Inclusivity Statement

The Museum of Mostly Pudding is at its core a project about American sociocultural history. It’s my mission to convey the material as thoughtfully and inclusively as I can, and to create a digital experience that is accessible for everyone. I’ve described my thoughts in more detail below.

On representation

This project primarily relies on source materials that reflect mainstream constructions of femininity in 20th century America, which predominantly belonged to the white and middle-class. Consequently, this focus does not fully represent the diverse and multifaceted perspectives of women from historically marginalized groups, including but not limited to women of color, the LGBTQ+ community, religious minorities, Indigenous Americans, and immigrants and refugees, many of whom did not benefit from the same opportunities and progress as white women throughout the 20th century.

It's important to acknowledge that this project's narrow scope does not encompass the full spectrum of experiences of all American women during this time period, and I'm engaging in ongoing research and learning to better contextualize the source material and provide a more comprehensive and meaningful analysis.

On sensitive or harmful material

Some of the objects and materials included in this project contain offensive language or imagery, or reflect outdated ideas. Although these are absolutely not reflective of my personal values, I recognize that it's important to present them within their historical context to facilitate a deeper understanding of societal attitudes during the era.

It's my goal to describe these materials in a way that accurately reflects the historic record while remaining respectful to those represented in the collections, particularly those from historically marginalized and disenfranchised communities. I'm dedicated to using inclusive, anti-racist, non-derogatory language, though I recognize there may be instances where I describe communities to which I do not belong and I may sometimes fall short. I'm committed to a process of continuous reflection and improvement, and I welcome feedback on how I can do better.

On accessibility

I am dedicated to making the Museum of Mostly Puddings website and content accessible to everyone. This project strives to conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. These guidelines not only ensure an inclusive experience for users with sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities, but also ultimately benefit all users, regardless of their abilities.

A significant aspect of my ongoing effort to create an equitable experience includes providing transcriptions and descriptions of the visual content presented in the museum, which includes objects, advertisements, and archival images. I am aware there is always room for improvement here, and on this point in particular I could use your help. Each item in the collection includes a form where users can contribute enhanced transcripts and image descriptions (found in the "About this object record" section). Alternatively, you can reach me via this contact form with contributions and/or feedback about how I can improve this website's accessibility. Thank you in advance for your support in making this project a more accessible and inclusive digital space for all visitors.