gender and militarism

[from The China News, 26 May 1991]

On February 23, 1990, the first lesbian group in Taiwan was started. Its name is Wo Men Zhi Jian (Between Ourselves).

The first task of the founders after starting was to network and start letting other lesbians know about the group. They got a post office box in Taipei (number 10464) to give women a way to Contact the group. Roberta, one of the members, went to the Asian Lesbian Conference in Thailand in December 1990.

(by Brett McDonnell, from The China News, 25 May 1991)

“I didn’t come out to my friends until last December. Only two or three close friends knew I told several friends. Most of them said, ‘Oh, I already know.’ This made me feel very relieved.”

“I always thought I didn’t need friends, that I was a rock. That was until I started to come out. Then I found, ‘Oh, I’m in paradise. Communication is so important.’ I feel closer to my friends.”

According to a report in the major Thai newspaper The Nation (September 24, 1991), Dr. Saisuree Chutikul of the Thai government has expressed concern about the increasing number of Burmese women lured or tricked into Thailand to work as prostitutes. At a meeting with the wife of Burma’s Public Health Minster, Dr. Saisuree said, “I asked the minister’s wife to tell her husband to think about how concerned Burmese officials can stop the flow of Burmese women coming to Thailand for prostitution.

by Shelley Anderson

The dozen or so women who attended the Women’s Theme Group at the WRI Triennial (28 July to 3 August, near Namur, Belgium) met regularly to discuss the increasing militarization of women’s lives. One interesting aspect to the discussion was the role of religion in women’s lives, and how this either added to or undermined militarization. The question was asked “Think about your experiences as a woman growing up in a particular religious culture—or in an atheist environment.

We want to thank everyone who helped make the crafts table at WRI Triennial such a success—over US $500 was raised for the Women’s Conference! Special thanks go to Pippa, Francoise, Shelley, Trini, Niramon, Laddawan, Margaret, Matt Meyer (for the bagels), Peter Jones and Milan for donating their time and goods. We also want to thank the Interfaith Women’s Fellowship for Peace and Development of Sri Lanka for their donation from the sales of the beautiful batiks made by the women’s cooperative (the cooperative can be contacted in care of IFPD, P.O.

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A framework for female objection to military service was one of the fruits of the “Assises de l'objection”, a three-day meeting on CO issues organised by the Le Cun du Larzac community in southern France.

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By Rebecca Gumbrell McCormick

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This statement was prepared by a group of women involved in the War Resister’s International and was signed by women attending the International conference on Women and Militarism, July 26 to August 1, 1980, Laurieston Hall, Laurieston, Castle Douglas, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

We, women committed to anti-militarism and feminism, believe that total resistance to military service is the necessary role for all women challenged by the military structure in society.