This is how EFN used to describe itself, for the record we’ve left it up, although EFN has changed:
A year ago this spring, the seeds for a new feminist group were planted in Edinburgh. Women were drawn together by the shared goal of organising the first Reclaim the Night march in that city in at least a decade. As the group grew and discussion flourished, the planning team decided that there was much more that they wanted to do as a group. The women were not content to watch the political and social world go by; they wanted to tackle issues and create a space for women of all backgrounds and lifestyles. They decided to form the Edinburgh Feminist Network (EFN).
Members of EFN do not believe that feminism is a ‘dirty’ word or a movement of past decades. Rather, they believe that feminism is a crucial response to today’s society at a personal, local and global level. More than that, feminism is imbedded into the lives and consciousness of the members of EFN. This group has provided many women with a place to go to be supported, explore new ideas, struggle with difficult topics, become politically active and enjoy the company of women with similar interests and passions.
Since its formation, EFN has grown into a hard-working collective. They accomplished their goal of organising a very successful Reclaim the Night March and Rally, which took over the streets of Edinburgh last October 11th. They also put on a fundraiser Ceilidh and host monthly discussion groups. The discussion group topics thus far have included such themes as Body Image and the Pornification of Young Women.
This year has started out strong for EFN, with many events and discussions planned in the coming months. They warmly encourage new women from all backgrounds and levels of experience to become involved. For more information, please contact us through: Email: e_f_n@myway.com
The Collective
EFN is a space for all women to meet for feminist discussion and workshops. The collective take on the responsibility for hosting the discussion groups and for organising feminist activism.
The Collective have shared values, and organising takes places based on these. If you would like to get involved with organising activism and events, and share the values below, get in touch and we would love for you to join.
We also recognise and foster an understanding that it is the lives of women that makes us experts, and invite women to explore the shared values with us.
Collective Shared Values
We believe that women have the right to control their own bodies, including the right to safe, affordable healthcare and contraception. We believe all women have the right to free, legal abortions without barriers. We believe the current debate around time limits is a strategy used to erode women’s choices.
We believe that women should have the right to express their sexuality with genuine freedom. We believe that women’s sexual choices in the western world are currently limited by the widespread demand and mainstreaming of pornography and prostitution.
We believe that gender is socially constructed, and is part of a hierarchy encompassing race, sexuality, class, ability and age. We believe that these work to prevent all people achieving their full potential as human beings.
We believe all forms of men’s violence and abuse against women is unacceptable.
We believe all members of society have a duty to work towards the eradication of gender based oppression.
We believe that feminism is a crucial response to today’s society at a personal, local and global level.
I too wish all women were given these freedoms. To choose what is appropriate for their lives without the continuous prejudices and stereotypes put upon them by society. I also wish that all women were respected by men and women. If we built respect in people for all human beings, maybe, one day there would be no need for activism. (We can all live in hope)
I couldn’t find any contact details on your website. Do you have regular meetings?
Best wishes
Sam Hardie
Do you have regular meetings. I can’t find your contact details on the website.
Best wishes
Sam Hardie
Hello! Sorry for the massive delay in replying to you. At the moment we have discussion groups once a month, on the 2nd Sunday of the month. If you’re on facebook then you can find us http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=5522224030&ref=ts and there will be updates about when we meet. If you don’t have facebook, then we also have a yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/e_f_n and thats a really great way to get involved and see whats happening.
Hi
Can tell me how i can get involved with the group please as I was a member of my uni group in Stirling and now working in Edinburgh makes it a bit difficult to attend meetings but i’m still really passionate about the issues relating to us today.
Thanks
Hello! At the moment we have discussion groups once a month, on the 2nd Sunday of the month. If you’re on facebook then you can find us http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=5522224030&ref=ts and there will be updates about when we meet. If you don’t have facebook, then we also have a yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/e_f_n and thats a really great way to get involved and see whats happening.
hi, i am a feminist stripper keen to get involved with your group. however i just wanted to check you were not against womens right to express her sexuality as she sees fit before i turn up,
please reply if this is a problem, if not, ill be in touch soon!
regards,
sara
Hi Sara,
You’ll be very welcome! The group at the moment operates as an inclusive discussion place – so we don’t have an agreed line on anything. We meet once a month on the first sunday afternoon with a different topic each month. The women that come along all have different veiws, different types of feminism. Some of us may have stances about stripping, or veiws on how it operates now, or on pay and conditions, harrasment, ect. So I’ll be honest, and say that I can’t guarentee no one would question stripping as such. We take ’safe’ discussion space very seriously though, and don’t allow personal attacks on individuals, agressive stances. Personally i see differences of opinions as a strength. Please do come along, we are meeting sunday 7th at the macdonald road library, at 3pm!
Hilary