Self Portrait 01\24
Digital Photography, 2024
Digital Photography, 2024
This photograph captures the haunting reality faced by women navigating everyday spaces under the looming threat of gender-based violence. In the image, a lone woman in heels walks across a street, seemingly free but shadowed by the oppressive, invisible force of an unaddressed systemic issue. A discarded glove and a splash on the ground evoke the chilling remnants of violence, hinting at a crime scene. She is about to cross paths with a man whose presence symbolises the persistent threat women encounter in spaces they should feel safe in. This shadow of an unseen figure represents the government—present only in its absence and its failure to address and regulate the violence that continues to claim women's lives.
Women shouldn't have to navigate their world around the ever-present shadow of GBV. They should not bear the burden of protecting themselves from threats they did not create. As long as this shadow looms, progress remains stagnant, and true safety remains out of reach. This photograph calls on policymakers to confront the violence rooted in gender inequality and to take decisive action to ensure women can live without fear. It emphasises the critical need for governmental regulation and increased female representation in politics to drive meaningful change.