Local, USA

Girl Talk: A Local, USA Special

Set in the cutthroat, male-dominated world of high school debate, GIRL TALK tells the compelling story of five girls on the diverse, top-ranked Massachusetts team at Newton South. Often talked over, underrepresented and judged differently than their male counterparts, each girl learns to navigate gender biases, reminding us that equal rights and freedom of expression are worth fighting for.

Girl Talk: A Local, USA Special

1h 25m

Set in the cutthroat, male-dominated world of high school debate, GIRL TALK tells the compelling story of five girls on the diverse, top-ranked Massachusetts team at Newton South. Often talked over, underrepresented and judged differently than their male counterparts, each girl learns to navigate gender biases, reminding us that equal rights and freedom of expression are worth fighting for.

Previews + Extras

  • Girl Talk: A Local, USA Special | Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Girl Talk: A Local, USA Special | Preview

    S7 E1 - 30s

    Set in the cutthroat, male-dominated world of high school debate, GIRL TALK tells the compelling story of five girls on the diverse, top-ranked Massachusetts team at Newton South. Often talked over, underrepresented and judged differently than their male counterparts, each girl learns to navigate gender biases, reminding us that equal rights and freedom of expression are worth fighting for.

  • Girl Talk: A Local, USA Special | Trailer: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Girl Talk: A Local, USA Special | Trailer

    S7 E1 - 1m 45s

    Set in the cutthroat, male-dominated world of high school debate, GIRL TALK tells the compelling story of five girls on the diverse, top-ranked Massachusetts team at Newton South. Often talked over, underrepresented and judged differently than their male counterparts, each girl learns to navigate gender biases, reminding us that equal rights and freedom of expression are worth fighting for.

  • Girl Talk | Perceptual Dominance: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Girl Talk | Perceptual Dominance

    S7 E1 - 2m 3s

    Meet the Newton South High School debate team, one of the largest in the U.S. with a diverse roster - nearly half are girls and many are first generation. What the girls must achieve at the podium is perceptual dominance as they contend with the judges' opinions simply because they are not the boys.

  • Girl Talk | A Balance Between Self and a "Good Debater": asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Girl Talk | A Balance Between Self and a "Good Debater"

    S7 E1 - 1m 24s

    Bella, a co-captain of the Newton South High School debate team, shares the struggle of maintaining her feminine identity and that of a confident debater. Even today, dress code is one relevant point in presentation at tournaments with girls wavering between skirts and pants.

  • Girl Talk | Motivational Failure: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Girl Talk | Motivational Failure

    S7 E1 - 1m 40s

    The Newton South High School debate team has dealt with its share of disappointment but it doesn't stop them from moving on and up. Told to "be more Oprah," varsity member Gil is fueled by judgement of her poise rather than her points.

  • Girl Talk | Expression in More Than One Language: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Girl Talk | Expression in More Than One Language

    S7 E1 - 1m 1s

    Hannah, a varsity member of the Newton South High School debate team, sees debating as more than speaking. As a first generation child of Vietnamese refugees, communication is key in her life at home and school, recognizing how the world perceives her and her family.

  • Girl Talk | Standing Up, Speaking Out: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Girl Talk | Standing Up, Speaking Out

    S7 E1 - 1m 4s

    Gaby, a novice member of the Newton South High School debate team, is discovering what it takes to stand up for herself as a person which translates over to the world of debate. Disagreeing is a challenge when everything you knew before told you otherwise.

  • Girl Talk | A Style of Her Own: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Girl Talk | A Style of Her Own

    S7 E1 - 1m 59s

    Anika, a novice member of the Newton South High School debate team, isn't afraid to stick to her particular style of debating. Her individuality together with talent, tenacity and an unmatched drive makes Anika a force to be reckon with at tournaments.

  • Girl Talk | Judgement Day: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Girl Talk | Judgement Day

    S7 E1 - 1m 36s

    High school debaters like the ones on the top-ranking Newton South High School team understand what the judges want to hear and see. Former and current debaters share the implicit and explicit gender and racial biases and expectations they encounter when they get up to debate.

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