Network/WSW

WSW/Network is a grassroots linkage of the women's community in Ohio. You can participate in the Network by sending us a short summary(no more than 100 words) identifying your explorations, talents, abilities-anything you would like to share about yourself. At periodic intervals WSW will print these entries with first names only-to make the Network visible and encourage others to participate. In addition to or instead of a short passage, you can enter as many as 500 words about yourself into the Network. Unlike the short passage, this will not be published, but will be accessible to other Network members by mail. Names, addresses, telephone numbers and passages of networkers are circulated only within the Network. The option of printing the shorter version will be up to each individual.

All are welcome to enrich the array of resources and possibilities. Send your name, address, telephone number, passage and $1.00 to Network/WSW, P.O. Box 18465, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118. Please include a self-addresed stamped envelope and indicate whether or not you would like your shorter version printed. As a part of the Network, it will be up to you to initiate further connections and to respond to cooperators who are interested in you.

I am 34 years old, an RN who quit the profession a year ago following increasing discontent, and a mother of 3 in the suburbs. I've been in a women's therapy group for a year, and I'm realizing more and more the importance of the "Women's Movement". I love to run haven't for a while, but would enjoy someone not too far away to run with. I'm doing a lot of explor ing right now.

-Jean

I would be interested in anyone willing to discuss the matriar. chal origins of civilization and mythology from a feminist viewpoint. I believe in socialism, that prostitution should be legalized and all that radical stuff. I believe that women will be freed not by wresting power away from men but by a sort of spiritual revolution wherein the talents of women unknown to themselves are recognized and developed. I believe this force will revolu tionize stagnant religion.

-Theresa

22-year-old college woman, English major, loves outdoors, hiking, crosscountry skiing, running. Also likes discussing fiction and poetry. Would like to share interests with other area women.

I have been deeply involved in alternative education, for several years and would gladly share my knowledge with others. I would like to learn more about housing rehabilitation, from both personal and community perspectives-everything from planning and financing to necessary construction and repair skills. (I'd love to see a women's cooperative apartment building and center in Cleveland!) I'd like to find a part-time "apprenticeship" with a woman skilled in plumbing. I am also interested in exploring various forms of cooperative living.

-Judie

We are a group of six high school wimmin that have formed our own study/support group. We would like to join with other wimmin of our age (14-19) to form a support network, including individuals, as well as existing groups. -Urban Learning Community

I am a radical-pacifist-lesbian-feminist who's into teaching active nonviolence, especially to feminist women. I'd like to be doing more about stopping violence against women, and also more celebrating with women. I love women's music (play some viola and guitar) and am interested in getting together collective liv. ing, auto and home repair skill-sharing arrangements. -Kathy

I am a feminist musician, and I would like to meet other womyn who share an interest in the growth of womyn's music, either as musicians and songwriters or any other aspect of spreading womyn's music, such as record distribution and arranging for womyn's music to be heard at feminist and other political or womyn's events. I'm willing to be a contact person for womyn who want to find other womyn musicians to play with or who want to know about places to perform. I would also like to talk with womyn who have done any reading or research on music and healing.

Name

Address

-Lisa

am a frustrated supervisor/manager, a health care professional working in a hospital. Why am I frustrated? I am tired of trying to make it in a male-created system and am looking for feminist alternatives and solutions to supervisory problems. I also need an alternative wey of looking at myself in the super. visory role. I am looking for other women who are interested in supporting each other and working toward constructive solutions to similar problems. SATeri

[ ;

I am a feminist who is a manager in a small company. 1 am interested in sharing experiences in business and management with other women. Specifically, I would like to explore the question of how (and if) business interests can be compatible with feminist principles. For example, can women in management help instill a spirit of collectivity in their work environments? Can positions of "authority" be used to transformthe hierarchical structures in most businesses? -Linda.

