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Conference turris::womannotes-v1

Title:	ARCHIVE-- Topics of Interest to Women, Volume 1 --ARCHIVE
Notice:	V1 is closed. TURRIS::WOMANNOTES-V5 is open.
Moderator:	REGENT::BROOMHEAD

Created:	Thu Jan 30 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 30 1995
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	873
Total number of notes:	22329

35.0. "Time for action" by BARTOK::MEEHAN () Fri Jun 20 1986 15:15

I would like to start a discussion of how people can get officially
involved in the "women's movement" (read people's movement).  My motivation
for doing this is to find out more information about organizations that do
things concerned with issues of primary importance to women, such as the
groups talked about in the note on reproductive rights.  

I have been a grass-roots type feminist for many years, fighting inequality
and injustice where I find it and trying to inspire other women to do the
same.  I now feel that it is time for me to devote my energy in an
organized effort to not only keep the gains that have been made (eg freedom
of choice) but also to advance the cause of women, and hence all people.

So, what kinds of groups exist and what help do they need from us?

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
35.1	NOW and Survivor-Helping Groups	VAXUUM::DYER	Banish Bigotry	`Mon Jun 23 1986 01:03`	9
	Well, there's always NOW (National Organization of Women, of course). The National NOW is embarking on a national cam- paign for the ERA (though there is debate amongst members about the usefulness and timeliness of doing this). Local NOWs do whatever their members are into. Rape Crisis Centers and Battered Women's Centers are help- ing victims of our sexist society, and some have programs for the prevention of crimes of violence against women. <_Jym_>
35.2	Women's organizations	GWEN::MCCAFFREY		`Tue Jun 24 1986 08:09`	17
	A good source of information is well-stocked bookstores. There you will find periodicals published by organizations concerned with women's issues. Often they contain listings of local groups involved in various causes. A local publication which comes to mind is "Sojourner". In the Boston area, a wonderful bookstore is New Words in Cambridge. They carry a large selection of local and national material and they have a bulletin board with notices of local goings on. I'm sure there are others; New Words is the only bookstore with which I am familiar. Cheers, Colleen
35.3	Planned Parenthood - good organization.	ESPN::NEWFIELD		`Thu Jul 03 1986 13:49`	5
	One other organization that you might be interested in contacting is Planned Parenthood. [either local or national] They are trying to do many good things.
35.4	"changes"	DAMSEL::GROUT		`Tue Aug 26 1986 16:08`	17
	Hi, One of the best ways to create change is by raising the consciousness of others. I find myself involved a great deal with the folk community in the Cambridge area and throughout the country. "Music reaches a lot of people and a good "socially conscious song" can really motivate. If you like the music world you could work at the "nameless coffeehouse in Cambridge and better yet you could become involved in The "International Women's Day" production in March. A good performer to listen to would be "Holly Near" to give you an idea of the issues presented and "quite well I might add" in song. It's an exciting avenue to pursue and it is effective. "the Weavers were blacklisted in the 50's just because of their music" Good musical communication and consciousness raising does make a difference. have fun have a great day.
35.5	How Many Does It Reach?	VAXUUM::DYER	Define `Quality'	`Sat Aug 30 1986 12:24`	4
	I don't know how well music reaches the "unconverted." It's certainly a great inspiration for the rest of us, though (and should be enthusiastically endorsed for just that reason). <_Jym_>