essays on When the discussions were over, it was
class and its relationship to the feminist2 am Sunday morning, Everyone was exhausted
movement. The articles were. written out our energy was gone, But something beaut-
of the experiences of the Furies, a iful happened there in the Civic Center
lesbian/feminist collective composed of between 2 and 5 am as the women remaining
white lower, working, and middle class moved to the music of Meg Christian and
women. The essays attempt to explain the Deadly Nightshade. Euphoria swept over
class consciousness, Class consciousness everyone as we rocked each ether to the
is something that I'm sure most middle strains of "lean on me, I am your sister/
class people are not aware of since believe on me, I am your friend" and
they're in the dominant class, What boogeyed to "High Flying Woman"...With
this book does is explain class through the day's madness out of the way, it was
personal essays and by so doing help clear again what -we feminists are all
us to break down these barriers that are about, and that is simply, women loving
dividing us. Just as race and sex are women,
divisive so is class. Only when we in I am sure there were many who came to
the feminist movement understand our Philadelphia, as I did, with the intention
classist hangups can we attempt to destroyof pulling eut of NOW completely unless the
them. The patriarchal society created organization began to show signs of turning
the class system and uses it as another itself around, re-establishing its credib-
tool for our oppression, If we consider ility with women (and men) who feel they've
ourselves feminists then we must work been burned by NOW somewhere along the line
to eliminate class oppression in our and I came away tith the feeling that we
own personal lives, in the movement, — were moving in the right direction, The
and in society. The women's movement Majority Caucus won the élection, the
is only beginning to deal with the resolution to press Gay Rights as a national
issue of lesbianism as evidenced by priority passed, and we in the Albany NOW
the decision at the recent NOW conference,chapter have returned closer to each other
When will it start to deal with ‘than ever before, with our minds open to
classism? Only when we recognize it as exploration of ourselves and the full
a problem. Perhaps this book and others potential of the feminist movement,
like it can give us a start. 4 Diane Herrera
Cheryl Shenkle
ARBOR HOUSE
There are many good things
happening for women today in the
Capital District area. One of
them is Arbor House, a three-story
half-way residence for women
located at 100 Clinton Avenue in
Albany. The residence services
women sixteen years of age and
over who, for a variety of reasons
are in need of the half-way house
environment.
Arbor House was established in
1969. The residence was a gift
from the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Albany. Governed by a Board of
Directors, and staffed by the
Sisters of Mercy in Albany, Arbor
House. is licensed by the New York
State Board of Social Welfare as a
non-profit, non-sectarian, half
way residence,
Arbor House may accept up to
ten residents at a time. There are
two live in staff members, both
Sisters of Mercy. One is Sister
Mary Theresa Ryan, the Directress,
whose full time occupation is
Arbor House. The other, Sister
Patricia Davis, teaches business
at Maria College in Albany, but
returns to Arbor House in the
evenings. There are other Sisters
of Mercy available when the regular
live in staff members must be away
for weekends, overnight, etc.
Who comes to live at Arbor
House? Right now, there are five
residents ranging in age from 16
to 2l.e Although there is no
maximum age limit, most of those
who have come to Arbor House are
single women who are within the
16-25 age category. Referrals
are made from a variety of sources
such as local departments of social
services, Hudson River State
Hospital, Division of Parole,
Family Court, the Narcotic Addiction
Control Comission, and Hudson State
School, to name a few. Arbor House
has also: serviced women from such
correctional facilities as Bedford
Hills and Raybrook. These women
may either be on leave and in need
of a place to stay for a short time,
or they may be on parole and ready
for the half-way residence to
assist them in making the transitio
ra
back into society.
No type of problem is excluded
from acceptance at Arbor House,
provided the person is able to live
within the program. Therefore,
Arbor House has serviced women with
all kinds of problems such as those
related to drug abuse, memtal
illness, and alcoholism. In the
past, many of these women have
undergone an institutionalized
form of treatment or rehabilitation,
and are now ready for a place where
- they can receive assistance in
making the transition to independent
living. In more recent years, the
residents who have been accepted
into Arbor House, have been young
women who have come from multi-
problem families in which they are
unable to function,
The average stay of a resident
at Arbor House is six months to a
year, but some have stayed as long
as two to three years. During that
time, the resident is expected
to work toward the goal of ©
achieving responsible, independent
living. Arbor House provides the
Stabilizing environment necessary
to achiece this goal. All residents
are expected to actively seek
employment or to acquire the :
necessary education or skills that
will eventually lead to gainful
employment. The staff at Arbor
House will assist the residents in
utilizing area employment services,
and training or educational programs.
All residents share in the
household responsibilities. The
Arbor House family gets together
each evening during the week for
dinner in order to talk, share
experiences, and the like.
Some of the residents may be
involved in area rehabilitation
or therapeutic programs such as
Equinox for drug rehabilitation,
or Capital District Psychiatric
Center, Arbor House does not
employ a therapist as such but makes
use of area programs when necessary.
Sister Thereaa Ryan, the Directress,
has a Masters Degree in Social
Work and is a certified Social
Worker. She will provide counsel-
ling, in certain appropriate
instances, to the residents, and
perhaps their families.
Arbor House is also available
to women who might need a place
to stay for a few days. Since
1969, the half-way residence has
served close to 300 women. Yet,
Arbor House operates on a budget
of: $16,000 a year. Each resident
pays a room and-board rate...
of $25.00 per week. The other
main source of income is an
annual benefit cocktail party
usually held in November at the
Roman Catholic Chancery, the
- proceeds of which go to Arbor
House.
Arbor House has some needs
which we as women in the
community may be able to fill.
Volunteers are needed to tutor
some of the residents in their
school work. Also, is there a
woman experienced in consciousness
raising who would like to form a
CR group with the residents?
Anyone interested in volunteering
for tutoring or CR may call Sister
Theresa Ryan at 463-7905 between
the hours of 9 am to 4 pm.
Donations of usable clothing would
also be appreciated,
Arbor House is providing our
community with a very valuable
service. This writer hopes the
residence will continue to be
able to exist for as long as the
women's community in this area is
in need of such a facility.
Mary Gallagher
The Devil's Apron «=| help from
kelp.
Seaweeds, including kelps,have
been used as food, as animal feed
and as fertilizer for centuries,
_ There have also been folk-medi-
Cine usesSe Now a kelp, Laminaria
digitata, isbbeing used, exper-
imentally, to augment hypertonic-
saline or prostaglandin (PGF2%
induced second trimester abortions
Laminaria are also known as
tangle, sea girdle, and, the
devil's apron.
PGF2“Lis obtained from a
gorgonian coral, Plexura homamalla,
found eff the coast of Florida.
The Food and Drug Administration
has approved its use via the
a standard schedule, for second
trimester abortions. By other
routes and by other schedules
this prostaglandin causes unace
ceptable levels of such side
effects as nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea and shiveringe By the
FDA approved method there are
acceptable (to the physicians)
levels of these side effectse An
augmenting treatment which would
reduce the side effects is desir-
ablee One which would shorten
the time from the administration
of the abortifacient to abortion
would be advantageous to both the
patient and the hospital staff.
Tents (From the Latin, tendere,
to stretch.) made from the stipe,
stem, of Laminaria digitata, in-
serted into the cervix the night
before the abortion is to be pere
formed, accomplishes these objec-
tiveSe
‘Laminaria tents were in use as
early as 1864, in Europe, Japan
and the United States, to dilate
the cervix so it could be examined
medication administered or an abe
ortion performed. Because the te
nts were not sterilized and becae
use the tents were not sterilized
and because they had to be in the
cervix for a long time before the
dialation was accomplished infec -
tions were blamed on them. So
were punctures of the cervixe For
these reasons the technique was
abandoned in this country until
recently. Otherwise the laminaria
tents were believed to be superior
to the dilation techniques in use
during the nineteenth centurye
Now there are effective methods
for sterilizing the tents. As an
augmenting agent to other techni =
ques they need be used only a few
hours before the abortifacient is
administered. Infections and
perforations are rare. The time
from administration ot abortion is
reduced. Lower doses can be used,
therefore, there is a reduction
in the severity of the side effe= “~~;
CtSe
Laminaria tents have not yet
been approved for use by the FDA.
The references used to prepare
this article are available from
intrawamniotic route, according to (QSpeakoute
On Campus Politics
Ellen Deutschman & Dianne Piche
In the recent Student Associe
ation (SA) elections on the SUNY
at Albany campus, two members of
the Feminist Alliance, Elie
Axelroth and Dianne Piche, wonn
seats on Central Council, the
highest legislating body of the
Student Association. We were
supported by the Coalition for
Educational and Cultural Freedom
and ran ona platform which
called for non-sexist, non-racist
education. The Coalition is
primarily comprised of members of
soc? i, cultiral, -ard politica:
groups including the Feminist Al-
ifance, Pease Project, Fuerza
Latina, and EOPSA.
We realize the importance of
working both in the interests of
the Coalition as a whole and
particularly in the interests of
women and Third World, our primary
concernse Up until this year,
women have been grossly under=repe
resented in the $.A. Last year
there were nine women elected to
Central Council, but only two
served the full year's term.
has never (in the past 8-10 years
anyway) been a woman elected as
S.A. President, Vice-President,
Comptroller, or Chairperson of
Central Councii,. .Inese, are. the
four most powerful positions in
the Student Association here.
The “sad truth is that thé. most
influential pesitions women have
ever held consistently in the S.A.
have been as paid secretaries for
Student Association wrking in
the orifice: or at Central Cooncii
meetingse
Furthermore, when there are
women involved wth student governe
ment, they tend for the most part
to be less assertive and aggress-
ive than the men involved. While
we do not necessarily agree that
playing power politics is the most
desirable or effective way of
gettin things done, it happensto
apparently be the only way of
getting things done given the
political nature and composition
of the.Councit this. year.
Student Association is respon=
Sible for handling a great deal
of money every year, in addition -
'
There
to making policies and taking
actions which affect the entire
student bodye We hope toinvolve
more minorities and wmen in make
ing and influencing the decissions
of S.A.
Presently, a group of people
is working with David Coyne (
Central Council Chairperson) and
Andy Bauman (S.A. President) in
hopes of establishing an affirma-
tive action committee within the
S.A. . Other” groups of’ this ‘nature
exist at SUNYA (such as the Women
's Rights C,ucus and the Office
of Affirmative Action) but none
of these is specifically concerned
with the problems of female and
Third World students. This com =
mittee, once established,would
deal with racial and sexual dis-
crimination on campus, as well as
working to involve more women and
Third World students in the S.A.)
We are encouraged by the fact
that of the seven available Cent-
ral Council seats for commuters,
three from the Wellington Hotel
(a new living area for students)
-- Karen Tapedino, Robin Perchik,
Anne Markowitz -- and four from
the Coalition -- Ellie Axelroth,
Denise Fuller, Cathy Davis, and
Dianne Piche. In addition, the
Coalition had two other represent-
atives elected -- Marylyn Woods
from Alumni Quad, and George
DeLuca from State Quad. But much
remains to be done in addition
to changing the sexual composition
of our student government.
N.O.W. EVENTS: “Against Our will"
by Susan Brownmiller will be the
subject of discussion at Jeanne
Dross's, 561 Park Avenue, Albany,
on December 2nd at 8 pme Anyone
who has read the book will be
welcome.
In January the N.O We -=- New
YOrk State Council will meet in
Al banye
At the November meeting the
failure of the New York State
ERA to be voted into law was
discussed. The loss is only a
delay. N.O.W members felt they
learned from the ERA = Coalition
experience and made friends.
From a Feminist Librarian
Sunbury - A New feminist Press
Sunbury Press is a publishing house
comnitted to those who have not been’... |
given an adequate voice elsewhere: omen
poets, blue-collar poets and minority
poets.
Sunbury Press publishes:
Sunbury, a poetry magazine - a tri-
quaterly
Sunbury omen Chapbooks
Sunbury Poetry Chapbooks
Upcoming Chapbooks; iomen in Prison
dJonen and Aging
write to Sunbury Press for sample copies
or to submit evidence of your creative
talent: Box 274/Jerome seed cee: L nbe NY
1045
Craig Henderson Human Relations in the
Military Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1975
Less than thirty pages are devoted to
women's Equality but it is a start. Here's
a sample of the facts and figures present-
ed: "The Air Force has opened 98 percent
of its skill fields to women and the Mar-
ine Corps has opened 57 percent. It is
also possible now for a woman in uniform
to stay in service after the advent of
motherhood. The rule banning mothers
was amended in April, 1971 and new there
are alnost 1,000 mothers. in uniforn, "p94
"omen are accepted into the service
only froa Mental Groups I,II and upper III,
whereas men are accepted in Mental Groups
I _ iv", Group I is the highest intelli-
zence test performers. "Additionally,
the battery tests for enlistment which
women take are academically oriented,
whereas the battery tests which men take
are aptitude oriented. "}p92)
This book left me with two questions
since the above were written in the present ree within our cooperative,
tense may I presune that women from Mental
Groups IV and lower III are being denied
access to the armed services? hy is the
Marine Corps so far behind the other
branches of the service in regard to equal
opportunity. I plan to write to my Con-
sressperson about this. How about you?
Looking for a film to show your Church,
School or Community Group?
New Day Films/PO Box 315 Franklin Lakes,
New Jersey 07417
Founded in 1972 by a group. of independent
feminist filmmakers, Jew Day Films began
as a distribution cooperative for films
about women. They were concerned that .3
f
women traditionally seen on the screen
were products of the experiences, image
ination and fantasies of male filmmakers.
Here is what the women of New Day have
£0 say:
“tie were naking films based on women's
needs and experiences.
There are many situations, ideas and
empbrome bbat we feel are important to
explore. Filwaaking is one of our ways
of sharing our discoveries with others.
we see films as our contribution to
forces for progressive change in our
society. Therefore, our work does not
stop when a filn is conpleted; this is
only half of the precess of producing
films.
de formed sew Day Films because we
found traditional distribution channels
either inadequate to our needs or in-
accessible. Many distribution comnpan-
ies are reluctant to handle controver-
sial films that challenge socially
acceptable norms, or films which, while
useful,mizht not tur a profit. Most
monetary rewards go to the distributor;
consequently, filmmakers have little
hope of earnine back funds spent on past
films, or saving for future projects.
Finally, filmmakers are completely cut
off from pagticipation in the distribu-
tion process, and lose all control of
their work and contact with their audi-
ence,
we found these conditions unaccep-=
table and have set out to create an al-
ternative for ourselves, for other finhn-
makers, and for audiences as well. je
Wish to be reponsive to the needs of all
our Viewers, whether they be in college
classrooms, storefronts, high schools,
libraries, union halls or living rooms.
Since 1972 many changes have occure
This year
we welcome several new films and filma
makers into New Day. Our shared politi-
gal understandin:s have grow. From
lenethy discussions of our concept of
what is a "feminist film," we came to
feel that feminism is not the domain of
women or "wouen's issues" alone; to us
it is much broader, As feminists we are
attenpting to transform all of society--
fron daily relationships between people
to social, political, and economic inst~
itutions, The lives of both women and
men need to be explored and changed. _
SO, we decided to welcome a film about
men and the men who made it into New Day.
Althoueh we produce our films inde-~
pendently, we have comuon goals. Those
involved in ‘iew vay share ideas, resources,
and energy because we believe in the in-
portance of cooperative action in brinz-
ing social change. Je hope our experi-
ment will continue to srow and make avail-
able many films about women and me.
This is what New Day means to us;
personal connituent, responsibility, and
a desire to create a society responsive to
human needs, "
Many of us have seen and enjoyed “lew
Day's films in the past, such as Joyce at
Growing Up reaale, and Anything You
want To Be. ‘lew Day now introduces:
The Opening-of the .iomen's Center
The Albany area Jonen's Center
located at the YiCA in albany officially
opened on October 5 at Spm. Over 100
women fron the area attended the opening,
the effect being wall to wall women.
BEAUTIFUL.
The roons that the Y/CA are renting
the Center needed extensive refurbishing
and the maintence committee literally
worked their fingers to the bone.
The refreshnents served were cider, wine,
cheese and bread. For entertainment,
the Full-Circle Collective preforiaed two
long sets to a rapt audience. Later the
Chris anc Bernie - a film about singleCollective said that one of the reasons
mothers oy Bonnie Friedman and Deborah
Shaffer 15an color 25 minutes
rental $33.00 Sale $3350.00
Yudie - a film about a sprightly
Jewish women in her seventies, living and
loving life in jew York City, by Mirna’
Bank 15mm Bf, 20 minutes
Rental 530.00 Sale 5225.00
Wana, Mom and Me - a film by
Amalie R. Rothsclied about three genera-
tions of women in her fanily
16mm color 47 minutes
rental $53.00 Sale $500.00
Betty Tells Her Story - a film by
Liane Brandan concerning the identity of
women today 15na 3?-i 20 ainutes
Rental $25.00 Sale $200.00
Union aics- a documentary about
wonen organizing in the 1930's by Julia
Reichert and Jane Klein 15mm B?! 45 min.
Rental 353.00 Sale $325.00
Men's Lives - a docunentary filn
about masculinity in America by Josh
Harrzeand Jill Roberts. (A first for New
Day - a film by aen and about men, see
introductory paragraphs for New Day's
decision to expand to include films by
and about men). 15m1 Color 43 minutes
Rental $59.00 Sale $500.00
Contact you local public library, ~
library federation or comnunity colleze
library to see what films they already
own on or by women. Since these are new
filas, libraries may not yet have added
then to their collections but will wel-
come your sugzestions. If unavailable
locally write to “ew Day films for book-
ings. Jhenever possible ‘iew Day will try
to aid comnunity groups by offerings lower
rental rates. Book in advance. Happy
Viewins.
In Sisterhood
Christine Root
they were so good was the response of
the audience. Sisterhood is powerful.
A very zood time was had by all.
From the party 17 new pledges were
mace totaling over $120.00 and 11 don-
ations vere made totaling $200.00. At
the current time basic expenses are
being met but with very little money
left over for replacing supplies. Still
needed is an electric stove, desks, file
cabinets, card tables and folding chairs.
The Center is being used almost
every night of the week, Meetings,
cour, ling, an assertiveness workshop,
and a consciousness raising facilitator
workshop are all currently in progress.
Still needed are people to be fund rais-
ers and someone out there who knows
accounting procedures for a non-profit
corporation. Please call Treasurer
ary Hagerup if you can help--273-4103,
Hours for the Center on ifon, Jed,
Thrus, and fri are 8 to 10pm, Tues. fron
1 to 4 pn. The phone # 449-9991,
Twice a month the Center is hoping
to have a coffee house, which will be a
forum for wowen preforuers--poets, singer
ete. Call the Center if you want to
- attend for dates or if you would like to
*p forn.
It's our Center, sisters--let's
use it and support it for the best of
all possible reasons--Sisterhood.
laxine Krall Gootzeit
KE KEK KEE RX
Affirmative Action Office SUNYA
Ms. Kay Norman, Affirmative
Action Officer, is looking for
a student interested in the legal
aspects of affirmativ. action to
work in the office as a volunteer
SUNYA AD 344 call 457-8590
FORCED LABOR -- A Book Review
Forced Labor:
back $5.50, hardcover $10.
"The hospital is a factory.
staff its production workers, the M.D.
finished product, and the new mother a
Forced Labor grew out of Nancy
Stoller Shaw's interest in the
influence of institutions on the
behavior, attitudes, and emotions of
the people who use them. She chose
a descriptive rather than an experi-
mental approach, while leaving open
the possibility of future experimen-
tation. Indeed, a psychologist
reading the book could undoubtably
list many experiments already per-
formed, which are relevant to Shaw's
theses.
The research plan for Forced Labor
was an in-depth study of one institu-
tion for maternity care, followed by
brief studies of four other institu-
tions in order to make comparisons
and contrasts. The pseudonyms used
by the author for the institutions
are: the Hospital for Women, Maternity
Division, a 170 bed facility averaging
17 deliveries per day; City Hospital,
a large public facility which serves
publicly funded patients; University
Hospital, which is affiliated with a
medical school; the Pioneer Nursing
Service, which serves the rural poor
in eastern Kentucky; and Community
Health Plan, a prepaid group care
medical system. While this research ~
plan is logical, it caused one of the
most serious flaws in the book: Shaw
often fails to make clear whether a
particular statement applies only to.
Maternity Division, which she studied
intensively, or to all of the
institutions under consideration.
his ambiguity frustrates the reader
and limits the value of the informa-
tion.
Predictably, most of the findings
presented by Shaw reveal Oppression.
Physicians often take an arrogant
attitude toward their patients, and
one would expect this attutude to be
accentuated when all of their patients
are women. Institutions also can be
expected to treat women in a partic-
ularly inhumane way. Even 50, the
extent of the oppression described
the patients are not paying for care
Ls Maternity Care in the United States, by Nancy Stoller Shaw, :
published March 12, 1975, New York, Pergamon Press, Inc.
166 pgs. Paper-
The pregnant woman is its raw material, the
the manager, the baby the major
secondary by-product."
-- Nancy Stoller Shaw
in’ Forced Labor is shocking.
Beginiing with a woman's first
visit to a maternity institution,
she is placed in a series of cate-
gories which help to determine the
kind of care she will receive. The
relevant categories are private or
clinic status, ethnic group, marital
status, education, income level, age,
gravity (number of pregnancies begun),
parity (number of previous births),
and religion. Also important are the
perceived appropriateness of the wo-
man's plans with respect to adoption;
her ability to limit her weight
gain; and her agreeability in dealing
with the staff.
The categories in which a.woman is
placed influence the selection of her
care-givers. At Maternity Division,
Harvard and MIT students and their
wives are never examined by medical
students even: though they pay lower
fees than non-students with the same
income. All over the United States,
a woman's status determines the sta-
tus of the person who will deliver
her baby. .At City Hospital, "the
basic attitude of the staff is that
and that the staff therefore has the
right to treat people in any way they
see fit.'"' The categories also influ-
ence the nature of the care given.
The type and amount of anesthesia
and other medication are related to
private or clinic status, ethnic
group, and income level. For example
labor and delivery nurses believe
that darker skinned Caucasians are
more vocal than other people and
therefore need less medication than
their complaints would indicate.
One of the goals of an institution
is to ensure that the behavior of
those who enter it willx.be malleable,
so that they can be processed accord-
ing to a set plan. When the woman
enters the hospital to have her
child, she is subjected to a number
of dehumanizing procedures to this
FORCED LABOR, Continued
end. She loses all her personal
effects and clothes in return for a
skimpy hospital gown. She is given a
number and a name tag. She carries
with her a chart which lists those
categories into which she falls, and
they are also listed on a blackboard
on the delivery floor at Maternity
Division. The woman's entire pubic
area is shaved (except that some
physicians allow their private patients
to forego this if they wish). If she
is expected to receive heavy medica-
tion, she must surrender hairpins,
false teeth, and eyeglasses; if she
has a wedding ring, it is taped to
her finger. There is some rationale
for these procedures. For instance,
the woman is shaved in case she needs
an emergency Caesarean. Clearly the
physician's impatience at a last
minute shaving job takes precedence
over the woman's itching misery as
her pubic hair grows back.
At Maternity Division many women
receive scopalomine, an amnesiac drug.
They are told that it will put them
"to sleep." It is never explained
that scopalomine is an amnesiac, not
an anesthetic; that they will not
Sleep (are likely, in fact, to thrash
about), will not stop feeling, but
will simply not remember what has
happened. (What a splendid way to
protect the hospital against well-
founded complaints. )
Between 85 and 90% of pregnant
women receive spinal anesthesia, an
epidural, or general anesthesia. In
virtually all deliveries the physician
uses forceps to pull the baby's head,
and performs an episiotomy, whether
these procedures are actually neces-
Sary or not. Natural childbirth is
discouraged.
There is some question as to the
generality of Shaw's findings about
delivery procedures. According to
this reviewer's sources, scopalomine
is generally avoided, and pudendal
or cervical blocks (both local) are
the most common forms of anesthesia
used for childbirth. At Albany
Medical Center Hospital, again accord-
ing to the reviewer's sources, forceps
are used only when necessary, episio-
tomies are standard, and natural
childbirth is encouraged. It is quite
possible that Shaw's data have become
Outdated since she collected them --
during 1967 and 1968, for the most
art. She discounts this possibility:
ithe same conditions continue to
exist in these and other American
hospitals in 1974." She presents no
evidence for that statement, nor
does she allude to the existence of
such evidence. This flaw demonstrates
once again that while Forced Labor
presents a valuable, non-institution-
generated view of childbirth systems,
the specific bits of information
presented are of questionable value.
At the conclusion of her book,
Shaw discusses the factors which
render our childbirth care system
inadequate -- the haspital setting,
Specialization and fragmentation of
care, technology, the use of power
and status. She envisions a system
which would rely on nurses and mid-
wives for uncomplicated births,
allow other family members to be
present, provide group accomodations
so that women could learn from each
other, and enable healthy newborns
to remain in the same room as their
mothers. As Nancy Stoller Shaw sees
it, "in order to make such changes,
we must learn from other liberation
movements. The only way to really
change a hospital is by organizing
its patients. Doctors will continue
to work on us and not with us as
long as we are docile patients and
each is only one,"
-~- Susan M. Lasher
EREKEKEKEKRE KEE KEK HH HEHEHE HKKKHKHEHKKE
Footnote to "Thoughts About The Last
Election," in this sssue:
Professor Riedel of the Political
Science Department at SUNYA said
that the Supreme Court has ruled
that a state may not rescind its
vote on a Constitutional amendment
after the amendment has been ratified
but that the Supreme Court has not
ruled or been asked to rule whether
a state may rescind its vote before
ratification. The Court would prob-
ably take the case if asked to do so.
--MKG
KEE EK EKER KEE HEH ERE H HEHE K KKH EKER KKKKKEK
Note to our readers:
"Never Underestimate the Power of
a Woman,"' last month's article about
women candidates in Albany County,
was written by Ellen Deutschman,
We apologize for Omitting her name
I | last month.
eMovri am
Novem bew
‘=|
win
fHE. | E qua| Ki yi iw orendment
Dear Speakout Readers,
Many of you are prebably stunned
(as 1 was) by the recent defeat
of the Equal Rights Amendment. A
band of women gathered at the
Women's Center on election night
to listen to the returns on tele-
vision. Speakout staffers and I
joined them about 9:45 pm only to
find a bit of gloom already des-
cendinge Although I had expected
a tough fight I personally expect-
ed the Equal Rights Amendment to
pass. Tom Brown's poll of his
district, the Roper poll and
numerous other polls showed the
majority of voters to be in favor
of equal rights for women. Now
that is only a memory. And we are
left with the haunting question
where did we go wrong?
The general strategy as I under-
stood it was to "let the facts
speak for themselves." Ardent or
radical feminists were to take a
back seat to the more conservative
proponents of the Equal Rights
Amendment.
were considered too "radical" and
"too women's lib" and would thus
give the Equal Rights Amendment
Coalition a "bad name" and bad
"image". Many of us, myself i
included, took a back seat in the
campaign in the interest of help-
ing the Equal Rights Amendment.
I rarely spoke as 1 felt my views
on related issues too radical.
I was afraid I would scare away
support for the ERA because of the
other views I hold. I1 believe in
free universal birth control to all 41
NOW and Feminist Groups
men and women of child bearing
age, abortion if chesen by a
woman and doctor regardless of
the woman's age, limitation of
family size,i.@. no man or woman
should be allowed to father or
conceive more than two children,
Women should have equality now.
Personnally I'm struggling
with the issue ef violence. My
Quaker views lead me to believe
violence is wrong and that the
end does not justify the means.
Yet my rage is great. Should I
be stepped on, spit on, political-
ly enslaved without a whimper?
Who is the greater criminal? Whe
is committing the greater wrong
before God? The woman who breaks
a store window in the fight for
equal rights for all people or
the man who decides net to promote
women at his factory? Both are
illegal but probably only the
first would be prosecuted.
It may be that the Equal
Rights Amendment went down to
defeat largely at the will of
women voters. This is the teugh-
est pill to swallew. Our sex vot-
ing to be nonpersons under the
law. When I went to hear the
debate on the ERA at the Bethlehem
Public Library a few weeks ago
I was surprised to hear the Anti-
ERA speakers say they were “all
for equal rights for women." They
were just against the Equal Rights
Amendment. This made ne sense to
me at all but apparently this
ut£er nonsense spoke to some peeple
(cont'd)
ERA, In Memoriam, cont'd.
So many arguments made by
Operation Wakeup were irrelevant
to me. I'm sure to their surprise
what they thought would shock: me
did not.
I favor women in the military.
I see no earthly reason to place
one sex over the other in the
military whether combat or not.
I see nothing sacred in the family
_as we know it today. Separate
bathrooms is not a god given right
but a 20th century American inven-
tion. Japan fares very well
without them. Nor do 1 fear earn-
ing my own living and my own way.
I @etiognt in it.
I don't agree that the Equal
Rights Amendment will cost me
money. Right now I pay social
security which I may never be able
to collect...in essence I toil
away to pay the costs of social
security for those whose lifestyle
is different from my own. I pay ©
so they can live the way they wish.
Do I have a choice in paying my
social security or other taxes.
No. They choose and I pay the
bills. .
Married people without children
pay the highest taxes and reap
the fewest benefits from society.
We support the schools for other
people's children. We support the
social services. We pay and pay
and pay. For many years we have
done so willingly because we felt
these things were for the greater
good. But it does make me angry
when operation wakeuppers try to
tell me that my lifestyle will
cost them and other taxpayers
money. In reality I have been
footing the bill for their life-
styles for years.
I'd like to close by saying
I don't hate my misguided sisters
in Operation Wakeup. I'm sorry
for them. They are afraid. They
know "they are one man away from
welfare." I am not. I only wish
I could make them see that the |
Equal Rights Amendment could have
brought them so much hope. Should
their husbands die, get sick or
leave them, their plight will be
the more hopeless now. They have
lost so much and they don't even
\D
realize it. The world is chang-
ing and perhaps they hoped by
defeating the ERA they could
stem the tide of social change.
All they have done is succeed.
in making life harder for them-
selves and their daughters.
Forgive them for they know
not what they do.
Sincerely,
Christine Reot
KHKEKKERKEEKE EEE HEE KHHERKEKRHEKEKKHEKKHHKKEKKEHRE
Dear Friends,
I urge you to write a letter to
The Honorable Hugh Carey requesting
that he grant executive clemency to
Lenore Coons and Theresa Simmons,
both long term prisoners at Bedford
Hills Correctional Facility.
Both women are first time offenders
convicted of murder in mitigating
circumstances. Mse Coon's case
stemmed from a heated family argument
in which her own life was endangered;
in the second case, the murder oc-
curred during the course of a rob-
bery and Ms. Simmons maintained that
an accomplice who later turned
state's evidence did the shooting.
The records of Ms. Coons and Ms.
Simmons since their sentencing 7 and
10 years ago, respectively, have
been exemplary. The Superintendent
Of Bedford Hillis and the prison
psychiatrist feel they could return
to society as productive members.
Both are living on the "honor floor"
of the prison where trusted inmates
are assigned. What purpose can
further incarceration serve? Any
rehabilitation that has not occurred
already, will not occur; and, if it
is punishment that is sought, that
end has been more than adequately
served. All that is being accom-
plished here is further waste of
human life and an exhaustive drain on
tax dollars to support these women.
Please write to Governor Carey, the
Executive Chambers, Albany, NY 12224,
and send a-carbon copy to State
Senator Karen Burstein.
Sincerely,
Ellen O'Meara
Legislative Aide to
Senator Burstein
Albany, New York 12224
LETTERS TO SPEAKOUT
Dear Speakout Readers,
The other night. I was asked to do
a short presentation on sex discrim-
ination in employment. I started out
by saying that sex discrimination is
a reality, but the reason for that
discrimination is often rooted in
myths. I believe that myths are also
the basis for many people's attitudes.
toward the YWCA. For instance: Isn't
it a bunch of old ladies having silver
tea in the afternoon? The YWCA is
very staid and conservative. The
YWCA has a bunch of craft and a cham
education classes.
The National YWCA has adopted an
imperative -- an overriding concern
for all member sssociations. It is
the elimination of racism. Three
target goals: the empowerment of
women, the empowerment of youth, and
the empowerment of third world people,
complete what should be the paramount
aims for local associations. How
does the Albany YWCA relate to all
this? With much hard work and strug-
gle, first of all. Achieving any of
these purposes takes energy, time and
money. But most importantly, people
who share a commitment to what the
YWCA really means, are needed.
An old organization is not neces-
sarily senile, fragile or reaction-
ary. On the contrary, we have a
historic wealth of wisdon, courage,
and progressive thought to gather
strength from as we continue to grow.
Don't deny the YWCA your support and
hope. If you have ideas on how we
might better be fulfilling the goals
we are committed to, or if you would
like to find out about our current
programs and future dreams, please
drop by or give me a call,
In Sisterhood,
Robin Gerber
Program Director
Albany YWCA
55 Steuben Street
(518) 449-7184
HX KE KEE KEE HX KH
Albany's very own Joan Kohout has
published an article "The Right of
Women to Use Their Maiden Names'"'
in Volume 38 of Albany Law Review
1973 - 1974 pp. 105-124.
[4
Women's Action Alliance
370 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
6 November, 1975
Dear Sisters,
Carol Reid's review of Women
Remembered in your latest issue
November left my mouth watering...
want to order the book for our lib-
rarye Only problem is that she
didn't mention the publisher. Do
you know it? -Or can you forward my
note to her?
Thanks for Speakout -- I love it.
In sisterhood,
Irene Zahava
Answer:
Women Remembered was typeset,
printed and bound by Diana Press,
Inc., 12 West 25 Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21218. Single and bulk
orders are available by mail from
Diana Press, and the price on the
cover is $2.25.
KHEEKHKHHKKKEHRKKEKKEHKE
Speakout has received a copy of
Jean Grayson's Brownstone Studio
catalog, featuring such necessities
as an Yves St. Laurent silk scarf--
"for collectors"--at a low $50. The
catalog was addressed to
MRS SPEAKOUT,
but we're going to write and tell
them it's MS.
KEKRKEKEKKKHHKEKHKKKEKESE
About Our Cover Artist
Penny Kurtz is alive and drawing
in the country near Albany. She has
held a variety of jobs, for instance
changing tires at Sears, and is
hoping to sell some drawings or else
meet a rich old person with an in-
clination to marry and die. Hopeful-
ly, the die part will happen soon
after the marry part.
Penny has an Art degree from Alfred
University. Her prized posessions
are a 1954 red Chevy that she was
working on the night I met her, and
a dog named Gus. The nice people
she lives with hope she will soon
receive commissions for her art work
and begin to sell some of her draw-
ings. She is also looking for employ-
ment. After all, what else is there
to do in Albany in the winter?
BOOK REVIEW
The Hand That Cradles °
The Rock, a collection of poens by
Rita fae Brown, was originally
published in 1971 by New York
University, but did not, at least
according to the women at Diana —
Press, receive a wide enough |
circulation, so it is now available
in a very nicely bound, printed,
and illustrated (by Ginger Legato)
Diana Press edition.
Brown's poetry seems roughly
dividable into "political" poetry
and "love" poetry, though I'd be
all too happy to blame this on my
culture-bound aesthetics rather
than implicitly promote a value
system which would have all —
aspiring women artisits sitting
(no doubt prettily) at home
thinking up new ways to say "I
love you" instead of getting on
with the work of the world. One
feels a peculiar tenderness for
her (now that I've called it that
once) political poetry, anyway,
since its original ability to
shock has been somewhat reduced--
by the passage of time, if not by
a lot of progress. And let me
say as undramatically as possible
that in a world which has lost
much of its ability to feel,
shockingness makes a better ally
than truth. This is not to say
that Rita Mae Brown's poetry may
not shock the majority of
Americans, however. It is full
of such titles as "Hymn To The
10,000 Who Die Each Year On The
Abortionist's Tabie In Amerika,"
"The liddle Class Identity Crisis
Viewed Through The Eyes Of Poor
White Trash,” "A Short Note For
Liberals," “The Marriage Hearse,"
and so on.
She occasionally takes on a
mock-heroic tone, making fun of
ancient men and their supposed
A.
rags...wonders were there well
RASRTSA es teSmnat EPA IMR Anat
Mae observes drily. In her opin-
ion, classical scholars are mainly
occupied with "translating ignor
ance into Latin and Greek,"
On the other hand, Brown
makes very moving use of myths
about women and traditional female
imagery (the tide, sea, moon.)
"All men must die/But I/Return to
the ocean/Rolling centuries in a
kiss/And lap at the moon/Until the
eye of god/or locusts/fix us/Still.”
She also feels an affinity with
Sappho and puts the following
dictum in her mouth: "Tremble to
the cadence of my legacy: An army
of lovers shall not fail." In
fact, Rita Mae's love poetry is
rather similar to Sappho'’s in its
Simple, fragmented, unabashedly
metered and rhymning lyricism.
"I have felt her hard beating and
half mended heart/And sang litanies
upon her breast/Ask me,/Do I love
her?/Yes, yes, yes."
Some of the poems clearly
blend assertions of love felt for
specific women with direct polit-
ical commentary. "For ivy Wife"
tells of the difficulty of living
a genuine existence when one can
find no better word than "wife"
("a paltry proper noun") to
describe her lover with whom she
is trying to create asylum for
"sea orphans swimming in waters
of absurdity."
In general, I was struck by
the beauty of expression in this
collection, especially since I
Suspect Rita Mae Brown values the
politics of her work more than its
Sweetness, loveliness, etc. She
refers to herself as a "mute
prosaic Sappho" suggesting that
She perceives the link between
them to be lesbianism rather than
artistry. But, insofar as both
wisdom and even worse fun of thosethings derive from a passionate
who take them seriously, perhaps
as a way of avoiding confrontationwomen, there can be no
with the problems of this world.
In "The Etruscan Sueen" she ridi-
cules a woman anthropologist
(reminiscent of Polina in Ruby-
fruit Jungle) who is obssessed
with ancient civilizations and
what they wore, who while "we
costume our poor to hide their |
The dark e
affirmation of herself and other
; distinguish-
ing e ;
In closing, Brown gives us a
tolerant, hopeful, and rather beaut-
iful image of the "Feminist"-- and
an interesting historical analysis.
pochs have been due to the
Pema of women. A new day is
r
eaking. --Carol Reid
Ee Oe ee ee ee a eee Se ee
GROUP NEWS
SUNYA Feminist Alliance:
Plans are being made for a
wom€n's communal dinner and coffee
house at the SUNYA campus. The
exact date and place on campus
is still indefinate but the event
will probably take place December
5th er 6th. The Full Circle, a
feminist acting troupe, will
perform. For more details, call
Monica Robinson at 489-4848.
AWARE = Albany Women Against Rape:
AWARE's next general meeting
will take place on December 7,
7:50 pm at the office of the Albany
County Rape Crisis Center which
is at the YWCA, 55 Steuben St.,
Albany. The first hour will be
a business meeting. Then, frem
8:30 to 9:30, there will be in-
service education on the medical
aspects 2f rape counselling.
