Fembooks, a feminist bookstore which has been in business for 30 years, announced on June 1 that its physical store will close next month due to long-term losses.
Despite the support of more than 600 Fembooks account members, the bookstore was unable to shoulder monthly losses of between NT$50,000 and NT$70,000. Fembooks store manager Yang Ying-ying says it was decided at a shareholder meeting on May 21 that it was necessary to halt the company’s losses and “restructure debt.” Yang says “a new manager will be elected at July’s shareholder meeting” and “there is hope of the possibility that the store can reopen for business.”
This is not a “full-stop,” says Yang, simply a “comma.”
Photo: CNA
照片:中央社
Fembooks will continue to publish, and its online bookstore, Facebook page and blog will continue to operate as normal, although the bricks-and-mortar shop be now used as part of its publishing operation. However, as before, readers will still be able to pop in and choose a book.
Fembooks was established in 1994. At the time, National Taiwan University associate professor of sociology, Fan Yun, was still a student. Fan describes the bookshop’s presence on the scene as an oasis of enlightenment for the feminist movement and gender equality, and said the store’s temporary closure fills her with “regret and sadness.” Fan added, “Fembooks contributed greatly toward Taiwan becoming the first country in Asia to recognize marriage equality and progress toward gender equality.”
“Although we’ve hit rock bottom,” says Yang, “I’m confident that if a member of the younger generation comes forward with creative, fresh business ideas, Fembooks will be able to carry on in a new guise.”
(Liberty Times, translated by Edward Jones)
開業廿三年的女性主義書店女書店,不堪長期虧損,六月一日宣告將於七月一日起結束門市營運。
雖然有六百多個女書之友情義相挺,仍挺不過每個月五到七萬元的虧損,女書店店長楊瑛瑛說,書店按照股東們在五月二十一日會議上所做的決定,設下停損點,「先進行債務重整。七月股東會選出新的經營者,期待能有一個重新開始的可能性。」這不是「句點」,只是暫時畫一個「逗點」。
女書的網路書店、臉書、部落格及出版,都不會停止。門市停止營運之後,店址保留,功能轉變為「出版社」性質,讀者依舊可以到這裡選書。
女書店於一九九四年創立,台大社會系副教授范雲當時仍是台大學生,她形容,女書店的出現,對於女性運動及性別平權的啟蒙猶如荒漠甘泉,對門市將暫時熄燈,她表示既「遺憾、難過也感嘆。」范雲說:「台灣成為亞洲第一個婚姻平權的國家,在性別平等上的成就,女書店也貢獻不少力量。」
楊瑛瑛說:「到谷底了,我相信若有年輕世代帶進新的創意與行銷概念,將來或許可以全新的面貌再出發。」
(自由時報記者凌美雪)
William I of Prussia, a passionate painter, often autographed his works with “tormentis pinxit” — “painted in pain” — as a nod to his struggles with gout. Other historical figures like King Henry VIII of England and Benjamin Franklin also suffered from this “disease of kings,” which was common among people indulging in luxurious diets. Gout is primarily caused by high levels of uric acid in the body. Uric acid forms as the body breaks down purines, which are found in foods like red meat and seafood. Normally, the kidneys filter out uric acid. However, if the body produces
The UN Ocean Conference wrapped up in Nice, France on Friday last week with world leaders taking major steps toward marine protection and vowing a showdown when nations meet to negotiate rules for deep-sea mining next month. But a lack of funding pledges and the total omission of fossil fuels disappointed some observers. The summit was just the third — and largest yet — dedicated entirely to what the United Nations calls an “emergency” in the world’s oceans. The High Seas Treaty, or Global Ocean Treaty, is also known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law
A: The National Palace Museum (NPM) has launched an exhibition, titled “From Impressionism to Early Modernism.” There are 81 masterpieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art on display now. B: The exhibit, held to celebrate the NPM’s centennial, must be so spectacular. A: It includes artworks by 38 artists, such as Renoir, van Gogh, Cezanne, Matisse and Gauguin. B: The Fubon Art Museum has also launched an exhibit featuring a number of artworks of Impressionism, including Monet’s “Water Lilies.” A: And the New Taipei City Art Museum just had its grand opening, so there are even more exhibitions
A: What exhibitions are you going to see this summer? B: The 100% Doraemon & Friends exhibit is set to open on June 28. A: The news says there will be a 12-meter-tall giant Doraemon model at the Huashan 1914 Creative Park. B: The One Piece Carnival will set sail on the same day. A: And the D’festa Taipei 2025 – featuring exclusive content from K-pop supergroups such as BTS, NCT and Twice – is also set to begin next Friday. Isn’t that cool? A: 今年夏天還有什麼展覽可看啊? B: 「100%哆啦A夢 & Friends特展」即將在6月28日開幕。 A: 新聞說在華山1914文創園區會場,還有12米高的巨型哆啦A夢呢! B: 航海王「One Piece歡樂派對嘉年華」也將在同日啟航。 A: