Charleston Women's Collective

Calling All Bodiez and Brainz!

2010-11-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post some info on the next two Queer Sex Talks. The Talks are a series of discussions/workshops hosted by the Doomwood Feminist Artist Collective in an effort to create a sex-positive environment in which to discuss various issues pertaining to our community. Everyone is welcome, no matter your orientation or identity! We want the gayest, straightest, queerest, questioningist people out there to show up and get down with us.

The next Queer Sex Talk will be on Friday Nov. 12 at 6:00 at 4 Elmwood Ave. Emily will be facilitating a discussion about redefining what is sexy and why that is important. We'll be making use of Catharine MacKinnon's essay Sexuality, Pornography, and Method: "Pleasure Under Patriarchy". MacKinnon's essay provides an analysis of how what is considered "sexy" in our culture is established--by whom, by what means and to what ends. Her analysis will prove helpful to us in our group navigation, deconstruction, and personal re-definition of what is sexy. Email charlestonwomen@gmail.com and I'll send you a PDF version of the article. If you have a chance to read, or at least skim, the article in preparation for the discussion, please do! If not, come anyway! Additionally, this discussion will set us up for...

The next next Queer Sex Talk, which will be held on Friday, December 3rd, at 6:00 at 4 Elmwood Ave.! I will be facilitating a discussion about queer pornography and how it is helping to create sex-positive culture. We'll be talking about feminism, sex-positivity, queer sexuality, creativity, and how they all tie together. We'll also be continuing the conversation from the previous meeting about redefining sexy, and discussing how queer porn is helping to re-define, or rather undefine and deconstruct what is considered "sexy" in our culture. If you'd like to get a bit of orientation to the way I've been thinking about this so far, check out the blog post I wrote for my feminist art class: http://feministartnow.blogspot.com/2010/09/because-whats-more-queer-theory-than.html

Thanks!

Queer identity and cultural identity

2010-09-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

So yesterday at the queer sex talk we discussed a lot having to do with identity and labeling. And while we all came to some kind of agreement about how the word Queer is something people can identify with because it encompasses the fluidity of their sexual identity and doesn't confine them. And today I was reading for school about challenges facing students with diverse cultural background and ethnicity in the classroom. It brought up the point of students who are immigrants or associate with a non-dominant ethnicity, religion, or culture often have a fluid sense of identity. Often students attempt to conform to the dominant culture in school so they fit in and do not isolate themselves, while at home they associate with the traditions and practices of their families and sometimes cultural communities.
I thought about this a lot last semester while I worked on a paper about Muslim Americans in the public school system. These students have to define and then redefine their identity in every situation. And these decisions are often very visible, for example the simple matter of how to dress. There are intense pressures on students from both their families and their peers in school.
The decisions these students make which affect their identity include sexuality, but also include choices about the language they speak, their religious practices, their social habits, the food they eat, the list goes on and on.
I just think it's incredible how many of our personal choices can affect the way other people view us and what labels are assigned to us.

I also read about how teachers should respectfully talk about LGBT issues in the classroom to reduce homophobia in the classroom... but in South Carolina that is pretty much ILLEGAL to do.

And I would really like to redesign this blog to make it prettier but I should probably do my homework.

Thanks

Go to this!

2010-09-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

My blog post about the intersection of feminism, art, and queer pornography.

http://feministartnow.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-09-13T19%3A43%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7

I feel it coming...

2010-09-04T01:04:00.000-07:00

Back to school...after the long semester off organizing, volunteering, fundraising, grant writing, bike riding, and traveling, I am back at ol' CofC, finishing College. It's interesting how being back in a space of academically savvy women who are challenging gender norms just lights a fire under my ass. I am in my capstone WGST class (awesome) with Micah, for one, which is really exciting. I am also taking a class that I don't actually need to graduate, called Studio Art Approaches to Third Wave Feminism. When I first saw that class listed, I freaked out, I figured that CofC had sent some sleuth-like character to stalk me and figure out what would lure me back in to the higher education system. "Ha-Ha!" the genderless reporter reports, "ve shall offer a course on feminist art, and ze helpless child shall be helpless and helplessly fall into our vell-laid trrrap!" And this is exactly what happened, and now I am in this class, which is, according to my professor, the ONLY EXPLICITLY FEMINIST ART CLASS BEING TAUGHT IN THE UNITED STATES.

Huh? Really? Oh, I guess I'm not that surprised, just disappointed as usual.

But seriously, how awesome is that? I am in a class with a group of women, all honors students, who for some reason or another decided to take the class. I'm a little anxious. I mean, feminist art is pretty much all me and most of my friends do! But most of the girls I'm in class with have barely considered how the two might be related, and many aren't familiar with feminism at all. I think I talk too much in class, and I'm afraid that I intimidate them, because I seem to have a pre-existing opinion and experience with all of this stuff. I want so bad for them to all realize that I don't really know anything more than they do about making feminist art. All they have to do is get the least bit excited, shed that initial layer of self-consciousness, and grab a marker or a guitar, or a camera, or a paintbrush, or some crazy object unbeknownst to life as we know it, and start emoting, expressing, telling.

We'll see. I shall report. I hope that some of my friends who do feminist art can come into the class as visitors coughGracieLizSeanRachaelcough.

XOXO

Jenna

Meanwhile in Iceland

2010-08-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

Johanna Sigurdardottir is the Prime Minister of Iceland.

Age of Testosterone comes to end in Iceland
excerpt: No one doubts that there is a gender revolution under way, and not just because Ms Sigurdardottir, 66, is the world's first openly gay Prime Minister. “If you crash the economy,” declared an irreverent Icelandic blogger, “the lesbians take over”.

After the Crash, Icelands Women Lead the Rescue
This article mentions a "Bjork fund" created by two Icelandic women running a large financial firm.

This is a quote from an interview with Sigurdardottir:

Your government is 50 per cent female. Is equality important to your vision for Iceland?
 
Definitely! My long experience in politics tells me that egalitarian policies are the best way to unite and empower people, and are also a necessary counterweight to the sometimes dividing and detrimental influence of market forces. A society that does not use the intellectual power of its female population fully is not a wise society. Women are now the majority of students in the Icelandic universities, and 43 per cent of our MPs.
We have to use all our resources to bounce back from the recession and we expect women to take their full part in the new era. Most women are not as tainted by mistakes in the conduct of the economy as the male population, and now they deserve an opportunity. We are determined to achieve gender equality in the political sphere but, unfortunately, the corporate side is still lacking. This is odd, because international research shows that companies with a sound gender policy are better run and more profitable than male-dominated companies. We are prepared to introduce legislation that would actively encourage the private sector to adopt a wiser and more effective gender policy.
By the way, it's not a coincidence that the World Economic Forum recently ranked Iceland first in its annual, 134-country survey of gender equality, followed closely by Norway, Finland and Sweden. We would like to keep that position!

