About the project:

This project uses participant-generated imagery (photos taken with smartphones or similar) to create new understandings about the division of unpaid labour in Australia during COVID-19.

Who are we looking for:

We know that families come in many shapes and forms, and we celebrate diversity. Simply put, we are looking for:

• adults over the age of 18
• who are located in Australia and live with at least one other person
• and who are willing to take pictures of their everyday life.

You don’t need any special skills or equipment to participate. Nor are we interested in artistic values, fancy filters or creative angles. As long as you have a smartphone and you can take photos with it, you’re good to go.

What you need to do:

We are looking for a week’s worth of photos! That is, any 7 days (whether consecutive or not) of 2-4 images per day (minimum of 14, maximum of 28 photos all up) with your smartphone.

The photos should somehow relate to the unpaid work that is done in your home. What counts as ‘unpaid’ work is up to you – we want to understand the topic from your point of view. Don’t overthink the task. We are only interested in what’s in the picture, not its
artistic merits. Please also feel free to include additional notes about the photos where necessary.

For example, you can take photos of items or tasks that make you feel something (happiness, anger, boredom, frustration etc), particular rooms, caring duties, devices, apps and gadgets you use etc. You can also take photos of people, as long as they have consented to having their photo taken. Also, please note that domestic labour does not have to take place inside your home (e.g. picking up children from daycare).

And most importantly, don’t feel constrained by these examples!

Email the photos and notes about them to Dr Pia Rowe, 50/50 by 2030 Foundation Research Fellow: pia.rowe@canberra.edu.au, along with the following information:

● Age and gender of the person who took the photos
● Age and gender of all the other people who live in the household, and their
relationship to you
● State in which you reside.

After all images have been collated, the researcher will organise a time convenient for you for a short follow-up interview, either online  (zoom or skype), face to face if the situation and location allow, or over the phone.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact Dr Pia Rowe.