Contributors

What defines a woman? Who gets to decide on that definition? These questions are as controversial as they are dehumanizing, especially given the current landscape of gender discrimination. A new documentary, released on Canadian broadcast TV on March 8, International Women’s Day, exposes how ugly the gender wars are for female athletes. From award-winning Canadian filmmaker and former athlete who has experienced gender discrimination herself, Phyllis Ellis brings the timely @categorywomandoc which delivers a damning exploration of “sex testing,” a deceptive and harmful practice in international women’s sport, that has for over 80 years sabotaged the careers and impacted thousands of international female athletes, notably women of color. ‘Category: Woman’ tracks the devastating medical, social, cultural, emotional and economic impact that such rulings can have on the lives and careers of female athletes from the Global South. Phyllis encourages all of us to stand in solidarity with athletes from the Global South, to create a sporting world free of sexual, physical and psychological abuse, sex testing, misogyny, racism and gender discrimination. Here's what Phyllis shared with us about this documentary: "Gender cannot be questioned or determined, it is personal to each of us. Why it is dangerous and life threatening, is the deep gender-based racism that is at the forefront. Like Dr. Zine Magubane narrates in the film, 'Some bodies are marked. Bodies that are Black, and Brown and female have a particular type of marking. They are marked as insufficiently human. How do you castigate a category of people as insufficiently human? By throwing their gender into doubt'. The film’s message, [the athletes'] message is about informed consent, and that athletes can say no. No is a complete sentence, not a negotiation." Learn more about 'Category:Woman' via the link in our bio.🏃🏿‍♀️🎬 . . . #category #woman #gender #sextesting #sports #olympics #gender #discrimination #humanrights #athlete #womenofcolor #LGBTQ #informedconsent #globalsouth #medical #cultural #impact #phyllisellis #instagood

"I have always been drawn to music and to anyone and anything that produces these heavenly sounds. When I was in middle school, social anxiety prevented me from joining the school band. After a failed audition on a borrowed clarinet, my school’s music teacher shook his snowy head and said, “I’m sorry. You aren’t cut out for this.” My mother suggested that since I was an avid reader, I should start writing my own stories. Writing tales about spirited young girls in historical settings eased some of the pain caused by not joining the school band, but music still tugged at me." Today's blog feature by @nataliewelsh285 is a beautiful reminder of how our passions have a way of creating unique opportunities for us to live them out, sometimes in unexpected ways. For Natalie, her love of music was realized through the creation of @SyncopationLit - a non-profit online publication that features music-related poetry, creative nonfiction, flash fiction, and short stories, launched in Jan 2022. "Syncopation Literary Journal has become a meeting place for a diverse set of readers, musicians, and writers. It has connected me with countless musicians, writers, and readers, and some have become friends. As Founding Editor of Syncopation, I would never tell another creative that they were not meant to be a writer. If writing has chosen them, they are a writer," shares Natalie. Right now, the journal is doing a call for submissions for their next issue, which you can find via the link on the @SyncopationLit account. "Syncopation Literary Journal has allowed me to amalgamate my passions for music and literature. I am grateful that music chose me. I’m also glad that I chose to dabble in writing. We all have a story to tell. Don’t ever let anyone convince you that you weren’t meant to tell yours…" Submit your story and learn more about the Syncopation Literary Journal via the link in our bio! 🎵🎸 . . . #music #art #poetry #creativity #story #passion #literature #writer #submit #instagood

