WHAT
Dissident Pedagogies is a series of workshops that uses queer and feminist theories to enhance equity in primary and secondary schools. The workshops aim to give room for the exchange of knowledge, strategies and experimentation that contribute to a more inclusive school future. The exercises focus on ‘queering’ the spatial organisation of school spaces. The term ‘queering’ is used here as a design strategy that allows us to challenge the reproduction of social norms related to gender, sexuality, masculine norms and body expectations.
WHY
Research has shown that the spatial arrangement of school spaces - classroom, corridors, canteen, toilet, schoolyard and sports hall- play an important role in constructing identities and how children learn and reproduce social norms (Maréjouls E. 2010). Research in the field of social geography shows that girls, children with disabilities, with a bi- cultural background and LGBTQIA+ children are marginalised in many ways by school spaces.
HOW
The workshops enable teachers and other school staff to understand the concept of queering education. The workshops focus on developing feasible actions schools can take, to create a safer and more supportive environment.
This project is developed with researcher and educator Claire O’Brien in collaboration with Queer Education.
