MOXIE Minutes
Thursday October 4, 2007
6pm to 7:15pm
General:
Conference room may become permanent meeting space (the one across from the Lang Cafe.)
EVENTS:
The Vagina Monologues Production: (written by Eve Ensler)
Going into third year of production at NSU; student run.
Starting earlier this year
It’s a global movement and fundraiser for stopping violence against women. Helps to empower women
Raises money for organization of our choice. Last year the organization was Safer.
First meeting for V-day and The Vagina Monologues was October 4th. Working on publicity of it and organizational things. Casting and auditions probably in december.
Fundraising should begin now, before vagina monologues, so we can give more money to organizations that help women.
Moxie can get a table at V-day event.
Next V-day Organization meeting is October 19th at 3pm 55 W 13th St
For more information check out http://www.vday.org/main.html
There will be a “teach in” with SAFER (students active for ending rape)–will be looking into policies on sexual assault on campus. Takes place over few hours. http://www.safercampus.org/
Email Alisa McGee if any questions. McGeeA@newschool.edu
At Moxie table what would we have?
Suggestions:
Sell chocolate vaginas for a month or so beforehand–people would like it and it would publicize the production. Would complement Moxie masturbation month (also in February)
How involved do we want Moxie to be in V-day event????
*We can organize a trip to see the performance or we can help put it together, raise money for it, join cast,
*Depending on how involved we are, Moxie can be on the VM flyer.
Possibility of getting EVE ENSLER herself to speak at event.
Her speech fee is thousands of dollars–we would need a lot of fundraising to make that happen.
Fundraising Ideas:
*Movie screenings however, cannot make money on movie itself but on food. But people might be pissed we’re charging for food because they can typically get it for free. There’s also a large availability of things like pizza, might not bother buying it at event.
*Sell chocolate vaginas
*Moxie members can walk around with a box and sell lollipops or something. We can sell anything prepackaged but we just can’t make it ourselves.
*Sell food at regular events as well. Target specific kinds of things to sell with types of lectures and whatnot.
*Sell VM book and DVD
*Official VM shirt? Pins? Sell them as well.
There is a separate committee for fundraising VM however, we can feed ideas into them.
Richenda is going to email about a table at the event and getting Moxie involved. Make sure there’s staff at all the times.
Advertising VM–post flyers in cafes and elsewhere, try to get outside people to come in. Also a good way to fundraise.
Advertise Moxie itself more at the event as well. Direct people to Moxie’s blog. http://moxierocks.wordpress.com/
What is the The Vagina Monologues?
It started out as one woman show.
Vaginas are internal, not seen, repressed, people don’t want to talk about female sexuality. People don’t want to talk about or say “vagina”. It’s a way to get people for people to talk about it and have a discussion.
Different tones of monologues–can be sad, tragic, comical. A different monologue for a woman every year–last year’s was based on the rape and brutalization of a woman.
Discussion Questions:
How do you percieve construction workers?
*Reminds you how you’re subordinate.
*It’s sometimes too late to respond so don’t bother
*Some women starting to take it as compliment to be cat-called/etc
*Is a stare better than a vulgar comment??
Just as bad, objectified nevertheless.
*If you don‘t know what they’re saying is it worse or better?
*Do they like it better when you’re rude back?
Being a smart-ass probably won’t change anything/may just encourage them. Can get self in trouble by verbally talking back.
*Sometimes funny but still creepy, i.e. “your vagina must be warm!”
*Man In White!! Is he a pimp? Always by 6th ave by pet shop in all pure white. He will ask for sexual favors. How do you respond???
*Inform people of different kinds of mace, hand it out. However, some states have outlawed it. If you use it, person can sue you for macing him.
*Be careful of generalizations and ethnocentrism regarding circumcision of women–it’s a “cultural thing.” However, there is debate over this.
Perhaps coordinate self defense workshop with SAFER? Get Erica in contact with Alisa concerning this.
