Melanie Goldberg
Women of the World (WOW) held their long-awaited inaugural event in Scotland on the 5th of March. Welcoming the likes of actress and activist Elaine C. Smith, SNP Councillor Roza Salih, and BBC presenter Gemma Cairney, the event at Òran Mór was a sell-out hit.
Having followed along with WOW online for many years, I have to say I was impressed by this year’s lineup.
Inclusion
Hosts Elaine C. Smith and Jude Kelly CBE were keen to highlight this year’s theme of inclusion: inclusion of all – regardless of gender, age, class, sexuality, and particularly the importance of encouraging men to partake in feminist advocacy.
The entire event was signed by British Sign Language interpreter Karen Forbes. Karen, who is hearing, grew up with a deaf parent and regularly signs events such as these. Speaking of greater inclusion of deaf people, she said: “my mum used to take me to theatre even though she couldn’t hear. There were never interpreters provided, but she knew I loved the arts and that’s why I am now doing what I do and interpreting mainly within theatre in the arts, that’s my main focus.”
Founded by Dame Jude Kelly in 2010, WOW “exists to build, convene and sustain a global movement that believes a gender equal world is desirable, possible and urgently required.”
Powerhouses
The not-for-profit organisation has held events all over the world with previous guests including impressive feminist powerhouses Roxane Gay, Laura Bates, Arundhati Roy, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Ruby Wax.
Smith presented the main portion of the event, which saw a myriad of discussions and performances, beginning with a lovely Gaelic poem from Tawana Maramba. We were then graced with a beautiful performance from Danielle Jam, who sang an excerpt from James IV, a play which depicts a pair of Moorish sisters who arrive from Spain and subsequently secure positions in the Royal Court. Danielle, who plays one of the sisters, Ellen, stated her desire to shift the focus of the history of black people away from slavery and share stories of black women in history, who have vibrant histories.
“her astute commitment to justice is palpable to anybody within her presence.”
One of my personal highlights of the day was a discussion led by BBC Radio 6 presenter Gemma Cairney and SNP Councillor Roza Salih. Roza’s family fled Kurdistan from Saddam Hussein’s authoritarian government after the execution of several family members. Growing up in Glasgow, Roza envisioned parallels between Scottish and Kurdish independent movements and in response to anti-immigration rhetoric, co-founded the solidarity group, Glasgow Girls. Roza acutely demonstrated that she is a force to be reckoned with and her astute commitment to justice is palpable to anybody within her presence.
Her energy ambitious and spirited, Gemma’s professional successes are also no mean feat. An Oxfam ambassador, former Observer columnist and author, Gemma has won numerous awards for her work. She had many a fond anecdote about her Scottish ancestry, which had ultimately inspired her move to Edinburgh.
‘Queen Jesus’
The event concluded with a ‘performance’ from writer and actor Jo Clifford. Referring to herself as a “Queen Jesus”, I felt a certain irony in Clifford’s indictment of colonialism, given her decision to cajole the room into an uncomfortable and cringeworthy ‘group prayer’ – a tactic evangelist in nature. As a Jew, it definitely touched a nerve, given the violent and oppressive history of Christian proselytization, which many of my own ancestors were forced to flee from. For an event that championed diversity, and quite successfully so until Clifford’s ‘performance’, a disregard for any non-Christian faith groups in attendance was an honest surprise. Even Jude subsequently referred to the organisation of such an event as “an act of faith”. I could feel Òran Mór’s bust of Martin Luther smirking at me.
“the message is to go out there and you’re not alone.”
Elaine remarked afterwards that “It seemed like a very timely thing given what we’ve been through”, stating that “Òran Mór is Gaelic for ‘The Gathering’, so for women to gather, particularly after a pandemic when people have been so isolated, so I think that more than anything is the important thing, and the message is to go out there and you’re not alone.”
I wholeheartedly agree that Òran Mór really was a perfect venue; large enough to create an exciting energy, but small enough not to be overwhelming or detached from the participants. I certainly would not hesitate in attending any future WOW events, despite a certain evangelical hiccup.
Images courtesy of Melanie Goldberg.
