Empowerment teacher Kasia Urbaniak says
we all need to imagine the party at the end of patriarchy.
As a scholar of feminist history, I agree with such an inclusive vision.
I believe that dismantling patriarchy unleashes
joy
connection &
creativity
for all of us.
The party at the end of patriarchy is for all of us.
But we need more cis men to join the labor so we can all get there.
Changing the Culture programs provide 1:1 feminist consulting
and small-group seminars for cis men in a range of industries. We start with
an initial 3-hour Activation Workshop for up to 11 participants.
The goal is building a foundation for effective partnerships of change.
Through a course of study and reflection...
...We empower cis men to gain deeper skills...
...To take part in collective feminist transformations.
THE PREMISE
The labor of feminist cultural change needs more cis men trained
to better partner with women, trans men, and nonbinary people.
More cis men are willing than ever before
(a credit to the long labors of feminist foremothers!).
But most have not studied to do this work at a deep level,
so they don't have all the tools.
(But we can change this reality.)
Changing the Culture programs are in close dialogue
with the voices and leadership of women, trans men,
and nonbinary people within an organization.
We also realize that when cis men have a foundation of feminist training
(in both theory and practice),
they are much better able to fully leverage their spheres of influence
to best support the leadership of women, trans men, and nonbinary people.
THE METHODS
The learning is
rigorous and reflective,
challenging and healing,
playful and serious.
The model is one of training individuals and/or a cohort willing to do the deep work
of their own feminist learning, so they then can better support the labor of
cultural change all around them.
Such feminist learning asks for nuance and careful thinking
about how we change systemic inequality.
For example, we will study how "male privilege" is an important phrase to name gendered hierarchies.
But it also a blunt tool.
What exactly do we mean by this phrase male privilege?
What does male privilege mean for men of color, white men,
disabled men, queer men, trans men, immigrant men?
What are the hierarchies of masculinity produced by patriarchy,
and how do these hierarchies harm joy, community, creativity, and innovation?
THE CHANGE PROCESS
The 1:1 consulting and seminars in this program hold space for how we change.
We change not only by intellectually
engaging the feminist research...
...but also by feeling, reflecting, and theorizing into
the grief, vulnerability,
shame, joy, connection,
and creativity
in the process of learning
(and unlearning).
As more cis men are first trained in
the foundational methods of the Changing the Culture program,
we then layer the next step of the process:
working in cohorts with women, trans men, and nonbinary folks.
But the foundational work of cis men learning the initial frameworks and practices of the program is also critical to the larger change process together.
THE OUTCOMES
This program prepares cis men to show up to the table with more
integrated and holistic skills to participate
in collective feminist transformations.
As part of the work, the trainings also prepare cis men to show up for themselves—
and one another in their own healing
from patriarchy's separations, traumas, and hierarchies.
The result is not only working toward greater gender and racial equity within organizations, but also stronger communities and more joy-filled partnerships.
