Feminists as Fundamentalists

Carol Vance’s essay “Feminist Fundamentalism: Women against Images” describes an incident at the University of Michigan Law School in which art works deemed “offensive” were taken out of an exhibit. The exhibit was part of a conference, “Prostitution: from Academia to Activism,” and was taken down by law students and a group of Antipornography Feminists who claimed the work made people feel “uncomfortable”(Kocur 132). The feminist group claimed that the exhibit, consisting mainly of videos about prostitution, was pornographic in nature and thus “cause[ing] enormous harm, from promoting misogynist ideas and male dominance to directly inspiring rape” (135). The incident caused some controversy as it was seen by some as a form of censorship and eventually an agreement was made to allow the reinstallation of the exhibit.
Vance points out that “antipornography feminists are now hurling the term ‘pornography’ at art videos which dissent from their favored position on prostitution—that prostitution victimizes women and that women can never freely choose to participate in that work” (135). This group of feminists seems to be vigilantes for causes that should be personal choice. By removing artworks they are ignoring the fact that viewing an art exhibit and being a prostitute, at least in the cases of the exhibit, are personal choices not mandates. Also, many female artists are now creating art works that may be seen as explicit but come from places of powerful female sexuality. It seems contradictory that a group of “feminist” are criticizing and censoring works by female artist about female sexuality.