Disorienting Sex and Gender
Workshop for the 2008 AUCC conference, 23-26th June, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool.
"One is not born a woman, but rather becomes one." - Simone de Beauvoir
Many of us take for granted the idea that there are 'natural' and 'normal' forms of gender and sexual identity - forms so obvious that they are assumed to require no explanation or exploration, in contrast to those identities which are marked as sexually 'different', such as homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender.
Participants in this workshop will be encouraged to reflect on their sexual orientation and gender in relation to therapeutic work with clients and colleagues. The workshop will assist exploration through dialogue, debate and groupwork. Some key concepts relating to sexual orientation will be presented (e.g. essentialism, determinism, constructionism) and participants will be encouraged to reflect on the natural diversity of human sexual identities and to consider the relevance of this for their therapeutic work.
Findings from Craig's recent research into heterosexual therapists' experiences of working with gay male clients will also be presented and discussed.
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