Human Nature & a Step in the Right Direction

Good afternoon, women of the virtual world, on this beautiful Sunday!

First, I feel I should finally come to the second conversation I mentioned in the previous posting that I felt was so important. This conversation was really more of a statement because, once again, I was too flabbergasted to form any sort of intelligent response.

This time it was an older gentleman, perhaps in his late 60's, and he said (I paraphrase), "it would be exactly the same for men if women ruled the world. We would be the ones like that," and he pointed to a sign that said "FULL TIME FEMALE WORKERS MAKE 77.5% WHAT MEN DO FOR THE SAME WORK."

Now, that doesn't make you stop and think, you probably aren't reading this right. This statement means a few things to me (and a month later still makes me feel like ripping my hair out my the roots). Let's begin with the positive:

1. it acknowledges that men rule the world (and acceptence is after all the first step to change), and
2. it equivicates both men and women as species susceptible to the influence of power.

HOWEVER, it also,

3. implies that one gender must always have control over the other for society to function, and thereby that
4. harmony and cooperation is impossible between the sexes, and all peoples for that matter, and
5. discrimination against women is acceptable because, given the chance, we'd do it, too.

And this, my sisters, infuriates me.

BUT, as the (rather lengthy) title of this entry says I have GOOD NEWS.

THE WOMEN'S CREDIT UNION OF OTTAWA is interested in lending women of Ottawa and the Necessary Women's Project some space at their location on Bank Street for POETRY READINGS, COFFEE HOUSES, OPEN MICS, EXHIBITIONS and all kinds of other exciting activities! So, women out there in the virtual Ottawa (and beyond!) world - dust off your guitars, paint brushes, sewing machines, cameras, leotards, body paint, laptops, scripts whatever - and let's get some fabulous FEMALE PERFORMANCE/VISUAL/TEXTILE/MEDIA ART ready for a whole new class of women's meetings!

Most importantly, it is of the utmost importance that this initiative is shaped by the needs, desires, and dreams of the women involved, whether virtually or in person. So tell me what you want to see happen. For example, wouldn't it be neat to have an exhibition night of the art and creativity of elementary age young women? (Why, you ask? Because I just met a women whose daughter makes ALL HER OWN CLOTHES. Now that's a women worth recognizing!)

In soidarity, my sisters.