========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 Jan 1992 08:08:42 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: W Schipper Subject: Union Institute PhD in Women's Studies Status: R Hi, this is Barbara from Newfoundland. I need your advice. I'm what's politely known as an independent scholar, however, I'm hoping to change that by becoming respectable with a Ph.D. I'm 33 with an M.A., a number of publications, one of which includes a book from Yale U.P. and a 2 year old child. Sound familiar? I want to hear from anybody who has taken part in The Union Institute's Doctoral Program in Women's Studies--faculty and students. The Union Institute's program sounds great and I'm curious to know how seriously its Ph.D. is received. Thanks. Barbara Rose schipper@morgan.ucs.mun.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1992 13:55:53 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Marie Farr Subject: RU-486 The latest Feminist Majority newsletter notes that the FM Foundation has released a new series of reports on RU-486, based on "extensive scientific data and two years of fact-finding discussion with scientists". "RU-486 and Abortion" and"RU 486 and Women in Developing Nations" "document the advantages of RU 486 as a method of early pregnancy termination. The other four reports in the series point to growing scientific evidence that RU 486 is a possible treatment for some types of breast cancer, Cushing's Syndrome, meningioma, and endometriosis." Someone earlier had asked about RU 486, so I thought I'd pass this along. --Marie Farr, East Carolina U Greenville, NC (wsfarr@ecuvm1) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1992 15:17:25 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Stephanie Riger Subject: gilligan, chodorow, etc. I was glad to find this discussion on the network, since I think it is an issue that needs airing in women's studies. I think there are 2 questions here; the first is about the lack of empirical support for psychodynamic theories, which many people have already addressed, and the second is why psychodynamic theories have been so widely accepted by those in women's studies outside of psychology. I think the answer lies (at least partly) in epistemology. Psychologists who have responded to this don't like Gilligan, Chodorow, etc. in part because their methods are not rigorous (i.e., in accordance with traditional scientific standards). But those in the humanities do not share those concerns, and so are less critical of the theories.Also, as Arnie himself has written, theories that locate causality in personality traits fit with American beliefs in individualism, and so are compatible with the larger culture. (Of course, feminists are supposed to be critical of that culture, but it is often hard to see how much it permeates our own thoughts). Also, work by social psychologists is often inaccessible to those who don't read psychology journals, and therefore is less well known. (My own recommendation for those looking for an alternative to Chodorow, etc., is Deaux and Major's theoretical model "Putting gender into context: An interactive model of gender-related behavior. Psychological Review, 1987, 94, 369-389; also to be found in Deborah Rhode's edited volume on Theoretical Perspectives on Sexual Difference, Yale Univ. Press.) I think the Gilligan, Chodorow issue reflects a deeper split in Women's Studies between humanists and social scientists, or at least between empiricists and post-structuralists. Do all those who recommended Hare-Mustin and marachek's (fine and provocative) book agree with their postmodern approach ? ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1992 18:04:00 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "ELIZABETH HERR 'HERR_B@CUBLDR.Colorado.EDU'" Subject: Re: Gender bias in faculty evaluation Denise, the WOmen's Resource Center at the university of Utah has put together a list and bibliography on Student evaluation of teaching and the effects STUDENT'S gender stereotypes. You might want to get in touch with them. The address that I have is below, though it is several years old. Women's Resource Center, 293 Union, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112 Good Luck, and keep us posted on anything else you find out. I too would be highly interested in more sources. Thank you in advance, and good luck, ELizabeth Herr (Herr_B@cubldr.colorado.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1992 20:41:29 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: VILLERS@OUACCVMB.BITNET Subject: the "abortion pill" Thank you for the information on the RU- pill. I'd like to hear more from Europeans on this list about its usesandacceptance among the general population. I haven't followed the issue closely but is its marketing in the US on the political ballot or are were defending clinics only? The abortion pill is ominously silent these days. Anne Villers ( villers@ouaccvmb.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1992 08:46:42 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Louise Fitzgerald Subject: Re: gilligan, chodorow, etc. In-Reply-To: <199201022137.AA10248@s.psych.uiuc.edu>; from "Stephanie Riger" at Jan 2, 92 3:17 pm This is my first effort on WMST, so will be interested to see if it gets through.....I came in on this discussion a bit late, so this may be redundant.....I agree with Stephanie about the split between the social sciences and humanities being reflected in this issue....but I think another piece of it has to do with the current romance between some WS folks and essentialist theories per se, a romance that is nature of the cultural climate more generally......There are political issues here that are very disturbing, as I too am drawn to explore, value and celebrate what (if anything) is uniquely female, but getting very nervous about theories that reify current cultural arrangements.... Louise Fitzgerald lfitzger@s.psych.uiuc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1992 10:11:00 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "ELIZABETH HERR 'HERR_B@CUBLDR.Colorado.EDU'" Subject: gender and faculty evaluations Denise, I tried to send this yesterday, but had it returned. I don't know whether it was returned from the complete list, or only several users, but I am sending it through again in any case. Hope it is useful. Elizabeth Herr **************** Denise, the Women's Resource Center at the university of Utah has put together a list and bibliography on Student evaluation of teaching and the effects STUDENT'S gender stereotypes. You might want to get in touch with them. The address that I have is below, though it is several years old. Women's Resource Center, 293 Union, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112 Good Luck, and keep us posted on anything else you find out. I too would be highly interested in more sources. Thank you in advance, and good luck, ELizabeth Herr (Herr_B@cubldr.colorado.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1992 13:11:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: Gender, differences, etc. On and off we've been discussing Gilligan and other psychodynamically oriented approaches to gender differences which have great appeal in some quarters despite disconfirming evidence of their validity, versus empirical data which suggests few gender differences which can be accounted for by social structure, versus postmodern views that suggest whether there are differences or not are unknowable. Louise Fitzgerald recently suggested the appeal of psychodynamic approach is that it gives women something to celebrate as unique, but at a high cost. (Welcome to the list Louise!) I just received a copy of Psychological Perspectives on Human Diversity in America, the 1991 APA Master Lecture Series edited by Jacque Goodchilds. Carol Tavris has a chapter, "The Mismeasure of Woman: Paradoxes and Perspectives in the Study of Gender." I highly recommend it. In short, she argues that "the persistent belief that men and women differ in important qualities in spite of the failings of research to settle on what these qualities are, is the result of the continual use of the male as the norm and of the specific behaviors, skills, and qualities that are studies." (quote from the back cover) She draws heavily on Crawford/Hare-Mustin/Marecek deconstructing and reconstructing gender and cites a whole lot of us (Russo, Unger, Shields, Kite, Kahn) psychologists on WMST-L. Arnie Kahn fac_askahn@jmuvax (bitnet) fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu (internet) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1992 13:03:58 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: nancy felipe russo Subject: Re: gilligan, chodorow, etc. In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 2 Jan 1992 15:17:25 CST from In conceptualizing the issues and splits among feminist perspectives, I find making the distinction between empiricist feminists and post- structuralist feminists forced. In fact, I would argue that some of the poststructuralist stuff sounds like stuff that empiricist feminists take for granted--what is an operational definition but a constructed reality? Our forte is working with constructed realities--the key problem is that some people forget they are working with constructs. Most of the postmodern writing I've been exposed to looks like old wine in very fancy effete bottles to me. Of course language/discourse is important and shapes thought and meaning (I learned that as an undergraduate 25 years ago and considered it a good idea then as well as now). Some of contemporary labels (like "social construction") are quite useful, not because they represent new ideas but express them succinctly. Unfortunately, naming the concept doesn't complete the task. We still have to understand the processes of of social contruction. Empirical tools help in doing that. Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Director, Women's Studies ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1801 (602)965-2358 FAX:(602)965-2357 BITNET: ATNFR@ASUACAD ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1992 17:12:56 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: nancy felipe russo Subject: Re: Gender, differences, etc. In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 3 Jan 1992 13:11:00 EST from I think there is a critical typo in Kahn's message--I'm pretty sure he meant to say that there are few gender differences that CANNOT be accounted for by social structure.... Also, although I haven't seen the master lecture series by Carol Tavris, she's got a book coming out called the "Mismeasure of woman" that will make a lot of the work in social psychology very accessible. It hasn't got a lot new in it, but she summarizes and expresses the points in a punchy, neat way that students and nonsocial scientists will appreciate. I recommend the book! Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Director, Women's Studies ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1801 (602)965-2358 FAX:(602)965-2357 BITNET: ATNFR@ASUACAD ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1992 19:39:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: thank you Nancy > I think there is a critical typo in Kahn's message--I'm pretty sure he > meant to say that there are few gender differences that CANNOT be > accounted for by social structure.... Someday I'll learn to proofread. Thanks for the correction, Nancy. Arnie Kahn fac_askahn@jmuvax (bitnet) fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu (internet) ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1992 00:49:26 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: Re: gilligan, chodorow, etc. I find the labels of post structuralist feminist and empiricist feminist do not fit me. Yet, I find my rhetoric fits both at different times and sometimes fits neither. Can you suggest alternative labels or are these considered as oppositional? Sandra Basgall SBASGALL@VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1992 14:02:56 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "ext. 2008" Subject: Job announcement I am posting this to WMST-L on behalf of our Faculty of Management. Please contact the persons identified for more information. Thanks, Leona ******************* THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT Applications are invited for full-time, tenure-track positions in the areas of Finance, Management Information Systems, Marketing and Aboriginal Management to begin July 1, 1992. The Faculty of Management at the University of Lethbridge is a dynamic and expanding undergraduate Management program with a total of 48 academic staff graduating approximately 250 students each year. To apply, send letter of application, curriculum vitae, and 3 letters of reference to: Dr. George Lermer, Dean Faculty of Management The University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4 Phone: (403) 329-2633 Fax: (403) 329-2038 For more information, contact Bev Francis (Dean's secretary) via email at: Francis@hg.uleth.ca An Equal Opportunity Employer A Ph.D. or near-completion of a Ph.D. is required for the tenure track positions. ************************************************************************** Leona Jacobs, Systems Librarian Internet: lib_jacobs@hg.uleth.ca University of Lethbridge, Library Voice: (403) 329-2008 4401 University Drive Fax: (403) 329-2022 Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1992 17:47:14 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Melba Cuddy-Keane Subject: humanists, psychologists As a member of a Humanities Division, I feel a bit in danger of becoming the "Other" as I read what psychologists think humanists think. It's hard to jump into an on-going discussion (the gilligan, chodorow one) but I think some humanists on the network should try to say something so that we are talked "to" rather than "about." Many of us teach in interdisciplinary courses or do interdisciplinary work and yet crossing the borders so that disciplines really talk to each other isn't easy, is it? There are many points of view even for feminists working in the humanities, but theories about gender difference are of interest in at least three ways: 1. to help us understand the past, and our inherited cultural traditions (e.g. why women, whose lives have largely been different from men's lives, may have thought differently, written differently, have had different perceptions of time, structure, beauty--all things important for art etc., etc.) In a cultural contect, an interest in a separate women's tradition does NOT assume that all women, now and in the future, will by nature adhere to that tradition. 2. much of our experience of the world is the experience of our bodies; we tend to write about that experience. But if the dominant linguistic tradition has expressed the male body, but writing about the female body has been suppressed (modesty, chastity, etc.), what then? Now some feminists working in this area do seem to get close to something that sounds like biological determinism, but perhaps there is a fine line between saying that all women experience their bodies in the same way and saying that there are ways women have written and write about their bodies that have not been recognized or understood. 3. some feminists distinguish between the "truthful" and the "politically necessary" ; they might reject "women" as an essentialist classification but decide that it is a viable term that you have to use in trying to eradicate the discriminatory structures that society has built around the term. Perhaps my comments are too condensed or simplistic to be useful here, but I want to suggest that the results of psychological and humanist research may not be incompatible (nor is one discpline more "rigorous" about evidence than the other); perhaps, however, we may be trying to get at slightly different things. Will knowing how college girls score on a test help me to understand Virginia Woolf? Will knowing Virginia Woolf help explain the college girls' score? I don't know, but I do think it's worthwhile to try to talk across these borders. Melba Cuddy-Keane Dept. of Enlish/Division of Humanities University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus mcuddy@epas.utoronto.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 09:10:08 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Louise Fitzgerald Subject: Re: humanists, psychologists In-Reply-To: <199201052251.AA10164@s.psych.uiuc.edu>; from "Melba Cuddy-Keane" at Jan 5, 92 5:47 pm I strongly agree with Melba about the importance of trying to talk "across the borders".....I, too, often feel like The Other with my humanities colleagues; it's a touchy issue. In the spirit of talking across those borders, I would point out an idea in her note that is one of the things that makes me very nervous about these types of theories.....the statement that "all women experience their bodies in the same ways"....I don't think we have any reason to believe that is so, and many reasons to believe that it isn't - I'm not even certain that the phrase "experience their bodies" would carry the same meaning to every woman, in fact I suspect it wouldn't. Yet, the very FACT of femaleness is often taken as grounds for assume a sameness in the face of diversity, and that assumption can be very disenfranchising for women who "experience" themselves as different from the prevailing theoretical fashion - I know that I have found it to be so. I have done, and continue to do, some interdisciplinary work (very nervously!) and it has suggested to me that the criteria for 'truth' vary enormously and importantly between the social sciences and the humanities, and even within them - but multiple truths are different from the notion of discarding truth entirely for political necessity. I'm all for political necessity - in fact, it is the reigning political realities that make me very nervous about essentialist theories! And, as a psychologist steeped in the long tradition of individual differences, I become more nervous still. I'm not certain this is all making sense the way I want it to, but its a discussion I have been longing to have with folks other than my feminist/scientist colleagues who all agree with me, which makes it boring and not illuminating (if comfortable!) Louise Fitzgerald lfitzger@s.psych.uiuc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 11:01:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: NAME 'Judith Hudson' Subject: Terminology for indexing articles on rape I am involved in a project to index periodical articles which my local rape crisis center wishes to have available for their staff. Does anyone on WMST-L know of a list of terms which would be appropriate for such a project. Before I begin to invent such a list, I want to be sure that it hasn't already been done. Please contact me through email at JH492@albnyvms or by phone: (518) 442-3633 or by FAX: (518) 442-3567 or be snail mail: Judith Hudson Cataloging Department The University at Albany 1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12222 Thank you! Judy Hudson ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 13:57:22 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: AMG14@PHOENIX.CAMBRIDGE.AC.UK Subject: set wmst-l mail set wmst-l mail ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 12:08:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: Nine calls for papers I have received the following nine calls for papers on these topics: 1) 19th Century Feminist Strateties for Non-Violence 2) Women's Positions in Contemporary Writing 3) History of Sexuality 4) Tillie Olsen 5) Simone De Beauvoir and Women Writers 6) Gender Studies Symposium 7) Women's Caucus for Art 8) Women and Linguistic Creativity 9) Gender Equity in Math, Science, & Technology For more information, please contact the people named in the announcements, not WMST-L or me. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ******************************************************************* 1) The Swarthmore College Peace Collection in conjunction with Swarthmore College and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College will be sponsoring an academic conference in March of 1993 to celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Lucretia Mott. To celebrate this event we have decided to convene a one day conference on the work of Mott and other women in the nineteenth century peace movement. The conference title is "Nineteenth Century Feminist Strategies for Non-Violence." Please post this letter in your department and in any publications as a call for papers for the conference. We are interested in receiving proposals from faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates. Three copies of a one page paper proposal should be sent to: Dr. Wendy E. Chmielewski Curator Swarthmore College Peace Collection 500 College Avenue Swarthmore, PA 19081-1399 The deadline for submission of proposals is February 15, 1992. ******************************************************************** 2) The Mid-American Review requests essays for a forum on WOMEN'S POSITIONS IN CONTEMPORARY WRITING. Possible topics include feminist poetics, ecofeminism, and the remythologizing of women's identities. Articles should follow the MLA style sheet and include a self- addressed, stamped envelope and fifty-word biographical note. Send submissions by February 15, 1992 to Gloria Still, Nonfiction Editor, Mid-American Review, 106 Hanna Hall, Department of English, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403 (419) 372-2725. ******************************************************************** 3) The University of Chicago Press announces a call for manuscripts for its new book series on sexuality, history, and society. Edited by John C. Fout, Bard College, the multidisciplinary series will address all aspects of the history of sexuality and will investigate issues such as the regulation of sexuality, socially constructed sexual mores, sexual politics, and cross-cultural sexual behavior. For more information or to submit manuscripts, contact John C. Fout, Department of History, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 (914) 758-7543 ******************************************************************** 4) Call for Papers: TILLIE OLSEN This first collection to explore Olsen's life and art will be representative of American critical and cultural diversity, and a testimony of her efforts to bring marginalized and mainstream together. ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED: influences of ethnic, religious, immigrant heritage on art and activism; strategies and roles of literary radicals of the 1930s, 1960s, 1980s; vision, voice, and values within an American context; narrative contours in prose, poem, reportage; a tradition of silence and subversion. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES: aesthetic, historical, religious, psychoanalytical, feminist, linguistic, cultural, pedagogical, political, biographical, literary. DIRECT PAPERS TO: Kay Hoyle Nelson, 5529 University Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637 (312) 947-0983 or Nancy Huse, English Department, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201 (309) 794-7384 DEADLINE FOR PAPER SUBMISSION: MAY 15, 1992 ****************************************************************** 5) Call for Papers: SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR AND WOMEN WRITERS THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES. January 22-24, 1993, Palo Alto, California. A conference sponsored by the Simone de Beauvoir Society. Papers of a maximum of twelve typewritten pages, double spaced, should be submitted by MAY 15, 1992 to: Yolanda Astarita Patterson, 440 La Mesa Drive, Menlo Park, California 94028 *********************************************************************** 6) Faculty, students, and community organizations are invited to submit proposals for participation in the 11th Annual Lewis & Clark Gender Studies Symposium, April 12-15, 1992. Featured speakers for this year's symposium will include Katha Pollitt, poet and contributing editor for THE NATION; Michael Kaufman, political scientist and researcher on men and masculinity from York University, Toronto; and Gloria Anzaldua, writer and Professor of Chicana and Women's Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Other featured speakers, including visiting Fulbright scholars, will be announced prior to the conference. You are encouraged to submit proposals for individual papers, group panels, workshops, artistic productions, and media presentations that address historical and/or contemporary gender issues. Proposals from all disciplines, interdisciplinary studies, and community groups are welcome. Groups or individuals should submit only one proposal. Individual papers will be limited to 15 minutes and scheduled for presentation on pantels that emphasize similar themes. Proposals for full panels, workshops, artistic productions, and media presentations will be scheduled for sessions of one to two hours. Proposals should include: a working title; designation of the type of presentation; a 3-4 page double-spaced abstract or a completed paper; if a group proposal, the full names of all presenters; your name, address, and phone number. All proposals should be sent to: Dr. Laurie Finke, Gender Studies Symposium Director, Campus Box 58, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon 97219. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS IS JANUARY 17, 1992. If you have any questions, please call: Laurie Finke, Gender Studies Symposium Director (503) 768-7416, or Elaine Maveety, Symposium Coordinator, (503) 768-7381. ********************************************************************** 7) "Beyond the Boundaries," WOMEN'S CAUCUS FOR ART NATIONAL CONFERENCE, February 2-4, 1993, Seattle, Washington. Call for proposals, papers, panels sessions, workshops, performances, slide presentations, readings. Personal experiences, theories, projects, new research exploring and crossing the borders and barriers imposed by the self or society. Across disciplinary, national, racial, ability, age, gender, and class boundaries. How do women in the arts interface with and permeate other human concerns? POSTMARK DEADLINE FOR IDEAS AND RESUMES: JANUARY 10, 1992. Grant may provide honoraria for all presenters plus subsidies for low income and women of color. For further info: send stamped, self-addressed envelope to Jo Hockenhull, Box 897, Pullman, WA 99163; (509) 334-4137. FAX: (509) 335-4171. ****************************************************************** 8) The journal WOMEN AND LANGUAGE invites the submission of items for inclusion in a special issue on "Women and Linguistic Creativity" to be published in the spring of 1992, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the constructed women's language, Laadan. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, new lexical items, reactions to sexist language, reactions to uses of nonsexist language, naming practices, constructed languages, and teh role of women in language change. Items to be considered for inclusion include poetry, narratives, essays, letters, reports of research, criticism, book reviews or book notices on related topics. Submissions are due by May 15, 1992, to: M. Lynne Murphy, Guest Editor, Department of Linguistics, 4088 Foreign Languages Building, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801. For more information, call (217) 367-5210. ******************************************************************* 9) Call for Manuscripts: GENDER EQUITY IN MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY. For consideration for publication in a special issue of INITIATIVES, the Journal of the National Association for Women in Education. For more information and manuscript preparation guidelines, contact: Alice Miller, Director Brooklyn College Women's Center 227 New Ingersoll Brooklyn, NY 11210 (718) 780-5777 DEADLINE: JANUARY 15, 1992 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 13:02:51 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Melba Cuddy-Keane Subject: humanists, psychologists re border barriers: sometimes our problems are in ways of communicating. perhaps there is a subtlety in my prose which becomes obscurity for other disciplines when I wrote: > Now some feminists working in this area do seem to get close to > something that sounds like biological determinism, but perhaps there > is a fine line between saying that all women experience their bodies > in the same way and saying that there are ways women have written and > write about their bodies that have not been recognized or understood. I meant that we can analyse the way SOME women write about their bodies and still stay on the non-essentialist side of that fine line and avoid the implication that ALL women will write about their bodies in the same way. It is true that some feminists--particularly French feminists--have pursued the idea that creativity is sexually implicated and that there might be some essentialist link between artistic expression and the nature of orgasm. But many (most?) would NOT want to propose PREscriptive definitions of women's writing; they try instead to open more possibilities for DEScriptive approaches to women's writing. Students rarely have any doubt about WHEN a man is writing about sex, but they will ask, "Is she writing about what I think she's writing about?" And we don't have to be talking specifically about sex. So we try to reread women writers without the expectations we inherit from a critical tradition with a masculinist patriarchal bias. But you can see what I mean about treading a fine line. You try to say "These women have written in a different way" and you try NOT to say "All women will write in a different way." which is all to say: yes, Louise, I agree with you. Monolithic theories make me nervous too. Melba Cuddy-Keane Dept. of English/Division of Humanities University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus mcuddy@epas.utoronto.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 13:59:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: DDGREEN@OWUCOMCN.BITNET Subject: Re: Terminology for indexing articles on rape Try A Women's Thesaurus: an index of language used to describe and locate information by and about women, edited by Mary Ellen S. Capek, New York: Harper & Row, 1987. Good luck! Denise Green DDGREEN@OWUCOMCN.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 13:53:31 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Stephanie Riger Subject: psychologists, humanities This is in response to Nancy Russo This is in response to Nancy Russo 's comment that a distinction between empiricists and poststructuralists is forced. Nancy I like your point that empiricists would agree that an operational definition is a constructed reality. Yet I think that there are underlying differences in epistemology. Empiricists (I think) would argue that science attempts to mirror reality, and the traditional scientific criteria of validity, generalizability,e tc., determine how close research findings come to actual "truth ". In contrast, poststructuralists seem to reject notions of "truth"or "reali, ty," and claim that power enables some to define what is real. Also, I think there are differences in views of the subject. Poststructuralists seem to see individual subjectivity merely as a reflection of prevailing cultural discourses. I'm not sure that the psychologists who agree that gender is socially constructed would buy this. Enough epistemology. My comments about the split between social science and humanities came in part from my experiences last year while on sabbatical of visiting a number of women's studies programs. My strong impression was that programs were dominated either by social sciences or by the humanities, but that it was rare to find a program that truly integrated both. Have others found ways to cross these boundaries? If so I would welcome suggestions. Stephanie Riger, Director Women's Studies Program (M/C 360) University of Illinois at Chicago Box 4348 Chicago, Il. 60680 Bitnet: u29322@UICVM.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 16:17:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: Funding sources I have received word of the following three offers of funding and/or other aid for Women's Studies research. For more information, please contact the people named in the announcements, not WMST-L or me. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ******************************************************************* 1) The Hunter College Women's Studies Program invites applications for two $35,000 Humanist-in-Residence Fellowships on Gender and Feminism in Third World Contexts. The 1992-93 theme is "THIRD WORLD" WOMEN, "WESTERN" WOMEN: DIFFERENCES, COMMONALITIES, AND CROSSCURRENTS OF EXPERIENCE. Fellows will be in residence during the award period; participate in a monthly seminar; offer one public lecture on their research; speak to Women's Studies classes; and present a paper (for later publication in a book) in a final conference on THIRD WORLD PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER AND FEMINISM to be held at Hunter College in June 1993. Application deadline is January 15, 1992. For further information, contact Rosalind Petchesky, Women's Studies/Rockefeller Fellows Program, Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021. ***************************************************************** 2) The McGill Centre for Research and Teaching on Women invites applications from women's studies scholars for 1992-93 Visiting Scholar positions. The Centre offers office space, secretarial support, and participation in Centre activities; limited research funding is available. Send letter with c.v., copies of two recent short publications, and two references to Peta Tancred, Director, MCRTW, 3487 Peel, Montreal Qc, H3A 1W7 (Canada). Application deadline is February 14, 1992. **************************************************************** 3) The Henry A. Murray Research Center of Radcliffe College announces the availability of visiting scholar opportunities and grants of up to $5,000 for postdoctoral research drawing on the center's data resources (application deadline is April 15, 1992). Funds of up to $2,500 are available for dissertation research focusing either on gender issues in human development or personality, the development of sex or gender differences or some developmental issue of particular concern to girls or women (application deadline is April 1, 1992). For further information, contact the Henry A. Murray Research Center, Radcliffe College, 10 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 617/495-8140. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 17:06:00 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: nancy felipe russo Subject: Re: humanists, psychologists In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 6 Jan 1992 09:10:08 CST from For an excellent example of the diversity of experience in the female body, see Janet Hydes Psychology of Women text. In it, she has a story by a woman who experiences extremely painful menstrual cramps. Since most women do not have this kind of experience (i'm not talking about a few cramps, I'm talking about incapaciting pain), it is a useful tool for discussing the divesity of perspectives of women, for women who never have cramps don't identify with those who do and those who do can't understand what women who dont have cramps don't understand them etc. Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Director, Women's Studies ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1801 (602)965-2358 FAX:(602)965-2357 BITNET: ATNFR@ASUACAD ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1992 19:59:46 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from OfficeVision to RFC822 by PUMP V2.2X Comments: Resent-From: "Linda Lopez McAlister/Hypatia" From: "Linda Lopez McAlister/Hypatia" Subject: Announcing feminist philo. list LINDA LOPEZ McALISTER DLLAFAA@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU (Internet) Women's Studies Dept. DLLAFAA@CFRVM_(Bitnet) University of South Florida, Tampa 33620 (813)974-5531 #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# *** Forwarding note from DLLAFAA --CFRVM 11/29/91 15:33 *** Received: from CFRVM (DLLAFAA) by CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU (Mailer R2.07) with BSMTP id 7565; Fri, 29 Nov 91 15:33:39 GMT Comments: Converted from OfficeVision to RFC822 by PUMP V2.2X Date: Fri, 29 Nov 91 15:33:27 GMT From: "Linda Lopez McAlister/Hypatia" X-Prolog: Women's Studies Department HMS 413 X-Prolog: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 Subject: Announcing feminist philo. list To: Announcing the formation of a new e-mail list called the SWIP-L, an information and discussion list for members of the Society for Women in Philosophy and others who are interested in feminist philosophy. To subscribe to this list send the following one-line message to LISTSERV@CFRVM or LISTSERV@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU Subscribe SWIP-L To post messages to the list send them to SWIP-L@CFRVM or to SWIP-L@ CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU The idea of the list is to have a place to share information about SWIP meetings and other feminist philosophy meetings, calls for papers, jobs for feminist philosophers, as well as to engage in more substantive discussion of issues related to feminist philosophy. While it is open to people who are not SWIP members, this is a list meant for feminist philosophers; please don't subscribe unless that is a description you are comfortable applying to yourself. LINDA LOPEZ McALISTER DLLAFAA@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU (Internet) Women's Studies Dept. DLLAFAA@CFRVM_(Bitnet) University of South Florida, Tampa 33620 (813)974-5531 #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1992 11:26:50 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Jayati Lal" Subject: Graduate Students' National Women's Studies Conference Does anybody know where and when the next National Graduate Women's Studies Conference is? Last year it was at Univ. of Michigan (Ann Arbor), March 8-10. This year I seem to have missed the posting entirely and have received no notice of it at all. If anyone has *any* information on the conference, especially deadline and address for paper submissions, could you please post it on wmst-l or send e-mail to me personally? Thanks. Jayati Lal Bitnet: kx8j@cornella 323 Uris Hall Internet: kx8j@cornella.cit.cornell.edu Department of Sociology Phone: Office: (607) 255-4266 Cornell University Home: (607) 657-2607 Ithaca, N.Y. 14853-7601 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1992 14:11:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: IPW Subject: Re: Graduate Students' National Women's Studies Conference could available information on this conference please be sent to the list? jayali and i can't be the only ones interested ... trish %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% i.p. [trish] wilson department of anthropology mc master university hamilton, ontario, canada wilsont@sscvax.cis.mcmaster.ca %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1992 14:01:47 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Julien S. Murphy" Subject: anti-RU486 In-Reply-To: the "abortion pill" A new book critical of RU486 has appeared: RU 486: Misconceptions, Myths and Mo rals, by Janice Raymond, Renate Klein, and Lynette Dumble from Institute of Women and Technology Press in Cambridge. They are critical of Ru 486 for many reasons, some of which are:while most women can safely endure current abortion procedures, which, if properly done, result in very few complications or long term health risks, many women will not be able to take RU 486 without health risks (e.g. smokers, women with cardiovascular problems, etc.). Further, while there have been no studies showing long-term health risks for women undergoing current abortion procedures, there is insufficient data on the effects of the body's absorption of RU486 and its accompanying dose of prostaglandin. In fact, some research suggests health risks are possible, and some women have reported serious side-effects, including 1 or 2 deaths, from RU-486. Thirdly, RU 486 perpetuates the hormonal regulation of women's bodies, which some feminists have seen as aninsidious form of control over women. There are many other arguments given in the book. In sum, the authors suggest that RU 486 may not be the safe, easily accessible, and universal abortifacient that many of us would like to believe it might be. Julien Murphy (JMURPHY@MAINE) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1992 21:55:34 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: VILLERS@OUACCVMB.BITNET Subject: ru-486 Thank you J. Murphy for the information. I had read the article and felt at the time that it was rather biased and some of the data inaccurate. That article, if my memory serves me right, was published a while back. I would like to hear from european researchers or from people who are knowledgeable about this pill. From the information I have, the pill was not intended to induce abortions in all cases. Like birth control pills, it was going to require a degree of screening. Still, if as many as 50% of abortion can be done safely with a pill with limited or no side effects, why discourage its use? Abortions are expensive and a pill might help the lower income women who want an abortion and can't afford one. Feminists tend to discourage the use of hormonal therapies on the ground that they control women. I, personally don't see the logic. Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to write. Anne Villers (Villers@ouaccvmb7171) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1992 21:31:36 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: LL23000 Subject: Hormone therapy In-Reply-To: In reply to your message of TUE 07 JAN 1992 21:55:34 EST Can someone provide references on the manipulation of women via hormone therapy? I am curious if this refers to the use of estrogen in post- menapausal women, or all hormone therapies. I have been taking progeste rone ten days/mo. for about three years, prescribed by my female doctor. I don't feel manipulated at all, but I have done no reading on this at all. Karen Kay ll23%nemomus@academic.nemostate.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1992 12:07:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: WMST-L logfiles now weekly Beginning this month, WMST-L has changed its logfiles from monthly to weekly logs. The logfile for the first week in January 1992 is called WMST-L LOG9201A, the second week will be WMST-L LOG9201B, the third week WMST-L LOG9201C, etc. This should make it more convenient to send for logs if you'd like to see what you've missed while you've been away, if you've had a mail problem, or if you've just joined the list and would like to see some recent postings. I have updated the WMST-L User's Guide to reflect this change. Printed below is the revised section. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ************************************************************ 8) "I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TWO WEEKS. I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT I'VE MISSED ON WMST-L DURING THE TIME I'VE BEEN GONE. IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACCESS PREVIOUS MESSAGES?" [also useful for new subscribers] Yes. All WMST-L messages are automatically archived. The 1991 archives are arranged in monthly logs; beginning in Jan., 1992, the logs were changed to a weekly format. To find out what logs are available, you can send LISTSERV the following command: INDEX WMST-L . You'll then receive a list of the available logs. To obtain the logs, send LISTSERV the following command: GET WMST-L [filename] where [filename] is the name of the log file you want. For example: GET WMST-L LOG9105 will get you the May '91 log. LOG9106 is the June log, LOG9107 the July log, etc. (It's possible that the wording of your request may take a slightly different form, depending on your mail system, but what you want is WMST-L LOGxxxx.) Warning: some of these logs are LARGE. The June '91 log is almost 500K. (Fortunately, things calmed down in July, but even so the log is about 250K.) As a result, you may not be permitted to get more than one log per day. Because of the logs' unwieldy size, the format was changed to weekly beginning in 1992: WMST-L LOG9201A is the log for the first week in January '92, WMST-L LOG9201B is for the second week, etc. ******************* ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1992 13:21:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: Resources and calls for papers I have received the following three announcements concerning resources available to Women's Studies scholars (#1) and calls for papers (#s 2 & 3). Please contact the people named in the announcements, not WMST-L or me. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ************************************************************************* 1) The Five College Women's Studies Research Center, a new collaborative project of Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, welcomes applications for its visiting research associate positions for 1992-93. No stipends are available, but associates are provided with a spacious office at the Center (located on the Mount Holyoke College campus in South Hadley, MA), library privileges at the five institutions, and the collegiality of a diverse community of feminist scholars and activists. Associates are expected to be in residence during the period of their appointment, which can last from several months to a year. All applications for 1992-93 (or any part of that time) are due by February 1. For application materials or more information, please contact Gail A. Hornstein, Director, Dickinson House, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075; telephone: (413) 538-2156; e-mail: ghornste@mhc.mtholyoke.edu or ghornste@mhc.bitnet. *********************************************************************** 2) Call for Papers/Panels: 6th Annual WKU Women's Studies Conference. "WOMEN; VOICES, VISIONS, AND VEXATIONS," September 24-26, 1992, Western Kentucky University. Annette Kolodny will be the keynote speaker. The conference sponsor is the Potter College Women's Studies Committee of Western Kentucky University and the interdisciplinary conference's theme is "Women: Voices, Visions, and Vexations." Proposals for individual papers/panels and complete sessions are invited in all areas of Women's Studies. Abstracts for papers should be approximately 200 words, typed, and double-spaced. Paper presenters and individuals interested in serving as moderators and/or discussants should send vitae to the Program Committee. All materials should be received no later than March 6, 1992. The Program Committee will announce selections by May 15, 1992. Address all inquiries and abstracts to : Program Committee, WKU Women's Studies Conference, 200 Fine Arts Center, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101. Tel: (502) 745-6477 or 745-2344. Fax: (502) 745-5387. ********************************************************************** 3) CALL FOR PAPERS: The students at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Saw and the University of Buffalo Women's Studies Program proudly announce the founding of a collaborative inter-disciplinary journal -- CIRCLES: The Buffalo Women's Journal of Law and Social Policy. This semi-annual publication will provide a forum for exploring the legal and social challenges facing women of diverse races, economic classes, and cultures. We invite all interested writers, illustrators, and photographers to submit compositions examining or illuminating women's lives in a legal and social policy context. CIRCLES encourages the submission of scholarly articles, commentary, poetry, fiction, book reviews, and art work. All written submissions should be double-spaced, submitted in triplicate and, if possible, submitted on disk using WordPerfect 5.1. Please enclose a bibliographic note and, for longer submissions, a brief abstract. Please include your name, address, and phone number. All artwork will be returned. The deadline for the Spring 1992 edition is FEBRUARY 15, 1992. Send submissions to: CIRCLES, SUNY Buffalo School of Law, O'Brian Hall, Buffalo, New York 14260. (716) 838-0935 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1992 10:22:42 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: jo hinchliffe Subject: Call for Papers The University of British Columbia Centre for Research in Women's Studies and Gender Relations "Women's Health Across the Life Span - Research Issues" Friday, October 16-Sunday, October 18, 1992 CALL FOR PAPERS Conference sessions will be divided into three parets, focusing on 1. Female infancy to adolescence 2. mature women 3. Seniors Papers on any aspect of girls' and women's health are invited from scholars in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Education and Medical and Nursing Sciences. Papers on aspects of the health of minority group women are especially encouraged. Possible contributors to the Conference should send a title and brief description of the paper together with a c.v. to: Health Conference Centre for Research in Women's Studies and Gender Relations University of British Columbia 314-2206 East Mall Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z3 Deadline for sumbissions is February 15th, 1992 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1992 13:32:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: E-mail Directory of Lesbigay Scholars Louie Crew has asked me to post the following announcement. Please direct all responses to Louie Crew, not to WMST-L or to me. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc **************************************************************** I am compiling an E-Mail Directory of Lesbigay Scholars. To be included, fill out the form below and return it to me: lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu or CompuServe: 73517,147 (I prefer the first, which I access daily. I read the second only about once a fortnight. Do NOT send by snail mail.) The list will help lesbigay scholars connect regarding on-going manuscripts, conferences, and other scholarly projects. I will send the Directory to all who agree to be listed, with updates when requested. I will also share it with anyone else who wants to announce projects of interest to those listed. Please share this announcement with any friends who might be interested and with any other e-networks where forthright lesbigay scholars might assemble qua scholars. Thank you. Louie Crew Author/editor of _The Gay Academic_ and 860+ others Co-founder of the Lesgay Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English Founder of Integrity, the lesgay justice ministry of the Episcopal Church Associate Professor, Academic Foundations Department, Rutgers University/Newark (During 1991-92 sabbatical: P. O. Box 30, Newark, NJ 07101) ============================================================================ Entry Form for E-Directory of Lesbigay Scholars Name: Institutional affiliation: Department: Position: E-mail address(es): Snail mail: Phone(s) FAX: Citations of a sample of yr. previous lesbigay scholarly projects: List/description of yr. on-going lesbigay scholarly projects: ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1992 20:28:48 -0600 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: kfresco@UX1.CSO.UIUC.EDU Subject: Anita Hill's tenured position Has anyone heard follow-up about the demand made by an Oklahoma state legislator that the university fire Anita Hill? Karen Fresco kfresco@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1992 20:16:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: DWONG@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU Subject: Men's studies list? Is there such a thing as an electronic men's studies list? If anyone knows of such a thing, I'd appreciate it if they'd contact me. Deborah Wong Pomona College DWONG@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1992 10:39:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Alta Charo Subject: reply to anti-ru486 book i've seen the klein/dumble/raymond book, and in fact spent time with renate klein and lynette dumble in washington last month when i moderated the session at which they presented their findings. the book is troublesome because it's a mix of good and bad science, good and bad critique. it reads for the most part as a well documented review of the technical literature on the drug, but when you look closer it fails to give necessary info -- e.g. it recites rates of nausea but fails to compare them to the underlying rate due to morning sickness; recites absolute numbers of women suffering side effects but fails to compare them to side effects from other available methods etc. at times, it's allegations are simply wrong, such as asserting that a failure to fully evacuate the uterus is associated with a higher incidence of uterine cancer; or that one-shot prostaglandin use is associated with significant compromise of the immune system. finally, it misrepresents the method for using ru486/prostaglandin to make the procedure longer and more difficult than it is. on the other hand, it successfully explodes the widespread misimpression that ru486 will become a private affair in which you get a pill from a pharmacist, go home, and abort. it demonstrates effectively that chemical abortion is not likely to be superior to suction abortion in large parts of the third world, and it highlights the rapidity with which ru486 moved from in vitro tests to human clinical trials. what is sad, of course, is that the book is getting its biggest press in the anti-abortion community, which has latched on to it for arguments and sound bites to support their public rhetoric of concern over the health effects of the drug on women. debating the head of the wisconsin right to life committee, barbara lyons, on a local radio program last week, i found the book quoted back to me, and its phrase "chemical cocktail" (referring to the combo of ru486 plus prostaglandin plus pain reliever) used repeatedly as a scare tactic. the fact is that ru486 provides few advantages over suction abortion here in the u.s. because, for the moment, abortion is legal, suction abortions are generally done under a local, and it is an outpatient procedure. even so, with many rural counties (almost 2/3 i believe) left without even a single abortion provider, a medical (as opposed to surgical) alternative could be helpful. where abortions are done under a general, are an inpatient procedure, or are illegal, the ru486/prostaglandin alternative becomes very attractive as it is safer and easier to conceal. the main risk of ru486/prostaglandin abortion comes from the prostaglandin, not the ru486. it is the prostaglandin that is associated with the one cardiac death and two cardiac complications in france as well as with the pain of cramping. clinical trials are proceeding in france and england at this moment looking at (1) the possibility of using higher doses of ru486 to avoid the need for prostaglandin follow-up; (2) use of lower doses of prostaglandin; (3) uses of milder prostaglandins; and (4) use of milder forms of prostaglandin administration (e.g. suppositories instead of intramuscular injection). the most important thing to remember in all of this is that ru486 and other antiprogestins have tremendous potential for the treatment of breast cancer, endometriosis, and the softening of the cervix. it is THESE applications that are crucial to enhancing women's health in the U.S., and it is these applications that are being slowed by the debate over ru486's safety and morality as an abortifacient. