Alliance Against Women's Oppression Records, 1980-1989
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Jeanne Lowrey. 2013-03-26
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Alliance Against Women's Oppression Records
Creation of Alliance Against Women's Oppression Records
Time of Creation of Alliance Against Women's Oppression Records
Alliance Against Women's Oppression
Biographical History for: Alliance Against Women's Oppression Records
Historical Note In August of 1980, the Alliance Against Women's Oppression (AAWO) was formed out of a process of transformation and struggle begun in the Third World Women's Alliance (TWWA) in late 1979. The newly formed organization resolved to focus its organizing activities primarily on the struggle for women's rights and equality and against the racialized, gendered, classed sexism of the developed North. The AAWO announced itself as a multi-racial alliance of lesbian and straight women. Women of color lesbian issues that had been stubbornly ignored by the mainstream women's movement were part of the political line of the AAWO. Continuing work initiated and produced by the TWWA, the AAWO persistently clarified the intersectionality of race, gender, class, and sexuality in its political analysis of capitalism and the conditions of women in the transnational economy. AAWO work areas included infant mortality, reproductive rights, sterilization abuse, Central American and African Women's liberation struggles, and Lesbian and Gay rights. The AAWO also continued the political education work of International Women's Day (IWD). AAWO members produced discussion and position papers for AAWO members and the public. AAWO had chapters in Boston, New York, Louisville, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. In order to take up the struggle of women's oppression nationally and internationally, AAWO created coalitions and joined their efforts with other social justice organizations locally and globally. Some of the organizations they were closely associated with were Somos Hermanas, the Nicaraguan Women's Association (AMNLAE), MADRE, South African Women's Organization, Line of March (LOM), and the National Campaign to Restore Abortion Funding (NCRAF). The AAWO identified itself with socialist, womanist/feminist politics, and provisionally based their political line on a Marxist class analysis. The AAWO joined their efforts with the Reproductive Rights National Network (R2N2) to advocate for abortion rights for low-income women while also calling attention to the involuntary sterilization of migrant and immigrant women of color. In 1984 in response to the U.S.'s continuing intervention in Nicaragua, AAWO organized a delegation, Somos Hermanas, in alliance with the Nicaraguan women's mass organization, AMNLAE. AAWO dissolved by 1990. The Women of Color Resource Center (1989 to present) was formed with some members from the TWWA and AAWO. Activist organizational work stretching back to the civil rights movement, the Black Women's Caucus of SNCC, the Third World Women's Alliance and the Alliance Against Women's Oppression was evident in the activist and advocacy politics of the Women of Color Resource Center.
Cheryl Johnson, Vicki Alexander, Barbara Morita, and Melanie Tervalon donated records to the Women of Color Resource Center Collection/Archives which were then donated to the Sophia Smith Collection by the Third World Women's Alliance Alumni Association Archives Committee.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Alliance against Women's Oppression Records consists of 5.75 linear ft. and are primarily related to the Bay Area Chapter of the Alliance. The collection contains many documents that articulate and demonstrate the challenges of developing a revolutionary mass organization. The collection is a good source of position and discussion papers, drafts, and AAWO publications, produced by the Alliance. The "United Front Against War and Racism" is a political discussion paper that articulates some of AAWO's political strategy. Through the Coalition Against Infant Mortality (CFIM), 1979 - 1982, AAWO continued the infant mortality activism begun in the TWWA. For the beginnings of this important project of the AAWO, see the TWWA Records also held by the Sophia Smith Collection. The collection has abundant documentation of the processes of coalition and social investigation that AAWO engaged in reproductive rights advocacy. The collection is rich in documentation of Somos Hermanas's activities in Nicaragua. Types of materials include committee reports; meeting notes; political discussion papers; study guides. The bulk of the papers date from 1983 to 1988 and focus on the Alliance's many projects organizing activities primarily on the struggle for third world women's rights and equality nationally and internationally.
The Records are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.
