CWLU Herstory Blog

It's no secret that feminists are on both sides of the fence in the Democratic primary.

Despite the media stereotype of a vast leftwing feminist conspiracy made up of goose-stepping fembots, the actual women's equality movement is very diverse. Being the independent-minded people that we are, feminists tend to resist being forced to toe a party line.

However the rivalry between Obama feminists and Clinton feminists has challenged that idea. Some of our earnest sisters-in-struggle are demanding not simply that we vote for their favorite candidate, but that we pass their loyalty test. The penalty is the explusion from the their sisterhood.

Now why does this remind me of junior high? Or even kindergarten for that matter?

The feminist blogosphere has been filled with postings about this split. Some attribute it to race. Some say it's generational. Some even say (perish the thought) that there are very real issues that need to be discussed with passion and intellect, rather than vitrol and group-think.

Whatever happens during this election cycle, something tells me the issues that divide us are not going away anytime soon. Below are some links to articles I think are useful in this debate. Feel free to comment and add your favorites.

• Goodbye to All That (#2) by Robin Morgan
• Lest We Forget: An open letter to my sisters who are brave. by Alice Walker
• Women are Never Front-Runners by Gloria Steinem
• Yo Mamma by Linda Hirshman
• Thinking Outside of the Ballot Box by Aurora Levins Morales
• Obama and race: our country is so confused by Pam Spaulding
• Careful, Obama. Humorless Feminists Are Watching by Debra Dickerson
• The Obama Feminists: Why Young Women Are Supporting Obama by Ariel Garfinkel
• A Vote of Allegiance?: In the Obama-Clinton Battle, Race & Gender Pose Two Great Divides for Black Women by DeNeen L. Brown
• Feminists for Clinton by Ellen Carol DuBois, Christine Stansell and others.
• Hillary Clinton: I really wish she was on our side by Bob Simpson
• Why I'm Endorsing Barack Obama by Kate Michaelman
• No Crystal Ball-- Still, We Wonder by Erica C. Barnett
• Hillary's Scarlett O'Hara Act by Melissa Harris-Lacewell

The Department of U.S. Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. will host a book launch of Jo Freeman's We Will Be Heard: Women's Struggles for Political Power in the United States on Monday, March 24 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The discussion will be held at:

The event is open to the public but you must RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Directions are available here. Please allow extra time for security; a picture ID is required. Admission to the discussion and the reception are free but seating is limited.

Jo Freeman is one of our most perceptive scholars about the role of women in American political history. She will be joined at the discussion by Mary Ellen Curtin, Lecturer in American History, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom, and Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Center; A. James Reichley, Author and former Visiting Senior Fellow, Public Policy Institute, Georgetown University.

“While it is commonly assumed that women went into politics after getting the right to vote,” Dr. Jo Freeman writes, in at least some parts of the United States “it was the other way around. Indeed, one could argue that it was regular experience with political women that eventually convinced men that women were capable of and entitled to exercise the franchise.” Moreover, “political women” have been “active participants in the political process and influencers of public policy” at least since the late 1800s, and they ran for public office long before they could vote.

We all know about Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton. Who, however, were the dozens of women who ran for president – and the others who ran for Congress – in the twentieth century? Is it true, as Freeman asserts, that Democratic women are “more likely to be elected from safe districts than Republican women”? and that women as a group might have less influence in Congress if their numbers increase to not much more than 30 percent?

We received this essay on the 2008 election from Aurora Levins Morales. Aurora is a Latina-Jewish poet, scholar and activist. Aurora and her mom Rosario were both members of the Chicago Women's Liberation Union. In it Aurora discusses the sexism and racism that have characterized this election season.

Over the last few weeks, and increasingly the last few days I've been getting emails from every direction, (particularly the progressive friend who have my address,) telling me why we should all get behind either Clinton or Obama. Since I'm not a registered Democrat, I won't be voting in this primary, but I've been thinking about it a lot.

Feminist scholar Jo Freeman has long been one of our most astute observers of the often surreal world of U.S. politics. In her new book We Will Be Heard: Women's Struggles for Political Power in the United States, she collects some of her best essays about women in politics into one volume.

According to the publisher, the book will be hitting the shelves on March 28, 2008. If you order at the prepublication price , you can receive a substantial discount.

From J. Ellen Foster's address to the 1892 Republican Convention to Nancy Pelosi's 2007 election as the first female Speaker of the House, women have worked to influence politics at every level. Well before most could vote, women campaigned for candidates and lobbied to shape public policy. Men welcomed their work, but not their ideas. Even with equal suffrage women faced many barriers to full political participation.

