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ARTIST BOOK ⎯ [2021]Why do I shave?
BA THESIS PROJECT
Linnaeus universitycollaborators [group of women in their 20s]PHOTOS BY [Sára Bartošová & Zofia Ziaková]‘Why do I shave?’ is an honest, personal yet collaborative artist book about body hair exploring the intertwined connections of social norms, capitalism and patriarchy.
Social expectations vs. personal choicesSocial norms form our lives unconsciously. How many things do we do daily that we would not do without the pressure of society? Have you ever wondered why marriage, parenthood and homeownership is considered to be a significant part of the perfect and fulfilled life in Western societies? Do these things genuinely bring us joy, or are they societal constructs that makes us think this is what we need? Society expects us to do certain things and we usually fail to see and accept it if we have different needs. But why? Why do many of us stand in the line surrendering to these social norms?
Visual aesthetics play a vital role in today’s Western society. We built up a society where physical appearance represents high values. Not only the way we consume things and engage with the internet have a connection to how we see and place ourselves in society, but how the system works and treats us. Using the example of shaving, I explore the complexity of social expectations and personal choices, delving into the question of 'Why do women shave?'.
research area and questionsIn this project, I explore questions such as: How are social norms created and what impact do they have on us? Is it possible to challenge and deconstruct these norms, if yes how? How can our capacity for developing autonomy remain while being influenced by the system? My practice investigates these questions comprehensively and addresses the importance of understanding the roots of our behavior, and how we, as individuals, contribute to the shaping of societal norms and systems.
I explore the connections of social norms, body aesthetics and acceptance through shaving. I take myself as an example and examine the question: ’Why do I shave?’. This involves not just a personal journey but a broader investigation on how patriarchy and capitalism shape women's lives in defining their femininity.
‘Yes, I glued my leg hair, armpit hair and pubic hair on a book.’
design processAt the beginning of the process, I started an experiment — I stopped shaving on all parts of my body. I grew out my body hair not only to challenge the norms but myself as I. This experiment became an important aspect of my self-development, providing insights into what role I have in society. Documenting my thoughts in a diary, I included these writings into an artist book, together with a theoretical text from my research and quotes from collaborative interviews.
The entire book is handmade including the paper. I recycled beauty magazines and created my own sheets. I incorporated my body hair collected from the experiment on the cover and the pages to challenge the hairlessness norm. The hair is weaved into the theoretical text breaking at every keyword: body hair, social norms, capitalism, patriarchy.
social changeExamining the relationship with my body hair helped me to understand the role I have in society. I realized how much privilege certain people have in society due to their physical appearance, sexual orientation, race or gender etc. Real change will happen when people from the margins of our society will be able to grow out their body hair without being discriminated against. If we weren’t told and reminded of the constant need of products in order to fix our ‘flaws’ this world could be a more human oriented place. True change rely on systemic change, where societal values prioritize humanity over commercial interests.
To explore the online exhibition of the project click here.
