Betty-Ann Lloyd and Frances Ennis take a break.

In their evaluations and reflections, some women talked about the first day's confusion as a positive experience.

At the beginning, there was some confusion but as I look back I am glad there was. The confusion was felt by everyone and brought us closer together

Others suggested, both in anger and in sorrow, that we had missed an important opportunity to confront and perhaps resolve differences around feminist/woman-positive. Still others talked about their surprise and concern that some women seemed to expect, even encourage, confrontation or conflict. These women said they felt most comfortable in their affinity groups where others affirmed the respect and trust they felt within their programs.

My experiences here have reaffirmed for me the value and strength of our own program philosophy. I've come to appreciate how our philosophy of individuality, egalitarian focus, and positive support networking has engendered a natural flow of both female-and male-positive activities and atmosphere as part of natural process.

One woman talked about how the tension around the issue of feminism seemed part of a pattern.

The old wall was present for me. . . where labels of "feminism" suddenly created a chasm of silence over which I can build bridges with those I know, but with strangers I get frightened and feel unsafe. Who is more frightened, us or them? . . . I would love to do some work at that level of making "feminism" feel safe for more women and less threatening. I felt disliked by some because of this issue.

Another woman wondered how others might experience those walls - and whether the walls are necessary at all.

I do wonder whether the women who don't call themselves feminists felt separate, other. . . and I wonder if they needed to, since many women act and think in what many call feminist ways without feeling comfortable with that label.

One woman articulated a strong feeling of separateness.

I felt very uncomfortable and sometimes felt like I had to give a reason for why I felt the way I did. I was mostly quiet in meetings. . . Finding those who think the same as me, of course I buddied up with them. Those who think differently, I observed and learned about them. I could not get used to this issue of men being brought up all the time as to blame for a woman not being able to learn.