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Sian Norris, one of the co-ordinators behind the new and expanding Bristol Feminist Network, talks about its origins and growth. Interview: Anna Behrmann.

“The Bristol Feminist Network emerged in 2007, and it was a lot about music and art. It was set up following the success of Ladyfest Bristol, as one of the first in a chain of feminist networks springing up around the country. Our aim is to increase gender equality; raise awareness of inequality, and give people a space where they can talk about feminism. Bristol has an exciting history of activism; you know that you can pick up the phone, and people will come.

“The media claimed feminism was dead. And now they can’t ignore us because we have become so much bigger. The papers tend to focus on the ‘sexy’ issues, such as slut walks and the opening of the new Playboy club. Our campaigns on female genital mutilation rarely make it in the papers. But feminist voices are in the media, and even when papers criticise feminists, you can answer back. It’s great we’re having these debates within a big space, rather than just the feminist networks.

“Feminism is still relevant, and this has been proven in the last few years. The Coalition introduced the emergency budget, and the cuts impacted disproportionately on women. People are realising that what we think of as equality is constantly under threat. Ken Clarke’s recent comments, suggesting that some rape cases are more serious than others made people very angry. People are also drawn to feminism because they hate the lads mags’ culture of objectifying women.

“Feminism has always been a grassroots organisation. People have different priorities and ways of creating action. Some people will lobby parliament, and others will do a big art installation, or organise a flash mob; they’ll write a blog, sign a petition, or have a consciousness-raising group. Our members put forward what they want to discuss at our monthly meetings, and we have lively discussions; we don’t just sit there in a circle, agreeing with each other.

“Men occasionally come to meetings. It’s an old feminist saying that patriarchy hurts men too. Patriarchal society values aggression and machismo, arguing that men can’t be nurturers. Men only get two weeks paternity leave if they have a child, and that is sending a message that fathers don’t have a place in the family unit in the same way that mothers do.

“We’ve achieved a lot since the 70s. Our members who were feminists then tell us how a married woman couldn’t get the gas bill in her name. But we are still facing a lot of the same issues; we need to fight violence against women and girls, affirm our right to choose to have an abortion, and we still have problems with female representation in business, parliament and in everyday life. One of the strengths of feminism in the UK is that women across generations have formed solid networks.

“Reclaim the Night is our biggest event. Around 500 people came when we held it in 2009 and 2010. This year, it’s taking place in November, and the meetings are already taking place. We organise vigils for victims of sexual violence, and march to demonstrate our right to walk the streets at night without fear of harassment. Reclaim The Night was born in the 70s as a reaction to the curfew placed on women in the wake of the Yorkshire Ripper murders. The warnings to women are still the same: stay indoors; don't walk on your own; don't be out after dark. Officials put the emphasis on the women to avoid the violence, rather than campaigning to stop the violence.

“In September we’re looking at global inequality. On 4 September, there is a ‘No Woman No Peace’ workshop, campaigning for women’s involvement in the Afghanistan peace process. Peace needs to include women; otherwise it is not peace at all. On 5 September, we are showing ‘Africa Rising,’ a documentary about female genital mutilation. The director of Forward, Naana Otoo-Oyortey MBE, and Efua Dorkenoo, who works from Equality Now and helped make the film, will be speaking in the panel discussion after the film.

“Amnesty describes the mistreatment of woman as the greatest human rights violation of our time. It’s not enough to fight for equality in the UK; we need to look at the problems of global inequality. Human rights violations, such as female genital mutilation and human trafficking take place in the UK as well as abroad. Anti-war and anti-poverty campaigns need to pay attention to feminist issues; if women are not lifted out of poverty, the community cannot be lifted out of poverty. The BFN is not just about equality for Bristol women; it’s about equality for all women.”