| Description | Copies of 'Women's News: Ireland's Feminist Magazine', published in Belfast, March 1984 to the present day (with a few exceptions). The following is a selection of some of the material which is available:
Issue number 1, March 1984 includes a 'Womanfesto' on the remit of 'Women's News' which states, ' This first issue of Women's News has been produced because a small group of women decided to launch a paper for women which would publicise events, provide a space for views and opinions, and allow groups to let other women know what was happening. We want, in other words, to develop a forum for communication, so that we will be more aware of all the work that women are doing, and from that knowledge, to build up links with each other, giving support when needed so that a strong movement of women will be created.
Women's News does not reflect the views of any one group. Our only criteria for contributions is that they are written by women and that they do not contain anything which would be offensive to women. We want Women's News to be open and for everyone to feel that it is her paper.'
This issue also contains an article on a meeting held in Fall's Road Women's Centre to discuss rape which states, 'The meeting, attended by over 50 women, was dominated by feelings of frustration and anger as well as a strong resolve to fight back. ...we felt that RAPE was OUR concern, wherever and however it happened, whoever it happened to. A number of cases were discussed at the meeting, rapes and sexual assaults which happen frequently in our areas which are not newsworthy. The media and society in general treat rape as a joke, as a rather unpleasant but common and quite acceptable sexual act, as long as it is not too obviously violent and does not attack the family as the basis of patriarchal society (see the lack of recognition of marital rape as rape, and the attitudes towards the rape of prostitutes). Rape is not considered as an act of violence from men towards women in so far as they are the property of other men. ...in rape trials we have to prove that we are not accomplices to an act of violence against us! Our sexual and social lives can be investigated and publicised if the defence counsel feels it might be useful to the case. It is legal to question us, bully us, slander us into cracking up and giving up testifying during the trial, with no regard for the pain and humiliation we might feel already. ...We feel we have the right to be angry about rape. We must shout that rape is the most brutal, violent demonstration of the power of men over women. We must make our pain and anger heard. We must fight all the stigma attached to rape, gain confidence and stop feeling shame because there is no reason for us to be ashamed. Rape is humiliating, but the humiliation should rest on the rapist who uses the other person in such a base way. This is why we feel the present campaign against rape can be good if it makes us talk together and gain confidence, feel less isolated, as well as publicise the issue of rape.'
Issue number 2, April 1984 includes an article on the 'Reclaim the Night March' held in conjunction with International Women's Day in Belfast which states, ' The march is a protest against male violence towards women and a celebration of our solidarity as women in opposing it. We live in a society that not only permits men to rape and batter women, but also considers it to be natural and glamorises it in pornography. The violence, and even just the threat of violence, are used to keep us in our designated place. When we dare complain we're likely to be told that we were asking for it anyway. That's what men say, and its written into their laws.'
Issue number 84, May/June 1997 includes reports on Pride 1997 and on International Women's Day as well as poetry and an article on women's 'Identity'. |
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