Dumisa Lengwati

Being a woman is strange.

 

From a young age, our bodies have to become accustomed to a weird, sometimes violent cycle. When we bear children, our bodies become vessels for another living being, transforming our emotions and forms into things we've never quite seen and experienced before. To be a woman is to constantly change, learn and feel. Is it not completely natural, then, that this shows in our choices of outward expression? If we are constantly evolving, shifting within ourselves, might not our perceptions of how this is represented be in constant flux as well?

 

Certainly, as time progresses we have seen the rigidity of gender expectations and gender performativity relax tremendously. However, old-fashioned, even archaic ideas regarding roles, behaviour, and particularly presentation, can result in some women feeling stuck, out-of-place, and quite mismatched with the image of what a woman 'should look like', that is proliferated with great intensity by our media in modern society.

 

Women have also never fully enjoyed the autonomy of having their own bodies, with the ubiquitous male gaze, male fetishisation and male possession over our form. We find it difficult to truly own our bodies, and have been struggling for centuries to find a way to reclaim that which is truly the only physical thing that belongs to a person.

 

The question this exploration you have chosen to embark upon poses is: What do women, and men who identify themselves as feminine, do to perform their womanliness? Who are these actions and efforts for? And what does a woman look like when she's truly bare - stripped of all expectations, adornments, and fears?

 

This is a question that is of utmost importance to bear in mind throughout this journey. It is a long and complicated one, as any one person's story is. Here, there are three nuanced, deeply personal offerings as to how this question forms a crucial part of decisions made daily, consciously and unconsciously. Perhaps they might resonate directly with you. Perhaps the feelings and rationales discussed are so foreign you might discover something new. Whatever your response, please take time to consider, engage, and go at your own pace.

 

There are various mediums through which to explore and discover on this site, and the beginnings of conversations are offered with input from a very wise friend, as well as interesting statistical information. On each page there are various icons that take you to the next location, when you are ready. Sit back, engage, think.

 

Let's start by meeting the three dynamic personalities with whom you'll be engaging and thinking. When you are ready to progress, click on this icon -        - to delve deeper and see them answer this question, and ask even more...