“Here’s what I think. Feminism is not here to dictate to you. It’s not prescriptive, it’s not dogmatic. All we are here to do is give you a choice. We want to empower women to do exactly what they want, to be true to themselves, to have the opportunities to develop. Women should feel free. There is no typical feminist, there is nothing anywhere that says you have to meet a certain criteria.”
Emma Watson
Feminist QUEEN Emma Watson says it best, as usual. However, I will try to elaborate in my own words…
Women are many things. They can be gentle. They can be nurturing. They can be warm. They can be charming. They can be kind.
They can also be tough. They can be opinionated. They can be ambitious. They can be sexy. They can be confident. They can be intelligent. They can be intuitive. They can be creative. They can be brave.
The most wonderful part is that they can be all of these things at once.
When women feel empowered to unlock all of the facets of their being, they are a force to be reckoned with.
In this project, I have had the privilege of exploring the things that empower the women in my life. I have been amazed by the complex, accomplished, self-assured women that have opened up their souls to me. I hope to show that just as women are multi-faceted; so are the things that empower them. Empowerment is not one-dimensional. It can come from things that are pivotal in the makeup of our lives, or from seemingly insignificant everyday tasks. Whatever it is that makes a woman feel confident, inspired, or free to be herself – that is where her power comes from.
Liz loves her tattoos because they make her feel like she can be in control of her own body and how she is seen. She is curating a feminist sanctuary in her own home with works by women artists.
Sophie is empowered by her work. She values having a seat at the table, and being able to use her voice to influence and enact change on a daily basis.
Natalie does not like perfection and she doesn’t like being told what to do – by a recipe book or anyone else. She loves experimenting with cooking, and where she can add a zucchini to any recipe, she will!
Joan has a keen interest in birds. She loves seeing them enjoying things like a bird bath, the nuances of each different bird and how they forage for food, the intricate colours in their feathers, the markings around the eyes and best of all the way they nurture their young! She feels particularly empowered by her ability to capture that in a photo to share her knowledge with others.
Roisin values the power of makeup to lift her mood and present herself in the way she wants to be presented. We often talk about the opportunities that we miss out on as women, but she sees makeup as one of the privileges of femininity. It is one of the few things that we get to do as women which is harder for men to enjoy; when a lot of the time the roles are reversed.
Helen loves her job! On top of the sense of purpose and fulfilment that it gives her, it also has lots of great perks! She has been able to give her family the opportunity to travel the world and make wonderful memories.
Bella is passionate about education. Teaching is her vocation, and she is empowered by her ability to have a positive influence on children’s lives.
Jessie finds empowerment in running regularly. The achievement of reaching a new goal makes her feel both mentally and physically strong.
Bella loves to forage. The excitement of being able to pick something out of the garden and turn it into a delicious meal is both satisfying and grounding.
Phoebe is empowered by the freedom she has as an Australian woman in the 21st century. She loves her work and she has enjoyed being able to travel and work overseas – all without the need to be escorted by a husband!
Lucy loves the feeling of wearing boots. The sound they make, the sturdiness of the sole and the confidence they give her to walk through life and through any situation in comfort – just as a man would.
Natasha has worked hard to achieve her aspiration of becoming a nurse practitioner. The added responsibility and professional accountability that she has earned, coupled with her skill set, will allow her to provide a higher standard of care to her patients.
Millie finds running to be something that allows her to have control of her mind. She loves to maintain an active lifestyle in order to have power over her own health and wellbeing.
Toni feels empowered when she can take something old and give it new life. She relishes the ability to create things of her own, without following conventional design rules.
Siobhan finds power in her ability to repair, refurbish and reuse. Her creativity and skills allow her to extend the life of things that would otherwise go to waste – a cause that is of great importance to her.
I find power in the process of learning new skills. It reminds me of how capable I am and how I can benefit from taking on new challenges in so many different ways. I have enjoyed photography as a way of looking at the world through a new lens; and being able to display the fruits of my labour in our home is the most rewarding experience.
Thank you to all the wonderful women who volunteered their time, faces and minds to me over the last couple of weeks. It has been an inspiring experience for me, and I couldn’t have done it without the generosity of all the beautiful faces you see above. Thank you!
