In today’s digital age, social media has revolutionized feminist activism. Among the many platforms, Instagram, a popular visual centric site, has afforded a fast paced connection and widespread influence. With an environment which allows for self-expression and social commentary to a great extent, Instagram becomes a significant place for feminist expression. However, despite the platform’s potential, it is largely dominated by narrow minded perceptions and the male gaze. As it reflects the society’s historical views on representation; can the space on one of the most influential social media platforms be reshaped and become more inclusive? This article will focus on the significance of feminist illustrators on Instagram, and how their artwork expresses underrepresented ideas; helping to amplify feminist discourse online.
Over the past decade, feminist activists’ use of social media and digital tools has attracted a large amount of attention. This has even led some scholars to suggest that we might be witnessing fourth wave feminism. This wave, as noted by Knappe and Lang, is characterized by its emphasis on technology (Semenzin, 2022).
Despite Instagram’s potential for feminist expression and allowing it’s users to share content that helps to facilitate the exploration of identity and social norms (Sciberras and Tanner 2022), it still remains a platform which is deeply intertwined with normative ideals that are shaped primarily by the male gaze (Scibberas and Tanner, 2022). Laura Mulvey’s influential theory of the ‘Male Gaze’ (1989) conceptualizes a dynamic where pleasure in looking is structured by a subject/object split, often between men and women. Mulvey argues that this gaze “projects sexual and erotic ‘fantasy’ onto passive female figures”(Scibberas and Tanner, 2022), which render women as objects of male desire and completely sideline women’s own experiences and desires. Thus, this constitutes female sexuality not being expressed but rather curated mainly for male consumption, which ultimately reinforces an aesthetic ideal upholding patriarchal values (Scibberas and Tanner, 2022).
The male gaze is often prevalent in all media content we see now; therefore knowing the concept of the ‘Male Gaze’ is significant, as it will further help to understand the motivations and goals of feminist artists on Instagram (Diane Ponterotto 2016, as Scibberas and Tanner, 2022). Such artwork is loved by many people online; although we might not fully understand the significance and the power of their work on platforms like Instagram.
The dominance of particular beauty standards seen on Instagram are often reinforced through celebrity culture and influencer culture; making the male gaze further omnipresent on the platform (Sciberras and Tanner, 2022). In more recent years, however, ‘Postfeminism’ has brought a complicated layer to this conversation. Post-feminists have argued that women can claim sexual empowerment through their participation in ‘raunch culture’, suggesting that conforming to dominant ideals of feminine desirability might be seen as a form of self-empowerment (Gill 2012, as cited in Sciberras and Tanner, 2022). This, and other various postfeminist stances have found its place on Instagram, helping to re-shape the narrative.
Challenging the ‘Male Gaze’: Feminist Interventions on Instagram
In response, we can see feminist illustrators on Instagram challenging this gaze through their artwork that emphasizes authenticity and diversity. By posting illustrations which show bodies that do not conform with western beauty standards, these artists resist the male gaze. For instance, this kind of representation strongly aligns with the illustrations posted on exotic.cancer’s Instagram account; where the illustrator highlights aspects of feminine materiality, such as menstruation, body hair and more. All these elements are often censored on the platform. Moreover, her illustrations particularly represent themes of “lust, desire and the complexities of human relationships, often viewed through a sinister, dystopian lens” (ABOUT n.d), all of which help to combat the male gaze and the societal stigmas against women.
Figure 1
Firstly, in the the illustration seen above, someone shaving their legs is portrayed and on their legs the statement “Fuck your beauty standards” is depicted (exoitc.cancer, December 14, 2019). This conveys a straightforward message of opposition towards the ideal beauty standard for women, which in this case is that they have to be hairless to be considered beautiful. The artist’s accompanying caption on this post stating; “I grow leg hair yes” (exoitc.cancer, December 14, 2019) further emphasizes the normalization of natural features of the human body, that are often stigmatized and labeled as unattractive in society, particularly for women. Acknowledging something so natural like body hair, in a vivid and a straightforward manner instantly creates this sense of defiance against these standards and creates an environment for the viewer to reflect on it.
Figure 2: Before Figure 3: After
In another powerful illustration, which is a short reel, a woman in a bikini is depicted who has posted on Instagram. The short reel goes back and forth between showing a post with an unedited body which has gained 27 likes and switches to a highly edited one; depicting an hourglass figure, bigger lips and enhanced cheekbones; which has gained around 40 thousand likes (exotic.cancer, April 6, 2020). This illustration has a dystopian undertone, as it shows a major contrast that forces the viewer to reflect on the pressures of what is considered perfect online. It directs the viewers to see how idealized images are often prioritized online, over authentic representations of people.
Figure 4
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Figure 6
Illustrations like these are particularly important for platforms like Instagram, as typically social media platforms censor content which portrays body hair, or other “unconventional” aspects of the body. Thus, by representing them through her artwork, exotic.cancer’s illustrations directly challenge and bypass the platform’s regulations and restrictions, as otherwise, their content risks being shadowbanned, even though it may have been posted for educational purposes. This is also the case for other artists and users on the platform. Furthermore, other illustrations represented above in figures 4, 5 and 7 foreground the exploration of the diversity of sexuality; from self-pleasure to kinks and fetishisms. Such direct visual storytelling conveys the majorly underrepresented experiences of femininity, which are often discarded or otherwise silenced. This not only encourages significant conversations to take place around sexuality; but also holds the potential to educate people on these diverse experiences and empower viewers to embrace their experiences. Exotic.cancer’s beautifully inclusive illustrations help to foster greater self-acceptance, reflection and confidence among the viewers and help Instagram to become a more inclusive platform.
Figure 7
Lainey Molnar is another feminist illustrator who, through her work, offers a direct visual critique on the rigid societal norms that many women encounter on a daily basis. For instance, in figure 7, the artist shows a contrast between the two very different reactions towards a woman experiencing motherhood. On one side, the woman is being congratulated for her pregnancy, with the others admiring her baby bump; calling it a “miracle” and “so cute!”(lainey.molnar, November 19, 2024). Yet in the next frame, the same woman, after giving birth is facing body shaming and extremely judgemental comments.
This stark contrast effectively reveals the toxic and contradictory expectations that are placed on women in our society. It particularly foregrounds how women are celebrated for entering a new life journey such as entering motherhood, yet at the same time, they are scrutinized for their changed appearance when they don’t seem to meet the ‘ideal’ western beauty standard. Molnar further highlights the often overlooked complexities of motherhood effectively in the accompanying caption; stating how “motherhood has the unique ability to switch from rewarding the baby making part, to downright cruelty once the “excuse” for a changed body has left the womb” (lainey.molnar, November 19, 2024). This message can encourage people to think beyond and reflect on conventional narratives of expectations on women going through motherhood. The reaction from users to this post on Instagram, seen in the comment section, directly shows how such work is paramount in starting conversations for greater empathy towards others as well as more nuanced discussions around women’s experiences.
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 8 shows how Molnar effectively portrays three women of different shapes and sizes wearing the same dress. The statement above in this illustration strongly communicates that there should be no mold of an ‘ideal’ body type and that body diversity is completely natural. This is further addressed by the artist in the accompanying caption of that post, where she states: “ We are all different. Pears, apples, hourglasses, rectangles. These amazing instruments to help us walk, talk, dance, hug, make love, give birth, or create art.” and further shares concerns stating “If we want to modify our bodies’ “normal” state to match society’s beauty standards, we easily fall into disordered eating, body dysmorphia, depression, exhaustion, and denial. It’s toxic. It’s just a greedy beauty industry’s lie that there is a Kendall Jenner hiding in every woman, who surfaces if you diet/spend/work out enough.” (lainey.molnar, July 21, 2024). Here, she acknowledges the wide range of body types people have, emphasizing the value of what they are capable of doing for us. Additionally she critiques the harmful impacts of the stringent societal beauty standards, particularly those perpetuated by the beauty and the fashion industry that are dominated by them. She directly addresses the issues of such standards and their harmful consequences of conforming to them. Figures 9 and 10 also highlight the same message of body diversity and also effectively encourage a shift in perspective by urging people to recognize, celebrate and embrace that diversity. By doing so, Molnar wonderfully disrupts the narrative of such standards for women which are still seen online, that can often lead to feelings of inadequacy and exclusion as well. This reimagining of beauty embraces every aspect of what makes us all unique and promotes embracing our beautiful forms.
Gemma Correl is another artist challenging these traditional norms through her artwork. Correl is a well known British illustrator, writer and a cartoonist (Correl n.d), known for her artwork online and her books. Her illustrations on Instagram often depict scenarios which are relatable to her viewers; such as socially awkward experiences or other struggles in people’s daily lives. She often depicts scenarios which are not talked about as much; she aims to share a vulnerable side of life and experiences, something most people can relate to. What makes her illustrations so powerful is how she brings attention to common experiences which are often stigmatized and underrepresented in online content, allowing people to relate to these aspects of life.
