Great Expectations: The Women's Action Coalition - Revision history

Ccarlsson: fixed formatting and typos

2017-03-20T21:41:02Z

fixed formatting and typos

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:41, 20 March 2017
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	''What follows is a ''Bay Guardian'' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.		''What follows is a ''Bay Guardian'' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.

	''Why is this article included in ~~Found San Francisco~~'s women's history chapter? In the sweep of history, WAC will not be significant for what it did as a group in the same way that it will be for the lessons that emerge from the story of WAC, highlighted here with skill by writer Shea Dean. These lessons are vital to a renewed feminist organizing presence in San Francisco and elsewhere. When we know our history, we recognize the same old battles, and we can develop innovative strategies. Recalling that Suffrage lost momentum when it allied itself with the Temperance movement is meaningful to feminists considering alliances with right wing anti-porn groups. Feminist history is vital to decisions we make every time we organize.		''Why is this article included in FoundSF's women's history chapter? In the sweep of history, WAC will not be significant for what it did as a group in the same way that it will be for the lessons that emerge from the story of WAC, highlighted here with skill by writer Shea Dean. These lessons are vital to a renewed feminist organizing presence in San Francisco and elsewhere. When we know our history, we recognize the same old battles, and we can develop innovative strategies. Recalling that Suffrage lost momentum when it allied itself with the Temperance movement is meaningful to feminists considering alliances with right wing anti-porn groups. Feminist history is vital to decisions we make every time we organize.

	''Racism continues to tear at the delicate fabric of feminist organizing. We would all benefit from the support of a larger network of activists that fosters feminist organizing, discussion, and protest.		''Racism continues to tear at the delicate fabric of feminist organizing. We would all benefit from the support of a larger network of activists that fosters feminist organizing, discussion, and protest.
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	''--Elizabeth Sullivan''		''--Elizabeth Sullivan''

	~~'''~~Was the Women's Action Coalition a victim of its own success?~~'''~~		<font size=4>Was the Women's Action Coalition a victim of its own success?</font size>

	'''Introduction'''		'''Introduction'''
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	That strategy, according to Newson, had a hidden cost. If you're relying solely on direct action and not on learning from other strategies from the past or talking in depth about different issues, I guess you kind of lose your context in a way, she says. You're in it, you're there, you're reacting, but you're kind of popping from action to action to action, and that wears on you.		That strategy, according to Newson, had a hidden cost. If you're relying solely on direct action and not on learning from other strategies from the past or talking in depth about different issues, I guess you kind of lose your context in a way, she says. You're in it, you're there, you're reacting, but you're kind of popping from action to action to action, and that wears on you.

	Newson's observation seems to hang significantly in the air. How long will it last? The four women of today's WAC seem to believe that as long as they continue to struggle along, someday the rising political waters will lift their boat. No doubt those waters will rise again, perhaps buoying WAC to future fame. But when those waters recede, as they surely will, chances are the outcome for WAC won't be any different -- unless the group resolves, or at least discusses, some of its long-simmering conflicts over race, class, process, and the growing influence of the mass media on activism. Otherwise, like countless groups that came before it, WAC will find itself celebrating its brilliantly brief career, pondering its unrealized potential, and wondering what went wrong -- again.		Newson's observation seems to hang significantly in the air. How long will it last? The four women of today's WAC seem to believe that as long as they continue to struggle along, someday the rising political waters will lift their boat. No doubt those waters will rise again, perhaps buoying WAC to future fame. But when those waters recede, as they surely will, chances are the outcome for WAC won't be any different — unless the group resolves, or at least discusses, some of its long-simmering conflicts over race, class, process, and the growing influence of the mass media on activism. Otherwise, like countless groups that came before it, WAC will find itself celebrating its brilliantly brief career, pondering its unrealized potential, and wondering what went wrong — again.

Lisaruth: added abstract

2015-03-30T04:07:53Z

added abstract

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:07, 29 March 2015
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	'''Interested women help bring in a beached ship, 1909.'''<br>''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''		'''Interested women help bring in a beached ship, 1909.'''<br>''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	[[Image:Addressing-injustice.png\|left]] ''What follows is a ''Bay Guardian'' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.		[[Image:Addressing-injustice.png\|left]]


			{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"
			\| colspan="2" \| '''The Women’s Action Coalition (WAC), at its prime in the early '90s, comprised over 500 women that altered the landscape of the city with many of their famous direct actions. While the group was very successful and gained prominent media coverage, the success was shortlived. Founders and members of WAC discuss trends that are common in activist groups, where internal racial inequalities are overlooked in the frenzy to enact fast change and move onto the next issue; and how the structural nature of gender issues require a constant battle that loses momentum once the novelty of direct action fades.'''
			\|}



			''What follows is a ''Bay Guardian'' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.

