The Women's

Growth Cooperative

p.o. box 18087, cleveland heights, ohio 44118, 321-8582

Groups

Lesbian Support: Group for women dealing with les bianism in their lives. Six Mondays beginning September 22, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Women's Awareness and Support Group: A chance to discuss women's issues, insights and experiences in an environment of mutual support. Six Wednesdays beginning October 8, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Personal Growth Groups: Day and evening meeting times. Call our office to place your name on the list.

Personal Growth for Lesbian Women: A more advanced group for women living a lesbian lifestyle. Six Wednesdays, beginning October 29, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Job Search Together: Thinking of changing jobs? Looking for a job? Feeling frustrated and discouraged? Join with other women: share experiences and new strategies, start a job network and become resources for each other. Six Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m., beginning September 23.

Divorce Support Group: For women who are considering, are in the process of divorce, or recently divorced. We will focus on emotional aspects and practical steps toward independence. Six Sunday afternoons, 2:00-4:00 p.m., beginning October 5.

Workshops

Day in the Woods: A whole day to breathe green air and watch clouds with other women. We will explore ourselves and nature as one. Sunday, September 14, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Seminar for Women 45 and Over: From the special perspective and special needs of women 45 and over. Satur. day, October 4, 1-6 p.m.

Assertiveness Training: Learn positive ways to express your needs and feelings, to stand up for your rights without being either hostile or submissive. Saturday and Sunday, September 27-28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Visual Mirrors-Art Therapy for Women: Take a break from your usual verbal and intellectual modes of communication and expression. Combine art materials with structured exercises for self-discovery and problemsolving, Saturday, October 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Rebirthing for Women Seminar: The breathing practice known as Rebirthing is a powerful, simple and direct process for releasing past negative conditioning and present tension stored in the body/mind. This seminar is an introduction to the Rebirthing process. Saturday, October 18, 10:00-4:00.

If there is a group or workshop which you cannot attend or we are not offering at this time, we will be glad to place your name on a waiting list until there are enough to make up a group.

Counseling

Our counselors bring a wide range of disciplines and mental health experiences and the common desire to help women heal themselves. Call us at 321-8582.

WSW Announcement Although both lesbian and heterosexual women identify with the values and goals of feminism, they often do not come together and share their impressions, feelings, and ideas. The .November 1980 issue of WSW will be devoted to the dynamics of lesbian-heterosexual relationships as a way of promoting a more accurate sense of what helps and/or hinders women from relating and working together comfortably. Please submit thoughtful articles (500-1000 words) by October 15.

To register for a group or workshop, please fill out the form below and mail to The Women's Growth Cooperative, P. O. Box 18087, Cleveland Heights 44118.

Nanie

Phone(s) Day: Address

I would like to register for: Enclosed is check for $

Eve:

Min. deposit of $5 required.

Phone: 321-8582-If we are not available, please leave a message. We will return your call.

Location: Unless otherwise arranged, groups meet at our office, 2420 So. Taylor, Cleveland Heights.

Fees: Fecs are based on a sliding scale depending on your income. A nonrefundable minimum deposit of $5.00 is required one week in advance to secure a place in a group. Your fees will be discussed when your registration is confirmed.

Editorial (continued from page 1)

revolution.

Reformist feminism-the belief that the existing societal framework can, over time, accommodate the changes necessary to revalue women. This is to be achieved via the exercise of traditional political activity, e.g., electoral and legislative efforts. The emphasis is on changing the day-today conditions of women's lives in a sexist society.

This is not an authoritative or exclusive attempt to index current perspectives. It does not include, for example, Black feminism. Although many Black women may characterize their involvement in terms of any of the above beliefs, others see their struggle differently.

Nor does this list specifically acknowledge those women, older and younger, who are just coming to an understanding of the negative effects of living in a man's world. They come to feminism out of an examination of their own experience as women, largely without the benefit of consciousness-raising groups.

However, the listing is useful. It reinforces the recognition that the movement is not monolithic. It also indicates, the diversity of ideas, questions, goals, the richness of thought and action within the movement.

One implication of this diversity is the possibility of dynamism within the movement. We all share the perception that women are devalued. We all question the origins and maintenance of this devaluation. We organize as women to effect change, to revalue women. If we can take ourselves seriously and value each other as women, we can talk with each other about what we think, what we're doing, and why. What is possible is the conscious articulation of our perspectives, their development and elaboration, and an ensuing exchange via constructive criticism. The underlying assumption is, of course, an open forum, unfettered by the personalization of political conflict.

This is not to suggest a muddying of approaches,' a politics of appeasement, or a rigid positioning that feeds upon the hostility of sectarian debate. It is an effort to promote the evolution of a larger feminist politic, as a positive strategy for change in a man's world.

The WSW core group has decided to commit ourselves editorially to this end. This will entail a serious effort to analyze articles in terms of issues and approaches. We will try to balance opposing perspectives and reveal the assumptions of given approaches. Though the methods we employ will vary, our intention is to clarify issues and perspectives. The advantages are a critical, or questioning, altitude; the presentation of diverse and distinctive material in the pages of WSW; an appeal for open dialogue; and an optimistic attempt to encourage unity by recognizing differences.

For the staff of WSW, specifically, it means confronting our differences in political perspective. It signals our willingness to take painful risks individually and as a group, lo build a collective organization based on an agreement to disagree, and to evolve.

What do you think?