Theory as a healing place: writing for wellness and other worlds

In this workshop, we will take inspiration from Black feminist bell hooks' idea that feminist theory can be a healing place. In her essay "Theory as Liberatory Practice", hooks describes how she first became aware of gender inequality as a child and the lessons she learned when she asked questions about it. She was often disciplined and put in "her place" for asking these questions, but they became the basis for her work as a Black feminist theorist. For her, feminist theory can be a way of naming various kinds of pain our societies produce -- racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression -- and "making the hurt go away." In this workshop, we will explore how writing -- within and beyond academic genres -- can be a tool for healing and collective liberation. Through various reflections and exercises, we will experiment with putting personal narrative in conversation with theory in service of more equitable and just worlds. Join online: https://bit.ly/4yQFvJw