I, and my colleague Julie Roberts in the New Mexico office, organized a women's forum at the International Drug Policy Reform Conference in December to create a space for women to meet and discuss the role of women as activists in the drug policy reform movement, as an issue topic in our work, and as victims of the drug war. The forum was a huge success. We had about 50 women from the conference attend, from all organizations, backgrounds, experiences and ages. We had veterans debating SSDPers and the discussions were really thoughtful and galvanizing.

We decided at the end of the meeting to use a listserve, which we have since reactivated, on which to discuss being female in the drug policy reform movement and the significance that women's issues are given in our work and day-to-day lives. We are also going to build a website of reports, recommended reading, journal articles and recent news about women and the drug war (and I'll update you all on that as it happens).

Our ultimate goal, as I see it, is to flip the common perception that that the unique ways in which women are impacted by drug laws are simply a "collateral consequence" of the war on drugs, as well as to move beyond pregnant women as the only vehicle to discuss women and drugs. Categorizing women's experiences as collateral consequences is not only false (the female prison population has grow at a rate three times that of the male since 1980 and women suffer harsher prison conditions and higher instances of sexual assault in prison), it's inexcusable. The term collateral consequences suggest - to me - that these "consequences" are somehow inconsequential to the argument against prohibition. That they are excusable considering the grander goal of the drug war. Either way, the term is counter-productive when used by anti-prohibitionists.

By not making women in the drug war a central focus of our work, we further marginalize the roles of women struggling with drug addiction and women using drugs recreationally. The perception of women as responsible, rational, recreational drug users is extremely threatening to our system of values, as is the stigmatized image of women as criminals, or addicts.

I don't know how the subject of pregnant women and drugs (which is so often the only women's issue the gets a panel at these conferences) fits in to all of this, but I know that we desperately need to expand that focus. Discussing the various roles of women in the drug war (not just the small percent of them that are with child) is the only way to really elevate this issue to the level that it deserves.

If you would be interested in adding to this discussion, disagreeing with me, or connecting with other women in the movement, please email me at swilliams@drugpolicy.org and I will add you to the listserve, all genders welcome!

(ok, so it was all an ad!)

Labels: drug policy reform movement, Drug War, listserve, women