Across our social justice movements, identity politics and purity politics have come to shape the ways in which we relate with each other, in often punitive ways. It becomes tough to stay in connection with people who we see as wrong, bad, or harmful because of something they might have done that we morally disagree with. This can be both a simplistic and destructive way of dealing with the complexities of coexisting and resisting. But what happens to our relationships and movements if we continue to cancel anyone and everyone who falls short of a perfectionism that no-one can ever live up to?
In the face identity, purity, and punishment, this workshop offers an educational conversation about the ways we can practice accountability that deals with aggression or transgression through a process of safety, repair, and prevention – while also remaining committed to the principles of shared humanity and solidarity and the possibility of lasting change and transformation. We’ll get clear on important distinctions such as hurt vs harm, safety vs discomfort, fairness vs transaction, control vs care – and why they really matter when navigating relational breakdowns. Ultimately this conversation is about taking a look at the ways in which we unintentionally recreate the same cycles of violence and dehumanisation that we say we are fighting against, even when we’re on the “right side” or doing it for the “right reasons” – the outcome remains the same. This workshop plants a seed of commitment to creating different outcomes.