| Transcript |
NOW at the University of Houston
Montrose NOW
January 1983
Volume 3, Number 1
President's Column.
Welcome to our new members: Sofia Aguilar, Peta Bain, Kim
Beganoy, Paul Rowe and Barbara Signer.
On December 17 NOW at UH had an end of the year celebration at
JoAnn's home. Everyone who came was surrounded by beautiful
poinsettas, delicious food (including ginger bread woman
cookies complimentary of Jeanne Sommerfeld) and wonderful
women's music.
On December 14 thru 16 I set up tables at UC and Satellite to
sell feminist t-shirts, records, books, etc. We made close to
$40.00 profit for our chapter which is very much needed along
with suppling feminist products to the university community.
The products sold well and many went for gifts during the
holiday season. Remember your feminist merchants for next
year's holiday shopping!
NOW at UH will hold its election of officers on Tuesday,
January 25 at 5:30pm at the UC. The following positions will
be open: Secretary, Membership, Public Affairs, Fundraising,
and Newsletter. We urge all members to consider running for a
position of their choice and/or to attend this important meeting. The election will be one of two mayor concerns in the
agenda of this business meeting.
All members are welcomed to staff our NOW office located in
Campus Activities. Two hours are required per day but any
time you can give will help. We would like to expand our
files on feminist articles as well as our book collection in
order to have information available to anyone interested in
feminist issues. Come by and leave message if you would like
to help.
We hope everyone had a wonderful winter solstice and wish
everyone a good new year in 1983.
I would like to give my definition of a good year. A good year
is one in which all children can live in an environment where
sexism does not exist. Sounds like dreamland? Maybe so, but
not an impossible one. For now, we can only imagine it, but
some day it will be a reality. For now, we choose to recognize sexism, confront it by speaking out and watch what seems
the forever-lasting process of change. But some day dreamland
will be a reality.
I wish for a good year.
Rossann Daumas, President, NOW at UH
MONTROSE NOW
WOMEN'S HISTORY PAGEANT
Montrose NOW is producing a pageant to illustrate women's
contributions to history to be performed on the final day of
women's history week. Among the cast of characters arc such
notable women as Susan B. Anthony, The Grimke Sisters, and
Anne Hutchinson. If you'd like to participate in this show,
please contact Peggy Hall, President of Montrose NOW, at
522-4468.
Consciousness Raising
In our December issue I had mentioned the importance of starting a Consciousness Raising group at UH. At this time I would
like to highlight some information taken from A Quick Rundown
of Feminist CR Groups by Lee Walker on what feminist consciousness raising means, how feminist CR sessions functions
and what the goals are in hopes that we can clear up any misinterpretation of what CR sessions are. Also, this information may answer any basic questions to anyone who is interested in participating in NOW"at UH CR sessions.
What does Feminist CR mean?
Consciousness means personal, internalized awareness of
existential reality. "Feminist consciousness" refers to such
awareness as it relates to sexism. Sexism means the economic
exploitation and social domination of members of one sex by
the other, specifically of women by men. (Sexism includes
sex-role assignments, sex-stereotyping assumptions, sex-based
discrimination in society's institutions and sex-linked self-
images). "Feminist consciousness raising" is the process of
gaining an increased awareness of sexism and of one's self in
relationship to one's sex in our society.
How does a CR function?
In general, a group consists of 5-10 people who meet regularly
(usually two hours once a week for six weeks.) Each individual shares her (or his) personal experiences, observations,
feelings and opinions on the particular topic for that session.
What are the goals of CR?
Each group develops its own goals. The three prevalent goals
are:
1. To develop intimate bonds of friendship, trust and
support, and thus, to break down the "sexist" barriers to
intra/inter-sex communication, allowing people to experience
each other as whole persons, rather than as stereotypical
representation of their sex.
2. To create a safe environment wherein each person can
develop self-pride, can overrcome sex-stereotypical feelings
of inadequacy and can grow toward full humanhood (e.g. so that
men can learn to cry with each other, and women can learn to
txpress rage without guilt.)
3. To provide a base of understanding upon which to understand and combat sexist oppression, and to dexlop the political consciousness necessary to effect needed societal reforms.
If you are interested in being part of a CR group or know
someone who is, contact Rossann at 924-5177 (mornings) or
JoAnn at 741-4009. If you are interested in being a
facilitator, Texas NOW will have a CR facilitator training in
Houston on the first week of February. Contact persons
mentioned above to make arrangements. Facilitators of CR
groups do not act as "leaders" for CR groups are leaderless.
A CR facilitator will remain on call or join the group as an
equal participant after the facilitating function has been
completed. Facilitators are needed for NOW at UH CR sessions
and are always in demand in other areas in Houston.
Rossann Daumas |