	''Why is this article included in Found San Francisco's women's history chapter? In the sweep of history, WAC will not be significant for what it did as a group in the same way that it will be for the lessons that emerge from the story of WAC, highlighted here with skill by writer Shea Dean. These lessons are vital to a renewed feminist organizing presence in San Francisco and elsewhere. When we know our history, we recognize the same old battles, and we can develop innovative strategies. Recalling that Suffrage lost momentum when it allied itself with the Temperance movement is meaningful to feminists considering alliances with right wing anti-porn groups. Feminist history is vital to decisions we make every time we organize.		''Why is this article included in Found San Francisco's women's history chapter? In the sweep of history, WAC will not be significant for what it did as a group in the same way that it will be for the lessons that emerge from the story of WAC, highlighted here with skill by writer Shea Dean. These lessons are vital to a renewed feminist organizing presence in San Francisco and elsewhere. When we know our history, we recognize the same old battles, and we can develop innovative strategies. Recalling that Suffrage lost momentum when it allied itself with the Temperance movement is meaningful to feminists considering alliances with right wing anti-porn groups. Feminist history is vital to decisions we make every time we organize.
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	[[Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network \|Prev. Document]] [[“Maestrapeace” on the Women's Building \|Next Document]]		[[Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network \|Prev. Document]] [[“Maestrapeace” on the Women's Building \|Next Document]]

	[[category:Women]] [[category:~~1990s~~]] [[category:~~Dissent~~]] [[category:1900s]] [[category:~~Bay Area Social Movements~~]]		[[category:Women]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:Bay Area Social Movements]]
			[[category:1900s]] [[category:1990s]]

Lisaruth at 06:06, 28 March 2015

2015-03-28T06:06:56Z

Show changes

Mfriedman: linked to Bay Area Social Movements category

2014-08-06T23:36:37Z

linked to Bay Area Social Movements category

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:36, 6 August 2014
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	[[Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network \|Prev. Document]] [[“Maestrapeace” on the Women's Building \|Next Document]]		[[Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network \|Prev. Document]] [[“Maestrapeace” on the Women's Building \|Next Document]]

	[[category:Women]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:1900s]]		[[category:Women]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:1900s]] [[category:Bay Area Social Movements]]

Mfriedman: Addressing Injustice logo added

2014-07-28T21:08:32Z

Addressing Injustice logo added

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:08, 28 July 2014
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	'''Interested women help bring in a beached ship, 1909.'''<br>''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''		'''Interested women help bring in a beached ship, 1909.'''<br>''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	''What follows is a '''Bay Guardian''' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.		[[Image:Addressing-injustice.png\|left]] ''What follows is a '''Bay Guardian''' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.

	''Why is this article included in Found San Francisco's women's history chapter? In the sweep of history, WAC will not be significant for what it did as a group in the same way that it will be for the lessons that emerge from the story of WAC, highlighted here with skill by writer Shea Dunn. These lessons are vital to a renewed feminist organizing presence in San Francisco and elsewhere. When we know our history, we recognize the same old battles, and we can develop innovative strategies. Recalling that Suffrage lost momentum when it allied itself with the Temperance movement is meaningful to feminists considering alliances with right wing anti-porn groups. Feminist history is vital to decisions we make every time we organize.		''Why is this article included in Found San Francisco's women's history chapter? In the sweep of history, WAC will not be significant for what it did as a group in the same way that it will be for the lessons that emerge from the story of WAC, highlighted here with skill by writer Shea Dunn. These lessons are vital to a renewed feminist organizing presence in San Francisco and elsewhere. When we know our history, we recognize the same old battles, and we can develop innovative strategies. Recalling that Suffrage lost momentum when it allied itself with the Temperance movement is meaningful to feminists considering alliances with right wing anti-porn groups. Feminist history is vital to decisions we make every time we organize.

