space. Don’t sit like that. Don’t stand like that.” Stop slouching. Don’t break your back. Loosen up, but not too much. Don’t be too bossy. Be a leader. “Don’t be intimidating. Why are you so miserable? Don’t overreact. Don’t be so emotional.” Don’t be so dramatic. “Don’t complain. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t trust anyone. Don’t say yes. Don’t say no.”

        As a female in today’s world, it is tough to not let harsh stereotypes intervene with your self esteem. In my photograph, I used ballet as a metaphor for the restrictions and unrealistic expectations society puts on women. Although there are countless positive aspects in the beauty of ballet, the toxicity present for women is often overlooked; therefore, making it a perfect example. Ballerinas are expected to be feminine, delicate, and small; known for their effortless grace and poise. What a lot of people don’t recognize is what goes on behind this facade. In the photograph, the pointe shoes tie my model’s hands together to symbolize physical restrictions put on women. The ties around her waist represent body image expectations. Many dancers face eating disorders and other issues, such as body dismorphia, because of the “perfect body type required” for ballet; about 5’8”, 130 lbs at the most, slim, long neck, long arms and legs, etc. Similarly, in just about any era or generation in history, dating all the way back to the paleolithic era, there have always been “body trends.” Body trends put infinite, immense pressures on women and because they change so easily with time, they are inevitable no matter what body type you are born with. Lastly, my model’s mouth and neck are tied to instantiate how it is sometimes difficult to stand up, speak out, and hold