Theatre of the oppressed in the context of gender-based discrimination and violence and the Troupe of Parteciparte as an example of practice

The assumption that gender roles are natural and immutable produces gender stereotypes based on dualism, imposes itself as a continuously strengthened norm and justifies gender-based discrimination and violence. This sexist culture places the white-heterosexual-male identity at the top of the hierarchy and gives him all privileges and priorities, while violating the human rights of women and all individuals outside the gender patterns. One of the effective methods of struggle and transformation against gender inequality is the Theatre Of The Oppressed, which was developed by the Brazilian theatre practitioner Augusto Boal. The Theatre Of The Oppressed, as a whole of theory and methods, is practicing all over the world from the 1970s to the present day in the struggle against all forms of oppression. The Theatre Of The Oppressed allows people to recognize the oppressions they are exposed at the level of critical consciousness, understand the underlying ideology of oppression and gives them a chance to transform the oppression. The basis of this study is, to research the transformative power of the Theatre Of The Oppressed in the context of gender-based discrimination and violence. For this purpose, the troupe of PartecipArte's practices will be examined and discussed.