In each session we discuss different issues, looking at films, articles and other media, or just general life stuff. You don’t have to be an expert, or a woman to get involved – just enthusiastic! Feminism is not an isolated discipline, either, so expect to explore race, class and many other issues! Discussion group is organised by the awesome Dani: (check out her blog!).
In WAC this week we had some great new topic contributions:
- Week 2 [Wed 7 Mar] – Fitness, Physicality, & Feminism
- Week 3 [Wed 14 Mar] – Femme-inism
- Week 4 [Wed 21 Mar] – Femen & women protesting topless
- Week 5 [Wed 28 Mar] – Is baking a feminist act?
- Week 6 [Wed 4 Apr] – Vegetarianism & Feminism (new topic!)
- Week 7 [Wed 18 Apr] – Aboriginal women & Feminism in Australia (new topic!)
- Week 8 [Thu 26 Apr] – Suggest a topic!
- Week 9 [Wed 2 May] – Rad Sex & Consent Week
- Week 10 [Wed 9 May] – Suggest a topic!
- Week 11 [Wed 16 May] – May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, let’s do a related topic?
- Week 12 [Wed 21 May] – Suggest a topic!
When: Weekly, beginning Wednesday March 7th (Week 2) from 1pm to 2pm(ish)
Where: Mary Cooke room – level 2 union house (just opposite Rowden White Library)
Who: YOU. And anyone else interested. Everyone is welcome, including people who aren’t female-identifying. Come along to share your ideas or just have a listen, and meet new people!
Week 2 [Wed 7 March] – ‘Fitness, physicality, and feminism’
This week we will be discussing gender and sport, and how we relate to our fitness and physicality as feminists. What sports make you feel good about yourself? Have you experienced any sexism in gyms or certain clubs? To what extent body image tied into fitness in society today?
For some further food for thought check out these articles about women and the Olympics:
- Image comparison of sporting attire for men and women
- Women in boxing told to wear mini-skirts
- Saudi Arabia accused of being unOlympic with all-male team
Week 3 [Wed 14 March] – ‘Femme identity, femininity, and feminism’
We want to talk about how we approach femininity in feminist and queer communities and in our own lives, and discuss issues of empowerment, autonomy, gender policing, internalised misogyny, and choice. We will be discussing whether feminine expressions can be reclaimed in a space of self-love and power and what it means to identify as femme.
As usual, all welcome, and it doesn’t matter how much you already know or don’t know about this subject!
Links:
Week 4 [Wed 21 March] – ‘Femen and women protesting topless’
There is a group of womyn from the Ukraine called Femen who have gained international (ahem) exposure as they protest topless. They raise a few questions about the merits of protesting this way but it seems to be littered with ethical questions that would be great to explore with the group.
Is it trivialising the cause to be topless (when you feel empowered but other people are sexualising you out of context for your original protest?)
Week 5 [Wed 28 March] – ‘Baking is a feminist act!’*
Given the positive interest in us starting Stitch n Bitch sessions, it’d be great to talk about whether doing traditional ‘women’s work’ is progressive or regressive, neither, both, contextual?
There’s a great quote by Nigella Lawson about one of her cookbooks that the topic title is from:
Baking is the less applauded of the cooking arts, whereas restaurants are a male province to be celebrated. There’s something intrinsically misogynistic about decrying a tradition because it has always been female.
I’m not being entirely facetious when I say it’s a feminist tract.
There’s an opportunity here to discuss class privilege as well – what choice wom*n have about the work we perform, and how rewards for our work differ depending on our economic and political situations.
* Let’s also eat baked goods while discussing this!
Week 6 [Wed 4 April] – ‘Feminism & vegetarianism’
Week 7 [Wed 18 April] – ‘Aboriginal women & Australian feminism’
Week 8 [Thu 26 April] – Suggest a topic!
Week 9 [Wed 2 May] – Rad Sex & Consent Week: Suggest a topic!
Week 10 [Wed 9 May] – Suggest a topic!
Week 11 [Wed 16 May] – May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, let’s do a related topic?
Details will be added soon!
Week 12 [Wed 21 May] – Suggest a topic!
Details will be added soon!
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