I Am (Secular) Woman, Hear Me Roar!

Posted by Martin S Pribble on July 5, 2012 in Featured, Thoughts | 3 comments

A few weeks ago I got a message from my friend Kim Rippere that something very exciting was happening, something that I would find of interest, and something that would benefit the atheist and secular communities. I didn’t know what it was, but Kim informed me she’d give me details once everything had been finalised, and to hold tight and keep it very “hush hush”.

Later on it became clear. Kim, along with the help of Bridget Gaudette, Brandi Braschler and Mary Ellen Sykes, have been working together over the past month or so to put together a foundation called Secular Woman. This is the vision of the foundation:

Secular Woman envisions a future in which women without supernatural beliefs have the opportunities and resources they need to participate openly and confidently as respected voices of leadership in the secular community and every aspect of American society.

Later this week, I received this document from one of the founders of Secular Woman, Bridget Gaudette:

“I can promise you that women working together – linked, informed and educated – can bring peace and prosperity to this forsaken planet”.

It took 40 days and 40 nights. What started off as a conversation among two female Atheist activists has now blossomed into a full-fledged incorporated nonprofit whose mission is to amplify the voice, presence, and influence of non-religious women: Secular Woman, Inc.

The following is a timeline of events:

Day Count	Date	Event
-39	05/20/12	Kim Rippere has an idea and calls Bridget Gaudette
		Kim Rippere begins Facebook group and invites a few women to join the board, including Brandi Braschler and Mary Ellen Sikes
-35	05/24/12	Secular Woman adopted as the name
-29	05/30/12	Domain names purchased
-29	05/30/12	P.O. Box purchased
-26	06/02/12	Incorporated
-22	06/06/12	Facebook Members Only group created
-21	06/07/12	Facebook like page reserved
-14	06/10/12	First donation
-15	06/11/12	Business license purchased
-16	06/12/12	Launch date chosen
		Mission finalized
-19	06/15/12	Become member of National Council of Women’s Organizations
-2	06/26/12	Logo finalized
0	06/28/12	2:00 am Website goes public
		2:30 am Initial press releases are sent
		6:35 am First member
		9:16 am Mobilize! “Like” the Facebook page, first announcement posted to Kim Rippere’s Facebook Wall.
		10:53 Facebook likes reaches 100
		12:59 25 Free Student Memberships are taken
		2:21 100 Twitter Followers
	06/29/12	30% Coalition Letter Goes out
		3:37pm 500 Facebook likes
1	06/29/12	8:00pm First Hater: “So we got an incomplete (= abandoned on PayPal) $4,000 donation from Skanky Cunts Whores at fuckyou@aol.com who lives at the White House.”

On June 28, 2012 Secular Woman mobilized. News of the new organization was immediately featured on Glenn Beck’s conservative news and opinion website The Blaze, with the reporter Billy Hallowell stating that “[Secular Woman is] evidence that non-believers are working feverishly to harness and secure power”. What was this based on? Perhaps the stated vision of Secular Woman, “[We] envision a future in which women without supernatural beliefs have the opportunities and resources they need to participate openly and confidently as respected voices of leadership in the secular community and every aspect of American society.”

How does Secular Woman propose to do this? The focus will begin in the atheist community. The group has set up a speakers bureau as a way to showcase a newer, perhaps lesser known group of female orators. In addition, the founders have started an anti-harassment registry, an online repository where secular organizations can showcase their proactivity in addressing harassment at conferences by displaying their policies. In an effort to increase the attendance of women at the above mentioned conferences, Secular Woman will be providing grants that will cover travel, lodging and entry into these events for female member that apply. The organizations that have provided their anti-harassment policies will be given preference when these grants are distributed. Other resources and programs include annual awards, a place to advertise services and products, a list of local women’s groups.

Secular Woman’s board is driven by the belief that feminism encourages full and equal participation by women. This includes in the secular community.

For more information please visit the website: SecularWoman.org, follow on twitter: @SecularWoman of find on Facebook.

I find this very exciting, as many of my online friends in the secular community are American Women. But I see an advantage here for not only the women of America; this helps empower women of secular values worldwide, giving voice to those who may feel without, and the courage to rise above the tide of misogyny caused by religion and politics worldwide. As you can see, the group has already met with some resistance. The message from the hater, proves as much. This threatens some people out there, and that’s all the more reason to move forward with it.

I, an Australian man, have joined Secular Woman. I am a Secular Woman member. And so should you be.

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

6 comments 2 people listening

Comment help
Get Livefyre

Sort: Newest | Oldest

blamer

@martinspribble Sure. But imo our problem defending secularism isn't these nuanced liberal definitions. It's the black-and-white definition preferred by conservatives. Readers of this blog might see their local fishing club as secular, but half their electorate and pollies won't. They'll easily accept that a group named Secular Woman must be "non-believers working feverishly to harness and secure power”. In these religio-political debates, religious leaders are commonly heard saying that secular means irreligious. We can expect those on the Right only to see its hostility, not its neutrality.

share flag

spam
offensive
disagree
off topic

That word "Secular" will attract haters every time... ...until people understand it isn't anti-religion, it's all religions as equals.

martinspribble

@blamer Actually it's a little more complicated than that. It means *of no particular religious significance, or with no religious affiliation.* This can apply to anything that is not inherently religious, and also the completely atheistic and anti-religous, but not exclusively. :)

blamer 50 pts

That word "Secular" will attract haters every time...

...until people understand it isn't anti-religion, it's all religions as equals.

martinspribble 19 pts moderator

blamer Actually it's a little more complicated than that. It means *of no particular religious significance, or with no religious affiliation.* This can apply to anything that is not inherently religious, and also the completely atheistic and anti-religous, but not exclusively. :)

martinspribble Sure. But imo our problem defending secularism isn't these nuanced liberal definitions. It's the black-and-white definition preferred by conservatives.

Readers of this blog might see their local fishing club as secular, but half their electorate and pollies won't. They'll easily accept that a group named Secular Woman must be "non-believers working feverishly to harness and secure power”.

In these religio-political debates, religious leaders are commonly heard saying that secular means irreligious. We can expect those on the Right only to see its hostility, not its neutrality.