Is it just me, or did March come in hot? I'm not mad at it either. After Black History Month has wrapped up, I'm pleased to continue celebrating another part of my identity and all of the exceptional contributions to our world made by women. Highly regarded by myself, I will be sharing with you guys some media I've been engaging with recently, either created by women or featuring insight into the lives of women and everything that comes with it. Here's to possibly rediscovering an old favorite or having new music, films, and TV to explore. These picks have brought me immense solace, healing, and a sense of belonging and unity through shared experiences. On this lovely International Women's Day Eve, I wish inspiration and some good ol' knowledge for everyone indulging in this curation. Happy Women's History Month!
Listen to Janelle Monáe's Dirty Computer (2018)
A veracious tour de force and imaginative Black queer feminist project, Janelle Monáe's Dirty Computer remains a fresh and beautiful expression of radical self-acceptance. Defying totalitarianism by embracing oneself doesn't sound so scary, as Monáe creates a safe space for resisting harmful assimilation and standing ten toes down in being true to your identity. Skillfully blending pop, funk, and neo-soul elements, Dirty Computer has a distinct sound you can only find again by restarting the album. Besides race, gender, and selfhood, Monáe amplifies pleasures and desires typically seen as taboo. Instead of being treated with shame as our society encourages, we're shown sheer confidence and receive firm affirmation for what's natural and destined for enjoyment. As I continue growing into my womanhood, Dirty Computer provides a powerful reminder: Self-love is imperative and an unskippable stop on the road to liberation.
Toni’s favorite track from Dirty Computer is “Take a Byte.”
Listen to Cleo Sol’s Gold (2023)
While it's relatively new, Cleo Sol's Gold proves it has grounds to be a contemporary R&B classic. Sol's record pulls you in from the jump with a soft cadence and reassuring message, creating a tranquil energy that grows stronger with vigor and intention as the album continues. Gold is the perfect album to listen to at the start of your day because of its optimism-driven form, and it's refreshing to hear honest and unwavering positivity. Sol's words exude care, and as she speaks to all versions of herself, the one that's hurting, the one that's finding a beacon of hope amid the pain, and the one that's realizing her worth in this world, it's important for women to hear about the success in her journey. Seeing yourself in each phase and knowing there will always be more good to come is essential to survival. Although I don't subscribe to the religious themes tinged in this project, there's so much wisdom to gain and apply to the workings of becoming the woman I want to be.
Toni’s favorite track from Gold is “Only Love Can Wait.”
Listen to Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020)
TW: Sexual Assault and Rape.
Fiona Apple's rawest album yet, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, is about the power of feeling, one of the most impactful actions we can do as humans, and the messiness and unforeseen beauty of breaking free from whatever is eating at your being by any means. A deeply personal body of work, Apple fearlessly calls out tormentors of her past: her rapist, bullies, and her lack of faith in herself. Fetch the Bolt Cutters emphasizes that speaking up, making noise, vocalizing your truth and all of the ugly bits, and getting it out of your body is significant advocacy for yourself. Apple's lyricism is sharp, and even with the array of human and real-life sounds included in the album, it's sonically cohesive and a fascinating listening experience. A part of Fetch the Bolt Cutters that has resonated with me greatly is that there is no longer room to center men in my life; this is a danger to your perception of yourself and other women, and community development is an underrated form of intimacy that can be life-changing if done with genuine commitment.
Toni’s favorite track from Fetch the Bolt Cutters is “Ladies.”
Watch Born in Flames (1983)
dir. Lizzie Borden
TW: Sexual Assault, Police Brutality, Race-based Violence, & Murder.
