The most important lesson I learned in the
USA is? – Sylvie Britz
When I started to think about what to write in this essay, I remembered a moment
during my junior year in college that made me realize how fortunate I am to be able
to attend college in the United States.
It happened during one of my design critiques. My classmates and I were exhausted
by the work we had just finished. After having labored for days on her pieces, my
friend Katie burst out: "Feminism Shmeminism!!! Why do we even bother!? I’m
getting myself a rich husband instead of THIS!" We giggled at her comment because
she delivered it in her typically outraged but terribly amusing fashion. Then we
went back to critiquing our work without giving her remark another thought.
Katie’s "Feminism Shmeminism" was only meant to be a humorous comment, not
to be taken too seriously, but it now makes me think about how often I take the
education I get here in the U.S. for granted. I am sure that everybody at some point
questions why even bother going to college. Why labor over projects that then will
be torn apart during a critique? I daresay we often do it simply because we have
the opportunity to! Here in the United States I am finally allowed as a woman to
express myself artistically, to gain an excellent education and to develop into
a confident freethinking individual.
You may wonder why I chose to write about feminism. After all it seems as if it
has been widely accepted here in the United States. It looks like more and more
powerful women emerge from this society. The reason why I am stressing feminism
and the opportunities it provided is because I come from a country where freethinking
independent women often are looked down upon.
I am originally from Luxembourg, a tiny European country located between Belgium,
Germany and France. It is extremely conservative. Feminism often is ridiculed. Independent
women are not taken very seriously. Especially the thought of freethinking women–artists
raises a lot of eyebrows. In fact, in Luxembourg creating art is considered a hobby
that nobody really can use to make a living.
When I told my family I decided to become an artist, I had to listen to Luxembourg's
equivalent of "Feminism Shmeminism!" "You should get married and have a man provide
for you!’ "How do you expect to make a living as an artist?’ "By coloring
in between some pre–drawn lines, like in paint by numbers?’ As old–fashioned
as this may sound, these opinions about independent female artists are still a reality
in Luxembourg, and I am sure in many other parts of the world.
My mother is a perfect example of a woman who had to suffer under these old–fashioned
and oppressive opinions of a woman’s role in my society. She was on her way
to become a skillful painter before she met my father. Her high school teachers
desperately wanted her to take more painting classes so that she could learn to
push her art as far as possible.
However, when she married my father at the age of 19, he did not allow her to pursue
her dream any longer. He was deeply in love with her and did not want to lose her
to art. I once asked my father why he would not let my mother paint anymore. He
explained to me that he was truly worried that if she took more art classes, she
would start to think too independently. Knowing how intensely she focused on her
work before their marriage, he was afraid that she would spend less time with him,
maybe even stop taking care of him and decide to pursue a life of her own. My mother
was such a naive young woman that he was easily able to stop her from creating any
more paintings. Even though this sounds like it might have happened in the 1950s,
if not earlier, it occurred in 1976. Actually, my father still does not allow my
mother to pursue any kind of artistic exploration.'
As you can see "Feminism Shmeminism’ still plays a key role in my world. It
upsets me when I see the gorgeous paintings my mother did before her marriage. It
angers me because I recognize her potential. I see the great artist she would have
become. Yet she could not pursue her dream. As a wife she was supposed to take care
of her husband, raise her child, and stop having a life of her own.
I know that the very moment I was able to recognize my mother’s love for color,
when I saw the passion with which she created these pieces, I realized that art
was the path I wanted to pursue. Nothing was going to stop me. I swore to myself
that I would never have anybody interfere with or make me give up my dreams.
A critical turning point that was about to test my commitment to become an independent,
freethinking artist happened when I turned 17. Back in 1996, my all–girls
catholic boarding school started a student exchange program with the United States.
At that time I only had had 2 years of English language classes and the officials
presumed that my language skills were inadequate to successfully participate in
the program. However, I was convinced that living in the U.S. for a year, far away
from my parents, would not only be the first step in becoming a freethinking and
independent, but also help my father realize that I could make it on my own. After
having struggled through several of those terrible language proficiency tests, I
finally got accepted into the exchange program.
In 1997, I first set foot on American ground. Here I had the opportunity to live
with a wonderfully understanding host family that passionately supported my love
for art. I told both my American family and my art teacher at my new high school
about the "Feminism Shmeminism’ approach that still rules my country, and
about my dream of becoming an artist.
