Women Redefined: A Utah Youth Perspective

Tune in Thursday, March 28th @ 7:00pm to KUED 7 for the broadcast of Women Redefined

A collection of short film that focus on stories told from a girl's perspective. The program will feature films directed by Spy Hop students including films created as part of KUED's Women Redefined program.

As part of its Women and Girl Lead initiative, KUED partners with Spy Hop Productions on four short films by eight young Utah film makers that explore what it means to be a young woman today. Topics range from sexual violence to marriage, education and feminism.

Join us Saturday, March 16th @ 3:00pm at the Jeanne Wagner Theater for a Screening

Women Redefined will also be screened as part of the Tumbleweeds Film Festival followed by a Q & A with the filmmakers.

What do eight Utah teenagers have to say about being a girl in today? As part of KUED's community outreach surrounding Women and Girls Lead, eight high school and college filmmakers are creating very personal films. The half-hour Spy Hop Productions program: Women and Girls Lead: A Utah Youth Perspectivewill be incorporated into a one hour block of programming in the spring of 2013 to coincide with Women’s Week at the University of Utah and the premiere broadcast of the KUED's documentary production MAKERS.

The following are the subjects that the youth filmmakers are exploring

• In Defending Dignity two teen filmmakers explore the realities of sexual violence in their generation. What is feeding into rape culture? The answer is not black or white.
• The Woman Inside Me explores the challenges a transgendered woman faces. What happens when you identify yourself as being someone society doesn’t acknowledge? The expectations, and lifestyle don’t come easily.
• Realm of Possibility A young college student explores the value of education for her, and why so many young women aren’t completing their degrees.
• The "F" Word This short documentary follows a 15 year-old boy’s journey to discover the meaning of feminism through interviews with activists in the Salt Lake community.

See the following examples from our previous collaboration with Spy Hop as young women talk about Freedom. These two stories also align with our Utah Women and Girls Initiative and have gone on to win national youth film festival accolades.

In "Even Handed," Samantha Highsmith, an Ogden High senior, tells the story of walking into class with an HRC (Human Rights Commission) sticker on one of her notebooks. When another student asked her what it stood for, she explained it was about gay rights. The student looked at her and asked, "Are you Lesbian?" When she replied "No," he asked her "Why do you care?" Gabriella Huggins, a junior at West High, helps Samantha answer the question: Why does a straight teenage girl care about gay rights?

In "My Muslim Eyes," Laela Omar and Loren Ruiz explore how growing up Muslim in a post 9-11 America has affected young Muslims' perspectives on freedom. Another film, "Una Educacion," follows a young girl who emigrated to the U.S. from Mexico to get an education. Candida Duran and Adriana Martinez focus the film on the question of how education helps make us free. In the final film, "Sunday," Erin Cole and Mallory McDaniel focus their camera on a refugee student from Africa.

To find out about the wide variety of exhibits, activities and educational resources available with community partners including Spy Hop Productions, The City Library, Center for Documentary Arts, Salt Lake Community College Community Writing Program, Salt Lake Film Center, and Utah Education Network, visit our partner page.