The Fem Word Vol. 52

CURATING STORIES OF BOLD WOMEN IN CREATIVE SPACES.

weekly dose of female excellence ahead xx

GREECE

No stranger to breaking barriers, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the first female president of Greece’s Council of State, has now been elected to be the nation’s first female president. Her appointment suggests that Greece is moving to close the gap with other European nations, who have higher percentages of women in power. Learn More

USA

Annemarie Small celebrated her new U.S. citizenship in style last week, with a large group of her fourth grade students who came to support her at the courthouse. An elementary school teacher in Tallahassee, Florida, Small came from Jamaica for a better opportunity for herself and her son. Learn More

PARIS

Designer Bouchra Jarrar will return to the fashion industry this year after her tumultuous exit in 2017. Her latest show will be small and intimate - Jarrar is hosting it at her home, and only showcasing 15 styles. Her reasoning is simple: “I feel very much there are too many clothes [...] I am guilty. I made too many collections. But not anymore.” Learn More

SAUDI ARABIA

The Saudi military launched its first section for women last week. Any applicable Saudi woman will now be able to join multiple branches at various ranks, in an effort to fill more senior ranks with women. This initiative is the first of its kind in Saudi military history. Learn More

EQUAL RIGHTS

Despite getting its start decades ago, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is still a cause for debate in the U.S. While many petition the cause as their mothers before them, others fight the ERA, stating that it would bring more harm than good if women and men were interchangeable. Although Virginia became the last necessary state to vote for ratifying the ERA, Congress states that the timeline for ratification has passed. Learn More

CLIMATE CHANGE

Just like Greta Thunberg, teenagers are becoming climate activists all over the world. NPR sat down with four teenage girls to talk about the work they’re doing to fight climate change. Milou Albrecht of Australia, Xiye Bastida of New York, Jayden Foytlin of Louisiana, and Scout Pronto Breslin of upstate New York have a lot in common. They’re all under 18, and they’re all working to save the planet...while keeping up with school. Learn More

NEW YORK

In celebration of the hundred year anniversary of the 19th Amendment, New York’s Park Avenue Armory will commission 100 female artists to create pieces that celebrate the women’s suffrage movement...with a twist. The artist’s pieces will depict those whose work in the suffrage movement often went unseen and unrecognized - mainly women of color. The artist’s names will be announced next month and the display will premier in May. Learn More

SPORTS

Coco Gauff vaulted from obscurity to international fame after her victory over Venus Williams at Wimbledon last year. Despite her new status, Gauff plays the same game, and she plays it well. She added a new victory to her mantle last week at the Australian Open in a rematch against Williams. Despite being fifteen, Gauff displays high levels of athleticism, and shows no signs of slowing down. Learn More