Hello there!

This week we will be talkin’ bout “Queerness and Communism: Building a Genderless Society through Social Warfare with Normativity.”

Queerness and Communism asks “Can we develop Communism without the dismantling of gender? Can we afford an error like such? When forces of apartheid and dominion exist, can we possibly resist reversion into relations of capital?”

and can be found here:
http://theexpropriationist.org/2013/09/04/queerness-and-communism-building-a-genderless-society-through-social-warfare-with-normativity/

Don’t worry, it’s not too long – and even if you don’t get a chance to read it you’re still welcome to come along for some nosh and a natter.

To find out the location of the event and be kept in the loop, send us an email at ifwecantdance@gmail.com or look for us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ifwecantdance/

p.s. sorry for missing the post last week! was we discussed an essay entitled “Why Misogynists Make Great Informants: How Gender Violence on the Left Enables State Violence in Radical Movements”. It’s a great read and you can find it here:

http://inciteblog.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/why-misogynists-make-great-informants-how-gender-violence-on-the-left-enables-state-violence-in-radical-movements/

Coming up this week at ♥ If We Can’t Dance ♥:

THE POLITICS OF PENETRATION (2010, Chicago/Madison)
Trigger warning: personal experiences of sexual assault, incest, body-negativity and bad consent.

“A zine about the role of penetrative sex in society and social relationships … I widely circulated a vague call for submissions asking for ‘reflections based on your unique experience as a sexual being in a body, having been socialized to act in certain ways’. The result is a hodge-podge of theory, poetry, and anecdotes, coming from an awesomely wide array of sexualities, ages, genders, life experiences, and locations. However, most everyone seems to accept the premise that there IS something about these acts, the pleasures and pains of something being inside someone’s body, that has larger implications. Some authors reject the symbolism, some embrace it, and some call for change.” – from the inside cover.

Part 1 of the zine can be found here and part 2 here

To find out the location of the event and be kept in the loop, look for us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ifwecantdance/

For the 28th we will be reading about invisible hierarchies!

The materials;

The Tyranny of Structurelessness by Jo Freeman

Available at: http://www.libcom.org/library/tyranny-structurelessness-jo-freeman

and

The Tyranny of Tyranny by Cathy Levine

Available at: http://www.libcom.org/library/tyranny-of-tyranny-cathy-levine

Blurblurblurblurb for “The Tyranny of Structurelessness”, it’s a good one !:

Structurelessness is an illusory goddess — an affliction on the women’s liberation movement. Informal and formal structures always exist. Thus to reject organisation and structure out of principle “is to deny ourselves the necessary tools, to further development”. Instead, “we need to understand why ‘Structurelessness’ does not work” and work towards more diffuse, flexible, open and temporary structures. “Women should be building our movement the way we make love – gradually, with sustained involvement, limitless endurance – and of course, multiple orgasms.”

P.S.: to find out the location of the event, look for us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ifwecantdance/

Hey everybody, last week there was a very interesting talk about “The Scream”, the first chapter of John Holloway’s book Change the World Without Taking Power.

For the this weeks discussion group, the suggested reading is:

Insurrections at the Intersections: Feminism, Intersectionality and Anarchism by Abbey Volcano and J Rogue
Intersectionality is the study of the interactions between different systems of oppression and discrimination. So an exploration of the relationship between it, anarchism and feminism sounds super interesting. Check it out if you can!

Available at:

http://libcom.org/library/insurrections-intersections-feminism-intersectionality-anarchism

P.S.: to find out the location of the event, look for us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ifwecantdance/

What is a trigger?

A trigger is something that evokes a strong negative response in the viewer/reader. A trigger may cause an intense reaction such as a panic attack, flashback, or other symptoms associated with PTSD. It may invoke aspects of a person’s mental illness or it may cause great anguish to the person.

Some common triggers include: rape, sexual assault, abuse, suicide, eating disorders, slurs, shaming, alcohol and drug use, and racism.

What are trigger warnings?

A trigger warning (sometimes abbreviated to TW) is a short note before a blog post, picture, video, statement, or other content that warns readers/viewers/listeners about an aspect of the content (such as a graphic depiction or description) that may trigger them.

At the very least, it allows for people to assess their current mental state before continuing to engage with content that may negatively alter their well being.

Why do we use trigger warnings?

We value the mental health of others, and understand that sometimes these warnings are needed to continue to overcome, heal, and avoid content that would undo these first two things.

Trigger warnings are a tool that can be used in a group forum to create a safer and more inclusive space for everyone who participates in the discussions that take place there.

How do we use trigger warnings?

On online forums and in other forms of media (print, film, music, and so on), trigger warnings can be included at the beginning of the post/article/movie/etc

When you do warn about triggers, please be respectful, make sure you cover as many as you can think of, be clear, add extra emphasis if needed, and only warn about things that are triggers.”Douchebaggery”, “idiots”, “assholes”, “angry” are not triggers. To trigger warn about this undermines the system because it puts ‘being annoyed’ or ‘being mildly angry’ alongside ‘being greatly distressed or triggered’.

Sometimes, someone will forget to put up a trigger warning or may not realize that the content is triggering. If this happens, please let them or a moderator/facilitator know so that they can put on a warning immediately.

When we meet in real life it can be very difficult to negotiate triggers. While there are no fail-safe rules, there are some things we can do: cultivate an awareness and respect for others, be self-reflexive, think before we speak, and learn about potential triggers. Ideally event details should include relevant trigger warnings so that we can choose in advance whether we wish to be present.

Where can I find more resources on triggers and trigger warnings?

Here are some helpful links where you can learn more about creating your own trigger warnings, why they are important, and what content warrants them:

fuckyeahtriggerwarnings.tumblr.com

libcom.org/blog/trigger-warnings-why-we-use-them-15012012

queerdictionary.tumblr.com/post/3971857194/trigger-warning-content-warning

***

- Adapted from the document All About Trigger Warnings used by The Feminist Network (2013) -

Hi All!
Last week we talked a lot about Emma Goldman’s “What I Believe” and didn’t find the time to move onto John Holloway. So for the 14th we’ll be looking at “The Scream”!

John Holloway: ‘The Scream’ (Chapter 1 of Change the World Without Taking Power)
What draws us to social theory? Is theorising the world an empowering practice? Or is it instead an alienating endeavour that obstructs social change? What are the dangers of social theory, and where may its potential lie?  ‘The Scream’ examines these questions and seeks to locate the concrete roots from which the practice of social theory emerges. This makes it an interesting and valuable platform from which to start thinking about anarchism and why we are involved in this discussion group.

Available at http://libcom.org/library/change-world-without-taking-power-john-holloway

p.s. to find out the location of the event, look for us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ifwecantdance/

So this is exciting! Here are the proposed readings for our first discussion group!!

1) Emma Goldman: What I Believe
More than a century after it was first published in 1908, this short essay remains an accessible and engaging introduction to some of the key themes underlying anarchist thought.

Available at http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/anarchist_archives/goldman/whatibelieve.html

2) John Holloway: ‘The Scream’ (Chapter 1 of Change the World Without Taking Power)
What draws us to social theory? Is theorising the world an empowering practice? Or is it instead an alienating endeavour that obstructs social change? What are the dangers of social theory, and where may its potential lie?  ‘The Scream’ examines these questions and seeks to locate the concrete roots from which the practice of social theory emerges. This makes it an interesting and valuable platform from which to start thinking about anarchism and why we are involved in this discussion group.

Available at http://libcom.org/library/change-world-without-taking-power-john-holloway