ACTION vs THEORY

ACTION vs. THEORY

women's movement in the UK, first impressions

University of Hull has a large number of societies and anyone can join in. I picked up two. Japanese society and Women's committee (obviously). I did not know what to expect. At my home university in Czech Republic, we have no society dedicated to women's rights (if we have one, they have done a good job not being public all those 6 years I have spent there so far). Hull is a small city, maybe two times bigger than Olomouc. The universities are quite similar in the number of students, but the difference in the quality of student's societies (well, most of them) and activities is enormous.

Women's committe really tries to make a difference. The main topic of our last meeting was the women in the Hull University sport teams. I found out the men teams are often rude to the members of women sport teams and even make up derogatory songs about them. Men's attitude is very bad also during their social gatherings. According to some women from the women's teams, whom spoke at the meeting, the men tend to behave as if the women were lesser beings and during the confrontations men tend to be physical with women. When such events are reported to the authorities, nothing ever changes, because the leader of the men teams does not want to be the BAD GUY. Some women players tend to stick up with these men and as a result they turn their back on those, who don't like this violent and disrespectful behaviour.

I had mixed feelings when I came back from this meeting. If this is happening here, it must be happening at my home university as well. I study at philological faculty, which is far away from the faculty of sports. I have never heard of such problems at my uni before, but when I asked certain person about it, I got the answer: Yes, exactly the same thing is happening at Palacky University as well. Now, what should be done about it? To be continued ....

Conclusions, conclusions. Change is a very difficult matter. I have been lucky enough to meet many women in the UK (not only from Hull University), who act on the matter mentioned above, but who engage in fighting for women's rigts in general. I wish we had similar attitude in Czech and Slovak Republic as well (outside Prague and Bratislava, maybe). I hope I can bring this UK attitude back with me, when I return to Czech Republic. Theory to Action.

Many Czechs and Slovaks still think feminism is for lesbians and ugly women. They think feminists hate men, they want to wear trousers all the time, never wear make up and are offended any time men tries to help them. NO. NO. NO. NO. A feminist is a woman, who loves and respects herself and who wants other women to love and respect themselves as well. A feminist wants men to love women and respect women.

BTW, one of the stupidest arguments is when men try to oppose: "So, you want equal rights, but a man can never hit a woman. But the men fight with men all the time." Well, I got news for you: If you like solving problems with men by the means of violence, there is something wrong with that as well. Think about it. No one has a right to beat another person. Your argument is invalid. (of course, I am aware many will disagree).

Now, some funny video I found today: