Women Photojournalists - Trials and Triumphs

October 28, 2024

A. Sarah Leen’s “career as a photographer started in 1979, when she became the first woman to win the College Photographer of the Year award from the National Press Photographer’s Association.” She became known while she interned at National Geographic. “In 2020, Leen founded The Visual Thinking Collective, a platform dedicated to supporting independent women photo editors, curators, and teachers in their pursuit of visual storytelling excellence” (Danish Siddiqui Foundation). Later, in 2013, she became a freelancer and did 14 stories for National Geographic, where she continues to work as the first female director of photography. Now, “Leen teaches photography and photo editing workshops at the Missouri Photo Workshops, the Maine Media Workshops, the Santa Fe Photo Workshops, and the PhotoLux Festival in Lucca, Italy.” Her work and leadership were instrumental in transforming the magazine's approach to photojournalism, emphasizing the power of images to tell complex human and environmental stories.

Some of the challenges Leen faced are based off of sexism. Women often hear things like "Can I speak to a man, please" or "So you cover fashion," which is quite derogatory. Leen entered photojournalism when it was heavily male-dominated. Early in her career, she had to work hard to earn the same respect as her male colleagues, facing gender bias. As she rose towards leadership roles, Leen's goal was to support other women in her field. Pushing for equality behind the camera was not easy, in a field where women are underrepresented. However, she continues to push for gender equity.

Some of Leen's successes include changing biases and advocating for women photojournalists. Leen’s appointment as the first female Director of Photography at National Geographic was a historic milestone, marking a significant change in the industry. Her leadership shaped the magazine, bringing more diversity to the table. She helped create opportunities for women photographers to publish in National Geographic, broadening the magazine’s storytelling and making it more reflective of global perspectives. Under her guidance, National Geographic produced some of its most memorable photojournals, tackling issues from climate change to social justice with a new level of depth. After her time at National Geographic, Leen co-founded the Visual Thinking Collective, a group that supports women in visual journalism. Through this initiative, she continues to support female photographers by providing mentorship, training, and a network to improve their work.

B. It is common for women to be underrepresented in physical labor jobs such as construction and military, along with things that require a higher level of schooling such as being a doctor or president. In construction, women face both physical and cultural biases, often being doubted for their physical strength. Exclusion from projects or opportunities is common for women in these fields. For presidency, women often have to work harder to prove their capability and fight biases. They are also underrepresented in leadership roles and may encounter discrimination and sexism. In fields such as law enforcement and the military, women may face doubts about their physical and mental toughness. They often deal with exclusion from practices, lack of advancement, and cultural biases that question their capability to do their job. Female doctors often face biases that they are less capable under pressure or lack the stamina required. They encounter unequal pay, are underrepresented, and can face patient or colleague bias. Reports show that the "newspaper underpaid them because they're women." The end goal is for women to shift "from traditional low-wage housekeeping positions to high-paid war work."