"Feminism (n.): Plural"

“When feminism falls short of our expectations,” writes Roxane Gay in her 2014 book Bad Feminist, “we decide the problem is with feminism rather than with the flawed people who act in the name of the movement.” Inspired by the themes articulated in Gay’s book, WMG invites artists of all genders to submit works that invite us to rethink what feminism is, was, and can be. The guiding premise of “Feminism (n.) Plural” is that feminism is not monolithic but is instead an ever-evolving concept. There is no single, capital F “feminism” acting as the Law to which its subjects must blindly adhere—which, of course, is the very definition of Patriarchy. There are instead feminisms through which people of various gender affiliations, ages, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds espouse and enact their belief in a just and equal society. The thematic concept behind the exhibition “Feminism (n.) Plural” is thus intentionally broad; we seek work in all media whose form and/or content addresses feminism in daring, unexpected, and potentially controversial ways: for example, works that blur categories and create space for nonconforming gender identities, works that take on pop cultural framings of female experience and/or the feminist movement, or works that explore feminist movements taking place in various cultural, ethnic, and/or geographic contexts. When considering your entry, feel free to use your imagination and decide for yourself what you think an exhibition about plural feminism should include—that, in the end, is what feminism asks you to do as well.