Image: pixabay.com
​In a world where women still miss out on mainstage opportunities and tend to score second tier jobs, images of success can change the horizon for young women.
The team behind the feminist film festival Girls on Film Festival (GOFF) understand the inspiration that stems from seeing a range of women’s stories taken seriously in cinema.
‘It is about young women being able to see themselves in these positions – in the film scenario it’s that of the hero, the aggressor, and protagonist,’ said managing director, Isobel Taylor-Rodgers.
But what happens when we leave the cinema? Real world mentors and role models are also important when it comes to encouraging young women to pursue their creative interests.
In an attempt to bring mentors to life, GOFF will run a feminist jobs fair Girl Germs as part of this year’s program.
Catering for feminists of all ages, the informal jobs fair aims to help guide young women into creating opportunities and discover making and career paths.
‘We described it as a jobs fair that doesn’t suck,’ said Taylor-Rodgers.
‘Girl Germs is about being able to see other women who are active in their careers and talk to women about how they navigated those environments.
‘What we really want to focus on is creating an environment that is engaging and creative and that reinforces the idea of taking charge, being confident and putting ourselves forward.’
Spanning music, cinema, zine making and career development, the fair will feature discussions with local feminist producers, comedians, musicians, academics, including Naomi Chainee, F word; Jessamy Gleeson, Cherchez La Femme; performer Nikki Brumen; and DJ Eton Mess.
‘These incredible women are there to engage in group or one-on-one discussions so people can find out about the careers they are interested in,’ said Taylor-Rodgers.
