"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat." - Rebecca West
How to have a conversation about Gender Equality
- Don't Overthink Microaggressions: No matter the setting of the conversation, prejudice is prejudice. Do not allow the audience to compare their experience of discrimination, harassment, or violence to those of others in an attempt to lessen the impact.
- Stop Sugar-Coating: It is almost impossible to have a productive conversation about an issue if the issue is never discussed outright and in earnest. Allow the space for participants to discuss events or their experience as it occurred to them and in their own words.
- Listen without a position: Hearing accounts of discrimination by others can evoke powerful emotion on any side of the issue. Rather than jumping up to defend or refute a statement, choose instead to listen until the speaker is finished and respond only if you can speak from your own experience.
- Be comfortable with being uncomfortable: While the goal of these conversations is not to tear down men, the audience should have the understanding that some women's issues will involve speaking directly to the actions of men. Allow men the opportunity to participate freely in these conversations with the understanding the content presented will not be diluted for comfort.
How to navigate a conversation about Abortion
- Meet people where they are: Don't make assumptions about someone's beliefs. Try to assess what big picture values inform their beliefs and then try to establish common ground. Talk through misinformation as best you can and provide resources where available.
- Strive to have conversation over debate: Your goal in these conversations should not be to change someone's beliefs. Encouraging compassion and understanding around the real life experiences of people who have abortions is the perfect place to start. Having these conversations is a great first step to creating a network of support of people in need of care.
- Stick to personal over anecdotal: The decision to end a pregnancy is a deeply personal and often complex individual experience. Do not allow the conversation to be muddied by unrelated stories, fictionalized scenarios, or third-hand accounts.
- Know the facts: Abortion has always been an issue deeply rooted in personal and/or religious belief. Wherever possible, refrain from defaulting to your personal beliefs or religious teachings as medical or socioeconomic fact.