The Home Depot Effect is a very real, totally not made-up theory that encompasses the experience of what it feels like to enter a home improvement store as a feminine presenting person. It involves counting the instances of being asked, "Can I help you find something?" compared to individuals presenting themselves in a more masculine way. This theory prompts questions about the association between femininity and acquiring maintenance supplies. To explore this concept further, I conducted this photo series by combining tools and supplies typically found in stores like Home Depot or Lowe's with representations of the feminine body.
I began contemplating the use of phrases like "screwing" and "nailing" as innuendos, often implying actions done to someone or something. My objective with this series is to challenge expectations related to femininity, critique the over-sexualization of the feminine body, and disrupt stereotypically masculine spaces. To provoke a reaction from the audience, I incorporate elements of gore, which parallels the discomfort experienced by individuals facing gender-based violence rooted in misogynistic beliefs that may initially appear innocuous.