WSW EDITORIAL
"In the dawn of freedom, there is an absence of freedom." With these stirring words on their lips, thousands of Iranian women have taken to the streets since International Women's Day, March 8, to protest the loss of the few rights they won under the Shah's regime, and to air the broader question of women's status in the Islamic republic proposed by the Ayatollah Khomeini.
Ironically, it is the chador, the traditional head-totoe black robe and veil worn by Islamic women, which has become the symbol of the women's protest. Worn voluntarily by feminists before the Shah's overthrow to indicate their opposition to his oppressive government, the now mandatory chador has become the visible sign of women's enslavement and
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inferior status in Islamic society.
Thus the women of Iran are uniting to defy fundamentalist Islamic repudiation of their educational, professional, and human rights. In Tehran, women have demonstrated each day since March 8. At the largest demonstration, on March 10, over 15,000 protesters took over the Palace of Justice for three hours, reading a list of eight demands which included the right to choose their own attire, equal civil rights with men, and an end to social, economic and political discrimination. On that same day, thousands of women walked off their jobs, bringing commerce and banking in Tehran to a halt.
During several of the marches, the women endured beatings and rock-throwing by Moslem zealots, and
four women marchers were stabbed. Despite the violence, however, the protests have spread to the provinces, where schoolgirls, professional women, women civil servants and women factory workers have expressed their dedication to women's rights and their solidarity with their sisters in Tehran,
The protests are timely; already the new government has abolished coeducational schools and dissolved a 1975 law which granted women certain property rights and allowed them to seek or contest divorces and restrict their husbands to one wife. Clearly, the return to the 12th Century Islamic republic envisioned by the Ayatollah will mean the further degradation of women's status in Iran and serve as a model for other Middle Eastern states where women continue to be treated "like dogs".
The parallels between the status of women in our society and those in Iran are clear, as evidenced by the fact that Kate Millett was invited by Iranian women's groups to participate in their International
CONTENTS
Pro-Choice Gains.
4
8-9
Yvonne Wanrow Retrial Set..
4
6
Reviews
Babies and Banners.
7
Anorexia Nervosa.
10
Clay and Paint: A Two-Woman Show..
3
DES Quarterly...
10
Bits & Pieces...
5
"Women Under Attack” by CARASA..
10
Cleveland Women's Groups..
. 11-12
1
News
Clio's Musings..
13
Local
Acquittal in Akron Rape Case..
2
Find It Fastest..
back cover
Cleveland Take Back the Night.
2
Letters to WSW.
2
Ohio Welfare Fund Surplus. ...
2
Off My Breast...
13
National
ERA.
4
What's Happening.
15
Cover: collage by Carol Epstein, graphics by CPF and Kåren Nornberg/Healthright
What She Wants
What She Wants goes to production the middle of the month. Copy should be submitted the first week of the month so that we can discuss and edit collectively at our editorial meetings. Contact us for specific deadlines. Please print or type articles. Leave material in our mailbox (second floor of the White House, 2420 S. Taylor Rd. at Scarborough, Cleveland Hts.) or mail to WSW, P.O. Box 18465, Cleveland Hts, Ohio 44118.
WHAT SHE WANTS IS:
A MONTHLY NEWS JOURNAL PRODUCED FOR ALL WOMEN, We always like input from our readers in the form of articles, personal experiences, poetry, art, accouncements, and letters. We welcome women who are willing to help us in specific areas of the paper (writing, lay-out, advertising, distribution, publicity, etc.) and/or who are interested in our collective.
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 safe, effective birth control and to safe, legal abortions ...the right to accept or reject motherhood
...the right to choose and express sexual preference without harassment ...access to quality education and freedom from prejudice in learning materials
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DISTRIBUTION OUTLETS:
East: Coventry Books, Food Communities, Food Project, Genesis, Gildenmeister Books, Hemming & Hulbert Booksellers Central: Barnes & Noble, Publix Book Mart, Rape Crisis Center, WomenSpace West: Six Steps Down, Tish's Shoe Repair & Emporium Akron: Nature's Way
WE ARE:
Carol Epstein, Linda Jane, Marycatherine Krause Gail Powers, Barb Reusch, Mary Walsh
FRIENDS OF THIS ISSUE:
Kalhan Bareth, Janet Century, Mary Sue Convery, Paula Copestick, Janna Dieckmann, Philomena Dickerson, G. Epstein, Jesse Epstein, Carolyn Platt, Randi Powers, Barbara Winslow Copyright 1979
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Women's Day activitics. As Millett pointed out, "Women are living in a world dominated by male governments". The opposition by male legislators in this country to passage of the ERA, the attacks on affirmative action programs, and the violence and strength of the anti-choice movement are only a few of the indicators that the status of women in this country is far from equal, far from free.
The courage of the women of Iran is an inspiration to us all and a lesson that our hard-won rights are not eternal but must be constantly safeguarded against those powerful forces who would take them from us. Like our Iranian sisters, we too must rip off the chador, the veil of bigotry and oppression that denies us our rights and "keeps us in our place”.
ononononos
On Friday, March 30, members of the Cleveland Pro-Choice Action Coalition will leaflet in Public Square against the Hyde Amendment from 11:30 am to 2 pm. We hope people will join. For further information, call EFCO at 579-0028.
ononononos
Beth Cagan's article, "The Selling of the Women's Movement" (WSW, March 1979), originally ap peared in the May-June, 1978 issue of Social Policy. With Beth's permission, Carol Epstein edited the article to a shorter version both for the purposes of and the space alloted in What She Wants.
To all WSW subscribers:
If you are changing your address, please let us know four to six weeks in advance so that we can make sure you don't miss any issues.
April, 1979/What She Wants/Page 1