Plastic arts today for a world of equals tomorrow

Abstract

This chapter analyses the role of plastic and visual arts in the historical construction of women’s identities, with particular attention to the influence of the patriarchal gaze on the artistic representation of the female body. From the earliest artistic manifestations to contemporary visual culture, images have operated as cultural devices capable of producing social discourses, beauty standards and models of identification. In this sense, the text reflects on how Western aesthetic tradition has often positioned women as muses, objects of contemplation or visual fetishes, rather than as active subjects of artistic creation.

Through a critical approach to the canon of beauty, body representation, gender roles and contemporary art practices, the chapter argues that current artistic production opens new spaces for questioning female identity, bodily diversity and the binary boundaries between masculinity and femininity. It also highlights the work of women artists who, through their creative practices, have resisted imposed models and contributed to broadening the visual repertoire of society.

Finally, the chapter defends the educational value of images and the arts as tools for transforming social imaginaries, promoting diverse references and fostering a more equal society. From this perspective, the role of universities is emphasized in the incorporation of gender studies into art education and in the development of cultural and educational policies aimed at social change.