Nexus - 0107 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

Over Move ©1988 Linda Curtis T he living organism of patriarchy fact that she has achieved such a concern for the survival of the human has slowly been rotting in the position she has paved the way for race she had no Intention to run for twentieth century and yet Its women. This may be so, but what office. Instead, through study, re- remains have been emanating a price did she pay? She has only ap- search, writing and helping other stench more potent than ever. In an propriated old attitudes of a patriar- women to produce films about the age where the world is threatened chal Institution. How can she be real threat, she realised her only op- with nuclear annihilation, ‘man’ has expressing her nature as woman (as tions to obtain a measure of success. finally outsmarted himself. anurturer of life) when she has signifi- It may be, for now, that only through The role of women dur- : eee separating from governm- ing the technological revo- y \\" —> gr) ment and forming feminist lution could be expressed > 4 Institutions will women H} achleve power. Caldicott has not compromised her principles, morals or char- acter. But Thatcher and other females within a patriarchal government can’t really be blamed. Although women have been admitted Into universities for a century, until the last two decades education was purely taught from a male point of view, Only recently have such subjects as ‘Women Studies” entered curricula, and women have achieved some say in what as totally insignificant. Since the Renaissance. men have increasingly delivered themselves from darkness and yet the same light has only begun to be shed for women in the last century. Even In the 1980s, when many women would pro- claim that women’s libera- tionhas been achieved, the lack of real power they have gained Is appalling. Confidence, freedom and above all understand- ing of oneself are necessary in order to have power; yet 4 , the knowledge and per- | —WRb 2 eS ception women have Se Mito H . ls to be taught and re- about themselves is still greatly lim- cantly increased England’s nuclear searched. ited. “defence” force and allowed a in view of this we have already Since before the suppression and deathly nuclear processing plant to come a long way and women will affliction women received by the pa- operate near a densely populated accelerate their understanding of triarchal faith of mediaeval Christian- community? themselves through closer scrutiny of ity. many psychological scars still re- She has collaborated with the their own history. The more we know main. males in the Pentagon and with the and understand our own nature in Although women have attained collective Insensitivity towards mi- comparison to the nature of men, the physical freedom. suppression narities, Including women. more we shall realise our responsibili- through mental conditioning has ties In society and rise to positions of prevailed. This can be seen in every i Z power without compromising our- level of society today. Mi ssil e E. n vy selves * In America, England and Austra- lia few women are represented in Onthe otherhand. anexample of a Linda Curtis is further developing these government. Even though there is | womanin tune with her own nature Is os ese ripe rin = ree freedom for women to attain power, | Helen Caldicott, the founder of | igglleaiee te ecg LE ES " S lee a fihesir scenario is the changing concept of it can be easily seen that women reen Labour and one of the strong- women adopted by both sexes, oppo- choose not to because of the pres- est anti-nuclear campaigners in the site a stagnant view of man as “the sure to conform to what Is ultimately world. She rose to this position from thinker”, and the changing relationships a male institution. being a paediatrician, The changein between women and both sexes. However, women like Margaret | her role is summed up In her book Nuclear warfare and the role men have Thatcher are different. having at- | *MissileEnvy”.Shesaldthatshe could | Played in creating ft wil also en ae tempted to gain powel wil hin this sys- no longer look after a handful of chil- ha = ee - pd peer tem. Thatcher has done little or noth- dren when life on this planet Is threat- Linda via NEXUS. : ing for the advancement of women ened with extinction. Further Reading: Insociety. Many would sayjustby the | It’s interesting that in her honest Pure Lust - Mary Daley Missile Envy - Helen Caldicott 5 NEXUS New Times Seven - Summer 1989 a Missile Envy