The theme for this week’s Breakfast Club at the Wheeler Centre was A Calmer Debate: is that what feminism needs? Well the response from the room was a resounding no! Our speakers included Kickstart artist Zoey Dawson, author Dylan Coleman and comedian/scientist Ben McKenzie. We were keen to encourage a debate that looked not so much at why we need feminism, and or what it should be, but how it can take place and advance societal debates. Wednesday 26 June was an apt day: the removal of Australia’s first female PM, and Texan Senator Wendy Davis’ 13 hour filibuster to prevent strict abortion laws, made for a highly relevant and interesting context to such a discussion. Check out this week’s Podcast, here…

Sabina Eklund @sabeans

The Next Wave breakfast club is an opportunity to discuss and explore complex contemporary issues, and what better time to discuss such subjects than 8am in the morning with a fresh mind and a cup of coffee.

This particular Wednesday morning we discussed feminism. The interesting exposure from the debate was the sense that most women today feel a somewhat alienated by the term and a little unsure to what it involves being a feminist. The three speakers pointed to important areas.

Zoey Dawson wanted us to forget about the various branches of feminism. Feminism subsists because there is inequality between men and women. It is as simple as that. If you are against social injustice feel free to classify yourself as a feminist. There is no boss of feminism.

Dylan Coleman pointed to the fact that feminism has mainly been a white women’s movement. Feminism is deeply tied to other equality battles.

Importantly, Ben McKenzie, the male contribution, reminded me that women do not own this debate and nor should we. Feminism is about social injustice and that club includes more than just women. We do not need a calmer debate concerning feminism; we need a broader debate to move into to the parts of society where it sparks reaction.

Join us for our final week, Wednesday 3 July for The Politicians Have Lost Us: Art, Apathy and Hope