Why Watch Documentaries About Women's Rights?
Watch a documentary on Women's Rights? Are you perhaps thinking, no way, Fay! Do, do it for a reality check as you may be living in a country that has a wee bit better right's for women than other countries. Amnesty International summarises Women's Rights, as:
"... include the right to live free from violence and discrimination; to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; to be educated; to own property; to vote; and to earn an equal wage."
I would also include: The right to love and marry who you wish AND make decisions about your own body.
Thank you for the brave women in these documentaries who have courageously told their stories and revealed ongoing women's rights inequality, worldwide. And, thank you to the women of today who are again stepping up to the drum beat of Women's Rights.
International Women's Day is held annually on March 8, which is a global day "celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women". See internationalwomensday.com. Call me, a dour (sour) bonnie lassie - watching these women's rights documentaries herein from across the world, there is an appalling lack of women's equality in some countries and this is supposed to be the enlightened 2020s.
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Yet despite their wretched circumstances there are utterly brave women fighting for their rights e.g. seriously, can you imagine in the 2020s being a girl and not being allowed to go to school / Uni?
Women's Rights Awareness: Fairplay for some women "Women's Rights" may be back/ slow burner concern - we are all different. Personally, growing up, on reflection, some unexpected dodgy experiences plus hearing about the plight of women across the world (via friends and watching women's rights documentaries) have made me support Women's Rights.
- 70s Feminism = Oops, I'm utterly ashamed & forgive me, I shirked from the feminism movement - ironically because I thought they were organised by a bunch of LEZZAS which, at the time I was scared to be associated with because of homophobia. Luckily (?), for me:
- Women's Education: As a school kid, I just had a bizarre instinct / it was my right to go to Uni. My parents were so fabulously facilitating (financially and emotionally) and proud as I was the first of my family line (Germany & Scotland) to go to Uni. My parents are in heaven now. I so wished I could huggingly thank them again and again (they supported in my PhD too!).
- Women's Pay Equality In Work: Innocently, I never had any misgivings. Naively, I thought I would be treated equally. As to pay difference between my boy colleagues and myself - no idea as we were too BRITISH polite to discuss. Promotions: hmm, perhaps?
Some unexpected dodgy experiences, however, did happen because ... I was a girl:
- Violations Against Women:
My Near-miss Experiences:
- - London Uni: a car followed me as I was walking back to my Halls of Residence. I managed to get to Cartwright Gardens Boys neighbouring Halls of Residence and get a gallant escort to my Halls of Residence, next door. From then on, I tried to be a aware and have a back / side eye.
- - 2019: after shopping in Brixton & walking home in the afternoon, I guy spoke to me by KFC, I replied politely but when his conversation became disturbing, I backtracked towards the Ritzy cinema, Brixton (bizarrely the sister cinema of The Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh where I had been a part-time manager during my PhD). I pleaded with a male passer-by by Brixton library to say, that this guy was following me but he was utterly SHITE and COWARDLY walked away! As I was approaching the doors of The Ritzy (in the hope of their security help), the rascal guy grabbed my shopping bag and said "scream"! Bizarrely, I have never screamed in my life - I didn't think I could scream but also in my bag was a bottle of M&S Pinot! From somewhere (I think of being half Scottish & Daddy being in the army) I got the amazing strength (+ attributed to my M&S Pinot Grigio, in the shopping bag) to push into the Ritzy door whilst yukey guy was grabbing back my shopping bag! The Ritzy were ace... after circa an hour of my weirdo stalking outside, an uber sweet Ritzy gent walked me, back streets home. True. At the time, Ritzy asked if I wished to call the Police but IDIOT me I gave the awful guy a chance. In hindsight, I totally regret not reporting this to the Police.
