Contributors

You may be familiar with @Sukhmanimusic’s work if you are a GTHQ avid reader, as we recently featured a track she collaborated on with ‘Ash + Bone’, confronting gender inequality in the music industry. Now, she has tapped into the whimsical world of self-reflection on her debut EP ‘Here’, released on April 1. As one of first female tabla players to emerge from the U.K, she has toured and recorded as a percussionist for years, playing on stage at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Sukhmani was born into a Punjabi immigrant family in the United Kingdom, and grew up in Leeds where she was surrounded by the sounds of her Punjabi Sikh family, the Afro Caribbean community, and the city’s thriving music scene. She now brings her rare understanding of rhythm and percussion to her own music, delivering sultry vocals over deep, driving beats. Her latest project gave her the opportunity to “say the things we might be afraid of voicing out loud in the hopes it might speak to someone and encourage them to do the same.” We had the chance to talk with Sukhmani about her debut, and the meaning behind some of the tracks such as "Not Your Exotic": "I have been called “exotic” in my life more times than I can count, and although I understand that the intention can be complementary, I wanted to point out that by calling someone exotic you are measuring them against a standard that is white. I wanted to offer an alternative to otherizing, and instead call for us to appreciate and celebrate ourselves as well as each other, honoring diversity whilst acknowledging our inherent oneness." Listen to the EP "Here" and read our full Q&A via the link in our bio!🕶💓⛓ . . . #Sukhmani #punjabi #sikh #southasian #indian #tabla #musician #percussion #here #notyourexotic #immigrant #community #british

Aussie Plus size clothing brand @TakingShapestyle recently launched an exciting new collection with award-winning Indigenous designer, Elverina Johnson, whose mission it is to preserve the Indigenous Spirit through the arts. A highly respected Gungganji Gurugulu woman from Yarrabah in Far North Queensland, Elverina is one of the Nation’s most recognizable and accomplished artists who was awarded the 2017 Nation NAIDOC Artist of the Year. Her belief is that arts can empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and restore a genuine sense of pride in their culture and communities. Like Taking Shape, Elverina takes her role of empowering women seriously. Her family name – Bunya Badjil – means ‘good woman’. Elverina is passionate about making her unique prints available for all women to enjoy. Elverina spoke with us about the Taking Shape partnership and what it means to her personally: "Representation is extremely important for me as First Nations woman in Australia. The diversity that Taking Shape is already projecting in terms of catering to plus size women of all shapes and sizes and ethnicity has now become more inclusive of First Nations women who will identify and feel extra valued," she told us. "I love this partnership with Taking Shape because of their openness to learn and understanding what the stories are about. Their willingness to be agents of changes and inclusiveness in a society where First Nations people have to work extra harder to even get a little recognition, is great." Read the full piece and peep the brilliant Elverina X Taking Shape collection via the link in our bio.👚🌊🇦🇺 . . . @yarrabah #takingshape #clothing #style #fashion #indigenous #designer #australia #firstnations #collection #queensland #yarrabah #artist #reconciliation #plussize #diversity #inclusion #change #empowerment #women

#TBT to that time you did that BADASS thing ⚡️🙅🏽‍♀️ Check out this quote from our founder @ashadahya, shared recently on @the.storyofwoman podcast. Posted @withregram • @theknow.media We had to share these words of wisdom from @girltalkhq founder @ashadahya on the @the.storyofwoman podcast! We recommend tuning into the episode 'Woman and Those Changing the World: Asha Dahya, Today's Wonder Women' for all things empowerment on this Wednesday 💛 #badass #beyourownhero #shero #inspire #podcast #ashadahya #todayswonderwomen #rolemodel #hero

If you aren't following @themcleodfamily, what are you even doing on this app?? The McLeod Family have become social media viral sensations, with proud single foster mom Eeka McLeod sharing content about what life is like raising 3 children and tackling issues like autism and cerebral palsy, as well as celebrating one of them being LGBTQ+. After becoming a licensed foster parent while in graduate school, Eeka started welcoming children into her home. Throughout her time fostering, Eeka cared for 18 children and eventually adopted three: Eli, Evan and Ella. Eli has Cerebral Palsy while Evan and Ella are on the Autism Spectrum, so she has dedicated her life to meeting their unique needs while helping them find ways to express their individuality. The self-described “family of misfits” has made a name for themselves on social media during the pandemic with unapologetically real, hilarious content that showcases the triumphs and challenges of their daily life. Their devoted fanbase includes 116 million likes and 2.4 million followers on TikTok, over 100,000 followers on Instagram, as well as over 2.6 million views and over 50,000 subscribers on YouTube. Eeka, who has two Master’s Degrees in Professional Counseling as well as Marriage and Family Therapy, is passionate about using the family’s platform to advocate for acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities. We had the chance to speak with Eeka about her beautiful kids and using their social media platform as a way to connect with the world. Here's what she told us: "I think a lot of people know what it’s like to be “different.” Seeing a family like ours enjoying our lives, thriving, and experiencing the world in the midst of facing criticism, judgment, and hate shows people they are not alone in any of this and they have the right to live their most authentic lives as joyfully as they choose.It is my hope that by sharing our story, we can educate others and improve circumstances for these communities." Read the full piece via the link in our bio! 🤳🏽📹 . . . #family #foster #adopt #LGBTQIA #disability #content #influencer #singlemom #parenting #viral #wearefamily #autism

