I.W.Y. CONVENTIONS Real value is publicity

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33874, 20 June 1975, Page 6

I.W.Y. CONVENTIONS Real value is publicity

Hortense von Gelmini zu Kreutzhof recently made her debut in a role that until now had been an all-male preserve in West Germany—that of

The real value of the world-wide conventions being held during International Women’s Year is the publicity given to them, says Miss Carol Rohmer, assistant professor at Rutgers I’niversity School of Law,' New jersey. The convention! preached mainly to women already converted, but men read' about the happenings in newspapers, saw and heared about them on television and radio, and so became aware of the present focus on the status of women “The value I see in these , conferences is that they are being held, rather than any-' thing that is discussed at; them — and the fact that they are reported. These conferences, in my' experience, do not accomplish specific things, but the; publicity given to them by the news media changes people’s attitudes — other; women’s as well as ’ men’s views," she said in Christ-; church. These large gatherings of 1 women provided cohesion; gave women the feeling that they were not alone and that; other women shared their concern. ,

“Traditionally women have not been very much in-J volved in activities where they deal with the kind of I things that affect them asj women,” she said. “Women who go to these conferences must be interested in the subjects and relevant resolutions passed or they would not attend.” Miss Bohmer avoids conferences herself whenever possible. “They are usually a terrible waste of time, I. find” Discussing the influence of extreme feminist groups (the! so-called “bra-burners”) on the over-all women’s movement. Carol Bohmer said shot wanted to put the record straight. 4 myth “No one ever burnt a bra i Chat’s a myth.” she said. A group of feminists in; the ' United States had; planned to burn symbols of; women’s bondage, including; brooms and bras. Then the "whole activity” was called; off. “But the newspapers made out that the event had taken: place, when actually it had; never happened," she said. She named the National; Organisation for Women and; the Women's Political Or-' ganisation as the influential'

ones in the American . women’s movement. Miss Bohmer, who was born; in Wellington and graduated M.A. from Victoria; University, is on a lecture tour of New Zealand universities to speak on “Women and the Law” and “Women’s Movements in the United States.” She holds a postgraduate Diploma in criminology from the Institute of> Criminology, Cambridge Uni-; versity, and has published; articles on “Judges’ Uses of, Psychiatric Reports in Sen-1 tencing Sex Offenders" and I "Judicial Attitudes to Rape Victims.” Commenting on the in-i creasing number of women; criminals throughout the Western world, Carol Bohmer said: “It is a function of l development, that as women have more opportunities to j get out into the work force 1 they begin to account for a, higher ratio of criipinality." A woman who stayed at home with a family of child- • ren did not have opportu-l nities to get involved with; crime as did men who I worked outside the home. “You cannot embezzle; money, for instance, if youi are not working in a posi-• tion near money — unless; you tap the housekeeping; and that, of course, has been; going on for ages.” _

i As a country developed so the role of women changed, i I she said. And this role had ■I changed markedly in Westitem countries in recent years, as the numbers of women in gainful employment increased. More aggressive Women were becoming ; more aggressive. They had I to be if they wanted to ■ make their way in today’s . world, she said. Therefore ; physical violence was less • alien to them now than it ! had been. “In the past women used to be involved in devious ■ crimes, such as pick-pocket-ing. Now they account for much more assaultive crimes. Crime patterns and I the type of crimes women commit are changing considj erably,” Miss Bohmer said. Nursing Council. — Mr L Thomas, principal nursing . officer, Sunnyside Hospital, ; Christchurch, Miss P, E. Coli lett, principal tutor, Christchurch Technical Institute.; ,;and Mr G. F. Smart, medical li superintendent, Wairau Hos-I I pita!, Blenheim, are three of! J 12 nominees who will serve; ;|on the council for the next; three years.

conducting a symphony orchestra. Women are a rare sight even among the strings in major orchestras around the country, and Hortense, aged 28, is well aware that she is breaking new ground. She hopes to make the grade without too much publicity and despite the

misgivings of other conductors and members of the orchestra. . Miss von Gelmini and 72 members of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchesg tra recently recorded a e Bruckner symphony. n r | Engagements (Engagement notices must be signed by both parties.) j ? Stephens—Butson: Mrs F. I pF. Strudwicke, 82 Wilson j Street, Geraldine, has much pleasure in announcing the .. engagement of Yvonne] g Muriel, to Geoffrey William,' v youngest son of Mr and Mrs' C. Stephens, Fairdown lt Beach, Westport. ' Whiting—Brown: Mar-l-igaret and John Brown, of s; 18 Pollen Crescent, Melville, y(Hamilton, announce the ene gagement of their only d daughter, Kristine Ann, to e| Anthony John, only son of i-i Joyce and Arthur Whiting, •39 F.ox Street, Hamilton.