See What Feminism Looks Like In These 7 Images

Featuring the new series of Photographer Erin Lefevre‘s!

This is inspired by her feelings on feminism, and also her desire and wish for greater representation of diverse feminists. 

Lefevre says: “I became more conscious of calling myself a feminist after reflecting on the many instances in my life in which I needed feminism.”

“The more I learned about what feminism truly is, the more I became frustrated with what society thinks feminism is (this movement that hates men, doesn’t shave, and burns their bras).” So, she decided to click a diverse group of feminist artists living in the San Francisco area, asking them to share their views on feminism — and the results are here, just amazing.

“There has been a recent shift in pop culture that has sparked a revived interest in the feminist movement and has encouraged the chants of girl power, body positivity, and self-love,” Lefevre’s artist statement says. “Celebrities, however, are speaking from a privileged perspective and often do not face the same obstacles that other feminists endure on a daily basis.”

Lefevre’s portraits and narratives offer a voice to feminists who don’t have the same privilege as celebrities, reminding us just how important inclusive feminism is.

“Being an Asian-American woman often feels like being at a crossroads. I am expected to be both demure and domestic. However, after adolescence spent wishing I were anything but a Southeast Asian American girl, I’m not finished raising my voice. The solidarity of other art makes who refuse silence compels me to continue. I came to San Francisco for education; I discovered that the most empowering education is not given within the institution.” — Nina Vichayapai, painter and interdisciplinary artist

Check out more images from the series below.

Dawline-Jane Oni-Eseleh, painter and printmaker says:

“For me, feminism is the idea that a woman has the right to decide the direction of her life. It isn’t about a ‘look’ or about a feeling of superiority to men. It’s the right to exist as an individual with an equal say and the ability to make choices that affect her life and the way she presents herself to the world.”

  

Zulfi Ali Bhutto, photographer and interdisciplinary artist says:
“As feminists we must not try to disregard societies in the global south as oppressive or misogynistic but instead cite the intersecting oppressive systems that have produced such societies. It is a difficult and lengthy process but it is only once we go through that course we can truly see a change in the world.”

Oliver Redmond Coleman, photographer says:

“People assume because I am a transgender man that I want to be a man therefore I am not a feminist because I want to change my designated gender, and that is not true. I am a very big feminist.”

 

Chelsea Ducote, painter says:
“An unchaperoned woman often embodies people’s sense of authority over her. Walking around solitary and topless has opened my eyes to the patronizing misogyny that permeates every facet of women’s lives. Nearly everyone has felt the need to make their opinion and advice on my actions known to me. I did not request anyone’s opinion or advice. We need to let the world know that we do not require their permission to do whatever the f*ck we want.”

Michal “MJ” Jones, educator, activist and writer says:

“Feminism to me means constant checking of my own privilege and colonized mindset, and seeing all peoples’ liberation as interconnected. As Mama Audre Lorde says, ‘there are no single issue struggles, because we do not live single issue lives’.”

 

Anna Bongiovanni, painter says:

“People believe that tattooing is a masculinist art form. Although views are changing slowly, it is still something I am confronted with constantly. Women’s bodies have always been scrutinized by men because for some reason, they believe everything we do is to please them.”

 

 

COURTESY: Huffington Post

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