CELEBRATING WOMEN IN CULINARY ARTS
You can help build powerful community around reimagining what’s possible for women in the culinary arts by joining Woman’s Place Wednesday – a weekly dinner & movie event celebrating women-led restaurants, “A Woman’s Place” film and the James Beard Foundation mentorship program.
BREAKING BREAD TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS
Starting the first Wednesday in May you can join KitchenAid in their ongoing support of women in culinary by gathering your family and friends, ordering takeout from a women-led restaurant and settling in to watch “A Woman’s Place” – now available on YouTube. When the film is over, join in a lively discussion around the film and the issues it raises and spread the word by posting your discussion responses and/or a picture of your meal on Instagram, tagging @kitchenaidusa and using #culinaryequality. Keep coming back for “seconds” on consecutive Wednesdays in May for more ways to engage, and if you’ve already seen the film, invite a friend to re-watch with you or spread the word!
HOW “A WOMAN’S PLACE” CAME TO BE
Women have been impacting the culinary world in profound and positive ways for decades, but they’ve been forced to take a backseat to their male counterparts due to unfair bias in professional kitchens. KitchenAid, a company that recognizes and celebrates the important role women have played in their own success and the culinary world in general, couldn’t stand by as this inequality continued. They’ve partnered with Vox Creative to make “A Woman’s Place,” a short documentary film by Academy Award Winning Director Rayka Zehtabchi.
The film tells the stories of three women in culinary today – a restaurateur, a chef de cuisine and a butcher. As their stories unfold, we get an intimate look at their passions and their struggles. We see firsthand the challenges they face as they work to make their mark and create real change, not just for themselves, but for the industry as a whole.
For a behind the scenes look at “A Woman’s Place,” see our story, Serving Femininity with a Side of Grit.
WOMEN-LED RESTAURANTS NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW MORE THAN EVER
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating toll on women in the workforce in the United States. According to NPR, 2 million women left the workforce in 2020, either because they were forced out or they had to quit as they faced the challenges of balancing child care with work. Industries that have traditionally been dominated by women – like hospitality – suffered the greatest losses. Next time you’re looking to order out, on a Wednesday or any other day of the week, consider supporting a women-led restaurant in your area.
POSSIBILITIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
To help overcome gender inequality in professional kitchens, KitchenAid has joined forces with the James Beard Foundation (JBF), a long-standing supporter of women in culinary. Through the James Beard Foundation Mentorship Program, KitchenAid will provide critical support and resources to women with educational tools and mentorship designed to help women build and grow their business.
LISTEN, TAKE ACTION, SHARE
Take a stand for #CulinaryEquality. Discover how you can challenge bias, support women in the culinary arts and support the industry at large.
