maggieee:

These are my photos that I shot for my final Photo assignment this semester.

My work is about the exploitation of women.

I was inspired by Barbara Kruger’s work. Similar to her, I used bold text for a saying that is controversial and offensive. I want these to be offensive. These sayings are not necessarily my views but more of how society sometimes views women. I want my viewers to understand how it feels to be a woman. I myself am offended every day when I am told how to act, look, feel, and that I am being “unladylike”. It doesn’t feel good to see beautiful women everywhere you go bringing you down even more because apparently my peers don’t do that enough.

While presenting these in class today I got emotional. I am sad that some women actually try to fit into the stereotypes and do whatever society tells them. I admit, I do some of them too. It’s a rough world trying to “fit” in.
It also made me sad that because I am not thin, don’t sleep around, don’t always look the prettiest, don’t suffice to a man, I feel like I don’t fit in or even to the point that I’m not even a real woman.

But I AM woman. I am strong. I am brave. I DO have the power to fight these stereotypes and be my own person.

I hope you feel empowered. Never forget, a woman brought you into this world. Appreciate that. We have the power and we are strong.

© 2011 All Rights Reserved
Maggie Portzline