8th October 2020

Time can’t possibly pass that fast … a lot has happened since our last diary entry. We’ve been focusing on setting up the FiLiA Legacy Project in and around Portsmouth, where the FiLiA conference will be hosted in 2021. We won some funding to support Women in the region to develop advocacy and activism skills as well as collaboration and network building (what a great project!).

We’re in conversation with dozens of local groups; as with Manchester and Bradford (previous FiLiA conference cities) there exist pockets of men and networks of Women in Portsmouth, with Women leading the way in community activism. We are working collaboratively on a number of projects that we will discuss more in the future, but for now I want to let you know about the new Feminist Book Club which was launched this week.

Hibo Wardere book signing at Pl84U

Hibo Wardere book signing at Pl84U

Every month we will read a new book; this month the book is Cut by Hibo Wardere: One Woman's Fight Against FGM in Britain. We have a small number of books that we are able to gift to Women who could not otherwise participate. As an extra touch, those books have been signed by Hibo! Twenty books were lugged in a backpack to London to meet Hibo at Pl84U, a food bank initiative set up by incredible Women in Walthamstow. Hibo volunteers there on top of her tireless work to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation.

At the end of the month, FiLiA will host a webinar discussion for the Book Club. There will be the opportunity to hear Hibo talk about her book and to ask her questions. I want to take a moment to thank the local Independence and Wellbeing team in Portsmouth who have worked hard to support Women to learn how to use the internet and access webinars so they are able to participate.

If you live in Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, or anywhere in Hampshire and you want to join the Book Club, just email us on info@filia.org.uk.

FiLiA welcomed the decision by Liz Truss to protect single-sex spaces and services on the basis of biological sex. Our statement outlines why this is so important and also extends our support to Women throughout the world who are fighting on the same front.

“We look forward with optimism and extend hand of solidarity to all the women around the world who, like us, have realised that the erasure of women must be confronted, that we must fight to protect our sex-based rights and that we can win.”

Continuing on ‘the topic’ as it has become known within our team, FiLiA has been disappointed at the lack of support for JK Rowling by PEN, who previously honoured her for literary and humanitarian work and ‘advocacy for free expression’; they stepped forward in support of Salman Rushdie and Charlie Hebdo, so are not averse to controversy. What is it about ‘the topic’ that induces such cowardice?

“Oh my brother human, if I disagree with you in thoughts,principals, or beliefs, does this deny the fact that we are both human? All you and I have to do is respect each other. Tolerate the views of your opponents coolly and patiently. While listening to them, do not think to respond before listening to all opposing opinions.” Tal al-Mallohi

Quote from JK Rowling’s acceptance speech for her PEN award in 2016

Former director of PEN, Jo Glanville states in a faultless piece that ‘all writers and publishers should be speaking out in support of JK Rowling, no matter where they stand on the transgender issue’. Founded in 1922 one assumes that all 7,200 current members of PEN ‘pledge themselves to oppose any form of suppression of freedom of expression’ as outlined in their International Charter. If not, one wonders why they are members at all.

As a grassroots organisation, we work hard to enable Women to participate in FiLiA. To this end, we recently launched the Friends of FiLiA scheme, which allows you to donate a monthly amount which goes directly to ensure Women are able to participate who otherwise would not be able to. This month we reached our 150th Friend of FiLiA and we just want to say a huge thank you. Women’s lives will be changed for the better because of your contributions.

Thanks to the tireless work of our podcast team, we reached our 100th podcast! If you want to get a sense of the history of FiLiA, and the essence of our work, have a listen to the founders and current trustees in this recording.

We held educational sessions on a number of interesting topics: Sisterhood and After (thank you Reb Eleanor and Heena); the social and medical ‘transitioning’ of children (thank you Stephanie from Transgender Trend); access to abortion care (thanks Alison); Craftivism (thanks Rosie) and on ecoFeminism (thanks Olivia).

For those who have been following the horrendous attacks at the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, there will be a further update in the coming days. In the meantime, please do have a listen to the podcast and a read of the campaign pack. If there is any way that you can help, please get in touch.

Finally, on International Lesbian Day, you may be interested to have a listen and read of some of the FiLiA content with a focus on Lesbians:

We would like to further develop our series on Lesbian Voices, so please contact us if you want to help with this. We particularly welcome Women who are less often heard or purposefully silenced to join us as volunteers.

Sisterhood and Solidarity

LM

Feminist Book Clubs are important places of learning and Consciousness Raising. Thanks to Bec Wonders for the gorgeous art work.

Feminist Book Clubs are important places of learning and Consciousness Raising.
Thanks to Bec Wonders for the gorgeous art work.

DiaryLisa-Marie TaylorEcoFeminism