I agree with a lot of what you have shared, especially about the data bias that skews representation and inclusion of women. I had been featured in some videos for Paulie’s YouTube, not his Walkie Talkie series, but I don’t think I will ever be asked to be interviewed because I’ve called out content creators and have critiqued about how he has asked women certain questions and not men. His mutual spoke up for him and said that they assume to know the answer which confirmed (to me) that the content he creates is with men in mind.
I run into other women quite often but I don’t stop to talk unless I know them or they are not busy taking photos. Being in New York City there’s more opportunity to meet people but women have not been welcomed into the photography spaces unless they are friends with someone there or because their work is viewed as exceptional. I’ve come to the realization that I can create work and socialize without investing my time and resources into organizations that don’t offer opportunities for women who aren’t their friends, as well. By the way, I have a post on all the active street photography collectives and I listed out most of them with their members, linked to their websites. That’s a good source to discover more female photographers if you’d like to connect with more.
Thanks, Dani, for your comment ,I really appreciate it.
I've observed that women photographers tend to interact less with others, even when they encounter a fellow photographer. This often stems from a focus on our own work and creative process. It's not about being unfriendly or thinking one is superior; rather, it's a form of respect for another's creative space and concentration. Personally, I wouldn't stop another woman photographer, though I might offer a smile as a sign of acknowledgment. In contrast, I've noticed men are more inclined to stop and chat with other men, perhaps discussing gear or their work.
I'll definitely check out your post, as I'm keen to connect more with women in street photography.
REALLY interesting (yes the caps were intended) Giulia, thank you. I’ve tried street but I just can’t get on with it, albeit I appreciate good street photography made by others.
I’m a white CIS male in my early 50s (I never felt the need to qualify which half of a decade before I got this old 😉) and I’ve always felt like ‘that guy’ when photographing on the street. My baggage rather than anything substantive? Probably, but I have to be honest; I struggle with the notion of doing street, in that I can’t quite balance the perceived intrusion on others vs any merit of the work. This is not some throwaway comment intended to deride a whole genre, more my own internal conflict. As said I appreciate good street work but I then ponder what’s the true significance and why do it if I can’t see the true value of it?
There undoubtedly is significance, but my thought is that that truly comes in future years (to wit Winogrand, Helen Levitt et al). Social media distorts: consumption now leads us to try and create things that grab attention, which I believe heavily leads into the ‘street bro’ mentality of entitlement. Oft-heard from those quarters is the ‘it’s legal so I’m doing it’ kind of rejoinder. To that I’d say it’s legal to marry your cousin but that doesn’t make it a good idea. The ethics of good work is so often drowned in the dude cult that can surround areas of street.
Street that does no harm and that is valued on social media now is rare. In fact the two things are - arguably - diametrically opposed. Why do we see so much harsh shadows and blocks of colour kind of work? This, IMHO.
To me this means that I instinctively appreciate the work of women street photographers more. There seems a very different approach (less combative for a start and no, all you sensitive males, I’m not saying you’re all combative) and it typically shows in the work. I can’t remember seeing a street photo by a woman that makes a spectacle of someone else, put it that way. I’m sure someone offended will be along with examples in just a moment… As such the imbalance in street between men and women is real and is utterly unjustified, but I think this is simply reflective of a medium and practice (ie photography) evolved almost entirely as a male domain. As ever, it’ll be hard work to turn that supertanker, but worth it in the long run.
As for a system stacked against women, and not just limited to street photography? Absolutely. Nail on head.
I intend to write an article about all this in due course. But until then, thank you again and I’m subscribed.
Thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful and honest comment. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective, and I found it REALLY interesting to read your insights and personal reflections on street photography.
Your point about the perceived intrusion versus the merit of the work truly resonated with me, and it's a conflict I think many street photographers grapple with, whether consciously or not. It's refreshing to hear someone articulate that internal struggle so clearly.
I completely agree with your observations on how social media can distort our approach to photography, often leading to a focus on immediate attention rather than deeper value. The "street bro" mentality you described, and the "it's legal so I'm doing it" argument, are unfortunately familiar, and your analogy about marrying a cousin perfectly highlights the ethical considerations that can sometimes be overlooked.
It's also wonderful to hear your appreciation for the work of women street photographers and your sense that our approach tends to be "less combative." That's something I've felt intuitively, but you've put words to it beautifully. Your point about the historical male dominance in photography is spot on, and it's a "supertanker" we definitely need to keep working to turn.
