Dear friends of the Activist Academy,
We would love to invite you to our end of the year Activist Academy workshop on:
Unlearning toxic masculinity in ourselves and our activism
Where: Clockhouse (Generaal Foulkesweg 37, Wageningen), Dance Room on the First Floor
When: 19 December 17.00 – 20.00
Maximum number of participants: 25
By: the Utrecht based ‘unlearning toxic masculinity’ collective Patriarkraakt
Registration: please register here
Workshop: Unlearning toxic masculinity in ourselves and our activism
While we are often focused on changing others, the world and the future, we’ve all internalized unhealthy characteristics of the current system that deeply influence our lives and our activism. One of the main areas where there is a gap between the world we long for and our daily reality are gendered relations and the gendered ways in which we operate. Unhealthy aspects of masculinity and patriarchy continue to be present and even celebrated in personal relations, group dynamics and movement culture.
Whether it is toxic heroic and burnout activism being encouraged, acts of (self)care being invisibilized or downplayed, men taking up too much space, normalizing or not adressing transgressive behavior, etcetera – from intimate relationships to mass movement culture, unhealthy gendered interactions are sadly still too prevalent.
Patriarkraakt works to make visible, discuss and change harmful gender dynamics, and proposes that all activists, groups and movements implement such practices as an integral part of their activism. In this way people get the insights and the tools to start creating the world they’d like to see in the here and now so as to make activism safer, more sustainable and more fun for everyone.
We think all of us have internalised some bits of the patriarchy, but to different degrees. We want to encourage everyone to be open and reflecting on themselves – having a brave space to learn, but also being caring with the painful experiences participants might be reminded of. Although we invite everyone to be part of a ‘brave space’ in which we can be vulnerable, open and learn, we cannot guarantee a safe space for everyone.
Hope to see you there!
Best regards on behalf of the Activist Academy,
Michiel Köhne, Elisabet Rasch, Jo and Sage.
Centre for Space, Place and Society 