FEMINIST & QUEER SECTION OF HARDZAZAT
The Feminist and Queer section of the Hardzazat collective was born in 2018 during the 4th edition of the HHF, following a self- criticism of the members regarding several forms of discrimination, mostly systemic, towards Queers and women within the festival. With this in mind, the organizing team started operating in an intersectional way in order to encourage more women and queers to join the collective.
Based on its Antifascist vocation, the first objective of the section was to secure the festival and to get as close as possible to the concept of "Safe Space". In order to do so, a zero tolerance policy towards misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia, unwanted touching, sexual harassment, and any oppressive behavior/belief was instituted. This applies also to the artists who may sometimes carry discriminatory messages.
The section also opts for a deconstruction of male dominance in the festival's programming, given that in previous editions, the vast majority of performing artists were men. The main reason is obviously the male dominance in the artistic scene, however we can also add the artistic culture of the members of the collective which was notably male (the importance of female and queer members within the collective). The section therefore had to create a balance within the programming and even a positive discrimination in favour of female artists and Queers.
THE SECTION ORGANISE ALSO HERE INDEPENDENT FESTIVAL, IDNT'AALIN INTERSECTIONAL FEMINIST FEST WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR AT THE END OF APRIL 2023.