Report Back on the Life Chain

October 15, 2008

As many of you know, I helped organise an action against the Life Chain. I’m sorry I haven’t reported back on it yet, but I’m juggling a huge number of tasks right now.

Anyway, the action went extremely well. We put it together in about half a week, and there were between 15-20 people who showed up. (Another group showed up five minutes late and unfortunately we didn’t meet up with them.) A few of us made signs Saturday, the day before, and some people brought their own on Sunday.

We weren’t met with much hostility, as we kept to ourselves. (My advice is, if you want to do something like this, it might be best to keep to yourselves, too.) It was interesting to me that, while there were many women as well as men, the men were the only ones who acted aggressively. There was a man about my age who put an anti-choice sign in the window of his car and kept driving by, honking at us. Another, older man kept taking photos of us and engaged us, but was quickly pulled away by one of the other women. (If you’re reading this, please email the photos to me!)

All in all, it was an important action, but it was also the most fun I’d had in a while. Not much compares to the feeling I got when people drove past, honking their horns in approval, cheering out their windows, or giving a simple thumbs-up.

Before I finish this with some photos, I’d like to thank Denise, who was a huge help in helping to get this action going.

With that said, here are a couple of photos! (The only ones I have - sorry!)

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Some signs on my living-room floor.

Some signs on my living-room floor

No Comments » | Activism, Anti-Choice, Reproductive Rights | Permalink
Posted by Derek

“Black Eyes and Boobs”

October 11, 2008

Here’s another post from my blog for my sexual assault class. I feel much can be developed here, and I’d certainly like to develop the arguments here more at some point. The title, sadly, isn’t my creation, hence the quotations marks.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). It’s also Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), though you wouldn’t know it after being swarmed with pink products and consumerism supposedly aimed at finding a cure for cancer.

So what’s the deal?

Breast cancer and domestic violence (which, as a category, sexual assault falls under) are both huge problems, but surely something’s amiss when grocery stores are decked out in pink and people are doling out money for donations Jingle Jugs, while DVAM barely gets a nod.

For starters, let’s consider that breast cancer has higher incidence rates in White women. Despite this, Black women have a 37 percent higher chance of death as a result of breast cancer.

Now, taking a look at domestic violence, 8 out of 10 Aboriginal women experience violence in their relationships, out of which 87% were physically injured and 57% were sexually abused, according to a study conducted in Ontario.

I know this argument is slightly problematic. Black women aren’t Aboriginal, and an American study isn’t a Canadian study. Nevertheless, I don’t feel issues of race can be ignored when it comes to addressing this problem.

With that said, even with the large number of White women affected directly by breast cancer, a larger number of White women are affected by domestic violence. (50 percent of women over the age of 18 experience some form of violence according to the 1993 VAW survey - you do the math.)

To say that DVAM gets barely any acknowledgment solely due to race would be a great simplification, but it can’t be ignored, either. Yes, other factors are at play, such as an unwillingness to openly discuss VAW and the fact that the organisations mobilising around cancer have a lot more funding. Nevertheless, ignoring race when it comes to VAW is an oversight, to say the least.

What’s the solution? We need to tackle the hesitancies people feel when dicussing domestic violence and sexual assault, in my mind. Not only that, but we need to remember about all of our sisters, and that White women aren’t the only women that matter in the world. How we go about doing that is a whole other discussion.

2 Comments | Privilege, Race, Violence Against Women | Permalink
Posted by Derek

Rant Aftermath

October 9, 2008

Since my much-needed rant yesterday, I’ve done a lot of thinking especially after a few comments I’ve received and discussions I’ve had (both online and off). I think getting my thoughts out in the open was really valuable for me, but the feedback I received was even more so. Now I have some thoughts floating around, which is better - before yesterday they were pounding inside my head.

I guess, ultimately, I’m just frustrated with the state of things. I’m aware there are far too many issues for a single person (or even a small group of people) to keep up on, never mind work to change. Despite this, though, particular issues constantly make it to the front lines: The issues that affect privileged groups most. I think my frustration has more to do with the feminism (or lack thereof) in Edmonton rather than the blogosphere, because I’ve been AWOL the last little while. That said, the problem is still here.

What’s the solution? I don’t exactly buy the excuse that certain issues aren’t addressed because they don’t affect the majority of us. Surely I’m not being naive in my belief that all feminists aren’t completely self-indulgent (everyone is a little bit). How do we convince feminists to take up issues that are ignored?

