Once upon a time, a group of young feminists wanted to organize and contribute in fomenting feminist practices and ideas amidst their generation. This is how in 2003 was held the first large gathering of young feminists in Montreal: « S’Unir pour être rebelles » (Unite as rebels).
This event was a great success, on top of being a first! Organized in a collective and participative manner, it favoured feminist awareness building around different issues and to go into collective action, in small or large groups. We showed the world that feminism is alive and well, that the younger generations are a part of this movement, and that young women are ready to take up public, political and collective struggles to make social equality in general, and equality between women and men in particular, a reality!
Five years later, in 2008, the need to get together in solidarity as young women is even more pressing. Neoliberal, conservative, reactionary, authoritarian and macho ideologies are gaining ground and visibility in society ever so quickly. Even worst, these ideologies are being put into practice by different government and social entities in decision making position, and this everywhere in Canada. The result of this, is an increase in social inequalities and poverty, the elite get richer and consolidate their power, while the most vulnerable, in majority women, suffer more and more marginalization and discrimination. Sexist and racist discourses, images and attitudes circulate with total impunity, poisoning the imaginaries and lives of young women who get accustomed to living in a climate of hostility, disregard and violence.
No to injustice, no to violence, no to domination and oppression, no to inequalities!
In order to organize and fight together against the rise of neoliberal, conservative and macho ideologies, an organizing committee was established in 2007, and sent a call to mobilization to organize the pan-Canadian young feminists’ gathering « Toujours RebELLEs – Waves of resistance ».
Our organization is participative, and the event seeks to allow young women and young feminists from all over Canada, to meet, exchange ideas, share their analyses and experiences as young women, to discuss the challenges they face, to collectivize their feminist struggles, to experience firsthand participative democracy, to break their isolation, to build solidarity between themselves and to acquire organizational tools that foster collective action in the present context of the rising right. The gathering seeks the empowerment of all participants and their taking the lead on issues that affect them, or on which they do their activism.
