Birth as power: Options and preparation for organic childbirthNew zine, available from anarcha here.
Showing posts with label mothers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mothers. Show all posts
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Birth as power
Birth as power: Options and preparation for organic childbirthNew zine, available from anarcha here.
Monday, 8 November 2010
Homebirth Obstetrician and Midwife Faces 5 Years in Prison
Obstetrician and Midwife, Dr. Agnes Gereb, Faces 5 Years in Prison for
Attending Homebirths in Hungary
This letter is being posted at the request of the author and in solidarity
with those supporting and advocating on behalf of Dr. Agnes Gereb around
the world. Gereb is currently being held in a maximum security prison in
Hungary, facing a five year prison sentence, for attending birthing women
at home. Supporters of birth choice in Europe urge readers to contact your
local Hungarian embassy.
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/10/obstetrician-and-midwife-dr-agnes-gereb.html
Note:
Obstetrician and Midwife, Agnes was taken into police custody in the
evening of Tuesday, Oct 5th, just minutes after attending to a pregnant
woman who had unexpectedly gone into labor at her homebirth centre in
Budapest. The mother transferred by ambulance to the hospital with her
baby boy when he displayed breathing difficulties immediately after birth.
The police arrested Gereb and held her for 72 hours with access only to
her lawyer. After the 72 hours in detention, she was taken before a closed
criminal court and charged with "reckless endangerment committed in the
line of duty" and was to remain in custody without bail for a further 30
days. It is common in Hungary to spend more than a year in prison while
awaiting trial.
On October 6th, more than 600 people protested outside Budapest's prison
that held Gereb. Two days later, more than 2,000 people made a human chain
from the municipal court to the national parliament.
On October 12th, Gereb appeared before a court - shackled and handcuffed.
She faced several charges including negligent practice and manslaughter
for a birth where a baby died after a difficult labor.
According to Tamas Fazekas, one of the lawyers fighting Gereb's case with
the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, said Gereb is confined to a
four-woman cell for 23 hours a day. "She is subjected to strip searches,
only allowed to see her family once a month — they have not been allowed
to visit her since her arrest — and can have just one 10-minute phone call
every week. When she appeared before the public court she was in handcuffs
and leg shackles so tight that she had a 10cm bleeding wound on her leg."
As of yesterday (Fri, Oct 22) Gereb has been moved into a maximum security
prison and faces a five year prison sentence.
Obstetrics is well known to be one of the most lucrative branches of
Hungary's "free" health care system. Inductions and episiotomies (as well
as an assortment of other interventions) are ubiquitous. Women who want to
step away from this medicalized birth face a very difficult challenge to
find a skilled birth attendant. In fact, there are only 15 midwives in all
of Hungary who will attend women at home, and 5 of them currently face
lengthy prison sentences for the births they've attended. Gereb is the
founder of the Napvilág Birthing Centre, is a highly experienced OB/GYN,
midwife, and internationally recognized homebirth expert. She has attended
over 3,500 births at home in Hungary
Attending Homebirths in Hungary
This letter is being posted at the request of the author and in solidarity
with those supporting and advocating on behalf of Dr. Agnes Gereb around
the world. Gereb is currently being held in a maximum security prison in
Hungary, facing a five year prison sentence, for attending birthing women
at home. Supporters of birth choice in Europe urge readers to contact your
local Hungarian embassy.
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/10/obstetrician-and-midwife-dr-agnes-gereb.html
Note:
Obstetrician and Midwife, Agnes was taken into police custody in the
evening of Tuesday, Oct 5th, just minutes after attending to a pregnant
woman who had unexpectedly gone into labor at her homebirth centre in
Budapest. The mother transferred by ambulance to the hospital with her
baby boy when he displayed breathing difficulties immediately after birth.
The police arrested Gereb and held her for 72 hours with access only to
her lawyer. After the 72 hours in detention, she was taken before a closed
criminal court and charged with "reckless endangerment committed in the
line of duty" and was to remain in custody without bail for a further 30
days. It is common in Hungary to spend more than a year in prison while
awaiting trial.
On October 6th, more than 600 people protested outside Budapest's prison
that held Gereb. Two days later, more than 2,000 people made a human chain
from the municipal court to the national parliament.
On October 12th, Gereb appeared before a court - shackled and handcuffed.
She faced several charges including negligent practice and manslaughter
for a birth where a baby died after a difficult labor.
According to Tamas Fazekas, one of the lawyers fighting Gereb's case with
the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, said Gereb is confined to a
four-woman cell for 23 hours a day. "She is subjected to strip searches,
only allowed to see her family once a month — they have not been allowed
to visit her since her arrest — and can have just one 10-minute phone call
every week. When she appeared before the public court she was in handcuffs
and leg shackles so tight that she had a 10cm bleeding wound on her leg."
As of yesterday (Fri, Oct 22) Gereb has been moved into a maximum security
prison and faces a five year prison sentence.
Obstetrics is well known to be one of the most lucrative branches of
Hungary's "free" health care system. Inductions and episiotomies (as well
as an assortment of other interventions) are ubiquitous. Women who want to
step away from this medicalized birth face a very difficult challenge to
find a skilled birth attendant. In fact, there are only 15 midwives in all
of Hungary who will attend women at home, and 5 of them currently face
lengthy prison sentences for the births they've attended. Gereb is the
founder of the Napvilág Birthing Centre, is a highly experienced OB/GYN,
midwife, and internationally recognized homebirth expert. She has attended
over 3,500 births at home in Hungary
Saturday, 6 November 2010
towards a family-friendly radical movement; Inter-generational liberation for all.
Excellent post from eleven o clock alchemy about the need for creating family-friendly radical and inclusive movments-
http://elevenoclockalchemy.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/towards-a-family-friendly-radical-movement-intergenerational-liberation-for-all
http://elevenoclockalchemy.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/towards-a-family-friendly-radical-movement-intergenerational-liberation-for-all
Monday, 13 September 2010
Prevent Millions of Women and Children Dying in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Millions of women and children can be saved from death in pregnancy or childbirth,
if world leaders, who are about to meet in New York, meet their promises and step
up their aid commitments for maternal health. Let's call on them to act now!
Millions of pregnant women and children die every year because of malnutrition orinadequate health services. It's shocking, but if our governments meet aid promises
to women and children at the poverty summit later this month, it is avoidable.
Ten years ago world leaders committed to drastically reduce the disgraceful number
of maternal deaths by 2015, but in fact aid levels remain shamefully low. Now, some
governments could be prepared to boost aid for mothers and babies, but they need
massive public support to get all governments to step up.
In days our leaders meet in New York. Let's build a global outcry against needless
deaths. Sign the petition below to double aid for maternal and child health -- it
will be delivered to key government leaders at the New York meeting.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_children_and_mothers/?vl
In the last 10 years, since the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) were set,
significant advances have been made to tackle poverty -- one-third fewer mothers
have died during childbirth due to increased aid and investment in maternal health
care. But millions of pregnant mothers are still dying needlessly and every year 9
million children die before their 5th birthday.
There is already a specific mechanism to deliver aid for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and
Tuberculosis, but no similar system exists to support health for mothers and
children. Experts feel one of the best ways to have an immediate impact is to ensure
that aid is doubled and coordinated to effectively bring health care to the mothers
and children who need it the most.
But with only 5 years left to meet MDG targets, there’s a danger that our leaders
use the recession to shirk responsibilities to help the world’s poorest. It has
always been the world's citizens that have led the fight against poverty and pushed
our leaders to take critical action, and now it is up to us again. Sign the petition
to save mothers and children:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_children_and_mothers/?vl
Too often the poorest and most vulnerable communities are just statistics at
international summits. On the eve of this crucial summit, let's join together and
give the poorest women and children a voice. Sign the petition below:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_children_and_mothers/?vl
With hope for a fairer world,
Alice, Luis, Alex, Pascal, Maria Paz, Ricken, Ben, Iain, Graziela and the whole
Avaaz team
Sources:
Oxfam, "Minimal G8 Maternal Health Initiative sends disturbing message to women and
girls":
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/reactions/minimal-g8-maternal-health-initiative-sends-disturbing-message-women
The Countdown to 2015 Initiative tracks coverage levels for health interventions
proven to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality:
http://www.countdown2015mnch.org/
Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money
from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest
contributions go a long way.
Avaaz.org is a 5.5-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that
the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz"
means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of
the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14
languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
To contact Avaaz write to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Guide to Feminist Parenting
[Article below written by CRAP! Collective and recently published in Red Pepper magazine (Guerilla Guides, Issue 173, Aug/Sept 2010). For a copy of the magazine with the article in full, head to http://www.redpepper.org.uk/]
Feminist Parenting?
It’s as easy as chaining yourself to a runaway rollercoaster...
1. Integrate:
Feminists should confront all forms of oppression, exploitation and hierarchy. Parents, carers and children are often marginalised and discriminated against, even in radical political organising. Insist that childcare is provided at every single meeting or event. Understand that ‘mothering’, ‘parenting’ and ‘childrearing’ have different connotations: the next generation need people of all genders, races, classes, sexualities, ages and abilities to help them develop healthy attitudes to life. Involve children and treat them as equals worthy of respect.
2. Bin the Box:
Television only makes the gender divide worse. As a compromise, try using the set just to watch videos or DVDs. Until your kids are old enough to sneak Ben10 box-sets in under their jumpers, you can more-or-less censor what gets played, without any annoying adverts. However, if the electronic babysitter is your lifeline to parental sanity then keep it on. TV provides a parent with a wealth of material that highlights the inequalities in society- and therefore gives lots of opportunities to talk constructively about the realities of patriarchy with your child.
3. Be Honest:
You may try to kid yourself that the media and peer pressure are the biggest influences on your child, but actually it’s you! The main parent or carer is a child’s most influential role-model. Are you sexist, racist, homophobic...? What not even a little bit? Children can subconsciously absorb even the most subtle of parental behaviours. It’s ok to make mistakes- no-one is perfect. But it’s important to deconstruct our own words, actions and attitudes, to ensure that we don’t inadvertently pass our own prejudices onto our children. Be honest with yourself and your kids- talk openly about sex, relationships and sexuality. Encourage children to freely express all of their emotions- no matter how painful they are.
