Tag Archives: John Clay

[February 16, 1970] Unassailable Fortresses? A Full-Five pair of issues: (Vision of Tomorrow #6)


By Mx Kris Vyas-Myall

We are only in the second month of the new decade, but one thing seems to be clear. Women are no longer willing to be silent.

A group of women standing outside Benjamin Simon, cheering at the camera

In Leeds, hundreds of women textile workers have walked out on unofficial strike. They are opposing the pay deal struck between their union and employer, claiming it is unfair that women will be getting smaller pay increases than their male co-workers.

Women's Weekend Programme flyer saying:
Women's Weekend to be held at Buxton Hall, Ruskin College, Oxford on February 27th, 28th, March 1st.
Fee 10s for the weekend.
Programme
Papers to be discussed on Saturday and Sunday morning will be distributed on Friday.
Friday Evening - 8PM: Brief reports from existing groups and organisations. Accounts of activities and projects. Discussion. (This session is closed to men).
Saturday - 10am-1PM: The Social Role of Women (3 Papers)
1) What is the Family?
2) What is the Mother's Role?
3) Changing Patterns of Delinquency Amonst Women
Discussion

Saturday - 2PM-6PM: Women and the Economy (4 Papers)
1) Women under capitalism (including the housewife and advertising).
2) What is 'Women's Work'?
3) Equal Pay
4) Women's Role in Industrial Militancy and in Trade Unions.
Discussion

Saturday - 8PM: Informal Discussion:
Possibility of convening small workshops of particular interest to groups of individuals. One suggestion is "Different ways of living together", the kibbutz, etc.

Sunday - 10am-1PM: Women and Revolution (3 Papers)
1) The Myth of Inactivity: Women in historic struggles.
2) Women and the working class.
3) Political Perspectives on Women's Struggles.
Sunday - PM: Where are we going? (This session is closed to men).
Free discussion to include work of local groups, forthcoming actions, national/international co-ordination, further meetings.
Groups and organisations are asked to contribute brief papers summarising their present work. Please try and duplicate these yourselves. If this is not possible send a gestener foolscap stencil to Juliet Mitchell, 4, Cardozo rd., London N7.
There will be a literature stall. Bring my stuff you or your group has produced on the position of women.
Free accommodation (bring sleeping bags) and limited creche facilities will be available. No hot meals.
Application for accomodation and creche facitilties must be made by Feb 4th. All people making their own arrangements must register for the weekend by Feb 15th. Fees payable at the door.
Please send donations. Please circularise this information among all women you know,

At the other end of the social scale, the hallowed halls of Oxford is set to host the “Women’s Weekend”. Tired of being ignored and shouted down by men at other meetings, this will be an all-women conference to discuss women’s history and their current position in the world.

Annie Nightingale in 1970 wearing headphones and holding two records above her head in each hand.

In a more literal sense, a woman’s voice can now be heard on British Pop Radio. After hiring an all-male team from Pirate Radio and Radio Luxembourg to start Radio 1, the BBC have finally branched out and employed their first woman DJ. Annie Nightingale is only thirty but has already had an impressive career, including working as a journalist, presenting numerous music television programmes, having a modelling career and running her own fashion boutique.

Whether this will lead to changes in British science fiction publishing remains to be seen. The Current Issue of Vision of Tomorrow’s only female representation is in its review columnists. Maybe we need to organize our own flying pickets?

However, maybe some of this atmosphere is affecting our writers, as all these stories are, in one way or another, about people trying to break out of their social circumstances. So, let’s walk through the stench of cigar smoke in this gentleman’s club and check out the contents:

Vision of Tomorrow #6

Cover Vision of Tomorrow #6 showing a ringed planet illuminted by a red sun against a starfield.
Caption says:
The Phoenix People
Brunner - Tubb - Broderick
Cover Art by David A. Hardy

Continue reading [February 16, 1970] Unassailable Fortresses? A Full-Five pair of issues: (Vision of Tomorrow #6)