Private Story
Welcome to the "Harem"!
If it is even difficult for women in "developed western" societies, one can think that it is undoubtly more difficult for those women who still fight courageously for their rights, for recognition, for respect and equality in their every day life.
Context:
Tameghra means celebration day, in amazigh / berber or kabyle, which is a north african native language, particularly in Algeria.
I documentd this special event - which is actually the fiançailles of my brother, a young french language teacher - as an "embedded" photoreporter, I might say. It is not granted to photograph or film women if you are a man and if you are not a relative or a close family member, in such societies. It is prohibited. You are not allowed to do it. They call it: "Lherma", a kabyle term, which etymologically comes from arabic and means: harem. The famous harem depicted in lot of orientalist paintings and litteratures! And more precisely, the word comes from "haram", which means in arabic prohibition! So to say, photographing women - among other things - is prohibition, especially women who are not close family members. Eventhough this is the general mindset, there is - I guess - some openness and some acceptance, these last years especially with the rising of smartphones: young girls use their phones for snaping and for some self-expressivity.
In the other hand, you can photograph men without problem. This work is as well about those men who perpetuate the traditional system without really questionning it. In a celebration day, adult males among women are not allowed. The only "boys" who are allowed to enter the "harem" are children and the relatives !
I had the opportunity to observe those women & men and here are the impressions I could engrave.
If you've never seen a real "harem", it is your chance to discover it without any fascination. So welcome to the "harem" !
186
