This is a project I began earlier this year, continuing the thread of my last two bodies of work (Kiss My Fuckin Feminist Ass and Light My Fire Baby). Like them, this one also draws its starting point from imagery found in the vintage pornography magazine Mayfair. The visual language of these magazines - glossy, retro, hyper-feminine - offers a provocative aesthetic and ideological contrast that I continue to explore. Although the series is ongoing, I’ll be releasing a small selection of screen prints for sale very soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
At the heart of this piece is a reckoning with the rarely-discussed reality of hormonal contraception: the mental, physical, and emotional toll it takes on those who take it. The central figure, styled in retro pin-up fashion, is deliberately hyper-feminine—a nod to the ways female sexuality has been historically commodified and packaged for male consumption. In her hand, she holds a full pack of contraceptive pills—a tiny object that wields immense control over the body and mind.
The title, All This Pain for So Little Pleasure, is both personal and political. Hormonal contraception is linked to over 30 side effects ranging from mood swings, acne, weight gain, and low libido to more serious risks like blood clots, depression, anxiety, and even bone density loss. Yet these side effects are frequently downplayed or dismissed altogether, a reflection of a much deeper issue: the systemic devaluation of women’s pain.
Despite being widely prescribed since the 1960s, hormonal birth control still lacks comprehensive research, particularly when it comes to its psychological impact. Women are often excluded from clinical trials due to “hormonal variability,” and female-specific outcomes remain chronically under-researched. This lack of medical attention is not incidental it’s structural. It's a form of institutional neglect that leaves millions navigating serious side effects in silence. This work challenges that silence.
While men can theoretically father hundreds of children in a year, women can carry only one pregnancy to term. Yet the responsibility for contraception falls almost entirely on them. Investment in male contraceptives is minimal at best. This imbalance reflects a broader cultural expectation: that women must bear the burden of pain, risk, and consequence in exchange for sexual freedom. It’s an expectation rooted in outdated, unequal power dynamics that urgently need re-examining.
Through screen printing in bold, defiant colors, this piece channels that frustration into protest. Combining pop art aesthetics with feminist critique, it turns a personal struggle into public commentary - refusing to stay quiet about what so many are told to silently endure.