4. Express Yourself:
Creatively expressing the often intense feelings that come with parenthood can be a great emotional release- whether through art, writing, music or dance. Bringing up children can seem like a lonely business at times, but there are lots of parenting blogs, networks, groups and resources out there. If it’s more anger-management therapy you need, then try this: find a magazine photo of the latest yummy-mummy-female-celebrity, stick it onto on a dart-board, and get throwing those arrows! You will begin to see the cracks appear in the smooth airbrushed image of maternal perfection...and feel a devilish sense of satisfaction!
5. Research the Issues:
Research the many conflicting feminist and parenting schools of thought. Natural Parenting options may work for some, but others argue that it’s pushing more burdens upon the mother. For example, using washable nappies isn’t only the eco-option; it also increases parental autonomy and challenges the capitalist-consumption machine. But what about the extra housework that washable nappies can bring? Will it really be shared equally amongst family members? Work out what’s best for you and your family- a critical factor of feminist parenting is to stop pretending we are perfect parents!
6. Pick your Battles:
Constantly nagging your kids to over-analyse sexist books or toys, will only push them further into the open arms of Mattel and Co. Sometimes it’s best to accept minor defeat, in exchange for fostering a close mutually-respectful parent-child relationship. Finding other ways to help build a child’s self-esteem or emotional intelligence may be more important in the long-run, than bickering over Barbie.
7. Develop Emergency Tactics:
As a last resort, when all else has failed and you find yourself in the depths of a feminist parenting emergency, non-violent direct action can be deployed. Don’t be afraid to discretely dispose of the Action Man machine gun given by Uncle Bobby last Christmas, or the Bratz bikini-set for your four year old from your so-called best mate. However, donating an offending item to a charity shop is only dumping the burden onto others!
8. Self-Organise:
Set up a childcare or home education collective, together with parents or friends who have similar ideals. Providing your own curriculum can be empowering for both adult and child, and give you much needed support. Or start a feminist children’s book-club and swap revolutionary bedtime stories!
9. Raise Some Hell:
Getting involved in activism is the best thing a feminist parent can do. If we want our children to live in a world free from oppression, then we need to actively work towards creating a world that is freer and fairer. Parents and carers will continue to be marginalised until we get out there, with our kids, to demand and organise for change. Set a good example. Show your children that they are worth fighting for, and instil in them the courage and confidence to stand up for themselves and their future.
Written by CRAP! Collective: Child Rearing Against Patriarchy
Feminists should confront all forms of oppression, exploitation and hierarchy. Parents, carers and children are often marginalised and discriminated against, even in radical political organising. Insist that childcare is provided at every single meeting or event. Understand that ‘mothering’, ‘parenting’ and ‘childrearing’ have different connotations: the next generation need people of all genders, races, classes, sexualities, ages and abilities to help them develop healthy attitudes to life. Involve children and treat them as equals worthy of respect.
2. Bin the Box:
Television only makes the gender divide worse. As a compromise, try using the set just to watch videos or DVDs. Until your kids are old enough to sneak Ben10 box-sets in under their jumpers, you can more-or-less censor what gets played, without any annoying adverts. However, if the electronic babysitter is your lifeline to parental sanity then keep it on. TV provides a parent with a wealth of material that highlights the inequalities in society- and therefore gives lots of opportunities to talk constructively about the realities of patriarchy with your child.
3. Be Honest:
You may try to kid yourself that the media and peer pressure are the biggest influences on your child, but actually it’s you! The main parent or carer is a child’s most influential role-model. Are you sexist, racist, homophobic...? What not even a little bit? Children can subconsciously absorb even the most subtle of parental behaviours. It’s ok to make mistakes- no-one is perfect. But it’s important to deconstruct our own words, actions and attitudes, to ensure that we don’t inadvertently pass our own prejudices onto our children. Be honest with yourself and your kids- talk openly about sex, relationships and sexuality. Encourage children to freely express all of their emotions- no matter how painful they are.
4. Express Yourself:
Creatively expressing the often intense feelings that come with parenthood can be a great emotional release- whether through art, writing, music or dance. Bringing up children can seem like a lonely business at times, but there are lots of parenting blogs, networks, groups and resources out there. If it’s more anger-management therapy you need, then try this: find a magazine photo of the latest yummy-mummy-female-celebrity, stick it onto on a dart-board, and get throwing those arrows! You will begin to see the cracks appear in the smooth airbrushed image of maternal perfection...and feel a devilish sense of satisfaction!
5. Research the Issues:
Research the many conflicting feminist and parenting schools of thought. Natural Parenting options may work for some, but others argue that it’s pushing more burdens upon the mother. For example, using washable nappies isn’t only the eco-option; it also increases parental autonomy and challenges the capitalist-consumption machine. But what about the extra housework that washable nappies can bring? Will it really be shared equally amongst family members? Work out what’s best for you and your family- a critical factor of feminist parenting is to stop pretending we are perfect parents!
6. Pick your Battles:
Constantly nagging your kids to over-analyse sexist books or toys, will only push them further into the open arms of Mattel and Co. Sometimes it’s best to accept minor defeat, in exchange for fostering a close mutually-respectful parent-child relationship. Finding other ways to help build a child’s self-esteem or emotional intelligence may be more important in the long-run, than bickering over Barbie.
7. Develop Emergency Tactics:
As a last resort, when all else has failed and you find yourself in the depths of a feminist parenting emergency, non-violent direct action can be deployed. Don’t be afraid to discretely dispose of the Action Man machine gun given by Uncle Bobby last Christmas, or the Bratz bikini-set for your four year old from your so-called best mate. However, donating an offending item to a charity shop is only dumping the burden onto others!
8. Self-Organise:
Set up a childcare or home education collective, together with parents or friends who have similar ideals. Providing your own curriculum can be empowering for both adult and child, and give you much needed support. Or start a feminist children’s book-club and swap revolutionary bedtime stories!
9. Raise Some Hell:
Getting involved in activism is the best thing a feminist parent can do. If we want our children to live in a world free from oppression, then we need to actively work towards creating a world that is freer and fairer. Parents and carers will continue to be marginalised until we get out there, with our kids, to demand and organise for change. Set a good example. Show your children that they are worth fighting for, and instil in them the courage and confidence to stand up for themselves and their future.
Written by CRAP! Collective: Child Rearing Against Patriarchy
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Squat - Anarchist Birth Journal
Squat - anarchist birth journal is available on-line to read or print here
They are also looking for submissions for next issue. Submissions can be emailed to submissionstosquat@gmail.com.
Visit their blog at squatbirthjournal.blogspot.com
They are also looking for submissions for next issue. Submissions can be emailed to submissionstosquat@gmail.com.
Visit their blog at squatbirthjournal.blogspot.com
Monday, 12 July 2010
Global Protests Save Iranian Mother from Death by Stoning for Adultery
Yesterday an Iranian woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, was saved by global protests
from being stoned to death.
But she may still be hanged -- and, meanwhile, execution by stoning continues. Right
now fifteen more people are on death row awaiting stoning in which victims are
buried up to their necks in the ground and then large rocks are thrown at their
heads.
The partial reprieve of Sakineh, triggered by the call from her children for
international pressure to save her life, has shown that if enough of us come
together and voice our horror, we may be able to save her life, and stop stoning
once and for all. Sign the urgent petition now and send it onto everyone you know --
let's end this cruel slaughter NOW!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl
Sakineh was convicted of adultery, like all the other 12 women and one of the men
awaiting stoning. But her children and lawyer say she is innocent and that she did
not get a fair trial -- they state her confession was forced from her and, speaking
only Azerbaijani, she did not understand what was being asked of her in court.
Despite Iran's signing of a UN convention that requires the death penalty only be
used for the "most serious crimes" and despite the Iranian Parliament passing a law
banning stoning last year, stoning for adultery continues.
Sakineh's lawyer says the Iranian government "is afraid of Iranian public reaction
and international attention" to the stoning cases. And after Turkey and Britain's
Foreign Ministers spoke out against Sakineh's sentence, it was suspended.
Sakineh's brave children are leading the international campaign to save their mother
and stop stoning. Massive international condemnation now could finally stop this
sickening punishment. Let's join together today across the world to end this
brutality. Sign the petition to save Sakineh and end stoning here:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl
In hope and determination,
Alice, David, Milena, Ben and the whole Avaaz team
SOURCES:
Iranians still facing death by stoning despite 'reprieve', The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/08/iran-death-stoning-adultery
Britain condemns planned Iran stoning as 'medieval', AFP:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hjVdkvkzicGeInqw2R10rCKrqs3A
Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money
from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest
contributions go a long way -- donate here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avaaz.org is a 5.5-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that
the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz"
means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of
the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14
languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
To contact Avaaz write to us at
www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from being stoned to death.
But she may still be hanged -- and, meanwhile, execution by stoning continues. Right
now fifteen more people are on death row awaiting stoning in which victims are
buried up to their necks in the ground and then large rocks are thrown at their
heads.
The partial reprieve of Sakineh, triggered by the call from her children for
international pressure to save her life, has shown that if enough of us come
together and voice our horror, we may be able to save her life, and stop stoning
once and for all. Sign the urgent petition now and send it onto everyone you know --
let's end this cruel slaughter NOW!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl
Sakineh was convicted of adultery, like all the other 12 women and one of the men
awaiting stoning. But her children and lawyer say she is innocent and that she did
not get a fair trial -- they state her confession was forced from her and, speaking
only Azerbaijani, she did not understand what was being asked of her in court.
Despite Iran's signing of a UN convention that requires the death penalty only be
used for the "most serious crimes" and despite the Iranian Parliament passing a law
banning stoning last year, stoning for adultery continues.
Sakineh's lawyer says the Iranian government "is afraid of Iranian public reaction
and international attention" to the stoning cases. And after Turkey and Britain's
Foreign Ministers spoke out against Sakineh's sentence, it was suspended.
