creator’s gender? Are female artists to be considered differently to their male counterparts? Are they not as talented? Are their voices not as important or effective? Are we to see their gender as a defect to which we must be more accommodating? If the answers are no, then why are we withdrawing women from the global art scene and into a separate sphere – something which we have been trying to break out of since woman was first distinguished from man. History has seen women create some of the most visually impacting and emotive artworks that need no cause for them to be considered a ‘female artist’ but simply an artist with a vision. We shouldn’t have to be creating new spaces for women to exhibit their work, we should be challenging the galleries already in existence to reconsider their collections and give female artists the hanging space they deserve.
Not only can we look at this from the point of view of removing women from an inclusive art scene but it is also removing male artists from what is becoming an
important part of social discussion. Would we be accepting of an exhibition that featured only male artists and only permitted a male audience? I doubt it. It’s more than just a question of ‘me man, you woman’, excluding artwork created by men from exhibitions not only means that male expression is eradicated, offering us a skewed view on certain artistic movements and ideas, but it also means that our understanding of artistic movements and social issues are not as extensive as they could, or should be, in order to understand the diverse range of opinion and interpretation that we use to determine our own understanding of topics. Art is a means of education and expression and putting a limit on that can surely never be a beneficial thing.
We must also think about this from the point of view, quite literally, of the people who are and aren’t allowed into galleries exclusively targeted at a female audience. Though we can talk of the limitations to the message that can be conveyed we must also think how we would be limiting its reception. Excluding men from viewing art which expresses
female concern, or even just denying them the ability to see the diversity of work that female artists can and do create, means that they are being shut out of what the feminist agenda is hoping to make a global and inclusive talking point. Art is a medium through which we can educate and when considering the importance of such a subject shouldn’t we be supporting an inclusive movement? How can we expect men to better understand women’s social positions if we deny them the right to experience it, especially from a woman’s viewpoint?
The repercussions don’t stop at simply denying men access to an array of female artwork but this exclusive nature seems to bring with it an element of blame, as if being male means that they have no right to understand or share the experience that we women do because basically everything is their fault. In reaching the goal of gender equality we tend to find there being a heavy emphasis on how men have oppressed women and, though in instances and certainly in bygone decades, this may be
true, we can’t live
harmoniously, or equally, in a society where blame is being placed on a person because of their gender – it is everything we as women have been aiming to get rid of. So how can we justify denying someone something because of their sex, surely then we would be upholding the gender divide we have for so long been looking to dismiss.
So when we’re considering how to progress gender equality in 2016 it’s important to keep focused on that it is just that, equality. Though it can sometimes seem that it’s the bigwigs who have a say in the legality of gender equality, or that it’s only those with a global following who garner enough publicity to spark social discussion that get things done, it’s important to remember that every factor of life influences our perception of social matters. Excluding men from this discussion would not only be a regression in terms of gender equality, alienating them from the ‘fairer sex’, but it also means that we’re withdrawing a means by which everyone, regardless of gender, can be educated as to the importance women play in
such a sphere as the art scene as well as offering different interpretations and understandings of the issues facing women today. We should not withdraw women from the global stage into their own domain because we feel they are not receiving enough recognition, to do so would almost be to admit that we aren’t able to work alongside men. 2016 is to be a good year for gender equality (because I’ve said so now) and we mustn’t resign ourselves to being happy as being regarded as a woman in a profession; we are simply professionals. We can stand alongside men in anything we choose and the art world is no exception so, in light of this proposed women-only museum, we must ask ourselves whether this is a celebration of women or, in a sense, giving up on trying to push for the equality we deserve alongside men.