Chicago Women's Liberation Union
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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.
. 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.
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
.
Healthcare was a major concern for CWLU. Groups formed within the organization included 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.
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 Coalition to End Sterilization Abuse movement.
Umbrella
An umbrella or parasol is a canopy designed to protect against rain or sunlight. The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun; umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect from rain...
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
Socialist feminism
Socialist feminism is a branch of feminism that focuses upon both the public and private spheres of a woman's life and argues that liberation can only be achieved by working to end both the economic and cultural sources of women's oppression...
. Notable members of the organization included psychologist Naomi Weisstein
Naomi Weisstein
Naomi Weisstein is the daughter of Mary Wenk and Samuel Weisstein. She is a Professor of Psychology, neuroscientist, and author. She graduated from Wellesley College, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1961 and received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1964. In 1964 she took a post-doctoral fellowship at the...
.
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
Socialist feminism
Socialist feminism is a branch of feminism that focuses upon both the public and private spheres of a woman's life and argues that liberation can only be achieved by working to end both the economic and cultural sources of women's oppression...
", 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.
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.
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 SocietyStudents for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
. The organization formed an umbrella organization
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
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
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the 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.
Programs
A large portion of CWLU's work revolved around education. The organization formed the CWLU Liberation School, which offered classes ranging from Volkswagon maintenance to an examination of Our Bodies, Our Selves. CWLU worked with schools in Chicago to develop women's studiesWomen's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
programs. The Prison Project taught classes at the Dwight Correctional Center
Dwight Correctional Center
Dwight Correctional Center is an Illinois Department of Corrections maximum security prison for adult females. It is located at 23813 E. 3200 North Road in Nevada Township, unincorporated Livingston County, Illinois, near Dwight...
, 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
Women's sports
Women's sports include amateur and professional competitions in virtually all sports. Female participation in sports rose dramatically in the twentieth century, especially in the last quarter, reflecting changes in modern societies that emphasized gender parity...
, organizing softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
and volleyball teams and examined sexism in the Chicago Park District
Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District is the oldest and largest park district in the U.S.A, with a $385 million annual budget. It has the distinction of spending the most per capita on its parks, even more than Boston in terms of park expenses per capita...
.
Healthcare was a major concern for CWLU. Groups formed within the organization included the underground Abortion Counseling Service (which members called "Jane" or "the Service"). The organization provided abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
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
Watchdog
Watchdog may refer to:Dog*Guard dog, a dog that barks to alert its owners of an intruder's presenceIn computing* Watchdog timer, a device in computer softwareConsumer protection...
group overseeing healthcare professionals and provided referrals until 1989.
Blazing Star led CWLU's gay rights programming and the Action Coalition for Decent Childcare (ACDC) fought for and won changes in day care
Day care
Child care or day care is care of a child during the day by a person other than the child's legal guardians, typically performed by someone outside the child's immediate family...
provider licensing codes. CWLU also had a Legal Clinic, providing advice and services. The majority of CWLU members were Caucasian
Caucasian
Caucasian may refer to:*Anything from the Caucasus region**Peoples of the Caucasus or Caucasian peoples, humans from the Caucasus region**Languages of the Caucasus, languages spoken in the Caucasus region...
, however, they worked closely with and supported other organizations such as the Black Panthers, the Puerto Rican Socialist Party
Puerto Rican Socialist Party
The Puerto Rican Socialist Party was a Marxist and pro-independence political party in Puerto Rico seeking the end of United States of America control on the Hispanic and Caribbean island...
and participated in the Coalition to End Sterilization Abuse movement.