Cardiff Feminists Founders’ Forum
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October 17, 2008, 5:49 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: book group, campaigns, cardiff, education, feminist, meeting, milgi, the waves
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: book group, campaigns, cardiff, education, feminist, meeting, milgi, the waves
Well, the first meeting is done! Four of us turned up to Milgi’s yesterday to discuss our aims for a feminist group in Cardiff. The general consensus was that we wanted to reinstate Mind The Gap, but with less of an academic/exclusive focus.
Ideas put forward were for a feminist book group, a campaigns group and a feminist education forum. We also wanted to make sure that there was a social side to the group as well.
The name The Waves was suggested and agreed upon as the name for the group.
A provisional date of 6pm Thursday 13th at Milgi’s was set for the next meeting, which was to be advertised online and around town over the next month.
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I’m interested in how you think mind the gap was academic and exclusive and how you are going to make this group less so?
Also Is Miglis wheelchair accessible?
Comment by thisonewoman November 18, 2008 @ 10:15 pmAlso, re. the venue and not being exclusive, you’ve managed to pick the most middle-class place on City Road. I mean, it has a wine list, an art gallery, and a yurt. It’s a sign of gentrification, exactly the kind of place that is pricing other small businesses out of areas like City Road. Presumably, the daughters of the middle-eastern people running businesses or otherwise living in the area aren’t welcome? Or if they are, they have to ignore all the implications of this?
And anyway, personally, even while being relatively middle-class, I can’t really even afford to go for a drink at Shot in the Dark, let alone at some art gallery, even if I was hip enough not to stick out like a sore thumb in there. You may not notice and you probably picked the place where you feel most comfortable, but it’s going to be very alienating for a lot more people, and of course you might not notice that because seeing the venue they might not even want to join.
If you really want to avoid being exclusive, you should look into a more neutral venue, maybe a community centre or something, that would be my advice anyway. You’re free to disregard it if you want!
Comment by Jen November 19, 2008 @ 12:17 pmAre you named after the Virginia Woolf novel?
Comment by Zenobia November 19, 2008 @ 2:32 pmso are you going to answer these comments? Because really refusing to answer wether the place you meet in is wheelchair accseable or not kind of makes you look exclusive even thought you are saying you are not going to be.
Comment by thisonewoman November 24, 2008 @ 9:15 pmHi, good to see this sort of group running in cardiff, and that its aiming to take action (rather than just academic, I guess). I think Migli’s is a good place for the meetings; good place to talk, welcoming, comfortable (with refreshments) -essential features.
Comment by realistic November 26, 2008 @ 8:16 pmIt would be good if there was a contact email on the webpage.
When is the next meeting?
Just to clarify, Mind the Gap aimed to take action as well. We had to disband due to lack of interest in any actions, as there were only about three or four, five of us at the most in the action group. In fact, several actions were taken. Jennifer would have known this, as she even came to one of our meetings and showed enthusiasm towards joining our action group.
I’m just curious as to where you guys are getting the idea that we were particularly academic and exclusive (just to clarify, I’m also Jen, don’t mean to look like several people, sorry). If people really were feeling that way, it would have been nice to know at the time. We don’t bite!
Comment by Zenobia November 27, 2008 @ 3:52 pmWhoops, sorry for the delay in responding to your queries. They’ll get answered much more promptly in the future, things have been somewhat hectic. Apologies one and all!
Right then..!
The queries raised by Jen / thisonewoman have been discussed between her and myself, and any misunderstandings hopefully ironed out. In a nutshell: The Waves contacted Mind the Gap on their Facebook page; the Facebook page wasn’t checked so they didn’t get the invite. Simple misunderstanding.
Re: the ‘academic’ comment, we do have different aims I think but everyone has different interests and we didn’t mean to come across critically. It’s all been discussed off-list and I think/hope everyone’s happy. We do want input from Mind the Gap and are meeting up in the New Year to talk about feminising.
The last thing we want is divisions within the ranks! This has been agreed by both groups, and it’s all good. We’ll do some great stuff together I’m sure.
Phew… apart from that: yes, we’re named partly because of Virginia’s amazing book, and also the 1st / 2nd / 3rd wave feminism thing. Get us and our double entendres.
The Milgi issue will be discussed at our next meeting – admittedly, it’s not exactly a workingmen’s (women’s?) club, and we’ll talk that one through.
The next meeting IS in the posh yurt, however – but you can easily get away without buying a drink, or bring a hipflask, but don’t tell them I told you.
It’s tomorrow, Wednesday 2 December, at 6pm. Milgi is on City Road, Roath, towards Death Junction (wow, not really selling it am I?!) – the crossroads between Salisbury, Albany, Mackintosh, City and Crwys.
Hopefully see some of you there!
Hannah A x
Comment by Hannah A December 2, 2008 @ 9:29 pmOh and the wheelchair-accessible query: I think Milgi is accessible but not positive, will check it out and let you know. The yurt isn’t though, I don’t think. Rubbish memory, and yes we should consider these things. Will come up with a solution at the meeting!
Comment by Hannah A December 2, 2008 @ 9:31 pmoh, and I meant the meeting’s Wednesday 3rd December. Whoops again. That’s today, everyone!
Comment by Hannah A December 3, 2008 @ 7:48 amHey,
thisonewoman and myself are two different people – just in case that wasn’t clear!
A couple of points re. the venue that you may or may not want to take into account. With the drinks situation – some people might actually find it slightly humiliating to find themselves sitting there without a drink, and afraid that someone might offer to buy one, so it’s probably best to have everyone on the same footing. Even if it’s permissible to sit without a drink, (a) some people without drinks may be thirsty, and (b) in any case it’s not a good idea to have differences in wealth that conspicuous, if some people are sitting there with goji berry smoothies with multiple paper parasols in them while others are dinkless and panting with thirst it’s a bit awkward for everyone.
Another thing that’s good for a venue, is if you have everyone sitting in a circle, and above all that it’s quiet. One thing I found difficult the few meetings I’ve had at Shot in the Dark or pubs in general is that I get completely disconnected from the conversation, and can’t follow what people are saying. Also, keep questions and requests to do stuff specific – personally, if someone asks “do you want to do anything?”, I tend not to know what to say, I’ll generally shrug and look clueless. I’d have qualms about meeting in a bar or cafe in general in any case, because if there’s any background noise it tends to throw me. Dunno if that’s just me. I’d generally be far happier going to a community centre, or the Quaker meeting house or something, people can bring teabags and stuff from home (much more affordable!) plus it’s quiet, and you can set stuff up how you want it.
That said, it’s your group, I don’t want to tell you what to do either. And thanks for responding to the queries by the way.
Comment by Jenn December 4, 2008 @ 4:05 pm