I'm looking for submissions for a one-off zine called I'm Not Like Other Girls.
What I want women and girls to do is to complete the sentence,
"I'm not like other girls because..."
I will make a zine of the responses.
The sentence will appear randomly placed, with all credits at the end, so your sentence and your credit aren't linked. This may help you to be more open, and the zine will flow much better too.
They may be categorised by theme, but that will depend on the submissions.
If you want to contribute, email me at incurable.hippie@googlemail.com
1) Put 'I'm not like other girls' in the subject line.
2) Email me your sentence (I'm not like other girls because...)
3) Tell me if you want to be anonymous.
4) If you want to be credited, tell me how (name / pseudonym, name of zine, etc)
5) If you want to receive a contributors' copy when it's ready, tell me your address too.
I can't guarantee your words will be put in the zine, but it's very likely. I only want submissions from women and girls.
Thanks!
To see more of my zine stuff, go to rebelgrrlzine. New ones to be added next week.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Help Imogen Find her Voice
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
10:00 am
I very, very rarely post appeals like this, but Imogen is a friend of mine who is in a dire situation since losing the ability to speak after emergency surgery.
Please watch this video and see if there's anything you can do, be it donating, or passing the link onto your friends.
Imogen's site is at www.imogenmay.com.
Please watch this video and see if there's anything you can do, be it donating, or passing the link onto your friends.
Imogen's site is at www.imogenmay.com.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sexual Assault Prevention Guaranteed to Work
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
9:58 am
(edited with non-facebookified links, that was an accident sorry).
In the spirit of How to Really Prevent Rape and Rape Prevention Advice, I was just recommended Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work by Femin-Ally.
In the spirit of How to Really Prevent Rape and Rape Prevention Advice, I was just recommended Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work by Femin-Ally.
Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work!
1. Don’t put drugs in people’s drinks in order to control their behavior.
2. When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!
3. If you pull over to help someone with car problems, remember not to assault them!
4. NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited.
5. If you are in an elevator and someone else gets in, DON’T ASSAULT THEM!
6. Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest someone who is alone in a laundry room.
7. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you are not able to stop yourself from assaulting people, ask a friend to stay with you while you are in public.
8. Always be honest with people! Don’t pretend to be a caring friend in order to gain the trust of someone you want to assault. Consider telling them you plan to assault them. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the other person may take that as a sign that you do not plan to rape them.
9. Don’t forget: you can’t have sex with someone unless they are awake!
10. Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone “on accident” you can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do.
And, ALWAYS REMEMBER: if you didn’t ask permission and then respect the answer the first time, you are commiting a crime- no matter how “into it” others appear to be.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Quiet Just Now
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
8:21 pm
Moving inactive blogs from cluttering up the sidebar to this post.
Be Reasonable
Domestic Violence Memorial (UK)
Lara Barrett - Photography
Inspire Me Thursday
Mixed Media Memoirs
The Tarot Deck Creation Collective
Museum of Left-Wing Lunacy
Run Over By The Truth
Survivor Worker
This Thing You Call Love
75 degrees South
The Accidental Artist (1)
Anonyrrie
Artful Journey
Artwork Anonymous
Blogs That Flickr - Photolog
Boules de Neige
The Camel Exchange
Crafty Metallyptica
INKEDblog
*International Charm Exchange*
Adventures in Ethical Consumerism
Doing the Right Thing
HippyShopper
Supermarket Sweep Up
God Speak
Take Your Medicine
Chasing Daisy
Le Google Bomb Taking on the Far Right
The GoogleBomb Project
Infected Papercut
Meta Kate
perfect.co.uk Rational Dissent in an Imperfect World
Sheffield PhlickrBlog
Anonymous Work Blogs
ani mechapesset a'vodah
Loquacious of Blog
Love & Rage - a sane response in an insane world
saesnes, apparently
Undecidedly So
Welcome to the Monkeyhouse
Yehovah Yireh (new)
Amateur Blog
- - - ~Washington City Paper BackPage
- - - ~City Link Florida
wacky neighbour
The Progressive Blog Alliance
The Adventures of a Snowball in Hell
CustardSpies
Weird or Wise?
