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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 8. April 18 1977
Against a NZUSA Women's Commission
Against a NZUSA Women's Commission.
Dear David,
I was pleased to see the letter in last week's Salient referring to the Women's Rights Action Committee for there needs to be a lot of discussion on this committee, the NZUSA Women's Commission and Women's issues generally on campus.
However I would like to comment on some aspects of Virginia's letter.
| a) | that sexual discrimination is an issue which concerns all students and as such should be discussed by all students rather than confined to a 'women's only' commission. |
| b) | that sexual discrimination is an integral part of other social problems and should be seen in a social context and not as an isolated problem. For example the issue of higher bursaries for women to compensate for their lower holiday earnings should be discussed in the context of the whole bursary campaign and not decided on by a women's only group in isolation from the bursary campaign. |
| c) | Virginia's statement that the Women's Commission in August rationalised NZUSA's existing policy on women is nonsense. NZUSA is a policy making body. Each delegate must vote according to their Constituent policy. Therefore NZUSA's policy can only be changed if Constituent policy has changed (by both men and women students) otherwise the delegates are representing only themselves and not students.) |
For all the above reasons a Women's Commission is not necessary. Policy concerning women's oppression should be made in which ever of the other Commissions, (Welfare and Accommodation, National, International or Education) is relevant.
The Women's Rights Action Committee on the other hand is a committee which plans action on the basis of policy made at NZUSA councils. Although it is difficult to be sure at this stage, I feel this committee is far more worthwhile than the Women's Commission. With the help and support of this committee the Students' Association will be able to run effective campaigns on women's issues, (e.g. equal pay, crech, abortion, law reform, Domestic Purposes Benefit etc.)
At the moment I am involved in the Women's Study Group and also organising with other Studass Officers forums on Rising Prices, Women in Unions, the Domestic Purposes Benefit and on Gill's anti-abortion Bill.
If people have any ideas on these or other women's issues please contact me at the Students' Students Association.
Leonie Morns,
Women's Rights Officer.
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