Women’s issues have been front and center in many ways and for several years. While societal progress, activism, investment, and research are all essential, the stories of women—their individual situations and real, lived experiences—are central. Whether it’s considering a women-focused perspective on global issues, women leading the way in traditionally male-dominated industries, highlighting successful women role models, representing centering the experiences of women from underrepresented communities, amplifying the voices of vulnerable women, or simply paving the way for others to shine and share their own stories; focusing on the experiences of women moves us all forward. Women’s stories are forming a chorus of inspiration, courage, skill, and advocacy around the world—and people are listening. Here are a few of our favorite recent stories.
Mumbai is Empowering Women Entrepreneurs, from Entrepreneur—“The startups by women are high on innovation and creativity. They are fast becoming a role model for other women in society. Therefore, women investors are the champions of investing and are leading a revolution to build tomorrow’s great companies. These ladies bring with them a new template for inclusive growth and have set out to make a difference.”
Women Take a Hit for Reporting Sexual Harassment, but #MeToo May Be Changing That, from The Conversation—“This trend should be interpreted cautiously […] Yet at the very least, these changes suggest that cultural views about women who report sexual harassment are malleable. By illuminating how widespread and pervasive sexual harassment remains in the U.S., those who spoke out about their own harassment may have shifted how Americans view others following in their footsteps.”
New Book Reveals the Extent to Which Women Are Undervalued in Global Value Chains, from Phys.org—“As women have been drawn into the labour force, households are increasingly dependent on the purchase of food and consumer goods, blurring the boundaries between paid and unpaid work. (Stephanie) Barrientos’s book focuses on the changing gender patterns of work in a global retail environment […] Some workers have gained but many endure poor working conditions, and women are concentrated in more precarious work. The book explores the extent to which global retail opens up new channels to leverage more gender-equitable gains in sourcing countries.”
Queen Latifah Continues to Shatter the Glass Ceiling With the Launch of the Queen Collective, from Forbes—“‘It’s not that [women] are not amazing, and dope, and all these kinds of stuff. We need the opportunities. We need people to take chances on us,’ (documentary director B.) Monet said at the press conference.
She even elaborated on why she decided to follow the story of a sexually abused survivor.
‘Unfortunately, a lot of women of color had traumatic experiences, but we never see ourselves as victors. So, hopefully, this film does that because, for me, it’s very important to not just show women of color as victims, but as victors.’”
Wendy Red Star’s Art Celebrates the Indigenous Roots of Feminism, from i-D—“There’s a lot of talk about feminism and I was thinking about how that relates to me as an Indigenous woman and the ways feminism is really rooted in colonialism. Crow is a matrilineal society, which is not what colonial society is based on. So in that regard, we’re using colonial terms to describe this very Indigenous way of thinking. Not all Indigenous nations are matrilineal, but there’s a fair majority of them. […] And it’s really wonderful to actually have an example of that where that doesn’t exist in colonial society. It’s the ultimate expression of feminism when you think about it.”
From Entrepreneurs to Athletes: Six Women to Watch in Greece, from Financial Times—“For some of Greece’s most talented women, the financial crisis was a signal to migrate to jobs abroad. Others, though, saw greater opportunities at home. Below are six high-achieving women who are building the future in Greece.”
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