Hack the Patriarchy @ Out of the Blue Drill Hall

Initiated in 2019 and still going strong, Hack the Patriarchy returns for another day of conversations tackling gender inequality in the performing arts. Since its inception, the Stellar Quines campaign facilitated by Julia Taudevin has taken on several iterations, both virtual and in-person, across the pandemic to include as many voices as possible. The conversations are entirely people-led with the discussion topics emerging throughout the day and transcribed in multi-colour by the artwork of Cassandra Harrison. The space is open to all women and people of other marginalised genders who wish to engage. They are free to attend and have provisions in place for childcare. 

Saturday’s session was held in-person at Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith and looked at how the performing arts can support people when faced with trans issues, backlash when speaking out against patriarchal oppression, and how to introduce informed language and practices into early-years childcare. They investigated how the burden of education is often misplaced on those with lived experiences of marginalisation and the importance of mediating this when conducting change. Additionally, we explored the impact of patriarchal values upon 'incel' culture and the significance of introducing gender-neutral language and practice into childcare. Previous sessions have looked at the impact of COVID-19 on freelancers, mental health, and how to introduce top-down transparency within organisations.

Anger and hope were explored in equal measure. Against the backdrop of the pandemic and the shifting uncertainties this has brought to many within the arts, notes of hope about the changing landscape of Scottish creativity were raised alongside frustration at the triumphs of systemic failure and wilful ignorance. Hack the Patriarchy will be back in Autumn to carry these conversations forward.

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Hack the Patriarchy will return in the Autumn with Stellar Quines.