Washington DC, Buy Weed from Women
“Being a photographer is making people look at what I wanted them to look at.”
— Ruth Orkin
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She arrived at the drumming circle when it was in full swing, walked slowly around then stood nearby. I read the message with delight. Female empowerment, yes!
I thought of Ruth Orkin’s 1951 iconic photograph, An American Girl in Italy. In her
photograph, the subject, a young woman, is modestly clad in a long black dress, walking fast, eyes downcast while men openly jeer and harass her. Google the image.
Contrast that image with this picture. Here, the subject is wearing a short skirt and showing lots of leg, stands proudly poised, her head held high. She is unashamedly carrying a bag promoting the sale of weed. The individuals in the background, mostly men, seem totally disinterested. One is even reading a newspaper, with another reading over his shoulder.
I wondered whether she was seriously selling weed or just having fun. Probably the latter, since no one was paying any attention to her. Still, she was doing a good job showing how much has changed in 70 years.
Or has it. The photo below was taken recently at the Vietnam Memorial Wall, also in DC. Here a young woman is scurrying past men waiting to have their photo taken. In my mind, she is rapidly walking past them. Her gaze is cast down and she seems very self-conscious. Are some of the men smiling at her or for the camera, I wonder. Perhaps it’s just my mind that is stuck in the 1950’s.