Children and Politics

[Quail]

So the other day I went to a feminist meeting and took my son along. Now, it was a student group and I suppose I'm in the minority as a student parent, and they were perfectly happy for me to bring him along, but I left early because my son was didn't really want to draw/colour and for some reason I decided to let him bring this toy dragon that roars so people were staring at me and him when it made noises and I felt kind of embarrassed. Tomorrow I'm going to a ladyfest thing in Leeds which apparently doesn't have a designated space for children but it will be alright for me to bring my son and I'm hoping I will pack enough fun stuff so that he isn't terribly disruptive, but it just got me thinking about how child-friendly (or not, as the case may be) political events in general are.

I know that the Sheffield and London anarchist bookfairs have a creche/space for children, and obviously local afed meetings have been good for accommodating my son, but I wondered what your experiences of political events have been? Do they generally have provisions for people who want to (or have to, really) bring children?

I think that it's pretty bad for feminist events not to have a space for children, but I also think that childcare can more generally be a big barrier to getting involved in political stuff which disproportionately affects women.

[human strike]

I think you're absolutely right about how this can act as a big barrier. I'm far too young to remember, but I understand that in the 70s and 80s creches in political spaces (especially feminist spaces) were commonplace, but I think I've only ever seen them at anarchist bookfairs (if even then).

[Firebrand]

I'm pretty sure they have one at Marxism but thats the only place i've seen

[Jimmie Higgins]

Yeah in the ISO for our bigger events we staff a childcare area (I've been to other big events by other groups or coalitions that do this too), but for regular branch meetings people just have to bring their kids unfortunately (sometimes someone will have a computer and let the kids play a game or watch cartoons or something). It doesn't interfere with the meetings, but we often have trouble remembering not to be overly vulger in our language so we don't get blamed for their kids coming to school the next day and getting in trouble.:lol:

[The Feral Underclass]

It's pretty poor that Ladyfest didn't have a crèche.

[Quail]

It's pretty poor that Ladyfest didn't have a crèche.
Yeah, I mean of all the political-type stuff not to have a creche... a "feminist festival" :rolleyes: Perhaps just shows what kind of people were involved with planning it though. There wasn't a lot mentioned about class politics. I left a comment on their facebook page and hopefully they will take it on board.


Hi, just a thought, but I was quite surprised to find that a feminist event had no childcare whatsoever. A big barrier for women getting more involved in politics is that childcare falls disproportionately on them. I know I brought my son along this time, but there are loads of events that I have just missed because it's hard to be properly involved in a meeting whilst keeping a small child entertained. I think it's especially important that women with children, who may be alone, are able to get involved with feminism because they're currently suffering a lot due to the cuts and really that is something women should be organising around - but if feminist meetings and events aren't child friendly, you exclude some of the women who need a strong feminist movement the most.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Very odd that feminists would seemingly not think to include some level of childcare at their events, for the reasons already given (women disproportionatelyhaving to mind the kids)
Is it to do with the 'type' of feminists who organise the events? (is there a school of feminism where having children is looked upon unfavourably?)

[Quail]

I was more thinking of the demographics - such as university students, who (in general) don't really have young children of their own to think about.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

I was more thinking of the demographics - such as university students, who (in general) don't really have young children of their own to think about.

Ah, fair enough, that makes sense.