The audience in Mount Vernon’s Campus’s Post Hall was hanging on Cynthia Enloe’s every word.

Presenting this year’s Yulee Lecture, “When Soldiers Rape: Making Feminist Sense of the International Politics of Violence Against Women,” Enloe began her talk speaking of  the rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by three U.S. service men. 

As Enloe described the rape and the events that followed, the audience recognized that the incidence of the “Schoolgirl Rape” had not been one they knew of.

“What did we do? Where were U.S. feminists?” Enloe questionned.

No response came from the audience, noting that American feminists had done nothing to protest against this horrendous crime. Many in the audience had never even heard of its occurrence.
 
 

A good example, according to Enloe, would be forms of protest from the Okinawan feminists. Although they did not meet with much national support, they protested on several different levels at once, making sure their message was heard by all.

Okinawan feminists organized major rallies, an anti-bases movement, and a critique of militarism – all at the same time.  But the feminists received the most attention for a walk they organized. Refusing to wear matching clothing, shout slogans, or put their fists in the air, these feminists protested peacefully and got the attention they hoped to achieve. 

Enloe also discussed the U.S. military’s acceptance of prostitution as a deterrent of rape, and the problems surrounding that attitude

The speaker closed her lecture by asking the audience to Think about the way attitudes about gender shape the world, and proving to the audience that American feminists must get involved in global issues to be successful feminists.

On April 16 and 17, we witnessed some historical moments in DC. 

Protests took place against the policies of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank during the organizations’ meetings with the financial heads of the world’s nations. More than ten thousand protesters showed up during the two-day protests. 

Many organizations, ranging from environmental groups to human rights and sweatshop protesters, participated in the demonstrations and the Sunday Rally at the Ellipse beyond the White House. 

Some protesters began gathering on the Saturday before the scheduled protests. An unusually large group protested across the street from the World Bank main building. The News reported that some 600 protesters were arrested during these early protests for parading without a permit.

On Sunday, some of the protesters went to the streets early to block the way for the delegates. Police hit and sprayed the protesters and arrested around 200 of them. Many blocks around the World Bank main building where the meetings were held were closed down by the police, to prevent contact between the  protesters and the meeting attendees. 

Next to the police lines, the protesters created their own barriers.  A few media people tried to pass the line of the protesters but no one was successful. 

It turned out that many delegates came in earlier than the protesters, so the protesters’ attempts to stop attendees was unsuccessful. It was reported that four delegates did not attend the meetings for unknown reasons.
 

Time to time the police officers were even invited to join and support the protesters’ cause. 

The protesters carried signs such as “Stop Corporate Greed” and “IMF /WB Start Shakin’ - Today’s Pig is Tomorrow’s Bacon” next to a pink piggy bank with a globe in its mouth. 

There were parades around the blockaded streets where crowds carried banners protesting the economic policies of the Bank. There was also a machine representing “structural adjustment policies” that produced “genetically modified foods” and other hazardous results occurring to  people around the world. 

Many of the protesters were young students, but there were some protesters who were in their forties and fifties. At the rally, one could also see a number of parents with their children. 

Half of the protesters were women belonging to one or the other protest organizations that originally organized the events. Except for a few international organizations, women’s organizations weren’t available at the protests although the IMF and the World Bank policies affected the lives of millions of women around the world. Still it was a relief to see that many women find it worth to participate in this insightful event that marked the turn of the century and the Millenium such that ordinary people refuse to overlook the decisions of financially powerful institutions. 

“The protests were relatively peaceful,” we read in the media afterwards, if we do not count the police hitting the protesters, pepper spraying and arresting some 1200 of them in three days. 

To read the accounts how the police treated the protesters after arresting them see www.indymedia.org. For a day by day summary of the events, please see www.a16.org  ?
 

The reason was the Baltimore Convention Center’s hosting of the Feminist Expo 2000.

The long weekend was filled with roundtables, workshops and discussions, all focused on women. Some examples of the sessions included: Women and the Future of Reproductive Rights, Women and the Media, and Anorexia and Eating Disorders.

Evenings were filled with entertainment ranging from bands to theatrical presentations.

But attendees did not need to attend the presentations of daily entertainment to see the faces of some “celebrity feminists.” 
 

Each day, all participants would gather in the Center’s main hall to hear speakers discuss where the feminist revolution had been and what was ahead. Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, and Eleanor Smeal all shared their histories and opinions throughout the weekend. 

Numerous feminist organizations also occupied the main hall providing an array of information.  Attendees found information on everything from health issues to job-searching techniques at the booths occupied by representatives from feminist organizations. 

GW’s Women’s Studies Program had their own stand, with both students and staff providing information about the program.

The organizers ended the Expo Sunday afternoon with a promise to return  with future Expos. 

 

Expo Entertainment:  Vagina Monologues
by Vanessa McMullin

Feminist Expo 2000 was an overall invigorating experience.

Thousand of people gathered for an event dedicated to feminism – what more could you ask for? 

That was what I thought until the feminist entertainment took place on Saturday night. It was so much in one – it was witty, thought provoking and empowering. 

Out of all of the entertainment, the most enjoyable by far was the Vagina Monologues. 

Amazing is probably a much more appropriate description of the material acted out by Eve Ensler, who was truly incredible. Her passionate performance combined with the energy of those in the room captured every member of the audience.

 I wish I could do justice to the experience, but I am afraid that simple words could not describe what occurred that night as thousands of feminists joined in praise of the vagina.

We all laughed, cried, cheered, sat in silence of thought, and knew that there was support around us.

For all of those who missed it, I can only suggest that you try to buy the book.

But I am sorry to say that the experience may not prove to be as incredible minus the thousands of feminists.

Regardless, anyone who is let on to the Vagina Monologues will walk away with a deeper and greater appreciation of the vagina.  ?