Girls At Work
Gujarat, India 2009
In poor Indian families, girls start working as soon as they can run and fetch. Soon they are balancing water jugs on their heads, tending babies, taking the animals to graze to name just a few chores.
Yesterday I read about one of the survivors of the recent collapse of the dress factory in Bangladesh. The girl was about 13 years old and was her family’s sole provider. School was out of the question for her. It was she who earned the money to pay for her brother’s school tuition. She often worked 18 hour days. She sent nearly her entire paycheck to her mother and worried that it wasn’t enough. We can’t imagine that life.
Carrying water in these urns is typical of this area. Some families have brass urns and some women can carry three at a time. I wanted to get a shot with the brass pots, but never managed to be ready when I had an opportunity. Believe me, it was a fleeting opportunity. The women knew we wanted their photo and would duck behind a corner to thwart us. I don’t know why I didn’t offer money, but circumstances must not have been right. I always offer money if my subject is reluctant.
I like this photo because the girls are caught in the act of delicately lifting their right foot and they way their chemise flows as they stride along. The small girl’s pigtails reveal her slender neck, and her left hand is reaching up to steady her pot…so young and sweet.