A few months ago, I took the opportunity to take an EDx class, featuring ten objects, the women behind them and their significance to history and our society today, the first of which being Jessie Tarbox Beals. Beals was born in Ontario in 1942, and was a well known published photojournalist (one of the first females) and night photographer during her time. During the start of her career, cameras had just started to become more portable and accessible, kickstarting the beginning of modern photojournalism. However, despite the new atmosphere of the field, Beals fell in love with the art of photography, and took pictures with immense range. While Beals wasn’t the most famous female photographer in the Victorian Era (Julia Cameron), she did have the greatest variety in the portraits she took. From architecture, to ethnic culture, Beals focused on both intimate everyday life moments to grand political occasions. Best known for her work for 1904, St. Louis World Fair, Beals was immensly interested in ethnic cultures. She took pictures of the Ethnology Exhibit, which aimed to spread the narrative of imperialism and European cultures as superior over native ones. Beals’ photographs offers a stark contrast to that narrative, and portrays Native American cultures as one of individuals rather than objectifying it (like the Ethnology Exhibit). However, while her most significant contributions seemed to be known of during the St. Louis World fair, Beals also played a large part in also taking photographs of the women’s suffrage movement taking place a few years later. The media during this time, was starting to get more investigative due to the mobility of cameras and technology. Beals played an active role in spreading the message of suffrage movements during this time. Beals’ contribution to photojournalism and photography played a very active role in advancing the roles of women in photography, and spreading passive activism.

Imagine this: you’re playing one of your favorite video games, and while choosing an avatar, you realize none of the characters look like you, or even have similar characteristics. There is no variation in skin tone, all of the characters are male, and they all have perfectly muscled bodies. This leaves you feeling left out, thinking,“is this game only made for male players?” Unfortunately, this is the reality for most female gamers when they realize that their video game avatars lack diversity. It is vital that women be included in the gaming space. Currently, while 48% of video game players are female, only 9% of all game protagonists are women, a clear indication that female characters in games are severely underrepresented. You may ask, “why is diversity in video games important anyway?” Not only is it crucial to have an inclusive and welcoming gaming community, but increased representation also incentivizes more female players to join the hobby. A study at Drexel University found that when there is an increase in representation in an activity, a more diverse population becomes interested in it. Without protagonistic representation, female characters are fetishized and sexualized, because in game developers’ points of view, they are just eye candy for male gamers. Female characters in these games often, in turn, project unrealistic body standards onto women, causing female gamers to see themselves in a negative light and making them feel forced to live up to these unachievable expectations of beauty. Despite the clear problems that can come with less female representation in video games, there is still push back. For instance, in 2014, the video game series Assassin’s Creed stated that female playable characters would not be available in their multiplayer game mode due to production cuts. This excuse was later proved false when Business Insider found that the real reason for the lack of female characters was a result of male players’ belief that a female character would “alienate them from the game,”’ as game director Alex Hutchinson said. His logic was that male protagonists would be more appropriate role models for young boys. That poses the question of whether female role models are only admirable to women or all of the world. Role models can exist in any form. I admire many diverse role models, from authors to musicians, and even advocates for social justice; their gender does not make a difference to me. Great role models are individuals that possess a finely-tuned moral compass; one’s physical appearance should not interfere with their ability to serve as a role model. Additionally, there are a multitude of video game protagonists that do not have a gender, such as robots, animals, and aliens. Most players don’t think twice about playing as these characters. I believe users should feel more comfortable playing as female characters because they are more realistic protagonists than mythical characters. Unfortunately, gaming companies prioritize creating unrealistic protagonists over women, cementing their belief that female characters are subhuman. The answer may seem simple: just add more female characters. However, games that try to incorporate female characters face immense backlash from their fanbases. A possible solution is increasing the advertising of games with female protagonists. Becky Chambers, a science fiction author, finds that games with female protagonists are less likely to sell than games with male protagonists. It is unprofitable to have female protagonists, because it leaves many male players dissuaded from playing the games. With more advertising, games that promote diversity in their characters would see an increase in their fanbase and revenue, pushing other gaming companies to do the same. Harvestella, a game series aiming to spread character diversity, has been widely recognized for such efforts. Players choose their own gender (male, female, non-binary), because game producer Daisuke Taka believes this format includes a more diverse profile of characters. This effort not only paves the way for female protagonists in gaming, but also for producers to include LGBTQ+ representation. Diverse video games ensure that everyone has the ability to engage positively in the activities they love. They foster positive mindsets among women, break down outdated stereotypes, and pave the way for greater inclusivity in gaming communities.

