Author Archives: Sharmila Ganapathy

The Pixel Project Selection 2018: 16 Films About Violence Against Women

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In this age of Netflix, YouTube, and Vimeo, the visual mediums of film and television are particularly effective mediums for teaching and learning. This is why, for the past 6 years, The Pixel Project has been publishing lists of powerful films, documentaries and television shows that seek to inform and educate the public about the worldwide scourge of violence against women, its various forms, and what everyone can do to stop and prevent it.

This is the 7th year that The Pixel Project has curated a selection of powerful and thought-provoking films, documentaries and television shows that depict violence against women and girls (VAWG) in its various forms. This year, we have a more diverse selection than usual in two ways:

  • Geographically, our 2018 selection spans Asia, Europe and the Americas, depicting women and girls from different walks of life, dealing with different situations, but all with one thing in common – the violence they have or are experiencing in their lives.
  • Format-wise, we have included not just powerful documentaries but also recommendations for TV series, specific TV episodes, and also feature films that tackle the issue of VAW. Even if they are fictional, stories matter because they shape our culture and mindsets.

We hope that these films will inspire you to learn more about the various forms of violence against women and become a catalyst for change in your own communities. To learn more about each documentary, film, or TV series, click on the hyperlinked title of each selection.

Introduction by Anushia Kandasivam and Regina Yau. Written and compiled by Anushia Kandasivam with additional selections by Regina Yau.

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Selection Number 1: A Safe Distance (1986)

This short documentary looks at some innovative approaches to providing services and accommodation to battered women in rural, northern and Native Canadian communities. Though an old film, it is still a rare look at domestic violence in these communities. The film also focuses on a safe house within a Native community Reserve that is built and run by women to stand as a reminder that the Reserve will not tolerate violence against women.

A Safe Distance, Tina Horne, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Selection Number 2: Audrie & Daisy (2016)

“The words of our enemies aren’t as awful as the silence of our friends.” This American documentary, release on Netflix in 2016, is about the rape of two underage girls in two different towns at two different times, and the common ripple effect on families, friends, schools and communities when they each find out that their sexual assaults have been caught on camera. Besides being a story of sexual assault, this film takes a hard look at American teenagers and their communities in the world of social media bullying.

Selection Number 3: Big Little Lies (2017- )

A darkly comedic drama series about three emotionally troubled women who become embroiled in a murder investigation, this series also touches on violence in the home between parents and at school between children. It explores how children learn or are taught to see threatening behaviour as a prank or all in good fun and how even the most violent behaviour can seem innocuous if it is treated as normal.

Selection Number 4: Call the Midwife (2012 – )

An unexpectedly feminist and socially conscious BBC period drama, Call the Midwife is about a group of nurse midwives working in London in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Now in its 7th season, its episodes have dealt with issues of domestic violence, unwanted pregnancies, poverty, prostitution, sexual violence and even female genital mutilation.

Selection Number 5: Greenshaw’s Folly – Agatha Christie’s Marple, Season 6, Episode 2 (2013)

The UK’s ITV network has long been renowned for their pitch perfect adaptations of Agatha Christie’s seminal detective series into multiple seasons comprising well-produced movie-length episodes. In this adaptation of Greenshaw’s Folly, one of the Miss Marple mysteries, the producers updated the storyline to include domestic violence – specifically showing Miss Marple helping a young woman and her son flee their abusive husband and father. This gets intertwined with the central mystery in various ways but the most gratifying outcome of all is that the abuser eventually gets nabbed when he attempts to abduct his wife and son.

Selection Number 6: Finding Home (2014)

A documentary about human trafficking, this film follows three young Cambodian women who were trafficked when they were in their early teens, and now live in a safe house, telling their unique stories. It shows the complexities and difficulties of learning how to deal with horrific abuse and the struggle girls and young women in conservative societies face in overcoming their trauma and building a future for themselves.

Finding Home Trailer from Flying Treasure on Vimeo.

Selection Number 7: I Can Speak (2017)

A South Korean comedy-drama film about an elderly woman who seems constantly dissatisfied with the world around her and the unlikely friendship she strikes with a young man who teaches her English. This takes an unexpected twist when her teacher finds out the real reason she wants to learn English. This film is also an exploration and discussion of the topic of Korean ‘comfort women’ during World War II, and the importance of speaking and telling your story of survival.

Selection Number 8: I, Tonya (2017)

A biographical film about Olympian figure skater Tonya Harding, based on extensive research and interviews with Harding herself, her mother, ex-husband and others, this film depicts Harding’s life from the time she was a child, her difficult journey to the Olympics, her controversial involvement in the shocking physical attack on rival figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, and the aftermath of that life-changing incident. The film sheds stark light on Harding’s life behind-the-scenes and the cycles of abuse she experienced – an abusive mother leads her to an abusive husband – and subtly explores how prevalent abuse can shape the world-view of anyone, even a celebrated athlete.

Selection Number 9: Namrata (2009)

In this very short documentary – only 9 minutes – Namrata Gill tells the story of how as a very young woman, she married a man and moved to Canada, and after 6 years finds the courage to leave her abusive husband and start a surprising new career. Even in this short film, the audience learns about the isolation of an abusive relationship in a foreign country and the importance of community support.

Namrata, Shazia Javed, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Selection Number 10: Roll Red Roll (2018)

This documentary by Nancy Schwartzman tackles the ubiquity and horror of rape culture in the U.S. by chronicling the Steubenville Ohio case – the notorious 2012 case of the high school sexual assault of a teenage girl by the star players of a Steubenville, Ohio, football team that became known internationally. The film, had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and documents the case in such a powerful fashion that your feelings of outrage will persist long after the movie is over.

Selection Number 11: Secret Superstar (2017)

This Bollywood drama is on the surface a whimsical tale of a schoolgirl whose biggest dream is to be a singing superstar. Underneath that is an exploration of how domestic violence, and patriarchal and societal norms, combined with an inability to break through the ceiling of a lower socio-economic class keep women and girls from getting an education and achieving their dreams, and perpetuate cycles of violence within families and societies. But it does also show how allies, both male and female, can help to break the cycle.

Selection Number 12: Slut Or Nut: Diary of a Rape Trial (2018)

Slut or Nut: The Diary of a Rape Trial is an Indiegogo crowdfunded documentary film which is an eye-opener about what happens in Canada when a victim reports their rape. The documentary goes through rape survivor Mandi Gray’s story as a device to walk the viewer through what it is like to report rape or sexual assault, do a rape kit, and stand as a witness in the trial of the assaulter. It also offers viewers who are victims and survivors useful information on alternate routes to find justice and comfort after a sexual assault. Director Kelly Showker is herself a sexual assault survivor.

