"Chicks in the Sticks"
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Life in a Feminist Ecovillage
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A feminist culture... |
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As a feminist culture, at Twin Oaks we tend to disregard
traditional gender roles and behavior. Women and men choose their
roles in the community based on their interests, strengths, and passions,
not on anyone else's preconceived notions. Women and men operate chainsaws
and drive tractors, and men and women cook and care for children.
We all wear clothing we find comfortable--pants for working in, skirts
for coolness or festivity, heedless of mainstream ideas of "acceptable"
fashion choices. Our commitment to fostering a supportive and joyful
environment for all people—women, men, lesbians, gays, and children--is
an integral part of Twin Oaks Community. |
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We organize and host a yearly Women's Gathering to celebrate our creativity, culture, and diversity in a women-only space. We have also hosted gatherings for QIC (Queer in Community). |
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Women on the job...
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jAz - Writer"We have made an agreement that there will be no live TV here,
so I'm not being confronted on a day to day basis with unrealistic
images and ideals of how a woman should look and act, nor constantly
reminded that there are standards, which I had no part in creating,
that I am not meeting. Therefore, what I do see on a day-to-day basis
is a variety of women feeling free to express their true identities,
talents, and unique beauty, which in turn helps me connect with my
own. And while we do show movies every weekend, I find I am less interested
in what Hollywood has to say about life, and more interested in what
I have to say about it. I not only found my voice here, but the confidence
to use it." |
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Inge - Auto Manager"I've worked on our vehicles for the full 9 years I've been here—I started on my first day! (I was a mechanic for 15 years before joining Twin Oaks.) The job is satisfying yet frustrating, and never boring—there's always new challenges and new technology. It's a good feeling to be able to do this work in a male-dominated field. Our local auto-parts store is respectful, and I like giving the message that women can do this work." |
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Kristen - Homeschooler"I've lived at Twin Oaks for 10 years. Upon arrival from a big
city, I was struck by how safe it feels here to walk alone in the
dark. It's an incredible feeling of freedom to walk anywhere on our
land without fear. There's also an absence of sexism, which I find
refreshing. I learned how to do construction work and discovered the
joy of power tools. Women are encouraged to do whatever work they
want. Also I've enjoyed membership in various women's groups over
the years, and have found many dear friends here, both male and female.
The hugest difference, however, was being supported during my two
pregnancies and homebirths." |
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Want to know more? |
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The Feminist EcoVillage Project The Feminist EcoVillage Project is a group of ecovillages which hold feminism as a core value and are interested in members who consider both sustainability and feminism as central to their lives. Living in a feminist ecovillage is a way of addressing gender and
power imbalances that exist in the world, while living out our ecological
values. We are free to create new cultural norms, ones that celebrate
women and men as whole humans beings who are living in an interactive
relationship with the earth. Please visit www.ic.org/eco for more information. |
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Twin Oaks is actively seeking new members who want to join us in strengthening and maintaining the diverse, accepting culture we have worked hard to create. If you are reading this you may want to consider living at or visiting Twin Oaks. We have regular Saturday tours, as well as 3 week visitor periods for people who want to spend more time here or who are interested in applying for membership. If you have any questions, please contact us at the following address. Twin Oaks Community |
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For information on other communities that share our
values
visit www.thefec.org
To find out more about intentional communities
Check out Queer in Community at www.ic.org/qic |
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