Americans generally define who you are by what you do – your occupation. At a social gathering, someone asked my wife the what do you do question. My wife responded, “I am a stay at home mom.” People seemed judgmental and disinterested.
I set out to understand those who inhabit the role of American Housewife and searched for a way to share this topic through my photography.
I defined the nostalgic and provocative term “housewife” as a spouse (married or separated but not single or divorced) who works less then 35 hours outside the home and has children. I chose to use the word “housewife” as it involuntarily conjures a cultural literacy almost always of a dated icon or even a sentimental view.
My commitment was to photograph all comers. Many issues arose for me during this project ; some expected such as the challenges women face in terms of self image and others I did not expect, such as a few subjects defining themselves as “kept women” due to the threat of losing health insurance.
Scheduling was a problem. My subjects took their jobs seriously. An in-law visit, hot water heater repair, snow day, sick day or any number of domestic duties would pre-empt my photography session. I wanted the house empty, as the role is already defined by the other. The spouse and children did not need to be present or pictured but were omnipresent.
Subjects are seen in their own environment, in their own clothes and surrounded by their own possessions. I wanted to show the subjects simply being, not doing. The images have a strong sense of narrative without any conclusion or overt direction. The viewer is invited to actively complete the story by drawing on their own past and consequently forcing an understanding with the subject.
Collaborations with the subjects happened indirectly and stemmed from the casual interchanges with the subjects and what I found in their homes. We discussed the set. I would show them the imagery as it was created furthering the discussion.
I approached quite a few men for this project as it was not defined by gender regardless of the title. Only one man agreed while the others refused – admitting to the fears of being perceived as feminine – nothing short of shame. This emphasizes the need to redefine this role. Should a family be fortunate enough or simply choose to have a stay at home parent, it is honorable. It is constantly changing and challenging with massive consequences to not only the people closest to them but the world beyond.
Dave Moser is represented by Santa Bannon/Fine Art
http://www.davemoser.com
