JOURNAL 14

WOMEN’S STUDIES JOURNAL – WEEK 14.
WOMEN’S ACTIVISM

Task 1.

What have women campaigned for/against?

From the video Apron Strings & Atom Bombs

THEN

- Price of gas
- Free speech
- Peace/withdraw from Vietnam
- Affirmation Action
- Education
- Class sizes, more school buildings, qualified teachers
- Equal pay
- War toys
- Conscription
- Cost of living

TODAY

- Paid maternity leave
- Violence against women
- Refugees
- Work AWA
- Environment
- Housing
- Health / Body image
- Ageism

What were / are some of the ways women make their voices heard?

From the video Apron Strings & Atom Bombs

Before today
- Aprons
- Marches
- Folk songs
- Petitions
- Door knocked
- Vigils
- Chained each other to buildings
- Leaflets
- Tram day 75%
- Made themselves seen at sporting events and train stations
- Walked in single file
- Met with politicians

Today
- Lobbing
- Boycotting
- Civil disobedience
- Non violent confrontation
- Media
- Protest music – Bob Dylan etc
- Voluntary simplicity
- Strike action
- Craftivism

What does the Union of Australian Women work for?

The Union of Australian Women is a national organisation formed to work for the status and well being of women in a peaceful and environmentally safe world. Their aim is to improve the lives of women through focussing on issues such as equity and social justice.

What are the current campaigns?

Currently they are campaigning for,

Elimination of violence against women
Abortion law reform and reproductive rights
Rights for asylum seekers
Affordable public housing and health

Definition of Ecofeminism
Ecofeminism is a social and political movement which unites environmentalism and feminism, which some currents linking deep ecology and feminism. Ecofeminists argue that a relationship exits between the oppression of women and the degradation of nature.

What sorts of issues would an ecofeminist campaign for or against?

Safe cosmetics
Safe cleaning products
Protecting Health
Mercury and Reproductive Justice
Protecting the Forest
Solar Power

CHRIS HICKS
14-11-2007.