Please find below answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you still have questions about The Window Sex Project Community Workshops, please email our Strategic Visioning Partner, Nia Austin-Edwards at anae@slmdances.com.
FAQs
Why is this called "Window Sex"? What does sex in a window have to do with street harassment?
Sydnie titled this work The Window Sex Project because she often feels like walking down the street is akin to being “window shopped” like a mannequin or other sexual object on display. When she has to bear unsolicited verbal harassment or worse, typically from men in public spaces, she feels reduced to her body parts, an object of their power, as opposed to a human being.
Why can't cisgendered men attend the workshop?
The community workshops are intended to be a liberated and supportive space for women and genderqueer folks. The Window Sex Project creates space to center ourselves, particularly our bodies and our stories. It is an opportunity to affirm one another while sharing tools and resources.
SLMDances' performances of The Window Sex Project are the spaces intended for dialogue across genders. We ask audiences to witness the performance work and then engage in discussion informed by the stories shared. If you are interested in bringing us to your community to perform the work, please contact Sydnie at sydnie@slmdances.com.
If you are a man who cares about gender equity, HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES to help stop street harassment.
What should I wear? What should I bring?
You should wear clothes that are comfortable and that you can move in! We'll also ask you to be bare foot or wear sneakers for the yoga and dance sessions. Speaking of yoga, you can also bring your yoga mat. (Don't worry if you don't have one, we'll have extras!) Everything else will be provided, including LUNCH!
Most of all, you should bring an open mind, a willingness to meet new people, your stories and your questions.
Will this be a dance therapy session?
The workshop is not intended to be a dance therapy session, and we are not taking a therapeutic approach. Rather, we recognize the power of movement practice to reclaim some agency in response to the ways street harassment can make you feel powerless. Our bodies are the site of harassment, so it is imperative that we care for them and use them to respond to the violence toward them. Every time we have led these workshops, we see how necessary these spaces are.
We also know that we are working with sensitive topics and participants may be triggered. There will be a licensed counselor on site each workshop day and a separate room available should anyone need the space to talk one-on-one.
What's with the age range? I'm over 40 and I still get cat-called... and can I bring my teenage daughter?
The intended audience for the workshops is young adults who may not have a community of peers with whom to discuss issues of gender justice. 18-40 are not hard parameters (we would never card at the door!), but we do ask you to respect the general notion that the space is for adults, as opposed to youth or elders.
We realize that kids begin to experience gender-based harassment as early as 11 or 12 years old (or earlier!) and we also want them to be equipped to handle it. If you are interested in bringing us to your community to facilitate workshops specifically for teenagers, please contact Sydnie at sydnie@slmdances.com.
Why is this work focused in Harlem? Street harassment happens everywhere!
SLMDances is a Harlem-based dance company and we focus our community-based initiatives in our own neighborhood. The Window Sex Project was born from the desire to create respectful interaction on the streets with our neighbors.
We have also shared both our community workshops and performances throughout NYC and nationally. If you are interested in bringing us to your community, please contact Sydnie at sydnie@slmdances.com.
Why are the workshops FREE? You have awesome speakers + facilitators. It seems like you should sell tickets.
SLMDances values community and activism and it is important to us to make this space economically accessible for whomever needs it. We have been granted generous support from funders and community partners to make these full day workshops possible.
The Window Sex Project Community Workshops 2019 are presented in community partnership with The Gothe Family, Five Boro Story Project and Honey & Chi. The Community Workshops are made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). LMCC serves, connects and makes space for artists and community. The workshops are also presented in marketing partnership with Hollaback!, I, Too Arts Collective // Langston Hughes House, Aiesha Turman, Dwyer Cultural Arts Center, Girls for Gender Equity, Gibney's ICAT Community, Dance Caribbean Collective and Renegade Performance Group.
Even with all this support, we want to be able to continue to do this work which we can only do with contributions from folks like you. Please consider making a recurring contribution HERE.
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