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Desiree Akhavan’s series ‘The Bisexual’ brings a new conversation to TV

‘Bisexual Iranian-American actress’ or ‘the bisexual Lena Dunham’ is often the description that is placed before Desiree Akhavan’s name.

Though devoid of alliteration, these descriptive titles have seemed to have had a domino effect on U.S. media outlets that release any press on the actress.

And though her work explores the experience of navigating relationships through the lens of a ‘clumsy’ or ‘messy’ woman protagonist, her brownness makes her set of experiences vastly different from that of Lena Dunham.

Yes, Akhavan identifies as bisexual and her latest work is titled, The Bisexual.

Yet, despite the seemingly static nature of how her identity is presented by the media, her latest Channel 4 — Hulu television series, The Bisexual, shows this identity as full of movement and oscillation.

This fluidity is rendered through the journey of the series’ lesbian-identified protagonist, Leila (played by Akhavan), who begins questioning her sexuality in the wake of ending a serious 10-year relationship with her partner Sadie, (played by Maxine Peake, a big-name stage and film actress in the UK).

Though she says to her friend, “You can still love and support each other even when you are on a break,” (indeed, something only queer women would say) the break ultimately prompts Leila to explore her sexuality and thus a personal project (re)self-definition.

Her confusion over her newfound attraction to men serves as the thesis of the series and Akhavan closely aligns audiences with Leila’s internal dilemma, leaving us wanting to leave her awkward encounters and squirmy conversations just as much as she does.

 

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#thebisexual #desireeakhavan #deniz #channel4

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While there have been bisexual characters in television series of late, they often serve as supporting roles, and the times in which when they do occupy a lead role, their narratives often serve as cautionary tales, reproduce gender roles and demonize their sexual behavior. But having bisexuality so explicitly at the fore of a shows thematic concern is something new.

Akhavan’s series not only challenges assumptions about bisexuality upheld by straight people but also probes into harbored judgments of bisexuality within the LGBTQIA community. A notable moment in the first episode of the series is when Leila is in a club with her lesbian-identified friends, having a conversation around one’s sexual preferences, to which one of her friends poses the weighted question, “is anyone really bisexual?”

The question encapsulates the discursive tension on bisexuality within the LGBTQIA community. The common critique of bisexuality is that it is a form of identification that implies a sexual preference exclusively between the sexes of male and female, thereby implying not being attracted to gender queer people and as a consequence, perpetuates the gender binaries of male and female as social norms.

As a woman who identifies as queer, I see a lot of important work being done by Akahavan. I do not read her newly discovered erotic desire for men as undercutting her queerness nor consolidating heterosexuality, or see Leila ultimately coming to “pick a side or team.” I mean, nothing annoys a self-identifying bisexual more than the statement, “You must prefer one or the other.”

The moments that Leila ruminates on her newly realized sexual attraction to men is important for viewers. Her confusion draws attention to the tension bisexual-identified people experience when vocalizing that they are questioning, or when they present themselves as uncertain to others, both within and outside the LGBTQIA community.

Presenting yourself as confused or uncertain runs the risk of affirming the stereotypes of bisexuality as being ‘a phase’ and duplicitous. In short, in the eyes of observers, exhibiting a level of confusion is proof of bisexuality’s’ supposed ‘illegitimacy.’

I understand the criticism of the show in regards to the lack of bisexual representation of male-identified characters. And Leila’s housemate Gabe may indeed simply be serving as the paradigm of the white straight cis male for the shows thematic purposes.

But I still see his inclusion in the narrative as important. Through the characterization of Gabe, it is clear that Akhavan is interested in exploring the insecurities and boundaries of white heterosexual masculinity that men relentlessly attempt to keep fortified, (for the risk of its unfolding).

Plus, the back and forth between Leila and Gabe, in regards to Leila trying to ‘jerk off’ speaks to the way issues like female masturbation are still taboo for men. These interactions ultimately have a didactic purpose and help serve to break down such topical subjects around gender and sexuality.

For me, some of the most moving moments are watching the anxieties that play out between Leila and Sadie’s relationship as I see Leila’s anxieties as emblematic of a certain preoccupation typical of people in their 20’s and 30’s.

Put simply, the pressure to reach a certain set of life expectations that are socially assigned to each decade. We are told that our 20’s are a time where we are meant to live it up, see a lot of people and explore our sexuality before we enter into our 30’s and encounter the inevitability of settling down.

It raises questions on monogamy. But it also underlines how we have been socialized to live our lives in a specific way once we reach the temporal hallmarks of our 20’s and 30’s. But this dilemma is particularly resonant for people in the LGBTQIA community who are in serious commital relationships.

By this I mean, must the only marker of LGBTQIA love, be to follow the state-authorized narrative of getting married and having children? If we enter into this narrative, are we simply reproducing heteronormative expectations and compromising apart of ourselves?

I recognize that these questions on love do come with a level of privilege and I am not incognizant to the fact that these may not be the priorities of debate or dialogue for people in the LGBTQIA community. For the most part, many just want to live out their lives safely, without the fear of violence and to have a guaranteed future in a political climate that has exhibited rhetoric and policies that give much to fear about.

And sure, as of now, we can see that the representation in Akhavan’s show is orientated largely around cis-gendered and able-bodied individuals.

Nonetheless, there is still a lot of content to keep me intellectually engaged and watching the show. Plus, I am curious as to whether Akhavan will explore her sexuality with the intersection of her brownness in the context of the show being set in England; which comes with its own set of race relations.

In sum, y’all should check it out! Akhavan co-writes, directs and stars in the UK comedy-drama series. Akhavan is also running on the back of her recent directorial success for The Miseducation of Cameron Post, a film that follows the story of a queer teenager who is sent to a conversion therapy camp.

The film won this year’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize but Akhavan had also made a name for herself in the film festival circuit with her debut film, Appropriate Behavior.

5 female collectives opening their spaces to women everywhere

Women’s empowerment isn’t only present on the streets during politicized demonstrations, rallies and marches, but is increasingly being found in places of work.

