«During the past year I have photographed young mothers - girls who had a baby before they turned 18. Many of the girls I met told me about feelings of being the spectacle of their local community. Or being the target of people's looks and gossip. About feeling pressure towards having an abortion. The choice to keep the child was though for many of these girls. Even though sexual moralism is less prevalent today, there are perhaps other factors that make early motherhood such a radical issue in Norway?
The average age of women giving birth for the first time is steadily increasing, and the importance of being perceived as successful is more demanding than ever.
Maybe contemporary demands for education, income and success represent a pressure on women that in some ways has replaced the previous generations' sexual moralism.»
Maybe contemporary demands for education, income and success represent a pressure on women that in some ways has replaced the previous generations' sexual moralism.»
Siv Johanne Seglem (born in 1978, in Bergen) is a staff photographer at the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, and is currently living and working in Oslo.
Siv has won several prizes in the Norwegian Picture of the Year, and her photos have been exhibited in different group shows. She has also received several grants to work on larger documentary projects, like «Young Mothers».
Siv has won several prizes in the Norwegian Picture of the Year, and her photos have been exhibited in different group shows. She has also received several grants to work on larger documentary projects, like «Young Mothers».