Selection Number 13: The Apology (2016)

This documentary is about three former ‘comfort women’ who were among the 200,000 girls and women kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Army during World War II. The film follows three women from South Korea, China and the Philippines, now in their twilight years, as they break decades of silence and tell about how their past shaped them and continues to impact their lives. Whether they are seeking a formal apology from the Japanese government or finding the courage to tell the truth to their families, the film depicts their incredible resolve to live as survivors.

Selection Number 14: The Testimony (2015)

In 2012, after the M23 rebellion drove the Congolese Army out of the eastern city of Goma, the retreating army systematically raped hundreds of civilian women in the town of Minova. This short documentary is about the Minova Trial, the largest rape tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the fifty-six women who testified while being covered by a black veil to protect their identities.

Selection Number 15: Three Girls (2017)

This three-part BBC miniseries is a dramatised version of events surrounding the Rochdale child sex abuse ring that involved 9 men trafficking underage girls in England. The story is told from the viewpoint of three of the victims, showing how they were groomed and focusing on how the authorities failed to investigate allegations of rape because the victims were perceived as unreliable witnesses before lobbying by certain investigators resulted in the case being reopened and the eventual convictions of the perpetrators.

Selection Number 16: Veronica Mars (2004-2006)

A mainstay of the early 2000s, Veronica Mars is a noir mystery drama TV series about its eponymous teen private investigator. While Veronica solves various mysteries throughout the series, a main story arc is her investigating and dealing with the aftermath of her own drugging and rape at a high school party. While not physically strong like her predecessor Buffy, Veronica is whip-smart and powerful in other ways. Somewhat before its time, this series explores how she rises above being ostracised, mocked and not believed, to being a survivor and fighting for justice.

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All pictures used are Creative Commons images (from top to bottom):

The Pixel Project Selection 2018: 16 Books About Violence Against Women

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Far from being merely a source of entertainment, storytelling frames reinforce and transmit culture and beliefs. More than that, stories have the power to fire the imagination and inspire new thoughts and ideas and thus to shape – or reshape – the perspective of individuals, communities and cultures about everything from tradition to gender.

In recognition of the power of storytelling to inspire change, The Pixel Project has put together our third annual selection of 16 books that depict violence against women and girls. Some of these stories are popular genre fiction while others are well-received non-fiction. Nevertheless, all of them will educate the reader in some way about gender-based violence, rape culture, sexism, and misogyny. The books and book series in this list have been selected from a wide range of genres including fantasy, crime/mystery, science fiction, and autobiography.

This year, our fiction selection are books led by female protagonists who have experienced VAW and whose stories show the aftermath of the violence on their lives and how they cope with it. For the first time, we also include a number of romance series and novels as acknowledgement of how romance has evolved to actively address issues of consent and violence against women.

Our non-fiction selection shows a common trend of depicting entrenched and pervasive violence against women and sexism in the diverse societies and worlds that they portray while offering threads of hope as people and characters fight for and maintain a world where women and girls are free from abuse.

This list is by no means complete as there are hundreds of books out there that deal with violence against women in its various forms. However, we hope that these 16 books and series will be a starting point for you, as they have for others over the years, to push for change in your community and culture.

Introduction by Anushia Kandasivam and Regina Yau; Written and compiled by Anushia Kandasivam and Regina Yau

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Book Selection #1: Asking for It (2016) by Louise O’Neill

Narrated by 18-year-old Emma O’Donovan, who was raped after a party, this novel explores how a person can become objectified in a world ruled by social media and where misogynistic rape culture is the norm. An unusual and visceral story in that the protagonist herself is unlikeable with unlikeable friends and it does not hold back on portraying how vile the online world can become, it skillfully chronicles the physical and psychological effects of being violated, feeling voiceless and descending into depression. It also asks important questions about rape culture, sexism and social media abuse.

Book Selection #2:​ A Thousand Splendid Suns (2008) by Khaled Hosseini

The second novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini after his debut The Kite Runner, this story is primarily about female relationships, set against a backdrop of a patriarchal society, domestic violence and war. The story follows Mariam and Laila, born a generation apart but brought together by circumstance that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other. It tracks the strong bond they form as they struggle to live with an abusive husband and the ever-increasing danger and hardship of living in Kabul, and how the love, strength and self-sacrifice of women are often the key to survival.

Book Selection #3: Desert Flower (1998) by Waris Dirie and Catherine Miller

Born to a nomadic family in the Somali desert, Waris Dirie was subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) at the age of five. This autobiography details her difficult childhood in a harsh land, where she had to contend with oppressive patriarchal norms and sexual abuse, to an arduous journey to London where she worked as a housemaid, and then her remarkable transformation into an internationally acclaimed fashion model and human rights ambassador. In her book, Dirie speaks openly about living with the effects of FGM and frankly about why the practice must be stopped. Experiencing the everyday life of a survivor through her own words makes this a worthy read.

Book Selection #4: I Am Vidya: A Transgender’s Journey (2013) by Living Smile Vidya

A compelling autobiography of a transgender woman’s journey to find and live her true identity, this book is also a unique insight into the duality of conservative Indian society and its rich cultural history. Vidya chronicles her journey from being born a boy, realising her true nature, being an outcast from her family and society, suffering the indignities and violence forced upon transgender people and her eventual claiming of her true self.

 

Book Selection #5: Lake Silence (2018) by Anne Bishop

In her latest book set in the bestselling urban fantasy series of The Others, Anne Bishop makes her lead protagonist Vicki DeVine, a divorced woman who left her abusive husband to carve out a new life for herself as the proprietor and caretaker of a rustic resort that she inherited via her divorce settlement. Bishop presents a nuanced, sensitive, and compassionate portrait of a survivor navigating through PTSD and other fallouts from her abusive marriage while also solving a murder mystery involving her abusive ex. Not your usual urban fantasy or mystery fare. And the best part? The abuser gets his comeuppance in the most satisfying way.

Book Selection #6: Mommy’s Black Eye (2009) by William George Bentrim, illustrated by Christi Schofield

Domestic violence exists everywhere. Often, children may not actually witness the violence but see the aftermath, such as their mother’s black eye. Aimed at younger children who have not been exposed to the topic of domestic violence before, this book glosses over some of the bigger issues of domestic violence but explains what it is and attempts to help them understand what is going on in their lives. It concludes open-ended with discussion of counselling and potential healing as a family.

