My Body, My Voice
I created this photography project in honor of International Women’s Day to highlight the strength and resilience of women while helping to give them a voice through my art.
Men are trying so hard to silence the women in this country. America elected a man that hates women to be the president. As a trans photographer, I lived a majority of my life as a woman. I’ve experienced first hand how women are treated by men not only in this country, but all over the world. Gaining male privilege after transitioning is disturbing.
So as a man, I want to do my part to make sure women feel seen and heard, especially in a time where it feels like we’re moving backwards in the fight for equality. I want this to be more than just a photography project. It’s an act of resistance. It’s a call for change, respect and understanding for ALL women.
I asked women from a variety of different backgrounds to come to my studio and write one thing a man has ever said to them that has made them feel belittled, objectified, or degraded. I then combined all of the portraits into a final art piece that I called, “My Body, My Voice.”
While today is a day to honor and celebrate women, I also believe it’s important to speak on the mistreatment of women by the men in this country, and all over the world.
Women are constantly disrespected, dismissed, and stripped of their rights—something that has only escalated under a president who openly degrades them.
This isn’t just about equality; it’s about the fundamental right to exist without fear, without being belittled, and without having to fight for basic autonomy. Ignoring this reality only allows it to continue.
It’s time for men to do better—and to be held accountable.
So here are some quotes/stories from women that I thought I would include for this project…
-On a first date I had a guy tell me after finding out I have a well paying job “No no no you cannot work I need you to stay home and cook and clean and take care of me. You also cannot see your friends without my approval to which I ended the date and told him he can go fuck himself ❤️”
-At 12 years old I was told “you would be prettier if you lost weight.” That statement altered my view of myself in middle school and sent me down a long road of losing myself and having to relearn how to love me. It has stuck with me into adulthood.
-While in recovery for my eating disorder, I was looking through old photos with coworkers. One of my male coworkers decided to say “you looked better like that,” fully aware that I was sick. This caused me to spiral, thinking my worth was entirely based on my weight. It took a lot of work to get past that.
-As an Asian woman men didn’t see me as a person but more as a prize. They wanted me subservient and docile. When they saw I was quite the opposite, I was a bitch.
I also decided to keep each piece of tape from this photography project to create another art piece on a canvas. I plan on submitting this piece into a few art galleries, so for now it’s NFS.
Prints and merch of this design are available on my website www.samaverymedia.com
10% of all profits will go towards FEMINIST!
Head to feminists.co for more information and to donate to their Women’s History Month fundraiser! They are also looking for submissions for their FEMINIST Women's History Month Art Contest if you’re interested!
