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A photo of myself at age 4. I depict an example of femininity. I'm dressed in a blue skirt and pink shirt. I have my ears pierced and wearing long earrings. 

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Throughout my whole life, I've considered myself a cis female and a heterosexual person. I'm not someone who would be oppressed based on gender and sexuality. I've represented heteronormativity my whole life. People don't treat me any differently because it's the "normal mode" of society. In the picture above, I depict femininity because that is what I was taught in my own family. I dressed as a typical girl all my life. Until I realized that femininity and the female gender can be interpreted in many different ways. I learned to dress the way I wanted. Although, it can come with a couple of struggles due to societal beliefs.

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A recent photo of myself wearing cargo pants and a big t-shirt. Not the typical female in the gender binary culture I grew up in. 

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As I became older, I realized my femininity isn't taken away if I dress less feminine. Masculinity and femininity have been seen as opposed to each other by society. I grew up with a family that believes in the gender binary. For example, dressing up like this tends to confuse them and they ask why I'm dressed like that since I'm a female. I try my best to explain that the clothing I wear doesn't define my sexuality or the gender I go by. In society, clothes are labeled by gender, and in a culture where once one is seen wearing clothes that may not be associated with one's gender. People tend to criticize. A quote that I would like to share along with this image is from the "Man Enough" podcast featuring Justin Baldoni, Liz Plank, Jamey Heath, and their guest Alok. The quote is "men and Women are like stars in the sky". We are all unique and should not be constrained to either female or male or femininity and masculinity.

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A picture of my family relatives using traditonal Ecuadorian clothes and doing a dance that represents a midwife helping a couple bring a baby to this world. 

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In my culture, I'm expected to embody hegemonic femininity as best as possible.  I'm supposed to be nurturing, nice, and a self-sacrificing person just like the woman is demonstrating above. My purpose is to have children, cook, clean, and tend to my husband. I have to also be a stay-at-home mother and my husband has to provide for me. My culture is huge on machismo so self-sacrificing is a must or I'm not considered an appropriate woman for any man to marry. My culture believes heteronormativity is the only normal or best way to be. Other genders and sexualities people go by are considered wrong and inappropriate. The advice that people in my culture give is that they should reach out to their religion or seek professional help.

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My parents created a space for the "Divino Niño" which translates to the divine baby Jesus. There is also a Virgen of Guadalupe figure along with other saints. 

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My religion is centered around God/Jesus who are depicted as men. Most saints are also male while there are only a few female saints. There is a consistent belief in this religion that men should have the power and be glorified as the savior. My religion also praises and only considers heteronormativity as the ideal relationship to have. There is also pressure to get married through the catholic church. To become the ideal wife, you have to have characteristics of hegemonic femininity such as being passive and submissive to one's husband. A woman also has to be dependent on their husband. Letting the husband become the head of the household. The catholic religion doesn't consider any other relationship other than between man and woman.

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I took a picture of the block of my house. I currently live in Queens, N.Y.  

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Every morning, I see everyone heading to work including myself. My family and I are part of the working class. I recall my mother having to get me ready for school and drop me off before heading to her job. She isn't the only person who does that as I've witnessed many mothers doing the same in my community. These mothers have to fit the characteristics of a female in a heteronormativity relationship since the gender binary is intertwined. Women sacrifice themselves for their families since they have to put themselves aside to prioritize everyone else. The working class has mothers working at home and at their employment. It's important to prioritize ourselves to have an established identity. Our gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, and social class all make up who we are.  It is all intertwined with each other and shape our lives.