Who's entitled?

This work continues my exploration of the oversexualization of women through the form of a mirror, or portal, designed to invite reflection and confrontation. I chose the quatrefoil shape, a four-lobed form commonly found in Gothic architecture, after researching historical window designs. Traditionally, the quatrefoil symbolizes harmony, fortune and protection, associations that contrast sharply with the lived experiences represented in this piece. By framing the work in this form, I centralize women’s bodies and their experiences through the lens of the male gaze and the fetishization of female anatomy. The mirror becomes a site where looking is questioned: who is being observed, who is performing, and for whom? This work aims to spark conversation about the effects of oversexualization on female bodies, including the discomfort it breeds around men, the erosion of personal boundaries, and the pressure to uphold societal roles of femininity rather than inhabit one's own sexual agency.

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Publication Details

Journal
University of North Florida Digital Commons (University of North Florida)
Published
2026-11-10
Primary Topic
Gender and Feminist Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Who's entitled?

Shawnelle Charles
University of North Florida Digital Commons (University of North Florida)
Gender and Feminist Studies
article

Who's entitled?

Shawnelle Charles
article en

Abstract

This work continues my exploration of the oversexualization of women through the form of a mirror, or portal, designed to invite reflection and confrontation. I chose the quatrefoil shape, a four-lobed form commonly found in Gothic architecture, after researching historical window designs. Traditionally, the quatrefoil symbolizes harmony, fortune and protection, associations that contrast sharply with the lived experiences represented in this piece. By framing the work in this form, I centralize women’s bodies and their experiences through the lens of the male gaze and the fetishization of female anatomy. The mirror becomes a site where looking is questioned: who is being observed, who is performing, and for whom? This work aims to spark conversation about the effects of oversexualization on female bodies, including the discomfort it breeds around men, the erosion of personal boundaries, and the pressure to uphold societal roles of femininity rather than inhabit one's own sexual agency.

University of North Florida Digital Commons (University of North Florida)
University of North Florida (US)
Gender and Feminist Studies
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