Womyn Like Us - Womyn's Movie Month

*Disclaimer : Please note that I am just sharing the details of this event and not the organizer(s) so I do not own / hold any rights (creative or otherwise) to any of the information shared*

March 8th marks International Women's Day (IWD). The focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.

Womyn are diverse. We come in all shapes and sizes, religions and ethnicities, classes and social backgrounds, as well as sexual orientations and gender expressions. 

However, a womyn who does not look or act the way society expects her to, who 'crosses' traditional gender roles, and challenges the stereotypical image of what a womyn should be, is in many cases discriminated. Being 'queer' invites persecution simply because it does not conform to social conventions. 

For this year's IWD, we bring you a month of very special movies around the themes of sexuality and gender expression - two of the most taboo and controlled aspects of a womyn's life.

1) 2 March - Circumstance

2) 9 March - Gendernauts

Gendernauts (march 9, 2013) Germany/U.S. 1999, 86 min, in English. 

Gendernauts explores phenomena of gender fluidity at the end of the millennium in the Bay Area, California. It is a film about cyborgs, people who alter their bodies and minds with new technologies and chemistry, with an emphasis on biological women who use the male sexual hormone testosterone. We get to know San Francisco's leading gender mixers:Max Wolf Valerio, who reads from his book, Max, A Man; Jordy Jones and his net art; Texas Tomboy and his video art; Safford, who explores new business venues and, together with Jordy Jones, organizes "Club Confidential," the world's leading gender bender event. We meet Hida, an intersexed woman, who happily inhabits the middle ground between male and female; and two extraordinary biological women who support transgender people: sex goddess Annie Sprinkle and ex-centerfold model Tornado, who was Stafford's lover and is the self proclaimed mother of Texas Tomboy. We take excursions into the life of the spotted hyena, a very special animal society. The female hyena has an enlarged clitoris that looks like a penis. Her bloodstream carries a large amount of testosterone especially when she's pregnant. Our tour guide for the journey through shifting gender identities is Sandy Stone, also known as the "Goddess of Cyberspace," Who is Director of the ACTLab at the University of Texas at Austin.

3) 16 March - Unveiled

4) 23 March - Children of Srikandi

5) 30 March - Word Is Out

Embrace and celebrate our diversity!

Screenings are free but are by invite only. For tickets please RSVP to queeriefilms@gmail.com.

My African (Head Wrap) Journey

Ever since I’ve chopped off em curly hair and rocking my short crop (which looked like a longer crew cut version by now) I’ve been out with gelled / moussed / non - gel or non - moussed hair peppered with 1 of my longtime love : African Head Wrap. Many times I’ve fantasised about Erykah Badu's mane (did you notice the height and bulk?).

The ever fabulous Ms Badu

I’ve always thought of African head wraps as alluring, sexy and well, I love wearing my colours and prints too (so what better way than that huh?). I've never worn any sort of head wrap back then only because I love showing off my permed curls (I wish I have em black girls’ natural hair, rocking it like Ashley Everett). 

Ms Everett rocking em sexy natural

I’ve worn em wraps (only with scarfs, gele is so hard to find here) and so far, I love it! What can I say? I just love the look, it makes you feel even more like a queen with it (plus you can protect your head from the sun). I’ve been complimented by strangers and friends alike, asking me to show em how. Malay girls (in the case of strangers) would top the list by being the 1^st to compliment / ask for a how-to and I was more than happy to share with them.

Trust me, I’ve unwrapped and re-wrapped it dozens of times and of course I’ve also asked them to go to Youtube.com (for your viewing pleasure I've included it down under) and searched under African head wrap (where they could learn a few styles from all these wonderful ladies on Youtube.com) : 

 

And of course with the lack of volume, this video is most relevant for people just like me : 

I do agree with 1 of the ladies who did these tutorials; you could wrap the same way but it turns out differently each time. Marvellous isn't it? At the end of the day, keep adjusting those lines and play with your looks. It is really not unlike make up application even though this is way easier (for me at least). You’ll get it right J (got it done from my 1st attempt, it’s really that simple!).

