We know how you feel. We all feel the same. We’re tired of racism. We’re tired of stereotypes. We’re tired of gender bias. We’re tired of media hype. We. Are. Tired.
Because we are such a media and digital-driven society, it’s hard to escape the aforementioned issues. Sometimes we unplug, take a media break or ration the amount we digest every day. But does that solve any problems or does it just give us an “out of sight, out of mind” passe attitude toward it instead.
Part of maturing is knowing what to get involved in and when to stay silent, but when it comes to issues like race, gender bias, violence, stereotypes and harmful topics, they cannot be ignored.
When we look at what is happening globally today there are many things that can threaten to push us to the point of sheer exhaustion: climate change, politics, women’s reproductive rights, warn, religion, foreign policy, education etc etc.
What if there was a way for the world to start listening to US instead? What if our voices were the ones that led the discussion, instead of being left to pick up the trails in a Facebook thread or comment section?
We think that should be the case, and so do photographers Paula Akpan and Harriet Evans. Paula and Harriet are the brains behind the ‘I’m Tired’ photo project launched on Tumblr which aims to “highlight the significance and lasting impact of everyday micro-aggressions and stereotypes.”
The two women wanted to highlight the common prejudices shared by many in society, and allow each person modeling the phrase to also share their story of why they are “tired” of that particular thing.
The series features a diverse range of ethnicities and stereotypes, yet we have no doubt no matter who you are, there is at LEAST one statement you can relate to. There are men and women who share on topics on harassment, eating disorders, sexuality, class distinction, body image, masculinity, and career choice.
There is also a decided millennial aspect to this photo series, although this is not specified. We are seeing a much louder influx of millennial voices infiltrating mainstream society and media like never before. This photo series is another unique example of how our generation shares distinct perspectives on issues they want to now have the power of maintaining.
More than anything, these powerful images connect us in ways like never before. We can’t see any of the models’ faces, but we ARE them.
“When we are able to relate to a picture on a deeply personal level, it brings about almost a feeling of camaraderie because there is someone out there who understands exactly how you feel and has been able to articulate in a way that hopefully informs many others,” founder Paula Akpan told the Huffington Post.
“What is important to both Paula and myself is that someone is able to look at at least one of the pictures and either say ‘someone else is going through this too, it’s not just me, I am not alone’,” said Harriet Evans.
“Or for them to have their minds opened to the discrimination that they may not normally bear witness to, or may not have considered in the past,” she added.
If there is one thing we want to be part of as a media site, it is the trend of learning to respect each other, and not allowing our differences to define and divide us.
Our ancestors have done a great job of teaching us how to exclude one another on the grounds of pretty much all the topics covered in the ‘I’m Tired’ series. What we have a unique opportunity to do, is to change the future by setting a new path.
If you too are tired of micro-aggressions and stereotypes, we encourage you read more about this project on their Facebook Page and Tumblr and share it with your friends. It is a much better social commentary than many other passive aggressive methods we often encounter online.
Here are a few more of our favorite images from the series:
