The title of my project, Rude, highlights a deep contradiction in modern Timorese society. Old traditions still control the lives of women in East Timor today. Even though our modern laws promote equality, everyday social life ignores these rules and still holds women back. Ignoring the law in everyday life is not just a failure of the system; it is deeply disrespectful.
On paper, the country looks like it is moving forward. The government is proud of equal school attendance and having many women in the national parliament. But as a Timorese artist, my own life experience shows me this is not the reality on the ground. In local villages, women are mostly kept out of councils. They earn much less money than men and suffer from shocking levels of domestic violence, with thirty three percent of women reporting abuse.
I chose to photograph my subjects in a dark, empty studio to remove all background distractions. The darkness represents the struggles and barriers that women face, which are often kept out of sight. In this empty space, traditional Timorese clothing becomes a symbol of the old rules that restrict women. Men are placed in the light, showing how they are given more chances and power in society. The way the subjects stand also shows this divide. The women look trapped and hidden, while the men stand open and powerful.
To build a fair society, we must change these old cultural habits. Real equality needs more than just government rules; it requires a complete change in what society believes. Through my photographs, I want the viewer to face these hidden rules and imagine a future where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential.
