Sacred Feminine
2016-2021
When you hear the title “Sacred Feminine” it usually refers to a religious element. In the Christianity we especially think of Mother Mary... but with this series I am exploring how the female body in all shapes and forms should be seen as sacred. In for example religions like Islam, women's bodies are covered up and controlled, often seen as merely temptation for the male gaze, and in the west women's bodies are exploited in every day media, desensitising us to only thinking of the female body as place for lust and negating to how our bodies are for many the place in which life is developed and grown, and how our breasts produce milk to nourish our babies. And in the very same breath woman are shamed for breastfeeding their babies. Menstruation is also seen as uncleanly in a religious context, and to others as woman being too irrational or hormonal to be trusted. Some feminists believe that women should not be equated to nature in the sense of speaking of the earth as Mother Earth etc. as they believe it perpetuates this idea that it can be used as a sexist tool to classify women along with animals, while men where only to be considered as human beings who supposedly could transcend nature by their rationality. However in many ways this seem to have women feel more detached from their bodies, and not want to honour and respect it for the wonders our bodies are, and yes at times being much closer to nature than what we think. Ask any women who have given birth, it is quite an instinctive experience, and at the same time also intensely spiritual. This all is not to say this is all women are meant to be or do is be child bearers, but also not to diminish this very sacred and powerful experience and merely be encouraged to not be in touch with our feminine power because we fear the way some men (and women) might see us.
