eyes of a woman
How would our cities look like if they were designed by women? Could art be a tool to empower women? Can we use art as a tool to discuss and highlight gender equality?
On-line gallery:
THE CITY
Historically, and in a large extent still today, our cities are designed and built by men. How would our cities look like if they were built by women? Would they look the same? What would be different?
THE ART
“Through the eyes of a woman” use ART to showcase and interpret the perspectives of, and by, women.
EMPOWERMENT
Empowerment of women is part of a democracy-building process that generates equal rights between women and men.
Welcome to the exhibition site; Through the eyes of a woman
Here we spread knowledge and thoughts on how our surrounding would look like from the woman’s perspective. Would it look the same? Would it be different? What could be changed in order to create a better society for all?
Our tool is ART. Art as a medium of expression, of empowerment and of exploration. Through art we try to visualize structures, urban features and designs to improve the everyday life.
#ThroughTheEyesOfaWoman
Background
Historically, and in a large extent still today, our cities are designed and built by men. This often results in a “gender blindness,” a lack of knowledge about, or attention to, the differing needs and priorities of women, compared to men. The result is cities that creates barriers, insecurity and restricting women access to services such as education, healthcare, employment, culture, sport and safe access to streets, parks, cultural centers and other public spaces. Consequently women have limited access to social, cultural and economic opportunities.
The Artists
Through The Eyes of a Woman is an exhibition and movement, targeting young and upcoming women artists within the creative sector in Nairobi, established women artists within the creative sector in Nairobi and women’s rights initiatives based in Nairobi. The artists have been asked to interpret the theme into art works.
The initiative
Through The Eyes of a Woman is an initiative created by Hope Raisers Youth Initiative and Architects Without Borders Sweden through Dadas Connect.
By collaborations between women artists and architects new arenas to communicate are created (f ex. the public space). It is a respons to-, and deeper understanding of why many women and girls today experience the following:
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Women in the creative industry most often have lower salaries than their male counterparts.
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There is an inbuilt competition between- and undermining amongst women hindering women networks and women collaborations.
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Women experience that they are not taken as seriously as men and more often judged on their appearance and physical attributes instead of their skills.
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Sexual harassment and objectification is common.
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Women expressed that they are often expected to act in a certain way, that they have to adapt to norms and adjust their cultural expressions in order to get jobs or contracts.
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Many parents perceive a career in the cultural sector as a non-option for their daughters.