Estrogenized exists at the intersection of science, society, and personal autonomy. Estrogen is a hormone central to biological processes in men and women alike, supporting not only the reproductive system, but also assisting brain, bone and heart processes. My adaptation takes the form of a large molecular sculpture, hovering above the viewer from the ceiling, and taking up more space than it does in one's body. By increasing the size of a hormone we can’t see, we’re forced to consider invisible processes within ourselves we are unfamiliar with. 

The use of estrogen in birth control is a complex socio-political issue. Combination hormonal birth control, or the pill, is a medicinal breakthrough in hormone manipulation, giving control to the individual. The history of medical experimentation, social expectations, and debates threaten access to autonomy. While framed as a mark of feminist progress, the reality is complicated— side effects ranging from gaining weight and acne to strokes and tumors are rarely discussed when pushed on patients. Despite the risks, there is an expectation for women to take on the burden of contraception with unquestioned responsibility rather than an informed choice. 

Magnifying the molecule makes the invisible visible. Estrogenized asks the viewer to consider how science and art shapes a collective experience. Stemming from the gendering of art and science, nature has connotations of essentialized “womanly” traits (patient, obedient, and submissive). On the other hand, the sciences have been labeled as the objective masculine discipline. Art comes between the two, referencing nature and science, while under scrutiny. My work seeks to bridge the microscopic with the monumental, inviting dialogue about agency, gender, and the biological forces that shape our lives.