Bodily Self-Determination

Bodily self-determination lies at the heart of various socio-political debates, such as those surrounding the demand for legal abortion, reproductive rights, and gender self-determination. In this session, choreographer and performer Carolina Mendonça and lawyer Laura Leogrande will come together and reflect on issues and strategies of defence and protection from their respective professional practices. From a feminist perspective, the key issue is how the right to self-determination can be realised when the physical boundaries of female bodies — or bodies perceived as female — are crossed. Carolina Mendonça will draw on her artistic research into the relationship between choreography, training and violence. Laura Leogrande will bring her experience of supporting victims of violent assaults, particularly women who have experienced sexual or domestic violence.