Indeed, there are more alliances being made between women in multiple industries and businesses, that are often female-founded or female-run, but whose collaborations nonetheless culminate into women joining forces and uniting under the cause of validating each other’s work and creating more opportunities for one another.

And because every day is girls’ day, here is a list of women’s collectives dedicated to offering a platform for girls as part of a larger initiative to erase gender inequity that is characteristic of all industries.

Here’s to these groups that are making sure that girls get the opportunity to reclaim their time.

Camel Assembly

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Normal Sunday

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Though this community of women initially assembled together in New York, it has now expanded into a global one, with locations ranging from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Hong Kong.

With the collective composed of creatives, leaders, and pioneers in their respective fields, Camel Assembly ultimately serves as a creative hub for women to convene together, collaborate, network, learn from, and inspire one another.

Camel Assembly hosts a variety of events, workshops, and programs that all adhere to the four central ideas that underpin the mission of the women’s collective; Be Healthy, Learn Something, Act Now and Tell Stories.

In speaking to Inspirational Women’s Series, co-founder Keshia Hannam discussed how the Camel Assembly has evolved since its inception, she says,

“At Camel Assembly, we weren’t trying to be a women’s empowerment movement (obviously; look at our name). We were just strong-willed, creative and driven women who came together to use our time effectively and enjoyably, and the result was empowering, inspiring.”

From poetry slams, boxing classes orientated around intimate partner violence, book clubs, and the publishing a weekly newspaper, Camel Assembly offers an array of events, services and an inviting learning environment that many women seek to be a part of.

And things continue to be in the works for the women’s collective; from the development of a video mini-series, organizing a music festival, as well as programs and workshops focused on issues of mental health and wellness.

Be on the lookout for the upcoming events Camel Assembly has to offer!


Women’s Collective at AP Cafe

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You see here the face of the founders of AP Women’s Collective: APPLAUDING POWER. Join us this Sunday, October 14th in the backspace of the Café for a day indulging in #sustenance. We’ve brought together @femmycycle, @essentiawater, @aromakyoor make-your-own station, reiki sessions w @metabalance, self portraits with @camilafalquez, take home “tool boxes”, community library, free draw wall for reflection and expression, and group forums as we groove to the magic of @tiffmcfierce & @djlunarosa . Tickets are limited. Link in bio #divinefeminine #wisewoman #community #womenscollective #brookly #personallegend #fertilityawareness #herbloodisgold #menstrualcup #yonisteam #yonieggs #womenempowerment #womensupportwomen #womenwhorunwiththewolves

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From their inception, coffee houses and cafes have been a site for creatives to congregate. Instead of catering to the white European intellectual bourgeoise male, the crowd at AP Cafe are a radical assortment of bad-ass creatives who gravitate to this Bushwick gem, to collaborate and make connections with like-minded individuals.

Don’t be fooled by the cafe’s minimalist style, because there is an overwhelmingly positive and welcoming energy that permeates the space.

AP is definitely a space to look out for. The cafe serves up the goods; from great coffee, burritos, pancakes, acai bowls, a cracking avocado toast and more.

While the food and coffee are certainly a reason to check out the space, AP offers more than any other standard cafe. AP has also just launched a women’s collective that fosters a community of female creatives, local to the Bushwick area, and from other parts of the borough.

In fact, there is a brunch this Sunday where you can get your introduction to the newly launched Women’s Collective and creative space!


The Wing

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Room to breathe 🌬

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Just by looking at pictures of The Wing, it presents itself as a dream workplace.

Its value lies not only via its modern, bright aesthetic but through its thriving positive, inspiring and encouraging workplace culture that the female collective has come to be known for.

Launching only two years ago, The Wing has attracted some infamous names and feminist icons to headline events. I mean does it get much bigger than landing an intimate sit-down interview with the first woman in U.S history to be elected as the Presidential nominee of a major party? Cue –  Hilary Clinton.

The roots of The Wing derive from a women’s club movement that was originally founded in the late 19th century to early 20th century.

Driven by pioneering women of those early days, The Wing is a chique and modern iteration of the original women’s-club movement. As it has developed, The Wing still draws from its history in its larger project of creating a more inclusive space for women of color and LGBTQIA identified individuals. Importantly, The Wing offers scholarships to underrepresented women in their respective fields.

The Wing collaborates with non-profits and volunteer programs, spotlighting issues present in local communities and in turn, introduces the Wing’s members to participate in these very projects. The club has more than 1,500 members and has multiple locations nationwide!


She Works Collective

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#wcw the ladies from the Summer Solstice Supper!

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Founded in 2015, She Works collective was NYC’s first co-working and event space created for women. Created by founder Joanna Black, in the hope to inspire women to transpose their passions and ideas into a business model, the collective provides an event space for women to showcase their work, ideas, and products.

The collective helps women launch their business ideas via enrolling in the business program AccelHer Now! – that provides the training, tools, and coaching needed for the aspiring young female entrepreneur.

Notably, the co-working space is also a site for community building. After all, many of the women are going through similar experiences in their own work, whether it is pitching an idea to a potential investor, exhibiting their product/s to clients and customers etc.

It is in this way, the co-working space has forged an encouraging workplace culture, where women can seek out advice and suggestions from their co-workers, and at the same time, do their own thing at their personalized workspace.


Female Founder Collective

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“Friend of a Friend was born through a passion of discovery. It is a community where nothing is known or trendy or fleeting and everything is ready to be found: from the coffee shop you walk past everyday with the best scones to the island locale in Greece with unparalleled views of the caldera. I want to abolish the banal in favor of new and noteworthy people, places and things: a diversion from your normal routine. When starting Friend of a Friend, I aspired to create these little moments for my readers in their every day lives—sparks of excitement and new beginnings. Friend of a Friend is just that: a trusted source and community, one degree of separation between you and something new.” — Olivia Perez; Founder of @friendofafriend #femalefoundercollective

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The Female Founder Collective is a female-led network of businesses who are committed to enabling and supporting female owned and led businesses.

The collective offers a platform that brings women together from an array of industries, facilitating connections between business leaders to connect, collaborate, as well as encourage and support one another.

