Graffiti writing can be seen as the renegotiation and rewriting of a space for the urban underclass, and a reclaiming of this space.
Masculinity claims this public sphere and identifies a “masculine” feel through symbols such as tags, throw ups or pieces.
While there are female writers, their work is less seen and not acknowledged as that of male writers. Invisibility of female writers and artists is constant in the lack of feminine representation in the art world. This lack of representation varies between art mediums. Certain mediums of art are associated with women, such as textile art. The association between fine art or craft art seems to be the deciding point on how art is viewed. This can create a “sexist gatekeeping” and create a gender imbalance that is seen in graffiti.
Female writers face challenges of overt sexism, to overcome this inequality, women writers are an active part in the Feminist art movement. In the US, Latin America and internationally, all-girl graffiti crews are being created. In Chile and Brazil, all- female crews are breaking the patriarchy of graffiti, and are offering young women a positive space with support, mentoring and friendship.[1]Writers through the re-claiming of space, ignite a female action, “with every line sprayed on the wall she protests her invisibility, claims space in a subculture where the walls “belong” to men.[1]
Modern female art movements such as the Stop Telling Women to Smile create art that speaks to society. Street harassment for women is a problem that females must suffer through on a daily basis. Street artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh uses her talents as an artist to create paste-ups that are made to empower women and give them a voice to tell a male world, their comments are not ok. Fazlaizadeh wants women to re-claim their public space as “…women are not outside on the street for the purpose of entertaining and pleasing men." [2]
Female graffiti writers and street artists share a commitment to bring their voices to their communities through murals, pieces, tags, and street art. Social media also helps promotes female writers. Street Heroines and GirlPower are both documentaries containing collections of stories that honor the female writer.
- ^ a b Pabón, Jessica (2013). "Be about it: Graffiteras performing feminist community". The Drama Review. 3: 88–115.
- ^ Yong, John. Combat-Street-Harassment-Faced-By-Women/). "Street Art to Combat Street Harassment Faced by Women". digitaltaxi.
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