Feminist Archive North

Saturday 19 October, 2.30pm, Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street Manchester. Free.

What was Rock Against Sexism? When did it start? How long did it last? Who was involved? What was it up against? What did it achieve?

Writer and cultural commentator Lucy Whitman, a co-founder of Rock Against Sexism, will give an illustrated history of the movement, setting it in the context of the feverish cultural and political climate of the late 1970s.

Long, long ago, in 1977, Lucy Whitman called herself Lucy Toothpaste and created a feminist, anti-racist, anti-fascist fanzine, JOLT. She joined Rock Against Racism (RAR) and wrote extensively for the RAR magazine, Temporary Hoarding, and then helped to found Rock Against Sexism (RAS), writing for and co-editing the RAS magazine, Drastic Measures. Lucy went on to write regularly for pioneering feminist magazine Spare Rib.

Advanced booking is strongly suggested for this event, please email maryquaileclub@gmail.com

Some women are finding it difficult filling out the surrogacy questionnaire, as it has 118 questions and none of them give the option to say if you are against paid or commercial surrogacy. The organisation Nordic Model Now has produced a 10-minute guide to filling it in, which may help.
nordicmodelnow.org/2019/08/30/how-to-respond-to-the-uk-surrogacy-consultation-in-10-easy-minutes/

The cast and crew of a new play opening shortly at Leeds Playhouse visited the FAN office recently to look at feminist posters and other materials from the 1970s. There Are No Beginnings focuses on the lives and relationships of four women during the time of the Ripper, including how the Reclaim the Night movement started. It opens on 11 October, and Feminist Archive North will be leading a post-show discussion after the matinee performance on Thursday 31 October. More information and how to book tickets here.

Feminist campaigners, activists, artists, academics and revolutionaries will be descending on Bradford for this year’s Filia conference, which takes place on 19 and 20 October. The conference brings together sisters taking down patriarchy, fighting injustices across the world, fighting violence towards women, pay disparity, discrimination against refugees, racism, classism… and more.  With over 30 workshops, inspiring speakers and a fabulous Saturday night party, it’s an event that always energises the women who attend. More information and how to book tickets at filia.org.uk