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Janine Georg

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What challenges do feminist artists face in contemporary society?

Hello,

my name is Janine. I am a student of Arts and Humanities at Birkbeck. I volunteer at the Victoria and Albert Museum. I have a full time job. I am an artist.
I am a feminist. I am a woman. I am gay.

I know this introduction is not really needed, yet I feel it makes the connection I have to the subject more clearer and shows my sincerity.

As part of my degree I have to write a about a subject I chose. After a breaking my head over subject I like but not love, brainstorming (I never believed this would work) helped me find this question.

'Which challenges do feminist artists face in contemporary society?'
Last summer (actually two summer's ago) I went to see Tracey Emin's exhibition 'Love Is What You Want' and I remember going through the exhibition and hearing rather shameful comments. Which I am not going to repeat at this point. Two years in these voices are still in my head, and I wonder what is going on? What happened to feminist revolutions? Why are so many women almost shamefully convinced that we have equal rights, when we do not? Sometimes I feel we are going back to the fifties again and I FEAR this place.

So I ask you what are your ideas on my question and what do you have to say on the subject of third wave feminism?

Are we really there yet?

Janine

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  • gale kooser 20+

    • +1
    Mar 10 2013: No Janine, we are not there yet. Men still get more pay for the same work, are noticed & listened to more then women and if you wish to sell your art work: Use a man's name.
    As an older gay artist, I learned a long time ago my work would faster if I just used my nick name, Which happens to be Max.
    It's my middle name shorten.
    I am NOT a shabby artist & my work sells around the world as long as I use my nick name. Once folks have bought my work & then learn I am female, all is fine, but not before.
    A 3rd wave of Feminism? I am for it as I was in the 50's, but done a lot differently this time. We now have the world wide web at our fingertips and the education to use it to great advantage. The Queen of England is going to sign an equal right bill for all her subjects, including Gays, women, and others. Great step for all humanity.

    • Janine Georg

      • 0
      Mar 10 2013: Hey Gale,

      this sounds really interesting. What work do you do? And could you name one or two examples where you experienced challenges with your art in a male run world.

      I am keen to hear more.

      Take care

      Janine

      • gale kooser 20+

        • 0
        Mar 10 2013: I am a wildlife artist and most is custom work.
        When I used to show my work in judging contests yrs. ago. I noticed a lean towards the male artists and it just wasn't I who felt this way. The males were doing animals in the raw: meaning every day survival mode. While the females were doing the softer side of life.
        I changed my signature and started doing animals in the raw and my work started winning shows & sales went up. I never showed up at the shows but had a male friend take my place. He never said he was the artist just my rep.
        After several shows, I stopped going and devoted my time & talents to custom work, used to have a web site (no longer). All by word of mouth now.
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      Gail . 50+

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      Mar 10 2013: I had no idea. Thanks for letting me know that women's art doesn't sell. I'm stunned. I mean, art is art. I like what I like regardless of who painted it. But as I think about it, my stunned condition dissipates as what you have said sinks in and makes sense.

      • gale kooser 20+

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        Mar 10 2013: There are many female artist out there who have had great success selling their work, but usually it is because they have had the money & connections to do so.
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      Theodore A. Hoppe 200+

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      Mar 10 2013: It is a misconception that, "Men still get more pay for the same work?"
      Can you provide three examples?
      There may be serval reason this appears to be the case; women are not in as many higher paying jobs, women are employed in different fields, comparison use statistical averages.

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