In an interview with Elle magazine, one of the contributors to the collective, Aurora James, emphasized how the collective adheres to a business model that diverges from what is typical of the marketplace – it elevates the idea of “collaboration over competition.”

It is a networking system that is interested in consumer behavior and practices.

In other words, by labeling businesses as part of this female business collective, they seek to inform consumers and provide them with the tools to identify and know that they are giving their money to a female-led or founded company.

How this female-founded handbag company built a product unlike any other

In an industry that often views style and practicality as irreconcilable ideas, it’s no surprise that Melissa Mash, CEO and co-founder of the handbag company, Dagne Dover, saw an opportunity to challenge this conception in the market.

Mash, alongside co-founders Deepa Gandhi and Jessy Dover, have created a stylish and functional handbag that’s changing the game.

Offering plenty of variety in the form of tote bags, backpacks, travel bags, fanny packs, wallets, toiletry bags, pouches and card cases, all of these bags are highly compartmentalized and designed for ultimate efficiency and organization.

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Back on the hustle. 👊🏼 #AlwaysOrganized

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In discussing her product to Forbes, Mash said,

“It’s not just about having a bunch of pockets on the inside, which some brands do. It’s about making sure that the pockets are so intuitive to the consumer that she doesn’t have to think twice. Of course, that’s the sunglasses pocket. Of course, that’s the laptop sleeve.”

Wow, imagine that for a concept. Not having the bottom of your bag transforms into an endless abyss that prompts you to tip out the entire content of your bag just to find your pair of sunglasses, a pen, your business card, chapstick, hand sanitizer, etc.

In short, actually being able to find the items in your bag!

Mash, however, is no stranger to retail. In her undergraduate days, Mash vehemently embraced what the city of New York had to offer — landing internships with a clothing and bedding designer, and the jewelry company Henri Bendel.

During this time, Mash even managed to get the contact details of a sample maker for bags, whom she would later reach out to years after when the idea for Dagne Dover began to take shape.

Later working in various positions for Coach, from wholesales to account management, Mash was able to attain different experiences and a level of training that would be crucial in eventually co-founding Dagne Dover.

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Your favorite products, only bigger. Say hi to the Extra Large Landon and the Large Dakota, available on the site now!

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Mash was also able to garner international experience, as she oversaw and helped turnaround Coach’s first UK store in Heathrow Airport.

But, it was during this time at Coach that enabled Mash the opportunity to speak directly to customers; hearing what they want out of a handbag, their frustrations with the handbags they owned and the handbags that are currently on the market.

In speaking with ABC News, Mash relayed the countless times’ customers would complain about their struggle to have an organized bag and Mash having always wanted to start a bag company, saw this a business opportunity.

What is apparent is that Mash seized the networking opportunities her internships provided, absorbing all the knowledge that came with each company.

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Happy Memorial Day!

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Mash was and remains highly attentive to what consumers seek after, and it is this insatiable curiosity and investment in her customers that have instrumentally shaped her project of developing a product that is so intimately tied and catered to consumer’s needs and wants.

Despite all her retail experience, Mash and Gandhi made the decision to go back to business school. She attended The Wharton School that proved to be not only an educational site but one where Mash and Gandhi, were able to network and identify consumer wants through conducting surveys with a pool of men and women.

It was there that Mash also began to search for a person to design the bag, leading her to cross paths with Jessy Dover, who then became one of the companies founders along with Mash and Gandhi.

Financial Backing

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This one’s for the girls. Happy Women’s Equality Day!

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Though the company launched in 2013, the three female partners had been working on the brand for two years prior.

In terms of finding investors and financiers, Mash, Gandhi, and Dover found the patience to be a critical component in the process of product development. The company’s three founders decided to consolidate long-term capital instead of acquiring venture capital who often expect an immediate turn-over in profit.

In other words, they chose individual investors and small funders that were willing to wait and expend in the business’s long-term success.

Speaking to Cheddar TV, Mash stressed the importance of finding the right investors. That is to say, she advised carefully evaluating whether the financier truly understands your product or brand, and is willing to invest in the product for the long-term. After all, success in the world of entrepreneurship rarely happens overnight.

In the interview with ABC, Dover also expressed a level of uncertainty in regards to the company’s potential decision to make deals with venture capital,

“We would have probably had to make the wrong decision for the long term of the brand and I can’t guarantee that the business would be where it is today.”

Dover also concurred with Mash on the idea of “patient capital,” maintaining that it was crucial to the design process since it enabled her to actually to take the time needed to create and formulate the final product.


Workplace Culture

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Team work really does make this Dagne dream work. ✨

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Not only has the brand done significantly well in terms of revenue, but the company has also been dedicated to building a flourishing workplace culture.

Drawing from their experience in the corporate world, the three founders wanted to foster an environment, where employees could feel as though they could freely be who there are, be motivated and happy to go to work, feel appreciated and trusted in their domain of work.

In fact, Dagne Dover was high amongst the list of 100 companies voted by Mogul as being the best workplace for millennial women, in the years 2016 and 2017.

So how do you purchase a Dagne Dover bag? The bags are available on Nordstrom, in Equinox boutiques, Bandier, Revolve and other boutique retailers.

The company also had a pop-up store in Manhattan over the summer and the pop-up resurfaced this month, this time in Soho.

With their revenue doubling from the year 2016 to 2017, Dagne Dover demonstrates the success of the companies philosophy of that refuses to see stylish aesthetics and functionality as mutually exclusive and instead has crafted a bag that perfectly marries these two ideas together.

Meet the 5 female songwriters low key running the music game

Music is transient, never static. And the music industry is always changing because of this fact.

Even when you have made it as an artist and are leading the game, you always need to keep your sound fresh; repurposing, reinventing, sampling and mixing sounds and beats, to produce new content that keeps listeners wanting more and more.

Here are the names of the ghostwriters behind the lyrics to your favorite artists’ tracks but who now have started to make a name for themselves.

Nija Charles

 

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I’m good luv.