Thank you again for such a rich and insightful contribution to the conversation. I'm really looking forward to reading your article on this topic when it's ready!
Enjoyed this…. Had to skim sadly bc I’ve got a child needs doctor situation. Not serious I am hoping. But commenting so I might find my way back?
So many thoughts. One though is about areas/genres where I feel women’s work is better represented. Documentary, diaristic, conceptual, commercial… as opposed to street photography, def male dominated. Poor choice of words maybe. But not too far off perhaps. My thoughts on street work is that genre wide the needle doesn’t seem to have moved a ton in some decades. The genre feels kind of stale. I say this and I do make street photographs. Sometimes these are more documentary in nature and less decisive moment really. But I am probably missing something.
Nudes suffer a similar dilemma, in my opinion . The bar was set a while ago and today’s practitioners feel more like cover bands. Mostly male cover bands who can’t shake objectification as their interest. Some women get into the nude photography game and their work seems automatically more interesting to me as a clapback. Maybe this is true with women street photographers too? I don’t pay enough attention. Boys club vibe is tired.
Anyway, I have to run. Will try to return. And learn more. Thanks.
Im constantly conscious of this, especially as a old grumpy white male. I enjoy seeing the world through the eyes of others. Different cultures, upbringings, neighbourhoods, life experiences all shape what we see and what we capture. Why limit this?
I like to feel that i actively support and share the work of women street photographers when i can. I try to engage, i purchase zines when possible, i check the judging panels for awards before choosing to enter.
Im not after a pat on the back, just relaying what can be done, but i fear it has little impact. Im lucky to have women photographers in the meet up groups i attend, but its not many.
I attended a local photo show recently and it was cringe to see a hundred men and maybe one or two women.
The thing i hate the most is seeing men post 'street' photos where the only thing of interest is a 'pretty woman'. If you are doing this, have a word with yourself! I should call it out but i admit i don't. Instead i refuse to engage with this images.
Its not up to women photographers to tell us what to do and how to assist, its up to us to recognise that the current photography world is built around us men. We need to open the door and widen the platform.
There is an inherent male gaze borndering on soft cor p0rn with this genre, upended by only a handful of women. Chiefly among them, Helen Levit and Melissa O'Shaughnessy. I can rattle off a dozen women street shooters but it took some doing to learn their names and their work. What is taught and lauded is the Women are Beautiful (don't get me wrong, a solid book) school of shooting. Where women are fetishized and the work is held in esteem. Cartier Bresson, David Godlis and Mark Cohen seemed to steer clear of this trope, thankfully. They seek the exquisite non moments of life in the theatre of the street. However, the obnoxious overtones of the entitlement of men in the street makes me queasy. I like seeing men shoot respectfully, like Greg Miller. He asks permission and sets it up with a box camera. Men have a lot to learn on how to make this genre more of a celebration on the street and less of a trawl.
Hear hear, Giulia. A great piece coming from lived experience. I appreciate all you wrote and your acknowledgment of other, less represented and more marginalized viewpoints. You’re one of my favourite people on this platform, thanks for sharing this!
Another collective of female photographers I follow and really love is, Her Exposure.
As a women street photographer, there are hundreds of women I know and most of them have never been asked to participate in interviews. People who host podcasts and YouTube channels specializing in interviews tend to look for creatives who have larger followings and most of the women are not established because it’s been more difficult to be recognized. I also think that a lot of competitions unintentionally exclude women because they may not have the disposable income to afford to submit. I don’t submit work to certain competitions - the Women Street Photography competition, for example, I have submitted to in the past but have not had work selected for, but I do think the criteria, which isn’t disclosed, does prevent some from being selected. I also think a lot of guys I know, some of which are considered highly well known in the genre prefer to network and promote through their friends. And honestly I don’t know what you mean that street photography is easier for women because you’re basing that off your opinion. I’ve been followed and criticized for photographing subjects, especially children and elderly people, because some have thought to be predatory. You admit that your comment is based on anecdotal comments, but are you a woman? I actually wrote my thesis on street photography and how social media was changing the genre in 2016 and some things have changed, but I interviewed over 20 people, half of which were women and the other half were men, and everyone shared experiences that were different and similar in various ways. Cultures, upbringings, education, goals, interests, other hobbies, even dynamics of friends and family, all of it varied from person to person.
