All About Women 2022

Overview

Across the past nine years, Sydney's All About Women festival has featured sessions on everything from hip hop and toxic masculinity to the post-#MeToo era — and, for its tenth iteration in 2021, it's once again presenting an exciting and eclectic program. When the event returns across two days on Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13, it'll feature talks, panels, workshops and films about the future of women in Afghanistan, sexual entitlement, and pushing beyond the gender binary — as well as design, art and love.

Once again, the fest will take place around International Women's Day. While last year's festival of ideas focused on power structures that limit the female experience, 2022's edition pulls together an all-star cast to discuss a wide and far-reaching collection of topics surrounding gender, justice and equality.

Leading the lineup of speakers is advocate and former political staffer Brittany Higgins who will be joining British slam poet Joelle Taylor and beloved presenter Julia Zemiro for the Opening Night Gala. Debbie Millman — designer consultant for the likes of Maria Abramovic, Ai Weiwei and David Byrne, and host of the Design Matters podcast — will be discussing the importance of design in our lives and the merits of living creatively with Yumi Stynes.

Elsewhere on the lineup, Clementine Ford will be delivering a sermon on love; Laura Tingle and Anne Summers are deconstructing our always outlandish political landscape; a host of LGBTQIA+ storytellers will be taking to the stage for Queerstories; and Debra Keenahan, Elly-May Barnes and Eliza Hull will lead a discussion on parenting with a disability.

As for workshops, head in person and you'll have the chance to vent and seek council from Wiradjuri women Aunty Glendra Stubbs, Aunty Norma Ingram, Aunty Millie Ingram, and Aunty Bronwyn Penrith about problems in your life; learn to dye fabrics or seek advice on being successful from Flex Mami.

Returning this year is the option to livestream the talks and panels online if you can make it in person. Head to the Sydney Opera House's website to see what's on offer both in-person and online.

Jacquie Manning

Top image: Prudence Upton