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * r. alta charo charo@macc.wisc.edu university of wisconsin law school charo@wiscmacc.bitnet madison, wisconsin 53706 wircs2::charo tele: 608/262-5015 fax: 608/262-5485 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1992 13:50:42 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: VILLERS@OUACCVMB.BITNET Subject: ru-486 I do agree sincerely with Alta Charo's long expose on the abortion pill. I have a couple of points I would like to bring up. The firs is that abortion even under local and outpatient conditions is still an expensive process. It requires at least one doctor and one nurse in attendance plus the facilities to perform the operation, plus the instruments plus a number of other things. The pill, on the other hand, would only require an office visit and a follow-up. The other item of importance is that there are many physicians who are not necessarily opposed to abortions but would rather not have to do any. They have a genuine distaste for the operation. The pill would free them from having to examine the "product of conception". In countries where health care and abortion are easily available at low or no cost, it may be more beneficial to have an abortion done. However, most countries including the US, do not take good care of their low income women. The pill may make the difference. I agree with Alta Charo on the beneficial effects of the pill as well, benefits which have been obscured. I hadn't gone into a lot of details about the validity of the article thinking the list might get bored but I believe these are issues women and especially educated women need to know so that the information can be conveyed to others who do not have access to sound information. Anne Villers villers@ouaccvmb.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1992 15:27:17 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Anne Kearney Subject: Re: Anita Hill's tenured position In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 8 Jan 1992 20:28:48 -0600 from I saw that Anita Hill was temporarily removed from one of those 1 minute this-is-our-university lots that are run during ball games. She is now back on the film. ANNE KEARNEY HISTORY PROGRAM JEFFERSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE - UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY 109 EAST BROADWAY LOUISVILLE, KY 40202 (502) 584-0181, EXT. 353 JCCANNEK@UKCC ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1992 16:03:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Rodman, Barbara" Subject: nwsa conference Anyone who is (or knows) a writer who might be interested in participating in a panel called "Odd Women Out: Women Writers in the Academy" at the annual NWSA conference scheduled for June 19-23, 1992 in Austin Tx, please contact me at the addresses below. I am interested in women whose academic areas may be unrelated to their writing, as well as those who are primarily writers. You must be NWSA members by the time of the conference and willing to register for it, obviously. I'm also looking for Texas poets and writers for another panel at the same conference. Barb Rodman DITBR@TTACS.BITNET DITBR@TTUVM1.TTU.EDU. English Dept. Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX 79409 806-793-8064 (h) 806-742-2501 (w) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1992 16:05:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Emily Horning Subject: (COPY) REQ:I need help/info I am forwarding this from ACTIV-L. Emily -------------------------TEXT-OF-FORWARDED-MAIL-------------------------------- Received: (from UCLACN1.BITNET for via BSMTP) Received: (from MAILER@UCLACN1 for MAILER@UCLAMVS via NJE) (UCLA/Mail V1.500 M-RSCS2836-2836-252); Thu, 09 Jan 92 13:55:38 PST Received: from UCLACN1.BITNET by UCLACN1.BITNET (Mailer R2.08) with BSMTP id 2834; Thu, 09 Jan 92 13:55:17 PST Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1992 15:28:27 CST Reply-To: Activists Mailing List Sender: Activists Mailing List From: pwright Subject: REQ:I need help/info To: Multiple recipients of list ACTIV-L I need help in understanding a phenomenon that seems determined to survive in light of all reason. We humans are flexible creatures that have a proven abilitiy to learn and adapt, often providing us with the keys to survival. Because of this it is no doubt that we will quickly use the new names that emerge from the old USSR when we're finally told what they all are. We learn. If a woman changes her last name when she marries, her new last name is used with only an occasional lapse to using her old last name. We honor personal choices. In the last 50 or so years we have been taught to refer to a group of Americans as Negroes, then Colored People, then Blacks, then Afro-Americans, then Blacks again, and now African-Americans and most of us pretty much take it in stride and make those changes in our minds and our language. We adapt. Reasonable people in "polite society" no longer compliment others by telling them, "That's awfully white of you," nor do they say "I jewed 'em down," or "They sure nigger-rigged that car." We have become sensitive. Since Leach Walensa (sp?) emerged on the international scene, Polish jokes are a thing of the past. We recognize courage. And we can now all pronounce Rejkjavik, as well as identify it on a map along with Riyadh, Armenia, and Vietnam. We are effected by current events. All this is understandable, reasonable and commendable, illustrating how flexible we are to the many changes we encounter in our world and how we incorporate those changes in our thinking, in our language, and in our society. But the big phenomenon I cannot seem to understand is this, with our proven ability to learn and change and adapt, why do we stubbornly cling to an archaic way of describing people? Why do so many intelligent people so emphatically continue to use a particular human characteristic to almost euphemistically refer to a person or a group of people? In short, why do we still refer to people and the work they do in terms of gender, such as men, chairmen, foremen, cameramen, mailmen, craftsmen, spokesmen, Congressmen, statesmen, businessmen, servicemen, marksmen, fishermen, middlemen, journeymen, policemen, firemen, manpower, manhours, manning the store, etc. etc? (And, of course, I'm not talking about words like human, woman, walkman, manage, manipulate, or even words like strawman, stickman, or snowman, since the exclusive nature of these last three words don't actually exclude real people although they do perpetuate the idea that men are the status quo, the standard, and that males represent the human species.) When it seems utterly ridiculous to refer to an individual as a man (the *first*, or standard, or default gender) we then awkwardly use either the *second* gender, as in Spokeswoman Tuttwiler (sp?), both genders such as servicemen *and women* (clearly indicating that these nonstandard-issue men are not yet incorporated into the process -- military or thought -- and must be tagged on as an afterthought, or finally, as a last result, we employ the use of a gender-neutral term (firefighters). I understand that at one time it was quite reasonable to refer to people by gender because it *was* a significant distinction. Most people who worked and held positions in Congress, delivering mail, fighting fires, and chairing committees were men. But this is no longer the case and the continued use of gender distinction to refer to people has lost its usefulness and its apparent significance, serving more to confuse rather than to clarify. (After all, it was also reasonable to refer to people in the old East Germany as "those Communists" which we will surely no longer do.) To differentiate someone's job by their gender now is as significant as doing so by race or religion, by their astological sign or sexual preference. Since we don't refer to Ron Delums as Congressafrican-American Delums, why would we refer to him as Congressman Delums? Why not Congressheterosexual Delums or Congresschristian Delums? These personal characteristics are, no doubt, significant to Ron Delums, the person, but not one of them is significant enough to include in his title. Can you imagine if people in Israel or Ireland or South Africa used separatist language the way we use gender-based language in America and expected the group that was left out to simply accept the exclusive language as being all encompassing? "Sure a non-white can be a spokeswhite for our company. Why do you ask?" Or, "But we *will* eventually include you Palestinians when we say all Jews have the right to vote. Just be patient." Or, "Just because we say they're policeprotestants doesn't mean anything. We've used that language for centuries. Why change now?" Why does specifying gender seem to be so important, so significant in its *use* of identifying people, yet at the same time it is supposed to be insignificant in it's *meaning*, it's application? Am I supposed to tell my daughter that she, too, can be a spaceman, statesman, or secondbaseman and expect her to believe me? Is our language so impoverished as to use such inaccurate, inappropriate, and confusing words? Or rather are we to understand that our language is not impoverished at all? That our language describes our society exactly as we want it to, exactly as we see it. Is it, or is it not a coincidence that so many gender-specific words are still being used in a time when women's rights are being attacked, and the only word I can think of that has "woman" in it, which isn't a modification of a word ending in "man," is charwoman? (BTW that's not a typo for chairwoman.) Since we have shown our ability to modify our language when it is appropriate, why do so many people, so many intelligent people, so many progressive people, so many people on this very list, still slavishly refer to all of us as men, Man, or Mankind (defining, not only one gender, but its opposite at the same time) when perfectly resonable alternatives like member, fighter, diplomat, soldier, carrier, personnel, representative, rep, staff, officer, worker, folks, person, people, we, us, human and Humankind are available? Is it because women are being given only lip service, the illusion of inclusion? That seems to be the case more than is the espoused case that "man" is supposed to refer to me or any other female. Note the lack of genuine committment to the idea of inclusion if we can't even perform a simple task like using the vocabulary of inclusion to describe people in general. As Noam Chomsky says, in his letter to _Lies of Our Times_ published in September 1991, referring to one explaination of why the Iraqi rebels were unsuccessful in overthrowing Saddam, ". . . Middle East correspondent Alan Cowell attributes the failure of the rebels to the fact that 'very few people outside Iraq wanted them to win.' Here the concept 'people' has its standard meaning in respectable journalism: 'people who count.'" By saying the word "man" refers to all "people" can also be a way of saying that it refers to all "people who count" and those people are men. And for those non-men that have the nerve to believe they, too, count, there is always the game of 'Let's Pretend.' Just pretend the word "man" includes everyone, even you. With this magical game we can imagine inclusion without actually providing it. Even though the word "man's" broader, more inclusive definition is defended by many thinking people, in reality it should be taken at face value. Man means man and don't kid yourself, and don't kid me. After all, when our for*fathers* said all men are created equal, they meant just that, or more specifically, they meant all men that count. I understand they were a product of their times and their vision was impaired as a result, but what's our excuse? After all these are just words. They can be changed; many have been changed. They are not ruled by physical laws. We created them. We can change them. The use of gender-specific language would be insignificant if women were treated equally in all other aspects of our society, but they continue to be discriminated against in our society, and our language is an extension, a reflection, a record, a history of that society. And true to form, the only area in which no gender-based language is used is in the realm of the family. For every father their is a mother, and the two are parents, they aren't called fathers. The same is true for every other member of the family. No one is excluded from the language of family. Its vocabulary is extensive and inclusive. When a word doesn't cover both genders (the way "siblings" does), the two words are used together such as "nieces and nephews" without being considered cumbersome. No one would dream of referring to both their nieces and their nephews as only nephews the way we do when referring to people outside the home, such as, "Congressmen are a scurrilous bunch." There is no language discrimination in the family because it expresses our feelings that males and females both belong, are both equally important in the family, and that they should both be included in the family as well as in the language that describes it. Not so in the world outside the home. And that reality is expressed every time gender-based language is used. This is not merely a trivial liguistic concern. Gender-based words have a similar message to the signs my Irish ancestors read when looking for work in this country, "Irish need not apply." It says, you are not welcome, we will exclude you if we can, and only if we can't find anyone else to do the job we'll think about you as a last resort (hat-check "girl"). When signs went up in this country that read "Whites Only" were non-whites to think the words meant anything other than what they most certainly seemed to mean? In a country that did not discriminate against non-whites, it's possible to assume non-whites as well as whites would read those signs as "people only" (no pets allowed). But that was clearly not the case. And even though we continue to discriminate against non-whites in this country, at the very least, we don't have to see and hear and use that debilitating discrimination in our language. In some Arab countries there is one word that describes, in vague terms, ice *and* snow. The reason is obvious; there is no need for a more detailed desciption, by way of vocabulary, of a phenomenon they seldom experience. On the other hand, the language of Eskimos includes, in its vocabulary, many different words to describe both ice and snow in varying conditions. The reason for this is also obvious. It is a significant part of the Eskimos' lives, so it is reasonable to include it in their language to enable themselves to better discuss it. If we do not include women in our language how are they discussed, referred to, thought of, envisioned, included? If you can't name it, how do you talk about it, think about it, dream about it. After all, if we can now go where no *one* has gone before, why can't we also have peace on Earth, good will to *all*? I must admit I always felt a little left out when people wished good will to only half of us on this planet and that half did not include me. That insistence to exclude is wearing very thin on this planet and is leaving its ugly marks upon our global home and its weary occupants. So . . . this is my request, can anyone please tell me why so many users on this list use gend er-specific language themselves or, when quoting others that use it, don't include "(sic)" in the posting next to the inappropriate word. I certainly don't understand this phenomenon; I dont *get* it, and I'm hoping someone out there will explain it to me. With high hopes for the New Year, -Patricia ******************************************************************************* BTW here are some sayings, that come readily to mind, which are deeply infused into our American culture, thoughts, and language. Maybe someone can also tell me which ones refer to people in general and which refer to the male of the species and how we are to tell the difference? A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. A man is only as good as his word. Big Man On Campus Best man for the job. May the best man win. Man's best friend. If we can put a man on the moon . . . I'm your man. One man, one vote. The reasonable man rule. It's a man's world. A man's home is his castle. To each his own. All men are created equal. He's a prince of a man. He's my kind of man. He's a man's man. It isn't fit for man nor beast. Odd man out. A one-man . . . band, show, whatever. We're looking for a few good men. We always get our man. This is where we separate the men from the boys. Boys will be boys. Men at work. You did a yeoman's job. Philosopher King Man of the Hour Man of the Year No man's land One man's trash is another man's treasure. A self-made man. A Renaissance man. An officer and a gentleman. But I shouldn't be unfair. Women are included in sayings, too. Sure there aren't as many of them, but here's two that pretty much say it all. The first is a real classic: Wine, Women, and Song (or Object, Object, and Object) And then there's: A woman's work is never done . ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 10:30:00 MDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "JANIS BOHAN (556-3088/3205, MSC BOX 54)" Subject: RE: (COPY) REQ:I need help/info To the long, compelling message re: gendered language -- Brava! (see?) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 12:45:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: 00MEKITE@BSUVAX1.BITNET Subject: Re: (COPY) REQ:I need help/info This is tangential to the arguments in the gendered language message but recent work by the linguist Geoffrey Pullman has demonstrated that eskimos DON'T actually have more words for snow than Americans do. (this work is also supported by that of anthropologist Laura Martin). Interestingly, Martin was quoted in Newsweek as saying that she doesn't expect people to drop the myth however; most of her colleagues took the position that, true or not "It's still a great example" Mary Kite 00mekite@bsuvax1 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 14:16:42 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Susan Drain Subject: Req: I need help etc Re: Even if the number of words the Inuit have for snow of various kinds does turn out to be fewer than we have believed, people will probably still use the example because it's such a good one. You don't have to go outside English to find examples of how the importance of a subject determines how finely we make distinctions. Two examples which work well in my composition classes concern (1) the importance of horses in pre-railroad culture as indicated by the multiplicity of terms for them: horse, mare, stallion, foal, colt, filly, yearling, gelding, pacer, trotter, charger, nag, hunter, steed, hackney, -- these are the ones that occur to me off the top of my head, and there are many more. Similarly, American twentieth-century culture gives us a plethora of terms for motor-car, automobile, coupe, sedan, wagon, etc. etc. Susan Drain English, Victoria College University of Toronto drain@epas.utoronto.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 14:24:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: SCHLESL@SNYPLAVA.BITNET Subject: Re: (COPY) REQ:I need help/info >From Mary Kite: "....recent work by the lingust Geoffrey Pullman has demonstrated tht eskimos DON"T actually have more words for snow..." Mary -- do you have a specific reference for something brief by G. Pullman on this topic? Also -- I am teaching a course on women and health this semester (at UVM in Women's STudies and at SUNY-Plattsburgh in Sociology). I am asking students to interview a woman about her experiences as a health care client and/or provider. I will have both men and women in the class. If any of you have experience with a. having undergraduate students do interviewing and/or b. teaching women and health I'd appreciate any suggestions, good references, etc. Thank you!!! Lynn Schlesinger SCHLESL@SNYPLAVA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 15:44:40 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Marie Farr, East Carolina U , Greenville, NC" Subject: Gender bias in faculty evaluation *** Reply to note of 12/30/91 11:37 Would you please forward to me any information on gender bias you receive privately? I'm very interested in the topic. Thanks. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 15:17:30 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: W Schipper Subject: Pullman and Martin on Eskimos In-Reply-To: <92Jan10.124756est.23238@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca>; from "00MEKITE@BSUVAX1.BITNET" at Jan 10, 92 12:45 pm > > This is tangential to the arguments in the gendered language > message but recent work by the linguist Geoffrey Pullman > has demonstrated that eskimos DON'T actually have more words > for snow than Americans do. (this work is also supported by > that of anthropologist Laura Martin). Interestingly, Martin > was quoted in Newsweek as saying that she doesn't expect > people to drop the myth however; most of her colleagues > took the position that, true or not "It's still a great > example" > Can you provide published references for the work of Pullman and Martin on this topic? -- Bill Schipper (schipper@morgan.ucs.mun.ca) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 16:17:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: 00MEKITE@BSUVAX1.BITNET Subject: Re: Pullman and Martin on Eskimos Pullum's book is published by University of Chicago Press and is entitled: The Great Eskimo Vocabulary Hoax I don't have a reference for Martin's work, but she is in the anthropology department at Cleveland State University. Sorry, I misspelled Pullum's name earlier. Mary Kite 00mekite@bsuvax1 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 17:22:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: SREVERBY@LUCY.WELLESLEY.EDU Subject: Re: (COPY) REQ:I need help/info There are many resources for teaching women and health. There are a series of bibliographies edited by Sheryl Ruzack that used to be availabe through the medical sociology department at UCSF but I believe have been published. There are books by Sue Rosser that give suggestions for teaching and syllabi. There is also a women and health historical encyclopedia edited by Rima Apple that has historiographic essays that are great for use in lecture and to help students with sources. The book was originally done for Garland publishing but I believe Rutgers University Press has just issued a paperback edition. Good luck. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 21:50:12 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Don Pirot Subject: Re: Req: I need help etc In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 10 Jan 1992 14:16:42 -0500 from On Fri, 10 Jan 1992 14:16:42 -0500 Susan Drain said: >Re: Even if the number of words the Inuit have for snow of various kinds >does turn out to be fewer than we have believed, people will probably >still use the example because it's such a good one. > >Susan Drain >English, Victoria College >University of Toronto >drain@epas.utoronto.ca I have, somewhere in my files, a list of 21 Inuit words for snow with a description in English of the type of snow described by each word. In no case was the English description a single word. The list is not in machine readable format and I don't have time now to key it in here (it would probably be irrelevant anyway :-) ) My first take was that perhaps, since I have seen these 21 Inuit words for snow, there are more than 21 English words for snow, though I can't think of any, and Roget only lists five. Another possibility is that the list I have is fraudulent. Since I don't know Inuit, I couldn't judge. This is probably not the place to discuss it. Let's carry it over to WORDS-L. Don Pirot, | BITNET: DPIROT@UALTAVM University Computing Systems, | University of Alberta, | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. | ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1992 01:54:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: ASHELDON@UMNACVX.BITNET Subject: Re: psychologists, humanities Earlier in the List's discussion of the issue of whether gender differences could be biologically determined or socially constructed, I made the observation that this is NOT an EMPIRICAL issue because it is not testable. Recently, someone labeled such a view as Postmodernistic. In addition, post modernism has been pitted against empiricism in subsequent discussion. It doesn't seem to have advanced the discussion to have one or the other label attached to this observation. I would just like to reiterate that after a while I don't understand why the debate over Biology OR Socialization continues, because it seems to ignore this fundamental observation. Amy Sheldon ASHELDON@UMNACVX ASHELDON@VX.ACS.UMN.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1992 10:18:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: LENTZ61@SNYPOTVA.BITNET Subject: Re: Affirmative Action nancy, there is an affirmative action officer here at suny potsdam. her name is Jackie Goodman-Draper and she can be reached on campus at: (315) 267-2116. her home number and address are: (315) 379-9925--63 Buck st. Canton, NY 13617. come to think of it, i believe her campus office has changed, which means her number probably changed as well. you can call information for the campus at (31 5) 267-2000 and ask for her number. i hope she can help. best wishes. laura lentz lentz61@snypotva.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1992 14:20:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: HREHA@VAX2.CONCORDIA.CA Subject: WOMEN AND BIO-MEDICAL ETHICS I am doing some research into women's perspectives on bio-medical ethics. Being somewhat new to this field I would be grateful if anyone on the list could recommend books or articles which I might consult. Thanks. HREHA@VAX2.CONCORDIA.CA ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1992 23:30:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: OSWALS@UCBEH.SAN.UC.EDU Subject: Re: (COPY) REQ:I need help/info The friend who posted this long and very true description of gender specific language use in this age must know the answers to her questions herself. Because we only think about ourselves, not the whole society. And this is true of both men and women of 1980's. Take for instance, this friend uses a term, "eskimos" for a people who would never liked to be called this way. It is a mosnomer by the white people, both men and women who given this misnomer to them. It is the same with "American Indians". Can you tell me why ? ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1992 11:45:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MARTINS@SKLIB.USASK.CA Subject: Re: gendered language debate As the last poster, unsigned and I've already hit delete, pointed out, many of us continue to use the "wrong" "politically incorrect" "insensitive" terms through ignorance and inability to keep up with the correct terms. This is not to excuse continued, arrogant insistence that "of course Man includes all you girls too." A case in point: recently, in cataloguing a collection of pamphlets which includes extensive material on Canadian native people, I consulted scholars here in our Native Studies department and in northern studies about the correct generic terms to use for the people we used to refer to as Indians and Eskimos. (This is perhaps a special case, because I needed to use terms that (most, many) people would think to use as search terms in a database which doesn't allow for cross references) Results: use Inuit for arctic dwellers, except when the specific tribe or group can be determined, except when the people are Indians, not Inuit (!). For the rest, the term most current (at least north of the Medicine Line) seems to be Native People. Although aboriginals, aboriginal people, first nations people are also more or less current, as are the names of various tribal and linguistic groups. It's not as simple as one would wish. We simply have to keep slogging away at it. Remember in lectures when speaking in the abstract to use "she, her" as often as you use "he, him". I did this for years (I don't teach much any more) and always wondered if any of my students noticed or cared. It was heartening when a young woman told me that I was the only instructor she'd ever had who didn't always use "he, him". Are things different now for any more of us?? ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1992 11:48:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MARTINS@SKLIB.USASK.CA Subject: mea culpa Oops!! Just like the previous poster, I too forgot to sign my note on gendered language and the problems of Eskimo/Inuit references. Shirley Martin Special Collections U of Saskatchewan, Canada MartinS@sklib.USASK.CA ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1992 20:42:04 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: call for participation!! SASH - Sociologists Against Sexual Harassment - a one-day conference to take place in Pittsburgh, on August 21st, in conjunction with the final day of the annual SSSP meeting, invites submissions of papers and outlines for talks from victims and witnesses of harassment, people who are in positions to stop harassment, and those who investigate the nature and extent of professional harassment. We will also talk about supportive strategies to stop harassment in individual cases, in departments, and in the profession. Please send materials to Joseph R. Bjerklie, Sociology Department, Rutgers University, P.O. Box 5072, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903; or Kimberly J. Cook, Department of Sociology, Horton Social Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824. internet: K_Cook@unhh.unh.edu  ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1992 20:47:26 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: Sexual Harassment Preliminary Program as of 1/12/92 Sociologists Against Sexual Harassment A Conference For Learning and Action -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Registration 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee service, information tables, sign-in. ----------------------------- Session 1 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. Hiding Sexual Harassment In Sociology "The Extent of Sexual Harassment in Academe" Elizabeth Stanko "Broken Down by Sex and Status?" Stephen Pfohl, Boston College ----------------------------- Session 2 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Sexual Harassment of Graduate Students Possible names: Lynn Schlesinger, Shulamit Reinharz Organizers: Katharine Jones and Sarah Thompson, Rutgers University ----------------------------- Lunch Break 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ----------------------------- Session 3 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Sexual Harassment of Assistant Professors Possible names: Sally Ward, Lenore Weitzman Organizer: Karen Cerulo, Rutgers University ----------------------------- Session 4 2:15 - 3:45 p.m. Rules of Responsibility for the Powerful Possible names: Michael Kimmel Organizer: Keith Allum, National Foundation for the Improvement of Education ----------------------------- Session 5 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Knowledge Into Action "Why 'Sociologists Against Sexual Harassment'?" Kimberly J. Cook, University of New Hampshire: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU "Dead In Its Tracks: Helping Ourselves Stop Harassment" J.R. Bjerklie, Rutgers University: BJERKLIE@ZODIAC.RUTGERS.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1992 06:17:43 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MIKE Subject: RE: (COPY) REQ:I need help/info Interesting message, please identify who posted it w/address. I'm not very good at this ... I have rid myself of "girl" but not "ladies" and I find secretaries to be "she's" (but not nurses) I would like further expln. as to just where the line is (and why) ... it has always seemed inconsistent to accept feMALE, woMAN, and huMAN. Mike Keenan keenan@gw.wmich.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1992 10:39:30 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: chan@MACPOST.SCAR.UTORONTO.CA Subject: Re: Pullman and Martin on Eskimos >Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1992 16:17:00 -0500 >From: 00MEKITE@BSUVAX1.BITNET >Subject: Re: Pullman and Martin on Eskimos >To: Leslie K W Chan > >Pullum's book is published by University of Chicago Press >and is entitled: The Great Eskimo Vocabulary Hoax > >I don't have a reference for Martin's work, but she is >in the anthropology department at Cleveland State University. > >Sorry, I misspelled Pullum's name earlier. > >Mary Kite >00mekite@bsuvax1 Laura Martin wrote a short report, "Eskimo Words for Snow: A Case Study in the Genesis and Decay of an Anthropological Example" in American Anthropogist, vol 88:418-423, 1986. Enjoy Leslie Chan Dept. of Anthropology U of Toronto Chan@Macpost.Scar.Utoronto.Ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1992 10:49:19 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: charlene senn f psych Subject: Women and health In answer to the request for up to date information on women and health, the best critique of research on women and health that I have found is Jane Ussher's The Psychology of the Female Body (1989), published by Routledge. She pulls together all of the medical and psychological research on PMS, menopause, pregnancy, menstruation, etc. and does an excellent critique. She also suggests ways in which some research does further our knowledge of women's health. Good luck. Charlene Senn Wilfrid Lau ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1992 13:25:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHODA UNGER Subject: Re: psychologists, humanities This is a response to Amy Sheldon's query about why the debate over biology versus socialization continues. At one level this does seem to be a super- ficial discussion because most researchers agree that behavior is a result of complex interactions involving biology, socialization, cognitive variables, situational factors, etc. However, some researchers and many naive perceivers do make assumptions about causality which influence the loci for change. For example, Carol Gilligan who is interested in relational differences between women and men has also sought change within individuals through changes in the nature of education offered to adolescent girls (including single sex schooling)People who are interested in socially constructionist causes are more likely to look for the sources of change within society. One aspect of postmodernist theory that has concerned me is that it can make efforts to change society ap- pear to be naive. Many of us, however, became feminists because of an activist focus. I would welcome some dialogue on this topic. Rhoda Unger unger@apollo.montclair.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1992 11:00:17 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was Robert_Grant.LAX1B@XEROX.COM From: Robert.LAX1B@XEROX.COM Subject: The Sexual Politics Of Meat I am not an academic, but I have joined this list to provide access for my partner to find out what is going on in Women's Studies (she is a graduate student in English at the Claremont Graduate School). She will be taking a course in Women's Studies this semester and is really looking forward to it. My reason, however, for submitting to the list is to find out what, if anything, is thought of Carol J. Adams' "The Sexual Politics of Meat"? The basic concept of the book (I believe) is that the objectification/consumption of women and animals go hand in hand in patriarchal society. She argues that a vegetarian + feminist approach to patriarchy is more fundamental/powerful challenge than feminism alone (If this, very poor, summary is inaccurate, I apologise to Ms. Adams). I am currently reading the book, and the arguments (to a non-academic) seem to be very compelling. Does anyone out there have a professional opinion, I would be very interested, as would my partner. Thank you very much, Robert Grant ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1992 13:31:34 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: cliff staples Subject: Re: Ms. versus Ms In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 13 Jan 1992 11:00:17 PST from Can someone please tell me why we put a period after Ms as in "Ms." ?? What are we abbreviating? Someone pointed this out to me years ago and I've never gotten much of an answer. Accordingly, I use Ms This isn't a matter of great weight, but enquiring minds wanna know. best, Cliff ###################################### CLIFFORD L. STAPLES # DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY # BOX 8192 UNIVERSITY STATION # GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202 # OFFICE 701-777-4417 # BITNET: UD153289@NDSUVM1 # ###################################### ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1992 14:41:00 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MMCJIMSEY@CCNODE.COLORADO.EDU Subject: Gender and dispute settlement I would appreciate information from anyone describing approaches women studies have taken to issues of dispute settlement or conflict resolution. What gender issues are involved? Suggestions on further reading would also be welcome. Marianna McJimsey Colorado College ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 00:08:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: Re: psychologists, humanities >One aspect of postmodernist >theory that has concerned me is that it can make efforts to change society ap- >pear to be naive. Many of us, however, became feminists because of an activist >focus. I would welcome some dialogue on this topic. >Rhoda Unger unger@apollo.montclair.edu That's interesting, Rhoda, perhaps because I've never thought of it. My suspicion is that trying to create a new reality (no more natural than the one we have) is not a useless endeavor. It may not be the TRUTH, but if it helps some people (women in this case). I guess I don't see the contradiction between postmodernism and activism, but then I'm not sure I understand clearly what postmodernism means. Arnie Kahn fac_askahn@jmuvax (bitnet) fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu (internet) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 01:32:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: OSWALS@UCBEH.SAN.UC.EDU Subject: Re: The Sexual Politics Of Meat I am not familiar with the book you have been reading but the connection between vegetarianism and perception of female body as consumption do not have a simple/straight correlation. After all, how many societies are vegetarian and were in the past. The only example that comes to mind is India which was originally a meet eating society but slowly evolved into a vegetarian society. People in the west will argue but in that society women did achieve a higher status in that medieval period but as the western influence infilterated around seven hundred B.C. onwards, the women lost their social and political standing. So-called philosophers, under Greek and later Turkish, Arabian, Central Asian and Persian influences hurled the women down to the same place where the Biblical myth does. Manu is probably the worst villain in this story who published his treatise around two hundred B.C. In that society, you can see how consumption of meet resumed as the women lost their place in society though not all together. You can see women's power in that society in the substructure of the society though the recent European invaders have hit another blow. Americans are the worst influence in those terms because American films have become a basic means for conveying western patriarchal/ethnocentric idealogy. Moreover, Bombay movie industry translates or transliterates Hollywood movies and movie experiences into Indian languages. You must have heard of dowry deaths and if you do a research project around these deaths and explore howmany of the murderers were vegetarian or not, you will be surprized how majority of these people are middle class westernized newly nonvegetarianized professionals who want more than they ever had. If anyone is following this rambling, respond, or raise questions. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1992 23:26:23 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Oliver Mullarney Subject: Land as female I'm working on a doctoral dissertation in Ireland in the field of Anglo-Irish literature, involving some poetry which genders the landscape as female. I know I have seen references to an article or book (or maybe several!) about the gendering of the American landscape in literature, particularly, I believe, in images of the West as something to be possessed/dominated/tamed. I've done very little work in American literature and Trinity does not have an extensive collection of books on Am. Lit. in its libraries and nobody over there has any idea of what I'm talking about. Does anyone know of such an article or book (or have I been imagining things?!)? I would be most grateful if anyone can help! Please respond to the address below. --Karlin Lillington, Trinity College Dublin Since I am posting from a friend's account, responses should be sent to: omullarn@oracle.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 07:23:47 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: THE SEXUAL POLITICS OF MEAT I have not carefully read the book, but i will at some point. being a feminist and a vegetarian i was interested by the cover illustration (a woman in a cute pose whose body is separated into sections like a piece of meat) and by the subtitle: A Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory. the Author, Carol Adams, is "a feminist writer and activist who has been involved over the past 10 years with the issues of domestic and sexual violence, vegetarianism and animal rights, low-income housing, and white racism. She has a Master's of Divinity fromYale University and her publications include articles on the religious dimension os of sexual violence, animal rights, feminist history and vegetarianism." from the dust cover: "THE SEXUAL POLITICS OF MEAT argues that meat eaters unconsciously uphold a sexist, patriarchal culture. And because meat eating is a measure of a virile culture and individual, our society equates vegetarianism with emasculation and femininity. The book begins by establishing the overt relationship between meat eating and virile maleness, demonstrated in assumptions about men's ---especially male athletes'--- need for meat. Then, in an innovative approach to violence against women and animals, it uses feminist literary theory to enlighten social practices and develops the thesis that owmen and animals are linked as "absent referents" in the context of a patriarchal society. In a well documented mddle section, Adams provides the beginning of a feminist history of vegetarianism. She focuses on the time period of 1790 to the present in England and US by exploring the meaning of vegetarianism in a key text, Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, and examining a group of works by 20th-century women writers that depict a connection between meat eating, male domination and war." table of contents: PART I. THE PATRIARCHAL TEXTS OF MEAT 1. The Sexual Politics of Meat 2. The Rape of Animals and the Butchering of Women 3. Masked Violence, Muted Voices 4. The Word Made Flesh PART II. FROM THE BELLY OF ZEUS 5. Dismembered Texts, Dismembered Animals 6. Frankenstein's Vegetarian Monster 7. Feminism, the Great War, and Modern Vegetarianism PART III. EAT RICE HAVE FAITH IN WOMEN 9. The distortion of the Vegetarian Body 10. For a Feminist-Vegetarian Critical Theory Epilogue: Destabilizing Patriarchal Consumption I have leafed through and it appears to be an academically rigorous text with a wide range references, but a closer examination might reveal some weaknesses. Regarding the land as feminine, i have mentioned this book on the list before and it may be worth mentioning again in this context: PATRIARCHY AS A CONCEPTUAL TRAP by Elizabeth Dodson Gray. she discusses, at the end of the book, the relationship of the "mother nature" and the exploit- ation of theland. in otherwords, if land (or nature) were conceptualized as masculine would there be as much "rape of the land" and attempts to control "mother nature". she ties it in with women being the appropriate victims of male aggression (as traditionally defined) and feminine "objects" being ripe for male control. also, DIET FOR A SMALL PLANET by Frances Moore Lappe, is an excellent book about the environmental devastation caused by the "Great American Steak Religion". I use her information when i lecture about industry and the environment. the first edition was published in '75,but there is an updated edition available at book stores now. happy reading!! kimberly j. cook k_cook@unhh.unh.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 07:39:35 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from OfficeVision to RFC822 by PUMP V2.2X From: "Linda Lopez McAlister/Hypatia" Subject: THE SEXUAL POLITICS OF MEAT In-Reply-To: note of 01/14/92 07:27 Bibliographical note (and plug for HYPATIA): There is an article by Carol Adams (of The Sexual Politics of Meat fame) and a number of articles that touch upon the question of the analogy between the land and the feminine in the HYPATIA Special Issue on Ecological Feminism 6(1) Spring, 1991, edited by Karren Warren. LINDA LOPEZ McALISTER DLLAFAA@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU (Internet) Women's Studies Dept. DLLAFAA@CFRVM_(Bitnet) University of South Florida, Tampa 33620 (813)974-5531 #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 09:50:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: VIVIAN CONGER Subject: RE: Land as female This is in response to Karin Lillington's request for books or articles on the land as metaphor. Here are two history books you might be interested in: Annette Kolodny. THE LAY OF THE LAND: METAPHOR AS EXPERIENCE AND HISTORY IN AMERICAN LIFE AND LETTERS (1974) Annette Kolodny. THE LAND BEFORE HER: FANTASY AND EXPERIENCE OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIERS, 1630-1860. Vivian Bruce Conger conger@vax001.kenyon.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 12:15:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: KARON2@BRANDEIS.BITNET Subject: gender and health issues First, my apologies if this is repetitive. I sent a similar message last week, but as a first-time user I think I made an error. Having received no acknowledgment of the message, I'm assuming I goofed and am sending this again. In response to the question of resources for teaching about women and health, I stronly recommend "For Her Own Good" by Ehrenreich and English. I want to urge us to consider not only gender difference but gender disadvantage This critical distinction is highlighted by Deborah Rhode's article in "Women and Politics", vol 10, no 2, 1990. My own work has focused on the difference gender makes in use of health and long-term care services. Most recently, I completed a study of the effects of CAREGIVER gender on care receiver's access to long-term care services in a managed care system. My hypothesis was that those women (my sample was female care receivers with family caregivers) whose caregivers were female would have less access to services from the formal system, because of gender stereotyped behaviors. What I found is that sexism acts as we would expect it to, but that to observe the effects it is necessary to be specific about the behaviors in question. For example, women who needed assistance with heavy chores-- such as washing the floors, but also lawn care and snow removal--and whose caregivers were female actually received more assistance from the formal sector. Apparently woman are not supposed to be able to do some of these heavy chores. On the other hand, when the need was for assistance with intimate personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, or toileting, those with male caregivers got more formal assistance. By the way, this was equally true when the male caregiver was a husband as when he was a son or son-in-law. These differences clearly place women at a disadvantage. Yet they are very difficult to overcome, because they are so complex in their origin. They come from care managers who are working to balance the organizational dictates with their best clinical judgments and personal beliefs, from care receivers whose expectations of assistance vary with the gender of available caregivers, and from caregivers whose expectations of their role relative to the formal sector are also influenced by gender. And all of this takes place in a social context that has shaped these gendered beliefs. I don't mean to imply that this cannot be changed. Just the opposite. Social norms are constantly being challenged and changed by the actions of individuals in society. But change is very difficult. And as Mimi Abramovitz points out in her book "Regulating the Lives of Women", any effort by women to change their role as chief caretaker is met with strong resistance. I would consider family leave policies to be an example of such resistance. Once again women are being told that they can have jobs, but only if they remember that their primary responsibility is to be available to their families. These policies are sold to women as part of their "benefit" package! Which is not to say that women should not provide this kind of care if they choose to do so. But I have yet to find a world where women's choices are truly "free". Another resource of interest, by the way is the Disabled Women's Educational Project, PO Box 8773, Madison, WI 53714. They publish a quarterly newsletter about issues in the lives of disabled lesbians called "Dykes, Disability & Stuff ". They are also available for lectures and workshops. Their work is very broadly cross-disability, including both physical and psychiatric. Their publication is available in print, large print, braille, and audio cassette. Other media can be provided if needed. Hope this message gets through! Sara Karon KARON2@Brandeis ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 10:50:00 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MMCJIMSEY@CCNODE.COLORADO.EDU Subject: Feminine landscape In addition to the works by Kolondy one of my colleagues recommends the following authors: John Jakle, Carolyn Merchant, Anne Hyde and Richard Slotkin. I hope Karlin Lillington finds this offering helpful. Marianna McJimsey mmcjimsey@ccnode.colorado.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 12:12:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: EAKAUF@INDSVAX1.BITNET Subject: Re: psychologists, humanities Big thank you to Arnie for saying what I've been thinking ... >but then I'm not sure I understand clearly what postmodernism means. Just about the time I think "I've got it" I'm not so sure. Anyone want to offer a few definitions...explanations? Susan Kaufman EAKAUF@INDSVAX1.BITNET EAKAUF@INDSVAX1.INDSTATE.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 14:29:00 FWT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Christine TUGENE Subject: Re: (COPY) REQ:I need help/info > > I would like further expln. as to just where the line is (and why) ... it > has always seemed inconsistent to accept feMALE, woMAN, and huMAN. > > Mike Keenan > keenan@gw.wmich.edu Your remarks are interesting, and I have thought at an explanation ; I'm french and the words you speak about seem to have a latin origin. I'm not a specialist but I have taken my dictionnary and it gives the following origins for these words. . FEMALE in english has the same root as the french FEMELLE (used for animals in french) ==> latin's origin : FEMELLA (little woman) . MALE in english has the same root as the french MALE (used for animals in french) ==> latin's origin : masculus . HUMAN in english has the same root as the french HUMAIN and MAN in english seems to come from the english HUMAN (we have a similar phenomen : humain has become homme (for man)) the latin origin for humain (so for man) is OMNE (ALL !!!) . For woman we use FEMME (latin : femina) So in latin men are ALL and women are women ; In english's language the gender terminology seems to have made a mixing of latin origin and used man as a substantive ( woman came from man as Eve cames from Adam) Christine Tugene ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 10:50:22 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BONNIE COX Subject: Re: Land as female In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 13 Jan 1992 23:26:23 PST from I think the two books you've heard of are both by Annette Kolodny: The land bef ore her (1984) and The lay of the land(1975). --Bonnie Cox Humanities Libraria n, University of Kentucky (kli111@ukcc.uky.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 10:52:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MARTINS@SKLIB.USASK.CA Subject: Ms vs Ms. >Can someone please tell me why we put a period after Ms as in "Ms." ?? >What are we abbreviating? Someone pointed this out to me years ago and >I've never gotten much of an answer. Accordingly, I use Ms This isn't >a matter of great weight, but enquiring minds wanna know. Long ago, when I was still a medievalist, Fr Boyle taught us that the period at the end of an abbreviation represents truncation - letters dropped off the end. Therefore, if one were to be absolutely correct, one wd not put a period after Mrs (mistress), Mr (master or mister), or Ms (another go-round at rehabilitating mistress?) On the other hand, if Ms is just a compromise between M(is)s and M(r)s and not in fact an abbreviation for anything, one still ought not to use the period. I suspect the use of periods in all those cases is the result of fussy school teachers relentlessly applying rules whether they really fit the case or not. (I.e.: All abbreviations end in periods, so anything that looks like an abbreviation needs a period) Anyone have better ideas??? SAM S A Martin U of Saskatchewan Library Canada MartinS.@sklib.USASK.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 15:56:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: 3 Announcements: texts & jobs I have received information about one text (on the psychology of women), one journal issue (on Women's Studies in the 1990s), and one job opening (at Antioch College) that may be of interest to WMST-L subscribers. For more information, contact the people named in the announcements, not WMST-L. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ************************************************************** 1) A few months ago, WMST-L subscriber Rhoda Unger mentioned that she and Mary Crawford were completing a text on the psychology of women. I thought people might like to know that that text has now been published and is available from the publisher. The complete citation is R. Unger & M. Crawford (1992). Women and gender: A feminist psychology. N. Y.: McGraw-Hill. It is 703 pages long (including 50 pages of double-columned references and a rather extensive subject and author index) and lists for $29.95. Its ISBN number is 0-07-065925-7. People who wish to order copies or to request copies for possible course adoption can do so by calling McGraw Hill's customer service number 1-800-338-3987. People who wish to order copies for their university's library may be interested in knowing that a hard-cover edition of the text will soon (February?) be published by Temple University Press. The price is expected to be approx. $40. Here is the table of contents: 1. Introduction to a feminist psychology of women 2. Approaches to understanding girls and women 3. The meaning of difference: Sex, gender, and cognitive abilities 4. Images of women 5. Doing gender: Sex, status and power 6. Biological aspects of sex and gender 7. Becoming gendered: Childhood 8. Becoming a woman: Puberty and adolescence 9. Sex, love, and romance 10. Commitments: Women and long-term relationships 11. Mothering 12. Work and achievement 13. Midlife and beyond 14. Violence against women 15. Gender and psychological disorders 16. Summing up ************************************************************** 2) The most recent issue of the NWSA Journal (volume 3, number 3, Autumn 1991) is a special issue devoted to Women's Studies in the 1990s. It contains a number of articles, an annotated bibliography on feminist pedagogy, reports on Women's Studies in what was East Germany, Guam, the Philippines, and Latin America, and review essays and book reviews. (Much to my frustration, the issue does NOT include an announcement about WMST-L, even though I sent one to them last May.) NWSA Journal is published by Ablex Publishing Corporation, 355 Chestnut Street, Norwood, New Jersey 07648. Subscriptions for NWSA members are $21.50 per year; non-member individual subscriptions are $35.00 *************************************************************** 3) Job opening at Antioch College. Tenure-track position in Women's Studies beginning September, 1992. Field open, but social science applicants especially encouraged. Position involves teaching and further developing Women's Studies Program and new major. Commitment to multicultural and international perspectives essential for establishing close relationships with African/African-American Studies, International Studies, etc. Ph.D. or terminal degree, teaching experience required. Administrative experience helpful. Rank and salary dependent upon experience. Send letter, resume, three reference letters to Office of the Dean of Faculty, Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387. Application review begins February 15 and continues until position is filled. AA/EOE ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 15:21:57 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: cliff staples Subject: Re: psychologists, humanities In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 14 Jan 1992 12:12:00 EST from Hey, did somebody say something about postmodernism? What did I miss. Have I been trashing my mail too indiscriminately again. Rats. Somebody catch me up. What is the relevance of postmodernism for feminism or Women's Studies? For the "self" even, male or female. Thanks, Cliff ###################################### CLIFFORD L. STAPLES # DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY # BOX 8192 UNIVERSITY STATION # GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202 # OFFICE 701-777-4417 # BITNET: UD153289@NDSUVM1 # ###################################### ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 16:44:07 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: Re: psychologists, humanities i'm so glad others are baffled by postmodernism. i don't feel like such a dunce anymore. i am anxiously awaiting the responses to the query about postmodernism and feminism, women's studies, etc... this year's meeting of the SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS (SSSP) is devoted to Postmodernism as a Social Problem. sure would help to know what it is first! thanks, kimberly j. cook k_cook@unhh.unh.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 17:19:08 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Michael Morse Subject: Re: Postmodernist Theory, Quietist Behaviour In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 14 Jan 1992 00:08:00 -0500 from The case for postmodernism disinclining its adherents to activism is circumstantial but strong. As the poet Hoelderlin put it, "to live is to defend a form"; in drier sociologese, this means that commitment entails the enactment of [a series of] unstated values. In the case of postmodernism, the central values have to do with the truth conditions of language, the social consciousness of these conditions, and, finally, the historical *moment* of this process of consciousness. The very name announces that the defining characteristic is temporal, namely an "after-ness," the succession to modernity. This is not to imply that any of the more "primary source" po-mos would accept this diagnosis, or, still less, the label itself. It is hard to imagine Foucault or Irigaray or Derrida tolerating such a tactic--witness Foucault's shrill anger at the "structuralist" tag. Then how can there be a movement, or a moment in history, if its principle architects and exemplars effectively deny their participation? I think the answer lies in the secondary source nature of the phenomenon. Like most such broad labels--Romanticism and Classicism among the most notorious--the term Po-Mo is a gesture of intellectual convenience (with an effort, I'll resist saying "laziness") directed to making bite-sized the enormities of the time, an attempt to tame the time by supplying a NAME for it. Thus what matters is no longer the time and its flux, but the safety of reaction to it, in particular through conformity with the avant-gardeness of the avant-garde. What matters is staying on top of things, which is to stay being fashionable, rather than DOING anything.. if this view sounds irascible and reactionary, it is due to the sadness engendered by a dispiritingly trivial debate. How can a single term, undeniably vague of definition, matter so much? If it does, then it can only be at the expense of subtler, more determined investigations.. MW Morse ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 17:00:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Snow Leopard Subject: Meat and Ms/Ms. Observations On the Sexism of Meat: An observation: With cats, especially female, particurly lionesses, they are seen as the hunter and they are very much the carnivore. On Ms or Ms.: A reduction for mistress; Given that time period, does anyone know what would be the title for a woman knight, thus what is that for "Sir". My background has taught me that it is "Ma'am"; however, many do no agree with that. -Traci TH05324@swtexas ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 18:36:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: SFM2356@OBERLIN.BITNET Subject: The men's movement Hi, I'm Fran Matthew, a senior English/WmSt major at Oberlin College. I'm interested in academic writing on the men's movement, serious analysis of gender issues from a male/masculine viewpoint. Please give me suggestions on resour cesand authors for finding such material. Since this is a Wmst list, I'm not sure if it's appropriate to post this kind of info on the list; if it isn't, please send to: sfm2356@oberlin.bitnet. Thanks much. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 18:36:02 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Frank Dane Subject: Re: psychologists, humanities In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 14 Jan 1992 00:08:00 EST from I echo Arnie Kahn's uncertainty about what postmodernism is. I've seen so many references to it in so many different domains that I no longer feel as though I have a grasp on it. Would a "real" postmodernist please stand up and enlighten me/us? Francis C. Dane, Assoc. Prof. & Chair Department of Pschology, Mercer University Macon, GA 31207-0001 USA FDANE@UGA.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 18:37:53 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Melba Cuddy-Keane Subject: postmodernism OK, an attempt: What Postmodernism Means to Me--a non-technical explanation with apologies to the great philosophers. We can think first about the philosophical implications of what has been called the Disappearance of God: not just the abandoning of a belief in a supreme being, but all it implies--abandoning a belief in a purposive creation, a final goal, above all an ultimate universal unified grand pattern and meaning to all existence. Postmodernism applies the implications of the Disappearance of God to the rest of our experience. To take two instances--our experience of the text and of the self. Previous approaches to the text saw it as an expression of a writer's vision or genius (like the origins of the world); the most perfect work of art was a total unity; the critic's task was to show how all the elements conspired to produce a coherent and integrated pattern and to reveal its final meaning. Previous approaches to the self defined it as a unified subject, with a centre, core, or "true self" usually defined in moral terms and conceived as developing teleologically (at least ideally) toward maturity (the final goal). In postmodernism both the text and the self are conceived as dynamic interactive and "impure"--that is, a mixture of diverse and competing elements; multiple not only because of the pluralism of the elements (conscious and unconscious, etc.) but also because each observer (reader) gives a work (character) a new context and a different interactive field for its existence. The notion of a single unified meaning (explanation) appears as "essentialism"--that is, a reductive attempt to limit a text, person, to one of its attributes. The search for universals is seen as "totalizing"--that is, that attempt to make an observation deriving from one situation applicable to ALL. "Humanism," patriarchal attitudes, nationalism, etc. are seen as totalizing and essentialist beliefs positing "final answers" on the basis of white, male, upper-class, imperialist experience. Aesthetic notions of the unified text may have similarly worked to discriminate against women, many of whom (quite possibly for social and cultural reasons) have written in more fragmented, pluralistic and interactive forms. Modernism also responded to the fragmented and pluralistic nature of our experience, but tended to see such fragmentation as the grounds for despair, as the loss of a meaningful centre. Postmodernist attitudes tend to accept and even to celebrate such fragmentation as a dynamic and unending field of play. Postmodernism has been criticized for philosophizing itself out of any contact with political realities, since in its most strict application, all political philosophies can be exposed as essentialist and totalizing. But in a less extreme application, postmodernism is relevant to political and feminist concerns, since it posits that all value is relative to context and that the "final answers" that are liberating to some are indeed imprisoning to others. (Sorry, too long, too reductive--but the best I could make of an impromptu response. It's a start.) Melba Cuddy-Keane, Dept. of English, U. of Toronto mcuddy@epas.utoronto.can ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 18:06:02 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHONDAR@UKANVM.BITNET Subject: Pornography references Some time ago someone wrote asking for references for perspectives on porno- graphy. Did anyone respond? I was hoping to see the references on the list. Also I was unable to directly e-mail to the requester, must have copied the address wrong. If you're still out there please write me, I have some refer- ences for you. Rhonda Reinholtz RHONDAR@UKANVM.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 17:30:00 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "ELIZABETH HERR 'HERR_B@CUBLDR.Colorado.EDU'" Subject: Re: Pornography references I do not remember if I replied, but here are two references off the top of my head: John Stoltenberg: Refusing to be a Man Andrea Dworkin - her name pops up a lot, but I am not familiar with her writings personally. ELizabeth Herr (HERR_B@Cubldr.Colorado.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 20:35:03 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from PROFS to RFC822 format by PUMP V2.2 From: "Leonard P. Hirsch" Subject: Re: The Sexual Politics Of Meat In-Reply-To: note of 01/14/92 01:33 From: Leonard P. Hirsch Office of International Relations/Q-3123 (202) 357-4788 +-----------------------------------------------------+ | Leonard Hirsch (202) 357-4788/FAX (202)786-2557 | | Smithsonian Institution BITNET INCEM005@SIVM | +-----------------------------------------------------+ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 21:04:37 -0600 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: kfresco@UX1.CSO.UIUC.EDU Subject: Re: Ms vs Ms. >>Can someone please tell me why we put a period after Ms as in "Ms." ?? >>What are we abbreviating? Someone pointed this out to me years ago and >>I've never gotten much of an answer. Accordingly, I use Ms This isn't >>a matter of great weight, but enquiring minds wanna know. > I always thought that Ms (without a period) was correct and that people started putting a period by contamination from the Mr./Mrs. tradition. (I'm a medievalist,too.) British practice is to write Mr/Mrs; American is to write Mr./Mrs. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 22:42:16 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Melba Cuddy-Keane Subject: error in my address very sorry. my address should read: mcuddy@epas.utoronto.ca Melba Cuddy-Keane, Dept. of English, U of Toronto ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 00:17:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: IPW Subject: Re: The men's movement Hi, I'm Fran Matthew, a senior English/WmSt major at Oberlin College. I'm interested in academic writing on the men's movement, serious analysis of gender issues from a male/masculine viewpoint. Please give me suggestions on resour cesand authors for finding such material. Since this is a Wmst list, I'm not sureif it's appropriate to post this kind of info on the list; if it isn't, please send to: sfm2356@oberlin.bitnet. Thanks much. i would be interested, along with fran, in material which presents a serious analysis of gender issues from the male viewpoint ... or, perhaps, material which presents a serious analysis of male gender issues (whether from the male point of view, or not) and i would think list posting would be appropriate? trish %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% i.p. [trish] wilson department of anthropology mc master university hamilton, ontario, canada wilsont@sscvax.cis.mcmaster.ca %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 22:34:12 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: nancy felipe russo Subject: Re: The Sexual Politics Of Meat In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 14 Jan 1992 01:32:00 EST from Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Director, Women's Studies ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1801 (602)965-2358 FAX:(602)965-2357 BITNET: ATNFR@ASUACAD ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 18:06:55 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: KMARCH@MAINE.BITNET In-Reply-To: Land as female It might be worth it to look at Hugh Honour's 'The New Golden Land. European I mages of America from the Discoveries to the Present Time'. (1975) Without wis hing to belabor a point, there is an interesting line to pursue in the theme of America as Amazon, related to motifs of rape, economic gain, and the creation of heroes. One aside: one part of the Spanish State, Galicia, was considered b y Unamuno (a major intellectual and very paternalistic) to be feminine, ostenti sively because its topography of rolling hills resembled female breasts... I m ention this for 2 reasons: 1) he was much cited; and 2) Galicia itself consider s its relationship to Ireland to be very important, even today. As for Unamuno , one would hate to think he spoke of geographical 'femininity' because the reg ion was (and is) rural, primitive, economically limited..... None of which fi ts with the reality that a woman was responsible for the renaissance of the Gal ician language, the publication of the first book in Galician in four centuries , and around mid-century or shortly thereafter was writing very feminist materi al. Pardon the digression, but I would be happen to discuss women/nationalism/ and related themes privately with anyone interested. Kathleen March ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 18:16:58 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: KMARCH@MAINE.BITNET Subject: Land as female In-Reply-To: Land as female In my enthusiasm, I forgot to mention Goetzmann, 'The West of the Imagination'. (Norton & Co, 1986). Kathleen March ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1992 23:47:59 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Don Pirot Subject: Re: Pornography references In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 14 Jan 1992 17:30:00 MST from Here's another reference: Pornography: The Other Side by Prof. F. M. Christensen published by the University of Alberta Press. Don Pirot, | BITNET: DPIROT@UALTAVM University Computing Systems, | University of Alberta, | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. | ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 00:41:52 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: cliff staples Subject: Re: The men's movement In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 15 Jan 1992 00:17:00 EDT from There is a whole lot of writing on men's movement and men's issues going on right now. But there is no MALE perspective anymore than there is A FEMALE perspective on anything. I doubt John Stoltenberg would say hi (or HO! I guess it would be) to Robert Bly if his life depended on it. For a while the most you could get was a women's feminist take on men. Not counting the "men's rights" or "hazards of being male" writing that came out of the late sixties/early seventies. Lately, you are much more likely to find men giving their own take on being male, often prompted by an encounter with feminism. This latter work seems, to me, to be most worth watching. I would suggest starting with the magazine _Changing Men_, work by Harry Brod, Michael Kimmel, Michael Messner (on sports mostly). These are all white guys. Harry Edwards has been writing on black men and sports for 15 or 20 years now. The anthology by Kimmel and Messner _Men's Lives_ is out in a new addition. I haven't seen it yet, but my brother told me they included that chapter from bell hooks' _Feminist Theory From Margin To Center_ entitled "Men: Comrades in Struggle." An improvement on what was already a good book. Stoltenberg's _Refusing to Be a Man: Essays on Sex and Justice_ is a must. I read sections of it verbatim to my classes and the students go nuts. Many of the women cheer; some of the men leave, others want to have long talks. You could also try (I'm scanning my bookcase) _Masculinity and Power_ by Brittan; _Men In Feminism_ by Jardine and Smith; _Rediscovering Masculinity_ by Seidler. Also, _Recreating Sexual Politics_ by Seidler and _The Achilles Heal Reader_ edited by Seidler. That's just a start. There's a lot more, a goodly amount I'm sure I don't even know about. This summer, in Chicago, is the annual meeting of the National Organization of Men Against Sexism (NOMAS). These are the guys who publish _Changing Men_. The Men's Studies Association is also having its meeting at the same time in Chicago-- July 9-12 I believe. Be there or be... what? regards, Cliff p.s. Arnie you know more about this stuff than I do. Help me out. ###################################### CLIFFORD L. STAPLES # DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY # BOX 8192 UNIVERSITY STATION # GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202 # OFFICE 701-777-4417 # BITNET: UD153289@NDSUVM1 # ###################################### ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 10:07:43 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: gallivan@CAD.UCCB.NS.CA Subject: RE: Meat and Ms/Ms. Observations I understand the correct title for a female knight is Dame (Agatha Christie, e.g.). ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 09:58:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: SMPIKE@IUBACS.BITNET Subject: readings on porn I haven't been on the list long so don't know if the initial request appeared in a research or teaching context. In my introductory Women's Studies course I present a variety of perspectives on sex work and the porn industry. I like to include more scholarly, analytical or legal perspectives with stories by women involved in this kind of work. My students read Mackinnon and Dworkin as well as excerpts from Sex Work: Writings by Women in the Sex Industry and Good Girls/Bad Girls. Sarah Pike Indiana University SMPIKE@IUBACS.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 10:12:23 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Scott R. Vaughn" Subject: Heilbrun Reference I tried to send this to Amanda Goldrick-Jones directly, but I couldn't get a message delivered! Sorry about cluttering up the list. Some time ago you wrote: ".....Heilbrun (interesting relation of Heilbrun's study of female autobiography to country music; it sits nicely!)" Would you please send a specific reference for this. It sounds intriguing! (Is this Carolyn Heilbrun, aka Amanda Cross?) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 09:21:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MARTINS@SKLIB.USASK.CA Subject: female knight A woman knighted, although it is a fairly modern phenomenon - C19, I think - is a Dame. Dame Judith Anderson, for one. SAM S A Martin U of Saskatchewan Canada MartinS@sklib.USASK.Ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 11:22:33 EST Reply-To: pearson@LEMOYNE Sender: Women's Studies List From: PEARSON@LEMOYNE.BITNET Subject: RE: Pornography references I read a book recently on the history of pornographic films, and not being an expert in the field found it accessible, interesting and and well-reasoned (the reviews in general were very positive for it). Hard Core: power, pleasure, and the "frenzy of the visable.", by LInda Williams, Berkeley: UC, 1989. It argues against censorship, and for taking it all seriously. Gretchen Pearson Le Moyne College pearson@lemoyne.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 11:15:33 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: F5O@CORNELLA.BITNET Subject: porn Sarah Pike I've just picked up the book _Feminism Unmodified_ (I can't remember the author right now.) I think it is MacKinnion or something like that but I can't be sure. The book is a collection of speeches that she has delivered. Many of the speeches deal with pornography and the effect it has on the suppression of women. The speeches are well written and analytical (the author is an attorney.) I'll post the complete bib tommorrow. Lee Buttonow ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 11:38:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: SCHLESL@SNYPLAVA.BITNET Subject: Re: Heilbrun Reference re: Heilbrun, I would guess Amanda was talking about: Writing a Women's lIfe, by Carolyn G. Heilbrun (yes, aka Amanda Cross). If that's not what you were referring to Amanda, please correct! The book is out in paperback, Ballantine Books, copyright 1988 Lynn Schlesinger schlesl@snyplava ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 13:17:55 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from OfficeVision to RFC822 by PUMP V2.2X From: "Linda Lopez McAlister/Hypatia" Subject: One More Women's Studies DEPARTMENT *** Resending note of 01/15/92 11:19 To: WMST-L --CMSNAMES From: Linda Lopez McAlister/Hypatia Joan, You can add one more to your tally of Universities that have Women's Studies Departments rather than Programs--University of South Florida. It took the Provost months to swallow hard and say "yes" to the Dean's recommendation that this happen, but it finally did, yesterday. We're celebrating today! LINDA LOPEZ McALISTER DLLAFAA@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU (Internet) Women's Studies Dept. DLLAFAA@CFRVM_(Bitnet) University of South Florida, Tampa 33620 (813)974-5531 #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 13:20:29 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: IP05946@PORTLAND.BITNET Subject: Female Knight. In-Reply-To: Meat and Ms/Ms. Observations The correct term is "Dame, as is the female style for Barronett in addition. Miriam K. Morgan-Alexander IP05946@PORTLAND.MAINE.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 10:56:19 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Oliver Mullarney Subject: Re: The men's movement I believe some of the most interesting and important work re: male point of view in gender studies must be in the area of gay theory or what Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick calls 'antihomophobic theory'. Sedgwick's books in thgis area are fascinating if densely-written: BETWEEN MEN and THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF THE CLOSET. If you check her references, you will be directed towards other theorists. The spring 1990 (or fall?) issue of TEXTUAL PRACTICE (a British journal) is devoted to gay studies and has a number of essays by major male figures in this area. Also, try Stephen Heath on the construction of sexuality. --Karlin Lillington, Trinity College Dublin omullarn@oracle.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 14:22:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHODA UNGER Subject: Time Magazine article on sex differences At the risk of starting yet another dialogue on the network, I would like to call the attention of this group to this week's Time Magazine cover story on sex differences. It is an excellent example of Susan Faludi's point that the media selectively publicizes information that helps to maintain the sexual status quo. The same 5 or 6 researchers are cited yet again and only at the end of the article is there any indication that biological differences be- tween males and females may be confounded by environmental factors. Among the flaws in the article are the generalizations from animals to humans (despite the fact that one of the studies cited on changes of sex in fish indicates that biological differences follow enviromental changes; e.g., the absence of a dominant male from the group); extremely small sample sizes and studies that have not been replicated; and a general lack of acknowledgement that human children are socialized differently from birth as well as neglect of important societal variables such as who is likely to be rewarded for what kind of work. I don't know what we can do about this selective reporting which makes me very angry, but I hope someone on this network has some ideas. Rhoda Unger unger@apollo.montclair.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 14:44:19 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: RE: Time Magazine article on sex differences how about a letter writing campaign to the editors of TIME? we could all send letters from all over North america and they will never know what hit them... we could point out the perpetuation of misogynist social institutions and the terrible consequences of such biological reductionism. kimberly j. cook k_cook@unhh.unh.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 15:27:26 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Nancy Lapanne Subject: RE: Time Magazine article on sex differences I agree that a letter-writing campaign would be most useful. However, may I suggest that those of us who are not subscribers to "Time Magazine" read the article at our local libraries or borrow a copy? I'd hate to counteract an outpouring of protests with a substantial increase in revenue for the magazine company. This would undoubtedly reinforce their belief that controversy sells... Nancy Lapanne University of Maryland nlapanne@arch.umd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 16:45:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BHOWARD@COLGATEU.BITNET Subject: Re: One More Women's Studies DEPARTMENT I am part of a writing program that is petitioning to become a department. We are housed in an interdisciplinary division of the university, along with the women's studies program, and some of our teaching is in women's studies. I'm wondering whether any of you who are part of women's studies departments can furnish me with your rationale for being a department rather than a program. We've articulated our own rationale and forwarded it to our dean, but I would appreciate receiving details about those of other programs--they might be helpful in our arguments. Becky Howard Interdisciplinary Writing Program Colgate University BHOWARD@COLGATEU ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 16:08:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: UAHSEF01@UAHVAX1.BITNET Subject: RE: Heilbrun Reference I think I can shed some light on the request for the heilbrun reference "interesting relation of Heilbrun's study of female autobiography to country music." The relation of Heilbrun's work to country music is from a paper I wrote and presented at the annual meeting of the Speech Communication Association last fall. Amanda and I had been corresponding and I mailed her a copy of the paper. What you saw was a personal note that she sent over the list, because she could not get it to me any other way. The paper is entitled: "The Girl Singer and the Self-Defined Artist: The Articulation of Women's Experience in Country Music." If you are interested in receiving a copy of the paper let me know and I'll be happy to send it via snail mail. Susan Fillippeli UAHSEF01@UAHVAX1 (BITNET) UAHSEF01@ASNUAH.ASN.NET (INTERNET) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 17:52:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Freda B. Birnbaum" Subject: Re: Affirmative Action/DISCRETION On 11-JAN-1992 10:20:54.91, BITNET%"LENTZ61@SNYPOTVA.BITNET" wrote, Re: Affirmative Action giving someone's office AND home address and phone number in complete detail. Might not the better part of valor been to have posted only the OFFICE address and phone to the list??? +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Freda Birnbaum, Sr. Programmer/Analyst Teachers College, Columbia University | | BITNET: BITNET%"FBBIRNBAUM@CUTCV2" CCIMS, Box 43 | | 212-678-3491 (Eastern time) New York, NY 10027 USA | +------------- Call on God, but row away from the rocks -----------------------+ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 19:34:42 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: sorsha@WAM.UMD.EDU Subject: Time cover article, letter campaign I think the idea of a write-in is good, and I'd like to participate. I think it might be a good idea if someone (Ms. Unger, maybe? :-) would make an outline of good points to make, so that it would present a unified front. Then we can blitz 'em! Laurie Beth Brunner sorsha@wam.umd.edu -- ............................The Zen master was asked the...................... .Send burnt offerings to....solemn question--what is buddha?.....IT'S GROOVE.. ...sorsha@wor.umd.edu.......He took off his sandal, put it.........O'CLOCK!... ............................on his head, and walked away...................... ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 17:44:19 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: nancy felipe russo Subject: Re: Time cover article, letter campaign In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 15 Jan 1992 19:34:42 EST from I do believe we have to respond to things like Time (especially a cover story), but I can't resist the observation of how this is a perfect example of how easy it is for those with the power to buttress cultural beliefs and stereotypes about women and create a situation whereby literally hundreds (if not thousands) of feminist-hours across the country have to be used in defensive action to maintain the status quo and not regress. Doing something to harm women is so fast and easy to do; undoing the damage takes so much energy, and has to be done by people who are already overworked and under- resourced*. No wonder the status quo is so easy to maintain. Now: to bring all this back to some relevance for the list--I plan to use the TIME piece to focus discussion for my feminist theory class next week and perhaps out of the discussion will come a class critique that we can send to Time. I would be interested in hearing how others might use this "real life example" to explicate issues in feminist theory. Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Director, Women's Studies ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1801 (602)965-2358 FAX:(602)965-2357 BITNET: ATNFR@ASUACAD ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 18:08:40 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: nancy felipe russo Subject: meat politics I'm told that my note on this didn't go through, so here goes. People might be interested in the work of Carol Nemeroff* on magical thinking. Among her creative stuff is research that asks respondents (probably college students) to make judgments about peoples who are described as hunting, fishing, farming, etc. and the only difference is the description is that in addition to hunting animals, the people eat them (as opposed to wearing their furs for clothings etc.). When the eating is added, the people are seen as aggressiv e, powerful, etc. Sidenote: people who eat donuts are seen as slobs........ This is "you are what you eat"-as socially constructed! She also asks people things like "how much money would you need to be offere d to wear Hitler's shirt" (washed of course). I'm paraphrasing and not doing it justice, for it's very creative and interesting. She's now exploring how these processes contribute to fear of AIDS contagion, etc. so it even has timely applications. *Psychology, ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104. Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Director, Women's Studies ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1801 (602)965-2358 FAX:(602)965-2357 BITNET: ATNFR@ASUACAD ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 20:57:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: RE: Time cover article, letter campaign I, like Laurie Beth Brunner, don't get TIME. Rhoda, if you or someone else who has the article, could draft a reply, then I could download it, personalize it, and send it off. Whoever, if anyone out there in electronics land, drafts the letter could also include the address of Time, Inc., it would be very helpful. Although I do not get TIME, I have known Rhoda for two decades and trust her judgment w/o question. I just don't have the time to get and read the article. Arnie Kahn fac_askahn@jmuvax or fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 22:54:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RLYSLOFF@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU Subject: Female performers and the male gaze I'm an ethnomusicologist starting a research project on the female performer under the male gaze. My interest was sparked by an article by John Shepherd ("Music and Male Hegenomy" in _Music and Society_, edited by Leppert and MacClary) who argues that the arts and other forms of cultural reproduction are male defined. Some questions this raised in my mind are as follows: Is the female performer a male construct? Who does the female performer perform for? (Shepherd argues that the female performs for males while the male performs for either/both male/or female.) Is her dress, stage behavior, music/dance repertoire, and so forth male defined? If the female performs "for" a male audience in a male-defined system what does her success as a performer mean? I'm somewhat new to the realm of women's studies and would like to ask for any comments. I would also appreciate suggestions for further reading about women (performers) and male-oriented cultural ideologies. Thanks, Rene T.A. Lysloff RLYSLOFF@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU or RLYSLOFF@POMONA.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 01:11:48 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: RE: Female performers and the male gaze Rene, On MTV, the male performer performs for young males. There is some interesting literature around this. I think in looking at female performers, you should not omit looking at lesbian performers who perform for women. Sandra Basgall SBASGALL@VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 08:23:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHODA UNGER Subject: RE: Time cover article, letter campaign I have decided to try to draft a letter today (classes don't start till Tuesday so it is an opportune time) and will send it out on the network if I come up with something coherent. However, i do want to note that the article is phrased in such a way to make responses from women's studies appear to be a feminist conspiracy. The article cites at least one woman researcher who believes that her work has not been considered acceptable because of such a conspiracy and who stated this to the more-or-less popular media (the journal of the NY Academy of Sciences) a number of years ago. In fact, part of my anger at this article is that it quotes mostly the same (women) researchers ignoring the large number of other scholars who find contrary information. They seem to feel if they cite women re- searchers they won't be called sexist. The other reason for my anger is that this is nothing new. Those of you who are interested might look at the similar episode related by the late Ruth Bleier that was published in one of Sue Rosser's books. Those of you who have not yet read Susan Faludi's book should do so to get an idea of the generality of the problem of media bias and the impact it has had on the women's movement. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Time will do a cover stroy story on media bias. Rhoda Unger unger@apollo.montclair.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 12:04:40 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allan Hunter Subject: Poststructuralist theory (reponse to Unger) In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 13 Jan 1992 13:25:00 EST from Rhoda Unger notes that poststructuralist theory tends to dampen the sense that individuals can make positive, intentional change in their world. That IS a problem. Personally, I think poststructuralist theory is wrong, which I suppose is the good news, but the proliferation of it is rather frightening, given that it does have that effect on those who have been exposed to it. (Maybe its muddy incomprehensibility will ultimately be on our side?) The wrongness of poststructuralist theory is a variation on what Alan Watts once called the "figure/ground error" -- when one category of things forms the entire context of another, the "shape" of one cate- gory implies the other. Error creeps in when causation is attributed to one of the two complementary categories. (Actually, it could be three or a hundred and ten categories, but we do tend to do our worst figure/ground thinking around dichotomies). The shape of "A" on the conceptual blackboard may indeed imply the shape of "not-A", but it is no more the cause of it than vice versa; and the shape of the chalk line boundary is no more the cause of "A" and "not-A" than the system of categories "A/not-A" is the cause of the boundary line. If I, personally, go up to the blackboard and DRAW such a line, then you can attribute causal significance to ME -- but only so long as you see me as an AGENT. Poststructuralist theory denies agency to individuals and then attributes causality to our socio-historical context. But "society" is a dynamic structure of interactions that occur between individuals, a structure that is only visible over a period of time -- an "us", not an "it". While it is true that we are thorougly shaped and affected by the individual people that surround us (temporally and physically), we as individuals affect the collective them just as surely as vice versa -- all of us, as individuals, do that. We participate in maintaining and/or altering the very social forms that organize and structure our lives, and they are as much products of us as we are of them. I guess one could deny both causality AND agency to individuals AND to our social context -- that would at least be logically consistent -- but that isn't how we experience it and it isn't very useful. Nor is that what they are doing. Instead, like B.F. Skinner and structuralist sociologists of the 1950s, they are promoting the gospel of social determinism, which has a malicious undertone of social conservatism: to explain away behavior while denying any agency is to render it devoid of meaning and purpose. -- Allan Hunter ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 09:44:24 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Oliver Mullarney Subject: Re: Female performers and the male gaze Dear Rene, You probably either know this text or will get billions of responses recommending it, but the (germinal!) text in this area was/is most certainly Laura Mulvey's essay'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema' which ran in SCREEN 16, #3 (Autumn '75) and is reprinted in the US in Penley: FEMINISM IN FILM THEORY. There are other essays in the latter which would be relevant. Also, try Mary Ann Doane: 'Film and the Masquerade: Theorising the Female Spectator', SCREEN 23, #3-4 (sept/Oct '82): 81. SCREEN is very good in general for essays which consider the male/female spectator. Stephen Heath has also written some good essays which respond to/incorporate Mulvey. It seems to me that film theory is where you will find the subject dealt with most completely, in ways that will transfer to theorising live performance. Karlin Lillington Trinity College Dublin omullarn@oracle.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 12:45:21 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allan Hunter Subject: Re: Postmodernist Theory In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 14 Jan 1992 17:19:08 EST from I can't resist the temptation to forward a diatribe I wrote about the postmodernist / poststructuralist invasion of feminist theory courses... (originally posted to FEMINIST-digest). God, I really HATE that stuff! ======================================================================== 64 Date: Wed, 08 Jan 92 15:53:06 EST From: Allan Hunter Subject: Oedipus, Freud, Irigary & Cixous & Co... To: Cindy Tittle Moore In-Reply-To: Your message of Mon, 30 Dec 91 15:29:01 -0800 An interesting little thing happened in the academy during the eighties that some of you may have had the good forture to have not been exposed to. A brief (if irritated) retelling of it should shed some light on why anyone would think the latest dethronement of the Oedipus nonsense ought to have any negative effects on feminist theory. Ready? I don't know when it got started, but by the time I became a grad stu- dent in 1988, "feminist theory" was officially trendy, but for some odd reason (my, how surprising ;-) ) the favorite new trendy texts were modeled on a trendy MALE-originated set of theories called "deconstruc- tion" or "post-structuralist theory" or, less often, "semiotics". They differed from what _I_ thought of as feminists in the following ways: 1. They read like MUD. You are forced to decide early on that either they really aren't making much sense or else they are using lan- guage in such a complex way that it will take as much as an hour per paragraph to grasp what they are saying. 2. One of their central theoretical axioms is a total social deter- minism: EVERYTHING you (or I or anyone else) feels, thinks, or values as good or bad is totally explained by your (my, etc.) social and historical location. There are no ultimate truths or understandings or values that are better than those of anyone else. This means that everyone is totally and irrevocably a sort of prisoner of their social context, unable to rise above social- ization and the effects of differential experience, eventually because there's nothing "out there" beyond it to get to or to see. (so much for bridging gaps and moving towards better shared world- views) 3. They do indeed have a fondness for Freud and his stuff. Feminist critiques that have noted that the social backdrop of his clients was an unexamined, uncriticized patriarchy? Such critiques don't bother these folks for the reasons mentioned above in number 2: "patriarchy" is reality if you're in it and you are a product of whatever you're in, and feminism is equally (and I mean EQUALLY) JUST A PRODUCT OF PATRIARCHY: context causes all thought. 4. Their typical logic works like a joke: you look at something in a cleverly skewed sort of way and overstate some kind of general- ization so that it sounds as if it were a logical derivation, but in the case of a good joke, it makes everyone laugh because you know it doesn't quite hang together that way. Poststructural "thinking" is quite seriously intended, though. EXAMPLE: in the old Ms. Magazine (when they had ads), there was once a cute car- toon in which a woman reads that "women are a major risk for mental disorders caused by being denied what they want in life". Then she also reads, elsewhere, that "the mentally heal- thy self is only fulfilled through fantasy realization, because fantasies represent what we want the most." In the third panel, she reads that "nearly all women report having rape fantasies". Conclusion: "I get it, in order to avoid going crazy, I had better go out and find a rapist to rape me!" If you translate that joke into highly incomprehensible paragraphs full of poly- syllables and use sentences that have no real verbs (use nouns as verbs instead), and never state your premises directly, you can make this joke sound like a deep psychoanalytic revelation, can probably become a famous "poststructuralist feminist"! ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 12:53:28 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allan Hunter Subject: Re: Pornography references In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 14 Jan 1992 23:47:59 MST from See also Susan Griffin's material; and a collection of radical feminist essays titled Against Sadomasochism also has some neat stuff in it. -- Allan Hunter ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 13:59:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHODA UNGER Subject: RE: Time cover article, letter campaign The following is the letter to the editor that I have sent to Time. I hope other people will provide them with additional feedback about various aspects of their story. I apologize for the length--I got carried away. January 16, 1992 Mr. Jason McManus, Editor TIME Magazine 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, N. Y. 10020 Dear Mr. McManus: In your cover story of January 20, 1992 you indicated that gender differences have as much to do with the biology of the brain as with the way we are raised. However, the lack of balance in this story and the incomplete nature of the evidence reported does not allow your readers much opportunity to understand that human behavior is always due to a combination of biologi- cal and environmental factors. As the coauthor of a recent and extensive text on women and gender (706 pages published by McGraw Hill this January), I would like to help set the record straight. 1. The issue of sex differences in children's toy and play behavior. It should come as no surprise that children from age two and a half years and older show differences in these areas. Researchers from as early as 1975 (Rheingold & Cook) have found that boys and girls are given different toys from an early age. Especially large sex differences have been found in the categories of baby dolls which encourage nurturance (few are given to boys) and vehicles (boys are given vehicles 18 times as often as girls are). Children obviously play more with toys with which they are familiar. More- over, developmental psychologists (Serbin & Conner, 1979; Newcombe, Bandura, & Taylor, 1983) have found consistent relationships between the kind of toys with which children play and their spatial skills. 2. Studies of the effects of testosterone on the human brain. The evidence in this area is from a few questionable studies conducted with a small number of subjects (see critique by Bleier, 1988). The history of the misuse of biological differences in the brain by scientists (cf., Shields, 1975; Gould, 1981; Russett, 1989) should lead us to be cautious about making assertions about such group effects. These differences inevitably turn into distinctions in which the psychological properties of the more powerful group are considered more desirable and useful to society. 3. Cause and effect relationships and effects generalized from lower animals to humans. Some of the research cited in this article actually contradicts the idea that biology produces behavior. For example, the brains of male fish change as a function of a change in their social environment-- the elimination of a dominant male. Moreover, research on whiptail lizards can be used to demonstrate that it is not necessary to be male or female in order to produce so-called male and female behaviors. All of these lizards are genetic females. Female hyenas are much more aggressive than males, but what do any of these animals tell us about human behavior and why are some (those species that support conventional beliefs about human sex differences) cited and others ignored? 4. The focus on statistical differences rather than similarities. Even if these sex differences exist, all serious researchers acknowledge that they represent small differences between groups of people. The amount of overlap between the sexes is far greater than the differences between them, but this does not seem to be exciting news! Finally, I believe that no journalistic purpose is served by some of the anti-feminist comments raised at the beginning of the article. Ther is certainly no feminist conspiracy to prevent the publication of any bio- logically oriented research. Most of the researchers cited in your article have enjoyed prestigious academic careers and their work has been freely discussed and debated by scholars of sex and gender. They constitute, how- ever, only a very small sample of the scholars interested in these areas. The fact that most such scholars are interested in environmental differences and structural inequalities between the sexes may be an indication of the many interesting phenomena to be found in these areas rather than as a career serving move (feminist scholarship has not been a vehicle for professional success for most biologists, psychologists, anthropologists, etc. There is considerable reason to believe that covert connections between biological beliefs and political conservatism exist (cf., Unger, Draper, & Pendergrass, 1986). There is also considerable evidence from Susan Faludi's new book "Backlash" that the media serves to maintain a traditional social and political agenda for women. I will be more satisfied with the balanced nature of TIME's reporting when I see a cover story on such media bias. Sincerely yours, Rhoda K. Unger, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology References Bleier, R. (1988). Science and the construction of meaning in the neuro- sciences. In S. V. Rosser (Ed.). Feminism within the sciences and health care professions. NY: Pergamon Press. Gould, S. J. (1981). The mismeasure of man. NY: Norton. Newcombe, N., Bandura, M., & Taylor, D. G. (1983). Sex differences in spatial abilities and spatial activities. Sex Roles, 9, 377 - 386. Rheingold, H. L. & Cook, K. V. (1975). The contents of boys' and girls' rooms as an index of parents' behavior. Child Development, 46, 459 - 463. Russett, C. E. (1989). Sexual science. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Serbin, L. A. & Conner, J. M. (1979). Sex-typing of children's play preferences and patterns of cognitive performance. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 135, 315 - 316. Shields, S. A. (1975). Functionalism, Darwinism, and the psychology of women: A study in social myth. American Psychologist, 30, 739 - 754. Unger, R. & Crawford, M. (1992). Women and gender: A feminist psychology. NY: McGraw Hill. Unger, R., Draper, R., & Pendergrass, M. (1986). Personal epistemology and personal experience. Journal of Social Issues, 42, 67 - 79. