“WALK ON MY SHOES” AND “THE HELL” OF BEING “THE OTHER”: DIVERSITIES AND CHALLENGES PRESENT IN THE SILENCING OF WOMEN

Abstract

To be born, to become, to recognize oneself as a woman? Questions in contexts of mobilization and reflection on the challenges posed by the silences that affect women (born or who recognize themselves as women): "housewives," who are not allowed to be "masters of themselves"; the "selfish" ones who do not wish to be mothers, challenging biological expectations; the "arrogant," "self-centered" ones; the objectified; those who "burn" their peers in friendly fire... Examples that show how, from the womb, women are assigned roles of utility —which become tools of social control. We believe these are moderating tools of female freedom, permeating all silences, as demonstrated here through a Communicational-Affective-Ethical and Aesthetic gaze in the format of a feminist essay-manifesto. Thus, we present (in this article and for the first time) our project Walk On My Shoes, where we expand our feminist approach with feminist authors who consider diverse intersectionalities traversed by patriarchal culture in society—here materially represented through Art and Design in provocative propositions of women's footwear.