1. The freedom from oppression for women involves not only equity, but also the right of women to freedom of choice, and the power to control our own lives within and outside the home. Having control over our lives and our bodies is essential to ensure a sense of dignity and autonomy for every woman.The article discused is "When the Boss Wants Sex" by Yla Eason (Eason, 1981).
2. The second goal of feminism is the removal of all forms of inequity and oppression through the creation of a more just social and economic order, nationally and internationally. This means the involvement of women in national liberation struggles, in plans for national development, and in local and global struggles for change (Bunch, 1987).
Table Manners
By: Jeannie Chiasson
Joan - Hostess
Freda (Conservative) This theory holds the view that women are naturaly subordinate to men. Based largely on Freudian theory.
Jane (Liberal Feminist) One of the first forms of Femenism, they try to work within the system that is already in place and have goals such as universal daycare and putting women in high ranking possitions.
Eva (Marxist Feminist) Based on Marxist theories, Marxist Feminists are concerned with overthrowing the current system in favor of one with shared resources. Their main focus is economic based oppresion.
Julie (Socialist Feminist) Very similar to Marxist Feminism, Socialist Feminism takes theories of Feminism and Socialism and combines them to attempt to break down oppresion of sexism in a capitalist society.
Kat (Radical Feminist) One of the most well known forms of Feminisms, Radical Feminists believe that women and men cannot live together without subbordination of women and therefore desire to separate from men entirely. Many become voluntary lesbians despite their true sexual orientation.
Deb (Multicultural Feminist) Whereas many of the other Feminisms tend to be largely Western based, Multicultural Feminism attempts to take into acount the experiences of women from all over the world.
Andreya (Global Feminist) Global Feminism tries to see the big picture and look at the problems faced by women on a global scale.
(The lights come up on a long table with eight empty chairs. Kitchen sounds can be heard from backstage. A door bell rings. JOAN walks quickly from stage right, across the stage and exits stage left. All eight women enter stage left, talking amongst themselves. Some avoid each other. They filter in and one by one sit down at the table, all the while talking in low tones until they are all seated)
JOAN - (standing) Thank you all so much for coming tonight. I would like to propose a toast before we begin, (All raise their glasses) To Feminism!
ALL but FREDA - To Feminism!
(JOAN sits. They begin to mime eating.)
JOAN - I just read the most fascinating article yesterday by Yla Eason.
JANE - Really? That name sounds familiar.
ANDREYA - It wouldn't have been called "When the Boss Wants Sex", was it?
JOAN - As a matter of fact, it was. Have you read it?
ANDREYA - Oh yes, a wonderfully written article.
KAT - I don't know about that.
JOAN - You've read it to then?
KAT - Just last week actually.
DEB - Hmmm... I seem to recall that article as well.
JULIE and EVA - Me too
FREDA - Unfortunately, I think I read it at one point as well. A bit of a mistake if you ask me.
JANE - What do you mean by that?
FREDA - Well, quite frankly, I don't see what the appeal is for a woman to be in the workforce in the first place. I mean really. What's wrong with staying home and raising a family? It's what we women were created to do in the first place after all. I mean look at our biology! Really though. We should just get our fulfillment out of having children for our husbands and keeping a clean house.
KAT - Oh my good Goddess! Do you actually believe that shit you're saying! Stay home and raise a family! Not on your life! I will not be some fucking man's whipping post, no thank you. And that includes in the work place. I don't know why Yla Eason was so down on Florine Mitchell for choosing to stay in a job where she could work for a woman for lower pay instead of working for some white bastard who just wants sex. And so what if she couldn't stay in a relationship with a man. Good for her! I think she should have just found a nice womin and forget men entirely. It certainly made my life better.
JANE - I think you're missing the point here, Kat. Women are lucky that they finally are allowed into the work place. Yes, things are still really bad for women. This article highlights one of the many problems that women still face. But giving up on men is not the answer. We have to work with the men, within the system. What we need is more legislation. We need more laws to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, and laws to deal with men who do harass their female employees. And Freda, biology can be used to prove just about anything.
ANDREYA - That's true. It can even be used to prove women's superiority over men.
KAT - Well, at least that would be true.
FREDA - You're just jealous because I have a husband and three children. You're taking out your aggression over the fact that you, like Florine Mitchell, are unable to keep a boyfriend. (pause) I'll bet that she actually enjoyed her bosses advances.
(KAT, ANDREYA, and DEB stand up, outraged, the other women look angry and shocked)
DEB - How dare you!
ANDREYA - You have no idea what you're talking about!
FREDA - Well if she hated it so much, why didn't she quit? I mean, she waited until after he fired her to do anything about it. If that isn't a sign of bruised ego I don't know what is.