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At the age of 20, Nija Charles has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry right now. I mean, two of her songs, “LoveHappy” and “Heard About Us,” feature on The Carters’ new album, Everything is Love. It took Charles to reach the age of only 13 to realize she wanted to pursue songwriting and producing seriously.

Growing up in a New Jersey household surrounded by music may have shaped Charles’s to see music as a career prospect, as she recounted in an interview with Fader, that her mother made it compulsory for her and her sister to learn a musical instrument.

Nonetheless, Charles remains constantly inspired by the music she listens to. Words, beats, and melodies simply exude out of her. In trying to get her stuff out there, Charles used SoundCloud as a distribution platform.

While she initially intended just to release the beats she had produced, she quickly learned that listeners wanted to hear songs, and as a result, she started toplining on her own beats. Though enrolled at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, Charles decided to take a leave of absence, and delve deeper into the music scene in NYC.

Her decision has certainly paid off as the songwriter has crafted songs that have been recorded by Jason Derulo, Flo Rida, and Chris Brown. But Charles really began to gain traction, through the release of “I Do” and “Ring” on Cardi B’s album Invasion of Privacy. 

Charles is currently under the record label, Universal Music Publishing Group.


Gizzle

The songwriter/rapper’s interest in poetry during her younger years would become the starting point of translating feelings and ideas to pen and paper.

An artistic practice that evolved into Gizzle formulating a unique lyricism that has seen her work in the music industry for 10 years now and is well respected amongst her creative collaborators for her daringness and versatility as a writer.

At the same time, Gizzle has made sure not be swept away by the fame and accolades, since many artists careers have served as cautionary tales that come with the success as an artist.

Gizzle has dedicated her time to deciphering the ins and outs of the industry as a way to avoid being absorbed into a deal with a label that for fear of losing one’s artistic integrity. After all, record labels are businesses but the tension between art and profit has long been a characteristic of all artistic industries.

Nonetheless, when listening to her flow you would be surprised by her West Coast origins since her sound is so embedded in the East Coast rap scene.

Gizzle has collaborated with the likes of Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Song and Travis Scott. But she has worked closely with Diddy, who has become a formative mentor for Gizzle, giving her the opportunity to appear on the track, “You Could Be My Lover.”


Emily Warren

Warren has been writing and collaborating with artists for 12 years now, but she has just dropped her own music this week, this time with her name at the forefront, for the release of her debut album, Quiet Your Mind.

Warren has worked with pop artists, Shawn Mendes, Dua Lipa, Little Mix, and The Chainsmokers. In addition, she has written for David Guetta and wrote Daya’s Grammy award-winning song, “Don’t Let me Down.”

Hailing from New York City, Warren was another songwriter to come out of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and was also part of a group called Emily Warren & The Betters.

Speaking to AM New York, Warren shared that her new writing project has come with new artistic challenges as she has sought to formulate a writing process that isn’t significantly driven by a marketing agenda to create catchy pop hits.

Plus, since pop songs have not always been a musical genre that is particularly favorable to women, with lyrics that are often hypersexual and demeaning, Warren wants her music to vehemently break away from this tradition, stating in an interview with TIME,

“There are songs I hear on the radio that I’m shocked by. I try to make an effort to be on the right side of history.”

Indeed, her lyrical and melodic content draws from subject matter that is often painful and uncomfortable. In the same interview with TIME, she maintains how such topics  ultimately allow artists to create resonant work for listeners to engage with,

“Those are the songs that really hit you when you need it; those are the songs I want to be a part of.”


Bibi Bourelly

 

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Everything and everyone can change. Notes.

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Originally from Berlin, Germany, Bibi made the move to the United States and at the age of 22 already has the names Rihanna, Kanye West and Usher listed on her songwriting CV.

Known for being the mind behind the bad-ass hit song, “Bitch Better Have My Money,” and her impact on Rihanna’s sixth album, Anti is evident with the inclusion of her the tracks, “Yeah, I Said It,” “Higher,” and “Pose.”

Yet, the artist has conflicted feelings when it comes to being a songwriter when it comes to the process of handing over your work, or in her own words “a piece of yourself” to another person, even if it is someone like Rihanna.

Nonetheless, she maintained that sometimes the personal sacrifice is necessary for one’s career. But Bibi has now gone solo.

Her songs “Ballin’,” “Ego,” gained traction on the Spotify charts and her intimate studio session released last year that includes one-word titled tracks, “Sunshine,” “Poet,” “Flowers,” and “Untitled,” are definitely worth a peep.

What is clear is that Bibi is a true artist. Deeply passionate and oozes with an emotional intensity that makes listeners curious as to what she will create next.


Ali Tamposi

 

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🕴🕴🕴

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Tamposi’s career took off after Kelly Clarkson fell in love with the songwriter’s break-up anthem, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).” After spending some time in Los Angeles,  Tamposi later landed the opportunity to collaborate with other fellow songwriters to craft the lyrics for DJ Snake’s & Justin Bieber’s hit, “Let Me Love You.”

Tamposi later went on to write Camila Cabello & Young Thug’s song “Havana,” and has recently worked with Selena Gomez and Kygo, proving herself to be a force in the pop music scene.

In an op-ed for online magazine Song Writing Magazine, Tamposi shared the challenges that come with writing for an artist and treading the line between catering specifically to an artist and making it not sound forced or fitting too neatly with that artists’ body of work. She says,

“If you try to make it specific to an artist it never really works out. I think authenticity is key and an artist can really feel when it sounds sincere, or when a song sounds forced.”

Tamposi is currently signed under the record label Reservoir and is a part of an effective songwriting trio, composed of the writers Andrew Watt and Brian Lee.

How Priyanka Chopra is using her platform to boss up and give back

Priyanka Chopra’s career is a testament to one completely embracing the opportunities that are afforded when being an actress on the global stage.

Chopra has immersed herself in various projects ranging from activism, philanthropy, and business. What serves as the common thread between each of these enterprises is that Chopra is utilizing her celebrity status to create change and bring awareness to critical issues.

As a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, she has been a vocal supporter of women’s rights and wellbeing and has condemned violence against women and the tradition of child marriages.

