lemonde.fr
Mothers Missing From Family Photos
This article explores the societal reasons behind the common observation that mothers are largely absent from family photos. The piece examines how technological advancements and ingrained gender roles contributed to this imbalance.
French
France
TechnologyLifestyleGender IssuesFamilyGenderSocietyPhotography
KodakFox Broadcasting Company
Irène JonasLaura ValletLouise ChabatHomer SimpsonMarge Simpson
- Why are mothers often absent from family photos?
- The article discusses the common phenomenon of mothers being largely absent from family photos. It highlights how societal norms and technological advancements have contributed to this imbalance, with mothers often taking the photographs rather than being in them.
- What is the author's personal experience regarding family photos?
- The author's personal experience with his wife and daughter exemplifies this trend. His wife, a photographer by profession, takes the majority of family photos, resulting in her limited presence in them.
- How did the introduction of automated cameras contribute to this phenomenon?
- The arrival of user-friendly, automated cameras, such as Kodak Instamatics, targeting mothers, significantly impacted this imbalance. This technology shifted the role of photographer primarily to mothers.
- What evidence does the article provide to illustrate the prevalence of this issue?
- A blog post by Laura Vallet, showing only 10% of 450 pictures showing the mother, and a social media post by Louise Chabat calling on fathers to take more photos, both underscore the widespread nature of this issue.
- What are the underlying causes of mothers' underrepresentation in family photographs?
- The article concludes by illustrating that this common observation of mothers missing from family photos is rooted in historical and technological factors that gradually shifted the role of the family photographer to women.