Feminist health and science: I would like to join with other women interested in the "objective" and political aspects of various biomedical research topics-informal discussions-demystification-alternative technology approaches (e.g., the New Alchemy Institute).

-CJ

I am a feminist administrator/supervisor/secretary involved in hospital health care. I want to share experiences with others involved in forming "office collectives," others who are feminist managers experiencing frustration with the system that is automatically designed to keep "women in their place". I need to communicate, to share experiences as a means to gain our full potential, i.e., to be among those in "power" to make changes. -Linda

Network

Phone

Please limit your passage to 50-100 words.

NETWORK/WSW

Send to:

P.O. Box 18465

Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

Please include a check for $1.00 payable to What She Wants and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

--Wendee

VIEWPOINT

By Wegi Louise and Merle Crews

Hypoglycemia is a relatively new dis-ease, developing since the 1930's in direct proportion to increased milling, bleaching and refinement of grains and the addition of refined sugar to nearly every packaged food. These methods allow increased production and decreased spoilage to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population and, of course, phenomenal profits for the food conglomerates.

One out of ten people has a serious hypoglycemic condition and many more of us have experienced its symptoms:irritability, acute fatigue, headaches, depression, insomnia, worry and a craving for sweets. These symptoms result from a high intake of sugar which causes the pancreas to overreact and produce enough insulin not only to return sugar (glucose) levels to normal, but drive them below normal. This throws 'body and mind into crisis.

Why do we eat so much sugar? Or more specifically, why do we eat? We eat almost exclusively for taste, and the food industry has addicted us to sugar. Yet taste is a secondary benefit of food. The main purpose of food is to nurture our bodies.

་༥

When food moves past our mouths we generally lose consciousness of it, as if it were passing into inThity. However, it really only goes down a footfor so 9\incW 2 ted\W\08el EM

Page 10/What She Wants/May, 1980

Viewpoint is designed to give readers the opportunity to present new ideas and challenge existing ones. The opinions expressed in Viewpoint do not necessarily reflect the consensual views of the WSW Collective.

into a space no larger than the size of our torso. Within hours the components of the food will be distributed throughout the body via the blood. They will either enhance the organs and tissues or destroy them. If our intent is to nurture ourselves, then we must create a loving relationship between food and body, one that enhances and does not destroy.

Recommended Daily Allowances aside, we can experience the nature of food in our imagination in much the same way we use visualization to release tension and tap strengths. A fresh green vegetable is alive and in its whole form. It can remind us of a garden, sunshine, fresh air-take a deep breath. That is one important benefit of green vegetables; they increase oxygen levels in the blood so that every cell can breathe, have energy to execute its functions and rid itself of waste. In contrast, if we buy this vegetable frozen or in a can, we can imagine a huge industrial farm. The soil is fertilized with poisons for fast production and uniformity. The vegetables are harvested, cooked and packed with the consciousness of a machine. Cooking causes reduction; there go the precious oxygen and color, not to mention the vitamins and minerals. By the time we put it in the cart, it's old, depleted and just plain dull.

As feminists 'we have long recognized the importance of taking control of our lives, yet we continue

to be led by Madison Avenue boys and their carcinogenic "empty foods". Consciously making the choice truly to nourish our bodies is taking control of our lives in a real, concrete way. The woman who chooses a natural fruit beverage over a sugar pop adds, rather than robs, energy from her body and acts in her own behalf, being in charge of herself.

Crucial to us psychologically sophisticated women is understanding the close relationship between mind and body: they are as one. For example, the blood that passes through the pancreas is the same blood that passes through the brain, affecting our behavior and thoughts. Depression caused by food blocks control of consciousness. Instead of filling the mental wards and paying out thousands to shrinks to treat our depression,, let us choose to take control of our lives by taking a first step-choosing food that strengthens our minds and bodies.

It is our purpose and hope to raise questions, stimulate discussion and promote learning about health for women. We welcome questions, comments and observations care of What She Wants.