Women behind the lens: ‘The bridal dress is meant to present her as a queen … but to me it always felt like a cage’
The concept of *women behind the lens* is one that has long captured the attention of fashion, culture, and society. It refers to women who project their gender or aspect of identity onto others, often through clothing, behavior, and cultural practices. This idea gains particular traction when examining the role of traditional clothing in the context of modern representations of women.In a recent interview with The Guardian, Sarah Maltz, the editor-in-chief, highlighted how *women behind the lens* are deeply embedded into cultural identities. She explained that while we often see men at the center of attention and the world’s most “exclusive” representations, our bodies are frequently positioned as tools for empowerment, power, and control. This tension between traditional gender representation and modernized, objectified versions is a recurring theme in many cultures.
Sara Benabdallah, a Moroccan photographer, has been a vocal advocate for the redefinition of traditional patterns and rituals through her work. In her 2019 series *The Bridal Dress Is Queen* (available on YouTube), she delves into the deeply intimate role of the bridal dress in Morocco’s marriage tradition. Benabdallah’s images often reveal the bridal dress as a literal representation of queenhood, with figures stripping away layers of clothing to expose their queen-like features.
For many women, this choice is a stark contrast to traditional gender norms and cultural expectations. The bridal dress, which was once a symbol of traditional beauty and status, now feels like a cage that women are forced into when they choose to project their gender identity onto others. This tension between respect for tradition and the assertiveness it can inspire creates a complex dynamic.
As seen in *The Bridal Dress Is Queen*, Benabdallah’s work pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable within traditional cultural norms while challenging those who challenge them. She uses her art to reassert the idea that when women choose to define themselves, they do so in ways that respect their tradition but also invite new perspectives and possibilities.
The use of the bridal dress in *The Bridal Dress Is Queen* also highlights broader issues surrounding gender representation and cultural impact. Traditional cultures often struggle to balance the demands of marriage, birth, and raising children with the expectations of objectification. In this article, we reflect on how Benabdallah’s work contributes to a more nuanced understanding of what it means to honor tradition while embracing new possibilities.
As we continue to navigate these questions about identity, power, and representation in our increasingly interconnected world, it is important to remember that *women behind the lens* are not just a figment of our imagination. They are deeply rooted in their cultural histories and continue to shape the world around us as they choose to embody their gender through traditional clothing and rituals.
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