I read the comment from the person who is no longer on Substack (I actually wondered if they might have been a troll) and I was like: "are you really believing in what are you saying?".
Thanks again, Dani. I hadn't considered that most photography competitions require an entry fee, and it's a fact that women generally earn less than men. I recently saw the 'Women by Women' photo competition promoted by Vogue Italia, it was a free competition open worldwide, and I was quite surprised by that.
I deleted my previous comment, because it has clearly been misconstrued, and I don't want to be seen as the customary mysoginist in this discussion.
I'll try to reiterate my points in a clearer manner.
Is street photography male dominated? It sure is. Is it a systemic mysoginist agenda, I don't think so. Historically, photography has been male dominated, but it is changing now and the tide is turning.
There is clearly more male-oriented street photography content on youtube, but this may be due to many more factors than the assumed systemic discrimination. For one, this may stem from the equipment-focused content which attracts male audiences. I know many women photographers (maybe not hundreds like Dani C), but I would struggle to find one that is as much into photo equipment as majority of male photographers. Also, youtube content tends to be increasingly tailored for the specific audience that guarantees revenue stream for the author.
When looking for some data about the subject of this article (there is virtually no hard data on gender differences in photography), I found this article on fstoppers:
The discussion there is full of the usual suspects, but I found it interesting that one commenter pointed out that the youtube content for the discussed brand is male dominated, while the instagram has clearly more women featured. It is a game of numbers, and content creators and advertisers tailor their content mercilessly. So the male-bias of photography content on youtube may be due to audience statistics, and not the real-world numbers.
Continuing on the youtube topic and the online interviews genre, I discussed the presence of women photographers in this kind of content with a youtuber who invited me to be featured on his channel. What I found surprising was that vast majority of women street photographers he reached out to and asked for an interview said no on various grounds. At the same time, nearly all male photographers that he asked agreed.
So despite his best efforts to feature more women on the channel, he was largely unsuccessful. If it is a sign of a broader tendency, then we have to take that into account when speaking of the imbalance between male and female photographers in street oriented content on youtube.
I personally really enjoy such interviews with women, because they tend to have interesting or different perspective on various things, and I rarely watch similar content with men, as I find it quite repetitive with the same answers given to the questions.
I don't know about the different questions asked to women and men on PaulieB's channel, because I watched only a handful of them and most were with female guests, but if what Dani C is saying about that is true, then it is really a shame and should be called out.
As for the competitions, grants etc. I don't think that women-only initiatives are the way to go. We should strive to ensure that all genders can compete on equal terms, that the judging panels represent the broadest possible sensibility and are unbiased. In short term, such initiatives aimed at promoting women's work in photography will yeld a positive effect and increase awareness, but I fear that in long term, they may be counter-productive. The result may be ghettoization of photography, and rise in "masculine energy" nonsense we currently see in tech industry.
Thank you for clarifying your points and for taking the time to share your perspective. I appreciate the effort to delve into the "why" behind the statistics, and I agree with you that photography has historically been male-dominated and that the landscape is indeed shifting slightly (which is positive).
However, I respectfully disagree with the conclusion that the current imbalance, particularly in online visibility and representation, is not indicative of systemic issues. While I can certainly see how factors like equipment focus might appeal more to certain demographics, and how content creators tailor for their audiences, I believe these are symptoms, not the root cause. If I consider myself in this example, I find videos of technical gear that are basically a reading of instructions provided by the camera company to not be worthwhile, so I don't want to spend my time listening, when I can or read it, or try on my own. However, I do watch plenty of reviews of camera gear, and I don't believe there is any evidence to point to the idea that women are less likely to be interested in this (what you have stated is purely anecdotal/assumptions). I'm interested in technicalities, because photography is my job, so I spend the time to educate myself on this matter, as I believe many other women would do.
Regarding your point about women declining opportunities to be featured on YouTube channels, I think it's crucial to consider why they might be saying no. From my perspective, it's often not simply a lack of willingness, but a protective measure against the very real and pervasive issues women face online. Unfortunately, the internet, and particularly platforms like YouTube, can be a hostile environment for women. For example, when women are featured, they frequently become targets of sexist, objectifying, or condescending comments, comments that male creators rarely have to endure (they can receive other types of negative feedback, but rarely is it objectifying). This constant exposure to misogyny, the mental burden of having to police comments, or the fear of being judged purely on appearance rather than photographic skill, can be incredibly draining and deter women from wanting that kind of public exposure. It becomes a question of personal safety and mental well-being, not just a casual choice.
While a YouTuber might genuinely try to feature more women, the environment surrounding those features often makes it an undesirable or even harmful experience for the women involved. This isn't necessarily a "systemic misogynist agenda" in the sense of a deliberate plot, but rather the manifestation of pervasive societal sexism that leaks into online spaces and creates significant barriers.
Ultimately, I think it's important to remember that human behaviour and societal patterns can always be seen on different levels. While individual choices certainly play a part, we also need to consider the broader external factors and systemic influences that might shape those choices and behaviours in ways that aren't always immediately obvious from just one perspective.
Thank you again for contributing to this important discussion.
Photography oriented content on youtube does have predominantly male viewership. It is difficult to find generalised data on google, because google is no longer interested in providing meaningful search results, but sometimes youtubers share their stats, and this is the tendency. Your perception of women's interest in equipment videos may be a bit skewed by the fact that you are a professional photographer, and need this knowledge for work. I would argue however that equipment nerds are mostly male.
I perfectly understand your view on the concerns women may have when declining the opportunity to be featured, with youtube being a hostile environment. But, it should be the author's responsibility to moderate the comments under their videos and create a professional and friendly environment for discussion. The example I gave was of a channel in Polish language and with a rather small viewership, so the issues you mentioned were not as pervasive there. I don't think there was a single negative comment posted under any of the videos, but I see what is going on in the comments sections on more high profile English speaking channels. It is a shame really, and I don't have an answer to that. What I wanted to point out in my comment, was that the number of women featured in those walkie-talkie videos is often not a result of the author's bias but some other factors as well.
It is easy to come to conclusions based on limited data or on prevailing narratives. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle, and we should all strive to get out of our encampments and try to see a bigger picture.
I would be interested in your view, as a professional fashion photographer, of the current situation in the fashion photography industry, which traditionally has been the lair of sexism and objectification of women.
I agree with a lot of what you have shared, especially about the data bias that skews representation and inclusion of women. I had been featured in some videos for Paulie’s YouTube, not his Walkie Talkie series, but I don’t think I will ever be asked to be interviewed because I’ve called out content creators and have critiqued about how he has asked women certain questions and not men. His mutual spoke up for him and said that they assume to know the answer which confirmed (to me) that the content he creates is with men in mind.
I run into other women quite often but I don’t stop to talk unless I know them or they are not busy taking photos. Being in New York City there’s more opportunity to meet people but women have not been welcomed into the photography spaces unless they are friends with someone there or because their work is viewed as exceptional. I’ve come to the realization that I can create work and socialize without investing my time and resources into organizations that don’t offer opportunities for women who aren’t their friends, as well. By the way, I have a post on all the active street photography collectives and I listed out most of them with their members, linked to their websites. That’s a good source to discover more female photographers if you’d like to connect with more.
Thanks, Dani, for your comment ,I really appreciate it.
I've observed that women photographers tend to interact less with others, even when they encounter a fellow photographer. This often stems from a focus on our own work and creative process. It's not about being unfriendly or thinking one is superior; rather, it's a form of respect for another's creative space and concentration. Personally, I wouldn't stop another woman photographer, though I might offer a smile as a sign of acknowledgment. In contrast, I've noticed men are more inclined to stop and chat with other men, perhaps discussing gear or their work.
I'll definitely check out your post, as I'm keen to connect more with women in street photography.
REALLY interesting (yes the caps were intended) Giulia, thank you. I’ve tried street but I just can’t get on with it, albeit I appreciate good street photography made by others.
I’m a white CIS male in my early 50s (I never felt the need to qualify which half of a decade before I got this old 😉) and I’ve always felt like ‘that guy’ when photographing on the street. My baggage rather than anything substantive? Probably, but I have to be honest; I struggle with the notion of doing street, in that I can’t quite balance the perceived intrusion on others vs any merit of the work. This is not some throwaway comment intended to deride a whole genre, more my own internal conflict. As said I appreciate good street work but I then ponder what’s the true significance and why do it if I can’t see the true value of it?
