Our Project
Posted by meaganobrienINTRODUCTION
Against the Grind started out as only a bike trip that Jessica Barnthouse proposed to Rachel Wiederhoeft in the summer of 2010. “What better way to experience the country than at the pace of a bicycle?” It seemed perfectly reasonable to Jessica and Rachel, but they were soon told by many that this was an extraordinary trip. “I’m jealous!” some would proclaim, but were unable to envision themselves leaving jobs, homes, and friends behind.
In initial discussions, Rachel and Jessica began to recognize the significance of traveling long term. Their parents, friends, and co-workers were astounded by the scope of such a trip. They asked, “How long?” and balked at the answer, “Until the money runs out.” Even more so, they were afraid for Rachel and Jessica’s well-being due to the lack of male presence and the protection a man would provide on the road.
Generally, bicycle touring has been the domain of solo men or coupled men and women. Against the Grind is here to prove that just like in many areas of life, this doesn’t have to be the standard. Rachel and Jessica are both filmmakers by trade, so they decided to turn the cameras on themselves. By chronicling their story through documentary film shorts with an emphasis on contemporary women’s rights issues, they will use the medium they know best to introduce feminism to bike touring.
In addition, Rachel and Jessica plan to add significant value to Against the Grind through a charitable fundraising partnership. Although the partnership is still in its infancy, they are developing a plan to team up with women’s empowerment organizations (keeping private until secured), they will assist in spreading the good work of these organizations nationally while highlighting the benefits to be gained when women strike out on their own.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Rachel and Jessica quickly discovered that the concerned comments about their traveling alone stem from larger issues surrounding women alive today. The United States has a long way to go before full equality is met despite the significant strides (such as the right to vote, Title IX, etc) already made.
Consider the following:
- In the United States today, 1 in 6 women have experienced sexual assault. Only 40% of these rapes are actually reported to the police.
- 1 in 5 women are struggling with an eating disorder in the US today, with 33% of them having fully developed their eating disorders between the ages of 11 and 15.
- Sexism and violence against women are being perpetuated through film, television, and worship of celebrity culture. Example: Charlie Sheen celebrated on Twitter for “#winning”, despite the fact that he has a history of domestic violence against two of his former wives.
- Women are also earning an average of $1 million less than men over their lifetimes, across ALL job fields. If you’re a woman with a Masters degree, you make $2 million less.
- In 2010, women held only 14.4% of Executive Officer positions in Fortune 500 companies.
- The American educational system still favors boys. Women are less likely to succeed in math and science, with only 18.5% of the engineering degrees earned in 2010 being awarded to women.
These are all conquerable problems, but only if people are made aware of how they view women, talk to and about women, and how society sanctions de facto discrimination.
In the medium that Rachel and Jessica know well, they will shed light on these trends in an effort to sculpt a new American standard for the treatment of women. Through research and word-of-mouth networking, Rachel and Jessica will film stories from every corner of the country. Each story will highlight a critical issue faced by women in America every day.
There will be interviews with social workers, police officers, and a few brave sexual assault survivors. They will shed light on why women are still victims of sexual violence, and what our society can do to fight against it. Victim blaming is common place, but what are these women doing to prove they weren’t “asking for it”? How has law enforcement progressed in only a few short decades in believing women’s accounts over their assailant’s? These are the most tragic and violent of the stories to be told from the road, but they are the most important because every woman in America faces the real possibility of assault.
In the opposite direction, Rachel and Jessica will seek out female entrepreneurs and executives, working mothers, psychologists, politicians, and women in entertainment. These women are carving out a place for themselves in the work force despite salary gaps, possible workplace sexual harassment, and the stigma of being a bad mother– the list goes on. Their experiences could be seen as disheartening, but in actuality, these stories are inspiring because these women are shattering glass ceilings, often without accolade. All this to showcase the strength women find within their spirits and prove that each of us can embark on whatever adventure strikes our fancy.
On a personal level, Rachel and Jessica will publicly examine the affects these statistics have had on them. Although people worldwide are embarking on long-term travel, especially by bicycle, there are so few stories about the real impact this can have on those closest to the adventure. Through the video shorts series, the viewer will ride along with these ladies as they document the harsh realities of why so few women take to the road.
CHARITIABLE PROJECT DESCRIPTION
While a documentary can reach many and provoke thoughtful discourse, the real changes to our culture are being made at the ground floor with non-profits who run programs for young women. It is through a partnership still in development that the mission of Against the Grind will truly be fulfilled.
CONCLUSION
Against the Grind is a multi-faceted project with one common thread: that the empowerment of women can change lives. Rachel and Jessica’s lives will forever be changed by their own adventure on the road, by the women they meet and film, by the funds they will raise to spread Dirt Divas, and by using both their blog and video to reflect on the emotional impact of being a woman biking across America today. They can only go as far as their own will can drive them, but with the support of thousands of women and girls behind them, the road will be gentle and wide.
