International Women’s Day - #BreakTheBias

Culture

8 Mar

vonecia-carswell-0aMMMUjiiEQ-unsplash Gifted, by Nature — Photo by Vonecia Carswell

It’s International Women’s Day! At GIFTED, we celebrate women in all stages of the creative process. As a female-led team, we #BreakTheBias by supporting women behind the lens as well as in front of it. You’ve heard that the future is female – we’re saying that this future is now.

Every year, March 8th is a day to celebrate the progress that women have made in all aspects of society, as well as a day to raise awareness of continued gender inequality across the globe. In centering women’s achievements, we can see how far we’ve come, in order to gain clarity on how far we still have yet to go.

As stated on the International Women’s Day website: ‘Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn't enough. Action is needed to level the playing field.’

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some organisations to check out and support. By fighting against gender inequality, these groups are taking action to help women and girls thrive:

Women in Sport

alliance-football-club-F-SN9vieh_Y-unsplash Gifted, by Nature — Photo by Alliance Football Club

Determined to break down gender inequalities within the sports sector and beyond, Women in Sport work to empower women and girls through physical activity and teamwork. They believe that sport has the power to transform lives, and that inclusive sport can help to tackle social and economic inequalities. Their purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part in sport and inspire her to do so.

Find out more about their mission, and how you can get involved, here.

Stemettes

stem Gifted, by Nature — Photo via PC Mag

Stemettes is an award-winning social enterprise working to inspire and support young women and non-binary people in the typically male-dominated fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths careers. They run intersectional programmes, events and platforms for girls and women aged 5 to 25. Those aged 13-25 can also join The Stemette Society to connect with like-minded young women and non-binary people in a safe online space.

Find out more about their events, programmes, and more on their website.

First Timers

soundtrap-4DAH0YhV3Qg-unsplash Gifted, by Nature — Photo by Soundtrap

First Timers is about getting new faces and voices in bands, and doing something about the lack of diversity in the make-up of the DIY music community. While First Timers is an open and inclusive space for everyone, their focus and aims help women gain confidence to pick up an instrument in a male-dominated field. Inspired by similar initiatives in North America, the London branch of First Timers started in 2013. Since then, over 80 brand new bands have debuted at First Timers Festivals in London and Sydney! They are currently hosting workshops in London: find out how to get involved now on their website, or join their Facebook group.

Women Supporting Women: Prince’s Trust

women supporting women Gifted, by Nature — Photo via Prince’s Tust

Women Supporting Women are on a mission to provide the right help to nurture, empower and inspire young women to build better futures for themselves. Their tailored programmes work to support and encourage young women to start businesses, find careers, and build their confidence. Find out more about their vision, and how you can help, here.

Bloody Good Period

end period poverty Gifted, by Nature — *Women demonstrate in London in January 2019 to eliminate period poverty.* Photograph: Jenny Matthews/Alamy

For many refugees, people in the asylum system, and those living in poverty, period products are simply not affordable. Bloody Good Period believes that nobody should suffer because of the culture of embarrassment and shame that exists around the natural, biological process of menstruation. They provide period products for those who can’t afford them, as well as menstrual education for those who cannot access it. Learn more about period poverty here, and find out how you can make a difference.

Level Up

Fighting for gender justice in the UK, Level Up boasts a list of great achievements: from launching the UK’s first media guidelines on reporting fatal domestic abuse and spearheading an investigation into Facebook’s poor handling of harassment, to getting ITV2 to ban plastic surgery and diet pill ads shown during Love Island.

They state: ‘Our vision is a world where people of all genders are loved and liberated from the systems of oppression that lead to bodily and systemic violence.’

You can find out more and support their current campaigns, on issues like pregnancy in prison, here.

GIFTED Team

Gifted, by Nature is a Multimedia Production, Entertainment and Communications company, comprising of a Creative Agency and Literary Publisher — rooted in consciousness, creativity and compassion.