Let's Not Just Talk About Sex Maybe
This project was a thesis arguing for the "Embodied Education of Sexuality". It was a theoretical critique of dominant informal spaces of sexuality. It problemitised assumptions made in understanding the individual, sexuality and its education. As an alternative, the thesis recommended sexuality education using embodied pedagogies. It was followed then by 6 workshops that used somatic practices to learn and reflect on individual sexuality, relationships and communication via these relationships.
Context
My undergraduate thesis was on Embodied Education of Sexuality. I came to this work through my own journey with embodiment in education and through an internship at Kolkata Sanved that grounded the body in this rich work of relationships.
The paper followed a method of critique and solution. It looked at existent ideas of the 'body' with respect to modernity and sexuality. And then critiqued these ideas with being harmful to respectful and equitable relationships and then offered a solution.
Indian informal practices of sexuality, particularly the hindutva hyper-masculinity and the gandhian practice, both view the body as an object. It makes it seem like it is one that needs to be overcome. This is not drastically different from that of Descartian duality that bifurcates and then subjugates the body to the mind.
This premise and assumption is rooted in the understanding of the "liberal" individual that is the "rational self" and that desire is then something that exists in the mind and can be rationalised or overcome, like any other emotion or experience of the body.
Therefore, in response to that, the conception of the embodied emotional self is offered. The idea is to "formulate a self that is both habitually and dialogically constructed and created"". With respect to that, it then follows that education of sexuality and desire is navigated and nuanced through embodied pedagogies that allow for effective and ethical learning.
Process
I conducted 6 workshops with 18 peers. We were a diverse group with different castes, class, religion, gender, sexuality and relationships to the body. The workshops transitioned from an exploration of sexuality as individuals, then in relationship to others and eventually understanding power and consent in them. The focus was on building embodied literacy and learning how to read bodies. The skills of attention and perspective on their own bodies and then others was central to the design.
We collected data through journals and video recordings of all the sessions that gave me a rich rich rich insight into the pedagogical potential of interacting bodies.
Eventually
We realised that embodied relationships were distinct from narrative and identity based ones. We saw a new language emerging within the group. And I learnt about pedagogical design and guidance. I had relied on my intuitive capacities for the workshops and you will see in future projects strengthening the actual skill of design.
The paper remains unpublished but there is 50 page thesis of love and devotion on a 21 year old trying to deeper understand social contexts, embodiment and education.
Insights received
"Completely let go and was carried by them and felt really light and free at that point. My body cues with no intention were initially maybe filled with hesitancy but soon I fell into one pattern and rhythm of letting go"
"After the session I understood that I have a tendency to go along with what people say even if I am uncomfortable..I only realised that I act very poorly when I let the tension build up within me."
This made me realize that my relationship with my body was perhaps a little too distant, almost clinical. I don’t want to see my body the way a doctor would, I want to have a more dynamic and emotional connection to my physicality, and this exercise reminded me of the importance of that"
"I felt parts like arm pits and sexual organs like for the first time"
Throughout the session, I kept thinking how different parts mean different for different people, it was very important for me as I generally feel if I am comfortable with something maybe the other person is comfortable too"
"I only had to feel the emotion without trying to understand what he was saying.”
"I was very confused, and thought maybe some of my relationships, especially with men are more based on speaking rather than any other form of non-verbal communications."