Sakineh's brave children are leading the international campaign to save their mother
and stop stoning. Massive international condemnation now could finally stop this
sickening punishment. Let's join together today across the world to end this
brutality. Sign the petition to save Sakineh and end stoning here:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl
In hope and determination,
Alice, David, Milena, Ben and the whole Avaaz team
SOURCES:
Iranians still facing death by stoning despite 'reprieve', The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/08/iran-death-stoning-adultery
Britain condemns planned Iran stoning as 'medieval', AFP:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hjVdkvkzicGeInqw2R10rCKrqs3A
Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money
from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest
contributions go a long way -- donate here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avaaz.org is a 5.5-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that
the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz"
means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of
the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14
languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
To contact Avaaz write to us at
www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, 24 May 2010
Reclaiming Birth, and the Albany Midwives
Below is an interesting article by our sisters in London anarcha feminist kolektiv, about reclaiming birth and the recent closure of the Albany Midwifery Practice, Peckham, South London.
Reclaiming Birth, and the Albany Midwives
The Albany Midwifery Practice provided a free service – as part of the NHS - for women around Peckham for over twelve years. As an independent group, based in the community and sub-contracted by Kings Healthcare Trust, the Albany midwives provided individual, continuous maternity care for all kinds of women, including those who are often denied proper choices by the Health Service: working-class women, women from ethnic minorities, those with mental and physical disabilities or with medical risks.
The Albany midwives aimed to provide choice, continuity and control for women, with a philosophy that pregnancy and birth are a normal part of women's lives, not a medical problem. They would provide information and let women make their own decisions, about their maternity care and the birth itself. They believed that women deserved continuity, so guaranteed access to the same pair of midwives throughout pregnancy, giving them a chance to develop a mutually-respectful, trusting, relationship with each woman before she gave birth.
This type of care is understandably popular with women, and has been proven to result in lower rates of infant mortality, lower rates of caesarian section (less than half the national average), and also much higher rates of home-birth and breastfeeding. 74% of the women using the Albany decided they didn't need pain relief during labour.
This quality of care is rarely available on the NHS. Although there are some other group practices which operate in a similar way to the Albany midwives, in many areas women have to pay privately if they want this kind of maternity care, which puts it beyond the means of most.
In December 2009, Kings Healthcare Trust abruptly terminated its contract with the Albany midwives, without any consultation ( either with the midwives themselves or those who used their services) or warning (even for those women about to give birth in the next few weeks).
Kings claimed that the issue was one of patient safety, as earlier on in the year a baby had died one week after being delivered by the Albany. Kings commissioned a report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE). They claimed that babies delivered by the Albany Practice at this time had higher rates of “Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy” ( brain damage caused by lack of oxygen), than those delivered by midwives directly employed by the Trust. These figures have been contested since the outset, with various organisations, including the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), criticising the CMACE reports. Despite requests, the full reports have still not been made public. Although Kings terminated the Albany contract on the grounds of patient safety, they then offered the same midwives jobs within the Trust's own midwifery service. All of them declined the offer.
The closure of the Albany Midwifery Practice prompted a range of protests, including a large, very vocal, very colourful march and rally in central London on Sunday 7th March. The 'Reclaiming Birth' march was called by the Albany Mums Group, both to protest the closure and to push for better, more women-centred approaches to childbirth. It was supported by the NCT, the Royal College of Midwives, the Association of Radical Midwives, Independent Midwives UK, the Alliance for Improvement in Maternity Services (AIMS) and many feminist groups.
If Kings succeed in damaging the reputation of the Albany midwives, this could have serious repercussions on a wider scale. Their model of care has long been recognised as a way of improving outcomes for mothers and babies. Most women in the UK don't get offered this level of choice, or continuity. Instead, they are only offered an obstetric-based model of care, institutionalised, with high levels of medical intervention and operative deliveries. The choice to birth at home is dependent on the availability of midwives, and unfortunately there is a shortage of midwives. Those already working in the NHS are under-paid and over-worked, and there are not enough staff to provide the quality of care women deserve, let alone set up loads of small group practices like the Albany.
Centralised, industrial-scale obstetric care may be expedient for bureaucrats, but does not allow true choice, and does not equate with a satisfying, safe and empowering birth experience. As public services suffer more cuts, our already over-stretched and under-resourced maternity services are in crisis, and ultimately this is bad news for us all.
For more information on the Albany Midwifery Practice, the CMACE report,and the 'Reclaiming Birth' march, visit: www.savethealbany.org.uk.
Another article worth reading: “Industrial Birth”, by Shonagh of Dublin's Revolutionary Anarchafeminist Group (RAG). www.adbusters.org/magazine/80/industrial_childbirth.html.
Birth – Everyone's Business
Are you alive? Then you were born.
The way in which you were born affected your immediate chances of survival, the kind of nourishment you would come to receive and your potential for intelligence, growth, health, emotional development and social adjustment. It helped set the relationships you would have with your parents, by either encouraging or preventing their ability to positively bond with you. It was monumentally important in your life – but you probably won’t remember it.
Your mother will. Her experience is likely to have had a profound effect on her. Was it good? Did she feel free, empowered and in control amongst people she loved and trusted? If she did, she was fortunate and more likely to be able to love, care for and breastfeed you thus setting you up for a lifetime of good health and well-being outcomes – providing resilience to the physical, emotional and social challenges of life.
Was your father there? Did he welcome you into the world? Did he feel involved and know his child from the outset? Did he accept you into his heart as his own to love and protect regardless of how life and relationships would progress? Were other parents, family members, friends and communities supported and supportive? Were you all as a family welcomed, provided and cared for in the world? Were you as a baby given the chance to thrive? Because it affected you for life.
Perhaps you have or want children of your own? Perhaps it will happen unexpectedly. Or maybe you hope for a different, better society, or a revolution? For the human race to continue in any form, from utopian to post-apocalyptic, babies will need to be born, parents will need to care for them and communities will need to raise them. How it’s done isn’t just important; it's integral, and its effects are infinitely wide ranging. It matters, to you, to me, to everyone.
None of us can afford to forget about childbirth, but that's easily done when we don’t remember it happening to us, and the event itself is hidden away in special secret places, which often provide difficult, negative and traumatic experiences. Lets stop sidelining this as a women’s issue, a health issue or identity politics. It’s huge, it’s vital and we should all be taking an interest and a responsibility for the coming generations.
London Anarcha Feminist Kolektiv
www.lafk.wordpress.com
lafk@riseup.net
Reclaiming Birth, and the Albany Midwives
The Albany Midwifery Practice provided a free service – as part of the NHS - for women around Peckham for over twelve years. As an independent group, based in the community and sub-contracted by Kings Healthcare Trust, the Albany midwives provided individual, continuous maternity care for all kinds of women, including those who are often denied proper choices by the Health Service: working-class women, women from ethnic minorities, those with mental and physical disabilities or with medical risks.
The Albany midwives aimed to provide choice, continuity and control for women, with a philosophy that pregnancy and birth are a normal part of women's lives, not a medical problem. They would provide information and let women make their own decisions, about their maternity care and the birth itself. They believed that women deserved continuity, so guaranteed access to the same pair of midwives throughout pregnancy, giving them a chance to develop a mutually-respectful, trusting, relationship with each woman before she gave birth.
This type of care is understandably popular with women, and has been proven to result in lower rates of infant mortality, lower rates of caesarian section (less than half the national average), and also much higher rates of home-birth and breastfeeding. 74% of the women using the Albany decided they didn't need pain relief during labour.
This quality of care is rarely available on the NHS. Although there are some other group practices which operate in a similar way to the Albany midwives, in many areas women have to pay privately if they want this kind of maternity care, which puts it beyond the means of most.
In December 2009, Kings Healthcare Trust abruptly terminated its contract with the Albany midwives, without any consultation ( either with the midwives themselves or those who used their services) or warning (even for those women about to give birth in the next few weeks).
Kings claimed that the issue was one of patient safety, as earlier on in the year a baby had died one week after being delivered by the Albany. Kings commissioned a report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE). They claimed that babies delivered by the Albany Practice at this time had higher rates of “Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy” ( brain damage caused by lack of oxygen), than those delivered by midwives directly employed by the Trust. These figures have been contested since the outset, with various organisations, including the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), criticising the CMACE reports. Despite requests, the full reports have still not been made public. Although Kings terminated the Albany contract on the grounds of patient safety, they then offered the same midwives jobs within the Trust's own midwifery service. All of them declined the offer.
The closure of the Albany Midwifery Practice prompted a range of protests, including a large, very vocal, very colourful march and rally in central London on Sunday 7th March. The 'Reclaiming Birth' march was called by the Albany Mums Group, both to protest the closure and to push for better, more women-centred approaches to childbirth. It was supported by the NCT, the Royal College of Midwives, the Association of Radical Midwives, Independent Midwives UK, the Alliance for Improvement in Maternity Services (AIMS) and many feminist groups.
If Kings succeed in damaging the reputation of the Albany midwives, this could have serious repercussions on a wider scale. Their model of care has long been recognised as a way of improving outcomes for mothers and babies. Most women in the UK don't get offered this level of choice, or continuity. Instead, they are only offered an obstetric-based model of care, institutionalised, with high levels of medical intervention and operative deliveries. The choice to birth at home is dependent on the availability of midwives, and unfortunately there is a shortage of midwives. Those already working in the NHS are under-paid and over-worked, and there are not enough staff to provide the quality of care women deserve, let alone set up loads of small group practices like the Albany.
Centralised, industrial-scale obstetric care may be expedient for bureaucrats, but does not allow true choice, and does not equate with a satisfying, safe and empowering birth experience. As public services suffer more cuts, our already over-stretched and under-resourced maternity services are in crisis, and ultimately this is bad news for us all.
For more information on the Albany Midwifery Practice, the CMACE report,and the 'Reclaiming Birth' march, visit: www.savethealbany.org.uk.
Another article worth reading: “Industrial Birth”, by Shonagh of Dublin's Revolutionary Anarchafeminist Group (RAG). www.adbusters.org/magazine/80/industrial_childbirth.html.
Birth – Everyone's Business
Are you alive? Then you were born.
The way in which you were born affected your immediate chances of survival, the kind of nourishment you would come to receive and your potential for intelligence, growth, health, emotional development and social adjustment. It helped set the relationships you would have with your parents, by either encouraging or preventing their ability to positively bond with you. It was monumentally important in your life – but you probably won’t remember it.
Your mother will. Her experience is likely to have had a profound effect on her. Was it good? Did she feel free, empowered and in control amongst people she loved and trusted? If she did, she was fortunate and more likely to be able to love, care for and breastfeed you thus setting you up for a lifetime of good health and well-being outcomes – providing resilience to the physical, emotional and social challenges of life.
