Page 6 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE May, 1990

Womyn's Words

by Shana R. Blessing

I myself never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat...

Rebecca West, 1913

Is feminism dead?

The patriarchy has declared that feminism is dead. According to mainstream media, we are living in a "post-feminist" era. Allegedly, there is no further need for feminism. We, as women, have achieved our goals of freedom from oppression and subordination. We no longer fear becoming victims of sexual violence. We earn wages equal to men's wages. We are recognized for our strengths, talents, and accomplishments. We are free to love whomever we choose. We are guaranteed equal rights under the law. Globally, indigenous peoples are no longer subjugated. The Earth is treated with respect and humility. Misogyny, homophobia, racism and exploitive capitalism are extinct. We have put charred bras back on. Everything is okay

now.

The patriarchal media is not known for its accurate representation of reality.

The patriarchal media presents propaganda as fact, people believe it. Thus, people are truly believing that feminism is dead because, "they said so, on the news."

My question for Cleveland womyn is, do we believe it? Do we believe we have attained the goal we have sought to achieve? Do we believe there is no more work to do? Is feminism dead? I don't think so. But, if feminism is not dead, where are the feminist?

As lesbians, we must constantly struggle with our own internalized homophobia. We must also struggle with our own internalized misogyny. We live in a womyn-hating culture. How much of that womyn-hate lives in each of us? How much of our energy do we commit to womyn-loving? How much of our energy do we commit to creating our own safe, powerful, nurturing culture. Feminism is womyn-loving. How many of us, then, are not feminist?

At the heart of feminism are two, interconnected principles: loving womyn and challenging the patriarchy. Principally, loving womyn is challenging the patriarchy. When we love womyn, we contest the patriarchal premise that womyn exist to meet men's perceived needs. When we refuse to meet men's needs, we are perceived as threatening to

It's Your Money

by Russ Rosen, C.F.P.

Whether they are the gray nineties or gay nineties, financially speaking that is, depends upon how well you are prepared and how your attitude is about money, saving, investing and spending.

The purpose of this column is to address financial issues of concern to everyone such as inflation, taxation, risk

avoidance, retirement planning, and budgeting, as well as those issues of special concerns to the gay community such as joint ownership of property, life and health insurance problems, will and trusts, and divorce equity. My goal is to provide you the educational tools needed to survive the battle for your buck and to help you achieve your goals. Know thyself. You are probably not as

CLEVELAND'S 2nd ANNUAL PRIDE FESTIVAL & MARCH

Saturday June 16th, 1990 Noon to 8pm March Step off at 11:30am at 9th & Walnut (North of Euclid) Commitment Ceremony at 12:30 at the Festival Festival Location is in front of the Lesbian/Gay Community Service Center at 1418 West 29th & Detroit

ENTERTAINMENT

Special Guests:

Robin Flower & Libby McLaren

Romanovsky & Phillips

Lots Of

Fun!!!

PRIDE

Monica Grant

OOK

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Lots Of Food!!

Admission: $300 More if you can, less if you can't

Proud Sponsors

The Gay People's Chronicle Ladies Touch Football Emmanual Metropolitan Community Church A. Peter Beebe, Ph.D./ Debra Dunkle, A.C.S.W., L.I.S.W. & Associates Chaz Hair Body Language The Lesbian/ Gay Community Service Center Timothy Leiden Robert L. Dubbs Parkside Travel USA 5 Decision Health Issues Taskforce Robert Laycock/Drew Cari Club Body Centers Oven Productions N.O.C.I. Monotones

Romanovsky & Phillips will be appearing at U4ia June 16

Robin Flower & Libby McLaren will be appearing at U4ia June 15 Call club for more information*******

the patriarchy. When womyn make selfand sister-respecting choices, the patriarch labels us with ugly words. We are not seen as making womyn-loving choice; rather, we are seen as making man-hating choices. We under mine the patriarchy when we refuse to be subservient and intimidated. We upset our culture's entire power structure when we make womyn-empowering choices.