The fifteen case studies of women’s struggles for political influence in this book provide the historical context for today’s political events. Starting with an overview of when and why political women have been studied, the three sections of the book look at different ways in which women have broken barriers, practiced politics, and promoted public policy. These engaging and accessible stories are even more important in today’s political climate, when a woman can finally be a front-runner in a presidential race.

Readers of all political stripes will enjoy the history behind modern politics in this story of women struggling to make their voices heard.

Join the National Organization for Women Foundation, National Council of Negro Women, and the Institute for Women's Policy Research for the 2008 Summit on Economic Justice for Women, April 11-12 in Atlanta, Georgia. The summit is dedicated to "Bringing Together Research and Advocacy--from Local to Global--to Advance Economic Justice and Empowerment for Women"

Don't miss the reduced early registration fee. Make your plans now to join with grassroots activists, researchers, and academics to address the critical economic issues facing women in the U.S. and abroad.

Goals for this unique conference include expanding the body of knowledge on critical economic issues; increasing our understanding of the global economic challenges women face; building and strengthening alliances in the economic justice movement; developing recommendations and strategies for enhancing women's economic empowerment; and informing policies globally and locally, including helping to shape the 2008 U.S. presidential election debate.

Submit a workshop or research paper. Workshops will blend research and grassroots action, offering participants an opportunity to hear from experts and apply action strategies to address economic inequality. The deadline to submit a proposal is Feb. 15.

If your chapter or organization would like to be a sponsor, exhibitor or advertiser, learn more online or contact us by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone at 202-628-8669, ext. 117.

In September of 2004 I lost a dear friend when Ruth Surgal died suddenly after attending a feminist conference. Ruth had been a leader of the Abortion Counseling Service of Women's Liberation, better known as Jane. You can read more about Jane on this website.

I was asked to speak at Ruth's funeral service, so today I'll share with you what I said on that sad day.

---------------------------------------------------------

I’m Estelle Carol from the CWLU Herstory Project. We are a network of people who are documenting the history of the women’s liberation movement in Chicago, the movement that Ruth Surgal worked so hard to advance. Ruth and I were both members of the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union in the 1970’s. This was a city-wide organization made up of many diverse projects and groups.

We didn’t know each other in those days. In a way, that it is a testament to the size and strength of the women’s liberation movement of that time. There were just too many of us to know one another personally.

Ruth was one of the leaders of the Abortion Counseling Service of Women’s Liberation, better known as “Jane”. At a time before Roe vrs. Wade, when abortion was illegal, Jane performed over 11,000 abortions. Jane became legendary on the streets of Chicago for the quality of it’s care and the dedication of its members.

On January 22, the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, NARALPro-Choice America is asking pro-choice bloggers to join them for Blog for Choice Day!

Blog for Choice Day provides us with an opportunity to raise the profile of reproductive rights in the blogosphere and the media, while celebrating Roe's 35th anniversary. Plus, it's a great way to let your readers and the mainstream media know that a woman's right to choose is a core progressive value that must be protected.

This year's topic: tell us, and your readers, why it's important to vote pro-choice. For more info, visit the Blog for Choice page.

We recently received a communication from Azer Majedi , leader of the Organization for Women's Liberation, an Iranian feminist organization. Azer Majedi lives in exile in the UK. In her statement, she calls upon the people everywhere to join together and say,"No to a US military attack."

She was especially concerned with the recent meetings between George Bush and Nicholas Sarkozy, which resulted in some bellicose rhetoric directed against Iran. Her organization opposes the current Islamic regime in Iran and points out that along with the other misery that a war brings, it would make the job of the democratic resistance in Iran even more dangerous and difficult.

Her complete statement follows:

Statement by Organization for Women’s Liberation (8th November 2007)

We condemn the war against people in Iran !

The risk of a military attack against people in Iran is imminent. The US administration is adamant about an attack against Iran . The US government is trying to gain support of other states and the public opinion in the US for the attack. The French foreign minister has defended military attack against Iran . They claim war is inevitable if Islamic regime is to be prevented from producing nuclear weapons. On the other hand the Islamic regime is flaring up the fire of war. Both sides have escalated their war propaganda. Economic sanctions against Iran too are adding to the prospect of death and devastation.

