The Female Gaze

The Aurangabad Photo Budget No. 7 as a Lens for Exploring Missionary Women and Their Work in Local Communities

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of gender, colonialism, and photography in 1930s colonial India through the lens of Aurangabad Photo Budget No. 7, a photo album compiled by British missionary Ruth Marion Grace Manning. The study investigates how female missionaries navigated cultural boundaries, provided medical care, and facilitated education within a patriarchal and colonial framework. The analysis considers how women's visual representation reinforced colonial power structures by applying concepts such as the female gaze and drawing from theorists like Laura Mulvey, Edward Said, and Malek Alloula. Ultimately, the paper argues that the photo album not only documents missionary efforts but also serves as a platform to reimagine gendered power dynamics. It provides an alternate view of women’s roles, highlighting how they uphold and challenge imperial narratives.