Until now, stock images of women in the workplace and at home have relied on outdated stereotypes—pristinely dressed (and made up) women in power-suits at the office or at home juggling kids, household chores, and work on their laptops.
But this may not be the case any longer. On Monday, Sheryl Sandberg’s nonprofit LeanIn.org, along with stock image powerhouse Getty Images, announced the launch of an entire database of images dedicated to a new, more empowering representation of the modern working woman.
“When we see images of women and girls and men, they often fall into the stereotypes that we’re trying to overcome, and you can’t be what you can’t see,” Ms. Sandberg told The New York Times.
The new selection of images will include modern women in a wide variety of environments—soldiers, bakers, hunters, and surgeons—not just woman suited up in eyeglasses and kitten heels at the office.
In addition to the updated photos, Getty will be donating ten percent of the revenue to LeanIn.org, as well as creating two new grants for photographers who work to capture female empowerment—a $20,000 grant for a creative to produce a visual campaign related to the nonprofit’s mission and a $10,000 grant for a documentary photographer covering news about women.
