@prefix ns0: . @prefix edm: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix dc: . @prefix skos: . ns0:identifierAIP "cc5f7821-e0bb-4320-9477-af3faa7850e1"@en ; edm:dataProvider "CONTENTdm"@en ; dcterms:isReferencedBy "http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1213576"@en ; dcterms:isPartOf "Kinesis"@en ; dcterms:issued "2013-08-15"@en, "1975-12-01"@en ; dcterms:description "Vol. V, no. 51"@en, ""@en ; edm:aggregatedCHO "https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/kinesis/items/1.0045491/source.json"@en ; dc:format "application/pdf"@en ; skos:note " HAPPY I.W.Y. 73-8305 Serials Division Main Library University of B.C. VANCOUVER 8, B.C. Vancouver Status off Women 2029W.4thAve. December 1975 ISSN 0317-9995 VOLUME V NO 5 I ms. claus says \"merry xms anyway.\" Last January Roberta Schlosberg, commenting on the prospects for International Women's Year, wrote that the year was like a pomegranate — \"promising on the outside but filled with precious little meat.\" Now that IWY is drawing to a close, I am tempted to say it proved to be very like a pomegranate — on the whole seedy. That is not entirely fair. We got some good things — a little money for women who wanted to gather and talk to one another, a little more money for women's centres, the IWY Van instead of a conference, the festival at Kaslo. And Gene Errington's office — late and with insufficient money, but there. Some things, not everything, and certainly not enough. Elsewhere in this issue there is a rundown of what we got from last year's Christmas list (one thing) and an all too depressing summary of what we didn't get. More depressing yet, one gift we thought we had — a victory in the PWA stewardess case -- has been snatched away. Another — a victory in the Lornex mine case — is in grave danger. In-retrospect IWY looks very like years past — some progress for women, but so slowly. The future, in comparison, looks alarming. Roberta wrote last January that inflation, not women, was the pressing issue of the moment. The economy is even more of an issue now and we must be very watchful of the effects that economic policies have on women. The intent of the present federal guidelines is to freeze the economy in its present condition. And we all know where that leaves women. In job ghettos further reinforced by a government committed to honouring \"traditional relationships\" in wages. In the marketplace faced with rising prices (sellers of goods can pass through rising costs) while struggling on fixed incomes. Falling farther and farther behind as they receive the minimum allowable wage increase while those at the top get their $2400 a year. We in the Movement are committed to a revolution. A revolution aimed at a'redistribution of money and power in the society. A redistribution in favour of the largest disadvantaged group in society — women. A freeze of the present economic structure does nothing for us. During the coming months we must not be lulled by appeals to \"responsibility\" nor seduced by calls for \"restraint in the cause of the higher good.\" The economy may well need \"saving\". But it cannot be saved at our expense. We have too long sacrificed our needs for \"higher goods\" — husband's, children, family, war, prosperity, stability, society. It's our turn : -Nancy Conrod, VSW President we should have asked ms.claus... In last year's December issue of KINESIS we* composed a Dear Santa letter of requests for the coming year. We felt the items on our list were badly needed by women, and in<- deed many of them we had requested the year before and were still waiting for. For the sake of tradition we decided to do the same this December. As we began to list them, some of our requests had a very familiar ring. So we dug out last year's Christmas list for comparison. Baby, we have not come a long way! For instance: ...Last year we asked for a new Maternity Protection Act to protect the rights of pregnant working women. We asked for this the year before as well. We had better ask for it again. See September KINESIS, page 7, for the details of what the Act should nclude. ..We asked for homemakers to be included in the Canada Pension Plan. Any of you homemakers got CPP protect- on yet? ..We asked for our children to be given non-sexist text books. There 1 ray of hope here at least in that the number of teachers and parents who recognize and condemn the sex tole stereotyping found in the standard text books is increasing. More good children's books are available. Never Done will be on the reading list of Social Studies classes, a lot of parents are looking at the books their children are taught from ~frrr '_he first time, and some of those parents are protesting. When we hear of workshops like North Vancouver's \"Sexism in English 8,9&10\" we can smile — when we once again see the badly needed Women's Studies courses left off the school curriculums by a vacillating Department of Education,, we grind our teeth in rage. ...We asked for control of our bodies —take abortion out of the Criminal Code. We know what happened there — abortion is still in the Criminal Code and Dr. Morgentaler is in prison. ...Arrange for a total transplant for Otto Lang,we begged. Well he's been transplanted with Ron Basford. We should, everyone of us, write to Basford and ask him how he stand on the issues that are so vital to us. ...How about a Federal Human Rights Act? we asked in 1974 since we didn't get an answer when we asked in 1973. Well, Bill C-72 was introduced at the end of the Spring session. It's still sitting there,and according to Lalonde it won't be passed this session either. ...How about an amended Federal Labour Code that takes the needs of women into consideration? After all we are 33.2% of the working force. We'd still like to see this. ...We suggested that teachers be given courses in sex role socialization. When we hear about male teachers 'teasing' female high school students about their 'women's lib meeting' and 'manhaters club' we know there aren't many of these courses going around. ...More Shop courses for girls, more home Ec. courses for boys — well, as one Shop teacher explained, the shop facilities are limited and its dangerous to mix the classes because the girls distract the boys. However, there are cooking classes for boys. Very nice — except that it seems to cost more to teach boys how to cook steaks and lemon meringue pie than it does to teach girls the muffin method and macaroni-cheese casserole. ...Pass a Community of Property Act that will make marriage an equal partnership, we said. Has anyone heard of the Berger Commission Report on Matrimonial Property lately? Do they think if they drag their feet long enough we will forget about it? ...As usual every year — a desperate plea for day care facilities. We thought it was deperate last year! education A Federal Government grant from the Secretary of State (Citizenship Branch) Branch) has provided the financial means to start a citizens' advisory service in education. A starter grant of $4,800 will allow C.A.R.E. (Citizen Action to Reform Education) to survey the needs of education consumers and to publish information bulletins. SPARC (Social Planning and Review Council of B.C.) whose principal aim is the promotion of \"widespread citizen participation in planning and decision-making, based on the belief that people in a*local community are best able to determine their own needs and priorities\" will assist C.A.R.E. in this project. C.A.R.E., based for over eight years in the Greater Vancouver area, has encouraged reforms such as alternative schools, parent education and school consultative committees. Among its aims is community involvement in educational planning and the creation of learning environments which guide children to their fullest physical, emotional and intellectual development. Last year C.A.R.E. helped develop a kit, Parents in Schools, for student teachers in community education. Ed-Advisory joins a growing list of agencies devoted to assisting parents and other citizens to become involved in their education systems. Among these groups is the National Committee for Citizens in Education (NCCE) in the United States which recently shepherded a bill through Congress which guarantees privacy of student records and permits access to records for parents and older students. Ed-Advisory bulletins will: ...convey news of successful examples of participation ...expose barrieio to participation ...alert readers to important issues and research findings ...supply references and list sources of help Since then inhome day care subsidies have been eliminated and the shortage of day care centres is as acute as ever. A great step backward for our children, ...Eliminate sexism in advertising. I don't even want to talk about this ...Eliminate the courts 'double standard' regarding rape. Ex-Justice Minister Otto Lang introduced amendments to the Criminal Code last July that included changes in the legislation that deals with rape. It is the feeling of the Rape Crisis Centres in Canada that the proposed changes do not go far enough in eliminating the sexisr. stigma that is placed on women who have been assaulted. They have presented a brief to the Justice Minister recommending further changes and women should also write to the Minister. There is an article on rape in the August