This graphite pencil drawing is one of my recent illustrations for The Meridian. Before producing this illustration, I was informed that it will be for an article focusing on how women's health issues are often not taken seriously by health professionals. As a result, women are being prescribed the wrong drugs, or having unnecessary operations. Reading this, I felt a little startled as it is something that I have not experienced and to know that this is happening, in the UK, is worrying.
It is found that women are about twice as likely as men to suffer from overmedication and adverse effects, namely nausea and headaches, of drugs. This is a consequence of clinical trials historically focusing on men to test drug dosages.
The numerous pills held in one palm and various pills falling out, within the illustration, indicates the idea of being unobservant. This aims to reflect the concept of several research studies failing to see how the absence of women in drug dose trails can lead to women experiencing worse side effects.
To me, it was important to highlight the concept of overmedication within my illustration. And I knew that this wasn't going to come through just a graphite pencil drawing.
I needed contrast.
Line drawing. From my earlier blog posts, you may know that I have been using this drawing technique to produce portraits and to step outside of my comfort zone. This time, I was wanted to use this technique to create a clear distinction between the hands and the countless pills.
The pencil drawing of the hands includes areas of dark tones, namely around the knuckles and between each finger - to indicate the grip on the medication bottle. In certain areas, there appears to be patches of bright light and this helps to provide structure to the hands and a realistic appearance. This polarity between these tones and the voids within the pills heightens the unnumbered pills - which then emphasises the concept of overmedication.
Having completed this illustration, I couldn't help but think about a global issue experienced by many women and girls today: period poverty.
Today, many women around the globe do not have access to hygienic sanitary products. Consequently, they miss days at school and unfortunately, many drop out altogether - putting them at risk of child marriage.
It's important to recognise that the stigma around periods being dirty makes it increasingly difficult for many women to feel comfortable talking about their periods. In multiple countries, they are banned from places such as the kitchen, temple and even their home. This builds the stigma deeply within society and forces many women and girls to associate period with shame. It also prevents girls from being educated about menstruation before their first period, leading them to feeling confused and unsupported.
I decided to produce the illustration above, with the intention to remind people that this problem persists. As with the illustration at the top of the page, I wanted to create contrast - but this time I used a bold, red background to allow the pad appear as a void. This blank space acts a representation for menstruation remaining as a secret in many societies. It is this lack of conversation around periods that prevents the society from growing and combatting injustice.
Reading about Amika George's hard work and campaign, Free Periods, I felt motivated to include her ethos of the project within my artwork. The influential words and the red background bring the elements of line and graphite pencil drawing in the artwork together.
It is through her activism that, in January 2020, the government published to provide students free access to period products. Whilst this is the step in the right direction, it is important that students remind their school/college of this scheme that is available to them. Since, '60% of eligible schools and colleges have yet to sign up to the scheme,'.
Further changes include the abolishment of period tax in the UK. Yes, these changes are great for countless girls and women in the UK, but we must understand that period poverty is still an immense problem for girls in other countries - where they treat menstruation almost like an 'illness' and describe it as 'bad blood'.
I know that it isn't enough to post my illustration on my social media accounts. I must have conversations with the people around me to help eliminate the taboo associated with periods.
Hopefully this has provided you with some insight about one of many challenges faced by girls and women around the globe. Check out the short documentary - Period. End of Sentence. ;it paints a more detailed picture of the stigma surrounding periods and may even make you realise how lucky you are!
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