This course now lives at
undoingpatriarchy.com
Arrived here from the Relinquishing the Patriarchy Resources doc? Yay!
This course is still happening but this page is no longer current.
Find our most recent offerings at
Undoingpatriarchy.com
If you’re reading this, chances are you already understand some of the basics about patriarchy, feminism and toxic masculinity.
You get it, at least theoretically, that patriarchal masculinity is damaging not only for women and non-binary people, but that it also harms men+. This harm shows up by limiting what’s acceptable behavior for men+, their capacity for emotions, nurturance, and self-expression. That’s the theory, anyway.
But how do you stop simply theorizing and begin to put that theory into practice? What would it look like to make a commitment to unlearning your own patriarchal patterning? How do men+ begin to get free?
WHAT IS IT?
Undoing Patriarchy is a 12-week course to learn specific practices for undoing your own internalized patriarchal conditioning.
You’ll work with a group of other men+ in a structured way to break down some of the biggest stumbling blocks for people trying unlearn their patriarchal habits. Utilizing lecture, discussion, and experiential learning, it’s one part academic class, one part support group, and one part daily-life crash course in undoing deep-seated patriarchal conditioning.
The course will cover communication, intimacy, leadership, nurturance, vulnerability, and criticism, among other things. Undoing Patriarchy is intended as a continuing exploration of these topics, not an end point or a merit badge.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
We meet every other week for conversation and reflection. You’ll get an assignment to explore in real life in the following week that you’ll journal about. We’ll share our experiences and struggles, give and receive support, and share a meal.
During our off-weeks, you’ll meet with another participant to discuss the current topic. These meetings are intended to deepen relationships and build connections that will extend beyond the length of the course.
WHO IS IT FOR?
This class is designed for men+.
What do I mean by men+? This language is meant to be inclusive of transmen, assigned-male non-binary folks, and anyone else who is interested in undoing the internalized patriarchal conditioning meant to benefit them.
Because patriarchy doesn’t stand alone in the systems of oppression we live within, we’ll be addressing the ways race, class, sexuality and gender identity intersect with patriarchy. This course is open to people of all races and sexual orientations.
WHO ARE YOU?
My name is Bear Hebert, and I’m a life coach, artist and activist. I’ve been thinking about and working against patriarchy arguably for my whole life but certainly for the past fifteen years. I’m a white, queer, working-class, genderqueer person (they/them pronouns for me please). I was born and raised in south Louisiana and I’ve lived in New Orleans since 2004. I have a background in feminist and LGBTQ activism and anti-racist cultural organizing.
WHY ARE YOU TEACHING THIS?
I’m teaching this course because through my relationships with men+ I’ve dated and been friends with, I’ve seen the ways that internalized, unconscious patriarchal conditioning holds men back from intimacy, vulnerability, and connection. Patriarchy oppresses women, but it strips men of their humanity as well. I’m invested in helping men+ to do the work to unlearn these unconscious patterns because I believe this work is essential for the liberation of all people.