Men in the Movement

The role of men in the abortion movement was one of the major points of discussion. The proposals came out of the Lesbian Workshop to urge women to withdraw their personal support from men in any way possible, i.e., don't pick up their dirty socks, don't have sex with them, don't cook their dinner.

This was lost as a succession of speakers explained that it is not the men of New Zealand that are denying women their right to abortion but Parliament and therefore Parliament is the enemy that we must fight.

There was also debate as to how hard we should try to involve men. In the proposal by the Conference Organising Committee, the major guiding principle was taken as, "The need to involve the largest possible number of women to campaign on their own behalf for the right to abortion." Some of the other women present felt that this should include men and thus read, "the need to involve the largest possible number of women and men to campaign for the right to abortion."

The arguments for this position were again that it is not men by virtue of their "maleness", but the sexist society that oppresses women. Many men support "abortion a woman's right" and if we are t to mobilise the largest possible number of people against the abortion laws then we must include the male half of the New Zealand population.

When it came to the vote however, it was only just decided to keep the original wording.