The previous series of workshops I did had only women responding and coming, which deserves a whole host of conversations around it but needless to say I have to talk to some dads and get their perspectives. Especially in light of how useful the sessions with all the mothers were.
So I have about ten dads coming next week for a session where I will share with them mostly the same art and stats/info but have also added some talk about toxic masculinity and anger through some paintings by the artist Judy Chicago. I know also that people did prefer not covering too many topics in one sitting so I think I also need to be conscious of that. Even though I am keen to have as much conversation and cover as much ground as I can in the short time I have their attention it will be worth not making all the points too diffuse but trying to cover too much at once.
I had thought to show them some interesting work about women’s unpaid labour and domesticity but I think I need to refrain from anything that leads to conversations about the domestic gender imbalances we all live with as I don’t want it to see confrontational. I feel annoyed sometimes by the need for men to have been especially invited to these conversations and that so few of them are willing to engage or “do the work” but I also need to remember that they are as much victims of patriarchy and it’s structures as women and that whilst they can benefit they are also harmed. The fallout being this lack of engagement, uncomfortableness with sharing and shared spaces and a lack of language and dialogue around there things to even start with.
Anyway, hopefully, well actually, I’m fairly sure it will be enlightening.
Two things to remember from this : Don’t schedule things to happen the same night as football. Remember to make the feedback form ready to go for after the session.