Feminism

North Queensland Combined Women Services Inc. (NQCWS), commonly known as The Women's Centre, is a women only space, which operates from a feminist philosophy.

The Women’s Centre grounds its practice in feminist understandings. Feminism is a broad and diverse movement that can include a range of influences. At the centre of all feminisms is an analysis of our culture and community that recognizes a power imbalance between men and women.

Dominant cultural understandings of women impact directly on issues that create disadvantages for women, issues that may be experienced as a crisis. Women in the dominant western-Anglo culture have traditionally been seen as passive, nurturing, obedient, child bearing and rearing, carers for those less able to participate in public life, possessions of partners and belonging to the private rather than the public world.

Many other cultures are influenced by patriarchal notions that privilege men over women. Our service acknowledges the work of black feminisms, queer feminisms and the writings of other women, exposing the multiple layers of power and privilege in our community. We are committed to reflecting on our own practice and to make visible those areas of our work requiring change.

The Women’s Centre aims not only to respond to the needs identified by women through the crisis appointment but to also make visible those structures and discourses that perpetuate disadvantage and violence against women. As a feminist service, we offer the naming and exposing of the broader contributing factors as a challenge and alternative to patriarchy.

The counseling appointment therefore is more than just a micro-skills exchange between ‘professional’ and ‘client’. Instead it is an act of resistance between women, honouring a ritual and process of shared understandings that has occurred for centuries.

Women who access the Centre’s services are treated as individuals rather than compartmentalized. Feminist practice seeks to respond to all of her experiences, engaging at different levels in holistic ways. Most importantly, the Women’s Centre aims to be a safe space: safe emotionally and physically.