PRIDE & PREJUDICE

This ongoing series of studio portraits of young men is intended to challenge the viewer with social constructs that are centered around masculinity and femininity.

- RENATA DUTRÉE

Daniel with Flowers 

Gender bias, gender roles, and stereotypes can affect everyone negatively. Our society's normative narrative of "male" is tough and assertive, and "female" equals tender and weak. Manhood needs to be proven continuously and can be lost. Research demonstrates that men, too, face backlash if they don't adhere to masculine gender stereotypes. Showing vulnerability, empathy, sadness, and acting nicer can lead to lower status, less income, and potential career derailment. With my "female gaze," I only see beautiful people who can dress, think or act traditionally femininely and still be anything they want. There is no correlation between expressing femininity and someone's competence

Jude 

Losing Faith 

 Daniel with Flowers III  

When I was a resident in dermatology, it struck me that so many people apparently led double lives. Seemingly ordinary men and women hid secrets from those closest to them: their families, friends, and co-workers. They kept their sexual orientation or the abuse a secret and were caught in a web of lies, risks, and shame. Ever since, I've been fascinated by the duality of what we present to others and what we keep hidden.