This Report was conceived and written collaboratively (names follow).
Meeting for the first time in the Global South, more than thirty women representing Oceania, Europe and the USA gathered on the Peninsula campus of Monash University in Australia for the fifth annual IWS grassroots educational meeting (February 1-3, 2019). We are grateful to our Boonwurrung hosts for their gracious Welcome to Country and commit to being part of reconciliation processes that include respect, recognition, learning and indigenous self-determination.
Feminist activists, educators, surfers, filmmakers, photographers, artists, scholars and non-profit leaders came together for three days of interactive learning, sharing and group beach and water activities. This year’s themes, ‘Visibility, Respect, Action,’ were threaded through dynamic discussions, workshop presentations, and collaborative organic intellectual and creative work. A pre-circulated curriculum highlighting “Feminist Ways of Seeing” provided points of departure for collective engagement. A perfect beginning: paddling out to form a circle of women.
The questions for our meeting emerged from noticing that in spite of women’s extensive contributions to water culture throughout surf history, little is visible in the larger surfing community and wider public. Today new histories are being made and established histories are being revised as women filmmakers, photographers, artists, researchers, educators and writers prioritize the importance of females and their relationships to water culture. The central question for us was how to make women and girls more visible and how to build feminist alliances to support female visibility.
Major Research Findings: Environment, Health, Social Issues, Building Alliances, Culture Creation.
- Environmental Issues. Environment is a priority concern for Oceania. Throughout our three days we learned about diverse approaches — coral farming, plastics art, remote geography clean up, to name only some — that illustrate women’s work to face environmental degradation and climate challenges.
- Health and Wellbeing. Women surfers are addressing issues of health and wellbeing through surfing initiatives and research. Their projects cover mental health, autism, overcoming fear, misogyny and sexual and domestic violence.
- Social Issues. Surfing reflects and perpetuates social problems facing our greater society. Women’s projects and programs confront issues such as ageism, ableism, sexism, racism, patriarchy and colonialism.
- Alliances. Building alliances between women is key to social action and feminist surfing movements. Alliances provide support, networking opportunities and the exchanging of ideas that further each other’s endeavours.
- Culture Creation through Art & Film. Art and film projects are important cultural mediums that promote new ways of seeing. Our meeting featured art, films and photographs that provided feminist visual imagery to counter and critique surfing’s dominant narratives. A mini surfboard art project utilized individual creativity resulting in a group art installation; a metaphor for the weekend where individuals arrived as strangers, and left an empowered force for change. We call the installation ‘Together.’
Follow Up
- IWS Oceania wishes to support our colleagues from Solwota Sista and the Vanuatu Surfing Association. a) IWSO and Surfing Mums will coordinate the collection and delivery of much needed surfing accessories. b) Researchers have agreed to collaborate in the formulation of a protocol for gathering evidence of surf activities in Vanuatu. c) Additional research is slated for collaboration and skill sharing about large scale coral restoration projects.
- IWSO collaborative art project ‘Together’ will be featured in a Torquay based art exhibit in February 8, 2019.
- IWSO, in collaboration with the Australian National Surfing Museum, will screen two films by Elizabeth Pepin Silva, including a panel discussion on the future of women and surfing. February 9, 2019.
- Discussions are underway for the next IWSO meeting (tentatively 2021).
Archive of Skill Share Presentations and Talks
–Laura Alfrey (Eng, Aus., Monash U, Health & Physical Ed). Welcome & Paddle Out, Port Phillip Bay
–Cath Ashton (Aus. Mental Health Professional) Our Growing Wise Years
–Aimee Blacker (Aus. Occupational Therapist, Co-Founder of Surfing the Spectrum). Aimee Blacker Surfing the Spectrum HOT Day Presentation
–Fiona Capp (Aus, Writer). Reading from & Remarks about That Oceanic Feeling.
–Krista Comer (US Professor & IWS Director) Comer, Building Feminist Alliances for Oceania
–Dr. lisahunter (co-founder, Institute Oceania, Monash University) Re-imag(in)ing Surfing as a Network in Oceania
–Dr. Barb Humbertone (NZ Researcher) Aging, Ageism, and Board Sports Barb Humberstone Diversity & Surfing
–Bianca Julicher (Aus. Student, Activist, Entrepreneur) Founder Salty Rose TM Salty Rose Story: Recording
–Risu Kalotiti (Vanuatu, Soltwata Sista) Coral Farming & Restoration
–Ashika Kanhai (Aus. Lawyer, Policy Specialist) Disabilities & Criminal Justice Ashika Kanhai
–Stef Mahuk (Vanuatu, Attorney) Soltawata Sista, President Vanuatu Surfing Association
–Ula Majewski (Aus. Writer, Activist) Climate and Oceans. Ula Majewski Prezzo
–Jess Moulynox (Aus) Surfing Mums Port Phillip
–Elizabeth Pepin Silva (US, Visual Artist) Alternative Visuals and Storytelling
–Dr. Rebecca Olive (Aus. Researcher) Olive – IWS Oceania – Gender in Surf Media: Mick Fanning & the Shark
–Rachael Parker (Aus. Youth Worker, Founder of Ocean Mind) Parker, Mental Health in Schools Conference Report
–Lyndsey Stoodley (Wales. Doctoral Student, Co-Founder IWS Europe) Report for IWS Oceania on IWS Europe (Wales): Founding & Outcomes
–Paula Tura (Brazil. Artist, Educator, Filmmaker, Surf Mum). Gaia’s Daughters: The Surfing Mums Journey (A Film)
–Fiona Tse (Aus. Chiropractor) Surfing to Overcome Fear
–Kirsten Yonan (USA. Lifeguard Archives) Yonan, Lifeguards in California, Australia, New Zealand
Contributors:
Dr. lisahunter (Monash University, Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Victoria, AUS)
Professor Krista Comer (Rice University, Houston, US)
Lyndsey Stoodley (PhD candidate, Cardiff University, Wales)
Kirsten Yonan (Activist, Researcher, Prospective Graduate Student, San Juan Capistrano, CA, US)
Elizabeth Pepin Silva (Visual Artist, On the Waterfront Creative, Ojai, CA, US)