 

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I’m in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh today for a field visit with UNICEF, to one of the largest refugee camps in the world. In the second half of 2017, the world saw horrific images of ethnic cleansing from the Rakhine State of Myanmar(Burma). This violence drove nearly 700,000 Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh – 60% are children! Many months later they are still highly vulnerable, living in overcrowded camps with no idea when or where they will ever belong…even worse, when they will get their next meal. AND…as they finally start to settle and feel a sense of safety, monsoon season looms…threatening to destroy all that they’ve built so far. This is an entire generation of children that have no future in sight. Through their smiles I could see the vacancy in their eyes. These children are at the forefront of this humanitarian crisis, and they desperately need our help. The world needs to care. We need to care. These kids are our future. Pls Lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #ChildrenUprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh Credit: @briansokol @hhhtravels

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But Chopra’s latest venture is in tech. The actress has invested in the coding education company, Holberton School, as Chopra is dedicated to exposing women to the fields of computer science and technology in a larger attempt to eliminate the gender inequity in STEM industries.

The school’s educational mission is to teach students to code and providing them with the crucial skills and experiences to occupy jobs in STEM that are available now, and are expected to grow significantly within the decades to come.

Interestingly,  The New York Times reported that tuition for the school is required after graduation with “17% of their paycheck is deducted by the school for three and a half years.” Her recent business initiative aligns with the actress’s commitment to creating more opportunities for women and women of color in particular.

A South East Asian Woman in Hollywood

Chopra also isn’t incognizant to Hollywood dominance over the global film distribution market. In an interview with the BBC, she stressed how she finds the term ‘Bollywood’ itself to be reductive and leads to the misconception of Bollywood being simply “a spoof of Hollywood,” instead of being considered as a serious and huge film industry.

In the same interview, Chopra also revealed how she pushes back against the label of being a ‘Bollywood actress’ that is often ascribed to her by media outlets.

It is for these reasons that Chopra is invested in creating more narratives orientated around South East Asian individuals and communities. Chopra wants to show that cinema from and about this region of the world goes beyond the widespread Western idea of characters breaking into song and dance on an over-the-top colorful set.

In speaking with Variety, Chopra relayed her feelings and experience when meeting with the executives of the ABC network after being granted the lead role for the series Quantico. She said,

 “What happens with a lot of South Asian actors or actors who come from different countries is you get stereotyped into just what studio execs think that Indians should be.”

Indeed, the lack of representation and limited (and often derogatory representation) of South Asian populations inspired her to head her own production company, Purple Pebble Pictures.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bogc1LcF-UJ/?hl=en&taken-by=purplepebblepictures

The production company has much to be excited about. Their film Pahuna: The Little Visitors, has garnered critical praise amongst the European film festival circuit and earned the accolade of winning the best film award at the Schlingle Film Festival in Germany.

Pahuna tells the story of three Nepalese children that are separated from their parents and then undergo extraordinary circumstances to return back home.


Opportunity and Success

While her career certainly demonstrates her desire to create opportunities for others, in an interview with Teen Vogue, Chopra also emphasized the importance of one creating opportunities for yourself. She says,

“You have to create your opportunity, you have to fight for it, you have to demand it. Yes there will be times you will be let down, you will be disappointed and people will tell you, you’re ahead of your time or that’s not how it is. At some point, you will find some success. At some point, you’ll be able to find a crack in the door. Even that’s enough. Don’t let anyone tell you your dreams are too small.”

How Girls Who Code is helping close the gender gap in the tech industry

If you are familiar with computer science, you will know that there are a plethora of computer programming languages.

Yet, if I was to try and explain the functions of each of these languages I would definitely be lost in translation. I don’t know how to code, but I can distill to you the important work the non-profit organization, Girls Who Code, are doing to make sure that more women know how to.

This national non-profit organization is driven by the mission to close the gender gap within the tech industry.

 

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We’re a #sisterhood – what does #GirlsWhoCode mean to you? ✨

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Girls Who Code are dedicated to exposing women to the fields of computer science and technology, providing them with the crucial skills and experiences to occupy jobs in STEM that are available now, and are expected to grow significantly within the decades to come.

With tech jobs growing at an unprecedented rate, Girls Who Code are committed to making sure that women are a part of the forward trajectory that characterizes the industry. 

Girls Who Code is composed of women from a variety of backgrounds and from all over the nation. The non-profit offers nation-wide services that include after-school programs, programs on college campuses, as well as a 7-week summer immersion program.

With the organization running on its sixth year now, Girls Who Code has managed to incorporate a huge group of women under its name as well as acquire support and partnerships with major companies.

While the non-profit focuses on the fields computer science and technology, Founder of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani, maintains that the non-profit is emblematic of a larger movement dedicated to empowering women and eliminating job discrimination for women in all industries.


SISTERH>>D

 

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SISTERH>>D. Tomorrow. It’s time to celebrate the power of girls. #sisterhood

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In anticipation of International Day of the Girl, on October 11th,  Girls Who Code has also crafted a digital visual album titled, Sisterh>>d.

It is a piece that is indicative of the organizations’ investment in promoting collectivity and community between young women all over the world and fostering a strong level of sisterhood necessary for the project of paving a way for a more inclusive future.

The visual album highlights an array of influential women from around the world, whose groundbreaking work in their respective industries, from tech, politics, fashion, art, music and more, is cause for celebration.

The videos’ anthem is a fresh retake of the 1970s track “O-o-h Child,” originally sung by the Chicago soul family group, The Five Stairsteps. Looking back to the decade of the 1970’s; a historical moment marked by its political activism, the song choice is demonstrative of the visual album’s s intention of spotlighting the new generation of young women who are formulating the politicized movements of today.

The video features footage of young girls typing away on laptops, showing off their athletic skills, expressing themselves through dance, as well a notable transition in which a young black woman dishes conscious and empowering lyrics at a podium instead of fear-mongering political rhetoric.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=_EJlokqwml0

There is definitely a sense of hope and optimism being enacted through the visual album. The gleaming smiles of these young aspiring women radiate off the screen.

