Judy Rebick says: Last week I attended one of the fabulous events of the season. The Miss G Project hosted a ladies luncheon they called “The New Girls Club” at Queen’s Park. Before lunch they played croquet on the lawns of Queen’s Park.

The Miss G Project is a group of young feminists centred in London, Ontario who decided to take it upon themselves to organize to get women’s studies into the high schools and they are unstoppable.

I was going to write an article on this extraordinary event and tell you how funny, bold and creative these young women are but instead I’ll let them speak for themselves. Here is their e-news report on the event.

But by now you’re wondering, why The New Girls Club? Was it simply an excuse to spoof beauty pageants and play croquet in front of Queen’s Park? In many ways, yes.

But much more than that, it was our answer to the Old Boys Club, something we got a very intimate view of when we sat in the Legislature after the luncheon âe¦ The Old Boys Club operates on a daily basis: in the guys’ locker room, strip clubs, and on the golf-course — thereby keeping women out of science classes, the boardroom, and the house of representatives. We’ve got a lot of beefs with that most exclusive and elusive of clubs, but rather than “man-up” and try to bust into the club-house, we think we should be busting down the barriers instead (did someone say curriculum?) Why learn to play golf, we ask, when croquet is so much more fun?

So, that’s exactly what we did (we were told by the grounds-keepers at QP that it was the strangest request they’d ever received), donning beauty-queen-type sashes that read “Miss Educated.” And we have photos to prove it.

The New Girls Club was also a shout-out to the “Old Girls” — the many brave and remarkable women who came before us, the reason we’ve all made it this far. These women knew a thing or two about sisterhood, affecting political change, and throwing a powerful party. If we do say so ourselves, last week’s shindig was one party they’d have been proud of. (“Too true,” says Judy R.)

Our only regret was that the whole thing went by so fast, leaving less room for solid bonding time with every supporter. It almost felt like speed-dating — of course, the more fabulous version that includes a catered lunch in the (of course) caucus room — a room, aptly enough, lined with the yellowing photos of old, white men.

Though it was standing-room only, most of us found our way to the floor, to give our croquet-weary bodies a rest. MPP Deborah Matthews emceed the affair, while MPPs Liz Witmer, Andrea Horwath, Sandra Pupatello and Laurel Broten delivered their remarks and voiced their support for the project. Lil’ old us (Lara and Sarah) also said a few words.

(Here is an excerpt from their talk.)

Lara said, “Although we are here for the pleasure of lunching with a room full of fabulous ladies, the heart of what brought us together is the cause… the goal of getting Women’s Studies courses into the Ontario High School Curriculum.

“If there is one thing we can say with absolute conviction and confidence it’s that this movement will not stop. We will lunch, lobby, crash conferences, visit high schools, flood the Government with postcards, annoy MPPs with our phone calls and emails, and sit in the Legislature until every student in Ontario has access to Women’s Studies. So why is this knowledge so necessary? Why Women’s Studies in high schools?

“Because we go through our entire formal education without ever really discussing gender.”

Sarah adds, “Because our herstory fills up no more than a side bar in a text book.”

L: “Because we learn what it is to be women from Seventeen magazine.”

S: “Because pepper spray doesn’t solve the problem.”

L: “Because eight out of ten Native women are sexually assaulted at one point in their life.”

S: “Because the worst thing you can call a man is a woman.”

L: “Because in high school I’m a slut if I have sex and a dyke if I don’t.”

S: “Because homophobia in high school kills.”

L: “Because there are only 25 of you (women MPPs) out of 108 and only 13 showed up.”

S: “Because we are 52 per cent of the population and invisible in our own education.”

A toast!

  • To the end of the old boys club!
  • To Women’s Studies nation-wide!
  • To the Sisterhood!
  • And to the end of patriarchy!

Before bringing this update to a close, we thought we’d drop a certain date (June 1) into your heads which you should keep in mind and write a big red ‘X’ on so as not to accidentally book any other lesser appointments for that time. We’re inviting you to come down and be part of something big, so tell all your friends and fellow haters of patriarchy that we’re not done with Queen’s Park yet — oh no, croquet was just the beginning. Keep this date (June 1) in mind. You’ll be glad you did.

Much G-Loving,

Your friendly neighbourhood counter-hegemonic, anti-patriarchal, fighting-for-equity-in-education group.