Assignment one

Audie Murphy

WMST250

February 12, 2008

Ana Perez SEC. 0107

Prior to visiting the various museums required by this assignment, I had mixed feelings about feminism. I felt feminism was an act of being girly or showing girly emotions that a man would not be expected to show. Before I embarked on my voyage to these museums I looked up the meaning of feminism. According to the dictionary, feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of social, political, and economic equality to men. This means the public awareness of the women’s rights movement.

I considered a museum to be feminine based on the art inside and the overall environment. For example, if there was art with typical things women like such as flowers I would consider the museum feminine. Also, if the museum was manly about women I considered it to be feminism. I felt only one of the museums I visited was a true feminist museum. That was the first museum I visited.

The first museum I visited was the National Museum of Women and the Arts (NWHM). Before visiting the museum I presumed that many things in the museum would be majority pink, yellow, and/or purple. I was proven wrong once I finally arrived at the museum, which is located in northwestern Washington DC. The museum lived up to its name because it had a lot of exhibits about the history of women, even information about women in the colonial times of Jamestown. This was an overall interesting exhibit.

After looking at numerous exhibits, I concluded that the national museum of women and the arts. The museum was home to well over one hundred and fifty exhibits. Every exhibit is in some way, shape, or form is directly related to women. So this museum would definitely be filed under feminist in my book

The second museum I went to was the National Museum of the American Indian. Prior to going to this museum, I assumed that the museum would be very small and very boring. I also assumed that the museum wouldn’t have many exhibits that were feminine because men were the main contributors to society while women just took care of children.

The national museum of the American Indian was home to many different exhibits by women. The exhibits were mainly clothing and accessories made by women back when native Americans were predominant in the united states. My assumption about the museum being boring was definitely wrong. There was a hands-on event going on when I visited the museum of the American Indian. I was able to make and taste a Native American version of hot chocolate. As for the feminism of the museum, I felt the museum was not too feminine. It was in the middle of feminist and non-feminist.

The third museum I went to was the National museum of African art. I assumed this museum would have only modern African art. I also assumed African Americans would be the only ones interested in this museum.

I found both of my assumptions to be wrong about the African art museum. The museum was not home to many modern exhibits. For example, most of the collection was old costumes and sculptures made by Africans who were in tribes throughout African. Finally, I noticed the people visiting the museum were very diverse. There were more than just African Americans in the museum. Visitors ranged from Caucasians all the way to Hispanic people. As for the feminism of this museum, I felt it was also in the middle of feminine and non-feminine.

The final museum I visited was the Holocaust memorial museum. Prior to visiting the museum, I assumed the museum would be very graphic. I also assumed there would not be any feminism in this memorial.

Both of my assumptions were partially right. The museum had numerous graphic images of scenes and events during the holocaust. There were some pictures of starving anorexic prisoners. There was pretty much no feminism in this museum. I felt all the exhibits focused on Jewish people as a whole rather than separating them by sex. Many Nazis viewed Jewish women and children as useless and along with elderly people they were usually the first people to be executed in concentration camps. This museum was the less feminine of all the museums I visited. Many graphic images and numerous images of violence show this museum has no feminism.

Many people have different views on feminism. Visiting these four museums changed my views on feminism and women in today’s society. I feel this was a good learning experience for me. I learned feminism is and always will be present in almost every aspect of life. This is true for the past, present and the future. Hopefully, everyone can learn from museums and help support the movement for feminism and women’s rights.

List of Assumptions

National Museum of Women History

• I assumed only art by women would be presented
• I assumed many feminine colors would be used
• I assumed a lot of women would be in the museum

National Museum of the American Indian

• I assumed only native Americans would visit the museum
• I assumed the museum would be boring

The Holocaust Memorial Musuem

• I assumed the museum would be very graphic
• I assumed there would not be any feminism

Museum of African Art

• I assumed only African artists would be featured
• I assumed a lot of women would not be in the museum
• I assumed no feminism would be shown