Book Selection #7: Practical Magic (2003) by Alice Hoffman

Practical Magic is one of #1 New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman’s most famous (and cherished) books. The story centers around the Owens family of witches who have, for more than two hundred years, been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their Massachusetts town. Even more insidious is the curse that an ancestor laid on them that decreed that no Owens woman would ever find true love… and if she did, that relationship would end with her lover’s death. Among other feminist themes, the book focuses on Sally and Gillian Owens who attempt to escape the Owens curse, but end up having to deal with Gillian’s malicious and abusive boyfriend. Hoffman handles the subject of domestic violence very deftly through the eyes of both sisters – showing Sally’s unwavering support of Gillian despite their differences and how both of them cope with the fallout from the abuser’s actions and accidental murder.

Books Selection #8: ​Rape: A Love Story (2004) by Joyce Carol Oates

Beginning with an account of the gang rape of female protagonist Teena Maguire, which left her near dead, and which was witnessed by her young daughter, this story is a condemnation of misogyny, skillfully tackled by author Joyce Carol Oates, who also wrote When We Were the Mulvaneys. Oates spares none of her characters – Teena is shown to be both good and flawed, there are no doubts about who the attackers are and they are named and described contemptuously. This is an extraordinary exploration of the aftermath and myriad consequences a horrible crime can have on individuals and whole communities.

Book Selection #9: Room (2011) by Emma Donoghue

This story is perhaps better known through the award-winning 2015 film adaptation, but the novel is well worth the read. Told through the eyes of curious, bright 5-year-old Jack as he explores the only world he knows – the tiny Room where he was born after his mother was imprisoned by the man who kidnapped her as a teenager – the story is really about how Jack and his mother cope with their captivity, slowly learn to live in the outside world again and deal with their trauma, how other people react to them, and the complex feelings of happiness and grief that they and their family go through.

Book Selection #10: Set The Night On Fire (2016) by Jennifer Bernard

Jennifer Bernard is a Romance author who is well-known for her books starring firemen as the lead male love interest. While this may lead many people to regard her books as typical wish-fulfillment fare for straight female readers, Bernard’s books are a cut above many others in the crowded field of Contemporary Romance because she is very adept at handling the issue of consent. In Set The Night On Fire, the first book in her Jupiter Point series, she handles the issue of rape and victim-blaming with insight and a strong message about believing victims and holding rapists accountable.

Book Selection #11: ​Simply Irresistible (2017) by Jill Shalvis

#1 New York Times bestselling contemporary romance author Jill Shalvis is renowned for her humour and ability to portray emotions authentically, particularly in her female characters, as they go through the ups and downs of building relationships with the men in their lives. In Simply Irresistible, the first book in her Lucky Harbour series, Shalvis takes on the issue of intimate partner violence and how its effects ripple through the lives of the protagonist, her sisters, and her love interest. Shalvis’ approach is less on-the-nose than many of the other selections in this list so it may be a good option for introducing the issue to a fellow romance reader who may not have thought about it previously.

Book Selection #12: The Alpha and Omega series (2008 – ) by Patricia Briggs

The Alpha and Omega series is Patricia Briggs’ spin-off companion series to her celebrated Mercy Thompson Urban Fantasy series. Anna Latham, the lead female protagonist, is a survivor of prolonged abuse (including rape) by the deranged and power-hungry alpha of a werewolf pack which tried to force her Omega wolf into servitude to them. In the first book of the series (Cry Wolf), we see Briggs very adroitly explore and show the psychological effects of rape and abuse on victims, the damage caused by bystanders who would rather turn a blind eye, and the monumental struggle that survivors face in learning to trust and relax around others.

Book Selection #13: The In Death series (1995 – ) by J.D. Robb

J.D. Robb is the pen name that #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts uses for her long-running and very popular near-future In Death series which features Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her criminal mastermind-turned-legitimate-business-tycoon husband Roarke. Eve survived vicious childhood sexual abuse by her father to go on to be one of the toughest officers in New York City and the go-to detective for difficult cases involving the full spectrum of crimes involving violence against women and children. Throughout this very long series, Robb/Roberts gives readers a clear and unflinching look at the lifelong effects of sexual abuse via Eve’s development as a character. The striking thing is that while Eve’s experience certainly drives her fight for justice, she does not let it rule her life and she does this with the help of her friends, co-workers, and husband – a clear message that it takes a village to help with the healing.

Book Selection #14:​ The Kitty Norville series (2005 – 2015) by Carrie Vaughn

New York Times bestselling Fantasy author Carrie Vaughn is best-known for her Kitty Norville series featuring the rise of Kitty Norville, a female werewolf and late-night radio talk show host for the supernatural, from an abused subordinate to a major power in her own right. The entire first book in the series (Kitty and The Midnight Hour) is a searing depiction of domestic abuse including coercive control tactics that the corrupt Alpha male of Kitty’s pack uses on her and other females – essentially dictating their lives as well as raping them when he feels like it. As the series progresses, Kitty goes on to leave the pack, try to help another subordinate female wolf leave, and eventually wrest control of the pack from him. Also notable is Kitty’s eventual choice of romantic partner, which sees her essentially opt to have a healthy relationship based on mutual respect and equality.

Book Selection #15: The Night Child (2018) by Anna Quinn

A psychological tale about a school teacher who starts seeing terrifying visions of a child, The Night Child starts as something of a thriller but as protagonist Nora Brown seeks medical help, she soon discovers that the apparition may be related to repressed childhood trauma. A debut novel by Anna Quinn, this story examines how the impact of childhood trauma lasts into adulthood. As a lot of the story unfolds in the therapist’s office, the fragility and strength of the mind and the importance of mental health for survivors is a strong theme. This novel may be emotionally challenging to read but it does offer hope in the form of the protagonist’s resilience and determination to save herself.

Book Selection #16: When I Hit You or, A Portrait of the Author as a Young Wife (2018) by Meena Kandasamy

Based on the author’s own experience of marriage, this first-person narrative tells the story of a newly-wed writer experiencing rapid social isolation and extreme violence at her husband’s hands. The narrator, a middle-class and educated Tamil woman, points out that she does not experience stereotypical Indian dramas of oppression but rather the villain is an educated and cultured man she married for love. A gripping and scathing exploration of insidious abuse, gender and societal expectations, and perpetuated toxic masculinity, it is also a story of a woman refusing to be silenced.

