📣🚨 Action Alert | Forks Over Knives Chooses Men Over Women
When Michele Simon, JD, MPH called out Forks Over Knives for their upcoming manel, “The Rise in Plant-Based Living”, she was met with a lot of criticism. “It’s a reunion of the people featured in the film,” they said. “You’re insulting the woman listed as moderator by calling her ‘the token woman’,” they said. “You spelled panel wrong,” they, well HE, said. All we know is that when Michele saw the promo for the upcoming webinar, she saw five white men listed as speakers and only one woman, who was listed as moderator, and she was fed up on behalf of the women and people of color who have been integral to the rise of the plant-based diet movement.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Not only is this an insight into the fact that gender inequality is still common and normalized across industries, but it is also a demonstration of the repeated imbalance that is all too easy to find and that is often defended by people in the industry. When the Forks Over Knives documentary was released 10 years ago, it featured mostly white men (the current panelists). 10 years is plenty of time for that error to be acknowledged and corrected. However, when dealing with supporters like this LinkedIn commenter, it’s clear why Forks Over Knives feels they have done no wrong.
The panel created the original film. No way these are racist women haters. These men have done exceptional work and have truly done their bit to change the world. I suggest you delve deeper into their careers and into who they are as human beings. I suggest that you are barking up the wrong tree here, slamming this remarkable set of humans is silly and kinda stinks.
They just don’t get it. Despite who was on the original panel, there is room for the inclusion of women at the table. There is room to grow their visible sphere, to show that growth and change is normal after 10 years, to correct the mistake of choosing only white men a decade earlier, and to expand that conversation.
Take action and help us create that change going forward, because we know you believe as we do that Dr. Simon is barking up the right tree.
And keep using the GA Tally app to count and share the gender balances you see in panels, lists, awards shows, and more. Together, we can ensure women have their place at the table.
Dr. Michele Simon called out plant-based lifestyle doc @ForksOverKnives for choosing to honor its 10th anniversary with an all-white #manel, but they’d rather feel insulted than do the work. It’s not a slam, it’s a wake-up call, guys. #GenderAvenger https://www.genderavenger.com/blog/action-alert-forks-over-knives-chooses-men-over-women