Femmeconne stuff

[alias_sqbr]

So I'm getting a little paranoid about this femmeconne panel for a couple of reasons:
-I don't feel like I'm that qualified to talk on the topic, combined with the fact that last time I did a panel like this I ended up talking over everyone else
-I haven't been to the con before so don't know the usual tone etc
-I posted my notes to get some feedback on debunkingwhite and they were all "OMG, going underprepared to talk to feminists about racism, are you insane? They'll eat you alive!"
-I Keep Getting Sick
-I get paranoid about everything

So, to the 20 or so of you who are going to be there:
-what are panels usually like? A similar cooperative small discussion group "everyone's voice is important" tone to Gynaecon, or more like the "panelist(s) sit at the front and impart their wisdom" tone to swancon? Or something else?
-Can I assume that people will be familiar with the basic ideas of racism=predjudice+power and white privilege etc?(*)
-youse are all smart and stuff, would any of you be willing to volunteer to help keep things on track if anyone is getting all "BUT I CAN'T HAVE WHITE PRIVILEGE I'M A WOMAN", or I get too sick to run things properly or whatever? (I should be able to run things a bit unless I'm VERY ill)
-please feel free to speak up if I am, effectively, being all "BUT I CAN'T HAVE WHITE PRIVILEGE I'M A WOMAN" or otherwise showing my ignorance/ass

There, I feel better now, and can go mentally prepare myself to bug my doctor into trying to figure out why I've spent like half of the past four months too sick to work :/ (Also too sick to write coherent lj entries, so I hope this one is ok!)

(*)And if you're not, I recommend White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack and this post I made going into what this stuff means to me (there's probably a better one out there, but none that come to mind)

Comments

[callistra.livejournal.com]

- more like Gynaecon
- We've yet to have a screaming row over any panel item yet
- I really do not think any one will be offended or upset, mostly I expect people to listen a lot, ask some questions, and have a lot to think about.
- Babalon, myself, every one will keep it on track and no screaming allowed.

I understand your fears, and hope that I've allayed enough of them. I really want you to talk about this for me! I want to know more! I just don't have time to research *anything* these days

- Not every one at femmeconne identifies as a feminist anyway.
- Nor does every one identify as "white". I honestly have no idea what people identify as.

If you prefer, what about you just tell every one you have done a little bit of reading, and am prepared to ask questions as best you can? Or ask *us* questions? You don't have to do all the talking. I also agree with your statement

I've spent most of my life feeling too ignorant about racism to speak up about it, and in recent years I've realised that everyone is doing that and so noone talks about it at all (this is a somewhat specifically australian problem, afaict) So as well as self-educating, I made a conscious decision to speak up and encourage conversation about racism unless I felt really out of my depth or whatever, which I don't here.

And if you want another panelist or someone to stand with you, why not ask the femmeconne list? I mean, I can be there too, but how useful would I be?

[alias_sqbr]

I understand your fears, and hope that I've allayed enough of them. I really want you to talk about this for me! I want to know more! I just don't have time to research *anything* these days

Yes, you have. And something I forgot to mention: one of the things which made me comfortable saying yes in the first place is that I trust your judgement in thinking it was a good idea.

And I know how you feel: most of the time when I write a post about this stuff it's after quite a while spent waiting for someone else to write one on the topic. It's so much easier that way :D

And if you want another panelist or someone to stand with you, why not ask the femmeconne list? I mean, I can be there too, but how useful would I be?

I felt more comfortable asking my flist since I know you and you know me. Also I think I'll be ok running it, so this was largely an irrational "please hold my hand while I panic" which I didn't feel comfortable subjecting strangers to :D (and I knew I was/am feeling tactless and thus it could come across as "You femmeconne people are scary and mean and dumb!" when from everything I can see you're the opposite)