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Announcement: Debate about men's involvement with RTN seems to be still taking up women's energy so a call for comments has been made through the RTN eLetter. Results will be collated and published on the RTN web - send your comments now The issue of men's involvement appears to be contentious because women hold differing views about the objectives of the event, which has been since its inception - a women only march protesting men's sexual violence Yet - organisers are constantly challenged by women and men who cannot hear that RTN is a dialogue between women and those men who would make them prisoners of the night - still There is constant vivification of women who defend RTN as a women only space - only the depth and ferocity vary There are women and men who can focus only on men colonising RTN or else they will girlcott in every way possible. These people think that it is essential to add testosterone so that the dialogue of RTN is taken as credible They seem to be asserting that RTN must assimilate to malestream before they will support it - sort of like saying - your group must become a catholic one before i will contribute to your cause - which is now my cause or aboriginal women must forget their blackness and join white women's groups if they want to have better lives - that is unless local women are strong enough to resist the pressure malestream exerts and stage a women only event in spite of the tide of negativity generated when women organise to gather together It is therefore crucial to reiterate the RTN philosophy throughout planning and on the night. Practical issues raised for consideration include decision making around exactly how can local men assist RTN Ask what women can do for eachother like
Be clear about this issue - RTN is a women only event - inform other women in the community, as well as the media, of the RTN dialogue.
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