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"Over 30" is a collection of black and white photographic portraits with
inspirational statements by each subject. The portraits focus on
heterosexual women over thirty years of age who remain unattached, some
unwillingly, some by design. This work couples photographs of unmarried
women between the ages of thirty and eighty-six with statements by the
photo subjects.
"Over 30 " is the brainchild of my own personal situation. Upon reaching
and passing the 30 year milestone in life I found myself questioning my
circumstances. Where were all the things that a woman should have by her
thirties ? Where was the husband, the house in the suburbs? What about
children and career? In other words, all the dictates of popular culture.
In a young culture basically devoid of common ritual, marriage seems to be a
hallmark of adulthood. This photo-essay presents women rising above this
sea of culturally imposed "shoulds" and "should nots" and gender based
stereotypes.
It brings a unique perspective to a common ritual by questioning the ideas
of marriage by a variety of women, from here and abroad. With pressures and
influences from all areas of life, this work explores the contemporary
question of how women approach adult life in the absence of marriage.
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