RECLAIMING THE FEMALE BODY
February 2024
How can we reclaim the female body? Something that has been taken from us for years. Something that for some reason feels so scary to reclaim. Women have been objectified, criticized, judged, and ridiculed for as long as I can remember, simply because of their gender. Society has somehow stigmatized many things that come with being a woman as well.
“You’re too skinny”
“You’re too big”
“You’re asking for it with that outfit”
“Slut”,
“Whore”,
“Hoe”
The list goes on. Whether it's a sexual comment or simply a comment on one's weight, it is still very impactful. One day we are girls who have no body consciousness, and the next we become aware of our appearance and all the constructs people want us to fit into so badly. As someone who has struggled with body dysmorphia for years, all I have wanted was to one day be comfortable in my own skin and the body I was given. Our bodies change constantly, it isn’t one linear line – and genetics play a big role in it as well. "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels", a quote popularized by the well-known English model Kate Moss. But is this really true? Maybe. But is it healthy? No. The media's influence on us can take over and we find ourselves convincing ourselves we need to look, act, and be a certain way to fit into society. Not just to fit into society but also to be accepted by the male gaze.
Women have become so easily sexualized – especially with the help of the media. “The Bechdel test, also known as the Bechdel-Wallace test, is a test to measure the representation of women in film and other fiction. The test asks whether a work features at least two female characters who have a conversation about something other than a man.” (Wikipedia) How have we come to a place where women supposedly only do things for the sake of men? Has it ever dawned on them that not everything, actually a lot of things are not in fact done for their pleasure?
Something that has always frustrated me is the fact that just because my body looks a certain way, it's automatically 10 times more sexual. If you have a small chest and decide to wear a cute corset or a tank top without a bra, it's fashionable and gives “model” vibes. However, I wear the same thing, and it's somehow sexual or I’m “asking for it”? No, I am not trying to be redundant. No, I am not trying to bring attention to the fact that my boobs are bigger. No, I am not trying to bring attention to my body. Oh, I’m sorry! Lemme just go tell my genetics to give me smaller boobs next time. It’s very interesting to think about.
“Many people would kill to have an ass like yours”
“Do you know many people would love to have those boobs?”
Is that the woman talking or the horny man who just wants some?
It becomes really difficult to love yourself and your body when it is constantly sexualized. It is extremely hard to reclaim the female body for ourselves when we can’t even go out without getting catcalled. Without being told we need to change something about our appearance if we want to be desirable. Without feeling like we are constantly being judged for something out of our control. Feeling like if you wear that outfit, someone may get the wrong impression, someone might shame you, or someone might take advantage of you.
In doing this project, I not only wanted to portray the idea of reclaiming the female body but also embracing the body we are given regardless of its imperfections and whatnot. I wanted to show it in a way that was sensual but not sexual. I want those who see it to get uncomfortable, just as the sexualization of the body has made every woman uncomfortable at one point or another. Embrace the discomfort. These photos are not to show anything off, they are not for people to sexualize. It is for myself and everyone else to help embrace their bodies and hopefully reclaim their own body for themselves.