Type: Workshop

In this workshop, we’ll draw on the ideas of Meg-John Barker, a British writer, activist and psychologist. We’ll explore everyone’s ideas about consent - what it means, the situations we might need to think about it and how we can treat ourselves and others consensually. We’ll also think about the ways that European colonial societies are structured around power and domination rather than mutuality and consent. How do the non-consensual foundations of this wider culture shape our interactions with other people? We’ll think here about how intersections of power affect the risk that we’ll treat others or will be treated by them non-consensually. We’ll try out some exercises to help us navigate different social and sexual situations. As part of this, we’ll share experiences of communication that has worked well for us, as well as ways to tune into how yes, no and maybe feels in our bodies. We’ll conclude by thinking about how we can behave accountably in situations where we have treated another person non-consensually.
The workshop will not involve explicit discussion of sexual violence. It may involve physical touch where people feel comfortable to do so.

Project Lead: Sarah Parkes

Contact Email: saeparkes@gmail.com