I heard my sister’s voice on Oct. 9, 2012.
Though I have never met Malala Yousufzai, this 14-year-old Pakistani girl is both part of my family, and yours. Last October, while traveling to school, this young advocate of universal education was shot in the neck and head by Taliban gunman.
After being critically wounded, she was hospitalized in Pakistan and then England. As Malala recovered, far from being silenced, her voice was amplified and heard around the world.
Because of an act of barbarism, we now know of Malala’s courage, her determination, and her embrace of knowledge over ignorance.
Islamic clerics have condemned the attack. The United Nations has taken up the cause of children’s education. Malala has appeared on Time magazine’s list of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World” and has become history’s youngest Nobel Prize nominee.
I was moved by Malala’s story. The power of her message left me wondering: Why do we so often ignore the voices of girls and women?
This project, “My Sister’s Voice” provides a space where the voices of women and their invaluable and necessary contributions to our common humanity can be heard. On their faces, we can glimpse the wisdom they’ve gained from life. From their thoughtful observations, we, all of us, regardless of gender, are invited to a greater understanding of our shared humanity
Steppingoutside our limited backgrounds, opening our eyes and ears, we can see and hear women from different nations, impact society on multiple levels, and represent diverse points of view. For all their differences, though, they are united on a fundamental level:
These are our sisters. Their issues are our issues and, as Malala reminded us, our world desperately needs to hear their voices.
Set aside any preconceived notions and just listen. You may be surprised, moved, even startled. You will not be disappointed
Alexis Dixon
Project Concept
Project Concept
Now more than ever, the knowledge held by women needs to be embraced if we are to begin solving the challenges facing our community.
In the voices of women we hear daughters and mothers and also brothers and husbands. The drowning out of women’s voices from earlier generations especially represents a great loss to not only corporate culture but to society. It runs the risk of cutting us off from their hard-earned wisdom, which might otherwise inform and guide people of all ages and all walks of life.
Therefore, for the good of our shared humanity, the health of our corporate culture, for our society at large, and not least, our ability to meet future challenges, let us work together to dismantle barriers artificially built between the genders and safeguard the continuity of our collective history.
Consider Notes to Our Sons and Daughters: My Sister’s Voice a small step in that process of carrying forward the wisdom of generations and both genders.
– Alexis Dixon
Photography
We often ignore that a single voice can be enough to confront established perceptions and even cultural traditions, but the women portrayed in this project have seized this challenge to effect positive change. These photographs are a testament to their vision and their spirit, and their individual and combined efforts. It’s my hope that these photographs will help us become more familiar with each person, their quest, and their story. The importance of highlighting the work of each of these women, and their struggles, was the inspiration of Alexis Dixon, the originator of the project. Without his confidence, guidance, and enthusiasm, this could not have happened.
These women did not seek to be recognized for their courage and determination. Some simply strove to overcome tremendous personal challenges. Others raised their voice to improve their lives, and the lives of their families and their communities, often at great personal risk, facing daunting challenges, and usually against fierce opposition. To photograph them was to humanize and personalize their efforts, and to help us relate to the personal sacrifices they’ve made to compel changes.
It was an exceptional privilege to be granted the confidence by these women to portray them, and by extension, their lives and their stories. It’s important that we understand their work and the experiences they’ve shared. I hope these photographs will help this process.
– Pablo Mason