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THE RAPE OF WA

Since July 1972 citizens of the U.S. have been victimized by a form of political rape as the phenomenon of Watergate invaded our lives. Similar to the war in Vietnam, the atrocities and injustices committeed by the entire Watergate fiasco have been so incredible that the majority of Americans feel virtually powerless when pitted against the impenetrable ruling class. Alternatives appear few as the media continually saturates our entire lives with reports concerning break-ins, tax evasions, tape scandals, denials, firings, resignations, pardons, etc., etc., etc.......

In a sense we have all been raped-our vulnerability as citizens, voters, taxpayers and consumers has been exploited to such an extent that not only are we left defenseless, we are so intimidated that we abstain from protesting or demanding our rights. Some of us have even had forced upon us selective criminal sentences, unnecessary war deaths, selective taxation, invasion of privacy, not to mention the present impositions of conditional amnesty and inflationary prices.

Very serious questions can be posed as a result of these blatant contradictions, for instance, exactly how much longer can we allow this violation of our rights to self-determination continue? How much longer can this gap between the ruling class (rapists) and working class (victims) continue to grow? The fate of and influence of the Women's Liberation Movement is a key factor in the answer to both these questions. As the need for collective personal and mass actions on all levels increases daily so does the need for women as a separate identifiable societal entity to actively speak out and demonstrate in the name of women.

Our burden is so great since our violation encompasses two realms. First, there is the realm of sexual discrimination. By now we know that unless we as females struggle for such such things as ERA, control of our bodies, abortion, voluntary sterilization, etc., no one else will. No male politician or comparable figure takes it upon himself to demand that women be guaranteed these rights. Our arduous protests come in many forms from editorial letters, lobbying, voting, to mass public demonstrations.

Our fight for freedom and equality does not end in the name of feminism since a major part of the movement advocates societal change. Therefore Watergates and Vietnams can no longer go by the wayside. During the war many women's groups formed and effectively protested. Contingents of women's groups were viable not only in mass demonstrations but were also organizers of many other protests. Unfortunately, the picture became more grim during Watergate-the American public was so overwhelmed with Watergate that protests became coarse as direction was difficult to define. The media selectively focused in on the outrage of a few token individuals, for instance, while senators, congressmen, organizations (ACLU, clergy) were frequently given coverage of denouncements, challenges, and so on-the outrage of many women was ignored. The only major role any woman played (or was acknowledged as playing) during Watergate were those discrediting images of Rosemary Woods, Martha Mitchell, and of course, those devoted "Nixon Girls." Even now Betty Ford's mastectomy and the disgusting, extensive media coverage further proves the object orientation society imposes on another human being, i.e., female human being.

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Sisters, why are we remaining silent on these crucial issues? Is it really safe to assume that female politicials, lawyers, clergy, as well as organizations such as NOW, League of Women Voters and women's peace groups have little concern for the entire Watergate, affair? While it is true that many of us are concerned with combatting sexual discrimination, it is also true that we cannot wait another day to expand our concerns by agressively asserting ourselves on prevalent issues, especially since the likelihood of the media giving us overnight recognition for our protests seems remote.

As many of us discovered in the anti-war movement, sexism often extends itself to leftist groups, so as we struggle to define the direction of our own feminist revolution, we also need to rely on our own unique strengths and abilities. The future is grim with threats of unalterable inflation and stricter governmental controls. Despite the progressive po-

Nuns in the Rain by Haim Mendelson

ERGATE

tential of the meat and sugar boycotts organized by women, these efforts had a negative side, in that once again women were reinforced in the traditional oppressive homemaker roles. Women must begin to approach all upcoming issues struggling together for a future where individual freedom and the quality of life are the rule rather than the exception.

"In education, in marriage, in everything, disappointment is the lot of women. It shall be the business of my life to deepen that disappointment in every woman's heart until she bows down to it no longer.”~-Lucy Stone 1855

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page 9/What She Wants/November, 1974