I recently attended my second A Woman’s Perspective (AWP) event at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, and woman am I glad I made it!  Having been the sole male presence in several women’s history classes in college, there was no conflict in my mind in attending an event celebrating women and their artistic interpretations on the themes of work and play, themes which resonate in my own life. That being said, I may have been the only male under age 50 in the audience.

This event was well orchestrated compared to the one I attended last year, clicking right along from original music to poetry to a fashion show featuring creatively constructed aprons to dance performances with a feel good drum session for those who wanted to participate thrown in at the end.  How could I resist?

The overall experience was playful, vibrant, and sacred. Strong emotions were shown by nearly all of the performers: sorrow, joy, nervousness, and crabbiness (“How am I supposed to follow that?” complained an elderly poet peering over the lectern after a rousing Broadway style piano and vocal piece). Admission was free with a food or monetary donation encouraged, and the artwork lining the walls alone was worth the price of a few cans of tuna, beans, and a stick of deodorant (personal care item donations were also accepted). Although I did not partake, a simple soup line was offered to acknowledge that not all women have access to the material luxuries we often take for granted.

I heard several references to men this year, and the overall tone seemed more inclusive with one of the performers making reference to women who weld and men who cook, reassuring me that there are women feminists who appreciate the efforts of their male counterparts. I felt more welcome as a forward thinking man, and the event reinforced my current belief that the key to completing the struggle for women’s rights involves direct action on the part of men. To quote one of my first dispatches for the High Plains Reader, “The glass ceiling will be blown off the penthouse when male CEO’s start taking three years off to raise their children, and twenty-something men work nights and weekends so that their wives can pursue their career goals.” I look forward to performing a contact juggling piece at next year’s event if the AWP will have me.