issue of KINESIS. ...Hasten the implementation of all recommendations of the Royal Commission Report on the Status of Women in Canada we cried in a fit of seasonal optimism! The Report was completed in 1970. It contains 167 Recommendations. Of these,only about one-third have been acted on. The Federal Government says it has plans to put through several bills dealing with issues of importance to women before the end of the year (five weeks from now). We will be most pleased. These requests are not frivolous . They reflect very real needs. Their fulfilment is part of our basic rights as equal members of our society. Always women are asked to wait — because of inflation, because of unemployment, because it is winter, because it is summer. We must increase the pressure on government officials to deal with women's issues now! We are tired of waiting! - Jo Lazenby To prove that Pollyatma is alive & well & living at VSW we are agaxn this year mentioning some of the good things that happened in 197 5. And once again our heartfelt thanks to those who worked so hard to make them sible. SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE WOMEN WANT ANSWERS [ The following information and suggested j questions on women's issues, has been I prepared by the Vancouver Status of jWomen for its members and other concern- j ed citizens. It is hoped this will prove I helpful in the election campaign in | raising the consciousness of both candidates and constituents about the status of women in British Columbia. We believe it vital that the needs reflected in this outline be brought to wide attention. It is suggested that the information ' and questions here might effectively be used not only in candidates' meet- | ings, but also for radio talk shows and in visiting candidates' headquarters. Other questions may occur to you. ASK THEM! Take note of the answers to all questions. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Despite equal pay laws, the gap between men's and women's salaries is increasing yearly. Things are not getting better for working women, they are getting worse. Women are still being channelled into lowpaying job ghettos. They can't have equal pay until they get equal work. Affirmative action legislation is required to promote equality between men and women in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, superannuation, training and re-training. Such laws were passed in America in the mid-60's with success. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF REQUIRING EMPLOYERS WHO RECEIVE GOVERNMENT MONEY TO DEVELOP AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN TO IMPROVE THE STATUS OF WORKING WOMEN? WHAT WILL YOUR PARTY DO TO ENSURE THIS LEGISLATION IS ENACTED? MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY The Family and Children's Law Commission has recommended the enactment of legislation recognizing society's concept of marriage as a full and equal partnership of both sexes. This recommendation for equal rights and responsibilities of both spouses in the marriage is embodied in the concept of full and immediate community of marital property. The Commission's report was tabled in the legislature in March this year, and women's groups throughout the province consider it vital to improving the status of married women in B0C0 WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL OPINION OF COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY PROPOSALS? WHAT IS YOUR PARTY'S POSITION ON THIS MATTER AND WHEN DO YOU FORESEE ITS TRANSLATION INTO LAW? HUMAN RIGHTS The provincial Human Rights Branch is an important vechile for improving the status of women. It handles an enormous number of cases from around the entire province. However, without sufficient money and staff it cannot do its job properly. Penalties in the Human Rights Code of B.C. are not high enough to deter discrimination. Also, the Code is being interpreted in a conservative manner, so much so that a case must be in black and white for a complainant to win\" WHAT COMMITTMENT IN STAFFING AND FUNDS WOULD YOUR PARTY MAKE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS BRANCH? WOULD YOU INCREASE THE POWERS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS BOARDS OF ENQUIRY TO NOT ONLY ORDER HIGHER PENALTIES BUT TO REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO ENACT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLANS TO ENSURE FUTURE DISCRIMINATION DOES NOT OCCUR? WOULD YOU AMEND THE CODE TO READ\"EQUAL PAY FOR WORK OF EQUAL VALUE'.'? DAY CARE Some 43% of B.C.'s labour force are women, working out of financial necessity. They cannot have equal opportunity at work until they are relieved of child care responsibilities. Very few child care services are available to them and those that are, are expensive o Excellent day care(educational not just custodial) at a reasonable cost is a vital necessity to any society committed to equality of opportunity both for children and women. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON DAY CARE AND WHAT IS ITS LEVEL OF PRIORITY ON YOUR PARTY'S PLATFORM? WOMEN'S CENTRE FUNDING There are some 200 status of women groups in B.C. performing valuable social and ombudservices to women (rape crisis centres, health collectives, daycare, birth control info, human rights.counselling,etc. see the ''Guide to the B.C. Women's Movement\"). The majority of them rely entirely on volunteer labour. In comparison to grants awarded to other social and community agencies, women's groups receive a pittance. Are women always to work for free? Provincial Status of Women Coordinator Gene Errington has tried during IWY to get the provincial government to commit a decent budget to women's programs, with consistent guidelines and a central place for grant applications —so far without success. If IWY is to have a continuing impact such groups must be allotted a greater portion of the taxpayer's money. WHERE DOES THE FUNDING OF WOMEN'S GROUPS AND PROJECTS COME ON YOUR LIST OF PRIORITIES? HOW MUCH FINANCIAL SUPPORT DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD GET COMPARED TO OTHER EQUIVALENT AGENCIES? WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR THE CORE FUNDING OF WOMEN'S GROUPS (SALARIES PLUS OPERATIONAL EXPENSES)? SHOULD THIS BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ONE OR ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT? IF THE LATTER, HOW WOULD YOU IMPLEMENT THIS? SEXISM IN EDUCATION Over the past 3 years, the B.C. Teachers' Federation, Vancouver Status of Women and the Provincial Department of Education have done many studies proving sex discrimination exists at all levels of the B.C. Education system. It is a myth that women receive equal education. Although shop and home- economics courses are now open to both sexes, content of these courses are not the same for each sex. Boys are taught more expensive gourmet cooking and girls' learn 'powder-puff mechanics. Sexist textbooks are still in use. There is no in-service training for new teachers to eradicate their own sexist attitudes. No new non-sexist educational materials like the proposed women's studies courses have been implemented. No affirmative action plan exists to promote female teachers into administrative positions. No improvement has been made in sexist career counselling for students which channels girls into traditional low- paying occupationso More funds are committed to boys' athletics and other programs than are committed to those for girls. WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION? WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE WOMEN 'S STUDIES COURSE? WHERE DOES NON-SEXIST EDUCATION STAND ON YOUR PARTY'S LOST OF PRIORITIES? BREAST CANCER SCREENING A full year has passed since provincial cabinet was presented with a proposal for a mass breast cancer screening program. Since that time B.C. women's groups have been asking the government to implement this program because 1 out of 15 B0C. women will get breast cancer, the highest rate in Canada. The mass screening program would make tests for breast cancer available to women throughout B.C. without a doctor's prior referral, just as T.B. x-rays are conducted today. The pilot program would begin in small centres in B.C. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THIS PROPOSAL IN THE PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, OR CAN YOU DO, TO ASSIST IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION? WHAT IS YOUR PARTY'S POLICY ON PREVENTATIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN? WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT DOES YOUR PARTY COMMIT TO SUCH PROGRAMS? MATERNITY PROTECTION The present Maternity Protection Act says that a woman cannot be dismissed for absence from work because of pregnancy for any part, or the whole, of a 6-week period prior to the expected birth. But there is no guarantee that she cannot be dismissed for pregnancy prior to this 6-weeks period. After the birth her employer, under the present Act, cannot allow her to return to her work for at least 6 weeks, or a period recommended through a doctor'.1 certificate, whichever is the longer. However an employer is required to guarantee employment security for a total of only 16 weeks of leave, including the optional period prior to birth and the mandatory 6-weeks period after. It is apparent that the Act does not adequately provide for situations in which a woman is declared by her doctor to be fit and able to resume work (and earnings) in a relatively short period after the birth or, because of complications or circumstances, is unable to return within the 16-weeks limit for which an employer is required to guarantee leave. Surely consideration — reasonable and flexible — should be extended by law in both case; Moreover, the present Act does not guarantee that a woman who has taken pregnancy leave will be returned to the same or a similar job at no less rate of pay than she was getting before. Nor does the Act guarantee that Maternity Leave will be regarded as continuous employment for pension and other fringe benefits. It is a Maternity Protection Act which obviously lacks necessary protection. POINT THIS OUT TO CANDIDATES. ASK IF THEIR PARTIES SUPPORT REFORMS UNDER WHICH SUCH PROTECTION WOULD BE PROVIDED. AN ELECTION IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OUT ON ISSUES THAT CONCERN YOU — TO DEMAND ANSWERS. O CANADA Singing is a good way to learn a new language. I teach English to a class of adult immigrants and they like to .Jing. This was greatf until they asked me to teach them \"0 Canada\". So far, I have put them off by saying the words are too difficult, etc. etc. But the truth is, I'm heartily ashamed of the words. The tune written by Lavallee is a stirring one. Unlike the American anthem, it has a medium range that everyone can manage. In the U.S., at a football game or some such august gathering, they have to call on an opera star to sing \"The Star Spangled Banner\" while thousands of Americans stand like statues and listen. In Canada, we can all handle the tune - but the words make one cringe. Lets take it line by line. \"0 Canada, our home and native land\" - as at least one third of our population was not born here, \"native\" is inappropriate, but this could easily be change to \"cherished,\" a lovely word. However, I really see red at the second line: - \"True patriot love in all thy sons command\". First, one cannot command \"love\", like\"respect\" it has to be earned. Second, \"Sons\" - what about daughters? Having consulted history books, this can easily be explained. Indians and Eskimos apparently have always had normal family units, but not so the pioneers. Aside from a handful of nuns and Laura Secord, there were no other women in Canada tor two or three hundred years prior to the First World War. A wonderful male species, the first explorers and homesteaders! They did all that hard work, and apparently gave birth too, although not much mention is made of these offspring either. However the fact remains that we are a nation of 23 million, so this must have been the way it happened. I shouldn't leave you with the misapprehension that women aren't mentioned by Dr. Weir. In verse 3 (which no one sings) there is the \"May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise\" Ugh! Such \"violets by a mossy stone\" are typEs Canada doesn't need — they can go elsewhere to swoon and expire! The anthem goes on and says \"We stand on guard for thee\" — not once does it say it but seven times if one includes the chorus! Well, all the women of Canada and most of the men are too darn busy to stand around with a rifle over their shoulders looking like so many little tin soldiers! The complete song runs to four verses — altogether we're doing this guard duty about twenty-five times. It really leaves very little opportunity for business, farming, caring for a home etc. The only solution I have to my current dilemma is to teach my class the second verse which is tolerable:- \"0 Canada, where pines and maples grow, Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow, How dear to us thy broad domain, From East to Western sea, Thou land of hope for all who toil, Thou true North strong and free.\" But if we're going to \"toil\", and most of us do, we're still left with that chorus of \"standing on guard\" three times over. It's darn hard to nurse the sick, get logs out of bush, be an efficient businessperson or fly a plane and pack that darn rifle at the same time. Help! Help! Margaret Atwood, Margaret Laurence or even Pierre Burton- couldn't you come up with something better? \"Patricia M. Russell poem INTERNMENT Inside the doors are women, watching T.V., trying to read or listen to the radio pretending they are relaxing or being entertained when really, they would like to be Dutside Downtown. - where all the lights are bright etc. where are bars, dim, people, talk, conversation to watch characters, reallife images of their city, nation, through their eyes, Man can do that Woman get hustled. ces, gestures. /7oman alone Can you do it? Can you make it? down the street, daytime, verbal abuse nighttime, more physical gestures, obscene gropes - well, you ask for it. I have been to a movie alone, twice. Both times, a man came and sat behind me. Then, just barely, I would feel him touch my hair - so imperceptible, I was never sure. It jould stop as soon as I moved my head, then begin again, softly stroking. I never saw the end of those movies. (Joman inside ingrown, like a barnacle attached to the other side of the welcome mat enclosed, lying beneath the surface, the toughened veneer, the bars. \\re we man's conscience, staying at home, keeper of the fire or are we secretly amassing a wealth of madness? ._ J. Annis Freeman ?\"rs •••••■ •■ ■ Women. wanted: CLOUT! In the area of human rights, we have all felt fairly satisfied with the B.C. code. The code existed and in the area of employment, tenancy, public services, purchase of property, we felt somewhat protected against discrimination on the basis of our sex, marital status, etc. If one files a complaint under the Human Rights code, and a satisfactory agreement can not be reached between the complainant and the person who is allegedly discriminating, (respondant) a board of inquiry of three people is set up, and all sides of the case is heard, and the board makes the decision whether or not discrimination has occured. Two disappointing decisions have been made in the past couple months. In giving the respondant the widest possible latitude, the boards have made very reactionary decisions. One realizes that if a human rights case is to be found in favour of the complainant, the case must be air tight.. Discrimination particularly sex discrimination is subtle - one doesn't have to be too sophisticated to do it, and get away with it if the recent intrepretations of the code are any indication. The case of Wayne Kesterton and The Spinning Wheel restaurant in Gastown is one ot the cases. Kesterton alleged that he was dismissed on the basis of his sex - the proprieter wished an \"all female\" look. He even went as far as to express this in a letter of recommendation he gave Kesterton. At the board of inquiry the respondant admitted to having lied. He dismissed Kesterton for other reasons involving his work as a waiter. The \"all female\" look was merely an excuse to avoid confrontation. The respondant never mentioned these other reasons (complaints from customers, and fellow employees) to Hanne Jensen, the Human Rights Office investigating the case, and they didn't come out until the inquiry took place. In addition the respondant offered to recommend Kesterton for his brother's restaurant. One questions the credibility of such a witness, who admits that he didn't tell the truth initially, and whose actions are hardly consist- ant with his story. And what about the weight of evidence that states, on paper \"because of the style of our restaurant, I decided to employ female waitresses only\". The decision of the Board was that discrimination on the basis of sex did not occur! The other disappointing decision regarded an equal pay for equal work case. Here the issue was whether in the jobs of stock records clerks and order fillers were substant ially the same. The differential was $130, and it so happened that men occupied the higher paying position. Women occupied the. lower. The women's job, that of stock records clerk was considered an office job, though minimal amount of time was actually spent in the office. Basically, the board concluded that the jobs were different, though not vastly. A measure of responsibility perhaps, therefore the complaint was unjustified. The concept of 'substantial' was the issue to be interpreted. Obviously, the job has to be exactly the same, before a case is found in favour of a complainant. It is the legislation which has to be more substantial. It must not leave so much open to interpretation! We have to remember that the code is only as strong as the intrepretations which are made of it. If they are narrow and reactionary, the code is of no use in protecting us. Certainly we don't want to discourage anyone from laying a complaint, but we lack the confidence that the complaint will be upheld by the board, based on the experiences so far. Obviously the code must be tightened up, or it will hold no clout at all. - Miriam Gropper - quote D.E.R. \"You can't change attitudes by public relations campaigns; you have to change and enforce laws, and let people get used to the painful but necessary laws enforcing equal rights, just like they got used to income tax.