International Women's Day
Exhibition 2019.
This year's exhibition was held at St Brides Centre in Dalry Edinburgh. Eight members exhibited of which two were new to Wifie. As always we had a wide range of ideas on display and a great viewing party half way through the exhibition. Well done Wifies!
Edinburgh portraits – women in the city.
by Karen
I used the theme “street photography” to produce these images for International Women’s Day.
I wanted to increase my confidence as a street photographer, as I do not have a lot of experience of this, so decided that I would take close portraits. I had a few refusals, so I did not ask as many women as I would have liked, but with persistence I was able to take some portraits, these are my favourites.
The first image is of Mildred, I met her outside St Giles Cathedral. She was the first person that agreed to be photographed. She was visiting Edinburgh from Ballater for her 84th birthday.
I met Bahga on the Royal Mile, she was a little bit reluctant as she herself was not confident, but decided to pose. Bahga was visiting Edinburgh from Egypt.
The final portrait is of Tokozani, originally from South Africa, she was in Edinburgh for the weekend travelling from London.
I wanted to increase my confidence as a street photographer, as I do not have a lot of experience of this, so decided that I would take close portraits. I had a few refusals, so I did not ask as many women as I would have liked, but with persistence I was able to take some portraits, these are my favourites.
The first image is of Mildred, I met her outside St Giles Cathedral. She was the first person that agreed to be photographed. She was visiting Edinburgh from Ballater for her 84th birthday.
I met Bahga on the Royal Mile, she was a little bit reluctant as she herself was not confident, but decided to pose. Bahga was visiting Edinburgh from Egypt.
The final portrait is of Tokozani, originally from South Africa, she was in Edinburgh for the weekend travelling from London.
Take time out and find the balance
by Lokeswari
In the world out there today, People have a wrong idea of success including me. We think success means achievement. We think the more we have the more successful we are. Out of this wrong notion we get into a state of failure, rejection, stress and the list goes on and on. We really don't prioritize what we actually want.
The question is to find the right balance and to get that place, we have to be internally focused and take time out regularly. Time out could be traveling, playing your favourite sport, enjoying your favourite dish, talking to your friends and to be as simple just step out and take a walk. It’s time to have a breakthrough by having regular breaks.
The question is to find the right balance and to get that place, we have to be internally focused and take time out regularly. Time out could be traveling, playing your favourite sport, enjoying your favourite dish, talking to your friends and to be as simple just step out and take a walk. It’s time to have a breakthrough by having regular breaks.
More than a Label
by Margaret Drysdale.
Images perpetuated by the fashion industry become engrained in our psyche. They can make us feel inadequate and insecure and, in our insecurities, we buy into the never-ending consumption of fashion.
From the exploitation of workers and land in developing countries to environmental contamination and an ever-increasing mountain of waste, this endless cycle, encouraged by the clothing industry, is not only personal, it is political. #balanceforbetter
More than a label illustrates my own personal journey about my body image and low self-esteem. Like many, when I have felt unhappy and insecure, I have resorted to buying clothes to make me feel better about myself. This doesn’t work because the clothes are just a superficial mask and to be positive about our own body image, we need to find this within ourselves.
From the exploitation of workers and land in developing countries to environmental contamination and an ever-increasing mountain of waste, this endless cycle, encouraged by the clothing industry, is not only personal, it is political. #balanceforbetter
More than a label illustrates my own personal journey about my body image and low self-esteem. Like many, when I have felt unhappy and insecure, I have resorted to buying clothes to make me feel better about myself. This doesn’t work because the clothes are just a superficial mask and to be positive about our own body image, we need to find this within ourselves.
Double standards
by Damiana Magris
Definition of Double Standard (Oxford Dictionary)
‘A rule or principle which is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups’
In physics terms black is the result of the absorption of all the visible light whereas white reflects all the visible light.
I have used the two opposite ‘colours’, to represent the gender-based (along with sexual orientations, religion and race) double standards that have been associated with the traditional subordination of women and still widely applied in our modern society.
#balanceforbetter
This project has been completed thanks to the assistance of David Morrison.
‘A rule or principle which is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups’
In physics terms black is the result of the absorption of all the visible light whereas white reflects all the visible light.
I have used the two opposite ‘colours’, to represent the gender-based (along with sexual orientations, religion and race) double standards that have been associated with the traditional subordination of women and still widely applied in our modern society.
#balanceforbetter
This project has been completed thanks to the assistance of David Morrison.
Bridging the Gap - Edinburgh
by Meg
In April 2018, for the first time, large businesses were required to report on their gender pay gap – the difference in pay between male and female employees who carry out similar roles. In median terms (to negate the highest and lowest outlying figures) the average Edinburgh pay gap was 12.9%, with RBS reporting a gender pay gap of 36.5%, meaning that for every £1 earned by a man, the equivalent woman earned 63.5p.
It’s not all gloom though – there are a few businesses bucking the trend. George Heriot’s Trust actually reported a pay gap of -8.1%, meaning that their female employees actually earned a little more than their male counterparts!
As you explore Edinburgh don’t let the beautiful buildings sway your judgement either way – it turns out you can’t judge a business by the bricks and mortar. Here’s hoping our businesses learn from these new annual reports and work to start bridging the gender pay gap.
It’s not all gloom though – there are a few businesses bucking the trend. George Heriot’s Trust actually reported a pay gap of -8.1%, meaning that their female employees actually earned a little more than their male counterparts!
As you explore Edinburgh don’t let the beautiful buildings sway your judgement either way – it turns out you can’t judge a business by the bricks and mortar. Here’s hoping our businesses learn from these new annual reports and work to start bridging the gender pay gap.
Cosplayers
by Caroline Armstrong
This series of photographs was taken at Capital Sci-Fi Con 2019. I asked a number of women and girls why they enjoyed cosplay and took their portraits. Cosplay is the practice of dressing up as characters from films, books, comics or computer games. People take part in cosplay at sci-fi or comic conventions and can spend many hours perfecting their look. Conventions will normally include a parade or competition where cosplayers can showcase their costumes. Although quality is admired, a simple costume created from cardboard will also be highly praised if it was made with creativity and passion.
For many cosplay is a form of escapism and exploring an aspect of their identity they don’t often get to showcase. When they put on the costume they feel different. Some felt more strong dressed as a powerful character, or more feminine dressed in an elaborate sequined dress. One woman told me it took 400 hours to make her costume by hand and that she did it simply to see the look of joy and amazement on people’s faces when they saw her.
It doesn’t matter what someone’s background or day job is, or how professional the costume. There is a shared sense of belonging and mutual respect amongst those who love cosplay.
Edinburgh is home to some impressive businesses which own some equally impressive real estate… but, behind the architecture, what goes on?
For many cosplay is a form of escapism and exploring an aspect of their identity they don’t often get to showcase. When they put on the costume they feel different. Some felt more strong dressed as a powerful character, or more feminine dressed in an elaborate sequined dress. One woman told me it took 400 hours to make her costume by hand and that she did it simply to see the look of joy and amazement on people’s faces when they saw her.
It doesn’t matter what someone’s background or day job is, or how professional the costume. There is a shared sense of belonging and mutual respect amongst those who love cosplay.
Edinburgh is home to some impressive businesses which own some equally impressive real estate… but, behind the architecture, what goes on?
Winter Warmers
by Margaret Thomson
Two examples across the generations of how we dress to keep warm in winter.
