‘lmportant women’s issues not resolved’

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 3

‘lmportant women’s issues not resolved’

PA Wellington New feminists have not resolved many important issues Tor women according to the outgoing president of the National Council of Women. Mrs Vivienne Boyd. She told delegates to the council’s conference on Monday however, that the new feminists had a talent for publicity and understood the use of the news media. In the 1960 s and 1970 s the council had seen a new wave

council had seen a new wave of the women's movement, or a sprint during its normal slow plod, said Mrs Boyd.

"I doubt whether this latest upsurge of interest in the status and role of women has contributed much to the present situation of New Zealand women." Mrs Boyd said. Many ofLthe objectives set long ago by the founders of the council had been reached by the time the new wave arrived.

The new feminists brought a body of writing on the philosophy of the women's movement, but had not resolved many important issues, such as the continuing controversy about abortion.

A fundamental issue which Mrs Boyd said had not been resolved within the women's movement was the best way for women to advance towards equal sharing of responsibility throughout the community, and whether it should be through the paid work-force. Women were scarced in top positions, but she said there were dangers in overconcentration on success in the paid work-force as the only or most important measure of women's progress.

Some younger feminists were recognising that successful women became honorary men.

“Surely this is not the best way to make our unique contribution to society, if we believe that women have such a contribution to make." she said.

Disadvantages could be caused to the family and community by down-grading of homemaking. During the last four years the council had published its history, bought a permanent headquarters in Wellington, held a sub-regional seminar of the International Conference. of Women for South Pacific countries, and updated and reprinted its handbook.

One of the more important steps was the collation of policy into the register of resolutions made by the council since 1896, Mrs Boyd said.

Nineteen remits will be considered by the three-day conference on such issues as benefits for middle-aged people for continued education, job-sharing, housing, road safety, guardianship, and tax.

Delegates from 36 branches and presidents or their proxies of 39 nationally organised societies are attending the conference.