Independent Women Meeting Europe 2009

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We were afraid it wouldn't take place at all, after a long discussion about where the meeting would take place, the location was set to Krakow, Poland. However, the organizing team there found themselves compromised by other duties. Finally, it was settled, a bit late, but still, to take place in Göteborg, Sweden.

Acknowledgements:
Thank you...
Women's Public College - for letting us use their facilities
Haga Independent Movie Theater - for the cheap lunch sandwiches
Tota and Sofie - for the organization
Göteborg CS members - for the hospitality
Meeting members - for attending, for the input and making this whole experience unforgettable

Contents

Workshops

Self-defence

After breakfast and a tour of the Women's Public College we gathered for the Self-defence workshop. Prior to the workshops we had been asked to observe body language of women and men around the streets. Several members shared their observations.

Men seem to walk more calmly, stepping with the whole foot, in that way getting balance, and relaxed leaning a bit backwards. Women seem to lean forward, taking short and quick steps, giving the walk a less calm and assertive feeling.

As a woman if you walk around smiling to people, it seems like men get the wrong impression and think that you are flirting with them

When hitch-hiking you need to balance assertiveness and looking friendly (like the girl next door), so that you neither scare people of nor give the wrong impression. Never wearing the hair out, not facing upcoming cars rather having a 45 degree angle. Walking might give a better impression than just standing and waiting.

We were asked to discuss how we acted when you walk meeting someone, do you move from the other persons way? Do you look down?

You move away so you don't bump into the other person

Maybe you look into the other persons eyes and try to communicate with your eyes, but many times they do not "communicate" back and then you have to move away from their way

When you walk towards someone on the street and they look into your eyes, you look away

We were asked to straighten our backs, look a little above our eye-level and walk around in the room. When someone walks assertive and looking straight forward, other people move away since the person gives out signals that they are walking towards a goal in a decisive way. Looking straight and ignoring the others will make them move away from your way. What would happen if you bump into them? Will they get mad? What would happen?

You don't want to hurt yourself or anybody else

They will probably get mad and start shouting

They will probably just be surprised and say they are sorry

Safety

Travel Stories

Gallery

Agenda

Friday March 6th:

  • Pub mingle with local CS community

Saturday March 7th:

  • Breakfast & tour of the Women's Public College
  • Workshop I: Self-defence
  • Lunch
  • Workshop II: Safety Issues
  • Treasure Hunt around Gothenburg
  • Dinner & Price Ceremony

Sunday March 8th:

  • Workshop III: Travel stories by Independent Women
  • Women's Day parade
  • International Women's Day at The Art Museum
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