THIS IS GENDER (IN)EQUALITY 2023

Welcome to a virtual exhibition of This is Gender (In)Equality 2023. This online collection seeks to shed light on gendered social issues through the lens of contemporary artworks. Spanning a diverse range of mediums, this collection focuses on the messaging of gender equalities and inequalities, offering a thought-provoking and visually captivating exploration of the subject.

Gender inequality marks one of the most pervasive and persistent patterns in the distribution of power. We see evidence of this, nearly invisible and overt, everywhere. Nearly 2.4 billion working age women live in countries that do not grant them the same rights as men, and this inequality appears to be worsening. In 2022, around the world, countries collectively adopted the fewest gender-related reforms in more than two decades while some governments made legal changes to strip women of existing rights, including freedom of movement and their ability to get a job. It will be nearly three centuries before women and girls are equally protected around the globe. Wars, famines and natural disasters have also had more severe impacts on the well-being of women. And the most recent report from Global Health 50/50, Workplaces: worse for women shows that despite progress on gender equality in organisations active in global health, male leadership pervades.

Global Health 50/50 is proud to use images from the This is Gender (In)Equality 2023 collection on the cover and inside the annual Global Health 50/50 Reports. Silvia Viana’s ‘Eyes Always Lie’ is on the cover of the 2023 report, Workplaces: Worse for Women.

A project of Global Health 50/50, This is Gender (In)Equality, aims to inspire as well as draw attention to pressing gendered struggles. The collection showcases artworks from all around the world, collating diverse representations of gendered power, relationships, and experiences: from the intimate sphere of body autonomy, to access to education and aspirations; from navigating care responsibilities to the professional environments of power and decision-making.

Through documentary photography, staged photographs, collages and various forms of fine art, the artists featured in this exhibition communicate multifaceted concepts. Each artwork serves as a powerful voice, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities and nuances of gender-related experiences worldwide. From diverse geographical locations, representing the voices of people and communities from around the world, these images offer unique insights into the shared challenges and triumphs faced by individuals in different cultural, social, and economic contexts.

This 2023 collection prompts some critical reflections on gendered social issues and is also a celebration of gender and everyday life. We hope you enjoy the exhibition.