The Fem Word Vol. 39

curating stories of bold women in creative spaces.

weekly dose of female excellence ahead xx

Women in rural Rajasthan are getting the chance to be entrepreneurs. Thanks to a partnership between Airbnb and the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation (PDKF), women in the area have the ability to host in their homes or provide experiences in their communities for travelers. Learn More

Amrutha Kashinath and Shubra Acharya are working to inspire Indian women to get out and travel on their own. The powerful duo broke a travel record last week on their motorcycles, traversing a distance of over 3312 km (2058 miles) in only 129 hours. As if they weren’t inspiring enough already, the pair plans to travel to Mongolia later this year. Full Story

According to Ernest & Young, women’s brains are like pancakes. This is not the only problematic statement that came up during the company’s women’s “empowerment” seminar. Excuse us, we have to go and use our “pancake brains” to continue being bosses. Stay mad about it. Full Story

A recent study from Amnesty International asks for Jordan to stop imprisoning women for defying the wishes of their male relatives. Many women have been imprisoned for fleeing abusive households and told their stories to Amnesty from prison. The government has denied the allegations, stating that there were other reasons for these women’s imprisonment. Read More

A recent Gallup poll of the American population showed that women have reached a record high of preferring work to homemaking. 56% stated their wish to work outside of the home, more than the past three decades. Despite the growth, this is still far behind the majority of men who also prefer to work. Full Study

“The dignity of a nation comes from the dignity of its citizens, men, and women equally.” Kais Saied, Tunisia’s new president, vowed to fight for women’s rights in a speech last week. Full Story

Lizzo, Beyonce, Kesha. These women are famous in the music industry for pushing back against the male-dominated sphere, but the industry needs to do more. The Chronicle calls for men in music to stand up and fight for women’s rights, too. There’s nowhere to go...but up. Read More

Women who took advantage of California’s paid parental leave when it was introduced in 2004 have made less annually ever since. For many, this is indicative of the larger issue of paid leave, and company’s unwillingness to offer it. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg stated that “this is not a tradeoff between your business goals and taking care of your people.” Read More

IN OTHER NEWS:

We must have hope - learn about the impact climate change has had in three women's lives around the world, and how expert Gina McCarthy fights climate change in her daily routine. Her main tip? Stay optimistic, even despite setbacks, and do what you can every day. Learn More

FEM TECH

Refinery 29 asked eight women in the tech industry how they broke in. Their answers did not disappoint - in a field that is still predominantly men, these women are breaking barriers and urging other women to follow their lead. Full Story

Lindsey Nefesh-Clark is working to close the gender gap in tech. With her crowdfunding campaign W4 (Women’s WorldWide Web), she plans to give more girls access to tools and skill training to give them an edge in an ever-growing industry. Full Story

SHE’S SO COOL

Queen Latifah was awarded the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal by Harvard last week for her outstanding contributions to black history and culture. She was among multiple other honorees. Some queens wear crowns, but this Queen wears medals. More Information

Lady Gaga broke the internet last week when she tweeted in Sanskrit. The tweet was a mantra, “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu,” which translates to “may all remain happy and free and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and freedom for all.” A mantra we should all live by. Read More

FEMPRENEURS

Entrepreneurship is at the heart of the American ideal. A growing trend called sidepreneurship is challenging the traditional idea of entrepreneurship, according to a recent study from the American Express. The main players? Women. Sidepreneurship is a way for women to hold down traditional jobs while exploring other avenues of employment - and business is booming. Full Study

FEM HISTORY

On October 24, 1975, the women of Iceland vanished from the workforce. They took to the streets to prove how much to economy relied on them, despite little recognition. In Reykjavik’s main square, a voice called for Iceland to make a change: “Women are waking up. They know that men have ruled the world since time immemorial. And how has that world been?” The strike was a success, the economy reached a complete standstill, and ushered in a political era for women. Learn More

HAVE YOU SEEN HER?

Isabel Shae Hicks, age 14, was last seen last Monday in Bumpass, VA. She may have been abducted by Bruce Lynch Jr., 33, and traveling in a 2003 blue/silver Toyota Matrix with VA tag VEM9071. If you see her or anything pertaining to her, contact 911 immediately. More Information