Today on the blog we're featuring an insightful guest post by @alliedatgirl from @embarccollective, whose experience spans venture capital & business development. Her message to the VC and funding world is that the lack of investment into female founded startups is a missed economic opportunity. "There is a glaring gap in angel investing and venture capital: far too few women are writing checks and far too few women are getting funded," writes Allie. "Pitchbook data shows that women-founded companies represent just 25.5 percent of total VC deal count in the US. At the same time, just 16.1 percent of the national firms have a woman decision-maker on their team. Additionally, women check-writers are more likely to invest in women founders." She outlines 3 key ways investors can help close the gender gap in tech startup funding, and here's one we loved the most: POINT OF VIEW "If your interest and experience have led to a strong point of view, consider seeking out companies that align with that particular approach to the sector." We recently profiled investment company RH Capital (part of @rhiaventures) which is an all-female founded firm who were devastated by Roe v Wade being overturned, and concerned about the future of women's health. They decided that they were going to fill the gender gap in the market while addressing this glaring reproductive rights issue, by focusing their funding on companies and startups that specialize in reproductive and maternal health. Their portfolio includes biotech and medical devices as well as digital health and services, with a particular focus on under-served and marginalized populations to significantly reduce health disparities in those communities. This is what Allie is talking about, and is a prime example that others can follow. "There’s no single path to investing in startups, but the more we share our experiences, recruit, and promote women check writers, the closer we get to closing the gap of funding for women founders." Read more via the link in our bio! 💸🏙️ . . . #finance #funding #investment #venturecapital #money #startups #femalefounded #entrepreneur #business #gendergap #womenshistorymonth

Renata Cherlise, founder of @blackarchives.co, the treasured platform that chronicles contemporary Black American life, first fell in love with photography as a young girl paging through family albums. Each photograph offered a window into the past, allowing her to experience an intimate encounter that was part of a larger tapestry of the individual and collective family. With her first book, ‘Black Archives: A Photographic Celebration of Black Life’ (February 14, 2023), Renata returns to her roots, drawing upon her own family albums, as well as those of members of the community. ‘Black Archives’ brings together photographs made between the 1930s and 1990s of scenes like family gatherings, holidays, vacations, nights on the town, moments of praise and worship, and styling and profiling on the front porch, in uniform, with cars, and among friends. With so much of Black American history lost or destroyed, Renata understands the power of family albums to create connections across time and space, and to preserve a shared cultural lineage for future generations. Here's what @renatacherlise told us about her message behind the images, and the impact she hopes they will have: "Mainstream media frequently strips Black people of their humanity and individuality, where their entire existence is measured against degrading stereotypes. Growing up in a society where you’re constantly seen as a threat, regardless of age, is never accounted or adjusted for in these mainstream portrayals," she said. "As a mother, it’s important to me that my work celebrates Black families in all their forms, while reminding Black folks of the sweet moments tucked away within the memories of their own childhoods. My desire is to protect the sacredness of Black life, and it is my hope that one day, the kinds of images we see in this series become the norm for how Black people are portrayed: as beautiful, joyful, and free," she added. See more of the images and read our interview with Renata via the link in our bio!📷 . . . #history #Blackarchives #family #photography #joy #stereotypes #image #childhood #memories #Blacklife #Blackjoy #Blackwomen #renatacherlise #instagood #book

If you ever find yourself wondering how you lost sight of your childhood dreams or creative ambitions along the way to adulthood, you are not alone. It is so common to allow life, and expectations to take over. But what would it look like if we decided to make space and time to get back to who we wanted to be all those years ago? If there is someone who understands this journey first hand, it is Emmy Award winning filmmaker and meditation teacher @dandanliustudio. For Dandan, filmmaking was not the pathway she was “meant” to follow, coming from a family of scientists. She initially followed in their footsteps, but after booking a one-way ticket to Japan and spending 4 years living in monasteries and learning about meditation, she knew that following her family’s career path was not the way for her. Realizing she wanted to be a filmmaker, Dandan made a drastic change but didn’t follow traditional filmmaking “rules” or steps. It was going on her own journey of self-discovery that inspired her to start a 12 week creative project to help others do the same. The program, titled Unravel, is intended to help people who are lost turn their lives into their unique work of art. So far she has built up a community of members who come from all walks of life and countries, spanning 15 to 77 years old. From helping newborn mothers out of postpartum depression to helping teens find belonging in themselves, the impact of this program is far reaching. We wanted to learn more about Unravel and asked Dandan what she hopes people will learn from this latest round of the course which begins March 30th, 2023. "When you enter the chrysalis or any time of self reckoning, there is a shedding of all the false or outdated layers of your identity. There is a letting go of all the armor that you’ve put on to protect yourself from being seen in your truth. This is why entering this chrysalis is nothing short of a heroic act." Learn how to Unravel and find your true creative self, via the link in our bio.🐛🦋 . . . #unravel #filmmaker #creative #art #emmyaward #community #change #career #instagood #beauty #self

