WOMENS COLLECTIVE
Women meet once a week for Womens’ Collective meetings to get involved with international campaigns and organize and attend events on campus and in the community focused on the status of women and women’s rights and equality.
The Womens’ Collective strives to overturn oppressive, patriarchal attitudes on campus and in society at large. Men are welcome to join the Womens’ Collective and meeting locations alternate between the CSU Treehouse and the Women’s Centre to allow male members to attend every other meeting.
The issues that the Womens’ Collective deals with include: sexism, homophobia, inclusiveness, poverty, diversity, and women’s political status within society.
The Women’s Liaison is an elected member of the Capilano Students’ Union who acts as a facilitator, bringing women together to organize events that promote equality and the elimination of oppression of self-identified women and celebrate women’s herstorical achievements. The work of the Women’s Liaison is to support a community of informed, self-confident, activewomen who are willing to work to create change on campus and in the community.
The Capilano Students' Union Women’s Collective works in solidarity with many off-campus women’s organizations including: Grassroots Women and North Shore Women’s Centre. The Women’s Collective supports many off-campus women’s organizations by attending their events and rallies, some events include Take Back the Night and the International Women’s Day Rallies and events.
December 6th, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
In the month of November, the Collective focuses on Violence Against Women and sells handmade beeswax candles in honor of December 6th, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. All proceeds are then donated to Sage House, a local womens transition house for women escaping abusive relationships. On December 6th the Collective hosts a candle light vigil for the women killed in the Montreal Massacre and all womenaffected by violence.
Eating Disorder Awareness Week
In February, the Women’s Collective host events about eating disorders and healthy body images. Guest Speakers, videos and a potluck for the womyn on campus are all aimed to create dialogue about eating disorders and information for those women (and men) affected by a variety of eating disorders.
March 8th International Womens Day
In order to celebrate International Womens Day, the Women’s Collective organizes a whole week of great events: workshops about sexual pleasure and health and menstrual health, free self-defense classes and a music and arts day to celebrate the great women artists and musicians on this campus!
These are just a few of the regular events put on by the Women’s Collective. There are also frequents guest speakers and events regarding current womens issues.
To get involved in the planning of any of these events contact the Women’s Liaison at womens@csu.bc.ca, or attend a Women’s Collective meeting anytime!
Capilano University Women’s Centre
Located at Library 137
604-986-1911 ext. 2004
The Women’s Centre is a WOMEN-ONLY safe space on campus.
Self-identified women can get the door combination for the Women’s Centre in the Capilano Students’ Union office located in Maple building.
It is a space where women can truly relax, whether it involves socializing with friends, resting, studying, praying, nursing a baby, or talking with other women about personal or social issues which they might not feel ready to discuss in a gender-mixed group.
The Women’s Centre has a long Herstory (since 1974) of providing information on issues facing women in its collection of resource material and providing information about political and social events on and off campus. The Women’s Centre strives to promote social, political and cultural interaction between women on campus.
Why Are Only Women Allowed In The Women’s Centre?
The women-only policy grew from the recognition of women as an oppressed group in society and the belief that people who are oppressed or marginalized must be free to enact their own social change. Women deserve to better understand their situations and positions within society, this process begins with the definition and control of women’s own spaces.
If you have any questions about the Women’s Centre or its policies please contact the Capilano Students’ Union Office or the Women’s Liaison.
The Womens Centre Works To:
- Provide a safe place for all self-identified women regardless of religion, age, ability, ethnicity, or sexual orientation
- Help women access services within the University, as well as, in the broader community
- Provide information and resources relevant to women
- Promote women’s equality and the full participation of women in society
- Advocate against all forms of oppression
Womens Liaison
Sarah Vitet
womens@csu.bc.ca
Be sure to check out the Women Collective Liaison's blog to see what's up! Click here.