“Visibility means possibility”: Phoebe Tonkin and Stan celebrate International Day of the Girl

From child and forced marriage to being denied an education, all around the world, girls are still subjected to exclusion, inequality and human rights abuses every single day. And while remarkable progress has been made on gender equality, too many barriers remain that hold girls back from reaching their full potential.

To mark International Day of the Girl today on October 11th, humanitarian and girls’ rights charity Plan International Australia – together with its 2024 youth advocates and celebrity ambassador, Hollywood actor Phoebe Tonkin – has joined forces with streaming service Stan to provide an inspiring selection of movies and television that smash gender stereotypes and champion girls in all their diversity.

Launched on International Day of the Girl, an exclusive collection of 25 films and television series, specially curated by Tonkin and 15 Plan International Australia youth advocates, will be available to watch on the Stan platform for one week.

“Film and media can be profoundly influential. Although there has been progress - with an exciting and growing number of diverse filmmakers making more positive and authentic depictions of women and girls in all their diversities - women are not nearly portrayed enough as leaders on screen, and when they are they’re far more often sexualised than men. This undermines girls and can have a real impact on their aspirations,” said Tonkin.

“When films, TV shows and the media reflect the diversity of young people - including our experiences, emotions and opinions - we feel empowered to be ourselves and to be proud of who we are. The greatest example of this is how spotlighting women and girls in sports, such as the Matildas most recently, has encouraged young girls to get into sports. Films like Whip It! and Bend it Like Beckham exemplify this and show girls that they are strong and deserve to be on the sports field, not just boys,” added youth advocate Tegan.

As a leading humanitarian and girls rights organisation, Plan International led a coalition of supporters to lobby the UN to create International Day of the Girl 12 years ago. And Plan continues to rally its supporters and friends to amplify girls’ voices not only on this day, but every day.

Stan Original Bump Season 1: Angie Chalmers (Claudia Karvan) and Dom Chalmers (Angus Sampson) at hospital with Oly's new baby and hospital counsellor (Ana Maria Belo)

Full list of films and television series available on Stan

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging
Bend it Like Beckham
Bride and Prejudice
First Wives Club
Frida
Mamma Mia!
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Relic
My Brilliant Career
Promising Young Woman
Suffragette
Whip It
Bump
Call the Midwife
Minx
Such Brave Girls
The L Word: Generation Q
I am Woman
Belle
Edge of Seventeen
The good fight
Little Bird
We are Parts
The Originals
Vampire Diaries

See also: Stan has ordered more Bump from Rough Diamond as series breaks records