BARCELONA — In the development and humanitarian aid sector, women are often portrayed as vulnerable or suffering — particularly those who live in challenging situations, faced with the daily realities of poverty, conflict, or crisis. Society has predominantly viewed these women through the experience and vision of male photographers.
Committed to changing that, the following selection of photos — all taken by female photographers — emphasizes women’s humanity and dignity. The original series, entitled “Women by Women,” is a photo campaign and recent exhibition by ActionAid that has been looking to change the face of photography.
In this visual feature, Devex brings a selection of these photos to our audience.
These photos present stories of empowerment, entrepreneurship, and solidarity and were taken by local female photographers to bring a deeper level of understanding and authenticity to women’s experiences. They were also produced in collaboration with the women and girls who feature in them, ensuring they have a choice in how they are represented.
View a selection of these photos from the “Women by Women” campaign.
Devex, with support from our partner UN Women, is exploring how data is being used to inform policy and advocacy to advance gender equality. Gender data is crucial to make every woman and girl count. Visit the Focus on: Gender Data page for more. Disclaimer: The views in this article do not necessarily represent the views of UN Women.
About the authors
Helen Morgan
Helen Morgan is a journalist and editor, primarily focusing on climate change, migration, humanitarian crises, and human rights. She was previously an Associate Editor at Devex, where she managed the op-eds section and led a project covering climate resilience in small island developing states. Helen was also features editor at World Politics Review, and editor and writer at the environmental think tank WRI, as well as editing for The New Humanitarian. She lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.
Naomi Mihara
Naomi Mihara is an Associate Editor for Devex, working on creative and audiovisual projects. She has a background in journalism and international development, having previously served as an assistant correspondent for Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun and as a communications officer for the International Organization for Migration in Southeast Asia. She holds a master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University.