There undoubtedly is significance, but my thought is that that truly comes in future years (to wit Winogrand, Helen Levitt et al). Social media distorts: consumption now leads us to try and create things that grab attention, which I believe heavily leads into the ‘street bro’ mentality of entitlement. Oft-heard from those quarters is the ‘it’s legal so I’m doing it’ kind of rejoinder. To that I’d say it’s legal to marry your cousin but that doesn’t make it a good idea. The ethics of good work is so often drowned in the dude cult that can surround areas of street.
Street that does no harm and that is valued on social media now is rare. In fact the two things are - arguably - diametrically opposed. Why do we see so much harsh shadows and blocks of colour kind of work? This, IMHO.
To me this means that I instinctively appreciate the work of women street photographers more. There seems a very different approach (less combative for a start and no, all you sensitive males, I’m not saying you’re all combative) and it typically shows in the work. I can’t remember seeing a street photo by a woman that makes a spectacle of someone else, put it that way. I’m sure someone offended will be along with examples in just a moment… As such the imbalance in street between men and women is real and is utterly unjustified, but I think this is simply reflective of a medium and practice (ie photography) evolved almost entirely as a male domain. As ever, it’ll be hard work to turn that supertanker, but worth it in the long run.
As for a system stacked against women, and not just limited to street photography? Absolutely. Nail on head.
I intend to write an article about all this in due course. But until then, thank you again and I’m subscribed.
Ben
Thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful and honest comment. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective, and I found it REALLY interesting to read your insights and personal reflections on street photography.
Your point about the perceived intrusion versus the merit of the work truly resonated with me, and it's a conflict I think many street photographers grapple with, whether consciously or not. It's refreshing to hear someone articulate that internal struggle so clearly.
I completely agree with your observations on how social media can distort our approach to photography, often leading to a focus on immediate attention rather than deeper value. The "street bro" mentality you described, and the "it's legal so I'm doing it" argument, are unfortunately familiar, and your analogy about marrying a cousin perfectly highlights the ethical considerations that can sometimes be overlooked.
It's also wonderful to hear your appreciation for the work of women street photographers and your sense that our approach tends to be "less combative." That's something I've felt intuitively, but you've put words to it beautifully. Your point about the historical male dominance in photography is spot on, and it's a "supertanker" we definitely need to keep working to turn.
Thank you again for such a rich and insightful contribution to the conversation. I'm really looking forward to reading your article on this topic when it's ready!
Enjoyed this…. Had to skim sadly bc I’ve got a child needs doctor situation. Not serious I am hoping. But commenting so I might find my way back?
So many thoughts. One though is about areas/genres where I feel women’s work is better represented. Documentary, diaristic, conceptual, commercial… as opposed to street photography, def male dominated. Poor choice of words maybe. But not too far off perhaps. My thoughts on street work is that genre wide the needle doesn’t seem to have moved a ton in some decades. The genre feels kind of stale. I say this and I do make street photographs. Sometimes these are more documentary in nature and less decisive moment really. But I am probably missing something.
Nudes suffer a similar dilemma, in my opinion . The bar was set a while ago and today’s practitioners feel more like cover bands. Mostly male cover bands who can’t shake objectification as their interest. Some women get into the nude photography game and their work seems automatically more interesting to me as a clapback. Maybe this is true with women street photographers too? I don’t pay enough attention. Boys club vibe is tired.
Anyway, I have to run. Will try to return. And learn more. Thanks.
Im constantly conscious of this, especially as a old grumpy white male. I enjoy seeing the world through the eyes of others. Different cultures, upbringings, neighbourhoods, life experiences all shape what we see and what we capture. Why limit this?
I like to feel that i actively support and share the work of women street photographers when i can. I try to engage, i purchase zines when possible, i check the judging panels for awards before choosing to enter.
Im not after a pat on the back, just relaying what can be done, but i fear it has little impact. Im lucky to have women photographers in the meet up groups i attend, but its not many.
I attended a local photo show recently and it was cringe to see a hundred men and maybe one or two women.
The thing i hate the most is seeing men post 'street' photos where the only thing of interest is a 'pretty woman'. If you are doing this, have a word with yourself! I should call it out but i admit i don't. Instead i refuse to engage with this images.
Its not up to women photographers to tell us what to do and how to assist, its up to us to recognise that the current photography world is built around us men. We need to open the door and widen the platform.
