Introduction
Gender stereotyping and discrimination against women is a vice deeply rooted in society, notwithstanding its adverse implications on continuous development. Women are overshadowed in initiatives that demand or attract more power and responsibilities, thus limiting them from venturing into politics, leadership, and management. In addition, their subordination to men denies them the right to explore careers in creative arts, music, film, poetry, and literature. However, feminists in the 21st century have made significant advancements in the fight toward gender quality by taking advantage of social platforms and their talents to challenge the status quo. Contemporary feminist art movements have become a powerful tool in driving change and limiting women’s suffering.
The ultimate aim of contemporary feminist artists is to rewrite the rules of the male-dominated art industry, destroy stereotypic social fabrics using powerful messages, and oppose the existing societal canons that limit women from succeeding.
Rewriting a Male-Dominated Art History
Traditionally, art received notable attention from noble people and royals, allowing various forms of art pieces, paintings, music compositions, and the creation of sculptures to become an embodiment of social cultures. However, traditional art rarely features women because of limitations that prevent them from actively participating in the creation process. Art was male-dominated in the pre-World War era, and only a few women received recognition for their work. A man had to be associated with a woman’s work or represent her as a sponsor to solicit attention. Women were belittled and ignored as artists, and their works were never showcased in theaters or exhibited in galleries. Additionally, their disempowered status prevented them from investing in their pieces because collectors did not pay the same for works produced by women compared to men. As a result, women could not reap the benefits of art regardless of their hard work. Nevertheless, the post-war era allowed a majority of women to overcome the adversities of discrimination due to increased activism for the rights of women and their inclusion in social developments and other sectors.
During its emergence, contemporary feminist art movements are focused on women’s empowerment and their inclusion in the world of art, previously dominated by men. In other words, female artists sought to alter individuals thinking and the status of the world around them to encourage more women to participate in art and excel. Mary Beth Edelson is one of the contemporary female artists who reinforced this notion and championed the acceptance of women in the art scene. The artist created an image mocking Leonardo da Vinci’s mural of the Last Supper, in which she replaced the heads of the men with the most famous female artists of the time. The images she replaced with Christ and his disciples comprised her friends and idols, including Georgia O’Keeffe in place of Jesus and Yoko Ono, Alma Thomas, Agnes Martin, Alice Neel, and Faith Ringgold, among others. Edelson pointed out that she experienced pleasure in creating the image as she uncovered women’s faces that were rarely seen or heard of in the 1970s. However, all these women have unique works under their names and are talented in their crafts.
Edelson’s painting quickly gained attention and became one of the most iconic feminist movement art pieces of the century. Apart from challenging the initial notion of a religious male club, the piece confronted the subject of women’s subjugation and subordination to their male counterparts. The inclusion of prominent female artists and creators of the time supports that women are just as capable as men and deserve respect in various fields, especially in art. Moreover, the image speaks against male domination as it replaces all the men with women and assigns them a seat at the table of Christ. Edelson’s creativity and message played a major role in encouraging more activists into the feminist art movement as it sparked numerous discussions, supported by the vast social changes at the time. Moreover, it allowed female artists to gain significant recognition and appreciation for their works, thus championing the emergence of contemporary feminist art. Edelson inspires several other women who initially perceived art as a man’s venture. Thus, she played a major role in championing the artistic values of women.
Dismantling Stereotypic Notions about Women
Contemporary feminist art movements strive to break the stereotypic notions society has placed upon women because most of them are misogynistic and reinforce the idea of male dominance. Gender stereotyping has evolved through centuries with the influence of French Surrealists, religious principles, and human cultures that assign men a higher status than women. However, compared to its benefits, gender stereotyping is destructive because it allows society to perceive any behavior other than the ones proposed by assumed principles as immoral. Gender stereotyping notions hold that women should exhibit certain attributes such as calmness, high levels of respect, and deterrence of violence avoidance. In addition, it assigns women responsibilities in the household and limits them from playing leadership roles and engaging in discussions regarding their sexuality. As a result, stereotyping facilitates women’s oppression as it prevents them from exploring the world and becoming whatever they hope. Hence, contemporary feminist artists use their platforms to explain the unreasonable nature of gender stereotypes and their adverse implications. Voicing concerns allows society to reflect on their actions against women and deliver justice.
