This project started with a failure of sorts.  I tried to conduct an experiment in which I went to opposite ends of the gender performance spectrum over a period of two days and would record others’ reactions.  Interestingly enough, I did not notice any drastic changes in other’s behavior towards me.  Upon some reflection I realized some things:

1. Even as someone who is aware of the oppressive nature of cultural constrictions of gender performance, I feel much more comfortable going towards the feminine side rather than a comfortable middle.

2. The process of performing the hyper-feminine is time consuming, wasteful, and expensive

3. The hyper-feminine fragments the body.

4. Performing my gender is usually not for others--it is (shameful to say) an incredibly vain process.

Thus, this montage.  An exploration of the process of gender performance and conclusions about said process which were inspired by Kate Bornestein’s article “Gender Terror, Gender Rage”  in which she proposes we dismantle the constraints our society puts on gender binaries.