– Photographs and interviews by Elena McGannon
Artist Statement
Four years ago, after being isolated and raped on a night out with friends, a female district attorney told Danielle Tansino that the man who raped her would not face prosecution because “jurors don’t like girls who drink.”
In response, Tansino founded a non-for-profit organisation called Red My Lips, devoted to raising awareness of sexual violence and demonstrating solidarity for those facing its impact.
In April (Sexual Violence Awareness Month) I began documenting subjects participating in the month-long Red My Lips 2015 campaign, where participants wore red lipstick every day as a symbol of the strength and solidarity the organisation promotes. I aimed to map perspectives of sexual violence in the hope of combatting societal factors of abuse – including victim blaming and oppressive gender norms – and to raise awareness of their presence and prevalence.
Sexual violence does not discriminate. Red your lips and bring light to the hidden issue of sexual violence. Stand in solidarity.
Image One: Ivor Wong
Society conditions men not to have emotions, it tells them that being manly is about being strong and tough enough to take whatever we want. We’re taught that it’s every man for himself, told to be so detached, that showing an emotional attachment to a woman can get us labelled as “mommy’s boys”, or “whipped”, and that’s dangerous. For me, it just seems that emotionless men are the root of a lot of problems on earth.
I’m lucky in that, as a man, I’m unlikely to ever be a victim of sexual assault. But just because it is less likely to happen to men than women it doesn’t mean that it isn’t our problem. Making up half the population, we too have the responsibility to attempt to rectify the problem, to eliminate sexual assault.
Privilege comes with responsibility, and male privilege is no exception. I think that the fact that male privilege still exists means that the world is far from perfect, but while it still does, men have the moral obligation to strive for equality, to speak up against sexual assault, and try to eradicate it entirely. Our moms, sisters, friends, anyone, shouldn’t have to feel unsafe just walking home.
I think that’s what being manly is about.
Image Two: Cheyann De Jong
I’ve been fortunate enough to study law at university. I’ve been even more fortunate to not experience violence in my life. For the pro bono component of my course, I decided to put these two factors together and work with the Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) and help those who were not as lucky as I have been.
Working with the ECLC was intense – we would hear stories of pregnant women who were trapped in abusive relationships, women who were forced to leave their jobs, girls who were followed home from school by strangers or even an abusive parent.
We visited courts and these stories were shown in a whole new light; case after case, I saw people come and file for intervention orders. I saw a grandmother, a daughter, a friend, a child all come in and make this order because of the violence they did not deserve. It was in this placement where I remembered why I chose this course: a desire to help those who needed it most, and those who may be least likely to access this help.
I met a representative from the Eastern Domestic Violence Service towards the end of my placement who told us about the work they do to support women and children trying to escape this violence. ‘Live free from violence’ was one of their missions.
Living free from violence is something that every single human needs. Living free from violence empowers women to live in their community how they want,not feeling like they have to hide, or be ashamed. ‘Live Free From Violence’ is something that will always resonate with me.
Image Three: Hillary De Guingand
I will not stand for being made to feel weak. I have before. Weak, powerless, stupid, vulnerable, mistaken. But this is my life, this is my body, and this is my mind. And they are mine to empower.
Elena is a conceptual photographer currently studying Photography at RMIT. Her work heavily focuses on the human condition and societal constructs.
You can view more of her work on her Facebook Page.
