The ReIncluGen project, part of the European Horizon program, focuses on inclusion and gender empowerment with a special emphasis on the experiences of women with a migration background in Europe. Photography plays a crucial role in this project as it is a powerful medium for visually sharing the often unheard stories of these women, contributing to their visibility and understanding within the community, thus ensuring their experiences and perspectives are better understood and valued.
Photography offers a unique way to empower individuals. Within the ReIncluGen project, it allows women to create and share their own narratives. This process of self-expression and reflection enhances their self-esteem and pride. It is a means to powerfully depict both personal and shared stories, leading to a deeper connection with their own identity and the broader society. By bringing their stories to light, these women gain a voice that is both heard and seen. Moreover, photography helps them process and communicate their experiences in a way that sometimes transcends words.
Images have the power to convey deep emotions and stories. However, the impact of a photo can be further enhanced by accompanying texts. These texts provide context, raise questions, and can prompt the audience to reflect and debate. By combining images and text, we can foster a broader and deeper understanding of complex themes such as inclusion and gender empowerment. This ensures that the messages conveyed by the photos are not lost and resonate more profoundly with viewers. Additionally, texts can offer nuances and backgrounds that a photo alone cannot, creating a fuller and richer narrative.
It is especially rewarding when work and hobby come together. Kris works at Kunlabora, the software partner in the project, but is also an amateur photographer. A photo competition for socially engaged photographers was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the ReIncluGen project. Photography duo Ilse and Kris dove into the studio to create images that reflect the essence of the project. After capturing the photos, they worked with ReIncluGen researchers to write thought-provoking captions that clarify the stories behind the images. This collaboration ensured that the images are not only aesthetically strong but also substantial in content.
This experience has provided us with valuable insights. This time, our time was limited, and we had to move quickly. We are certainly eager for more and want to involve the women even more in the creation process of the photos. In the future, we aim to conceptualize and realize the photos participatively, with the women actively involved in shaping their visual stories. This will not only increase the authenticity of the images but also further enhance the empowerment of the participants.
Now that we have submitted our images, we eagerly await the results of the competition in September. We hope that our photo series can touch people not only with its artistic value but also with the important stories it tells. The anticipation and hope for our work to be recognized add an extra layer of excitement to this project. Regardless of the outcome, the ultimate goal remains to contribute to the visibility and understanding of women with a migration background in Europe through powerful images and stories. The competition provides a platform to bring these important themes to the forefront and hopefully make a broader societal impact.
The ReIncluGen project is an inspiring example of how art and technology can work together to promote social change. Through the power of photography and the dedication of all involved, we can make a positive contribution to a more inclusive and just society.
Curious about the photos and their explanations? Discover them below.
Photo 1 depicts a woman letting sand slip through her fingers like time. This image represents precious moments and personal growth through empowerment and inclusion, emphasizing the dynamic process of self-development. It raises questions about the time women invest in their own empowerment and the obstacles they must overcome. The woman is wearing a burka, often a symbol in debates about the oppression of women. For many women from the ReIncluGen research, religion is a source of strength and support in facing numerous challenges at the intersection of migration, gender, and ethnicity in Europe. The garment highlights the complexity and challenges that many women worldwide face in their pursuit of self-development and freedom. It also shows how women are confronted with various interpretations of their identity, from extremism to Islamophobia. The sand slipping through the fingers symbolizes how women in 2024 still struggle to grasp how the world perceives them. Our research shows that these women continuously fight against prejudices, both within their own cultural and religious communities and against dominant neoliberal ideas about freedom and emancipation.
Photo 2 emphasizes how food brings people together worldwide. This universal image shows how community building and participation are crucial for gender empowerment and inclusion. Food not only brings us together but also fosters conversations without hierarchy—at the table, everyone is equal. It is a call for equal exchange, care, and solidarity. These are precisely the themes central to many women in our research when they think about empowerment.
Photo 3 shows an open book, "1001 Nights," next to today's newspaper. This image depicts the duality of dreams and reality, and how stories can inspire and confront us. It invites reflection on how stories shape our perception of empowerment and inclusion. Moreover, it challenges Western, exotic stereotypes about women with a migration background: we want to question the imagery surrounding migrants, specific regions, and cultural/religious groups.
Photo's by Kris Aerts and Ilse Premereur. Text by Kris Aerts