Mama's Little Girl

This piece was inspired by the way young girls are taught to act. They are supposed to sit up straight, be quiet, speak politely, dress modestly, and act "girly". I wanted to convey these expectations on the outside of the piece. The exterior of the skirt is light pink with a shiny bow--the typical "girly" look. However, the interior of the skirt is very much the opposite. It is tattered and worn. Heavy, loud tiles hang from the inside making the piece of clothing very uncomfortable. Even sitting is awkward. The tiles get in the way and if they are sat on, then they break. This discomfort is a representation of the horrible repercussions of the expectations girls are given. It's uncomfortable and unfair. The idea behind the photographs was to ask a question; what if we destroy these expectations? The model is positioned in socially unacceptable positions. Legs are uncrossed. The interior of the skirt is visible. She's being provocative, which is my entire point. I want this piece to be provocative. I want it to make people uncomfortable because these issues are VERY real and VERY uncomfortable.