It's not hard to imagine a dystopian America in our current times; it'd be a true reflection of our reality. In Lizzie Borden's Born in Flames, it's time for an uprising in New York City. Set in the United States a decade after the "social-democratic war of liberation," this trailblazing indie surrounds diverse groups of women organizing a revolt against the government as it continues to oppress them under the guise of being at its best. As a sci-fi docufiction, I was surprised by how close it felt to real life and impressed by the various feminist viewpoints that are shared and openly criticized, especially the complications with white feminism. I'm a fan of how the narrative structure is presented in Born in Flames as it features news reports, meetings, protests, the words of radio personalities, and songs about the struggle in abrupt cuts that somehow flow in their own unique way. The underground "Women's Army" being led by a Black lesbian was another highlight for me. There's a meaningful dedication to the themes in this film, with characters consistently fighting for the rights of women by dismantling economic exploitation, heterosexism, and gender-based violence. It's invigorating to watch a piece of media that fuels a call to action, makes you feel empowered, and cements the idea that our liberty can be achieved no matter how discouraging our efforts may seem. The fight will always be worthwhile.
Watch 20th Century Women (2016)
dir. Mike Mills
Initiating introspection with a dramedy where generations merge, Mike Mill's 20th Century Women examines an unconventional family making the most of their emotional toolkits to make it by. During a cultural shift in 1979, a middle-aged single mother joins forces with two young women to raise her teenage son and better understand him. The troubles and passions of the women correlate and indubitably clash, beings that a 17-year-old, a 24-year-old, and a 55-year-old are in different phases of their lives and navigate the world around them the only way they know how. 20th Century Women is a love letter to the women who helped raise Mills, an honest look into older motherhood in my eyes, and the characters might just remind you of women you've encountered in your lifetime. Their arcs are fleshed out enough to feel authentic, and their perspectives reflect their age groups and willingness to adapt to new ways of thinking. 20th Century Women is a learning experience for the subjects in the film and viewers alike, and it's not only educational to gauge the feelings and morals of enigmatic multigenerational women, but it evokes a strong desire for connectivity even if we don't see eye to eye, which is necessary for growth.
Watch All The Beauty And The Bloodshed (2022)
dir. Laura Poitras
TW: Suicide, Domestic Violence, Drug Overdose, & HIV/AIDS-related Death.
I kid you not; I was left speechless and in awe after viewing Laura Poitras's poignant and indispensable work. All The Beauty And The Bloodshed is a deeply moving and unforgettable documentary about the life of artist and activist Nan Goldin and her fight to hold a pharmaceutical dynasty accountable for the opioid crisis. To construct an intimate telling of Goldin's story, Poitras presents the catalyst of her lifelong quest for answers, and we see how she finds them through different eras in her personal life, her astounding career as a photographer, and activism in prescription addiction intervention. Goldin's work is unabashed in showing sensuality, alienation, the drug scene, feminist issues, and the grime of viability in America for marginalized communities.
During Goldin's launch into the art world, her work was frowned upon due to her including herself and her inner circles; men found this specificity worthless since it differed from the standard photography style at the time. Like any artist who has integrity and believes in themselves, she moved forward with showcasing her art; they are now known as seminal collections that brought out the glory of feminity and one's quotidian state of being. Nontraditional displays of women are vital as so many different identities are attached to womanhood, and all of those identities deserve to be recognized and celebrated. While enduring so much tragedy in her lifetime, Goldin has experienced many remarkable triumphs and continues to do so through purposeful creative and humanitarian endeavors that are documented and exert a profound influence on the masses.
Watch Real Women Have Curves (2002)
dir. Patricia Cardoso
In a bittersweet coming-of-age tale with noteworthy politics, an immigrant daughter faces obstacles after finishing high school: coexisting with an overbearing mother who refuses to empathize with her and deciding to stay home and help her family or go to college in another state. This film has many things to admire, especially America Ferrera's compelling performance as Ana, a free-spirited young woman who uses her voice to defend herself and the older women around her even when they're unreceptive. Real Women Have Curves is a universal story that tackles the guilt that children of immigrants experience, body positivity in a fatphobic society, and deconstructing traditional gender roles and expectations. At an age where girls look to their families for answers to life's biggest questions, Ana has the confidence to turn to herself and trust her beliefs and choices since their support blows hot and cold. As Ana recognizes the hard work that her family puts in, she assists in an act of selflessness. Still, by the end of the film, she manages to set boundaries and prioritizes herself, a stance all women should take to ensure their needs are met. Real Women Have Curves is a beautiful motivator and gentle nudge to those feeling tied down by toxic family members; remember that you only have one life to live, and it should be all about you. Selfishness isn't always derogatory.
