The Fem Word Vol. 47

CURATING STORIES OF BOLD WOMEN IN CREATIVE SPACES.

weekly dose of female excellence ahead xx

FEM NEWS

14 women ran over 63km through Tanzania’s Serengeti earlier this year to raise money for women and girl’s empowerment. The run lasted over three days throughout one of the world’s most iconic wild areas. The funds raised benefit over 10,000 girls to get their education. Learn More

Influential model Mama Cax died earlier this month at age 30. She was known for her trailblazing work in the fashion industry, urging inclusivity for disabled and POC models. Her voice championed body positivity and confidence, and she was an inspiration to many. She will be missed. Full Story

The Royal Derby hospital in the UK will become the first hospital to offer sterile and disposable hijabs for their medical staff this year. There is hope that the product will roll out nationwide. The hijabs are the brainchild of junior doctor Farah Roslan, who came up with the idea during her training after feeling her own hijab wasn’t sanitary after a day in the hospital. Learn More

The Chief Minister of Rajasthan recently announced an Rs 1,000 crore ($140m+) fund for women’s empowerment in the state. The aim of the fund is to finance education and business opportunities for women, which will further strengthen the economy and the state. Learn More

The World Economic Forum recently released a study that stated that gender parity is still 100 years away. The report focused on four main categories, educational attainment, health and survival, political empowerment, and economic participation. For many, this is too long - so Mashable compiled a list of organizations that support gender parity...now. Check it out. Full List

The Dartmouth Fatstock Show dinner, held annually in Devon, UK, hasn’t allowed women to attend for 100 years. That changes this year. After taking a vote and realizing that many women participate in the livestock show that takes place before the dinner, the event decided to update it’s traditions. Many women are planning to attend. Learn More

Spain is opting to include more women in their special forces. This is a part of the international fight against terrorism and unconventional warfare. Women are thought to be better at collecting intelligence in patriarchal societies, as they are able to seem less threatening. Spain is ahead of Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands with gender percentages in the armed forces - and the numbers continue to rise. Learn More

Iraq has seen a rise in anti-government protests since October. Recently, murals of strong and rebellious women are rising on walls around the city of Baghdad. The murals represent the strength of Iraqi women during the protests. BBC has collected photos of the murals, you can check them out here. 

If you’ve been looking for a pick-me-up, go no further. Parade has a list of 125 empowering quotes from women across time. The quotes range from personal musings to life advice, but one theme connects them all - strong and amazing women. Full List

FEM POWER

Teresa Xu wants to have a baby...just not right now. She wanted to freeze her eggs so she could have the opportunity later, while living her life for her now. The Chinese government told her no, because she was single. They told her she was still young, and if she got married quickly she could have children. She sued. The court delayed a final ruling, but Xu is asking a bigger question with this lawsuit: do single women in China have reproductive rights? Learn More

FEM EVENTS

UN Women Pakistan’s 3-day workshop, entitled “Mind the Gap”, convened last Thursday with a renewed vigor towards women’s empowerment in private sector firms and adopting the global practices for women’s advancement. The main areas of focus include workplace equality, inclusion, and diversity. Learn More

FEM TECH

Girls in Tech is committed to getting a level playing field for women in STEM in 2020. While the amount of women in the field has been steadily (if slowly) rising, there is still a long way to go to parity. Girls in Tech works to help women navigate the still male-dominated industry, help them reach their potential, and basically just let women be the bosses they were meant to be. Learn More