(Re)Launch II: Introducing Phase I of TAF
- Meredith
- Jun 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 28
What will TAF look like procedurally, substantively, conceptually?
I am building a space I have always wanted but have never found.
First things first —
I need you to understand that I identify as an artist. As a creative. As much as this is sociopolitical analysis and commentary, as well as community-building, which are inherently cracker jack intellectual and academic pursuits, they are much, much more expansive for me. Consider the NASA photos of various nebulae from around the known universe. That’s how sociopolitic issues, philosophy, and development feel to me. These activities make my soul come alive.
Clearly, sociopolitical analysis on group and individual levels is as old as sapiens crossing the zenith of the Cognitive Revolution. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel or claim monopoly or originality on a specific idea or strategy.
What’s new is my style — the way I do things and structure this outfit here at TAF.
I call this Phase I
Women (especially white women conditioned to center men), in my white, cishet, suburban experience, have precious few philosophical, intellectual spaces…
* Separate from men
** Especially in the suburbs
*** Very especially for moms and even more for stay-at-home-moms
…in which to commune with women of kindred energy around topics of interest and import which affect our lives and those of others. Some of us don’t have the frontal lobe designed for enjoying small talk over glasses of wine whilst the world burns. Some of us would rather delight in the vigors of real, deep conversation pregnant with potential to provide actual solutions and strategies to society’s structural ails and widespread suffering.
This concept is expressibly orgasmic to me after what I affectionately refer to as the gulags of stay-at-home-motherhood and the trenches of toxic marriage.
Why just women?
I am certainly open to coed conversation eventually, but I find men mostly too limited and un-evolved for discussion premised with an understanding of patriarchy. Furthermore, patriarchy conditions men to display an intractable dominance and certitude I find relentlessly irritating and counterproductive. I am laser-focused on dynamic, fluid interactions. Men are generally closed to ideas and solutions that do not emanate from either themselves or other men. Women are flourishing with ideas that can yield significant results and open to those of others. Routinely.
There are diamonds of men hidden in the rough sands of patriarchy but I don’t have the time, nor inclination to put them through a strainer at this point. I encourage men out there who find this idea of interest to start their own conversations in which they can specifically address healing from patriarchy.
* I am considering doing a monthly coed leftist, progressive, liberal (whatever the hell label you like) Zoom hangout down the road.
On another note, I do understand many women probably have access to these types of spaces with other women they have had the benefit of meeting in real life. I salute and celebrate those of you who do.
I don’t. I haven’t. Certainly, not since I had kids and was sucked into the near-inescapable vortex of domestic servitude in heteronormative hell.
So, I’m doing the most selfish thing imaginable. Setting up a space for myself and other solutions-oriented women to gather together. In community. To answer the calls coming from inside and outside ourselves to address myriad crises facing our ourselves, families, country, and marginalized people in particular.
The idea makes me want to scream with excitement.
🟣
A quick note: I have not done enough of the work. As a lifelong student and analyst, I am not nearly as well-read or nuanced as I would prefer or imagined myself to be at this stage. I'm routinely horrified by the route my life took on its detour fraught with turmoil. As a result, my depth on issues of significance to me and others — most especially on intersectionality — remains far too shallow.
But I have fought tooth and nail to extract myself (and my children) from that existence so that I may have time to rectify my ignorance, do the work, and affect change. I commit to this new life and invite others to do so with me.
🟣
Here's what TAF preliminary operation will look like:
My plan for Phase I is to operate THEMATICALLY. BY SPECIFIC THEME. OR TOPIC. LIKE CHAPTERS.
I will introduce a theme I feel compelled to explore, giving myself ~ a week (or more if the kids have busy schedules) to research, ideate and organize my thoughts around the theme. Afterward, I will launch into content creation around the theme for the consumption of others.
Themes can range from the sociopolitical, like patriarchy and decentering men, to the IRL — why isn’t neglect considered abuse in a marriage, etc. Themes can be standalone books I’ve been wanting to sink my teeth into — or even a topic a participant (not me) proposes. The only limit (at this point) is that they fall under the banner umbrella of my philosophical raison d'être: to explore and divest from capitalist, white supremacist patriarchy and to help other women do so.
TAF content creation/publication around a theme will comprise of:
Announcement of theme on social media. At this point, TAF will have a presence on Youtube, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Substack. This is subject to change at any time because social media platforms have a tendency toward the batshit insane and I am trying to maintain sanity. This is a marathon, ffs.
At least one issue of TAF’s blog, Piratical Vagenda, on the TAF website, will explore the theme. This will be cross-posted on the TAF Substack and will be free. I’ll also post links to the PV issue on TAF social media feeds.
At least one TAF livestream (The Agentic Feminine | LIVE), which will definitely be on Youtube. Maybe Instagram. Eventually, I'm hoping to simulcast on TikTok and Substack, but I don't think I have the permission to do so on those platforms just yet. Every TAF Live will also be posted as a podcast on Spotify and Apple (if I can master the tech wizardry required to do so. I have high hopes).
*** FOLLOWING THE CREATION/PUBLICATION OF THEME CONTENT ***
(THIS IS IMPORTANT!)
• TAF will host at least one live ZOOM *Talk Circle* per theme (depending on demand) for women who would like to participate. These will be paid events. Tickets for these events will be available on Eventbrite. My vision for these events will be — IN THE FIRST HALF — a discussion with the entire group present where I take a backseat and simply facilitate. THE SECOND HALF will be the entire group split into smaller talk circle groups of 4-6 women to have more intimate discussions.
• I will be asking women to give their takes, share their stories, offer potential solutions and resources for others.
The Talk Circles are what I’m excited about the most. They will be a place where we can collectively feel seen and heard, agentic, and capable of creating change. I can’t wait to meet so many of you and develop wonderful connections with you.
🟣
This is all preliminary. I’ve never hosted a group on Zoom before and I’m sure there will have to be a trial-and-error period where I see what works and what doesn’t.
Charging money for Talk Circle participation serves two purposes — helping me support my family in this capitalist hellscape, and keeping out the riffraff intent on sabotaging good faith conversation among those seeking change.
ALSO, depending on my time availability, I will publish the TAF newsletter, Dispatches from Fallopia, every other week.
If this all seems confusing, it is. I get it. I’m creating something I certainly have never seen before. I’m creating something from whole cloth that is my version of a thriving live. I've been spending my life building this entire infrastructure and can't wait to launch this baby. This is what makes me come alive.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! 👉
