three generations of women: side by side

By Sophia Torres & Kara Freewind

We wanted to present our generational stories to look for connections across various women’s experiences throughout time. We compared the expectations our society imposed on women in our families, including traditions, female stereotypes, and norms.

first gen
MINERVA + FRANCES

A 33-year-old homemaker with three kids living in Monterrey, California

A 22-year-old newlywed migrant from Puerto Rico's countryside; child seven of twelve in New York

Expected to follow her husband and make a home anywhere the military sent them, until he dies in service five years later—leaving her alone

Expected to cater to her husband, child, parents, in-laws, all while working full-time in a sewing factory

Both are forced to epitomize the perfect housewife

second gen
MILLIE + KATHY

A 33-year-old mother teaching kindergarten, raising her first daughter, and supporting parents, siblings, in-laws, and her husband

A 22-year-old college student fighting off cultural and social expectations her family and religion throw at her

She should always be kind, polite, small, silent, accommodating—she's on the same quest for perfection as her mother

Rebel with a cause, questioning gender roles and religious dictates, navigating an identity that blends Latin and American values

Both decide who they want to be

third gen
SOPHIA + KARA

A 33-year-old creative director about to get married and start a family on her terms

A 22-year-old senior in college following her dream of becoming an editor

Our mums and grandmums crawled out of those expectations so we could control our own fate, but these constructs still exist

We refuse to prescribe to roles our grandparents, mothers—women in general—are told to

WE WON'T.

Process

After a discussion with our mothers and grandmothers, we gathered pictures of both and used what we spoke about to create our own interpretations of their experiences in connection with our own. We put it all in a shared digital art collage and added our stories.