News /Photography used to give voice to disenfranchised, marginalized populations

Giving individuals cameras and encouraging them to photograph and write about problems that affect their lives can lead to profound social change, according to a morning workshop at Alternatives on Saturday. Known as Photovoice, the process was developed in the early 1990s by Dr. Caroline Wang of the University of Michigan and Mary Ann Burris of the Ford Foundation, with the first project on the lives of women in rural China.

Photovoice is unique in that it gives individuals who may not be able to communicate via traditional means — or who may not even know immediately what they want to communicate — an opportunity for being heard on both local and national scales, according to presenter Sharon Pritchett.

"[Photovoice] is an empowering process," Pritchett said. "It focuses on using the point of view of the community member to educate and influence policymakers, mental health providers, peers, and other stakeholders about an important issue and what can be done about it."

And while Photovoice offers many benefits to the individual, it's also a journey that is not without its challenges, said presenter Tracy Woods.

"The process is not easy," Woods said. "We are asking to convey a concept, but pictures are tangible. Part of the process involves the individual coming to understand themselves in terms of the subject and what they think and feel about it."

Pritchett and Woods, who teach a 10-week Photovoice course at the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, believe part of the power of Photovoice lies in the fact that it contains a diversity of perspectives and topics.

"Photovoice is an educational tool as well as both an individual and group process," Pritchett said. "It has been used to address spirituality, health and wellness, issues for young adults, and combating prejudice and discrimination around HIV/AIDS, homelessness, women's rights, hunger, and environmental issues."

In the beginning of the class, students learn how to write narratives and how to cope with ignorance, prejudice, and discrimination. As the sessions progress, students then identify potential audiences, make plans to show work in a public exhibit, and assemble displays.

Pritchett says she's always thrilled to see the transformation of students between the first and last classes.

"It's easy to take on and internalize society’s 'blame it on the victim' attitude towards consumers," Pritchett said. "But by the end, students realize the problem lies outside themselves, with society. We say goodbye to internalized stigma and prejudice. It's gratifying to see this change and the natural inclination towards advocacy that follows."

And not only does Pritchett see a positive change in her student's thought processes around mental health issues, but a change in overall attitude, well-being, and perspective on life.

"It is wonderful to see students who come in bent over and by end of class they're sitting up straight, smiling, and in their full humanity," Pritchett said. "I can't say enough about that."

To learn more about Photovoice at Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, visit www.bu.edu/cpr. To view a Photovoice slideshow on the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation's Facebook page, click here.