Criticalbody.com has long been a staunch supporter of women’s rights and the ability of women to choose the way they want to look. We have helped to create fitness facilities in which women from all walks of life can feel safe and socialize together while working on various aspects of their health and fitness.
With this in mind, the Critical Body team is delighted to announce our recent acquisition of Womanhouse (womanhouse.net) as part of our ongoing efforts to put female fitness at the forefront of our core offerings.
What is Womanhouse?
Womanhouse was an inspiring 1972 art project that was organized by Miriam Schapiro and Judy Chicago, who are considered two of the pioneers of feminist art and are well-known as the founders of the Feminist Art Program at the California Institute of the Arts. The original Womanhouse idea is credited to Art Historian Paula Harper. [1]
The unique installation contained pieces of art showing women in their traditional roles. Notable works include Linen Closet by Sandy Orgel, The Kitchen by Robin Weltsch, Bridal Staircase by Kathy Huberland, and The Nursery by Shawnee Wollenman.
The fascinating, consciousness-raising collection of works attracted thousands of visitors and, in addition to Chicago and Schapiro, was made possible by their students and local female artists. [2]
In addition to the iconic art installation, a number of plays were held, including Three Women, The Birth Trilogy, and Waiting by Faith Wilding.
The art project was conducted in a rundown mansion which the women had to renovate themselves, a task that relied on group cohesion and perseverance.
Unfortunately, a large part of the art was destroyed and even stolen. Yet, the relative lack of publicity around this notable progression in female art doesn’t discount its effectiveness in raising the consciousness of women.
Creating our own “womanhouse”
In today’s society, women are often encouraged to conform to unrealistic body types that can have profound effects on both their mental and physical health.
Some supposed “health” organizations encourage women to become dangerously thin, which, ironically, can actually compromise their feminine magnificence by creating irregular periods and other life-altering health conditions.
We reject the idea that women need to look a certain way in order to be happy with their bodies.
While it’s true that avoiding severe obesity and extreme thinness is important for a female’s physical health, we don’t think that women should be pressured into changing their bodies in order to fit in.
Our team works with ladies from a variety of backgrounds and experience levels. We create bespoke fitness plans that fit the individual needs of each woman. That’s right; exercise can empower you, and it certainly doesn’t need to be a chore.
We have a number of helpful guides housed in our own womanhouse that explain—based on data from thousands of female participants—what the average woman looks like today (and it’s not a super thin model, that’s for sure).
- Average female height in the US
- What is a normal BMI for women?
- Average waist size for women
- Average hip size for women
- Average thigh circumference for females
- Average arm size for women
As our collection of articles expands, we aim to create a formidable fitness resource for women that shows people that exercise is about much more than building a specific kind of body.
Discovering the inspirational story behind Womhouse has encouraged us to expand our female fitness offerings, and we are very grateful for that.
So whether you’re a woman who wants to create her very own work of art with her body (in whichever way you see fit) or if you find exercise therapeutic and a great way to socialize, we’re here for you.
References
- Wikipedia contributors. (2022, November 24). Womanhouse. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Womanhouse
- THE WOMANHOUSE ONLINE ARCHIVE. WOMANHOUSE. http://www.womanhouse.net/website-mission/
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