OE Otherness Lab - Part 1. What actually is identity oppression and why haven’t we fixed it yet?
We will explore what power is and how it is made and held in terms of our identities and how we understand difference. We will look at how this happens in our everyday ‘normal’ lives.
We will uncover how this is rooted in our historic and current systems and ‘systemic thinking’, and what systemic oppression actually means and is made up of. We will spend time collectively feeling the devastating impacts of this, remembering why it matters to us all.
We will touch into what a re-imagining of ourselves and our identities could be, in a culture of interdependence, and reflect on what is missing in so much anti-oppression and inclusion work.
This exploration is open to anyone of any identity, who:
Over the 3 sessions we will look at:
We will explore what power is and how it is made and held in terms of our identities and how we understand difference. We will look at how this happens in our everyday ‘normal’ lives.
We will uncover how this is rooted in our historic and current systems and ‘systemic thinking’, and what systemic oppression actually means and is made up of. We will spend time collectively feeling the devastating impacts of this, remembering why it matters to us all.
We will touch into what a re-imagining of ourselves and our identities could be, in a culture of interdependence, and reflect on what is missing in so much anti-oppression and inclusion work.
This exploration is open to anyone of any identity, who:
- wants to understand more about what identity oppression is, how and why it happens, and why it is essential for us all to engage with it -beginner or experienced.
- has lived experiences of identity oppression and would like to ‘make sense of it’ more, as a historic systemic experience
- wants to feel companionship in feeling, thinking and engaging in what can be painful, confusing, scary and lonely
- wants to expand their conceptual AND experiential understanding
- is willing to be part of a supported, courageous space to explore difficult experiences and dilemmas together.
Over the 3 sessions we will look at:
- The components of a system and how mainstreams and margins occur
- What the impact of them is on us individually, relationally and collectively
- Why it is essential to understand personal actions and behaviours as ‘systemic’
- The paradox of identity politics
- Why we continue to reproduce dynamics of separation and oppression despite our intentions
- Moving towards what we need for transformation and liberation individually and collectively
We operate a system of Interdependent Gift Economy.
We have a request by way of a sliding scale of £75-£195 as a financial contribution for the 3 sessions AND how much you pay is up to you, the scale is just for guidance, it is a request not a demand and we welcome contributions lesser and greater than this! It is important to us that you are not prevented from joining due to financial barriers especially if you have lived experience that you would like to contribute, and we trust that you will contribute an amount that works for you and us. AND if you are learning about experiences of identity exclusion it’s important to us that you are conscious of the cost that so many have already borne, and value the years of life experience and knowledge that you are learning from. We encourage people to contribute in acknowledgment of this so this kind of work can thrive.