Next discussion group – Religion and Feminism

The next discussion group will be on the 6th of December from 3-5 in the McDonald Road Library. As always this is a discussion group for self-identifying women only and children are welcome. The McDonald Road Library is accessible (ramps, ground floor meeting, disabled parking) but if you need more information on accessiblily then just get in touch.

The topic will be religion in the feminist movement. As a group EFN includes women who have a religious faith and those who don’t, so we thought it would be interesting to have a space where we can discuss how what we believe affects our feminism, how different faith groups treat women, and anything else we’re thinking about around faith and feminism. Whatever your perspective is, please come along and enrich our discussion!

RTN is back

Its time to start organising the next Reclaim the Night march, and so this is your first chance to get involved! Many of those involved in organising the last march are unable to commit to another run so we’re looking for some new women to get involved with the next one, to bring new ideas, energy, planning skills etc. We’ll be meeting Monday the 9th (this Monday) at 6pm in the Filmhouse cafe (good wheelchair access, feel free to bring children). This is a chance for those who have been involved in the past to hand over the information and skills they have collected to those who want to organise the next one. You’re not making a massive commitment by coming along, feel free to come along if you just want to find out about more.

The filmhouse cafe is quite big, so if you can’t find us or just don’t know anyone then feel free to call 07988187031 and we will come find you!

Femmestruation Week

Edinburghs new Anarchafeminist Kolektiv is planning a week for of activities in February  13-20th around the topice of menstruation, looking at a whole range of topics including the impact on the environment from tampons etc (and the alternatives available) to various gigs, zines and chances to discuss how menstruation affects our lives (whether its something we do or don’t do).  You can find them on their blog http://edinburghanarchafeminist.blogspot.com/ or on facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=203779835872&v=info&ref=ts.

The more people that get involved the better it’ll be so if you have the time to spare then please do get involved!

Trans Issues and feminism, October 4th Discussion

4^th October Meeting Notes

Sunday’s meeting was well attended with 16 of us turning up to discuss the topic of Feminism & Trans Identities: most of us were first timers so after brief introductions and cake we began talking about Julie Bindle’s article.

Whilst not all of us were aware of Julie Bindle the thrust of her controversial argument was that a male to female trans woman could not understand the experience of being a woman sufficiently to become a rape councillor.

Our discussion ranged then around different reactions to Bindel’s comments, were they correct or offensive? Does being a woman come from living as one, being born with the right body or what?

Views around the table varied widely, some of us felt there are tendencies or instincts which differentiate the sexes, others of us felt gender categories are unnecessarily limited/ing. Some of us mentioned Butler, some of us had never head of her!

We talked about Drag Kings and Drag Queens, sport, Iran, sexualality/the sexes, sex, power and Romak Polanski.  In fact it was hard not to come to the conclusion that we have a lot to say to one another!!

Wrapping up over cake we got new volunteers to write to the face book list, write this note and facilitate the next session.

On the 1^st of November you’re all invited to come with media clippings (articles or pictures) which you‘ve found interesting, exciting or annoying as a woman/feminist.   Let’s see what’s on our minds and find out what different angles we’re all coming from!  So we all get a chance to really talk to one another and listen some of the session will be in little groups.  Fag breaks and biscuit stops will be included.

Come and join in, no experience necessary!

Xx

One of the first timers.

Next Sunday discussion: 1^st November McDonald Library 3-5

From a different perspective:

Like Rosalind I was a first time attendee of the EFN October 2009 session and was warmly welcomed with offerings of tea, coffee biscuits and of course the comradery of fellow new and old EFN members. Our discussion transpired from the recent international news featuring Caster Semenya a young athlete who was questioned about her gender in that her physical characteristics seemed to resemble that of a young man; a deep voice and muscular build. The discussion carried was not whether in fact she was a man or woman, but where do international bodies, specifically those who’s mandate is decipher and further judge based on the qualifications of gender. Obviously this is one factor what plays a large role in the segregation of sexes when it comes to sporting events.

Our discussion did not delve too deep into the who’s a stronger sex or the age-old discussion of whether athletics ought to a gender inclusive aspect of an ‘equal’ society, but rather socio-political binaries which are defined for us in society and how they affect us especially in social commentary people like Julie Bindle put forward. The discussion then curved to where we draw the line when it comes to respective perceptions of what it means to be male or female or trans and the implications this has on general discussions like this. For everything in so many subjective ways can be considered in these types of discussions, which is sometimes the most difficult aspect of dissecting these contemporary issues.

A Few links to follow up with the most recent discussion of the EFN

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/08/lesbianism

• An article written by Julie Bindle focusing on elements of transsexual and bisexual culture

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32477147/ns/sports-olympic_sports/

• An American article which presents the case of  Caster Semena.

Other Media insight:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boys_Don’t_Cry_(film)

(hate to cite something from Wikipedia, but the bottom features a few more links and further the film synopsis etc.) If you haven’t checked this movie out, it is really a very interesting depiction brought to light through this Hollywood production. Further there was quite a controversy which stirred on the making of this movie…Read on!

http://www.feministing.com/archives/018534.html

Just a video to check out another transgender perspective.

Pub Night – Next Tues

Feministas and friends,  following our last social its pub time again, following the pattern of our sometime-between-monthly discussion groups pub plan.  So….

***Next Tuesday 20th October at  6pm @ the Blind Poet ***

Its on West Nicolson Street, next to the Pear Tree.  As before a relaxed, mixed night (menfolk welcome) open to all for feministey-fun.  If you just want to come along and find out about us, its ideal.  Its a small pub, but i will make a better effort at some sort of sign to identify us.  I just didn’t follow through on the feminist hat plan before – and am now in awe of the Gude Cause women… http://www.flickr.com/groups/1194107@N25/pool/

See you next week xx

Gude Cause this Saturday!

