[CIMC-work] Fwd: [IMC-Editorial] DC IMC/sexism/process/etc

[Chris Kaihatsu]

----- Begin forwarded message -----
From: katya <katya at mutualaid.org>
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 13:41:12 -0500 (EST)
To: imc-editorial at lists.indymedia.org
Subject: [IMC-Editorial] DC IMC/sexism/process/etc

hi-

these are my thoughts on DC IMC. I don't like listserves, and don't think
they are the way to do this, but I also have no intention to come to any
more IMC meetings until these issues are resolved.

In my personal opinion DC IMC is, and always has been plagued by sexism. I
dont think most of this sexism is blatent, but that really does not make
it any better since the issue has been raised so many times, to that to
ignore it at this point is infact blatent sexism. If I were to list
examples, it would likely take several days to read through, so instead
i'll only mention what i see as the most egregious examples. Last year
Darby, Zoe, and I drafted space and meeting guidelines. It was hard enough
to even get the group to approve them, but since then they have been all
but ignored. From what I have observed, there are many guys in the DC IMC
who refuse to respect process and continually interupt and speak over
womyn in meetings. Additionally, what little respect that these people
have for a facilitator is even less if there is a womyn facilitating.
Personally, I know that when I have faciliated meetings there were guys
there who would not respect stack that I had called, and would speak even
when I asked them to wait for the person speaking to finish, and I
observed this same behavior when other womyn were facilitating. Even more
offensive, last year when people tried to bring up sexism in DC IMC, they
were, at points, told, "we are in crisis mode. we need to do real work.
wait until later to bring this up." Sexism anywhere, put especially in an
organization that claims to be progressive and have a different agenda
than mainstream america is a crisis, just as important than an impending
war and until it is talked about and real action taken IMC can not fulfil
it's agenda, even if the so-called "real work" done. Sexism in IMC is in
direct contridiction to what it should stand for, and until DC IMC takes a
real and meaningful step towards combatting sexism, it will not be an
effective organization.

I'm not talking about more retreats, or another guideline drafting
session. I'm talking about guys in DC IMC taking responsibility for their
behavior and doing something about it. What ever you have to say it not
more important and the world will not end if you don't say it. In fact
nothing will be lost, and gains will be made since you will get to hear
what other people, who might otherwise not have felt comfterable or been
able to speak up will be able. Listen to what others have to say, and stay
quiet yourself for a little bit. Note how much you speak and how much
others have spoken and listen to the facilitator. Don't act like what you
have to say is so important that what the facilitator is saying to you
doesn't matter. Also, call other guys out on this type of opressive
behavior. Just because this behavior affects womyn, doesn't mean womyn
should always be the ones to have to call guys out on it. That's wrong
too, since basically what you are saying is this behavior doesn't
personally affect me, so I don't need to do anything about it. That's also
sexist and oppressive.

Also, quit the macho arguing. In person, and on listserves, it only
contributes to a sexist, testoterone driven atmosphere that alienates
people.

Personally, until I see real changes, not just lip services so people can
feel good about themselves, I have no intention to be affilated with DC
IMC again. It feels like I might as well raise my concerns with an
inanimate object, since it would get about as much done. It's frustrating,
and tiring, and I would rather spend my energy working on projects that I
think can actually bring about real change.

That's not to say, I don't think the idea of IMC is an incredibly good
one; I do. But at this point DC IMC, is not putting this into practice. If
you want to know why long term volunteers are not there, look no further
than yourself. I agree getting new people involved is a good thing, but
right now also look to why people have left.

The space is univiting right now. Despite the amount of time I spend in
the Flemming Center, I try to avoid the IMC space. I find that atmosphere
there to not be collective, but rather one of people going it alone on
their own projects. These are not IMC projects (in my opinion). And while
I think that the space should be used by anyone that wants to, people need
to be more careful about dominating the space with their presence. Even
after bringing this up repetedly with people, these concerns have been
ignored.

At this point, I would say that the the IMC collective does not exist or
is in grave danger of not existing. I would love to see the IMC be
succesful with a mixed of individual and IMC cooperative projects going
on. But until people seriously address their own sexism and issues I do
not see this hapenning, and ultimately I see this leading to the demise of
the DC IMC.


-katya
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