Portraits of Women and the Places Where they were Harassed

Describing the experience of Asian women confronted with racism and harassment, Peruvian-Japanese photographer Cristina Hara analyses this unique and uncomfortable situation in the French capital with her series Speak Up.  

This project came to life after a friend asked her if she had ever been harassed in Paris, with the aim to ‘open more dialogue and maybe help to stop normalizing harassment’, Hara tells Pen. ‘In Paris, unlike other places, I felt vulnerable not only for being a woman, but also for having Asian features.’ 

The project stages pictures of women, and the places where they were victims of harassment, side by side, accompanied by accounts given by the subjects.

Victims of clichés

Beyond the phenomenon of harassment that Asian women experience in Paris, Hara wanted to highlight the clichés that they were subjected to, notably in places where sex work takes place, an industry that some Asian women are part of. She adds, ‘other stereotypes associated with Asian women contribute to the persistence of harassment.’ These women are considered to be ‘quiet and fragile, therefore are perceived as an easier target that won’t react. That is something that really encouraged me to pursue this work, break the silence, and speak up.’ 

Before releasing this series, the photographer produced work from the heart of Paris’ 13th arrondissement, frequented by the Asian community, photographing acrobats and hip hop artists.

Speak Up (2019), by Cristina Hara can be found on her website.