Figure 11
This Instagram post consists of several slides, each depicting a single moment of experience one might encounter when visiting their doctor for a pap smear. This is an experience which can be extremely stressful, especially for the first time, due to the physically vulnerable scenario one has to be in. Though perhaps a part of the reason one feels such anxiety when visiting their doctor could be due to the stigma around intimate health examinations. Historically, discussions on sexual health have been minimized, especially when it comes to women’s sexual health. Society has historically created a cultural narrative that depicts and expects women to be passive and expects women to present themselves as ‘pure’. This has now been carried along and is represented in the male gaze seen online. Thus, this expectation for women can lead to feelings of embarrassment and the current discomfort about women’s intimate health care all together. Correl’s illustration here helps to break that stigma, by showing an experience which many people go through. By visualizing this experience, Correl creates space for empathy and understanding as this truly helps to validate these experiences. Moreover, such illustrations help to create an environment for information on intimate health care to be shared more openly and without shame. Such a space creates conversations which can encourage people to seek regular and necessary checkups and ask for help when needed. Ultimately, this not only helps to break the stigma on sexual health for women, but can also empower people to take control of their well-being.
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Kristen Liu-Wong is a feminist illustrator from Los Angeles. Her work consists of alluring symbolism and an extensive colour palette, often sparking curiosity to explore the many elements and the stories they depict. Liu-Wong has stated how her work uses “playful, aggressive or sexual imagery to explore the complexities of what makes us human” (“Meet Kristen Liu Wong”, October 9, 2025). This is fully reflected in her bold illustrations; sexuality is something which is shown to be embraced as it is a very natural human experience, rather than something to be considered taboo or to be ashamed of. The illustrations above strongly convey these themes and help to create a space, where they can be expressed more freely and without restrictions. Figure 6 shows an illustration named “Rushing Waters”. In the accompanying caption of the post, she explains the symbolism and the significance of the illustration. She highlights how the “Woman is no longer cast as a man’s downfall through sex in this piece; rather sex and desire is something simultaneously playful and powerful” (@kliuwong, October 2, 2022). This framing of human desire and female sexuality emphasizes the freedom and even the joy that can come with expressing those desires, rather than them being a source of shame. Moreover, Liu-Wong’s work simultaneously moves away from the traditional and reductive narrative of women’s desires being sidelined as the female subjects are shown to embrace their sexuality without any shame or external validation. Similar themes are presented in figures 7 and 8. The many symbols in these illustrations bring together and heighten these themes; breaking the narrow concept of the male gaze and portraying the liberating concept of Postfeminism, in which female desires are shown in an affirmative way. These illustrations can ultimately help to create a rich layer within the artworks, which allows them to reach and resonate with the viewer on many different levels. The presence of such beautifully made illustrations on Instagram is crucial, as they acknowledge and celebrate the autonomy of women. This shift allows for a more liberated representation of femininity; where the women are shown as agents of their own life and where they are capable of expressing and embracing their desires without any shame.
Feminist illustrators play a crucial role in addressing the underrepresented ideas surrounding sexuality, traditional gender roles in society, body diversity and reproductive health. These feminist illustrators help to provide a powerful form of resistance against the male gaze and contribute to a cultural shift toward inclusivity online; as their work educates people and empowers individuals to reject any limiting norms. Moreover, the accessibility to their artwork on a major digital platform like Instagram further amplifies this impact, allowing the artists to directly engage with a broad audience and create spaces for conversations which go beyond real-life or other traditional media. In doing so, they also challenge not just artistic norms but societal ones; which also often dominate social media platforms.
Harshita Sharma is a poet, writer and a member of the FCA. You can find more of her work on IG: @harshita.s1
Bibliography
“ABOUT.” n.d. Exotic Cancer. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.exoticcancer.com/pages/about.
Correl, Gemma. n.d. “About Me.” Gemma Correll. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.gemmacorrell.com/pages/about-me.
“@exotic.Cancer on Instagram: ‘🍌💦.’” 2018. Instagram. May 28, 2018. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd-8Fv4HY2J/.
