Feminist Club Meeting
Sep. 2nd, 2015 06:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grimrose_eilwynnToday, I took the bus back to campus in the late afternoon to go to the first feminist club meeting of the year at my university. I'd just been sick to my stomach that morning, and it was raining, and the meeting was during the early part of dinnertime, but no way was I missing this.
The meeting consists of about ten people, all but one of whom identifies as female. One of them is a guy, though. Also, one of them is Black and one of them is Trans, which I mention simply because it shows there is at least some diversity among the group. We all just sit in a little circle in the women's center, which is a dinky little room full of squashy armchairs and couches in the gym basement. And there, we talk about all things politically related, along with some other stuff that's not politically related.
Today, for example, we discussed popcorn flavors for our exhibit at a student fair. We then went on to talk about political stuff: Planned Parenthood, cultural appropriation at the VMAs, and Caitlyn Jenner. (One memorable quote: "If you're going to dress up like a trans person for Halloween, dress up as one of the trans people who died.")
There was a big feeling of acceptance. The leader of the group said that while she couldn't guarantee a safe space, just because she couldn't control other people's reactions, she could promise a brave space -- a space where it's universally acknowledged that not everyone's going to agree and speaking your opinion is brave. She also said she didn't want any shouting or name calling. One girl found out I dislike needles just as much as she does and she gave me a high-five.
In general, there was just a friendly, fun atmosphere. I was left with a good first impression. There was lots of jokes, snarking... Everyone seemed accepting of everyone else's opinions, and I got the general feeling that people were trying to be respectful. (Once, for example, another girl asked the Black girl there how she felt about dreadlocks in relation to cultural appropriation. I actually learned a lot about dreads I hadn't previously known.)
My sister went to the first meeting with me to see how it was, but she didn't like it. She's more conservative, like our parents, and she's also not very political. So she's not coming back with me, and that's okay, but I think I'm going to continue to go to meetings.
Hopefully I'll make some good friends.
The meeting consists of about ten people, all but one of whom identifies as female. One of them is a guy, though. Also, one of them is Black and one of them is Trans, which I mention simply because it shows there is at least some diversity among the group. We all just sit in a little circle in the women's center, which is a dinky little room full of squashy armchairs and couches in the gym basement. And there, we talk about all things politically related, along with some other stuff that's not politically related.
Today, for example, we discussed popcorn flavors for our exhibit at a student fair. We then went on to talk about political stuff: Planned Parenthood, cultural appropriation at the VMAs, and Caitlyn Jenner. (One memorable quote: "If you're going to dress up like a trans person for Halloween, dress up as one of the trans people who died.")
There was a big feeling of acceptance. The leader of the group said that while she couldn't guarantee a safe space, just because she couldn't control other people's reactions, she could promise a brave space -- a space where it's universally acknowledged that not everyone's going to agree and speaking your opinion is brave. She also said she didn't want any shouting or name calling. One girl found out I dislike needles just as much as she does and she gave me a high-five.
In general, there was just a friendly, fun atmosphere. I was left with a good first impression. There was lots of jokes, snarking... Everyone seemed accepting of everyone else's opinions, and I got the general feeling that people were trying to be respectful. (Once, for example, another girl asked the Black girl there how she felt about dreadlocks in relation to cultural appropriation. I actually learned a lot about dreads I hadn't previously known.)
My sister went to the first meeting with me to see how it was, but she didn't like it. She's more conservative, like our parents, and she's also not very political. So she's not coming back with me, and that's okay, but I think I'm going to continue to go to meetings.
Hopefully I'll make some good friends.
