Smashing Stigmas: Crowdfunding Picks | Women and Hollywood [Video]

In her deeply personal book “The Cancer Journals,” Audre Lorde wrote about the value of speaking up. “My silences had not protected me,” she revealed. “Your silence will not protect you.” In fighting breast cancer, Lorde upended the stigma associated with the disease by writing honestly and openly about her experience. Ultimately, she highlighted how universally important it is to speak out about our own experiences, especially those that bear the weight of stigma.

Our latest round of crowdfunding picks feature women filmmakers who are spotlighting stigmatized issues that have personally impacted them. Each one is using her voice to spark a larger conversation.

First, Grace Philips’ short, “Dorris, 85,” mines the filmmaker’s own experience caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease to explore the meaning of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis with nuance, compassion, and respect. Then, Sarah Moshman’s documentary film, “Angelina,” tackles postpartum depression from the perspective of comedian Angelina Spicer, who relays her story of …