OBJECTIFIED

The series Objectified explores the theme of sexual objectification and my own relationship to femininity. The work asks where are the lines drawn for appropriate objectification, if there is such a thing, and how do gender norms and sexuality play into those lines? In these monotypes I am stitching together my mother and grandmothers' waves of feminism while layering them with my own generation's third wave and postmodern feminist views, recognizing that I probably wouldn't be participating in movements like 'SlutWalk' without their contributions. I am magnetized to this overtly feminine persona whose power is in her body and sexual prowess.

I use bright colors, lacey textures, dress patterns, the female form and sewing thread to elaborate on feminist concepts. My subjects are either looking defiantly at the viewer or shadowed in silhouette, representing both the shame and empowerment the female form can elicit. Lacey textures are symbolic of both the repressed sexuality of a high collared blouse as well as the overt sexuality of a prostitute's lingerie. The repetition of pattern relates to the overwhelming amount of images we see on the internet, in magazines and on billboards of what a woman is "supposed" to look like. The use of gold inks and thread speak to the money flow of the sex and beauty industries. The questions that second wave feminism pose are more relevant than ever as a women still do not garner equal pay in the workplace. Do women further repress ourselves by buying into the female form as a sex object? Is society harmed because women find empowerment through their bodies and their sexuality? Is dressing in a provocative manner enough to qualify as consent for objectification? Where and when is objectification appropriate?