We’re planning an International Women’s Day demonstration in the centre of Liverpool on Saturday 10th March, starting at St George’s Plateau (opposite Lime Street Station) at 12 noon.  This will be followed by a public meeting in St Bride’s Church, Catherine Street, with speakers from local community and activist groups.

There will be other events going on in the run-up to the demonstration, so keep an eye out on the web page, facebook and twitter, or join our Google group to receive regular updates about what we’re planning – merseysidewomensmovement@googlegroups.com.

All women (and trans women!) are welcome to our regular meetings – the next one is on Monday 31st January, 5.30pm at the Women’s Health Information and Support Centre (WHISC) on Bold Street, Liverpool.

As well as the International Women’s Day events, we have a drama project which is just starting up for this year, which will be a satirical piece looking at sex education, ‘porn culture’, relationships and sexism.  If you’re interested in getting involved with writing, acting, singing, dancing, helping with technical production or anything else, send us an email to the google group (above).  No prior experience necessary, no auditions!

Get involved!

Monday 5^th December

5.30pm

120 Bold Street, WHISC premises

All women welcome

We’re meeting MONDAY 14th November 5.20pm at WHISC on Bold Street, Liverpool.

If you’ve never come along before, don’t be shy! We’re a friendly bunch, and tea and biccies flow freely throughout the meeting.

Also on the Agenda:

- Nerve Women’s Issue launch

- Reclaim the Night March with Hope Uni students

- Drama project for 2012

If you have anything else to discuss, email Hannah  or the MWM google group and we’ll get on it.

Wednesday 26^th October 2011 5pm – 7pm,

68 Hope Street, L1 9BZ.

‘Look out for yourself’

Synopticism, Panopticism and Sexual Violence

Victoria Canning and Roy Coleman

This paper develops insights from Mathiesen’s work on the increasing prominence of synoptic power or ‘the viewer society’ (how the many come to ‘see’ the few) and feminist work on the social shaping of feminized subjectivity, sexual normativity and regulatory practice surrounding sexual violence. We critically explore the development and role of synoptic messaging via ‘crime prevention’ text, imagery and tutelage media aimed at tackling victimization from sexual violence. In this undertaking the paper makes a number of arguments. First, we demonstrate how synoptic power is shaped ideologically in relation to shaping common responses and understandings of ‘the problem of sexual violence’. Second, the power of synoptic messaging – in the guise of ‘protective policing’ from sexual violence – prescribes a ‘common sense’ regarding women’s risk, culpability and responsibility in terms of the their own victimhood (re. self-blame, self-surveillance and internalization). Third, as an individualizing and de-contextualizing form of power, synoptic messaging aimed at women and girls contributes to the ideological mystification of patriarchal power in general and male violence in particular. Fourthly, the problem of misrepresenting the problem of male violence through synoptic surveillance has served to recharge stereotypical assumptions concerning female ‘victims’ in the realms of public perception, the response of the criminal justice systems and the subjectivity of victims and survivors of sexual violence themselves. In conclusion we draw attention to ways in which synoptic messaging has been resisted or contested by in and outside of feminist campaigns.

look_out_for_yourself_seminar- PDF flyer

For more information on the CSE Seminar series please visit thier website

The dates are as follows:

Tuesday 28^th June,

Wednesday 20^th July

Thursday 18^th August.

All women welcome.

‘Women united will never be defeated!’

The last week has seen us recieve many supportive emails and comments all of which are very much appreciated.

We also have a new Flickr group to share photos so if you have any from any IWD or MWM events please add them to the pool.

But IT’S NOT OVER! March 21st sees our annual ‘Women’s Poetry Night’ at Parr St Studios so please join us there!

A selection of photos from various MWM events:

Meet at St George’s Plateau  at 12.30 , we set off at 1 p.m and finnish in the Bluecoat at 2 p.m.

7pm (documentary starts at 7.30pm)

22nd February
The Box, Fact (ground floor)
www.fact.co.uk

Minimum donation £5 on the door, proceeds go to our nominated charities:
RASA, Merseysides Rape and Sexual Abuse support service and Sreepur, a Bangladeshi womens village helping to support women through poverty and trauma.

www.rasamerseyside.org.uk
www.thesreepurvillage.org

“RASA Liverpool is absolutely horrified after receiving notification from Liverpool City Council that their ISVA funding for sexual violence survivors from 01-04-11 has been withdrawn completely, while claimimg that they aim to protect the most vulnerable in their budget cuts.

In 2010, RASA saw 522 victims of sexual violence at their outreach centre in Liverpool. Total value of counselling and support hours for clients in 2010 was £352,580.

In the period, RASA received £60,000 under the Citysafe funding for ISVA services.

The counselling aspect was provided unfunded, un-commissioned and at no cost to the City of Liverpool. Despite this, the City of Liverpool refused to give us 100% rates relief so we were, in effect, paying them to allow us to serve their residents.

Somehow we managed to stretch our staff, volunteers and budget to carry on delivering this vital service for survivors of recent, historic and current sexual violence.
Now that the only statutory funding has been reduced to ZERO, RASA will not be able to sustain the current level of service – at a time when we need to be expanding to cater for the 200 existing clients, we may not be able to afford to even pay the rent!”

As RASA is one of MWM’s nominated charities for ‘That Takes Ovaries!’ we implore you to support us and RASA by buying your tickets and attending our Fundrasier  (Tue 22nd March @ the Box in Fact, for films a

Music includes Jo Bywater.

7.30 onwards  in ‘the Box’ at FACT, Wood Street.

All money raised will go towards Merseyside Women’s Movement’s porduction of ‘That Takes Ovaries!’ which is raising money for RASA and Sreepur Village.