context
Still in 2021, the sad reality for women in many countries is that they can’t count on state protection when their partners abuse them, they can’t rely on their government to champion their rights. Rather than actively seeking to bridge the gap, women are still seen as “baby-making machines”. In Hungary for example, refusing to ratify the Istanbul Convention, decrying equality and promoting discriminatory stereotypes are all part of Orbán’s declared war on “gender ideology,” a term used to promote homophobic and misogynist agendas.
The "School of Disobedience" encourages women to raise their voice, echo freely the broader socio-political context, challenge hegemonic class, gender, normative behaviors, and dominant ideologies, develop their capacities to resist, protest, revolt and fight against oppression.
The "School of Disobedience" encourages women to raise their voice, echo freely the broader socio-political context, challenge hegemonic class, gender, normative behaviors, and dominant ideologies, develop their capacities to resist, protest, revolt and fight against oppression.
history
The first workshop was held in July 2014 for dance conservatory students, and since we have been giving more than 50 classes in formal and informal, indoor and outdoor spaces (university, high school, summer camp, festival, museum, gallery, night club...), for both children, teens and adults from diverse educational, professional and socio-cultural backgrounds. In total, through direct and indirect, both live and virtual actions, we reached more than 8000 people.
organization
The "School of Disobedience" was created on a grassroots basis. It is based on self-organization and on project-based collaborations with women artists, researchers, theoreticians, cultural workers.
fundings
The school is based on auto-financing and donations. By keeping "School of Disobedience" completely free of charge, we give to every women the possibility to participate in it.
methodology
"Art-based critical pedagogy", and more broadly, art education conceived as a critical practice, is a cross-disciplinary approach using artistic skills, processes and experiences as tools to take an active part in the social and political discourse on women's empowerment and rights, and to enhance their emancipation by the means of education and art. The goal of “art-based unlearning” is to create immersive experiences via readings, discussions, creative exercises in various artistic forms (visual, performance...), so as to make women gain new insights and perspectives, develop critical thinking and confidence. During the classes, participants have the opportunity to experiment in a safe, judgement-free zone where they can express themselves honestly while receiving support, knowledge and tools.
results
With a both theory and practice oriented methodology, the "School of Disobedience" increases participating women's self-confidence, fosters their creativity and critical thinking, gives them support, knowledge and tools to resist, defy, protest and take action. The program develops participant's originality and out-of-the-box thinking by offering them a non-hierarchical and judgment-free space where they can express themselves freely: question social norms and expectations, challenge conventions and traditional canons, confront stereotypes, rules and systems in which they are socialized and familiarized with. Participants are also encouraged to liberate themselves from their fears, transgress their boundaries, go beyond their limits and push themselves out of their comfort zone.
staff
"School of Disobedience" classes are led by women "unlearning facilitators", having different educational and socio-cultural backgrounds. Artists, researchers, theoreticians, cultural workers from different fields (sociology, ecology, anthropology, psychology, literature, arts...) are invited to offer to the participants a trans-disciplinary approach, encourage them to discover new fields, wake up their curiosity, push them to identify and follow their dreams. Classes generate countless valuable human connections, physical and emotional interactions, intellectual and cultural exchanges, build friendships and professional networks for further collaborations. An "Alumni directory" is under progress, allowing participants to reconnect with each other, build a community and grow a network.