New Questions for Feminism *****************************

...modern radical feminism began as a movement that ared to speak the unspeakable, not only about our condiions but about ourselves—as wives, lovers, mothers, and sisters. Ten years ago we were ridiculed, certainly; but with no prestige to defend and no constituency beyond each other, we had the freedom of the child who can say with impunity that no, the emperor has no clothes on. We had room for contradictions. We said anything, and everything. The result was a certain credibility that led even many of our initial detractors to respond in time with the click of knowing that our questions were theirs.

-Lindsy Van Gelder Ms. Magazine, Dec. 1978

Do you remember what first attracted you to feminism? Odd, new words exchanged between friends; women's newsletters and poetry; new powerful feelings; rising or changing political awareness. Books like The Female Eunuch actually suggested that society breeds self-hatred and passivity in women. Consciousness-raising groups provided space for wondering if we were living our lives in healthy ways. I remember when my group bundled up for an hour's drive from Ithaca to Syracuse, where one of our members had an abortion performed. None of us knew exactly what to say; we only sensed that this woman should have company. Another woman left her husband, stating that she wanted to belong to “a community of women”. What all of this would mean a decade later never crossed our minds. But we sensed that these feelings were absolutely crucial. And we knew that because

we trusted one another, we could be honest with ourselves.

Memories of this early experience have receded into the background of our lives. The strengths we gained help us cope with our present difficulties and

when we strom up we sour daylight /ared the world will never be the same!!!!!

LNS/cpf

move beyond them. We grew confident enough to demand social change. But I wonder if we sacrificed some of that honesty and open questioning in our determination to become a unified political force.

I wonder what, nowadays, becomes public in women's circles, be it through feminist literature, organizations, or the media. What kinds of feelings, attitudes, and ideas are voiced without censorship? Are certain thoughts allowed, while other are considered heresies?

In the December issue of Ms, Lindsay Van Gelder addresses the issue of public relations vs. honesty in the women's movement. She provides many examples of complicated events and situations which, in feminist media, are presented in simple terms for the sake of protecting the movement's image. Van Gelder argues that this presentation glosses over the complexity of our experiences and does not offer real support to many women with questions. She suggests that women struggle for reproductive rights but at the same time may feel a moral ambivalence toward abortion. Where can they look, she asks, for a thorough examination of this issue? When a woman involved in political activism observes problems in strategy or organization, is it permissible to share a truthful critique with the women's community? Van Gelder emphasizes that "our critical selectivity will catch up with us in the end and will do what we're ostensibly trying to avoid-cheat women."

On the surface, good reasons seem to justify our hesitation to publicize mistakes and doubts. Reactionary forces seize on any evidence of disunity or instability within the women's movement as a way to undermine our victories. On our own side, in both

(continued on page 11)

A Letter From Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

Dear Gentlepeople:

The account regarding the founding of the Rape Crisis Center which you printed in your interview with Jeanne Sonville (December, 1978, p. 13] is not correct. While the Free Clinic and Jeanne were supportive of RCC at the beginning, they were by no means the only ones involved, as the question and answer in the interview indicate.

I have been with the Center from the beginning when we were first deciding what directions we wanted to take. The Center evolved from the concerns of the women's movement. At a time when women were beginning to discuss abortion, pregnancy, sexuality and discrimination, other women and myself realized that rape was at the heart of how women felt about themselves and the oppression they have experienced. No one was talking about rape and the silence kept women separated from each other. My own commitment stemmed from personal assaults, as well as knowing women who had also experienced unnecessary suffering and rejection as a result of their victimization.

The anti-rape movement was just beginning in this country and only a few centers had started. The National Organization for Women was looking for someone to chair a local Task Force on Rape. I became that person and we publicized the need for other women to help. I discovered that another group at the CWRU Women's Law Caucus was also working on this issue. We merged forces and soon had an active core of people.

This group wanted to have an autonomous, feminist organization to begin a hotline for victims of rape and to further gain support and gather knowledge for the work we needed to do. We spent several months researching rape and decided to open a limited hotline service (6-9 p.m.) until more volunteers were recruited. NOW and the Women's Law Caucus paid our initial phone bills as well as helping with publicity, meetings, and supplies. Peo-

Page 2/What-She Wants/January, 1979-

ple at the Free Clinic, Marcia Kessler, Jeanne Sonville, David Roth, and Lynn Hammond, were supportive and arranged for space with our own independent phone line for us which we occupied for approximately 6 months. We learned at this time that Jeanne Sonville had previously been interested in providing services to victims of rape. While we had no wish to be seen as a program of the Free Clinic, we appreciated their assistance in helping us at this early stage. As people committed to social change, we are grateful to Jeanne Sonville for her herculean efforts in starting the Free Clinic, but we resent her portrayal of the founding of the Center.

We officially opened February 4, 1974. In September we moved to the YWCA. They let us use this office space for a year and a half, rent-free. Then the Center began receiving foundation funding and moved to larger offices.

The Center has met a vital need in this community through the efforts of many hundreds of dedicated people who did not always receive the recognition they deserved for the many hours of work they contributed. This includes Gail Auster, Jane Bloom, Pat Fron, David Gay, Leslie Greenhalgh, Elaine Kessler, Nancy McConnell, Lorraine Schalamon, Jeanne Van Atta and others who struggled together during the first months of operation. Since that time there have been many other strong, dedicated, caring women who have contributed countless time and energy. From a core of 10 hotline workers, we now have a total staff of 95 and it is still not enough to meet the needs of this community.

It is a typical hierarchical attitude to credit only one person for the work of many. We do not wish to perpetuate such a philosophy and we hope you are in agreement. I am disappointed that the What She Wants Collective was careless in its responsibility to present accurate information.

In sisterhood Carie R. Zander

for the Rape Crisis Center Collective

The WSW Collective replies: It is unfortunate if the phrasing of the last question in December's section of the interview with Jeanne Sonville led readers to believe the Rape Crisis Center was presented as a program of the Free Clinic. It was not intended to do

So.

To give credit to Jeanne Sonville for having an idea or helping arrange space for a hotline phone in no way takes credit away from others who before, simultaneously, or after her worked and acted against the outrage of rape. The process of evolution is not linear, and as Carie Zander points out, social change does not occur through the efforts of one person or one small group of people. Those of us who work for social change are but drops of water gradually wearing away the ancient stone of injustice and human suffering.

What She Wants itself played a small part in bringing RCC into existence through articles and calls for volunteers published in our earliest issues. We are grateful and proud that what was an "impossible dream" in 1970-71 has grown and thrived, becoming one of the oldest and most successful Rape Crisis Centers in the country.

We appreciate that Carie took the time to clarify and explain the RCC herstory. It is valuable and interesting information which has made us realize that WSW should attempt more herstory features in our future issues. We also hope interviews with many different women will be regular features of WSW, not for the purpose of creating "hierarchy" but to give names and faces and voices to those women among us who have devoted so much of themselves to our movement.

Since all of the women in the WSW collective are employed elsewhere and the newspaper is produced in our evening and weekend hours, we certainly welcome help from any women who would like to contribute interviews so that this special WSW feature can continue.