 

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The top picture is a Creative Commons image :

Book Cover Credits 

  1. Asking For It – From “Asking For It” (Goodreads)
  2. A Thousand Splendid Suns – From “A Thousand Splendid Suns” (Goodreads)
  3. Desert Flower – From “Desert Flower” (Goodreads)
  4. I Am Vidya: A Transgender’s Journey – From “I Am Vidya: A Transgender’s Journey” (Goodreads)
  5. Lake Silence – Courtesy of Ace, an imprint of Penguin Random House
  6. Mommy’s Black Eye – From “Mommy’s Black Eye” (Goodreads)
  7. Practical Magic – Courtesy of Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House
  8. Rape: A Love Story – From “Rape: A Love Story” (Amazon.com)
  9. Room – From “Room” (Amazon.com)
  10. Set The Night On Fire – From jenniferbernard.net
  11. Simply Irresistible – From “Simply Irresistible” (Goodreads)
  12. Cry Wolf – Courtesy of Ace, an imprint of Penguin Random House
  13. Naked in Death – From “Naked In Death” (Amazon.co.uk)
  14. Kitty Saves The World – Courtesy of Carrie Vaughn
  15. The Night Child – From “The Night Child” (Goodreads)
  16. When I Hit You or, A Portrait of the Author as a Young Wife – From “When I Hit You” (Amazon)

The Pixel Project Selection 2018: 16 Notable Facebook Pages by Anti-Violence Against Women Organisations

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Since its founding 14 years ago, Facebook has become a social media powerhouse with over 2.23 billion monthly active users as of June 30th 2018. Facebook has grown from a basic social connection website for college students to a life platform. It is used to find, connect, and catch up with friends, to read the news, to conduct business, to shop, and to learn.

Facebook is also used to find causes, organisations, and events that are important to us and to advocate for various issues. Now Facebook users can learn about and support global issues from their own homes. Violence against women (VAW) is one of the global human rights issues finding supporters on Facebook. Now a story about VAW can be read, watched, or heard via Facebook by millions of people around the globe. They can follow organisational news, participate in grassroots campaigns, and donate right from their mobile phone or computer.

More importantly, more than 2 billion Facebook members worldwide can now locate anti-VAW organisations’ Facebook pages to learn about VAW or quietly get VAW victims and survivors the help they need should they be unable to speak on the phone or otherwise physically get help. Every little bit counts!

This is our seventh annual list of 16 recommended Facebook pages which we have selected because of their unique approach to fight all kinds of VAW. To make it as representative as possible the selection covers a wide range on countries across different continents. So choose a couple to ‘like’, or better yet ‘like’ them all, get informed, and take action.

Introduction by Rebecca DeLuca and Regina Yau; Written by Regina Yau, Research and compilation by Rubina Singh with additional selections by Regina Yau.

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Recommended Facebook Page #1: Bedari – Pakistan

Bedari is a national non-governmental organisation in Pakistan working to promote and protect the human rights of women and children. The organisation established Pakistan’s first crisis centre for women survivors of violence and, in the past 24 years, it has developed expertise on issues of gender empowerment, addressing violence against women and children, and processes of changing social and cultural attitudes in Pakistan. Bedari’s Facebook page carries a mix of updates about their own work, empowering stories of how women and girls are challenging patriarchy, and news headlines about violence against women in Pakistan and other Muslim-majority countries.

Recommended Facebook Page #2: Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) – Global

​The Coalition for Sexual & Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) is an award winning international solidarity network with 33 members’ organisations across 16 countries in MENA, SSEA and Central Asia. CSBR supports the integration of a holistic approach to sexual and bodily rights as human rights across Muslim societies–through feminist knowledge building, strategic convenings, and activist capacity-building. CBSR’s Facebook page actively posts a mixture of updates about the women’s human rights campaigns in Muslim countries, articles about gender-based violence that particularly affect Muslim societies such as child marriage, and news about feminist campaigns in Islamic nations.

Recommended Facebook Page #3: CREA – India

Based in New Delhi, India and founded in 2000, CREA is one of the few international women’s rights organisations that is based in the global South, led by Southern feminists, and works at the grassroots, national, regional, and international levels. They work with partners from a diverse range of human rights movements and networks to advance the rights of women and girls, and the sexual and reproductive freedoms of all people. CREA’s Facebook page is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to learn more about women’s rights movements in the Global South as they regularly post the latest news about feminist programs, campaigns, and advancements in India and other developing nations.

Recommended Facebook Page #4:​ Feminists United – Global

​Founded in 2012, Feminists United is a very popular feminist Facebook page that is “dedicated to fighting the war on women”. It is home to a huge community of 380,000 followers and their posts cover the whole range of feminist and women’s issues including violence against women and girls, sexism and misogyny in the workplace, racism experienced by women of colour, and LGBTQIA news. The page shares global stories with an emphasis on news from the U.S. and is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning more about the latest hot button issues being tackled by feminists in the U.S. and around the world.

Recommended Facebook Page #5: Fiji Women’s Rights Movement – Fiji

Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) was founded in 1986 by a group of 56 women from various backgrounds who took up the challenge of correcting the imbalances in women’s socio-economic and political status in Fiji. They were driven by the values of feminism, human rights, the rule of law, multi-culturalism, and good governance – the same principles that still guide FWRM as an organisation and a movement today. FWRM’s Facebook page is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about the feminist movement in Fiji and the strategies they use to address violence against women, discrimination against women in the workplace, and the legislation of women’s human rights in government.

Recommended Facebook Page #6: Fundacja Feminoteka – Poland

Feminoteka is a Polish feminist NGO founded in 2005 which focuses on eradicating violence against women through running anti-violence projects for cities as well as for small towns, for schools and workplaces as well as providing a helpline for victims and survivors. Their Facebook page is run completely in Polish and shares news, articles, and other information about their programs, campaigns, and the women’s movement across Poland.

Recommended Facebook Page #7: How Revealing – India/Global

How Revealing is a website project founded by activist Urmila Pullat as a safe space for survivors to tell their stories. The website is an online repository of experiences of gender-based violence, and is working to contribute toward changing the narrative surrounding gender justice and sexual assault. Their Facebook page focuses on sharing the latest news on violence against women and LGBTQIA people in India and beyond, as well as articles and information about gender-based violence.

Recommended Facebook Page #8: Mending The Sacred Hoop – United States of America

Mending The Sacred Hoop is a nonprofit focused on addressing and eradicating violence against American India/Alaska Native women and girls in their home community of Duluth, MN and throughout the State of Minnesota. They also work with Tribes and Native communities nationally to tackle major forms of violence against women in their communities including domestic and sexual violence, dating violence, sex trafficking and stalking. Their Facebook page is an excellent resource for learning about violence against indigenous women across the U.S. as well as updates on various programmes, campaigns, and initiatives to eradicate the violence.

Recommended Facebook Page #9: National Sexual Violence Resource Center – United States of America

On their Facebook page, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) states: “NSVRC believes that through collaboration, prevention, and research-based resources, we are making the world safer, healthier and free of sexual violence and sexual assault. We envision a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are treated with dignity and respect and have full autonomy over their own bodies and sexual expression.” Their page is regularly updated with the latest breaking news about sexual assault and rape cases in the U.S., resource articles about helping survivors of sexual violence, and updates about their work and programs.

Recommended Facebook Page #10: No Means No Worldwide – Global

​No Means No Worldwide is an organisation committed to developing and implementing rape prevention educational programs for girls and boys. NMNW’s programs in Kenya have cut rape rates by 50% and reduced pregnancy-related school dropout by 46%. 74% of boys who took a NMNW class and witnessed sexual assault have successfully intervened to stop it. Their Facebook page is choc-a-bloc with information, news articles, videos, and op-eds about sexual violence prevention efforts and news worldwide – a useful resource for anyone interested in ideas for preventing sexual assault and rape in their communities.

Recommended Facebook Page #11: Resurj – Global

Resurj (Realizing Sexual and Reproductive Justice) is a membership-based alliance of feminist activists working across generations, constituencies, and identities seeking to realise sexual and reproductive justice for all. They are led by feminists from the Global South and work for the inclusion of diverse younger feminists in the movement. Their Facebook page shares news and thoughts about a range of sexual and reproductive issues including abortion, sexual assault, and women’s rights to participate in public spaces including politics in order to push for change.

 

Recommended Facebook Page #12: ​The A Project – Lebanon 

The A Project is a Lebanon-based organisation that creates platforms which reaffirm agency and autonomy in sexuality and mental health, while advancing a political discourse around sexual, reproductive, and mental health and seeking alternatives to counteract medical patriarchy’s restrictive and reductive approaches towards the bodies of women and gender non-conforming people in Lebanon. They also run a sexuality hotline for Lebanese people who wish to find out more about sexuality, gender, and reproductive health. Their Facebook page posts regularly about all these issues as well as updates about their programmes and campaigns.

Recommended Facebook Page #13: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) – Malaysia/ Asia Pacific Region

​Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based ARROW was established to promote and defend women’s human rights in all aspects of their lives, especially their sexual and reproductive health and rights. They collaborate with national partners in many regional and global networks around the world, and are able to reach stakeholders in 120 countries. ARROW’s Facebook page documents their wide-ranging advocacy campaigns and work, as well as news about violence against women, women’s rights, and women’s reproductive health across the world.

Recommended Facebook Page #14: UK Says No More – United Kingdom

UK Says NO MORE is a campaign that seeks to unite the public and organisations in the UK to take a stand against domestic abuse and sexual violence under one powerful, visual symbol by providing open-source tools and resources for individuals and organisations to take action. Follow their Facebook page for updates and announcements about their various campaigns as well as general news about efforts to end violence against women around the UK.

Recommended Facebook Page #15:​ UN Women Africa – Africa

​UN Women Africa is a regional directorate of UN Women that implements programmes for gender equality and women’s human rights that are tailored to individual African countries, in close collaboration with governments, the UN system and civil society. Follow their Facebook page for all the latest news about women’s rights, gender, and development across the African continent, as well as updates and announcements about various UN Women programmes and initiatives to stop violence against women in various African nations.

Recommended Facebook Page #16: Women and Gender Equality Commission – Guyana

​The Women and Gender Equality Commission of Guyana’s mission is to “promote national recognition and acceptance that women’s rights are human rights, respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality.” Their Facebook page contains a mix of posts and news about women’s human rights, reproductive rights, gender equality, and violence against women.

The Pixel Project Selection 2018: 16 Notable Anti-VAW Activists and Organisations You Should Follow on Twitter

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Since its debut more than a decade ago, Twitter has become a reliable news source for many individuals. It offers a real-time view and perspective of what is occurring both elsewhere and in our own communities, enabling us to become more aware of social issues like violence against women and join discussions to become more involved with these causes.

Twitter enables us to share information and can function as a tool we can use to help us better our world through understanding, and create an atmosphere of solidarity worldwide. Being able to look up a hashtag – #vaw for example – in order to find news sources, helplines, or other activists is a simple yet incredibly useful way to become involved. In fact, in recent years, the usefulness of hashtags as a rallying cry for women’s causes have vaulted up to the next level with #MeToo and #YesAllWomen going viral worldwide as women and girls share their stories of surviving sexism, misogyny, and gender-based violence on Twitter.

With that in mind, The Pixel Project presents our 2018 Twitter selection of 16 organisations and individuals leveraging Twitter in the cause to end violence against women. These are groups and people who will keep you informed simply because they share the passion to create a better tomorrow for girls and women everywhere.

Introduction by Rebecca DeLuca and Regina Yau; Written by Regina Yau. Research by Rubina Singh; Compiled by Rubina Singh and Regina Yau.

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Twitter Follow Recommendation 1: Acid Survivors Trust International (@Acid_Survivors) – Global


Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) is the only organisation in the world whose sole purpose is to work towards the end of acid violence across the globe. Founded in 2002, ASTI works with a network of six local partners in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Uganda, providing medical expertise and training to their partners, conducting research, raising funds for acid attack survivors, and changing laws. Their Twitter account is an invaluable resource for anyone to find out more about acid attacks and what different countries are doing to combat this form of VAW.

Twitter Follow Recommendation 2: Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) – United Kingdom

When actress Emma Watson shot to stardom as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, little did anyone know that she would become a feminist icon as an adult. In 2014, Watson was named UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and launched the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which calls for men to advocate for gender equality by giving a high profile address at UN Headquarters in New York City. Since then, Watson has championed a number of initiatives for girls’ education and the eradication of violence against women. Her Twitter feed is filled with signal boosts for various campaigns as well as her thoughts on feminism and women’s human rights.

Twitter Follow Recommendation 3: Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development (@gecpdsomalia) – Somalia

Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development (GECPD) is a women’s rights NGO established in October 1999 by the current Founder Executive Director Hawa Aden Mohamed with the support of a group of women professionals. GECPD’s main mission is to provide basic education for girls and functional literacy skills for women, as well as address the issues of child marriage and female genital mutilation. Their Twitter account focuses on the latest news and updates on women’s rights issues in Somalia and is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in feminist movements in Somalia and the wider Africa region.

Twitter Follow Recommendation 4: Girls at Dhabas (@girlsatdhabas) – Pakistan

Girls at Dhabas is a collective of feminists working on sparking conversation around women’s negotiation of public spaces in Pakistan in order to combat the gradual disappearance of women from the public scene, as well as engage with the issues pertinent to gender and class in relation to the public sphere. Their Twitter feed is filled with conversations about women’s rights in Pakistan as well as tweets about street harassment and women in public spaces.

Twitter Follow Recommendation 5: Hablemos Sexo (@HablemodeSexo) – Mexico

Hablemos Sexo is an organisation dedicated to educating young people about consent and safe sex, preventing violence against women. They offer easily accessible information on sexuality and sexual health, aimed at Spanish-speaking teenagers and young people from all over the world. Their Twitter account is an excellent source of information about all these issues and, unlike most other organisations, they make extensive use of messaging through soundbites on posters.

