ASIASOURCE INTERVIEW
with photographer Fariba Alam

What is the overarching theme of this project?
The selected photographs are part of a project highlighting the impressive achievements of ten Bangladeshi women, ranging from "the poorest of the poor" entrepreneurs to educated academics and activists, from urban, rural and tribal backgrounds. My aim was to represent women who not only challenge the Western stereotype that Bangladeshi women are immobilized "Third World" women, doubly oppressed by their Muslim society, but women who are also viewed as leaders or survivors by their own communities. By humanizing the personal achievements of individuals, I also had hopes of bringing to life the positive documentation that does exist, like statistical success on paper, collected more recently by a handful of scholars and policy makers. Obviously, this is ambitious; I cannot cover the entire range of success stories and many profiles have been left out. I do feel that at the very least, I have captured voices that may have not otherwise been heard, faces that may not have otherwise been seen.

How long were you in Bangladesh? What were your experiences like as a Bangladeshi - American female photographer?
I took photographs for this project during a one year period when I was based in the capital city of Dhaka. I traveled around the country to meet women I heard about by word of mouth, often visiting them once or twice for days at a time before actually taking their pictures. In general, no one responded to me as "a photographer"; it was as a woman, a foreigner, or stranger that I was received while walking around the city or in remote villages. The camera demands its own attention. As I passed, children would circle around me with wide smiles and scream "take my picture," men would usually just stare, women would often pull the ends of their saris around their heads. It was very important to me that I develop a relationship with the women I chose to include. Otherwise, I felt as if I was stealing from them.

How did the women feel about being photographed? What was the process of photographing them?
I know that my Bengali language skills helped me tremendously, as did being a woman. Women were generally very responsive to being photographed and allowing me a glimpse of their lives. They became more trusting when I told them about my project and its impetus. And they were curious about me-- who are you, why are you doing this? It was a privilege to try and explain myself and to use gesture and dialogue... to inform my work. As I see this project as a life-long one and continually in progress, I hope to emphasize collaborative techniques even more in the future.

What makes these images of women in Bangladesh different from other images?
I can't really say. The most obvious [aspect] is that all of these were taken from my camera and from my point of view. What I hope to come across [in these images] is different than what [the viewer] may see. But I did try to avoid the stock imagery of Bangladesh that most see in the media—starving children, floods, abused women. This project was about producing images of strength and using the power of modern visual media to communicate something different. Most of us are tired of seeing the international media portray Bangladesh, over and over again, as a downtrodden and hopeless nation. I'm not saying ignore reality. But from the perspective of a Bangladeshi-American and Muslim woman, I think self-documentary projects that aim to go beyond... negative images are imperative because so much of our narrative has been informed by erroneous media representations of poor, submissive and abused women and the myth of the exotic, erotic "Oriental." Such stereotypes not only inform the dangerous political practice of cultural hierarchy, but also falsely inform and hinder our sense of self.

Are women's roles changing in Bangladesh?
What I hear from these women is this: women's issues are more openly being addressed. Unfortunately, this often comes with a backlash. As women become more and more vocal, they become more open to scrutiny and attack. Many women, from those with years of experience working with the United Nations in Bangladesh to those in remote villages, agreed that change is certain and marked in the last decade.

This online exhibition was created in December 2001. To reach Fariba Alam, email her at faribaalam@yahoo.com