New Generation Sisterhood

09/04/2006 0 Comments read Gender

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 09.04.2006 (WFS): “I may feel like a little Black girl who can run fast, but I’m also a woman who followed her heart and achieved her childhood dream,” writes Cathy Freeman on becoming the first indigenous Aboriginal Australian athlete to take home an Olympic gold medal in the women’s 400-metre race at Sydney 2000.

Her sentiment reflects a feeling of power that many women in their 30s and 40s are experiencing. Born in Mackay in northern Queensland (Australia) in 1973, Freeman discovered her passion for running at the age of five and went on to win an Olympic gold medal.

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Maori Treasures

03/12/2005 0 Comments read Gender, Indigenous, Travel

Reihana Parata Photo Credit: Neena Bhandari

By Neena Bhandari

Wellington, 03.12.2005 (The Australian): In the freezing cold, a mellifluous voice penetrates the stillness as we are treated to a traditional Powhiri or Maori welcome ceremony before being ushered into the Maori Treasures complex near Wellington.

Powhiri is the protocol for establishing a new relationship with all the five senses – sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. The ceremony is completed with a Hongi or pressing of noses, which acknowledges sharing the same air and touching foreheads, signifying sharing the same knowledge. After this, from a visitor one becomes tangata whenua (people of the land).

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Women in Australian film & Television

10/08/2004 0 Comments read Arts, Entertainment & Lifestyle, Gender

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 10.08.2004 (WFS): For women in the film and television industry in Australia, it has been a long and arduous struggle to achieve gender equity on and off screen. Much of the changes in the portrayal of women on screen have come about with women filmmakers challenging patriarchal attitudes and making a mark not only in the field of script writing, direction and production, but also technical fields of cinematography, design, sound and editing.

Not long ago, a woman with a professional camera in public would be met with sighs and disbelief. The general notion was that women worked as production secretaries, negative cutters or in the editing, research, makeup and wardrobe sections.

One of the first woman cinematographers, Martha Ansara, recalls how she had cried on the steps of the Sydney Town Hall before shooting a demonstration.” You were made to feel as though you were from Mars. It wasn’t easy to be walking around with a camera on your shoulders”.

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