"As important as it is to have a plan for doing work, it is perhaps more important to have a plan for rest, relaxation, self-care, and sleep." - Akiroq Brost, author
Summer is here and we hope you get some well-deserved down time. At TWF, our work to progress gender equality is our mission and passion, but it is also challenging work. To sustain our drive and innovation, we know that it is sometimes necessary to press pause. While many of us won’t be travelling over the next few months, we are still aiming to carve out some time for self-care and rest. And what better way to recharge than diving into a great book, an interesting podcast, a movie or attending a festival?
Here is a roundup of some of TWF’s recommendations:
Visit
Film Festivals & Exhibitions
- “We Are Not Princesses” screened as part of the UNHCR Refugee Film Festival about four Syrian women living as refugees in Beirut (through July 7)
- EU-Asia Rainbow Docs Film Festival will screen a series of movies and talks with the aim of providing audiences with insights into the global LGBTI+ community (through July 11)
- Survivors of Sexual Violence tell their stories through an exhibition with Rainlily (through July 18)
- Women Direct. Korean Indies! – Korean Women Independent Film Series This movie series by the Hong Kong Art Centre highlights independent Korean films about women (through July 31)
Read
Non-Fiction
- 這是愛女，也是厭女 by 王曉丹, 余貞誼, 方念萱, 姜貞吟, 韓宜臻, 胡錦媛, 黃囇莉, 楊婉瑩, 孫嘉穗, 陳惠馨, 康庭瑜
- 大武山下 by 龍應台
- 以我之名 by 張曼娟
- Fierce Self-Compassion : How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive by Dr Kristin Neff
- Strong Female Lead by Arwa Mahdawi
- See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Abuse by Jess Hill
Memoir
- Golem Girl by Riva Lehrer
- Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zaunder
Fiction
- Women’s prize for fiction longlist (2021), including Torrey Peter’s Detransition, Baby, the first trans woman author to be nominated for the prize
Watch
Movies / TV Series
Listen
Podcasts
- BBC Women's Hour Series
- Postcards from Midlife
- Affirmation Pod (on self-care)
Whatever your plans are for the summer, do take some time out to rejuvenate. Remember that while rest often seems like a luxury, this period is actually a necessity for each of us to excel at our work, our relationships and our creative pursuits. Refreshed and re-energised, we look forward to renewing our efforts - individually and collectively - to create a gender equal city.
Get in touch at Fiona.Nott@twfhk.org.