Just as the original sampled lyrics suggest, viewers can’t help but agree that “Things are gonna be brighter,” and that Girls Who Code is making an important contribution in changing the landscape for women to enter industries that historically have not been designed to fit them nor afford them opportunities.

Girls Who Code has ultimately created a sonic and cinematic piece that importantly advocates young women to continue to “bring your vision to the table.”

How ‘Cup of Rahman’ creator Celine Rahman grew her brand by following her passions

Celine Rahman’s blog, Cup of Rahman, doesn’t dish out delicious hot cups of ramen noodles to customers, despite what ideas the title may conjure up.

But what the site does dish out, are the bloggers’ intimate thoughts and the showcasing of her self-customized products — from key rings, key chains, jewelry, illustrations, and apparel. The printed t-shirt that reads “stay woke, make change” is a definite favorite!

Although starting out as a music blog during her freshman year of college, Cup of Rahman evolved into a blog and was an extension of Rahman’s Instagram account @cupofrahman.

The site combines Rahman’s love of photography and fashion while also offer an outlet for Rahman to discuss her thoughts, moods, and feelings that are particularly inspired by fashion and film.

Both her writing content and products are highly relatable. She creates entertaining illustrations that tap into the female millennial horoscope culture, as well as pictures that feature the faces of prominent celebrities and quotes that go with their star persona.

 

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She creates cards that remind us of when our hearts soared during moments from our favorite romantic comedies of the 90’s. Such content is fitting given that Rahman expressed that her ultimate vision for C.O.R. is,

“To spread goodness and consciousness. To let people know that there’s always that little kid inside of you and it’s ok to let them out.”

In deciphering which themes and ideas that her products will be orientated around Rahman told Kulture Hub, that her product development is influenced by things that simply interest her, as well as the desire to instill a feeling of wonder, excitement, and childhood nostalgia for her customers.

 

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@emilyarlook setting the vibe 💜✨

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Though her background as a multimedia artist has informed what products she has created, Rahman also emphasized that she always knew she had the creative gene.

“I’ve always known that I’m the type of person who was just born to create. I thrive through it in every way and I try not to give myself rules when creating.”

Rahman, however, like most artists, is no stranger to the fear and doubt that comes with putting one’s work out to the public, as she stressed the importance of believing in one’s own creations and ideas.

“Not everyone’s business is the same as yours and when in doubt, do your own research. It takes a lot of self-teaching to create a business by yourself.”

She continued by expressing that her desire to create and share her work ultimately supersedes the fear, because at the end of the day,

“If you don’t want to share anything with the world, what are you living for?”

Importantly, her intimate blog posts reveal how it is okay to not be okay.

Her posts are a source of comfort and offer an important encouraging message against a culture that socializes women to identify and hyperfocus on their supposed flaws and imperfections. In short, Rahman says stay true to yourself and just be you.

 

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👏🏽✨💅🏽✨💖 MANTRA (@bulletin.co)

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Her Instagram account @cupofrahman and blog ultimately share posts that are funny, entertaining, and affirming. In regards to what advice Rahman has for young aspiring entrepreneurs, having resilience and organization are key, as she says,

“With Facebook controlling the Instagram algorithm, it’s been annoying at times, but I just keep pushing the content I want to be seen. It’s an ever-evolving process for me, I’m still learning and I always will be.”

 

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New logo 💖

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Celine finished off her advice by telling us,

“Always have a plan, save every dime you can, do your research and know that under no circumstances is it going to be easy. You have to know that you want to wake up every day loving what you’re doing.”

5 directors taking your favorite artists’ music videos to the next level

Music videos are not only a part of the way we generally consume music these days but some of the most interesting and critical work is now being created through this medium.

Its value lies in being an avenue for directors to explore creatively, experiment, and formulate a level of authorship that may not come as easily in the world of narrative film or television.

Plus, music videos offer the opportunity to employ a non-linear form of storytelling that isn’t confined to a three-act structure, nor follows the cinematic convention of syncing sound seamlessly to an image in order to keep audiences hypnotized by what’s on screen.

There can be ruptures, breaks, visual contradictions, and juxtapositions, all of which creates an array of possibilities for interpretation and ultimately make for super engaging content. Here’s a list of the hottest directors right now whose music videos marry together stunning visuals with world-transcending sounds.

Ricky Saiz

 

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Happy Holidays ❤️

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Saiz’s collaboration with The Carters to direct the music video for their track “Apeshit,” may come as a surprise given Saiz is somewhat of a mystery and yet, ended up teaming with the ultimate celebrity power couple. The end result, however, is a powerful piece that affirms blackness’ place in a historically white space. But I guess we wouldn’t expect anything less than Black excellence from The Carters.

When viewers are introduced to The Carters in the video, their gaze directly meets ours as they stand tall in front of the most famous, valued, and prized artwork in the world;  Leonardo DaVinci’s, Mona Lisa.

It’s clear that Saiz is incredibly intentional and precise in his framing. The positioning of both Jay-Z and Beyonce in front of the infamous artwork is emblematic of the way that their black bodies throughout the video physically intervene in a space dedicated to preserving and heralding Western art and culture.

With the whole of the Louvre at their disposal, the actual museums’ space and the art that resides in it, are continually employed throughout the video. There are static shots of paintings, slowly spinning and tilted shots of the museums’ ornate architecture, as well as shots in which the camera almost floats through the vast space, rendering a kind of infinite or timeless quality.

music videos to the next level
The Carters

Wide shots of Beyonce standing in front of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, in addition to static close-ups of women’s faces in the paintings are all intercut with shots of Beyonce and her backup dancers, all of whom are women of color.

The interplay between these shots draws attention to how ideas of beauty and femininity are solidified in European art and have been subsequently perpetuated throughout history to cement white womanhood as the beauty ideal.

Plus, an amazing juxtaposing shot of Beyonce and her dancers in front of the painting depicting the crowning of Napoleon’s wife Josephine throws into question who is the real Queen in this shot. Put simply, the composition depicts a black woman superseding a European monarch.

The Carters

We also see enormous paintings of military victories – images that have been romanticized by the art world to be viewed as symbols of high art, instead of being interpreting as violent images of white male domination, conquest, and expansion.

