About the guidelines
Feminist Culture House works towards making all of the spaces we initiate and work in as safe as possible for everyone involved. We are responsible for the events we organise, and individuals joining should take responsibility by reading these guidelines and actively following them.
We understand safer spaces as sites of learning, which means that when problems arise or people make mistakes, we pause to acknowledge and mediate the situation collectively or in one-on-one conversations. However, if someone refuses to take note of their harmful words or actions and to change their behaviour to align with the guidelines, we will ask them to leave the event. Please note that we are also constantly learning, so we will for sure fail at times. Please point this out to us when it happens, or call us in later. We also hope that you will notify us if you have any comments or suggestions regarding these guidelines.
The FCH safer space guidelines
Everyone present should be treated equally and respectfully, with kindness and compassion.
All forms of violence and harassment are prohibited. Do not touch people or take photos of them without consent.
FCH is strictly against all forms of discrimination, such as racism, cis-sexism, classisim, ableism, homophobia, ethnic segregation, body shaming, ageism. We will do our best to point out & stop all discriminatory comments and acts, and wish for everyone present to join us in caring for the shared space in this way.
Don’t assume that you can tell a person’s gender, sexual orientation, life situation, identity, health status, background etc. without them telling you. Respect peoples’ wishes to disclose or not disclose information about themselves.
Respect others’ boundaries.
Let’s check and take note of our privileges.
Let’s try to be conscious of the space we take, and the positions from which we speak. Let’s give everyone the chance to express themselves, and respect the words people tell us to refer to them with.
Let’s welcome criticism and analyse our behaviour when being called in/out on harmful comments or acts, mistakes, miscommunications and misunderstandings. Unlearning harmful ways of thinking is a lifelong project that we all have to undertake. Let’s stay with the discomfort this sometimes brings as it is the way forward.
Let’s apologise and do better next time.
Let’s acknowledge that aiming for a feminist future means working on structural changes—knocking down systems instead of individuals. However, this work is often emotional and requires tapping into personal resources and experiences. Let’s work together to recognise the systems and structures that need changing, and listen and respect each other in the process.
Let’s take breaks, breath, and have a drink of water. If you encounter harassment, discrimination, or other problematic/unpleasant situations, you can either inform the facilitator, the safety person, or your representative from the Feminist Culture House. You can do this during the event or after, whichever feels more comfortable for you info@feministculturehouse.org