The father of economics lived with his mother. She took care of him for his entire life. Yet he never thought to value her work to clean the house, cook his food or care for him. In 1776, Adam Smith wrote the words that shaped our modern understanding of economics in his book ‘The WealthContinue reading “Invaluable?”
Category Archives: feminism
Taken for Granted
According to Freud, women invented weaving from their need to plait pubic hair to hide their lack of penis[1]. Is this why textile art still languishes at the bottom of the art world hierarchy?[2] When I started to learn basketry, my oldest friend took great glee in sending me an article on Freud in whichContinue reading “Taken for Granted”
Pretty Useless
Why is fragility so valued in women? Is it simply that helpless dependence makes men feel stronger and more powerful, reinforcing their role as leaders and providers in society? We learn what is expected of us from toys, books, games and television, what we see in the media, and every social interaction. In the taleContinue reading “Pretty Useless”
Burnt at the Stake
Recently I read that in the late 19th century, the suffragette Matilda Gage suggested that the persecution of witches had nothing to do with fighting evil or resisting the devil. It was simply entrenched social misogyny, the goal of which was to repress the intellect and influence of women. Considering the origin of the wordContinue reading “Burnt at the Stake”
Ugly Duckling
I am utterly obsessed with machine knitting. For me it’s the perfect combination of mechanical engineering and artistic creativity. But why, oh why can’t I be satisfied with making things out of wool? Instead, I can’t stop myself trying to use wire which snaps, tangles, breaks and generally jams before my work falls in aContinue reading “Ugly Duckling”
She Persisted
‘We women persist. Isn’t that our job? Throughout history, we have persisted in our quest for respect, for justice, for equal rights, for suffrage, for education, for enfranchisement, for recognition, for making our voices heard. In the face of violence, of opposition, of ridicule, of belittlement, even of jail time, nevertheless, we have persisted.’ ValerieContinue reading “She Persisted”
So much more to give
Cut your hair short and get the right handbag or you won’t be successful. How can it still be true in the 21st century that I can’t be taken seriously, whatever my looks and figure? I’d hoped for more from a Women in Asian Business conference than discussions of the best handbag to get ahead[1]. Continue reading “So much more to give”
Asking for it?
Stay on the path and don’t talk to strangers is the advice from little Red Riding Hood’s mother as she sends her off on another elder care errand, a little basket of cakes dangling from her arm. Written many centuries ago, you’d hope that times have moved on, with women able to walk unaccompanied inContinue reading “Asking for it?”
Who blazed your trail?
It’s taken a long while for me to feel confident in saying that I’m a feminist. When I entered the work place as one of the few female mechanical engineers in the UK, I was far more visible than was comfortable and sometimes I had to laugh/accept situations that weren’t as fair as they shouldContinue reading “Who blazed your trail?”
Lock up your daughters
I don’t often get the chance to make my work in situ, but having chosen to fight it out with brambles in the name of art, I found that the best place to work was in the middle of Hampstead Heath. So I was sitting there, minding my own business, cursing as I got scratchedContinue reading “Lock up your daughters”
