Clean against the machine: images of cleaning and cleanliness in the context of political resistance

Reproductive labour, the work which maintains bodies (including caring, cooking, and cleaning), is often quite literally overlooked, also in the context of political resistance. This thesis aims to draw more attention to and critically reflect upon the visual representation of reproductive labour in this particular context and will focus on the work of cleaning – arguably the most visually inclined form of reproductive labour – paying particular attention to both its symbolism and its significance as work.

Feminists have long called for a more equitable distribution of, better compensation for and, generally, greater recognition of reproductive labour, because this work has historically been, and frequently still is, feminised and devalued (or valued purely in moral terms). Artistic representations of reproductive labour have received much attention from feminist scholars, and a growing body of feminist literature is also concerned with reproductive labour in the context of social movements and protests. However, little attention has been paid, so far, to the visual representation of this work in such (non-artistic) contexts.

While reproductive labour is often considered to belong to the ‘private’ sphere, this thesis visually analyses images of cleaning and cleanliness which have found some traction in public discourse at some point in time. It examines images in which ‘cleanliness,’ the result of cleaning, figures mainly symbolically, focussing particularly on the use of the colour white in social movements and tracing its historical symbolism. A historical approach is also taken in the consideration of political prints and other images in which domestic tools are featured as attributes and/or used in an unusual manner. Relying more on sociological studies, this thesis is, furthermore, concerned with collections of photographs published by mainstream media outlets which feature acts of cleaning in contexts of protest.

This thesis investigates ways in which groups have sought recognition for reproductive labour in the context of political resistance, highlighting problems which can arise as a result. It argues that the continued entanglement between cleanliness and virtue stands in the way of more honest recognition for the work of cleaning in this context and considers ways in which this entanglement may be challenged or avoided.