「女生的雙腳應沒有毛髮⋯你快點去剃!」從成長中一路聽到這樣的說話,中學的校服需要露出小腿,從那時起便要定期修剃腳毛,免得顯得奇怪和遭同學討論,一直到大學可以穿回自己衣服上學,有選擇權下,能穿長褲把雙腳遮住,慳了不少時間打理,可是內心的恐懼仍在。
毛髮有保護我們身體的作用,毛髮是天生的,我們為何要脫腳毛?這個社會默認對女生美的標準從哪兒來?長在對的地方(例如:濃密的頭髮、眼睫毛、眉毛⋯)那是求之不得,可以女生來說我的毛髮好像長錯了地方。
透過類型學的方式直接拍攝多腳毛的雙腳,穿在不同鞋子、對應不同襪、指甲裝飾甚至模擬紋身都有不同的效果帶來的視覺衝擊;穿在男生的鞋上,彷彿十分正常,可是當我穿上高踭鞋、塗上指甲油、穿着女性的蕾絲襪時,你們會否有嘔心或違和的感覺?為甚麼會有這樣的感覺?這樣的感覺從哪兒來?
我可以把腳毛剃了,現在的激光脫毛療程也十分方便,甚至一勞永逸。但我以「腳毛」作引,反思社會標準對女性固有形象及性別定型,帶出在社會標準下女性的壓力、恐懼和不安,作為女性可以有多面向的可能性。每人都可能有不滿意的身體部位,這是很普通的,不用驚訝、尷尬和歧視。
”Girls should have hairless legs…Go shave it!” I had listened to these since growing up. My legs were exposed from wearing the uniform during high school. I needed to shave it regularly back then in order to look normal and no criticisms. Until university, I can wear long pants. They covered my hairy legs and I saved many times from cleaning them. I feel released yet the fear is still here.
Hair protects our body and it is born natural. Thus, why we need to shave it? Where does the standard of beauty to female come from? What can we wish for hair grows in the right place (e.g. long eyelashes, thick eyebrows and hair…). But to me, it seems growing in a wrong place.
By using the method of typology and direct shooting of my legs. Putting them into different situations create different effects and this bring visual impact. Fitting myself in a male shoe looks normal. But when I fit myself into high heels, nail polish, or feminine-designed socks…How do you feel? Will you find it weird or disgusting? Why and where does these feeling come from?
Laser hair removal nowadays are convenient. I could have shaved my legs. However, I would like to use my “hairy legs” as an introduction criticising the stereotype of female along the social norm. Bringing the pressure, fear and restlessness of female. There is not only one-kind standard female, there are many possibilities for female. Everyone might not be satisfied to their body fully, we should embrace and love ourselves.