Through The Lens Of Resilience | Fatimah Hossaini | TEDxGVAGrad

Summary

Fatima, a photographer and storyteller, shares her journey of resilience and identity as an Afghan woman and a refugee. Born during the Soviet invasion, she later returned to Kabul in 2013, seeking to redefine the narrative of Afghan women often depicted as victims in the media. Through her photography, she highlighted the beauty, strength, and courage of Afghan women amidst the chaos of war. After fleeing to France in 2021 with the fall of Kabul, she continued her work documenting Afghan women in exile. Fatima’s story is one of defiance, hope, and the refusal to be defined by tragedy.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fatima shares her personal journey of resilience, having experienced refugee life twice and growing up disconnected from her Afghan heritage.
• 😀 Her grandparents fled Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, and despite being born in 1993, Fatima always carried the name of Afghanistan on her passport but did not know her homeland firsthand.
• 😀 In 2013, Fatima visited Kabul for the first time, where she found courage, resilience, and the beauty of Afghan women, inspiring her work in photography and storytelling.
• 😀 Fatima aimed to change the narrative surrounding Afghanistan, particularly the portrayal of Afghan women in Western media, by showing their strength, beauty, and hope rather than victimhood and conflict.
• 😀 Through her photography, Fatima focused on capturing the stories and resilience of Afghan women, consciously using colors, textures, and elements to tell their unique stories.
• 😀 Fatima faced cultural challenges, with many Afghan men asking her to delete photos of women, but she persisted in showing their beauty and strength in her work.
• 😀 Despite being an Afghan Hazara refugee, Fatima saw Afghanistan as her home, rejecting the notion that she did not have the right to call it hers.
• 😀 Fatima's work is a form of silent political protest, rejecting the Western media's portrayal of Afghan women solely as victims and instead celebrating their full humanity.
• 😀 Her photography not only sheds light on Afghan women's lives but also serves as a resistance to the labels placed on her and other Afghan women, both within Afghanistan and in exile.
• 😀 In August 2021, with the fall of Kabul and the return of the Taliban, Fatima was forced into exile again, this time fleeing to France, marking another chapter of resilience in her life story.
• 😀 Fatima now works on a project in the Silk Road, continuing to celebrate the strength and beauty of women in conflict, illustrating their enduring resilience across different lands and histories.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the speaker's story?

The central theme of the speaker's story is resilience, hope, and the strength of Afghan women, especially through the lens of their lives during times of conflict, exile, and displacement.

How does the speaker describe her connection to Afghanistan despite not growing up there?

The speaker describes her connection to Afghanistan as rooted in the stories passed down by her parents, even though she was born in 1993 and grew up away from the country. Her connection grew stronger when she visited Kabul in 2013 and found courage, resilience, and the stories of Afghan women.

Why did the speaker choose to capture the lives of Afghan women through photography?

The speaker aimed to rewrite the narrative around Afghan women, breaking the cliches of victimization and dark images often portrayed in the media. She wanted to focus on the beauty, hope, and resilience of Afghan women, not just the conflict and suffering.

What challenges did the speaker face in photographing Afghan women?

The speaker faced significant challenges, including opposition from family members and societal pressures, where men would demand that photos be deleted. Photographing women in Afghanistan was not easy due to cultural taboos and fears of political repercussions.

How does the speaker address the portrayal of Afghan women in the media?

The speaker criticizes the media for often portraying Afghan women solely through the lens of victimization, such as the burka, violence, and war. She wants to challenge this narrative by showcasing the strength, beauty, and resilience of Afghan women.

What role did the speaker’s family history play in her narrative about Afghanistan?

The speaker’s family history, particularly her grandparents’ displacement during the Soviet invasion and their exile in Iran, deeply influenced her perspective. It highlighted the cycles of exile and resilience within her family, which she saw reflected in her own life journey.

What is the significance of the hat in the speaker’s photography project?

The hat, particularly the colorful hat from the mountains of Dundi, symbolizes the resilience and strength of Afghan women. It represents the beauty and cultural identity of Afghanistan, even amidst the conflict and displacement.

How did the political changes in Afghanistan in 2021 affect the speaker’s life?

The political changes in Afghanistan, particularly the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, had a profound impact on the speaker. It forced her into exile, as she was evacuated by the French military, leaving behind her beloved city and her work.

What is the speaker’s new project about, and how does it relate to her previous work?

The speaker’s new project, focused on the Silk Road, continues her exploration of the strength and beauty of women in conflict. It reflects her ongoing commitment to celebrating resilience and challenging the narrative of victimization, now focusing on women in exile, beyond the borders of Afghanistan.

How does the speaker perceive her identity after being displaced from multiple countries?

The speaker reflects on the complexity of her identity after being displaced from Afghanistan, then Iran, and now living in exile in France. Despite losing her homeland and not being fully accepted in Iran, she emphasizes the strength of being a woman and her ongoing connection to her roots and the stories of Afghan women.