Featured by SXSW EDU

post screening discussion
SXSW EDU

SXSW EDU 2025 Features Pioneers in Skirts For Tackling Issues Within Education

Excerpt from SXSW EDU call for entries article —

Calling all education-focused narrative or documentary filmmakers! Don’t miss the chance to have your film shared on the big screen at SXSW EDU 2025. Submit your film by 11:59pm PT on Friday, November 15.

The film program is a vital component of the SXSW EDU program, as films carry the potential to shed light on crucial matters and shape student’s perceptions. We take pride in spotlighting powerful films that delve into various issues impacting education around the world.

Since its inception in 2013, the SXSW EDU Film Program has helped tackle issues within education ranging from hazing and sexism to promoting student advocacy and supporting neurodiverse students including ADHD, and more. Past films screened at SXSW EDU include Pioneers in Skirts, Hidden Figures, Eighth Grade and many more that have left a lasting impression and prompted thoughtful reflection.

Following the screening, filmmakers will have the unique opportunity to participate in an audience Q&A session, forging a connection between the community and the film.

Share your powerful film with a large and diverse community of innovators and educators. Apply now through November 15 to showcase your film at SXSW EDU 2025!

See You at SXSW EDU 2025

Registration is open for SXSW EDU 2025! Take advantage early for the best rate and hotel options March 3-6, 2025 in downtown Austin.

Host a Screening of Pioneers in Skirts

“Pioneers in Skirts” is a social impact film about the issues that affect a woman’s pioneering ambition. Real-life stories and frank commentary leave viewers seeing their role in the solution, feeling hopeful, and motivated to act.

Watch Pioneers in Skirts online or host a group screening at your company or community!

Originally published at https://www.sxswedu.com/news/2024/submit-your-film-to-be-shared-on-the-big-screen-at-sxsw-edu/

Pioneers featured in ACTE Technique’s Magazine

In July 2021 we screened Pioneers in Skirts at the Association for Career & Technical Education IAED webinar series.  We gave a keynote presentation to the group, and participated in a one-on-one audience conversation about the barriers that women and female students face.

ACTE is a nonprofit membership organization on a mission to provide educational leadership in developing a competitive workforce. ACTE strives to empower educators to deliver high quality career and technical education (CTE) programs that ensure all students are positioned for career success.

It was such a fun and informative event to be part of.  We were honored to then be asked to be included in their upcoming magazine — Technique.

Technique is ACTE’s flagship publication for CTE professionals. 

Becton, Dickinson and Company joins forces with the producers of Pioneers in Skirts

Becton, Dickinson and Company joins forces with the producers of Pioneers in Skirts

Throughout the month of March BD is hosting a series of virtual events to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD), including a panel discussion with BD leaders and the filmmakers behind the documentary feature “Pioneers in Skirts” on challenging gender inequality and fostering inclusivity.

BD regularly holds discussions related to inclusion and diversity to further build learning and growth together, and to drive better awareness on these critical issues. In addition to supporting associates, BD strives to advance gender equality in the community.

To help expand the global reach of “Pioneers in Skirts” and its message on gender parity, BD has sponsored the development of subtitles in Arabic, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Simplified Chinese. These subtitles will be added just in time for a March 18th screening of the documentary during the 2021 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) two-week session.

“Given the global nature of the United Nations session it’s vital that our film be accessible to a broader audience,” said Ashley Maria, Director, Producer and Co-writer of “Pioneers in Skirts.” “We want to thank BD for the sponsorship that made it possible and for their willingness to engage in the difficult conversations necessary to produce actionable change.”

BD made “Pioneers in Skirts” available for all associates to view and its Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) Associate Resource Group (ARG) hosted two follow-up panel discussions. One of BD’s nine ARGs, WIN provides BD associates with opportunities for networking, mentorship and professional development, as well as advocating for an inclusive culture that embraces a diversity of skills and ideas.

