Waves of Feminism

I bought this book in a charity shop the other day, and have found it very useful.

I just wanted to write a little more about feminism, and talk about what change it promoted. I will then go on to analyse issues regarding how women are represented in contemporary media.

What is feminism?

'Women demanding their full rights as human beings!'
(Watkins, et. al, 1992)

Splitting feminism up into 3 different stages helps to understand the development of the movement, that is inevitably continual. First wave feminism came into existence in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Women were men's property and it was common knowledge that they experienced rape and physical abuse within marriage. Women were expected to ''obey'' and were considered intellectually inferior, physically weak and dependant on men. There was always an ideal beauty. In relation to the representation of women at this time, they were seen objects own, and be used only for sex, childbearing and unpaid household work. There was always an ideal beauty, and at this time, it was women with tiny waists but voluptuous bodies. 'Women's clothing symbolised their constricted lives' (Wojtczak, H). In relation to the media, which was the newspaper at this time, women fought for coverage.

Second wave feminism dramatically came to attention in 1960/1970's. Between the very first realisations and now, there had been two world wars, which gave women significant empowerment whilst men fought overseas. They took on 'masculine' job roles and were expected to return to their domestic lifestyles afterwards, or which some rebelled. In the 60/70's some changes had already been made, but women were still believed to be emotional, irrational, weak and expected to 'serve' their husbands. Now that women were able to be employed, they fought for more equal job opportunities and equal pay.

In relation to my project, feminist artists critiqued the position of women artists. They questioned what was considered women's art, and how 'feminine' arts/crafts were considered unimportant, whilst focus was on the paintings and sculptures of male artists. They identified this exclusion and fought against it. Women were restricted from becoming artists, and those that had been, were typically ignored by the patiarchal society. This made it hard to convince society that women could be successful artists, as the male dominated industry simply did not believe it was possible/should be possible for women to do so.

At this time, women were also analysing and raising awareness of how sexist the media is toward females. Second wave feminism challenged women being forced to adhere to unrealistic beauty ideals. Feminists critiqued the 'male gaze'.
'Men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at'
(Berger, J. 1972).
Women were objectified and used for their visual value throughout all kinds of media. Their bodies disembodied and used to sell products. Usually, as women were only really beginning to make their way into the creative industries, the advertising agencies were predominately male employers/employees. This had a dramatic influence on how women were represented in the mass media.

Second wave feminism is one of the most renowned points in the revolution when it comes to art. Artists I have researched throughout this blog, from this period, include Judy Chicago, Georgia O'keeffe, Barbara Kruger and Yoko Ono. Judy Chicago's, The Dinner Party, 1974-1979, is a world famous piece of feminist art and one of the most important of this time.



The Guerrilla Girls, who formed in 1985, made protest art against the dramatic inequality in the art world. Their posters used humour but made strong statements about the position of women artists at that time. A well known poster states ''Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum?'', whilst another says ''When racism and sexism are no longer fashionable, what will your art collection be worth?''.

Third wave feminism is thought to have started in the 1980's and continues up to present date. Although women have come a long way, for example women can now vote, there is a better legal system protecting women's rights, marriage is not forced and women are working successfully in previously male-dominated jobs, Third wave feminism deals with many issues that are familiar to the previous stages of the revolution. This includes fighting for equal pay, equal opportunities (in and out of employment), equal coverage in the media and equal civil and political rights. Feminists also fight for more inclusion and equal opportunities of black, lesbian and bisexual women. After 1980's feminist brought forward the realisation that it wasn't only women that were disregarded in the art world. It was also women of different ethnicity's and different sexual orientations.

In relation to my project, third wave feminism is also concerned with how women are represented in the mass media. Women are still treated as objects, used for their visual value. The male gaze is still extremely relevant in regards to women and women still have a huge pressure to adhere to unrealistic beauty ideals portrayed in the media. I will continue to analyse contemporary issues relative to this.

What is Feminism?

'Feminism is not a singular approach but a broad umbrella term for a diverse number of positions and strategies amongst women involved in the production, distribution and consumption of art. The contributors include critics, curators, academics and artsits. Each explores a different aspect of women's art practice, feminist art criticism and women's role in the art world in the late 1980's and early 1990's.'
(Deepwell, K., New Feminist Art Criticism)

This quote explores the idea that feminism cannot simply be defined from one point of view, or one position in society. Feminism is such a large revolution, that encompasses all aspects of our culture. In terms of a revolution, feminism is based on social, political and economical equality for women. Women fight for gender equality and for their contributions to be valued. Feminism rejects the boundaries associated with, and discrimination against gender, sexual orientation and marital status. It is a movement, which means that it is working towards specific goals.

