As the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign for 2016 finishes we ask you to continue contributing to this work by doing this
Challenge – What you can do
Demeaning sexualised images of women in public spaces are entrenched in the streets. This unrelenting sexualisation and objectification of women and girls means that our public streets and spaces are often socially exclusionary – a form of insidious harassment – and are hostile environments. We all know where to find this imagery BUT we are looking for imagery that exists in our public spaces that counteracts this – imagery that increases the likelihood of women’s inclusion and participation in public life.
1) Notice imagery and spaces in the public realm that
- challenge gender stereotyping
- celebrate women from diverse backgrounds going about their daily business and doing what is important to them
- recognise women for their achievements and diversity
- show women in respectful ways that commercial advertising frequently does not
2) Send it to us
When you are out and about - take a snap of space that you feel is welcoming, inclusionary, accessible, respectful, humorous or interesting. Send it via our Facebook Group In Your Space or email thewomensmuralproject@gmail.com
3) Tell us why you think this is a positive image/space
We will create an image repository as a template for change in our streets
Your actions will build community capacity to nurture respectful relationships and promote inclusive local environments that recognise women and the myriad of roles they play in these communities and the broader society. Addressing violence against women is not a private matter but a community responsibility.
Call out for Action:
The streets are awash with demeaning sexualised imagery of women - frequently displayed for commercial gain – our dream is that this homogenised, airbrushed, photo-shopped and frequently menacing imagery will be pasted, stencilled and painted over with imagery that depicts women in more realistic and interesting ways and that public spaces will become more accessible and welcoming for all who inhabit them. So our call out is to facilitate and support women artists to go out and cover the streets.
Danielle Hakim & Sally Northfield (Women’s Mural Documentation Project)
http://www.the-womens-mural-doc-project.com.au/
