Eighteen by Ruby Park

“Eighteen” is a photo series showing how teenagers are sexualized the second they turn 18, specifically young girls. The story consists of 10 photos and it shows a girl turning 18. The quote under the photos is from former KNBR radio host, Patrick Connor, about 17 year old olympian Chloe Kim. The quote is there to show that even though being a minor does not stop the sexualization, it does, in many cases, make people wait until 18 to publicly sexualize them, or without guilt at least. The “countdown” is over. This piece is about realizing how the world views you as you get older and losing that protection that comes with being a minor.