Lean In joins with Getty Images to change visual narrative on the lives of women

10 Feb 2014

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s LeanIn.org has joined forces with Getty Images to created a new library of curated images devoted to the powerful depiction of women, girls and the people who support them.

The collection features more than 2,500 images of female leadership in contemporary work and life and purposely drifts away from the usual stereotypical stock photo narrative of professional woman in 1980s powersuits.

Instead the collection boasts natural and inspiring images of girls coding and women enjoying sports and engaged in a panoply of professional and private pursuits.

A portion of proceeds from the Lean In Collection will go towards the creation of Getty Images grants for images showcasing female empowerment and to supporting the mission of LeanIn.Org.

Getty Images is one of the largest photo agencies in the US with more than 80m still images on file.

In 2004 Getty set up a grants programme to enable photographers, filmmakers and content creators to bring attention to significant social and cultural issues.

To mark the launch of the Lean In collection, Getty is creating two new grants, one within the Getty Images Creative Grants and one within the Grants for Editorial Photography program.

“A portion of proceeds from the Lean In Collection will go toward the creation of these two grants for images showcasing female empowerment and to supporting the mission of Lean In,” Getty said.

Women Invent Tomorrow is Silicon Republic’s year-long campaign to champion the role of women in science, technology, engineering and maths

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com