There is an inherent male gaze borndering on soft cor p0rn with this genre, upended by only a handful of women. Chiefly among them, Helen Levit and Melissa O'Shaughnessy. I can rattle off a dozen women street shooters but it took some doing to learn their names and their work. What is taught and lauded is the Women are Beautiful (don't get me wrong, a solid book) school of shooting. Where women are fetishized and the work is held in esteem. Cartier Bresson, David Godlis and Mark Cohen seemed to steer clear of this trope, thankfully. They seek the exquisite non moments of life in the theatre of the street. However, the obnoxious overtones of the entitlement of men in the street makes me queasy. I like seeing men shoot respectfully, like Greg Miller. He asks permission and sets it up with a box camera. Men have a lot to learn on how to make this genre more of a celebration on the street and less of a trawl.
Hear hear, Giulia. A great piece coming from lived experience. I appreciate all you wrote and your acknowledgment of other, less represented and more marginalized viewpoints. You’re one of my favourite people on this platform, thanks for sharing this!
Another collective of female photographers I follow and really love is, Her Exposure.
As a women street photographer, there are hundreds of women I know and most of them have never been asked to participate in interviews. People who host podcasts and YouTube channels specializing in interviews tend to look for creatives who have larger followings and most of the women are not established because it’s been more difficult to be recognized. I also think that a lot of competitions unintentionally exclude women because they may not have the disposable income to afford to submit. I don’t submit work to certain competitions - the Women Street Photography competition, for example, I have submitted to in the past but have not had work selected for, but I do think the criteria, which isn’t disclosed, does prevent some from being selected. I also think a lot of guys I know, some of which are considered highly well known in the genre prefer to network and promote through their friends. And honestly I don’t know what you mean that street photography is easier for women because you’re basing that off your opinion. I’ve been followed and criticized for photographing subjects, especially children and elderly people, because some have thought to be predatory. You admit that your comment is based on anecdotal comments, but are you a woman? I actually wrote my thesis on street photography and how social media was changing the genre in 2016 and some things have changed, but I interviewed over 20 people, half of which were women and the other half were men, and everyone shared experiences that were different and similar in various ways. Cultures, upbringings, education, goals, interests, other hobbies, even dynamics of friends and family, all of it varied from person to person.
I read the comment from the person who is no longer on Substack (I actually wondered if they might have been a troll) and I was like: "are you really believing in what are you saying?".
Thanks again, Dani. I hadn't considered that most photography competitions require an entry fee, and it's a fact that women generally earn less than men. I recently saw the 'Women by Women' photo competition promoted by Vogue Italia, it was a free competition open worldwide, and I was quite surprised by that.
Jakub I think you’ve kinda proved pretty much every point made in the original article.
I deleted my previous comment, because it has clearly been misconstrued, and I don't want to be seen as the customary mysoginist in this discussion.
I'll try to reiterate my points in a clearer manner.
Is street photography male dominated? It sure is. Is it a systemic mysoginist agenda, I don't think so. Historically, photography has been male dominated, but it is changing now and the tide is turning.
There is clearly more male-oriented street photography content on youtube, but this may be due to many more factors than the assumed systemic discrimination. For one, this may stem from the equipment-focused content which attracts male audiences. I know many women photographers (maybe not hundreds like Dani C), but I would struggle to find one that is as much into photo equipment as majority of male photographers. Also, youtube content tends to be increasingly tailored for the specific audience that guarantees revenue stream for the author.
When looking for some data about the subject of this article (there is virtually no hard data on gender differences in photography), I found this article on fstoppers:
https://fstoppers.com/originals/are-cameras-just-men-industry-needs-change-313935
The discussion there is full of the usual suspects, but I found it interesting that one commenter pointed out that the youtube content for the discussed brand is male dominated, while the instagram has clearly more women featured. It is a game of numbers, and content creators and advertisers tailor their content mercilessly. So the male-bias of photography content on youtube may be due to audience statistics, and not the real-world numbers.
Continuing on the youtube topic and the online interviews genre, I discussed the presence of women photographers in this kind of content with a youtuber who invited me to be featured on his channel. What I found surprising was that vast majority of women street photographers he reached out to and asked for an interview said no on various grounds. At the same time, nearly all male photographers that he asked agreed.
So despite his best efforts to feature more women on the channel, he was largely unsuccessful. If it is a sign of a broader tendency, then we have to take that into account when speaking of the imbalance between male and female photographers in street oriented content on youtube.
