We the Women

112 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago IL
2021

We the Women is a collective protest against Taliban-imposed dress codes, staged on Michigan Avenue. Fifteen women stood silently on the sidewalk, initially covered with black cloth and holding live roses. As each woman reached her physical limit she dropped her rose and released her fabric covering then stood in solidarity with the group.

The performance transformed personal endurance into a visual statement of resistance, challenging oppressive restrictions on women's bodily autonomy and dress.

Directed by Leila Ghasempor. Performers: Alizon Rana Baggio, Alaya Lee, Diana Ku, Helen Cho, Judy Lea Steele, J Jiang, Jill Gao, Kexin Jiang, Kiki McGrath, Katy Scanlon, Leila Ghasempor, Meiqi Zhang, Sofia Gabriel, Seerat Kaur. Photographer: Zoha Hussnain, Videographer: Braxton Po