Photo contest seeks to break gender stereotypes

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The Women’s Equality Day committee will sponsor a “#SheLeads Photo Challenge” for members of Team Hanscom beginning Aug. 1 and ending Aug. 15.

The photo contest celebrates the passage of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 26, 1920, by showing women in roles that break gender stereotypes.

“We live in a world where women are now hospital presidents, military commanders, CEOs and heads of households,” said 2nd Lt. Samantha Byrd-Fulbright. “There has been tremendous progress since the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, but there is still much work to be done when it comes to building a visual and actual world of equality.”

Organizers hope to inspire members of the community to share images of women in their own lives.

“The photo challenge is a way for base personnel to share images of the women they know who are breaking gender stereotypes,” she said. “The more images we see of women leading, being powerful, and living full, vibrant lives, the more normalized those images become.”

Personnel can submit images through the Hanscom’s Acquisition Officer Association Facebook page.

According to organizers, each contestant may upload one photo submission to Facebook during the contest period with a title, a brief description of what the photo represents along with his or her name and base organization.

“We would never want to stifle creativity, but, remember, anything you put on the internet remains there,” Byrd-Fulbright said. “Please use good judgment when posting images. Images found in poor taste will be removed.”

Photo submissions are limited to those who work at Hanscom Air Force Base.

Posts with the most votes, which will be tabulated by the number of “likes” a post receives on Facebook, will win.

The Women’s Equality Day Committee will announce the winners Aug. 20 via the AOA Facebook page. Winners will receive a professional photo session with a local photographer.

In addition to the photo contest, installation leadership will sign a proclamation Aug. 7 at 11 a.m. in Building 1607 to recognize Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day,

For further information about the Women’s Equality Day photo contest or attendance at the proclamation signing, contact Byrd-Fulbright by email at samantha.byrdfulbright@us.af.mil.