About FemTruth Youth
FemTruth Youth is a student-centered 501c3, founded in California in 2021, to create intentional space for students through the artivism of Silvia Young's Gaslit, A 3-Act Play, and its Coalition’s initiatives. Since the play’s release in 2019, the live campus performances have resonated with student audiences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a remarkable team pivoted from the Coalition Movement to debut an online fundraising performance directed by Naina Shastri, officially launching the non-profit FemTruth Youth. Due to overwhelming public interest, a scalable, turnkey toolbox was created for equitable distribution. Funds go toward raising awareness of gaslit pain by bringing this play to schools, organizations, and communities, and producing a short film for wider impact. Ultimately the goal of raising awareness is for legislative protections of human rights and change in societal norms.
“The voices of women and girls must be listened to! ‘Gaslit’ does just that and speaks to the need for equity and progressive healthcare reform to help support women and girls from all walks life who are continually questioned by the healthcare industry.”
Dr John Erickson
Councilmember, West Hollywood City
Our Mission
FemTruth Youth’s mission is to reimagine youth’s agency in school culture and curriculum, inclusive of gaslit menstrual-related pain and reproductive health with science-based body literacy and lived-experience storytelling.
The Issue
“It’s just a bad period” - “It’s in your head”.
By introducing inclusion and diversity through the lens of gender bias and discrimination in women’s health, FemTruth Youth aims to validate and inspire students in normalizing empowered, educated narratives by unlearning shame, stigma, and myths associated with menstruation. Common, yet debilitating, diseases and disorders discussed include endometriosis, adenomyosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), interstitial cystitis (IC), uterine fibroids, and related mental health.
About Gaslit, A 3-Act Play
Gaslit, A 3-Act Play was written by Silvia Young and published on April 8, 2019. Creatively unpacking the stigmatized and gaslit topic of menstrual-related pain dismissed as “just a bad period” or “in your head”, Gaslit A 3-Act Play brings the audience through awareness and validation to education and empowerment.
Gaslit, A 3-Act Play Performances
UC Davis, 2019
UC Berkeley, 2020
Youtube Livestream, 2021
NOW PLAYING:
Galentine's Day 2021 Gaslit Recording, Ongoing
Impact
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Raised $1,000+
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Received 501c3 status
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Partnered with three new organizations to produce original performances
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Presented a screening at the National Association of Commissions for Women’s Annual Conference
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Nominated for the prestigious WEGO Health Award for Group Performance
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4 co-authored policy recommendations
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FemTruth Curriculum Resolution
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FemTruth ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Resolution
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FemTruth Youth Women’s Health Awareness Month Resolution
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Empower Pupils Women’s Health Training proposed legislation.
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