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Is Craftivism Feminism?
Craftivism offers itself as a collaborative, sometimes snarky, always hands-on and expressive medium for people to express their political beliefs through tactile means. It’s now a stalwart presence on social media and it plays an important role in digitally influenced fourth-wave feminism, with makers sharing their craftivist projects and calls for participation across the Internet. But what is the connection between craftivism and feminism, and how has the former grown up – and perhaps even diverged – from one of the most prominent social movements of the last 150 years? This talk traces the long thread – often with tension – of craft, women’s work, and social progress for women. With the contemporary flourishing of craftivists efforts – both online and in community spaces – it’s helpful to understand how criticism of craftwork has led to the current character of craft, as a form of political action, in today’s activist environment.
Hinda Mandell, Ph.D., is professor in the School of Communication at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, where she is the director of the university’s journalism program. Mandell is under contract for the upcoming book: Crafting Choice: Handcraft and Abortion Politics in the U.S. (Rowman & Littlefield). Since 2017, she has organized maker interventions on issues of social reform tied to geographic place reaching 2,000 craft participants.
Event Links
Virtual: https://go.evvnt.com/2264829-0
