We’ve all been there. That place where we’re just trying to survive and get by when war breaks out and things get difficult and traumatizing. However, what if you could call for peace? What if our voices could contribute to the establishing peace?
This happened at the seminar titled, ON FEMALE BODIES: CONFLICT; RESISTANCE AND POSTCOLONIAL GENDERED CONSTRUCTS, on the 10th of December 2022. Which hosted some incredible speakers from conflict hot spots - places like Iran, Syria and Ukraine - and they shared their lived experiences, drawing attention to the importance and significance of calling for peace. They highlighted the effects of conflict on the female bodies. They shared how they sought ways to survive, resist, and interact within the postcolonial space that has a history of demarcation through colonial/ imperial power.
From their discussions, we got to ask ourselves: what is it like for the women and non-binary people in Iran, North and East Syria and Ukraine, who are in the conflict hot spot? What about the rest of the world? How were these conflicts impacting us within our borders? As we look at the world today; there is no escaping these conflicts’ impact. We found it indispensable what our speakers had to say—not just about their own experiences, but also about what it means for us all when we sit down together and share our lived experiences. The hope is that peace and dialogue will always be preferred over violence. We know, when women have power over their bodies (and their own lives), they’re not only more likely to provide for themselves—but they’re also more likely to provide for the community.