Speak Out, 1976-1977

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Speakouts: A Feminist Journal
Vol. V No. 6 June 1976

Table of Contents
1 Thoughts About the Covere=Maxine Krall
r 4 N otes Written Before Dinner-=Carol Biernacki
$e4 From a Feminist Librari ane=Christine Root
S=6 Slothhood: A Fable for Our Timese=Susm Chelius
7 Letters to the Editor

‘ A Sad Storye==Women!'s Day

78 Star Tripping w th Susan Brownmiller; - #- Alex Douglas
the, Feminist Ripoff

9 Letter to my Daughter by Alice Gliarden Brand

9 Office of Civil Rights Flooded with Complaints

Workers for this Issues Tania Durbak, Jan Barbuto, Rezsin

Adams, Christine Root, Cheryl Shenkle,
Marcia Calicchia

SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50

per year. Single copies are 35¢ and are available at
local bookstoress

Albeny——-New Times Center, Seven Arrows
Bookstore, SUNYA Bookstore,
Unitarian Church Books tore, YWCA, Tri-
Cities Women's Center

Schenectady=-F ami ly and Women's Advocacy Service,
-YWCA

Advertising is $19.00 per qierter nace. $18.00 per half page
and $30.00 for a whole page. big :

SPEAKOUT

P. Os Box 6165
Albany, New York 12.206

‘THOUGHTS ABOUT THE COVER eee

"Gaployed omen and Men In Different 5
Settin ; hi by Carol Sehillinger | a

Part of dockety*s’ bias azainst
working women is that they lack the
anbition and notivation to take on extra
responsibility and have little desire to
be promoted. If not already married, it
is expected women ‘will stop working once -
narried and be supported by their hus-~
bands. Few question the husbands’ career
intentions, however, .

Yousewives lookin: for af eaneigob
after a 20-year hiatus ‘from the work-
force will find little or no financial
value placed on their 55-57 hours a week
job. Since house keeping a iad rearing
children is supposedly worthless money-
wise, it is considered worthless other-
wise as well, aad | therefore not work at
all.

Statistics prove wonen work to.
survive-~to support the mselves or to
‘support theuselves and their families. .
According to Karin Abarbanel. and Connie
MeClung Sie. gal, co-authors of donen's
Aorkbook (Pragar, $9. 95) 35 million
American women (43 percent of all Ameri-

can vonen) are currently employed, makin:
up 9% of the entire work force. There
are 7.7 million who never married, 19.3

million are married, 2.4 million are wid~
owed, 3.8 million are married to men
earning less than $5,000 a year and 3
million more are married to men making
between $5,000~$7,000 a year, Of the
women employed outside the home, 13 mill-
ion are aothers with children under avec
eighteen and 4S million mothers with
children under six are included in the
work force. iorkin wouen ag heads of
households total oe aillion. And there
are 2.1 million married women, whose

husbands are either unemployed or unable
to work,

Information smuehaea: by ‘the Bureau
of Labor Statistics show that. unnarried
woaen will gork for an averazse of forty-
six years, married women, twenty-five
years, and men regardless” of marital sta-
gus, forty-five years. L »

The time iste cone for eaployers to
think of women's eaployment as a end in
itself, not a way to a means to an end.

(CONT):

, best adjusted of all.

Traditionally, women have been
employed as clerical, sales and service
workers, The more woucn in any occupa.

; tion, the Lower the pay and the status

and the less likelihood for prospective
eaploym ent. Therefore, women stand a
sreater chance of success the higher

we apply and the more uncommon we are,

Instead of training to be a dental hygie-

ne assistant, how about becommin; a den-

tist? Insbead of opting for a career as
a notary public, cashier or a real estate
salesperson and broker, why not becone

a lawyer, acectataat or architect?

With eitearat ‘unamployuent and infla-
tion, all legal options aust be consid-
ered concerning womens! quest for equa-
lity. There should be more widespread
implementation of the four-day work week
aad husbands workins at home bringing up
the child/children and taking eare of the
house while wives 20 to work full time, -
@s an alternative to clamoring for per=
ilodic pay raises we should demand wore
jobs for more women ain return for fewer
pay raises,

Asa final observation, it would be
interesting to see how quickly Congress
would pass Levislation granting a rezu-
lar salary and pension to all ieee ages
ers if even half as many men as women >
worked at_ none,

* Sry be Se * ie oe
: ;

Tiossite From The Typist tho Just Fin-
sscceuaa a Tern ‘Paper on Jorking jomen

Sitdcites Sten show that Children of
working anothers have a lower delinquency
rate if they are taken care of by a
“consistent iacanane rn not the Father?

Also the children of workin? women are
more androvynous thap children of women
who work only in the hone,

Another interesting finding was that
girls who receive less. "notherine" are
more intellisent, more self-sufficient,
and much less likely to accept the trad-
itional role of women in our society,

‘But equally interesting was the fact that
if the mother was head of household, liked
to work and provided proper supervision
for her children, her children were the
MK

Wotes Jritten Before Dinner

Last week I was asked to connent on this

month's Speakout cover. The verbalized
question was "Jhat is your immediate re-
action upon seeing it?" The unspoken
question was "Is the issue of role rever-
sal, in particular; 'wouen workinz!;the
basic stuff feminism is all about?

My response: to these questions was var-
ied. My first response to se sing some guy

staying hone while ais wife zoes to work
was tae classical and still ogee.
"There's still a penis between us." My
second reaction was "Jho cares? It's all

very boring", (sort of late Colette),

After a discussion, it is apparent that
there is a fe seling anong sone women that >
it is tiresome to debate this old arcune-
nt of role reversal (and its corollary, —

"If men stayed hone, they'd really see how
it is, and what they are doing to us. ")

We agree the important thing is finding

and being ourselves.

This controversy has reached the bore~
don staze because it's a lot like disc6v-
ering tampax, or learning to drive a car.
Once you've been there the experience be=

comes part of you. The aystique cisappe~
ars. jJhat remains for me is that I sinply

cannot get how over, "Gee, (or dann it)
let's change roles." I never could.

The newspapers are full of these "human
interest! stories. "Husband and wife
Trade Roles", "Wife iorks, while Yusband
Cleans". There is nothin: new about this
to many women who share a family with a
naa. :

It's also meaninyless to women who find

self-definition ian women's collectivisa,
past or present. It is my understanding
that, in fact, there was some objection
to this cover by neabers of the editorial
staff of Speakout because it didn't rep-
resent this view. This all seems to me

like Deja Vu, (A reknown French philospher

who is making an extended study of the
Koran in Sast Schodack, New York. )

Flippaacy aside, when I was an editor of

Speakout, I clearly remember objectins to

a cover very much like this. I hac my own

visions of the perfect uover, A barebre-
asted womgn wearing sidesuas strapped to
her legs doing dishes for her lover. Me-
lying nude on the incredibly obscene vun

at. atervliet Arsenal, (Inthe drana-

LAec

tized version of this, buildings are
being burned, looted, or otherwise 'Patty
Hearstec!, t would here like to note
that there is ao truth to the rumor that

this author has a plallic fixation, nor

is she the study of a German discipline. )

In short, feminism, like all systems of
being, runs a developmental course. The
wouan “who drew this cover is in one spot,
ty another, For ne this ‘controversy!
has become noot--well worn, but worm out,
jeans. The wover itself and the assump
tions it makes for uost viewers, is
another natter,

‘Jay would a middle-class woman want to
change roles with a "hard hat"? The
physical labor is grueling. Unions are
a bunner to break into. It's a fantasy,
but for the very few. There are enough

women working in ‘these trades to indicate

you can ¢o in that direction if so bent.

They, however, are seldoa feninists, nor

are they aiddle-class in the broadest
sense of ' the tera.

The wover also fails to answer sone
central questions I have about role re-
versal, women working, and coubinatdons
there of. ne

Look asain at the cover. |

1. ‘Ihich one of these two is the fem-
inist historian who did not set tenure?

2. ‘ihich is the Marxist-Feminist? The
Lenimist?

3. ‘Tho is finishinz a 9th novee? S/he?

4, iho will die fron a heart attack

at ave 529

5. This couple is eiaipuinta, female/
fenale, male/nale, Alsatian?

5, dhich one is sender fucking?

7. Those uncle has the exclusive de-
fense contract at the plant where s/he
works? ;

3. ho used to be a collar closer in
a shirt factory ia Troy, Yew York?

9, ‘iho will fall asleep after work
ives physical exhaustion?

10. \ihich one needs assertiveness training?
11. Jhich one has a frozen need for power?

‘noney? dominance? passivi vity?

12. tho could have been a doctor, lawyer,
engineer, but decided to kick the Prot-
estant work ethic power trip?

13. This couple lives in Burnt Hills,NY?
Lubbock Texas? Columbia, S.A? Tel Avia?
Peking?

14, iho will die in a nursing home, Are
‘ (CONT)
Fron KNO

differently.
and a sociolozist; specialists in langu-—
ae and feminist oriented.

- From College

after Month Wonen's Agenda

FROM A FEMINIST LEBRARTAN
‘Jew Books{

,» INC. , PO Box 35031, Pot. Pa.,
15221

(Feminist Librarian, cont)

Childcare, Studies in the Female Psyche,
Third Joela. Jonen in America, ionen
Inprisoned ete., and nore!

he ait Ye Said ~ An annotated biblio-

graphy of sex differences in language,
Speech and non-verbal communication.
Compiled by “ancy Yenley and Barry Thorne.
Paperback, 2. 25

The book attenpts to show not only
how the sexes use lan. suage differently,
but also at how lan.uazge uses the sexes
Comp “peo doy a psycholoszist

Zatraace Examination Boatd
How to Decide: A Guide for jonen.
Paperback, 95.95

Dr. Nelle Scholz anc Dr, Judith Prince

and Gorden Porter Miller
Career counseling for women of all ages

in this ae.

A i Journal

oe ee EF

} ‘Yo. & NO. - February 1975,
year to individuals
Women's Action Alliance
370 Lexington Avenue
NY NY 10017
A new nonthly which the Women! s Action

310 per

Alliance hopes will be a national conver-~

sation, a turn-aeeting-in-print. ™fonth
will feature
real wonen talking about real concerns:

child care, education, job training,

economic power, coalition building.
Revolution, lesbian rights not mentioned, 2
Sample copy in the Tri-Cities donen's
Center Library.

Equal Euployment Course

June 7-9, 1975 $425.00

Federal Publications, Inc.

1725 K Street |

dashington, D.C,, 2005
Sounds zsood but too. expensive and a bit
too far away! a,

Goddard=Caabridce :
Graduate Prozran in Social Change

Arite to: Goddard- Cambridze

Graduate Progran in Social Chanze

5 Upland Road

Cambridge, Mass, 02140, for a catalog.
Offers a prograa in Feminist Studies that
is quite exciting. Course 2s include;
Feminist Art Project, Feminist Theory,
Mothers and Daushters, Politics OF,

ont) »

COSMEP 1975 Conference
The ninth anaual COSMEP National Con-
ference will be held at the University
of Texas in Austin on June 1-4, $973;
The Conference is being co-ordinated by
Paul Foreman (Tharp Springs Press).
Details are available fron Speakout or
fron COSMEP. .
COSMEP Inc.
PO Box 707 |
San Francisco, Galif. ,94101

Magaziness, for Libraries

Bese Katz, magazine reviewer for Lib-

Journal is puttias. tog ether a new

PES of M Mazazines Tor ‘Libraries, | a ref-
erence book for librarians interested in
building up periodical collections. a
Will appsar sonetime in 1977. Send review
copies of journals to Bill Katz, School
of Library Science, SUNYA, 1400 Jashington
Ave, Albany, NY, 12203 —

MATUSCRIPTS VANTED

Womanchild, a new magazine of poetry,
"Doeas of clarity, any subject, any fora",
Children's poetry is also welcome. Send
to Julie Scheinuan, 1 Hawthorne St. #2
Jorcester, Ma, 01510

Sinister jisdon, a new women's mazazine
published by Catherine and Yarriet at

Paes Country Club Drive, Charlotte, Nc

3205, wants essays, stories, journal

ontriss, pecas, also unfinished work and
fragments, 7

Cateway Press, PO Box $051 , Albany calif,
97403, needs Lins drawings of @Mhildrea
with humorous overtones for publication
in a book, Send samples (including one

of a nessy kid in a high-charr) with

retura posta: 6s

Fron The 1¢ Ladder, PO Box 5025, dashington
Station, { “Reno, | Tevada 89513

The prenee to the Ladder is still avail.
able for #10, ee tes

The Ladder, a Lesbian/Feminist Magazine
published from 1956 to 1972, is now avail-
able in reprint. edition from Arno Press.
And on microfilm fron Yerox University
‘icrofilns, Serials Bid Co-ordinator,

300 i, Zesb Rd., Ano Arbor, Mich. 43405

(cont)

(Feninist Librarian Cont)

The Lesbian in Literature 2nd ed. 1975
by Gene Damon, Jan iJatson and Robin
Jordan is now available for $7.00 to
individuals and $10.00 to institutions

and libraries. This 95 paze bibliograp-
hy contains about 2500 entries.

The Ladder is the distributor for the
Naiad Press which has published:
1. Late Comer by Sarah Aldridge--$3, 00
2. Tottie by Sarah Aldridge -- $4.50
3. Speak Out, My Heart by Robin Jordan

oh. 00

peak _My Heart originally entittled
"The Courage to Tell" recreates the
events occasioned by the basically simple

act of taking one's Lesbian lover home
to the family.

yke, A Quaterly
A magazine for the Lesbian community,
Lesbian culture
Tomato Publisations
70 Barrow Street
NY NY 10014
) Dept L
Dyke women believe that Lesbian culture
presumes a separatist analysis and if
Lesbian ous is intermixed with |
straight culture, it is no longer Lesbian,
it is heterosexual or heterosacial \
because enersy and time are going to men,

$8.00 per year

Women Loving jJonea - a select and annota-
ted bibliography of women lovin: women in
literature, :
Fron oman Press

Box 59330

Chicago, Illinois 50545 $1. 50
Approximately 200 entries covering works
published from 1914-1974 with annotatigns.
Lesbian, feminist and gay organizations
or bookstores and individuals ordering

10 or more copies, write for special
discounts.

ALA's Social Responsibilities Round
Table says "buy it, use it for acquisi-
tigas and put it on the shelf where your
patrons can find it",

- Don't forget to ask your local librarian
for everything you want to read or view
or hear in the way of books, mazazines,
films, records, tapes and other media,

dith that, I say, dave a Good Summer

Christine Root

Hag hae Sr plein 7 RR ee ie a Eos a een, Gute ie el elim Rae Niel aa nee ee ei ler i et ane a, ea eB ees gia a a wa Od 2 | ok ma ee

MYSTERY, DETECTIVE, % SUSPENSE

Harry CARMICHANL's The Quiet Joman
(Saturday Review Pr.35.95 LC 72-32543)
is an Gaglish press rather than police
procedural aystery in which the cashier
of a factory, after bashing a guard on
the head, vanishes with the factory! Ss
payrogl tt the lady payroll clerk.

A reporter, Quinn, gets into the act
and his investigations raise a nunber
of questions; have the two been having
an affair, or is it a business arrange-
ment? And which of the two was the
instigator? The suspense is perhaps

a little mechanical, but is sufficient~
ly expert to civert.

KK ok | 2g Keak 2K

KK 3K

Notes mitten Before Dinner (Cont)

, continent, and with a bed sore so bad

it has collapsed a lung?

Reprints of this article are available
from: Psycholozy Today
era.

pro dined comers

Tha. American Lesion Magazine

The. "Red. Book
The Militant.

In Strenzth,
Carol Harp Biermacki
78 3 et i ce 2 2K

2 ok 2 ae 2k

Thoughts About the Cover at 11pm.

There are three weeks of school left
(this being ay 2). I have three books
to read and know, two kids to take care
of, house, grass, dovs, cats and last

but not Least,wyself to look after. Rolc
reversal was never My Answer. And that

is the kicker. There is not one answer
that will suit any zroup of people.
inether or not a man or a woman chooses
to stay home should not concern anybody
except that man or woman, and the person
they choose to live with.

jay then does the cover raise so many
different responses? “ihat do the readers
of Speakout want, expect, desire etc.,
on the cover? In writing this, I realize
that I know only a snall portion of peo-
ple who read Speakout. Jho are you and
how do you respond, aot only to the
covers but to ths contents? Let's hear
frou you. Maxine Krall

; SLOTHHOOD: A FABLE FOR.OUR TIMES:

Once upon a time there was a small baad of three-toed sloths living in a forest.
They had formed a cooperative to improve their lot, for everyone knows that the
image of sloths is very poor, and consequently sloths are not taken seriously and -
are derided by the others animals of the forest.

The community of three-toed sloths sabkened’ great things working together for

their common good. Not only did the other animals in the forest sit up and take

notice of them, but attitudes held by even the lions about the sloths began to
undergo subtle changes. Soon three-toed sloths from all over the countryside
flocked to the community, where they | found a peaceful and warm abode. All three-
toed -sloths were joyously welcomed: the grey sloths with the speckled neckpieces, -
the brown sloths with the shortened tails, the orange sloths with the loud and
piercing shriek--all varieties of three-toed sloths: found comfort and companion-~
ship among the small but growing band in the forest.

On the outskirts of the forest lived a lonely sloth who was so different from
the others that it feared to join them. Not only did it fear to join them, the
band itself feared the intrusion of the lonely sloth. Although the lonely sloth
was of the same species as the sloths in the band, and although the lonely sloth
was as ridiculed by the forest animals as the ‘gloths who lived in the community,
the band was apprehensive lest the inclusion of the lonely sloth cast aspersiolis

upon the band. For the lonely sloth had four toes. Oh shame and dishonor! Thou
art not of us. 4

Time passes slowly in the world of sloths, but as it passed, other demely,
isolated, unnatural, four-toed sloths were drawn to the outskirts of the forest.
Wandering members of the community inside, venturing out foraging for food, some-
times came upon one of them, and ‘mistaking it for a member of the band(for with
your feet in the fallen leaves, it becomes difficult to determine the fatal diff-

erence) the three-toed and four-toed sloths would converse and cooperates and find
that friendship or even love would grow between Then.

Personal antes. more forming dveryady: encouraged “the lonely, ine todd sloths
to join the community of three-toed sloths in the woods. These game bonds encour-
aged the community to accept and welcome them as sharers of a common past of ill
treatment, and as Visionaries of a new forest world where all sloths, strong from
their friendships and loves, could grow and live in peace and friendship with all
the inhabitants of the land. Sloth pride and sloth love became the bond that

united all sloths in an integrated community where the good of one, be it Brey
brow or orange, was of vital ‘concern to all.

And then gradually, bie all ove move slowly in the world of sloths, three-
toed or four-toed, grey with speckled neckpiece or brown with shortened tail,
or orange with ‘loud and piercing shriek, a disturbing or beautiful phenomenon was
taking place. One by one, a few ata timo, some of the original band of three-
toed sloths found that they were growing an additional toe, First on one sléék
and supple ‘paw and then on another, a new toe would appear. At first tae other

three-toed sloths were apprehensive for all change is disturbing, but then they knew

that their friends were still the same sloths they had known for ages, so all was
well. ;

The four-toed sloths wiioonad the newcommers with great joy. More new friendships

developed between the new four-toed sloths and the old. It was a time of excite-
ment and discovery for the entire ‘sloth community.

And then, once more, a gradual change began to show itself, The four-toed: sloths
who had once been lonely and outcast by the forest animals and their three-toed

5 (CONT)— @.¢

Slothhood (CONT)

friends alike, began to praise each other and themselves for their four fine toes
on each and every sleek and supple paw. Ah, what finer animals than we could
there be, we with our marvelous four toes. The pride they felt was no longer for
their slothhood, but for their four toed feet. It became apparent that, while a
few individual bonds between three and four-toed sloths remained, the four-toed
sloths felt that they had discovered the true meaning, the finer meaning of sloth-
hood in the quality of fourtoedness.

Gradually, but not as gradually as before, the few remaining sloths who had not
yet grown their fourth toes, found theuselves @ an awkward position. They had
given up their unfounded belief in the superiority of three toedness and welcomed
their four toed compatriots into the community. They realized that being sloths
and sharing slothhood was indeed a common bond between them. But the intense pride
which had grown among those sloths with four toes made the three-toed sloths feel
shomehow less, somehow wrong, somehow unwelcome in the community whose goal was
peace and love toward all sloths. Bewildered by the change in belief, and hurt by
the distain of the four-toed sloths who had grow so strong, the remaining three-
toed sloths began to spend more of their time foraging in the outskirts of the
forest. They brought their berries and tender peices of bark back into the camp
and gave them to the four-toed sloths. They cleaned the nits from the ears of
the four-toed sloths, and tended the young, But rather than appreciate that the
three-toed sloths were doing all they could to bridge the gap and try to keep the
community alive, the four-toed sloths rejected them again and again. They had the
numbers, They had the ‘power. They had the right. ;

One by one, in twos and threes, over the passage of sloth-time, the few remaining
three-toed sloths gave up their vision of a finer world for all sloths. They
coukdn't stand up to the superior numbers of the four-toed community. Some sadly
stated thet they could no longer pay the price to stay where they were reviled,
and so, one by one, in twos and threes, the lonely three-toed sloths left the
community and made their way to the outskirts of the forest. Some have fallen
to the savage tigers and other predators, but some can be found there still.

The moral of the story is unclear; those who are anti-sloth would say it has to
do with the inferior nature of sloths. Others, that it concerns the evils of excess
pride and deficient understanding, or that the laws of the jungle can kill even
those who don't believe in them. One can only hope that the four-toed sloths be-
gin to lose their fourth toes, or the lonely three-toed sloths all grow fourth
toes, or that the four-toed sloths learn to become tolerant of the unnatural three-
toed sloths. Or perhaps the few remaining personal bonds between members of the
three and four-toed sloth cammunities can once again bring them all together, united
by their slothhood, rather than divided by the number of their toes.

In Sisterhood
Susan Weber Chelius

eee eke Hewat ete kk eke KEK
SPEAKOUT will take a month break and return with the
Ananst issne Plea-e continue to send news of ements to

Tania Durbak c/0 SPEAKOUT P.O. Box 6165 Albany NY 12206
Or Colt Vorny a. a Palm 44,2 ope Be

_ Letter to the Editor

We would like to respond to
Cheryl Shenkle's article "Feminism and
Electoral Politics." (SPEAKOUT April

1976). Ms. Shenkle advocates voting for

the lesser of two evils. This attitude
is defeatist. She is still placing
faith in the Democrat and Republican
candidates or more accurately the two
party system.

As feminists we must have a more
realistic perspective. TOAAATSS =x:
thing we have to do is to give up the
idea that any Democrat or Republican

candidate is going to fight for rights
of women. These parties are part and
parcel of the same system that must
exploit women to maintain and perspect-
uate this chaotic economic system.

The only presidential and vice-
presidential candidates that have
continually spoken out for the fight
for women's rights are the Socialist
Worker's party candidates Peter Came jo
and Willie May Reid. Their party
platform unequivocally calls for

ratification of the E.R.A., no discrim-

inatory layoffs and defense of abortion -

rights.

But casting a vote for the right
candidate is not enough. The major
victories that have been won by women--
such as the right to vote, or more
recently the right to legalized
abortion--were successful only because
women organized independent united mass
action to demand their rights. 1% 43
this kind of militancy that constitutes
our power to force change. Casting
votes for individual capitalist
politicians--no matter which party--
will only build up their personal
careers and influence and do nothing
to further the fight for women's rights
To win true freedom for women and to
create a just society, the only
realistic perspective is that of social-
ism and of uncompromising independence
from the capitalist parties that

- perpetuate injustice,

Maryann Kellogg
Eileen McAdan

Young Socialist Alliance
SAIS

A Sad Story

This is a sad story. ‘It is the
story of two people who tried to have a
meeting, in fact two meetings. But no
one came. This is the sad story of

controversial bestseller,

iomen's Day 1976 which doesn't seem

to be going to happen. This is the sad

story of the tradition of women in the
Tri-City area working together, The
tradition is dying in infancy. Yes,

there are other things to be done, other

causes, and, yes, there are problems. There
is only limited time and energy. But
like everything else, Women's Day is

- something we must do for ourselves. We

will try again for a meeting the second

week in June. This doesn't have to be
a sad story. Be there. |

Contact Re Rosen at 438-3208 £ for

further details.

OT Aa aaa ae

Star-Tripping with Susan Brown iex,

The Feminist Ripoff

- Susan Brownmiller, author of the

Wills Men, Vomen and Rape, |

standing r room only cr crowd at SUNY's Campus
Center Ballroom Sunday night, April 25.
It was the opening event of ilomanspace,

the annual women's weekend sponsored by
the Feminist Alliance.

The audience was quite attentive
as Brownmiller rambled through a 75-

Minute synopsis of the first few chapters
of the book. Brownmiller, who has ident-

ified herself for years as a “feminist

writer", has assembled in Against Our i/ill
what is being acclaimed by critics a ies

the consummate analysis of RAPE from a

feminist perspective, Her analysis of

rape as an integral part of the dominant
culture(patriarchy) which condones
violence against women to keep women
fearful and dependent is brilliant.

Her feminist consciousness, unfortunately, |
leaves something to be desired. Sisters, |
consider this:

In a recent interview piee oe
magazine, Brownmiller reportedly was
asked to comment upon the Publisher's
that the author of such a book must
surely be a "dike," Her response was
something to the effect, "My heterosexual
credentials are impeccablel " |
A small group of women from the
area approached Brownmiller after the
"speech" to find out what exactly was
the motivation behind the remark. Her
unfortunate response was "I would
dissociate myself from lesbianism like
crazy if it would help the sale of my
booky<y <7 Later she said, "I worked
hard."

¥ (cont. p. 2)

PEERS) es tar eee ek Oe ee Ne fers

Susan Brownmiller, cont'd. the tape and a showing might be made on

When pressed further about the a date to be announced. Channel 16 is
implications of such a statement for putting it on their channel June 3rd
everyone in the feminist movement, at 9 p.m. At the meeting, presentations
Brownmiller displayed an incredible were made by each member of the task

lack of sensitivity. It was clear to force and Fraya Katz of the Rape Crisis
all of us that the publisher of People Center also spoke. As a direct result

magazine had ‘touched the right nerve of the meeting we were offered a house

when he sought to brand the best selling by the Albany County in dowtown, However,

author with the label "lesbian," upon inspection the house was determined ‘
When Brownmiller responded so to be in need of extensive renovation,

defensively to the publisher's questions including rewiring and furnace repairs

she demonstrated, once again the ever . so that the offer had to be declined

present power of the media to oppress —s of the expense involved. The

women who fear the repercussions of being Task Force on Battered Women meets

labelled a "lesbian", who fear their _ peer Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. in the

work might be invalidated because of Women's Center. Contact Maryluise

such a statement. How ridiculous! Of Satterfield at 465-1327.
course, Brownmiller's motivation was

to keep the sales of her book flowing--

she reminded the audience several times re ‘s - oie
that it would soon be out in paperback. An ll.A, Program in Women's Literature

Sisters, don' +t buy this tock! from Goddard College

JRGEHHHHHEE

Offered by Feminist Studies at
Borrow it. Goddard-Cambridge Graduate School.
Alex Douglas Applications are accepted through July.
See . Contact Feminist Studies, Goddard-
Cambridge Graduate School for oat go
Items from NOW Newsletter Change, 5 Upland Road, Cambridge,
_Plash - BRA Survives Recision #10» 617 492-0700.

Efforts: | On } Wednesday, April 20, the
Assembly Judiciary Committee quietly

cilled two bills which were intended Press Release -- Assemblyman Seymour
to nullify New York State's 1972 ratif- Posner, Chairman, Assembly Labor Comn.

ee a

ication of the Federal ERA. The two Domestic household workers would
bills were A9013, a petition to Congress gain collective bargaining rights under
to resubmit the ERA for revocation the provisions of a bill passed today,
(defeated 15 to 4) and A9014, the NYS © May 5, by the New York State Assembly.
recision bill, (defeated 13 to 6). _ The bill would extend collective bargain-
lir, Thorp, Chair of the Assembly ing rights to household workers employed
Judiciary Committee has sought the by those who work for contract cleaning

opinion of the House Judiciary Committeefirms.
on these bills. He found that there sabe aiele
was no basis for the petition to re- Re TE Sateen aa

submit, and further that in the past . * © Seek Hew Location

>
>

Congress has ignored State's efforts On Thursday, March 25th, the
to rescind. So, lew York State's Executive Committee of the YICA Board of
ratification of the Federal ERA is Directors met with the "Y" Trustees and
safe for now. The states which have Advisors to discuss the future of the
been targeted by National NOW for ERA YUCA in its present location. For some
ratification are: Illinois in 1976, time, the "Y" has been concerned with the
and in 1977 Florida, Indiana, Missouri fact that the age, Condition, size and |
Nevada and North Carolina, tages of the building is a drawback

o the program we are able to offer. As

open meeting on Battered iJomen:

See cut etaeaiiae a result of the studies completed last

ear ro fi
to the problem of battered women and 3 ics — -. .
lence was well attended and 4 : ng
ee of the session was efforts in each areas, the Board voted
as to e lore the
made by Public Access Cable TV, Channel i possibilities of selling

the present site and seeking a more funct-
16. The task force purchased a copy of ional location Slsehers, ng

oS
‘

Alice Glarden Brand okt
‘252 Grant Avenue 7, epee
Highland Park, N.X. 05904

“LE?TER TO MY DAUS TSR

: spoke to a friend tonight sit when = mentioned the way you felt, sue suggested
I write to you. I have never done anything like this before, but I think it's
about tine. - |

I know that I'm not all the meter that you think I moeia be. You want me to be
more to you-with you. You want me to lose ayself in yourtlife, in your stories and
funny jokes.

You are jealous of ay time at my job, ny studies and ay writing. I know,and I
don't blame you. I felt like you too when I was young and Grandma was busy on
the telephone, with the Girl Scouts and all of her social functions. I was
jealous of her outside comnitments. And I wish a did not turn you away as I so
often do.

when you were a little . girl, I thought I was doing the right taing when I gave you
all of my days. I thouzht that those years were nore important for you than for
me. ‘They were important. years for your growing and they were important for my
gzrewing too. But I never lived those years. I tumed avay tuose years for myself
as I thoug ht a woman should do when there were children

Because of those first years at ome with: you, I guess I'm in a rush to touch
everything and co everything and know everything. I feel like I had been learning
the world in braille ee aclddalad I have deen syanted vision and I want to go
around aad practice seein:

I cherish you. I know you know week. Aad I do not want to be a disappointaent
: to you. But I must never azain disappoint nyself, I as an intelligent woman
: . who lost her way. I am croping to find it. Please understand so that you may
| never have to lose your way as I did. eae
|

: ime Your mother . 4 has
a: SHES See TIE eee ss I Het eH eI ee RE Wiest

Office of Civil Rights Flooded With Complaints

If women have any ideas on how to deal with the backlog of

federal civil rights complaints , the government wants to hear them.

In an unusual step, the Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare ran
a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on how to
tackle the problem of mounting complaints. ,

Complaints from women and minorities increased 450 percent
between 1969 and 1974 . HEW had asked to be freed from the legal
obligation to investigate each complaint as it comes through the
mail, After intense opposition from civil rights groups and feminist

groups , H&W withdrew this proposal.

Written comments should be metiee within the next 30 days to
Director Office for Civil Rights HEW P.O. Box 50180, Wash ngton DeCe
20004, Groups can also request to meet with HEW officials by

calling the Office of Public Affairs in the Civil Rights Office:
a02 = 2456700.

WRite to HEW and to your legislators TODAY$

‘

Group News | ss 7 \

Apology _
If your group's news did not get into Speakout last week although
you did get it in on time, it is because one of the pages was des-

troyed. I am very sorry that this happened and will try to avoid
situations which would lead to the destruction of any part of
Group News.

Speakout ve Albany Area NOW

Policy meet ings will be held The Domestic Violence Task
in June and July. 411 interested Force will hold its meeting on
_ Women are most welcome. we need June 1 at 7:30pm in the women's

your suggestions and your help. Center. On June 6, from 4-6pm in
Meeting dates are June 7 and July the Women's Center, a steering com-
12; both start at 5:30pm in the mittee meeting will be held. For

Women's Center. Since there will more information, contact Georgia
be no separate July issue, a stap- Gray,765- 2468.

ling party for the Gombined July- Every Tuesday evening, start-
August issue will be held on mon- ing at 8pm, there is a meeting of
day, July 26 at the women's Center a task force which deals with the

It will begin at 6pm. problem of battered women. All
All women are invited and interested women are invited to
encouraged to come to the stap- participate.. For further infor-.
ling party as well as to the poli- matio, please contact Maryluise
cy meetings. ? Satterfield (456-1327) or the Rape
Ba Crisis Center (445- 7567).°
Sthenectady WOW as Plans are now getting under-
way for this year's Women's Day ce-
June 2. Joanne Mullen will lebration. ‘to get involved cone
present a skit on the wide-eyed to the next NOW meeting which will

bride. Its purpose is to make wo- be held on June 9 at 8pm in the
men aware of their rights in mar= Women' s Center.

riage and divorce. Unfortunately Albany area NOW is also dis-
most women overestimate their ‘ _---cussing ways in which local schools

rights in these areas. The happy Can be helped to take advantage of
ending will be devoted to Changes Title 9. Come to the next meeting
being made in legislation to make to find out how you can help you
this a more perfect world ‘The neighborhood schools implement
program begins at Spin at the Sche- Title 9.

nectady YWCA. Everyone is invited

Albany County Rape Crisis Center

The following officers
were elected during the recent elec The next General meeting will

tion: president, Ann Booth; vice- take place on Sunday ; June 6, from
president, Claire Pospisil; secre- 7- 10pm at the Rape Crisis Center

tary, Linda Hart; treasurer, Mary Office in the Albany YWCA.
Nicholau; membership chairperson,

Joanne Mullen. Women's Day

‘June 16 is the date of the The third Women's Day Steering
chapter' Ss annual picnic. All mem- eried eas meeting will be held
bers are invited. - For information on June 8, beginning at 7:30pm in

please contact Janice Otis, 399- the Women's Center. See article

5936. entitled "A Sad Story" elsewhere
Schenectady Now is planning in this issue for more information

recruiting activities for the about the plans for this year's

month of July. The chapter is Women's Day celebration plans.

most interested in increasing its

membership.

Tri-Cit Women's Center

Monday, June 7, at 8pm, there
will be a General Assembly meeting
at the Women's Center. Proposals
for re-structuring the Steering ©
Committee will be introduced and
discussed. This will be an impor-

tant meeting and all interested wo- <

men are urged to attend.
Steering Committee meetings,
which are open to all intersted wo-

men, are held every Monday at 8pm
in the Women's Center.

tary-setsy Szawlinski, treasurer-
marion Trembley, general member-
Corrin towe, publicity-Charlene
Heykel.

wo of the chaptde? s members
hold state or national positions:
Jane Small Sanford is now the
chairperson of the Caucus for NY
State, and Corrin Towe is the wY
State representative to the na-
tional steering committee.

The group will hold meetings th

throughout the summer. ‘The next
meeting is scheduled for June 3

A talent show has been proposedand > will be held at 7:30 in the

for either the first or third Fri-
day night in June.

The Women's Center is co-spon-
soring a conference on Women, Money
nad Power. The conference will be
held during the week-end of July
17 and .18.:.-it will provide the
community wiht an opportunity to.
get together and discuss ane is-
sues.

For more information, come
to the Women's Center any Monday

evening between 8 and 10pm, or call ;

449-9991 between these same hours.
The Women's Center needs your.

support to exist and flourish.

Come and get involved.

Women's Coffeehouse _

‘he program for the dune £ic
Coffeehouse is not yet definite.

However. performers are tentatively
scheduled. ‘hey will be Sally”
Fiano and the Ethel nertz Band from
Chicago OR Susan Sherman, wYC poet

wn iriday. June 25, Donna
Fialkoff will be featured She is
a feminist performer who will en-
tertain with masks, mime, and jug-
gling.

All Coffeehouses are held
every second and fourth Friday at
the Womens Center starting at 8330
pm. ‘the donation is $2.00 or what-
ever you can afford.

The June 25 Coffeehouse per-
formance will be followed by a
circus party.

Women's Political Caucus

This group recently had elec-
tions. ‘The following officers
were elected to the steering com-

mittee: chair-aren Lare, secre-

women’s’ Center in Albany. All in-
terested women are invited to all
meetings.

For information about July's

meeting date, contact — ee at
434-3664.

A Woman's [lace

she June and July workshop
schedule includes:

June 4-6. auto clinic. How to do
your own tune-up; trouble shooting

basics about taking csre of cars

and other engines.

June 11-13. Growing Older. ‘Shar-
ing thoughts and experiences on
what it means for a waoman to grow
older in this culture; physiologi-
cal, emotional, and economic as-
pects.

June 18-20. ‘Lesbian Growth weekend
A discussion on developing strong;
positive lesbian relationships.
June 25-27. luusic weekend. A time
to get together and make some mu-
sic all women performers, dab-
blers, and listeners welcome.

July 2-4. Crafts Fair. Displaying
demonstrating, buying, selling,

Swapping, and sharing our crafts

and ideas for scrafts. If you are
a craftsperson, come and demon-
strate your work or bring some sam-
ples.

July 9-li. Self Help and Alter-
Native Healing. Demonstrations

and discussions of various philoso-
phies and techniques.

July 16-18. Field Day. A week-
end of games, Sports, exercise.
July 23-25. Lesbian Singles week-
end. A week-end especially for

“uncoupled” lesbians to discuss

their particular experiences and

Group News (continued)

A woman's Flace

problens, and to work on cutubsiale
ing a community or alternative
support system.
July 30-Augustl. Spirituality.
Sharing our experiences, our be-
liefs, our revelations, and our
doubts. |

A Woman's Place is always in
need of financial help. At this —
time they“do hot have money avai-~"
lable to make needed repairs and.
improvements on the property or
for extending. the scholarship
fund. Contributions of any amount
are deeply appreciated.

to send contributions, or to
obtain additional information
about any activities contact:
A Woman's Place, Athol, ny 12810,
(518)623-9541.

.Women's Studies at SUNY

_ One proof of the fact that
this program is alive and kicking -
is a conference sponsored by the
SUNY advisory committee on Women's
Studies. The conference will be |
held on the campus of SUNY Albany,
June 5-7 and is open to all inte-
rested faculty and students. It
will feature discussions of the
present status and the future pros
pects of Women's Studies at SUNY.
Special emphasis will be given to
research, curriculum, and pedago-
gy in Women's Studies. Sessions
on Saturday and Sunday afternoons
will include various workshops

and discussion groups. Papers on
Women' s Studies research in the
various disciplines will be pre-
sented during the Sunday morning
session, with discussion following
The film “Antonia‘* will be shown
on Sunday evening. On Saturday
evening a banquet will be held,
followed by entertainment provi-
ded by the Full Circle Collective.
* Monday afternoon will be dedicated
to the annual meeting of the Cau-
cus for Women's Rights at SUNY.
Pre-registration for the confe-
rence ended May 253 late regis-
tration will be $2.00 for students
and $5.00 for others. The banquet

A Worksho

on June 5 will cost $5.75, service
and gratuities included.

For further information regar-
ding the conference, contact
Francine Frank, Hu 245, Department
of Hispanic and Italian Studies,
SUNY Albany, Albany, NY 12222 or
call (518 )457-8419,

Gloria DeSole's Case

Two more hearings will be
held in June before the Human

Rights Commission in the case of

Gloria DeSole vs. Skidmore College.

Skidmore will be presenting its

case. The two hearings will be
held June 3 and June 10 (Thursday)
in the Alfred <. Smith Building,
Hearing Room l. 4&4 sign will be
posted if the room is changed.

Come and support a sister. see

how the establishment treats women.
It will be especially important
for you to come if you think that
some feminists have been over-
stating the case against our so-
ciety and its standards. —

On both days the hearing will

begin at 10am and last until 3:30.

Come for all or part.

. for Women in the Middle

Years

vhis workshop, sponsored by
the pues Sahat Proresekonal coun

dpportunity to concentrate mT RE

Sively on Life experiences. The
workshop's aim is to help women

prepare for middle age, and to give

all women an Oppertunity to share
and discuss each other's feelings,

ideals,and expectations in an open,
supportive atmosphere.

‘the workshop consists of six
weekly two-hour sessions; four
sessions reiaain in June. ‘the June
sessions deal with the following
topics: relationships with signi-
ficant males; relationships with

family members; directions to take,

preparing for the future.

_ The cost for the entire six-
week session is $50.00, but no one
Will be refused attendance because
of lack of funds. The June dates
are: June 7, 14, 21, 28. For fur-
ther information, write or call:

. * More Group News.....

A Workshop (cont'd. )

Associated Professional Counselors
3010 Sg ae laa Road
Schenectady, NY

785-1100 or 783- 1258.

Alist of suugested readings on the
topic of the middle-aged women as
well as books which will help pre-
pare for those years will appear
at the end of the Group News. The
list was compiled by the associa ~

tion which is sponsoring the work-
shop.

Women's Participation in the Labor
Movement

The Smithsonian Institution
: has prepared an exhibit portraying
the role of women in the trade ~
| union movement in the United States
since 1824. This exhibit will’be
on display in Colonie Center July3
1976.

- Colonie Center is providing
extra panels for the use of local
unions in the Capital District to

portray the participation of women
unionists in the local or within
|
|

~ August 1;

the international union. Any pho-
tographs, newspaper clippings, ar-
tifacts, Or narration would be a
valuable contribution to this dis-
play.
To highlight this event, a spe
cial open-house in Colonie Center
is being planned during the second
: week of the exhibit.
: YOU can help plan this focus
on women in the labor movement :
*come to a planning session
June 3 at 7:30pm in Cormell's ILR
office at 75 State Street in Albany
Bring any ideas, photographs, or
any other of the items mentioned
above.
*encourage your local to add
to the display
*offer suggestions for speak-
ers or panel for the Open House.
: For additional information,
contact Fran Jackson, American Fe-
deration of State, County, and Mu-

nicipal Employees (AFSCME) at

Se ea eens ee ae Meneame oer

the summer.

' grew to feminism.

for homeless women.

465-4585 or Lois Uttley, Newspaper
Guild, at 482-9218.

League of Women Voters

Both the Albany County and the

Rensselaer County chapters held

elections during May at which new
officers were chosen. Neither
chapter holds unit meetings during
They plan to resume
activity in the fall.

For information about the

League or about upcoming programs,
Call the’ League offices.

} In Alba-
ny Call 489-5685; in Rensselaer
County, call 273-0552.

Council of Sisters, Albany Diocese

AS Many of us know, a large
number of nuns is no longer wearing
the old habits. Sut much more has
changed in their lives besides ?
the style of clothing. Nuns ; along
with many other women, were in-
volved in the civil rights" pro-
tests; from there, many of them
‘roday » among the
nuns who are involved in social
work are many who are dedicated to
working for and with women.

An Ordination Conference was
held in Detroit at the end of No-
vember,1975. Copies of papers pre
sented there can be obtained at
the office of the Council of Sis-
ters (Sister Joan Tesch, 438-6681).
The titles include: “'Phe Proper
Place' of Women in the Church, *
"The Church in Process: on Engen-
dering the Future," “The Moral:
Imperitives for the Ordination of
Women,” “models for Future Priest-
hood: a Panel Discussion," “Possi-
bility and Vision: Synthesis and
Strategy."

This spring, a project was
begun to create a hostel which
would provide temporary shelter
Various prob-
lems have delayed fruition of the
project; it is hpoed, however,
that the hostel will be able to
open. Interested women should con
tact Eileen Craig (463-4447) for
more information.

A task force on women in ©‘ -:.-

— :

Council of Sisters

ber.

Art Exhibit Shee

“ee

And Stith hore Group News rage eee

(cont a.)

ministry is being formed. in the
Catholic Diocese of Albany, — All
interested persons are urged to
contact Helene Mailey at 869-3493.
Sister Marjorie Tuite will be
the featured speaker at a Confe-

rence on Social Ministry which willsible.

be held. at St. Rose College in
Albany. Mar jorie Tuite was one ©
of the main speakers at the Ordi-
nation Conference held in Novem-
For further information,
contact the office of the Council
(438-6681) or St. Rose College.

iad is

‘PUNNY?" an exhibition exam-
ining the peculiarities of people
over the past five centuries, aS
opened at the Rensselaer Newman

Foundation Chapel and Cultural Cen
ter, 2125 Burdett Ave.»
(on Friday: May 14.

in Troy

More than 45 prints, some da-

ting from the 15th century, are

satirical and light-hearted in
their examination of the human con
dition. The question mark in the
show' Ss titlepermits viewers a con-
temporary assessment of the humor
originally intended by each artist.
The exhibition, to be on view

through Monday, June Ty, isp a pre-
sentation in cooperation with the ©

Gallery Association of NY State,
whose exhibition program is Sup-

ported by the New York Council on

the Arts.
ier The humorous intention of eng

artists may have been sardonic, ae

bald, satirical, absurd, cruel ‘or
gentle - and no person, state or |
custom in been Spared ivy this)
collection ‘O£ prints «

The public may visit the exhi-

daily. Oise! i mame as uleuoi: 40%

bition from 10: 00am to ll: OOpm

* ne hae

There will pot be. 2. July. issue of

—Spealout; the. July-August issue
will come out at the very end of

July. For this” reason, a duly ca-

=
c

lendar has been included in this
issue. The deadline for notices
which are to appear in the Group
News for the July-August issue is

Wily 15.

As| nits noticed, we have been
expanding this section of Speakout
duribg the past few months to in-
clude news about as great variety
of women's organizations aS pos-
If you know of any women's
organization which is not cevered
in the Group News, but whose ac-
tivities May be of interest to fe-
Minists and do not contradict fe-
~minist idealogy and/or principles,
‘please let us know about these or-
ganizations. Please mail the infor

aes mation, or place it in the envelope
| SERS. ie Le on the door of the Women's Center,
ar S.. R or call Tania Durbak (482-4252).

eee e HE

Some soaganted’ Seuainga for dealing
with middle age or pik ote for it

After Divorce by Mice: ‘Gooule, Glen
coe, Illinois, Free Press, 1956.

A Guide to Succeddful Marriage by
A. Ellis and R.A. HAERSEs Calif.;,
M. Powers, ays: ri ;

Women in Transition by Women in
Transition, Inc., NY 5 Scribner ,1975

Born Female by Caroline Bird, NY;
heaicas i L974. ; ect

phe? Deubhe’ Standard of Aging, by

iS. Sontag, Saturday in aa ‘Sept.
(23, 1972. ie

* ® ;
4 a 4

“Bieaking the age Bevvie* ree E.
Janeway » ‘Ms. Magazine, April, 1973.
Daughters and Mothers:Mother and
Davghters, by Signe Hammer , NY;
pear) a2! bak i ae

= % “Gordon, NY, Peter” ee gaining. br

x i — =
A — & . + Se Jano ~

Talking about. Divorce, by BE. As
Grollman, Boston, Beacon Press,1969
The above is an excerpt from Ss 1ist
prepared. by Carole oO. Smith and Jo-
seph V. Druzba who are presenting

a workshop for middle e-aged women.

?
» CALENDAR FOR JUNE AND JULY, --. SEE GROUP NEWS FOR DETAILS

’
c

° Ne.

1- Meeting of Albany NOW task force on domestic violence, 7:30.
2- Schenectady NOW meeting, &pm. a

3- Hearings of Gloria DeSole case, 10am-3:30pm.
- Women's Political Caucus meeting, 7:30pm
- Planning session for exhibit on Women's Participation in the
Labor ovement, 7:30pm.

5-7- Conference Gece sw by the SUNY Advisory .Committee on Women's”
Studies

5- "Arts 200" Festival in Troy' s Washington Park

6- Albany Rape Crisis Center meeting, 7-10pm.
_J- Speakout policy meeting, 5:30pm.

- Tri-City Women's Center general assembly meeting, 8pm.

8- Meeting of women's Day steering committee, 7:30pm.

9- General meeting of Albany NOW, 8pm.
10- Hearings of Gloria DeSole case, 10am-3:30pm.

11- Women's Coffeehouse, 8:30pm. |

12- Deadline to apply “for job with Albany County Rape Crisis Center
16- Schenectady NOW annual picnic.

25- Women's Coffeehouse, 8:30pm.

6- Albany NOW steering committee meeting, 4-6pm.

4-7- Conference on Social Ministry sponsored ee Council of Sisters
JULY

3- beginning of exhibit in Colonie Center on Women's Participation
in the Labor movement.

- Speakout policy meeting, 5:30pm.
13 and 18- Conference on Women, Money. and Power
26- Speakout stapling party, 6pm.

Weekly ‘ie events

monday -- Workshop for women in the middle Years, 10am-12noon, June
Steering Committee meetings for the Women's Center, 8pm.
Drop-in hours for Women's Center, 8-10pm.
: Tuesday -- Task Force on Battered women (sponsored by Albany NOW
and Albany Rape Crisis Center), 8pm.
|

week-ends -- Every week-end there is a workshop in progress at A Wo-
man's Place, Athol,NyY.

#+e*e *e * eH He * eH HE

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Position available August 1. Assistant to Director, Albany

: County Rape Crisis Center. Duties. recruitment , training of volun-
teers, coordination of volunteer services, record-keeping, statistics,
etc. General Administrative duties. Minimum qualifications: BA plus

|
two years of full-time experience, one in a counseling-related posi-
tion and one in administration or four years of experience.

Send letter and resume to: _

Albany County Rape Crisis Center
55 Steuben Street

Albany, NY 122707.
Deadline for applying--June 12, 1976.

JOB OPENINGS -- SPEAKOUT STAFF

WOMEN are needed to help Speak
out stay in print. Anyone who
would like to donate their time to
perform one of the functions listed
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A Feminist Tournel Ju ly- August (776

Glere. De Sele

Skidmore College
Before the Pras S state

— Human
Commission Oh rae

See the fatriarchy In Action /

Speakout: A Feminist Journal
Vol. V No. 7 July-August 1976

si Table of Contents
1 Gloria DeSole Benefit -- Maxine Krall
2-3 Family Violence
3 Women Battering in Holland
3-4 Press Release -- Posner Household Workers Bill
4m5 Seattle iloman Fire Fighter
4 Independence Day in Philadelphia -- Cheryl Shenkle
6 Letters to the Editor

7 Conference on VJomen and Unemployment -- Rezsin Adams
8-9 Group News

10 Calendar

Adams, Maxine Krall \

SPEAKOUT is published monthly, Subscriptions are $3.50 per year. Single
copies are 35¢ and are available at local bookstores:

~~ Albany: New Times Center, SUNYA Bookstore, Unitarian Church
Bookstore, Seven Arrows Bookstore, YWCA, Tri-Cities
Women's Center

Schenectady: Family and Wiomen's Advocacy Service, YICA

Note: Last month's table of contents listed Maxine Krall as the writer of
an article called Thoughts About the Cover. It did not list Carol Schillinger
as the writer of the article, "Employed \lomen and Men In Different Settings"

We did not mean to leave Carol's name off the table of contents, it was an

Workers for this Issue: Cheryl Shenkle, Tania Durbak, Jan Barbuto, Rezsin
oversight.

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The cover was copied (with permission) from a drawing by Maggie Boys

SPEAKOUT _
P, 0. Box 6165
Albany, N.Y. 12206

GLORIA DESOLE BENEFIT

On August 8, 1976, the women of the tri-cities are invited to attend a

benefit for Gloria DeSole. The event will be an opportunity for the women to

unite in a political action to support, finally and emotionally, the fight being _

a by Gloria against Skidmore College. Job discrimination touches all os us
as we struggle to become equal. This event will stress the importance of all
the communities, whether we are radical or conservative, professional or non-
professional women, Artifical barriers, imposed upon us by society, it is
hoped will be less distinct’. by the end of the day.

Some of the particulars of Gloria's case are:

1) Skidmore College denied tenure to Gloria in January of 1975, while giving
tenure to four men, in spite of the fact that her qualifications are equal or
better to those of the men (Skidmore has not given tenure to a woman in the
English Department for 18 years. )

2) Gloria has been fighting the tenure denial in the courts. The cost, so far,
is close to $2,000. Probable cause of sexism has been found in the first round
but Skidmore is likely to appealthe case through the Federal Courts.

3) Gloria is prepared to fight Skidmore through the court system for herself but
also for the women who may follow in her footsteps, because she believes that
precedent and principles are worth fighting for.

The event will be held in the Gym of the YUCA at 55 Steuben Street, Albany
beginning at 4 p.m. All women are invited to attend. There will be short
speeches by women of the area, including Gloria. Discussion groups will be
set up afterwards. tlomen may bring a main dish for dinner, salads and beverages
will be provided for a small donation. After dinner, Carol Goodman, folk
singer, will perform as well as Full Circle. Items will be offered for sale,
posters and bumper stickers, etc. A donation of $2.00 will be asked at the
door. But, while financial support is important, moral support is equally import-
ant. All women are encouraged to attend this event as a political statement of
Sisterhood, omen who wish to give their physical energies to the event may call
Maggie Boys at 438-4643 or Maxine Krall at 765-2862,

In Sisterhood, Maxine

"Family Violence, On Rise, Is Treated

Leniently" -- reprinted from an article
in the New York Times, June 14, 1976

In New York City last year, there
were 7,237 new petitions charging
"family offense" filed with the Family
Court --compared with 4,803 in the
previous year. Of those 7,237 cases,
only # resulted in sentences to a

workhouse or prison. 51ix months is
the maximum term prescribed by law,
but it is almost never imposed. An
official of Family Court said suspended
sentences and warnings were common.

Because the family Court has original
and exclusive jurisdiction over
"family offenses" -- described as
disorderly conduct, harassment, menacing,
assault or attempted assault between
family members or members of the same
household -- all such cases start
there, but only one half of them
actually wind up in court.

Statistics complied by the Office of
Court Administration suggest that
about 80/5 of all family offense cases,
a category that also includes child
abuse, are filed by women against their
husbands. The fact that 50% of the
cases filed are dismissed or withdrawn
is largely attributed by probation
officers and counselors to the women's
dependence, financially and emotionally
on the very men they are charging with
having hurt them,

By law, in family offenses, punishment
applies only to violation of a court
order, called an "order of protection"
to refrain from future acts cf aggress-
ion. Unless the initial offense is
exceptionally grave and requires the
victim's hospitalization -- in which
case it may be transferred to Criminal
Court -- it goes unpunished or even
unnoticed.

Court statistics disclose that only
20 of the 18,786 petitions filed
in New York State in 1973-74 were
transferred to Criminal Court for
prosecution. In general, the emphasis
is on mediation, with orders of protect-
ion issued to serve as a warning.

An order of protection, however, is
no protection. A woman can still be
beated with this piece of paper in
her hand. It just gives the police
the authority to arrest him if he
does it again.

Another irony is that ever if a

subsequent beating occurs, the police
may not

may not respond to the scene unless the
aggressor is there when they are called.

Marjory D. Fields, director of the
matrimonial unit of Community Action for
Legal Services, noted that in"stranger-
stranger" assaults, two legal options
are open: the victim can sue for
damages in Civil Court as well as press
criminal charges. In cases involving
relations, neither option can be pursued
and beatings may not even provide
sufficient grounds for a divorce.

lirs,. Mack who oversees the screening
of the petitioners in family offense
cases, says that experience has led the
police and Family Court to stress
conciliation. She says "the answer is
not to break up families, but to get
them both in to talk it over." "Many
don't really want a change. . . And
when the police take action, they run
the risk that the woman: won't show up
the next day. Or else an officer goes
in to help, and then both parties
turn against him."

Miss Pields cited figures from the
FBI Uniform Crime Report of 1974
which indicated that family disputes
nationwide resulted in more police
deaths and injuries than any other type
of call for assistance: 22% of all
police deaths and 28 of all police
injuries.

The Home Advisory Service Council of
New York, an agency financed by the
Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee,
offers free counseling to couples
referred by Family Court. Helen Weiss,
the executive director, says, "These
people know violence as a way of life
and they beat each other up. Their
largest single problem is the inability
to communicate, so they act our their
frustrations."

lirs, Weiss added that"many women
had been brought up to accept the fact
that they would be beaten up by their
husbands. But now, they are becomming
less likely to accept it than their
mothers and grandmothers were."

Miss Fields suggests that wife
beating and the tolerance it commands
from the courts and the police stem
from a concept of women as property.
They also see it as a problem far more
widespread than court statistics disclose.

"Ie only get the poor people," said
an administrator at Family Court. "When
the wealthy or the middle and upper
classes beat up their wives, it never
gets to court. The wife is ashamed to

Family Violence, cont'd.

let people know. If it happens, they
go for private counseling or get a
quiet divorce. We know that it goés
on all over, 4

In England, an association called
Women's Aid has opened a series of
shelters to provide refuge for battered
women who need to escape from their
husbands. There are few such shelters
in the United States, but none so far
in New York.

Miss Mac Millan [Chairperson of the
Mayor's Task Force on Rape | is attempt-
ing to start one. She has notified
the US Navy of her interest in acquiring
the so-called Matthew C. Perry House
at the Brooklyn Naval Yard for this

purpose,"

dife-beating is not a problem
unique to the United States as the
following article illustrates:

"omen Battering" (in Holland) --
Reprinted from ISIS, Women's Internation-
al Information and Communication Service

Yomen'battering isn't an uncommon
event in Holland. ile can't offer you
statistics because no one bothers
to find out the facts about this crime.
In the Dutch judicial system it is a
crime with a high penalty but usually
it never gets that far,

No research has been carried out
about marital violence, There are some
institutions In Holland where women can
find shelter for a short period of
time (up to three months). These '
institutions aren"t very clear to the
reasons why women want to live there.
They mention"marital problems" which
can mean a lot of things. Women-batter-
ing doesn't exist as such in the
terminology of welfare insitutions.

When a woman has been battered by her
husband there exists a "relational
problem" or"a disturbance in the
communication between the marital part-
ners", The solution has to be sought
in "bringing the marital partners togeth-
er again". A woman told us about her
"“relation-therapy": "When I told my
therapist that I was afraid of my
husband because he tried to strangle
me last night, the therapist answered:
Mrs, X, just put yourself in your hus-
band*s place, how diffcult it must be
for him that you are afraid of hin”

In October 1974 "Blijf van m'n Lijf"
(means something like "Staff off my body)

opened a refuge for battered women
and their children. The address is
secret. "Blijf van m'n Lijf" helps
women on their own account, not in

terms of their relation or their marriage

they fled from.
men at all.

There are two goals to be realized:
to offer a safe shelter for battered
women and their children and to make
the problem of women battering known
and widely publicized.

Since the refuge opened her doors,
about 300 women accompanied by 600
children have come to the refuge.

Also other institutions have noticed
that more women came to them with the
specific complaint of being battered.
It turns out to be a widely spread

and big problem. ie think we only have
seen a very few of the women who

Tt doesn't deal with

are actually battered.

If you are interested in how we
set up our refuge and the way it is
run, you can phone us nr.620- 94 27 58
or write to: "Stichting Blijf van
m'n Lijf", postbusnummer 4214,
Amsterdam, Holland. (01445)

eae we

Press Release -- Posner Household

Vorker Bill Passed Both Houses of
Legislature

On May 27 the Senate passed the’
Posner Household Workers Bill, giving
collective bargaining rights to house-
hold workers employed by contract
Cleaning agencies, The Assembly had
passed the same bill, A. 4297-D, on
April 29. It was signed into law
by Governor Carey.

In granting bargaining rights to
household workers employed by contract
cleaning agencies, the new law will
still exclude from the collective
bargaining law household workers
employed directly by private individuals.
The original version of the Posner
bill, passed by the Assembly last year
and endorsed by labor, women's and
comunity organizations, had included
all domestic workers, but that version
died in the Senate Labor Committee
because of fears expressed by some
committee members that private homes
in suburban areas might be picketed
by individual workers as a result of
labor disputes,

lir. Posner estimates that the bill
would affect directly some 12,000 to -

Posner bill, cont'd. Written examinations, oral inter-

j ical fitness
15,000 workers in the New York City es ag So Sr Nl The
area working for some 140 agencies, veterans preference points put all the
ping seine: weg we a go who women below the top 25% of the eligibility
tad cctlcae Da eho Geen ue or register. Right down to the night before

3 ss recruit school started the women were
household workers in the state is about fighting medical appeals end sourt
164,000 most of whom work for individual jo+t1es and trying to lose weight to
households. (Of this figure, about 65%

" ta. S$ fel a >
are black and 97% are women.) pore oa. pg ere
However, people who work for ‘ —
individual households will also benefit an ite ae ee ee
ie pct agate oat ages sb : during training due to illness or injury.
a. apes 6 Ye Sher None of them were threatened with
Tor one thing, any household worker

can join the union and use its resources termination, but rather were assured that
to redress grievances and violations of they would be able to catch up.

: a4 Constant threat of termination
peng dabor ey bss was something only the women in the

e union can establis ring halls - ,
from which individual householders Class Sao Eis Lakshas charges in her
can hire union workers, The union ESR OS. WEN)

: ; Oia s : llost of the women who resigned
would provide specs rea nLng +OB his had expressed eagerness to ares the
RoDIe ES ana, Suara ee De quality next recruit class, then scheduled to
work in return for employers agreeing begin in July, 1976. Had they chosen
et Hy scale wages and fringe to be terminated instead, they would

have been ineligible under civil service
rules for any future recruit classes ©
or civil service employment. This

M, See,
wean * SOE 1)

SEATTLE OMAN FIRE FIGHTER TAKES ON was one of the factors in their decisions
CITY MANAGEMENT to resign. However, the day after the
fifth woman resigned, the Fire Depart-
On May 20, 1976 Lori Lakshas, 23, ment cancelled the July recruit class,

5'10", 165 pounds, and a highly trained and shortly thereafter a city-wide
athlete, was told she was not physically budget freeze indefinitely postponed

capable of being a fire fighter and any further recruit classes.

was abruptly terminated. She immediate- At the May 26 press conference a

ly filed a sex discrimination complaint Spokeswoman for Seattle N.O.W/, stated,

with Seattle's Office of \iomen's Rights “The pressure which resulted in her

and initiated a termination appeal termination was not aimed at her, but

through her union, Seattle Fire Fighters at all women, This has all the earmarks

Union Local No. 27. of a political situation, and a political
Six women, the first females ever response is appropriate."

hired by the Seattle Fire Department, Ms. Lakshas agrees that political

entered fire fighter recruit school on issues are involved. "The real

March 17, 1976. During the first two opposition to having women in the Fire

months of training five resigned, several Department comes from much higher

of them under threat of termination. up in the department and from the mayor
Out of the 1800 fire fighter applic- himself. The treatment of the women

ants who took the civil service fire fighters is symptomatic of an

entrance exam last year, Lori Lakshas attack now being waged against afffirm-

ranked 35th before veterans preference ative action and advancement opportun-

points (104) were added to the scores ities for women and minorities through-

of 196 of the men, out city government under Mayor \Jes
For over a year the six women batt- Uhlman,

led through an incredible series of With the support of her union,
obstacles and challenges to the entry many black fire fighters, numerous
of women into the Fire Department. feminist, minority, and community
127 women had originally applied. organizations and countless individuals
Only six made it all the way through, throughout the stante and nation, Lori

Lakshas is vigorously pursying her case

SEATTLE FIRE FIGHTERS, cont'd.

and the struggle for equal opportunity
for all women and minorities. The
Office of Women's Rights has begun its
investigation, and the Civil Service
Commission will decide whether they
will hear Lakshas' termination appeal.

For more information regarding the
case, contact the Feminist Coordinating
Council, 5649 1lth Avenue N.E., Seattle,
Washington 98105, (206) 325-8258 or
525-5829.

(The above article was condensed from
an article by Val Carlson, Seattle.)

HK KKH IRE HAHAHA HHH HEH IK IAI HII

Twin Oaks expands. 9=-year-old commune
ity of 70 working towards a nonsexist,
nonracist, cooperative lifestyle.
Members share all income and labor
from our hammock, construction and
other industries. ie're adding a new
dwelling and are now seeking adult
members who are attracted to our
ideological commitment. For more
information, write Twin Oaks-Or,
Louise, Va. 23093.

FREE EEEREREEK IKEA IIIA

Independence Day in Philadelphia

Where were you July 4th? I
was in Philadelphia and it was great.
It was great to see so many people
(about 50,000 men and women) together
to protest the Bicentennial Farce.
Delegations from all over New York
and several other states were there.
(Unfortunately, Albany did not have
its own delegation.) The groups and
issues they represented -- United
Farmworkers, Indian Resistance
Movement, Puerto Rican Independence,
Women's Liberation groups, Prison
Reform Advocates, Gay Activists,
Socialist Workers Party -- reiterated
the theme of the day, "What Do ile
Have To Celebrate?"

The march,which was a considerable
distance from downtown Philly and
the parade there, culminated in a rally
at Fairmount Park. Karen Decrow
and William Kuntsler were among the
Speakers, #e were accompanied by
hundreds of police along th: march
route and at the park, armed with
their riot gear. Huch-to Mayor’ «. .
Rizzo's surprise, the march: yas véry --
peaceful,

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HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY----1975

LETTERS TO TH EDITOR

Dear Speakout Staff:

It is too bad that the women who
think role reversal or women in hard hat
jobs is a fantasy. During Jorld War II
many women took such jobs, left their
children with their mother-in-law or
their own mother or in a nursery school
or with a babysitter while they worked.
They did the house work in the morning
before they went to work or later in the
day. They also had time for many of the
volunteer jobs they would have been doing
as "housewives" (an ugly word--as one
ad says women don't marry the house or
do they?) and for bowling, roller skat-

ing, softball. . . The only grumbles
came when there were problems with co-

workers or when men were killed, missing
or wounded in action. The only fantasy
is that women can't or shouldn't work.
The fact is that whenever jobs have been
opened to women there have been more who'
wanted to work than there have been

jobs available. Foint 7 on page 2

June Speakout] may be the most realistic
statement offered.

Feminism is divided enough--too
much already. ie don't need ethnic
bigotry as it is expressed in point 12.
Power trips and the work ethic as well
as the “do nothing about anything"
and the "get as much as you can for the
least possible effort" have been with
humanity a lot longer than protestantism.
The "Protestant work ethic" is a cliche'
of bigotry. :eminists don't need it,
or the nonthinking that is behind it.

It seemed incredible that the
article should be signed "In Strength",
_ at least it wasn't signed "In
Sisterhood."

Sincerely,

Carolyn Dissosway

Dear Speakout People:

I*m enclosing a copy of a letter
I recently received from another
feminist publication. It came
several days ago. I*m still angry.

"Dear Ms. Dissosway:
I'm sorry to be returning your
manuscript almost a year after
you originally sent it to us.
In the past year, your manuscript
has been lost, found, given to
a women to read (edit) who then
quit the paper, etc.

In any case, by this point I'm
sure you've found another
publisher for it.

Sincerely,

Karen Caviglia

for the collective,”

New ifomen's Times

Rochester, N.Y.

The "manuscript" which was returned
was not the one I sent but a copy or,
if my observation is correct, a copy of
a copy of the one I sent. This means
that for nearly a year I have been denied
the use of a manusc_ipt which was event-
ually rejected. A woman who worked on
the publication had suggested I send it
because it was along the lines they were
then interested in having. By not
returning the original I was forced
to retype the article. You all know
how much I hate typing!

The reason for writing Speakout about
this mess is that it reminds me of a
complaint I've had about some of the
women who call themselves feminists. One
of the excuses men have used to avoid
giving women equal treatment is that
women are incompetent, irresponsible.
Certainly this is an example of irrespon-
Sibility.

Another male attitude is that
nothing a women does is of value or
importance. Too many women believe
this is true, it is sometimes called
humility. As far as women's needs are
concerned what we do is important, This
is true of the traditional roles of
homemaker, teacher, nurse, salesperson,
typist, it is also true of other roles
including producing good quality feminist
publications, working together on comm-
ittees and task force programs....

Instead I see women competing, ripp-
ing off other feminists, being caty,
trashing women who are in sometray differ-
ent, acting out ethnic prejudices and
just not respecting women as women,

. le lost the New York State ERA, not
because of the dirty tricks of the oppos-
ition but because of the dirty tricks of
some women who call themselves feminists
played against other feminists.

ie have to stop working against
women and start working together.

Sincerely,
Carolyn Dissosuay

Conference on Women in a Full

Employment Economy: 2a report

The sponsors: office of Lt.-Gov.
Mary Anne Krupsak and Social
Policv magazine,

The time: June 25, 1976

The place: New York City

How much women and other minor-
ities suffer (women being in the
minority in the workforce) from
high unemployment was the theme
reiterated throughout the day,
from the welcome by Mary Anne
Krupsak to the windup by Con-
gresswoman Bella Abzug. Ten years
ago women had 42% as much income
as men; the figure has shot up to
44% today. Mary Dublin Keyserling
called this: "myth of gains". We
need to do our homework. We need
to know "where women are, where
they aren't, and where they ought
to be." Women are the least paid,

and doing the least rewarding jobs.

The "greatest challenge of our
times is full employment." Women
suffer more in times of high un-
employment: in good times women
jam the labor force; after WWII
the labor force doubled and women

got 65% of those jobs. When pover-

ty increases, public revenues fail
and a cutback in services results.
We are seeing this now and the
services being cut especially con-
cern women and children. And of
course poor women suffer more and
Older women suffer more,

Unemployment today is the high-
est since WWII. The official sta-.
tistics are misleading: the over
all rate is about 7.5%4-- for women
the rate is 35% higher than for
men; 50% higher for minority women
and highest for young women--more
than 40% of minority 16-19 year
old women are out of work and out
of school. Poverty has increased
and the take-home pay is lower to-
day than ten years ago. Three-
quarters of women are single, wi-
dowed, divorced or wives of men
who earn less than $10,000.

"This country is capable of out-

lawing recessions",said Helen
Ginsberg. "We must achieve a'war-
time' economy with peace!" Bella
Abzug called on women to mobilize
Tor Fu

11 100% guaranteed employment.

Saralinda Grimes
July 14, 1976

Sara was very active in
Women Against Psychiatric
Assault. Contributions in
her memory may be sent to:
Patty Smith, Faculty Secre-
tary, Junior College of
Albany, 140 New Scotland Av.
Albany, NY 12208

Women's International League for
Peace and Freedom

On a note of wistfulness border-
ing on whimsy, WILPF has made its
1976 priorty issue disarmament.
During Internatinnal Women's Year
women from twenty-seven countries
met at the UN in New York and dis-
cussed the problems of world-wide
disarmament. WILPF went on to
Mexico City and the East Berlin
Conference last fall. We found
that, unlike here in the US, there
is a movement for disarmament in
many countries and the goal does
not seem impossible. Some sugges-
tions have come from the confer-
ences: limiting the sale of
fissionable material and bomb-mak-
ing equipment; limiting the in-
ternational traffic in arms; re-
ducing military bases and pacts;
creating weapon-free zones and, of
course, basic goal of developing
non-violent conflict-resolution
machinery. We still believe in the
UN. WILPF is involved in a world-
wide action--a petition campaign
calling on the UN to set the date
for an international conference on
disarmament. Petitions are being
circulated in the Albany region.
There will be a vigil-leafletting-
Slgnature-gathering hour on
Hiroshima Day, August 6, from 12
noon to 1 pm, in front of the
Capitol. All arc welcome to join.
Many groups are involved in the
cross-country Walk for Disarmament
and Social Justice. A feeder walk
Will leave Albany August 29 and
walk to New York City. For informa~
tion-- Rezsin Adams, 462-0891,

ne ee See ee oe ee ae ee ee eS ee er

; PG
GROUP NEWS

Speakout
4 The August policy meeting

will take place Avzust 2, 5:30pm,

in the Women's Center. All inter-

ested women are urged to attend.

we need your suggestions and your

help.

Work sessions are held on |.
Mondays from 6pm. If you are able
and/or willing to type or proof-
read, you will be most welcome.

The stapling party will be:
held on monday, AUgust 23; it be- -
gins at 6pm. All interested women
are invited.

Albany NOW

The organization will hold
its monthly meeting.on Wednesday,
August 11, at 7:30pm in. the Women's
Center.

The Albany area NOW is par-
ticipating in this year's celebra-
tion. of women's Day which will be
held in washington Park. A&11 those
interested in helping NOW, please
Call Sue Larsen at 286-0496.

Women's Cofeehouse

Coffeehouses are held every
second and fourth Friday of the

month in the Women's Center. Per-~

formances are scheduled to begin

after 8:30 pm. There is a donation

of $2.00 or whatever you can afford
This month's dates are

August 13 and 27. The exact prog-
ram is not yet known.

Women's Political Caucus

The next meeting is sche-
duled for Thursday, August 5,

7:30 pm in the women's Center.

The Caucus announces that
headquarters for the Bella Abzug
for Senate campaign have been
opened and are located at 284 Cen-
tral Avenue in Albany . Workers »
are needed and so is morey. Any-
one who feels that she can help in
any Way, or who can donate some
money (any amount is most welcome)

is asked to contact Jeannette
Dworkin at 482-6356. Bella
seems to be a promising candidate
from the feminist point of view,
so--if. you are at all able--try
to help in some way.

At least two events are being

y: planned during August as part of

Bella's campaign in this area. -
The campaign workers are hopeful
that the Congresswoman will be
able to make it here for at least
one of the events. se on the
look-cut for more information.

The Caucus reminds all women.
that September 14 is Primary Day.
liark this date on your calendar,
so you won't forget to vote and
support your candidate.

All interested groups in the
area are invited to participate
in the Fifth Annual Women's Day
Festival on Sunday, August 29,
1976 (rain date: Sunday, Septem
ber 12). ‘The celebrations will
be held in Washington Fark in
Albany from llam to 6pm.

Activities will include wo-
men's music, speakers, informa-=-
tion and literature tables by
many women's groups, displays,
Sale of women's crafts, and other
assorted activities.

The goals of this Festival
are’

1. To commemorate the anniversa-
ry of women's suffrage;

2. To disseminate inforination
about women's groups in the area:
3. To promote a sense of unity

and cooperation among women,

4. To encourage self-deterinina-
tion of women:

5. to recognize woman's achieve-
ments ;

6. to create awareness of women's
issues and concerns.

To help offset the cost of
the Festival, each group or par-
ticipant is being asked to con-
tribute $10.00. If this fee
would prohibit anyone from par-
ticipating, it will be waived.

Women's Day will be a much

More Group News eseecoaarsoe 2 8

more exciting event if many women
participate. For a registration
form and for more information,
please contact: —

Ro Rosen
31 Euclid Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
438-3208 :

Marcia Calicchia
482-3488

Come and participate to make this
the best Women's Day yet!!!!:!!

A Woman's Place

The August workshop sched-
ule is as follows:
August 6-8. Sexuality. Explor-
ing our sensual/sexual/sensuous/
sexous selves.

August 13-15. Collectivity. The

A Woman’s Place Collective would
like to share their experiences
with others involved in or interes
ted in collective living or work-
ing.

August 20-22. Massage and Body
Awareness. workshops in 011 mas-
sage, accupressure, Do-in, foot
massage. Developing self awarer
ness and non-verbal communication
with others.

August 27-22. Coming Cut. Sharing
the joys and difficulties of com-
ing out as a lesbian in this so-
ciety. Especially for those of

us who are newly out, coming out,
or thinking about it.

The first week-end in Sep-
tember, A Woman's Place will be
celebrating its second birthday
with a music week-end.

To continue offering these
week-end workshops to women, along
with other services, A Woman's
Place needs money. Contributions

A Woman's Place, Athol, NY 12810,
or call 518-623-9541.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT? i: iiiiit

News of your group's activi-

ties will from now appear in
Group News only if you get the
necessary information to Speakout
by the 15th of the previous month
(previous to the date of the event,
that is). To get information to
Speakout, you may do any one of the
following:

1. Mail the information to
Speakout-"Group News", PO Box6165,
Albany, wY 12206,

2. Place the information in
the envelope marked Speakout on
the door of the Women's Center

(the door from the YWCA to the
Center) ;

or
~~. 3. Call Tania Durbak (eve-
nings) at 482-4252.

If all of these alternatives pre-
sent any seemingly unsurmountable
obstacles, please call me any

time during the month at the above
number and I (i.e. Tania) will try
to work out some alternative means
of getting information to Speakout .

This slight change is not intended
to complicate anyone's life; it's
meant only to make mine a little
easier and to help me keep sane
around the 15th of every month.

a8 oS wt Se ee ee a ee a
a ee a

Notes of interest

The Advisory Council on Women's

Educational Programs has informa-
tion about funds which are avai.
lable for innovative projects de*
signed to é@vercome sex discrimina-
tion and sex stereotyping in edu-
Cation. For information, write

of any size are greatly appreciatedi, the council, Suite 821, 1832

To send contributions, or to ob-
tain further information, write:

M St. NW, Washington, DC 20036,

CALENDAR FOR AUGUST __ DETATLS IN GROUP Nails

2 - Speakout meeting, 5:30 pm
yvomen's Center General Assembly meeting, 8:00 pm Program will include
a presentation of womens health care and self-help clinics

5 = ilomen's Political Caucus, monthly meeting, 7:30 pm.

7 = Picnic for women and children noon til suppertime. Contact tiomen's
Center for details.

8 - Gloria DeSole Benefit (see article in this issue)

11 - N.O.W. meeting, Albany area, 8 pm

12 - omen In Art: A Slide Show presented by Connie Dodge, 8 pm. Women's Center

13 - Women's Coffeehouse, 8:30 pm.

2i - Work Party, Women's Center, 1 pm.

23 - Speakout stapling party, 6 pm. Come -- we need your help!

26 - Open Forum: The Role of Feminist Businesses in the Feminist Movement,
8 pm. Followed by a Women's Day Party, Women's Center.

27 - ‘lomen's Coffeehouse, 8:30 pm.

29 - Women's Day in Washington Park
Footprints: A multi-dimensional performance portraying 12,000 years
of womenspirit in the Tri-City area. \!ritten and directed by Sharon
Stonekey, 8 pm. i/omen's Center.

weekly events:

Monday - \Jomen's Center Program Committee meetings, 7 pm
lomen's Center Steering Committee meetings, 8 pm
Tuesday- Domestic Violence Task Force meetings, 8 pm, l/omen's Center

Week-ends - A Woman's Place, Athol, NY, sponsors workshops for women, covering
different topics each week-end.

More Women's Day News --

This year's ‘iomen's Day will feature a penny auction. Goods will be
auctioned off, with bids starting at 1¢. Clothes, books, furniture, etc.
are needed for the auction. Items can be taken to one of the following places:
Ro Rosens', 31 Euclid, Albany, N.Y. 438-3208, Jean Dross, 561 Park, Albany,
489-6910 or Barbara Sabini, E. Greenbush, N.Y. 477-5610.

Entertainment will be provided by Lynn Early, guitarist/singer dnd Carol
Goodman, also singer/guitarist. Speakers will include Bea Kraloff, ‘lomen
in the Visual Arts, NYC, Lucille Goodman, Professor of Music at Brooklyn

College and Vivian Solas, from the Rape Crisis Center will speak on Battered
Women.

CONSERENCZ ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND BATTERED iOMEN

A conference on Domestic Violence and Battered women will be held on
September 27, 1976 from 9 am to 4 pm at the Capital District Psychiatric
Center, There will be panel discussions by experts on Legislation, the Law,
the Courts and the Police in the morning, and a panel discussion on a Safe
Shelter in the afternoon. Some legislators will be there. Plans for a shelter
for Battered omen in the Tri-Cities area will be discussed. Registration
fee: $5 all day, $3 for half-day and $2 for students. Fee will be waived
upon request. For more information call Corinne !illiams, 456-1327, eves.

JOB OPENINGS ~- SPEAKOUT STAFF

WOMEN are needed to help /
Speakout stay in print. Anyone
who ward like to donate their
time to perform one of the func-

tions listed below, please call
us at your earliest convenience!!!

1. Monthly mailing--taking Speak-
gut to downtown Albany post of-

fice once a month to be mailed.

The woman need not have a car,

but would need to be free some-

time between Sam and 4pm.

ist--to type articles on

stencils to be mimeoed. This

“ Can be done at home or at the

_ Women's Center inonday nights.

Ads~-contacting establishments

whose policies do not contra-

dict feminist philosophies to

solicit ads for Speakout.

Could also involve doing art

work for ads if person were so

inclined.

- NeWs reporting--roving repor-
ter to cover events of interest
to feminists and write them up

for Speakout.

S¢

Subscribe to Speakout
$3.50 peg year

Send coupon to:
Speakout

PO Box 6165

Albany, NY 12206

Name

ES ene

Address

City, State Zip

If you are planning a change of
address. please notify Speakout.
It will not be forwarded, and we
have to pay for copies returned.
Check appropriate blank when sen-
ding in coupon.

New Sub
Renewo

5. Bookstore coordinator--woman
needed to deliver senses to
bookstores and collect thonies

for previous issues sold. Also
would involve maintaining records
of no. of issues sold at each
store.

Staplers--women are always need-
ed to staple issues once a month
when the issues are being put

together. Even if you only have
an hour to donate, please come.

see seat Calendar for dates
Of stapling party.
Any of the above jobs can be shared
by several women. By joining and
helping, you will beoonmé an. “Tic
official Speakout staffer and your
flame Will be listed as a worker

for the issues. wow what more
could any feminist ask for?!?!

To volunteer for one of the above

jobs, or to obtain further informa-

tion, please call Cheryl Shenkle
(899-4121) or Tania Durbak(482-425@) :

Bulk Rate

US Postage Paid
Permit #12
Albany, NY

Change of address

]

‘

Rs Se ee oe

USIC AT THE
» WIQMENS
COFFEEHOUSE

SS & THE TRFCITIES OMENS CANTER

A FEMINIST JOURNAL

INORMATION Of PEREORMERS AND
PERCOR MANCE DATES s+ cnrreceee

Inside Stories

e New York's Anti- Loitering Law

eAlbany County Parents. ait Children: Helpin ng Families
To Cope. Peeeceas TTTeeTeTITETITri Tree |

SPEAKOUT: A’FEMINIST JOURNAL

Vol. V. No. 8 September, 1976

Table of Contents

Women's Coffeehouse -= Jean Corigliano
Footprints -- Jean Corigliano

New York's Anti-Loitering Law -- Cheryl Shenkle
Albany Parents and Children's Center

The Future of Speakout -- Cheryl Shenkle

The Crusade Against Free Choice Continues
Recycling, Poem by Kossia Orloff

ACLU statement of prior sexual history
Discrimination case against the Marines

Feminism -- Love Is Not Enough -- Judith Younger

Women's Prison Project -- Paula Corey

onrN DN NW F WY W DN ND F&F HY

lomen's Evangelical Caucus -- Margaret Hannay

?
~
io)

Group News

Workers for this Issue: Cheryl Shenkle, Tanya Durbak, Jan Barbuto,
Rezsin Adams, Maxine Krall

Cover Design by Carol Schillinger

The opinions presented in Speakout's articles are those of their respective
authors and not necessarily those of the Speakout staff. Speakout

attempts to present the opinions of all facets of the feminist community
in the Tri-Cities Area,

SPEAKOUT is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year. Single
copies are 35¢ and are available at the local bookstores:

Albany: New Times Center, SUNYA Bookstore, Unitarian Church

Bookstore, Western News Bookstore, YWCA, Tri-Cities
Women's Center

schenectady: Family and Women's Advocacy Service, YUCA

Advertising is $10.00 per quarter page, $18.00 per half page, and $30.00
for a whole page.

SPEAKOUT is a member of COSMEP (Committee of Small Magazine Editors and
Publishers) and is on file-at the Wonen's History and Research Library.

SPEAKOUT
P. 0. Box 6165
Albany, N.Y. 12206

WOMEN'S COFFEEHOUSE

Feminists are perpetually assaulted
with sexist entertainment, on radio and
TV as well as at concerts and coffee-
houses. There are few places that
women can gather for a social evening
without being insulted by either per-
formers, clientele or both,

Last fall, a handful of Albany
women began discussing the possibility
of creating an alternative to male
dominated bars and clubs. The result
was the Women's Coffeehouse. They
brought their ideas to the steering
committee of the Tri-City Women's Center
where they were met with financial and
moral support.

According to Sharon Stonekey, one
of the originators of the Coffeehouse,
"none of us brought any experience or
special knowledge to the project, but
we felt there was a real need for a
place where women could meet one another
and socialize in a feminist environment."
The women enlisted the talents of
local feminist artists, posted 500
flyers, sent announcements to newspapers
and radio stations and bought refresh-
ments. On opening night over one
hundred women gathered for the first
women's coffeehouse. Some of the

women in attendance had never before
been involved in activities at the
Women's Center.

In addition to providing a gathering
place for local women, the coffeehouse
also provides feminist artists with a
chance to perform in a supportive
environment. Revenues from the coffee-
house help to support the ilomen's Center.

Although the ilomen's Coffeehouse
has been run sporadically through the
summer months, it will resume a full
schedule this fall operating on the
second and fourth Friday of every
month. Scheduled performers include
Alix Dobkin, Carol Friedman and Joan
Mullen, Deidre McCalla, Sally Piano
and Betsy Rose. The Coffeehouse hopes
to purchase a sound system soon, and
is raising money for this by selling
records by Alix Dobkin, Chris Williamson,
Meg Christian and other women singers.

The Coffeehouse is now being run
through the efforts of three women
who could use help from any other women
who are interested. They also need
card tables, a punch bowl and a coffee
urn, The first anniversary of the

Women's Coffeehouse will be celebrated
in November.

FOCTFRINTS : A multi-dimensional perform-
ance portraying 12,000 years
of womenspirit in the tri-
city area. Written and
directed by Sharon Stonekey

This performance will trace the
history of Albany women beginning with
the Mohigan Indians and continuing up
to the present day. The history of
women has been systematically erased.
We have only scraps of information--
diaries, newspaper clippings, letters,
an occasional painting--with which to
try to piece together our own past.
Footprints is by necessity an impression-
istic play. ile have only begun to
discover our own roots.

The performance weaves together
slides, music, film and drama to present
the spirit of the women of the past and
present. Of the women who are in the
history books and of the women who are
not. Although the play makes use of
historical documents and follows the
history of women's movements--the
Shakers, the suffragists, the union
laborers--it is not a dramatization of
facts and dates. It is an attempt to
portray the forces that have molded us,
To rediscover the texture of lives
buried in the past. To uncover the

experiences and emotions we share with
our foremothers.

We can note here the few women who
were permitted to contribute to

male culture. ie can tell you of the
few women who made their way into

the textbooks of men. But know that
there are endless trails of foot-
prints to be followed in discovering
who we were and what we will become.

from Footprints
The first performance will be August 29

at 8:30 pm at YUCA,.

Jean Corigliano

KRENEK IH

The NYS School of Industrial Labor
Relations is sponsoring a series of low
cost courses on Labor Studies in the
capital district for 1976. Among the
courses offered are Public Speaking
for iJorking tllomen, Protective Labor
Legislation, the Legislative Process,
Effective Grievance Handling for Union
Stewards, Arbitration in Action. For
further information call 465-3518.

New York's New Anti-Loitering Law

In New York it’s illegal to be

a woman in public. On July 11, 1976

(the day before the Democratic Convent-

jon) a new law, Section 240.37 of »
the penal code went into effect. It
gives the police the right to arrest any
unescorted woman on the street whom they
suspect of loitering or soliciting for
the purpose of prostitution. Since the
police do not have to necessarily over-
hear the actual solicitation, this makes
all women suspect, Standing on the
street corner selling newspapers could
be a crime since you frequently beckon
to passersby. Stopping a passersby to
ask for directions could also be suspect.

To discourage mass arrests under this
new law, a mass loiter-in of prostitutes
and nonprostitutes was held during the
Democratic Convention. The loiter-in
was sponsored by Majority Report and
Coyote (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics),
a loose woman's organization. The threat
to the city would be thousands of law
suits for false arrest and an injunction
against this sexist law.

Five nonprostitute plantiffs have
challenged the law in a federal class
action suit. The plantiffs, Mari Maggu
of Scapegoat (a prostitutes rights group),
Mary Smith and Nancy Borman of Majority
Report and Pamela Booth and Andrea Boroff
Eagan of liomen's Health Yorum are asking
the court to declare the law unconstitut-
ional because of its violation of the
rirst, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.

The First Amendment, freedom of
speech and assembly, the Fourth, freedom
from unwarranted search and seizure,
and the Yourteenth, equal protection of
the law (for men and women) are all
broken by the enforcement of this Anti-
Loitering law.

The defending attorneys for the
District Attorney, Police Commissioner
and Governor Carey were, respectively,
Brian Rosner, Judith Levitt and Lillian
Z. Cohen, all of whom have refused to
comment,

As of July 22, there were 17 arrests
under the new law. Six of the women
arrested were convicted, 5 were released
and 6 are awaiting trial.

The case for preliminary injunctions
against the law went to Federal Court in
Manhattan on July 26, but a three judge
panel postponed it until September 27
because of “insufficient evidence."