\" —Judith Adams, head of Toronto's Mayor's Task Force on Women. NEWS soRwuc opposes Wage controls Service, Office and Retail Workers Union of Canada, the first women's union in B.C., opposes government wage controls as discriminatory against women.\"Percentage increases always mean the lowest paid workers (women) get the smallest raises,\" says Pat Barter, Local i, 'SORWUC. The union says unorganized women workers have been falling behind further and the amount allowed by the government is not adequate for them to catch up. -WCWN quote \"The world has suffered from too much masculinity and not enough humanity ....and men and women alike are to blame for tolerating it.\" —Nellie McClung, In Times Like These THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE WOMEN' S CENTRE In the Downtown Eastside community, there is an abundance of problems confronting local residents. There are problems of poverty, lack of decent housing, alcoholism, and lack of available recreation facilities, to name only a few. (The combined effect of these problems is to create an environment which is generally not conducive to a healthy mental and physical existence.) In an area where the overwhelming majority of the population are men, (the 1971 census showed 78.7% men an 21.3% women) the existing facilities are geared towards dealing with men and their problems. The Downtown East- side Women's Centre has been open since July, 1975, in a storefront at 243 Main - a central position. The Centre is providing an alternative to usual social gathering places (ie. beer parlours and single sleeping rooms) as well as a varied program of activities and entertainment. Moreover, it provides a location and acts as a catalyst which will enable women to meet and discuss problems which they share and ways of solving these problems. Finally, it provides a place for women where they feel they belong and can be a part of. Speaking to the women of this area is a real education in the ways that women have traditionally been disadvantaged in society . From their conversations it is possible to gain an insight into the special problems facing the women of the Downtown Eastside. 6 IfC/iLTff women's health conference The B.C. Federation of Medical Women sponsored a Health Conference for Women on October 18th. which I attended with about 100 other women at the Queen Elizabeth Playhouse. This conference was the third held this year by B.C. F.M.W., thanks to funding from Provincial Status of Women Co-ordinator, Gene Errington. The major'plus' of this conference was, for me, also an unexpected one. For it is unusual to find a group _of doctors actually taking time out to sit and \"talk shop\" with a group of interested health care consumers. That we were all women, talking about our own bodies, was an added bonus, and it was a delight to see the good sharing and dialogue going down. It was reassuring as well, to hear medical people dealing openly and honestly with their differences on medical matters. This may not seem like a big thing, except that doctors have not often been willing to disclose to the public the questions, doubts and dissension within their ranks. Be this as it may, though, the organizers' primary aim was to provide. information to us, and the conference was successful in this way as well. We covered topics ranging from Vaginitis and Abortion, to Nutrition, Breasts, and Psychiatry in panels and workshops. Questions were taken from the floor in written form in order to get to as many as possible - and there were lots! I don't doubt we all learned at least a little, and I'd like to share some of the more interesting points with you: - did you know that the onset of menstruation is more related to body mass (weight) -about 1001b.-than it is to age? This is what one doctor told us. - it remains up to either you or your doctor to consider V.D. a possibility and suggest testing-remember, either one of you. So why are you waiting for your doctor to bring it up? - when combatting vaginitis and /or taking antibiotics, try yogourt tablets (available over the counter in drugstores) in the vagina, instead of messing around with the real thing. - and finally, re douching and feminine hygiene products-who ever said we were supposed to smell like a rose? The B.C. Federation of Medical Women plans to hold two more of these conferences during the next six months in smaller B.C. centres. If you live in one of these towns, be sure to attend. We can only hope that doctors, and especially women doctors, will continue this effort to make themselves more available for dialogue ■ and exchange. — Janet Beebe fc 'emimzing rower Pc SUE FINDLAY ON THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT Speaking at the Vancouver Public Library November 13, Susan Findlay, Director of Women's Programs for the federal Secretary of State Department, summed.up her outlook on how to change the status of women. Describing women's groups as the \"backbone of social change\" Ms. Findlay emphasized that only through their collective strength could women's groups.reform the system both internally and externally. Ms. Findlay noted that changing the status of women is \"radical\" both personally and politically. She said that women's groups must go beyond the consciousness-raising stage and get involved in politics and the civil service and .plan other strategies for change. In order to do this,she explained, women's groups must develop an understanding not only, of women's issues but also of the limitations of government and bureaucracy, where and how change takes place within it. Sue Findlay urges more 'women's advocates' to get into each government department to focus on women's issues and to act as liaison between women's groups and the bureaucracy. Advising that women have a perspective on the social structure which men don't, she urged women to sensitize bureuacrats on women 's issues. This has been called 'feminizing power.' Speaking from her own experience as an activist and a feminist in the government she warned that such advocates are often harassed and 'punished', but the benefits of taking such a stance must be weighed with the disadvantages. Ms. Findlay stressed the need for women to enter the civil service and government at all levels and while there to work collectively with- within the system to make it flexible and responsive to women's social needs, needs. However she admits the system presents continuous and \"horrific\" obstructions to this goal. Finally she commented that the Secretary of State's budget for Women's Programs grants is.reduced for 1976, from the IWY level of 2.5 million to approximately the 1974 level of $200,000 for all of Canada. This allows a B.C. budget of some $25,000. However, she said she hoped there would be more. - Karen Richardson pregnancy On June 20 1974, my son was born 12 weeks prematurely. As he weighed only 1 lb. 4 oz. at birth he wasn't released from Vancouver General Hospital until August 15, when he weighed 5Jslb; Yet in late October UIC claimed I had become disentitled to pregnancy benefits as of July 22,1974. (This was exactly 6 weeks after the child's birth.) This meant I had to pay back 9 of the 15 weeks benefits that I had received because my child was not . born 'normally.' I attempted to fight back by contacting Community lawyers, appealing the decision of the officer, and writing numerous letters. I was trying to understand my situation, as at the time it was not clear, and I was trying to find a solution. Eventually, after my second appeal failed, alone and frustrated, I became dormant with exhaustion. Now that my son is healthy, I have regenerated new energy to spend investigating the existing laws. I want to find out why I and other women have had to go through similar traumas because of inadequate laws. But most of all, I want to do my best to change these laws to prevent further unnecessary injustices. This is my plea to any women or any organization that can widen my knowledge of 'abnormal' pregnancies and how these cases are handled by UIC to contact me. Any suggestions leading to people awareness and changes in the existing law, or support of any kind will be very welcome. Please contact: Rebecca Georges, 2726 Alder St. #303, Vancouver, B.C. Phone: 733-5908. UBC IGNORES CAMPUS RAPE UBC Vice-President Eric Vogt said in October he will take no action on a petition signed by 80 female students demanding that the campus be made safe for women at night. Six sexual assaults have taken place there since the fall classes began. UBC women have been lobbying for some action in this regard for several years. Vogt said the university could probably find money to install improved lighting if the problem became 'serious.' RAPE RELIEF CENTRES SUBMIT BRIEF Recommendations for amendments to current rape laws, developed at the first national conference of Canadian Rape Crisis Centres, held in June this year, have been submitted to the Federal Justice Committee this fall. For more details contact Victoria Rape Relief, 406 Simcoe Street, Victoria or call 385-4059. -WCWN WOMEN'S CONFERENCES We plead and beg for conferences, and work our asses off when we finally have one. But we gain shockingly little in relation to the amount of energy we invest in them. In the planning stages they look, wonderful. Resource people to share all their information on abortion, rape, counselling, organizing, public