Ruchira Gupta, renowned for her work around Apne Aap – an organization aimed at stopping the sex trafficking of young girls in the red light region of Bihar, India. Gupta has helped thousands of girls, and given them shelter within the Apne Aap foundation, as a metric to achieve their own dreams. However, previously Gupta has also been the receiver of an Emmy award-winning documentary, “The Selling of Innocents.” Recently, Ruchira Gupta published a middle grade fiction novel by the name of “I Kick and I Fly,” about a 15 year old girl named Heera who (even in the midst of the red light zone in her hometown), finds her voice through participation in Kung Fu. Growing up as a Nat woman (of lower class), Heera believes that her fate is to become a child prostitute, as her family’s economic situation is extremely dire, and they are in need of income However, as time progresses, Heera realizes that she has another option…kung fu – which provides her access to her own individual dreams. There were many aspects of this book I enjoyed : the plot, the depth of the characters, and the way it dealt with serious topics while still being tailored towards middle schoolers. However, one of my favorite aspects of this book was the feminist character development that took place, specifically regarding Heera and her mother. Towards the beginning of the book, we see Heera as an extremely shy, reserved and quiet individual. She isn’t able to stand up to her father, who is pressuring her to have her Bisi Bele (a ceremony where girls are bought and sold). Heera accepts her fate with resignation, knowing that her time will come, and tries to enjoy the moments with her family. However, once she picks up Kung Fu, flipping back to the end of the novel, we see her doing things outside both her and her father’s comfort zone. For instance, during her Kung Fu training camp invitational in New York, she makes the decision to rescue her friend Rosy (another victim of child prostitution). Not only does this apply to Heera, but it also applies to her mother. At the beginning of the novel, Heera’s mother played a small role in deciding the outcome of Heera’s future. Heera’s father made all the decisions, and instead of standing up to him, Heera’s mother preferred not to antagonize him, and rebelled through passive methods. However at the end of the book, Heera’s mother is a constant decision maker in the family. She takes part in decisions about Heera’s internships and future, rebelling actively, and even sometimes arguing with Heera’s father if necessary. What was a scenario of verbal abuse towards Heera’s mother, she turned into a healthy relationship. Reading this book was a window into the lives of hundreds of girls at the red light zone in India. It helped me understand what these girls went through – and how desperately they needed help. However, this book is far from a pity story. Rather, it’s the opposite : because it convinces girls that our body and our minds are treasures…they help us pursue our dreams. .

