Intersectional Feminism in Dunedin: From Suffrage to Today - Exhibition and Publication

Intersectional Feminism in Dunedin ‘Intersectional Feminism in Dunedin’ is a two-week long travelling exhibition and publication to commemorate the 125 th anniversary of suffrage in New Zealand.   The publication examines the story of suffrage in this city and tracks the subsequent history of feminism in Dunedin from 1893 to today and the exhibition relates to artists’ lived experiences in this city. The project adopts intersectional feminism as its framework, taking into account how issues of class, race, disability and sexuality intersect with feminism and how this has been recognised in Dunedin, or not. We identify intersectional feminism as the avant-garde of feminism today and the most progressive descendent of suffrage, as it includes and recognises a diverse array of perspectives and experiences which feminism has previously failed to take into account. _ Artist Julia Young (with Megan Brady, both of Studio2 and the Margaret Freeman Gallery) comme

If your interested in hearing about the origins of the term intersectionality and hearing about our exhibition listen to this radio show I did with Your Friendly Neighbourhood Feminists at Radio 1. https://www.mixcloud.com/Radio_One_91fm_Dunedin/your-friendly-neighbourhood-feminists-29818-with-nixi-blythe/

We've published a copy of our exhibition publication on Issuu! You can read the full publication below.

On the 18th of September 2018, curators Kari & Lydie Schmidt discussed the 'Intersectional Feminism in Dunedin' exhibition with Andrew Rudolph on Otago Access Radio's Dunedin Multi Ethnic Council on Air. You can listen to the full radio show here . 

The exhibition 'Intersectional Feminism in Dunedin' featured in Critic Magazine again at the end of September, 2018. To read more click here . 

Now retired, Dr Dorothy Page studied and taught History at the University of Otago throughout her teaching life. One of her particular interests has been women’s history in Britain and New Zealand, as well as local history. She is also a former President of the Settlers Association, the friends organisation for Toitū  Otago Settlers Museum. One of her research interests has been the story of suffrage in Dunedin, which in her words, “was much more lively and controversial than anywhere else.” Pre-Suffrage in Dunedin Before 1893, there were a number of developments in New Zealand that laid the ground for suffrage to take place. Among these was the New Zealand culture of drinking and domestic violence, which was exacerbated throughout the 1880s due to the Long Depression. This acted as a “motivation for women to want to change society… because a lot of people took refuge in alcohol and alcohol-fuelled violence was a terrible thing at that stage.” Additionally,