According to Judy Levin, a Legal
Aid lawyer representing the plantiffs,
the delay in the case will allow arrests
or harassments of nonprostitutes under
the law to occur, This will help in
persuading the court of the Anti-Loiter-
ing law's unconstitutionality.

There is a petition at the
Tri-Cities Women's Center calling for
repeal of this law. I urge all
feminists concerned about the violation
of their rights under this law to sign
this petition.

Cheryl Shenkle
ERIE

Albany County Parents and Children's
Center

The goal of the Parents’ and Children's

Center is to help parents deal with
their children during their times of -
stress and difficulty. The Center
exists so parents can turn to someone
for help when they feel angered, upset
or frustrated by a home situation. The
ultimate goal is to ensure the comfort
of the parent and the security of the
child.

The Center is located at St. John's
Lutheran Church, 160 Central Avenue,
Albany and is open Monday through Friday
from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. In addition,

a 24 hour telephone crisis line is
available. By calling 465-2455, a par-
ent can talk with someone who understands
the problems of raising children and

who can offer them immediate counseling
and guidance,

The Center employs mental health
professionals and child care workers
and utilizes a large number of volunteers
who work closely with staff and clients.

Parents contacting the center are
encouraged to participate in supervised
training in parenting skills. Parents
partake in leisure activities with
their children, other parents, and other
children and have the opportunity to
learn new skills in cpild managemént,
health care and nutrition.

The Center also offers short term
child care services. The services of
the Parants' and Children's Center are
available to any residents of Albany

County. Any parent(s) having difficulty ‘

in dealing with their children are
welcome to participate in the program.

IS THERES A FUTURE FOR SPEAKOUT? from any accredited college or proficiency
As many of you may know Speakout examination program. You can select

is in troublc. Our resources, financial from 8 different degree programs in the

and human, are dwindling. Chris Root arts and sciences, business and nursing.

is no longer with us. She will be You can take as much time as necessary

returning to school on a full time to complete a Regents External Degree.

basis this fall. Sue Lasher and Carolyn Credits earned in the past may also be

Dissosway have not been with us for applied.

several months. Sue is now in Maryland Anyone can enroll at any time in the

and will be there at least until program, For more information, write

December. Carolyn is in Long Island to Regents External Degree, Room 1919K

and may be leaving the area permanently, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, N.Y. 12230.
Therefore, our production/coordinat-

ing/editing staff is now dow to two-- atti

Tanya Durbak and myself. I will be

returning to school this fall also and

my involvement will be limited, Thank-

Dear Speakout,

As I close the various estates I was

fully, Jan Barbuto is still doing our
mailing labels and Maxine Krall is
still doing typing and odd jobs and

given to settle as -ublic administratrix,
I receive a fee. Because I regard the
fee as excessive, I donate a great deal

Rezsin is still our beloved mimeographer, back into the community,

But we need more help to continue in
print.

For the past several issues we have

listed job openings end asked for
volunteers to fill them. Only one

person, Barbara Brandeis has volunteered

Barbara picks up the Speakout mail
every week at our post office box.

This issue may be our last unless
we have several more volunteers. And
we will need several, because the
experienced people are gone.

So please don't sit by and let
Speakout go by the wayside. We need
your help even if you can only spare
an hour per week,

Come to the iJomen's Center londay
nights or call me at 899-4121 or
Tanya at 482-4252.

The future of Speakout rests in
your hands.

In Sisterhood,

se Cheryl Shenkle
_ditors note: As this issue goes to

press, Jean Dross has offered to take
Speakout to the post office each
month to be mailed. Thank you, Jean,

TIO

Regents External Degree Program

Speakout just received a flyer

from SUNY about this new degree program
and we thought it might be of interest

to some of our readers. The require-

ments for the Regents External Degrees

are flexible, allowing you to choose
subjects suited to your interests

{Speakout thanks Theresa for the $20.00.

Please accept this check, then, in
memory of Rolf Gerbo, to enable you to
continue your good work.

Sincerely,
Theresa Cooke

—

contribution. )

SHAHHHHEHE
The Crusade Against Free Choice Continues

Pro-choice activists cannot afford to
sit still. A woman's right to control
her own body is still in jeopardy. In
the House, the Subcommittee to consider
constitutional amendments against abort-
ion has not yet voted, but a new effort
to bypass the committee with a 1976
Discharge Petition to force a floor vote
is being circulated. Rep. Zeferetti
(Brooklyn) has signed. All letters to
Congress members should oppose signing
this Petition. In the Senate another
effort by Sen. Helms to bypass and push
through his “no exceptions" Human Life
Amendment, was tabled by motions of Sen.
Bayh and Javits, and passed by 47-40,
much too close, The Labor/HEl! Appropria-
tions Bill (HR oe was used on 6/24/76
by Rep. Hyde (R-I11.) to rush through
his surprise amendment to prohibit use
of funds under this act to pay for
abortions. This would deny use of Medi-
caid funds which is discriminatory aga-
inst poor women, This passed the House
207-167 and was rejected by the Senate
on 6/28/76 by 57-28 on a motion cospon-
sored by Sen. Javits.It is now ina
Conference Committee in an effort to find

compromise language. Write Sen. Wi. Magnusm

fe and Rep..Daniel Flood to-urge deletion «f

the Hyde Amendment,

RECYCLING

Guinevere in New York < 1973

Lancelot is out crusing with the boys

Arthuriis joust back from Viet something
a basket case,

Merlin is a fish

I turned in my palfrey for a car

with bullet-proof windows

and doors that automatically lock

but I cant go out

there are two men in the Hall

they used to be called Gawain and Kay

now they @re called Ber and Serk

they are waiting to rape me

Kossia Orloff

WOMAN MARINE DEFEATS MILITARY IN SUIT
OVER PREGNANCY DISCHARGE

Stephanie Crawford enlisted in the U.S,
Marine Corps in 1968. When she became
pregnant in 1970, the Marines automatic-
ally discharged her "for the convenience
of the Government".

Crawford sued, and two months ago she
won. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Second Circuit ruled that the Marines had
acted unconstitutionally for discharging
Crawford for being pregnant.

The 1970 regulation denied Crawford
equal protection of the laws because it
Singled out pregnancy as the only tem-
porary disability that warranted a man-
datory discharge. Marines disabled by
alcoholism, for example, might be excused
from duties and referred for treatment
to a rehabilitation center.

The pregnancy discharge regulation
also violated the due process rights of
Crawfewd and other women Marines. Acc-
ording to the court, it constituted "a
heavy burden on the exercise of the indi-
vidual's protected freedoms of personal
choice in matters of marriage and family
life",

The court of appeals held the regula-
tion to be incalid and ordered the trail
court to award damages to Crawford,

The court also said that regulations
of the military are not immune from re-
view and, in strong language, affirmed
the notion that service people do not
check their constitutional rights at the
door when they enter military life.

The Marines’ present policy, adopted
last year, states that "women Marines
who are pregnant may, upon request, be
discharged or retained on active duty if
otherwise qualified",

The case was handled by the ACLU's
Women's Rights Project.

From Civil Liberties
* = ppril * 1976 % x *

POLICY ON PRIOR SEXUAL HISTORY
adopted by the ACLU Board of Directors,

February 1975

There is in many rape cases a potential
conflict between the right of the defen-

dant to a fair trial and the complainant's

right to have his or her claim to protec-
tion of the law vindicated without undue

cases this conflict may be irresolvable
and when that is the case the right to

a fair trial should not be qualified, no
matter hew compelling the countervailing
concerns. Closed hearings should be
used to ascertain the relevance of any
proposed line of testimony or cress-
examination that may involve a witness’
prior sexual history. The determination
of relevance or irrelevance should be s.
stated by the court on the record along
with its reasons for so holding.

A determination as to the relevance
of the prior sexual history of either
the complainant of the defendant in rape
cases is acceptable only if it is ad.
ministered fairly and free from sexist
assumptions. Subject to special evid-
ersb&ary rules designed to protect def-
endants for reasons other than relevance,
the criteria for admitting evidence of
prior sexual history employed in rape
cases must apply equally to the prosec-
ution and the defense. Similarly, any
pre-trial screening process must apply
equally to the prosecution and the de-
fense,

Some aspects of some current rape laws
clearly do not meet minimum standards of
acceptability. Even where the defense
is consent, the prosecution should hot
be premitted, as a matter of course, to
introduce evidence of the complainant's
prior chastity; neither should the de-
fense, without more, be premitted to pre
ove the complainant's prior unchastity,
"Unchaste witness! insturctions which B
permit an inference of lessened credibi-
lity from the fact of prior sexual acti-
vity are based on no rational inference
and violate a complainant's right to
sexual privacy--just as a 'chast wit-
ness' insturction would violate a defen-
dant's right to a fair trial if invoked
by the prosecution. A statute, for exan-
ple, which makes admissible evidence
tending to prove that the complainant has
been congisted of a prostitution offense,
or even evidence conceming prior consen-
ual sexual relations between the complain-
ant and the defendant, without the nece
essity of showing a particular relevance,
unconstitutionally infringes on the right
to sexual privacy of such complainants.

The ACLU urges that the phrase "sexual
assualt" be used instead of "yapr" in
policy statements, laws, etc., in order

to remove special legal disabilities fron
rape complainants.

invasion of sexual privacy. In many 5

(cont)

Divorce and Feminism
LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH
--Judith T.Younger

(excerpted from New Republic.-
6/19/76)

The divorce rate was up again
in 1974, continuing the upward
trend that began after WW II and
escalated in the past decade to
more than double the 1965 figure.
Some societies (those organized
on kinship lines) are well-equiped
to handle such marital dissolu-
tions; each former member of the
nuclear family has a place to go.
Not so in America--going home to
mother or father is out of fashion
and in any event aging parents may
have nothing to offer but a room
in an old-age home. The incre-
sing divorce rate then has grave
implications for the stability of
our society. What is to blame?

Some think they have found the cul-
pret: seized upon the trend and

all its implications, labelled

them the product of the women's
movement, and proffered them as ev-
idence of what they perceive to be
the movement's ultimate outcome:
destruction of the family.

The charge has been heard be-
fore. When believed by voters, it
has been a potent force at the
polls. ‘The charge is specious.
What the movement opposes is not
the family but rigid, sex-based
role delineation within it, spe-
cifically the casting of the wife
because she is female, as an eco-
nomic dependent for whom cooking,
cleaning and child-care are the
only appropriate work, and the
casting of the husband, because he
is male, as the economic provider
and power center of the unit. Far
from destroying family life, the
movement shores up well-founded
families; they grow stronger as
their members grow in independence
self-reliance and self-esteem,

What is the real explanation?
It is the simple but distressing
fact that most families are not
well-founded; their lack of foun-
dation has nothing to do with the
women's movement, It is attribu-
table to two other notions that
our society continues to tGach and
reinforce through all the authority

it'has at hand--parents, teachers,
books, media: the first is that
mere sexual attraction--some call
it "love"--is a sufficient founda-
tion for marriage and building a
family. The second is that free
choice is vitally important in ev-
eryday life. "Love" is exalted by
constant telling, retelling, em-
broidering and embellishing of the
Cinderella stories. The second
theme--the importance of free
choice and its corollary--the ever

present possibility of correcting

a wrong one--are similarly hammered
home, and we now view "love" as the
only honorable basis for marriage
and founding a family and free
choice as the only honorable basis
for selecting a mate ari reason for
sticking with the selection once
made. The trouble is that love is
ephemeral--it can pass-and choice,
though important, must have limits.
The exaltation of love and emphasis
on free choice now operate together
to increase the number of poorly
founded families and to hasten their
dissolution. If we hope to rescue
the family we must retreat from

_ these widely accepted notions and

Substitute others. I suggest five:
marriage is not for everyone but
only for those who want to found
families and are prepared to work
at and stick to it; there are more
important reasons for marrying than
Sexual attrction; love should never
be the only reason for a marriage;
resort to divorce is often no more
than extreme self-indulgence; and,
divorce, though it should continue
to be available, is not an accep-
table remedy for marital mistakes
of the usual sort,

As chief harbinger and dissemi-
nator of this new learning, I sug-
gest the women's movement. Self-
interest requires it to spruce up
its image. By announcing its sup-
port for well-founded, enduring
families in which committed spouses
as equals, work out their own roles,
the movement could accomplish a fan-
tastic coup: at once open its doors
to those who are now its worst cri-
tics--women who have devoted their
lives to the family and destroy the
false charge that equal rights cartt

be achieved without an accompanying
wake for the family.

Se ale See eee Re Leo ee ae eee eae ete net, ee Petes ee ee ee en eat ee ete re eee

ALBANY wWOnéew'S PRISUN FRCOJECT

by saula Corey
The Albany woien's Prison Pro-
ject has been operating for eight
months. we have set up a post-re-
lease prograia for women incarcerae
tec at the Albany County Jail to
hel» them, upon their release, with
jobs, housing, education, legal
problems, social services, counse-
ling, and reunion with their fami-
lies. In the course of cur work.
we have interceded on the behalf cof
certain women to have their charges
dropped and/or bench warrants dis-
missed; also proposals have been
written to the Albany County Court
for community based alternatives to
incarceration. We provide women in
prison with a link to the street
ana offer them positive supports
when they are released.

Cur prograit will soon ex»vand
to Police Court. It is there that
we feel’ the greatest need for ai.
bail fund. The majority of a -es-
ted and incarcerated woien are
black, and heads of households.

They are charged, predominantly,
with economic crimes.

women are unable to raise bail,
without bail, they must sit in
with guilt unproven, until their
case is settled. This waiting pe-
riod is often lengthy, always lone-
ly, usually trauiatic.. A bail funda
would give selected women time on

and

the outside to arrange their affairs

especially care for their children.
This would be especially helpful to
those eventually faced with a quil-
ty verdict and incarceraticn.

Every unsentenced worian at Al-
bany County Jail is iiprisoned be-
Cause she cannot iwake bail, not be-
cause she has been found guilty of
a crime. ‘There are 15 such women
at the jail now. The goal of the
Women's Prison Project is to raise
a »2.000.0C bail fund. Once that
fund is established, it will
contained in that any isonies going
out for bail will be returned in
full to the fund when the woman's
case is settled. :

we do not seek governiment fun-

ding for this project, since this

Many Of these

jail, seyond these

pe S€1f shoulda

would amount tc asking an oppres-
sive system to alleviate its cp-
pression by giving us money with
heavy strincs attached. The covern
ment could then cc-opt the systen,
yet lcok liberal at the sane time..
we are pleading with the feminist
comunity to give us whatever they
€an to begin the bail fund.

women in prison have not been
@ pressing feuinist issue. Although
we dc no intend to coinpare women's
oppression, we understand that, -
Since most women reading this have
not been and will not be incarcera-
ted in a prison, it is difficult
for thei to respond to the reality
of imprisonmaent. as it exists for
some wolnen..

The criminal justice system
is highly selective in its arrests,
conviction, and incarceration prac-
tices. the "correctional" system
consists-mainly of a power, largely
black and hispanic pcpulaticn, and
political prisoners. It is cur
hope that feminists will begin to

POOr; explox their own attitudes about

race and class, and become aware
that the law is used tc effect so-
Cial control and preserve existing
class, sex, and race privilege.
rather clcbal issues,
it is hoped that we can exaiiine co
our attitudes toward punishnent--in
this case incarceration--and deve-
lop a consciousness and theory in
cppesition to impriscniwent for all
but the iwost violent offenders
(currently about 1X of the American
prison population.

A bail fund insures that a seg
ment of the women's commnity--that
greet aiicorphous iiass we're always
trying to reach out tc--is served
anc! supported by feiiinists. we -
urge you tc senc us whatever ycu
Can; not to put this aside and let
Soueone else dco it. We will keep
you infcrmwed of the growth of the
fund. Checks or money orders ;
be iaade payable to the Alba-
ny wouen's Prison Project, c/o
Peula Corey, Coiumnity Legal Rights,
275 State Street, Albany 12210.

by Margaret Hannay

The Evangelical Women's Cau-
cus is a group of women seeking to
unite evangelical feminists across
the country. The national Caucus
welcomes anyone who considers her-
self evangelical and feminist--who

is commited to a personal relation-

ship with Jesus Christ as Saviour
and Lord, to the authrity of the
Bible as the inspired word of God,
and to Equal Rights for women and
men in society, church, and home.
EWC is still an infant orga-
nization on a national level; the

EVANGELICAL WOMEN SCAUCUS - @an be combined, you are most wel-

come to join with us. Further in-
formation can be obtained from
Ruth Schmidt (463-5998), Joan

Bear (765-4456) or margaret Han-
nay (797-3998).

Kye Kay Ka Bay iy Ree Mya wy Wy By WEE %

Publication of a New Journal

The editors of Women's Orga-
nizations & Leaders Directory and
of Women Today announce the publi-
Cation of the Journal of Reprints
of Documents Affecting Women. The
new gquarterly's goal is to make a-~

constituting convention will be helavailable to all interested women

next spring. At the conference in
Washington DC last Thanksgiving,

those documents which are crucial
to the changing position and role

three major actions were taken. of women in the US. In addition
The group voted to campaign active- to presenting all new documents as
ly for the ERA, pledge support to they beconie law or are made avai-
those Episcopal and Roman Catholic lable to the public, the Journal
women who are seeking ordination, Will contain past decisions. Du-
and set up a Temporary Steering Com-ring the first two years of publi-
mittee. The function of th TSC is Cation, ail important legislative,
to found grass roots chapters in judicial, and administrative des
the regions which they represent. cisions which have been made in the

A chapter.ef EWC has been or- past ten years, will be printed.
ganized in the Capital District. For more information regar-
We meet bi-weekly to discuss the ding this new publication, write
history and the application of to Today Publications and News Ser--
evangelical feminism, to study the vice, Inc., National Press Buil-
Bible passages which apply to wo- ding, Washington, DC 20045. You
men, and to offer each other sup-. may also call (202)628-6663.
port. In recent meetings we have
been using All We're Meant to Be a ke tata ale ean ee eS
by Nancy Hardesty and Leatha Scan- Saou ane
zoni (Word, 1974) as a discussion
guide .

The Albany chapter is also
organizing a state-wide conference
to be held the week-end of October
15 in the Adirondacks. Entitled
“Perspectives on Christian Women

a | i
Past and Present," 1t will focus On Wouse there was no easy way to tell
our heritage and on our responsl- if 4 tennis match were being tele-
bilities to our families, our com- é i.

munities, and to the world. Work- Viser 240 2 es 1f it was SS.

‘ ad run. According to the article, it
shop topics will range from "Single Was possible to watch two dif---
ness aS a Lifestyle" and "Partner- -oant S Seat esate velaigeoenpttioe oo
ship Marriage" to "World Hunger Re 2 eaee: =

: “ya same time by the same people ,;on
Lief* and “Women in Politics." : P
If you are an evangelical two different channels. ‘she TV

ie executives n
feminist, or if you are curious to S noted that fan interest

see how a Biblical faith and a was Slackening. So, they decided

. : to eliminate coverage of the Virgi-
strong commiment to Women's Rights nia Stine, one of the few tour-

naments growing in popularity) .Nay-
be because it's women's tennis?

ES See CS Fee »

Recently, Sports Illustrated
had an article which deait with te-
levisiorls over-exposure of tennis.

It seems that many television
watchers were often confused, be-

en a mee ee OEE ee ae a ae eh ee Se igleree Se ee a A
.

GROUP NEWS - : . .
The Women's Counseling Collective

In June, three new members
The General Assembly meeting were recruited: Linda Fisk, Mary

Tri-City Women's Center

will be held, as always, on the Ellen Henry, and Eileen Kelly.
first Monday of the month, Sept.12, The Counseling Collective's
at Spm. hours remain Monday, Wednesday,
Connie Dodge's Slide Show, and Thursday evenings from 6pm to
an art and slide show will take Spm at the Women's Center, and
place September 23, Thursday, be- Tuesday%s from noon to 7pm at the
ginning at 8pm. Whitney Young Health Center. |
Every Saturday, work parties There have been many inqui-
are held at the women's Center. ries from women who would like to

They start at lpm.. become counselors. Because of

A conference on Domestic Vi- these requests and of the antici-
olence and Battered Women will be pated client load, new members
held on Sept. 27, from 9 am to 4pm will be considered in September.
at the Capital District Psychiat- If anyone is interested in joining,
ric Center.. There will be panel it might be helpful to know ahead
discussions by experts on Legisla- of time that the group not only
tion, the Law, the Courts, and the offers counseling, but also ope=-

Police in the morning, and a panel rates as a collective. For this
discussion on a Safe Shelter in reason, the Collective seeks to
the afternoon. Some legislators recruit women who are able to com-

will be there. Plans for a shel- mit themselves to the Collective
ter for Battered Women in the Tri- for an extended period of time.

Cities area will be discussed. Re- Any woman interested in join-

gistration fee: $5 all day, $3 for ing should refer to the Counseling
half a day, and $2 for students. Collective's Statement of Purpose
The fee will be Waived upon request.which appeared in the May issue of
For more information, call Corinne Speakout. The statement elaborates |
Williams, 456-1327, evenings. upon the group's position on femi-
All interested women are in- nist counseling and on the collec-
vited to participate in all Women's tive process as vehicles for so-
Center activities. Walk-in hours’ cial change.
at the Women's Center are every

Monday from 8-10pm. Albany Women's Prison Project

Albany County Rape Crisis Center This group is trying to

raise a $2000. bail fund to help
women who are imprisoned in Alba-
ny County Jail, because they are
unable to raise bail. The group
strongly urges all women to con-

This group will hold a train-
ing session for women interested in
becoming rape crisis hotline coun-
selors. Applications for regis-

tration will be available beginning tribute what they can to this im-
Women’s Day, Sept. 29, at the ARCC portant cause. The bail fund can
booth and after that at the Center become reality only if each of us
(call 445-7547).. The deadline to helps. Checks or money orders

submit applications is Sept. 25. are payable to the Albany Women's

Training will be held on Saturday, Prison Project, c/o Paula Corey,
Oct 9, from Sam to Spm and Sunday,

Communit i
October 10, from lpm to 5pm at the St’. rare hap cms gt figbo eens
ACRCC, = be Steuben Siee (YwCA), AL- Send in your contribution
bany. All interested women are today. ‘This is a positive way to
urged to apply. For more informa- show the imprisoned women that we
tion, Call the Center at 445-7547. are concerned with their plight.

See article elsewhere in this
issue for more information.

GROUP NEWS (continued)

Delmar Women's Awareness Group

On Monday, September 20, at
8pm in the Bethlehem Public Libra-
ry; the Delmar Women's Awareness
Group will hold its first meeting
for this fall. Amock C-R session
will be presented to acquaint in-
terested women with the proeesg of
consciousness raising.

All women are invited to at-
tend to help make plans for the
rest of the year.

Speakout

This month's policy meeting
Will be held on Monday, September
13 at 5:30 (or thereabout). All
women are invited and urged to at-
tend this meeting, especially if
they are interested in working on
speakout.

The Speakout staff is very,
very, very happy to announce that
two of the jobs listed on the back
cover for the past several months
have been taken. Barbara Brandeis
is now picking up Speakout's mail,
and Jean Dross has agreed to take
Speakouts to the post office to be
mailed. Barbara and Jean are wel-
comed to the staff.

Evangelical Women's Caucus

iz you are an evangelical fe-
Mminist, or if you are curious to
see how a Biblical faith and a
strong commitment to women's rights
can be combined, you are most wel-
come to come to a meeting of the
EWC. For further information, con-
tact Ruth Schmidt (463-59°98), Joan
Bear (765-4456), or Margaret Han-
nay. Also see the article about
this croup elsewhere in this issue.

Women's Studies at SUNYA

editorial note: I am very sorry
that the information about women's
courses at SUNYA was not printed
in this column last month, so that

interested women could register for Center.

them. It's not all inv fault, how-
ever; the information did not come
to us on time.. I will try to do

better for next semester.)

Ten courses are being offered
this semester in Women's Studies.
Two of them are listed directly as
Women's Studies courses; the others
are offered through the depart-
ments of Anthropology, English,
Foundations of Education, Physi-
Cal Education, Rhetoric and Commu-
nication, and Theater. One of
them, "Women in Education," is
a shared resources course at both
undergraduate and graduate levels;
all the other courses are under-
graduate.

The courses and their instruc
tors are as follows:

Ethnology of Women, Billie Jean
Isbell (Anthropology) --two sec-
tions; Women in Restoration and
18th Century Literature, Lois
Chaber (English); Literature of
Sub-Culture:women Writers, Diva
Daims (Engish); Women and Educa-
tion, Sandra Peterson-Hardt (Foun- |
dations of Education); Self-Defense
for women, Barbara Palm (women's
Physical Education); Sexual Polit
tics: Female and Male Communica- )
tion Patterns of Process, Linda
St. Clare (Rhetoric and Comnimunica-
tion); Seminar in Comedy: Women

in Comedy, Roger Harzel (Theater) ;
Introduction to Feminism, Judy
Fetterley (Women's Stuies); Topics
in Women's Studies: Women in Sci-
ence, Laura Roth (Women's Studies).

Anyone who would like more
information on Women's Studies
should contact Joan Schultz (di-
rector of the program) at 457-3300.

- od

To get news of your group's acti-

vities into Speakout, the material
must reach SPEAKOUT by the 15th of
the preceding month.

The information can be mailed >
to Speakout--Group News, PO Box
6165, Albany, WY 12206, or the in-
formation may be placeé@ in the en-
velope marked Speakout on the door
between the YWCA and the Women's
- YOU may also call Tania

Durbak, evenings, at 482-4252.

CONGRESSWOMAN BELLA _ABZUG

A_ Leader of the Fight Against Laws That Discriminate

EMPLOYMENT: Her legislation has brought more than $4.3 billion in

extra Federal funds to New York State, and produced
thousands of jobs. .

WOMEN %* She co-authored new titles to the Economic Development Act
creating a $375 million job opportunities program.
* She wrote the first Equal Credit Opportunity Act outlawing
discriminatory lending practices. .
* She has introduced pioneering legislation for child care,
flexible hours, and social security for homemakers.
* She recently won approval of her bill for a national women's
conference in 1976.
THE | |
ELDERLY: _Shewon increases in SSI benefits for the elderly and the
handicapped.
She won $20 million nationwide for special transit projects.
MASS

TRANSIT: She helped lead the fight in Congress that for the first

time won Federal operating subsidies as well as construction
money for public mass transportation facilities all over

the country, including New York City, Buffalo, other major
towns and rural areas.

ENVIRONMENT:An outspoken opponent of the SST, she co-authored a House-

approved amendment that would prevent the supersonic -
Concorde from landing at John F. Kennedy Airport.

She co-authored the Federal Water Pollution Act allocating
funds to clean up the Hudson River and other national water-
ways. New York has received $3.1 billion under this act.

WELFARE Ss Wt 3
REFORM: She 1s leading the citizens lobby for the standardization
| at 75% Federal reimbursement for all states' welfare costs.
BELLA HAS BROUGHT 600,000 JOBS TO NEW YORK STATE TO FIGHT RECESSION

es a ee ee ee ee ee ee es ee ee LL A LS rh ne ce ne am cee

ae a a se
HHL BELLA ABZUG for SENATOR

If you believe Congresswoman Abzug can do more for women and all

the people of New York as a member of the Senate and would like
to help Bella in the fight,

CALL: (518) 465-4707 284 Central Avenue

Albany New York

JOB OPENINGS --SPEAKOUT STAFF

WOMEN are needed to help Speak
out stay in print.
like to donate her time to perform
one of the functions listed below,
please call us at your earliest
convenience...

‘ i) Art work--designing and/or hel-

ping design covers and/or other il-
lustrations.

2) tTypists--to type articles on *
stencils to be mimeoed. This can
be done at home or at the Women's
Center Monday nights.

3). Ads--contacting establishments
whose policies do not contradict
feminist philosophies to solicit
ads for Speakout. Could also in-
volve doing art work for ads.

4) News reporting~~roving reporter
to cover events of interest to fe-
ainists and to write them up for
Speakout.

5) Bookstore co-ordinator-- de-
livering Speakout to bookstores and
collecting monies for previous

Subscribe to Speakout
$3.50 per year

Send coupon to:
Speakout

PO Box 6165

Albany, NY 12206

ivame
Address
City, State Zip

If you are planning a change
of address, please notify
Speakout.. It will not be for-
warded, and we have to pay for
copies returned.

Check appropriate blank when
sending in coupon.

New Sub,

Change of ad-
dress

Renewall

Anyone who would

issues sold. Also involves main-
taining records of number of is-
sues sold at each store.

6) Staplers--needed to spaple is-
sues once a month when the issues
are being put together. Even if

you only have an hour to donate,
please come.

Any of the above jobs can be shared
by several women. By joining and
helping, you will become an offi-
Cial Speakout staffer and your

name will be listed as a worker

for the issues. Now what more
could any feminist ask for?:?!

To volunteer for one of the above
jobs, or to obtain more informa-

tion, please call Cheryl Shenkle

(899-4121) or Tania Durbak (482-

4252}.

Bulk Rate

~ 3S Postage Paid
Permit #12
Albany; NY

Eileen Kelly
98 S. Pine *
Albany, NY 12208

Future Prospects for Speakout
Twelve women attended the

Speakout policy meeting on Sept.
13 at the Tri-Cities Women's
Center. Lois Utley, feminist and
reporter for the Knickerbocker
News, inspired us a11 with her
talk about how to improve Speak-
oute

lois' first suggestion was that
speakout should change its format
from mimeograph to newsprint (ex,
Kite, Majority Report). (We had
considered this before but be-
cause of limited money and staff
we thought it was unrealistic, )
Lois* point was that changing to
newsprint was the only way to in-
crease our circulation and keep
Speakout alive, and we all agreed,
She suggested that we gear our
efforts toward achieving this
goal in January of next year,

We have already started to in-
crease our circulation by asking
other bookstores in the area to
carry Speakout. The Periodical,
a bookstore in the Clifton
Country Mall, now carries Speak-
out. Maxine Krall and Barbara
Mendelson have agreed to take
Speakout to Schenectady and Troy,
respectively. Once we change to
newsprint larger bookstores will
be more receptive to us, Curr-
ently bookstores such as the
Paperback Booksmith in the North-
way Mall are not interested in
carrying us because we're mimeo
and not appealing to the average

reader. Thus we don't sell very
well,

Lois is willing to help train
us in layout and another woman,
Sharon Eguren, also has news-
paper experience. We are in the
process of contacting area prin-
ters to obtain publishing costs,

Changing to a newspaper will
require a substantial investment
though and right now this is
impossible. We hope to have a
benefit at the Women's Center in
the near future to raise money
for this. We would also appre-
ciate any financial contributions
from our readers and we will keep
you advised of our progress,

Possibly there are some grants we _

EDITOR'S STATEMENT might apply for.

Lois also suggested that we
should do more investigative re-
porting particularly on legisla-
tive issues. She has an office
in the Capitol and will be avail-
able for guidance and suggestions,
Certainly this is an area Speak-
out should be more involved in
since the Capitol is our home
turf. We should be listing up-
coming public hearings and
committee meeting sessions on
women's bills and we should be
tracing the actions of local
legislators in voting on women's
issues. We hope to do some of
this in our November issue. We
plan to research the voting re-
cords of those running in the
general election to see how they
stand on women's issues. To do

this of course requires more staff
and this has traditionally been

Speakout's problem.
We hope that the women who

came to our September 13th meet-
ing will stick with us and we ask
that more women join us,

Lois will be conducting a work-
Shop on October 4th in investi-
gative reporting and layout at
6:30 pam. at the Women's Center,
All are welcome to attend,

Many suggestions for articles
were also discussed at our meet-
ing. Profiles on area women and
historical profiles, expanding
our group news and calendar to
include New York City events, a
good schedule of art events in-
volving local women, and drawing
on the talents of local women to
do articles for us were a few
mentioned,

We know that many of our read-
ers are supportive and have sug-
gestions on what they would like
Speakout to become, Let us hear
from you. Come to our stapling
parties, our policy meetings and
work sessions, Share your ideas
and talents with us,

Changing our format to news-
print will require a considerable
committment from area feminists,
Let us know if this is the course
you want Speakout to take and if
SO, help us to achieve this goal,

Let's make Speak
Wwe can be proud + ee

SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL

Fete Vi, Mr 9 October, 1976

a SS qo ~~ ON WN - WwW vw o

ee
Sf £.60 % ©

15-17
18

Table of Contents
Summary of Title IX Provisions

Title IX v. Discrimination in University Athletics -- Joan DeMicco
Title IX at SUNYA's P.E,. Department -- Bev Szarek

Title IX -- What Is It? -- Sue Larsen

The Trapped Housewife -- Cheryl Shenkle

Nell Stokes- Candidate for Albany School Board

The Next Step, Inc. - Halfway House for llomen Alcoholics -- Sally Peter
An Introduction to Workspace--Al ternative Arts Center -- Carol Schillinger
An Individual Opinion of Workspace -- Carol Schillinger —

Women's Day '76 Report -- Sue Larsen

Abortion Update -- Alex Douglas

Miss America Comes Out! -- Alex Douglas

Sons & Others -- Women Artists See Men -- Cindy Segal & Cheryl Shenkle
Poems Written During a Divorce -- Janice Dagher

Open Letter to People Interested in the Tri-City Women's Center

Harris Charges Against Ms, Thrown Out

Health News Briefs

Group Kews

Job Opportunities

Calendar

Workers for this issue: Cheryl Shenkle, Tanya Durbak, Jan Barbuto, Rezsin

Adams, Fiona Burke, Jean Dross, Barbara Brandeis,
Bev Szarek, Carol Schillinger, Janet Jones

The Opinions expressed in Speakout's articles are those of their respective
authors and not necessarily those of the Speakout staff. Speakout attempts
to present the opinions of all facets of the feminist community in the
Tri-Cities Area.

SPEAKOUT is a member of COSMEP (Committee of Small Magazine Editors and
Publishers) and is available at several bookstores in the Tri-Cities Area,

SPEAKOUT
P. 0. Box 6165
Albany, New York 12206

&. SUMMARY OF THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION ACT OF

1972. Title IX regulations became law July 21, 1975, and applies
to every public school in the United States,

Athletes: Mandates equal opportunity for both sexes, but allows
separate team contact sports and interscholastic athletics, In

noncontact sports, if school has only a boys'-team, girls must
have a chance to try out for the team. Athletic scholarships
must be offered to both sexes in proportion to their numbers
represented in interscholastic sports programs,

Physical Education: llandates the end of sex segregation in
physical education classes, but allows within-class segregation

when classes play contact sports, Ability grouping by "objective
performance standards" is allowed,

Textbooks: Title IX does not apply to sex-biased textbooks.

Scholarships: Prohibits sex discrimination in student financial
aid, but allows single-sex scholarships established by wills

and bequests if students are first selected for financial aid
by non-discriminatory criteria,

Fraternity and sororities: liembership practices of social frater-
nities and sororities, and "voluntary youth service organizations"

are exempt, Discrimination barred in honorary and professional
fraternities and sororities,

Admissions: Bars discrimination in public vocational, professional
graduate and public coeducational undergraduate schools. Bars

any differential treatment of applicants by sex, except when
special efforts to recruit members of one sex are needed to

remedy the effects of past discrimination,

Courses: Courses or other educational activities may not be

provided separately on the basis of sex, with the exception of
courses in human sexuality.

Counseling: Discrimination on the basis of sex is barred. Sex-
biased guidance materials are not allowed, and recipients must
evaluate their testing materials for absence of sex bias,

Marital or parental status of students: Bars any rule concerning a
student's actual or potential parental, family or marital status
which makes distinctions based on sex, Discrimination against
pregnant women students is barred, and recipients must treat
disabilities related to pregnancy the same way as any other

temporary disability in any health plan or policy which they offer
to students.

Employment: In general, the regulation prohibits: discrimination
based on sex in employment, recruitment and hiring, whether full
or part time, under any education program which receives or
benefits from federal funding. Sex discrimination is prohibited

in job criteria, advertising and.recruitment, hiring and firing,

promotion, tenure, pay, job assignments, training, leave and fringe
benefits. Discrimination on the basis of pregnancy is prohibited,

TITLE IX VS. DISCRIMINATION IN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS. wHAT'S THE SCORE?

It is illegal for universities which reveive any type of federal funding
to practive sex discrimination in school activities. Title IX of the Educational
Amendments Act of 1972 prohibits such discrimination. And yet, inequalities
still exist, particularly in athletic programs. Following, is a report on the
problem as presented by womenSports, Sept. '76.

WomenSports surveyed a random sample of 55 colleges and universities last
June. They wanted to find out what changes had occurred in women's athletics
after the first year of the three-year compliance schedule, They compared types
of facilities, equipment, practice schedules, and jobs and salaries.

Locker rooms were a major facility problem in formerly all-male universities.
Women had to wait for their slow construction and/or use rooms provided but diff-
icult to reach, Even more of a problem has been the sharing of facilities, i.e.,
pools, fields, courts. In most cases the men's teams have more space, and/or
priority in the scheduled use of the facility. Women athletes are getting eeuip-
ment, but not as much as the men, At the University of Georgia, each member
of the men's golf team receives an unlimited number of golf balls. Hach women
golfer receives one ball. While some institutions are failing in the area of
equal opportunities, others are making a real effort at change. The University
of Washington and the University of Oregon schedule dual meets in some sports,
in order to transport both men and women within their budget limitations. Bud-
gets for the women athletes are tight. Money for women directors and coaches
is even tighter, While more women athletic directors are being hired, others
are being fired and replaced by men, This situation makes it difficult for
women directors to be advocates for the women in their programs,

Fifty-three of the schools sampled are including some increase in the bud-
gets for women this year. But most of the budgets for men will increase also,
thus leaving a wide gap again, in most cases. The women athletes have not sug-
gested that money be taken away from male sports to finance their own programs.
Instead funds come from a variety of sourced: "general school funds, student

fees, men's gate receipts, alumni contributions, or state grants". Some schools
rely totally on outside funds.

"The Title IX guidelines require that each school# (1) comply with the
equal opportunity mandate by July of 1973 and (2) perform a "self-evaluation"
of its problems and planned solutions by last July", This is obviously a very
loose evaluation procedure. In the meantime, more that 464 complaints have been
filed with HW, The big universities and the National Collegiate Athletic Assoc-
iation are taking cases to court. The small schools are waiting to see what
happens. And the women athletes? They have more than before, but they are
still fighting sex discrimination.

Joan DeMicco

womenSports Sept. "75 pp. 50-54 Candace Lyle Hogan

RUKIA HEH
The Meaning of Smiles According to Ms. Raka, smilimg or grin-
In the July 13,1976 issue of News- ning among primates is considered to

- ? : be a submissive gesture, one which as-
day, there is an interesting letter by -s
Cathryn Raka. Ms. Raka notes that du- sures other members of the group that

ring the Olympic coverage, much was there is nothing to fear, Obvoiusly,

made of the fact that Nadia Comaneci did dap pe oe 6: ph aoe nag aga
not smile very often. There was, how- : m range ge ‘Sg wagon a ‘
ever no comment about the smiling or non- COmmentator's need to be reassure a

smiling of the other Olympic competitors. ae champion is only a harmless little

ee Meee tial Mae ee ee a

Title Ik at SUNYA'S cae Department

"we're way ahead of them. -
There is a
not reflected in a lot of
universities," idith Cobane,
Chairman of the women's Physical
Education Department of the
University at Albany, said
regarding Title Ia of the sduca-
tion Amendments.

Under a 1972 act of Consress,
Title Ik makes it illecal for the
16,000 putlic school districts
and 2,700 colleges and universi-
ties that receive federal aid to
discriminate against women in
physical education end athletic
competition.

Regulations to implement the
law were issued in July '75 by
the US Depertment of Health,
Education, and welfare. Because
of expected complications the law
would cause, «ll echools were
granted an adjustment period for
full compliance in their sports
programs consisting of one year
for elementary echools end three
years for the high echcols and
colleges.

According to Ms. Cobane,
physical education courses at
Albany heave always been co-ed.
The sports prosrams are wide and
varied including tennis, g¢ymnas-
tics, basketball, cwimming,
diving, track and field, and
softball. A field hockey prorcram
wae dropped, tut only due to a
lack of demand. iis. Cobane also
said they heave plans to start a
Cross Country club this fall.

The provision of equipment
and supplies for the programs is
sufficient. hs. Cobane remarked,
"ie have what we need. We don't
have ag much as the men, but they
have more of a need, for example
because of football."

The law also provides for
equal compensation of women and
men coaches in addition to equal
travel allowances. it present,
Ms. Cobane said that no discrep-
ancies have been found,in
salariee. Three differences were
Giscovered three or five years
ago, she eaid, but these were

the

fairness here at Albany

corrected immediately. as to
travel allowances, Ms. Cobane
remarked, "the women have the
exact same provisions as the men.

The University at Albany
does not issue any athletic
scholarships. The squall
Ooportunity rrogram and the
Talented Student Admigsion fro-
eram, said ks. Cobane, are open
to both wien end women who might
be interested in athletics in
coming to the echool.

& self-study taken recently
revealed very few, if any,
problem areas in complying with
Title I... ie. Cobane mentioned,
however, the unequal coverage of
geports events by the media.
"rublic relatione is a problen,
probably because we are not
experienced enough to ¢0o out and
cet the media. And, of couree,
they won't come to us."

Bev Szarek

A FEW OBSERVATIONS
: £58. VERE °- (tania Durbak

crow the accve article, it is
obvious chat the wouen's +2 depart-
ment is receiveing some considera-
ticn as far as its proygraim is con-
cerned. .«.owever, before we set =
toc enthusiastic abcut eyual oppor-
tunity at SUNYA's Pe department, a
few cbservations are perhaps in or-
Cieyr is

Dr. Cobane states that the
wouwén have the equipment that they
neeci. Ferhaps she is unaware of
the fact that the equipment cage
in the women's lccker room has no
basketballs, no vclleyballs, no
ping-pong sets, no handball cloves,
just to mention a few things. wo-
ingen Whe need such equipnent iwust
obtained from the’ inmen's locker roon
equipment cage where there are
6 basketballs, 8 badminton rackets,
several ping-poncg sets, and 16
gloves. «aS a matter of fact, the
equipuent cage in the men's lccker
rooiui has more of all kinds of
equipment, and better equipinent
than the women's cage dcesi

It is also interesting that.

tiale Cage attendants géet.more i
he rast two years. A MOLE money

“The Woman at Home Is No Longer
The Trapped Housewife" :

This was a quote from Arlene
Rossen Cardoza who has written a
book called Woman At Home. She
appeared on the Phil Donahue
Show, Friday, September 17 along
with several women from her Woman
At Home Workshop. She began by
giving credit to the feminist
movement, “The feminist movement
has done us all a service by ask-
ing us the question, what do we
want to do?" The point of her
argument was that a woman choos-
ing to stay home was a valid
option and she need not feel
trapped. She accused feminist
leaders of trying to push women
into the work force by saying
that housework and motherhood
were non-productive. Her book is
a series of interviews with women
who stay homee From those inter-
views she lists six peves of non-
working mothers: 1. A woman
must work outside the home to do
something worthwhile. This isa
myth brought about by feminist
leaders, according to Ms, Cardoza,
2. It is the quality not quant-
ity of time spent with the chil-
dren that counts. This is an
argument that working mothers use.
Some working mothers in the aud-
ience believed this statement
and explained that their children
were happier. 3. Working moth-
ers using friends and neighbors
as drop-off points (for their
children.) The fact that this
would not be the case if more
day care centers were available
was not mentioned. 4. Being
called on constantly to collect
for worthy causes. 5. Having
all the responsibility for chil-
dren's club activities. 6. Who
are you? What do you do? House-
wives have no identity. They do
not work.

Her arguments did raise some
valid points. The role of the
father in the rearing of the
children was not questioned
enough though. One woman in the
audience commented that the most
important job in the whole world

is raiging children. Phil Dona-
hue then quipped, "Then why don't
men take a larger responsibility
if that is so important." He
was trying to solicit response
that child rearing should be a
joint responsibility. Ms. Car-
doza said that men would take a
larger role but that they are
programmed to be breadwinners
and this is wrong.

Most women in the audience
seemed to accept the fact that
the responsibility for raising
children and doing housework
rested with them. No one men-
tioned improving the quality or
the availability of day care
centers or seriously questioned
the role that men should play in
the home. The largely female
middle class audience accepted

their role and the problem for
them was whether or not they

should work outside the home while
ao a family. Most of them
a

elt that they should not. Ms.
ardoza*s book appealed to them

because it offered them alterna-
tives to cooking and cleaning.

Her book is geared to those women

who can afford to stay home and

offers them options to everyday
housework,

Unfortunately, most women do
not have the options available
to these women. Most working

mothers do so because they cannot
afford to stay home. For them
the real issue is not, how do I

spend my time, but day care

centers and sharing household
responsibilities,

Cheryl Shenkle

DID YOU KNOW THAT ...

there is a catalog which lists non-
sexist books?

Feminist Press books are great for you,
your friends, and/or your children,
The Feminist Press catalog provides
you with a listing of non-sexist books
in all areas. To get a catalog, write
to Feminist Press, Box 334, Old West-
bury, NY 11568.

NELL STOKES: CANDIDATE FOR THE ALBANY SCHOOL BOARD

Ms. Stokes dropped out of high school in the late 50's but completed
a high school equivalency diploma in 1972. She went on to Hudson Valley
Community College for an associate degree. She is still attending the
college. She also is the coordinator of programs for the Albany YWCA,

There are two vacant seats on the board. One is a five year tem,
the other is the three year term left by Sister Maryellen Harmon. Harold
Johnson was appointed by the board to fill Sister Harmon's seat. A great
deal of controversy arose in the wake of his appointment. Ms. Stokes also
was a candidate for that seat bgt feels that she a "used " by the board
because they had already decided to appoint Johnson. "I was used to prove
that they did call other people to be interviewed", she said,

Ms. Stokes said her primary interest is in the area of special ed-
ucation, and added that her election to the board would give representation
to one-parent families, families headed by women and low-income families
who do not have a voice at the policy making level of the district. She
is for open communication between school board members, educators, the
community and the students. She feels that more programs dealing with
the needs of the students should be a primary concern.

Nell Stokes is involved in the School 19 Parent-Teacher Association
and the Albany High School tParent-Teacher-Student Association. She pre-
viously was involved with the Parent Advisory Board of the St. Philip's
Day Care Center, was an ex-officio member of the board of directors of
Masterson/St. Philip's School and co-editor of RAP, a school newspaper.
Five of the six — in the Stokes' household are enrolled in Albany
schools. The sixth is a student at pivtebate College.

Ms. Stokes feels that a vote for her would help create an integration
of ideas between the coummunity and the school board.

VOTE NOVEMBER 2

a aaa ae Bs i a a SO 5 gs 5 a he aot Sal eee ee tee Rd oe el

THE NEXT STEP, INC.
A Half-way House for Recovering Alcoholic Women

‘THE NEXT STEP, INC.’ is a not-for-profit organization designed to
operate a therapeutic community for recovering alcoholic women who
are moving toward independent living, free from alcohol dependence,

The community provides a family atmosphere where a resident can find
mutual support, understanding and guddance. The Program provides
both structure, and the support needed to enable the individual to
maintain her sobriety. The Program is individualized to meet the
needs of each resident. Individual, Group, and Family Counseling
are available as well as social and recreational activities. The
Program places strong emphasis on having residents attend A.A,
meetings on a regular basis to maintain her sobriety. Films,
speakers, house projects, and communal living are also important.
aspects of the overall program. Community resources for supportive
services such as medical treatment, education, and job placement,
to name a few, will be utilized as needed by each resident. Our
Program encourages each resident to accept responsibility for her-

self in learning to deal with everyday happenings in her life
without alcohol.

Referrals are taken from St. Peter's Alcoholism Program (SPARC),

the Alcoholism Receiving Center (Sobering-up Station) and many of

the other agencies dealing with the problem of alcoholism in the
area, Referrals also come from some long-term rehabilitation units
such as Marcly and Ogdensburg. If a woman realizes she has a problem
with alcohol and wants to do something about it she may refer her-
self by making a phone call and setting up an appointment, All
referrals are screened. After the screening is completed, a decision
is made by the Staff with approval of the Director as to whether or
not the applicant is appropriate. Some applicants may be referred

to another agency or treatment facility if we feel it would be to
their benefit. The applicant is also given time to make a decision
regarding her appropriatness in our Program. If there is mutual
agreement that The Next Step, Inc. will be helpful to the woman, she
arranges to enter the Program, She is fully aware of what will be
expected of her and also of what she can expect of us. The Next
Step, Inc. is in the business of helping residents to help themselves.
We cannot get, or keep anyone sober, this is up to the resident.

We will give support, understanding and any assistance possible, but
the resident will ultimately do the work by dealing with her own

emotions, feelings and problem areas, She will receive support and
understanding from the other residents as well as the Staff,

All applicants are admitted upon their own willingness and may leave
the Program at any time if they choose to do so.

Currently the room and board is $25.00 per week. When a resident
does not have sufficient funds to pay the weekly fee, temporary
arrangements can be made through community resources,

The responsibility for sobriety belongs to the resident. The Next

Step, Inc. can only provide a supportive and growth enhancing
community where she can begin to make a new life,

If you wovid like further information please call - 465-5249 - 40,

sally Peter

AN INTRODUCTION TO WORKSPACE-- ALTER-
NATIVE ARTS CENTER

On a small Lark Street store front,
windows are taped with posters proclaim-
ing WORKSPACE 114B QUAIL STREET and
informing casual passersby of Workspace's
purposes.

The center is only temporarily
located at 114B Quail Street; the group
has acquired a former factory showroom
at 11 Central Avenue and is in the process
of renovating the showroom prior to
relocating. The storefront on Lark
Street will be kept and used as a gallery.

Workspace was founded in July by a
small group of people forming the core
of a nucleus of local artists.

Alternatives to established art
institutions are very limited in the
Capitol District. The primary function
of these existing institutions is twofold,
to provide a showcase for art work
that is passively viewed by the audience
and secondly, to promote art education.

Workspace is purportedly an intellect-
ual alternative to present institutions
and their philosophies. Supposedly,
Workspace attempts to steer away from
the concept of artist as die menschmach-
ine, merely producing a product to be
consumed.

Some events at Workspace have included
avant garde films, slide shows, painting
and other ‘flat visual’ exhibitions and
installations, poetry readings, dance
performances and informal as well as
directed dialogues.

General dialogues are held Sunday
evenings at eight o'clock. On Sundays.
administrative jobs are discussed: who
Will do what, when and for how long. A
core group of artists have taken over
most of the administrative tasks to
keep Workspace functioning. These
individuals solicit artists for events,
direct the dialogues and write the bi-
weekly newsletter. People attending
Sunday dialogues can bring up other
topics, unlike the weekday dialogues,

which are limited to one general area of and people might also be participating in

discussion.

Workspace is unaffiliated with any
government agencies, grants or city art
programs, It exists solely on monthly
dues paid on a sliding scale and on
public donations.

A brief assessment of the group's
problems include insuring thoroughly
organized committees so that the work
gets done, improved press.relations and

helped get the meeting moving.

Pigs eee Sid ger eee See we ee ee

better structuring of events and dialogues
to enable Workspace to communicate more
effectively.

lorkspace is a start towards many
liberal/radical options to the current’
arts scene in the Capitol District.
Hopefully Workspace will propel other

~ local artists and persons interested

in art to independently challenge the
present arts establishment.

Further information on Workspace is
available by stopping in person at its
present location, 114B Quail Street
Albany or writing Workspace, 3rd floor,
11 Central Avenue, Albany, N.Y. 12206.

Carol Schillinger
HHH

AN INDIVIDUAL OPINION OF WORKSPACE

I first heard about Workspace by
reading the posters plastered throughout
Albany and through a friend who had
been to two meetings this summer. I
went to Workspace on August 14 and was
intrigued with what Workspace seemed to
offer, except I didn't like the idea
that they were/are opposed to artists
making money. I much prefer being paid
working as an artist to working as
a typist.

The next evening, a friend and I went
to their Sunday dialogue, which was
taped by two men. It was rather hard
to talk to the group, for I didn't always
follow the highly polysyllabic dialogue
which concerned press relations, general
communications and other related topics.

- Eventually, we went around in a circle
' getting 5 minute monologues from every-

one who wanted to talk. Somehow, it

The following week I went alone to
the Sunday dialogue, remembering to
bring my notebook to take notes. I
noticed there were fewer people than
the week before. Did several people
drop out? The thought was dismissed with
another thought, ‘Oh well, it's summer,

other tlorkspace endeavors.’ Some of

the conversations involved starting a
record-keeping system, fund raising,
collaboration versus individual projects
and whether or not art is free. When
talking to these individuals, I was
increasingly made aware of the fact that
if one was to question the motives
behind their worts;—they—would categor=—
ically deny the implications of what they
were saying. On the surface, the group

eS ae ee eee

Workspace, cont'd.

seemed to be pro: feminism, civil
rights and other minority rights but
in their work there were virtually no
indications of this.

An attempt was made to find out who
taped the August 15 dialogue and what
previous dialogues were taped and if
permission could be obtained to hear
them and quote relevant material. I
was told they were erased and was
unsuccessful in finding out who had
taped them,

I returned to iJorkspace on Tuesday

evening, September 7 with some magazines

to donate and to find out what was
happening only to find the place closed.
I hung around and started copying the
posted information to use as a source
for my article. Luckily a workspace
person drove by and I was invited in
to see some of the person's films.

I was impressed by their technical and
aesthetical quality but I was amazed
and angered at the gross sexism
prevalent in most of the films and said
sO.

Ever since then the people at
Workspace have been cool to me.
Apparently they realized I'm a bona
fide feminist. I went down early
Thursday evening and the place was
closed again. Not knowing their
addresses and being broke prevented me
from attempting to reach them.

On Sunday, September 12 the place
was Closed when I arrived at ten-thirty.
With borrowed money, three of the
people were called. One of the room-
mates who answered said they moved out
and didn't have a phone. After several
more calls and more difficulties I
finally contacting some Workspace
people at a local bar. I showed my
article to them, but they said they
couldn't read it then, One of the
persons showed me the notes taken at
the meeting. They were all one word
descriptions of topics and a new list
of people on the committees,
ly either the person didn't take com-
plete notes or whatever occurred was
to stay off the record, (This would
keep iiorkspace accessible only to a
few people and make the group less
accountable

I was told by one of the people at
Workspace that I would have to make
the decision whether to be an artist
or a feminist. itiho says? I am both

Apparent-

and will continue to be both regardless
of their opposition.

' On the way back, some Of the people
read my manuscript and said it was only

an introduction, that many changes have

taken place that were not written about.

My membership in Workspace is being
discontinued as a group I feel is blatant-
ly hypocritical. However, it is good that
at least someone has finally come up with
an alternative to what has been available
in art in this area. This organization
may be just right for some and that's
great. For others such as myself, there
is a lot of talk about the fine arts
and a lot of planning going on amongst
area feminists.

For more information, call the

Albany NOW at 765-4033 and watch for
future issues of Speakout.

In sisterhood,
Carol Schillinger

KKK
WOMEN'S DAY '76 REPORT

Women's Day 1976 was a resounding
success. Proceeds from this penny
auction and booth fees resulted in a
contribution of $130,00 to the Battered
Women Project. Additionally, a savings
account has been set up to provide seed
money for tlomen's Day 1977.

On the attendance side, there were
more booths and people at Women's Day
than there have been for the past few
years. Most of those booths that were
selling items reported good sales, All
the crafttpeople who were present’ indicated
a desire to return next year. All these
things seem to be indicators that people
had a good time,

Sue Larsen

(Editor's Note: Speakout made $28.00,
less than in previous years. le were
definitely hampered by the wind and
would have probably made more money sell-
ing rocks,

The success of Women's Day can be
attributed in large part to the efforts
of two women, Jean Dross and Ro Rosen,

The entertainment was excellent
and continuous throughout the day.

Hopefully Women's Day 1977 will be
even better,

FERREIRA LAI AAA AISA IAAI ALAS ASIANS AS II AAS PR

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE NOVEMBER 2ndit

4 ee ee

ABORTION UPDATE: LOW-INCOME WOMEN'S FREE
DOM TO CHOOSE IS IN PERILS!! FORD AND

CARTER SUCCOMB TO PRESSURE FROM CATHOLIC
BISHOPS AND "RIGHT-TO-LIFE" GROUPS{Ii2%!

Women everywhere should be enraged
over the current machinations of the
Congress and the two major contenders
for the presidency with respect to the

ABORTION issue. Both presidential cand-
idates have succombed to pressures from
Catholic Church leaders and *right-to-
life* groups--but it is difficult to
say which has done the greatest injust-
ice to women on this issue:

- Gerald Ford has now declared that he
will support the G.0O.P. platform proposal
in favor of a constitutional amendment

to prohibit abortion. The proposed
amendment would effectively reverse the
landmark decision of the Supreme Court
in 1973 which guaranteed American women

the right to choose safe and legal abort-
ion, in consultation with a physician.
(Ford had originally stated that he

felt the abortion issue should be up to
the states to decide. )

-Jimmy Carter has now publicly pledged
to oppose the use of Federal funds to
pay for abortion--for persons on
MEDICAID now, and for those receivi
National Health Insurance benefits in
the future. (NYTimes, 9/12/76).
Carter originally stated that he would
accept the ruling of the Supreme Court
on this issue, and would not support a
constitutional amendment.

Congress, meanwhile, continues to be
in a deadlock over a "right'to'life"
inspired proposal which has been attached
to the DHEW/LABOR appropriations bill.
The proposal, which is known as the
Hyde amendment, specifically requires
that NO FEDERAL MONEY "SHALL BE USED TO
PAY FOR ABORTIONS, OR TO PROMOTE OR
ENCOURAGE ABORTIONS." This would mean
no MEDICAID ents for abortion for
the poor and low-income women who depend
on medicaid for their health carei And,
presumably, no information or counseling
a pregnant woman on public assistance or
medicaid about the possibility of
terminating her pregnancy, either.

The Hyde Amendment is the only issue
in the massive DHEi//LABOR appropriations
bill which has not been resolved. The
House of Representatives has passed the
bill three times, and the Senate has
rejected it three times. (Please note:
James Buckley, up for reelection for

Senator this year has voted in favor of .
the Hyde Amendment every time. . . Bella
Abzgug: has voted against it every time.)
Since 1973, the opponents of abortion
(the coalition to END free choice) have
sought to overturn the Suprme Court
decision: so far they have been unsaccess
ful. However, passage of the Hyde
Amendment would result in the first
national legislation to restrict a part-
icular group of women from obtaining safe
and legal abortions.

DHEW officials estimate as many as 150-
250 deaths and 25,000 cases of medical
complications due to self-induced abortions
could result each year if the Hyde amend-
ment eventually passes Congress and the
bill is signed into law by President Ford.
But we, as feminists, must also take a
stand against this legislation as it
blatantly discriminates against the poor
woman--the women who may most need abort-
ion, as a protection against further
emotional and financial hardships for
herself and her family?!

It says a great deal about the organi-
gation, the power and the resources of the
"“right-to-life" and Catholic leaders
that they have been able to bring both
Presidential candidates to their knees
in general acceptance of the anti-abortion
position. And it must be a formidable
pressure group that has the ability to
push Congress into support of such a
blatantly discriminatory piece of legis-
lation as the Hyde amendment. . . Someone
remarked recently that the last issue
that really had the IMPACT to bring women
together effectively was the abortion
issue. iJell, the issue is not yet resol-
vediii ile must find our voices, join
together, and take our outrage into the
streets once again...Or we will lose the
freedom to choose. . .

Alex Douglas, 9/13

9/16 Last Minute News: Congress just
approved a "compromise" of the Hyde
Amendment, The so-called compromise
(also unconstitutional as the 1973
Supreme Court decision is interpreted
now) calls for Medicaid payments for

abortion ONLY "when the life of the mother

would be endangered if the fetus were
carried to term." The compromise limits
the financing of abortions under Medicaid
to instances where abortion is deemed to
be a medical necessity. The language

of the bill states that it is intended

to "prohibit payment for abortions as a

- INethod of family planning, or for emotional

10 social convenience,

SS Pe RE I eT ST ON IS ER ERS ES SET ET OM ST ES es

ABORTION, UPDATE, cont'd.

We urge you to write or telegram

Perhaps we, as feminists, should
support the Miss America pageant. After
all, it is one of the few national events

President Ford in opposition to this bill.,nicon draws attention to the nation's

Or write to Senator Buckley (who voted
for it) and Senator Javits who actively
campaigned against it. The President
may veto the bill because it's much more
expensive than he had outlined in the
spring--but we should make our dissatis-
faction come through loud and clear.

Ger ie eae

MISS AMERICA COMES OUTI??

Within hours after 20 year old Dorothy
Benham of Iinnesota was crowned Miss
America 1977, she came out--against
Drugs, Smoking, Marijuana, Pre-Marital
Sex, Abortion and the ERAtt!

On the TODAY show 9/13 an astonished
Tom Brokaw asked Benham if she felt
she was representative of her generation
of women. Denham then announced to a
nationwide TV audience (7 million or so)
that she feels "Everyone is entitled to
their own opinion. And I plan to keep
mine...personal." Later, when Brokaw
asked if there was anything she wanted
to accomplish in her lifetime, some
cause she was interested in (?), she
said she was hopeful that one day they
would bring back the 1930s musical.

(She loves Jeanette MacDonald. )

Monday's Knick News quoted the new
Miss America as being firmly opposed
to Women's Liberation, although she
thinks household decisions should be
made equally by a husband and wife.

And, the Knick article said, Benham had
studied voice for 8 years now and hopes
to achieve stardom on the concert stage,
screen and television--but she would
give up her professional singing career
if her husband demanded iti!

Poor Miss America, Let us hope she
is not truly representative of American
womanhood. In any event, we can wish
her a breakthrough in consciousness
somewhere in the years to come. And we
can take comfort in the knowledge that
fewer and fewer women are going out for
the "title" each year. And the once-
glamorous pageant has turned itself into
an annual TV event offering little
excitement, sparse entertainment and
NO ENLIGHTENMENT WHATSOEVER to the
viewing public...since the featured
attractions (those “beautiful women in
evening gowns") all seem to look alike,
talk alike, and think alike..... i

talented young women, And it does provide
scholarship money ta those who plan to
further their education, And nationwide
exposure to those who want a career on
the concert stage, screen and television.
(not to mention those who want to sponsor
a line of cosmetics). First, of course,
the pageant's promoters will have to
abandon their male-fantasy of "feminine
perfection", throw out the bathing-suit
competition, delete the marital status
and age requirements, and rename the
pageant altogetheriii Maybe, one day

it could become the NATIONAL SALUTE TO
AMERICAN WOMANHOOD program! And it
could feature Meg Christian, Cris
Williamson and the Dea@ly Nightshade.....

Alex Douglas
KISHI

SONS AND OTHERS --WOMEN ARTISTS SEE MEN

State University of New York at
Albany was host during the month of
September to a traveling exhibition of
paintings by women artists. The paint-
ings were very personal and were of men
the respective artists seemed to know
very well. The styles varied from photo-
realism to impressionistic. Many display-
ed a sense of humor, such as a nude
painting of a rather fat man sitting
very relaxed on a couch wearing a chesire
cat smile. The Hardhat by June Blum was
also amusing. This painting was of a
nude man with his back facing the on-
looker and wearing a white hardhat.

Of particular interest was the paint-
ing, Antonio and I, by Joan Semmel.

This very simple subject of a man and
woman in bed was painted from an unusual
perspective. The heads of the people
were missing and their chests were in
the foreground. It thus presented a
lovers eye view and gave the viewer the
impression that the painting was a
extension of their own body. It was
painted in complimentary colors, red
and yellow and was very realistic.

Another interesting painting was
called "In The Bathtub" by Toman Levine,
an oil on canvas. It was an impression-
istic painting of a bather; a subject
characteristic of Degas. However, 'Degas'
“pathers never looked like this.

Cher'yl Shenkle and Cindy Segal

poenis written during a friend's first divorce
(ed. note: these twe poems were chosen out of a selecticn of five)

4. this afternoon
you sit in my kitchen
where the width is too sniall
and the sink isn't clean
and soil from the plants
spills over

and you drink sciue tea
grasping the cup

with two hands

and sayinc

thank you

Gne hundred times

and i think it must have been
your Catholic education

that wakes you disregard

what we both know

about me showing up

in your living room scmetine
when we're both older

and thicker

and it will %e raining
in that city

where you teach

ana i will be Grinking
and crying
ana unable
properly:
unable

to tie

my shoes.

Ls jesus

it's lonely
toe split up
with husbands

to divice the record albums
ana sive favorites

as gifts

and tokens

buy out

the car

to keep

the oldest

frying pam

but the worst story
of all

is the one about
finding yourself
trying through sleep
not to move

over the line

down the middle

cf the bed.

wcth poems by Janice bagher

‘Open Letter To People Interested In The Tri-City Women's Center:
We have become aware of many comments and rumors that have been circulating about

what is happening at the TCWC since "they took over". We hopw that you#will take
the time to read this letter and find out what is really happening. (Also, please
note the events at the TCWC #hat are on the calender. )

Rent: The rent increased in May to $225 a month and the outgoing treasurer, Mary
Hagarup, paid the rent through the end of the lease period (August), The summer
was spent in limbo due to the planned move of the YWCA. As August came to a close,
it became apparent that the Y would not be in its present location for another
year so that no new lease could be signed. After talking with Shiela Young, Dir-
ector of the YWCA, it was agreed that the TCWC would continue at its present rent
on a month to month basis. Further, Shiela indicated that we would probably have
a two month notice before we would have to move. Based on these agreements, the
Finance Committee of the TCWC has paid the rent through the end of October. The
rent will continue to be paid on this basis. Although we hope to move with the Y,
we are also looking for a place of our own if the Y can not accommodate us in
their move.

Money: Pledge and contribution money has been falling off since last November with
the sharpest decline coming in February. Presntly, pledge money of approximately
$30 per month is coming in. Since this amount is far short of even our rent pay-
ments, we are in trouble. We are doing fund raising by selling T-shirts, records,
posters, etc.; we are investizating grant application and hope to become very
active in making grant proposals; but, this is not enough. We NEED YOUR HELP!!t!
If yourcan spare even 50¢ a month, this will help. If we do not have the support
of the women's community in this area, then we will die. This problem has been
discussed extensively at steering committee meetings since March and will probadly
be a continuing agenda item in the future. Please help and encourage your friends
to help.

CR: Fall CR groups are starting to form. If you are interested or know someone
who is interested, contact Lib Berger at 272-3125.

Library: The Patricia Gould Memorial Library at the TCWC has been cataloged and
is now functioning. We invite yourto use it, but ask that you keep in mind others
when keeping books for a long duration. We also invite your contributions; how-
ever, Please remember that the TUWC is not a dumping ground for all your old books
--feminist books are preferred,

These are a few of the happenings at the TCWC. We hope that you will think that
the TCWC is important enough to give some of yourself to it. People are needed on
every committee--maintenance, staffing, programs, @offeehouse, steering, etc. If
you aren't into committe work but would like to run a program (one evening or long-
er--your choice) of participate in a clean-up day, please call the steering com-
mittee or come to one @f the meetings (every Monday evening, 8pm).

Yours in sisterhood, TCWC Steering Committee

P.S. The steering committee is scheduled for another turnover in December, if
you are interested in becoming a committee rep on the steering committee, you
should probably become active on your desired committee now.
P.P.S. Please mail any contributions (time or money) to

Tri-City Women's Center

Box 166

Albany, #2201

HARRIS CHARGES AGAINST Ms, MAGAZINE THROWN OUT OF COURT

A $1.7 million lawsuit, brought by Elizabeth Forsling Harris against Ms.
Magazine and two of its officers, has been thrown out of court by a permanent
and final order of dismissal. This order of dismissal specifically reserves

for later trial the countercharge brought against Ms. Harris by Ms. Magazine
and the two officers, Patricia Carbine and Floria Steinem.

The Ms. countercharge alleges that the Harris complaine "was brought mali-
ciously by Harris with the intention and for the purpose of causing dissemination
of false and libelous information about (the) defendants." This counterclaim
demands actual damages of $287,000 plus an unspecified amount of punitive damages

to be paid by Ms. Harris.

Ms. Harris' complaint was dismissed because of her repeated disobedience of
the Judge's order directing her to appear to answer questions under oath posed

by the lawyers for Ms. Magazine.

Ms. Harris specified no reasons to the Court for her refusal to answer fur-
ther questions under oath in regard to the merits of her claim,

The Harris complaint, filed in June, 1975, had alleged that Ms. Harris was

induced to sell back a majority of her Ms. Magazine stock by false statement

and concealment of fact.

The countercharge by Ms. Magazine also alleged that Ms, Harris maliciously
made false statements to reporters of United Press International, Newsday and
Majority Report. As a result, the charges made by Ms. Harris, which have now
been dismissed, were carried by publications across the United States reaching

a minimum readership of 15 million.

TAHA

HEALTH NEWS BRIEYS

The authors of a study recently
published in the New England Journal
of Medicine describe the increase in
cancer of the uterus as of a magnitude
"that has rarely been paralled in the
history of cancer reporting in this
country." From 1969-73, there was a
4o% increase of endometrial cancer and
as much as a 150% increase among
middle-aged women. Another study,
also published in the NEJM points to
the prescription of estrogen as the
major factor in this increase. (NYPost

6/3/76).

A Study conducted by the Margaret
Sanger Research Bureau has concluded
that the diaphragm is a highly effect-
ive form of Birth Control. It proved
more effective than the minipill used
in the study and only slightly less
effective than the IUD. Of the 2,168
women who used the diaphragm in the
study, only 37 became pregnant. This
is a failure rate of only 2 pregnancies
per hundred women per year--and 22 of
the 37 women stated that they had used

the diaphragm inconsistently. (NYPost
5/10/76)

However, this report comes to us from
the Ithaca Women's Center newsletter:

The only "safe" position for female/
male congress using a diaphragm is the
missionary (male above female, front to
front) position because if the penis
hits the diaphragm anywhere except the
back, the Symphases pubis(bone) will
not hold the diaphragm in place. It
will slip, releasing the vacuum.

A New contraceptive device is on the
market. Progestasert is a device which
is implanted in the uterus, releasing
a form of progesterone over twelve
months. The progesterone alters the
lining of the uterus, making it imposs-
ible for a fertilized egg to implant.
The device costs $18. (NYTimes 4/25/76)

The Supreme Court has ruled recently
that state governments may not prevent
pharmacists from advertising the prices
of prescription drugs. Thirty-four states
at the present time have such laws. (NY
Times 5/25/76)

Peep eS

GROUP NEWS. .ccceee been set, but the conference is worth
watching for; here is an opportunity to
SPEAKOUT learn all of the tricks that will help

eae your organization use the mddia to your
é Many new women came to the Septem- advantage.

ber meeting. The Speakout staff welcomes
all of them. For details on the meeting WOMEN'S COFFEEHOUSE
see editorial elsewhere in this issue.
This month's meeting will be held Coffeehouses are held every second and
on Monday, October 81 starting at 6pm at fourth Fridays of the month in the
the Women's Center, Lois Uttley will be Women's Center. Performances begin at

the featured speaker. All interested @p3@ and there is a donation of $2 or

women are invited to attend. Further whatever you can afford.

plans to expand Speakout will be dis- On October 8th the featured per-

cussed at this meeting. formers will be Alix Dobkin and Sally
A stapling party will be held on ~ “Piano - women only welcome.

October 24 starting at 6pm. Please come = Deidre MucCella will provide en-

and help. If Speakout is able to change tertainment for the October 22 Coffee-
its format as planned, there won’t be too house.

many more stapling parties. Don't miss

your chance to attend one of these last ALBANY AREA NOW
fewsnecse

This organization is now in a
very active period. Some members are
involved in the Battered Women Project-
The monthly sommunity meeting is in both the administrative (that of
scheduled for Monday, October 4, begin~ setting up the refuge) and its coun-
ning at Spm. At the time of publication selling aspects. For more information

a topic had not yet been chosen. see Domestic Violence/Battered Women
October lst the Women's Center is Project.

having a BIRTHDAY PARTY to which all area The Education Task Force is

women are invited. The party is being working on an October 23rd Education :
held to“celebrate the Center's move into Conference (for more information see

the YWCA. Come, bring your friends and Education Conference) as well as

have a good time, running an essay for area schools and

Three Steering Committee meetings evaluating textbooks for sexism,
are planned for October, the dates are as NOW is meeting twice a month, the

follows: October llth, 18th and 25th. second Wednesday of each month is a pro-
All Steering Committee meetings begin at Baan meeting held at 8pm in the Women's
8pm and are open to all interested women. Center. The business meeting does not
October 19th at 7pm there will be have a permanent time, but the October
a Legal and Procedures Committee meeting. meeting will be held on the 21st at 8pm

All interested women are invited, in the Womea's Center in Albany. All
A two-week mini-course in saik interested are welcome.

screening will be held in the Center on For more information about NOW

October 19 and 26; both classes will begin contact Jean Dross, 561 Park Avenue,
at 8pm. Connie Dodge will be the in- Albany 12208, 489-6910.
structor, Come and learn a new skill and

have funt A donation of $2 is requested
to cover the cost of materials.

A HALLOWEEN PARTY is planned for
October 31 starting at 8pm. Come and
bring your friends$

The Women’s Center is planning a
communications seminar some time in Oct
tober. At the seminar, all interested
women will have the opportunity to learn
how to best deal with the media: how to
do publicity for an event, how to write
press releases, and how to get appropriate
news coverage. The exact date has not ye,

; -_
<<

TRI-CITY WOMEN’S CENTER

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/BATTERED WOMEN PROJECT

At recent elections, this group
elected officers for the coming year:
Chairperson-Maryluise Satterfield, Vice
chair-Al Moss, Treasurer-Corinne Williams
and Secretary-Dan Burke,

Meetings are held every Tuesday
at 8pm in the Tri-City Women's Center
and all interested may attend,

MORE GROUP NEWS .ccee

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE

The Education Task Force of the
Albany area NOW is holding an Education
Conference in Albany on Saturday, October
23rd. Sexism in textbooks, development of
a non-sexist cirriculum, and Title IX of
the Education Ammendments of 1972, which
forbids sex discrimination in schools,will
be the topics for discussion. Speakers
from Elmira College and Teachers’ Co}lege
of Columbia University will attend the con-
ference.

Conference brochures will be avail+
able around October lst. For information

call Rose Dill at 283-1547, or write her
at Box 128B, Rensselaer 12144.

ALBANY WOUNTY WOMEN''S POLITICAL CAUCUS

The next meeting will be held on

Tuesday, ‘Qotobar 26. at 7:30 in the
Women's Centere

ALBANY COUNTY RAPE CRISIS CENTER

The Rape Crisis Center will hold a
training session for all those women who
have turned in applications to become rape
crisis hotline counselors. Training will
be held on Saturday, October 9th from 9am
to 5pm, and on Sunday the 10th from lpm to
5pm atthe Albany County Rape Crisis Center
at 55 Steuben Street (YWCA) Albany.

FILMS BY WOMEN ARTISTS

Two women artists will present and
discuss their own documentary films on
social issues at Hudson Valley Community
College, Troy, on Friday, October 22nd at
8pm in the Campus Center Theatre. The
filmakers are part of a program "The
Moving Image/The Maker," sponsored by the
NY State University Committee on the Arts.
The purpose of the program is to make
available excellent films and video tapes
not generally projected or broadcast under
commercial circumstances. The six women

chosen for this year’s program are excellent

filmmakers with experience in all aspects:
of the recording art. The films they will
show at campuses, while individual in
approach and subject, are similar in their
focus on societal and political issues,
Members of the community are welcome
to attend this film program. The event is
part of the conference "Community Colleges

on the Move: Stratagies for Serving Women."

For information concerning the films
or the conference contact Linda Peters,
Coordinator for Affirmative Action,
Hudson Valley Community College, Tickets
for the film program are available for
$l.

WOMEN'S STUDIES CONFERENCE AT NEW PALTZ

On the week-end of October 9-10,
the Women’s Studies Program at SUNY New
. Paltz and the Danforth Foundation are
sponsoring a conference entitled
"Celebrate: Birth of Woman." The aim of
the conference, according to their cir-
cular, is “to encourage women's creative
and critical capacities." |

The conference will include
seminars, workshops, creative art pro-
ductions, presented by women and di-
rected "towards the transformation of
woman.’ Registration will be $5 or
according to ability to pay and par-
ticipation will be limited to 100 women.
To register or obtain information, con-
tact Jane Lee Yare, Women's Studies

- Coordinator, 101 Anthropology House,

-.Stte University College, New Paltz,

i2561 (tel. 914-257-2273).

CONFERENCE ON NON-SEXIST EARLY CHILD~-
HOOD EDUCATION

The First National Conference on
Non-sexist Early Childhood Education
will be held from October 10th to the
12th in Airle, Virginia-just outside
Washington, D.C. The Conference is spon~
sored by the Non-Sexist Child Develop-
ment Project of the Women's Action
Alliance, Inc.

Through panels, workshops, special
interest sessions and-action séssions
participants will discuss existing pro-
grams and attempt to plan strategies and
activities which will ensure non-sexist
education for all children. Over 250
leaders in the field of early childhoo®
education will be participating.

For information, contact Beverly

Wettenstein, or Andrew Comins at 212-
245-7222 or write “onference on NON-
Sexist Early Childhood Education, Suite
#1200, 50 West 57th Street, NY NY 10019.

RENSSELAER COUNTY COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
Children and Adults Arts and Crafts

class registration is in progress at the
RCCA. Special children's classes in-

Reale ee Pn Re A ae Se ge ee ae eS ee ae Pe, oe eee ee ee
and relationships with others, The work-

shop will provide information as well as

opportunities for individual problem

solving. Fee is $45, For information
call 472-7508,

AND MORE GROUP NEWS cccse

clude Painting for Tots, Creative Movement
for Tots, Pottery for Children, Children's
Art and Cooking for Children, The Council's
office number is 273-0552, .

The RCCA is also sponsoring an arts COUNCIL ON HUMAN SEXUALITY
and crafts show featuring \Al’ Konitzer,
photographer, and Brunhilde Miller, crafts- The Capital District Council on
person, from October 3rd to the 28th at the Human Sexuality is planning a series of
Council's office at 189 Second Street, Troy. informational meetings for its members
The show will open Sunday, October 3rd, with and discussion groups for interested

a reception for the artists from 2-5pm,
public is invited.

ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR

The Rensselaer Newnan Foundation's ~
Chapel and Cultural Center is holding an

Arts and Crafts Fair at the Cultural Center,
2125 Burdett Ave.,,on October Ist from 5 to
10pm, and on Saturday the 2nd from llto 6pm.
Many craftspeople will be exhibiting; there
will also be a flea market, children's booths
Admission is free and the public

and food,
is invited,

FEMINIST HALLOWEEN

The persons.

The program topic for October
2lst will be Sexuality, Religion and

Morality. Future programs will include
Sexual Hysfunction, a Research Update on

@ variety of topics (vasectomy, sex and

- drugs, sex and illness, transexualism,

incest, psychosexual adjustment to cancer
surgery, and the aftermath of abortion)
For more information call Alex Douglas
at 283-1547 evenings.

FOR THE SPORTSMINDED

Every Sunday in Lincoln Park, from
Now tfor’aslong as interest lasts, there

will be women's touch football ganes
starting at 2pm or whenever enough women

On October 30 and 31 a Celebration of are present - all are welcome: it's good

the Beguines will be held in NYC at Richmond exercise, it's fun

jand it's a good

College on Staten Island. This celebration opportunity to learn andamake friends.

will reclaim All Hallows Eve as the tra-
ditional New Year of Women, Included will
be many workshops, among them healing,
politics of spirituality, psychic skills,
sexuality, herstory and body movement, On
Saturday evening Zenobia, Willie Tyson and
Medusa Muzic will give a concert and pro-
vide the music for a women's masked ball,
The week-end is being coordinated by
Phazes of the Moon, a contemporary Bepuin
Tribe, and several Women's organizations
from Richmond College,
$9 for workshops, concert and masked ball;
$5 workshops only; $5 concert and masked
ball only , deadline is October 6th,

Registration will be:

Late in Schenectady.

SCHENECTADY YWCA

The Schenectady YW is starting its
fall program and the courses are varied:
Assertiveness Training, Auto Mechanics,
Swimming, Gymnastics and Weight Control,
Employment counseling and financial man-
agement courses will supply answers to
many of the day-to-day problems women en-
counter,

All of the classes will run 8 weeks
beginning October 4th. Call the YW at

374-3394 or drop in at 44 Washington Ave.
A brochure is available.

registration will be on a first-come-first-serve

served basis on Saturday, October 30th at
Richmond College,

SINGLE PARENTING

The College of General Studies, SUNY

at Albany, is offering a non-credit work-
shop on Single Parenting, The program is

designed for full-or-part-time mothers and

fathers who face the challenge of single
parenting and learning to live as a

and yourself, coping with fear, with guil

“single.”
Topics include arranging time for children

THANK YOU

I want to thank all the women who
sent in their Group News items on time
this month with absolutely no prodding
from me, This month’s Group News consists
entirely of material which was sent in to
Speakout; I did not have to call anyone.
Thank you for making this month a much
more pleasant one for me,

Tania Durbak

TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR GROUP'S ACTIVITIES INTO SPEAKOUT, YOU MAY DO ANY ONE*
OF THE FOLLOWING:

1, Mail the information to Speakout, "Group News," PO Box 6165, Albany NY, 12206
OR

2. Put the information in the envelope marked Speakout which is on the door of the

Women’s Center as you enter from the YWCA.
OR

3e Call Tania Durbak (evenings) at 482-4252

All news must reach Speakout by the 15th of the month in order to appear in the
_ following month's issue.

Fr et re

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Grage 7 rp Salary Range: 2,98 to 3.85

Title: Laboratory Technician Per Diem Date Available: At once

Qualifications; . Clinical laboratory blood banking experience desirable.

Brief Description of Position: Serological testing to include: blood typing, antibody
screening and identification, syphilis testing, com-
ponent preparation, hepatitis testing. Subject to

call-in for late afternoons, evenings, occasional
- weekends.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Application Procedures: Submit, in writing, a resume of education and experience,
and the names and addresses of two references. Send to: Director of Personnel,
PO Box 8668, Albany, NY 12208, Leading candidates will be called for a personal

interview on the basis of education and experience as stated in their resumes, and
at that time a formal application will be completed.

Albany Municipal Civil Service Commission announces an open-competitive examination
for Municipal Personnel Technician Trainee, 3

To be held: November 6, 1976. Applicants will be notified by mail astto time &nglace
Pp lace e ,

Last Day to File Applications: October 6th
Traineeship: $10,118

Vacancies: At present on vacancy exists in the Albany Municipal Civil Service
Commission.
Qualification: To be considered you must possess by November 6, 1976:
a) a bachelor's degree from an accredited four year college or university
or
b) at least four years of responsible administrative, managerial or professional
experience
or

c) any equivalent combination of training and experience as indicated in a & b

Applicahtene and further information may be obtained at the Office of the Albany

Municipal Civil Service Commission, Room 217, Broadway Arcade Building, 488 Broadway
in Albany 12207,

Speakout Staff: There has been a good response to Speakout's "Job Openings" ad but
there are still posttions where women's help is really needed: TYPISTS-to type
articles on stencils at the Women's Center or at home; SELLING ADS-to make the pro-
posed change in format, Speakout must sell ads, Women are needed to sell ads to
businesses whose policies do not conflict with feminist philosophy. Individual ads
may also be solicited; NEWS REPORTING-women are needed to report on events of in-
terest to the feminist community; To volunteer, call Cheryl Shenkle at 899-4121 or

Tania Durbak at 482-4252. Join us and become a Speakout staffef. HELP SPEAKOUT
crowiss! 19

POLITICAL CAUCUS WOMEN IN THE ECONOMY

HUMAN PRODUCTIVITY &

Y) ol THE NATURE OF WORK

Mi A Women's Issues Conference
< Sponsored by New York State
23 Women's Political Caucus

5% at

i. : Legislative Office Building
© > Hearing Rooms A & C

> Empire State Plaza

eg Saturday, October 16

ntl A Partial list of Speakers:
Delores Brosnam & i Natasha Dykeman, President
Patricia Rehberg, New York League of Women Voters
Shared Directorship,
Binghamton YWCA Marilyn Goldwater, Represen-
Martha Lewis, Deputy Commissioner ates Heda 9 saat
NYS Department of Social Services
Virginia Pigott, Director Electra Yourke, Director of
Schenectady County Office case proceedings, NYC Com-
for the Aging mission for Human Rights

This conference will aim at evolving broad political solutions to the
problems of particular relevance to women in attaining full employment
and committees will be established to carry on this work, including

the development of legislation which can be supported by all women's
groups.

Friday, October 15: a social evening, Observation Tower, Empire State
Plaza, 8 pm.

9 - 10 am: registration 10 - 10:30 keynote address
1.Homemaking As a Careerf1l. Alternative Work Patterns

10: 30-1500 PG oak aig 2. Support Services

workshops {3.Youth, Handicapped & 3. Affirmative Action

the Aged
1:00-2:00: lunch 2:00-4:30:repeat of morning
4:30: wrap-Up workshops
senna OO OE TP PLAID SRT A EIS pe EC, One ee
Address zip

Enclosed is $
I will be attending the conference ($1.00 registration fee)
I would like a box lunch ($2.50 )
I will need child care
I will need housing: Friday. ; saturday ; both nights
Mail to: (enclose check please):
Marion Tremblay
55 South Lake Avenue
Apt .22 Albany, New York 12203

HOWARD NOLAN

RE-ELECT HOWARD NOLAN TO THE NEW YORK STAT!

SENATE « « sheCause. .« «

. « « he vigorously supported Equal Rights

Amendment

. « » he sponsored legislation to give to

the women of Albany County $100,000

to establish and operate a refuge for

battered women and minor children --
'though narrowly defeated in the
Senate, this legislation will be

introduced again by Senator Nolan

. he help the Albany County Rape
Crisis Center to establish connec-
tions with the Capital District
Psychiatric Center to their mutual

benefit

HOWARD NOLAN

NOVEMBER 2 -- RE-ELECT HOWARD NOLAN

This is a paid political advertisement by Women Supporting

Howard Nolan --

Jane Small Sanford, chair -- 462-3446

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR OCTOBER -- SEZ GROUP NEWS FOR DETAILS

L + 8pm, Birthday Party of the Tri-City Women's Center

- 5Spm-LOpm, Arts and Crafts Fair at the Rensselaer Newman Foundation Chapel and
Cultuzl Center o Hie

2 - llam-6pm, Arts and Crafts Fair at the Ransselaer Newman Foundation Chapel and

Cultural Center

4 - Schenectady YWCA fall program begins

- 6pm, Speakout meeting, Lois Uttley,speaker, Women's Center
- 8pm, Women's Center Community Meeting

8 - 8:30pm, Women's Coffeehouse featuring Alix Dobkin and Sally Piano; women only

9-10-Albany County Rape Crisis Center Training sessions
-Conference “Celebrate: Birth of Woman," NY State College at New Paltz

10-12-Conferenre on Non-Sexist Early Childhood Education
10-16-"The Miracle Worker," Empire State Youth Theatre Institute, Empire State Plaza

13 - 8pm, NOW program meeting

19 - 7pm, Legal and Procedures Committee meeting of Women's Center
__ = 8pm, Silk Screening Seminar, part I, Women's Center

21 - Spm, NOW business meeting, Women's Center
26 - 7:30pm, Albany County Women's Political Caucus meeting, Women’s Center
- Council on Human Sexuality program, "Sexuality, Religion, and Morality"

22 - 8pm, film by women artists, Hudson Valley Community College
8:30, Women's Coffeehouse featuring Deidre MucCulla

23 - Education Conference sponsored by NOW
24 - 6pm, Speakout stapling party, Women's Center

26 - 8pm, Silk Screening Seminar, part II, Women's Center
30-31 Celebration of the Beguines (feminist Haldtoween), Téi.chmond College

31 - Spm, Halloween Party, Women's Center

On-going event - October 3-28, Arts & Crafts Show of Al Koniter and Brunhilde Miller,
Rensselaer County Council for the Arts

Weekly Events

Sunday -- 2pm, touch football for women at Lincoln Park
Monday -- 8pm, Women's Center Steering Committee meeting
Tuesday -- Spm, meetings of Domestic Violence/Battered Women Project

Weekends
A Woman's Place probably has workshops/events every weekend; Unfortunately we

haven't received their mailing yet. As soon as we do, Speakout will publish all
events and times.

SPEAKOUT: GIVE A COPY TO A FRIEND 3!

. ig

The following two ads appeared in prominent places around the SUNY campus oe
this week. ‘The-ads were originally on bright orange posters with black lettering* .
Any additions were added later with a. marking pen:

OBVIOUSLY! I DON'T NEED MONEY

A nationwide Firm will pay bright*

young men -- a maximum of money, For

a minimum of Time.

We'll supply Fat Scholarship Funds

too. Just contact, single, working
GIRLS. Nice work if you can get it ---

and you probably can ---

CONTACT:

Permanent

P.O. Box 41

Easthampton, Mass. 01027

* The words,women and, had been added with a black marker, They were not
part of the original sign. This company is interviewing this week at the
Hyatt House, perhaps some single, working, girls should stop by. Or maybe

we could write their home office.....

