the Madhat Kat

Celebrating the Real Women of the SFFD with @christiehemmklok

Christie is part of Women Photograph (@womenphotograph), a global catalog of independent women photojournalists on a mission to elevate female voices. We’re celebrating her story for #InternationalWomensDay.

Her toddler’s obsession with firefighters lit a 🔥 under photographer Christie Hemm Klok (@christiehemmklok). “He had 10 books all about firefighters. I think maybe one of them had a very short-haired woman. That was the extent of it,” says Christie.

While in art school, she had the idea to document female firefighters, but her local station in Southern California didn’t have any women. This time, she reached out to United Fire Service Women, a nonprofit that advocates for women in the San Francisco Fire Department. “The timing was right,” says Christie — their response was immediate. The organization was looking for a photographer to help celebrate the 30-year anniversary of women in the department.

Chris Rock on his new Netflix special: “I want to live in a world where an equal amount of white kids are shot every month…I want to see white mothers on TV crying.”

This is disgusting, Netflix. Fucking disgusting. Especially right after that shooting..seriously inappropriate. Even by my standards and dark sense of humor, this is crossing a line.

I feel like... things like Women's Day and Take Back The Night and Slut Walk are, kind of? For me? Because I know that most people who see me see "a girl" (except on those glorious days where people give me those beautiful "I'm not...sure...how I should...I mean--oh gahd please give me some social indicator so I know how to address and interact with you...!!" It's not your confusion I like but rather the fact that you're *challenging* your cognitive dissonance over another person's appearance and seeking truth rather than just slapping your own perceptions on them. 😀 )