Upp till kamp med nål och tråd : Om kvinnligt kodade textiltraditioner genom hantverksaktivism idag

Sammanfattning: Due to a personal interest in textile craft, my own experience as a knitter in combination with studies in integrated conservation and gender studies as a subsidiary subject this research was done as my thesis in integrated conservation. With the purpose to study textile craft traditions as a feminine part of the intangible cultural heritage in todays society with focus on craftivism, a questionnaire study was done. The study was addressed to craftivists who practice any kind of textile craft with the purpose to get a deeper insight in their understanding, attitude and opinions related to craftivism and textile craft traditions. The female norm in textile craft and especially textile craftivism was remarkably striking in the results of the questionnaire study, which can explain why feminism is an issue close to heart for most of the informants. Among many of the craftivists in this study there is an awareness of this norm and traditional feminine connotative meanings related to textile, for example softness and warmth. These connotative meanings are consciously used by many craftivists to create contrasts with norm breaking statements. These contrasting effects can be interpreted as innovative, inspiring and remarkable. Craftivism is therefore a way to use one’s creativity to make one’s voice heard. It could be a part of textile craft traditions today, in a stage of innovation and forward looking, which is likely to be a contributing variable due to the preservation of the intangible textile cultural heritage in the future.