T00 MANY

Lingerie is so ap-,

pealing that the braand waist cincherare now as importantas the lace petti-

To be seen!

Leather never looked better.

A growing num-ber of Americanyoungsters hovealready adoptedthe oddball cos-tumes and jew-elry, of Britain's

punk rockers

It is an insult to the reader to as-sume they've seen a certain trashy coverof the Rolling Stone, much less the in-side . If you did, however, I assume youwere insulted by it.

My first glance at it could not behelped . Walking through North Beach Isaw the magazine in the window of P00TASTE (a shop that obviously had poortaste) . The big color photo cover ofthe tabloid had five girls (giggling)posing in skimpy undergarments, underthe headline : THE GO-GOs PUT OUT!

Hey, today's modern gal won't letherself be talked into compromising andplainly materialistic situations inwhich the menfolk bag all the loot . Oh,no! She'll arrange the whole deal her-self these days, if there's a buck init ("I'll put out, for .") . . .that'swhere our "liberation" has led us!

I'm not complaining about dog-eat-dog unquenchable thirst for buck$ ; butif I hear another line about how hardit is to be a woman in the rock biz,who knows what act of lunacy I'll com-mit . Girls (and I do mean "girls"), youcompact the issue . If your work is equa-ted with "putting out", if your successis based on myths of femininity, thenso are your hard times -and thanks, butno thanks, for the example you set.

But these controversies don't addressthemselves to the readers of MAX R'n'R.Or do they? Surely, the GO GOs aren'trole models for you young whippersnap-per punkettes! Well, if not, who is?

We take it .for granted that we havemoved far beyond the pathetic lifestylethose females represent . We take it forgranted that we're even newer than the"New Age" . . .anarchists have a knack forthese kinds of foolish assumptions.

Here we are, 5 years into punkdom'sreign . The assumption is that we rejectmany of the ideas we've grown up with,that we reject most forms of government,that we reject consumer fashion . . .also(at least this is what I assumed 5 yearsago) that women could feel more explor-atory-expressive, strong and creative--accepted (nearly, at least) as equals it

this "movement".Assumptions are dangerous, especiall

when it comes to social/political con-cepts sacrificed and well worked for.Too many seem to get chopped down whenwe're not absolutely vigilant.

Feminist dogma become overworked forsome of us, as would any dogma, but Istill assumed that the important partshad become part of us . We didn't discussit, for fear of sounding "old hat", andhell!, everybody know we're equal anddifferent . Assumptions, like amendmentsare easily shot down.

When I first saw boys in make-up andpeacock hair, I thought, "Hey! There'sbravery in the name of Art and Rebel-lion!" Oh, how naive I was.

Little did I reckon that it was thesame rock'n'roll stance taken by thefellow who sang Under My Thumb.

. .I walk into= raunchy club, thesame today as five years ago . Packs ofpeople dressed in a variety of textures,hair and faces of a vast range of color.I assume that each person is expressingtheir alternative vision of beauty . Ina wild re-hashing of styles old and new,some kind of art is found . Or is it?

SSJT .'PTIONSust because it has been done before

doesn't kill the thrill for these kids.Things can be changed - stretched andstrengthened by the different twist add-ed when they throw their two-cents worthin (spare change?) . The real change isinside, in your mind and soul, and yourapproach to life . What you look likemeans nothing (I've already assumed toomuch) ; looks mean nothing, because peoplewill just follow trends . Some with wit.Others without ever thinking about cre-ating alternatives . Leather gear andspikey hair is beautiful, and is a de-monstration of anger towards the statusquo -but it can also be a simple, nega-tive way to bitch about this world . Tosome, beauty is an ugly word . Ah, well.Some people are ugly.

Perhaps Iwas just a bit crazed withmy notions of modern leatherette fem-ales . . .hard-edged make-up and black dudssuggested not only a rejection of thetypically soft, wimpering and placidwoman, but also an assertion of strength.I assumed that colored hair wasn't justfor playful shock purpose or politicalstatement, but maybe also for the pureglory or color itself.

Again I assume too much . Of coursewe don't all act with Art in mind. Themanner of your walk reveals a lot . . .likeit or not, you're a walking canvas . Itupset me to hear a girl say, "I dyed myhair blue because he wanted it blue ."Sounds crazy, but it, happened. The sen-sation of an electric blue halo oughtabe enough reason, but instead many fash-ions and women in the scene are as mind-less as those in GLAMOUR magazine.

The assertion of strength does notchange the fact that we are women, andour struggle isn't as physical as thatof all the thrashing guys out there.Many girls really get into the freneticcompetition of slam dancing and skate-boarding, but many aren't comfortablein this rough form of play . They feelrather out-of-it . Not only can't theycarry off the rough-housing very easilybut I'd be surprised if they really hadny interest in it . Many people don'tlike getting smashed around for a night'sfun, male or female . I don't mean toknock slamming -I've spent many a nightburning off energy and anger on thedance floor . It is too simple to say,"Boys make war, and girls play withdolls," when talking about the ways wewere trained to think from the day wewere born, but there is truth in it.We can't assume that "liberation" meanshaving crossed over into themale world.Who wants it all? It does mean havingthe freedom to dive off the stage, getequal pay and have a little room tohang-out near the stage, wear mohawks,leather or a pretty dress, whether boyor girl.

Phyllis Schlafly playing to people's worst tears