Our recent Forum investigated the role of feminism today and its future

To coincide with The Gender Issue we held a forum at our Studio 2 space exploring The Future of Feminism. Speaking to a packed audience our panelists touched on everything from the role of the media, commodification to everyday sexism.

“Whatever politics you might have there is no right from wrong,” opened Phoebe Collings James, multi-disciplinary artist and founder of Cunt Today, speaking about the role of creatives in spreading the message of feminism. Founders of multi-disciplinary studio The W Project, Teo Connor and Loren Platt, echoed the sentiment, stressing the need for more role models for young women, while also screening their film Super Women, which features 30 men talking about the women that inspire them each and every day.

Also speaking was Jago Rackham, editor and writer at Hysteria magazine, an all-inclusive platform for people to talk about feminism. “It’s all very well to talk about people who are using the internet to engage,” said Rackham. “But we have to remember that in two-thirds of the world's people don’t have access to the internet. Or there are people who just choose not to.”

All speakers agreed that activism on the internet needs a physical movement alongside it. Amrou Al-Kadhi, senior editor at The Inkling Magazine and creator of drag troupe Denim, also spoke of the danger of apps like Grindr, making physical spaces, where gay, lesbian and queer communities meet, redundant. There was also plenty of naming and shaming of sexist brands, and to end the night equality-driven animation studio Punanimation screened a showreel of colourful female figures.

The Future of Feminism Forum continues on Linkedin. Click here to ask our panelists a question or join in the discussion. Also watch this space for video footage of all our speakers presentations.