#FiLiA2022: Collective Shout in Wales
In October, Movement Director Melinda Tankard Reist and Campaigns Manager Caitlin Roper represented Collective Shout at FiLiA - the largest annual feminist conference in Europe.
As FiLiA spokeswoman Raquel Rosario Sánchez explained, “FiLiA means daughter. Because we are daughters of the women who came before, and we fight so that our daughters will be free.”
This year’s conference was held in Cardiff, Wales, with more than 1700 women in attendance. Together, MTR and Caitlin presented six times.
MTR was on a panel entitled Organising Against Pornography. Caitlin participated in a panel on paedocriminality – sexual crimes against children. Together, they ran a session on Organising Campaigns, showcasing various Collective Shout campaigns and victories.
They also launched their new books – He Chose Porn Over Me and Sex Dolls, Robots and Woman Hating, published by Spinifex Press – both of which sold out on the first day!
Caitlin was also invited to speak at the closing session, where she spoke about our work and what can be accomplished when people speak out.
We were excited to learn just how much support Collective Shout has globally. Our sessions were booked out, with waiting lists to get in. On one occasion, when we introduced ourselves as being from Collective Shout, the whole room erupted into applause! We were also heartened to learn of the support for our work from young women in particular, who have first-hand experience of the harms of porn culture.
If prostitution and objectification are seen as 'empowering' then the word has lost all meaning - Caitlin Roper #FiLiA2022
— ho-ho-ho-menopausal 🌲🎁 (@womenopausal1) October 24, 2022
“When women are seen as objects, as things, as existing for men’s sexual pleasure, it is easy to justify male violence against us.” @caitlin_roper of Collective Shout on the dangers of female objectification. #FiLiA2022
— Sister Outrider is editing (@ClaireShrugged) October 24, 2022
Sexist advertising withdrawn, sex replica dolls pulled, etc becuae Collective Shout campaigned. You can do this too. You might think your voice does not have much power, I promise you it does.#FiLiA2022 #filia22
— RadFem Collective (@RadFemCollectiv) October 24, 2022
“These victories were only achieved because women spoke out and would not accept the status quo.” @caitlin_roper on corporations withdrawing sex dolls modelled on the bodies of female children, toddlers, and babies due to feminist pushback. #FiLiA2022
— Sister Outrider is editing (@ClaireShrugged) October 24, 2022
So inspiring! Follow @CollectiveShout and implement similar campaigns in your countries. contact @MelTankardReist and @caitlin_roper to assist you #FiLiA2022
— manu schon (@manuelaschon) October 23, 2022
Watching @caitlinroper and Melinda Tankard Reist discuss the campaigning of Collective Shout #FiLiA2022 pic.twitter.com/jkKmn6w1mv
— Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) October 23, 2022
So happy to finally meet the brilliant women from @CollectiveShout Melinda Tankard-Reist speaking about the origins #filia2022 @MelTankardReist pic.twitter.com/TCoOqBFyAO
— manu schon (@manuelaschon) October 23, 2022
It was a great opportunity to connect with women challenging male violence and abuse of women and girls globally, and to make plans to collaborate on major campaigns against sexual exploitation industries.
Look out for recordings of our sessions (and plenty more) on FiLiA’s YouTube channel.
See also:
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