I forget to mention. The building in the background with WC (Toilet) on its side, is one of many ancient Roman buildings. There is a grand amphitheatre here as well as an ancient Roman town, mostly built from dark local stone.

I can never quite grasp this concept, that women are so unimportant in so many cultures. A foto such as this shows it powerfully, reminds me how lucky I am.

Your photos as good as your words ! They tell the history without adornents . good day :) Ana

This is an amazing photograph and the gorgeous execution renders the situation all the more poignant. This image works on so many different levels. As something beautiful, it's definitely that, but it also allows one to see and question an element of reality without feeling the overt barbs of confrontation. On this level it works exquisitely. On another level, the water closet scrawl on ancient Roman architecture underscores the point with a note of irony as well...indeed, it's not just women who bear the brunt of disrespect, or being taken for granted, but also a historical tradition that in its way DID shape the region. It also reflects the historical traditions and gender/ethnic "minorities" in our own Western culture who are equally disregarded en masse! THAT is what I find so interesting about this particular work. Replace "woman" with any other subjugated (or reviled) group and you find a disturbing common denominator, and perhaps most effectively, this image addresses THAT as well, by calling the ENTIRE question of subjugation and mass dismissal into question...especially when such crude and debased behavior disguises itself as "tradition."

After a careful read,I see only the little girl...breaks your heart if this is indeed the case...you've captured more than a moment.

Chipka, thanks for your usual insightful and thoughtful comments. I need to add something regarding the ancient Roman ruin that might be worth mentioning. I believe the reason that so many of the Roman buildings still stand here is that many are actually still in use and, to some extent, maintained by the local population. If you look at Volubilis (Morocco), or even the Forum Romanum, you can see ruins that have been stripped of all essential materials, and are pretty much, while still quite interesting, architecturally, wastelands, IMO. Conversely, in Sicily, one can find gorgeous Greek buildings, because, rather than stripping them of their materials, as was done in Greece by the conquering Romans, who carried the materials off, on large ships, to to Italy for reuse in Roman structures, they were used by subsequent inhabitants, in this case the Romans, and thus maintained for a longer period of time.

Apparently you have struck a chord. If I had not erased and rewritten and erased again, there wouldn't be enough room for everything I've had to say about your photograph. A powerful image, indeed.

Very sad for the girl, but even in Western society girls/women are still not treated the same as men, although it's getting better for them, we can only hope for equality for all...sooner than later ! Fine story telling capture & ~Cheers~ :o)

Fantastic image!!!!! ROBY ;o)**** (o;

A fascinating scenery you have captured here! Wonderfully taken!!!

An interesting image on so many fronts, from architecture to gender equity to repression in general. Yet I must ask, maybe she's just afraid of horses?

Good point Chimera, and maybe having not been there, even understandable from your point of view. Unfortunately, there never was any attempt made to even bring her into this. That is strictly a man's world and the little boy was to do the manly thing. Moreover, I find this general attitude endemic throughout the Middle East, to varying degrees. Extremes of this may be seen with the Taliban, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia on one hand, and with Turkey, possibly on the other, while the rest of the countries are somewhere in-between. Egypt, too, was at times delightfully different from this, although that would depend strongly on where in Egypt you were, both demographically, and geographically. Single women travelers, even in Cairo, are given a fairly rough time in the streets, even if dressed conservatively. Then there is the young and impetuous man who is, by the grace of his wealthy mother, allowed to run the blacklisted (by me) Hotel Arabesque, in Cairo. He brutalizes his male employees and hold total sway over his female amployees. Jobs for women are scarce there, and many are being taken advantage of by unscrupulous, nasty enployers, such as that one.

An excellent shot of the moment, and excellent commentary on the cultural facts.