Oreo Justice

(or what makes porno bad)

Several weeks ago, Jeanne Van Atta and I were shooting the bull by the balls at the Bookstore, trying to make clear what we didn't like about pornography. We Knew there was a certain aspect about it that we didn't mind--that we even liked. What we came up with was the difference between what I call PORNOGRAPHY and EROTICA.

Pornography is offensive to me because it has a victim. One person, usually a woman, is getting it done to her. Her feelings, though sometimes expressed, are not considered. Erotica, on the other hand, is enjoyed by all the parties involved-there is no victim.

For example, imagine that you and a partner are in a situation that you enjoy, that is stimulating for both partles. That is erotica. Now. Imagine the exact same situation, but that you did not want to be doing that action. That to my mind is pornography.

Since most victims of pornography are women. I can not condone unwanted, unwilled acts done to women (pornography). Far be it from me, however, to con. demn erotica. What one woman likes, another may detest, but that is OK by me as long as she wants it. So that is Oreo Justice. If you like to be the white cream filling between a chocolate cookte (or a chocolate cookie with cream filling inside you)—that's erotica. But if you don't like Oreo Cookies, and you are being eaten. that's porno.

-Ellen Strong Hauserman

A CRITICAL LETTER Dear Sisters at What She Wants

I always look forward to reading What She Wants and am very pleased you have held it together. I especially appreciate news of statewide activities and every now and then I even make it to Cleveland for a concert or conference publicized in your newspaper.

M

AT LEIVA JANELA MSAAN MAAARI LALU LABU BAKAS KRAT LABELS QUAJI LATERE ALLEN NEGARAA

Dear Wimin,

FEEDBACK

I have been looking for something like WSW for a long time, but haven't really been ready for it until just recently. A friend turned me on to a stack of back Issues, and I literally danced on my chair to know such an amazing paper not only exists but lives.

My whole life has been dedicated to change growth freedom of choice, autonomy transvaluation of values, whatever I choose to, rather than allow life to happen to me as fate. I have come through a stormy past, in fact I feel as though I've literally had to wrench my freedom to be myself out of the narrow-minded grip of my parents. I know for a fact that change is possible on a personal level, and it is my firm hope that it is possible on a much grander scale. If I can transcend my past, surely anyone

I do have a criticism directed to the editorial comment on the Marysville letter in the October. 1977 issue. The editor says "Her English is not academic, but she writes with more honesty than most of us." The letter writer expresses herself in English we can all readily understand, so why the need to mention that it isn't academic English? Mentioning that it is "honest" is absurd and presumably a way to compensate the author for the negative comment about her English. It is totally out of place I feel as a prelude to a letter about brutal, filthy conditons in which the very lives of women are at stake as well as their physical health and sanity.

The struggle continues. Jan Griesinger Athens, Ohio Thank you for your letter. We agree with your criticism. The WSW Collective extends its apologies to Shirley.

can.

Sincerely. Janet Tope

A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE ON THE MAY 4th COALITION

"A woman's development, her freedom, her Independence, must come from and through herself."

-Emma Goldnian

Time and time again the "boys' movement" has proved its inability to be a part of any kind of struggle (or anything) without oppressing non-male, non-white per sons. Middle-class white males comprise only 6 percent of the total world population.

+

not the peace movement. The only difference between the old left and its current resurrection is that the males try to say "woman" instead of "girl" or "chick". How nice of them. They still have not stopped wondering why third world persons won't have anything to do with them. They still earnestly ask third world persons "But tell me, how do I oppress you?“

their true colors in favor of male supremacy, wimmin In the current gym struggle. the boys again waved hating, racism and free fucking. The heterosexist nature of these coalition "revolutionaries" makes their words of "freedom" revolting and hypocritical. movement which includes sexism, racism or classism is not a movement we want any part of.

A

At the September 13 meeting of the "new" coalition. a white male led the meeting and a woman (of course) volunteered to take the minutes. Three times as many males spoke, and spoke longer than any of the wimmin present. Many of the wimmin sat docily as is expected of them by their male comrades.

The white patriarchy, under which all people are struggling: has taught all boys to oppress wimmin in the same manner, no matter what their political identity, be it communist, socialist, anarchist. republican, democrat. or Reagan conservative. Men have rendered wimmin passive, shot us full of DES. imprisoned us in mental hospitals and jails, and most of all robbed us of our energy which should be directed to and for wimmin.

Their model is the peace movement of the 60's and early 70's. All wimmin who fought alongside the boys in that struggle should remember. with terror, the blatant oppression loaded at them by their left "brothers". Wimmmin were treated as helpmates: good for the cooking of food, washing dishes. baking natural breads. and always ready to loan their bodies to anyone who would turn them on to a joint. Wimmin were girls. chicks. hot fucks, easy lays, and pussy. Sexism and classism were dealt with at rap groups once a month, if that. Racism was the job of the civil rights movement.

Wimmin must stop pouring their wimmin-energy into the boys' movement. We call on all wimmin to stop al tending all planning meetings and rallies. We call on wimmin to stop running mimeo machines., answering telephones. typing. filing. leafletting and boosting the coalition boys' egos. Stop being their hot fucks and shit workers.

Susan bat-Tzeporah 118 So. Prospect Kent. Ohio 44240

MOVE THE GYM!

REMEMBER ALISON AND SANDY!

What Do you rule, In that class action Surt with the Stewardesses?

Well, Putting aside any personal feelings in the matter, and as Well Know the DELIBERATIONS

you

were extensive and Reflected the akes Presented ALL CONCERNED Parties, ac ec and I laid it on those Broaps

to fly the FRIENDLY Skies with a pregnant, Sleepy stew. I mean Bar Service S

Slow enough alreadyuru Krow What I mean...

(LNS)-A class action suit filed on behalf of 3,400 women flight attendants fared badly before a federal judge in September. He ruled that Pan Am can force a woman onto unpaid leave as soon as the company learns she is pregnant.

f

WHAT SHE WANTS IS:

A MONTHLY NEW.OURNAL PRODUCED FOR ALL WOMEN There is subject unsuitable for our readers and therefore you will find articies on every topic from politics to poetry in each issue

WHAT SHE WANTS ADVOCATES:

equal and civil rights

the right to earnings based on our need, merit and Interest

access to job training, salaries and promotions we

choose

the right to organize in unions and coalitions to advance Our cause

the right to decent health care and health information the right to sale effective birth control and to safe and legal abortions

the right to accept or reject motherhood

the right to make and express sexual peference without harassment

...the right to excellence in education and freedom from prejudice in learning materials

What She Wants

WE ARE:

Carol Epstein; Cheryl Gould; Linda Jane; Marycatherine Krause: Barbara Louise; Barbara Reusch; Mary Walsh

FRIENDS OF THIS ISSUE

Bobbl Moody, Judy Rainbrook, Sandy Coster, Jeanne Van Atta, Judy Gregory, Karen Quay

WSW always likes input from our readers in the form of letters, articles, Off My Breast, personal experiences WSW always likes to include new women on our staff who are willing to write, help with lay-out, organization, editorlal, advertising, and selling full time and part time WSW always likes new subscribers, distribution people. outlets for sales, and publicity

WSW always needs information about what Cleveland women are doing, planning, thinking, writing, breaking up. putting together.

WSW always needs YOU!!! Write us at:

What She Wanta c/o Cleveland Women's Counsel P. O. Box 18472, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118. Office Hours: M, T, W, 6-8p.m., 371-5376

YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES Regular -$6.00 Contributing -$15.00 Sustaining -$25.00 Institutional -$15.00

page 2/What She Wonts/November. 1977