From reading about the many graffiti grrlz that the author, Jessica Pabón-Colón, wrote about it was very alarming at first to find out that these radical womyn do not identify as feminists. From being a feminist myself, looking at the art that is done on the walls and the breaking that they learn/ teach, along with the the positive influences that these womyn have on younger generations, I would define it as feminism.
However after reading and listening to their opinions, it shouldn’t have to be feminism. In the chapter Cultivating Affective Digital Networks, the most recent chapter I was assigned, it was shocking when F. Lady had said “no, not at all.” when asked if she was indeed a feminist. However, simply because a womyn is doing this radical art to battle the patriarchal society we live in doesnt need to mean she is a feminist. I believe we have been conditioned into labeling things, such as art, instead of it simply being art. In the chapter Doing Feminist Community Without “Feminist” Identity, it was pointed out that “…majority of the grrlz do not identify with the word “feminist” or as a part of the feminist movement… many graff grrlz do not claim feminist identities.” I think this is important to reflect on, because while looking at the bigger picture graff grrlz are aiding to the feminist community, they aren’t necessarily doing it with the intention of feminist movement. It is simply as ClawMoney stated “just being about it”. While the opinions of society issues may be shared, that does not necessarily mean they are to go hand and hand.
It seemed as though, the womyn who did not define themselves as feminists was because they saw themselves as artists and simply that. Realizing this, feminism and how we define it must be re-evaluated. We need to look at how we categorize. As a feminist, one can look at or listen to a piece of art and feel their own feminist view being portrayed, however, that is simply our own perspectives. We also have to remind ourselves that in other places, feminism is looked at differently. Many of the graffiti artists from countries outside of the United States, did not view their art as feminist because it was simply just their own artistic expression.
Even with the article, Brown. “Conclusion” in Black Girlhood Celebration: Toward a Hip-hop Feminist Pedagogy, the idea of creating a space for young Black grrlz and woman to express themselves is aiding to the feminist community. It offers these womyn a space to create, learn, and express. Something that is very limited in this world, especially for Black womyn. This is a very feminist act that aids, in my opinion, very largely in terms of feminism.
Through this section I have learned that feminism really is quite separate from a lot of things we see as radical. It may be apart of the feminist community, but it is not an intention “feminist” piece. While the progression of womyn and graff grrlz is growing, it must be looked at from a different lens. A lens of womyn just being womyn who make art and create it well, nothing more and nothing less.