AWARE would like to announce
that negotiations have begun with
St. Peter's and Memorial Hospitals
in order to formulate an agreement
whereby AWARE volunteers from the
Rape Crisis Center will provide
counselling to rape victims who
come to the emergency rooms,
For more information about
AWARE and the Albany County Rape
Crisis Center, call the office
during the day at 465-5426 or
4652773~ Interested persons may
also call Nancy Dudley, Chairperson
of AWARE at 4898261.
Delmar's Women's Awareness Group:
The Delmar Women's Awareness
Group is continuing to function.
There are currently six
consciousness-raising groups in
the area affiliated with the group.
There is a general meeting every
six weeks at which there is a
speaker. Tuere will be a general
meeting in December but the
date is not yet available. For
more details about the meeting,
check the local Delmar newspaper
or call Nancy at 439-9243. Anyone
interested in joining a CR group in /(p-
fhe Delmar area may also call
Nancy at the above phone number,
Schenectady N.O.W.
Next open meeting will be
December 3, 8 pm at the Schenectady
YWCA, 44 Washington Ave., in
Schenectady. There will be a
workshop on practical politics
which will deal with lobbying.
This meeting is open to the public.
The regular business meeting
will be December 17, 8 pm at the
Schenectady YWCA.
On January 6, look for some
representatives from Schenectady
N.O.W. to appear on Capital AM,
which airs weekdays at 9 am on
Channel 13,
For more information about
Schenectady N.O.W., call Ann
Booth at 399-5790.
Schenectady Rape Crisis Center:
The Rape Crisis Center holds
its meetings twice a month, The
first meeting which takes place on
the first Monday of every month is
open to the public. All interested
persons are invited to attend. As
was mentioned in the November issue,
there will be a training session
sometime in January, at which time
new members will be accepted and
trained for counselling. Anyone
interested in training may call
the crisis line: 346-2266.
Rensselaer County Rape Crisis Center:
This group meets the first
Monday of every month, 7:30 pm at
Leonard Hospital in Troy. These
meetings are open to all interested
persons. A training session may be
planned for February. Anyone
interested in training for counsel-
ling, may call Marilyn Hasbrouck at
275-6732.
POETRY READING:
Who: Diane Wakoski
Where: RPI Chapel and Cultural
Center, Burdette and People's
Ave., Troy.
When: December 8 - 7:30 pm
..Ms.,Wakoski_is q poet who writes
|
’
Group News Continued. ereeseosesoen
Albany Area N.O.W.
Next meeting will be on December
10, 7:30 pm at the Women's Center, 55
Steuben St., Albany. There will be
election of officers for 1976, and a
report from the ''.0.W. National
Conference which took place the
weekend of November 14-16. Christmas
party will follow. Bring your own
refreshment. For more details, call
Georgia Gray at 765-2168.
Tri-City Women's Centér:
The Women's Center, located at
the Albany Y.W.C.A, 55 Steuben St.,
Albany, is open Monday through Friday
from 8 pm to 10 pm. The Center is
also open Tuesdays from one pm to
pm, and Saturdays- one to pm.
The next General Assembly meeting
will be on December 1, 8 pm at the
Women's Center. There will be a film
presentation.
The Women's Center will now be
facilitating consciousness-raising
groups. Anyone interested in joining
a CR group can call Elizabeth Furger
at 459-2931, or Mary Hagerup at
273-108 e
The Women's Center is in need of
your assistance. Please consider
giving the Center a Christmas present
or books.
A WOMAN'S PLACE:
A Woman's Place Collective
is located in Athol, NY, 12810.
Speakout has been publishing
events scheduled for the fall-
winter workshop. December events
are as follows:
December 5-7.
lesbians for healthy and
meaningful lifestyles; living
in couples, developing a
supportive network, etc.
December l2-14. Poetry. An
opportunity to read and/ or
listen to our own poetry;
or Winter "solstice" of time, money, —
Lesbian Lifestyles:
The alternatives available to
A Woman's Place.....Centinued
December 19-cl. Open
December 24-28. Christmas
Interested persons may call
the Collective at 518-623-9541.
Nore About N.O.\W.
N.O.W.'s Sexuality and
Lesbianism task force is seeking
to form a coaltion with other
women's groups in the Tri-Cities
area to plan for a Women's Sexu-
ality Conference in the spring.
Suggested topics include Hetero-
sexuality: Equality Between the
Sexes, Liberating Masturbation
and Orgasm, Overcoming Inhibitions,
Women Loving Women, Sexual Fantas-
ies, Alternatives to Monogamy,
Massage, Contraception, The
- Politics of Lesbianism, Celibacy
and Asexuality (MANY MORE). Any
woman (or group of women) that
would like to be involved, please
contact Diane Herrera, 489-8045,
any night after 11 Phi. Notes a
meeting has been scheduled for >
December 7 at the Tri-City Women's
Center, 7:30 Pil. |
Speakout
Beginning in December,
Speakout will be holding all of its
meetings at 8 Pi at the Women’s
Center. The first four Tuesdays of
December are work meetings; Dec.
30 is a stapling and collating
party.
We welcome new women!
The Speakout staff is making
an appeal for reinforcements. We
are variously going back to school
part time in addition to working
full time, going back to work full
time, suffering from health problems
and a variety of other factors.
getting shorter.
(Perhaps you've noticed the issues
We've noticed
ourselves getting more harried. )
People to type, plan, make decisions
and collect group news are partic-
ularly needed,
If you can help,
meet with us at the Women's Center
or call me, Sue Lasher, at 436-0369.
7,
CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER =- SEE GROUP NEWS FOR DETAILS
Rensselaer County Rape Crisis Center meeting, 7:30, Leonard
Hospital in Troy
Schenectady Rape Crisis Center meeting
Albany Area N.O.W. Book Review, 8:00, 561 Park Avenue, Albany
Schenectady N.O.W. meeting, 8:00, Schenectady YWCA, 44 Washington
Ave., Schenectady |
AWARE meeting, 7:30, office of Albany County Rape Crisis Center
(YWCA, 55 Steuben St., Albany)
8 Poetry Reading- Diane Wakoski, R.P.I. Chapel and Cultural Center,
Burdette and People's Ave., Troy, 7:30
17 Schenectady N.O.\J; business meeting, 8:00, Schenectady YWCA
Jan. 6 Schenectady N.O.W..on Capital AM, Channel 13, 9:00 Ali
(please excuse the chronology, I just found some more dates!)
1 Tri-City Women's Center General Assembly meeting, 8:00
5-7 Lesbian Lifestyle workshop, A Woman's Place, Athol, N.Y. 12810
10 Albany Area N.O.W. meeting, 7:30, Women's Center, 55 Steuben St.
12-14 Poetry reading, A Woman’s Place, Athol, N.Y.
19-21 Open, A Woman's Place
24-28 Christmas at A Woman's Place, Athol, N.Y. op
30 Speakout stapling party, Tri-City Women's Center, 8:00
“SN WNP -
Every Tuesday, 8:00, Tri-City Women's Center- SPEAKOUT meetings
At = i". 4 a % on : * *, .
vt Rete tt et et et Fee ee ee een ene eee £
Subscribe to Speakout. us Bulk Rate
3.50 per year U.S. Postage Paid
; Permit #12 :
send coupon to: . Albany, New York |
speakout |
P.O. Box 6165
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deepest (20 so0 > ey oe Zileen Kelly
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: = 12208
City, State, Zip Code
If you are planning a change of
address, please notify Speakout,
It will not be forwarded, and we
have to pay for copies that are
returned.
___Change of address (01d zip )
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enn ee jase
January, 1976
Temeiaagess
Pe ee re
eas
—_
-
| have discovered myselt and am not atraid.
a,
0.SiMow
SPEAKOUT: A FEITINIST JOURNAL
Vol.VI No. I January, 1976
Table of Contents
=
Where Are ife Going, ily Sisters, My Friends -- Christine Root
Pat Gould liemorial Library -- Maxine Krall Gootzeit
Action For Women In Chile
Gerald Ford Does It Again, Supreme Court Appointment -- C, Dissosuay
From A Feminist Librarian -- Christine Root
Long Termer's Committee
N.O.W.- Wake-Up -- Carolyn Dissosuay
Yomen In The Arts
Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Patriarchy -- Alice Sant‘ Andrea
Se) ao an sa WS - fF WS oe nm
Wives of Rapists, A Review -- Carolyn Dissosuay
=)
Oo
Women and the Law Conference
11 Women's ilovement and American Gynecology, A review -- C,. Dissosuay
Group iets
Cover Design by D. Simon
Uorkers For This Issue: Christine Root, Susan Lasher, Carolyn Dissosway,
Cheryl Shenkle, Jan Barbuto, Nezsin Adams
Group Neus by Tania Durbak
Bookstore Distribution -- Contact Susan Lasher, 436-0369
Albany New Times Center, Planned Parenthood, Seven Arrows Book=
store, The Store, SUNYA Bookstore, Unitarian Church
Bookstore, YIUCA, Tri-Cities Vomen's Center
Schenectady Family and Women's Advocacy Service, YUCA
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year. Single
copies are 35¢ and are available at the bookstores and service organizations
above. Advertising is $10 per quarter page, $18 per half page, and $30
per whole page.
SPEAKOUT is a member of COSIIEP (the Committee of Small liagazine Editors
and Publishers) and is on file at the iomen's History and Research
Library, Berkeley, California
SPLAKOUT
P. 0. Box 6165
Albany, Hew Yor!: 12206
Where are We Going, My
SPEAKOUT celebrates its fourth
birthday with this January 1976
issue. Yes, sisters it has been
four long years.
There has been tremendous per-=
sonal sacrifice to keep SPZAKOUT
alive. For one staffer, it meant
not going back to school to work
on a masters degree (which surely
hurt at promotion time). For
another, a marriage is in diffi-
culty. For all, it has meant
stapling til midnight, endless
typing, blue stencil fluid on our
clothes, constant telepnone calls,
and trucking stories and stencils
all over town.
We know we must take the bitter
with the sweet. so, to you , our
readers we shall share both.
THE GOOD--- We're proud to
say that we did not miss a single
issue in 1975. We even came out
on time almost every month. We
met regularly and stuck to our
stapling party dates and publish-
ing deadlines. SPEAKOUT is
selling well at the local book-
stores. Perhaps, that's because
our covers have been absolutely
Smashing on occasion. Our ex~
Change mailing list brings in
other snall press efforts from
around the country to inspire us.
Our membership in the Committee
of Small Magazine Editors and
Publishers gives us food for
thought and a feeling of solidari=+
ty with the growing small press
movement. We can be proud that
we have lasted four years when
the averaze life of a small press
magazine is only six months.
THE BAD--- we have vowed to
be a vehicle for communication
among individuals and groups,
(womens groups? feminist groups?)
We have seen a number of groups
fade as the year went by: Cap-
ital District Women , Troy
Feminists, Albany Feminists,
Downtown Albany Women and lotsof
Sisters, My Friends ?
CR groups. In some cases these
groups may have "faded" before
1975 but we did not know for sure.
Unlike people, groups tend to die
without fanfare or funerals.
SPEAKOUT, itself, is once again
in a crisis. Although we have
never had the funds to graduate
from this dread mimeo format, our
current s6risis is a people/energy
Crisis. The one SPEAKOUT staffer
who has been our guiding force for
the past several months now has
a job that pays . The worry of
trying to find a job while trying
to "get SPEAKOUT out every month!
has really taken its toll on her
energy and spirit. One of our
fears is that we will be so worn
down from the weight and the work
that we will start fighting among
ourselves over who is or is not
carrying her share of the load.
We need new blood, new talent and
new energy to keep going.
We wanted to operate as a dem-=
ocratic collective in the spirit
o€ sisterhood. We wanted to share
the load so that no one sister .~°
would feel bogged down, We wanted
to meet socially, as well, so that
it would not seein like ali work,
work, work. WE tried. But, we
have a long way to E06 Jobs, lack
of paying jobs, marriages, per-
sonalities, the weather and all
kinds of outside forces got in our
waye And seemed to keep us from
our dream of a SPEAKOUT SISTERHOOD.
But I hope we never stop dreaming
of that sisterhood for us and for
everyone.
we want SPEAKOUT to grow and
we hope that 1976 will bring more
of our sisters together. If you
have the dream of sisterhood and
want to make it come true, please
come forward and work with us to
make it a reality.
PEACE and SISTERLY LOVE
To One and All.
Christine Root
THE PAT GOULD MEMORIAL LIBRARY
She gave to me a love so profound that I could fest it when I was with her;
support through the most trying time that I ever went through; comeuppance when |
I needed it; strength I never throught possible. (Strenzth that I would need to
live without her.)
I gave to her flowers; light conversation; rides in the country; love;
assurance that the kind of future we wanted for our children would thadéed be.
‘hen I first knew she was going to die, I thought-screamed, I can't live with-
out her, underestimating all that she worked so:hard to develop in me. She took
classes with me at SUNYA, how nice to have a friend to talk over with what the
professor had said that day. She left me a watch in her will, a watch she bought
during that time of parking lot meetings, because I conplained nea of her
lateness, forgetting my conpulsive need to be early.
As she slipped in aad out of the morphine, I held her hand and said I love
you. "I love you", she said. She wanted to know about the morphine, How had it
affected mr? Don't ficht it, was the reply, let it do:'its job. She was comforted
that it was the same for both of us, that she wasn't beings overdosed.
Love, such as we shared, does not die with the physical death of one. I draw
on it everyday, one way or another, Dark, stormy nizhts, when I'n all alone, I
hola it to me like a security blanket. I hear her saying to me, you zo one for me,
you and the other sisters, do what I wanted to do. jJe- ill. It will take time,
patience, hard work, happiness, madness and love, but we -rill do it.
Our circle of sisterhood will be broken if we forget each other in our own
personal solution, in our’ own politics, in our own fears.
She left books, in her will, books for the Jomen's Center. Come and read the
books. Come and share the ‘ionen's Center, Yer way of saying sisterhood was to
share herself completely with her sisters. ven in her death she was giving of
herself to her sisters. | |
Maxine Krall Gootzeit
PATRICIA GOULD MEMORIAL LIBRARY itilineouilicistiatinaea te
TRIXCITY WOMEN'S CENTER | Tri City Women's Center Library Com
: mittee is open to new members,
The library is ready and waiting for .
women in need of the printed word, Pat INTERESTED IN HELPING TO SET UP THE
Gould's private collection forms the LIBRARY ??77??
base cllection, but other titles have . :
been added, Contact: .
In addition, SPEAKOUT will be donat~
ing all of its Exchange Periodical Rose Baker 1, 5'7—=21,83 (days)
collection. | 482_{7928 (evenings)
Majority Report | A
New Citizen | Audrey Belt — 138=1773
New Directions for Women
Sister Marianne Hennessy 489=1556
Woman Activist G
Women; A Berkshire Feminisb News Fran Sheinwald § 482-9192
Journal | :
Women Alive Janice Barbuto 286~3346
and many more. 0 eg ee
We also recieve review copies of
books which we plan tp donate to the : 0
Patricia Gould Memorial Library.
ACTION FOR WOMEN IN CHILE
Dear Sisters,
The war is over! Many of us are
still reeling from the sudden climax of
the war in Southeast Asia, After 30
years of struggle against imperialism,
The Vietnamese people have won their
independence as a nation,
But in Chile, another war -- a
quieter war -- goes on, On the one
side: Massive repression of working
class people and political dissidents,
daily acts of unspeakable brutality
against women, children and men --
torture, rape imprisonment. On the other
side: An underground resistance struggle
in the prisons, the factories and the
neighborhoods,
The U.S. government is, once again,
on the side of dictatorship and violent
repression, For us, as North American
feminists, there can be no question:
We ,re on the side of our sisters in the
prisons of Chile, the women and men in
the resistance struggle, the thousands
of orphans of slain political dissidents,
Action for Women in Chile (AFWIC)
is an autonomous, feminist group, We
came together in November, 1974, in
outrage over the torture of women and
children in Chile, We are committed
to doing everything in our power to stop
U.S. support of the Chilean junta and
to aid the continuing resistance struggle
within Chile. In the past few months,
our major concern has been to raise
public awareness of the situation in
Chile, particularly among women and
women's groups, We have developed
feminist posters on Chile, an organized
petition drivé for the release of
Chilean political prisoners and a group
presentation entitled "An Evening for
Women and Chile", featuring Chilean
music, poetry and films, in English and
Spanish,
In addition, we are planning and
working on radio and videotape shows on
women and Chile, and are beginning to
plan a women's action against U.S.
support for the junta, in the early fall,
We would be pleased to send a member of
our group to one of your meetings, to
explain in greater detail our goals and
activities, We would also welcome any
member of your group who would like to
attend an AFWIC meeting,
How you and your group can get
involved: Circulate our petitions; Sell a,
and Post our Posters, Let us bring
"An Evening for Women and Chile" to
your group or community. If possible,
come or send a representative to our
meetings and help us plan,
Chilean women need your support,
now, more than ever!
In sisterhood,
Mishy Lesser, Helen Marieskind, Elise
Rackmill, Bobbye Ortiz, Barbara Ehren-
reich, Susan Bram, Helen Rodriguez-Trias,
Marian Swerdlow, Sally Guttmacher and
Dorothy Mauro, ACTION FOR WOMEN IN CHILE,
605 West 115th Street, Room 205, New
York, New York 10025,
*A petition to the government of Chile
is on the bulletin board at the Women's
Center. Come in, sisters, and sign.
EE ELLA AAA AA AAAS ASSO ASA A010 000001010)
Gerald Ford does it againl
Two press releases from MOl! concern the
recent appointment of Judge John Stevens
to the United States Supreme Court.
Like the past appointments this one was
made without any consideration for the
needs of women. The president was pres-
sured to add the names of tio women to
the list sent to the American Bar
Association Committee. The all male
committee did not seriously consider
these presidential after-thoughts, the
predominantly male Senate rubberstamped
the selection. This alone would be .
insulting even though the man appointed
is sympathetic to the civil rights move-
ment and aware of the needs of women for
justice under the law. Judge Stevens
reputation is bad as far as women's
rights are concerned. He expressed the
opinion that minority rights are more
important, obviously forgetting that
half or more than half of each minority
group is female and so bears a double
burden of discrimination. Pitting women
and minority groups against each other
is an old dirty trick. One which results
in a weakening of both minority and
women's rights groups’so that the all
white and MALE power structure profits.
omen don't be trapped by this device!
Only when we all live without discrin-
ination can anyone, including white
males, live without fear, in freedom.
Carolyn Dissosway
From a Feminist Librarian: -
As a part time graduate student
and a full time librarian I spend the
better part of every day:in libraries.
Through this column I hope to bring to
Speakout readers some insights and
information gleaned during my daily
8~12 hours in these information centers.
In perusing the latest volumes of
Crime and Delinquency I came across
several interesting research studies,
Ellis Stout "Women in Probation and
Parole. Should Female Officers
Supervise Male Offenders", Crime and
Delinquency Vol. 19 (1) O71, F 1973.
In an effort to better utilize staff, the
Washington State Office of Probation
and Parole began in October 1965 to
assign cases without reference to the
sex of the parole officer. Some of the
Washington staff objected to female
officers supervising adult male offenders.
A study was undertaken to evaluate
the effectiveness of female parole
efficers. Forty-two state probation and
parole agencies have female officers but
only twenty eight allow women to ©
supervise male offenders, However, all
twenty eight agencies reported that
female ppebation and parole officers
are able to supervise all types of
male offenders as effectively as men do.
Sarah Gold "Equal protection for
juvenile girls in need of supervision
in New York State" New York Law Forum
17 (2) 570-598 1971. The New York ©
Family Court Act that provides for
jurisdiction ever persons in need of
supervision (PINS) treats male and
females unequally. By declaring that
girls can be declared PINS until 18
years of age and boys only until 16
we have a clear case of discrimination.
against women, Analysis of research
has shown that there is no factual
difference between 16-18 year old girls
and boys in. regard to habitual truancy,
incorrigibility or disobedience, The
article urges the revision of Section
712b and 756c to equalize the effect of
the Family Court Act upon boys and girls
and to provide equal pretection of the
laws.
Write to your New York State
Senator and Assemblyperson today!
Christine Root
Long Termer's Committee:
Support has been asked for
bills in the Assembly and NY Assem~
bly by Bedford Hills Correctional
Facility Long Termers Committee.
The bills ( S=5036 A and A-~7017 A)
provide for a review of the prison-=
er's record after the first three
years of her sentence and period=
ically thereafter,
Long sentences without con-
structive programs which would pre-
pare a prisoner for life outside
of prison, are destructive! It is
also costly to the taxpayer; more
costly than parole.
To express support or to
obtain more information, Write:
Senator Ralph Marino, Chair |
Committee on Crine and Correction
NY State Senate
Albany, NY 12224
and/or
Assemblyperson Stanley Fink
Assembly Codes Committee
New York State Assembly
Albany, NY 12224
The Long Termer's Vommittee
is also supporting clemency for
two women. (December '75 SPEAKOUT)
KKE KH KEE HX % HH HH
WOMAN ALIVE is ALIVE
The entire WOMAN ALIVE series
Will be repeated Tuesdays at 10PM
beginning December 30,1975 on the
public broadcasting station. (That
is channel 17 in the Albany area.)
Programs include:
Women Farmers in Iowa
Middle Age for Women
Diagnosing Breast Cancer
Sex Discrimination an d Race Dis-
crimination,
% 3 et HK % Jt 2 MH He % % 4¢ St tH
NOTICE
SPEAKOUT is now in the process
of establising a Corner Office in
the Tri-Cities Womens Center (at
the Albany Y\/CA building). We meet
every Tuesday night to write, type
and do all the little things that
go into making a small press a
reality. We welcome new women.
We're not a clique; please join us.
+.
N.O.W.-Wake=Ups
During the 1975 campaign op=
ponents of the New Yark State
Equal Rights Amendment claimed
that all the saws needed for
equal pay and equal employment
opportunity are "on the Bookse"
N.O.W.,National Organization for
Woamen, members know they are
there == N.O.W. was instrumental
in getting them put on the
books. N.O.W members also know
that these laws are not adequate,
The speakers for anti-ERA=Oper aw
tion Wake-Up promised their supe
port for efforts to get better
enforcement of the existing lawse
After the defeat of the ERA
members of N.O.W. invited members
of Operation WakeeUp to support
them in efforts to have the laws
enforcede
Members of Operation Wake-Up
refused. Their top priority is
to work for the rescission ofthe
state's ratification of the
federal ERA They wont have time
to do anything for the enforce-~
ment of laws. They are too
busy getting more members and
working for rescission.
It is unfortunate that members
of operation Wake-Up have not
been attending the course "Women
and the Law" at the Albany YWCA.™
They would know how inadequate
the existing laws are, how hard
it is to apply them and how hard
it is to have them enforced,
The insincerity of Operatioon-=
Wake-Up is unfortunate, but not
new. As Senator Gold has said:
"el am used to inaccuracies
from that group, who build them=
selves up by causing fears in
any who are willing to listen to
them." (Knickerbocker News
December 5, 1975).
The "Women In The Law" course
will probably be given at the
Schenectady in a few months,
Carolyn Dissosway
TE EEE ESE SE AES SA SEES
Need to Advertize?
SPEAKOUT 's rates are: fullpage
$30.00, half page $18.00 and
quarter page $10,00,
5
WOMEN in the ARTS/ART NEWS
RCCA
A unique Christmas Arts &
Crafts Show was held at the ~—
Rensselaer County Council an
the Arts, 189 2nd Ste, Troy,NeYe
December 7=@22,. Featured were;
G race Bentley Scheck8s woedcuts
which have been shawn at the
Syracuse Natienal Ceramics Exhibe
ition, North Folk Art Guild in
Long Island to name a fewe Mrse
Schek, originally from Trey but
now a resident of Oswegn, is
working at her craft full time.
Linda O8Conner exhibited quilted
Pillows. Mse O'Canner, a rese
ident ef Vaearheesville, sells
the pillows through a shop at
Westhampton, Long Island.
Joyce Pratt exhibited silver jewe
elry. Mse Pratt of Rensselaer
is a commercial artist who has
worked in silver as an art form
for many years.
RCCA Gift Shep
The RCCA gift shop has ree
opened under the direction of Ann
Bundy, AnnDwyer, Eve Halloran
and will be open weekdays from
1OA.Me to 4P.Me Saturdays from
9:30 A.M. to Noon and during
special exhibits. For further
information call: 273-0552.
RENSSELAER COUNTY CULTURAL
RESOURCE INFORMATION OFFICE
This new office has been est~
ablished to act as a cammunica-
tions center and will provide
a Cultural Calendar of programs
and events.
Artists, performing artists
and craftspeople should register
at the effice in te be included
in the new central registry.
call 271-8645 or write to the
abeve address,
The Albany area abounds
with woman/energy/creativity.
send news of exhibits to SPEAKOUT
sO we can share the JOY.
Christine Root
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The theme of the recent: Reformed to ordain a woman during the come
Church Women's gathering in ming yeare (or for God only
Syracuse was "You've Come a Long knows how many more)
Way, Ladye" This gathering was I worked as a volunteer teacher.
their 100th anniversarycelebratione of the 7th, 8th and 9th grades in
Celebration:of. what? Perhaps Reformed Churches for 25 years,
being allowed to cook hundreds of and I don't regret the past devoe
church suppers, conduct vast - tion, trials, and joys, but this
numbers of bazaars and rumage male dominated situation finally
sales and volunteer their time and got to me. I just do not undere=
talants as Sunday School Superin= stand what makes certain males in
tendents and teachers. . . the Reformed Church think that
In September of this year 1 was women can't receive the "call" to
self compelled to write my pastor, preach the Word of God just as
the Reve Christian Walvoord, of well as aman, and that if they
Bethany Community Church (Reformed) go on and get their training in
to tell him of my decission not to one of our two seminaries at
attend another Reformed Church New Brunswick, N.J. or Holland,
service until women in that church Michigan and pass all the needed
cenomination are. allowed to be - pequirements for ordination, that
ordained to the ministry. (copt of they shouldn't qualify as readily
letter is enclosed). for aplace in the pulpit.
I work as a secretary for New © The reason I'm writing to Speak»
Life and Evangelism of the Reformed oyt is to express the hope that
Church in America, a national org= Ofher women who might be reading ©
anizatione. . When. in August our this letter might be Reformed
denominational magazine, The Church women and be moved to protest
Herald, came across my desk atthe these alarming inequities in their
office, I read with interest and own churches in the triecity area.
disgust that the 169th General A friend, Jean Deere, proposed the
Synod of the RCA had met and dis» premise, "1 wonder what would hap=
cussed an issue of ordiation of pen if all the women in the Re=
women to. the ministry. The Parti~ formed Churches refused to attend
cular Synod of Michigan asked that church until ordination for women
since tbe etassis had voted to becomes a reality."
interpret "persons" in the Book of Thanks for whatever wider voice
Church Order. as meaning "men" the Speakout can give to this person-
ordination of the denomination!'s al crusade, -
_ one woman minister, the Rev. Most Sincerely and in Sisterhood
, Joyce Stedge be set asside by Elane Sexton Houck
. General Synod. The Particular .
\ Synod of New Jersey (to its credit) pear Chris,
asked that since the "persons" I want you to know that my abe
obviously means "both men and sence at church is not because of
women," Synod interpret the "Book you or any of the fine people .
of Church Orderas allowing both there. On the contrary, I miss
tO be eligible for ordiatnion,. your warm handclasps and relevant
Anyway, after a lot of devisive words as 1 miss the veautiful
discussion and haggling, a recom= music and the friendly words ex=
mendation for Mrse Stedge's ordina= changed before and after the
tion to stand was adopted by a service. It is a hardship for me
158 to 97 vote. (Her ordiation not to be in on ‘all of this but
had originally taken place due to J[!yve come to the decission that
past courage exhibited by the .~ I will not attend a Reformed
Particular Synod of New Jersey). Church service until Reformed
The final upshot of the whole Church women are ordained. The
ordination crisis was that it decission of that last General
would be impossible for any classis Synod not to ordain women became
in ‘the Reformed Church in America a |
\
‘
\
LETTERS, .TO. HE: EDITOR
conte from page
ministers to preach the Word if
they so choose was narrow minded,
short-sighted and cruele The
pwtty haggling over whether women
are “persons” or not was just too
much}
With the centenial celebration
coming up the Reformed Church
Women's role in their church, I
just Telt. i had. to.c rry out. this
personal protest against non-
ordiantion. I wish my blood
pressure allowed me to organize
and go out on the picket line
for the cause of women's ordines
ation, I would begin tomorrow.
Perhaps there are other women
who feel as I do that a supporte
ive role is fine for those who
wish to go no further but there
should be an option open also for
those women who desire to stand
in the pulpit, preach and carry
Out pastoral missions.
If you would look with favor
upon sharing any of this with the
folks receiving the Bethany News-~
1etter,, 12.25 218 with ae-or if
you would like a statement exe
pressly dealing with my protest
for it, I would be gald to write
One e
I also enjoyed your visit to us
in Colonie as did my family.
most lovingly
Elaine Sexton F uek
NB The Chris is the Dr. Christan
Valvoerd, Pastor of Bethany
Reformed Church.
Comment: What a twist of fate,
I also no longer attend the
Bethany Reformed Church for
feminist reasons. My concern
with the Reformed Church began
when I was 16 years old. At That
time 1 was told that women could
not become ministers because a
minister's job is a 24 hour a day
job and women would not be able
to go at night leaving their
children alone. Even at age 16
this did not make sense to me.
Not all women marry and not all
women have children, Even if
they did why couldn't men stay
with the children. This was
just the start of my soul search~
ing. Years later I joined a CR
group andfound other women who
thought as I Gide
For the past 6 years I have
attended Friends Meetinge Alth-
ough there is sexism in Quakerdom
I have experienced a less rigid
sex role classification among
Friends than in the Reformed ~
Church. And so, Sister you are
not alone. We at Speakout hope
that other women will come for-
ward.
Christine Root
1 toosteft: a-church-for reasons
related to feminism. The first
time I just stopped going. Then
when I had considered another
denomination I went and told the
minister, in as much detail as
he would permit, why | had decided
against joining any church until
human rights were recognizede My
friends used to tell me in my
church going days that as an
Episcopalian I made an excellent
Unitarian. I didn't understand
Presbeterians any better. Indeew
“penent and at peace.
Carolyn Dissoswa
sae SO S37 Se RA Ne Ne SP SE Ae .) AA De! 3 AALS
We he el x atta he a Lon IK
Dear Speakout: I1 am resuming the
use of my’ birth name for all
purposes (horay $§ Horay 1).
Please change my name on my sub-
scription from Carol Anne Ordway
to Carol Anne Modenae Thank youe
In sisterhood Carol Anne
Sett% serete ie TE ETE SE
Cornell University Announcement:
The Capotal District Office of the
New York State School of Induste
rial and Labor Relations is offere
ing non-credit courses this winter
1) The Role of Shop Steward in
the Public Sector
2) Practices and Procedures
Before the NLRB
3) Arbitration
4) Effective Grievance Handling
for Women UNionists
For more information call or write
David Ly Herrison,: NiYvS eS. ILR.
Cornell University, «75 State St.
Albany, N.Y. 12207
Ne 8 MP ah Ah We aA Ne as SP 87 SP Ae 4 4h AT
SESeSe SESESE IESESE Sesse Sesese SEsese st
HAPPY NEW YEAR 1976 SPEAKOUT
ee
LETTERS TO THE PATRIARCHY
A decision to honor Robert Guccnhone,
of Penthouse magazine, as Brandeis
University's “publisher of the year at
‘a fundraising dinner came under attack
at the Waltham, Massachusetts, school.
Members of the student government
and two women’s groups at Brandeis
protested against the magazine's
“demeaning image of women... A petition
demanding that "an alternative honoree
be found" was circulated by the women's
groups, Signed by 450 persons arid
presented to Brandeis president, Marver
H. Bernstein.
Acknowledging the day before the
$150-a-plate dinner that Guccione was
an “unfortunate" choice for the |
patios honor, Mr. Bernstein said that
he had sent a member of the university's
fund-raising staff here to confer with —
the New York Publishers and Distributors
Industry Dinner Committee. Students
that no woman over twenty-five could be
considered attractive, would be asked
to leave the school. Yet this is what
is subscribed to in Penthouse. How can
men who take a “liberal" stance on so
many popular issues rationalize the
continued support of the appreciation
of woman Solely as an animal.
One man, when he found out what the
demonstration: was all about, said he
would not have stayed at the hotel had
he known. Other passers-by were sympath-
etic to the demonstrators. If the
people passing on the street could
understand the problem, why couldn't a
university's president and board members.
But the dozen demonstrators with
their signs, DIRTY MAN - DIRTY MONEY
and BRANDEIS HONORS PORNOGRAPHER will
be all-too-soon forgotten unless femin-
ists take pen in hand and write to
Marver Bernstein, Brandeis University,
Waltham, Massachusetts.
Otherwise, next year we may get
suspected that this was a-ploy to prevent Hugh Heffner of Playboy as “publisher
threatened demonstrations.
A group of Brandeis students and |
New York City feminists gathered
outside the St. Regis Hotel on November
18th as the guests arrived for the’
prestigious affair. The demonstrators
protested against the use of the school's
name to legitimize Guccione's degrading
images of women while the expensively-
dressed, carefully coiffured women >
and men swept past into the hotel.
Unbelievably, the “educators
at Brandeis fell for the Penthouse
tactic of using worthwhile articles
to sanctify the magazine’s meat rack
attitude toward women’s bodies. The
‘tcrotch shots" of women fingering their
clitorises or spreading their vulvae
are undeniably pornographic and degrad-
ing to the image. of women.
The publication of such statements
as “In one way or another, every :
woman is in fact a hooker,” the
description of a woman's having two
penises entering her vagina at the
Same time and the lurid tales of wash-
room sex put this magazine on a lower
plane than some “gitlie“ magazines or
“true confessions“ publications.
These quotes below were all taken
from the September and October issues
so that thé Brandeis president and
board of directors cannot claim not to
know just how deeply degrading to women
this magazine really is. Any Brandeis
instructor teaching that a woman's art-
fully made-up face is her fortune and 3
of the year". P.S. How about sending
a copy of your letter to Penthouse,
909 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y.
Alice Sant'Andrea
New York, N.Y.
Seedede dete MERRIER EREREREERERERERERE
EXERCISE CLASSES
Combination Class -- Modern, Yoga, and
Bonnie Prudden Exercises
New 10 week session -- $15.00 |
llth Class Free ° }
MONDAY, JANUARY 5 and TUESDAY, JANUARY 6 /
Classes Limited
Albany Class Monday, 7 to 8 Ret
Delmar Class
Monday, and Tuesdays,
asm. and p.m. ;
Call Mary Reich at 439-2058 if interested
IIA IRIE RI IAI IEEE SERRE EERE
"Twern't me Lord, must'a been Eves"
Review of "Wives of Rapists and Incest
Offenders," by Thomas B, Garrett and
Richard Wright, May 1975, Journal of
Sex Research, II, 149-157.
A
This article is being reviewed >
because it is interesting that such a
study has been made, It appears to be
the only one. However, this is difficult
to prove. "Psychological Abstracts"
has only listed rape as a subject heading
since 1973.
Eighteen of the twenty women invited
to participate in the study agreed to
cooperate in it. They were the wives
of men committed, by California courts,
to Atascadero State Hospital, an all
male, maximum security institution, The
men and their wives were participating
in the Family Interaction Skills Program.
The men were selected because authorities
at the hospital believed there was a
relationship between the offences com-
mitted by the men and their marital
problems. Eleven of the men were con-
victed of rape, seven of incest, All
were believed to be repeaters, Of the
seven committed for incest one had
attacked his step-daughter, two their
nieces and four their own daughters.
of their victims were "under age,"
The concept of the study, the
anticipated results, the interpretation
of the information collected, are what
is to be expected of Freudian psychology
oriented people,
The following table was constructed
from information provided in the text
of the article,
ALL
Education In Age In
Years V Years
Offence Rape. Incest. ~Rape. Incest
Wife 12.4 12,0 27.5 “STO
Fusband 11.7 10,7 28,9 42,5
Age at First Marriage
Offence Rape Incest
Wife 17.6 20.8
Husband about 22
The authors were impressed by the
fact that the wives were better educated
than their husbands, The greater age
of the husbands was attributed to the
fact that older—remarried men tend to
choose mates increasingly further from
their own age, The wives were described
as taking satisfaction from their
superior education and upbringing and
from the confinement of their husbands,
Their choice of mate, their good
attitude toward their marriage and sex
life with their husbands, their forgiv—
ingness and supportiveness of their
husbands, were ascribed to their desire
to be martyrs. Most of the women said
their husbands were improving, that they
were better able to communicate, more
compassionate, that their marriage
was hetter than it had been before their
husbands were committed, The authors
countered this with the fact that the
husbands were living in a controlled
environment, under confinement. Yet when
one of the wives said her marriage had been
and continued to be bad the authors
excused him because he had been in the
hospital only a short time.
The authors suggested that the
husbands had responded to the moral and
social dominance of their wives by
means Of physical force——as a means of
establishing their own dominance,
There were some differences between
the wives of the rapists and incest
offenders, The wives of rapists tended
to blame the victims—-because they were
hitchhiking or because they weren't
properly dressed, The wives of the
incest offenders didn't blame the victims,
they said they felt sorry for them and
still loved them. These wives did have
more difficulty in accepting the fact™
of their husband's crime. One of them
described it as "rape with consent,"
Although the wives reported having
a good sex-life, two did complain
about their husband's demands for oral
sex, and one said her husband was
unable to meet the demands of a “horny"
wife, one woman admitted she had been
unfaithful, :
"Expressions of guilt or shame
in regard to their husband's behavior
were well hidden, if they were present
at all, among the wives of rape
offenders,"
"But the wives, our data seem
%o indicate, have now found a particular
reinforcing mechaniem for reestablishing
dominance, and have a plethora of
social arbiters to support their position.
Our interpretation of the data, then,
leads us to the conclusion that the rape
and incest events are viewed not as
meretricious* events but rather as
particularly useful levers by which the
wives in our study can further build or
reinforce the position of social and
moral dominance that we believe underlay
their marriages at the outset,"
G
Wives of Rapists, cont'd,
*Meretricious: Depending upon
which dictionary you read this word
comes fron the Latin: "mere", to earn,
plus the feminine suffix trix, plus
the suffix ous which means abounding in;
or from "meretrix" meaning a prostitute.
The definitions are: 1) originally of,
like or characteristic of a prostitute.
2) flashy, tawdry, alluring by false
showy charms; speciously attractive,
After reading "Wives of Rapists
and Incest Offenders", I wondered
whether to shout sic or sick, It
reminded me of the lines from the
folk song "Dese Bones Gonna Rise Again";
Adam, who dem cores did leave?
