Up from Under

In reply to Mike O'Flaherty, Salient No. 4, March 27, 1974.

The intention of the 'Up From Under' column in Salient No. 3 was to reply to some comment made about the women's liberation movement, it was not intended to indicate what the movement is trying to liberate itself from. I should think that that is obvious, and anyway it would take more than one article in Salient to discuss it.

Just as he has misconstrued the purpose of the article, Mike O'Flaherty has misconstrued the theme of the article. Comments were made about University Feminists, and therefore comments can only be applied to University Feminists. That University Feminist members are mainly middle-class Pakehas does not lead to the broad generalisation that the women's movements as a whole is middle-class and Pakeha. Besides, Mike O'Flaherty, like David Tripe, seems to be under the misconception that middle-class Pakehas are loss entitled to liberation than their working-class Maori sisters.

Mike O'Flaherty does not approve of the concentration of the women's liberation movement on the abortion issue, does he think he, as a male can choose which issues the women's movement should concentrate on, and which it should cast aside? Does he consider himself an expert on women's suffering?

He doesn't think that the abortion movement will help working-class women. It is true that reform of the abortion laws would benefit very few women. But repeal of the abortion laws would benefit all women. However, as a man, he is not really in a position to appreciate what it would mean to a woman to have the right to choose.

As to his comment about fighting capitalist society. Of course we recognise capitalism as the oppressor. The full demands of the women's liberation movement cannot be met by the capitalist system. However, not every woman has the same political opinion, and we are more concerned at present with getting women to recognise their oppression, than with having political wrangles. The women's movement is different and independent from all other movements and must not be confined by political boundaries. White it must unfold according to its own dynamic, it is also a part of the broader anti-capitalist struggle.

Because women have a basic interest in supporting and allying with others who are fighting against oppression. University Feminists has every intention of uniting with other women's groups, especially Maori women's groups. What we don't intend doing, as I pointed out in the article, is arrogantly organising liberation groups for them. Every oppressed group must work out its programme of demands itself, otherwise its usefulness would be destroyed.

Is that so difficult to understand, Mr O'Flaherty?

University Feminists meets every Monday night in the Student Union Building. Meetings during April are all in the Listening Room. No meeting on April 15. The AGM will be held late in April. Watch noticeboards for details.

Not necessarily group views.