Talking about women and men is too vague. In the dynamics of a partnership, it is about who takes on the female or male role in the prevailing social context. Research shows that, for example, the dynamics in same-sex partnerships are comparable to those in heterosexual ones.
If we aim for a sustainable change in gender dynamics in our society, it is about the emancipation from typically female and male roles.
I have tried to give an emotional impulse to the changes in female role behavior (as I experience it). The portraits of women should guide through 6 developmental steps and inspire courage for greater self-understanding.
Why
At some point, everyone asks themselves whether they have lived up to their own personal possibilities (potentials) in life. Often, our obligations demanded too much, and our dreams seduced us into actions that led us away from true fulfillment.
We feel that we have not done enough justice to ourselves and wonder why we could have lived so far from our possibilities.
Elsa
After a brief, intense passion, I became as taken for granted as a piece of furniture. An emotionless "Good morning" and "thank you for the food" were often the only communication.
Naomi
After my marriage, I had to bear children, run the household, raise the children, and be an all-around servant. For over 60 years, no word of recognition. Instead, there was the constant feeling of not being good enough. Why did I tolerate this?
Hilde
At first, there was a lot in common. Then, he increasingly followed his own interests. Everything I did was belittled. This went on for years. Why did I submit to this superiority complex for so long?
Katja
In the 20 years of our marriage, I increasingly became his property. His initial flattery turned into dissatisfaction and eventually into insults that gradually destroyed my self-esteem. Now I ask myself why I didn’t run away
Myriam
He was driven by an excessive jealousy. Even though I gave him no reason for it, he increasingly immersed himself in fantasies of rivalry and began to hit me. I endured this for far too long.
Elena
Why do men only want my body and not me? Until now, everyone has found my body "super sexy," but no one has paid attention to how I feel. Still, I long for a man. I don’t know how much longer I can endure this.
Never again
Of course, we first lament everything that seems to have been denied to us, much of which we ourselves did not give the necessary priority.
Through an internalized ideal of happy and content children, partners, friends, and colleagues, women have often put themselves aside. Helping others is valuable, as long as it does not hinder one’s own development.
Such a realization can either lead to self-pity and resignation or to the resolve to never again place one’s own potential behind the intentions and demands of others.
Therese
Never again will I submit to another ego and patiently wait for people to maybe change.
Franziska
Never again will I submit to another ego and back down when I am sure of my own stance.
Ruth
Never again will I submit to another ego and accept it when it’s said "You can’t do that anyway."
Maja
Never again will I submit to another ego and allow myself to be humiliated.
Priska
Never again will I submit to another ego and allow myself to be threatened without consequences
Laura
Never again will I submit to another ego that wants to take possession of me.
Skepticism
All of this is not as easy as it sounds. It is a step toward a life of personal responsibility, in which one reshapes the values in social relationships. We begin to recognize how people manipulate each other. In our highly commercialized civilization, everyone is out for their own benefits. The risk of being exploited and pushed into an unwanted role is high.
In the search for genuine recognition and sincere respect, great caution is required.
Claudia
I am skeptical when someone promises me a career and success.
Daniela
I am skeptical about whether my willingness to help will be exploited.
Myrtha
I am skeptical about whether sympathy and recognition are just faked to draw me into something.
Ursina
I am skeptical when someone wants to share their life with me.
Corinne
I am skeptical when the "protector role" comes into play.
Berta
I am skeptical when everything sounds too good and promising.
Resistance
Saying „no“ is a frequent weakness in the classic female role. When everything seems either too agreeable or dramatically wrong, we often allow ourselves to engage in something that does not truly suit us.
Setting boundaries to such an extent that we can step out of the internalized „helper role“ is another difficult step. It is not about being heartless, but about recognizing how much this behavior would limit us and distance us from our true potential.
Brigitte
I don’t tolerate any disrespectful behavior
Akiko
I fight against when my autonomy would be restricted.
Claire
I fight when my rights are disputed
Sylvia
I resist when someone wants to oppress me.
Maggi
I go against it when my integrity is violated.
Gina
I resist when someone wants to co-opt me for foreign goals.
Clarity
In order to avoid constantly falling back into old ambivalences, we need fundamental clarity. It is about knowing with deep conviction who we want to be in the future. For most people, it is only clear who or what they don’t want to be. Often, they take on roles they consider respectable.
True clarity leads to consistent action and accepts all associated difficulties. This would give us the certainty that we have accomplished something, along with a feeling of great fulfillment.
Judith
I am responsible for myself and will not let anyone take that responsibility away from me.
Gabriela
I define myself by my life goals.
Magrit
I will not let anyone or anything dilute my goals.
Jolanda
I will fight for my integrity to stay true to myself.
Karin
Open and willing to compromise, yes, but not at the cost of my self-respect.
Yvonne
I am my path.
Spirituality
The ability to experience deep emotions is the gateway to spirituality. The feminine aspects of our personality enable emotional access to the spiritual realm. Through this, we can create an inner balance that makes us highly resilient.
Spirituality was originally deeply connected to each individual. In our current civilization, we have drifted far from spiritual awareness.
The longing for intact emotional wholeness is strong – returning to this becomes a societal necessity.
Helga
In order to achieve my goals, I seek inspiration.
Nala
Being fully with myself gives me strength, security, and confidence.
Muriel
The impulses come from outside, but the inspiration happens within me.
Florence
I must give the inspiration space so that it connects with my values.
Petra
This is how my actions become authentic and touching.
Imany
This is my path to a self-determined life.
Exhibition Concept I
36 canvases are suspended from the ceiling like flags, arranged to form octagonal spaces. Visitors will feel fixated by six larger-than-life female portraits. This is intended to create a strong suggestive effect. Overall, the canvases will appear like a cloud in a large, bright space.
Exhibition Concept II (alternative)
Partition walls create six octagonal cabinets. The canvases are hung without stretcher frames on the partition walls, which enhances the effect that the viewers are being directly fixed by the portraits as if emerging from the wall – creating a suggestive effect. The ongoing text accompanying each painting is intended to gradually encourage the viewers to reflect more on themselves.
There are some key themes of emancipation. I have chosen the process toward self-determination. This process applies to both gender roles, but with a greater need for progress regarding the female role—especially in the dynamics of partnership.
I have divided the process toward self-determination into six phases, each illustrated with very brief accompanying texts tied to six life situations.
The names and the 36 portraits displayed symbolically represent the individuals whose authentic statements are quoted.