5 female wildlife photographers share their experiences of battling sexism

Picture this: You’re about to head out for a safari. The sun is almost setting. You can’t wait to spot a jungle cat and capture the moment with your lens. But, you’re stopped from entering the national park for an unknown, godforsaken reason by an all-too-egoistic male authority figure, and you miss the chance. 

This has been a reality for several women wildlife photographers. Of course, it’s never all men; not all women go through such instances, either. But misogyny, sexism, and gender bias have prevailed quietly, yet persistently, for years. In a space where you’re met with comments about tan lines and (in)appropriate attire, there’s a certain amount of grit that goes beyond a passion for the work to keep going. Even today, the ratio of men to women in wildlife photography remains skewed (approximately 19:1) owing to age-old, preconceived notions, obligations, and expectations. 

Despite it all, or perhaps because of it, the likes of photographers such as Aarzoo Khurana, Latika Nath, Arpitha Murthy, Aparupa Dey, and Aishwarya Sridhar have carved a niche for themselves in a largely male-dominated space. We spoke to these forever wonder-women who shared their experiences and thoughts of battling sexism in the field. Their journeys have evolved in unimaginable ways and opened the doors for an inclusive and accessible career for young girls in wildlife photography. 

Battling sexism every step of the way 

Aarzoo Khurana’s speech from a few years ago touches upon the nitty-gritties of being a female wildlife photographer and its consequences in a largely patriarchal world. Her words sum up the experiences of every woman—working or not—and provoke you to think about the layers of societal baggage that come solely from being a woman. “I was not allowed to travel alone to the jungles, even for work, till I turned 26. This isn’t on my parents—in their words, they raised me ‘like a boy’—but it is on the society we live in. They were “scared because there are hardly any women in this profession”. They weren’t wrong. Both men and women have told me things like: ‘Itni dhoop mein shoot mat karo, kali ho jaogi’ (don’t shoot in the sun, you will get tanned), ‘Thoda make-up karlo, tan chhup jayega (if you apply make-up, you will be able to cover your tan),’ ‘Jungle Mein akeli jati ho, darr nahi lagta? (aren’t you scared to go in the jungle all alone?)’ ‘Photography kaha ati hai isko sara fame islie mila hai kyunki ladki hai’ (She doesn’t have any photography skills; she is famous because she is a woman). 

“I fight when I see innumerable opportunities for men in my field and women like me being taken lightly. I fight when people tell women to choose a 9-5, safe job so that they can manage their marriage and home. I fight when I see women being treated delicately for being women."

For many, being a wildlife photographer has been a bittersweet experience. Aparupa Dey was never made to feel like she didn’t belong in the space. “People have been very kind to me and always showered me with love for my work. But even though I’ve received enormous love and appreciation, I’ve had bitter experiences, too. It’s an everyday battle, not just for me but for every woman out there. There is a perception that if you are a girl, then comments and appreciation pour in from everywhere, and you become a star overnight. This reduces all your efforts to your gender. Hundreds of hours were sacrificed to learn a complex workflow to create content.” 

Arpitha Murthy has had similar experiences. She faced restrictions from a conservative, orthodox family—Murthy had to fight to step out of her home, let alone choose a career that required her to travel into the jungles of India. Self-doubt and fear often clouded her sense of self. “I often doubted whether I could follow my passion in this male-dominated field. However, my love for wildlife photography never faded, and gradually, I started receiving support from my parents and family. It boosted my confidence. We still encounter men who cannot tolerate it if a female is doing well in her career. Likes and comments get attributed to my gender rather than my work."

Latika Nath, one of India’s first female tiger conservationists, feels fortunate to have been mentored by the likes of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Dr Charles McDougal, and Dr Salim Ali, among others. Yet she was discriminated against, and her growth in the field was jeopardized. “When I began my career, all tiger conservationists were men—they were called tiger wallahs. I had very eminent people turning around, condescendingly talking about me, and calling me ‘the girl in the chiffon saris’. They would pass snide comments like, ‘Wear your chiffon sari, sit on an elephant, and look at tigers’. They ensured to make me realise I did not belong. They didn’t want me, and would not support me.
For over 25 years I had been targeted by a group of men conservationists in this country. They went to extraordinary lengths to ensure I was never appointed to any positions of serious consequence. They blocked my membership to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) cat specialists group and had me blacklisted for a senior position in an international NGO. They spread rumours about me and succeeded in stopping my grant for an American wildlife service for one year. My research permissions were withdrawn from Bandhavgarh National Park. Only when an inquiry was set up my grant was reinstated, and permissions were granted.” 

For the award-winning 23-year-old Aishwarya Sridhar, being a young girl in wildlife photography was hardly easy. “I have felt targeted a few times because of my age. I have been at the receiving end of online abuse because I did not employ a certain male camera operator—he felt he had the liberty to tarnish my reputation with his gang. I have heard comments like: ‘Why are you doing a guy's job?', 'You will fall if you lift such a huge camera!’, 'Your gear is bigger than you!', ‘What are you trying to prove to the world?’ Neighbourhood aunties often told my mom that no decent family would ever want to marry a filmmaker! As a woman in India, you need to prove yourself every day, and it feels like you are always treading on thin ice.” 

What’s changed? 
The problems persist, but so do these women. “Though the change is slow, there is at least some visible support for women filmmakers and photographers. As more talented women are proving their worth, people are sitting up and taking notice. People are more open to working with women storytellers now,” says Sridhar. 

The digital revolution, technological access, and changing mindsets have altered the general perception of ‘working women’. For Nath, things are different from when she first began. “There are so many people working in conservation and wildlife photography. The field has changed after the digital revolution—photography has become easier, people have more access to equipment, and they can access areas quicker. Improved infrastructure has made it safer for women to travel. The feeling of being a part of this field has changed completely.” 

What do they hope for the future of women wildlife photographers? 

“A space where creativity and freedom of expression are not oppressed and controlled by misogynistic men,” says Sridhar. “I look forward to seeing more enthusiastic women wildlife photographers come out of the cocoon and set more examples for women empowerment,” adds Murthy. Nath wishes to see more professional career development infrastructure in India for women in this field. “I want to see more published work by women in wildlife photography. I would like to see this become an aspirational career for young women in India.” 

For those starting on a new path, we couldn’t help but end with a few words by Khurana. “All unforeseen difficulties might come your way with no handy tips and tricks. It’s like walking in an unknown dark room, without knowing how big the room is or who might be lurking in it. It’s the very definition of our most primal fears, and it’s natural to fear them. Humans, like most animals, are averse to such risks. But we need to dare, we need to fight, and we need to force our way through; else, we will not be able to achieve anything. To stand out, we’ll have to walk the unbeaten path, which will take some courage and a bit of recklessness. I am not saying take a leap without looking at all; take the leap, don’t keep looking.”