[end quote]

This is what horses look like in Iceland:

Midnight Mystery Ride

2010-04-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

The Queers With Gears midnight mystery ride will leave from the Outer Space at 11:00 Friday night, right after The Queer Show. The ride will end at an undisclosed location. Yum. Dykes on bikes, fags on trikes, heteros on motos, queens on dream machines and that crazy queer kid on the unicycle, all are welcome!

City Paper features QueerFest in the City Picks section!

2010-04-14T14:00:00.001-07:00

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/Event?oid=1890964

QueerFest Schedule

2010-04-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post the simplified finalized schedule!!

Workshops to take place at the Women's and Gender Studies Office: 7 College Way, College of Charleston (Next to Physicians Auditorium)
Music, Art Show, et cetera to take place at the Outer Space: 623A Meeting St.

April 14th
6:00 - Art as Activism Workshop
7:00 - Why Queer? Workshop
8:00 - Who Wears the Cock? Workshop

April 15th
7:00 - LGBTQ Health Issues Workshop
8:00 - The Tree of Inequality: Intersectionality and GLBTQQI Youth Organizing Workshop

April 16th
5:30 - Queer Warriors Parade (Meet at the gazebo at Hampton Park)
8:00-11:00 - The Queer Show- An art show featuring artists working in time-based media exploring queer identities/experiences.
12:00 - "Queers With Gears" Midnight Mystery Bike Ride meet-up location TBA

April 17th
1:00 - Queer Consent Workshop
2:00 - Feminism, Creativity, and Queerness Workshop
3:00 - Queering Society Through Language Workshop

9:00 - QueerFest Music Show
Short Shorts
Psychic Handbook
Romanenko
DJ Psychic Handbook
DJ Party Dad
DJ Wigdan Giddy

Chantelle Lebeau

2010-04-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Aren't these beauuuttiiful? Thanks to Savannah for letting us use all of her fancy technology. Look for the second picture in the City Paper on Wednesday in the City Picks section!

QueerFest T-shirts! More to come!

2010-04-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

Micah Blaise
Nathan Dodds

Elisa Mundis
Ryan Strickler

QueerFest organizers

2010-04-11T09:02:00.001-07:00

Daniel Stone
Caitlin
Jenna Lyles
Becca Schillizzi

QueerFest organizers

2010-04-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

Daniel Stone
Caitlin
Jenna Lyles
Becca Schillizzi

QueerFest Workshops

2010-04-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

All Workshops will be held at the Women's and Gender Studies Office, 7 College Way on the College of Charleston Campus (right next to Physician's Auditorium)

Wednesday

6 pm Art as Activism

7 pm Why Queer

8 pm Gender Theory

Thursday

7 pm LGBTQ Health Issues

8 pm The Tree of Inequality: Intersectionality and GLBTQQI Youth Organizing

Saturday

1 pm Queer Consent

2 pm Feminism, Creativity, and Queerness

3 pm Queering Society Through Language

Liz Vaughan

Title: Art as Activism. Time: Wednesday 6 pm
Summary: An informational workshop about how art can act as a tool of activism. The workshop leader hopes to inspire some dialogue about how art and activism intersect. She will also highlight what is happening in Charleston and in the outside world.

Caitlin

Title: Why Queer? Time: Wednesday 7 pm.
Summary: This workshop will delve into an analysis of both sexuality and gender, discussing the ways in which they are inextricably conjoined and how these aspects of the human experience are shaped by cultural attitudes. The workshop leader will discuss the construction of sexuality and gender, and methods of deconstruction from individual experiences. In a discussion format, the group will analyze the false limitations placed on gender and sexuality.

Carter Girlardo and Tara Dunn

Title: Gender Theory Time: Wednesday. 8 pm
Summary: The motivation of this workshop is to tackle the concept of gendered roles in society, specifically within relationships. The discussion material will include the concept of gender identity (especially when contrasted with another person), gender identifications from the outside in (how the view of others affects one's own identity) and sexual roles in and out of relationships. The goal is to move from a subjective and introspective understanding of gender (how one views oneself), to an objective and extrospective view (the gaze of others) and finally to a reflective and more comparative conception of gender as a role-playing, relating and co-operating being. In other words, I'm queer, what queer means, and queer sex/relationships.

This workshop will be lead by a group of MUSC students, facilitated by Courtney Abrams.

Time: Thursday 8 pm.
Title: LGBTQ Health Issues Time: Thursday 7 pm
Summary: All too often, GLBTQ consumers fall through the cracks of the health care system, in large part due to a lack of understanding by both doctor and patient. In this workshop, medical students from the MUSC Gay-Straight Alliance discuss key health issues specific to the GLBTQ population, and how to address potential misunderstandings in the doctor-patient relationship.

Mellissa Moore

Title: The Tree of Inequality: Intersectionality and GLBTQQI Youth Organizing
Time: Thursday 8 pm.
Summary: This is an interactive workshop, which teaches intersectionality as a best tool for organizing. Queer organizing provides unique opportunities to span the lines of race, class, gender, and all other categories that tend to divide communities, as queer people come in all shapes, sizes, and variations. The first half of the training will incorporate music and diagrams together to form an audio-visual representation of intersectionality. The second half will include an interactive strategic planning session.

Micah Blaise

Title: Queer Consent Time: Saturday 1 pm
Summary: In this discussion-based workshop, participants will explore the nature of consent in all relationships, both sexual and non-sexual, and how the issue of consent relates to queer identity. Participants are encouraged to bring their experiences, ideas, and questions.

Caroline Marcantoni

Title: Feminism, Creativity, and Queerness Time: Saturday 2pm
Summary: This workshop will be focused on using feminist theory to explore the value of creativity and the extent to which creativity can be implicated into our lives (queerness). It will explore the ability of feminism to open avenues for creativity in topics such as gender roles, sexuality, and relationships. In essence; explicating how creativity and queerness are synonymous in that they both imply breaking boundaries constructed by a patriarchal society. Being queer is living creatively is being a feminist.

Melanie Keller

Title: Queering Society Through Language Time: Saturday 3 pm
Summary: Spanish is a highly gendered language with two options: masculine or feminine. But the LGBTQQ Community in Latin America, particularly Chile, is breaking these gender binaries via language usage and purposely not distinguishing between masculine and feminine subjects, adjectives, etc. What does this mean for Chilean society? Could the social effects of this queer linguistic activism end sexism, conservatism and sexual discrimination? With regards to the transsexual/transgender community who identify themselves as men trapped inside womens bodies and vice versa, will this gender neutral usage help or hinder their cause? We will discuss the possibilities of this language change and queer activism in general in an international setting.