This is where my struggle comes. I don’t want to be That Guy who tells feminists what they should or shouldn’t be doing. That doesn’t jive well with me. That said, I think I need to voice my concerns with feminism, and stick to them. So, I’m going to try that out and see what comes of it. If my gender acts as a barrier and a guy trying to get feminism to address issues that are mostly ignored doesn’t sit well with people, then I need to find a different framework.

Maybe months down the road I’m going to look back, read this, and laugh. Right now, though, this is an important struggle for me, and I’m curious to see where it goes.

6 Comments | Men and Feminism, Personal, feminism | Permalink
Posted by Derek

Feminism Needs Work

October 8, 2008

I started a piece several months ago about my role in feminism, but I never got around to finishing it. Now, it’s sitting along with half a dozen or so other drafts, waiting to be finished, although now it probably never will be.

I used to think of myself as a feminist, but, as some of you will know, recently decided to identify as pro-feminist instead, to meet the wishes of women who want to keep that word to themselves. Now I think it’s important that women have that to themselves, and it was slightly arrogant of myself to identify as feminist in the first place, IMO.

With that said, though, I’m struggling. Identity has always been something that’s important to me, and I don’t know if “pro-feminist” quite cuts it. I don’t mind being outside of a box at all, so to speak, but it’s a bit hard to deal with it when that box needs fixing from the inside.

Am I saying feminism is broken? Not exactly. I’m sure some (a lot?) would argue that it’s a work-in-progress, that it’s a theory and practice that is constantly shifting to meet the needs of our time. I don’t know if I’m one of those people.

Let me say that I don’t feel entirely comfortable saying this because I’m male. A man shouldn’t be responsible for transforming feminism to meet the needs of people who’s needs aren’t being met by feminism. This is why I’m struggling with feminism. It needs work, and as much as I want to work on it, I can’t.

I’m beginning to work on and educate myself about WoC issues and trying to take a more intersectional (that is, taking matters like race, ability, and class into account) approach to things. Sure, I had before to some extent, but it isn’t worth crediting.

To put what’s going on in my head simply, I don’t think feminism is doing enough beyond aiding White women. I’m tired of race being mostly ignored by feminism, or worse, getting a slight nod and then disappearing in the shadows of White women’s reproductive rights or some sort. At the demonstration this weekend against the Life Chain, there was one Woman of Colour. One. That tells me something is up, be it a fault of my own or the larger problem that WoC are mostly ignored by feminism.

I’ve been taking a leadership role within the feminist community in Edmonton as of late, pushing its current values and goals, but I don’t know how much longer I can do it. A man taking a leadership role in feminist activism is problematic enough, but the feminist framework just doesn’t seem to cut it for me any longer. We do need feminism, yes, but feminism and feminists need work, IMO, and I can’t be the one changing it.

To sum this rant up, I’m frustrated. I’m frustrated with a lot of things, and feminism is a big one. Maybe I shouldn’t publish this at all, but I’m going to anyway. These are my thoughts - take them or leave them. I can’t change who I am. I’m not telling women and feminists what they need to do; I’m simply laying out the problems I have with feminism right now. And hell, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe feminists have got their act together more than I know.

There is one thing I do know: I’m trying to clean up my act and start taking other factors into account. I just don’t know if I can do that with feminism any longer, or if I need a broader framework. I don’t have much more to say on this.

Go easy on the comments. These were my free flowing thoughts, not a logically thought-out essay.

5 Comments | Personal, feminism | Permalink
Posted by Derek

Short Notice: Sign-Making Party

October 4, 2008

If you’re free from 2:00 to 6:00 in Edmonton today, why not stop by and make some signs for the demonstration tomorrow? I bought twenty poster boards and a lot of paint, but that might not be enough, so you’re encouraged to bring your own materials, but it’s not necessary. I also made a large batch of roasted red pepper hummus last night, so stop by for some of that, too! Bring your own food if you like as well.

I’m in the university area, but please email me for the exact address.

No Comments » | Activism, Event Promotion | Permalink
Posted by Derek

Release for Stand Up Against the Pro-Life Chain

October 2, 2008

Hey everyone, if you could distribute this widely, that would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Stand Up Against the Pro-Life Chain

This Sunday, October 5th, Edmonton Pro-Life is displaying the annual Life Chain, where Pro-Life citizens will spread themselves across several city blocks with signs. The Life Chain will run from 2:30 until 3:30, beginning at the intersection of 104th Ave and 109th St. (near Grant MacEwan college) and will run west along 109th St. to 124th St. and then north to the Morgentaler Clinic at 109 A Ave.

