sarah@rdin.UUCP (sarah) (08/24/83)
cFb2*7
"White Male Only" clubs, societies, and organizations have long
been a way to keep oppressed groups oppressed (notice, Don, you
don't have to be a minority to be oppressed). That is why there
is still a rather justified fear of such organizations.
Often these exclusive clubs or societies serve as a power base for
the "old boy" network. And of course there's the old trick of
making membership in one of these societies a prerequisite for
receiving a much-coveted honor or award, thus preventing women,
blacks, etc. from even being in the running.
Organizations for women, blacks, and other special interest groups have
been established to provide power bases for groups which are being
oppressed. They provide support for people of groups which traditionally
have not had a power base in society.
Often these organizations are exclusive of whites, or males, or whatever
group has been the oppressor--obviously you don't want your oppressors
as members of a group that is fighting that oppression. Personally,
I believe any such blanket restriction is not good, since the oppressed
group will eventually have to learn to work with all parts of society.
However, I do sympathize with those who support the formation of such
groups, particularly when a movement against oppression is in its
fledgeling stages and is very fragile.
If organizations for oppressed groups allow the oppressor group to be
members, there is the risk that those who have traditionally held the
power in society will come to control the organization. Those who have
been oppressed usually need time to discover their strengths and unlearn
what society has told them about their unworthiness. For instance,
a woman who has always kept quiet and listened to men may find the
confidence to speak out in a group of women. Naturally this confidence
should eventually grow so that she can also speak her mind to men,
but that necessary first step might never be taken if she didn't have
a support group.
I agree that on the surface the distinction between "White Male Only"
groups and "Oppressed Group" groups seems unfair, but there are
broader social issues involved. I repeat that I am not usually
in favor of exclusive groups, simply that I believe there are
valid reasons for them sometimes. (By the way, there was a group at
my college for males only which was formed as a support group
to help men deal with the changing social and sexual roles of men
in modern society. No one howled about it, since it was not formed
as a means of oppressing other groups.)
Sarah Groves
New York
philabs!rdin!sarah
P.S. I am not in support of a net.women.only, by the way. I think
hearing the viewpoints of both sexes is important--I don't think
you can totally separate the interests of one from the other.