"Twern't me Lord, must'a been Eve,
WOMEN AND THE LAW
More than 1,500 law students,
lawyers, legal workers and other inter-
ested persons from across the country
are expected to attend the Seventh
National Conference on’Women and the
Law at the Temple University School of
Law on March 12-14, 1976, :
The conference stp 0 a unique
forum to examine women's current status
in the American legal, political and .
economic system. It is an opportunity
for the participants to share expertise ©
on substantive legal issues and to ;
develop strategies for litigation and~ -
political action,
Eleanor Holmes Norton, attorney
and Commissioner of the New ¥ork J ~
Commission on Human Rights, will be
the featured speaker at the Conference,
Ms. Norton was’ appointed by Mayor John
Lindsay in 1970, becoming the highest
ranking Black woman in the Mayor's
administration, ‘She was reappointed
in 1974 by Mayor Abraham Beame and
throughout her administration has biven
top priority to the issue of discrimin-
ation against women. Prior to her
appointment to the Commission, Ms,
Norton was Assistant Legal Director of
the American Civil Liberties Union,
The keynote address by Ms. Norton
will be given on March 13, 1976. The
moderator of the evening will be the
Honorable Lisa A, Richette, of the
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas,
One of the highlights of the
Conference will be a mock trial present-—
ing the Joanne Little case from a
feminist perspective. Catherine
Roraback, who has been a trial lawyer
for 25 years and has been counsel in
cases ranging from the Anti-Cormunist
Smith Act to the Black Panthers, will
conduct the defense. Ms. Roraback
founded the New Haven Civil Liberties
Union, was president of the National
Lawyers Guild and is presently a
member of the National Board of the
American Civil Liberties Union, The
prosecuting attorney will be the
Honorable Lynne M, Abraham of the
Philadelphia Municipal Court and former-
ly, Director of the Philadelphia Redev—
elopment Authority.
Karen Galloway, Ms, Little's
attorney, will conduct a workshop
entitled "What Happens When Women Fight
Back?" comparing the mock trial to the
actual one,
Nationally prominent attorneys
and social scientists will conduct
95 workshops dealing with current
legal issues, The workshops are designed
to enable participants to develop an
in-depth knowledge of the topic areas,
They are organized into "clusters"~-
a group of workshops on related topics
and "freestandings" or individual
workshops, The list of "clusters"
includes Constitutional Law, Economic
Problems of Women, Employment Problems
of Women, Reproductive Freedom, Women
and the Family, Women in Institutions,
Women in Law and Victimization of Women.
"Freestandings" include Gay Rights,
Prostitution, Rights of Elderly Women,
Welfare Advocacy,
The Conference was originated by
students at the New York University Law
School in-1969 as an attempt to establish
a@ regular communication network through
which ‘women law students could exchange
information about the field of sex dis-
crimination law and to plan efforts to
open up the legal community to women.
The associations generated by the confer—
ence have led to the creation of the ~
first law firms in the country which
specialize in sex discrimination cases.
Registration fees are $15.00 for law
students and $25.00 for other particip-
ants, Each fee increases by $10,00 after
Februaryl, 1976, Further information
can be obtained by writing or calling
the Women's Law Caucus at Temple Univer—
sity School of Law, 1719 N, Board, |
Phila, Pa, 19122, 215—787-8942,
{O
A Review: "The Challenge of the Women's
Mevement te American Gynecelogy 1974",
Barbara L, Kaiser and Irwin H, Kaiser,
fmerican Journal of Obstetrics and
Gynecelegy 120 652-665.
The medical preblems of wemen are a
special case of the social and political
preblems of wemen, say the Kaisers,
Although it would be unreasonable to
accuse gynecologists of being uniquely
male chauvinists their relatienships as
nearly exclusively male practitioners to
wemen, exclusively, as their patients
is unique. In 1971 only 7.4 per cent of
the physicians practicing medicine were
female, only 7.07 per cent of those
claiming to specialize in gynecology were
female. In 1974 only 3.56 per cent of
the Fellows of the American College of
Obstetrics and Gynecology were female.
This male physician-female patient
relationship is especially suited to
a study of the wemen's status in society.
The Kaisers have shown a clear insight
into the status of women and the changes
taking place in the attitudes ef
gynecologists toward women, "The gynecol-
ogists are the medicine-men who have
feminity in their keeping,"
Women may be the victims of
gynecologists who, male or female, were
educated by male physicians of the
old school who treated women as little
girls whese medical complaints are
imaginary (psychesomatic) ~~ to be
ignered. Worse, some physicians
"see in such complaints a gold mine to
be exploited with scalpel and scissors
at the expense of organs without which
a woman's body may survive but often
not her personality."" (Our society is
inclined to gonad worship, Her loss
of personality may be due more to social
conditioning than to the loss of hormones
which can be replaced, CFRD)
The male chauvinism of physicians
excludes wemen from knowledge about their
bodies, whether the changes they notice
are normal or symptems of disorder. It
excludes women frem the knowledge needed
for them to give their infermed consent
to medical procedures which may have a
lifeleng influence upon their physical
and mental health,
It is nct surprising that the abertien
issue was "seized upon by the women's
mevement as central te the liberation cf
wemen because it exemplified and dramat—
ized the new realization that women need-
ed to recapture conbrol over the exploit—
mere
OS nee ee ee ee ee ee
ation of their bodies frem those who
effectively had it."
Legislators, again almost exclusive-
ly male, make the laws which govern 4
woman's right to abortion, to control
her body. Although the United States
Supreme Court decided that abnrtion,
during the first two trimesters of
gestation, is properly within the woman's
right to privacy, a decision to be made
by the woman and her physician, attempts
are being made to restrict this right,
by new laws and by interpreting the 3
court's decision to place the veto power
in the province of the physician. If
the reasons for wanting an abertien were
medical this would be reasonable.
Hewever, medical reasons are rare,
ecenomic and persenal reasons, not within
the prefessienal competence of the
physician, are most frequent. "What
the women's movement is driving at is a
redistribution of the power between the
gynecologist and the patient."
Women must be treated as adults.
The responsibility for winning this
right must be shared by gynecologists
and their patients. Power is never
given away, it must be taken, This may
mean that each complaint will have to
be worked out, case by case, in the courts,
until a critical turningpoint is reached
in the attitudes of men toward women.
Women must "encourage and suppert women
teachers and students, individually and
in groups, in their pursuit of their
legal remedies,"
This article is worth reading.
It will be available at the Patricia
Gould Memorial Library, in the Women's
Center. (See Speakout, November, 1975,
pe 6) It is tempting to extend this
review into comments on the recent defeat
of the New York State ERA, I'll
leave that to the readers, ©
Carolyn Dissesway
SE ME IE EE KE EEE HE EK HEH HEH HH HH EEE
A New Journal : Assert !
Assert is published six times a
year by IMPACT, Box 1094,
San Luis Obispo, Calif
934.06
Devoted to assertive behavior!
A New Book: Assertive Woman
How women can become more assert=
ive, Also from IMPACT.
Happy reading.
Bis VED
Wins E°
Albany County Rape Crisi Cen-
ter's next genéral weeting will
take place on January I1 at tne
centers office which is locat ed at
55 steuben ot., Albany. 4 short
business weeting will follow a.
presentation by the Child Protec-
tive Service of the Departuient of
social services.
whe Rape Crisis Center would ic
like woinen to know that , wddbany
i.edical Center is now Callinc rape
crisis ccunselors for all cases
coiling to their euergency room.
Tor information about the
snape Crisis Center's Services call
the cffice during the day’ at 445-
7547 or «ancy. Sudcley, Chairperson,
at 469-2261.
Schenectady Rape Crisis Center
Atrainine session to train
new memoers for counseling will
be held on Canuary 31 frou 10-te
3 at the schenectady YwCA. All
are welcome... {ring & lunch.
cabysitting and beveraces will be
provided. his will be the first
of seven trainings sessions. fcr
further inforwaticn, Call 346-2265
Rensselaer Ccunty Rape Crisis
center
This groun ieets the first
Monday cf the month at Lecnard
Hospital in Troy. at 7:30pn. deur
Leetings are open to all interes
ted rersons. Fer further mice
nétion call arilyn asbrouck at
273-6732
Women's Political Czucus
eee
the women's Dewocratic Caucus
is working on en affirmative action
program as it concerns celegate
selection end the selection of
State Comittee menbers. i. meet
inz is plannea for sonetine in
cenuary. whose interested liey
Contect Jane Sanford at 462-3446.
af
tercrture
tity.
Delmar wcien's Awareness group
“A weetince will be held —an.
12 at 3pm in the.Jethlehem Pub-
lie iibrary. sarbara will will
sreak on sexisu in children's li-
weW. C.. groups will be
forned at chis time. 411 interes-
ted persons are invited to attend
-n Jan. 26. Alan ~rody will
Speak to the yroup about his book
Coming To, z | sensitive portrayal
of a wife trying to finc her iden-
ihis event will also take
place’ at Spi in the Tethlehen
Public.iLibrary..:
American Asscociati
WOMEN
or of University
orcsup will weet .cn Janucry
at 1:30 in the Bethlehei. Pubs
lic Librery. A panel coimosed of
woiien from Bthicpia, Ecuedor, and
vapan will discuss the tcpic:
world clurzlisus:she Human Encoun-
ter. .11 are welcoiie.
s£tor dey women's Center
he next General assembly
. eeting will be jan. 5, at Spm.
ecnita Sanchez of the Exa ccali-
tion will coffer succestions for
é plan of. action tc help ensure
the passage of the ERa in the
future. xefreshiients will be served
Cn Jan 4, fron 2 to 12 noon
there will be a woodworking work-
shop to build partitions for the
Center. whis will be a gocd op-
portunity tc learn to work with
weed. ll are welcome. .
June yahner from the history
Dep't. at SUnYA Will give a talk
entitled ‘women's movements in the
1Sth Century." ‘this will be held
on san.20 at Spm.
Cn Gan.25; the iwovie ‘wedding
in white’ will be shcwn at 8pm.
‘ihis is sponsored by the albany
fhis
j et oF
xape Crisis Center and the wcien's
‘Counseling Collective. —
Another wovie, © women's
nappy Time Conumune$ will be shown
on Jan. 16 at Spm. Contribution
ois 0C4
she women's Coffee ucuse
Will be cpen every seconc and
1
-
Tri City women’s Center... cise. Schenectady N.O.W.
(continued)
and fourth Fridays of the month A business meeting will be
at the women's Center. Ruth Felhamheld on Jan.14 at 8pin in the Sche-
Suzanne Vansernam, and Chris Healy,nectady YwCAa.
Folk guitarists, will perform on aspeaker is planned for the
Jan. 9. Gn Jan. 23, Jesse Rose- Jan.2&8 meetingwhich will be held
marion and River Light womoon, alsoat 8pm in the Schenectady YWCA.
folk guitarists, will perform. Do-
nation is »2.00 or whatever you On Jan.21, an Assertiveness
can afford.. All women are welcome.iraining session will be held.
Anyone wishing to perform or work ‘whe training session will be open
at the Coffee House should contact only to a limited nuimber of persons
Sharon at 463-4698. If you are interested, call Ann
The women's Center, located Booth at 399-5790. If there is suf-
in the Albany YwCA,55 Steuben St., ficient interest, more such sessions
albany, is open monday through Will be held in the near future.
Friday from 8pm to 10pm. The Cen-
ter is also open ‘‘uesdays from Long vermer's Comittee
onepm to 4pm and on Saturdays from
lpm to 4pm. work parties are held Support has been asked for
on Saturdays and Sundays. Anyone bills in the Assembly and Senate
interested in more information on by Bedford Hills Gorrectional Fa-
the work parties, please call cility Long Termer's Committee.
Carol Anne modena at 489-1605. The bills (S-5036A and A-7017-A)
provide for a review of the long-
Rensselaer County Leage of women sentence prisoner's record after
Voters the first three years of his sen-~.:
. tence and periodically afterward.
On Can.21;, a meeting will be Lone sentences without con-
held at 8pm in St. Timothy's Luthe-structive programs to prepare the
ran Church in vO. Greenbush. In- prisoner for life outside the pri-
formation will be presented on the son are destructive. It is also
ianner in which the League is fi- costly to the tax payer, more cost-
nanced. £11 interested persons ly than parole supervision.
are welconie. You can express your support,
cr obtain more inforination by
Albany Area N.O.W. Writing to:
Senator Ralph J. uarino,
This group holds regular meet- Chairperson
ings the seconc wednesday of every Committee on Crime and Correc-
month at the women's Center at NY State Senate tion
7:30pm. ‘she next meeting will be Albany, ny 12224
on Jan. 14.
Jan.18 at 7pm, there will be Asseinblyian Stanley Fink,
a meeting of the zducational ‘ask Chairperson
Force. ..eeting will be in women's Assembly Codes Committee
Center. NY State Assembly
A women's Sexuality Conference Albany; wY 12224
is bing planned for April 3 and 4
in Albany. A planning weeting for A woman's Flace
the conference will take place on cn Jan S-11, the Collective
Jdn..18 at 4pm in the somen's Cen- will have tour skiing. Instruc-
ter. all women are invited to at- tion will be available. céring your
tend. own equipment. woman's lace,
Athol, wY. For further information
Call 518-623-9541.
Happy 4th Anniversary Speakout.
From the Ffeminiat Pests ..4..
Alice B, Sanger, stenographer, of Indianapolis, reported for work
at the White House January:2, 1890 — | |
4 Januaryl896 Utah became. a state with a -wemmn suffrage etamem in
its constitution. (seethe 25th.)
5 January 1869 Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones, dramatic soprano
was born to a former slave. She sang for President B. Harrison,
She was probably the first Black prima donna.
7 January 1955 Marian Anderson became the first Black woman singer
at the Metropolitan Opera. ;
9 January 1859 Carrie Chapman Catt's birthday
1908 Simone de Beauvoir birhtday |.
19 January 1973 Anne Armstrong became the first woman to be a
counselor at'a cabinet leve}] in the White House
e4 January Wyoming, became the first state to grant women the vote
in 1869, it was the 23rd to ratify the Federal ERA.
*e5 January Utah's House of Representatives rejected the Federal ERA
Some states make progress, some stand still others walk
or run backwards, | | |
e9 January 1973 Regarding the effect of a pregnantteacher on young
Students, the court says,! "Whatever may have been the reaction
in Queen Victoria's time, pregnancy is no longer a dirty
word.” U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Taken from"the liberated woman's appointment calendar 1974"
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M.Knall Gootaeit
SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vel. V No. 2 , p February 1976
Table of Contents Bk
1 “Hew do ries Celebrate the Bicentennial? —— ‘Ellen Deutschnan fe
2° KSiaian s Rights Through the Century; Féaturtng Saskain By hitiseiey | oo
3 | ‘Ellen beutschman
Title 1x Education dmencments of 1972 -— a Dissosway
Freeform (peem) — Nancy Brizendine
Against Our Will — A Boek Review — Betty ian
i: i Aa Nae
The Poelities of Relatienships #2
Untitled rae iss - (pens) — Barbara Sivas .
@ Frem a Feninist Librarian — Christine Reet
7 COSMEP East Conférence ies :
S$ A Woman Called eas — Aliee Sant. Pee
1¢ A Feminist Needs Yeur Suppert =. Carolyn Dissesway
10 IWY — Carolyn Dissesway . “s )
ik Fnma Hart Willard — Catligg Di ssosway
12 Remomber the Ladies —~ Ellen Deutschman
13 Wemen's Basketeall Schedule
14 SFEAKOUT Treasurets. Repert
15-17 Greup News |
18 SPEAKOUT Calendar
Cever design by Hextns Socteney . .
Workers for this issue: Benitdes Adams, Jan Bariuto, Carelyn hceundy, Susan
Lasher, Ellen Deutsctman, Very Shenkle, Corts Roet
Groug News by Tania Durbak
SPEAKOUT is published menithly. Subseriptiens are $3.5¢ per year, Single
copies are 35¢ and are available at local Boeksterss (see p. 13),
Advertising is $10.09 per quaxter page, $18.60 per half page, and $30,080
per whole page,
SPEAKOUT P,@, Hex 6165 Albany, New Yerk mee 900! Vener of CCSMER 2%
APRIL 6 IS PRIMARY DAY !
Voters will pick delegates tO the DEMOCRATIC National Vorvantion.
There are 5 slates of delegates and alternates now petitioning to
get on the ballot in this Congressional District (Albany and
Schenectady.
Below is information about 4 committed slates,
The. "regulars" are running an "uncommitted"
slate.
Help them.
You can help by: signing and carrying a petition (if you are an
enrolled Democrat) ; volunteering at home or at a headquarters;
ee a contribution.
21m Medtern Avet:
“Albany: pe) 3080
Schenectady: 372 7196
Delegates & Witernaten:
Jack R.Suarez Kathleen E.
LaVerne Hamilton Whiting
Theresa G,Houlihan Linda C.
William T.Cleveland Van Dyke
Ann M Brandon Frances I,
Paul Garcia, Jr. Jackson
JIMMY CARTER
Regional Headquarters |
PO, Box 713
Albany, N. ba 12201
— ~- — _— — — — —_—_——_— - <a
Delegates & Alternates:
Edwin D. Reilly, Jf. “William ee
Harry H. Hamilton s . Brive Jr.
Marthat T.Rozett David B.
Craig J.Odeen fe: Coleman
Robert F.Creegan Barhara
James M.Sherwood : Pelton
_ — os _ all _- -_ al _— - - _--— - Sell _ -
ew eee eee eee wen omnes
Voting on April 6.
. 299 Gatiérek Ave.
Albany: 434 1796 — =
| Schenectady: 377 3219
- - = _ el 7 - -— - | =
Delegates & Alternates: Loo
v- Russell A. Fowler “Richara A.
Susan F.Coyne sont Fi Hind
_. John J. Woodward, Jr, Walter J.
Sharon A.Jordan Forman
Mary M.Leve Theodore L.
Victor Caban McGinn II
ee
: o f i.
MILTON SHAPP -
Regional Coordinator 3
‘i Sara Harris
196 Shaker Road
465 _ 307. _ pe ens
Delegates: pace | = ee :
#%-%
Sara Harris cee |
Dorotig; Pent. 262 Ai: “on ag
_ Sharon B.Calka
Anita E.Baker | 5
Rose Malzberg ea.
Elizabeth J. Guddehe =
This political announcement esa: for Be
Albany County New Democratic Coalition
462-0891
at,
‘a roe
How Do Women Celebrate the count ef Harriet Tubman's er So-
‘Bicentennial? _ journer Truth's gifts to American
history? No, these things are
AhcAmetican woman's Atesheenad: prone to’ either oe alienate sections
ial celebration today is, all too ef the mass audience, or more like-
unfortunately, limited to the Ay, strisze no recognizant eye at
myepic visioh of revisionist male all. Shell Oil is not in the bus~
historians, or else, to oil com- iness of boring people.
pany sponsored heritage breaks Bat @l3- this‘ is not to. delittie
between Rhoda and sweet smelling the role of men in our history,
fragrance commercials. A questionwhich is too facile and self-ser-
for contemporary feminists 26° ving to really contribute to what-
whether or not we can call this ever our Bicentaanial should be er
national. jamboree our own, and if evoke in contemporary heartse The
not, what shall we do to make the problem is not that men have bune
next one a century hence ours. _gled, debauched, murdered and mis-~
No discussion of American wo-- taken their way across the pages
men's stake in this nationalistic ef American history and the pre-
pagent to ourselves can exclude sent state of the nation is their
the media's role for two reasonse fault, which it probably is. Ra»
One, the long awaited and much | ther, * the roles of courageous and
touted Bicentennial is nothing brillimt women have sadly been
-if not a media event, just as unrecorded over two hundred years
are football games, foreign po= of histery making, leaving only
lice actions and presidential clumsy Mrs. O'Leary and her equal-
elections. (1 am dangerously ly clumsy cew, and dirty Typhoid
tickled to add culture, women's Riel as remarkable females in theit
morality and self images, but | own right.
that would be biting off more How will women look back upon
than a bit too much.) Second, if their history during the tricen-
we accept the Bicentennial as a tennial? In the perhaps. unlikely
media event, or rather, a ple event that one does come te pass,
thora of disjointed media events, I suggest that even greater strides
then we must see just what it is toward sexual equality will have
the media is selling us about our- -been attempted, some successful and
selves. It could hardly be said sme thwarted by men's and our own
so far that we are being sold backwardness, fear and reaction.
iamges of eurselves as the better. I would dhe to think that fem-
halves of male colonial and pioe inist veterans in 2076, post middle
neer heros, simply bgcause this aged, lumpy and varicose veined
has - 4 not happened. Perhaps will ae in their halls, like V.F.W.
had the Bicentennial come upon members are doing right now, and
us in 1955, or even '65, this recount their struggles and vic-
would have been our historic tories over good wine and, like
imagerye = W.W.II vets do sadly mourn the
What do we see then? Do we struggles passing. But I do not
see magazine supplement features think that will happen.
on the great scientific contribu- It seems likely that women will
tions of American women to eur have to struggle harder with ma,
civilization? Do we see presén= with themselves, and with their
tations of female scientists like histories for Sach step towards
Maria Mitchell, internationally liberation, and I seriously doubt
recognized comet discoveree at that a mere century need pass before
the age of 28 shortly after the we will come into our own. But at
"Age of Jackson" (obscure Ameri=- least, looking only at the media
can president inventor of poli- aspect of feminist history and not
tical spoils system, militarist at the real issues and struggle,
and Indian killer)? perhaps thete will be time in the
Does Shell Oil hire Dihann future for an honest reappraisal of
Carrol to voice over a minute re- oyr presence on this continent. And
{| that would be no small advancemeat
in itself,
WOMEN'S RIGHTS THROUGH THE CENTURY
Featuring Susan B. Anthony
It! s the night a November 4,
1975 in Albany, New York and you.
are listening to the election re-
turns. The ERA is doing poorly,
then worse. Women running for |
office in Albany County are de- |
-feated. The ERA goes completely
over the edge, voted down in New
York and New Jersey. Women every-
where are faced with defeat, after
defeat. Will we ever see some-
thing we struggled a and petiticned
for come to be in our lifetime?
eet has struggled through-
out the centuries for their rights. |
But. some of those women in the
forefront. never saw what they
sacrificed everything for come ..
true in their lifetime. ‘Susan Bar
Anthony was one of those women.
She died in 1906, fourteen years
before the ratification of the
nineteenth amendment.
February 15 the birthday of
this pioneer crusader for the wo-=
mén's suffrage movement in the.
United States, who was born in
1820.into a family of Quaker abo-_
litionists. A school teacher who
organized temperance societies,
and after 1854, devoted herself
with great determination to the
anti-slavery movement, Susan B.
Anthony was stirred up by Eliza-
beth Cady Stanton into the whirl-
wind of the movement for women! S
rights. | |
069, Wew Sestlaag)
Koo a ne
Q Vion. VY | NN - 20%} - “|
gd \2, = i : 4:
nt eh pbs ive}
pe d iY Avie .
| | we ag lox 00\s,
38 a8 0
Views Plone
pe, 5
; ia
:
A tempestuous female, she. was”
arrested, tried, and convicted
i
< for leading a group. of women to
the polls in Rochester to test
the right Of women to vote.
From
then on she campaigned relent:«*
lessly for a federal woman suf-
frage amendment through various
national associations and by lec-
turing throughout the country.
She also organized various inter-
national suffrage groups.
After her death was a sinks
when the majority of Americans
were absorbed with a succession
of economic problems. and the do-
mestic hore par of a ambenin
acs
“The Cibject
Oe women beentee) eas: ‘panded and
less appealing when measured
‘aeninee? sep ares immediate crisés.
:
And now we swonder why the ERA
was defeated so silently and ex-
| pediently.
Where did we go wre" “
wrong? In this country now in
‘this new year we are facing the
beginning of what could be one of
the. worst socio-economic crises
since World War I. The beara
was over~-pressured in 1906,
1919, and now again in 1976.
This “does: not mean we should
throw in the hat now. It's only
the beginning of a long, ‘hard
struggle: 2
Ce a
= py Ellen Deutschmant”
ae Saale cae sat
’
- \eaane. Ke loowg
eee meet hing §
Title IX Education Amendments of 1972
Speakout has received a packet of
information from the Association of Amer- |
ican Colleges, 1818, N.W. Washington, D.C.
Project on the Status of WOMEN. The law
in part:
No person in the United ee: shall,
on the basis of sex, be excluded
from participation in, be denied
the benefits of, or be subjected
to discrimination under any educa-
tion program or activity receiving
Federal financial assistance. .
section 901 (a)
The packet contained:
Against Students: © at
IX of the Education insignis oe 1972";
Summary of the Regulations for Title x
Amendments of 1972"; Title IK of the Hduca-
tion Amendments of 1972, as Amended";
"A Partial List of Actions Institutions |
Must Take Under Title IX"; “Employment
Self Evaluation Checklist"; "Zlimination
of Sex Discrimination in Athletic Programs"
and Single Sex ee Under Title
IXé
Thelongest pamphlet is "Sex Discrimin-
ation Against Students." It deals with
such issues as: recruiting, admissions,
financial aid, student rules and regul- |
ations, housing rules, health care,
and insurance benefits, student employ-
ment, textbooks and curriculum, single
sex courses and women's study programs.
This pamphlet also discusses Titles IV
and VIII of the Public Health Service
Act as amended in 1971. They prohibit
discrimination on the basis of sex in
admissions to federally funded health
training programs . - Although there are
exemptions in some of the civil rights
laws there are none for these tio Public
Health Service Act Amendments. There
are some exemptions under Title tk.
Among them are some single sex organiza- _
tions, mostly those for young people:
boy and girl scouts, Campfire Girls,
Social Fraternities having a 501 (a)
IRS tax exemption and the YWCA and YMCA.
Women's Study Courses are exempt provided
men may participate. ‘Jomen's Centers
on Campuses are exempt provided men may |
share in the services if they wish,
programs aimed at improving the status
of women provided they do not exclude
men... |
The statements made in these
pamphlets are documented by references
to court cases, to specific sections of
the law and places where the laws are
"Sex Discrimination
_ winged and singing —
published and to books published by
various authorities. The materials may
‘be copied without permission provided
credit is given to the Project. on the ©
Status and Education of women, Associa-
tion of American Colleges. The packet
will be donated to the Patricia Mary
Gould Library at the Women' 's Center.
Carolyn Dissosway
:
d #
freeform _
(for Ma
inte land of choices
freedomsong soaring ~
echoes
frem her soul
ea chi 2s Pry
svte. time
swirling ite visions
imprevisatiens |
never before imagined ‘
ae is now
_ by Nancy Brizendine —
Kansas City, Mo.
We hope cur reaters enjoyed the
beautiful change cf mocd from the
title lx theughts te trconihen®,
ede
% = a
Sie (
tS Lata
Seppe ts Sate
Wt ae
ts
zg oc
Brsar Bal
ase
erlaes
| i ry
ae Es i aes
er
ae soy alone for whatever
reason, inviting
to her home or
> 2 MAitation tad
uS. eutside: 4 th | hom
ee eee to make he: ee own, Laci 1 soci
a she is quickly pun shed for
Par? bra shness and inde: sendence, : fog
ar
cop ey
eh; Sayer |
cee e and sexual bs Lang at te
: ;
tee i Co, Se ae
Ca as : : biel i ’
Zar fi hee | :
Susan Brownmi 1 ler: ee ns
New Yorks: Ss: ‘ion ‘and a eset
‘} ee. BiG os a eS | : “i bighpe
‘Fear of ri rape is” af act of | we nee +
“ik ife for pra ‘acti cally every
gers-- ¢ e irae
. he j
; “at
7 is
a
Veg fe ses
it gt ae
tag Le Py an
ee are” ‘taught to be c cautious: wi he wi ‘Ree
4 Pee ah 4
. ?
oa Re SASS» ms
eee at the
_ The rape of women is oe 8s and Bid:
ead a
Bus ivi liza tion its elf t Exes nee
eres
deci ded
ae: Wor nan steps out
hex. position 1 by lez ye
pore ace-= a pla lace
pares
Toes alae 53
red :
what he cons iders to be his
as s the stronger and superior mae a
_ man uses we oman's fear of - viole
cls sing)
s right —
ore tg oar assault to keep
ie ¥ ‘4
et a oe
. : see
oy ea peeled
" a y
- : .
man
: ei
of her ee . are s no
a ba * ;
.
th hat she should oc~ :
ia, force ae into submi ssiveness: iS ee
nt of rape law
pad sa ge
J % ‘4 i
nt P
ree mie
ofecttte
Tek ji
_ for " exampl e;
—ae 2
ty , a ah a an 5
BA ae oe _ fieheugn guite a bit ae x
yee oot se ie a
sion | ae teat tS
annie by man's ult timate _
inst woma r e Fascae —
|
3
ee #: a a
ee
ad rape fe
re pe
—Potg
be ;
= i cs ae a hes ’ ss
a a ccept
"entirely u
% readir ae
owt ee
ee 3
V
Pe casters
ak
Wr an is?
Bp
ae * bie
me vi fictim
cons ente
d te ; the
Fg ae ee. a fi] A
immedic
ve é
r2 aie nee.
f-
= =f
1 a wD
* athe: ,
Mas %
ae is
oS
pee: erminat ion, |
pens ee > take Place
SS eayet
e marr. iage
met rs 7 ag er ev ridence
lle is common
fate of con-
often one a a rape
ler. empha: 3 iz es tl he
ssues of
ine ny
a: fe at
> he
ctiv o
1 ee: bed fo} yinic lons A te
the reader : Afte
bed," id
of rape. t laws becomes
=
co nsent
Ei Fie oe
Big
are not | si gnif icant
. ere ther e
re gan =f
7 ee
re =
this ‘bod roy or ee PAB bn:
——
sing MEN, WOMENAND RAP
tined eros a erased the def.
as —_ _
jec i
ae
i pus 7 Le : E
mes : tty V&ii
5a feet -
Fos
~. tone fact ren
pisun =o ph Xe A INST
it vis
oF are rece
poet om
a,
THE POLITICS OF RELATIONSHIPS #2
You say,
"Den't yell at me,
If yeu hate me,
Just tell me and I'll go away.
But don't yell at me. I haven't
Dene anything te deserve that."
Yeur wounded fear
Makes me crazye
-It would be much easier
Just to walk away.
I must yell
To get my anger out,
For even now, when
I leave my "weman's place”
Of nice-girl behavier
And venture out on the
Branch of expressed anger
I am terrified
That the limb will not
Hold my weight,
Or, worse yet,
That you will saw it off.
It would be so. much easier
Just to walk away.
Can you love me even when I'm not beautiful?
Can you leve me when I yell?
It is a tremendous act of courage for me
To find out the answers to these questiens.
-~it would be so very much easier
Just sto ‘turn
And walk away.
UNTITLED
My neighbors are unbearably male:
They drink
And stumble past my apartment,
They sing and laugh raucously
And shout obscenities.
I can't really say that I'm surprised
Boys will be boys.
Peems by Barbara Lipschutz, Philadelphia, PA
Pe Feninist Librarian
: +
Yew ‘vork/New Jersey ‘Librarians and
ere is oainialae :
-
a ee
ia omen! eo other pines
to women in the community. Membership —
7
students.
a
"7A = -
ra ap
a =a
4 : 7)
=i =f Pi
= a
you to becone a member of the .Y. Fea-
inist Federal Credit Union, | |
a y i
f
Phat fies
eae
; Tg ceed wanl-$1 00 aiies to
Betty Carol. Sellen, Brooklya College
Library, Brooklyn, 7. YS 1240.: ‘Include >
ae
: a
he
name, address with zip code, and te el =
Phone 1 no. and Seba? Rtg <2
can ecd
‘ LOS MONEY FOR | JOMER NETS”
NY Fe eninist Credit Sead
a3 Cornelia St.
N a i ey 10014 (212) 25504
ENS. as
area
ns
_*
"Monday ‘Bam-5: 30pn Jed-f ri ee
sat Aan - ?pa
+:
HAT Isa CREDIT UNION? |
sore geen a |.
ea
fund fron - ‘these savings with get 2g ny
make loans to its members for ee
_ ‘purposes ata ressonable interest rate,
A credit union is to help a: members
collec
WHY A ‘PEAS? ‘CREDIT UNTO: a
— somen: need a finane |
that will promote and establish econonic
self-sufficiency.
has been limited.
is open to wonen Librariana, 4 women work=
aa
nist aoe ana: '
{5%
—— fe
loans’ is cet
x
<<
ae
«
ro ae SEPGRES and to en=
es or with ($5.00 or wore.
Our credit in the past |
AS: single ‘self-suport- :
ing women we've been asked to provide co-
1 our incones: are high
As divorced,
signers although
enough to secure loans. |
separated, or widowed women, we are orten
denied credit because we were never able >
te establish credit in our name, while
married. As wonen, it is tame ‘that we
J ies
z
os
own aye ‘pat ber prey ‘+h. anata
of the male-doninated financial institut.
ions. This is a service that women are
rendering to women, The New York Fea-
inist Federal Gredit t Union is organized
& staffed by women, Tt 4. is a place where
we can pool our resources so that women
who. are. saving money ean lend that money
to “women who ‘need to borrow. Together
we can invest in ourselves, not only as
individual women, but as women interested
Each member
‘ in each other! 's Common good.
ey 2 : * regardless of the number of shares held,
re: ‘Menbers ship in ‘tiie Caucus entitles | Z
ay
Credit: =
can vote at the annual meeting, +
Ses cly yey
the | paotie ve van eng!
a a oe ;
iv
* “Is uy Moxy SATE?
a savings: are insured to eee
eg ‘the National Credit Union Adninistra-
tion.’ Divident rates re set by the
Beret 2 psmnes up to a nmaximun of 7%,
operating ex enses, all inter-
tas
‘est from Los as is reutrned to members as
| ‘dividends. . Individual dividneds are con- .
_ pounded on the total number of sha
tember holds. (each share is
Credit: Jaion hopes to be able ‘to provide
free Li fe Savings as well,
xs a
* a a month on “the: unpada
3 a n Protection Inaurance
d by ‘the Cre
deen
=
?
: fe
ee | bo Ceeraine Loaagh at ad
med SAM AIS ok td
Pd 2 eee
ateae Tee Z ;
HOI D Do I ces: 2 A MEMBER?
hee. If you ere ec wows af ‘any of ‘the
organizations listed below, you may become
a member of the Credit Union, Just. fill
out a membership appl ication, pay the
$1.00 entrance fee, and “open your account
ag
: wee
4 e ou
a
Pre ae
bee
Se ASN alas
« Saabs Seton Jomen
et apn ae of NY
ter
ee ae ie
a, catares Queens,
Staten Island, | Jassau
a2 * (cont)
« Fd
ise 0
nce
Feminist Librarian (cont)
New York Radical. Feminists
New York and New Jersey
Librarians/Library |
Feminist Caucus
~ sonen's Martial Arts Union|
jorkers
You must be a menber of one of these
groups in order to join the credit union.
Tt is easy to join a zroup-anyone who
does not belong can obtain’ infornation
about these organizations through the
credit union. Your ne mbership in the
credit union continues even if you cease
to belong to one of the groups.
OAL Clearinghouse on Sex Discrimination
in Sports
ionen's nquity Action ‘League (EAL)
has established a national clearing house
on sex discrimination in sports to serve.
as a center for information on current
activities around the country. ©
inghouse needs infornation on studies,
news articles and other serials documen=
ting sex discrimination in athectics and
data on fundins of athletics. Contact
WEAL Fund National Clearinghouse,
Sex Discrimination in Sports, ;
National Press Bldg. ,daeeineton DC. 2o0l5
The New women's Survival Saateaiaal
has been published by Sere (1975)
for a5. 00, ee be
Organize: A orleiag vonen's Handbook
A publication of the Union age
Education Committee (PO Box 452 Berkley >
Calif., 94701) includes information on
how to organize a union, writing and nez~
otiating a union contract, parliamentary
procedure, how to do your ow shop news-
letter and a bibliography. Copies are
$2.50 plus 25 postage, 10 or more are
2. 00 plus postage,
e
~
women in Criminal Justice: Getting
Toséether ie?
National Association of
Criminal Justice
501 Indiana ave. Nil..
jashington DC 20004 ee! 75,1n¢e)
intends to:
(a) represent the valieemate and concems
of women employed in lasw enforceme nt,
omen in |
ay
*
: =
The clear-
ira,
}
/ -eourts,° correction, and related govern-
mental, academic and research organiza-
tions; (b) to educate the membership and
the public to the specialized problems
of female offenders in aa effort to
address the inequities involved in
their processing and treatment by the
CJ system (c) to actively support the
entry of women in the CJ systen and
their advancement in it; (a) to serve
ag a catalyst for the active partict-
pation of the membership ia existing
CJ organizations; (e) to provide cross~
disciplinany comaunication and inte-
gration of knowledge in CJ.
i
“Sational: Female Offender Resource Center
ABA, Commission on Correctional se!
‘Pacilities and Services
1705 DeSales St. A
-ashington DC os
(organized | March 75)
ba
(a) én coordinate policies, ete and
funding dealing with the female offender
(b) to disseminate information through
a newsletter and other publications
= ae a. oe ope ae
4 tee de
If any readers have news or ideas
ihre
“_Anteneation geri pete that
should be brought to the attention of
- SpeakOut readers please send to:
Fominist Librarian
‘SpeakOut, ;
PO Box: 44 55
Albany, HY
-
12208 oe
- COSMEP East's ‘aeeeed pe ene
be held February 13-16 in Philadelphia,
There will be tentative registration fee
of $le.ce, which will cover eight meals
and Sleeping bag ‘Space or housing at
local members’ homes. Conferences are
- friendly, informal ways of meeting others
invelved in the small préss world,
"substantial number of women aré now active
in COSMEP and feminist presses, in par-
ticular are working creative changes.
If interested in” attending, contact
Seott Bartholemew, 2609 Crum Creek Drive
a
=
; Berwin TWIN y a 19312
or war him ab (215) 6h 5432
7
PS Christine Root plans to attend .
A sOMAN CALLED Sway
by Alice Sant'Andrea =~
59 w 71 St. NY NY 10023 -
Mothers Day, 1973, Yvonne (Swan)
Nanrow, A Native American from the Col-
ville Reservation near Spokane ‘@nd the “
mother of two children, was convicted of
first degree murder and second degree
assault. It was the day after — founded
Knee was evacuated. The 71-day seige had
broken in a hailstora of anti-Native
American publicity. People around Spo-
kane were muttering that the Indians had
gotten away with it, but here wep one
Indian who wouldn't,
Yvonne's ordeal started on Friday,
Aucust 11, 1972, Her children, Darren 9
and Yvette 2, were staying with a baby-
sitter because Yvonne had a cast on her
broken ankle and was taking medication.
The sitter, Shirley Hooper, had
called the police for the third time in
a week. First because a prowler had
slashed her becroon screens, then for a
peeping tom and finally because of an
attack on her ten-year-old dauzhter and
Yvonne's son,
The police wrote up’ a report that
included a statement by “Mildred, Shirley's
seven-year-old. She said that Bill Jes-
ler, the man tho hac done the peeping
and attached the younzsters, was also the
man who had raped her several months ago.
The child had to be treated for an un~
explained case of gonorrhea three months
before but had been too frightened to
talk. In the presence of the police she
identified sixty-one year old .issler as
the man who had "done that thing to we,"
desler was known in the conmunity _
and to the police as "Chicken Bill." He
was a "chicken hawk" prison slang for a
child molester. Two years before he had
molested the son of a previous tenant at
the Hoopers' house. The parents didn't
fight ats They just moved away.
desler haa oes Bad sentenced to
ninety days for child molestation and had
been in a local mental institution. But
despite this knowledge and the positive |
identification by all three children that
this man had assaulted them in various
ways, the police made no arrent.
