The Fem Word Vol. 51

nicole-geri-HnQe_DNq1Z0-unsplash.jpg

CURATING STORIES OF BOLD WOMEN IN CREATIVE SPACES.

weekly dose of female excellence ahead xx

INDIA

  • The recent release of the new Bollywood film Chhapaak lends a voice and a platform to acid attack survivors in India. The film is based on the life of Laxmi Agarwal, an acid attack survivor and activist, and stars Bollywood’s highest paid actress Deepika Padukone. The film brings attention to the rising violence against women in the country and demands change. Learn More

  • Chennai based photographers Naresh Nil and Bhardwaj Sundar are on a mission to break the stereotypes of godliness with their latest photo series. The collection features some of the gods of India with dark skin. They shared their motivation behind the series, stating that “by depicting gods we revere as dark-skinned, this initiative aims to celebrate a different view of their divinity.” Learn More

OSCARS

For the 87th time, the Oscar nominations for best director this year were all men. Disappointment, from fans and entertainers in the industry, has been widespread. Folks over at BBC have compiled a list of some of the talented female directors that the Oscars didn’t highlight. Check them out here.

SUDAN

Some women in Sudan are standing up for their love of sports, and the country’s first acknowledged women’s soccer team is causing friction with the conservative government. Many argue women engaging in sports is a direct break with Sharia law, and urge the government to shut down the team. Despite pushback, these women are fighting for their right to play. Learn More

SPORTS

  • In correlation with female athletes’ continuing fight to be paid the same as their male counterparts, the WNBA has promised bigger salaries and paid maternity leave to female players. While the contract is still tentative, this decision marks a change in the sports industry, and one that will hopefully continue. Learn More

  • Megan Rapinoe, captain of the 2019 USWNT World Cup-winning team, is releasing a collaboration fashion campaign with the luxury brand Loewoe. The project began when her outspoken confidence caught the attention of the company's creative director, Jonathan Anderson. You can soon expect to see see Rapinoe’s face across billboards in Paris. Learn More

JAPAN

The female population in Japan has the highest percentage of employment in a decade, their benefits are increasing, and paid maternity leave is one of the best offered in any developed nation. So why are Japanese women steadily being pushed into poverty? Some studies name lowered birth rates and increased lifespan as the culprits - but one thing is for sure. Japanese women, especially the elderly, are expected to increasingly fall into poverty over the next few years. Learn More

ITALY

Last Wednesday, Pope Francis appointed the first woman to hold a high-ranking post in the Secretariat of State. Francesca Di Giovanni will work within the Section for Relations with States. The appointment is historically significant, and could lead to more women entering the higher echelons of the Catholic Church in the future. Learn More

SHE’S SO COOL

Kristen Bell used her acceptance speech at the Critics’ Choice Awards to talk about women’s empowerment - specifically, what does it mean to be a woman today? Bell stated that “it is just about giving yourself permission to be the things that you already are.” Bell won the #SeeHer award, which recognizes women in the industry who push boundaries. Other winners include Viola Davis, Gal Gadot, and Claire Foy. Learn More

Ms. Media