EXPLORING INJUSTICE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY

INJUSTICE LACK OF FAIR BEHAVIOUR OR TREATMENT

Examine the photo. With a partner, write a list of hypotheses about the photo. Use these questions to guide you: Who is the young woman ahead of the crowd carrying a book? Why does the crowd behind her seem angry? What do you think is happening in this photo? What else do you notice about the photo?

The photo shows one member of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African American students attempting to enter a school that had previously been racially segregated. This followed the momentous 1954 Supreme Court ruling that ordered the end of segregated public schools. In the picture, Elizabeth Eckford, the black student, is carrying her books and trying to go into the school as Hazel Bryan Massery shouts at her from behind.

Who are the subjects of the photo? What do you think the photographer was thinking when he took this photo? Why do you think that? What major events in the United States were taking place when this photo was taken?

What is the time period of each photo? In what ways are the time periods of these photos similar? In what ways are they different? Both photographs expose some element of racism. How? How are the subjects of each photo similar? How are they different? How are the historical events surrounding each photo similar? How are they different?

Before the women’s movement started in the 1970s, common stereotypes about women suggested that they were more emotional than intelligent, that they were better suited to mothering than to other types of work and that beauty was perhaps their most important virtue. Thanks to the women’s movement, many of those stereotypes no longer have much weight. Increasingly, women join men in high- powered professional jobs, hold important political positions and fulfill many roles besides or in addition to motherhood.

Describe the woman in the photograph. Focus on how old she looks, what she’s wearing, what she’s holding, what she’s doing and what her expression is like. With your partner, answer these questions to help you focus on the tone, or feeling, of the photo. Do you think the woman is a construction worker? Why or why not? What features in the photograph emphasize the woman’s competence? What features in the photograph emphasize the woman’s beauty? What is missing from the photo that you might expect to see? Overall, what do you think of the woman in the photo? Why?

Describe the woman in the photograph. Focus on how old she looks, what she’s wearing, what she’s holding, what she’s doing and what her expression is like. With your partner, answer these questions to help you focus on the tone, or feeling, of the photo. Do you think the woman is a construction worker? Why or why not? What features in the photograph emphasize the woman’s competence? What features in the photograph emphasize the woman’s beauty? What is missing from the photo that you might expect to see? Overall, what do you think of the woman in the photo? Why?

Now that you and your partner have studied Photo B, go back to your answers about Photo A. Make any additions or changes that you want to make, since now you have a photo to compare and contrast with Photo A. Discuss with your partner which photo you like better and why you prefer it.

Recognizing how stereotypes are perpetuated is a useful skill, since stereotypical images continue to appear in the popular media. At the same time, finding images that counter those stereotypes is also important, so that you (and others) can be clear that stereotypes are not accurate reflections of individuals or groups of people. Despite our awareness, stereotyping is still very prevalent in our day to day lives. Think about stereotyping to your own experience. In your school, household or community, do you see examples of stereotypes of women and girls? For example, do most people assume that teachers are women or that a particular sports program is for boys? Had you thought about these assumptions as stereotypes before you did these activities? Do you see examples where it’s clear that people are not accepting the stereotypes—or maybe they’re not even aware of them? For example, when your grandparents were your age, it was unusual to go to a woman doctor. Now so many doctors are women that many people no longer assume that doctors are men.

Where do you think this photo was taken? Who are the subjects of this photo? How do the subjects look? What are they wearing? What other items do you see in this photo? What seems to be the overall mood of this photo?

How do we treat people who are homeless? What stereotypes might someone have about the people in this photo?