Was your father there? Did he welcome you into the world? Did he feel involved and know his child from the outset? Did he accept you into his heart as his own to love and protect regardless of how life and relationships would progress? Were other parents, family members, friends and communities supported and supportive? Were you all as a family welcomed, provided and cared for in the world? Were you as a baby given the chance to thrive? Because it affected you for life.
Perhaps you have or want children of your own? Perhaps it will happen unexpectedly. Or maybe you hope for a different, better society, or a revolution? For the human race to continue in any form, from utopian to post-apocalyptic, babies will need to be born, parents will need to care for them and communities will need to raise them. How it’s done isn’t just important; it's integral, and its effects are infinitely wide ranging. It matters, to you, to me, to everyone.
None of us can afford to forget about childbirth, but that's easily done when we don’t remember it happening to us, and the event itself is hidden away in special secret places, which often provide difficult, negative and traumatic experiences. Lets stop sidelining this as a women’s issue, a health issue or identity politics. It’s huge, it’s vital and we should all be taking an interest and a responsibility for the coming generations.
London Anarcha Feminist Kolektiv
www.lafk.wordpress.com
lafk@riseup.net
Monday, 8 March 2010
Mothers March & Speak Out: Saturday 13th March, London
An International Womens Day and Mothers Day Event
Saturday 13 March 2010
Mothers March & Speak Out
For recognition and support for all the work
we contribute to society
Come with your children, relatives and friends.
Bring your banners, placards and demands.
Assemble 2pm Trafalgar Sq
March to Parliament Sq
Westminster, London SW1 ALL WELCOME
mothering is hard work
The survival of the human race depends on the caring work of mothers.
But we get no recognition or support. Only blame when things go wrong.
And we're even expected to do more work to feed the family, often on
the lowest pay.
every mother is a working mother
Events also in: Guyana, Haiti, India, Mexico, Peru, US
MEN: Join the contingent of fathers & other male carers who support
mothers.
mothers, this march is for you who are raising children in cities, towns or villages...
Who are separated from your children or have lost children
Who are surviving war & environmental disaster
Who are seeking asylum
For you who are grandmothers, non-biological mothers, domestic workers & other women doing caring work
For you who have disabilities or have a child with disabilities
Who are fighting for justice for loved ones
Who have been raped
Who are students & mothers
Who are sex workers supporting families
Who have been criminalised by poverty
Who want to have children but havent been able to
For you mothers of every race, age, passport, income, sexuality & occupation
For all of us who are overworked & underpaid.
Our demand is: invest in caring not killing
Called by All African Womens Group Mothers Campaign (MoCa),
Global Womens Strike (GWS), and Single Mothers Self-Defence
Endorsed by: Kay Adshead (playwright/poet), Black Womens Rape
Action Project, English Collective of Prostitutes, Oliver James
(child psychologist/author), Jenny Jones (Green Party), Sheila
Kitzinger (natural childbirth campaigner/author), Payday mens
network, The Peace Strike at Parliament Square, Wages Due Lesbians,
Michelene Wandor (writer/broadcaster), Women with Visible and
Invisible Disabilities, Women Against Rape, Women of Colour in the
GWS
Sign MoCas petition for family reunion:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/MumsKids/petition.html (
http://www.petitiononline.com/MumsKids/petition.html )
Youtube Clips on Why a Mothers' March
Selma James ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcCk9CmQD2A ), Global
Women's Strike
Isata Denton-Ceesay ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh2orh7Gt4E ),
All African Women's Group
For info on disability access and facilities for children, to sponsor or
to make a donation: (020)7482 2496 voice/minicom
www.globalwomenstrike.net ( http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/ )
aawg02@googlemail.com womenstrike8m@server101.com
Saturday 13 March 2010
Mothers March & Speak Out
For recognition and support for all the work
we contribute to society
Come with your children, relatives and friends.
Bring your banners, placards and demands.
Assemble 2pm Trafalgar Sq
March to Parliament Sq
Westminster, London SW1 ALL WELCOME
mothering is hard work
The survival of the human race depends on the caring work of mothers.
But we get no recognition or support. Only blame when things go wrong.
And we're even expected to do more work to feed the family, often on
the lowest pay.
every mother is a working mother
Events also in: Guyana, Haiti, India, Mexico, Peru, US
MEN: Join the contingent of fathers & other male carers who support
mothers.
mothers, this march is for you who are raising children in cities, towns or villages...
Who are separated from your children or have lost children
Who are surviving war & environmental disaster
Who are seeking asylum
For you who are grandmothers, non-biological mothers, domestic workers & other women doing caring work
For you who have disabilities or have a child with disabilities
Who are fighting for justice for loved ones
Who have been raped
Who are students & mothers
Who are sex workers supporting families
Who have been criminalised by poverty
Who want to have children but havent been able to
For you mothers of every race, age, passport, income, sexuality & occupation
For all of us who are overworked & underpaid.
Our demand is: invest in caring not killing
Called by All African Womens Group Mothers Campaign (MoCa),
Global Womens Strike (GWS), and Single Mothers Self-Defence
Endorsed by: Kay Adshead (playwright/poet), Black Womens Rape
Action Project, English Collective of Prostitutes, Oliver James
(child psychologist/author), Jenny Jones (Green Party), Sheila
Kitzinger (natural childbirth campaigner/author), Payday mens
network, The Peace Strike at Parliament Square, Wages Due Lesbians,
Michelene Wandor (writer/broadcaster), Women with Visible and
Invisible Disabilities, Women Against Rape, Women of Colour in the
GWS
Sign MoCas petition for family reunion:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/MumsKids/petition.html (
http://www.petitiononline.com/MumsKids/petition.html )
Youtube Clips on Why a Mothers' March
Selma James ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcCk9CmQD2A ), Global
Women's Strike
Isata Denton-Ceesay ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh2orh7Gt4E ),
All African Women's Group
For info on disability access and facilities for children, to sponsor or
to make a donation: (020)7482 2496 voice/minicom
www.globalwomenstrike.net ( http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/ )
aawg02@googlemail.com womenstrike8m@server101.com
Saturday, 6 March 2010
London Events this weekend: International Womens Day plus more!
Its international womens day on monday and as such there are lots of
feminist events happening in london this weekend.
Million Women Rise - Saturday 6th of march from 12 - march and rally. 3rd
national women only march to celebrate International Women's Day and
demonstrate against violence against women.
From the million women rise website at http://www.millionwomenrise.com.
"Million Women Rise is a coalition of individual women and representatives
from the Women’s Voluntary and Community Sector who have come together to
organise an annual national demonstration against male violence which
coincides with International Women’s Day in March each year.
On the demonstration, we celebrate and honour women’s activism, courage
and achievements and continued struggle against global male violence in
all its forms. Million Women Rise is an expression of women’s continued
resistance and struggle against global male violence. The first
demonstration in 2008 saw 5000 women and children take to the streets of
London. It was the largest, recent demonstration of women in UK history
and the most diverse demonstration many of us had ever attended."
London anarcha feminist kolektiv will be on the march. if you would like
to march with us we will be meeting at the meeting point (park lane,
oppopsite speakers corner) from 12. We will converge near the back, look
for the black and pink banner).
Please note this a women only event, although the rally at trafalgar
square is all-genders.
Sunday 7th March
Reclaiming birth march and rally
This event is happening because AIMS, NCT, RCM, IMUK, Albany Mums and
Midwifery Practice, many parents and midwives are so concerned about the
state of maternity services and the lack of options available to women.
Matters were brought to a head by the sudden closure of the highly
successful and loved Albany Midwifery Practice in south London.
1pm Assemble in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park,
Lambeth Road, London SE1 4EQ
March to whitehall for rally.
For full details visit http://www.aims.org.uk/reclaimingbirth.htm. this is
an all genders event - please support
LAFK are suuporting this campaign and will be in attendance, please look
for our banner if you'd like to march with us.
London Freeschool, 195 Mare Street - all weekend. for full details visit
http://londonfreeschool.wordpress.com/
Friday 5th March
————————————————————————————————————
•19.30 – 21.00 : Safer Space Policy discussion
•21.00 onwards : food/social
————————————————————————————————————
Saturday 6th March
————————————————————————————————————
Bar / Chill out space
•12.00 – 12.30 : Discussion/presentation of the Safer Space Policy •All
day Free tutorials for humanities students (turn up and ask for the
facilitators)
Workshop Space 1
•12.30 – 14.30 : Direct Action/ Blockading
•14.30 – 16.00 : Spanish lesson
•16.00 – 19.00 : A DIY Radio Workshop
Workshop space 2
•12.30 – 14.30 : Sexual Consent
•14.30 – 16.00 : Charm Offensive: a group discussion on charisma and
authority.
•16.00 – 17.30 : What have feminism tendencies brought to autonomous
politics in the seventies? How the perspective of feminism transcends
marxist/anarchist perspectives?
•17.30 – 19.00 : What are Children For?
Workshop Space 3
•12.30 – 14.30 : Downloading Workshop
•14.30 – 16.00 : Free and Open Source Software
•16.00 – 17.30 : Free Art/Expression workshop
Workshop Space 4
•All day: Welding (just come round and ask the facilitator to show
you!)Movie space
•… schedule to be made
Welding will happen all day
19.30 : Daily general debrief
————————————————————————————————————
Sunday 7th March
————————————————————————————————————
Bar / Chill out space
•12.00 – 12.30 : Discussion/presentation of the Safer Space Policy •All
day Free tutorials for humanities students (turn up and ask for the
facilitators)
Workshop Space 1
•12.30 – 14.00 : Misogyny, Oppression and Gyoza
•14.00 – 15.30 : French lesson
•15.30 – 17.00 : Experiences and politics of the menstrual cycle (self
identified women only)
•17.00 – 18.30 : Feminist Self Defence (self identified women only) •20.00
– 21.30 : Making Beards & Homemade Stuffers (self identified women only)
Workshop Space 2
•12.30 – 14.00 : Surprisingly empowering “women’s” work
•14.00 – 15.30 : Gender & Mental Health: Dora’s Case
•15.30 – 17.00 : London Profeminist Mens Group presentation
•17.00 – 18.30 : Workshop of Nothing
Workshop Space 3
•12.30 – 16.30 : Costume / Underwear Making
Workshop Space 4
•All day: Welding
Movie Space
•12.30 – 16.00 : The Game of War
•16.00 – 17.30 : Nomadic Queer Movie night
19.00 : Daily general debrief
Followed by a social / dressing up party!
