Chicago Women's Liberation Union
| Founded | 1969 |
|---|---|
| Location | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Focus | Women's liberation |
The Chicago Women's Liberation Union (known colloquially as the CWLU) was a women's liberation organization based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The organization served as an umbrella organization for numerous groups who worked within communities nationwide to bring awareness, programming and opportunities to women. Founded in 1969, the CWLU would be credited as the first organization to publish the term socialist feminism. Notable members of the organization included psychologist Naomi Weisstein.[1]
In 1972 they released a pamphlet "Socialist Feminism: A Strategy for the Women's Movement." Nationally circulated, the publication is believed to be the first to use the term "socialist feminism", drawing on an area of the feminist movement that found inspiration in Marxist and socialist ideals, while at the same time critiquing them for their lack of attention to gender issues.[2]
Eventually, the organization would fall apart due to poor structuring and focuses on personal agendas by members. In 1976 the CWLU fell apart, placing blame upon two internal groups: Two-Line authors and the Asian Women's Group. These people were released from the organization and on April 24, 1977, the remaining members voted to dissolve the organization.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Organizational layout
The Chicago Women's Liberation Union was founded in 1969 by women who were active in the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and Students for a Democratic Society. The organization formed an umbrella organization to bring together working groups and discussion groups, which were called chapters. The groups worked individually and together to bring awareness and skills to people about women's liberation, develop free or affordable quality services for women, and "to challenge power structures through direct action. The groups were democratic in nature and were decentralized in their processes. They also chose to develop leaders and sought to hold them accountable for their actions, instead of turning away from the idea of leadership, like many other women's liberation groups who were contemporaries and historical. Each month a representation from each work group and chapter attended monthly meetings of the Steering Committee, which was headed by two elected co-chairs. These meetings would help CWLU develop organization policies and procedures. CWLU also had outreach newspapers: Womankind, Blazing Star and Secret Storm, as well as an internal newsletter for membership.[2]
[edit] Programs
A large portion of CWLU's work revolved around education. The organization formed the CWLU Liberation School, which offered classes ranging from Volkswagen maintenance to an examination of Our Bodies, Our Selves. CWLU worked with schools in Chicago to develop women's studies programs. The Prison Project taught classes at the Dwight Correctional Center, and also helped inmates organize to improve conditions and family visitation rights. Chapters worked also in sports, culture and the arts. They formed the Chicago Women's Liberation Rock Band who recorded in 1972. The Graphics Collective produced silkscreen posters, distributing them internationally. Another chapter focused on women's sports, organizing softball and volleyball teams, and examined sexism in the Chicago Park District.[2]
Healthcare, specifically reproductive medical services, was a major concern for CWLU. Groups formed within the organization in furtherance of this aim, including the underground Abortion Counseling Service (which members called "Jane" or "the Service"). The organization provided abortion referrals and clandestine abortions. When abortion was legalized, the Abortion Counseling Service fought for access and safety at clinics and provided affordable pregnancy tests. The Health Evaluation and Referral Service (HERS) was a watchdog group overseeing healthcare professionals and provided referrals until 1989.[2]
Blazing Star led CWLU's gay rights programming and the Action Coalition for Decent Childcare (ACDC) fought for and won changes in day care provider licensing codes. CWLU also had a Legal Clinic, providing advice and services. The majority of CWLU members were Caucasian, however, they worked closely with and supported other organizations such as the Black Panthers, the Puerto Rican Socialist Party, and participated in the movement known as the Coalition to End Sterilization Abuse.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Kimberly Jacobsen (1994). "Chicago Women’s Liberation Union records, 1954, 1967-1978". Descriptive Inventory for the Collection at Chicago History Museum, Research Center. Chicago History Museum. http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-C/CWLU.htm. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Margeret "Peg" Strobel; Sue Davenport (1999). "The Chicago Women's Liberation Union: An Introduction". The CWLU Herstory Website. University of Illinois. http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/CWLUAbout/abdoc1.html. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
[edit] External links
- The Chicago Women's Liberation Movement: An Introduction
- The Chicago Women's Liberation Union archival materials in at the Chicago History Museum
 |
This article about an organization in the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
