Communication
is a two-way street: one part speaking, one part listening. Without the second
part - listening - communication breaks
down.
This
past election season, politicians, news reporters, and other
"authorities" spoke loudly and frequently about "women's
issues," including abortion and contraception. But were they listening?
Were they hearing what women were actually
saying? Do we hear what the women around us are actually saying, on all sides
of these issues?
The
Pro-life movement proclaims the values of individual dignity, life, and family,
but these ideologies have practical and very real, day to day ramifications for
all people, and in a particular way, for women. Too often, people on both sides
of these issues think they know what
others think, and why. But do they? Pro-lifers
have a responsibility not only to act and speak on behalf of life, but to listen. Through listening, we affirm the dignity of others.
Helen Alvare has challenged the Federal Government to do just that with her
campaign Women Speak for Themselves. We can do the same in our own communities.
The Event
Pro-lifers
have a duty to listen to the very real, very personal concerns and experiences
of women in their communities. An open discussion series like Girl Talk can
help get real conversation going on "women's issues," promote respect
for women's individual feelings, thought and experiences, and provide a
foundation for real progress to be made.
Pre-planning
Time: An hour is usually a good amount of time
for this series. Choose a time and decide how frequently your series will run
(weekly, bi-weekly, etc). Also decide
how many sessions you will have.
Location: Choose a cozy location that is
inviting and easy to find, but private enough for participants to speak openly.
Set up tables and chairs in small groups of about 5 or 6. Hold the series in
the same location each time to build familiarity and comfort.
Topics: Choose which topics you will discuss
each meeting, and find a video, article, or other prompt for discussion. Make
sure to find prompts from a variety of perspectives; sometimes the best
discussions spring from those disagreeing with or challenging a prompt.
Food and Drink: Sharing a meal or light snack
will help create a more comfortable atmosphere for participants. Afternoon
coffee and fruit, or evening dessert may work well.
Advertising: Spread the word through both
personal invitations and mass marketing like posters. Convey the tone of an
open discussion by emphasizing that in your advertising, such as by putting
different phrases on a poster [example above].
Outline of the Event
10 min: Welcome guests as
they arrive and introduce yourself. Direct them to take refreshments, take a
seat, and begin reading the discussion article or talking to others at their
table.
5 min: Speak to the group as
a whole, introduce yourself again, and explain the goal of the event. Emphasize
that each person has individual feelings, thoughts, and experiences that shape
her views on issues, and encourage participants to explore and share those
underlying reasons for their opinions. Ask that each table do introductions,
and read and discuss the prompt at their tables.
20 min: Discussions at
tables.
20 min: Have each table share
ideas from their discussions with the whole group, and discuss as a group if
relevant.
5 min: Have each participant
share an insight or thought with the large group. Thank everyone for coming,
and invite them to attend the next session.
Other Recommendations
- Have signs directing participants to the event
- Assign "table captains" to each table to help facilitate discussion and make all feel welcome
- Have cards or table tents at each table with values for the discussion such as the Virtues of Discourse.
- Have name tags
- Encourage participants to bring other friends in the future
Discussion Topic Ideas
- Views of feminism
- Relationships between men and women
- What women really want
- Beauty, attraction, and what it means to be sexy
- Contraception and other fertility technology like NaPro
- Abortion: how it affects women and what it offers women
- Women in the workplace
- Women and higher education
- The role of faith in women's lives
From Our Experience:
We had a 3-part series with the topics of feminism, birth control, and beauty/self-image. For our second session, we invited local NaPro Fertility Care Practitioner Suzy Younger to attend and answer questions about female fertility at the end of the discussion. Her attendance was the highlight of that session!
Girl Talk has been featured in:
University of Notre Dame Observer "Girl Talk Creates Conversation"
University of Notre Dame Rover "Girl Talk: Catholicism, contraception, and beauty"
HerCampus.com Notre Dame Chapter "'Girl Talk' Discussion Series Reaches out to Women at ND"
