In Her Own Right
How we talk about women artists and why it matters
Hi, it’s me— the language police. If you’ve been here a while, you know I like to think about the way we talk about women artists and whether social biases — which insist women are second fiddle in art history — sneak into the words we use.
When I notice repetition in the phrases or words we use to refer to women artists, I start to wonder what those words really me beneath the surface. My most recent language observation?: “In her own right”, as in: “Lee Krasner, married to Jackson Pollock, was an artist in her own right.” I hear it all the time.
APPLAUSE (BLUE ACROBATS), 1973 by Françoise Gilot
When you search “artist in her own right” on Google, plenty shows up, including a novel of that name. In his own right, on the other hand, turns up results from “in her own right” (the novel appears in search results), as well as generic dictionary websites defining “in one’s own right”. The only man who was an “artist in his own right,” tellingly, was formerly enslaved Black painter Juan de Pareja. (See the pattern? “Artists in their own right” are generally people who fall outside the expectation of what an artist looks like, like we can’t quite believe it.)
“In her own right” is always an aside, a decentering of the woman who is also an artist. There’s this ghostly presence in the phrase— the presence of another artist.
The painter Françoise Gilot, for example, isn’t even given a chance to stand alone as herself in this headline:
Right off the bat, before we’ve even read the body of the article, we’re wondering— why wouldn’t she be an artist in her own right? Who is the other artist whose reputation shadowed hers? (Turns out it was Picasso.)
The phrase introduces the idea that she could have been an artist in someone else’s right— an assistant or muse to a husband or lover.
I suggest we banish the phrase.
Do you agree? Are there other phrases we use to describe women artists that might be better off in the trash heap?
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Again! I was affected so viscerally by this! In spending my days drafting and crafting curricuoum for girls and young women I found this article beyond valaubale and important. Thank you for that.
The phrase "in her own right" carries with it the weight of a historical context where women were not afforded the same opportunities, recognition, or agency as men. When discussing female artists, using this phrase inadvertently perpetuates the remnants of a time when women's achievements were often overshadowed or dismissed. By continuing to use such language, we risk perpetuating the notion that a woman's success or merit is somehow secondary or contingent upon external factors, rather than inherent to her talent and efforts alone.
Moving away from language that diminishes or undermines the accomplishments of female artists is essential for fostering a more equitable and inclusive cultural landscape. By banishing phrases like "in her own right," we affirm the autonomy, talent, and agency of women in the arts, ensuring that their contributions are recognized and celebrated on their own merits, free from the constraints of outdated gender norms and biases. It is crucial that we consciously choose our words to reflect a more just and equal society, one where all artists, regardless of gender, are judged based solely on the brilliance of their work.
Don't we want better for ourselves? Our sisters? Our daughters?
Banish it.
What’s wild is, does this apply to writers? I’d say no — think of Mary Shelley. Or singers. Singers can be married and both shine. Actors can be married and both be great. It’s painters that can’t co-exist when one is great. Maybe it’s an egomaniac story that we believe about artists. Artists can be great friends but not lovers and partners? It doesn’t help that there are many historical examples of working female artists that sacrificed their own careers for their husbands. People like that storyline. Maybe people romanticize artists and need them to fit into a sort of mold. In a traditional patriarchal relationship, domestic duties take up so much time and energy that often the female suffers. The secret is to not marry a caveman 😂 I know many artists couples, so I’m not sure it’s an actual problem in today’s world . . . but that phrase IS still used. Trash it for sure!