Loopy Ex-Student
Is That All There Is?
godhatesgod.com (1)
Zazzafooky
Be The Jam (1)
Diary of a Refused Asylum Seeker
Anti-Pornography Activist
Because Sometimes Feminists Aren't Nice
Blog of Feminist Activism (1)
brand new feminist (1)
Dead Men Don't Rape
Den of the Biting Beaver
Fate is Chance. Destiny is Choice (1)
FeminisTIC
Feminist Reprise (1)
Feminist, Unmodified
Fluffy Woman
Grrrlcott
Holla Back UK
I'm Not a Feminist, But...
The Jerk List
Linguistic Concerns
Mad Sheila's Musings
Mind the Gap, Cardiff (1)
Ms Violet's Musings
Opinionated Lesbian
The Opuscular Outpost
The other world of the Dynamite Lady
ReSISTERance
Trollbuster
Wall of Shame
J a v a J i v e Photography from Indonesia (1)
The Other World of the Dynamite Lady
The World of the Dynamite Lady
A Speakout on Male Violence (2)
Stick It!
A Stormy Blog
The Tree Remembers
la somnambule
The Shouty Woman
SaraFenix
radical quaker activist grrl
Angry and Queer
ruining it by talking
City Hippy
Speakout on Male Sexual Violence (1)
Witchy Woo
Thursday, June 18, 2009
When Ukuleles and Charity Combine.
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
3:01 pm
Buy this t-shirt in the colour and style of your choice!.
Ukuleles are cool. If you were in any doubt, just watch this:
If you don't play the ukulele then you clearly should, and probably know other people who do. In this case then both you and they, and everyone you know, should read on.
From 17th June until the 31st July 2009, every sale of this t-shirt will result in a £2 donation to Cancer Research UK.
This is to celebrate the London Uke Festival which takes place on June 20th in London.
So remember, every time anyone buys a Ukulele Hero t-shirt between now and the end of July, £2 will be donated to Cancer Research UK.
Buy one now from the link below! Or buy 5 and give them to friends. Then spread the word by passing on this URL: http://bit.ly/kRVPV
Buy this t-shirt in the colour and style of your choice!.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Racism Against Your Own Children?
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
9:10 pm
I know, I know, going on the Daily Mail website is never a good idea. But for some reason I did.
I was (duly) horrified by this story, about a white couple who had IVF and due to a mix-up had mixed race children, one of whom apparently has noticeably darker skin than the rest of them.
Now, clearly this isn't ideal, it is concerning that such mix-ups can occur, and the couple, who wanted to keep their IVF a secret for some reason, are feeling now that this secret might be revealed.
However, this poor child is suffering from what, I fear, is an element of racism from his parents. He apparently asks his Dad at night 'Why am I brown? How can I make myself lighter, like you?'
This must be hard for them to hear, but there is a clear reason why he is not happy in his own skin.
Because of his colour,
They consider that their black son is a 'social discredit' to them, his skin colour causes them mental distress, and I'm not sure whether he'd have been consider goods or services when he was 'supplied'.
His father says:
He also says:
How can this boy have a chance of having any kind of positive self-image, or appreciation of his heritage, with his parents openly suing the hospital, refusing to pick him up from school or take him out anywhere, all because of the colour of his skin?
It's no wonder he wants to whiten his skin.
I was (duly) horrified by this story, about a white couple who had IVF and due to a mix-up had mixed race children, one of whom apparently has noticeably darker skin than the rest of them.
Now, clearly this isn't ideal, it is concerning that such mix-ups can occur, and the couple, who wanted to keep their IVF a secret for some reason, are feeling now that this secret might be revealed.
However, this poor child is suffering from what, I fear, is an element of racism from his parents. He apparently asks his Dad at night 'Why am I brown? How can I make myself lighter, like you?'
This must be hard for them to hear, but there is a clear reason why he is not happy in his own skin.