Subscribe to Speakout
$3.5Q; per year

send coupom# to:
Speakout

P. O. Box 6165
Albany, N.Y. 12206

Name

Address

City, State, Zip

If you are planning a change

of address, please notify
Speakout. It will not be
forwarded and we have to pay

for copies returned,

Check box when sending in coupon:
New Sub Change of
Address Renewal,

SEE THE GIRLS

Nationwide firm needs Sharp * young
men, immediately to contact single
working girls. Hours.... short
Money.....long Scholarship too

Oh yes.... need WE SAY.eseee
The work is pleasant?

CONTACT:

Permanent

P.O. Box 41

Easthampton, Mass. 01027

Bulk Rate
US Postage Paid
Permit # 12

Albany, N.Y.
Third Class

| Hileen Kelly

| 98 S. Pine Ave,
Albany, NY 12208

Duember 19%6

Qot oh
a feminist porns

ir ae

SPE AKOUT : A FEMINIST JOURNAL
Vol. V No, 11 December, 1976

Table of Contents

1-2 Thoughts on the Legislative Hearing=--Cheryl Shenkle

3-5 Albany Rape Crisis Center Controversy-continued--Tania Durbak

8-9 Another Rape Crisis Center Viewpoint--Alexandria Douglas
10-11 Toy Shopping: The Scene at Duane's--Susan Chelius

12-13 On Seeing Adrienne Rich at SUNYA 11/2/76--Michelle Von Gendt
13-14 What I Wanted To Say, Adrienne--Carol Biernacki

15-16 Mairin de Burca on the IPish Struggle--Carol Schillinger

eee

16 Thoughts of a Jewish Woman

17-18 The Book of Ruth--Helene Mailey

18-19 Quakers and Women's Rights--Christine Root
19-20 Title IX--Where Do We Stand?--Veronica Foy

20-21 Celebrate December 25th--Clara Barton's Birthday
--Carolyn Dissosway

22-23 Unitarianism and Feminism--Marj Casswell and Maxine Krall

|
6-8 Rape Crisis Center Viewpoint--Sheila Tucker
24-25 Group News

26-27 Letters to the Editor
Cover Design by Susan Chelius

Workers for this issue: Cheryl Shenkle, Jan Barbuto, Rezsin Adams
Fiona Burke, Bev Szarek, Carol Schillinger
Maxine Krall, Debbie Barnes, Marcia
Calicchia, Joan DeMicco, Carolyn Dissosway,
Alexandria Douglas

The opinions expressed in Speakout's articles are those of their
respective authors and not necessarily those of the Speakout stakf,
Speakout attempts to present the opinions of all facets of the ——~--—
Feminist community in the Tri-Cities Area,

Speakout is published monthly. Subscriptions are %3.50 per year,
Single copies are 35¢,
SPE AKOUT
P.O, Box 6165
Albany, N.Y. 12206

EDITORIAL STATEMENT |

The controversy surrounding the
Albany County Rape Crisis Center has
been the subject of much discussion
within the feminist community the last
few months, Although not all of us
agree as to who's right and who's: wrong. -
the real issue is the continuance of
the center and who should be its
director. Speakout supports the work
of the Center but believes it should
be restructured.

Speakout has solicited comments - .
from various other members of the
feminist community. We would like our
readers to hear all sides of the contro-
versy so they can form their own opin-_
ions. We also hope we will receive
more feedback from our readers;

HXKKKKHHH
THOUGHTS ON THE LEGISLATIVE HEARING

About 50 spectators, mostly supporters
of the volunteers, crowded into the

Legislative Chambers on Wednesday,
November 17 for the hearing on the.
Albany County Rape Crisis Center. The
hearing had been called to investigate .
the various charges that had appeared
in the press. The hearing was convened
about 2:30 pm and lasted until 8:00 pm.

Anne Furman, Joan DeMicco and Laura
Nathan were the spokeswomen for the
volunteers. Their criticisms of Fraya
Katz, the director, may be briefly
summarized as: 1)a failure to adequately
train the volunteers, 2) a failure to
provide an adequate record keeping
system, 3) a failure to properly educate
the public about the center's function,
4) an unprofessional manner in public
contacts, 5) a tendency to exaggerate
and discuss topics at inopportune
moments, thus damaging the credibility
of herself and the agency.

Ms. Katz's visit to the Erie County
Department of Anti-Rape and Sexual
Ass2ult in Buffalo was mentioned in
which Katz spent much of her time
"harangyuing Albany politics, discussing
the private lives of local politicians,
exaggerating the services offered by
her agency and insulting the integrity
of ker own volunteers." These charges
were reported by Joan Crupi of the
Knickerbocker News. Katz denied
making some of the statements and
did not recall other alleged comments.

As I sat through the last two hours
of the hearing and listened to the

Joyce put it, and not by the Guidelines
.doing she exceeded her authority,. stepped

- this, Fraya-was trying to beat them at

-also placed some volunteers in jeopardy
by not providing adequate training.

did not make monthly reports to the

Legislators, Richard Meyers, Harold Joyce,
and Joseph Dolin, interrogate Fraya, I
started to feel sorry for her. I agreed
with her comments about Albany politics.
The Rape Crisis Center was a political

issue in Sol Greenberg's campaign and

many feminists supported him.

- However, raya was being criticized
by the legislators for basically the same
reason that she had criticized the. volun-
teers. Fraya's criticism of the volunteers

Was, ‘that they did not know the difference

between a county agency and a volunteer

organization, Yet Fraya was running

the Rape Crisis Center by whim, as Harold
as approved by the Legislature. In so
on some toes and the legislators resented

their own game and she lost.

This would not be significant if it
were not for the fact that by playing
this game Fraya placed the existence of
the Rape Crisis Center in jeopardy. She

. Regardless of your feelings about
the Albany legislature when you*re
appointed to run a county agency you are
directly responsible to them. You are
a county employee.

According to the legislators, Fraya

Board of Directors as provided in the
Resolutions setting up the Center.
When the Board-no longer met Fraya did
not make the legislature aware of this.
The letter of January 5 to Charles
Cahill, chairman of the Legislature,
was never received by him, Veronica
Meier, another legislator, testified
it was never read into the minutes of
any legislative session.

Richard Meyers said he was available
whenever raya called him for assistance
and Fraya agreed that he was. Harold
Joyce (also chairman of the Finance
Committee) said that he had received
no correspondence from I'raya about the
Situation at the Rape Crisis Center until
she met with him two days prior to the
appearance of the story of the paper.

“raya testified that she was unable
to reach Ed Perrone, a legislator on the

.Board of Directors, by phone. Meyers

asked if she had written him and she
said no,
There is no question that there was

negligence on the part of the Board of
Directors in not meeting. The point that

the legislators at the hearing were mak-
ing was that they had no knowledge of
the problems at the Center, because raya
did not submit monthly reports and did
not make them aware of the situation,

It can be argued, of course, that
there was negligence on their part by
not taking the initiative to find out
what was happening at the Center. By
putting all the blame on “raya the
legislators may have been trying to
absolve themselves. But we all know
legislators do not act out of the
goodness of their hearts but need to be
made aware of problems. And being the
director of a county agency it was
Fraya's responsibility to advise the
legislature of problems, She was
appointed by the Legislature and
responsible to them.

Another criticism the legislators
made and one that seemed to this writer
to be of major importance was the issue
of Battered Women, Harold Joyce
commented that “raya was told by the
*inance Committee not to counsel batt-
ered women until they (the Legislature)
found out where they stood legally.
Since the Resolutions setting up the
Rape Crisis Center did not provide
for counseling to Battered tlomen, the
County Legislature could not be respon-
sible. If a volunteer gave wrong
information to a battered woman and that
woman sued the volunteer and the Center
the County could give them no support.
Therefore, for the Center to counsel
battered women could have sericus
repercussions.

When asked by Meyers if the Center
created a training program for Battered
Women, fraya said they did not have a
training session as such but volunteers
were only given basic information and
were told to call Vivian Solis if they
had any problems.

lleyers quoted from several ACRCC
newsletters in which services to
Battered llomen were listed and asked
raya if she knew about this. raya
claimed no knowledge of the newsletters,
saying she could not proofread every-
thing, ,

Dolin summed up the problem by say-
ing that fraya did not know the differ-
ence between delegating authority and
delegating responsibility, And Richard
Meyers main contention was that Iraya
did not read the law relathg to
County Agencies, If she had done so
she would have known what she could. do al

As I left the hearing I did have
sympathy for *raya. She became the
director of a new agency and there was
an enormous amount of work to be done.

Three full time staff people is
probably not adequate to run the Center,
The three legislators were unmerciful
in their interrogation of Fraya.

By exceeding her authority and
by criticizing local politicians raya
placed herself in a tenuous position.

I also have serious doubts about her
feminist credentials. Certainly no
feminist would gossip and vilify other
women in the manner raya has been
accused of by several women.

However, whether you agree or dis-
agree with Traya's statements or her
actions, one thing is clear. Her actions
did jeopardize the existence of the
ACRCC, She was responsible to the
legislature,

I also left the hearing. thinking
Fraya knew what she was doing. Her
denials and lapses of memery when quest-
loned by the legislators were unconvinc-
ing. I think she wanted to run the
Center in a certain way and when the
Legislators. found out, she professed
ignorance of the law, ignorance of the
intricacies of county government and
ignorance of what her own staff was
doing,

Certainly “raya is not ignorant.

She is an intelligent woman who was
Sincere in her desire to direct the

Rape Crisis Center but who wanted to

run it in her own way. Perhaps if

she had been a feminist or at least
had better repore with the staff and
volunteers the conflicts could have been
avoided,

The legislators did not make any
decision at the hearing, They listened
to the testimony, collected some
information and will enter into deliber-
ations. The future of the center as
an autonomous agency is at stake as well
as the fate of rraya Kabz, its director.

The Albany County Rape Crisis Centr
hinges on the decision of the three
Male legislators.

Cheryl Sherkle

ee —— — _ a’

‘THOUGHTS ON THE LEGISLATIVE HEARING, CONTDang could not do.

versy -- Continued

The following article does not pretend
to be the "final word" on the ACRCC
conflict. It is merely my attempt to
present the situation, as objectively
as I can, to the feminist community for
consideration,and, perhaps, discussion.
The conclusions and point of view are
entirely my own, and do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the Speakout
staff.

Much of the information obtained in
researching this topic consisted of
contradictory charges, mostly unsubstan-
tiated by any written evidence, A
certain amount of factual material was,
however, available. The suspended
volunteers provided me with some inform-
ational material not to be used for
publication. ‘rom the ACRCC I obtained
copies of legislative resolutions,
letters, and statements prepared by the
office staff as well as copies of
statements prepared by volunteers.

°rom all indications, the ACRCC
controversy centers around Praya Katz,
director of the Center. The statement
presented to Ms. Katz by the later
suspended volunteers during the September
12 meeting of the Rape Crisis Center
identifies the problem as the "existence
of a negative and debilitating relation-
ship between office staff (primarily
the director)and volunteers...."
According to most of those interviewed,
a certain amount of conflict between
Ms. Katz and some volunteers has existed
since the beginning of her directorship.
Some attribute the problem to Fraya
Katz's alleged high-handedness in
dealing with the volunteers, Others
believe that some of the volunteers
resent Katz's position of authority
and confuse her willingness to accept
and carry out responsibilities. with an
alleged desire for power. Paula Wilson
of the Family and Children's Center,
suggested that volunteers often find it
hard to understand and fully accept
the fact that when a volunteer group
becomes a county agency, the balance
of responsibility and power changes.

The director then becomes solely respon-
sible to the County Legislature for the
entire operation of the Center, including
the work performed by the volunteers.

She must exercise a degree of authority
commensurate with her responsibilities.
Persons involved in other agencies that

Albany County Rape Crisis Center Contro- have volunteer workers repeatedly stated

that a certain amount of friction between
volunteers and staff exists in most places
where some of the work is done by vol-
unteers.

Everyone interviewed (with the except-
ion of Ms. Veronica Meier, county legis-
lator, who refused to discuss "personal-
ities") agreed that Ms. Katz is assertive,
at times aggressive and even abrasive.
There was, however, disagreement about
the effect of such personality charact-
eristics. The suspended volunteers
and some of those sympathetic to their
plight claim that the director's aggress-
iveness interfered with their ability to
work in the Rape Crisis Center. Others
believe that a strong personality and
persistence are necessary to deal with
the “outside world." While these volun-
teers maintain that Fraya Katz's abrasive-
ness resulted in the creation of a negative
image for the ACRCC, many other persons
insist that without her leadership, the
Center would not have made the many
advances that it has.

It is difficult to reconcile the
charge of bad publicity with the letters
of support received by the Center several
months ago, These include statements
fromthe Director of Training of the
State Troopers, the District Attorney's
office (two letters were received from
this office), the assistant director
of SUNYA's Campus Police, the Chair of
the OB-Gyn Department of Albany Medical
Center, the Mayor of Albany, and many
others.

The volunteers who were later sus-
pended assert that "going public" with
their problems was used as a last resort.
After the meeting of September 15 with
Fraya Katz, they came to the conclusion
that the director was not dealing with
them in good faith. The same charge
was levelled against the volunteers by
Ms. Joan Unger, Assistant to the Director,
who was also present at the meeting.

It is apparent that at this point the
two groups (volunteers and staff) were
having difficulty in communicating with
each other. A mediator could have been
most helpful to both sides in attempting
to resolve the conflict.

As a matter of fact, the Guidelines
for the ACRCC, passed by the Albany
County Legislature as Resolution 299,
in September, 1975, provide for such a
mediator, Under Section V, “Governing
Structure," it is made clear that "the

director is responsible to a board of

eee CCtitCitCtCCCCiCtCCit:(C:itié#NCC::#éeé#é#éwédéegdggseowoo_———— aaa
ACRCC, CONTINUED

directors," and that “the Board of Dir-
ectors of the Albany County ‘ape Crisis
Center will have the responsibility for
the staffing, operations, programs, and
program goals ...of the Albany County
Rape Crisis Center." Thus, it is obvious
that a problem between the volunteers
and the director which cannot be resolved
otherwise should be presented to the
Board a€Directors.

Unfortunately, all that seems obvious
on paper is not necessarily so in fact.
On June 9, 1975, the County Legislature
has passed Resolution 196, creating a
Board of Directors for the Rape Crisis
Center. The language of the document
is ambiguous: "Resolved...that the
Board of Directors of the Rape Crisis
Center shall be as follows, until a
permanent director shall be appointed,"
The resolution then lists the members
of the board, indicating that the repre-
sentative from NOW and the one from
AWARE are "to serve a term of one year.."
The Albany County legislators will
“serve at the sufferance of the Chairman
of the County Legislature..." Wo limit
is placed on the term of the represent-
ative from the office of the District
Attorney. Many people were not sure
whether the board, as named by the legis-
lature in the above quoted Resolution,
was in existence after Fraya Katz became
the permanent director of the Center.
The Guidelines for the ACRCC, adopted
three months later, provide for the
existence of a Board of Directors, but
do not specify who should serve on it
or how such a Board is to be created,
stating only that there should be
“representation from among the County
Legislature, concerned women's groups.
and community action groups." When
contacted, Ms. Meier indicated that
she was not sure whether the Board still
existed; she believed that it was to
function for only one year from its
inception. Ms. Joan DeMicco, one of the

dissident volunteers, stated that there
was confusion among the volunteers about
the existence of the Board. Ilraya Katz
noted that she was also not sure about
the status of the Board for some time,
because Resolution 196 was not clear.
According to a high-placed source,
the County Attorney is of the opinion
that the Board does indeed exist.

In the face of such confusion, it
is not surprising that the Board of
Directors did not function smoothly. As

awe has left the area.

originally created by the County Legislat-
ure, the Board consisted of Veronica

. Meier and Ed Perone from the Legislature,

Susan Langdon from AWARE, Jean Dross from
NOW, and Diane Dubiac from the District
Attorney's office. All of the members
contacted agreed that the Board did not
function for a very long time, because
after the end of September, it became
very difficult to find a time at which all
the members could meet. As a result of
the frustration caused by the inability
of the Board to hold meetings, Susan
Langdon, chairperson, resigned.

Not too much else can be ascertained
about the Board's activities, because,
according to those interviewed, no
minutes were kept. The only document
relating to this matter is a letter
written by Ms. Katz to Charles Cahill,
chairperson of the County Legislature,
on January 5, 1976, informing him of the
resignation of Ms. Langdon, of the
intentions of Ms. Dross to resign,
and of the fact that Ms. Dubiac thought
that more members should be appointed to
the Board. Katz also asked the Legisl-
ature to advise her on the matter of a
Board, since she in effect had no Board
to assist her. No reply was received;

Ms, Meier stated that no such letter was
ever read into the minutes of any legis-
lative session, In another attempt,

Katz and Dubiac drew up a list of possible
members for a prospective advisory board,
but this effort did not succeed.

According to Ms. Dross, the Rape

Crisis Center's current problems began

at the begginning of this year. Because
they were no longer meeting, the Board
members appear to have known nothing
about the difficulties at the center.

When asked, Ms. Dross confirmed that she
did not try to make other Board members
aware of the situation at the Rape Crisis
Center, She did not want to prejudice
Fraya in the eyes of the others and
believed that such matters should not be
discussed over the phone or be put into
writing. Diane Dubiac stated that she
was unaware of any major problems between
Katz and the volunteers. Ms. Meier did
not make it clear whether or not she

was aware of any problems at the Center. |
When asked if she had ever taken the in- |
itiative to find out what was happening |
at the Center, Meier replied that this

was an unfair question, and that she was
not sure if all this was not actually
confidential information. Mr. Perone was
unavailable for comment, as was Ms. Langdon

ACRCC , continued

Several women have claimed that Vraya —
Katz made a concerted effort to obtain a
functioning Board of Directors. Others
disagree, maintaining that Katz never
wanted such a Board. that is certain is
that a Board of Directors was formed, but
that it did not fulfill its responsibil-
ities. This had serious consequences,
According to Ms. Dellicco; because the
existence of the Board was uncertain,
the dissatisfied volunteers did not at
any point make a formal effort to notify
the members of the Board about the probl-
ems between them and the director...
Instead, they went to Mr. Coyne and to
the press. ae

It is inconceivable that any woman,
especially a feminist, would.become a
volunteer for a rape crisis center, or
the director of one, with the intention of
destroying it. The present crisis cannot
be blamed entirely on the volunteers or
on the director; both sides have some

valid points, A functioning Board of
Directors could have provided some way of
dealing with the matter without having to
_ "go public." There would perhaps have

_ been no need of a formal hearing with
all the incumbent unfavorable publicity.

‘The hearing itself brings up some
interesting questions. iWiho or what is
being investigated? Is it the agency or
its director? If only the director is
being investigated, why has lir. Meyers
brought up the possibility of discontin-
uing the Center? ‘hy is the hearing
being held before additional funds are
appropriated for the continuation of
the Center? A director of any agency is
certainly important, but just as certainly
is dispensible. In a telephone conversa-
tion, the District Attorney indicated
that there is a distinct possibility
that the Center will be abolished,

Why 1s this constantly coming up? Unlike
any agency director, the Rape Crisis
Center is indispensible to the women of
this area,

The Guidelines for the ACRCC affirm
that "it is essential that the Rape
Crisis Center be client-oriented." This
entire controversy has little to do with
the Center's clients--the rape victims.
Yet these clients are the ones who will
lose the most if the Center is discont-
inued or if funds are cut. Several
volunteers who prefer not to be ident-
ified, and who claim not to be "on

all the commotion about their rights,
some volunteers have forgotten the rape
victim, One former volunteer (not one
of the twelve "dissidents") informed
this reporter that she and “some others"
believe that at this point, it would be
better not to have a county funded
center at all, rather than having one
under the present leadership. This is
truly unfortunate.

It is conceivable that much of the

-.existing bitterness could have been

avoided, or at least lessened, if femin-
ists did not find themselves in the
Situation in which some of them are
aligned with some people in authority
against other members of the feminist
community. tihy wasn't the feminist
community allowed an opportunity to

help mediate the conflict before it

was turned over to the County Legislat-
ure? One reason that has been given is
that the volunteers were reluctant to
let "outsiders? know about the problems
at the Center. But surely feminists

are less "outsiders" than are politicians
and newspaper people. Feminists, not
the legislators, pushed for the creation
of the Rape Crisis Center and for the

' hiring of a competent director. If

given a chance, support and advice from
the feminist community perhaps could
have helped to defuse the situation.
The legislators were not able to find
the time to attend the Board meetings.
A legislator never acknowledged the
letter from the Center's director ask-
ing for advice regarding the Board.

why do we trust these people who have
so often given us reason to mistrust
them, while at the same time mistrusting
and attacking each other?

The Rape Crisis Center is only one
year old. Although, like all new
agencies, it has had problems, much good
has been accomplished during its
existence. Both the volunteers and
the staff have contributed to these
accomplishments, I certainly hope
that this instance of feminists' inabil-
ity to solve problems which arise among

‘us, Without having to go outside our

community, will not undo the work of
many women for their raped, molested
and battered sisters.

Tania Durbak
November 16, 1976

either side," are very concerned that in S

eel Ll
RAPE CRISIS CENTER VIEWPOINT

The media has often presented ©

the words of certain "celebrity"
feminists, such as Gloria Steinem,
Kate Millet, or Germaine Greer,

as the feminist view. This has
been frustrating for the movement
since these women are seldom

accountable to groups of feminists.

But because it is the nature of
this culture to focus on
"personalities" this situation
seems unavoidable, and one can --
only hope that such women will
always bear in mind their respon-
sibility to the women's movement.

For the feminist community
in Albany, this general problem
has recently taken on particular
relevance. The Albany Co. Rape
Crisis Center is a county agency
that exists today primarily as a
result of the efforts of area
feminists. And Fraya Katz, who
became its director in September,
1975 through strong feminist
support, was certainly an indivi-~
dual feminist important in the
establishment of the center. In
becoming the director, she became
an especially notable representa-~
tive of the feminist community to
the community at large. However,
it is now clear, that her feelings
of responsibility to the feminist
community were quickly and
regrettably overshadowed by her
committment to Fraya Katz.

In a condescending letter at
the ACRCC volunteers last August,
Ms. Katz justified her unwilling}
ness to consider volunteer input
into center pracedures by stress=
ing to them that the center was
not a feminist organization but a
county agencye
presented at the November 17

legislative hearing indicates she

felt she could ignore her
responsibilities to the county
legislature as well. The facts
reveal that the arrogance of
Fraya Katz enabled her to disre-
gard accountability not only to
the center valunteers but alsa
to the Board of Directors and the
county Legislature, and subse-~
quently to the victims of rape
and the cause of women,

The controversey surrounding

l, jm, ts

However, evidence —

Mse Katz first became public in
September when she cancelled a
conference on battered women
seheduled for Sept. 27. The con-
ference was being sponsored by
the ACRCC and Aid to Battered
Women, a group which grew out of
Albany Area N.O.W.'s task farce
on battered womene That Ms. Katz
cancelled this conference without
consulting the members of Aid to
Battered Women (ABW) is not only
another example of her. arrogance.
but also a slight indication of
just how involved she and the
ACRCC were with the problem of
battered women.

While concern for battered
wemen is. commendable, battered
women were not included in the
resolution establishing the rape
crisis center. Hence, it was
illegal for the center to be
counseling or otherwise working
with battered women unless and
until Mse Katz obtained another
resolution from the county legis-
lature. Im addition, the problems
of battered wmen are complicated
and different from those of rape
victims (requiring different
counselor training, among other
things), so not only was the
center's activity in this area
dangerous in terms of possible
lawsuits but unwise in terms of
adequate service to victims.

So why would Fraya Katz une
necessarily violate Resolution
299 and risk the existence of the
center in this way? Well, at
last Wednesday's public hearing,
she claimed the center was not
working with battered womene She
said, however, that Vivian Solis,
the associate director, was ine
volved with AEW = but only on her
own time. The investigating
committee then brought to her
attention the center's August
newsletter indicating that ques-
tions concerning battered women
cases should be referred to Ms.
Solis, followed by the office
phone number. Ms. Katz claimed
not to have seen the newsletter.
However, she certainly must have
seen the battered women conference
(conte)

ACRCC Viewpoint continued...

brochures which were xeroxed in
her office with the ACRCC given
as the return address. And she
definitely had planned meetings

(though she didn't always show up)

with members of ABW at her office
during office hours.

‘As the director of a county
agency ( and as she said, "not
a feminist organization"), surely
she must have realized such a
major violation of the county
resolution was inexcusable. As
was her failure to get specific
ligislative approval for her
confernece travels. Not to
mention misrepresenting herself:
as "Dr. Fraya Katz, Ph. D." on
the proposal to establish the
center. And if Ms. Katz "des-
parately" wanted the Board of
Directors to meet as she stated
at the hearing, why is it she did
not report to them monthly as
she was required to do in
Resolution 299?

That some members of the
Board were negligent in their
responsibilities is obvious,

But that Ms. Katz was truly cones-
cerned about it is doubtful. She
said at the hearing that she sent
a letter last January to Mr.
Cahill, chairman of the county
legislature, about the prablem.
Mr. Cahill, however, said he
never saw it, and it was alse
never read into the minutes of
the legislature. Two members of
the Board have also stated that
they were asked by Ms. Katz to
resign, and the volunteers met
with a good deal of resistance
from Ms. Katz when they attempted
to reconstitute the Board this
Auguste It wuld seem that Ms.
Katz's "desparate" desire to be
accountable to a Board is, at
best, questionable.

Since funding for the rape
crisis centef# is provided by
Albany County, Fraya Katz's
failure to adhere to the re-
guirements of the county legis-
lature and the Board appeinted
by the legislature is not only
foolish but quite disturbing.

Ms. Datz says the reason she
suspended the 12 volunteers in

plaints,

September was their lack of
committment to victim services
(since they wanted to postpone
signing the October roster until
she indicated a willingness to
work out problems), But doesn't
her own arrogant display of
administrative incompetance re-
veal amore serious disregard fer
rape victims and the reputation
of rape crisis centers?

In fact, isn't her hasty
dismissal of over half the velun-
teer counselors, including a
large number of the most exper-
ienced and capable, a rather
blatant disregard for victim
services? Surely, the opinions
and criticisms of such people

must have been worth a longer

period of consideration without
ultimatums and threats of libel
suitse (Actually, had she not
been so impressed with her direc-
tor status, she might have stopped
being indignant long enough to
realize a little token coopera-
tion might have been enough to
quell the revolt.)

At the public hearing and

elsewhere, the volunteers have

pointed out many specific com-
They included: the
frequent absence of the entire
staff fromthe office during
office houras lack of sufficient
on-going training; the director's
disparaging remarks about volun-
teers to other volunteers, thus
limiting trust within the
organization; the director's
control of the volunteer organi-—-
zation's funds (this charge was
given a particularly suspicious
flavor at the hearing by Ms.
Katz's defenders with the sleazy,
Watergate-like appearance of a
two day old checkbeok); and Mse
Katz's “unprofessional manner" in
dealing with the public with
several prominent examples given.
Some of the complaints made

earlier to the director concerned
attitudinal problems between the

director and the volunteerse
Such problems are naturally vague
and, therefore, were not appro=

priate to a legislative hearinge
Feminists would have hoped, how-

ee ———

ACRCC Viewpoint continued...

ever, that a woman who calls
herself a feminist and is
publicly recognized as a feminist
spokeswoman would have considered
such problems vitally important

to her. Ms. Katz, however, viewed
discussion of feminist values

and processes as irrelevant,

Unfortunatel
her supercilious attitude was
extended toward the investigative
committee at the hearing as well
as toward the volunteer counselors,
Undoubtedly this contributed to
the intensity of their combative
questioning. The attack on Ms.
Katz was painful to watch. (And
one does wonder whether the sexe
ism of the panel didn't make her
arrogance especially intolerable
to them because she was a woman ).

But it is ironic that Ms,
Katz herself made that ordeal
inevitable. Her refusal to view
feminist values as appropriate to
concerns of the center made a
volunteer appeal to the feminist
community fruitless. And her
success at deceiving the volunteers
about the status of the Board
closed that route as well. She
left no recourse for the volun=
teers except to go directly to
county officials,

Perhaps, this is fortunate
though. Her disregard of county
regulations wuld have eventually
been discovered. That her mise
management wa brought to the
attention of the county by tie
feminist community (through the
ABW group as well as the volune
teers) helps to maintain feminist
credibility which Ms. Katz, alone
would have’ destroyed,

Still, such ordeals are
always difficult. The volunteers
who once considered Fraya Katz
a friend must have found it
particularly hard to bring their
criticisms of her to the county
legislature for judgement,
Especially since the outcome may
be personally costly to Ms. Katz
But much more is at stake than

her individual pesition. The
personal faidure of a woman who is
a spokzswoman for feminism is

$30

y for Fraya Katz, '

eee,

never merely personal. What the
director of a rape crisis center
says and does reflects on the
women's movement as a whole,
Definitely, this is a substantial
burden for any single individual,
This is one reason why changing
power structures has so long
been a priority for feminists.
But until changes can be made,
large (and maybe unfair) burdens
and power will rest with certain
special individuals. Special
individuals who must be able te
combine committment to feminism
with an ability to work compem..
tently within established
Structures without becoming
caught up with personal ambition.
And the woman who is the director
of a county funded rape crisis
center must be such an individual.

Sheila Tucker

KREG

Another Rape Crisis Center Viewpoint

At the November 17 public hearing at
the Albany County Legislature regarding
the controversy surrounding “raya Katz,
Director of the Albany County Rape
Crisis Center (ACRCC), it was brought
out that lis. Katz may have exceeded her
authority as Director by involving the
agency in activities other than those
specified in the resolution that establ-
ished the ACRCC. Spokeswomen for the
suspended volunteers explained how the
internal "crisis at the crisis center"
had evolved when Fraya refused to negot-
iate solutions to volunteer complaints
and summarily dismissed 12 of the vol-
unteers, It also became clear that she
had misrepresented her educational back=
ground and that she may have made liberal
use of county money to attend out-of-town
conferences and to visit other Rape
Crisis Centers, During one such visit,
according to one of the volunteers,
raya indulged in bad-mouthing local
politicians,

Yaya Katz has continually presented
herself as a woman who enjoys the full
support of the Albany feminist community.
It is true that we fought for her appoint-
ment to her present position as Director

contd

Another ACRCC Viewpoint. contd.

of the ACRCC. But once she was "in", raya
essentially abandoned her liasons with.
feminist groups. Her notions of “account-
ability" seemed to have vanished; our.
encounters with her were often disappoint-
ing: - Cancellation of the Battered tlomen
conference without consulting the others
who had worked on the project, Failure

to speak-up or designate someone to

speak in her place at the JJomen's Sexual-
ity Conference at SUNYA last spring,
Unavailability during office hours, Lack
of responsiveness when NO] representatives
met with her recently to discuss the
Center's problems. |

But by Summer 1976 Fraya had become
a "darling" of the press in this area.
Someone who could be counted upon for
colorful copy (Albany High, Beverly
Scott) and good listener response (Ellie
Pankin). Colorful and provocative,
exactly what the media wants in a spokes-
person, “urthermore, since we had
fought for her appointment, she seemed
to double as OUR spokesperson,

Worse still, in light of the
current controversy, raya tended to
represent herself as the embodiment of
the Rape Crisis Center. She discouraged
volunteers (and others) who were critical
of her performance as director of the
ACRCC by saying any criticism of HER
would result in termination of the
Center's funding, I.—.People who were
critical of *raya Katz were “playing
into the hands" of the County Legislature
which was just waiting for a reason to
cut off the Center's funding.

Even though such a tactic might
not be surprising, the Legislature has
given us no reason to believe it has
any intention of cutting off the
Center's funds. Furthermore, and most
importantly, ."RAYA KATZ IS NOT THE
ALBANY COUNTY RAPE CRISIS CENTER(@ LE ht
And Fraya's foibles should not have
any effect on the legislator's commit-
ment to the goals of the ACRCC, If
the Legislature finds that #raya is
not up to the job of director, it
doesn't mean the Center itself is
unworthy of county-funding; it means
Fraya is.

But I think the Albany feminist
community must give serious consideration
to the LONG TERM effects the ACRCC
controversy Will have on this area,
Whether or not Fraya keeps her job at the

Center is the Legislature's decision.
I believe it is important for us to

-examine the whole nature of the

"spokesperson" phenomenon and whether
we can ever expect a county-funded
agency providing services to women

to function in a manner that is both
responsive to the needs of its

Clients and respectful of the funda-

mental beliefs of feminists...
The obvious short-term effects of

Praya's "star-tripping" (combined

with her apparent mismanagement of
the Center) are a serious loss of
credibility for the Center, Center
volunteers and the Teminist Community
who supported her appointment..

The long term results? I suspect
that women seeking government funding
in the future for any alternative
services for women in the Albany area
will have to work twice as hard to
establish their credentials, the
need for such a service etc. lle
will have a ways to go to re-establish
the credibility we fought so hard
to generate. But the participation
of feminists in the ACRCC and every
other agency that offers services ©
to women (let us not forget the
Tri-Cities Women's Center, National
Organization for Women, Women's
Political Caucus, Women in State
Government...) IS ESSENTIAL. ile must
make our voices heard everywhere
if we are going to make any progress.

Let us hope everyone learns from
the mistakes made during the first
year at the Rape Crisis Center.

Now it's time to start working
together again.

Alexandria Douglas
Rensselaer, N.Y.

SO
SUGGESTIONS FOR FEMINIST HOLIDAY GIrts

Give a gift subscription to Speakout
to your mother, sister, cousin, aunt,
friend etc. And at the same time
enclose an extra dollar or two to
the Tri-Cities Women's Center,

Speakout and the llomen's Center need
your support,

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

TOY SHOPPING: The scene at TOYLAND (cont'd)

Duane's, etc. Off he went to aisle 4 to purchase
some programming equipment, "soft-
ware" for his four year old daughter
to absorb. I gave up my plan to
introduce myself and my project to
the management.

The holdia¥: season is upon us once
again, earlier this year than ever
before, or perhaps it only seems
that way. Nevertheless, it will
soon be time for those of us with
small size friends and relatives to Aisle 1 contained haavy steel trucks
go forth in search of gifts to de- and boxes and boxes of games. The
light, to instruct, and to nourish first item I spotted was the "Buddy

the imaginations of our favorite L Big Brute 3 Pc. Road Set"at $18.29.
youngsters. Feminists have an added It contained three large, yellow
challenge in that we are aware of steel earth moving trucks. The

the insidious and invidious manner photograph on the box showed one

in which traditional children's toyschild of indeterminate sex moving
socialize the young into stultifying the earth with his/her toy equip-
sex roles. Just any doll or game or ment. Ah-ha! I hoped this was a
book or truck will not do. Nothing forecast of non-sexism to come.

is neutral. The problem is to find Across the aisle were some Playskool
gifts for children that will not toys, one of which caught my eye.
offend our politics, toys that will The box showed a photo of a young
not only not reinforce sexual ste- boy playing with the A BC Block
reotyping, but will perhaps work Express-Ages 1 1/2 to 6, and next
against the constant programming to to it a photo of a young girl play-
which society subjects our children.ing with the A BC Blick Express.
And since feminists have waged a Terrific. A further look convinced
battle against the toy manufacturersme that Playskool had been reached
for several years now in an effort by the movement. Most of the pack-
to make the disadvantages of sex aging featured photographs of either
role programming evident and to a boy and a girl or a child who could
change the character and advertisingbe either sex. The playskool brand
of children's toys, it would perhapsis reasonably priced as well, with
be interesting to find out how far items for younger children ranging

we've come. from $2 upward. The toys seemed

: . ‘ ling to children and adult
What do you want first, the good appea es :
news or the bad news? Perhaps I buyers, with bright colors and sturdy

should point out that there have plastic and wood designs.

always been good, sturdy, high qua- The game section had less to offer.
lity and higher priced toys available The packaging that was not bla-
that would meet the standards of any tantly appealing to junior he-
feminist. If you know what you are men or missy-prissy usually showed
looking for and can afford to pay the boy actually using the item

the price for your politics, you while the girl looked on in mock
will be able to purchase toys that horror (Schaper's "London Bridge")
will enrich and expand the horizons or mock terror (Aurora's "Jaw

of your little friends. If you are Breaker", inspired by the movie

of more modest means, you will jave JAWS). One exception here was

to settle for Duane's and the other "Afro-American History Mystery Game,
discount houses, and that's where I Vol. II" by Shindana Toys, featuring
went on a Saturday, two weeks beforethe following categories: Black

Thanksgiving. Pioneers of the West, Famous Black
. : Inventors and Scientists, The Life

As I strolled down the first aisle, ; . ’

I overheard a male shopper ask a of Harriet Tubman, and Famous Black

a = : Women. The latter included, amon
@lerk, "Where are the girls’ toys? a ’ &
The little mops and brooms and stuff?" others, Phyllis Wheatley ,So-

CONTR pil
1G

CC OOOO OOO Ve

TOYLAND (cont'd)

jgourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Bessie

Smith, Billie Holliday, and Mary L.
Walker. The price of $6.39 did not
seem warranted by the poor quality
of the materials and the art work,
however.

One little number worth mentioning
for its shock value (lest we get:
complacent) is"Cwitchboard" by Brum
berger, "used at the World's Fair"
a miniature toy switchboard, inter-
com, walkie-talkie phone set. On
the front is a photo of a girl ina
frilly pink dress, curled hair and

barrettes sitting at the switchboard

and a boy in play clothes holding
the phone. Drawings on the side of
the carton show the girl at the
switchboard still, while the boy
demonstrates the other, more adven-
turous uses of the item, such as
talking to his friends from the top
of a tree. And she's still wearing
the dress.

An improvement over the “Suzy Home-
maker" type of housekeeping set,
which is obviously designed to pro-
ram girls into the housewife role
I get flashbacks from STEPFORD
WIVES), is the Creative Playthings
line of child-sized cleaning tools
and cooking utensils. The set of
cleaning tools, for example, is

made of wood and whatever real brooms

and such are made of, and the photo
shows a boy and a girl in pants
using them. Included are a broom,
dust mop, whisk broom, and dustpan
(36.79). Creative Playthings makes

sturdy, realistic, colorful toys for very own live baby at 18. Whenever

children of all ages, though the

prices are higher than the junky ones. I am seized by the urge to cud-

In among the Barbies and GI Joes was
an oasis, Mattel's “Sunshine Family-

doing things together with you!" For
$8.39 you can buy a father, mother,
and baby, black or white (the black
family is called "Happy Familty”),
about 7" tall. For an additional
$7.49 you can get the grandparents.
Accessory kits containing clothes
and projects for the family to work

on together run from $2.69 to $5.39,
and are illustrated with drawings of

the family feeding the baby,
playing with the baby, making toys
and gardening--all free of sex role
stereotyping.

Another slightly positive off-shoot
of the Barbie craze is Kenner's
"Dusty, the Volleyball Champion”,
complete with volleyball for $6.99.
This is definitely a mixed blessing
though, for Dusty's hair is perox-
ided and her outfit is more sexy °
than athletic. Compared to the rest
of the doll section, Dusty is right
on. There is "Sweet Nature Tender-
love" by Mattel, billed as "a soft
little bundle who needs a mommy's
love...you give her all the things
she needs." Also, several different
manufacturers have demanding am.lls
with real baby's recorded laughing,
gurgling and crying, and even "BOO
HOO Baby" who cries until her paci-
fier is stuck in her mouth. "Thum-
belina" by Ideal lies on its stomach
raises its head, turns it from s
Side to side, rolls on its back,
and holds out her arms to be picked
up. Not only are our children en-
tertained by television, now they
are entertained by dolls. Whatever
happened to the role of the imagi-

nation?

I must confess that the reason

I spent so much time and indig-
nation ever the doll department is
that I love dolls. I played with
dolls well into junior high, spent
a couple of years without them,
lonely ones at that, then had my

T see a doll in the arms of a kid

dle one or both of them. But not
this h«ard plastic, action-packed
variety of today. SBut wait. There
on the shelf above me, safe from
the clutches of all but the tallest
of us kids, are two dolls that meet
my old-fashinned standards. "Baby
Brother Tenderlove" is cute and
cuddly, has no strange, recorded
sounds,: doesn't crawl or bite, and
has his very own penis! And next

to him is “Newborn Baby Tenderlove"

ANT’ D De RS
a ee a eee

ON SEEING ADRIENNE RICH AT SUNYA 11/2/76

We should understand each other you and I
for you could be my cousin from Brooklyn
with your petite courage

and warm limpid brown eyes

and whimsical hairdo.

What I really want to know so badly though,
is who did you sit next to

on your train ride up the Hudson?

And did you sip coffee

as you reviewed your notes
and did it slosh?

Oh no, don't feel

I'm undermining

the magnitude

of your compacted rage

which in purple dress splendor
you deliver

with fine gold chain around your neck.
I understand it.

I see the stout colored girl behind you
feeling your words ‘

and becoming more and more immobile

as she assents

and crosses her arms

over her chest.

I sit wedged in among the windblown students
who still take notes on life.

Perhaps your lecture is their assignment
for Basic English.

I know no poetic way of saying it

I'm tired.

I'm soul weary of the optimism

that gives to survival such high moral tone.

My father ysed to call it
cutting the mustard.

Your way of taking a stance.
It is becoming to you

and gives verve to your poetry.

What's trully incredible to me
and causes me anger

is your expecting
to be met half-way.

Since when is couraze contagious?
Is that poetic license

Seeing choice as rimmed in beauty
and human solidarity?

Cont.

ON SEEING ADRIENNE RICH CONTINUED

Choice is the starkest word I know
and should be spoken solemnly
with constraint and no applause.

So don't number me among the visionary

as I approach you with the swarm of students
for an autograph.

You look up at me with friendly natural eyes.
Am I supposed to be a colleague or earnest
English major?

I want your autograph because you're a famous person.
So sign please.

With irritation you look down and neatly
write your name.

I feel myself tall and stoical as I wait.

~~.

ae oe bes 5 Michelle Van Gendt
aedbat~ HGLGR Sh dece seceae Sbdeae sedhde “apatce aeaese 4ESESE SeaESE SETESE SEGETE TESEE ShdETR SEGRE Gedhat

WHAT I WANT=D TO SAY ADRIENNE
a non-critique of Adrienne Rich, poet.

When you stood at that podium in the room overfilled with
students, university professors, creative writing teachers, teachers
of English in good schools and teachers of English in public schools,
yourlesbian audience, ci%xe%<>,. your radical feminist audience, your
thinkers, your rebels, gawkers, neonhyte Che Guevara's.‘ your :: a
little girls, your nature's defornities, your nature's successes,
your fighters, your girlfriends, your boyfriends of girlfriends,
husbands, reviewers, your humanity, when you stood at that podium,
you failed me.

When you said that patriarchy rules, my friend, the non-feminist,
cried inside for all the mothers unto her for they are the matriarchy.

When you said our womb is violated by the tool of their mascu-
linity, my friend, the keeper of thermometers and tidal temperatures,
cried inside for the unborn baby aborning on the rim of his mind and
hers.

When you said studies show, new studies show, our studies show,
the correlation between morning nausea and lack of orgasm, I thought
of my friend whose body untouched suffers from the nausea of the
estrogen she takes so she can control that body.

Cont.

WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ADRIENNE CONT.

And when you spoke of that Appalachian child-mother, Hardy's
own American Tess, I thought of the toothless him, 17 or 70, dying
from an ecological system that trades wheat, oil, and baseball players.
And when you spoke of a future male-dominated culture producing
assembly=-line women, I thought of only 5 days before when another
futurist had seen that, and, also, a world culture dominated bywomen.
And he said, "Man's fear of women always takes one of these forms in
the literature of the future."
And when you spoke of sons, I thought of daughters, mine, strong
as giants, each one growing towards her six feet, assertive, leaders,
each one being overlayed each year with a new coat of confidence, a
new power, sometimes called control, sometimes lack of subservience,
sometimes self-love. And I thought of the son, fragile; his strength,
a smile, a quick wit, neither defending him from the other boy's bodies
And my mother love wanting to teach him to be a smasher, or, to re-
inforce him with steel for to lose-the-son would be-toclose everything.
And when you spoke of herstory, I wondered why you've been quiet
for so long. Your news has grown old and you become and old woman
repeating gossip, for telling the story has a different ring.
And when you spoke of elephants, I wondered do you really mean
those non-violent matriarchs I know whose assertiveness can stop a
bomb and who walk free in the streets of Ireland.
And "leadership without dominance", the concept fades as you read
aloud passages from"the work of your life", as your eloquence seduces
me. Well said, well said, I think. And I understand eaxh word as I
did Daly, as I did Jills, as I did Millet. Their ghost falls about
you, and you use it as a wedge perhaps for those who have not heard
before. And the poems which are the blood I drink lie on the side
coagulating in their spent waste. |
And I who firebomb daily that. trench-of which -you spéakknow I will
not suffer for each woman suffering for "to love with all my intell-
igence, as you say, as you say, is to stand without that swaddling.
And when -you spoke of “women who are dangerous in the order of
things", I thoucht of me, but I thouzht beyond this room. And when
you failed me, you failed Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley. We

came to hear of writing, not revolutuin.
Carol Biernacki

BBL EEE TEE ESE SONS EE ESSE FEE SE ENE EE EEE SE

Adrienne Rich spoke at SUNYA November 2 and 3 sponsored by the

“omen"s Studies Dept. Dennis Livingston, -Professor of Political ::..
Sélienee at RPI. coversthe Image of .Jomen in his. Futurist studies.
Bradstreet and “heatley are early American poets.

ia |

MATRIN de BURCA ON THE IRISH STRUGGLE
“OR .“REEDOM

On October 19,1976,Mairin de Burca,
Irish feminist and political leader,
gave a lecture at Albany State. She was
on a lecturing tour of the United States
from September 17th until the end of
October and had spoken at Siena College
the night before. Prior to her appeara-
nce, a biographical sketch was given
of her.

Born in Dublin to dual-citizenship
Irish-American parents, Mairin de Burca's
family moved back to the United States
for a brief period during the late 30s
and 40s. The de Burca family lived in
Chicago until 1947 when they relocated
permanently to Ireland.

de Burca completed her compulsory
education at age 14 and held various
jobs at clothing stores. (The Irish
compulsory education age limit was raised

to 15 in 1970). She became a member of
the Sinn Fein (Gaelic for "Ourselves

Alone") political party. Sinn Fein is
the official political arm of the lajor-
ity Irish Republican Movement. Elected
Sinn fein Joint General Secretary in
1965, a position she still holds, MNairin
de Burca is also current convener of the
Sinn Fein National Women's Committee and
co-founder of the Irish Women's Liber-
ation Organization.

She launched and eventually won a
landmark constitutional suit against the
Trish Juries Act, a law which discrin-
inated against women and nonproperty
owners.

de Burca maintains active involvement
in the Prisoners' Organization and the
Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement. de Burca
was imprisoned for her leadership of the
poor and working class people's struggle
for adequate housing. She has also
served time in prison for taking part in
an anti-Vietnam demonstration against the
United States.

Mairin de Burca gave a historical
documentation of the involvement of
Sinn Fein in the Irish struggle for
freedom to the attentive gathering.
de Burca emphasized she was not a member
of the Provisional IRA, but belonged to
the Official Majority IRA Sinn Fein
Party. The Majority IRA presently favors
peaceful resistance to British rule to
achieve a Socialist secular Ireland but
does not rule out the possibility of
eventual armed struggle. The Provisional
TRA favors violence as a means to achieve
total secession from England.

—

The yo

Provisionals now carry out civilian
attacks as well as guerrilla warfare on

the British. Mairin de Burca explained
there were many offshoots of the IRA,
Sinn Fein in addition to the Majority
IRA and the Provisional IRA.

Founded in 1858, the Fenians came
into being because of the historic
occupation of the British and the infl-
uence of the French Revolution.

Despite passage of the 1829 Catholic
Emancipation Act, which widened the
number of elective offices open to Cath-
olics and removed most of the remaining
legal restrictions since 1793, Catholic
Irish were still discriminated against
in education, jobs, and housing. Hence
the IRA movement was initiated by mostly
middle class Protestant radicals. The
radicals set as their goals, independence
from England and the secularization of
the Irish Republic. de Burca stated that
the IRA attempted to achieve these goals
through peaceful activity and warfare
(and sometimes a combination of both)
but never succeeded.

In 1914, Parliament passed a home
rule law, although implementation was
delayed until after World War I. The
home rule act granting Ireland a greater
measure of self-government while remain-
ing bound to England, lacked adequate
clauses for Ulster Protestant Loyalists.

In 1916, the armed Easter uprising
at Dublin occurred ° 4u eoopposition
to the home rule act. The uprising
itself was a failure, but the resulting
execution or imprisonment of many up-
rising leaders made them martyres to
the Irish.

In 1918 after the conclusion of
World War I, Irish national elections
were swept by the Sinn Fein party which
pledged passive resistance to British
rule.

In 1919, Fenians adopted a provision-
al constitution and declaration of
independence. The Anglo-Irish War for
freedom broke out in 1919 and in 1920
the Government of Ireland act was passed
providing for separate parliaments and
governments in both Northern and Southerr
Ireland.

A truce ended the Anglo-Irish War
and a treaty was signed in 1921. The
Anglo-Irish treaty called for an Irish
Free State for all Ireland, but Northern
Treland was allowed to choose to stay
or opt out of the Free State. If North-

ern Ireland opted out of the agreement
(which it did) a boundary commission

MAIRIN de BURCA, cont'd.

was to be set up to determine the ‘ fully form a coalition to obtain civil
boundary between the two states. In rights, jobs, education and housing.
1922, British troops began evacuation eT
after acceptance of the Anglo-Irish Carol Schillinger
treaty. A short civil war from 1922-23 x ++ *

defeated Sinn Feiners and other opponents Theughts of a Jewish Woman”

to the treaty. By 1938 British troop
evacuations were completed.

The Republic of Ireland or Eire,
withdrew from the British Commonwealth

in 1949, As a result, Northern Ireland
was forced to accede to control by

I am a twenty~year eld Jewish weman who
has neVer feund caiise to complain of Sexist
discriggination in my religion. Reform “

Judiasm, the sect of which I am a member, is
commonly termed the most liberal in structurc

om * and custom ef the Jewish religieus sects.
Great Britain. | a ; wife some other sects still s@parate the ~

From the mid-thirties until 1962 sexes in the synagogue, the Referm moVement

periodic IRA terrorist raids challenged jon¢ ago instituted a policy whereby men and
the Irish Government's neutrality on womén wauld no longer be segregated during

- foreign and domestic affairs. The Group opti fy: worshipe

stopped all violent activity in 1962 Ib —— b ho the ten!
when it could no longer muster enough egan geing to Hebrew school a e

support der age of four, and continued my formal re-
The Sinn Fein party suffered political ligiows education through the ninth grade.

hey I was always — as far as I can fremember—
sethacks through =e sixties. In 1965 treated in the same manner as my male peers.
at the Majority IRA Sinn Fein convention, My Hebrew school teachers were both men and
in Dublin, delegates voted democratically women, and both sexes gave equal emphasis t¢
° = n ° 3 t
for changes in the Sinn Fein piatiorm. thé outstanding roles played by both men anc
The party platform establishing a social= worjen throughout Jewish history. Both boys
ois SOCULAE rai was passed, despite and girls in my classes were encouraged to
ae ep eT rishte v2ke part in religious services, No prefere
: : . . 6 ence was given to the boys’in reciting and
campaign for Ulster's Catholics resulted ekentine aiffaret pravers, os La commonly’
in a bloody riot which the Royal Ulster 4.4. Sagi i eae gt oe New A ocine
Conta lnanry eoediees highly trained example of this discrimination is that in
B Special" Protestant police auxillary

: <3 , : ether Judaic sects, a bey —— at the age of
| t part ‘ 3
gen oem in or did not defend thirteen —— becemes a Bar Mitzvah, an adult

; ; ‘ to take on the responsibilities of be=
In 1969, the Sinn Fein convention ean : .
at Dublin debated whether to use terror- ing Jewish, A girl, on the ether hand, is

ists tactics to defend Catholics from given a very different ceremeny when she be~
the oppressive Protestant Orangist cemes a Bat Mitzvah. In Reform Judiasm,
Government (in Northern Ireland). A pe both boys and girls participate in
split occurred with most of the delegates - i. eae and are givem full status
opposing renewed terrorism and..the-rad- ane ‘te hen ee Rico: 7 ke
ical nationalist minority setting u “S73 —
the Provisional IRA. . = group of ten people needed in order to hold
Aside from sharing the Sinn Fein certain services). This is not true of
name, de Burca emphasized there were either Conservative or Orthodox Judiasme
virtually no other similarities between . There seems to be a move toward strengthen+

the Provisional IRA which has staged ing the equality of roles even more, For
civilian terrorist attacks--a complete several years, women have been able to study
reversal of republican traditions. de at theolegical seminaries in order to be or
Burca reiterated the Provisionals keep aly a SPOIL JAE oe ee oe, Seat
their reasons secret for their guerrilla “~O"Ss I have recently noticed a trend to

tactics on innocent bystanders. eliminate words such as "mankind" and "fathe?
Mairin de Burca stated her opinion from the English text of prayerbeoks. These

of two solutions to the problems of steps may sound relatively insignificant, but

Treland--the entire population can for a religious sect that has been around far

mobilize in a civil war against England 3137 years, : think the overriding os some 0}
and face a massacre, or the Protestant its sexist, traditions is monumental.
and Catholic working classes can peace- Name Withheld

THE BOOK OF RUTH
‘A meditation: A radical decision |

What is the Book of Ruth? Why is it in-
cluded in the Bible? where is God in
this story?

The Book of Ruth, although one of the
shortest books in the Bible, depicts a
profound scenario of the interaction of

God/s people with one another in an extra-

ordinary way. The first scene shows
three women tell their own tale and we
see them become women of conviction, cou-
rage and vision. Naomi exclaims that she
has no more sons to give her widowed
daughters-in-law and they should "Go,
each return to her mother's house," Here
is one of the first indications that this
is no ordinary situation. Why does Naomi
ures the women to return to their "moth-
er's house" when according to ancient law
they are under the dominion of their
fathers? One interpretation is that the-
ir father's decision, giving them in mar-
riage, has brought them suffering ‘and -
death. Naomi wishes them to enjoy life.

Thus, Ruth and Naomi begin their jour-
ney to Bethlehem, in silence and ten-
sion. Once there, Naomi merely men-
tions that she has a well-to-do rela-
tive, Boaz, implying that he may be
able to help them with sustenance. Ruth
searches out this kinsman and returns
with enough barley for the two of them,
and a promise of more to come. Naomi
begins to change toward Ruth. She
resolves her hostility and embraces
Ruth who has already embraced her.
is Ruth's initial action of going to
Boaz's field to glean barley that bri-
ngs to Naomi's mind this kinsman's res-
ponsibility of the levriate marriage.
Naomi clearly has in mind a husband for
Ruth. Ruth hasn't shown the same ine
terest. Her main concern is food for

- the two of them and loyalty to Naomi.

Therefore, she sends them to their moth-

er's house, symbolic of nurture and life.
Naomi repeats her plea, three times.

The daughters-inlaw do not immediately
acquiesce to this cry of the heart. As
a sign that. she alone has made her dec-
ision, Orpah steps forward and kisses
her mother-in-law and reutrns to her own
land. Thus, for one brief moment, Orpah
becomes her own person and chooses her
own destiny. Ruth, on the other hand,
dramatically faces her mother-in-law with
the words, "Do not press me to leave you
and to turn back from your company, for

wherever you go, I will go
wherever you live, I will live.
Your people shall be my people
And your God, my God.

Wherever you die, I will die,"

Naomi urged both Orpah and Ruth to follow
the safe, traditional and predictable way

of life. Orpah makes this decision and
is commedded for it. Is 1% significant
that after Orpah makes this detision she

fades from the life of the story? As for
Ruth, the story tells us "seeing that she
was determined to go with her, Naomi said

no more,"
legiance to a mother-in-law transcends
sexuality, breaks with family, country,
faith and religion. She stands alone by
choice of decision. Commendation is not

her lot. (CONT)

Ruth, by her unprecedented al-

ea ee

Naomi devised a plan to get Boaz! ate
tention, but her instructions to Ruth
extended only as far as "go and un-
cover his legs and lie down. He will
then tell you what you are to do,"
Naoni disvas#iusmpehfiahte epttthigacthal:
waits for the man to act. However,

the. plan that she devised is both dan-
gerous and delicate. The vision be-
longs to Naomi. The courage and ability
to make it more than it was intended to
be, belong to Ruth, She tells him he
is her kinsman and has the right to
marry her, She calls him to respon-
sibility. Boaz then consents to seek
the legal waiver in order to ratify his
obligation. Up to this point, he “as
vaguely aware of the presence and plight
of his newly arrived kinswomen.

Ruth, as an agent of change, brought
Boaz to awaremess and the necessary paan
to change the course of their lives.
She, thereby, accomplished her objective
of being loyal to Naomi, providing sec-
urity for both of them. Naomi realized
the goal of her plan, i.e., a husband

for Ruth, They were agents of change
for each other.

Only Abraham is equal to Ruth in rad-
icality. Maybe I should say only Abra-
ham is on a par with Ruth. Abraham had
everything to gain by following the com-
mand of Yahweh. He had the promise of
becoming the father of a nation, Ruth
had no promise. She had nothing to gain
by being loyal to Naomi. She had no
support group and for a while, not even

(CONT )

THE BOOK OF RUTH CONTINUED
the support of Naomi. But she did have
faith and love.

I hope I have answered the opening
questions of this article.

Helene Mailey
% * * oR * * % *

WOMEN'S RIGHTS COMMITTEE

The function of the Women's Rights
Committee is to encourage Friends to re-
assert in today's climate our historic
testimony on the equality of women and
men, to increase awareness of the issues
that are being identified in the contem-
porary women's movement, to provide a new-
work of support to women who are troubled
or suffering because of women-related con-
flicts, and to strive to promote a spirit
of love, caring, and understanding in
ourselves and in others when dealing with
the tensions that feminism is surfacing.

As members of the committee we seek per-
sons who support this functi on, who are
working independently to change the sit-
uation, and who are able to contribute
actively to the committee's work. Active
participation should include both attend-
ance at meetings, scheduled at Yearly and
Representative meetings, and work at the
local meeting level. An inability to at-
tend all meetings can be offset by strong
local activity and vice versa. The fol-
lowing queries are offered to prospective
nominees:

Do you recognize that many women in our
society are disadvantaged in one or more
aspects of thmir lives because of preval-
ent attitudes, practices and beliefs re-
lating to women's nature and role?

Are you committed to working to change
this situation?

Have you been involved in women's work
in your meeting or your community?
Describe.

Have you any ideas for committee pro-
gram or activity?

Will you be comfortable in a committee
structure which actively seeks to provide
leadership opportunities for women and a
forum for open and free expression by wo-
men?

The Women of NY Yearly Meeting will take
in the responsibility of publishing
(CONT ) 13

The Friendly Women, a publication for
and by Quaker Women. For the past

15 months the Philadelphia Yearly
Meeting women have been publishing
The Friendly iJomen.

Bettina H, Wolff of 865 Lancaster
St., Albany, N.Y. 12203 is Clerk of
the ‘Jomen's Rights Committee of NY
Yearly Meeting and a good contact per-
son for mor information about Friends
Women and the publication Friendly
Women,

Christine Root
Attende
Elbany Friends Meeting

* * * * * * *

QUAKERS AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Historically, Quakers have stoodfor
the equality of men and women. Called
in being by George Fox (1624-1591)
in the 1640's, Quakers regard Margaret
Fell (1514-1702) who later married
Fox, as virtually a co-founder of the
demonination. To a very large extent
it was she who directed Friends away
from exclusive concentration on person-
al salvation into a movement which

also sought salvation in lives of ser-
vice,

George Fox encouraged women members
to extablish their own meetings and
assume important functions of the Soce
iety. Fox felt the importance of the
active participation of both men and
women, Fox wanted to liberate for the
service of the Church the gifts of gov-
ermment which lay dormant and barren
in both men and women. To advocate
the equal partnership of men and women
Was a bold move for anyone to make in
Seventeenth Century England. In the
beginning even Quakers had difficulty
with the concept of strong, active
Women's meetings. Later Women's meet-
ings became an accepted part of Quaker
organization, The women's meetings
became increasingly independent of the
Men's meetings. The Women's meetings
became very active in providing aid and
confort to prisoners; many Quaker women
were active in prison reform movements.

(CONT )

QUAKER WOMEN CONTINUED

As the concept of women's equality bec-
ame accepted, the women's meetings began
to fade out. In 1375 the Landen Yearly
Meeting officially regognized women Fri-
ends as "a constituent part" of all bus-
iness meetings. The first women clerk
(the highest office in a Quaker meeting)
of the United Yearly Meeting was app-
ointed in 1943, The pattern was similar
in the United States--women's meetings
died out as united meetings of men and
women became accepted,

TITLE IX---\JHERE DO WE STAND?

_ by Veronica Foy

By July 21, 1975 the City School Dis-
trict of Ahbany was required to take
five specific steps to insure compliance
with Title IX of the Edueation Amendments
of 1972, Those steps include: initial
and continuing notification of policy,
the appointment of a Title IX Coordina-
tor, the adoption of a grievance proce-
dure and an on-going self-evaluation of
policies and practices. The question
that arises is, "Where does the Albany
School System stand? “

In speaking to Mr. David Brown, Dep~

To appreciate the importance of strength uty Superintendent of Schools and Title

of women in the life of Friends--the rea-

der referred to "A Seventeenth-Century
Quaker Women's D’claration" reprinted
in the Autumn 1975 issue of Signs; Jour-
nal of Women in Culture and Society.

Sometime between 1675 and 1580 an epistle

was sent out to WJomen's Meetings every-

where from the Lancashire meeting. This
seventeenth century epistle is believed

to have been written by Sarah Fell, dau-
ghter of Margaret Fell.

Then as today in the Society there is
no tone of hostility or resentment to-
ward women in the Society or in general.
Women, it is taken for granted, are the
spiritual equals of men.

* * *
During the first three centuries of
Quakerism, it was generally accepted
among Friends that "women had their work

to do" which was different (but equal to)

the work of men. omen were seen more
closely tied to home, family and child-
ren. The major change in Quaker thought
about women seems to be in the area of
women's work or role in life. Quaker
men and women are beginning to see and
accept that there is no such thing as
"women's work" and "men's work", Al-
though Quaker couples have not always
been able to work out ideal situations
in practice, Quaker thought and practice
and teachings have long stressed that
"parental responsibility is a joint one
at every stage,//

Christine Root
Attender Since 1970
Albany Friends Meeting

* %* * * ** *% * %

Ix Coordinator, I have been informed
that on Nov. 9,1975 (almost 4 months
after the deadline) the Board of Educa-
tion approved action on the initial not-
ification of policy. By the time this
issue of SpeakOot is published, I was
told, there will have been a prominent
advertisement in Albany's local papers
stating the District's non-discrimina-
tory policy. It is worthy to note here
that the Regulation required that ini-
tial notification be made within 90 days
of the effective date (July 21, 1975) of
the Regulation.

Mr. Brown also assured me that notifi-
cation of his position will be "posted
in the schools" and that new applications
for employment, which will include a
statement of the District's non-discrim-
inatory policy, have been ordered. The
Board also adopted a four-stage grievan-
ce procedure to deal with student and/or
employee complaints relating to the Reg-
ulation, (Unfortunately, I was not able
to obtain a copy of this procedure before
my deadline for this article and there-
fore to make any additional comments. )

In reference to self-evaluation Mr,
Brown stated, "I'm looking at that very
carefully, expecially in regard to phy-
Sical education." Mr. Brown also stated
that he has "talked with Guidance Direc-
tors about this" and acknowledged that it
is often attitudes that can encourage or
discourage sexism,

Except to note the lack of promptness
on the Districts’ part, I believe it is too
early to offer a total assessment of its
adherence to the Regulation, Though Mr.
Brown assures me that the minimal require~
ments have been met I am left with many
questions, With the exception of contact
sports, are physical education classes

(CONT)

TITLE IX CONTINUED

on the elementary le¥el co-ed? Are
teacher responsibilities such as study
halls and hall duties assigned without
regard to sex? Are teachers being made
aware of what sexism is and how it may
influence them in the classroom? How
will students be made aware of their
rights under the Regulation? Will stu-
dents and employees feel free to bring
their complaints to the Deputy Superin-
tendent? Jill a man with so many other
responsibilities have the time "for pro-
mpt and equitable resolution" of these
complaints? Though home economics and
industrial arts courses are open to both

boys and girls, are the girls as encour-

aged to take \Jood Shop as the boys are
to take Foods? Is the City School Dis-
trict of Albany actively seeking to make
some changes?

% a *
Biographical Nate: Veronica Foy has
been teaching English at Albany High
School for the past five years. She
served as Chairperson of the District's
Task Force on Sexism during the '75-"75
school year,

% * * ca cS ok *

CELEBRATE, DECEMBER 25th-~--~{...
CLARA BARTON'S BIRTHDAY

Clarissa Harlowe Barton

was born December 25, 1821.

She lived until 1912. All her.
life.she complained of her |
Shyness «
Pprincipte of universal human
suffrage but, as she grew older,
she didn't agree with all the
methods of the suffragettes. In
her owm career she was conscious
of discrimination against her as
a woman, yet she was reputed to
know how to get along well with
mene She was working for the
rights off women when she estab-
lished a free school at
Berdentowm, New Jersey, over the
objections of men who thought it
couldntt be done. When the
school succeeded a man was made
PPivicipal «

When President Pierce toek
©ffice women were employed in
some government offices, Among

She believed in the geri

them was Clara Barton. The
president tried to have women ot LO
employees replaced bu® Ms. Harton
Barton's employers so appreciated
her skill and hard work that they
resistede So did Clara and for a
time she was able to keep her job.
During an economy program in

1857 she lost her job but was
called back in 1860,

During the Civil War she
took food, medicines, first aid
supplies, and comforts (tobacco,
wine) to the wounded men on the
battle field. Once there she
cooked and distributed the food
and comforts and, when asked,
assisted the surgeons. When
there was a lull in combat she
was invited to go riding with the
officers. Some of the medical
personnel were jealouse They
Stole the supplies sent by Ms.
Barton's friends. They tried to
have her removed to behind the
hospitals. (Dorothy Dix's nurses
worked in the hospitals.) They
Succeeded briefly, but not
permanently.

After the war she met male
resistance again when she tried
to establish a program for
locating the men missing in action.
Again once she established the
program, and it was taken over by
a man.

For a time she lectured
about her wartime experience.
Once, in 1867, in Iowa, she was
introduced as being not like

Bghete B, Anthony and her kind of

Clara Barton said "JI
would have the first monument
that is ever erected to any woman
in this country raised to her."

Clara Barton is best known
for her efforts to establish the
International Red Cross in this
countrye It was her most diffi-
cult challenge. Prejudice
against our invelvement in the
affairs of ether nations was
Strong. Each time she tried to
interest Congress in the program
the legislatere referred to an
early, unfavorable study, by men.
They paid little attention to her
facts. Eventually the American
Red Cross was begun (at Dansville,
New York, in 1881). She was the

(cont. )

WOMEN'S COFFEEHOUSE

The Performance, a play for women,
written and acted by Kathleen Hardy

and directed by Bonnie Marzlak will
be offered at the Women's Coffee-
house Dec. 3 at 8:30pm. The play,
which has toured the country at
Women's Music Festivals, Coffee-
houses and campuses will also be
performed the following night at
SUNYA. (Details of time and room
will be announced or call cc infor-
mation 457-6923).

DEC. 17 at the coffeehouse, MISCHIEF without loss of fai

MIME - "Amazement Guaranteed" will

be performing original pantomimes .
and improvisational pieces to de-

light and provoke everyone. Donation of America,

is $2 and all women are welcome.
The following afternoon at Channing
Hall located at 405 Washington Ave.

Clara Barton - (cont.)

first president of the chapter

and later of the weakly organized
National organization. There she
met opposition from Mabel
Boardman. Serious charges of
misconduct were made by Mse
Boardman against Clara Bartone

Ms. Barton was accused of becoming
possessive and unyielding to the
need for change. She was cleared

of the charges in 1904, This made
it possible for her to resign

the She did
not retire from active life.
Instead she established the
National First Aid Association

For a shy woman she
seems to have done very well.

the troupe will do a special ho“iday

show for children and adults at 2pm. ”’

Admission is $l and everyone is
welcome.

N.O.W. -- Ne«Y¥eS- CONVENTION

N.O.W. =- N.Y.S. will hold its
annual election convention in
Rochester, N.Y. on December 3-5,
The convention will also feature
workshops on women and health,
sexuality, Title IX, battered
women, alchoholism, film making,
women office workers, legislation,
national by-laws, compliance, and
displaced homemakerse Registra-
tion fee is $8.50 (13.50 for non-
N.O.W. - N.Y.S. persons) and
should’ be sent to: Rochester N.O.W

P.O. Box 316, Rochester, New York,
14601.

JeRESedt

Tri-City Womengs Center

On Monday,Becember 6 at 8:00 p.m
“there will be a community meeting which
will include a discussion of
dramatic forms of activism.

The Y.WeCeAe is now closed.
The Y and the Womens's Center
are still looking for new locations.

— Z|

_ very nice. performance,

“peakout hel@ a benefit at the Tri-
City Women8s Center Saturday night,
November 20, Carol Goodman wes good
enough to perform for us and gave a
All of us seemed
te be lew on spirt as the turnout was
non-existent for the first hour and
very poor thereaftee,

By the end of the evening everybody
present seemed happy and relaxed,
including 13 staffers and 12 non-staffers,
We took in $58.00 which was a substantial
help in our sléw move to the news—
print format,

Although we are most grateful to ~-
Carol Goodman and to al? who attended,
we are bewildered et the poser turnout,
We admit that our publicity effort
left much to be desired. However
it still seemed clear that there is
a definite vaccum in real commitment
to and support for Speakout as a
feminist voice in the comunity.

We have received very little feedback
from our readers regarding our existence
and our plans to change our format,

We are considering another benefit
but must know first if the supvort is
there to solicit, Our members put

out alot of wxpemse and time to put this

benefit together. We would like to

know if we would see more support with
a second effort and more publicity,
Again we thank those who attended and
are waiting to hear gyom others,

UNITARTANISM

Mary Wollstonecraft
Marj Casswell and
Maxine Krall

In recent years, Mary Wollstonecraft has
reemerged as the spititual founder and pa-
tron saint of the feminist movement. She
is again remembered as the author of "A
Vindication of the Rights of Women",

Mary was first introduced to Unitarian-
ism in her 20s. She was a teacher in the
English town of Newington Green, a Unitar-
ian center.

Her school doubled as a boarding house.
One of the boarders was John Disnew, whose
brother-in-law founded the Unitarian ch-
urch at Essex Street in London. Essex
Street is now British Unitarian headquart-
ers.

Even more influential was London book-
seller and publisher Joseph Johnson. He
was the official distributor of Unitarian
literature. He also published a magazine
called The Analytical Journal, for which
Mary wrote book reviews. Ue published
her first novel,. "Mary", and her "Original
Stories", The last was illustrated by
William Blake.

Along with Blake, other leading Unitar-
ians and intellectuals with who Mary's
friendship with Johnson brought her into
contact were Priestley, Tom Paine, William
Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (a.
minister), Joel Barlow and her future hus-
band, William Godwin,

These Unitarians, intellectuals and ot-
her liberals naturally hailed the french
Revelution at first as the most glorious
moment in the history of the world.

Their enthusiasm was not shared by
Edmund Burke. In one extremely ill-temper-
ed speech, he attacked Unitarians as
"Subversives", This raised Mary's ire and

she responded with what was the best answer™P1@ Brown to mention a few,

to Burke's Refelections on the Revolution
in France until Tom Paine's came out the

following ens

Her work, "Vindication of the Rights
of Man", also served as a precursor for
her best and greatest work, the work which’
brought her lasting fame--"A Vindication
of the Rights of Women",

Mary's own life could be considered
& vindication of the rights of women.
We, however,.have yet to reach the ide
aglism.. PeMonified by Mary Wollstone-
craft, nearly 200 years ago.

(This article was edited from an article
appearing in the Unitarian Universalist
World, a journal of the Association
published in Boston) MK

* * * * x *

The following is a statement from Marj
Casswell, a newcomer to the Albany

Area and the wife of John Corrado the
minister of the Albany Unitarian Church.

Unitarianism offers participation
for a feminist in a religion where it is
not necessary to separate or compromise
feminist beliefs from principles of the
church, The words from the pulpit deal
with universal human problems--isolation,
death, separation, loving, et al, that
stimulate thought for growth, Like the
feminist movement, the Unitarian move-
ment is one of social change and quest-
loning. I am fighting sexism almost
everywhere I go, and need that one place
where I do not have to. It is by no
means perfect, but as a church it is
responsive to alteration when, say, con-
fining language gets in the way of the
sense of and reality of equality.

The turn of the century saw many women
serving as ministers in the Unitarian
Church, The situation now is not good,
but the problem is being seriously ad-
dressed, ‘omen entering the ministry here
will encounter far less resistence than
in any other relizion because nurturing
and caring qualities are recognized as
valuable and necessary, Other religions
often pay lip service to this but fail
to carry it out in reality. Another

important factor is that some of my hero-
ines were Unitarian-~Susan B, Anthony,
Clara Barton, Harrict Taylor Mill, Oly-
These are
strong women, women working for the soce

ial change I see as necessary. The role

models we all need,"

Marj Casswell
* * cS * * * %* 2

Thoughts from a feminist unitarian

Many years ago, after three years of

going to the Unitarian church, I became

(CONT)
ag

—_

UNITARIANISM AND FEMINISM (cont)

a feminist. And when I came out, I CAME
OUTt <All of the men and most of the

NON-SEXIST CHILDREN'S BOOKS ©

Blew and the Death ef the Mag, by:
Wendy Lichtman, illustrated by '
Diane Mayers, Freestone Publishing

women at the church, I feel, thought that q,_ , Bex 357, Albian, Cal. 95410.

I was at least stark raving mad. (I
was but not in the way they thought. )
Slowly, a number of women began their
own self exploration, and slowly they
began to view me in a different light.
There are still a number of people in

the church who view me with a great deal
of suspicion but they are not the kind

of people I would have chosen for friends
before feminism reared her lovely head.

Marj is right in saying that the
Unitarian church is a place for growth.
Most of the sermons from the pulpit
are intelligent, thought provoking, and
stimulating. Most of the acwivities of
the church, such as the women's CR group,
to the craft group, to the Sunday school,
are activities that expand human potent-
ial.

However, if a feminist goes into the
church structure, looks at who is runniig
the church, she will find that men dom-
inate. I have chosen not to even bother
to run for an elected office. Some
feminists have chosen to do so, with
some Winning and most losing,

Leaving the power structure behind
a feminist can find a liberal religion
(which is not to be confused with
LIBERAL) in which to function in the
Unitarian Church. I would not stop
going to church because of the "bad"
ones any more then I would try and stop
some of the games that they are playing.
Besides the fact that I want to leave
the roof and the plumbing and bills (I

have enough of that at my house) to others

they are very easy to ignore. And the
benefits are many. I sincerely hope that
the benefits will increase with the add-
ition of Marj Casswell to the membership.
Mary Wollstonecraft may have had to look
at the men for intellectual stimulation,
I do not. There are many Unitarian
women who are strong, intelligent, and
feminist. May our numbers grow.

In Sisterhood

Maxine Krall

$2.95. This is suppesed to be a
children's book about death, but
it holds for afults as well. It
is well written.

I Climb Mountains, by Barbara
Taylor, illus. Barbara Yaeons,
Canadian Women's Educatienal Press,
280 Bloer St. W., Suite 305, To-
rento, Ontario, Canada. $3 paper,
$6.75 hardeover, 3 celer illus-
tratiens en every page. This

beck is non-sexist and it alsn
points eut that age and tempera-
ment are no barriers to creativity
and ability. I Climb Mountains is

a humoreus, poetic story about
three children.

She Shoots She Scores! by Heather
Kellerhals-Stewart, photographs

by Carel Gardon and the auther,
Canadian Women's Edueational Press,
(see above atiress), $.95. This is
a non-sexist bock fer kids, in kids
language at a special kids' priee’
It is chock full of phetos, illus-
trating a fast-paced, actien-paeked
story in which real kids--the kind

who live next door--encounter and
solve real problens.

The Greenbriar Reader, a Celleetion
of VYerds and Pictures by Kids ef
All Ages, Fly by Night Printing
Collective, Austin Tex. This is
a charming children's beok frem

an alternative scheel outside of
Austin, Texas.

fumbles and Snits, by Beverly
Allinson, illus. Ann Powell, Women
Press 280 Blovr St.W.W., Suite 3C5
Toronto, Ont., Canada, $2.75 paper,
$6.75 hardcover. Young readers will
be delighted by the changing shapes
of Mumbles and Snits and could ea-

Sily paint their own creatures or
make them from clay.

reprinted from: KNOW, Inc.
FO Box 86031
Pitts, Pa 15221

GROUP NEW

A Christmas Party will be held WOMEN’S RECORDS NOW ON SALE

Saturday, December 25 at 1 pin The Women’s Coffee House, which is

Sate eal =a NOGSS, (By sponsored by the Tri-Cities Women's
7 oa hasllionen set at ee por y Center is selling records recorded
ZS oemns Sponsored by Albany NOW 4. women to raise money for a sound

for all women in the area who are : i
‘ , tem, which we
unable to go home for the holidays cle Sih ye Mag ake pe runs

and would like to share the company oh * ;
of oth Aer i about $35 and cuts into profits
er feminists that afternoon. considerably. ‘hen a system is

Spread i
pread the word that everyone is Jurchased it can be rented or loaned

welcome: brins something e ;
; S gto share +5 other groups, thus being an asset

if you can...Anyone wishing to :
help with food, decorations, pub- to the Women's Center and larger

ici . community.
ee ST Ge Be eee Mest of the records being sold are
(482-2914), not available in regular retail

stores. The closest most of them

CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING GROUP forming 2%¢ available 1s either NYC or
as soon as we can get together. Cal ‘
Irene (477-8507) or Alex (283-1547) Records are on sale at the coffee

+ S Mi
i= you're interested or know of any- rege as well . S oe, ag '
one who might be. rom 8-9 pm, and at other Women's

7 er Center activities. LP's are $5
SEMINARS FOR ‘JOMEN IN MANAGEMENT and 45's are $1.50. When the sound
The Wharton School of the Universit

system is purchased, profits will
of Pennsylvania has announced a new

Yeo toward Women's Center expenses.
. Rx! és 5 '
seminar, "Effective Strategies and 7 Cas ee 2a eS
Tactics for the ‘oman Manager.".

recording companies and your local
This is an intensive two-day seminarione © COOr Wen BEF LNs Boloay

designed Or the experienced woman £1 TUS— .oords available are:
manager who desires to expand her I Know You Know - Meg Christian

repertoire of managerial skills. Inoncireles - Kay Gardner

The NYC seminar will be held January Vay Out West - Mary McCaslin
31-February 1, 1977. Prairie in the Sky - Mary McCaslin
The seminar will be lead by Dr. Always a Lady - Rosalie Sorrels

foward E. Mitchell and Dr. Diana c, Hang in There - Holly NéaYr .
Robertson, who are actively engaged Lavender Jane Loves Women-Al ts; ny
in the development of a major research Living with Lesbians -

training program on ‘“iomen in Mamage- Malvina/teld iadiad ——_
ment at the ‘Yharton School. nepal ea

; 3 Free to Be Yeu and Me-Marlo Thomas
For further information and a det & Friends
ailed brochure on this seminar, Changer & the Changed-Cris
please contact Ms. Heidi Kaplen, Williamson
pee shames services Management Lady/If It Weren't for the Music-

enter, 360 Lexington Ave., NY,NY Meg Christian&Cris Williamson

10017 or call 212-953-7262, High Risk

On Order: due in by publication time
Virgo Rising-Once & Future Woman
I Hate the Capitalist System-
Barbara Dane
BeBe K’Roche - BeBe K'Roche
3 Gypsies - Casse Culver
Where Would I Be Without You-
Poetry of Pat Parker & Judy Grahn
Berkeley Women's Music Collective

ALDERSON HOSPITALITY HOUSE

A new project concerned with the pli-
ght of women in prison is beginning. We
Sincerely need your help to get started.
We will soon be opening a house of hos-
pitality near the federal reformatory
for women in Alderson, West Virginia.”

Alderson is the main federal facility for

women af the U.S, and Puerto Rico and
now holds over 580 women,

There are no overnight accomodations
in Alderson; nor is there any public or
commercial transportation to the town,
The nearest town iwth adequate housing
is 20 miles away. In addition to these
prob&éms visiting hours end at 3:30pa,

daily.

We plan to ppen a house where visitors
will be welcomed without charge, This
house is in Alderson within walking dis-
tance to the prison. ‘We also hope to
get a van to transport people from the
next town to the house, should they arr-
ive by train or bus. We feel we will
be able to facilitate communication fron
prisoners to their families and possibly
arrange for families to travel in groups
to cut expenses. Hopefully the house
Will meet the urgent need for a social
center for both visitors and townspeople
--a place where people can meet, read,
where discussions can be held,

We now have assurances from the owner
of buying a large 15 room house near the
prison. The expenses of this house (whi-
ch would then be placed in an existing
land trust in the area), along with the
purchase of a sood van and other costs
Will total at least $25,000, This seems
like an enormous sum, but we're hopeful
that the many people who have expressed

a concern for prisoners and the particular

obstacles facing visitors at Alderson
will respond generously so that we can
begin soon. Dorothy Day summarized the
problem in the Catholic Worker: "It is
cruel and inhuman punishment not to make
it more possible for prisoners to see
their children or parents,"

Our work here has sensitized us to the
needs of all prisoners and we are anxious
to begin. Could you please help in any
way possible?

Alderson Hospitality House Project
c/o 1331 N. St. NW,Wash,D.c, 20005

OFFENSIVE TO WOMEN+OFFENSIVE TO WOME’

Are you offended by magazines and
movie advertisements featuring (for
the "pleasure" of the male reading
and viewing public) voluptuous women
bound in leather or chains with thet:
clothing torn and their bodies bruis
and battered?? Are you sick and tire¢
of the media's portrayal of home-
makers as lazy, dull-witted, psycho-
logically dependent women who get
their thrills battling waxy-yellow
floors?

Unfortunately, the media's use of
offensive stereotypes and sexually
degrading portrayals of women con-
tinues (and may even be on the in-
crease) on TV,and Radio and in the
Movies, Newspapers and Magazines
we're confronted with daily. (The
Skeptical among you are encouraged
to take a field trip to Coulson's
in downtown Albany, turn to the
movie page in your local newspaper,
or watch TV--Charlies Angels??)

No one could possibly expect to

turn the nation's reporters, film-
makers and advertisers into feminist
Overnight. Maybe not even over
centuries..But we can begin to draw
their attention to our anger. We
know it can work--last fall a local
theater manager closed down "Snuff"
when he heard we planned a demonst-
ration... So please consider joinir
the Tri-Cities i/Jomen's Offensive!!
First meeting is Nov. 30, before you
get this Speakout. So call the TCWC
for more information. Mon. eves.

49-9991,

TOYLAND (conclusion) py. //

the size of a six pund baby, all sof

and cuddly, with Whisps of fine hair
and even a wobbly neck, Ignoring
printed prohibitions, I Opened the
box and soon had her in my arms. I
was about to carry all $12.79 of
her to the cashier when I recognized
what was happening to me! An hour
and a half of being surrounded by
the playthings of society's children
had all but resocialized me! But I
Still might just buy that newborn
for my niece,

susan ‘7. Chelius

)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR _ to care about, the Center whould be a
purely volunteer, totally independent

Dear Speakout: organization. Perhaps these women were
not involved in the early attempts to

On November 17 the controversy over the establish AWARE and the many frustrations

Albany County Rape Crisis Center came to its members met with when they tried to

a head at a public hearing. It is import- gain some credibility as a counseling

ant to recognize that it is both the Rape service. Perhaps they were not around

Crisis Center and its director, Fraya when Fraya and many other dedicated, long
Katz, who are under attack. No matter time feminists worked tirelessly toopen
what the grounds for complaint, it is lines of communication with the police,

more than regrettable that the accusers district attorneys! offices, and hospitals
have seen fit to bring this internal and in the area so that rape victims would be
ideological conflict to those who might referred to them for help, and so that the
like nothing better than to see women's professionals working with rape victims
accomplishments discredited. There are Would become more aware of the emotional

two possible motives for their doing so, nd psychological impact of the crime.

Or perhaps these women do not understand
The first possible motive that the accusers ‘that you cannot operate in a nirvana
may have is that they are unable to deal of separatism when you hope to reach
witly Fraya the way they are used to deal- Out to the community of women at large.
ing with others, and felt that the easiest
thing to do would be to force her out. One must not focus too narrowly on the
Both the suspended volunteers and Fraya Rape Crisis Center controversy. One must
were unwilling to put their pride aside look at the pattern which is becoming
and, for the greater good of the Center, Clear. Since January, a small group of
negotiate their differences. Instead, women has sprung up in the women's com-
the volunteers went public. Some city munity, a group of women who question the
and county officials would like nothing feminism of others and so divide them.
better than to see the women's community, These women have employed the tactic of
which had forced them to support the est- divide and conquer. Not long ago, these

ablishment of the Rape Crisis Center, same women were alerting us to the dangers
tear itself apart, They could then point of agents in our midst and the gradd juries
to the whole episode as another proof operating against feminists across the

that women just can't get anything done, country. Now they themselves are offering
And there are many others who would relish information on their sisters' private
the spectacle as well. Part of the fault conversations, ammunition given freely
lies, of course, with the manner in which into the public record. They have forgot-
the Center was established, without clear ten, if they ever knew, the foundations up-
guidelines for the director and a respons- ©n which the feminist movement was born,
ible governing body to oversee her activit-the idea of unity and sisterhood among
ies. Nevertheless, it seems incredible women. They are destroying the trust of
that the only recourse that the twelve women in each other which has taken so long
volunteers had was to go to the legisla- to grow, and without which we are once’ ..
ture. Did they consider énlisting the aid 2g@in at the mercy of the society in which
of sympathetic ‘feminists who were not we must and do live. Was this done with
directly involved in the controversy?) « malice aforethought? Speakout is the only
These women couldn't have damaged the Rape Open forum for the women's community.
Crisis Center and the women's community Will .it be-next to go?
more had they been paid to do so.

The gains made by the Rape Crisis Center,
The second motive that may be at work is With Fraya Katz and other feminists worke
that these women believe that it is futile ing for the whole women's community, can-
and indeed detrimental to establish a work-not be stressed enough. The Center has
ing relationship with city or county gov- grow from an idea in the minds of a few
ernment, that any dealings that the women's to a funded, credible, well-reputed agency
community has with "the system" are contrary which has served over one hundred women.
to "feminism", and that, for the good of This is an example of the power of women
themselves and bhe rape victims they claim working together, the power of feminist

Cont. Cont.

LETTERS :TO THE EDITOR Continued

concepts in action. It is an example of
women making the system give us what we
need, on our terms. Perhaps the dissid-
ent volunteers would like to go back to
the days of meeting in someone's living
room and reading rape reports in the news-
papers. Perhaps they want to turn the
clock back and make the women's community
in Albany the way it was in the beginning,
a small, disorganized, distrusted and
distrusting band of "radical women's lib-
bers", Yes, it was cozier in those days.
But great strides have been made since
then, Shall we throw the baby out with
the bath water? It makes one wonder
whose interests these women are serving,
with their destructive tactics and their
insular, selfish thinking. Certainly

not the interests of the women's commun-
ity.

Carol Biernacki
Susan Chelius
Tania Durbak

Maxine Krall

aK * * 7K % * %

Dear Speakout:

We would kike to clear up any miscon-
ceptions about the financial status of
the Tri City Women's Center that may
have resulted from our open letter in
your October issue and Mary Hagerup's
resposse in your November issue,

Apparently there are some misunder-
standings as a result of a statement in
our letter that pledges and donations
have "been falling off since last Novem-
ber, with the sharpest decline in contri-
butions coming in February." We agree
with Mary Hagerup that the sharpest de-
cline in contributions did not occur
until spring, although pledges and dona-
tions did begin falling off, some as
early as January.

One of our primary objectives has
been to try to generate the kind of en-
thusiasm that accompanied the reopening
of the Center last October, During the
first six months ab its new location,

Cont,

the Center received a great deal of fin-
ancial support from the women's community.
The Center's pledges and donations went
from a high of $357.00 in December, 1975
to $110.00 in June 1975, (in some cases,
women have paid a lump sam of money for
the whole year.?hese amounts have been
broken down and included as contributions

for each month, )

We are hoping that moving will once
again help to generate interest in the
Center.