 

Twitter Follow Recommendation 6: International Women’s Development Agency (@IWDA) – Asia Pacific

The International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) is the leading Australian agency entirely focused on women’s rights and gender equality in the Asia Pacific region. Their work includes research on the safety and security of women, the role economic freedom plays in eradicating violence against women, and women’s leadership in politics and communities. Their Twitter account is filled with tweets about the progress of women’s human rights issues in Asia Pacific as well as updates on their own work.

 

Twitter Follow Recommendation 7: Hannah Gadsby (@HannahGadsby) – Australia

Hannah Gadsby is a veteran Australian comedian and writer whose Netflix series “Nanette” – billed as her farewell show – put her on the global pop culture map by breaking new ground in comedy by bluntly and unflinchingly addressing the sexism, homophobia, and assaults which she has encountered in her own life and which many women and LGBTQIA people experience. Gadsby’s Twitter feed is similarly filled with thought-provoking tweets about gender issues, sexism, misogyny, violence against women, LGBTQIA issues and more.

 

Twitter Follow Recommendation 8: Malala Fund (@MalalaFund) – Global

Malala Fund is a nonprofit set up by Malala Yousouzai and her father to break down the barriers (including gender-based violence) preventing more than 130 million girls around the world from going to school. Their work focuses on investing in local education activists, holding leaders worldwide accountable for girls’ education, and amplifying the voices of girls. Their Twitter account is a popular one with over 626,000 followers and their tweets focus on their work, women’s human rights issues (including violence against women), and girls’ education.

Twitter Follow Recommendation 9: Malena Pichot (@malepichot) – Argentina

Argentinian actress, screenwriter and stand-up comedian Malena Pichot was catapulted to Internet fame when her skit about abortion and misogyny was published on YouTube in 2014 – since then it has received over 1.3 million views. According to NPR, Pichot is part of a wave of “young Latin American feminists who have very skillfully used social media to get the message out, and take down long-held sexist traditions.” Pichot tweets in Spanish about various women’s rights issues and campaigns in Argentina.

 

Twitter Follow Recommendation 10: Native Women’s Association of Canada (@NWAC_CA) – Canada

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) was founded in 1974 to collectively focus on enhancing, promoting, and fostering the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women in Canada. Their Twitter account is an excellent resource for anyone looking to keep up with news about the human rights of Native women including issues such as violence against women, economic empowerment, and girls’ education.

Twitter Follow Recommendation 11: Raising Teenagers Uganda (@raisingteensug) – Uganda

Raising Teenagers Uganda is an NGO dedicated to ending child marriage and tackling the menstruation taboo in Uganda so that girls can attend school. They regularly tweet about their programmes (including the Girls Matter Clubs) as well as articles focused on the human rights of girls, girls’ education, and news about stopping under-aged marriage.

Twitter Follow Recommendation 12: She Decides (@shedecidesGFI) – Global

SheDecides is a global movement to promote, provide, protect and enhance the fundamental rights of every girl and woman. She must decide about her own body – so that she can decide about her life and her future. They take on issues such as women’s reproductive rights including the right to choose, family planning, contraception, and abortion. Their Twitter account focuses not just on reproductive rights but also intersecting issues such as violence against women and women’s access to healthcare.

Twitter Follow Recommendation 13: Sisters in Islam (@SistersInIslam) – Malaysia

Sisters in Islam is a Malaysia-based NGO powered by Muslim women committed to gender equality, the human rights of Muslim women and girls, and empowering women to advocate for change in Malaysia. Their Twitter account is focused on sharing news about women’s rights in Malaysia, Islamic countries, and Southeast Asia, headlines about violence against women that affects Muslim women (including child marriage), and updates of their campaigns and programmes.

Twitter Follow Recommendation 14: Tarana Burke (@TaranaBurke) – United States of America

Tarana Burke – a survivor of sexual violence herself and currently the senior director of Girls For Gender Equity – is the founder of the #MeToo movement in 2006 which went viral on social in 2017 thanks to the Harvey Weinstein case – a full decade after she first coined the hashtag. Through her Twitter account, she tweets her thoughts as well as various news and updates about the #MeToo movement and the anti-violence against women movement in general.

 

Twitter Follow Recommendation 15: The Girl Generation (@TheGirlGen) – Africa

The Girl Generation is an Africa-led global collective of members and partners brought together by a shared vision that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) can end in this generation. It is a platform for accelerating social change by bringing together hundreds and thousands of voices to challenge the social norms that keep FGM in place in many cultures. Their Twitter feed is filled with news and information about FGM and the various activities and initiatives members are undertaking to combat FGM in their constituencies.

 

Twitter Follow Recommendation 16: The YP Foundation (@TheYPFoundation) – India

The YP Foundation develops youth leadership to advance rights of young women and girls and other marginalised youth. They make an impact by strengthening young people’s engagement with policy-making at local, national, regional and international levels through a number of programmes which tackle issues that affect Indian youth including reproductive rights for women and girls, as well as male violence against women and toxic masculinity. Their Twitter account tweets about youth engagement in India, women’s human rights, and sexual and reproductive rights.

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Photo Credits: 

  1. Emma Watson – By Georges Biard [CC BY-SA 3.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. 
  2. Hannah Gadsby – From Hannah Gadsby Comedy (Facebook). 
  3. Malena Pichot – By Ggrosvald [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. 
  4. Tarana Burke – By Brittany “B.Monét” Fennell (She’s Revolutionary at 01:10, cropped) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Transforming Personal Pain Into Positive Action: The Pixel Project’s 16 Female Role Models 2018

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Today is the first day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence 2018  campaign and The Pixel Project is kicking things off with our 7th annual list of 16 female role models fighting to end violence against women in their communities. The intent of this list is simple: to highlight the good work of the heroines of the movement to end violence against women wherever they are in the world. The women and girls in this year’s list hail from 15 countries and 5 continents.

Many of these outstanding women and girls have shown that it is possible to transform personal pain that came out of facing gender-based violence, into positive action to stop violence against women, empower themselves and to show other survivors that it is possible to move forward with dignity and happiness. They have refused to let bitterness and pain get the better of them, opting to stand up for themselves and for other women and girls instead.

Others on this list may not have experienced gender-based violence inflicted on themselves but they have stepped up to do what is right: to speak up for women and girls who cannot do it for themselves, sometimes at great personal risk. All this requires immense courage, generosity of spirit, and a strong enduring heart.

