Astronaut Leland Melvin and award-winning rap artist Common came together at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to discuss the role men can play in changing the ratio.
In an inspiring and revealing session, the two men of colour shared their hopes and fears for a better world today.
It was a great show which included a spontaneous rap by Common of his song The Day Women Took Over. Despite the many parties in this town, it was rewarding to skip out and be moved by two great men, genuinely committed to equality for women.
MAKERS is the largest storytelling platform for the trailblazing women of today and tomorrow, and features more than 4,500 original videos as well as 400 MAKERS interviews.
MAKERS’ newest initiative, MAKERS Men, highlights men who have taken concrete actions to help make the world a more equal place for women.
Music, art and language have always held a critical place in the world for challenging limiting beliefs and the various ‘isms’ (racism, sexism and so on), and so it was I who skipped out of Twitter Beach and the fine French rosé and comfy confines on offer to listen to two men share what it was like to be a minority, to be poor, and to be under-represented, but through sheer grit, achieved success in their fields.
Today, they are using their reach and influence to remind us all language, and perpetuating stereotypes through derogatory language, is socially irresponsible and needs to stop with us all.
While research shows most men support gender equality (over 70 per cent), just 7 per cent would call themselves feminists. The language of change and the enthusiasm of Melvin and Common to announce they are indeed proud to say they are feminists, was heartening.
Men – all men in this industry – be the change you want your daughters, your sisters, your wives, your husbands to be. Join the 3% Australasia movement now.