Having heard how upset it made me that my mother was not allowed to pursue a career
as a painter, my teacher told me about an art college nearby that was founded with
the premise to provide women with a great education that would allow them to build
a career and become self–sufficient. He thought I might be interested in attending
a school that was so strongly focused on teaching women how to develop their own
voice.
After having heard that, there certainly was no doubt in my mind that I was going
to attend college in the United States. My Dad was a little shocked that I decided
to pursue studies this far away from home, but amazingly he did not stop me. In
fact he loved the idea that my college of choice was an all–women’s
college. He thought it would help to keep me out of trouble. However, what he did
not realize was the fact that this school, as an all–women’s college,
helps women to develop a strong independent voice a lot easier than any co–ed
college.
It was not until I attended art school in the United States that I eventually learned
about successful independent women–artists, the feminist movement and feminist
art. Having had the opportunity to hear the true story about women’s struggle
to establish themselves as empowered freethinking individuals who passionately pursue
their dreams opened my eyes and validated my striving to become an independent artist
myself.
Before coming to the United States, I had never heard of any leading feminist artists
such as Miriam Schapiro, Judy Chicago or Valie Export. None of these women were
ever mentioned in any of my Luxembourgian art classes. Female artists who tried
to overthrow or point out the subordinated role of women in my society were simply
ignored.
It was not until I came to the United States that I met and learned about women
who stood up for themselves. Not only have I learned about well–known independent
women–artists, I also met a great deal of very talented individuals who I
consider to become the next generation of highly respected female artists.
I truly admire my friend Pauline, a 49 year old woman who decided to continue her
education. Despite having to juggle home and school, trying to be everything to
everyone, she still finds time for herself and her art.
I appreciate her strength and courage to go back to college. I also applaud how
caring and supportive her family and peers are of her bold decision to continue
her education. Looking at the gorgeous paintings she has created, I wish my family
would have been as supportive of my mother’s desire to study art, for I see
in Pauline what might have become of my mother if she only would have had the opportunity
to go back to college.
Julie, another of my American friends, dreamt about traveling to Australia and sharing
with Aboriginal women her knowledge in textile design. She applied for a fellowship,
but unfortunately it was her denied. However, this has not stopped her. Julie is
so committed to experiencing Aboriginal culture first hand and sharing her art knowledge
and skills with Aboriginal women that she has managed to find ways to finance this
expensive trip on her own. Consequently, she will able to spend several weeks in
Australia. She will come back with memories, knowledge and experiences so rich that
they probably will inspire her for the rest of her life. I admire that she has the
courage to raise the funds for her trip by herself and travel thousands of miles
to experience a culture so different from her own.
Janelle, another amazing American woman that I have met, previously had worked at
a non–creative job until she finally felt that something was missing in her
life. She has tried to open up her own fashion business but she soon realized that
she needed better technical and professional skills to become a confident designer
and business woman. Even though she was frightened about having to support herself,
she eventually gathered the courage to enroll in a BFA program.
All of her artwork, whether it is a knitted, woven or paper piece, displays the
incredible skills she has acquired in college. I admire that she has been able to
pull herself up by her own bootstraps, come back to college even though it was incredibly
frightening, and evolve into a truly amazing artist and designer.
What I see in all of my American friends is an incredibly strong will and a commitment
to follow their dreams. In doing so, they validate my own quest in becoming a freethinking
independent artist. I think the stories of all the people I have met here in the
United States are very inspiring for anybody who has to overcome obstacles to realize
a dream. I admire the strength, ambition, and commitment of all of my peers to their
work. However, in seeing the great talent and the success of all of my American
friends, I have to keep reminding myself of the struggles female artists had to
go through in the past. I do not think I should ever take the opportunities that
feminism has provided for me for granted. During my studies here in the United States,
I have evolved into a truly motivated artist. I have learned to think independently
and fearlessly voice my opinions. I have become a feminist, whether my Luxembourgian
family likes the sound of it or not. I hope that every woman in a situation similar
to mine will find the courage to look beyond her family’s and society’s
old–fashioned vision of "Feminism Shmeminism’ just the way I have during
my studies here in the United States of America.
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