The Stereo-hunters Workshop was conducted in May 2023 in collaboration with the Department of Photography and Audiovisual Arts of the University of West Attica. The workshop was designed for students, and its educational content focused on deconstructing gender stereotypes and fostering the development of new, alternative, and positive narratives through experiential approaches.
Throughout the four sessions, there were engaging discussions on gender and stereotypes, during which participants were encouraged to propose and elaborate on new approaches and techniques, leveraging their knowledge of audiovisual media.
Title:
“‘What we don’t see’: Invisible representations and social performances of gender stereotypes, discrimination, and violence in all spheres of life: experiential interconnective strategies, techniques, and tools to address them.”
The workshop aimed to inform, raise awareness, and empower participants to gain specialized knowledge, skills, and methodological tools for critical reflection on gender-related issues in contemporary social reality. It covered various thematic areas related to gender issues, including stereotypes and discrimination in everyday life, public discourse, society, the internet, television, print, advertising, fashion, education, and the workplace. Specific topics included gender violence, intimate partner violence, consent, sexual harassment, sexism, misogyny, toxic masculinity, domestic violence, abuse, and femicide. The workshop was designed to make participants aware of how gender stereotypes construct a pyramid of sexism, misogyny, gender toxicity, and violence within us, prompting actions to reconstruct this psycho-social framework.
Title:
“‘Tell me your gender and I’ll tell you who@ you are!’ – Gender identities and real people’s true stories: recognizing and deconstructing gender stereotypes and prejudices about LGBTQ+ identities.”
This experiential workshop aimed to inform, raise awareness, and empower participants by actively engaging them with issues related to gender identity. It sought to enrich and broaden perspectives on gender and identity for all gender identities and expressions. Participants explored gender, sexuality, and stereotypes, delving into terminology such as gender, gender perspective, sexual/sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, gender characteristics, and LGBTQ+. The workshop addressed issues of homophobia/transphobia, visibility, hetero- and homo-normativity, as well as gender-based violence towards LGBTQ+ individuals. Strategies for avoiding offensive discourse and dealing with homophobic and/or transphobic bullying were also discussed. The ultimate goal was for participants to apply their experience in their personal, work, and social reality.
Title:
“‘Living in a new gendered age’ – Seeking new healthy expressions of masculinity and femininity: exploration, experimentation, and necessary transformations.”
This workshop aimed to inform, raise awareness, and empower participants through the rDNAmf (Reconstructing and Developing New Aspects of Masculinities & Femininities) approach. The workshop facilitated the exploration of alternative dimensions of masculinity and femininity, encouraging participants to experiment with new gender roles. The goal was to empower individuals to visualize their ‘gendered selves’ in a healthy, non-toxic, positive, inclusive, caring, and collaborative way, with practical applications to their daily lives.
Title:
“‘Freeing identities from the old world’ – From the normality of gender boxes to the freedom of emancipation and self-determination.”
This workshop was structured around the FL2LMF (From Labeling to Liberating Masculinities & Femininities) approach. FL2LMF is an introspective and psychological experiential workshop designed to delve into the inconsistent and stereotypically structured masculinity and femininity within a patriarchal framework. Its objectives include identifying and recognizing the toxic and oppressive influence of these structures on individuals and their relationships. Furthermore, the workshop aims to empower participants to liberate themselves from rigid roles and perceptions, encouraging the adoption of positive, alternative, and polymorphous images and norms of masculinity and femininity.
We express our sincere gratitude to the Department of Photography and Audiovisual Arts of the University of West Attica for their collaboration.
The Stereo-hunters Workshop was organized and scientifically supervised by G-All, Gender Alliance.
The project is Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor European Commission can be held responsible for them.
