Liberation Tactics

The discussion was mainly on tactics within the Women's Liberation, a topic which will be discussed more fully in the Women's Liberation Conference April 1-2. Germaine elaborated on many of her basic ideas in The Female Eunuch She told of how difficult it was for the average women to press for better conditions in her exhausting role of worker end mother/wife.

This was a timely reminder to trade unionists who often decry such women as apathetic.

The orientation of the reception was towards implementing some reforms now, and overall working towards a revolution. She did not convince the people there of the morality of such things as abortion and equal pay. Everyone seemed persuaded by her approach. She touched on the role of the middle-class women, which most of us at university are whether we like it or not. She said we must use our educational advantages in talking and writing. We must listen to working-class women. Germaine is not the stereo-typed Marxist who shrieks all into the factories (remember some Radical Activist Conferences?) nor does she see educational middle-class women as superior to their factory sisters.

One of the things I liked best about Germaine was her ability to utilise ell fields of modern knowledge including psychology, sociology end economics in explaining and relating the position of women to social forces as a whole rather than simple-minded reliance on a few Marxist catch phrases or on an idealistic belief in the advantages of reformed capitalism.

Everyone came away from that meeting feeling enthused, revitalised and strengthened in the fight for Women' Lib.