It’s very important that a pro-choice voice be present at this demonstration. If you’d like to participate, we’ll be meeting at north of Churchill Square, by the woman-made pond (102 A Ave and 99 St.) at 2:00 and we’ll walk to where the Life Chain starts.

You’re encouraged to bring your own signs, (there probably won’t be enough for everyone) but please keep in mind this is to be a respectful demonstration. We will not be engaging with the Pro-Lifers in any way, verbally or otherwise. Please bring a positive attitude and positive pro-choice messages. Those who are disrespectful will be asked to leave. Remember, we’re representing the pro-choice movement with this action. Hope to see you there!

What: A demonstration against the Life Chain
Where: Meet by the entrance to Churchill Station (102 A Ave and 99 St.)
When: Sunday, October 5th, at 2:00
Why: To maintain a pro-choice voice in the Edmonton community

For more information, contact Derek Warwick at warwick.derek@gmail.com

No Comments » | Activism, Anti-Choice, Call-out, Event Promotion, Reproductive Rights | Permalink
Posted by Derek

Men and Theorising Women

October 1, 2008

A very good friend of mine recently took up blogging and has a recent post up with a lot of important questions. Granted, I think there are some problems with it, but I’ve been blogging at this blog alone for nearly a year and I still make big mistakes. Anyway, here’s an excerpt:

…finally, this analysis itself may even reek of privilege. Am I simply paranoid because I’m giving myself too much credit as a male student in a class on Feminist theory? I can’t know for sure whether or not the rest of the class really gives a flying fuck about my presence, nor if they feel personally insulted when I attempt to make sense of Feminist theory for myself. Am I to stand by as a passive supporter of the cause, or am I to actively participate in my understanding of the emancipation of women, at the risk of alienating my fellow students? This paradox perplexes me perhaps the most, as it is almost impossible for me to even consider ways in which I may not have privilege.

Read all of Discomfort and its Proposed Benefits: Regarding Feminist Philosophy.

No Comments » | Links, Men and Feminism, Privilege, feminism | Permalink
Posted by Derek

Stand Against the Life Chain This Sunday

October 1, 2008

This Sunday, Oct. 5, Edmonton Prolife (I’m not linking them; you can Google their name if you like) is putting on a Life Chain. According to their website, the Life Chain

will run from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm beginning at the intersection of 104th Ave and 109th St. (near the downtown campus of Grant MacEwan College) and will run west along 109th St. to 124th Street and then north on 124th St. to the Morgentaler Clinic at 109A Ave.

If you’re in the Edmonton area, or willing to commute here, it would be great if you could show up. It will just take an hour of your time. One person described what we should do quite well:

“As we know, anti-choice arguments are purely emotional and emotional arguments do not make sense and cannot be argued with in any constructive way. I think the most effective and responsible thing for us to do as a large pro-choice group is to form our own “life line” with lots of pro-choice messages that simply reflect our belief in a woman’s right to choice. Period. No shouting, no profanity, and no engagement with anti-choice emotional fanatacism.

Remember, we are winning the battle–even Steven Harper isn’t willing to reopen the debate!”

If you’re interested in attending or helping out, please email me at warwick[dot]derek[at]gmail[dot]com.

There will be a sign-making party of some sort this week (probably Friday or Saturday). The sign-making party venue is undecided, and if it’s a residence (like maybe my apartment!), it won’t be announced publicly. So, it’s really important that if you want to help make signs, you email me. (Or contact me through Facebook. Whatever works.) Also, please bring any supplies you can. I can’t afford all the stuff on my own, so bring paint, markers, poster board, etc., keeping in mind we can’t make a mess.

I hope to see some of you this week!

Note: There is also a Facebook event.

No Comments » | Activism, Anti-Choice, Event Promotion, Reproductive Rights | Permalink
Posted by Derek

Precautions, Preventing Rape, and Victim Blaming

September 28, 2008

For my class on sexual assault, I have to keep a blog, along with the rest of the class. We’re supposed to keep them private, so I can’t link you to it, but I’ll share things periodically from there. This is my most recent post.

