User:Maiskolfing/sandbox

Gender and Craft Culture
Craft culture is a set of traditions, beliefs, and practices in which the creation of handmade, functional, or decorative objects is central. It concerns traditional craftwork from before the industrial revolution, when craft was a central aspect of any household, to craft becoming a politicised tool to critique establishments, social institutions and overarching societal issues. Common craft culture includes textile craft (like knitting, sewing, crochet, tailoring), functional craft (like the making of dishes, books, and furniture), decorative craft (like jewellery, basketry, pottery, anything that has a decorative purpose). It presents itself as the counterpart of the mechanical, fast-moving industrialism of the 18th century and the mass-production of the 21st century.

Gender has long been an essential role in craft culture, with traditional gender roles assigning certain crafts to either men or women. As a result, this has often resulted in certain crafts being viewed as more “masculine” or “feminine” and has limited the participation of certain genders in craft activities. However, in more recent times, craftwork has been used to address and explore issues related to gender, with the goal to breakdown traditional gender roles and create a more inclusive environment for people of all gender identities to exist in. Craft culture has also been shaped by these evolving gender roles, with changes in societal attitudes towards gender influencing the way that craft is viewed and practiced.

History
During the long 19th century, the rise of capitalism led to the transition from traditional craftwork, which was created for use value, to industrial labour, which was produced for exchange value. Along with other changes brought about by industrialisation, his shift was accompanied by other changes brought about by industrialisation and amplified existing gender roles that had existed since antiquity. In order for capitalism to successfully emerge, women’s skills, knowledge, and bodies were actively suppressed, and practices and knowledge that did not have a place in the new industrial society were devalued and discarded as "mere” past-time activities . Factory owners preferred to recruit men to operate their machinery as they were seen as more capable and trustworthy, while women and children were hired to simply assist their husbands and fathers . The relocation of production from family homes to factories made it difficult for women to combine their roles as mothers and workers. This was especially true for single and widowed women, who had a hard time supporting themselves and their families on the wages they earned (which were considered supplementary).

The Arts and Crafts Movement
The arts and Crafts Movement originated in England in the 1870s and spread to other countries in the following years. The movement established itself as a counter-reaction to the negative effects of industrialisation on the social conditions of the workers and quality of manufactured goods. Its goal was to find new ways to produce products in a less harmful way and with more respect for the workers, which led to better opportunities for many middle-class women to pursue careers in art and design. By 1870, women were encouraged to participate in various cultural and artistic fields, such that of book illustration. The movement provided practical training for women, an expanding market to work in, and offered the possibility of paid homework for those with families or other restrictions. However, while the movement seemed to improve women’s status in craft culture, it also reinforced gender rolls and stereotypes. Most crafts were either considered “masculine” or “feminine”, with women being excluded from certain fields like architecture, furniture making, and fine printing. Women were taught in private, as they were not allowed to attend classes at trade schools, which rarely progressed past acquiring the basic skills of a craft. To add to that, the sexual division between men and women was often reinforced in order to avoid competition with men, as women’s work was considered less valuable.

By the 20th century, the Arts and Craft Movement had evolved into a form of anti-establishment activity, particularly for feminists  who aimed to redefine traditional women’s crafts as a politicised craft activity. The combination of craft culture and feminism allowed people to create communities with people sharing the same norms and values. This development laid the foundation for the 21st century equivalent of the Arts and Crafts Movement, in which crafts continued to be used as a means in which to express resistance.

Craftivism
Craft culture in the 21st century continued to be a tool used to deliver social and political critique to establishments, specifically as a response to global sweatshop practices and critique on mass production. The Arts and Craft Movement evolved into Craftivism, a portmanteau of craft and activism, which is a collective for sustainable, community-based activities and relationships in which craft is used to connect with tradition and critique corporate and institutional culture. Feminist artist and activists have used different forms of craft as a way of peaceful protest and discussion. For example, knitting has been used to combat traditional gender roles, in which knitting is defined as something one likes doing, instead of something that is expected and necessary for women to do. Some argue that the mere act of knitting in public is seen as inappropriate because it is seen as a “feminine” craft" . It is considered to be something one does inside the home, something that, when done in public, turns into a confrontation with the unpaid labour that goes on behind closed doors. This issue caused by knitting outside of the home is comparable to the taboo surrounding breastfeeding in public, in the sense that both activities uncover the domestic activities for the public to consume.

Etsy
On different note, the popularity of platforms like Etsy, online marketplaces which sell handmade or vintage products, not only show that there is still a strong interest in craft in contemporary society, but it also provides a way for predominantly women to earn an income to suffice one’s lifestyle or to act as a supplementary income. Additionally, Etsy challenges traditional by turning certain kinds of craft that are considered to be feminine and something that women enjoy doing in their past-time and turns it into something that some can make their career out of. However, to sell your handmade products on Etsy means you have to comply to a kind of capitalistic structure that online marketplaces like Etsy have created. By doing so, Etsy has created an environment that promotes the assumption that handmade products are somehow more valuable than mass-produced products in the same vein. While Etsy promotes the idea of a rebellious alternative to the ideals of the mass-producing capitalism of contemporary society, it operates within the same capitalistic structure. To add to that, the concept of DIY (do-it-yourself) has also gained a fair amount of popularity by use of step-by-step tutorials on the internet, rejecting the capitalistic commodification  and consumerism  of contemporary society. For men, participating in crafts that have been seen as traditionally feminine can also be a way of challenging beliefs and values surrounding hegemonic masculinity.

In conclusion, throughout history, craft culture has attempted to combat the damaging effects that arose during the rise of the industrial revolution and the rise of capitalism. While industrialism reinforced the already existing gender roles, the Arts and Craft Movement aimed to create better social conditions not only for the male factory workers, but also the women who had been negatively affected by the dynamics of the newfound industrial family.

In contemporary society, craft culture involves the challenging of traditional definitions of masculinity and femininity, creating alternative femininities and masculinities in the process. While not all craft that directly challenges traditional gender roles can be linked to feminist activism, the participation in craft culture can still challenge inherent masculine or feminine identities connected certain forms of craft. This is particularly important because these traditional gender roles have often been used to justify discrimination and inequality. By breaking down these rigid gender boundaries through craft, individuals can gain a greater sense of agency. Furthermore, by challenging traditional gender roles and creating alternative forms of masculinity and femininity, craft culture has the potential to foster more inclusive and fair societies.