Don’t get me wrong. I had no misconceived notions that women have achieved equality in this world. However, I was sadly reminded that there is still so far to go.

Many of the exhibits in WACK! speak to the ways in which women’s bodies are sexualized; we are valued and de-valued according to societal notions of our appearance and whether we fit into the proper “woman” look. Dara Birmbaum’s hilarious video of Wonder Woman was an excellent example of this sexualisation. Supposedly an “icon of female empowerment,” Birmbaum effectively cut through the superficial as the viewer watches repeated clips of Wonder Woman in her not-so-empowering bustier, underwear and belt clinched tightly enough to show her hourglass figure. What a heroine indeed!

I was also particularly impressed with those exhibits dealing with the intersection of race, gender and class. For me, Aunt Jemima syrup has always been a contradiction. On the one hand the image on the bottle is supposed to evoke feelings of country and home cooking. On the other, the reality is a figure of a Black slave forced to work in the kitchen feeding a family not her own. No Black woman ever saw the profits of that syrup! I loved Betye Saar’s work “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima” depicting the icon with abroom in one hand and a gun in the other. Mammy never looked so baaaaaad.

What both saddened and angered me however was as I look at the popular culture of today - advertising, movies and television shows – it is readily apparent that we are still immersed in a culture that perpetuates a sexist imagery of women’s bodies. The media continues to reduce us to what we wear, how we style our hair and how sexy we are. Little girls continue to be bombarded with images of Barbie, mommy in the kitchen and weight-loss schemes. The need for Feminism is alive and well.

I am a Feminist. Thank you WACK! for reminding me why.

Written by Jamala MacRae, on 24-10-2008 01:11
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Posted by Rsam, on 27-11-2008 03:59, 1. Wondering This is definitely food for thought. I had a friend in university who self-defines as a feminist and would dress up EVERY Halloween as Wonder Woman. Every year. She told me it is the only day in the year she is allowed to actually BE Wonder Woman in the flesh so she takes advantage of it. For her, the bustier, the cinched-in waist, the tights are all physical manifestations of her feminine strength. For one day there is no need to cover up what is hers to celebrate and enjoy.   » Report this comment to administrator » Reply to this comment...