Made in Patriarchy

by Cheryl Buckley

Made in Patriarchy brings together two key texts by design historian Cheryl Buckley. In 1986, Cheryl Buckley argued that design history is shaped by patriarchal biases that trivialize, marginalize, or erase women’s contributions. She advocated for a feminist critique that not only challenges these patriarchal frameworks but also shifts the focus away from individual achievements to recognize women’s roles as designers, consumers, and subjects of representation. Buckley revisited the evolution of the field in 2020, reflecting critically on both its progress and persisting challenges while also addressing gaps in her earlier thinking. As Bibiana Oliveira Serpa notes in her foreword, “questioning one’s own worldview is, in itself, a feminist act.” In her essay, Serpa examines the trajectory of the green pañuelo, a crucial feminist symbol, weaving Buckley’s insights into the broader context of Latin American struggles for justice and equality.

Genres: Nonfiction

104 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2025

Reviews

[Emily Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for school research but such a well done re publishing of these essays on the flawed / patriarchal nature of design history and the sidelining of women’s design contributions - sooo many useful takeaways on how to redefine design history and reclaim space for traditional women’s craft / design

Also book design is >>>>>

[Mol · Rating 2 out of 5]

*1.5 stars*
This review is not representative of the book ! I cannot stress that enough.

I just personally found it extremely difficult to read and understand. Conceptually, I was so onboard. I loved the foreword which tackled the themes of the essays intersectionaly, and I loved how the body is a revisited essay ! Super interesting concepts, it was just written in a way that I really struggled to comprehend what was being said to me. The rating gets bumped up because of how pretty the edition is lol.

[Ollinca Torres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un valioso aporte para empezar a cuestionarnos cómo la cultura patriarcal también inserta en la práctica del diseño. Sobre quienes hacen diseño y las estructuras de poder que legítiman su práctica y acceso a el.