WSW EDITORIAL_
Though trashing has long been recognized as a primary health problem endemic to the Women's Liberation Movement, this insidious disorder continues to threaten its survival. Little hard research has been directed to trashing-its causes and effects--but a few generalizations may safely be made:
1) The incidence of trashing does not correspond to geographical location, seasons, cycles, or phases of the moon.
2) Trashing strikes not only individual women, but organizations and whole communities as well.
3) Trashing can be identified in those affected (the trasher and the trashee) by a number of commonly reported symptoms.
Features
Margo St. James on Prostitution.
4) Trashing is highly contagious. If left untreated, the disorder progresses through two stages to a final condition in which the effects are now thought to be irreversible. Quarantine has not been found to be effective in checking the spread of this virulent disorder in any of its stages.
5) Trashing is a complex of social, psychological, and physical factors.
While the number of documented cases of trashing fluctuates, no pattern has yet been recognized. Diet and drinking water are suspected as contributing factors, but this theory is only supplementary. Various theories on trashing will doubtless become available as the topic is more widely discussed in seminars and
CONTENTS
6-7
Methodies Ministries: Yes and No to Gays.... Poetry..
4
10
Funding: I ocal Plans, National Trends.. News
2-3
Viewpoint: Feminism and Pacifism. . Review: Carol Siler at Coventry Art..
5 10
We Took Back the Night!...
2
Find It Fastest.....
back cover
Anti-Abortion Legislation Tied to Ohio Budget.. 5
What's Happening..
National
Classified Ads...
Local and State
Lesbians and Gays Men to March on Washington... 4
Cover Graphic: “Going Down Hill" by Judith Stevens Sayfie (Motive, 1969)
What She Wants
11
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WE ARE:
Carol Epstein, Linda Jane, Marycatherine Krause, Gail Powers, Mary Walsh CONTRIBUTORS (articles, poetry, graphics):
Janet Century, Gene Epstein, Evelyn Hayes, Chris Link, Carol Siler
FRIENDS OF THIS ISSUE (production):
Terry Bullen, Jackie Bullen, Randi Powers
Copyright 19/9
dissertations.
At present, limited data does suggest that the syndrome is to some greater or lesser extent the result of socially-induced psychological predispositions brought to the W.L.M. by the women involved, i.c., powerlessness, passivity, frustration, insecurity, etc. These are further aggravated by the trend toward sloganized thinking reinforced by the mass media. The combination of these two sets of factors leads to the phenomenon we now know as trashing-an indictment gone wild. The possibility of constructive criticism and discussion on the issue(s) at point is lost in a morass of generalized condemnation of a woman and her work.
Though the mechanism by which trashing is transmitted involves two agents, the trasher and the trashee, the two can be distinguished by their actions and symptoms in only the earliest of the three stages of trashing. A general description of this mechanism follows:
1) The trasher recognizes a point of contention with the trashee. This may be a personality difference or a real or imagined conflict in theory or practice. 2) The trasher is motivated to pursue this difference or conflict to the exclusion of any acceptance of commonality or possible resolution with the trashee.
3) The trasher, possibly caught in the throes of insecurity, frustration, etc., does not directly call this difference or conflict to the attention of the trashee. Instead, she vents her thoughts and feelings to those around her whom she feels will agree and/or sympathize with her position.
4) The trashee begins to realize there are murmurings in the air about her.
In this stage of the disorder, the trasher is usually. in an agitated state, perhaps nervous, impatient and somewhat hostile toward the trashee, her work, or her associates. Meanwhile, the trashee, as she becomes more aware of the tone and meaning of those murmurings, begins to develop a bad taste in her mouth that even lye soap can't wash out. She will probably also begin to exhibit defensive behavior in response to the diffuse attack on her character, abilities, or activities.
If there is no intervention at this stage, both the trasher and the trashee may begin to muster support from friends and associates who may offer mindless allegiance. Each entrenches herself and her allies into a "no compromise" position. This polarization divides the community both claim to represent, with a speed directly proportionate to the amount of residual dissatisfaction in the community. The highly charged atmosphere generated by such a dispute coupled with the distortions common to the second-, thirdand ad infinitum-hand accounts guarantees that some amount of damage will be done to the entire community. Trust, dialogue, interest in what really did contribute to the dispute, and cooperation may become scarce in the community at large.
The trasher and trashee are harder to distinguish in this middle stage. Both adopt offensive and defensive behaviors to prove their point. Both may complain of malaise, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, tention and depression.
If the dispute escalates beyond this point, trashing becomes debilitating. Both may complain of more severe symptoms, begin to experience anxiety and paranoia, and ultimately succumb to the final stage-burn-out.
If the W.L.M. is to survive and to grow, we must halt the great numbers of women now lost to this form of burn-out. We must devote more of our (long on demand, short on supply) time and energy to our own ills. Together we may be able, if not to cure, at least to alleviate this paralyzing affliction of feminist activists-trashing.
-Marycatherine Krause
August, 1979/What She Wants/Page