We are concerned that the comparison
of Mary's bank balance with that of Oct-
ober has given the impression that funds
have been squandered. While our bank
balance of 10/75 was $850.45, this figure
alone is not accurate, as the coffee
house committee of the TCWC has $300.00
of TCC funds, which was not included
in this figure. One hundred dollars
of this is used as deed money each
month for the coffee houses, and $200.00
is a loan which they are using profitably
in selling women's records. We have also
given $120.00 to a vital, established
women's group sorely in need of funds
(a donation approved at the community
meeting in July), invested in tee shirts
and posters, and absorbed a $70,00 per
month rent increase, wJe are currently
conducting a fund raising drive, and
our present balance (not counting the
coffee house committee funds), is

$1034.27.

We apologize for any misunderstand-

ing that may have developed and we hope

to see you at the :Jomen's Center,

Sincerely,
TCC
Steering Committee
all about
women's marbiial arts center
155 Chambers St, N.Y. ,N.Y¥.10007
Phone 212/349-2449

HISTORY AND PURPOSE

The WMAC--the first full-scale center of

the martial arts for women in New York--

was founded by Susan Murdock, a black
belt in goju karate, in 1973. The pur-
pose of the Center is:

--To promote and provide martial arts
training for women both as self defen-
se and as a means to physical, spirit-
al and emotional well-being.

--fo provide assault-prevention infor-
mation for all women and to serve as
a focal point for groups fighting ag-
ainst violence toward women.

--To support and develop the Center as
a strong, independent and lasting ins-
titution that will continue to serve
the changing needs of women for many
to come.

ON-GOING CLASSES

The Center offers unique ongoing training

by qualified women insturctors in street

defense, karate, tai chi chuan and box-
ing. Classes are intimate, non-compet-
itive and highly supportive, with train-
ing geared toward the individual. ‘we
stress self-realization through the
development of strength, independence
and assertiveness. women of all ages
are welcome,

WORKSHOPS

Special in-center workshops are resuaarly

offered for members and non-menbers alike.

Among these have been a jiu-jitzu work-

shop led by Barbara Petras; and introdu-

ctory boxing workshop led by Barbara

Raichle; and several workshops in street

weapons let by Susan Murdock, Plans are

underway to offer workshops in first aid,
shatzu massage, zen meditation and many
more.

DEMONSTRATIONS AND SHOWS

Students and insturctors present fre-

quent workshops, lecture/demonstrations,

and shows outside the Center in order to
transmit assault-prevention information

to women, and to educate women on the

benefits of martial arts training. Mem-
bers have performed in several films, have
appeared on national and lecal radio and
television, and have given lecture/denon-

strations and shows throughout the U.S,

SOCIAL ACTION

Always a place for sharing information

and organizing around issues that

(gout) _;

th from 3-opn.

affect women, the Center has been esp-
ecially supportive of groups fighting
against violence toward women and aid-
ing victims of this violence.

OPEN HOUSE

Open House for women takes place at

the Center on one Sunday of every mon-
Open House features
student's photographic and art displays,
films, video, music, informal self de-~
fense demonstrations, free counselling
for victims of rape and wife abuse,
and a "country fair" to raise funds for
groups fighting against violence towar-
ds women, Admission is free. ©
NON-PROFIT PHILOSOPHY

The Center is non-pmwofit in practice
and philosophy. Because of our commit-
ment to providing training for women
regardless of financial status, the
Center has maintained an extensive work-
shop/study plan since its inception.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Susan Murdock has devoted the past six
years to personal training in the mar-
tial arts, research into the nature of
attacks on women, the evolution of a
training methodology desigsi€d to eff-

ectively aid women in breaking out of

victim patterns, and the transmission
of this knowledge to over a thousand
women, Her educational philosophy
stresses strong fighting techniques alen:
ong with the development of leadership
skills, assertiveness, strength, self-
sufficiency and pride in achievement.
She has taught classes and workshops

at the Women's Martial Arts Center,
Brooklyn College, Mother Cabrini High
School, New Jersey City State College,
Sarah Lawrence College and many more.
WANT TO HELP?

The Center welcomes your ideas, energy,
skills and financial contributions.
Particularly appreciated are office
workers to staff out phones, Experien-
ced theater workers are wanted to helo
in the production of our shows. We
welcome inspiration, information and
ideas on fund-raising, funding, and

low tost legal services. We want women
writers, artists, photographers, video
and film-makers to help record our
history-in-the-making, If you'd like
to help us, call us or write to the
above address,

WMAC

rome Be

DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS###SEE GROUP NEWS FOR DETAILS

: 's Center, 8:30 pom.
3 -- "The Performance", a play for women, Women's ‘
4 -- "The Performance", a play for women, SUNYA, call 457-6923 for
room and time.
3-5 N.O.W. - N.Y.S. Election Convention, Rochester, N.Y.
6 -- Speakout meeting, Women's Center, 6:00 p.m.

13 -- Speakout meeting, Women's Center, 6:00 p.m.
17 -— "Amazement Guaranteed", Mischief Mime; Women's Center, 8:30 pm

i i ime: how for
18 -~ "Amazement Guaranteed", Mischief Mime: holiday Ss
children and adults: Channing Hall, Unitarian Church, Albany,
£200 p.me 2 ane 6x00) pat
20 -- Speakout meeting, Women's Center, ©: Me
25 -- Christmas Party: Friends Meeting House, 727 Madison Avée,
Albany, N.Y., 1:00 pem.

Weekly Events

Monday == Women's Center Steering Committee Meetings
Tuesday -- Aid to Battered Women meetings
Weekends == Workshops at A Womants Place

O. Box 6165
Submit your news by the 15th of every month to P.O. 9
Albany, 12206, or leave news items in recepticle at the Women's
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\ Ne 4
RY ANU | a}

A Feminist TOURNAL

Qi on Ne G d
i — , } / Ir Wy iN

ee ee Ee eee a ee ee ee ee ee ee

SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL

Vol. 6 No. 1 January, 1977
Table of Contents

2-3 The Future is Female--Alexandria Douglas

3 Tri-Cities Women's Offensive

4-5 Radical Women Annual Conference: A New Era for Women Workers,
Minority Women and Lesbians=-Constance Scott

6 An Alternate Support System--Nancy Gleason

6 Another Outrage: The U. S. Supreme Court Decision on Pregnancy :
as a Disability--Alexandria Douglas

7 The Boob Tube--Helen Burgess ;

8 Thoughts on Some Aspects of the Women*s Movement--Tanya Durbak

9-14 Letters to the Editor

Cover Design by Pam Scola

Workers for this issue: Rezsin Adams, Debbie Barnes, Carol Biernacki,
Fiona Burke, Marcia Calicchia, Susan Chelius,
Joan De Micco, Alexandria Douglas, Tania Durbak,

Maxine Krall, Yvette Middleton, Carol Schillings
Sheila Tucker

The opinions expressed in Speakout's articles are those of thétr
respective authors and not necessarily those of the Speakout staff.
Speakout attempts to present the opinions of all facets of the
Feminist community in the Tri-Cities Area,

Speakout is a member of COSMEP (Committee of Small Magazine Editors and
Publishers) and is available at several bookstores in the Tri- Cities
Area. : |

Speakout is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year,
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SPE AKOUT
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"The Future is Female", some thoughts of the future of the .
_ Albany area women's community

In an attempt to conceptualize my thoughts

on the "feminist future", I have spoken with

many women about the problems that have
sprung up in the recent feminist past in
the Albany area women's community.. What.

follows may reflect the thoughts and feelings

of many, but the overriding influence is

my own. I hope that most of you will read
on, and that this article will spark enough
interest to generate further discussions

in SPEAKOUT, and everywhere in general.

It is my feeling that three of the most

important elements essential to a thriving
women's community have broken down here in
recent months: PROCESS, COMMITMENT and .

PURPOSE. And I think we will all have to
struggle to establish (or re-establish)

an atmosphere where the feminist process
can be restored if we are ever going to
move into the "feminist future" as a whole
community...

I think the feminist process must be examined

first because, if the process of working
with other women--within specific organi-
zations and as a whole community--is not
satisfying, if every woman does not feel
she is an important part of the process,
I believe whatever work we do here will
fail. No matter how worthwhile our goals,
and no matter how much time and energy we

put into our efforts.

**PROCESS: There are four basic assumptions

" " "
I think we can make about a feminist process" women's community. Today some of us

1. To make a commitment to feminism is to
actively oppose domination of any person
(or group of persons) by any other.

2. To make a commitment is to give some-
thing of ourselves to the efforts of
the women's movement-- our time, our
energy, our patience, our understan-
ding, and financial assistance (when
we can).

3. A commitment to feminism is a commit-
ment to working through conflict:

-- in our heads, because of the way we
have been programmed

-- with society (reasons obvious)

-- and with each other, because each of
us has been programmed differently,
learned to cope differently, and had
different types of advantages and
disadvantages. : a

“

4. The way we choose to work together
has everything to do with the success,
or failure, of our movement.

I believe that, if we choose to work to-
gether in ways which do not respect
our individual differences, in ways which
do not allow for equal participation of
all women, and in ways which do not allow
for open, honest methods of dealing with
our personal and political differences

of opinion, ALL WILL BE LOST. If we allow
any person or groups of persons to domi-

Mate a group, we will not have a "feminist

process". If we do not work out our dif-
ferences (or at least attempt to come to
constructive compromises) whatever
process exists will break down.

As "feminists" we reflect a whole spectrum
of political consciousness, from conser-
vative to "radical"; we come from a whole
variety of economic and ethnic backgrounds;
and we have a wide range of ways to
deal with other people. But I think it

is important that we share a notion of
"feminist process" so that we will be

able to work together in a positive and
constructive manner--even in times of
“conflict”.

*®PERSONAL COMMITMENT: I think it is

critically important that each of us who
considers herself to be a feminist make
some kind of commitment to support the |

send money, but give little of our own

time or energy; some of us give a great

deal of our time, but have little money |
to spare; some can't give time or money;

some give both. Some who could give a

little of either do not contribute to

any feminist organization...

Obviously, an important part of the de-
cision to become involved in, or contri-
bute to, an organization has to do with
the kind of process that's going on there.
No one could be expected to contribute to
an organization whose goals she couldn't
support, or whose methods were unaccep-
table to her...But the fact of OUR
women's community is that there is a
great deal of good work going on here--
but there is not a broad base of people
providing the energy for those activities.
In fact, many of the same people "overlap
that is, they are actively working in

ee a Se ee ke ee a ee SS eee

"The Future Is Female"
continued

several community activities. The result:
the burden of responsibility is not equally
shared.

and then "burn out" periodically. Others
among us have come to feel that our personal
and/or professional interests are more im-
portant than participating in the women's
community. Some will make donations some-
times; some will support the coffeehouses
and read SPEAKOUT. Others of us maintain

the attitude that we will "do what we can"
in terms of both energy and finances.

My feeling is that if each of us would move
into that last category, if we would each
make a commitment this new year to truly

do what we can for this women's community,
the community could support itself without
exacting such a heavy toll on the few....

**PURPOSE/LONG RANGE GOALS: I know of a
number of short-range goals that have been
set by various women's groups for the coming
year: relocation of the Tri-Cities Women's
Center, going into newsprint format in
SPEAKOUT, establishment of a refuge center
for battered women and their children, de-
veloping an active women's offensive, and

a coalition to monitor local school dis-
tricts' compliance with Title IX. Several

other community organizations are continuing saying

to provide (ongoing) counselling services
to women: the Rape Crisis Center, the
Counselling Collective, the Prison Project,
etc. But what are the long range goals of
the tri-cities women's community? How can
we best coordinate our efforts to become a
more vital, effective resource for women
in our area? What kinds of services should
we be offering, what kinds of programs

TRI-CITIES WOMEN'S OFFENSIVEt!tt!!

. Members of the offensive have deve-

_ loped an incredible display of the
images of women in the print medig--
it can be seen any evening at the
Tri-Cities Women's Center. Qhoe

ou've seen j ‘re
Some of us work like crazy for several years’, Bee WETS Gul you'll

ant-“to Foin “uve.

so far, the offensly. nas discussed
ealay oe Seah Se gph as a grant
ee oe: eee I slideshow (with

Pie, “UN the portrayal of
psa Ne media. We have dis-
ee Ne types of demonstrations
ee ight be effective (at local

» for example, where wet T-shirt
CoMtests are held) and we planned

O meet on Wednesday, January 5,

to brainstorm(do C-R)the many facets
of the problem. As we begin to
put our ideas together, at this
meeting and at future meetings, we
hope the "script" will begin to come
together, Eventually, we hope to
make appearances on local TV and
radio programs. :

On the national level, we
all Albany area women to join the”
boycott of Atlantic Records=--they
are the distributors of "Black and
Blue". by the Rolling Stones. In -
case you're not aware, the Stones!
album ad campaign featured a woman
bound, legs forced apart, and beaten
"I'm Black and Blue for the

Rolling Stones". COME JAN. 5 , 8PM

at the ‘Wo ‘
bt men's Center,

RRR EE SE HAE HEE HEHE HE HEE a ae Se He ae ae se a ae oe ae

"The Future is Female" conclusion

I think we must maintain the attitude that
“we are it.
working out

"We have a heavy investment in

our difficulties... Whatever

should we be doing, to help us get there??? the movement is, it is right here in this
women's community. Whatever struggles are

REKKEKKKKKKEKFEMINISM offers a broad philo- going on here, are going on everywhere.
sophical term with which EVERY person with Whatever goals we set for ourselves and

some awareness of "discrimination against

whatever means we choose to get there, are

political and personal differences with
each other.... But we alone can decide if
we will allow ourselves to become immobi-
lized (even destructive) because of our
anger, or if we will take: steps ‘to work
out our anger openly and honestly with our
sisters. I believe THIS is thé@ crux of the
current problem in the community. However,

movement will take for a long, long time
to come.

If it doesn't happen here,
it may not happen anywhere....

Alexandria Douglas

2s Rensselaer ~

"Radical Women Annual Conference:
New Era for Women Workers, Minority organizing for the rights of

Women and Lesbians"

The 1976 Radical Women Conference
held on October 9th and 10th at
the University of Washington in
Seattle called attention to the
beginning of an exciting new era
for women workers, minority women
and lesbians. Striking changes in
the revolutionary movement are
apparent in the burgeoning of
alliances between the feminist,
minority, labor and gay movemtnts,.

More than 130 people, coming from
as far as Vancouver, Be Ce and

Los Angeles, met togerther to
discuss issees facing the social-
ist feminist movement and to learn
more about the impact of Radical
Women’s (RW) program and leader-
ship role in the various movements
for social change.

The RW program stresses the leader-

ship role of women, particularly
minority and lesbian women, in
constructing a new and stronger
unity between the seperate move-
ments. One of the most difficult
hurdles facing revolutionaries in
contemporary America is the
struggle for this unity. Through-=
out this Conference, discussions
highlighted the fact that gays,
minorities, workers and women are
indeed beginning the long hard
task of providing mutual support
to each other and struggling to-
gether on issues of common concern
Conference panels emphasized three

major areas coinciding with present

developments in the movements:
"Women in the Labor Movement",
"Feminism and the Minority Woman",
and “Gays and the Class Struqgle".
RW*'s activities of the past year
were related to the source of
strength and vitality, a socialist
feminsit program that stresses

"A multi- issue approach to all
issu@See.e and a strict adherence
to the principle that the needs

of the most oppressed must be the
top priority of all the movements
for social change." (President's

A session focused on RW's union

minority and women workers. Truck
driver Guerry Hodderson pointed out.
that the unceasing battles by
feminists for affirmative action

and the rights of working women

have resulted in new opportunities
for women in the labor movement.

She noted bbhat “women are over-
coming years of isolation in the
labor movement and are taking

active leadership in their unions."
Presentations by eleven RW members
on work in their unions ranged

From Teamster and AFL-CIO unions

to United Workers Union-Independent,
an independedt union representing
low-income workers on the University
of Washington campus.

Madlyne Scott, a Black member of RW,
gave the opening speech on the
"Feminism and the Minority Woman"
panel by outlining the reasons why
very few minority women have
previously joined the women’s moveme
She pointed out that the over-
whelming male chauvinism in the
minority movements and the racist
attitudes of white middle class
reformist feminists have dis-
illusioned minority women in the pas
Now, she asserted, minority women
are beginning to veject the sexism
within the civil rights movement

and are, at the same time, confront-
ing the racism of the middle class
women's movement and demanding that
feminism be an integral part of all
liberation struggles. Panelists
reiterated that socialist feminism
provides the political solution to
the triple oppression of minority
women because it demands that no

one struqole be subordinated to
another.

In the presentation on “Gays and

the Class Struggle", Laurie Morton,
a founding member of the Union of
Sexual Minorities and longtime RW
activist, characterized the class
differences between gay organization.
which exclusively address the issues
of "respectable" white businessmen,
and radical organizations which
represent the rights of all gays.

Draft Report to the 1976 Conference)She vigorously supported a socialist

Feminist perspective for the gay

The “Women in the Labor a eer and seconded the

eee. eee
President’s Draft Report which °
states: "Radical Women’s unwaver-
ing support for the gay issue has
demonstrated that socialism and

gay liberation, class struggle
politicas and feminist humanism are
not contradictory, but rather they
are mutually supportive and inter-
connected strands of all humanity's
struggle for freedom and justice."

In the closing speech of the Con-
ference, “Perspectives for the
Coming Year", RW President
Constance Scott proposed a future
Focus for the organization's
political activities, She mate
several proposals that were
enthusiastically adopted. Con-
ference participants agreed that
the most important task is
continued support for the leader-
ship of minority women and social-
ist feminist politics in the
minority movements. RW members
pledged staunch support for gay
activism against reactionary
bourgeois gay reformism, and

For a Troubled Sister

(from Sing A Battle Song)

Make your need known
need is human
pain is woman

You are precious
to me

to the circle
to the people,
Becoming resigned to
a life without need
without silence or rest
is incorrect. A bad example
A short-sighted way.

Is this a cycle?

If so where is its door?

How do we break it,

shatter on to some new plane?

The others of us must hear your voi'
and add ours

plan strategy to defeat this

thing sapping you

and others, too,

agreed to continue to emergeticallly

build alliances between the
Feminist and labor movements.

Participants saw in the 1976
RW Conference the exciting
beginning of real unity in the
radical movements--a new solidarity
based on mutual respect for differ-
ences and the leadership of
minorities and women.
that this unity can only be sus-
tained through a theroetical
understanding of why and how the
minority, feminist, gay and labor
movements must work together
toward their common goal--a
socialist society and equality and
freedom for all oppressed people.
by Constance Scott
Seattle, Wash.

RW emphasizes

Our value is no Puritan one

of joyless labor,

but of hard work and fine life
From each according to her ability
to each according to her need

Our cures are homely things

sweet teas for the late nights
borrowed Chinese magic

digging fingers into

the black Earth

to ease mind and tire body

We must apply them seriously and
measure our progress.

We must watch out for each other be
nurture your well-being
the way we guard you from the enemy

Nothing is more important to do
than to renew,

regain your beautiful strength
which moves mountains.

August 1974

KH KEK HEHEHE HE KEE HHH HH HEH HHH KKH HHH HHH HHH HH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH HHH KKH HK HHK
A collection is being takem up for a sister who was seriously injured

in the 48A Dove St. fire.
tion will be appreciated,
especially recommended.

As she lost all belongings, any contribu-
$1 donations, clothing, and linen are
Please address contributions or questions

to Debbie Barnes, c/o Speakout, 9,0. Box 6165, Albany, NeY. 12206; or

call 489-0263,

. eee
EE ae ee eee ate ae ea ea ee ee ae

"An Alternate Support System _
Nancy Gleason aon

Although there are serious biases
directed against men and women who
choose to remain childless, women
are (naturally) the most frequent.

victims..Women have been so strongly
socialized to accept motherhood. sta-

tus they often feel guilty, unfemi-

ANOTHER OUTRAGE: The Decision‘ of
the U.S. Supreme Court on
Pregnancy as a "Disatility"

Last month the U.S. Supreme Court
(by a vote of 6-3) ruled that the
refusal of a company to pay disa-
bility benefits to pregnant em-

ployees did not constitute unlaw-
ful discrimination in violation of

nine or unsuccessful when they rejectthe Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title

this role. Traditional members of
society often consider these women
to be selfish, abnormal, immoral, |
unhappy, irresponsible, immature or
unfulfilled. It is estimated that
only 5% of all couples actually re-
main childless by choice. )

As an attempt to unify those who.
feel isolated in their decision to
forego childrearing in their lives,
the National Organization for Non-
Parents was formed in 1971. This
group consists of couples who wish
to wait before having children, or
to remain childfree. NON aims to
reduce the societal pressures which
often coerce couples into having

VII). The Court said it was not
the intention of the GE company to
discriminate against the employees
of any particular sex; companies
are not required to pay sick bene-
fits to pregnant workers unless

this was written into the union
contract.

Almost immediately, Karen DeCrow
of the National Organization for
Women issued a statement to the
effect that the ruling of the
Supreme Court constitutes a direct
attack on the American family and
on ZVERY woman in America working
ourside the home. (Most recent a-
vailable statistics on women in’ the

children. © This is achieved partially work force indicate that we make

by replacing the negative stigma up 42% of the work force in this
from non-motherhood with a positive country; and 90% of American women

and desirable status of its own. work OUTSIDE the home at some

For additional information, write in their lives).

to NON, 8 Sudbrook Lane, Baltimore, By December 15, representatives of
Md. 21208. ) women's rights groups, civil rights

Forthose who are still considering Organizations and labor unions had
the decision whether or not to have banded together to form the "Coali-
children, an unusually objective tion to End Discrimination Against
consideration is given to this issuePregnant ‘Jorkers". The coalition
in Our Bodies, Ourselves by the has pledged to work with Congress
Boston Women's Health Collective. during the next session to pass
Additional readings are also recom- legislation to make it clear that
mended in this book, which is any discrimination on the basis of
available at a discounted rate at PREGNANCY was also a discriminatory
the Tri-Cities Women's Center and practice on the basis of sex, and
at Albany and Schenectady Planned must therefore be considered illegal.
Parenthoods. Present at the coalition meeting at
the University of Pennsylvania were
HEHEHE LH HHH HHH HHH Staff from the offices of Senator
Consciousness-Raising group forming Birch Bayh, Representative Elizabeth
As soon as we can get together. Call Holtzman and outgoing Representative

Irene (477-8507 or Alex 283-1547 if Bella Abzug.

you are interested or know of anyoneyw, 4+ SPEAKOUT urge you to write to

who might be interested. your congressional representatives

LAAT E ARRIETA TCT voice your dissatisfaction with
REMEMBER THE WOMEN's CENTER this the Court's ruling...

new year!!! We are asking everyone
in the community f give a eee
or monthly pledge 50¢, 2-dollars,.or

whatever you can afford)PO Box Feb tee 12201 »

point

Alexandria Douglas
Rensselaer

ae rrr rrr

THE BOOBS TUBE

Now that the TV season has been stabil-
ized in its accustomed rut, onc can try
to analyze the changes, if any, in pro-
ducers', networks!, and advertizers! att-
itudes towards the upgrading of the char-
acters portrayed by wo:-n. It is safe to
assume that sponsors b.. ‘time on programs
that reflect the philosophy of their or-
ganizations toward the Women's Movement,
Therefore an assessment of the programs
which are broadcast could be helpful in
gauging that philosophy.

All the networks are trying mightily to
give the impression that their prime time
programs are portraying women in situations
that could be a source of pride and aspir-
ation for the Women of America, Nothing
could be further from the truth.

I agree that there are more women jud-
ges, lawyers, athletes, photographers,
MD's, etc, @n stories recently, but there
are also many more hookers, addled house-
Wives, secretaries, nurses and waitresses
than in ether years’ programs,

I could present an in-depth analysis of
each program's content but I will save
that for another time. Now, I would like:
to whet your appetite for something to
inject into your next conversation,

One distinction that I would call to
your attention is in the case of the
names of the programs themselves. Those
that feature men as the main character
have titles that ring with authority--
KOJAK--The Blue Knight--Switch--Hawaii
Five-0--Starsky and Hutch--Police Story.

On the other hand, programs that feature
women have titles that allow the viewer
a greater intimacy with the character--
Laverne and Shirley--Rhoda--Phyllis--
Maude--Alice., Why is it that a program
With a man as the central character uses
his LAST name (Delvecchio--McCleud--
Columbo--Baretta--wWelcome Back, Kotter--
Sanford and Son), and the shows with a
wemen as the main interest uses her FIRST
name? The only program where a main
character is a man and the title of the
show contains his first name is "Chico
and the Man", Chico is a Chicano whose
status is just one rung above that of a
woman and whose ethnicity and maleness
are referred to in pandering ways,

CONT

ee ae ee eg ee ee ee ge ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee see a ee ae

In cases of family-oriented programs,
titles sch as The Waltons, All in the
Family, The Jeffersons and Little House
on the Prairie are very apt, but in .
situations where male and female names
are combined, it is interesting to see
the results: Mr T and Tina--Captain
and Tennille--Tony Orlando and Dawn--
Donny and Marie--Charlie's Angels--
Sonny and Cher.

In addition, have you ever noticed
that the programs which feature char-
acters that achieve things, who live
dangerously and/or glamouroeusly, who
have high self esteem and rate high
in the esteem of others are usually
programs that feature males? (5 Million
Dollar Man--Most wWanted--Rich Man, Poor
Man. )

The shows with women as central are
usually com which set up situations
to makeftheswtmencsemeeih a childish
(read female) way. A couple of excep-
tions to the foregoing statement are
Charlie's Angels and Police Woman, but
the writers of these shows always seem
to be able to inject subtle instances

that remind viewers that the he -ines
are, after all, only women.
One example come to mind. The three

women who play the parts of Charlie's
Angels were shackled together in the
back of a crooked sherriff's car, being
driven to their doom by the sheriff and
his deputy. The women used their chains
to throttle the men in the front seat,
causing the car to careen into a field
and come to a jolting stop. with the
two men unconscious in the frent seat,
the three Angels got out of the car,
neglecting the guns and the keys to
their chains and attempted to run off
in three different directions at once
like crazed chickens. Was this a hum-

orous interlude or a basic putdown by

the writer of women's ability to act
Wisely in a crisis?

Many more instances of the entrench-
ment of chauvinistic attitudes that
still linger in prime time are sure to
occur to you, but the best example of
a program title that expresses the basic
network macho's concepts of the status
of women is the name of a program from
last season. It starred William Conrad
and was called, "Cannon}",

' Helen Burgess

a ee eee ee ae LS a ee ae ee

Thoughts on Some Aspects of the
Women's Movement -Tanya Durbak

As mentioned in the editorial statement in the December issue of SPEAKOUT,
the Rape Crisis Center controversy has certainly provoked much discussion
in the feminist community. Discussion is generally a positive phenomenon,
and, in this particular case, it has helped highlight a problem of the
feminist community in this area.

nile debating Fraya Katz's ability to direct the Rape Crisis Center,
various women, who do not know Ms. Katz, have stated that she is not a
feminist. (Katz maintains that she is one.) The reasons given for this
exclusion of Fraya Katz from feminism are varied, but most are based on
jearsay. Some people might not consider such a situation to be serious.
Tt could, perhaps be argued that Katz alienates people, and, that given

she publicity surrounding the controversy, it is not surprisi |
‘atz should be having problems. us WPEABANE - EAAEAMS «

Jnfortunately, the Situation cannot be explained away so readily; i

it seems to be symptomatic of a deeper eral a, There are aoe
women in our community, who call themselves feminists, who spend much

time questioning the feminism of others. On different occasions I have
aeard that a woman is not a feminist if she: sleeps with men; is married
to a man; is a practicing Catholic; is abrasive to other women; makes
cemarks about the sexual preference of other women; refers to women as
‘sirls"; gossips about women; wants to be a leader in a group, especially

2 group of women; or uses traditional expletives which denigrate women,

such as "son-of-a-bitch", or "bastard". (These were remarks made by va-
ejous women either directly to me, or in my presence.)

Some of the above reasons for excluding women from feminism may seem
valid to some feminists. It is disturbing, however, that these criteria
are all couched in negative terms: if you behave in a certain way, you
are not a feminist. Such pronouncements do nothing better than exclude

women; they tend to turn feminism into an exclusive club go
definite set of commandments: "Thou shalt not..." governed by a

Perhaps it would be more to the point to try to determine once more

what feminists are, instead of spending time deciding what they are not.
Veronica Geng, in an article entitled "Requiem for the Women's Movement"
(Harper's, November 1976), asserts that most women who call themselves
feminists have forgotten the reasons for the Movement's existence. They
have twisted the idea of Sisterhood from its original concept of women
working together and are now using it to quell dissent among women.

Geng sees the only possible hope for the Feminist Movement's future in
the activity of groups patterned along the lines of C-R groups. Accor-
ding to her, feminists must once again center their attention on the
basic problem of male domination. We must recognize reality, decide how
we want to change it and then work to achieve these changes. This, of
course, ,will not be easy; but it seems that if we could center our ener-
gies once more on fighting male domination, we would be less likely to
worry about the “purity" of each other's feminist credentials. And, just
perhaps, we could inject enough life into the Feminist Movement so that

it would not need any requiems. Wouldn't that be refreshing?
BE SE IE FEE SE IE SE TE SE SE TE SE SEE EE HE TEE ESE EEE SE SESE SESE IE EEE EEE EEE EEE TEE EEE EEE EE EEE HHH HHH E

EDITORIAL COMMENT: SPEAKOUT encourages women in the local
community to submit articles for future issues about
"feminism" and about "community". The opinions expressed
in Tanya's and Alex's articles represent only two of the
possible views on the current controversye We agree with
those who wrote in this month to say SPEAKOUT should not be
used for personal attack, but_we want to be an open forum.

dL ree
»LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Speakout:

A letter was included in the Dec-
ember Speakout which blatantly
insults the integrity of the sus-
pended rape crisis center counsel-
ors, and which was signed by four
community women; Carol Biernacki,
Susan Chelius, Tania Durbak and
Maxine Krall. The letter makes
response difficult because it
includes so many contradictions.
For example, it blames us for tak-
ing our problem to the legislature,
while at the same time it accuses
us of not wanting to work within
"the system". But a response is
necessary since the letter is
based on misinformation and mis-
understandings, and is dangerous
in its intent.

It's clear from the beginning of
the letter that battle lines have
been drawn. The volunteers are
called "the accusers", whereas
Fraya Katz and “other women-in the
community" are called the "“femin-
ists". Accusers versus Feminists.
The accusers are credited with
trying to destroy Fraya Katz, the
ACRCC, and the feminist community.
Quite a heavy accusation. A closer
look at the situation is needed.

Not one of the four women who sign-
ed the letter is a counselor for
the Center. Not one of the four
sat through the entire six-hour
public hearinge And not one of the
four took the initiative to talk

to any of the volunteers. No one
asked about the reasons for our
actions, or the manner in which
decisions were made. No one asked
about our own questions, concerns
or feelings. Instead insulting
motives were assiqned to us.

We did not set out to destroy Fraya
Katz. We questioned her feminism
and her administrative abilities.
This situation was known and
discussed by the feminist community
as a result of a letter sent to

all counselors by Fraya stating that
we had no right to evaluate the
director, and that the Center was ,,

not a feminist organization. We
approached Fraya first, internally,
with the support of other feminists.
This approach failed. We were
suspended and the situation became
public through Fraya Katz. (See

Knick News 9/23/76). —™

We did not set out to destroy the
ACREC,. If a director is a poor
administrator there is no reason
why her removal will bring on the
destruction of her agency. The
"system" is designed to handle such
situations. We at no time made
negative remarks about the Center.
We have every intentionof continu-
ing our support of this county agenc
And the present situation indicates
that we were right in presuming
that the Center would survive.

We did not set out to damage the
Feminist community. Those feminists
who were interested in learning
about the entire problem talked

with us, questioned us, and offered
us advice. We were able to success-
Fully work through "the system"
because of advice from other exper-
ienced women. During the public
hearing, the legislative chambers
were filled to capacity with femin-
ist supporters. And the legislative
committee was impressed by the
turnout. This hardly can be con-
strued as a damaging experience.

In their letter, the four women
accuse os of “destructive tactics"
and “insular, selfish thinking".
Why did these women launch such a
strong, personal attack on twelve
other community women? The majority
of us have no idea who these four
women are. We have never had any
personal dealings with them Why
the venomous atttack? One para-
graph in the letter makes things
Clear. This paragraph tries to
link the experiences of the vol-
unteer counselors with "a small
group of women" who have “sprung
up in the women’s community, a
group of women who question the
Feminism of others and so divide

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Continued

them." Most of us have no idea of forum for the women*s community.
what, or to whom, the writers of Will it. be-next.to oo?” Since

this letter are referring. If Durbak is a longtime Speakout ,
these four women are having a per=' editor, and since Biernacki, Chelius
sonal problem with individuals in and Krall have recently joined the

the feminist community, they should editorial staff, I would at the

be open about it. But they should’ = least think that the editing of

not use their paranoia to attack Speakout must be a tense affair thes
innocent feminists, and to confuse’ days.

other women in our community.
| Chelius has my respect and admiratic
Suspended ACRCC Counselorsas one of the founders of the Women:

Center. Katz has my respect for

= ™ = . = * * * being one of the major founders
of the Rape Crisis Center. Similar-
Dear Speakout: ly Betty Freidan is to be revered

as the mother of NOW. As movements
I was distressed to read the letter grow, politics change, and personal.

of Biernacki, Chelius, Durbak and ties clash. In the heat of anger ar
Krall in the last Speakout. To misunderstanding, things are said
side with Fraya Katz in the Rape that are better left unsaid. Cour-
Crisis Center controversy is one ageous founders who do not bow to
thing, but to say that those who the winds of change and the dilutior

did not were motivated "for the good of their power are grieviously

of themselves and the rape victims wounded, and the wounds fester,

they claim to care about" is quite

another. I don’t know how to heal the curren
| wounds in the Albany women’s com-

None of these women (or myself) has munity, and with each Speakout issu

been involved in the Rape Crisis I see them growing deeper. At the
Center, and the main thrust of their very least, however, I feel that
letter appears to be their desire Speakout should no more be used to
to share with Speakout readers vent personal differences.

their feeling that a plot is under-

Foot to undermine the women’s comm- Pauline Brundage

unity. If Biernacki, Chelius,

Durbak and Krall feel that "a small * * * * * * *

group of women has sprung up in the

women’s community" which is “destroy-

ing the trust of women in each other Dear Speakout:

which has taken so: long to grow",

if in print they “wonderwhose inter- We would like to express our concer
ests these women are serving, with over the tone and content of a
their destructive tactics and their letter in your December issue sign:
insular, selfish thinking", then whatby Chelius, Krall, Biernacki and

can they imagine thetr 26 columns Durbak. We believe their letter

of viturpation are doing? to be dangerous in its heresy and
innuendo, and a distorted picture |

In point of fact, there is only of a complex issue. We urge femini

one woman who has been both a Rape with political differences to revee

Crisis Center counselor and also those differences openly and hon-

part of the Women"s Center Steering estly to one another rather than

Committee .~ This woman plus one manipulate emotions through sugg-

other Rape Crisis Center counselor estion and insinuation. Any

are also on the Speakout staff, Feminist who has the courage and

These two apparently constitute the strength of her convictions--can

“small group of women” referred to tolerate political differences and

in the letter. The letter goes on is willing to discuss, to contrast
to say "Speakout is the only open To dae compare, and to analyze those

ny ; |

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Continued

differences fopom a feminist per-
spective, without apology. Such
shostility directed towards women,
as in the Chelius et al letter,
weakens all of us, and encourages
factionalism. We stand opposed to
such divisiveness and suggest that
the spirit of openness and honesty
prevail in the future.

The Women's Counselling
Collective Albany, New York

* * * * * * *

Dear Speakout:

At this point it should be obvious
to the readers of Speakout that
there are interpersonal problems

in the local feminist community that
are serving to divide the community
and hamper progress in the fight
against sexism in our society, The
remarks made by a small group of
women ( Biernacki, Chelius, Durbak
and Krall) in a letter €0 Speakout

last month reflect these inter-
personal problems,

We are dismayed that Speakout has
been used as a forum for personal
attack; and we hope that, in the
Future, these women--and any others-
will solve their problems on an
individual level. And that they
will not use this paper to produce
division and discord in the

Feminist community.

In Sisterhood,

Albany Area chapter of the
National Organization

for Women
December 8, 1976

* HH * * * * *

Dear Speakout:

In recent months articles have.
appeared in Speakout that we feel
are extremely detrimental to the
character and dedication of some
Feminists actively involved in the
women’s communitye We feel very
strongly that this type of under-
mining of the women*s hard and tf

long hours put into keeping the
community active and informed

only serves as a divisive and cruel
tactic.

A letter to the editor in the Dec-
ember issue of Speakout signed by
Carol Biernacki, Susan Chelius,
Tania Durbal amd Maxine Krall is

a prime example of what a small
group of women, governed by their
own perspectives of a complicated
situation, can do to undermine and
insult the integrity and dédication
of the twelve suspended Rape

Crisis Center volunteers. A very
important fact to realize foramost
in the Rape Crisis Center con-
troversy is that out of 21 volun-
teers, 12 were suspended. Any
feminist with limited enlightenment
into the situation should immediate]
understand that the problems in the
center were severe enough to come tc
a head, not a Beginning, with the
suspension of more than half of the
center's volunteers.

The Albany Women*s Prison Pro ject
would like to see Speakout continue
as a positive energy source for the
members of our community. We
Fervently hope that the personal
conflicts between or among the
members of our community can be
worked out by direct communication
and that Speakout will no longer

be used as a personal battle front.

The Albany Women's Prison Project
December 13, 1976

* * * * * * *

* Dear Speakout,

In response to the letter in Dec-
ember*s Speakout signed by Carol
Biernacki, Sue Chelius, Tania Durba'
and Maxine Krall, we would like to
State that we believe that the
controversy over the ACRCC has been
used unfairly to criticize women
who have had no association with
the Rape Crisis Center. We deplore

attempt to use this issue as a tool

to defame the character of women wh:
are in political and personal

disagreement with the letter writer:

We wholeheartedly endorse the actio

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Continued

of the 12 suspended volunteers who and Carol Glowinsky.
have behaved with integrity and ms

restraint. This endorsement comes This recent attack on the volunteers
as the result of a consensus _ is so virulent in light of the facts
reached at a Community Meeting held that one doubts that the volunteers
on December 6 and attended by over were ever their real target. The
twenty women. a letter writers imply that a small
- group of women have orchestrated an
sincerelyy wrt. ¢ effort to destroy the women's move-
TCWC Steering Committeement in Albany, that the rape crisis
| center controversy was a premed-

* * * * * % * itated part of thés plan, that
= other organizations and groups have
Dear Speakout ;: | _. already collapsed due to pressures

placed on them, and Speakout itself
I am sure that many of Speakout"s is now in danger of infiltration.

readers must have been confused The small group of women who have
and alarmed by the letter signed © Supposedly masterminded this plot
by Carol Biernacki, Sue Chelius,° are not identified, so they cannot

Tania Durbak and Maxine Krall whitch defend themselves, But I believe the:
appeared in December*s issue, Theirthe Biernacki et al letter stems
letter is an attack, not only upon from last yearf$s controversy within
the suspended volunteers of the — the steering committee of the TCWC.
Albany County Rape Crisis Center, Unable at that time to convince

but also upon many women who have’ the community that the TCWC was beinc

had no connection with the rape’ taken over by a small group of
crisis center. The letter abounds radicals, some women have been
with distortion, personal accus- Fighting a rearguard action ever

ation and factual error leaving the since, They have withdrawn their
impression that the 12 volunteers support of the women's center and
are either a cadre of feminist have encouraged their friends to do
revolutionaries bent on controlling the same. They are now using the
the Women's Movement or a group of rape crisis center!s problems to
paid government agents attempting discredit certain individuals and.
to destroy it, Further diminish the community's
support of the women's center, I
A few facts about the rape crisis am sure that this dispute issues
center should be made clear to From very real ideological differen-
everyone. It was Fraya Katz in an ces, However, it is being fought on
interview with Paul Vitello of the the level of personal attack and
Knick News who first made the dis- character assassination. If we

missal of the volunteers public, don’t all-put-our @nergies to more
Since Ms. Katz publicly criticized constructive use, there soon will
the volunteers for attempting to be no momen's center to Fight over.
organize the rape crisis center ©

along feminist lines, there is no Sincerely,

reason to believe she would have

welcomed the intrusion of members Jean Corigliano

of the feminist community to help

mediate the conflict. I believe * * * * SS
that the volunteers should be

commened for their efforts to Dear Speakout,

prevent their dispute with Fraya
from becoming a factional struggle As a member of the Women's Defense
among feminists. Many of the women Eommittee I would like to clarify
who worked with Fraya to establish some facts that were stated by

the ACRCC have publicly criticized Carol Biernacki, Susan Chelius,
her conduct as director. These Tania Durbak and Maxine Krall in
include Susan Langdon, Jean Dross ante letter to the Editor. The

Pee ee ee ee
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Continued |

“in January.

Defense Committee d not spring up
We devBloped through

a political study group and our
need to act, not just talk. We
were responsible for informing our
sisters of the dangers of agents
and grand juries. We have never

or would we ever play the game of
“divide and conquer", No member

of the WDC has offered information
to the public record of any women's
conversation.

I feel that this section of the
letter about the WDC is grossly
distorted and very misleading. It
is because of other women that

we felt the need to inform Albany
women of the tactics of agents
and grand juries, It&8& too bad
that these women have decided

to distort the information that we

shared to something as awful as
this. tgs Se |

Sincerely,

Yvette Middleton

* * * * * * *

Dear Speakout:

Although I am reluctant to re-
inforce, by responding, to Susan
Chelius* (et al) vituperations,
there are good reasons to do so,

If indeed Speakout is an “open
forum", as Chelius et al assert its
workers must insist on responsible,
aboveboard, ethical journalism

From contributors, The Chelius

et al letter is characterized by
gemeralized accusations, insinuat--
ions, oblique allusions-which
undermine and oppose the “open
Forum" “feminist" aspiration,
Reference #0 "the accusers", attack
of all expelled volunteers, gen-
eralized ethics, presumptions alsout
their ethics, motives, politics, =
etce, suggestions about their

Forum" rather than utilizing it
responsibly,

Last week a good number of women

-from Albany's women’s community

gathered at a community meeting
at the Women's Center. The
gathering was exciting because
each woman had her own voice-
the diversity, the dissent, the
rich dissonance suggested that

the women have much to share, much

to learn from one another. On

one thing : nr there was strong
agreement=-women were enraged and
offended by the Chelius et al letter
and determined to respond. And
although there was consénsus on this
issue, of course there was much
contention over exactly what action
should be taken. Women arqued,
Women exchanged. It was proper that
such dialogue occur at our Women's
Center —- where women can engage one
another in open and direct communica
tion. Dialogue and struggle are
quintessential aspects of our women’

experience. Women should goin, with
Others at the Women*s Center, in our

struggle to direct and define our
experiences

Elaine Walter
* % eas Sarre *

Dear Speakout:

I feel that I must respond to the
letter to the editor in the December
1976 issue of Speakout,.

I am in agreement that there
were errors in the management of the
center by the Board of Directors and
the Director, but my agreement with
the letter stops there,

I was saddened that the issues
had to be made public, but I also
feel that there are some women that
are impossible to work with because
they just do not desire it! Such om-
nipotence does not lead to an effect
ively run center! This type of woma
should not be a high-ranking member

subversive tactics in women's groups Of a Rape Crisis Center!

etce, are reprehensible,

conveyed only the writers’ "“indig-

The letter

I felt very strongly that the
County Rape Crisis Center had the

nation", but communicated no helpful Potential of being one of the best

information to Speakout readers,

centers in the country. I still

confounding rather than enlightening,’ ee! that we can have an excellent

enraging rather than soothing,
exploiting the so-called "open

éenter, but we desperately need

jafeminists who are truly interested

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Continued

in helping rape victims and alerting
the community to the prevention, fre-
quency and-effects of the heinous
crime.

I do not agree ie any compar-
ison should be made between the RCC
and any problems in the TCWC. I also
find it unbelievable to nonchalantly
drop the innuendo that “These women
couldn't have damaged the RCC more

had they been paid to do so." Are
the authors of said letter trying to
tell us that they actually believe
those paranoic thoughts or are they
trying to make us spend so much time
looking over our shoulders that we
won’t go forward?

Jane Stevens
* * * * * * * *
Editor:

"Thoughts of a Jewish Woman"
which appeared in the December
Speakout ended with a misleading
statement which should be clarified.

Although Judaism has been around
for.5737 years, Reform Judaism has >»
been around for only about 150 years,
It was a movement which started in
Germany, spread to other parts of
Europe, and then spread to this
country where it has flourished and
expanded. Since the Reform movement
emphasizes the teachings rather than .
the rituals, many of the practices of
the Orthodox and Conservative sects
have been abandoned,

The equal treatment of the sexes,
as described by that anonymous woman,
has evolved only in the century and
a half of the Reform movement.

Sincerely,

Fran Sheinwald

* * * * * *

Dear Speakout:

While reading last month's issue, I
came across five words which were of
great concern to me in an untitled,
un-author identified paragraph, Since
I cannot direct this letter to anyone
in particular, please accept a Letter
to the Editor in order to make women [Ye

—

media,

in the community aware that it is ,
untrue that “The YWCA is now
closed,"

The YWCA us searcbiing for a new
location which will be more
accessible, more functional, more
flexible, in order to expand our
services to women and girls. In th

interim, however, the YW is not
closed! Our regular programs are

continuing, ongoing efforts are
being made to expand community
based programming, and our energy/
enthusiasm levels are high.

7 recognize and greatly appreckate

the service Speakoutprovides to
the community of concern for women
in the tri-cities area. We are all

.too used to misinformation and

misinterpretation in the regular
but it's extremely distressi.
to encounter in our own publication
The YWCA tis always happy to clarigy
any point/program/proposal prior

to the publication of Speakout.

Sincerely,
Sheila King

Executive Director
Albany YWCA

* * *

SINGULAR INJUSTICE
I find it most peculiar that

They mock the spinster with her ca

|
But beam through sentimental fog

Each time the bachelor walks his ¢

by Janet Lloyd
* * * % * *
In the February issue of Speakout,
there will be a discussion of the
Feminist community in the Tri-
Cities area: what that community
is and means in terms of commit-
ment to feminist organizations in
this area. Speakout invites com-
ments from the women and the organ
zations that make up this feminist
community.

- oF *
C20. be. 8 Fa |S
> League of Women Voters

;, The Human Resources Committee of
the League of Women Voters will
hold a public panel discussion —
"Women In Urban Crisis" on Thurs-
day, February 3, at 8 poem.
Topics on the agenda for discussion
by the three member panel are
Violence Against Women, Women In
Need Of Public Assistance and
Homeless Women. Persons wishing to
comment about other urban problems
affecting women may do so after the
panel discussion.
The public is invited. For the lo-
cation of the panel discussion and
other information, call Barbara
Adams at 439-5693 evenings after 7,

Women's Offensive

The Women's Offensive against the
treatment of women in the media
will be meeting Wednesday, Jan, 5th
Bp.em. at the Women's Center. See

Albany Area NeGe Ws

N.O.W. meets twice monthly. The
regular business meeting willbe
held Wednesday, January 12th at

B peme On Thurdday, January 20th,
at 8 pem., there will be a pro-
gram meeting on the subject of
women and social security bene-
fits, For more information

call Ro Rosen at 438-3208.

Tri-City Women's Center

January's Community Meeting will
be a party on Monday, January 10tt
Bring goodies if you feel like it.
On January 14th, the Women's
Coffeehouse will be a poetry
reading by women from Washout
Review at 8;30 in the Women's
Center.

The Steering Committee continues
to meet every Monday night at

8 pem. The meetings are open to
every woman in the Tri-Cities

page 3 of this issue for more details. feminist community; in fact it

KKK HH HHH HHH HHH KH HHH HH KH KEK HEHKKKRKKEE

Sisterhood Is Not Magic
(from Sing a Battle Song)

Whatever did the witches do

They must have quarrelled beneath t
about how to ease the pain of
With ergot,
belladonna or
nasturtium,
And argued

taking long moonlight walks arm in arm,

About how to save the "devil's part
where to meet most safely
and best serve the peasant

And when a sister went on trial,
Jacoba for example,

Even lovers among witches

is hoped that every woman will war
to (and feel responsible for)

6 SFSGADG GYR WORED DGS TER GREE

Poem

(from Sing a Battle Sona
he stars

wounds One thing I know

all truths come close,
are never.

the final verity

What we know flows,
moves constantly

takes new shape

orows new skins

no painless births here

ys
s* needs.

Our will to resist despa
lies within
deep in those wellsprinag

must have disagreed over what would be) we touch at gem-rare

her best defense,

Disturbing a quiet constellation
in a July sky.
To some
their magic
seemed easy
But we
who often walk

in their footsteps
know better,

moments

We will grow all-ways
always reaching

toward the sun.
HHH KKK HHH HH KKK HKKHKHKKRKKHKHHKEI

Fora “copy of sing <<
Battle Song, you can sen:
290 to Inkworks
4220 Telegraph Ave.
Oakland, Calif. 946°

JANUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS****SEE GROUP NEWS FOR DETAILS

6 == Speakout will hold a very important policy meeting at 7:30 PM :
in the Women's Center :
7 -- Women's film series at Warkspace, 11 Central Ave., Albany, 8:30 ph
10 -- Community Meeting at the Women's Center is a party, 8 PM.
12 -- Ne Ose We Bisiness meeting, Women's Center 8 PM,
14 -- Coffeehouse, with poetry from Washout Review, at Women's Center,
830 PM,
20 -- Ne. OQ. W.- program meat ind, Women's. Center, 8 PM, program on
women and social security benefits, Le
Feb. 3 Albany County Women in Urban Crisis--panel discussion. Sponsorerc
by the Human Resources Committee of the Albany League of Women
Voters. For more information, call Barbara Adams, 439-5693
evenings after 7 PM, Panel discussion is at 8 PM, |

Weekly Events

Monday -=- Women's Center Steering Committee Meetings
Tuesday -= Aid to Battered Women Meetings —
Weekends == Workshops at A Woman's Place

Submit your news by the 15th of every month to ® Of. Box 6165,
Albany, 12206, or leave news items in receptacle at the Women's

Center in the Albany YWCA and remember to contribute to next month's
discussion of the feminist community.

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~ “SS

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SPEAKOUT; A FEMINIST JOURNAL

VERE. & Fesurary, 1977

Talhe ef Contents
Greup Articles

Tri-City Wemen's Center
Speakout

Aid te Battered Women

Albany Women's Prisen Pre ject
Albany Area NOW

Tri-City Wemen's Offensive
Wemen in State Government
Lesbians for Freedem

Women's Political Caucus

OOrNArROOH HE

Articles

Feward: About SPeakeut

Ferum: The Women's Liberation Movement,Which Way Ferward?
Rewiew——Debbie Barnes

On the Passing ef Anais Nin-- Alexandria Dowglas
American Wemen's Petition en Abortion

Wemen's Self Awareness—-Carel Karp Biernacki

1@ Women against Women--Carelyn Dissosway

11 RReflectioss of a Feminist Cemmunity--Yvette Middleton
13 Fighting Back--Carol Harp Biernacki

14-16 11 Veu Hee te knew about diverce--Betty Barry
16 Remembrance=—Eileen Kelly

LS Tax Law Changes
12-1% Boek Review--Celer Me Flo--Alexandria Douglas

aon aD

eo Peetry--Carol Harp Biernecki
8 Poetry--Anais Nin
17 Group News

19 Letters te the Editor

Cever Design by Pam Scola

Workers for thsi issue: Rezsin Adams, Fiona Burde, Maxine Krall,
Debbie Barnes, Alexandrea Douglas, Carel
Harp Biernacki, Yvette Middleton

The epinions expressed in Speakout's articles are those of their
respective authors and not necessarily those of the Speakout
staff. Speakout attempts to present the epinions ef all facets
ef the feminist co™munity in the Triscities Area.

Speakout is published monthly. Subscripticns are $3.5@ a year.
Single cepies are 35¢

SPE AKOUT
P.O. Bex 6165

Albany, N.Y- 42206

FOREWORD: ABOUT THIS MONTH'S SPEAKOUT

A major reason for the "Community" theme of this month's Speakout(the same
reason which led to our dartintion to co-sponsor the February 26 conference on the
issues facing the local feminist community) is that we sense s discourapice lack
of community support (energy, time, ne the work of Speakout, and
we know that a similar “energy crisis" is affecting other feminist groups in the
tri~cities area. We decided to take a close isck at our own operations and to ask
each group in the feminist area to, do, the —_— We hears that Speakout's readership
will find in these pages a description of each of. the groups and organizations
that make up the local feminist communt ty. We.asked each group to explain what their
goals are for the coming year, or what type ——— they provide; and we asked
them to talk about how they are structured, how thinca seen to "work" within the
organization, and what problems (if any) they seem to be having. Finally, we asked
them to give .a contact person's phone ijeatase ax addneas so dus angee interested in
learning more about sha ‘pegaaieatinn could do ie —— this issue of Speakout
will be a catalyst to bring iene odin into the activities of the community, and to

bring everyone together 6p the 26th of February.

FEMINIST ISSUES: A CONFERENCE... Feb. 26, 1977 _

On Saturday, February 26, there will be an all-day conference co-sponsored by
Speakout, the Tri-Cities Women’s Center, and the Albany area chapter of N.O.W. The
purpose of the conference is to reduce some of the tension which has mounted in the
feminist community as a result of controversial differences among feminists. We
hope these tensions will be alleviated through the opening of frank and sincere
communication about the issues. In addition to the resolution of personal differences,
it is hoped that the participants will develop methods and conrete ideas to build a
satisfying feminist community in the Albany area over the next year. ANYONE who
wishes to influence the direction of the community is urged to attend.

The confeeence will be held at the Albany Public High School from 10 AM to
approximately 6:30 PM and will include a half-hour break for lunch. The structure
will consist of a brief introduction; three workshops to be run concurrently for
three consecutive sessions of an hour and a half each. Thus every participant will
be able to attend all three workshops but in the order of her own choice. After the
workshops, there will -be two hours for processing and the discussion of the comnu-
nity's future. The areas of conflict which were chosen for the workshops are class
conflicts, sexual preference and feminism, and motherhood in the feminist community.

A contribution of 25¢ per person will be requested to cover the cost of pub-
licity. Child care will be provided, though children will be asked to bring toys
to share if possible. For additional information, call the Tri-Cities Women's
Center Monday through Thursday, 6-16 PM at 449-9991.

We hope to see everyone there.

Tit TRI-CITY wOkeN'’S CENTER

The Tri-City women's Center

is currently in a period of
transition. After over a year
at the YwCA, the center will
nave to move again due to

the sale of the Y building

to the county. 50, of course,
the highest priority at the
women's center right now is

to find a new place and several

women have been s qeggtne-
poet 1s fas also brought
a revival of enthusiasm at
the center. ‘the women who
are searching for a new place
are hoping that the new women's
center will have a storefront
and a highly visible location.
which should certainly effect
changes in tne usenand potent-
ial of the center.

There are plans for
operatig a store at the
new center which will carry
a variety of feminist books,
records, etc. including
especially those that are
not usually abailable in this
area. (Aopefully,this store
will also contribute to the
center's eventually becoming
becoming self-supporting. )
in Addaitehay twexwomenvarends:
alreadypreparing:acspeakers
series for the coming year.
we are hoping to have feminists
of various perspectives speak-
ing on a wide rea.e of topics.
this should not only promote
provocative discussions
within our community, but
should also provide another
source of funds for the. center

And, of course the twice month--.

ly egffeehouses and possibly
will continue.

Jnile money remains a
crucialproblem, there is a
positive feelings that the +t
TGwoS can and may become self-

with a successful store,speakers

series, coffechouses and

possibly an Ulivia distibuter-

ship (the vomen's Center would
2

become tne locel distributor
of wlivia recores to ares

a percentage of each record sold).
thus, donations and pledges coild
be used for expansion of programs.
until this becomes a reality,
other fundraising will continue
such as the rummege sale being
held at the 8th Step Coffeehouse
in the First Fresbyterian Church
on february 4th and 5th(i1:00-
6:00)

So with idesa and energy runn-
ing high these days, there is a
lot of confidence that even the
lonz-ranged goals for the center
(such as buying a building and
opening a school) will eventually
‘be accimplished. Kecent steering
committee meetings have been well
attended,spirited,and efficient.
Certainly this is encouraging
aiter a somewhat depressing period
this fall. a vital women's Center
must not only be a center for comm-
unication among feminists in this
coimmunity but it must also provide
feminists new to this area and
women new to feminism witha means
of setting involved in feminist
activities. «nd obviously ,maxi-
mum participation froin the femin-
ist community is neccessary. ‘The
steering committee meets every
wonday at 8:00. ivery woman who

‘attends is a member. (If you

can't make the meetings but want
to become involved,call Jean at
463-7330). so try to come. The
feminist community is on the ver-
se of a renaissance.

The 1C.ic Steering Committee

63 Se SN es

WILL Ls iP PORU::

In triday,dJanuary 21,the Social-

ist workers iarty “Picercé ‘a spe

akers' forwn on the future prosp--
ects for the women's i.ovement.
eatured speakers were RoRosen
for Albsny it,Diane shur for the
~OClalist workers farty, and ).ar-
Cia Calicchia,a local feminist
activist.
no hosen gave a lensthy

presentation detailing the recent
progress as well as the setbacks

of the Jomen's iovement. Diane
(cont. on pagel?)

tiles -.
record stores an@ would receive 4

aoe

SPEAKOUT

Speakout is a local feminist journal which
is now in its sixth year of publication.
Our purpose is to provide Capital District
feminists with a consistent source of news
about feminist issues, to publicize acti-
vities of local feminist groups, and to
provide a forum for our readership to
explore internal/external developments in
the feminist movement. We are a small, low-
budget operation; our readership is about
500.

Speakout is available by subscription for
$3.50 a year (11 issues). The last page of
every issue includes a coupon which can be
used to subscribe. We are carried by se-
veral local libraries or you can purchase
a copy at the Women's Center, the SUNY
bookstore, the Albany or Schenectady YWCAs,
the STORE, or the RPI bookstore.

Over the years the staff of Speakout has
changed; a variety of structures has been
tried; and a few people who had taken time

off have returned. We remain a loosely knit.

coalition of feminists who are dedicated to
Speakout as a means of reaching a broad
community.

We are seeking to involve more
women in the operations of Speakout in the
months to come because all of us are very
anxious to improve both the format and the
content of the publication. We NEED artic-
les, book reviews, and poetry; we need
women to agree to “write-up” local events
which will be of interest to feminists; we
need each of the local feminist groups to
send in “group news" each month; and we
need women who are willing to make a re-
gular commitment of time and energy for
our monthly stapling and collating efforts.
If any women in the community are able to
give financial support, we need that too.
But most importantly, we need community
support and involvement.

Several months ago a large group
of women assembled at the Women's Center
to discuss Speakout going into newsprint,
improving our reporting techniques, and
getting into investigative reporting;
several of our newer members have joined
with these objectives in mind. But we know
none of these can happen without broad-
based community support, a larger staff,
and an improved financial situation......
So our main goals for the new year are

1) to improve the overall quality of Y

Speakout in its present, low-budget in-

carnation; and 2) to re-activate commu-
nity interest and support for Speakout.
In the months to come we anticipate
more individual and “group” involvement,
and we weloome everyone to join with us.

Please call if you would like any
more information about any aspect of
Speakout: Yvette 434-0571, Maxine 765-
2862.

AID TO BATTERED WOMEN, Inc.

Aid to Battered Women is a not-for-
profit organization established in this
area to provide counseling, ad legal
advocacy services to women who have been
physically abused or battered by their
husbands or the men with whom they are
living. We are also attempting to educate
the community; we have proposed legisla-
tion to be enacted by the State legisla-
ture; and we are seeking funding to
secure and operate a safe shelter for w.
women and their children if they need a
place to stay while they restructure
their lives.

Last year we drafted State legisla-
tion to establish such a center, but it
did not pass. This year we are hoping to
be successful in our efforts to secure
funding. We have received a grant from

‘the Quakers to do §@uéaébional work in
the community and we. hope to print a

brochure in the near future. We hope to
put on a Conference about battered women
this year, but in the meantime we are
accepting calls referred to us by REFER
SWITCHBOARD (434-1202).

A.B.W. is a small group of women and
men who meet every Tuesday night at 8 PM
in the Women's Center. We feel it is very
important for us to maintain a feminist
perspective and organization. We are
anxious to work with other people who
share our concerns and would like to
work with us in any of the following
capacities: counseling, grant writing,
lobbying, brochure writing, research,
public relations, etc. .

If you would like more information
about the work of Aid to Battered Women,
or if you think you might like to join
us, please call Marylu (456-1327) or Al
(449-5120).

ALBANY WOMEN'S PRISON PROJECT

The Albay Women's Prison
Project is a group of women
who offer services and courses
to the women at the Albany
County Jail. Some of the cour-
ses are health, poetry, therapy,
and law. We also offer help in
finding jobs, housing and sch
ools, also we help women apply
for Public Assistance and Food
Stampse

Any feminist is invited who
would like to join AWPP may.We
are in desperate need for more
wemen to wrk at the jail, se
that we may expmd our program
to five afternoons a week. Wno=
men interested in joining she
euld call Yvette at 434-0574,

We have started a bail fund
so that we may help women who
can't afford bail. We need
money in order to do this, if
you'd like to contribute, you
can send checks to Paula Corey
Albany Women's Prison Project
275 State Ste Albmy, N.Y. —
14210.

We also have another fund
which we started last year for
miséelaneous things like gas
money, pocket money for women
coming out as they get no mon-
ey when they leave the jail.

We need money, energy, and cars.
We receive no grant money; our
only source of money is our
own and donations. We have one
car between five women so we
are constantly borrowing cars
to go to the jail. If you'd
like to donate money, energy
er acar either call the above
number or write the above
addresse

SEIS SE TESS SE Le Te TE TG TE EE Ee TES

PREGNANCY DISABIZITY iki?
AVAILABLE NO.

~ The State Division of
Human Rishts is offering a fact
-form kit" of instructions 9n
how to zo about collectons preg-
nancy disability benefits man-
dated by a Court of Apveals
rulinz in December. If interest-
ed call 474-2795 in Albany and
ask them to mail you one. 5

ON WHE PASSING OF ANAIo NIN
(JANUARY 14, 1977) _

Somewhere near the middle
of one of my hardest winters,
1972, I: had the opportunity to
hear Anais Nin give a lecture on
women, In The Arts at skidmore
College in Saratosa. Like many
others who rambled through "The
Diaries of Anais Win". I felt
strangely comfortable with the
tiny woman speaking at the podi-
un. Ihe honefulness of her words
and streneth of her quiet pre-
scence raised my spirits for a
long, long, time.

I remenber that Nin spoke
about being swept into bohemian

‘life in Paris during her highly

impressionable twenties and the

‘terror. she experienced in finding

that people actually took Hii
“ork seriously!!! she was a dancer,

| an artists' mode;, an "earth mo-

ther" for any number of Paris
intellectuals. she formed a close
allegiance with Henry Miller dur-
ing this period and marveled at
his harshness toward anything
romantic and sentimental-- all
her work was so tuned in to the
sensual and tender nature of
people.

Nin fled Paris at the start
of the second world war. She hel-
ned smugrle others books out of
France and becane alert in
osychoanalysis-- as student-
therapist as well as "te the pa-
tient role. Nin was forever being
told she was "not objective" in
therapy, as she was criticized
for a"lack of objectivity” in
her work-- too pretty’: unreal:
feminine!! weak!!. she always
wanted to intercede, she said,
"to make things right." And she *
bore the scars of her years of
literary Criticisn.

That night in Saratoga she
stood before us and quietly told
us never to let anyone force
"their objectivity" on us, and
that women would need to be esp-
ecially strong and courageous if
we wanted to take ourselves ser-
iously as artists. she felt we
women will always be stronger for

“ee - * e. as
aah oem ee On’ pace eee

N . 0 . We

The National Organization for ‘omen in
Albany has been in existence for six years.
It began in much the same way as National
NOW, out of the anguish and impatience of
a group of women who were surrounded by
injustice and frustrated in their attempts
to work through other channels. Its by-
word has been and continues to be action.
It seems to have a dual image in that it
is considered conservative-establishment
by some, and radical fringe by others.

The stated goal of NOW at all levels is
equality in a humane society for all.
The fact of life however is that half of
humanity does not enjoy equality but suff-
ers at the hands of those in power on all
fronts-economic, educational, and social.
In her State of the Union mesage, Karen
DeCrow forces us to confront this real-
ity.- It-is.an.outrage. On.the local
level, Albany NOW is mounting. the follow-
ing specific programs to work for change:

1. Through its Task Force on Education
Albany NOW is monitoring implementation
of Title IX; serving as a resource to
local school districts in combatting
sexism and implementing Title IX; + develop-

script) which we could present to local
school and community ¢roups.

Like most other groups Albany NOW is
chronically short of money and often
short of people: and time. ‘Among our
members, however, we,do not lack for
talent. . We are diverse in our back-
grounds, and our work, though somewhat
homogeneous in our’ lifestyles. A member
survey, conducted about a year ago; re-
vealed that we were generally women who
worked outside the home, who had none or
few children, who were predeninstely
heterosexual,

ra) 5 "8

As an organization we are rather loose-~
ly--structured; there is not a great deal
of gontinuity. As members change, the
specific ¢oals and directions of the «
group change-=but-yery little is left
unfinished. Our ‘effectiveness is a fun-
ction of the personalities and drive of
our individual’ members. To the extent
that individual erfergy and committment
lag, our activities lag. But this does
not.happen often, We manage again and
again to rally, What we seek to accom-
phish requires a degree of effort and-

ing curriculum materials on the accomplish- committment which cannot be sustained by

ments of women; offering public informat-
ion programs on sexism in the schools.

2. Individual members have formed Aid to
Battered Women, Inc. which is working to
raise public awareness of this problem;
counselling women in heed of help; plan-
ning for the establishment of a refuge
center ultimately. — :

3. A public information conference on

Homemakers is planned for the spring. ie

many for too long,

There are dues for each of the three
levels of NOU:

State. and $7. _ for the local chac eee:

‘le need new members.

$15 for National, $5 for

(MemherShip in National is required to

become a card carrying NOW member...)
Because we realize it's a lot of money,
NOW has a policy of lowering dues for
anyone who wishes to join, but can't
afford the full $7.50.

We need to r@ise

hope to bring together speakers on social money to support our activities, but

security, job training, volunteerism and
other areas of concem to women who work
at home.

4, We are developing a strong lobby ef-
fort for a legislative program which in-
cludes guaranteeing women the right to
choose, job training and counselling
for displaced homemakers, divorce law
reform, more child care programs, protect-

ing the rights of rape victims, non-disc- *

rimination protection on the basis of
sexual preference.

5. We are just beginning to develop a
task force project on the image of women
in the media and advertising. The focus
of our attention right now is on develop-

ment of .a traveling slideshow (with /

CONT

Corinne Williams at 455~1327..
cerely hope you will join us.

more importantly, we need PHOPLE to make
things happen,

“~

For ad@itional information -contact.-
We ‘sin-

Rosemarie Rosen

a8 3 x * ** * * K x x

Any womon instrested in doing
childcare for the February
Conference, Feminist Issues: A
Conference, should contact
Yvette at 434-0571. We are
ek to pay a moderate

ee.
THE TRI-CITIES WOMEN'S OFFENSIVE

The Women's Offensive is one of the
newest groups in the tri-cities feminist
community; we have only been in existence
two months. However our group has already
undergone some changes in emphasis and
personnel--changes which probably reflect
the changing priorities and mood if the
local feminist community.

he original aim of the offensive
was to equip every feminist in the commu-
nity with stamps and labels saying “offen-
sive to women" and turn ourselves loose on
the local media and business establish. --
ments involved in sexist advertising,
reporting, and business practices. We all
agreed it was important to establish com-
munications lines so we could mobilize
for demonstrations and “offensive” cam-
paigns at a moment"s notice.

Unfortunately the first demonstra-
tion we planned never took place--the
restaurant in question went out of business
all by itself. Members of the group were
less enthusiastic about taking on the
local bars which sponsor wet T~shirt con-
tests, so we agreed to postpone demon-
strations til something more pressing
came up. It was decided instead to con-
centrate on developing posters, pamphlets
and speeches about the offensive images of
women in the media. One member suggested
we sponsor a conference later in the year,
but this suggestion has not yet been
acted upon.

As we said, personnel are changing.
Many of the women who were working with us
initially have found they are aiready
stretching their time and energy to capa-
city by working on Women's Center projects.
We know we can count on the whole commu-
nity when a demonstration is planned, but
we need more women to get involved in the
week-to-week activities of the offensive
which are now in progress:

All women are encouraged to order
stamps (mentioned above) and to become a
member of the ongoing activities of the
offensive, if you can. Meetings to plan
actions and develop materials for comnu-
nity consciousness-raising are happening
every few weeks. Please call Jane (462-
3576), Cathy (273-0929) or Alex (283-1547)
if you would like more information.

WOMEN IN STATE GOVERNMENT

WISG is an ongoing, formally struc-
tured informational, educational and
mutually supportive association of women
who work on all levels of New York State
government. WISG was founded on the
following principles:

-Women shall be treated with dignity and
respected for their humanity

-Women shall have equal access to career
opportunities

-Women shall have responsibilities com-
mensurate with their job titles

-Women shall have salaries commensurate
with their job responsibilities

-Ability to do the job shall be the
prime criteria for employment

~Affirmative action consistent with the
above principles will be realized in New
York State government.

Women comprise about 44% of the

State work force. However, about 80% of
these women are Grade 12 or under (as
compared with about 53% of the men). Re-
gardless of proven job effectiveness, ta-
lents or capabilities, most of these
women will never have the opportunity to
compete for management training (Grade 13)
or management level positions. Rather than
ability, Civil Service requires four years

of college to even compete for these po-
sitions.

For the minority of professional
women, there is another impediment. They
are not members of a phenomenon known as
the ‘‘club"’. The club is the comradeship
between white male professionals. The
club meets on the golf course, on the
tennis court, or in the men's room. "Club"
members extend promotional opportunities
and provide "inside" information to one
another thah can make or break careers.

WISG is working women facing the
same problems you face, you are invited. to
contact a WISG representative anytime,
about anything. WISG will listen, advise,
and provide personei assistance. If war-
ranted, WISG will help document and pub-
licize problems. WISG offers courses,
speakers, and informational meetings that
can be helpful to you throughout your
working life. And WISG will offer personal
help to any woman in state government
who contacts us. To join WISG call
Carmela Triolo 474-6580, 9-5 weekdays.

RKKKAKKK ER ARR KK KEKE ERE KEKE KEREKREREREREEEER Pag are $5 per year for those who wish

ora

to join. WISG is anxious to hear from
all women in state government who support
the need for this kind of organization.
ll eeeeeeseo7

LFF WOMEN'S SELF A. ARENZSS
Lesbians For Freedom is a Women's Self-Awareness is a
S.U.N.Y.A. based social group C-R group operating under the
that meets on Thursday nights at umbrella of the First Unitarian
8 pm in the Patroon Lounge inside Church in Albany. The group which

the campus center. All women inter- is over four years old meets
ested in coming to our meetings are weekly. It is a closed group

welcome any week, whether enrolled structured along traditional C-R
in the university or not. lines. Its focus is self-explo-
eat L.F.F. feel that sharing ration and support within the
experiences aids our growth and group. If enough women are inter-

increases our awareness. ested a second group may be
Bonnie Settlewoman started. For more information
BREESE call: sue Richardsn432-5066.

AMERICAN .OMEN'S PETITION ee

ON ABORTION FREE PHONE LISTING
Two Tri-City women were among FOR HUSBANDS

those who signed a petition in the ‘ .

New York Times demanding that By state order married

abortion remain legal. The petition Couples may now get the name of

which appeared Sunday, January 2°, both husband and wife listed

protested the proposed ban on the - free in the New York Telephine

use of Federal funds to pay for Directory. If you and your spouse

abortion. ; have the same last name, that is.
Among the signers were Sara MES EEEE

Catlin, a social worker in Troy, and
Margaret McBride Stewart, a SUNYA
biologist living in Voorheeesvillte.
The petition urged women to
fight attempts to overturn the 197”

Supreme Court order which ruled Foregoing. Hegel ony, veit
that abortion should be a decision knowing Calvin too well
between a woman and her physician. , : .
If the ban against Federal funds tonight I kiss -... °,
was implemented, women on medical the sister I know best
assistance would be forced to resort _
once again to self-induced, or dan- A free woman | a
gerous, Clandestine abortions. Only she sloens with the revolution
middleclass or upper class women | _ er *
would be able to have self-procedur-- turnin no! ans then ~
eS. ” 7 Pa E
: to feel the arm spot on the bed
If you wish to add your name °
to the petition, or make a contri-~ turning now and then
bution towards the circulation of to find herself
the petition, write American .omen's .
Petition, National Abortion Council turned right side out.

6 Lake Drive, Huguenot, NY 12746,

‘omen interested in lobbying
or more information should write
The National Abortion Rights Action

Teague 706 7th St St Mashinton DC...
fUIN CONTINUED MARAE HH QC
with OUP rears a‘so many men ar3°>-
afraid to do, "'e must never be-_ ~
come like men," she said. That was
the one thing she feared musn't .
happen as a result of the feminst ANAIS NIN
movement. "They must begome Like.us." ¥
Pee Cre lB 7 aN “ON Douglas

Carol Harp Biernacki

"I learned to choose
the heightened moments

because they are the
moments of revelation."

WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS

The Women's Political Caucus
is a multipartisan organization
ef women frem all backgrounds
ecenemic levels and political
concernse Its purpese is te
previde suppert and training te
those whe are cemmitted to
greater participatien hy women
in all levels ef gevrrnment.

The Albany Ceunty Wemen'ts
Political Caucus was formed in
1971 and is affiliated with the
National and State caucus organ=
izatiens. The specific geals
and activities ef the Albany Cau-
cus are tos
-- elect women to public office
-- increase the number of women

appointed to responsible posi-

tions in the executive branches

of government and in political
parties

--lobby for and develop legislation

on women's issues
--train and assist women to be

politically effective
--encourage women to participate

in all levels of government and

politics
--raising women's issues in cam-

paigns and at all levels of

government

The activities of the Albany
Women's Political Caucus are fa-
cilitated by a Sterring Committee
composed of Chairwoman, Treasurer,
Public Relations Person, Recorder,
Corresponder, General Member, and
the Chairwomen of two Standing
Committees on Political Action and
Affirmative Action and Outreach.

During the past year most
Caucus members were heavily invol-

ved in a major political campaign--

Bella Abzug's race for the Senate.
Her narrow loss in the primary is
an enormous loss to women all over
the country, but especially in New
York. There has not been a woman
in the Senate since Margaret Chase
smith in 1972.

The first annual Issues Confer-
ence of the New York State Women's

The speakers and panel partici-
pamts included a woman legislator
from the State of Maryland, as
well as many women appointed to
positions in New York State go-
vernment.

_ Other annual activities include

1) a reception early during the
State Legislative Session to ho
nor the women legislators. This
year the reception will be held
February 8, from 8-10 PM, Obser-
vation Deck,Tower Building in the
Empire State Plaza.

2) lobbying during the entire
legislative session in Albany in
conjunction with efforts of the
New York State Women's Lobby for
legislation of concern to women.

The major focus for the coming
months will be to actively seek
qualified women to run for local
office. A workshop will be held
for women who may want to run
with problems such as how to file
for candidacy to organize and run
a campaign.

Membership in the Women's
Political Caucus is open to all
women regardless of race, age,
political affiliation, national
origin, sexual orientation, re-
ligion, economic status, or ma-

.rital status. Annual dues are $15

a year. The Albany Women's Poli-
tical Caucus plans to make a
Special effort this year to en-
courage new membership or to renew
members who have been inactive in
recent years.

For more information about any
of the Caucus’ activities and/or
how to join the organization,
please feel free to contact Donna
Rosen: 196 Jay Street, Albany, NY
12210. 434-6608 eves, or 474-3642.

SENATE COMMITTEE STRIKES DOWN
STAFFORD BILL to PROVIDE COUNSEL
FOR RAPE VICTIMS DURING QUES-
TIONING. Tuesday, January 25,
the Senate Codes committee de-
feated a bill which would have
permitted a rape victim to be
represented by counsel to protect

Political Caucus was held in Albany her rights concerning "prior

in October. The theme, "Women in
the Economy" was of great interest

cq Sexual conduct". The chairman said

it would be "disruptive".

THE WOMEN'S COUNSELING COLLECTIVE

When a SpeakOut member asked me to
write about the WCC she asked me to focus
on a number of issues: how the WCC func-
tions; how the WCC views the feminist
community here and vice versa; how the
WCC views its impact on women in general.
The WCC is a collective and it is impor-
tant for the reader to know that due to
SpeakOut's deadlire I have been unable
to get a collective ok on this article.
The thoughts expressed reflect my pers-
pective as an individual member of the
WCC, and I am responsible for what fol-
lows. I believe that any discussion of
the JCC must begin with an examination
of our Statement of Purpose. I refer
the reader to a former issue of SpeakQOut
for a detailed explanation of ‘ICC politics.
This is an important document in that it
sets forth a clear, concise list of oub
assumptions, from a feminist perspective,
of one clearly defined oppressive inst-
itution--the mental health industry-- and
its impact on women, in particular. Fron
this base we have draim up a list of goals
for the Women's Counseling Collective
(feminist counseling, i.e., nonhierarchal
peer counseling), for the members of the
WCC (Collectively workirg together around
a clearly defined set of feminist goals),
and for our clients (a space where they
can examine and define their lives in a
supportive atmosphere).

We are a collective. I believe the
ICC works because: (1) we have clearly
identified one oppressor off women;
(2) we have created a tool (non-hierarchal
feminist counseling) in opposition to the
oppressor; (3) we have agreed upon shared
coals; (4) we believe a non-hierarchal
structure strengthens the project by
ensuring that each individual member is
responsible and accountable; (5) we
believe that criticism/self-criticisa
further strengthens our bond. The WCC
has been in existance for the last three
years, We are open approximately 15 hours
a week, Last year we saw approximately
200 women; made countless phone referals
to women lawyers and doctors; we're there,
by phone, for scores of lonely, frightened
women; we're the central information point
for all feminist activities; we opened
an office at the Whitney Young Health
Center; saw 90% of our clients for free,

CONT / O

I see us as a valuable feminist pro-
ject, a model of collectivity, an
example of feminist politics in action,
and a tool for outreach to all women.

Paula Corey

| ae * > 4 * ok * 4 4 *

WOMEN AGAINST WOMEN

Albany women have been through a
painful public conflict. If anyone
doubts that the image of women as
docile is unrealistic they just have-
n't been listening.

For as long as humans have recorded
the events whch were important in
our lives we have recorded our con-
flicts with each other. The men who
believed Jesus was the Messiah didn't
describe Him as always patient or
incapable of anger, Remember that
scene when He drove the sacrificaal
animals out of the temple and upset
the tables of the money changers?

Or that seemingly irrational cursing
of a fig tree that didn't bear fruit
out of season?

Now that the public knows, and we
too know, that women are not pressed
out of a cake decorator's tube (recog-
niZing, as fact, that we will not
change anyone tery much) we should be
able to try dealing with our internal
conflicts in a more productive way.

Communication is difficult. Frankly,
I find it easier to discuss differences
of opinion and facts with a man who
is opposed to changes in the female
status quo (or who yearns for the good,
for men, old days) than to talk over
conflicts among other feminists. Be-
cause I'm reluctant to hurt a person
who may already be sufferkng I find
communication more difficult when it
is a personal-one-to-one conflict,
It is hard to risk. letting a person
I'm in conflict with know where I'm
vulnerable, Yet I think such honesty
may be needed if we are to solte our
intemal. conflicts,

Carolyn Dissosway
KR kkk kee ok

TS a ee

REPLECTIONS
COMMULITY
nen I think of us,the
feminists of the Yri-City area,
forming a comaunity I don't see
an utopian community. Instead
I see a community where feitinists
of different political beliefs
unite. to meet common goals.
Looking at us now, I see
us struggling individually or in
small groups for many of the same

ON a PELINIST

things. I'm not saying that we
have all the same goals; I'm

saying that we do have some com--
mon goals Those common goals
would be alot eaiser to reach if
we united and shared ourselves
instead of moving in separate
directions for the same things
There's so much to be done that

can't be done unless we unite
to -d0: it.

8° *

a ee od

are so many thinss
that need our united strength in
order to suceed. Our center,
the Tri-Gity iJomen's Center needs
our support. The center is

for all feminists in this area.
I see the center providing space
for what we want to do a:zd need
to do in order to continue our
srowthas feminists. but the
building only provides space.

in order for it to be more than
space, it needs our energy.

It needs us to staff it,clean
it,plan events to take place in
it and it needs us to turn it
into space for womin:where womin
Poan come for whatever they need.
+ererrals,discussion, books,info-
rmation,recreation,etc. The
center should be the center of
the community. when someone
comes to or calls the center she
should be able to find whatever
she needs from C.K. temporary
housing. This can't happen wz.
until we have a united community
that will support our center.
Our center needs our ener y

in order to survive.

Another example is Speakout.
speakout has been published in
the Tri- City area for over
five years. During that
time ,womin have commited their
time and energies to put out
Speakout. wopeakout,like our
center is being continued &

—

center is being continued by

a small group of womin,without
Support of an united feminist
colimtnity. Speakout is supposed
to be the forum of the feminist
community. The focus of speakout
should be the things that we as
members of the community feel -e
important This can not be done
if Speakout is not informed on
what's happening in the community.
If Speakout is not informed then
how is it,the only feminist
jourmal in the Tri- City area,
supposed to inform the womin whose
only connection tothe community

is their subscription to Speakout?
opeakout needs our support in order
to become the forum of the femin-
ist community.

Those were just two examples
of what we,as an united community
can do. I see us do ng so much
more @nce we're united. If we're
united,I see us supporting not
only our center and Speakout, but
also the feminists who choose to
support tiemselves by their art.
music or writing.

solidarity for the community
should be our f.rst goal. In "r
order to acheive this we must be-
gin to talk openly at our meetings
forums and in our sroups.
very womon should voice shat
she feels separates the community .
It's time for us t: bring to
the open what for so long we've
only discussed amone our friends.
we should keep the ideas and
thoughts that we get from these
discussions and bring them
with us to the Feburary 26
conference. (See preceding
article)

_— =

LOCAL FEMINIST ARTIST'S WORK ON
EXHIBIT?!

Connie Dodge, a member of the
local feminist community, is having
an exhibit of her "assemblages"
at the Arts Center in Albany.

The Arts Center is located at 1069

New Scotland Avenue, Holy Names

Campus. The exhibit will run thru
February 10.

WOMEN BOOKS

COLOR ME FLO: My Hard Life and Good Times
by Florynce Rae Kennedy. Englewood Cliffs,
N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1976. (paperback
only, $4.95)

Since the day in 1967 when Flo Kennedy
stormed the stage at an anti-war conven-
tion in Montreal because they wouldn't
let Bobby Seale speak, Flo has been
storming college campuses, black power
conventions and feminist rallies to
speak about racism, sexism, and the all
pervasive "pathology of oppression” that
affects us all. Flo Kennedy has earned

a reputation for outrageous metaphors,
mind-blowing candor, a piercing wit, and
incisive analysis of contemporary poli-
tical movements. Recently the press in
this country dubbed her “radicalism's
rudest mouth", but to leave it at that
is to do this woman a great injustice:
Flo Kennedy is a streetfighter, a hustler,
a theoretician, and a catalyst for
thought AND action.

Color Me Flo is autobiographical
to the extent that she gives the reader
some background on her childhood in
Kansas City, her coming to New York City
in the 40's ("de-niggerization and re-
niggerization'), her fight to get admitted
to Columbia Law School (they tried to
"explain" to her she was being rejected
because she was a woman, not because she
was black!!), and her realization once
she had fought her way in that the law
was used as a tool to "maintain the
bullshit" rather than to bring about
social change. Eventually Flo Kennedy
decided to give up the practice of law,
and that's the real story behind Color
Me Flo.It's about the radicalization of
a black woman who was raised to believe
she didn't have to take any shit from
anybody and discovered that working
within the system, especially the legal
system of this country, amounted to
collaboration.

During her days as a practicing
attorney in New York City, Flo Kennedy
was to defend Billie Holiday and to handl
the estate of Charlie Parker, both of
whom were highly exploitable by the
music publishing and recording companies
because of their addictions. According to
Flo, her work on these two cases taught
her more than she was ready for about
corruption in government and business--

and the powerlessness of individuals Wors

king alone to combat an oppressive system.
In the mid sixties Flo set up the
Media Workshop with friends in New York
City, and she began to devote her ener-
gies to opposition of the war in Vietnam
and racism in the media. Following an
arrest during a sit-in at CBS executive
offices, Flo outraged the court by refusing
to act as attorney for the demonstrators,
explaining to the judge that in order to
get "equal justice” the group would need
a $75,000 attorney equal to the one retained
by CBS!! Eventually, after a few days of
political theater in the courtroom, the
Media Workshop groups was acquitted (Flo
is convinced CBS had had enough and with-
drew the complaint). But the event marked
a new era for Flo Kennedy--her outrageous
style of political consciousness-raising
had been born.

Flo says she doesn't know anybody
that has more fun than she does, and she
thinks the way she lives is the very best
way anybody can live. She says she never
stops to womder why she's not like other
people...only why other people aren't like
her! Flo believes that a life without risk
is NOT living, and that people (even the
"sood people’) who are not “into social
change'' are collaborators. Politically,

she often compares racism to a cancer
and sexism to a bad toothache; but the
focus of her activism is directed at both
movements, and she has become most out-
spoken lately about the pathology of oppres-
sion itself: the way members of an opp-
ressed group respond to their own op-
pression yich may perpetuatethat oppression.

The fundamental premise of the
"pathology of oppression" is that it cannot
exist without the consent of the oppressed.
Certainly withdrawal of our consent is at
the heart of all liberation movements that
have ever existed. However, certain patterns
of response to oppressive situations,
patterns which Flo calls “pathological”,
are frequently found among members of op-
pressed groups. She calls them denial,
dumping, horizontal hostility, nigger-
nobility and niggerization; she says all

eof them come from a low sense of self-

esteem, and all of them, in any combination,
can lead to the “circularity of oppression’.
Typically, according to Flo, oppressed
people deny their oppression. They may
adopt a stance of suffering in silence
(nigger-nobility) or they may try to "suck
up’ to the oppressors for a slightly im-
proved chance at survival, or a slightly

PIGHIING BACK: A
WOMEN! >“: ORKSHOP

I have been to many workshops
on the opyression of women in the
twelve years I have been formally
fighting back. At some of then, I
met women I loved; at some of th
them, I got freat ideas, new stren-
gth; at some of them, I got very
angry, or proud, or joyous, or
organized. At some, the women work-
ed together in all their beautiful
diversity of life styles and poli-
hice:

On December 13, I attended an
all-day workshop where it happened
all at once. '.ithout a second
thoush, I know this was the best
gathering of women I have ever
been a part of. All the joy, and
strength, and creativity, and anger
were working together azainst the
shit we've all experienced as wo-
men.

The workshop was sponsored by
the Re-ivaluation Counseling com-
munity. At nine we met collectively
to discuss the history of oppressien
ion against women. e sat on the
floor hand in hand, or holdins each
other, and reviewed \.omen's tot.

»@ used this time to clarify our
thinking on how it sot to be this
way (3ee Shit and ‘:omen's Lot above)

Then one woman worked on her
feelings as a child who had encoun-
tered a molester. she used counsel-
ing techniques to discharse the
stored up feelings of fuilt and
fear which had resulted from the
experience. she reenacted the sit-
uation with the helnv of another
counselor, expressing her rage
against the molester, physically
fighting back while verbally being
very assertive. :

Around the room, women were
free to let out their restimylated
anger, or fear. Tears and sobs
flowed, but so did the cheers when
the remembered "child" shouted at
the molester that he would never
hurt any little girl. It was very

powerful.

rs ro eres

Re BVeluation Counseling is a
peer counseling technique. An in-
dividual is always both client and
counselor in turn,

Gont. [3

Throughout the day we used
counseling techniques
attention out so we could focus
on the direction of the workshop.

“e used one

set at whatever we
dually working on.

to one sessions to >
were indivi-
The house 27

set out

rocked with the wonderful sounds
of women letting the anger and

fear out, and building the stren-

eth we all naturally have.

soup for
lunch, and afterwards broke up
into caucuses which ere decided
upon by the total fproup.
dies, working Class

e Class Women, Lesbi-
and Spir-

.e@ made

were: Our Bo
“omen, fiiddl

communal

an omen, Young ‘.omen,

ituality. In the cau.us

ded the time

feelings as
woman from

They ~ :2

we divi-

equally, each woman
Speaking and discharging their

they choos

One

each sroup prepared a

written report; we save the re-
ports arn in arn.
The area newsletter,

way, Will have
these reports

rite Alison Lamb 144
Albany, NY 12210 15¢ a copy.

