Woman: Reflections of Becoming 

Womanhood is an intricate tapestry of roles, expectations, and societal pressures that often leave little room for individuality. From a young age, women are socialised into various identities—some chosen, many imposed. The daily narrative for many women revolves around wearing multiple masks: the caregiver, the nurturer, the professional, the homemaker, the confidant, and at times, the silent sufferer. Each mask carries with it a set of unspoken rules and behaviours, a script that, when followed too strictly, can lead to the gradual erasure of one’s own identity. 

My images explore the life of a woman. She wears every mask society asks of her, moving through life with compliance. Yet, beneath these facades, she is slowly losing herself, suffocated by the expectations that define her existence. The narrative unfolds through the lens of daily, seemingly mundane tasks—a routine of constant adaptation to the ever-changing and contradictory demands placed on her. Each image reflects these transitions, where her individuality is chipped away, layer by layer, until she reaches a breaking point. 

The early stages of this journey reveal the role of the woman as a caregiver, protector, homemaker, and nurturer. She is the woman who sacrifices her own identity to fulfil the needs of others, quietly submitting to the pressures of perfection and selflessness. As time goes on, the weight of these roles becomes unbearable.  

The burden of saying “yes” to every expectation starts to crack her exterior, leading her to moments of internal conflict and self-doubt. The culmination of her struggle comes when she finally gives in to her frustration—the last remnants of control over her life crumble in a single, powerful act. She screams, burns away the false identities, and watches everything she was once expected to be turn to ash. In the final image, she finds not destruction, but freedom—the destruction of societal expectations and the birth of her true self. 

Through the story of this woman’s journey, we explore the universal experience of women everywhere—how societal roles can shape, mould, and sometimes stifle the essence of one’s being. From the early stages of compliance to the powerful act of rebellion, these images speak to the emotional labour of women who spend their lives fulfilling expectations at the cost of their individuality.

This series is a meditation on the pressure to conform, the struggle to preserve one’s identity, and the ultimate liberation that comes with shedding the layers of imposed roles. 

The project employs a combination of imagery that reflects both internal and external pressures on women. Many of the images involve reflections in mirrors, glass, or distorted surfaces. The visual above symbolises the way a woman’s identity is fractured and obscured by the many expectations placed on her. Mirrors are commonly associated with self-perception, but in this project, they become a tool to demonstrate how these perceptions are often fragmented, showing only parts of the woman, not the whole person. 

Everyday items, such as bubble wrap, spoons, and a single drop of water, are used as symbolic elements to represent the roles and expectations of women. For example, bubble wrap is a protective material, yet here it symbolises how women are expected to shield others from harm while suppressing their own vulnerabilities. The water drop represents the clarity and distortion of identity, while the spoon reflects the often invisible, selfless labor women undertake. These objects are chosen because of their association with the mundane tasks that women are frequently expected to perform, yet they are imbued with deeper meaning in the context of the narrative.  

This series ends where the woman's journey truly begins: with liberation. From the oppressive weight of mundane expectations to the final act of defiance, she sheds each role and reclaims her true identity. Watching the flames, she isn’t lamenting what’s lost but embracing her rebirth. This is a story of release—a woman who chose to break free from the "yes" that defined her and found empowerment in saying "no." 

Her face reflected in a spoon—distorted, almost unrecognisable. This image symbolises the selflessness expected of her in the caregiving role. Every day begins with serving others, yet her identity is twisted in the reflection, hinting at the loss of her true self. 

Her face is obscured by bubble wrap, representing the role of protector and organiser. She’s expected to cushion others from harm, wrapping her emotions tightly away for the sake of those around her. The bubble wrap is a metaphor for how her real thoughts remain hidden beneath layers of protection. 

 A bubble floats before her face as she washes dishes. Her life is measured in fragile moments—perfectly maintained yet easily broken. The singular bubble reflects how she keeps the delicate balance of home life intact, even at the cost of her own emotional well-being. 

A drop of water distorts her reflection in the mirror. She polishes surfaces, ensuring everything looks pristine. However, her own identity is blurred in the process, as she perfects her surroundings but neglects herself.

 Her face hovers over dark water, bubbles breaking around her. This image reflects her role as a silent manager of chaos. She tidies the unseen, mends the broken, all while submerging her frustrations beneath the surface.

She gazes at a glass of water, her reflection presenting two versions of herself. To the world, she appears composed and capable, yet within, there’s a silent struggle between the ideal and the real. This duality defines the professional mask she wears daily. 

 Light refracted through a glass bottle illuminates her face. She arranges beauty in the world around her while remaining unseen herself. This role demands she uplift others, even when her own light feels refracted, distorted by expectations. 

Now, she stands behind a fogged glass pane. This image represents the clouded and hazy vision she has of her own identity. The fog symbolises confusion and the inability to clearly see her way forward due to the weight of societal expectations. She’s still trying to navigate through this mist, unable to fully see who she is, but with the realisation that something is not quite right. 

 The red cloth clings to her face, muffling her scream, symbolising the suffocating expectations placed on women—especially in the roles of wife and mother. The color red, traditionally associated with a woman’s domestic role—red saree, sindoor, bindi, and bangles—encapsulates the heavy cultural expectation of compliance, duty, and silence. The cloth is a literal and figurative gag, stifling her voice and her true self. 

A burning sheet of paper partially obscures her face. This is her final rejection of every persona she was forced to adopt. The paper, symbolic of societal expectations, burns as she watches, reclaiming her voice amidst the flames.

 Her intense gaze reflects a flickering flame in her eye. She is no longer afraid, watching everything she was told to be burn away. In the destruction, she finds rebirth—the fire representing both the end and the beginning. 

Varnana is pursuing Mathematics at Shiv Nadar University. This visual project has emerged out of a course on photographic image taught by Sreedeep Bhattacharya.