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Editorial: Have power, create your own program in MN NOW
By Lucy Smith Once upon a time, when NOW meant the present and not the past, the women were eager to share their stories and their needs. Later this activity got a name: "consciousness raising." I am leery of made up names. Once something is named, the essence of a name often withers. Is that what happened to those exciting activities of the beginning of our history? Now, NOW, no pun intended, is spending more time working on fundraising and membership recruitment and less time on programs. This switch in focus has come out of necessity: MN NOW's membership has been dwindling for several years, putting a strain on the state budget. But one goes with another: The consciousness raising should come first: it creates the programs and the membership support or budget follows. Obviously the organization exists because of the needs it satisfies, the once impossible dreams it fulfils. Younger members may not remember the past when the daily lives of women were restricted by laws and by culture. Through consciousness raising and political action, NOW improved the daily lives of the present generation. Only by comparing the past to the present can they realize how much was done. Unless we have already satisfied all of our dreams, which I believe we haven't, we still have common interests to share with each other. This sharing is the soul of an organization such as NOW. The common fight for various things is very important, of course, but unless each fight is preceded by a community of women sharing their needs, it becomes an activity that some are doing for us but without us. In the consciousness raising past, women discussed their domestic problems, lack of spousal help, lack of jobs, separation of jobs by the sexes, and so many other problems. As a result of these discussions, the women discovered that those problems were not in "their heads," but that they were shared by many. These problems were transformed into political issues that were brought to the political arena in Washington. Many victories came through political battles. New words entered our daily speech such as "sexual harassment." But in the process we lost the first rung of the ladder to victory: The consciousness raising: a place where problems were first defined. Today we have different problems. Some are not easily transformed into political causes. For example, last year we discussed how women see their bodies. We talked about advertisements and models creating unrealistic images which young girls try to follow, often damaging their health. Many issues that seem to be common to all, are mostly women's issues. For example, affordable housing touches mostly the lives of women and children. The same goes for lack of good childcare. Let's bring back the closeness, the connectedness, we used to have. That's what the program committee could do again. Let us know your desires and your interests. Come and join us in creating programs that are interesting, enjoyable and bonding. It does have a name: "A program committee." Ugh, a name. Please fill this name with present needs so that it truly has meaning for everyone. Thus, when you get the call for your membership dues, you know that you are paying not just for the past, but for your present and future needs as well. We need each other, because a lot remains to be done. Many fights, seemingly won, have to be fought again and again. Do not take anything for granted. Women still have many enemies eager to "put them in their place" again. What would you like to propose as needed issues? We will use your proposals to create programs which will make them known to everyone concerned. We realize that thanks to our past victories most of you have gainful employment which keeps you busy. You can't provide the number of volunteer hours that you could in the past, or come together for weekly discussions. But we have new ways to communicate. Use them: Write us, e-mail us, call us, keep in touch with us, and then come to participate in the program. You won't regret it. For more information about serving on the program committee, or if you have ideas for programs, please call the MN NOW State Office at (651) 222-1605. |