Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1981)
# • y/' y/jj)' -----Emerald Graphic Women must be allied, panel members agree By LESLIE FARRIS Of the Emerald Women must become more women-iden tified if they are to regain the power long denied them. That was the consensus of participants at a Wednesday Women's Symposium panel ti tled "Ma, Can I Be a Feminist and Still Like Men?" "One thing that’s happened to women because of our society’s compulsory heterosexuality is that we see our relationships with men as a different caliber relationship than those with women," said Kap Richards, a feminist counselor. “We need to make long term committed relationships with other women as we have with other men." In her work as a counselor, Richards said she sees the oppressive nature of male-female relationships as a crucial problem, with women most frequently the victims. That oppression is built on a foundation of violence — whether actual, implied or historical, she said “While men are not oppressed as women are, they are stuck. Their rewards for being the oppressor are small,” she said. While many women attending the discus sion agreed that there are men who would like to end women’s oppression, most believed that few men are actively confronting sexism. "Very few men are dealing with feminism as an important factor in their lives," said Jean Lorraine. “Some men will show support when they talk with me personally, but they won’t put their asses on the line when in mixed com pany.” Men who want to support feminism should work with other men because that's where the work is needed, one audience member said. Richards suggested that if women act as though they expect men to be their allies, maybe some men will live up to those expec tations. She said most men were socialized not to respect women as equals, and most men will continue that disrespect. If women expect the worst from men, they may alienate potential allies, she said. Another panel member, Rene Cobb, said the question, "Can you like men and still be a feminist?” mistakenly implies women’s rela tionships with women are defined by women’s relationships with men. "It also implies the false myth that lesbians are man-haters,” said Cobb, who is a lesbian. One reason for the myth is that a lot of men have trouble accepting lesbians because lesbians do not act for men’s approval, said an audience member. Cobb said all feminists — heterosexual or lesbian — should work to end the "institution of compulsory heterosexuality” because it aff ects all women and reinforces male supre macy. It's not enough to view lesbianism as merely a personal preference of sexuality, Cobb said. ‘‘Many feminists see heterosexuality as an economic relationship, but they fail to see the economic hardships of lesbians in a heterosexual society. Panel member Marcia Kraus said non lesbian and lesbian women should work together against society’s oppressive institu tions and not let relationships with men cloud the issues. « GREAT SALE on the Willamette Valley Express Portland-Eugene & points between Roundtrip for the price of one-way, plus Si.^ """tAKE>4 TR4IN HOME for Eugene to Albany Salem Portland Reg St 2 60 t8 30 31 SO Special 0*»er S 7 30 10 IS 16 76 through tunds made You Save $ S 30 8 15 14 75 Th , ,ervice linanced m part th« . Thu service ( Oregon 1 available by the S ale purchase one This coupon entitlestheMa wl.lwaukie. (11 roundtnp««*»' Eugene Oregon Woodburn, Salem. b, th, ,egular This la.e 'or T, ^ Children 2 to 11 must on. wav t... Ptu i * ' “ ^ and mu„ have their p. accompanied by an adu Reproduc own coupon to quaMv honors T,Oe» t.ons ol this coupon" I and used -•< Preservations required ^V’cJUtS.a-.g-_ COUPON Purchase uour discount ^ ticket by May 3V then take up to 21 days to use_it_ m HJ j j j CHINA BLUE RESTAURANT Beef with Pea Pods $5 Sliced Beef Sirloin, sauteed with Chinese Pea Pods and Water Chestnuts and Mushrooms China Blue 879 E. 13th Ave. 343-2832 Hours Mon thru Fri 11 iim-10 pm Sat 5-11 pm Sun 5-10 pm Fine Gaming: • Home of Monday Night Backgammon Tournaments on Rosewood Tables • Sunday Night Dart Tournaments • Finest in Pinball & Video Games • Distinguished beers on tap: Heineken • Guiness • Bass Ale Lowenbrau light and dark John Courage • Hamm's Vast assortment of bottled imports available 1 I STORE IT THIS SUMMER CHECK THESE FEATURES: • Live-in Management * 3 Convenient Sizes: • Security Fencing 5*10, 10*10, 10*20 • Lighted/Paved Grounds • RV/Automotive Storage PRICES START AT JUST $17 $5.00 off with this ad (Limit on* p*r new Account.) 689-9230 OPEN 7 am-7 pm DAILY Just South of the Gilbert Shopping Center 1026 Highway 99N Eugene, OR 97402
