8 WOMEN DISCUSS: PATRIARCHY, SEXISM, AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN GREEK SOCIETY

Can we start imagine a world that works equally for all genders? On November the 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Onassis Stegi invites you on Onassis Youtube Channel in a digital discussion about patriarchy, sexism, and gender-based violence in Greek society. The discussion is taking place, in the context of Onassis Stegi’s series of digital discussions reflecting on Greek society, Society Uncensored. Εight women with diverse backgrounds and knowledge, discuss their experiences as femininities at Onassis Stegi. A obstetrician – gynecologist, with a doctorate from the University of Athens, a journalist, a lawyer, a sociologist – psychotherapist, a trans woman sex-worker the spokeswoman of the Center for Research on Women’s Issues (CRWI) “Diotima” and a public servant, narrating stories that need to be heard.

From the phenomenal movement in Poland against a ban on abortion, to the massive protests against femicide in Latin America, to the global #MeToo movement, women and femininities around the world are fighting for a life free from violence, fear, and oppression. The same is true in Greece, where instances of gender-based violence are anything but in decline. Gender stereotypes, sexism, toxic masculinities, rape culture, and victim blaming must all be contended with on a daily basis due to their pervasive normalization, because they are condoned – by society and its institutions, and by the media. This time, however, women will be speaking openly about everything society finds hard to hear.

In the wake of the crimes against Eleni Topaloudi, Suzanne Eaton, and Zackie Oh (Zak Kostopoulos), and on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Onassis Stegi is inviting eight women with diverse backgrounds and knowledge to discuss their experiences as femininities. The participants share their experiences of everyday sexism, and speak about the gender stereotypes with which they were raised and which they continue to face in their personal and professional lives. They recall incidents of gender-based violence that they themselves have faced and also touch upon the impact that such abuse continues to have on the collective consciousness, with a particular emphasis on institutional responses that often compound the trauma suffered by victims of gender-based violence.

The participants deal with the collective trauma of gender-based violence, which also emerges through a societally pervasive culture of condoning such behavior. The discussion highlights the unbearable burdens inflicted by victim blaming and rape culture, both of which are characteristic of Greek society. By appealing to their personal experiences, and to the gender-based violence that (im)mobilizes them to varying degrees, they work through how best to respond, bracing themselves and establishing communities for support and solidarity in order to break the cycle of violence, do away with shame, and feel less alone.

With:

Ivi Kaiserli: trans woman, sex-worker

Natasha Kefallinou: spokeswoman of the Center for Research on Women’s Issues (CRWI) “Diotima”

Gianna Kouka: public servant

Eftychia Leontidou: obstetrician – gynecologist, with a doctorate from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Maria Louka: journalist – screenwriter

Clio Papapantoleon: lawyer

Valia Tsirigoti: sociologist – psychotherapist

Discussion chaired by:

Stevi Kitsou: lawyer, Hellenic League for Human Rights

Credits

Curation: Pasqua Borgia, Natasha Kefallinou, Stevi Kitsou, Maria Louka, Maritina Papamitrou, Dimitris Theodoropoulos

Heads of Production: Pasqua Borgia, Smaragda Dogani

Film shoot and audiovisual materials overseen by: Cristos Sarris

Filming and editing: ALASKA

Line Production: Nikitas Vasilakis

Produced by Onassis Stegi

With Greek and English subtitles.

THE SOCIETY UNCENSORED SERIES
Α series of digital discussions reflecting on Greek society

Society means people, and people are a constant point of focus for Onassis Stegi –always have been, and always will be. People are being brought together to talk, openly and unmediated, about the vital and pressing social and political issues of our time and place, taking center stage in a new series of online discussions organized as part of the Onassis Stegi “Talks & Thoughts” program.

A cross-section of citizens – representatives of highly active organizations, members of academic and artistic communities, from the worlds of activism, civil society, journalism, research, legal representation, and governance, and drawn from the various ethnicities and communities that call Athens home – share their experiences uncensored, taking a stand on issues raised and reasoned out during the course of their discussions.

Deep and frank conversations, that illuminate important facets of our societal lives, on an open digital platform for interaction and fruitful dialog – this is why the “Society Uncensored” series was created, for a plethora of voices to be heard, with a view to getting different – and at times marginalized or controversial – opinions out there, raising awareness about and giving due consideration to major societal issues as highlighted by current events, public discourse in the media and on social media, and our everyday reality.

The first talk of the series, 9 Afrogreeks discuss: what does “I can’t breathe” mean in Greece? is available online from July 25 on Onassis YouTube Channel. Α group of young people living in Athens talk about what “anti-Blackness” means in Greece. About how racism has touched their lives. The daily experiences of people of African descent around the world – the “Black Experience” – brim with projections and social stereotypes that often mean their voices cannot truly be heard.

Read more

https://www.onassis.org/video/8-women-discuss-patriarchy-sexism-and-gender-based-violence-greek-society

https://www.onassis.org/initiatives/society-uncensored-a-series-of-digital-discussions/

Watch the discussion from November 25, 2020 at 12:00(EET), on the link:

https://youtu.be/_SRPOM3qnLg