Thoroughly modern millennial

Tag: diversity

  • International Women’s Day 2017 | #BeBOLDforChange

    International Women’s Day 2017 | #BeBOLDforChange

    Happy International Women's Day!

    As with every year, the organisers have set a theme to help further accelerate global gender parity. This year’s theme is #BeBOLDForChange. Personally I think it’s a perfectly timed focus in the current political and social climate. It’s a call to arms for men, women and non-binary people to take bold proactive steps towards gender equality for all.

    To make it even easier for us the organisers have broken this down into five pledges:

    • Challenge bias and inequality;
    • Campaign against violence;
    • Forge women’s advancement;
    • Celebrate women’s achievement;
    • and champion women’s education.

    They’re not new or groundbreaking pledges but they are fundamental to creating a more gender inclusive world. Of course, everyone will have their own way of taking on a pledge – in fact the IWD website breaks down each action and gives some examples of mini pledges you guys can do in your everyday lives. As it is International Women’s Day and I’m all about celebrating the achievements of ladies around the world, here are five women who already embody the #BeBOLDForChange moto.

    Challenge bias and inequality | Juno Dawson

    Young adult author Juno Dawson has never shy-ed away from difficult subject both within her books and outside of fiction through her social media feeds or Glamour magazine column. Whether it’s tackling LGBTQ topics through her various novels (This Book Is Gay and All of the Above), speaking out against Trans Exclusionary Radical “Feminists” (or TERFs), or advocating for mental health, her voice is the embodiment of the #BeBOLDForChange manifesto. (*whispers* I may also be totally biased because I interviewed Juno a few years ago and she is utterly lovely)

    Campaign against violence | The women behind the Sister’s Uncut movement

    This was the hardest pledge to choose a candidate for, as there are so many organisations and activists out there campaigning against violence against women, men and non-binary people. In terms of impact Sisters Uncut have had some of the most prominent press in the past few years for their political stunts at the Suffragette Premiere, in Trafalgar Square and even back in my old University town. Their manifesto is to ensure self-identifying women are physically, financially and legally supported when faced with domestic violence.

    Forge women’s advancement | Ava Duvernay

    I have no shame in including Ava in another awesome ladies list (again!). Oscar nominated director Duvernay is not only prominent in the fight to chip away at the Hollywood glass ceiling, she is also committed to championing women in film and media. Through her film independent film distribution company ARRAY she has founded an outlet to support, fund, and allow people of colour to tell their stories. In a time where so few women are hired on and off camera, Duvernay’s work is so important for the advancement of women in the movie and media industry.

    Celebrate women’s achievement | Aminatou Sow & Ann Friedman

    What more appropriate candidates for this pledge than the two women who have championed Shine Theory. Individually these Sow and Friedman are wonderful role models for champions women and their voices within their respective industries. Sow is the founder of Tech LadyMafia, a global networking initiative supporting women who work ‘in and around the Internet’. Friedman’s journalism work has had her cover a range of feminist topics such as sexual assault, women in pop culture and US politics. They’re are strongest when working together though on their podcast Call Your Girlfriend, where Shine Theory really comes into play.

    Champion women’s education | Malala Yousafzai

    This woman rarely needs an introduction. The 19 year old is the youngest recipient of the the Nobel Peace Prize and has spent the past few years advocating for education for girls in her native Pakistan and for global access to education. The Malala Fund has raised millions to assist in active learning programmes in Syria, Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leon. Malala herself has spoken in front of the UN and dozens of World leaders calling upon them to take up her “books, not bullets” message to heart.

    — — —

    Of course this is just the smallest sample of incredible, hardworking, feminist activists taking bold and brave steps for the advancement of gender parity. I could have totally listed about a dozen more! Why not leave your comments on the women you feel are also already embodying today’s pledge in the comments below.

    Ria Xx

  • Read, Watch, Listen | Black History Month

    Read, Watch, Listen | Black History Month

    As a South East Asian woman I can honestly say that I do not know what it’s like to be a member of the black community. I have empathy for their struggles, I can relate some of their issues to my own (as is the case with Intersectional feminism), but to put it bluntly I have no right to talk about black issues.

    With Black History Month drawing to a close, I feel like I would be doing a disservice if I tried to preach at you all about why #BlackLivesMatter. The first step to becoming an ally to any minority community is to ‘shut up and listen’. An ally’s  job is not to take the spotlight, but to place that spotlight on the people who’s voices really matter. Most importantly an ally’s job is when we get called out, to take on the critique and educate ourselves when we get things wrong.

