One of the most memorable moments for me from Introduction to Feminist Theory was learning about the bra-burning incident during the white radical feminism lecture. For some reason, this occurrence stuck with me throughout the semester, and I found myself fascinated by how these women had decided to protest against the Miss America Pageant. While I support the idea of burning such “tools of oppression,” I wanted to reinvent the bra in a light that symbolizes more than just discarding the oppressors. Rather, my goal was to reclaim the bra for women and release it from the grip of men and society.
The whole point of the piece is its impracticality. The bra does not perform the expected tasks a bra usually does. It was in no way designed for practicality but instead symbolizes a plethora of what white radical feminism represents. The form and color loosely mimic armor. I did this to depict how white radical feminism aims to demolish traditional gender roles. In “Redstockings Manifesto,” Redstockings said, “In fighting for our liberation, we will always take the side of women against their oppressors” (Redstockings 43). So, the armor-like shape represents women fighting for and taking back their freedom and rights. This was also inspired by Kate Millet’s comment in “Theory of Sexual Politics” that “sex is a status category with political implications” (Millet 191). I was really running with the idea of a knight in shining armor when I created this piece. It is an exhausted cliche that ended up being the perfect concept to remodel through the lens of white radical feminism.
With the bra itself being made entirely out of paper clips, it does not provide full coverage by any means. The overall goal of the piece was to take away as much typical use for the bra as possible. I wanted it to become a completely new concept. The shape around the neck acts to release the weight off a woman’s shoulders. Bras are infamous for digging into women’s backs and causing them pain, so this was an attempt to mitigate that. Every physical attribute also has a symbolic meaning as well. So, with lifting the weight off of women’s shoulders, the emotional weight should be lifted as well. White radical feminism also emphasized anti-pornography and anti-sex work, hence the black shirt underneath the bra. There is no aspect of my creation that is intended to be sexy or erotic. In addition, there is really no visual appeal intended. Its purpose is to reclaim the “tools of oppression” from what was once used to belittle and trap women to something that empowers them physically, emotionally, and so forth.
The paper clip bra is not perfect, dainty, or feminine. It does not necessarily embody every woman. However, it conveys a sense of fierceness and fire. The piece reflects the power of white radical feminists and their drive to change the rampant patriarchy. I wanted it to have as much passion as Valerie Solanas did in “SCUM Manifesto.” Overall, I hope the bra accurately reflects the dedication and devotion white radical feminists demonstrated in their fight for freedom and equality.
Works Cited
Millet, Kate. “Theory of Sexual Politics” from Sexual Politics. 1969.
Redstockings. “Redstockings Manifesto”. 1969.