Disillusioned

Ita - The responsibility of transformation

Nov 19, 2023

Ita Segev, a Jerusalem-born writer and performance artist living in NYC, shares her journey of transformation and identity. She discusses the interplay between her experience as a trans woman and Palestinian liberation, aiming to dismantle dehumanizing narratives. Ita reflects on trauma from her military service and how her Jewish heritage shaped her activism. Returning to Israel during COVID allowed her to reconnect with her roots and redefine her fight for justice, embracing love and solidarity in the face of conflict.

01:38:50

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Episode guests

Ita Segev

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Quick takeaways

Ita Segev's journey as a trans woman intertwines with Palestinian liberation, emphasizing the need to dismantle dehumanizing narratives.

The complexity of identity is explored through intergenerational trauma, illustrating how Jewish heritage and Zionism impact collective pain.

Experiences during military service led Ita to become disillusioned with violence, driving her towards activism and a commitment to social justice.

Deep dives

Questioning Identity and Narrative

The conversation highlights the speaker's journey in questioning their identity as an Israeli and a Zionist, stemming from a disillusionment with the narratives they grew up with. They discuss how this questioning process led them to engage with a variety of perspectives surrounding the Palestinian struggle and the broader implications of their own cultural background. Through dialogue with activists sharing similar experiences, the speaker reflects on the significance of understanding different narratives to foster empathy and build better futures. This newfound awareness allows them to navigate complex issues of belonging and the historical context of displacement that affects both Israelis and Palestinians.

Intro

2min

Tapestry of Identity and Trauma

12min

The Political Legacy of Yitzhak Rabin and the Oslo Accords

1min

Navigating Identity in Conflict

15min

Navigating Adult Discourse: The Weight of Educational Influence

2min

Redefining Conflict Through Personal Narratives

22min

Navigating Loss and Identity in Military Service

4min

A Journey of Identity and Activism

16min

Hormones, Ethics, and Identity

4min

10.

Navigating Identity and Activism Amidst Conflict

20min

Ita Segev is a writer, performance artist, and organizer from Jerusalem who’s been living and making work in NY for the past 12 years.

In this episode she charts the complex map she’s found towards her freedom as a trans woman, its relationship to Palestinian liberation, and her commitment to dismantling the split which allows people to dehumanize others while loving those they perceive to be “like them”.

Ita takes us through lessons from her Jewish ancestors, years of secrets and failed attempts to assimilate into militaristic toxic masculinity, the violence she witnessed during her army service, her desire to erase and escape her past in NYC, her learning from Black feminists, and embracing of her anti-Zionism and transness in an American context that never felt like her own.

Coming back to Israel during Covid, more grounded in her sense of self and her beliefs, Ita shared how rediscovering the love she has for this land and her people reminded her not only what systems she is fighting against, but what future she is fighting for.

You can follow Ita on Instagram at @Itaqt, and reach out to her for writing collaborations both for TV/film and for online publications.

Check out our bonus episode on Patreon: https://bit.ly/47fLR8i

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A few important disclaimers:

I created and funded this podcast privately. I don’t belong to any organization, nor does it represent anyone other than myself.

Secondly, I don’t intend this content to provide a justification or excuse for the actions people interviewed did in their past, but rather to learn from their personal experiences and gain insight as to what the process of transformation looks like. Certain parts of the episode could be triggering for you, and I advise taking into consideration that some of the events discussed are morally and ethically challenging (to say the least).

And lastly:

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which I work as the indigenous people of this country and pay my respects to their elders, past and emerging.

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Thank you Roy Geva for the soundtrack.

You can contact me at @yehavit on Instagram (or write to yehavit@gmail if you’re not on Instagram).

Stuff we mentioned:

The Parents Circle-Families Forum: https://www.theparentscircle.org/en/pcff-home-page-en/

A normal heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa3luI1ythI

Ita’s creations:

https://www.wendyssubway.com/publishing/titles/questions-to-ask-before-your-bat-mitzvah

https://www.audible.com/pd/Chonburi-International-Hotel-and-Butterfly-Club-Audiobook/B08R43JB3M

https://www.dropbox.com/s/31oichi04sj1jo0/gender-and-nation-tightly-bound-ita-segevs-knot-in-my-name.pdf?dl=0

https://brooklynrail.org/2019/09/dance/ITA-SEGEV-with-George-Kan

https://vimeo.com/654446470