The Pill – A Dialogue Between You and Me

Fenna Jensma, born in 1996, is a documentary and portrait photographer and visual artist known for her work that delves into significant social themes through personal narratives. Educated at the Fotovakschool in Rotterdam, Jensma has contributed to publications such as Dagblad Trouw, Follow The Money, and NRC media, and has created photo collages for clients including VPRO and Trouw. Her latest project, “The Pill – A Dialogue Between You and Me,” investigates the complex interplay between personal experience and broader social conversations about contraception. This visual story chronicles the profound journey of Lola Kurpershoek, who developed a severe illness necessitating an organ transplant after taking the contraceptive pill. The deep friendship between Jensma and Kurpershoek sparked a dialogue exploring the implications of female contraception. Jensma poses critical questions about the consequences of falling seriously ill from a medication meant to protect, challenging its status as a symbol of women’s empowerment. Through this project, which has been shortlisted for the SO’24 award and is currently exhibited at Fotogalerie de Gang in Haarlem, Jensma offers a nuanced perspective on the difficult choices faced by women and people with uteruses, highlighting how these decisions can have lifelong impacts.

Credits:
Photographer: Fenna Jensma @fentasy.jpeg 
Author of the letters: Lola Kurpershoek

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