In collaboration with EyeEm, DW invited photographers to share images that offer an insight into the lives of women around the world. This one was taken in Italy by Aenne Bolze.

DW: Where did you take the picture? 

Aenne Bolze: It was taken in Bologna, Italy.

Do you come from or live in the country where it was taken? 

No, I was born in Germany where I still live.

What inspired you to take the photo?

It is one of a series I took on the streets of Bologna. That day, the streets were so full of tourists, business people, and streams of humans moving from one point of interest to the other. This woman stood out, moving slowly through the hectic of the day as if it weren’t there. Watching how she navigated through the crowds with that basket on her head had a calming effect on me.

How important are gender issues to you personally?

I am a child of all the work feminists have done in the past. One benefit is my open mind when it comes to gender questions.

I see and hear about the problems women all over Europe have in their working lives and I don’t understand why gender roles are still an issue in the area of employment. There is no need in this day and age.

How important do you feel they are in your country?

We have a big discussion about gender roles in Germany, which is great and it’s important that it continues for as long as it takes to end gender role thinking.

In most European countries, women are on the path to establishing equal rights and opportunities. The days of patriarchy are numbered. Acquired structures of thought and gender stereotypes are quietly dying with their “hosts”.

What still needs to be changed, and is it possible?

For me, the gender discussion in Germany has become a luxury discussion. It needs some fine tuning and patience, but that’s it.

I am more concerned about the darkness in other countries around the world, where women fear for their lives for just talking about female rights.

There are millions of women on this planet whose calls go unheeded – our action must be geared towards helping those most in need.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

EyeEmis a Berlin-based community of 18 million photographers from all over the world.