Ashley and “Pioneers in Skirts” Producer Lea-Ann W. Berst joined the discussions which were moderated by Ami Simunovich, EVP & Chief Regulatory Officer, and Joni Anderson, VP Regulatory Affairs, BD Interventional. Among the many topics discussed were the importance of conscious inclusion training, the role of sponsors and mentors in women’s career journeys, and male allyship. 

“BD fosters a culture where associates are encouraged to speak up because it builds trust and gets to better outcomes faster, both in the course of their day-to-day work and on difficult topics such as gender equality,” said Johnel Evans, Vice President, Inclusion & Diversity, BD. “I want to thank Ashley and Lea-Ann for sharing their powerful story and facilitating an important conversation about the barriers faced by women and how can all work together to break them down.”

For more on BD’s celebration of IWD, watch the above videos to learn how associates #ChooseToChallenge inequality and drive inclusiveness.

Originally shared in BD News.

Pioneering the Gender Equality Conversation

Film Review from Asha Saha, a 26-year-old woman based in Valencia, Spain. She received her Master of Science with Data Networks & Security in the UK. She was one of 3 women in her class and the youngest. One day, a classmate from Kenya, Simone, came to congratulate her on breaking the stereotype and that’s when she realized that even in a first world country, it doesn’t take too long for the inequality to start showing. Yet some might still be oblivious to it.

Currently, Saha is working towards specializing in marketing automation and founded her company, Spokesperson, to work with female and LGBTQIA+ owned businesses in the USA, UK, and Europe. She truly believes “unless you surround yourself with the kind of stories you want to listen to, you won’t hear them.”

In the workplace, progress has been made to bridge the gap between the genders, but we still have a long way to go until we see them getting implemented at the grassroots levels. Do women and men get responsibilities because of their capabilities? Are women held back because of preconceived notions attached to their gender roles? How do we change it?

Change starts with a discussion.

We need to have a discussion on how it affects us. We need to talk about why it must stop. We need to educate men and women about the gap that exists and what we can do to close it. We can only start when we see ourselves as equals, not as men or women. And we need to start now!

Spearheading the conversation, is a feature-length documentary, Pioneers in Skirts, discussing the gender bias and sexism women confront in their careers. Their relatable storytelling offers strategies for what we all can do right now to move the culture past it — at work, in our society, and at home. At the heart of the film is the story of three girls finding their agency, strength, and confidence by entering a robotics competition; but, what’s most amazing about Pioneers in Skirts, is that there’s something to take away for every single person watching the film.

My favorite parts of the film —

One of my personal favorite key takeaways? Engaging men into the conversation. Gender equality cannot be seen as a continuing women’s rights issue but as a collaboration that leads to mutual autonomy and interdependence. Sweden and Norway show us that the introduction of parental leave has a positive effect on male take-up of parental leave, and then on men’s long-term involvement in household work and childcare. This reaps economic dividends, as women’s talents are no longer lost to the labor force, and having an involved father has a positive effect on children’s wellbeing. This reminds me of a particular scene from the movie, outlining how a relationship between a father and a daughter can make a huge difference in how empowered she can be.

Another thing I appreciated about this film is that it translates internationally. From Mumbai to Malibu, every woman will find at least one moment to sigh and relate. A working woman in the 21st century may have found emancipation even in a third world country but her choosing maternity worries her similarly as it does a working woman in a first world country. The pandemic has not only led to a “Shecession” but also led to a steep increase in violence against women and girls. Which makes it a social responsibility to have these conversations and have them now!

#BEthechange  #BEaPioneer

If you’re someone who wants to be a part of a conversation to make a difference, or to help this conversation reach more and more people, I recommend you watch this film. Use it as a conversation starter, or a means to bring about change in your professional and personal circle.

This film from a daughter-mother team is dedicated to fast-tracking the cultural change we need in order to achieve gender parity in the workplace.

So, what are you waiting for?