speaking...etc. Promises of exchanges cf our written material, briefs, proposals, bibliographies, research, manuals. Workshops on internal structures, group dynamics, volunteerism. A time to bridge all those barriers of physical isolation, and build lasting contacts with one another. Somehow, it doesn't quite succeed. We came away exhausted, overwhelmed - and disappointed. We heard about a lot of issues - but only enough to be reminded of how much is left to be dene, and with no greater wealth of information that could help us ACT. We did exchange seme material - but little; the groups that have the most to give, didn't know what would be wanted, and couldn't bring their whole library. We heard a lot about collectivism, funding, volunteerism - but only more about pitfalls; we had no time to share our solutions. We met a lot cf women - but very few well enough to remember who is with which group, doing what. We get over some of the barriers of- physical isolation - only to discover many other (greater) barriers between us: lesbian vs. straight, old groups vs. new, urban vs. rural, ideologically left vs. apolitical. - and we had nc time to deal with those at all! So, what's the problem? It's not organization. I have been to poorly - organized, and well - organized conferences, and my frustrations have been the same (the only difference with well - organized conferences is that I'm left with the added frustration, of not knowing exactly why its so frustrating, for it \"looks\" so good). Conference failure is due to a lack cf REALIZABLE and COMMON objectives. Our objectives are too many, they are often ill-defined, they are. too varied, they are not common to all attending (rather, they are the collection of the various different objectives of those attending); and they are too often totally unrealistic, given time restrictions. For fear of alienating one group, or another, or being prejudicial to one topic, over another, or one format over another, we attempt to account and plan some theory for all needs. By having one hundred objectives, we end up paying only lip- service to each, and alienating each other in the process one hundred times more than had we been narrow in focus. 1. We must limit cur objectives to a reasonable quantity, for a conference. It is ridiculous, for example, to hold 25 different workshops in 3 days. We can't attend more than a fraction of them, yet they're all of importance. There is no continuity from one workshop to another,and there is no time to delve into any topic sufficiently to get beyond generalities, and an 'outline' of the issue. Workshops on different topics should not be held simultaneously. Each person is put in the strange position of not knowing whether to go workshop A - about which topic you don't know anything, and have much to learn, or to workshop B - about which you know a lot, are involved in already -and could give a lot of information to others. So we find workshops on, ie. funding problems where none of the people who have been successful at funding are there, only those who are still struggling - or we, find where workshops on ie. abortion - and everyone there already has all the info - those who want to know, are at the funding workshop! 2.We must ensure that our specific objectives are realistic: Too often we \"title\" a workshop - and go no further in stating its objective. The topic \"Rape Relief\" warrants a book, or a 6 week training course - two hours is impossible. It _is possible, however, to cover one small area like \"what are the legal issues around rape\", or \"what are the procedures a rape victim goes through with police.\" o_r \"how did Rape Relief begin to organize\". It is useless to set ourselves so huge a task, that we can have no hope of completing it. 3. Any workshop must have a previous agreement as to the objectives. We arrive at a workshop, with no previous indication of what to expect. The resource person must deal with anything that comes under the general topic - so can't prepare solidly for any area and does not know what resource material to bring. Others don't know any better - and cannct beforehand prepare their knowledge, and their questions either. Half an hour into a workshop some people discover they don't belong in this workshop - and leave. Others discover, the next day, that they should have been there, after hearing what was discussed. Through it all, hardly a soul walks out with any understandable notes. Thats virtually impossible when the talks goes in ten different directions at once. 4. Workshops must be structured according to the kind of objective. Dissemination of straight information is teaching. Those workshops are for a lecture format with abundant written material as backup, and responses to questions; not discussion or debate. Workshops on dynamics, and ideologies, on the other hand, are no place for lectures; these are for exchanges of opinions and values, and experiences. When we don't make the distinction we get workshops where we\"discuss\" pelvic self- exam, and workshops where we get a \"lecture\" on power! 5. Workshops must speak to the context of the topic, as much as to the topic itselfo Information on \"how to organize (something)\" must be geared to a specific situation to be useful. Very different tactics are required for a rural group than for an urban, (or old/ new, funded/not-funded, small/large, one issue/multi-issue group). When we attempt to deal with all our contrasting needs at once, we only can resort to generalities that are of no use to anyone - like \"to organize successfully one must \"develop strong community support?' (...The question remains: how?) Group structures is likewise an area where the context has everything to do with it. The structure chosen, and the problems encountered depend on the community, the. people available, the funding, the tasks of the centre, and the political.or service, or educational orientation of the group. 6. Conferences, if they are to cut across ideological and lifestyle differences between us, must bring these to open discussion and debate. Keeping the political/apolitical and lesbian/straight issues somewhat underground only creates more tensions, and strengthens the barriers that we feel are not to be crossed. Moreover, our lifestyles and over-all ideologies have often very direct connections to our stands on all sorts of other specific issues and our choices of strategies. Workshop directions have as much to do with our various philosophical orientations, as they do with the issue, the context, and the format. We must begin to evaluate conferences more critically and find better ways of handling them than we have in the past. I have attempted to give one analysis. However, I hope to hear other views - for ultimately this can only be a collective task. \"Johanna den Hertog NEWS \"Poor Kids\", the March 1975 report by the National Council of Welfare on Children in Poverty in Canada states that: among children in two- parent families across Canada, 21.2% were in poverty; among those in male- headed single-parent families, 33.7% were in poverty; among those in fe-j male-headed single-parent families, an incredible 69.1% were in poverty. /^eenPPc°fntinent of / \"omen?'3\"6\" to the Branch. EC°n°mic Rights , 8 MAIL STRIKE Well, we kept hoping the strike would be \"over\" soon and delayed beginning the onerous task of hand-delivering KINESIS until mid month. As a result most of our membership activities, except for those long-standing groups have slowed down considerably. When the mail strike is over we will begin advertising group activity again. WOMAN ALIVE There will be a Woman Alive meeting on Thursday, Dec. 4 to discuss plans for the January T.V. season. We have had a terrific series of shows this fall—hope you have been watching! Topics included \"Women and the Police\", \"Downtown Eastside Women's Centre\", \"Women's Studies\", \"Women's Advocate Cttee\", interviews with the staff of the IWY van, and several out- o studio productions including interviews with a woman harpist, women sculptors at the SculptureSymposium, and two shows covering the \"Our Hidden Heritage\" display at the Provincial Museum. If anyone is interested in helping with ideas, interviews, porta-pack shows or whatever, please come to the WOMAN ALIVE TV meeting, Thurs, Dec 4 at 8 pm in the office. IWY PROJECT Diana and Nadine are wrapping up the community centre IWY project and are involved in plans to extend the project theme through other contacts made this fall. We are busy letting social workers, public health workers and other community resource areas know of our availability to do lecture/discussion series with any of their clients— things are popping! VERBAL SELF-DEFENSE SOMETH1 GOING C NGONAT It's finally ready! Our VERBAL SELF DEFENSE pamphlet has been written, re-written and polished and now sits on our publications shelf. It is 9 pages long, has Diana Bissell a 2 page introduction and 7 pages of responses to put-downs—sells for 50 cents. Topics covered include women and work, intelligence, stereotyping and the movement. Buy yours soon. STAFF STUFF An important area of action for the office in the last few weeks has been the provincial election. We want to hear what all the parties have to say about \"women's issues\" and after lengthy discussion decided to