By the time we met fora «c
le, the direction

closing cire
was clear.

nc arainst oppression
. are not victims

by the

full-copies of
in the next issue.

Lancaster

and we refuse to allow anyone to

treat us that way. ‘ie
loving women, powerful

My Love

all so well,

support to the

are

strong

women.
to the women who
xpressed the Goddessness of us
my tenderness and

women doing t'ai

tchi on the frozen lake covered
With snow behind the house. liy
appreciation to everyone who

made it pos

Sible, Barb
Bunni, Geors

ette. To

~
Las
Mer

gllie 9

Tor

her strength. Janet for her joy.
sue for her great co-counseling.

And power to all little girls who
will never let their

raped afain.

Carol Harp

Sisters be

Biernacki

2 +
“e
nee ee,

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
DIVORCE LAWS by Betty Berry
(reprinted with permission from

NY Yomensweek, 11/29/76)

Once again a revision of divorce
laws is being considered by the

New York State legislature. Once
again, married women whose very
lives and future will be deter-
mined by the legislature, are un-
informed about the existing matri-
monial laws and unaware of proposed
changes.

PROPERTY. Most women are vaguely
aware that in 1966-67 a New York
divorce reform law was passed which
made it possible to get a divorce
on @¥ounds other than adultery.
This was a major breakthrough in
New York law. But most women are
not aware that the discriminatory
financial aspects of divorce re-
mained unchanged. This is because
women's work ~ in the home, and
in child rearing, is not recognized
in terms of monetary value. We all
know that a wife is not paid di-
rectly, but as long as the marriage
is working reasonably well, she
usually has access to what she
needs. The most significant way
the lack of recognition for the
homemaker's services shows up is
in the handling of property upon
divorce. Unless the woman (or de-
pendent spouse) actually has her
name on the title of the property,
house, bank accounts, car, stock,
etc., She does not receive it, or
half of it upon divorce. Whoever
earned the money and bought the
property owns it, unless it can

be proven it was a gift or inheri-
ted.

The idea that property is owned
equally in marriage by both spou-
ses, and that it is divided equally
between the spouses upon divorce,
is probably the most common mis-
conception of New York's married
women. The sober fact is that no
judge--no matter how well inten-
tioned he or she is--or no matter
how deserving the dependent home-
maker--can divide the assets of
the marriage other than the way
the law states. (NY is one of only
10 states where this is true) It
will require a new law by the NYS
legislature to make division of iy

of the property possible. The bill
discussed at the public hearing
(S.9076/A.11555), otherwise known
as the Blumenthal-Burrows Bill,
addressed itself to this problem.
Among other things, the Bill would
permit the judge to divide the
assets of the marriage equitably,
taking into account a number of
guidelines, including the contri-
bution of the homemaker to the
marriage. The word "equitably" is
misleading--this does not mean
equally or in half--this is up to
the judge's discretion. The Bill's
wording allows the judge to take
into account any fault on the part
of the spouse such as adultery or
misconduct and punish the spouse
by withholding property. However,
the male/female double standard

is visible here because the man

is not being punished for for
having an affair, or being abusive,
by having to pay more.

Another bill sponsored by
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried,
which was based on the experience
of divorced women, calls for the
equal division of the property.

This way the decision would not

be left up to the judge, and per-
sons getting divorced would know
they were entitled to half of the
assets of the marriage.

ALIMONY. Alimony in New York has
been traditionally granted to the
homemaker, not on the Wasis of
merit, but to keep her from be-
coming a public charge. Since she
was not receiving any of the ca-
pital of the marriage, she had to
be given some money to keep her
afloat before she hopefully re-
married and became someone else's
responsibility.

The trend now, as expressed
in the Blumenthal Bill, is to grant
alimony on the basis of need just
until the woman can become self-
Supporting. Many persons feel this
concept is unrealistic and unfair,
particularly to the older depen-
dent homemaker and to the mother
with young children.

Because alimony has a nega-
tive connotation, various legisla-
tures including New York have re-
named it maintenance or allowance,

DIVORC# LAWS (cont'd)

Some women have argued such pay-
ments should be called entitlement/
They point out that to be given an
allowance puts one in the category
of a child, and to be put on main-
tenance implies the category of
being a "motoy vehicle"! Entitle-
ment makes payments after divorce

a dignified method for women to
receive what they earned through
years of unpaid service. It is also

a term of wide usage in computing
financial benefits.

COUNSELING CENTERS. NY divorces
average about 5,000 a month and a
high percentage of these ex-wives
are being thrust back into the la-
bor market to sink or swim. The
remarriage rate for divorced women,
never as high as for divorced men,
is decreasing. Women want to find
meaningful work but’ if they are
older they know. they will face
discrimination and that their
skills need to be evaluated and
translated into not only the po-
tentiality but the actuality of a
specific job. Service centers and
support systems must be established
to guide the divorced woman or
displaced homemaker back into the
market. The Bill under considera-
tion does not mention this, which
is at the heart of the divorce
readjustment. Supplemental legisla-
tion, such as the Displaced Home-
maker bill, wich provides for re-
training, must be enacted as a

companion to any divorce reform
bill.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. The present
law in NY requires persons to dis-
close their financial assets for

a period of three years prior to

a contested divorce. Persons sign-
ing a separation agreement should
also have the advantage of this
provision, unless both parties
waive it.

INSURANCE. Alimony ceases upon the
death of the supporting ex-spouse,.
The Blumenthal Bill would permit
the judge to order the husband to
take out a life insurance policy

at the time of the divorce which
would provide for the ex-spouse [=

after his death. The court is not
allowed to do this under the pre-

Sent law, depriving some women of
necessary protection,

CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT. Young
mothers feel the financial effects
of divorce keenly. The assumption
again 1S that thgy will go to work
to help support the children, and
indeed, due to the problems of
child support enforcement they ie:
have had little choice. The de-
Sirability of placing this double
burden on mothers with young
children should be carefully
weighed. % A provision for auto-
matic payment of child support

and enforcement should be a legi-
Slative priority. This could take
the form, if payments are late,

of providing for future wage as-
Signment automatically, without
going through the present tangle
and delay of legal procedures,

CHILD SUPPORT AFTER PARENT'S
DEATH. Unless voluntarily contrac-

ted for, child support and alimony
both cease upon the death of the

Supporting ex-spouse in New York.
A bill should be passed permitting
the Surrogate to provide a support

order for the child out of the
estate.

CHILD SNATCHING. An ever present
problem is that of failure of one
parent to return the child after

a visitation. Frequently the child
iS removed to another state. All
States need to pass the Uniform
Child Custody Act, which would

make it easier to retrieve the
child.

HEALTH AND MEDICAL INSURANCE. Upon
divorce, group policies do not
cover the ex-spouse, although by
law NY insurance companies must
offer the option to convert to an
individual policy. Unfortunately,
the premiums are much higher and
the coverage much smalter than the
previous policy. In these days of
soaring medical costs this is a
real hardship on women, and re-
medial legislation is needed.
ih Bi DRANG

Anais Win died January 14.
Fraised by feninists for her "wo-
man's point of view,” and known
by the general public primarily
for her diaries, her death dimin
nishes me.

Occasionally someone crosses
into our lives whose impact is
profound. aAnais iin was such a
person. -

rerhaps fifteen years aso, 1
spent the day in h#r Greenwich
Village apartment. Then a woman
of sixty, her face and form and
movement suzsested half that age.

Only har conversation of the
days in faris indicated an older
person.

after dropping out of high
school, she began a varied czureer
dancer, psychoanalyst, writer.
Because no publisher would take
her novels, she bwught a hand-
operated printing press, set the
type herself and turned out the
pages of her bboks. The books

which is inscribed "For uileen
nelly--the end of the novels--
with friendship. Anais iin.” I
treasure it as I treasured her.
Life is not quite the same. lI
shall miss her.
Bileen selly |
DIVORCE LAWS (conclusion)
ARBITRATION. Tne Bill under dis-
cussien weuld put all the respen-
Sibility fer awarding property,
alimeny and child suppert en the
judge. This requires the ceurt te
be an expert in many areas arid
eften decisiens have te be made
under great time pressures. There
is alse a lack ef censistency ameng
judges on decisiens.

wea do we be

The cause ef justice and the

future well-being ef those invelved
in the diverce weuld be better
served, if prefessienals such as
career and financial counselers s
sat dewn with the family and helped
them plan the future fer each in-

are works of beauty-- of a quality dividual after divorce. These fin-

no commercial publisher would
produce. Une of my copies has
Ian ugo etchings set into the
book. It is a remarkable volume.

ier strength-- dealing with
the abandonment by her father
(at age eleven, the beginning
of her diary); moving to the
United States and learning a new
language and culture; facing un-
inspiring teachers and choosing.
to drop out; working with Utto
Rank both in therapy and as a
subsequent apprenticeship; bypass
ing the publishers to reach an
audience; surviving experiences
too personal for me to repeat--
such strength is a model for all
feminists.

but there is something more.
anais Min was a Kind and generous
person. As a young writer. she
had approached Djuna barnes and
had been rejectec.. Ferhaps from
that encounter, pernaps f om ot-
her experiences, Anais i.in vowed
to nurture others. She asked
me to write for her, to share
what I would. :

One of the books she gave me
was seduction of the i.iinotaur lo

dings would then be translated by
a lawyer into the necessary legal
procedures. Arbitration er a simi-

lar panel system sheuld be enceu-
raged.

COST OF LIVING. In spite of the
freat increase in inflatien, per-
sons whe signed separation agree-
“—Ments years age find they are cast
in bronze. The result is persens
net being paid the equivalent in
monetary value that they originally

_agreed te. The September, 1968 del-

lar is teday werth 59¢ accerding
to the Bureau ef Laber Statistics.
The law sheuld be flexible enough

tn previde fer a review cof old
agreements.

EDUCATION. Anvene applying fer
either a marriage license er a di-
vorce sheuld be furnished a cepy ef

the NY matrimonial law in plain
Eriglishs.« «»

-Fhis.ceming sessien, women have the

Opportunity te get the kind ef di-
vorce legislation they need. It is
net necessary to accept bills that
de net meet eur needs. WRITE OR

CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR OR ASSEMBLY

PERSON. Discuss th ; :
your friends. ese issues with

NEW COURSES AT THE YWCA

The TCA of Albany is sponsoring a num-
ber of courses which began the last week
of January. we regret that this infor-
mation was not available for the January
issue. However, late registration is
accepted. A few of the offerings are:
Belly Dancing, Beginning Guitar, Law
avery Lay Person Should Know, Auto Mech-
anics--Mondays; Self-defense, Yoga,
Stained Glass, Quilting--Tuesdays;
Assertiveness Training, Masonry, Yoga,
Drama Fun, Magic--Wednesdays; Human Sex-
uality Workshop, Weight Control, Assert-
liveness Training, Crafts Workshop--Thrus-
days; Adult Grooming--Fridays; Ballet ahd
Girls’ (11-15) Gymnastics--Saturdays.
These courses are meeting once a week for
8 to 10 weeks and cost from $22.00 to
$30.00 depending on the course. The loc-
ations vary between the YWCA at 55 Steuben
St. in Albany, the CDPC at 75 South Lake
St. in Albany and the Colonie Community
Center at 1553 Central Avenue, Colonie,
For More complete information regarding

these and other courses, call Nell Stokes

The YWCA of Albany is also sponsoring
four lectures in February and March. On
February 17,, there will be a lecture on
Women and Alcoholism at 7:30 at the YJCA
in Albany. On February 22nd there will
be a lecture on Family Planning at 7:30
at CDPC (75 South Lake St.). A lecture
on RAPE will be presented at the YWCA on
March 15th. The final lecture will be
given on Parent Uffectiveness Training by
Anne Bryan on March 19th at 7:30 at the
YWCA. For Additional information, Call
Nell Stokes at 449.7184,

* * * * x * *

to
a8

ART RESOURCE OPEN TO WOMEN, INC.

Seven women have established a beginn-
ing foundation for an alternative educa-
tion program, resource center, and exhi-
bit space. This unique community will
provide for the development of communica-
tion skills to allow women to learn to
connect with and draw upon their ow per-
sonal experiences, thereby using the arts
by raising consciousness, inviting dia-
logue and transforming culture,

Cont

| +

AROW CONT

AROW needs members and contributors
with creative ideas, innovative direct-
ions, and supportive commitment to
actively participate in the develop-
ment and maintenance of the center,

Je need to share women's culture with
the community. Je need you - come to
an open meeting:

Monday, January 17, 1977 = 7:30pm
343 State Street, 4th Floor Studio
Corner of Broadway and State
Above Apex Music Store
Schenectady, N.Y.

For additional information call
AROW: 345-5101
453-58 54

* * * 1 a x *s *

MEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS OF ALBANY

The :Jomen's Political Caucus of Albany
County will hold its meeting to elect
officers on Wednesday, February 2, 1977,
at 3pm at the \lomen's Center in Albany.
No nominations for members of the
Steering Committee were received by
mail prior to the deadline. Nominations
can be made during the meeting. In
accordance with the bylaws, 20% of the
membership or fourteen members will be
needed to constitute a quorum for elec-
tions. Please try to attend the meet-
ing. Without your continued support,
the Caucus cannot continue to function.

The Caucus is inviting area women to
a recption for the women of the NYS
Legislature, The reception will be held
on the Observation Deck, Tower Building,
Empire State Plaza, on Tuesday, Feb. 8th
at Spm. There will be refreshments
and a donation of $3.00 will be asked.
For further information contact:
Corinne Powe 474-4623 daytime

Charlene LaGrange 434-3664 evenings

A raffle for Bella's hat will be held.
The tickets are $1.00 each and may be
purchased from any Caucus member,

* ** * aK *K 3 *k * XK
WOMENBOOKS :

Color Me Flo

larger piece of the pie (niggerization).
Each of these methods of “responding is
a form of collaboration, according to Flo,
because Consent has not been withdrawn.

Then there is the group of ‘patho-
logical’ behaviors which can result in
misplaced or misguided energy:

* horizontal-hostility: Flo Kennedy
makes the statement in this book that
"Women are not necessarily good people.’
She goes on to say, ‘I've never thought
that oppression makes people better; op-
pression is not good for you. Women are
sneaky and hostile, and oppressive; they
beat up their kids, they scream at the %u:
butcher, they mistreat their parents-~
they're just as pathological as anyone
else.'’ In all honesty, I flinched at these
statements. But I can accept the argument
that OPPRESSION frequently creates con-
ditions in which the oppresee turns her/
his anger and frustration on other--often
equally powerless persons, rather than
focussing anger on the source of the
oppressive situation.

* dumping: those people who find a ra-
tionale for denial in the fact that they
have been the victim of an oppressive
woman, say, and reason that this person
is oppressive and therefore women are
oppressive too,are engaging in dumping;
an activity which frequently leads to a
failure to examine the roots of the
woman's anger.

Where oppressed individuals are responding
“pathologically”, that is, becoming in-
volved in any of these activities which
tend to focus energy and HOSTILITY away
from the institutiongwhich oppress, Flo
sees the task at hand for activists in

the community as refoccussing the anger
upward.

Flo Kennedy has always made it quite
clear that she is not speaking for or to
the women who are happy with the status
quo. "Silence is collaboration," she says.
And “rape without struggle is no rape.

It's just a bad screw."

Flo describes herself as a fragile
“middle-aged colored lady with a fused
spine and three feet of intestines missing”
but she's also quick to say she's a hustler
who loves to “kick ass’. I think her
latest hustle, Color tie Flo will both de-
light and inspire every reader--whethet*
you're a veteran or a new recruit to the
battle field of social change. (A.D)

“CAREER EMPLOYMENT PROBLEM:
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Speakout,

Hi} I'm a cabdriver. I would
like to tell you what happened
to me whnn I applied for a
job with an insurance company
in our areade

The interviewer: told me that
the aptitude test I had to take
was designed for male applicants.
Women usually do poorly and I
was not to worrye

A few of the questions I was
asked were: How much money have
you made in the last year? How
much money have you made in tre
last two years? How much money
have you made in the last five
years? How much tax did you pay
last year? How much money are
you bringing home monthly now?
What are your living expenses
per month? Do you enjoy reading
about technology? Do you enjoy
reading about math or science?
ELCs

According to a recent news.
cast, men get higher salaries
than women, so these questions
about my personal income bother
mee It is an invasion of privacy
and a way of discriminating
against women.

I've had many jobs in which
I had to relate with people:
selling, working in hospitals,

a nursing home, homes for the
handicapped, bartending and even
exotic dancing. I've had many
jobse I'was looking forward to

a life long career.

My score on tthe male-oriented
aptitude test, by the way, was
too low~-I didn't get the jobDe

ee sarah Hook
FE SE AE AE 4 5 36 9k eH HE Oe HE HE EE HE SE HE HE BE IE 9 98 96 36 56 96 58 GE aE EE

_ The March issue of Speakout
will be late coming out. It will
only contain group news and
poetry, so that we may have
some time to discuss policy and
our goals for next year.

at ee eee ;
be dS oe oe Sh Sf. &f, 2 a a
ri 3 IW IW WG “ov FH Hf So 4S 3h HEE ay 9%,

Be PTE ES HE ee EEE HE Ob SE
Don't forget the Women's Centers'
rummage sale February 4-5. Our
center needs our support:

A *

LETTER TO SPEAKOUT

Dear SpeakOut;

Adrienne Rich is a great poet and a
feminist, and as such is important to
me; as a feminist and as a writer,
however, I was deeply disappointed in
her appearance at SUNY last month.

Many women tho have been in male-run
workshops have had their work met with
barely disguised contempt or hostility.
While you suspect (with good reason)
that the reaction is political, part
of you is undermined. After all, he
is established and experienced, and
maybe you're just bad. I and other
women I've spoken to went to the
"Jorkshop" expecting to work...we did
not. At the very least, the event was
misrepresented. ils. Rich discussed
only two poems during the long session,
and neither poem was read or provided
for the participants (they were not
ones we could reasonably be expected
to know). Furthermore, both were by
male peets: Wallace Stevens and Imamu
Amiri Baraka, who she persisted in
calling LeRoi Jones. The discussion
was so general as to be of interest
to the nonspecialists...this was
neither the time not the place for that,

My time that morning would have been
better spent reading Adrienne Rich's
poetry. I think the time is past when
constructive criticism should be seen
as disloyalty, and the invoking of a
double standard "support for a sister,"
We were badly let down.

Ellen Perrault

* 4 * * % * * *

TAX LA. CHANGLS

Before filing your income tax this
year please check the new provisions
of the code. Many are a benefit to
women,

Child-Care Costs: A tax credit for
children under 15, can be claimed by
the parent. It is 20% of actual employ-
ment related expenses, with a maximum
of $400 for one dependent and $800 for
two or more, ilarried couples, with
one working part time or is a full-time
student may claim this credit if they
file a joint return.

Pensions for Housewites: Women who
do not work outside the home may set up
Individual Retirement Accounts if their
working spouses have one.

Alimony and Child Support: Alimony
is deductible from gross income which
permits both a deduction for alimony and
the standard deduction. A non-custodial
parent can claim a dependency exemption
only if he/she provides at least $1200
for each child and the custodial parent
does not contribute more,

Office in the Home: office costs can only

be deducted if it is used exclusively
and regularly for that purpose.

If you have any questions, booklets on
various tax subjects are available for
purchase from the IRS. Become familiar
with the changes they may benefit your
pocketbook/ jeans pants pocket this year.

* SH Bn * * * * * oe *
MILITANT FURUE:
(cont. from p. 3)

vhur discussed the need for an

alliance between the socialists

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NEEDED

and feminists.

liarcia Calicchia

Called for the maintenance of an

SpeakOut has been privy to some in-
formation that demands to be passed
on to the cowmunity.

Legislatures of Albany County need to
be told in no uncertain terms that
the Rape Crisis Center in Albany is
anecessity. ‘Jord has it that they

autonomous radical women's move-
ment which could give limited co-
Operation to the socialist move-
ment as well as other social ac-
tion groups.

There was discussion after the

Speeches. I sensed a consensus

will dilly-dally around for a little
while and then defund it.
\Irite please to your Legislature.

HE FE AE IESE BIE BIS TIS OE OK DICE BE DIK FIC IS DIS DIS FE OIE OK DIE 2 DIS IK 2k 2] 3K aie 2is 248 2k

that all social action groups c
could benefit greatly from at
least a cautious acceptance of
each other and cooperative efforts

| 9 around certain critical issues.
** FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS# ‘ae SEE GROUP NEWS FOR DETAIL Ssseeit:

g=—- Women's Pelitical Caucus$; Wemen'ts Center; 8:00 P.M,

4,5-- Rummage Sale spensored by the Tri-Cities Women's Center;
11;00-6;00; 8th Step Coffeeheuse

7e---= Community Meeting , Discussion of Women's Center and its
goals over the next years; Women's Center; 8:00P.M.

Qa ——— NOW ETING; Women*s Center; 7:30 P.M.

10---Speakout structure meeting; Wemen's Centers; 6:30

16=---Wemen's Offensive; Wemen's Center; 8:09 P.M.

RO---Feminist Issues: A Conference; Albany High Scheol 10;0086:00

Weekly Events

Monday -- Wemen's Center Steering Committee Meetings
Tuesday == Aid to Battered Women meetings
Weekends == Workshops at A Woman's Place

Submit news by the 15th of every month to P.O. Box 6165, Albany,
12206, er leave news items in receptacle at the Women's Center
in the Albany Y.W.C.A.

BULK RATE

SUBSCRIBE TO SPZAKOUT US POSTAGE PAID

eth per ver PERMIT #12
end coupon to:

SPEAKOUT ALBANY, NY
PO BOX 6165 THIRD CLASS

ALBANY, NEW YORK 12206

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY, STATE ZIP CODE

If you are planning a change of

address, please notify Speakout.
It will not be forwarded and we

must pay for copies returned. Fileen Kelly
Check box when sending in coupon: 98 S. Pine i
___New Sub. _ Address Change Albany, NY 1220

Renewal of Subscription

~ &
MARCH 1977

ALBANY, Mo We

t
et Ve
&

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 1 The New Women's Center Yvette Middleton
Page 2 Untitled Poem Susan Fantl

Page 3-4-5 Poetry Katharyn Machan AAL
Page 6 Lesbian Defense Fund

Page 7 Notices

Page 8 Group News

Page 9 March Calender of Events

SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL MARCH, 1977

Cover Design by Carol Schillinger

Workers for this issue: Cheryl Shenkle, Rezsin Adams, Fiona Burde, Maxine
Krall, Yvette Middleton, Alexandria Douglas,
Carol Biemacki, Tanya Durbak

The opinions expressed in Speakout's articles are those of their respective ~
authors and not necessarily those of the Speakout staff, Speakout attempts
to present the opinions of all facets of the feminist community in the
Tri-Cities Area,

Speakout is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 per year.
Single copies are 35¢.

SPEAKOUT
P.O. Box 5165
Albany, N.Y, 12206
We made a total of $340.
at our Rummage Sale, that was
held on February 4&5. Thanx
to all the veople who
made it possible with their
donations,energy, and purchases.
Our special thanx to the people
at the Eighth Step Cpffeehouse,
for their donation of space.

We're moving the weekend
of March 11. Our new location
is 132 Central Avenue. It's
located between Lwxington Avenue
and Robin Street, right across
the street form Woolworths.
Help is needed for the move;
we need cars,trucks, vans and
women to move all of our stuff
from the old center to the new
center. The Women's Counselling
Collective and Speakout will
be moving with the center.
The phone numbers for the center
and the collective will stay
the same, the centers number
is 449-9991, and the collectives
number is 462-6739.

Plans for the new center
ar2 being discussed at Steering
Committee Meetings. The Steering
Committee meets at the center
every Monday night at 8. Any
woman is welcome at the meetings.

Our main concern is making
the center self-supporting.
Therefore we are discussing
Opening vpa bookstore. The
bookstore would carry reminist
books, non-sexist children's
books and women's music. We
need the communities suggestions
and energy in order for the
bookstore to suceed. Fundraising
plans for the store along with
suggestions for the store will
be discussed as soon as we've
settled in at our new home.

Another way to self-support
is a bi-monthly rummage sale.
We will be holding one the week-

-TRI_ --CITY WOMEN'S CENTER NEWS

end after the Grand Opening.
Donations may be brought t6
the new center or can be pickec
up. If you'd like to donate

-something but have no way of

getting it to the center, call
the center,449-9991.

On Friday March 25, at
8:30, there will be a Grand
Opening Party at the new center.
Come and see the new center.

For now the center will
be open at the old hours Monday-
Thursday nights, 6:00 - 10:00.
All events scheduled at the old
will take place at the new
center. We Will keep these
hours until we have wnough
people to eXpamd the times.

Women cone support your center.
Help mold our new home to what
we want it to be. Call the
cneter at 449-9991 for infromat-
ion.

We're looking for a logo for

the center. Anyone with an

idea should contact the center
Or a member of the Steering
Committee.
KRKEKEKKKKEKKKKKRKRRE RK RKRKKRRKERREKEKEKE

Mercy House, a temporary shelter
for women will be opening some-
time in April. Mercy House will
be located at 12 St. Joseph's
Terrace. Runways, women recently
released form institutions and
any Other women who have no
available relatives or resources
may stay at Mercy House.

Mercy House is in need of
the following things: blankets,
pillows,linen,sleepware,clothes,
soap,towels, typewriters, smoke-
dector,non-perishable foodsamd
volunteers for plumbing,painting,
cleaning,secretarial and fund-
raising. Instrested people
should conatct Sr. Ross Marie
Marrantino at 434-3531.

Once

she might never have noticed.

Lost. The savage
thrust.
No thought to consequence.

That was another age.
Six millenia separate
that first shecreature
lips agape

feeling

what no other female
of any species
knew--her own special
ecstasy.

On and on it goes.
Once you start her

she calls

for more and more.

Is this improvement

or cruel benefit?

In this day and age
they call it hunger.
Grab you with her nether
teeth she will.

On guard! She'll suck
everything

right out. They growl
and cuff at us.

Shut us up

tight as clams

and beat us till our soft
parts show

forced and torn

and wishing for no more.
Call us pliable,

Call us docile.

Call us rapacious

if our anger shows.

I have hard muscles

up and dowm my back.
They move in sequence
beautiful and taut

like waves like hands.
They carry me. I didn’t
float here. I did not
recline my whole life

on my back like some
forgotten whisper.

POETRY
by Susan Fantl

10/27/75

Poetry con't
page 3

Now that I ride

that furry beast

between us. Now that I go
at will all soft and hard
by turns. Calling you
your name and answering. |
I can't forget

the history of my tenderness.
I can't help noticing

the thrust the consequence,
Careful how you

make your way inme. .

I am done with lying. down.
hungry and unfull,.

* * 2 * ek ot ae.

ANOTHER DREAIt

Last night I dreamed of a tambourine.
I have never owned one.
It played in the hands of a ‘wonan
dressed in blue

standing in a field of dandelions,

I think the tambourine was red,

with small silver cimbals.

and it played and it played,

music I created

but could not hear.

And the woman smiled with crimson lips, —

her feet dancing,
dancing in the yellow weeds.

FEE EAE TEE EEE EEE OEE TE EE SEE EE EE IESE Eb inh ciedichablniscin’ Ve te Te IE ERR ERE

POH TRY SUBNI3 3TONS:

- Katharyn Machan Aal

All poetry and fiction submitted
for publication should include a

stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Please make certain the postag e
is sufficent forthe weight of
the envelope. All submissions
Will be acknowledged within 38-

10 weeks. Speakout also accepts
poetry journals, quarterlys,
broadsides for review. All such
items submitted will be donated
to the .omen's Center.

site ae ee

Poetry by
Katharyn Machan Aal

THE SIN

And man saw light.

And his beady brown eyes
wrinkled into tight little slits
and his wet red face

pinched,

and he cried.

And his sister looked on

and knew that although

she was but a few seconds older,
hers would always be the burden.
And she soothed,

and this was taken as weakness,
and from then on

she was held as inferior,
female,

woman,

And man forgot the fruit of the womb
and made God in his image,
male,

man,

and worshipped Him,
And woman was wife
and mother

and midwife

and lady-in-waiting,
while man was husband
and father

and doctor

and knight.

And woman fell victim
to her womb,

chained to it by
man's pleasure

and man's children
and man's assurance
that this was how

it was supposed to be,
for wasn't God

a man?

And man discovered and invented
and built and wrote

and painted and expanded
Cont page 5

and exploited and Civilized,
and woman was allowed to help him
sometimes.

And man became priest |
and forgave,

And woman became nun
and served,

For wasn't God-

male?

And this duality continued

on and on and On, .

and whenever woman questioned it.

man never forgot to remind her

that it was so

because she had first

sinned,

and this sin had been man's downfall,

and then one day

woman questioned and would not.
be put off,

and she said

WHY

so many times |

so loud . ,

and then WHY NOT

even more times

even louder

that man could no longer
quell her, ;

And God watched

in the everywhereness

and smiled.

For now the world realized
that if the first-born

had not heard the call of the snake .
and kicked out to the light,

the children would have gone on
eating fruit .

in unfulfilled darkness

forever, |

THE SIN Cont

LESBIAN DEFENSE FUND

I am a lesbian mother being sued for custody of my five year old daughter. She
has lived with me ever since we left her father 4 years aco, and wants to be

able to continue living with me.

Her father is a university professor with tenure. He recently inherited access
to a large sum of money, bought a new house, and remarried.

I am one of 3 lesbians and 3 children who one year ago formed a living /working
collective. ie share our children, money, possessions, fears, growing, joys.
Wé're working to break dowm our socialization, and to build new feminist ways
of being. Right now, women in the collective are working on 1) organizing and
renovating a refuge house for women and children who are victims of domestic
violence, 2) women against rape (hotline and speakers! bureau), 3) Alternative
healing center (building a place for treatment and education of people who
chose alternatives to western medicine), 4) Lesbian Defense Fund, 5) publication
of women's music, 6) work in a home birth collective, 7) work with women and
alcohol groups, 8) we live ina working class section of town, daily sharing
our home, food, cars, etc., and working together on neighborhood problems. In
short, in all aspects of our lives, we are working to build a new and better
society,

This custody case is both a personal and a political issue. I've seen my
daughter grow stronger, more forthright and self-assertive, and less passive
and intimidated in the last year. She is growing to be strong.

This case involves the right of lesbians to live with their children. It
also allows childs! rights - the state should not be allowed to so totally
disrupt a child's life against her will,

Because of my lesbianism and political activity, all aspects of my life are
coming under scrutiny. I must defend in court my past and present living and
working situations, the sanity of myself, my child, and of her friends. To
fight this case I must hire psychiatrists and lawyers = both expensive. I'm
working with a feminist Vermont lawyer.

We are appealing to feminists across the country for your support - Money,
skills, or useful contacts. Please help us win this struggle for the human rights
of women and children. We are going far and wide for support because of the
following reasons: 1) we are all part of the same change network. ie do the work
that there is to do in a poor rural state. ‘Jhen we need help from others with
other resources, we ask for it. 2) It is a case which affects us all. The

court is trying to separate a mother and child against their wills, It is a very
personal issue, but also an issue of civil and human rights. This sort of court
intervention affects us all. Some of us are not mothers. Some of us are not
lesbians. All of us were once children. Custody cases cross race lines, class
lines, lifestyle lines....any issue concerning the legal rights of women and
children is relevant to all women. They are trying to take a child away. 3) We
cannot publicize the case locally, or use specific names at all, because such ::
publicity has in other cases been used against the mother, Allegedly, the
publicity has 'subjected the child to harmful trauma." So we are forced to Zo
elsewhere for support. 4) Women all around the country need to know in flaring
detail what sort of attitudes lesbian mothers and children must live with,

We need your help. Every bit helps, large or small, so dig deeply. The struggle
is all of ours. Donations to: LESBIAN DEFENSE FUND, of L.D.*. ie are nonprofit

and tax exempt. L.D.F., P.O, Box 4, Essex Junction, Vermont, 05452, Fees are
estimated at four or five thousand dollars - please help.

13TH MOON
i

A Literary Magazine Publishing Women Whoever
We Choose To Be )

13TH Moon is a literary magazine publishing quality
work by women. Its name is derived from the lunar
calendar,., which has thirteen months. It commemorates
the time when the moon, as mediator of our bodies!
rhythms, was the symbol Ofspirithal transformation.
It celebrates the opening of an age where women have
all their energies at their command.

A recent double issue contains short stories (one by
Alix Kates Shulman), an outspoken interview with
concrete-conceptual poet Amelia Etlinger, a generous
selection of photos and graphics, an extensive books-
received section of small press books by women, and
poetry by Eve Merriam, Rochelle Owens, Colette Inez,
Karen Swenson and others. 13TH MOON is 128pp, square
bound. | “tse Sh gh sios8 |
SUBSCRIPTION $4,50/individuals double issue $3.00
P.O.Box 3 Inwood Station NY NY 10034
THE NEW YORK LEGISLATIVE FORUM - : ;

April 5 "The Welfare Crisis"" 10-12a.nm.
Chancellors Hall NYS Education

Building, Albany INFORMATION 462-0891

Sree el ee LS: .cO RS 2 Tf

CHRYSALIS CHRYSALIS CHRYSALIS CHRYSALIS

You are invited to subscribe to CHRYSALIS, a newmag-
azine of women's culture. Founded on the premise |
that 4 feminist perspective is crucial to our under-
standing of contemporary and past world events, it

is dedicated to providing the vehicle for redefining
what the world ought to be, as well as demanding

more of the world as men have defined it. Today fem-
inist revolution carries the demand for a holistic
culture, for equalized power and status and a culture
which is as much an expression of woman's experience

as it is of man's. SUBSCRIPTION $10-yr. $3 issue
CHRYSALIS c/o Women's Building Dept. B 1727 N. Spring
St. Los Angeles, Calif. 90012

(ee)

GROUP NEWS GROUP NEWS GROUP NEWS GROUP NEWS
Libraries as Women's Resource Centers

Information women in a community need and want should be available to them from
local libraries. If this is not the case, informed women can and should bring

pressure on their libraries to serve them better,

At the March meeting of NOJ, March 23 at Spm at the Women's Center, a panel of
local librarians will discuss library services available for women here and in
other communities. ‘Jomen attending will be encouraged to share their experiences,
good and bad, in seeking women's books, films, information about needed services,
or anything else from their public libraries.

On May 4, one of four public hearings in the State on library and information ser-
vice will be held in Albany, Let's find out if women need to appear to speak

out for libraries more responsive to women's need,
* * * * 2 * * * *

The Rensselaer Newnan Foundation Chapel and Cultural Center, 2125 Burdett Ave.,
Troy, N.Y., will exhibit the paintings of Sara Stewart for one month, beginning
March 6,

K * % oK % %* * * %*

The Rensselaer County Council for the Arts, 189 Second Street, Troy, features

an exhibit of paintings, woodcut prints, and drawings by Saratoga artist Neva
Hansen opening Sunday, March Sth, with a recital by the instrumentalists ensemble
of Emma Willard School, Troy, at 2pm. Reception follows from 3 to 5pm. Exhibit
through March 25th, weekdays, 9 to 5, Sundays 2 to S,° Pubize invited,

* * * * ok * % x *

Monday, ilarch 7, at the Women's Center will be a discussion on the issues of

the conference, "Feminist Issues: A Conference". Any women is invited to attend
whether or not she attended the conference. The meeting will start at Spm for
further information call 449-9991,

* ae %* * * * K

A Woman's Place, a retreat for women and children, in the Adirondack Mountains,
will be holding the following workshops during the month of March. For more in-
formation contact AWP, Athol, N.Y., 12810, 518-623-9544,

March 4-6 Natural Foods - An introduction to natural foods and ways to prepare
March 11-13 Aging and Dying = How do we feel about growing older and dying? What
about wills? New death rituals? Our fears and joys.

March 18-20 Spirituality and Politics - Synthesizing our political and spiritual
"sides" and finding a context for expressing both within the feminist movement,
March 21 Spring Equinox - Raffle Drawing

March 25-27 Getting out of larriage - Get some support from others who have already
left or who are still in the process,

April 1-3 Collectivity - The AWP collective would like to share experiences with
others involved in (or interested in) collective living and/or working. What

is a collective,

NOTICES NOTICES NOTICES NOTICES NOTICES

MOTHERHOOD: TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE

The May issue of Speakout will be devoted to Motherhood: Traditional and
Alternative forms, ie welcome all forms of feeling on the topic of motherhood,
All women, regardless of whether or not you're a mother, have thoughts on the
subject. Can we have yours? The deadline to submit articles, poetry, drawings,
letters, etc., is April 10. You may either mail them to our post office box or
drop them off at the new Women's Center, 132 Central Ave.

* * * * * * * * **

Please send all group news to Box 6155 Albany 12206 or Call Yvette 4340571.

* x oe x sk s ok se xe x

On March 11 and 13th the Tri-City Women's Center will be packing and moving to
it's new home at 132 Central Ave, (the old ORT Thrift Shop). The new center is
located between Lexington Avenue and Robin Street, ecross the street from
Woolworth's, During the first two weeks of March there will be maintence parties
cleaning and painting. Women are needed to help clean and paint the new center
and pack and clean the old center. Women are also needed to help move; cars,

vans and trucks are needed. Come help create our new center. For more infor-
mation call 43-0571,

% * * * aie. o. * * * *

The Women's Writer's Center, Inc., of Cazenovia, New York, the only independent
institute of its kind offering women an intensive course of study in a single
discipline, is proud to make the following two announcements about its third,
full-year progran, beginning September 12, 1977:

Founders Mary Beth Ross and Rita Speicher, responding to the growing interest in
women's writing, are expanding the program, and Rita Mae Brown, nationally

recognized novelist, poet, essayist, and speaker is joining the Resident Faculty
and will conduct courses throughout the year,

Further, the Visiting Faculty for the third year, each of whom will be on campus
a full week to teach and participate in workshops and readings, are, in order
of appearance: Muriel Rukeyser, Susan Griffin, Maxine Kumin, Bertha Harris, Toni
Morrison,
An independent insititue for the education, support and studyof women writers
The center has received some grant support from a local community agency for a
partial scholarshop, from Poets and Writers for certain workshops and readings,
and from The Media Equipment Resource Center in New York City for documentary
film projects. Students, who come fron all across the country and vary in age,
arrange for credit transfer through their ow colleges and universities, a list
of which will be sent upon request. Up to thirty-six college credits have been
transferred for a year of study courses and writing tutorials and workshops. In
study courses students examine women's literary history, feminist esthetics and
criticism, and individual - During the year students are asked to read
often at conferences and gatherings, as well as perform on local radio and tele-
vision. For more information, write or call:

The Women's Writer's Center, Inc.

Williams Hall

Cazenovia College

Cazenovia, New York 13035

Contact: Mary Beth Ross or Tira Speicher

(315) 655-3455, ext. 138

MARCH CALENDER OF EVENTS = SEE GROUP NEWS FOR DETAILS

March 4-6 A Woman's Place - Natural Foods

March 6-25 Saratoga artist Neva Hansen exhibiting at Resselear County Council
for the Arts

March 6 = April 5 Sara Steward exhibiting at Rensselear Newman Foundation Chapel
and Cultural Center

March 7 Community Meeting, Tri-City Women's Center--Discussion of "Feminist
Issues: A Conference" 8pm

March 11-13 A Woman's Place Aging and Dying

March 11-13 Tri-City Women's Center Moving iieekend

March 18-20 A \Joman's Place Spirituality and Politics

March 23 ‘Libraries as Woment Resource Center" Women's Center 8pm
March 25-27 <A Woman's Place Getting Out of Marriage

April 1-3 A Woman's Place Collectivity its | ;
* 2 * ee ae, * X *

Weekly Events

Monday -- Women? s Center Steering ‘Committee Meetings |
Tuesday -- Aid to Battered Women meetings —
Weekends -- Workshops at A Woman! s Place

Please submit your news by the 15th of every month to P.O, Box 6165,
Albany, 12206,

‘SUBSCRIBE TO SPEAKOUT «si “<a‘(i( (ttt | | BULK RATE

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=) 98 S. Pine Ave.

ADDRESS Albany, NY 12208

CITY, STATE ‘As ai

If you are planning a change of address
please notify Speakout. It will not

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returned,
SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL

Vol. VI. No. 5 a April 1977

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 REFLECTIONS ON MOTHERHOOD

2 A STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL - JARY LUBINSKI

3 UNTITLED

6 LILY TOMLIN SALUTES THE ALBANY WOMEN’S CENTER "EDITH ANN

MARCHING Ban’ *

7 WOMEN'S CENTER FILM FESTIVAL

7 MORE BAD NEWS"4BOUT THE PILL"
14 THE FUTURE OF MOTHERHOOD ~ FIONA BURDE

15 BATTERED WOMEN NEED YOUR HELP
16-17 LONG TERMERS' COMMITTEE, BEDFORD HILLS CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY
18 REDBIRD
19 NEW YORK STATE WOMEN'S MEETING
20 NEW YORK WOMEN'S LOBBY
21 COMMUNITY NEWS
22 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
5, 8-13 POETRY

Cover Design “Our Mothers are our sisters" by Rose Dill,
taken from the poster by Dana Bass: available at WOMANBOOKS,
201 W. 92nd Street, New York,N.Y.,10025 for $3.50

Workers for this issue: Rezsin Adams, Fiona Burde, Maxine Krall,
ATexandria Douglas, Carol Harp Biernacki,
Jan Barbuto, Natalie K., Yvette Middleton

The opinicns expressed in SPEAKOUT articles are those of their re-
spective authors and de not necessarily represent those of the
SPEAKOUT staff. We attempt to present the opinions and ideas of
all facets of the feninist community in the tri-cities area,

We welcone all wonen to subnit articles, poetry, fiction, and
letters to the editor on subects relevant to area feninists,

SPEAKOUT Is published monthly. Subscriptions are $3.50 a4 year,
single copies are 35% each. SPFEAKOUT is on sale at several
bookstores and at the Tri-City Women"s Center at 132 Central Avenue.
To subscribe to SPEAKOUT, or to subnit material, write:

SPEAKOUT

P.O.BOX 6165

ALBANY, NEW YORK 12206
. .

REFLECTIONS ON MOTHERHOOD

This month's issue of Speakout features articles by women about our
experiences as mothers and daughters as well as bout som some of us
feel about ourselves as non-mothers. As feminists we recognize how
important (and often how painfully relevant) our relationships with
our mothers have been in shaping our lives, and our politics.

Some of us have struggled with the intensity of our relationships
all along, only to realize how important the mother/daughter bond
was when it was gone... As mothers, we recognize that we share
responsibility for shaping the future to some extent, just as our
mothers laid foundations for us. As non=-mothers we have chosen a
lifestyle which will allow more time and energy for activities other
than childrearing--and we too hope to have a profound influence on
the TUCULOs vs 3 = Me a ig

Wherever we put our energies--into nurturing children, other adults,
a women's community, or into "giving birth to ourselves", as some
feminists have called exploring your own full potential as a woman--
we all have strong feelings about motherhood. These are the writings
of several women from the Albany feminist community.

LS As eS tesserae my - i —— ————€
.

Things my mother taught me (but I

haven't yet learned) --as a teenager, I was ashamed

--that it's easier to get a man when she left a high-status,
than to get rid of him low-paying "artistic" job for
. war work in a factory. now I'm
-~-that there's no such thing as proud she didn't let me influ-
bad weather, just good clothes ence her

--to trust the messages from my

; ; --I watch
pody; that my mind is part and atched her care for her own

mother and aunt through senility

partner, not a separate thing because she would not send them
--to smile and sing and love to a nursing home...although
water, especially Lake George my grandmother had often been

less than kind. I have privately
Sworn never to make my mother's
decisions for her

--that you can't help how you
feel but you can help how you

behave
; --Sshe taught me by example; we
--that you can live without the didn't discuss much but we
necessities (no one cares if the laughed a lot.

dishpan leaks) but you need
daffodills or sapphires

—————————— LS a SS

memoriam--on my mother's

--to let go and drift occasionally dying
--to put quotation marks around Because your body wae Wy doorway
words whose spelling I'm not I shal into life
sure of so the reader will think ; Shall try to ease your going.
I'm being funny Shall try not to cling to you,
nor cry as I did at four
--that when I can't afford new "Mama, Mama don't leave me."

clothes or learn any new jokes, You, dark and slim in white with
get new frisands who haven't seen ~* silver,

my old clothes or heard my old Held me while my father paced,
jokes late for the dance.

~-she brought me up to see people Rather let this be a release: asa
as individuals and lived to have stone joyously skips the surface

me test her beliefs of a lake and disappears.
l. But is still there.
ate

a struggle for survival

I am a single parent; a working mot-

her; a concerned citizen; a woman
of twenty-five going on forty-two.
I am a cook, chauffer, housekeeper,
homemaker, breadwinner, banker, em-
ployee, teacher, guardian, friend,
lover, and yes, at times I am a

woman with my own needs and desires,

dreams and fantasies, pbans and

special interests. I am a viable
human being.

The effects of the words "I am"
certainly be an eye-opener. I've
struggled with my perception of who
and what I am at teast 1,000 times
during the last five years. The
struggle comes from within; but the
pressure that produces such trauma-
tic changes at times seems to come
from everywhere with such urgency
and unyielding force that often I
am devastated by its almighty blow.

Who am I? Where do I belong? What
is my role? My purpose? why, how,
when? There are so many questions--
each with its own centrifugal force
--pulling at me and tearing my in-
Sides apart until I am left limp,
confused, angry, demoralized and

can

even shattered by its repercussions.

Being a single parent iS the most
unbalanced state of affairs known
to "mankind". Especially for a wo-
man. The woman of today's world is
not only single-handedly taking on
full responsibility for the moral,

educational and physical upbringing

of her children; she is also strug-
gling to free herself of the bonds
of servitude that for so long had
tied her hands to the pots and pans
at home. She is becoming free-spi-
rited, challenging, questionning,
and wild with the approach of each
new horizon. For every positive
step forward, however, there is, at
times, the necessity to take two

steps back, regroup, count our for-
ces, and try again.

Each new horizon brings with it an
area of "unknowns". The uncertainty

and the insecurity breed aggression
where there should be assertiveness,

contempt where there should be(at
least)acceptance, if not respect.

Dealing with these "unknowns" 4s
frightening, and takes a great
deal of energy and a constant
awareness of one's innermost
feelings as well as an acute
awareness of one's values. There
are times, for some of us who are
aware of our value systems and
their importance, when a tremen-
dous inner search takes place whicl
drains our every energy resource
while trying to deal with socio-
logical expectations that confliet
with our own value systems and
disrupt our efforts to maintain
our basic needs. These (cultural)
expectations often threaten our
very stability as parents. This
inner search is indeed a struggle
for survival. Yet merely "survi-
ving" that battle is unacceptable
to most people. No one can readily
accept the forced abandonment of
an ideal that is truly believed

in and practiced. It is this
"values" area that is most prob-

lematic to me as a Single parent
today.

How do you teach your child not

to lie when todsy's society pro-
motes the telling of lies with its
rules governing everything from
attendance at school or work to
income tax? How do you teach a
child to believe in justice when
the laws and law enforcement of-
ficials are blinded by the bureau-~
cracy which has been developed to
make government function rather
than to protect and meet the needs
of the people it serves? Why
teach a child right from wrong and
guide him to be responsibie for
his own actions only to have him
torn apart in later years by the
constant onslaught of power-
hungry individuals whoss only
task is to break his spirit, de-
stroy his naivete, challenge his
integrity and ingenuity, leaving
him broken and insecure?

Is the destruction of an indivi-
dual's value system a part of
growing up and maturing? Need life

be synonymous with mere survival?
Need we merely "exist"?

-3-

a_struggle for survival (cont'd)

The disillusionment that one faces
in a lifetime is indeed traumatic;
the knowledge that one is leading
their children into that same trap
is utterly devastating.

I shudder to think that my five-
year-old must struggle with these
same conflicts that have tormented
me these past five years. It seems
to me that rather than conforming
to some unwritten policy which is
tagged as maturation, we are being
forced into a straight-jacket and
spoon-fed what is "socially accep-
table" under someone else's stan-
dards. Maturation is "the emer-
gence of personal and behavioral
characteristics through the growth
processes". To conform is to be
"obedient or compliant; to adapt
oneself to prevailing standards

of behavior". Is adaptation always
the answer? Is it such a threat

to those in charge to have people
with different ideas and ideals?
Is it totally necessary for each
of us to be mimics of some pre-
decessor? If so, why not build
robots.

I am responsible for another life.
I don't wish to remain responsible
for the destruction--moreover, the
willful destruction--of that life.
I want my child to be a complete,
giving, loving, responsible indi-
vidual. If I am forced to con-
form to some standards today and
am struggling with it at twenty~-
five and my son is watching this
struggle in me--and living with
the end results, the uncaring,
insecure, Shadow of a woman, indi-
vidual--what incentive is there
for him to grow in a healthy way?
Isn't his only logical response
one of rebellion?

Where are these answers to life.
We need to know.

For me writing about motherhood
is like getting involved ina

kind of primal scream therapy=--
my relationship with my mother
is, I think, at the core of my

relationships with everyone I-know
and everything I do--strength and
weakness--I am my mother's child.

For the first 20 years of my
life I had only the most painful

‘ associations with motherhood: sa-

crifice, isolation, frustration,
rage, economic hardship, guilt and
loneliness. Of course there was
tenderness, but more often it was
overshadowed by the hardships

my mother endured as a single (wi-
dowed) woman raising a child on

a secretarial salary. I learned
daily that being a mother was hell,
that working as an "executive se-
cretary" was total psychic and
economic exploitation, and that
being a working mother was the
most difficult life a woman coild
have. For years I was the focus
of my mother's frustration; and
sometimes, the target of her rage.

Of course, I loved her tremen-
dously, as any little girl loves
her mother. But I was also afraid
of her, afraid that she would find
some way to "get rid" of me--since
I had been "nothing but trouble
Since the day (I) was born..." I
was always aware that my mother's
life was harder than most people's
and somehow it always seemed to
come down to the fact that she
was bringing up a child alone.

some-where in grade school I
got fixated on "The Donna Reed
Show". I thought Donna Reed was
the perfect mommy; I wished for
that kind of homelife. I wished
my mother would remarry--that
would make it all right again
Somehow. Suddenly the financial
pressures would let-up, and my
mother would be happy and relaxed
and would be glad to have me.

What was happenning to her life
during this time eluded me, some-
how. My mother very much enjoyed
Single life (my father, who was
macho from the word go, had split)
and she relished her independence.
Though her salary and relation-
Ships with men at work were not
the greatest, she also enjoyed

working harddd! It was a very good
time for her. She earned enough

= , ~. nn

-h

to make it possible for me to go

set up now as an adult. This was

to sleepaway camp, study piano, etc. not the time to bring emotional

She wanted me to have the opportu-
nities other children had...and she
worked very hard to do it.

I had always respected her in-.
telligence and her independence.
After a while it was clear to me
we didn't need a man to take care
of us, though my mother was always
happier when she was "courting",
One day my mother broke off a re-
lationship with someone she had
seriously considered marrying, a
man she had been "priming" me to
accept as a parent. The day she
broke up with him she told me, "If
I wanted another child to cook and

problems to "mother"...because, in
fact, I had never brought ANY pro-
blemste,my mather. For emotional
support I had always gone to frie-
nds, women friends...

To this day my mother keeps a
photograph of me and the man I
used to live with on the coffee-
table. She still tells her friends
about the things I'm doing, the
causes I'm involved in, and how
proud she is of the person I grew
up to be. But she is unable to
deal with the fact that the person
I share my life with now is a wo-
man, a feminist. Because it was

clean up after I would have had one".She who built the strongest pos-
It turned my head around completely. Sible foundation for me to grow

We had a long talk about marriage
relationships. I was about 14 when
she told me she didn't think it

was necessary to be married--what
mattered was that the two people
share responsibility and respect
each other. And she told me she
was content in life because she was
proud of the young person I was be-
coming. She felt confident that I
would grow up to be strong and as-
sertive, that I would not be goaded
into choices like marriage or mo-
therhood before I was ready or be-
cause I was unable to take care of
myself.

It began a whole new chapter in
our relationship. She left the
second Sex on the coffeetable along
with the Feminine Mystique; we read
a lot of poetry together and stayed
up talking some nights til 4 AM. We
became friends. She had wanted me
to be independent and bright--and
she seemed satisfied. But she also
wanted me to be pretty and cheerful
all the time and be interested in
boys, clothes and make-up; that
part never worked out quite to her
satisfaction.

Certainly she was pleased when
I met a man I wanted to live with

after college--that was confirmation

enough that I had assumed full wo-
manhood. But when that relationship
tore me apart at the end she was
helpless to talk to me or comfort

me; I guess it seemed like I was all

up to be a feminist, she feels she
is to blame.

Last year I changed my name le-
gally and took my mother's mother's
maiden name, a personal tribute to
my mother's struggle for survival
and to the foundation she laid for
me a long time ago...

Perhaps the most telling thing I
can say about motherhood is that
I have completely opened myself
up to the future possibility of
becoming a mother, if not biolo-
gically,then through adoption...
There are many waiting children...
Though my relationship with my own
mother was at -timeS. tense and
stormy and sadly unaffectionate
(and especially painful right now)
it is terribly important to me
that the kinds of messages she
passed on to me be passed on to
future generations.

YWCA NEWS (cont. from page 22)
feninist organizations in provid-
ing women with needed services a
and support. Right now, the Alb-
any YWCA needs your support,
We’re an old organization with
a new direction = and we'd like
you to join us,

For information, call the
Albany YWCA at 449-7184 and ask
for Kris, NelI, Jan or Carol,

REE EET

my mother

like a sheltering willow

heavy with tears that refused to fall on me
they were her own

like a gay and painted Christmas clown
She knew how to laugh
and play was not left in some remembered yard of youth

my mother, my sister
who shared the pain the worry and the wonder of a child
and the dubious burden of female

She could be an oak and a jonquil
and celebrate both
even, sometimes, without nourishment

my mother, my friend

who gave and gave of love and never could discard a
written remembrance

who held me even when she wasn't there

whom i loved

and who died

knowing too much, perhaps, of life

i must leave you now
i must let the willow rest and make my own tears
i must find the clown's way and learn to laugh without you

my mother,

my Sister,

my friend.

Faye Harris

abi
LILY TOMLIN SALUTES THE

ALBANY WOMEN'S CENTER'S
"Edith Ann Marching Ban'"

The "Edith Ann Marching Ban'", for-
med by Albany area feminists last
March to encourage Lily Tomlin to
come to the Palace Theater to doa
benefit for the WOMEN'S CENTER, was
hailed by the incomparable Lily at
the opening of her April 2 (S.R.0.)
performance at the Biltmore Theater
on Broadway.

Twenty of us, members of the
Ban and friends and family, had
come to the Biltmore to see the
show and ask Lily to do the benefit
in person; we had already sent
letters and a telegram...» As the
show opened we sat twirling our
little red circus lights ( a pre-
arranged signal to identify for
Lily where members of the Ban and
their friends would be sitting) and
she came out and said, “Did you
just come from the circus or ARE

you the circus?" I tell you,sisters,

anyone who was there will never be
the Samereee

Actually we really did have a
blast, and the members of the Ban
did speak to Lily briefly at the
stage door after the performance,
and she was friendly and charming
and she even said she hoped she
hadn't offended us with her crack
about the circus... She did ask
how long it took to get to Albany
and if we would send her a tape
of the "Edith Ann Marching Ban's"
greatest hits, and we finally had
to tell her there IS no REAL mar-
ching band, but there is a women's
center in Albany that's struggling
to stay afloat financially--and

Be ee ee ee eee

we really could use the services
of a marvekous entertainer like
herself to help us raise money
for the Center.

Whether or not Lily Tomlin
thinks it over and decides to
play Albany's glamorous Palace
Theater we do not yet know, but
Speakout will bring that infor-
mation to you, sisters, as soon
as we hear from Lily.

The members of the Ban, Mean-
while have been inspired to write
a musical, actually it's a SOAP
OPERETTA, about the experiences
of the Edith Ann Marching Ban'

and the future of the Albany
WOMEN's CENTER.

The public is invited to at-
tend the world premiere of the
soap operetta on Friday, May 13
at_the Women's Center Coffeehouse
at 8:30 PM. Following the per-
formance, members of the Ban
will ask averyone in the audience

to take part in the Sock=-Hop

at the Women's Center. Be sure

you come at 8:30 so you don't
miss the performance!!!!

As the verdict was read at 51:00

on Friday, March.4,1977,the erow-
ded courtroom in Salinas, Cale ex-
ploded with cheers,, hoots, and
tearst Inez Garcia was found not
guilty! After a 3-year ordeal,
including 19 months behind bars,
Inez is free to continue in the
people's struggle and has proved
a woman's right to self defense.
Many people think that with the
trial over, money isn't needed,
but this isn't true, Inez and
the hard-working Committee desp=-
erately need donations, As Inez
has pointed out,"In the United
States you need cold,hard cash to
obtain justice.” Send donations tc
Viva Inez Committee, 584 14th St.
OakIand,Cal. 94612

reprinted from off our backs

WOMEN'S CENTER FILM FESTIVAL TO

DEBUT SAT. May 7 & SUN. MAY 8 AT
8 PM. ADMISSION: $ 2.

On Saturday and Sunday May 7 & 8
the Women's Center will present 6 .
outstanding feminist films from the
National Women's Film Circuit--

The Emerging Woman, A Foot in the
Clouds, And Then There Were...,
Dyketactics, Like a Rose, and Fear.
We hope this weekend will be the
first of many film festivals to be
held at the Women's Center.

The Emerging Woman is a powerful
documentary film about the history

of women in the United States. The
film is dedicated to the memory of
the women of the past 200 ‘years,
whose struggle has made possible
today's "emerging woman",

A_ Foot in the Clouds is an amusing
drama in which two women with dif-

ferent self-definitions learn from
each other.

And Then There Were...is a mosaic
animation. A forest and all the

events which take place there in
the course of a year are created
by the animation of thousands of

Squares of colored paper.

Like A Rose is a moving personal
portrait of two women in prison,

Dyketactics is an erotic lesbian
commercial.

Fear is a provocative documentary-

drama in which a young woman finds
her strength.

Also to be shown at the Women's

to a woman from Workspace, are
~HEALTH CARING FROM OUR SIDE
OF THE SPECULUM (April 28)

-I AM SOMEBODY
-THE EMERGING WOMAN (May 12)

-VIRGINIA WOOLF:THE WHOLE MOMENT
-GERTRUDE STEIN: WHEN THIS YOU
SEE, REMEMBER ME (May 19)

These will all be shown at 8 pm.
Admission will be free.

MORE BAD NEWS ABOUT "THE PILL"

A long, long time ago when I
was first becoming (hetero)sexually
active I remember thinking that
e oral contraceptive, "the pill",
was probably the most wonderful
invention ever made (and marketed)
by man. Millions of women of all
ages, Similarly thrilled, rushed
to join the ranks of the orally

contracepted. It seemed like the
Great Liberator. At last we could
be sexually active without the
risk of pregnancy!’ Well, the
glow of naivete is finally wearing
off the oral contraceptives as
more and more bad news comes in
about the risks of stroke, blood
clots and heart attacks, more and
more American women are going off
the pill each year.

Last month a study by Anrudh
Jain of the Population Council, a
private research organization, pub-
lished a study which concluded that
the combined effects of taking the
pill and smoking cigarettes SHARPL:
increases the possibility that a
woman will die from heart attack
or stroke. Though the study shows
the greatest risk of death by hear
attack is for women in their 40's,
it also shows that the risk is
much greater for women (who both
smoke and take the pill) in their
20's and 30's!! If you're a smoker
and you're on the pill, perhaps
it's time to consider another
Methodecees

Ages O- | 4o-4ey
WOMEN WHO “HEART ATTACKS/100 , 000

Center in the next few weeks, thanks

take the pill : 0.

& don't smoke 108 tS
smoke, but

don't take pina] 26 15-9
take the pill 10.2

Women in their 20's who smoked mors
than 15 cigarettes a day and used
the pill also had a higher morta-~
lity rate than similar women smo-
lers who used another type of con-
traception.

We all know smoking itself is
no good for anyone's health. But
for women on birth control pills

LUBTe RFRA FAL anyone else) IT'S

& smoke

POETRY POETRY

dear bronislawa leokawdia szysko

give this to my mother

mama
don't play mama

to me

to me anymore

i know the worn out record
i know the ray charles score

mondays in the sink

scrub the toilet

wax the table

share the linen and the shelf
With any man who's soup

tetegram
don't cable
STOP

4 letter
MAMA

i am sick

FRAU

send ajaz

send dutch cleanser
send bon ami

to me

to me quick

on my birthday. birthday. dirthday

i am juicy as a porno flick

the notes choke
squeeze me

MAMA

hold the phone on
HOLD

rooka mama roo
choo choo song
caboose

caboose is long

page 1

POETRY

by
TERRY KENNEDY
Duxbury, Mass.

POETRY

POETRY POETRY POETRY POETRY

care of gereral delivery

friends said he was a sexist pig

warned me. he'd use a knife

he'd rip me. like a cat

and not look back. said

he was a sadist. home wrecher

got his nuts off making whole families
suffer. i tried to hate him. tried to hate
his mother, ironing all those shirts for him
i tried to understand. her face

way up in buffallo. rolling dough

for pies. once i wrote to her

care of genreal delivery

she answered fast. said

he was her only son. she loved hin

from the start. no matter what

the others thought

even now she smiles nights

remembering how he gave

yellow tulips in red clay pots. and

lots and lots of other things

by
TERRY KENNEDY
Duxbury, Mass.

page 2

POETRY POETRY

what snapped open

with a cranking sound

that was almost a wail

was her face,

and as swiftly snapped shut.

i am still sorting out

the dreams she kept in there

that escaped like so many dried beans
kept too long in a tattered bag.

** * * * 3%

When I was thirty-four, my mother was born,
My warrior father died ginned,

Kissing me through locks

Beyond the dusty-mirrored hall

Where, long ago, he signed

The treaty to end all loves but one.

Undone now by his death,

I, adult of their peace,

Wander Love-beheaded

Their formal garden of reds and greens,
While mother rules the scaffold,

Alive at last.

page 3

POETRY

by
SUSAN FANTL
Cobleskill, NY

* * *

by
Dure Jo Gillikin

New York, New York

POETRY
POETRY POETRY

boy

A child

with his hand on the handle

twists pain into his mother's heart.
Very yound they learn the skill
falling to the ground six and tender
because she won't go up to find his belt.
"Aw shit!" she screams

"You can miss the bus if you have to,"
"T don't do this to Dad," he says.
Information given and received.

Why not? Upstairs she finds it

where she says it was.

He accepts at breakfast

tender and afterwards a hug "Love you"
into her belly through her flannel gown.
Little cockmanny

not quite tough but soon enough
running circles round his monny

and home glone midmorning unwinding
kitchen clean and letting her politics
and cooks the art of floating

through her interests come to rest

she grins awry. Doing

what she said she never would

making that big American Man

out of hin,

page 4

POETRY

by
SUSAN FANTL
Cobleskill, NY

POETRY

POETRY POETRY POETRY POETRY
WOMEN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD by: Kathleen A. Jones
Our time has come Huntington Beach, Cal,

The parade of hushed hopes and denied dreams

Of all our sisters through all the ages

Is on review

Come out of your caves

For we can change the world...

How? ’

By challenging those children our husbands left for us to raise alone
With new concepts, new 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, them, 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 blown up, thrown up, grown up, let's get going up, up, up...
Again you say, how?

You've always known, and you weren!t alone

Stick by your non-acceptance stance when you know you're right

It makes more waves than all the nagging, complaining, crying ever could
You may not win the first round, or the second

But all men go home sometime...

And we are the sculptors who must mold a brave, new breed:

Sons, who will be the men our husbands never were

To the daughters of our consciousness-raised sisters

The only real guts left reside in women
For "the girls"have come of age

While man has lost his nerve
| Some men were dreams that never came true
Others were nightmares that did...
When he's away from you, he can't wait to be with you
When he's with you, he can't wait to get away
He wants more - more is the others when he's with you
And you, when he's with the others..,
But sisters, should you see or hear of a man who, in the face of your demand for
dquality
Does not run, then tell him, show him, acknowledge him, for his 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 AM THE NEW WOMAN, can you cope?
Tell the boys to grow up, the kid stuff is over
Liftle 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 srow
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 -- ovr children!

page 5

POETRY POETRY

POEM IN WHICH HETEROSEXUALITY IS

CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

IT know a man
Who lives with a woman
And her two children,

The man and the woman don't love each other

Any more
But he stays with her
Because of the children,

The twist to the story is this:

The children are not his.

Biologically, he is not their father,

But, he has chosen

To love and care for them,
In the face of such evidence
I have to believe

That there are men like
This.

POETRY POETRY

But in the face of equally convincing evidence

I am forced to accept the fact
That I'll never find one.

BARBARA LIPSCHUTZ
Phila, y Pa, ‘

by
CAROL HARP BIERNACKI
Albany, N.Y.

page six

POEM FOR MY DAUGHTER
Barely seven years old,
you sit beside me
reading Seventeen,
mouthing the words
still new to your mind,
Above, a piano spills
chords
across this quiet cafeteria,
In front of us,
a girl
in a tight white shirt
sits eating salty peanuts
and reading.
Behind me, men are speaking
of strong F values
and unknowns,
arguing second questions,
degrees of freedon,
absolutes and varients,
Breaking into your world
of old silver and bridal lace,
Aatural makeup
that never shows,
I read this to you.
You wait silently,
then ask,
"Is that all"
I answer,
"ves,
for now,"

14
THE FUTURE OF MOTHERHOOD
by Fiona Burde

Sitting in the emergency room of one of the area hospitals the other day,
I noticed a young woman with four’ small children waiting her turn to be called
into the examining rooms. I watched as she tried to keep her children amused,
giving them candy, books and keys from her pocketbook; but as the wait got long
they got restless and began to run up and down the room with her chasing after.
Although she seemed somewhat harrassed, she appeared to be very consciously
playing to the audience in the waiting room asking: "aren't I a good mother?"
At the other end of the room sat another mother with one small child. She
also was keeping her child amused, but at the same time editing an article.
This woman had no need to display her mothering skills since this was not her

sole occupation and she was measured in the world by more than her role as
mother.

For woman to see themselves as functioning in society as more than mothers
is becoming increasingly important in a world in which a growing birth rate
unless curbed will lead to an overcrowded world. Over population has been
recognized as one and not one of the least threats to the future of the world.
The population now stands at four billion and the estimate is that by the
year 2000 A.D, it will have reached between seven and eight billion. It is

obvious that in the common welfare something must be done to restrict this
rate of human increase,

The factors influencing family size and birth rates are many, but one of
the most influencial appears to be the educational level of women. As the level
of education goes up the birth rate decreases. And there is strong evidence
to suggest that the education of women is more important than that of men in
determing the size of families. Such widely separate countries as Egypt, Fin-
land, Guatemala, and India, to name but a few have declared that in their countries
the average number of children was smaller among women with higher educaf£ion.

It is not only that education exposes women to knowledge, attitudes and
practices favorable to birth control; delays marriage; but also and perhaps
more importantly stimulates them to become interested and involved in activities
outside the home, particularly employment. Higher education opens up a world
in which they become aware of the alternatives to the role of motherhood as the
sole career in their lives, Studies have found for example, that professional
women are more likely to be childless than their cohorts in the general popula-
tion. And again, women holding jobs which are gratifying are found to have
less children than those with less interesting jobs.

Uducation and employment for women then are important factors in decreasing
the birth rate, It would appear that the attitude of the world towards mother-
hood as the only function of women in society must change if we are to live in
a world in which there is enough space and food for all,
mK * of a % * % o
Resolving Conflicts by Maxine Krall
Scene: Rusty old green tank of car, traveling on the thruway, going home from
Ohio where the driver left her two kids for the week.

Time: Easter morning. To avoid hearing chmrch stuff, a lot of turing of the
radio dial.

We interup this broadcast to interview a woman who just shot her husband with
a bow and arrow, "But why did you use a bow and arrow?" "T didn't want to
wake the kids!"

It's tricky trying to do what you know is good for you and not screwing up the
kids in the meantime,
a

BATTERED WOMEN NEED YOUR HELP!!!
---Did you know that if your hus-
band violently strikes you that
you cannot immediately go to Crim-
inal Court to press charges of as-
sault? (If you can go at all is
more the question. )

---Did you know what an Order of
Protection is and how it could
help you if your spouse is abusive
to you?

---Did you know that you can make
a “civilian arrest" of your batter-
ing husband if the police whom you
have called won't?

Aid to Battered Women, Inc. is
an all volunteer group of concern-
ed individuals in the Capital Dis-
trict which provides information
of assistance to the victims of
domestic violence, Each member has
familiarized her/himself with the
statistics and data concerning fa-
mily violence, Each member has
learned what one must do to seek
court protection in times of phy-
Sical endangerment by a marital
partner,

As greater numbers of women
come forth trying to escape the d
dangers of their homes, Aid to

Battered Women has noted a growing.

increase in the calls logged by _
their hotline phone. To enhance its
ability for helping victims, Aid
to Battered Women has developed a
breif manual which each member us-
es to answer calls for help.The
group has also instituted training
sessions for newcomers who wish to
volunteer but are not sure that
they are ready. As a result of
these actions, it is hoped that
women in distress calling the ABW
Hotline, 434-1202, will be better
served,

Aid to Battered Women, Inc. is
in great need of persons who could
volunteer in a variety of capaci-
ties. These would include volun-
teers willing to answer calls over
the phone for information, volunt
teers to accompany a frightened
victim to court so she will not
feel so alone, volunteers to care
for a child for a few hours while
the mother testifies before a
judge ‘and volunteers to meet an
injured woman at a hospital emer-
gency room when the victim needs

medical attention.

Women are being assaulted and
attacked daily the men to whom
they are married, Some have been
abused and battered for years.
Some are too frightened to seek
help. But there are others who
are coming forth for legal pro-
tection, For these women, Aid to
Battered Women is one avenue for
assistance, for finding a life
without threats, without danger,
without fear of dying fnom the
battering,

Aid to Battered Women, Inc.
needs more volunteers because
more and more victims come forth
every day. Abused women need peo-
ple willing to be sympathetic
listeners and to answer their
many questions, Please consider
giving one day or one morning to
these women who are in dire need
of assistance. It is so little
time to give to women who may
have spent long years in mar-
riages of increasing brttaliza-
tion, ;

If you are interested in be-
coming a volunteer in any of the
Capacities listed, please cometo
the weekly meeting held by Aid to

Battered Women, Inc. The meetings
are held at:

The Tri-City Women's Center
132 Central Avenue
Albany, New York

TUESDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 P.M,

is ssessstessessssesssssssesthansseeensnssinennenne>

TROY CLINIC: FIRST ANNIVERSARY

The Troy Planned Parenthood
Clinic is celebrating its first
anniversary this month. The cli-
nic, serving all of Rensselaer
County, opened at 5 Broadway on
March 1, 1976. Four full-time
staff and ten volunteers sched-
uled over 2,000 patients for me-
dical visits since the clinic's
opening. More than one thousand
pregnancy tests have been per#
formed with nearly 300 women be-
ing referred for abotions.

The number of new patients
continues to increase demonstra-
ting that family planning ser-
vices are needed in Renssalaer
County and Planned Parenthood
Can meet this need,

THE LONG TERMERS* COMMITTEE

The Long Terners’® Comnittee
at the Bedford Hills Correctional
Facility represents the more than
seventy women at this prisor ser-
ving long minimum sentences, In
New York, prisorersmust serve the
entire minimum sentence before
beimg eligible for parole, This
means that a woman or Mar can st-
ay in prison for 15,20.0r25 yearss
without being reviewed, and with-
out being eligible for programs
such as furlough and temporary
release,

Because of sentencing dispar-
ity throughout the state, the
length of a prisoner's sentance
depends on such factors as money,
race, geographic area, proper le-
gal counsel and the disposition
of the judge. The main goal of
the Long Termers’ Committee is
to alTeviate such disparity, and
to correct the terrible waste of
time, money and the lives of pri-
soners who must spend years, and
sometimes decades, in prisors
with no incentive or hope,

The Lomg Termers’ Committee -
at Bedford Hills, and other such
committees in prisons throughout
the state, are supporting a bill
that would allow a prisoner to
be reviewed for possible parole
after serving one-third of their
minimum sentence. This Tegisla-
tiom would conform to that alre
ady in pratice in the federal
prison systen,

Please help support the Long
Termers* Committee by writing
to your Tegisators, or the Leg-=
islative committee chairperson
below, and saying that you endo-
rse a bill in New York State
that would conform to federal
Tegislation by allowing parole
review for allI state prisoners
who have served one-third of
their minimum sentences..

Write to the following:
Assemblymam Richard Gottfried.
Assenbly Codes Committee °
New York State Assembly
Albany, New York 12224

“167

Senator Ralph Marino

Crimes and Corrections Comnittee:
New York State Senate

Albany,. New York 12224

For more information, write

Long Termers’ Committee
B.H.C.F.

247 Harris Road

Bedford Hills, New York 10507

Joan Potter

227 Grove Street

Mt. Kisco, New York 10549
914- 6667962

HN HERE EK HEHE KKH HHH KH HHH HHS

LONG TERMERS* COMMITTEE
POSITION PAPER

We,long term prisoners, are ask-
ing for modification of the Iaws

(1) to provide for periodic
parole board review of
each prisorer,

(2) to restore incentive
“zood time" allowance,
and

(3) to broaden eligibility
for temporary release
programs so that all
prisoners can better .
maintain family ties.

In asking your support of suggest-
ed legoslative changes in the
existing parole policies of New
York State, we are in this posi-
tiom paper attempting to address
Some of the reasoning and concerns
of society.

A stated purpose of impri-
sorment is to protect society.
However, prisons fail to protect.
Only a small percentage of those
who commit crimes end up as crin-
imals, and nost will remain in
prison for a relatively short per-
lod of time. Of those imprisoned,
it is likely that many will become
locked into a cycle of crime. We
Carr predict some of these respon-
Ses: resentment,rage,hostility
and apathy. The punishment of :
prison is damaging, (cont, on pg. 17.
LONG TERMERS* COMMITTEE
cont. from page 16)

both physically and emotionally .
From the time suspects are picked
up until they end up behind bars,
the process is seen as being one
of selective prosecution or a
certain segment of society, the
"criminal class."

Who are the “criminal class?® Re-
cent headlines,i.e. Watergate,
indicate that the are not only
the poor, minority and young in
our society. Butit is the poor,
minority and young in this society
who are packed into the prisons,
It is a common belief that aTl
criminals come from broken homes,
are uneducated, and are somehow
"different." They have always
been in troulbe, and supposedly
have no feelings, This is simply
not true. Most Prisoners have
families waiting for their return
to the community, many have at ~
Teast a high school education,. and
some college education. One thing
ts very clear, prisoms are filled
with minority group people and

poor people; justice does have a
double-edged sword,

What about the truly dangerous in
our society? What percentage of
the prison population do they re-
present? The percemtage is very
small, and it does not justify
caging the majority who are not
Gangerous. Permanently imprisen-
ing everyorre wbo is convicted for
the sake of safety from a few is
not ony morally outrageous, but
economically unfeasible as well.
Statistics concerning recidivism
and repeated offenses tell the
true story of dangerousnéss, Stu
dies show that the determination
of who is truly dangerous is based

or a normexistent ability to predi-:

ect future behavior. Soctety sho-
uld be protected from tindividusl
and collective violent acts,. and
our concern encompasses both
victim and offender,
Imprisonment, im fact, does not
deter the individual from commit-
ting another crime, It does not
set an example for someone else
not to commit a crime. National

recidivism rates prove that prisons

win es

‘cnn nie a i a

do not deter crime. They may,

in fact, have the reverse effect
of being a causal factor in future
crimes, (See studies that result-
ed from the Gideon vs. Wainright
ruling that resulted in the early
retease of approxinarwly 1,200
prtsorerse. Of those released ea=
rly, 13.6% committed new crimes
compared to 25% of those released
after serving their entire sente-
nce.) Moreover, imprisonment does
rot set examples for future offe-
nders. The New York State prisor
population increases by 200 every
month,. yey the crime rate also i
increases.

Rehabilitation and the economics
of imprisonment are issued we're
sure many of us could discuss emd-
tessly. It is our positton that
rehabilitation its nonexistent in

a @woercive atmoaphere, and that
the economics of imprisonment is
too complex to discuss in one
position paper.

We have identified our problems,
notivated ourselves, and are
moving toward solving them, but

we can't do it alone. We, the -
Long Termers’ Committee at the
Bedford HilIs Correctional FaciI-
ity, are asking you, for all of
the atove reasons, to support

us in our efforts.

HHH HHH HHH HEHEHE HI HEH

MAY WORKSHOPS AT A WOMAN'S PLACE

6-8 Lesbians and Our Mothers:
Talking with our mothers- finding
the links to support each other.

13-15 Astrology and Tarot:

Working toward a feminist interp-
retation of these two ancient sys-
tems of knowledge.

20-22 Work Weekend: Help with
preparing the garden for planting,.

digging a new septic system,and
spring’ cleaning

27-29 Body Massage,Shiatsu;, ReflI-
exology: ‘Techniques for healings.
body awareness, communication,
-~18-—
REDBIRD

BUILD A FEMINIST COMMUNITY

THIS SUMMER :

Redbird is a feminist living
and working collective in centra
Vermont. We are 8 women and
3 children. We share our child-
ren,money,possessions,fears,grow-
ing, joys,work. We're working

to breek down our socialization
end to build new feminist ways

of being,

In the Iast few years,the
best thing we've found has been
connection with other women- -
sharing,working out, supporting,,
learning,playing, growing, leav-
ing our isolation to find solid

connections with other women,
Out DE tole iscased eceeee ot

Strength hac grown our dream:

to build a women’*s community'-

a place where that connection
with other women happens, where
we discover what we share, a
place wheré we can find support-
ive energy,a place where we can
learn to meet all of each others®
needs,

To begin to make that dream
happen, we are having a summer
gathering. During the gathering,
we'Il build a feminist elementary/
secondary school, residence cab-=
ins, and a collective center,
After this summer, there will be
more == some for buliding ( auto,
metal, and wood shops, a healing
place, other resources), some
gatherings for sharing around
one area (e.g. battered women),
some for celebrating.

TO MAKE IT HAPPEN:

REDBIRD invites you to come
and work with us this summer,. to
Share in making the dream of a
women’s community become reality,
We've got the land: a large piece
im Hinesburg (23 miles from Bur-
lington, 4 hours from Boston, 7
hours from N.Y¥.C.), with meadows,
wooded hills, a creek with a swi-
mming hole. Hinesburg is rural}
the land is away enough so that.
we can be ourselves. It won't
be a holiday beisure resort ;s this
will be a summer of sisters work-
ing together. The School will be.

small, modern construction, new
materials, electricity. The
Collective Center will be built
all with hand tools, from recyc-
Ted and natural materiaIs. It
will have wood heat, methane s
Sewerage, no electricity. The
Cabins will be the bare essenti-
als. We'll make the wool stoves
ourselves. We'Tl share childcare
and maintainence (cooking,firew
wood, etc.) No experience is
necessary. There is plenty of
room for learning! There are
few better ways to get to know
women than to work together.
There'll be time for other fur
too - exploring, swimming, music
making, campfireSecececs

NITTY GRITTIES:

Redbird wiIT provide shelt-
er(tents), food (vegetarian) ,,
and transportation to and from
plarres, busses,. and trains in
Burlington. Redbird has no
money. We've put anything we
did have into getting this
women’s community off the
ground, We're asking for $1.50
a day donation from those of
you: who come this summer. If
you want to come, make reser-
vations now (for June 15 - septe
15). Send the information re-
quested below, and we’l1T send
you' more specifics om the work,
climate, rmecessary clothes,dir-
ections,. etc.

Send us: 1) your name,add-
ress, phone number; 2) dates
you want to come; 3) ages and
gender of children you'll bring
4) any special needs of resourc-
es you have; 5) can you bring a
any tools? What?

Restrictions:
ults; no pets

no male ad-

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS SUMMER!

Please mail reservations and
inquiries to: Redbird 280
Manhattan Drive, Burlington,
Vt. 05401

19=
THE NEW YORK STATE WOMEN'S MEETING

publications and other groups
which work to advance the rights
of women. There will be special
-emphasis on representation of low
income women, members of diverse
racial, ethnic and religious
rroups, and women of all ages.

(ed. note: The National Gay Task
Force has urged lesbians to parti
cipate in these meetings also.
Jean O'Leary, NGTF co-executive
director, has stressed that re-
solutions related to the prohibi-
tion of discrimination against
persons for their sexual or af-
fectional preference MUST be in-
corporated into each state's
resolutions for removing barriers

Inspired by both the Bicentennial
and International Women's Year,
Congress, in 1976, commemorated the
contribution of American women du-
ring the past 200 years by autho-
rizing, under Public Law 94-167,
Women's Meetings in every state and
territory, culminating in a National
Women's Conference to be held in
Houston in November of 1877. The
charge to both the State and Na-
tional Meetings is to:

-recognize the contributions of
women to the development of our
country

-~assess the progress that has been
made to date by both the private

and public sectors in promoting
equality between men and women in
all aspects of life in the United
States

-assess the role of women in eco=
nomic, social, cultural and poli-
tical development

-assess the participation of women
in efforts aimed at development
of friendly relations and coope-

~ration among nations and to the
strengthening of world peace

-identify the barriers that pre-
vent women from participating
fully and equally in all aspects
of national life, and develop

recommendations for means by which

such barriers can be removed.

Although these five points must
be covered in every state meeting,
no state is limited to these to-
pics.

The New York State Women's Meeting
will be held in Albany at the
Empire State Plaza on July 8, 9,
and 10, 1977. Workshops on all
aspects of women's lives as they
relate to the above topics will
report and make recommendations
to the plenary sessions. At the
meeting, 88 delegates to the Na-
tional Conference will be selected.

All meetings are open to the pub-
lic and shall be broadly repre-

which affect the participation
of women in American society.
For more about O'Leary's state~
ment see April's Speakout)

Regional and local committees are
now being formed all over the
state to work on program, out-
reach, public relations, logistics
cultural events and exhibits, and
other facets involved in putting
together a meeting of 5000=6000
women. Headquarters for the New
York State Coordinating Committee
have been opened at 9 West 57th
St. in New York City, 212-593-
5516. In Albany you can contact
Jane Small Sanford 462-3446 (H)
472=-3002 (0). If you are intere-
sted in working locally through
NOW or the Women's Center, contact
Rose Dill (283-1547) or call the
Center on Monday nights (449-9991)

The New York State Women's Meeting
will be the largest conference

for women's rights ever held in
the state' of New York--or anywhere
Please participate July 8-10.

GOOD NEWS FROM THE
WOMEN'S MEDIA PROJECT

. Channel 13 (WAST) will be wor-

king much more closely with area
feminists on public affairs pro-

sentative of local, state, regional
and national institutions, agencies,
organizations, unions, associations,

grams. First plans are for show
on Battered Women & the Women's
Center. More info: 283-1547.

~20=

NEW YORK WOMEN'S LOBBY--AGENDA ..
OF LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES--1977

ABORTION: opposes legislation making
it more difficult to obtain abortion

& supports reimbursement under Medi-
caid

ALTERNATIVE WORK SCHEDULES: supports
flexible work schedules & part-time
employment in State agencies & depts

BATTERED WOMEN: supports legisla-
tion to provide battered women with
recourse to criminal prosecution as
an alternative to civil injunction;
to protect a battered wife who flees
her household from being held at
fault for desertion in a divorce
action; to appropriate funds to es-
tablish & maintain shelters for

women & their children throughout
New York State

CHILD CARE: supports bill to improve
eligibility criteria & fee schedules

& to eliminate limitation of services

to those with no alternative |

DISPLACED HOMEMAKERS : supports Le-
gislation to establish model center
to provide financial & legal coun-
seling and health, job-training &
job placement service

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR PART-TIME
STUDENTS: supports ending discrimi-
nation financially & in support
services

EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY: supports in-

INSURANCE: supports ending discri
mination based on sex in sale of
insurance, premiums charged &
type & extent of coverage

EQUAL PROTECTION: supports equal
treatment for death benefits
under Workmen's Compensation 3
equal minimum age for marriage;
cosmetology and barbering regard-
less of sex

MANDATORY RETIREMENT: supports
abolition of mandatory retirement

BUSINESS, TRADE & PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS: supports ending
discrimination on all bases for
membership, including sex

PENSIONS & ANNUITIES: supports
equal retirement benefits regard
less of sex

PREGNANCY DISABILITY: supports
deletion of pregnancy exclusion

provision in Workmen's Compensa-
tion Law

PROSTITUTION: supports reduction
from Class B misdemeanor to vio-

lation as step toward decrimina-
lization

RAPE: supports protection of
women from rape by their husbands

& eases financial burden of me-
dical costs

clusion of "sex" & "sexual preference"SEXUAL PRIVACY: supports decri-
to prohibited bases of discrimination minalization of adultery & sodo-

& to include public schools under
Human Rights Law

EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT: opposes re-
scision of NYS's ratification of
federal ERA

GAY CIVIL RIGHTS: supports prohibi-
tion of discrimination because of
sexual or affectional preference in
all areas, including employment,
housing, public accommodations, edu-
cation, & the granting of credit

HOUSEHOLD WORK: supports collective
bargaining for all household workers
& inclusion under NYS Human Rights
Law & extension of non-occupational
disability benefits & compensation
for value of homemakers work under
No Fault Insurance

my between consenting adults

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS:
ports the addition of "sex",
"sexual preference" & "marital
status" to list of prohibited
baseszof discrimination by vol-
unteer fire departments

HEALTH RIGHTS: supports patient
right to information, complete
health records, to refuse treat-

ment & for patient-advocate of
choice

sup-

For more information about the
WOMEN'S LOBBY, please contact
Rezsin Adams at 462-0891

Tentative plans for Women’s Day have been made. More people and
ideas are needed to make this Women's Day a successe If you are a
juggler, or a mimist, or a magician, or a puppeteer, or a troubadour,
or a clown, or yow'are interested in doing anything else, please calT
one of the below phone numbers: :

Entertainment - Carol, 482-0455; Speakers - Robin, 489-4298; Pub2i-
city and @utdoor Artshow - Jean, 486-6910; Craftswomen - Jean, 463-
7830.

FRE H HEE HG HE EGE TE HEHEHE KKK HG HHH HE HH KKH EH HHH KH HEHEHE HHH HHH

The People’s Pinksterfest is being planned for May 29. If you wish
to help plan the day or want to set up a booth call 434-0153.

HEHEHE HE EG HE TEE HER HH EK HG HAE HET EE HEE GE HEE HH HIE HE HEHEHE HHH TEE EE HEE EEE HIE HE HE TEE HE HEHE HE HEE HEHE

The AIbany Arts Office is Planning a Pinksterfest for May 15, fron
12:00 - dusk. The Pinsterfest wilI be capping the week = Yong

Tulip Festival Festivities, For more information contact the Albany
Atrs Office,

HGH RH EEK HE EGE HE HEHE HEHEHE FE HEHE EME FE IE HE HE SE HE IE HE HE TE HEE HE TEE HE FE HE HERE SE IESE HE SE SESE SE IE HE SE 46 26 dE SE He GE HE HE SE SE

Artists, Craftspeople reserve your booths now for the Rensselaer
County Council for the arts, 12th Amual Arts & Crafts Festival in
Troy's Washington Park scheduled for Saturday June 4th with a rain-
date of June 1lith. Deadline for booths, May 25th, call: 273-0552 or
write, 189 Second Street, Troy, 12180,

HEHE REE KE HT EE HE EH HE TE EH ETE OE HEHEHE HE HEHE EE HE HEHE HE HE HEE TE HEHE FE IESE IE HE ESE HE GE SE SE HE SE 96 FE FE HE HEHE

This spring Albany Planned Parenthood will move from its present
Tocatiin to a spacious new building just two blocks away at 259
Lark Street, on the corner of Hudson Avenue,

HSE EE TE HED FE HEH TE TE FETE TE HE EE TEE HE HE HE TE HE HE HE HE HE EE HED HE FE HEHE FE HE HE HE HE IE HE HEHE FE SE TE HE FE SE TE HE HE HE HE SEE SE HE EE IE EEE

STATEWIDE HOUSING CRISIS. DAY is being planned for May 24, at the

Capitol. It will be a day of lobbing, discussions with degislators,
press conference, etc, for more information, Susan, 436-8997 days),
463-5105 (nights).