Ccarlsson at 23:21, 18 January 2009

2009-01-18T23:21:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:21, 18 January 2009
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	[[Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network \|Prev. Document]] [[“Maestrapeace” on the Women's Building \|Next Document]]		[[Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network \|Prev. Document]] [[“Maestrapeace” on the Women's Building \|Next Document]]

	[[category:Women]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Dissent]]		[[category:Women]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:1900s]]

Ccarlsson: Protected "Great Expectations: The Women's Action Coalition": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-18T23:20:49Z

Protected "Great Expectations: The Women's Action Coalition": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:20, 18 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: PC and protected

2009-01-18T23:20:30Z

PC and protected

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:20, 18 January 2009
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			'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Shea Dean''

	[[Image:wimmin$women-on-shore-1909.jpg]]		[[Image:wimmin$women-on-shore-1909.jpg]]

	'''Interested women help bring in a beached ship, 1909.'''		'''Interested women help bring in a beached ship, 1909.'''<br>''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	''Photo: San Francisco History ~~Room~~, San Francisco Public Library''

	''What follows is a '''Bay Guardian''' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.		''What follows is a '''Bay Guardian''' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.

	''Why is this article included in ~~Shaping~~ San Francisco's women's history chapter? In the sweep of history, WAC will not be significant for what it did as a group in the same way that it will be for the lessons that emerge from the story of WAC, highlighted here with skill by writer Shea Dunn. These lessons are vital to a renewed feminist organizing presence in San Francisco and elsewhere. When we know our history, we recognize the same old battles, and we can develop innovative strategies. Recalling that Suffrage lost momentum when it allied itself with the Temperance movement is meaningful to feminists considering alliances with right wing anti-porn groups. Feminist history is vital to decisions we make every time we organize.		''Why is this article included in Found San Francisco's women's history chapter? In the sweep of history, WAC will not be significant for what it did as a group in the same way that it will be for the lessons that emerge from the story of WAC, highlighted here with skill by writer Shea Dunn. These lessons are vital to a renewed feminist organizing presence in San Francisco and elsewhere. When we know our history, we recognize the same old battles, and we can develop innovative strategies. Recalling that Suffrage lost momentum when it allied itself with the Temperance movement is meaningful to feminists considering alliances with right wing anti-porn groups. Feminist history is vital to decisions we make every time we organize.

	''Racism continues to tear at the delicate fabric of feminist organizing. We would all benefit from the support of a larger network of activists that fosters feminist organizing, discussion, and protest.		''Racism continues to tear at the delicate fabric of feminist organizing. We would all benefit from the support of a larger network of activists that fosters feminist organizing, discussion, and protest.
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	''The WAC story is the return of the repressed--when we don't face our problems, they do not go away, but rather emerge again and again until we face and remedy them. WAC's story below, is a precise exploration of much of what we face now, as feminists who want to organize for gender liberation.		''The WAC story is the return of the repressed--when we don't face our problems, they do not go away, but rather emerge again and again until we face and remedy them. WAC's story below, is a precise exploration of much of what we face now, as feminists who want to organize for gender liberation.

	--Elizabeth Sullivan		''--Elizabeth Sullivan''

	'''Was the Women's Action Coalition a victim of its own success?'''		'''Was the Women's Action Coalition a victim of its own success?'''

Ccarlsson at 06:00, 7 October 2008

2008-10-07T06:00:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:00, 6 October 2008
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			[[Image:wimmin$women-on-shore-1909.jpg]]

			'''Interested women help bring in a beached ship, 1909.'''

			''Photo: San Francisco History Room, San Francisco Public Library''

	''What follows is a '''Bay Guardian''' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.		''What follows is a '''Bay Guardian''' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.

Ccarlsson at 05:21, 7 October 2008

2008-10-07T05:21:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:21, 6 October 2008
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	'''~~Was~~ the Women's Action '''		''What follows is a '''Bay Guardian''' article chronicling the rise and fall of the Women's Action Coalition (WAC), which formed in August 1992. WAC was a political group that captured the imagination of hundreds of smart, angry young women in the early 1990s, not only in San Francisco, but all across the country from New York to Chicago to Seattle. Catalyzing women's anger into political action was WAC's specialty, and they did it like nobody else since radical feminists of the early 1970s. Then, quite suddenly, WAC faded from view.

	~~Coalition~~ a ~~victim~~ of ~~its~~		''Why is this article included in Shaping San Francisco's women's history chapter? In the sweep of history, WAC will not be significant for what it did as a group in the same way that it will be for the lessons that emerge from the story of WAC, highlighted here with skill by writer Shea Dunn. These lessons are vital to a renewed feminist organizing presence in San Francisco and elsewhere. When we know our history, we recognize the same old battles, and we can develop innovative strategies. Recalling that Suffrage lost momentum when it allied itself with the Temperance movement is meaningful to feminists considering alliances with right wing anti-porn groups. Feminist history is vital to decisions we make every time we organize.

