HOMME

Written By Simone Taylor

He Sees Her is an international and multi-cultural interview series originating in Paris for Issue 3, that investigates the value & intrinsic influence of Female figures in young Men’s development of self concept. We spoke to 9 individuals on this topic, while they were immaculately styled by Tomasz SIERAKOWSKI, photographed by Aaron VIII, filmed by Simone Taylor, with hair by Adam Dyer and grooming by Tracy Terashima.

Read below:

Who were the closest women to you growing up? 

ZAC: My grandma, mom and sisters

LOCHICE: My mother, grandmother, and older sister

CHRISTIAN: My mum

ALISTAIR: My older sister

TISSA: My mum

How and why are they unique in your memory?

SIONE: They embodied what it means to not just be a women but a human being. Every challenge, every triumph they faced head on and managed to do it with humility. Those women inspire every day. 

LOCHIE: My mother is very kind and intelligent she seems to have an answer for everything, my grandma is very creative and funny. And my sister is one of the most outgoing people I know.

CHRISTIAN: She's the hardest working person I know. She moved to Australia in her early 20s with nothing and worked her way to being a strong successful woman.

ALISTAIR: She was pretty much the only constant person in my early childhood as my parents travelled for work

Do you see anything in yourself that you got from your mother?

ZAC: I got the same eye colour and smile and my mum

SIONE: My Mum, my aunties who are like bonus mothers to me and my sisters. 

LOCHIE: My care towards others

ALISTAIR: I'm very similar to my mum in the way I manoeuvre around problems, compromise around said problems and the way I treat people. 

TISSA: My manners and sense of humour

What is it about her that has created such?

SIONE: Her heart. At least I aim to have a heart like her. She taught me how to love whole heartedly and even when its not reciprocated. It’s something that I have to work on daily. 

LOCHIE: Her kindness and empathy

ALISTAIR: Mostly the fact that whenever there was an altercation or problem she always had an idea on how to fix it.

What’s different about the intelligence of a woman in comparison to the intelligence of a man?

SIONE: Interpretation and opportunity. I think certain people and this could be in any gender interpret information differently and that is by choice. Sadly in this day an age women are still having trouble getting opportunities that are usually afforded to men. There is so many different forms of intelligence and growing up with so many siblings I was able to amongst so many. Every gender whether you identify as male, female or trans can be as equally yoked if given the avenue to do so. 

LOCHIE: Women tend to have a higher level of emotional intelligence and are more smart in emotional situations compared to men.

CHRISTIAN: Women may have different perspectives due to situations that have occurred due to their gender.

ZAC: I believe that women are more intelligent than us men and thats a fact

Tell us about a time your mother experienced a problem just because they were female.

SIONE: I don’t ever recall her being singled out for being a women. But, I do remember her getting accused of stealing in a high end store once because she was a coloured women. Me and my sister were with her and we were searched before, while my Mum was in the change room. After they searched her we left and then we told her that they had padded us down and I remember being like 7 at the time. Anyway, we were already on the road. She turned the car around and we went all the way back to the store so she could correct them for searching minors. I asked her why? She said, “they can search me that’s fine but there is no way they are going to touch my children”. 

ASTON: I’ve heard plenty of stories from when she was working in hospitality/nightlife and as a flight attendant where she would so casually mention taking extra measures to protect her privacy or get home safely that I as a man would never even consider having to do. Sadly even 30 years later today, my female friends and family still mention undergoing the same problems and precautions on a daily basis.

What do you see as a problem currently in society regarding women, and how have your female figures helped influence you in challenging that? 

Akira: I think lots of problems around this topic originate from a lack of exposure, years ago women weren’t even given a chance to prove themselves, but i think as more female figures have joined the scene we’ve gotten to see their strength 

SIONE: The standard of beauty. Social media plays a huge part in the issue. Young women are comparing themselves to these women online that look perfect and are living lavish lifestyles. However, that’s not real. I always say social media is only a percentage of your life that you want to show the world. Clearly the good parts. Those people don’t always look like that and might not always live in luxury. My sisters are all different shapes, sizes and shades. They all are the most confident women I know because they are secure within themselves. I now have nieces and some are darker then others. In my culture they praise light skin kids for reasons I couldn’t tell you. A family member of mine felt the need to tell my 4 year old nieces that they were not cute because they were darker. I told her that there skin is crafted by the Gods and that the only thing ugly is your attitude. I was raised by a pack of worrier women so it is naturally my instinct to be an ally to women.

LOCHIE: Violence against women remains a prominent problem in society, both my mother and school have enforced that a man should never abuse their natural power and taught me to continue to treat women as equals.

CHRISTIAN: Many women i know don’t feel safe walking alone at night or are constantly scared their drink will get spiked due to past experiences.

ASTON: Violence and harassment against women, especially the disproportionate rate of violence against female minorities.

How do you practice being an ally to women?

SIONE: By holding others and myself accountable for the misdeeds we commit against them. Whether they be minor or huge we as men have a responsibility to correct ourselves and educate ourselves. I firmly believe that anyone can do anything they set their mind too and that you should not have to face ignorance because of the way you were made. 

LOCHIE: I am always available to talk to friend and will stick up for all my female friends and family in situations of hardship.

CHRISTIAN: I look out for my friends, sister and mother always

ASTON: Actively listening to and raising the voices of all women, especially WOC, black and indigenous women, trans women and queer women in the industry I work in, but also in my day to day life.

Who is a woman that you admire who’s you’re not related to or you’re not in a relationship with? 

SIONE: Tarana Burke. Nothing more to say, if you know her then you know if you don’t get to know. She’s Incredible.

LOCHIE: Diana Silvers, shes a young actor and model who has such a positive outlook on life and is always encouraging people to be the best version of themselves.

CHRISTIAN: Jacinda Ardern

ALASTAIR: There are countless people that come to mind but I choose to disregard gender when admiring a person's achievements or how they act. For instance I admire Oprah Winfrey's rise to fame and fortunes from her struggle with poverty growing up but this admiration is due to her hard work and subsequent success and nothing to do with gender.

ASTON: Yoko Ono, a brilliant artist and woman.

TISSA: Michelle Obama

ZAC: I look up to my agent Eunice. She’s such a caring and humble being

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