Toronto Feminists

Thank goodness it’s a leap year.  Although I never explicitly stated that this blog should have a minimum number of posts per month, when I signed us up as a member of the BlogHer community they do require that your blog is ‘active‘ meaning there are a minimum of 3 posts a month.  So here I am, with what might seem like a desperate attempt to pad the blog.  However, while the content here may not be earth shattering, I thought it might be appropriate to summarize a few things that went on in February and what is coming up in March, especially since IWD is nearly upon us.

Our events had minimal attendance (Persepolis, Essay/Russian Play, Chatterbox on gender specific events and places and a prep for IWD) but one of our constant queries is “where are all the feminists?” and “how can we get people to come out to events?”  We’d like to learn more about how to get more than 3 people in out group listing 74 members to go to events and give feedback on what they’d like us to do more of. 

 Ramping up for the big rally/march on IWD, we have a few events posted next week that would be great warm-ups!  The V-Day benefit concert at the Pheonix Concert Theatre has lowered the ticket price to $10 and Eve Ensler will be there (Monday March 3). 

The Guerrilla Girls will be in Toronto for their first university lecture here, March 6.  Tickets are free to anyone interested, you don’t have to be a student!  

 So we’re planning, plotting and stewing about how to up our numbers, get more interest, see new faces and really get this community going!  If you’re passing by this blog and in the Toronto area, check out our group on Meetup.com

-nichole

We had a nifty little chat over dessert last week and the topic was (drumroll, please!) gender-specific spaces. It seems natural that whenever something is designated ‘men only’ or ‘women only’ that people are ready to jump in with really strong opinions, and we just kinda riffed on this theme.

Pretty quickly it was apparent that we had to distinuish between places where this is necessary for people to feel safe and psychologically comfortable (i.e. all-female staff in a women’s shelter) or because your culture demands it (i.e. women attending a women-only gym in keeping with their religion’s mandates) and places where it’s just pleasurable to be in that company.

So, we have these reasons that we prefer our own sometimes. The point was made that women will always have a culture that is distinct because of their shared history and conditions and that the desire to spend time with others like ourselves is the same as within any other culture. In this way it’s similar to the recent issue that had Toronto hopping: whether a black-focussed school should be established. There was some really astute commentary about desiring time with sisters, aunts, cousins, etc. because we enjoy time with those voices that don’t find expression when the whole family gathers. And sometimes there’s the experience in a mixed group that it’s an uphill slog to stay in the conversation when a few ‘alpha males’ tend to steer it. Some of the reasons to hang with the women are more prosaic, though: sometimes we choose a ‘women only’ movie club over a co-ed one just to avoid pick-ups.

Obviously there is a lot of support for well-considered gender-segregation but after the meetup, my initial trepidation found its way to the surface again, and I’ll tell you why. I think the points made above are strong and valid, but it’s also true that way too often gathering this way perpetuates really stereotypical behaviour. I pointed out that at my all-girl high school we couldn’t take shop but we had the lovely options of home ec., cosmetology and fashion arts. In the 1990s. And when my not particularly girly friends get together for semi-regular girls nights a lot of the conversation is about losing weight, going to the gym, going shopping, etc. It really boggles me. Unless you’re pointedly trying to avoid it, getting together as ‘girls’ generally feeds into this. It makes me wary, you know?

Anyway, before I wrap it up, I wanted to mention some notable issues that branched out from our central theme. We wound up talking about people who are transitioning gender and the welcome they recieve (or don’t) in gender-specific clubs and events; who’s allowed in our own group in the sense that we discussed what we’d think of a member whose boyfriend always came with her to our meetups; the ever-popular Miss G. project which is especially great because it’s NOT just aimed at girls.

-Tara

Apologies for the slacking on updates (i wish i could blame it on the snow like I do everything else) but check out our selection of events coming up listed in the sidebar -there are cultural events, general socializing/schmoozing and political mobilization on the horizon so come out and join in some events with fabulous feminists!

Daniela was good enough to mail out some info about what the Miss G project is planning for tomorrow on Valentine’s Day since the letter writing campaign hasn’t been enough of a kick in the ass for the ministry of education.  Visit the website for more details but here’s the quick and dirty version from their website:

The Game Plan

Miss G_ is staging a ‘phone-in’ on February 14, 2008. Happy Hearts Day!

We are asking all supporters of the project to call the Ministry of Education expressing that we cannot afford to wait any longer for a Women’s and Gender Studies course to be added into the Ontario Secondary School Curriculum. On February 14, call your mom, call your lova, then call the Ministry of Education.

Calling the Ministry of Education is neither as stressful nor as intimidating as it may sound. In fact, you are a citizen and it is the Ministry’s job to listen to you and to take your calls.

PHONE NUMBERS Kathleen Wynne’s Office: 416.325.2600
TDD/TTY: 1-800-263-2892

If the lines are busy or if you feel like really making sure they get the message: info@kathleenwynne.com
Fax: (416) 325-2608
Feedback Form http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/about/contact.asp#email

Take it to the top!:
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Phone Number: (416) 325-1941
Fax Number (416) 325-3745
dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

WHEN? between 9am – 5pm Thursday, February 14 (If that doesn’t work for you, anytime is better than never).

WHERE? Anywhere YOU are in the world, at one end of a two-minute phone-call.

WHAT TO EXPECT: This number will take you directly to Kathleen’s office, where her assistant will either pick up, or you will be put through to her assistant’s voicemail. You can leave a personal message or voicemail recording for her assistant to pass on to Minister Wynne. WHAT TO SAY: Identify who you are and where you are from. State that you are leaving a message for the Minister of Education, Kathleen Wynne, and express your support for a Women’s and Gender Studies course being implemented into the Ontario Secondary School Curriculum. Ask when Minister Wynne will honour her promises and policy-commitments to introduce WGS into the provincial curriculum. (There are more ideas for things to say below.)
–> Bonus points: Talk about a personal experience that proves to you why addressing this issue is so important and urgent.

WHAT TO REMEMBER: You are fabulous and intelligent, you have an opinion, and your voice needs to be listened to!