‘Broadsheet’ marks decade of struggle and survival
KARREN BEANLAND
considers the 10, sometimes controversial,
years of New Zealand’s feminist magazine.
Few of the people who worked on the first edition of “Broadsheet” in 1972 would have expected to see the ■ magazine thriving 10 years later. Surviving for 10 years is no small achievement for a feminist magazine. "Broadsheet" was the first such magazine in New Zealand. and is now one of the oldest in the world. The anniversary has been marked this month by a special “bumper" edition of "Broadsheet." As well as an article on its progress, and problems, the edition includes articles by some of the women who have contributed to the magazine. As part of the celebrations, the "Broadsheet" collective is also supporting the nationwide tour of "What did you do in the war, Mummy?" Writteri and directed by Renee Taylor, a member of the collective, the show is a revue which looks at the three Rs—religion, racism, and rape. The show will be on in Christchurch at 6.30 p.m. this evening at the Aged people's Welfare Hall 1 in Cashel Street. Tickets for the show, which will be followed by a "bring your own" meal with wine and fruit juice provided. are $5. "Broadsheet" first grew under the wing of the Auckland Womens Liberation group, although it soon developed into an independent organisation.
The first issue was published in July 1972—a cyclos- , tyled foolscap sheet, which sold for 15 cents. It was not until 1974 that the magazine adopted a regular magazinetype format with a glossy cover. Since the improvements to lay-out, illustrations, and type faces made in 1980, it is descriyed as a “good looking magazine” with wide appeal. One of the problems faced by the collective in 1972 was to find a suitable name. It expected, and received, some “flak" for its choice. “You may not like the name of this paper," wrote Anne Else in the first issue. “Try and think of a better one. Just trying to find a name . . . will give you an excellent idea of the way women are regarded in society." She added that “if the name puts you off all that much don’t buy it, because the contents probably won't be your cup of tea either.” The first edition ran reports from women's liberation groups, nearly all of
which are now defunct. It also had articles on the Accident Compensation Bill which excluded non-paid housewives, a description of the working day of the country's 82.000 female office clerks, and an interview with the then member of Parliament for Eden. Mr Mike Moore. “Broadsheet" has grown and changed greatly in the years since that first issue, but one thing has remained constant—its determination
to focus on issues which concern New Zealand women. Some subjects have inevitably recurred during that time. Issues such as contraception and abortion, violence. incest, gay liberation, the arts, health, sexism in education, racism, and sexist reporting and advertising have been well aired. Yet. as the feminist message has hit home to more and more New Zealand women, so the range of topics covered by the magazine has become wider. In . the last year, “Broadsheet" has featured articles on the Springbok tour, nuclear testing, the New Right in New Zealand, coalition politics, and women in non-traditional jobs. “Broadsheet.” which now has ..three paid workers as well as its many volunteer supporters, has had its ups and downs over the past 10 years.
Besides the financial problems faced by any non-profit making organisation, it has suffered through some bitter philosophical debates. Constant tension arises from the magazine's appeal to a mixed ■ audience—to committed feminists as well as those who are fairly new to the movement. “Broadsheet" has rather an uneasy role in that it ,
attempts to satisfy both the ardent feminists and those who may not have encountered womens liberation ideas before. So some feminists . . . accuse us of being conservative. middle-class and shit-scared." wrote the present editor. Sandra Coney, in an early edition. This month's edition adds that this is an uneasy role which has never been satisfactorily resolved. One of the most bitter and’ long-term arguments came in 1978 when four lesbian
members of the collective walked out. The incident is now referred to as "The Split." The dispute was caused by an editorial which was critical of lesbian feminism. But there was more behind it. - Collective members felt that there had been a growing divergence for some time between the lesbian and radical feminists. The radical feminists felt the lesbians were operating as a political group, while the lesbians felt more of their materia) should be allowed in the magazine.
"The Split" was also fuelled by the exhaustion and frustration that followed the passing of the Contraception. Sterilization and Abortion Act in 1978. It was seen as a bitter defeat and led to many women turning their backs on political struggle. Sandra Coney, who is the only founder member of Broadsheet still on the collective, says that there is now much more tolerance between the differing political view-points. She regrets, however, the s'mall lesbian content in the magazine.
“Broadsheet" cannot look forward to a quieter time in the coming years. Old feminist issues have- still not been solved, yet as the movement grows new issues will always emerge. Looking back on 10 years of “Broadsheet," Sandra Coney says that if the magazine ' has achieved nothing else, it has at least recorded forever the present wave of feminism. “Very few feminist magazines have stayed the distance. For a country as good as ours, for a feminist magazine to have lasted 10 years is quite an achievement. Some people would say that surviving is not enough. But we've done more than surviving. For all that people knock it, it is the only place .where a radical w’omen's perspective can be printed. "I'm proud that 'Broadsheet' has .survived," she wrote in the anniversary issue.