That Girl from Derwent dwells on the value of religion this Christmas.
That Girl from Derwent has learned a few more things about prejudice since moving up North.
That Girl From Derwent reckons if you're going to be offensive, you should find a better reason.
That Girl from Derwent considers why it is that some words have wider implications than others.
Having asked a sizable number of female friends, let alone male friends, I drew a lot of blanks. One answer is that there are issues which are unique to women, which only women can discuss. A better justification is the simple fact that politics, on almost every level, is dominated by men. Therefore, a women’s committee is necessary to voice a female perspective on political issues.
However, when did better representation of women in politics justify an exclusive women’s committee? What is it with the need for an exclusive space from men? Haven’t we been trying to change segregation between sexes, socially, politically and physically for decades?
Women are capable of understanding men’s problems. Men are capable of understanding women’s problems. We don’t need separate environments to talk about them.
So, why are the posters on the toilet cubicle doors warning me that the toilet may be the only sacred all-women’s space left on campus if I don’t vote to keep the women’s committee exclusive to women. I don’t even remember the last time I was in a women-only space at university!
At the library I was confronted with more questions found on the flyers left on the tables: ‘do you think women should have the right to make their own decisions about their bodies, their politics, their lives?’
Yes, of course they should. But when you consider what women’s politics and women’s lives and even women’s bodies mean in this world, you can’t forget that this world is not a single sex world. Women co-exist with men on almost every level imaginable.
Therefore, it cannot be helpful to think in terms of men’s only and women’s only politics or lives. But instead, politics, and standards and rules for living that are universal to everyone. Even when it comes to intimate problems concerning women’s bodies, many issues, such as sex, relationships, and pregnancy, usually involve a member of the opposite sex.
Admittedly, of course, there are some issues which arguably only concern women and where men’s advice may be less than useful…here, the committee can choose to hold closed meetings for women only. A point that seems to be lost to the opposition party for an open women’s committee, but the answer to the question of where a rape victim would go for a women’s only ‘safe space’.
It must be offensive to men to imply that by adding men to the debates held in the women’s committee they could harm the outcome of the decisions made, or hinder progress.
On the contrary, when I am trying to make a well informed autonomous decision, I’d like to ensure that I have heard as many views and opinions as possible…regardless of what sex they belong to. Why would hearing a man’s opinion make the decision less autonomous? Autonomous means independent, and having self control over ones decision, it has nothing to do with sex.
And yes, all our JCRC chairs are men. Arguably, there needs to be more mixed sex representation on the same levels. The women’s committee should lead by example and have an inclusive committee where both men and women can have an input.
Good read 
Affirmative action is not the answer IMHO.
Well said.
I don't believe for a second that the students union, JCRs or any other campus institution is "sexist". Male chair? So what? Gender shouldn't be an issue, ability to do the job at hand should.
What offends me the most about the womens committee is the usage of the term "safe space". It's almost as if it would become an unsafe, or even dangerous environment if men were present.
How arrogant to suggest that male input may harm the decision making of the committee or remove a "safe space" for women. How blinkered. How Naive. How offensive to suggest that men pose a threat to this "safe space" by virtue of their gender alone.
Common sense prevailed at the UGM, but the bigger question should be why we even have women's officers/committee. It seems to overlap with A+W in every way.
Jon
There are some arguments that make sense for having the Women's committee, women only (such as women feeling uncomfortable discussing some issues in the presence of men) but the existence of the committee itself is a step backwards.
I know this sounds narrow minded/misogynistic... but what issues would women only feel confortable discussing by without men present?
I can't think of that many - maybe because i am a narrow minded man ? - but the posters would seem to suggest rape? Other biological differences prehaps? But i doubt it? That would seem to suggest that the issues are how men are plotting there subjugation... and they don't want them to hear.
Great article... any women who would care to enlighten me please do?
The use of the term "safe space" is admittedly awkward as is the desire for a "Woman-only space."
Ideally, there should be no need for it (otherwise, we may consider setting up a Men's Committee) however, I DID hear some valid arguments -- e.g. some cultures "forbid" women from talking of certain subjects in front of men; or the rather sensitive rape cases.
Yet, I cannot deny that I am rather intrigued by the very existence of a Women's Committee which places the emancipation of women within a quasi-Marxist framework: that of "gender struggle," with men as the enemy, thereby sanctioning the desire for a "safe space"...
I think there is a very strong argument for having a women's campaign at York (you would hope so, I am the women's officer!). There are many ways that women are not equal to men in society - you only have to look at the wages of university graduates by gender to see this. We raise awareness of these issues and campaign on them, we also run campaigns on female welfare and raise money for women's charities.
I just didn't think (and still don't) that the women's campaign had to exclude men in order to be effective. This is why I submitted the motion to allow them to join us. As this motion has now passed I am pleased to say that the women's committee is open for all students to attend, and we welcome you all to join us in the future.
Great Article... really good!
Really good article
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