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 14:15:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: TLORRAIN@ROLLINS.BITNET Subject: Poststructualism/postmodernism Like any set of theories that we attempt to give a one-word label to both "poststructuralism" and "postmodernism" refer to a varied range of views that attempt to theorize notions like the "self" and "truth" in a way that refuses to take either for granted. It seems to me that rather than dismissing the theories that fall under these labels because they're labelled we would be better off addressing the specifics of the views involved. Many of these theories address the problematic nature of talking about identities or human nature in a social context in which we are not in agreement about our values or our goals. If we are to work out solutions for dealing with these differences, challenging the notion that separate individuals are the building blocks of society seems to hold some promise. The entry by Melba (sorry I can't remember your last name at the moment) suggested some reasons for why this some of these theories might be useful, for example, to women and to minorities. There's no need to think that these theories present an unprecedented break with the tradition to think that they're worth open-minded investigation before they are discarded. Despite the often overly obscure jargon that is used in some of this work, I personally find the whole discussion both illuminating and useful to my own work and goal--which is to promote social change in the direction of community without oppression. Revisioning our notions of agency doesn't have to mean abandoning any conception of responsibility or commitment. Having some disagreements with a theoretical perspective doesn't have to mean abandoning the whole perspective before seeing what it has to offer. Tamsin Lorraine Philosophy Rollins College TLORRAIN@ROLLINS ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 13:36:54 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Amanda Goldrick-Jones Subject: Post-structuralism To add another voice to the ongoing discussion about post-structuralism/postmodernism (often used synony- mously), I'd like to suggest an article that came out in the most recent-but-one issue of _COLLEGE ENGLISH_-- December, I believe). The article is by Teresa Ebert and concerns the relation of post-structuralism to feminism--especially to feminism as a political project. I realize that a few people were suggsting this article before Christmas, and I've been off the List until this week, so may have missed out on some earlier discussion. Still, I feel Ebert's article makes some valuable points about how aspects of post-structuralism can make useful contributions to feminism; her points may reassure those of us--and I am one--who entertain doubts about the validity of post-structuralist metholodolgy for women's studies. I should say that I now have a clearer sense of post-structuralism asa methodology which can be fruitfully applied to feminist projects, thanks to Ebert's article. Regards, Amanda_Goldrick-Jones@mts.rpi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 15:11:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: arrgh It's not only Time magazine. The current Chronicle of Higher Ed. features a cover story, complete with color photo, "Philosophy Porfessor Portrays Her Feminist Colleagues as Out of Touch and 'Relentlessly Hostile to the Family'" A RRRR RRRR GGG H H !! A A R R R R G G H H !! A A R R R R G H H !! A A RRRRR RRRRR G HHHHHHH !! AAAAAAAAA R R R R G GGGGGGG H H !! A A R R R R G G H H A A R R R R GGGG H H !! Arnie Kahn fac_askahn@jmuvax (bitnet) fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu (internet) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 15:25:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHODA UNGER Subject: RE: Time cover article, letter campaign Below is a letter that I sent to TIME magazine in reference to this week's cover story. I hope other people on this list will also respond to various points made in the article. I'm sorry if the letter is so long, but I got carried away. Rhoda Unger January 16, 1992 Mr. Jason McManus, Editor TIME Magazine 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, N. Y. 10020 Dear Mr. McManus: In your cover story of January 20, 1992 you indicated that gender differences have as much to do with the biology of the brain as with the way we are raised. However, the lack of balance in this story and the incomplete nature of the evidence reported does not allow your reader much opportunity to understand that human behaviors is always due to a combina- tion of biological and environmental factors. As the coauthor of a recent and extensive text on women and gender (706 pages published by McGraw Hill this January), I would like to help set the record straight. 1. The issue of sex differences in children's toy and play behavior. It should come as no surprise that children from age two and a half years and older show differences in these areas. Researchers from as early as 1975 (Rheingold & Cook) have found that boys and girls are given different toys from an early age. Especially large sex differences have been found in the categories of baby dolls which encourage nurturance (few are given to boys) and vehicles (boys are given vehicles 18 times as often as girls are). Children obviously play more with toys with which they are familiar. Moreover, developmental psychologists (Serbin & Conner, 1979; Newcombe, Bandura, & Taylor, 1983) have found consistent relationships between the kinds of toys with which children play and their spatial skills. 2. Studies of the effects of testosterone on the human brain. The evidence in this area is from a few questionable studies conducted with a small number of subjects (see critique by Bleier, 1988). The history of the misuse of biological differences in the brain by scientists (cf., Shields, 1975; Gould, 1981; Russett, 1989) should lead us to be cautious about making assertions about group effects. These differences inevitably turn into distinctions in which the psychological properties of the more powerful group are considered more desirable and useful to society. 3. Cause and effect relationships and effects generalized from lower animals to humans. Some of the research cited in this article actually contradicts the idea that biology produces behavior. For example, the brains of male fish change as a function of a change in their social environment--the elimination of a dominant male. Moreover, research on whiptail lizards can be used to demonstrate that it is not necessary to be male or female in order to produce so-called male and female behaviors. All of these lizards are genetic females. Female hyenas are much more aggressive than males, but what do any of these animals tell us about human behavior and why are some (those species that support conventional beliefs about human sex differences) cited and others ignored? 4. The focus on statistical differences rather than similarities. Even if these sex differences exist, all serious researchers acknowledge that they represent small differences between groups of people. The amount of overlap between the sexes is far greater than the differences between them, but this does not seem to be exciting news! Finally, I believe that no journalistic purpose is served by some of the anti-feminist comments raised at the beginning of the article. There is certainly no feminist conspiracy to prevent the publication of any biologically oriented research. Most of the researchers cited in your article have enjoyed prestigious academic careers and their work has been freely discussed and debated by scholars of sex and gender. They consti- tute, however, only a very small sample of the scholars interested in these areas. The fact that most such scholars are interested in environ- mental differences and structural inequalities between the sexes may be an indication of the many interesting phenomena to be found in these areas rther than as a career serving move (feminist scholarship has not been a vehicle for professional success for most biologists, psychologists, anthropologists, etc.). There is considerable reason to believe that covert connections between beliefs about biology and political conservatism exist (cf., Unger, Draper, & Pendergrass, 1986). There is also considerable evidenc from Susan Faludi's new book "Backlash" that the media serves to maintain a traditional social and political agenda for women. I will be more satis- fied with the balanced nature of TIME's reporting when I see a cover story on such media bias. Sincerely yours, Rhoda K. Unger, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology References References will follow. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 13:31:57 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: daniels@HG.ULETH.CA Subject: Re: Pornography references I'm not sure if anyone has already suggested.... Pornography and the Sex Crisis by Susan G. Cole. (1989) Avaliable from Amanita Enterprises, PO BOx 784 Station P, Toronto Ontario, Canada, M5S 2Z1 Dayna Daniels DANIELS@HG.ULETH.CA ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 16:01:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHODA UNGER Subject: RE: arrgh If you got my letter to TIME including the references please send it back to me as I would like to forward to a couple of people and don't know how to find the files I write. I have sent you a hard caopy of both the article and my letter. It is certainly backlash time. Rhoda ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 14:11:56 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: stasz@SONOMA.EDU Subject: Time magazine letters Thank you Rhoda Unger for bringing the Time article to light. Your response is cogent, though I expect in parts beyond the simplistic mindset of some editors. I was however surprised to see others mention their willingness to write letters as well even though they weren't planning to read the original article. We would never tolerate this kind of behavior from our students (or political adversaries.) The best way to influence the time editors is for writers to read the piece and shape their own response in their own words. Otherwise the result will only fulfill the "conspiracy" interpretation that some think they hold concerning feminists and the biological interpretation. Better a few carefully-prepared letters by those most qualified to write than a barrage of obvious rewrites of Unger's eloquent statement. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 14:23:48 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: stasz@SONOMA.EDU Subject: Time letters follow-up Whoops-my note concerning the importance of people reading the Time piece before composing a letter to the editor was my first WMST note, and of course I forgot to append my address! Here it is-- Clarice Stasz Stasz@Sonoma.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 17:26:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: REINHARZ@BRANDEIS.BITNET Subject: Re: Time cover article, letter campaign Dear Rhoda, I just subscribed to this bulletin, and one of the first treats of belonging was to read your letter. I'm going to print it now and study it carefully. What a great way to begin. Shulamit Reinharz ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 17:48:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: RE: arrgh I haven't gotten the letter yet, but will forward it to you when I do. Arnie ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 16:57:18 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Harriet L Coleman 312-996-2479 Subject: the letter copy I've already sent the copy to Ms Unger, so we don't need to flood her with them. Due to the nature of networks and the varieties of connections, some of us get mail quicker than others. (I'm a computer person - systems programmer - enjoying this list immensely.) Harriet L Coleman U35049@UICVM Systems Manager U35049@UICVM.CC.UIC.EDU Computer Center 312-996-2479 University of Illinois at Chicago ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 17:31:53 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: carole marmell Subject: Re: the letter copy In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 16 Jan 1992 16:57:18 CST from On Thu, 16 Jan 1992 16:57:18 CST Harriet L Coleman 312-996-2479 said: >I've already sent the copy to Ms Unger, so we don't need to flood >her with them. Due to the nature of networks and the varieties of >connections, some of us get mail quicker than others. >(I'm a computer person - systems programmer - enjoying this list >immensely.) > > Harriet L Coleman U35049@UICVM > Systems Manager U35049@UICVM.CC.UIC.EDU > Computer Center 312-996-2479 > University of Illinois at Chicago Just wanted to say I've been following this since signing on a few days ago, and thought I should tell you that in the boonies, the Jan. 20 Time hasn't arrived yet. So no letters from me yet. Carole Marmell in Houston (SOCWLR@UHUPVM1) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 18:15:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Linda Gordon Univ of Wis Subject: Black men as "endangered species" I am working with philosopher Nancy Fraser on a book we call "Keywords" of the Welfare State, analyzing the language in which current debates about welfare are conducted. Among the words/phrases we wish to analyze is the notion that Black men are an "endangered species." This has both animalistic and sexist implications. I would appreciate any references to uses of this phrase or similar phrases of related meaning. If you notice newspaper articles or the like and would take the trouble to xerox and send them, I'd be very grateful and will immediately reimburse you if the xeroxing is costly; or you could send tidbits of references to me by email--all much appreciated. Linda Gordon, Department of History, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI 53706. Bitnet: ILGordon@WISCMACC Internet: ILGordon@VMS.MACC.WISC.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 16:27:52 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: tapping@MALA.BC.CA Subject: RE: the letter copy Dear Harriet Coleman: Help I have shown two colleagues how to get on the network using my office terminal and now I cannot get off and I'm swamped by the network. I am interested in the news and such but am not directly involved in women's studies and my e-mail account does not have as much room as this system wants to occupy please help me sign off, or maybe please tell me how to you did say you're a systems person and so I beg thank you craig tapping tapping@mala.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 21:19:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: EAKAUF@INDSVAX1.BITNET Subject: Re: Time Magazine article on sex differences As a journalist let me suggest the following. Write TIME. Write op-ed page pieces to your local newspapers/regional newspapers etc. etc. Contact any and all local radio and tv talk shows and offer to go on them citing your particular expertise and your upset. Set up panels with media types....professional and academic to discuss this and other issues. Be willing to appear on panels at the annual Association for Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication meetings ... this year's is in Montreal. Write...talk write...talk and as Tish Sommers said so well years back....Organize don't agonize! sue kaufman Eastern Illinois University eakauf@indsvax1.bitnet eakauf@indsvax1.indstate.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1992 22:35:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: Naomi Wolf Naomi Wolf, author of THE BEAUTY MYTH, spoke tonight. I highly recommend her as a speaker for Women's Week or any other program on feminist issues. She was simply superb. She spoke to a broad range of feminist issues and the hundreds of students who attended became, I think, a bit more radical as a result. She talked for about an hour and then answered questions for another hour. She managed to say all the right things. She has the ability to say the most radical things without offending. I'm not sure how she pulled it off, but she did. She spoke out against racism, ageism, capitalism, and George Bush, as well as sexism, but in a manner that does not alienate. After the questions and answers, students got up and announced things like, "If you want to meet tonight and carry on this topic......" and "I'm a reporter for the student newspaper, if you'll write letters I'll see that they get printed." Arnie Kahn fac_askahn@jmuvax (bitnet) fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu (internet) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 02:05:48 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: sorsha@WAM.UMD.EDU Subject: standardized letters to TIME I agree with Clarice Stasz that we should not write letters without reading the article first. I did read it (at a bookstore); however, my intent by asking for a sort of outline was simply to get a better handle on what was spurious in the article. It was long, and might present a problem in respond- ing for those readers who experienced overload. I figured that Rhoda Unger's knowledge and position would qualify her to pick out the parts that were most important to refute, not to let the rest of us off the hook! Laurie Beth Brunner sorsha@wam.umd.edu -- ............................The Zen master was asked the...................... .Send burnt offerings to....solemn question--what is buddha?.....IT'S GROOVE.. ...sorsha@wor.umd.edu.......He took off his sandal, put it.........O'CLOCK!... ............................on his head, and walked away...................... ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 10:45:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: WPSADGV@WMMVS.BITNET Subject: Women's Studies Materials for Middle and High School Students I would like information concerning relationships between University Women's Studies programs and local schools. Specifically, I have a request from a graduate student in Education concerning materials on women's literature for high school students. She is exploring possibilities for developing curricular units integrating more women authors into existing literature courses. I know about the publication "Feminist Teacher" (hope I've got the title right) and have the National Women's History project catalog. Are there other good resources I can recommend to local teachers? In our community there are special programs to encourage girls to become scientists, but little has been done in the humanities. I would like to build more connections with the schools so would appreciate any suggestions or information about programs at other colleges/universities. One side note: When I was pacing the halls of my daughter's middle school the other day while waiting for her drama club meeting to end I was delighted to see colorful child-created posters hung throughout the school with the message: "Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty" I was taken aback, however, that there were several notices up about the Future Homemakers of America club. Does anyone know what this organization is like/does? Please respond to me privately if your information is not appropriate for the list. Thanks! Deborah G. Ventis, Coordinator of Women's Studies, College of William and Mary, WPSADGV@WMMVS ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 10:45:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Phyllis Holman Weisbard Subject: Men's Movement The latest issue (v.13, #1) of FEMINIST COLLECTIONS has a review-essay by Michael Kimmel: "Reading Men: Men, Masculinity, and Publishing," in which he reviews 15 books about manhood that have appeared since 1987. Some that he covers that I don't think have been mentioned here yet are Clatterbaugh, Kenneth, CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES ON MASCULINITY: MEN, WOMEN, AND POLITICS IN MODERN SOCIETY (Westview P., 1990) Gilmore, David, MANHOOD IN THE MAKING: CULTURAL CONCEPTS OF MASCULINITY (Yale U. P., 1990) Hearn, Jeff, and David Morgan, eds., MEN, MASCULINITIES AND SOCIAL THEORY (Unwin, Hyman, 1991) Segal, Lynne, SLOW MOTION: CHANGING MASCULINITIES, CHANGING MEN (Rutgers U.P., 1991) (FEMINIST COLLECTIONS is a quarterly of women's studies resources published in the Office of the Women's Studies Librarian, University of Wisconsin. It is available by subscription along with two other publications: FEMINIST PERIODICALS: A CURRENT LISTING OF CONTENTS and NEW BOOKS ON WOMEN AND FEMINISM. Anyone interested in subscription information should contact me.) Phyllis Holman Weisbard (608) 263-5754 Acting Women's Studies Librarian pweis@wiscmacc (Bitnet) University of Wisconsin System pweis@macc.wisc.edu (Internet) Room 430 Memorial Library 728 State Street Madison, WI 53706 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 12:39:38 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: charlene senn f psych Re: Perspectives on pornography I am fairly new on the academic scene as I just finished my doctorate in August 1991. My doctoral research used Q-methodology to investigate women's perspectives and experiences with pornography. Anyone who is interested in receiving a copy of the yet unpublished dissertation can write to me or bitnet me at the following address. By computer: csenn4@mach1.wlu.ca By mail: Charlene Y. Senn Department of Psychology Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 12:59:31 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Lynda Crane Subject: Resources for Middle Schools Although not specifically for careers in the Humanities, there was a 1984 publication, published by Advocacy Press, P.O. Box 236, Santa Barbara, California, 931012, designed to help teen-agers analyze and question gender role stereotypes and their derivations in order to make personal and career decisions about their own lives. It was called "Choices and Challenges: A Course in Personal Planning and Self-Awareness." Perhaps there is a recent edition. Lynda Crane CraneL@gvsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 10:30:05 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: stasz@SONOMA.EDU Subject: Mermaids A friend of mine is doing research on art, literature, and folklore surrounding mermaids. She is particularly interested in finding non-Western examples. Having lived in Mexico, she suspects there must be some significant folklore because she noticed carved mermaids to be a common decorative motif. Any references or research ideas will be much appreciated. Clarice Stasz Department of History stasz@sonoma.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 14:15:12 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: ron grimes f Subject: Re: Women's Studies Materials for Middle and High School Students In-Reply-To: <92Jan17.134512est.23577@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca>; from "WMST-L@UMDD.BITNET" at Jan 17, 92 10:45 am Future Homemakers of America (FHA) is a club for teaching girls to cook, sew, clean house, etc. Future Farmers of America (FFA) is its counterpart, and it teaches boys to feed cows, plant corn, and balance farm budgets. Both organizations have been around for years and are especially strong in rural areas. -- R. Grimes Dept. of Religion & Culture Wilfrid Laurier University Internet: rgrimes2@mach1.wlu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 15:29:44 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Nancy Lapanne Subject: Re: Women's Studies Materials for Middle and High School Students Regarding the FHA and FFA, I would like to clarify one thing. Neither organization in my experience excludes members of either sex. Our own stereotypical behavior infers that FHA is for girls and FFA is for boys. I grew up in a rural area and knew many girls who were members of the FFA (but none who were in the FHA!). I personally belonged to the "Hampstead Boys 4-H Club" because I was interested in livestock and the "Hampstead Girls 4-H Club" was for those interested in homemaking. Neither club excluded opposite sex members even though their names implied otherwise. (I hope that in the past 25 years they've changed their names). ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 16:45:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: 00MEKITE@BSUVAX1.BITNET Subject: Please post From: IN%"postmaster@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU" "PMDF Mail Server" 17-JAN-1992 14:11: 46.61 To: IN%"postmaster@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU", IN%"00MEKITE@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU" CC: Subj: Undeliverable mail: SMTP delivery failure Received: from LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU by LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU (PMDF #12414) id <01GFF5243TU88WX2IM@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU>; Fri, 17 Jan 1992 10:59 EST Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 10:59 EST From: PMDF Mail Server Subject: Undeliverable mail: SMTP delivery failure To: postmaster@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU, 00MEKITE@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU Message-id: <01GFF5243TU88WX2IM@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU> The message could not be delivered to: Addressee: wpsadgv@wmmvs.bsuvc.bsu.edu Reason: Illegal host/domain name found. ---------------------------------------- Received: from LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU by LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU (PMDF #12414) id <01GFF51XVKWW8ZEBFF@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU>; Fri, 17 Jan 1992 10:59 EST Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 10:59 EST From: 00MEKITE@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU Subject: FHA To: wpsadgv@wmmvs.bsuvc.bsu.edu Message-id: <01GFF51XVKWW8ZEBFF@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU> X-VMS-To: IN%"wpsadgv@wmmvs" I wouldn't be too alarmed about FHA, at least just by the surface of it. Believe it or not, I got my introduction to femininism through my FHA leader who was a wonderful role model of a successful career woman. She was the first person to point out to me that ERA did not mean unisex bathrooms! She happened to be a Home Ec teacher, but not a stereotypical one. Many of the girls in my school were in FHA. It was a chance to be a leader in an accepting group. Sort of the same idea as going to an all women's college. I imagine FHA varies widely across the country. But I did want to tell you that it was very good for me to be a member and perhaps is serving girls at your child's school as well. Mary Kite 00mekite@bsuvax1 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 18:27:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHODA UNGER Subject: Help locating a science fiction story For a course that I am teaching this coming semester on difference I am trying to locate a short story I read sometime ago. It may be by Harlon Ellison, but I am not sure. It involves a future society in which difference is so abhorrent that athletic people are hobbled, attractive people must wear masks, and intelligent people have their minds garbled. If anyone out there knows the name of the story, its author, and where it may be found I would greatly appreciate it. You can send a note directly to me if you do not wish to clutter up the new network. Thanks, Rhoda Unger Unger@apool WHOOPS! unger@apollo.montclair.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 16:04:21 -0800 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allison Fraiberg Subject: dutch lit by women A colleague of mine who is not on this list will be doing a postdoc in English in Amsterdam next year. She wants to read some Contemporary lit/feminist theory by women from there before she leaves next summer. Would anyone on this list have any suggestions? You can post to me privately. Thanks in advance. Allison Fraiberg Internet: fraiberg@u.washington.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 20:18:52 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Michael Subject: Re: Help locating a science fiction story In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 17 Jan 1992 18:27:00 -0500 from Your story is by Vonnegut in _Welcome to the Monkey House_; don't recall the title, but it's in there alright. Cordially, MWM ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 20:07:22 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: RE: dutch lit by women Allison, Two feminist theory books by Dutch women are: Meulenbelt, Joyce Outshoorn, Selma Sevenhuijsen and Petra de Vries. _A Creative Tension: Key Issues of Socialist Feminism: An International Perspective from Activist Dutch Women._ Boston: South End Press, 1984. Weinbaum, Batya. _The Curious Courtship of Women's LIberation and Socialism._ Boston: South End Press, 1978. Sandra Basgall SBASGALL@VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 21:49:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: men's studies literature (new series) I am posting this for Mitch Allen, whose e-mail address is at the end. Please address all inquiries to him or to the series editor, Michael Kimmel. Joan Korenman (korenman@umbc or @umbc2.umbc.edu) *********************************************************** Among the other literature in the area of men's studies is a new series that we are launching next month: Research on Men and Masculinities, edited by Michael Kimmel, SUNY Stony Brook. Volumes lined up in this series to date: Peter Nardi, Men's Friendships, to be published in Feb. 1992 Stephen Craig, Men, Masculinity and Media, Feb. 1992 Jane Hood, Men's Work Roles and Family Roles, 1993 Christine Williams, Crossing Over: Men in "Women's" Occupations, 1993 Harry Brod and Michael Kaufman, Theorizing Masculinity, 1994 Donald Sabo and David Gordon, Men's Health and Illness, 1994 All will be edited volumes. While the first two are almost published, editors of the other 4 are still looking for contributions. Please respond directly to me for more details, or to the series editor, Michael Kimmel (on sabbatical at UC Berkeley, 510 642-4466), if you are interested in contributing or wish to purchase these volumes. Thanks. Mitch Allen Executive Editor, Sage Publications mitch@sagepub.com -- Mitch Allen, Sage Publications, Inc. 2455 Teller Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320 voice: (805) 499-0721 fax: (805) 499-0871 via Internet: mitch@sagepub.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 21:58:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: ASHELDON@UMNACVX.BITNET Subject: Re: Women's Studies Materials for Middle and High School Students Coincidental with messages on the list now re materials for girls in middle and high school I would like to ask for suggestions from the list. I will be giving some workshops to a school district (K-12) in a couple of weeks on "influences that limit or deny equal access to education for female students'. I would be grateful for suggestions regarding 1) delivery of information to teachers and staff; 2) resources. I plan on bringing, among other things, a flyer for Feminist Teacher and the Nat'l Women's History Project. I would be interested in knowing just what the status is of claims about male superiorit y in spacial abilities, and in math, as I am sure someone will make such a claim and I am not up on that literature. I plan to stress the importance of sexism in language and language materials and how language constructs and reflects and perpetuates social reality. Of course I will try to say it simply. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Amy Sheldon ASHELDON@UMNACVX ASHELDON@VX.ACS.UMN.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 23:12:13 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: janice drakich Subject: chilly climate at the elementary and highschool levels I have to give a talk to elementary and highschool teachers on violence against women. I want to focus part of my talk on chilly climate/hostile environment at these levels. I would like to give examples but do not have personal experience teaching at these levels. I can think of some and can imagine many but I'd like to hear from those on the network who can provide me with examples from their own or their children's experiences. The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada produced an excellent video (30 min) on the chilly climate in universities. If anyone is interested, I can forward ordering instructions. Thank you for any help you can give. Janice Drakich Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Windsor Internet address: DRAKICH@UCC.UWINDSOR.CA ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 06:58:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RSOLIE@SMITH.BITNET Subject: another query on pornography Can anyone give me any bibliography on the influence of the media, pop culture, etc. on people's beliefs and attitudes about pornography? Thanks in advance. Ruth Solie RSOLIE@SMITH.SMITH.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 09:19:29 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: RE: Female performers and the male gaze Rene, On MTV, the male performer performs for young males. There is some interesting literature around this. I think in looking at female performers, you should not omit looking at lesbian performers who perform for women. Sandra Basgall SBASGALL@VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 10:38:39 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Florence Subject: RE: Female performers and the male gaze In-Reply-To: Message of Sat, 18 Jan 1992 09:19:29 CST from Howdy, I, on very rare occasions watch MTV and, do not relate to what is being said about male performers appealing (or wanting ) to their young male audience. Can someone explain this? Thanks in advance! Ciao ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 09:54:30 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: RE: Female performers and the male gaze Florence, Set Jholey has an interesting video on MTV and the male gaze, "Dreamworlds," that you might want to see. He does a good job of showing how women are depicted for men on music videos. There is also a special issue of _Journal for Communication Inquiry_ that is devoted to MTV. I don't remember which one as it is in my office, but you might want to look at it. JCI is an excellent journal that looks critically at mass communication. There is a good feminist scholarship issue also. A yearly subscription is $12 for students, $15 for scholars, and $30 for institutions or $10 an issue and they are available at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, The University of Iowa, Communicatiion Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242. Sandra Basgall SBASGALL@VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 11:21:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: KILATTA@VAXSAR.VASSAR.EDU Subject: gender bias in faculty evaluations Hi, I'm afraid I've lost track of the people doing research on gender bias in faculty evaluations. A friend of mine here is extremely interested in the subject. Could those of you who have references on this subject send them to me privately? Both of us would appreciate it very much. Kimberly Latta Vassar College KILATTA@vassar.edu (INTERNET) ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 11:49:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RLYSLOFF@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU Subject: Re: Female performers and the male gaze Sandra, Thanks so much for your comments. I am, however, particularly interested in the "male gaze." This means that, indeed, I am looking at female performers but I am particulary interested in the male view of the female performer-- male audiences, male musicians (who accompany the performer), and even male writers (ethnographers, journalists, etc.), and so forth. No, I won't omit lesbian performers since by looking at them I might find some intriguing contrasts. I 'll keep trying to develop all this and I do appreciate any further thoughts you may have. Thanks again, Rene ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 16:30:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: REINHARZ@BRANDEIS.BITNET Subject: heterosexuality Celia Kitzinger is an editor of a new journal, Feminism and Psychology, that will have a special issue on Feminism and ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 16:50:25 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: VILLERS@OUACCVMB.BITNET Subject: POLITICS OF MEAT Would the person who posted information about the "politics of meat" please give me the name of the author and the publisher? I have misplaced the information. Thank you. Anne Villers Villers@ouaccvmb.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 15:09:41 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Oliver Mullarney Subject: RE: Female performers and the male gaze Responding to Florence, who questioned how (and if) male performers appeal to young male viewers: The groups which get loads of airplay and appeal mpst to young white males most certainly are the heavy metal groups. I've always found it curious that such groups are surprisingly 'effeminate' in appearance--the luxurious, blow-\dried hairstyles, the clingy, coy clothing, the bump-and-grind movements on stage more reminiscent of female strippers. Certainly many of the performers play with sex roles and sexual ambiguity--for example, watch for videos by one of the premier heavy metal bands, Aerosmith. Their lead singer LOVES playing with sexual ambiguity--they even have a song called 'Dude Looks Like A Lady'. I admit I really enjoy their videos--they're good fun. That particular video has men-as-women--including a bride with flowing tresses whom we see from behind and who then turns around and has a chest-length beard--all through it. I've discussed this loads of times with gay male friends who say that they think men/boys who act most 'macho'--especially needing to identify with macho-male groups, such as heavy metal fans--are often the males most in doubt about their own masculinity and who most need to deny/suppress a 'female' side of themselves. They think maybe heavy metal allows them to have their cake and eat it, so to speak--they're part of this tough-guy image but they can indulge in what they're otherwise denying. In addition, note the similarity between heavy metal dress and the way what are sometimes called 'gay lifestyle groups' dress--especially the butch leather scene look. Personally, I think adolescence is so filled with anxiety about sexual identity, particularly in the US, that perhaps heavy metal and other types of rock music provide a kind of safe release while allowing a boy to deny that he is anything but 'a real guy'. Thus groups like Guns N' Roses are openly homophobic, yet look at the way those guys LOOK! An interesting anecdote vis-a-vis all this is that when Led Zeppelin, the macho hard rock band of all such bands, first began to tour, Jimmy Page, their lead guitarist was attacked in airports and in public by the equivalent of queer bashers because he seemed so 'effeminate'. Attacked by their own fans, who didn't realise he was the guitarist! He's viewed as a kind of god now by any kid into heavy metal, who would probably knife you if you implied such a thing about Jimmy Page... Please note that I'm using the term' 'effeminate' with qualifications... All of this is 'hearsay' evidence, of course, too. --Karlin Lillington omullarn@oracle.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 18:24:06 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Florence Subject: RE: Female performers and the male gaze In-Reply-To: Message of Sat, 18 Jan 1992 15:09:41 PST from Karlin, Thanks, your response was informative. I never gave it much thought, but I certainly can see what you are saying. I have recognized the duplicity of the how they present themselves and, yet at the same time, the way they dress, which includes the ear-rings and long flowing hair. I just kind of chalked it up to what I call 'gender-bending'! If you get any additional info, I would be interested in hearing about it! Thanks Carol (?) I tried to send you e-mail directly, but it was returned. I would appreciate receiving a copy of your dissertation, which you said is on pornography. Send it to: Florence Ginsburg, PO Box 354, North Kingstown, RI 02852. Thanks in advance ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 20:12:07 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: RE: POLITICS OF MEAT the book is THE SEXUAL POLITICS OF MEAT: TOWARD A FEMINIST-VEGETARIAN CRITICAL THEORY by Carol Adams. 1990. NY: Continuum Publishers. the publisher's address is: 370 Lexington Ave, NYNY 10017 kimberly j. cook, k_cook@unhh.unh.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 23:05:27 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: cliff staples Subject: RE: Female performers and the male gaze In-Reply-To: Message of Sat, 18 Jan 1992 18:24:06 EST from This thread is interesting. Most of the talk, however, is about "them" kids into heavy metal (except perhaps for one). How about a little critique- cum-autobiography? I don't listen to heavy metal, but Eric Clapton and Duane Allman got me through adolescense (to the extent, of course, that I actually got through it. A debatable point, clearly, but work with me here, OK?). I spent many a lonely Friday (and Saturday) night between '70 and '73 or so in my room trying to copy the guitar licks from THE ALLMAN BROTHERS LIVE AT THE FILLMORE EAST and LAYLA. I played a borrowed Fender Mustang upside down, like Jimi Hendrix (well, not exactly LIKE Jimi Hendrix, except for the feedback) hot-wired to Sears Silvertone record player. I played the albums on another record player. It sounded like a very loud and very bad car radio. We (white, hetero-wannabe, working/middle class, suburban, males) idolized the guitar heros. We watched and listened to them so closely because they were so damn impressive--- to the girls of course (we thought... was this true?), mostly. There was a certain sort of male-bonding that grew out of this. I had other guy friends who did more or less the same thing. Girls tended not to be into it and not quite in the same way. We played the stuff over and over and over and over, drank beer in the woods, fantasized about being "on stage" debated the relative merits of this guitar player and that (not on the basis of musical ability of course. None of us could read a... what do they call them chart? We were debating the aesthetics of macho). From what I've seen, people mostly think the guitar served as a phallus. That strikes me as wrong. I always "felt" it as a surrogate woman. Watching a guy play a hot guitar lead is, as I think about it, pornographic. We could have been watching a stag film. Lying on the floor listening to that music through the headphones and imagining you were that guitar played was like becoming the hero in a pornographic fantasy. "If only I could play that guitar.... or whatever, like he can." Then we wouldn't be mere friends of girls, we'd have girlfriends. Then we too would be gods. Watching women rock stars was very different. And frankly it wasn't as much fun because you couldn't hardly imagine yourself AS the woman, so the best you could do was be her guitar player. Then you could get yourself onstage. This is not to say one couldn't enjoy the music of the female performer, and even look at her with 'that look,' but it just wasn't the same. This is pretty much off the top of the head. I'm sure there are lots of dust bunnies in the corners. Get out your brooms. regards, Cliff p.s. Lou Reed's ROCK AND ROLL ANIMAL works all these angles precisely. The guitar solo by Somebody Hunter on the introduction to "Sweet Jane" is the mother of all guitar solos in this genre..... except for perhaps Clapton's in "Crossroads," I can never decide. I don't know heavy metal, but from what I've seen this is the macho equivelent for the '80s and '90s. ###################################### CLIFFORD L. STAPLES # DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY # BOX 8192 UNIVERSITY STATION # GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202 # OFFICE 701-777-4417 # BITNET: UD153289@NDSUVM1 # ###################################### ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1992 23:34:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RLYSLOFF@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU Subject: Female performers and the male imagination I know that there are many exceptions to the idea of female performers oriented toward a male audience (for example Carly Simon in popular music) but I still believe that Shepherd (in his article, "Music and Male Hegemony," in _Music and Society_, edited by Leppert and McClary) is on to something and that it should be explored further. The music industry is, I believe, a male-defined institution, based on male values and male standards. It would be very telling to examine what the male gaze means to _any_ performance generally. For example, consider how important this issue becomes in looking at heavy metal music; e.g. the angry sexism and homophobia, directed almost exclusively toward young white male adolescents. Although the performers' dress (and, sometimes, make-up) seems almost feminine, their macho posturing and the loud distorted guitar playing suggests masculine power. We might also understand how male values in the music industry have perhaps formed the overall image of the female performer (as well as how it might be changing as gender relations change). Clearly, some female performers are not following the rules, but their performances are (I believe) self-consciously in _opposition_ to the male values of the music industry. Others, like Madonna exploit and even parody the male-defined institution of popular music. Consider how Madonna playfully parodies female sexuality in her music videos. The most reflexive and effective commentary on the male gaze in music, however, was made in the sixties or perhaps early seventies by a female cellist (whose name I can no longer remember) who posed in the nude as she played her instrument. I'm positive she did this as a statement on performance and female objectification, and perhaps also as a kind of parody. The sexual symbolism is dramatic: a nude female with the cello (a kind of phallic symbol in itself) held between her legs, stroking it and making it sing (perhaps also suggesting female control in the creative act). I wish I could remember where I saw it and who she was. I do remember that she was known as an outstanding cello player and shocked the classical music world with the photo. Is there anyone out there who remembers the photo, her name and where it appeared (probably in more than one place)? Thanks to all of you for sending me outstanding suggestions and references after my last qu ery. Once again my e-address is RLYSLOFF@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU or RLYSLOFF@POMONA.BITNET Rene T.A. Lysloff ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1992 09:17:00 IST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: jon simons Subject: Re: Poststructuralist theory (reponse to Unger) In-Reply-To: Your message of Thu 16 Jan 1992 12:04:40 EST Re: Post-structualist theory I don't see that the best interests of any intellectual debate, feminist or otherwise, can be settled by calling another stream of theory "mistaken". It seems to me that one of the differences between the structuralism of previous years and today's poststructuralism is that the former denied the possibility of meaningful action by agents, as a way of explaining the seeming permanence of oppressive social structures. In doing so, it unwittingly argued that emancipatory action was impossible. Post-structuralism must obviously differ from structuralism. Its emancipatory message is contained in an assessment that very few of us are endowed with the capacities or live under the conditions that enable us to act in emancipatory ways. It thus criticises the `modernist' assumption, deeply embedded in liberal but also Enlightenment thought, that each of us naturally may act in meaningful anf purposeful ways. Unfortunately, it is Man that is defined as this agent, not woman too. Those who reject post-structuralist (or post-modernist) feminism too quickly may find that they unintentionally take on board a series of assumptions that deserve to be deconstructed to reveal their gender bias. Jon Simons KBUJS@HUJIVM1 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1992 14:20:00 EET Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MMCFADDEN@FINABO.ABO.FI Subject: Re: dutch lit by women Hello Allison, Suggest to your colleague that she look for works by Rosi Braidotti, Marjan Schwegman, or Mineke Bosch in feminist theory. In particular, the Summer 1991 issue of "Gender and History" has a good exchange about Dutch feminist theory and "American hegemony". This is Vol. 3, no. 2. She'll have a great year. Sincerely, Maggie McFadden (as I'm having this year on a Fulbright to the Institute of Women's Studies at Abo Akademi Univ., Abo (Turku) Finland) It's wonderful that the WMST-L goes around the world and keeps us up to date. Let's hear more from others not in the U.S. or Canada. I know you're out there. MMCFADDEN@FINABO.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1992 08:45:29 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MWM Subject: Re: Female performers and the male imagination In-Reply-To: Message of Sun, 19 Jan 1992 02:34:00 -0500 from (The "female cellist" who performed, not posed, nude was Charlotte Mooreman. She did this because the piece, composed by her husband, called for it in the score.) ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1992 08:22:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: Female performers and the male imagination Rene, I just remembered that there are several articles you might find interesting in _Channels of Discourse_ edited by Robert C. Allen, particularly the article by John Fisk, "British Cultural Studies and Television." This article is an encoding-decoding (ala Stuart Hall) analysis which ends up looking at Madonna. The full citation is Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1987. I forgot to suggest earlier that you ask the same question to GENDER. This is a mass communication list dedicated to gender. To subscribe, send a message to: COMSERVE@RPIECS and say: Subscribe Gender (your name) Sandra Basgall SBASGALL@VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1992 11:11:23 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MW Morse Subject: Re: Poststructuralist theory (response to Simon) In-Reply-To: Message of Sun, 19 Jan 1992 02:17:00 -0500 from >the structuralism of the previous years.. denied the possibility of meaningful action by agents, as a way of explaining the seeming permanence of oppressive social structures. In doing so, it unwittingly argued that emancipatory action was impossible.< "Structuralism" presently suffers from a far worse fate than mere "mistakenness"--it is unfashionable, and thus no longer worth reading. While I realize that a short posting necessarily abbreviates, it need not do so to the point of recognizability. Is this comment a portrait of Lacan, who insists that "where it was, I shall be"? Or Foucault, who stresses ruptures and discontinuities from the first? Or Levi-Strauss, who constantly talks of the threats to social order from historical pressures? Or Saussure, whose entire theory rests on the instability of negation? Perhaps the target is Parsons--whose social model, for all its architectonic intricacy, led directly to social constructionism and other "relativist" views. I should think that the fragility of social orders is more the theme of "structuralism" than their immuta- bility. But what really perturbs me is the apparent need to define present conceptual dispositions against a caricature of the past. If structuralism is no longer of interest or of the moment, why not let it rest in peace? (I was told that _Paris Match_ recently did a "where are they now" piece on Levi-Strauss..) Why persist in the antiquated habit of making an identity by being different from your parents? IS structuralism (whatever this term might still mean) in any sense a a "parent" to current philosophies? Or is "post-structuralism" a label of one-time convenience that we have merely forgotten to discard? This is my quarrel, not Simon's understanding of structuralism. Can we not dispense, finally, with nickel and dime father-killing? The gentleman in question moved away a long time ago... MW Morse mmorse@yorku.vm1 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1992 16:28:15 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from OfficeVision to RFC822 by PUMP V2.2X From: "Linda Lopez McAlister/Hypatia" Subject: Penn. Coalition Against Rape *** Resending note of 01/19/92 14:18 To: WMST-L --CMSNAMES From: Linda Lopez McAlister/Hypatia PCAR asked that the following announcement be published: The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape is sponsoring its 7th ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION on March 27, 1992 in Harrisburg, PA at the Holiday Inn East Hotel. This year's conference, SKILL BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE, provides workshops designed to explore counseling techniques for groups and individuals; offer insight to the needs and concerns of the individuals working with sexual assault victims/survivors; and explore risk reduction issues. Registration fees are $60 for PCAR members and $75 for non-members. For more information contact PCAR at 1-800-692-7445 (in PA) or (717) 232-6745. LINDA LOPEZ McALISTER DLLAFAA@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU (Internet) Women's Studies Dept. DLLAFAA@CFRVM_(Bitnet) University of South Florida, Tampa 33620 (813)974-5531 #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1992 17:58:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: Query: work re heterosexuality I'm posting this message for Shulamit Reinharz, whose email addresses appear below. Joan Korenman **************************************************************** Celia Kitzinger, Rachel Perkins and Sue Wilkinson are editing a special issue for Feminism & Psychology. The issue is "Heterosexuality." They have asked me to contribute an short article on "How my heterosexuality contributes to my feminism." I find that very provocative. I have been thinking about whether or not I want to "come out", i.e. write about heterosexuality. Does it actually contribute anything? So my message to the list is - have people written about this topic? Shulamit Reinharz Reinharz@Brandeis (Bitnet) or Reinharz@binah.cc.brandeis.edu (Internet) ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1992 19:12:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: NAME 'Helen Eberle' Subject: Re: another query on pornography There is a film called "Rate It X" directed by Lucy Winer and Paula De Koenigsberg. It was done in 1986 and is still very relavent. It is available through Women Make Movies, Inc. 225 Layfayette Street Suite 206 New York, NY 10012 Telephone: 212-925-2052 I had not seen it mentioned on the list before. The movie is very well done and deals with how men profit from imagery of women not only in pornography, but inall sorts of everyday things. Helen E. Eberlehb@sluvca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 08:31:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: 00MEKITE@BSUVAX1.BITNET Subject: Re: chilly climate at the elementary and highschool levels Regarding the video on the chilly climate in universities, I'd be very interested in ordering information. Thanks! 00mekite@bsuvax1 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 08:58:53 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: rlbro%CONNCOLL.BITNET@YALEVM.YCC.YALE.EDU Subject: Re: Help locating a science fiction story Re: Sci-Fi about fearing difference and eliminating it.... In addition to the Vonnegut short story already mentioned on the list, the old stand-by "Brave New World" touches on the same themes, but with the nice twist of the government's attempting to enforce some sort of egalitarian society. Might make for interesting comparison/contrast. Roger Brooks Department of Religious Studies Connecticut College rbrooks@conncoll.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 09:37:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Chris Africa Subject: Dutch lit Routledge has recently published, in cloth and paper, Sharing the difference: feminist debates in Holland, edited by Joke J. Hermsen and Alkeline van Lenning. It contains pieces that have appeared in Dutch in the Jaarboek voor Vrouwengeschiedenis during its ten years of publication, translated into English. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 11:46:52 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Kathy Mitchell" Subject: Help locating a science fiction story In-Reply-To: The message of 17 Jan 1992 17:27 CST from RHODA UNGER Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 17:27 CST From: RHODA UNGER For a course that I am teaching this coming semester on difference I am trying to locate a short story I read sometime ago. It may be by Harlon Ellison, but I am not sure. It involves a future society in which difference is so abhorrent that athletic people are hobbled, attractive people must wear masks, and intelligent people have their minds garbled. If anyone out there knows the name of the story, its author, and where it may be found I would greatly appreciate it. You can send a note directly to me if you do not wish to clutter up the new network. Thanks, Rhoda Unger Unger@apool WHOOPS! unger@apollo.montclair.edu This sounds very familiar to me, and I was initially convinced that you were referring to `Harrison Bergeron' - I think that story is by Harlon Ellison. It's about a boy in a world like you described who has shackles, weights, and a radio to garble his thoughts every now and again. There is also a ballerina with a sack over her head, so that no one can see how beautiful she is. He breaks off their `equalizers' (I don't think that's the term used, but you get the drift) and they dance together on TV. His mother sees them together, but doesn't realize the significance of the event. His father does, but has his thoughts scrambled and quickly forgets. Since I don't have the specifics (book, publisher, date, or positive ID of author), I figured that someone else would be able to help you better, but after the responses I've seen posted to the entire group I decided that I'd better send this note as well! Good luck, -- Kathy ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 11:59:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHODA UNGER Subject: RE: Help locating a science fiction story Thanks to a number of subscribers to this list I have located the story I was looking for. It is Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut and was published in his book of short stories "Welcome to the monkey house." If anyone else is interested in it, there is a Dell paperback edition that can be purchased for $5.99. I am interested in this story because I think it helps to pose a question for my students. If individuals are different, what is wrong with examining such differences? Obviously, I wish to point out the contradictions between group differences and individual differences. This issue is particu- larly problematic for psychology because the study of so-called individual differences is actually the study of group differences. Anyway, thank you everyone who responded. Rhoda Unger unger@apollo.montclair.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 16:11:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: 00MEKITE@BSUVAX1.BITNET Subject: sorry to clog up the network --but I have a friend who's tried unsuccessfully to subscribe. Joan, can you add her to the list or send her a message directly? her id is nyla@ukanvm Thanks Mary Kite 00mekite@bsuvax1 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 13:11:52 PST Reply-To: Robert_Grant.LAX1B@xerox.com Sender: Women's Studies List From: Robert_Grant.LAX1B@XEROX.COM Subject: Re:Letter writing campaign In light of the letter writing campaign, perhaps attention should be drawn to this sub-article at the end of the cover story, which appears to attempt to heal any wounds that may have been caused by the content of the cover story. Regards Robert Grant. RGrant.LAX1B@Xerox.com It is by Barbara Ehrenreich, and has been reproduced without permission from the publisher or author (somebody else typed it in :-)): ---------------------------------------------------- "Few areas of science are as littered with intellectual rubbish as the study of innate mental differences between the sexes. In the 19th century, biologists held that a woman's brain was too small for intellect but large enough for household chores. When the tiny-brain theory bit the dust (elephants, after all, have bigger brains than men), scientists began a long, fruitless attempt to locate the biological basis of male superiority in various brain lobes and chromosomes. By the 1960's sociobiologists were asserting that natural selection, operating throughout the long human prehistory of hunting and gathering, had predisposed males to leadership and exploration and females to crouching around the campfire with the kids. "Recent studies suggest there may be some real differences after all. And why not? We have different hormones and body parts; it would be odd if our brains were 100% unisex. The question, as ever: What do these differences augur for our social roles, in particular the division of power and opportunity between the sexes. "Don't look to the Flintstones for an answer. However human beings whiled away their first 100,000 years or so, few of us today make a living tracking down mammoths or digging up tasty roots. Much of our genetic legacy of sex differences has already been rendered moot by that uniquely human invention: technology. Military prowess no longer depends on superior musculature or those bursts of hormones that prime the body for combat at ax range. As for exploration, women - with their lower body weight and oxygen consumption - may be the more "natural" astronauts. "But suppose the feminists' worst-case scenario turns out to be true, and males really are better, on average, at certain mathematical tasks. If this tempts you to shunt all the girls back to home ec, you probably need remedial work in the statistics of `averages' yourself. Just as some women are taller and stronger than some men, some are swifter at abstract algebra. Many of the pioneers in the field of X-ray crystallography - which involves three-dimensional visualization and heavy doses of math - were female, including biophysicist Rosalind Franklin, whose work was indispensable to the discovery of the double-helical structure of DNA. "Then there is the problem that haunts all studies of "innate" sex differences: the possibility that the observed differences are really the result of lingering cultural factors. Girls' academic achievement, for example, as well as apparent aptitude and self-esteem, usually takes a nose dive at puberty. Unless nature has selected for smart girls and dumb women, something is going very wrong at about the middle-school level. Part of the problem may be that males, having been the dominant sex for a few millenniums, still tend to prefer females who make them feel stronger and smarter. Any girl who is bright enough to solve a quadratic equation is smart enough to bat her eyelashes and pretend that she can't. "Teachers too may play a larger role than nature in differentiating between the sexes. Studies show they tend to favor boys by calling on them more often and pushing them harder. Myra and David Sadker, professors of education at American University, have found that girls do better when teachers are sensitized to gender bias and refrain from sexist language, such as the use of "man" to mean all of us. Single-sex classes in math and science can also boost female performance by eliminating favoritism and male disapproval of female achievement, "The success of such simple educational reforms only underscores THE BASIC SOCIAL ISSUE [:-) caps mine - JAG]: Given that there may be real innate mental differences between the sexes, what are we going to do about them? A female advantage in reading emotions could be interp;reted to mean that males should be barred from psychiatry - or that they need more coaching. A male advantage in math could be used to confine girls to essays and sonnets - or the decision could be made to compensate by putting more effort into girls' math education. In effect, we already compensate for boys' apparent handicap in verbal skills by making reading the centerpiece of grade-school education. "We are cultural animals, and these are ultimately cultural decisions. In fact, the whole discussion of innate sexual differences is itself heavily shaped by cultural factors. Why, for example, is the study of innate differences such a sexy, well-funded topic right now, which happens to be a time of organized feminist challenge to the ancient sexual division of power? Why do the media tend to get excited when scientists find an area of difference and ignore the many reputable studies that come up with no differences at all? "However science eventually defines it, la difference can be amplified or minimized by human cultural arrangements: the choice is up to us, and not our genes." ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 15:01:00 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "ELIZABETH HERR 'HERR_B@CUBLDR.Colorado.EDU'" Subject: Re: Pornography references I don't know if anyone has mentioned this one: Elizabeth Fox Genovese has a chapter on pornography and individual rights in her new book: Ffeminism Without Illiusions: A Critique of Individualism. Thanks for all the other references. Elizabeth Herr Herr_B@cubldr.colorado.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 19:59:12 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: Feminist Histiography I recently joined a list, WORLD-L (to join send your subscription message to LISTSERVE@UBVM and say "sub WORLD-L" followed by your name) whose purpose is to "be used as a forum for the discussion of the teaching, methodology, and theory of a scientific and non-Eurocentric world history." They aim "to hold regular electronic conferences related to the purpose of the list" and asked for" suggestions concerning appropriate forum topics." After a number of people had responded, I sent the following message: > I have been watching the suggestions that have come in and I am compelled to > say that since this is a forum on non-Eurocentric world history, let's make > sure that it is also non-malecentric world history. Remember, women have > also made history, but it has not been valued as it has not been in the same > way as men have considered important. I got back responses such as the following: >1. Can you outline the basic ways in which women have contributed to >history and which men have not considered important? (I actually >don't know.) >2. Can you recommend some history books that embody the perspective >you are talking about? If you don't know of any books on world history >that qualify, can you recommend books that have as broad a perspective >as possible, e.g., relating to the history of Western civilization, >or African, or Chinese, etc.? or: >I am also curious to any major historical events that women were >responsible for, totally or just in part. To be honest, I can only >think of a few. I would like more information to update myself. And there were some thoughtful discussion ending with remarks like: >I have no idea of how to reconcile this with traditional >historiography. It is hard for historians to warm to a position that >de-legitimates their occupation rather than challenge historians to >improve. >The third issue is the relation of feminist theory to the broad theore- >tical apparatus we necessarily employ in historical study. Arguably, >world history at least implicitly raises more theoretical challenges >and implies more theoretical apparatus than short-range history. If >so, there should be a particularly fruitful dialogue between feminist >theorists and world historians. And ended with: >Unfortunately, the river of scientific feminist theory of the '60s and >'70s has either run dry or become un- fashionable, and there is today >less common ground for debate. >All this adds up to a rather pessimistic assessment. And yet, I am >sure there are historians who still struggle to adopt a language and >theory and focus that at least can accomodate feminist concerns, as >there are feminists who would like to broaden the foundation of their >position by encompassing world history. I respect Sandra's recommen- >dation, and I, for one, will try, but I do not anticipate that it will >be easy. I am no historian and I gave them a few examples, but I do not have a good bibliography to suggest and would like some help identifying texts. Also, I would like to invite feminists who are interested in history to join the list and see if we can take this teachable moment and infuse some feminist thinking and enlighten these individuals. O=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-O + Sandra Basgall sbasgall@vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu (internet) + O School of Journalism sbasgava@uiamvs (bitnet) O + and Mass Communication + O The University of Iowa voice: (319) 337-5552 O + Iowa City, IA 52242 + O-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=O ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 21:20:39 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Patt" Subject: Re: Feminist Histiography In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 20 Jan 1992 19:59:12 CST from WHEN GOD WAS A WOMAN, Merlin Stone. Also, Sandra, I believe Janie Johnson in the past six months posted a bibliography that might have some applicability. Before you get into all this however, permit me to ask: how is a historical moment being defined on this list? I do know some of the members of the list and would definitely want to know what and who defined what is to be considered a legitimate historical moment. Patt McRAe University of South Carolina T350134@UNIVSCVM ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 20:58:30 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: Re: Feminist Histiography Patt, At the moment, it has not been defined. The people on the list are talking about what might be discussed. It will be on a convention format (papers being available by FTPing for them and discussion to follow over e-mail). After a number of people responded to what they were interested in discussion, I sent the message you read. I just want to make sure that the discussion does not discount half the world! Sandra Basgall SBASGALL@VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 22:46:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: ASHELDON@UMNACVX.BITNET Subject: Re: Query: work re heterosexuality How about "how my feminism contributes to my heterosexuality"? If it does. Amy Sheldon ASHELDON@UMNACVX ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1992 23:51:27 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: nancy felipe russo Subject: gender differences/sats Several years ago, I heard a lecture at the NY Academy of Sciences in which the lecturer claimed that in response to the female superiority in verbal scores on the SAT, ETS changed the test (instead of asking verbal questions about "girl" things, like history, they put "boy" science into the verbal questions--girls don't do as well on that kind of content). The same could be done for the content of the math scores (girls do better on some items, b oys on others, so using a parallel approach, if one added more items that are easier for girls/harder for boys, the differences could be eliminated as well). However, ETS (so the lecturer claimed), did not believe that the gender difference in favor of boys was of concern and was not planning on changing the test. I think of this lecturer everytime I see both popular accounts as well as scientific articles that attempt to "explain" the declining gender differe nce in verbal ability of boys and girls (as measured by SAT scores). ETS can manipulate the content any way it wants, and comparisons over time may be meaningless, especially if the test has been specifically constructed to favor the performance, on average, of one sex over another. Has anyone ever seen anything published on this? Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Director, Women's Studies ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1801 (602)965-2358 FAX:(602)965-2357 BITNET: ATNFR@ASUACAD ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 07:16:40 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Roger Burns Subject: creating a World History I would like to invite feminist scholars to join the new list WORLD-L@UBVM (see announcement copied below). The list's purpose is to develop a non-Eurocentric view of history. We've had some discussion about seeing that what is developed should also be "non-malecentric". We could benefit from the participation of feminist scholars regarding this issue. I would be happy to e-mail a copy of the initial discussions we've had so far on this topic to anyone interested, and please feel free to talk to the list's creator Haines Brown (address below) about the nature of the list, and/or simply subscribe! Email for me should be sent directly to me as I am not usually subscribed to this list. - Roger Burns BFU@CU.NIH.GOV BFU@NIHCU.BITNET ========================================================================= WORLD-L on LISTSERV@UBVM or LISTSERV@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU The WORLD-L is a forum for the discussion of the teaching, methodology, and theory of a scientific and non-Eurocentric world history. It aims to hold regular electronic conferences related to the purpose of the list. Archives of WORLD-L and related files are stored in the WORLD-L FILELIST. To receive a list of files send the command INDEX WORLD-L to LISTSERV@UBVM or LISTSERV@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU as the first line in the body of a mail message (not the Subject: line). To subscribe to WORLD-L, send the command SUB WORLD-L yourfirstname yourlastname to LISTSERV@UBVM or LISTSERV@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU via a mail message (again, as the first line in the body of the mail, not the Subject: line). For example: SUB WORLD-L John Doe Owner: Haines Brown BROWNH@CTSTATEU.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 08:55:13 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: jshackel@AMETHYST.BUCKNELL.EDU Subject: New List, FEMECON-L I would like to call your attention to FEMECON-L, a new list for feminist economists. Feminists who do work in all areas of economics are invited to subscribe, as are those whose work in economics is from a feminist perspective. Teachers, researchers, and activists are all welcome. The purpose of the discussion group is to facilitate communication between feminist economists. This includes sharing research, syllabi, pedagogy discussions, and resources; discussing our courses, current economic theory and policy, as well as more general concerns that might be of interest to the group; and passing along job listings, book reviews, articles and books of interest, conferences and calls for papers and the "What next?" questions that arise because of a particular job situation or professional quirk. To subscribe send the command: Subscribe Femecon-L to: MAILSERV@BUCKNELL.EDU or MAILSERV@BKNLVMS.BITNET If you have questions about the list you may contact me at: jshackel@bucknell.edu or jshackel@bucknell.bitnet Jean Shackelford jshackel@bucknell.edu. 717-524-1476 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 09:15:16 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: jpotuche@CC.GETTYSBURG.EDU Subject: Gender differences/SATs This is in response to Nancy Russo's query about research on the SAT gender gap. In 1989, the Center for Women Policy Studies in Washington, D.C. published a 190-page report by Phyllis Rosser entitled, "The SAT Gender Gap: Identifying the Causes." At the time, they were selling copies for $15.00. For more information, contact the Center for Women Policy Studies, 2000 P Street, NW, Suite 508, Washington, DC 20036 (Telephone: 202-872-1770). --------------- Jean L. Potuchek Women's Studies Bitnet: jpotuche@gburg Gettysburg College Internet:jpotuche@cc.gettysburg.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 10:56:07 UCR Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Saul Buzeta Dhighiam Subject: Re: dutch lit by women In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 17 Jan 1992 16:04:21 -0800 from I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR MY BAD ENGLISH. IN THE INTERAMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR COPERATION ON AGRICULTURE WE HAVE A NETWORK WICH ITEM IS RURAL WOMEN AND COMMUNICATION. ON THAT NETWORK ARE MANY PUBLICA- TIONS THAT MAYBE SUITABLE FOR A DEEP READING. IN A SHORT TIME WE'LL HAVE A LIST OF THE PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTIONS WE HAVE, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO SEND IT BY MEDIA IF IT IS POSSIBLE. IN CASE THAT YOU WANT FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE WRITE TO BEATRIZ SORIANO, COORDINADORA PROYECTO MUJER Y COMUNICACION IICA/ASDI. APDO. 55-2200, CORONADO, COSTA RICA. GLADLY, SAUL BUZETA. ASSISTANT OF THE PROYECT. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 11:46:59 -0600 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Mary Kay Schleiter Subject: gender differences I have some indirect experience with the strategy of revising competency tests to favor a particular group. A number of years ago, i conducted a study of graduate training programs in a particular profession. Although the study was mostly federally funded, professional organizations contributed a small (relatively) amount of money. One of the results of the study was a typology of training programs according to research/specialty focus versus practice/generalist focus. The professional organizations interpreted this to mean superior versus run-of-the-mill and the professional organization responsible for the certifying exam wanted the names of the programs in each group so they could adjust their exam accordingly: items which graduates of research- oriented programs missed would be dropped during scoring. They said that they currently did this using percentage of non-U.S. citizens as the "quality" variable. Women, African Americans and immigrants were under-represented in the programs with a research/specialty focus, and so they would be hurt by the suggested use of the research results. I, of course, refused to hand over the list, and let the organizations know that their support for the research did not entitle them to a breach of the confidentiality promised. Mary Kay mks@cs.uwp.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 12:48:15 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Kris Niedringhaus Subject: Re: Naomi Wolf In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 16 Jan 1992 22:35:00 EST from On Thu, 16 Jan 1992 22:35:00 EST Arnie Kahn said: >Naomi Wolf, author of THE BEAUTY MYTH, spoke tonight. I highly recommend her >as a speaker for Women's Week or any other program on feminist issues. She was >simply superb. She spoke to a broad range of feminist issues and the hundreds > >Arnie Kahn >fac_askahn@jmuvax (bitnet) >fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu (internet) I am SO happy to have heard this. We are organizing the 5th (or something like that) Women's Week at Washington University starting Feb. 29th and we have scheduled Naomi Wolf as our keynote speaker. Now I am even more excited than before. It has been a struggle for us to gain recognition and the funding necessary to provide a worthy forum for women's diversity but I think that we are finally getting there. In quite a selfish way, since this is my senior year, I am hoping that this year's Women's Week is the greatest success we've ever had. I hope you don't mind if I share your comments with the committee tomorrow night. Incidentally, we are searching for the perfect quote to print on the back of the Women's Week t-shirts so if anyone has any ideas please pass them along. Thanks alot, Kris Niedringhaus c09615kn@wuvmd.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 14:06:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Freda B. Birnbaum" Subject: Re: Naomi Wolf One quotation that comes to mind is "If it's not appropriate for women, it's not appropriate." Not sure of source -- I think I saw it on a postcard or a poster advertising a women's conference... 'course that means it might be copyrighted. Freda Birnbaum, Sr. Programmer/Analyst Teachers College, Columbia U. FBBIRNBAUM@CUTCV2.BITNET -------"Call on God, but row away from the rocks"----------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 11:57:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Robert_Grant.LAX1B@XEROX.COM Subject: Re: Womens Week Symbol In-Reply-To: "C09615KN@WUVMD:bitnet:Xerox's message of 21-January-92 (Tuesday) 10:48:15 PST" >Incidentally, we are searching for the perfect quote to print on the back >of the Women's Week t-shirts so if anyone has any ideas please pass them >along. >Thanks alot, >Kris Niedringhaus Something that really caught my partner's eye, and is certainly a powerful symbol (I know you're looking for a quote, but bear with me :-)) was published in the L.A. Times recently. It was a women's symbol with a lit fuse attached, so that it looked like a bomb ready to go off. It really struck a chord against all the backlash mentality currently being bandied about. If you're interested I could send a photocopy by snail-mail. Robert. RGrant.LAX1B@Xerox.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 15:24:17 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Stephanie Riger Subject: Re: Gender and dispute settlement In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 13 Jan 1992 14:41:00 MST from On Mon, 13 Jan 1992 14:41:00 MST said: Carrie Menkel-Meadow (a law prof at UCLA) has written some things on mediation (vs. adjudication) as more appropriate to women, based on Carol Gilligan's work. Debbie Kolb of the Harvard Negotiation project also has a paper on this. There are many critics of this approach, too. I touched on this in a paper I wrote on "Gender dilemmas in sexual harassment policies and procedures" American Psychologist, May 1991, 497-505. Good luck Stephanie Riger Women's Studies Program (M/C 360) Univ. of Il. at Chicago Box 4348 Chicago, IL. 60680 Bitnet: u29322@UICVM >I would appreciate information from anyone describing approaches women studies >have taken to issues of dispute settlement or conflict resolution. What gender > issues are involved? Suggestions on further reading would also be welcome. >Marianna McJimsey Colorado College ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 17:46:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: LENTZ61@SNYPOTVA.BITNET Subject: women in music I wanted to express a sincere thank you to all who contributed resources, syllabi, bibliographies, etc. so that a women in music course could be implemented at the Crane School of Music, in Potsdam, New York, which is where I attend. I was just told today that because of budget cuts the course will not be added to the course schedule in the fall. Although I am feeling quite discouraged, there is a "possibility" that the course will be implemented in the Spring of 1993. Fortunately, the woman who I asked to teach it is determined and would like to see it as a part of the curriculum. How do we work against budget cuts as these? Is this a familiar scenario to anyone? Thank you again to those who made my research all the easier. laura lentz lentz61 @snypotva.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 21:08:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: CURTISB@EARLHAM.BITNET Subject: the men's movement I'd like to add to the list of reading materials from the men's movement. There's a fascinating book by a Jungian psychologist, Guy Corneau, called ABSENT FATHERS, LOST SONS: THE SEARCH FOR MALE IDENTITY. True to Jungian form, it relies partly on archetypes, which, while stereotypical, can be enlightening. At the beginning, he mentions a group of 21 men, very diverse in ages and occupations (e.g. business types, a punk, a lawyer) that gathered at his center to discuss manhood. Corneau asked them, "Do you feel like a man?" He says no one said yes. He goes off from there, exploring possible reasons why. As the title suggests, he thinks the absence of fathers from households (a growing trend) has a lot to do with it. Interesting stuff. A truly excellent book is Sam Keen's 1991 book FIRE IN THE BELLY: ON BEING A MAN. This book addresses a wide range of issues, from spirituality to love to his definitions of heroism. It is not a "scholarly" work in that Keen bases his thought mostly on his own experience, rather than other texts. He does include an appendix with a survey he and a colleague conducted through _Psychology Today_ about the definitions of an "ideal man." I think this would interest many subscribers to this list. Basically, Keen is describing his OWN idea of who ideal men are and what they (should they exist) can be. He distinguishes between what he calls "ideological feminism" and "prophetic feminism." He says ideological feminism is feminism that focuses upon blame: blaming problems on patriarchy, male domination, etc. rather than acknow- ledging female complicity with the evil systems. Prophetic feminism, he says, is feminism that aims at eliminating gender inequalities (i.e. social inequalities between genders) and reconciling women and men in a just society. I imagine this book would be an intriguing challenge for feminists...Check it out! Curtis curtisb@earlham.yang.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 21:49:29 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Adresse alternative de l'envoyeur: From: Ron Dewar Subject: Feminist historiography I am writing this on a computer system that is not my own,so it may come through oddly, but I wanted to comment, as a political scientist who is 1/6 of a (feminist) history collective (the other 5 are historians) who did a history of Canadian women. And I apologize for the obvious points: that (a) if history is defined in terms of public activities and women are barred from anything except the private, q.e.d. women are absent from history and (b) if what men do is defined as "important" and what women do as "unimportant," then women don't do anything important either in or out of history. What we struggled to do (as we wrote the book) was to reperiodize history and also to redefine the categories worth studying ( a nice unambitious goal). I think I'd argue that women's history probably should not be universal or really anyplacecentric, but rather specific and concrete, based as closely as possible on women's experience, allowing for its variability which might well not correspond to (again) any place however large or any period as usually defined. So I'd direct historians to local or even personal history, and also to history differently gathered as for instance baed on oral history, diaries, letters (but of "nonhistorical" persons i.e. women). I think I also want to warn you specifically against recommending Merlin Stone in this context: a good feminist classicist/historian/goddess person I know very well finds Stone's analysis rather unscholarly (her work will be refuting it) and if stimulating, rather on the wishful thinking side - the sort of thing an androcentric historian with universalist aspirations will reject even in its good aspects.+ There's of course a considerable bibliography on all this that by now others in this discussion list will have produced. My own greatest difficulty as a political scientist "doing" history was the insistence of the historians that I had to recount events in the order they happened! I should add, depressing as it is, that male historians (malestream historians?) even if they praise our work show no sign of incorporating it into their own interpretations. But I still think the effort at persuasion is worthwhile. Good Luck. My real address is NBLACK@YORKVM2 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 21:56:02 -0600 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: kfresco@UX1.CSO.UIUC.EDU Subject: Feminism in French lit. A colleague told me that the most recent issue of the Stanford French Review contains an article attacking feminism as distorting to the study of French literature. This is in a special issue devoted to cultural contacts between French and American lit. Our library has not yet received this issue. Has anyone out there seen this article? Could you post the gist of it? Thanks. Karen Fresco French Department University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign kfresco@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1992 23:17:25 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: sorsha@WAM.UMD.EDU Subject: ideological and prophetic feminism On the ideas of "ideological" and "prophetic" feminism: Sam Keen's distinctions are interesting, and I think that following the ideals of prophetic feminism are worthwhile. However, I find it curious that Keen seems anxious to place blame himself upon "female complicity with the evil systems." This sounds very much like blaming the victim to me, and trying to shift blame from where it belongs. Contrary to popular belief, women have not always just sat there complacently and taken what was dished out to them by men, at least the noblewomen didn't. This however, is not to say that the book may have merit. It sounds like a worthwhile read. Laurie Beth Brunner sorsha@wam.umd.edu -- ............................The Zen master was asked the...................... .Send burnt offerings to....solemn question--what is buddha?.....IT'S GROOVE.. ...sorsha@wor.umd.edu.......He took off his sandal, put it.........O'CLOCK!... ............................on his head, and walked away...................... ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 10:05:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: REINHARZ@BRANDEIS.BITNET Subject: Re: Feminist historiography To EVERYONE IN THE BOSTON AREA On Saturday (this Saturday) January 25 from 1:00-3:30 The Brandeis University Women's Studies Program is co-sponsoring an EDUCATION AND ACTION FORUM on SEXUAL HARASSMENT. The Place is Hassenfeld Conference Center - Sherman Hall at Brandeis University 415 South Street Waltham, MA Directions Phone line is 617-736-3660 Location is Wheelchair Accessible Brandeis is on the train line (Roberts Station) Many organizations will be represented Speakers include Terri Fischette - the woman fired by Continental Airlines for not wearing make-up Wendy Kaplan - attorney Saphira Linden - psychotherapist and organizational consultant Woody Kay - Member of MESA (Men to End Sexual Assult) Ellen Convisser - President of Mass N.O.W. Phyllis Brown and Alwina Benett - Members of COSAH - Committee on Sexual Assault and Harassment, Brandeis University The event is designed as an empowering experience. There will be legislators as well who will discuss legislative possibilities. The event is co-sponsored by 9 to 5, NOW, and AAUW among many others. For more information call Terri Fischette 567-5766 (fax 617-567-0533) See You there!!! Shulamit Reinharz, reinharz@brandeis ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 11:04:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: UAHNXF01@UAHVAX1.BITNET Subject: Marxist Ecofeminism Does anyone out there have any good references on work about ecofeminism from a Marxist perspective? Send anything that might be relevant to: UAHNXF01@UAHVAX1.BITNET Thanks, Nancy Finley ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 14:14:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "KATHY MCCLOSKEY" Subject: non-university women's studies I am new to the WMST-L system, so this may have been addressed in the past. Even so, I'm asking for information concerning any women's studies programs set up independently of universities or colleges, state-run or private. For example, I seem to remember that about 12 years ago a few profs decided to cut out and set up a center on their own. Any info about that, or if it is still in existence? Thanks! Kathy McCloskey KMCCLOSKEY@FALCON.AAMRL.WPAFB.AF.MIL (513) 256-3047 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 11:53:58 -0800 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allison Fraiberg Subject: dutch lit by women Thanks to all of you who sent me information on Dutch lit by women. My colleague was very appreciative. If anyone is interested, I have compiled these suggestions in a single file. I can send this mini-bibliography to anyone who would like a copy. Allison Fraiberg Internet: fraiberg@u.washington.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 18:02:08 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: Re: Naomi Wolf the best quote i can think of is YOU CAN'T BEAT A WOMAN! it was on T-Shirts at the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1986. i still love it, and wish i had another T-Shirt; the one i bought it is worn out :( kimberly j. cook, k_cook@unhh.unh.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 19:15:00 CDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: EDWARDS@MACALSTR.EDU Subject: Re: Black men as "endangered species" Linda, I thought you might be interested in contacting people who curated the Intermedia Arts series on Men of Color: an Endanger Species. Alexs Pate was curator and chose (very consciously, I believe) the phase "endangered species." The term is used in one of the films by Marlon Riggs (in collaboration with poet Essex Hemphill). Probably in "Tongues Untied," but perhaps in "Affirmations" or Confessions of a Snap Queen." IA's address is: 425 Ontario St. SE, Minneapol is,MN 55414 and I think Pate can be reached there. The series was very excit ing and provocative, drawing on a variety of media and performances. I think the perspective of some men of color would be quite relevant to our understanding of this phrase. J. Michele Edwards Macalester College St. Paul, MN 55105 Edwards@Macalstr.edu (internet); Edwards@macalstr (bitnet) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 23:12:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: naomi wolf A number of people have written me privately about how to contact Naomi Wolf and I have sent them information. I also dug out some more info. and it's kind of interesting and probably irrelevant to the major focus of this list, but I'm sure Joan will forgive me. 1. She gave a great talk and stayed for a couple of hours after her talk to meet with women students help them organize. 2. She is very physically attractive and uses (has adopted) a number of gestures, like flipping her hair back, which are very traditionally feminine. My suspicion is that she was taught how to dress and act. 3. Although she derides marketing and capitalism, she received $4,000 for her appearance and, as I understand it, now commands $10,000 per appearance. 4. I suspect she would have had a lot of difficulty getting her book published if she were not physically attractive and willing to go on tour to market it. 5. I wish I knew she were donating a large portion of her earnings to some feminist cause. I wish I had asked the question during the question & answer period. 6. Can one use the system to criticize the system and still profit from the system? Arnie Kahn fac_askahn@jmuvax (bitnet) fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu (internet) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 22:20:21 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: cliff staples Subject: Re: wanted: ethnographies of lesbian communities In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 22 Jan 1992 18:02:08 -0500 from A student came into my office today looking for help on a senior research project for Women's Studies. She wants to do "an ethnography of the lesbian community around here." I said I'd help. Can anyone suggest qualitative/ ethnographic work on this topic for us to read? Send references private e-mail, unless you think others would be interested. thanks, cliff ###################################### CLIFFORD L. STAPLES # DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY # BOX 8192 UNIVERSITY STATION # GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202 # OFFICE 701-777-4417 # BITNET: UD153289@NDSUVM1 # ###################################### ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 23:31:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: ASHELDON@UMNACVX.BITNET Subject: Re: wanted: ethnographies of lesbian communities There was supposed to have been an ethnography of the Buffalo NY lesbian community written not too long ago. I've no other info tho. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 00:47:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: Conferences and Calls for Papers I have received the following three announcements: 1) Conference on Women's Health Agenda for the 21st Century 2) International Diaspora Conference 3) Call for Papers: SAGE special issues For more information, contact the people mentioned in the announcements, not WMST-L or me. Joan Korenman (korenman@umbc) ******************************************************* 1) There will be a one day conference on women's health agenda for the 21st century which will be held on Friday, Jan. 31st at the Graduate Center of C.U.N.Y. The conference is being held in conjunction with an executive meeting of the Division of the Psychology of Women of the American Psychological Association (taking advantage of lots of people who will be in town). The keynote speakers are Gail Wyatt of UCLA on women's sexual behavior and AIDS and Bernice Lott of Rhode Island University on gender role socialization. There will also be panels on the psychology of decision making and women's bio- medical health; social context and women's health (abortion, work, poverty, and violence); and gender, ethnicity, and health. Registration is $35 for students with an I.D. and $65 for others. It is also possible to get a combination registration and membership in the division for a bargain price. The conference will award continuing education credit and checks should be made payable to Division 35 c/o Center for the Study of Women and Society, 33 W. 42nd St., N. Y., N. Y. 10036. Further details can probably also be obtained from the Center. Rhoda Unger (unger@apollo.montclair.edu) ************************************************************** 2) The First International Conference on "Women in Africa and the African Diaspora: Bridges Across Activism and the Academy" will be held in Nigeria, West Africa, in the summer of 1992. The deadline for proposal submissions is February 15, 1992. For more information, contact: Organizing Committee, Women in Africa and African Diaspora, 1992, c/o Professor Obioma Nnaemeka, Department of French, The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio 46691; Tel: (216) 263-2403. ************************************************************** 3) SAGE: A Scholarly Journal on Black Women has issued calls for papers for the following special issues of the journal: vol. 9, No. 1--RELIGION issue: Essays, personal narratives, interviews, and documents focusing on Black women's religious and spiritual experiences and Black feminist/womanist theology are solicited. DEADLINE: September 15, 1992 vol. 9, No. 2--MALE KIN issue: Essays, personal narratives, interviews, documents, and fiction focusing on relations with male kin; e.g., sons, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and brothers, are solicited. This issue will not focus on romantic relations with boyfriends, husbands, or lovers. DEADLINE: January 15, 1993 vol. 10, No. 1--BLACK WOMEN IN ACADEME: Essays, personal narratives, interviews, and documents focusing on Black women's experiences as learners, teachers, administrators at all levels of the educational system. DEADLINE: June 15, 1993. The mailing address for SAGE: A Scholarly Journal on Black Women is P. O. Box 42741, Atlanta, GA 30311-9741. (Note: the current issue of SAGE (vol. VII, No. 1, Summer 1990) is devoted to "Women of Rural Africa") ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 22:27:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: EAKAUF@INDSVAX1.BITNET Subject: Re: non-university women's studies If some one does know about this ... please post for all of us to see. eakauf@indsvax1.bitnet eakauf@indsvax1.indstate.edu sue kaufman ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 10:16:35 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: JJ107@PHOENIX.CAMBRIDGE.AC.UK Subject: Re: [Marxist Ecofeminism] In-Reply-To: -unspecified- I also would be interested in references on ecofeminism from a Marxist perspective (or more broadly on ecoMarxism). Maybe suggesttions could be posted to the list? Thanks, Jenny Jarman uk.ac.cam.phx@jj107 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 07:04:43 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: Re: wanted: ethnographies of lesbian communities Kristin Esterberg wrote a Ph.D. dissertation about Lesbian identity in and out of lesbian communities. she was at Cornell University at the time, and you may be able to get a copy of the diss. from the library there... she is probably a member of the American Sociological Association and you could get her current address from them. their main office is in Washington, DC. phone:202-833-3410. i don't know if Esterberg stayed at Cornell or if she has since moved on. the ASA willbe able to help you. kimberly j. cook, k_cook@unhh.unh.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 07:48:29 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Louise Fitzgerald Subject: Re: naomi wolf In-Reply-To: <199201230417.AA16671@s.psych.uiuc.edu>; from "Arnie Kahn" at Jan 22, 92 11:12 pm Arnie, I find your message SO interesting......I had suspected all of the things you mentioned, particularly the business about not getting the book published if she weren't so good looking and wondering how much one could criticize the system and yet profit, etc........and wondering how much (if any) unconscious self-deception was going on with this (Sorry, but I do think like a clinician every now and then......)...I prefer to think of it that way rather than as a more calculated move! ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 09:04:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "KATHY MCCLOSKEY" Subject: Re: naomi wolf In reply to Arnie's question as to whether or not one can criticize the system and yet still profit from the system: The answer is we all do it everyday. Unless each and every one of us is willing to leave the present system behind, including everything from academia to the cars we drive, then we are indeed using the very system we rail against. So the woman has long hair...no reason to make a case that she's not as feminist as the next person. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 09:00:25 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Patt" Subject: Re: naomi wolf In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 22 Jan 1992 23:12:00 EST from Arnie, you raise some interesting points. I do not know Naomi Wolf but I have been a woman in media for some years and, while definitely understanding some of the biases that exist there, wonder if the feminist movement haven't made too much ado about some things. Let me address a few of your points specific- ally: 1. "..talked and stayed a couple of hours to help the women organize": I have come to realize that there exists a contradictory presumption on the part of female activists that women know *inherently* how to organize while we fail to pass along what we learned from our own experiences. So if Wolff stayed to do that she did more than most; that is to say she *practiced* and preached:-) 2. "..was taught how to dress and act..": Although I understand the opposition to physical beauty in feminism I don't accept it. I am a very plain jane aver- age kind of looking person and I found enthusiasm to count for 95% of what I did...but that's my own particular approach. Perhaps Wolf decided to trade on her physical appearance..it only got her in the door; what happened after that was up to her and it sounds as if she's making it work. 3."marketing and capitalism..commands $10,000 an appearance." I've always won- dered about that myself. I never turned down an honariam and *always* insisted on getting paid; and on occasion was known to ask for a dollar just to keep the understandings straight. It is a sad thing in the world that the only currency of worth and success, for men and women, is money; but that doesn't make it any less real. If the event was a poetry performance and the sponsoring group was trying to raise money to publish an anthology I would always give it back to the group for the anthology; but I'd make *sure* EVERYONE saw me get paid. 4. " beauty and publishing and touring": I'm not going to be the one to say physical beauty doesn't count in the business; clearly it does..but *only* if it helps sell books. Re: touring: every author/performer I know clearly under- stands the necessity of that and you will hear same talk about delaying coming out with a work, because the touring aspect is so strenuous for them. I know of attractive competitive authors who considered public speaking and touring to be such a painful exercise they could not bring themselves to do it...and their books probably didn't do as well unless their publisher had a PR frontperson to do same. 5. "..donating some to a feminist cause..": if one admits that publicly then one is accused of grandstanding and playing on sympathies..only reason I can mention my own activity in that regard is that I am no longer active in that field, but do other things which, appropriately, I don't talk about as long as I am actively involved...Some days you just can't win'em. 6."use/criticize/profit from the system?" Depends on what you mean from "profit"..if it enlightens, informs, possible wreaks *some* change then I'd say one profited. If one loses sight of the original goal to only pursue money.. then I suspect other things.. Just some musings from a decided non-expert, but an active and involved parti cipant. Patricia McRAe Government and International Studies University of South Carolina T350134@UNIVSCVM ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 09:20:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: pamela klassen 936 g Subject: naomi wolf i don't know anything about her income or what she does with it but I find it highly questionable to be judging Naomi Wolf on her appearance. This kind of criticism is playing right into the hands of the "beauty myth", part of which is the assumption that beautiful women are stupid (cf. "blonde jokes"). The statement "somebody must have taught her how to dress and act," confirms this assumption: either she is easily manipulated or extremely calculating. "Feminine gestures" such as flipping one's hair back are not grounds for discrediting a whole argument, let alone a whole person. I would even argue with the notion that flipping one's hair back is a dinstinctly "feminine gesture" (whatever that is) since I know many men with long hair who play with their hair in the same way. This may seem like a petty issue to some, but discounting women on the basis of both their perceived beauty or their lack of it is equally pervasive in this society. This discounting is especially pervasive in the erotically charged academic environment. To perpetuate this, I think, by criticizing an individual woman, is not the best way to proceed. Pamela Klassen pklasse5@mach1.wlu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 09:42:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MEREDITH BROWN Subject: Re: wanted: ethnographies of lesbian communities Madeline Davis and Liz Kennedy did ethnographi research on Lesbian community in Buffalo. One article is in DuBois and Ruiz MANY SISTERS. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 09:47:21 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: rlbro%CONNCOLL.BITNET@YALEVM.YCC.YALE.EDU Subject: Re: naomi wolf I do not know Naomi Wolf; I do not speak in her name, or in the name of anyone but myself. But.... I find Arnie Kahn's recent posting about her physical attributes and lecture fees somewhat disturbing. I'd sure hate to have someone say about me something like: "He looks so Jewish, I'm just sure he was taught to speak with his hands like that; Besides, he doesn't give enough of his money to Jewish causes." Arnie, your point about criticizing a system from within was interesting; but you don't know how much money Ms. Wolf donates, nor is it any of you r business. Let's not appear to be attacking someone for giving a good lecture and getting paid for it.... Roger Brooks Connecticut College ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 09:59:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Gaelyn Davidson Subject: lay off Naomi, please I hate for my first posting to be a defensive one, but I'd like to plead for a little more understanding and a little less cattiness, especially within such a small and supposedly supportive circle of feminist thinking. It seems Naomi Wolf is facing criticism from SOME feminists for the same reason Spike Lee is criticized by SOME blacks. I, for one, would rather congratulate a person for achieved something in a stacked system. A person whose thoughts are inclined in a particular direction really ought not to HAVE to be responsible for the fate (and finances) of that movement. And shouldn't be criticized if they don't conform to the stereotypes their audience expects. Gaelyn Davidson GDAVIDSO@NAS (bitnet) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 10:01:32 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: KRUGER@UIUCVMD.BITNET I've never heard Naomi Wolf speak and haven't read her book yet. But something in the suggestion of her using her good looks and criticizing the system while benefiting from it reminds me of the big bruhaha in the lesbian-feminist publishing world when Rita Mae Brown left Daughter's Press in the late '70s to publish with Harper and Row. Sparks flew! She was abandoning her sisters for the lure of big bucks with the big boys in New York. And, it was suggested, if she had been a big-boned, strappin', short-haired dyke rather than a petite attractive dyke with an appealing southern drawl she would never have received the Harper offer. Well, who knows. I do know that lesbian-feminist publishing continued to thrive without Rita Mae Brown, and that literary merit of her novels aside, suddenly main- stream America was reading about lesbians. (granted, not so much in her later novels, but that another gripe). As to who taught Naomi Wolf how to flip her hair--probably the same folks who taught me to obsess about my weight--all 120 pounds of it. Betsy Kruger University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 11:32:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: KARON2@BRANDEIS.BITNET Subject: trading on privilege The discussion about Naomi Wolf's physical appearance and mannerisms is an interesting one. The underlying issue, I believe, concerns the ways in which people gain privilege in this society. These privileges are based on a variety of power hierarchies. Men have more privilege than women, white people have more privilege than people of color, thin people have more privilege than fat people, heterosexual people have more privilege than lesbians and gays, richer people have more privilege than poorer people, etc. Those people with more privilege don't have to do anything to earn it, it simply accrues to them by virtue of having a particular trait in this society. The issue is how do they use it. If they simply accept their greater privilege without questioning it, they end up perpetuating the system. And why not, since they are benefiting from it! It is possible, however, to recognize the fact of this unearned privilege and to incorporate that knowledge into one's work. One way to do that is to donate a portion of one's speaking fees to worthy causes, as was suggested in the Naomi Wolf discussion. I believe the most powerful way to use this understanding of privilege is to acknowledge it publicly and discuss its implications. For instance, I once had a discussion with a survivor of psychiatric incarceration. She made that point that, based on her current prestigious job, she could claim to have proved those wrong who believed that she was incapable of such achievement. She is absolutely right, that those who have been psychiatricly labelled face stigma and a loss of power. I countered, however, that some of what helped her was her physical appearance as a thin, long-haired, blond, blue-eyed woman. Others who shared her experience of incarceration but who did not have the privilege she got by virtue of her physical appearance would have a more difficult time finding a similar job position. This example describes the need to recognize and acknowledge how privilege works. It also makes clear that people privileged in one way may not be so in other ways. The issues are quite complex. I believe that each of us, in our writing, speaking, and teaching, must make explicit the systems of privilege that influence our work and the ways that our privileges impact those without such privilege. I would relate this back to Shula's question about "coming out" as a hetersexual. Heterosexuals in this society are a privileged group. Unlike some other hierarchies (male/female, white/of color), it is not possible to visually determine a person's sexuality. This means that not only are heterosexuals in a position of power, but that everyone is assumed to be heterosexual unless otherwise specified (or assumed, based on a set of stereotypes--that's another discussion). So there is no need for a heterosexual to "come out"! That language refers to a particular set of experiences of claiming a despised identity, and taking the risks associated with making that identity known to others. I would suggest to Shula, and to others in similar situations, that you address this issue of privilege. How is your experience of feminism shaped by the reality of your privilege as a heterosexual? What does it mean to challenge the privilege system of sexism, when you are benefitting from the system of heterosexism? Only by discussing and acknowledging the realities of our differences in experience and privilege can we truly begin to challenge the barriers between us. Sara Karon KARON2@Brandeis ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 12:12:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Helen M. Raisz/Institute of Gerontology" Subject: RE: RE:BACKLASH I try to be polite and not clutter up the list with replys to an individual, however, you do not seem to be on either internet or bitnet, "drain". Please send me you correct address. I wanted to suggest that capitalism is blowing itself to smithereens without the help of anyone of us. The bank failures in New England have devastated many people, including many single women who were trying to "make it" in real estate. I have just\retru ned from CUBA and am very interested in their form of Marxist-Fidelist social organization. If you would like to continue , please call me. raisz@sjc ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 13:11:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "KATHY MCCLOSKEY" Subject: Re: RE:BACKLASH My address is: Kathy McCloskey kmccloskey@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil (should be internet) Am interested in continuing the discussion about how capitalism seems to be coming to its logical conclusion - besides its collapse, also its non-workability for humans in general. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 13:16:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "KATHY MCCLOSKEY" Subject: Re: non-university women's studies So far, the only thing I hacve been able to come up with is a name and a city -- Kay Hagan in Atlanta -- and that was by word of mouth. Supposedly, she was heading up a series called "Feminars." If nothing else, these women were not lacking a sense of humor. If anyone knows this person, where she might be now, what her interests are, PLEASE CONTACT ME! Kathy McCloskey Armstrong Lab ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 12:33:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: UAHSEF01@UAHVAX1.BITNET Subject: Re: naomi wolf Well Arnie--you validated everything Naomi Wolf said in the Beauty Myth by evaluating her appearance rather than her ideas. Most specifically appearance is used to control behavior ("The Beauty Myth is always about controlling the behavior rather than the appearances of women"--loosely quoted). We are in more trouble than I previously thought if feminist men can't recognize (and consequently reinforce) the way appearance codes always work against women. Susan Fillippeli UAHSEF01@AUHVAX1 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 13:46:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "KATHY MCCLOSKEY" Subject: Re: Marxist Ecofeminism I thought I'd post this generally instead of personally -- this is what I came up with: Carolyn Merchant is the Chair of the Dept of Conservation & Natural Resources at UC, Berkeley, and she's published numerous books, bookchapters, and journal articles comparing what she terms "liberal," "radical," and "socialist" ecofeminism. Here's a sample: Carolyn Merchant (1990). Ecofeminism and feminist theory. In Irene Diamond and Gloria Feman Orenstein (Eds.), _Reweaving the World: The Emergence of Ecofeminism_, pgs 100-105. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. _____ (1987). The theoretical structure of ecological revolutions. _Environmental Review_, 11(4), pgs 265-274. _____ (1981). Earthcare: Women and the environmental movement. _Environment_, 22(4), pgs 38-40. _____ (1979). _Death of Nature: Women, Ecology, and the Scientific Revolution_. New York: Harper & Row. Merchant's views of socialist ecofeminism: "For socialist ecofeminism, environmental problems are rooted in the rise of capitalist patriarchy and the ideology that the Earth and nature can be exploited for human progress through technology. Historically, the rise of capitalism eroded the subsistence-based farm and city workshop in which production was oriented toward use values and men and women were economic partners. The result was a capitalist economy dominated by men and a domestic sphere in which women's labor at the home was unpaid and subordinate to men's labor in the marketplace [see Matthaei's excellent treatment of how this came about, referenced below]. Both women and nature are exploited by men as part of the "progressive liberation" of humans from the constraints imposed by nature. The consquence is the alienation of women and men from each other and both from nature." -from Merchant (1990) Julie A. Matthaei (1982). _An Economic History of Women in America: Women's Work, the Sexual Division of Labor, and the Development of Capitalism_. New York: Schocken Books. Hope this helps you out. Kathy McCloskey Armstrong Lab ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 13:14:34 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Melissa Deutsch Subject: mail SET WMST-L MAIL ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 13:38:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Shannon L. Green" Subject: rape bib request I am writing a paper on Mozart's "Don Giovanni" opera and the impact of E.T.A. Hoffmann's short story on the interpretation of the opera, particularly how he makes Giovanni a hero and Anna a figure of the Eternal Feminine. I would like 1) suggestions of sources on the history of rape, particularly on the view of rape in 18th-century Europe (Germany, Austria especially) as Hoffmann insists that Anna was raped, but the libretto does not call for it. Was rape primarily viewed as a crime against the father? That is, one of injury to property as opposed to hurting the woman? Any source suggestions will be welcome. Also 2) If anyone knows of any ideas/sources/interesting articles about Don Juan and/or Hoffmann as may apply to this topic? I will welcome any offerings... Thank you! Shannon Green greensl@wiscmacc.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 15:30:09 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Mary Ellen Capek Please remove me from the WMST-L@UMDD. Thanks! ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 14:27:57 -0600 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Mary Kay Schleiter Subject: a teaching problem Yesterday was the first day of class. I knew beforehand that 3 of the 16 students in my senior level Women's Studies/Medical Sociology seminar were very vocal and tended to dominate any class they were in. I was prepared to spend time, on the first day, talking about the importance of giving every student a voice in the class. I was not prepared for a student I hadn't met before who was far more domineering than the most vocal women's studies students. She is a pre-med student who has a lot of anger -- against men, against the U.S. health care system, against medical schools, the U.S. government, etc. -- which she must not have had a chance to express before. She interrupted, jumping from one topic to another in long statements that were very difficult to break off. I try to use feminist pedagogy in my teaching. I would like the class as a whole to somehow help me with this. I don't want to be any more authoritarian than I have to be. The other students were as surprised as i was, and looked to me to "take charge; two of the three other vocal students managed to gear up to the new level of what I saw as a competition for the floor; the one conservative male in the class was more quiet than I have ever seen him. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Mary Kay mks@cs.uwp.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 15:31:22 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MECHC@CUNYVM.BITNET Please remove me from WMST-L@UMDD ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 14:35:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: UAHNXF01@UAHVAX1.BITNET Subject: Kay Hagan In addition to conducting "Feminars", Kay Hagan has started something called "Fugitive Information: An Interactive Web of Feminist Ideas." It is a subscription series of essays on feminist theory. Subscribers are encouraged to respond to the essays and the responses are published in the next issue. One of Hagan's essays was recently published in *MS* magazine. Kay Hagan can be reached at Escapadia Press, PO Box 5298, Atlanta, GA 30307. Nancy Finley UAHNXF01@UAHVAX1 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 15:22:21 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: JANE EYRE For Mary Kay Schleiter facing the problem of the WS student who finds her WS class the place to express her anger, pain, etc. (at the expense of instruction time and other students' oppor- tunities to do the same): I would politely interrupt the student the next time she launches one of her long statements, validate the last thing she has said, and suggest that you would like to t to her at greater length in person about her experiences, but now, during class time, you all need to broaden the scope of the discussion to include other students' perceptions (or to find out what the author of the assigned reading contributes to the issue at han) or whatever. You won't be able to do this, of course, unless you are sincerely willing to talk with the student at some length (and probably frequently) in private and attempt to help her analyze and improve her situation. Good luck. Kathy Hickok, Iowa State Univ. s2.kkh@isumvs.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 16:19:26 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sarah Subject: trading on privilege KARON2@BRANDEIS.BITNET says: . . . not only are heterosexuals in a position of power, but everyone is assumed to be heterosexual unless otherwise specified (or assumed, based on a set of stereotypes--that's another discussion). So there is no need for a heterosexual to "come out"! This is a very good point, I think. Lately I've been trying an experiment: I assume everyone is lesbian/gay "unless otherwise specified." It makes for an interesting change in attitude. . . ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 18:57:50 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MIKE Subject: RE: trading on privilege RE: "Lately I've been trying an experiment: I assume everyone is lesbian/gay" ... for an even better "change in attitude" ... how about trying not making *either* assumption? Shouldn't this be what we are trying to achieve? Mike Keenan keenan@gw.wmich.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 18:52:03 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: LL23000 Subject: Naomi Wolf/Muslims Naomi Wolf had a letter in the Wall Street Journal (I'm not sure if it's today's; recent, anyway) about breast implants, and in her letter she just briefly mentions that clitorectomies are routine in Muslim countries. I believe her, but this was news to me. Does everyone else except me know this as a routine fact???? Karen Kay LL23@NEMOMUS ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 19:30:58 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Michael Subject: Re: a teaching problem In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 23 Jan 1992 15:27:57 -0500 from Dear Mary Kay, Your enraged but domineering student raises a problem for us all; whether or not we are involved in academic discourse as a calling, the politics of speech-freedom is relevant and pressing. If I hear what you're suggesting about the implied goals of your teaching, you're putting learning first and experiential self-expression second. The very reason to have space for all voices in this respect is that each one helps all see the variety in a question and problem. Thus, as justifiably bitter as your star speaker might be, her voice must be no more than one in a choir of collective responsibility. All you can do in the class is to make the trans-individual aim clear in every gesture, implying and stating at every turn the limits to any one person's experience in relation to the learning experience of the entire class. If the student refuses to understand that a classroom may sometimes be the site of a catharsis, but never of a therapy, then you must speak to privately, and explain her responsibility to her. I understand how tough this must be, for you, for her, and for all concerned. The one truly bright note in the whole concern is the gratitude we may feel, however muted, that this woman's experiences are no longer so systematically repressed; I think it is, finally, <{good if very difficult news that her concerns can be a part of the endless and sympathetic forum of learning. Good luck to you, and please keep us posted. Michael ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 19:17:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Rodman, Barbara" Subject: RE: a teaching problem Mary Kay-- Re: problems with students who dominate discussion: You might use other methods that don't single people out: -agree on a time limit and use a cheap kitchen timer for each person; one or two minutes are really enough -bring a small, soft ball or baton or some item that can be passed from one speaker to the next and can't go back to the first person until the last has spoken -let the class develop guidelines and policies for discussion and put the most "difficult" person in charge of "enforcing" them. -encourage the "difficult" person to write her ideas up as a position paper and have a formal presentation/response Hope some of these might help. Barb R DITBR@TTACS1 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 18:37:34 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Oliver Mullarney Subject: Re: a teaching problem Re: Mary Kay's very vocal student: May I add to the helpful responses you've had so far? I think just speaking with all your dominant students outside of class would help. I'd begin by discussing class protocol in class--with students themselves drawing up the guidelines (and you, of course, shaping the discussion). Certainly, stressing the need for the shy and effectively silenced voices in the class to have their floor time, too, fits right into the context of feminism. But I think I'd talk with the med student alone and the other group alone, pointing out how interesting and stimulating their contributions can be, but noting that others need the chance to speak, or that given the class time, you might sometimes need to steer the class discussion to other subjects so that you can discuss the many important issues that arise in such a class. You might use their dominance as a strength and appoint each one a group moderator for smaller class discussions--I do this all the time in composition classes. I kkeep shuffling the groups so that each student gets to know each of the others. In class, you can quickly come in on a point the student is making and 1) re- direct the discussion by asking another student if she or he agrees/disagrees and why (this is particularly supportive of the quieter student who is often full of ideas and relieved to be called upon for a contribution); 2) work the comment back in the direction of an assigned reading; or 3) point out that the students comments are exciting and interesting but that you'd prefer to continue the discussion during your office hours. (When I was a student I was relieved when an instructor cut short lengthy discussions with this suggestion-- and I always enjoyed getting such an invitation!) However, I personally just can't be an outlet for a student--some wonderful souls can do this, but I need my time away, too. If a student seems to have real problems I give them #s for counselling--and I encourage them to come to me to talk about how it is going/ if it is helpful. I try to find some kind of balance between listening but not letting them become dependent on me for guidance/therapy--I don't have that training. I've had students who write of rape, abuse, family beatings, and other horrific experiences...I am astonished every term. You'll need to decide on what your limits are both in and out of class a and gently but firmly make sure your students are aware of them, too. Karlin Lillington omullarn@oracle.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 20:59:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: ASHELDON@UMNACVX.BITNET Subject: Re: a teaching problem One feminist pedagogy technique --for the query from Mary Kay-- could be to insist that people talk only when called on by the last speaker. An explanation could be given about why you are using this technique. The effect of this can be that the class itself selects next speakers and they don't rely on the official teacher to make these decisions. Some people also take 5 min at the end of each class to discuss class satisfaction with their classroom discussion process, identifying obstacles to full participation and suggesting solutions to such problems. Amy Sheldon ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 23:29:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BMARANTZ@SNYESCVA.BITNET Subject: RE: a teaching problem To Mary Kay (teaching problem) Wow, do I resonate with that one. Maybe think of this -- I've seen it work. Surely many left the class with lots of unfinished business and feelings. Don't think you can drop it, or ignore them. Maybe, though, some concrete "statement" that gives "everyone has a voice" tangible meaning would help. What I've seen work is something like this. Acknowledge first that there were feelings left over that need to get shared and a problem (group) resolved. Say that since everyone probably has something they want to say, you're going to make space for each statement. Take some small, visible tangible object (an ashtray, small glass, something) -- the person who has that physically in hand AND ONLY THAT PERSON has the floor to talk; that person can relinquish it to another if she or he chooses, with an outside 5 minute limit. Then must pass it on to the next. NOONE must be allowed to break the rule of no permission to talk without the object in hand; if anyone does, they must be stopped by the group informed in advance that that's their task. I've seen this work (in a class, and wonder of wonders, at a faculty meeting - and I've heard those who experienced the "space" it provided yearn for it vocally after the first trial, when it wasnt in use! "I think we need the ashtray" has become a metaphor for "someone's gone on too long" ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1992 21:05:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RLYSLOFF@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU Subject: Naomi Wolf/clitorectomy/female mutilation In response to: >Naomi Wolf had a letter in the Wall Street Journal (I'm not sure if it's >today's; recent, anyway) about breast implants, and in her letter she >just briefly mentions that clitorectomies are routine in Muslim >countries. I believe her, but this was news to me. Does everyone else >except me know this as a routine fact???? > >Karen Kay >LL23@NEMOMUS I've conducted field research in Java (over two and half years of residence) which is predominantly Islamic and I have never heard of clitorectomies performed there, although male circumcisions are the norm. My understanding is that, among the Javanese, boys become men when they are circumcised (around the age of 12 years) while girls are considered women when they begin to menstruate. I have read of clitorectomy performed among some Islamic groups (and rarely in Indonesia) but in these days it is more of a ritualized gesture than an actual surgical procedure; or, if there is surgery, it is performed in a hospital. There are some groups (in Africa and probably elsewhere) that perform radical clitoridectomies. Such practices are obviously painful and mutilating, often performed under very primitive conditions. They can be extremely dangerous to the young woman as she may bleed to death or become infected. I have heard somewhere that one young (female) anthropologist came under fire because she had attempted to discourage this practice while she was in the field (I don't remember where). It was a rather unpleasant dilemma she faced since on one hand as an anthropologist her professional role was only to observe, yet on the other she could not help but try to prevent a cruel and inhumane practice against fellow human beings. Since I'm not a medical anthropologist, I can't tell you much more than this. However, if you are interested in pursuing this question further, I would recommend checking the anthropological literature, especially ethnographic studies of particular cultural groups. For example, Hildred Geertz's _Javanese Family_ (NY: The Free Press of Glencoe, 1961) is still an important source for more on adolescence and adulthood, marriage, etc. among rural Javanese. You might also check page 617 of _The New Our Bodies, OurSelves_ for more on such practices and feminist response to it. Also, Nigel Davis, discusses clitoridectomy and infibulation in rather gruesome detail in _The Rampant God_ (NY: William Morrow, 1984). I didn't read Naomi Wolf's letter to the editor, but it is clear that she was making a larger point (even if her statement was not entirely accurate, her point was). Could someone perhaps provide a summary of this letter? Rene T.A. Lysloff RLYSLOFF@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU or RLYSLOFF@POMONA.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 00:25:42 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Lisa Suhair Majaj Subject: Re: Naomi Wolf/Muslims Nawal El-Saadawi writes about the practice of clitoridectomy in Egypt in her book The Hidden Face of Eve: Women in the Arab World. It is hardly accurate to say that this is a routine practice in Muslim countries, however, though it does occur. El-Saadawi refers to its practice in Egypt, the Sudan, Yemen, and some of the Gulf States. A selection in Opening the Gates: A Century of Arab Feminist Writing describes the role of midwives in this practice in Mauritania. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 00:52:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: John Kellermeier Subject: Re: Naomi Wolf/Muslims >Naomi Wolf had a letter in the Wall Street Journal (I'm not sure if it's >today's; recent, anyway) about breast implants, and in her letter she >just briefly mentions that clitorectomies are routine in Muslim >countries. I believe her, but this was news to me. Does everyone else >except me know this as a routine fact???? > >Karen Kay >LL23@NEMOMUS I know about it only because my partner has done some reading in that area. Two books I found looking over our book shelves are _Prisoners of Ritual: An Odyssey into Female Genital Circumcision in Africa_ by Hanny Lightfoot-Klein and _The Circumcision of Women: A Strategy for Eradication_ by Olayinka Koso-Thomas. I also saw a video about female genital mutilation by a woman from Germany who visited our campus a couple of years ago. I don't recall her name though. John ***-----------------------------------+---------------------*** * John Kellermeier, SUNY Plattsburgh | A man of quality * | Plattsburgh, New York 12901 | will support | | kellerjh@snyplava.bitnet | womyn who are | * kellerjh@splava.cc.plattsburgh.edu | seeking equality. * ***-----------------------------------+---------------------*** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 00:53:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: Re: naomi wolf Thanks, Louise. Yours was a welcome voice given the mail I received today, both on WMST-L and privately. I sense what it is like to be battered. I was not a happy camper today. Arnie ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 01:12:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: LSELLS@CIS01.CFR.USF.EDU Subject: reply to teaching problem Re: how to handle the angry student in the medical sociology class who dominates the conversation. I think the techniques for dealing with the classroom situation itself have all been great. But I also think the teacher should affirm the student's anger. Global rage is part of the feminist process of consciousness raising. I agree that the classroom is not the place for therapy, but a women's studies class is certainly a place for consciousness raising. Just because the student is angry doesn't mean she needs therapy. Even if she does need therapy, her anger is still important. (Not that anyone was suggesting it wasn't...) I suggest that in addition to taking the student aside to remind her that she needs to share air time, the teacher also offer her something to read that validates anger and teaches her to channel it into some sort of activism. Something like Anne Wilson Schaef's Women's Reality or really any book that lets the student know that it's o.k. to be angry, but that she needs to do something productive with that anger. Laura Sells University of South Florida LSELLS@CIS01.CFR.USF.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 00:50:23 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: sorsha@WAM.UMD.EDU Subject: clitorectomies in Moslem countries I don't believe that this procedure is routine in all Moslem countries; my understanding is that some Moslem societies still do this, as well as several other cultures, from African to island cultures. Some of them also like infibulation as well (the society does, I doubt the women do). Laurie Beth Brunner sorsha@wam.umd.edu -- ............................The Zen master was asked the...................... .Send burnt offerings to....solemn question--what is buddha?.....IT'S GROOVE.. ...sorsha@wor.umd.edu.......He took off his sandal, put it.........O'CLOCK!... ............................on his head, and walked away...................... ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 07:59:27 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from PROFS to RFC822 format by PUMP V2.2 From: "Leonard P. Hirsch" Subject: RE: trading on privilege In-Reply-To: note of 01/23/92 19:04 From: Leonard P. Hirsch Office of International Relations/Q-3123 (202) 357-4788 re Mike's comment on "shouldn't we be trying to acheive no assumptions." Yes, but. Given the heterosexist nature of our upbringing, the point of the original posting on privilege and the discussion implies to me that it is just about inevitable that "neutrality" will be heterosexist. By attempting the counter--ie assuming all are lesbian/gay, you start seeing all of the hidden places where "neutrality" is really masking heterosexual assumptions. It is similar in gendered language. The move to non-gendered language is very important. But try teaching in the feminine generic. The assumption is that if you use the feminine, there was a named person. You start realizing just how powerful the masculine generic is and notice the implications and need for inclusive language all the more. +-----------------------------------------------------+ | Leonard Hirsch (202) 357-4788/FAX (202)786-2557 | | Smithsonian Institution BITNET INCEM005@SIVM | +-----------------------------------------------------+ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 07:42:12 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: RE: Naomi Wolf/Muslims The past two or three weeks the people on XCULT-L have been discussion excision and clitoridectomy at some depth. In fact, I just finished reading a message from a participant from Saudi Arabia (pro of course)! If you are interested in getting educated about or involved in the discussion, you can join the discussion group by sending this message: "sub XCULT-L (your name)" to LISTSERV@PSUVM. To receive the automatic (sorry) automatically archived files of the past discussions, send this message: "index XCULT-L" to the same address and then order the files for this month. Neither excision nor clitoridectomy are practiced in all Muslim countries nor is the practice limited to Muslims. It is practiced in more than 26 countries in Africa (this includes both Arab and Subsahel (sp?) countries), in most Arab countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Brazil, El Salvador, Pakistan, by the Skoptsi Christian sect in the former USSR (not sure just where in the new countries), by some Coptice Christians, by Fellasha (a Jewish sect originating in Ethiopia), by some Catholics and Protestants, as late as the '40s in the U.S. as a cure for masturbation, and there is legislation within the last decade forbiding it in Great Britian. By the way, it is illegal in many of the countries mentioned, but tradition has overruled the law. Sandra Basgall SBASGALL@VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 08:41:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: UAHEBP01@UAHVAX1.BITNET Subject: RE: clitorectomies in Moslem countries There has recently been an interesting discussion of this topic on ANTHRO-L, and someone there mentioned a recent, special issue of the journal _Medical Anthropology_ that provided a survey of the practice. Elizabeth Pollard, Library University of Alabama in Huntsville Bitnet: uahebp01@uahvax1 Internet: uahebp01@asnuah.asn.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 09:50:10 EST Reply-To: pearson@LEMOYNE Sender: Women's Studies List From: PEARSON@LEMOYNE.BITNET Subject: Re: Women's Studies Materials for Middle and High School Students FYI: Future Farmers of America is co-ed, and has been for many years. I am curious about FHA though? Gretchen Pearson, Le Moyne College pearson@lemoyne.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 09:54:01 EST Reply-To: korenman@umbc Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: CALL FOR SYLLABI FOR WMST-L As many of you know, one of the functions WMST-L has been set up to perform is to serve as a file repository. There has been particular interest in WMST-L's making available files of course syllabi. Some of you may remember that I put out a call for syllabi once before, but with my infallible sense of timing, I sent it in late July, when many people were either on vacation or about to go on vacation. Not surprisingly, I got VERY little response. Since that last attempt, the list has more than doubled in size (there are now more than 750 subscribers), and I think it's time to try again. In July, I asked only for syllabi for the Introduction to Women's Studies course. This time, I'm going to be more ambitious and put out a call for any Women's Studies syllabi that you'd be willing to share with others. That includes core courses like "Intro to W.S." and "Feminist Theory," but it also includes any other Women's Studies courses you think would be of interest to others: "Psychology of Women," "History of Women," "Women and Law," "Women and Health," "Women and Philosophy," "Women and Art," "Women and Science," "Women and Economics," "Women and Sexuality," "Women in Literature," "Women and the Media," courses that focus on "minority" women, etc. etc. These syllabi must be sent to me in electronic form in one of two ways: either via e-mail as an ASCII file (i.e., a plain text file with no wordprocessing codes), or via the regular mail on a computer disk (in which case you can send it in its wordprocessing format). If your syllabus is currently in wordprocessing format, you can convert it into an ASCII file by following the instructions in your wordprocessing manual. (For Wordperfect files, use CTL-F5 [Text In/Out] to retrieve the file as a DOS text file. Other word processing programs have similar conversion features.) The file should also have no line longer than 75 characters, and each line must end in a carriage return (line feeds don't count). Once you've got your syllabus into ASCII format, the safest thing to do would be to send it to me in an e-mail message (send to KORENMAN@UMBC [Bitnet] or KORENMAN@UMBC2.UMBC.EDU [Internet]). WMST-L subscriber Janet McLeod has generously offered to help get the syllabi ready so they can be made available for people to send for. I'll provide more information about that after the syllabi are ready. If you don't feel able to convert your wordprocessing file into an ASCII file, you can mail Janet McLeod a computer disk (which will not be returned) with the file in wordprocessing format. If you do this, BE SURE TO INCLUDE A NOTE SAYING WHAT WORDPROCESSING PROGRAM THE FILE USES! She would prefer your sending a 3 1/2" disk, but she can also accept 5 1/4" disks. Send the disks to: Janet McLeod Computer Science Center University of Maryland at College Park College Park, MD 20742-2411 Two more things: 1) PLEASE BE SURE THE SYLLABUS INCLUDES YOUR NAME, THE NAME OF THE INSTITUTION WHERE THE COURSE WAS TAUGHT, AND THE YEAR THE SYLLABUS WAS USED; and 2) if you can, it would be especially desirable if you'd append to the end of your syllabus any projects, assignments, etc. that you used in the course and that worked well. Note: PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME PAPER COPIES OF THE SYLLABUS. I HAVE NEITHER THE TIME NOR A GOOD ENOUGH SCANNER TO CONVERT THEM TO AN ELECTRONIC FORMAT. If you have any questions, please contact me privately, not via WMST-L. (I'm going to try to set the "reply-to" header so that replies will automatically go to me, but since I haven't done that before, I'm not sure whether it will work.) Many thanks. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 09:06:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "wa0483@uokmvsa.bitnet" Subject: infibulation/clitoridectomy Additional studies of genital mutilation include: _The Hosken Report: Genital and Sexual Mutilation of Females_ by Fran Hosken. This is detailed, excellent, thorough, and very readable. Case histories, and includes a map of Africa and the Arabian peninsula where infibulation and excision are practiced--she lists 40 countries. _Women of Omdurman: Life, Love and the Cult of Virginity_ by Anne Cloudsley, includes a chapter on infibulation, etc., with gut wrenching photos of a little girl who has had this done to her. _Sisters in Affliction: Circumcision and Infibulation of Women in Africa_ by Raqiya Haji Dualeh Abdalla. Excellent, with case histories. The section in Mary Daly's _Gyn/Ecology_ on genital mutilation is also excellent, especially for analysis and using feminism to understand/explain an important social issue. In Hanny Lightfoot-Klein's _Prisoners of Ritual_ she notes the connection between this operation and the spread of AIDS. All studies include in the case histories the life-long health problems associated with infibulation ("Pharaonic circumcision") including but not limited to urinary tract infections, cysts, keloid scarring, tearing of the perineum, long and difficult childbirths, vaginal stenosis, etc. Pam Doty, wa0483@uokmvsa.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 09:47:29 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Eric Crump Subject: teaching problem I'd like to strongly second Barb's suggestion that the angry student be encouraged to write. Channel that energy! If she writes and writes and writes, she may feel less need to dominate the class to the exclusion of others, and her anger will not be evaporating into the ether but will be preserved. She may find she can shape it into a form that can be shared further and wider (published, in other words) and at the very least, she or the teacher could read parts in class. More controlled than endless tirades, but still gives her a valuable opportunity to give expression to her feelings. Eric Cruump c509379@umcvmb ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 09:54:05 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Louise Fitzgerald Subject: Re: rape bib request In-Reply-To: <199201232016.AA10653@s.psych.uiuc.edu>; from "Shannon L. Green" at Jan 23, 92 1:38 pm There is a little book entitled Rape in Medieval England that may be helpful....It is not a particularly good study and has some comments that I found annoying, and it's not the period you're interested in (Hmmmm....maybe this is not worth your trouble!!!), but it does give some interesting background on the development of rape laws and the history of how they developed....Also, of course, Susan Brownmiller's book Against OUr Will has a fairly classic chapter on the history of rape.....Actually, yes, rape was always considered a property crime and restitution was demanded to the father....in many cases, if the rapist married the victim, no restitution was demanded (Yuk....).... Anyway, hope these are helpful. If anyone sends you any other responses that don't make it over the network, I would be interested in the bibliography, as I am working in this area at the moment.... Louise Fitzgerald lfitzger@s.psych.uiuc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 10:26:29 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Louise Fitzgerald Subject: Re: naomi wolf In-Reply-To: <199201231433.AA25678@s.psych.uiuc.edu>; from "pamela klassen 936 g" at Jan 23, 92 9:20 am I realize this is a fairly hot issue, and difficult to talk about, but I don't think Arnie's point was to discredit Wolf because she is goodlooking or "traditionally feminine" but because her behavior seems to be in some ways contradictory to her message.....I think this is a legitimate point... It is difficult to reconcile someone trashing the beauty and marketing industries and then using or benefiting from them in some fairly obvious sorts of ways. There is a discrepancy there that makes one question on some level either her authenticity or self-awareness......I don't think one has to go around in a burlap bag with no makeup be a feminist, nor do I think there is anything wrong with getting paid a lot of $$$ for one's work (particularly when it is feminist work!)...In fact, I think it's great. BUT, if the contrast between what she preaches and what she practices is as great as some people think, then I would wish she would make her rationale a bit more clear........ p.s. Please let me know if this message comes to you privately or to the WMST...there is something funny going on with my electronic mail. Thanks! Louise lfitzger@s.psych.uiuc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 11:22:22 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BAILEYC@VTVM1.BITNET To equate the lack of deference that one is used to receiving for one's comments with battering is offensive. It trivializes the experiences of those who have been battered. Carol Bailey Virginia Tech BAILEYC AT VTVUM1 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 11:32:16 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: JANE EYRE I have several colleagues looking for references in African American literature. If anyone can help with either of these, please do. First: contemporary essays of religious autobiography written by African-American women (something to include in an anthology along side essays by Malcolm X and/or Martin Luther King, Jr.). Second: a story or novel excerpt, somewhat upbeat in tone, illustrng urban "stoop culture": that is, street life in its positive aspects. This story would be used in conjunction with an urban renewal architecture project in which inner-city housing would be redesigned by inner-city residents. The idea is to break the ice in talking about how the built environment functions positively in the inner city, and how it can do so even better. Any suggestions will be much appreciated. Send them to s2.kkh@isumvs.bitnet. Thanks. Kathy Hickok, Iowa State University ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 12:44:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "KATHY MCCLOSKEY" Concerning the request for info about black women's religious autobiographies: Charlene Spretnak's _Women's Spirituality_ anthology comes to mind. Kathy McCloskey Armstrong Lab ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 13:45:16 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Stephanie Riger Subject: Re: wanted: ethnographies of lesbian communities In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 22 Jan 1992 22:20:21 CST from On Wed, 22 Jan 1992 22:20:21 CST cliff staples said: There is a good book by Susan Krieger on lesbian communities. A paper by her also appeared in Signs in 1982, titled Lesbian identity and community: Recent social science literature. >A student came into my office today looking for help on a senior research >project for Women's Studies. She wants to do "an ethnography of the lesbian >community around here." I said I'd help. Can anyone suggest qualitative/ >ethnographic work on this topic for us to read? Send references private >e-mail, unless you think others would be interested. > > thanks, > > cliff > >###################################### >CLIFFORD L. STAPLES # >DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY # >BOX 8192 UNIVERSITY STATION # >GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202 # >OFFICE 701-777-4417 # >BITNET: UD153289@NDSUVM1 # >###################################### ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 11:48:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Pegueros@HISTR.SSCNET.UCLA.EDU Subject: infibulation/clitoridectomy As a Latin American historian with a particular interest in El Salvador, I would be very interested in documentation of the practice of clitoridectomy. I have never heard of such a practice there, and find it hard to believe. Rosemarie Pegueros UCLA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 13:09:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Pegueros@HISTR.SSCNET.UCLA.EDU Subject: Re: wanted: ethnographies of lesbian co Try by Susan Krieger, a sociologist, who was at that time (I don't know about now) an affiliated scholar at the Center for Research for Women at Stanford University. The book was published by Temple University (Philadelphia 19122) in 1983. The book is described in the intro as being about "individual identity in a women's community. It is based on a year of participant-observation that culminated in two months of intensive interviewing with 78 women who were either members of the community or importantly associated with it. The community--a loose-knit social group composed primarily of lesbians--was located in a midwestern town and had approximately sixty active members." Good luck. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 13:10:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Pegueros@HISTR.SSCNET.UCLA.EDU Subject: Re: wanted: ethnographies of lesbian co Sorry, I didn't realize you'd seen the Krieger book. Read your message too fast...nevermind. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 15:54:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "wa0483@uokmvsa.bitnet" Subject: Re: Naomi Wolf/clitorectomy/female mutilation Indonesia and Malaysia are included in Fran Hosken's study of genital mutilation; she notes that case histories show that the operation is widespread among the Moslem population, and was imported in the 8th century. She documents excision and circumcision rather than infibulation. The operations range from village midwives to hospitals, and age of patients from infant to 11 yrs. old. Also, referring to Latin America, Hosken roports that there are historical references to genital mutilation in Brazil and Peru, but there are no reported case histories. This is from: _The Hosken Report: Genital and Sexual Mutilation of Females_ by Fran Hosken. Pam Doty, wa0483@uokmvsa ------------------------------TEXT-OF-YOUR-MAIL-------------------------------- > In response to: > > begin to menstruate. I have read of clitorectomy performed among some > Islamic groups (and rarely in Indonesia) but in these days it is more of a > ritualized gesture than an actual surgical procedure; or, if there is > surgery, it is performed in a hospital. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 17:02:51 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allan Hunter Subject: Re: non-university women's studies In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 22 Jan 1992 22:27:00 EST from re: women's studies setting up their own separate school The name "Sagaris Institute" rings a faint bell... Allan Hunter ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 17:24:39 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allan Hunter Subject: RE: a teaching problem In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 23 Jan 1992 19:17:00 CST from Pass out equal handfuls of tokens to all class members. Each person tosses in one token every time she (or he) speaks. There is no set order in which students may or must speak, but after a student's supply of tokens are spent, that student may not speak again during that class session. (I'm an outspoken opinionated student myself and I can vouch for this method as one of the bigmouths). - allan hunter ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 17:42:54 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allan Hunter Subject: Re: wanted: ethnographies of lesbian co In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 24 Jan 1992 13:09:00 PST from Try contacting Verta Taylor, sociologist at Ohio State University. Her current research is in that field, with a focus on community as political. - allan hunter AHUNTER@sbccvm> ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 17:56:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Helen M. Raisz/Institute of Gerontology" Subject: Re: Womens Week Symbol Sorry, I could not send a message to you individually. I would very much like a photocopy of the T shirt design. Perhaps it could be an advertisement for bit-netters as well. Helen Raisz Saint Joseph College West hartford, CT06117 raisz@sjc.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 16:28:18 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: jo hinchliffe Subject: Women's Studies Graduate Progam The University of British Columbia has just this past year started an undergraduate major in Women's Studies. (B.A.). We have also just opened a Centre for Research in Women's Studies and Gender Relations, one of our mandates being to offer a Masters/PhD programme in women's studies. If anyone has experience in doing this and could share some of the process/problems associated with this as well as the types of programmes that can be offered, this information would be invaluable. This could be mailed to: Jo Hinchliffe Women's Studies Research Centre 314-2206 East Mall Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T 1Z3 or send to me e-mail WMST@mtsa.ubc.ca Many thanks. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 18:29:09 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Oliver Mullarney Subject: Re: naomi wolf Isn't all of this discussion a bit depressing, since so many seem to be making assumptions about another's ethics, income, motivations, etc, when noone yet has offered anything but hearsay! Who are any of us to sit in judgement upon another--particularly one who has made what all seem to agree is a valuable contribution to feminist work? To demand that she live her life according to our expectations seems a bit harsh, although I do agree that it would be unfortunate if there is a huge discrepancy between what she practices and preaches, as Louise noted. But I think any of us would be hard-pressed to find someone we admire whose life has been a paragon of virtue and political correctness. For my own part, I've been saddened many times by listening to women and men who are feminist theorists promulgate the most offensive stereotypes about sex, sexual preference, race--not on the lecture stand, of course, but in private. But can't we all say 'mea culpa' on some level? Shouldn't we all donate more money to feminist causes--or hundreds of others? We all have human fallibilities, we all are imperfect...Naomi Wolf is innocent until proven guilty, and I haven't seen anything remotely like a shred of incriminating evidence but have read many good things about her book, her presentations, etc--and recently heard her in an interesting discussion on NPR. --Karlin omullarn@oracle.com. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 20:50:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: ASHELDON@UMNACVX.BITNET Subject: Re: a teaching problem Allan Hunter's solution to regulating the discussion floor is interesting but it doesn't deal with amount of *time* on the floor. Sometimes this is as much a part of the problem with those who want to monopolize the floor as taking too many turns. Especially with speakers who are used to having the floor in mixed sex discussions, or in classrooms. Amy Sheldon asheldon@umancvx ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 23:03:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Phyllis Holman Weisbard Subject: call for syllabi for wmst-l My office maintains an extensive file of women's studies course syllabi If you can not supply an electronic format one to Joan or diskette to Janet, but would like to have a paper copy of your syllabus shared with others, please send it to me and I will send copies out to others who request syllabi on your course's topic. If you are currently looking for course syllabi for WS courses, you can contact me, too. Please send a full address because the copy will be sent you by regular mail. Phyllis Holman Weisbard (608) 263-5754 Acting Women's Studies Librarian pweis@wiscmacc (Bitnet) University of Wisconsin System pweis@macc.wisc.edu (Internet) Room 430 Memorial Library 728 State Street Madison, WI 53706 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 09:24:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: SREVERBY@LUCY.WELLESLEY.EDU Subject: list I have enjoyed much of what is on the list, but I cannot keep up with it and I am spending too much time reading, deleting, etc. So, with regrets, please take my name off the list. Thanks. Maybe some other time when things are less nuts I will try again. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 08:01:15 PDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Josephine Anemaet Subject: No Subject Given I have saved this message, trying to figure out who sent it and why it was sent to me. I did not write the original message and have received no private messages on gender bias. I did not want to delete, however, without responding. Hope that you got the information you needed. anemaetj@ccmail.orst.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 09:30:46 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: nancy felipe russo Subject: Basque women I am supervising an honors thesis on basque women and we are having trouble finding anything written about them. Can anyone help? We'd like anything about them--and although we are focusing on U.S. basque women, at this point we'd take anything about them in Spain. Although, we'd like to identify "famous" basque women in the U.S. Any help there? Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Director, Women's Studies ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1801 (602)965-2358 FAX:(602)965-2357 BITNET: ATNFR@ASUACAD ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 18:59:00 EET Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MMCFADDEN@FINABO.ABO.FI Subject: Re: Basque women Nancy, See if Temma Kaplan at Barnard can help you. She's written about Spanish women and revolution, in such articles as "Female Consciousness and Collective AAction: The Case of Barcelona, 1910-1918," in Signs, 7, 3 (1982), 545-66; also her book "Anarchists of Andalusia, 1868-1903" publ. by Princeton in 1977. She might have some ideas re Basque women. Good luck. Maggie McFadden (MMCFADDEN@FINABO.BITNET). ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 19:09:00 EET Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MMCFADDEN@FINABO.ABO.FI Subject: African American Lit: "stoop culture" and relig. autobio. For "Stoop culture" if I understand the category, nothing would be better than Paule Marshall's classic "Brown Girl, Brownstones" about the Barbadian subculture in African American Brooklyn in the 50's. Always works well in class and has been recently republished. For religious autobiography, check the whole series of reprints by 19th c. Black Women Writers, ed. by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and published by Oxford U. P. from the Schomburg Library. In particular, look at Amanda Berry Smith's "An Autobiography: The Story of the Lord's Dealings with Mrs. Amanda Smith, theColored Evangelist" (orig. pub. 1893). It's wonderful. There's lots more . . Maggie McFadden (MMCFADDEN@FINABO.BITNET) ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 13:01:28 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: S_FRANKEL1@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: references and theories of the state I am looking for references on - theories of reproduction (women's reproductive lives) and the state, and - feminist perspectives and theories of the state Thanks - please send responses to: s_frankel1@unhh.unh.edu Susan Frankel ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 13:07:14 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Suzanne K Damarin Subject: Re: Basque women In-Reply-To: <9201251637.AA12158@quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>; from "nancy felipe russo" at Jan 25, 92 9:30 am Sally Hacker's book Pleasure, Power and Technology has a long section on her study ofwomen in the Mondragon collectives. The book also includes references to other studies of the Basque region. