The Cloak of Conformity and the Corset of Expectation

A special event as part of Autism Acceptance Month, April 2022. 

As someone who is on the autism spectrum, Alison Webber has expended a great deal of time and energy creating different versions of herself in an attempt to fit into society’s expectations of how she should behave. She refers to this disguise as the Cloak of Conformity and the Corset of Expectation. She says: "The corset shaped me into an idealised form whilst the cloak displayed a version of me to the world which said, 'Look I fit in.'"

The Cloak of Conformity and the Corset of Expectation tells the story of their relationship with photography and autism and the ways in which their photographic journey has helped them realise that the cloak and the corset have been suffocating their creativity and that by discarding them they can express their true identity.

Alison Webber has been a member of the Royal Photographic Society since 2018 and was awarded her Fellowship in 2021 for a panel of images which illustrates a version of what she describes as her 'autistic reality'. 

Since then Alison has become increasingly involved with the Royal Photographic Society both as a member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and then more recently as Spotlight Editor.

Alison is also passionate about her local photography community. She is a member of the Bridport Camera Club and the Dorset Independent Photographers Group as well as being the founding member of a monochrome critique group.

Keen to help others on the autism spectrum, Alison runs free online photography workshops for small groups of autistic adults.

This event is free but requires booking. 

Your Zoom link will be contained in a PDF document sent with your confirmation email and emailed immediately after you have completed your booking.