The reason for waging war is said to be preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. This is only part of the issue. However, in order to gain international public opinion and justifying US’s war policy, the focus is only on the former. In the case of Iraq too we were told that the reason for war was to destroy Weapons of Mass Destruction. However everybody knows now that this was just a lie which led to devastation and mass killings in Iraq . Possession of nuclear weapons by Islamic Republic is truly a horrendous thought. We must however remember that the first and only state using nuclear weapon is USA . The brutal killings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are registered in history as dark episodes of humanity and that of US’s doing.

This is a war between the two poles of terrorism, state terrorism led by USA and Islamic terrorism. Having been defeated in Iraq , in order to consolidate its position as the super power, the US government sees no option but to wage war against Iran . The war in Iraq opened the gate for the Islamic regime to enter Iraq and the Islamists took over the destiny of the war in Iraq . Last summer, the military attack against Lebanon by Israel with the recommendation and total support of USA and Britain did not succeed against the Hezbollah, its supporters, Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria. Both Lebanon and Iraq wars ended up with the strengthening of position of Islamists and the Islamic Republic of Iran had a pivotal role in it. In the wake of New World Order policy, USA has no choice but achieve victory against the Islamic regime in Iran . The issue of nuclear weapons has given US an opportunity to invest in its policy.

Economic sanction is another inhumane weapon which is used by US and Western governments against people of Iran . The policy of economic sanctions is defended by the argument that it will cripple the Islamic regime, force it to surrender or it makes people to rise against the regime. However, the victim of such policy is not Islamic regime but the people of Iran . Sanction imposes hardships against people. It was claimed that economic sanctions were in place in Iraq in order to combat Weapons of Mass Destruction. However, the world witnessed that sanctions were indeed weapons of mass destruction. Those who think people under hardship rise up and revolt against the Islamic regime, and support this policy or diplomatically keep their silence, are not only wrong in their analysis but have also a sick point of view.

The War causes mass killings, devastation and destruction of the society. It is also an environmental catastrophe in Iran and the region. It consolidates the position of Islamic regime in the face of peoples’ ever growing protest movement. Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world. People in Iran hate the regime and are in constant battle with the regime to overthrow it. Mass social movements, women’s, workers’ movement for welfare, cultural emancipation and secularism are currently advancing. The Iranian regime will use the war to suppress any protest movement with greater ease. Intensification of suppression and dictatorship will be another consequence of the war. As though the present increased wave of arrests, torture, kidnapping of workers’, women’s, students and the families of the political prisoners by the Islamic regime is not enough! War will increase this suppression.

In addition to all the misery inflicted on people as the result of the war, the Islamic regime will intensify its suppressive machinery against women. At present the regime tries to impose Islamic values and laws in all aspects of the society. Women workers are ordered to wear the chador (the Islamic veil covering the whole body and the head). This process will be intensified even further under war and women will be the first victims. Attempts will be made to once again force women to stay home. Women will be the first section of the society to be made unemployed. Families whose main bred winners are women will bear the burden the most. At present prostitution in Iran is wide spread. Under war situation it will even be more with heavy consequences for women. We strive to organize a massive resistance against the suppression imposed by the Islamic regime.

Organization for Women’s Liberation urges all the people in Iran and internationally, activists of women’s movement, workers’ activists and all human rights organizations to condemn the war of terrorists. We must organize a massive movement against the war and the war propaganda of US and political Islam. Let’s unite and chant: No to war, No to Islamic regime, No to US military attack, Long Live Freedom, Equality and Welfare. We urge all to support this statement and join us to prevent another Iraq !

No to War, No to Islamic regime! No to US military attack!
Stop women’s suppression!
Long Live Women’s Liberation

REPEAL THE HYDE AMENDMENT!

Reproductive rights for all, not just those who can afford them!

Sign the petition here: www.hyde30years.nnaf.org

For nearly 35 years, women in the United States have had the right to obtain safe, legal abortion care. However, bans on public funding have severely restricted the ability of low-income women, who depend on the government for their health care, to obtain the care they need. Since 1977, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited federal Medicaid funding to be used for abortion care except in cases of rape, incest or life endangerment.

If you could ask just one question of the next President of the United States... what would that be? Here’s your chance!

The American Medical Women's Association(AMWA) is sponsoring a series of conference calls on the issue of women's health with the various presidential candidates.

The next conference call is with John Edwards on November 9 at 3 pm EST.

If you would like to sign up and participate, please visit the Conversations with the Candidates website for full details.