With France being the birthplace of Enlightenment thinking, the philosophy that validated the project of global imperialism, The Carters’ embodied critique puts into question the nation’s motto of liberty, equality, and fraternity (a motto also absorbed by the West today) that these paintings ultimately signify.

In this way, the Carters’ physical presence in this site is a scathing critique of Western art and cultures’ historical tradition of representing blackness and ‘the East,’ as ‘primitive’ or ‘backward’, and the music video explicitly points to this historical space as responsible for the continuation of such racist mythology. These are just a few of the reasons people should really still be going apeshit over this music video!


Nadia Lee Cohen

 

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matching for @interviewmag wearing @versace styled by @melzy917 photo by @charliedenis

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With Nadia Lee Cohen’s videos lending the feeling of viewers being transported into a bizarre surrealist dream, the artist certainly knows how to make a statement.

Her vibrant visuals are steeped in color and produce a level of eccentricity that just exudes out of the screen. Using her artistic license to the upmost degree, Cohen actually seems to take pleasure in making viewers uncomfortable and achieves this primarily through the overtly sexual tone that runs throughout her videos and photography.

Indeed, the absurdity that characterizes the British artists’ work produces a visceral effect for beholders and suggests that Cohen likes pushing boundaries and is interested in how audiences engage with her art.

The music video Gilligan for D.R.A.M. ft A$AP Rocky and Juicy J unveils Cohen’s interest in suburban settings and the decades of the 60s and 70s as a source of stylistic inspiration. Interestingly, the white women in the video resemble caricatures. This representational approach is subversive given that black women’s identities have historically been represented in such a derogatory two-dimensional way.

Her thematic attention to ideas of beauty, femininity, race, consumerism is amplified and exaggerated in her jarring colorful aesthetic. Cohen’s engagement with such themes inevitably brings into question ideas about the representation of women in the media, the implications of such representations, and the male gaze. It is in these ways that there is definitely a critical quality to Cohen’s work.


Karena Evans

 

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like a lady from time to time (thx to @jessnmori) – from last weekend at @tiff_net

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Moving through the ranks as an intern for big-name music video director, Director X at his production company Popp Rok, Karena Evans has recently made waves in the industry by landing the opportunity to direct Drake’s music videos for the tracks “God’s Plan” and “Nice For What.”

Captivated by the electric energy and face-paced environment of the world of music video production, the 22-year-old ended up dropping out of film school to take a chance and pursue her career at Popp Rok.

Turns out, her hard work and dedication for the production company paid off as Evans was gifted with the dream to work with Drake and apply her directorial skills to making the videos for two of the artists’ songs on his latest album, Scorpion.

In “God’s Plan,” viewers are set up with the preface of Drake having a million dollar budget to shoot the music video. Evans, however, ends up following the rap star around the city of Miami and we watch as Drake redistributes the money for the video shoot instead to those in need.

The video shows Drake dishing out bundles of cash to city-dwellers, paying for everyone’s’ goods in a grocery store and offering a fifty thousand dollar college scholarship to a young African-American woman.

All of the footage is juxtaposed with shots of Drake rapping in a clothing floor of a high-end mall and in doing so, exposes the economic disparity between life on the street and the high life and riches that Miami is also known for.


Hiro Murai

 

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#emmys

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For a music video that is deeply embedded in exploring what it means to be black in America, it may come as a surprise that the mind behind the provocative visuals for Childish Gambino’s music video “This is America,” is a Japanese-American director, Hiro Murai.  Yet, Murai made an explosive statement on race in America through the music video.

There are so many things that keep audiences’ eyes glued to what is happening on screen. Viewers are taken on a journey, following the movements of Glover and each interaction he makes with the extras in the video. with the extras. But it is a highly choreographed piece. There are no cuts in the editing.

Instead, the camera floats through the abandoned warehouse. And it is no accident that Murai chose this as the site to shoot the video, as it visually references the fall of industry in the U.S. under our current iteration of global capitalism and essentially an abandoned warehouse that could easily be found in any city across the nation.

While the visuals and lyrics are disturbing, the song is alarmingly so consumable. And that is what Gambino is getting at through this video. He is presenting the way in which black suffering is normalized and highlights the exploitation of black cultural production at the expense of white leisure and entertainment.

His minstrel-like smiles, body movement, and topless dancing take primary focus despite the chaos and violence that explodes behind him. And that is one of the devastating messages Gambino is conveying through this video.


Colin Tilley

 

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working on my craft 2day and 4ever #boyinthecastle I want the action!

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Hailing from Berkley, California, Colin Tilley is directing some of the most influential and biggest artists of the industry right now.

Tilley has been able to collaborate with some pretty damn famous names; from RiRi, Kendrick Lamar, Selena Gomez, DJ Khaled & Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, DJ Snake, and Nicki Minaj to name a few. To add, his most recent work includes directing a video for the collaboration between the two major labels, Balmain and L’Oréal.

His music video for Kendrick Lamar’s track “Alright,” I would argue is some of the best cinematic work you will see. Shot in black and white, the visuals are highly saturated and contrasted. The video depicts black bodies becoming sonically animated and suspend in the air as the beats, kicks, low ends and lyrics dominate the soundscape.

We continually see Kendrick floating and moving through urban space, as life plows on below him, the music in the video takes on an emancipatory quality as we observe Kendrick’s body escaping the violence, and specifically, the brutal policing and surveilling of black bodies under him — a reality that characterizes this bleak urban space. Tilley masterfully captures artists in their element.

How Ava DuVernay is helping these 5 women directors get their shine

In the short time Ava DuVernay has been directing, she has been a major success. Importantly, her success has also made serious ground for women and particularly women of color to take their spot at the directors’ chair.

This matters because this position has historically been designated to white heterosexual men and these same men have and continue to be, in control of what viewers see on screen.

