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Dear Friends:

This interim report was written for all past participants of WSPA, and for all who have inquired about our future plans. We have had continuing and enthusiastic response from many of you and we would like to tell you of recent developments regarding the next WSPA session.

The result of our questionaire survey encourages us to plan a two-week session in August 1978 somewhere between New York City and Boston. We are tentatively thinking of a format that will allow women to share ideas and information at the level that their time and resources will allow. Some women may choose to participate in a two full-week session ; others may join in a special weekend at the mid-point of the two-week session. Special programs for the overlapping weekend can make this time a rich experience for all. We still envision the creation of a WSPA community and a WSPA network as one of the major accomplishments or our time together. The dual format simply allows many more women than ever before to be a part of a growing WSPA.

For the next session we have broadly fastened upon the theme "The Working and Living Environments." We plan to explore how these environments in their physical, psychological, social and economic complexities relate to one another and most specifically to women. How can we, as women, integrate these two environments in our lives? What does dwelling-work-success-mean to us? We want to learn about specific situations. How have these issues been addressed and solved in our society, and other societies, in the past and today? (For example we are looking forward to having a report from a group of women architects, including past participants, who have just returned from China.) We want to become better informed by asking representatives of government agencies, planning boards, industry and financing establishments this question: How can we influence policy and better realize our projects? We want to think about how architecture is changing and how we, as women, want it to change.

We would like to bring in some women as special resources to be with us for the full session or for as brief a time as an afternoon, a few days, or whatever seems appropriate. If you would like to recommend yourself, or any other women, please let us know. We are particularly interested in finding a woman who would like to plan and handle our day care program.

We are attempting to lower the cost of attendance-but our fees reflect the fact that we have no grants or endowment. Women needing scholarships should find these themselves. Students might first look to their schools. Ideally each school should fund at least one student, perhaps calling WSPA '78 a conference and requiring a report after the session is over. Talk to your Dean (or employer) as soon as possible. Our preliminary planning suggests that the cost range might be for the two week session: $375 to $435, and for the weekend only: $70 to $100.

We want to encourage your continued and valued suggestions and coments on any of the above ideas. Please let us hear from you by the first of February. We are trying to keep paperwork and postage to a minimum, therefore we will not be sending out step by step reports as our planning proceeds, but we will send replies and applications for the next session to anyone who sends two self-addressed stamped envelopes.

the Women's School of Planning and Architecture


news-reviews

• Rebecca Dreis, a Masters student in the Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara, is conducting research on Women's Transit Service across the United States.

• Louise Atkins, a Masters student in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Waterloo is conducting research on Professional Women Planners in Canada. She is examining the employment inequities between male and female Canadian planners. Anyone wishing to submit or receive additional information should contact: Louise Atkins, 27 Young St. W., Waterloo, Ontario.

• Novia Carter, Associate Professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, is currently planning a course "Women's Interests in the Planning, Design and Environmental Fields." She would appreciate receiving course outlines, references from others who have given or taken courses on this topic.

• University of Manitoba, Festival of Life and Learning, February 23-25, 1978. Panel "The Built Environment: Women's Perceptions, Needs, Interventions. " Participants are: Carol Geller, Director, Human Rights Commission, Saskatchewan; Novia Carter, Professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Waterloo; Susanna Torré, Architect; Gerda R. Wekerle, Assistant Professor, York University.

• Paper Session - "Spatial Inequality in American Urban Life: Consequences for Women" organized by David Popenoe, Rutgers University and Gerda Wekerle, York University, American Sociological Association, September 5-9, 1978, San Francisco.


EDRA 8- WORKSHOP ON WOMEN

At the Environmental Design Research Association Conference, April 18-20, 1977, University of Illinois, a workshop was given to discuss general issues concerning women and the environment. The following is a summary report which was contributed by the workshop co-ordinator, Anne-Marie Pollowy.

(1) Environmental design is conceived in terms of a single predominant, non-differentiated user group. Little or no consideration is given to women as a specific user group with differing requirements.

Recommendation: Environmental design should provide for the needs of all user groups. Women should not be considered as an undifferentiated group.

(2) Sex-role stereotypes are perpetuated in environmental research through the use of sexist terminology and concepts. For example, assertive and / or aggressive behaviors are still described as "male behavior", while reserved or non-outgoing behavior is considered to be "female behavior."

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