Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman is a photographer who portrays female stereotypes really well. In her work, she is both the photographer and the model, creating different personas of different women in society. In each photograph, she presents feelings such as mystery, suspense and vulnerability. These stills encapsulate femininity during this era playing on the feminist idea that gender arises exclusively within culture and deconstructs dominant gender ideologies. 

These are some of her photographs portraying different ‘types’ of women in different scenarios.:

Claud Cahan

Claude Cahun is a perfect example of someone who wanted to push the boundaries of gender roles in a stereotypical society. Claud Cahan, born Lucy Schwob was a French photographer, sculptor, and writer who is best known for her self-portraits. In her portraits, she assumes a variety of personas, including dandy, weight lifter, aviator, and doll. Cahan moved to Jersey in 1937 with her stepsister and lover Marcel Moore. In 1944, she was imprisoned and sentenced to death for activities in the resistance during the Occupation. However, Cahun survived and was almost forgotten until the late 1980s, and much of her and Moore’s work was destroyed by the Nazis.

Her life was a representation of resistance, challenging the conventional ideas of beauty and femininity with her shaved head and male attire.  Her work pushed against the politics of gender and identity. She used domestic settings such as cupboards at home, presenting something interesting and new, exploring gender fluidity.