#Imnot 2013 was overrepresented by women but it soon emerged how language used against men (as pigs or womanisers) often frames them as being the sole cause of violence in our society, something which deserves to be disrupted.

 

Nonetheless, of the 14 women who participated, many of the words they chose related to emotions and perceptions that they are overly emotional (moody, difficult, overly-sensitive, hysterical, insecure) whereas others had strong sexual undertones (my size) or were hurtful and demeaning (bitch, sefebe, skeberesh, chick(en), stupid). All of these words tend to point to an underestimation of women and as one participant pointed out, an attempt to control them.

 

However, what we are reminded of, in this campaign, is that words (and the practices they represent) can also be challenged, that they can be used as a form of resistance (#Im not controllable) as well as healing (#imnot without purpose). 

 

#Imnot 2013 was shot in Johannesburg, South Africa