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“Gemma Correll on Instagram: ‘Comic for @washingtonpost 🩺 * Usual Disclaimer That This Is My Personal Experience and Is Not Supposed to – and Cannot Possibly Be – Representative of Every Single Person’s Experience. *.’” 2024. Instagram. July 24, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C9yxlpsNBR5/.
“Kristen Liu-Wong on Instagram: ‘☀️❤️💦Alicia By the Pool💦❤️☀️Now on View with @adah_rose_gallery 🤗❤️🔥This Piece Is Part of My Ongoing Hustler Series- I Have a Dirty Deck of Vintage P*rn Cards and I Have Been Repainting and Recontextualizing One Card at a Time on a 6x 6 in Panel since 2016 and I Eventually Hope to Repaint the Entire Deck🤞🌈😬 @hustlermag_official Even Published an Interview with Me a Few Years Ago about the Series, Which Was Super Fun!🥰👋I Thought This Piece Would Be the Perfect Summer Painting for All This Heat We’ve Been Having🥵💦💦 #painting #heatwave #summerfeeling #hustler.’” 2023. Instagram. September 19, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CxYOxnkg_Zv/.
“Kristen Liu-Wong on Instagram: ‘💖💦🪷 “Rushing Waters” 🪷💦💖 Challenged Myself to Paint a Waterfall for This Playful Bb Now on View in “Hard Pressed” at @coreyhelfordgallery 💦😉 For Any Inquiries about Work Please Contact Sherri@coreyhelfordgallery.Com 🌐💖 A Bit More about the Piece: This Piece Was Inspired by an Etching Done by an Anonymous Artist in a Book That I Have of Random 19th Century Illustrations (I Tried but Failed to Find the Creator of the Original Piece). The Waterfall Felt like Such an Integral Part of the Overall Narrative and I Was Compelled to Try Painting My Own Waterfall. The Original Piece Features a Water Nymph Beguiling a Nobleman, as Her Father (I’m Assuming Some Sort of River God) Watches on. I Decided to Keep the Overall Tone of Temptation and Overflowing Desire throughout the Piece but I Wanted to Update the Imagery. The Female Figure Was Once an Ethereal and Pure Nymph but She Is Now Replaced by a Beautiful but Decidedly Human Woman, Still Seductive and Powerful as She Beckons to the Male Figure, Now an Openly Horny Playmate of the Woman’s, Whose Desire Peeks out from behind His Towel as He Reaches to Turn on the Camera. Disapproving Daddy Has Now Been Replaced by a Mysterious Scuba Voyeur Who Appears Intrigued by the Upcoming Activities. A Handsome Stag, Antlers Bedecked in Flower Garlands, Acts as an Entwined Symbol of Virility (the Stag) and Fertility (the Flowers) While the Carelessly Discarded Apple with a Bite out Is a Cheeky Nod to the Garden of Eden. Woman Is No Longer Cast as Man’s Downfall through Sex in This Piece- Rather Sex and Desire Is Something Simultaneously Playful and Powerful, It Is a Mysterious and Natural Force That Almost All Living Beings Feel Compelled to Act out in Some Way🌸💦💖 #painting #waterfall #hardpressed.’” 2022. Instagram. October 2, 2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/CjOgJQSvLpx/.
“Kristen Liu-Wong on Instagram: ‘🦄💖🎉OPENING TONIGHT!!🎉🦄💖 I Am so Excited to Have My Painting Included in The Last Unicorn 40th Anniversary Group Show, Opening Tonight from 7-11pm at @coreyhelfordgallery 🥰💖🌈 The Show Features Work Inspired by the Film from over 70 International Artists as Well as Never-before-Seen Original Film Production Art and a Pop-up Shop with Exclusive Merch 😍🦄💖🌈 Thank You so Much @hihicaro and @thelastunicorn40 for Making This All Possible, I Can’t Wait to See Everything Tonight 🤩💖 For Any Inquiries about Work Please Email Sherri@coreyhelfordgallery.Com 🌐💖 #thelastunicorn #painting #unicorn #flowers.’” 2022. Instagram. December 17, 2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/CmSQA-2ysmj/.