The Sophia Smith Collection owns copyright to the records of the organization. Permission must be obtained to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." Individual authors in AAOW publications retain copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College as holders of the physical property.
Additional records are housed at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House - National Archives for Black Women's History, Amistad Research Center, and Duke University. Related materials in the SSC include Voices of Feminism interviews with Frances Beal and Linda Burnham, and the Third World Women's Alliance Records.
Processed by Sharon Davenport, 2005. Revised by Nichole Calero, Fall 2012
Abortion -- United States
lcsh
African American women -- Social conditions -- History -- Sources
Asian American women -- Social conditions -- History -- Sources
Birth control -- United States -- History -- Sources
Civil rights -- United States -- History -- Sources
Ethnicity -- United States
Infants -- Mortality -- History
Hispanic American women -- History -- United States -- Sources
Indian women -- United States -- Social conditions -- History
International economic relations
International Women's Day -- History
Latin American women -- Social conditions -- History -- Sources
Minority women -- United States -- History -- Sources
Reproductive health -- History -- Sources
Sterilization (birth control) -- History -- Sources
Welfare rights movement -- United States -- History -- Sources
Women -- Economic conditions -- 20th century
Women -- El Salvador -- Social conditions
Women -- International cooperation
Women -- Health and hygiene -- Developing countries
Women -- Health and hygiene -- United States
Women -- Political activity -- United States -- History -- Sources
Women's health services -- United States -- History -- Sources
Women's rights -- Developing countries
Working class women -- United States -- History -- Sources
Jones, Diane
lcnaf
Morita, Barbara
Tervalon, Melanie
Alliance Against the Oppression of Women (U.S.)
Third World Women's Alliance
series
SERIES I. ADMISTRATIVE MATERIALS (1979-1988)
This series consists of the organization's reports, financial materials, meeting agendas, meeting notes, histories, and committee reports. The bulk of sub series Committees is comprised of organizational materials from the Coalition to Fight Infant Mortality (CFIM). The CFIM was originally organized within the Third World Women's Alliance (TWWA) and continued its work when the TWWA disbanded and reformed as the AAWO. Among the CFIM files are their community investigation into Alameda County's high mortality rate, correspondence to and from the Alameda County Grand Jury, the Grand Jury report, the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency report to the board of supervisors of the Alameda County Hospital, and the house hearings on infant mortality. The subseries, Reproductive Rights contains information from national committees that fought for reproductive rights such as the Action Committee for Abortion Rights (ACAR), the National Committee to Restore Abortion Funding (NCRAF), the Reproductive Rights National Network (R2N2) and the Seattle Reproductive Rights Alliance (SRRA). The subseries Somos Hermanas contains memos, correspondence, publications and planning notes from the organization, as well as photos and details from a delegation's trip to Nicaragua in 1986.
SERIES II. POLITICAL PAPERS (1982-N.D.)
This series consists of papers created by the AAWO on issues that they recognized as intersecting with their goals.
SERIES III. PUBLICATIONS (1963-88)
This series consists of brochures, discussion papers, flyers, the history of the organization and other publications produced by the group.
SERIES IV. AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS (1980-1987)
This series consists of information on, and publications from, the organizations listed in the finding aid.
SERIES V. SUBJECTS (1978-1985, n.d.)
This series consists of research materials on the subjects listed.
VI. PHOTOGRAPHS (1984-1986, n.d.)
This series consists of undated group photographs.
VII. OVERSIZE MATERIALS
Consists of posters from Nicaragua.
SERIES I. ADMINISTRATION
Committees
Coalition to fight infant mortality (CFIM) 1978-1984, n.d.
AAWO assessments, 1979 - 82, n.d.
ACHCSA report to board of supervisors, 1980
Children's hospital, 1981 - 82, n.d.
Community investigation, I-Team, 1979-1980, n.d.
First National Conference on Black Women's Health Issues 1983
Grand jury correspondence and report, 1979-1980
House hearings on infant mortality, 26 Mar 1982
Letters and statements of support, 1978-80
Newsletter, clippings, press releases, 1979-84, n.d.
