The intervening years from Mexico to Copenhagen (1976 to 1980) showed growth in the knowledge of governments and peoples of the world in what was often referred to as "the woman question".

There was also growth in the Western concept of feminism which had received some impetus and recognition at Mexico. During these first five years this concept was often a divergent point of view in discussions between first and third world women. More in-depth study of women's issues however, showed that the problems of women everywhere were basically the same. It was the application of solutions that differed -- culture, climate, economics, all played their part with the cultural aspects being particularly strong. Women met in small groups across international lines and gained a greater knowledge of the similarities of oppression. They began to realize the societal and other differences which made universal solutions impossible.

This realization was by no means complete, however, when the Mid-Decade Conference in Copenhagen took place. The United Nations Conference and Forum had their own styles and each made their own contributions to the bank of knowledge which was being created in an attempt to store facts concerning the progress of the status of women during this period.

A great deal of good work went into the preparations for the United Nations Conference and Forum in Copenhagen. One of the tragedies of the decade was that the positive outcomes of Copenhagen and Mexico were not reported sympathetically in most of the media. There had been some progress since Mexico in this field. For example, the caricaturing of women, which had been a very notable feature of the first meeting, was considerably reduced. Nevertheless, there was still the tendency to take what were seen as "news- worthy" items and highlight them during and after Copenhagen, with the more sensational and least productive activities being reported. The world-at- large formed its opinion of Copenhagen from these accounts.

...in depth study...
showed that the problems
of women everywhere
were basically
the same.

Consequently, the gains made in greater recognition of women's issues, women's growing self esteem, the laws which were passed laying the groundwork for greater equality, were only sometimes mentioned. The positive aspects of women working toward sharing their interests and finding solutions to their problems were overlooked. Nairobi was a coming of age for women.

In retrospect, the negative reports out of Copenhagen had an effect on the subsequent preparations for the end of the decade meetings: the United Nations World Conference and Forum '85. Unnecessary fears were engendered in both government an nongovernmental people that proved somewhat of a handicap in the early negotiations for venue and financial support. However, these were overcome, and the non-governmental organizations proceeded with their planning. One of the measures of growth during the period under discussion was the maturity and determination shown by women in ensuring that the plans for Forum '85 were carried through.

The Nairobi Conference and
Forum '85

Nairobi was a coming of age for women. After Copenhagen, networks which had been in the formative stage, grew in numbers and in international linkages between Copenhagen and Nairobi. Women who asked to take part in activities at the Forum took very seriously the Planning Committees' request that there be international leadership where possible. There was considerably more knowledge about women and their concerns than there had been a decade before.

There had been some attempts at improvements related to the main issues of the decade, but women were well aware of the constraints which had mitigated against even greater progress being made. The stated objectives of the End of Decade United Nations Conference were to appraise the achievements of the decade, identify the barriers which had hindered full realization of these goals and identify forward-looking strategies.