Passage to Power

Passage to Power is a body of work that examines the visibility of females in male-dominated youth subcultures during the 1980s. Using a blow torch and acrylic paint on steel sheets I created portraits which express their character, rebellion and the changing economic and political times of life in 1980’s Sheffield. The steel sheet echoes past struggles of females in a male-dominated society and pays homage to the women of Sheffield who were conscripted to work in the steel factories during the First and Second World War. They kept the steelworks running doing dangerous and demanding work alongside their domestic duties at home. Sadly their hard work and sacrifices gained little appreciation and they were laid off when the men came home from war. My work is a testament to the grit, determination and the strength of character that both generations of women had in the face of challenging situations.