As you all may know, reading me previous blog, I came to hear about Ruchira’s new book “I Kick and I Fly” through a book fair taking place at school. After reading “I Kick and I Fly”, by Ruchira Gupta, a book that is overflowing with inspirational change, I did a simple google search which revealed the countless stories of trafficked young girls in India. Girls who lacked freedom, opportunity and education. However, Apne Aap, an anti-trafficking organization is trying to combat these ideas through refugee centers, resource donation and even martial arts classes to those interested. At the forefront of this fight against trafficking is Ruchira Gupta. Immensely engaged on the topic of sex-trafficking, I sought quickly to learn about the work Ms. Gupta had done. Whether it was her Emmy Award Winning documentary (The Selling of Innocents), paintings, Apne Aap or her book “I Kick and I Fly”, Ruchira never ceased to amaze me. It was then I started attending “Office Hours with Ruchira Gupta” every Wednesday from 3:30-4 PM. After attending a few sessions of Office Hours however, I realized I wanted a more personal connection and so I decided to email her; I wanted advice. What could I, as a young person do to combat sex trafficking? The response I received from Ruchira was so unbelievably thoughtful and supportive. She invited me over to the Apne Aap office to ask her questions, and to even participate in her own Office Hours instagram live session where I would be able to ask her a variety of questions. Office hours with Ruchira Gupta was an immensely eye opening and gratifying experience. I was able to openly ask her questions and visualize the characters as she saw them and it helped me understand the symbolism she was trying to portray in the book. In the Q&A Insta Live session with Ruchira, she explained the mental strength of the characters in the book. This applied to not only Heera, but it applied to her mother who worked so that she could put Heera through school and also to Meera Di who was so determined not to let her cousin, Heera, fall into the same ill-fated life she was sold into. Ruchira told me about the art of storytelling and using it as inspiration for social change. “Storytelling not only has the capability to build empathy and awareness, but also to create a movement” However, the most captivating was Ruchira’s take on the power of collective action by adolescents. As young adults, we often feel that we don’t have the resources to make monumental social change, but Ruchira provides three simple steps. Learn, Volunteer and Educate. If there is a real desire to participate in social work, the first step is to learn about the problem. Reach out to family members, or activists you know to get a grip on the issue both within your community and globally. The second step is to volunteer (at your own pace of course). Find a non-profit or an NGO you are passionate about, and raise money, market it on social media. The best thing you can do is help organizations get the resources they need. Finally, educate the public about your social justice issue. Market the issue/problem on social media, hand out flyers and touch the heart of people in your community. But most importantly, don’t be too hard on yourself and seek the help of others. During the office hours Ruchira remarks “When advocating, don’t aim to be perfect. Just do what you can.” If we each do our own part, together we will be able to make change.

A recent search into female led firms by the European Investment Fund finds that women are more likely to invest in climate friendly initiatives. Firms with a greater concentration of women in their board, have been correlated to higher track records of adopting climate friendly policies, such as renewable energy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and practices such as recycling. For instance, female run banks are lower polluters. A key factor is the increased transparency women have in the workplace. Studies find that a higher concentration of women in leadership is directly associated to proper greenhouse gas disclosure. Proper disclosure directly translates to collective action. Women are key in advancing the fight for climate action, because the business/entrepreneur industry is extremely singular. Most firms embody a diverse range of female employees, but not a diverse range of female leaders. This is due to the difficulty women have in starting up their own businesses, and climbing up the latter. For instance, while 42% of businesses are founded by women in the U.S (a relatively high number), and 36% perfect in the EU (slightly lower), female startups rarely receive investment/startup grants. The European investment Bank finds that only 2% of invested capital goes to all female founding teams, 5% to teams of mixed gender, and 93% to all male-founding teams. Hence female-owned businesses have a harder time getting the resources and monetary investment they need. A lack of diverse representation translates to a lack of diversified and innovative ideas; including climate friendly initiatives. The one sentence answer to the problem isn’t just more female representation though; its more complicated than that. Most firms don’t actively discriminate or prevent females from achieving positions of power, or climbing up the ladder. Rather, its the passive obstacles that are the most difficult to overcome. Offering childcare/support is one unique way firms might be able to incentivize women to take on leadership roles. Another solution could be offering longer periods of maternity leave, or paid maternity leave for some firms. Women are the largest contributors of unpaid labor, and often have to manage unpaid labor with employed paid labor. Making it easier for women to contribute in the workplace could certainly be a place to start when talking about gender representation.