Queerfest fliers

2010-04-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

Alejandro's Flier for QueerFest (Note that The Queer Show begins at 8:00, not 7:00)

2010-04-04T22:29:00.001-07:00

Wednesday is Theory Night

2010-04-02T18:43:00.000-07:00

Wednesday evenings at 6pm starting April 7th 2010 will heretofore be designated Theory Night. Lets meet Wednesday night at 6pm at the Outer Space and talk shop. The subject matter is not specifically feminism, but feminism is relevant to the topic. Period. Whatever it is. That's just the world we live in.
So lets talk some philosophical/political/legal/aesthetic/sexual/esoteric theory.
If you are reading the Charleston Women's Collective blog, you will probably enjoy coming to hang out with me and us wednesday evenings at 6pm. I kind of want to talk about Ancient Greek philosophy this wednesday. Try and stop me. I dare you.
Outer Space is at 623 Meeting St, on your left as you head north, inside the gnarly barbwire fence, the white building on your left as you pull in.

XOXO
Sean

P.S. I need women's collective presence at this thing. You guys are like grizzled veteran discussioners.

QUEERFEST

2010-04-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

Queerfest is a weekend long event focusing on creative exploration of queer identities/experiences.

April 16th and 17th

at the Outer Space - 623A Meeting Street

Workshops throughout the week prior (Schedule TBA)
Why Queer?

Gender Theory
Androgyny and Alchemy
Feminism, Creativity, and Queerness
Art as Activism
Practicing Good Consent
LGBTQQ Youth Activism & Organizing
LGBTQ Health Issues

April 16th
5:30: Queer Warriors Parade (contact Chantelle Lebeau for info!)
7:00-10:00: The Queer Show- An art show featuring artists working in time-based media exploring queer identities/experiences.
12:00: "Queers With Gears" Midnight Mystery Bike Ride meet-up location TBA

April 17th
9:00 - QueerFest Music Show
Short Shorts (www.myspace.com/shortshortsworld)
Psychic Handbook (http://www.myspace.com/psychichandbook)

Romanenko (http://www.myspace.com/romanenko_hasanovic)

Queer Warriors Parade Flier by Chantelle!

2010-03-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

Lady Bambino Strikes Again

2010-03-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

You should visit the tumblr page of my friend and fellow WoCo member, Becca Schillizzi, high-style androgynous internet celebrity who steals hearts and makes the queerest of dreams come oh-so-true.

http://ladybambino.tumblr.com/

Also, look for her unforgettably sexy face on the cover of the first issue of PocketSmut, which will be available at QueerFest, which you should attend.

http://pocketsmut.tumblr.com/

Did I mention that I love my life?

pocket smut

2010-03-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

howdy,

Nina Raheja and meself are starting a literary erotica zine called pocket smut, you should all consider submitting, it'll be worth your while ;)

http://pocketsmut.tumblr.com/

<3

More Information

2010-02-25T09:14:00.000-08:00

Queerness

For the purposes of this show, we are defining Queer not necessarily as a sexual orientation, but as an approach to sexuality, a philosophy regarding the process of sexuality—its fluidity, its gray areas, the ways we experience it, engage with it, create it, reclaim it, the way we interpret our own and other people’s sexualities, and how all of that has so much to do with our everyday lives and our identities. You can be heterosexual and queer. Gender is quite relevant to this topic as well. Think about binaries, social constructions, methods of deconstruction, playfulness and creativity, sexuality as process, subversion, deliberateness, identity and experience. Your piece might be self-reflective, analytical, or abstract. As long as you are actively and honestly engaging with queerness/queer sexuality, you are headed in the right direction.

Time Based Art

Some definitions I found online:

“art works that are sequenced through time, that change as we view them, and that may be ephemeral (eg video, kinetic sculpture, performance works).”

"Any data that changes meaningfully with respect to time can be characterized as time-based media. A key characteristic of time-based media is that it requires timely delivery and processing. Once the flow of media data begins, there are strict timing deadlines that must be met, both in terms of receiving and presenting the data. For this reason, time-based media is often referred to as streaming media -- it is delivered in a steady stream that must be received and processed within a particular time frame to produce acceptable results." (This is a very strict definition. Don’t take it too seriously.)

"Time-based media is a term used to refer to works of art which are dependent on technology and have duration as a dimension. Artists make very specific decisions in their choice of media and the way in which their work is presented. Specific display equipment might be important because of a particular quality of sound or image it creates, or because the artist has made conceptual links between a particular item of equipment and the meaning of the work. Specific technology places a work at a particular point in history and may convey ideas about the spirit in which the work was made." (For our show, your piece does not have to be dependent on technology. At all. Technology not necessary.)

“I see it as a way to be more inclusive. In many ways we are still stuck on divisions between art forms, but terms like theatre, dance, film, and sculpture are less and less applicable in contemporary art. "Time-based art" is another way of describing art that allows a larger scope but still makes a distinction...a different one not based on form or technique alone. It allows us to experience diverse and hybrid forms as part of a whole, in relation to one another. It's also a great way to bring disparate art communities together and facilitate personal experimentation.”

"Q: Will you start by defining Time-Based Art?

A: I have to answer that question by talking about why I don’t love the term, at least for the kind of work we’re discussing. If we’re talking about works that unfold over time—wouldn’t an Alexander Calder mobile fall in that category? It can’t be experienced properly unless it’s seen as it moves over a period of time. For that matter, the Hirshhorn had a major retrospective of Anne Truitt’s work recently. One thing that struck me was a wall text that talked about the necessity of viewing her sculptures from all sides in order to really understand them. You couldn’t get the full impact of the pieces unless you walked around them to see how the colors changed and unfolded as your perspective changed. If that’s not “time-based,” I don’t know what is."

Any art that has a beginning and an end is "time-based."

This is a link to a Time-Based Arts festival in Portland Oregon. If you sift through their site you’ll get a better idea of what TBA is.

http://www.pica.org/tba/

This site is also helpful and has an online gallery.

http://www.downstairsdigital.com/tba_gallery.php?Galleries_ID=7

Less confused? Good! More confused? That's okay! Go make some art!

An Open Call for Proposals for the Queer Show

2010-02-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

Due: March 18th
Digital Format Only
E-mail all submissions to charlestonwomen@gmail.com

The Queer Show: A show featuring artists working in time-based media exploring queerness and the complexity and creativity of queer experience and identity. Queer does not necessarily mean non-heterosexual.

Time-Based Art: Work that is dependent upon time for the completion of the experience. Potential mediums include performance art, contemporary dance, video art, film, kinetic sculpture, installation, sound, noise.

Send us your proposal, a short artist’s statement, and any supporting images.

More information to be posted here very soon...

Sunday Workshop

2009-12-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,
I just wanted to announce to the blog that Micah will be teaching a Workshop about good consent at Outer Space (623 Meeting Street) on Sunday at 5pm. This workshop will be free and very informative. The more people who participate the more ideas will be presented. So come!

<3 Kim

You should hear this

2009-12-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

P.S. don't miss the post below this one about Nick's WICKED AWESOME GIFT OPPORTUNITIES!!!!!

