Who is AAWAA?
AAWAA is an independent women’s rights organisation and media outlet, as well as a national peak advocacy body for our own, locally organised women’s liberation groups across Australia. We work to promote, advance, advocate for, and defend the social equality, welfare, and human rights of women and girls on the basis of our biological sex. AAWAA is run entirely by volunteers and is funded by community support. We are everyday women, working to protect our rights.
We understand that sex is a biological fact with material consequences for females living under patriarchy. We fight against patriarchy and how it is expressed through oppressive structures and ideologies such as
- Prostitution and sex trafficking
- Pornography
- Reproductive exploitation and the denial of abortion rights
- Male violence against women and girls
- Gender identity
- Misogyny
- Sexualised advertising and media
Our work centres women and girls and our experience of being female.
Why women only?
In order to identify and analyse our oppression, women must be able to meet, work, and think on our own terms and only amongst other women for the following reasons:
- Women make choices in the social context of the conditions that were there before we were born
- We must be allowed to describe this context and how it affects our experience of the world
- We must be allowed to name our politics for ourselves as a class — not just as individual ‘identities’
- We need to be free to speak without having to continually edit our speech (for men)
- We need to be able to define our condition and our own terms
- We need to be able to define ourselves, rather than be defined (by men)
Are you radical feminists?
We focus on fighting for the liberation of women and girls from oppressive social structures, and so we are first and foremost women’s liberation organisations. Some of us align ourselves with radical feminism in acknowledgement of the important role that feminism has played in the ongoing fight for women’s liberation; others eschew the label ‘feminist’ in recognition of the various types of feminism that now exist, some of which do not promote women’s liberation from oppression. That said, being women we can all still get along 😉
What are your objectives?
Our short- to medium-term objective is to raise awareness around socio-cultural issues confronting women and girls today under patriarchy. To do this, raise awareness via our media outlet (and other press) of issues affecting women and girls; campaign through writing letters and submissions; seek meetings with those with legislative, political, and social responsibility for the safeguarding, protection, and advancement of women and girls; connect with similar groups and organisations across Australia and around the world.
Our long-term objective is to die liberated.
Are you politically aligned?
No. We are not aligned with the left, right, a particular religious perspective, or a particular belief system.
Do men play a role in your group?
Men do not attend our meetings or take part in our discussions, and they play no role in AAWAA’s decision-making. We do, however, have a ‘Men’s Auxiliary’, which may provide additional assistance upon request. The women of AAWAA groups reserve the right to refuse the presence of any male providing assistance as part of the Men’s Auxiliary: no questions, no argument, no judgement. Social activities are strictly women only.
Are you gender critical?
Yes. We critique the idea of gender as a concept that oppresses and stands in the way of the liberation of women and girls.
Are you anti-trans?
No. We are pro-female, not anti-trans.
Are transwomen women?
No.
Do you campaign against the rights of transpeople?
No. We are an advocacy organisation that campaigns for women and girls, and not against transpeople. We believe that the rights of one group should not violate the rights of another.
If I contact you, what can I expect in terms of your engagement with me?
Much of that will be up to you. We do not target people or groups for hate or bullying, engage in trolling, push our opinions on others who do not ask for them, or demand that you use language in particular way. We will speak truthfully to you from an evidence-based, scientific, and rational standpoint. Where a point of fact exists, we might not adjust our speech or use language that denies reality.
If you decide that you no longer wish to communicate with us, you will not hear from us any futher until if or when you change your mind and want to resume contact. We reserve the right to block and/or not communicate with those who are not open to honest dialogue and/or who are abusive or trolling.
Will you ‘vet’ me?
Yes. We are here to support, explain, and inform. We will check to ensure that you are neither a troll nor an activist who seeks to abuse us.
Do you have a code of conduct?
No, not per se. In discussions, we decided that a code of conduct would not be a good fit for us. Instead, we recognise that women — already socialised into being ‘nice’, being accommodating, and putting others’ comfort before our own — come ‘ready-made’, as it were, to consider how our words and deeds might affect others. We therefore decided that we do not need a strict set of rules governing how we act in relation to others, telling us what is right and what is wrong. To that end, we are guided simply by the following.
In our communications and relations with those seeking engagement with AAWAA and our affiliate groups, our members will
- Act in good faith
- Act with good will
- Start with the principle of charity
- Exercise compassion
