From child and forced marriage to being denied an education, all around the world, girls are still subjected to exclusion, inequality and human rights abuses every single day. And while remarkable progress has been made on gender equality, too many barriers remain that hold girls back from reaching their full potential.
To mark International Day of the Girl today (October 11th), humanitarian and girls’ rights charity Plan International Australia – together with its 2024 youth advocates and celebrity ambassador, Hollywood actor Phoebe Tonkin – has joined forces with streaming service Stan to provide an inspiring selection of movies and television that smash gender stereotypes and champion girls in all their diversity.
“Film and media can be profoundly influential. Although there has been progress – with an exciting and growing number of diverse filmmakers making more positive and authentic depictions of women and girls in all their diversities – women are not nearly portrayed enough as leaders on screen, and when they are they’re far more often sexualised than men. This undermines girls and can have a real impact on their aspirations,” said Phoebe .
“When films, TV shows and the media reflect the diversity of young people – including our experiences, emotions and opinions – we feel empowered to be ourselves and to be proud of who we are. The greatest example of this is how spotlighting women and girls in sports, such as the Matildas most recently, has encouraged young girls to get into sports. Films like Whip It! and Bend it Like Beckham exemplify this and show girls that they are strong and deserve to be on the sports field, not just boys,” added youth advocate Tegan.
From child and forced marriage to being denied an education, girls worldwide still face exclusion, inequality, and human rights abuses every day. Despite remarkable progress in gender equality, many barriers still prevent girls from reaching their full potential.
To celebrate International Day of the Girl, Plan International Australia – along with its 2024 youth advocates and celebrity ambassador, Hollywood actor Phoebe Tonkin – has partnered with streaming service Stan to showcase an inspiring selection of movies and television that defy gender stereotypes and champion girls in all their diversity.
The exclusive 25 films and television series below were specially curated by Phoebe and 15 Plan International Australia youth advocates, and will be available to watch on the Stan platform for one week.
“Film and media hold immense power. Although we’ve seen progress with a growing number of diverse filmmakers creating more positive and authentic depictions of women and girls, women are still not portrayed enough as leaders on screen. And when they are, they are often sexualised more than men, which undermines girls and can impact their aspirations,” said Phoebe .
“When films, TV shows, and the media reflect the diversity of young people – including our experiences, emotions, and opinions – we feel empowered to be ourselves and proud of who we are. A perfect example is how the spotlight on women and girls in sports, such as the recent success of the Matildas, has encouraged young girls to get into sports. Films like Whip It! and Bend it Like Beckham show girls that they are strong and deserve to be on the sports field, just like boys,” added youth advocate Tegan.
“Visibility means possibility. Empowering girls and gender diverse young people begins with diverse, honest and courageous representation in media. Films inform the ways that our lives can take shape, determining our ambitions, how we see ourselves and our place in the world.
Without strong representation in the media, we become limited to what we can see – which is often much less than what we are capable of,” said youth advocate Aish.
Previous Plan International research, conducted together with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, has also shown that despite progress on equality in film and media having been made, popular films and television still largely sends a message to girls and young women that leadership is mostly for men.
Audit of some of the top-grossing films found that women and girls were:
Four times more likely than men to be shown wearing revealing clothing (30% compared to 7%)
Nearly twice as likely to be shown as partially nude (15% compared to 8%)
Four times more likely to be shown completely naked (2% compared to 0.5%)
Women in leadership roles are disproportionately subjected to sexual objectification compared to their male counterparts, with 15% having the camera focus on their body parts in slow motion, versus just 4% of men. Characters like the determined Jesminder from *Bend It Like Beckham* and the remarkable Dido from Belle illustrate through various films, documentaries, and television series that girls can achieve extraordinary feats when they are unrestrained.
In a time where global stability is more fragile than it has been for generations, advocating for girls’ rights to safety and equality has never been more crucial—every moment matters. “Visibility means possibility. Empowering girls and gender-diverse youths begins with diverse, honest and courageous representation in media. Films shape our lives by influencing our ambitions and self-perception,” said youth advocate Aish. “Without strong media representation, we are limited to what we see—often far less than what we are capable of.”
Plan International, a leading humanitarian organization that champions girls’ rights, was instrumental in lobbying the UN to establish International Day of the Girl 12 years ago. The organization continues to amplify the voices of girls every day, not just on this dedicated day.
Research from Plan International, in collaboration with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, indicates that while there has been progress towards equality in film and media, popular content still largely conveys that leadership is predominantly a male domain.
An analysis of top-grossing films revealed that women and girls are:
Four times more likely to be depicted wearing revealing clothing (30% vs. 7%)
Almost twice as likely to be shown partially nude (15% vs. 8%)
Four times more likely to be portrayed completely naked (2% vs. 0.5%)
Additionally, women in leadership positions are also more often subject to sexual objectification, with 15% having slow-motion camera focus on their bodies, compared to 4% of men.
With the current global unrest, it is more imperative than ever to uphold girls’ rights to safety and equality. “Given the current conflicts worldwide, simply watching the news or checking phones can be distressing. For a 10-year-old girl in vulnerable situations, the daily risks she faces are inconceivable, with violence exacerbating existing inequalities—from education to safety to basic human rights,” stated Plan International Australia CEO Susanne Legena. “While the state of the world can seem daunting, contributing to positive change is achievable.”
Movies And TV Show That Empower Women
- Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging
- Bend it Like Beckham
- Bride and Prejudice
- First Wives Club
- Frida
- Mamma Mia!
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire
- Relic
- My Brilliant Career
- Promising Young Woman
- Suffragette
- Whip It
- Bump
- Call the Midwife
- Minx
- Such Brave Girls
- The L Word: Generation Q
- I am Woman
- Belle
- Edge of Seventeen
- The good fight
- Little Bird
- We are Parts
- The Originals
- Vampire Diaries
How You Can Show Your Support On International Day Of Girls
Today, Plan International Australia is hosting its annual International Day of the Girl Giving Day, aiming to raise $100,000 in 24 hours with support from friends, allies, and a telethon.
Every day, Plan International supports girls living through crises, protecting their rights, ensuring their safety, and celebrating their boundless potential. The proceeds from today’s Giving Day will go directly to girls and children in conflict zones, providing essential life-saving aid such as food, water, dignity kits, and the crucial psycho-social support necessary for their healing journey.
You can support this worthy cause here: https://givingday.plan.org.au/