Modern women's lib Print

I aimed to exhibit the concept of bodily autonomy in my painting, due to its central role in the Women’s Liberation Movement. The control of women's bodies was of primary focus for second-wave feminists, as laws created by men hindered women's access to contraception and abortions, exemplifying the rampant sexism in society. It was therefore important for me to ensure that my painting encapsulated the antithesis of patriarchal ideas which portrayed women as subordinate and passive. This was done by positioning the women to face each other, representing solidarity in their joint experiences of sexism and illustrating how they live in a word without male oppression. Finally, my aim with this painting was to reimagine the outcome of the Women’s Liberation Movement in a utopic sense. By this, I mean that the painting encapsulates the end goal that many second-wave feminists imagined- freedom from societal expectations of womanhood, sexual and bodily autonomy and strive for racial equality.. I took further inspiration from the Counterculture Movement occurring alongside Women’s Liberation, characterised by its anti-establishment ideas due to increasing dissatisfaction with conservative institutions. Women’s Liberation and the Counterculture Movement both aimed to dismantle oppressive systems which silenced marginalised voices and pushed the agenda of the nuclear family. Due to this, I incorporated characteristics of the Counterculture Movement such as vibrant colours and flower motifs to illustrate the overlapping agendas of both movements in tackling outdated institutions and ideas.