ABSTRACT
PhotoVoice is a powerful participatory tool for community assessment and policy advocacy. Rooted in the theoretical and epistemological traditions of Freirian emancipatory and empowerment education, feminist theory, and documentary photography, PhotoVoice engages the very people affected by the social problem that is targeted for change, and recognizes and empowers them as experts and legitimate creators of knowledge. They take photographs of their lives and communities and discuss them in small groups. They document and expose social problems, analyze their causes, explore solutions, and advocate for change. PhotoVoice promotes inclusive participation and ignites critical, reflexive analyses grounded in the lived experiences of people previously excluded from scientific and policy discourse.
This chapter addresses the challenges and possibilities of applying PhotoVoice to a digital context. Because PhotoVoice was originally developed during the 1990s, its application to the digital world presents many challenges while also offering exciting opportunities. We first present the theoretical, philosophical, and epistemological orientations of PhotoVoice and ethical issues, followed by a critical discussion of the application of PhotoVoice in social work practice and research in the digital age.
