The Guerrilla Girls is a grassroots, activist group that was founded in April 1985 in New York City in order to advocate on behalf of women in the arts. Perhaps best known for the gorilla masks and suits they wear in public, the group consists of working artists and [Page 653]professionals in the art industry. Through a unique combination of femininity, agit-prop street theater, feminist analysis, and humor, they aim to draw attention to institutionalized sexism and racism.

Although they initially focused on the marginalization of women in the art world, over the years their agenda has expanded dramatically. Their actions and effective use of humor have helped the Guerrilla Girls raise awareness of social power hierarchies and challenge dominant stereotypes of feminism in American ...