The Word is a collection of articles & stories crafted and curated by the women of The Fem Word as well as other contributors.
Since the beginning, women have world-makers and world-shapers. We are teachers with wise hearts and warners clothed in the colors of blood, of famine, and of war. There are times when we take the forms of goddesses, divine and cloaked in mystery; there are other times when we are tricksters, spirits who use mischief and cunning to humble the hearts of wayward heroes, or to defeat monsters who threaten our people…
Read MoreWomen have come a long way since the days of total financial dependence, and it’s important to reflect on how our relationships with money have changed in recent decades. In this article, TFW’s Managing Editor reflects on the perspectives, experiences, and lessons gained from her grandmother’s, mother’s, and her own generation.
Read MoreOn June 19, 1865 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and informed enslaved African Americans of their emancipation. But the troops’ arrival came more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated across the United States to recognize the end of slavery as well as to celebrate African American culture and achievements.
To really understand the history of enslaved people in the US, The Fem Word team takes a look at when it began, and what the iconic civil rights activist Opal Lee - and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize nominee - did in 2016 to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
Read MoreChina’s definition of “beauty” has undergone many changes over the millennia, and Chinese women have taken up countless fashions, regimens, and styles in order to be seen as beautiful. Join us as we take a look at the way beauty rituals and ideals have changed throughout Chinese history - and take a look at the future of Chinese fashion as it harkens back to a not-so-distant cultural past.
Read MoreWhile sing-a-longs and talking dragons are fun, the Disney version of Mulan gets a lot of things wrong. Join The Fem Word as we explore the original story of a young woman who goes to war - and the values, culture, and unique way of life her character was meant to represent.
Read MoreThe Trung sisters are central to Vietnam’s long history. Their legendary exploits and rise to power are a source of intense pride for the Vietnamese people, and today they are celebrated through art, theater, and even temples. Learn about these warrior Queens and the values they represented in the first article of our Maidens, Mavens, & Magic series. Keep an eye out for more stories of superhero women from around the world!
Read MoreFinancial rights are a cornerstone of overall equality between men and women. You might be surprised to learn how recently some of those rights were granted to women in the USA–and how hard-won they were. As we move into 2022, it’s the perfect time for a little history lesson on women, money, and our journey toward financial recognition in America.
Read MoreEgypt’s history is long - it has existed as a nation for over five thousand years, and throughout the centuries women have played a major role in the development and culture of this iconic land. From nearly-forgotten Pharaohs to bold and daring activists, Egyptian women have broken countless barriers in a country that can be as empowering as it is challenging for the people who live there.
Thumbnail credit to Miguel Ángel Sánchez, courtesy of TIME magazine.
Read MoreFor Women’s History Month, The Fem Word is featuring women who have changed the world. This article spotlights women in Brazil who are inspiring girls across the globe. Brazil is still struggling to close the extensive gender gap, but these strong Brazilian women are taking steps to change the course of history for women.
Read MoreWomen have been turned into statues and paintings, symbols and concepts and everything that is both beautiful and ugly in the world - Women are Art, but for millennia the pictures we see in gilded frames rarely match up to our lived reality. Join The Fem Word as we explore women, art, and the world of contradictions the two of them have inhabited across the ages.
Read More“Creative women as we know them are a testament to the power of bold exceptions to immovable rules. The fact that they are so far from the norm is a poignant reminder that the playing field has never, in all of its long and blood-soaked history, been equal for artistic women. It’s never even come close.
As a whole, we’ve succeeded anyway.”
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