"Sexist Society"

Edited by Sue Kedgley & Sharon Cederman Alister Taylor Publishing Ltd.

Reviewed by Donna Hedgeland

The impact of this book depends entirely on the personal approach taken in most of the articles. The language is simple direct, and alive; the horror of actually existing in our sexist society cannot fail to strike home to the most anti-liberationist

Capitalism was only mentioned once and politics from a personal rather than an ideological view. The conclusion of course states that we must get together, but implies more of a mutual support in affliction, rather than a dynamic political action and social revolution.

Another weak point is the articles by men, on man's oppression by women, unless it is meant to show up the arrogance of men ("I'm a good fuck") ("I've had forty or fifty affairs in the last fifteen years of my marriage"). I'm afraid my heart doesn't bleed for the poor neurotic breadwinner-after all, he does get paid and he does have a personal slave - some consolation, I should think. Such crocodile tears may affect some people, but I can't help wondering why, if they are suffering so much themselves under the system, men aren't flocking to our support instead of putting us down!

There are parts which will bring hope and a personal relief from guilt to many women. For example, the sweet music of Dr. Fraser McDonald in the ears of battle-scarred housewives. He says of suburban neurosis, "...instead of saying there is something wrong with the woman, we look at her environment to see if there is something wrong with that. In other words, we must discover whether she's a sick woman reacting to a normal environment, or a normal woman reacting to a sick environment. And immediately you start thinking that way and looking at the environment in which the married woman is placed, you realise that she's often a totally healthy woman reacting to an environment which would drive anybody mad".

He describes the full-time mothers slapping at their children and accepting this as normal. The good doctor says, "I think this 'normal upbringing' is definately unsatisfactory. In fact I think child rearing in N.Z. is without question our major health problem." He enters a plea for children: "Surely their children would be better off in the hands of people who want them, trained people in a child care centre for example- rather than in the hands of a mother who feels so trapped by these irritating beings that she hits out whenever they interfere with her activities."

Another story to make any woman weep is the one called "Abortion". It is not a reasoned argument about the relative importance of foetus versus woman, but the story of a 1 7-year old girl who gets pregnant and tries to get an abortion. Eventually she does get one - too late. The effects of this incredible ordeal on this girl's psyche can only be guessed. No man would have to put up with such atrocities. She says, "I should have been able to go to a doctor and say, "Look, I'm only seventeen. I dont want to have a baby, I've got the rest of my life ahead of me. I don't want it now.' And then he should have been able to give me a heap and early abortion.

"I mean, for god's sake women must be able to choose whether they have children. Children have a right to be wanted."

The general production of the book is quite good, although to my mind the illustrations don't altogether fit the text. The articles are not signed, or the author acknowledged except in the case of important men like Dr. Fraser McDonald and Professor John Werry. In some cases this is understandable but in others it is not, for example ploitation" by Jill Brasell, and the general article on liberation.

I recommend this book as being of general interest to N.Z. women (and possibly some men) because it describes our lives here and now, not because it puts forward any new philosophical or political arguments or solutions. It makes easy reading for an evening or for dipping into, and it certainly won't bore you.