On October 7th 2022, SHaME celebrated the release of Principal Investigator Joanna Bourke's new book, Disgrace: Global Reflections on Sexual Violence, published by Reaktion Books. Joanna wwas joined by Jude Kelly CBE (The WOW Foundation), Marai Larasi (Imkaan and End Violence Against Women Coalition), Dr Rhea Sookdeosingh (Public Engagement, Shameless! London), and Maisha Sumah (SheWalksInValue) in a conversation between artists, activists and academics on boundary-crossing global approaches to countering sexual violence.
Disgrace is the first truly global history of sexual violence. The book explores how sexual violence varies widely across time and place, from nineteenth-century peasant women in Ireland who were abducted as a way of forcing marriage, to date-raped high-school students in twentieth-century America, and from girls and women violated by Russian soldiers in 1945 to Dalit women raped by men of higher castes today. It delves into the factors that facilitate violence - including institutions, ideologies and practices - but also gives voice to survivors and activists, drawing inspiration from their struggles. Ultimately, Joanna Bourke intends to forge a transnational feminism that will promote a more harmonious, equal and rape- and violence-free world.
Throughout the project, SHaME has sought to foster and build relationships and ideas across, not only national borders, but between disciplines and sectors. In particular, the ongoing collaboration between SHaME and the WOW Foundation, the Shameless! Festivals of Activism Against Sexual Violence, represent a global initiative bringing together academia, the arts, survivors, and others working and speaking on sexual violence. Speakers at this event represent a range of these groups. Founder and Director of WOW, Jude Kelly, chaired the discussion and reflected on WOW's approach to global activism through the arts. Marai Larasi has worked as a social justice advocate for over twenty-five years, focusing on ending violence against Black/ Global Majority women and girls. She spoke on these issues in light of the publication of Disgrace. Rhea Sookdeosingh is a public engagement specialist and led the SHaME team in the production and delivery of Shameless! London. Rhea reflected on why these events are particularly special and crucial as bridges between academia and the arts. Maisha Sumah is an advocate against domestic violence and motivational speaker who shared her experience of Shameless! and how it has impacted her life and thinking.
The evening featured a reading from the book, followed by a discussion reflecting on these collaborations and interplay between arts and academia; personal meaning and global change, and how the Shameless! Festivals are part of a broader initiative about a global issue with a lot of work still to be done. The discussion was followed by an audience Q&A, book signing and reception.
We created a safeguarding statement for this event, which you may want to consult: shame.bbk.ac.uk/wp-content/up...
Find out more about The SHaME Project at shame.bbk.ac.uk/.
1 апр 2024