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 13:13:29 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: LL23000 Subject: Naomi Wolf/clitorectomy/female mutilation In-Reply-To: In reply to your message of FRI 24 JAN 1992 00:05:00 EST I appreciate all the information on clitorectomies and infibulation. What a depressing topic! > I didn't read Naomi Wolf's letter to the editor, but it is clear that she was > making a larger point (even if her statement was not entirely accurate, her > point was). Could someone perhaps provide a summary of this letter? I don't have a copy of the letter--my office-mate brought it in and I read the newspaper and gave it back to her. Wolf's letter, which was EXTREMELY well-written, was about silicone breast implants. She tried to put them in the larger context of female disfigurement for the sake of beauty/sexual desirability in the world. Unfortunately, I can't even tell you what issue the letter appeared in. I assume it was Thursday's, though. Karen Kay LL23@NEMOMUS ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 13:18:03 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: RE: references and theories of the state Charlot, Sue Ellen, Jana Evertt, and Kathleen Staude, editors. _Women, the State, and Development_. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1989. Staudt, Kathleen, editor. _Women, International Development and Politics: The Bureaucratic Mire_. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1970. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 15:44:22 EST Reply-To: korenman@umbc Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: WMST-L Problems In the last few days, I've received both an unusually high number of signoffs and some letters from subscribers asking me to remind list participants of WMST-L's focus: Women's Studies teaching, research, and program administration. Some subscribers have also complained about participants' failure to use accurate subject headers (or none at all). So...in my capacity as the list's Official Nag, I'd like to make the following points: 1) Excessive mail volume continues to be the list's most serious problem. I urge you all to be more restrained and judicious in sending messages to WMST-L. If someone raises issues unrelated or only tangentially related to Women's Studies teaching, research, and program administration, please respond to the person PRIVATELY or not at all. If you don't know how to respond privately, ask the computer support people at your institution or, as a last resort, write to me-- DO NOT tell 750+ subscribers that you're having problems reaching one of them! And so that people will be able to respond privately if they wish to, please be sure to include your name AND your email address at the end of every posting you make to the list. 2) Please read through ALL your mail before you send ANY response to the list. Someone else may have already said what you were planning to say. The last thing this list needs is duplicative messages. 3) Please use accurate subject headers. Many people use the header to decide whether to read or delete the message. It is possible on most systems to do an automatic "reply" and still change the subject header. If you're on a VAX/VMS system, at the MAIL> prompt simply type REPLY/SUB=" " with the new subject header inserted between the quotation marks (thanks, Arnie :-) ). In RiceMail on an IBM VM/CMS system, at the command arrow =====> type SUBJECT and your new subject header (e.g., subject info needed on intro texts); the new subject header will replace the old one. Those of you on other systems should consult your colleagues or the computer support staff at your institution. Please remember--WMST-L has been set up primarily to serve the academic and professional needs of Women's Studies teachers, researchers, librarians, and program administrators. It is not an informal chat list, nor is it a list devoted more broadly to gender-related societal issues (e.g., the pros and cons of Naomi Wolf's mannerisms and behavior). Please send messages of that sort to GENDER (for gender-related communications issues, broadly defined) or to FEMAIL (which has a new moderator and is now functioning smoothly again). Addresses for both lists are in the last section of the WMST-L User's Guide, which is sent with the welcome letter to each new subscriber and is also available (in a somewhat less current version) from the WMST-L files (send a message to LISTSERV that says GET GUIDE WMST-L). If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., please send them to me privately. Thanks again for your understanding and cooperation. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 20:26:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: EAKAUF@INDSVAX1.BITNET Subject: Re: naomi wolf Okay. >From a communications standpoint I can't stand it! I have to jump in and tell you my observations and ask a couple questions on this whole issue. First we had Arnie offering observations about Naomi. Now we have folks offering observations about Arnie's observations about Naomi. I'd like to know what Naomi would say re: Arnie's observations ... hmmmm...maybe your could drop her a letter Arnie? And, I'd like to know Arnie's observations about what we've all been observing? Seeing as how I don't remember's Arnie's bitnet address, I have to ask you publicly.y sue kaufman eakauf@indsvax1.bitnet eakauf@indsvax1.indstate.edu Naomi can't evesdrop on our conversations about her, but the conversation about Arnie isn't being addressed to him ... I realize his initial message was public and that may have something to do with it. I find this fascinating! ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 15:02:00 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BWAGENKN@DUCAIR.BITNET Subject: Women in Leadership I am new to this list and am seeking info. I am currently designing a workshop on Women in Leadership. All help is appreciated. Brenda BWAGENKN@DUCAIR ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 17:50:18 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MIKE Subject: Re: a teaching problem Each "token" only buys, say, 3 minutes. Mike Keenan keenan keenan@gw.wmich.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1992 21:57:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Alta Charo Subject: request for information > >i teach biomedical ethics at the university of wisconsin, and am interested in >expanding coverage of the topic to incorporate more writing/analysis from a >developing country perspective. i am fairly familiar with writing concerning >family planning and abortion in developing countries, but would appreciate >references or suggestions of contacts here and abroad with information on other >topics, e.g. theories of autonomy/individualism in non-US settings; access to >health care & distributive justice; health care as an aspect of human rights; >structures of families and status of children as they pertain to reproductive >technologies/gamete donation/filiation; standards of protection for >experimentation on human subjects; access to experimental therapies; >professionalization and hierarchies within the health professions; etc > >any and all suggestions welcome. references and contacts who are familiar with the difficulty of combining feminist perspectives with developing country perspectives are especially welcome. > >for those who are interested, by the way, the first meeting of the newly formed >international association of bioethics will be held this autumn in amsterdam. >there will be significant participation by scholars from china, argentina, >czechoslovakia, and (we hope) nigeria, as well as the usual suspects from north >america, western europe, japan, and australia. inquiries can be sent to me or >to prof. dan wikler at wiklerd@macc.wisc.edu. > > >* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > r. alta charo, j.d. charo@macc.wisc.edu (internet) > assistant professor, law & medical ethics charo@wiscmacc (bitnet) > university of wisconsin law school wircs2::charo (local) > 975 bascom mall telephone: 608/262-5015 > madison, wisconsin 53706 fax: 608/262-5485 >* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * r. alta charo, j.d. charo@macc.wisc.edu (internet) assistant professor, law & medical ethics charo@wiscmacc (bitnet) university of wisconsin law school wircs2::charo (local) 975 bascom mall telephone: 608/262-5015 madison, wisconsin 53706 fax: 608/262-5485 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 13:58:49 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from PROFS to RFC822 format by PUMP V2.2X From: MBURTON@VM2.YORKU.CA Subject: Lesbian/Gay Conferences/Calls for Papers If any WMST-L subscribers know of any upcoming Lesbian and/or Gay Conferences or Calls for Papers, please send me a message at MBurton@YorkVM2 (bitnet). ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 14:20:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: REINHARZ@BRANDEIS.BITNET Subject: developing a new graduate program in Women's Studies The Women's Studies Program at Brandeis University is in the process of exploring the feasibility of developing a graduate program. Some options are a free-standing M.A. or Ph.D. program, a graduate minor in combination with an already existing Ph.D. program in one of the disciplines; or some innovative alternative option. I would be interested in hearing people's thoughts on the matter. For example, how would you compare the relative merits of free-standing versus combined graduate degree programs? What do you think the job opportunities are for people with graduate degrees in Women's Studies? I would also like to know of the experiences of people involved in creating such programs. I look forward to hearing from you. Shulamit Reinharz, Director, Women's Studies reinharz@brandeis ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 13:48:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BROTH@SOC.SSCNET.UCLA.EDU Subject: naomi wolf and "interesting info" re: arnie kahn's comments on naomi wolf's looks and other worries; your right, they are totally irrelevant. Taught how to dress and act? Who isn't? ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 11:15:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BHOWARD@COLGATEU.BITNET Subject: Re: a teaching problem Mary, I read your posting of your teaching problem only hours after I read the dispiriting (but persuasive) passage in Foucault's DISCIPLINE AND PUNISH about "correct training." I am engaged in a teaching experiment: in both my linguistics and writing classes this semester I am grading none of my students' papers or homework, and I am giving no exams. The university requires me to grade them, though, so I am grading on effort alone: on the "consistency, intensity, and authenticity" of their effort for the class, which translates into attendance, preparation, and participation in class. My purpose in getting away from grading papers, homework, and tests was to challenge and perhaps undermine the way students' understanding of themselves as writers is derived primarily from the grades they receive on their writing. As I explained in a paper I gave at MLA in December, a four-year research project I conducted with the Colgate Class of 1991 suggested that my sixty-one participants, as a result of describing themselves as writers by reference to the grades their papers had received, had been removed from the struggle over signification and had themselves become signifiers in the academic hierarchy. But as I enter my second week of teaching in a semester where I will attempt to respond to this problem by not contributing to a hierarchical definition of student writing, I am confronted by other problems that are more readily obscured in the traditionally "balanced" syllabus: the ways professors control their classrooms. I become more and more aware of myself as the person in charge of the conversation, even as the students take part in an animated way. And I begin to wonder, with Foucault, whether it isn't all a chimera, this effort to give students power in their institutional inscription, this effort to give them a voice in the classroom. A chimera I intend to pursue, even if it is one--but won't we inevitably run up against the problems you've described? Doesn't the structure of the institution REQUIRE the professor to assume authority in directing classroom conversation, especially among inexperienced undergraduates? Either that or--eureka, perhaps--engage the entire class in self-reflexive examination of the dynamics of classroom conversation, so that they are better equipped to assume authority and respond to floor-monopolizers? Becky Howard Interdisciplinary Writing Program Colgate University BHOWARD@COLGATEU ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 11:32:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BHOWARD@COLGATEU.BITNET Subject: Re: Women in Leadership Some of these sources may be off your mark; others you probably already have. But here are a few that might be of help: Eisler, Riane Tennenhaus. The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987. Eisler, Riane Tennenhaus. "Women, Men, and Management: Redesigning Our Future." Futures (January/February 1991): 3-18. Helgesen, Sally. The Female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership. New York: Doubleday, 1990. Horner, Matina S. "Toward an Understanding of Achievement-Related Conflicts in Women." Journal of Social Issues 28 (1972): 157-75. Lunneborg, Patricia W. Women Changing Work. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1990. Northcutt, Cecilia Ann. Successful Career Women: Their Professional and Personal Characteristics. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1991. Sassen, Georgia. "Success Anxiety in Women: A Constructivist Interpretation of Its Sources and Its Significance." Harvard Educational Review 50 (1980): 13-25. Taylor, Anita, and Barbara Bate, eds. Women Communicating. There is some evidence that women have different definitions of teamwork than men. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 18:37:48 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MIKE Subject: Re: Women in Leadership If you look at Sally Helgeson, The Female Advantage you ought to also look at BarBara Bools Power Failure. Sally is oriented toward the possible benefits of the relationship building orientation of females ... Bools looks at some of the liabilities ... both are on the point of female decision making as being "relational" in orientation whereas males are "situational." Mike Keenan keenan@gw.wmich.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 19:06:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: LAURA KRAMER Subject: women and leadershi[ The Matina Horner '72 reference has been thoroughly critiqued, and if it is read I recommend looking at other sources (too numerous and easy to find, i think, in psych of women stuff to specify here) to become acquainted with the debates and evidence. One useful discussion of sex diffs. in emotional/interpersonal/cognitive styles is Cynthia Fuchs Epstein's Deceptive Distinctions (Yale and Russell Sage co-published in 88 or 89). The title suggests Epstein's conclusion. Laura Kramer kramer@apollo.montclair.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 19:35:02 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: KMARCH@MAINE.BITNET In-Reply-To: Basque women Hello Nancy. I think Roz Frank at Iowa (have to check if it's State or not is one of your best bets. I have another woman's address at my office. Both are involved in Basque studies. I can get the address for Basque novelist Laura Mi ntegi and through her, you could probably get many more leads. I also have nam es for a number of friends of mine (not famous, but they are Basques) who could provide information of various sorts. By the way, I am extremely involved wit h Galician women (I will not try the patience of the list with these activities ) and have some contact with people working in Catalan. I decided to respond v ia the list as it is my hope that there are others out there who are interested in the women of the three "other" nationalities of the Spanish State... I would welcome any responses. You may wish to reach me personally, rather than the l ist. Kathleen March ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 20:22:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: a different classroom problem How do you handle pro-life (anti-choice) students in the Intro class? Our situation is unique in that we have a course computer bulletin board which is only available to students in the course. One category is called Public Journal where only students, not the instructors, are allowed to post. One student today posted a long (1000+) word essay trying to justify a pro-life position. While neither my co-instructor nor I will post about the topic, it will come up in class. Furthermore, as the student recognizes in her posting, the majority (if not all) of the other students in the class will disagree with her. How have you more experienced WS instructors dealt with this topic? On women and leadership: see the work of Alice Eagly and Lynn Offermann. Both authors' work can be found through Psychological Abstract or PsycLit. Arnie ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 20:45:51 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: elizabeth bounds Subject: different classroom problem In response to Arnie's concern over the anti-choice student. I wish I knew a go od answer as I will face at least 20 or more anti-choice students in each of my 50-person intro to moral issues classes! I have two points: 1) why is this wom an anti-choice If it is a religious reason, I send you to the work of Beverly H arrison (Our RIght to Choose) which deconstructws some of the religious atni-ch oice positions. 2) is she anti-choice for herself or for everyone else too ? I found last semester that many of my students were anti-choice but when asked if this should be mandated for all, backed away from that position. Good luck! ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 20:24:05 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Sandra Basgall Subject: Basque Women Roz Frank is the Chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242. Sandra Basgall SBASGALL@VAXA.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 23:49:13 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allan Hunter Subject: Re: a teaching problem In-Reply-To: Message of Sun, 26 Jan 1992 11:15:00 EDT from Becky Howard is correct, overall: the very separation of faculty and student is a virtual guarantee that genuine sharing and learning will not take place. It's a problem common to all vertical hierarchies. I recommend, to those who are interested, a review of the literature that tells the story of the "experimental" colleges and universities of the 1960's, such as Franconia, Bensalem, Old Westbury (in its 1st incar- nation), etc. See also the educational theory promoted by John Holt. Another interesting read that is directly related to the experiment that Howard describes (withholding grades) can be found in Robert Pir- sig's book _Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance_, in which the author, as english comp teacher, does the same thing with interesting results... --allan hunter ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 23:56:57 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allan Hunter Subject: Re: different classroom problem In-Reply-To: Message of Sun, 26 Jan 1992 20:45:51 EST from I hate to say it in quite such a blunt manner, but if a pro-choice teacher, with the authority of teacherhood AND the authority of being on the morally correct side anyway, cannot engage in constructive dialogue with anti-choice students, something's wrong! Of course, some students may be so disruptive that it is necessary to remove them from the class- room, but that is a problem that is common to any controversial topic. I like to talk with any of them who are mature enough to engage in real conversation. There's far less purpose in preaching only to the conver- ted, hm? Anticipate their arguments and respond with your perspective translated back into their terms. 1. Freedom is of higher moral importance than life. That is the moral argument that supports any defensive violence, even the killing of someone who is threatening your own life. No conservative who supported Operation Desert Storm is in any position to reject this argument in itself. 2. The global structure of male-female relationships that occurs when women don't have access to abortion (& other reproductive self-determination) is a far more wicked sin than the single death of one person even if we DO grant that abortion is killing and fetuses are people. 3. What that structure does to sex itself -- making it obscene -- is especially sinful (patriarchal sexuality). Defend feminist sexual ethics and morality against the two-faced "moral majority" version of sexist sexual morals and the filthy attitudes and social practices of the 1950s. 4. To those making religious arguments, it is worthwhile to ask them where their fear of death comes from and why they think it so horrible and final. Aren't they the ones who believe in life after death? The death of a 90-year-old is not horrible because she/he had a good full life. The death of a 20-year-old shocks and hurts us because such a person had such an investment in that life and then lost it before the chance to fully collect on its richness. The death of a 7-month-old fetus? What investment? What experiences? There is life, but no tragedy unless one believes that death really IS final and horrible. Where is the loving compassionate God in all this? Put them on the defensive. 5. To those making utilitarian or ethically pragmatic arguments, it is worthwhile to point out that pro-choice feminists are the ones who are doing the most to make abortions less necessary, via birth control information, sex education, and so forth, while Randall Terry and his band of zealots are trying to ban both of these. Countercharge the pro-life folks with deliberate deception: they aren't trying to save the fetuses, they are trying to return our sexual norms to the male- supremacist double-standard of mid-century America. Summary: don't just chant the pro-choice party line of mainstream slogans about "Not the church, not the state" or the wonderfulness of being able to make a choice unless you are ready to support those arguments as general principles (are you ready to get rid of the church and the state in all things? should we have an anarchy and let individuals make their own choices in absolutely all things with no choices being made illegal?). Think about why you ARE pro-choice and go head to head with them and be glad of the chance to affect someone! -- allan hunter [do you detect a trace of annoyance at our own leaders for not doing more to seize the moral high ground? yeah, you betcha...] ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 23:17:50 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Rhonda Reinholtz Subject: Anti-choice students I am wondering what the role of a women's studies class is regarding political positions such as those on abortion. It sounds to me like the discussion about anti-choice students is assuming that the role of the class is to change these students' positions. While I strongly feel that a women's studies class will necessarily and approp- riately advance women's position, I have had to face the reality that some women I know, even women I consider feminists, are anti-choice for reasons that are entirely legitimate in their world view. I believe discussion of the matter and the reasons for their position is an important aspect of the class, but I don't believe that approaching them with the intent of changing their beliefs -- beliefs apparently not respected at all -- is appropriate. Shouldn't we make an effort to respect the views of others even when those views clash with our own? I recognize that there are implications of a person having an anti-choice viewpoint that go way beyond that individual's life and may in fact infringe on others' lives unfairly, but I remain uncomfortable with the thought that a women's studies professor -- someone I would expect to be more willing to respect divergent viewpoints than most professors -- would from the outset be set on changing a student's belief system without regard for where that belief system has arisen from and without considering the fact that ultimately we are all entitled to our own way of thinking. Again, I do not know how to deal with the fact that the anti-choice student's view may infringe on other's lives, something I find extremely problematic and objectionable. I guess I believe that the classroom is a place for discussion, even discussion of alternative viewpoints deemed unacceptable by the professor. I am a graduate student in clinical psychology currently enrolled in my first ethics class and struggling with my roles as a scientist, researcher, teacher, feminist, woman, etc., and my feeling right now is that it may not be ethical for me to set out to make all my students think like I do, even though I may 'know' that I am right! Informing them of the arguments, issues, etc. on my side may be the only appropriate goal, as they ultimately have the right to be- lieve what they choose -- though beyond the issue of beliefs and into the actions one may take is another story in that they may not be allowed to en- force those beliefs on others. I would love to hear responses to this. Rhonda Reinholtz, University of Kansas RHONDAR@UKANVM.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 07:43:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RSOLIE@SMITH.BITNET Subject: Re: a different classroom problem Arnie, I don't see why the class shouldn't take the abortion debate seriously as a debate. One of the things we have found useful in women's studies classes in general is to get students to think through some positions they automatically take for granted. Even if you and they are absolutely sure which position is the "correct" one (and not absolutely everyone would grant that!), women's studies students really need to learn to articulate their positions. I'd pose two questions to them: (1) how will you respond convincingly to opponents on this question? and (2) is it absolutely impossible to imagine a feminist pro-life position? Just as mind-stretchers, both are useful. Ruth Solie, Smith College rsolie@smith.smith.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 08:12:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RHODA UNGER Subject: Re: Women in Leadership I agree with Laura Kramer that we should be careful with the women in leadership material. Some sources that take a fresh look at the issues that I have found helpful are a new book by Helen Astin and someone else that was just published by Jossey Bass (if necessary I can hunt up the title) and a lecture (there is a written version but I don't think she has published it yet) by Erika Apfelbaum on her research with important women leaders in France and the U. S. One of her important conclusions is that women leaders often feel inauthentic despite so-called objective evidence of their power. I can also find Erika's address if anyone wants it--she codirects a research institute on women in Paris, but I warn you she is very poor about corresponding. Rhoda Unger unger@apollo.montclair.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 09:08:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MURPHY@GENESEO.BITNET Subject: Re: different classroom problem I have found Luker's book _Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood_ and a recent POV video on Pro-life/Pro-Choice helpful in getting students from both sides of the issue to realize the legitimacy of both perspectives. The video also exposes some of the true agenda of the anti-choice activists. Pat Murphy Murphy@geneseo.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 09:26:33 -0600 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Mary Kay Schleiter Subject: Re: a teaching problem Regarding Becky Howard's question of whether or not the structure of the institution requires the professor to assume authority in directing classroom conversation: I am required to have a syllabus, and to order books for the class, and to gi ve grades. The institution is not set up to foster feminist pedagogy. However, as a sociology teacher, I can be innovative within this structure. I can make the patriarchal institutional dynamics themselves subjects of analysis. I can create structures within the classroom that promote broader empowerment. Many of the suggestions I have gotten about handling the situation of the domineering student are examples of this. I can facilitate students' expectation of less passivity in other classes. I could abandon this, move to womyn's land, and work to create a separate and more humane society, but for me, staying isn't any more (or less) of a cop out than leaving, as long as I'm working for change. Mary Kay mks@cs.uwp.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 09:35:00 CDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: DUBEK@UNOMA1.BITNET Subject: male gaze I am a graduate student in English studying Willa Cather's _Song of the Lark_, a strongly autobiographical novel chronicling the life of a famous Wagnerian opera singer. We first meet the heroine, Thea Kronberg, as a young girl in Moonstone, Colorado. Thea is the one "gem" of the sleepy town, her special gifts (not just for singing and playing the piano but also for exuberance and determination) recognized primarily by the men who pass through her life. The women (her mother, sister, landlady) admire Thea, think her singing is "nice." The men, most of whom become her teacher/ father, are deeply moved by Thea's perfomances. One teacher cannot stand to listen for more than one-half hour; Thea's lesson "takes too much out of him." Her voice/mannerisms/look mesmeri ze him, leaving him exhausted and incapable of working with his other students. I would like to explore this concept of the female performer and the male gaze as it relates to Cather's novel. Could someone please send the full citation of Shepard's article in _Music and Society_? Also, any thoughts on how I might proceed would be appreciated. BITNET%"DUBEK@UNOMA1" ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 12:43:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: John Kellermeier Subject: Re: a different classroom problem I have simply gotten tired of the debate over pro-life vs. pro-choice positions, particularly living in a heavily pro-life area. I have tried using a variety of exercises to foster communication and debate over the issue of whether abortion should be legal or illegal. However, I always felt frustrated. No one ever seemed to listen to either side. In the end I felt that some real issues were overlooked. First, safe abortions are unobtainable by many women right now, second how race and class affect the issue and third, regardless of whether one *feels* that abortion should be illegal or not, regardless of whether it *is* illegal or not, women *will* choose to have abortions. So now, I refuse to debate pro-life vs. pro-choice. Instead I try to get students to think about how they will deal with the fact that women will have abortions. I use the following assignment which was suggested to me by my partner. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Write a 2 page paper based on the following: A student's diary Time: Just before Spring Break 1955 Place: A college You are: A student What happens: During a late night conversation, your best friend breaks down and cries. She tells you that she is pregnant and intends to get an abortion. She begs you to help her. She can't tell her parents and won't tell anyone else. You know that to help her is strictly illegal. Punishment is severe. Should you help her, you could be kicked out of college and your college career ended if your part in helping her was known. If you don't help her she will attempt an abortion herself. What would you do? Write as if you were writing in a diary. Describe your friend, what she said to you and your reaction to it. Tell what you will do with your friend and why you decided to do that? What is your reaction to knowing that women still need abortions even though it's illegal. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I find that my traditional age students, who have grown up after Roe v. Wade have a hard time envisioning what it was like before that. John Kellermeier kellerjh@snyplava.bitnet kellerjh@splava.cc.plattsburgh.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 15:23:18 -0600 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: VFK57016@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU Subject: RE: Lesbian/Gay Conferences/Calls for Papers I would also be interested in hearing of any upcoming Lesbian and/or Gay Conferences or Calls for Papers. Please send me a message at VFK57016@VAX1.UTUSLA.EDU if they are not also listed on the server. Thanks, Kay Van Valkenburgh ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 14:02:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: michelle dorothy Subject: the never ending teaching problem rhonda, i agree with much of what you said about hte functions of the classroom and the roles of teachers and students. however, my problem with allowing pro- life philosophy to go unchallenged in a classroom and presented as simply another alternative is that, unlike the pro-choice philosophy, it's exclusive and potentially anti-woman. the big difference for me is that pro-life ideology really doesn't allow women freedom (i know this really obvious but in a women's studies class this has to be the focus), whereas the pro-choice ideology doesn't concern itself with the moral issue of abortion, just legal access to it. the function of pro-choice actions isn't to convince people that abortion is "right," but to allow women who already think it is to operate as easily as those who don't. essentially, pro-choice philosophy can include the pro-life position whereas the opposite is not true. hope this helps. michelle dorothy mdorothy@iubacs.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 17:43:16 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BOUNDS@VTVM1.BITNET Subject: Re: different classroom problem *** Reply to note of 01/27/92 09:15 Pat, where would I get the POV video on Pro-Life/Pro-Choice? Thanks, Elizabeth Bounds, Virginia Tech, Bounds@vtvm1 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 15:30:02 -0800 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was callen@HARDY.U.WASHINGTON.EDU From: Carolyn Allen Subject: Re: Lesbian/Gay Conferences/Calls for Papers In-Reply-To: <9201261904.AA18921@hardy.u.washington.edu> On Oct. 2 and 3, l992 there will be a centennial celebration for Djuna Barnes at the University of Maryland. Papers addressing Barnes or her work in the context of lesbian/gay/queer studies are welcome as are other papers addressing relevant topics in these areas (e.g. lesbian modernism etc). For further inquiries contact Carolyn Allen, Dept of English, GN-30 Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. (E-mail= callen@hardy.u.washington.edu) On Sun, 26 Jan 1992, MBURTON@VM2.YORKU.CA wrote: > Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 13:58:49 EST > From:MBURTON@VM2.YORKU.CA> Subject: Lesbian/Gay Conferences/Calls for Papers > To: Carolyn Allen > > If any WMST-L subscribers know of any upcoming Lesbian and/or Gay Conferences > or Calls for Papers, please send me a message at MBurton@YorkVM2 (bitnet). ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 19:34:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: DWONG@POMONA.CLAREMONT.EDU Subject: NEH Seminars I just received a list of the upcoming NEH Summer Seminars, and noticed that fou r in particular might be of interest to readers of this list. All the semina rs will take place in summer '92, and are 5-8 weeks long; stipends are from $ 2825-$4000 depending on length. The seminars are aimed toward professors who se primary duties involve teaching undergraduates, but independent scholars a re also encouraged to apply. For more info, contact the individual seminar d irectors. The application deadline is March 2n d. "The New Gender Scholarship: Women & Men in U.S. History." Lois W. Banner, Program for the Study of Women and Men, Social Sciences B15, Uni versity of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089. Rethinking historical texts and issues in terms of gender and other human differ ences. "Identity and Loyalty in Europe and the Americas from 1700." Richard Herr, Department of History, University of California, Berkeley, CA 9472 0. Nationalism compared with class, ethnic, racial, and gender bases for group iden tification. "The Woman Question in Western Thought, 1750-1950." Karen Offen, Institute for Research on Women & Gender, Serra House, Stanford Uni versity, Stanford, CA 94305. The controversy over women's status in relation to political and intellectual de velopments. "The Construction of the 'New Woman' and the 'New Man' in the 1890s." Martha Vicinus, Department of English, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 481 09. Public discussions and literary representations of masculinity and femininity in late Victorian England. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Jan 1992 23:19:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: thanks and a possible solution Thanks to everyone who responded re. abortion in the WS classroom. It seems, at least for the time being, that the problem is being solved. As I believe I mentioned, we have a course computer bulletin board. It's a bulletin board on the mainframe that only students and instructors of Intro. to W.S. have access to. The anti-choice (prolife) student posted her message there. Since my querry last Thursday, there have been 7 student responses to the initial post, all pro-choice postings. The variety of messages is astounding, from personal experience to viewing abortion as a political issue to seeing it as a woman's control over her own body to quality of life issues. I'm sure there will be more. If you have the potential, I'd encourage instructors to consider such a bulletin board. It's much like a public journal--rather than writing private journal entries, students post public ones to the class and other class members can respond. I have used similar bb's in other classes, but have never had real discussion as has occurred in this one for the Intro WS class. Besides abortion, the class is discussing names after marrying, campus organizing, and incidences of discrimination on campus and beyond. One of the things I find most fascinating is the length of postings--often over 200 words, sometimes over 1000. It's often difficult to get students to write, but (perhaps it's because they have an audience and know they will get feedback) they're sure writing on the computer. I have a paper on such bbs in the most recent issue of Teaching of Psychology (Dec. 91, I think). If you'd like more information, please contact me. Arnie Kahn fac_askahn@jmuvax (bitnet) fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu (internet) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 10:31:53 +0100 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Kenneth Kaminsky Subject: mainstreaming feminist work into economics courses If anybody has had experience incorporating feminist issues/scholarship into "straight" economics classes, I'd appreciate hearing about it. I'd like to know about course materials and methods of presentation. Thanks. Amy Kaminsky katz@galois.math.chalmers.se ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 07:55:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Alta Charo Subject: announcement of int'l bioethics conference * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * r. alta charo, j.d. charo@macc.wisc.edu (internet) assistant professor, law & medical ethics charo@wiscmacc (bitnet) university of wisconsin law school wircs2::charo (local) 975 bascom mall telephone: 608/262-5015 madison, wisconsin 53706 fax: 608/262-5485 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 07:56:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Alta Charo Subject: announcement of int'l bioethics conference The Inaugural Congress of the International Association of Bioethics will be held at Amsterdam, the Netherlands, October 5th - 7th 1992, and hosted by the Health Council of the Netherlands under the direction of Professor Henk Rigter. The Association was convened by Professor Peter Singer, Dr. Helga Kuhse (both of Monash University -- Australia) and Professor Dan Wikler (University of Wisconsin -- USA). At present it has an interim structure, under which it will operate until this first International Meeting in 1992. At the meeting, a constitution will be presented for approval, and a Committee and an Executive will be elected to govern the Association. In the meantime, the Association operates under an Interim Steering Committee of twenty-two members representing sixteen countries. The aim of the Association is to be truly international in its approach to the issues of bioethics, and to project and encourage a cross-cultural perspective of comparisons and contrasts. A feature of the Inaugural Congress will be to promote international co-operation in the rapidly expanding field of bioethics. To this end, established figures in the field will be addressing the delegates and more informal workshops and discussion groups will examine cross-cultural issues. For further information on the conference, please contact: Mrs Tineke Stegeman Gezondheidsraad Postbus 90517 2509 LM 's-Gravenhage The Netherlands FAX: 31 70 383 71 09 For further information on the International Association of Bioethics, contact the Administrative Officer: Mrs Kay Boyle International Association of Bioethics Centre for Human Bioethics Monash University Clayton 3168 Australia FAX: 61 3 565 3279 EMAIL: hub116e@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * r. alta charo, j.d. charo@macc.wisc.edu (internet) assistant professor, law & medical ethics charo@wiscmacc (bitnet) university of wisconsin law school wircs2::charo (local) 975 bascom mall telephone: 608/262-5015 madison, wisconsin 53706 fax: 608/262-5485 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 09:45:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: NWSA soon to go online I am happy to report that thanks to WMST-L, and especially to one VERY generous subscriber who wishes to remain anonymous, the National Women's Studies Association will soon have an Ethernet card and will be able to participate in electronic communications. Deborah Louis, NWSA's acting director, spoke with me the other day and told me the good news. When NWSA is actually online, an announcement will be made on WMST-L. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 09:54:03 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Patty Chang" Subject: Re: mainstreaming feminist work into economics courses In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 28 Jan 1992 10:31:53 +0100 from If anyone knows about attempts to apply Bourdieu to epistemological issues in feminist sociology or issues of gender I would very much like to know about them. Thanks, Patricia M.Y. Chang, Stanford University chang@suwatson.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 13:19:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: POHLHAUS%VUVAXCOM.BITNET@PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU Subject: feminists for life Anyone who would like more information about feminists for life can contact their national headquarters at 811 East 47th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110 phone - 816-753-2130. There are feminists who are consistenly "pro-life" i.e. for gun control, against capital punish- mwnt, pacifists in the strongest sense of the word. As one of these people I do not look to outlaw abortion but to make it ,in the words of my senator, "unthinkable" by providing other alternatives for pregnant women. Gaile pohlhaus@vuvaxcom ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 13:36:34 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Lynda Crane Subject: ANTI-CHOICE In reply to Ronda's thoughtful concern about the ethics of purposely indoctrinating student's positions on controversial issues: after many years and much thought, I have determined not to focus on making students agree with me (though indeed I hope their minds will change), but rather on insisting that they examine difficult issues in real depth, truly considering as many implications of their position (and the opposing position) as possible. I want to get students past the stage of "parroting" positional rhetoric. I also speak to them sincerely and honestly about my position and how I have come to it. I agree with those who believe that no issue is value free, but I also believe that some values are more just, reasonable, constructive, etc. than others. When I talk with students about any issue, I am giving them the benefit of my knowledge and experience. Controversial issues are no different. When I speak with them this way, they seem less defensive and more willing to examine emotional topics with true consideration, and they often come to understand such topics differently. Lynda Crane CRANEL@GVSU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 13:40:56 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Luisa Paster Subject: Re: NWSA soon to go online In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 28 Jan 92 09:59:35 EST from Ellen - I did subscribe to both WMST-L and Sappho-L but the crush of mail was overwhelming. When I went on vacation a few weeks ago I turned them off and now I hesitate to turn them back on again. I am also on FEMINIST-L, but there is never any mail from them! Thanks for the message. Maybe I'll subscribe again... -Luisa ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 13:53:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BHOWARD@COLGATEU.BITNET Subject: Re: a teaching problem "...for me, staying isn't any more (or less) of a cop out than leaving, as long as I'm working for change." Thanks, Mary Kay. For me, this is one of those moments where the "working for change" seems really hard, and you've put the problem in a perspective that helps me cope with it. I do hope that as the semester proceeds, you'll post to this list about how your classroom dynamics are unfolding. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 14:00:54 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BPETERS@VTVM1.BITNET Subject: References and the state Re: theories of reproduction and the state see: Moen, Elizabeth W. 1979. "What does control over our bodies really mean?" INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WOMEN'S STUDILES2(2):129-143. BPETERS@VTVM1 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 14:29:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: WPSADGV@WMMVS.BITNET Subject: Teaching Problems I have two suggestions concerning class discussion/participation 1. Use brief writing exercises to give everyone a chance to have something in front of them to say, then ask every student to say something about the topic/question. I use a clustering exercise often where students "free associate" to a word or phrase for a minute or two, then spend 2-3 minutes writing something about these associations. No one has to read what she or he has written or even discuss the specific written content, but in commenting many students who don't usually speak up will read or comment on their written work. This really seems to lead to better distribution of discussion across the entire class because there are times that everyone has participated in the past. 2. Ask students to provide feedback about class participants participation. Only positive feedback is solicited, students receive a summary of this feedback from the instructor and other students' feedback is taken into consideration in assigning the participation grade--if students are to receive credit for partici- pating giving them this feedback at least 2-3 times during the sem- ester is helpful to them and to the overall quality of class discussion. This way the instructor can give feedback, too, to all class members rather than having to single out the "problems." Deborah G. Ventis, College of William and Mary ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 14:36:17 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: LSELLS@CIS01.CIS.USF.EDU GET WMST-L LOG9201 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 14:57:39 EST Reply-To: korenman@umbc Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: A digest option for WMST-L In response to suggestions from a number of subscribers, I'm about to try an experiment: a digest option for WMST-L. Many people have complained about the clutter created by the growing number of WMST-L messages they receive every day. The digest is designed to alleviate the clutter. Each day, people who choose to receive WMST-L in digest form would be sent one large file containing most of the WMST-L messages of the past day. (Messages that should have been sent to LISTSERV or sent privately will not be included. I may also omit messages outside the scope of the list--I'm not sure.) The digest option will in no way change the format or scope of WMST-L. The list will still function as an unmoderated, interactive forum whose focus is restricted to Women's Studies teaching, research, and program administration. The digest is NOT an invitation for people to be less restrained in sending messages to the list; it merely offers an additional option for those who prefer to receive their messages in one neat bundle. If you would like to receive the digest rather than individual messages, you should send an email message to LISTSERV@UMDD (if your WMST-L subscription is under your Bitnet address) or LISTSERV@UMDD.UMD.EDU (if your subscription is under your Internet address). The message should say: AFD ADD WMST-L DIGEST . Since the digest won't start until Wednesday's messages, you may not want to set your subscription to NOMAIL quite yet, but soon you should send LISTSERV a message that says SET WMST-L NOMAIL (if you want to do that now, you can put that message on the second line, with AFD ADD WMST-L DIGEST as the first line). Beginning late Wednesday or early Thursday, you should receive a file from LISTSERV once each day that contains the digest for the past day. (It will arrive as a file, not a mail message. If you don't know how to receive a file, see section 9 of the WMST-L User's Guide or ask the computer support people at your institution.) One caveat: if I go away for an occasional weekend or conference, the digest may not get sent out until I return. If there are any WMST-L subscribers who are experienced e-mail users and would be willing to serve as back-up digest makers/senders or feel able to help in other ways, do let me know privately. For those who want to see what the current format of the digest will be, here's a small sample (using three messages sent recently to the list): From: "KATHY MCCLOSKEY" Subject: non-university women's studies From: REINHARZ@BRANDEIS.BITNET Subject: developing a new graduate program in Women's Studies From: Kenneth Kaminsky Subject: mainstreaming feminist work into economics courses *********************************************************************** Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1992 14:14:00 EDT From: "KATHY MCCLOSKEY" Subject: non-university women's studies I am new to the WMST-L system, so this may have been addressed in the past. Even so, I'm asking for information concerning any women's studies programs set up independently of universities or colleges, state-run or private. For example, I seem to remember that about 12 years ago a few profs decided to cut out and set up a center on their own. Any info about that, or if it is still in existence? Thanks! Kathy McCloskey KMCCLOSKEY@FALCON.AAMRL.WPAFB.AF.MIL (513) 256-3047 *********************************************************************** Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1992 14:20:00 EDT From: REINHARZ@BRANDEIS.BITNET Subject: developing a new graduate program in Women's Studies The Women's Studies Program at Brandeis University is in the process of exploring the feasibility of developing a graduate program. Some options are a free-standing M.A. or Ph.D. program, a graduate minor in combination with an already existing Ph.D. program in one of the disciplines; or some innovative alternative option. I would be interested in hearing people's thoughts on the matter. For example, how would you compare the relative merits of free-standing versus combined graduate degree programs? What do you think the job opportunities are for people with graduate degrees in Women's Studies? I would also like to know of the experiences of people involved in creating such programs. I look forward to hearing from you. Shulamit Reinharz, Director, Women's Studies reinharz@brandeis *********************************************************************** Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 10:31:53 +0100 From: Kenneth Kaminsky Subject: mainstreaming feminist work into economics courses If anybody has had experience incorporating feminist issues/scholarship into "straight" economics classes, I'd appreciate hearing about it. I'd like to know about course materials and methods of presentation. Thanks. Amy Kaminsky katz@galois.math.chalmers.se [end of digest] The above was constructed using my VAX text editor's keystroke macro capabilities, so the entries aren't numbered. I can only do what I can do. At some point, we may get more elaborate, but at least this is a start. I hope it proves useful. If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., please communicate with me privately. Best wishes, Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 14:12:38 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from OfficeVision to RFC822 by PUMP V2.2X From: "Linda Lopez McAlister/HYPATIA/DLLAFAA@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU" Subject: Conference Announcement For more information contact the person mentioned in the announcement not WMST-L or me. