Gentle protest

Gentle protest is an approach to activism[1] which aims to change hearts, minds, policies and laws through thoughtful and compassionate actions. Its intent is to invite reflection and respectful conversation rather than division. It is purposefully non-aggressive in nature.[2]

Gentle protest
Years active2015 -
Major figuresSarah Corbett

Its name came from a 2015 exhibition by Sarah Corbett at Föreningen Handarbetets Vänner in Stockholm which aimed to show that protests do not always have to be aggressive. The message of the exhibition was: "If we want our world to be more beautiful, kind & just, then our activism should be beautiful, kind & just".[3] The exhibition was shown at Helsinki Design Week[4] and as part of The Future Is Present exhibition at Designmuseum Denmark.

Corbett is an activist, Ashoka fellow, author and founder of the Craftivist Collective, a global social enterprise for individuals, groups and organisations to learn how to use crafts as a tool for activism.[5] She has said that ‘gentleness’ - which is not passive or weak - is the golden thread that creates real positive impact in her work.[6]

In 2017 she wrote a book, How To Be A Craftivist: The Art of Gentle Protest,[7] and ran a six-week online course titled "The School of Gentle Protest"[8] as part of a project funded by Arts Council England in collaboration with the University of Lincoln. Visiting professors included Orsola de Castro of Fashion Revolution and Catherine Howarth, CEO of ShareAction.[9]

Gentle protest has been used as a framework by groups in Potsdam,[10] the Lake District,[11] and by organisations including The Scout Association[12] and WWF[6] to protest on a broad range of issues.

Some, such as writer Andreas Malm, disagree with the approach,[13] while others, such as Alyce McGovern, say it can be powerful in soliciting a response.[14]

References
  1. "Sarah Corbett". Ashoka. 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  2. Townsend, Solitaire (16 November 2020). "100 UK Leading Environmentalists (Who Happen To Be Women)". Forbes. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  3. Corbett, Sarah (15 July 2015). "'Gentle Protest' exhibition by Sarah Corbett, Stockholm". Craftivist Collective blog. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  4. "Gentle Protest by Sarah Corbett". Design District Helsinki. September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  5. Thompson, Kailey (1 September 2021). "Craftivism Offers an Alternative To Traditional Protests as a Powerful Means of Expression". Good Good Good. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  6. "Craftivism: Gentle Protest". Four Thought. 23 September 2020. BBC. Radio 4. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  7. Corbett, Sarah (2017). How To Be A Craftivist. Unbound.
  8. Morrison, Greg (17 April 2017). "The art of gentle protest". Positive News. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  9. Corbett, Sarah (15 March 2017). "Become a student of our 6week School of Gentle Protest". Craftivist Collective blog. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  10. "Rücknahme der Kürzungen im Sozialbereich gefordert". AWO Bezirksverband Potsdam e.V. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  11. Dingwall, Ed (7 September 2021). "High Peak crafters stage 'gentle protest' on Mam Tor to pressure MP over climate crisis". Buxton Advertiser. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  12. Abraham, Aimee-lee (29 October 2018). "The art of gentle protest". Medium. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  13. Sandor, Samuel (2 March 2023). "'We Need to Think Outside the Box': The Significance of Greta Thunberg's 'The View' Interview". Impakter. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  14. Knight, Ben (15 December 2022). "Craftivism: effecting change with needle and yarn". UNSW Newsroom. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
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