Our Philosophy
| The Famous Five: Emily Murphy, Irene Marryat Parlby, Nellie Mooney McClung, Louise Crummy McKinney, and Henrietta Muir Edwards |
Feminism is ... a mode of analysis, a method of approaching life and politics, a way of asking questions and searching for answers rather than a set of political conclusions about the oppression of women.
To be a feminist then is to be critical, to ask questions about how society functions, about how women live in society. Feminism is a process of questioning rather than a “dogma” or set of prescribed positions or answers.
By starting with women’s experience and analyzing how women live in society, it is clear that women are oppressed, socially and economically and that women’s subordination is institutionalized in our society, whether the institution is small (the family) or large (the government, the economy).
Feminism enables women to see how and why our everyday lives are affected and shaped by society’s ideologies and institutions.
To be a feminist requires identification with other women and acknowledgment that all of us, as women, are affected by women’s oppression. To work as feminists, therefore, is not to work for the benefit of some “poor downtrodden women” over there, but for ourselves. This does not mean we are all affected in the same way or that all women are
the same and have the same problems; in fact, it’s essential to be clear about the differences. It does mean suspending the distance between ourselves and other women and recognizing that our lives are on a continuum based in women’s oppression. Some of us are in a better, more privileged place than others but we are all on a continuum.
Feminism, being a feminist, pre-supposes that women’s oppression must end. It means a commitment to working in whatever ways we can for change.
We are inspired by the women we meet; to investigate, research, develop, speak out, inform, implement change, remember and celebrate all women and their challenges.
The Western Area Women's Coalition is proud to remember the programs and accomplishments in the name of "Women".
Accomplishments...
- Community Lunches Focusing on Nutrition or Documentary Films
- The "Step-Up Program" and "Step-Up for Seniors"; Stepping-Out and Stepping-Out with DALA
- Computer Basics
- Targeted Initiative for the Older Worker (TIOW) currently called "Age Advantage"
- Pensions Projects and Information Sessions
- Self Defence Courses for Women
- The "International Child Assault Prevention Program" (ICAP) in Annapolis County, Elementary Schools
- Served Tea for Breast Cancer Awareness
- The Purple Ribbon Campaign
- Information Sessions and Documentary Film... "The Hypersexuality of Girls"
- "Take Back the Night"
- Women in Business Programs
- Community Lunches Celebrating Individual Women e.g. Edith Cromwell, Theresa McNeil
- Women's History Month Tributes, Lunch with the Lt. Governor of Nova Scotia - Mayann Francis
- Workshops on Preserving Food
- "The Pensions Game" ..Introducing the "what and why" of pensions to High School Students
- Workshops on Legal Rights and "Divorce Kit" training sessions
- Housing Issues
- Women and Gambling
- Land Survey and Forestry Sessions for women
- Meet the Candidates Evenings
- Jane's Fund... Information Sessions..."Silent Witness"
- Peer support, empowerment and required referrals.
- Published "The Road Here": Stories from Senior Women in Rural Nova Scotia...edited & photographed by Rachel Brighton (out of print).
- Presented along with Digby & Area Theatre Society, "Travelling the Road" written by Hal Theriault; inspired by "The Road Here".
- Celebrated International Women's Day..."Sisters in Steel" a "hammer-in" of women who forge.
- Published "Senior Women on the Move": moving and living in Annapolis County. Specifically written for seniors.
- Soup Tasting sessions at area Food Banks which included 'new' foods, nutritional information and recipes using items received at the food bank.
- In the past accompanied women to meetings or court
- Collaborate and Partner with groups and agencies on any number of topics that affect women's lives including economics and business, housing, sexual violence, child sexual abuse, food insecurity, relationship violence
- Hosted election forums in Digby, Annapolis and King's Counties.
- Workshops in schools on Healthy Relationships, Sex and Sexuality, Critical Thinking, Pensions, Gender Roles, Hypersexuality
- Held events with the indigenous communities addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Healthy Relationships, Break the Chain Dance, Celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Sister Fair fundraisers
- Awarded 15 educational bursaries from the Frances Mills-Clements Bursary Fund
- Margaret Trudeau addressing Mental Health at Kings Theatre
- Event addressing Trauma-Informed approach, with Dr. Lori Haskell
- Senior Women/Women Moving Forward series
