Working Together for Empowerment: Feminist Social Service Collectives in Canada

"It's 10 minutes to three. The collective meeting started at 9:00 a.m. but we still haven't reached consensus. Should we give Mary an extension on her stay at the shelter even though she came in stoned, and it was one hour after curfew? The collectiveis certainly divided. Susan feels that rules are rules, and there can't be any exceptions. Mary was both late, and stoned which isn't tolerated in the house. Jackie has been challenging Susan and suggesting that she is just reacting to the fact that Mary was out with her lesbian lover. Marie adds that Mary's kids are ill, so it's a bad time to have her move on, while Kate is beginning to think we should call C.A.S. because she feels that Mary is neglecting her children. Chris reminds us that we have to have the grant application finished by today and she is suggesting that we move on in the agenda and have Mary wait another 24 hours before we tell her our decision. And I find myself getting angry and impatient because that would mean an emergency meeting tomorrow which is my day off. My mind wanders as I wonder if we will ever reach a decision and I laugh sardonically, thinking that this kind of work is supposed to be empowering why do I want to work collectively anyway?" Working collectively is a common organizational form for many feminist agencies and groups. A collective structure is non-hierarchical and reflects the feminist values of ending oppression and domination by providing a work environment where ideally power, participation and wages are equal. Collectives emphasize the sharing of knowledge, skills and information; the use of participatory decision-making; and the by Janice L. Ristock