One artist wants to show the world: This is what feminism looks like.
Photographer Erin Lefevre's new series is inspired by her own feelings on feminism, and her desire for greater representation of diverse feminists.
"I became more conscious of calling myself a feminist after reflecting on the many instances in my life in which I needed feminism," Lefevre told The Huffington Post. "The more I learned about what feminism truly is, the more I became frustrated with what society thinks feminism is (this movement that hates men, doesn't shave, and burns their bras)."
Lefevre decided to photograph a diverse group of feminist artists living in the San Francisco area, asking them to share their views on feminism -- and the results are stunning.
"There has been a recent shift in pop culture that has sparked a revived interest in the feminist movement and has encouraged the chants of girl power, body positivity, and self-love," Lefevre's artist statement says. "Celebrities, however, are speaking from a privileged perspective and often do not face the same obstacles that other feminists endure on a daily basis."
Lefevre's portraits and narratives offer a voice to feminists who don't have the same privilege as celebrities, reminding us just how important inclusive feminism is.
“Being an Asian-American woman often feels like being at a crossroads. I am expected to be both demure and domestic. However, after adolescence spent wishing I were anything but a Southeast Asian American girl, I’m not finished raising my voice. The solidarity of other art makes who refuse silence compels me to continue. I came to San Francisco for education; I discovered that the most empowering education is not given within the institution.” -- Nina Vichayapai, painter and interdisciplinary artist
Check out more images from the series below.
"For me, feminism is the idea that a woman has the right to decide the direction of her life. It isn't about a 'look' or about a feeling of superiority to men. It's the right to exist as an individual with an equal say and the ability to make choices that affect her life and the way she presents herself to the world." -- Dawline-Jane Oni-Eseleh, painter and printmaker
"As feminists we must not try to disregard societies in the global south as oppressive or misogynistic but instead cite the intersecting oppressive systems that have produced such societies. It is a difficult and lengthy process but it is only once we go through that course we can truly see a change in the world." -- Zulfi Ali Bhutto, photographer and interdisciplinary artist
"People assume because I am a transgender man that I want to be a man therefore I am not a feminist because I want to change my designated gender, and that is not true. I am a very big feminist." --Oliver Redmond Coleman, photographer
"An unchaperoned woman often embodies people's sense of authority over her. Walking around solitary and topless has opened my eyes to the patronizing misogyny that permeates every facet of women's lives. Nearly everyone has felt the need to make their opinion and advice on my actions known to me. I did not request anyone's opinion or advice. We need to let the world know that we do not require their permission to do whatever the f*ck we want." -- Chelsea Ducote, painter
“Feminism to me means constant checking of my own privilege and colonized mindset, and seeing all peoples’ liberation as interconnected. As Mama Audre Lorde says, ‘there are no single issue struggles, because we do not live single issue lives’.” -- Michal "MJ" Jones, writer, educator, and activist
“People believe that tattooing is a masculinist art form. Although views are changing slowly, it is still something I am confronted with constantly. Women’s bodies have always been scrutinized by men because for some reason, they believe everything we do is to please them.” -- Anna Bongiovanni, painter