Shirley Hooper called Yvonne and
asked that she bring her. gun. She had
bought it three months before for self-
protection, after being threatened by
white neighbors who didn't want a Native
American in their community. At 9 pm
she arrived at the Hooper home and the
two women stood ouard over the five
sleeping youngsters.
At midnight, alarmed by noises com--
ing fron jesler's house, they called
Yvonne's siste r, Angela Michel, and her
brother-in-law, Chuck, who joined then
with their three children. At 5:30 am
vesler entered the Hooper home. He was
drink and lurched over to where three=
year-old ilyron, Yvonne's nephew lay
sleeping. Then he tumed toward her.
Helpless in her cast and unsteady
on her crutches, Yvonne drew the revolver
and shot, Jesler fell dead and his drin-
king buddy, David Kelley, 25, fled after
receiving a flesh wound,
Trightened that the man aight return
with a gun, Shirley called the police.
‘Then Yvonne spoke to them, a tape was
made of the conversation without her
knowledge and consent, It was this tape
that later became a major issue at her
trial.
Booked on suspicion of murder, Yvon-
ne was assigned a public defender who
advised her to plead guilty. "For three
months I kept telling the public defender
I wasn't suilty, He kept on saying that
it was impossible to build a case and I
should plead suilty and hope for leniency.
I finally just gave up and in ere 7%
made a guilty plea,"
A month after the original plea was
filed, Yvonne hired a private attomey,
Bugene J. Annis. Ue recommended that the
plea be changed to not guilty.
Jury selection was completed on May
Pee eg ae The jurors were excused until
the next morning and that evening an art-
icle appeared in The Spokane Daily Chro-
nicle which said "Mrs. Janrow had pleaded
suilty to the charge last year but has
changed her plea to innocent." The de-
fense asked for a mistrial, but the motion
was denied by the judge, Del Eary Smith, JR.
_ Later in the week Annis wanted to
put a yative American woman on the stand
~~ & (cont.)
= Ea ¢ zi
r ee aa >
2 c - <=
é a4 _
who would describe Janrow's_ culture to the contacted the judge: to Poquest clemency.
all-white jury. Janrow had grou up on
the Colville reservation, was divorced and cs Judge saith allowed two wonen to
had been in Spokane only three ° years, The testify on JTanrow' s behalf, - Bea. fe Sia
Native American expert was to explain the os? Sioux with a Ph, Fl in anthropology,
problems of a “ative American mother rais- - explain ed vlanrow's cultural background
ing her children alone in a city, but the i, and Mary Jo B terfield, A Makah a asked
prosecutor objected. "Just. because | shets — that Janrow be ed ‘to the
paro:
an Indian, she doesn't deserve any special» Indian Pr oject in Seattle ‘where ‘ahs:
ith seer: the could have Sore her education in the
oo
‘privileses," and Judge Si
objection. to 0M ste eruas art: field, °” gp yee eet
Se wes a? ere est as =
“4 - $d
Antoher blow to the ‘defense occurred ay ‘After hearing: these arguaents, m;
when Shirley Yooper turmed state! 's witness, Judge Smith sentenced .ianrow, who had.
She was acting on the advice of her husband, no previous arrest record, to 20 years
"You're not iavolved, Stay out of ‘Sb. § for 2nd desree murder, 20° years for 1st
Fe 8 - degree assault and ‘5 years mandatory for
Jhen Annis introduced ‘evidence of use of a deadly weapon, ‘The three con-
Wesler's arrest record, the Judge ‘dismiss- current | sentences ‘would be served at the
ed it as hearsay. vanrow cominented on ‘the Purdy ates by for omen,
Pe
Donald CG 33 , aa ee
i sae Bi?
trial, "Anything Pro secutor
a G =.
Brockett wanted, he got froa ‘the judge." ees ‘The verdict vas” appealed, : ‘Two years
pio seat: Jater, the vash gton State Court: of
aatal s autopsy manila evidence of Appeals de’ ‘termined that the taped evid-
gonorrhea and a blood alcohol contnet of - - ence was inada Lssible and 2 granted Yvonne
.27. This would indicate the recent con~_ the right to a new trial, But ‘the pro-
sumption of at least a pint of 35 proof —- secution has taken the case to the | Jashe
alcohol, A blood alcohol seveleet . sh 5: ae ington State Supreme Court ina an 1 effort
counted as intoxication 3 n most states ‘i to have this /éecision reversed,
having such a law, alt though in some s states Sat
it is as low as Sa; ¥
Attorney. An, Kunstler has Wlusteer.
=
: _
; si > 4454 ra Oe tee ‘se rvices for her defense in con-
But} Yvonne was convicted after r a six- ; junction with The Center for Constitution-
day trial during which there was little al Rights. Celebrites like Harry Belafon-
testimony about Jesler's record as a sex te and Buffy Sainte-Marie have given her
offender against children, But the tape their help, But Yvonne ea the are
of her original call to the police had Of the feninist CO: waunity.
been admitted as evidence, -Replayed:dur-_ _ money for | her defense and letters. of pro-
ing deliberation, it was acknowledged by test wr tten | to Jashington! Is Governor,
three women jurors as the eiiceiting factor Daniel - 4 ans. F ca Saiect aah! ee oer
ian their verdict of guilty 4. i 2 ’ re fi ¥ ye >} fe ¢
este a Letters can be Sieaease to. Yvonne's
Before sentencing iE. ee the — ‘Indian Leg 1 Defense Comittee, F; 0. Box
pre-sentence investigator, had a two-hour i ‘Tnehelium, Tasbington 9913.
chat with Janrow, Ue said that she 60d: ORs 7
further her art career in prison and that. Donations are urgently needed. ‘Mon-
she could be a help to other wonen who oe can be sent to Yvonne Janrow' s Legal
were imprisonned, nee Ba ee Defense Supplenent Fund, No. 821 }72=115,
AOD Bee “North ‘Spokane pean Seattl
He told her he was recoinne ending pri- tonal Bank, 30 delice
2 Le _Sirst Nate
son because she had no faith in ‘police — “ashington 99207. a:
protection and no respect for the law, : se eae wee AE
because she was prone to violence and had ei 4s if oni
a Pe 3 ‘s
Yvonne was sentenced on Aus must 9 . 1973. 2 gas
One of the women jurors who had tihng inn “The Wenens Center 6 rm “3
fluenced by the tape had changed her mind, — 9 Ss Sar 2 a oe Bee é,
She took the stand and asked the judge for | ree naa git ceeiac A deed yeu.
leniency. Two other women Jurors: also ee eae See ae eS TE OE OE q
so fe ast ae a]
purchased a cua, aad to teach her a Lesson, - STELING: PARTE ‘Febru ary 23 =
phil
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February 23,
IWY continued
particularly suffered by women and
for the medical requirements of
healthy women. Therefore some
women thought medical (and Nurs-
ing) education for women was ese
pecially important.
The energies and politcal str-
ength of women were diverted from
their gouls by such divisions.
They needed women who could unite
them, make them realize that they
were all contributing their speec-
ial skills to a common effort.
Such a person was needed at the
Meetings in Mexico. Such women
are needed today, everywhere.
All of us must become such women.
The real issue -- recognition
of women as persons == was never
faced in the nineteenth century.
It hasnt. been faced yet.. We must
demand the changes in attitudes
toward men and women which will
permit the reforms which can lead
to an end to hunger, _ ignorance,
overpopulatione..
SASL, RY ey) Seana ge ee V2,
% v7 her ioe 365: 3% 7 rer’ we . S04 Sart og Sestst ‘ SeSa36
EMM’ HART WILLARD:
Emma Hart was born on a farm
near Berlin, Connicticut, on
1787. She began her
education at the district school.
She continued to be a student,
usually self taught, the rest of
her lifee
ing at Middlebury, Vermont. She
met and married Dr. John Willard,
M.D. theree He encouraged her
interest in medicine. His nephew,
lived with them while he was a
student at Middlebury College.
Emma read his textbooks. She
realized then that even well ede
ucated women were cheated in their
education. She spent the rest of
her life reformeing and forming
the educational programs of this
countrye
She wanted the education of
females to be equal to that of
males and paid for by the public
funds. She learned that legisla»
tors didn't listen to people who
didn't have the votee
Emma Willard was the founder
of the Troy Female Seminary, now
Known as Emma Willard School.
She was so conscious of the need
for education of females and so
aware of the resistance to it that
On theis- side o7_.the. issu€e
“womene
In 1807 she was. teach» ..
she banned any activities that
would give opponants the chance
to deny education to females.
Political discussions were among
the banned activities. She re-
fused to align herself with the
abolition and woman suffrage
CauSes.>, -
Her refusal to support the
suffrage issue led to criticsm of
her by feminists. Opponants of
suffrage tried to claim she was
Among
them was her sister, Almira Hart
Lincoln Phelps. hirs Phelps said
former students of Emma Willard
opposed the suffrage for women.
One of her students was Llizabeth
Cady Stanton. Celia Burleigh
wrote an answer to Almira's claims
in the April 1,1871 issue of
"Women's Journal, " (one year
after Emma Willard's death). She
quoted from letters written by
Mirs Willard. It seems certain
from the quotations that Emma
Willard was not really clear about
the stand she should take on the
subject. Her” real concern had
always been the need to educate
Marriages would be hap-
pier if the wife were the intel-
‘lectual companion of her husband.
. Educated mothers would be better
for. their sons. The role of wife,
mother and educator could be com-~
bined. ‘She had proven that girls
were not made ill, that they)
didn't lose their “femininity by
studying the subjects taught to
boys. ~he had improved the
teaching of history, math, lang-
uages and science, her textbooks
were used to teach boys as well
as girls. But she failed, in
spite of her experiences with the
New York State Legislature, to
recognize the value of the vote.
Her contributions to the lib-
eration of women were great, ree
gardless of her beliefs about
the proper sphere of women. Those
who specialize in correcting one
aspect of the discrimination
problem contribute to the solu-
tion of the whole problem. Cid.
Se 38 $ ai yas 34 st SA Ae SP SP RI we
SENT SERENE SEREHE SHES SENESE SEE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN B. ANTHONY
and many other good women born
this month. A
"REMEMBER THE LADIES"
On March 31, 1776, Abigail Smith
Adams sent what she felt was an impor-
message to her husband, who was in >
Philadelphia along with Franklin, Jef-
ferson, and others to plan for the
possibility of drafting a constitution.
Abigail Smith Adams‘ advice to John
Adams, subsequently noted by many fem-
inists, was that “in the new code of
laws which I suppose it will be nece-
ssary for you to «make, I desire you
would remember the ladies and be more
generous and favorable to them than
your ancestors. Do not put such un-
limited power into the hands of the
husbands. Remember, all men would be
tyrants if they could. If particular
care and attention is not paid to the ©
ladies, we are determined to foment a
_ rebellion, and will not hold ourselves
‘bound by any laws in which we have no
voice or representation."
As could be expected, ‘John Adams :
laughed off his wife's extraordinary .
code of laws. But this should be no |
surprise to anyone aquainted with | the —
record of American history. Women's
as inconsequential if not comic. When
feminists today assert that “our his-
tory has been taken from us," they are
describing a pattern of historical —
writing that has resulted in women
being either ignored or caricatured eS
accounts of the past.
Abigail Adams was the quintessential
Puritan -- purposeful, passionate, pru-
dish, frugal, diligent, courageous,
well-educated, and self-righteous.
Born into a prominent New England fam-
ily in 1746, she was certainly the
leading woman of the American Revolu-
tion being grariddaughter of wealthy,
allusions.
Ee Se eS ee ee ge EE te PRT eee nee eee Te ee | ee
|
z z * +
* :
:
She had by inheritance all the. advan-
tages a century-old Puritan culture in
New England could provide. Although a
woman could not think of receiving a
formal edt ucation, Abigail' s keeness and
voracious reading created a highly in-
telligent and inquisitive female.
During their fifty-four year marriage,
Abigail and John Adams had five children,
two daughters (one who died in infancy)
and three sons. Both parents shared
in the rearing of their children which
was quite remarkable in the eigtteenth
century.
Less than a month before her husband! s
inauguration as president, ‘Abigail showed
that she retained her revolutionary
ideals and a sharp sense of how to deve-
lop them amid compromising prejudices.
She had sent a black servant boy, who
was kept in her house as an apprentice
with white servants, to the local primary
school. Neighbors objected, and Abigail
stood up in the face of justice and equal
ity saying that her servant's blackness _
- should be no barrier to education since
he had as much right and need to earn a
- living as any white person.
efforts have been routinely dismissea. the blatant ‘pression of any group, Mrs.
Adams upheld the basic Puritan principle
that each should be allowed to become
Offended at
he or she is capable of being. She
believed that the principles of the Ame-
rican Revolution held for all people.
There was no room for discrimination or
slavery. |
New England had a small circle of wo-
men, profoundly interested in political
matters, and not withou t influence over
the men of their families and other lea-
ders of the nation. In reading the let-
ters and statements of these women, one
overlooks their limited formal education
when one notices the frequent literary
Abigail Adams, having read
influential Colonel John Quincy, daugh- — F .
ter of the Reverend William Smith, wife ‘Shakespeare, Collins, Dryden, Pope, Gold
*
of a signer of the Declaration of the _ fey polar omega s Common
Independence, and mother of the premier ——’ a -
In spite of her wide reading, Mrs.
diplomat of the first seventy years of
our national history. If women ad “Adams' advice to her daughter held a
been allowed an equal place in public strong domestic tone. She believed that
order and regulation of the household
saong the greateot of the "founding and assistance to the husband were the
parents." One observer noted that the first duties of a wife. And in the edu-
cation of women, one must remember that :
Ad famil thou h it had been in
co aie Worl cee the 1630's, never ‘no man had ever prospered without the
cooperation of his wife.
Se caer Abigail enjoyed writing political news
1764 to her many friends and discussing nat-
Be ol ional concerns. In her letters to John
(a ee
‘ :
‘vants to the male population. —
"Remember the Ladies" continued
Adams her political background and wis-
dom is evident. As early as December
1773, she suggested civil war as the |
probable outcome of American difficul-
ties. In November 1775 she was urging
separation fron England and later specu-
lating on the type of government to be
adopted in case of separarion. She fa-
vored a republic. :
Her remarks on the legal status of
women were indicative of her political
concerns.
fied by the part which her husband and
friends © were taking in the affairs of
government. PSE
In her letters to her re and ,
friends, Mrs. Adams expressed the need
to escape from her role as a gentle-
woman, wife, and mother, so as to ful-
fill her desire of furthering her edu-
cation through travel, becoming aquain-
ted with famous people and writers, and
examining human nature of other cultures.
She spoke of wanting to form a ‘rebellion
by the women against the powers men have
over them which treat them only as ser-
“And she
expressed =her desire for women to be —
regarded as equal beings and for the
Poet men have to be used towards the
women's happiness. | ashes =
She stressed the importance of assu-
ming a unique way of life devoid of role
playing. To be a rover in the unexlpored
territory of humanity and the unknown
was her wish. Abigail found satisfac-
tion in making the discordance between
the sexes known to her husband. Her
discontent with the reality of the sub-
servient role of women would have only
been alleviated if she could have raised
the consciousness of more women and men.
She felt that women should be allowed
the same rights as men in voting, poli-
tics, travel abroad and at home. In
continuing her -importunate observations,
Mrs. Adams raised her own consciousness
to the manner and style of other cul-
tures, and she followed closely the pol-
itics at home and abroad. 7
With this bird's eye view into the ©
Colonial period when women were every-
thing but ignored, who was the American
woman? Judging from textbooks, it
appears as if historians saw her as an
inconsequential babe in the woods who
must be kept away from their standards
of academia lest .. she come too near
State (WICOGNYS)
the tempting apple = the asp age
In
wink of nia; the fone ons woman was
@ person who, in a society which de-
fined her «: role thorugh Puritan
constraints and social stereotypes, —
attempted in varied ways” to manifest
her personal identity. Hopefully we
will be able to rediscover the Ameri-
can woman as person and citizen, in
sum, to accept Abigail Adams' advice
oe to “remember the dear an
They were no doubt intensi- e
a by ‘Ellen Deutschman :
Te Baal ee _— —— . ee
EVCC Women's Baskethall
-Hudsen Valley Cemmunity cellege's
nee
ome Wemen's Basketball team will
play a thirteen~game schedule winter.
They are a part. ef Wemen's Junior College
Sperts Organizatien of Central New Yerk
— Date Opponent ” Site Bime
: Tie, Feb. 3 i CC away 6:00
THU. FEB. 5 DELHI AG, TECH = HVCC 6:68
TUE. FEB.1® SIENAC HVCC 6:90
WED. FEB. 11 ADIRONDACK CC —-HVCC S50
SAT, FEB, 1 BERKSHIRE CC ——-HVCC 636
Mens Feb. 16 med Age Teche Away 6:69
* Say Feb. 21 Peis cc _ Away 6:00
TUE. FEB. 24 HERKIMER CC HVCC 6:0
Thue Feb, 26 Regienal Meet Away TBA
ame: Feb. 28 at Menree C6.
sae eee oe se eee
Esskstere Distributien ae
Miners New Times Center, Tlanned Parent~
cee heed, The Store, Unitarian Foek-
stere ¢ SUNYA FBeckstcre, YWCA
Western News (formerly Seven
Arrews) Unitarian Church Reekstore
Tri-Cities Women Genter
4
ss Adveeacy Service
~
: & ws
“i
*. ad
SPEAKOUT is a menwer of COSMEP and
is en file at the Wemen's History
and Research Library Collectien,.
if eee
we es. Se ee
, he -
ag : cor % tee - f:
pe ie hae eee eee se ‘be interested og in Riciost
| Troasurerts: Report Diet, peMmeces i blishment
: % : = ipt : ees 5 2
We uk your stabs Socdeue is: in t 4s ‘your news journal.
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our ‘monthly expenses» We presently have | Me ora st tal Paice | Cheryl: Shenkle,
about $200. 00 on hand, » enough ... a ePieb sha ba ne SNES cba ‘Treasurer —
continue in operation for about 2 more pe idee Nee cee on ihe tee? %
months. — Our s ibseriptions received ot ae eke ace Pe * OK ee we mgt engeat
month Aer. date total only y $17.00 en sae f ras OPE ANE Wes et etna eed
ie January isa bad "month for us as Pats COLD CHILLS : i sp rede =e ih eer
we have initial yearly e kpenses such ee Boe Bi «oases Rea as apie:
as our mailing permit and box rent. We <2 2; From the January issue of For ‘b bes
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service will close us down. Our 1 norma rmal-
_ “Some analysts are skept: cala
average monthly expenses amount to about ine eased disclosure. They think ‘that
$119.00 — Here is a brea eakdowns Seely ay = Fe erg will ma Pa iearspesc for
- Ves ot 2 to
| eae mailing ita $24.00
a | Printing of covers | J 20 200° Z
2 _ Mimeo tosis... ee Es ( Pontlionees, Petite Topekce — they
Stencils & fluid ie
are more” Peon! fs with t t heir panties
s Postage eee (Oe lee: pe 66) ernest EF,
Monsh ta Caitee pledge é ee aad Se. eee oe ae ae ea pis
Office: Supplies Ed ee ee “Fron the Debeuber 13.-Decenber 22
— $40 -00 yearly mailing permit Set Ges 00 with male staffers: to obtain small Z
yearly box rent. . ) "privileges “s
November and December, eee
Give a gift subscription | toa friend or. 2 Essex County,
oy ene i a taper lajority Reports
Ses s A 27 year-old. 1 ex-hero in addict
This doesn't inelude our r $20.00 testified that female pa tients at an
yearly dues to COSMEP (Committee of “upper New York state penece iam tarigs
Small Magazine Bditors and Publishers) , center “felt compelled" ‘to have Sex
oe
ere” 3 rs r = :
Our best month for subsériptions Identified only as as Miss a cee
(and we depend on these to stay in print) woman testified under oath that ig
was only $138.00 and that was in ‘May. facility was a jungle" with drugs, and
1975. We have been averaging abe ut _ liquor widely available, The staff,
$60.00 a month in new subscripti ns avid 4 she se Bite: oe took the bee eae “Once a “
renewals and bookstore sales add another - junk akie bi
$15-20. 00. This average, however, [re
decreased ‘substantially and we have ae ¥ eso ae <
+m til
to use our reserves to ‘continue in
operation. We / received only $41.00 in
age a
subscriptions ‘during the months ef"
ok Investigation
Pear Peas charged at
least t 4 of 12 state eel oestéal. drug .
equate
A peddling. of
: ep sexual ‘relations
We need your help? Be sure to renew betaine | pat nya and etazt.,. The four
your” subscription and do so promptly. 2° centers included _ Raybrook Center in
Z 7
e where Miss X was a patient
as a donation to your group's” library. _ for nine months. In an 3 interview,
- Be sure to notify us when you move. — 7 " 3 Robert iisedperg.” assistant director of
Speakout is not forwardable | and we. must - -Raybrook, der ied the allegations. Hien
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you know of a bookstore that doesn't male st affers offered patients eae
carry Speakout but. might with» me little ee. to residents of nearby towns.
persuasion, let us knows Better sti, Sah pd eatin oa Sie
take some copies over yourself if it is and een ‘ie ‘aia pe R biaass
a bookstore in your neighborhood. magazine recently received two first
Speakout still prints ads and they: bring _ place awards and one honorable mentio
ding communication in the
in revenue. Send your ad to us. Let for outstar
us know if there a8 a. 2 place tha 3 might area of women *s rights in ‘the ‘anneal,
ig Aa aa , cee Clarion Award sponsored by Women in Comm-
| unication. sabes ne
3 it i? : ee * ‘ i ve : ’
P > Hen eet . ar
a5
—e ry 9 al ei |
ei 2 C22 Sees ee wire
~ Ps >. o itt oS 11 re ioe ; ee gts aes
GROUF NEWS ele er ee ;
52 of Es ay eLet.: ee >. taining AY approval of — national
Albany Area NOW asPisrt: ae _ BRA.. ws For fufther information| con-
294 310% peaee., Barbara. at Ae -5764.
Regular meetings ar hee ; — oa Sa ot bit Le 5 mn Lae: Lae 0
second wednesday of ev sry month > sa pa! r State Legislative Forun ~~
7:30 in the women's Center. All_ . . .
" agislative Forum meets
women are welcome. ‘wo to} ics which | ss
will be discussed during the next r ‘ue Beets morning f£ rol 1 9-AMA
meeting are the sastern Regional © tl ‘O- noon during the mont 1s of Fek.
NOW Conference and a week-end poets. and repes Speakers from the State
ing. The conference will | be held government present issues which are
march 20 and 21 in Hartford, Conn. pert ent during the legislative
The week-end meeting will ‘take place session.The organization p uts out
during the last week-end of | Feb.; pi clip sheet which is) dist: ibuted af-
it will be on Long Island. Anyone ter. each meeting ane ate the end of
interested, please call Eileen ‘Kellythe | te in-week session ‘of meetings.
at 438-5237. ze a ; -” Individual as well as group member
The group announces. that ax isships are accepted. oh ie menibership
now headed by a coordinating “com fee is $6.00 anc¢ e clip : shes
mittee rather than by a president © subscription is. $5. Gh IxS" 38
as part of an attempt at new ways” 36 This year the eiret. meeting
of organizing. Albany Area NOW is. x b Wa2%- be on. Feb. = at Thancellor' s
lso presently working on improving — Hall. ( (all | meetings are held in
public relations end on making the Chancellor's Hall.) | The ‘speaker
community more aWare of the orga- ia will be Gov. Carey who will present
nizations existence. ‘Anyone interes his pro: jections for 1976. A lun-
ted in helping with this. project, -cheon will be held at Jack's Res-
please call Barbara Brandes at 463- -taurant: after 1x the > regular meeting.
7774. oS. eS As) Beginning of: luncheon: 12:153
Z An Assertiveness Training ses- speaker: “Andrew Ste in; topic:
sion, sponsored by ilbany .. ow, will “Honesty “in | Government .' Sisk
be offered by the Women's Develop- — rd . migk Ts
ment Service at the wom men's Center ALE Dany
on Feb. 6,7, and8. For further in- Vo
formation, contact Je an Calahan .
at 482- 7704, i i863 See 3 LOR eii Gi
Reem Sexuality Conference will buses ones OO:
be held on April 3 and 4. ‘there ie at SUNYA, ‘the perry: ar “st Rose,
Still time to become involv ved in the and the» ‘United Nations Association
planning. et interestec wm ‘epemaetg calls cosponsoring_ a ¢ reat Decisions
Diane Herrera at 489-8051. Forum: from 12:15 toi: 30pm in the
Maryluise Satterfield (456-13 libr. ary lounge of the College of
27) is looking for anyone who is in-St. Ro se. 3. “Subsequent | sessions will
terestedin doing research and gather be held every Wednesday. wt Each
ing information cn bz attered women, session will _feature a speaker ww
If you can help, please call ner with discussions following. -Sand-
A Task Force on Education is _ whiches — “coffee will be avai-" '
we
‘<
now being formed. ite goal is to lable. Fe a ee eet
increase community awareness about — “unit: meet ings will 1 be held aS
the needs and desires of women in as ‘fol lows: | 3S EOS
this area and to pursue non- sexist - mes Paci unit--Feb. a. ,
education. this task force will Qs 30 am to 525003 topic: her pro
work on material directly pobeGen gram and action |
with Title sine. For further info 4 +t) Albany ‘unit--Feb. oe 8: OOpm;
contact Sue Larsen at 286-0496. _topicr ‘Local program and action.
W woSeGisscf Tl4 hice Sthietem unit--Feb. 12, 9:30
Coalition for ERA ae Beene ae SS tea same topic. ©
Bs fue - cs ee |
‘ é
‘Colonie morning unit-— Feb..
This group is still alive seal 10, 9:30 | am. f Sowers” Se
functioning. ja of is working on main- ‘a. ¥ xe im Fe ; Fae ; 7: ab 1S
sine 9 a 7 in #
Ae eee oe ’ ae
Group news continued ...
os 4:8 © 8. ¢ 6 28
follow.
Colonie evening un it-- Feb.
ew 8: COpm.
To find out location of unit meet-
ings, contact League off ie 489-5685
Feb. 5 there will be two ses-
sions of the beginning workshop on
the UN. One will be held at 92:30
am in the Hamilton Union Presbyte-
rian Churc on western Ave. in Guil-
derland. An identical evening ses-
sion will be at 7: :30pm at the NatiO
nal Commercial Bank on the corner >
of Western Ave. and Tryon in Albany
opposite the Western ave: entrance
to SUNYA.
Schenectady Now _
The next regular meeting will
be Feb. 25 at 8:00pm in the Schenec
tady YWCA. All are welcome.
Task forces have been set up
on education and on employment and
are open to all interested persons.
; A party will be held for men-
bers on Feb. 11 to celebrate Susan
B. Anthony's birthday. If interes-
ted, please call? Ann Booth at
399-5790.
Tri-Citi Women's Center
Ageneral assembly meeting is
not being planned for February, be-
cause plans are being Made for a
gala surprise the first Monday in
March.
The steering committee meet-
ings on Mondays at 8:00pm are open
to all women with ideas for the
center.
$3325.
for the Capital District.
This meeting will be a le
gislative luncheon; the cost is ©
For reservations, please
Call Mrs. Sansone at 482-8426.
Albany Rape Crisis Center
On Sunday, Feb.lthere will
be a general meeting at the Rape
Crisis Center office from 7: aren
to 9:30 pin.
On Tuesday, February 1% a
Task Force project meeting will be
held at the Center's office at 7:30
wat 4 information about the
Center's services, please call the
office during the day at 445-7547
or Nancy Dudley, chairperson, at
489-8261.
Rensselaer —— League of Women
Voters ©
The group's next regular
meeting is February 5, at 9:30,am
in the Cavalry United Methodist
Church on Old Loudon Rd. in Latham.
Faul Marsh and Linda Bryant from
the Capital District Regional Plan-
ning Commission will speak about
coastal zone management and how it
will affect Rensselaer County/
At the end of the month,
two meetings will be held to: ‘'pre-
sent and discuss new health plans
Repre-
sentatives from the Capital Area
Community Health Plan, Inc. and
froi the task force set up by the
National Health Plannung, Resources
and Development Act. The location
of both meetings is still not de-
Work parties have been changed finite, so please contact the
to Sundays; there is still need for
help on building partitions. For
times,
at 489-1605 (évenings) or 474-5615
(days).
American Association of Universit
Women _
Senator Nolan will Speak at
the group's next meeting which will
be held in the Polish Community Cen
ter at 1:00pm on Feb. 21.
tor will speak on whatever issue is
Currently "hot" in the legislature.
A cuestion and answer period will
please call Carol Anne Modena
League office at273-0552 for more
information. _
Women's Political Caucus
The Caucus will have its
next meet ing Feb.17 at 7:30pm in &
the First Presbyterian Church. ‘Siew
The agenda will include alections
at State conventions, presidential
elections, affirmative action for
political parties, and lobbying.
The sena- All interested women are welcome.
‘ \G
, id
More Group News.. .. a
The Women's Counseling Collecti:
The wCcC is now opened and
staffed Monday. Wednesday, and )
Thursday evenings from 6-9 pm, and
Tuesday afternoons from 12-3pm.
It is located within the Women's
Center at 3 Lodge St. (imailing ad-_
Os te S = , ae 4 - ' Pt .
a i a re ee
dress--PO Box 406 Albany, 42201)...
and can be reached for information
Or an appointment at 462-6730:
The Women's Prison Pro ject
formed five months ago as an out-
growth cf a work-release program
being coordinated by local women
for women incarcerated at the &4lba-
ny County Jail, For information Pp
please contact Paula. Corey at 434-
3526 or Diane Mriah | at 434- 0153.
If you have any iaopaavicn
that you want placed in the Group
News, please, please, please...
contact Tania Durbak at 482-4252.
34,34 SA SA SE Pe ea se See DESL OL
-—-— oe —_——— a Sa
i ay
oS *
Serer sy Zs aN ON rh ar ae hr, era her Deri
A Woman's Place, Athol, New York
12810 phone (518) 623-9541
January 30-Februaryl ~ Cross
Country Skiing: Learn waxing and
skiing techniques from an exper-
ienced skiier, and use the beau-
tiful mountain trails surround-
ing A Woman's Palce. Biginers w.
welcome. Bring your own egipment.
February 6-8 Photograhy. Techn=
ical and artistic aspects of pice
ture taking and developing.
February 13-15 Self Defense
Demonstrations and workshops in
self defence, with emphasis on
effective, easily apeter street
techniques.
February 20-22 Collectivity
The A Woman's Place Collective
would like to share their experi-
ences with others involved in or
interested in living and/or wor-
king collectively.
February 27-29 Sexuality
Getting in touch with our sexual
selves; exploring and feeling com.
ee ;
q
®
fortable with how we express our-
selves: sexuallye .
March 5- “7 Jateinn Mothers
An opportunity for Lespians: to
share their. experiences and dis=
cuss their special problems in
Gbits raising.
ROM THE WOMEN'S CENTER PROGRAM
COMMITTEE ts
“Save Tuesday. nights for a ser-
ee of exciting women's events.
A women's Prison Project was “Beginning with Carole Freedman =
we Wontt Play Second Fiddle Any
More" = a discussion of women and
» REST a
3 : ee ae. 4 -
Shore aes. See SEL Mog e BRON.
Ce SEES Go te Sor oe 5 Oe Ste
> re ’ & aaa i
MUSIC BY VOMEN FOR WOMEN
“Look for information next month
- about a concert series of music
by women composers. presented by
women PEA ING Ss
March 27 = ®april 10 - May 15
For information, call Carole
Friedman at The Arts Center
438-7895,
Fe ce es ihe a ‘ gn z.
SA StF ASA Ne gegen Set SESE S434, 9.
BSI Lents (SeTESE Sst Sees (EIST
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- Dec. ll,
-Washington ~ ‘ 1975
The Senate recently enacted
legislation authorizing a Nation-
al Conference on Women to be held
no later than December 1976. The
Senate sponsor of the Women's
Conference bill which is now
Public Law 94-167 is Birch aan
- from Indiana.
YWCA 3% SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
Congratulations to the
“Schenectady YWCA for their new
direction. We're proud of their
initiation of the new . Assertive-
ness Training and Consciousness
Raising Programs.
CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY -- SEE GROUP NEWS — FOR DETAILS
General meeting Albany Rape Crisis Cente 7:30, Center's office
NYState Legislative Forum, Chancellor's Hall, 10-12 noon.
Legislative Forum luncheon, 12:15pm, Jack's Restaurant, Albany
5 Albany County League of Women Voters workshop on UN, 9;30am at”
Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church, Guilderland, and at 7:30pm
at National Coniercial Bank, Western and Tryon, Albany
Rensselaer County League of women Voters meeting, 9:30am, Calvary
United Methodist Church, Latham
6-8 AlbanyNOW, Assertiveness Training sessions, evening, Women's Cen.
10- NY State Legislative Forum, Chancellor's Hall, 10am to 12 noon.
11 Albany Co. League of Women Voters, Great Decisions Forum, 12:15pm,
St. Rose College library lounge.
League unit meetings Guilderland--9:30; Albany--8 piu
Albany NOW meeting, Women's Center, 7:30pm.
Schenectady NOW party for members
iz Albany Cir, League of Women Voters unit meetings: Bethlehem-9:36 am;
Colonie, evening --8pm
17 Albany Rape Crisis Center, Task Force project meeting, 7;30-9:30pm,
Center office
NY State Legislative Forum, Chancellor's Hall; 10-12noon
18 Albany Co. LWV;, Great Decisions Forum, 12:15, St. Rose College
19 Women's Political Caucusmeeting, First Presbyterian Church, 7:30pm
21 American Ass'n. of University Women, meeting, Polish Community
Center, 1:00pm.
23- Renss. Co. LWV meeting, 7:30 pm
24 NY State Legislative Forum, Chancellor's Hall, 10-12 noon
25 Schenectady NOW regular meeting, 8:00pm, ;Schenectady YWCA
Renss. Co. LWV meeting, 7:30pm
Albany Co. LWV Great Decisions Forum, 12:15pm, College of St. Rose
28-29 Albany NOW week-end meeting, Long Island
Wr
Every Tuesday, 8:00pm, Women's Center--SPEAKOUT meetings
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A FemInIisr Journal
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MAR CH 41276
‘ y*
ar aed
Att, Saar
We hold these elie Lo besslt it
that all _ peop a
~~
\. “S ve é>.~ een 7 y rf aa eee ae ae 3 , a 4 |
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a
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: ‘ a ; bo ; : ie :
¥. Y ‘# arr O_@, ' e lle : 4 ‘ an Z : i a
-
Cc FCHILLINGE
SPEAKOUT; A FUNINIST JOURNAL
Vol. V No. 3 March 1976
Table of Contents
1-2 Shining Star -- Ellen Deutschman
2 "Tuesday" -- Poem by Lyn Lifshin
~
3-4 The Experience of the Women of the American Revolution <= ....0).;
° Shirley Phillips
5 “oman Writes of Loving" -- Poem by Lynda Rhodes
6-7 label and Alexander -- Carolyn Dissosway
8-9 From A Feminist Librarian -- Christine Root
9 YUCA Program on Employment Discrimination -- Gloria Freed
10-11 Dear Sisters in Albany -- Saralinda Grimes
12 Yomen*s Lobby Day -- Carolyn Dissosway
12 llore on the Wives of Rapists
i liusic by Women for Women -- Carole Friedman
14 Calendar
15-17 Group Nets
Cover design by Carolyn Schillinger
Workers for this issue: Rezsin Adams, Jan Barbuto, Carolyn Dissosway,
Cheryl Shenkle, Christine Root, Gloria Freed,
ilaxine Gootzeit
Group News by Tania. Durbak
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year. Single
copies are 35¢ and are available at local bookstores:
Albany - New Times Center, Planned Parenthood, Seven
Arrous Bookstore, The Store, SUNYA Bookstore,
Unitarian Church Bookstore, YWCA, Tri-Cities
Vomen's Center
Schenectady - Family and iJomen's Advocacy Service, YICA
Advertising is 310.00 per quarter page, 318.00 per half page, and $30.00
per whole page.
SPEAKOUT is a member of COSIIEP (Committee of Small Magazine Editors and
Publishers. )
SPEAKOUT
P. 0. Box 6165
Albany, New York 12206
as ~. »ghining Star |
In Light of Self-Actualization
For an ex-political science ma-=
jor, being a billing clerk in the
Industrial Sypply Firm in the
South End of Albany is not too ex-=
citinge Especially for an active
woman like Joyce Chupka who was a
Virginia State Delegate to the
Democratic National Convention
campaigning for George McGovern.
Joyce was born in 1948 in North
Babylon in Suffolk County. She
was married in 1970 to psychiatric
social worker John Chupka and is
the mother of a three year old
daughter, Jamie. She has attended
Suffolk Community College, Farm-
ingdale, Northern Virginia Commu-
nity College, and anticipates en-
tering into a contract with Empire
State College within the next year
to finish her degree.
Now Joyce works for the Student
Association of the State Univer-~
sity of New York (SASU), a student
lobby group in the SUNY system,
where she started in September
1974 as a legislative secretary,
then became Associate Legislative
Director with Ray Glass, and is
presently the co-Legislative Dir-
ector with Joel Packer,
"It took us years of pain for
SASU to be recognized in the Leg-
islature and the legislatars now
call us for our positions," says
Joyce. "We want to remain a via~
ble source of information repre-
senting students." SASU is a re-
sourceful, refreshing, student-
oriented lobby group which joins
forces now and then with students
from City University of New York
(CUNY). CUNY comes from a very
different social setting than SUNY
and their politics are more vocal,
Together they form a complimentary
relationship. SASU lobbies and
has expertise, and CUNY can mobi-~
lize at short notice and vocally
gain more attention. Both groups
feel that students are getting the
"Short end of the stick" in the
budget proposals. They stand to-
gether for more numbers and with
different qualities that help stu.
dents more. "As we stand united
we can apply pressure from within
and without the organizations,"
Previously an active member of
the Albany Women's Political Cau.
-cus, Joyce is now president of the
Greenway Estates Neighborhood As~
sociation, a group which gets
together to plan community activi-
ties, secures necessary items for
the neighborheod, and fosters come
munity spirit. They are located
on the Albany Municipal Golf
Course. Joyce was also involved
in the Coalition for the ERA which
was tied in with the Leaque of Woe
men Voters where she is a non=ac-#
tive member. Her daughter goes to
Pierce Hall Day Care Center which
is funded by SUNY Albany.
The biggest problem with the
Feminist Movement locally and nae
tionally according to Joyce Chupka
is its total. lack of direction and
its failings to reach lower income
bracket women and men. "There are
sO many women around whose con-
sciousness has been raised and
they don't do anything with it."
Jovce feels that it's "time for a
humanist approach, attacking the
problems of society. The issue*.-
is the social mores and looking at
them without threatening those
people who choose to live certain
lifestyles." She feels that the
issues should be simplified so
that each individual could recog-=
nize his or her own potential.
"People have to begin to feel
the pain without satisfaction, for
example, women who feel stress at
50 when their children leave home
and are realizing that's all there
is to their lives, for them to
change their lifestyles. Male
psychiatrists can't predict solu-
tionse" Joyce's opinion about the
failure of the movement is that
there is a lack of acrossethee
board consciousness raisinge
There have been no changes. She
says that women aren't considered
as part of an operating base and
they lose their need for achieves
ment; women's reactions to any-
thing are ignored.
