“Don’t hit! Don’t bite! You shouldn’t pull your friend’s hair!“ Children hear growing up such phrases from adults around them and by the time they are 10, they usually have some idea of what violence is and why they aren’t supposed to use it. But do we teach our children properly how not to be violent, and how to communicate their boundaries? Do even adults know how to say no? Do we ever question the bigger picture – where are humans pushed towards violence?
We will talk about different forms of violence and the stages of prevention, about consent, how the notion of violence is shaped by the system we have grown up in and how also within AFS, people can reproduce violent behaviors (un)willingly. We will also take a look at contexts where we consider violence acceptable and how in situations of oppression, violence might look like the only possible way out.
Content warning: we will talk about different forms of violence using examples that might be similar to something you have experienced. This can be uncomfortable or upsetting to some people. You can choose to leave or take a break at any time during the workshop.