Subculture Against Patriarchy - Demo & After Party

DEMO: 08.03.2024,  14:00-20:00 // AFTERPARTY: ab 22:00 KVU

Statement 2024:

“SUBCULTURE AGAINST PATRIARCHY!”

by SubAllies

We are a gathering of collectives, activists, technicians, artists, and organizers; and as such co-creators* of the Berlin subculture. As SubAllies, we come together as a team of FLINTA* persons to form a network of solidarity. 

We want to establish an alliance apart from patriarchal power mechanisms, 

which critically deals with the patriarchal structures within our scene and contributes to an intersectional feminist resilience & resistance in the subcultural landscape.

Under the motto ‘Subculture Against Patriarchy’, we come together on Internationale Frauen*kampftag as FLINTA*s from the subculture spectrum.

We want to be loud and give voice to varied feminist perspectives. 

We want to be visible on the streets, to demonstrate and validate the feminist contribution to subcultural movements. 

And we want to celebrate ourselves, as a community, united in a common goal: "Fight the patriarchy!"

Subculture is the product of “creativity from below” and represents a safer space for marginalized groups. In their mostly grassroots democratic and self-governing communities, these micro-level politics question existing conditions and explore alternative forms of social interaction and collaboration. 

Whether graffiti, rave or squatting; these gestures of diverse currents act as an interface between art and protest and serve as a means of self-empowerment.

The fundamental aspects of these creative protest movements are revealing: Subculture has the potential to be a nucleus for social change!

But despite their socio-cultural value, subcultural spaces are being increasingly repressed. Protecting them and promoting their communities does not seem to be in the interest of urban planning policy-makers. 

In times of cumulative pressure from rising right-wing forces, whose populist rhetoric is increasingly shaping the political zeitgeist, it is becoming clear that the goals of feminist movements are still far from reaching the consciousness of the majority.

Instead an ideological gender gap is emerging within the younger generation: 

Recent studies show cis-women have a liberal and progressive tendency in their voting behavior while cis-men tend to be more conservative and reactionary. 

This political divide is evidence of a conflict between emancipative demands  versus an attitude of denial.

It is indicative of the unwillingness to critically confront cis-male privileges and the refusal to sacrifice systematic preferential treatment in favor of general equality.

In addition to addressing the hardening of mainstream social fronts, it is imperative to scrutinize the practices and patterns prevalent within our subcultural landscape. While our scene may champion system-critical perspectives, it remains susceptible to entrenched patriarchal power dynamics."

Therefore, on Internationale Frauen*kampftag, we want to:

1. Demonstrate, Validate and Celebrate the Berlin subcultural FLINTA* community 
2. Encourage FLINTA* stakeholders to network in solidarity
3. Call on the subcultural scene for critical self-reflection regarding scene-specific forms of structural discrimination
4. Demand the preservation of subcultural spaces and the promotion of their communities from urban policy decision-makers
5. Establish spaces crafted for, and organized around FLINTA* bodies and desires

We stand in deep solidarity with all other intersectional feminist organizations that are working towards the overthrowing of patriarchal structures on Internationale Frauen*kampftag. Above all, we stand with those who cannot take part in this day for protest, due to ongoing war by the global perpetrators of capitalist heteropatriarchy.

FLINTA*s to the Front! Allies welcome! 

(*FEMALES, LESBIANS, INTERSEX, NON-BINARY, TRANS- & AGENDER PERSONS)

As it is a FLINTA* Demonstration, all the artists, speakers and organizers are FLINTA* people. The motive of "FLINTAS* to the front" should dominate the dynamics of the happening. 

 We additionally welcome everyone who does not identify as a FLINTA* person, but who supports our movement as an ally and respects the intention of this Demonstration.

We do not tolerate any form of sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, ageism or any other form of discrimination 

and will continue our commitment to keeping our space as safe as possible!

We are grateful for our collaboration with the “Anarchist Awareness Alliance” that will take on the role of awareness team at this demonstration. Please don’t forget, though: WE ARE ALL AWARENESS!