#metoo
- - Incredibly Dodged! After my post-doc funding ran out in Hamburg, my "jobbing" boss requested me to meet his English businessman, in a schickimicki pent house suite in Hotel in Hamburg by the lovely Außenalster, to take meeting notes. Cool but, it was at circa 18.00. Boss and Englishman enjoyed welcome champagne to which I was also invited to. My pen and notepad was clearly on view. Polite conversations - the English businessman was sweet. Knock, knock on the door and then entered, a Reeperbahn ... hooker (they wore a "uniform" = skin-tight bright leggings, short puffer jacket and bum bag which I was well aware of as the Reeperbahn was my go-to clubbing destination!). The girl was really sweet and I talked to her about her daughter. As I was starting to think I don't think I'm here for meeting note taking... my boss asked me if I found the girl attractive ... HOLY MOLY! Then asked if i had ever been in threesome ... To be honest, I can't recall how utterly scared I became as I shut it out... All I can recall is that, I got the Englishman to the side and told him I was not into this and scared. Thank GOD he was a good man. He said he would distract my boss so I could secretly escape. Forevermore, I'm indebted to the English businessman. Prevoisuly I thought my Boss seemed a "Nice" man, loved his family and "nice" boss. The next day he didn't sack me nor mention my "disappearance", nor every put me in that position again. In hindsight, I was incredibly lucky that my "Boss" was not evil but I do question myself that I did not confront him about that night and ... that I stayed working with him (I can't remember for how long afterwards) but he paid me ridiculously well for essentially manning his telephone (which seldom rang!) and getting him a bottle of brandy from the local supermarket, every lunchtime!
The Right To Abortion
Hmmm - being queer there's no chance of a mistake! Regardless, I wish the right to contraception and abortion for all women. Moreover, I will always be haunted that where my lovely grandparents lived in Hamburg, one of my adored neighbours Tante "X" had been raped by a Russian soldier but she bravely choose to keep the child - but understandably other women would have wished an abortion. Though the Nazis were totally EVIL, it didn't justify that German women (of all ageous) were raped by Russian soldiers. Rape is not acceptable in any war nor, in any circumstances.
Women's Health Gap
Not only have Women traditionally been neglected in medical research, they are often neglected regarding women's health issues, for example:
- - Early Detection Pelvic Ultrasounds - unless you are feeling pain or having a baby a female does not get a pelvic ultrasound check-up. I hadn't had one of X years... then during COVID for a tummy issue I went private (due to mega long NHS waiting times for an abdomen ultrasound) and took the opportunity on a discount abdomen and pelvic ultrasounds offer. Holy moly ... they discovered a fibroid the size of a honey dew MELON 13 by 10 by 10cm! Had this been detected earlier when I complained to my GPs I had a bloated tummy even though I was so slender and carefully ate (my Spanish girl friends said they were offered annual ultrasounds) the fibroid would not have grown to that HUGE size and I would not have had to have my ovaries removed because of it's size. I fought not to have a hysterectomy and during the consultations I did not receive a well being / informative discussion of the choices I may have ... incredulously all the female Dr's said in a second on reading notes... rip it all out ie (hysterectomy). Not once was it ever mentioned that my estrogen levels would become nil.
- - Funny Days - seriously do you like the term: having a "period". Mummy called "periods" = "Funny "Days" which I found .. funny and, adopted. Regardless, what you call them, holy moly they can be PAINFUL! Mine were truly not peachy, BUT, pukey-pukey, green faced, almost fainting and ... I will refrain from going euch further!. When I was young, occasionally a GP came to the house to give me a jab and didn't attribute it to funny days! One time, a work colleague was so scared when she discovered me green-faced rolling on the floor with HUGE pain, she ... called an ambulance! I never forget the bitch ambulance girl talking to the nurse when I entered A&E, saying "It's just her period" which then took my priority status to ... -101! Next day, at work, it was sooooooooooooo embarrassing to fib to my colleagues was had been wrong with me! Lukily a GP recomended me to take a codeine with paracetamol tablet three days before which helped. Women gynae issues need to be well-funded in research and their pain respected by GPs and hospital staff.
- - Women's Health Issues - the above has affected me personally, however, through news and documentaries regarding women's health we should all be fighting for better health care for women, for example ... in the UK, Black women are 3.7 times more likely to die during or in the first year after pregnancy than White women, Source: lordslibrary.parliament.uk.
