Barbara Miller | SWITZERLAND/GERMANY

Co-Presented by Arts Everywhere Festival

97 min | Partial Subtitles

#FemalePleasure portrays five courageous, smart and self-determined women, breaking the silence imposed by their archaic-patriarchal societies and religious communities. With incredible strength and positive energy, Deborah Feldman, Leyla Hussein, Rokudenashiko, Doris Wagner and Vithika Yadav are fighting for sexual liberation and autonomy for women, beyond religious rules and cultural barriers. But their victory comes at a high price: they all have experienced public defamation, threats and prosecutions, have been excommunicated by the society they grew up in and even received death threats by religious leaders and fanatics. 

This stirring documentary shows the universal mechanisms at work that determine the position of women today, spanning cultures, religions and continents: from Japan and India, to the Somali Muslim diaspora, the Hasidic community in Brooklyn, and the Catholic clergy in Europe. All protagonists have come to the same conclusion, that the female body is subjected to male lust and is often defined first and foremost by procreation, with little regard for female sexual pleasure and autonomy. 

These five women decided to speak up and are inspiring examples of how courage, strength, knowledge, and passion can indeed alter societal structures. 

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: Boarding House Gallery

Tickets: $15

Event: Community talkback with Carm de Santis (Sex Therapist and Lecturer in the Department of Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies at St. Jerome’s University) and Olive von Topp (Burlesque Performer and Sex Educator)