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Betina Garcia

Photojournalist

A Girl's Right - The Polaroid Portrait Project

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School: The Danish School of Media and Journalism

Maria Louise Lyrn Rasmussen, 1..." she said.

1 of 8 © 2025 Betina Garcia

Maria Louise Lyrn Rasmussen, 19, from Mørkhøj, Denmark

"There is a general thinking that boys must be tough and girls soft. But I believe you should be yourself no matter what gender you are. I try to look tough, so that people won’t see how vulnerable I am. It’s easier to play tough than to show your emotions, so that people won’t hurt you. I think that men who complain about women have become too dominating should relax. For many years and in older generations men have been above women - the men had way better rights and privileges and now they have to put up with women can do the same thing as men and that we are equal. Women have fought hard to reach that point. If the men doesn’t like that, then I suggest them to get their act together and fight for what they believe in," she said.

Mayki Graff, 23, from Teguciga... feminism", she said.

2 of 8 © 2025 Betina Garcia

Mayki Graff, 23, from Tegucigalpa, Honduras

"Our culture in Honduras is ruled by the 'machismo': the idea that men are more worth than women. That they own the woman and has the right to kill them. I'm a rapper and graffiti artist. I'm not only trying to change the male chauvinistic thinking, but also the mentality of young womens mentality through my lyrics and make them realize they they have the right to live a free live. My message to the Honduran society is that murder and violence towards women must stop and that they have the right to abortion and to dress and act as they wish. The lyrics has sparked attention amongst the younger generation. Rap music isn't only for hardcore men or gang members, it's also for young women who fight for freedom and feminism", she said.

Desiree Caprice Williams, 19, ..." she said.

3 of 8 © 2025 Betina Garcia

Desiree Caprice Williams, 19, from Bowling Green, Ky, USA.

A girl's right is the right to be who you want to be, no matter how you look or dress. I used to think that I should be a certain way or wear my hair a certain way, but now that I wear my hair naturally I have never felt more sexy. As a black woman they think you are a specific kind of person. They used to call me Oreo, because I look black but sound White as I don't talk ghetto. I don't even know what they mean," she said.

Michaela Ida Madsen,17, from M... the same," she said.

4 of 8 © 2025 Betina Garcia

Michaela Ida Madsen,17, from Middelfart, Denmark

"Boys and girls are different and we always will be. Sometimes we have a hard time understanding one and another. There are so many expectations you have to live up to as a young woman today. The expectations from your parents, but also on Social Media where you have to look perfect and make it look like you have a perfect social life. It makes it harder to accept yourself. You can call everyone else perfect, but calling yourself perfect is too hard. There are so many unrealistic expectations to your body image and how you are supposed to look like. I think that all bodies are amazing. Just because you don't look like Beyonce, doesn't mean you can't be beautiful. I think boys and girls both feel like that, but we still talk down to one another. It's easy to forget that boys are victims of the same thing as girls, but in the end we probably both feel the same," she said.

Katarina Yala, 17, from Nueva ... are pregnant or have a child.

5 of 8 © 2025 Betina Garcia

Katarina Yala, 17, from Nueva Suyapa, Honduras

"Honduran men believe that they have the right to hit women and the women can't fight back. Therefore a woman must be careful and look out for herself, because no one else will. respect for women doesn't exist in Honduras. The perfect girl is somebody who carries God in her heart, is strong and brave to be able to handle all the challenges that exists in a female life. But she has to be protect herself or the man will take control of her body. I'm still a virgin. Boys are allowed to have sex early, but girls have to watch out and wait untill they are married. I'm doing that. if a girl is pregnant, she is not allowed to have an abortion. She has to deal with the consequences and have the baby no matter her age," she said. In Honduras one out of every four girls aged 15-19 are pregnant or have a child.

Zaina B. Jouret Segujja, 20, f... feelings," she said.

6 of 8 © 2025 Betina Garcia

Zaina B. Jouret Segujja, 20, from Copenhagen, Denmark

"My dad is from Uganda and when I travelled there I have experienced old men who tried to get with me and even wanted to buy me. Over there money means a lot in the relationship between a man and a woman. In Denmark it is very different. I have a job, make my own money and pay for my own expenses and can decide which education I want. It doesn't mean so much if my man has money or not, because I'm an independent woman who can take care of myself. When I go out on a date I even like to show that I can pay. Some men find that offensive, but I want a man who can deal with that. Today men can show their masculinity in other ways and I like if he allows himself to be vulnerable and show his feelings," she said.

Elisa Yamilet, 17, from Bowlin...t anymore," she said.

7 of 8 © 2025 Betina Garcia

Elisa Yamilet, 17, from Bowling Green, Ky, USA

"I think that men and women have the same opportunities but a woman needs to be strong because men think that we aren’t. Some guys think that if they call you pretty, they can get with you and have a good time. They think they have the right to call you pretty therefore It’s important to set boundaries and tell them you don’t like it. I have seen that guys stop talking to a girl after they had sex and pretend that she doesn’t exist anymore," she said.

Estefanie Isabel Andrade, 16, f...n the house," she said

8 of 8 © 2025 Betina Garcia

Estefanie Isabel Andrade, 16, from Nueva Suyapa, Honduras

"There are many young pregnant girls who are only 15 or 16 years old here, where I live. Young girls are not careful enough when they have sex. The boys don't care and won't use a condom. I have had a boyfriend but my parents told me to careful about getting pregnant, because it is hard to provide for a child when you are poor. I don't want to be a mom before I turn 20 years old. First I would like to study so I can give my kids something in life. Women has to be brave and ready to work hard, because most of the time they are in charge of everything in the house," she said

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Public Project

A Girl's Right - The Polaroid Portrait Project

Copyright Betina Garcia 2025

Date of Work Sep 2017 - Ongoing

Updated Jan 2019

Topics Discrimination, Documentary, Editorial, Feminism, Gender, Human Rights, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Teens, Womens Rights, Youth

A Girl’s Right – The Polaroid Portrait Project is an ongoing personal project that aims to paint a picture of what it is like to be a young girl today worldwide. Our goal is to find out if a girl’s right is the same coming from different cultures. We ask girls the same questions in regards to how they view a girl’s right in their culture and use the instant printing of the Polaroid picture to talk about their body image.

The project makes the girls reflect on their challenges, hopes and dreams. The project started as an audio and photo project made in collaboration with the reporter Anne Sofie Hoffmann Schrøder. We wanted to compare girls and young women from Honduras and Denmark, as they are one of the poorest and one of the richest countries in the world. Although the girls deal with different issues and have very different lives one thing remain the same. A girl has to be strong.

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