IDENTITY (thesis related work)
My area of inquiry is the intersectional analysis on identity, gender and sexuality with valuation, or estimation of myself in deconstructing my own identity. This work serves as a self reflection of personal growth and development, while at the same time acknowledging political issues within the queer community.
ERASING THE ERASER
This process was to show how stereotypes act as a social eraser for individual identity and oppressively stigmatize individual capabilities. These words fall under a layered spectrum that contribute to how we interact with identity and contribute to systematic injustice and social inequality. The exchange of these cultural patterns is influenced through interlaced characteristics of race, class, sexuality, and gender that result in multiple dimensions of disadvantage. The intent of this project was to deconstruct these stereotypes to reveal a message of equality by encouraging the viewer to approach the body of work with the intent of defacing it. The stereotype mask was screen printed with scratch away ink on contact paper. The vernacular for this piece centers around humanity and reclaiming identity through the process of confronting then stripping away these stigmas to reveal something that is intimate and vulnerable.
This process was to show how stereotypes act as a social eraser for individual identity and oppressively stigmatize individual capabilities. These words fall under a layered spectrum that contribute to how we interact with identity and contribute to systematic injustice and social inequality. The exchange of these cultural patterns is influenced through interlaced characteristics of race, class, sexuality, and gender that result in multiple dimensions of disadvantage. The intent of this project was to deconstruct these stereotypes to reveal a message of equality by encouraging the viewer to approach the body of work with the intent of defacing it. The stereotype mask was screen printed with scratch away ink on contact paper. The vernacular for this piece centers around humanity and reclaiming identity through the process of confronting then stripping away these stigmas to reveal something that is intimate and vulnerable.
Each person supplied there own written rationals on how they've been discriminated on from the basis of their gender and sexuality.
WOMEN
I’ve been both belittled for asserting my opinion as a woman, and belittled for my sexuality. There was a particularly striking moment when my mother questioned why I would do such a thing (be attracted to women) when they’re so catty. Microaggressions learned from internalized sexism and homophobia tend to hurt the most when they come from someone you thought the world of growing up. When your reproductive rights along with your right to love whomever you wish are challenged on a daily basis, it’s hard not to feel like a walking political statement. It’s both empowering and very, very challenging.
QUEER
While my family is supportive of my sexuality, I find myself being held to a constricted gendered binary as far expressing myself around my family. I cannot be open with my family due to my families internalized homophobic ideas on what is social and behaviorally acceptable for a gay male. I often feel censored around them.
TOMBOY
I’ve found that since I’ve cut my hair, I’ve changed in society’s eyes. I now experience bathroom policing, I have to “come out” much less often, as it is now just assumed due to my appearance, and I’m often expected to exhibit masculine behavior. I am no longer allowed to be a feminine individual due to my appearance.
SISSY
I personally haven’t had much discrimination taken against me, which I consider odd (not that I expect to be discriminated against). I usually only have spare incidents surrounding myself and most that I’ve gotten is based on how I dress and my hair, telling me that I need to cut my hair “because of the job policy” or that “boys aren’t supposed to have long hair.” I got many threats as a young adult about people wanting to cut my hair. I often get mistaken for female, even though I consider myself to be genderqueer.