For Mothers
We all have mothers. I so hope your mother is stellar. My Mother? I would give ANYTHING, to see my so missed stellar Mummy again, who is up in heaven and, speak to her about her experiences and just hug, hug, hug her forever. I SHOOT MYSELF - I always felt like a kid and she was my hero Mummy who would be there forever. I tried to everything for her but there are lost questions as "friend" I hauntingly didn't support her on:
- - Career Dreams - My Mummy's career dreams died when she lovingly raised her children and did not return to work which was the norm at the time and still the norm now, in some countries. Mummy had been in training as pharmacist which she really wanted to be but, had to change career due to an awful regime who hated her boyfriend (for religious reasons). So she qualified as a photographer to come under the radar and became a re-toucher and receptionist (she was stunning) at the second largest film company in Germany. On marrying, she was the loveliest Mummy EVER and a good "hausfrau" - with which I think she lost her courageous umph and confidence (this was also due to her being able to express herself in a different language - having lived in Milano, I later understood her).
- - The Menopause - FFS, my poor Mummy kept her menopause so secret (indeed, did her GPs diagnosis what she was going through?) as this was a such taboo subject. I didn't know what the menopause was until her death! Outrageously late, finally and rightfully menopause is being spotlight discussed. In hindsight, I know awfully realise my so missed Mummy suffered the menopause as for a while I saw her lying on the sofa, when I came back from school but had no idea what was going on (for sure nor did Daddy nor shitey GP). Poor cow (her sweet saying & always mine) - had I known and been informed about it (FFS circa 50% of the population is women and they are all gonna get it) ... :(
- - Getting Older - groovers, get real, one thing for certain in life is: we will all grow old and ... My adorable Mummy never mentioned the yukey aches and pains of growing older. During lockdown I developed so many muscle pains. Mummy had three awful hip operations - one of which was to correct a not an ace first op. Recently, I've had two ops & waiting on a third op - any op is hugely scary as it recovery.
- - Prick Up Your Ears - discuss your mother's feelings. Looking back, I'm horrified to realise I was untentionally selfish, only becasue I thought of myself as young at heart and that my parents would be there for ever. I regrettably and hauntingly I didn't get to know them as I know my best friends - don't do as I did. And also remember, one day you might be a fab mother.
"Standing On The Rooftops Shouting Out ... Ready To Go!"
Everyone women's experience is different and every women should have a voice. Above, mine is a personal experience which feels like a millimetre cut compared to the deep cuts of some women's experience. This compilation of touching documentaries on Women's Rights raises some heart-felt women's issues across the world. As women, we can resonate and feel solidarity with all these stories. I so support these inertantional women's voices herein, I hope you are touched too.
Cut: Exposing FGM Worldwide (2017)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is utterly unimaginably in this day and age, BUT is still ongoing horrific deliberate "procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons". FGM is most often carried out on young girls aged between infancy and 15 years old. FGM is also known as: female circumcision, Sunna, Gudniin, Halalays, Tahur, Megrez and Khitan ... Why is female genital mutilation practiced? According to the UK NHS, there's no medical reason for Female Genital mutilation to be undertaken.
According to UNICEF, over 230 million girls and women have suffered FGM; Africa accounts for the largest share of the horrific FGM total, with over 144 million; Asia with over 80 million, Middle East with a further 6 million ... Source: UNICEF
Documentary Dir:John Chua
FGM: For the Love of Fatmata (2023)
Female Genital Mutilation: FGM: For the Love of Fatmata illustrates how in West Africa, Sierra Leone's secret society cuts out female genitals as part of centuries old rite of passage ceremonies.
19 year old, Fatmata Turay was asked by her mother, to come home to their village. On her return, Fatmata was initiated into the Bondo society - a centuries-old tradition involving music and dancing where young women are prepared for "adulthood". Thirty-six hours later, Fatmata was dead. Many women in Sierra Leone have had their genitalia cut! There is no data as to how many (MANY) young women have undergone this "rite" and ... died as a result.
Documentary Dir: ?
Kayleigh's Love Story (2017)
Online Grooming: 15-year-old Kayleigh Haywood Leicestershire schoolgirl was groomed online by Luke Harlow, then raped and murdered by his next door neighbour Stephen Beadman. Also listen to BBC's "File on 4 - Online Grooming"
Documentary Dir: Leicestershire Police
