Women & Children First needs your help
re-creating our space. With a store-wide renovation, we will pay tribute to our
history while also rejuvenating our present—both physically and
philosophically—to meet the emerging needs of young feminists and create a platform
for the increasingly diverse voices that are joining this movement. The
sustainability of the bookstore depends upon the ampersand (&) in our name.
Focusing on a past, present, and future of inclusiveness, we welcome...
WOMEN & CHILDREN & YOU.
Our Story
In 1979, Ann
Christophersen and Linda Bubon opened Women & Children First, a feminist bookstore that they
vowed would be as political as it was literary.
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Their vision was
born of passion, but also of frustration. They were frustrated when they
scanned the New York Times bestseller
list only to see one female author listed. They were frustrated that women were
denied credit cards unless they had a father’s or husband’s name on their
account. They were frustrated that Chicago’s lesbian and gay community still
had so few public spaces where they could safely and openly gather.
For 35 years, Women
& Children First has been a second home for book lovers and gender studies
majors, for teens coming out to their parents and parents coming out to their parents, for teachers, toddlers,
new moms, survivors of sexual assault, and feminists of every color,
gender, age, class, and sexual orientation.
Our staff includes writers, storytellers, editors, artists, mothers,
and political activists. This
past summer, after announcing their plans to retire, Ann and Linda selected two
of these staff members, Lynn Mooney and Sarah Hollenbeck, to succeed them as
the store’s new co-owners. Lynn and Sarah are honored to begin building on Ann
and Linda’s legacy with fresh energy that will carry the store forward for
years and years to come.
Over the years, Women & Children First has hosted readings by Margaret
Atwood, Jhumpa Lahiri, Isabelle Allende, Meg Wolizer, Alice Walker, Jane Lynch, Gloria
Steinem, Roxane Gay, Julia Serano, Inga Muscio, Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and other literary and
political giants. Our customers
have had the opportunity to shake hands with these luminaries, but also discover
little-known writers whose careers are just beginning. Beyond hosting
readings, W&CF offers a space for conversation about books and so much more—all
through a distinctly feminist
lens.
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The Next Chapter
With the threat of online retailers and their
tactics to undermine the work of authors and indie booksellers, there is a
growing need to re-imagine how we use our brick-and-mortar space in order to
affirm its importance. Our plans to keep W&CF relevant and sustainable
include:
[1] A renovation of the store that includes a
dedicated events space and community area.
[2] An expansion of the kinds of programming
we offer. New programs we plan to launch in the near future include:
- A monthly storytelling series that explores gender
- Support groups, including ones for young
parents, transgender individuals, and teens
- Adult story time & BYO craft time
- Writing salons for emerging authors
- Mixers for political activists, artists,
and individuals with disabilities
- Lecture series
- TEDx Talks
- Kids’ classes
- Private parties, such as storybook-themed
birthday parties, build-a-library baby showers, and wedding showers
- Book-themed summer camps
[3] Original artwork decorating our walls.
Photographs, a time line, and portraits created by our colleague Jill Kuanfung
will honor W&CF’s founders, our history, and the store's tremendous
contribution to feminism, LGBTQ rights, bookselling, and publishing.
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One of our Perks: Postcard with Original Art by Jill Kuanfung: The Authors
Manifesta
By supporting Women & Children First, you show your
solidarity with our belief that books save lives. They do this by
expanding our
capacity for empathy, and empathy is our mightiest weapon in the fight
against
oppression. As feminists, it is our responsibility to bear witness to
ALL systems
of oppression—not only sexism, but racism, classism, ableism, and
homophobia,
as well. In order for feminism to remain forever relevant, it must
be forever evolving. We must address and be aware of all types of
marginalization. We must celebrate intersectionality. We must
acknowledge the ways in which a belief in a gender dichotomy limits
and harms ALL genders. We must be
forever evolving.
Our commitment to equality and social justice makes us
more than a bookstore. We are a call to action: we must vigorously listen to
the parenthetical voices, the voices pushed aside to the margins and down into footnotes;
these are the voices that most need to be heard. We are listening and
supporting. It’s time to listen, to gather, to support each other in this
always evolving revolution for equality.
“Why am I compelled to
write? Because the writing saves me from this complacency I fear. Because I
have no choice. Because I must keep the spirit of my revolt and myself alive.
Because the world I create in the writing compensates for what the real word
does not give me. By writing I put order to the world, give it a handle so I
can grasp it. I write because life does not appease my appetites and hunger. I
write to record what others erase when I speak, to rewrite the stories others
have miswritten about me, about you.” –Gloria Anzaldúa
Risks & Challenges
The publishing industry has changed dramatically since the store opened in 1979. Back then, the books carried at W&CF were books you couldn't find anywhere else. Nowadays, because of a certain giant and merciless retailer that shall not be named, you can find nearly every book we carry online and at a price that we can't begin to match. Because of this reality, we must offer experiences and relationships that can't be found virtually. If we aren't able to make our goal and fund the creation of a space that nourishes and sustains such experiences and relationships, all of us risk losing yet another feminist bookstore.
Other Ways You Can Help
Money is necessary, but it's not everything! If you're not in a position to donate dollars at this time, there are other ways to contribute to W&CF!
- Help us spread the word about our campaign within your network. Tell your friends, family, and colleagues about how much the store means to you and encourage them to make a donation and receive one of our fantastic perks!
- Put your muscles to work with the physical labor of the renovation itself! Throughout January and February, we'll be inviting handy, enthusiastic friends of the store to help us with painting, cleaning, and general maintenance during the renovation. If you're interested in being on the clean-up crew, email Sarah at wcfsarah@gmail.com.
