East End Women At Work
Contributing Photographer Sarah Ainslie took these portraits of women in Hackney between 1990 and 1991 as a commission for Hackney Museum. “I was aware there were a lot of women in the workplace but mostly in behind the scenes roles,” Sarah explained to me, “I wanted to give them visibly and also show the variety of work that women were doing.”
Terrie Alderton, Bus Driver
Loretta Leitch, Electrician
Rosemary More, Architect
Fontanelle Alleyne, Environmental Health Officer
Hackney Regristar of Births, Marriages & Deaths
Jenny Amos, Heating & Ventilation Engineer
Carol Straker, Dancer
Annie Johns, Sculptor
Sue Hopkins, Doctor at Lawson Practice Baby Clinic
Lilly Claridge, Age Concern Charity Shop Manager
Karen Francis & Carolyn Donovan, Dustwomen
Helen Graham, Street Sweeper
Denise Martin, Truck Driver
Judy Benoit, Studio Manager
Luz Hollingsworth, Fire Fighter
Diane Abbott, Member of Parliament
Dionne Allacker, Joanne Gillard, Winnifred John, Clothing Warehouse Supervisors
Lanette Edwards, Machinist
Nora Fenn, Buttonholist
Jane Harris, Carpenter
Eileen Lake, Chaplain at Homerton Hospital
Dr Costeloe, Homerton Hospital
Ivy Harris & E Vidal, Cleaners at Homerton Hospital
Sister Ferris Aagee, Homerton Hospital
Joan Lewis, Homerton Hospital
Sister Sally Bowcock
Valerie Cruz, Catering Assistant
K Lewis, Traffic Warden
Gerrie Harris, Acupuncturist
WPC Helen Taylor
Mary, Counter Assistant at Ridley’s Beigel Bakery
Mandy McLoughlin & Angela Kent, Faulkners Fish & Chip Restaurant
Terrie Tan, Driver at Lady Cabs
Maureen McLoughlin, Supervisor at Riversdale Laundrette
Anna Sousa, Hairdresser at Shampers
Jane Reeves, Councillor
Carolin Ambler, Zoo Keeper
Mrs Sherman, Dentist
Eileen Fisher, Police Domestic Violence Unit
Yvonne McKenzie, Jacqui Olliffe & Dirinai Harley, Supervisors at Oranges & Lemons Day Nursery
Jessica James, Active Birth Teacher
Di England, Supervisor at Free Form Arts
Sally Theakston, Chaplain, St John’s Hackney
Photographs copyright © Sarah Ainslie
Photographs courtesy Hackney Museum
What a wonderful diversity of occupations. I wish I could meet some of the ladies to hear their stories. Thanks Melvyn Brooks Karkur Israel
They are so striking. I love how you have encouraged people to look happy and in charge.
It’s very empowering looking at these, but also annoying that it IS still striking to see so many woman in positions of responsibility in one place in the media.
Thanks, great photos, unexpectedly great impact x
Stunning photos of women at work in all walks of life. Valerie
What a wonderful set of photos and thank you to Sarah Ainslie who had the idea to get out there and take these photographs and to make this quiet and powerful record.
Very engaging. A great range of occupations. I missed the teachers, lawyers and social workers, though. Loved the women in the chippy, the women in what are still traditionally male occupations and the NHS workers. In fact, I liked it all. More please from Sarah.
This is probably the only site on the ‘net where a photograph of Diane Abbott won’t immediately unleash a stream of sexist and racist abuse.
May I extend a much-belated mote of sympathy for Karen Francis, by the way? Her face says it all.
I think Diane Abbott is much loved by her constituents….didn’t she increase her majority by a great deal at the last election?
I love this entire photo essay.
Congratulations to Sarah on a fantastic set of photos.
Gary
I love them all. Sarah brings a special sensitivity to these studies.
The pictures are a wonderful look back at the past! Karen Francis & Carolyn Donovan, Dust women great!!
Your blog brings me so much pleasure.
What a wonderful collection of photographs, all sending positive messages, and shining out from beautiful faces. All of them winners.
What a surprise to see my younger self! I am now Team Rector of a market town and 7 villages in central Norfolk.
Bethnal Green Walk Group visited the exhibition at the Brady Centre today and had a great time seeing/reading the different occupations of the women portrayed.