WSW EDITORIAL_
For a few weeks, Greta and John Rideout were followed through the Salem, Oregon marital rape trial by a curious, but cautious, mainstream media. Coverage was limited to the events of the Rideout trial. The media did not discuss the reality of rape, particularly marital rape. Nor did they present rape in its context; i.e., a woman's pain, anger, and humiliation. Nor did they see, or if they did, make explicit, the assumptions about and attitudes toward women implied in such violence. Nor did they explore relationships between women and men that ́ allow such violence against women.
The media, already relieved by John Rideout's acquittal on December 27, 1978, eagerly dismissed Greta and John Rideout as "confused" upon word
Features
Abortion: Fighting a Modern Holy War..
No One Would Forget: 1962. ...
of their reconciliation just a few weeks later. And, having carefully ignored the issue of marital rape beyond the particulars of the Rideout case anyway, all they needed was a disdainful account of the reconciliation to dismiss the issue. The N.Y. Times (January 14, 1979) was unusually outspoken. This is all the Times saw fit to print: "A Happy Ending. If nothing else will save a marriage, try shouting 'rape!' in a crowded courtroom. There just has to be a lesson in the legend of John and Greta Rideout, and that might as well be it.'
It is, of course, illogical to hinge the whole issue of marital rape on the Rideout trial or any other one case. But it was an effective technique to defuse the whole issue. And the subsequent Rideout reconcilia-
CONTENTS
"Friday Afternoon Massacre".......
.5
9
Norma Jean Serena vs. Dept. of Public Welfare.. Shorts...
4
5
Excerpts from an Interview with Charlotte Bunch.
8
Reviews
Health
Autumn Sonata: On Bergman...
7
EPT: Revolution or Ripoff....
6
Visionary Mountains..
.9
Leboyer: Mother in the Dark, Too?....
6
Boos, Bravos, and Tidbits..
13
Perils of Pennyroyal....
6
Cleveland Women's Groups..
10-12
News
Find It Fastest......
back cover
Local
Letters to WSW
2
2
Greater Cleveland Refuge Center.
2
Poetry.....
12
2
What's Happening.
4
Classified Ads..
15 12
Clevelanders Celebrate Choice..
Rhonda Toney Update.....
National'
Bernadine Brokenleg Regains Custody..
1'
tion was a boon in buttressing such a position.
It would be presumptuous, as well as futile, to try to counter the media attitude by attempting to explain the Rideout reconciliation. But what is important is that Greta Rideout is just one of the estimated two million or more American women raped by their husbands. She is important because she called the Salem Rape Crisis Center, reported the rape to the police, and did take John Rideout to court. But Greta Rideout lost the case. Even with medical, police, and other related testimony to substantiate rape, she lost. The jury told her they did not believe John Rideout raped her. Admitted testimony on her sexual history must have had some impact on the jury's decision. Or perhaps the jurors just could not see beyond the smokescreen of conjugal rights (John's) and duties (Greta's) to recognize the violation of Greta Rideout. Or perhaps they could not discern the contempt women are held in by a marriage contract which legitimates a master/slave relationship.
The 1977 Oregon marital rape law John Rideout was tried under eliminates marriage/cohabitation as an absolute defense against rape charges. Only Iowa, New Jersey, and Delaware have similar state statutes. Marital rape laws recently have been introduced in the California and Ohio state legislative bodies. Not until marriage/cohabitation are eliminated as defenses for rape will women be free to pursue dignified and independent lives in or outside of marital relationships.
The "lesson" in the Rideout case is clear. We must continue to educate and act to demand public recognition of marital rape as rape-a violent crime. What is again at issue is a woman's right to choose.
-Marycatherine Krause
Cover graphic: G. Epstein
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
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
A one-year subscription to WSW includes
10 regular monthly issues and 2 summer newsletters (July and August)
Individual $6.00 Contributing $15.00 Sustaining $25.00
―
Non-Profit Org.
―
For Profit Org.
-
$10.00 $15.00
DISTRIBUTION OUTLETS:
East: Coventry Books, Food Communities, Food Project, Genesis, Giklenmeister 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, Paula Copestick, Janna Dieckmann, EFCO, Jesse Epstein, Barbara Louise, Carolyn Platt
copyright 1979
GO AHEAD. YOU CAN TRUST ME!
FIGHT FOR CHOICE!
In one strong voice, over 200 women, men and children protested the National Right to Life Committee's meeting at the entrance to Cleveland's Music Hall on January 22. In spite of the arrival of busloads of the compulsory pregnancy forces, protesters peacefully shouted our message of the right to safe and legal abortion. Although we are pleased by the increasing number of pro-choice activists, we still need many more. The anti-choice faction mustered 60,000 to march in Washington, D.C. that same day, and the Cleveland City Council may soon propose an anti-abortion ordinance.
It's your life they're after. Fight for it!
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.
February, 1979/What She Wants/Page 1