Skip to Main Content
Photographer captures the dirty looks strangers give her
Q

Photographer captures the dirty looks strangers give her

Haley Morris-Cafiero chronicles the sideways glances she gets from a wide range of strangers — from police officers to children.
CBC Radio ·
Haley Morris-Cafiero captures strangers' reactions to her in a new book of images called The Watchers. (Haley Morris Cafiero)
Listen12:03

Haley Morris-Cafiero doesn't just feel like strangers gawk and glare at her in public. The artist and photographer has concrete evidence. 

Her multi-year photo project, The Watchers, captures the sideways glances and outright dirty looks she gets from a wide range of people — from police officers to children — who appear to be reacting to her weight in negative ways.

Morris-Cafiero joins guest host Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss the banality of body-shaming, how she feels about the hard looks, and why we should all be more aware of the power of our gaze. 

q: Are you aware of how strangers look at you? Are you aware of how you look at strangers? Please share your perspective below, or email q@cbc.ca

WEB EXTRA | See a sample of Morris-Cafiero's photos, posted here with the artist's permission, below. 

This is the photo that started it all. In the sensory overload that is Times Square, Haley Morris-Cafiero noticed that she was the focal point for a stranger, who appears to be smirking at her. (Haley Morris-Cafiero)

(Click here to enlarge)

(Click here to enlarge)

(Click here to enlarge)

(Click here to enlarge)

(Click here to enlarge)

(Click here to enlarge)

*This interview originally aired on Monday March 14, 2016

More from this episode

Related Stories

Comments

To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.

By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.