The cultural construction of feminine identity - primarily sex appeal and innocence - challenges teenage girls as they leave adolescence. My practice examines the difficulties teenage girls face when trying to fit Western ideals. These challenges can result in a suspension of their sense of self. The efforts to fulfill these representations can lead to feelings of guilt and obsession, which can cause internalized suffering that arises from the inability to meet societal expectations. My work integrates survival tactics girls have created to face this alienating reality, such as transforming their bedrooms into sanctuaries and escaping through drawings in the margins of their diaries.