	~~own success?~~		''Racism continues to tear at the delicate fabric of feminist organizing. We would all benefit from the support of a larger network of activists that fosters feminist organizing, discussion, and protest.

	Introduction		''The WAC story is the return of the repressed--when we don't face our problems, they do not go away, but rather emerge again and again until we face and remedy them. WAC's story below, is a precise exploration of much of what we face now, as feminists who want to organize for gender liberation.

			--Elizabeth Sullivan

			'''Was the Women's Action Coalition a victim of its own success?'''

			'''Introduction'''

	Larger than anyone had any right to expect, seemingly indomitable, and uproariously funny, the San Francisco Women's Action Coalition sprung from the foam fully formed in August 1992. Inspired by the success of ACT UP's bold and creative form of direct action and echoing the countercultural groups of the '60s and early '70s, WAC promised to launch a visible and remarkable resistance to the erosion of women's rights and to an ambivalence about feminism that had reached epidemic proportions. It was to be one of the first all-embracing direct-action feminist groups to come along in decades.		Larger than anyone had any right to expect, seemingly indomitable, and uproariously funny, the San Francisco Women's Action Coalition sprung from the foam fully formed in August 1992. Inspired by the success of ACT UP's bold and creative form of direct action and echoing the countercultural groups of the '60s and early '70s, WAC promised to launch a visible and remarkable resistance to the erosion of women's rights and to an ambivalence about feminism that had reached epidemic proportions. It was to be one of the first all-embracing direct-action feminist groups to come along in decades.
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	It's a bind, Newson continues. You're in the bind that you're in this women's group that's predominantly white.... You don't want to have to educate white women -- but you're going to have to anyway. In subsequent meetings there was talk of building coalitions with groups made up of women of color to increase WAC's diversity, but that concern fell down WAC's priority list as the group got caught up in its own cyclone of spinning out action after action.		It's a bind, Newson continues. You're in the bind that you're in this women's group that's predominantly white.... You don't want to have to educate white women -- but you're going to have to anyway. In subsequent meetings there was talk of building coalitions with groups made up of women of color to increase WAC's diversity, but that concern fell down WAC's priority list as the group got caught up in its own cyclone of spinning out action after action.

	While the Women of Color Caucus had continued to discuss diversity issues and build ~~coalitionsmost~~ notably with Asian Immigrant Women Advocates, a group of women garment workers fighting for equitable pay in the sweatshop-ridden garment ~~industrybigger~~ issues rarely got discussed in the general meetings. Moreover, the issues that did get talked about were not hammered out by consensus, the torturously egalitarian method of choice for many feminist groups of the '70s and antinuclear groups of the '80s. Instead, plowing full speed ahead, WAC operated by majority rules, so that with each vote there was a minority that got crushed and a disagreement that did not get resolved.		While the Women of Color Caucus had continued to discuss diversity issues and build coalitions--most notably with Asian Immigrant Women Advocates, a group of women garment workers fighting for equitable pay in the sweatshop-ridden garment industry--bigger issues rarely got discussed in the general meetings. Moreover, the issues that did get talked about were not hammered out by consensus, the torturously egalitarian method of choice for many feminist groups of the '70s and antinuclear groups of the '80s. Instead, plowing full speed ahead, WAC operated by majority rules, so that with each vote there was a minority that got crushed and a disagreement that did not get resolved.

	That strategy, according to Newson, had a hidden cost. If you're relying solely on direct action and not on learning from other strategies from the past or talking in depth about different issues, I guess you kind of lose your context in a way, she says. You're in it, you're there, you're reacting, but you're kind of popping from action to action to action, and that wears on you.		That strategy, according to Newson, had a hidden cost. If you're relying solely on direct action and not on learning from other strategies from the past or talking in depth about different issues, I guess you kind of lose your context in a way, she says. You're in it, you're there, you're reacting, but you're kind of popping from action to action to action, and that wears on you.
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	''--Shea Dean''		''--Shea Dean''

	~~[http://shapingsf.org/wiki/./VIDEOS/WOMACTCO.AVI WAC &Demo]~~

	~~Contributors to this page include:~~

	~~''Dean,Shea - Writer ''~~

	~~Sullivan~~,~~Elizabeth - Writer~~		[[Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network \|Prev. Document]] [[“Maestrapeace” on the Women's Building \|Next Document]]

	[[~~Carol Seajay, Old Wives Tales and the Feminist Bookstore Network \|Prev. Document~~]] [[~~Maestrapeace on the Women's Building \|Next Document~~]]		[[category:Women]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Dissent]]