Today, when people think of the humanities – painting, writing, philosophy, etc. – they may think of it as a gender neutral or even slightly female-dominated field. However, despite this belief and the fact that, as of 2022, women made up 62% of all humanities majors [1], the field of the humanities is a very male-controlled field.
The misogyny of the arts does not manifest itself in loud ways. Rather, it can be seen in the erasure of women’s history within the humanities and the subtle but strong exclusion within the industry. By learning the history and current statistics of women in the humanities, it is easy to argue that the humanities are almost as misogynistic as every other industry.
Women’s History in the Humanities
Legends are legends because they were able to define or redefine an aspect of life. What would Western philosophy be without Socrates? Would any classical music playlist be complete without Mozart? Could a class on American literature bear to mention F. Scott Fitzgerald? These men, among many others, have carved their name into history. Because history would be incomplete without them – or at least that is what the narrative tells us.
If legends are remembered because of their impact, then why is it that Aspasia of Miletus’ name has been nearly lost to history despite being the tutor of Socrates, who then tutored Plato, who then tutored Aristotle, and so on? Why is it that even though her musical abilities were on part with her brother’s, Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart’s name is considered a cliff note? Or what about the women like Zelda Fitzgerald, the woman whose diatribes were what made F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing career, but are only remembered as a wife?
None of this is to deny the skill or influence of any of these men. It is simply to question why their legacies can be taught as a degree while women of the same skill and influence are being lost to history with every passing day. By prioritizing the contribution of men and constantly – and intentionally – erasing the contributions of women, the art world is disgracing the people it could not exist without.
Side Note:
Here are some legendary but criminally underrepresented women within the arts:
Philosophers: Aspasia of Miletus [2] and Hypatia of Alexandria [3].
Authors: Sophia Tolstaya [4] and Alice Walker [5].
Painters: Sofonisba Anguissola [6] and Ma Xianglan [7].
Musicians: Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart [8] and Teresa Carreño [9].
Women in the Humanities Today:
Misogyny in the arts targets not only historical female artists, but also towards female artists of today. Famously, the Guerrilla Girls discovered that less than 3% of exhibited artists in museums were female, despite women making up 83% of all nude figures in art [10]. In 2024, only thirty-seven percent of artist that made the billboard for top 100 musicians were women [11]. As of 2023, women made up only seventeen percent of literature award winners [12]. These statistics, although shocking, are only snapshots of the current industry.
When Art Prof interviewed female artists about their lived experiences, many reported their art being pigeonhole into romance or motherhood, having job recruiters hire men who they saw themselves in, and having people be physically shocked upon finding out their favorite art was done by a woman. These experiences, amongst countless others, has caused female artists of today to feel like the boys-club that they are trying to enter is not barred by a glass ceiling but rather a brick wall.
Women’s Future in the Humanities
Having been erased from history and covered up today, and with the lack of recognition and support around this issue, female artists are left wondering when – or if – they will be able to make the equitable gains that women in many other industries have made. To support female artists, it is crucial to learn their contribution to art history and their current contributions to the art world. Even if it means knowing Natalia Sedova’s name rather than Leon Trotsky’s. And if you are an artist who happens to be a girl reading this: remember that your work is just as important, keep reminding yourself and the world of that.
