Through His Lens

Othering is a social and psychological process that involves the creation and reinforcement of differences between individuals or groups based on certain characteristics such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, or sexuality. It is a way of defining and separating individuals or groups into “us” and “them,” with “us” being the norm and “them” being the outsider or the different.

Simone de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex” is a seminal feminist text that explores the ways in which women are othered in society. De Beauvoir argues that women are defined as the “other” to men, and as a result, are oppressed and denied the same rights and opportunities as men. Othering is a deeply ingrained concept in our society that serves to dehumanize and exclude individuals or groups based on their perceived differences. The act can take many forms, from subtle microaggressions to overt acts of discrimination and violence.

In the case of gender, women have been historically othered, with their experiences and perspectives dismissed or belittled as not being as valuable or important as those of men. This has led to a systemic imbalance of power that has been perpetuated over time, with women facing a range of obstacles in both the personal and professional realms. From the gender pay gap to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power, the effects of othering are pervasive and long-lasting.

Through my piece “Through His Lens,” I sought to shed light on the ongoing issue of othering and the way it impacts women. By depicting influential women from various fields, such as Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill, Lily Tomlin, Gloria Steinem, and Maya Angelou, alongside a WW2 pilot with the word “woman” written across the lens of glasses pointed in their direction, I aimed to show that despite their incredible accomplishments, these women have still been subjected to the societal pressures of gender roles and expectations, and have been othered simply because of their gender.