Because of his colour,
the Williamses are suing the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (formerly the Royal Group of Hospitals Trust) for damages for their mental distress, social discredit and breach of contract under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982.
They consider that their black son is a 'social discredit' to them, his skin colour causes them mental distress, and I'm not sure whether he'd have been consider goods or services when he was 'supplied'.
His father says:
'I felt very angry and betrayed,' he says. 'We'd placed all our trust in the hospital and one person's mistake had ruined all our futures.
He also says:
'It's not so bad when we all go away on holiday, but at home I've given up picking up my son from school and we don't go out as a family any more.
How can this boy have a chance of having any kind of positive self-image, or appreciation of his heritage, with his parents openly suing the hospital, refusing to pick him up from school or take him out anywhere, all because of the colour of his skin?
It's no wonder he wants to whiten his skin.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Sheffield Anti-BNP Demo. 8th June 2009.
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
12:23 pm
An urgent demonstration was called yesterday in response to the election of two British National Party MEPs, one in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
Many gathered outside Sheffield Town Hall to hear speakers, watch drummers and express their disgust and discontent at racists gaining power.
It was a heartening event with a good turnout and a positive atmosphere.
You can see all the photos of the event here and the best of the photos here. There is also an Indymedia article up too.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Vote. And not for the BNP
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
3:47 pm
Vote tomorrow, for anyone BUT the BNP.
Friday, May 01, 2009
BADD Post #3
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
4:45 pm
Today is Blogging Against Disablism Day 2009 (you knew that already, right?). I wrote post #1, Creative Protest against Disablism, and post #2, about Access to Healthcare for disabled people.
- Some of my favourite posts from the day so far are:
- Piss On Pity
- Don't Assume
- "Mainstream" Schooling and Disablism
- Psychophobia 201
- Ableism and a Watershed Experience
- When My Disability Is Invisible
- No, I'm Spasticus
- A living, learning experience
- Well-Meaning Insults
- The pill that retains my humanity
- I Like a Good Fight
- Queers United
- Street Harassment Edition
Access to Healthcare: Blogging Against Disablism Day 2009
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
8:05 am
Well, it's that time of year again when we blog against disablism. It's such a massive topic that it is very difficult to know what to say, what to write about.
I want to talk about disablism within healthcare. It is a huge subject, and there are many issues, and I can't cover them all in this one post.
I will begin with the very funny, and worryingly apt, Code of Ethical Behaviour for Patients
The reality is that many disabled people receive inadequate medical care. People with mental health problems can have huge problems getting physical problems to be taken seriously. People with physical impairments can find that any other symptoms or illnesses they have are dismissed. People with multiple impairments can be written off as hypochondriacs.
Perhaps doctors consider that if you are already in pain with one problem, then additional, unconnected pain is not that important. Certainly, many doctors feel that if you experience madness then surely a physical symptom is all in the mind. I've lost count of the number of times that I have been told that something treatable I'm experiencing will *not* be treated, 'because you already take a lot of tablets'. When I vomited every day for 10 months, I was never sent for tests because it was 'bound to be anxiety'. Medication side-effects are not taken seriously - serious though they may well be.
The result is that disabled people suffer more than we need to. Health is neglected, and further problems result. We may not be straight-forward patients, we may cause the doctor to need to work a bit harder, but that's not an unreasonable expectation, surely. It is their job.
Being listened to, being taken seriously, being treated well, are all things which everyone should be entitled to, and which everyone should receive.
In the news recently was harrowing accounts of neglect of learning disabled people who were supposed to be receiving healthcare:
There was a man, Martin Ryan, who starved to death after not being fed for 26 days while in hospital. Five other people's care was also slammed.
The British Medical Journal states that:
The Disability Rights Commission report:
This is not theoretical, this is actually happening, and I witness or experience it myself, all too often.
If disabled people are to ever have equal access to society, we need equal access to good healthcare.
Please see also my other Blogging Against Disablism Day post, over on my photography blog, where you can see various empowering disability rights designs I have created.
