My name is Alyson Doyle, and I am a final year student studying Creative Industries and Visual Culture. My thesis focuses on how craft mediums have contributed to the representation of gender and sexual identity. After college, I hope to advance my career in marketing.
The revival of traditional feminine crafts within modern feminist movements emphasises the value of craft as instruments for social justice, community development, and empowerment. This thesis investigates the contributions craftivism has made to the representation of gender and sexual identity. This study explores the gendered dimensions of craft and craftivism with a specific focus on 19th-century Victorian gender ideology of ‘Separate Spheres’, the ‘Cult of Domesticity and its impact on traditional feminine homemaking in the emergence of craftivism. To explore the relevance of craftivism in modern activism and to understand its transformative potential, this study analyses the theoretical and historical foundations of craftivism concerning gender and sexual identity. Using Greer’s 2003 definition of craftivism, ‘the repurposing of traditional feminine hobbies to promote social change’, it highlights the movement’s origins in repurposing traditionally gendered occupations as instruments of activism. Specifically, it focuses on group crafting events such as ‘Quilting Bees’ and ‘Stitch ‘n Bitch’ as platforms for women to convene, share experiences, question societal norms, and advocate for representation and reform. The study employs desk-based research as its main form of methodology. This thesis reviews four types of literature including an analysis of craftivism, gender studies, sexual identity, and social action. These sections are evaluated in the literature review component to provide a better understanding of craftivism and to assess the role of craft mediums in the representation of gender and sexual identity. Despite criticism of craftivism, such as elitism and reinforced gender inequalities, I argue that craftivism is a humble movement that breaks traditional gender norms. The LGBTQ+ community’s involvement in the AIDS Quilt is a testament to this. This thesis also involves a case study approach by focusing on two key examples of craftivism. Firstly, the Pussyhat movement highlights and explores the idea of ‘gentle protest’; defined as non-confrontational activism based on empathy and creativity. The second case study analyses the relationship between craft and sexual identity. By analysing the AIDS Quilt, (October 11th 1987, the National Washington Mall, DC), This nvestigates how, despite traditional gender stereotypes, craft has developed into a potent weapon for LGBTQ+ activism and social change. The case studies discussed, show how craft can go beyond conventional gender roles to promote social justice, empower individuals, and foster community. This study sheds light on how craft mediums can be used to subvert social norms, elevate the voices of marginalised communities, and promote more inclusivity and equality by analysing the relationship between craftivism and LGBTQ+ activism. This research critically analyses various academic sources to understand the contributions of craft mediums to gender and sexual identity representation. After analysing these case studies, it is evident that craftivism is a powerful tool for building community, amplifying the voices of marginalized groups, and advocating for gender equality.