The Department of Sociology is delighted to announce the results of this year’s photography competition on the theme of the sociology of hope.
Entrants were invited to capture in a photo hope in the world around us. They were asked to think about the big or small ways that hope manifests in the face of social problems such as inequality and/or conflict, what might cause this hope and how, if at all, it might challenge inequity or alleviate suffering.
The competition was open to all GCSE and A-Level (or equivalent i.e. International Baccalaureate) students in the UK and abroad, and we received over 200 entries. A record number!
You can find the winner, and four runners-up below. Each picture is accompanied by the text submitted by the student explaining the sociological thinking behind the image.
The Department would like to thank everyone who entered the competition this year, as well as the teachers for their support!
Winning Entry:
In the Shadows of Adversity
by Aishani Chaughule, Prabhavati Padamashi Soni International Junior College
I captured this photo one late evening, on the footpaths of Mumbai. The woman in the picture had worked menial jobs all day, just to provide a little bit more for her daughter. The battered slippers and tired eyes hold testimony to the countless hours she spent trying to earn money to provide for her family. In the upsetting reality of her life in poverty, this woman pours her heart and soul into work every day, pushing herself to the limit to earn as much as she can. Yet, as dusk settles and exhaustion weighs heavy on her tired shoulders, she finds herself sitting on the street, waiting in silent anticipation for a ride home. However, in her bleak and dull world, her daughter acts as a ray of sunshine. With her strong will to receive an education despite her circumstances, the child acts as a glimmer of hope in her mother's otherwise hopeless world. In her pursuit of knowledge, she not only hopes to carve out a better future for herself but also to ameliorate her family from the shadows of despair. She embodies a spirit of defiance against adversity, striving to make a name for herself.
Runners-up:
Hoping for a Better Future
by Amélie Paquet, Kingsdale Foundation School
My photograph interprets the theme “sociology of hope” as it shows a small boy holding withering flowers with a map of the earth behind him. As he admires the bouquet of crumbling roses in his hand, the boy ponders on the question ‘will there be a future for my generation?’, attributable to the burgeoning problem of the climate crisis and the proximate threat of WW3. “Sociology of hope” is shown through the world map, which reflects the creeping menace of the destruction of the world, and also shown through the wilting flowers which represent how nature is being destroyed by humans. The boy symbolises hope as he tries to hold together pieces of dwindling flowers and attempts to restore the peace in the world. I used vivid colours and a high contrast to illustrate how vibrant life is to the younger generations, expressing the potential that they hold for the future. The boy encapsulates hope, innocence, and the belief in a brighter, more promising future than is expected for him.
A White Flag
by Freya Fasanya, Godolphin and Latymer
Hope is the most vital element of protest, the most potent source of motivation. For youth worldwide, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has proved to be a mobilising force and hope has been central to the utter determination shown through protests and demonstrations. Through the hundreds of thousands of people gathering every Saturday in London to demand humanity from the state I am filled with hope, especially through the presence of young people. We are waving the white flag, but not with compliance to what our leaders deem acceptable but with demands. Demands for a world that we all can live in, a world that is habitable for generations to come.
Hope for Blue
by Maisie Bolton, The Joseph Rowntree School
For too long, especially since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the proud blue sign of the NHS seems to have been trapped in a permanent state of darkness that has been shrouded in dark clouds. For thousands of healthcare workers, the constant hope for fair pay and better working conditions has been fruitless and it seems like our government has given up on trying to help the situation a long time ago. But with every new year comes a new feeling of hope; that this will be the year of change. My image shows the mural dedicated to healthcare workers right by the York Hospital, with a budding tree overhanging. For months, it felt like it had been permanently dark skies, but on this day, there was a patch of blue in the sky, a glimmer of hope for brighter days; hope for both for the blue sky and the blue of the NHS. My image shows that the darkness will always dissipate and that hope is more powerful than it may seem in our society, and for the thousands of healthcare workers including junior doctors and trainees, this is symbolic of the end of the period of darkness that they seem to have been forced into by our government. A glimmer of sun and a glimmer of hope can go a long way.
The Hope of True Equity
by Harry Cole, Hurstpierpoint college
This photo shows the hope that one day everyone in society will be given the equal opportunity to achieve their goals - the hope that one day our society will be truly meritocratic. The trophy symbolizing the goals of people, the American dream, and the chair being the forms of aid we give to minority groups in our society to provide equity. This photo could apply to all forms of inequality, varying from socio economic status to gender, sexuality, race, and any other factors which marginalize people into not being given the facilities, opportunities or means to live a life where they feel they have succeeded.
