Review 4: ‘#girlgaze: photography, fourth wave feminism, and social media advocacy’ – Ruxandra Looft

This paper focuses on the idea known as #girlgaze which allows female photographers to get recognition they may not get due to their gender, and gender stereotypes surrounding jobs within the media.  The project not only empowers women as practitioners but also allows those in different ethnic backgrounds to come to the forefront to enable them to have equal opportunities in ‘an industry that has traditionally favoured men’.  Further into the text we learn about what Girl Gaze is and the four waves of feminism are explained. The first wave is said to have lasted between 1840 and 1920 in which slavery was abolished and where the suffragettes had a significant impact allowing women to gain the right to vote. The second wave came from 1960 to 1988 which helped develop the suffragettes work and the fight for equal rights in the workplace, in education and in the 60s reproductive rights were introduced.

The third wave, starting immediately after lasted until 2010 and was an era of girl power, introduced by figures such as the Spice Girls, one of the first major girl bands. This wave started to challenge the ideals and reinvigorate mainstream feminism which has had a major impact on today. The Spice Girls helped pave the way for more feminists artists to come through and not just that but female artist who openly identify as feminists. The fourth wave heavily involves social media which allows messages to be spread to populations across the globe.

Movements made on social media are quickly recognised with # allowing campaigns to be seen more and more. This is an element which Girl Gaze relies on however, although encouraging females to become photographers through social media, there will always be people who state their own political view on it. Amanda De Cadenet is helping a new wave of feminism through Girl Gaze and through not backing down when she has been treated unequally, much like the suffragettes and other pioneers mentioned in the previous waves, she is helping us move towards a much fairer society.