Sexual healing on menu at conference
Candid talks by sex workers; workshops by sex therapists; sexy poem readings; and a whole lot of sexual healing are lined up for Cork’s first sexual wellness conference.
Cork Feminista, a voluntary feminist organisation founded in 2010, will host the event this Saturday and Sunday.
The group issued an open invitation last night to people to come along and explore diverse topics on sexuality and sexual health with stimulating discussions, presentations, workshops, and artistic performances, including music, theatre, poetry, comedy, and film over the two-day event.
Be sure to come along to next weekend's Sexual Health Conference where we'll be screening the 80's classic 'Dirty Dancing'...
— Cork Feminist Collective (@corkfemcoll) June 15, 2014
Psychotherapist Viorica Chetrari will open the conference with a self-esteem building workshop.
Trish Connolly, a gender researcher and a social worker in disability services, will explore sexuality and intellectual disability in an Irish context.
Sex worker advocates Lady Grew, Lucy Smith of Uglymugs, and Jenny O will host a frank and open discussion on their work, and on their advocacy for the sector.
Mary Sky will demonstrate special breathing techniques to awaken and heal energies in your body before Lucy Pearce hosts a ‘Wombgasm’ workshop.
Mary Sky will offer a one-hour exercise and breathing practice to awaken energies in your body at the Sexual Wellness Conference...
— Cork Feminist Collective (@corkfemcoll) June 14, 2014
It promises to bring “pleasure, power, creativity, and the female soul together” through reflection and words as participants explore the connections between female creativity, sexuality and spirituality.
Sex therapist Trish Murphy and Lauren Delahunty, who has researched sex differences in attitudes to casual sex, will host the last workshop on Saturday before the night-time social events kick off.
Sunday’s lineup includes a workshop on how to protect your PC from porn; a workshop to explore women’s self-hatred and the symbiotic relationship women’s inner critics have with the media; followed by a talk on the menopause, combined with a talk on age and sexual health.
Mary Crilly, the director of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre, will discuss her work before Ailish Farragher and Beth Wallace present the Bliss Ireland project which aims to foster and promote sexual freedom.
It will include an experiential piece on accessing the body’s innate capability for pleasure by using some techniques from neo-tantra and modern psychology.
Hey Fems! Here is the link to book your ticket for our FREE Sexual Welness conference. See you all there! http://t.co/30DamqW4SM
— Cork Feminist Collective (@corkfemcoll) June 10, 2014
The conference will conclude with a screening of the 1987 classic film Dirty Dancing, where audience members will be asked to consider its deep feminist messages.
The movie, written by Eleanor Bergstein and based on her own childhood experiences, highlights issues such as class, abortion, and rape.
The free conference takes place at the Camden Palace Hotel, with a €5 donation suggested.
www.corkfeminista.com
