International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration held annually on March 8th to commemorate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

Dorothea Lange
I am putting the spotlight on Dorothea Lange (1895–1965) the influential American documentary photographer and photojournalist, best known for her work during the Great Depression era. Her photographs are deeply evocative and have become iconic symbols of that time in American history.

Lange's most famous image is "Migrant Mother," taken in 1936 during her work for the Farm Security Administration (FSA). The image depicts Florence Owens Thompson, a migrant worker, with her children, and it became emblematic of the hardships faced by Americans during the Great Depression.

Lange's career began in the 1920s, but it was during the Depression that she found her true calling as a documentary photographer. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, capturing images of poverty, displacement, and the human toll of economic hardship. Her photographs often focused on the dignity and resilience of the people she photographed, despite their difficult circumstances.

In addition to her work during the Depression, Lange documented the forced internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which resulted in another powerful series of photographs that highlighted the injustices faced by these communities.

Lange was a pioneer in the use of photography as a tool for social change, believing deeply in its power to raise awareness and inspire action. Her work helped to humanise the experiences of those affected by economic and social injustice, and her legacy continues to influence documentary photographers today.