Woman’s place UK conference

[Silencedwitness]

Is anyone else thinking or going?

womansplaceuk.org/conference-womens-liberation-2020/

[Becles]

I'm so glad lots of us are going. We need a prominent group sign/dodgy yet visible hair band or pin.

[ArranUpsideDown]

We could do with being able to print a sticker for ourselves - like this, with the banner:

Radicalised by Mumsnet
www.amazon.co.uk/2019-Monthly-Weekly-Planner-Suffer/dp/1790138388/?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Becles]

Badges we can do. Anyone creative willing to pull together a design?

[midcenturylegs]

I'm quite a shy person and not particularly engaging - I'm so much looking forward to this though, if I meet one-likeminded person I'll be chuffed!

Geordie yes I too had problems choosing!

[MorrisZapp]

Surely this kind of event is useful exactly because we can have 'top down' access to speakers with specific knowledge or experience? I already know what my peers on mumsnet think. But I might be galvanised by hearing from eg Rona Hotchkiss, who addressed a meeting in Scotland last week.

If I pay to attend an event I wouldn't expect to also organise it. I can chat with my peers for nothing in the pub or online, surely? I personally don't have any specific angle or point to make that isn't already hugely articulated on here, so I don't expect my words to have particular resonance. I'd like to listen though, and wouldn't think to consider this as 'consumption only'.

[Terfin2]

Every feminist event I've been to has been different from the others and I've been talked to, talked with, discussed, listened, asked questions, and had a laugh with so many incredible women, some of whom have been around a lot longer than me and some of whom are much younger but much better-read than me! I will take inspiration and knowledge wherever I find it and like to think I am open to new thoughts and ideas.

This conference will be all of that. I scarcely gave a second thought to the list of workshops, just picked the ones that looked instantly the most interesting to me and perhaps the most relevant to my life. Don't overthink it!! Whichever you attend, you'll no doubt come away having learned something or contributed something valuable, or maybe just made a new contact.

I will wear some Mumsnet sticky badges (homemade, and I'll bring some extras with me too), if you see me please say hi - I'm not in the slightest bit shy

[MangoesAreMyFavourite]

Looking forward to it. I am sure there will be good for thought...

[MangoesAreMyFavourite]

Also "food" for thought

[Newuser123123]

I'm going too

Looking forward to to it x

[PlonitbatPlonit]

Stumbled in, Nobody is prevented from organising the conference they want to organise on whatever basis they want to organise it. And nobody is forcing anyone to go to the WPUK conference. I honestly have no idea why anyone would want to attend a conference they had already decided in advance is going to be awful.

[PlonitbatPlonit]

Also, regarding size of workshops - size is limited to facilitate participation by everyone in that workshop. Once a meeting gets beyond a certain size the dynamic is completely different in terms of participation. This is why some (actually only four so far - there are still 26 workshops to choose two from) are full.

[stumbledin]

PlonitbatPlonit - not sure if you have read what I said originally.

I was pointing out - as a statement of fact - that the promoted the conference as being about women's liberation couldn't be true. I then described (which others appreciated) how it was not a women's liberation conference in terms of how content was being decided, but also that the conditions dont probably dont exist for this to happen.

Somebody else claimed I was over thinking it. No I was (foolishly as it turns out) contributing a political perspective of autonomous women's organising.

I've already stated I think the progress WPUK have made as campaign is great and what a shame they aren't carrying it forward.

And I appreciate that some want to attend events as a learning experience.

I dont have the detail you have about the workshops so not sure what point is being made.

However a workshop is not usually something where an appointed group, not made public by the organiser, are then in charge of it. (which I have seen is going to happen as groups have posted on their facebook page to say so) The whole point of workshops is to allow those present to equally contribute. Facilitating is different to being led.

And again as i said earlier, it is clear that at this time, feminism has been so dumbed down that most women now thing that conferences and even demonstrations are consumer events.

ie women got on MWR have a nice time on the march but never stick around for the speeches.

There was nothing to stop WPUK having the conference they are having but why say it is "Women's Liberation" when it is obvious there is an agenda they want, but even more curiously somehow dont think others should be told about. ie its a bit like booking tickets for your favourite pop group's latest concernt and you get there and find they have arranged for performances by people they think you should listen to.

