Generations

Generations

Familial contextualization often serves as the foundational step in unraveling one’s personal identity. As we come of age, the figures we once viewed through the lens of childhood—“Mother,” “Grandmother”—shift from symbolic figures of wisdom and strength to individuals shaped by their own experiences, environments, and choices. In examining three generations of women in her family, Jaylatrenyce reflects on the complexities of identity, tracing both the uncanny similarities and the vast differences that emerge across time.

Close-up of a woman with shiny makeup, wearing a teal satin hood, and applying a peeling face mask, with a neutral background.
Multiple hands stacking together, each wearing various rings and bracelets, representing diversity.
Portrait of a woman with dark skin, wearing a shiny light blue headscarf, holding her chin with one hand, against a white background.
Three women sitting at a table with glassware, surrounded by shelves filled with dishes and kitchen items in a cluttered space.
An elderly woman sitting in a well-lit room, receiving a hairstyle from a person standing behind her. She is wearing multiple pearl and turquoise necklaces, gold earrings, and a beige satin blouse. The room has metal shelving with kitchenware and supplies in the background.
An elderly woman with gray hair and various jewelry, wearing a white blouse, sitting at a table with her hands on her face, in a kitchen with metal shelves and kitchenware in the background.
A ceramic angel figurine with black hair, wearing a white dress with gold trim, and large white feathered wings, holding a white guitar with gold detailing.
An elderly woman with gray hair styled in buns looking down at a round, sun-shaped mirror with a gold frame on a white table, surrounded by candles and decorative objects. She is wearing a white silk blouse, large pearl necklaces, and jewelry.
An elderly woman with gray curly hair and a headscarf, wearing a white satin blouse and layered pearl and turquoise necklaces, standing in front of a younger woman with braided hair, inside a room with exposed ceiling beams and shelves with dishes.