Heartstopper, one of the most commonly watched tv shows on Netflix, is making an extraordinary impact on our generation due to its embracement of queer culture and gender affirming characters. But why is it so revolutionary? What makes Heartstopper so special for the LGBTQIA+ community? First, it addresses diversity even within the LGBT community. There have been queer movies in the past (But I’m a Cheerleader, Love Simon), but very rarely have we seen a spectrum of diversity regarding sexual and gender identities in one singular movie. Most movies that have before addressed queer relationships, have solely addressed lesbian and gay romantic relationships; Heartstopper is different. Rather than just focusing on the romantic relationship between Nick and Charlie (although adorable), we see Elle (a transgender woman) finding herself, Isaac navigating his asexual identity, Darcy and Tara who come out as lesbians, Nick, who learns he’s bisexual, and of course Charlie who learns to accept himself as gay. These separate sexual and gender identities and the representation behind these characters helps us understand that the term queer, is not a one size fits all umbrella term. Members of the LGBT community have different experiences, and its important to acknowledge that. For instance, one of the most prevalent issues within our community currently is the surge of trans hate and transphobia, which makes having trans representation is extremely key for young adults. Continuing to ignore the lack of trans representation, perpetuates lack of belonging and feelings of shame for trans individuals. Additionally, what I love about the show is the emphasis put representation of bisexual individuals. Even within the LGBT community, the B is often seen as silent, or overlooked. In Hearstopper, we see Nick Nelson, living through what is often extremely realistic for many who are bisexual; constant corrections, assumptions of being straight/gay as the notion of binary sexuality, and lack of acceptance from his friends and family. Nick’s journey helps us understand that the B is not in fact silent; that being bisexual is something to be proud of. Finally, the best aspect of Heartstopper is its ability to address queer pride in the cutest way possible. Whether it’s the animations between characters, cute dialogue, or characters that are actually identifiable as high schoolers, Heartstopper is a show for any age. In fact, while mainly made for young adults and teens, its actually is perfectly suitable as a middle grade show as well. This adaptation to people of all ages makes the impact it has a lot more significant Heartstopper was one of my favorite shows this summer. It was so refreshing to see all the representation it had to offer, and how one TV show can relay the importance of pride in the LGBTQ+ community. And once you get into it, be prepared for hours of binging :))

Despite frequently working in high-profile settings, women rarely become leaders in their respective fields. For example, in law firms, only 19.5% of equity partners were female, and women were 29% less likely than males to hold the first position of leadership. Work-life balance is frequently cited as the primary reason by corporations, but surveys conducted by the Harvard Business Review offer an alternative justification. After conducting studies at a high-profile firm, one of the major problems was accommodations the firms were offering. Businesses provided employees with accommodations in an effort to address gender imbalance at work. However, the majority of the employees who accepted these opportunities were women, which frequently affected the course of their careers and diminished their chances of securing leadership positions. In addition, high-profile firms also require extremely long hours which meant that many of its employees were burning out and had little time to spend time with family. These factors disproportionately affected women because during times of long hours they were more likely to take accommodations, which were detrimental to their career paths. While research supports these conclusions, firms were unwilling to believe that long hours were the cause of this inequality. Studying the psychological and emotional reactions further, the Review discovered “push” factors within the work place, which included men being perceived as working and women perceived as “caretakers”. The work-family narrative just reinforced these biases within the workplace However, while I believe that long hours are a key player in the gender-imbalance within these firms, the question is whether decreasing the workload on employees is actually feasible. At high-profile firms, employees working long hours is necessary to maintain workflow, efficiency and revenue. Especially in harsh economic times, firms are struggling to make ends meet. While the review mentions a specific firm working its employees 24/7 due to overselling and overdelivering, working long hours is crucial to the functionality of most firms. For instance, investment bankers and associates at law firms often have to work 80-90 hours a week during ongoing cases, and deals. Instead of reducing the amount of hours, I believe the solution comes in the flexibility of work schedules Following Covid, businesses shifted away from an in-person work schedule and toward an online, more flexible one. Employees would be allowed to work remotely for a few days a month if necessary. This would be the ideal option for women who are juggling their home and professional lives. They would be able to take on leadership roles and ensure that a balance is being struck. Employees should be allowed to finish their work at home, if necessary, after a full day of work. This way companies would not compromise on the number of hours that workers work, but also provide a chance for working fathers and mothers to spend time with their families.