Five women-only festivals, from tech to wine, from film to jazz, it’s female focused fun

These five female festivals aim to redress the gender imbalance that still exists in politics and business
Events include a film festival in China, a wine festival in Hong Kong, jazz in Australia, and tech in Silicon Valley

Women and gender

Kylie Knott

Published: 6:00pm, 11 Oct 2019

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Gender inequality affects all societies, regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic background.

The best way to measure gender equality is to look at the representation of men and women in a range of roles – then the imbalance becomes clear.

Men dominate the political and corporate worlds, in industries from entertainment to technology. And while things are slowly changing, the imbalance has lead to a rise in female focused festivals.

Here are five for the diary:

Modern Woman Festival will be held in Ubud, Bali in October.

Modern Women Festival

October 20 to 22

The lush surrounds of Ubud on the Indonesian island of Bali are the setting for the Modern Woman Festival (MWF), a three-day event to indulge the mind, body and spirit. To be held at New Earth Haven, workshops include talks on sexual health, women in science, dance, yoga, creativity and connection. “It’s open to women of all shapes, sizes, nationalities, ages, careers, beliefs, dietary, and lifestyle preferences. We bring together women from all stages of life in hopes of showing that unity and solidarity are more productive than competition and division.”

Visit here for more details

China Women’s Film Festival

October 18 to 27

Gender imbalance in the film and entertainment industry is well documented but many are oblivious to the bigger picture. Fewer women directors and writers leads to more stereotypical portrayals of female characters, moulding gender-biased representations and negatively affecting gender equality. Held in Beijing, the China Women’s Film Festival, now in its seventh year, shines a light on women’s rights. It aims to address themes relevant to the modern women, reversing traditional views of women as housewives, caretakers and lovers, instead revealing the issues that are important to women today, such as gender equality, social and economic advancement and violence against women.

The programme is vast and varied, from Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, a feminist spaghetti western from Indonesia, to Bulbul Can Sing about a girl navigating love and loss while growing up in the Indian village of Assam.

Also featured is the 2019 Austrian drama, The Ground Beneath My Feet.

Visit here for more details

Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival

November 2 to 17

Female-focused music festivals have sprung up around the world, and Australia is no exception. Since 2012, the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival has provided a stage for women in jazz, hosting world-class local and international talent, including triple Grammy award-winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. This year’s line-up features artists from the US, Canada and Brazil.

Visit here for more details

Debra Meiburg, founder of Women of Wine.

Women of Wine Festival

March 11, 2020

The global wine industry is another male-dominated sector and the Women of Wine Festival aims to help level the playing field. Founded by Debra Meiburg, Master of Wine, the festival pairs global wines made by women with Hong Kong’s top businesswomen and inspirational female leaders. It also hosts wine masterclasses, tastings and networking sessions.

Visit here for more details

Women in Tech Festival

May 1 and 2, 2020

In no industry is the gender imbalance more obvious than in the tech sector. According to TheMuse.com, women hold just 11 per cent of executive positions in Silicon Valley, and own only 5 per cent of start-ups. It seems apt that Silicon Valley is the location for the annual Women in Tech Festival that celebrates women in science, technology, engineering and maths, business, and leadership as well as those who support the advancement of women and believe in the importance of diversity. The festival includes inspiring talks, start-up pitches, thought provoking discussions, educational workshops, and career mentorship sessions.

Visit here for more details

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