You’ll see me write about women a lot. Women’s issues, women’s rights, accomplishments of incredible ladies—these are all topics that have me itching to set pen to paper. If I could, I would write about the lives of women all day, every day. And I would be happy.
If you’re looking for a fashionable holiday gift for any man in your life, you cannot go wrong with anything from Sézane’s men’s collection, Octobre Éditions.
I’ve been called out by a friend before: “Daryl, why do you always write about things women do?”
There are a million easy answers to this question. I could say that I’m just writing for my audience, or that I find the topic interesting, or even just that it’s simply what I like to write about. All of these things are true, but there’s more to it than that.
I believe that when people actively choose to write, read, learn, think about the women of the world, they become part of a movement, however subtle, to normalize the experiences of women and to nudge those issues into the cultural mainstream. It is my hope that if this is done enough, we will one day live in a world where women’s rights are considered simply human ones.
It is my hope that if this is done enough, we will one day live in a world where women’s rights are considered simply human ones.
Writing is just one way to tell a story. Documentary filmmakers have the unique opportunity to use a visual medium to bring the narratives of women across the globe to light.
As technology advances and tools like Netflix and Hulu offer millions of people access to previously unfathomable amounts of visual content, documentaries (such as the ones listed below) are more powerful than ever. They have the potential to affect real change.
Here are five empowering documentaries to inspire you and widen your perspective, all of which are available now on Netflix:
1) Half the Sky
Watch the trailer // Watch on Netflix
Directed by: Maro Chermayeff
Inspired by the bestselling book of the same name, Half the Sky tells the stories of women all over the world who are fighting against systemic oppression, thereby shining a light on the dangers of sex trafficking and gender based violence. The documentary is filmed in ten countries with narrations and contributions from celebrity advocates including Eva Mendes, America Fererra, Meg Ryan, and Olivia Wilde.
2) Dark Girls
Watch the trailer // Watch on Netflix
Directed by: D. Channsin Berry and Bill Duke
This emotional documentary unapologetically explores Western beauty standards and the challenges those standards present to dark-skinned women in their communities and society. It offers a candid look into the meaning of skin color in black America.
3) Miss Representation
Watch the trailer // Watch on Netflix
Directed by: Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Kimberlee Acquaro
Speaking of Western beauty standards, this film fearlessly tackles mainstream media’s treatment of women and girls and the direct correlation with self-esteem, body image, and female happiness.
4) It’s a Girl
Watch the trailer // Watch on Netflix
Directed by: Evan Grae Davis
It’s a Girl explores the growing epidemic of female infanticide, focusing primarily on India and China where more unwanted baby girls are killed each year than are born annually in the U.S. The result is a glaring imbalance in the number of males to females in the population, a disparity that leads to higher rates of sex trafficking, prostitution, and kidnapping of young girls for marriages. It is a painfully difficult subject seldom talked about, making the film’s existence all the more important and necessary.
5) Girl Rising
Watch the trailer // Watch on Netflix
Directed by: Richard Robbins
Girl Rising tells the stories of nine young girls fighting for access to opportunity and education. Disregarding the traditional documentary format, the story of each girl is written by a well-known female writer from her home country and then narrated by one of many actresses (Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway among them) involved in the project. The film’s stunning imagery only further increases the impact of of this inspiring message.
Have you seen any of these documentaries? What are your thoughts? What documentaries on Netflix are your favorites?
Feature Image: Girl Rising