Women and girls have long been pressured to conform to written and unwritten rules about how to think, act, look and feel. But a new generation of writers and activists are breaking down barriers to allow women and girls to show their real selves.  Hear from Wadjanbarra Yidinji, Jirrbal and African-American filmmaker and Gigorou author Sasha Kutabah Sarago and activist for sexual assault survivors and The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner author Grace Tame in conversation with disability and women’s rights advocate Hannah Diviney about their pathbreaking work.

This event is Auslan interpreted and open captioned.

Unfortunately Chloé Hayden is unwell and no longer able to attend Sydney Writers' Festival. This session will continue with Sasha Kutabah Sarago, Grace Tame and Hannah Diviney. 

Can’t make it down to Carriageworks to see this event – it’s available as part of our daily livestream. Find out more here.

Sasha Kutabah Sarago (Australian)

Sasha Kutabah Sarago

Sasha Kutabah Sarago is a Wadjanbarra Yidinji, Jirrbal and African-American writer, filmmaker and speaker. Her debut memoir Gigorou: It's time to reclaim beauty. First Nations wisdom and womanhood. was published by Pantera Press (2023). Sasha's TEDx talk 'The (De)colonising of Beauty' was selected as TED.com 2021 Editor's Choice. Sasha has also written and directed documentaries Too Pretty to Be Aboriginal and InsideOUT, with articles published in The Guardian, SBS Voices, Fashion Journal and Frankie magazines.

Grace Tame (Australian)

Grace Tame

Grace Tame is a leader of positive change. She is a survivor-advocate for victims of sexual assault, particularly those who were abused as children. On 25 of January, 2021, Grace was named Australian of the Year. Grace has since started The Grace Tame Foundation, which is a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation that campaigns for and helps fund initiatives that work to prevent and respond to sexual abuse of children and others.

Hannah Diviney (Australian)

Hannah Diviney

Hannah Diviney is a writer, advocate and actress (you can see her in Latecomers available on SBS on Demand) as well as the Editor in Chief of global media company Missing Perspectives. Her debut essay collection I'll Let Myself In will be out this September, published by Allen & Unwin.