I'd like to recommend this podcast I listened to today.
Its called, "Framing feminism: mass media, social movements, and women's liberation" 20th Anniv. podcast series. Texas A&M University.
You can find it FREE in the ITunes store by searching any of that above language.
Its about an hour long.
The lady giving the talk is a rhetorician, which would normally mean that she studies discursive objects like speeches. A rhetorician would explain the importance of and analyze something like MLK's "I have a dream" speech. The speaker is a little different in that she is interested in the way that radical 2nd wave feminism (as opposed to the liberal 2nd wave, i.e. Betty Friedan) in particular does not engage in things like a singular leader giving a milestone speech. These women are more interested in consciousness building than media exposure (you should wonder if that distinction is necessary).
She describes a particular group of about 150 women storming the 1970 Lady's Home Journal magazine office and holding the [male-as-usual] editor hostage with a list of demands. There's some cool newsreel clips included and analyzed. This podcast would apply to the ongoing CWC discussion of anti-hierarchical organizational strategies, as well as offer a refresher on the history of feminism, particularly the 2nd wave.

ITUNES U RULEZ!!!!!

Holidaze

2009-12-06T13:29:00.001-08:00

If you are looking for good presents made by a real person and want to put your money where it will do good, not just support a big nasty corporation, you should check out my friend Nick's website. He has really quirky yummy drawings for sale, and a CD that will make your butt move involuntarily. Yay!

http://www.paperjenkins.com/

Queer Flash Mob!

2009-11-18T23:56:00.000-08:00

Okay, so there has been some discussion on the event page for the Flash Mob about the effectiveness of this planned action, and I wanted to open up the discussion here. A few people have questioned the effectiveness of using PDA as a means of legitimizing queer sexualities and relationships. Below are my thoughts on the matter, and I'd love to hear what anyone else has to say about it! I'm glad this is provoking discussion and critical thought and I really appreciate the feedback! I'll first include some details about what exactly this mysterious queer flash mob thing is.

First things first: the definition of the word "queer". For the intents and purposes of this event, queer is not your sexual orientation but your approach to sexuality. Heterosexual people can be queer. It just means that you prioritize open communication, consent, respect for yourself and your partner, and that you resist gender norms and patriarchal/heteronormative approaches to sex.

A FLASH MOB is when a group of people suddenly perform a synchronized action (like a dance routine or a flash-freeze) in a public setting for a short period of time. Here is an example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iYmRyuhn9k

At class change on Cougar Mall we are going to get a large number of people who are paired off into couples (hetero/homo/whatevs) to make out, hold hands, sit in each others laps, suck each others toes, pet each other, WHATEVER (yay!) for 2 or so minutes. Then we all walk away like at the end of the video. This event is meant to increase queer visibility on campus, normalize all types of relationships, and to have fun!

Here is one of the challenges to this idea: "because PDA itself has such a stigma, i feel like using it to try to normalize queer relations won't be really effective. i mean, fun for sure, but not effective. and hand-holding, while it definitely says, "hey, these two people totally have more than just a casual friendship!" to most people, is also kind of ambiguous, and a flash-mob of hand-holding seems like it doesn't entirely get the point across, or might not even be noticeable. the tricky part is finding an activity that isn't offensive in and of itself to most people, but would still get noticed. i'm not sure, but maybe cuddling would work? cuddling is pretty innocent, but it still conveys intimacy."

and another: "If the two main arguments AGAINST 'queer' relationships being a-ok are as follows
1. It is a sin, as denoted by faith in a particularly stringent religion
2. It is 'icky', as denoted by people who carry a latent dislike of homosexual encounters for other reasons
having a mass demonstration of either 1. a 'sin' or 2. a 'gross behavior' will do nothing for those that dislike the lifestyle other than demonstrate who they know that partakes in it
I am just concerned about the efficacy of this action. I mean, if you just wanna make out with a bunch of people, you don't need to hide it under a 'protest'!"

Relevant and lovely feedback! Here is what I have to say about this:

PDA could certianly be an immediate turnoff. Who hasn’t wanted to shout “get a room” to some gross couple before? However, there are a few key things I am thinking of when I think about the effectiveness of our planned approach. I have felt, and I can only speak for myself, that it is less okay for a same-sex couple to be affectionate in public. I’ve been in the situation with guys and girls, and I always feel a little bit on edge when it’s with a girl. There’s part of me that’s waiting for some kind of negative reactionary response, or just feels like I am being watched. And every once in a while I have gotten inappropriate responses, especially at night or in a casual social situation like a bar. It feels uncomfortable, and can feel shitty and intimidating, especially when there's no one to back you up. I think it will be affirming for me to be able to express my affection for another woman in public with a lot of supportive people around who are also out there asserting the legitimacy of their relationships and sexualities. So, maybe some of the effectiveness of this action is for the people in the mob, not just the people watching. But I think that by reaffirming the legitimacy of all romantic relationships and normalizing all configurations of relationships, we’ll also be sending the message that whatever you dig is okay and deserves a place to be recognized publicly. Hetero couples are constantly reaffirmed in this way. We are always presented “romantic” or “cute” images of hetero couples in the media and out in public, and while I think it’s great for that particular type of relationship to be affirmed, it’s not great that we are presented only with that model. A certain level of PDA is acceptable generally in our society, especially among younger people, and while our point is not “hey, we should have the right to mack in public just like the rest of the world”, I think that to say it’s not okay to have public representations of queer sexualities (being expressed in a respectful way, as with any sexuality) is unfair.
As far as nuts and bolts go, our top priority is the mobbers’ comfort. We want everyone to feel safe and supported, so any type of interaction people feel comfortable having in public is what we want them to do—and yeah, the holding hands thing might be subtle, that’s okay. Some people will be hugging/cuddling and that’s great too. And some people will be heartily sucking face, and yeah, maybe that’s a little gross, but if we are focused on it being gross because it’s PDA and not because it’s two girls or two guys or two what-the-hell-are-you-anyways, then we’re still getting the point, aren’t we? If some people are so reactive to two people kissing that they can’t think critically about the situation, then in my opinion that’s a casualty of the type of theatrical, in-your-face activism we are doing here. If no one at all who sees it gets it, but the people in the mob feel affirmed and supported, that’s good enough for me. You may not agree, and that’s good—if you have an idea that you think would get the point across better I’d love to hear it and support it. The more activism the better, there is certainly no one right way!

Thoughts?

Emailz

2009-11-17T15:21:00.001-08:00

Summary: Leadership Committee Meetings every Thursday at 8:30, Queer Flash Mob in the works reply if interested, Co-ed meeting was awesome, emails will now be a once-a-week thing going out on Fridays. Yay!

Hello lovelies!

Our co-ed meeting this Sunday was frik-frakkin awesome! Lot’s of new faces and good conversation. Thanks to everyone who came and shared!

At the last Leadership Committee meeting we decided 1.) Leadership Committee Meetings will now happen every Thursday at 8:30 (locations TBA) and 2.) The title “Leadership Committee” isn’t accurate so we want to change it. Sorry with all the confusion and multitude of meetings lately, we’re workin on it!

