The Fem Word Vol. 54

CURATING STORIES OF BOLD WOMEN IN CREATIVE SPACES.

weekly dose of female excellence ahead xx

CAMEROON

The government of Cameroon is opening empowerment centers for young women and mothers who have survived forced marriages to Boko Haram terrorists. These women have been either abandoned or fled their situations, left with little to go on. The empowerment centers are working to teach these women skills like sewing, typing, and document work in order to give them a new lease on life. Learn More

FINLAND

Parents in Finland can now count on equalized parental leave - regardless of gender of the parent or whether their child is biologically theirs. These new changes are set to come into effect as early as 2021. This is one of the newest reforms under Finland’s new government, with Prime Minister Sanna Marin leading the charge. Learn More

FRANCE

French surfing champion Poeti Norac passed away last week on Australia’s Sunshine Coast in Queensland. She was 24. Norac was runner-up in the French national championship for surfing in 2018, and earned ten victories in the Coup de France in 2017. Rest in peace, Poeti. Learn More

BOLD FEMS

Actress Jameela Jamil came out as queer last week. She stated that she waited for a long time, fearing being “accused of performative bandwagon jumping.” She released her statement after receiving some heat for her involvement in the upcoming show “Legendary,” which showcases LGBTQIA+ ballroom culture through a competitive lens. Learn More

SPORTS

The U.S. Women’s soccer team took home an amazing victory last week against Mexico. They are now slated to take part in the Summer 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. They look to take the fifth Olympic crown for the team. Learn More

NASA

Christina Koch, record holder for longest single space flight made by a woman, placed her feet back on earth last week after spending 328 days in space. Koch completed six spacewalks during her time on the International Space Station. She also spent much of her time utilizing the Space Station’s laboratory studying the effects of zero-gravity on human life. Learn More 

TAYLOR

Taylor Swift’s new documentary, Miss Americana, makes a statement. The main enemy? The patriarchy. New York Times’ pop music critic Jon Caramanica and pop music reporter Joe Coscarelli delved into the documentary to bring all of the issues that the documentary tackles to the forefront. They discuss what it means to be a fan of Taylor Swift, how the documentary opens doors, and much more. Check it out here.

THE OSCARS

The stars of the Oscars brought it this year. Missed it? Don’t worry, The Washington Post has you covered. Check out their run down of the 15 most memorable moments of the Oscars this year, from Natalie Portman’s empowering outfit to Taika Waititi’s acceptance speech. Learn More