Feminism in an academic sense is the study of the history, theory, and practice of the women's movement. It is a multidisciplinary field that draws on a variety of disciplines, including history, sociology, political science, philosophy, and law. Academic feminists examine the ways in which gender shapes our lives, and they challenge the inequalities that women face. They also explore the ways in which women have resisted and challenged these inequalities. Like Marxism, feminism within academia is underpinned by critique. Most importantly, this is the critique of patriarchy.
Feminist scholarship has made significant contributions to our understanding of a wide range of topics, including:
The history of women's rights
The role of gender in the economy
The representation of women in the media
The experiences of women of color
The intersections of gender with other forms of oppression, such as race, class, and sexuality
Feminist scholarship has also had a significant impact on the way that we think about knowledge and power. Feminists have argued that knowledge is not neutral, but is instead shaped by our own experiences and perspectives. They have also challenged the power structures that have traditionally excluded women from the production of knowledge.
Today, feminist scholarship is thriving in a variety of academic disciplines. There are now many feminist journals, conferences, and centers of research. Feminist scholarship is also having a growing impact on public policy and on the lives of women around the world.
Key concepts:
Patriarchy: This is a system of social organization in which men hold the majority of power and women are subordinate.
Gender: This is a social construct that refers to the roles, behaviors, and expectations that are associated with being a woman or a man.
Feminism today is a vast topic that stretches far beyond academia. There are many smaller branches of feminism. So much so, that it may be useful to think not in singular but in plural: feminisms. Often feminisms can enter into debate or disagreement as they focus on very different aspects of women's experiences. However, the general focus of feminism remains concerned with the critique of patriarchy and equality of rights for women across the world. Feminism is a framework that may be used by those who are interested in how women are represented either institutionally or in commercial visual culture.
Some themes that could be explored using a Feminist framework are:
Graphic design tends to be a male-dominated career path. This contrasts with the student population on graphic design degree courses. So, where do all the women go? Why are women not able to sustain a career in graphic design as well as men are?
How can graphic design be used to inform people about how women experience sexism in their everyday lives in specific contexts?
How can graphic design empower women's voices within specific contexts?
Can graphic design be a useful tool in ensuring that women succeed in male-dominated workplaces?
Can graphic design be used to improve how women are represented in the media and in specific media-related contexts?