International women's day committee (WCCIWD)
International women's day (IWD), 1981-88 , n.d.
Kwanza committee, 1979-81, n.d.
Lesbian/gay task force, 1981-86 , n.d.
Nairobi, third world conference on women, 1985
Notes, articles, and memos
Conference Materials
Reproductive rights, 1982-86, n.d.
Action committee for abortion rights (ACAR), 1981-85
National campaign to restore abortion funding, (NCRAF), 1984-87, n.d.
National campaign to restore abortion funding (NCRAF), 1984-87, n.d.
Reproductive rights national network (R2N2), 1982-84, n.d.
Rosie Jimenez-October 3rd coalition, 1982
Seattle reproductive rights alliance (SRRA), 1985, n.d.
Steering Committee, 1981
Somos Hermanas, 1984-88
AAWO memos 1984-1988
Development plans and memoranda 1985-1987
Louisville chapter, 1986-1987, n.d.
Nicaragua delegation, health colloquium, 1983
Nicaragua delegation, member notes, 1986
Nicaragua delegation, photographs 1986
Nicaragua delegation, orientation 1986
Organization notes, national 1986-1988
Publications 1985-1989, n.d.
World peace congress, Copenhagen 1986-1987
Financial material, 1983-1989
Histories, 1980; 1989; n.d.
Meetings, 1981-88
Chapter meetings
Bay area 1981-88
Summation meeting, 1988
Boston, MA, 1988, n.d.
Louisville, KY, 1988-89, n.d.
New York, NY, 1988, n.d.
Washington, D.C., 1985-86, n.d.
National meetings
First national congress, 1983
Second national congress, 1986
Second national congress, continued 1986
National council, 1983-84
National council, 1985
National council, 1986
National council, 1987
National council, 1988
Executive, 1983
Executive, 1984
Executive, 1986
Executive, 1987
Executive, 1988
Member's notebook, Diane Jones, Bay area, 1983-88
Membership, 1981, n.d.
Miscellaneous
Chants and songs, n.d.
Stationary, n.d.
Propaganda and educational work, n.d.
South African women's day, 1985
Study guides
Study guides 1981, 1982, n.d.
Member's notebook, Diane Jones, Bay area, 1982
Orientation seminar, n.d.
Substance abuse task force, 1985
Zionism, 1983
SERIES II. POLITICAL PAPERS
Israeli invasion of Lebanon, 1982
Reproductive rights, 1982
United front against war and racism, (UFAWR) n.d.
Women's liberation and the worldwide struggle against imperialism, n.d.
SERIES III. PUBLICATIONS
Brochures, n.d.
Discussion papers, 1983-87
Flyers, 1987, n.d.
Our History, n.d. [also located in history folder]
Women's voices from Nairobi, 1985
SERIES IV. AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
Associación de mujeres de El Salvador (AMES), 1983, n.d.
Associación de mujeres Nicaraguenses (AMNLAE), 1980-88, n.d.
Jesse Jackson presidential campaign(JJC), 1984-88, n.d.
Rainbow coalition (JJC), 1985-87
Line of March (LOM), 1984; 1989; n.d.
Publications, LOM, Frontline, 1983-87
Women's commission, LOM, 1988-89 , n.d.
Madre, 1984
Women's Building of the Bay Area, 1984
SERIES V. SUBJECTS
Feminization of poverty, 1978, 1983, 1984, n.d.
Gay/Lesbian, 1981
Middle East/Palestine, 1985, n.d.
Reproductive rights, 1985, n.d.
Socialist feminism, 1981
South African women, 1984, 1985, n.d.
Soviet women, 1985
Zimbabwe women, n.d.
SERIES VI. PHOTOGRAPHS
MEP, 1984; IWD, 1986 [some photos in Somos Hermanas; Louisville chapter]
SERIES VII. OVERSIZE
Posters
Women to Women: Guatemalan Women Speak1983
Guerilla Madre
CPF #2