print and distribute a resource/ question sheet on women's issues to all women's groups possible, and all constituency offices in the lower mainland area. JOHANNA DEN HERTOG has been co-ordinating this project, and she has whipped the feminist pony express in high gear, delivering the sheet to all candidates, assigning staff members to attend all-candidates meetings and generally making a lot of lists! All staff also attended the weekend long BC FEDERATION of WOMEN conference Oct 31 and member SUSAN SANDERSON and staffer DIANA BISSELL were elected to positions on the Standing Cttee. LEE MASTERS attended the Family Life conference in Victoria, addressed a class at Templeton High School, a women's group in North Van and the Sergeant's Mess at Jericho LEE also wins the \"Punish me--I'm a Feminist Martyr\" award of the month for agreeing to appear on BCTV with the woman who wrote \"Fascinating Womanhood\"! Lee also received her Law Degree from UBC. MIRIAM GROPPER represented VSW at the Justice Meet weekend at the PNE and also spoke to the New Westminster Dental Assistants Assoc?and 2 high school guidance classes. As well as co-ordinating the election action at the office JOHANNA spoke to a class at Douglas College on the women's movement. NADINE led a workshop for teachers at Centennial Secondary School on non-sexist teaching techniques, spoke to two mother's groups on the women's movement and is sitting on the Margaret Randall Tour Steering Cttee. DIANA spoke to a Beta Sigma Psi group on the VSW, a Cap College class on the Royal Commission Report and to the Maple Ridge Status of Women on verbal self-defense. Thanks also to members PAT RUSSELL who assisted with the putting together and distribution of the election sheet, PAT BUCKLEY who did a VSW speaking engagement on Woman and Religion and LESLIE DIXON who spoke to a sorority group on sex roles. Executive member DOROTHY HOLME attended the Liberal policy making meeting in Cttawa along with JOAN WALLACE. Dorothy also organized and chaired the Oct. 31 meeting all staff and executive had with MARC LALONDE. Executive member NANCY DEN0FRE0 was the VSW contact for CIDA's \"Women Sharing\" workshop at the YWCA. Bh with a little help from our friends.... We would like to express our gratitude for all the volunteer help we have received over the last few weeks. It has brought us new friends and lightened our work load. Kitty came to a Volunteer Night meeting and has taken charge of the 0mbud& library — bibliography, coordinating it with our other library, putting out a list that will be available to other groups, and getting the information we need to complete our resources. This is a huge task and anyone who would like to help Kitty should contact her here at the office. Trudy Wijnbeck has given a great deal of her time to helping out in the office — answering telephones, etc. She also represented VSW at the Vancouver Pioneer Women's IWY Day where she personned(?) a display booth of information on VSW. And she even baked Lee a birthday cake — which was delicious! Joan Chandler once again typed a large part of Kinesis to get it ready for the lay-out sheets, and also typed the entire BCFW Constitution. And for dedication above and beyond the call of duty — Johanna's mother Ann den Hertog, and brother Vincent delivered the November issue of Kinesis to, all members in Richmond, as well as to all libraries and centres in that area. They have offered to do the same for the December issue! frown f£a8^ ^ Ro ,that * vomardPedC^Paign S / her Principlededlcated c° f an effect' I\" I can have ' u Rosemary. 9 mmm MAINTENANCE IN. THE NEW CONCEPT OF MARRIAGE (Speech by Ed Ryan, Consultant, Law Reform Commission of Canada, to the Ontario Status of Women Council, September,1975, edited for reasons of space.) In my opinion the root cause of sexual discrimination is the law of the family. Marriage is the. primary relationship between the sexes, the primary source and justification for sexually- biased discrimination. Our economy and power structure are organized around the family and marriage. Family law reform is the keystone of the arch of human equality. A woman is expected to get her share of the country's goods and services from a man as his dependent. Marriage is a real economic goal in a society where things are organized to make it difficult for women to otherwise provide for themselves. So long as the law continues to support the idea that women are to be supported for life and men as a class must support them, then women will be excluded by sex from the social/political/economic technostructure. The reason is fairly obvious. A male required by law to share the fruits of his labour with a dependent wife, carries a handicap and will resist sharing the limited opportunities for advancement with women. \"Why should she get the job when I'm the one responsible for the support of the family?\" I believe is a real characteristic of most hiring and promotion practices, and exists independent of pure sexual prejudice. The expectations and requirements flowing from the traditional legal concept of marriage encourage a differentiation in life roles based on sex. It is my firm conviction that nc amount of consciousness-raising and affirmative action plans have any chance of success until some fundamental legal changes occur in the marriage law. So long as sexual classification is institutionalized in the letter and spirit of family law, we will have institutionalized sexual discrimination across the spectrum o# the entire society. The wife retains her unilateral right to support so long as she behaves herself. If she commits adultery, she is cut off from financial provision. This is an incredibly harsh penalty in a law that is based on the assumption that a woman is unable to support herself. Since sexual exclusiveness is the basis of the bargain, lapses from fidelity can cost a woman her dower rights, the right to contest her husband's will etc. The property of a wife who commits adultery can be taken from her and given to her children, but not the property of an aldulter- ous husband. There are then, several interwoven themes: an economy that excludes women from full participation and which enables men to use economic power to attract women; marriage rules reinforcing sexual roles that give women access to wealth at the price of their autonomy; matrimonial fault rules providing economic penalties to control female behaviour, according to male concepts of honour. I suggest the present family law is a product of the mid-Victorian era. Legal rules embodying these Voctorian concepts and needs have been projected onto the present day by a legal philosophy dominating the courts since the 1850's. Statue books show the relationship between men and women: '.n the legal structure of marriage is still an amalgam of feudal status concepts expanded by the medieval matrimonial fault doctrine brought up to the Victorian times. The object of reform of marriage and divorce laws is to remove every specific example of sexual discrimination in the law. This is a direct attack on marriage as the financial preserve for women while the job market belongs to men. This could be done by repealing the female dependency rule; repealing every rule that disqualifies women financially because of marital misconduct; abolishing all common law precedents inconsistent with the new concept of legal equality between spouses. Legal right to financial claim on a spouse should be based on need. The law must abandon the male breadwinner/ female housekeeper idea in favour of the view that these are equal responsibilities for both spouses. An employed spouse would be legally obliged to support a spouse who cared for the children and managed the home, not because the latter happened to be female but because there was a need. This would strike at the heart of the male insistence in priority in education and the job market. A woman seeking employment would have the full support of the law in saying her family financial responsibilities were precisely the same as those of a male candidate for the same job. Several things follow from this. First, on divorce, maintenance would be rehabiliative and not a pension. This is aimed at eliminating the idea that all a woman has to do is ensure she marries, after which she will be taken care of for life. Maintenance amounts would be set on reasonable needs and not on the style in which the spouse was accustomed to being kept. This again is aimed at eradicating the concept of marriage as an alternative to seeking training and employment. If maintenance is to be based on need then it can no longer be exchanged for female sexual exclusiveness. Matrimonial fault would no longer be a consideration in maintenance awards on divorce. I cannot overemphasize the need to eliminate fault and conduct in divorce procedures. The weight of legal precedent on fault is anti-female and punitive. Instead of asking who is the adulterous spouse, the courts should ask which spouse, if either, has an economic need arising out of this broken marriage and how long it will take for them to become self-sufficient. This is precisely the approach to the new Divorce Act by the Law Reform Commission of Canada. (Ed. note: the marriage laws vary slightly from province to province.) dhe avid articler MADEMOISELLE, November/75 has a series of three articles on women and humou«r: \"Funny Ladies in the Movies., and why they are an endangered species\" by Andrew Sarris, \"Can a Women Get a Laugh and A Man Too?