After SASU Joyce wants to cone
tinue her education, write, and
pursue different theories. She
wants to appeal to a broad base
of people through her writing, to
women who voted against the ERA.
Shining Star continued
Joyce Chupka has always been
a feminist, but when she was youne
ger, she was faced with a lack of
identification with other child-
rene She's emerged without that
anger, "but everyone must go
through the pain to face selfere-
alization,"
She feels that there is never
an emphasis on liking other wo-
men because women are taught to
distrust each other; young women
never have the same relationships
to each other that young men have.
The good points of the feminist
movement, according to Joyce,
is to be able to form relationship
with other women, to be able to
watch each other grow. "We!11 gain
Strength through support of other
women and in our relationships
to men. Men can be feminists,
If they respect women as indivie
duals, then we can respect them."
Ellen Deutschman
o 8 . &: SS
ALBANY COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
ANNOUNCES
AN OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR
WELFARE INVESTIGATOR
To Be Held: Saturday, April 10, 1976
applicants will be notified
of the time and place.
Applications Must be received by March
10, 1976
Salary Range is between $8671 and 9213 yr
Duties of the position are conducting
investigations relating to the discovery
and prevention of fraud in the granting
of relief by the Dept. of Social Services;
and doing related work as required.
Minimum qualifications are «. high school
diploma or a high school equivalency
diploma prior to the examination and one
year of full time paid experience in
investigative work.
Note: One year of satisfactory study
in a regionally accredited or New York
State registered college or university
may be substituted for the required
experience,
Scope of the Examination: There will be
a written test to cover knowledge,
skills and/or abilities in such areas as:
. .-
investigative techniques, evaluating
information and evidence, understanding
and interpreting written material and
preparation of written material.
The examination is open to residents of
New York State who meet the minimum
qualifications by the date of examination.
Candidates who are successful in this
examination and who meet the minimun
qualifications, will have their names
placed on the eligible list in the order
of final scores, The names of qualified
candidates will remain on the elizible
list for one year.
Applications and a copy of this announce-
ment may be secured at the Office of the
Commission, Room 412, Albany County Court
House, Albany, New York 12207.
% HK % XH
%*% * KH
KEE HH
TUESDAY
new peach and plum
leaves. paint the
bedroom blue paint
the lawyers call
under, who cares
if it's Rosalyn L
or Lyn Diane on
the (don't let
those photographs
come to the top
don't let what's
buried you think
it's down under
but then there's
an arm a leg
Poem by Lyn Lifshin
Niskayuna
New York
The Expedience of the Women Of The
American Revolution
In my research of the w:men who
supported the cause of the American
Revolution I found that a common
characteristic of all, from Genere
alts wovesbonded servanta, was
their espedience. They seized ev-=-
ery opportunity to do what had to
be done and used whatever resour=
ces were available to them to fur-
ther the cause of freedom. It was
the women's convictionthat turned
the tide of the American Revolution.
By their aggressive patriotism,
they encouraged the men to resist
the tyranny of Britain.
A typical example of the times
was Mrs. Rachel Martin, who when
questioned by British soldiers on
how many sons she had fighting in
the American Revolution, replied
"sevene" "You have enough of them,”
one soldier sneered. "No," she
said, "I wish 1 had fifty."
The women of the American
Revolution used their energies and
talents, each in her own unique
way, to aid the cause of independ-
ence. Martha Washington organized
officer's wives to better direct
their eneraies in raising money for
troops, and in sewing uniforms.
When she was at the army's winter
headquarters she directed the min-
istering to the sick. She taught
the women to be examples of courage
to their mene
Benjamin Franklyn's d-ughter,
Sarah Bache, organized the col-
lection .of money for the troops.
The money was used to buy material
for twenty-two hundred shirts that
the women sewed for the destitute
soldiers.
Mercy Warren used her literary
talents to write plays espousing
the cause of freedom. Her plays
influenced public opinion in favor
of the Revolution. She and
Abigail Adams, through their core
respondence, were instrumental in
forming the Committee of Correse
pondence which were a group of
women engaged in writing letters
to each other in which they ex-
changed ideas, news, and encourag-=
ement. There were no daily news-
papers and only a few weeklies;
consequently, the importance of
Committees of Correspondence, in
drawingtogether the thinking peo-
ple of the Colonies, cannot be
estimated.
Another group of women, under
tle leadership of Prudence Wright,
organized a home guard. On their
one recorded expedition, they
dressed in men's clothes and cap=
tured a British Captain to obtain
important dispatches he carriede
Armed with home-made weapons, they
used the element of surprise to
capture him and his aides. There
are many other documented accounts
of women who placed themselves in
peril to intercept messages, or
to bring messages to the Contin-=
ental Armye
Then there are the brave deeds
of Mary Ludwig Hays (Moll Pitcher)
who actually went to the thirsty
soldiers who gave her her nicke
name. When her husband was wound-
ed she took his gun, as there was n
no one to serve it, and she stayed
with it throughout the afternoon.
Another example was Margaret
Cochran Corbin who took over her
husband's gun when he was killed
and served it until she was
wounded. Both of these brave
women received government pensions
for their services to their coun-
try.
Deborah Sampson had no husband
or sons to send off to war so she
went herself. She, disguised as
aman, enlisted and served in the
Continental Army for two years
under the name of Robert Shurtliff
When she was wounded her identity
was discovered by a doctor and
she was given an honorabe dis-
charge by General Washington.
These examples of the length
women would go to aid the cause
of freedom are documented in
history books. The records of
most of the heroic Revolutionary
women cannot be found in history
books. These are the deeds of
the average woman of the Reve
Olutionary War, who kissed her
husband goodbye, dried her tears,
and turned to the duties of the
farm or business her patriot
husband left behind. She was
entrusted with the protection of
her husband's property and child-
ren. It is a credit to women's
ee eee
resourcefulness, that they not .
only endured and survived the war
that had entered their lives, but
that they also helped others less
fortunate to survive.
Such a woman was Mary Draper.
Her house was always a home for
the destitute. After sending her
husband and sixteensyear-old son
off to the fighting she spent the
whole next day baking bread for the
men who would be traveling past
her home on their way to war.
the roadside she erected a long
form with bread and cheese placed
on it, and replenished when nec-
essary. On the morning after the
battle of Lexington, one hundred
men stopped for breakfast. They
had marched all night. Mary Draper
although unprepared, with the help
of one female assistant and a hired
man, made Indian pudding for them
all.
It was undoubtedly this communal
sharing that contributed to the
women's ability to survive.
The women who lived in British
occupied towns did everything
they could to defy the British.
Their's was not a passive resise
tance. They blew up stores of
powder to prevent the British from
using the powder, spied on the
British to obtain information, and
even Killed British soldiers when
these soldiers intended ‘to harm
patriot families, 3
During all this intense activity
women were also making all articles
of clothing at home with materials
they grew ontheir husband's land,
While the men talked and protested
the women formed clubs in which
they’ pledged to buy only articles
made and food grown in «merica.
These "Consumer's Leagues" caused
a falling off in British trade.
The making of goods avi home marked
the beginning of manufacturing in
America. Again t ese expedient
women realized the power they
held as consumers, and the harm
they could inflict on the British
trade by producing goods at home,
Who had prepared these women to
take their places alongside ti.eir
men in the fight for independ-
By
ence? In Harry Green's Pioneer
' Mothers, he credits the influence
of the pioneer environment in
fostering the spirit of indepen-~
dence in the men and women who
settled the new worls. In this
virgin land, individuals had to
rely on their own resourcefullness.
ingenuity, and courage, or they
did not survive. In learning to
Survive they developed a quality
of independent thinking that was
passed on from mothers and fathers
todaughters and sons. Freedom
was in the air they breathed and
it was the subject discussed in
the homes. Opinions were formed
long before hostilities broke out.
There was no question where
Revolutionary women stood. Alth~
ough their names are unknown to
us, “.toter deus “live.-on in the
winning of the war for indepen-
dence and establishing the United
States of #America.
Shirley Phillips
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Seshst Stiest
Through the Looking Glass
A Gynergenetic Experience
LSS
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A Gathering on PF oe Spiritualiy
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Bert 3c 5¢ eke oo TOIT wd
100 Arlington Street
Boston, Mass. . )
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Send check to « J
Pomegrante Productions
P.0.« Box 75e0
Watertown, Mass. 02172
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Deadline - Adit (st 1976
ee ee ee
NOMAN «RITES OF LOVING
Jwoman writes of loving.
Of loving woman knows.
It is not frivolous.
It is a taking in
of men
of children
of roses
of giving what is rarest in a self away
of spending tine on.tenderness
that will not be returned
of time ;
of tenderness
of loving.
It is not frivolous,
It is a making open
of a self
for other to enter
for confort
for pain
for relief,
It is a wanting
of giving
of touching
of being touched,
dhile all the while
life goes on
just like anyone's,
joman does this.
of this woman knows
of this woman writes,
It is not frivolous.
Lynda Rhodes
October 75
Mabel and Alexander
In 1973 American Tel & Tel Co,
Signed a consent decree in which
they agreed to a plan to correct
existing discrimination and
future discrimination on the
basis of national origin and sex,
The representatives of the comp=
any denied the complaints, a com~
mon attitude among companies ace
cused of discrimination. AT&T
claimed that Rk% of the 1400 top
managerial positions were held by
women. About half of their 95
thousand employees were women.
‘The women were in the low paying
jobs. They didn't try to get man-
agerial or crafts jobs because
they Knew they wouldn't get them.
The consent decree included an
agreement to give fifteen million
dollars in back pay to the first
10,000 women and minority persons
who might have been given better
jobs had they asked for them and
had jobs been given without bias.
N .O.W. called it "chickenfeed,"
a fraction of what was owed to
women. “here was no provision for
pregnancy disability. The Commune
ications Workers of American pro-#
tested because there were no
deadlines established for compli-~
ance and because the decree inter-
fered with their right to bargain
for employees. The operators ob-~
jected because there was no prow
vision to improve their working
conditions.
In 1974, and 1975 AT&T. was in
court again. It had failed to
comply with the terms of the con-
sent decree.
March tenth is the one hundredth
anniversary of the first telephone
call, between Alexander Graham
Bell and Thomas Watson. The suc-
cess of their experiment excited
them, they began to ii.prove upon
the model they had made. Their
experiments were financed by some
wealthy families from Boston and
Cambridge. Among them were the
Hubbards.
Mr. Bell was poor. He supported
himself by teaching “visible
speech." Visible speech was a
System of written symbols which
represented sotnds, .Mr Bell's
father had developed it, when his
sons were boys they helped him
prevent
teach it. Visible speech was
used to help stutterers improve
their speech and to teach deaf
and hard of hearing people to
speak. Mabel Hubbard was one of
Professor Seli's pupils at Boston
University. She had lost her
hearing when she was young, just
when she had begun to talk. Her
family and a teacher had trained
her to read lips and to speak,
She was young, beautiful, intel-
ligent, popular, and wealthy.
Mre Bell fell in love with her,
He was poor, ten years older than
she, and sick from overwork. He
looked older than his twentysix
years.
Mr. Hubbard advised, the urged,
Mr. Bell to patent his invention
before someone else patented a
Similar one. Mr. Watson and Mr.
Bell wanted to improve it first.
Bell also wanted to take out an
English patent first. He was
trying to make arrangements to do
SOe Mabel insisted upon the
patent. Bell was too busye Fore
tunately Mr. Hubbard took out the
patent for Mr. Bell, only hours
before another inventor tried to
have a similar machine patented,
There was to be a centenial
exposition at Philadelphia in
June. The Hubbards wanted the
telephone entered in the scient#
ific exhibits. Mr. Bell delayed.
He hated the hot weather, he was
busy, his deaf pupils were pree
paring for thier final (oral and
public) examinations. He believed
he had an obligation to them.
The telephone was still not re-
liable, if it failed at the exe
position it would be embarasse
ingeds “The time to enter it in the
science exhibit passed. Entries
for the education exhibit could
Still be made. Mabel Hubbard
believed there was an educational
value to the telephone. Phe ine
sisted it »e entered. "Alec"
agreed. But Bell refused to go
to Philadelphia to explain the
machine. Mabel insisted that it
would not be understood without
him. He wanted to marry her,
She made his going to Philadelphia
a condition.for their marriage.
Mabel & Alexander cont.
He continued to argue... She took
advantage of her deafness. "I'm
not lookingt" she told him, "I
dontt see a word you say." He
went.
Philadelphia was so hot the
judges were talking about stop»
ping before they finished, before
they got to the telephones. One
of the judges was Dom Pedro,
Emperor of Brazil. He had once
talked to Mr Bell, in Boston,
about the teaching of the deaf.
Dom Pedro recognized him. He
insisted upon trying the machine.
It worked, better than it had
before and over a longer distance.
The other: judges, had=to try {It
too, it worked for them. The
telephone won the prize. Money
from the telephone patent and
from improvements on the original
design and from lectures and
demonstrations of the telephone
made Bell rich and famous,
Alec and Mabel bought a summer
home at Baddeck, Nova Scotia,
away from the humidity and heat
of th¢eir Washington; D.C. home.
There Alec built a laboratory
where he could continue his
experiments. He brought qualified
men there to experiment with
flight. Mabel provided the money
to finance their Aerial Experimen
ments Association. She helped
with some of their experiments
and participated in their dis~
cussions. She was probably the
first woman to sponsor such re-
search.
With Alec's help and support
she encouraged the women of
Baddeck to form the first women's
club in Canada, to discuss cure
rent events, to learn to speak in
public, and to make improvements
in the village. She helped them
establish a sewing school and
to, market: their: products’ in
Montreal. She turned up the hems
of her skirts and dressed the ir
three daughters in the more suite
able and comfortable clothing
worn by bo:se She arranged for
Montessori schools for her grand-
children and other children at
Baddeck and in W,shington. She
Shared in the discussions of the
Aerial Experiment Association and
helped with some of the experi-~
ments. So did their friend Helen
KeLlerea
The development of telephone
companies opened jobs to mene
1878 the first woman eperator,
Emma Nutt, was hired. Soon most
of the operators were women.
These women were so greatful for
their jobs they came to Baddeck
to catch a glimps of the inventor,
from a distance. When he saw
them he invited them to the labore
atory and explained his work to
theme
It seems tragic that the compa
nies which prcfit so much from
the inventions of Dr. Bell have
policies so contrary to his
beliefs. Carolyn Dissosway
In
ALLA Se se ALAA “
THE Hest WES 3
Workers Cempensatien Bill Passed
The presence of women in the labor
force would be officially acknowledged
for the first time under a bill passed
by the Assembly (New York State) “and now
pending in the Senate Labor Committee,
Fhe bill, introduced by Assenbly~
person Seymour Posner and Senator Karen
Burstein, changes the name of the state
agency that administers the law.
"This-bill recognizes that a large
portion of the workforce consists of
women, said Posner, Current labor law
incorrectly use the male pronoun for.
words whith aétually represent both
sexes." Implementation of the bill will
not cost the state a cent,
Fhis bill died last year in the
Senate after padsing in the Assembly.
Posner urges women to call or write to
theig Senators, particularly those on
the Senate Labor Committee, to ensure
Senate passage this year, ,
The Knickerbocker News wrote a downer
editorial on the bill , Letters te the
ecitor expressing opposition to the
Editorial appeared in the Knick News on
. February 5, 1976,
WOMEN are WORKERS... cece
7
=~ . : _ having the librarians to tea,"
From a Feminist Librarian Speakout sends its latest copy and
Disarpointment Department, Albany flyers with leve.
Public Library's five Sundays in
February series on City Living Women's Histery Research Center, Inc
did not include any women among 2325 Oak Street b708
its speakers en any sf the five ie eh California 947
pregrams. Speakers included an . (415u 548-1770
attorney, Mertgage officer, archi-
tect, interior designer, tenants Wemen's Histery micrefilms are
associatien efficer and a available,
nutritionist, Women and Health/ental Health
(14 reels of micrefilm) $436.00
From Law Talk a unique record of the health care
(Lawyer's Co-operative Publishing system. Alaneda Ceunty Library
Co. Vol3, No, 3 Love Bug. ) considered the collectien sc vital
to public library users that they
A "bug" attached by a husband to applied tr Revenue Sharing fer
his home phone made possible Women's History Library to micro-
recordings of his wife's talks with film it, Wormn and Heath is
her lever, Ohio Ceurt of Cemmon flable for use at Hudsen Cem-
Pleas held the recerding admissable bes vier College Library,
in a diverce action, The ceurt
held that as no public efficial act Vemen and Law (40 reels) covers
was involved and the place remained general law, politics (Peacemakers,
within the marital home of the Politicians, Suffragists), Employ-
parties, the wire tap @id net ment, Educatinal, Sex bias public
violate the Omnibus Crima Control schocls, Sesame Street Protest,
Act, state wiretap Statues, nok AAWW, Rape, Prison, Prostitutiecn,
right-of-privacy protection «2 the Black, Third World Wemen. $1,282,50
Ohie and federal constitutiens, . Part of the collection is available
Beaver v Beaber 322NE 2nd 910, at Hudsen Valley Community Library,
TPOY, ey.
me kabrarians are Coming to Tea!
You are cordially invited ta join Herstory is a comprehensive record
them, Send books ASAP to Junita of ideas and events of the Women's
and Douglass Turner, Prairie Fast Movement. (23 reels) ($648, with
Press and Cellar Press respective- reel guides) This collection is
ly. The Turners are helding a available for use at SUNY's main
workshop with Central New York library, 14009 Washington, Albany.
Librarians in order to promote Microfilm collections may be pur-
library exposure for small press chased through Tina Stableferd,
literature. Amsll presses are Research Publicetions, 12 Lunar Dr,
asked to) send 1) a capy of each Woodbridge, Conn. 06525
title in print 2)literature
regarding titles, the press, works- Libraries are no longer just boeks
in-progress, 30recemmendations Lonking for records by, fer er
and 4)reports of personal experienceabout women? Gemini Hall Recerds,
with librarians that m.y be of _ 808 West End Avenue, N.Y.NY 10025
value to us all, & has just released a stere 2 recerd
ad set, Women's Werk centainingthree
As a librarian and a small press centuries cf works by 18 European
person, I can't wait to read the women. Composers whe lived frem
comments on number four! .. 1857 te the present, The music
ranges from piano vecals and pa&ane
Juanita writes "We will anxiously Soles to various cembinatiens
await your parcels, and anticipate ,invelving veice Strings, piane and
delicious hours learning more about’ harpsicerd, A hy page booklet,
you, your creative presses, and containing biographical notes and
becoming as conversant as possible tex##translations is enclesed with
with your literature prier to % the albun. Gemini Hall Reccrds
$10.75 plus atate & local taxes,
Maxine Hall, violinist and member
of the Vieux-Tengs String Quartet
has formed a record companu
(Gemini Records) in order to give
exposure to noted women composers
of classical music. Good Luck!
Speakout readers are encouraged to
contact their public, school and
college libraries and let them know
the materials they would like to
see added to library collections.
Readers might just find “The little
ole lady in tennis shoes" to be
a right-on with it librarian/
feminist,
Peacé,
Christine Root
REG HEH RHR x HER HR
YJCA's prograii on
Employment Discrimination
lionday evening, February 9th at
7:30 p.m. the Y/CA held a suall
discussion group with Georgia Gray
coordinator of N.O.'/. in the Albany
area,
_ the topic discussed was job
discrimination against women. Some
firms may ask applicants very per-
Sonal questions. In order for
women applicants to deterinine
Whether or not they have been dis-
criminated against they should in-
vestigate the pattern of hov the
personnel hire and fire it's ene
ployee's. However, sowe applicants
may not be chosen due to their own
pwrsonality or perhaps the bad
economic situation of the time,
Though civil service workers are
known to move up with their bosses
it is virtually impossible to deal.
with big corporations like ord and
AT&T. These firms have acquired
a reputation that they pay women
only minimum wages and rarely —
promote women to better jobs.
agency, EEOC (qual En ployment
Opportunity Commission),
7
SE ae peg ae SOR Se
omen professionals should not
be discouraged and waste their
potential brain power. The YCA
is planning to offer an assertive-
ness training course, the object
of this program being to gain
women's confidence and change their
traditional views on passivity.
Many times women are asked to
do menial chores such as emptying
ash trays or making coffee. These
chores should not be exnected of
secretaries, and this assertiveness
course may advise wouien how to deal
with such a problen.
’ :
throgen ee 01 oo 0 Soe bk sh8ula
work together and support one
another on an issue. In addition,
when applying for a job, to avoid
any problems, women should try to
seek fair and unbiased companies.
The Y.:CA is trying to expand
prograns within the community.
If you have suggestions for any
programs to be held in the Albany
area, YiJCA Wotild apprétiaté hearing
from you. Call Robin Gerber Albany
YCA, 449-7184.
Gloria Freed
eH 4 oe de
HHH HRS HHH KES
SECOND INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF
WOMEN'S FILMS
Will take place in New York City from
September 13~26th, 1976, Like the lst
festival held in 1972, the festival
is designed to spotlight the talents
of an increasing number of highly
creative women filmakers. The forth—
coming Festival will premiere new works
by well-known women directors and will
introduce many new women filmmakers,
Festival Directors, Kristina
Nordstrom and Leah Laiman, are encourag~
ing women throughout the world to submit
their films for possible inclusion in
the Festival program. Films will be
selected on the basis of artistic merit
by a committee of women filmmakers,
critics and film programmers, Films
must be received by March 6th, 1976,
Information and entry forms are avail—
able by contacting:Womens Film’ Festival;
36 West 62nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10023
Dear Speakout,
I do hope you will publish my letter
for support from women who read your
paper. Many women wonder what has hap~
pened to me, for I have lost touch with
many, If there are women who are
interested in writing me, donating money,
finding out more information, and/or
interested in joining the therapeutic
community, they can reach me at the
above address, I have included our
pamphlet in hopes there might be room
to publish it along with my letter.
I hope things are still surviving
at Speakout,
Love and Sisterhood,
Saralinda Grimes
Elizabeth Stone House
128 Minden Street
Jamaica Plain, Ma. 02130
Dear Sisters in Albany,
It has been almost a year since I
have left Albany, yet it seems longer
than that for I have gone through many
ehanges. This letter is very frustrating
to write because I want to say so many
things. It all started when I had
reached the point where I was too fruste
rated to deal with this oppressive
patriarchal system any longer, I took
all the pills I could get my hands on,
which included a bottle of Librium,
Valium, and Darvon. I ended up in F2
at the Albany Medical Center for two
weeks, I can't tell you what happened
there because I can't remember much due
to the “medication therapy" they gave
me. But I do want to tell you about my
struggle to survive through six months
of being locked up in McLeans Hospital
in Belmont, Mass. and close to one month
of being in Hudson River State Hospital
in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
I want to tell you «pout my efforts
to validate my real feelings of anger
and desperation, of the oppression the
society has placed on me, being a deaf
eighteen year old, Native American
Lesbian Feminist, .
I want to tell you how my feelings
were turned around and put back on me
as being "paranoid", "inappropriate"
"overeacting" -—- assumptions which in
turn have made me feel isolated, alone
and crazy. 1O
I want to tell you what happened
when I tried to fight this system.
The times I was carried off to seclusion
(which is usually called the "quiet
room" because in order to get out, one
has to show they are calm: or in other
words that they have been silented) by
thirteen men, shot up with 200 mgs, of
Thorazine, locked into an usually over-
heated or underheated room with one bare
mattress, four walls covered with holes
and chipped paint, a dented steel
security screen covering the window ad
a door with no doorknob, But there was
a little window which was used bv staff
members to peer through to check on me.
in order to make sure I hadn't managed
someway to kill myself to escape the
torture,
I want to tell you about the other
women I saw become institutionalized
and slowly destroyed, How they were
constantly being sent back to the envir—
onment that sent them to the hospital
in the first place, That is if they
were ever discharged. The women in
thes? hospitals were constantly told it
was their fault and their problem that
they ended up where they were and that
they must compromise.
I want to tell you about how I
became "institutionalized."" I laid out
in the left lane of route 128 in Mass,
the night my hospital insurance ran out
and McLeans planned on keeping me until
they could find some "after-care program"
that didn't cost me at least five huridred
dollars a month, meanwhile charging my
parents five thousand dollars a month.
I was sent to Hudson River State
Hospital as a result. I ran away after
three weeks,
I want to tell you about trying
to make it on my own after spending five
intense months in mental hospitals,
How I found very little support because
I had to hide my feelings. Beople
couldn't handle my feelings, which
weren't all that much different than
before I first entered the hospitals,
People were uncomfortable with me and
_ my feelings because I had just gotten
out of being in mental institutions,
I found myself more isolated than ever.
I felt so incompetent by this time,
The combination of the lack of support
I was getting and all the incorporated
fears of myself I had gotten from the
previous five months caused me to end up
in McLeans again for another two monthse
Dear Sisters in Albany, cont'd,
There was no other place to go and
McLeans is supposed to be one of the
best hospitals in the country. I want
to tell you of my determination to
leave this world of oppression, How I
then ended up in Maxium Security.
I want to tell you of a staff member
who saved my life. A woman who gave
me back my strength and courage to keep
fighting, by recognizing my feelings
and experiences as being very real,
She not only introduced me to the
Elizabeth Stone House, but to other
Lesbian—Feminists living in the Boston
area. She gave me the in that prevented
me from having to experience the pain
new women usually have when trying to
be accepted by other leading Lesbian-
Feminists, JI watched her lose her job
as a competent psychiatric nurse because
she helped me to learn the psychiatric
system to use it against itself, so I
could get out without being destroyed.
She was the only woman within that
systen who felt I and other women in
McLeans were important enough to take
a courageous, active part in freeing us
from that patriarchal institution in
risk to her job,
I was eventually kicked out of
McLeans because I kept on insisting on
working with a feminist therapist and
living in a truely women centered
community, The Elizabeth Stone House
was/is the only place in the nation
that I know of that is a woman
centered community for women out of
hospitals who are in need of a supportive
environment, McLeens would not allow
me to go visit the Elizabeth Stone House
until someone from the hospital visited
it first and "approved"it.. I was not
permitted to go to the Cambridge Womens
Genter in hopes to meet other women
who were women—identified--omen for
support, Three and a half long weeks af
my insurance was wasted because no one
ever did go "approve" the Elizabeth
Stone House in hopes I would compromise,
I want to tell you how much stronger
I am now that I am living with a family
of women. There are only six beds in
the therapeutic community at the
Elizabeth Stone House and that there
are SO many women in need of a woman
centered community, You are needed to
join my fight to keep women from being
destroyed by the now existing
\\
patriarchal psychiatric system. We
musn't allow our sisters to be destroyed
any longer}
Love and Courage,
Saralinda Grimes
P, S. I could go into more details
but I would first have to find someone
willing to publish a book, It's hard
enough to find someone to support us,
locked in hospitals because our tales
are outrageous and people have trouble
believing a madwoman!
He HM
Elizabeth Stone House opened July 15th
1974 through the collective efforts of
former mental patients, para-professional
professional and interested women.
The House started as a project of the
Cambridge Women's Center and is still an
affiliate program. The preliminary work
for the house began in the Winter of 5
1973 and was known as the "Mental Freedom
Project." In March of 1974, a conference
was held in the Boston area to discuss
the major problems and suggest alter~
natives for women in emotional difficulty.
The Elizabeth Stone House was a direct
result of that conference. a
The therapeutic community program
of the Elizabeth Stone House established
a residential environment for women who
feel the need of a more supportive living
environment without the restrictions of
a half-way house program. There is no
staff/resident distinction in the
therapeutic community program since it
is a self-help oriented project with
a "peer-counseling" emphasis. We are
attempting to create an atmosphere of
support and care so that each woman
takes equal responsibility for her needs
and those of the other residents,
Elizabeth Stone House is a
non-profit, tax exempt program of the
Women's Educational Center, Inc.
(Cambridge. ) Each resident of the
therapeutic community pays for their
room and board as they would most anywhere
else they lived ($120/month average. )
The money to operate the Refuge Center
comes from grants and private contribut—
ions since the nature of the Refuge
Center requires primarily free services.
All donations are tax deductable, It
is money well spent since our operating
costs are less than ONE TENTH of
institutional and quasi-institutional
programs.
Women's Lobby Day
Women's Lobby Day is March 2,1976 disadvantage.
The Lobby is a coalition of eleven
Statewide organizations dedicated
to achieving the legal, social,
economic and political equality of
women through legislative action.
This year the Women's Lobby has
presented a ten point "\"omen's
Bill of Rights." There-goals are
not new. They are essential to
the welfare of the people of New
Yorke
I) The Right to Equal Treatment
under the Law
Il) The Rights of Pregnant
Women.to temporary disability
benefits and health insurence
coverage of pregnancy and related
conditions
Ill) The Rights of Homemakers.
When the talent, intelligence, and
creativity of managing a home are
granted the dignity and respect
they deserve woren will have an
improved staius in society, here
should: ‘betrecogni't bom wofrt the
value of the work women do in the
home in determining the compen-=
Sation awarded injured household
workers by insurence companies,
Also needed is establishment of a
model center to provide counseling
health, and job=training services
for widdows and divorced persons.
IV The Right To Child Cares: To
permit both parents to work and
so keep the working poor employed
rather than recipients of welfare,
V The Right To qual Opportunity
Regardless of Sexual Preference.
Vi The Right To Equal Pensions
and Annuities
VL1L~ fhe. Right: To-Educatiional
Equality. Public Schools are not
now within the jurisdiction of
the Human Rights Law,
VIII The Rights of Older Womens
58% of persons over tre age of
65 are women. Of all persons who
live alone are womeneece
IX The. Right. to Legal Equality In
Marriage: Marriage has tradition-
ally created a differentiation in
functions between the partners in
marriage, The woman who remains
in the home, maintaining it as
her contribution to the marriage
is unDdaid and so economically
unequal. Shared ownership of
property would help to correct
\d
Support laws, where
they exist, are not enforced, they
should be,
X The Rights Of Rape Victims:
Rape victims are uncounted, une»
known, frightened, and silenced.
Adequate treatment and counselling
services are needed for the vice
tims of brutality.
Lobbiests will meet March @ at
11 am in the Assembly Lounge on
the third floor of the Capital
Building. More information may
be obtained by calling Judy
Graham at 438-5237,
Teele Siete ENTE EE
More on the Wives of RapistSeee:
The January issue of Speakout
carried a review of an article
by Thomas B. Garrett and Richard
Wright. The authors were offered
space to respond. The following
is the letter sent by Richard
Wrights
Tom Garrett and I have
discussed at length your
criticisms of our article
"The Wives of Rapists and
Incest Offenders." We are
concerned with advancing
Knowledge in this area and
are open to input from any
source. Each of us brings
a perspective to our research
ara it Is often dirriturt
to transcend this perspec~=
tive. We are both quite sen-
sitive to the charge that
we're "sexist" or that we
hold "traditional" views
about women. The hypotheses
which underlay our research
were derived from what we
reg rded as prevailing view
in U.S. society,not neces-
sarily a personal bias.
Further, in no way did we
mean to imply that men could
blame their wives for their
actions.
Presently, I am planning a
study of professional women
(R.N.S and M.S.W.S primarily)
who have fallen love with
incarcerated sex offenders
and subsequently married
them. (In many cases the
women gave up their fammi-e
lies and jobs). continued Pp: \3
cn ——C—C‘stiCC™C‘C‘sétééeéeéeéeéeéeée.......6ew_ wae
\\ Music By Women By Women
oy
Whatever its shortcommings, the
' International Women's Year gave
« legitimacy to and helped obtain
''finantial support for many pro-
, jects focused on the aspect of
(women's lives and history. One
(| Such beneficiary has been Music By
\,Women By Women, a series of three
concerts of the music of women
composers, to be given by women
) performers, Funded by the New
York State Council on the Arts,
; the concerts will be presented
‘March 27, April 10, and May 15 at
\ The Arts Center, 1069 New Scot»
, land Road, Albany, 438-7895,
Subscriptions are $6.00,
| The series deals implicitly with
the tensions between art and poli-
tics. It will include many
"firsts," some of them musical,
several of a political natures
} (1) The finst time.a none ,
feminist community institution,
other than the university, has
committed its resources to a pro=
gram of this nature,
_, (2). The first time anywhere in
the country that -a communityarts
institution with public support
has focused on women's music,
(3) The first time the Tri-Cities
feminist community has been asked
to support an artistic event of
‘this magnitude
(4) The first time this area will
hear music by: Anna Mme Lis, Lili
Boulanger, Francesca Caccini, Clara
Schumann, Isabella de'Medici,
Bonnee Hoy, and Grazyna Bacewiez,
‘among others,
(5) The first time that the
talents of the many women perform-
ers in this community will be set
off in a showcase as such,
(6) The first times theeesor’ us
who are musicians and feminists
will be able to put together those
two identities.
This series will be a celebrae
tion, a challenge, and an explora~
tion of new territory.
And over and beyond the politics
(a radical voice just to my left
tells me there is ho over and be-~
yond), this is an Opportunity to
hear fine performances of good
music.
eg oe
’
f
t
i
Come to the first concert for the Ur Nice Center, MARCH 29 1976
ntl ae
politics of it all if
but come back to the 2nd and Srd
for the music.
Carolie
Stet I Rit hah
ov
SSeSt
Wives of Rapists response
continued.
Friedman
you wish-=
balan I
This is by no fee a fre»
quent occurrence hut it is
\
quite interesting.\
of theproject should be of
interest not only to resea-=
chers but to hospital and
prison administrators and
therapists,as well. My
Results
sample will be small, (app-
rox. 20 women) and will be
comprised of former employ~
ees of the state mental hos-
prtats <«
I would be very appreci-«
ative if you would provide
me with some possible hypo-
theses.
are somewhat similar to
those put forth in the
"Wives" article.
bases not on a personal ©
belief about women but on
a personal interpretation
My own hypotheses
They are
of our society and its ins»
fluence on individual be~«
havior.
Your comments will
be considered seriously and
incorporated into the pro=
ject.
Thank youe
Sincerely
Richard Wright
9142 Gordon Ave.
La Habra, Ca. 90631
and
University of California
Program in Socail Ecolocy
Irvine, Calif. 92664
WE OE see HK,
Speakout needs you.
first hand experience working on a
feminist paper? Call Chris Root at
4\82m72564
Stapling Party at the
Do you want
CALENDAR FOR MARCH -- SEE GROUP NEWS FOR DETAILS
j
oo 3 w NWN
10
i2
16
Lf
18
20
21
Pa
23
Business meeting Rensselaer County Rape Crisi Center, 7:30pm,
Leonard Hospital, Troy
Karen Burstein speaker at Albany Law School Women's Caucus, 7:30
General Assembly meeting, Mardi Gras party, Tri-City Women's
Center, 8pm.
NY: State Legislative Forum, “HOspitals in Crisis", Chancellor's
Hall,: 10am*to 12 nOOn.
Albany County League of Women Voters, Great Decisions Forum, 12:15
St. Rose College Library
Albany County Rape Crisis Center general meeting and movie pre-
view, 7:30pm, Center's office
International Workingwomen's Day
NY Stete Legislative Forum, “New Approaches for Economic Growth’
Chancellor's Hall, 10-12noon
NY State LWV legislative Conference, Albany
Film "The Red Detachment of Women", Eighth Step Coffeehouse, &pm
NY State LWV legislative conference, Albany
Albany LWV Great Decisions Forum, 12:15-1:30pm, St. Rose library
Film, "The Red Detachment of wWwomen® LC24, SUNYA, 7:30pm
NOW meeting, Ellen Omeara, speaker, Women's Center, 8pm
Women’s Coffeehouse, women's Center, 8:30pm
Film, "The Red Detachment of Women" LC23, SUNYA, 4pm
Albany Rape Crisis Center task force meeting, 7:30pm
NYState Legislative Forum, "“Cooperaticn in Higher Education"
Great Decisions Forum, St Rose College
Albany LWV open general meeting on land use, McKownville methodist
Church, Albany, 8pm
Week-end TA class at Albany YWCAA, Yam-5pm.
Rensselaer County LWV meetings on land use, morni ng and evening,
Troy and East Greenbush
SUNYA Women's Caucus Career Opportunities for University Women
Conference, Ed.335, 4-5pm
NY State Legislative Forum "The Role of the Government in the
NY State Cable TV Industry*
Albany LWV Colonie am unit meeting, %:30
Presentation and discussion of women in China, Eighth Step Coffee
house, 8pm
Great Decisions Forum, St. Rose College
Albany LWVunit meetings, Guilderland 9:30am, albany City 8pm
Albany LWV unit meetings, Bethlehem ©:30am, Colonie evening 8pm
women’s Coffeehouse, Women's Center, #:m
Music for Women by women series, Women's Center
SUNYA Women's Caucus Career Opportunities for women Conference,
Ed 335, 4-5pm -
NY State Legislative Forum, "media Perceptions and their Impact
on Public Judgement"
Albany LWV Great DDecisions Forum, St. Rose College
ca
The Tri-City Women 5 Ceuter 7
needs your support .
B ico besiege ¢
GROUP __NEWS
Tri-City Women's -Center
The surprise promised in the Febru
ary issue is here!!!
Monday, March 1 there will be
a gala Mardi Gras party at the Cen-
ter starting at 8pm. Entertainment
Will be provided by Ruth Pelham
and Suzanne Van Aernum who will al-
so lead a women's sing-along. A
pig pinata will be featured. All
women are invited. Beverages will
be provided, but please bring a des
sert, cheese, or fruit.
Folk dancing is planned for
the April General Assembly. tore
information will be forthcoming in
the next issue of Speakout.
Steering Committee meetings
are held every Monday at 8pm.
These meetings are opem to all wo-
men. Help and new ideas are always
needed and welconed. Share your
ideas with the steering committee.
Come tO a meeting soon.
Work parties are still going
on. Your help is urgently needed.
For information on days and times,
Call Nancy Newhcuse at 271-6259.
A concert series of music by
women composers presented by women
performers starts this month. The
dates are:
March 27 - April 10 - May 15
See the article about this series
elsewhere in this issue. For fur-
ther information, call Carole
Friedman at 438-7895.
Women's Coffeehouse
A Coffeehouse is held in the
Women’s Center every seccnd and
fourth Friday of each month. Alix
Dobkin will perform on March 12.
It is nct yet definite who will
be featured march 26.
All Coffeehouse performances
begin at 8:30pm. Donation is $2.00
or whatever you can afford.
If anyone is interested in
helping or in performing, please
contact Sharon Stonekey at 463-4698
Albany YWCA
A week-end TA class for women
have been submitted.
will be sponsored by the YWCA on
the week-end of March 20 and 21
from 9am to 5pm.The class will be
taught by Martha Walrath and the
cost will be $40.00 for the two
Gays. Call-the Y office for more
information at 449-7184.
A spring program is scheduled
to satrt in April; the brochure
will be sent at request. Call Y
office if interested.
Troy and Cohoes YwWCA
The Winter II Term is now in
session.. Spring registration be-
gins April 5 and lasts one week.
Further inforniation on the Spring
Term will appear beginning with
the April issue.
On Mondays at 9:30 am the
Y has an ongoine Worry Clinic.
The topic for the March 1 session
is telling children about death.
