Post by RedFlag32 on Nov 25, 2007 0:32:35 GMT
Group Models “Working-Class” Group for Feminist Breakthrough
by E.B. Patton / November 24th, 2007
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AEP) – A new group promises a breakthrough in the fight for women’s rights.
The Women’s Studies Association (WSA), formed by Dr. Gordon Solie, identifies its mission as “helping people — all people, every one of us — to better understand women, their place in society, and what they could and should be.”
Solie is Professor of History, Psychology, and Sociology at Harvard University. He has three Ph.D.’s (one in each discipline) and has been a long-time champion of women’s rights.
“It’s important that every single human being in this society devotes at least some of his time to understanding the effect our society has on women, and what we all can do to improve their situation,” Solie said.
WSA’s Board of Directors consists of many well-known and prominent persons including Benjamin J. Hunnicut, William Gannon, Oliver W. Douglas, Dwayne F. Schneider, David Crabtree, and Larry H. Summers.
Solie, who also serves as WSA President and CEO, said “We have assembled the best and brightest talent, and with it we will provide critical papers, hold seminars and conferences, and create e-mail lists designed to foster greater understanding of women’s issues in the United States.”
Solie says he got the idea for the WSA from the Working Class Studies Association (WCSA). “If you look at the WCSA’a organizational make-up, they are ideally suited to understanding working-class life in America. We have used their work as a model in an effort to do the same with women’s issues.”
WSA Vice President Terrance Taylor concurs: “There is a crying need in this country for an organization of devoted people like ourselves to help improve conditions for women.”
American Association for Women (AAW) President Jill Sandee welcomed the WSA onto the revolutionary-left scene of radical activism: “Any effort to raise consciousness of these important issues can only result on positive outcomes.”
Speaking via telephone from her winter home in Barbados, Sandee did however caution that she “hopes the WSA won’t cut into AAW’s own fundraising.”
Some people were hostile to the WSA’s efforts, however. Speaking from her Swiss chalet, well-known pundit Ann Coulter said, “Why is something like this even necessary? The United States is already a meritocracy. It can be tweaked, perhaps, but not improved. So why try?”
WSA Treasurer Richard Morton said he understood the criticism, but he felt that “People haven’t done enough. We must do more. That’s why we hope people will support this effort to help women.”
WSA Secretary Thomas Rich said all people are welcome to join the WSA and help the WSA’s efforts. Rich said people could purchase yearly memberships in the WSA for as little as $20.
“Just think,” Rich said, “for the cost of a cup of coffee, you can help a woman. We hope every member of humankind will avail himself of this important opportunity by calling the number on our website.”
Solie stressed there was nothing sexist about the WSA’s mission, its organizational structure, or its actions. “We’ve copied the WCSA down to the minutest detail. There’s nothing at all even remotely classist about a group of coordinator-class folks utilizing a coordinatorist organizational structure to deal with working-class issues.
“So how can it possibly be sexist to have a group of men concerning themselves with women’s issues in a framework that assumes women’s second-class status?”
www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/11/group-models-working-class-group-for-feminist-breakthrough/
by E.B. Patton / November 24th, 2007
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AEP) – A new group promises a breakthrough in the fight for women’s rights.
The Women’s Studies Association (WSA), formed by Dr. Gordon Solie, identifies its mission as “helping people — all people, every one of us — to better understand women, their place in society, and what they could and should be.”
Solie is Professor of History, Psychology, and Sociology at Harvard University. He has three Ph.D.’s (one in each discipline) and has been a long-time champion of women’s rights.
“It’s important that every single human being in this society devotes at least some of his time to understanding the effect our society has on women, and what we all can do to improve their situation,” Solie said.
WSA’s Board of Directors consists of many well-known and prominent persons including Benjamin J. Hunnicut, William Gannon, Oliver W. Douglas, Dwayne F. Schneider, David Crabtree, and Larry H. Summers.
Solie, who also serves as WSA President and CEO, said “We have assembled the best and brightest talent, and with it we will provide critical papers, hold seminars and conferences, and create e-mail lists designed to foster greater understanding of women’s issues in the United States.”
Solie says he got the idea for the WSA from the Working Class Studies Association (WCSA). “If you look at the WCSA’a organizational make-up, they are ideally suited to understanding working-class life in America. We have used their work as a model in an effort to do the same with women’s issues.”
WSA Vice President Terrance Taylor concurs: “There is a crying need in this country for an organization of devoted people like ourselves to help improve conditions for women.”
American Association for Women (AAW) President Jill Sandee welcomed the WSA onto the revolutionary-left scene of radical activism: “Any effort to raise consciousness of these important issues can only result on positive outcomes.”
Speaking via telephone from her winter home in Barbados, Sandee did however caution that she “hopes the WSA won’t cut into AAW’s own fundraising.”
Some people were hostile to the WSA’s efforts, however. Speaking from her Swiss chalet, well-known pundit Ann Coulter said, “Why is something like this even necessary? The United States is already a meritocracy. It can be tweaked, perhaps, but not improved. So why try?”
WSA Treasurer Richard Morton said he understood the criticism, but he felt that “People haven’t done enough. We must do more. That’s why we hope people will support this effort to help women.”
WSA Secretary Thomas Rich said all people are welcome to join the WSA and help the WSA’s efforts. Rich said people could purchase yearly memberships in the WSA for as little as $20.
“Just think,” Rich said, “for the cost of a cup of coffee, you can help a woman. We hope every member of humankind will avail himself of this important opportunity by calling the number on our website.”
Solie stressed there was nothing sexist about the WSA’s mission, its organizational structure, or its actions. “We’ve copied the WCSA down to the minutest detail. There’s nothing at all even remotely classist about a group of coordinator-class folks utilizing a coordinatorist organizational structure to deal with working-class issues.
“So how can it possibly be sexist to have a group of men concerning themselves with women’s issues in a framework that assumes women’s second-class status?”
www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/11/group-models-working-class-group-for-feminist-breakthrough/