‘Girl power’: you probably heard it first from the Spice Girls, and you’ve probably been hearing it a lot more this weekend. As feminism enjoys its third wave, with millions of women emerging in their masses worldwide to protest the presidential inauguration of famed misogynist Donald Trump, a new breed of female empowerment is spawning under our very noses.
It manifests itself in the intricate, colourful pages of independent zines; the echo of the bass drum at an underground gig, thrashed by a heeled boot; podcasts and presentations on our radios and computer screens. It is the emerging space for the creative woman – and we’re seeking out the ladies who are making it happen.
Scrapping their vowels riot grrrl style, GRL PWR Gang is a female collective which paves the way for other women working or wanting to work in the creative industry. Boasting a whole host of members with careers in styling, photography, presenting and more, the group want to encourage creative collaborations between others as well as provide information about their own professional fields.
“GRL PWR Gang is girls helping girls: empowering, inspiring and supporting each other and working together on creative projects,” says stylist Riya Hollings, a member of the group.
“It’s basically a group of awesome girls who are creative and doing their thing and loving life,” she continues. “Celebrating their bodies, sexuality, their personalities, what they do; teaching and mentoring other people who want to be in the same situation as them. Proving that it is possible as long as you just have the right outlook on life.”
The GRL PWR Gang have worked on a number of campaigns since their conception at the beginning of last year, including collaborations with fashion brands such as Nike and Urban Outfitters as well as an anti-bullying campaign with charity Ditch the Label.
“That was trying to prove to people that it doesn’t matter if you get bullied at school, that’s not something you should carry with you for life – it should just make you stronger. And all of us have been bullied, let’s be fair. It was a really great campaign to be a part of,” says Riya.
It’s not just the GRL PWR Gang who are offering creative opportunities for ambitious women. Hot off the press, the Creative Women’s Network was founded just last September by Polina Dyer and Tatiana Kostanian – and their first event sold out weeks before it took place.
“The Network hosts a series of monthly events, bringing together brilliant creative professional women looking to expand their network, discover new collaborations and gain advice and support from other established women in the creative industries,” says Tatiana.
All women are coming with an open mind and their main objective is to hear what other creatives are working on
CWN is true to its name when it comes to placing emphasis on networking. Tackling what can be the hardest part of the industry – getting your foot in the door and obtaining information and advice about your dream career – CWN works hard to ensure opportunities to meet other women who have done it all before.
"We aim to make the networking process efficient and focused by understanding the type of connections our guests are looking for, before they come to the event. We have an extensive network database, which we develop to feature a wonderful array of professionals who we can approach to link with our guests.”
Speaking about CWN’s first event, Tatiana says: “The best aspect of [these] events is that all women are coming with an open mind and their main objective is to hear what other creatives are working on, so our ambition is to facilitate new relationships and collaborations.”
Hosting a drinks reception in central London and featuring women from diverse fields such as interior architecture to filmmaking and production, CWN are starting as they mean to go on.
“We would like to make it easier for creative people to source the most appropriate connections, whatever their need or circumstance.”
Both the canon and the institution favour the male creative
There’s no denying that the history of creative achievements is permeated with talented, inspiring women: we need only switch on our televisions, flick open a magazine or walk into a library to see this. Yet somehow we still live in a society where women are paid less than men; only 5% of Hollywood film directors are women despite women accounting for half of film school students; university curriculums are failing to provide sufficient material on female writers of colour. As a Literature student pointed out in a ‘I need feminism because...’ campaign back in 2013: “Girls dominate my course but are virtually absent from my reading list.” This isn’t because women haven’t written any books worthy of studying – far from it – but because both the canon and the institution favour the male creative. It's time for a change.
With brutal cuts to arts funding and women's services left right and centre, now more than ever is the time to join forces with our sisters. So take a leaf out the GRL PWR Gang’s book as you march along to CWN’s next event: “[Don’t] give a f*ck about what anybody thinks of you” and make the most of a space which gives aspiring creative women a voice.
Thumbnail artwork by Millie Morris
CWN's next event is scheduled for the end of March. You can find out details by joining their Facebook group here, or following them on Instagram.
