august 4. 2000 -
Let's get radical
Feminist crusaders take on Injustice
wherever they see it
The beloved Portland Power during the heyday of the ABL
o alcohol, no drugs, no lesbians.”
was created by women for women—the world-
The echo of these words from
class athletes were paid $80,000 a year, and the
a Penn State women’s basketball
stands were packed for every game.
coach still rings loud as the tight for
Its success did not go unnoticed by the NBA,
equality in athletics continues, even after Title
which formed its own women’s league. The two
IX. Though we have “come a long way, baby”
seasons overlapped for one year, and the ABL
since women were expected to wear corsets
ultimately folded because of pixir Rinding and
and high heels while playing sports, much work I support. The ABL players had the option to
remains to be done about homophobia, objec
take the new salary scale the WNBA offered for
tive media portrayal, insufficient public support
a much shorter season—between $26,500 and
and low pay for female athletes.
$32,500 annually—or quit U.S. basketball.
These issues and many more were discussed
“Working people are left to fight over the
at last months meeting of Radical Women, an
crumbs after the top officials get paid, and
organization dedicated to exposing, resisting and
women get the fewest crumbs,” Laverdure says.
eliminating the inequities of womens existence.
The meeting attracted a group of about 25
When they do receive media attention,
women and men. They discussed the complexi-
female athletes often are portrayed as decora
! ties of how to support these female athletes
tive, not athletic, and reports from players
while opposing the WNBA’s treatment of them.
reveal their coaches tell them to decline inter
“We live under capitalism, and we are
views immediately after a game and wait until
encouraging exploitation as spectators,” Laver
they are more “presentable.” An unspoken rule
dure says. “ ...1 think our role is to support
requires players and coaches always to present
them at this point so they can get their foot in
themselves as heterosexual, as the six coaches
the door.”
who lost their jobs between 1994 and 1997 for
The general consensus at the end of the
being perceived as lesbians could attest, discus
discussion was that the progress women can
sion moderator Jennifer Laverdure explains.
make in a capitalist society is limited and that
things will remain the same until the system is
“Athletes cannot be seen as lesbians or per
ceived as lesbians,” a participant adds. “They
changed.
Radical Women believe the only way soci
literally had to be posed with men on their
arms while traveling.”
ety can work as a team is to stop discriminating
based on sexual orientation, race, gender, class,
Another major issue under debate at the
disability and age. The oldest organization of
meeting was the demise of the ABL from
•
political
socialist radicals in the United States,
women’s professional basketball. The league
Ju st out 3 ]
▼
it was formed in 1967 after a women’s studies
as to why they should not support the O CA ,"
course at Seattle’s Free University brought to
Sardo says.
light for several students the injustices all
During the past few months, Bigot Busters
women face.
struggled for the right to campaign wherever
The civil rights movement in the ’60s
the O C A collected signatures for its petitions.
demonstrated to activists the undercurrents of
The public malls and establishments where
sexism throughout society as men filled leader
voters were approached are considered private
ship positions while women were shuffled into
property, which forced the activists to receive
back rooms to do paperwork and menial tasks.
permission from the companies that own the
They were ready to serve as leaders but needed
sidewalk even to be there, Laverdure explains.
an organization to show them how to step into
“The big corporations aren’t concerned
roles formerly denied them.
about our rights,” Weller adds.
“They founded Radical Women to serve
Bigot Busters are gaining ground every day
that need— to train women about what real
and will continue hitting the streets with infor
leadership is, to stand up and say what you
mation until the Student Protection Act is
think in a room filled with people who don’t
defeated, Laverdure promises.
agree with you,” says Adrienne Weller, an
In addition, Radical Women are making
executive committee member.
headway for the rights of sexual minorities
The group instantly distinguished itself from
through an association with the Freedom
other movements by battling not only sexism
Socialist Party, which aims to inject the social
but heterosexism, racism, ageism, poverty and
ist movement with the revitalizing ideas of
repression of all types. “That we were multi
Trotskyism and feminism. “The teams that win
issue way before anyone else...made us
are the ones that work together," suggests Brian
unique,” Weller adds.
Barnett, a member of the political organization.
Since the creation of Radical Women’s
The Freedom Socialists are engaged in a law
Portland branch in 1977, it has been at the
suit with the secretary of state to get the party
forefront of major political battles in
on future ballots. Current law states no
the United States and around the
two political parties can share the
world, working with other
//(.. I .
1
same name, and because the
chapters in Australia, Cana
Working pooplo
Socialist Parry already is on
da, Washington, California,
the ballot, the Freedom
New York and New Jersey.
Socialists cannot be.
Members continually are
“If left alternative par
fighting for sexual minori
ties can’t get on the bal
ties, women’s reproductive
lot, it holds back the
rights, police accountabili
rights of sexual minori
ty, juvenile crime measures
ties,” Weller says.
and Cuban sovereignty and
Both Radical Women
—
against the Oregon Citizens
and the Freedom Socialist
Alliance, the World Trade
Party are composed of wom
Organization and Ballot Measures
en and feminist men, gay and
9, 11 and 13, to name just a few.
straight, of all colors and nationali
“We have always been active wherever the
ties, old and young, working together for
right wing raises its head. We’re there to tell
freedom and respect of all peoples around
them to get lost," says Jordana Sardo, a Radical
the world.
Women organizer. “Learning from Nazi Ger
“Socialism is a transformation process,”
many, you need to stop them immediately.”
Sardo says. “As you transform, from there you
In yet another example of history repeating
can go forward. And as people work together,
itself, Radical Women are battling the O CA
they become a very powerful force.”
once again. In 1992, they helped defeat Ballot
Measure 9, an initiative to prevent sexual
■ R adical W omen study groups meet
minorities from receiving “special rights.”
10 to 11 :3 0 a.m . Suruiays in Room 359 at Port -
Today, Radical Women are fighting the
land State University’s C ram er Hall, 1721 S.W .
OCA’s latest anti-gay measure, the Student
Broadway. M m thly discussion groups are held at
Protection Act. Through a campaign called
the Northwest Neighborhood Cidtural Center,
Bigot Busters, supporters are taking grassroots
1819 N .W . Everett St. C all (5 0 3 ) 2 2 8 -3 0 9 0 for
action by meeting with voters and educating
more information.
them on the facts and repercussions of the ini
tiative, which is designed to keep any mention
MEGHAN G arrity is a free-lance uriter who
of homosexuality out of schools.
recently relocated to Portland. She can he reached
“We are winning the right to educate voters
at meghangamty@yah(H>.com .
are left to
fiah over the
crumbs after the top officials
get paid, and women get
the fewest crumbs."
Jennifer
Laverdure
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