I identified an issue with women being degraded subtly in their everyday lives. If women subconsciously project sexist narratives onto other women and themselves, it creates a cyclic system that pervades every aspect of their lives.
It can be difficult to identify internalized misogyny. As independent as we think we may be, we have many preconceived notions about how a woman should exist that stem from societal expectations and gender norms. It is important to be conscious of this and your thoughts and ideas, not only about other women but also about yourself.
My project centred around the question:
How might we eliminate internalized misogyny through identifying sources of shame?
Research
Desk Research
I first conducted desk research to develop a broad understanding of issues related to internalized misogyny manifesting in our daily lives.
Subject Matter Expert Interview
I conducted a subject matter expert interview with Dr. Kim Williams, an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator at MRU.
This developed my understanding of specific areas related to gender equality, the importance of feminism and empowering women, and identifying sources of shame. Additionally, it allowed me to gain insights from someone already working within areas related to the problem.
This combination of research methods provided me with a developed understanding of the system that impacts women.
System Mapping
Next, I combined the findings into a system map that organizes the insights by outlining the main themes of the parts, relationships, and their respective outcomes.
Exhibit Concept
I aimed to create a warm and welcoming environment, in which I could make women feel empowered and validated. Additionally, I aimed to create an inviting space for non-female-identifying folks to share their lived experience.
Finally, I presented my research and findings to the public at the Humanly - Information Design Showcase at Mount Royal University. This involved creating a display that captured my process, as well as discussing the project with attendees.
