Cross stitch and feminism

I’ve found a new crafty pleasure for myself – sitting down with a podcast and a cross stitch. Cross stitch doesn’t require much brainpower in its execution (all that’s done beforehand in the design stage), so it’s a perfect way to occupy one’s hands while listening to a crafty podcast.

Two podcasts that I’ve been particularly enjoying are CraftSanity, by Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood, and CRL by Vickie Howell. (She also sells droolworthy earth-friendly yarns, that I’m just aching to get some of)

One of the CRL episodes had an interview with Debbie Stoller, author of the famous Stitch N Bitch books, and editor-in-chief of BUST magazine. Debbie and Vickie chatted a bit about the role of crafting in the feminist movement, and how the recent craft revival is viewed by feminists. It’s a subject that’s dear to my heart, as both a crafter and feminist, and it got me thinking.

Debbie mentioned that a defining characteristic of 3rd Wave feminism is choice – the choice to be a corporate CEO, a full-time mum, a circus roustabout, or anything else, depending on the individual woman’s desires. Now, I still think there’s a way to go before we’re able to really have those choices, in a society where all the options are equally open to us, but that ideal of choice is something to strive for. And in that context, the choice to practise traditionally “feminine” arts is as valid as any other.

Why then do so many people, feminists included, look down on people who craft? Why are they perceived as “lesser” artists, anti-feminists? I think Vickie had it right – these crafts are considered less valuable than say, oil painting or marble sculpture, precisely because they’re the traditional domain of women. For so long “women’s work” has been diminished, downgraded, belittled – why would any true feminist want to pursue an art form that’s so symbolic of women’s oppression?

Maybe because … we like it. Because the form speaks to us, the way clay does to a sculptor, or oils to a painter. Because the lush textures of fabrics excites and soothes us, the alchemy of yarn to sweater fascinates us, the dance of needle and thread delights us.

Perhaps it’s because we love the rich history of textile arts, that stretches back to Babylon and beyond. The story of how we’ve covered and adorned ourselves and our homes is long and deep, and tells us a lot about who we are and who we’ve been. Connecting with that history, practising and evolving these ancient disciplines, continuing the tradition of woman artisans – that’s far from trivial!

Or maybe it’s because we feel these arts haven’t received the attention that they’re due, that the practitioners haven’t been given the artist respect they absolutely deserve, and that by continuing to publicise and popularise crafting we’re helping to create a culture in which crafts are respected as legitimate artistic pursuits.

Maybe it’s all three of these, with a healthy dose of: “because it makes us happy.”

So the next time you sit down to craft, or see someone crafting, remember that the contemporary crafter is heir to the fabulous kingdom of textile art, and descendant of countless generations of crafty women. And smile.

Dedicated to all the world’s career women, professional mums, wild wanderers, free thinkers and crafty freaks. All of you.