The workshops in this series prioritise interactivity, inviting participants to engage in close readings of texts and images in group discussions, interspersed with lectures.
Workshop 1: Zionism, Gender, and Sexuality
In the first part of our ‘Palestine, Gender and Sexuality’ workshop series, we examine the relationship between colonialism and gender broadly, and examine how this applies in the context of Palestine. This workshop will focus specifically on the role of gender in the construction of Israeli society historically, during the early days of the Zionist movement and the foundation of the Israeli state, before examining how the role of gender in Israeli society has adapted and shifted over time, co-opting progressive ideas but maintaining these same colonial goals.
Workshop 2: “How Israel weaponises gender to subordinate Palestinians”
In the second part of our ‘Palestine, Gender and Sexuality’ workshop series, this workshop aims to promote a deeper understanding of gender and sexuality not just as social issues but as material and political issues in the Palestinian context. This session specifically examines how Zionism constructs racist, colonial stereotypes of Palestinian men and women, and weaponises gender stereotypes of masculinity and femininity to further the oppression of Palestinians.
Workshop 3: “Palestinian resistance against gendered, sexual and colonial oppression”
In the third part of our ‘Palestine, Gender and Sexuality’ workshop series, this workshop focuses on Palestinian resistance to gendered and sexual oppression, highlighting feminist and queer Palestinian movements and organising. By situating gender and sexuality as central to the Palestinian struggle, we will discuss how the Palestinian anti-colonial resistance has historically gone hand in hand with struggling against internal patriarchal structures as well as Israel’s weaponisation of gendered stereotypes.
Workshop 4: How to Talk About Gender, Sexuality, & Palestine
This workshop aims to help people expand their skills when talking about Palestine in relation to topics of gender and sexuality by offering communication tips on how to engage in such conversations and how to respond to various arguments. Through facilitating a safe discussion space, we go through a variety of recurring talking points regularly heard in the media and the wider public conversation on this topic, and we collectively analyse these arguments and how to respond to them.
About Makan:
Makan is an independent, non-partisan organisation dedicated to intersectional learning. We provide transformative education aimed at strengthening the movement for Palestinian liberation, contextualising Palestine within the broader framework of social justice and global liberation movements.
Set up and led by members of the Palestinian diaspora, Makan works to strengthen the ability of advocates to talk about Palestine in a simple, fact-based manner that centres Palestinian knowledge production.