a h , WV? graft; , . . 1 star 7 s III-IIIIIIIIIII-ilmI-Ill-III-II-Il-lm-IQIIIll-llml-Illuluilmimm-lI-mIl-mnj-I _ ‘ , Ill-IIII-uunp-nI-gIII-III-p-IIa-rllnu ' THE FEM-'lN'IST PE R‘SVPEflCTlVEI'l Prof. Janet Debicka, “Women In Law”, by Joann Leake and Susan Satterthwaite On Friday, Feb. 29th, the lecture series entitled “Living the Reality. Women in Modern Society“ presented its second guest speaker, Law Professor Janet K Debicka, who spoke on the tbpic "Women in Law“. Prof. Debicka teaches at ‘the University of Manitoba 'Law School and in addtion, works as a consultant to a law firm which hires only women. _Prof. Debicka readily admits that this practice is discriminatory, but adds that by doing so they can take a step in reversing all the years of discrimination suffered by women. She is one of two women out of 2h law instruc- tors at the U. of Manitdba. She finds that the type of discrimination which she suffers is not of salary (due to the fact that the staff is small and therefore is is relatively easy to compare wages and point out any discrimi- nation in that regard), but of the attitudes of her male associates. They either consider her to be an inferior because she is a female lawyer, or they accept her with amused tolerance, as if they were allowing her ‘the privilege of belonging to a “man's club". _ Prof. Debicka pointed out that today's laws, created by men supposedly for the protection of society, are very often detrimentally discrimina- tory in regard to women. For instance, it is still not legally possible for a husband to rape his wife. Rape is defined as unlawful sexual inter- course with a woman with- out her consent and is OMEN IN LAW' chiefly brought about by force or dec eption by a man. Why, then, is it not considered rape' when a husband forces his unconsenting wife to have sexual inter- course with him? Why does the law allow the male the availability of sexual services against the wishes of the w0man? Sexual services are not a ,womanlsx”wifely duty", as many men and Women unfor- tunately asSume, and are' 1 certainly net to be forced. 3'Another area where the law does not like to inter- fere is in the domain of family violence. Family .violence is legally and .mildly termed “domestic disputes”. However, a large percentage of the murders committed are those \ of wives and girlfriends in these so-called domestic disputes. The law (again remember that it was created and is.carried out largely by men) does not interfere in these home “problems” because a man's home has always been considered his private castle. in this private sphere of society maximum freedom exists, even to the detriment of women (and children as well), but it is still out-- side of society, outside of the public eye (for no one wants to acknowledge the atrocities that often occur behind the Closed shutters of the sacred home), and out-' side of the law in many cases. And, of course, many, women suffer under the dis- criminatory practices of men in the area of equal oppor- tunity. All obstacles in the way of total equality for men and women must be removed, not just in the minds and practices of men, but in those of women as well. What are some of the . to them. vthese laws .éJ‘y' 62 Grafton St. cwygyiavaendFde Phone: 892-4588 " a. .892-591,_,1., . FLOWERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS CORSAGES , GREEN PLANTS ,- FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS , DRIED AND SILK ARRANGEMENTS ' 1‘ w . Charlottetowhu‘ilEJfi things that the law can do? ' Prof. Debicka suggested that there should be legal_con- trols on advertising to re- move the undesirable image of women-portrayed there, to remove sex discrimina- tion and control sex differ- entiation. She also statesi, that sex role biases should be Controlled in educational materials, particularly " those of young children} in e.g. portraying all engineers and :polficemen asumen and”j all nurses and secretariesg as women in books. Young“ ; boys and girls, as well as men and women, should be ,_I shown *the many other -‘ fptl possibilities for careers”t and vocations which are open Every province does PROF. JANET DEBICKA Then what is the solution to this problem of women being expected to be com- pletely responsible for this area of work? ‘It is ;quite simple.' WOmen and “ men should share equally in the ieproductive’ Work. Men play and 50% role in every- thing from reproduction. (although it may actually _be leSs here as it is the ihwoman who carries each vichild for 9 months, goes A. ’;through the difficUlt task . bf giVing birth, and then 'fis expected to do most of "the raising, while the ”W: man's contribution Seems often to be finished at _ j the_moment of cenception) ’ ‘to making dirty_dishes." ' fiWhy, then, is the woman have some form of human rightsheidvreSP°“55blé f°r 1002* legislation, and they allx’ fOrbid Sex discrimination, especially in the area of’ employment, .but enforcing is the difficult, part. Also affirmative ' 'action programs should be instituted; however, these in themselves can be diSCri- minatory.r H Still another important .~’ question that must be asked] and answered EE'WFb is re‘9 . sponsible for the traditional ’Moman’s work” of child- '1 ‘ rearing and housekeeping.“ WOmen and men should have ' the choice to be in the work force or participate in "reproductive work“, or both. Prof. Debicka spOke of paying women wages for_t housework and child-rearing{. but admits that this is V’K not politically feasible.5"3' N“ Want To wake I!lllllllllllllliillllllll—IIIi- 1). s eating of lieu} I ' FeMin_isps,This N‘Nowq POLCttCBh says new" Name a pipe mien ';'plUs of the child-rearing _ and cleaning Up? We women §£§_flg£ alone responsible for all'of this.r However, it is our‘respon' sibility to become aware of (and make others aware of) and put into practice some of the options we have_aside ' from these traditional3prac- tices. It is not the inten- ' tion of this article'tov ;Hegate the institutiOns of '”marriage and the family, but 5to dispute some of the un- ’ equal and discriminatory :,cOncepts and practices_in- volved in them. The taSk of feminists today is to: egualize the actions and] Vresponsibilities_of men and, "‘gwomen‘in~societyrknot,to_. gclaim‘superiorityroverfor _ibe held eXclusivelyfrespongj sible for themv ’ ¥ 4 “” Up" 4\&‘. I-