HFEF GE EE HE TE EK HEE ETE HEE HEHE HE FE HE HE HE HE SE HEHE TE SEE FE HE HEE SE HE TE IESE HEE HE FE FE HE FETE FETE FEE SESE FE HE SE GEE GE HE EE IE HE TE HE

The trial date for Katherine Laureano and Micky Figuroa has not
yet been set, however it wilI be sometime in May. For more informat-
ion: Susan, 436-8997 or 463-5105; Katherine, 489-2228,

HEHE EE HEHE HE ETE HE HEH IE HE HE TE HE ESE FE TE HE AE TE HEHE SE HE FEE FE AEE FE TE FE SE HE FE HE HE FE FE HE SEE FETE TE SESE fi HE SE 96 9 98 40 96 FE aE SE GE He He

The Albany YWCA has put together a Spring Program that will be both
supportive and informative to all area womeng

FOCUS ON WOMEN,will be discussing topics that include women and work,

women alone, women and health, women-in the family, and women and
power. The course will highlight the destructive patterns of sexism
and the need for women to institute individual and collective strate-
gies for change. The course begins on April 28 and will run for five
consecutive Thursdays from 7:00 -9:PM, the Iast date being May 26.
(cont. on pg. 22) 21
LETTERS TO SPEAKOUT

Speakout¥
Yesterday I ran into the April

77 issue of Speakout & noticed that

a good percentage of the magazine
was devoted to criticism of TV and
the way wimmin are portrayed.

_ Gail Rathbun & I have been very
involved in organizing a community
cable TV project via cable channel

16 (the public access channel). Our
hepes were that blacks, poor people,

feminists, socialists, disenfran-

chised, others would use channel 16

resulting in "alternative " tv--
but this never happened & today
most of the programming on channel
16 is garbage...

There was a wimmin's group in
Memphis that proposed to lease a
cable TV channel in that city for
wimmin only--wimmin in Albany
picked up on the idea & formed

"Capital Women in Cable", but never

got off the ground, for a variety
of reasons. |
Channel 16 is going to be re-
organized & the studio at Westgate
Plaza will be closed & reopened at
the Albany Public Library under
the direction of Robert Katz. The
date of the move is uncertain, but
it would be a good time for the
wommin who read Speakout to consi-
der getting involved again--not
just coming in as guests, but in-
volving themselves in the politics
of channel 16 & seizin
over the operation as well as in

participation in the Family
Court 8

The Family Court is an in-=
portant court for women. For in-
stance, it has exclusive, origin-
al jurisdiction over fanily off
emse cses such as wife batteringe
It also deals with such matters
as support and visitation rights,
termination of parental rights,
child qbuse and neglect and all
cases involving juveniles.

Anyone interested im parti-
cipnating in this project as a
volunteer court monitor should
contact ne at cither 374-2770
or 434-0153 or at ny address:
1510 Van Vrancken Avenue, Schen-
ectady, New York 12308 for in-
formation,

Sincerely;.

Claudia Schlosber;
HAG SE HE ESE SEH ESE HEE ESE SE FE SEH SESE HE ETE aE FETE SE HE HEHE EH

COMMUNITY NEWS (cont. from pe. 2?

The cost is $10.00 and it will be
held at the Capitol District
Psychiatric Center, 75 New Scot=
Land Avenues
The YW is also sponsering a work=
shop entitled,"WORK OPTIONS FOR
WOMEN, on May 14, The cost is
1.00 for members of the Y¥ and
1.50 for non=menbers, It will
be held at CDP@ and will run from

some control 9:30 AM to 1130 PM,

On May 13, the Tri-City YWCA's

producing shows on particular issues. in conjunction with the Women’s

Michael Agate

(ed. note.)Wommin who would like
more information about involvement
in channel 16 or about working in
cable/videotape in any capacity
can call Mike (474-9365) or Gail
(459-6654) for more information.
HEHE HH SESE HE IESE SESE SESE SESE ETE EHEC IER ETE EE FEE

Greetings:

I would like to take this op-

portunity to inform you that the
Fund for Modern Courts, Inc, is
presently coordinating a Family
Court Monitorimg Project im Albany
County. The project, which is

funded by a grant from the Division

of Criminal Justice is designed to

encourage and initiate community
22

Studies Conmittee at SUNYA will
sponsor a Lecture/Concert, “MUSIC
BY WOMEN*® at the Arts Center, The
facilitators/nusicians will be
Carole Friednman,pianist and Julie
Kabat, soprano/conposer. Tickets
are $1.00 for YW nenbers and $2, OF
for non-members. They may be
purchased at the Albany(449-7184),
ee or Schenec-=
tady (373-3394) YWCaAs.

The Y is alos sponscring a lecture
on RAPE, The lecture will be hel¢
May 18, at 7:30 PM. The lecture

is free,

In order for programs to be succ-
essful, they need support - fron
all area feminists. We're looking
forward tc working with other
(cont. cn page4)
##HHRMAY CALENDAR OF EVENTS*###* SEE COMMUNITY NEWS FOR DETAILS

1 _Cornmunity Discussicn “SEXUAL PREFERENCE"=- Women’s Center
8:PM ‘"? ra
2 ae if Center Community Meeting "FEMINIST BUSINESSES"
:PM ¢
Tec NATIONAL WOMEN’S FILM CIRCUIT - Six assorted feninist
films 8:PM
12 Free Films - Tri- City Women's Center 8PM
43 "MUSIC BY WOMEN® - The Arts Center
14 WORK OPTIONS FOR WOMEN - CDPC 9:30 AM
14 Coffeehouse: “4S THE BAND TOOTS" A Soap Operetta featurung
The Edith Ann Marching Ban's; followefy a Sock Hop 8:30
18 "Rape™ 7:30 CDPC
19 Free Films Women’s Center 8PM
a Coffeehouse: Maggie Boys and Carol Goodman - an evening

of orginal poetry and nusic 8:30

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE COMMUNITY NEWS AND RELATED
ARTICLES

Weekly events Monday--“omen's Genter Steering Committee 8PM
Tuesday--Aid to Battered Women Meeting 8PM
Weekends-= Workshops at A Woman's Place

Submit news and personals by the 15th of every month to SPEAKOUT
PO Box 6165, Albany,12206, or leave material in the SPEAKOUT
envelope at the new Women’s Center, 132 Central Avenue in Albany.

SUBSCRIBE TO SPEAKOUT

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ANOTHER

BATTERED

Vols Vin Be, 6 | June 1977

Table of Contents

2 NYS Joint Legislative Hearing on BATTERED SPOUSES-=-Bessie
"Has the System Failed ??" Malamas

3 Aid to Battered Women, Inc. testimony for the Joint
Legislative Hearing--Maryluise Satterfield

8 Senator Howard Nolan Seeks Support from Albany Women's
Groups--Alexandria Douglas

9 Women on TV Soap Operas: Ladies in Waiting--Faye Harris

Sexual Harrassment on the Job=-Working Women United Institute
**SPECIAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR SPEE

UT READERS**
Have you ever experienced sexual harrassment at work??

14 New Crisis at the Rape Crisis Center in Albany --A. Douglas

15 POETRY by Terry Kennedy and Alice Glarden Brand

18 A Woman's Place is Closed...temporarily

20 Two members of Speakout's staff look at The Daily Woman

21 Albany Needs a Feminist Women's Health Center-- Jane Stevens
21 Women Against Violence Against Women

19 New York State Women's Meeting, July 8-10--A. Douglas

23 Community News

COVER DESIGN: "Never Another Battered Woman!!" by Rose Dill

Workers for this issue: Rezsin Adams, Janice Naylor-Barbuto,
Alexandria Douglas, Natalie K., and
Yvette Middleton |

The opinions expressed in SPEAKOUT articles are those of their re--
spective authors and do not necessarily represent those of the
SPEAKOUT staff. We attempt to present the opinions and ideas of all
facets of the feminist community in the tri-cities area. We welcome
all women to submit articles, poetry, fiction and letters to the
editor on subjects relevant to area feminists.

SPESKOUT is published monthly, except in July/August when we combine
issues. Subscriptions are $3.50 a year, Single copies are 35¢ each.
SPEAKOUT is on sale at several bookstores in the area and at the
Women's Center at 132 Central Avenue in Albany.

To subscribe to SPEAKOUT or to submit material, write:
SPEAKOUT
P.0.Box 6165
Albany, New York 12206

THE NEW YORK STATE JOINT LEGISLATIVE

HEARING ON a.
Spouse--Has the System
Albany, May 10, ‘1977

"Portrait «

The morning of Tuesday, May 30. was
the beginning of the Albany hearing
on a topic long overdue for public
exposure and critical examination.
During the Legislative Hearing,
many voices were heard giving tes-
timony in support of the need > aoe
provide care and attention in the
form of refuges and social services

to battered victims. i

Those present in the hearing room
saw clips of an earlier David Sus-
skind program which showed a panel
of battered women discussing the |
multiple atfacks and injuries which
they had suffered as someone's wife.
These video testimonies were soon >
to be followed by others offered by
wictims present in the hearing room
that morning in the Capitol.

One of the first to be entered into
the Record was by a woman who could
not be present, but her words were
read by Speaker Stanley Steingut.
He compared the issue of domestic
violence to the earlier one sur-
rounding those who had borne retar-

ded children and did not have public police who never came.

support or agencies to help them.
Steingut believes that once the
problem of battering by spouses is
public knowledge, it will follow
that there will be a demand for a-
dequate provisions to end these
endangering situations. Thus, |
according to Steingut, the hearings
play a critical role in achieving
change. :

Soon after, two local women. spoke
about the pain and anguish which —
was contained in their lives as
abused women. The first nameless
victim described a grandmother, a
mother, two sisters, and herself as

women who had known what it was like concerning women who had sought

to be attacked by the man who had

pledged to love as he would be loved During the final study year, 121

by his mate. This woman pointed
out that her own brother had re-

sorted to brutalization of his wife. which had caused their injuries.
cog- Over a 20 year
‘aizant of the results of living in a team found that about 50% of the

She asked the panel to be fully

nome where physical attack re

‘mistaken tue love and tecdust affec-

ment and judicial a
stems of patriarchal coercion and

-chers

tion; where children come to be-
lieve that caring means having the
right to punch and the expectation

that one will be punched; and

where the end result is the socia-

a lization of adults with the idea
that violence towards one's own

spouse is "normal".

The second victim! Ss testimony was
an indictment of the law enforce-

enicies’ as sy-

power wielding. Cindy Lewis had
been dangerously battered and
thought her calls to the police
and courts would be helpfully an-
swered; instead, she found that
her pleas for aid were met by a
total absence of sympathy and
compassion.

Here was a victim who told how

agencies under public charge to

maintain order and to arrest the
violent attackers only laughed at

her plight and questioned her

veracity. She told of calling the
She spoke
ofa judge whose attitude was one
of concern for the accused husband,
The injustices of the present laws

and court procedures were never

more evident than during Ms. Lewis’

testimony. |

Not only did +icting speak of

their treatment, but two resear-
from Yale University, Drs.
Evan Stark and Anne Flitcraft,
described a history of abusive
treatment suffered by battered
women in the state of Connecticut.
Flitcraft and Stark reported the
results of a 20-year review of
hospital emergency room records

(emergency) medical attention.

women out of 481 seen were in-
volved in violent relationships

period, the researct.

female injuries treated in emer-
gency rooms were caused by bat-

ALBANY hearing on Battered Spouses °
(cont'd)

tering. Of this group, 73.9%
would have been termed "felonious

assaults" had legal intervention
taken place.

Many persons came forth to add to
the accumulating record that mor-
ning. A past Family Court Clerk
testified that he believed all
charges of physical attack should

be handled in Criminal Court, which

would end the discriminatory prac-
tice which insists that married
victims must take their complaints
to Family Court. A woman from

the U.A.W. Region #9 in Syracuse
came forth to read the supporting
statement of their Res aoe

self : asa pant vietin. ”

Yet there were testimonies showing
the hopeful potential of the
hearing and the need for passage
of new laws. The spokeswoman
from the Albany Aid to Battered
Women, Inc., Marylouise Satter-
field, delivered a report which
not only documented inequities
but indicated viable solutions.
These would include: information
centers, refuges for women and
their children, counselling for
victims, advocacy during visits
to public agencies, and programs
to help women end their economic
dependence upon their attacker.

The May 10 hearing was the second
in a sequence of four to be held
throughout New York State during
the month of May. Hearings are
excellent ways of ‘bringing issues
to prominence in the arena of
public awareness. Alone, they do
not serve to change the law andto
aid the battered victim. Too -
often they can be easily forgotten
in what Philip Slater termed, "the
toilet assumption” reaction on

the part of the public. Slater
noted that once a social problem
is revealed and discussed, people
all too easily assume that the
government and elected officials

Very often the problem is merely

flushed away from public sight, 3

never solved or fully treated.

It is up to the people in this
state to pursue real solutions

By discussing the issue of do-

mestic violence everywhere. It
is absolutely necessary to write

letters and to lobby state of-

ficials on behalf of those women
too frightened and terrorized to:
speak for themselves.

The public remains responsible
for the ultimate outcome of these
hearings~-because what we do de-
termines whether or not the tes-
timonies will be filed and for-
gotten, or reread and translated

into laws, programs, and solutions
for those who still suffer.

Bessie Malamas

Aid to Battered Women, Inc.
Testimony presented at the May 10
hearing by Maryluise Satterfield

The Battered wife is the reci-

pient ofa three-way knock-out;

she is victimized in three fash-
ions: 1)She is the victim of
severe physical violence
repeatedly directed at
her body by a man, usual-
ly physically larger, who
controls all the power in
' the family °
2)She is the victim of a
legal system, described
as offering protection to
all citizens, but which
fails repeatedly to help
her. |
3)She is a victim of
society" s sexist thinking
which ascribes to a wife
a role and function con-
sisting mainly of obli-
gations and blame, but
offers little in the way

of rights or protection.

You, representing the New York

State Legislature, ask for a por-
are providing the needed cinta trait of a battered wife.

“let me clarify my terms.

First,

(cont'd p. 4 )

am speak tng ‘about any i ani nan he Lives

status, as ly married, iy inc )

: that ‘term ) in an |
ship » oe ee
livin, : 3

hus
rt poet his wife fron ma~ page

. She is * Saee
epts socie ety ts “* id ement Ber
ep Bees it). that she is at =
~ She_ enerally Tacks ap

Am, gol or nearby family.
woman is ya

Paha

J we

Pe
Sa

<9 had a ag
ve: changed ‘ide ae ves

gaits : 4

i
i? ‘
as ae
nd

irl. s been re-

' *peaten for the eee 8 io
she ¢ alle fee =e a. Yi Way ome
oe diol ee 4 a ae 1

a”, .
¥ j lar) |
to xi. J -
‘ *

a om.
Len Zz a ae
(cee
a a oF a
a eee da et ‘ d a <
ay,

39-4 ape ae on t di c n a S hae her ae ange r
é

an : er é he hos: ital, that ni ght. This: she
| . = -d on her ¢ n. She is staying Game
a. ] cat stp lam because = 2° a

Whe ; , a |

a he

+ rs nd aning|

to . le

fe ous exeiar t her=
her child, She feels
, take: it ‘any more se Ce
ny way out. She'd
et > her hu sears: id Ee
) bea page her, yea but we don't | :f
,any way to do. that. She | en

one

3 ¥ § — |
mith ig.
ae ee
red BLs z a S| ae wt x
iT potas Be bay ; i. q f e: «4 = =
ER ee a eee

ne cine au
‘irst

SLE woul, just ‘mal ce oie B

Sore

re al ngrys We were the first
o 4 aanken't, .

te taal eve:
are no ree, equip pp
ut substantial. assi
Y: Physical violen ane

y is aunts in
ra ig —cultu :
milies aire om all
re OHOLISM: ' es

‘a

- fant

r ea:

me 7
- we

a. <i

n 3° gone as
wit ed b ; However ie.
gxeuses . piv ice doe i} aap to do it finan-
to et : zo and & "TL a a pense obey ae her family Oe 5 aa
sponsible b Ci use Withka* - sive son e money if. she does
eave, | : ae.

Pag rade A

Sy
fo -
3 od ef eo i ia * Ps, é b>
oh oe ears eto a ee ee ee ae 5
Da age hee ae pe ee ‘cont'd - Sas Bas Sir
5 he ‘ : ¢ 5 Levee OS p's el ry
ne - Tx at ee KS ree \ at ‘ ae >. Me oh eid . Wala r i ie ie ‘
a i, = Pa Trex. 2 ra a £ ae | = é Fes a] = + od o£ teig ve, wae ? : Z
* ae ates a oe Ae : v a ei . 4p be sy
fe a by 4 F = rea at ts id 4. Ae Hes t = am
a CF Shs t " & rf wp at oui "

Pam is 37 She called after her
husband choked her the night be-
nearhats said has 4 Bp ena aol a ia

fess fig

ted ant “to: Tenily Herth pees P timed
but he is easily aroused to vio-
lence. She has never ‘been employed.

Lori is 28 and has 3 children. She

had left her husband and moved to

this area. Husband was in a mental
hospital. He was released and fol-
lowed her, burned all the court
records, including her Order of
Protection. ve helped her get a

new one .

Jane, age 25, ee enidaren in
her care. Her husband had beaten
her a year ago, giveing her a
broken arm, facial injuries anda

perforated eardrum. She separated

from | Sina oa has an | Order oF Prow

Le | Gad ee

bom eallsee unl eel aril her
because he knows this. She did

not know that verbal threats con-_
stituted a violeation of the Order
of Protection. She called the po-
lice, but they woul dy" ‘t come un=
less he came to her house. She was
very frightened but couldn't stay
with her family because they have
no phone.

I could describe ‘more cases but t
think the point is made. It has
been said "there is” perhaps no

greater threat to a woman's health

than domestic violence." According
to FBI statistics, the crime of

wife abuse. is three times more

unreported than rape and 10 times
more frequent than available sta-
tistics indicate. Some purges tise

ee Se

ear eer pei ot abuse ie tine emia
of their husbands. In nine out of
10 cases reported by police as
"domestic violence" the victim is
a woman. A conservative estimate
puts the number of battered wives
nationwide at well over a million.
Using the New York State court
statistics and the "Ten Times" .

formula to account for cases ; that 5

were uncompleted or never repor-
ted, in New York State we have
141, 670 wife beatings annually.
We cannot be more specific unless
police are required to keep sta-
tistics and we can overcome the

wives' reluctance to report wife
beating.

Experience has shown that as soon
as a Rape Hot Line is opened it
quickly becomes utilized by many
battered wives. As soon as a ser-
vice such as Aid to Battered
Women, Ine. in this area gets
started, referrals and calls es-
calate enormously. As soon as a
refuge for battered women and
their children is opened, Ay lege 4
filled beyond capacity. Needs
assessment should be unnecessary.

I'm sure the question must have
crossed your mind, "Why doesn't

she just leave?" The answer is

another question--HOW? You have
to have a place to stay. That re~
quires money for rent. Even to
go to welare for emergency assis-
tance requires the ability to get
there. If a wife takes her hus-
band's car to flee she can be
arrested for grand larceny. What
should she do with the children?
rf she leaves them, she will .
probably lose custody for aban-
donment. If she takes them, how
will she support them? She needs
a job, but she has never worked.
How do you arrange for child care
before you're employed? How do

you look for a job with children

oa tow?
Is. the - place you" re staying in

safe? Will the husband find you
and beat you again--or take the
children? The very fearfulness of
all these questions renders most

wife/victims incapable of action
without help.

In middle-class or higher income

homes the problems may be even
worse. The wife/victim has no

money, no assets or credit cards
in her own name. If she contacts

an attorney, he is usually male

and does not consider represen-

ting HER interests ats as “ie
(cont'd
testimony, cont'd

ficial to him monetarily or profes=
sionally as representing the husband.
Legal Aide will not help because
their limits are set by the "family"
income, even though the wife has no
access to that income. Femal attor-
neys are always being asked to help
out female clients for reduced (or
no) fees even though this is an un-
equal burden on them.

Shelters for battered women provide
the necessary transition step. A
place where a battered woman and her
children can be immediately safe
physically and the woman can talk

to others in the same situation,
assess her needs, and move to meet
those needs in her own manner. If
she decides to return to her husband :
she can set the terms on which she
will continue the marriage. If she
wants to separate, the first steps
can be begun. It gives women, beaten
physically and psychologically, a
resting place where they can think
through their situation in peace=-
perhaps for the first time in their
lives.

Next you may wonder, "“ivJhy should
government, specifically the New York
State Legislature, do anything?? Why
can't this problem be handled by all
those fine women! S groups who are so
anxious to help, who are represented
in this room?" The answer is because
the problem is society's problem.
Fostered by the myth that a wife is
her husband's property, most legis-
lators are reluctant to act. Plus
the myth of preserving the "great
American family". I'm sure you've
heard that the American family is
the 2nd most violent institution,
second only to the U.S. Army in
times of war. Legislation against
wife-beating is not legislation
against the family, any more than
legislation against speeders is le-
gislation against driving. The pro-
blem is simply too big and too im-
portant to left only to volunteer
women. It's like trying to dam a
flood with one brick.

Can it be left to existing agencies
to handle? Each of them has failed

in their own way to handle 14 8G far...

SOCIAL SERVICES=-often tries to
keep a marriage intact if the
family is not on welfare. A
social worker is trained to
consider both sides of a mari-
tal problem, a usual, just
and fair approach=-but where

a woman is being savagely
beaten, it hardly seems rea-
sonable to pause and weigh

the merits while she continues
to be beaten.

POLICE--they are understandably
afraid of domestic violence.
Police are injured most fre-
quently when responding to
such cases. They also express
annoyance when repeated calls
to the same address does not
result in the wife taking any
action. Although they may un-
derstand why it is difficult
for a wife to act, they would
be less than human if they
didn't get tired. Besides they
are often somewhat immune to
violence since they see so
much. "Oh lady, all he did was
break your nose, Sleep on it

and youtil forget it in the
morning." This reinforces the
battered wife's idea that it's
her fault e

HOSPITAL=--they see their job as
healing. What happems outside
the hospital is no concern of
theirs. They patch up the bat-
tered wives and send them home.
They are most reluctant to

witness any evidence that
might require one of their
staff to take time off to tes-~
tify in court, or that might
involve the hospital in con-
troversy.

MENTAL HOSPITALS-~they | may see a
battered wife after a suicide
attempt because she cannot
continue with her situation.
The psychiatrist usually me-
dicates and sends her home
(after all they can't keep her)

GENERAL PHYSICIANS--usually they

are extremely busy and don't

spend time on what they con-

Sider to be someone else's

problem. Mostly they prescribe

more pills and send the wife
home. (cont'd p. 7 )

MARRIAGE COUNSELORS==by definition,
their aim is to preserve the
marriage. If the husband won't
come in, they label the case

"uncooperative" and close it.
LAWYERS~-battered wives are not.
good business, as I've mentioned
before. And it takes a lot of
time. >>:

COURTS--Family court has been a

revolving door for battered
wives. They issue Orders of
Protection but fail to follow.
up. All the initiative must be
the woman's, And she is the

least likely to be able tootake
that. step.

By now, I'm sure you're wondering
if New York State government can
afford to help the battered wife.
Admittedly, the price tag for an
effective program is large. But
look at the alternative,

Violence in ‘the family breeds more
violence. It passes from generation
to generation. The man who is a per-
sistent batterer usually comes from
a home where he watched or experien-
ced violence. The battered wife, in
her despair, sometimes batters the
children,
pushed beyond her limitations, mur=
ders her husband, Because she is
afraid of him and must pick a time
when he is defenseless, she will
strike when he's asleep or drunk.
This becomes first degree murder.
If her husband kiljed her during
an episode of battering, this would

be, at best, second degree,

cated to. ps era The yeeeis
to grow up to be a batterer or to
resort to violence when frustrated;
the zirl-child to believe thet...
passively accepting physical abuse
is expected of a woman. Can we,
as a State, afford that heed

Law enforcement and social ‘services.
pia a a are dismal Jaron cmt: Neill

women" s groups miek helt p in Seta;
lishing refuges for ses Race women
government usually responds in un-

attitude .

Sometimes a battered wife,

fled

. the other Way e

suitable and traditional ways:
money is granted for “research",

but not for services; for feasi-

bility studies, but not for ser-
vices; or for one crisis center
as a pilot project. None of these
responses adequately address the
very real needs of countless
women victims.

The basic need is for a change in
There is a need to
clearly enunciate the belief that
a wife is a person with all the
rights and protection that accrue
to any citizen. The belief that a

marriage license is not a license
to mayhem; that no human being is

the property of another, BUT, we
can't wait for a change in atti-
tude to be accepted. The battered
wives cannot. In the meantime,

the New York State Legislature
must mandate a change in behavior.
And you must go further; you must

legislate for a network of sup-
port. The network must include

informational centers, safe shel-
ters or refuges, counselling for
the wife/victim, advocacy ser-

vices for social agencies, and

programs to develop women as a

means to- economic independence.

Part of your initial question was
HAS bead ‘SYSTEM PATLED? I_answer
“i resounc re It failed
woman who ae to prosecute
her husband for beating her and
the court appoints an attorney
for him to defend himself, but
she can! t qualify for Legal Aid
because her husband's salary is
too hig gh. It failed the woman who
in her husband's car because
she can be arrested for grand

larceny. It failed the woman who
fled without her children because

she didn' 4 know how she could
eare for them, so she lost cus-
tody rights entirely.

In this State, it's against the
Law to beat a child and govern-
ment acts to intervene. If a man
be ats higis: dog, government moves
to. protect the dog. But if a man
‘beats his” wife, government looks

(conclusion p. 10)

SENATOR HOYARD NOLAN SSEKS SUPPORT FROM ALBANY WOMEN'S GROUPS

: 3 of 20 women assembled in the law |
eee ming, May 14, a group of 20 women assembice ee mwre women
offices of State Senator Howard Nolan to discuss the concerns of wor
tn the Albany area. Nolan, in case you don't follow local pol

ae ee anata Pan WAoUT
is running against ERASTUS CORNING in ee at ee
of the city of Albany. Cornin has been Mayor = a — 7

1 is hoping to defeat him (and to bring an end to “5a
sosania® gb we now know it) by forming a broad-based coalition of

ed ‘s ieee : ey aw oe ; ; ia nda mS nif ue

supporters who will stump for him in their own neighborhoods a
‘ommunity groups. | a;

- : Ep OLD Oe
Nolan's approach to wwoing our support was to : ie Or pap weenie
more women to become involved in party bod alts A Sear is ak &A>
interest in recruiting women to serve as rea ae jatere tied
visors to his campaign staff. As mayor of Albany, his wi ae heedina
would be rebuilding the downtown — esi gpa sisaoed te

odes in the city and improved traffic control. Te Abe a gg
hie ioe women end wigasteies in his administration, should he be
elected. e's |

Feminists in the group expressed reservations about extending support
to a candidate who was not OUT-FRONT on presenting women's issues as
a central part of his campaign, and some discussion ensued about a
variety of issues (statewide and local) in which Nolan is either in-
volved or On which he might have some impact as a State legislator:
--affirmative action programs at the city level and in State
agencies |
--the current controversy over the Albany Rape Crisis Center
(check Table of Contents for-Felated “stéry)
--legislative support for a Battered Women's Center in Albany
--legislative support for the Displaced Homemaker bill
~-restoration of the budget cuts of the State Division for Human
Rights ; |
--funding CETA positions for the Women's Center in Albany and/or
‘providing a building for the center as originally promised five
years ago by Erastus Corning.

Nolan voiced support for all of the legislation mentioned above; in-
dicated that he feels affirmative action could work at both the State
and city levels if there were adequate support from top administrators,
and promised (yes, promised) to deliver CETA positions to the Women's
Center next year if he is elected, ,

BUT, before you rush to become an av
in this disclaimer:
It is clear it will take significantly more exposure to women's
issues --and a healthy dose of consciousness raising--before Mr.

Nolan will elevate those concerns to PRIORITY level in his cam-
paignit!

id Nolan supporter, we must throw

Many of the women present at the May 14 meeting have agreed to give
more energy to the Nolan campaign in the hopes that constant reinfor-
cement of the importance of stressing women's issues will eventually
influence Senator Nolan to the point where he becomes a positive '
choice for Albany women to support in the upcoming primary for Mayor.
SPEAKOUT readers interested in working for Nolan-or in

finding out more about the caimpaign-can call Fran (489-4298)
ye ‘

WOMEN ON TV SOAP OPERAS:
eEROACE 3 in WeLene:

it there is one common denominator :
among the soap opera females, At has

to be waiting. ‘They all suffer the
Snow White syndrome. They wait for
lovers, husbands, and babies. They
are all terrific at passively and
actively waiting. Now if you find
it difficult to imagine active
waiting, tune in to “Ryan's Hope"
some day and watch the all-time
champs Delia Ryan. — exTSSnor

Delia is the epitome of the ever-pop- °
ular child/woman. She bounces from
man to man like a wad of. well-worn
Silly Putty, and she's just as adap-
table. When she thinks she' — losing

a pera ‘she Bass. ba i Eee that ficgaa

a. ee

faite. ier ‘te you's re sapien? tor &
fool-proof man=nabber, you must get
in touch with Velisges +... i

That's how she managed to ‘keep Frank
Ryan | for so long, in spite of his ©
continuing affair with the love of
his life, Jill, who is waiting for
Frank to be free (what else?).

But poor unloved, misunderstood Delia
went too far when she had an affair
with Roger, Jill's brother; and Frank
filed for divorce. From the tone of
the dialogue, it's quite clear that
Frank's affair was forgiveable since
men will be men and because Jill is
a fine upstanding member of the com-
munity; but Delia's affair wad disa-
sterous ‘because Bese is. a n! er=do~

around. —

At any rates labia tn ‘solution a en in
that handy dandy thermometer, and off
she goes with Frank's brother, Pat,
to produce another | pregnancy. Oh,
these scheming women will do just |
about anything to trap a good mant!
Poor Pat is pitied because he didn't
have brains enough to resist ‘those

“cana her- baby (conceived with ano-

ther ma man, but that's another
story). Sound complicated? Indeed
it is; but the one underlying

theme remains perfectly clear

throughout all the intrigue---
women make great waiters.

As for the passive waiter, almost

every soap has at least one.

There's the serenely feminine Kim

on "As The World Turns" who makes
a career out of playing love songs
on the “piano and gazing Simper-

rolls by, wLt hes while dressed
to the nines and looking like she

B stepped off the cover of

Vogue. — This lady absolutedly
never gets angry at anyone for
anything. She also quite obvi-

> ously never washes dishes, clothes
or floors; but she does wait a

lot. |

And Pat on “One Life To -Live™

really | should be in the Guinness

Book of Records. Ten yeags ago

she had an idyllic affair with

‘Tony, the result of which was

Bryan, her son. (These women
ALWAYS get pregnant when they
have affairs...I haven't figured
out yet if this is punishment,
penitence, or divine intervention.
But there it is.) The affair en-
ded, and Tony never knew about
the ehild, primarily because Pat
is bne hell of a sacrificer.
Eventually she just happens to
get a job in the same town as
Tony, who is now married to Cathy,
your friendly neighborhood psycho-
path. Pat doen't want to break up
Tony's marriage, so she lets

every yone believe that Bryan is

her dead husband's son. Meanwhile

. tosses and turns quite beau-
4lly at night, dreaming of this

ten year old affair--apparently |

because nothing of any signifi-
cance has happened to her since.

ample female charms, much. less pack As” with all illegitimate children
his condoms before the trip. And now in the soaps, Bryan becomes

Delia is waiting for Pat and the baby deathly ill, goes into a coma,
while Jill waits. for Frank's divorce. calls for his father and--

rn
4

(continued pe’ 10)

WOMEN ON SOAPS (cont'd)

tortured beyond endurance, Pat
finally tells Tony the truth.

This is not, however the end of her
waiting because now she insists that
no one else know until Cathy, Tony's
psychopathic wife, recovers. From
the gist of the storyline, her re-
covery should not come to pass for
another ten years of so. So, ten
years from now, Pat will still be
tossing and turning and dreaming
and waiting...This lady is nothing
but patient. |

Ultimately, identifying with the |
ladies of the soaps is kind of like
believing in Cinderella and Peter
Pumpkin Eater's wife. They are all
so supremely passive, so totally
"feminine" in the worst sense of the
word. Occasionally they do manage
to slip in a woman with character,
intelligence and wit, but she never
lasts long. They either kill her
off or erode her character to the
point where she is no longer re-
cognizable. Witness the complete
destruction of Cathy Craig on "One
Life to Love". Not too long ago
she was a very intelligent, inde-
pendent and successful author; now
she's the psychopathic wife, men-
tioned above. How could this have
happened, you ask? Only a soap
writer could have accomplished it;
it wouldn't be believed on any other
type of show, with the possible
exceptions of “Star Trek” or “Char-
lies Angels".

Follow this plot if you can: Cathy
has an affair with Joe, who is in
love with Vicky. Cathy gets preg-
nant (didn't I tell you?), but re-
fuses Joe's offer to “make an honest
woman of her" and gives bitth to
Megan, who is born with congenital
heart defects (I warned youl). She
proceeds to rear the child herself.
One day Vicky, who is now married
to Joe, is babysitting Megan when
the baby has an attack. Vicky jumps
in the car to take Megan to the
hospital, has an accident and Megan
is killed. Cathy's grief turns to
hatred for Vicky when she learns t
that Vicky is pregnant.

By now Tony has entered the picture,,

wooed and won Cathy, and marries her, NEVER ANOTHER BATTERED OMANI Et

son they did nothing is because

ne Ne Ne ea ee ere RO Pe. oy TT RI re ee

This is where the disintegration
begins. Cathy suddenly turns in-
to a jealous, neurotic bitch who
wines, wheedles and nags Tony
right into Pat's arms. (Are you ~
following this?) Cathy kidnaps
Vicky's newborn baby and runs
away, develops amnesia, is even-"
tually found and locked up. She
is now a wise-cracking wacko con-
fined in amental hospital, perhaps
the only psychopathic amnesiac in
soap opera history.

a ee

Incidentally, the women who played
the characters of Cathy and Brandy
BEFORE they self-destructed have
left their respective soaps. One
can only hope they could no lon-
ger endure the complete reversal

of the women they portrayed and

went on to bigger and better parts.
But if one of them turns up as

the newest “waiter" on another
soap, we can only hope and pray
that she doesn't have an affair
resulting in a child with an
unknown disease which can only be
cured byPrince Charming's mira-
culous kiss.

Faye Harris
A.B... CONCLUSION: The tragedy of
Kitty Genovese's murder wes sees
posed to be that so many people
watched and did nothing; but the
real tragedy is was that the rea~

they tho

ught she was his wife!!

SEXUAL HARRASSMENT ON THE JOB--°
A project developed by the

Working Women United Task Force
P.0.Box 732 Ithaca, New York
14850 (6075 273-7613

The Working ema United Institute
was incorporated in 1975 to engage —
in research, education and litigation
on the problems that confront women
workers of all racial, ethnic and
economic backgrounds. The Institute
inde created to answer a sapere for an

nee dpe Ae ‘publ bho ‘Of Wome wn” leet
outside the home.

thet, hea: | bRen a. -tiramatic increase

ky
jobe. earning 5 od ry Pepa of seek

a man earns, Furthermore, the fai-
lure of societal attitudes bd keep
pace with the reality of women! Ss new
role as worker intensifies social

problems and conflicts in the work-
place. . >

One of the most. important and least
understood problems that women wor=
kers face is sexual harrassment on

the jot . The impact of unwanted se-
sual advances and being required to

measure up to an arbitrary standard

of "desirability" doubles the. burden
of discriminatiom: women receive
unequal opportunities in hiring,
promotion, wages and training, and

at the same time experience the con-
flict of being treated in a way which
inappropriately makes their sexuality.

salient in the workplace. The Working mous

Women United Institute was the first
to recognize sexual harrassment on
the job asa problematic social in-
teraction, warranting serious atten-
ti .

How does sexual harrassment operate?
Men hold almost all the positions
with the authority to hire and fire
while women are concentrated in lower
echelon jobs] Many men take advan-
tage of these situations to force —
women into sexual intimacies in order _
to keep their jobs. Sexual harrass-
ment can range anywhere from a look

to a rape. But there is little re-
course for a woman subjected to
these indignities other than to
tolerate the situation or leave
her job. This compounds women's
disadvantage in the labor force.
Being forced to leave a job which

she needs for survival contributes

to a woman's downward mobility and

N the cycle of unemployment and
poverty. Staying on the

job and
putting up with the situation
causes undue emotional and even

physical stress.

Fear, isolation and humiliation
have long kept women from talking
‘sopenly about sexual harrassment.
However, in May 1975, Working Women
United Institute sponsored an his-
storic "Speak Out" in Ithaca, NY,

where for the first time women

came together to share their per-
sonal experiences with sexual
harrassment on the job. Professors
waitresses, factory workers, film-
makers, secretaries and musicians
--they ALL told of the anger,
helplessness and humiliation they
felt having to confront unwanted
sexual advances in their work si-
tuations. One woman cried openly

as she told of having to give up

her. dreams of going to law school
because the instructor for whom
she was a teaching assistant re-
fused to give her a recommendation
after she turned him down. Others
spoke of having to take jobs at
lower pay to get away from infa-
"pinchers" and "chasers".
Their work situations created such
tensions for these women that many
became overwrought or even physi-
cally ill as a result. When women
tried to complain about harrassing
behaviors, they were ridiculed or
the complaints were treated light-
ly by their supervisors. Most felt

that their aspirations and career

advancement were severely hampered
by the added burden of coping with
sexual harrassment. :

It became clear at the Speak Out
and from the Pesulits of Working
Sexual Harrassment , cont'd

Women United's pilot questionnaire
in Ithaca and Binghamton NY they
sexual harrassment is widespread
and has damaging effects on women's
job satisfaction, self-image, occu-
pational mobility, statu
and mental health. We realized that
the problem must be exposed and
brought to public attention af it
is ever to be eliminated. In addi-
tion to the Speak Out and question-
naire, the Institute has produced a
videotape and fact sheets on sexual
harrassment, presented testimony
before the New York City Human Rights
Commission , and argued an enem= |

ployment appeal case in New York
state.

Although we have succeeded in esta-
blishing a center for the study of
sexual harrassment and have opened
discussion of this problem, the
attitudes that sexual harrassment is
"trivial" or that a woman should be

1s attainment —

legal project to handle sexual
harrassment litigation, building
a resource library on the topic,
undertaking an in-depth research
study and writing educational
materials.

Because the Institute is concerned
with reaching a new consituency

and wants to be effective in

changing public attitudes and in-
fluencing policy, outreach is a
vital aspect of the Working Women
United Institute's programs. We
will cooperate with other national
groups and with those at the grass
roots level, using vehicles such ©
as working women's organizations, —
community groups, and labor
unions to disseminate information
and services, The institute can

help support these organizations’

efforts by developing projects
in consultation with them that
further their own work on the

able to "handle" it remain alarmingly problems of women in employment.

common. These attitudes stem from
traditional societal and institu-
tional definitions which portray
women as sexual beings, not to be
taken seriously as workers. As long
as these assumptions are carried
into the workplace in the form of
sexual harrassment, women workers
will continue to be denied equal
terms and conditions of employment.
When sexual harrassment is defined
as unacceptable, when women can
stand up to this abuse without fear
and are no longer vulnerable to
sexual demands backed by economic
threats--only then can Title VII of
the 1964 Civil Rights Act and other
legislation designed to protect
women's rights begin to have meaning
for wokking women.

Obviously a lot remains to be done.
The aim of the Institute is to de-
velop concrete programs that address
these needs. Our plans include an
extensive public education campaign,
finding legal remedies, providing
support services including counse=
ling for the victims of sexual
harrassment, and collecting the data
necessary +0 inform public policy.
Currently, the Working Women United

Institute is developing a RAT OMES,

In addition, the Institute will
encourage ideas and project pro-
posals from working class and

professional women that address

the sexual harrassment problem

as well as other issues which af-

fect the lives of women workers.
The Institute, when it is fully
operational in the Fall of 1977,

will assist in obtaining funding
and in administering grants for

such proposals.

The staff of the Working Women

United Institute presently inclu-
des people skilled in group pro-
cess and organizational develop-

ment, knowledgeable in the field

of women and work, trained in
social science research techniques
and experienced in administration

and fundraising. The Institute is

also developing ongoing consulta-
tion relationships with various
authorities in SPECIFIC areas of
concern to working women, inclu-
ding attorneys, counselors, union
leaders, community organizers,

media specialists and social sci-~
entists.

Sexual harrassment is a contro=-

‘versial issue. The Institute is

“Tat ae ete

“SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON THE JOB a ee SURVEY FORM

ve Lee

This survey seeks to fiad' out the nature of Sexual Harassment ‘on the job; “no fatter how
subtle. a

Se eee en . . . > $ '
os Ye vy; . Pe

Sexual: means any touching fone. on rump, brushing, leaning against, etc.) .or vediiel
insinuation, : 26. , suggestions to participate ‘in sex by implication or
sexual reference of any kind which was offensive to you.

Harrassment: “ pressures other than thgse dealing Wik th specific job, requirements.:

PL SS séxlid} remarks about physical attributes - (reference to bdst size, figure, °
shape of legs, provocative remarks about style of dress,.etc.) .designed to
encourage more work or.suggestion of special attention; ‘sexual references:

= ot a eee which create an atmosphere other than work “oriented. eng

NOTE: If you youled Give not experienced. sexu sexual harassment .but have been t told Pe

someone else of such an experience, “please fil) out this questionnaire with
the information BE Sone See to Eee you by that ee

+ ARAKI, ETRE MRKKXN ‘iieatereriaiinamnaeatiaiiters

7 . — . _ on eemennenenn a amarnat

PERSONAL DATA (No names of either employee or employer wanted)

2 fee of Employee | bine, Number of years employed

_ Type. of, employment (clerical, saith
teacher, Haby-sitter, nurse, etc. 3

a ee +

AXXXXXXXXXX eR een NA ee eran Ne Ne NA

—— a a a a en a a ee re ee nk EN NL oR A

1. Have’ you éver been sexually harassed on the: fob?’ «ht Fe NS

Seat og Te Ee tg,
g 0G SF Shige

| Ts = | NO “ool toi: ceases irate okiaaitl

sexual harassment on, the job? . +» else's. information as
Pe " '- ‘tq ‘Sexual harassment.

!f you have not been sexually harassed yourself, Pe ito here if sete. is
has anyone you’ know ever.told you of her own “information of someone
|

Describe briefly. thé nature of this sexual harassment.

m2.

yr Was ‘this harassment’ white, employed: full or part- time? sind 3

es. ys
> ¥% >

FULL-TIME PART-TIME OE SUBON ET NOW Ro

ne cee

4. Did you (or the one Harassed) feel that job was at stake or that some othar. threat
was involved.at the time of the harassment? peeparre 3

EGLO, et

Oe ee NO : DON'T KNOW. - HIS HAPPENE
ARE i STAGE aay SOMEONE ELSE.

* - oat PRES YS a oe ” ’
. 4 : 9 gS ee . v t i LFS DF
re a t cn : *“ SN es . oh oe :
Pits ee. ced ‘cae oe ae wie i Gag :

Ravitz & Schroeder - 1977

©)

5. te yes to Question 5, in what way? (Check more than ae anal Teast
__.. BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS <5) 0.) 5: > cue BAY. RAISE.
___WORSE WORKING CONDITIONS __ PROMOTION
_" DON'T. KNOW THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE "OTHER (Specify). _

6. At the ‘time of the. harassment, what was your. (or one harassed) attitude or reaction?
_"_"LAUGHED IT OFF. mh. Yee st tie Ts ceil IGNORED

TOOK 17 SERIOUSLY EE Peres ce "pon t KNOW 3 THIS HAPPENED TO
~—_REACTED IN SOME OTHER WAY (Specify) 0

eet ees ; eee s

rt re a

7. How did-you (or the -one harassed). respond to ‘the sexual harassment? “(Check more than
one, if appropriate) ~ mice en

GAVE IN ee So ee IT
IGNORED IT Se a ee ea

DON'T KNOW -. THIS HAPPENED TO. SOMEONE ELSE. __ RESPONDED IN SOME OTHER WAY.
a : ‘ | Speci fy

8. if responded or gave aie, dint: was qe reason?.. (If. possible, rank in order of priorit:
if more than one applies) : |

DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO “== EMBARRASSMENT
____HOPE .FOR ADVANCEMENT ecb ny sige GENERAL FEAR .
FEAR OF BEING FIRED | _-ECONOMTC

OTHER (Specify) a? ee KNOW. is THIS HAPPENED TO
Se eee SOMEONE EL'S

9. No matter what the response was to the sexual harassment, was job, working conditions

etc., affected in any way, no matter how subtly, after the harassment? (Check more
than one, if. appropriate) nat

_. HARASSMENT INCREASED. =: 0, 0. a tote bosPieeeee CHANGE a:
____ HARASSMENT CONTINUED ee ee a Gs IMPROVED er
___ CONDITIONS DETERIORATED “nu OTHER (Speci fy)

____DON'T KNOW - THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE

10. Were you (or the one harassed) aware of other instances of harassment by this perso:

ae Ce ____DON'T KNOW = THIS HAPPENED
gitiie xen TO SOMEONE ELSE

What was the frequency? — - = 7 aa ic

Se SERUM ap com OFTEN

DON'T KNOW = THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE. ELSE.....

11. Did you (or the one harassed) report this occurrence to anyone? (Check more than
one, if applicable) — : oF. eURORME ee Tan a ee TS Ue LET OS

SUPERVISOR OR PERSON IN AUTHORITY
UNION OFFICIAL (GRIEVANCE) =

FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER
DON'T KNOW - THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE

"OTHER (Specify)

hoe bm

. : P ¢ “> ’ 1, 3 Se ye in
wages “he © ’ ” g ° > a ¢ $
: P
En EEE , ae

12. If yes to Question 11, what result came of the report? (Check more than one, if
_ applicable)

| |. ARASSMENT, OTHER THAN SEXUAL, BEGAN __ NOTHING

eee tis
<s* -* e ee xe
< s . ar ors -aa

HARASSMENT INCREASED. GOT FIRED).
| HARASSMENT STOPPED i | _OTHER (Specify)
DON'T KNOW.- THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE: }

“ .

13. If no to Question 11, why was no report of harassment made? (Rank inorder of
important, if possible where more than one is applicable)

___DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO BO ___ENBARRASSMENT
___FEAR OF ECONOMIC LOSS ____GENERAL FEAR
___FEAR OF LOSING JOB __OTHER (Specify)
___pON'T KNOW - THIS RAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE

ee ee i ee cmcnacwm renee

YES NO DON'T KNOW - THIS HAPPENED
TO SOMEONE ELSE

sinners memati Pick ct ncin® fee

Sa AMAWYER St Tso UNION REPRESENTATIVE
___civin LIBERTIES UNION | WOWEN'S GROUPS
SUPERVISOR __ CO-WORKERS ~~ *

OTHER (Specify) tI Mn QON'T KNOW - THIS HAPPENED..TO
sae:siaie lin “SOMEONE ELSE ee

She ee ee © Tee

15.. Did: youar the. one; haressed (at the time of the mua feet ‘that it was
necessary to tolerate sexual harassment, (verbat ‘or physical}? idee puke

YES ee

s z 4 > bs ;
' - * . Sager) ° €*

If yes, (Rank in order of importance, if possible, where more than one is applicable)
_____ BELIEVED PART OF JGB | tne

____GENERAL HOPELESSNESS wen} osneg ny ease ae pens

____PARENTS OR OTHERS SUGGESTED THIS WAS THE WAY WOMEN. were, TO, BEHAVE ON THE JOB
____ SOCIETY'S FAVORITISM TO MALES :

2 We ere ere ee «,

‘i CO-NORKERS. SAID NOT TO. MAKE HAVES,
a (Specify)

16. Do you now believe $t is necessary é “tolerate gékual harassment on the job (verbal
or physfcalj? > pe eee

* . Babe

SEUSS Aes * Ore ee ee |. sgiiichs

17. (Go you feel that the sexual harassment: you {or the one harassed), had. in-mind was
too subtle so as to be unable to answer the above questiofis? i

2 a“ pli oa ett Rh eee)

‘ “yes inbicainans aM chlpnineniblendlsseotinaiinieiceicaceti cs cr DON'T. KNOW - THIS HAPPENE!
MEO AMES) | Seber grease Fort £0. FRING K- Bt 2a ey “4 . 10 SOMECKE ELSE

i | : |
,EeGE TS : rar ’ he ie : & 4 ..
If yes, please explain: The
ie !
sexual Harrassment, cont'd

attempting ta raise money in order
to keep their work going. The In-
stitute will open its new offices
in New York City in September 1977,
but until that time, if you are
interested in receiving more in-
formation, or would like to contri-
bute (money, ideas, energy), write
to the Ithaca address at the front
of this article (p.1l).

RESULTS OF THE WWUI PRELIMINARY
STUDY ON SEXUAL HARRASSMENT ON THE
JOB, Ithaca and Binghamton NY, 1975

The following are the first statis-
tics ever compiled about sexual
harrassment on the job. They are
the results of an informal study
conducted by the “Working Women
United Institute, which pioneered
in the exphoration and development
of this issue. The survey was con-
ducted in May 1975. The respondents
came from 2 groups of women: L)
women who had attended a Speak Out
Sponsored by the Institute and held
in Ithaca; and II) members of a
civil service employees union in
Binghamton. The major differencda
between the two groups was that the
women who came to the Speak Out
had read or knew womething about
the issue beforehand, while those
from Binghamton were totally un-
familiar with sexual harrassment as

Its victims include teachers,
factory workers, professionals,
waitresses, clerical workers,
executives, domestics and
others. There is some indica-=
tion that waitresses and cle-
rical workers are more likely
to be harrassed than women in
other job categories,

3.91% OF SEXUAL HARRASSMENT IS

VERBAL, ALTHOUGH 56% OF THE
CASES ALSO INCLUDED VARIOUS
FORMS OF PHYSICAL HARRASSMENT,
Women with lower salaries are
more likely to experience
physical harrassment (median
income of $92/week contrasted
with $121/week far those whose
harrassment was purely verbal).

4,IF SEXUAL HARRASSMENT IS IG-

NORED, IT DOES NOT STOP,
In 75% of the cases where the

woman ignored it, the behavior
continued or got worse,

5«WOMEN WORKERS ARE PENALIZED FOR

NOT RESPONDING POSITIVELY TO
SEXUAL ADVANCES ON THEIR JOBS.
One-fourth of the women who
ignored the sexual advances
were punished with actions in-
cluding unwarranted reprimands,
Sabotage of their work, and
other forms of harrassment.

6.MOST WOMEN DO NOT MAKE FORMAL

COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEXUAL HARRAS-=

an issue. There were 155 respondents
whose ages ranged from 19 to 61,

The definition of sexual harrassment
used in this survey was “any repeated
and unwanted sexual comments, looks,
suggestions or physical contact that
you find objectionable or offensive
and causes you discomfort on your
JOD. .

All the statements below are true
of the aggregate sroup, unless
otherwise stated:

1. SEXUAL HARRASSMENT IS WIDESPREAD.
70% of the women sampled had
experienced it at least once.

2. WOMEN FROM ALL AGES, MARITAL
STATUSES, JOB CATEGORIES AND
PAY RANGES EXPERIENCE SEXUAL
HARRASSMENT ON THE JOB. 13

Only 18% complained through
established channels. The most
common reasons women gave for
not using these channels were
that they believed a)nothing
would be done (52%) b) it
would be treated lightly or
they would be ridiculed (43%)
or C) they would be blamed or
there would be some reper-
cussions,

(NOTE: figures total more than
100% due to multiple responses)

7°OF THOSE CASES WHERE THE VICTIM
COMPLAINED THROUGH ESTABLISHED
CHANNELS, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN
IN OVER ONE-HALF THE CASES.

(cont'd p. 14)
Harrassment, cont'd

8. IN ONE-THIRD OF THE CASES WHERE
THE VICTIM COMPLAINED THROUGH
ESTABLISHED CHANNELS, NEGATIVE
REPERCUSSIONS RESULTED. —

Women reported increased work-=
loads, complaints about the
quality of their work, unwarran-

NEW CRISIS AT THE RAPE
CRISIS CENTER IN ALBANY (A.D.)

The latest crisis te befall the
Albany Ceunty Rape Crisis Center

is estensibly a power struggle be-

tween rival faetiens in Ceunty
politics, i.e. the Albany Maehine

vs. James Ceyne, Ceunty Exeeutive.

ted reprimands and poor personnel Coyne is engaged ina battle with

reports,

EXP

EFFECT ON THOSE WHO
81% reported feeling “angiy

50% reported feeling "upset"

24% reported feeling "frichtened"
23% eoportad feeling "guilty"
Specific effects women reported
included a) becoming more self-=
conscious about their appearance;
b) feeling trapped or powerless;
c) feelings of defear and dimi-
nished ambition; d) decreased job
satisfaction and impairment of
Job performance; and e) physical
symptoms including nervous sto-

machs, migraine headaches and
loss of appetite. 4

100, eps: HARRASSMENT ON THE JOB IS
A SERIOUS PROBLEM,
92% of the respondents considered
Lt..a serious problem, even among
those in Binghamton who had NOT
experienced sexual harrassment,
63% thought it was serious,

; :

THESE ARE THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST ——

STUDY OF SEXUAL HARRASMENT ON THE
JOB CONDUCTED BY WWUI, Please

take a few minutes and complete

the survey form included in this
month's Speakout and return it to
us here as soon as possible. Re-
sults of this Albany-area_ survey

will be published in the september
issue of Speakout. ©

We are very anxious to know how
prevalent the problem of sexual
harrassment on the job really is.

Results of the survey will be
forwarded to ‘WUI for their in«
formation also.

If you are experiencing any such
problems on the job at this time
and want SUPPORT or information,

CALL NOW (283-1547). THANKS!!!

the county legislature ever WHO

ke
SEXUAL HARRASSMENT HAS AN EMOTIONAHaS the pewer to appnint (er ma
PERIENCE IT,

recommendations fer appsintments)
“heads of esunty ageneies. Hereto-
fore, it seems that pewer has re-
sided in the County legislature.
Ceyne wants that situatien to
changes and it appears he is wil-
ling te take his cage to court to
prove his point. What does all of
this havi oi do with the Rape
Crisis Center?? Plenty.

Coyne has made a recommendation
for the Director's position at the
Rape Crisis Center. The newly con-
stituted Board of Directors off the
ACRCC is cansidering his recommen-
dation along with many others who
have submitted resumes for the
Direeter's position--and, from
what I understand, Coyne's recom-
mendation does not meet all the
qualificatians specified in the
resolution establishing the po-

sition at ACRCC--but many of the
others dol!

this int there is ne ONE full
time staff member trying to do fhe
job of 3. persons}; candidates. for
the Bisaeker® s position are aware
of the political scuffling going
on, and may be discouraged from
taking the. job if and when it IS
offered to someone; and finally,
prolonging the hassling over the
directorship while Coyne takes his
case to etek (Nolan is providing
free legal services) may eventual-
ly make it impossible for the RCC
to get iieese § back on its feet--
and to reestablish its credibility
with professienals (attorneys, hos
pitals, etc) in the Albany area.
‘COYNE SHOULD NOT BE MAKING HIS

1 STAND..HERE=-A_VITAL SERVICE FOR 4

with

the kind of bow a a 1 wei ur
ise ree = mire ae

POETRY -_ POETRY ae eae ot. POETRY
; re . fi ' ans ’ b ie act 4 Pi ral 4 ¥ ca hee
ae ¥ ‘ Ss = ; : 4 es eae ae
Soa : 2% < vie Ae 6s abe
= 4 - 5 7 ai Po j ged
eh re tenet ate _Menses eee a 2 ae
7 : bees a ie & ” “ : 22)

vi aa"

neem bie! eldest angnter g

ting g fort
her tea ‘rubber ‘ball chee!
ne Why am I so ‘concemed? :
Stet ay ote Could she ro

+ came : +"
= she z " aie
4 n él i - i ey
is Mg! be +4 3 : Ne ats aa | oye
3 ws seul — < # ye aa) r

Or maybe she pan eek. he

the | correct smell? Jill she sags

oe ‘Me. on for ¢ our opinion? = oe

She Aa so demur —
dense shower cur ta

Sex, you kn MOVE LOWe.
I am your nother." formes $e

7 —_ ae

blood wou
becoming the little girl who ‘wea:

/ her che: st to interce 4 my "yee should I arrive at
her door 1 ninvited or: unanno U i d n€

ene eS
ia nf 4. bee oe -s ‘cat J 7
ady have it? Se ee BS..u
are ‘she be hid: ng it from me?
Sas 3 af = = hh * ie. sitd 2 poem
Fi - 30 AILS SOe- FY :

send ast

hs
™

ow to recognize 4 the in neipient etaiaine::

eee, shots ‘confused it with “diarrhea, I'll exami am: ieche th rhe r underwear,
Maybe. she's already ene at herself? Does ‘the stain give |

ch ate “Wall she ask her sister...

; }
a . i $5 2 rea Ye
23

pat . >

_ stebedcbe vind :
r tan, pescy ak

"Oh, J err We a
er smiling. "and afte

bias ——s
|
+
=. é ; re +
a is F. << eke
ae ae | ha
say ie iy

i a

are, “With her bubble. gum peered and breasts so 0 fai? and new, OATES
as be Anapprip , ‘late, a mismatch with her | Body < tye y ROO

rs her father's bathro Be,

keeps bread and butter in her coat pocket, and ties back ter w waves”

a When an re me-= “when x know-— should ge slap he
as Jewish ‘casei do? Congratulate her?” Rema: in calm, int

a bow of string-blue leather when she scrubs her fore

i ae a

rs. for a ‘Photograph. 2 ig a é

ng “yg a
aren wae,

‘ 7 ce be Bl a ; : 7 ww Sr i ce ‘eRe 4%
Or ; ' , aoa = ie e . . —T i eae
ul es iS 7 a -
r ery? . — eee a aa £54093 =.
| ores ‘ é ee
ec * -
ks - ae Pe ary 2s +. a ps -: ge ome ee
* ai , yo ae ee pet a ee ce
2 i‘ r = I ing aa . Pe ME et
> = <j ¥ a yp gt Fx Ws
ee ro a x + “2 ‘ae — ¥ by a
Heaey ak A ody é is 7 * Le Ss ty re
ae Bie F | on F tan
te ae aig a non tees Os rder
Pee + - <3:
j eos ‘. - ras Sa me F Mx
4 a Ps te q
} ree ise Se ae © Spit eae “Highland Park, New "Jersey
sa a PR io |
a rt 5 , ; Peas a ‘ . -,
5 i _ + i eer ee ce : : 5
y a ; ; ett Mak pr we Si
P ; ia ase} i Maire 7 t :
eat : * f fer : é +5 a? 3} 5 r, #
3 . oe aoe 2S aah iy Shae 5 i, oe
” p & : - rs
F 3 ~ . >
7 = be beg Se er by a. bt
Si ye - ois be) 4 .
ae i ee - ~ a *
"ke na waa t : : , a ee 3 : an if
Se ee ees arc hy. tel are Pee a ; a © * :
z Peat re t Neate beer F * , EX ie
: oft i a eum, 7 f fe
7 ‘a iY . i
: ¢ = 3 i > re) ae iy ic a
E 4 a ? = oF ¥ an e nee] eee -
a i Fe ; $e Sa : ig UY ; 2 “>
: " 5 eal eye : - ¥
i | r : ‘ F at “i 4 iS ly Pal
t 5 See x : é .
4 + e q r ' ts
uF bi r ree ~ cd ‘ ae
me : * 7
; . _ es . C7 ire = cy eee 3
A. a cee Sa oe Ea “ eae
on © ie ‘. ES
a my ty
< e Pare ”
Es ty 2 2 hae ay Ps 5
ts 5 F a -" Y
tot u i ee ot “
? — ;
° i: ‘ a + ‘
a ¥ \ | i af
: thes ae >
iy ‘ y a
~ y¥ ih <
a a Ls s
~ a. - Taw
o. \ : —
: ; oe “A

4 tae

POETRY POETRY ORE: POETRY

when the dogs came

i remember my mother. crying

once. this cat she had got torn to pieces
by wild dogs

the cat was sunning —

on the downstairs porch. recuperating
after having her female parts removed

the dogs just went berzerk. tore her

to shreds, only a few gones left. and
the liver. next to her ear. half

the cat's face stared up at my mother

and that's when she bawled

just howled obscenities into the night
people all over town got wind of it
thought i was pregnant. or raped

the way my mother carried on

over the cat :

afterwards. nothing anyone did mattered
nothing moved her. not even the sight of blood
on my dress. or

people ripping each other up like animals

* * * * * * x

beginning

like sit here reading this page
in an attempt to pon something happen

always a good way to begin. like

try to make sense of your life, and

the 10,000 invisible events that happen
(maybe 2,000 that you tell someone about)
that is if you're not shot down early

by somebody's gun. like

don't worry about the assassin

he only shoots presidents. or
candidates. and if you are who you say
you are. you hate your government

(maybe you are really the assassin)

begin in a tunnel. because it is similar
or a chambered nautilus because you remember
the walls. like start in a prison

Terry Kennedy
Auxbury, Massachusetts

do I acieees i slice a poem
| (hold the mayo) between two... :
chores. of rye? mon, ma

the dye from half-sources of imitation
and invention jags heymony

out linear rivulets that ‘spill
sloppily, messily over ie
the edges or dry up. ss mMawhereareya?

I haven't iii, sieiias
sweet. for a long time

| Alice Glarden Brand
my ee * * * eS "+ eae ant & * *

Ms. Brand has published in Speakout, WomanSpirit, Goldflower, and i aetaacsitiia
College publication, Your Move. Her articles have appeared in The New York
Times, Lang 1a ze Arts, The Nebraska English Counselor, California English
and | Majority Report. She recently published an essay in the New England
Quarterly and one forth coming in University of London's, The Bard, Other
pieces will appear in Scott, Foreman! 's Middle Grade Activities and Today's
Education, She has given peetry readings at the Highland Park Public Libeary
and for Middlesex Bablevision | and anticipates one this spring at Rutgers
University, Her first collection of postry is completed and is looking for
a publisher. She is a member of an editorial board that selects poetry for

publication in Central Jersey's Home News and wate doctoral candidate at
Rutgers University,

we
oS

eh -4 ; “ < -
1 acy toe 3 te ; 7 J aa ig es a pe
a EO. i ey ae 24 + : ; ; “i |
oe: a8 j . _ ae a = 3 : = te a aa ne 4 Z ar, &

a Ad + See oe
_thes e- women. can spend time co) sh
get an idea of the wrk =
| Best ent involved, ‘During?
; time, women can expect $8. *
- ravoub-5- hours a day and will ets
9 be as as self-sufficient as- £
ee " vouen ci’ will ‘bé asked ‘to : 4
t 9 2

a
a

-
om,

nae, Many ae th

we nveyed in o mt ta Z their food. Fie | Bs
were ina juate rete ti ons — be gene |
money a ue i oT ges Se
limited |

rai ately, S

- aged
ag Be ed Han eee (22
po i Anat. .
- a il ca a ?
ee Pe 1 ae a ay
. : %

S Sales sae ether at a + = aoe
6Q Cor tinue with this -

Back onan who othe neve are enough we ete
contrib ibuted an ney ‘to carry AWP > i

_ through the si hat er with minimal —
- i fin ‘inanci 1 dependence of the ret-
ils Soar ce re

energy to ke

con vie
: ao baaciaraas ‘iil e
igo be madé by consensuSs ae 7
Bao Bogs group. will then. reopen
Sa vetreat with fees on am “ie a7
; scale. A schedule will ‘bes ee
up Ss so 0 that at least two wor

Mapeats to al nell ee

<a pees ecau
failed, We a > } - ZA 2VE

tinued > existence of AWP oc:
longer be the full respo
of the women who live t
must be the _respons }
larger EEOUP = a con
men Gee of AWP

pedum ne jolit - cal and | pers’ 2 ett Teh Ee Tie :
1¢ > %y Te hy € Fee a: _3s Bi ‘ *

i>
aa ie

= st :
7 who =e oe. : 2 ne , 2
a totem 4 2 a
eh 0: ae Seeeane ——. ia
bes a I et a os
oF eons ; reo. a de

not been able to 3
taxes | ae cna i

_ pena: alti 3

or make A aN ‘ 1 neces sary im

last

agro asa

‘the. eae. of us wild, — - a ho
] net. the meeting 4 on the sit gent os
Tees: 3 ‘basis. as any other woman, Be ceo oe

In either Casey on June 15th Whe;

“i We bes : pee Ae a
‘ra gia ius ee ae ka é: Can be
an's retre tam am :
awk é ones a =
> uw sac ~
2 Hd Sonbty
aed ly
wee.

i Aram

er 3 Soa tie % er eae ae wt p : ae
0 y June 15th an ia a determi veg how ; fines ces ‘will ‘be

ou a on U 4 Ly Ys. tar es ae ee es logeais ne ar oe
sun ney yt to carry. aa at ough the admini nister red and the current col-

aS + ae VUY pi A i Jt une ee

300 lective will be dissolved. No in= a
a the finan will =. able to control be im -

1 St " " tas
) ©, wom he faciliti

on
wh

ae :
Sa gt a

n who are
r

serie

Bos er: , i Oe: te
ate a ole Merge : ag hd er. es * i

A WOMAN'S PLACE (cont'd, )

Inc, account to be used by an in-
terested group of women as seed
money for a similar project,
_ Zhe decision to continue AWP
1s no longer up to us. If you be-
lieve AWP is important and would
like to help, you can: 1)send mo-
ney; 2) contact us about becoming
a caretaker; 3) come to AWP to h
help do the work necessary to pre-
pare for the summer; 4) contact
women who might have money to con-
tribute; 5) help spread this inf-
ormation as quickly as possible;
6) Xerox and’ post this notice
wherever women gather; 7) organ-
ize a benefit; 8) send feedback.
AWP WILL BE OPEN FOR MEMORIAL
DAY WEEKEND, regardless of what
happens this summer, We hope that
as many women will come. We also
hope that this won't be AWP's.
last weekend, .

99990090000

PROJECTED SUMMER

SUMMER 1977 BUDGET:

NEW YORK STATS WOMEN'S
MEETING--JULY 8-10, 1977
EMPIRE STATZ PLAZA, ALBANY

The time is NOW to make reserva-
tions to participate in the first

New York State Women's Meeting.
Congress appropriated monies so
that each State would sponsor a
meeting of women to highlight our
contributions to the development
of the country, to assess our pro-
eress in ashieving equal rights
for women and to spotlight some
of our concerns about the social
and cultural BARRIERS preventing
women from achieving equality in
all aspects of naticnal life.

The women's meeting is not OVERTLY
billed as a feminist-oriented mee-
ting; however, we do have the tra-
dition of Seneca Falls to live up
to--and we hope all concerned women
in the Albany area will become in-
volved in the July 8-10 conference!

BUDGET (from col

umn I

Monthly payments on land contract
Utilities (gas, oil, electric, phone)
Taxes (school - 1978) | 3
Insurance (auto, liability, fire)
Maintenance (repairs/hardware/autos/supp. )
Food (retreat) r
Personal (medical, animals, recreation)
General (legal, bank, adv., travel,
postage, office supplies, etc, )

2010)
$3548

SUB TOTAL:
in-additien;
Late 1977 taxes/penalties,
New septic system (req'd, b
This mailing (paper and pos

due no later than 8/77
eforeopening for summer)
tage )

B,
2,000

$25,810

, TOTAL:
AMOUNT BEING ASKED FOR:
TO BE RAISED BY RETREAT INCOME % PLEDGES:
| May-Sept, '76 ayv-sept
$23,719
tus ieN. BE 19,339 :
The above was received from A WOMAN'S PLACE, Athol, New York,
12180, They can be reached at (518) 623-9541,

PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE A "HELP SAVE ATHOL" MEETING ON JUNZ 14th
(at 7:30) in the WOMEN"S CENTER, 132 CENTRAL AVE, ALBANY, COME AND
DEAS OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP,

CASH DISBURSEMENTS
CASH RECEIPTS

——

—-

BRING YOUR ENERGIES, EFFORTS AND T

é : E te ~ = i a ee ; nae “
i ae ie | es © : ‘ . Z 3
Riese ere ie as at : ay, See Se oF = i oe é x
THO MEVBERS OF ‘SPEAKOUT s' is Pee oe ;
LOOK AT THE DATE WOMAN ie Bet REG 259 ee 3
3 Pee Fs F : Seas eo a ; ;
ais =e 2 een ay! 3 yy
; z i ae! oP 2 ae
I think the Dai: The LLy oman's first issue was
idea, a great i _ etter
business. As i OU,

es po

statement Be oP oct 1D’
unite all pick ivi gear )

itywith Fer I pick up the f
ee ‘sam aawe the Pm heart sunk.
same Serres time, @ gro epttchags for my. strong reaction a
es. ponte es : s that, as one of the new. se pial
ate, ee - what's Of SPEAKOUT's: staff, 1 eye
2! eg ee ee ss eee as reat deal of com-
Side oeeatiehtge munity support for the. work Grh<
hts (since at “our paper. ‘Suddenly I could see
x ritten aa ublished Sti women who had never submitted thaéir
is “ eine Slemodt bet: "poetry or their articles to SPEAK-

aca Beet QUT sending them off to TDW-- ec
er to get active y. :
— = ; where they could be published in
ated ihe Lower to ant hy ’ newsprint... .perhaps accompanied ime
as fe i See eee “by a photograph or a grap

Most of the ee the by someone else who has" not sent

r xe “pick up their material to SPEAKOUT, for
royeett to / want of a ‘better format, etc.

, aie Obviously, ‘TDW does not intend to

liticaly itt s just ‘women n wedting be the kind of paper SPEAKOUT is

Woman can be. pag reer ‘ae toward a Bn Py ria id ae |
feminist consciousness, = : esp Ae 7 ease perat. "

Ae Ee ek 8 but its existence is a painful
Another important reason Neindoine reminder of the resources | we DON'T

TDW is that it is the first business have at our. disposal, of the fact

in the tri- -cities area to ‘be run by that we don't now (and | may not

women a nap It's” import _ ever) have the financial backing
e > SO many of us have talked _ to double our production costs by.
Supporting out Pe ani into newspring as TDi has.

isle: ‘fron enlnt de activ ties--_
but the women of TDW are actua.
going to try to do ES aa
are the f rst example

| But then, we are not a business;
we are a strictly ideological,
Sin : _ voluntary operation. Low-budget,
of a Peuinist” to be eee oe )

business in the however, they a4 “a!

will be open to a great. he $5 What struck most women in the fe-
cism. For example, the $9. issu Ufa gen are vs

subeustapuae. sont because Bax issue was tl e, inordinately high df

fexe) ~~ CO} ; st mt Ss
Salas ME usd Gr tee Pincers te gt
ld b terest ced an he pa er nies |
on yg Pape ‘flects both real costs of produc-

oer ck eer ; tion and the fact that TDW. is a
But é was t series was oF see = that :

| eee ume ess_venture for the women —
their SARE were involve They have invested not
advocacy--tha Vv ok gee’ time and energy, but a great

pty a | Sram of ‘personal financial backing
a te i a | pws They seek out advertisers;

ac ee 4 pian Pen Sen bane es hope to

COPTER we Pee Sk ae ee Ok ie profits--

: 5: <i oe eee ‘ ro 24
i. Of OL Naa ae TARR AC ge high(er) prices.
3, i 3 ae : <i ie ya x ee
: = one an an
=) % ru *. tgs ; Bai toe He
eae ege ses eae Par z

ALBANY NEEDS A FEMINIST
YOMEN'S HEALTH CaNTERI LS

All too often, the medical treatment
people receive is either inadequate
or inappropriate. All people. are not
immune to this problem, but women
have had to experience this type of
treatment far more frequently!

Throughout the past, and- -more often
than not--the present, medical lea-
ders have been and are men. Many of
these men are very sexist in their

private lives and, therefore in their

professional lives. Women are often
treated as Fe eg children! |

A lollipop - replaced by a pat on
the ass, ‘whit Ih is an assault!

All too often, ‘he: majority of the
population confuse the true position |
of the doctor. We go to a doctor to.
receive a service. iz we. seek the
services of a plumber or an auto-
mobile mechanic, we demand Btu

explanation of procedures and an

estimate of costs before they start.

If we receive improper, curt or in-
adequate service by an insurance

agent, etc., the caliber of the work

is challenged and the consumer will
seek another to perform the needed
service. We may also report the com-
pany to a consumer action group or
the Better Business Bureau. We
usually do not do that when we £0
to a doctor. We are consumers aying
for 5. service! fe.

We all have to take responsibility’
for our own bodies by being as in-
formed as possible and demanding
excellent medical care! The leaders
of the medical -commanity are not >
going ‘to voluntarily deal with en-
lightening women. Ve must.do that
ourselves! |

The women's ‘movement has many good
objectives,’ “but one of its most —

aware philosophies is that women

should become more aware of their
physical intellectual, and emotional
beings. Separately, women may not

be aware of the widespread sexist
treatment by the medical community.
Together we are aware, and together
we can and- must do something about
it!

Albany need’, a Pontutat Women’ s
Health Senter and I need scour fay

to start it! Anyone who is
interested in devoting time,
energy or money should come

to the first planning com-

mittee meeting on June 7 at
8 pm at the Women's Center.

We will also have a short

seminar on self breast-exami-

nation. Most women examine
their breasts regularly, but
they hame not been taught how
to do it properly. That will
change on June 7.

If you have ay epesisdaes
do not hesitate to contact
me, Jane Stevens, 462-5994,

WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE

AGAINST WOMEN!!!

‘The Albany Women's Media
Project (a.k.a. The Women's
Offensive) has pledged its
support. to the California-
based group called “Women
Against Violence Against
Women", WAVAW is an activist
organization working to stop

the gratuitous use of images

of physical and sexual vio-
lence against women in mass

media--and the real-world
violence it promotess--through
public education, conscious=
ness raising, dnd mass con-
sumer action. 7

WAVAY was born of the outrage
OF : feminist and other groups
at the sex-violence and racist
film Snuff, which appeared in
March 1976. As an ad hoc co-
alition, WAVAW protested both
the film itself and the ad-

-vertisements for it, which
* claimed that the murder and

mutilation of a woman was en-
tertaining (and could only ~
have happened in South Ameri-
can "where life is cheap!!"),

WAVAW action resulted in the

film be-ng withdrawn from

‘Southern California ONE WEK
after it opeieda |

(A group of Albany women
had similar sucess with
local theater owners)
3 —WAVAW * 8 curren

aga inst wom

nei pic Beliee sey

rt = * i es F

10 tees Ne as 1. ie ? Bie
. O.W . -

10 onal 1 eee tant ty a

Detro it | (April 7% 7)

to oe ag eR eae ee
recor- — ‘anna
ve Conv er

5 f¢ rr ic i se b { s
V7 < chur a net ee eS oe
ie re 2 oe si abode ae. 7 ; pits Cae ft ake a t are ae 3
ain ag ; 1e = el 0 i a - ft ne R a * ml embe: abou’ a yal
<i | na the Ag ee ?
rom tr Sst = > : ¥ oe tes
urta ment of & 7 -¥ . wo mp: A En. wis, e 23 5 E ra OU = a
cant 4 ee ; - n 5 by TiT ve
are now pressing | TT “ME mag
al

ae: the gee

policy y against. the 1€

mas pee re

nae under acer | q

i ee sroups- eee ae.
: _ . SB pis ch oU 1 WAVA 2
Vv j a aa ee ched Bs hale ; =sith ete ef ‘
ny HAVA. ae Menay NOW. chapter Saone
— we ae pa a ee ss aes ~ 5 ah ae na ad 4 . " a

: ion
Set a

public. legal a ‘act ers. a

Bie Prin ats ne = a th ‘|
iva O Sana Saag
Eirote aie a ae

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fark os le acs hla!

rship of “
sorship...t e wet 6p
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~ that sho ws "sens

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5
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“pe ta ~, =. _
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sets limits | ane “the glo orifica . ‘ems
; i 5 eae a hy ; a “~~ vil] —_ : . ‘ cat 2) ne a =
Be Peat y re in record : ribet - | be rec: uiting more women — Pigs
ieee ‘respons a ps > a ea : to work with Mi. z
) the ‘boyco ott, : oe
a ‘ oe ; fag
% L record | 0: res, >

Se eM ae | Le se Sa RE op)
7 Te tapeek 2 - ee on
sigh Saye age. eos
guinet Wouer actions, seowre es Y
mact - ane Stevens at ‘sare
; \lexandria Douglas ee
rice } gia pr

‘*
+. We |

vic tines jmamaenly ae happ
sochist 7 o _ I'm er x <
: ae @ ing . x a oe

mosphere that —
és ( kg cS
as rape and
ie : oe

ry he :
‘, ve ; eee ’
as Ay hee

—— au . = Pe ; 3 si 7 sal
women. In these, an ee ;
womens aoe ee oe aes Romer & a <n

t in’ peo wi ht = oe ts ee

-—/ date %

=f bul #
ni we of t a

A405 a Project
4 oi L AW res. Sf ye he a2 oe ee ee eT he ebay prec
: le 1 = i ena es we . Jini 8 “he
ibe 5: at e als i 40 1at 01 =i. eee ee ae at th a

r tachy > a a wt_e eae % ava

tent and fe aah hn ie heir ta pres a aes

tising ca iss LQvience against women — ic ne
politi ¥ covers is offensive. is
rostte Pte a3,

+t wet: af few minutes hi
ame

eo _"

ree ale 3 Siti er tree, 5300 1 Merner fg re
spies um Cal. , 91505. THANKS! Poe

ee oF te oe

oy hy 2

SA ae sit pe a nite y ae $5 Rivets <erh 4; aa
a a eae Ly satel fi |

— Pag . : _ a me hie On

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*

Sent
23

THE DAILY WOMAN centrocseay :
cont'd

But my main problems with the paper
come from idealogical places. TDW
will attempt to reach women and
unite women REGARDLESS of their
personal politics. what does that
mean really, except that issues
will be "covered" in only the most
superficial ways, that dissension
will be discouraged, that. the UN-
popular issues and points of view

will be discarded (or ignored) in

order to hold the readership and
the advertisers... Forgive me if
I'm beginning to sound like I'm
dredging up the old "lavendar
herring" kind of problems--but i

think the potential for avoidance
is really there,

The Albany feminist community so
desperately needs a forum for ideas,
just as it needs a women's center |
and a core group of community or-
ganizers to be catalysts for action!
It seems to me that the talent and
energy going into a paper like the
Daily Woman which will reach the —
general population, no doubt, but
at a high cost, could be combined
with the resources and energies of
the women who work for SPESKOUT to
make a really marvelous-looking

and straightforwardly eminist-
oriented paper on a regular monthly
basist! But, as far as we know,

no one on SPEAKOUT was approached.

I guess what I'm Saying is a truly
feminist- oriented business-approach |
is more salient to me than a not-
so-feminist-oriented BUSINESS ap-
proach. Alas, our goals are quite
different. The Daily Woman exists

in its. present carnation because it
is a dream realized by its publisher

and we all hope it can be success-
ful.

it ig satisfying to me to write for
a paper whose intent was to draw
women together to share personal
insights and political analysis--
feminist analysis. But I wish the
Support were there for us to expand
and improve our paper FIRST. Please
believe me, Is speak from frustratior
~-not SOUr ZYAaPeSece.

discussion of what hap

one and the dame. they
Join us at the June 8 meeting.

Consciousness-Raising:

aa ‘

COMMUNITY NEWS

The June 8 eeeting of the Albany
NOW chapter will be devoted to

pened at
the National NOW Convention in

Detroit. One of the major
debates at the convention cen-
tered around the involvement |
of many members of the Socialist
Workers Party in each workshop
and on the floor during discus-

sions "diverting" the discussion

to address socialist concerns.
SWP/NOW members insist they are

Are they?

If you
would like to join a C-R group
please call Now at 765-4033 or
Rose Dill at 283-1547 or leave
messages at the Women's Center.

Aid to Battered Women has re-
scheduled its regular meetings
from every Tuesday night at

the Women's Center (8pm) to
every other Tuesday night at 8.
Please call Corinne ‘Williams for
more information (456-1327).

SPEAKOUT will continue to
leave space for PERSONALS at

the end of every issue. If

YOU have a thought you would
like to share with the feminist
community, or if you're looking
for an apartment, a roommate,
etc., you can advertise here

in SPEAKOUT. Anyone who wants
to let other women know which
landlords to avoid, where job
openings are available, etc.
PLEASE ‘SEND THAT INFORMATION

TO USL!

DON'T FORGET THE N.O.W.

RUMMAGE SALE ON HUNE

10, ll, t2

ee ae

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!

*#*## JUNE CALENDAR OF EVENTS****

1 "Women and Art", a reception for Art Resources Open to Women ( AROW)
Albany Thruway House BBC Lounge 3-7 pm

1 Women in State Government Program Meeting

3 Women's Center Coffeehouse--Sally Piano

7 Feminist Women's Health Center meeting, 8 pm Women's Center

8 N.O.W. meeting--What happened at the National NOW Convention?

8 pm Women's Center

11 N.O.W. RUMMAGE SALE at the Women's Center

For more information about activities going on at the Women's Center
call the Center any Monday night after 8 pm, 449-9991. Events are
now being planned for the summer months, including films, coffee-
houses/informal rap nights, and the Women's Day celebration in
Washington Park in Albany on August 13.

SUBSCRIBE TO SPEAKOUT BULK RATE

p3.50 per year US POSTAGE PAID

Send coupon to SPEAKOUT PERMIT # 12
P.0.Box 6165 ALBANY, N.Y.
Albany, N.Y. 12206 THIRD CLASS

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address, please notify SPEAKOUT.
It will not be forwarded and we
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SPEAKOUT

TORTUOUS JOURNEY TO POETRY

I falsely

flow through

a masked party
surrounded by
self-styled
gurus

who throw me
lines.

I toss mine
back

and leave the
party as I came
tied only to my
own pretenses.

i enter my room
shedding a
chain-stitched

gown

and wander

towards my
typewriter.

There I swing

beyond the rein

of manufactured lace.

Marilyn Atlas
East Lansing, Mich.

POETRY

ISSUE —

1977

TORTUOUS JOURNEY 10 POSTRY

I falsely

flow through

a masked party
surrounded by ~
self-styled
gurus

who throw me
lines.

I toss mine
back

and leave the
party as I came
tied only to my
own pretenses.

I enter my room
shedding a
chainestiched

gown

and wander

towards my
typewriter.

There I swing

beyond the rein

of manufactured lace.

Marilyn Atlas
East Lansing, Mich.

published this Fall by The Smith NY6. Acknowledgements include Shameless

Hussy Review, Connections, Moving Out, Earth's Daughters, Big Moon, Focus,

Poems by Terry siace are from her first manuscript siete TRAVELLING to be

for my husband

women like me are burning

we're scrubbing out rings in tubs & ironing shirts &
plowing down A&P aisles

we're dreaming of priests

and what they could learn

o honey - what we could teach!

our grandmothers weren't that fierce
cutting out patterns or rolling their dough
saying it's not worth hell!

it's not worth hell! but ‘they kept on

peeling apples for pies &

ordering morning glory seeds thre the mail &
worring about the plum tree in winter
& listening for your step at the door

well anyway .
women like me are secdidurtns .

we'll give birth to anything moving

we'll spend years guarding the soul of a vegetable

a chlorophyll thing st reppsd to a chair if need be
we'll push a spoon.

in and out of a mouth for a Lifetime

we'll wait a millenium if need be!

you better believe it!

and we'll still be up to Listening

for your step at the door .

yes sir!
better believe it!
yes sir!

there's music in a housewife's List
and sex in her salad, i know it

‘cuz i mend sox with a headful of arias

ead 2 saundred opening nights on my tongue

yes sir, i'm fire all fire right here in ay kitchen
while our kids push trucks across the floor &

i listen & hear

mannm! know

your foot's in ny door Terry Kennedy
e) ee bury, MA.

m * 3% bd * x *%

Daughters of Bilitis, and others,

2
RELATION SHIP :

If you were a woman igh
we could spend these aftemoons
rambling over hillsides
while we nibbled on ideas,
We could offer our words
and know no need |

to tear greedily at flesh

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.

We'd huddle in bedrooms

- with beer and TV.

and close in on each other
on ourselves.

But between us
there are many directions,
levels of bouching and never touching,
Je must each fly our owm currents
that cross when they cross.

And always I am a woman.

And always you are a man,

Lynda Rhodes
Victor, New York

DRUNKS ' ;, ;

Drunken men are always funny.
They amuse folks all their lives.

Everybody thinks them funny,

Everybody but their wives. Thelma Ireland
Reno Nevada
% % % ae ok ak * iS % *% oe ok *

RAIN IN AUGUST

hard against the window
trying to break the glass
get inside

where it can seep, pervade

this morning we argued

I resented your will
Katharyn Machan Aal

Ithaca, New York

* * * 1% K % *k % * me % %* *K

Sculpture

The dice have been thrown.

Seven and I live.

Not seven and love seeks a richer.
We sit by the bay.

I stare through the cracks of the table.
She looks past me to the land,

I have thrown the dice.

They hang in the humid air,

I will not let them fall.

She will not move,

And I will not lose.

We sit at the table.

The dice hang in the air.
Dure Jo Gillikin

New York, New York

Lyric
The matrons of Trelsa
have congoleun posture

and hair-dos that flap in the breeze.

They ship their dirt

they shore their dust

they patio their freckles

With ointment from Sears.

Discipline is the crease

on the wash and wear slacks,
Meals are a memo

attached to the fridge

(the avocado fridge

with decals on top)

Self fulfillment is a matter
for the Tuesday night discussion group
that meets at Mary Lou's

and sats pumpkin cake with mints,

Michele van Gendt
Albany, New York

THE FETINING FOREST

All in rows Man-made groves
the trees of stripped
none bark,
outstanding, diseasing;
forced the
straight, teased,
stretched Cross-
tall, bred

grown tranks
grusonely artfully
wooden, unsapped.

a * mR * 3 *

SALINE DREAM

Desperate wives

seek. perfect resolutions,
dissolve their tears

into antiseptic solutions,
us® gottony dreams

to mop up madness,

which in other seasons
would be burned away.
Winters Wounds

being crueler

than most.

Fruitless linbs
of dry

rape,

decaying.

In burned

ash

boughs

Chippendale
uncarved,

iris doiron
Albany, N.Y.

* % %

Carol Harp Biernacki
New Salem, New York

WINTER GARDENING

Considering alternatives, |

most being last season's seeds,

or hybrids,

incapable of breeding;
eyeing snow deep gardens, c
Wind-swept

less by promise of things

to come,

And more by winter's necessity,

we sit

listing hardy vegetables -
for keeping,

Wishing for root cellars
already filled

against

the chills of this season,
Garden plans for maximun
) growth

seem fantasy as

artic nightmares

consume sunshine

and the frost line

goes deeper than

a woman's height,

Carol Harp Biernacki
New Salem, New York

the patient

i push out cach new sin
as though it is a special baby |

in the claustraphobic space of your office
you promise to deliver me, - like a midwife

until there are no more afterbirths |

‘no more asses to wipe :

somehow, you resemble jesus

all summer long the fan hums £6 us
its one flat lubbaby

the filing cabinet opens. and shuts
like a morgue drawer

all summer i melt. and speak of taking
a lover. or my life. i smile my girl. smile
while you shift in your stiff leather chair
and scratch the pen across the page

for years i have rushed here to meet you |

the way i rush into” railroad stations

just when the train pulls out

i have named you healer of crazies

my humpty dumpty fix-it man
together we have gathered peaches
nectarines. whole sides of beef

and water. you stall call me mrs.

meanwhile you never change your brand
of mentholated cigarettes

you never wear a fat red tie
twice i have heard you laugh

doctor, who are yout
who an i?

“y

‘Terry Kennedy
TEs | MA.

half polish Sia i
for Ceeslaw Milosz eta

i am half polish, so he speaks to me in ‘cuted .

of a country going under, as az at were a ship

of a people's quick death gurgle. swallowing the sea
when there is not time-tocry... is

and the reserrection afterward my

he thinks. ate Sa are saall 7

living by appointments

their Poetry so into what's inside the uk

they don't learn from saints —

or ones they love. better than themselves _

i want to explain e singe

sine our god's in boxes
how we look for lumps of blood

how we count on fingers in the dark
i want to say something american
Like money. oF PREP colin SAEOR:

but half of me re posh -
dr min

ng in my skin
searching out the fire breathing angels

who'll ride dowm hard, in chariots.
who'll save us

when there is not time to cry

ae Ri Kennedy
Dambary, Mass.

december, feast of the nativity

t ;

jesul jesul

my bleeding tarzan
your story is so overdone, —
who can believe such melodrama
in this the abstract age?

my mother can,

yours was such a fleshy act

with your hair like garbo

and your sexy thighs

and that weepish look of the 30's
as near as the telephone- |
my mother said.

once i swallowed my sins too, baby
like communion wafers

but they tasted flat as cardboard
and no one noticed .
not even her

with her x-ray eyes.

@ nazarene, my funny god in drag
i wanted you to save me then
with your dial direct systems
and your credit card numbers

like late night jazz

like rain in the aftemoon
all afternoon

i wanted you to tum me on.

but you were so bent on suicide
my moxie christ

so full of your old lady's dreams
and her silent commands-
believe me, tiger

i understandf

Terry Kennedy
Duxbury, Mass.

Losing you to the Rockies is an understandable catastrophe

Losing you to the Rockies

where your thoughts wander

when distance is your color,

that is an understandable catastrophe.