\" by Anne Beatts, and \"Lily Tomlin on Lily Tomlin\". A little late now, but try to get ahold of the September/75 issue of MS» and read Robin Morgan's beautiful statement of her committment to the Women's Movement, \"Rights of Passage.\" leaflet FAMILY PROPERTY, HIS OR HERS? This leaflet, prepared by the Law Reform Commission of Canada, discusses possible alternatives to the Canadian family property laws and the status of women. It is available free from Shelia Ward, Communications Coordim- ator, Resource Centre, YWCA of Canada 571 Jarvis Street, Toronto, - WCWN 10 // The second Annual Convention of the British Columbia, Federation of Women was held at Capilano College in North Vancouver the weekend of October 31st. Approximately 80 women from various areas of the province met to pass a new constitution, elect a Standing Committee, and adopt policy for the Federation. The new constitution, which received unanimous approval, was the result of 14 months of work by the Structure Committee. It defines the structure and goals of the Federation and gives the new Standing Committee guidelines on how to organize around issues. The Preamble to the BCFW Constitution, reproduced here, expresses the philosophy that the Federation is based on. The British Columbia Federation of Women is a Federation of women's groups x^hose objective is to bring about the liberation of women through fundamental change in our society. The Federation will work to implement legal, social, economic and cultural changes necessary for the eradication of sexism. In order for women of this province to acquire power to bring about meaningful change women must organize to maximize the collective strength of the women's movement. Only through the strength of united action can the British Columbia Federation of Women achieve more than individuals and individual groups. The Federation will not usurp or duplicat the work of any existing women's groups. It will not substitute its work for theirs. It will actively encourage the development of new feminist groups and it will support feminists everywhere in British Columbia. It will provide a mechanism for communication, education and mobilization to overcome the physical and cultural isolation faced by all our sisters in this society. The Federation recognizes fhe oppression of women is manifested throughout this society and consequently it is essential that a variety of women's groups exist to fight this oppression. Such groups must continue to form, and to develop a wide range of methods to combat those aspects of women's oppression important to them. The Federation however, considers that even with the diversity of the women's movement there are a vast number of goals and methods upon which women will agree. The Federation will isolate common goals, focus upon them, and provide a framework for united political action. No woman is free until all women arc free. The intent of the Federation therefore is not only to mobolize women around specific issues, but also to provide a network of full support for women's diverse struggles. The British Columbia Federation of Women recognizes that the oppressed must fight for themselves. Traditionally, women in particular have been encouraged to remain mute and impotent and now must acquire experience, confidence and political skills. Therefore all Federation functions including conventions, conferences and meetings shall be directed towards and open to women. The British Columbia Federation of Women will not completely resolve the problems created by the diversity of goals, the conflict of political ideologies, or the financial poverty of the women's movement. It will endeavour to end the isolation of women caused by the geographical barriers of this province. The Federation will create a new, strong and vitally necessary form of political expression for women. The following press release was issued at the conclusion of the Convention: The British Columbia Federation of Women completed a successful convention in North Vancouver on Sunday November 2nd. A new constitution was ratified, stating that the objectives of the Federation are to bring about the liberation of women through fundamental change in our society. The Federation will work to implement legal, social, economic and cultural changes necessary for the eradication of sexism. As well as strengthening existing policy in the areas of education, child care, employment and health, decisive policy regarding lesbian rights was unanamiously adopted by the convention. The women attending the convention gave the Federation a clear mandate to initiate public and political action in order to achieve the liberation of women. THE CHART BELOW IS A ROUGH ATTEMPT TO ILLUSTRATE THE INTER-LOCKING STRUCTURE OF THE BCFW. MEMBERSHIP Two categories of membership — affiliate & associate. Affiliated organizations shall include women's organizations in B.C. Associated organizations shall include organizations whose constitution does not permit them to affiliate, & sympathetic organizations. Associate organizations shall not participate in any aspect of the Federation. The BCFW is a federation^of women's groups. If you are an individual who is interested in participating you should contact the BCFW Coordinator who will direct you to the appropriate regional representative for information on affiliated BCFW member groups in your area or help in forming a group. REGIONS OF THE BCFW The BCFW has divided B.C. into 12 regions to ensure participation of women all over the province. These regions are?l. Far Northwest Corner 2. Vancouver&Lower Mainaland 3. Terrace/ Prince Rupert&area 4. Prince GeorgeS area 5. Dawson Creek&area 6c Northern Vancouver Island 7. Quesnel&area 8.Sunshine Coast 9. Okanagan 10. Kootenays 11. Southern Vancouver Island 12. Fraser Valley. *\" I DELEGATE STRUCTURE All affiliated member groups may send delegates to the annual convention. Delegate ratio is based on membership numbers: 2-25 members receive 2 delegates, 51-100 members receive 3 delegates, 151-200 receive 4 delegates,etc. yl CONVENTIONS The Annual Convention is the governing body of the BCFW and whenever possible will be held outside. Vancouver. Only registered delegates shall have voice & vote. The Convention will: receive reports from standing committee, subcommittees, regional representatives; receive financial statement from standing cttee; debate resolutions; elect standing cttee; ratify new sub-cttees. CONFERENCES Regional conferences will be encouraged. Sub-committees will be encouraged to hold provincial or regional issue oriented conferences. SUB-COMMITTEES These are the main action areas of the BCFW & are organized around province wide issues. Sub-committees are ratified at the annual convention and only members of the BCFW are eligible for membership in sub-committees. 'Each sub-committee has a chairperson who, serves on the Standing Committee. As of Oct./75 the BCFW has ratified subcommittees on Childcare, and Rights of Lesbian Women, and has provisional s/cttees on Rights of Women in Prison, and Education. T. t S STANDING COMMITTEE The Standing Committee is elected at Convention & is the governing body of the Federation between Conventions. The Standing Committee is composed of: a coordinator, a secretary-treasurer, a membership organizer, a rural organ-, izer, an external communications coordinator, an internal communications organizer, an action organizer, a fund raising organizer, 12 regional reps, 3 members-at-large, & the chairwomen of the sub-committees. The Standing Committee will meet a minimum of every second month & whenever possible outside Vancouver. REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Each region has one representative on the Standing Committee, elected by the delegates from that region. The duties of the Regional Rep are to:make & maintain contact with women's groups in her region; to work with a committee of representatives from member groups in her region; to coordinate activities of member groups participating in BCFW action; to act as a resource person in her region for all BCFW information; & to be responsible for the distribution of the newsletter in her region. At the Convention Regional Reps were elected for 5 regions, leaving regions 1,3,4,5,7,9 & 10 unrepresented. MESSAGE FROM COORDINATOR After the Convention was over on Sunday, Nov. 2nd, the new Standing Committee had a short meeting at which we established our first priority — to communicate as quickly and effectively as possible with all individual and group members of BCFW (as well as all women's groups in B.C.) in order to bring them up to date with the recent \"constitutional changes in the Federation. The new constitution and policy replaced completely all policy and structure passed at the founding convention — we are indeed beginning from scratch. In order to be a Federation we need member groups. BCFW believes it has something to offer, something to share — and that is the opportunity for all of us in the women's movement in BC to link arms anf move forward as a unit. I feel as if we have finally oiled the parts and greased the wheels of the hugh machine created at the founding convention