Welcome to the dismantle. Contest:

Creating a World Without Isms Through Art

Attention: high school students nationwide
(US only)

Competition Awards $1,000 Prizes to Young Leaders Who Challenge Systems of Oppression Through Visual Art, Music, Essay, Story, Poetry, Video, Photography, and Other Creative Forms

Deadline for Submission

High school submissions are due by April 10, 2023.

Enter the dismantle. contest to address how patriarchy, racism, sexism, genderism or any other Isms impact your life, your community, the world. How might we dismantle. – take apart, break into pieces, deconstruct them? What would it take? How would YOU do it?

READ THE GUIDELINES
JOIN THE CONTEST

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Be as creative as possible.

Nationwide, youth are calling for a change in the systems that continue to fail us. We have seen the resurgence of white supremacy, state-sanctioned violence on marginalized communities, and the organized efforts of politicians and lawmakers to disempower and erase trans and nonbinary young folx. These systems are not broken. They were designed to operate as they are with the purpose of keeping marginalized groups in a constant struggle for survival.

Some of those systems are –

Patriarchy
[ pey-tree-ahrkee ]

One of the most influential systems of power in our society that centers, privileges, and prioritizes masculinity and/or cisgendered men. Patriarchy is practiced systematically in the ways and methods through which power is distributed in society (jobs and positions of power given to men in government, policy, criminal justice, etc.) while also influencing how we interact with one another interpersonally (gender expectations, sexual dynamics, space taking, etc.).

Racism

A mix of prejudice and power leading to the domination and exploitation of one group (the dominant or majority group) over another (the non-dominant, minority, or racialized group). It asserts that one group is supreme and superior while the other is inferior. Racism is any individual action or institutional practice backed by institutional power which subordinates people because of their color or ethnicity.

Anti-Blackness

A two-part formation that both voids Blackness of value while systematically marginalizing  Black people and their issues. A term used to describe the unique discrimination, violence, and harms imposed on and impacting Black people specifically.

Sexism

A belief that one sex is superior to or more valuable than another sex, but more specifically, in our society, that men are superior to women. It imposes limits on what women and girls can and should do. Sexist assumptions about women, which manifest as gender stereotypes, rank women as having less value than men. That they are objects and property of men, such hierarchical thinking can be conscious and hostile or unconscious, manifesting as unconscious bias.

The Gender Binary

A classification system consisting of two genders — man and woman. It is a concept or belief that there are only two genders and that one’s assigned gender will align with traditional social constructs of masculine and feminine identity, expression, and sexuality.

White Supremacy Culture

The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond define white supremacy culture as the idea (ideology) that white people and the ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions of white people are superior to People of Color and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions. All the institutions of our society reproduce white supremacy culture. In particular, the media, the education system, western science (which played a significant role in reinforcing the idea of race as a biological truth with the white race as the “ideal” top of the hierarchy), and the Christian church have played central roles in reproducing the idea of white supremacy (i.e., that white is “normal,” “better,” “smarter,” “holy” in contrast to Black, Indigenous, and other People and Communities of Color.

Tell us, how would you dismantle. the isms?

Bring your creative voice to this contest! Tell us through whatever innovative method reflects your project, and you might win an award for your idea. Submissions include essays, poetry, music, art, photography, film, and more!

Think about how the concept of how these systems and structures shape our lives. How do they impact you and your peers, your family? In what ways could youth today dismantle these structures? How can you use your art to educate and inspire youth to create a better future? A better world? What would a world free of these structures look like for traditionally marginalized and excluded folx?

  • Experiment. Think outside the box.
  • Break down these systems and show us what a better world looks like. How would you educate your friends, family, and community about these systems? 
  • Articulate your vision using all the creative tools at your disposal. What does your artwork say about how to dismantle these oppressive structures?

 

Join the Contest

What is the dismantle. Contest?

Mission

To create a platform that supports young people as they create a cultural shift that begins to dismantle. isms and the negative ways in which they impact our lives, our communities, and our world.

Vision

Imagine a world where the systems of oppression did not dominate our culture, where everyone is encouraged to embrace their full humanity, no matter what that looks like.

Values

Young folx possess an endless reserve of insight, brilliance and creativity to help shape their own future #LetYouthLead

What are Isms?

The “isms” are interconnected systems of oppression. They do not happen in isolation. When we talk about racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism and other forms of oppression we must understand that they operate at various levels. They happen at the personal level (an individual makes a homophobic comment), the interpersonal level (an educator expects lower academic achievement from Black students), the institutional level (a state law banning transgender students from school sports teams) and the cultural level (native children sent to boarding schools where they were prevented from and punished for speaking their own language). These “isms” dehumanize, disempower and contribute to the erasure of people who don’t ascribe to these beliefs and rules, too often with violence.

About

Young Adult Council

The Young Adult Council is composed of a group of young leaders from A Call To Men’s Youth ACT! (Actively Committed To) and the Young Adult Advisory Board. These young leaders engage their peers and communities to promote healthy masculinity, healthy relationships, preventing gender-based violence, and creating a better world for ALL women, girls and those in the margins of the margins. The Young Adult Council will review all eligible submissions and select the 10 high school winners for this year’s Dismantle art contest.

Want to get involved/support the dismantle. contest?

Join the contest

Submit your entry

E-mail us

josue@acalltomen.org

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