Tribute to a Fellow Feminist: Emma Bee Bernstein

by Dorothee Royal-Hedinger · 2009-01-15 15:21:00 UTC
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Today as I celebrate my 25th birthday, amid optimism for my life and the future of all the women around me, I can't help but think of a colleague and friend whose life was cut tragically short just a few weeks ago.

Emma Bee Bernstein, a 23-year-old feminist photographer died in Venice, Italy just before the New Year. Emma had been traveling around the U.S. for GirlDrive, a project she started with Nona Willis Aronowitz to interview and photograph women of different backgrounds and beliefs. In an interview for this blog, Nona and Emma explained the need to document what is important to young women and find out what they think and feel about feminism in particular.

It was during my own interview with Emma and Nona for GirlDrive that I first clearly identified with the word feminist and have ever since defined myself proudly as one. As I explained in my comment to Jen's post Why Be A Feminist,

In the days before our interview, I really struggled with whether or not I identified with the word "Feminist". Growing up in America, it was always presented to me as a dirty word and I wondered if we could use a different word to advocate for the equality of all humans.

Emma patiently talked me through my doubts and helped me recognize that I was already experiencing culture through a feminist lens. Why be afraid to declare it to the world?

Brilliant and perceptive, Emma influenced everyone around her, whether through photography, fashion, discussions of feminist theory or by hosting a great dance party. Courtney Martin at Feministing.com described Emma well in her tribute:

"She was beautiful, charismatic, dressed like a person who understood the playful capacity inherent in fashion, who liked to subvert people's expectations about appropriateness or trendiness."

Thank you Emma for bringing me and so many other women into the sisterhood of the feminist movement. We will miss you.

Dorothee Royal-Hedinger
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