DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Take Back the Night newspaper editorials and articles, 1982 | 1982-10-22 Letters to the Editor regarding Take Back the Night Rally

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Take Back the Night newspaper editorials and articles, 1982

1982-10-22 Letters to the Editor regarding Take Back the Night Rally

22OCT82 D.I 

Women take back the night. 

Insensitive
To the editor: 
I am surprised at the insensitivity of Derek Maurer's editorial " Take Back the NIght" (DI Oct.21)
There are a number of reasons this rally is separatist. Women are an oppressed group and as such have been told they are helpless and weak. One purpose of the gathering Saturday night will be to demonstrate that we are strong and definitely not helpless. The presence of men at the gathering would certainly detract from this goal. 
Another reason for excluding men is that someone's rapist could make an appearance. This should be a place where women (if only for one night) can feel totally safe. Psychologically the presence of men could be upsetting, since very often men are " in control" of groups and tend to dominate. 
If women decide this is an effective way to realize their power and send a message to sexual assaulters, what right has Maurer to assume these means are not viable?
"Why wasn't this editorial written by a woman? 
Constance Harward

To 'sensitive' men 
To the editor: 
This is in response to Derek Maurer's editorial in which he decries the use of Student Senate funds for the all-woman Take Back the Night rally (DI Oct. 21). First, utilization of Student Senate funds for an event that is appropriate to over half the UI population serves more of that population than much other Student Senate funding. 
Second if the press emphasizes the " all-woman" issue rather than the true purpose of the event, that is the responsibility ( or irresponsibility) of the press, not the event's organizers. 
Third, only women suffer the pervasive, daily fear of rape and deserve the opportunity to gain strength and explore alternatives exclusively with other women. If "sensitive" men want to do something about this issue, we should go through the incredible effort of organizing our own event to address it. Maurer's bitter resentment over being " left out" works against what all feminists are trying to achieve.
The last rally was an incredibly strengthening, positive experience for all the women I know who attended. Maurer, let's stand back and let those who need to Take Back the NIght
Barry Ekdom

Clarifying Rally 
To the editor:
This letter is to clear up any misunderstandings about attendance at the Take Back The Night rally. The rally is an opportunity for women to speak out about the violence in our lives. 
We are not keeping anyone from attending: we are trying to provide a badly-needed safe space for women to speak out about rape and other abuse from men and part of creating that safe space is asking men to take a secondary role, meeting with each other about the issues elsewhere. Men can show their support by recognizing the need for women to share their anger with each other without worrying about whether a man will be personally offended. Men can show their support by educating each other. 
The rally is not an educational event; there is nothing I planned for men. As a white person I wouldn't think of intruding - unless invited - on a group of Third World people meeting to protest white racism; that would be incredibly insensitive. Men who complain about feeling excluded from the rally obviously do not recognize women as an oppressed group who suffer daily from sexism (that is violence against women). Their complaints exemplify the very sexism we are protesting - the belief that men's needs must always come first. 
We are angry about male violence ruining our lives, keeping us from even taking a walk or being safe in our own homes. We want the right to meet and express our anger publicly and in a safe place - women have been told to remain silent for too long. We do not want to make who's attending the rally the issue: what we as a community need to focus on are the unmet needs of women. This is all we are asking. 
Carol Wolvington
For Ad Hoc Committee to Take Back the Night.

What men can do
To the editor:
Derek Maurer is correct that New Wave is deeply concerned about the societal problem of violence against women (DI Oct. 21). New Wave recognizes that men as well as women have a crucial role in this problem. 
But these roles are different, due to the specific nature of the problem and also its solution, of which Take Back the Night is a part . New Wave sees that men can best support the action by not attending. Men can demonstrate  their solidarity by working in men-only groups to raise their consciousness of their roles in a sexist society that promotes violence against women. 
All concerned men are encouraged to join us at the meeting 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Union's Wisconsin Room.
Stephanie Weiner
Jackie Majerus
Bob Hearst
Keith Perry
For New Wave.

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22OCT82 D.I Women take back the night. Insensitive To the editor: I am surprised at the insensitivity of Derek Maurer's editorial " Take Back the NIght" (DI Oct.21) There are a number of reasons this rally is separatist. Women are an oppressed group and as such have been told they are helpless and weak. One purpose of the gathering Saturday night will be to demonstrate that we are strong and definitely not helpless. The presence of men at the gathering would certainly detract from this goal. Another reason for excluding men is that someone's rapist could make an appearance. This should be a place where women (if only for one night) can feel totally safe. Psychologically the presence of men could be upsetting, since very often men are " in control" of groups and tend to dominate. If women decide this is an effective way to realize their power and send a message to sexual assaulters, what right has Maurer to assume these means are not viable? "Why wasn't this editorial written by a woman? Constance Harward To 'sensitive' men To the editor: This is in response to Derek Maurer's editorial in which he decries the use of Student Senate funds for the all-woman Take Back the Night rally (DI Oct. 21). First, utilization of Student Senate funds for an event that is appropriate to over half the UI population serves more of that population than much other Student Senate funding. Second if the press emphasizes the " all-woman" issue rather than the true purpose of the event, that is the responsibility ( or irresponsibility) of the press, not the event's organizers. Third, only women suffer the pervasive, daily fear of rape and deserve the opportunity to gain strength and explore alternatives exclusively with other women. If "sensitive" men want to do something about this issue, we should go through the incredible effort of organizing our own event to address it. Maurer's bitter resentment over being " left out" works against what all feminists are trying to achieve. The last rally was an incredibly strengthening, positive experience for all the women I know who attended. Maurer, let's stand back and let those who need to Take Back the NIght Barry Ekdom Clarifying Rally To the editor: This letter is to clear up any misunderstandings about attendance at the Take Back The Night rally. The rally is an opportunity for women to speak out about the violence in our lives. We are not keeping anyone from attending: we are trying to provide a badly-needed safe space for women to speak out about rape and other abuse from men and part of creating that safe space is asking men to take a secondary role, meeting with each other about the issues elsewhere. Men can show their support by recognizing the need for women to share their anger with each other without worrying about whether a man will be personally offended. Men can show their support by educating each other. The rally is not an educational event; there is nothing I planned for men. As a white person I wouldn't think of intruding - unless invited - on a group of Third World people meeting to protest white racism; that would be incredibly insensitive. Men who complain about feeling excluded from the rally obviously do not recognize women as an oppressed group who suffer daily from sexism (that is violence against women). Their complaints exemplify the very sexism we are protesting - the belief that men's needs must always come first. We are angry about male violence ruining our lives, keeping us from even taking a walk or being safe in our own homes. We want the right to meet and express our anger publicly and in a safe place - women have been told to remain silent for too long. We do not want to make who's attending the rally the issue: what we as a community need to focus on are the unmet needs of women. This is all we are asking. Carol Wolvington For Ad Hoc Committee to Take Back the Night. What men can do To the editor: Derek Maurer is correct that New Wave is deeply concerned about the societal problem of violence against women (DI Oct. 21). New Wave recognizes that men as well as women have a crucial role in this problem. But these roles are different, due to the specific nature of the problem and also its solution, of which Take Back the Night is a part . New Wave sees that men can best support the action by not attending. Men can demonstrate their solidarity by working in men-only groups to raise their consciousness of their roles in a sexist society that promotes violence against women. All concerned men are encouraged to join us at the meeting 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Union's Wisconsin Room. Stephanie Weiner Jackie Majerus Bob Hearst Keith Perry For New Wave.