I want to talk about disablism within healthcare. It is a huge subject, and there are many issues, and I can't cover them all in this one post.
I will begin with the very funny, and worryingly apt, Code of Ethical Behaviour for Patients
DO NOT EXPECT YOUR DOCTOR TO SHARE YOUR DISCOMFORT
Involvement with the patient's suffering might cause him to lose valuable scientific objectivity.
BE CHEERFUL AT ALL TIMES
Your doctor leads a busy and trying life and requires all the gentleness and reassurance he can get.
TRY TO SUFFER FROM THE DISEASE FOR WHICH YOU ARE BEING TREATED
Remember that your doctor has a professional reputation to uphold.
DO NOT COMPLAIN IF THE TREATMENT FAILS TO BRING RELIEF
You must believe that your doctor has achieved a deep insight into the true nature of your illness, which transcends any mere permanent disability you may have experienced.
NEVER ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO EXPLAIN WHAT HE IS DOING OR WHY HE IS DOING IT
It is presumptuous to assume that such profound matters could be explained in terms that you would understand.
SUBMIT TO NOVEL EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT READILY
Though the surgery may not benefit you directly, the resulting research paper will surely be of widespread interest.
PAY YOUR MEDICAL BILLS PROMPTLY AND WILLINGLY
You should consider it a privilege to contribute, however modestly, to the well-being of physicians and other humanitarians.
DO NOT SUFFER FROM AILMENTS THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD
It is sheer arrogance to contract illnesses that are beyond your means.
NEVER REVEAL ANY OF THE SHORTCOMINGS THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT IN THE COURSE OF TREATMENT BY YOUR DOCTOR
The patient-doctor relationship is a privileged one, and you have a sacred duty to protect him from exposure.
NEVER DIE WHILE IN YOUR DOCTOR'S PRESENCE OR UNDER HIS DIRECT CARE
This will only cause him needless inconvenience and embarrassment.
The reality is that many disabled people receive inadequate medical care. People with mental health problems can have huge problems getting physical problems to be taken seriously. People with physical impairments can find that any other symptoms or illnesses they have are dismissed. People with multiple impairments can be written off as hypochondriacs.
Perhaps doctors consider that if you are already in pain with one problem, then additional, unconnected pain is not that important. Certainly, many doctors feel that if you experience madness then surely a physical symptom is all in the mind. I've lost count of the number of times that I have been told that something treatable I'm experiencing will *not* be treated, 'because you already take a lot of tablets'. When I vomited every day for 10 months, I was never sent for tests because it was 'bound to be anxiety'. Medication side-effects are not taken seriously - serious though they may well be.
The result is that disabled people suffer more than we need to. Health is neglected, and further problems result. We may not be straight-forward patients, we may cause the doctor to need to work a bit harder, but that's not an unreasonable expectation, surely. It is their job.
Being listened to, being taken seriously, being treated well, are all things which everyone should be entitled to, and which everyone should receive.
In the news recently was harrowing accounts of neglect of learning disabled people who were supposed to be receiving healthcare:
There was a man, Martin Ryan, who starved to death after not being fed for 26 days while in hospital. Five other people's care was also slammed.
The British Medical Journal states that:
One year after its damning report into the delivery of health care to disabled people, the Disability Rights Commission, the statutory watchdog organisation for people with disabilities in England, Wales, and Scotland, says in a new report that little has changed to bridge the gap in health care.
The Disability Rights Commission report:
An investigation into healthcare given to people with mental health problems and learning disabilities shows they often get worse treatment than others.
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) - which examined eight million health records - says the government could face legal action unless things change.
The study concentrated on primary care in England and Wales, which will soon fall under new equality laws.
The government says it has already started acting on the report.
The 18-month investigation shows that people with learning disabilities and mental health problems are more likely to have a major illness, to develop a serious health condition younger and to die sooner than the rest of the population.
Such people were less likely to have routine tests and screening to pick up signs of a problem in its early stages.
'Lazy fatalism'
The DRC also found that people with learning disabilities and mental health problems face "real barriers" when accessing services.
