Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This work continues my exploration of the oversexualization of women through the form of a mirror, or portal, designed to invite reflection and confrontation. I chose the quatrefoil shape, a four-lobed form commonly found in Gothic architecture, after researching historical window designs. Traditionally, the quatrefoil symbolizes harmony, fortune and protection, associations that contrast sharply with the lived experiences represented in this piece. By framing the work in this form, I centralize women’s bodies and their experiences through the lens of the male gaze and the fetishization of female anatomy. The mirror becomes a site where looking is questioned: who is being observed, who is performing, and for whom? This work aims to spark conversation about the effects of oversexualization on female bodies, including the discomfort it breeds around men, the erosion of personal boundaries, and the pressure to uphold societal roles of femininity rather than inhabit one's own sexual agency.
Author: Charles, Shawnelle
Institution: University of North Florida
Language: English
Topic: Gender and Feminist Studies
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225842041
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