EVA - How can you say that? Don't you remember, she said she thought about quitting but then she wouldn't have received UI. She had a family to support and a mortgage to pay. She needed the money. That bourgeoisie idiot was just using his economic power over her to get sexual favors.
JULIE - Exactly!
JOAN - Could we all please just sit down and enjoy the meal? Kat, please?
(They all sit back down again. KAT eyes FREDA with contempt. The tension is very high. Long pause)
DEB - I have to disagree with you on one point, Eva. I think you're ignoring the racial aspect of all of the situations that Yla Eason was talking about. Yes, all of these men had economic power over their victims, but they were also taking advantage of black women. Don't you remember what she said in the article? That of the four and a half Black women who worked at the time, only few escape sexual harassment. The whole article talked about how Black women were at the forefront of bringing sexual harassment into the public eye.
JULIE - That's true. Black women did a great deal in bringing about a lot of the legislation that we do have.
JANE - I wonder what the statistics are for harassment now that we have laws against it?
JULIE - I'm not sure. But I don't think that laws are enough. I think that the problem is much deeper than that. I think it's a problem that's rooted in our society. This capitalist society that we live in has oppression built right into it. There is no way that women and men, blacks and whites, rich and poor can be equal and free of problems like harassment until capitalism is destroyed.
EVA - I agree with you completely.
JANE - Why can't we just work within this system? I don't think it's really necessary, or realistic for that matter, to tear down the whole system before we can see any progress.
KAT - Oh screw the system! Why don't womyn leave the men to their corrupt, hierarchy and go live where we don't have to deal with all of this shit that they've created!
EVA & JULIE - But it's the system that's the problem, not the men!
JOAN - Please, please, everyone. The food's getting cold.
FREDA - It's not the men, and it's not the system either. (looking at KAT) It's women like you who don't know your own place in this world. It's disgraceful really!
KAT - (banging her fist on the table) How dare you! If it were up to you, we'd all be back in the dark ages, bare foot and pregnant in the kitchen, getting beaten and raped by any man who fucking well please!
FREDA - Look, there is no reason to use that sort of language!
JOAN - Ladies! Please! (attempting to placate everyone) Now there's no need for shouting. Why can't we all just get along here.
ANDREYA - Really though. (long pause. Everyone eats) I think what we have to keep in mind is that despite our differences of opinion, we are all women, and in our own ways, we all want what we feel is best for women. The fact that we're fighting like this just helps the established patriarchy to keep us down. How can we possibly hope to work towards things like safe work places, when we can't even get along amongst ourselves. But back to this article, I really think that this issue of sexual harassment is pointing to something much bigger, more global than these instances. The problem is the patriarchal structures themselves, the way our societies shape us into believing that there needs to be this hierarchy because that's just the way things have always been. It's this Capitalist society that encourages men to think of women or men who are lower than them as objects, commodities. I think that is where we should deal with this problem, at its very root.
JANE - I don't see why everyone seems to be so down on the system. It's all about Capitalism. It's all the system's fault. Tear down the system. I really don't think that will get you anywhere. We have to work within the system. We can achieve the equality we seek without destroying everything.
(FREDA nods in agreement)
EVA & JULIE - I totally disagree with you.
JULIE - The system we're living in right now is so oppressive to everyone, not just women.
DEB - Especially minority women!
EVA - And working class women!
KAT - And Lesbians!
(There is mass confusion as everyone attempts to be heard. Everyone starts standing up and shouting at each other, each attempting to be louder than the others.)
JOAN - (over the noise) Please! Ladies, your dinner! Let's all just sit down! Please! Can't we all just get along!!
FREDA - Well I'm certainly not taking this anymore. I'm sorry Joan, I'm leaving! (Exits left)
KAT - Good riddance. The stupid bitch.
DEB - You know Kat, it's women like you that give Feminists a bad name. You have absolutely no tact at all. I'm sorry Joan, but I have to be going too. Maybe next time with better company. We'll have to do this again sometime. (Exits left)
JANE - She's right you know.
KAT - I don't have to take this. You are all a disgrace to Feminism! (Exits)
(a brief awkward pause)
JOAN - So who's up for desert?
EVA - Sorry Joan, I really should be going. Julie, are you going my way?
JULIE - Sure, I'll walk with you. Great party Joan.
(They both leave)
ANDREYA - I have to go to a conference in the morning, so I should head out too. Thanks for the wonderful food. (Exits)
JANE - I'll stay and help you clean up Joan.
JOAN - Thanks.
(They exit right)
(Curtain)
Eason, Yla. "When the Boss Wants Sex." Jagger and Rothenberg pg. 44-49.
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