THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY SALENA HAYES I PHOTOGRAPHY
THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
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THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY The concept of femininity is highly subjective and differs from person to person. I was inspired to explore the concept of femininity by an article I read called “The Little Black Dress: The Essence of Femininity� written by Leah Provo which discusses how the little black dress is widely regarded as symbolic of what it means to be feminine. This led me to want to learn more about how femininity can be achieved through the clothing we wear and furthermore about whether it is something that can even be achieved through the clothes we wear or if it is something that is more complicated than that. By exploring the different discernments surrounding femininity throguh historical references and recent disccussions I have come to my own conclusion of what femininity means which I have summarised in this magazine featuring stills taken from I video I filmed which also explores femininity in a positive light. I hope this magazine will provide a thoughtful insight into what femininity really means having taken into consideration every element a successful campaign consists of to do so. SALENA HAYES I PHOTOGRAPHY
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THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
Model Jasmin Hayes Stylist Salena Hayes
MODERN FEMININITY It has been argued that women have been socially conditioned into passivity and dependence while serving the needs and values of men throughout the course of history. This argument is founded on the basis religious texts suggest women are inferior to men and only serve to distract them while they engage in lustful behaviour. While religious texts are by and large subject to interpretation it is certainly arguable that misyogyny and misconceptions surrounding femininty have stemmed from religion. What does this mean for modern femininty though?
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THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
THE MISCONCEPTION OF THE FEMININE IDEAL The feminine ‘ideal’ is an ideal perpetrated by the popular media which has ultimately shaped how women saw themselves and their roles within society. This ideal suggests that in order to be considered as feminine a woman must not only display what are considered feminine features but they must be subordinate to their male counterparts.
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THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
“Femininity is less to do with the physical appearance of a woman than it is to do with the attitude she has towards herself and the world around her.”
Model Jasmin Hayes Stylist Salena Hayes
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THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
Model Jasmin Hayes Stylist Salena Hayes
IMPROVING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF FEMININITY The issue with this is this undermines the intelligence and dexterity of woman who are no less equal than her male counterparts. Rather than women celebrating their individuality and supporting other women they compare themselves against each other which is arguably due to how woman are traditionally rivalled against each other in the media as a result of the society we live in which compares the femininity of different women against each other.
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THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
“Women can be feminine without having to compromise their personality or identity. They are not mutually exclusive.” PAGE 10
THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
Model Jasmin Hayes Stylist Salena Hayes
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THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
“Nothing should stop me because I am a woman. I deserve evertyhing that comes my way.”
Model Jasmin Hayes Stylist Salena Hayes
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THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
CELEBRATING BEING A WOMAN A woman should not be afraid of being seen as strong or powerful. We should be proud to be a woman and celebrate the qualities that we have. Nobody is defined by the opinions of other people defining who a woman should be or what a woman should do. Irrespective of what anyone might think being a woman places no boundaries or limits on their abailities and we can do anything we set our minds to. It is important to celebrte being a woman and to acknowledge that you are beautiful both on the inside and the outside.
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“It is a naive sort of feminism that insists that women prove their ability to do all the things that men do. This is a distortion and a travesty. “
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THE REAL MEANING OF FEMININITY Rather than comparing ourselves to men or the feminine ‘ideal’ we are often showed in the media we must stop to consider what being feminine really means. As well as being naturally intuitive and having an efficacy to give life simply being a woman is what makes a woman feminine, not the clothes we are told to wear because it will accentuate our figures or the accessories we are persuaded to buy simply because they are in fashion.
Model Jasmin Hayes Stylist Salena Hayes
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THE ESSENCE OF FEMININITY I SALENA HAYES
AN ERA OF MODERN FEMININITY Even though substancial progress has been made in undermining the misogynistic views surrounding the concept of femininty there is still a lot that needs to be done. We can start by showing more compassion towards one another instead of comparing ourselves against one another and taking pride in what makes being a woman so incredible. W
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Model Jasmin Hayes Stylist Salena Hayes
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SALENA HAYES I PHOTOGRAPHY