I sing sometimes like my life is at stake cuz yer only as loud as the noises you make

it's been just about a week since the conference and I'm still digesting everything I injested over the course of that weekend. what a trip that was! to be amongst so many amazing women!

after the first full day, I found myself almost in a daze of sorts, mulling over the language I hadn't used in over a year and remembering how to use it and how to how to hear it. I felt almost taken aback and ashamed that I was not so into the whole activist scene... cuz I had decided to go off to see the world instead... then of course, I snapped right out of feeling bad about that one! haha I was able to use my experiences abroad - namely those from Cambodia - to explain certain issues, to demonstrate how we can talk talk talk about what needs to be done here and what needs to be done there... but until you're actually at the and in the "there" of which you speak... you realize that talk is cheap. ask the locals what they want. communicate with those whom you want to help. we live in a global community, but that doesn't entail nor does it give anyone the right to go somewhere and decide what's got to be done. back to basics. and so that knowledge proved to be invaluable considering many of the women present at the conference hadn't done a whole lot of travelling and had been engrossed with studies more than with experiential knowledge of the world which they purport to have all the answers for. and I think they were really able to identify with me since I hadn't had that knowledge either before I left... it was a really awesome moment for so many reasons.

the conference organized a variety of paper panels, audio-visual student projects, as well as workshops...

there was a sort of presentation more than a work-shop type thing that was really interesting: women hurting women - violence within lesbian relationships. you know, I hadn't even thought about an issue such as that one... that it even was an issue at all. I wish I had my notes here and then I would be able to list off some pretty unknown facts, but alas, I left them at home. but one that really struck me and so stuck into memory was this: a distinct difference between violence in heterosexual and lesbian relationships is that switching between abuser and victim from relationship to relationship occurs for the only latter type. this switching of roles occurs out of guilt or vengeance, depending on whether one was the abuser or victim in one's last relationship. this just doesn't typically happen within heterosexual relationships since the man is usually the abuser and the woman usually the victim, or, survivor as they prefer to say... ***this term isn't used concerning lesbians... she certainly does not feel like anything close to a "survivor" since the medical practitioners and councilors do not recognise that abuse among lesbians exists... women are not supposed to be violent, therefor how could she have truly been abused? not to mention many within the medical field aren't as familiar with or keen to the knowledge of lesbianism and homosexuality and so she is reluctant to admit that she is part of this still-deviant "lifestyle"*** well... I could go on and on here... but I won't. it was just SO friggen interesting and eye-opening. if you wanna know more about this or anything else wrt the conference, just tell me in your comments and I'll send along everything that I can.

the language began to flood in and before I knew it, I was emersed. I forgot how passionate I am for not just women's issues, but PEOPLE's issues. stuff that inevitably concerns each and every one of us. I learned so much and I renewed my desire to work in this area of raising awareness, activism, sharing and emparting of knowledge to create tangible change. there was a speaker from FAFIA (canadian feminist alliance for international action... click the hyperlink!) - government! - and I got this feeling inside that that would be the direction I'd take upon my return from my next travelling stint. to infinity and beyond! haha only time will tell... and I look forward to discovering what the future me ends up doing!

one more thing though, the workshop in particular that I especially loved was of spoken word poetry. learned a few tricks of the trade and I've started applying what I've learned in my own pieces... started writing something too... perhaps I'll include it on a blog near YOU! I love the creativity this conference has induced in me! all this reference to water, flowing, emersion, flooding... kinda have to go pee! :-)

yipee!

so I'm on my way to Kaslo, BC... home of the fabulouso May Days! I can't wait! happy reading! hopeful thinking! sorry I'm ending this so abruptly... but like I said, I have to pee!!!!

xxx

ps. Mike Jacobson sais: hey! what are you still doing on the computer? you crazy cat! what? you're writing a blog? can you mention my name in it? cool. thanks! meow!

Mike Jacobson

Mike Jacobson

Mike Jacobson

"feminism ain't about equality... it's about reprieve" - ani difranco

FEMINISM(S) IN THE 3rd WAVE - conference day 1

So I'm attending my first conference ever and that up there is its the interesting title. I haven't been among so many strong and influential women since having completed my final semester of my bachelor of arts degree way back in December of 2004. It's awesome. I forgot how energizing and motivating it is to discuss real issues - ever important issues - concerning women's rights in not only this western country, but those of other countries on whole other continents and hemispheres where so many women are fighting and making wonderful advancements for the women of their countries, their sisters. I said I've forgotten, but that's not the right word... I've been occupied with things that have been and still are important to me, ie. travelling the globe, things that I will approach quite differently the next time around. I think this conference will refresh my memory of the language and of the importance of a global community.

Some comments were made tonight and they really stuck with me...

Within feminism, there are so many complexities and differences between us as far as what issue is at the forefront in each of our minds, we bring such diversity to the table of what to fight for. Many times it becomes an argument between two sides who feel so strongly from the position they are speaking from and nothing can come out of such disagreements since neither side is willing to compromise. One woman from a college in Saskatoon mentioned that when debating the pro-choice vs. pro-life issue on their campus, it was fight fight fight the whole time... but they remained and discussed onward, got beyond the beaurocracies of it all and shared their personal feelings and stories with one another, opening up such profound discussion which in turn lead them to compromise and understanding one another's perspective in such a way that had never really been experienced before. A positive outcome for all envolved because they transcended the usual rallying around either side of the dichotomy that is inherently doomed to perpetual head-butting.

However, in saying that, it is still so necessary to speak from "woman", generally speaking... though one is not necessarily required to speak as a woman. Another put forth the idea that to rally under the one all-emcompassing WOMAN could work to reinforce the man-woman binary (ie. the idea that the former has power over the latter, that one is above the other) and so we should keep in mind that not everyone identifies as "woman" in the sense that is commonly believed...

Wow. I am so inspired and on fire right now! I feel such passion and drive again and I love it!!! I will be writing about my experiences from this conference for sure... I feel like I felt while in Cambodia working with DMGF and FCF and how fulfilling it was for not only myself, but for those whose we were affecting. Splendid.

captain's log, star date 2-0-0-6.

engage.

in conversation.