Watch Fleabag (2016-2019)
created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
An instant all-timer for me, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag is a TV show about a self-destructive woman's mediation between good and bad chaos in her life as she grieves. Family, friendships, hookups, and romance are all tricky for Fleabag to maintain without dysfunction, as the central focus is her relationship with herself and her nihilistic nature. Women like Fleabag aren't covered in the media landscape often, women who "do things for the plot" mercilessly and then take hits to their well-being as they attempt to work through the damage. Waller-Bridge's writing is clever, and while Fleabag stands as a dark comedy, she manages to execute a breakthrough for the character where she's desolate and discovers the importance of hopefulness. With a complex character that does wrong (frequently) and removes herself from the generalized struggles that women face, those conflicts still show up and don't need her permission to exist. I'm sure many women see themselves in Fleabag as she isn't the only woman to have a moment of cynicism. Stories about women who messily cope with their lack of structure are valuable because they can spark self-awareness.
Watch I May Destroy You (2020)
created by Michaela Coel
TW: Sexual Assault and Rape.
Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You is the first television show I've seen to unflinchingly demonstrate how sexual assault can turn every aspect of a victim's life upside down. Arabella, the main character, receives lax reactions from the people close to her and in her workplace about her assault, propelling a breakdown of her sense of self and complications in understanding the severity of what happened to her. Processing sexual violence that she has experienced through this project, Coel's approach is unparalleled, and she takes the time to dissect the nuances of consent and what happens when people have limited education on this. While it's challenging to watch Arabella go through persistent trauma, it presents a unique perspective on several subject matters, including toxic positivity, recovery, the exploitation of Black suffering, and complexities in the societal treatment of Black women. Arabella's healing journey is non-linear and moves backward at times, with her retracing steps to piece together the night of her rape and find details that will put her at ease. It's a tall order to make peace with a violation of the body, and success in doing that will look different for all victims. I May Destroy You delivers a tough but comforting message that the resolution is the victim figuring out who they are afterward; there is no returning to the person they were before, and it's heartbreaking, but it's freeing to take control of what's next.
Watch Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)
created by Jenji Kohan
TW: Sexual Assault, Police Brutality, Race-based Violence, & Murder.
A classic that changed television forever and set the bar for streaming success, Netflix's Orange Is the New Black impressively explores the intricate stories of incarcerated women. It's an adaptation of Piper Kerman's memoir of the same name, which details her 13 months in federal prison. Orange Is the New Black has a large ensemble cast of women, all multifaceted characters whose lives intertwine as they make alliances and enemies out of each other. Although it's through a dramatization, I appreciate how the show sheds light on the unjust and extorting practices within women's prisons and opens discussions and an interest in research for those unaware of how oppressed women in these situations are. The background stories of the characters go to show how easily any of us could end up in prison; the risk is even higher for BIPOC, often categorized as the perpetrators instead of victims who need a way out. These women are always on the defense to maintain a strong image, yet they all find themselves in vulnerable states, and it's disheartening to see how they must navigate this way for survival, although they need support above all. Orange Is the New Black opened my mind to a range of life stories that could apply to women in our world, and we all carry our baggage unbeknownst to everyone around us. There is hope in forgiveness and a fresh start and may self-observation and community serve as aids throughout the process.
This is my tribute to women for this month, and I hope these selections provide comfort and guidance. All stages of womanhood come with different experiences that can be overwhelming and scary. Conversely, there will be experiences that enhance your life and fill you with pride in your identity. I also hope people of other genders get something out of this, and the beauty of all these projects is that they are here for anyone open and ready to receive them. Show some love to the creators of these gems, the characters in the media, and everyday women doing their thing! Happy Women's History Month.