Feminists in Gorilla Masks Talk to Students

A group of anonymous feminists hiding their faces with gorilla masks—known as the Guerrilla Girls—spoke to a packed audience in Science Center A last night.

The group of motivational speakers urged the predominantly female audience to fight stereotypes relating both to the art world and to different ethnicities.

The Radcliffe Union of Students (RUS) invited the Guerrilla Girls to Harvard as part of an initiative to increase its role as an activist organization on campus, according outgoing RUS vice president and event coordinator Beccah G. Watson ’04.

“I think [the Guerrilla Girls] are a model for activist practice and that’s one reason why we brought them,” Watson said. “I think activism is the most difficult part of the RUS mission, but also the most important.”

The Guerrilla Girls began their mission in 1984 as the self-proclaimed “conscience of the art world,” focusing on the lack of female representation in the arts, but they have since expanded their cause to politics and film.

At yesterday’s event, they noted the lack of female winners in categories for film awards that involve directing and writing.

To maintain anonymity and pay respect to prominent female figures, last night’s Guerrilla Girls used pseudonyms such as Frida Kahlo and Rosalind Franklin, in addition to wearing the masks.

“We want people to focus on the issues not our personalities,” said the Guerrilla Girl who identified as herself as Kahlo.

Alecia J. McGregor ’06 who attended the event, said that although she appreciates the group and its goal, the masks were too much.

“I think the masks are a bit excessive and a bit frightening but I really like what they’re doing,” McGregor said. “If [the masks] get people to listen to them, I’m all for it.”

In a question and answer period that followed the presentation, Kahlo stated that the masks were effective in initially attracting attention to their group, but now she feels they are “stuck” with them.

The Guerrilla Girl who identified herself as Franklin said that the crowd was very enthusiastic.

“Now everyone should look around and start making monkey business themselves,” Franklin said. “And by monkey business I mean take responsibility for what you see around you.”

Watson said she thought the event was a success and she was happy with the audience’s reactions.

“It got some belly laughs. I thought it was great,” Watson said.

In addition to becoming more politically involved, Watson said RUS is dedicated to increasing dialogues with other women’s groups on campus.

The event was co-sponsored by Latinas Unidas; the Association of Black Harvard Women; Athena Theater Company; Harvard Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters’ Alliance; Women In Color and girlspot.

—Staff writer Monica M. Clark can be reached at mclark@fas.harvard.edu.