I think the answer to your question is pretty simple and straight forward. I would assume that you (the organizing and planning committee) are part of the Open Space. And if you are not -- then I suggest you should be. As participants, equal to all other participants, you surely have the right, and I would say responsibility to raise whatever issues or opportunities you feel to be pertinent. And if folks want to talk about them (the issues you raised) they will. And if not -- not. Either way you will learn something.
Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with doctrinal purity. It is just good sense. It is also (to pick up a strand that has seen some currency here) all about "Trusting the People." Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20845 Phone 301-365-2093 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Jon Harvey Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 3:01 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: OS and themes Hi all I am currently working with a large public sector organisation who wants to make some more headway with their strategy around gender equality (this is a heavily male dominated service). Last summer we held 4 one day OS for upwards of 250 women in each to give them the space to debate / exchange ideas around what more needed to be done to celebrate the contribution they bring to the organisation and what else was required to advance the gender equality strategy. We have now embarked upon running a men only day with upwards of 250 men - partly as a counterbalance to the 4 events last year and partly because we wish to explore just what more men - as men - can be doing to advance gender equality and get more out of the strategy for themselves. (As an aside - it is interesting to note that many of the issues that emerged from the women talking - childcare, bullying, long hours culture etc - are the very same issues that men in the organisation also articulate). (For your information - there is a mixed day planned for later in May) And yes there is much we can talk about just what role do men have in tackling sexism, abuse & bullying, discriminatory employment polices etc.(which disproportionately affects women more - though which can affect some men too) since it is the men who are usually and traditionally in the oppressor / perpertrator position - but that is not the issue I wish to focus upon. (Although please feel free to comment!) This matter I wish to bring to the OS community is about what people think of the idea of having some preset themes - to be run as optional workshops - happening alongside the OS workshops. I am well aware of the purist reponse that says there is no need for this - with a careful set up at the beginning - all that needs to be raised - will indeed be raised by the group of men (in this case) as they create the agenda. And I go along with that as a matter of OS 'doctrine'. However - there are a couple (and I am only talking of a maximum of 3 and perhaps only one of these parallel optional workshops) of issues that we (the steering group behind the day) fear may not come up (they did not in the previous four days in a comparative way) and we want to ensure that at least the opportuntiy is present for the matters to be discussed. One of these is the analysis of what women - as women, and secondly, what men - as men bring to the organisation. The latter especially is of great interest to the forthcoming day since men (white, straight, middle class etc) don't identify themselves as 'other' very often and as a consequence don't examine their special contribution - as men. I can expand on this point if you need me too - altho the main question I have is about the appropriateness of having preset workshops running in parallel. I look forward to your responses. Many thanks! Jon Harvey Oxford, UK * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
