Stalking out the personal as political

Women’s Liberation groups arose in Wellington (1970) and Auckland (1971), spreading to Dunedin, Christchurch and provincial centres before long. Women in small, non-hierarchical groups throughout New Zealand were soon focusing their energies on personal change and commitment to active feminism. More traditionally structured membership groups, such as the National Organisation for Women focused on women’s political and economic rights. These two different approaches were sometimes dubbed ‘radical’ and ‘liberal’ feminism.

Around 1970, many emerging feminists were actively ‘liberating’ men-only public bars, protesting about unequal pay, picketing beauty contests and exposing sexist advertising. In 1972, feminist author Germaine Greer’s six-day visit to New Zealand galvanised interest in women’s liberation. Feminism and women’s rights came into the spotlight.

Women’s groups addressed local and national needs, conducted campaigns, lobbied, wrote submissions, educated and organised – relentlessly, but always collectively. Much of the everyday action of the women’s movement took place in small or personal settings: in conversations among neighbours, workmates or friends, or in small groups. The Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL) was formed in 1975 to encourage women’s participation in public life and help elect to public office people who would work for women’s equality.

Material conditions mattered: women demanded equal pay, and equal employment and education opportunities. By 1976, 32% of married women were in the workforce. They needed affordable, quality childcare – a relatively new concept. The Working Women’s Alliance and others campaigned for quality childcare, and for social justice for all women. On behalf of women as mothers and consumers, women organised against the rising cost of living, seeking action to control prices and the quality of food and household goods. They lobbied hard for government support for women raising children alone – tasting victory when the Government introduced the Domestic Purposes Benefit (DPB) in 1973 (the vast majority of those claiming the benefit were women). Feminists in trade unions faced conflict over women’s rights, not only against employers but also against the entrenched patriarchy of the union movement. Socialist and liberal feminists rallied support for the Working Women’s Charter, which was introduced in 1977 and became the focus of subsequent activism. In 1980, it was adopted as policy by the male-dominated Federation of Labour, and by the Labour Party.

 As awareness of rape and other violence against women increased, women marched to Reclaim the Night, and protested against pornography, violence and unsafe streets, demanding safer public places. Awareness of domestic violence also grew, and support services such as Rape Crisis and Women’s Refuge developed in many areas. Reproductive rights, including access to safe, reliable contraception and abortion services were a key demand. The Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act, 1977 restricted sexuality information and abortion remained a crime. From 1977, Sisters Overseas Service (SOS) supported women who couldn’t get an abortion in New Zealand to travel to Australia, where they could.

Māori women had been organising politically through the Māori Women’s Welfare League since 1951. In the 1970s, they worked in Ngā Tamatoa and Polynesian Panthers, and on issues around land and language rights. Māori women ran workshops on racism and on Māori culture at the 1977 United Women’s Convention. By the late 1970s, feminist Māori were organising separately from Pākehā. Lesbians began organising. By 1972, some were working separately while others demanded their own space within women’s liberation activities. The ‘Lesbian Nation’ presence at the 1975 United Women’s Convention increased lesbian visibility. Many feminists were involved in lesbian clubs, sports teams and social support.

The women’s movement developed a rich web of cultural, artistic and informational outlets –most notably Broadsheet magazine (1972–1997), supporting themselves and others to express women’s values, ideals and determination.