‘FEMME’ reveals solutions to crises around the world
Outside the Star Wars Celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center, experienced feature film producer and director Emmanuel Itier welcomed via Skype, those who gathered at Saddleback College April, 16 to view his 2013 documentary “Femme.”
Held in BGS 254, the event was sponsored by The American Association of University Women (AAUW), the nation’s leading voice promoting equality and education for all females.
The documentary featured interviews with 100 influential women from around the world, including Sharon Stone and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Laureates Shirin Ebadi.
“The overall idea that he incorporated so many people from so many parts of the world is something that I really liked,” said Sydney Freeman Sacker, a Saddleback student and member of Associated Student Government (ASG). “It was really beautiful to see that he brought in women that don’t speak english and provided translation.”
The documentary brought to light, the voyage of femininity in both history and current time. It also brought forth an issue of today’s world, which is ultimately ran through patriarchy and capitalism. These topics were highlighted as the reasons for why the world is in turmoil.
“We live in a patriarchy, a time when the masculine energy rules,” said one of the documentary’s interviewees. “Patriarchy says women can not rule while capitalism tries to make money, put together they are a toxic hybrid power.”
The solution portrayed was that men and women need to use both the masculine and feminine sides of their natures, and work together to shift the world towards balance.
“We men have made a proper mess of things,” said a woman in the documentary to quote Desmond Tutu, a South African social rights activist. “Men can not heal the patriarchy but women and men together could.”
At the end of the documentary, Itier made contact again via Skype for a quick Q&A session. A Saddleback sociology professor, April Cubbage, asked where inspiration for the film came from.
“You! All you ladies, I owe you my life,” Itier said in response.
AAUW treated attendees with an oatmeal raisin cookie before their departure. The oatmeal raisin cookies were missing a quarter chunk. The reason behind this was to inform people about the gender pay gap, the difference in men’s and women’s middle value earnings.
Pay equity is a priority for AAUW, and it will continue to be until women everywhere earn a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
For more information on “Femme” visit:
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