Women as Photographers

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that, while a woman has feminine qualities, which are often reflected in her photography, such as sensitivity, observation and intuition, she also uses photography because of some deeply felt needs, either political or personal. The author believes that where generally a man needs disasters like war and famine to get motivated for a picture, women seem able to deal more with optimism and record it in an arresting way. The paper concludes that photography is being used not only as a tool to change people's consciousness about the situation but even as a weapon in protecting women's own identity.

From the Paper:

"In the 1930s women's documentary photography had no recognizable platform. Projects were usually pursued on a personal basis. With the introduction of the magazine Picture Post in 1938, many women found an outlet for their inherent talent. The outbreak of the Second World War, at around that time, established a national set of values towards an orderly British way of life. The Picture Post emerged at the right time and was instrumental in portraying the fortitude and inventiveness of the British under stress by means of the picture essay. It strived to present people in their everyday lives. And, this suited a woman's aptitude superbly. Women were previously documenting their observations on a personal level. Now they could see a structural story in actual print and reaching a wider audience. The stories needed were un-newsworthy which having the pictures tied up with words gave an insight to everyday lives. Women were given assignments, which showed the non-controversial side of public welfare and education. Such examples were stories by Grace Roberson "Mother's Day off" on a women's annual pub outing (1954); and Gerti Deutsch's "A Day in the Life of a Day Nursery" (1940). Besides, women could identify themselves with such stories, as they are domestic situations, which could be more understood than if a man covered them."

More papers on Women as Photographers:

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• Comparison Essay # 145292 : "Women of the Great Depression"

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