This week’s leadership meeting will take place in the CofC Library in study room 236. We will all meet behind the library at 8:30 (please try to be on time!) and go up together. If you need directions don’t hesitate to ask!

So far, this is what’s on the agenda for this week’s meeting:
1.) Really Really Free Market
2.) Changing name of these organizational meetings.
3.) How we are going to decide what happens with our money
4.) Queer Flash Mob
5.) Chantelle and Jenna have a project proposal to present
6.) Queerfest, setting a date
7.) Setting dates/locations for next discussion meetings
8.) Jacksonville Art Show, possible field trip woo!
9.) Manifesta, our very own

Feel free to add things to the agenda if you want, and I hope anyone who wants to help organize will come on Thursday and share ideas! Though there is quite a bit on the agenda we're going to keep things expedient. And the meeting WILL start on time!

See you then!
Jenna

On Labels (from the last co-ed meeting)

2009-11-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

This is something I got to thinking about when we were talking at the last meeting about the significance of labels, e.g. 'the heterosexual queer' and 'are you a lesbian or a dyke.' It has to do with a point Foucault makes in his History of Sexuality. The stuff in brackets and the bold text is mine, not necessarily Foucault’s.

“This new persecution of the peripheral sexualities [queer or ‘deviant’] entailed an incorporation of perversions and a new specification of individuals...The nineteenth-century homosexual became a personage [an identity], [which includes] a past [“she were just done wrong by a man”], a case history [“she used say she was a lesbian, but...”], and a childhood [“he’s gay because his mother didn’t hug him enough”]...in addition to being a type of life...with an indiscreet anatomy and possibly a mysterious physiology [the “gay gene”]...it was a secret that always gave itself away...less as a habitual sin than as a singular nature.”

Later Foucault says, “It [queer sexuality] was implanted in bodies, slipped in beneath modes of conduct, made into a principle of classification and intelligibility, established as a raison d’etre and a natural order of disorder. Not the exclusion of these thousand aberrant sexualities, but the specification, the regional solidification of each one of them. The strategy behind this dissemination was to strew reality with them and incorporate them into the individual.”

So, the western capitalist power structure wants you to think about sexuality as something inside you, a secret/inner self that you confess to or do not confess to. This is kind of like how some people say modern Christianity brings God down into you, where you have a personal relationship in your heart, and you’re just either “saved” or “not saved” in your heart. A different way to think about sexuality might be when you hear someone say, “When I’m with a guy, I’m straight, when I’m with a girl, I’m a lesbian.” Obviously there are lots of different cultures throughout history with lots of different ways of thinking about sexuality.

Foucault emphasizes that this secret sexual self is the sort of thing you confess to. Think about when you talk to someone about their sexuality. They usually have some story to relate about telling a family member or friend. There are all these important, powerful moments of confession.

So, Foucault says, “The power which thus took charge of sexuality set about contacting bodies, caressing them with its eyes, intensifying areas, electrifying surfaces, dramatizing troubled moments. It wrapped the sexual body in its embrace. There was undoubtedly an increase in effectiveness and an extension of the domain controlled [what two women do in the privacy of their own home]; but also a sensualization of power and a gain of pleasure...the intensity of the confession renewed the questioner’s curiosity; the pleasure discovered fed back to the power that encircled it. But so many pressing questions singularized the pleasures felt by the one who had to reply. They were fixed by a gaze, isolated and animated by the attention they received. Power operated as a mechanism of attraction; it drew out those peculiarities over which it kept watch. Pleasure spread to the power that harried it; power anchored the pleasure it uncovered.”

My point is that labels are not just labels. It makes sense that some people bristle at bisexuality. In a way, it is a betrayal of this deeply inner yes/no self, that is so important in pleasure, that is a turn-on. But we should worry, because this inner yes/no idea reinforces the power structure by constantly forcing us to examine ourselves for inconsistencies between this secret self and the self we are in public, which leads to isolation and alienation. Foucault wants to remind us that the patriarchy is not just something “out there.” It is inextricable from our pleasures, and can apparently even find its way into the discourse of hardcore activists.

WoCo Meetings!

2009-11-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

[Message summery: Leadership meeting Thursday 9:00 at 322B Sumter to discuss QueerFest
and Really Really Free Market.]

Womyn and Myn!!

We had a mini-meeting tonight to discuss where we are going to put our money and decided to go with First Reliance. At the co-ed meeting on Sunday we will be discussing the appointment of a treasurer. We’ll be taking names for the position and putting it to a vote.

Alright, the next leadership meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 9:00 at 322B Sumter. The agenda has been set so that we can keep things efficient: we have a lot to go over!

First off, we mustmustmust set a date for QueerFest. For those who don’t know, QueerFest is going to be the third installment after the Boob Show and the Gender Show. The basic idea is to challenge the heteronormative conception of sexuality. This time we’re gonna spread the event out over a weekend to include the art show and the music show. We’re looking into bringing in Team Gina, Scream Club, Athens Boys Choir, and, in our wildest dreams, Invincible. Either way it's gonna be fabulous. So, we need to set a date so we can start contacting the bands. We’re thinking April. Think about what would be the best time, and bring yr ideas! Further QueerFest planning will insue after Thanksgiving.

Okay, next up: Really Really Free Market. This is coming up super soon. We will be discussing our involvement in the event, from financial to physical support.

Further, we need to discuss our financial matters in general, and where we’re gonna be putting our money. (Yay we have money to put places! Go us! Go Blume!)

FINALLY, I want to start discussing the conception Jenna and I have been putting together and decide whether we want it to be a Women’s Collective event. Here’s the deal: Queer Makeout Flash Mob. Details to come.

Stay Radical, Caitlin

Novemburrrr

2009-11-05T11:43:00.000-08:00

Here is the new calendar for this seriously busy month, in more..homemade short-notice form. It's a lil' sloppy, if you have any questions, please e-mail!

What is feminist leadership?

2009-11-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hello blogosphere!

The WoCo Leadership Committee had a really heated meeting last Thursday, during which we discussed our burgeoning leadership structure - what it is, where it's headed, and our vision(s) for what it should become. It got me thinkin' about what (radical) feminist leadership/organizing means, and I want to know how other people feel as well.

I want to share my thoughts to start things off, but I understand that they're equitable to one tiny amoeba in a whole ocean of ideas. I'm excited to get feedback and hear your challenges - whether it's in person or in the comments section. That said -

For me, truly collective, visionary, feminist leadership is necessarily non-hierarchical and transparent. When we organize ourselves hierarchically (even without meaning to), with unequal distributions of power and little discussion about what that means, we're simply mimicking the very patriarchal, capitalistic systems of organization that we purport to resist. I think that it is truly disingenuous and conflictual to claim radical feminist ethics and a grassroots approach and yet organize ourselves in the same bullshit bureaucratic way as the rest of the world. In fact, I think forming that way would ultimately make our larger goals impossible.

