International Women’s Day March 2020: My Body, My Choice

Our third annual International Women’s Day March is raising awareness of issues affecting women and girls, and demanding legislative changes to recognize women’s human rights with focus on bodily autonomy.

***WEAR PURPLE IF YOU CAN***

No means no, and only yes means yes. Rape is rape, no matter where it occurs, who is involved, what religion they practice, or how much time passes before it is reported. Bodily autonomy is necessary, and must be supported by law, policy, and practice. We are all responsible for creating a culture of consent.

Stand in solidarity with us at the Eastern Parade. Join us in taking our message to the streets. Lead the way to where we’ll spend the day — at the Expo for Women & Girls at The Dundas on Mackey Street. Bring friends and family to engage organizers, experts, and practitioners, and participate in free workshops. It all begins with the march at 9:20am.

**ROUTE**
Assemble on the Eastern Parade at 9am. March east on East Bay Street; south on Mackey Street; end at The Dundas on Mackey Street. The Tiny Talk Speaker Series and Expo begin immediately upon our arrival.

**SIGNS**
Don’t forget to bring your sign! Want to work with others to make signs? Come to our sign-making event on Thursday, March 5.

**EXPO**
Whether you march or not, spend the day at the Expo for Women & Girls at The Dundas on Mackey Street, 10am to 2pm. There’ll be a speaker series, free workshops including yoga, self defense, and storytelling. Food and drinks will be available for purchase by vendors.

Women’s Wednesdays: Sexual Health

Have you ever had a burning question about sexual health but didn’t know where to go or who to ask? Do you need help with talking to a young person about sex and sexual health? Join us at this month’s Women’s Wednesdays to get expert advice and find out what resources and services are available near you. We’ll also have a broader discussion about sexual education and public policy. As rates of syphyllis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia rise among youth, we need to ask questions about how and why sex ed is failing and what must be done to better equip young people to safely explore their sexualities.

Join us on Wednesday, February 5th to discuss:

How can we address issues in sexual health in sex positive ways?
What does effective sex education look like?
What government services and sexual health resources are available in our local communities?
What are best practices for talking to young people about sex and sexual health?
What are the signs and symptoms of STDs and how are they best prevented?
How can we foster cultures of consent?
* * * * * * *
Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.
#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.
Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.

Women’s Wednesdays: Community Care Post-Dorian

Bahamas Strong: Community Care Post-Dorian

It has been four months since Hurricane Dorian hit Abaco and Grand Bahama, and many survivors are still struggling to recover. As family members, friends, businesses, NGOs, and residents, we all have a role to play in recovery, and this includes attending to mental health needs. Join us at Women’s Wednesday’s January 8th to discuss these questions and more.

Discussion Questions:
What does community care look like in The Bahamas post-Dorian?
How can we best support one another mentally, emotionally, and financially?
What resources exist to help us build communities of care?
How has the current political climate impacted the recovery process?
What steps can we take to build more climate resilient communities?

* * * * * * *
Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.
#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.
Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.

Women’s Wednesdays: Women in the Arts

The Bahamas is home to vibrant, diverse, and talented artist communities. This month, we will be turning the spotlight on women in the arts. Bahamian women are breaking silences about social, cultural, and political issues through their artwork. On August 7th, we’ll bring together a panel of women artists — June Collie, Jalan Harris, Jodi Minnis, Angelika Wallace-Whitfield, and Xan Xi — to talk about their work and ask the following questions:

– What has been your experience as a woman creating art in The Bahamas?
– How is art being used (and how can it be used) to address issues regarding gender and sexuality?
– How do you see art influencing people and functioning in our communities at a time when society is polarized on many issues?
-What challenges do women artists face in creating and sustaining their art projects, and what strategies can we adopt to better support them?
-How does (and how can) art connect women across the Caribbean and African Diaspora?

* * * * * * *
Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.

#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.

Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.

Women’s Wednesdays: LGBT Pride Month

LGBT+ pride parades started gaining worldwide popularity following the 1969 stonewall riots in New York City. This year, pride parades are scheduled to happen across the globe, following recent landmark victories in LGBT+ rights legislation in Botswana, Angola, Bhutan, Ecuador, Taiwan, and Austria. Jamaica had its first annual public pride event in 2015, and in July 2018, Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago held the first public pride events in their nation’s history. These victories followed an attempt at organizing a pride event in Freeport in 2014 that had to be cancelled due to security threats. Times are changing for LGBT+ communities in the region, but there are still many barriers, both political and cultural, impeding progress.

