FARE: Girl House and Beyond

Kesa Kivel
Girl House and Beyond:
A Facilitator’s Guide for Empowering Young Women
FOR GRADE 6 – COLLEGE

For Those Teaching the Following Topics:
Sexual Harassment
Feminism, Sexism
Girls’ Empowerment and Activism
Art (Including Protest and Installation Art)
Judy Chicago-Inspired Art Projects

The purpose of the Girl House and Beyond curriculum is to help facilitators create a safe environment in which students can view the Girl House Art Project film and explore the topic of sexual harassment through ten engaging activities, many of which include artwork. Even if a facilitator does not have access to the film, she or he can still do nine of the activities. The intention is for students who have been sexually harassed to begin the healing process, and for all students to learn some critical thinking skills and gain an understanding of the social/cultural factors that affect girls’ and women’s lives.

History: The Girl House Art Project, developed and led by Kesa Kivel, was conducted at the YWCA Santa Monica/Westside in Santa Monica, CA from over 10 months in 2006. During the Girl House Project, which was inspired by Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro’s 1972 “Womanhouse” art installation, middle school girls learned about the gender wage gap, women’s history, self-defense, media literacy, and other related topics. Art was used throughout. The concluding piece was an art installation in which participating girls described the effects of sexual harassment by making art in a small on-site house on the YWCA property. The Girl House Art Project public exhibition was held in June 2006.

The Feminist Art Project gives special thanks to Kesa Kivel for making these educational materials available for publication. For more free social justice resources visit www.kesakivelstudios.org. © Kesa Kivel

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