Project B: Do You Measure
Up?
Spring 2006
Women are competitive creatures; at times ruthless in their
devouring nature. A woman judges other women in a bizarre
attempt to better her self-esteem. She is harshest toward
herself, as she is her greatest competitor. I confess to be
highly critical toward myself, as I unconsciously try to
keep up with media and society’s embedded rules of
perfection and beauty.
I use the Barbie doll as a
symbol of this unattainable perfection. In their setup,
they illustrate women’s natural tendency to pick apart
other women – in some cases, they walk amongst one another,
smiling nonchalantly as they pass the remains of another
Barbie, or casually stroll along carrying with them a body
part fresh from their most recent attack. In others, they
walk single-file, looking up in the same direction with
right leg forward and left leg back – they are the same,
and they follow the same path.
I believe men know well of women’s jealous propensity. I
also believe that women are themselves very aware of their
hushed cruelty, yet refuse to acknowledge and admit their
role. Whether the cruelty is vocalized or internalized, it
gradually destroys women. My work is not an accusation;
rather, it is both an admission of my own harshness toward
myself, as well as a reminder to all women that this hunger
for perfection is, in fact, starving us.
Project B