Woman Viewing Women

The over sexualization of women is something that I have grown accustomed to, living in a patriarchal world. I have an anger built up that merely my sex makes me naturally an object to be judged, viewed, & sexualized for the pleasure of others. I am not happy with this role women are forced into. Growing up I was told my body is going to always be judged and viewed sexually. Being told the clothes I was wearing were showing off my body too much, they were too tight, too revealing, not flattering enough, too feminine, not feminine enough, continued on. This made me hate my body and hate the fact that I had to be at the mercy of others sexual thoughts because my shoulders or legs were showing. I had to always be worried about how my body is to others when we should be taught not to sexualize everything about women’s bodies.

At first glance you may have the thoughts to sexualize the content just out of nature. I myself am a heterosexual female and yet women’s bodies were by association sexual game. As I worked more on this project I found that I stopped the natural habits and instead came to love the beauty that our bodies hold. The questions then were raised; was I not sexualizing these anymore due to desensitization? Is it okay to sexualize body parts intended for sex? These repressed thoughts went around my mind for awhile and still continue to do so unanswered.

In result I found myself viewing these photographs and the bodies in them in appreciation. The feminine nature our bodies hold and all they do for us. Nudity does not give one permission to take for our own sexual purposes. We as people can view bodies in a way that is respectful, beautiful, and even in an educational way.

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4x5 Black and white film developed by hand. Edited digitally similar to physical darkroom prints. 2021