All The Women’s News You Missed This Week
1/27/25-2/3/25
The assault on women’s reproductive rights continues as the Global Gag Rule is reinstated, anti-abortion states begin to crack down on abortion pill providers out of state, Instagram suppresses networks helping women access medication to terminate pregnancies, Individuals who sought passports matching gender identity are effectively banned from leaving the country.
Please get involved in Wednesday’s nationwide protest if you are able.
At this moment, I understand it’s easy to tune out of politics but I cannot stress how important it is to stay engaged in a sustainable (and efficient way). The current moment is not ideal, but within it contains not only the responsibility to do what we can to mitigate the worst effects of far-right fascism but also the opportunity to capitalize on the collapse of the mainstream Democratic party and promote a brand of feminism that actually centers women. Gender ideology, along with the entire package of social justice positions that gained popularity in the post-Obama era, is dead. What will come after it? An even more regressive form of biological essentialism where women are “valued” as breeders for the Riech? A form where gays and lesbians are labeled as ‘deviant’ and ‘child-groomers’, carrying the stigma of gender ideology even if we were overwhelmingly its victims? We must stay engaged, we need to continue to meet this moment by building a left with a base solid enough to fight fascism and win.
In lighter news at the U.S. Grammy Awards, female artists swept the night, with Beyonce finally winning Best Album of the Year and Best Country Album, Sabrina Carpenter winning Best Pop Album, Doechii winning Best Rap Album, and Chappell Roan winning Best New Artist (and making an impactful speech about artist right’s as employees).
In my favorite clip of the week, Grammy winner Doechii performs a melody featuring her breakout hit song ‘Denial is a River’ and an up-and-coming song ‘Catfish’ from her album ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal’.
WATCH: Doechii at the 2025 Grammys
ACTION:
Implement Higher Minimum Sentences for Rape in Texas.
PROTEST WEDNESDAY 2/5 ALL US STATES
Promotional Collaborators:
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Reproductive Rights:
Trump Reinstates Global Gag Rule, an Assault on Women’s Health around the World
New York doctor indicted for prescribing Louisiana teen abortion pill
South Dakota birthing risks rise as another hospital ends service
Polish appeals court to rule next month in abortion case which activists say could set a precedent
Groups helping Americans find abortion pills report Instagram ‘shadow-banning’
LGBT:
The ‘Emilia Pérez’ backlash, explained
Trump signs order restricting gender care for young people
'I feel like I’m stuck here': Trans, nonbinary Americans' passports remain in limbo
Women in the News:
Devotees pay homage to Afro-Brazilian sea goddess on Rio de Janeiro beach
Pug life: A South African woman has rescued more than 2,500 of the lovable ‘clowns of the dog world’
Who is Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary?
Decoding Melania Trump's new official portrait
Kate photographed by Prince Louis to mark World Cancer Day
Nurse dies as Uganda confirms new Ebola outbreak
Singapore influencer fined over false abduction claim
How 'trailblazer' nun St Brigid continues to fascinate
Women’s Rights:
US Government Department to Tie Funding to Marriage and Birth Rates
Taliban minister ‘forced to flee Afghanistan’ after speech in support of girls’ education
Trump Orders Schools to Ease Sex Assault Rules
Republicans Want Child Marriage Ban Exemption for Military Members
The risk to women's health in Afghanistan: 'The consequences of this segregation are catastrophic'
Women Fighting Back:
Peru’s disappeared: Dozens look for relatives lost to violence. A woman who knows their sorrow helps
WATCH: Chappell Roan calls for livable wages and healthcare for small artists in brave Grammy speech
Disgraceful that videos seen by Southport killer still online, says Cooper
How a kabaddi club in India is changing girls' lives
Argentines protest President Milei’s diatribe against ‘wokeism’ at Davos
From missing goats to health tips: how a female-run radio station is giving rural India a voice
Feminist Wins:
Coercive control to be treated like other domestic abuse offences
AI-generated child sex abuse images targeted with new laws
Male Violence:
Violence against women and girls growing, says watchdog (UK)
Hundreds of stayed sexual assault cases send chilling message to victims, advocates warn (CA)
US teen shot dead by father in Pakistan over TikTok videos
Film director found guilty of sexual assault in France’s first big #MeToo trial
‘No man would want to touch you’: UCL professor accused of ‘harassing’ student protestor
Spain's former football boss on trial over World Cup kiss
France prepares for trial of surgeon accused of abusing anaesthetised children
Caroline Kennedy warns senators that cousin RFK Jr. is a ‘predator’
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawyers spar during first court hearing
Secretive Christian sect coerced young mothers to give up babies
Harvey Weinstein begs for earlier retrial for sex crimes
Sara Sharif family court judges named after appeal
Man who drugged wife and plotted her mass rape questioned over 1990s attacks
‘Rape is effectively decriminalised’: how did sexual assault become so easy to get away with (AUS)
Grammys Highlights:
WATCH: Beyoncé wins Grammy album of the year
WATCH: Doechii wins best new rap album, 3rd woman ever to receive this honor!!!
Tems sees off Yemi Alade and Burna Boy to win Grammy
Amy Allen becomes first woman to win best songwriter Grammy
Arts and Culture:
Teenage actress takes on child marriage in role mirroring real life
Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, star of the popular drama ‘Meteor Garden,’ dies at age 48
Movie Review: Bloody and witty, ‘Companion’ explores what humanity means in an AI-powered world
Lady Gaga announces March release for new album ‘Mayhem’
Emilia Pérez star says she will stay in Oscars race despite row
Investigative/Opinon:
Inside Iran's Epidemic Of 'Honor' Killings: One Woman Killed Every Two Days
READ OR LISTEN: Why Patriarchy? Foragers, Farmers, and the Origins of Gender Inequality
As always, this is global and domestic news from a US perspective covering feminist issues and women in the news more generally. As of right now, I do not cover Women’s Sports. Published each Monday afternoon.