GCTechSpace strives to be an inclusive and safe space for all to participate in. We believe that in the absense of true equality in our society, we should aim to provide equity to our members and the participating public. We are not a judge and jury, we are not the cops; but we are a community with shared ideals about the rights of people to feel free of oppression.
Abuse, discrimination, harassment, assault, sexism, racism, ableism, religious persecution and homophobic behaviour is not tolerated at GCTechSpace, nor is any other behavior which would reasonably make a person feel trivialised or otherwise discriminated against. Anyone violating this may be asked to leave the hackerspace either temporarily or permanently.
This process is not easy. Please question in advance your capacity to deal with being asked to leave the hackerspace if necessary and how you would react in a progressive way if you or yours were called out for behaviour in violation of this document.
Alcohol and other drugs are not an excuse for bad behaviour. While we recognise the difficulties imposed by mental health and/or other disabilities, these issues are not an excuse for bad behaviour either. Everyone can expect to be held accountable of their behaviour equally. We ask that you be aware of your capacity to remain in control of your emotions, actions and reactions when these things come into play.
If you experience or witness any behaviour that crosses the boundaries and ideas in this document, challenge them. If you act contrary to this document, expect to be challenged.
Actions contrary to this document are an acceptable reason to utilise our dispute resolution process.
- We all enter the hackerspace with a commitment to mutual respect, mutual aid, anti-oppression advocacy, conflict resolution, non-violence and community building.
- We respect everyone’s names, preferred gender pronouns, expressed identities and experiences. We avoid making assumptions, promote mutual appreciation and understand that no one is required to share information about their identites or experiences.
- We support the empowerment of each person and strive to continually acknowledge the histories and structures of oppression that marginalize some and divide us all.
- We commit to making the hackerspace as accessible as possible; physically, socially, and personally.
- We do not engage in violence or threats.
- We obtain explicit consent for physical contact or using others’ belongings.
- We recognise that certain behaviour and language can act as a trigger for individuals, such as trivialising, joking about or dismissing someone’s thoughts or experiences.
- We believe in stepping back and letting people and groups explain and conceive their own needs and requirements, and respect their choices and experiences.
- We accept a shared responsibility where we hold ourselves and one another accountable to these agreements, without violence, judgment, or assumption of intent.
- We support the concept of freedom of speech, and aim to avoid all forms of censorship. However, we do not support freedom from consequence. Your free speech may incur consequences such as (but not limited to) moderation, being included in a dispute process, temporary or permanent loss of membership, etc.
- We do not support utilising the hackerspace for sexual activity.
- We ask that people utilising the hackerspace also utilise the bathrooms when changing clothes, as this may make some people feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.
- We promote inclusive learning spaces. We encourage anyone who is feeling less than familiar with terminology, concepts or context to ask questions in the spirit of personal growth.
Terminology
GCTechSpace defines various terms in our safe space policy as such:
- Oppression
- A system of power that seeks to keep people separate and subordinate based on diversity or diversities from the mainstream authority. Also known as systematic discrimination of a group.
- Mainstream Authority
- The group considered ‘normal’ in a given culture. In Australia, this group is loosly defined as caucasian, heterosexual, cisgendered males.
- Sexism
- Oppression of a group of people based on their gender or sex.
- Racism
- Oppression of a group of people based on their race, ethnicity or culture.
- Ableism
- Oppression of a group of people based on their ability or disability to perform certain tasks.
- Homophobic Behaviour
- Oppression of a group of people based on their sexual orientation or preferences.
- Religious Persecution
- Oppression of a group of people based on their membership to a religious organisation.
- Discrimination
- Prejudicial treatment of an individual or group based on their actual or percieved membership in a certain oppressed group or category.
- Cisgender
- A person whose gender identity matches with the sex they are designated at birth.
- Trigger
- A topic, phrase or word that emotionally sets someone off. Could refer to anger, or reliving a traumatic experience. They are not the same as being reminded of something someone does not like, or take offense to.
Further Reading
- https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/background-paper-human-rights-cyberspace
- http://ladyhacks.net/about/safe-space-policy/
- http://campanarchy.org/safer-spaces-policy
- http://www.occupybristoluk.org/about/safe-space-policy/
- http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Conference_anti-harassment/Policy
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trauma_trigger
- http://www.sparkindarkness.com/2012/11/the-dictionary-is-not-authority.html
- http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mdover/website/Oppression%20Compendium%20and%20Materials/Definitions%20of%20Oppression.pdf
- http://racismschool.tumblr.com/post/60803034543/6-reasons-i-dont-like-the-dictionarys-definition-of
- http://racismschool.tumblr.com/Racism:Definitions