The review of Susan Maushart's book, The Mask of Motherhood, (GLW #298) highlights some interesting issues in relation to gender roles in western capitalist societies.
From Pip Hinman's review of the book's themes, it seems Maushart is able to locate child-rearing in some sort of social context. However, her assigning responsibility to individual women for perpetuating the myths of motherhood is sadly typical of many mainstream accounts of the family and will only serve to make women feel more guilty, not less.
The isolating experiences which many women undergo in raising small children is a product of the family structure which reinforces strict gender roles. No wonder women feel bewildered when they are confronted with an ideology which says not only that they must be more "flexible" and take on more roles outside the family, they must also conform to the strict limitations of "motherhood".
It is this conception of motherhood which requires more exploration. One of the most interesting areas would be the current denial of a capacity for nurturing in men and in women who are not mothers, to name a couple of groups currently excluded.
However, under capitalism this will not be explored unless it leads to the opening up of humanity to further exploitation, as the family unit has done with women. We will not be able to explore ways of raising children which allow women, men and children to fulfil their potential until radical change dissolves class divides and the inter- and intra-gender role divisions which they underpin.
Kensington Vic
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Vegetarianism 1
Graham Matthews, in his recent letter (GLW #299), comments on our article "Why Eat Meat?" (GLW #297). Contrary to his claim, we do not imply that the commercial "production of grains, vegetables and fruits is ecologically benign". We agree with Graham's comments on the problems with chemical-based agriculture and are interested in sustainable methods of food production (e.g. permaculture).
However, Graham has overlooked a key point of our argument. This is that the production of meat compared to the production of plant foods is extremely wasteful of resources. For example, it takes 16 pounds of grain and soy to produce one pound of beef.
Graham forgets that animals grown for human consumption eat agricultural crops. For instance, 64% of US crop land is used to produce livestock feed. If all people ate a vegetarian diet, the amount of land, water, chemicals and other resources used for agriculture would only be a fraction of what it presently is.
We do not consider that meat production methods would be greatly different in non-capitalist societies. This is because the production of meat for large populations requires the use of large amounts of land and resources for grazing and for growing the agricultural crops that are fed to livestock.
Canberra ACT
Vegetarianism 2
Graham Mathews' response (GLW #299) to Emma Lea and Robert Ryan's article "Why eat meet?" clearly demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the ethical, social and nutritional tenets of vegetarianism.
First, Graham draws an erroneous conclusion about farming practices of fruits, vegetables and grains, suggesting that to continue the current agribusiness, factory farming mono-cultures which are highly dependent on the use of petrochemicals is the preferred system of agriculture for vegetarianism.
To continue and use Third World agriculture (which is increasingly export-orientated industries to First World countries) further proves the need to return to more traditional, small-scale, diverse organic farming to feed their own population, who are undernourished.
Whilst not being utopian, and recognising the attendant problems of land ownership etc., it is becoming more apparent that we need to dramatically change the current ways of doing agriculture. Vegetarianism addresses these issues in a realistic and humanely healthy way.
No one would disagree that capitalism needs abolishing; but like capitalism, the eating of meat is also a predatory practice that needs to be changed for human survival and progress.
Newrybar NSW
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Banks
Of growing concern is the ever increasing ability of banks to exploit Australians with high interest rates and staggering fees to run a bank account.
Bank accounts are unavoidable, and as banks realise this, their latest ploy is to impose even greater fees in order to increase profit, shed staff and force customers to use ATMs. ATMs are convenient, but to the elderly and the insecure, their use is traumatic for fear of mugging.
Credit unions on the other hand impose little or no fees and offer similar service to banks. They are mutual organisations, owned by its members for its members. Each member is both a customer and a shareholder.
I was introduced to credit unions some 10 years ago. I have not held a regular bank account since. I have never been looked down on by my CU for being poor or indigenous. I will never return to conventional banking because I don't have to — and neither do you.
Allawah NSW
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Ireland
Ken Cotterill claims in his letter (GLW #299) that a united Ireland would carry a minority that would not regard themselves as citizens of Ireland.
I point out that Ireland, divided as it is, carries within its artificially created British statelet, a minority that do not regard themselves as citizens of Britain, but one coerced into being so by an oppressive and undemocratic system, compounded by loyalist intransigence and supported by the British government.
In a united Ireland the Irish people would be able to find a resolution to whatever problem that might arise.
Ken Cotterill has previously referred to the British government's policy of accommodating the wish of the majority of Ulster people to remain part of Britain. There are two points here:
(a) The majority of Ulster people never had a say in the creation of the false statelet as three of Ulster's nine counties were not involved in the process, and still have no say in it. The so-called "majority" that the British government refers to was created by that government solely on a head count.
(b) No part of Ireland was ever a part of Britain. It was once part of the British Isles, but Britain itself comprises England, Scotland and Wales. The monarch is referred to as the "Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Ken Cotterill accuses me of being schooled in bigoted history. Not so. My schooling comes from first-hand experience of life under British rule in Ireland's North-East. Internment without trials, trials by non-jury courts, censorship and pro-British death squads prowling the streets, are all part of life there.
If it is bigotry to desire an end to such oppression and to have it replaced by a democratic system that can accommodate all the people of Ireland in a free and independent country, then I plead guilty.
Reynella SA
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Jabiluka film
The brilliant new "doco-film" Jabiluka, by pre-eminent Australian film-maker David Bradbury, has not been accepted by ABC-TV. Jabiluka is a most moving account of the loss of identity, land and sacred places of the Mirrar people to Pancontinental Mining. In the film, Yvonne Margarula, the Mirrar leader, gives back the mining royalties to the company.
David Bradbury made a special appeal at the premiere of Jabiluka for people to write to Geoff Barnes, Chief Documentary Officer, ABC, GPO box 9994, Sydney 2001, for the ABC to screen the film.
Wentworth Falls NSW
Barbie
In response to the particularly negative column regarding the song "Barbie-Girl" by Aqua (GLW #297), I would like to say that, although "making Barbie look silly ... is neither difficult nor a particularly deep social comment" (as Marina Carman wrote), it is a start to end the" blonde, busty" imagery Barbie stands for.
It is plain to see, by watching the film clip to "Barbie-Girl", that Aqua are using irony. The band portray the unrealistic and fickle "Barbie" lifestyle in a sadistically effective way, without delving into complicated politics.
Any jibe or questioning of today's stereotypical view of women has potential to open minds and educate, and therefore should not be undermined.
Terrigal NSW