That doesn't mean that I think some people shouldn't have definitive positions, or that I'm delusional enough to believe that the power will be distributed evenly at all times. Instead, I think that we should make a conscious, consistent effort to spread the power as equitably as possible, which ultimately means realizing when we're doing (or simply receiving) too much, and when we're doing (or receiving) too little. We need to brave enough to both step up and step back (the latter is particularly difficult for me). This sort of horizontal organization is crucial because it's the only way each individual's talents and contributions can be realized, and it's the only way we can prevent a stagnant, traditionally bureaucratic organization from forming.

I don't think this is an easy task. It takes a group of truly committed, passionate, largely selfless people to achieve something like this. It also requires that each person is open to fair criticism - including personal criticism. We need to think critically about ourselves and our roles and constantly reevaluate our motivations. We also need to think carefully - and compassionately! - about our fellow organizers, and be brave enough to approach each other with legitimate concerns.

Here's a link to an excellent essay on anti-authoritarian organizing. I read it my freshman year of college and it really informed how I think and feel about leadership structure. Near the beginning of the essay, the author posits two questions I hope we're all working to answer:

How can leadership development help us build mass-based, multiracial, anti-racist, feminist, anti-capitalist movements with visible leadership from women, queers, transgendered people and working class people of all colors? How can we talk about leadership without creating the image of two or three people leading us, but the millions of people, in their communities, who are right now leading progressive social change around the world?

Thanks for reading! Lemme know what you think!
Love, Micah

Some Dates to Keep in Mind

2009-10-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Nov. 1 Planning Meeting about the Really Really Free Market 3:00 @ Chantelle's house, 4 Elmwood Ave.
Nov. 7 Women Only Meeting at Olivia's house 157 Wentworth St. upstairs 5:30
Nov. 9 Leadership Committee Meeting about opening a bank account at Caitlin's house 60 Radcliffe 5:00
Nov. 11 Leadership Committee meeting about Queerfest at Micah's house 322B Sumter St.
Nov. 15 Co-ed WoCo meeting @ 4 Elmwood Ave. 5:00, topic: "consent"

Nov. 2, 5, and 10 from 1:45-4:45 Self-Defense Teacher Training course. e-mail charlestonwomen@gmail.com if you're interested! Sponsorship possible.

Self Defense-Related Article

2009-10-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

http://kateharding.net/2009/10/08/guest-blogger-starling-schrodinger%E2%80%99s-rapist-or-a-guy%E2%80%99s-guide-to-approaching-strange-women-without-being-maced/

This is quite nice, methinks. A good follow-up for anyone who took the self-defense workshop this weekend (which, by the way was amazing thanks everyone for turning out!)...enjoy!

Blume Tonight

2009-10-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

Blume is finally here...I've been thinking towards this since that one night on my porch this summer when Liz and I had a co-revelation and decided to make it happen again, this time for the Women's Collective. There have been roadblocks, mainly one large unconscious white male one, but here we are and it's happening and I am so excited. Caroline and her dancing ladies have been woodshedding so hard...this house has been vibrating with music and choreography and talk of dance for what seems like months now, and so many people have put all heart and soul into the dance--it is so beautiful, so powerful, those ladies are gonna stomp and freak you to your very core. When we were hanging art on Tuesday (thanks to my dyke crew Tess and Becca!) the dance troop had practice, and I was trying not to watch but my curiosity finally got the best of me...needless to say I was blown away. Those girls brought such anazing energy into the Pantheon--Liz and Rachel and I had been in there all day and suddenly it seemed like the air was buzzing, everything was in higher focus, there was a palpable energy in the air--dare I pull a Mary Daly and call it gynergy?
I am also super excited about all the work Caitlin and Brittany have put into the team of bodypainters/paintees. Caitlin is a Blume veteran and this time she has really pulled all the stops out and formed a truly awesome team from Women's Collective members and close friends alike...we've even got one of our newest and youngest Collective members Ashley putting herself out there tonight and I'm so proud! She is so brave and I'm excited to see what she and Kayla, her painter, are going to create together. This group has been doing some real concept-work and is creating a method that goes far beyond getting painted and waltzing around on a bar--they've done a lot thinking and planning, and I can't WAIT to see what they have up their sleeves!
And, of course, as usual Liz and Rachel have put so much organizing and time into this and because of them Blume shall again be the best party you've been to all year...see ya'll there!

Pepsi Releases iPhone App To Help Men "Score" With Women And Brag About It On Twitter

2009-10-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

iiiii haaaaaaaaaaaatteeeee this shit

Na New New Month, and a new calendar!

2009-10-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Stuff your planners for the end of the month, there's a lot going on!

and make sure you sign up for the self defense course on the 25th!

Pssst. : weblove shout-out goes out to Jodie, who mailed me the image of the farmin' folk that make up the day blocks.

keep october 21st open for charleston cycle chic ride!

2009-10-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

http://charlestoncyclechic.com/2009/10/02/next-ride-october-21st-stay-tuned/

WoCo Dinner Fundraiser

2009-09-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

Mmmmmhm! The Women's Collective hosted its first-ever vegan dinner 'n acoustic show fundraiser over at 4 Elmwood on September 19th and it was freaking awesome! We made a little bit of money to fund upcoming workshops but what really made the event successful was the incredible energy and laughter that coursed through the evening. Click "Read More" below to check it out!

The cookin' and preppin' team started off the day early - around 8 am - despite the fact that three fifths of us had mild-to-raging hangovers. Jenna dubbed her delicious dip "Jenna's Hangover Hummus" in celebration. It's visible in the background of the picture above - num num. We made a whole mess of food on Saturday - for those of you who missed it, here's what ended up on the menu:

Homemade hummus, baba ghanouj, and marinated tomato salad served with vegan whole-wheat bread and pita bread
Medditerranean cold kale salad
Whole-wheat rotini topped with homemade portobello mushroom marinara
Whole-wheat rotini tossed with lemon olive oil, broccoli, and sunflower seeds
(Vegan, like the rest) raspberry chocolate cake served with raspberry sauce
Wine - white and red
Loose leaf orange rooibos tea, chilled

Yeah, I know, you're sad you missed it. Never fear! We'll have another.

The second order of business, after cooking alla dat food, was seating and beautification of the living room. Think it's impossible to fit 35 hungry feminists in the foyer of a small Charleston home? Think again, my friend.

Behold: 4 Elmwood, diy-restaurant style!