"The acid test of a national health service is not whether it works for those who are generally healthy, but whether it benefits those with the greatest risk," said DRC chairman, Bert Massie.
He said that the response from the government and the NHS was "deeply inadequate", a situation which was made worse by "a dangerously complacent attitude and a lazy fatalism" on the part of the medical profession.
"This is completely unacceptable - we need to see a radical change in the commissioning, targeting and delivery of health services in order to close this gap quickly."
The British Medical Association (BMA) has described the findings as "extremely worrying".
"As doctors, we believe it is unacceptable for the healthcare needs of this group of people to be ignored," said Dr Sam Everington, who co-chairs the BMA's equal opportunities committee.
He said the report would be discussed by GPs at the BMA in the near future.
The Department of Health said it would be working with the DRC to develop a full response to the investigation.
Mental health charity Sane said it was "disturbing" that people with mental illnesses were at greatest risk of becoming physically ill through neglect.
The charity's Marjorie Wallace called for a "new drive amongst all health professionals to ensure that each time a person with mental illness receives medical help, they are given a physical health check".
Eight million records
The investigation spoke to senior health professionals, policy makers and disabled people themselves.
Researchers analysed eight million health records in three primary care trusts (PCTs) in England and one local health board in Wales.
The DRC says that in spite of increased needs of these two groups, important checks are provided less often.
For example, people with learning disabilities who have diabetes have fewer measurements of their body mass index, while those who have had a stroke have fewer blood pressure checks.
The investigation identified a problem known as "diagnostic overshadowing" - where symptoms of physical ill health are often seen as part of a patient's mental health problem or learning disability and are not properly investigated or treated.
More than 50% of people who spoke to researchers said they experienced difficulties when trying to see their GP.
They identified the attitude of reception staff, inflexible appointments and inaccessible information as being some of the causes.
A few said they were not registered with a family doctor or had been struck off the list for being too demanding.
The report did identify areas of good practice but the DRC says services are frequently working in isolation and initiatives developed by specialists have not become part of the mainstream.
The government is being urged to put in place a number of improvements to "close the gap".
"We agree with the broad thrust of the DRC's recommendations and have already started to act," said health minister Rosie Winterton.
She said £7m had been made available to almost 90 PCTs to employ "wellbeing nurses" to help mental health patients.
The department has also allocated £42m to PCTs to help them to implement further measures to improve the care of people with learning disabilities.
This is not theoretical, this is actually happening, and I witness or experience it myself, all too often.
If disabled people are to ever have equal access to society, we need equal access to good healthcare.
Please see also my other Blogging Against Disablism Day post, over on my photography blog, where you can see various empowering disability rights designs I have created.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
BADD
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
12:50 pm
Blogging Against Disablism Day is coming up. Watch this space on May 1st.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Hillsborough
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
4:21 pm
It is 20 years since the Hillsborough Disaster, and I remember it vividly. I was 11 and it was talked about for weeks. One boy, Tony Bland, was used as an example in Religious Education for years, against withdrawing treatment to some medical patients.
It was horrific, and now I live in the city it happened in. I've just listened to this radio programme, and there is a sense in the air here of what happened.
Until they get justice, I can understand why people can't even grieve properly.
Thinking of the 96.
It was horrific, and now I live in the city it happened in. I've just listened to this radio programme, and there is a sense in the air here of what happened.
Until they get justice, I can understand why people can't even grieve properly.
Thinking of the 96.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Debunking Nonsense.
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
10:10 am
There is a whole new section in my 'blog links' to the right, which is, for now, somewhat clunkily called Religulous / Bad Science. It's probably self-explanatory!
It's a shame that Be Reasonable is inactive, because it looked like they had some good stuff going on. Similarly, What if you took the Bible literally. Anyway, enjoy!
- American Atheists
- Atheist Revolution
- Bad Science
- Bad Science @ The Guardian
- butterfliesandwheels
- Debunking Christianity
- denialism
- Friendly Atheist
- Good Math, Bad Math
- Hokum-Balderdash Assay
- Infidel Guy
- It Ain't Necessarily So...
