INTERSECTIONAL RELATIONALITIES: Decolonizing attachments, intimacies and relationships

DESCRIPTION

This session explores the concept of “Intersectional Relationalities,” challenging the Western, individualistic, and often capitalist-driven frameworks of identity and relationships. By decentering W.E.I.R.D. (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) perspectives, the presentation examines how diverse communities across the globe understand human connection, mutualism, and identity. The course draws upon a rich tapestry of cultural practices, historical texts, and indigenous knowledge systems.

It highlights the mutualistic relationship in the Hadza tribe of Tanzania and the Yao people of Mozambique. It examines the deep interspecies bonds formed by the Matses tribe in the Amazonian forests of Peru. The lesson also explores alternative family and social structures, such as the self-combed women (Zishunü) of the Gu Po Wu community in Guangdong, China, and the complex bride payment (Roora/Rusambo) traditions of the Shona culture in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, it investigates unique marital and gender expressions, including the groom abduction (Chawarisikka) practices of the Garo tribe (specifically the Abeng and Matabengs sub-groups) in Meghalaya, India, the male beauty pageants (Gerewol) of the Wodaabe tribe (part of the Fulani ethnic group) in Niger and Chad, and the recognized third gender community of Hijras/Kinnars in India.

The lesson also touches upon the practice of Teknonymy among the Balinese people of Bali and the Garo people of Meghalaya. It delves into historical Indian relationship dynamics through the lens of courtesan culture in Tamil Nadu, the five Tinais (landscapes) of Tamil Sangam literature, and the collaborative values embedded in the traditional game Āḍu Puli Āṭṭam played by Dravidian cultures. Finally, it references ancient Sumerian love poetry (Inanna and Dumuzi) and the traditional dances of the Ouled Naïl women from the Amazigh (Berber) tribes in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria. Through these diverse examples, the lesson critiques the biopolitics of regulating sexual economies and pronatalism, advocating for a broader, more inclusive understanding of intimacy and identity.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to understand the concept of intersectional relationalities and critique the limitations of W.E.I.R.D. (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) frameworks in defining human attraction, intimacy and identity.
2. By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to identify and describe various global non-White cultural practices related to marriage, gender, and community structure (e.g., Shona Roora, Wodaabe Gerewol, Garo Chawarisikka, Chinese Zishunü).
3. By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to examine how political ideologies, such as pronatalism and capitalism, regulate sexual economies and influence societal norms regarding marriage and reproduction.
4. By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to recognize the significance of mutualism and deep connections with nature, as demonstrated by the Hadza, Yao, and Matses tribes.
5. By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to reflect on the multifaceted nature of personal identity, moving beyond simple labels to encompass land, language, food, art, and community service.

AVAILABLE ON

ErosCoaching	AASECT CE · Standard Access	Access Now
The Elsewheres	AASECT CE · Collective Access	Access Now
Forbidden Tickets	Community Access	Access Now
Eventbrite	Open Access	Access Now

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Access Key
Standard Access: Full course access with AASECT Continuing Education credits. Ideal for licensed clinicians and certified professionals fulfilling CE requirements (First-come, first-served).
Collective Access: Full course access with AASECT Continuing Education credits, offered at a lower price point to support decolonial participation across professional communities (First-come, first-served).
Community Access: Full course access without AASECT CE credits, designed for BIPOC, queer, kink+, and sex-positive community members engaging outside of a clinical or certification context.
Open Access: Registration open to all, including international students. No AASECT CE credits issued. Suitable for anyone curious about the subject matter regardless of professional background.

EDUCATOR BIO