How to participate in a municipalist assembly

Recommendations by “Marea Feminista”, the feminisms group of municipalist platform Marea Atlántica, in A Coruña

1. When you arrive at the assembly, try to avoid sitting in the most important spot.
2. Even when you want to sit with people who are politically most like you, try to mix with people who are less politically similar to you too, particularly women.
3. When the debate is opened to the floor, don’t be the first to speak, and remember there’s nothing wrong with having a few minutes of reflection for those who have greater difficulty in expressing their ideas.
4. When you participate in a debate, consider whether what you are about to say has already been said by someone else and whether it’s necessary to repeat it in order to add something. In this case, make reference to the person who already expressed the idea and add your contribution without repeating what’s already been said.
5. Never try to translate, clarify or interpret what someone else has said, especially a woman. If you think something is unclear, ask her to explain it again or ask concrete questions about anything you find confusing.
6. When you’re responding in a debate, try to space out your contributions.
7. Always try to bear in mind how many men and women are participating in the debate.
8. Try to estimate how long the interventions of other men and women in the group last and try to adjust your own to the average.
9. Consider your non-verbal communication, your physical position, and how you feel and gesticulate.
10. Moderate your tone of voice; shouting or being forceful shouldn’t make an opinion count more.

Assemblies are spaces for the exchange of ideas in which everyone should be able to participate. Maybe you have all the answers, but if you don’t leave space for others to contribute you’ll monopolize the debate.

Facilitators are there for a reason; they make sure no-one side tracks the debate, that all voices and perspectives can be heard before taking a decision, and that we each see beyond our own perspective. This is their role and it should be respected.