Thread by @womenslibrary

Hello, I’m Adele Patrick. I'm the Creative Development Manager and one of the co-founders of Glasgow Women’s Library (GWL). This morning I have been given the reins of GWL’s Twitter account and want to take the opportunity to talk #FeministLeadership

The good ship GWL runs on the power of #FeministLeadership Recently I posted about my own reflections on what this approach to leading in the cultural sector means to me womenslibrary.org.uk/2020/03/02/mov…

I have created some webpages on #FeministLeadership womenslibrary.org.uk/moving-mountai…

I'd like to share some demands I'm making of myself as a #FeministLeader These personal demands form a coda to my recent @CloreLeadership research on #FeministLeadership - informed by working since 1991 @womenslibrary and ‘Living a Feminist Life.’ (Thank you @feministkilljoy!)

Some of us are involved (perhaps more than ever) in the process of reflecting, (re)thinking, visioning & preparing for a changed future. I'm hoping that the demands I'm sharing (approaches that are fuelling my work at GWL & in other contexts) can help stimulate wider discussion.

#FeministLeadership Demand 1
Embrace and use the term Feminist Leadership when it is called for, where it has impact and where it challenges structural inequalities.

#FeministLeadership Demand 2
Use the term #FeministEldership when it is called for and where it has impact. (For example, in contexts where ageism is ‘ambient’, feminist knowledges are marginalised and histories of feminist leadership are at risk of being lost).

#FeministLeadership Demand 3
Appreciate & promote the fact that Women of Colour, Black Feminists and women from the Global South are in the vanguard of understanding and modelling #FeministLeadership Ensure that their knowledge, work and histories are acknowledged and centred.

#FeministLeadership Demand 4
Honour, cite and bring to the fore other #FeministElders and appreciate how I/we can learn from the knowledge, honesty and kindness of women, non-binary and trans people of all ages.

#FeministLeadership Demand 5
Make sure y/our professional and personal ‘go to’ people include those who know most about how it feels to be righteously angry and marginalised.

#FeministLeadership Demand 6
Advocate for and practice kindness.

#FeministLeadership Demand 7
Practice Active Listening and act, informed by what you hear.

#FeministLeadership Demand 8
Check in regularly and critically on the alignment of y/our Values, Vision, Role and Responsibilities, and nurture a dialogistic culture (open, honest and inclusive communications) .

#FeministLeadership Demand 9
Actively hold, host and make space and time where it is called for.

To recap, I'm Adele Patrick and in my Take Over of the GWL Twitter account this morning I'm sharing some of the demands I am making of myself as a #FeministLeader I'm half way through these demands - thanks for your comments so far and I'd love to hear further thoughts...

#FeministLeadership Demand 10
Centre and make space for critical reflection.

#FeministLeadership Demand 11
Be respectful and expect respect.

#FeministLeadership Demand 12
Create space/s creatively.

#FeministLeadership Demand 13
Make space for learning and changing y/our viewpoint.

#FeministLeadership Demand 14
Honour, safeguard and share Feminist Institutional Knowledge.

#FeministLeadership Demand 15
Take courage and hope from the diversity and continuum of Feminist Leadership.

#FeministLeadership Demand 16
Identify and work against divisive behaviours, structures and thinking.

#FeministLeadership Demand 17
Seek out and ask the people who know more for their help and offer help to others.

#FeministLeadership Demand 18
Appreciate and take responsibility for y/our potential to be ethical, positive and impactful Feminist Leaders.

Apologies - this should, of course, have read (the inimitable) @SaraNAhmed and if you haven't read 'Living a Feminist Life' yet there is no better time.

#FeministLeadership Demand 19
Trust your vision and be brave.

I'm hoping that this sharing of my demands of myself express how I'm currently working to develop more impactful #FeministLeadership @womenslibrary
womenslibrary.org.uk/moving-mountai…

I have enjoyed my first ever Take Over of @womenslibrary Twitter account. What a privilege! I am here until midday for more responses and thoughts on #FeministLeadership but you can also follow me @AdelePatrickGWL for ongoing chats.

Stay connected as at 12.30 there is a treat in store as the ace #StillSeeingThings crew @womenslibrary offer up an amazing online exhibition in collaboration with @LUXmovingimage & @Tanoa_Sasraku