Tag Archives: feminism

Nee tegen WRS! Sex work solidarity

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The Dutch government is trying to pass extremely repressive legislation against sex workers: the WRS (Wet Regulering Sekswerk) and the WGTS (Wet Gemeentelijk Toezicht Seksbedrijven).

For both of these laws the government is currently running online citizen consultations. Please take a bit of time to support sex workers by letting the government know that imposing intrusive and unjust regulations on them is a bad idea.

https://redinsight.org/articles/wrs-nee-damn-honey

In short:
The WRS would force all sex workers to request a license with their municipality and be registered in a central sex worker database.

Sex workers are already often discriminated against, being registered as a sex worker by the government only increases this risk, as well as creating the risk of data leaks.

Municipalities will be able to give or refuse licenses as they see fit, including the possibility of refusing to give out any at all, essentially criminalizing sex work.
This will not keep sex workers safe or stop people from doing sex work; it will just make sex workers more vulnerable, increase the risk of blackmail and exploitation, as well as lead to fines, evictions and deportations when working without a license.

Respond to the consultation about the WRS here, before 17/3: https://www.internetconsultatie.nl/wijzigingreguleringsekswerk/b1

 

OR follow the protocol at https://redinsight.org/articles/wrs-nee-damn-honey

 

We are open for queer people ever friday at our secret temporary location, feel free to join and get help if you also wanna sign the letter! there will be a laptop and explanation.
If you want to learn more about sex workers’ struggle for liberation, we recommend Revolting Prostitutes, which you can borrow from the Opstand library (next occasion: Friday 10/3, 6-9pm)

 

Reading together #2 Caliban and The Witch!

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[a text in light yellow and light violet on a dirty dark purple background with a dark woodcut image layerd on top, showing two presumable 'witches' around a cauldron. Text reads: reading together #2: Caliban and The Witch, a book by Silvia Federici, thursday August 5th 19.00. 'we'll discuss chapter 1'. Opstand, Beatrijstraat 12, Den Haag, OFFLINE EVENT: because of covid19 bring facemasks & if possible tell us if you wanna attend. ]Second reading club meeting of ‘Caliban and the Witch’! 
we discuss chapter 1!
if you dont or cant read it, feel free to still drop by and listen and engage!
When: August 5th, at 19:00
Where: at the Opstand (Beatrijsstraat 12, Den Haag).
There will be tea! cookies! And a cosy atmosphere!  We are looking forward to seeing you there!
You don’t need to have any prior experience with the topic to join the reading group, just willingness to discuss and learn from each other. If you are planning to join us, please send us a message to let us know that you are coming, so that we can account for the number of people attending because of higher covid19 cases. Bring your facemask please, otherwise we have some here in case you forgot yours!
What is “Caliban and The Witch” about?
“Caliban and the Witch” is a marxist-feminist classic that explores the transition from feudalism to capitalism, a transition that, Federici argues, could only be achieved through the brutal subjugation of women. Moving from medieval peasant revolts through the European witch hunts to the colonisation of America and the transatlantic slave trade, Federici shows that capitalism did not come into existence naturally: it was built on violence. She brings to light that women were often at the forefront of resistance against the new capitalist order, both in Europe and in the colonies, and that capitalism’s birth required the creation of a new kind of patriarchy.
Some of us have already read this book; it is mind blowing and extremely interesting, but also very dense and complex. That is why we want to read it together, to be able to understand it through conversations which each other, and perhaps also to critique it, to be able to formulate our own opinions. What is the connection between witch hunting and capitalism? Where do current patriarchal norms come from, and what purpose do they serve the capitalist powers? We will discuss these questions (and more) while reading this fascinating book.
If you don’t have the book yet, you can find it under  //libcom.org/library/caliban-witch-silvia-federici or under https://anarchivists.gitbooks.io/caliban/
Accessibility: The entrance of the Opstand is not wheelchair accessible, but there is a way when you go into the main entrance of the Samenscholing/Water en Brood. The door will be open. In doubt, just call for Max, they’ll come and assist if needed. There is also a suitable toilet.
Next tramstation is Anna Bijnslaan. Parking in the evening is only handy for bikes!
[a text in light yellow and light violet on a dirty dark purple background with a dark woodcut image layerd on top, showing two presumable ‘witches’ around a cauldron. Text reads: reading together #2: Caliban and The Witch, a book by Silvia Federici, thursday August 5th 19.00. ‘we’ll discuss chapter 1’. Opstand, Beatrijstraat 12, Den Haag, OFFLINE EVENT: because of covid19 bring facemasks & if possible tell us if you wanna attend. ]

QSU 21/08 – This week: Talking Round about Relationship Anarchy from a QueerFem Perspective

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a purple header. in the middle are light blue freckles as a background for a text saying: relationship anachy from a queerfem perspectove. below is a short disclaimer in lgiht pink about cis-hets participation only with limited access. on the right upper corner there is an relationshipanarchysymbold that is queered. (it is a heart with an A in it, and there are the arrows of the transfeminismsymbol on it)
This week: Talking Round about Relationship Anarchy from a QueerFem perspective! (English)
 
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Foreword: !COVID19 safety measurements and restriction have changed!
Inside a restaurant max. 6 people are allowed. We ain’t a restaurant but our place is quite small – We hope for no rain, thus we can sit outside with appropriate distance. Please take your own mondkapje for safety. (if you forgot or still decide to come, we have some at the bookstore as well). We’ll do our best to facilitate it as covid19 and machosafe as possible.
 
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible through the restaurant (there is also a suitable toilet). If you need anything special event- or locationrelated during or before or after the event, let us know.
Next Tramstation is Anna Bijnslaan. Adress is Beatrijsstraat 12! Parking is difficult but possible in the surroundings.
For Allergics: 2 cats live in De Samenscholing. Let us know is we can make it any better for you.
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This week we will talk about Relationship Anarchy.
 
What will it be about?
The content will be mainly related to a paper called ‘Thinking Relationship Anarchy from a Queer Feminist Approach’.
It is a text from 2018 by Roma De las Heras Gómez (you can find it under this link https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1360780418811965 or in this one ). She is a bi-lesbian feminist activist for non-conventional relationships and works on sex education and relationship anarchy.
 
The text is sociological research. We’re gonna make it more accessible in language. It is influenced by lesbian feminism and sexual theory.
 
Interesting to know: Relationship Anarchy is a philosophy of love but also a way of structuring affective bonds, breaking with norms and a political philosophy – we’ll go deeper into that last point on friday!
 
Which format will it take?
We will talk about the text, there will be a introduction and or small summary of it. We could also combine it with reading or findings of your own about this topic, so feel free to bring what you know and feel invited to read the text beforehand 🙂
 
 
 
!!! To our non queer participants !!!:
This session will be a discussion by and for queers – meaning that priority will be given to queer people. People who do not identify as queer and who wish to participate nevertheless can send an email beforehand (queerspreekuur@riseup.net). We will let you know by Friday 14.00 if the situation allows for your presence or not.
xoxo QSU