LW Recommends

LW RECOMMENDS

The latest Netflix series attracting attention is Women at War (Les Combattants). The creators are Cécile Lorne and Camille Treiner and in this lavish production they develop the stories of four women during the First World War, a sex worker, a nun, a nurse, and the head of a factory. It’s set in France and Belgium and shows how the lives of the women progress on the home front and interweave while the men are away at war.

This gripping crime story follows on from Without Prejudice using the same central character, Lee Mitchell, a young barrister from a working-class Caribbean background.

The plot concerns the 15-yearold son of the pastor who is shot in South London, leaving his parents and the local community shattered. The evidence points to a corrupt, racist police officer, Sergeant Jack Lambert, who demands that he is represented by Lee Mitchell. This is the last case the barrister wants to take on, as it overlaps uncomfortably with her personal life. Lee Mitchell grew up in the same area of South London and knows many of the people affected by the shooting, her mother even attends the same church where the pastor preaches.

Against her will, Lee does end up working as his defence barrister which puts her at the centre of the distrust in the community with 'Black Lives Matter!' echoing in the streets. Lee is left having to explain herself to her mother and boyfriend. The blurring between her personal and professional life raises moral dilemmas but Lee is determined to apply herself to the work unflinchingly despite what appears to be an indefensible act.

The characters and twists in the story make for a great read and for lawyers, it is a brilliant relief, that the author, as a barrister herself, has complete insight into the world of law so the crime thriller proceeds, without any gaffes, which can spoil a story when the author is not completely familiar with legal proceedings.

The comedian Deborah Frances-White has been inundated with awards for her work. As well as podcasts, there is a book and live shows. She hosts podcasts with world class guests and discusses activism, ideas that “all 21st century feminists agree on” but are honest about insecurities etc that can underlie principles. It shows how talk can create real change or is its own blurb says ‘This is the show that proves you don’t have to be perfect to be a force for meaningful change.’

BBC Sounds has an audio version of The Light We Carry written and read by Michelle Obama. It gives her insights and strategies for living in today’s uncertain world, highlighting the value of friendship and how she navigated this when she was thrust into the role as First Lady. One chapter deals with overcoming the feeling of being different or not belonging. She also talks about the now famous refrain ‘Going High’ and what that means to her.

Celebrating International Women’s Day on 8th March often extends into the whole month as there are so many events. The theme for 2023 is #EmbraceEquality. This emphasizes the role of male allies in recognising and involving themselves in the issues. Allies are incredibly important for the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women. Forging gender equity shouldn’t be limited to women solely working towards this goal. So holding an event at your workplace for everyone to attend is worthwhile so that it is clear how much it helps if a workplace is united in in recognising and addressing the problem. We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination and draw attention to bias. Workplace events dedicated to this can create a space for views on the work policies to aired. Acting collectively drives change throughout society and enables us all to embrace equity

You can find out more here – IWD: International Women's Day 2023 campaign theme: #EmbraceEquity (internationalwomensday.com)