Martha Rosler is an electronic art intermix creator who went to great lengths to shed light on women’s suffering because of their assumed societal positions. Her video art, Semiotics of the Kitchen, assesses the traits of women’s oppression through the scope of a television cooking show. In the video, Rosler acts as a culinary hostess introducing kitchen utensils. As she progresses, naming the utensils in alphabetic order, her interactions change, and she becomes violent and frustrated. Through her words and actions, the artist sends a message that the kitchen is a ground for change resistance. She then describes her performance as an act of naming her oppressions. Therefore, she champions the idea that women are not only suited for the kitchen and household chores because these duties might not resonate with the language they speak. The skit became a hit immediately after its release and is considered one of the most influential creations of feminist and conceptual arts. Like Rosler, many feminist artists sought to disrupt this system because it does not consider women’s well-being.
Before the global social revolution, women were perceived as objects rather than human beings. As a result, their limitations contributed to their high levels of poverty due to under-misrepresentation in social developments and the lack of a platform to voice concerns. Additionally, the low status assigned to women facilitated their suffering by exposing them to violence, discrimination, and injustices that went unheard of. Therefore, the discussion and reproach of women’s oppression is a major feature of contemporary feminist artists because it allows focusing on these injustices and advocates for fair treatment. Female artists suffer today because of their inability to access resources as their male peers. In addition, they face major setbacks that prevent them from achieving milestones like male artists. Therefore, soliciting more attention to these inequalities promises consideration and improvements in the future. The works of artists such as Martha Rosler have played a principal role in encouraging others to join in the revolution and advancing the fair treatment of all women. The implications of these expressions are far-fetched because women in the modern era enjoy more rights than they did, thus improving their standards.
Shedding Light on the Social Issues that Impact Women
Contemporary feminist movement artists shed light on women’s social concerns and the need to eradicate these hazards. Women are exposed to several risks that adversely affect their physical and mental well-being. For example, the rates of gender-based violence, mainly against women, in various regions have gained international attention due to the severity of associated atrocities. Women are occasional victims of rape, murder, and assault due to their susceptibility. Moreover, most women lack access to basic humanitarian services such as reproductive health and quality education. As a result, they remain disempowered through generations because society and individuals in authority do not prioritize their issues. Therefore, most contemporary feminist artists focus on uncovering these issues and creating awareness of inhuman actions against women. The main intention of these creators is to draw more attention to women’s social plights and rebuke the negligence society exhibits in protecting the female population from predators and adverse social, economic, and environmental factors. Questioning the social landscapes surrounding women assists in facilitating change and reinforcing human rights principles.
In Mourning and In Rage by Leslie Labowitz and Suzanne Lacy is one of the most powerful examples of how the feminist art movement uses events occurring in real life to create awareness of women’s social risks. At the time of its release in 1977, all media houses featured chilling narratives of the “Hillside Strangler,” a serial killer whose signature mark was killing women and dumping their bodies by the roads. The tales of the random killings dominated news stations and were accompanied by glimpses into the victims’ lives. As a result, women in and around Los Angeles, where a majority of these murders occurred, were full of fear and associated these events with superstition. However, Labowitz and Lacy took advantage of the tense environment to analyze these issues from a feminist perspective of violence. Subsequently, they organized a demonstration with agencies such as the Rape Hotline and Woman’s Building to show their grief and disappointment. The public demonstration was a huge success as it attracted more than sixty women who followed a hearse carrying one of the victims to City hall.
The performance, organized by Leslie Labowitz and Suzanne Lacy, brought together women from various walks of life and encouraged them to resist the destructive system openly. Although there are numerous reports of violence against women and cases of sexual abuse or assault, only a handful of these cases are solved, while others are neglected. People in powerful positions are known to take advantage of women by threatening them and soliciting sexual favors for job positions and other benefits. Thus, women who do not concede to coercion experience difficulties advancing and achieving their goals. Societal negligence of women’s issues prevents the establishment of programs and solutions to counter contributing factors. A society that respects its women is bound to prosper because they are responsible for preparing the coming generations. Therefore, the role of feminist art movements is unmatched because they spread the message of the need for change far and wide.
Conclusion
Art is not merely an object of admiration but a tool that incites its viewers to think about the political, social, and environmental fabrics on which they exist. The emergence of contemporary feminist artistry paved the way for female artists to rise and become some of the most celebrated composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The major themes that drive contemporary feminist art revolve around the inclusion of women in social development, stereotypic notions that hinder women’s development, and risks that interfere with their comfort and well-being. Modern feminist artists address these issues by occasionally featuring these topics in their works and showcasing their irrationality. Thus, the contemporary feminist movement has significantly elevated women’s position in art and assisted in paying more attention to the adverse implications of stereotyping and social injustices that harm women and limit their success.
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