Gender Equality

[close] YWCA Central Maine will host book clubs that focus on social justice issues in line with our mission to eliminate racism and empower women. We hope that this book club will open important and meaningful community conversations on topics that are difficult to discuss by centering others' experiences as portrayed by literature. The club is open for all ages (with parent permission for those under 18) and meets *virtually* during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why should you join us? -->“The act of reading in a community can help you read more deeply and better understand diverse perspectives,” John Coleman writes in the Harvard Business Review. -->You read things that you would not otherwise read. -->Some books need to be discussed. -->As Joyce Carol Oates said, “Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” -->We encourage meaningful and approachable discussions. You don't have to be a literary scholar or feel like an authority on social justice language. Just do the reading and show up to the discussion with an open mind and heart.

[close] The Story of Woman is a podcast community dedicated to elevating 'woman' from the footnotes of history to a lead character, one book at a time. Through author-led interviews, each episode explores a book that illuminates a different part of our world through her lens, providing the context needed to see the full picture and improve the next chapter for everyone. This is a community space for readers and listeners of The Story of Woman podcast to connect and chat with one another about each episode's books.

[close] I've found that sadly, on many groups here, feminism is considered a dirty word. They censor and they close down a gal's opinions. Well not here. This is a group for women to unapologetically discuss feminism and a female-focused future. Especially with regard to promoting a more female-centric literary sector. Women read far more than men and yet we STILL do not get the representation we deserve. Female authors continue to be put down by male critics. Why is it that men feature so prominently in literary awards when they clearly don't deserve it? So ladies, feel free to start threads here, reply, discuss, even argue. This is a zone where your voice rules and the patriarchy can't silence you. And men? Note that this group is for one sex only: women. If you have a penis, go and start your own group because you will be removed from this one.

[close] A virtual space to discuss new mindsets and perspectives.