I can hold you in my paln

like a stone and throw you far
knowing you willcome back to me
since every idea fails

before a woman in love:

your Wish to travel is an idea,

and I am a woman in love with you ~

keeping you from your sanctuary in the Rockies,
your detachment among stones.

But should your wish for the Rockies
become your hunger

for a woman close at hand,

that is, when your idea

turns into a woman in love

and she is not me,

then unlike your teeth at my shoulder
causing me more pleasure than pain,
your words revealing your other motions
will be mouths which will eat me up,

and I will close my hand around the stone of you
and find nothing to throw away

you having already gone,

I already suffering the catastrophe

of being swallowed by ay own desire,
a woman in love frequently failing
before the idea

of another woman in love.

and then how will I feel

after all my closefisted juggling

of the only real stone I own my body
not so jumbled or so high

as those mountains you always
imagine yourself, thin from fasting,
contemplating the setting

daynight delight of silence from?

Full and fat with my undevoured Love
I am simply calling you,
a wonan who cannot understand this catastrophe

I an simply trying to say : Susan Fantl
love's song is hunger, Cobleskill, NY
do not lightly motion " :

me away.

Dancing Alone

Saturday nights we went out in couples
Saturday night you couldn't sit home alone,
we danced with our partners, we necked
in dark corners; we put rings on our fingers:

vie thought we found home,

Some households grew children,
wrapped roots round each other;
Others split like worn seams:

this side's yours, I'll pack mine.

de went looking for partners,
Je woke up next to strangers,
Come into my body

Get out of my home.

Saturday nights you don't see many couples:
People tired of trying

People trying it alone,

Marjorie Magid
New York, NY

HOOKER
Black skin
Blong wig
Platform heels —
Hot pants
Knife in pocketbook
Pimp in Bar
Turn the trick
Get the John

Hooker
* Le * * *

SWEET SWEET LIZA AR
YOU OUGHTA LEARN TO TYPE
poen for Elizabeth Ray

Are you the little girl

with the strawberry curl

right in the middle of your forehead.
Your patent leather charm is wearing thin,

Why, when you know it burns,

don't you jump back from the flame?
In a sudden reflex action |

automatic to most adults

and basic to survival,

I know few who say we should

make provision for babes in the wood.
Some fine naivete immoral to the core

and even punishable by law,
But the fact of it is,
though it sounds rather crude
It is the innocent who always get screwed!

Barbara Lipschutz
Phila, ,Pa.
* *

Michele Van Gendt
Albany, NY

Hope you choke on it chump!

You smiled

when you said

it was coke you

were turning

around for and

not me.

Well

keep smiling

and drinking

and playing it safe.
Hope it gives you the
protective

covering you want so Badly.
It's all

that

you'}l get.

Bet you

never knew

coke was such potent stuff.
It got rid of me.

and God knows I wanted to stay
but when

commercial

smiles replace love
and coke

is bubblier than life
it's time to

buy time

on some new program,
So long

chump

and .

so lonely.

Marilyn J. Atlas
Zast Lansing, Michigan
|

My mother will never know
what it's like to chop off
her fingers,

one by one,

Her with her husbands;
the first

leaving his head

on a Florida corn field;
the second,

a granduother's nemory

of a gun-guarded prisén detail;
the third

bemedaled hero,

his language, Asia

and the electricity

of copper wires.

You mother,

you sit sending

clipped coupons

from magzines

years old,

Yes, you will never

know what it's like

to chop your fingers off
and then to sew them on,

one by one.

Carol Harp Biernacki
New Salem, NY

for ay sister

my sister, the gynecologist, thinks she's so profound

nothing comes in matching sets, she explains
only dolls in crates.

well, i knew a woman once

she loved by hairy soul

ifm not talking about a zhost now
you understand,

it was her eye i wanted to ow
not the fingers on her hand.

wait- in heaven there are 5 fan dancers

and 5 roosters aren't there?

and they strut the same feathers don't they?
she refused to answer

she was such a smart alec.

my sister jim is always trying

to magnify her pinpoint

listen! she clucks

strapping me into the stainless stirrups

someone plus someone is only valid in arithmetic,

she gets me so confused.

o bed, my dumb mother

stuffed with my unspeakable tales
you are soft as a whore's belly
and as safe as a kotex box.

you wouldn't tell my sister anything would you?
not about the time i tried to set even

and called the avon lady collect?

you're the only one who knows what i said:

a bull sees red and dies.
a cow can't milk herself ever!

i thought it aeant something.

my sister, the female doctor, thinks she's so perfect

you wait and see, she warns
you'll get screwed!

nothins comes in dozens
except months

or prophylactics

she's such a wise cracker.

sex, my old bag

ny hot lap

my best axe

do you think my sister's cock-eyed

er ee ie ee) ery Nae Ge me hE Ye eee

From A Distance

Je are not touching.
Even when our bodies
melt together

with athletic precision,
we do not

touch.

There is a distance
between
beyond words.

Even at the apogees

that you bring to me

like roses from a greenhouse
in endless supply,

there is not touching.

Even when I reach for you
and you wrap yourself
around me

in the night,

I know that consciousness
will startle us apart--
magnets on the same pole.
We cannot touch.

Even when my feelings flow

warming

all ay loving places

and I push your hair

back from your sweating forehead

with tiny love fingers

the words

die

in my throat

and you are mute

and we dont

touch,

Lynda Rhodes
Vacter, N.Y,

COUNTRY LIVING #4 ‘
All the lesbian wimmim in this neck of the woods
Are infested with parasites.
Joan has ringworm

. And Susan has pinworn
And Lynda always has fleas,
Now Fre has discovered

A tick in her hair
And Budha and Snake and Andrea
Are all beginning to itch.

Barbara Ruth
Philadelphia, Pa,

x % * a x * * "35 * + *

The lady stands tall,

Her hair of afro red,

Her color of tarnish brow.

Her heart of joyful glee,

Shows love and respect for me.
Although we loved and studied together,
Our interest grew apart.

Perhaps her art is why we no longer
Like the dark.

Blue
NY NY

Not Me Poems ’

Somebody asked, "iJhere is she?"
"I don't know," she replied.
"Which she do you want to see?
Identify my she.

What do you suppose she to be? y
What does your script call for?"

For all that immersion in other shes

loses that indwelling, immanent me-ness.

The axion of survival legitimizes mock, cellophane-shes,
But she was too many shes au
trapped amidst a lattice of colliding personalities.
Pleat!

"Do I need be a tree to find me?"

Permit her to leave her mind just time enough
to say,

had she considered her soul

she might have dwelt a mere moment

within celestial completion,

And now, that instant never regained

as was chanced at a time expired.

"She Wom't be coming.
No, Not today,"

Like being always,

Amplified antennae, the passage to her spirit
determined that she quiver with every infinitesimal impression —
as long as does the impression upen that spirit

create an ummanageable calamity with her tomorrows -

for now she is hopelessly enveloped in that past.

Whatever her impelling or retreating,
each antecedent instant affirmed itself
anachronistic, an augmented statement
resonant, pulsating, percussive.

Imagine a regal incarceration.
A horror of twisted chasms, _
No Exit,

Like the eager tide

upon barren beaches

epidemic remorse returmed

with only intermittent interruption,

She was used up.

Nothingness,

Amorphous body of obliterated complacency

The ephemeral, illusory gift of infinite ease =
Succumbed, :

Continued
19 ;

Hurry! She can't cope with her
serpentine, concoluted interne |
restlessly, unceasingly, complaining -

Exploding dread engulfed her
a night of undecipherable darkness

Her head was that turmoiled,

yet vacant and void room in which

she had lain

unable to wait to rise, fill up, and forget.

She was spending her remaining life in her future,
Deep recollections were the adversary of what was
yet to be.

She needed to travel past that winter

to the place of prior innocence.

And yet,

from behind her mind

all those yesterdays

waxed inevitable and irrevocable,

Come love her,

Carees her,

Place your presence against her warmth,
For she has an appointment with anonymity,
And soon she is naught,

‘Jith refined precision,

a pedant, perhaps,

has told this story before -
that expands any intent pursued.
apoligize for me

Okay?

Alice Brand
Highland Park, NJ.

this is the picture it makes’in my mind

my teeth are held together
so tight

the river is stipped aganist them
and i am separate

from the water

holding it inside me

the way a woman must

hold in her anger

else her man will leave her
without a fuck

or a promise or a seed

must hold in its life

on a warm day in Winter

or it will die in the cold

tomorrow.
Susan Fantl
Cobleshill, N.Y

% xe * % a * * - E : :

I am an oak married to earth,

But lightning became my lover.

It laid bare my golden body.

My breast slashed, the bark burst open,
Lightning hit me and withdrew.

Now I must find what to do--

Flaunt the beauty lightning bared

Or clutch the stronger to the earth

I am wedded to.

Dure Jo Gillikin
NY NY

No, I don't

Feel safe enough with you
fo vent wy anger

To tell you

When I'm hurting.

I tum away

I close off

I constrict.

I aa not
a strong woman
not
a brave woman
Not

a@ woman to take chances
with love.

Because I am courageous
In confrontations with
Injustice

at my job

on the street
You are surprised.

You complain

That I won't give you
A good fight,

I frustrate you

You tell me,

And I feel blamed

Inadequate
Again.

And again

I close off

I turn in

upon myself
The rage
I am afraid to show
To you,
22

Barbara Lipschutz
Phila, ,Pa.

STORMING

Heavy wind

brushes

throughthe golden hairs

of rye.

Clouds

push darkly

through the cowering trees.
Leaves }
turn over

in surrender,

flutter Pee ed

like wounded birds.

Midnight colors midday ts =
lights cooked cracks 7 iat
along sky edges

A thousand desperate hands
claw at the window
distorting distances,
Color
ceases
to exist. Around te,
faces Bass
wander to love-people,
considering disaster
carefully,
like wine.
Alone
I can rage
with the wind
let it beat me
touch its power
and take it in
until the rain ©
slaps my face
then soothes
like tears, Gentle percussion
against the humming woodtwind
feeds the marigolds
and tests
the strength of trees,

Lynda Rhodes
Victor, NY

(SEPTEMBER 18 NOTATION)

I want to sleep...and dream

of stretched linen canvas

and creamy acrylic paint splattered

on a palette with ivory bristle

brushes soaking in tinted water...

the 'great painting' anxiously

awaiting completion while resting on the easel,
Visualize people being reached out to

contemplating active tense verb women

and challenging the old order's direct objectification
Crowds of people bluster noisily through the center's
exits..the loudspeaker

announces, "we are closing in 15 minutes..."

I awaken, to the roar

of a garbage truck--trash can

lids clatter to the ground while

garbagemen curse the plastic bags:

luminous alarm clock reflects 5:31 a.m, in

the ashen dawn

a calendar penciled on the white washed woodwork

lets me know the date, September 18th, time to

pack the wallet, camera, pen and notebook

in ay summer umber jacket

I dress, and leave in the dazzling autumn

sunlight

awaiting the advocate

to go down with and apply for

welfare,

camel hair brushes rest in decanters by the open window,

Carol Schillinger
Albany, NY

: : .

WOMAN WRITES OF LOVING

Woman writes of loving.
Of loving woman knows.

Tt 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 time 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 others to enter
for confort

for pain

for relief,

It is a wanting

of giving

of touching
of being touched,

While all the while
life goes on

just like anyone's,
Woman does this —

of this woman knows
of this woman writes.

It is not frivolous.

Lynda Rhodes
Victor, NY

ig «; a

Don't They?

Of course we weren't real.

The aftermoons
and tea,

The eyes that
begged

for me,

Of course we weren't real,

The cigarettes

and wine.

The touch that said
you're mine.

And we're not really dead.
We're just smart.
For somewhere inside
we know

it's stupid

to bet on the moon
when it can't |

even cast >

its own light,

Only mad people
worship

the moon anyway.

Quite better to be safe
in a world
where the

only worms are in our souls.

Besides, we'll get over it.

Everyone else does,
Don't they?

And don't forget

we can always write peetry : aa
with the words that killed

Marilyn Atlas

our dream......

East Lansing, Michigan

WRITING POEMS IN SEAWEED
USING FEATHERS FOR PENS
BUBBLES RISE TO THE TOP
OPENED ANNOUNCHIENTS
DISSOLVING TO BECOME ME

THE SEA

CLOUDS WITH A CLARITY

LIKE SEASHELLS FOUND ON A SIDEWALK
OR CRUSHED ROSES IN THE AISLE
WITH A SILENCE

LIKE THE END OF A GASP

OF YAWN

OR SPACE TRANSGRESSED
OCCASIONALLY

BY NEBULAE

CHB APRIL
SEVENTY_SIX

Crosstide

Calling over waters, or crawling —
back to the embroyos
of time

I have been occupied with fantasy
I have been living
in the world behind my eyes

Calling out to find you and crawling

in to find your source _~

in me: this is the world I made when I was
younger, and Dickala-Safala played there
and was mine

This is a world where I can keep you

Still Im calling
Over waters, and riding
with the tides of forward time

Marjorie Magid
New York, NY

THE JUDGE SAID

(To the tune of When Johnny Comes Marching Home. Repeat the last lines of the

melody for the chorus.

The judge said, Screw ‘en!

Boys, you're. only human,

They brought it on themselves
By being born a woman,

Like a mountain's there to climb
And food's there to be eaten,
Wonan's there to rape
To be shoved around and beaten,

CHOURS :

The judge took his position,

The Judge he wouldn't budge,

So we! bis got out this petition

And we're going to screw the judge.

Now if you beat a horse or. dog

Or violate a bank,

Simonson will haul you in

And throw you in the clink,

But violate a woman,

Your equal and your peer, i
The judge will slap you on the wrist
And lay the blame on her,

REPEAT CHERUS.
To draw a true conclusion

Fron what Simonson has said,
Woman has to live in fear

And cover up her head,

She has todress. in purdah

And lock herself in cages,

And this kinky judge in Madison i
Is from the Middle ages,

NEW CHORUS:
The judge took his position,
The Judge he wouldn't bindge,

So we've got out this petition
And we're going to dump the judge.

Malvina Reynolds

FEI SISIOI GSI SIGISISI SSIS IO ISSISIS IOI GSCI ISR IC ISAO II IS KK AR I

ALBANY COUNTY RAPE CRISIS CENTER MOVES

The Albany County Rape Crisis Center has

1 Lodge Street
Albany, New York 12207

Office phone numbers,
Wy 57552
4507547

WY 5_7 548

Emergency Hot Line # 39341155

wii ace

How OPES LOCAL OFFICE

Schenectady Now has just opened an office
at 343 State St, Sch. Office hours are
appriximately 102 this summer.

NOW is an action organization working in
many areas of women's problems. We hope
to develope an employment counseling

service and a Weeer in Transition Group.

Women who. have employment problems should
feel free to contact us at the office or
call Clair Paspisil, 377-8538 or

Ann Booth 399-5790,

Now meets the first and third dednesdays
of every month at the office.

le urge all women to join with us to end
sex discrimination in Schenectady,

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Speakout
Dear Editors:

We would like to thank you for printing our flier asking support
for a 1/3 of the minimum bill and our position paper. We appreciate
your concern and hope an ongoing. dinterest in the problems facing long
termers will result.

Any questions concerning our goals and activities are welcome.
Anyone who is interested in attending a meeting is welcome to do so
also if the traveling distance is not a problen, Our meetings are
held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 on Friday nights the first, third and
fifth weeks of the month, and on Thursday nights the second and fourth
weeks of the month. Anyone who is interested in attending should
notify us two weeks in advance so gate clearance can be arranged.

le are going to be printing a newsletter on a regular basis that
will be concerned with our activities, goals, long termers, etc.
For those who are unable to attend meetings, it should be informative
as well as of interest. All correspondence directed to us will be
answered,

Again, thank you for your interest and concern. It is much needed
and appreciated.

Sincerely

Glenda Cooper
Long Terners! Comnittee

The Long Termers Committee

Bedford Hills Correctional
Facility

247 Harris Road

Bedford Hills, New York 10507

TRAINING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE HI ROS HIMA DAY, 1977

A four-day live-in program — NO NEUTRON BOMBS

for experienced & potential NO SEABROOKS

activists interested in non- NO HIROSHIMAS

violence offered by an

Albany Organizing Group, who Join us for leafletting
are friends of Movement for a in the Albany area,

New Society, AUGUST 19 -- 23

Training program will be hel FRIDAY, AUGUST 5

on a farm near Albany. Costs L250 == 1150

will be about #25 per siichabueiae Call Augusta Beadenkopf

410 Hudson Avenue, Albany 449-1700

4g - 7913 ( Rezsin Adams 462-0891

Sanne 2 Sal See SET Sa coin MG MEE astern

-TRI-CITY HCA WOs MEN'S THREE

: "FOOD AND DRINK ) AND ono OD aD DRINK

ceri

wii < — EXHIBITS

: . : i : . =e A es oe ply ooh =, i es
* WORKSHOPS | AND INFORMATION (vor opzres 5 FOR HOME, ere) i WORKSHOPS 7 ESN

a ’
= CA oa mar baat ;
7 ‘ 3

. os!

ee ae coamsrics miei [SEUR-DREENSE AND st cS DeLoET oe
| "WOMEN, Iie" -crUrEs ore Rae ae Pe Neem aa rete fees
Se. pe Me oy MUSIC mas TAY HEALTH ‘HUSIC
, Z ka ae a ; : oy ; ;
oo : a ss - pe as is
® = a ‘3 mcrae — fre RLPPTL WOH

pe oe bs oe

_ a +.

z i eee
So aot

ae ‘i :

sr) r) (especially monday eves)
tt so a i ; od * ‘< ; Aug + sy ”
Fine ch A ee ; a

Wan ae pcs) 4a a,

2S OS ee ee
ga I id ae a a i

a "% 5 is * ,

"the tides of forward time"

a special Speakout poetry issue

poetry by

Katharyn Machan Aal
Marilyn Atlas
Blue

Alice Brand

Iris Doiron
Susan Fantl

Dure Jo Gillikin
Thelma Ireland
Terry Kennedy
Barbara Lipschutz
Marjorie Magid
Lynda Rhodes
Barbara Ruth
Carol Schillinger
Michele van Gendt

%
%
%
*
%
%
%
%

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THIRD CLASS

_September 1977)

GAINST
VIOLENCE

Pledge; Contribute to
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SPEAKOUT: A _FEMINIST JOURNAL Vol. VI, No. 8
September 1977

Table of Contents

One Participant's View of the NYS Women's Meeting-P. Goldstein
Update on the Albany County Rape Crisis Center-V. Abinader
Abortions Still Available for Medicaid Recipients in NYS

Contact Area Feminist Groups (PHONE NO. LISTINGS)
The Yellow Star and the Pink Triangle-Coalition for Human Rts.
Albany's Sixth Annual Women's Day Celebration-A. Douglas
Focus on Women at the new Albany YWCA
8,9,10 Violence Against Women-Catherine Devine
11,12 Violence Against Women in the Media-Alexandria Douglas
13 UnImpressions: A Femitorial Opinion-Natalie Kazmierski
13 Urgent Notice to SPEAKOUT Readers, Subscribers & Friends
14 Divorce Adjustment Seminars-Family & Children's Service
14 Community Legal Rights' "Ask A Lawyer" Program-Y. Middleton
15 WOMENBOOKS: Kate Millett's Sita
16 Newsbriefs
15 Art Resources Open to Women-FALL 77 Workshops

17? Media Project Report on WTEN (Channel LO) A. Douglas
17 Letters to the Editor

nw
WwW

NINN FW

COVER DESIGN: "Women Against Violence Against Women"
by Joan Potter

WORKERS FOR THIS ISSUE: Rezsin Adams, Janice Naylor-Barbuto, Rose
Dill, Alexandria Douglas, Natalie Kazmierski, Maxine Krall, and
Yvette Middleton. (Many thanks to J.N-B. who has given countless

hours to SPEAKOUT for several years, and who is working with us
for the last time this month...)

The opinions expressed in SPEAKOUT arficles are those of their re-
Spective authors and dodnot necessarily represent those of the
SPEAKOUT staff. We attempt to present the opinions and ideas of all
facets of the feminist community in the tri-cities area. We welcome
all women to submit articles, poetry, fiction, and letters to the

editor on subjects relevant to area feminists, (See page 13 for a
listing of upcoming themes for Oct-Dec. 19977).

SPEAKOUT is published monthly, except in July/August when we combine

issues. Subscriptions are $3.50 a year, Single copies are 35¢ each,
SPEAKOUT is on sale at several bookstores in the area, at the YWCA's

in Albany and Schenectady, and at the Women's Center at 132 Central
Avenue in Albany.

To subscribe to SPEAKOUT or to submit material, write SPEAKOUT,

: fe) - Deadline for submission of
material is the 17th of each month. Anything received after that time
will be published in the following issue. For groups wishing to put
information into the calendar of events, send ta SPEAKOUT's P.0O.Box

yi the 17th, or call the Women's Center on a Thursday night between
-7pm.

' 2

SRG Pee es es ht i pao ee

ONE PARTICIPANT'S VIEW OF THE NYS WOMEN'S MEETING
by Phyllis Goldstein

It was exhilarating to be at the
New York State Women's Meeting to
discuss the concerns of women. 3000
had pre-registered and over 10,000
from such diverse groups as AAUW,
Lesbian Feminists, Federation of
Republican ‘iYomen, Democratic Women,
Women's Political Caucus, Business
and Professional Women, League of
Women Voters, Right-to-Life, YWCA,
etc. came. Registration was hectic
but well worth the wait in line.

There was something of interest for
everyone. Friday evening, after a
welcome from keynoters including
Bella Abzug and Gloria Steinem,
there was a first rate performance,
Celebrating Women, which depicted
the history of the women's rights
mevement in the United States thru
poetry, music and sketches. The
cast included Helen Hayes, Celeste

Holmes, Ruby Dee and Midge Costanza.

The spirit of the evening was cap-
tured in the finale when the au-
dience stood and joined the cast
with a rousing chorus of the Battle
Hymn of the Republic.

Saturday morning, delegates to the
National Conference in Houston in
November were nominated. 88 dele-
gates and 5 alternates had been

named by the Nominating Committee
(headed by Natacha Dyckman LWVNYS
President). In addition, anyone

registered could nominate herself
or someone else. The ballot ulti-
mately contained as many names as
the voting machines could hold,

The remainder of Saturday was de-
voted to workshops organized around
7 major topics: Consumerism, Edu-
catien, Employment, Family, Health,
International Women's Decade, and
Public Life. Each topic was further
subdivided, eg. under Public Life
were 21 workshops: "Women in the
News and in the Newsroom: How You
See Us, Where You Don't"; "Routes
to Political Power: Getting Women

Elected"; "Rape"; "The Legal System hour,

and How It Affects Women", etc.

At each workshop there were votes
on resolutions, but only ene "pri-
ority" resolution could’ be passed

300.

and later considered as such at the
Sunday plenary session by everyone
in attendance. There were resolu-
tions which were pre-filed ones.
One could not float from workshap
to workshop; admittance was not
permitted after a workshop began.

Because of fire laws, only a limi-
ted number of people could attend
Some workshops. As a result, many
were licked out of workshops which
had been filled to capacity. This
happened at Chancellors Hall, where
the "Reproductive Health: Infor-
mation and Consent" workshop was
held. 50 to 100 people who wanted
to vote on resolutions re: abort-
ions, sterilizations, etc. were
not admitted. The fact that seat-
ing in the balaony appeared avai-
lable, but was denied by the fire
marshalls who claimed a fire ha-
zardm made some of the people agi-
tated and unruly.

All women did not attend workshops
however. Caucuses also met to de-
cide on a slate of delegates that
they could support. "The Coalition"
of many of the groups at the Mee-
ting, rallied behind candidates
who purported to be in favor of
human rights, (ERA, Pro-Choice,
and Gay Rights). The Coalition was
identified as including the League
of Women Voters, Hispanic Caucus,
United Auto Workers, NOW, Coali-
tion of Labor Union Women, YWCA,
AAUW, Lesbian Feminists, Asian
Caucus, Federation of Republican
Women, etc.

On Sunday morning, voting for de-
legates and a Plenary Session were
Scheduled. The voting procedure
has upset mary. people. 32 voting
machines were set up and each de-
legate had to be voted for indi-
vidually (an entire slate could

not be chosen by pullang a single
lever). As each voting machine

could handle only 5-6 people per

it soon became apparent that
paper ballots were needed if every
one were to be given an opportunity
to vote, Many became frustrated
after standing in line for several

UPDATE FROM THE ALBANY COUNTY
RAPE CRISIS CENTER

Vicki Abinader

Center Director

Although it has taken quite some time for
the Center to be in full operation, we
are finally open.

I would like to extend my appreciation

to the dedicated volunteers and the
Advisory Board for their loyalty and com-
mitment to the Center's cause.

The Crisis Center now has a volunteer
staff of 20 and 2 secretarial positions.
In addition, the following positions have
been added:
DIRECTOR: I have a Master's degree in
Rehabilitation Counseling. At
Project Equinox, Inc. I was a
Youth Counselor, assumed many
administrative respénsibilities

and supervised graduate stu-
dents from SUNY Albany's

counseling programs.
Linda Kingsley was a former
coordinator of the State
University College at New

' Paltz' Rape Crisis/Women's
Crisis Center.
Virginia Peel is from
Plattsburgh Community Crisis
Center where she was Coor-
dinator of Volunteers/

COUNSELOR:

The Rape Crisis Center will be able to
offer the following services: —
1. 24 hour crisis intervention -
counseling
2. Professional counseling to rape
victims and their families

3. Medical and legal informationa and
referral services
4. Educational programs regarding

rape and its victims for interes-
ted community groups.

During the month of July, we established
working relationships with the following
agencies--Crisis Unit C.D.P.C., Ellis
School of Nursing, SUNYA Health Center,
SUNYA Police, District Attorney's Office,
Project Equinox, Inc., Bennington Oppor-
tunity Council, Tools Project.

For the month of August, the Center has
arranged to meet with Mercy House, Troy
Rape Crisis Center, Child Protective,
Juvenile Unit, Albany Medical Center E.R.

personnel, Memorial Hospital, Planned
Parenthood, Whitney Young Community
Health Center, Colonie Youth Bureau,
Times Union, SUNYA Resident Director.
Information on each agency has been
gathered and is available to all volun-
teers.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Training for Crisis
Center Volunteers is September 9, 10,
and ll.

All Crisis Center staff will have pic-
ture ID cards sometime in the fall.
These should be carried at all times.

The Center can offer referral services
for rape victims to private gynecolo-
gists. For more information, please

call the office.

Just a reminder: Center staff as
available for speaking engagements.

A 4 week notice is required along with
a written request.

Hetero KKK AKER RRR RERKRERERE EERE RE

NYS VJOMEN'S. MEETING

(continued from p. 2)
hours and finally decided not to
vote, These not only did not wote
for delegates, but missed out on
voting for the resolutions because
while they had been standing in

line, the Plenary Session was ta-
king place.

At the Plenary Session, all the
Core Resolutions, Priority Reso-
lutions and other ‘Jorkshop reso-
lutions were passed with substan-
tial majorities. In general, the
resolutions dealt with promoting
equality and justice for women,
increasing their opportunities in
all areas of endeavor, eliminating
sexual stereotyping and the promo-
tion of freedom of women to have
control over their own fate.

The anti-ZRA and Right-to Life
groups were a minority, at the
workshops and at the Plenary Ses-

(cont'd ps 4 )

ABORTIONS STILL AVAILABLE
FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS
IN NEW YORK STATE

A spokeswoman for the National Right to
Life Committee called the recent move by
the Carter administration to cut off
federal funds for abortions “one small
step toward our goal of a human life"

constitutional amendment to outlaw all
abortions. So it was.

But Governor Carey announced that New
York State will continue to pay for
abortions for Medicaid recipients, for
the time being; New York. State will put
up the Federal government's share of the
costs. Other states also have the option
of paying for abortions for medicaid

recipients, but only 3 states have so
far declared their intention to do so.

Joseph Califano, Secretary of Health,
Education and Welfare--who is on the
record as personally opposing abortion--
has said that women who have been victims
of rape or inceS8t~ will receive pregnancy
preventing treatment BEFORE they know
whether or not they are pregnant, and
such procedures will continue to be paid
for by Medicaid. Only those women who
decide to terminate their pregnancies

for personal reasons (i.e. mental health
financial readiness, etc.) will be denied
Medicaid abortions. Except in those

states that decide to pick up the addi-
tional costs.

The Right-to-Life Lobbyists claim to have
over 120 members of Congress on their
side; and even though public opinion
polls show an overwhelming majority of
Americans support a woman's right to
choose, their side seems to be winning
all the critical battles coming up in

in Congress and in the Supreme Court.

Certainly this is a most important time
for feminists to be writing to our rep-
resentatives in Congress, urging them to
come out loud and clear AGAINST the con-
stitutional amendment. They seem to
think the Right-to-Lifers carry more
political weight than we do.

It's time we show them otherwise.

A.D.

NYS WOMEN'S MEETING
(cont'd from p. 3 )

sion. The "IWY Citizens Review
Committee" headed by Virginia La-
van has made inaccurate statements
in the media about "unfairness"

of the Women's Meeting. I feel
that their actions detract from _
the positive outcome of the meeting,

Their own behavior at the meeting
was underhanded at times. They
occupied all seats at the Lesbian
Household Workshop preventing les-
bians from discussing their com-
mon problems. Workshop coordinators
were forced to cancel the workshop.
They used strong-armed men to pre-
vent people from entering a room
where they were holding a caucus.
Other groups openly advertised

the time and place of caucuses and
had no guards at the door to keep
the opposition out. Also, they used
“parliamentary tactics" which made
discussion on the resolutions vir-
tually impossible at some work-
shops and at the Plenary Session.

PERE EE EE HE HE EE EE HE SE SE SE SE HE Se SE EE EE

CONTACT AREA FEMINIST GROUPS:

Aid to Batéered Women, 434-1202
Albany Area N.O.W., 283-1547
Art Resources Open to Women 34951
Capital District Coalition

for Human Rights, 462-6138
League of Women Voters, 465-4162
SPEAKOUT, 283-1547 or 765-2862
Women's Center, 449-9991 (MON, eve)
Women's Counseling Collective,

462-6739

Women's Media Project, 283-1547
Women's Political Caucus, 434-6608

Women in State Governpea ir? ed

**Any group wishing to add its
telephone contact number to
our resource list, please send
your pertinent information to
SPEAKOUT as soon as possible.
We will continue to expand
this list of "resources" for
women in the tri-cities area
in the months to come. The
Women's Counseling Collective
has a very complete listing of
reliable “professionals"...
give them a call if you need
that kind of information.

THE YELLOW STAR AND THE PINK 5

TRIANGLE

{the following article is reprinted
rom the September 10, 1975 New York

Times)

By now nearly everyone knows about
the Danes' resistance to Nazi anti-
semitism during World War II, and
how their resistance spared almost
all Danish Jews from the barbarism
that took the lives of six million
other Jews. The Danish resistance
was perhaps best symbolized by the
reported willingness of King Chris-
tian X to appear in public wearing
a yellow star of David as a sign of
fellowship with the persecuted mi-
nority.

Yet while this brave stand was being
made to save the Jews of Denmark,
another segment of the population
was systematically hunted down and
sent to the death camps: Denmark's
homosexuals,

And Denmark was not unique: Many
thousands of German, French, Polish,
Hungarian and other European homo-
sexuals were also interned and exe-
cuted.

In the concentration camps where the
Jews were compelled to wear yellow
stars, the homosexuals were forced
to wear pink triangles, and were
treated as the lowest of the low by
the Nazis.

Nearly a quarter of a million homo-
sexuals were executed by the Nazis
between 1937 and 1945, along with
the six million jews. Today, the
moral revulsion against the holo-
caust remains strong, though perhaps
not strong enough. Many know about
the yellow star, but the pink tri-
angle still lies buried as a virtual
historical secret,

As a result, there is a tolerance
among good people of discrimination
against homosexuals that is similar
to the tolerance of anti-semitism in
Europe before the holocaust and that
at least according to some scholars,
created a hospitable climate for the
destruction of European Jews.

Today, such discrimination based pn

by ‘ra Glasser, Executive Dir. of NY¥Civil Liberties Union

tolerated. Though it still occurs,
it is outlawed by Federal and lo-
cal laws, and is thus discouraged,

In New York City, for example,
discrimination in employment, hou-
Sing, or public accommodations
based on race, religion or sex is
illegal. But the same kind of dis-
crimination against homosexuals is
permitted,

Four years ago a civil rights bill
to bar discrimination against ho-
mosexuals in employment, housing,
and public accommodations was in-
troduced in the City Council. If
the bill had been passed, official
tolerance for bigotry based on
people's sexual preferences would
have been ended. But the bill did
not pass. Five times it has been

introduced, and five times it has
failed.

Just as the Jews of Europe had to
hide or perish, so many homosexu-
als today must hide in New York
City to avoid the penalties of
"Caming Out" in the open: loss of
job, harrassment and abuse, even
rejection by family and friends.

Now the bill has been introduced
for a 6th time, Tomorrow, the bill,
known as Intro 554, is scheduled
to come before City Council.

During WWIII, no king, no premier,
no president, no prominent citizen
came forward wearing a pink tri-
angle, as it is said the yellow

Star of David was worn by the King
of Denmark,

Today, and every day until Intro
554 is passed, the pink triangle
1s being worn not only by homose-
xuals, but also by those who bel-
lieve that the tolerance of good

ypeople is what permits bigotry to

persist. The City Council, it is
hoped, will get the message this

time. CAPITAL sisticT COALITION
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ; 2-6138 or

religion--or race or sex or creed or Write Box 131, Albany NY 12201.

national origin--is not officially

— d......................._ SEs:

ALBANY'S SIXTH ANNUAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATION

eae ne ee ee CEE LE DLS LL

Albany's sixth annual Women's Day
celebration to mark the anniversary
of women's suffrage was held in
Washington Park Saturday, August
13. But the festivities began
this year with a march called
"Women Against Violence Against
Women" the night before, starting
at the Capitol steps, and heading
down State Street to a rally in
the park itself.

Participants chanted "Stop Violence
Against Women!!" as they marched
down State Streete Though the turn-

out for the march was disappointing, goyn

about 50 women and a few men lis-
tened eagerly to the speakers who
were waiting for the marchers

in the eerily pleasant atmosphere
of Washington Park at night.

Bessie Malamas, spokesperson for
Aid to Battered Women, Inc,., spoke
about the urgent need for volunteer
counselors for thé increasing num-
ber of women who are calling ABW to
ask for help and information about
their rights. Aid to Battered Wo-
men seeks to ultimately create a
Shelter for battered women in the
Albany area; at this point, however
ABW is doing its best to develop a
24-hour a day information and coun-
Sseling service for victims of do-
mestic abuse. Members of ABW will
provide advocacy and will accompany
victims to family court, welfare
and any other agency that will pro-
vide needed assistance. Anyone

who would like more information
about becoming a counselor for ABW
should call 434-1202 as soon as
possible, since the next training
session is scheduled to begin Sat,
september 17,..And any woman who
seeks counseling about her own
Situation is welcome to call the

ABW "hotline" at any hour of the

Diane Dubiac of the Albany County
District Attorney's Office spoke
about the improved rate of convic-
tions in Albany County since the
Rape Crisis Center went into opera-
tion in late 1975. The DA has been
able to obtain 7 convictions for
rape over a one-year period, as’

Be ie as

2 ea oik sine Se cea ec ae te Ree SEA re Eda Oy taal Ie gli See fe aia oi el al MSL lanes lag! aT ae Saree Re eter are ein n si

a; conviction for rape
in the preceding year. The DA's
office is also having more success
in prosecuting persons who have
been convicted for sexual offenses
other than rape, including harras-
ment, and sexual abuse. AS a re~-
sult of this success the County
has applied for a $60,000 grant
from the Law Enforcement Assistan-
ce Administration (L.E.A.A.) to
create a special unit for "sexual
offenses", including rape, within
the District Attorney's office.
Dubiac felt the prospects of the
ty receiving this grant look
very good.

opposed to ¢

Next, Virginia Peel, one of the
new counselors at the Rape Crisis
Center, spoke about the upcoming
training sessions for volunteer
counselors--September 9, 10 and ll.
Anyone who is interested in be-
coming a volunteer is asked to
call the office of the ACRCC at
45-7547, The Rape Crisis Center
provides confidential counseling
to rape victims, makes referrals
for necessary serviées and infor-
mation, provides support through

slegal procedures, accompanies

victims to emergency rooms, and
provides speakers for school and
community groups, upon request.
THE EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER FOR THE
RAPE CRISIS CENTER IS 393-1165.

Alexandria Douglas, spokesperson
for the Women's Media Project
spoke about the exploitation of
violence against women in the
media to turn large profits and
about the efforts of the Cali-
fornia-based group WOMEN AGAINST
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN to boycott
products (especially recard albums
which commercialize AND trivialize
violence against women. (see p]| )

Catherine Devine gave a powerful
Speech about how violence against
women (real/potential,past and
present) serves to keep women "in
their place". The text of Devine's
Speech is reprinted in this issue
of SPEAKOUT (see page ¥ ).

MORE about Women's Day on
e next page

WOMEN'S DAY 1977
(cont'd)

Following the speeches several local
feminist. singer/songwriters led the
group in song,

WOMEN'S DAY itself, the sixth
such celebration in Albany's Washin-
gton Park, was slightly overshadowed
by the changeable weather that
plagued the day and the resulting
poor attendance at the celebration.
Organizers estimate that no more
than 200 people browsed through the
park this year, as compared with
500-600 in years past. But whether
it was the weather or the vacations
that were scheduled for mid-August
before organizers found ovt that ~

it was necessary to change the tra-
ditional August 26th (or thereabouts)
date of the festival because the
City had scheduled something else,

we can't say. The organizers of

the event did a beautiful job of
planning, publicizing and raising
the spirits of those of us who did
participate in the festival--and

they must be congratulated for their
fine work.

eee ED.sNote: though we are ending
our coverage of women's day at this
point we still hope to be able to
bring you summaries of some of the
excellent speeches given during
the celebration in the park that
day. Speakers covered topics

from "elitism in the movement",
sydney Abbott, to "male-oriented
architecture", Leslie Weissman,
and "Sexism in Education", Lucille
Field Goodman. PLEASE LOOK FOR
THESE SUMMARIES IN OTHER PARTS OF
THIS MONTH'S SPEAKOUT.

ATTENTION! "Work Options for
Women" is a program operating in
the Schenectady Y for the purpose
of helping women find jobs, often
in non-traditional fields. There

is no limit to what you can dot!!]!
Contact W.0.W. at 382-3582, Chris
Ratzel or Meg Opalka are job coun-
selors for the agency. Give thema
call if YOU"RE ready for a change.

* FOGUS ON WOMEN AT
ALBANY YWCA

The Albany YWCA, at its new lo-
cation at 28 Colvin Avenue, is
offering a special mini-course
called "Focus on Women", part II.
The program will run for six
weeks, Wed. evenings from 7-9: 30
me The cost for the program is
$20, and organizers promise it
offers a womderful experience for
women to focus on ourselves, and
to make new friends in the process.
The maximum enrollment is 25, so
interested women should contact
Kris Miccio at the Y as soon as
possible: 438-6608

Sept. 28 WHY NOT START YOUR OWN
BUSINESS? Sue Nichols,a
tax consultant, will
give practical informa-
tion on how to get it
together in the business
world,

KEEPING HEALTHY Maggy

Pfaff, from Albany Med's

Family Planning Clinic,

will lead discussion on

how we can stay healthy
and be informed.

SCRIPTS WOMEN LIVE: AN

INTRODUCTION Megan Ruth-

man, from the Center for

Human Growth, will share

insights on why we act

the way we do.

MEN & MARRIAGE We will

look at where marriage

came from, why we're in
it (or not) and what we
want out of it. You don't
have to be married to get
something out of this
course.

LIVING WITH (AND WITHOUT)

OUR KIDS They're growing

are we-as mothers? A look

at hhbw we can grow and
live with, and without,
our kids.

BECOMING SINGLE AGAIN

After years of marriage,

how does it feel to be

“single” again. Can we

look and plan for that
time, if it happens??

CONTACT THE YWCALIP ULE elrye)k

Dete.%

Oct iz

Oct 19

Oct 26

Nov. 2

Sy casas i Sim are aes aes 8 rea i BPs i bn Sree og BRU, Suan) S* 5. ialemeea e Meeeeey So

Violence Against Women

Good evening. I hope we all realize to what extent this meeting
is a bold act. I wonder how many of us women have ever ventured into
this park at night on our own, even if it would mean a convenient
shortcut to our houses. This territory, like the streets around it,
like most of the city, in fact, is cut off to women when dark sets in,
so we are "out of place" here right now.

I want to talk about why this park at night isn't “our place."
Too often when people refer to the invisible boundaries that Limit
women's lives, blame for the situation is somehow placed on the woman-
people say that women are "vulnerable," women are more "timid," women
aren't "assertive," and its suggested that they are born this way,
that they are naturally this way. I think the purpose of this rally
is to say that this view of women is no longer acceptable. It is time
that the phenomenon of violence against women be acknowledged as a
widespread, cultural pattern that has had the devastating effect of
making women vulnerable, more timid, and non-assertive. And it is
also time that the specific, individual men who are violent towards

women be pointed to as the people responsible for making and keeping
women victims of violence.

Rape is an issue that has been in the public eye for some time
now, but it is still not fully understood as a fact of life for all
women, whether or not we have actually been physically raped. The
damage that is done to our nervous systems alone by the constant fear
of rape makes us all victims. Because of the imminent possibility of
violent physical violation, women are forced to walk stiffly and
alertly in unfamiliare places; we must respond to every creak of wood
in a house; we must restrict our movements to known, lighted places; ~
we must be distrusting of men that we meet - in other words, whether
or not we are conscious of it, rape acts as a constant curfew on our

movements. Brutal, physical degradation can await any woman who steps
"out of her place."

The extent to which the presence of violence affects our movements
cannot be underestimated. We have only to use our imaginations and
picture a culture in which we could take a lone walk at 3 o'clock in
the morning down any street, into any park; we could offer a ride home

from a party to a strange man; we could spend an evening in a bar with
a woman friend without being interrupted or harassed...

It needs to be said again that the presence of violence in
women's lives is not dismissable, nor is it exaggerated. Women are
raped in different ways every day of their lives - every time a man's
eyes travel down our bodies when we are trying to have a conversation
with him; every time a whistle or comment is sent in our direction as
we walk down the street; every time a man dares to convert our human,
female selves into objects for his pleasure or comfort, we have been
raped. The statistic is that one rape occurs every 10 minutes in this
country. The physical ravaging that this statistic reflects cannot

ever be excused. Rather, we must add to the toll every instance in
which a woman is made to feel an object.

The possibility of violence restricts women's sphere of movement
and, most often, keeps us in our "Safe" homes. Also in most cases,

fae rer as OR i CO ee REN 1 Sgt. Pree ee Ep St Meme OE hPa See ele ee eee Mar We a AY Ren GIy ees Rae Tras a a REPRE GR A oe ae pe

9 ' ;
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

women marry - they bind themselves to one man who will not only
Provide for them economically, but will act as the guardian of a
woman's physical well-being. Or so the story goes. Statistics on
rape show that at least of the reported rapes occur in our homes,

and statistics on battered wives show that so often, it is the husband
who not only batters the woman, but rapes her.

The issue of battered women has only recently begun to be looked
at, and although it is more prevalent than brutal rape - wife abuse
happens once very 18 seconds in this country - it seems to be a more
difficult occurrence for the public to accept. I think that people's
blindness to battered wives is due to the fact that, if so many hus-
bands were acknowledged to be violent men who let loose their
frustrations on their wives, the phenomenon of violence against women
would have to be accepted as a usual, daily part of women's existence
in this culture. No longer could it be said that only the rare,
disturbed, lonely man becomes distorted to the point where he would
attack a woman. No longer could it be said that these few sick men
prowl around dark, public streets waiting for women. In fully thinking
about and listening to battered wives, we have to accept that our
culture allows all men, including a woman's husband, to disregard the
humanness of women and to treat them with unremorseful violence.

I think the battered woman's situation can be the most frightening.
A woman whose husband is a batterer can never relax; she lives in
terror awaiting the next unpredictable explosion of a violent man's
temper. Battered women's testimony shows that their husbands' violent
outbursts are most often unprovoked. Some men drag their wives out
of bed in the middle of the night to beat them. Many batterers
increase their beatings when their wife is pregnant, revealing an
uncontrollable hostility toward the female being. Sometimes the wife
is associated with the cause of a violent outburst, such as when she
is unable to keep an infant quiet, or when she has dinner ready 5
minutes late. Basically, I feel that the so-called "cause" of ;
battering can never be found in the actions of the wife, but is to be
found in the woman-hating attitude of many men, an attitude which is
reinforced by most of society's institutions, from the local police
to the Department of Social Services. Ask a woman who has lost her
will to survive as a direct result of persistent beating, what the

most common response to her calls for help was, and she'll answer,
"They said I must have deserved it."

To cmplete this picture of a culture that makes women vulnerable
and then blames them for their vulnerability, I would like to talk
about how women are portrayed in the media and in advertisements.

This is one of the most sinister angles of the whole picture, because
it can pass as being harmless. The psychology of advertising is based
on communicating something quickly without requiring much thought, so
many of us don't think as we flip the pages of a magazine and see a
leg, an eye, a breast, a hand, an arm.... We don't think about the
fact that what we are actually looking at are dismembered parts of a
woman's body. Advertisements actually direct people to look at parts
of women's bodies as if there were no person attached. The subliminal
message being given here creates a mentality which negates the person
and sees only a body. This mentality is what allows men to rape and
batter women, as well as put our bodies on display.

per rage 4s *

I think a perfect example of subliminal violence against women
is the Price Chopper symbol. The Symbol is that of an axe chopping
into a coin. The face on the coin is that of a woman. Therefore, the

visual image that we are actually presented with is that of an axe
going through a woman's head.

The way in which women are and are not portrayed in the media lays
the groundwork for violence against women. Simply, the media creates
a definition of what is feminine by reinforcing the worst views of
women this culture has to offer: women are Scatter-brained, incompetent,
flirtatious, and needy ... or when they are competent, rarely are they
in positions of authority. They are competent, but they are still
glossy jokes. The true range of human realities and possibilities is
not explored when it comes to women, So they continue to be looked at
as either half-people or Super-people ... in any case, unreal. If
women are unreal, they can be abused. Women are actively made into
victims by this culture's refusal to see us in our true dimensions.

We could talk forever about all the ways in which aspects of this
culture tie in to increase the violence done to women. Even our
awareness of violence brings forth more violence: think of the tension
and anger we women must carry inside of us once we become aware of the
vicious circle we are trapped behind. Think of the struggle involved
in finding constructive ways to translate this anger. Think of the
women who are tormented by anxiety and depression, and who enter mental
institutions only to have lobotomies done on them. Lobotomies are

being done on middle-aged women Suffering from depression more than on
any other group of people.

Obviously, the problem of violence against women is massive. It
involves changing everything from the law which Says that a woman
cannot prosecute her husband for pape or assault, to changing the
mentality which went into designing platform shoes. Everywhere, we
aS women have to combat this culture's efforts to cripple us.

Because the problem is so massive, we cannot afford to have
enlightened women not contributing their energies. Every bit of
involvement counts. We've been introduced tonight to the Rape Crisis
Center, Aid to Battered Women, and the Media Offensive. They need
volunteers and suggestions. If you have ideas for programs in the
School systems, or research projects, or publicity campaigns, contact
these groups, or use the Women's Center or the YWCA as bases to gather
other women's support for your ideas. We have to make ourselves
heard and felt in order to destroy the atmosphere of violence in which

we live, and in order to replace it with our own definitions of
ourselves.
HERE EEE ERLE EEE REE ELE E ERE LELEUCD thorine DeVine* FREER ERREREEEHEEH

WOMEN'S CENTER pledge month has Albany area. If you are a sup-
een extended to September because porter of the feminist community
the Center has not begun to raise who has been meaning to contribute,
enough money to stay in operation or someone who just hasn't rea~
for another year. Energies of the lized the Center needed financial
women involved in the center have support to stay alive, please give,
been going into keeping the center Contributions or monthly pledges
financially afloat, instead of are desperately needed: WOMEN's
into the programs and organizing CENTER, 132 Central Ave, Albany
activities so badly needed in the 12206. We need $3,000!!!!!2!!!!

MEDIA VIOLENCE AGAINST wOMN

There are several very important things I
have to tell you tonight about violence
against women in the media. The first is
probably the most obviouseviolence against
women in the media is on the increase. Not
just in films or on TV. But in perfume ads,
fashion photography, record albums, book
covers, billboards and “erotic” magazines
and films. Pictures of women with their
clothing torn, their boddies tied up—or
chained down—-their mouths gagged, and
their faces bruised have become positively
commonplace in the American media. So

commonplace that many people no longer
"notice".

The second thing I have to tell you is that
violence against women in the media is so
popular because IT WORKS!! Violence against
women is successfully selling perfumes,
pantsuits, records, detergents, and STP. It
is launching the professional careers of
actresses like Farrah Fawcett—Majors and
Angie Dickenson. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
SELLS. Today's businessexecutives say it
makes dollars and sense to go with the
trend...eand what's more, they say women
want it.

Let me give you an example: In 1976 pho=
tographer Richard Avedon did a 12=page

spread for Vogue Magazine that featured

Another example, this time from the mo=
vies: Strong, handsome Burt Reynolds,

in the film The Longest Yard begins
throwing his negligee clad girlfriend
around her bedroom within 15 minutes of
the film's opening frame. There isn't
any explanation of what provoked his out=
burst, and she doesn't fight back. But
the moviegoers cheer (at least they did
the night I saw the film). The entire
audience seemed to be cheering, shouting
"Bitch!", "Give It To Her!" WHO DID THIS
MOVIE APPEAL TO??? A lot of people. The

Longest Yard was one of the highest gro
sing movies of the year.

Down at your friendly local record store
you can find record albums with covers
featuring nude and semi-nude women bound

-.«n Leather, tied down with chains, down

on their knees—lLooking submissive, of
course, wearing dog collars and leashes,
surrounded by men who look ready for a
gang rape, and even one showing a woman's
ass stamped like a piece of meat!

Among the titles on these record covers
are "Thriller" (depicting a woman who has
been knocked down in the street, obvious-
ly a victim of a rape and/or a mugging);
"You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw"
(this one just has ugly, cartoonlike fa=

a woman clad in a pantsuit being alternatelyces of women on the back cover); and the
carressed and then beaten by a harsh lookingpiece de la piece, a record by MONTROSE

mane Sales of the pantsuit worn by the
"battered woman" in the advertisement went
up 25% after the ad appeared in Vogue. The
clothes manufacturer was very pleased; and
it certified in his mind that “strong women
have masochistic tendencies", he said.

Another example: An attractive woman with
her clothing ripped to expose her breasts
is gagged and bound with her legs forced
apart and her pelvis thrust forward. There
is a look of terror on her face as a man's
bend comes toward her with a knife, This
magazine, called Detective, carries the
lead atory entitled "All He Wanted to Do
Was Chop Up Carol." It can be found in
almost any candy store and even in some

called "Jump On It". No, it's not about
a pogo stickseeThe picture on the front
of the album is a woman's crotch. On the
back you can find the same incitement to
"Jump On It", but this time the photo is
a woman's ass!!!

Last year a group of California women
banded together to form an organization
called "Women Against Violence Against
Women" in response to an advertising
campaign for a new Rolling Stones album
called Black & Blue. The record company
was pushing the album with the slogun,
"I'm Black and Blue for the Rolling Stones
and I Love It!" The woman in the poster
was typically bound and bruised..and

grocery stores, not far away from your kid'ssmiling. Like she was enjoying every

favorite comic books. The distributors of
these books say they're forced to carry

minute of her humiliation.

WAVAW was successful in getting the com

them; they don't get many complaints. Women pany to remove the BYB billboard, and in

stopping the company from using equally
offensive radio spots pusing the albu
with heavy breathing and a woman's voice=

like them.

MEDIAVIOLENCE cont'd be
over saying "beat me again, beat me again".
WAVAW has now launched a nationwide campaign
against such blatant exploitation and tri=
vialization of violence against women in the
media (with an emphasis on record companies,
because it helps effectiveness to keep the
focus of attention in one place).

But that's what's happening with record
companies. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER COMPANIES
WHO ARE NOT SO UP FRONT ABOUT TELLING YOU
THEY USE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FOR FINAN=
CIAL GAIN, THE ONES WHO SAY THEY DON'T WANT
ANY PART OF CENSORSHIP??? The ones who make
it seem such violent programming on tele=
vision—or anywhere else—is part and parcel
of the first amendment to the Constitution!!

What we have found out as members of the
Media Project is that many of the TV shows
that draw the highest ratings are the shows
that feature sex and violence and sexual
violence with alarming frequency. Since
advertisers are willing to pay "big bucks"
for those shows the public most wants to
see, surely these station managers make
their moral decisions with at least one

eye on the cash register.

As I mentioned earlier, record companies'
executives have tended to be blatant about
their profit motivetion and their sexism.

In addition to telling women from WAVAW that
‘women are targets" one executive added that
their marketing research has shown that
young male consumers will often buy those
albums with sexually degrading photographs
of women on IMPULSE...because the album

Which brings us back to the work of the
Women's Media Project. In support of the
efforts of WAVAW in California, we have

We welcome you to join in the media
project's efforts to take the profit:
motive out of exploiting women in this
waye But whether or not you do, before
you leave this park tonight, we want you
to consider the real—life implications
mediaviolence against women has on the
social climate in this country. How it
affects the lives of each and every woman
here tonight.

All of us know that women are dying as

a result of rape and battering, that
women can be crippled physically, men=
tally and emotionally for life as the
direct result of violence of the type
routineig served up as "entertainment"

on prime time television. And researchers

are now showing that, as rape becomes
more common in the mass media, rapists

are ceasing to see themselves as abnormal

they are becoming more and more resistant
to treatment!!!

Other studies have shown that people be=
come more apathetic about real-life vio-
lence when they have been exposed to TV
violence in larger and larger doses. 5o
while violence in the media: may not ac=
tually CAUSE violent crimes against women
in real—Life, it may very well be con=
tributing to a social reality which con=
siders such crimes against women to be
more and more "normal".

If they cheer for batterers » why not for
rapists? why not multiple rapists?

batters who also murder and rape? etCe

These images seem to validate that we
are natural victims, that we become more
sexually attractive when we are humili~
ated, that we like to be brutalized, that
we too find it sexually stimulatingeeces

joined in the boycott of Warner Bros, Rlektrarne, witimate mediaviolence against women

and Atlantic Records—three of the worst
offenders in the sexually degrading album
cover markete And we are conducting inter=
views with local TV station managers about
violent programming on their stations. And
we are encouraging all women and all men to
STOP buying any products——newspapers, maga»
zines, and films included—that feature ads
or stor&és emphasizing the sensational as=
pects of violent crimes against women.

Finally, we are trying to encourage distri-=-
butors of these materials to either modify
their ad campaigas, or send the offensive
materials back altogether. We warn them
violence against women does NOL payee.

is that somewhere there are women who
are (literally) buying these myths. And
there are men who see this sort of bruta!
ization of another human being as a true
Sign of maturity and adulthood.

Before you leave heretonight, please
think a minute about the film: SNUFF=the
porng film in which the actresses were
murdered and mutilated at the endeee In
the Albany area recently there have been
two murders similar to those in the filme

We ask you to join us in our fight to
stop glamorizing violence against women

in the media. To join in the demand for
media consciousness !!Y AeDeo

ze
A Femitorial Opinion / 2 ,
Last July 8=1LO a crowd of over 10,000

UnIMPRESSIONS :

With this latest local illustration, none
swarmed the South Mall for the first NYS can deny that we are gravely divided over

Women's Meeting, a herstorical FemAthon the most imperative concerns. But the
attended by women of all ages, races, creedsMeeting also indicated sources of present

and sexes. Women of all sexes? So one might political unity: our active involvement
think after witnessing the final passage of in women's centers, rape=crisis centers,
resolutions encompassing an affirmation of and battered=women's shelters, daycare
our rights to abortion, employment, lesbian facilities (to name just a few). Such

status and equal access to federal aid in

efforts are a vital counterpart to State

education and the arts. The strongly femi~ and National Women's meetings ( at which

nist slate of delegates elected to attend

nothing could induce me to support the

the National Women's Meeting in Houston was "“anti~choice" women) for they focus on

the culmination of a weekend of explosive
workshops during which we discovered both
new unity and old divisiveness. The vola=
tile itinerary of clashes between pro= and
anti= feminists will not be rehashed; both
local and national media have already ex~
ploited the anti-—ERA/Right to Life (dissat-

is) faction*s very vocal objections to the
Meeting's outcome.

ways to bring all women together. How
many Stop-ERA'ists would refuse to help
a raped or battered woman?

This is the Feminist Primeval; the
Revolution will not be televised.

Natalie M. Kazmierski

ee ee ee oe ene anemia

But it was impossible not to notice the
herds of women following the inevitable
male from workshop to workshop denouncing
not abortion, not the ERA, not lesbianism,
but a woman's right to choice itself. The
irrational fear behind such crusading by
the Movement's opposition is rapidly be=
coming a legend in its own slime.

The lingering unrest generated by the voting,
although somewhat dispelled by the many
superb craft exhibits, musical /dramatic:
performances and general festiveness, is
still with us, prompting my clumsy musings
on the ancient theme of sisterhood. Not

that I want to be redundant (not that I

want to be redundant) but many noteworthy
cultural displays = as well as vital health
care resolutions = were once again eclipsed
by this eenbral conflict. Vital as these
issues remain, collective action regarding
legislation on health-care, sports and
humanities scholarships, and the defense
budget = in addition to the crucial abobtion
ERA and lesbian rights struggles — should
prove far more effective than collective

(?) resolutions passed on for Jimmy Carter's
perusal and perennial chuckle. We were

all victims of the media ("an Equal Oppor—
tinity Oppressor") coverage and its cliches
of bra=burning, of Sapphisticated Ladies

vs. Our Lady of the Oranges, of "a horde

of screaming women unable to hold an order=
ly meeting". (The CBS reporter responsible
for that last phrase should check out tran-
scripts of the first Constitutional Conven-
tion).

URGENT. NOTICE TO SPEAKOUT ERS, SUP-
C rir!

It's not the first time, and it
may not be the last, that we ask
our readers to show their support
for SPEAKOUT. We need more women
who are interested in writing for
us, in working with us, and in
helping us raise funds so we can
stay in operation another yeare

Anyone who would like to join us
is welcome to come to our meetings
Thursday nights at 6 pm in the
Women's Center, 132 Central Ave.
If you don't want to join, but
would like to submit poetry or
articles, please send your material
to SPEAKOUT's P. O. Boxe If you
are willing to donate time OR
financial support, please drop us
a line or give us a calle

We'll be sponsoring a benefit later
this fall (a great film about child
custody and lesbian parents called

"In The Best Interests of the Chil~
dren") but we do need help now.

Upcoming issues will be "centered"

bn friendship (OCT), child custod

(NOV) and Sexuality (DEC)

We welcome a11 women to participate

in SPEAKOUT, Albany's six-and—a=
half year old feminist journaleecss

DIVORCE ADJUSTMENT SEMJNARS ,

Family and Children's Service of Albany

is announcing two divorce adjustment semi~
nars open to all women and men committed
to a permanent and legal separation. The
seminars are part of the agency's new
Family and Personal Growth Programe

Each seminar will be held on six consecus, .

tive Thursday evenings; the first one to *<

o ogoe

begin Sept. 29, 1977 running through Novy
3, 1977; the second one running from Nov.
10 through Dec. 22.

The agenda is:

9/29: The Divorce Adjustment Process=
what to espect during this time and
for how long
"Good Grief"...accepting and
grieving the loss
10/13: Letting Go Of the Past-learning
how to detach yourself from your
previous life and relationships
10/20: Relatives and Divorce-how your
parents, children and others in
your family may feel or react and
how you can respond to them
Learning to Like Youecoping with
feelings of failure, guilt and
rejection
Getting Back into the Swing of
Things—learning to relate to others
again and in new ways

10/6:

10/27:

11/3:

The same agenda will te repeated beginning
Nove 10. The major portion of each meeting
will be devoted to discussion and related
to the individual concerns of the parti=
cipants.

Time is 7:30=Jpm. Place is St.Andrews
Church, 10 N. Main Ave, Albany. Leader
is Jo Louise Klein, ACSW. Cost for each
six«session series in $18.

Pres#registration is required because
enrollment will be limited. For further
information or to register for either
seminar, call Jo at 462-6531.

HKKKIKE IAHR HEE EERE

IF YOU HAVEN'T FILLED OUT THE SEXUAL~
HARRASSMENT—~ON~THE~JOB SURVEY THAT WAS
IN YOUR JUNE 77 SPEAKOUT, PLEASE FILL
IT OUT AND SEND IT IN RIGHT AWAY. WE
CAN"T PUBLISH THE RESULTS TIL WE HEAR
FROM A FEW MORE PEOPLE. Please send to
the SPEAKOUT PeOc BoXe

Thanks !!!!!!!

COMMUNITY LEGAL RIGHTS'
"ASK A LAWYHR PROGRAM" now operating

CLR has been operating its "Ask a Law
yer" program every Tuesday night since
June 7, 1977. “Ask A Lawyer" is open to
any member of the Albany community who
cannot afford a Lawyere

The lawyers are available for pri-~
vate consultations, but are not able to
take on caseSe However, advocates are
present to continue on the cases and
stay in contact with the lawyerse

Since June we have had time to improve
the program so that it better serves

the residents of our community. Effec-
tive Auge 9, we will move the program

to Refer Switchboard,iocated at 216 Lark

St in Albany. The phone number for
people to call to speak to a lawyer, £7
they can not come to Refer, is 43/p-61356
This number should only be used on Tues~
day nights between 7 and 9 pm. We

Strongly Urge people to consult the
lawyers in person if at all possible.

"Ask A Lawyer" was originally created
for those people who cannot afford a
Lawyer. Since the beginning of the
program, we have come to realize that
all people need to have legal questionss
answered, and prefer to have some legal
understanding before seeing an attorneye
"Ask a Lawyer" is also for people who
need to understand the law surrounding
their problem.

For more information contact Kathy or
Yvette at 43h-1053.

In solidarity,

Yvette
EIR HEHE HO EIT

DEMONSTRATION PLANNED FOR SATURDAY,
OCTOBER 1 IN BOSTON TO STOP THE UNIT
FOR VIOLENT WOMEN IN WORCESTER STATE
HOSPITAL eeeeWho decides??? What is

March/demonstration is planned by the
Coalition Against Institutional Violence
Call 617-628-8438 or write Women's

School, 595 Massachusetts Avee, Cambridg:
Ma.

DEMONSTRATE OCTOBER 1

5
Three Views of
WOMENBOOKS: Kate Millett's Sita

In my hometown a visitor estranged,

The stirrings somewhat like a
phantom limb,

I stumbled on your book and knew
your name

And unaware, I bought it on a whin.

Returned to the hotel, began to read

And recognized myself on every page.

The barren room, the celibate recede

Replaced by graphic memories, shame
and rage.

My scalp is tight as I inhale
your pain

Attempt to put aside your show-and-
tell

Reliving my own sickness once again.

You trespass, Lady, on my private
Hell.

Your skill implies there's no one
to be blamed;

Ungrateful, vengeful, I remain
ashamed.

Anon., 8-9-77

KEKE CHHEHH HE

In Sita, Kate Millett documents the
emotional yo-yo of breaking out of
an endearing dependency. Although
she herself needs space, she finds
she is unable to accept on a gut
level what she intellectualizes po-
litically. Her writing is so clear
that one understands how she can
attribute to paranoia that which
her better judgment tells her is
betrayal. Because of the graphic
portrayal of the sexual scenes I
shoudid be very careful to whom I
recommend it (one of my friends
thought "Catcher in the Rye” por-
nographic). But for those of us who
have loved and lost--and who haven't
--Sita will recall the depths of
humiliation and sick hope. Millett
has progressed to gratitude and
peace, May we all.

TEASE EEE EE EE Ee

Millett's new book, Sita, is so
vivid a picture of the coming apart
of two people who once loved, it
must trigger old memories from every
reader who ever hung on to the hope
("good politics" aside) that a de-
parted love would somefwow reconsider

and return. Beautifully written};
erotic, at times. K.M.'s catharsis.

-Single Parenting

~Consciousness-Raising Group

8 ; >

‘ * ART RESOURCES OPEN
TO WOMEN (AROW) FALL i977
WORKSHOPS BEGIN

AROW's fall workshops will begin
during the week of Spetember 26
and will run through the week of
November 19. Registration will
take place at AROW's studios at
348 State Street in Schenectady
on Sept. 15, 16 and 17 between
10am and 4 pm or by mail to PO
Box 647, Schen, NY 12301.

Due to AROW's limited space, many

of the 8-week sessions wiJ}l be

held in instructors homes or stu-

dios. Locations and directions

will be made available at time of
registration. For brochures call
AROW's offices at 346-5101. All
instructors will be using con-
sciousness-raising techniques as

a basis for their teaching methods

as well as developing "alternative
environment for exploration thru
art & experience. :

WORKSHOPS planned are as follows:

-Sculpture for Children
-Printmaking for Children
-Body as a Source of Self-Expres-
Sion in Art :
-Gum Bichromate Printing
-Employing Your Total Self
-Figure Drawing
-Beginning and Advanced Watercolor

-History of Women Artists
-Book Discussion

-Jam Session
-Beginning Photography
-3D Design

-Tapestry Weaving
-Playwriting

-Poetry

There are charges for most of
these workshops, and in some case‘
a Supply fee (or optional supply
fee) as well. No workshop costs
more than $25, and C-R, Jam Ses-

Sions and Book Discussion groups
are all free,

For more information call Marilyn

Maruskin, AROW, 399-9032 or 346-
SiGl, WH ses Hse wes

Best of luck in your lst year!!
¢ 16
What's gojng on around the country that's of importance

NEWSBRIEFS :

to women everywhere, but you don't usually see it on the national

news or in the local papers....,

Camden, N.J..«eA 25 year old student
nurse by the name of Roxanne Gay
pleaded not guilty to the murder of
her husband, Blenda, who had repor-
tedly beaten her brutally that: <¢
night....This case may go down in
history along with Inez Garcia and
JoAn Little's cases as one of the
major legal precedents on a woman's
right to defend herself when she
has been attacked. Ms. Gay's case
has begun to attract the support

of women's groups around the coun-
try; feminists from the Women's
Resource and Survival Center (the
first federally funded women's
center in the country) have formed
a defense committee. The cast of
"For Colored Girls Who Have Consi-
dered Suicide When the Rainbow Is
Enuf" has offered to do a benefit
performance in the Camden County

jail, where Ms» Gay is incarcerated.

Though Ms. Gay repeatedly called
the police to protest the beatings
from her 6 foot 5 inch, 225 pound
husband, the most police did was
to make him leave the house "to
cool off", according to Ms. Gay's
defense attorney. "After which

he came home and beat her again.
We feel the next step for Roxanne

might be her violent death,"
KEK HK HH

The Florida Citrus Association is
doing market research on whether

or not to "can" Anita Bryant as

its spokesperson for Florida Orange
Juice. (If you haven't written a
letter yet and have been meaning

to ever since all this started, NOW

is a very good time to write.)
SEE HK EE HE

Manufadhrers of Cosmetics estimate
that American women use nearly

one hundred thousand tons (100,000
tons is equal to ?? 20 million ibs.
according to my calculations) of
make-up each year. Each yeart!!!}!?!
The average woman uses 2 1/2 pounds
of creams, powders and paint, cost-
ing about $18 annually. MAYBE THE

COSMETICS MANUFACTURERS ARE BACKING

ae ee

ANL-ERA, ANITA,et al. They stand

to lose quite an investment!!!

Senator Karen Burstein and Assem-
blyman Mark Siegel have called
for an end to a federally-funded
"abortion study" being conducted
in New York State, outside of New
York City. Records are being
kept on 27,000 abortion patients
and a control group of 21,000
other women without their know-
ledge and without their consent.
The intent of the "surveillance
study" was to track the long-term
effects of abortion on later preg-
nancies by keeping computerized
files on the marriages, pregnan-
cies and abortions of every woman
who had an abortion in New York
State the first year abortions
were liberalized (1970-71).
The State Health Department called
for an immediate study of what
Burstein called a "massive inva-
sion of privacy." Indeed it is.
HAS ANYONE READ THE RESULTS OF
THIS STUDY IN ANY LOCAL PAPERS??
MHI UE EE ESE EE EH
And good news for unmarried
people who live together, gay or
straight...A Housing program spe-
cialist at HUD has written new
rules for eligibility for Federal
housing, subject to approval of
local housing authorities, which
eliminates discrimination against
unmarried persons who live toge-
ther. Under the new regulations
a family consists of “two or more
persons, sharing residency, whose
income and resources are availabl:
to meet the family's needs and wh
are either related by blood, mar-
riage or operation of law, or
have evidenced a stable family
relationship." HUD got few gBe-
sponses to the proposed change
in the definition during the of-
ficial comment period, so the
change is now in effect...And the
regulations seem to be catching
up to what is quickly becoming a
social reality--lifestyles are
changing. Almost half the house-
holds in this country are 1 and 2
person"families,."
Alexandria Douglas

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Sisters:

I was delighted to read in your June issue
the discussion on the hearings on battered
spouses. I did want to assure you that a
number of us are very concerned that we
move forward on this issue. The hearings

were just one step in that direction. We
look forward to working with you.

Sincerely, Carol Bellamy
6/21/77
FREESE KEKE KI IKKE IIE IE

Quick Legislative Update:

In July, Governor Carey signed a bill es=
tablishing joint parentechild shelters for
victims of family violence such as spouse
WAITING FOR!! Another bill giving per~
mission for "battered spouses" to choose
to take their cases to Criminal Court,
rather than to Family Court--where the

goal of the judge tends to be to keep the
families united, also passed the New York
State Legislature. Senator Bellamy is one

of those legislators who worked hard for
passage of this bill.

¢ *

Dear Sisters:

SPEAKOUT was pleased to have a
table at Women's Day in Washing-
ton Park this August. We sold
copies of SPEAKOUT, subscriptions
and gallons of lemonade. However
we had lots of everything left
over, partly because of the small
attendance this year. Could I
make a suggestion for next year?

Women's Day has to be on a Sunday
for a number of reasons (1) more
people will visit the park; (2)
more craftswomen will attend. If
the celebration were held the
second Sunday in SEPTEMBER, people
would be back from their vacations
and working and in school again.

I really enjoy Women's Day each
year, but I hope next year we will
be able to reach more women thru
our celebration,

Maxin Krall

He EME AE AE HE AE SE HE FE ESE HE HE EE TE SE HE TEE SESE HEE EE HE EEE TE aE HE

SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S CENTER:

KRHA IIIA IIASA IK IAAI ASAI AA ALIAS A ISAS AISI EAE LEAESEBEB LEER ELLER BERBER BEBE BIER EEE BEEBE

WOMEN'S MEDIA PROJECT REPORT ON OUR VISIT TO TV-10, WTEN

In June, two members of the Media Project visited the offices of TEN
at the invitation of the station's business manager, Robert Brennan.
WTEN has a policy of conducting interviews with community groups for

their input about "problem areas" that should receive better

cover=

age in TV broadcasts (both news and public affairs). We had a chance
to meet with many of the key people in the TEN organization, from the
Station Manager, Terry McGirk, to Director of Public Affairs Program-

ming, Mary Brabum, to Director of the News and Community Relations,
Tom Breisom. Everyone at TEN was both responsive and willing to work

with the media project and all the other "feminist" organizations to
improve coverage..,.They were also frank enough to declare it was im-
portant for us to understand HOW programming directors "prioritize"
the types of news items that will be covered; that a "talking head"
reading a press-release from a local feminist group was a waste of ex-

pensive television=-news time.

So we have some techniques to learn.

Public Affairs Director Mary B.

is especially anxious to get some programming together on "violence
against women" and “women in poverty", which we cited as major concerns
of the feminist community. We provided a partial list of spokeswomen
in the Albany area, and--with your help--we will broaden that list in

the months to come.

Our experience with WTEN was so outstanding as compared with WAST in
the Spring. We will concentrate our energy on working with them now,

and later we hope to contact WRGB.

Channel 10's coverage of Women's

Day (and the night before) was excellent this year, as was their co-

verage of the Aug 26 march in D.C. So we think be doing something righ‘
(MORE TO COME on WIEN in future issues) A.D.

ee ee ee ee ee ee eee ee

“\ IfZ THERE 15 NO
AAS “PEACEFUL ATOM”

August 6, 1945 -- Hiroshima Day!
\ Ez, We dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima.

\\ | x, That was the beginning,

\ Na ; August 9, 1945 we did it again at Nagasaki.
That was 32 years ago,
Since that time we've gone all out nuclear,
A great deal of our money, our resources,
our ingenuity has gone into making nuclear
weapons, More and more deadly weapons,
The latest is the neutron bomb,
It spares property -- it kills people:

And, meanwhile, what's happened to us?
Too many of us are out of work, Our cities are decaying.
Our youth have turned to drugs, Our schools are in trouble,

Our minorities are suffering, Many of us are barely making it.
Our taxes are too high and we get too little back,

Why? So that we can compete in a deadly race, A race to destruction,
A race with no winners, More nuclear arms do not increase our secur-

ity. More nuclear arms do not make a safer world, for us and for
anybody else,

What can we do?

Write President Carter, write our Senators and Congressmen,
Secretary of State Vance, Arms Negotiator Warnke,

Tell them we support the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.

Begin with the neutron bomb, Support the SALT talks,
Halt nuclear bomb testing,

Do ourselves and the world a favor,

What about nuclear energy?

What about radioactive wastes that we don't know what to do with.
They are active and dangerous for thousands of years,

What about breeder reactors which make plutonium for more bombs?
For us and for other countries and, maybe, for terrorists,

What about the environment for miles around nuclear plants?

The radioactivity which escapes? The possibility of serious
accidents?

We have sun, wind and the seas, Let's put our talent, our time,

and our famous ingenuity into the production of energy from sun,
wind and waves and build no more nuclear plants,

We can have the kind of world we want if we work at it,
Protest the building of nuclear plants in your locality.
Write the utilities, the President, Energy Director Schlesinger,

Feed the Cities, Not the Péntegon! 462-0891/449-1700
Women's International Leases for Peace & Freedom -- Albany Branch

€ »

##£#28%%2XSEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS*###8 #8 uaa %

9-11 Training session for Rape Crisis Center volunteers

12 Community Meeting, WOMEN's CENTER, 132 Central Ave., 8 pm

14 Albany N.O.W. Business Meeting, 8 pm

15 Registration begins for Fall Workshops at A.R.O.W.

17 Training for Aid to Battered Women volunteer counselors

22 Special Welcome for Newcomers to the Feminist Community !!
Two films, "We Are Women" and "51%" will be shown at 8pm
at the Women's Center. Small discussion groups and wine
& cheese party to follow films. Come see what the women's
movement is really all about.

26 AROW workshops begin

29 Women's Media Project--Slideshow and Discussion, 8 pm

Weekly Meetings: Women's Center Steering Committee meets every MON~
DAY in the Women's Center at 8 pm. All women are welcome. Aid to
- Battered Yomen meets every TUBSBA¥Y at 8 pm. SPEAKOUT meets every
THURSDA¥, except on the last week of the month, when we collate on
MONDAY. SPEAKOUT meetings are at 6 pm in the Women's Center.

BREE SEECOMING IN OCTOBER* *# #2 eR
1 Demonstration in Boston against the Unit for Violent Women
in Worcester Hospital
8 Betsy Rose and Cathy Winter will pRey a benefit for the
Women's Center in Albany. Call 449-9991 Mon eves. for more info.

SUBSCRIBE TO SPEAKOUT BULK RATE

$3.50 per year 7 US POSTAGE PAID
Send coupon to PERMIT 3 # 12
SPEAKOUT ALBANY, N.Y.
P.O.BOX 6165 THIRD CLASS

ALBANY, N.Y. 12206

NAME
ADDRESS

CITY, STATE ZIP CODE

If you are planning a change of

address, please notify Speakout,. 7
It will not be forwarded and. we Eileen Kelly

must pay for copies returned, 98 S. Pine Ave.

Check box when sending in coupon: Albany, NY 12208

new sub, add. change
renewal of subscription

4 “}

SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
VOts- Vix NOs 20 November 1977

Ae ee tT CC LE CE CT CL COLCA EACLE ETL LE ECL OLLIE LLL LEADED LS ALD LLL L ELL LL LE

Table of Contents

2 On this month's issue, CHILDREN & CHILD CUSTODY
Yvette Middleton
3-6 On the matter of child custody proceedings. Asummary by
Margaret Farnsworth of information from ‘Jomen in

Transition: A Feminist Handbook on Separation and
Divorce (Scribner's Sons, $8.95)

7,8 Coming Out on the Losing End of a Child Custody Proceeding
(author's name withheld by request)

9,10 Giving Up Dylan Yvette
11-14 EQUALLY ZVER AFTER: An Alternative to Children's Litter-
ature Natalie Kazmierski
L§ Sexism in the Schools Rose Dill .
16 Underground Housing for Battered Yomen Bessie Malamas
L? SPEAKOUT status report--serious financial troubles
last-minute Alexandria Douglas

;bykes & Tykes--building a community for lesbian women
reference:"y and: their: children, 110 £. 23rd Sti; NY, NY
2 A word about the National ‘Joments Conference in Houston
November 18-21, 1977 Alexandria Douglas
8 INFORMATION ABOUT LOW-COST FLIGHTS TO HOUSTON FOR THE
NATIONAL WOWEN'S CONFERENCE (feminist charter flights)

6,8 Group News/Community News
18,19 Letters to the Zditor

COVER DESIGN by Helen Martin

WORKERS FOR THIS ISSUE: Rezsin Adams, Rose Dill, Alexandria
Douglas, Natalie Kazmierski, “axine Krall, Barbara Martin, Yvette
Middleton, and Pat Rourke. Wargaret Farnsworth and Debbie Mosco-
witz are doing Community Service (SUNY Albany) for SPEAKOUT this
semester.

The opinions expressed in SPEAKOUT articles are those of their re-
spective authors only and do not necessarily represent those of the
staff. Ye attempt to present the opinions and ideas of all facets
of the feminist community in the tri-cities area. Ye welcome all
women to submit articles, poetry, short fiction, bookreviews, and
letters to the editor on any subject relevant to area feminists.
Please send your material to us by the 17th of the month (or put it
on the SPEAKOUT shelf at the “omen's Center). To submit group news,
contact Margaret Farnsworth Thurs. nights after 5:30PM, Lu9-9991.

SPEAKOUT is published monthly, except in July/Aug. when we combine
issues. Subscriptions are $3.50 a year until Dec. 1977 when the
price will be going up to »4.50/yr (see article above). Single
copies are 35¢ each (45¢ in gee SPZAKOUT is on sale at several
bookstores in the area, at the YWCA's in Albany and Schenectady,
at tthe SUNY and RPI Bookstores, and at the \/omen's Center at 13@
Central Ave in Albany (eves.),

To subscribe to SPEAKOUT or to submit material, write SPEAKOUT,
P.O.Box 6165, Albany, NY 12206.

we eee + en

ON THIS MONTH'S ISSUE:

CHILDREN
& CHIT) CUSTODY

Our chileren. They are the responsibility of every one of
us who is attempting to chénae this society. "hat “ifference
Foes it make if we meke chenges if we con't efucate our children
to continue the struggle? By limiting their exposure do we pro-
tect them unnecessarily? By allowing them freedom do we force
them to deal before they're ready? How do we know what's enough.
when to stop éné when to continue? Are we overdosing them on
feminism throwing them to the mercy of @ society that accepts
neither us or our lifestyles?

Bnfortun-tely ,and fortunately we can not isolete our children
from @ cruel and unjust society. Neither can we prepare them for
all of the sexism. classism racism and hatre¢c that bresds so
well in this culture. We can how- ever prepare ourselves to deal
with their gquestions,fears ance crisises that comes from being
here in this world. By seeking out other people facing the same
things that we are with our children re can form supportive
units. Gathering together with them, their problems, their
children and their problems, we can face the problems better,
with the knowlecrge that we are not alone.

Yvette Middleton

EE ZEEAARARASS AREER AAERESERARARERE RASA SAAR EAE AKER ARAAHAAEAKAKAKKES

-++.,And a word about the National Women's Conference in Houston
scheduled for November 18-21,

On July 8,9, and 19, 1977 the first New York State ‘Yomen's Meeting
was held at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. Similar state meetings
took place all across the country. "To form a more perfect union"
was the slogun of the New York State conference. "An unprecedented
opportunity for...women at the grass roots level to examine women's
lives and experiences, to share an appreciation of the contributions
women make to society, and to work towards common goals."

Women who attended the Albany meeting have attested to the chaos at
the conference, and to the adversary relationships between the
women present who represented opposing points of view. There were
organized attempts on the part of everyone concerned to control

the voting, the resolutions, the workshops. Feminists were ec-
static in the end because the feminist point of view won out on

most issues...but not without a fight...not without considerable
back-room-coalition-forming.

In Houston on November 18, thousands of women. who were elected dele-
gates at Similar conferences across the. nation will gather to discuss

these issues once again. They will present their findings to the
President and to Congress.

The conference at Houston affords us another unprecedented opportuni-

ty to bring to the nations attention the need for legislation to

protect the rights of women in EVERY sphere of endeavor. The Courts

fail us. The Congress fails us. WE MUST NOT LET EACH OTHER DOWN!!!!
(more information about Houston, p. ) A. Douglas

On the Matter of Child Custody Proceedings

SOURCE: WOMEN IN TRANSITION
(A Feminist Iiandbook on Separation and Divorce)

The information to be presented is of a practical and legal
nature. It is aimed at helping you to arrive at a aecision in
the matter of child custody. (Summary by Margaret Farnsworth)

It is important for you to keep in mind the fact that it
is often in your best interest to keep the decision out of court.
This not only avoids the painful experience (with all of its
ramifications) of having to fight about custody in court, but
it also allows for a more meaningful decision.

It is also important to keep in mind that "custody" is not
the "right of possession" but rather it stands for all the res~
ponsibility which falls upon the parent with whom a child lives.
Adherence to this latter definition is not only more helpful to
the child involved, but can eliminate much divisiveness between
you and your hushand.

The present trend seems to be away from the original prac-
tice of giving fathers an absolute right to custody and also
away from the more recent trend of giving the benefit of the.
doubt to the mother involved. Looking at the total family situ-
ation seems to have replaced these earlier trends, however you
should not feel overly encouraged. Guidelines in this area are
either lacking or ignored, and the decision continues to reflect
the judge's personal prejudice and subjective interpretation.

There are three basic situations in the matter of child
custody,

(1) Ready-made decision:

When your husband leaves you and your children you cannot
assume that you'll never have a custody problem. You could find
yourself being petitioned days, months, or years later. The best
advice in this case is to try to get in touch with your husband
as soon after he leaves as possible and try to convince him to
make some kind of visitation agreement with you. This reduces

your risk of having to fight a custody battle in court at a later
date.

If your husband left taking the children with him and you
don't know where they are, you have even bigger problems. You
should know first of all that you don't have grounds for "kid-
napping". According to its legal definition, it is impossible
for a parent to "kidnap" her or his own child. If you are able
to locate them, try to agree out of court. If you cannot come
to a decision and have to take the case to court, you will have
to do so in the state where the children are residing and you
will definitely need a lawyer. In this situation, a case can
be won or lost on technical grounds. Because in this case you
are the parent who does not have custody, you must file a
“habeas corpus" petition stating that your husband does not have
a legal right to custody. The burden of proof rests squarely
on your shoulders, Remember that cour&s are very reluctant to

child custody continued...
order a change in custody, even if the custody is not legal.

(2) Letting the judge decide:

When it is impossible to reach an agreement about custody,
you have no other alternative than to let the judge decide for
you. I have already spelled out the procedure in the case of
your being left without the children. In some places, the par-
ents can file a petition "for recognition of custody" in order
to prevent the other parent from child-snatching. This is merely

: formal recognition that the present custody arrangement is
est.

If you are planning to sue for custody, you should know
that if you leave your husband and children for any reason, even
temporarily, your husband can charge you with abandonment.
Another possible court issue that can be used against your ob-
taining custody is that of being an “unfit" parent. This label
can be slapped on you for a variety of reasons which stand up in
court. These include low income, proof of adultery in a divorce
case, the fact that you work all day, the fact that you have been
treated or institutionalized for emotional or mental problems,

a previous prison record, or because you are a lesbian. .

Theoretically, judges are supposed to apply local law in
making custody decisions. Therefore, it's a good idea to famili-
arize yourself with the basic principles embodied in your local
laws. Custody may be related to three basic principles:

A. Who was at fault in the divorce - It is always safet
to be the "injured and innocent party”.

B. The "tender years doctrine" - In this case, the judge
starts with the assumption that mothers are "naturally" better
able to care for children than are fathers.

C. Best interests of the child doctrine - Keep in mind
the lack of objective guidelines in court decisions and the fact
that judges tend to be men of middle age or older and tend to
cherish white middle class values. How you live your life will
definitely be an important deciding factor. In short, the more
you seem to conform to the judge's stereotype of what white,
middle class American women should be, the easier it will be for
you (assuming that you want to have responsibility for your child)
More advice is to find a lawyer you trust and plan a strategy
with her or him. Make sure that you have a child care plan worked
out for when you are not at home. Try to get a balance in your
witnesses. Choose people who know you and your child well and
also choose respected professionals. Judges are typically im-
pressed with degrees and well-educated speech.

What is a court order and what does it do? A court order
usually states who is to have custody of which children and what
kind of visitation rights the other parent will have. Once the
order for custody is official, any person who does not live up
to it may be held in contempt of court and fined or jailed.

child custody continued...

However, court decisions are never "final". They are always .
subject to review in light of "changed circumstances". The cir-
cumstances have to be fairly drastic, however.

3) Keeping the decision in the family - separation agree-
ment:

The first step in this case is to ask yourself what you
truly want. Be careful of the pitfalls of the "motherhood mys=
tique" and the "compassion trap". Sort guilt from genuine desire
and practicalities. The second step involves asking your hus-
band what he wants. Give serious consideration to his reasons
for wanting custody and his relationship with your child.

And finally, what do your children want? You may feel more con-

fident during this time if you employ the support of a lawyer or
legal counselor.

There are alternatives to the traditional division between
formal custody and visitation rights.

SHARED CUSTODY - This means equal time and equal responsibil-
ity with both parents. There are many possibilities, but it 1s

crucial that you consider the effect of your arrangement on the
chiid,

PLAYING IT BY EAR - Having no definite custody or visita-
tion schedule is not recommended. Making a definite arrangement
seems to be better for all the parties involved. You have the
option to state in the agreement that custody, support and
visitation provisions are subject to change by mutual (written)
agreement of all the parties. It is prudent to include a state-
ment of what major decisions involving the children will be made
by which parent and which decisions, if any, will be made jointly.

LESBIAN CUSTODY

On September 3, 1974, a Superior Court Judge in Seattle,
Washington, ruled that two women, both of whom had been awarded
custody of their children on the condition that they not live
together, had the right both to live together and raise their
children. Although this represents a breakthrough for lesbian
mothers who want to live with their children, we should not be
too optimistic. It is still dangerous to be a lesbian in a
society with strong heterosexual prejudices. Although the les-
bian and women's movements are educating the public, rational
decision making in this area remains the exception rather than
the rule. The warning to "STAY OUT OF COURT" has particular
relevance to these lesbian mothers. If your husband is deter-
mined to take the issue to court, warn him of the potential con-
sequences. A court may find that both parents are unfit, and
your children risk becoming wards of the court and shunted from
foster home to foster home. If you are initiating custody pro-
ceedings, your first concern is to find competent and sympathetre
legal counsel. (Check your local women's center or Lesbian cen*
ter or the local legal aid office for suggestions and referrals.
Local civil liberties unions are starting to take an interest in

child custody continued...

lesbian custody cases.) If your husband knows your gay, he's
sure to use this in court. Be prepared to deal with it. How?
Obtain a copy of the resolution by the American Psychiatric
Association declaring that homosexuality is not a "disease" by
writing: American Psychiatric Association

Division of Public Affairs

1700 W. 18th Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20009
You should probably employ the support of a counselor or other
professional who understand lesbianism and who are sympathetic.
Familiarity with the historic Seattle case may be helpful.
The more calm-talking and educating you are, the better off you

will be. Be aware, however, that in spite of everything your
chances of winning in court are PRETTY SLIM.

