A Woman Needs A Man, Like A Fish Needs A Bicycle: 5 female friendships on film
Gloria Steinem's important words in the world of feminism and one of my favourite phrases. Sure, I acknowledge the I'mportance of the men in my life but for me this more rings of the advocation of independence. As far as dependant relationships go, nothing makes me want to run for the hills more. The suggestion that we are incomplete until we find a partner has my skin crawling. That's why when I came across the BFI article listing seven female friendships in films, it got me thinking about something one of my friends once told me -- you should treat your relationships like your friendships, and your friendships like your relationships. It's the suggestion that you should put more energy into the platonic that is represented in my own list of 5 films in which strong female friendships take the forefront. 

Boys on the Side
My love of Drew Barrymore may enhance my fondness for this film, but that aside the friendships within it are certainly noteworthy. Though there may be some contradiction of Steinem's statement through a favouring of more traditional roles by some of the characters, the point of relying on your friends to get by certainly remains. It is Robin and Jane's friendship that stands strong in the end, displaying how it is often the one you least expect that will support you even at the hardest points.

Frances Ha
One of my all time favourite films, mainly due to Frances doing everything a little bit differently, you can see my full adoration of the film in a previous post. The protagonist clumsily fumbles her way through the narrative but the premise for throwing her off balance is not a man, but her altering relationship with best friend Sophie. For refusing to focus on the romantic side of life, Frances Ha is refreshing. It manages to display how romance is not only found in sexual relationships, but instead comes in a broad scope of possibilities. If the belief is to be held that there is someone out there for everyone, could that someone not be the closest person regardless of their relation to you?

Me Without You
Noted in BFI's list, I couldn't resist sharing this one. The story of two best friends growing up together, this may not be the healthiest example of a relationship but it displays the difficulties of female friendship when it is sparked from a young age. Learning to grow into your own when a friendship is so much of who you are presents a challenge. There is an exploration of how even our friendships have the potential to be dependant to the point of consuming us.

Ghost World
I will always have an attachment to Ghost World for resonating with what it is like to be on the outside. Enid and Rebecca's friendship demonstrates how it is easier to be different if you have someone to accompany you. Revealing the struggle of maintaining a closeness in the inevitable changes following school, through everything it remains that Enid and Rebecca's quips are still unrivalled. 

Death Proof
Tarantino's film may be centred around car chases but female friendships are a pivotal part to the narrative. Beginning with a focus on the light hearted side of things, when a threat is imposed it can be seen how female friendship prevails.

The Return of Neneh Cherry

I've always had a slight apprehension towards holding the famous as role models, finding it much more rewarding to seek inspiration in the every day acquaintances that offer a much greater connection to the personal. With Neneh Cherry, however, I have to make an exception. I have always greatly admired Neneh's fierce take on the world. Here is a woman that has decidedly marked out her own path, and after taking a hiatus of 18 years in order to raise her children, she is back with an album that speaks volumes of her long departed pop days.

First, it must be noted at how refreshing it is to see a successful female musician place the reasoning for her stint away from the musical world upon the fact that she didn't want to see her kids raised by other people. In a world that advocates the image of the woman who does it all, holding down a career while raising a family, there remains a lack of acknowledgement for the validation of choosing motherhood as a full time occupation. It seems strange to argue against how rewarding bringing new people into the world and watching them grow is, yet it seems to take a backseat to the depiction of the career woman striving to take on the business world. Though there are certainly arguments towards the cruciality of breaking the ever ominous glass ceiling, the core of equality is having the option to make those choices for yourself. Either way, at a time when artists such as Beyonce are placed in the limelight for being forward thinking when it comes to feminism, Neneh Cherry offers a true indication of what it is to pioneer women's liberation.

The arrival of Neneh's fourth solo album sees a transformation from her chart-topping youth. Produced by Four Tet's Keiran Hebden, the record takes a much more minimalist approach which allows Neneh's artistic flare to really take the forefront. A greater appreciation can be taken for the depth of her voice, which seems to have only strengthened in her time away from recording, and the sculpted lyrics that transcend topics such as the death of Cherry's mother and her menstrual cycle can be fully absorbed without an excess of embellishments. A far cry from the commercialisation of modern music, here are songs that actually have something to say for themselves. The artistic composition of the entire work is such that it resonates, leaving traces upon the person at mercy to its wonders. We can thank our lucky stars that Neneh is back, for here is a lady that will certainly transform the current state of modern music, remoulding it into something really worth caring about.

Wear Your Curls With Pride
When I was younger I used to loathe my curly hair. The unruly mess of spirals had more than a mind of its own and was met with nothing other than resentment. Years later I've learnt to love the big head of hair that I have been granted with. Perhaps after a bout with a shaved head an appreciation has been developed for having some locks to play with to pass the dull hours of the day. Then again, it becomes much easier to love my larger than life locks when I'm surrounded by such an array of curly inspiration. The bold, the beautiful and the all inspiring women that surround me. For the first time in my life I'm in good company with the hair of some of my closest ladies, perhaps providing the best indication of how radiant a bit of sisterly love can really be.

Wonderful Women
The arrival of International Women's Day yesterday acted as proof of all of the wonderful things that women continue to do with their time. Femme Fierce took to the streets of London in an attempt to make it into the record books, by aiming to paint the biggest graffiti mural created by multiple artists. Adding a dose of colour to the walls of Leake Street Tunnel in Waterloo, with the common theme of 'It's a woman's world', the group provided a clear indication of how a seemingly mundane place can be transformed by a collective creation. 

(all images © Ben Walters: Source)

The efforts of these women to come together to alter a public space in a way that enhances its beauty got me thinking about why the day was important to me. The fact that through it we get a recognition of what we can achieve when we work together, when we stand by each other, is what really sticks in my mind. It's that desire to strive to create a world in which we exist in a considerate and conscious way, celebrating each other's achievements and encouraging each and every person in their endeavours. That realisation that we are much stronger when we stand side by side, and far be it from this being a woman's world or a man's world, allowing this to be a world where we coexist in a way that breeds compassion and life in order to create a space in which each individual is able to blossom under the assurance of unconditional love and support.