Capital District Chapter of the
Coalition of Labor Union women
The group will be showing a
movie on sex discriiiination in
labor and on women's rights. The
exact date is not yet available.
For information about the movie
and the group itself, contact
Mary Hair at 465-4585 (days).
More information about this
group will appear in next month's
issue,
Coalition of Counties for ERA
Although the group is not
presently involved in any group
project, lobbying is continuing to
some extent. Anyone interested in
doing group or individual lobbying
in favor of keeping the ERA ammend
ment, please contact Barbara
Sabini (477-5610). Several bills
to rescind approval of the ERA
It is impor-
tant to keep these bills from get-
ting to the floor of either house
of the legislature. Forces to res
Cind the ERA are very active and
Organized. It is to our benefit
not to get these bills before the
legislature.
¥D
More Group NEWS owe oC SUV as 0%
NY State Legislative Forum
All meetings are held on Tues
days from 10 ain to noon in Chancel-
lors Hall in the NY State Education
Building. Each meeting features
a speaker who is knowledgeable
about the workings of the State go
vernment. Issues pertinent to the
ongoing legislative session are pre
sented and discussed. Visitors are
welcome at all meetings.
The schedule for March is. as
follows:
March 2 -- “Hospitals in Crisis"
Thomas L. Hawkins, MD (Execu-
tive Vice President and
Administrator Albany Medi-
Cal Center Hospital)
Ralph Hammersley, Jr. (Execu
tive Director, Blue Shield
~O6f Northeastern NY,Inc. )
March 9 -- “New Ajproaches for Eco-
nomic Growth"
Commissioner John S Dyson
(Dept. of Commerce)
March 16 -- "Cooperation in Higher
Education"
Senator Ronald B Stafford
(Chairperson, Higher Edu-
cation Committee)
Mrs. E. Babette Edwards
(Chairperson, Harlem Pa=_
rents' Union, Inc.)
March 23 -- "The Role of the Govern
ment in the NY State Cable
TV Industry"
Robert FF. Kelly (Chairperson
' NYState Commission of
Cable Television)
William D. Kenny (Executive
Director, NY Stae Cable
TV Association)
March 30 -- "Media Perceptions and
their Impact on Public
Judgement"
Peg Breen (Co-producer WHMTI's
"Inside Albany")
Vic Ostrowidzki (Political
Affairs Editor, Albany
Tines Union)
SUNYA Women's Caucus
March 22 and 29, from 4-5pm
in Education Building 335, a con-
\G
= ee ee ee ee
ference will be held on Career
Opportunities for University Women.
Speakers will discuss career plan-
ning and exploration, advisement,
counseling, etc. All women are
welcome.
Albany NOW
The next meeting is scheduled
for 8pm, March 10 at the women's
Center.
ELLEN OMEARA,
Legislative Assistant to
Senator Karen Burstein
will speak about Women and Prisons.
Ms. Olears has inside infor-
mation about the BedfordHills Cor-
rectional Facility which she will
share with the audience.
All women are invited to
this special meeting.
Albany Rape Crisi Center
The next general meeting will
be held March 7, Sunday, at 7:30
in the Center Office. At the
beginning a film will be pre-viewed
"rape Culture." All women are in-
vited to the meeting to view and
discuss this important film.
On March 16 at 7:30pm a
Task Force meeting will be held.
For location and further informa-
tion, call the Center offive at
445-7547.
Help for battered women
NOW and the Albany County
Rape Crisis Center met during the
second week of February to share
their concern for battered women
and the knowledge of what needs to
be cone to help them. The Rape
Crisis Center has handled several
cases and developed some contacts
with Family Court, the police,
Legal Aid, etc. NOW is involved
in research and has made contact
with centers in operation. Joint-
ly we wish to identify the needs
of battered women, develop fun-
ding sources, write proposals, and
identify other agencies that can
help these women.
BENEFIT FOR SUSAN SAXE AND ASSATA SHAKUR
SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1976 at THE TRI-CITY WOMEN'S CENTER
1:30-2:00 PM COFFEE HOUR
2:00-6:00 PM SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE TI-GRACE ATKINS WW,
JUDY PELUSO, JUDY CLARK, ALBANY WOMEN'S
PRIS ON PROJECT , AND ‘THERS FROM NEW YORK
AND BOSTON. THERE WILL BE DISCUSSIONS OF
GRAND JURY ABUSE AND THE TRIALS OF SUSAN
SAXE AND ASSATA SHAKUR.
6:30-8:30 PM DINNER, FOLLOWED BY READING OF SUSAN SAXE'S
ce POETRY.
9:00 PM DANCE
SUGGESTED DONATIONS: AFTERNOON DISCUSSI WS ‘$1. 50, DINNER $1.50,
DANCE $2.00, °R $4.00 FOR THE ENTIRE DAY.
CHILD CARE WILL BE AVAILABLE F°R A MINIMAL CHARGE.
ALL W°MEN WELCOME
SPONSORED BY THE WOMEN'S DEFENSE COMMITTEE
Bry 654. tL. Ore ice
MONDAY, MARCH 1
Unita Blackwell Wright
who went to China with Shirley
MacLaine and appeared in the film
Half the Sky
and who founded, in 1974,
Mississippi Freedom Democratic
Party
will speak on
Black Perspectives on the People's
Republic of China
noon -- 1 pm coffee&tea
Harmanus Bleecker Library
Albany
and
2 Black Commuity Leaders Speak
Unita Blackwell Wright
and
Herbert Hughes
Director of Albany's Parents
Against Drugs |
who went to China in November '75
on US-China Peoples Friendship
Association National Tour for
Community leaders
at Arbor Hill Community Center
Corner of Lark and 2nd St.
at 8 pm
e ° e 2 ° * ° ° s ” sd e e e ° e
MONDAY, MARCH 15
Women's Political Caucus meeting
Guest: Woman Legislator
lst Presbyterian Church
Willett & State Sts. Albany
at 7:30 pm
and
NYS WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS
Annual Convention
"Celebrate the Women of New York
State"
Saturday, March 27 & Sunday, March
in New York City 28
info: 462-3446/ 4343664/ 462-0891
FRIDAY, MARCH 12
To mark the occasion of Interna-
tional Women's Day ....
Vietnam . . . Peace:
Speaker: Sophie Quinn-Judge
who worked in South Vietnam for
American Friends Service Committee
1973 to 1975, having left Saigon
July 28, three months after the
PR G took control.
NOON -- 1:15 coffee & tea
Harmanus Bleecker Library
and
Rice and Tea Supper
6 pm at Grace and Holy Innocents
Parish Hall
corner of Robin &
Clinton Avenue
Albany
Contributions for Friendshipment
gratefully accepted
Sponsored by: Women's Internation-
al League for Peace & Freedom
Info: 465-4653 - 449-1700 -
462-0891
THURSDAY, APRIL 1
Community Forum on New York State
Presidential Primary
Speakers on Republican &
Democratic Statewide Delegate
Selection Process and candidates
from the Bayh, Carter, Harris &
Wallace delegate slates as well
as "uncommitted slates" will speal
at Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
April 1 - 8 pm
Info: 439-2210
And more Group N@WS.... ss «x
Battered Women (cont'd)
We welcome all interested wo-
men to join us in this project.
Please call Maryluise Satterfield
(456-1327) of:NOW or the Rape Crisis
Center (445-7547) for information
on the next meeting.
Rensselaer County Rape Criss Center
This group will have its next
meeting March 1; at 7:30pm at ~.....”
Leonard Hospital in Troy.The meet-
ing is open to all interested women
Albany Law School Woimen's Caucus
Aspeaker will be present at
the next meeting, March 1 at 7:30pm
in a seminar room in Albany Law
School. Karen Burstein will dis-
cuss the position of women in poli-
tics. The meeting is open to all
interested persons.
Women's Internaticnsl League for
Peace and Freedoi
The group will celebrate In-
ternational Workingwomen's Day,
March 8. The exact plans have not
yet been formed, but all interested
persons should call Lig Millard for
more information at 465-4653.
Albany County League of Women
Voters
The Great Decisions Forum, ce
sponsored by the League, the SUNYA
School of Public Affairs, the
College of St. Rose,
Nations Assoc..is continuing every
Wednesday, 12:15-1:30pm at the St.
Rosé Library. Guest sneakers are
featured for each session. Sand-
wiches and coffee are available.
March 18, at 8pin an open ge-
neral meeting is scheduled. The
topic will be land use: speakers
will be present. The meeting will
be at the McKownville Methodist
Church on Western Avenue.
Unit meetings (all on land
use) will be held as follows:
March 23 -- 9:30--Colonie Am unit
\1
March
24--9:30am -~- Guilderland unit
24--8pm---Albany City unit
° 25--9:30-- Bethlehem unit
“ " --8pim--Colonie evening unit
Babysitting will be provided at
all meetings of morning units..
Open active committees are
meeting on land use; NY State legis
lature, election law, the UN, ener
gy, and others. |
For information about loca-
tion of meetings and about commit-
tees, Call Lee Cameron (489-2487)
or the League office 489-5685.
Rensselaer County League of Women
Voters
Two meetings will be held on
State land use study.on March 22.
Amorning weeting will be held in
Troy and an evening one in East
Greenbush. Call 273-0552 for in-
formation on meeting location.
The NY State LWV will hold
a legislative conference in Albany
March 9 and 10. Call the League
office for information (273-0552).
US-China People's Friendship Assoc.
of Albany
"Women in China' will be the
featured theme of two events in
March sponsored by this group.
The first event will be
showings of the Chinese-made ballet
"The Red Detachment of Women," a
two-hour film about a slave girl in
southern China in about 1928 who es
Capes to the hills, joins Communist
guerillas ther, and returns to
help capture her former master.
and the UnitedBallet is combined with spectacular
Chinese acrobatics to make for a
fast-moving story. This film will
be shown at 8pm on Tuesday, March9
at the Eighth Step Coffeehouse, in
the basement of the First Pres-
byterian Church, State and Willet
Sts., Albany; on Wednesday, March
10 at 7:30pm in Lecture Center 24
at SUNYA; and on Friday, March 12,
at 4pm in Lecture Center 23 at
SUNYA.
The second event will be a
presentation and discussion of wo-
men in China by Nancy McNamara and >
Mickey Green. This will be at the
And still more Group NeWS ..eo-e.
China (cont'd. )
! ‘
Eighth Step Coffeehouse on Tuesday;
March 23, at 8pm. There will also
be slides of women in China taken
by one of the speakers.
To make it easier for various
women's groups to get their news
to Speakout. a manila envelope will
be taped to the door of the Women's
Center with the word Speakout on it.
All items placed in that envelope
by around the fifteenth will appear
in the issue for the following
month. rh
If that is inconvenient for
your group, then either mail the
information to Speakout;, PO Box
6165, Albany NY 12206
or
call Tania Durbak at 482-4252.
formation must be received right
around the fifteenth to make it in
the next month's issue.
In-
Subscribe to Speakout
53.50 per year
Send coupon to:
Speakout
P. 0. Box 6165
Albany, N.Y. 12206
Name
Address
and
Gity, State, zip code
If you are planning a change of
address, please notify speakout.
It will not be forwarded, and ite
have to pay for copies that are
returned.(Check appropriate box
when sending in coupon. )
New Sub Change of address
tow ay Renewal.
Don't Forget:
March lst, 8 p.m. Mardi Gras at
the Tri-City Jomen's Center.
eaturing:
Ruth Pelham and Suzanne YVanAernunm
women's sing Along
"Pig" Pinata
fun, Deverages
Bring dessert, fruit or cheese
jiarch 17th -- fund Raiser for Susan
Saxe, plans tentative. Contact the
Iomen's Center for details.
liarch lst at Troy YWCA
Telling Children About Death,
9:30 a.m. 21 wirst Street, Troy, l.Y.
274-7100.
DOW*T BE TOO HARSH WITH THEii
Put all of our congressmen together
and they weigh about 96,000 pounds.
Tt's difficult to get anything that
weighs 48 tons to move quickly!
Bulk Rate
US Postage Faid
Permit 12
Albany, lew York
Eileen Kellv
908 S,
Albany, N.Y.
Pine Ave,
12208
ApA\L, (926
se xViUirn
CONFERENEE
SUN. YH. MHUMOQNIKIES BLDG.
arpRi=L 3.4 ~
OPENING - 104 .M. SAT.
DeESI(CW oy CowrcEe e8e06F
SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vol. V ilo. 4 April 1976
Table of Contents
1-2 The American Woman's Descent by Shirley Phillips
2 other Poem #73 B.H. Kinderknecht
3 Getting Away for a Pew Days Caroline tihitbeck
4 Women's Choice Clinic
5 Yomen's Prison Project
Women Loving tlomen
7-8 From A Feminist Librarian Christine Root
8 lomen Center Party iaxine Krall and Christine Root
9 The ilyth of Happily Ever After Gloria reed
10 Ms. Peak Speaks Her Hind
iA ERA Freedom Train
12 What You Should Expect from Your Gynecologist Gloria Freed
be Women's Sexuality Conference
a Feminism and Electoral Politics Cheryl Shenkle
13-14 Brave oman, Brave Son, Their Indeterminate Sentence C. Dissosway
14 Speakout Went International
15 On tfomen's Sexuality (Adapted from “I'ree Space")
B7- 21 Group News
Workers for this issue: Rezsin Adams, Jan Barbuto, Carolyn Dissosuay, Cheryl
Shenkle, Christine Root, Gloria Freed, Maxine Krall
Gootzeit
Group News by Tania Durbak
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year. Single
copies are 35¢ and are available at local bookstores:
Albany - lew Times Center, Planned Parenthood, Seven Arrows
Bookstore, The Store, SUNYA Bookstore, Unitarian
Church Bookstore, YWCA, Tri-Cities Women's Center
Schenectady - Family and Women's Advocacy Service, YICA
Advertising is $10.00 per quarter page, $18.00 per hald page, and $30.00
for a whole page.
SPEAKOUT
P. O. Box 6165
Albany, New York 12206
OE ae A
The American Woman's Descent
From Patriot to Lady
Few more fundamental questions
have confronted society than
what should be the function of
women in the world. The answers
vary according to the time, the
place, the economic conditions,
the religious and social con-=
victions of the times. This
Statement was as true in the
Revolutionary War period as it is
today. The question to be dise
cussed is whether Revolutionary
women had more opportunities tea
function independently and crea-
tively than nineteenth and twen-
tieth century American aomen.
The attitude of the Old World,
from which the American settlers
came, was that the function of
women was first to please, then
obey, and finally to endure humb-
ly, if not cheerfully. The Reve
Olutionary fathers still held the
opinion of their English foree
fathers that women were not well
enough equipped mentally for high»
er education, to hold the guard-
ianship over their own children,
or their own property, or to
speak in public without shame.
The unfairness and fallacy of
this theory must have been ap «
parent to the men of Revolution=
ary times, but to evade the issue
they held the opinion that the
subordination of women was neces-=
sary for tre sake of family
discipline and good order, and
the wellebeing of society at
large.
The attitude of the women of
that time seems to have been one
of passive acceptance and good-
natured tolerance. Mercy Warren
was not one of tlose women. She
aggressively opposed the theory
that women's intellect was ine
ferior men's. She urged women
not to let their acceptance of
their subordination (for the
sake of order in families) check
the ardor of their efforts to
equal the accomplishments of
males. In one of her many letters
to other women she states "The
deficiency lies not in the in«»
ferior contexture of the female
intellects but is due to the dif~
ference in education. Improved
education,she stated, would train
women to be selfereliant, self
respecting members of society,
capable of deciding and living
for themselves.
She and Abagail Adams in their
Committees of Correspondence urg=
ed. women to educate themselves so
they would be prepared to take
their place in the new republice
Revolutionary women believes that
they would be freed from the Old
World influence on male attitudes
toward women when the country was
freed of British rule. When the
constitution was drafted, Abagail
Adams complained bitterly to her
husband because it did not include
guaranteed rights for women. In
a letter to her husband she asked
him to include in the constitution
legislation that would guarantee
women's rights and would remove:
, the tyrany of male domination in
marriageée Her husband replied,
"I cannot but laugh, depend upon
it, men k sow better than to ree#
peal their masculine systemse"
Nevertheless, in spite of these
existing opinions held by men, the
Circumstances of the Revolution
provided an unequalled period of
independence for women to prove
their resourcefulness and ingens
uitye With the men off to war
the decissions and responsibili-
ties of everyeday living fell to
womene That they were equal to
the taksis documented by the many
activites and enterprises that
they entered into during the Rev»
Olutionary War period.
The reasons for a decline in ope
portunities for the independent
activities of women after the Reve
olution can onlybe speculated.
One reason could have been that
before and during the Revolution
the women were not held in by laws
that were later passed that res»
tricted women from doing many of
the activities that they had done
during the Revolution. It may
be that after the Revolution men
were not ready to admit in writing
to some conditions which they had
tacitly permitted because of the
demands of wartime. Perhaps un#
consciously, they curtailed the
existing privilages of womene
\ continued
Patriot to Lady cont.
Another reason for the decline
in women's opportunities after the
Revolution could have been the
increased wealth of the country.
The beginning of industrialization
hastened the natural growth of
prosperity. It seems to be an un»
written law that as people become
wealthy they desire to multiply
their luxuries. Of all the luxure
ies in the world one of the most
desired is the possession of ~—
"ladies" as a class of women that
would reflect credit on their hus-
bands and fathers in exact pro-
portion to their uselessness,
under pioneer conditions a lady =~
using the word in this restricted
sense=-- would have been very much
out of place. Everyone had to
pull his or her own weight. Con+
sequently, when descendants of
pioneers wished to prove the extent
of their progress from small be«
ginnings, no more better way could
be found than by the possession of
useless and ornamentla women,
Another possible reason was the
different working conditions
brought about by the Industrial
Revolution. At the time of the
American Revolution, factories and
shops were located in the owner's
house or in an attached building.
It was easy to enlist the aid of
the women, ans as the businesses
were usually small, their help was
usually sufficient. In this way
a great manny women received real
vocational training, and practical
business experience. These con»
ditions were changed when business
was conducted on a larger scale,
in a building frequently at a dis-
tance from the house, and with the
aid of many employees. The mother
or daughter could not as easily
combine assistance in the business
with her domestic d ‘ties. Also
the presence of employees who bee
gan to come from a racially dif-
ferent group made such assistance
undesirable.
There was also the growing ree»
cognition of the need for the ac-
ademic preparation to supplement
the apprenticeship method. Since
men were not yet willing to admit
women to higher education, there
was no way for women to acquire
the education and training needed.
This lack of formal training kept
women in their kitchens and out
of the business world for many
yearSe
In the two centuries that fole
lowed the American Revolution,
American women never again had the
opportunity to contribute to the
survival and growth of their
country as they had during the
struggle for independence. Today,
however, the rising cost of living
has forced many women into the
business world nad has diminished
the class of “ladies.” Also,
American women have become increa=
Singly discontented with govern-~
ment without representation and,
as a result, are taking a more
active part in the governing
processe Their growing power may
possibly enable them to bring into
reality the Revolutionary women's
hope of equality under the constie
tution. Revolutionary women are
models of courage and determine
ation for women working today for
this goal of equalitye
Shirley Phillips
SeSe5¢ ae a
er eer aN ay aN er ierly
mother poem #73
just as it has always been said
there isn't enough choice chicken
for every
One
mother will take the back,
MAP tyP eee
and she will say,
"itve always liked backs best
anyway,
you knowe"
Ce He Kinderknecht
Hays, Kansas
a
ee eee
Getting Away For a Few Days
Most of need, and many of us
know that we need, a time and a
place to become reacquainted with t
those parts of ourselves which are
of no immediate use to anyone and o.
of interest to very few. IT is not
easy to obtain, particularly for
those of us who are women. (Even
with a weekend with no overwhelm
ing work demands, even with people
whom our children know and trust
available to care for them, it
isn't easy to find a place, near
enoush, cheap enough and serene
enough, )
Through a friend, I learned of
a unique institution called Chapel
House located on the Colgate
College campus in Hamilton, New
York, It is an endowed center and
perfectly designed for personal
retreats, I should say immediately
that although I am a believer and
a practicing Friend (Quaker), a
religious affiliation is in no
way required of visitors at Chapel
House. It is a very beautiful place
to be with one's self and explore.
The charge, including meals,is
$4.00 per day.
”
Chapel House has a very exten-
sive art sollection which is dis-
played in the simple and elegant
common rooms. works representing
themes and figures in Eastern rel-
igions slightly predominate, The
Music room contains a fine collect-
ion of recordings of religious and
near religious music of all types.
the library has, in addition to the
body of the art collection, a
collection of books on a wide
variety of topics. All rooms are
equipped with good reading chairs,
lights, floor cushions, tables and
desk chairs. Each guest room is
uncluttered and lovely with a view
overlooking a pine forest. Each
has its own bath, There is a small
chapel adjoining the main building
which is outfitted with two private
meditation areas suited to a variet
iety of meditation practices.
There are a number of rules
which seem to be aimed at prevent-
ives the Colgate students from
us:ng Chapel House as inexpensive
heiising for their dates, and in-
String that guests do not intrude 2
upon one another, These are not
enforced in an oppressive way. The
Director is extremely gracious and
helpful,
Reservations may be made by
writing to
CHAPEL HOUSE
Colgate University
Hamilton, New York 13346
or by calling (315) 824-4540
Written and Shared by
Carolyn Whitbeck
1 40 &
HX
<=
KEE %% % HH %HX
New York State
Religious Coalition
for Abortion Rights
3049 Hast Genesee Street
Syracuse, New York 13224
(315) 4h6- 6151
If you live in New York State
and want to find out about freedom
of choice in regard to abortion
contact the NYS RCAR,
"More Christian Than its Critics’
by Father Raymond Decker
Asst. Dean, Loyola University
School of Law
The formed conscience which a
Christian develops is by studying,
praying and meditating upon the
essentials of a Christian life --
evaluating an analyzing the con-
Sistency of abortion with the deep-
ly held principles of a Christian
faith, After struggling, a Christ-
ian takes a stand before God.
father Decker believes that to
use the law and its public force
as a means of compelling others to
agree with our Christian commitment
regarding abortion is against the
very nature of what a Christian
Commitment must be -- a free
response to the Yospel.
"Apparently some Catholics fail
to understand that the Supreme -
Court decision has also protected
their conscience from domination
by the State,?
Rabbi Israel Margolis---
" I say to you... that there is
no agency, religious or political
that is wise enough, or has the
right to point a self-righteous fin-
ger at some poor woman and order
her tg bring an unwanted life into
this Crowded and difficult world,
The following letter was received from Women's Choice Clinic,
1112 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90019
Dear Friends, Most of you know Colleen Wilson, She is currently the
National NOW Task Force Coordinator for the Women and Health Task
Force and the President of the Los Gatos-Saratoga NOW chapter. She
served California NOW for 2 years as its State Task Force Coordinator
of the Reproduction and Its Control Task Force. She was a charter
member of the Harbor-South Bay NOW chapter, and jater served as its
president,
Or perhaps you know Colleen through her work with the Feminist
Women's Health Center in Los &ngeles, which she co-founded. Maybe
Colleen taught you how to examine your own body and recognize danger
signs. Or perhaps she counseled you through an abortion. Or perhaps
she gave you some advice about dealing with that doctor who had been
ignoring your real complaints as mere "female hysteria".
Maybe you don't Bnow Colleen personally at all. But you are angry
that yet another woman is to be martyred because of her pioneering
efforts for feminism,
%
HERE'S THE SITUATION: In September, 1972, Colleen Wilson and Carol
Downer were arrested on trumped-up charges because of their work at
the Feminist Women's Health Center in LA. Colleen pled guilty to a
misdemeanor charge, was fined, and placed on statutory probation for
2 years. With 2 children at home, she felt that she was unable to
expend the time and money necessary for a court battle. Carol, on the
other hand, did fight the charges and was found not guilty.
In June, 1973 Colleen completed her work for a teaching credential
and applied to the state. For the last 2 years the state has dragged
its feet and has not issued the credential. (Among the many excuses
was, incredibly, the statement that the credentialing department had
lost her application.) Finally, about 6 months ago, the state
denied her the application declaring "moral turpitude" as the reason.
Nancy Scott-Ince, an FWHC attorney, appealed the decision, which
went to a hearing panel. The panel confirmed the denied application,
basing its decision on the arrest report rather than on the mis-
demeanor conviction. (Note two things here: 1)supposedly in this
country an arrested person is to be considered innocent until proven |
guilty and 2)that same report was proved substantively erroneous in
several instances at the Downer trial.)
Colleen's appeal has now gone to the state Attorney General's office,
and a hearing will be scheduled within the next few months. How can
you help? Write on, Sister. Address a letter to "To Whom it May
Concern". The letter need not be lengthy, but be sure to include the
following: 1)Who you are (A teacher, a parent of high school
children, a member of NOW-include your office, if any, a business-
woman- use your company letterhead, or whatever else you can think of
thatindicates your standing in your community. 2)How the self-helf
concept of medicine has contributed to better health for you person-
ally, for friends of yours, etc. That you have attended self-help
clinics conducted by Colleen or others at FWHC, and that you cannot
see how work for such clinics could possibly jeopardize Colleen's
professionalism as a teacher, Enclose the letter in an envelope
and address it to: Ms. Colleen Wilson, 140 Wilder Avemue, Los Gatos,
Cae 95030.
In Sisterhood, j
Shelley A, Farber, Director ey
Women's Frison Project
At the present time, the New York
State Legislature has bills proposed
pertaining to laws effecting individuals
serving long term prison sentences.
The Womens' Prison Project urges you to
support these two bills. we have met
prisoners serving long term sentences
and we strongly feel that the regulat-
ions concerning long-termers should be
changed. The present situation does
not allow individuals who have received
long term sentences to be rehabilitated
and return to society; The situation
these people find themselves in is being
"stored" by the state at a cost of
$15,000 a year and great personal hard-
ship and deterioration.
Enclosed are the bills which
we speak of. we strongly urge your
support of these bills. Copies of
the bills may be obtained at the Womens
Center or by calling 434-0153.
SUPPORT BILL 8-760 and #45579-A
(Leave of Absence Bill)
This bill, if passed by the New York
State Legislature, will amend the present
correction law, in relation to definition
of "leave of absence." As the law
presently stands, an inmate must be
within one year of release in order to
be eligible for and benefit by the
present law, unless there is a
possibility of imminent death to a
close relation.
If this proposed bill is passed,
all inmates in the State of New York
regardless of whether they are one
year away from release, or not, would
be permitted ".ledVe of absence."
If you support our belief that
there is no rehabilitation in long term
incarceration, please join us in our
struggle to alleviate the existing
inequities between the short and long
term prisoner. A personal letter
indicating your suppprt for the above
bill would be greatly appreciated.
Write to either or both of the follow-
ing legislators:
Assemblyman,Stanley Fink, Chairman
Assembly Codes Committee
New York State Assembly
Albany, New York 12224
Senator John Dunne
Senate Committee Insurance
New York State Senate
Albany, New York 12224
SUPPORT BILL #S-5036-A and #A-7017-A
This bill, if passed by the New
York State Legislature, will equalize
present disparity in sentencing by
mandating that all prisoners appear
before a Review Board after serving three
years. This does not mean automatic
release, but merely requires. the Board
to look at the situation of the prisoner,
and to determine whether or not it
serves the prisoner's interest and needs
of society for incarceration to continue.
If we believe what is said about
rehabilitation, about correction, one
way to relieve the injustice of the
disparity between sentences would be to
provide for periodic review of persons
serving long terms, a review which could
determine if such persons have made
enough progress toward rehabilitation
to allow something more than long-term
storage,
fe encourage your support of this
bill by sending a letter to one or both
of the following legislatars:
Senator Ralph J. Marino, Chairman
Committee on Crime and Correction
New York State Senate
Albany, New York
Assemblyman Stanley Fink, Chairman
New York State Assembly ~
Albany, lew York 12224
SZ NES? A A SA Ms Se
UCTS IESE SE
PRESS RELCASE -- Assemblyman Posner
Chairman, Assembly Labor Committee
Domestic household workers would
gain collective bargaining rights under
the provisions of a bill approved
Narch 2 by the Assembly Labor Committee.
The bill removes the exemption of
workers in domestic service from the
definition of"employee" in the State
Labor Relations Law. The bill would
extend collective bargaining rights to
domestics employed by individual house-
holds as well as those who work for
contract cleaning firms,
According to Posner, the bill
would change the image of the domestic
worker’"by bringing working conditions
up to acceptable standards, which will
in turn attract more workers to help
fill the employers* demand for labor."
WOMEN LOVING WOMEN
The phrase Women Loving Women
Women's Studies Program, Summer 1976
SUNYA
conveys a positive sense of who we are: 1)Psychological Aspects of Woman's Roles-=
women who devote our energies, intel-
ligence, warmth, sexuality and affection
to each other,
Thanks to the feminist and gay
movements, lesbians are feeling good
about themselves these days. For years
we bought the idea that we're "sick,"
But we're now realizing that there's
‘nothing wrong with us that can't be
cured by eliminating the intolerance of
a hostile society.
Today, women everywhere are explor—
ing their sexuality and examining
pressures (such as enforced heterosex-
uality) which have thus far limited
their choices, Among the thousands,
perhaps millions, of women who have "come
out" are feminists who have made a
conscious political choice, Why?
Because women are more likely to support
each other's equal participation in a
relationship.
Through loving women we have come
to love ourselves and achieve fuller
human expression, In a culture where
men are socialized to dominate us, few
of them can provide the kind of nurtur-
ing we can give each other,
&s women in society, we share a
common experience, and our greater
ability to express emotion gives us a
special sensitixty to each other, There
is also an understanding, self~affirma-
tion and sexual compatibility that comes
from identifying with each other's * 3.:.
bodies.
Another positive aspect is that
we're not inclined to regard each other
as sex-objects. Our love is most often
a combination of intellectual, emotional,
affectional and sexual love, We believe
our relationships come ¢losest to
providing a healthy model for human
relationships.
Prepared for the May 1975
convention of the American
Psychiatric Assn. by the
NATIONAL GAY TASK FORCE
Room 506, 80 Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10011
212 741-1010
&
— ee
Offered by Professor Diane Carter,
Counseling Psychologist from the
University of Iowa, This course (WSS
399) will be given in the three-week ~ -
pre=session from June 7th to June 25th,
from YJaem. to noon and will offer 3 ~
credits. = 7
2)The Rhetoric of the Women's Movement—
Offered by Linda St, Clair of the
Department of Rhetoric and Communica =
tions at SUNYA, This course (RCO 336)
will be given in a 3 week session rufie
ning from June 28th to July 16th from
9:30 ame to 12:20 pm. and will offer
3 credits.
oe
A CIVIL RIGHTS suit against Florida
Correctional Institution, the only
women's prison in the state, has been
filed in the name of Sikes and Hunter
v. Booth, Superintendent, *.;C.I, This
suit is to call attention to the inhun-
ane treatment and discrimination touard
the women in the Florida prison system.
As disgraceful as many of the condit-
ions are in men's prisons, the condit-
ions existing in the women's prison are
considerably worse.
Sikes and Hunter allege the folloting
conditions in the Prison:
1. Cells are unsanitary and inadequate-
ly equipped.
2. Prisoners must eat their meals sit-
ting on mattresses or standing, greatly
contributing to the unsanitary living
conditions,
3. iedical and dental care are seriously
inadequate,
44. Prisoners are allowed to shower
only one per week on the average and
never more than titice.
5. Clean clothing is supplied sporad~
ically and in insufficient quantities.
6, Trisoners were not provided until
quite recently, with pillows, sheets
or pillowcases,
7, Although the doctor has prescribed
a minimum of 30 minutes exercise daily,
prisoners presently receive only 30
minutes per week,
8, There is only one door and no rear
exit to the building, thus constituting
a serious fire hazard.
9. Prisoners are allowed less than 2
hours per month for visitation, and
visiting conditions are extremely
unpleasant,
From A Feminist Librarian
Know Your Rights
In cooperation with Avon Books, ACLU has
prepared a series of paperback hardbooks
dealing with the rights of specific grou-
ps. Books are written in question and
answer format using non-technical lang-
age. (ie not legal mumbo jumbo. )
The Rights of Women $1.50
The Rights of Mental Patients $1.50
The Rights of Students $1.25
The Rights of Teachers $1.25
The Rights of Prisoners $1.25
The Rights of the Poor $1.25
The Rights of Gay People $a
The Rights of Hospital Patients $1.75
Books may be ordered at the above prices
from NYCLU, 84 Fifth Ave, N.Y.,N.Y. 10011
Credit Rights for Women
ACLU says "with the passage of the
Equal Credit Opportunity Law last fall,
women have new rights but may not know
how to use them, and many of the answers
are available in a booklet being distri-
buted free by The First National City
Bank.
The booklet explains how to build a
credit history, what a woman should do
about credit if her marital status chan-
ges, when alimony is considered income,
the problems of joint accounts and debts,
how to qualify for a mortgage, and other
credit problems ®overed by the new law,
For the booklet write to:
"Borrowing Basics for Women"
Public Affairs Dept.
First National City Bank
399 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Women and Health
SUNY College at Old Westbury, Bio-
logical Sciences Program announces pub-
lication of Women and Health: (@naugural
Issue January, 1975) A Bi-Monthly Acade-
mic Journal, 1 year (5 issues) $10.00.
Designed to share research and ideas
on policy, structure and issues in fomen's
health care delivery, women as health
workers, female physiology and the content
of women's medical care, and on women as
health care consumers,
Women and Health
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Old Westbury, New York 11558
ABUSED WOMEN /WIFE BEATING BATTERED WOMEN
and scope of the problemswould warrant.
Social Science Index does“ise "wife
beating"or "abused women" as subject head-~
ings.
women are now writing about the problem,
(cont)
Women in Public Office
Women in Public Office: A Biographi-
cal Directory and Statistical Analysis,
R.R. Bourke Co., N.Y.,N.Y. (1975)$19.95
A recent study by the Center for the.
American Woman and Politics indicates
that women hold fewer than 5% of all the
elected offices in the nation, ya@com-
prise 53% of the voting population. The
reference work aims to bring into focus @
the tangible contribution women are mak-
ing today in ernment and politics.
Of the 13,000 women identified in such
positions as United States Senators,
State Gegislaters, Ptate executives,
governors, judges, mayers and city coun-
cil members: 7,000 biographical profiles
are provided.
Not the kind of book you need to own
but hopefully your local library would
provide access,
' Committee of Small Magazine Editors and
Publishers (COSifEP ] meet in New York
City on April 29, 1976. A Book Fair wil
be coordinated with the conference. :
Small magazine editors and publishers
or (friends of small mag's) are welcome.
I'm sorry to say that I missed the Phil-
adelphia Conference in February due to a
bout with the flu. Coordinator for Apr:
Jacki Eubanks, 650 Remsen Street, #10E.,
Brwoklyn, N.Y., 12201
The Right to Choose
Zero Population Growth has prepared a
pamphlet "The Right to Choose: Facts on
Abortion" which is available from: ZPG,
1345 Connecticut Ave.N.W,, Washington,
D.C. 20036. Single copies are free,
10-499 copies 4¢ each: 500 copies or more
3.5¢ each.
Facts in this pamphlet can be used to
refute statements in several recent lett-
ers to the Editor of Schenectady's news-=
paper, The New Citizen. "According to
the Dept. of HEJ Center for Disease Con-
trol in Atlanta, Georgia early abortions
are ten times safer than childbirth",
; Finding information on wife beatings
is much harder to find than the extent
However, women are beaten and some
(Cont.)
From a Feminist Librarian (Cont) , | | |
The @ntertainment was by Suzanne Van-
Edmiston, Susan "The Wife Beaters" Aernam and Ruth Pelham, Some of the
Woman's Day. March, 1975 p 61+. A good songs that Ruth and Suzanne sang have
article to get women angry enough to do become favorites of the people who
something about the problem. attend the Women's Center events. "Time
Flies", Mother Nature is a Strong Wum-
Levgh, Marie Jackson, "The Wife Beaters"™in", "Collage", "I'm Tired of Fuckers
McCalls. June, 1975 p 37. Fuckin Over Me", and"The Battle Hymn of
Women" were all preformed and joined
Millett, Kate. Sexual Politics in by the audience. Suzanne and Ruth
New York: Moubleday, 1970 pp 24-58 both have a stage presence that was
appreciated by one and all. Bravo.
Nicols, Beverly B. "The Abused Wife
Problem" Social Casework, Jan. 1976 A very short business meeting was hei.
p 27-32 "A well documented article by a Sue Larsen asked for volunteers for the
caseworker with experience in family coun- V@rious committees that run the Women! s
se;omg, " Center. New ideas and new blood are
’ needed desperately. Interested women
White, Laura. "Women Organize to Pro- are invited to attend any Monday night
tect Wives from Abusive Husbands" Steering Committee meeting which starts
Boston Hegald Advertiser, June 22, 1975 at 8pm,
Women who know of additional sources of Another party will be held on April
information or who would like to research th at Spm, It will also combine a me-
the problem of "Battered Women" are urged ing with fun, and it will be called
to contact » Battered Women Project. .pril Foolishness Party. All women are
Please call Mary Luise Satterfield welcome. Come and have a good/great
456=1327 of Albany Area NOW or The Albany time, (Bring a dessert, fruit, cheese,
County Rape Crisis Center 445-7547, or snacks--beverages will be provided.
x *K * *K * *K * 3K * *
In The Struggle, Maxine Dorothy Krall Gootzeit announces
Christine Root that from now on--forever--she will have
the name of Maxine D. Krall.
Peace and Sisterhood from. Voorheesville |
3 . * * oe *- * * * * *K
a a ee ee
The Women's Center Party
On Monday, March ist, there was a party Mere en the Mardi Gras
at the Tri-Cities Women's Center in Al- |
bany that was attended by over 50 women, "Remembereeall of the energy |
The highlight of the evening was a pig generated tenight will be ree
pinata created by Susan Weber Chelius. cycled by the wemens center inte |
Several women took turns trying, with cemmittees" Ruth cheered us en |
various degress of @@pess to break it. with werds and senge But mest |
Unfortunately, the efforts were made by impertantly women cheered each
a broom stick which proved to be a lethal ether eninan evening filled
weapon in the hands of the woman who was with the spirit of sisterheed.
sWinging it. Everybody waited in silence It did seem far the fleeting
while a diagnosis was made by the nurse moments that I spent inside the
in residence and a sigh of relief went up wemens center that Menday night
when it was decided that no broken bones * that the song Wemens time had
were inflicted. After that, good conver- ceme was really true in Albany.
sation and good food was the thing to do. The response to the plea fer
As one woman who does not spend enough help en Center committees will
time in the presence of such good company be the true test. Many thanks te
I must say that this was the best part Suzanne and Ruth and all the
of the evening for me, which in no way wemen who came that night fer
detracts from the entertainment (which the wenderful feeling ef sister
was suberb) and the food (which was del- heod,
icious). (cont) Z Christine Root
ee ee eee
| became pregnant but still de-
The Myth ef cided to go to college to become
"HAPPILY EVER AFTER" a teacher.
Teen aged girls who expect _ The YWCA studies in California
to "g et married and live happily have shoen that most women do not
ever after" are learning some of -see themselves as achievers.
life's realities and how to plan fhings are done for them; and t hey
for them in the YWCA's marriage hpe for Prince Charmings or grand
and career program. job opportunities.
