A figurine of history
Two Ridgeview High School juniors have painted artwork to portray the harsh reality of the history of women’s rights.
Carly King and Kaylee Kininger were assigned a project in their last month of school that would highlight current-day issues.
They thought about women’s rights and how it has been an issue for many years. They decided to make a statement about women’s rights by highlighting each event and iconic woman who has paved the way for women today.
“When we started, it was a cool idea for us to do,” King said. “Through research and through studying, I felt more empowered about feminism and womanhood.
“I felt more appreciative of the women before me, to help me to be able to have the rights I have, to walk into the classroom the way I do, to not have to wear a skirt to school. All these things women don’t realize are a gift.”
The figurine was created by the girls plastic-wrapping a friend to get a mold of her figure, then cutting her out of the wrap, where they then filled it with newspaper.
The girls painted on the figurine for each outstanding event in women’s rights, from the Civil War to Planned Parenthood to the recent Women’s March.
On specific women they chose to recognize, for example Rosa Parks, there’s an article about her. On the back of the figurine is a cape with other iconic women and words to empower women.
They said Friday they hope ther project sparks a conversation among their peers and to not only take strides through laws, but changing mindsets.
“Women still aren’t equal. We’re weak, because we are women,” Kininger said. “If you say, ‘I hit like a girl,’ that’s saying my gender is an insult. I think that’s what’s still important today to keep fighting for, keep talking about, and keep relevant.”
King and Kininger said they hope their figurine will be placed at a women’s group or at the Redmond Library to keep the conversation going throughout their community.