Join us this pride month at the NAGB to discuss the following:

-What is the purpose of Pride?
-What should Pride look like in The Bahamas? What do we need to make it happen?
-How can we be in solidarity with LGBT+ Bahamians?
-What have the challenges and victories been for Pride demonstrations in other Caribbean countries?
-What barriers face LGBT+ Bahamians today?
-In what ways can we support and celebrate Pride this month?
* * * * * * *
Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.
#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.
Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.

Women’s Wednesdays: Women’s Bodily Autonomy

Parliamentary consultations on the decriminalization of abortion are taking place in Jamaica. It is important that we take time to consider where we are and where we need to go as a country and as a region regarding women’s bodily autonomy, including abortion. On April 3rd, we’ll be discussing consent, abortion rights, tubal ligation, contraception, and sexual education.

What is consent? Who can give it, and when?
What impact does criminalized abortion have on women throughout the region?
How do these impacts change when we consider factors like economic status, age, and ability?
What role do reproductive rights play in the broader struggle for women’s liberation?
What are the different contraception methods available to women and how can we access these resources?
How can we use the conversation taking place in Jamaica and, subsequently, throughout the region, to advance the rights of women in The Bahamas?
How can we teach bodily autonomy to our children?
* * * * * * *
Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.
#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.
Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.

Women’s Wednesdays: Women’s Rights – Experiences in Advocacy

As International Women’s Day approaches, we are taking a step back to discuss the different forms that advocacy takes in the struggle for Women’s Rights. From policy making, to volunteer work, to social media and dinner table conversations, we each have a role to play. Join us March 6th to talk strategy, share concerns, and ask questions!

– What is meant by “women’s rights?”
– What does it mean to be an advocate?
– What is unique about advocacy in The Bahamas and the Caribbean?
– How has social media changed the landscape of social justice?
– What do we need to improve the effectiveness of our advocacy work?
* * * * * * *
Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.

#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.

Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.

Women’s Wednesdays: Mental Health

Caring for our minds is as important as caring for our bodies. Stigma, time-constraints, and lack of access to resources and information are common obstacles to mental wellness. Join us for a conversation with mental health professionals for a conversation about strategies for improving mental health and supporting one another in the process. We will be guided by the following questions:

1. What is mental health?
2. How can we assess our own mental health?
3. What is anxiety?
4. What is depression?
5. How can we support our friends who are dealing with anxiety and depression?
6. What do we need to do to break the stigma around mental health issues?
* * * * * * *
Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.

#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.

Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.

Women’s Wednesdays: Women in S.T.E.A.M.

Bahamian women are succeeding in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (S.T.E.A.M.), defying traditional expectations about gender and careers. Nonetheless, Bahamian women and girls still face many barriers to entry, including limited exposure to S.T.E.A.M. subjects and opportunities. Through discussion of the issues, we hope to clarify avenues for change:

Who and where are Bahamian women in S.T.E.A.M.?
What are the challenges facing women in S.T.E.A.M. in The Bahamas of 2019?
What opportunities exist for women and girls interested in pursuing careers in S.T.E.A.M.?
What do we need from our institutions to support women in S.T.E.A.M.?
What can we do to increase girls’ awareness of the possibilities with S.T.E.A.M.?
* * * * * * *
Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.

#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.

Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.

Women’s Wednesdays: Combatting Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is on the spectrum of sexual violence which includes rape, and when it becomes a norm, the cycle of gender-based violence is allowed to continue. Women often experience sexual harassment on a daily basis, and from a young age. During 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, Equality Bahamas invites The Bahamas to focus on sexual harassment as an element of rape culture, reject the idea that it is Bahamian culture, and co-create systems and actions to end it. On Wednesday, December 5th, we’re coming together to discuss:
What is sexual harassment?
Where does sexual harassment take place most often?
How can we respond to street harassment, as people experiencing it and as bystanders?
What legal protections are available to women who have experienced harassment or assault?
What do we need from our institutions to combat sexual harassment?
* * * * * * *
Women’s Wednesdays was founded by Equality Bahamas as a response to community members’ requests for a space to access resources, experts, and practitioners, share knowledge, and engage in conversation with one another. Officially started in May 2017, Women’s Wednesdays highlights Bahamian women and our experiences in The Bahamas, specific to our identities including gender, race, sexuality, age, and ability. Held once per month at minimum, the events draw women together to have conversations that bring our individual lives into focus while connecting to family, community, and national narratives.

#WW242 intentionally centers and prioritizes women and girls, and is open to the public through in-person events, livestreams, and social media activity. With the support of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, we create a safe space for knowledge-building, idea-sharing, critical dialogue, and movement-building.

Inspired by Equality Bahamas’ Women’s Wednesdays, there is now a similar initiative in Guyana, and other countries in the Caribbean are expected to follow.