Meeting Notes(23rd June)

 

Seld-introduction

 

Chenyan:

  • a student majoring in contemporary art.
  • enjoying communicating with friends and strangers, and caring about feminism.

Han:

  • engaged in a profession that demands both logic and aesthetics simultaneously.

  • an "atypical solitary woman," which means that although I live alone, the majority of my solitary time is spent engaging in video calls with friends.

Ge Ge:

  • experiencing a big life change recently.
  • embracing new experiences, exploring boundaries, and seeking meaningful interactions with various individuals.

Why you came here?

What kind of space do you hope this to be?

What you expect to gain from this?

 

Chenyan:

  •  I aspire to engage in profound conversations with diverse individuals. 
  • In this space, I envision a non-judgmental environment that respects each participant, providing them with a space where they can be heard. 
  • I am open to the outcome, simply desiring an hour of both listening to others and being listened to in return.

Han:

  • I hope to freely discuss any topic, and engage in conversations with strangers. It is a chance for temporary intimacy with unfamiliar faces.
  • I anticipate casual conversations. our gathering is not intended for specific problem-solving, but rather for communication to unfold like ripples in water. 

Ge Ge:

  • May our dialogues endure, embracing inclusivity and equality.
  • Follow my heart, and engage in periodic exchanges with diverse individuals, exploring the diversity of thoughts and experiencing the beauty that exists in the world.

Sharing

 

Chenyan

Keywords: personal experiences, the relationship between Chinese mother and daughter

Drawing upon the experiences of both my friends and my own personal journey, I delve into the intense conflicts and delicate dynamics between mothers trapped in the traditional paradigm of ‘sacrificial family education’ and daughters embracing new ideologies in the modern era.


"Moms make tremendous sacrifices within the family. As nurturers, they shoulder the majority of domestic labor and, consequently, invest their own sense of purpose in their daughters, believing they have the right to control their daughters' lives. Yet, as females themselves, they also harbor slightly jealousy toward their daughters' freedom to choose their own paths in life."


Ge Ge:

"When modern women aspire to lead unrestricted lives, they often find themselves initially constrained by their family members—a lingering issue inherited from tradition."

Han

Keywords: text, gap that exists between traditional expectations and the desires of modern female

 

Han shared a book by Liang Yong'an, "Reading, Traveling, and Love," Chapter 3 explores the unspoken challenges of solitude within Chinese culture.


"Today's society presents a prominent paradox: there are countless possibilities within you, yet your life lacks substantial opportunities. You yearn for a distinct, liberated life, yet you also peruse a life of tranquility, hoping to receive blessings from your parents, compliments from others, and societal recognition when venturing into new realms. However, employing the agricultural adage of 'reap what you sow' is an impossible notion when seeking freedom."


Ge Ge shared a short text from her journal, she intertwined the image of women in the family with the image of women in the workplace, recognizing that women consistently find themselves in a position of being dominated and controlled.

 

Chenyan then led the topic to the male gaze in the workplace.

Ge Ge

Keywords: performance art, contemporary dance, male gaze

 

Ge Ge shared Pina Bausch's dance performance, evoking a resonance among everyone.

 

“As women, we have all experienced the gaze upon us, yet this invisible phenomenon is challenging to articulate through language. Pina Bausch's dance performance concretizes this sense of discomfort, providing a tangible manifestation of the impact of the gaze on women.”

Feedback

 

  • Although we had initially established a predetermined order for sharing, the conversation naturally unfolded in reality. When one woman finds a topic relevant to another, they naturally begin to share their own experiences.

  • When attempting to articulate our personal experiences to others through language, I realized that it helps us gain a better understanding of our own thoughts.

  • This conversation did not aim to solve any specific problems, but as everyone found it enjoyable, we discovered shared experiences and thoughts.