From Vandalized Walls to Feminist Narratives, Re-producing Social Space to Resist Feminicide: A Comparative Analysis of Mexico City and Paris feminist activism through street graffiti and collage
2024 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
The research investigates the way feminist movements use public space to protest feminicide in Paris, France and in Mexico City, Mexico. The purpose of this research is to discuss feminists' use of public space and connect it to their resistance against gender-based violence in France and Mexico. The two cases are analysed through comparative case studies, specifically oriented towards their use of public space through graffiti and collage. Lefebvre’s spatial triad provides a relevant theoretical framework, allowing for a thorough analysis of how these urban visuals challenge and reconsider public space. The comparison is done through selective visuals found online and showcasing graffiti and collage present in the urban scenery and resisting feminicide. Using this framework is relevant for several aspects. It allows for a thorough and nuanced analysis of space, challenging typical representations, and allows for a better understanding of what it can entail to modify public space. In both cases, walls became the bearers of political messages against feminicide outside of a legal framework. The research question guiding this study is the following: How do feminist movements use public space to protest against gender-based violence through street art, graffiti, and collages? The research will introduce each case with some background information, using mainly secondary sources (academic papers, newspapers, social media) before being analysed. The study will first analyse to what extent, in each city, feminists are creating a new space and, by doing so, reclaim their right to the study. Then, the two cases will be compared to observe to what extent Paris and Mexico City can find similarities in their differences. Overall, the comparative analysis shows that although the way each movement uses public space differs, they are both contributing to reclaiming the right to the city for women. Finally, the study contributes to documenting the feminist fight and giving more visibility to women and their struggles.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024. , p. 131
Keywords [en]
Paris, Mexico City – Feminicide – Feminist Movements – Collages / Graffiti – Public Space
National Category
Gender Studies Sociology Social and Economic Geography
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-537238OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-537238DiVA, id: diva2:1893518
Subject / course
Euroculture
Educational program
Master Programme in Euroculture
Supervisors
Examiners
2024-08-302024-08-292024-08-30Bibliographically approved