Setting up a feminist discussion group

[ButterpieBride]

I'm considering setting up a feminist dicussion group. Does anyone have any tips or ideas?

I'm thinking of getting hold of a small room somewhere in the centre of newcastle (perhaps a small pub function room?) once a week, and discussing a set topic. So, we would decide on the topics on maybe a six weekly basis, and we would have chance to have a read up and a think before hand, then all meet up and have a chat about the topic for an hour or so. Afterwards we could go to the pub or wherever for more informal socialising/continuing the debate over a pint.

Does this sound doable?

Me too!

I think it sounds brilliant.
If I was doing it, I would follow the model of book groups to some extent because they are clearly very successful. (ie there would be wine. )

Sounds an excellent idea, and definitely doable.
I would absolutely attend something like this if there was one near me.

you know those threads where we all agree with each other and get really ranty? Can you imagine how much fun that would be if we were doing it in person? with wine?

(I don't mean discussion and disagreement aren't good too, but the ranty agreement aspect would be so lovely to do in person.)

Sounds like a great idea!

You might find it helpful to download UKFeminista's "Guide to setting up a feminist group" from www.ukfeminista.org.uk/publications.html

I think it sounds great!

I'd hesitate for once a week - I think that might be too much time to realistically commit for many people - though could be OK if you have a large enough group that it doesn't matter if not everyone there each time. Try fortnightly initially?

Out of interest - do you already have an interested group of people that you will tap in to? I've been thinking about the same kind of idea but don't think I've got a group of friends/acquaintances that would be big enough to start it off and am a bit scared about launching the idea to group of strangers / nobody. Am a wuss!

I have two or three friends that are interested, but I reckon I can advertise through word of mouth and the local listings magazines.

It would be great if we could have a little network of these groups up and down the country :)

Next question- women only?

It's tricky isn't it - I think ideally it would be e.g. one week mixed, the next week women only. And women could come to all sessions or just the W only ones, depending on where they feel comfortably. But this would be hard to organise probably.

I think this is a great idea.

Is there anything like this in Edinburgh?

Check the UK Feminista link about Janos. And also do a search on Facebook/google. There are lots of area specific FB feminists groups.

Thanks for the tip earwicga, I'll have a look.

I would love to go to one of these.

I've set up a fb group, going to have a look for a venue this week.

Hmm, what are the considerations for a venue? At first I thought a pub, but would that exclude women who can't go in pubs for whatever reason?

Church halls are usually the cheapest.

Or if there was a nice cafe (with sofas) that would be nice. Church halls are cheap but bleak and cafes are free and warm! And have cake.

Janos did you find anything? I had a quick look for stuff in the central belt and only really found an "Anarcho-Feminist" group, in Edinburgh, but it was all a bit too much "anti-capitalism, anti-state, anti-police" etc for me to contemplate. I'm not very facebooky though, so might have had better luck there?

No, I didn't find anything stirlingstar, but I see dittany has posted a link so I'll check that out.

Good luck to you. It is worth doing but is really hard to keep these things going.

Getting people out of their living rooms on cold, dark evenings isn't easy.

Not wanting to put you off but here are some of the logistical problems I've had/seen in th past:

-childcare- can people bring kids? (not in a pub), will the group club together to pay for babysitters or take turns?

-location-need parking for those with cars and close to poblic transport for those who dont, could rotate location? need to think of privacy if discussing rape/dv etc

-cost- some people wont be able to come somewhere like a pub or cafe where they will have to pay for a drink, could hire a community/church hall or a room at uni and take turns to bring snacks/drinks

-organisational structure- will meeting have a chair who will stop arguements getting out of hand? who will be responsible for money/cancellation/dates/advertising etc?

-purpose-what is the group for? is it long/short term? will activism be part of it? will it be a book group? who will decide what direction it will go in?

come back and say how you're getting on.