10th of October is the Gude Cause March celebrating 100 years of Women’s suffrage by by reinacting the original procession which took place in Edinburgh. People will be assembling on Bruntsfield links at 12 Noon on the day, see http://www.gudecause.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/Gude-Cause-Procession-Final-Details.pdf for all the exciting details!

Discussion Group – 4th October

EFN Women’s Discussion Group

4th October 3-5pm

Mac Donald Road Library (Off Leith Walk)

Trans-Friendly, Children Welcome,

Venue is wheelchair accessible

Topic: Trans Identities and Feminism

Following the recent headlines about an athlete put through ‘gender-testing’, and some discussion of Julie Bindels comments on transexual and transgender people and politics within the group we are having an open discussion of feminism and trans politics: exploring the discrimintation that people who break gender or sexual “norms” face and whether trans-identities challenge feminist ideas of what women are and present difficulties to feminist politics. I’ll bring along some cuttings and some of Julie Bindels comments to spark discussion. Feel free to bring anything else along!

Julie Bindel

This is for many a sensitive topic, which deals quite closely with peoples personal sense of identity. I’d stress that this is safe-disscussion space, which will be facilitated. Whilst different veiws and opinions are very welcome, respect for peoples different experiences and opinions will be central. The group has a trans-friendly policy welcoming all who identify themselves as women.

On a lighter note – tea and coffee will be around, but feel free to bring cake/biscuits to contribute if you have time. If anyone wants to chat prior to meeting /ask questions/ suggest anything for facillitation do message me!

The Wikipedia Page for Julie Bindel is good, and links to her controversial articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Bindel

Heres the recent article about the athletics ‘gender verification test’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/19/caster-semenya-gender-verification-test

NOTE: I feel this is a really vital/challenging/difficult area for feminists and women’s human rights activists to negotiate, especially if they are cis sexual (i.e. not straightforwardly identifying as male/man and female/woman) and have never had to consider other experiences of gender identity. I’ve been wrestling with the wording… apologies if i hit the wrong note, comments telling me I have are genuinely welcome, preferably with constructive criticism…

Social Time

Just a announcement/reminder that our first of a new regular pub night is:

the pub!

***NEXT Tues 22nd September at 6pm***

it will be in the Blind Poet on West Nicolson Street, mainly because we have met in the Pear Tree before and its usually so busy/cold we end up in the quieter Blind Poet.  This is a mixed night open to all for some relaxed feministey-fun.  Ideal for new folk, and for oldtimers. Its a small pub, but i’ll make some sort of sign or wear a hat so you can find us.  Do just come along, have a chat and see what we’re about.

It is also a nice prelude to Ladyfest Edinburgh, a weekend of feministy-arty amazingness which will be happening between the 25-27th!

September Discussion – Summary

A brief summary of what I thought were the main points at Sunday’s discussion group on the topic of women in politics:

(Admin: please feel free to add anything I may have skipped over, especially on the topic of Harriet Harman’s comments, as I wasn’t present for that part)

Harriet Harman’s comments: “Men cannot be left to run things on their own. I think it’s a thoroughly bad thing to have a men-only leadership. In a country where women regard themselves as equal, they are not prepared to see men just running the show themselves. I think a balanced team of men and women makes better decisions.”

How did these rational words get so twisted by the media?

How do women get elected to constituencies?

The atmosphere of aggressive and often puerile debate in Parliament. Is this a factor, are women actually choosing not to go into politics, if they have to go into this kind of environment? I found it interesting to note the phenomenon of group interaction. It was mentioned that in a group full of men, some of us felt we became more ‘masculine’ in arguing and speaking style; as in more gestural and loud, in order to be listened to or even heard.

Are the hours of work in Parliament discouraging for women who have families? We briefly touched on child-rearing and workplace dilemmas, including still archaic soceitial attitudes. For example, women are assumed to want (or need or that they ought) to spend more time with their offspring, ignoring the man who works all hours and his potential difficulties with only seeing his children at weekends. Is there a marked difference between the situation in the Scottish Parliament and in Westminster?

Is it a possibility that established women in, say, the Conservative party are prejudiced against working under a (young) female leader as opposed to a man? Could this sort of attitude, especially among the older generations, be preventing women from getting high up the political ladder?

The fact that female politicians still get judged on their clothes and appearance over their politics. We briefly talked about Germaine Greer’s column in the Guardian criticising Michelle Obama’s dress; was this supposed to be ironic? Those who read it commented that if it was indeed intended to be, then it really was not obvious! We would’ve expected better..

On the whole this was a really great discussion and thanks to everybody who came along. We are also pleased to have arranged a more structured group format from now on with sharing of administrative and facilitation responsiblities on a rota basis.

YAY for feminisim!

Next Discussion Group

The next EFN discussion group will be on the 6thof September at 3-5 in the Nelson Hall in the McDonald Road Library.   We”ll be looking at two topics:

A think about women in Politics, following from Harriet Harmen’s now infamous comments! Is an affirmative action/quota type arrangement necessary to encourage women into political careers? Why don’t more women want to get involed in politics? How could this be changed? Would Britain/the world look different if more women were politicians? etc

- admin discussion. How can be organise organising EFN better? How should we facilitate our meetings. (Sounds dull but SO IMPORTANT, please do come along!)

As always this is a women only discussion (trans inclusive) but children (of either sex) are welcome.   The McDonald Road library has good disabled access and parking but if you have any other needs then just get in touch.