Published: June 8, 2022

The Women and Gender Studies Creative Activism award recognizes outstanding undergraduate creative works that raise awareness around issues of equity, such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender identity. It is designed to help foster an inclusive and welcoming campus climate for students of all backgrounds and those historically underrepresented at the university. Students from across campus are invited to submit creative works for consideration by a committee of faculty, staff, and students from our department.

Periods Have No Gender by Jess Vosseteig

Artist's Statement:

In this piece, I aim to de-stigmatize menstruation for all genders. Because the topic of menstruation is taboo in our society, we often don’t realize that women are not the only people that deal with menstrual cycles. The piece features a digital illustration of masculine-presenting and feminine-presenting people holding menstrual cups, with other period products and symbols surrounding them. I wanted to use period blood on tampons and pads to capture the audience’s attention in order for them to process the meaning. My work advocates for the inclusion of gender, race, etc. in order to boldly educate others who may not think about topics like this on a daily basis.

Jess graduated in 2022 with a degree in art practices and a minor in women and gender studies.

Congratulations Jess!

Periods Have No Gender