I Took a Substantial Pay Cut

2023, photograph and screen print, 18 x 24 in

I Took a Substantial Pay Cut comments on the dissociation between societal expectations and the reality of women’s experiences. It critiques the paradoxical demands imposed on them – gendered expectations surrounding domestic responsibilities, beauty, and etiquette. Women are traditionally pressured to conform to conventional standards of beauty, but are also disproportionately burdened with the brunt of the domestic workload. This unrealistic demand only functions to perpetuate gender stereotypes and reinforce traditional gender roles.