Taking Feminist Ideas Out of the Classroom
Sociology students open a public art exhibit showcasing their work
On Monday, April 27 students in Lara Janson’s, assistant professor of education studies and sociology, Advanced Gender Studies Sociology seminar, opened their mini art exhibition at the Drake Library. The exhibition, entitled “I Object” explores how everyday objects shape, express, and enforce gender and how consumers can reinforce or resist these gender norms. According to Janson, the exhibition was designed to connect college and town communities in dialogue and to be interactive for all age levels.
One student, Ollie Peterson ’26, gave the opening speech for the exhibition. In their speech, Peterson prompted the audience to question how they define gender, and whether or not specific objects have their own gender. They concluded the speech by reiterating their class’s desire to make feminist ideas accessible and to spark conversation between artists and attendees of the exhibition.
Reflecting on the opening exhibition, Peterson shared
“I was so grateful to get to chat with community members from both the town and college, of all different ages, about topics related to gender and feminism. Sharing my artworks with others brought a whole other dimension to my experience of the GWSS major at Grinnell — taking feminist ideas out of the classroom and bringing GWSS to a new audience. Seeing people resonate with the art, both through conversation and through reading their reflections on the sticky note board, made my heart feel very full.”
The exhibit itself featured eight works, many of them interactive. Peterson’s piece “Spaces of Gender: Food,” featured a removable barrier that could be raised up to symbolically open access to traditionally “male” and “female” spaces. Other pieces explored traditionally gendered toys like the Barbie Dreamhouse reimagined in a project by Cadance Hawk ’25. As referenced by Peterson, visitors had the opportunity to share their reflections on the exhibition via sticky notes posted on a board.
The work done by these students represents one of the many ways in which students are using their academic coursework to become more deeply engaged with both sociological concepts and with the local community.
In addition to displaying their art, the student artists also co-wrote a pamphlet detailing their projects. All four artists and the names of their projects are listed below.
Cadance Hawk ’25
House of Dreams
Doll of Dreams
Ollie Peterson ’26
Spaces of Gender: Food
Spaces of Gender: Clothing
Ella Downs ’26
Arranging Gender
Unraveling the Binary
Alex Dixon ’26
Knock it Out
Groundskeeping