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If you’re big into horror, feminism or both, you might already know that February is Women in Horror Recognition Month. <\/p>\n
Sponsored by the US-based Viscera Film Festival<\/a>, WiHM has really taken off since we covered it in 2011<\/a>, and we’re very proud to be WiHM Ambassadors – check us out on the list!<\/a> <\/p>\n
We recently kicked off a set of posts on Women in Horror with a return to our soapbox by Irish horror author Maura McHugh<\/a>, who returned to BadRep Towers to spotlights some women she admired working in the genre across a range of media.<\/p>\n
Before we go further, though, we’d like to share the Women in Horror Month Mission statement.<\/p>\n
This Mission Statement is taken from the Women in Horror Recognition Month website<\/a>. They’ve asked that it be shared, quoted and spread about as much as possible, so we’re giving it the spotlight in itself for a moment, before we get down with our horror-nerdy selves in these pages. <\/p>\n
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Women in Horror Recognition Month (WiHM) assists underrepresented female genre artists in gaining opportunities, exposure, and education through altruistic events, printed material, articles, interviews, and online support. WiHM seeks to expose and break down social constructs and miscommunication between female professionals while simultaneously educating the public about discrimination and how they can assist the female gender in reaching equality.<\/p>\n
A world in which all individuals are equally given the opportunity to create, share, and exploit their concept of life, pain, and freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
Absolutely. Otherwise, WiHM would not exist. Women are still not offered the same pay and opportunities as their male colleagues in many industries, particularly the arts. Discrimination runs rampant in Hollywood and it’s very difficult for females (even well-known actresses) to get their films funded by major studios. <\/p>\n
Statistics prove that women are still not offered the same opportunities as men due to an array of reasons, from discrimination to female professionals accepting less than they are worth in order to receive the same opportunities as their male colleagues.<\/p>\n
In other parts of the world, women are still stoned to death for speaking their minds, excommunicated when they are sexually violated, and not offered proper education. Atrocities continue to happen that force the female gender to be subservient to a patriarchal system that tells them how to dress, who to marry, and what they should do with their lives. All discrimination must be exposed and obliterated for the female gender to truly achieve equality.<\/p>\n
WiHM focuses on supporting the achievements of women who utilize the most extreme mirror available in storytelling: horror. We encourage women to explore and represent these horrors constructively, in positive environments.<\/p>\n
WiHM was created with no exclusion. Men play a vital part in the
female gender reaching equality. There are many male WiHM
Ambassadors and artists who choose to assist and work with
professional and talented underrepresented female practitioners.
Be a guiding example of a man who respects both genders
equally.1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n
Personal Responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n
We all must take personal responsibility for our
beliefs, values, and actions. Participating in
positive, constructive environments that encourage and
provide a safe platform for women to share and explore
is vital.<\/p>\n
Education<\/strong><\/p>\n
Education is essential. Knowledge is power.
Understanding history and where that puts us
today, politically and socially, demonstrates how
we are interpreting each other and
ourselves.<\/p>\n
Work with Women<\/strong><\/p>\n
Finding professional women to work with in
leadership positions is one of the most
important actions you can take to assist the
movement. Don\u2019t just work with a woman
because of her gender, work with her because
she has a lot to bring to the table.<\/p>\n
Banish social
constrictions<\/strong><\/p>\n
Stereotyping, judging, cattiness,
competitiveness, comparing, and gossip
– all of these actions hurt men and
women. We are all on our own path in life,
careers, and personal relationships. We
are encouraged to play into these cultural
expectations when we are young, which can
create judgment of those who are
different. Stop it.<\/p>\n
Be a WiHM Ambassador<\/strong><\/p>\n
Every February, WiHM Ambassadors host
charity events (blood drives, film
screenings, art shows), write blogs
and articles, conduct interviews, and
create videos and podcasts for mass
consumption. All of these events and
content specifically represent and
assist the underrepresented female
genre artist and are for
philanthrpopic reasons only. No profit
is made from WiHM, or the Viscera
organization.<\/p>\n
Participate<\/strong><\/p>\n
Go to the events, read the
articles, watch the videos. Be
conscious of the fact that you are
consuming different perspectives
of a movement that is assisting a
struggle that women have
experienced for at least the last
four thousand years: equality. We
have incredible potential right
now to destroy discrimination. It
deserves your attention.<\/p>\n
Donate<\/strong><\/p>\n
Donate to WiHM. All funds go
directly into the organization
to improve the events,
materials, and outreach. WiHM
needs the support of the
public.<\/p>\n
Support other
organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n
Organisations such as
CARE, Women for Women
International, RAINN, and
WIF. All these
organisations work hard
all year round to assist
women in achieving
equality. Visit their
websites and educate
yourself.<\/p>\n
The Board of Directors
for WiHM is comprised of
women from all facets of
the horror film
industry, including WiHM
founder Hannah Forman,
Debbie Rochon, Jovanka
Vuckovic, Heidi
Honeycutt, Jen and
Sylvia Soska, and
Shannon Lark.<\/p>\n
WiHM is a service
provided by the
Viscera Organization,
a 501(c)3 non profit
organization expanding
opportunities for
contemporary female
genre filmmakers and
artists by raising
awareness about the
changing roles for
women in the film
industry.<\/p>\n
WHAT CAN THE PUBLIC DO TO ASSIST WOMEN?<\/h3>\n
The Board<\/h2>\n
The Organisation<\/h2>\n
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