Tackling women’s negative experiences
A young actress and writer hailing from Ballyduff Upper in Waterford is embarking upon a new project inspired by the ‘countless stories’ of women who are victims of sexual assault and violence that is perpetrated by men.
Martha Dunlea, whose love of the arts is rooted in the Ballyduff Drama Group where she began her career as an actress, has written a short film called ‘U home?x’. The film, says Martha, was borne from an increasing awareness of the types of conversations women have versus their male counterparts.
The title itself is a reference to a common occurrence for women - to check that their friends, sisters, mothers and others - got home safely and the fact that a man will rarely need to be checked on the same way, or even be aware that this messaging happens every night and every weekend, by every group of girls who go out at night.
While she began her career in the arts as an actress and has directed one short film before, this is the first film she has written. Ms Dunlea received an Agility Grant from the Arts Council last year for her writing project which allowed her to take herself 'seriously as a writer’.
'RARELY TALKED ABOUT'
The film is focused on a woman walking home and the number of times that her ‘flight or fight’ instinct kicks in on that walk home and invites a broader conversation about taking risks versus overreacting when walking home alone at night, through a carpark, or even waiting at a bus stop.
“I’m giving a voice to those thoughts we have. We even gaslight ourselves, telling ourselves ‘Oh, I was overreacting’. But if something happens, people will say ‘Oh well, why did you walk home alone?’”
“The anger made the writing process easier. I wanted to do something productive with that outrage. I have a firm hope to educate and highlight and give an authentic voice to those experiences. We often only hear of the murders, the sexual assault victims, but it’s rarely talked about’.
Although there are high-profile cases that could easily be referenced, Ms Dunlea is reluctant to use these victims’ names as the experience is universal and should not be limited to these ‘famous’ cases.
“This is about societal change, I want to give a voice to women and the terror that we go through, which is a reality men don’t often encounter or deal with”.
Fundraising for the project is ongoing, with a goal to raise €15,000. Donations of any size are happily accepted €1,000 will be accepted in exchange for an Executive Producer credit and donations of €500 for an Associate Producer credit. Further details can be found at greenlit.com/ project/u-homex. The film is supported by both ‘Minding Creative Minds’ and The Cork Sexual Violence Centre.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, the Sexual Violence Centre Cork can be called freephone on 1800 496 496, or text on 087 1533 393.