This poster illustrates the correlating histories between stray animals and women. Strays were considered pariahs that parents warned their children against. This negative view contrasts with how strays are viewed now: creatures that need care and shelter.
Women are a different case; while recent women’s empowerment movements aim to eliminate the image of a ‘lesser gender,’ many continue to neglect to grant marginalised subjects agency. Instead, they aim to save or rescue women. This poster shows how the mythic character of ‘7marat ilGayla,’ a woman-donkey hybrid, associates both strays and women. Both viewed as rescues, the print symbolically equates women to helpless animals, therefore incapable and in need of saving.
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About the Artist
Zahra Al-Mahdi is an artist, writer and filmmaker.
About the Brand
Launched in 2009, Khaleejesque is an award-winning Kuwait-based publishing brand that highlights the dynamic creative and cultural scene of the Arab Gulf countries through inspiring content, engaging events and thought-provoking exhibitions to showcase inspirational people, projects and initiatives to a local, regional and international audience.
