Weekly News Wrap

This week: Kamala Harris on Gaza, France's abortion milestone, a woman break-dancing her way to the Olympics, and more.

March 08, 2024

Hello and Happy, Happy, Happy International Women’s Day! A “global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women,” the occasion will be marked by marches and celebrations around the world.

Pop quiz: When was International Women’s Day first recognized?

A) 1898
B) 1911
C) 1952
D) 1983

Find the answer at the bottom of today’s issue! In the meantime, here’s what’s on the rise this week:

The U.N. found “clear and convincing” evidence of sexual violence during the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, it said in a new report.
Vice President Kamala Harris called for a ceasefire in Gaza during a speech commemorating the anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Some officials claim her words were watered down by the administration, and a Washington Post opinion piece said “Black women should not be the face” of the U.S. policy on Gaza.
Indigenous women in Greenland are suing Denmark for forcing them to use intrauterine contraception in the 1960s and 1970s.

As opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives intensifies, Black women aiming for career advancement encounter an increasingly challenging environment.
The gender gap in tech jobs has narrowed in the U.S. and Europe, thanks to high demand, gender equality policies, and more flexible working arrangements.
A Microsoft engineer raised concerns about offensive content created by the company’s AI image-generation tool, citing specifically its “tendency to randomly include an inappropriate, sexually objectified image of a woman” in the pictures it produces.

Nikki Haley dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination after overwhelming losses on Super Tuesday, but she still reached a milestone: her wins in Washington D.C. and Vermont made her the first woman to win a Republican primary, according to her campaign.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R.) signed a bill to protect IVF patients and providers from legal liability if their embryos are damaged or destroyed.
Meanwhile, conservative Christian women in Red states are speaking out in defense of fertility treatments.

France became the first country to guarantee access to abortion in its constitution, a historic move intended to prevent a rollback of rights like that of the U.S. The measure was approved overwhelmingly, prompting a standing ovation in the French Parliament. If you’re curious, here’s where other European countries stand on abortion.
Two major steps for reproductive health: Walgreens and CVS will begin selling abortion pills, and the first over-the-counter birth control pill is shipping to pharmacies this week.

Caitlin Clark broke the all-time NCAA scoring record in the most-watched regular season women’s basketball game in recent history, and the Big Ten women’s tournament is sold out for the first time, due in large part to Clark’s popularity.
The number of female Formula 1 fans has grown significantly in recent years, spurred by the Netflix docuseries Drive to Survive.
Breakdancing, also called “breaking,” will debut at the Paris Olympics this summer, and Sunny Choi is one of two U.S. representatives. The Wharton Business School grad traded her corporate career for full-time breaking in 2022.

Despite Barbie’s box office dominance, 2023 was a tough year for women in Hollywood. The number of actresses leading top films reached a decade low, and fewer women are joining the film academy.
The iconic photo of a World War II soldier kissing a woman in Times Square was almost banned from display due to the nonconsensual nature of the kiss.

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