Women’s Rights & Art
In my AP Studio Art class, I am focusing on how the overturning of Roe v. Wade has fundamentally stripped women of their American liberties. Through a sustained investigation–a process in which artists add depth to their portfolios by producing a series of sequential artwork–I am seeking to uncover the consequences of this ruling.
Just as a refresher, civil liberties include the right to a fair trial, the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom to assemble, and the freedom of the press. John Locke’s natural rights also include the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Although religion is not reflected in my sustained investigation, it is important to note that Judaism, along with other religions, believes that the pregnant individual’s rights come before the rights of their fetus. So, Jewish people living in states where abortion is banned do not get to consider their rights before the fetus as they are forced to give birth.
With that being known, here is my sustained investigation so far:
My first piece in this series is called God Bless America. In this painting, nine vultures circle an injured woman lying in a desert plain. These nine vultures represent the Supreme Court justices, and how this decision has made women’s healthcare even more inequitable. There are already pre-existing gender-related disparities in healthcare; according to the Association of Anaesthetists, “women of a lower socio-economic status[,]...women with low levels of education, women members of minority groups and migrant women...are...most likely to present for medical care late, present with long-standing yet undiagnosed medical conditions and suffer complications of treatment” (Myatra, et al.). So, with this ruling, women’s healthcare will (and has already begun to) become more problematic.
The second piece, Underground Abortion, is inspired by Paula Rego. Rego is a feminist known for her graphic and emotional depictions covering abortion and more. I wanted to depict how even with an abortion ban, abortions will not stop: conditions of the abortion, however, will become more dangerous, less sanitary, and will result in maternal complications.
The third piece is called Bleeding Out; following the process of a sustained investigation, I sought to combine features of both the first and second paintings capturing how women of color are especially susceptible to the negative consequences of this ruling. The CDC states that “black women have the highest maternal mortality rate” in the US, “almost three times the rate for white women.” So, women of color are especially affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The fourth piece portrays rape victims who are forced to give birth in states where abortion is banned. Push! depicts a young molestation victim about to give birth, clutching onto her teddy bear. Often people will only accept abortion if the individual has been a victim of sexual assault–but I urge us to consider why there needs to be a “good enough reason” for abortion other than a woman’s right to free will. Whether an individual is considering abortion due to sexual assault, financial reasons, career choices, or simply because they do not want a child, I believe in the right to choose.
Carving the Turkey is the latest piece so far in this sustained investigation. Coming off of Thanksgiving break, I wanted to portray how this process has objectified women. Major life decisions and health rights have already been decided in some states, leaving women forced to oblige to the state’s protocol. Many people who do not eat meat do so for moral reasons as they believe in the animal’s right to life, so I wanted to capture this perspective relating to women and abortion: when a fetus is prioritized over a woman’s life.