and we can now move forward in a substantial manner. We need everyone's participation to be effective. If any people have further questions about any aspect of the BCFW please call me and we'll talk about it. I'm at the Vancouver Status of Women office Monday - Friday, 2029 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver. 736-3746. In Sisterhood Diana Bissell STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE BCFW Coordinator Diana Bissell Secretary Treasurer Bonnie Leiphart Fund Raising Organizer Mo Simpson External Communications Organizer Susan Sanderson Internal Communications Organizer (Ne (Newsletter) Margaret McKay Membership Coordinator Lorna Stirling Rural Organizer Kathryn Hazel Action Organizer Gail Borst Member-at-Large Kate Swann Member-at-Large Jay Stewart Member-at-Large Susan Belford Regional Representative, Region 2 Vancouver Yvette Perreault Regional Representative, Region 6 ■ Northern Vancouver Island Betty Jeffries Regional Repregentative, Region 8 ■ Sunshine Coast Lorene Danroth Regional Representative, Region 11 - Southern Vancouver Island Ruth Phillips Regional Representative, Region 12 - Fraser Valley Nym Hughes Chairperson, Rights of Lesbian Women Sub-committee Contact BCFW Coordinator for information. Chairperson, Childcare Sub-committee Ellen Frank 12 In the November issue of KINESIS Susan Levin described her reactions to the Jewish women's movement that she encountered in New York City where she spent several weeks on her way to Israel where she will be living. Although Susan is from the Eastern USA, she had lived in Israel before coming to Vancouver. Susan promised to let us know what was happening in the women's movement in Israel and how she felt about returning. The secular issues in Israel are so ironic you could cry. The Iraeli women of up to say 30 years ago were a model of equality. The most commonly cited example is that they often fought alongside the men (I consider this no great honour)\" They worked hard in the fields—true pioneer women. The socialist values of the kibbutz, purer then, permeated the values of the country. The beauty standard was of health and strength...whoever heard ojf cosmetics? Kibbutznic often wore the same clothes. The women are still in the army, mostly as secretaries or medical assistants, although they may elect more active duty. Women go through training, but it is a fact of Israeli life that their presence in the army only helps to free men for combat9 and well, although nobody says it out loud, isn't their presence on the base to keep the men happy? Kibbutz are under a great deal of stress, as the country becomes more materialistic, as the young leave, and women are playing a crucial role in the changing idealogy of the kibbutz. Seen through North American eyes this is not for the better. Slowly, as the kibbutzim grew, the men stayed in the fields,and the women settled into service, like food and laundry and child care. Of course women can work in the fields if they want, but few do, and what is even worse, few aspire to political power within the kibbutz\" This is really frustrating since the kibbutz is such an ideal format potentially for democracy and equalityo At this time, kibbutz women would rather leave the and give up a job of folding laundry six to eight hours a day to live in the city where at least they can have a variety of household tasksc They see their well-dressed city sisters and are tired of looking like shlumps. The issue of Reponse magazine referred to in the November issue of KINESIS made this point: in less than one generation Israeli women have lost— given up?— and incredible amount of personal freedom and equality. We must all understand, the writer warns, that the freedom for which we are all working must be understood in our hearts, in our guts—or the next generation will see it lost. I am not talking about political issues here, but rather the vibes. The image of the Israeli woman has changed from the healthy vibrant individual to the fashionably dressed, good cooking, good looking, heart-in-the-home mother of the '50s ala USA. (Yaoosh, I moan in the Hebrew for depression). borne of the things that struck me here at first: The women are for the most part well-dressed (the shlumps are Americans and Europeans) 0 Every-r one is married and everyone who is married is pregnant! About the well-dressed: I found myself saying \"Well gee, they had so little for.so many years. Let them dress up a bit. Why should I feel inferior being a shlump?\" Why indeed? Well I find I'm working on remaining a shlump and liking myself at the same time. As for everyone being married: well, that hit hard. Israel, rooted as it is in Jewish tradition, is very family oriented. . .children oriented.. Complete strangers on the street may ask you why you're not married. It hit hard because in North America with millions of single people its easier to be single. Here with fewer single people, percentage wise, all of a sudden marriage do-sn't seem like a political, economic unit but rather a warm, secure niche safe from a lonely, all- alone, long life. Does this mean Susan with her budding feminist feelings is going under? No, its just scarier sometimes, if I let my imagination run wild. And just when I had overcome my tall- ness and thinness to the easiest point of unselfconsciousness in years, I come here and BAM — the very uninhibited little bastards, aged 16 to 20, that sit along the sidewalks in Jerusalem, call out mercilessly,\"Hey lady, you're so thin! Why don't you eat? Wow, is she ever tall! Would you get a load of that chest! etc. etc.\" I suffer it all in silence,furious, not wanting to stoop to their level, but angry at having to take that crap0 Finally I got so paranoid that I asked friends if they got the same business. Of course, was the answer. And it seems that such remarks are reserved by those sweeties for foreigners. I'd appreciate some advice. Somehow responding to such crap seems like stooping to a rotten level, but... Verbal self-defense committee HELP! And everyone's having babies. Is this a country especially overflowing with love for its unborn? No. Doesn't this country realize that there are too many people in the world already? No. Do they want to keep the population up because of the large numbers of Arabs within Israeli borders? Well yes, frankly that's it. A minority of Jews holding political power in Israel would mean an apartheid state, would be ethical death to Judaism. A very thorny problem here. Do they want more children because the country needs more soldiers? Yes, I've heard that said. Pretty twisted isn't it? I believe in the power of women to say,\"Children must be born of love, not politics.\" I believe in the power of women to say,\"My child must live in peace. I demand to create a peaceful world for him/her.\" I believe in the power of women to say,\"My child must not learn war anymore. S/he was not born to kill, not born to be murdered in battle.\" I believe in the power of women to say,\"We want live husbands, lovers, fathers, not dead heroes.\" I believe in the power of millions of women to make peace. That is why I got in touch with the secular women's movement in Israel. - Susan Levin child cane Speaking at the October conference of the Child Care Federation in Vancouver, provincial Human Resources Minister Norm Levi said there will be no expansion of day care services in B.C. this fiscal year, but priorities would be revamped. He noted there are 77 children's vacancies in day care centres presently because of restrictive subsidy regulations and parents are withdrawing children from centres when they are unemployed. Levi claims there are too many staff for the number of children served in some centres. Currently 43 qualified day care workers are looking for employment in B.C. The Minister said he is in favour of them unionizing but this would necessitate cutbacks in other areas of spending. The budget for day care in this province has increased from $107 to $14 million in the last three years he said. Day care will cost some $30 million this year. Unionization of day care workers and increases in salaries could cost an additional $8 million. The Department of Human Resources is considering raising the subsidy for child care costs(paid by the government to parents on a sliding scale according to their income) from $120 to $140 per- month, but this has been postponed until spring 1976. Levi anticipates a forum in which the public can propose amendments to current day care regulations. -WCWN fe&^ta i® IStoli® a: mmm, %©
Date of publication: 1974-2001.

Frequency: Monthly."@en ; edm:hasType "Periodicals"@en, "Newspapers"@en ; dcterms:identifier "HQ1101.V24 N49"@en, "HQ1101_V24_N49_1975_12"@en ; edm:isShownAt "10.14288/1.0045491"@en ; dcterms:language "English"@en ; edm:provider "Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library"@en ; dcterms:publisher "Vancouver : Vancouver Status of Women"@en ; dcterms:rights "Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from the Digitization Centre: digitization.centre@ubc.ca"@en ; dcterms:source "Original Format: University of British Columbia. Library. Rare Books and Special Collections. HQ1101.V24 N49"@en ; dcterms:subject "Women--Social and moral questions"@en, "Feminism--Periodicals"@en ; dcterms:title "Kinesis"@en ; dcterms:type "Text"@en .