Feminism can be supported by women, men, girls and boys. It is not only women who wish to be treated better, who are feminists. Anyone in society can promote the values and beliefs that feminism highlights. Feminists have worked towards improving employment opportunities, education opportunities, the right to vote, equal pay etc. More specific to my project, feminism has also fought for equal opportunities in the creative arts industries (including employment and education), equal pay for women's art, equal coverage in the media, a more realistic representation of women, the rejection of objectification of women in advertising and the rejection of disembodiment of women's bodies.

The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader

Today I have read some essays in The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader. I read:
The Guerilla Girls - Introduction and Conclusion,
Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro - Female Imergy,
Andrea Dworkin - Pornography,
Harmony Hammond - Lesbian Artists.

I found a particular interest in Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro's essay Female Imagery.
They talked about how they interpret the work of Georgia O'keeffe, in a way in which I had not come across before. This might be because the only time I have studied her was for a couple of weeks during GCSE, during my Organic Form project. I chose her images because of the beautiful abstractions and close up flowers that I interpreted her work to display.

These are Georgia O'Keeffe images from my GCSE artwork

Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro, write about her work in much detail. They say her images have extreme emphasis on a central orifice, and that of an entrance into the female identity. I haven't known anything about feminism up until a couple of weeks ago, so reading this essay has given me a whole new mindset about female artists. Chicago and Schapiro mention that she makes clear reference to life and death in her paintings, as well as a passage into the unknown darkness of being a women.
'Describing the central opening are a series of delicately painted folds, which suggest nothing less than orgiastic throbbing or contractions of labor.'

Chicago and Schapiro

They talk about how O'Keeffe deliberately designs and creates her artwork with an expressive intention of exploring the female identity. Women were not to be considered as artists and women's art was not considered art. When women started creating pieces, expressing what it is to be a women physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually etc, men were not able to acknowledge it as art because it was nothing they had seen before. A painting or sculpture describing the secret place that can be entered, but at the same time acts as an exit for new life into this world, would be far beyond the reach of mainstream art critics, and anyone experiencing art at that period of time.

Another point they make, is that women do not have a taboo about allowing themselves to be gentle and tender in their work. This is not the case for men, who in mainstream contemporary art at that time, avoided all aspects of expression that was not considered masculine. The ability to present softness and fragility is something men did not attach themselves to. If they were capable of producing art encompassing these emotions, they certainly did not do so. Women were able to express feminine tones in their work, as this was an considered an aspect of the mothering, female role.

Here, Judy Chicago, talks about feminist art and some of her experiences.

I am learning so much about feminism and some important, powerful women who have influenced most aspects of female art to this day. I feel almost rude for not knowing about them before.

The Dinner Party

The Dinner Party was made during 1974 and 1979. The installation is triangular in shape (a symbol of equality) and consists of 39 different place settings, each honouring a goddess, historical figure or important woman. The Heritage Floor, on which the Dinner Party rests, is inscribed with another 999 names of other important women. It is made up of embroidered runners, a gold ceramic chalice and utensils, a napkin with an embroidered edge and a plate, with a design based on butterfly and vulva forms, but also individualised to the style of the woman being honoured. Six woven entry banners are displayed in the entrance to The Dinner Party. Judy Chicago's piece is a major contributor to feminist art.

'In 2009, Judy Chicago and Through the Flower, the non-profit arts organization founded by Chicago in 1978, launched The Dinner Party Curriculum, a guide for K-12 teachers who want to introduce women’s history into their classrooms. This curriculum is now an in-perpetuity “living curriculum” on the website of Penn State University, one of the leading art education institutions in the country.'

http://www.judychicago.com/gallery.php?name=The+Dinner+Party

WACK!

WACK: Art and the Feminist Revolution

After Sally recommended this book to me last week, immeadiately after our lecture I went to library to borrow it. I have been reading little bits at a time (it's a large book) as well as watching a compilation of videos, photos and podcasts on Youtube about it.