Here are some pictures of me with my wraps and I’d like to share more of it but I always have a tendency to forget taking pictures, especially my own :

Sis's wedding banquet - Left (double scarf)

Right view

Casual weekend afternoon (single scarf)

Family dinner - Right (double scarf)

Left view

Friend's birthday celebration 1.0 - 1st wrap (double scarf)

2nd wrap on the same outing
(I re-wrapped it but see how diff?)

Friend's birthday celebration 2.0 (triple scarf)
- 1 for volume, 1 for hold, 1 for style

Several tips to keeping it real :

1) Use a pashmina or wig cap to protect hair from being damaged by your wrap material (if its coarse, such as materials like cotton).

2) Keep the materials light, you don't want achy shoulders or head with heavy stuff.

3) Wrap them all tight and secure but not so tight that you cut off circulation. You don't want to pass out, have migraine, aching shoulders or back now do you?

4) You don't even need any types of pin, just tuck it all in! If it's done properly you can even swing your head without it coming off!

I hope you will enjoy exploring your looks with African head wraps as much as I did! Hopefully next time I'd go out looking like this :

Who knew the after shower wrap style could be so hot?

What maketh a woman - Your Hair?

Funny how we ladies strive to go hairless with other parts of our body (think cream, shave, threading, wax, strips & lasers) but god forbid if we should suggest shaving the head bald! After getting my shave say, around 30 days ago for Bald for Fund, these were what had transpired (doesn't reflect sequence of event) :

- You are so brave! (from supportive attendees during events)

- Thank you so much for doing what you did (from organizer of event and also friends / their family who had brushes with cancer)

- OMG! You a hero(ine), (wo)man! (my friends during gathering)

- You still look cute / good (my darling & friends)

- I love a woman who's bald and daring (coming from a Malaysian malay male custom officer)

- It's good you doing a part for charity, good karma for your parents and your family, living or dead (coming from my aunt, late dad's side) - don't ask me how she knows, unless my mom / sis updates her or she saw it through the papers (i'm assuming here)

- Why did you do it? You crazy?! (from family, friends whatnots)

- Show me your bald head la! (from male friends mostly)

- 'Question mark hovering their head' & weird look & but too "polite" to ask hence they stare~

- You went for prayer is it? Or perhaps assumed I'm a nun when I had my scarf wrapped round my shoulder. Can't ppl differentiate robe or a pashmina? (some random ppl)

- How does it feel? Let me touch! (my girlfriend)

- Itchy or not? (my friends)

- Why you still have white hair 1? (my friends)

Only a shaved head can generate so much attention.. *Attention seekers out there, here's your cue*

Benefits for me :

1) When was the last time you went to a hairdresser without paying and he/she won't harm your life or threaten your family?

2) Less shampoo time

3) Less drying time

4) Don't need to use diffuser anymore

5) Grew stronger hair this time around?

6) Get to fashion myself after Nefertiti (you'll see future post about this ^_^)

Disbenefits for me :

1) I get sick from getting too hot or cold on my scalp so always have cap, beanie & scarves ready

2) Itch easier cos hair growing longer

3) Suddenly my head becomes a petting zoo or just any zoo (being looked at), maybe I should start charging?

Must always have a 'Before' pic, right?

Even though smiling, was afraid blade will cut me. I know, stupid right?

Hand almost numb from holding up my cut up curls, hehehe~

Thank god for his power of concentration, no injury XD

Who says you can't smile or laugh being bald?
Can't you see my bald head's shining with me too?

1st week after shaving. (Yes, i do go out au naturel)

2nd week after
(Can you see the peace sign, awareness ribbon & almost ankh-like symbol?)

3rd week (It grew so fast!)

Ok, I'm not lying, it really grew that fast!

Being bald does have some liberating effects.. My head is lighter, I don't have to worry about bed head, hair products or diffuser (else smelly scalp if left to dry naturally). Also, if i am any flatter on my chest or ass I'd probably pass as a dude. How cool is it to cross dress and travel the world (just like Daniela Sea from The L Word's fame)?

So ladies, does your hair maketh you the woman you are or the woman you are maketh the hair? If anyone should tell you that you are a lesser woman by the existence or the length of your hair, you can always do this :

I was cute until you made me do this~

Also, this video is dedicated to you ladies out there : 

Happy Sunday!