By Immy Burgess

In a society where speaking out can often feel like an act of defiance, a poetry workshop led by poet Caroline Stancer offered participants a space to challenge societal silencing. Held as part of Manchester Metropolitan University’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the event invited attendees to confront barriers to expression through the power of words.

Forward Prize-winning poet and co-organiser poet Dr Kim Moore introduced Stancer. Moore set the tone by ensuring participants felt comfortable and safe, emphasising the importance of a judgment-free space for creativity.

Stancer opened the session by addressing the all-too-common fear of speaking out in public forums. “I’ve felt fearful expressing opinions online,” she shared. “It can make you hold back.” Her acknowledgment of this shared experience resonated with attendees, many of whom related to the challenges of voicing opinions and navigating societal backlash.

To inspire participants, Stancer shared poetry from renowned writers including Ocean Vuong, Claire Askew, and Maggie Nelson. These readings sparked a conversation about the metaphorical “walls” that prevent marginalised groups – particularly Black women and non-gender-conforming individuals – from speaking freely.

Participants were guided through an exercise that explored these barriers. Dividing their pages into three sections, they were asked to describe what their personal “wall” looked like in the first segment. Stancer encouraged them to consider textures, inscriptions and transparency: “What are your walls made of? Are there words on them? Are they solid or can you see through them?”

‘Old Glory,’ one of the poems discussed, became a focal point for considering how societal definitions and imposed identities create oppressive barriers. Stancer said: “I am thinking of these poems as oppressive walls which get in someone’s way. ‘Old Glory’ could be a wall of how others define us, the words which are forced on us, of how we’re supposed to be. It could also be a wall of violence which is hard to escape.”

The workshop progressed with participants reflecting on what grants them the permission to speak freely and authentically. The group discussed quotes and poems from various authors exploring the concept of societal blockages in place to limit or even prohibit marginalised people from speaking. 

“What gives you permission to speak, to live more fully or be more of yourself?” asked Stancer. This prompt linked back to the theme of the event and allowed people to explore and assess where they currently were with their confidence to speak in public.

Stancer reassured attendees that their writing need not conform to traditional structures. “Don’t worry about writing disconnected things, or things which are odd or don’t make sense.” Participants were then given permission to write freely, with no constraint or even any prompts, though Stancer did provide some starting points for those who wished to use them. 

The workshop focused on the use of poems to explore the meanings of our own words and ruminate on the social expectations given to certain groups of people.

Stancer then opened the call up and invited attendees to share any work they had produced, finished or not. Some people uploaded their work into the chat and requested their work to be read aloud or read it out themselves. Each piece shared brought with it a new and nuanced discussion.

Due to the intimate nature of the call, many felt they could openly share their thoughts without ridicule. “I felt really able to talk, like [Stancer] had really given us permission to speak,” one participant said. 

The event concluded with a broader conversation about standing firm against silencing, whether in professional settings or public forums, and the empowering role of writing as a tool for resistance.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Festival runs from 25th November to 10th December, 2024. For more information and tickets, visit mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events.