Viewpoint
The RPS’s Hundred Heroines initiative is a great idea, but what else should we do to achieve gender equality in photography?
‘Women need to be a little braver. They need to put themselves out there... and try to get their work seen’
With 2018 marking 100 years of women’s suffrage, it’s fitting that the Royal Photographic Society should launch its Hundred Heroines project. It’s aiming to find photography’s 100 most inspirational women and has put out an appeal for nominations. You don't have to be an RPS member to nominate via www.rps.org/100-heroines/nominatehere, but time is running out as the deadline is 28 September.
Within a few minutes of hearing about the project, I’d drawn up a mental roll call of women who must be a shoo-in for the historic list. Most, if not all of them seem to have been nominated, but what interests me more is the modern- day list. It contains the names of many women who I’ve never heard of. I mean them no disrespect, they’ve probably been doing what many female photographers do, quietly getting on with being brilliant without making a fuss or drawing a great deal of attention to themselves.
That’s an approach I’ve always admired. It seems logical that if you work really hard at something and you get really good at it, you’ll get the attention you deserve. However, you only need to look at the line-up of camera brand ambassadors to realise that this isn’t working for women. They’re not being recognised. That means that a lot of fantastic, creative photography isn’t being seen and is therefore unable to inspire other photographers – men and women.
I think the Hundred Heroines initiative is a great step in the right direction for equality in photography. It’s got people talking and has received good coverage, but what happens after the panel agrees the 100 heroines, the exhibition is taken down and the medals have been handed out? I’m sure the RPS (and specifically, the Women in Photography group) has something in mind, but to really make a difference, we all need to play a part. Magazine editors need to try a little harder to find female photographers who can contribute – I know I’m pushing on an open door with AP here. Photographers can also help by doling out praise beyond a remark about the attractiveness of the subject. Acknowledging someone’s technical decisions can go a long way to building confidence. And yes, women need to be a little braver. They need to put themselves out there, submit images to magazines, enter competitions and try to get their work seen.
For my part, with help from trusted and respected female colleagues, I’ve founded a women’s photography network called SheClicks to offer support and enable female photographers to grow in confidence. With hundreds signing up to the Facebook group via sheclicksnet in just a few weeks, clearly there’s demand for it. It’s also become obvious that there are lots of highly skilled female photographers who are very giving with their time and knowledge. I’m hoping that by the time the RPS is looking for 200 heroines, the nominees will be much more widely known.