For all those badasses trying to catch up on the headlines, here are a few highlights from the past week. As always, join in the conversation using #TheFemWord and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. #FemNews
1. Just yesterday, Planned Parenthood announced its new President… and (surprise, surprise) she’s a badass! As an emergency physician and the health commissioner for the city of Baltimore, MD, Dr. Leana Wen advocates for healthcare for everyone and fights for reproductive health and education. Dr. Wen, you are amazing.
2. Serena Williams is facing yet more backlash (both sexist and racist) after standing up for herself and for women everywhere at the U.S. Open… you know… because society doesn’t like it when women (especially women of color) are angry. After the match, however, Serena continued to inspire us by saying by being the badass woman and tennis goddess she is… true #GOAT.
**mic drop**
3. Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan’s midwife population was decimated and the maternal mortality rate skyrocketed. Now, there are an estimated 10,000… including badass Feroza Mushtari, who is a star midwife, health advisor to Afghanistan’s first lady, and an outspoken advocate for maternal health in her country. There are still safety concerns and many hurdles, but these midwives are doing incredible work!
4. When actress Olivia Munn learned she had unknowingly shared a scene in The Predator with a male castmate who was convicted of attempting to lure a fourteen-year-old girl into a sexual relationship online, she called him and 20th Century Fox out. Now, she is facing disrespect from her other male co-stars and a host of tweeters wondering if there is a path to “redemption” for abusers of power. What they’re missing is that #MeToo is about empowering survivors to share their experiences and, hopefully, find justice and peace. We’re with you, Olivia.
5. Congratulations to badass opera singer, composer, and advocate for the arts Miss New York Nia Franklin for making history as the first Miss America 2.0! During this year’s competition “for a new era,” we learned contestants would no longer be judged upon their physical appearances. Notably, the controversial swimsuit portion got the axe. Miss America 2.0 also promised greater inclusivity, giving more women of different backgrounds and experiences the chance to compete. While the result wasn’t quite a feminist dream, we’re excited to see Miss America 2.0 taking steps toward becoming more diverse and representative.
6. And speaking of Miss America 2.0… the contestants showed up to take a stand. During the live opening ceremony, Miss Michigan, Emily Sioma, introduced herself as “from the state with 84% of the U.S.[‘] fresh water but none for its residents to drink.” Sioma’s statement, which refers to the ongoing drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, is characteristic of her passion for using her platform to support and empower others, such as sexual assault survivors (of which Sioma also is a survivor). Emily, you are badass.
Header photo via Unsplash
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