I personally really enjoy such interviews with women, because they tend to have interesting or different perspective on various things, and I rarely watch similar content with men, as I find it quite repetitive with the same answers given to the questions.
I don't know about the different questions asked to women and men on PaulieB's channel, because I watched only a handful of them and most were with female guests, but if what Dani C is saying about that is true, then it is really a shame and should be called out.
As for the competitions, grants etc. I don't think that women-only initiatives are the way to go. We should strive to ensure that all genders can compete on equal terms, that the judging panels represent the broadest possible sensibility and are unbiased. In short term, such initiatives aimed at promoting women's work in photography will yeld a positive effect and increase awareness, but I fear that in long term, they may be counter-productive. The result may be ghettoization of photography, and rise in "masculine energy" nonsense we currently see in tech industry.
Thank you for clarifying your points and for taking the time to share your perspective. I appreciate the effort to delve into the "why" behind the statistics, and I agree with you that photography has historically been male-dominated and that the landscape is indeed shifting slightly (which is positive).
However, I respectfully disagree with the conclusion that the current imbalance, particularly in online visibility and representation, is not indicative of systemic issues. While I can certainly see how factors like equipment focus might appeal more to certain demographics, and how content creators tailor for their audiences, I believe these are symptoms, not the root cause. If I consider myself in this example, I find videos of technical gear that are basically a reading of instructions provided by the camera company to not be worthwhile, so I don't want to spend my time listening, when I can or read it, or try on my own. However, I do watch plenty of reviews of camera gear, and I don't believe there is any evidence to point to the idea that women are less likely to be interested in this (what you have stated is purely anecdotal/assumptions). I'm interested in technicalities, because photography is my job, so I spend the time to educate myself on this matter, as I believe many other women would do.
Regarding your point about women declining opportunities to be featured on YouTube channels, I think it's crucial to consider why they might be saying no. From my perspective, it's often not simply a lack of willingness, but a protective measure against the very real and pervasive issues women face online. Unfortunately, the internet, and particularly platforms like YouTube, can be a hostile environment for women. For example, when women are featured, they frequently become targets of sexist, objectifying, or condescending comments, comments that male creators rarely have to endure (they can receive other types of negative feedback, but rarely is it objectifying). This constant exposure to misogyny, the mental burden of having to police comments, or the fear of being judged purely on appearance rather than photographic skill, can be incredibly draining and deter women from wanting that kind of public exposure. It becomes a question of personal safety and mental well-being, not just a casual choice.
While a YouTuber might genuinely try to feature more women, the environment surrounding those features often makes it an undesirable or even harmful experience for the women involved. This isn't necessarily a "systemic misogynist agenda" in the sense of a deliberate plot, but rather the manifestation of pervasive societal sexism that leaks into online spaces and creates significant barriers.
Ultimately, I think it's important to remember that human behaviour and societal patterns can always be seen on different levels. While individual choices certainly play a part, we also need to consider the broader external factors and systemic influences that might shape those choices and behaviours in ways that aren't always immediately obvious from just one perspective.
Thank you again for contributing to this important discussion.
Photography oriented content on youtube does have predominantly male viewership. It is difficult to find generalised data on google, because google is no longer interested in providing meaningful search results, but sometimes youtubers share their stats, and this is the tendency. Your perception of women's interest in equipment videos may be a bit skewed by the fact that you are a professional photographer, and need this knowledge for work. I would argue however that equipment nerds are mostly male.
I perfectly understand your view on the concerns women may have when declining the opportunity to be featured, with youtube being a hostile environment. But, it should be the author's responsibility to moderate the comments under their videos and create a professional and friendly environment for discussion. The example I gave was of a channel in Polish language and with a rather small viewership, so the issues you mentioned were not as pervasive there. I don't think there was a single negative comment posted under any of the videos, but I see what is going on in the comments sections on more high profile English speaking channels. It is a shame really, and I don't have an answer to that. What I wanted to point out in my comment, was that the number of women featured in those walkie-talkie videos is often not a result of the author's bias but some other factors as well.
It is easy to come to conclusions based on limited data or on prevailing narratives. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle, and we should all strive to get out of our encampments and try to see a bigger picture.
I would be interested in your view, as a professional fashion photographer, of the current situation in the fashion photography industry, which traditionally has been the lair of sexism and objectification of women.
Dude… 🙄