UNITED WOMEN’S CONVENTION

Mana (Auckland), 16 June 1977, Page 2

UNITED WOMEN’S CONVENTION

Erua mono ono rau nga wahine i te hui whakakotahi a nga wahine i Otautahi. Tekau ma rima pea nga wahine Maori i tenei hui. Ko au tetahi o aua wahine Maori. Anei oku whakaaro:

Maori editor Vapi Kupenga attended the United Women's Convention in Christchurch at Queen's Birthday Weekend. She writes here of her personal impressions as a Maori woman:

Two thousand six hundred women from varied backgrounds attended the three day convention. Out of these maybe fifteen were Maori or Polynesian. Why? This was one of the topics discussed in a workshop on “Women and white racism”. A multicultural •'team of women from Auckland ran the workshop. Many Maori women think they lack the structured skills needed and are inarticulate in this sort of situation. There was also a strong suggestion that the convenors of the conference had not advertised widely enough through Maori and Polynesian channels and had not invited Maori and Polynesian women to participate in the decision making beforehand.

I he workshop felt that in seeking to build a society which is just to women we might find we have been carelessly neglectful of racial justice. We explored institutional racism - a society which is run by the “white male club" and which leaves no chance for the “brown female” to develop her own resources and become active and influential unless she adopts the values of the ruling white males. There were 40 other workshops, on themes like health, law, economics and ‘•women in the home. From all accounts they were stimulating and thoughtprovoking. They were aimed not only at introducing new ideas, but also at showing us wavs in which we could turn

our thoughts and ideals into action. One piece of action at the conference which was widely publicised was the removal of a male reporter at the opening session. This action has been criticised by the media, but we felt that it was justified. Before the conference it was specifically requested that only female reporters attend, and this particular paper had ignored the request. It was felt that a man would report on the events from the male point of view which is very different. It is the same as an article being written by a pakeha on a Maori issue - the pakeha cannot do justice to the Maori cause as he perceives the situation through his cultural training. To prevent any misconceptions, therefore, it was asked that only women report on the convention.

Two speakers who impressed me in the intorductory and plenary sessions were Rosemary Ronald from Auckland and Helen

Marieskind, a Christchurchborn woman who now lives in the United States. Rosemary spoke strongly of the need for women to act to bring about change in society, like getting into positions of power without compromising themselves by adopting men’s values and aspirations. Helen talked about women's health and self-help clinics run in the United States, where informal and friendly services are run for women and by women, and help is given on any health issues which are relevant. She spoke of drugs which are dangerous to women’s health and the suggestion that the morning-after pill may cause some kinds of cancer. She stressed the importance of recognising the rights of other women to express themselves as they wished, and to beware oppressing women of other class or colour. Helen’s words were memorable, but her actions were even more so. All during the conference she

carried with her her small baby. At times she would lift it naturally to her breast and feed it, or would hold it in her arms as she spoke to a crowded lecture theatre. I feel that this expressed a great deal of what the conference was about - that women are capable of raising children as well as being strong and creative leaders in society. A group of lesbian women provided plays, films, an art exhibition, a band, and their own original music and songs. There is a book that is being compiled by the women who ran the workshops. If you would like a copy write to Book 77, Box 1770, Christchurch. The price is $2.70.

“You’ve got the patriarchal palsy, Atrophe of the brain, You've got the patriarchal palsy, and I can’t stand the pain, So we’ll just start a revolution, Me and my woman friend, We'll start a revolution, And live like humans again,”