Women’s Spaces Radio Show of 7/26/2021 with host Elaine B Holtz commenting on the memorial service for our friend, Tai Chi practitioner, and Navy decorated reconnaissance pilot Michael O’Brien, and our guest Dr. Eleanor Pam on Veteran Feminists of America, has been uploaded to the web archive. The show was broadcast in the North Bay and streamed worldwide over Radio KBBF 89.1 FM on Monday 7/26/2021 at 11 AM, repeats at 11 PM on KBBF, and then repeat broadcasts in Petaluma and streamed worldwide over Radio KPCA 103.3 FM on the following Wednesday 7/28/2021 at 11 AM.
Read description of the show and bios of the guests, see links referenced on the show and the playlist, on its archive page at:
http://www.womensspaces.com/ArchiveWSA21/WSA210726.html
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Featuring
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Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz, Host of Women’s Spaces
1. Eleanor Pam, Ph.D. President, Veteran Feminists of America
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Commentary by our host Elaine B. Holtz: My co-producer and love Ken Norton is celebrating his birthday today, and I am wishing him, Happy Birthday, Ken!
Ken and I attended a memorial for Michael O’Brien on Saturday July 24th. Ken and I know Michael through our practice of Tai Chi Chuan together. Michael and his wife Lynette McGee owned the famed Crickelwood Restaurant that was destroyed by the Tubbs Fire in October 2017 after 42 years of graciously serving Sonoma County fine meals. At the memorial we heard of his mentoring of younger people, including the TV chef Guy Fieri, his promotion of Sonoma County wines, and his being a highly decorated naval reconnaissance pilot in combat in Vietnam, who cared deeply for those pilots under his command, many of whom did not return from missions. It was stirring to see two naval officers’ careful ritual of unfolding the nation’s flag, showing it unfurled with its symbolic white stars on blue and the red and white stripes, the precise folding of it into a triangular shape and presenting it the Michael’s widow Lynette McGee. One could not help think of the ideals of the founding of the country and the lives lost or wounded in serving its mission.
Related Links:
http://cricklewoodrestaurant.com/
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Our guest, Dr. Eleanor Pam, was a leader of the feminist second wave
of 1962 – 1985, when thousands of women and men took part in actions to make life more equitable for women. Dr. Pam is the President of Veteran Feminists of America. Eleanor describes her early upbringing in a patriarchal family that encouraged her to confine herself to prescribed vocations for women, but that she persisted, in spite of quotas, to eventually earn three advanced degrees. Eleanor was an early co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and describes those early days how a few women would set up committees to address issues as they arose. She personally knows Betty Friedan, who helped popularize the movement with her book The Feminine Mystique (1963) and who served as NOW’s first President. She knew Kate Millett, the first Chair of NOW’s Education Committee. She and Elaine reminisce on the early Women’s Studies programs that included their first time using the speculum to view each other’s vaginas, to counter the shame heaped on women’s sexual life. They also discuss the rift between black and white feminists. Dr. Pam notes that 19% of the biographical videos in the Feminist Pioneer History Project are of Black Women. She recognizes that it was a mistake of Betty Friedan in ostracizing the lesbians, assuming lesbians to be too freaky for the mainstream women – something that Betty Friedan later admitted. Our History is our strength, so don’t miss this fascinating interview with Dr. Eleanor Pam and the mission of Veteran Feminists of America, which she leads, to remember the achievements of this second wave of feminism.
-report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer
About our Guest: Dr. Eleanor Pam holds three advanced degrees and is Professor Emerita at the City University of New York. An expert on women and violence, her principal focus includes women in prison, women’s prisons, sexual harassment, domestic violence, gender discrimination, rape, and gender injustice.
She served on the New York City Commission to Combat Family Violence for eight years. In addition, she participated in several FBI think-tanks at their Behavioral Sciences Unit in Quantico, Virginia re police abuse in intimate relationships and police homicide-suicide in connection with domestic violence.
She has been a vocal and visible advocate, presence, and media representative for high profile female inmates in maximum security prisons, making appearances, delivering lectures, and giving interviews for print, radio, film, and television outlets around the country.
Guest Links:
Veteran Feminists of America with biographical videos of the Feminist Pioneer History Project: https://www.veteranfeministsofamerica.org/
Dr. Eleanor Pam links to her videos and articles https://www.veteranfeministsofamerica.org/vfa-pioneer-histories-project-eleanor-pam/
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Herstory
Our history is our strength. Check out important dates to remember in herstory at the National Women’s History Alliance
Herstory Birthdays:
July 24, 1897 (1937) – Amelia Earhart noted aviation pioneer and author, first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, first person to fly solo across the Pacific from Hawaii to the mainland.
July 28, 1879 (1966) – Lucy Burns, suffragist, formed National Woman’s Party with Alice Paul, picketed the White House for women suffrage and arrested 6 times.
July 31, 1924 (2010) – Geraldine Hoff Doyle, possibly the model for the World War II “We Can Do It” poster which came to symbolize Rosie the Riveters, women who worked in factories to support the war effort.
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Annnouncements;
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Music Selections
The Opening and Closing Theme song The Woman in Your Life is You is done with permission of the Composer and Singer Alix Dobkin ((August 16, 1940 – May 19, 2021) Alix Dobkin death was just announced – Thank you for all you did for Lesbians to be recognized and Women to be honored. May you rest in peace. See our Interview with Alix Dobkin on 12/1/2014 at and our Memorial to Alix Dobkin on 11/24/2021.
The Woman in Your Life is You by Alix Dobkin from the album Living with Lavender Jane (2010 Women’s Wax Works) – www.alixdobkin.com
Standing on the Shoulders sung by Earth Mama from the album Love Large (1966 Rouse House, LLC)
I Am Woman, cover of song by Helen Reddy sung by Pink Martini from the single I Am Woman (2018 Heinz Records)
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For music purchasing opportunity:
Women's Spaces 