To the women at the Academy Awards who made history and are blazing new trails: we see you, we applaud you, we are inspired by you, and we LOVE you! 🏆🎬 . . . #repost @variety and @togethxr #academyawards #oscars #michelleyeoh #ruthcarter #womenofcolor #history #blackpanther #wakandaforever #everythingeverywhereallatonce #win #Asian #Blackwomen #inspire

Earlier this week we celebrated #IWD, but to be honest one day feels so limiting, because celebrating womxn and girls should be a daily thing! We especially love women who are smashing stereotypes and defying the status quo - such as actress @marleneforte. If her name is not too familiar, we guarantee her face will be - she is in everything right now! The actress has been seen in “Knives Out”, JJ Abrams’ “Star Trek” reboot; “Real Women Have Curves” Netflix’s “Altered Carbon”, TNT “Dallas”, “The Mentalist”, “Law & Order” and AMC’s “Fear The Walking Dead” (among many others). And with each character and role she takes on, Marlene is redefining a formula of proving Hollywood wrong by continually breaking through the industry’s stereotypes when it comes to older women, and carving a niche for the Latino community by tearing down the barriers that often surround “ethnic minorities”. It started in Havana, Cuba where she was born. When she was 9 months old, just as Fidel Castro’s regime began to take hold in the late 1950s, her family moved to New York City. She has experienced motherhood, owned a business and lived a full life before moving to Los Angeles. Here's what she told us about making a living from acting and representation: "I was almost 30 when I started acting. I was told I was crazy: '30 years old is when women are getting out of this career not starting it!' I think it is important for young women to see older women represented. To see women of color in positions of power is inspirational. To see yourself represented on TV is inspiring" Head to the link in our bio to read more about Marlene and the hit TV shows she is currently starring in! 🎞️🎬 . . . #marleneforte #femalefilmmakerfriday #actress #Latina #representation #Hollywood #womeninfilm #story #Cuba #career #instagood #friday

Milan, Italy is widely considered one of the fashion capitals of the world, hosting a globally-renowned week-long event each year where designers hope to showcase their creations and launch careers. This year’s event, from February 24-27, was nothing short of historic, given the presence of Indigenous designers from Canada, who made their impressive debut on the world stage as part of a new partnership between the @indigenousfashionarts (IFA) Trade Program, which creates global opportunities for Indigenous designers, and @whiteshowofficial the concept trade show leader in womenswear fashion based in the heart of the Milano Tortona Fashion District. The three-year partnership was formed to exhibit a different group of Indigenous designers each year and create access for them at the prestigious trade show. The IFA Executive and Artistic Director is @sagepaul, an urban Denesuliné woman based in Toronto and a member of English River First Nation, who we have previously featured. For the trip to Milan, Sage was accompanied by 7 designers and brands – Evan Ducharme, Lesley Hampton, Niio Perkins Designs, Robyn McLeod, Section 35, She Was a Free Spirit and Dorothy Grant. We spoke to Sage about why fashion is an integral part of her identity as an Indigenous woman and artist, and why the world should be more open to embracing slow and sustainable fashion: "It is important to me that designers receive increased visibility because Indigenous communities face many barriers, and projects like these can improve our subsistence and self-determination. I also believe our inclusion in the global market will direct the industry towards generative innovation in design, style, storytelling and sustainability." Learn more about the IFA White Milano partnership, as well as Sage Paul's work via the link in our bio! ⚪️🤍⬜️ . . . #IFA #Canada #Indigenous #designers #sustainability #fashionweek #whitemilano #SagePaul #storytelling #identity #global #fashion #style