Female Graphic Illustrators and Comic Strip Artists: Their Perspective on Instagram

Abstract

Comic strips signed by women have been practically absent from the daily press, although they have had access to certain magazines or weekly publications. Current female graphic illustrators have opted to break the glass ceiling by using Facebook or Instagram to participate in public debates. This study identifies female artists who work with humor in Spain. A corpus of one hundred and ten strips from eleven female graphic illustrators was examined. A content analysis method is used, by applying an analysis label to each strip. This allowed evaluating the thematic lines that define their work, which they share on Instagram. The results show that sociopolitical or work-related subjects are relevant. Thus, these artists challenge the sexist prejudice that limits women’s participation in so-called hard information through graphic humor.

Female illustrators; Graphic Humor; Instagram; Feminism