The Feminist Queries: Cartoonist Jacky Fleming

For the first round Feminist Queries, I have interviewed Jacky Fleming, a cartoonist based out of the UK. Fleming is known for her creative and sassy cartoons that shed light on the ironic, hilarious and overly amusing truths in the world with a special tact for communicating feminist values.

Take a look through the few questions I asked her, as well as the question she has for all of you.

How did you become a cartoonist?

First I just drew for pleasure, then turned some drawings into postcards, then approached publishers and drew several books (and more postcards), and now I draw a weekly. The first strip to appear in a magazine was drawn at college in response to an essay we had to write on the nude in art. I've never pursued a career - it's the ideas that come first, and drawing happens to be how I communicate best.

When did feminist themes enter your work?

Always. It's how I see the world. I remember at school when I was about 11, the boys choosing which of us lucky girls could meet them after school for a kiss. We were meant to feel privileged, but I can clearly remember feeling annoyed that they assumed the choosing was their right.

Where do you find inspiration for your art?

The inspiration's there all the time - the tricky part is being in the right frame of mind to catch it. It's about being receptive, and not trying too hard. Usually it's right under your nose.

What is one difference you see between feminists in the UK and the US? If not a difference, what makes feminism unique in the UK?

I suspect our culture is more backward because of its tradition of elitist boy's clubs, which are still alive and well.Many of our present Tory Party, including the man who hopes to be the next Prime Minister, were at Eton together, then were members of the Bullingdon Club - a notorious Oxford club for very wealthy public schoolboys who would go out for dinner, drink vast amounts of alcohol, smash the place up, and assume they could merely pay for any damage, and walk away. Posh vandals. Anyone else would be arrested. You have Christian fundamentalism to deal with, which fortunately we're spared.

What is your hope for the future of the feminist movement?

That women in both our cultures who have benefited from feminism, use it to help women and girls for whom freedom is still a pipe-dream. It breaks my heart that women spend money on cosmetic surgery when they could give it to Somaly Mam to get children out of brothels.

If you could ask feminists just one question, what would it be?

Are you having the most fun you can have doing the most worthwhile thing you can do?