BabyGirl Photo Project

Last semester my project was on the Bears football team.

For my final semester I latched onto the idea of girls growing up quickly – and how poverty pushed that process along at an alarming rate. I have kept this project under wraps for some time, because I was unsure of how I felt about the images.

I know that this project isn’t complete. I believe this series aspires to be told in book form. Image after image that cries for a fix in our nation’s young women. I was shocked on a regular basis as I became a fifth-grade girl for a few months. I wonder how this generation of young women will change our world. Will they grow into homemakers? Will they avoid marriage at all costs? Because that is their attitude right now – that marriage isn’t made to last, that is it painful and not worth the time. Will they grow to be strong or fall to everything that pushes at their emotions? Will they stay away from pregnancy before middle school ends? High school?

I still don’t know what to think about this. My hope is that, for now, these images be seen. I hope that these images push women to become involved in the younger generations. Through my work with the girls I saw how much a mentor program of some sort changed them. Having a good example and someone to hold them accountable really helped. I look forward to finding a new group of girls when I return home and latching onto them. I encourage you to do the same. Find one little lady that could use a mentor, a listening ear, someone to fight for her character. Engage yourself with her, support her and love on her – for that is all these young women need – love.

All I know for sure if that I LOVE the young women that you see in these images. They have each added to and changed my life and perspective on the world. I also know that I will continue to work on this project for many years to come – and I would love to know what you think about what you see.

At the completion of the semester, my class’ projects went up for review. An exit exam of sorts – photo style. You can listen here to what the PAC team had to say about my project.

And here is a link to the homepage if you’d like to understand a little more or listen to other reviews.

Enjoy and comment. Remember, for each comment made, a canned good is sent to feed a needy child over the weekend through Shelby County’s backpack food program.

A link to more images and a slideshow I prepared for my Women’s Studies class.

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