TRIGGER WARNING // Violence, Abuse
COURSE: Public Affairs 352: Women, Gender, and Policy
MEDIUM: Website, Audio, Video, Infographic, Map, Data Visualization, Photography
DESCRIPTION:
This multimedia project critically examines the limitations of carceral feminism and the structural barriers that marginalized survivors face within the U.S. justice system. Through data visualizations, policy analysis, and original artwork, it highlights how mandatory arrest laws, immigration status, housing insecurity, and financial dependence disproportionately impact BIPOC, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ survivors of gender-based violence. The project advocates for survivor-centered, intersectional policy reforms that prioritize safety beyond punitive measures. I conducted in-depth research on domestic violence policies, focusing on how they intersect with race, gender, and immigration status. I designed interactive infographics and visual narratives using Adobe and Canva to make complex data more accessible and engaging. To convey the emotional weight of survivors’ experiences, I created original artwork at Wheelhouse Studios.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
Safety isn’t universal—so why should gender-based violence policies be one-size-fits-all? This question underpins my exploration of intersectionality, carceral feminism, and policy gaps that survivors of sexual assault fall through. I map out these stories on tile using ceramics as the medium for my visual art as depicted on the website where each piece represents the invisible burden carried by survivors in a world where safety is often framed as a personal responsibility, failing to account for the structural barriers that unequally harm marginalized women. These works are intended to recognize the weight of survivors’ existence, trauma, and the continuous process of transformative change. This multimedia project aims not only to inform but to inspire solidarity, raise resistance, and amplify strength.