Picking out a new show or movie this weekend should be easier than ever. To pay homage to International Women’s Day (March 8), Netflix, in partnership with our favorite leading ladies (Millie Bobby Brown, Mindy Kaling, Salma Hayek, Ava DuVernay, Lana Condor and Janet Mock), has curated a list of female-driven stories on the platform.
Each woman was charged with selecting a Netflix program that inspired them and reflected the theme of this year’s Women’s Day: "I Am Generation Equality: Realizing Women's Rights." Last year’s theme was "Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change," so where 2019 was about planning ahead, this year seems to be about taking change by the horns.
Among the titles are Kaitlyn Dever’s "Unbelievable," Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini’s "Dead to Me" and Natasha Lyonne’s "Russian Doll," plus films including "Paris Is Burning," a documentary focusing on New York City drag queens; "Young Adult," the literary Charlize Theron dramedy; and "Gravity," Sandra Bullock’s space saga.
In case this is your first time hearing about them, UN Women is a spin-off, if you will, of the United Nations; instead of working toward peace and good relations around the world, though, they work toward gender equality and female representation around the world.
As for the watchlist, UN Women deputy executive director Anita Bhatia sang her praises, asserting that the content reflects the overall mission of today’s women.
"It’s about making visible the invisible, and proving that only by fully representing and including women on screen, behind-the-camera and in our narratives overall, society will truly flourish," Bhatia said in a statement.
According to Dr. Stacy L. Smith, founder of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, 20 percent of original Netflix films last year were directed by women, an encouraging stat that she hopes continues to pave the way for even more representation on and off screen.
"There's still more to do to reach equality, but by recognizing female talent from around the world, we hope more women will feel encouraged to tell their stories, pushing that number even higher," she said in a statement.
To find the full list of programs meant to spark inspiration this International Women’s Day, visit Netflix.com/BecauseSheWatched.
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