Women are objectified, animalized, and sexualized through our every day use of language. Language is a social construct that can prove harmful as the more we continue to use words inappropriately the more customary they become. Words meant to define objects have been repurposed over time to describe female body parts. These slang terms have become acceptable, especially when they come off as humorous or appealing. Creating object language reduces women to body parts rather than seeing them as human beings.
I’m interested in using mannequins as painting surfaces because they represent an idealized human form while they are, in fact, objects. In studying objectification and self-objectification theories of women in particular, I place these mannequins amongst paintings that explore popular language trends. My aim is to get to the root of objectification by critiquing the history of figure painting as well as gender discrimination through language.