- The Jaded Skeptic
- Letting Off Steam
- Minister Turns Atheist
- Pharyngula
- The Quackometer
- Randi
- Respectful Insolence
- The Sceptical Preacher
- Secular Left
- The Skepbitch
- Skepchick
- Skeptico
- Skeptobot
- STARDUST MUSINGS AND THOUGHTS FOR THE FREETHINKER
- Suburban Panic!
- Unscrewing the Inscrutible
It's a shame that Be Reasonable is inactive, because it looked like they had some good stuff going on. Similarly, What if you took the Bible literally. Anyway, enjoy!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
New Links
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
12:51 pm
- Some blogs I have added to the right sidebar recently:
- Too much to say for myself
- Sheffield blog
- River Wired
- Cheap Charity
- Eco Worriers
- Cake Wrecks
- Photoshop Disasters
- PostSecret France
- spEak You’re bRanes
- Some bizarre search terms which have found hippie blog lately:
- Hell blog porn webring net index
- Peter Sutcliffe menstruation
I have mentioned Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, and quite a few times written about menstruation, but what on earth connects the two??!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Animal Farm and Britcit.
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
4:09 pm
This afternoon I read Animal Farm.
I had read it as a child, but didn't really understand the hidden meanings, so when I won an award where it was offered as one of thebribes prizes, I chose it.
I got it because I had left the most comments on the new blog, Britcit, which is written by someone whose writing and politics I have long enjoyed online.
It is a blog about UK citizenship in the 21st century and covers a lot of issues, many focussed on areas of civil liberties, ID cards, privacy issues etc.
There will be regular community bribes, so I recommend you get over there now and start reading and commenting. And not just because of the goodies, but because it's great, too.
I had read it as a child, but didn't really understand the hidden meanings, so when I won an award where it was offered as one of the
I got it because I had left the most comments on the new blog, Britcit, which is written by someone whose writing and politics I have long enjoyed online.
It is a blog about UK citizenship in the 21st century and covers a lot of issues, many focussed on areas of civil liberties, ID cards, privacy issues etc.
There will be regular community bribes, so I recommend you get over there now and start reading and commenting. And not just because of the goodies, but because it's great, too.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Promises and Trust, Words and Linguistics
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
8:34 pm
Following my previous post, I very much appreciated metal sunflower's response:
I appreciate her sincerity and determination, however belated. In the most recent Sheffield Fems minutes, they say,
It's certainly less enthusiastic, but hopefully there is determination which is not shining through!
When I thanked metal sunflower for her acknowledgement and apology, I did so because I was genuinely moved by her post, and I was appreciative of it. I also felt vulnerable - did I dare believe they'd sort this out? Did I dare thank them in advance?
I really, really hope that a premature gratitude doesn't make me look a fool. I want them to sort this out for other women to be able to join them, should they want to. I want my words and experiences to have got through. I really, really hope they sort this out with the urgency it deserves.
In other news, because of the snow I am tempted to remain in my latibule during my succisive hours, to avoid labascating on the ice and requiring an odynometer.
Thankfully I am not too much of a philargyrist, during this credit crunch, though I could do with a few quid I have to admit. I wonder if pound coins are plenispheres? In any case, I don't addecimate, which must save me a few bob, though doubtless provokes theomeny. And no amount of veteratorian pleas from the numerous charities who are writing to me at the moment will allow me to give them any more.
I wonder if the current economic situation is essomenic, or whether it will improve, or indeed worsen?
In penarious matters, I could do with stocking up, certainly. I won't be behaving pamphagously unless I do. I am not nequient in cooking, so can rustle up a nice meal, but fresh ingredients would be a bonus. Let's hope there is no hirculation or other pomarious problems when I need to buy fruit. Ruriculous people may be able to advise.
I keep meaning to do an ipsographic podcast for this blog, but haven't done it yet. I do hope this is not boreism.
You, too, should save the words.
