The International Museum of Women Wants Your Story (Men Too!)

After including Imagining Ourselves: Global Voices from a New Generation of Women in my post about Giving Circle Book Groups, someone from the International Museum of Women asked me if I would post the submission guidelines for Imagining Ourselves, "an online global exhibit featuring art, photographs, essays and film by young women in their 20s and 30s answering the questions, "What defines your generation?"

They are accepting film, audio, images and text on these issues:

War & Dialogue: Women's Perspectives
Deadline for submissions: October 1, 2006

Let us take you beyond the headlines and show you how war is affecting the lives of young women around the world-both in conflict zones and outside them. As a result of recent fighting, millions of people are living in diaspora, migration is the trademark of this generation; what is it like to start a new life in a new place? We are interested to hear your personal experiences, your thoughts on media stereotypes of certain religious and ethnic groups, and your views on how violent conflict has affected your life. What are the positive contributions young women are making towards resolving wars- both in their own countries and globally? The media doesn't tell us all the stories, especially once the world has moved on to the next hotspot. Tell us yours.

Young Men: How Do We See Each Other?
Deadline for submissions: December 1, 2006

We have spent all this time finding out what women around the world think about the world and the issues affecting them. But now we’re taking the time to ask young men the same question. We want to know how young men regard young women when it comes to the topics we have explored so far in Imagining Ourselves. Browse our exhibit and give us your views.

Themes to consider:
Love – dating and marriage,
Money – balancing work and family and equal pay for equal work
Culture & Conflict – migration, devotion and conflict
The Future – charting a path

Motherhood: A Life-Changing Experience
Deadline for submissions: February 1, 2007

One of the most life-changing experiences in a woman’s life is that of having and caring for a child. These days women are having children later and some are not having children at all. Family structures around the world are changing, yet mothers are most often the parent who will stay at home with young children. Child birth itself is a risk for many mothers around the world. Did you know that the 530,000 annual deaths that arise from pregnancy and childbirth complications are preventable? Share your stories on motherhood with us, and discuss your ideas on better maternal healthcare worldwide.

Image & Identity: Culture behind clothes

Deadline for submissions: May 1, 2007

Appearances aren’t everything, or are they? Join us in exploring the world of self-expression. Some people express themselves through the style of clothes they wear. Clothes can express a part of who we are or the culture we represent. A lot of young women today are also becoming increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability. Are green, recycled, or eco-chic clothes a part of your wardrobe? In a time when going to the plastic surgeon is as easy as booking an appointment at the dentist, what kind of body image do young women have today? Send us your answers to these questions and your work. We are looking for original clothing designs, photographs, film, essays and more. These months are all about exploring the different ways we shape our identity (express ourselves), whether it be through our culture, the music we listen to, or the clothes we wear. How do you express yourself?

Film Festival: A cinematic experience online
Deadline for submissions: July 1, 2007

Take part in this unique experience – a two month film festival – online! This is an amazing chance for up and coming women filmmakers to have their work viewed by a worldwide audience. We are looking for all types of films – documentaries, short films, animation, music videos, basically any kind of film you can think of, they just have to be made by a female director.

For more information about how to submit your story, click here.

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