    In the spirit of ally-ship today’s post is about highlighting the voices of the black community. I can’t tell their story, but they can. To make it even easier, here are a small snipped of links to articles and think pieces you can read, films, Youtube videos, and TV shows to watch, and albums and podcasts to listen to.

    Read

    Watch

    • 13th (2016), Directed by Ava Duverney
    • O.J.: Made in America (2016)
    • What Happened, Miss Simone (2015)
    • Girlhood (2014)
    • Dear White People (2014)
    • Hip-Hop Evolution, Netflix series
    • Black Female President 2032, Akilah Hughes Akilah Hughes
    • IDA B WELLS: The Princess of the Press, Kat Blaque
    • #MyLifeMatters, Blackout for Human Rights Blackout for Human Rights
    • UK Black History Month, Gal-Dem
    • Diversity & Parliament: Why it’s important to celebrate Black History Month, UK Parliament
    • An interview with the founders of Black Live Matter, TEDTalk TEDxTalks

    Listen

    • Podcasts:- I, The Angry Black Woman, Melanin Millennials // Madam Secretary, What’s Good? (with Hillary Clinton), Another Round // Obama’s Legacy: Did he remix race?, Code Switch
    • Music:- Solange Knowles: A seat at the table // Alicia Keys: Here // Kendrick Lamar: To pimp a butterfly

    And as I mentioned this is by no means an exhaustive list. Use this as step one for yourselves to seek out more. The more we understand about each other the easier it will be to empathize when issues arise.

    — — —

    Leave more links to interesting articles you’ve read in the comments too! As I said on Twitter this week, our knowledge as allies is always a work in progress, so educate me!

    Ria Xx

  • Welcome to the Resistance: Are you sitting uncomfortably?

    Welcome to the Resistance: Are you sitting uncomfortably?

    I don’t know about you but I feel like I’m basking in a post-Women’s March glow at the moment. It certainly feels like the Feminist Movement has gained momentum again. The shots of the crowds were incredibly moving, uplifting images of solidarity. The world does feel a little brighter, so forgive me if this post seems to dim the lights on what was an incredible event.

    In the aftermath of the march coverage, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of cynicism over the celebrations over the zero number of arrests, the comments on how peaceful the protesters were, and how well received the march was in general by the public. Whilst, yes, it’s always reassuring to know that no one got hurt, I can’t help but think about the levels of violence protesters faces for the Black Lives Matter movement and the Dakota Access Pipeline in the past year alone.

    The Women’s March, though largely attended by a huge number of minority groups and run by women of colour, they were largely outnumbered by cis-white women. The march itself was well funded and rigorously organised. They had legal permission to march and police were very much on side for crowd control, rather than regulate protesters. For all intents and purposes, if you wanted to dive into activism this was probably the best possible situation to do so.

    It begs to question, are we only willing to stand up when we know we’re not going to get attacked? Tear gassed? Blasted with ice water? Or even shot at?

    More than a march, welcome to the movement

    There is a privilege that comes with being white or cis-gender to have the choice of being actively political and to speak out. Even us, white passing people of colour have to admit that we so far have had an easy-ish ride.

    The challenge now? Are we willing to reach out of our comfort zone, in order to protect those who have fewer rights than us. Are we willing to see the World intersectionally? Are we willing to understand that women of colour, the LGBTQ+ community and the disabled have been marching and shouting far longer than many of us have.

    Are we willing to set aside our privilege and listen to people with wholly different experiences to our own?

    A call to arms

    So I speak now to you, the apprehensive and tentative activist. If you’re new to the movement, welcome. We are an inclusive and caring bunch. We want the numbers, we need the numbers now more than ever. But that uneasy feeling in your stomach that dealing with issues of inequality; of facing violent racism and homophobia head on; the drop in your stomach on being called out for being transphobic or ableist; the fervent tiredness of fighting?

    It’s a familiar feeling that minorities are living everyday.

    It’s not a fun feeling and it may be something you’re not used to. But it’s time to embrace uncomfortable conversations, issues and actions. After all, when has fighting for something you care about ever been easy?

    A few things you can do right now to slide yourself into that mindset:

    Whatever you do, don’t resolve to stand still on issues.

    Embrace being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

    — —- —-

    If you’re new activism, what’s been your first act? Was it something big like the Women’s March, or something small, like RT-ing activists on Twitter.

    Ria Xx