——-
Other Workshop happening but yet to be scheduled :
Puppet Making
Bike Repair
For full details of whats happening over the next few days and weeks to
celebrate international womens day visit, http://iwd2010.wordpress.com/.
for more information about international womens day and its history
(herstory) visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp
feminist events happening in london this weekend.
Million Women Rise - Saturday 6th of march from 12 - march and rally. 3rd
national women only march to celebrate International Women's Day and
demonstrate against violence against women.
From the million women rise website at http://www.millionwomenrise.com.
"Million Women Rise is a coalition of individual women and representatives
from the Women’s Voluntary and Community Sector who have come together to
organise an annual national demonstration against male violence which
coincides with International Women’s Day in March each year.
On the demonstration, we celebrate and honour women’s activism, courage
and achievements and continued struggle against global male violence in
all its forms. Million Women Rise is an expression of women’s continued
resistance and struggle against global male violence. The first
demonstration in 2008 saw 5000 women and children take to the streets of
London. It was the largest, recent demonstration of women in UK history
and the most diverse demonstration many of us had ever attended."
London anarcha feminist kolektiv will be on the march. if you would like
to march with us we will be meeting at the meeting point (park lane,
oppopsite speakers corner) from 12. We will converge near the back, look
for the black and pink banner).
Please note this a women only event, although the rally at trafalgar
square is all-genders.
Sunday 7th March
Reclaiming birth march and rally
This event is happening because AIMS, NCT, RCM, IMUK, Albany Mums and
Midwifery Practice, many parents and midwives are so concerned about the
state of maternity services and the lack of options available to women.
Matters were brought to a head by the sudden closure of the highly
successful and loved Albany Midwifery Practice in south London.
1pm Assemble in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park,
Lambeth Road, London SE1 4EQ
March to whitehall for rally.
For full details visit http://www.aims.org.uk/reclaimingbirth.htm. this is
an all genders event - please support
LAFK are suuporting this campaign and will be in attendance, please look
for our banner if you'd like to march with us.
London Freeschool, 195 Mare Street - all weekend. for full details visit
http://londonfreeschool.wordpress.com/
Friday 5th March
————————————————————————————————————
•19.30 – 21.00 : Safer Space Policy discussion
•21.00 onwards : food/social
————————————————————————————————————
Saturday 6th March
————————————————————————————————————
Bar / Chill out space
•12.00 – 12.30 : Discussion/presentation of the Safer Space Policy •All
day Free tutorials for humanities students (turn up and ask for the
facilitators)
Workshop Space 1
•12.30 – 14.30 : Direct Action/ Blockading
•14.30 – 16.00 : Spanish lesson
•16.00 – 19.00 : A DIY Radio Workshop
Workshop space 2
•12.30 – 14.30 : Sexual Consent
•14.30 – 16.00 : Charm Offensive: a group discussion on charisma and
authority.
•16.00 – 17.30 : What have feminism tendencies brought to autonomous
politics in the seventies? How the perspective of feminism transcends
marxist/anarchist perspectives?
•17.30 – 19.00 : What are Children For?
Workshop Space 3
•12.30 – 14.30 : Downloading Workshop
•14.30 – 16.00 : Free and Open Source Software
•16.00 – 17.30 : Free Art/Expression workshop
Workshop Space 4
•All day: Welding (just come round and ask the facilitator to show
you!)Movie space
•… schedule to be made
Welding will happen all day
19.30 : Daily general debrief
————————————————————————————————————
Sunday 7th March
————————————————————————————————————
Bar / Chill out space
•12.00 – 12.30 : Discussion/presentation of the Safer Space Policy •All
day Free tutorials for humanities students (turn up and ask for the
facilitators)
Workshop Space 1
•12.30 – 14.00 : Misogyny, Oppression and Gyoza
•14.00 – 15.30 : French lesson
•15.30 – 17.00 : Experiences and politics of the menstrual cycle (self
identified women only)
•17.00 – 18.30 : Feminist Self Defence (self identified women only) •20.00
– 21.30 : Making Beards & Homemade Stuffers (self identified women only)
Workshop Space 2
•12.30 – 14.00 : Surprisingly empowering “women’s” work
•14.00 – 15.30 : Gender & Mental Health: Dora’s Case
•15.30 – 17.00 : London Profeminist Mens Group presentation
•17.00 – 18.30 : Workshop of Nothing
Workshop Space 3
•12.30 – 16.30 : Costume / Underwear Making
Workshop Space 4
•All day: Welding
Movie Space
•12.30 – 16.00 : The Game of War
•16.00 – 17.30 : Nomadic Queer Movie night
19.00 : Daily general debrief
Followed by a social / dressing up party!
——-
Other Workshop happening but yet to be scheduled :
Puppet Making
Bike Repair
For full details of whats happening over the next few days and weeks to
celebrate international womens day visit, http://iwd2010.wordpress.com/.
for more information about international womens day and its history
(herstory) visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp
Friday, 11 December 2009
UK Government's Welfare Reform: Comments
Dear friends
We wanted you to see the letter from Single Mothers' Self-Defence and
WinVisible in
today’s Guardian (UK Newspaper), together with other letters. Below is what we were
responding to.
Please circulate widely.
Many thanks
_________________
Letters
Crackdown on fraud – and the vulnerable
The Guardian, Wednesday 9 December 2009
Minister Helen Goodman claims she agrees "that the early years of a
child's life are
so important" (Letters, 3 December). Yet Labour, with almost 100 women
MPs, many
calling themselves feminists, voted on 10 November for benefit sanctions
against
single parents of children aged three upwards, if they refused "work-related
activity". The "family-friendly" provisions Ms Goodman takes credit for
were won in
a knock-down fight in the Lords spearheaded by carers, including
breastfeeding
mothers, and women with disabilities. Labour already had in place that
mothers with
newborns had to report for "work-focused interviews". We won exemption from
interviews until the child is one; exemption from work-related activity,
if there is
no childcare; and for mothers of disabled children receiving any care
benefits,
among other concessions.
Better-off families can choose for one parent to stay at home, but
children from
low-income families are denied their right to care from someone who loves
them. Few
employers allow flexible working when teenage children need and deserve
attention.
At a recent single parents' conference, minister Yvette Cooper heard the
profound
problems mothers have of job insecurity, as well as discrimination against
part-time
workers. On top of coping alone with debt, high rents, stress, children's
behavioural problems, the enforced double day is a recipe for family
breakdown.
Professionals at the conference showed they know these problems inside
out, but they
do not protest publicly.
Kim Sparrow Single Mothers' Self-Defence
Claire Glasman WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities)
• It's ironic that the day the government announced a blitz on benefit
fraud, our
39-year-old severely disabled daughter who has very high support needs
received a
summons for fraud, with a substantial penalty charge levied, in threatening
language, from our local NHS Fraud Office for a prescription from April. The
prescription was ticked in the appropriate box as free, as she has always
been in
receipt of free medication, as disabled from birth. She has lived at the same
address for 13 years, has not changed her GP and, unfortunately, is
reliant on
several medications that require constant repeat prescriptions that are
ongoing.
Fortunately we, as parents, are able to challenge this inexcusable action,
that was
seemingly made without any checks on who she was or her status. Now the
"blitz" is
being rolled out, how many other of our most vulnerable and poorest
citizens are
going to be treated in such a way, and traumatised in the run up to
Christmas?
Name and address supplied
• How will Tory plans to slash already inadequate benefits support people
suffering
from depression?
H Powell
Alvechurch, Worcestershire
Letters
Lone parents
The Guardian, Thursday 3 December 2009
Our policy towards parents is based on what's best for them and their
children –
putting family first (Time to grow emotionally, 2 December). We agree with
Sue
Gerhardt that the early years of a child's life are so important – that's
why we
won't require parents to go back to work before their child is seven. And
government
financial support for families during a child's first year, including
statutory
maternity pay, the Sure Start maternity grant, and the child tax credit is
now worth
over £9,000.
For lone parent mothers of children aged seven to 12 we are introducing new
family-friendly regulations which will make clear that parents can look for
part-time work or jobs that fit with school hours. Paid work is the best
and most
sustainable route out of poverty for families and also good for people's
health and
wellbeing, and their self-esteem. It's far too simplistic to say we're
forcing
people back to work – any expectations fit round childcare and
flexibilities that
help to protect the work-family life balance.
Helen Goodman MP
Parliamentary undersecretary, Department for Work and Pensions
Time to grow emotionally
Chasing parents back to work just when children need them most will be
costly in the
long run
Sue Gerhardt
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 1 December 2009 22.00 GMT
Everywhere, cuts are on the agenda. And not even the youngest, it seems,
escape
their impact. With the pre-budget report looming, it is particularly
disturbing to
consider that the manifesto pledge to extend maternity leave was the first
big
casualty of the Treasury's spending squeeze – suggesting it is seen as
Labour's most
expendable commitment.
Yet other government departments have in recent years acknowledged how early
parenting is the key to laying down the foundations for emotional
wellbeing. The
first two or three years are the crucial window when various systems which
manage
emotions are put into place. In particular, it is when we learn to exercise
self-control and to be aware of other people's needs. Without these basic
emotional
skills children may not grow up emotionally competent.
But to achieve this basic emotional literacy, babies need to be with
people they are
attached to well beyond nine months. They need to be with people who are
safe and
familiar, who know them well, respond to them quickly and, above all, love
them. The
idea that their main caregiver should be forced by economic necessity to
take paid
employment – or encouraged to let someone else manage their baby's emotional
development – is ludicrous.
As "JH", a single parent opposing proposals in the new welfare reform act,
wrote: "I
have the love and the commitment – why is that not recognised? I don't see
how
paying a stranger to care for him, while I seek similarly underpaid
part-time work
(perhaps even caring for someone else's children) will benefit either of us,
financially or otherwise."
