100th International Women's Day: world Cinderellas (12 images)
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Story by
Sab JI
Translation by:
Cafebabel ENG (NS)French artist Sab Ji spent a year travelling 14 countries and deconstructing Walt Disney’s famous female character, of which there are 345 known different versions across the world. Geishas, tribeswomen, housewives, prostitutes, children, the wealthy – all come together in this special image gallery for 8 March
This real-life Cinderella worked for and was treated badly by her step-sister before marrying a muslim man who gave up polygamy after falling in love with her. Today she is the main weaver in the city of Ségou, employing ten people in her company (Image: ©Sab Ji)
With their heads covered and housewife lives, the Egyptian women have to be ‘good’. But when the music strikes up, their bodies claims their expression back, removed from the daily oppression of their rights (Image: ©Sab Ji)
They are fairytale princesses in their childhoods, but they plunge into the nightmare reality of adult life: unemployment, vodka and failed marriage, the infernal trio which guides much of their lives (Image: ©Sab Ji)
Whilst the men ride horseback the Mongolian women slide on their university sacks. The problem upon graduation is satisfying their alter egos, and so they prefer to stay single, or marry foreigners (Image: ©Sab Ji)
Burma has been under a marxist dictatorship since 1962. There are only two solutions to living well in the country: becoming a soldier or a Buddhist nun. The nuns of the Yangon monastery have devoted their lives for a better future for their country, where unjustice reigns and human rights are not respected (Image: ©Sab Ji)
‘What are you doing here ? They are nobodies,’ says a lawyer coldly. These women, who come from the poorest countries and regions, who are prostitutes to mafia types and suffer violence at the hands of men, are not nobodies. By day they create little pleasures for themselves, but when the night comes, there is never a prince charming to bring them a happy ending (Image: ©Sab Ji)
The geishas are the symbol of social recognition. These female artists are the jewels who influential men pay real fortunes for to honour their soirees. In her white makeup and precious silk kimono, the geisha is sublime. The young Maiko are the geisha’s apprentices, and dream of the whole world coming to admire their talents (Image: ©Sab Ji)
The older women of this people from New Mexico maintain that Cinderella is no fairytale, but a true story. Looking at how the tribe lives, you’d be inclined to believe them. The Zuni Indians fight to regain their territories, preserve their identities and to counter a villain devil: alcohol (Image: ©Sab Ji)
Ropes burn their backs, their legs are covered in bruises. Circus artists push the boundaries to touch the stars. Acrobats, clowns and jugglers face every difficulty it takes to make life magical (Image: ©Sab Ji)
‘They will marry and live happily ever after.’ This sentence sums up the dreams of various women here. Traditional costume is still worn in Solola, but slowly and surely white dresses and suits are becoming signs of globalisation there. Marriage often conditions a woman’s life: it’s an important moment but that doesn’t mean it’s fulfilling (Image: ©Sab Ji)
Ranked 117th in the world, Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its economy relies partly on the work that its children do. The youngest don’t have any other choice except to help their families. These little Bolivians work hard at stalls or thieving, simply (Image: ©Sab Ji)
In the south of China, on the banks of the Lugu Lake, you’ll find one of the last matriarchal tribes of the world. Aged thirteen, the little girls are emancipated. Women have the power to marry freely; men spend the night with their women but have to return to their mothers in the morning. It’s a unique way of life which is becoming more extinct once a girl finds love with her prince charming (Image: ©Sab Ji)
Story by
Translated from Cendrillon et les femmes : plus qu'un conte de fée, un miroir (12 photos)