The Museum of Nasty Women

Women have always been at least 50% of the population, but only occupy around 0.5% of recorded history. This is clear and irrefutable evidence that women’s stories and contributions have been minimised, overlooked or just outright ignored for at least 3,500 years. The Museum of Nasty Women utilises bold storytelling and pioneering technology to correct the record. By elevating stories of women who have been overlooked or misrepresented, we are amplifying the work of historians, researchers and writers who are working to put women’s stories back onto the page, and into our collective memory. About bloody time!

We want to see a change in how our audience think about women’s history, and women’s roles in shaping the world as it is today. We want the stories we feature to broaden peoples’ understanding not only of individual women’s lives, but to broaden their perspective, and inspire them to look for and share other stories of women who have changed the world. Through engagement with our project, we want women to connect with their own potential to lead, innovate, and rebel.

Short term: We want the stories we feature to broaden peoples’ understanding not only of individual women’s lives, but to broaden their perspective, and inspire them to look for and share other stories of women who have changed the world.

Medium term: We want to inspire and motivate the people whose job it is to write, curate or fund historical works to seek out women and their stories, and reinstate them in our collective memory.

Long term: We want to see a change in how history is written and depicted in our culture. We want women to feature not only within the confines of ‘women’s history’, but as a part of the rich and varied fabric of human history, portrayed not as archetypes, but as people – complex, contradictory, and sometimes (at least), nasty.

Impact campaigns for existing Media Stockade projects (I Am A Girl, Power Meri, Call Me Dad) connect with teachers, media, philanthropists, government and investors who recognise the power of real stories to create social change. We will and extend these existing networks into the arts and tertiary education sectors, amongst others.

We have strong relationships with organisations and individuals doing incredible work advancing the lives of women and girls in Australia and abroad. We have partnered on previous projects with the incredible Women’s Donor Network, Victorian Women’s Trust, WeirAnderson Foundation and Plan International.

1. Join our Nasty Women community, and contribute to the Museum of Nasty Women catalogue
2. Promote and celebrate Women’s History Month (March)
And for influencers and decision makers…
3. Get behind projects that restore women’s stories and voices into our collective memory.