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Taken from an interview, the above statement by Simone dissects the crux of gender identities of women. By this she does not mean that the biological differences between the sexes do not matter; they do. But the reproductive abilities of a woman is just the pretext on which the female condition is built.
It doesn't determine the condition; that is essentially derived from a social context. The gender roles, the behaviours and qualities associated with femininity, the misguided notions about what drives and satisfies women; what their purpose is - are all born from the narratives (mostly mis-represented) that society subscribes to.
I mean for years we all believed that men were the hunters and women foraged. We used this an an evolutionary excuse to further discredit women in leading positions maintaining a core belief that we only belonged in submissive roles. Only last year a study came out that upended that notion, revealing that both men & women hunted equally. So turns out all that difference between the sexes was manufactured, like Simone said, over the years by twisted ideas of what and how a woman should be.
It continues even today. Mainstream media shapes our perspectives about gender identity and so you can trust that they are, at least to some extent, misinformed. The only way for truth then, is to make way for marginalised voices to take centre stage and lead the narrative. And that's what Rough Edges aims to do.
Instituted in 2022, the collective seeks to enable, mentor, produce and disseminate imaginative documentary films that are informed by feminist and queer politics. It celebrates the distinct voices of women, queer & trans artists who capture the challenges they face in their lives in the backdrop of an unequal world. What makes these films of value is that both the real-life stories and the visual language used to tell them comes from a place of queer and feminine expression.
The organisation was founded by Tulika & Ridhima, who worked at India's largest independent documentary film commissioning body - the Public Service Broadcasting Trust, Delhi, for close to two decades, where they led the commissioning, creative realisation and outreach of almost 700 films, diverse in artistic form, subject and authorship. These films traveled around the world with 2000 festival selections, 350 awards, including thirty national film awards, and screenings in several contexts.
Now as Rough Edges, the duo, along with a team, operates 'Uncode' a documentary fellowship under which they've developed 10 films that explore and highlight varied experiences of women, trans and queer persons. Created by women, queer, non-binary and gender fluid artists in seven languages, across seven states, these films are strengthened by the diverse identities, experiences, privileges and challenges and even locations, bringing everyday stories of women, trans and queer folks to a wide audience.
Rough Edges' films take us into the unfiltered lives of how people actually live unlike the caricatured depictions we see in the media that are structured upon stereotypes and idealistic notions. They subvert misguided beliefs that link feminine liberation to being a girl-boss and dominating the world. And take us to a more realistic and poignant place - like the lives of small town women who have their own quiet rebellion though joyful female friendships and a nurturing, reliable community.
While each 'Uncode' film represents an individual voice and expression, the films together provoke an in-depth exploration of the truths of our complicated existence. They acknowledge and celebrate the diversities of our beings and recognise the many textures of our experiences. The films shed light on the tyranny of persistent patriarchies, the barriers and stereotypes that emerge in interaction with our caste, class, race, religion, work, disability and sexual orientation, giving us an authentic depiction of individual and collective desires, resistances and solidarities.
Follow Rough Edges here.
