LADYFEST BUCAREST, 12 - 14 October 2007

P A R T 1

Ladyfest Bucarest took place the first time in the capital from Romania. The first romanian Ladyfest was two years ago in Timisoara. A small group of women, who were also involved in Timisoara gave us the pleasure to organize this Ladyfest-Weekend.

During this three days there were workshops, dicussions, screenings and exhibitions at the place of the art project H.arta. If was also always looked for food and drinks for the visitiors. Every evening was a cultural event with bands and Djanes at the Punkoteca.

Friday, 12^th of October, was one of the workshops to [anti-racist strategies]. It included the question about the romanian society and the way the society is with romanies. The followed the question, how the three waves of feminisn took place in Romania and what this meant for romanies women. The class structure was seen in time more near the amercian society during the second wave of feminism and also the second wave was different in Romania, because it was the time of communism. The gender-rolle during communism was described as very traditional but with access to broader job opportunities. For today was asked, why it seems that feminism is no opportunity for cooperation. Are there only the opportunities ti figth against discrimination or for feminist rights? There is a lack of research which connects the rassism with gender. This lack is also seen as an institutional exclusion because there are no theories which would bring this muliple oppressions together. See for the topic http://www.romawomensinitiatives.org/download/pdf/4247.pdf

What happens with the romani men, when the women are supported, was one of the further questions. In public, romani women are mostly seen as mother and the romanian government talks about the population grows of the romani. Therefore it is not so easy for romani to trust a doctor, when he medicate a newborn romani baby.

It was said, that only about 10 % of the romani live traditional. Romani youth is more under the influence of her parents, then youth is in other parts of the romanian society. So is the question, if they miss, what they not know. To the question of early marriage was explained, that this was basically an economic act from the parents.

As the following workshop [feminist self-defense] had started, the police came. They said, that they are here to protect the ladyfest event, and wanted to know something about the following cross city march. From now on, they came every day at afternoon and tried to make friends.

Late at friday, 5.30pm, started the "Take Back The Night March" which started with a meeting in front of the Piata Constitutiei and went then through Bucarest.

The evening was closed with a wonderfull concert of two bands, STACEY CAPOOT from San Diego, California, the members are just living in Bucarest and the romanian band NOT YOURS. Both bands rocked the Punkoteca and we had a lot of fun.