Guests started arriving around 6:30, and did some serious hanging out before eating. Here's a sweet picture of Landor and Stafa on the porch swing:

After eating, the music began. There were only three acts planned but many, many more ended up playing! It was a beautiful, organic example of all the talent and creativity in Charleston. Rachel Kate, Will Pitman, Jenna n Liz, Sarah Bandy, Pozzl, Chantelle, Sean, and Fritz all performed. We didn't get pictures of all the artists but here are a few shots:

Rachel Kate

Will Pitman - plus a disembodied leg

Jenna and Liz

Sarah Bandy and Rachel Kate

Yeah - it was so cool! Thanks to everyone involved. This was truly a community effort, and each person's contributions were important. Let's do it again soon! In the meantime, keep your ears open for news about upcoming workshops and events. With love and a closing photograph -

Feminist Economics - A Discussion

2009-09-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

Where was the voice of reason? Why are our ecosystems, families, neighbors, health, and future dying at the request of profit margins and unsustainable economic policies? Where was the economic model to account for the true cost of infinite growth? The female voice and market presence were hushed up and ignored. And look at the mess we're in.

Economists, historically privileged white men, have been guiding our politicians and legislators to disastrous ends. These mad scientists of policy and price have determined that the entire global economic system hunt almighty profit by cheap and dirty exploitation of the Earth, the poor, the disenfranchised, and women. In the name of FREE trade, more people than ever are slaves to money and governments. Our biosphere is sick and dying. Our generation will face historic debt and unemployment. War, violence, famine, disease, and a barren landscape- things look bleak.

But!!! Our community has a chance to be heard and to educate one another in being our own policymakers. We have tools in our hands and we have voices from our hearts. We must be the change in our own backyards, in our own daily routines, in our own consciousness.

I'd like to open a discussion about the role of Feminist Economics in our lives.

How can we change our cultural valuation systems to better accommodate all that the traditional systems leave behind? True cost is a very female estimate, it is a search for deep connections and the importance of relationships in the economic market. What do you see during your day that has a cost? Is the price stuck on its head really the value of that item? Tally it up- the gas in you car, the latte in your hand, the rice on the stove. Have these items come to you cheaply by exploiting others? If we included all the costs and energy that go into our daily consumption, would we be able to 'afford' it?

Most importantly: what is the true cost of not speaking out?

Updated Version of Calendar

2009-09-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

Look at this bomb-ass calendar Chantelle made!

2009-09-06T22:30:00.000-07:00

Jennas update!

2009-09-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

Our meeting this Saturday was lovely--and we got quite a lot done, here’s the run-down:

Because we are organizing events and workshops this year, we are going to start having leadership committee meetings—these meetings will be open to any woman who wants to have a say in organizing (and claim both credit and accountability). This will be a great way for people who want to be more involved to do that, and having separate organizational meetings will mean that we don’t have to lengthen our discussion meetings. The first leadership committee meeting will be this Wednesday (tomorrow) at 8:00 pm at 322 Sumter Street. We will be planning our first fundraiser, which brings me to…

Our first fundraiser! will be a vegetarian/vegan dinner and acoustic house show held on Friday September 18th at 4 Elmwood Ave. Details will be nailed down Wednesday, just let it suffice to say that it’s going to be awesome!!!

More dates to mark: On Saturday Sept. 12^th, we will be holding our next meeting (women only) at Cannon Park (near campus) by the columns. Our first workshop will be held at 5:00 on Saturday Sept. 26, and will be an informative workshop on the fundamentals of academic feminism. We’ll be introducing key terminologies and theories that come up at our meetings so that everyone has access to them. This workshop is free and co-ed. (Location TBA).

Look forward to more kick-ass workshops and fundraisers coming soon!

Thanks!

Jenna

Here's Something from Sloane

2009-03-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

The 24 Hour Mandatory Delay Bill is Moving! Help needed!!!

1) Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee Hearing, Wednesday, March 18th @ 2:30pm, Columbia, SC

I am putting together a car pool group of Charlestonians to road trip up to Columbia so we can pack the room to put pressure on the legislators to STOP THIS BILL!!! We are meeting at the Health Center at 200 Rutledge Avenue, (big pink house across from Hominy Grill) at 10:30am to carpool up to the hearing (plenty of parking available). Dress is Business Casual (no jeans and sweatshirts please!). Lapel Stickers and Coffee and Donuts will be provided as well as a quick briefing before we get on the road! We will be back by 6pm at the latest. Please REPLY to this email if you want to come, I'm going to need to know a rough headcount! If you have a car and are willing to drive, please include that in your rsvp!

2) Additional Phone Bank, Monday 3/16 6-8pm (5:30 for new phone bankers)

With the subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, we are adding an additional phone bank calling into Peelers District (Chairman of the Committee) to tell supporters to call his office to tell him to STOP THIS BILL!! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! Please let me know if you can come!

3) Pub Crawl, Tuesday 3/24, evening

Young Advocates, a Planned Parenthood club-similar to VOX-is organizing a Pub Crawl the night before Back Up Your Birth Control Day. They will be going to a bunch of bars downtown and handing out condoms, information on emergency contraception, and all other sorts of goodies. Historically, this has been a very fun event and tons of help is needed! Please contact keirawilliams@gmail.com if you want more information or want to help out!

HOPE EVERYONE IS WELL AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

TOGETHER, WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Sloane Whelan

SC Field Coordinator

Planned Parenthood Health Systems

843.628.4380 ext.6446

Upcoming Events

2008-03-18T15:21:00.000-07:00

College of Charleston NOW presents:
"Slim Hopes: The Media's Obsession with Thinness"
Wednesday at 6pm in EDCTR 101
followed by a discussion led by Dr. Alison Piepmeier
Barbie shirts and Riot Don't Diet buttons
will be sold at the event!
Women's and Gender Studies hosts Third Thursday:
WGS Book Group Celebration
Sisterhood, Interrupted by Deborah Siegel
Thursday, March 20 5:00-6:30pm
Alumni Center (St. Phillip's and Wentworth)
Come join us for a discussion and various chocolates provided by local Sugar
we have two more copies of the book for FREE in the office, Maybank 119!

saturday meeting!

2008-01-31T12:53:00.000-08:00

Hellooo everywoman!Our February meeting is this Saturday (Feb. 2) at 5:00 and will be held at the lovely and esteemed Grace Davis' house (54B Vanderhorst St.). This meeting will focus on a women's literature share, so xerox your favorite essay, poem, venn diagram, WHATEVER, and bring it on down.Also, if anyone is interested in being trained to teach feminist self-defense, please get in touch with me asap. The instructor is kick-ass.We will have tickets for the Vagina Monologues available for purchase at the meeting. The pricing is as follows: $20 for the community, $12 for students, or $10 with the donation of women's undergarments or hygiene products. All proceeds go to Magdalene House and My Sister's House. So, BRING US ALL OF YOUR MONEY. The show is going to be great this year, I can personally vouch for that...If you have any questions, shoot 'em at me. See you all Saturday!
- Jenna

I unfortunately will not be at the meeting this week, I will be out of town. So someone be sure to take notes!

to my fellow friends

2008-01-30T07:25:00.001-08:00

I would like to conduct a self defense session for our april meeting. how does everyone feel about that?
-Liz

???

2008-01-15T13:27:00.000-08:00

WHAT DOES THE WORD QUEER MEAN TO YOU?