Without further ado, here in alphabetical order by first name is our 2018 list of 16 female role models. We hope that these women would be an inspiration to others to get involved with the cause. To that end, we hope you will generously share this list via Facebook and Twitter to give these extraordinary 16 women and their work a moment in the sun.

It’s time to stop violence against women. Together.

Note: Information for all role model profiles has been sourced via online research and is based on one or more news sources, articles and/or The Pixel Project’s own interviews with them. The main articles/reports from which these profiles have been sourced can be directly accessed via the hyperlinked titles. Please do click through to learn more about these remarkable women.

Written and compiled by Regina Yau

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Female Role Model 1: Chino – Japan

When Japanese actress Chino won a settlement from a director who sexually harassed her, she decided to use the settlement money to start a #MeToo group to stop sexual and power harassment that is endemic in Japan’s entertainment industries, provide counseling and legal help for victims, and to demonstrate that speaking out is a viable course of action. She was inspired to come forward about her experience by the #MeToo movement around the world and said: “Was it hard? Was I afraid? Of course I was. But I came forward for the sake of others who may also want to pursue their dreams.”

Female Role Model 2: Dr Christine Blasey Ford – United States of America

When Brett M. Kavanaugh was shortlisted to become an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, an American professor of psychology, came forward to publicly accuse Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers. Dr Blasey Ford’s courage resulted in a senate judicial committee hearing into Kavanaugh’s suitability to be a Supreme Court justice, but also emboldened thousands of sexual assault and rape survivors to publicly talk about their experiences via the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport. Dr Blasey Ford said in her testimony: “I am a fiercely independent person and I am no one’s pawn. My motivation in coming forward was to provide the facts about how Mr. Kavanaugh’s actions have damaged my life, so that you can take that into serious consideration as you make your decision about how to proceed. It is not my responsibility to determine whether Mr. Kavanaugh deserves to sit on the Supreme Court. My responsibility is to tell the truth.”

Female Role Model 3: Elisa Iannacone – United Kingdom

Photographer and sexual assault survivor Elisa Iannacone was looking for a way to show the psychological impact of the trauma suffered by survivors. From this sprang her latest photo project, “The Spiral of Containment: Rape’s Aftermath” which was the result of four years spent working with survivors to express “trauma through art.” Speaking to Newsweek about the project and subsequent exhibition, Iannacone said: “I’m sure that a lot of people that come through will see themselves reflected in the work, so i think it’s just building a community of people that understand the impact of rape, that reject it and that want to collectively stand against it. I think the key to change is to talk about it and not stand for it anymore which is what we’ve done for way too long.”

Female Role Model 4: Jan Logie, MP – New Zealand

On 26 July 2018, New Zealand became the first country to pass national legislation granting victims of domestic violence 10 days paid leave to allow them to leave their partners, protect themselves and their children, and start rebuilding their lives. This groundbreaking law is the culmination of seven years of work by Green MP Jan Logie, who worked in a women’s refuge before entering politics. Ms. Logie told The Guardian: “Part of this initiative is getting a whole-of-society response. We don’t just leave it to police but realise we all have a role in helping victims. It is also about changing the cultural norms and saying ‘we all have a stake in this and it is not OK’.”

Female Role Model 5: Khadija Siddiqi – Pakistan

Khadija Siddiqi was repeatedly slashed across the throat and abdomen by fellow student Shah Hussain in an attack that was motivated by revenge after she had spurned his advances. Her attacker was acquitted by the high court and her case has become a cause célèbre, with the acquittal viewed by some as effectively sanctioning Violence against Women. Speaking to The Observer, Siddiqi said: “I’ve had so many messages saying ‘this happened to me’, and it gives people strength. There is a stigma for women to get justice, not just in Pakistan but across the world. This shows if you hurt or kill in the name of honour, you will be challenged. As a law student, I owe it to these women to show the justice system isn’t just for the rich and powerful.”

Female Role Model 6: Lucia Annibali – Italy

In 2013, Italian lawyer Lucia Annibali nearly lost her eyesight after a brutal acid attack organised by her former boyfriend that left her battling for her eyesight. Following the attack, Annibali was made an honorary citizen of Parma and was invited by then-head of the Department of Equal Opportunities Maria Elena Boschi to serve as an advisor, a role that she still serves in today. This year, Lucia is running for Parliament in Italy, where she hopes to lead efforts to stop Violence against Women. Annibali said: “The attack changed my life for the better. Regaining my sight and relearning to eat are all battles that make you truly appreciate the value of life.”

Female Role Model 7: Memory Chazeza Mdyetseni – Malawi

Following the death of her parents and her uncle who paid for her to attend school, Memory Chazeza Mdyetseni was pressured by her other family members to get married when she was a young teenager. Mdyetseni resisted such attempts and after completing her education, she was inspired by her experiences to co-found the Girls on the Move Secondary School which provides secondary school education for teenage Malawian girls at risk of forced or under-aged marriage. Mdyetseni told the Voice of America that education would give Malawian girls and women many more choices and opportunities beyond marriage.

Female Role Model 8: Mhairi Black – Scotland

In March 2018, Mhairi Black, Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP (SNP), took a stand against the torrent of misogynistic online harassment that she and other female politicians and public figures had been facing on a constant basis. Black did so powerfully by giving a powerful speech about it in parliament which included reading the horrific threats and abuse that she had received verbatim. She made this speech during a Westminster Hall debate in which calls were raised for misogyny to be treated as a hate crime and the video of it went viral. Black said about online gender-based violence: “I don’t think that’s normal and I think it’s fair to say that’s something maybe that we should be looking at – something we should be talking about – because I’m blessed in that I have the same right and influence as any other elected man in this place, but what about all the female staff in here who don’t?”

Female Role Model 9: Nice Nailantei Leng’ete – Kenya

When Nice Nailantei Leng’ete was 8, she and her sister ran away from her village in Kenya to avoid the traditional Maasai practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). Her sister eventually stopped running but Leng’ete stood her ground and refused to be subjected to the ritual. Today, she works with AMREF Health Africa in Kenya and Tanzania to help thousands of other Kenyan girls escape FGM and forced marriage, so they can stay in school and pursue their dreams. Leng’ete told Health.com: “I think my hope is that every young girl can become the woman of her dreams. If she really wanted to be a doctor or a teacher, I want to make sure that we are giving them that platform. We are protecting them from all these harmful practices, and they are able to become anything they want to become in life.”