To be a feminist is both tiring and inspiring in these Reagan/Bush times. We have to work diligently against a growing conservatism that threatens the gains we have made. We have become accustomed to working harder to organize our communities and in our workplaces. We try to appreciate small successes. Sometimes it feels like we can barely keep from losing ground. But, we also have a deeper sense of power. We are increasingly aware of our sister who have struggled before us. We are aware of the current struggles of our sister around the world. we are not isolated; we are part of the continuum of change.

Over the past two years, womyn in Cleveland have lost our feminist womyn's community. We may gather in social groups and at events where men are not in attendance, do we remember why? Do we remember that our freedoms to gather and to speak were

fiscally incompetent as you might think you are. Even if you cannot balance a checkbook or know the difference between a money market and a certificate of deposit you probably still know more than you think. Most of us have heard the saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." The reason we therefore avoid financial ruin is because some protective mechanism in us based on all our past learning experiences tells us to run away from danger.

One of the things I have learned during my twenty years in the financial services industry is that if my head and gut are in conflict, I almost always go with my gut reaction. It is a little like dating. Sometimes, you meet someone who looks terrific, appears to have all the right qualities, says the thing you want to hear, but something inside says run like hell. What do you do? Unless you are a masochist you head for the hills. Sometimes, however, fleeing is not an option like when you are faced with hikes in consumer prices, excessive taxation or deceptive sales tactics. At this point it is wise to dig in and fight. The ability to make decisions lies within you. Financial planning is designed to help you increase your knowledge and improve your decision making skills. In this sense it is very pro-active.

Where are you going? Before you can get somewhere it is probably a good idea

only recently gained by our foremothers and that these freedoms are not secure? Are we aware we have yet to gain our rights to love? We have so much work to do, yet we behave as if we are oblivious to our herstory and our challenges.

Is complacency infectious? How do we deal with and overcome the complicated issues that have clouded our communal vision? There are no easy answers to these questions. Perhaps the first pace in journey may be to gather together to look at and talk about where we are in our commitment to the issues that affect us and the vitality of our community. The collective power of our vision, thought, voice, and action is the power of womynloving. Let us reaffirm our power in our community.

Feminists in Cleveland are putting out a call to thought and action. A call to reclaim the womyn's movement in our community and to reconnect with the global movement of womyn. We wish to gather, empower, and love each other in a process of enspirited challenge. If you want to share in this commitment to the radical process of living feminist community, please join us at "Gifts of Athena" bookstore at 2199 Lee in Cleveland Heights, on Sunday, May 6 at 3:30 P.M.

to have some sense of where you want to be. Therefore, it makes sense to start out with a set of realistic goals and a strategically designed financial road map in order to reach those goals. Some years ago, the members of a graduating class from a well know university were surveyed about their financial goals. Only three percent of them had written down their goals and plans for achieving them. At their class reunion twenty years later, the three percent who had written down their goals had achieved most of them and were worth more money than the rest of their classmates combined.

When you sit down with a financial planner, he or she will ask you what your specific short and long term goals are, since a sound financial plan cannot be developed without them. But do you have a clear picture of your goals? Are there conflicting goals with your partner? How do you set realistic goals?

Begin by discussing your goals with your significant other. Often, it takes a while to get down to what you really want to do in life. Then write down those goals you would like to accomplish: a career change, a European vacation, a specific retirement lifestyle, additional education, a new house or car, writing a novel whatever strikes you. Don't restrain yourself because of cost or difficulty.Next, decide how soon you want to achieve each of your goals and separate the list into short term (six Continued on Page 9

THE WOMEN'S COFFEE HOUSE COLLECTIVE

coffee

house

collective

Franklin Ave. Circle Church (corner of Franklin & Fulton) 1688 Fulton Road, Cleveland Call 281-8167 For Information

or Work Exchange

Just Come Out With The

Comedy Team Of Evelyn & Iris

Saturday May 26

8 p.m. 12 Midnight

$5.00 at the door

Co-Sponsored By

The Westside Women's Center And The Lesbian/Gay Community Center

Don't Forget Our Great Food & Desserts For Your Dining Pleasure