Old York Road (Nighttime Social Worker)
I reify The Cinderella narrative to draw attention to the struggles of street-working women who face similar obstacles and challenges in their daily lives. Like Cinderella, a story about a woman going from rags to riches, street-working women who often come from humble backgrounds are forced to perform menial labor to survive. Society frequently marginalizes and overlooks them, while their sacrifices and contributions often go unnoticed or under-appreciated. Furthermore, like Cinderella, many street-working women have to rely on their resourcefulness to overcome adversity and find a sense of belonging in a world that often seems hostile and unforgiving. They may have to navigate complex social hierarchies, deal with abuse and exploitation, and face numerous other obstacles daily. By playing with the impossibility of putting yourself in someone else's shoes, I expose the similarities between the Cinderella narrative and the experiences of street-working women. Being beautiful and desirable comes at a priceless cost. By recognizing and acknowledging the sacrifices and challenges faced by street-working women, we can work towards creating a more equitable society. The text that accompanied each pair of shoes references the pageant sash, each line is a quote from an iconic author such as Zora Neale Hurston or Miss Donna Booker or a pop cultural reference like Pretty Woman or underground subversive space of the Ballroom community which celebrates the complex realities of being both Black and other.