Starting over.

@highame
I think that the reason women’s groups falter is because first we are 50% of population, so not a majority. Secondly, it is impossible to get 100% of women to agree on anything, so we don’t even get to 50% vote on anything at all.
So the only things that gain traction are things that we hold in common with men and men’s needs. Men supported full time, extended hours childcare from age 0 on up because it meant their female partner could go to work and contribute to the household bills. They didn’t support it so women could sit at home and be SAHP (in most cases).

Essentially, we have to “sell” what we want to men to get enough votes to get what women need. Many women’s groups fail to understand this unfair but truth of our reality and alienate the very people we need support from.

It’s no different from BAME activism...we need allies to get anything done. So do we as women.

Fundraisers have (I think) easier over £1million for legal cases supporting women. Lots of people are willing to donate money, I think time and skills is more of an issue.

All laudable but I wonder why women's groups don't take off? Once we can answer that question, we might be able to get something really good going

I know this isn't really a sane idea but we really need a large body, run by women which acts as a funding body. It would be supported by crowdfunding / ongoing donations and any cause advancing women's rights could apply for a grant or a loan. It could even copy Stonewall and set up its own Women friendly employer index

As well as being a funding body it would become a well funded and influential lobby group - the go to group for Women's rights - importantly though it would also highlight grassroots women's groups where possible.

It could be made up of representatives from all grassroots women's groups?

Hasn't a women's studies course been set up recently? Can't remember details but am sure I saw something on here.

Originally it started at grass roots level, I think.

I have an old book called 'half the sky' with the course material from (maybe) a Bristol women's studies course.

Then they got co-opted into colleges/universities.
Then subsumed into social studies/gender studies.

Still lots of good stuff happening in sociology ime. And social policy.
But not within gender studies which is v pomo just now. (Happy to be wrong- apologies if you're fighting the good fight within gender studies).

In terms of funding eg a lottery or trust ... it would be good to know how much money would be required as a starter fund.
Eg to keep 5 women's aids going, 3 rape crisis org's, 1 prevention/challenging victim blaming and so on, how much would be needed.
Would it be uk-wide?
What policies would be needed to avoid distraction from legal challenge, potential infighting etc.

I would hope any group like this (funding body) would access training on feminist governance that covers things like conflicts of interest.

A fund really could challenge current thinking. It's entirely possible lots of women's orgs are only making twaw noises to keep funding going.

100% agree need to bring back women’s studies

Yes, our knowledge is our power.

Thank you @SuperLoudPoppingAction for summarising what this ‘girls work’ was in UK 1980s.

@picklemewalnuts
100% agree need to bring back women’s studies.

Reclaim women's studies. The sociology of women faring less well in society needs re examining, away from gender studies and (is it queer theory? Critical theory?).

Similar probably needs to be done for men's studies. An examination of how men can ensure their own protection around parenting, pregnancy etc. They need to understand what risks they are taking when they have unprotected sex- whether that's life time responsibility for a child, or the fact that they get no say in abortion.

Women's studies so we can unpack the wage gap, assault, 'sex work', prison and sentencing etc. All of it. Not gender nonsense.

I’d suggest that any new services make extremely clear from the start that they are exclusively for natal born women.
I’d run them all as private clubs where people can join by invitation only, so that men cannot claim their ‘rights’ are being removed when they are not allowed to use facilities. I’m sure there are women here who can suggest lawful ways of doing this.

I definitely think having a sustainable and reliable source of funding is an important foundation to ensure groups don't find themselves having to compromise their mission values in the longer term.

I saw a suggestion on Twitter about some sort of Women's Lottery to help fund groups and orgs that focus on services for women, specifically single-sex.

A type of credit union also sounds like a good idea. We can look at how women's groups in other countries find ways to fund their work including self-sufficiency.

I think your summarising is excellent Super.

All teary and nostalgic here.

It was amazing. There was a periodical/journal that was in the women's library so I got some history from that. I also know some women who were involved at the time.

It was challenging stereotypical activities for girls and facilitating discussion in a way that was a bit like consciousness-raising. Im probably not summarising well.
But for eg girls from urban areas were taken to the 2 women's holiday centres for weekends away in the outdoors.
Adverts for beauty products were analysed.
Expectations based on sex eg girls should be submissive were discussed and challenged.

I do still use some material with girls and young women in community groups and university society groups. I find it still resonates.

Eg maybe someone might analyse their plan for their dad to fund a nose job upon graduation in a different light.
Girls might discuss experiences of street harassment and ways to express solidarity and access support

Yeah, just that Plan

And you know what? I'm not going to answer because I think you are here just to stir the pot.

If you want to know then there are quite a few youth work resources still available so I suggest you Google them.

What is ‘girls work’ ? I am sadly visualising the 80s when we girls were put to work sewing, babysitting, cooking, and learning basic first aid and cpr so could be good nurses/carers.

Super - I think it is more relevant and urgent now. :(

Bringing 'girls work' back would be such a good shout! Most material from 80s sadly still very relevant

And to thrive in society women need an income, childcare, healthcare, education, support and community.

This is a good list but most of it applies to men as well as women. I think these are more universal needs for any civilised society.