Misogyny, your time is up.
“I want to tell girls that fear is taught. That you are born free and you are born brave. I want to show them that this is what you are worthy of,” states Maria Toorpakai in the documentary film, Girl Unbound.
In the Taliban-controlled area of Waziristan, where sports for women are publicly denounced as un-Islamic and girls rarely leave their houses, Toorpakai defies the rules by disguising herself as a boy so she can play. As her talent and fame grow, her gender is revealed, bringing unceasing death threats to her and her family.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s documentary film festival, KDocs, kicks off the New Year with a free on-campus screening of Girl Unbound on Jan. 26 at KPU’s Surrey campus.
This film is the first of many more thought-provoking and community justice inspiring documentaries that will be shown at the Vancity Theatre from Feb. 15 to 18 for the 2018 KDocs film festival.
“Documentary film has this incredible power to move people, not only emotionally, but to action in addressing social injustice,” said KDocs organizer and KPU English instructor Janice Morris. “I think there’s no better time to watch and discuss the misogyny that women, and, in particular Muslim women, experience in sports than right now. I keep remembering something Oprah said at the Golden Globes, that for girls a ‘new day is on the horizon!’ The world is changing, and women are the forefront of that change.”
KDocs’ screening of Girl Unbound is free and open to the public, but registration is requested.
The event will include a keynote address given by sports activist and writer Shireen Ahmed. An athlete and advocate for Muslim women in sports, Ahmed works with Youth of Colour on empowerment projects, focusing on the intersections of racism and misogyny in sport. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, Teen Vogue, Sports Illustrated, Jezebel, and the Globe and Mail. Her article on rape apologia by Muslim basketball fans was published in Best Canadian Sports Writing 2017.
The screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session, and a panel discussion. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, visit kdocsff.com/upcoming-events/
Watch the trailer here.
KDocs: Girl Unbound
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. 5 to 8 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for light refreshments.
WHERE: KPU Surrey Campus (12666 – 72 Ave.) Fir building, room #128
KEYNOTE: Shireen Ahmed, sports activist and writer
REGISTRATION: Reserve your seat by emailing girlunbound@kpu.ca.
Story by Tatiana Tomljanovic