16:00-18:00: workshop by Petra Ardai (from the Amsterdam-based collective, the Space
Explorers-)
Title of the Workshop: Gender Freedom – A Summer Solstice Gathering
In this workshop, participants envision a future grounded in gender equity and radical inclusivity. Through storytelling, collaborative exploration, and reflective contemplation, participants engaged in recognizing and dismantling assumptions and behaviors rooted in
toxic masculinity and patriarchal norms. People first engaged in silent group movement exercises with bamboo sticks. Then they reflected on questions related to gender posed by
Petra. After that, people formed pairs for another bamboo movement exercise called “Interface Dance” that relates to the experiences and behaviours linked to following and
leading. After that the participants started building a story together. They imagined they were inhabiting another kind of (utopian) world in the future. They collaboratively built a memorial to honour that world. In groups, they discussed while role-playing what that world
looked like. At the end of the workshop, all participants came together to present their views
of this collaboratively built world.
18:00-19:00: Vegan dinner was provided by the catering company 'Radical Radishes'. This company consists of three master's students at WUR, from different backgrounds, who are passionate about building connections between people and food. They mostly use local ingredients, and they took some time to present their practice and values before serving dinner.
19:00-21:00: Discussion circles led by the Amsterdam-based feminist collective 'MenSEN'.
First, the 3 members of the collective presented themselves and what they stand for. After
they led exercises to help participants feel safe sharing their experiences, and then we broke into groups of 5 to share the experiences that shaped our views on gender, feminism, gender violence, emancipation, etc. At the end of the workshop, we all gathered to share our main insights and feelings. Overall, the workshop focused on sharing without judgment, acknowledging and expressing your emotions, and gaining useful (emotional) vocabulary on gender issues.
21:00: Drag show. Two Wageningen-based artists performed with their personas with the aim of bending gender expectations and norms in a playful and celebratory way. During the whole event, Otherwise had books from their library present; RUW Foundation had the chance to spread the Jester newspaper and collective members were selling (without the aim of making profit) various books related to masculinity and feminism. We, the organizers, also used the opportunity to present ourselves and the community center Nu De Toekomst, where the event took place, to a varied audience (many different age groups were present, and not all participants were residents of Wageningen).
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