** Call for participants ** We hope you like reading, discussing, and thinking aloud about the Politics of Sexuality, because we're inviting you to run away with us (and other lovely participants) to quiet place away from the city, so that we revisit and rethink these tricky politics together! Interested?

Part of a series of reading retreats since 2014, the Sex and Society Retreat is a chance for open discussions and reflections not only on how theories around sexuality may guide our political practices, but also on how our political work must feed back and shape our theoretical frameworks. The Sex and Society Retreat, which typically hosts up to 15 people, is a space for everyone interested in unpacking, analyzing, and reconstructing the theories and practices of sexual politics in Lebanon.

Our objective is to understand sexual politics through the below themes:

1- Social Construction of Sexuality        4- Compulsory Heterosexuality

2- Sex, Race & Class                            5- The Invention of Heterosexuality

3- Sex, War & Nation                             6- The Invention of Homosexuality

Each participant will receive a booklet containing book excerpts, academic articles, opinion pieces and personal stories  before the retreat. Participants should read the entire booklet and delve into a theme more indepth, and present it to the group while leading the discussion that follows.

Over the years, we have tried our best to include readings in both Arabic and English - and while the Arabic material is increasing, the majority of readings are only available in English. Participants are welcome to choose either language in a way that is convenient to them, and the discussion will take place in Arabic, English, Arabic/ English mix. Because we don't want language or varying academic backgrounds to be a barrier, we will provide a space for groups or pairs to meet and read together before the retreat. We hope this can help everyone who would like to join us to get the chance to familiarize themselves with the reading material and each other.

Please feel free to forward this link to anyone you think would be interested in participating.

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Retreat date: Carpool from Beirut the evening (~7pm) of Friday 1st November & return early evening Sunday 3rd November 2019

Location: We will be hosted by the fantastic and welcoming people at Auberge Beity in Kfradebian.

Costs: Free of charge - your stay and meals at Auberge Beity will be covered by The A Project - donations are always welcome for more retreats to happen!

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Deadline to apply: Evening of Sunday October 13, 2019

IF INTERESTED, please fill in this application form before the deadline :: English  / Arabic

You will hear back from us within 24 hours of that deadline.

Please note that the sooner you apply, and are chosen, the earlier you can receive the required reading materials.

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