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ REASSESSING THE GROUNDS FOR OUR STRUGGLE: CONNECTING WOMEN'S LIVES IN THEORY, PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE is being sponsored by the Women's Studies Program at Bowling Green STate University, April 24 and 25, 1992. Conference activities include presentations by Elizabeth Fox-Genovese and Marnia Lazreg and a performance by Vinnie Burrows. This program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. For registration information contact Arlene Spoores, Women's Studies Program, Bowling Green STate University, 246 Shatzel Hall, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 (419) 372-7133. Linda Lopez McAlister//HYPATIA: Journal of Feminist Philosophy, Women's Studies Department, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 20:57:40 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Grace V. Palazzolo" Subject: FEMINIST-L? Someone mentioned subscribing to FEMINIST-L. I tried to subscribe, but it doesn't appear to exist. Could someone please clear this up for me? Please respond to cox3670@unix.cc.emory.edu, NOT to the list (it's set for "nomail.") yours Grace Palazzolo cox3670@unix.cc.emory.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 21:44:33 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: ruth harris f Subject: development of feminism in canada info request I am looking for material for a course on the development of feminism in Canada. The course will be part of the Womens Studies option here. I would appreciate suggestions for a reading list for the course. If you can help please reply to me via e-mail at the address below. Ruth Harris Wilfrid Laurier Univ Waterloo, Ontario harris5@mach1.wlu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 21:56:21 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Grace V. Palazzolo" set wmst-l noack ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 21:49:01 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: naomi Subject: RE: Lesbian/Gay Conferences/Calls for Papers In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 27 Jan 1992 16:23:18 -0500 from For the benefit of anyone newly on the list, could I post again a conference that is related. We've changed the name and made all arrangements now for: THE MARGINS OF THE BLACKBOARD; Mainstreaming Lesbian Material. Saturday February 29, York University, Toronto, Canada, 9:30-4:30 (lunch provided) Keynote speaker: Minnie Bruce Pratt Panel: York faculty members discussing their experience of teaching lesbian mat erial. Workshops (afternoon): scenarios for mainstreaming. Registration information by telephone (416) 972-1134 or to me by e-mail: NBLACK@YORKVM2. This conference is designed for instructors at every university and college level, in the context of the whole project of curricular reform. Participants include both women and men, straight and gay. We are not using (or soliciting) formal papers but expect a substantial publication to result. There is a minimal registration fee to cover costs (Can.$12 until Feb. 14, then Can$16). ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 23:01:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: new list - femrel-l Below is the announcement of a new feminist list, for those of you who don't get enough email. *********************************** FEMREL-L on LISTSERV@UMCVMB.BITNET FEMREL-L is an open discussion and resource list concerning women & religion and feminist theology. Our goal is open, stimulating discussion on any and all issues pertaining to these topics. All religions, creeds, beliefs, opinions, etc. are welcome, although we do ask that participants respect differences. To subscribe, send the following command to LISTSERV@UMCVMB via mail or interactive message: SUB FEMREL-L your_full_name where "your_full_name" is your name. For example: SUB FEMREL-L Joan Doe Submissions to the list should be sent to: FEMREL-L@UMCVMB.BITNET Owners: Cathy Quick Bonnie Vegiard ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 22:10:41 CST Reply-To: C497487@UMCVMB Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Resent-From: "Bonnie Vegiard" Comments: Originally-From: "Cathy Quick" From: Bonnie Vegiard Subject: NEW LIST: FEMREL-L Women & Religion, Feminist Theology - - The original note follows - - - - The original note follows - - FEMREL-L on LISTSERV@UMCVMB.BITNET FEMREL-L is an open discussion and resource list concerning women & religion and feminist theology. Our goal is open, stimulating discussion on any and all issues pertaining to these topics. All religions, creeds, beliefs, opinions, etc. are welcome, although we do ask that participants respect differences. To subscribe, send the following command to LISTSERV@UMCVMB via mail or interactive message: SUB FEMREL-L your_full_name where "your_full_name" is your name. For example: SUB FEMREL-L Joan Doe Submissions to the list should be sent to: FEMREL-L@UMCVMB.BITNET Owners: Cathy Quick Bonnie Vegiard ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 10:16:18 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Lucinda S. Jassel" Subject: Anita Hill and Gennifer Who Has anyone else been struck by the difference in treatment in the media and in conversation between the responses to Anita Hill's accusations and Gennifer's revelations? I wonder if this kind of a comparison might be useful in discussing a number of issues in Women's Studies courses and political science treatments of women's issues? Has anyone seen any articles comparing these two headline stories? Lucinda S. Jassel Associate Professor of Political Science Stockton State College ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 11:22:15 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from OfficeVision to RFC822 by PUMP V2.2X Comments: Warning -- RSCS tag indicates an origin of $SMTPSRV@UMDD From: "Linda Lopez McAlister/HYPATIA/DLLAFAA@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU" Subject: SEWSA Conference Registration Materials Out Final Conference Announcement and Registration materials for the SOUTHEASTERN WOMEN'S STUDIES ASSOCIATION MEETING at University of South Florida in Tampa, March 12-15 are now ready. If you didn't receive registration materials in the mail and would like to, send me a message privately, and I'll see that you get them. Over 200 presenters are on the program. Featured speakers include Rosemary Barkett, Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, Irene Natividad, twice president of the National Women's Political Caucus, and Rosemarie Tong, author of_Feminist Thought_. Entertainment will include two one-woman shows: Phyllis Taylor as Zora Neale Hurston and Nancy Cole as Georgia O'Keefe, and a concert by the Tampa Bay Gay Women's Chorus. Linda Lopez McAlister//HYPATIA: Journal of Feminist Philosophy, Women's Studies Department, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 14:05:30 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: trudy steuernagel Subject: Re: Anita Hill and Gennifer Who In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 29 Jan 1992 10:16:18 EST from I haven't seen any stories comparing Flowers and Hill, but I too have been struck by the differences in treatment. Flowers is frequently referred to as "former band singer" and "journalist." I can just see my own coverage: "former dairy queen employee" and "college professor;" "former babysitter, dairy queen employee, swimming teacher...." What is the purpose of the band singer label but to minimize her? ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 12:31:26 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: daniels@HG.ULETH.CA Subject: RE: FEMINIST-L? in the past couple of days references to two lists have been made.... FEMINIST-L and SAPPHO-L. would persons who have information on how to subscribe to these list, please post that information!\ thanks! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 14:07:50 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Janie Johnson Subject: RE: Anita Hill and Gennifer Who >Has anyone else been struck by the difference in treatment in the media >and in conversation between the responses to Anita Hill's accusations >and Gennifer's revelations? I wonder if this kind of a comparison >might be useful in discussing a number of issues in Women's Studies >courses and political science treatments of women's issues? Has anyone >seen any articles comparing these two headline stories? I would find such comparisons more relevant to courses on journalism and media ethics. Anita Hill did not sell her story to a tabloid for $100,000+ nor would her professionalism and integrity have allowed her to do so. I would also categorize Gennifer Flowers' comments as "accusations" rather than "revelations". While I do believe Anita Hill, I do not believe Flowers for two reasons: Her story has many inconsistencies that are easily checked and while I may not always agree with Bill Clinton's policies, I find his integrity unblemished. Clinton's record on women's issues is quite good, probably because he has a history of including women in his closest circle of advisors in his campaigns and in his administrations. While I would agree that there are often racial issues involved generally in responses to such accusations by black women compared with white women and that Anita Hill was subjected to both sexism as well as racism in the media, I would not want to cheapen what Hill has done by comparing it to something produced in a tabloid. Janie Johnson History/Women's Studies Univ. of Arkansas at Little Rock ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 16:41:33 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Susan Gardner Subject: Call for Papers The winter 1993 issue of SAIL (Studies in American Indian Literatures) will focus on feminist and post-colonial approaches to literature as applied to American Indian literatures. At what points may these approaches intersect and affect each other? Although we are looking for papers focussing on pedagogical applications of these approaches, theoretical papers are also welcome, especially those which reconsider whether "post-colonial"'s usefulness as a term is at an end. For further information, please contact Susan Gardner, English Dept., Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223. (Phone=704 547 4208; FAX=704 547 4888; e-mail to fen00sjg @ unccvm.bitnet.) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 17:21:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: gender and classroom dynamics I am posting this notice for Stephanie Riger, whose e-mail address appears below. Joan Korenman ================================================================ I am starting a faculty discussion group on "gender and classroom dynamics" and need citations of articles on the dynamics of the pluralistic classroom. I have found many, many articles on feminist pedagogy in the women's studies classroom, but few on how being female, African-American, etc. affects dynamics in the classroom in general. Many faculty on our campus are interested in this discussion group; most of them do not teach women's studies. If anyone knows of appropriate articles, I would be most grateful. Stephanie Riger Bitnet: u29322@UICVM Women's Studies Program (M/C 360), Univ. of Il. at Chicago, Box 4348, Chicago, Il. 60680 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 15:27:45 MST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: nancy felipe russo Subject: Re: feminists for life In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 28 Jan 1992 13:19:00 EST from In discussing issues of abortion in women's studies classes, it is important so include facts about fetal development, which are so distorted that I have found that even educated faculty members have bought the right to life construction about a human individual beginning with conception. Clifford Grobstein in Science of the Unborn is a good reference. In class discussions, it is also important not to reinforce the stereotype of the unmarried women who get abortion as never married college students or teenagers pregnant for the first time. 47% of women who seek abortion are mothers; a substantial proportion of minors (under 17) already have 1 or 2 children. I have an article on this coming out in the Journal o Social Issues, and after I get the galleys will send it to people who request it. Nancy Felipe Russo, Ph.D. Director, Women's Studies ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287-1801 (602)965-2358 FAX:(602)965-2357 BITNET: ATNFR@ASUACAD ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 17:38:01 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Grace V. Palazzolo" does anyone know the bitnet address for the FEMAIL-L list? I sent a subscription address to listserv@utcvm.bitnet, and I received that no such list existed. Thanks Grace Palazzolo cox3670@unix.cc.emory.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 17:23:07 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Susan Gardner ADF ADD WMST-L DIGEST. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 18:06:31 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Lucinda S. Jassel" Subject: Anita Hill and Gennifer Flowers I posted the query on Anitaill and Gennifer "Who" (I just couldn't remember her last name as I was posting) in a somewhat abbreviated fashion this morning. My question was not directed specifically to the journalistic and media coverage of these two women, but it was directed to my sense that in some way Gennifer Flower's story has been treated differently and in a far less angry and defensive manner than was Anita Hill's, and I wonder why. Is it because Gennifer Flower's story doesn't give voice to an ugly but largely unspoken reality of women's lives, and so it does not shake or threaten social norms? In a way, the Gennifer Flowers story is treated as "good, clean fun" and politics as usual (even though I fear that it will have terrible consequences for Bill Clinton's chances for election)---it does not shock, it titillates. On the other hand, Anita Hill, with no discernable motive of self-interest spoke the unspeakable truth (I too believe her.), and we, women, are not supposed to create that kind of social problem---pose that kind of implied threat to the male power structure. Please do not consider this an attempt to trivialize Anita Hill's courage, honor or dignity by a comparison. The question I had is not about her, it is about the society. Lucinda S. Jassel ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 17:53:23 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Louise Fitzgerald Subject: RE: Anita Hill and Gennifer Who In-Reply-To: <199201292234.AA17512@s.psych.uiuc.edu>; from "Janie Johnson" at Jan 29, 92 2:07 pm Hmmmmm.....I don't know much about Flowers statements or accusations, but would remind people that Bill Clinton's record onwomen's issues is completely irrelevant to whether or not Flowers is telling the truth.....as is his supposed integrity.....After all, Clarence Thomas supposedly had unimpeachable integrity, as did the President of American University before he was taped making obscene phone calls from his office to a day care worker discussing the 14 year old sex slave he supposedly kept in a dog cage in his basement.....My point is not whether Flowers is telling the truth - I don't know. And I agree that her case and Anita's are totally different and dissimilar......What IS similar is that it doesn't work to defend Clinton (any more than Thomas) on the basis that he has always supposedly been of great integrity....That's what all the Thomas supporters said, as well.......It's a non sequiter. Although tabloid $$$ might be an explanation for some making up a story about a politician, if I were going to do so I wouldn't make up one that was as hard to support as a 12 year affair!!! After all, if she is lieing, all she had to say was "He took me to his hotel room and I spent the night".....That's very hard to disprove....so, although I may well be wrong, I'm initially inclined to give the lady the benefit of the doubt onthis one til more data are available.... What's more difficult to me is to figure out what relevance such stories or histories (if true) have (or do they have any?) to a presidential candidates fitness....I would be interested in hearing what people think about that..... louise fitzgerald lfitzger@s.psych.uiuc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 18:56:24 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Janie Johnson Subject: Anita Hill and Gennifer Flowers I agree that Hill's and Flowers' stories have been treated differently. I suspect Hill was considered much more of a threat and thus found herself facing a much more angry response. Hill's status (e.g., as a law professor), the fact that she made her allegations before the Judiciary Committee rather than to a tabloid, the fact that no one was ever able to effectively repudiate her charges or show contradictions and inconsistencies made her a much greater threat. In addition, Hill was an unwilling participant in the sexual harrassment. Flowers' allegations depict a woman who was a willing participant, she allegedly sold her story to a tabloid for a handsome sum of money, and her story is full of inconsistencies (e.g., she says she first met Bill Clinton at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock two years before the hotel was actually built, she claims that in her very brief stint as a reporter--thus the label "journalist"-- for the local NBC affiliate she did numerous stories on Clinton but no such stories have been found in the news files, and there are more). I agree that this situation, unfortunately, may be viewed by people as just 'politics as usual'. Flowers herself promotes the image of herself as a "band singer". In reality she was a $17,000-a-year administrative assistant for the Employment Security Division and today lost her job because, according to state law, if someone does not appear for work for three days without calling in or in some way contacting their supervisor, they are considered to have abandoned their job, i.e., to have quit. The sad part of this scenario for Flowers is not her immediate situation but the circumstances of a patriarchal culture in which she was socialized to 'play' (and be exploited by) the male-dominated power structure as she has. She fits society's stereotypes of woman as 'playmate' and as 'woman scorned' and provides allegations suggesting, in a 'boys will be boy' scenario, that this politician too has had his fun which, of course, fits one of society's stereotypes for the 'all-American male'. Janie Johnson ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 19:58:33 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Janie Johnson Subject: RE: Anita Hill and Jennifer Flowers >Hmmmmm.....I don't know much about Flowers statements or accusations, >but would remind people that Bill Clinton's record onwomen's issues >is completely irrelevant to whether or not Flowers is telling the >truth.....as is his supposed integrity..... I couldn't disagree more about Clinton's record on women's issues or his integrity--not because they 'prove' Flowers is fabricating her story but because the veracity of her story is really irrelevant to what is happening. Whether or not she is telling the truth she has done damage to a candidate who has a positive record on women's issues. That is not to say that a positive record on women's issues should excuse such behavior if it is true, but rather if it is not true, the damage goes far beyond the aspirations of a political candidate. It really strikes me as grossly unfair to compare Clinton with Thomas, et al. There are no criminal charges involved in this situation. >if I were going to do so I wouldn't make >up one that was as hard to support as a 12 year affair!!! And what you would do is certainly irrelevant in determining whether or not Flowers is telling the truth! >What's more difficult to me is to figure out what relevance such >stories or histories (if true) have (or do they have any?) to a >presidential candidates fitness....I would be interested in hearing what >people think about that..... For me it would be a matter of degree. I would not think that a 'playboy'/'womanizer'/philanderer would necessarily have a great deal of respect for women or interest in women's issues. On the other hand, I would agree with Hillary Clinton that there is need for a certain "zone of privacy" to which candidates and their spouses are entitled. Janie Johnson jxjohnson@ualr.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 21:18:59 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: K_COOK@UNHH.UNH.EDU Subject: RE: Anita Hill and Jennifer Flowers i STRONGLY disagree that bill clinton's integrity is unblemished as janie johnson states. how can we support a man who just last week presided over the execution of a man who has been determined to be mentally incompetent due to a lobotomy! ricky ray rector was lethally injected last week and the execution was botched.... it took about 50 stabs to find a vein big enough for the poison. as an opponent of the death penalty, i find that clinton's use of death politics to gain votes and appear "tough on crime" to be a SERIOUS blemish on his integrity. as a voter in the NH primaries next month i assure i will NOT vote for a killer. kimberly j. cook, k_cook@unhh.unh.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 21:54:00 EDT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Freda B. Birnbaum" Subject: Re request for FEMAIL address >From: EDU%"cox3670@UNIX.CC.EMORY.EDU" "Grace V. Palazzolo" 29-JAN-1992 18 :19:34.62 "amazing Grace" recently asked: >does anyone know the bitnet address for the FEMAIL-L list? > >I sent a subscription address to listserv@utcvm.bitnet, and I >received that no such list existed. Not sure any more what the listserv address is, but try sending real mail (not SUBSCRIBE stuff) to: FEMAIL@LUCERNE.ENG.SUN.COM and see what happens. I know they have recently been in the process of changing coordinators. Freda Birnbaum +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Freda Birnbaum, Sr. Programmer/Analyst Teachers College, Columbia University | | BITNET: BITNET%"FBBIRNBAUM@CUTCV2" CCIMS, Box 43 | | 212-678-3491 (Eastern time) New York, NY 10027 USA | +------------- Call on God, but row away from the rocks -----------------------+ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 22:29:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: One Call for Papers and Two Job Openings I have received the following three announcements: 1) Call for Papers: Journalism and Mass Communication 2) Job: Urban Planning/Women's Studies (Cornell Univ.) 3) Job: Director, Women's Resource Office (Purdue Univ.) For more information, please contact the people named in the announcements, not WMST-L or me. Joan Korenman (korenman@umbc) ========================================================================== 1) The Commission on the Status of Women of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) is seeking research papers or panel proposals for competitive sessions at the 1992 annual meeting in Montreal. Feminist scholarship on issues related to gender and communication is desired. Papers may vary considerably to include critical, historical, semiotic, ethnographic, legal or social scientific approaches. Papers that explicitly indicate a feminist stance, both political and theoretical are recommended. The commission particularly encourages submissions by students. Four copies of all papers or proposals must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, April 1, 1992. Send material or direct questions to: Susan J. Kaufman, Department of Journalism, Eastern Illinois University, Buzzard Building 100, Charleston, IL 61920. Phone: 217-581-5956 (o); 812-234-1634(h); Bitnet: eakauf@indsvax1.bitnet or eakauf@indsvax1.indstate.edu OR cfsjk@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu =================================================================== 2) URBAN PLANNING/WOMEN'S STUDIES: Faculty position, Cornell University. The Department of City and Regional Planning and the Women's Studies Program at Cornell University invite applications for a tenure-track appointment at the Assistant Professor level in the area of physical/environmental planning and gender issues. This appointment is designed to strengthen teaching and research in physical and environmental planning and to strengthen University offerings dealing with gender issues. It is also designed to contribute professional instruction and research related to urban planning careers. The Planning Department offers an undergraduate, liberal arts degree in Urban and Regional Studies, professional master's degrees in City and Regional Planning, Historic Preservation Planning, and Regional Science, and the Ph.D. with majors in several planning fields. The Women's Studies Program offers an undergraduate major and a graduate minor supported by faculty jointly appointed in several academic units and associated faculty throughout the University. Candidates with both academic interest and professional experience in dealing with gender issues, especially in urban planning, environmental analysis, growth management, community planning and/or urban design, are encouraged to apply. We strongly encourage women and minority applicants. Cornell is an equal opportunity employer and educator. AA/EOEE. Deadline is February 15, 1992. Please send a letter of application, resume, and the names and addresses of at least three professional references to Professor Kermit C. Parsons, Chairman, Joint Faculty Search Committee, Department of City and Regional Planning 106 West Sibley Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853. ========================================================================= 3) Purdue University invites nominations and applications for the position of Director, Women' Resource Office. RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Vice President for Human Relations, the Director is responsible for leadership in improving the campus climate for women, and for developing and administering programs and services that address the needs and concerns of all women faculty, staff, and students. In collaboration with other campus office and community organizations, the Director will: * provide advocacy and support for women's concerns * assess and respond to the diverse needs of women at Purdue University * initiate educational and professional development programs for and about women * make recommendations on policies of special concern to women * work to correct gender-based inequities QUALIFICATIONS: Experience in the area of women's issues and gender-related concerns; an understanding of and appreciation for diversity; demonstrated success in program initiation and implementation through effective collaboration with other offices and constituents; leadership skills to build and maintain campus-wide credibility and support; initiative, flexbility, and strong interpersonal and communication skills. Master's degree required; doctoral or terminal degree and faculty experience are preferred. A faculty appointment in a relevant academic department is possible, depending upon qualifications. APPLICATIONS/NOMINATIONS: Screening will commence on March 1, 1992 and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least five references to: Dr. Ann Hancook, Chair Search Committee for Director, Women's Resource Office Purdue University l075 Hovde Hall, Room 241 West Lafayette, IN 47907-1075 EOE/AA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 22:53:08 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Andreas N Alexandrou Subject: Re: feminists for life Carl Cohen has an article in The Female Body, edited by Lawrence Goldstein, called "How Not to Argue About Abortion," which critiques the arguments, especially about the status of the fetus, commonly used by both pro-life and pro-choice groups. Lisa Majaj andalexa @wpi.edu q ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1992 23:06:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: ASHELDON@UMNACVX.BITNET Subject: Re: Anita Hill and Gennifer Flowers Like Gennifer Flowers being referred to as the "band singer", Anita Hill was referred to by something like "that lady" by Arlen Spector on a Nightline program before the hearings. He started calling her "Prof. Hill" shortly after, when it became more known just who she was. The point is that the attempt to belittle was made in both cases. Amy Sheldon ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 07:34:53 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: MIKE Subject: Re: Anita Hill and Gennifer Flowers I agree that there is a clear intent to "belittle" in these situations; I wonder if it is because the "target" is the "enemy" and the enemy happens to be female or whether it is, as is being suggested, directly focused at/on a person because they are female. In both cases the females are/were 'belittled" by females and, to a lesser degree, the males by other males and certainly the males collected lots by females on the other side of the issue. Perhaps belittling is a tactic rather than an attitude. Mike Keenan keenan@gw.wmich.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 10:51:35 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Janet Wright Starner Subject: SUB WMST-L SUB WMST-L. Janet Wright Starner ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 11:23:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Joan Korenman Subject: Women in Computer Science (update) I am posting a revised and expanded version of a message Ellen Spertus sent to the list last year about her extensive report (124 pages) "Why Are There So Few Female Computer Scientists?" She provides a more extensive summary and explains below how to get the report in printed form or via ftp. The report is also available in a much bulkier ASCII version from the WMST-L files (7881 lines!). To get it from WMST-L, send a command to LISTSERV@UMDD (if you subscribed via Bitnet) or LISTSERV@UMDD.UMD.EDU (if you subscribed via Internet) that says: GET COMPUTER SCIENCE WMST-L. You're much better off getting it in the printed version or by ftp if you can. If you have questions, please address them to Ellen Spertus, whose e-mail address appears at the end of the message, or PRIVATELY to me. Please do not send queries about this to WMST-L. Joan Korenman Internet: korenman@umbc2.umbc.edu Bitnet: korenman@umbc ===================================================================== I have written a report exploring the reasons for women's underrepresentation in computer science which has been published as a MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab tech report. It is also available electronically. Information on how to obtain the report appears at the end of this message. It would be impossible to summarize a 100-page report here, but I'll try to give a flavor. The aim was to summarize other writings in the area of women and technology and to collect up-to-date information on how women are being treated, as well as to make recommendations. My conclusion is that there are many different factors that have the effect of deterring girls and women from technical fields even though no conspiracy exists of people intentionally trying to discourage them. Some of the topics covered are: - Many high school teachers and guidance counselors still discourage women from technical fields. One study found that when given artificial case studies where only the sex varied of a hypothetical student, high school teachers were more likely to advise male students than female students to take courses that would prepare them for post-secondary institutions. [For references, please refer to the complete document.] Another publication describes as not uncommon the following quote from a high school guidance counselor: "Sure I'm for the AP [Advanced Program] in general, but not for encouraging girls in science necessarily.... There are men with Ph.D.'s in physics all over the place who can't get jobs. Why should we encourage girls? Why, if they're successful, they'd be taking jobs away from men who need them." - Subconscious bias --- where people treat men and women differently without being conscious of it --- is common. Studies have found that women are interrupted much more than men, faculty members make eye contact with male students more often than with female students, and women are asked fewer questions than their male classmates. Even worse, "[a]rticles supposedly written by women were consistently ranked lower than when the very same articles were thought to have been written by a man. In a similar study, department chairs were asked to make hypothetical hiring decisions and to assign faculty rank on the basis of vita. For vitae with male names, chairs recommended the rank of associate professor; however, the identical vita with a female name merited only the rank of assistant professor." - Women tend to have lower self-confidence than men. For example, when male and female college students were asked to predict their midterm test score before taking it, men had higher expectations for themselves than women did for themselves, even though the two groups actually performed the same. In a 1976 article, a Columbia professor was quoted: I learned last year, to my astonishment, that for about four years running the honors calculus course had been all male, in spite of the fact that admission was based on an open competitive examination. This fall, one of the senior mathematics majors and myself made an intensive effort to encourage women to try the exam! The typical answer was, `I know I won't pass it,' --- to which we replied over and over, `Well , if you try it, at worst you will confirm what you already know, and only an hour of time will have been lost.' After three days of such advising, the big day came, the exam was given, and this year the class has five men and five women! - In classrooms, conferences, trade shows, and work places, sexist humor makes women feel demeaned. As one female computer science professor wrote: When I was in graduate school, the professor in automata theory introduced the topic of decomposition by saying: `Machines are a lot like women --- many forms for the same function (wink wink).' As the only woman in the class, you can imagine that I felt terrific. And all of a sudden the guys sitting next to me sort of tensed up --- instead of a fellow student, his remark had made them see me as something else, something kinda dirty. Additionally, computer executive Mary Rich reports that when she attended the National Computer Conference, "male attendees outnumbered the female ones by a ratio of 300 to 1 [and] convention officials as well as hotel staffs were extremely suspicious of single women. Women were often suspected of being prostitutes trying to solicit show attendees. Rich said she once tried to go to the hotel room of a colleague for a drink only to be kicked out by security when trying to get in an elevator." ---------------- For information on receiving the bound version of the report (which is $8 + shipping costs), contact publications@ai.mit.edu with your mailing address (to compute shipping costs) and a request for AI TR 1315. The report is also available electronically from ftp.ai.mit.edu:pub/ellens in the following formats: format file name(s) size ----- ------------ ---- Postscript womcs1.ps, womcs2.ps, ... womcs8.ps 1384K DVI whole-paper.dvi 330K compressed DVI whole-paper.dvi.Z 166K ASCII whole-paper.tty 264K (The ASCII version is not recommended, due to its necessarily poor formatting.) In order to use anonymous ftp, do the following: 1. Type: "ftp ftp.ai.mit.edu", or, if that fails, "ftp 128.52.32.6". 2. At login prompt, type: "anonymous". 3. For password, enter your user name (or any string). 4. Type: "cd pub/ellens" 5. If you are transferring the dvi or dvi.Z format, type "bin". 6. Type: "mget womcs*.ps", "get whole-paper.dvi" or "get whole-paper.dvi.Z" or "get whole-paper.tty" If you have access to a Postscript printer but not ftp, send me a request, and I will email you the Postscript version of the report. Direct questions or comments to ellens@ai.mit.edu, discussion to comp.society, and flames to /dev/null. Ellen Spertus ellens@ai.mit.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 11:21:56 -0500 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Susan Drain Subject: EVALUATING STUDENT LEARNING My colleagues and I have been invited by our dean and chairs to a "workshop on the process of evaluating student learning" -- the programme to consist of a panel discussion followed by discussion groups. I will bring my usual feminist perspective to this workshop; what I would like, from anyone on the list, is a reference or two so that others there will hear "authority" as well as conviction in my voice. Can you help? The workshop is at the end of February. Many thanks Susan Drain drain@epas.utoronto.ca English Department Victoria College University of Toronto 73 Queen's Park Crescent Toronto, ON Canada M5S 1K7 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 11:21:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "I CAN'T TALK NOW. THE DATA NEEDS ANALYZED." Subject: Re: Anita Hill and Gennifer Flowers I agree with Janie that there are some real differences not only in the "treatment" of the two stories but in the stores themselves. In some ways, Flowers is the more acceptable of the two, when looked at from the media perspective. The media and public are no stranger to stories about women having affairs with public male figures. There are many other similar stories, so writing another one may not be much of a hardship, and whan reading one, we can more easily say "well, here's another one", no matter which party we believe or care about. I think another big difference is that Prof. Hill challenged a choice that had already been made by major male US leaders who felt obligated to defend "their" selection. I know Prof. Hill did not choose to be in this position, but she was certainly put there and forced to "defend" herself, by proving that the incidents took place, of course a next-to-impossible task. Nancy @ Northeastern briton@nuhub.bitnet briton@northeastern.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 12:36:20 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Allan Hunter Subject: RE: Anita Hill and Gennifer Who In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 29 Jan 1992 14:07:50 EST from Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Gennifer Flowers claiming only that she and the Arkansas governor engaged in consensual sexual activity? I am unaware of any allegations that he used his position or other forms of leverage to push her into such a situation. Anita Hill was charging sexual harassment. There are legitimate reasons for wanting to make it known that someone seeking power has sexually harassed people. I don't see that there are legitimate reasons for making someone's sexual ac- tivities public, though. -- allan hunter ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 13:04:18 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: trudy steuernagel Subject: WOMEN AND POLITICS Your mail was not delivered to some or all of its intended recipients for the following reason(s): RSCS rejected mail w/tag: UMD WMST-L .... Is the hostname misspelled? --------------------RETURNED MAIL FILE-------------------- Received: by KENTVM (Mailer R2.08) id 0313; Thu, 30 Jan 92 12:57:18 EST Received: from KENTVM (TSTEUERN) by KENTVM.BITNET (Mailer R2.08) with BSMTP id 0311; Thu, 30 Jan 92 12:57:17 EST Date: Thu, 30 Jan 92 12:55:00 EST From: trudy steuernagel Subject: women and politics course To: wmst-l@umd I'd like some help with revising my women and politics readings. Currently I'm using Klein's Gender Politics, Gelb and Palley's Women and Public Policies, and Hartmann's From Margin to Mainstream. I'm dropping Klein and Gelb and Palley and keeping Hartmann. I'm thinking of adding Stetson's Women's Rights in the U.S.A. but would like some additional suggestions. Thanks. Trudy Steuernagel (tsteuern @kentvm) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 13:08:16 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: trudy steuernagel Subject: women and politics Does anyone have any suggestions for texts for a women and politics course? Currently I'm using Klein, Gelb and Palley, and Hartmann; but I plan to drop the first two. I was thinking of Stetson and something else. Any ideas? Thanks. Trudy Steuernagel, Kent State, Kent OH (tsteuern@kentvm) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 15:23:43 -0600 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Mary Kay Schleiter Subject: assessment issues My university, like most others, is trying to set up assessment measures. I have been asked to review a set of tests developed by ACT which the university is thinking of using to test the achievement of juniors in terms of general education goals. I have very little time to actually see the tests, since they are kept under lock and key in the chancellor's office, but I took a brief look at them this afternoon. I'll have another hour or so to go over them tomorrow. There are 5 separate tests, covering: critical thinking, reading, mathematics, writing, and science. The official general ed goals of this campus stress competencies not addressed by the tests. For example, the official "literacy goals" adopted by the faculty senate last year are: civic, cultural, aesthetic, international, and scientific. (Women's studies and diversity issues are supposed to be addressed, particularly in the first four of these.) Mathematics is a secondary skill in the official statement, meant to support the other goals rather than being a goal. I worry about this potential use of the ACT developed tests. The one on critical thinking seems to test how well the person can pick apart an argument without emphasizing how to tie it in with larger issues. A major emphasis in the faculty statement is attention to ethical issues. The ethical aspect of decision-making is not addressed by the test. I wonder whether the test has a western and a male bias. Although politically correct language is used in the questions, the whole structure of the test emphasizes one set of perspectives over others. If adopted, I would assume that the test would influence curriculum decisions. Am I being paranoid? Does anyone have any experience with this test? Mary Kay mks@cs.uwp.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 15:41:55 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: RPARLIN@NEPTUNE.UARK.EDU Subject: Gennifer Flowers and Anita Hill One similarity in the ways the media have treated Ms Flowers and Professor Hill: both women have provided the media more opportunities for feminist-bashing. Following are excerpts from William ("Backlash") Safire's editorial in Monday's New York Times, entitled "Macho Feminism, R.I.P." "...[Y]ou can bet that some professional feminists will take the side of [Gennifer Flowers] who sees herself as victimized and now seeks fleeting fame and a considerable fortune as a destroyer of a public man. For extremists who gave feminism a bad name, the presumption of male guilt is automatic: the woman, right or wronged. "Militant feminism, whose shock troops were necessary in their day, is now undermining the cause of equal rights. 'Many women have come to see the feminist movement as anti-male, anti-child, anti- family, anti-feminine,' writes the novelist Sally Quinn, '...often with overtones of lesbianism and man-hating.'" This last paragraph leads into a denunciation of Patricia Ireland, laudatory statements about Betty Friedan, and defines the "new womanism" as one that "knows the difference between equality and sameness, rejects the poses of victimization and unisexism, and -- in the workplace, bedroom and voting booth -- wants to strike a natural balance in today's man-woman relationship." William Safire, advocate of the New Womanism! Charming, don't you agree? Ruth Parlin Computer Systems/Reference Librarian University of Arkansas Law School Library 501/575-5834 rparlin@neptune.uark.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 15:50:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: UAHNXF01@UAHVAX1.BITNET Subject: Position Announcement POSITION ADVERTISEMENT The University of Alabama in Huntsville. The Department of Sociology invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level beginning September, 1992. A Ph.D. in Sociology is desirable, but ABD candidates will be considered. Candidates must show evidence of research and publication potential and demonstrate commitment to and proficiency in undergraduate teaching. Preference will be given to applicants with specialization in one or more of the following areas: Urban, Science and Technology, Demography, Human Ecology, Historical Sociology, or Qualitative Methods. Send vita and three letters of recommendation by March 15, 1992 to: Glenna Colclough, Chair of Search Committee, Department of Sociology, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899. The University of Alabama in Huntsville is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and specifically invites and encourages applications from women and minorities. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 15:56:00 CST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: UAHNXF01@UAHVAX1.BITNET Subject: Harassment Film Does anyone know anything about the film "You are the Game: Sexual Harassment on Campus"? It is put out by Indiana Univ. I would appreciate any information; please post private mail to UAHNXF01@UAHVAX1. Thanks, Nancy Finley ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 16:03:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: BZARE@TUFTS.BITNET Subject: Re: Anita Hill and Jennifer Flowers I couldn't agree with your last statement about a "zone of privacy" for politicians, be they male or female, more! Bonnie Zare Bzare@tufts ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 14:02:35 -0700 Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: emmett@AUGUSTANA.AB.CA Subject: bibliographic help re: witchhunts I have a student who wishes to write a paper on the ideological background for the witchhunts in Europe in the late 14th to 16th centuries. She has seen *Burning Times* and wants to investigate the social/economic/political/ theological worldview of the period in relation to the witchhunts. Neither of us, however, are familiar with the literature. Can anyone provide some help? What should I direct her to read? Thanks in advance. ************************************************************* Ross B. Emmett Augustana University College Camrose, Alberta T4V 2R3 CANADA (403) 679-1517 VOICE Emmett@Augustana.AB.CA (403) 679-1129 FAX OR emmett@camrose.uucp ************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 18:52:14 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: "Sarah M. Pritchard" Subject: bibliographic help re: witchhunts In-Reply-To: Message received on Thu, 30 Jan 92 17:39:18 EST A very useful source for primary documents on the witchcraft and witchhunt literature is the microfilm set entitled "Witchcraft in Europe and America," originally published by Research Publications in 1982. It has over 1,000 items (104 reels of film!) from the 13th century on, only 28% of which are in English (i.e. very good coverage of European sources). It covers not only the trials, but stuff on theology, canon law, science and medicine, etc. It has an author/ title printed guide. I've been pushing this set for years as an underutilized resource; and it's a great way for undergraduates or those at remote institutions to get a look at some unusual material. The originals are in collections at Penn, Harvard and Cornell. Check around some large academic libraries to see who might have the set, or ask your librarian to check OCLC (many individual items from the set get listed with cross-references back to the main set). Sarah Pritchard Association of Research Libraries pritchar@umdc.umd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 19:48:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: Arnie Kahn Subject: RE: Gennifer Flowers and Anita Hill Ruth Parlin Quotes William Safire: > "Militant feminism, whose shock troops were necessary in their >day, is now undermining the cause of equal rights. 'Many women have >come to see the feminist movement as anti-male, anti-child, anti- >family, anti-feminine,' writes the novelist Sally Quinn, '...often >with overtones of lesbianism and man-hating.'" Sally Quinn's op-ed piece appeared in the Washington Post a week ago Sunday. Although I didn't agree with it all, I thought it was a thoughtful piece looking at the direction of women's movement. She examined the rhetoric of the leaders of the movement in contrast to, on the one hand the private lives of some of the leaders (which I thought was a cheap shot), and, on the other hand, to traditional values, which I thought was appropriate. As the quote above illustrates, Quinn argued that the feminist movement need not be "anti-male, anti-child, anti-family or anti-feminine," but has often "sounded" that way. I thought we'd distribute Quinn's article to the Intro. to WS class before the last class period to see what the students thought. Arnie Kahn fac_askahn@jmuvax (bitnet) fac_askahn@vax1.acs.jmu.edu (internet) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1992 12:22:32 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: C.G.Perriam@DURHAM.AC.UK Subject: RE: FEMINIST-L? Does anyone know if there's a queer-l or gayman-l or anything like? ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1992 11:19:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: SCHLESL@SNYPLAVA.BITNET Subject: Re: Harassment Film re: the film "you are the game" --- others of us might be interested in this film too for our classes -- I am -- so if anyone does have information please post to the board, or please send a private message to me also! Thank you, Lynn Schlesinger schlesl@snyplava ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1992 11:41:05 EST Reply-To: pearson@LEMOYNE Sender: Women's Studies List From: PEARSON@LEMOYNE.BITNET Subject: RE: bibliographic help re: witchhunts My apologies for cluttering up the network again, but was unable to reply directly to the person asking for help with citations to witchhunts. Why not try the library first: i found a number of articles very easily in both _Women Studies Abstracts_ and _Historical Abtracts_ which pinpoints both the time and the geographical area. There are numerous books on the topic--we have a couple of students write on this each year. Gretchen E. Pearson, Le Moyne College Library pearson@lemoyne.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1992 09:50:00 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: SMPIKE@IUBACS.BITNET Subject: witchhunts biblio. Sorry all, I tried to send this privately and it refused to go through. To the person who requested info on witch persecutions: This is one of my main areas of research and I have an extensive list of resources. Following are abbreviated references to some of the most useful works. Carol Karlsen, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman Eric Midelfort, Witch Hunting in Southwestern Germany 1562-1684 Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic Norman Cohn, Europe's Inner Demons Ronald Sawyer, "'Strangely Handled in All Her Lyms:' Witchcraft and Healing in Jacobean England" in The Journal of Social History, vol. 22, no. 3, 461-485. Brian Vickers, ed., Occult and Scientific Mentalities in the Renaissance Edward Peters, The Magician, the Witch and the Law Joseph Klaits, Servants of Satan G.R. Quaife, Godly Zeal and Furious Rage Hope this helps. Sarah Pike Indiana University SMPIKE@IUBACS.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1992 10:45:00 PST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: jdubey@REED.EDU Subject: critique of D. Tannen I am posting this for someone who is not on this list. --Jessica Dubey jdubey@reed.edu ____________________________________ I just finished Deborah Tannen's _You_Just_Don't Understand_ and am finding it tremendously applicable almost everywhere -- especially in my work with male clients -- at solving heretofore baffling problems that arise in communicating with men. However it does raise some questions for me. For example, Tannen's 'different but also valid' presentation of male and female communication styles makes me wonder if I should feel that I am imposing a by-and-large female therapeutic ethic on male clients. Also, does anyone see in Tannen the essentialist tendencies so often criticized in Carol Gilligan's work, for example? I also wonder about her apolitical presentation: to what extent is it just part of her pedagogy with men, to what extent is it calculated to make her acceptable material for mainstream media (which apparently she attracts), and to what extent is it compatible or incompatible with a more sociological and political account of gender differences? Jessica Montgomery Graduate School of Social Work Portland State University ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1992 14:03:32 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: rlbro%CONNCOLL.BITNET@YALEVM.YCC.YALE.EDU Subject: Re: witchhunts biblio. Re: bibliography on witches in unusual circumstances: Last years Tzvee Abusch gave a presentation at the American Academy of Religion meeting in the Judaism and Feminism section regarding witches, anti-witch legislation, and anti-women-ist redaction of parts of the Babylonian Talmud. The oral presentation was _very_ interesting; as I recall, he was working on a much longer (monograph?) written version. The Chair of that session was Susannah Heschel, who is now teaching at Case Western: I am sure she would be able to put you in touch with Abusch. Roger Brooks rbrooks@conncoll.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1992 20:24:04 EST Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List From: JMURPHY@MAINE.BITNET Subject: the politics of Lenora Fulani: any insights? People working for the Lenora Fulani campaign for president have approached some feminist students here for funds and support. I recall criticism of her last campaign by gay/lesbian and feminist activists, but I can't recall the points of the controversy. Now all of that seems relevant. Any insights? Julien Murphy (JMURPHY@MAINE) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1992 23:29:41 GMT Reply-To: Women's Studies List Sender: Women's Studies List Comments: Converted from OfficeVision to RFC822 by PUMP V2.2X Comments: Warning -- RSCS tag indicates an origin of $SMTPSRV@UMDD From: "Linda Lopez McAlister/HYPATIA/DLLAFAA@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU" Subject: Intro. to Lesbian Studies I just got the go ahead to design a course for next fall that will be our Women's Studies Department's first course devoted entirely to lesbian studies. I know of a few models, e.g., Bonnie Zimmerman's course at SDSU and Claudia Card's U.S. Lesbian Culture course at Wisconsin. Is there anybody else out there who teaches such a course who's willing to share tips, syllabi, experiences with me. I'm a philosopher and there's lots of good lesbian philosophy work appearing these days, but I want to course not to be limited to philosophy. All suggestions welcome. Thanks. Linda *************************************************************** Linda Lopez McAlister//HYPATIA: Journal of Feminist Philosophy, Women's Studies Department, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620