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Tess Catalano assessment of Take Back the Night event, 1982

1982-10-29 Regarding violence against women

OCT)BER 29

Now I must write about violence against women. I skimmed the readings I have read/lived them before. They are very hard. And often I ask myself why are we reading this? I say it is to make a hundred women's stories into The Truth. To claim our knowledge as Fact. To be silent no longer, to cry out loud. To fear our body's vunerability and to love ourselves all  the more. 

I have included a few more articles. One from Christopher Street:

[handwritten]
(see paperclip)

about Pornography. This is interesting. Feminist tread oh so thin a line about pornography. We must not be coopted into prudishness. I cannot call someone's sex wrong. Because so many call me wrong. I can say that the ultimate issue is choice. How many ways are there to say it ? Stienam says "The people with the POWER to be there by CHOICE" Violence is power. So is pornography. I am beiginning to think that pornapgrphy will not end without a significant change in our culture. It must be through the minds that we change this part of the world. What gives men the right to enjoy violecne. To enjoy the brutal mutilation of women, and then go home to their wives and kids. I want them to vomit, I want them to cry I want them to weep with the anger it rises in me. 
There are many cultures which encompass porn. Gay men yes. There are also dykes who are into S&M. These people are there by choice. I may not like what they do, But I will not say they can't. But who asks the stripper if she would like another job?? Who asks the prostitute if she would rather sing? or edit? or build a house? teach children how to read? Raise a family? What other questions are hers besides how many men in one night will feed her children?

I am rambling I know. But sometimes that's the only way I can begin to speak. I would venture that you are getting a million different responses from these readings. All of them are right. 

The playboy stuff. 

[handwritten]
(see article) 

Kind of frightening. What power men have by owning our bodies? Here's some sex, here's some objectification, here's I "think" piece on sports cars. Here's some jokes, and here's some politics, some lies (misinterpretation) here are some more women's bodies. And an interview with Alan Alda, some more women's bodies, pressed ham in a ten inch square, prime cut, split beaver smiling as alans words echo in your mind ...

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OCT)BER 29 Now I must write about violence against women. I skimmed the readings I have read/lived them before. They are very hard. And often I ask myself why are we reading this? I say it is to make a hundred women's stories into The Truth. To claim our knowledge as Fact. To be silent no longer, to cry out loud. To fear our body's vunerability and to love ourselves all the more. I have included a few more articles. One from Christopher Street: [handwritten] (see paperclip) about Pornography. This is interesting. Feminist tread oh so thin a line about pornography. We must not be coopted into prudishness. I cannot call someone's sex wrong. Because so many call me wrong. I can say that the ultimate issue is choice. How many ways are there to say it ? Stienam says "The people with the POWER to be there by CHOICE" Violence is power. So is pornography. I am beiginning to think that pornapgrphy will not end without a significant change in our culture. It must be through the minds that we change this part of the world. What gives men the right to enjoy violecne. To enjoy the brutal mutilation of women, and then go home to their wives and kids. I want them to vomit, I want them to cry I want them to weep with the anger it rises in me. There are many cultures which encompass porn. Gay men yes. There are also dykes who are into S&M. These people are there by choice. I may not like what they do, But I will not say they can't. But who asks the stripper if she would like another job?? Who asks the prostitute if she would rather sing? or edit? or build a house? teach children how to read? Raise a family? What other questions are hers besides how many men in one night will feed her children? I am rambling I know. But sometimes that's the only way I can begin to speak. I would venture that you are getting a million different responses from these readings. All of them are right. The playboy stuff. [handwritten] (see article) Kind of frightening. What power men have by owning our bodies? Here's some sex, here's some objectification, here's I "think" piece on sports cars. Here's some jokes, and here's some politics, some lies (misinterpretation) here are some more women's bodies. And an interview with Alan Alda, some more women's bodies, pressed ham in a ten inch square, prime cut, split beaver smiling as alans words echo in your mind ...