This is an open letter, and if I thought that it would be welcome, I’d have started it with the words “Dear Incurable Hippy”. But if I’m angry with people, the last thing I want is for them to be civil without saying anything helpful. So I’m not going to do it here.
What I would like to say is that the Sheffield Fems as a group have been wrong, and have done wrong, and that I, personally, have done wrong. And for all of that, I am sorry.
I don’t want to try to offer any glib explanations.
I have been wrong. I haven’t done enough. I saw your post last time you publicly showed how angry you were. I saw it and brought it up at a meeting and asked that something be done about it. I didn’t follow up on it. I should have done. I should have kept asking, and kept looking for different venues, and kept insisting that we did something about the pub, and I didn’t do any of those things. I don’t hold the Sheffield Fems email account, and I used that as an excuse to distance myself from it, and from you.
I am very, very sorry.
As of yet, we haven’t had to pay for the use of the room in the University Arms. But that doesn’t make it right. I can’t - and wouldn’t - argue with any other point you make. You’re right. And it’s my fault as much as - if not more so - than anybody else. Because I was the one who first saw the post you wrote last time, and I didn’t do enough for you.
Although I can see that by now, it’s unlikely you’d ever want to associate with me (or with the fems in general), I would like to promise you that this time, I won’t let it rest. As I should have done the first time, I consider myself warned. I am ashamed of myself.
I have been ablist. You’d think I’d know better. I will try my hardest to make up for that, and make sure that I don’t do it again.
I hope you can accept this as a sincere apology, but I understand if you can’t. Either way, and regardless of whether we ever meet (although I hope that we do, one day), I wish you well.
I appreciate her sincerity and determination, however belated. In the most recent Sheffield Fems minutes, they say,
2. We're having another crack at looking into moving the meetings. Any suggestions more than welcome... we need somewhere with a private room we can book long term, that's accessible by all, is central and is free/ really really cheep! This is a difficult list of requirement to meet so please suggestions!!!
It's certainly less enthusiastic, but hopefully there is determination which is not shining through!
When I thanked metal sunflower for her acknowledgement and apology, I did so because I was genuinely moved by her post, and I was appreciative of it. I also felt vulnerable - did I dare believe they'd sort this out? Did I dare thank them in advance?
I really, really hope that a premature gratitude doesn't make me look a fool. I want them to sort this out for other women to be able to join them, should they want to. I want my words and experiences to have got through. I really, really hope they sort this out with the urgency it deserves.
In other news, because of the snow I am tempted to remain in my latibule during my succisive hours, to avoid labascating on the ice and requiring an odynometer.
Thankfully I am not too much of a philargyrist, during this credit crunch, though I could do with a few quid I have to admit. I wonder if pound coins are plenispheres? In any case, I don't addecimate, which must save me a few bob, though doubtless provokes theomeny. And no amount of veteratorian pleas from the numerous charities who are writing to me at the moment will allow me to give them any more.
I wonder if the current economic situation is essomenic, or whether it will improve, or indeed worsen?
In penarious matters, I could do with stocking up, certainly. I won't be behaving pamphagously unless I do. I am not nequient in cooking, so can rustle up a nice meal, but fresh ingredients would be a bonus. Let's hope there is no hirculation or other pomarious problems when I need to buy fruit. Ruriculous people may be able to advise.
I keep meaning to do an ipsographic podcast for this blog, but haven't done it yet. I do hope this is not boreism.
You, too, should save the words.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Sheffield Fems and Inaccessibility
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
9:28 pm
Last November I wrote a post about my local 'feminist' group and their meetings being held upstairs in a building without a lift.
I was told that they had discussed the issues but didn't want to meet somewhere that would alienate non-students. Other than that, I have seen the agenda and minutes for each subsequent meeting, and it has not been mentioned.
They also wrote a post on their blog about it. The post is copied below, and my comments are in bold italic
I am beyond being diplomatic about this. I think it's shit, frankly.
And then tonight I got an email from them with the following sentence in it:
Sounds promising? Nope. They're talking about men. You've got to be inclusive of non-students (of which I am one), and men. But disabled women, nope. No hope.
