WGS205H5 Final Projects—Textiles as Alternative Feminist Media
The Course—Introduction to Feminism and Popular Culture (WGS205H5)
This year’s course examined the relationship between feminism and popular culture, focusing on the way it shapes and informs representations and understandings of gender and sexuality. Drawing on the diversity of feminist thought, students explored some of the contradictions within popular culture: the way it can, at times, empower feminist movements, while also constrain their possibilities for social and political transformation. For their final project, students engaged in needle-work as a means to synthesize their learning and embody a feminist praxis.
Course Instructor: Diana Barrero-Jaramillo (she/her) is a feminist researcher, educator, and organizer. She is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto, specializing in Women and Gender Studies.
The Project—Textiles as Alternative Feminist Media
Feminist and women’s movements have used media production to shape feminist identities, circulate feminist ideas, and support collective action. In particular, these movements have relied on alternative media (in opposition to mass consumer media) to further their political aims. For their final assignment, students were asked to create a textile piece representing a theme or concept related to the course. On the last class, they showcased their textiles to each other, sharing their experiences with needle-work as part of their formal educational experience.
Students’ Voices – Chaya Kumar
“Working on the textile project was a deeply meaningful experience, as it allowed me to connect course concepts to something both personal and creative, while also unleashing my inner artist.
I found it especially impactful to see the issues my fellow peers face in society and recognize how many of these experiences are shared, revealing how women's oppressions in popular culture affect girls globally. Hearing the stories behind each piece - reflecting diverse identities, histories, and emotions - made me reflect on how much meaning can be carried through something as simple as fabric, and showed how women are often misrepresented and limited through popular culture.
Overall, the project demonstrated how textile work can meaningfully express women's lived experiences and foster deeper understanding through shared storytelling in the classroom.”