In the time preceding her career as a director, DuVernay has dabbled into the world of writing and producing, and her additional experience in both documentary and independent filmmaking, all demonstrate that she is well versed on how the film industry really operates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI52EOIbtFU

Despite her recent successes (Selma, 13th, and A Wrinkle in Time), DuVernay hasn’t forgotten the struggle of trying to make it in a predominately white male-dominated industry as a person of color and especially as a woman of color. She has remained grounded.

From first-hand experience, DuVernay is conscious of the institutional obstacles that women and particularly women of color encounter in their attempt to move through the professional ranks, simply get opportunities for work, or have their films perceived as viable for financial backing from studios, networks, and financiers.

As a response, DuVernay has taken matters into her own hands. She has developed a female-led directors’ initiative — a kind of informal enacting of affirmative action for women to direct episodes of her series Queen Sugar

Finishing up its third season, with a fourth to come, Queen Sugar is offering the opportunity for women to develop their directorial skills and for some to have their directorial debut for TV.

Fundamentally, its an opportunity to make money and earn a living, since its extremely difficult for women to get the green light from studios to direct film projects.

In a climate in which women directors often only getting the occasional stint to work on projects what DuVernay is doing is huge and is an admirable model for those who are better established in their career to follow.

With DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey serving as executive producers for Queen Sugar, these up-and-coming female directors have the reassurance that powerful women have their back and are supporting them. Here is a list of directors who have had the opportunity to sit in the directors’ chair and a little bit about their careers thus far:

DeMane Davis

DeMane Davis directed two episodes of season two of Queen Sugar.

She has directed commercials, music videos and made two feature films Black & White and Red All Over and Lift. Both of her feature films premiered and gained critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival.


So Yong Kim

Directed one episode of season one, So Yong Kim‘s most recent feature film Lovesong is actually one of my favorite films to be released in the last five years and is still available on Netflix.

Lovesong is perhaps the most nuanced depiction of queer love between two women that I have seen in cinema. Plus, doesn’t reproduce heteronormative stereotypes or gender roles, now how about that?! She’s also responsible for the critically-acclaimed films Lovesong and Treeless Mountain.


Tina Mabry

Most known for her feature film Mississippi Damned, Tina Mabry directed an episode for Queen Sugar but has also had a series of stints on a variety of television series.

Her other works include episodes of Dear White People, Insecure, and Power.


Kat Candler

Kat Candler directed several episodes of Queen Sugar but is best known for her feature Hellion.

Before directing television, Candler had made several short films and is well known within the international film festival circuit.


Victoria Mahoney

Starting her career as an actress, Victoria Mahoney has now moved behind the camera.

Her feature film Yelling to the Sky is available on Netflix and she has directed episodes for several television shows.

She has also recently been asked to be a second unit director for the Star Wars: Episode IX film, making her the first African-American woman to serve in any directing role.

5 IG accounts dedicated to inspiring women during these difficult times

In the wake of the Women’s Marches over the past two years, as well as the stories that have come out of the #MeToo movement, we have seen a wave of support and solidarity amongst women.

The marches that have occurred across the nation emphatically demonstrated that women are uniting together and are motivated to take to the streets to protect their rights against an administration that is committed to the policing of women’s bodies.

Plus, the recent revelations from the Brett Kavanagh case have been particularly traumatic for women and for those who have experienced sexual assault to witness unfold.

In dealing with such a high level of complacency, as well as the propagation of the ‘boys will be boys’ sentiment, it is clear that women need to be there for one another and must continue to resist the patriarchal forces of oppression.

 

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Kava-NOPE, Kava-NAH, Kava-NEVER! ( via @feministabulous )

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Indeed, the current political climate has increasingly seen women choosing not to be silent anymore. Instead, they have chosen to vocalize their stories and experiences and consequently there is a greater sense of collective political consciousness.

At the same time, we must also recognize and continue to reinforce that each one of us comes with our own very specific set of experiences that shape who we are and how our identity is perceived by others. That is to say, our identities are intersectional and are composed of the other contingencies of race, class, ability, and sexuality.

These five Instagram accounts I have listed quote women who came before us, who are amongst us now, and whom will ultimately pave the way for others to come.

The IG accounts offer the much-needed daily words of encouragement women need to continue to move through the world, empower, do boss-ass shit, practice self-love, and to march the streets until change comes.

@femalecollective

 

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Standing with survivors today and every damn day! #believewomen #believesurvivors

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The female collective is an IG account run-by Candance Reels. The account shares hilarious memes super relatable content.

Sharing her personal journey of self-acceptance and love on her website, Reels’ words of advice have helped developed the female collective into a strong online community.

Reels promotes her intersectional approach to feminism through both her blog and her self-designed apparel that is perfect for someone who wants to wants their clothes to send out a critique! I mean, Reels offers a black t-shirt with the words, “Feminism without intersectionality, is just white supremacy.”


@girlsbuildingempires

The IG account shares inspirational images of women that are accompanied by motivational quotes for women to keep on grinding.

CEO of @girlsbuildingempires, Ginté Rin, has a website that offers a masterclass for aspiring female entrepreneurs.

The masterclass offers 12 weeks of business training as well as services such as social media training, graphic design training and the opportunity to network with successful female entrepreneurs.


@words_of_women

 

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@janellemonae

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Words of Women is an IG account that is linked to the website and is dedicated to inspiring women through the (re)sharing of images, quotes, and articles by women and for women that are “entertaining, enlightening and supportive.”

The website emphasizes the intentionality of using social media as a tool for learning and education due to the contents’ sharability.


@thefemalehustlers

 

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💁🏾‍♀️💁🏼‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💁🏽‍♀️

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The female hustlers IG account offers images and quotes that are committed to empowering women by encouraging women to embrace the ‘jaded’ label of “ambitious” to reach their full potential and be successful.

The company’s website includes a multitude of authors that contribute to a blog and there is also dope merchandise ranging from t-shirts, posters, mugs, and caps that are available for purchase.


@girlboss

Girlboss IG offers a range of images that inspire female political activism, quote female poets for words of comfort and share short videos of motivational quotes for women whom are business centered and are aspiring entrepreneurs.

Their website offers a range of content from articles on wellness, beauty, lifestyle, identity, and business. Follow them for your daily dose of realness!