They say it’s a “man’s world” that we live in. So what does that mean for women? What does it mean for gender non-conforming and non-binary folks? Everything in our world has been influenced by that fact ‘man’ designed and led all aspects of it without the inclusion or consideration of ‘woman’. While some implications of this are clear – the wage gap, lack of women in leadership – most consequences are so deeply embedded into our world that they are all but impossible to see, unless you are looking. @the.storyofwoman is a new podcast exploring ‘man’s world’ through a woman's perspective, looking at the economy, healthcare, gender roles, and more. Hosted by @anna_leah_lau, each episode features an interview with a non-fiction author whose book provides the context needed to see where we are, how we got here and what still needs to be changed. This podcast series offers listeners an insight into a world through the female gaze, focusing on issues that are only just now in recent years being examined from the perspective and lived experiences of women. One of the books featured in Season 1 is our founder @ashadahya's book #TodaysWonderWomen! We had the opportunity to speak with Anna about the inspiration behind the podcast, and here's what she told us: 🎧"I hope listeners will remember that these are not “women’s issues”, these are everyone’s issues. Too often anything to do with women gets labelled as something separate from the human experience; she gets her own “special” category. These authors and the books they’ve written touch on themes and ideas that impact all of humanity, not just women. Without these narratives – and woman’s perspective of the world – humankind becomes something else entirely, and we won’t ever know who we are and what it means to be fully human until her perspective is seen as universal." Listen to the episode with Asha, and check out Season 1 of "The Story of Woman' via the link in our bio! 🎙 . . . #podcast #storyofwoman #perspective #femalegaze #women #history #HERstory #amansworld #author #bookstagram

If you aren’t familiar with the incredible story of Laleh Seddigh, the first female Iranian race car driver who broke barriers and revolutionized the sport in the country forever, now you have the chance to watch it on film! @lalehthemovie directed by Iranian filmmaker @essyniknejad, released the film in the United States during Women’s History month in theaters, and it couldn’t have been a more fitting time to bring Laleh’s powerful story to an international audience. ‘Laleh’ tells the story of a beautiful, brilliant, Ph.D. student, a young Iranian girl @lalehsedigh, (played by @sarahamiriiiii) an underdog struggling against all odds to break through the male dominated Car Racing clique in Iran. She faced the biggest challenge of her life, not on the race track but on her path to getting there by confronting the old traditions, such as family pressure to get married, a suitor from the Silicon Valley, backstabbing friends, drivers who ran her off the track, and right wing politicians. The Car Racing Federation believed her ambition was inappropriate for a woman in an Islamic society, so they did all they could to force her out of car racing. Nevertheless, she continued fighting against right wing politicians and professional drivers even under the threat of her life, over seven years of her life. Essy faced many treacherous events in his own harrowing trek to bring Laleh’s story to the screen and a worldwide audience. While filming in Tehran, he was opposed at every turn by conservative forces within the government and the Iranian entertainment world. He persevered anyway, knowing the impact a story like this can have on the world. Here's what he told us: "Laleh’s story was great material for me to tell the rest of the world what is happening back in Iran. This is not just about Laleh’s story anymore. This movie is about women and young girls all around the world who struggle against evil and oppression." Read the full interview via the link in our bio and find out where you can see a screening of 'Laleh'. 🏎🇮🇷🎥 . . . #laleh #film #women #iran #pioneer #racecardriver #inspiration #rolemodel #shesthefirst #nevertheless #instagood #revolution

With Mother’s Day around the corner in the United States, and the UK having just celebrated recently, British clothing label @houseoffraser decided to cast real-life mother and daughter duos to be the face of their new mom jeans campaign. The winners were Louise and her daughter Kaye, both from Scotland, Yvette and her daughter Maya from East London, and Evey and her daughter Lily from North London. From influencing each other’s fashion to impacting each other’s lives, these duos represent the amazing things about this unique relationship – and HoF wanted to celebrate it. Each of the daughters shared what they love most about their mothers, with sentiments such as: " My mum is a really strong person, I can talk to her about anything. She's a great friend." (Maya) "She's the person I turn to more than anyone." (Kaye) "My favorite thing about my mum is that she has a heart of gold and would do anything for me." (Lily) You can watch a video with all the winners and see more images of the House of Fraser campaign via the link in our bio! 👖 . . . #HouseofFraser #moms #motherhood #mothersday #daughter #family #love #influence #style #momjeans #fashion

"Someone YOU love may need an abortion someday..." Posted @withregram • @ashadahya 1 in 4 women will have an abortion before the age of 45. The majority of people who get abortions are mothers (60%). Also, 7 in 10 Americans believe Roe v Wade should stay (which includes conservatives!). That makes abortion predominantly a parenting decision. It also means that someone you know and love has had, one or will have one. I am so proud to have produced this short PSA in partnership with @supermajority, about reframing the conversation away from divisive political opinions, to one of compassion. It's a topic I am passionate about, and with the impending overturn of Roe v Wade, we can't afford NOT to talk about this in the United States, and globally. Directed by @laraeverly, shot by DP @meendawg. 💜 #abortion #roevwade #reproductiverights #love #someoneyoulove