There’s a lot of talk on the rest of the blogs for this class about what is and isn’t effective in regard to women protecting themselves against sexual assault. Some have argued that an emphasis on self-defense is problematic, where others have supported the idea of women taking up self-defense as a means to protecting themselves. At least one other person has expressed frustration at the lack of options available for women to protect themselves against sexual assault.

I think there’s a lot of differing views, first of all, because encouraging women to protect themselves can take the form of victim blaming. If someone is going to emphasise that women must protect themselves from sexual assault, context and substance are everything. If someone is going to be like the police and tell women they should be locking their doors and windows at night, well they can fuck right off. Not only is this often not helpful, but it indirectly pushes the idea that women haven’t heard this bullshit a million times before. Of course, as was brought up in class, advice like this also insinuates that if only women would follow this advice, or do the Right Thing, they wouldn’t be raped. Lovely, isn’t it?

Women aren’t responsible for protecting themselves or preventing rape; rather, it’s up to men, the perpetrators. That said, though, we still live in a society that condones sexualised violence, and, as such, I can understand women wanting to take precautions - I would. Personally, I think self-defense is a good idea. Telling women they should be taking self-defense classes is a bad one. It seems logical to me, though, that if women learn to fight sexual offenders, men might be slightly more hesitant about committing the assault. I must stress, though, that I by no means mean the responsibility of stopping rape lies in the hands of women. Rather, I think women who want to try to protect themselves should look to learning some basic self-defense, most importantly learning how to utilise the strength they have already. I don’t see what can be problematic about this, but I might be overlooking something as well.

Ultimately, though, as I mentioned earlier, it’s up to men to end sexual assault. Not only choosing not to assault women, but men have to educate other men about sexual assault. There are a number of things men can do, from calling out sexist behaviour to refusing to remain friends with a sexual offender. The list is huge, but that’s for another post, I think.

7 Comments | Rape, Sexual Assault, Victim Blaming | Permalink
Posted by Derek

Sexual Assault & Me

September 23, 2008

Since the new school year began, I’ve been in a class entitled “Feminism and Sexual Assault.” It’s been great so far. I’ve learned a lot more about second-wave feminist approaches to rape and sexual assault so far, and it’s only bound to get more interesting as we get the intro material out of the way.

However, with the interesting readings comes material that’s difficult to read. One reading had us reading about researchers’ experiences interviewing survivors of rape. It was difficult to get through, and somewhere along the line - whether it was the readings or the class or both together - I was triggered.

There’s no point in dancing around the fact: Years ago, I was sexually assaulted. For the time being I’ve distanced myself enough from it that I can explain and examine what’s happened in the past, and possibly offer some insight into sexual assault and triggering. I’ve certainly learned some things, and I hope I can pass the information along.

First, until recently, I’d never even considered I’d been sexually assaulted. Looking back on the incidents in question, though, there’s no doubt about it. So while, at the time, I felt that my “friends” were being assholes and was physically hurt, I didn’t come to think of it as sexual assault until I began taking this course. With that realisation came the process of characterising myself as a victim of sexual assault.

Now, I’ve come to decide - I think - that I don’t want to characterise myself in this way, and certainly not as a “survivor.” What is interesting to me, though, is how I wasn’t exactly tremendously bothered by the acts until I began taking this course on sexual assault. So, in a way, I believe I can go back to how I was before, but in another way, I fear I might not be able to, given my new knowledge about what happened. Nothing has changed about my memories about what happened; rather, I learned to look at what happened differently, and that, in turn, affected me negatively. It’s interesting, to me that events can have more of an impact when you learn to look at them from a different perspective.

I don’t know where to go from here. I spoke about it for the first time yesterday, because I was having a difficult time dealing with it. Now, though, as I type this, I feel fine, although my feelings have fluctuated throughout the day. I’m not being ignorant - I recognise I may very well be bothered by this for a while. I’m evaluating whether I’m fit to be doing feminist activism at the moment as well. Until I feel I can’t do it effectively or it’s affecting me, though, I’m going to keep at it, although perhaps at a more manageable rate.

But those are my thoughts at the moment, although I feel I had more when I began writing this. If you want to analyse this further, you’re welcome to do so. If you’re going to comment with “I’m sorry to hear that,” and the like, though, and absolutely feel you must, please send an email instead. It’s just not helpful for understanding this and I’ll be awkward dealing with it publicly. Thanks.

1 Comment | Personal, Sexual Assault | Permalink
Posted by Derek

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