Nausheen Dadabhoy is breaking new ground as the only female cinematographer working in Pakistani cinema and television.
Speaking about the gender biases in this field, Nausheen Dadabhoy who turned her passion for cinematography into a career said that it did not frighten her in anyway. To prove herself, she fought it all to make her mark in the field.
“Cinematography is very much a boys club, and it’s also important to note that it is a white boys club. Women make up only make up 2% of the working cinematographers in the US. Women of colour are an even smaller number, so I had to overcome two challenges, but I turned these challenges into opportunities as best as I could”
In Pakistan, I had to work 100 times harder to prove that I could do what a male cinematographer could do, because the minute I showed any weakness it was attributed to my gender. However, people in Pakistan were more vocal about their lack of belief in a woman behind the camera, but sexism is present in the US as well,” she pointed out.
Hoping to see more women carve their niche in this profession, Dadabhoy said; “I don’t want to be the only female cinematographer in Pakistan. I am okay with being a pioneer, but I can’t fight the patriarchy on my own.”
