It is estimated that 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. Disturbingly, some national studies show that up to 70 per cent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime (UNWomen.org). The data and the studies are terrifying.
In her book Sex Object, author Jessica Valenti says “I started to ask myself: who would I be if I didn’t live in a world that hated women? …….. it’s not a matter of ‘if something bad happens’, but ‘when and how bad’”.
Violence against women is not just sexual violence, rape, street harassment, reproductive rights, obstetric violence, gender pay gap or the most irreversible act of murder. It is the fact that we, as womxn*, are treated differently, and lot of the time violently, just for being womxn, for occupying space – physical or digital. The patriarchy doesn’t view these spaces as belonging to us too.
So how do we protect ourselves in a world designed to harm us? Collectively, we have to stand up against all violence to womxn. Feminism is the longest peaceful protest movement in herstory. In recent years, a wave of revolutionary feminist campaigns, protests and strikes in Latin America, Spain and other parts of the world, have been confronting the issue of violence against womxn. As Sheroes, we feel inspired to amplify their message and make our voices heard.
In our third sheroic exhibition, Sheroes – Revoluciones, we want to highlight those movements while also creating awareness about violence against women, from brutal acts to silent violence, in the UK. We will pay tribute to collectives of women and individuals, locally and globally, who are trying to change the narrative and inspire a different future.
Sheroes – Revoluciones is a series of exhibitions and events that will take place from November 2019 to March 2020. It will bring attention to violence against women and further the process of equality. As the Women’s Equality Party says “No woman is free until she is safe”.
We are looking for Artists from all disciplines whose artwork talks about:
- What is violence? From macro to micro.
- Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence.
- Rape culture. Porn. Education.
- Visual Culture and the female body.
- Tech Violence: violence in the digital world.
- Motherhood: abortion rights, pay gap, conciliation.
- The movements fighting all/any of the above issues and other.
*Please note that the Sheroes project stands for diversity and therefore includes women, trans and gender non-conforming individuals. Without them our mission wouldn’t be complete.
Events:
- 21st September – Healing Workshop
- 22nd – 24th November: Exhibition
- December: Workshops and talks about visual culture and female body.
- January or February: Panel discussion with activists, academics and the media / spoken word performance?
- February: film festival
- March: Finale event – Celebration of Sheroes – Revoluciones and where to next?