1. This week, the one and only Oprah delivered a powerful and impactful speech at the Women in the World Summit. She spoke of the power of women to change the world, and the growing necessity to scrap the rules. She also praised women for building bridges instead of walls - and we have to agree with her! As the first keynote speaker for the summit, she certainly set a bar of empowerment. If you want to spend your day feeling strong, watch her speech and join us as we go crazy over our new role model!
2. A 29-year-old female scientist has become the face of black hole-mania, after a heartwarming photo of her reaction to it’s image went viral, instantly making her hero for women and girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Dr. Katie Bouman was part of the team of over 200 researchers (including 40 women!) who worked for over three years to write the algorithm to capture the first-ever picture of a black hole via Harvard’s Black Hole Initiative. Long thought to be unseeable, the team used eight radio observatories across the globe, processed enormous amounts of data and maps, and tirelessly combined countless formulas to finally reveal the supermassive black hole and its shadow this week. Impossible? Ha! (As we like to think all 40 women said!)
3.The UK country of Wales is well on their way to ending “period poverty.” This week, the Welsh government announced a £2.3m plan to provide free sanitary products to tens of thousands of the country’s schoolgirls. The initiative is in response to the harsh reality that thousands of young girls are forced to miss school days simply because they cannot afford products; some even rely on socks or newspaper as an alternative. Now, as many as 141,000 girls will have safe, free access to essential products that support “period dignity”. Way to go Wales!
4. In a historic decision this week, South Korea ruled to lift the 66-year-old ban on abortion, sparking nationwide celebrations. A major victory for pro-choice campaigners, South Korea is one of the few developed countries that still criminalises abortions, (with exemptions made for rape, incest, and severe health concerns) as doctors can be imprisoned for up to two years for performing abortions, while women face a maximum one-year sentence or a hefty fine. The decision reflects growing support for women’s reproductive rights in the socially conservative country. The 1953 law banning abortion is set to be revises by the end of next year.
5. Ariana Grande made history this weekend as she became the youngest female artist EVER to headline Coachella. Ari shut down the festival Sunday night with a killer set of 26+ songs featuring plenty of surprises: a mash-up with 4 / 5 of *NSYNC (thank god the rumors were true!), a duet with collab-bestie Nicki Minaj, and a hip-hop tribute w/ Diddy and Mase. Ari joins Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Bjork, as one of only four female headliners in the festival’s 20 year history. Three badass women in a row? THANK YOU #ARICHELLA, NEXT !
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