Code Red Synopsis
Entering womanhood isn’t always easy. When encountering periods, women and young girls often have to “go with the flow”. Presenting scientific facts and personal experiences with a comedic edge, “Code Red” de-stigmatizes period talk. This film is one of four short social-impact documentaries co-produced by GlobalGirl Media + Women’s Voices Now, summer 2018.
About the Code Red Youth Filmmakers
Eva Bassel is a second generation immigrant from her father’s side, who came from Senegal, Africa to New York when he was 26. During the economic recession, her mother – the sole provider of a single parent household – lost her job and they experienced low-paid and unstable jobs, and many nights without food. With the help of programs like A Better Chance, she was given access to great education, where she participates in activities like speech, debate and waterpolo, as well as heads clubs like Model UN.
She is currently an Admissions Ambassador for her school. Through GlobalGirl Media, she hopes to shed light on world issues on a variety of platforms and inspire change in communities to make the world a better, more equal and more aware place.
Rickeyna Fields attends the University of California, Merced and is currently in her gap year. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Rickeyna has always had a love and passion for Art and Social Justice. Rickeyna is an active public speaker for EmpowHer Institute and has had her work showcased in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In her free time, Rickeyna likes to design, photograph, and make videos.
Estrella Lopez was brought up in an Indigenous household in East Los Angeles where her indigenous culture is valued and she speaks three languages: English, Spanish, and Nahuatl. She attended Garfield High School where she was the Track and Field Captain (All-city athlete), Speech and Debate President, and Chair of our M.E.Ch.A organization.
She is currently studying Political Science at California State University of Los Angeles, with a newfound interest in social work and politics. She interns at the East Los Angeles Women’s Center as an Executive Coordinator, assisting office works, presentations, and community pop-ups. One day, she hopes to run for political office and represent East Los Angeles as a Congresswoman.
Erika Martinez is a rising senior at Hoover High School in Glendale, CA. She serves as news director and social media manager for her school’s broadcast network. Martinez also serves as junior class representative in the Student Art Council, and a member of the California Scholarship Federation and Media Arts Academy, where she organized a Human Rights Art Gallery and a school-wide Art Week, and promoted the Art department at her high school. In her free time, she produces content for the Los Angeles Times High School Insider, volunteers for local city departments, and assists in a community event known as Teen Night Out.
She is passionate about youth activism and social issues, and was a lead organizer of her school’s walkout against gun violence on March 14th. From the Women’s March to March For Our Lives, she produced numerous media on local demonstrations, including a photograph of an indigenous tribe at an L.A. rally which was recognized by the City of Glendale . She intends to major in Journalism or Film Production with hopes to continue producing content on issues that affect youth and their communities.
Celeste Vaca is a 21-year-old student at California State University Northridge. She is currently pursuing a Journalism major with a minor in Spanish-Language Journalism. She is the author of That Awkward Life, a personal online diary that she shares through Weebly.com. As an Inglewood native, she has researched the recent gentrification that the city is undergoing with the new NBA stadium. She plans on becoming a multimedia journalist and wants to create digital content for media companies. She is currently working as a student assistant for CSUN’s Journalism department. She plans on graduating spring 2019.
Film Screening Guide
PRE-FILM REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- How/where did you learn what a period is, and about the menstrual cycle?
- Why do women have periods?
- Do you feel comfortable talking about your period (if you have one) or periods in general, with your friends and family? If so, what do those conversations sound and feel like?
- Do you think is it important to talk about periods?
- Should special exceptions be made for women and girls “on their period”?
- Do you think female professional capabilities are different than males because women and girls get a period?
POST-FILM DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- If period talk is a more approachable subject, what would be some benefits to society, not just for women and girls?
- A few of the girls in the film shared how family members told them it talking about periods isn’t “lady-like”. What do you think about that?
- Do you know about the tampon tax? Do you think the tampon tax should be repealed?
- Do you think women and girls face discrimination in the workplace and at school because they menstruate?
CALLS TO ACTION:
1. SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN, copy/paste:
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On Twitter and Facebook
#CodeRed on #period talk. Watch a short doc by #femaleyouth on opening up about #menstruation. #Destigmatize #female #flow, create #safespace for all. Join the #empathytoactionfilmclub #womensvoicesnow #bethechange @WomensVoicesNow @GlobalGirlMedia https://bit.ly/2UQzmtQ
On Instagram
#CodeRed on #period talk. Watch a short doc by #femaleyouth on opening up about #menstruation. #Destigmatize #female #flow, create #safespace for all. Join the #empathytoactionfilmclub #womensvoicesnow #bethechange @Womens_Voices_Now @GlobalGirlMedia https://bit.ly/2UQzmtQ
2. HOST A SCREENING OF THIS FILM using this screening guide:
At Home
At Your School
At Your Community Center
3. CHALLENGE THE “TAMPON TAX” in your state (unless it’s already been repealed):
- Find out if your state has a “tampon tax”. Click HERE. Scroll down to the “United States” section.
- If it does, find out who your STATE SENATOR is, and how to contact them. Click HERE.
- Send an e-mail to the state senator’s office (instructions will be on their website), OR give them a call. Write/Say the following:
Dear State Senator,
My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am one of your constituents. I believe that the value-added tax placed upon feminine hygiene products puts an unfair financial burden on female residents of our state. I ask that you propose legislation removing the “tampon tax”. Here is some language that I suggest to get our state started on this act of social justice:
“Existing sales and use tax laws impose a tax on retailers measured by the gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property sold at retail in this state, or on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property purchased from a retailer for storage, use, or other consumption in this state. Those laws provide various exemptions from those taxes.
This bill would exempt from those taxes the gross receipts from the sale in this state of, and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of, tampons, sanitary napkins, menstrual sponges, and menstrual cups.”
I look forward to your timely response to this important matter.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR CITY/DISTRICT NUMBER
4. SIGN UP for the Women’s Voices Now newsletter to receive monthly updates and #empathytoactionfilmclub campaigns (click on Sign-up on the homepage.)
2. RESOURCES
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Educational Apps/ Websites about Women’s Health and Tracking Guides
Reading Materials
- 5 US Laws that Reinforce Period Taboos
- Talking about periods beyond Gender — Clue
- Menstruation Stigma Must Stop. Period
- 4 Ways to make your period Positivity More Inclusive
Organizations Working to End the Stigma
Teaching and Learning Guides
- Teaching Tolerance: Equity, Period.
A Petition to sign
- Global Citizen: #ItsBloodyTime
Initiatives to support
- Period Game: Donate to this Kickstarter Campaign that’s developing a game all about de-stigmatizing menstruation!
If you have used this Film Screening Guide, let us know!
This film is a co-production of Women’s Voices Now and GlobalGirl Media, created in a co-produced youth summer program focused on empowering the next generation of women and femme-identifying activists, filmmakers, and feminists between the ages of 14-22 years old.
