Dorothy Griffiths of Feminist Review Trust: Feminism means challenging the abuses of women in all their forms
By
Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following my interview with Prof.
Dorothy Griffiths of Feminist Review Trust about feminism and the
objectives of her organisation which finances projects to help women all over
the world, and to struggle against violence and oppression of women.
Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following my interview with Prof.
Dorothy Griffiths of Feminist Review Trust about feminism and the
objectives of her organisation which finances projects to help women all over
the world, and to struggle against violence and oppression of women.
Milena
Rampoldi: What does feminism mean to you?
Rampoldi: What does feminism mean to you?
Dorothy
Griffiths: For me personally it is about equality, empowerment, challenging the
abuses of women in all their forms, etc. etc.
Griffiths: For me personally it is about equality, empowerment, challenging the
abuses of women in all their forms, etc. etc.
Which
is the main objective of the Feminist Review Trust?
is the main objective of the Feminist Review Trust?
Our
objectives are to finance projects to support women all over the world. In the
following you can find the list of the projects Feminist Review Trust will fund:
objectives are to finance projects to support women all over the world. In the
following you can find the list of the projects Feminist Review Trust will fund:
Hard to fund projects. Some types of projects are difficult
to fund. Typically these projects have no other obvious sources of funding.
This might mean, for example, that traditional academic sources are either not
interested in the area or that it is an activist project or that it is too
feminist for most conventional funding sources. For example the Trust supported
the writing and publication of the history of Rape Crisis in Scotland and the
translation and updating sections of ‘Women and Their Bodies’ into Arabic and
Hebrew.
to fund. Typically these projects have no other obvious sources of funding.
This might mean, for example, that traditional academic sources are either not
interested in the area or that it is an activist project or that it is too
feminist for most conventional funding sources. For example the Trust supported
the writing and publication of the history of Rape Crisis in Scotland and the
translation and updating sections of ‘Women and Their Bodies’ into Arabic and
Hebrew.
Pump priming activities. This means that we will provide a
small amount of funding to help start an activity in the hope that it will then
be able attract sufficient funding to continue. For example we funded a project
in Argentina to strengthen the capacity of organisations promoting women’s
rights and a project to provide audio visual equipment for a feminist social
centre in Madrid. In each case these projects have hopefully helped to create a
sustainable activity.
small amount of funding to help start an activity in the hope that it will then
be able attract sufficient funding to continue. For example we funded a project
in Argentina to strengthen the capacity of organisations promoting women’s
rights and a project to provide audio visual equipment for a feminist social
centre in Madrid. In each case these projects have hopefully helped to create a
sustainable activity.
Interventionist projects which support feminist values.
It is often difficult for projects around core feminist concerns such as
abortion rights and domestic violence to find funding. For example the Trust
has supported Asylum Aid (an independent charity workshop with asylum seekers
in the UK) to promote its ‘Charter of Rights’ for Women Seeking Asylum. We
supported the 40th Anniversary Campaign of Abortion Rights in the UK, a
documentary about abortion in Trinidad and Tobago and a feminist art studio in
Tbilisi, Georgia.
It is often difficult for projects around core feminist concerns such as
abortion rights and domestic violence to find funding. For example the Trust
has supported Asylum Aid (an independent charity workshop with asylum seekers
in the UK) to promote its ‘Charter of Rights’ for Women Seeking Asylum. We
supported the 40th Anniversary Campaign of Abortion Rights in the UK, a
documentary about abortion in Trinidad and Tobago and a feminist art studio in
Tbilisi, Georgia.
Training and development projects: we will fund projects which
provide training in relevant areas. For example, the Trust has funded English
lessons for sex workers in London; leadership skills training for women in the
voluntary sector. and volunteer training as Glasgow Women’s Library.
provide training in relevant areas. For example, the Trust has funded English
lessons for sex workers in London; leadership skills training for women in the
voluntary sector. and volunteer training as Glasgow Women’s Library.
One off events: we supported Cine25 as part of the celebrations of
25 years of Women’s Studies at the University of York (UK); a seminar for the
Lileth Project (a violence against women housing related project), and a
workshop on the gender dimensions of Bulgarian Immigration Policy.
25 years of Women’s Studies at the University of York (UK); a seminar for the
Lileth Project (a violence against women housing related project), and a
workshop on the gender dimensions of Bulgarian Immigration Policy.
Dissemination: we will fund the production and distribution of
relevant material. Too often wonderful work has had a more limited impact than
it should because it was not well of fully distributed The Trust will fund
dissemination. . For example we have supported the production of a booklet on
Asian women’s experiences of higher education in the UK and the distribution of
publications by the Rights of Women (a non-profit UK group)
relevant material. Too often wonderful work has had a more limited impact than
it should because it was not well of fully distributed The Trust will fund
dissemination. . For example we have supported the production of a booklet on
Asian women’s experiences of higher education in the UK and the distribution of
publications by the Rights of Women (a non-profit UK group)
Core funding: we realise that many groups struggle to raise core
funding. The Trustees are willing to offer core funding to cover staff costs,
accommodation etc., except in instances where applicants are seeking core
funding to replace funding lost as a result of public sector cuts.
funding. The Trustees are willing to offer core funding to cover staff costs,
accommodation etc., except in instances where applicants are seeking core
funding to replace funding lost as a result of public sector cuts.
Other projects: if your application does not easily fit into any of
the above categories we may still support it. For example, the Trust has funded
a project to capture oral histories of women’s experience of the menopause.
Contact the Trust to discuss eligibility prior to submitting your application.
the above categories we may still support it. For example, the Trust has funded
a project to capture oral histories of women’s experience of the menopause.
Contact the Trust to discuss eligibility prior to submitting your application.
In
the next two years 2017 and 2018 our organisation will fund in particular
projects in the following fields:
the next two years 2017 and 2018 our organisation will fund in particular
projects in the following fields:
Lesbian
and transgender rights
and transgender rights
Violence
against women and girls
against women and girls
Disabled
women and girls
women and girls
ProMosaik
often speaks about feminism in plural because feminism is different in
different cultures and religions. What do you think about it? I think feminism is very complex.. there are many forms in many
places..I would not venture to make any judgements between them and about them.
often speaks about feminism in plural because feminism is different in
different cultures and religions. What do you think about it? I think feminism is very complex.. there are many forms in many
places..I would not venture to make any judgements between them and about them.
What
have you achieved until now with Feminist Review Trust?
have you achieved until now with Feminist Review Trust?
We
have been able to provide support for a number of projects in a number of
countries. We fund projects across the globe. Again all the projects we have
ever supported are listed on our website.
have been able to provide support for a number of projects in a number of
countries. We fund projects across the globe. Again all the projects we have
ever supported are listed on our website.
Which
are the most important dreams you have for the future?
are the most important dreams you have for the future?
Very
hard to answer. I would like to live in a world where there is no longer any
violence against women and where power is shared equally between the sexes.
hard to answer. I would like to live in a world where there is no longer any
violence against women and where power is shared equally between the sexes.
One
example is our funding of Asylum Aid. To raise awareness and increase
implementation of the UK’s policies regarding women seeking asylum, the
Feminist Review Trust supported Asylum Aid. Without the work of Asylum
Aid, unsupported women face the prospect of stressful appeals, vulnerability to
sexual exploitation and destitution in isolation.
example is our funding of Asylum Aid. To raise awareness and increase
implementation of the UK’s policies regarding women seeking asylum, the
Feminist Review Trust supported Asylum Aid. Without the work of Asylum
Aid, unsupported women face the prospect of stressful appeals, vulnerability to
sexual exploitation and destitution in isolation.