I was told that they had discussed the issues but didn't want to meet somewhere that would alienate non-students. Other than that, I have seen the agenda and minutes for each subsequent meeting, and it has not been mentioned.
They also wrote a post on their blog about it. The post is copied below, and my comments are in bold italic
We are still trying to find a new place to meet that has disabled access. Currently we meet upstairs in the University Arms which has no disabled access at all, although we keep being told they are working on it! (Personally I think they need a good kick up the arse on this because they’re been saying that for a while now and nothing has changed!!!)
Is it the pub that needs a kick up the arse? Or the customers who continue to use it?
However there are certain limitation on where we can meet as well…
A lot places charge to book rooms which we just can’t afford! Any fundrising we do we want to be using for campaigns and charities not just on booking a room (and some of them are really expensive)
They are now paying to use the inaccessible room, which makes me wonder about the above point.
It has been suggested several times that we use the Student’s Union building. We are a university group so would be entitled to book rooms, but we are also open to none student and the union building is not open to the public in the evenings (it is possible to sign people in) and we don’t want to alienate none students either! There maybe the possibility of booking Coffee Revolution, but this again does require that it ‘makes money’ and if that means that we have to guarantee a certain amount of sales this could be a problem (I’m going to investigate this)
It is possible for non-students to be signed in. It is not possible for people who can't climb stairs to climb stairs. Who's being alienated?
So we need to find somewhere free, but we would also, ideally like to find somewhere with a more relaxed atmosphere as we have found that this results in more welcoming and relaxed meetings, which is important to us. Particularly when we have new members or are discussing sensitive issues we have found that atmosphere is important and sterile meetings rooms can be rather intimidating. Equally we do need a private room. For a while we met in the downstairs bar area of the University Arms and found that we weren’t able to have open discussions and debate or even hear each other half the time!
How great is an excluding, exclusive atmosphere? How relaxed is that?
This is an issue that is discussed fairly regularly in meetings but one we are yet to resolve! Trying to find the balance of a venue that is accesible and welcoming to all and will not take all our money is really not as easy as it should be. Please let us know if you have suggestions either through the website or through email (I shall apologies in a advance if I forget to the reply to emails, I have a mind like a sieve! I do read all the emails and all points are taken on board, but sometimes I forget to reply. *Sorry*) and feel free to contact the University Arms and tell them to hurry up with the disabled access!
I don't know whether to be reassured that it is discussed regularly. It is virtually never on the agenda or in the minutes. What does that say about the discussion? And if it's discussed that regularly, why hasn't something been done?
You can't put all the blame on the venue you choose to use. You choose to use it!
I am beyond being diplomatic about this. I think it's shit, frankly.
And then tonight I got an email from them with the following sentence in it:
We talked extensively about the pros and cons of all the suggestions made and tried to find the most inclusive solution that meets the needs of as many as possible
Sounds promising? Nope. They're talking about men. You've got to be inclusive of non-students (of which I am one), and men. But disabled women, nope. No hope.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Hippie Januaries
Posted by
incurable hippie
at
7:55 pm
In January 2005, I was writing about Jesus drawings, poverty and diet and Jodie Foster.
In January 2006, I was writing about the Radio 4 UK theme, Charles Kennedy, the good and (mainly) bad of therapy, how to get to Amarillo, sex offenders and incapacity benefit.
In January 2007, I was writing about night photography, the US bombing Somalia, abortion, movement photography, and you heard my voice.
And in January 2008, I was writing about creative protest by shopdropping, a terminally ill woman deported, astrology, and the awful treatment of rape victims.
In January 2006, I was writing about the Radio 4 UK theme, Charles Kennedy, the good and (mainly) bad of therapy, how to get to Amarillo, sex offenders and incapacity benefit.
In January 2007, I was writing about night photography, the US bombing Somalia, abortion, movement photography, and you heard my voice.
And in January 2008, I was writing about creative protest by shopdropping, a terminally ill woman deported, astrology, and the awful treatment of rape victims.
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