When reading today’s texts, I was instantly reminded of a point brought up in my discussion group during class today. We appreciated the use of a historically “feminine” or “domestic” activity in women’s empowerment movements. More often than not, traditionally feminine activities are rejected by women trying to break free of stereotypical gender roles. However, by using crafting as a form of women’s empowerment, like the suffragette banners created to honor a remarkable woman, the crafters show what a powerful impact taking the time to think, create, and reflect to form such an intimate piece of art can have. A surprising trend I have seen in the readings thus far is the prevalence of needlework used in activism throughout American history. In “Knitting as Dissent,” I especially liked how the author used words like “cozy” and “unthreatening” to describe knitting while simultaneously explaining the significance it had in the Revolutionary War. Personally, I think the juxtaposition of cozy, unthreatening needlework with opinionated and controversial issues is one of the many reasons the craftivism movement (although the name hadn’t been coined yet) has been present in our society for so long.
Knitting as Dissent
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