FemiFest

[FloraFox]

www.femifest2014.com

Anyone going? I'm thinking about it.

[GiantIsopod]

Not me, but it sounds good!

[FloraFox]

Not sure when. They're still advertising on FB.

[MontyGlee]

Blimey; they're a bit prescriptive about who can attend aren't they?!

Those discussions certainly aren't going to be troubled by a diversity of opinion.

[FloraFox]

Not every meeting needs to have every viewpoint represented. Tories don't go to Labour conferences and vice versus. This is normal in political organising.

[MontyGlee]

That's an interesting point FloraFox. Although, one could suggest that a political conference is not primarily designed around the exchange of ideas, but rather the appointed representatives giving an account of their year - a year in which a great many outside consultations would have occurred. Femfest, unless I'm wrong, appears to be more about the sharing of ideas than accountability. Ok, whatever - I'm just saying that you can't really share ideas properly unless you're open to diversity.

[FloraFox]

I'm just saying that you can't really share ideas properly unless you're open to diversity.

Don't agree. All political groups meet independently to discuss ideas and formulate policy, whether it's the Southall Black Sisters, the 1922 Committee or any political party and think tank. Same thing with religion. If every meeting was open to everyone, the same points would be rehashed again and again without any opportunity for deeper reflection and consideration with people of like minds.

[HaroldsBishop]

I don't really see a problem with this - its a convention to get together and discuss amongst themselves. You wouldn't invite a creationist to a conference on Evolution would you?

[Bue]

I was interested until I read the 'About' page and realised that I can't even work out which feminists are welcome to attend and which aren't

[sausageeggbacon11]

Wow so these are the creationist version of feminists as they are saying gender is a power hierarchy based on reproductive sex. I mean just really? Some feminists are very very scary

[FloraFox]

Wow even by your standards, that's a weak analysis.

[MontyGlee]

It's also made very clear that trans women aren't welcome. Also, the overall tone just makes me think that, if I said the wrong thing, I'd be frog-marched out.

I think, Flora, that you're closer with your religios comparison. I'm sorry, but political parties do canvass opinion from a wider audience; they just do, so there's nothing for you to disagree with there. Religion, however, is based on an agreed doctrine so in that case, yes, it would be unhelpful to have non-believers attend.

Anyway, whatever, it's a free country.

[FloraFox]

No Monty, all political groups spend time on their own. Not every meeting includes divergent views. You can't name a a single political movement that never meets alone. It's only when women try to do this that men are concerned and try shaming tactics to stop them.

[MontyGlee]

Buffy, I'm sure you're right. I suppose it's just that they open with 'we welcome all women' and then start a list of caveats meaning that they don't welcome all women at all. 'Perhaps Madam would be more comfortable at another conference?'

[FloraFox]

So now your attack on the substance has fallen, you're going after form? Women are allowed to meet on their own if you have copy approval over the website?

[MontyGlee]

Attack??? Ok, I think I'll leave you to it. It's just what I felt when I read it.

[QueenStromba]

Of course transwomen aren't welcome at this particular conference. It's organised by radical feminists for women and it's pretty central to radical feminism that transwomen are not the same as biological women. I'm pretty sure that the only trans women who would want to go to a radfem conference are the transactivist minority who would be there to make trouble anyway.

[lemonmuffin1]

"the only trans women who would want to go to a radfem conference are the transactivist minority who would be there to make trouble"

Really? and you know this how? What an offensive thing to say.

[QueenStromba]

Thanks for selectively quoting me there - the preface of "I'm pretty sure that" makes all the difference to what I said.

It would be like someone who wasn't interested in cars going to a car show.

[QueenStromba]

Or an evolutionary biologist going to a creationist conference (or vice versa). I'm an evolutionary biologist and I have no interest of going to a creationist conference.