Gender Aging and Activism:
The CRGW’s research group on “Gender, Aging and Activism” has been working together for the past two years on a community based Raging Grannies archival project. This group brings together undergraduates and graduate students in Gender and Women’s Studies and Interdisciplinary Theater Studies, as well as GWS alumni. The group’s current research program grows from Dr. Garlough’s early research with the Raging Grannies [AS1] that began in 2012 during the WI Labor Protests.
In the last two years, this project has collected photos, narrative accounts, videos of performances, newspaper articles, pamphlets, and material culture that spans their 20+ years of activism. Last year the CRGW applied for an exhibition opportunity through the UW Center for Design and Material Culture at SoHE. Since then, they have been excited to collaborate with the CDMC to build an exhibit that provides an historical account — through material culture — of this important feminist activist group. This has also been accompanied by several campus/community workshops (with Raging Grannies leading) on craftivism. These include: (1) how to crochet Ursula the Uterus (a staple on Raging Granny aprons, see photos below), (2) the history of poster art, in cladding hands on opportunities to make compelling poster/button art (another staple for Raging Grannies performances), and (3) how to write engaging feminist activist songs.
It has been such a joy to see all the excitement around the Raging Grannies of Madison and Dane County exhibit and the Raging Grannies of Madison and Dane County archival website. The “online exhibit” is now available.