Migration, Safety, and Dignity - National Geographic Live Virtual
The United Nations estimates that in 2020, more than 281 million people are living outside of their country of origin - only a slight decrease in growth from 2019 despite the global pandemic. Some of this is due to military, economic, or political upheaval; each situation is complex and unique. But whatever the reason, women are disproportionally affected. They are also the first to respond in a crisis and more likely to take on the burdens of their family.
This April, Arts Commons Presents and National Geographic Live are bringing a virtual presentation of three inspiring women photographers to screens and homes in Calgary. From diverse backgrounds exploring a variety of subjects, all three have one thing in common – they train their eyes on the subject of global migration, particularly on its effect on women around the world.
By shining a light on this contentious issue, The Everyday Projects – a global collective that uses photography to counteract distorting stereotypes that persist in the media – hopes to reveal the truth behind why people migrate around the world against all odds. National Geographic Live: Women and Migration will host three of these photographers on April 12 at 7 pm MST: Saiyna Bashir, Miora Rajaonary, and Danielle Villasana. (Register now to attend for free.)
Saiyna Bashir is a Pakistani photojournalist and in her TED talk she gives a glimpse into her passion for photography, as well as the sexism and stereotypes that she has had to overcome to be successful in her work.
“When I moved to Pakistan, I was barely getting any photo assignments because my male editors here don’t like sending me to protests. But two weeks ago, my New York Times editor in Hong Kong sent me to cover the attacks on the Chinese consulate in Karachi,” says Saiyna. “I remember being on the front-line shooting with other men and this police officer comes to me in plain clothes, and he started yelling at me, telling me to back off. And I said ‘Why are you only telling me to back off? There are twenty other men standing right next to me, why don’t you tell them also?’ and he said, ‘Because if something happens, you girls are going to be the first ones to cry. I didn’t engage with him, but I wanted to tell him that if I was the crying sort, I wouldn’t have been here in the first place.”
Moira Rajaonary is an independent documentary photographer who focuses on using her images to widen the lens on Madagascar. For so many people around the world, Madagascar is known for its environmental conflict and human poverty, but Moira’s imagery shows so much more. “Madagascar, which happens to be a paradise island, is more than the lemurs, giants baobabs, and the poverty and disease that they might see in mainstream media,” says Moira. “It is a land populated by unique people with a singular culture they cherish and try to preserve.”
Danielle Villasana is an independent photojournalist based in Istanbul whose documentary work focuses on human rights, gender, displacement, and health. She is also a National Geographic Explorer, Magnum Foundation awardee, and International Women’s Media Foundation fellow. She has explored a number of topics with her photography, but what won her the Magnum Foundation’s Inge Morath Award and led to her publishing her first book, was her photo series A Light Inside, which profiled the everyday lives of transgender women in Lima, Peru.
From left to right: Samantha, Alexa, and Escarle talk together in Escarle's room in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
“Migration is such a complex issue, and in fact, people are faced with push factors for years before they choose to leave their country,” says Danielle.
Her work led to her meeting and establishing lasting relationships with the women that she was photographing, granting her that much more passion and drive to do what she could to change how society treated them.
“Most trans women in Latin America do not survive past 35 and Latin America leads the world in trans homicides (80% occur here.) This is a seriously grotesque and disturbing human rights issue and yet governments are not doing enough to address it,” says Danielle. “We can only hope our stories create change, but if there are opportunities to help [subjects] on a personal individual level, I feel it is my duty to do that.”
In hopes of finding acceptance and safety, many of these women flee towards Mexico and the United States. This search for a better life is fraught with its own dangers and there’s no guarantee that they will be able to establish a safe life for themselves on the other side.
“While the lives of trans women throughout Latin America are jeopardized by transphobia and stigmatization, in Central American they’re further threatened by the region’s endemic violence from gangs, clients, police, and even family. Honduras is one of the world’s most dangerous countries to be LGBTQIA.”
During 2019, Danielle followed the migration of Catalya, a trans woman who fled her home country of Honduras because she feared for her life.
“Migrating has taught me to be a liberated person, not a bird trapped in a cage,” said Catalya shortly after arriving in Tijuana, Mexico. Despite her hopeful words, she is still waiting to present her case for asylum in the United States which has been delayed for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Catalya’s story is just one of the many lives that Danielle has documented through her work. Tragically, many of those women didn’t survive past the age of 30; Danielle still hasn’t discovered what happened to several of them.
You can view more of Danielle’s work by visiting her Instragram account @davillasana.
If you’re interested in exploring the diverse and fascinating experiences of these amazing photographers, join us for Arts Commons Presents National Geographic Live: Women and Migration with Saiyna Bashir, Miora Rajaonary, and Danielle Villasana on Monday, April 12 at 7:00pm. Tickets are free, but registration is required. Please note: This event features stories and photos that reference sexual assault, domestic violence, and terrorism. Viewer discretion is advised.
Visit artscommons.ca/natgeolive to sign up or to find out more.
We are so very grateful for the generous support of ConocoPhillips Canada, Keyera Corp., Enbridge Inc., Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals, and our Explorers Circle and Founders Circle members who are making it possible for Arts Commons to continue to engage and inspire student and public audiences though an online platform.