The YWCA of Albany has run
an experimental program at .
Albany High School to prpare
young girls for some of the
realities they wili face later
in their lives.
According to Ann Miller,
invo:ved in the program at Albany
H.S.,"the purpose of this program
is to encourage the girls to think
more realistically about their lives
and to learn about the variety of
possibilities in the job market".
Since’ 3971, the YWCA At
Los Angeles has experimented with
the marriage and career program. T"
The YWCA staff believes that
"most girls still dream of marr
wealthy men, owning beautiful
houses and having many children...
and living happily ever after",
Gleria Freed
ede nete A stery abeut the YWCA
ying marriage and career pregram
appeared in the May issue sf
P Wemen's Day.
I
Unfortunately, most girls
are unaware of the facts that might
very well contradict their dreams.
As many as 60% of wemen work, Despite the sleet storm that
often out of necessity, 45% of the :
: “kept many western iNew Yorkers from
women working earn less than {5,000 + ne Serradin .
: veers In addition, the divorce reaching Albany, about tio hundred
Wsmens Lebhy Day
: 7 ; Women met in Albany on iiarch 2nd to lobby
rate is rising, and many middle for the Women's Bill of Rights of the
class women left alone with childe “ew York omen's Lobby. The Vonen's
het foe tou edi because . - Lobby is a coalition of women fron
° various organigations: Catholics for a
The ofr is “were “4614 "'to “ree Choice, Coalition of Labor onen,
invent a girl an fantasize an Lesbian Yeminist Liberation, ational | 2
ideal 11£¢ for" hee The ania Black eninist Organization, i'0i! lew
give hettceaam aie, ar a ipb ork State, New York Civil Liberties
and various hobhtes: Most’ a; Union, l.Y. Coalition of Gay Organizat-
wk Sh . 9eheS ions, N.Y. Jomen's Political Caucus
had their charactors marrying doce 1.Y. Trade Union Yonen Propréasive
LOPS," + ORYoF & neta had presidents Mousehold Technicians “Homan "e Action
of large companies or any other Daiciciocs aoe
high rank position. aes :
g P Sone legislators were unable to meet
with tt ists sy wv
After the characters hey oe eae ey a |
are developed by the girls they P fee ae ee —_—"
: were discouraging because they told the
a
mel shee eet eee really wonen that there trould be no money for
sapien nO Enem. the characters new programs. There were more hopeful
ciaian ent ards real and there responses to items which won't cost
backgrounds in high school were money. Judy Graham protested the lack
coe aoken sl Bf atpriaes eo eae of concern for the needs of tromen, ‘
what different directions there ean i tems iflstaatlon Se cnr de 1
example, "Marcle ae Het tie disease prevention, rape, we ttored
3 ; a: . rrp
high school sweetheart, but fell in a =e labor, abortion and
love with someone else™, Another ey Bers.
Ms Peak Speaks Her Mind:
M March 2,1976, the NYS Temporzy Com
mmission on Management and Preductivity
in the Public Sector held hearings in
the Legislative Office Building on "Prow
ductivity in the Public Sector," Among
those testifying as Joan Peak,Associate
Statistician (Grade 23), Deparemeent of
Health. Ms. Peak hes been in that
title for over five yezs ad is mong the
top three candidates on two Grade 27
promotional lists ad one Grade 29 list.
Based on the experiences which she
he encountered in being "passed over"
for promotions during the pat two ycare
Ms, Peak mde nineteen recommendations
to the Commission, including:
- Closer surveillace of all ap-
pointments both temporary and
permanent mde from eligible
lists to insure thai the per
son appointed is an the elig-—
ible list and reachab;e by
having one of the top three
scores on the list.
~ ‘endment of the Civil Service
Law so that no one receives
atwo px grade promotion un-
der a52~6 procedure to a
pesition unless he/he has
pssed the examintion for it
ad is eligible for appoint~
ment.
- Notification of each of the
top three cadidates for all
job openings. (In several
instances Ms. Peak was not
even aware that positions
were being filled from
lists on which she ranked
among the first three per—
sons eligible, )
- Explanation of numeric score
and method of grading sub-
jective eral exams which are
almest invariably a part of
the screening process for
upper grade level positions,
~- Opportunity to review an
oral examination with a
consultant (Ms, Peak was
informed by the Department
of Civil Service that she
ceuld bring an oral test
consultant with her to
review an oral examination
if she first ebtained ap~
preval in writing from the
Department of Civil Bersie,
However, she was given enly
>
'
two working days to find such
aconultat ad get her/him approved
with no indication from Civil
Service ef what the qualifications
for an "aprovble" consultant
might be. Consequently Ms, Peak
attended the review alone and
was repeatedly interrupted by
Civil Service personnel with
explanations of the ar~eals
procedure, which could have
been communicated to her prior
to the review. In addition,
she was repeatedly asked to
explain exactly what she was ap=-
peting, ad questioned on her
knowledge of circumstances sure
rounding the existing position
in her department.
Appointment of women to
oral examination boards,
Explanation of Civil Service
Law, written in understand-
able English, and readily
available to all employees
(Ms.- Peak was teld the Civil
Service Law was much too com=
plicated for "someone like
her" to understand, )
~- Routine taping of job interviews.
Such interviews should not con=
stitute additional testing of
qualified candidates: nor should
gestions like "What does your
husbad do?" or "What if your
husband were trasferred?"
- Investigation of all agencies
for compliance with afferma-
tive action madtes, Ms, Peak
proposed auestionaire including
quires such as, "Do you have an
affirmative action officer?"
Full or part time?" Do vou have
8 affirmative action plan? What
accomplishments have been achieved
under the plan? Evaluate the results
Compilation of statistical inform-
= ation on hiring policies over the
past five years -— percent male,
female, minorities, etc.
In concluding her remarks, Ms. Peak
took a well—~deserved shot at the
entire Civil Service System as it is
presently manipulated, It is unden-
iably counterproductive to appoint
and promote persons who fail exams
and absurd to maintain an entire depart
ment to administer a system so that it
may be circumvented,
=aAy FPRIDAR\ NIG + T Mayld
eed Peet Sunday AFTERNOON May Io
WEY YORK TO SPRIWGFIELD TLLINGIS “EEKEND OF MAY 15 "
The Federal ERA will he voted on in Springfield, Illinois this
spring. If Illinois passes the ERA, only three more states will need
to ratify it to make it an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The
Fight of illinois women for the passage of the FRA ts the fight of
New York women. NOW is calling national actions in !1]linois to support
passage. NOW NEW YORK STATE is organizing transportation to Illinois.
All are welcome to join us.
The ERA faces nerhans its bigqest test yet in the pivotal state
of Illinois.(home state of Phyllis Schafley). The Illinois House
has already passed the ERA+--passage is needed in the Senate.
And in the State Senate, 4 legislators hold the balance of power
over the ERA.
Join ERA supporters from all over the nation, who will converge
in Illinois. Plans call for:
Saturday, May 15th: door-to-door canvassing...shopning center
petitioning in key Illinois legislators' home districts by concerned
American citizens...
Sunday, May 1%th---National Rally for Faual Rights in Springfield...
the state capitol of Illinois.
NOW-NEW YORK STATE is organizing mass transportation to Illinois.
Join the ERA FREEDOM TRAIN...a chartered train starting in “ew York
City making stops to pick up FRA supporters in “ew Jersey and Penn-
Sylvania. Croup fares for roundtrip transportation will be approx-
imately $75.99. Dining cars will be on the train: there is a possibil-
ity that we can sleep on the train Saturday night. Illinois sisters
are working on setting up a Tent City.
BRING YOUR GUITAR, YOUR FEMINIST BANNERS, AND COME ALONG!
Se LS GD OE ae: SY ES See Se ema a a Mane A eee eee ae ee ee iES ab Ww eN Gh enies Gites axinIGl ablar-el Scie Gia eS Sle See
Clip and mail to Clarice Barbara Pollock. 1225 Midland Avenue.
Rronxville, “ew York 19798. (9144327-7159)
NAME seat eet WOME __
ADDRESS _ seats tr _ __71P -
/_/ \ would like more information on the I]linois mobilization.
/ / 1 would like to help organize for the Illinois mobilization.
Z Z/Enclosed is my $19.99 deposit nonrefundable.to ERA Freedom Train
For information call Fileen Kelly 438-5237 9% S$. Pine Ave Albany
I |
Women's Sexuality Conference
WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM
YOUR GYNOCOLOGI ST April 384, 1976 A coalition of
community women has organized a
On Monday night, February woments sexuality conference to be
esrd, the YWCA sponsored a meet- hejdq April 3 & $ at the SUNY
ing at the Bank at Albany. Albany campus (Humanities building)
Dr. Margret Craven, a resident
; All women are encouraged to attend,
at Albany medical college, spoke The conference begins at 10 AM
about gynecological exams and. Saturday morning. Child care is
patients rights. : available at the university and
; transportation to the university
Dr. Craven pointed out |
-- &will be available for anyone who
that most women are the patients needs it (pickup is at 9:30 am at
and most gQynocologists are men. the Women's Center).
Even though male doctors have The Saturday morning program
no way of knowing how much Phys=" will be a "speakout™ on the culte
ical pain women may suffer,
: ural myths about women's sexuality
she believes that "most male doce ang a disanbeben of how sexuality
; i m ‘ - °
tors are realistic and concerned *has become a devisive issue in the
women's movement. It is the hope
of the conference organizers that
all women: in the community would
_come to discuss these important
issues, and that the conference
would help to breakdown some of
the barriers that may exist between
Women should be certain women. . y
that their gynocologists suit their Theo remainder of the conference
needs. Dr. Craven mentioned that wii1 be devoted to smallgroup dis-
women who move into new neighbor= guyussions of a variety of aspects
hoods, may receive recommendations of women's sexuality:monogamy,
i: are oe Simply phoning a jealousy and romantic loves women
ocal hospital and speaking to as sex objects; liberating masture
a resident or nurse. bation& orgasm,teenage women;
Coming out; intemacy,friendship &
sensuality; Contraception; libere
ating sex education; NOW's alien-
ation of gay people; celibacy;sep-
aratism, sexual abuse; older woe |
men's sexuality; the politics of
lesbianism; overcomming inhibi-
be sure if a sis was removed or tions a utopian concept of sexu~
as much as an entire eae ality; Straight women; creating a
: new sexual identity; collective
to ask questionss In fect, Living: Lesbian sexudlity; becom
expect their doctor to tell them fm euiwecy +
be a herstorical pet i
what was done and the future TisKs women as dae ahecik Aa the lth
involved.
Saturday night at 9pm a women's
Coffeehouse will be held, also ‘at
SUNYA, in the Humanity's Lounge. I
It will be an evening of imrovise
ational theater and musice-
Theresa Troll and Carol.
36534 3343454 Se5t56 RUDRA CORR
On tuesday March 16 the New York
State Senate Health Committee passe
ed a very poor bill1,7@31, which ©
requires parental consert in aberte
12 ion,
Since new doctors require
a lot of practice> to become
good and experiencéd,they may
feel a degree of embarassment
during pelvis exams.
Women should be aware of
their rights as patients, All
patients should know exactly
what Kind of surgery was performed
After surgery some women remain
ignorant about what part of their
body was removed. They may not
Glofia Freed
ae FF
SESS
Feminism and Electoral’ Politics
As election time draws nearer we
feminists are again faced with no
presidential choice. Of the Democratic
candidates, Fred Harris is the only one
who has been a consistent supporter of
feminist and other minority group causes
but he appears to have no chance of
getting the nomination, considering his
poor showing in the primaries. So
we are left with a choice between Carter,
Jackson, Udall and Wallace for the
Democrats and Ford and Reagan for the
Republicans. If you are a Republican
there is no choice. Ford is eliminated
because of his veto of child care legis-
lation and school lunch programs for
being inflationary. Ronald Reagan
would support Ford's vetoes on the above
and he is also against the Supreme
Court decision on abortion and has
supported efforts to enact an anti-
abortion constitutional amendment.
Gerald Ford would also favor restricting
abortion rights as would Carter, Wallace
and Jackson. However, Ford and Carter
say they will support the Supreme
Court decision. Jackson's position is
unclear. Prior to his announced
candidacy he opposed abortion but now
his supporters say he is pro-abortion.
Wallace also would favor an anti-
abortion constitutional amendment.
Somewhat surprising is Carter's
impressive list of feminist supporters
including the Staten Island and
Manhattan NOW presidents. I"m leary of
him not only because of his lack of
experience but he appears to be a wolf
in sheep's clothing and will agree to
anything that would get him elected.
He was pro Vietnam and also a supporter
of Wallace when he was Governor of
Georgia. But has now changed many of
his former positions,
Morris Udall appears to have a good
track record. He was an opponent of the
Vietnam Jar and a supporter of
environmental concerns and of the Supreme
Court decision on abortion. He says
he supports affirmative action and the
ERA (although it has not been ratified
by his home state).
Fred Harris, the one candidate
who should have the support of women,
poor and working class people as well
as blacks and other minorities for his
support of affirmative action, the ERA,
the Supreme Court decision on abortion,
the plight of the Farmworkers as well
i)
as his continued efforts to help the
Indians in his home state, appears to
have no chance of getting the nomination.
The best we feminists can hope for is
Morris Udall and it is doubtful if even
he can beat Gerald Ford in November.
He may not even get the nomination and
we may be forced to choose between Ford
and Carter or Ford and Jackson, which
would be no choice at all. Given
those choices, I might be tempted to
vote for Ford. At least we know what
he will do.
So for those of you who haven't
given up on electoral politics, vote for
the candidate you feel has consistently
supported and will continue to support
feminist and humanist causes and be
leary of candidates who profess one
thing but have a record that says
another. All the candidates will be
trying to secure the feminist vote
with their professed support of feminist
issues but whether or not these
positions endure beyond the platform
debate remains to be seen.
Cheryl Shenkle
HHS HH HM H
Brave iJoman, Brave Son: Their Indeter-
Minate Sentence
"My name is Kenneth Scott. Please
call the police, my mother is in trouble'
a three year old told a neighbor at
about 2:45 a.m. He had just been the
co-victim of a robbery and the witness
to the rape and assault on his mother.
Ms. Scott repeated the story of their
January 8th ordeal at a iMarch 18 press
conference at the Albany County Rape
Crisis Center. Her complaint, the reason
for the press conference, was not
against the police, the hospital to
which she was taken, or even Rensselaer
County District Attorney, Ira Mendleson.
They had all done their job well, they
had done what they are paid to do.
Her complaint is that decisions were
made, without consulting her, which
have made the January 8 events seem
like nothing compared to the suffering
She has been through since that time,
On January 8 her brother came to
help her, Wow because of a decision
in which she had no voice, because of
events she could not control, because
people don't understand the process of
criminal justice, she has lost many of
her friends and lost communication with
her brother and his family.
en
Brave Woman, contd.
The D.A. and the counsel for the
two eighteen year olds who broke into
her apartment entered into plea bar-
gaining. The sentence would be the
same whether one or all five of the
charges against the men were prosecuted.
The two men agreed to plead guilty to
robbery. The sentences will get them
off the streets, prevent them from
committing more crimes. The state, the
taxpayers will be spared the expense
of trials and possible appeals. Ils.
Scott will be spared the humiliation
of the trial. There proved to be a
flaw in the system, .
Because the public doesn't under-
stand plea bargaining, because of
rumors spread about lis. Scott, many of
her friends believe she lied about
the rape. They no longer are her
friends. Because of the plea bargain-
ing and because of threats that his
children will be killed she has lost
the moral support of her brother and
his family. Kenny's life was also
threatened. °
Because of her injuries, she spent
about a month in the hospital and more
than twenty days on crutches, she is
unemployed, on welfare. She wants
to go back to work,
What is needed, she told the
reporters, is a lairyer, paid for by the
state, in addition to the D.A., whose
responsibility will be to represent
the victim of rape. |
hat is also needed is a public
with better understanding of the
criminal justice system, of what plea
bargaining is, how it works, what it
means. By "going public" Ns. Scott
hopes to help future rape victims. |
She feels that she has become the
accused. It seems that she and
Kenny have been, without due process,
given an indeterminate sentence for
having been the victims of a crime.
Carolyn Dissosuay
eee HK
Speakout went International
The June 1975 issue of Speakout
contained an article about ifina
Strokata, Ukrainian microbiologist
imprisoned in Russia because she
refused to testify against her husband.
A copy of the article was sent to
A.A. Zwarum, the person who supplied 4
Ukrainian Press.
_published by Smoloskyp.
He sent it to the
Mr. Zwarum sent Speakout
a copy of an article published in a
the information.
Jersey City paper "Svoboda", a Ukrainian
language paper.
He enclosed a letter:
Dear Is. Dissosway:
I was really excited that news about
Strokata appeared in Speakout. I sent
the article to Smolskyp Information
Service (a Ukrainian News Agency- Human
Rights Organization) and they sent a
synopsis of the article to 70 Ukrainian
newspapers on 4 continents:
N. America,
S. America, Durope and Australia.
iinclosed is the article as it appeared
in Svoboda, the largest Ulrainian
daily in the U.S. (30,000 readership).
The encircled words are "Speakout"and
Carolyn Dissosway, respectively. You
and the journal are now known throughout
the world and I'm afraid, to the KGB.
What price glory!
Enclosed is some material that is
This information
is obtained by them first-hand and is
also available at the UN. As you can
see Strokata is not unique.
Thank you again, Please keep in
touch. A.A. Zwarun
Photographs of five women were enclosed
and some pamphlets about Ukrainian
men and women political prisoners in
the USSR. Nadya Svetlychna, philologist
‘arrested 1972, sentenced to 4 years for
anti-Soviet propaganda and agitation;
Iryna Senyk, poetess and nurse, arrested
1972 same charge, 6 year sentence;
Alla Horska, artist, murdered 1970
by the KGB; Stefaniya Shabatura,
aetist, arrested 1972 same excuse,
sentenced to 5 years; Iryna Stasiu-
Kalynets, writer, arrested ?, trial
July 1972 same charge, 6 year sentence.
ee eH HH HH
PRISON FAMILIES ANONYMOUS, INC. was
established in February, 1974. PIA
is an incorporated, non-profit, self-
help group, whose goal is helping the
families of prisoners and/or former
prisoners,
PFA uorks to keep families intact. ile
come together to share our experiences,
strength, hope, resources, and lend
moral support to each other.
Information may be obtained by writing
to PFA, 134 Jackson Stteet, LI4,
Hempstead, L.I., N.Y. 11550 or by
calling 516-538-6065.
*
On Women's Sexuality (freely adapt- Snuff film snuffed by women in
ed and editorialized from "Free
Space"
Since reproduction can now be
seperated from sex through birth
control (such as it is) sexuality
is focused on the relations be-
tween people of the same or op-
posite sex and between individuals
and their own bodies.
The issue here is not only lib
eration of sexual mores for both
women and men but also the basic
questions of self-image, equality,
and autonomy. So many examples pf
societies free of sexual inhibi-
tions include the reduction of
women to mere objects. This is
certainlytrue in our society (What
does the Sexual Revolution have
to do with women's liberation??)
and of the alternative culture the
hippies tried to evolve in the
1960s.
The enemy is here -- is it only
men? Women must fight to ensure
that we maintain full autonomy in
our relations with men in every
aspect of our lives -=- perhaps
developing sexual identy is one
of the most significant ways in
which each woman must struggle
toward self-determination.
’ . e A . a
Set st and Se84S2 S45" 54 SE06S¢ Sesese
“
Senate bill 7031 amends the
public health law for person under
18 who seek abortions.
al act shall be committed upon or
with respect to a person under
eighteen years of age without
first obtaining the consent of a
parent or legal guardian of such
persOneees This act fails to
say what is to be done if one
parent consents and one denies
consent for the abortional act.
It also fails to take into ac=
count situations in which the
pregnancy is tre result of an
incestuous act of the parent,
legal guardian or one of his/her
friends or relatives. In fact
this bill is not concerned with
the pregnant teenagers health,
physical or moral, The embryo-#
fetus does not exist as a persone
Thus this bill not only violates
the right of the female to privacy
but is unconstitutional,
(
No abortion-
Albanye
The Delaware Theater was showing
and advertizing a snuff film
which it claimed was "The film
that could only be made in South
America.e..where life is cheap.
Snuff. films provide the viewer
with a maximum of violence and
what they call sex. The dismem-
berment of a woman “on camera"
provides the thrills for the kind
of viewer who seeks this means of
gratification.
There have been rumors that
the rape and murder by dismember-
ment really took place before the
camera -- that this was no fake-=
the Manhattan D.A.'s office says
there is no evidence of a real
murder.
Real murder or feke the film is
bad. As Diane Herrera said “The
fact is that it siows the victime
ization of a woman in a way that
could encourage real-life re-enact
ments."
Mr. Josheph S;owell,manager of
the theater told Knickerbocker
News that the film was being with-
drawn because of the prospect of
a feminist demonstration. he had
thought the film was no different
than all the others being shown,
He obtained the film from
Monarch Releasing Coe 303 We. 58th
Street, New York City.
Letters to the Monarch anyone?
S437, 34 SAF Ae. See ne Sees Se Dene ae ae
her aris Wes 1 aN ch her WNIT SEIESe
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Personal to women; Are you or have you
been a victim of physical abuse? [From
husband? From boyfriend? From Father?
From Brother?
A Task Force needs personal testimony.
Please write your experiences, (in strict
confidence as far as your name is concern
ed) unsigned if you must. Send your
information to:
Battered iJomen Committee, in care of
Women's Counselling Collective, P. 0.
Box 406, Albany, New York 12206.
The women's Counselling Collective now
has an office at the whitney Young Health
Center. The office is staffed by counsel
ors on Tuesdays only from 1 to 7 p.m.
Visits are by appointment and clients
must call whitney Young at 465-4771 (ask
for ilomen's Counselling Collective book)
to arzange appointments.
J oe
WHEREVER? YOU ARE
YOU CAN FIGHT FOR THE FEFOQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Clip and mail .
Yes, I/we would like to ‘Join the Fight for Four Mone’
Individual By making my individual donation of 5.90 or
more for my own medallion.
Bulk ; _ By selling 19 or more medallions for the campaign.
I've enclosed %3.09 for each madallion and I
will donate the %2.90 to the FRA camnaigen of my
choice.
Fnelosed is a check for %_ _to cover medallions.
Name
—— —— — — te a ae
Street |
City: ite 9)
— a ae <i,
Mail to NOW-New Vork State, Judy “cGourty-Graham, 93 South Pine Avenue
Albany, NY 12208 (Check to NOW-New Vor!- State) For pick up
of medallions in Albany.area.
or
NOW ERA Medallions, Rox 8068-5145 Philadelphia PA 19177 (check to
NOW FRA Medallions). Allow 3 weeks delivery from Pennsylvania.
LE LO LE LO LS ST YT A ee SE EN SED Celt aD sin Geum geen Giaee ‘ce aioee SEND Qqnee SouED ous capED canew GOW: eaten tame ‘enn uN ena qu ctw een bt ‘ens ees ‘ems ‘ites me “Mies as‘ “Sem else Sani i oss ts .
Wherever you are, you can also fireht for the FRA as an individual
or as a group by mseliing the historic FRA Ricentennial Medallions
designed by NOW to use to raise ratification campaign funds.
The Medallion dramatizes the unfinished revolution of all American
women who have waited 200 years for the same riehts the Colonial
fathers wrote into the Constitution for white males.
a
a a “ik ad i
Wear your medallion on the ERA
FREEDOM TRAIN from New York City
to Springfield, Illinois the
weekend of May 15.
"FOUALITY OF RIGHTS UNDFP THE LAW
SHALL NOT BE DENIFN OR ABRINGFD
BY TRE UNITED STATES OR BY ANY
STATE ON ACCOUNT OF SEX."
Sen? your %10.00 train ticket
denosit (nonfefundable) to Clarice
Barbara Pollock, 1225 Midland Ave
Bronxville, NY 197083 (9144+337--7159
If you can't go, help send a sister.
Call Eileen Yelly 438-5237 for infor
mation.
= aa
GROUP _ NEWS
Tri-City women's Center
The April General Assembly
meeting will be held on Monday,
April 5 at 8pm. All women are invi
ted to participate in the April
Foolishness celebration. Bring a
desert, cheese or fruit and your
favorite records.
The members of the center wish
to thank the eleven women who
pledged their time at the March
meeting. Four of them have already
Started working. Many, many thanks
to all elven.
The library committee meets
every Thursday 8-10pm. All interes
ted woken are invited to these
meetings.The project committee needs
more new ideas. Come and bring
your ideas to the committee meetings
every 2nd and 4th Monday at 7pm.
Steering committee meetings, every
Monday at 8pm, are also open to all
interested wonen. Help and new
ideas are needed and always welcome
The community resource file is
now under the direction of Jennifer
Chatfield. If you have any informa
tion which could be added to the :
file, or any questions, please con-
tact Jennifer at 465-5922.
Women's Coffeehouse
A Coffeehouse is held at the
Women's Center every second and
fourth Friday of the month. This
month there will be an Open Night
on April ©. All women who would
like to perform are very welcoive.
All Coffeehouse perforiiances .
begin at 8:30pm. Donation is $2.00
Or whatever you can afford.
If anyone is interested in
helping or in performing, please
contact Sharon Stonekey at 463-4698
Music for Women by Women
The second concert of this
series will be presented April 10
at the Arts Center, 106S New Scot-
land Road, Albany. For more infor~-
mation, call 438-7895.
There will be only one incre
concert after this one in the sries
Be sure not to miss them.
Albany Area NOW
The next NOW meetince will
be held April 14, 8pm. ct the Wo-
“men's Center. The topic will be
battered women. All interested
persons are welcone.
On April 1; at 7:30, at the
Women's Center, there will be a
meeting of interested NCW members
concerning the by-laws at the state
and national levels. The by-laws
Will be reviewed and: an attempt will
be made to decide how they affect
operations at the grassroots level.
All interested women are invited
to this meeting.
Albany area NOW, in conjunc-~
tion wiht the SUNY Feminist Alliance
will sponsor a Sexuality Conference
on April 3 and 4. The Saturday
and Sunday sessions will be held
from 10am to 5pm; each days ses-
sions will begin in room 354 of
the Humanities Building at the
State University Campus. A coffee-
house will be held in Humanities
354 on Saturday evening. Workshops
and simall discussicn groups will
deal with a wide variety of topics
including the following: monogaliy ,
friendship, sexuality, straight wo-
wen; jealousy, intimacy, comign out
Single mothers, NOW's alienation
of gay people, teen-age women and
sexuality, and many others. Admis-
sion to the conference is free.
Individual arranyements should be
made for lunch. All interested
persons are invited to participate
in this conference.
At the march 10 meeting a
discussion was held colcerning the
pornographic film which was being
Shown at the Delaware Theater in
Albany. Members planned to demon-
strats in front of the theater on
the following Saturday morning to
protest the showing of the film.
when the manager was notified that
a demornetration was being planned,
he withdrew the film. ‘The event
' received coverage in the local
press. This is another sign that
we Can change things.
Help is needed to lobby
against a bill which would require
parental consent in abortion cases
involving minors.
17
More Group News...... Paula, Diane, Yvette, or Kathy
at the same address.
Rensselaer County Leacue of women
There is a bill in an Assembly Voters
Committee to ammend the Human Rights
Bill to prohibit discrimination This month's unit meetings
against homosexuals. Contact your will deal with a study of the AY
assemblyperson to support this bill.state legislature. A morning meet-
AlbanyNQW (cont'd. )
Come to the next NOW meeting to ing will be held on April 5 at
help organize a lobbying effort. 9:15am. in the Troy area; another
meeting on the same day will be
Women's Political Caucus held in the East Greenbush area
at 7:30pm.
April 13 there will be an elec The League will sponsor a
tion meeting for the Caucus. It meeting with the candidates for the
will be held at the Women's Genter : roy School Board during the week
at the’ Alhany YWCA, Lodge St. and of April 26. For further informa-
Steuben Street in Albany. Voting tion about the unit meetings and
will begin at 9pm. The following the candicates' night, call the
officers will be elected: chairwo- League office at 273-0552.
man, secretary, treasurer, press
woman, and general member (to serve New York State Legislative Forum
on the steering committee). This
is the first official election that The last meeting for the
this group has held in four years. current legislative session will
It will be an important meeting. take place on Tuesday, Aprth 6.
If you are interested in the caucus;During the 10am-12 meeting, Mr. Otto
be sure to attend. Kinzel, Chairperson of the NY State
Permanent Commission on Public
Schenectady NOW Employees Pension anc Retirement
Systems will speak about NY State
April 7, at 8pm, a workshop Pension Funds. Aluncheon will
will be held. The topic will be follow at 12:15 at Jack's Oyster
Battered Wives. All interested House on State St. in Albany. The
are invited to attend the workshop luncheon speaker: Congressman Sam
at the Family and women's Advocacy Stratton. For further information
Service, 543 Schenectady Street about the two events, contact |
(corner of Strong and Schenectady) Gertrude (Mrs. James) Purcell at |
in Schenectady. 374-1092.
The organization will have its
next business meeting on April 21 Women's Studies program at SUNYA
at 8pm at the Schenectady YWCA. |
The meeting is open to the public. During the current acadeiiic
year; the women's Studies prograin
The Women's Prison Project has sponsored a series of lectures.
In April two more lectures will
This group is trying to pro- be presented. On April 7, at 4pm,
vide support and services for our in the Caipus Center Assembly Hall,
sisters released from the Albany Caroline Whitbeck (Dep't. of Philo-
County Jail. The women in the groupsophy) will speak about "Patterns
do not have enough money to pay for of Bias in Theories of Sex Differen
the gas to get cut to the jail ona ces. On April 22 Laura Petrochko
regular basis. The group is asking (Dep't. cf Slavic Languages and
for the support of all women in Literatures)will present a lecture
this struggle. Please send money’ entitled "worts, Witches, and
or checks to: Leeches." The talk will be held
Albany Women's Prison Project in the Humanities Building, room
275 State St. 290. All interested persons are
Albany, NY 12210. invited to both lectures.
For further information contact
Rod
And more Group NEWS .serceeee For program brochure, call the
YWCA at 274-7100.
Women's Studies (cont'd. One of the offerings of the
spring prograi will be a workshop
Two courses in Women's Studies on divorce--a mlini-course for wo-
Will be offered during the summer men and wen who are divorced or
sessions. During the first pre-seS are contemplating divorce. The
sion AWS 399 Psychological Aspects workshop will consist of four ses-
of Women's Roles will be offered sions; April 12, April 19, April 26
for three credits. The course will and May 3. The legal and emotional
be held Sam-12 noon from June 7-25. aspects of divorse Will be consi-
The instructor will be Diane Carter.d@ered along with financial conside-
visiting professor from the Univer- rations and the impact of divorce
sity of Iowa. on children. Experts from the
The second course, listed aS fields of law, social welfare, and
RCO 336, Rhetcric of the Woinen's psychology will speak on the above
Movement will also be worth three subjects. If a support group
credits. It will be taught by = grows out of the series, it will be
Linda St.Claire (dep't of Rhetoric led by Dr. Susan Wheeler Roy, coun-
and Couwimunications) during session seling psychologist and Patricia
2a (June 28-July 16) from 9:30am Murphy; ACSW. The series is co-
to 12:20pm. sponsored by the Samaritan Mental
During the first week-end 1n yealth Unit. All sessions will be
June there will be a conference on held at the Troy YWCA, 21 First St.
Women's Studies held on the SUNYA The cost is $2.00 per session or
faculty will be invited. more in-
formation on the ccnference will
schenectady YWCA
be provided (hopefully in next
month's issue). If you're interes- The Schenectady YWCA Drop-In
ted in such things, keep the dat€ Center for Women will open official
open. ly on April 1 in the Dorp Room of
Don't forget to register for the SchenectadyYWCA. The Center
the Women's Studies courses during will be open during YWCA hours as
pre-registration which starts - —s_a place for women to gather for
April 8. These courses usually fillconversation, study contemplation,
up rapicly. or just being there. A women's
For more information concern- jibrary is being developedon the
ing the Women's Studies Program at premises through member contribu-
SUNYA, call Joan Schultz at 457- tions.
6441. The center will also be avai-
lable for related group meetings
Albany YWCA such as Rape Crisis, NOW and com-
munity women's organizations.
The Spring Program begins the ywca courses like Assertiveness
week of April 19. It includes —— raining, Introduction to Feminism,
the following: Assertiveness Train- and Women and Sexuality, all to
ing, Self-defense, Yoga. Divorced be offered in the YW Spring Prog-
and Separated Women's Support Groupsram Session, will also be conduc-
Tennis, and much more. ted at the Center whenever possible.
Support the YWCA - take part fn addition, the Drop-In Cénter is
in the program, Bea member... it particularly well adcpted to meet-
Albany YWCA aoe a free prograi are already organized and function-
brochure -- 449-7184. ing. The Center for Women is lo-
cated in the Dorp Room, situated
Troy-Cohoes YWCA on the lower level of the Schenec-
cady Y8CA Building with two direct
_.The spring program begins exits to street and parking lot.
April 12; registration for the The Center is open to all
spring programs closes on April 10. women and looks forward to : ._%
ew stata?
And still wore Grou» News..
LL CS A t eteetteanae irene
Schenectady YW (cont'd. )
broad-based comunity participation.
For further information, contact
Alice Orr at 374-3394.
Saturday, April 10 from 10am
to 2pm there will be a new kind of
Open House at the Schenectady YWCA.
Demonstrations, entertainment, and
displays will highlight courses
and activities planned for the Yw
Spring Session to begin April 19.
Free child care will also be avail-
able for participants in the Open
House or “Try It Before You Buy It"
Day.
Instructors will be available
to provide information concerning
all Spring Session courses which
include Introduction to Feminisia,
Assertiveness Training, Women and
Sexuality, Group Employment Counset
ing,for Women, Self-Defense, Basic
Carpentry and Use of Tools, and
others. Information and sign-ups
grohpalandbspevaalabhtefastCsmpport
groups such as groups for divorced
and separated women, widows, single
mothers, new mothers, remarried
women, and older women
The Schenectady YW Open House
will also feature demonstrations of
square, folk, and ballroom dancing,
as well as a performance by the
Albany Black Women's United Front
Next month we hope to have
information regarding this feminist
organization in the area. If any-
one is interested in obtaining any
information about it in the mean-'
time, call Maxine Winney at 463-50
26.
Notice to interested women:
a eS Sn ese sennesetnene
Russell Sage College Evening
Division has a course this semester
entitled"Women in Management" The
course features several guest lec-
tures which are open to the public.
Two of these lectures will be pre-
sented in april. On April 5, Dr.
Helen Burnside, associate provost
for the health schiences, SUNY
Central Administration will lecture
on “Communication Skills in Manage-
went." Kathi Wakefield, director
MORE for Women in New York City
will discuss "Developing Career
Potential" on April 19. All class
meetings are held Mondays at 6pin
in Gurley Hall, room 304.
Te)
SPEAKOUT_
Work sessions will be held
from 5:30pm on Mondays April 5,12,
19. A stapling party will take
place on the 26th starting at 6pm.
All sessicns will be in the women's
Barundi African Dance Troupe. Therecenter. All help is greatly abpre-
Will be demonstrations of yoga and ciated. Come even for a short
meditation, gymnastics and other
athletic activities, and pool prog-
rams. An Arts and Crafts Show will
highlight the numerous courses to
be offered starting April 19,
VAere is no charge for "Try
It Before You Buy It" Day at the
YW, and the public is invited to
attend on Saturday, April 10 from
10am to 2pm. For further informa=
tion, call Alice Orr, 374-3394,
And don't forget--registration for
the spring session begins April 5.
Assertiveness Training workshop
Atwo-evening Asertiveness
Training Workshop will be held on
April 5 and April 22, at 7:30pm in
Chapel House, just off the SUNYA
Campus.
time if you can.
Speakout is reviving an"old"
tradition. Starting April 4, com-
iwittee meetings will be held the
first Sunday of each month at the
Women's Center, Lodge St., Albany .
The April 4 meeting will start at
lpm. All Speakout readers are wel-
come. The meeting will be of spe-
Cial interest to individuals and
groups withpolicy questions, any
general and specific concerns and
questions, as well as to women who
want to get more involved with
Speakout. People with ideas are es-
peclally welcome. Come share your
ideas and feelings about Speakout.
20
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SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vol. V No. 5 May 1976
Table of Contents
1-2 The Business Ventures of American Revolutionary War llomen --
Shirley Phillips
2 Maidin Rock A iloman's Learning Space
= Relationship Poem -- Lynda Rhodes
ho 5, Women's Theater Group
5 National Women's Music Festival
6-7 A \loman Under the Influence -= Tony Platt
7 Rural Women'In India -- Vivanti R. Sarkar
8-9 Women's Counseling Collective
10 Women's Sexuality Conference -- Gloria Freed
11-12 From A Feminist Librarian -- Christine Root
Bes Women's Studies at SUNY
Group News
Workers for this issue: Cheryl Shenkle, Christine Root, Gloria Freed,
Rezsin Adams, Jan Barbuto, Maxine Krall
Group News by Tania Durbak
SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year. Single
copies are 35¢ and are available at local bookstores:
Albany -- New Times Center, Seven Arrows Bookstore,
The Store, SUNYA Bookstore, Unitarian Church
Bookstore, YUCA, Tri-Cities women's Center,
Schenectady -= Family and iJomen's Advocacy Service, YIUCA
Advertising is $10.00 per quarter page, $18.00 per half page, and $30.00
for a whole page.
SPEAKOUT
P. 0. Box 6165
Albany, New:York 12206
The Business Ventures of American Revolutionary War Women
Few Revolutionary War Women entered the business world because time
hung heavy on their hands, However, when need arose there was nothing
in the social or economic code of the times to prevent women from
supporting themselves and their families in whatever fay they could,
using the resources and talents available to them. In fact, single
and widowed women were encouraged to work, influenced by the Puritan
religion that abhorred idleness.
Two major factors turned women into the business world at the time of
the American Revolution. One was the embargo placed on British goods.
The women recognized the important part the embargo would play in the
fight for freedom and staunchly Supported it. To fill the need for
the articles previously purchased from Britain, the women began to
Make articles at home for their families, The Surplus was sold to
their neighbors. To fill the increasing demand for their hand-made
articles, many women turned their homes into Shops to accomodate
their custemers,
The second factor that foreed women to enter the business world was
economic need. The war had produced many widows, Husbands, fathers,
and sons had to turn from their businesses and occupations to go to
war. Pay for military services was meager, Consequently, there was
a shortage of money at home, and many Revolutionary War women had to
add to all their other duties and responsibilities the task of find~
ing ways to make money to supply the economic needs of their families.
