Metamorphosis

In this photo, I wanted to display gender dysphoria and the importance of finding your gender expression. Through patriarchal society, gender is often used as a form of oppression, restricting people to a binary that often leads to harm through toxic masculinity and transphobia. I wanted to showcase my inner conflict with breasts tissue, and how freeing it was when I realised that my gender is not constricted to my body, something that intersectional feminism helped me learn. When I began to find the name and pronouns that rang true to me, I was able to feel freed.

As someone who battles with dysphoria and mental illness, there is a contrast between the constraints of my body and the thoughts in my mind; a battle I feel many relate to. Through educating myself on intersectional feminism, I feel like the restraints of my mind were freed; I have consciousness over how the sexist and ableist cultures of today have affected my perceptions and combatting those internal prejudices about myself have allowed me to bloom. Although I am still tied to my body, I wanted to capture how I am learning to think free.

Hair loss due to stress is a common battle many people face. This is not an ugly thing, though so often we are made to feel that it is. The spider escaping my web of lost hair, aims to show that these feelings can feel dirty, but at the end of the day they are there for a purpose. Hair loss is not something that should impact the view of myself, and we all have worth no matter how our bodies react to the world around us.

In this image, I wanted to display how empathy is important but only gets so far. Intersectional feminism drives home the importance of lifting each other up and supporting through more than just listening. We must amplify voices, provide platforms, and do as much work as we can to aid those who are supressed. Daily battles with my disability are hard and having someone to hold you up against those currents is a starting step in allowing you to take on the injustices on the world.

As a nonbinary and disabled person, intersectional feminism has allowed voices like mine a platform to share stories so often unheard. Through my photos, I wanted to display the daily battles I have with gender dysphoria, autism and PTSD, and hope that it would aid in providing a voice for those who are unable to find a way to describe their experiences. Through overlapping low saturated, colour sparce images with the explosion of colour from my illustrations, I hoped to show the inner conflict many of us face and express how feminism can lift and support those who endure these struggles too. I also included a lot of nature imagery to show that these things are natural, and that there is nothing wrong with feeling these ways. Intersectional feminism is inclusive of all, and capturing my story felt important to help others like me find their voice and realise the worth their stories hold too.

The Female Subject

It's a Crime Not a Compliment

It's a Crime Not a Compliment

Metamorphosis

Moth Vaux