“LAINEY MOLNAR on Instagram: ‘According to Society Women’s Value Lies in Three Things – Our Looks, Subsurvience and Selflessness, and Our Child Bearing Capabilities. At Any and Every Point in Our Lives We Are Shamed and Scrutinized for All of Them, but Motherhood Has the Unique Ability to Switch from Rewarding the Baby Making Part, to Downright Cruelty Once the “Excuse” for a Changed Body Left the Womb. Women Are Supposed to Excel in Everything at Once and Tending to a Child Is Not Enough, When the Rules Clearly State They Are Responsible for Adhering to Beauty Standards. The Miracle Belly Becomes a Source of Shame in a Matter of Months. Does This Seem Fair to You? We Should Be Dancing around Bonfires Celebrating Mothers. We Should Be Putting Photos of Stretchmarks on Magazine Covers. “Sacrificing Her Body” Should Never Be Uttered, Because Mother Bodies Should Be Considered the Most Normal, Most Sacred. We Cannot Let a System of Division and Judgement Isolate Us. You Are Beautiful. And Every Belly Is a Miracle. #YouDoYou #MomBod (Repost of One of My Old Favorites).’” 2024. Instagram. November 19, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/DCj4JOmi60n/.
“LAINEY MOLNAR on Instagram: ‘I Recently Learned That Women Have a Tendency to Store Fat on Their Stomachs Simply Because the Ribcage Isn’t Low Enough to Protect the Uterus, so the Good Heavens Came up with a Lovely Squishy Barrier to Do the Same Job. This Science Fact Made Me Feel More at Ease about My Squishy Barrier, than Body Positive Influencers and Daily Mantras Could. Life Is Weird. Mid-Regions Come in All Shapes, Sizes, Consistencies, and with Their Own Unique Decoration. Tiger Stripes, Bumps, Scars, Freckles, Rolls, They Are Completely Normal and Not at All Imperfections. This Would Imply That There Is a Golden Standard of Perfection for a Body Part That’s Purpose Is to Be Functional and Not Decorative – It Is Meant to Protect Our Precious Organs. Thank You @meshki for Supporting This Message and Virtually Lending Your New Collection of Super Hawwwwt Bikinis for This Show and Tell! It Is Time to Stop Stressing over Tummies and Their Bikini and Crop Top Compatibility, Time to Stop Stressing over Hourglass Shapes, Postpartum Bounceback, Cruel Belly Fat Burning Workouts, or Unusual Belly Button Shapes. Your Stomach Is Fine, Has Been Fine, and Will Be Fine. FREE THE BELLY! #Meshki #YouDoYou.’” 2021. Instagram. September 10, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CTph3_ZM34g/.
“LAINEY MOLNAR on Instagram: “I Redrew One of My Old Favorites: “What If You Can’t Achieve Your ‘Body Goal’, Because It Goes against How Your Body Feels Healthy? As Long as You Stay Responsible about Your Health and Wellbeing, Your Body Will Take up the Space It Naturally Wants to. We Are All Different. Pears, Apples, Hourglasses, Rectangles. These Amazing Instruments to Help Us Walk, Talk, Dance, Hug, Make Love, Give Birth, or Create Art. If We Want to Modify Our Bodies’ ‘Normal’ State to Match Society’s Beauty Standards, We Easily Fall into Disordered Eating, Body Dismorphia, Depression, Exhaustion, and Denial. It’s Toxic. It’s Just a Greedy Beauty Industry’s Lie That There Is a Kendall Jenner Hiding in Every Woman, Who Surfaces If You Diet/Spend/Work out Enough. It’s Time to Allow Ourselves to Take up Our Perfectly Shaped Personal Healthy Spaces.” #YouDoYou”.” 2024. Instagram. July 21, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C9sQ9UBiUvJ/.
“LAINEY MOLNAR on Instagram: ‘Why Do Women Need a Valid Reason to Justify What Society Deems “Imperfections”, and Why Is the ONLY Valid Reason Is Literally Growing a Human Being – Ergo Being Selfless? Why Is It a Mom Tum? Why Do We Identify Stretchmarks and Larger Bellies with Postpartum? Why Does Every Non-Mother Get the Stamp of Selfish, Lazy, Disgusting, Overeater, Let Herself Go? “BUT I JUST HAD A BABY” Should Never Be a Defense, Because Nobody besides Medical Professionals Should Have the Right to Label Anyone Elses Body Flawed, Not Even in the Hypocritical Name of “Health”. Mothers on Non-Mothers, I’m Sorry about the Society That Constantly Overlooks Smaller Frames and Smoother and Tighter Skin Just to Make You a Target without Any Context. These Are Bodies, Wonderful Bodies, No Matter What They’ve Been through. Inspired by @_nelly_london’s Post and Featuring Women I Personally Look up to.’” 2021. Instagram. October 18, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CVJE73Xgtt3/.
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