The viral campaign to send girls to see 'Wonder Woman' will warm your heart.
Representation matters, and this group is bridging that gap.
[rebelmouse-image 19475388 dam="1" original_size="450x186" caption="All GIFs from "Wonder Woman"/Warner Bros./YouTube." expand=1]All GIFs from "Wonder Woman"/Warner Bros./YouTube.
The new "Wonder Woman" movie isn't just good, it's important.
That's why the Legion of Women Writers started a GoFundMe campaign to send 70 high-school-aged girls from Girls Inc. in New York to see the movie.
It's "important for young girls to get to experience seeing a woman as the hero on the big screen," the group's three co-founders, Char Martinetti, Carly Lane, and Swapna Krishna, wrote in an e-mail.
They chose to support Girls Inc. because of the group's own commitment to showing girls what they're capable of. "Since Legion of Women Writers is all about women supporting women and representation and inclusion in media, it made perfect sense," they wrote.
With a few days to spare, the crowdfunding effort has been a huge success, surpassing the group's original goal. All funds raised beyond the cost of the movie tickets will go to Girls Inc. directly, which is cool because Girls Inc. does some truly great work for girls and young women.
This is just the latest in an emerging trend of crowdfunding the cost of movie tickets for underrepresented groups.
Earlier this year, multiple crowdfunding campaigns helped send girls to see the Academy Award-winning "Hidden Figures." And in February, Chance the Rapper liked Jordan Peele's "Get Out" so much that he bought out an entire theater on Chicago's South Side for the local community to see.
I bought all the tickets to #GetOut at Chatham Theatre on 87th Just pull up with ID and enjoy the movie.— Chance The Rapper (@Chance The Rapper) 1488138986
Legion of Women Writers has already committed to holding another fundraiser to send young black kids to see "Black Panther" when it hits theaters in 2018.
.@LegionofWomen will gladly hold a fundraiser to send young black kids to their own Black Panther screening like we… https://t.co/1LG8DIxUWe— Cher Martinetti (@Cher Martinetti) 1496495336
For women, people of color, LGBTQ folks, and others, it's still rare to see real representation in pop culture. Audiences are clearly interested in seeing themselves represented on screen — the success of "Hidden Figures," "Get Out," and "Wonder Woman" are proof of that.
In Hollywood, nothing talks louder than money, and these fundraising campaigns are a great way to make sure studios recognize that audiences want more films like these while also making sure that the people who so desperately need to see themselves reflected in media can do so — regardless of how much a ticket costs.
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.