Emma Bennison has been combining striking documentary-style photography and personal stories to convey the pain and daily struggles of women living with endometriosis. The Pain They Carry aims to highlight the physical and emotional toll of endometriosis. It also explores the individual stories of women across Cornwall; cases that involve claims of medical gaslighting, misogyny and challenging experiences in the gynaecological healthcare system. Many of these women’s symptoms have been dismissed entirely or simply put down to ‘being a woman’. Some have been left with ‘life-altering consequences’, with some women now living with stoma bags, undergoing hysterectomies, or have learned to live with other physical conditions and trauma associated with their pain and experiences. 

Emma, who also lives with endometriosis and polycystic ovaries syndrome, has been travelling around Cornwall to photograph each of these women, with a view of telling their stories. With her own health issues driving her to explore this taboo topic, raising awareness of the issues around women’s health is really important to Emma, as she explained to Falmouth Life. 

“I wanted to create something that would turn heads, not in a disgusted way but in more of a shocking way as women's healthcare is something that isn't discussed publicly, let alone the sides of it when things go wrong and when women are just expecting to deal with it,” she said. “After my second surgery in July 2024, I created a project documenting my own story with the healthcare system and how it failed me. I was then later interviewed for this project by the BBC and after that I started The Pain They Carry. I had an overwhelming response with people who had been through the same thing as me and, to my horror, much worse.”

Emma’s work has helped to connect people in many ways, starting important conversations online and in-person and allowing women in Cornwall to share their experiences. 

She continued: “Most of the women I photographed in this project didn't know each other until my latest exhibition when they all came to see it. They started talking about their health struggles and how the healthcare system gaslighted them into believing that there was nothing wrong with them. This is something that I didn't think would happen but I created a small group of women who openly spoke about their issues and how they were let down. Not only this, but my friends and family had a better understanding of endometriosis and how women battle to get the diagnosis.

“As I continue this project over the next few months and years, I want it to be able to show the government and the NHS how this issue needed fixing years ago. Not only are women's symptoms being gaslighted and dismissed, but they have to wait months or even years for an appointment just to see a specialist. My main goal is for these issues in the healthcare system to not happen for the next generation.”

The Pain They Carry is an ongoing project, and Emma welcomes women to come forward to share their experiences with her. She hopes the project can extend beyond Cornwall, and envisions photographing women all over the UK to help bring women’s health issues to the surface.

Emma added: “I want to photograph and share the stories of as many women I possibly can. Women who live with endometriosis and other gynaecological health issues live a life of pain, which is something no one should have to put up with.” 

If you have a story of endometriosis or another women’s health issue that you would like to share with Emma and The Pain They Carry project, email emmagbphotography12@gmail.com or see her Instagram page - emma_bennison_photography.

‍