Origin of the Women’s Forum

2000

While it may seem that most of the content on the IPA Discussion Board is male-oriented, I think it is safe to say that almost all of the issues we female paruretics have to deal with are not gender-specific. But, on the other hand, we women do have some unique ones to contend with, such as how to deal with (often) long lines in restrooms, chatty women, screaming kids, etc.

For the last few years I have been privately corresponding with several women who have posted to the Board, names I had collected in my “pee folder.” You are someone who recently posted about your own experiences with AP.

It is my intent, and that of the IPA’s (International Paruresis Association), to provide a forum for female paruretics to communicate with each other for the purpose of offering help and support.

I write to determine your level of interest in creating a women’s forum, which could take one or more of different paths as explained below.

I ask you to complete the following survey form and e-mail it to me at olmert@aol.com.

Thank you for your participation in this survey.

With the hope of managing AP,
Carol, a Kindred Spirit

Several options are available to link us, among them:

1. ESTABLISH A PRIVATE FORUM VIA E-MAIL COMMUNICATION
   By giving me permission to “publish” your e-mail address, your name would be added to those of other interested females who seek to correspond and share information about AP with others. Your name would be kept private.
2. INITIATE A “FOR THE LADIES” PRIVATE FORUM ON THE IPA Talk forum WEBSITE WITH PASSWORD PROTECTION
   In this scenario women would request a password from the Forum Moderator(s) who would qualify their validity through a telephone call the prospective participant would place. However, without dozens of REGULAR participants, this concept would not serve our purpose. I also would need to enlist the assistance of 2-3 other women in regularly co-moderating the Board (this task would probably require about a 1-hour time commitment per week).
3. CHAT ROOM PARTICIPATION
   One of our IPA members, a male, has offered to start an on-line support group for women on the IPA site, where we could meet in real time.
4. KEEP THE STATUS QUO
   Continue posting and responding to messages on the IPA Talk forum website.

Survey Form

Summary of Findings

The majority of women who responded wanted a private e-mail forum, which allows about 12 or so of us females to communicate with each other. In the beginning, each new person gives a brief synopsis of her experience with AP and asks for any help she may need or poses questions she wants answered. I have to admit that communication between us is not all that frequent, but it’s nice to know that help and support are available. I have the names of the other participants. If you give me your permission, I will add your name to the list and also send you the names of the other women.