If you have questions or desire more information, I suggest
you obtain a copy of Women In Transition (Charles Scribner's

Sons, New York, $8.95)

s
2 FL a LY Le CY rae , * “ . .
BR Ee hee a ee Oe BIE IE GENE TE SESE TEE SEE ESE TEESE SE SESE SE SE TE SE IE SE SESE SE SE SE SE TE aE TE SE TE HE TE TG Te EE EE EE

GROUP NEWS/COMMUNITY N&VStiisdredss
(more on p. 8)

The Women's Center is now open Albany Area National Organiza-
on Tuesday and Yednesday evenings: tion for Women will be coordi-

from 5 to 8 pm. The library is fun- nating NOW's Eastern Regional
ctional again; the ping-pong table «Conference in Albany April 8-9,

has been set up; refreshments are 1978. The local NOW group will
always on sale, as are records, T- be arragging workshops, offering
shirts, magazines, buttons and childcare and hospitality, han-
posters. Most feminist groups in dling registration and booking _
the Albany area use the center for some terrific entertainers (HOPE-
their meetings and special programs FULLY Betsy Rose & Kathy ‘/inter
(check SPEAKOUT's calendar for the and the Night Angels). Anyone
List of scheduled events in Novem- interested in working on the con-
per)...ebut women are welcome to ference is invited to the Nov. 9
drop in anytime for information, business meeting at the ‘omen's
oF just to relax and talk with Center, 8 Bela acaesearaeaes
other women. The Steering Committee Aid to Battered Women is in the
ie pei! aie So toabt te Be process of establishing a tem-

= == \ me O 11) " —
attend (and joint) steering com- ‘Perfor womenwno. nave been the
mittee. COMMUNITY MEETINGS are the victims of domestic violence.
first Monday of wach month--all (see page 16) ABY meets Nov. 2
women are welcome. Call 449-9991 and 16, 8 PM at the iJomen's

in the evening for more information. (Center and we need volunteers
132 Central Avge, Albany to be there when victims call!

OF, SS, ode hy ain ot the tt
W oben e FEE, ae
6 Ee ST Se aN ON ae

Women's Media Project hopes to be Next training session is Nov 19,
doing some speaking engagements in also at the.Vomenis,Center.

the months to come (have slide show/ ,
will travel). Next scheduled event men's Media Project (cont'd)
is RPI's ‘lomen's i/eekend, Nov. 4,5. radio stations, or if you want
If you are interested in the images information about the BOYCOTT
of women in the media, if you're of offensive albums, etc., call
willing to write letters to TV and... Alex, eves,, 283-1547

Coming Oy xn the Losing #nd of a Child Custody Proceeding:
One ‘Yoman's 3xperience (author's name withheld by request)

Child custody is without doubt the most painful of all subjects for

me. I can empathize with my gay sisters and brothers because I too am

struggling with the desire to "come out"...asS a mother whose chikdren
have been taken from her.

My "closet", like that of all who seek refuge from hypocrisy, has de-
manded that I hide a part of myself and my life from view because
that great amorphous, life-sucking, self-righteous demon called

SOCIETY makes such deception essential to psychic and often material
survival.

SOCIETY, with its long list of "shoulds", defines in detail the
acceptable life and the acceptable person (behaviors, attitudes, life-
style, etc.) which one must adopt in order to qualify as a "good"
person, worthy of society's stamp of approval.

SOCIETY also distributes to its many subscribers an equally long list
of "shouldn'ts" (those behaviors, attitudes, life-styles, etc.) which
one must avoid at all costs on pain of being ostracized--a penalty

which could be described as the social equivalent of castration, pro-

ducing psychic wounds and ego scars as devastating as any physical
mutilation.

For women the catalog of "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts" is even more wo-
luminous and less flexible than that for men. The Feminist Movement
has long been a focus for assault upon those hypocritical standards.
In fact, a central Feminist purpose is to attack and eventually
eradicate unrealistic, inhibiting, often inhumane stereotypes of what
women should be. However, there is one stereotype, one label, one
term of irrevokable condemnation which few have attempted to expose
and shatters the thing a woman in American society can perhaps

least stand to be branded as, an UNFIT MOTHER.

Granted, that term is seldom used in modern custody courts where more
and more mothers are being ruled against, as I was, because the father
was better able financially to provide the children with educational,
social, and material advantages, all the appurtenances of the American
Dream. Nonetheless, the stigma of UNFITNZSS as a mother, and there-

fore as a woman and a person, is automatically attached to any woman
who has come out on the losing end of a custody proceeding.

How often have we the enlightened laughed at the old shibboleth,
"Motherhood, the Flag and Apple Pie"? We are, of course, sophisticated
enough to recognize the clay feet of those time-worn American idols.
Yet how proudly we puff up to accept the accolade of "Good Mother",
and how we wrinkle our brows with concern and shake our heads in dis-

approval when a sister is suspected of being unworthy of that label
of affirmation.

To gain some perspective, let us look back at some of the sacred cows,
or more appropriately, the sacred bulls with which we as Feminists
and liberals have done battle. For example, "Few women can make it

in business/political/creative/whatever fields because few women have
the ability to do so." That one, by the way, was a direct offspring
of the kind of thinking that gave us, "The poor are poor because they
deserve/want/keep themselves/don't know any better than to be poor"
which is a close relative of "Non-whites/women/gays/the handicapped/

etc. are inferior." Ve all, hopefully, recognize how those white,
male, middle-class cards are stacked.

* - * * Q
Coming Outm the Losinz ind, continued va

Now let's examine the deck that's dealt from in most custody courts.
First, let's check out the power cards: the judges and lawyers, and
behind them the lesislators who make the laws and interpret them. That's
right! Yith only a few exceptions they are white, male and middle class.
Is the terrain beginning to look familiar yet? There they are, the ar-
biters of the American Dream, the duly designated protectors of all
American myths--each with an indelible image -f the sainted American
mother stamped upon his self-richteous American mentality.

Into this citadel of the demazogues comes the mother (usually the de-
fendant) fichtine for custody of her children. She is most often a sole
parent, financially less secure than the father (usually the plaintiff)
healthy and normal enough to need social and sexual outlets, and
strained by the demands of being mother, wage-earner and person all at
the same time. liost importantly, she has, in many cases, internalized
to some derree the humiliation of having even the slightest doubt cast
upon her mothering abilities.

"The mother always wins” used to be the tradition in custody cases. The
sanctity of “iotherhood “‘yth was protected by the court system because
the white, male, middle-class hierarchy subscribed to that myth. It
pleased the court to view the woman as the passive, malizned victim of
the dominant male; and in the case of the woman who fit that descrip-
tion or appeared to fit that description, as most did, the judge in all
his paternal benevolence would senerally grant custody to her.

In recent years, however, we can see the judicial trend changing as
more and more frequently custody cases are decided in favor of the
father. Interestingly enough, this change seems to parallel the trend
amons women to question and even reject the roles traditionally desisz-
nated as acceptable for them by (you suessed it!) the same white, male,
middle-class club previously mentioned.

Unfortunately, the collective consciousness of SOCIZTY and, for the
most part, the consciousness of individuals do not recognize these
parallels or their significance.

It is important that feminists examine their attitudes toward this
whole issue, and even more essential that women who have suffered fhe
terrible experience of losing custody of their children find effective
ways to cope with the anguish and guilt which usually follow that ex-
perience. Any women interested in forming a support group for that
purpose or in just talking things over may call me at 482-1439.

x rie r, 2°, : 36
oy 7 x “0 3 ay

GROUP NZYS/COMMUNITY NZEYS (cont'd)

SUNY _ALBANY's FEMINIST ALLIANCE ALBANY JONEN'S FORUM, cont 4
Ist Monday of the month: Healthtalk on the last Monday of the Month,
and film on breast: self-exami- 12 noon at the Thruway House in
nation and other self-help Albany. Robin Gerber for infor,
and Monday: speaker from A ‘Joman's 40 5- “3518. oink ae eek
Place talking on collective LOW-COST FLIGHTSSTO HOUSTON FOR
meeting THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S MBETINGIII@!
Also in November (date to be an- (from NYC) Coalition of Grass Roots
nounced) a OMAN OF THE MONTH Yomen-$155RT. State Yomen's Div-

CELEBRATION, |... All. ,ngetings 8:30 pm $177 RT. BUT YOU MUST CALL IM@DI-
eis ATELY. League of Jomen Voters is
ALBANY HOMEN*S 3 FORUM, AM ORGAaNiza- offering to put women up (10 or
tion of professional women who meet $11 with breakfast--money will go
for lunch once a month to establish to the SRA) Call Alex for more

a network dor the mutual benefit of info, 283- 1542 onD Dolores_474-
working women,will meet for lunch 3542 (days), Deadline early Nov.

i... _ rrr TT re
Q.

GIVING UP DYLAN

I grew up with women beieg my idols. I was Louisa May
Alcott, Mary Todd Lincoln, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden. Harriet
Tubmen, my mother, aunts and cousins. I wanted to be a doctor
lawyer detective, teacher social worker, but never a mother...

The women around me were strong, some married. some not, with
children, and without: but,all independent and strong. They talk-
ec to me of life. struggle, careerc. oppression, any and everything
but having children. They allways assured me I could eo anything,
be anybody I wanted to be. And I believed I could be anything.

I was prepared for anything. anything but being a mother.

when I became pregnant I had just turned 16. Being pregnant
didn't seem bad or horrible. I looked at my mother's life, she
had hed a child at 163 married? at 17 ,and Aivorced at 19. My
grandparents hac raised my brother along with my aunts. I felt
sure that es my mother aunts. and other heroines I coulé raise
e chile ane continue my life and begin a career. Never Gideu=~
realiv-e the changes that woule happen in my life. No one coyld..-
tell me that I wasn't readay for motherhood. becauce I was cure
that I coule conquer the world while raising a child.

Duriag my pregnency there «ere very few changes, ®ven after
my son*s birth I continued to work end go to school. My only
problem -as.unlike before his birth I no longer could attend
parties ance other evening events. At first I enjoye* spending
time by myself and at others' homes. But as Dylan grew so did
my resentment of his being my responsiblity.

I wantec him out of my life at the same time that I wanted to
share my life with him. ‘The conflict was intense, I really loved
Dylan but was beginning to realize that I wasn't prepared to»be a
mother. I wac ready for college work starting a career. anything
but being a mother. I found myself spending less time with my
peers and more time with older women who were parents. It was
their company I sought when I had free time or a problem. Soon
I ciscov2red that most of my peer relationships ended. for lack

of common interest. they cotlkdn't relate to being a parent and I
couldn't relate to being uncommittee.

Out of Fespration vhen Dylan was one I hookea@ into @ series
of surrogate motherc'- I used schools (day care centers), babysitters,
anc friene+. Sometimes the places or people I chooce were not the
best for Dylans but it was either him or me and I choose him.

I vas co frustrated that when he cried ,I ccreamec€. I knew that...if
a better and more permanent arrangement wasn't made I'd take to
constantly abusing him. something that really frightened THERE =~

For close to a year I batted him around like a ping-pong ball
from schools to babysitters. Once I placed him with a womam who
told me that che'A look after him. but used to forget him and
never take care of him. Then I left him with a friend who already.
hac five children che told me that she didn't mind taking care
of another child. This was a miserable situation for Dylan, but

I couldn't bring myself to take him back I knew that I still
couldn't Aeal with him.

(cont. on pg.10)

10.

Giving Up Dylan
(cont. from pg.9 )

Finally I was approached by a couple, who were friends of
friends. They told me that they were looking for a child to
come and share their lives. They had heard of my problem with
Dylan énd thought that he might be the child for them. I jumped
at the opportunity, it was just what I had been looking for, but
even though it was right for me was it right for Dylan? I started
feeling all of the guilt of the past year. could I really give
up Dylan to people who were almost complete strangers to me? But
at the same time I reali ed that I could not continue to drag
him from place to place never knowing when I might want him to
come back to me and never knowing what happened to him when he
was with other families. I talked it over with him and he
thought that he'd like to try it.

So the four of us decided that we would give it two weeks
and if Dylan didn't like it he would be able to come back ‘home’.
Once that he knew that this arrangement was es permanent as he
wanted it to be he became @ happy little person. He lost his
shynes-« and began to open up to Sally and Dennis. All of his
anger 6t me began to come out in good ways he started to talk
about how he felt being left with others and how he couldn't
understand why I did it. He was doing real well. A lot better
than me.

When I caw that he liked the arrangement I felt happy for
him and pain for me. I felt like I had burned the "apple pie".
I had failec motherhood the basic course for all women. I avoidéd™
Dylan,Sally Dennis.my friends family and places where parents
brought their children. Whenever I caw a woman with a child I
would compare them to Dylan and me. What did she do that I hadn't
tried to do? What made her child happy, while mine was sad? Why
had I failed at motherhood?

Whenever someone told me that they'd seen Dylan and he looked
so happy. I'd smile and feel hurt that I had failed at something
that had hurt Dylan so badly. I lied and told people that I was
happy with the arrangement. when I felt like the villian in a movie.

It's been two and a half years since he went to live with
Sally and Dennis. During that time I came to understand the reasons
behind what I had done to Dylan. I know now that I wasn't prepared
to be a mother nor was I prepared to give up Dylan permanently to
be adopted. I now enjoy my time spend with my son and am trying
to explain to him why I put him through hell, the first two years
of his life. Sometimes I feel as through I no longer belong in
his life and other times as through I am priVledged to be a part
of his life and the people that I've meet through him.

I wonder a lot what will happen when he decides that he wants

to live with me again,but I know that unlike the last time this
time I'll be ready for him and hopefully he'll be ready for me.

Yvette

fe Oe OR HH Oe HH OH OE HR OH OH Oh OO OH Oe ee

Ll.
BQUABL¥-EVER AFTER: An Alternative te Children's Litter-ature.

The Feminist Movement has engendered an awaremess of sexism in
children's books which has caused many penple to see red on the pink
and blue issue, A quick search disclosed countless articles on the
subject of rampant sexism in the products of most established pub-
lishing houses, Many book magnates have drafted even more memo Ss
and sometimes gone so far as to establish policies on its eradica-
tion. Special attention has been given to sex stereotypes and the
assignment of qualities, roles and interests to characters on that
basis; sexist language--the generic “he and other usage of male
designators to represent the female as well--has received consclen-
tious work also. At least in what they profess, for sheer concern
about childrens' formative years these publishers’ efforts are
second only to those of certain Wonder Bread commercials,

But after scanning the offerings of feminist presses and of
feminist bibliographers who compiled lists of nonsexist trade book
offerings, an entirely different focus of concern emerged s that,
until our children's material reflects the societal reality of fe-
male actions and achievements, reclaims real, mythical and fiction-
al women of the past, and affirmatively recognizes female equality
and creative value, altering the male pronouns will produce only
the impression of feminist editing,

All available woman produced and woman-recommended children's
books were examined with these principles in mind, and it was evi-
dent that ideas of what constitutes non-sexism varied widely. In
the best examples, certain major motifs consistently recurred: de-
piction of the new female (and male) roles, children's realistic
urban environment, and increased depiction of non-human females--
animals and animated objects--which had traditionally been male.

Most of the literature on sexism and children's books indicates
a need to counteract the effects of. the constant barrage of male
friendship images (including boy plus animal, boy plus car, boy.
plus baseball bat and all other sex-limited affinities) by provid-
ing parallel images of viable female relationships, Many standard
stereotyped models currently exist in which girls relate to each
other on the basis of dresses, dolls and similar facets of the Pas-
Sive Pink syndrome--for the world like miniature-mother caricatures.
But a few books from bastions within the traditional publishing
houses prove themselves to be exceptions by their treatment of such
relationships within a context of acceptance and genuine understand-
ing of the premise that all girls? friendships need not revolve a-
round a common interest in the domestic (and other such domains
that have traditionally been relegated to them).

Unfortunately, due to lack of experience and the necessary cash,
a very few nonsexist publishers are able to produce materials of
the kind of quality and durability required to match their egalita-
raan intentions, Those which have published hardcover bools with le-
gible print and commendable illustrations find themselves without
financial resources for the necessary publicity; they also meet with
resistance from acquisitions-librarians, For this reason, many par-
ents must rely on what is available through libraries, yet that mat-
erial is inaccessible (and, in the case of feminist-produced liter-
ature, can amount to unreasonable expense if used as the sole
Source of children's reading material). For these reasons, a bib-

liography of feminist presses and nonsexist bibliographies appears

Alternatives to Children's Litterature, cont'd 12.

at the end of this article to expedite choices by adults who can
themselves purchase the books or wish to. But traditional publish-
ers' offerings should not be discounted, and while readers stalk
the elusive “good books" accessible through the attached listing,
mention should be made of certain happy surprises available on the
home library front, via in-trade houses. :

One such pleasing alternative is Virginia Lee Burton's_Katy and
the Big Snow (Houghton-Mifflin, 1943) in which a non-human female
proves herself to be the Bionic Tractor as she excavates an inca-
pacitated community from a paralyzing snowfall. Not only is the na-
tural acceptance of Katy's strength, versatility and indomitable
determination to succeed artfully conveyed in the bright illusta-
tions, but likewise enhanced by the marginal representations of the
various male-comprised agencies which are helpless to function un-
til rescued by the Tractor in Shining Armor, Katy is precisely the
sort of unwaveringly positive female image one would expect from
new publishers who purport to supplant the plethora of negative and/
or, at best, nebulous portrayals with an appealing alternative, so
the 1943 publication date came as a surprise, Heroines in the past
have been humanly and charmingly fallible, but to compensate for
the many utter nit-wits among them, a somewhat superlative antithe-
sis is called for, and Katy meets precisely such a need.

Peter Desbarats' Gabrielle and Selena (Harcourt, Brace & World,
1968) also represents a positive attempt to portray friendships be-
tween girls, The two title characters, each bored with her life,
exchange roles until their families lovingly trick them into real-
izing and reassuming deep contentment with their own identities.

As is evident from the ample illustrations--charcoal sketches whose
sensitive strokes capture every nuance of moods ranging from lang-
uidity to untrammeled laughter--one girl is white, the other black.
The latter is much more than just a shaded-in version of the form-
er, and the narrative tone is piquant as each family pretends not
to notice the substitutions. Although the specific characters are
of solid middle-ealss stock, their friendship grows out of mutual
caring rather than mere commonality of backgrounds and translates
into universally understandable terms. That understanding is deri-
vative from the illustrations, which thrive independently of the
text to impart thesame wise message,

Th incess and the Woodeutter's Daughter (Alfred A. Knopf,
1955) is Winifred Bromhall's fanciful version of the same theme in
which a princess and a pauper (my apologies to Mr. Dickens) be-
friend each other despite the dictates of a rigidly classed socie-
ty. The princess is obviously afflicted with a deeply-rooted path-
ological aversion to curlers, petticoats and an army of rampaging
nursemaids which prompts her to shed all three at the drep of a
crown, After a dip in the brook which would have defeated a far
worthier coiffure, she finds Polly, whose peasant status she covets
and who is equally maladjusted, being diametrically oppesed to hun-
ger and poverty, The friendship develops until the disguise is re-
vealed and the prodigal princess returns to a wiser castle, The re-
lationship endures and within its warmth both girls--to quote the
author--"live happily ever after." Bromhall's shocking omission of
the prerequisite male presence is obviously a sign of either appall-
ing ignorance or dangerous radicalism (fer which we may all give
thanks!) other subversive scenes include a little girl's delight in

13.

turning cartwheels and a blasphemous admission of indifference to
wealth, Long live Bromhall's kingdom,

Beverley Allxson presents a positive human image in Mandy and
the Flying Map (WomensPress, 1973), a cartographic magic-carpet |
motif in which a girl views her town from a self-defined and unique~
ly elevated (!) perspective. In so doing, she resists male attempts
to rescue her from her freedom; here Allinson adeptly allows the
reader to encounter the gamut of male roles ranging from hairdresser
to firefighter; the town council conspicuously includes women.
Mandy's keen observations can be appreciated on many levels: “The
town looks small from the sky but it's big enough for everyone.
Later she returns to play with a girlfriend (who issued an invita-
tion instead of assuming Mandy to be in dire need of reseue). Man-
dy is the best example of a feminist tale inspired genuinely by
childhood rather than social problems; indicative is the natural-
ness of the heroine's remark as she fold away her map: "Next time
there'll be room enough for two." This woman-produced book is hap=
pily available in hardcover edition, It should be noted here that
many comparable items for younger readers can be found in "Boys
and Girls Together”, an especially helpful and succinctly annota-
ted bibliography which includes numerous examples of established
presses’ positive female images. (see end of article, )

Charlotte Zolotow in William's Dol] (Harper & Row, 1972) iso-
lates one aspect of the male role as her focus: a boy's (natural! )
desire for a doll, After suffering negative reactions from his fa-
ther, friends and playmates, William ainda his father) find(s) as-
surance in a wise grandmother's assertion that boys do need dolls--
so that they can practice fathering. In a deceptively simple plot,
Zolotow deals honestly and admirably with the label “sissy,” with
the all-too-common parental misunderstanding of departures from
certain roles, and with the qualities of nurturance, gentleness and
demonstrative love that are the rightful heritage of and should be
encouraged in boys as well as girls. The author's subtle inclusion
of an old woman as the source of wisdom and the sunlit illustra-
tions complete a harmonious pairing of undiffused medium and uncom-
promised message, whose power dispells the sexist notion that affec-
tion and dolls, like action and sports, need be assigned solely to
either sex at the expense of the other.

Finally, Beverley Allinson contributes a book whose message is
a metaphor for the peaceful coexistence and collective growth of
all classes, races and sexes (only two are currently availalle) un-
der the intriguing title of Mumbles and Snits (WomensPress, 1975).
Mift the Mumble looks to the mountains (beyond her valley's norma~-
tive behaviour pattern of daytime bouncing) and meets Stumble the
Snit, who has similarly abdicated his hilltop habits (nighttime
twirling), Freedom being addictive and contagious, all of the Mum-
bles and Snits soom congregate to share aspects of their roles with
each other, “and their songs and their laughter can be heard clear
across the land," Emblematic of the narrative's imbedded flecks of
wisdom is Mift's realization that the Mumbles were deceived into
believing no other behaviour was possible for them, and her willing-
ness to risk her restrictive security by initiating a re-examination
of potential abilities, Besides its immediately perceptible merits
(not the least of which was its utility as an ideal finish!) the
text 1s miraculously unscarred by sexist semantics, pleasantly al-
literative in the sing-song manner children enjoy, and accompanied

Alternatives to Children's Litterature, cont'd 14.
by watercolored illustrations whose every brushstroke bespeaks the

book's affirmation of undiluted and undampened hope.

The Feminists on Childrens' Media define a non-sexist portray-
al as on that “would offer the girl reader a positive image of wo-
man's physical, emotional and intellectual potential--one that
would encourage her to reach her own full personhood free of tradi-~
tionally imposed limitations." (feminists on Childrens’ Media, 1971).
They categofize most existing portrayals as sexist (in which fe-
males are assigned traditionally "feminine" roles--read: all the
better attributes of a house pet), cop-outs (wherein they initially
enjoy role freedom but ultimately conform to the stereotypes), and
positive role images (in which the female roles are flexible and
diverse, allowing for character development and growth beyond the
stereotype). The FCM warn against the gimmick known as the “tomboy
turned token'--wherein a female becomes the.exception, one of: the
boys--"No Girls Allowed - Except Lulu,"

There exists a longstanding custom of separate literatures, a
proliferation of "books for girls" about love and beauty (by which
standard nurses become the ultimate in aphroditic creatures), and
"books for boys" on sports and the military. This unfortunate trend
is being replaced by “books for children" which cease to polarize
the sexes into mutually impenetrable roles, and which questions the
inelusion of some roles/traits for either sex. (One wonders wheth-
er the toy industry and the Eternal Cartoon fancy themselves to be
defenders of intellectual freedom in their unflaggin struggle to
maintain the subject of war as a marketable commodity?)

“Since the re-writing of all existing literature to comply with
non-sexist standards is impossible (not to mention being in direct
violation of copyright) and since existing themes are often reflec-
tive of a patriarchal perspective which can be exposed and under-
atood but not negated, a kind of remedial publishing--including the
validation and creative recording of feminist/matriarchal myths,
folktales, heroines, goddesses (in short, everything mysteriously
ms-interpreted or outrightly omitted by "objective" historians) is
called for. The preceeding examples, then, are but a fractian of
the total effort being expended to answer the Call of the Child.

Natalie M. Kazmierski

=——_—— ee ee ee ee ee ee ee eee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee es OS ee SS ee ee ew me Gees GP Oe Ee aw ae Se ee Sa a Cw ES a ae ee an & ew ae

Children's Liberation Workshop Feminists on Children's Media

P.O. Box 207, Ancaster P.O. Box 4315 Grand Central Sta.

Ontario, Canada NY, NY.10017 BIBLIOGRAPHY--$, 50

FREE CATALOG

Learn Me, Inc, Lollipop Power, Inc. Out & Out Press

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WRITE FOR CATALOG Trade Books Made of?" FREE

15.
Sexism in the Schools, COMMENTARY on Weitzman/Rizzo study

In 1974 a study of Elementary school textbooks was conducted
in California by two women, Lenore J. Weitzman and Diane Rizzo.

The study compared the way in which males and females are portrayed
and the types of behavior encouraged for each. Not surprisingly
the people in the world of textbooks are of the white race. In the
lower elementary grades a large number of children are presented

in the illustrations which makes it easier for a child to identify
with the pictures and sssimilate the lesson. In the upper grade
levels the percentage of adults in the pictures increases, thus,
the textbook world shifts from the world of the child to the world
of the adult. And as the child grows older she or he is also
supposed to shift to adult role models.

Since women comproee 51% of the population one would expect
half of the illustrations to be female. However, femal.es are only
31 7% of the total illustrations in elementary school textbooks. ,

When the pictures of children in textbooks are examined one is
struck by the contrast between girls and boys. The world of boys is
one of activity and energy. In most pictures boys are shown out-
doors at the center of the action - riding horses-building-
climbing- engaging insports. Also when adult men are presented
the image is glamorous and exciting and it stimulates young boys
to dream about a wide range of occupational choices. By contrast,
girls are typically shown in passive roles. While boys are active,
girls watch and wait. Ina large percentage of illustrations girls
are shown indoors in domestic roles doing house-hold chores, _
caring for others, helping their mothers, sewing, baking, mopping,
washing dishes. The message in these pictures is tht girls should
help, care for and serve others. Girls are also encouraged to make
themselves attractive .and the illustrations make it clear tat
feminime success is reserved for the pretty girl. ‘hile girls are
shown to express a wider range of emotions than boys (hugging,
nuturing pets and dolls) they also are shown to frighten easily,
shiver and cry. In contrast boys are slmost never shown crying.
Thus, in the same way that girls are constrained by images that
stereotype them as passive, boys are constrained by images which
stereotype them as strong and silent. Each gender is encouraged
to be less that full human beings.

The range of occupations to which boys can aspire goes from
astronaut to laborer to zoologist,while choice is almost nonexistant
for girls. Adult women in textbooks are all the same. Almost all
women in texts are housewives. Instead of presenting the realities
and skillfullness necessary for housework (i.e. demands of husbands,
children, cleaning, washing, entertaining, bookkeeping and important
volunteer activities). The textbook housewife is hard to believe--
she has little to do;everything goes smoothly; she is happy and calm.
Could this be the reason that children misunderstand the complexity
of their mother's role?? Motherhood is distinguished from house-
keeping in textbooks; to be a housekeeper is just okay--to be a mother
is to be a saiht!! In fact, the image of Mother is the most positive
image of a female that can be found in a textbook. Mothers are loved
and appreciated; the texts show a warm and happy bond between mothers
and their children. That motherhood should be portrayed favorably is
not the problem; the problem is that motherhood is often presented as
the ONLY option for girls--a full-time, lifetime occupation! Since
the average woman in the U.S. spends only 1/3 of her adult years ca-
ring for children--if our daughters are told to think only of mother-
hood in their futures--they will not develop the necessary skills for
the remaining 2/3 of their lives. Rose Dill

16.
UNDERGROUND HOUSING FOR BATTERED WOMEN IN ALBANY

Since its beginning, Aid to Battered Women in Albany has provided in-
formation and very limited aid to victims of domestic violence. In the
past year, it has become painfully evident that battered women need a
place to hide from their attacking husbands. We, the counselors, have
found that there are no agen¢ies which can immediately take in a woman
with her children. There are refuges in the community which admit
homeless women, but they do not admit a woman with a young family.

Many persons are unaware of this fact and they presume that there. is

housing for the battered wife and her children.

Informally a collective of ABW volunteers agreed to each submit 5.2
month to secure an apartment which will serve as a form of "underground
housing" for victims of domestic abuse. We have about twelve committed
and paid pledges as of October 19 and we must continue to ask others

to think about sharing this decision with us. We must raise a minimum
of $100/month. With this sum, we would be able to rent an apartment
which not only includes heat, but gas and electricity too. We do not
feel that we are asking for large sums of money because it is a small

amount to pay for aiding a woman in fear of mutilation and the possi-
bility of death.

As counselors we have felt the urgency of this housing need because we
have gone to pick up frightened women on dark streets. We have taken
women to hospital emergency rooms for treatment only to find that the
nurses tell us about other victims who are in the hospital. In most
cases, when the woman asked if we had somewhere for her to go so she
would not have to return to her husband's house, we had to reply, "No."
Can you realize how difficult it is to see the woman's face after she
hears this answer?? ‘We have offered aid, but not the aid most neces-
sary for her to have.

Please consider how much your $5 a month pledge would do for a victim
and her children. ABW counselors are undertaking this action because
we believe that it is long overdue and it must take place now. We
feel that we cannot continue to work without offering a safe place for
a woman. If you sympathize with the plight of the battered woman,
please consider joining with us in this collective effort. The Albany
area needs a shelter NOW.

If you would like to contribute and/or if you are interested in becom-
ing a volunteer counselor for Aid to Battered Women, please fill out
the tear-off sheet below. Make your checks out to either Bessie
Malamas or Tam Kistler. Send tear-off sheet and checks to Aid to
Battered Women, c/o The Women's Center, 132 Central Ave., Albany 42706.
Thank you.

—_ om am ww) oe om lw le oe op le ewe ee ae ets ee eee ee eee ee Sse es ee

AID TO BATTERED WOMEN PLEDGE SHEET

Name | Telephone No(s)___

Address , oF Amount of Monthly Pledge__
Interested in becoming a counselor for ABW? Yes No
Will attend ABY Training Session Sat., Nov 19. Yes No

(If you expect to come to the training session, please mail
us the form by November 15 at the latest. Thanks! tit!!!)

SPZAKOUT status report--a message
to our readershipss.ssreee

SPEAKOUT has reached a moment in its 7-year-long herstory when it can
no longer continue financially. ‘We've got a new energetic and enthu-
Ssiastic staff, but not enough subscribers to support the publication.
In order to continue we will have to 1) DOUBLE the number of paid
SPZAKOUT subscribers; 2) INCREASE our subscription rate from $3.50 to
$4.50/year; and 3) RAISE additional funds by holding occasional bene-
fits and by soliciting advertisers. To do all this, we'll need your
help. Please read on:

PuNAP OC TAL OR BP eR T

Monthly expenses Annual expenses
Paper §$ 30 + (average cost) * 11 issues $ 825, +
Cover u3 * Bulk Mail
Postage 25 Permit Oo,
Stencils 7 * POs, Bom

Rental 30,

$75 + ee | $895 +

NUMBER OF PAID SPEAKOUT SUBSCRIBERS: 120
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEE (71-77) +: $3.50
TOTAL INCOME ZACH YEAR: $420
PROJECTED DEFICIT EACH YEAR: B475 +

For 6 years our subscription rate has. been $3.50, but this rate no
longer covers the costs of printing and postage. We've received some
contributions in recent months, but we're still running over $400 in
debt each year. ‘Jith your support, we'll raise the annual subscrip-
tion fee...but we also need your help to increase subscriptions....
and to come to benefits during the year to keep SPEAKOUT alive...e..
maybe even to join us in our efforts to make SPEAKOUT into a better
paper. We think we need to raise about $1000 a year to survive.

So please remember SPEAKOUT this holiday season. Gift subscriptions
for friends/relatives, donations, suggestions for fundraisers, offers

of your time and your energy;-any*thing and everything you contribute
will be welcome.

We want to continue being a forum for area women, a place where we
can share with each other and learn from each other's experiences.
If you think that's important too, please let us hear from you!

Yours, in struggle

the women of SPEAKOUT
P.O. Box 6165
Albany, NY 12206

Letters to the Editor (cont. ¢ Seon. Page... ,

SPIE DU deeenaaD

Yours for a just society,
Nancv Musgrave

Diane Kitts

Laurie Stevens

Janice Miller

(for the Roxanne Gav Legal Defense Fund)
RHR RRR RK HEE REE RE KK EERE RE REE KHER HERE ERE KEKE EKEEKEKEREEKEEEEEE

KKK KK KK HK KKK KKK IK IKKE RE ERK RE RR KERER KER EEKREKEREEK KKK KKK

Dear SPEAKOUT,

In oraise of the qoals of SPEAKOUT and the DAILY WOMAN we _
have joined forces in informina ‘and educatina women -throuch the
media T would like to announce that we have a wee!lv T.V.
program."WAG TT" (Women Are Gettino It Toaether) . where we discuss
woren and women s issues Wa can be seen on Zable 14 in Schenect *
adv, Thursdav 7:30 P.M.,@nidav at 10 A.M. and Mondav at 3:30P.M..
In Albanv Thursdav at 8:00P.M.! If vou have quests. or issues
to be discussed or programs or acivities open to women that vou
would like aired on our calender of events nlease contact us.

Feel free to call me if vou have anv questions,372 4257.

Elenor Brownstein
KKEKKKKKKKKKHKK KKK KHKKK KKK KK KKK KK KKK KKK KKK

KHKKKKKEKKEKKKEKRKKEKEKKEKRKEKKEEKREREKEEKKREKKKEKKEKKKKRKKKRKKKKKEKKKK KKK

To Sneakout,

.. I have taken the following action to provide financial
support for the Tri-City Women s Center (TCWC). I have withdrawn
mvself from the State Emplovees Federated Anpeal (United Fund if
vou don t work for the State) and will be donating that monev to

the TCWC. The procedure was simple - I wrote to the Comptroller,
Smith State Office Building, and asked to be withdrawn from SEFA.
I gave my social security number and mv line number. That s all!

Now I write a check each month to the TCWC, Box 166, Albanv,
12210. I urge all women to follow the same procedure. If just
50 women give $5.00 a month, the rent will be paid. If 100 women
give $5.00 a month, the TCWC can run programs.

If vou do not feel that vou can withdraw from United Fund
please consider giving to the Tcwc instead of increasing vour
donation this vear.

The TCWC gives a lot to this communitv and it mugt have
‘evervone s financial support to survive.

Sue Stevens Larson.
KkRRKK KKK KKK KKK RRR KKK RRR KEK

HHH KK HHH KIKI KKK KEKE RRR EREREKRKE KKK

September 20, 1977
Greetings,

Communitv Legal Rights Foundation, a not -for“profit community
organization providing law-related services to the people of
Albany County for the past six vears is planning a fundraiser:
A Halloween Mascauerade Party. Through this and other various
means er are attemnting to raise $10,000 to continue our work
(Cont on page )

ea ee ee a TE a Pe ee ee a kee ee ae ee ee re
ice 19.

(gont. wife oh aaah eS
(from p.

to aoplv for "Observer" status should contact Jean 0 Leary
by the first of October.

NATIONAL GAY TASK FORCE NEWS

Torch Marathon. Runners will carry a’.lighted torch through 14
states from Seneca Falls, N.Y., to Houston, their arrival
coinciding with IWY opening ceremonies. Runners will carry the
torch & mile to one mile each, 50 miles per day for 50 days,
beginning on Sept. 29. The Marathon will be coordinated by the
National Associattén: of Girls and Women in Snorts and the

Road Runners of America. (Grouns who join the runners through
cities and towns may wish to wear lesbian T-shirts.) Ror further
information contact Pat Kerv, 641 Lexington Ave., 32nd floor,

New York, N.Y. 10022; or call 212-935-3442,

Contact: Jean O Learv

(212) 741-1010
REKEKEKKKKEKKEREKRKEK KEKE KEKE RK REE RE RR EREKKE EERE KEREREEEKERRRREEK
KKK KKK KKK KI IKK KKK RE KEI KKK IRR EK IKRERERERERRERKRKEEKERKEEREEE

(cont from nage )

throughout the Albanv County area. We view this fundraiser as
both a way to aecduira monev and to inform the community of our
services.

The Halloween Masquerade Partv will be held on Saturday,
October 29, at Maria College in Albanv.

Community Legal Rights has been in existence for the vast
six vears. The vroqrams we currently offer are:

1. " Ask a Lawver" - a nrogram held everv week at Refer
Switchboard, for people with leqal questions.
2. "Youth and the Law" a program designed to educate the

young in our community as to the existence and operation of the
Law as a tool for justice and not as an enemy.

3. “Young Peonle s Street Law Association" - a program that
serves the needs of voung people to be a real partof societv
i.e. through narticipation im community organizations such as
Refer Switchboard and United Tenants of Albany. The vrogram also
trvs to develop an open line of communication between neighborhood
groups and the Police Department.

4. People s Law School - this program is designed to educate
and train a number of community people to work in their community,
with church groups,social services organizations and wherever
they might be needed as advocates and teachers.

5. Advocacy - done by all staff members of Community Legal
Rights. An advocate is someone who knows the legal svstem, (which
ever one vou are involved with) the laws that pertain to it, and
how to use both for an effective result. The areas of law we
concentrate on are mainly: welfare, food stamps, social security,
unemplovment, etc.

It is our hope to elicit financial support for our organiz-
ation so that we might continue our work. We would appreciate
anv assistance vou can offer. For information or anv questions

you might have feel free to contact us at 434 0153 or stop by,
275 State Street, Albany.

In Solideritv!

Yvette Middleton

NOVEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS**NOVEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS**NOVEMBER CA

2- Aid to Battered Jomen (ABW) meeting, 8 PI! “0
4-\] ‘JIomen's Center Film Nite: Miss Goodall and the ‘Jild Chimps
and Of Cats and ‘Jomen, 8 PM
4,5- Women's Yeekend at Rensselaer Polythchnic Institute (RPI)
(workshops include assertiveness, media, education, battered Q)
7- COMMUNITY MEETING, 8- Pi!

Albany's Pome nas Alliance:Healthtalk--Breast Self-Exam and
Self-Help , 8:30 PM; Nov, 14- Speaker from 44
9- Albany National Organization for Women

Business Meeting , Conference plannin ¥
ll- Ping pong », refreshments, a place to tal 8:30 PIM
16- Aid to Battered ‘omen. meeting, 8 PM
18-21 NATIONAL JOMEN'S MEETING in HOUSTON, TEXAS

22- Special program: vhat Happened In Houston? A report on the
National Yomen's Meeting by area delegates and conference goers
7330

19- TRAINING SESSION for.Volunteers for Aid to Battered Yomen (ABW)

askieon eetings: Monday nights at 8 PM the Women's Center Steering
Committee meets; all women are welcome.
ALL THE ABOVE } ETINGS ARE AT THE WOMEN'S CENTER WITH THE

XC EPTION OF SUNYA* S FEMINIST ALLIANCE MEETINGS, on campus.
“see froup news for more info about all of the above**isuianuss

December 1977 issue will be on Sexuality. January 1978 issue will
be on Yomen and Alcoholism. Please submit your articles, poetry, etc.
to us. by the 17th.of Nov. for Dec. issue; by Dec 47%h for the January

issue. THANK YOU FOR YOU CONTINUED SUPPORTIISIISLLLEEEh4h 0 hhh begieg
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SPEAKOUT: A FEMINIST JOURNAL
70, “V1, He, 24 December 1977

ET SE RE —

Table of Contents

2 On this month's issue, WOMEN'S SEXUALITY - quotes com-
piled by Margaret Farnsworth,
3,4 Let Women Define Women's Sexuality: glossary excerpt
from the Nomadic Sisters.
4 Aid to Battered Women news,
5 Romantic love - Margaret Farnsworth
6,7 Foetry: Cutting the Cord, and Poem to Debbie, by Kay
Renee Garcia; A Romantic Fantasy/A Reality,, by Tova
8-10 Sexuality & Economics: Polarization in the Feminist
Movement, by Alex Douglas.
11 Tides, by Barbara Jane Martin
12-13 Social Cliticism, by Natalie Kazmierski
14 Poetry: They call you one by one, - Debra Moskowitz
15-16 Dear Babe - anonymous fictionalization (7)
17 Betsy Rose & Cathy Winter Benefit & lyrics - A. Douglas
18 Poetry: Rirst Commitment, by Alex Douglas; Crushes,
and dorney Honey, by Anonymous.
s& Letters to the Editor
2% Calendar of events.

COVER DESIGN by Alex Douglas.

WORKERS FOR THIS ISSUE = Rezsin Adams, Rose Dill, Alexandria
Douglas, Natalie Kazmierski, Maxine Krall, and Yvette Middle-
ton, Margaret Farnsworth and Debbie Moskowitz are doing SUNYA
Community Service for SPZAKOUT this semester,

Next month's issue will be GUZST_EDITED by Debbie Barnes.

Speakout says a fond farewell to Margaret Farnsworth, who worked
with us this semester and is leaving the Albany area,

The opinions expressed in SpeakOut articles are those of their
respective authors only and do not necessarily represent those

of the staff. We attempt to present the opinions and ideas of

all facets of the feminist community in the Tri-Cities area. We
welcome all women to submit articles, poetry, short fiction, book
reviews, and letters to the editor (any subject relevent to area
feminists). Please send your material to us by the 17th of the
month (or put it on the SPSAKOUT shelf at the °) Center). To sub-
res Group News, contact Natalie Kazmierski Wed. nights after 5pm.

on PFFi-

SPEAKOUT is published monthly, except in July/Aug. when we com-
bine issues. Subscriptions are $4.50 per year; Single copies are
45¢, SPZAKOUT is on sale at several bookstores in the area, at

the YWCA's in Albany and Schenectady, at the SUNY and RPI book-

stores, and at the Women's Center at 132 Central Ave in Albany,
open evenings after 5pm.

To subscribe to SPEAKOUT or to submit material, write SP#AKOUT,
P.O. Box 6165, Albany, New York 12206,

a
Tae
I

WOMEN'S SEXUALITY

Most ektnicians have not thought deeply about the
Aociopokitical on the psucokogicak conditions that
ane necessany for female sexual self-definition.
Women can-never be sexuakly actualized as Long as
men controk the means of production and reproduction.
Women have had to banter their sexuakity (or their
capacity fon sexual pleasure) for economic survival
and mazeanitu. Female frigidity as we know it wikl
cease onky when such bartering ceases...

Phyllis Chesler, Women and Madness

From Lesbian Poem

To Learn to Love one's woman-sels

has been made to seem both

Antokenable and difficult.

To Learn to Love another woman

An one's Sekt is both, and also

worth rt,
Robin Morgan, FEMALE PSYCHOLOGY
The Emerging Self

Because the blomen's Movement
4&5 a phot of women who are
vingins, heterosexuals,
eelibates, and bisexuals.
And we conspirators are all
unkearning the absurd pae-
fixes to the word "sexuak"
and beginning to discover,
create, define ourselves as
women,

Robin Morgan, Ms.
September 1975

LET WOMEN DEFINE WOMEN'S SEXUALITY

A Women's collective in California called fhe Nomadic Sisters

has published a marvelously descriptive and enjoyable sexual
informational manual called "Loving Women ‘(available in paperback
only) $3.59 plus 25¢ postage from Nomadic Sisters, PO Rox 793,
Sonora, California 95379). The book's primary emphasis is on

women loving women, but the premise is that the time is NOW for
all “OMEN to define our own sexual experience and our own sexual
pleasure. Though the modern ‘sex manuals” (i.e. Joy of Sex _) which
deal with heterosexuality now discuss women’ in almost equal terms*
no other bood we know of deals ONLY with women's pleasure, emphasing
caring and sharing and the importance of fantasy. Since this book
deals exclusively with women's pleasures, this reviewer heartily
recommends it. Mote: It may akso be most helpkul to straight
femintsts who mould Like to understand mone about lesbianism.

At the onset, the Nomadic Sisters have provided a DOWN+ glossary of
sexual terms (definitions are from the Random Fouse Dictionary) and
an UP glossary of sexual terms--definitions provided by the
collective. Take a look and draw your own conclusions.

DOWN GLOSSARY

CLITORIS --- the erectile organ of the vulva, homologos to the penis
of the male

DILDO -~-- an artificial erect penis

FOREPLAY -- sexual stimulation of a person of the opposite sex,
intended as prelude to sexual intercourse

LOVE --- the profoundly tender and passionate affection for a

person of the opposite sex

LOVEMAKING - 1) the act of courting or wooing
2) sexual intercourse

mLOVER --- a person who is in love esp. a man in love with a woman

MASTURBATION- stimulation or manipulation of one's own genitals
resulting in an orgasm; sexual self-gratification.
The stimulation, other than by coitus, of another's
genitals resulting in orgasm

PENIS --- the male organ of urination and copulation

PORNOGRAPHY-- obscene literature, art or photography esp. that having
little or no artistic merit. (Gr. Pornograph (os)
writing or writer about harlots). (1) Harlot--a lewd or
promiscuous woman.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

UP GLOSSARY ay Nomadic Sisters (cont'd, )

CLITORIS -- the erictile organ of the vulva which is usually stimualted
to produce orgasm

DILDO -~- any object used for vaginal stimuf&tion and penetisiation

EROGENOUS - sexually gratifying or sensitive; arousing or tending to
arouse sexual desire

EROTIC -- pertaining to or treating of sexual love; arousing or
satisfying sexual desire; subject to or marked by strong
sexual desires

FOREPLAY -- stimulation of a hover or sex partner and/or conversation
that brings about or increases sexual arousal or sexual
pleasures

LOVE -- profoundly tender or passionate affection; a feeling of

warm personal attachment or deep affection

LOVEMAKING- any activity between individuals which involves sexual
pleasure and/or satisfaction. Sexual activity betwean
caring people pas

LOVER -- one who loves; a sexual partner

MASTURBATION -the stimulation or manipulation of one's own genktals
- resulting in orgasm or sexual gratification

PENIS -- a dildo substitute poss ‘

PORNOGRAPHY - any literature,art or photograp ic-werk which :&timulates
sexual excitement — Siete

VAGINA -- the passage between the uterus and uulva in females
VULVA -- the external female genitalia |

Peferences:, Stein, Jess, Ed. in Chief, The Random House Dictionary
of the En itn Language, Random House, Inc., New York 1966

2.Nomadic Sisters

AID TO BATTERED WOMEN'S APARTMENT needs the following items. If you
have any to spare, we are trying to equip the apartment without mak-
ing additional cash expenditures. If you have any of the following,

please bring them to the Tri-City Womens' Center on Dec. 7 at *pm.
OR on Dec. 21 at 8pm, BHANK YQU.

towels ; washcloths

sheets for twin beds old knives, forks, sppons, etc.
mattress covers for twin beds drinking glasses

Pillows and pillowcases curtains

small scatter rugs pots, pans, lids

old placemats salt and pepper shakers
kleenex/tissues canned geods

paper napkins ___ ey a

THE CAPITOL DISTRICT COALITION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (332 Hudson Ave)
wants to get more women involved. They have designated every Friday

evening as Women's Night. Also please note their Christmas Party,
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16th at 9:00 p.m.

09
+ HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE! !!#! 299

a ee ae a ee ea ee ne Re ee eR CS Se ETA ee ae eee Se

Romantic Love

Romantic love serves to perpetuate woman's irrational inferi-
ority because it hides from view the realities of our powerless-
ness. It offers women a temporary and artificial reversal of
our position. It is a lie that lures women into marriage and.
love relationships under the pretext of superiority. It is as
cruel as it is political. When women suddenly realize that their
love relationships fall far short of what they've been lead to
expect and hope for, they either blame themselves or their hus-
bands. The result is either the "Total Woman" or the “nagging
bitch" syndrome. Both are manifestations of the same thing -
unequal power. Instead of recognizing the real issues and fight-

ing them openly, women fight secret, desperate battles and usually
do so uncomprehendingly.

Romantic love also works to foster a psychological, as well as
a social and economic, dependence on men. Its apparent rewards
entice women to pour their major energies into love relationships
with men. In this way loving becomes women's full-time profession,
while the male population has the luxury of feeding off this .
emotional reservoir. The dangers of this process are summed up
in these words by Simone de Beauvoir, "she has received all from
love, she can lose all in losing it".

Romantic love also prevents women from attaining class solidar-
ity and of becoming aware of our mutual oppression and powerless-
ness. In order to "win a man", a woman has to elevate herself,
or at least differentiate herself, from other women. To achieve
this distinction and hence be worthy of male condescension, women
are forced to relate with one another as potential competitors.
This precludes the formation of a united consciousness.

Finally, romantic love encourages women to define themselves
hhrough men. The message is clear: male love and approval val-
idates woman's existence. Romantic novels provide us with a
ready-made solution to the problem of "what am I going to do
with myself?" For all of these reasons and more, romantic love
is only recreated in novels, never analyzed. Examination would
threaten the very structure of culture because it would reveal

romantic love in its rawest form - "the pivot of woman's oppress-
ion",
Margaret Farnsworth

Isubmit that love is essentially a much simpler phenomenon - it
becomes complicated, corrupted, or obstructed by an unequal bal-
ance of power. We have seen that love demands a mutual vulnera-
bility or it turns destructive: the destructive effects of love
occur only in a context of inequality. But because sexual ineq-
uality has remained a constant - however its degree may have
varied - the corruption "romantic" love became characteristic of
love between the sexes... Thus "falling in love" is no more than
the process of alteration of male vision - through idealization,

mystification, glorification - that renders void the woman's
class inferiority.

Shulamith Firestone

Female Psychology: The
Emerging Self, ax Cox.

Cutting the Cord

Hi there momma

glad that you called
you were uptight

we had afight

Good gravy mom
what would you say
if i tld you

that i am gay

i need not ask

the anger shows

i hear it all

each time you call

the children talk
and sound so sad
God do i hurt

from all your dirt

Momma you know
i wont come home
i do love you

i can't argue

the time has come
in both our lives
to lift the sword
and cut the cord.

kay renee garcia

SESE SESE SE ESE SE TE SE TE Ee Ee Eb Se be To Se SE Te TOE SE Se OE te OE

Poem to Debbie

hey there little one
you're looking so sad
“7 hey there little one
things can't be so bad

you"re walking around
with your big black cloud
that thunders so loud
your face to the ground

hey there little one
yau're looking so sad
hey there little one
things can't be so bad,

kay renee garcia

it seemed absurd

that you asked me
that night
a week ago

to stay on your bed
and i thought:

sweet womyn's revolution
this is bliss

while you softly

kissed my lips

we laughed

as we tickled

each others ears

and 1 felt your hard
breasts

and,our serums mixed

a liquid of love % revolt

over @ over again

until a sweet nights sleep
of exhaustion

passed through us.

and now

behind a closed door
night falls on me
alone,

you sit

watching empty
television, programs
& 1 am trying

i swear

to substitute

a typewriter

a poem
for your love.

tova

A a gla ia a aes aN oh RIF 8 a ae Ss ara Sk
ee 7 a

a romantic fantasy:

on this
cool summer night
two days
‘ tntit full -moon,
all would be packed
and finished.
we'd lie
in this naked room
breezes
cooling two womyn's bodies.
we'd softly speak
of these years
sharing a home,
we'd touch each other's bodies.

a reality:

chores undone
we're ending for each other.

the pain of your absence

rips my gut.
near one a.m.

t Sit

one tenth packed
under clouded moon,
the cool breeze
turns to choke me.
i suffocate

alone

trying tq Tit

the odds

the ends

of what was.
staring at my chaos
on our last night
in our home

while you make love
you and he

in another home
his home,

tova

SLXUALITY AND ECONOMICS: Polarization in the Feminist Movement

For all our phenomenal growth over the last 10 years, it seems to me
that feminists continue to be reticent to deal straightforwardly with
each other on two very important issues--money and sex. These issuesg
more than any others,have divided members of the women's movement from
the very beginning of the third wave, and they continue to do so. When
we do get together at forums or conferences to discuss these issues,
we often leave without reaching meaningful consensus.

some women continually express the feeling that they are outsiders in
the women's movement; that there is no place for them, no one who shares
their values,or relates to the struggles they are going through. Others
find dealing with women at different levels of consciousness very frus-
trating, even alienating, and would prefer to work in small groups with
feminists who share their politics.

So the divisions, the(supposedly)irreconcilable differences, rage on
within the movement. “Many of us have grown over the last 10 years to
understand the politics expressed. by feminists in more "radical" fac-
tions of the movement--but what about the others who don't yet under-
stand?? and the women who understand, but choose NOT to hold the same
political position as other women in the movement who appear to be
more dominant and/or vocal in certain forums??

Typically, feminists all agree that it's necessary to have women who

are willing to speak out everywhere, to work at all different levels

of consciousness and commitment to feminist causes. But I don't believe
this is really what's happening in the Albany feminist community; and,
if we are representative of feminists all over the country, I wonder

if the movement isn't in serious trouble. :

The new women's liberation movement (late-1950's) began with theBetty
Friedan Feminine Mystique concept that women had been brainwashed into
conforming, adjusting, and otherwise adapting themselves to traditional
female roles following ‘orld ‘jar II. During the war effort women had
provided vital "manpower", had attended college in record numbers, and
had experienced a certain amount of financial independence for the
first time. And when the war was over, this was all supposed to change
back. The boys were home from war, so women's place was in the home.

Friedan's writing helped many educated and/or previously employed women
at fome realize that they had swallowed this bill of goods whole. And
the women's liberationist goals of the 1960's and the emerging National
Organization for women were dedicated to removal of barriers that kept
women from participating in and receiving societal rewards for their
work--rewards like money, power, prestige and the right to sexual
freedom and pleasure on an equal basis with men.

In the mid 1960's society was ready to grant women only one of the
above--sexual freedom. The Sexual Revolution was born, but the econo-
mic aims of the women's liberation movement were sorely underplayed
by government, by the media, and by the movement leaders themselves.
SOME women went forward to serve as tokens on corporation boards of
directors, etc., but this was no evidence of economic growth for the
masses of American women, anymore than "sleeping around” could be an
indicator of seuual liberation. Token women seemed to be allowing
themselves to be used to mask the true situation of women in the work
force. Factions within the women's movement were calling for liberal
feminists to recognize what was happening--to realize that the direc-
tion we were going in was playing for power according to someone else's
rules, using their tactics, accepting their system of rewards and pu-
nishments and PLACATORS. Had anything really changed?? (see Dee )

POLARIZATION, cont'd 7

Gradually a feminist theory of economics was evolving. By the early
1970's growing numbers of feminists had recognized that working within
the system without attempting to CHANGE that system was just a means
of perpetuating the oppressiveness of that system, i.e. SO WHAT if
they offered me a $2,000 raise if they still treat my secretary like
dirt and patronize all the other women in the office?

More radical feminists considered pursuit of "success" within the sys-
tem to be a kind of collaboration. In pursuit of those rewards and
privileges heretofore reserved for men, would women climbing the cor-
porate ladder cut themselves off from other women? would they cease
being outspoken about the needs of other women throughout the company?
would they keep their feminism safely closeted away ?? The answer

to all these questions seemed to be yes.

Once it was evident feminists were serious, VERY serious, about deve-
loping consciousness among masses of women, we seemed to become the
brunt of a number of highly sexist jokes--intended to trivialize our
efforts and which carried the double whammy of frightening away women
who were just beginning to understand the foundations of modern femi-
nism and how the freedom to make choices could affect their own lives.
WH HAVE THE MEDIA TO THANK for the image of women's liberationists
burning bras and hating men and seeming to be foaming at the mouth at
all times. We all acknowledged that we were angry; and public protest
from time to time did serve to raise consciousness about women's issues.
But who do we hold responsible for the now-immortal "libber" joke that

ALL THEY: NEED<iIS Ar‘GOOD°SCRBWELTIEPEEPESIrLirereterrrersyt

Small wonder women all over America begin discussions of important
feminist issues with the expression, “I'm not a libber but”.

The “good screw" jokester managed to hit women in this country exactly
where we live, right in our insecurity. Insecurity about our attrac-

tiveness, insecurity about our relationships with men and other women,
insecurity about our jobs, insecurity about our "femininity", and our

general over-all doubts about our self-worth. Was this a gond way of

keeping women from talking to other women about feminist issues? or

to keep women with something to lose (i.e. marriage or jobs) from be-

coming too outspoken about injustices they see all around them? yas,

At the risk of sounding like a Lenny Bruce, if you need a good screw
doesn't that beg the question that you're not getting any lately????

Taken to its extreme, I believe the "good screw" was a very effective

means of immobilizing masses of women who could not handle the alle-
gations that their sexuality--and their allegiance--was dubious.

It was in the early 1970's that feminists like Friedan urged down-
playing of issues related to sexual freedom because media attention to
and exploitation of alternative lifestyles would threaten the overall
goals of the feminist movement, equal pay, equal opportunity, etc.
Many straight women were very comfortable with this stand; many gay
women with lifestyles to protect were happy with this also. The les-
bian feminists, however, walked out of the National Organization for
Women to form independent groups for thought and action.

It has taken the feminist movement a long time to realize that the
lesbian-bating and the impugning the sexuality of women who called
themselves feminists had been a very effective tool for keeping women
fearful of each other and weakening our impact. Most of us now see a
woman's right to love members of the same sex as equally important as
a woman's right to love someone of the opposite sex...A simple matter

POLARIZATION, cont'd JO

of choice, "sexual and affectional preference”. Right???

Wrong. Because we in the feminist movement have politicized sexuality,
it is NOT a simple matter of choice any longer. Feminists of every
Socioeconomic group and aspiration and of every sexual orientation have
been made aware that their choice of sexual and economic lifestyles IS
a. * political issue,y..cééh*choieesthasceertaan imerasetiohsi' gestrdsexu-
Biity.i32@ linked .~ with economic survival and societal approvat--whic

women have been conditioned to thrive upon for centuries. Choice of
a homosexual lifestyle might mean hiding your personal life from family
and friends because of fear of rejection--but it could also mean sup-
pressing your whole personality (not to mention your "politics") from
the people you work with because you're trying to work your way up the
ladder of success, for example--if you're after your piece of the pie
as a lesbian--you more than likely keep your mouth shut about anything

that might be controversial or woman-oriented, Se Ty Ae HGS MICS

And therein lies the truth of the "good screw" argument. Many women
who have to be dependent on men economically must give primary energy
to maintaining satisfactory relationships at home--removingthem from
being an active participatorsin local feminist activities. Does it
become more and more difficult to sustain a marriage or relationship
if_you_become more active in the feminist community?? Answer must be

a universal yes. Who are the women MOST active in the feminist move-
ment??? The women who are single, self-supporting, and generally with-
out childrearing responsibilities (kids are growing, grown or they are
childless by choice); ‘lomen who have relationships with men but have
strong alliances with women and have no fear of "lesbian-bating"tac-
tics; Women who have less-than-satisfactory relationships with men in
their lives but hone to work these through and find the support and
comfort of other women most helpful in dealing with their problems;
and women who suddenly find themselves alone because of divorce, or
death or separation--these are probably the women who find the most
sustenance in the feminist community. (whatever our political differ-
ences, we don't let down people who come to us really in need of a
person to talk to, help with welfare, the courts, landlords, etc.)

Women who are receiving the benefits of stable, traditional marriage
relationships do come forward from time to time in the feminist com-
munity, as do gay women who have jobs,‘étc) to protect. But the
experience of the diversity of our lifestyles, and the intensity with
which feminists are accustomed to debating political differences, must
prove quite a shock to many of these women. Whether it's because the
confrontation is simplytoo much,or because women (like men) still re-
sist the notion of examining everything about our lives in a Political
perspective, I don't know. But I believe these are significant factors
in alienating--and sometimes losing the support of--these women, who
ARE feminists, by their own definition.

But part of it is also that difference in choices. Feminists who stay
active in the community tend to risk everything--marriages, jobs, on-
the job harrassment from time to time--because we believe in the prin-
ciples for which we are fighting. ‘Je believe we have an important
contribution to make, Helping other people realize choices EXIST!i:!

I believe we make some important contributions by helping each OTHER
confront our choices too. But I feel once those choices are made, we
would do well to learn to accept the other person's choice of life-
style=-sexual and economic--as we want our own choices to be respected.
I feel we often fail at that, that we seek to encourage others to ac-
commodate OUR politics before we accept them. That's where the pola-
rization comes into the feminist movement--f wish it would end. 459

Tides

Life sivins flux, weceoinz like 2 wnisper from the wemb,
Speakines of scft, quiet, cushionins cedtas beyond
To credle nyraid sultitudes-tiny torpid erss, one at

a tine,
waiting, waiting, waitins for tne cyclics1 pulsating
nirecle

Reoeatine «nd repeatine like tne phoses of tae moon

To some precise, exact, unbidden rhythm decp within ny
bein=

Shouting sfrcin, arnin and onee acine of wom=nheocd!

The sweet ability of remreation, recreation, life anew.

Seont wonder tint our wethers were afrrid

And teu-hat their daurhtere words like "curse", "unwell".
So did thc xomad remblinge in her tent

Deny tne pulse, reminder of her power,

it wes too strong: The men might be enrage

wero sne to celebrate life's cycle witn youns girls,

and so, instead sone cnlled herself unclezn,

and oid her dsaurhnters wien their menses csne,

Toook them to ritual batons to "purify"

To “cleanse” their bodies for “unsullicd" men.

Cnce Jacqueline, iy funny cuarded friend

Spoke of «= dren repested many times

dn which ciild efter child, black, yellow, white,
amergsd, laughing and shouting from her womb.

Ch, magic link with life, crimson remembering flow
fulse out tic exultution and the joy.

The link to women dead and yet unborn

The secret, shoutins, joyful messsre - livel

Barbara Jane Martin

ee ee ee ee ee ee ee SS ee EE ee ee Se ee ee ee ee ee a oe ee a Se ee oe Ge ae ae ee ee

ALBANY COUNTY RAPE CRISIS CENTER has moved to the
HOTEL WELLINGTON, Room 312

136 State Street, Albany New York

—— ee ee es ee ee ee oe oe oe ee ee ee ee ee ey ee

Community Legal Rights (cont'd. from p./7 )

between 10:a.m. and 5:00p.m. Feel free to contact us fer more in-
formation. Please post the enclosed leaflets where your staff and
clients can see then!

{IN RUMMAGE!

Yvette Middleton
For the staff of CLRF

5: ee

SOCIAL CLITICISM

Women's sexuality. If ignorance is indeed bliss, a majority of
the general public has enjoyed centuries of virtually uninterrup-
ted nirvana. In fact, ever since the patriarchy first reared its
ugly head (not to mention another partion of its collective anate-
my), that which was then defined as nur "carnal lust, which is in
Woman insatiable” (remember Malleus Maleficarum?) is still being
perceived and dealt with as some sort of malignant Doomsday device.
We were the original Unidentified Fornicating Objects.

In milleniums past, this was partially due to the link between
our sexuality and our ability to create, maintain and nurture life
if we so chose, That ability has remained both a commitment to
life itself and the original meaning ef power: the capacity to cre-
ate. When a certain faction of our race noticed the Umbilical Con-
nection, they coveted, they feared, and (with that destructive per-
spicacity which has characterized most of them ever since) they
"conquered" the awesome cycle. In the religien, law and psychology
which circumscribe our sexuality, in the medical technelogy which
has wrested our bodies from us, the patriarchal (anti-) culture
has attempted to control the lifegiving process by crushing all ex-
pressions of a sexuality it cannot experience. In that struggle,
men have imposed on the world a false definition of power: the
idea that it derives from how many people (and guess which sex that
means?) one can dominate, (The illuminating phrase "fuck over" suf-
ficiently illustrates the vast difference between power, which is
creative, and a perversion of power/sex which can only be gauged by
whom, what and how many one has "power" over. )

We as women are reclaiming our bodies and renaming our sexua-
lity as well as our gift of life. We are disineriting our daughters
of the legacies of genocide and witch hunts by creating again the
matriarchal sexuality in which "virgin" signifies "she-unto-herself"
(whether or not that "she" is sexually active.) And we seem to be
encountering an incipient escalatinn of the ancient hostilities.

Now that our knowledge, consciousness and communication in the
crucial areas of birth control, abortion, sexuality and lesbianism
are again irrevocable to the point where their eradication could
be accomplished only by another mass genocide, there is a tangible
and disturbing parallel between contemporary societal response to
feminism and the witch hunts of the Middle Ages, True to the med-
ieval formula, our sexuality is the first target of that attack;
our counterpart of the ancient midwife, wisewoman and healer -
along with her sister feminists/lesbians - is being distortedly
projected by the threatened patriarchy in an endless series of
hardcore pornographic sexual images. Along with an increase in the
institutionalized violence which society perpetrates upon women,
and specific acts of outright violence which individual men commit
(rape, battering), two significant female archetypes are being
frantically reactivated? the whore (often "possessed" demonically)
and the witch (inherently evil).

Pornography, the trade journal of male culture, has in recent
DECADEncesS extended its parameters to embrace sadomasochistic rock

(CONTINUED OW PAGE 13)

ee ee ee

-~13-
SOCIAL CLITICSM (cont'd. )

music, bloodbath cinema, and "adult" gift stores which, under the
cause celebre of “intellectual freedom" may now exist with impuni-
ty in full view of an approving pub(l)ic eye. The societally-
endorsed unveiling of these formerly clandestine vices is a clear
barometer of their acceptability.

Some of the more popular and publicized "“acceptables" have in-
cluded The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby, Carrie, The Omen and similar
if less lucrative attempts to imbue us with fearsome powers. (Not
surprisingly, a mere polite prayer to Satan is insufficient; the
cinematic heroine must copulate with him on-screen and bear his off-
spring. dell hath no imagination like a dollywood producer's?.‘~the
genre's recent portrayals of the devil view like one giant pater-
nity suit.) These prOjective attempts to steep women in the des-
tructiveness men sense in themselves, while certainly diluted by
today's weakening (?) religious structures, should not be dismissed
as harmless, "Possession" images are the vestigial remnants of
centuries of woman-slaughter, and their reappearance at a time when
the sexes are again embattled over Woman's right to der own body
signifies that the genocidal MENtality still lives in the mythic
imagination. or

By far the most extreme example of sexual woman-hatred was
Snuff, a South-American made film for which an actress was recruit-
ed unaware that the customary pornographic parade of perversions
would culminate in her on-camera dismemberment - presumably for
audience titillation, Due to public outrage, the film was rarely
Shown before its confiscation, but authorities dismissed the "live :
murder" of the female victim as a publicity rumour, making little :
or no serious inquiries, Death by sexuality: the logical extension |
of male-defined eroticism, and the ultimate obscenity.

There is no lack of recent examples from other genres. Five min-
utes spent in the company of one's AM/FM radio, television and/or
paperback-bookstand quickly yields many samples of witch/whoye mo-
tifs, Radio gives us "Witchy Woman," "Evil Woman," "Devil Woman,"
and "Year of the Cat." Lest we be culturally deprived of our daily
dosage of misogyny, television and the publishing industry furnish
innumerable supplements comparable to the above. And the nouveau-
respectable rlayboy/Penthouse/Oui/et cetera/ad nauseum brotherhood
- Battle "Him" of the Repub(1)ic - Gory, gory Hallelujah! - goes
undulating on. That empire's moguls have made their supreme conces-
Sion to women's sexuality by producing Playgirl, on the apparent
(ass )umption that they are bringing a coveted commodity into our
otherwise drab libido's, (This astute attempt to dictate what women
should covet 1s deceptively cloaked in a professed concern over our
equal right to peruse smut. When the Floundering Fathers of Filth
purport to establish the notion of feminist pornography it becomes

increasingly difficult to remember that men are, after all, latent
human beings, )

_ Even in the face of such contempt for us, the means to our self-
definition of womens' sexuality is impossibly simple. We continue to
ignore all media refractions of our image. We resist any sexual doc-
trine not generated from woman's reality and experience; we impose

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 14)

SOCTAT,

- 14

SLITIISH (cont'd, )

no doctrines of our own. “ost of all, we exist in the present cul-
ture while Living For, with, and of each other in feminist commun-
ities and meetins-vlaces, In the words of xobin Morgan,

"To watch new faces fierce with Sinzle-minded affirmation,
Calm and wit-warm in committed disnity--
fhis task is not intolerable, only difficult.

(frem “Lesbian roem," wOsSTHR, p. 74)

ee ee ee

VYomen's sexuality. The present situation is highly clitical.
Bet i648 net Ssvermanent,

——

LE SA | tC tl tN AS CT Ct es pia te

Natalie i. Kazmierski

Re EL TE Se - o

ig:

1ev call on you one by one
nands up vour skirt

arms around vour waist

a vat on the rump

One time von were chased
around the back room

with a vair of kitchen shears

like a unted animal

(visions of your charcoaled body smoking in a oit)

tn laugiter, they throw back their reads
stick uv trar spines,

mere hs tieir neh ~filled bellies
et 49r, cet aor,” trey cry;
Saintes of ancourazement dchewn out

our screams of
nrotest

Aememberinsy erders, emotvyinz tne ashtravs,
retrievin= tae used lasses and bettles
only to be told tiat breasts look like

"2 fried e7-s throw. azrainst a wall"

fou feel vrotrammed to resvond sweetly
to tieir taunts and invitations
1oldine a trav of cocktails

you trv to zet tiroucn tie crowd
("I'1] move if vou vive me a kiss")
8ltine frozen dacquiri's,
sacardi's spillint over tie rims of
“@ trabs at vour lets wiile avolovi
offen ntixzr you, |

tae classes
tine for

Swimminz ina sea of madness
‘on te]1 yourself vou are a survivor
you are stron?
you will not drow
on your wav back to tie bar
ine tears guietlv
Berin to flow.
Debra taskowitz,

% & ‘ _
hi iV ree 4

The First Known victim of the

Federal} law Dawning abort iors bor
MEDICAID recipeuts was & A)}-Year-
old Chicano women with ste dilRren.
“the WOMerr Liew in A Me Allen "aa
hoseta| following Conch Lica ions caused

Mus a Cheap abor tion (4 qo| purchased
ACHOSS tis. border UA Mexico, Mea
mate ful wl

——— |

: legal ‘abovtun was fyb er peusive,
{he Uh ycle hwerduent lost This Wome,
Nox \\Se — avd) «kK we kes elect we abov tums

ko
\Ne es Sian ah dlourenstracte- Ap Qe that the iets
se al) Wmenr Ave proketed — TQ reat ty Choose —
Reproductive Feeepoh. Cac THE WOMEN'S CENTER,
MONDAY BYES. FoR Wy FORMATION. Y44- 999,

18%
DEAR BABE

Babe,

I'm writing to you because I've decided to stop feeling sorry
for you, because you're the only person at school with a single
parent. It's amazing how you and most of ynur friends having
grown up on a diet of Sesame Street, Mr.Rogers, non-sexist books
and attitudes can respect the rights of homosexuals, lesbians, and
heterosexuals but can not respect the rights of celibates.. Why
is it that you proudly introduce my friends, the lovers, Sue and
Jane and leave me to introduce myself?

I know it's not my clothing, as I was wearing your favorite
outfit. Nor my hair or breath. As I looked around the room I
see why; every parent has a partner. Every parent, but yours.
Imagine my embarrassment when I find I've been paired with your
best friend's Aunt for. dinner, so we could pass as a pair. Susie's
dad asked me as he proudly introduced his new lover if Tom's Aunt
was my new lover? When I proudly said "No, I'm still celibate",
he smirked and said "To bad". The same response came from Timmy's

dad and Joan's mom. I felt like salt being passed around without
the pepper.

The saddest part was that it wasn't just parents and their
lovers.. It was alse the teachers and your classmates. They all
expressed their sorrow at my celibacy and some even had the nerve
to suggest that I should 'find' someone as it was bad for you

to see me single. After all we wouldn't want you to grow up
and be celibate.

When I looked at you I realized your embarrassment, I began
to feel guilty. I felt the least I could have done was to find
a lover for the day. I had shamed you in front of your frisnds..
How could I? I had to leave, excape was the only way at that
point to relieve my unjust guilt. Now as I look back at that day
I'm glad I left. Not because I felt guilty but because that

unjust guilt made me angry, so angry that I could have spit in
the next person's eye that said, "I'm sorry"..

My anger and hurt come not only from that day, but also from
your grandparents attitudes or should I say embarrassment towards
my celibacy.. I've stopped seeing them because of their refusal to
accept me as one and not a couple. At a dinner at their house
for Sara, Jand and Joe, they actually invited a woman friend to
come and act as my lover! If that wasn't nervy enough they even
gave us tickets to the new play, in hopes that we'd become lovers.
How can I explain that my liberal parents eagerly accepted my
lesbianism but refuse to accept my celib’cy? Daddy actually
said it was embarrassing to see everyone else's children with their
lovers and me by myself. He said it made him and Momma look like
‘bad parents' and they felt guilty. So I told him not to feel

guilty about my being alone, but to feel guilty because I wouldn't
come back until they excepted my celibacy.

It really hurts to hear my own parents say they can't except
my decision. Some of my friends are heginning to ask if two years

(cont. on page 14

ree em

Dear Babe (cont. from pagej{>5)

isn't long enough? Don't I think it's time to have a lover?
The've even offered to 'fix me up' with someone! Jean has even
questioned my lesbianism, as I haven't been sexually active in

over two years.. She says I'm actually straight but to embarrassed
to admit it]

I've been told that my celibacy is the topic of many bedtime
discussions between Sue and Jane. They have wondered whether or

not I'm frigid, but decided I°wasn't because I'm physically active
with my friends.

I guess it's hard being 14 and having a single mom. Especially
when all the kids at school have parents who are married and/or
have lovers. But remember it wasjjust as hard being 10 in public
school and having a mom who was a lesbian and insisted on bringing
her lover to Parents' Day. You understood and supported me then,
please try to understand and support me now. When you were 10
you insisted that Diane be your 'dad' for softball, cause she
played better. Now there's only me for a partner in every game,
and probably it will be me for a while.. Just remember whether
I'm with someone or by myself, I'11 allways love you.

I hope you can understa"d and support my decision; this isn't
the first time I've decided to be celibate or is it the last.

Love, |
Your Single and Happy
Mom!

EDITORS’ NOTE: The above was anonymously submitted to Sun os as
a fictional articulation of many women's reality.

ES OS ES

To our readers: SPEAKOUT received the following letter/request
on November 21st, WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDEOLOGY BEHIND THE
AUTHOR"S FIRST BOOK since we couldn't find a copy; WE ARE ALSO
UNABLE TO VOUCH FOR THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE REQUEST but have
passed it on, Respond at your own risk!

"Women in their thirties and forties willing to suppert their
Sisters by Filling out a provocative questinnnaire for a new
book on women in their thirties by Victoria Pellegrine, auth-

or of fhe Book of Hope: How Women can Overcome Depression,
are urged to write for a questionnaire te:

Thirties Research - Cole
Rawson Associates

630 Third Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, New York 10017

SPEAKOUT WISHES TO STRESS THAT WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PURPOSE
OF THE ABOVE, Anyone having such information is urged to let us
know so that we may pass it on, Thank yeu,

. TT
BETSY ROSE/KATHY WINTER BENEFIT f
FOR THE WOMEN's CENTER PAYS THE

RENT AND PROVIDES A MARVELOUS

EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT! US!

Last October 15 at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Albany, two women
from Cambridge, Mass. performed a benefit concert to help raise funds
to keep the Albany Women's Center alive for yet another month. Organi-
zers say the benefit raised a month's rent with a little left over for
expenses. This page is by way of salute to Betsy and Kathy for their
contribution to our community--not just financial, either. First and
foremost for their wonderful music.

Kathy introduced the song whose lyr .cs appear below by saying, "It's
kind of a musical response to the burning question IS THERE PLEASURES
AFTER CONSCIOUSNESS???" The uncontained laughter that followed Kathy's
intro was proof positive for me that we feminists continue to be on the
Same wavelensth even though we don't always seem to be. Raising one's
consciousness goes hand in hand with raising one's expectations of one-
self and the people around you--and that can be hazardous for a love
life. Don't you think. The following song is about "human relations".

LOVE'11 HAVE TO DO UNTIL SOMETHING BETTER COMES ALONG (A.D.)
by Betsy Rose

now when well bred people get together for some conversation

sooner or later they get around to human relations

well I may be right, you know, I may be wrong

they say that love is short, LIFE is long

But I Say, Love'll have to do until something better comes along ( 2x)

because what else puts a smile on your face in the morning?
what else makes an evening at home just a little less boring?
well I may be wrong, you know, I may be right

on a scale of 1 to 20 it beats everything in sight!

Love'll nave to do until something better comes along (2x)

you can analyze the meaning and the reasons why
speculate on where we end up when we die
put it all together in a metaphysical pie

and that's all right

but if you want to know what really makes the world go round
check out your responses from the neck on down!
tune into a mystical experience MAKIN THE ROUNDS!ttt!

(they even do it in Cambridge...)

dya dya dya dya dee dya daa daa (etc.)

you know love is gaining quite a reputation

you won't get a degree, but I guarantee you'll get an education!
well I may be old-fashined, may be out of date,

I'd rather indulge in passion, than COGITATE

Love'll have to do until something better comes along

Love'll have to do-oo, love'll have to do-oo, love'll have to do-oo
love'll have to do-oo, love'll have to do until

something better comes along

Love'll have to do until something BETTER comes along..-.a.

BASH AE SESE MEE EE TEE

> Ais

Crushes

Suddenly (s)he appears beside me!

burning cheeks, shyness...

we fail to meet each other's eyes

eo-1 think,

"(S)He must be thinking what I'm thinking!"

and the fantasies resume immediately,

stronger than before:

I picture us dancing--afraid to touch
or lying close beside each other--afraid to kiss

Embarrassed, because the desire
speaks louder than the words.

e+ ete HX BQH HH #8
First commitment

My love.
a beautiful fantasy
of cool water
and deep sighs
of contentment
I have never known before

Bringing laughter into my life
and comfort, and strength

and teaching me not to hate myself
for all my weaknesses

I am filled with loving
senses overflowing
there is someone who cares for me
at last, there is someone
who loves me for all I am
and still loves me
inspite of all I am not

No doubts this time

No tug of war, no battle of wills

I am older, strong enough now
not to run away as before

I believe we will be honest,

that we will be kind to each other
always

that we will love each other--
whatever happens--

forever.

Alexandria, boygdas

* sf. s 4 2, of. &
eS ee ee SR | et

Anonymous

Mo OH OH Oe

HORNY HONEY
(author's name withheld! ! )

horny honey
I need to feel yer
kiss on my neck,
yer muff on my nose}

horny honey
I love to hold you
and pleezya and teezya
from yer head
to yer tozelti

SESELE SENG AEE AE IE SEE TE IESE TEESE EAE AE SE AE SE ME SE TE AE aE ae AE SE

Disco fantasy

easy smiles, flashy lights

music pounding deep in me

no heavy ties, or wholesome sighs
no Politics or boundaries
between you and me

just the music.

soft lights, cool wine

candles lit in wintertime

music loud, bodies fly
surrounded by black russian high
feeling right holding you

holding one another.

Anonymous

ee ee
Letters to the Editor:
GOOD NEWS FOR FEMINISTS?

There is finally an area restaurant owned, operated and
staffed by women, And the food is good! The Honey Comb Restaurant
is located in the Delaware Plaza Shopping Center on Delaware Ave.
in Delmar, I can only vouch for the lunches so far, but I can
vouch all the way for the home-made soups, including a substantial
crock of French onion which first clued me in to the new and im-
proved ownership of the restaurant. The sandwiches are better —
than average; good-sized with a small scoop of macaroni salad and
‘pickle, But for me the ultimate test of any restaurant is its
dessert menu, Many places advertise home-made pie just like "Mom's",
but in most cases "Mom" is a lousy cook,

The Honey Comb serves large pieces of pie with an honest-to-
god crust that doesn't taste like cardboard, Best of all, the pri-
ces are low: A sandwich, a cola and a piece of lemony-lemon meringue
pie came to the staggering sum of #1.98, Daily specials are offered
as well, and they all look good, The service so far has been way
above average--when was the last time a waitress smiled at you or
stopped to chat? Impressed by the food and the happy atmosphere
I inquired about the new owner and was promptly introduced to
Betty Guylianelli. She and her sister, Jean Hart, own and operate
the Honey Comb, The only male employed, she said, was a dish washer.
I assured her I'd be back to try the dinner menu, which features
dishes different from the usual family-type restaurant and which run
in cost to about #6 tops,

I thought SpeakOut readers would be interested in this new
venture. It is well worth the few minutes it takes to travel to

Delmar for a decent lunch, and it would be a boost to two women in
business,

Marilyn E, Rothstein

GREETINGS?

Once again we at Community Legal Rights are asking for community
support, Since we are a grassroots organization, we depend mainly on
the support of the Albany community to survive. In the past we have
asked you for your energy, time, talent, and money. Now we ask for
your support through giving us your RUMMAGE!

At this time Community Legal Rights Foundation is being staffed
by five people, three paid and two volunteers, Some of the projects
we are running are: YOUTH AND THE LAW, PEOPLE'S LAW SCHOOL, YOUNG
PEOFLE'S STREET LAW ASSOCIATION, WOMEN AND THE LAW, AT THE ALBANY

$$$ LIFE CT LCOS CS eee ee ee eee 0 anu

Cur RUMMAGE SALE is scheduled for Friday, December 2 and
Saturday, December 3, from 10am to 5:30pm at the Tri - City Women's
Center, 132 Central Avenue, Rummage can be left at our office,

275 State Street, any day before the sale or above the days of salc

(cont'd, on p, 112)

Letter to the Editor from Diana Press

All of us are from different parts of the feminist movement, many holding
differing political opinions. But because of the recent vandalization of
Diana Press, we are joining together now to say that we abhor this act of “=
violence against feminist institutions. Such acts as the damaging of neg=-
atives and plates, presses and abooks, of one feminist press, are sernously~
destructive to us all. Because of this vandalisn, which probably took Shour
to commit, we are faced with the loss of the writing which Diana Press would
have published this year, and which represents years of thought and work: and
the resources, equipment, and knowledge wiich Diana Press has continually
provided for our community. And we are also faced with the inevitable feelings
of defeat, anger, and desperation which accompany such useless destruction.

Jjnoever committed this violence did so in secrecy and in defiance of the
feelings of the vast majority of wo men who have hiven years of our lives to
building this movement and the still young and precarious institutions within
it. As our movement has gained in strength, we have seen increasingly organized
and heavily funded efforts to destroy it. ‘Je refuse to allow these efforts to
intimidate us, whether to divide us into self-destructive ractions or to drive
us into a deadended "correct-line" sterility. cnet

Jithin the movenent, we assert the power and richness of our differences; and
right to criticize and argue with each other, our necessity to EXPLOLE ANCessswsim
preserve our diversity. But we insist that our internal, mutual criticism be
carried on responisbly, and with a respect for process. ‘Je unite in deploring,
rejecting, and condeming the destruction by force of our means of communication
and the spaces in which we attenpt to create new institutions.

Some of us joining in this statenent have been heavily critical ofthe politics
of the Feminist Economic Network, with which Diana Press has been assoicated;
some of us were stronz supporters of FEN, The signing of this statement does
not necessarily constitute an endorsement of any specific political faction in
the movemeht. But our agreement now transcends our differences. Je want to make
clear that we do not consent to such violence. We consider that, whether
perpetrated by men, or by women acting as the agents of men, or by women expre-
ssing misdirected anger, such acts are acts of hatred toward women and women's
culture. In signing this statement, we as a group refuse the desperation that
such acts engender, and ask that we all work to transform this attack into an
affirmation of the power and significance of our work together by supporting
Diana Press in this crisis. If Diana Press is to survive, they must have the
money with which to restore the enormous damage done to their equipment, mate
erials and books. ie ask that you sign this statement, circulate it to others,
do everything in your power to help raise funds, and above all, send whatever
money you can to;

Diana Press

M400 iarket St.

Oakland, Califormia 94508
Susan Griffin

Adrienne Rich Charlotte Buncn
Audre Lorde Susan Sherman Breer sil
Bertha Warris Susan Brownniller

Dudith McDaniel
faureen Brady

a vision of love

how can i explain

the nillions of

moon flashed imageries
throughout this roon
within this body

the roon-

overflows

with signs

of ayself,

do the signs describe nyself,
or do i describe the signs?
what of then

becones myself?

i see

with my eyes,
tingling small fires
rea

whiteness

brown blackness
of nerve endings
sensations
through to my mind
feeling nunbness
joy

pain

thoungh myself
for my vision -
and through these
nasked-nirrorred
inshrd og
glazened glassed
eyes

comes music
flutes

her voice

ending

in softness
soothing me.

and the soft white sheeted
bed,
white stars
junping fron the pillow
mold around
ny body
for touch.
and so here
ny first flashed
reality
is of you
touching my body

whispering intimacies

through ny mind
caress ay neart
ay soul

love

(con'd next page)

a vision of Love continued

flowing .:
between
us

wonyn :

it is split flowing

fragments
making wholes:
the core
of this self
black dark
moon:
mother moon
quietly singing
over us
a sweet
woomyn's lullaby.

you

kiss & cry

over my white knees

laughing

singing

the self

renaining

the self

so it can be

with you.

two wonyn

loving

on a cool sunner night,

this self

Witn you

narmony

touches

self

innemess

of my eyes

filled with fires

of love

of this vision

of womyn

in love.

tova

shy do I hurt so?

why do I miss her?

dhy do I care?

why do I feel this emptiness?

Nhy is my new freedom not relieving?
How did she get in?

The men never hurt ne.

I never missed then,

I couldn't care less about losing then,
Togetherness meant only games and strugzle.
Their bodies were foreign and ominous.
There was no room to care.

And they never did get in.

But now the womyn...

They are always in before I know it.
There is no room for games.

I know the caring is sincere.

Togetherness now means energy, strengto, peace, and serenity.

Their bodies are familiar, gentle, and warn.
Now there is something to miss.
And so I hurt,

Debbie Barnes

Hie : ; on ence 3 EH
z DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

tit- Albany County Rape Crisis Center presents speakers & film, 7:30
2- Q Center coffeehouse: Maureen Brady and Judith McDaniel, fic-
tion & poetry reading, 8:00pm.

2&3 Rummage sale for Community Legal Rights Foundation, 1lam.-6pm,
3- Capitol District Coalition for Human Rights, 332 Hudson Ave, Al-

bany: film, "Tale of Two Cities," 8:30p.m. ees

5- : Center Community Mtg., 83pm. ALL WOMENS' GROUPS WELCOME!
eminist Women's Health Center Planning Meeting, 8pm.

- NOW N,=. Regional Conference Planning Meeting, 8pm.

7- Aid to Battered Women, 8pm.

- NOW: "Women and Religion," 8pm. ;

8- Q Center Speakers' Program: Reszin Adams re: experiences in
lbany politics, 7:30pm. 7

10- Capitol District Coalition for Human Rights, 332 Hudson Ave
film: "Body & Soul,” 8:30pm.

12- Pare business meeting, 8pm.

14- NOW business meeting, 7:30pm,

16- Q Center Coffeehouse, Martha Courtout, poet, & Ruth Pelham, mu-
Sician/singer, 8pm.

- C.D. C. for Human Rights, 332 dudson Av., film/Xmas party, 9pm.
17- €.D.C. for Human Rights, etc. film: "My Darling Clementine," 8:30.
19- ¢ Center work meeting, ~
21- Aid to Battered Women meeting, 8pm.

26 - SpeakQut collates - ALL dANDS WELCOME!

WEEKLY MS3TINGS: Women's Center, Monday nights, SpeakOut, Thursday
nights except last week in each month. (Q Center 8pm; Speakout 6pm. )

ALL ABOV] EVENTS TAKES PLAC® AT THE a Q Center, 132 Central Ave, Al-
bany, unless otherwise noted above. SEZ GROUP NEWS FOR MORE!

Q CENTER DISCUSSION GROUPS BSGINNING IN JANUARY: WATCH FOR SIGNS.

January 1973 issue will be on Chemical Dependency; it will be guest-
edited and coordinated, by Debbie Barnes.

THANK YQH FOR YQUR CQNTINUED SUPPORT!

Subscribe to SPEAKOUT BULK RATS
$4.50 per year : US POSTAGE FAID
Send coupon to; PERWIT #12
SPHAKOUT ALBANY, WY

P.0,. Box 6165

Albany, i*.Y. 12206 TAIRD CLASS

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Address

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If you are planning a change of address, please
notify SPEAKOUT. It will NOT be forwarded and we
must pay for copies returned. We are only able

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so please renew right away if yours has run out!
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Access:: The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.

Collection restrictions:: Access to membership and mailing lists in Series 5 is restricted. All other series are unrestricted. Consult a staff member for further details.
Collection terms of access:: The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

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Archival materials can be viewed in-person in our reading room. We recommend making an appointment to ensure materials are available when you arrive.

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Collection

National Organization for Women (NOW), New York State Chapter Records, 1961-2011

Collection ID	apap029
Total components	2252
Items available online	6
Last indexed	2025-07-29

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Collections

Speak Out, 1976-1977

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About the Archives

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Ask an Archivist

Schedule a Visit

Collection

National Organization for Women (NOW), New York State Chapter Records, 1961-2011

Collection contents