1. This week in Britain, the female unemployment rate has hit an all time LOW! Coming in at just 3.7%, this number is the lowest rate ever recorded since the inception of the statistic back in 1971.
Falling from 6.4% to 3.7% in the last five years, UK economist Andrew Wishart cites higher wages attracting more female employees, older women in the workplace, and a general change in culture (YES!) as variables behind this badass shift. Let’s keep it up...or should we say down?
2. After more than a decade-long hiatus, Washington DC’s self-proclaimed “Dyke March” is back - and more badass than ever! First started in 1993 as a grassroots march for LGBTQ rights, this year’s theme - dubbed “Dykes Against Displacement” - takes on the current housing crisis due to gentrification (i.e, real estate prices skyrocketing, while the supply’s just chillin.) The march seeks to draw attention to the LGBTQ community being among the most at risk for homelessness, housing discrimination, and housing insecurity. June 7th’s march will raise money for local organizations such as One DC and No Justice No Pride to help these at-risk LGBTQ communities, as well as providing education and resources.
3. Presented to you, without further ado: your abortion crisis update. In the United States. In 2019. The good? Abortion (technically) is still legal in all 50 states. The bad? At least 11 states are pursuing similar severe abortion restrictions to the frighteningly contagious “Heartbeat Bill.” On Friday, Missouri lawmakers approved legislation to ban abortion after eight weeks of pregnancy, while Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards announced he would sign an abortion restriction bill should it clear the state legislature. As bonus good news, pro-choice groups have seen an increase in donations, and supporters nationwide are mobilizing to get their voices HEARD!
4. All hail the Queen! Procter & Gamble, Tribeca Studios, and the one-and-only Queen Latifah have partnered together to launch Queen Collective, an empowering program that aims to support female filmmakers. The project emphasizes fostering racial equality in film through mentoring, production support, and providing key distribution resources. Their mission is to amplify the stories for the next generation of multicultural women in film (read: a massive and much-needed shift in Hollywood). The initiative kicked off with two short films, “If There Is Light” directed by Haley Elizabeth Anderson and “Ballet After Dark” directed by B. Monet. The films premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and are now exclusively streaming on Hulu, so go hit up your group chat for a password!
5. The goddess of generosity, commonly known as Oprah Winfrey, surprised a New Jersey school this weekend with a $500,000 donation to help support a cherished after school program. The program, called “Lights On,” was created by Newark’s West High School principal Akbar Cook to provide a safe place for students on Friday nights to play sports and games, hang out, and just be kids. Ms. Winfrey’s donation will help keep the program running three nights a week over the summer!
6. A farewell to 'Game of Thrones' by The Fem Word Senior Editor, Madlyn McAuliffe:
"Eight years. 73 episodes. Our watch has ended. Whether you liked or loathed the finale, it's safe to say Game of Thrones — and specifically the astonishing women of the series — will go down in television history. It's bittersweet to bid farewell to characters we have come to adore and cheer for — boisterous and courageous Yara Greyjoy; stalwart and honorable Ser Brienne of Tarth; intelligent and utterly resilient Sansa Stark, Queen in the North; deeply complex Cersei Lannister; independent and indomitable Arya Stark; and Daenerys Targaryen, who (despite everything) desired to bring freedom to all and make the world a better place. We will miss these women and will take comfort in the fact that, at least for some, their journeys have only just begun."
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