Hera Ascending is a declaration of the pressure that society places on women. Hera is the Greek goddess of marriage and motherhood. She is the protector of women; in this work, she is the symbol for all women. From the front, Hera is a mother cradling her unborn child; in the back, she is a shell with no features. This represents societal pressure on women to become mothers and the artist's feelings about her place in the world. The woman is balanced on top of a significant spike that symbolizes the societal pedestal women are placed on to be perfect daughters, wives, and mothers. Ultimately, we are all human and on the verge of failing to meet these unrealistic standards, pressures, and laws placed on our minds and bodies.

Women are strong

Women are beautiful

Women are not yours to control

Society cannot choose who or what a woman is