Bodies of Mothers Project
A beautiful body project
Becoming a mother opens up many new worlds (and for some, old wounds). Everything changes, moves and shifts. You are transformed, inwardly and outwardly. Awkwardly at times, unaware of your grace. Too often filled with negative thoughts about body image and confusion about your identity.
Your body changes, and for some women these changes can be very challenging, especially if their sense of self-worth has always been tied to how they look.
But there is a thread connecting you to every mother since time began - an understanding that there are no words for. Your body is so good, and deserving of nothing but deep love and respect for all it does, and has done for you.
The world is longing for ‘beauty’ to be redefined. We have an opportunity to be part of a positive change in mindset and perception.
Your body is a good body
Ultimately I’d love the idea of physical ‘beauty’, in relation to our bodies, to be irrelevant. Beauty does not define us or determine our actual worth, but in our society we very much believe that it does.
I think people are so tired of feeling inadequate because their body doesn’t look a certain way. We have far more important things to accomplish, yet our energy, attention and money is spent trying to feel good enough in our skin, and trying to fix our ‘flaws’.
It’s time to carry on the message that every body is GOOD!
Bodies of Mothers are amazing!!
For the past few months I have met and photographed 54 women. Some with their babies, some without. Some were mothers of mothers, many were just at the start of their journey. I’ve been so inspired by the incredible ladies that have chosen to take part despite their fears and discomfort - because they feel that something has to shift, and that they are responsible for the example they set for their baby sons and daughters.
One thing I have learnt is that very few of us feel we look good enough. Getting a glimpse not only behind the clothing layers but also into the minds and hearts of these women has proven to me that we really do all feel the same, no matter what our shape and size. We’ve all been fed the lie that we are lacking, falling short, and not enough … All of us.
We don’t want our kids to have the same conditioning. I don’t want girls to feel they have to hold back from showing their talents because they don’t look a certain way. I don’t want our boys thinking girls should look like that ideal, or that they have to conform to just as rigid a stereotype or body type.
The project is about reclaiming confidence, solidarity and sisterhood as well as bravely standing together to help redefine what is not just beautiful, but acceptable and real for ourselves and our sons & daughters.
The Bodies of Mothers Project
The shooting portion of the project has come to and end and we are now working on putting the collection of images together into a book.
Details about pre-orders will be available as soon as we have them.
Beautiful Body
My eyes are like hands
Holding, grabbing, waving, capturing, and letting go
My nose and mouth are the gate to my heaven
My neck is chariot to my destiny
My shoulders, arms, and breasts are all spaces my poems must rest
Tell them, I am warrior
I am a warrior in a war against my sisters, against my insecurities, against myself
They are my shield
My hands are heroes
Owners of a grip that is braver than my heart
My heart is curious, but my hands are romantics
My belly is a magical canyon
Both vast and beautiful
Both breathtaking and reviving
Sketched into the gut are my own stripes
Warrior marks of when I surpassed time
My vagina is powerful
Is-freedom-is-journey-is-legacy-is-not-alone
Is the line break of my legs
My legs are a never-ending poem
My feet yesterday and tomorrow
I know I am unique
I know how lucky I am to have me
~ Tere’ Fowler-Chapman