Female Role Model 10: Madhumita Pandey – India

Following the brutal gang rape of Jyoti Singh (Nirbhaya) in 2012, Madhumita Pandey started interviewing rapists at Tihar Central Jail in New Delhi. These interviews formed the seed of what became her doctoral research at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. Since then, Pandey has interviewed over 100 men convicted for rape in India. She writes in Quartz: “As one of the first studies to take into account the perspectives of convicted rapists in India, my aim was to understand the attitudes these men have towards their victims and how this thinking contributes to the endemic sexual violence that women experience in the country.” In an interview with Bustle, she notes: “When I went to research, I was convinced these men are monsters. But when you talk to them, you realise these are not extraordinary men, they are really ordinary. What they’ve done is because of upbringing and thought process.”

Female Role Model 11: Nasreen Sheikh – Nepal

At 11 years old, Nasreen Sheikh ran away from the small village on the Nepal/India border where she was born, becoming the first young woman in the history of her village to escape forced marriage. She started work in a Kathmandu sweatshop, where she worked 12 to 15 hours a day sewing garments for a large export company and sleeping on the floor. At 16, she became a social entrepreneur when she launched Local Women’s Handicrafts, a women’s sewing collective selling bags, scarves, wallets and shirts. Shortly after, she founded L.O.C.W.O.M., a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating women and children. Nasreen is determined to succeed, telling Forbes: “If I do not succeed I will shame my family and the people from my village will point to me as an example of what happens when a woman tries to move above her place.”

Female Role Model 12: Rema Rajeshwari – India

Rema Rajeshwari, the female superintendent of police in the Indian the state of Telangana is at the forefront of pushing change in how India deals with sexual violence against women. As part of her work, Rajeshwari routinely sends officers out to rural communities to gain the confidence of local leaders and change their attitudes about women reporting crimes to police. She also helped launch “SHE Teams,” groups of specially trained officers in Telangana state trained to tackle the chronic street harassment of women. In an interview with CBC Radio, Rajeshwari said: “Fighting the mindset of society is a huge battle for every woman in uniform. I have a responsibility to leave a legacy for the women who are going to join the force in the future.”

Female Role Model 13: Salma Belhassine – Tunisia

Salma Belhassine is a Tunisian street harassment activist who led efforts to put together SafeNes, a mobile app that connects victims with NGOs specialising in stopping sexual harassment or to directly contact lawyers to get help. SafeNes provides users with a way to report sexual harassment and to designate a trusted person to track their movements when they’re somewhere unsafe. The app will eventually also provide videos for teaching self-defence, safe-zone maps, and provide information about the legal procedures following a sexual harassment report. Ms Belhassine said: “It would be a better world if women and girls felt safe in public spaces. Women would be more active, more productive.”

Female Role Model 14: Tarana Burke – United States of America

Tarana Burke – a survivor of sexual violence herself and currently the senior director of Girls For Gender Equity – is the founder of the #MeToo movement in 2006 which went viral on social in 2017 thanks to the Harvey Weinstein case – a full decade after she first coined the hashtag. Hailing from the Bronx, New York, Burke is a lifelong activist who began fighting for human rights at the age of 14. Currently, Burke is working through the #MeToo movement to build a global community, both online and offline, to provide help and guidance for survivors of sexual violence. In 2018, Burke was honoured as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. Speaking to The Guardian, Burke said: “There is inherent strength in agency. And #MeToo, in a lot of ways, is about agency. It’s not about giving up your agency, it’s about claiming it.”

Female Role Model 15: Zainab Fayez – Afghanistan

As the only woman serving as a prosecutor in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar, Zainab Fayez has resolved 50 cases of Violence against Women, and helped detain 21 male abusers, including police officials, in 2017. She is a graduate of the Sharia faculty of Kabul University and has taken on cases that deal with issues such as child marriage, domestic violence, sexual assault, the denial of inheritance rights, and access to education. The next nearest female prosecutor (Maria Bashir) is based 500 kilometres away in Herat province. Fayez hopes that one day there will be enough female lawyers to join forces in the fight for women’s rights. She told The Guardian: “My aim is to see the next generation of Afghan women empowered. In Kandahar, it is very hard for a woman to work alone in an office, which is predominantly occupied by male staff members and where women as workers are taboo.”

Female Role Model 16: Zaynub Afinnih – France and Sudan

When 16-year-old Zainab Afinnih who was based in Rouen, France, heard the story of a 19-year-old Noura Hussein who was sentenced to death in Sudan for killing her husband who raped her, she started a global petition campaign, ‘Justice for Noura’ calling for the Sudanese government to pardon Hussein. The campaign garnered 700,000 signatures and resulted in Hussein’s sentence being commuted from death to 5 years in prison. Afinnih told CNN: “I don’t know her … I’ve never spoken to her. But she is my sister in humanity. I can’t let her die for defending herself against the man who raped her.”

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Photo Credits 

  1. Chino – From “Japanese actress accuses director, starts #MeToo group” (AP News)
  2. Christine Blasey Ford – By United States Senate cameras. Official video by the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, as posted to www.judiciary.senate.gov. (www.judiciary.senate.gov and YouTube.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Elisa Iannacone – From “Wave Of Change: Photographer and Sexual Assault Survivor Shines A Light On Psychological Impacts Of Sexual Abuse” (Chiara Brambilla/Newsweek)
  4. Jan Logie – By Green Party NZ – Green Party NZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17494690)
  5. Khadijah Siddiqi – From “Stab victim Khadija Siddiqi: ‘My case is a fight for all Pakistani women” (Shafaq n Kami Studios/The Observer)
  6. Lucia Annibali – By dati.camera.it, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67610343
  7. Memory Chazeza Mdyetseni – From “Malawi Woman Resists Early Marriage, Provides Education to Girls” (http://learningenglish.voa.com)
  8. Mhairi Black – By Chris McAndrew – https://beta.parliament.uk/media/qB5UDv5a, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61317808
  9. Nice Nailantei Leng’ete –  By Diario de Madrid – Diario de Madrid – La mesa sobre Violencia de Género reclama competencias para los Ayuntamientos destinadas a atajar esta lacra, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66077711
  10. Madhumita Pandey – From “A woman interviewed 100 convicted rapists in India. This is what she learned.” (Madhumita Pandey/The Washington Post)
  11. Nasreen Sheikh – From Local Women’s Handicrafts Nepal
  12. Rema Rajeshwari – From WorldFellows.Yale.Edu
  13. Salma Belhassine – From “From where I stand: “It would be a better world if women felt safe in public spaces”” (Ryan Brown/UN Women)
  14. Tarana Burke – By Brittany “B.Monét” Fennell – She’s Revolutionary at 01:10, cropped, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71293066
  15. Zainab Fayez – From “’I want to empower Afghan women’: female prosecutor on a lonely mission” (tolonews.com/The Guardian)
  16. Zaynub Afinnish – From “The young activist fighting for Sudanese teen on death row” (edition.cnn.com)