Ash – Virtus Feminae
Preferred Name
Ash
Legal Name
Ashley
Contact Email
ash.catalan02@gmail.com
Age
19
Gender Expression
female
Which student are you?
College/University Student
Name of School
University of Texas at Austin
Grade / Year in School
First Year
Location (City, State/Province, Country)
Austin
If you identify with an ethnicity or culture(s), which one or ones do you identify with?
latino
What is the name of your legal guardian/parent (if under 18)?
Please provide contact information for your legal guardian/parent (if under 18)
What are your social media accounts (TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook)?
instagram.com/ireallyhateash
bulbapp.com/ireallyhateash
Please select type of project you are entering
Visual Art
What is the title of your project?
Virtus Feminae
Please tell us about your submission (maximum 600 words)
This piece is a homage to the story of Lucretia and Sextus Tarquinus. I took an ancient Rome history class at university and her story and what it represented for women resonated with me. For those that do not know, it is said that the rape of Lucretia led to the expulsion of the monarchy in Ancient Rome. She killed herself because she thought her honor was a woman was violated due to succumbing to Sextus despite her being married. Livy and other historians portrayed Lucretia as this model woman, embodying an ideal of 'pudicitia': chastity. In Rome, a woman who was known to commit adultery or prostitute herself was supposed to wear a Toga, an article of clothing in Rome meant to signify dignity for a male. However, it meant the opposite for woman. I wanted to draw Lucretia wearing this toga as she sits proudly with the knife that would have killed her. Lucretia is a woman of honor, and her commitment to pudicitia is inspiring, but the incentive behind her suicide is due to the unequal expectations of women. She would have been stigmatized for letting her body. This piece is a representation of what could have been for Lucretia: honor, self empowerment, peace, and still embodying feminine virtues.
What is something you learned about patriarchy and what is something you would like to change about what you learned?
I've learned about how the power dynamic between males and females have both transformed and carried over to the modern world. While we have made progress, there are many things that I would like to change. What is most important to me is how religion portrays woman. The ideals put onto women such as the 'sanctity' of her body and ensuring modesty is harmful and does nothing to progress society further so that we may focus on the things that truly matter for the sake of mankind.
Project Link
I confirm I have read and agree to the Official Rules
Array