Fairytales for Girls is a crowdsourcing online platform aimed at reshaping the way women and girls are portrayed in literature. Historically, global culture has depicted women and girls as passive figures, focusing more on their appearance than their ambitions. Initiated by Russian feminist activists from a socio-cultural project Eve’s Ribs, Fairytales for Girls seeks to change that narrative by inviting users to write and submit new stories that empower girls to be brave, resourceful, and strong. Contributors not only write stories but also illustrate and translate them through community efforts, creating a collaborative environment where anyone can participate. In the increasingly repressive environment, where Russian authorities are pushing a “traditional values” agenda and censor feminist activists, the online format allows the initiative to reach a wide audience of readers and participants located all over the world.
Theory of Change
Empowering women and girls through online platforms and crowdsourced, feminist-driven storytelling and illustrations challenges traditional gender roles and promotes gender equality driving transformative social impact.
Activities
The platform serves as a virtual bookshelf filled with modern feminist fairytales for girls and women, and some stories even find their way onto physical bookshelves through publication. Fairytales for Girls marks stories for younger and older girls and adults, ensuring that each fairytale is suited to the appropriate age group. Many stories are translated by volunteers, making them accessible in multiple languages, including Russian, English, and German. The tales are promoted via social networks. The platform occasionally hosts online events where users can share their fairytales, fostering a community of like-minded individuals committed to empowering girls through literature.
Results
On its website Fairytales for Girls has successfully built a library of over 60 feminist fairytales written by a diverse group of contributors, ranging from mothers and fathers to grandparents and even children themselves. The collaborative nature of the platform has allowed it to grow into a hub for storytelling, where users can share and discover fairytales that promote self-belief and resilience in girls.