Why so embarrased to say we are socialist feminists and want to explore how to take this forward. The partner groups eg National Assbemly of Women is a long established TU affliated group and as far as know never taken part in Women's Liberation.

There are so many inherent contradicions in terms of the organising the the lack of transparencey , but as I said before, part of the reason why it cant be a Women's Liberation conference is because it is not based on the practice of grassroots activism coming together to be shared.

And obviously as there isn't much of that around it would be harder to based a conference on it.

But equally if women dont want to be at a conference where it is natural to be seen as active and equal participants then having something laid on for them will appeal.

All I am talking about is the whole secretive nature of what is being presented is what is so odd. (and the misadvertising!) Clearly there is a political agenda the WPUK thinking is a priority indicated not only by the structure, ie the amount of time given the plennaries and panel events, but the content.

Why wouldn't WPUK want to be open about this? They aren't normally shy about having an opinion.

[Becles]

Apparently about 900 signed up

We absolutely need something to spot the radicalised by MN crowd. What say you to putting on one of those mahoosive JoJo bows once in the queue to get in?

[PlonitbatPlonit]

Women's Liberation is not reducible to a particular tradition or steam of the movement or a particular mode of conference organisation. WPUK are proud to be organising a conference that celebrates the first National WLM conference at Ruskin in 1970 (which was organised mostly by socialist feminists too).

[Terfin2]

@Becles I'm thinking maybe my rabbit ears (on a headband) with a little Mumsnet sign at the top of each ear Might be a conversation starter anyway!

[Ibloodylovewomen]

I wonder how much the threats and batshittery from TRAs have meant that WPUK have had to take a more 'secretive' approach. I would have liked to see who was running each workshop before signing up, but I can understand that this is not possible in the current climate where speakers are harassed.

[MrsFogi]

To those wanting to show they are MNers earlier in the thread I floated the idea of wearing a ribbon in MN blue (you have two to choose from) around your wrist - simple and cheap . I will be wearing one!

[MrsFogi]

You could even write "Radicalised by MN" or another slogan on your snazzy MN ribbon!

[Becles]

I'm liking the ribbon idea. May go for blue and white on wrist and hair so it doesn't get missed.

Will also try stickers.

[midcenturylegs]

Oooh. I'm up for wearing a ribbon of sorts. Will have a google on amazon..

[midcenturylegs]

Also - do people know about this?

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cwo-forum-violence-against-women-in-politics-vawp-tickets-91109883113?ref=eios

[Stuffofawesome]

Ah found my tribe. I am going. Shall try to find ribbon but if not I have vintage FeMNist badge

[morningtoncrescent62]

I'm going to the conference and really looking forward to it and I agree with most of stumbledin's points. I'm old enough to remember what women's lib conferences were like and this isn't it. On the other hand, we did spend a lot of time in women's lib meetings and conferences deciding what to do and going round the houses on how to do it and how to avoid 'tyrannies of structurelessness' (anyone else remember that one?), and whilst that was democratising it wasn't always the best use of time, and could get tedious.

This conference is something different. It's an opportunity to hear directly from some fantastic women, and work in smallish groups with other equally fantastic women. OK, so we weren't involved in deciding what the workshops would be, but I'm interested in almost all of them so that doesn't bother me.

I think the problem is with calling it a women's lib conference which implies (to us oldies anyway) something more grassroots-led. I've had to let go of that expectation, and instead look forward to a day of exciting talks and workshops organised by the most courageous and principled bunch of women I can think of. I'm assuming the secrecy is because of the TRA pile-ons. I wouldn't be surprised if they'd had to assure workshop leaders that their names wouldn't be on the publicity, or something on those lines. A very sad indictment of the times we're in, but quite probably not the fault of WPUK.

[midcenturylegs]

Hmmmm. Had a look online and all I can find in the way of mumsnet merch are t-shirts with YANBU and penis beaker mugs. The latter I would never ever use

[drspouse]

I thought we had LTB cards to hand out?
Might be of limited use at a FWR conference.