The evidence is that it is highly unlikely to benefit her child –
particularly if he
is put into low-quality nursery care – since the earlier babies are put into
nurseries, and the longer they are there, the more likely their emotional
distress
will result in them being aggressive and difficult at school. Recent
research by
Clancy Blair at Pennsylvania State University also suggests that
children's academic
achievement is highly dependent on the emotional foundations that are put
in place
in the first couple of years.
Yet instead of moving towards greater support for early parenting, the
government is
sending the message that this is a luxury we cannot afford. Mothers should
leave
their babies and get back to earning money. The worthy goal of lifting
children out
of poverty is invoked. Of course we don't want children to feel excluded from
society, to suffer from their parents' financial anxieties, or to live in
communities of workless, frustrated adults. Yet it is simple-minded of the
government to conclude that forcing parents into work is the most
effective way to
end child poverty. Many chronic welfare dependents have themselves
experienced
economic deprivation, social exclusion and emotional trauma as children
and, as a
result, have become the teenage parents, the substance abusers, the
aggressive,
unreliable, under-qualified, psychosomatically ill, emotionally unskilled,
unemployable people who are such a financial burden to us all. Their own
emotional
difficulties often make it hard for them to offer their children the
loving, firm
parenting that is so essential for psychological wellbeing. But where is
the support
for such parents in the form of psychotherapy and parent-skills training
so that we
can stop the cycle of disadvantage?
The men in the Treasury are casting around for easy targets to balance
their books
and meet their child poverty targets. But they have lost sight of what really
matters. Children's wellbeing starts with positive early relationships
from birth.
This is one investment we must make, however expensive it is. In the long
run, we
will even save money.
Sue Gerhardt is a British psychoanalytic psychotherapist and author of Why
Love
Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby's Brain
We wanted you to see the letter from Single Mothers' Self-Defence and
WinVisible in
today’s Guardian (UK Newspaper), together with other letters. Below is what we were
responding to.
Please circulate widely.
Many thanks
_________________
Letters
Crackdown on fraud – and the vulnerable
The Guardian, Wednesday 9 December 2009
Minister Helen Goodman claims she agrees "that the early years of a
child's life are
so important" (Letters, 3 December). Yet Labour, with almost 100 women
MPs, many
calling themselves feminists, voted on 10 November for benefit sanctions
against
single parents of children aged three upwards, if they refused "work-related
activity". The "family-friendly" provisions Ms Goodman takes credit for
were won in
a knock-down fight in the Lords spearheaded by carers, including
breastfeeding
mothers, and women with disabilities. Labour already had in place that
mothers with
newborns had to report for "work-focused interviews". We won exemption from
interviews until the child is one; exemption from work-related activity,
if there is
no childcare; and for mothers of disabled children receiving any care
benefits,
among other concessions.
Better-off families can choose for one parent to stay at home, but
children from
low-income families are denied their right to care from someone who loves
them. Few
employers allow flexible working when teenage children need and deserve
attention.
At a recent single parents' conference, minister Yvette Cooper heard the
profound
problems mothers have of job insecurity, as well as discrimination against
part-time
workers. On top of coping alone with debt, high rents, stress, children's
behavioural problems, the enforced double day is a recipe for family
breakdown.
Professionals at the conference showed they know these problems inside
out, but they
do not protest publicly.
Kim Sparrow Single Mothers' Self-Defence
Claire Glasman WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities)
• It's ironic that the day the government announced a blitz on benefit
fraud, our
39-year-old severely disabled daughter who has very high support needs
received a
summons for fraud, with a substantial penalty charge levied, in threatening
language, from our local NHS Fraud Office for a prescription from April. The
prescription was ticked in the appropriate box as free, as she has always
been in
receipt of free medication, as disabled from birth. She has lived at the same
address for 13 years, has not changed her GP and, unfortunately, is
reliant on
several medications that require constant repeat prescriptions that are
ongoing.
Fortunately we, as parents, are able to challenge this inexcusable action,
that was
seemingly made without any checks on who she was or her status. Now the
"blitz" is
being rolled out, how many other of our most vulnerable and poorest
citizens are
going to be treated in such a way, and traumatised in the run up to
Christmas?
Name and address supplied
• How will Tory plans to slash already inadequate benefits support people
suffering
from depression?
H Powell
Alvechurch, Worcestershire
Letters
Lone parents
The Guardian, Thursday 3 December 2009
Our policy towards parents is based on what's best for them and their
children –
putting family first (Time to grow emotionally, 2 December). We agree with
Sue
Gerhardt that the early years of a child's life are so important – that's
why we
won't require parents to go back to work before their child is seven. And
government
financial support for families during a child's first year, including
statutory
maternity pay, the Sure Start maternity grant, and the child tax credit is
now worth
over £9,000.
For lone parent mothers of children aged seven to 12 we are introducing new
family-friendly regulations which will make clear that parents can look for
part-time work or jobs that fit with school hours. Paid work is the best
and most
sustainable route out of poverty for families and also good for people's
health and
wellbeing, and their self-esteem. It's far too simplistic to say we're
forcing
people back to work – any expectations fit round childcare and
flexibilities that
help to protect the work-family life balance.
Helen Goodman MP
Parliamentary undersecretary, Department for Work and Pensions
Time to grow emotionally
Chasing parents back to work just when children need them most will be
costly in the
long run
Sue Gerhardt
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 1 December 2009 22.00 GMT
Everywhere, cuts are on the agenda. And not even the youngest, it seems,
escape
their impact. With the pre-budget report looming, it is particularly
disturbing to
consider that the manifesto pledge to extend maternity leave was the first
big
casualty of the Treasury's spending squeeze – suggesting it is seen as
Labour's most
expendable commitment.
Yet other government departments have in recent years acknowledged how early
parenting is the key to laying down the foundations for emotional
wellbeing. The
first two or three years are the crucial window when various systems which
manage
emotions are put into place. In particular, it is when we learn to exercise
self-control and to be aware of other people's needs. Without these basic
emotional
skills children may not grow up emotionally competent.
But to achieve this basic emotional literacy, babies need to be with
people they are
attached to well beyond nine months. They need to be with people who are
safe and
familiar, who know them well, respond to them quickly and, above all, love
them. The
idea that their main caregiver should be forced by economic necessity to
take paid
employment – or encouraged to let someone else manage their baby's emotional
development – is ludicrous.
As "JH", a single parent opposing proposals in the new welfare reform act,
wrote: "I
have the love and the commitment – why is that not recognised? I don't see
how
paying a stranger to care for him, while I seek similarly underpaid
part-time work
(perhaps even caring for someone else's children) will benefit either of us,
financially or otherwise."
The evidence is that it is highly unlikely to benefit her child –
particularly if he
is put into low-quality nursery care – since the earlier babies are put into
nurseries, and the longer they are there, the more likely their emotional
distress
will result in them being aggressive and difficult at school. Recent
research by
Clancy Blair at Pennsylvania State University also suggests that
children's academic
achievement is highly dependent on the emotional foundations that are put
in place
in the first couple of years.
Yet instead of moving towards greater support for early parenting, the
government is
sending the message that this is a luxury we cannot afford. Mothers should
leave
their babies and get back to earning money. The worthy goal of lifting
children out
of poverty is invoked. Of course we don't want children to feel excluded from
society, to suffer from their parents' financial anxieties, or to live in
communities of workless, frustrated adults. Yet it is simple-minded of the
government to conclude that forcing parents into work is the most
effective way to
end child poverty. Many chronic welfare dependents have themselves
experienced
economic deprivation, social exclusion and emotional trauma as children
and, as a
result, have become the teenage parents, the substance abusers, the
aggressive,
unreliable, under-qualified, psychosomatically ill, emotionally unskilled,
unemployable people who are such a financial burden to us all. Their own
emotional
difficulties often make it hard for them to offer their children the
loving, firm
parenting that is so essential for psychological wellbeing. But where is
the support
for such parents in the form of psychotherapy and parent-skills training
so that we
can stop the cycle of disadvantage?
The men in the Treasury are casting around for easy targets to balance
their books
and meet their child poverty targets. But they have lost sight of what really
matters. Children's wellbeing starts with positive early relationships
from birth.
This is one investment we must make, however expensive it is. In the long
run, we
will even save money.
Sue Gerhardt is a British psychoanalytic psychotherapist and author of Why
Love
Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby's Brain
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Petition for reuniting African mums and kids seeking asylum in UK
Dear Friends,
We are writing to introduce you to The Mothers’ Campaign of the All African Women’s
Group. We are mothers who have had to flee to the UK leaving our children behind in
our home country. We left our children when we saw they would be safer without us.
(We enclose our leaflet below.)
We are launching a petition with our demands for family reunion and invite you to sign it at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/MumsKids/petition.html
We are gathering signatures between now and Mothers’ Day in March next year. We
would very much appreciate your support and hope you can initially help us by
circulating the petition amongst your friends, family and network.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require any further information.
Yours
Jeto Flaviah
The Mothers’ Campaign of the All African Women’s Group
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mothers & children seeking asylum
We are mothers who have had to flee to the UK leaving our children behind in our
home country. Our lives were at risk – most of us have been through rape and other
torture; some of us have seen family members killed. We left our children when we
saw they would be safer without us. We didn’t know where we were going, or how, or
if we would survive.
When we claim asylum we are not recognised as mothers who are suffering separation
from their children. Even when we win the right to stay, we still face the pain of
being prevented from reuniting our family.
"We are consumed by guilt and worry. Every meal we eat we think of whether our
children have food. But our love for them is also what keeps us going. Sometimes you
feel so hopeless, you want to end your life but knowing your children need you is
what makes you keep fighting.”
We sometimes lose contact with children back home. Or we hear of them suffering
without our protection – living on the streets after caring relatives have died;
taken by the military; or even turning to pick-pocketing and prostitution to survive
and feed the younger ones.
We have hardly enough to feed ourselves but we do all we can to send money home for
them. And if we don’t know where they are, we raise money to search for them. We do
low-paid, illegal work or even sleep with men for money for them.
But if our kids turn 18 while we wait – often for years – for an asylum claim to be
settled, we lose the right for them to join us.
This government talks so much about the importance of families and claims that
“Every child matters”, yet our children are denied their mothers’ love and
protection. None of the media stories about missing children which highlight the
parents’ distress, even mention what we and our children are going through.
