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My series of charcoal pieces are based on progress of women’s rights in Britain over the past century. For centuries up to the early 20th century, women’s opinions were considered unimportant and forbidden, voting was left to men, and the stereotypical role of women was as a homemaker to care, feed and raise their families. Even in the 18th century Jane Austin wrote “You can inherit your fortune, we can’t even earn ours” this position is illustrated by the first portrait of my mother where the left side of her face is casting a shadow over the right side of her face, it’s almost as though she’s disappearing, similarly to women’s voices in the early 20th century when women’s rights were non existent- and back then the normality was for them to conform to their domestic roles- it wouldn’t be seen as ‘normal’ for them to rebel against the social norm.
It was only until 1928 when the “Representation of the People Act” was introduced and women were finally then allowed to vote. This progression of women’s rights leads to the second portrait of my mother. There is no barrier over her mouth, which metaphorically illustrates the current position were she is able to voice opinions and have the right to participate in political, but everyday societal activities, of which would have been seen as prohibited beforehand. In the modern era the idea of women having limited rights to society’s activities would be seen as abnormal.
However equal rights are not without consequences as a result of this. This progresses to my third portrait. In addition to the traditional role of women as homemakers child carers, and other domestic acuities they are also breadwinners. Women now take on roles once considered to be those of men withy the further consequence of women also suffering healthcare issues usually suffered by men. This transmission of development for women’s rights, back in the early century would not have been considered, it wasn’t the norm.
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| Author |
| Jenny Simons , 18 yrs |
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| School |
| Carmel College |
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