[Smashpatriarchy] SJC Funding Denied [IMPORTANT] please read

Thu Jan 31 09:02:27 PST 2013

Hi Aylon and all,

Aylon thanks for your thoughts on SJC's reply. I did reply to SJC and thank them as well for their considerate and thoughtful reasoning behind the funding request denial. Please see attached for the official funding application form I sent them. Hope this will give a more complete context in the entire exchange. 

Darren

Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:54:55 +0000
Subject: Re: [Smashpatriarchy] SJC Funding Denied [IMPORTANT] please read
From: aylon.c at gmail.com
To: christopher.leinonen at gmail.com
CC: darren.chang at live.com; smashpatriarchy at lists.resist.ca

Hi all,

I understand that I'm no longer in Vancouver, but I still fee aligned with this group and given that I won't be at a meeting in the near future I just wanted to express my response to the denial of funding. Their response is very considerate and thoughtful, and I have no problem with them wanting to use their resources how they wish, but their response left me a bit uneasy. I agree that oppressed groups are not expected to devote time to education, but i'm uncomfortable with the way this discourse is being used here. My understanding is that the event was to get individuals who want to do this. I don't believe SAP is coercing marginalized groups to educate other - so i'm confused with the reasoning. More importantly, I feel very alienated by their response and understanding of allyship. I do not agree with the way they figure allyship when they say that events such as these should not be done by those "still" in the process of allyship. This suggests that we can somehow leave the process. One never becomes an ally - no amount of training can do so - but is always in the process of becoming. While training is always important, it appears to me that they almost understand it that once one has had sufficient training, and is no longer still in the process of allyship, then it becomes legitimate to do solidarity work - but they also emphasizing the impossibility of ever being an ally (given it's shifting defintion), and so the question arises: how can one ever do solidarity work; what does solidarity even mean in the context of their reasons?

A message like this makes me feel uneasy and lost - I do not know how one can do solidarity work if opportunities for accountability are disavowed from the start, i don't know how to do solidarity work if one is expected to have received enough training in order to become an ally, i don't know how to do solidarity work if the notion that solidarity is always shifting and in flux means that one can never do solidarity - as if we have to wait for a final never-to-come idea of solidarity. Their discourse here is important, but i feel is should be articulated as a sign of danger, rather than as a negation - and perhaps it is due to the format of denying funding that it comes off as such. I feel that the risk of homogenization, boundary crossing, and general problematic displays of solidarity are always a risk - but they are just that, risks - risks should make us cautious, make us open to possibility of accountability - they should not paralyze us. Why is it that I feel paralyzed for their reasons?

Aylon. 

P.S. I don't know/remember what the exact wording of the the request was, so their language may be appropriate given the context. My response does not really have an in-depth context here, and so i'm just going off on their response as a general analysis of solidarity and allyship. 

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 1:53 AM, Christopher Leinonen <christopher.leinonen at gmail.com> wrote:

These are all important points, look forward to talking about them in person.And kinda interesting re: the issues of differing ideas of allyship, since a lot of people seemed pretty into the idea of us doing the dirty work of setting up an event that gives a voice to women.  Though I guess the theme is maybe a bit of an issue on that front.

 I'd say contacting Anisa is definitely a good idea, too. -C

On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 5:26 PM, Darren Chang <darren.chang at live.com> wrote:

Hi all,

Mav I think it would be great for you to contact Anisa and Reg I agree we should discuss the SJC reply first. So Mav perhaps contact her after our meeting on Sunday?

Darren

Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:26:37 -0800
Subject: Re: [Smashpatriarchy] SJC Funding Denied [IMPORTANT] please read
From: regjohanson at gmail.com
To: mavaddat.javid at gmail.com

CC: darren.chang at live.com; smashpatriarchy at lists.resist.ca

maybe we should have a meeting to discuss this response first? this sunday?

On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 1:33 PM, Mavaddat Javid <mavaddat.javid at gmail.com> wrote:

That seems like a considerate response from the SJC representative. Perhaps we should contact Anisa. I know her personally and I believe she would be pretty enthusiastic about helping us. What do you think?

On Jan 30, 2013 1:19 PM, "Darren Chang" <darren.chang at live.com> wrote:

UBC SJC funding denied, please see below for info.

Darren

Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:54:00 -0800
Subject: Re: Funding Application - Solidarity Against Patriarchy
From: socialjusticecentre.ubc at gmail.com

To: darren.chang at live.com

Hi Darren,

Thank you for submitting your funding application. 
Unfortunately, we will not be funding this event due to a 
number of concerns raised by our members. The SJC operates on consensus 
and as such, we cannot approve funding proposals that are not passed 
unanimously during our meetings.
Although we do feel the proposed event can become a valuable 
opportunity for individuals in the process of becoming allies, there are
 a couple of things that were concerning for us. We wanted to take some 
time to highlight these for you as we feel it is part of the learning 
and growing process for allies. First, it should be noted that it is 
problematic when members of an oppressed group, any oppressed group, are
 expected to devote time and resources to educating growing allies on 
their roles and how they can become better allies. This is not to say 
that there aren't groups willing to do so, but that in most cases, it is
 problematic for allies to be asking for members of the oppressed groups
 to provide for their education, due to the power dynamics at play. If 
such an event is to take place it should be done under the leadership 
and direction of those who are female-identified, not by those who are 
still in the process of allyship.

Second, the title of "ally" is one that is 
constantly shifting and changing. It is a role that is always being 
learned and one that cannot be self-bestowed.  Furthermore, not all 
female-identified individuals' ideas of allyship are the same and so it 
is important to constantly recognize the role as one that is never 
complete and always growing.  One female-identified person's idea of 
allyship in a gendered context may be contradictory to another 
female-identified person's idea of allyship.  The speakers and 
organizers at this event will have the most power in shaping the 
definition of being an ally against gender oppression, but this may 
serve to homogenize 'woman's experience' and allyship roles.

There are several organizations in Vancouver which offer allyship 
training.  One of which is the Sexual Assualt Support Centre at UBC.  
Anisa is the manager and can be contacted at sasc at ams.ubc.ca.

Thanks!
Nai & Jannel

On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 4:17 PM, Darren Chang <darren.chang at live.com> wrote:

Greetings,

Please find attached the funding application for Solidarity Against Patriarchy.

Regards,
Darren

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