We are writing to introduce you to The Mothers’ Campaign of the All African Women’s
Group. We are mothers who have had to flee to the UK leaving our children behind in
our home country. We left our children when we saw they would be safer without us.
(We enclose our leaflet below.)
We are launching a petition with our demands for family reunion and invite you to sign it at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/MumsKids/petition.html
We are gathering signatures between now and Mothers’ Day in March next year. We
would very much appreciate your support and hope you can initially help us by
circulating the petition amongst your friends, family and network.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you require any further information.
Yours
Jeto Flaviah
The Mothers’ Campaign of the All African Women’s Group
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mothers & children seeking asylum
We are mothers who have had to flee to the UK leaving our children behind in our
home country. Our lives were at risk – most of us have been through rape and other
torture; some of us have seen family members killed. We left our children when we
saw they would be safer without us. We didn’t know where we were going, or how, or
if we would survive.
When we claim asylum we are not recognised as mothers who are suffering separation
from their children. Even when we win the right to stay, we still face the pain of
being prevented from reuniting our family.
"We are consumed by guilt and worry. Every meal we eat we think of whether our
children have food. But our love for them is also what keeps us going. Sometimes you
feel so hopeless, you want to end your life but knowing your children need you is
what makes you keep fighting.”
We sometimes lose contact with children back home. Or we hear of them suffering
without our protection – living on the streets after caring relatives have died;
taken by the military; or even turning to pick-pocketing and prostitution to survive
and feed the younger ones.
We have hardly enough to feed ourselves but we do all we can to send money home for
them. And if we don’t know where they are, we raise money to search for them. We do
low-paid, illegal work or even sleep with men for money for them.
But if our kids turn 18 while we wait – often for years – for an asylum claim to be
settled, we lose the right for them to join us.
This government talks so much about the importance of families and claims that
“Every child matters”, yet our children are denied their mothers’ love and
protection. None of the media stories about missing children which highlight the
parents’ distress, even mention what we and our children are going through.
We demand...
- To be recognised as mothers, with dependent children
- That when the government grants amnesty to families with children here – their
right to stay without having to establish a fear of persecution – that we, together
with our children back home, must also have a right to family amnesty. Though we
are divided, we are a family.
When we win our right to stay we demand...
- Unconditional right to family reunion to everyone who wins the right to stay in the
UK (whether under the refugee convention, humanitarian protection, human rights act,
legacy process or other grounds). - The right of children to join their mother even if they turned 18 before her asylum
claim was settled.
We urge British embassies/high commissions in our home countries to show their
commitment to families by helping to find our missing children and reunite them with
their mothers.
"Mummy, you are the only person I have to save me from everything I’m going
through. Thomas screams every night. . . . I don’t even know what to say about
Michael but he’s a baby boy who needs his mummy right now.” (Letter from a teenage girl whose mother was forced to leave her four children behind).
For more information, including how you can help, contact:
All African Women’s Group, aawg02@googlemail.com
Crossroads Women’s Centre, 230a Kentish Town Rd
London NW5 2AB, Tel: 020 7482 2496
All African Women's Group<>
Friday, 12 June 2009
Carnival of Feminist Parenting
This Sunday 14th June sees the first online blog-carnival of feminist parenting!
The blog hosting this carnival is Mothers for Womens Lib (http://feministmums.wordpress.com/carnival-of-feminist-parenting/ ), so log on this Sunday to read fab posts, and link with other like-minded people, blogging about many different issues related to feminist parenting.
The carnival will take place every month, and anyone is welcome to submit a post related to the topic. See http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_7216.html for more details about this and other carnivals.
The blog hosting this carnival is Mothers for Womens Lib (http://feministmums.wordpress.com/carnival-of-feminist-parenting/ ), so log on this Sunday to read fab posts, and link with other like-minded people, blogging about many different issues related to feminist parenting.
The carnival will take place every month, and anyone is welcome to submit a post related to the topic. See http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_7216.html for more details about this and other carnivals.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
URGENT: Early Day Motion to keep Income Support
Dear friends,
John McDonnell MP has put an Early Day Motion (EDM) to keep Income Support, which the Welfare Reform Bill would abolish. Please ask your MP to sign the EDM and circulate this EDM to your friends and colleagues suggesting that they also urge their MPs to sign. You can find out who your MP is here (http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/). The more MPs who sign from every party, the more seriously it will be taken. Many in the House of Lords oppose the harsh measures in the Bill which would make many destitute and first of all women and children, and they have put down amendments to change or delete the worst clauses. They are discussing these in Grand Committee, starting today. One amendment is to leave out Clause 7, which would abolish Income Support. See briefing on the amendments.
Kim Sparrow
EDM 1609 INCOME SUPPORT 08.06.2009 McDonnell, John
That this House condemns the proposed abolition of income support which is a crucial lifeline against destitution and poverty for parents, carers, those they care for and other vulnerable people; further condemns the requirement contained in the Welfare Reform Bill that claimants with children over seven years old must find a job or work for their benefits for £1.73 an hour if they are unsuccessful in finding work after two years; notes that unemployment has risen to over two million and that many parents cannot access affordable childcare in their area; deplores this erosion of the principles of the welfare state and the minimum wage, and regrets the hardship that many families will now face; and calls on the Government to maintain income support in recognition of society's collective responsibility for childrearing and the important work of carers and parents for society.
PLEASE PASS ON.
John McDonnell MP has put an Early Day Motion (EDM) to keep Income Support, which the Welfare Reform Bill would abolish. Please ask your MP to sign the EDM and circulate this EDM to your friends and colleagues suggesting that they also urge their MPs to sign. You can find out who your MP is here (http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/). The more MPs who sign from every party, the more seriously it will be taken. Many in the House of Lords oppose the harsh measures in the Bill which would make many destitute and first of all women and children, and they have put down amendments to change or delete the worst clauses. They are discussing these in Grand Committee, starting today. One amendment is to leave out Clause 7, which would abolish Income Support. See briefing on the amendments.
Kim Sparrow
EDM 1609 INCOME SUPPORT 08.06.2009 McDonnell, John
That this House condemns the proposed abolition of income support which is a crucial lifeline against destitution and poverty for parents, carers, those they care for and other vulnerable people; further condemns the requirement contained in the Welfare Reform Bill that claimants with children over seven years old must find a job or work for their benefits for £1.73 an hour if they are unsuccessful in finding work after two years; notes that unemployment has risen to over two million and that many parents cannot access affordable childcare in their area; deplores this erosion of the principles of the welfare state and the minimum wage, and regrets the hardship that many families will now face; and calls on the Government to maintain income support in recognition of society's collective responsibility for childrearing and the important work of carers and parents for society.
PLEASE PASS ON.
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Welfare Reform and Home Education
Campaigners in London have been exposing and protesting against the government's shameful pushing through of their 'welfare reform bill'- otherwise known as their welfare ABOLITION bill. please see www.lcap.org.uk for more info (london coalition against poverty).The government has been wanting to push through these changes for a long time, and is using the excuse of the economic crises as a cover. The bill will adversely affect those in the most vulnerable groups, and those on benefit eg. single parents on income support, are being scapegoated for cash grabbing, all the while that the government is bailing out the greedy bankers and politicians are claiming tax payers money for moat-cleaning!
The bill will mean eg. single mothers on income support will be forced back to work when their child is still very young.
I’ve been wondering what this bill will mean to those of us home educating/planning to.
Thankfully this issue has not gone unnoticed, and the home ed charity ‘Education Otherwise’ (www.education-otherwise.org) have been looking into this issue also and are lobbying parliament etc. Please see the website below for more info on what this bill will mean for home education in the future: http://www.freedomforchildrentogrow.org/welfarereform.htm
It is really important that we all inform ourselves and keep up-to-date on issues relating to the freedom and autonomy of educating our children, otherwise legislation will be against us before we know it. Even if we have chosen to send our children to school or do not have kids at all, we still must recognize that this is a CHOICE, and Home Ed is legal (despite what some may think), and respect other parents’ decisions to provide independent education for their kids outside out the mainstream system. Obviously the 'choice' to home educate is made more difficult for those with less money, less support, less time etc. But everyone who wants to home educate should be facilitated to do so, and it is discriminatory not to support this. However, the implementation of the Welfare Reform Bill will do exactly that- not only discriminate against the less privileged in this society, but force upon them a system of education that they do not agree with, and will make it even more difficult for them to home educate their kids.
We must also dispel the common myth that Home Educating means keeping your kids at home with no friends for company! There are many Home Ed community groups, so kids have continuous 'class' mates, and an amazingly varied and rich education. It can be really empowering and an educational experience for the parents too, by being involved in their children's 'curriculum'. Children can also opt to take GCSEs, A-Levels, and progress to University if they wish. There are many support groups out there, and even a Home Ed Camp once a year in the UK, to get together and have fun with other like-minded people from all across the UK (see http://www.home-education.org.uk/ and (http://www.hesfes.co.uk/).
And finally.... a brief thought for those who accuse single parents on income support of being daytime-telly-watching money grabbers: if those of us on income support all home educate, just imagine all the money we are saving the government on school fees! Surely then, it is THEM who should be paying US for home educating? Home Educators would like a 30grand salary too cheers!
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Children and Parents in Feminist Activism
“We expect to struggle against the world; we don't expect to struggle in our own community.” Radical Anarchist Mom and Baby League
In this vast metropolis that is London, it is sometimes hard to feel a sense of community. Caught up in the rat race that is survival in this city, we can sometimes feel isolated from our near neighbours and may not feel a sense of belonging to the area in which we live.
Fortunately there is a strong feminist community in London. We share some common values, we struggle together, we socialise together, we look out for each other, we care for each other and it is a community that I feel privileged to be part of.
However as a mother of young children I’ve got to say that I do feel that just like I struggle in the wider community, I also struggle in this community of ours.
I don’t know how many times I’ve raised the issue of childcare when we organise, I don’t know how many emails I’ve sent asking whether there will be childcare available or whether children are welcome at certain meetings and events, I don’t know how many meetings or actions I’ve just not gone to because I feel that I cant bring my children, I don’t know how many workshops I’ve walked out of coz my children start getting loud and I can see that it’s just not appreciated. But the thing I notice most is that, unlike most other communities, within the feminist community there just aren’t many children around.
