“Silence is Golden” is a common proverb that people understand implicitly. It is used to say that it is often better to remain silent than to speak.

This series examines the complex role of silence—what we are taught as children (children are to be seen and not heard) as well as its capacity to harm. In particular, I focus on the silences imposed on women, born of misogyny and culture that demands compliance and complicity. These silences instruct us to police our tone, dilute our rage, and suppress our truths. Society insists that we shrink ourselves to fit the comfort of others, forcing us to carry the weight of unspoken pain and unseen injustices.

The woman in this portrait lives in the Dharavi Slums in Mumbai, India. Prejudice defines their lives, particularly in the rural areas, where nearly three-quarters of India 's people live.

This young woman was caring for her son when I met her. She openly shared her story – one of constantly striving to make her son's life better. Making sure he went to school, studied, ate well, worked hard. The same story so may mothers shared with me when I met them.