WOH!
A regular space to bring ideas and reflections. We discuss and write together to create awareness & encourage positive change for women and girls.
VOICES, VOTES & VARIETY
“Love and enthusiasm are the two great moving factors that make life worth living” – Sylvia Pankhurst.
Our recent exploration of the question: ‘Should we vote, and who for?’ stimulated a passionate discussion. Some of us said they would never vote again, given a lack of trust in the system and suspicion provoked by recent events such as The Post Office and the Contaminated Blood scandals, whereas others believe voting is the only way to effect change – by staying in the system and pushing for changes from within. It’s clear we aren’t given the ‘whole’ truth. Women are all too often shut out of the male- dominated power base, but knocking down the door is underway. Which party will make misogyny a hate crime? Which party will stop two women a week being murdered in cases of domestic violence?
Girls’ education is political, and how we encourage them to participate in cultural and economic decisions is vital for them to become women of the future. Young women experience increased social media trolling and abuse. How can schools better support girls in education? It seems any woman who might speak out is fearful of being the victim of hate crime, for saying what she thinks. How can women go into politics and be respected? Women’s health, safety and equal rights are still contentious issues – for fifty-one percent of the population! Single mums and children living in poverty are becoming increasingly invisible.
Invisibility is something WOH! is determined to address. When artist Lee Krasner shared a home with Jackson Pollock, her studio was a tiny bedroom, while he had an enormous barn. How is it that women still squeeze themselves into small spaces, physical and psychological, and what can we do to encourage women to take up more space? This page is for that conversation, in every third issue of HIP. Help us get that conversation started right here! If you have ideas or issues to share, write to us by email: [email protected]
Call outs…
We are already working to bring you our thoughts by reporting on topics which affect women in our town and surrounding areas. Here are some of the issues we are planning to cover over the next few months:
Contaminated Blood
If you have been affected by this scandal, we want to hear from you. How has this impacted your life? Has the NHS given you adequate support?
Women and Social Housing
As Hastings Older Women’s Housing (HOWCH) are aware, it is difficult to find affordable places to live when single and over fifty. Let us know your situation.
Invisibility
From being full of self-doubt to finding strength, Lorna Hamilton-Brown exemplifies the power of finding her personal voice. Artist and curator Lorna has inspired more black women to contribute and tell their stories. Let us know about your work.
Healing and Healers
From nursing to Reiki, massage and therapy – how do women experience working in mental health? How do they find self-help and liberate their lives? Let us know your experience.
Want to write?
We work as a group to interview, write short articles, research issues and will support your skills to write a column. Come and be part of it!
COMING SOON: Local Heroes
From the Queen of Haiti to living, local women in sport, science and the arts, we will take a look at their lives. Get in touch!
We thank our menfolk for supporting women’s health, voice and spaces.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
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