Maybe it’s just I’m going to the wrong meetings, but I don’t think so because I speak to other mothers and they seem to feel the same way too.
We want to spread this movement of ours yet we don’t make our activism accessible to parents. Many of the women in this country are mothers yet we don’t provide childcare at our meetings. Is feminism for everyone or just for a small clique of childless women?
We rally en masse for abortions rights (rightly so!) but where are the rallies to protest against single-parents being forced back to work, for better childcare for working parents, for better maternity services, for recognition of the unpaid work parents do raising children and what exactly are we doing in our activism to facilitate parents attending?
Sometimes I feel like we’ve fallen for the idea that mothers should be home, tied to the kitchen sink, cooking and changing nappies, voiceless and uncomplaining and that children should be seen and not heard. I suppose it’s so ingrained in all of us that there is a time and place for children that meetings aren’t seen as one of those times or places. I think like that too sometimes, but its ageist against children and sexist against mothers and we all need to address and confront it within ourselves and as a group. Maybe a meeting isn’t the most suitable place for young children but if parents are going to be there we need to accept that children will be too and sort out ways to deal with it.
Everyday as mothers we challenge patriarchy; a system, society and culture that sees us as just women with children, needing and worthy of little space besides the home, school and playground. We’re not welcome in the workplace, in education, on public transport, in the pub, yet we still go there. Capitalism places no value on our work, but we know the true value of what we do, and as such we see the fallacy of capitalism, we feel its injustice in our bones. Even though its difficult we leave our homes to work, we educate ourselves, we realise the value of the work we do raising children and we celebrate it, thus challenging false notions of true fulfilment through career, we find ways to support each other, we find solidarity through motherhood, we know in a very real way the strength of women and we know true exhaustion yet keep on going. Many of us became feminists at the same time as we became mothers, because it was then that we truly collided with patriarchy. Feminist parenting is a truly political, radical and effective form of direct action and is an everyday form of feminist activism.
That’s why I find it so weird that feminism in London does not seem to be welcoming parents with children or addressing our needs or campaigning for our wants. Parents are political, passionate, caring, strong, organised people, used to working for free and dealing with frustration, we are an asset to any movement.
Mainstream feminism like mainstream society and culture is (I think) hierarchical, with value, respect and power being given to those who are the most “active”, the most educated, with the best jobs, the loudest voices, the most money, and unfortunately mothers are near the bottom of this hierarchy. Sexism isn’t just something that exists out there in the big bad world; it also exists in each one of us. It isn’t our fault but it is something we must accept and try to unlearn and dealing with sexism in activism in this context means recognising the value and needs of parents and children.
We also need to think about children and the benefits they gain from being involved with feminism and what we gain from them being involved. Personally I am so glad that my children know feminism and feminists. It’s all very well me talking to them about gender roles, stereotypes and sexism but for them to actually see feminism in action, positive female role models and alternative ways of working and being together privileges them and reaches them on a much deeper level. I want my children to understand feminism on a day-to-day level, so that for them it is the norm.
Feminism has so much to gain from children being involved. Children can bring creativity, imagination and freshness to activism and a definite impetus to dissent, protest and organise against the status quo. Why are we feminists if not for future generations! At the end of the day if we really want to end the cycle of sexism and sexist oppression then socialising our children in a non-sexist way, as well as educating them about feminism and showing them how it can work is the only way.
Butterflea 2009
Copyleft (original article published in Raise Some Hell - A Feminist Childrearing Zine for Everyone)
In this vast metropolis that is London, it is sometimes hard to feel a sense of community. Caught up in the rat race that is survival in this city, we can sometimes feel isolated from our near neighbours and may not feel a sense of belonging to the area in which we live.
Fortunately there is a strong feminist community in London. We share some common values, we struggle together, we socialise together, we look out for each other, we care for each other and it is a community that I feel privileged to be part of.
However as a mother of young children I’ve got to say that I do feel that just like I struggle in the wider community, I also struggle in this community of ours.
I don’t know how many times I’ve raised the issue of childcare when we organise, I don’t know how many emails I’ve sent asking whether there will be childcare available or whether children are welcome at certain meetings and events, I don’t know how many meetings or actions I’ve just not gone to because I feel that I cant bring my children, I don’t know how many workshops I’ve walked out of coz my children start getting loud and I can see that it’s just not appreciated. But the thing I notice most is that, unlike most other communities, within the feminist community there just aren’t many children around.
Maybe it’s just I’m going to the wrong meetings, but I don’t think so because I speak to other mothers and they seem to feel the same way too.
We want to spread this movement of ours yet we don’t make our activism accessible to parents. Many of the women in this country are mothers yet we don’t provide childcare at our meetings. Is feminism for everyone or just for a small clique of childless women?
We rally en masse for abortions rights (rightly so!) but where are the rallies to protest against single-parents being forced back to work, for better childcare for working parents, for better maternity services, for recognition of the unpaid work parents do raising children and what exactly are we doing in our activism to facilitate parents attending?
Sometimes I feel like we’ve fallen for the idea that mothers should be home, tied to the kitchen sink, cooking and changing nappies, voiceless and uncomplaining and that children should be seen and not heard. I suppose it’s so ingrained in all of us that there is a time and place for children that meetings aren’t seen as one of those times or places. I think like that too sometimes, but its ageist against children and sexist against mothers and we all need to address and confront it within ourselves and as a group. Maybe a meeting isn’t the most suitable place for young children but if parents are going to be there we need to accept that children will be too and sort out ways to deal with it.
Everyday as mothers we challenge patriarchy; a system, society and culture that sees us as just women with children, needing and worthy of little space besides the home, school and playground. We’re not welcome in the workplace, in education, on public transport, in the pub, yet we still go there. Capitalism places no value on our work, but we know the true value of what we do, and as such we see the fallacy of capitalism, we feel its injustice in our bones. Even though its difficult we leave our homes to work, we educate ourselves, we realise the value of the work we do raising children and we celebrate it, thus challenging false notions of true fulfilment through career, we find ways to support each other, we find solidarity through motherhood, we know in a very real way the strength of women and we know true exhaustion yet keep on going. Many of us became feminists at the same time as we became mothers, because it was then that we truly collided with patriarchy. Feminist parenting is a truly political, radical and effective form of direct action and is an everyday form of feminist activism.
That’s why I find it so weird that feminism in London does not seem to be welcoming parents with children or addressing our needs or campaigning for our wants. Parents are political, passionate, caring, strong, organised people, used to working for free and dealing with frustration, we are an asset to any movement.
Mainstream feminism like mainstream society and culture is (I think) hierarchical, with value, respect and power being given to those who are the most “active”, the most educated, with the best jobs, the loudest voices, the most money, and unfortunately mothers are near the bottom of this hierarchy. Sexism isn’t just something that exists out there in the big bad world; it also exists in each one of us. It isn’t our fault but it is something we must accept and try to unlearn and dealing with sexism in activism in this context means recognising the value and needs of parents and children.
We also need to think about children and the benefits they gain from being involved with feminism and what we gain from them being involved. Personally I am so glad that my children know feminism and feminists. It’s all very well me talking to them about gender roles, stereotypes and sexism but for them to actually see feminism in action, positive female role models and alternative ways of working and being together privileges them and reaches them on a much deeper level. I want my children to understand feminism on a day-to-day level, so that for them it is the norm.
Feminism has so much to gain from children being involved. Children can bring creativity, imagination and freshness to activism and a definite impetus to dissent, protest and organise against the status quo. Why are we feminists if not for future generations! At the end of the day if we really want to end the cycle of sexism and sexist oppression then socialising our children in a non-sexist way, as well as educating them about feminism and showing them how it can work is the only way.
Butterflea 2009
Copyleft (original article published in Raise Some Hell - A Feminist Childrearing Zine for Everyone)
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Welfare Reform (Abolition) Bill
On Monday (March 9 2009) members of the CRAP! Collective and our children joined a group of activists to protest against the Welfare Reform Bill which will have its third reading on March 17.
In what was a creative, fun action, we along with over twenty activists (dressed as bankers and fatcats) stormed the Department of Work and Pensions' Adelphi House and occupied the lobby for over two hours.
It was a really fun action, with shouting, singing, painted faces and wicked props (massive pound coins and bowler hats) and the children (and adults) had a great time. The police maintained a hand-off presence (perhaps because of the children), although at the end forcibly removed two protesters.
This action marked the begining of a week of action called by London Coalition Against Poverty (LCAP), Feminist Fightback and the Disabled Peoples Direct Action Network to protest against the welfare reform bill, whose Green Paper was drafted by staff at Adelphi House.
The Welfare Reform Bill is an attack on all benefit claimants, but particularly disabled people and single parents.Single parents will no longer be entitled to income support and instead be transfered to Jobseekers Allowance, whereby the parent must look for work or else lose their benefit. Mothers will also be forced to register fathers name on their childrens birth certificate, even in cases of domestic violence. Non-compliance will result in benefit being suspended for 26 weeks.
We will be further analysing the bill (its massive), and its particlar relevance to parents and carers.
There will be further actions around this bill, check www.lcap.org.uk for updates. There is also a full break down of the bill there.
In what was a creative, fun action, we along with over twenty activists (dressed as bankers and fatcats) stormed the Department of Work and Pensions' Adelphi House and occupied the lobby for over two hours.
It was a really fun action, with shouting, singing, painted faces and wicked props (massive pound coins and bowler hats) and the children (and adults) had a great time. The police maintained a hand-off presence (perhaps because of the children), although at the end forcibly removed two protesters.
This action marked the begining of a week of action called by London Coalition Against Poverty (LCAP), Feminist Fightback and the Disabled Peoples Direct Action Network to protest against the welfare reform bill, whose Green Paper was drafted by staff at Adelphi House.
The Welfare Reform Bill is an attack on all benefit claimants, but particularly disabled people and single parents.Single parents will no longer be entitled to income support and instead be transfered to Jobseekers Allowance, whereby the parent must look for work or else lose their benefit. Mothers will also be forced to register fathers name on their childrens birth certificate, even in cases of domestic violence. Non-compliance will result in benefit being suspended for 26 weeks.
We will be further analysing the bill (its massive), and its particlar relevance to parents and carers.
There will be further actions around this bill, check www.lcap.org.uk for updates. There is also a full break down of the bill there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)