Vagina Monologues Info

2008-01-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

Here is some information about the Vagina Monologues:

Performances:
Friday, Feburary 15th @ 7pm and Midnight
Physician's Auditorium

Auditions:
Saturday, January 19th 2-6pm
Physician's Auditorium

Interest/Volunteer Meeting
Wednesday, January 23rd
Time and Place TBA

Recipients of Profits:
My Sister's House
Magdalene House of Charleston

Discounted tickets will be available to those who bring a donation. Donations include New underware and bras, House Shoes or any type of Hygiene product.

grace

New Year New Cheer

2008-01-05T21:33:00.000-08:00

Our fist meeting of 2008 was very exciting. We made lots of plans. Here is a recap of what is coming up:

We will be celebrating French Feminist writer Simone de' Beavoirs 100th birthday on wednesday Jan 9th with a Tea Party. It will be held at 8pm at Grace's house at 54B Vanderhorst street.

In honor of a lost tradition of celebrating a girls entrance into womanhood, we decided to throw our own celebration. On saturday Jan 12th we will be throwing a period party! It has not been decided where it will be yet. Everyone is welcome to this party. If men want to celebrate periods they are totally welcome.

Before the party at 7 we will meet at Melinda's house at 0 Tradd street for craft time. Camy suggested bringing an over sized button down red shirt to make capes with. We will all bike together to the party as an all girl bike gang. Keep thinking of idea's for a name for our bike gang.

As a group we feel there is a need for more people to help with clinic defense on Saturday mornings. If you are available this Saturday meet at 6:40am in the parking lot behind Grace's house. We know no one wants to do this every Saturday, but lets try to make sure there are a couple of people there each week for support. Jamie posted more information on clinic defense below.

I am going to be ordering "This Insults Women" stickers soon. They are 25 cents apiece, let me know if you would like some or anything else from www.stickersisters.com. We can save on shipping costs and package materials.

Other things we talked about were the vagina monologues and the related art show(I will have grace post more details), making a zine as a collective, harassment in the work place, natural birth control, and feminist theater.

We forgot to talk more about the advertisements for feminism, we can talk about this Wednesday or at the next meeting.

For the next meeting, which will be held at Grace's house on February 2nd, we want each person to bring one zine, article, or essay to start a women's literature swap. The next meeting we will all give informal summaries and discussions of what we read.

I know this is a lot but it is just the start of what can be a very productive year. Remember, Beth has invited us all to her house for Brunch tomorrow (Sunday) at 1 and she will be leading a yoga class a Grace's house at 7 pm.

If I left anything out or you have any questions please feel free to let me know.

<3Kim

Holiday Cheer and whatnot...

2007-12-29T17:21:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

Just wanted to say- I miss all of you wonderful Charleston ladies! Greenville isn't nearly as female-friendly as our little community and I am appreciating Charleston more and more.

So yeah, that's all. Also, I am making copies of my zine, "The Baked Potato" to hand out at February's meeting. Woo!

Jenna

!

2007-12-05T07:03:00.000-08:00

So our last meeting was fantastic. There was a bigger turn out and new people showed up. We gathered a mountain of clothing. I'm really inspired by all of this. I failed to show up at the clinic with a car full of people like I planned last saturday. It's pretty lame I didnt go but there are so many more days in the future to do it. Soon SOon soon. I'm thinking to bring up the idea of creating a zine for our group. It would be another way to reach out to the community and put this stuff on paper. I know, Kim, you probably don't want to think about putting together another one which is why I would offer to be an organizer.Just think we could put interviews of local heroes, lit, art, reviews, educational stuff, our ever fluctuating manifesta. Maybe like a 6month celebration or an annual thing. Hope everyone's december has treated them well so far. Peace.

clothes for clothes

2007-11-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

So I know that most people will probably bring their huge bags of clothes for the clothing swap on the day of the meeting. That is totally cool. Just to let everyone know I have only gotten one other donation from Janie. This doesnt include my contribution and my roommate's. Anywho just sending out a friendly reminder that more is better. Dont sweat it if you cant bring any clothing items. Maybe bring some munchies, femme lit, music, funny stories, serious stories, a listening pair of ears, or some flowers instead.
Much love,
Liz

Clinic defense

2007-11-19T08:56:00.000-08:00

I posted this on the facebook group and I'm re-posting it here so everyone can have access to it. Clinic defense!

I was supposed to do this ages ago on the directions of Liz, and now I finally have. For those of you who don't know, every Saturday morning the Charleston Women's Medical Center is the site of anti-abortion protests. The protesters bother the patients and attempt to keep them from getting into the building. The Women's and Gender Studies Program has an intern every semester whose purpose is to organize clinic defenders to help patients past the protesters.

If you are interested in doing this, go to the Charleston Women's Medical Center on a Saturday morning (try to be there by 7 or 7:30 am). It is located at 1312 Ashley River Rd. Park across the street in the parking lot to save room for patients in the clinic parking lot. Talk to the people out in front of the clinic wearing the yellow/green/orange vests that say "clinic" on them and tell them why you're there. Taylor Livingston is in charge of the whole deal.

Here are a few basic rules for clinic defense:
1. Do not speak to the protesters, even when provoked.
2. Only try to distract the patients. You don't have to have apologize for the protesters or have a meaningful conversation with them; just get them into the building.
3. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. You're going to be standing around for a couple of hours.

That's about it. The women's collective plans to attend clinic defense en masse in the near feature. There will updates about this so transportation can be arranged.

Directions:
There are easy. From downtown, take 17S towards West Ashley. Cross the bridge and turn onto US61. Stay on 61 (after the slight left it turns into Ashley River Road) and you'll see Charleston Women's Medical Center on the right. Be sure to park in the parking lot across the street, not the one in front of the clinic.

good morning campers

2007-11-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

So at our last gathering we discussed having a clothing swap/drive. For next months event. Bring your clothes that you do not want anymore to Liz's house, 30 Ogier between Vanderhorst and and Calhoun by Rutledge on or before Friday, November 30th and on saturday we will have an open clothing swap and what remains will be donate to My Sister's House thrift store in West Ashley.
Jamie will post directions and information about the women's health clinic soon.

Also, there is now a feminist rummy club that meets at kudu on tuesday and/or thursday afternoons. It is everything you could ever want and more. Including Jamie being your grandmother.

hey girls

2007-10-29T21:20:00.001-07:00

i love women.

welcome!

2007-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

This blog is intended to make it easier for the Charleston Women's Collective to organize and publicize our events. We are a group of women in the Charleston community who have begun holding monthly meetings with the purpose of creating a safe space for women of all genders, races, ages, classes, and sexual orientations to come together under the commonality of female identification and experience and voice our opinions and personal experiences. We also seek to encourage political activism in the Charleston community.

Our next meeting will be held at 322B Sumter Street on November 3rd at 5:00. After the meeting, there will be dinner. If you would like to join us, please bring a contribution.

All women are welcome!