The kinds of businesses that Revolutionary women entered into were
as varied as their talents, But many women did not have a choice,
Their fate was to carry on the businesses left to them by the male
members of their families, Given a choice many of these women would
have chosen another line of business, but they shouldered the respon-
Sibility of the existing businesses, even when their talents lay in
other directions. The fact that many businesses strange to women's
tastes and talents were run by women and that women actually did some
of the work of these strange occupations is documented by newspaper
advertisements of that time,
In Philadelphia, Ann Page, the widow of John, who had been a turner,
continued his business and also mended Spinning wheels and did chair
caning. Margaret Paschal ran a cutlery business; Sarah Jewell
became a ropemaker, and Mary Cowley dressed buckskin, Perhaps the
strangest of all was the occupation of Mary Salmon who carried on the
business of horseshoeing. All of these women were widows operating
the businesses inherited from their husbands,
Revolutionary women also distinguished themselves in maintaining
printing presses and publishing newspapers. The first women printer
we have knowledge of is Dinah Nuthead who inherited the business from
her husband. The widow of James Franklin, Benjamin's brother,
continued her husband's printing business, Her son started the first
newspaper in Rhode Island, and at his premature death She, now an
elderly woman, continued the paper. The editorial bhair must have
been a very uncomfor&able place in revelutiinary days. The papers we
were published once a week instead of daily. The editor was usually
also printer, newswriter, city editor, Society editor, and compositor.
Revolutionary women proved equal to the'‘task and ran successful
newspapers throughout the war,
|
Many other women, who were not so "fortunate" to inherit businesses,
out of necessity started business in their kitchens. Many sold their
baked bread, cookies, cakes, and pies which they made to order for
their customers. They also sold their pickles, jams and jellies,
and any other items that they might have the ingredients for from
their farms and gardens. Mary Crathorne sold mustard and chocolate.
Elizabeth Phillips cured and put up sturgeon and made sausages and
pickled tongue. Anna Jones distilled cinnamon, snakeroot, ckhovewater,
aniseed, orange water, and many other spirits. Others made and sold
beer. Still others turned their home remedies for ailments into
profitable business. Elizabeth Franklin, sister-in-law of Benjamin,
made soap and candles: in her kitchen. Many women operated laundries |
which included fancy starching and dyeing. Elizabeth Boyd and Anne
scotten advertized that they did hand sewing and neonates as did many
other Revolutionary women, Beautiful embroidery work was also done
by many women for the fortunate women who eould afford to pay for
such work.
These small businesses, so important in the freeing of America from
depending on British-made goods, were the beginning of manufacturing
in America. Before the end of the Revulution, cotton and linen were
manufactured throughout the country. The cotton and flax were grown
on the colonial farms, When George Washington was inaugurated
President of the new republic he very proudly wore a dark brown
broadcloth suit, The broadcloth used to make his suit, made at
Worchester, Massachusetts, was the first cloth manufactured in
America. .
The spirit of independence, alive at that. time, kindled the fire
of imagination and ingenuity in the minds: of these Revolutionary
women. If it were not for the circumstances of the American Revo-
lution perhaps these women would never have had the opportunity to
use their talents in business ventures, and to have been able to
leave their mark on history as the business women of their time.
: ‘Shirley Phillips
Ieee se3e4¢ Rist Sees Sse5¢ Sesbse Se364¢ SHIe36 SESE56
Ay
setae HEEL
MAIDEN ROCK, A Women's Learning Space
C/O Women's "Learning Institute, Inc,
P 40,4 -B-O% 6587
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408
Maiden Rock is a women's learn= .. a 3
ing community which will offer in - Weekends programs begin July 2
the summer of atte learning spaces two week sessions begin June 20
around two themes
myths- by whiten they mean deeply. six week session begihs July 11
rooted ideas about our nature and
function. is Costs will be $40.00 for a week=
end, $200.00 for the two-week
intentionality- by which they session. Cost fen children will
mean purposeful living which emerges be $25.00 per week.
from the union of knowledge with |
personal experience... Living intente Energy exchanges will be availe
ionally yields insight into genuine able for women -who do not have
alternatives and releases woméns . the needed funds.
power to choose among them. |
ee
RELATIONSHIP
If you were a woman
we could spend these afternoons
ranbling over hillsides
while we nibbled on ideas.
Je could offer our words
and know no need
to tear greedily at fl¢sh
at flesh.
If I were a man
you would let me climb
all over your bulldozer
and crawl under your car.
You would teach me the mechanics
and let me touch the tools
with no thought of a vise
closing around us.
If we were like the others
we would have dinnerdates
and understandings.
je'd huddle in bedrooms
with beer and T.V,.
and close in on each other
on ourselves.
But between us
there are many directions,
levels of touching and never touching,
Ve must each fly our own currents
that cross when they cross.
And always I am a woman,
And always you are a man.
Lynda Rhodes
October 1975
Press Release -- Women's Theater
Group
A BRIEF (1R)REVERENT HISTORY O
"WOMEN ON MY MIND" '
Once upon a time, not too
long ago, a group of women came
together and produced a satirical
musical revue called "The Girl of:
Our Dreams". Everyone had a
groovy time and got infected with
grease=paint poisoning, creeping
Hamism, and post-partum separation
anxiety. It threatémed to become
a Serious Problem, so in true
feminist fashion we declared,
"If it feels good, do it again.
And this time do it bigger." ©
What'$*bigger than a musical
revue? What could celebrate
Sisterhood (and offer some solute
ions to oppression now that we've
all identified the sources)? What
makes people have a good time and
feel good? What do you need
after a New England: winter? what
could give a lot of women a lot of
chances to do things they always
dreamed of doing but never had the
nerve to try? What have we all
been secretly daydreaming about
(women's fantasies are Very Big
this year) ever since we toddled
into the sunlight after one of
those MGM extravaganzas? A
musical comedy, of course. A
real, honest-to-Goddess Musical
Comedy. But with a Difference.
An all-woman cast, all-=woman
writers, all-ewoman plot and music
and dances and songs and orchestra
and stuff.
Every musical comedy has
Romance. So do women. Sometimes
they have Romance with each other
“-no matter what your mother and
your high school principal told
you. Women do fall in love--
with other women--really.
And there are Stars stieseseseesesest
Everyone wants to be a Starstetneet
So we thought up a lot of large
parts, and gave everyone a song
that's all hers to sing. And
funny lines, and serious lines,
and lots of chances for applause.
Well, it was a long, hot °
summer. Some members of the Big
Group (the original group) work
for a living and do other things 4
_,and wrote <= and wrote.
_ #00 hours and 50 gallons of wine
or felt faint-hearted and
couldn't put: in the time to
writé the whole thing Collectively
(or is. it "collaboratively", I
get confused). So a writing
group was formed. Sometimes
there were as many as 5 people in
it, sometimes fewer, but basically
there was a core of 3, Eileen,
Sarah, and Holly. We sat around
and drank wine and made up
characters and plots and tunes
and lyrics. Sometimes we talked
about personal stuff and sometimes
_ we haggled over our politics,
but most of the time we wrote --
After
we stopped counting -- and wrote.
Holly had never written music
before, but she's a pianist and
knows more about it than the
rest of us, so she wrote the musice
Sarah had. written lyrics in high
school and liked to write, so she
wrote lyrics and dialogue. Eileen
had acted a lot and directed some
and had a million ideas, so she
wrote dialogue, too. None of us
ever did anything like this
before, but why should that stop
us? We all had mottoes: Holly:
"Can dot", Eileen: "Let's get
it together!", Sarah: (dropping
out to think) "Give me a minute!"
sometimes we ran out of
ideas or inspiration or wanted a
pat on the back. Then we'd put
in a desperate call to the Big
group and all get together to
improvise scenes. We'd lay out
a problem, and people would act
out possible solutions until we
found something we liked or at
least knew what we didn't like.
Some whole improvs ended up in
the final script intact, others
will remain a Secret Forever.
As fall fell, the writing group
was running around muttering to
itself and looking glessy-eyed
and our friends were beginning to
worry. Then, one day, we decided
to send out the word. We put
notices in the local papers,
asking any woman with an interest
in theatre to Come Forth. We
‘were hardly prepared for the
_ Tesponse.
About 25 people showed
up and talked and told us what
they could-would-wanted to-wouldn'!t
(cont...
Women'w Theatre Group, cont'd, anyway), and the director was
overheard muttering (upon first
-couldn't do. Among women who seeing the stage), "My God, it's
said they "couldn't" dance we Soooo0o0o big!" Oh, and we changed
found choreographers. Among the title of the musical.
women who said they "couldn't"
act or sing we found actresses P.S. World premiere of "Women on
and singers. And most of all My Mind", May 14 and 15, 8:00 pm
we found enthusiasm and talent Bowker Auditorium, Univ. of MasSe
all around us, waiting to be Amherst. Bring your mother, sister
tapped. daughter, aunt, neice, mother-in
We scrounged a theatre, set lawe
a date, got ourselves organized
and here we are, penniless but Women's Theater Group
honest. Feminists, militant Everywoman's Center
feminists, nonfeminists, and not- University of Mass.
quite feminists. Lesbians and Amherst, Mass. 01002
straights. A 15-year ofd high Contact:
school student and an 83 year old Annette Townley
retired choral director, and 413 545-0883
everything in between.
Well, it occurfed to the SESE
writing group that 3 finished
scenes in a 2eact musical and a
rough plot outline of the rest
| wouldn't Make It. So Sarah and Planning for the 3rd National
canto closeted themselves _ Women's Music Festival is still underway.
nspiration struck the composer. «moe dates are June 15-20 at the
more often than the script writers : : pra sSaia pean: Uitdee
so Holly got January off) to University o linois Dp
: Champaign,
finish the script. Midway through The National Women's Music Festival
the month Eileen was writing on
the walls, and Sarah was climbing which is the only nationwide festival
t is ¥ ici d music lovers
same. But, behold, at the end for women musicians an ’
i -for-profit oration of the
of January we emerged, pale and is a not-for-profit corp
state of Illinois and is dedicated
trembling and babbling incoherent- sf nd NN —aanklc ty Seehieie
ly, with a finished script. 0 eee
and celebrating feminist contributions
1 BE ‘are ste nick Math as to music. The format includes lots of
an la e Feminis usica : AS capitis "aad ak
did INDEED exist, at least on ee ee eee eS
ae : perform together, a large number of
ae Political discussion workshops filling the needs of the
#45l—b ensued and after much serious musician, the amateur, and the
soul-searching about collaborative
: : non-musician as well, and evening
collective-individual decision concerts which will showcase accomplished
making there emerged:
a , women playing all kinds of music.
1 cast, 1 publicity group, 1 Feminist politics, professional musical
music group (arranging and skills, and alternative economic forms
orchestrating), 1 dance group, ang content for the arts will be among
& producers, 1 director, 1 set
the main themes of workshops.
designer, 1 lighting designer, E
Women interested in performing at
1 costumer, 1 associate choral ine restival should send a tape and
director, 1 woman who is making
accompanying publicity as soon as possible
a documentary of the whole to Box 2721 Station A, Champaign, Illinois
Rtg diate a partridge ina 61820. Performers, who will not be paid
ede beyond traveling expenses, will be chosen
Immediately thereafter I on the basis of musical excellence,
cast member left town (temporarily sunsnist: expression, and to represent a
I caught the flu, the composer- _variety of musical styles (rock n roll)
pianist broke her finger, the . blues, jazz and country are particularly
partridge migrated (or defected) ojcome, you do not have to sing to
to Peru (it turned out to be male, perform, )
i i Sk ea a ke a Lae 4
National Women's Music Festival
A \Iloman Under the Influence
e
It tops the evening news, sical haat conversions of Rennie Davis from an
the morning newspaper, and provides a ~ anti-war leader to a disciple of Guru
source of endless gossip for commentators Maharaj Ji; of Jerry Rubin from a media
In column inches and air time over the revolutionary to a devotee of. psychological
last weeks, it probably equals the faddism; and of Eldridge Cleaver from a
Presidential primaries, traditionally the Street fighter to a defender of the Pentag~-
most overexposed topic during an election Os
year, What is it that makes the Patty The suicidal tactics of the SLA
Hearst trial such a media spectacular? were a reflection of its desperation and
Part of the answer lies in the intrinsic Jack of organic ties with a people's
appeal of the story--the kidnapping of movement, In the name of love for the
a Hearst heiress by a "revolutionary" masses, the SLA's actions demonstrated a
organization, a series of dramatic bank contempt for ordinary people by assuming
robberies, a nationally televised holo- that they are not aware of the injustices
caust, claims of conversion versus in society and need to be propelled into
charges of brainwashing, F. Lee Bailey activity through spectacular acts of
in the courtroon, adventurism. The result was terrorism,
But the trial is more, It is a which is quite the opposite of revolut-
morality play, teaching the lessons that jonary violence for a coherent, revolut-
revolutionaries are murderers, rapists, ionary strategy. It is not surprising
and anti-American terrorists; that that the SLA is now serving as a vehicle
feminists are men-haters; that the crim- for anti-left propaganda from both the
inal justice system allows a defendant ~~ Mass media and the government.
a fair trial; and that political struggle What about Patty Hearst? It is clear
outside the legal system inevitably that her background of spoiled privilege
leads to defeat, has not saved her from being a victim
Thus, whatever the outcome of the of this society's sexism and alienation.
case, the government can't lose, If With little sense of her own identity
Patty Hearst is acquitted, it means that and potentialities, her life has been a
she successfully resisted trading her journey of dependencies, usually on men=--
soul to a "revoluhionary" devil; if from her powerful parents to her teacher-
she's found guilty, she didn't resist lover, from the SLA to her lawyers and
hard enough. Hearst's trial is, in psychiatrists,
essence, one more bicentennial event,a Yet there has been an occasional
reaffirmation of the American legal flash of recognition that her own-special
system and the economic interests it situation is related to a larger system
serves. | of oppression, Pathetically but defiantly
The particular function of the she identified herself as an "urban
trial and the accompanying massive guerrilla" before her father's lawyers
media coverage has been to exploit swooped dowm and began remaking her into
people's worst fears and prejudices a little girl and a snitch,
about the left by presenting the SLA Now Patty Hearst is in the select
as synonymous with the progressive move- Company of the six percent of all defend-
ment in this country. In fact, although @mts in criminal cases who can afford a
the SLA did exist--it wasn't simply legal defense and jury trial. Her co-
a creation of the governnent-it represent-Prisoners are mostly poor and third-world
ed only the left's most insecure and people who are awaiting trial in jail
unstable elements. because they do not have enough money to
The trial comes at a time when the make bail, Unlike Hearst, most will be
legitimacy of the government and multi- forced to engage in plea bargaining and
national corporations is at its lowest take the rap for a lesser offense, as |
point since the Depression, As the do about 70 percent of all criminal
American empire continues to weaken, we defendants; moreover, they do not have
can expect a flood of messianic cults the option to return afterwards to San
which propose slick panaceas. We live ‘imeon.
in a social system which encourages A few miles away from San Francisco,
consumer fads and planned obsolescence four blacks and two Latinos--the San
and the left is not immune to this - Quentin Six--are being tried for murder
pressure. Look, for example, at the and conspiracy stemming from events sure
rounding the assassination of George G
Patty Hearst, cont*d,
Jackson in 1971. All these defendants
have experienced severe repression in
the prison system; defense efforts have
been plagued by lack of money; five of
the defendants, denied bail, are shack-
led and chained like slaves during the
trial; and the local and national media
have all but ignored what may be the mostthe rural community (work).
villages. I noted that her traditional
life gives her more security and liberates
her from material and psychological
complications. She has strong concrete
bases (marriage and children), points
of cetera (retseiin). but mainly she
participates actively in the life of
It is her
significant prison trial in U.S. history. upbringing that prepares her to shoulder
Unlike Hearst, however, the San
Quetin Six are continuing to struggle
for justice, While the prosecution
has directed its efforts toward discredit-respect of men.
ing the prisoners’ rights movement
all kinds of responsibilities. She is
not solely confined to housework and
educating her children. She enjoys the
"For me, the subject is an extra-
which has developed over the last several ordinary expression of human confrontation.
years and specifically the ideas of
George Jackson, the defense has taken
the initiative and is trying to use
the trial to inform the public about
prison conditions, The defendants then-
selves have continued to press for .
prisoners’ rights, to oppose racism
in prisons, to develop alliances with
white inmates, and to connect their
insistence on self-determination inside
the walls with other such efforts on
the outside. No wonder that the govern-
ment and media corporations prefer to
divert our attention to the "lessons"
of the Patty Hearst trial.
Tony Platt
(Reprinted from “Sevendays", Iarch 15,
1976 issue.)
DASE SAM IE AA SA St
rh hase ae Ta bone oie oe ar
“Rural Women of India" -- A colored
documentary photographic exhibition by
V. Castellarin, a female photo=journal-
ist from India.
"At a time when the Urban \oman is
questioning her om values--it is
interesting to note that the Rural
Yoman in all parts of the world is the
prim force in keeping ancient traditions
religious customs and the family struct-
ure alive. She is the very foundation
stone--the anchor--on which the Family
Of lian survives,
"To pass judgement on her life-style
it would be easy to condemn her, Her
values may be totally different from
the Urban wloman. Yet the Rural Woman
displays a remarkable passivity,
She is envied for her serenity, her
patience and calm good kumour,
“The role of the Rural Woman is
very important. I, the photographer,
realised it during my study in rural
A reality which is also a social truth
of conditions of life in the history
of the Contemporary i/oman,
"I choose to study the Rural Woman
of the Third World, as I aimed to record
their inspiring gentleness and majestic-
ness in their everyday life. There is
“ a certain dignity that I hope my
photographs will relate to the passbyer."
Vivanti R, Sarkar
New York, New York
AT AT ae 8s Ua
SHBESS SEES
Press Release
IRIS FILMS ANNOUNCES A FILM ABOUT LESBIAN
MOTHERS AND CHILD CUSTODY CASES
We, of Iris Films are presently doing
research and fundraising for a filn
about Lesbian Mothers and child custody
which we will produce in the summer
of 1976,
Our committment is to producing
and distributing women's films which will
contribute to social change,
le want to hear from women who have
been or are now involved in Lesbian
Mother's child custody cases,
We cannot make this film without
funds, Our budget is $25,000--we need
at least $5,000 to start the film.
All contributions will be appreciated
for this vitally important and necessary
filn,
Contact: Frances Reid, Cathy Zheutiin,
Liz Stevens, Iris Films, Box 26463,
Los Angeles, California 90026
\
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
THE WOMENS COUNSELLING COLLECTIVE
The idea of feminist counselling is a new one. The assumptions,
methods and goals discussed below are by no means "the last word"
we will have on this subject. In fact, one of the assumptions ©
that informs our work and study is that we as feminist counsel-
lors must be constantly in process of reevaluation and theoretical
development. :
ie ASSUMPTIONS
1) The problems of individual women must be viewed in the
context:of the sexism, racism, agism and capitalism prevalent in
contemporary American male supremacist society. This assumption
lies behind the development o eminist counselling. We do not
perceive women's problems as idiosyncratic, but rather as adapta-
tions or responses to the society in which we live. It is impor-
tant for both counselor and counsellee to realize that there is a
commonality in the problems facing women. 7
2) The counsellee is a healthy person. As a corollary to
assumption #1, we view the woman in crisis as a healthy person in
an unhealthy society. We feel that it is more productive to build
on the counsellee's strengths than to analyze her weaknesses.
3) The counselling process is a process of "re-education."
Rather than being a therapeutic process, which implies that the
counsellee is "i11" and needs to be cured, feminist counselling
is a process which calls upon the client to look at herself and
her situation in new ways. Rather than indicating that the
counsellee should conform or re-adjust to society, we encourage
her to seek.new and more satisfying ways to Live her life.
4) The counsellee holds within herself the solutions to
her problems. The job of the counsellor is to facilitate the
process of drawing out and examining these solutions.
5) Feminist counselling is a political process. As women
gain control over all aspects of their lives, including the most
personal, so society will change. The personal is the political.
Live METHODS
Feminist counselling draws from many schools and techniques
currently used in the "helping professions." Methods are tested
against our assumptions, accepted, rejected or transformed.
The crux of our method is the idea of peer counselling. Peer
counselling is best defined as the way we see ourselves as coun-.
Selors in relation to the counsellee.
1) We view ourselves as peers of the counsellees. Although
some, of us are indeed "professionals" in the field_of psychology,
the peer counselling process is rioh-hierarchical: “there-is.no
“patient "/"dactor;" no "sick" person/"well"person; no "professional"/
"lay" division between the counselor and the counsellee. We are
gy
there as women speaking with other women. As women, we can listen
to and empathize with other women in ways’ that transcend these
barriers.
2) We do not attempt to solve the counsellee's problems.
Our function is to, by active listening and empathy, help women
discover their own strengths, their own solutions.
3) We are there to legitimize the counsellee's feelings.
Part of our function is to support the counsellee--to give her
permission to express her feelings and to understand their sources.
4) We are not afraid to share our own feelings. By sharing,
self-disclosing, we let the counsellee know that she is not alone.
Sharing also breaks down the artificial barriers between counselor
and counselee.
5) We welcome women. The counselor is friendly, open,
warm and caring--not detached as: some professionals. The counselling
atmosphere is informal.
III GOALS
To improve the counsellee's awareness of herself, her
abilities and strengths, her capacity to control her life.
To encourage the counsellee to perceive herself as healthy.
To provide a service for women who could not or would not
seek help elsewhere because of financial situation, philosophy, or
fear.
To bring together women with common problems, to develop
group strength and support, rather than fostering individual
isolation.
To support the women's community, by supporting the women
within it--regardless of race, sexual orientation, age or economic
class. ?
To encourage collective strength, by bringing women together.
To move toward changing society, by encouraging individual
women to take control over their own lives.
The Womens Counselling Collective/April 1976/Paula Corey, Judy
Fetterley, Judy Libow, Andrea Lurie, Gina Quattrocchi, Toni Schiff,
Nikki Svalos
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday/6 to 9 pm/Tri-City Women's Center,
3 Lodge Street, Albany, New York and Tuesday/l to 7 pm/Whitney
Young Health Center, Albany. 462-6739
a ee ee ee
Uomen's Sexuality Conference
A coalition of community women
organized a conference on tUonen's
sexunlity which was held on the ‘eeke
end sf ‘pril 3 and 4th at the SUNY ~
‘lbany Campus. . os fi
There was quite a large gather-
ing of collene age end older women. .
The interesting topics that were dis-
cussed were women as. sex objects,
intimacy, :friendship and sexuality,
collective living and strainht women's
sexuality.
The .grouns formed seminars,.
ipate. Gn Saturday I attended tho
grours that discussed intimacy and
Teenage sexuality. The latter croun
emphasised. the need for all women to.
communicate and sharc ides -together.
However, many wome are afraid of
expressing: their feelinoas freely to
on: another. The majority of women
felt that women compared to.men are
Sti’l more interested and willing to
talk about sensitive issugs like sex.
society conditions men at e younn age
to ksep from being emationzlly in-
volved. The women aur2ed that most
Female relstionsninos are assure a
certain warmth and compassion that
often are lackin: with men.
Conflicts pstueen lesbians
and straicht ‘omen do exist. Une
young woman spoke abaut her nersonal
experience. jhe had her boyfriend .
Over for dinner: and she sensed that
her gay cirlfriends score laughin; at
her. If this was the case she thought
that since she accents these fricnds
they should accent her preferences.
were Nusiliated that she was living
auvay. from home. It was annarent
Frustrated and guility. this young
woman was about this situation.
The rest of the group r2 -conded by
saying that thouch éhe loves her pase
ents she cannot be responsibile for
their total daoniness. torsover,
all parents sooner or later realize
that it is time to lct go and their
daughters. ust make their own decie’
sions.« ) The result. will eventully be
tic develonmenc of matured ‘and dil
adjusted tiomen . .
Gloria Freed
bd fe $°¢ Py fs aed 3% Coed 4 «te. .* "5 * “+ ote ate oP ote ate ate *e a's te ate ale ate
woe te ee ee ee ws i
and everyone was encourzae to nartic- _ FROM THE CLOSET TO THE COURTS-- THE
LESBIAN TRANSITION by Ruth Simpson
This book documents the personal
and political ramifications of what it
‘means to be a homosexual woman in our
society; how our country's institutions--
« « « « s=function against lesbians as
a Class, and-how the oppression of any
one minority group enhances the mechan-
ism of oppression as it operates against
-all minority peoples,
Ruth Simpson feels that her book.
will have value "to members of any
‘Oppressed group who have found their
Closets too confining for the human.
spirit, since the book delineates the
structure of oppression and how inter-
group hostility keeps that structure
‘in balance,' which is to say, out of
balance,"
At Ruth Simpson's request, invita-
tions to a publication press conference
will be sent not only to media represent-
-atives but to the author's local police
precinct as well, The law enforcement
response to this should help the author
establish whether or not such laws
against homosexuals are valid.
In arder to open up communication amono : aes
women it is important we re Published by The Viking Press, Inc.
learn ta eat
lov: and understsnd each other. 625 Madison Avenue, New York 10022
Price: $8,95
In the teenane so
axuolity | SEH
gro: tae main cocvclaint discussed
were the :roblems of living <t hone. UNQUOTATABLE QUOTES: SICKt
| Teenage oirls fsoel that their mothcrs, "Today's History Lesson is the
in porticular, do not trust thom when Louisiana Purchase, It has nothing to
they entertain a male guest at home. do with a girl on the street corner in
snother problem of living st home is New Orleans." (Spoken by Rick Mitchell,
the absence of crivacy. 2h wr. old wrBy Radio, April 14, 1976,
woman ele: relate” thet her s:rents
Fron a Feminist Librarian
New York State Religious Coalition for
Abortion Rights reminds us that we must
monitor the McCronack canpazgn. In New
Hampshire she finished with.1% of the
Democratic voter turnout and 9% in Ver-
mont, 3.5% in Mass.
George Wallace wallace centered much of
his Florida canpaizn on anti-abortion.
Planned parenthood has TV and radio
spots available for public service ann-
ouncements. Since ‘IcCormack spots are
political, stations are not obligated to
air opposing views, but they must air
"contrasting views" on controversial
issues in their overall programming. They
may be willing to air pro choice spots.
Their is a growing concern that money
from presidential income tax checkoff
are being used to finance antiabortion
commercials. This distorts the intent of
the law and may make taxpayers less will-
ing to use the check off in '75 income
tax retums. Congress is considering
revisions of the campaign financing law
to avoid requiriny taxpayers to subsidize
Single issue canpaizns. |
Now is the time when state and con-
gressional candidates are fornulating
positions on various issues. If they
hear nothing but anti choice sentiment,
they may take a position and be unmov-
able after the canpaign bevins.
From the W¥8pRelizious Coalition
For Abortion Rights
Boston .iomen's Collective
Chanse of address
The Collective is now located at:
Park Square Building 2033
31 St. James Street
Boston, Ma 02115
tele: (517) 482-7458
The Boston Jomen's Collective is collect-
ing naterial for the wWonen's Yellow Paves:
Orizinal Sourcebook for Women new
New Sngland and New York edition.
Relevant articles, guides and bibliogra-
phies may be sent to the above address
c/o Carol F. Edvy, editor
Albany Bicentennial Comnission and the
Albany League of Arts and the Albany
City Arts Leaque will present The Cele-
bration, a fair day festival in honor of
the Bicentennial.
(con't)
The festival will be:
July 1-4 1975
noon-3pn (set up 9-12 noon)
All artists, craft persons or zroups wish
ing to participate should send $10 by
May 21st.
Jrite to Sandra Seifter
The Celebration
135 Jiashington Ave
Albany, NY 12210 for an applica-
tion.
Susan Saxe Defense Committee
P.O. Box 39
Jest Somerville, Ma 02144
Newsletter No.2, March 1975, received
by Speakout and donated to the women's
Center library.
Amazon, March 1975
March 1975, issue of Amazon received by
Speakout and donated to the ‘ionen's Center
library. This includes a one page article
"help for battered women", Names and ph-
one numbers of “Milwaukee's Task Force on
Battered Jomen are also included. Along
with a statement of the goals of the task
force and their basic position on batter-
ed women. "Violence azainst women is a
eommon and societally approved method of
keeping women in a subordinate and de-
pendent relationship to the male sex,
It is analogous to the use of terrorisa
and lynching of black people by white
people,"
ERA
c/o 2044 Jalnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19103
Hera is an independent feminist publica-
tion not affiliated with any political
group.
The march 1975 (Vol 2, %lo.1) issue re-
ceived by Speakout included articles on
snaff films and a Speakout on Crimes
Against .ionen
\lonen New York
jonen's Division
Executive Chanber/State of NY
1350 Avenue of the Americas
WY NY 100179
Bi-monthly news from the Women's Division
of the State of New York
Feb/ifarch 1975 issue received by Speakout
and donated to the women's Center library.
‘Women New York wants names and addresses
*(con't)
ua
Fron a Feninist Librarian (Con't)
of women who would like to receive
Woaen “ew York
The feb/March 1975 issue include¢ a
very fine article on the First iomen's
Bank.
Womenn-a Berkshire Feminist News Journal
Box x
Lenox, Mass.
a real bargain at 353. Sold at stores
all over the Berkshires, A good Sages
to get vacation ideas for visitinz, good
restaurants, bookstores and stores. in the
Berkshires,
MS April 1975
The latest issue of MS includes a 15
page handbook How To Start Your Own
ES ee
Business
SUNYA-GSraduate School of Crininal Justice
SUNYA will offer a course ‘Jomen in the
Criminal Justice ice System in the Fall.
The Lives of Emily Dickénson
The "Lives of Emily Dickinson"
will be explored in a program :
open to the public on Tuesday
May 4 at 8PM in the Community
room of the Bethlehem Public
Library, 451 Delawaew Avenue,
Delmar, N.Ye and sponsored by
Mount Holyoke College Alumnae.
Sarah Youngblood, professor of
English at Mount Holyoke, will
summarize some of the new and
sometimes controversial biograph-
ical information on Emily Dickin=
son and raise questions about the
poets life and work,
For further information cahl
Marcia Greenberg of Slingerlands.
A social hour for alumnae will
precede the program at 7PM.
Emily Dickénson, who lived in
Amherst, was a student at Mount
Holyoke in 1847-1848,
In 1971 the Board of Trustees
of Mount Holyoke voted to remain
D
CRI 720, Call % 0539 a womens college.
3 sraduate credits, tauzht by Professor
Narouerite Jjabren
Mondays 7-10pi ‘Mohawk Tower 2202
That's all for this month
CHRISTINE ROOT WSS 399: Topics in Women's Studies
Women in Science ==-MWFre-~
1:1082:00 Laura Roth
neo Me Se se ae 92
O° SE Sees SESest
See SHEE Stata
Women's Studies at SUNYA
Courses to be offered in the
Fall semester of 1976:
$81; Enthnology of Women ~~MWFe Billie Yean Isbell (for people
who are not social science mayors) 1=2PM
~-MWF 9:10=10:00 am (for Majors)
ANT
ANT 381: -
Women in Restoration and 18th C. Literature--TH,Te=2:10=3:25
by Lois Chaber
Literature of a Sub=Culture: Women Writerse- MWF==9s 10=10:00
am. by Diva Daims
ENG 395:
ENG 396:
FDN 405: Women and Education --T== 7:10=10:O0OPM Sandrs Peterson=Hardt
PEC 136: Self-defense for Women sMWs++ 10:00@LL11:00 Barbara Palm
Sexual Pelitics: Female and Male Communication Patterns of
Process==— T,TH== 11:10-12:00 by Linda St. Clair
seminar in Comedy: Women in Comedy #=T,THe-11:10812:3 <a by
Roger Harzel
Introduction to rentntsnt- 2:10-3:00 Judith Fetterley
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GROUP NEWS
Speakout, please send it to us. There are three Ways to get infor-
mation about your group activities into Group News. A manila envelope
with the word Speakout on it has been taped to the door of the
Women's Center (the inside door); all items placed in the envelope be-
fore the fifteenth of any month will appear in the issue for the fol-
lowing month. ‘Inforamtion can also be mailed to Speakout, POBox 6165,
Albany, NY 12206. You may also call Tania Durbak, evenings, at 482-
If your group has any news which you would like to have printed in
4252. Remember -- the deadline for information is the 15th of the month
Speakout For more information, please call
Dorothy Bellick, 355-8704, or
A stapling party will be held janice otis, 399-5936.
Monday, May 24, starting at 6pm
in the Women's Center. Everyone
is very welcome and all help is
greatly appreciated. Come, even
if it’s only for a short while.
Women's Awareness Group
The group will hold its final
general meeting on May 17 at 6:30pm
Last month Speakout held its
first monthly meeting in quite a
While. For the convenience of all
interested women, meetings will
now be held on the first Monday of
each month at 5pm. The next meet-
ing will take place on-Mon., May3,
at 5pm, in the Women's Center.
All Speakout readers are welcome.
The meeting will be of special in-
terest to individuals and groups
with policy questions, any general
questions and/or concerns, as well
as to women who want to get more
involved with Speakout.
and feelings about Speakout are im
portant to the staff of Speakout.
Come and share these ideas with us.
Schenectady NOW
May 5, at 8pm, a lecture will
be given by Christine Searle. fhe
topic will be the role of the mid-
wife in England and the uS. All
interested are invited to attend.
It will be held at the Schenectady
YWCA.
The organization will have its
next business meeting on May 19 at
8pm, at the Schenectady YWCA.
gams for next year will be planned
then.
This group is also holding a
garage Sale May 22 and 23. Any
items that people would care to do-
nate will be picked up gladly.
Your ideas
Pro-
A potluck dinner at the Bethlehem
Terrace Apartments' community room
is planned, so please phone in
your reservations by May 12. Any-
one attending is asked to bring
either a main dish, salad, dessert,
or wine.
= % & £8 8 228.8% £24.24 ix B&B TRE
££ £.4:% 28 €& & ER 2 & & 4 &
*
THE US-CHINA
PEOPLE'S FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION
cordially invites you
to meet
ett Ft HF + F
MARGARET WHITMAN
member of the First Americans
Women's Friendship Delegation
to New China led by Shirley
Maclaine
Mrs. Whitman will show a film
followed by a discussion and
reception. : :
Place: First Presbyterian Church
corner State and Willet
Albany
+ eee ee eet ee + & +
+ *
Time: Friday, May 14, 8pm
+e + *
Donation: $2.50/person
Come for an interesting and en-
joyable evening.
es 2 8 € 2 8 @£ 64 &@°@ € @ 4 © @ *% @
+ *® %
CALENDAR FOR MAY -- SEE GROUP NEWS FOR DETAILS
14 -
Speakout Committee meeting, 5pm, Women's Center
WILPF. film "The Freedom Railroad--the Building cf the Tan Zam
Railroad" 12 noon, Harmanus Bleekr Library; 8pm Eighth Step
voters Service planning: meeting, LWV, 7:30pm.
guest lecture in Russel Sage Evening Division course "Women in
Management," 6pm, Gurley Hall, room 304
Christine Searle's presentation on the role of the midwife in the
US and England, Schenectady YWCA, 8pm. -
Hearing on the Gloria DeSole case, Alfred E. Smith Bldg. ,9am-4pm
Basic Carpentry, A Woman's Place, Athol, NY 12810
LWV Colonie AM unit meeting, 9:30am
Guilderland unit, 9:30am; Albany City unit, 8pm, LWV
LWV Bethlehem unit, 9:30am; Colonie PM unit, 8pm
Margaret Whitman speaks about China, lst Presbyterian Church, 8pm
14-16 Mothers and Daughters week-end at A Woman's Place
17 -
19 -
Women's Awareness Group final general meeting, 6:30pm
Schenectady NOW business meeting, 8pm
21-23 Creative Writing workshop, A Woman's Place
26 5
25 =
Speakout stapling party, Women's Center, 6pm
LWV annual meeting and pot-luck supper, 6pm
28-31 Body Celebration, A Woman's Place.
e* keke He RR He a se £3 22.22.02 4
Group News (cont'd.). try to come to at least a part of
the hearing; it will be an eye-
course “Women in Management" will Opening experience. You will see
be held on Monday, May 3, at 6pm, how the Establishment operates.
in Gurley Hall, room 304. Barbara Some of the anger of the radical
Freed, president of Flah's, Inc., feminists may become more under-
Latham, will discuss "L'Entrepre- ‘standable to you.
neusse? Running the Business."
Important notice
The RPI Women's Coalition
This relatively new group on
Gloria DeSole who has done the RPI caipus developed last year
much in this area to promote the from a women's support group
equality of women is now fighting which met regularly on the campus
the denial of tenure at Skidmore last year and began having meetings
College. The fight has now gone on again this year. The coalition
for over a year. A hearing will is a central co-ordinating body
be held on her case before the NY and base organization for any wo-
State Commission on Human Rights. men’s groups on the RPI campus, or
This is a public hearing which for any Other groups who’ are con- -
takes place on Thursday, May 6, cerned with issues or activities
from 10am to 3pm in the Alfred E. relating to women , or relating to
Smith Building, Hearing Roon #3. sexism as it pertains to both men
It is important that as many and women.
women as possible come to show The group has no defined poli-
their support for Gloria in her tical position of any sort and its
fight against sexual discrimination.purpose is to support and help co-
If she is able to win, it will be Ordinate the activities of any
a victory for all women. group which relate to women or to
Even if you have never heard sexism. |
of Gloria DeSole, or aren't interes Meetings are held Tuesdays,
ted in the goings-on at Skidiiore, 73:30pm in Mother's Wine Emporium.
: Barb Mendelson, 274-5612 has info.
U. S. China People's Friendship Association.
cordially invites you to meet
Margaret Whitman
member of the. dst
American Women's Friendship
Delegation to New China
led by Shirley MacLaine
Ms. Whitman will show
a film followed by
a discussion and
a reception.
Friday evening, May 14, 8:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church, State & Willett
donation $2.50/ per person
JOB OPENINGS -- SPEAKOUT STAFF
WOMEN are needed to help Speakout .
stay in print. Anyone who would like
to donate their time and energy to
perform one of the functions listed,
please call us immediatelyl
1. Picking Up Mail -- from Speakout's
box at the Quail street post office
once a week and bringing to the
Women's Center or to a staffers'
house.
Monthly mailing-- taking Speakouts
to downtown Albany post office
onee a month to be mailed. The
woman need not have a car but
would need to be free sometime
during the day between the hours
of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Typist -- to type articles onto
stencils to be mimeoed. This can
be done at home or at the Women's
Center on Monday night.
Ads -- contacting feminist establish-
ments to solicit ads for Speakout.
Could also involve doing art work
for the ads, if the person is so
inclined.
2.
Subscribe to Speakout
$3.50 per year
Send coupon to:
Speakout
P. O. Box 6165
Address
scipwiineichaicbeniaiiaiaiaiessieiaiiaeaiaeaames
City. state, zip code
If you are planning a change of
address, please notify Speakout,
Tt will not be forwarded, and we
have to pay for copies returned.
Check appropriate box when sending ,
in coupon, New Sub Change
of address Renewal.
nee — ree
News Reporting -- roving reporter
to cover events of interest to
feminists and write up for Speakout.
Several persons needed for this job.
Bookstore Coordinator -=- woman
needed to deliver Speakouts to
bookstores and collect monies for
previous issues sold. Also would
involve maintaining records of
number of issues sold at each store.
Staplers -- staplers are always
needed once a month when we put
the: issue together. Even if you
only have an hour a month to donate
we'd appreciate it. See Speakout
calendar for dates of stapling party.
SPEAKOUT NEEDS YOU! DON'T LET US DOWN!
Speakout Staff
Bulk Rate
US Postage Paid
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Albany, New York
Eileen Kelly
98 S. Pine Ave.
Albany, NY 12208
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