Under the auspices of CARE, photographic anthropologist-adventurer and passionate humanist Phil Borges circled the globe from Latin America through Africa to Central Asia taking sensitive color portraits of women in dire straits who have struggled heroically against extreme adversity to lead their families and communities to better lives. Combined with brief and hard-hitting text, Borges’ images admirably fulfill his aim of presenting his subjects as distinct individuals, apart from tribe and race, bringing forth their dignity rather than dignifying them according to imposed Western conventions. Appearing as self-possessed and confident as they come, Abay fled her Ethiopian village to escape circumcision and then returned, had a fake operation filmed, and screened it for the male elders who were sufficiently shocked to end the practice on the spot. Borges shows that change can be effected, but it takes guts, devotion and the wisdom of a serpent. (Michael Weinstein) Through April 30 at the Chicago School of Professional Photography,
