What we’re about
Calling all Tokyo feminists! Do you believe in the social, political, and economic equality of all genders? Do you dream of a gender equal world? Do you want to meet like-minded people, learn more about feminism in the past and in the now, and partake in discussions on feminist topics? Join us!
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This meetup is open to everyone who has an interest in feminism and related topics. We'll explore current issues in Japan and abroad, events and culture, politics and activism, philosophies and theory, and personal aspirations and agency. Let's pool our resources and share our perspectives to learn more about each other, our world, and ourselves from a feminist lens.
〈Ground Rules〉
We ask that everyone be open-minded and practice respectful communication (for instance, listening even when you disagree, and being able to "agree to disagree"). Given widespread socialization, we ask that men practice a personal 30-70 rule in discussions: listen 70% of the time and speak 30% of the time (you don't need to crunch the math ... rather, this is to raise awareness so that individuals take on this emotional burden that often falls onto the shoulders of others).
We want this to be a safe place to talk about feminism, where everyone's voices can be heard. That said, there is no pressure to share your thoughts, opinions, and ideas ... just the opportunity! Everyone, do not pressure others to speak during events. Listening is an underrated skill that we fully support.
Always ask and be sure to receive consent from all parties when taking photos. Do not post photos of people here on meetup or elsewhere (such as on SNS/social media) without their consent.
We don't tolerate any kind of harassment, discrimination, or solicitations. Those who do will be removed from the group on the first offence.
〈How Do We Define Feminism?〉
Here are our working definitions, which will change to reflect the dynamism of this group and feminist movement in Japan and abroad:
• Feminism is a movement for gender equality, where people are free from biased thinking based on gender roles, expectations, and stereotypes, where institutions don't discriminate based on gender, and where we take action to enable and empower everyone, regardless of their gender, in the workplace and beyond.
• フェミニズムとは、性別に関わらず、平等に働き学び、政治に関わり生活できるべきだという学をサポートすることです。性差別を無くし、「男だから」「女だから」こうすべきという固定概念を押し付けることなく、平等な社会を実現するための運動です。
As you can see, there are a lot of parallels but also differences between the Japanese and Western perspectives on feminism, and we hope to explore these in future events.
〈Other Information〉
The main language will be English, but you don't need to be fluent to participate. We may also hold Japanese or multilingual events as well.
Some events may only be open to women, trans, gender fluid, and non-binary/X-gender people. As well, some events may be geared towards beginners or have an activism component. Please carefully read the event description before RSVPing. If you're not sure, feel free to ask.
Women, trans, gender fluid, and non-binary/X-gender people who happen to be bookworms might also be interested in our sibling group: Tokyo Feminist Book Club.