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‘to the sexual possibilities in the woman. And women, as a result of this,
‘come to view themselves in the same way. They see themselves primarily
in terns of hairstyle, dress, etc.. They want to be Playboy bunnies.

' Why Does it Happen? ) | . :
Women’s ‘real® work is defined by our society as being in the

‘heme. She is the one who cooks, sews and raises the children. Although
there are other, just as satisfactory, ways of doing such work and raising
children which do not require wonen to take full responsibility, this
society is structured so that wonen are required in the home. They can
only ‘be kept there if they view thenselves as somehow ineonplete human
beines who need the care and attention of men for fulfillment. Men, of
course are viewed as completely human and quite capable of taking care

of themselves and the little wonan. If wonen view themselves in this way
then they are quite ready to accept a secondary role in the ,nan-wonan
relationship. They view their Lives as adjuncts to the man’s and they
are happy to keep his house and rear his children. Such a view of women-<-
that they are in sone way not quite complete, capable peop len see
within it the view of women as objects and possessions.

For most women, yes, They are prosranmed early to accept society
definition of themselves and their roles. A very pervasive definition is
ef the ‘sood woman®. Women in the vast were supposed to save themselves
for their husband! These days they are not supposed to ‘cheapen’ theme
selves. In all of this is the view, accepted by men and wonen alike, of -
women as objects. The object can have ereater or Less vatue but it is
still an object. Women want to be‘’good’ and ‘eood wonen’ ag objects and
potential possessions are supposed to be pure and passive. By acceptine
this definition, women lose control over their own bodies and their own
lives. Most ilieecitimate preenanctes occur, for example, not fron
promiscuity but because ‘contraception is viewed as wrone. In the words
of the Vancouver Sun, May 24, 1969, taking a pill “turns a crime of passioy
into a premeditated crime. waich by our comunity standards is a much more
serious offence”. Women aren't supposed to make rational choicese-if they
. can make rational choices about sex, it implies that they can take. charze
of thelr lives in all other areas. Society in its present form cénnot
allow them to do that. -

What Liberation Means

We must begin to try to take control of our Lives; we must becin
to make choices about the kind of life we want to Lead and the kind of
world we want to live in. We cannot do this alone because it is a social
problem, not an individual ones in fact, the recoenition that s3ueh lack
ef control over the world is not just a versonal failure but 3 en inteera!l
part of society is an exhilarating and liberatine breakthroue for an
individual. It is also the first steo toward collective acti i with ear>er
women to try for.a society where peisieiheaiins man and woman, can choose their
own Lives.

RERREEEREKE icivkiciickictkicickicick WHEE

Feminine=Lintuitive=unobtrusive=servine=*nurturine=supportive"passive*warm=
sensitive=non-intellectual*satisfying=sensucus*pure*apple ple=motherhood.