This is Gender 2020 Photo Competition

What Is Gender?

This contest aims to generate imagery of diverse representations of gender and explore how gender norms – rigid and fluid, traditional and progressive – influence power, opportunity and wellbeing in different communities.

Gender norms affect everyone in one way or another. Yet ‘gender’ imagery is almost exclusively of women, and even these images are not always representative of the diversity of the female experience. Gender permeates all aspects of our lives, it stratifies society and defines opportunities. Gender exists as much within our mindsets as it does in what we wear and how we treat each other. It shapes the roles we play in society, the choices and rights available to us, and our health and well-being. It is a powerful force that continues to drive and shape the experiences and environments of everyone – women, men, transgender people and people with non-binary gender identities.

We encourage photographers to contribute to expanding the imagery associated with the concept of gender by exploring, for example:

the interaction between gender, health and wellbeing
the political and commercial exploitation of limited gender roles for men and women
how gender intersects with other aspects of identities, vulnerabilities and privileges
people or communities challenging rigid or unhealthy gender norms
All photographic and photojournalistic forms are welcome. Early-career photographers from underreported and/or underrepresented communities and regions are encouraged to participate.

The 2020 Global Health 50/50 Report

The winning photograph will provide the cover photo of our 2020 Report (see below).

GH5050 is an emerging leader in pushing forward conversations around gender and its interactions with health and opportunity, in organisations and more generally in public discourse. GH5050’s efforts culminate in an annual report that reviews the gender-responsiveness of approximately 200 global organisations active in health. The 2018 and 2019 reports sent waves through the global health and development sector and are already fuelling documented policy change.

The 2020 Report will present the world’s first review of the extent to which global organisations active in health are addressing overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination based on categorisations such as race, class and gender – “intersectionality.”

Our 2019 Repot was launched by President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia. Media coverage included a range of editorials published in the Financial Times, the Telegraph and Project Syndicate, with additional coverage by The BMJ, FT Health, the Guardian, IHP, Chatham House and Africa News.

How to submit?

Each contestant may submit no more than two images. Each photograph must be accompanied by the following three elements:

Short description that includes 1) a brief narrative on the significance of the image to the themes of the photo contest, and 2) a caption stating where and when the photo was taken
Short artist biography
You will also be asked to sign our Terms and Conditions form (submissions not including a signed Terms and Conditions form will not be considered). You must gain written permission from all people in your photos to allow them to be used by us.