question.

[delux_vivens]

So what can be done to make so called 'progressive' spaces safer for women of color?

Comments

[i_dreamed_i_was]

Have them run by WOC

and

Have their membership be majority-WOC

IMO? That's it.

[epilady]

Whatchoo said.

[i_dreamed_i_was]

I guess I was thinking safer, as opposed to "safe," but yeah.

[nieceytee]

1. Only allow WOC.
2. Pillory and pitchfork non WOC.
3. ?????
4. Profit! (a.k.a. safe progressive spaces for WOC)

[nieceytee]

I am here to protect and serve.

THIRDED

[akowe]

this is pretty much what i was thinking.

it's unfortunate, but i think it's time for S&R to be for WOC only.

however, if there are approved non WOC allies then maybe they should use a specific icon when they post so we know who they are? i always assume people here are POC until proven otherwise and its a bit jarring to discover they are YT later.

[holzman]

I've mentioned Be Present and the Be Present Empowerment Model before. Many women of color of my acquaintance who are involved in it seem to think they do a good job.

[dottieneurotic]

It's harder than that. As long as there are cisgendered women, it won't necessarily be a safe space for transwomen. As long as there are straight women, it won't necessarily be a safe space for queer women. As long as there are women who benefit from class privilege, it won't be safe for those who don't. Or able-bodied women and those who are disabled.

All that can be done is for those of us who are privileged in particular ways should be mindful of that and try our hardest to not get defensive or argumentative or whiny or evasive when called out on it. Just because we're dealing with the effects of colonialism doesn't mean we haven't internalized those effects, or that we're not using those learned behaviors on each other.

[unscrambled]

I'm on the own your sh*t train as well. When you fck up, admit it, research, reflect, learn, come back, authentically make amends within community. Accountability is the only way we transform the violence that oppresses us in whatever way.

[papertigers]

so much this.

[princessrugger]

yes. lots of yes.

(newly added white female)

[indyselsa]

Perhaps mandate that people us a self-portrait icon? Eliminate all confusion before you even begin to read replies, and automatically ban anyone caught lying.

Re: (newly added white female)

[i_dreamed_i_was]

I... I feel like you are missing the point, but maybe *I'm* wrong. Using a self-portrait icon wouldn't "eliminate all confusion" and... just...

Re: (newly added white female)

[epilady]

yep.

Re: (newly added white female)

[indyselsa]

I'm new here, and I guess I did miss the point. My fault. I didn't mean to suggest a cure all to suddenly make a space safe, just a way to at least let members to know the demographics of who was making comments or posts. It's too easy to lie for it to be helpful, I guess, and just knowing who's saying something doesn't change a thing if someone spouts nonsense.

Honestly, from the little bit I've picked up in the past couple of days it sounds like this may really NEED to be a POC only zone. I was thrilled when karnythia posted in her journal that this Com was opening the doors temporarily, but just because it's a cool place doesn't mean I deserve to have a seat. If having non-POC takes away the feeling of safe-space for the people this community was created FOR (and it sounds like it's been abused enough that it justifiably DOES) then non-POC probably shouldn't be allowed to stay.

(edited to fix html)